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BY TOM HESTER SR.
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
New Jersey After 3, the state-funded program that has funded afterschool supervision, recreation and education for 2,000 children statewide, is going under in the aftermath of a decision by Gov. Chris Christie to line item veto the $3 million needed to keep it operating for another school year.
After 3 sponsors have been notified that the program, which has existed since 2004, will cease operation next week. When the program began, it provided care fro 25,000 students in 30 cities and towns.
In an e-mail sent Monday, New Jersey After 3 President Mark Valli wrote the program’s fate was sealed after Christie's used a line item veto to eliminate the state aid in the 2011-12 state budget.
"This difficult decision follows the loss of state funding and the subsequent loss of private and matching funds in the context of an uncertain economic environment," Valli wrote.
After 3 had virtually ceased providing money to public and private afterschool programs this autumn and was operating with a skeleton staff. Newark and Morristown
are among the cities that had programs.
"After exploring virtually every option and following much thoughtful discussion, it was determined that New Jersey After 3's business model -- and the benefits of its economies of scale that relied on a robust public/private partnership -- are no longer sustainable," Valli wrote.
In 2004, After 3 received $15 million in state aid. With each passing year, the amount declined.
Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex) decried the loss of the aid, saying the program helped working class parents and children.
“This is yet another tragedy delivered by Governor Christie to New Jersey’s working class families, and the worst thing about it is it was all avoidable had the governor simply put sound public policy ahead of conservative ideology,” Oliver said.
“The Democratic budget responsibly restored $3 million to the NJ After 3 program to help it maintain its quality and affordable programs that benefited communities across our state, but the governor vetoed that funding, killing a program so vital to our children.
“This program has kept children safe and away from gangs and other ill-advised activities. It improved student achievement,” the assemblywoman said. “It helped working families. It was the best kind of public-private partnership.
That is how real leaders act, not crying about tough decisions being made because the state can't afford every program under the sun. Had you done your work, and presented a budget that was balanced which did not rely on increasing the tax burden on those who already pay the most, this prgoram may have been saved.