North Jersey Casino Supporter Reconsiders Position After Tour Of AC
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBS) - A major supporter of a referendum to allow for casinos in northern New Jersey is having second thoughts, at least when it comes to his town.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop has been talking, a lot, to casino operators who would like to put a facility in his town. But he took Atlantic City Council President Marty Small up on an offer to talk to residents.
"You're hearing a lot of positives from the corporate casinos and you want to balance it out," Fulop told KYW Newsradio. "And I feel like I'm being responsible in really trying to understand from residents the reality of what it's like living with casinos in that vicinity."
What he found, he says, are perceptions that the casinos broke a lot of promises to the people of Atlantic City 40 years after the state constitution was amended to allow gaming in the town. So how does that affect Fulop's backing of this November's referendum?
"I've gone from fully supportive to let's reassess our position and get some more information," Fulop says, "and I think that where I am now is going to be more responsible and more cautious."
He says he'll make a decision in a couple of months, then campaign either for or against the referendum.
Fulop is also pondering a run for Governor next year as a Democrat, and promises a decision on that after this fall's elections.
That's about the same time State Senate President Steve Sweeney is expected to decide on his own run for Governor.