Opponents of an off-track wagering site on Route 206 in Hillsborough are urging residents to phone the state Attorney General in a last-ditch effort to deny approval.
On Sept. 16, the N.J. Racing Commission approved the application for an off-track wagering facility in the former Maestro’s restaurant on southbound Route 206. Attorney General John Jay Hoffman has 14 days from the day he is presented this approval by the racing commission to either confirm or veto the decision.
According to the NJRC, he will be presented the approval of the application tomorrow, Sept. 22.
In last week’s township-sponsored e-mail newsletter, Hillsborough residents were told to contact the office of the Attorney General with questions or concerns. The newsletter failed to give any contact info.
“We all live busy lives,” said OTW foe Michelle Eilbacher, a Hillsborough resident. “It is important for Hillsborough residents to take a stand. Please take five minutes out of your day this week and call! We only have until Oct. 6 to let the AG know we want a say.”
She gave the Attorney General’s office phone as 609-292-4925 (at the prompt, press 0). She said people should say they are calling about the application for an off-track wagering facility in Hillsborough, and urge him to veto the approval.
Ms. Eilbacher suggested Hillsborough residents could stress that they no say in decision, and that the required public forum hearing was held on Wednesday night, July 22, in the middle of the summer, when many residents were on vacations.
She also said people could emphasize that the application that was submitted to the racing commission was not given to residents prior to the meeting.
“Applicant Darby Development had time to prepare a power point, while residents had nothing to review in order to make a clear argument against it. How is that fair!” she said. “The racing commission was there to listen to both sides and residents were not even given the application in advance to review it. How were we able present a clear argument?”
In 2001, the state Legislature passed the Off-Track and Account Wagering Act, which provided for licenses to build up to 15 off-track wagering facilities in the state. Between 2001 and 2010, three facilities (Woodbridge, Vineland and Toms River) opened. Others weren’t built because municipalities were rejecting them, she said, citing Mahwah, Bridgewater and Green Brook as places that turned them down.
In February 2011, the Legislature amended the law and removed the clause that said that a municipality may reject the placement of an off-track wagering facility within its boundaries.
“This law (A1705) has essentially tied the hands of local municipalities,” she said. “The right to decide should not be taken away from municipalities and their taxpayers. Urge the Attorney General to hear the voices of Hillsborough residents. If we are to deal with the negative impact of this establishment, we should have a voice.”
