Posted on 10/04/2012 4:41:52 PM PDT by SMGFan
Gov. Chris Christie made good on his promise to trim Newark's budgetary sails today, cutting in half the aid requested by the state's largest city according to two city officials with knowledge of the decision.
Newark will receive $10 million in state aid for this year's budget after requesting $24 million.
"Last year I stepped up, the state did, and gave them a $32 million loan," Christie said Tuesday. "What did I find this year? They had an $18 million surplus from last year on my $32 million loan, okay?"
The loan was changed to a grant by the state legislature earlier this year, but city and state officials did find an additional $18 million in surplus revenue in recent months.
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me," Christie said earlier this week while adding that state and city officials had been working together for weeks to come up with a reasonable number.
Newark's budget dependence on the state has become a political lightning rod as speculation has mounted in recent months that Mayor Cory Booker is challenging Christie for office next year.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
Went to college in Newark and worked there many years, from the early 70s to the mid 90s.
What a hellhole.
Before 1967 and the riots, it was the place to go for shopping and entertainment in northeast NJ.
Yep.
I remember going to NJIT in 1979 for a look-around.
Saw concertina wire around the parking lot. Lots of security to protect the students.
Said “screw this” and paid out of state tuition to go someplace else.
The best thing that could be done to improve Newark is to call in an air strike.
Too bad we can't export that to D.C.
“as speculation has mounted in recent months that Mayor Cory Booker is challenging Christie for office next year.”
Not likely; things are bad enough in NJ that nobody wants another urban parasite with his hand out in the top office. There has been no “miracle” in Newark; it is still a dangerous toilet despite all of the infusions of the new “entertainment economy” we now live in.
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