To the editor:
The author of a recent letter-to-the-editor is to be applauded for his overview of legalized gambling in New Jersey and the process by which an off-track wagering (OTW) business can emerge in Hillsborough, with one exception.
The author suggests his voice, like that of all citizens, should be heard. That being the essence of a robust democracy, who would disagree? To say, as the letter does, however, that Hillsborough voices will be muted due to "our state legislators’ efforts to silence us" is not only terribly unfair, it is just plain wrong.
No doubt, New Jersey’s existing law on OTWs is flawed. These OTWs should exist only in densely populated urban areas. The local land-use process should not be circumvented, and there should be no five-year property tax abatement on the land/building where the OTW operates. Let me be clear — this OTW is not wanted, nor does it belong in Hillsborough. I have said that publicly on numerous occasions, including the Hillsborough April open public forum called by the mayor.
Senator Kip Bateman, Assemblywoman Donna Simon and I, as Hillsborough state legislators working in partnership with local elected officials, have introduced legislation that corrects the flaws in the existing law. While I’ve been transparent that this legislation is unlikely to pass, it will undoubtedly send a very loud and clear message to the state Attorney General, who has final say on this matter.
As Hillsborough’s state legislators, we have planned a meeting with the Attorney General once the OTW developer has submitted a completed application to the New Jersey Racing Commission. A few citizens-at-large will join us and the mayor at that meeting to discuss our concerns.
It is critically important that our Hillsborough voices be heard. It is also critically important, not to mention a civic responsibility, to be perfectly accurate in what we are voicing. And so, as we now enter a very critical stage of this Hillsborough OTW application process, it is my hope that we all ‘stick together.’
It is also my hope that last week’s author, who cares deeply for Hillsborough, will be one of the Hillsborough at-large citizens in our meeting with the Attorney General.
Jack M. Ciattarelli
Assemblyman, District 16
Hillsborough
