By Michael Aron
Chief Political Correspondent
Gov. Chris Christie and Senate President Steve Sweeney support a state takeover of Atlantic City government. The Senate passed a state takeover bill this week 27 to 9, but Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto wants to amend the bill to preserve existing collective bargaining agreements.
“Collective bargaining should not be part of this. It’s not going to make or break Atlantic City,” Prieto said.
The governor this week threw down a gauntlet.
“I endorse the bill passed by the Senate yesterday. And if those two bills together, in the form they were passed by the Senate, come to my desk I will sign them. If they are changed in any way I will not. The responsibility for whether Atlantic Ctiy can pay its bills now squarely on the shoulders of the speaker of the Assembly,” Christie said.
“I would actually then go back and say it’s squarely on the shoulders of his policies. He had a five-year plan,” Prieto said.
Prieto today said he’s disappointed the governor is being so inflexible.
“It’s coming from a gentleman that for the last five years, let’s say, was talking about working together across the aisle. That was the difference between New Jersey and Washington, that you compromise. I don’t see any compromise on this, it’s my way or the highway,” Prieto said.
On the Senate floor, a sponsor of the legislation said it’s either takeover or bankruptcy for the city.
“We as stakeholders cannot allow this city to go bankrupt,” said Sen. Paul Sarlo.
Even the hometown senator voted yes.
“I’m supporting this bill and its companion bill because that’s the most viable option for Atlantic City’s future. I still live there. I’m not happy about this. None of us are,” said Sen. Jim Whelan.
Two African-American senators warned that a takeover disenfranchises local voters in a town that is heavily minority.
“To me it become personal for people of color, women and others. Now I know you don’t like to hear that but there are those of us that struggle to make sure that people like myself and others can be elected to these chambers,” said Ron Rice.
“It’s the people, it’s the taxpayers, it’s the homeowners, it is the very essence of democratic representation,” said Sen. Nia Gill.
Prieto says the state already has the tools to restructure Atlantic City’s finances. Christie says the speaker’s insistence on preserving collective bargaining agreements is a play to the public worker unions.
“The speaker is playing public sector union politics. If he wants to continue to do that and Atlantic City runs out of money, then what happens thereafter will be the responsibility of one and only one person — the speaker of the Assembly,” Christie said.
“And I’m not playing politics. I’m asking everybody to come and sit in a room. I have asked that. I have told them, let’s put the rhetoric, the sound bites away and come together. Nobody has taken me up on that. Again, for somebody that touted that that was the problem in Washington, that nobody talked or got in a room, they’re not doing that with me. So you know what, that’s disingenuous,” Prieto said.
Takeover or bankruptcy, we’ll find out soon.