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BY ALBERT COUTINHO
COMMENTARY
Times are tough. There is no doubt about it. From coast to coast, governments are dealing with the fiscal realities of the recession and its impact on public budgets.
New Jersey is no stranger to this scenario. Governor Christie's tough love approach to state spending is, in some ways, commendable because it forces local governments to take a long hard look at where money can be saved.
The ramifications of the Governor's cuts in local aid this year — nearly $1 billion to schools and half of a billion to municipalities — are beginning to play out all over our state. But when should fiscal prudence trump the very safety and well-being of residents in the Garden State?
Sixty cops and 30 firefighters have been laid off in Atlantic City. Nearly half of Camden's police force and one-third of its firefighters are being threatened with layoffs, and Jersey City is warning that it may have to cut over 80 cops.But, perhaps the most troublesome scenario comes out of Newark where 167 police officers have been laid off, the largest amount since 200 were cut in 1978. As a young boy growing up in Newark back then, I am all too familiar with the rampant crime and unrest that followed in the late ‘70's and well through the ‘80's as the effects of these cuts played out.
Have we not learned anything from history?
Newark is also the birthplace of the Governor, a city his family felt the need to leave in 1967. Unfortunately, most residents today don't have the means to simply pack up and move should they want to.
The Governor's tough talk on fiscal management does not take into account the realities of living in our urban, and even many of our suburban, municipalities. It's nice to say you've significantly cut spending, but at what price?
When the gangs who have been slowly getting squeezed out regain a foothold in neighborhoods that had been making progress? When shootings go unresolved because the detective force has been decimated, leaving cold-blooded killers out on the streets to do more harm? When small fires end up engulfing entire blocks because the woefully understaffed fire department can't respond adequately enough? Can you place a value on a human life?
And consequently when businesses flee out of lack of confidence after crime spikes, compounding the economic crisis?
Since Newark implemented its police layoffs on November 30, we have been besieged with an alarming number of homicides — 14 and counting at press time.
These are the realities we are looking at as the effects of the Governor's record budget cuts trickle down to the local level.
"Fiscal watchdog" is a nice buzz phrase that plays out well on cable outlets and the national stage during this period of economic instability. But long after the recession subsides and Chris Christie has moved on to other pastures, cities like Newark will still be struggling to claw their way back to square one.
It's incumbent upon everybody to do their part. Unions must be an active part of the solution, giving reasonable concessions wherever possible. Municipalities need to make public safety their top priority. And the state must also be realistic when faced with cost-cutting options by chipping in to help soften the blow to towns.
We should not have to choose between whether we want to take a bite out of the budget or take a bite out of crime.
Assemblyman Albert Coutinho is a Democrat who represents the 29th Legislative District in Essex County. He is chairman of the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee.
ALSO BY ASSEMBLYMAN COUTINHO
Christie needs to understand that job creation is main issue facing New Jersey
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