Group protests governor’s plan to raise casino taxes

John Curran

Friday, Feb. 21, 2003 | 9:26 a.m.

ATLANTIC CITY -- About 150 casino industry executives, workers and community leaders turned out this week to protest plans for new taxes on casinos, saying the added burden would stymie growth and threaten jobs.

The 45-minute rally, emceed by state Sen. William Gormley, featured pastors and politicians taking aim at Gov. James E. McGreevey's proposal to boost the casinos' 8 percent tax -- to 10 percent -- and impose a new 6 percent levy on the freebies given to gamblers by casinos as complimentary gifts.

The midday event Wednesday, at a Baptist church near City Hall, drew a stacked deck: In addition to casino executives and casino public relations officials, a couple of dozen dealers, slot attendants and pastry chefs -- attending on company time, at the request of their employers -- wore lapel stickers that said "Keep Atlantic City Growing!" and "Save Our Jobs" as they sat quietly in the pews.

Local 54 of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees International Union (Culinary Union), which represents about 15,000 casino workers, also sent a vanload of people.

Form letters were handed out for them to write to McGreevey and state lawmakers to urge defeat of the proposals and discourage the state from approving slot machines at racetracks.

They were also given "suggestions for talking points" to help them spread the word about the implications of the tax hike plan.

"People are worried about future layoffs if the taxes are increased," said one Bally's Atlantic City floor supervisor, who did not want to give his name.

McGreevey says the proposed tax hikes are a bitter pill necessary to help the state address a projected $5 billion deficit.

Opponents say the tax hikes would unfairly target an industry that already pays its own special tax. If passed, they would chip away at profits, halt growth and hurt the 45,000 people who work in casinos, as well as vendors who serve casinos and their employees, speakers at the rally said.

"We all have to give a little bit, but we've been asked to give too much," said Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew, a Cape May County Democrat. "This is an assault on south Jersey."

Among the other speakers were the Rev. James Washington and Mayor Lorenzo Langford, a former casino dealer who complained that New Jersey misunderstands the casino industry, which he called "the goose that laid the golden egg."

"Enough is enough. We're not going to stand by and take it any more. Let's get ready to rumble," Langford said.

Gormley, the casinos' most powerful ally in Trenton, said the idea for the rally started with the Rev. Collins Days, pastor of Second Baptist Church, where the rally was held. "For once, I'm innocent," Gormley, R-Atlantic, said.