Some of the local communities to receive monies from that program in May were Gloucester City ($598,000), Camden City ($5 million), Passaic ($1.5 million), and Scranton PA, ($8 million).
Just this week Congressman Andrews announced that Voorhees will receive a $334,000 boost from the same program to hire firefighters in that township.
Here is something everyone should keep in mind: the money to hire these individuals eventually runs out. What happens then? You wont have to think too hard, remember 2010 when the city of Gloucester City had to lay off 8 firemen because the community was broke.
Because of that turmoil in 2010 I was surprised that Mayor James and Council accepted this recent SAFER grant. Come to find out, if truth be told, the City hired Triad Associates to apply for the money. Go figure, we are still in the middle of a recession and unemployment in New Jersey is still higher than most states.
New Jersey’s Republican Governor Christie, in a speech last week (July 9, 2012) at the Brookings Institute, a liberal Washington think tank, said he doesn’t want anymore monies to hire public employees.
When Christie was told President Obama was pushing to send states another dose of stimulus money to hire teachers, firefighters and police Christie said, “No more public workers — please!”
“Please don’t send me any more money to hire more public employees. Please don’t,” begged Christie.
“I’ve got plenty as it is, and I don’t need any more. They are extraordinarily expensive and extraordinarily difficult to manage!” said the governor.
Temporary federal aid to hire permanent state and local workers, he argued, only leads to huge budget shortfalls or layoffs when the stimulus money runs out.
“I have the highest property taxes in America to begin with,” said Christie. “Where’s this money going to come from to pay these folks afterwards?”
“If the president and the Congress want to spend money on something that will create jobs, then spend money on infrastructure, which builds private-sector jobs,” he said.
Here is a further notion you might want to consider. The money the “Washington Elite” and local politicians so freely spend funding the SAFER program and the stimulus is coming out of your pocket. Think about it. They are trying to influence you to vote for them using your own money.
The vivacious boxing promotor Don King said it best, ‘Only in America!’
Governor Christie: Please Don’t Send Me Any More Money To Hire More Public Employees