New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) delivered his seventh State оf the State Address оn Tuesday, but he did not mention Atlantic City, one оf the Garden State’s most historic towns, despite its long-standing economic decline.
Many casino workers in the area had hoped Murphy would address the ongoing issue of indoor smoking on the gaming floors. The Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) group had hoped that Murphy, a self-proclaimed champion of New Jerseyans, would call on the Legislature to send him a bill to end the tobacco use loophole in casinos. However, Murphy did not bring up the topic.
Instead, the governor focused on securing New Jersey’s reputation as “the best state to raise a family” and delivering “economic security” by “lowering costs.” Murphy declared, “To all of us who have the privilege of calling the Garden State home, I say this: I will dedicate every minute we have left to working for you.” However, this pledge apparently does not include casino workers who seek a clean indoor air workplace.
Atlantic City Left Out
Atlantic City’s governance has been under the state’s control since the summer of 2010 when then-Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, promised to reinvigorate the city’s struggling casino industry, which had been hurt by casinos opening in nearby Pennsylvania. Christie’s takeover also aimed to address runaway expenses and poor local leadership.
Fifteen years later, Atlantic City’s economy continues to suffer. While iGaming and mobile sports betting have helped offset some of the losses from brick-and-mortar gaming, the nine casinos claim that increased overhead costs due to inflation have outweighed the gains from online services.
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the unemployment rate in Atlantic City was over 7% as of November, much higher than the statewide average of 4.6%. The per capita income in Atlantic City is just $24,150, about half the New Jersey average, while the city’s median household income of $36,000 is a third of the statewide average of $101,000. Despite these hardships, Murphy did not address how the state’s ongoing control of the city might help improve its struggling economy.
Casinos Fight Against Smoking Ban
The nine Atlantic City casinos argue that a change to the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act of 2006, which includes exemptions for gaming facilities, would further hurt in-person casino visitation. The Casino Association of New Jersey believes that a smoking ban would push gamblers to casinos in Philadelphia, where smoking is still permitted.
Although Murphy has stated he would sign a bill to end smoking in casinos, CEASE argues that he hasn’t used his influence to encourage the Democratic-controlled Legislature to send a bill to his desk. Instead, Murphy focused on what he sees as the success of his governorship.
Governor’s Closing Remarks
“I have your back. I always have, and I always will. The people of New Jersey deserve leaders who fight for them,” Murphy told the people of New Jersey.
He challenged everyone in the state to work toward a bold mission: “To fight to ensure every one of our neighbors is economically secure enough to make their future in the Garden State. To fight for every parent struggling to afford the cost of groceries, gas, housing, and a college education. To fight for every child’s fundamental right to a bright, prosperous future — and every worker’s right to a dignified retirement. And to fight relentlessly to ensure that our laws protect our most vulnerable just as well as they protect our most powerful. Because the vision has always been a stronger and fairer New Jersey — nothing less.”