Governor Corzine "The People of N.J. Have Every Right to be Angry"
For the first time in Atlantic City's 28-year legalized gambling trade, the casinos that have been synonymous to the city are closing their doors indefinitely.
The closure is in light of the budget crisis that New Jersey is now going through. State Legislators failed to reach the set deadline for approving budget, forcing the Gov. Jon Corzine to stop unnecessary government services. State-appointed gaming inspectors fall under this category, and without them, casino operations are not allowed to continue.
The last of the gamblers were ushered out Wednesday morning as janitors locked up the casino gaming areas, leaving patrons and casino employees either in a state of shock or disbelief.
Corzine addressed the Legislature on his Wednesday morning speech, defending his position over the impasse on the state budget as its entered its fifth day with no deals to work on. It is Corzine's proposal to raise the state sale tax from 6 percent up to 7, to make up for a $4.5 billion budget deficit. The lawmakers are against the tax increase, saying that the increase would cost the average New Jersey family $275 a year.
"It is deplorable that the people of this state are left in such a painful position," Corzine said in his speech Wednesday. "The people of New Jersey have every right to be angry."
State parks and beaches along with other services were also closed Wednesday due to lack of staff. Essential state services such as workers in child welfare, state police and mental hospitals had to remain on the job, and are working without pay.
"It's like last call at a bar. It's a little bit eerie, " said Michael Trager, 36, of Cincinnati, when an attendant told him to finish his play at a video poker machine. "They said, 'That's it, you gotta cash out. We're closing.'"
At Bally's Wild Wild West casino, a sign at the entrance is posted "We apologize for the inconvenience. We will resume casino operations as soon as a NJ state budget resolution is reached."
Assembly Democrats struggled to meet the deadline and worked through the night to come up with a new budget proposal that could be brought to the table Wednesday. But the governor has rejected the alternatives, citing them as "a patchwork quilt of unknown, untested and unvetted ideas that we hope will once again simply get us to the finish line."
"I can't understand how they can't find a solution to the budget, " commented Frank Cannatella, 65, of Staten Island, N.Y., a guest at the Trump Plaza.
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