TOMS RIVER, NJ-Gov. Chris Christie said he is giving up on trying to use his influence to get the New York Giants and Jets football teams to end their dispute with the American Dream project since the teams took their issues back to court.
The Star-Ledger reports that Gov. Chris Christie called the teams "unreasonable" in the way they are trying to block developer Triple Five's plan for the entertainment and retail complex in the Meadowlands. At an appearance in Toms River Wednesday evening, Christie said he now believes the complex will not be finished by next February's Superbowl game at MetLife Stadium, which is adjacent to the long-stalled development.
“I can't do anything further than what's been done - which was to personally intervene and try to bring a resolution," the governor said. The Jets and the Giants sued the developer and the state's sports and exposition authority after the authority approved the addition of an indoor water park and theme park.
The day before he said he thought the Superbowl deadline will be blown, Christie had called out to legislators to hurry up and resolve disputes over a bill to overhaul tax-incentive programs to stimulate future development. The Assembly and Senate went to summer break with differing versions of the Economic Opportunity Act hanging in the balance.
During a Tuesday appearance in Middlesex County, the governor said, "It's time for them to get their rear ends back in Trenton and vote on this bill and get it on my desk so we can get moving on creating more private-sector jobs," according to a Wall Street journal report.
Christie has already said he would sign the bill. However, it was heavily amended in both the Assembly and Senate before passage at the end of regular sessions three weeks ago.
Christie said the lawmakers "can't get their act together" and need to do it now.
The bill would streamline the state's five existing incentive programs into two, focusing on job creation and capital investment.
The Senate passed the bill on the last day of the legislative session on June 27, but added 35 pages of amendments at the last minute. The lower house approved the bill as well – but did not accept all the Senate changes.
At this point, the state's main incentive programs, the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit and Grow New Jersey, are about to run out of funding.
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