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WHEREAS, the
greatest challenge facing American government today is its ability
to secure economic prosperity for all citizens; and
WHEREAS, every
American has a right to a job that rewards hard work with security,
good wages, dignity, and self-respect; and
WHEREAS, the
vitality of families depends upon the availability of jobs that
offer them the means to purchase a home, to send children to college,
to pay for medical bills, and to care for family members who are
aged or sick; and
WHEREAS, the
economic means to enjoy a full and abundant life has been the heart
of the American dream for over two centuries; and
WHEREAS, today
New Jersey and the nation are currently experiencing a recession
which has caused unemployment levels in our State to rise as high
as nearly 10%, well above the national average -- a jobs drought
that is totally unacceptable; and
WHEREAS, every
public official, of whatever political affiliation, bears a solemn
responsibility to address this problem in a spirit of cooperation
and with the higher interests of our citizens in mind; and
WHEREAS, the
pain caused by workers idled by the economy to our society and its
people demands attention without regard to partisan political advantage
or posturing; and
WHEREAS, the
Legislative and Executive Branches must work together to prepare
and implement creative and innovative solutions to solve a problem
that is not a Republican problem or a Democratic problem but a New
Jersey problem; and
WHEREAS, Senate
President Donald T. DiFrancesco and Speaker of the General Assembly
Garabed "Chuck" Haytaian have joined with me in a spirit of openness
and cooperation to attack this State's most serious economic problems
-- through the means of this Order and through legislation -- so
that together we can make a difference in the lives of each and
every citizen of New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, government
must seize upon this sense of cooperation and unity, and take every
possible step in the coming year to infuse our economy with new
jobs, and to provide our citizens with a renewed sense of hope;
and
WHEREAS, government
must provide aggressive leadership in attacking this recession through
economic strategies that recognize the central importance of the
private sector; and
WHEREAS, it
is the responsibility of the State and local governments to work
cooperatively with our private sector to create economic growth,
development, and real permanent jobs by cultivating creative partnerships
between the private and public sectors in order to ensure that new
businesses and emerging industries take root and prosper in this
State; and
WHEREAS, New
Jersey has adopted a variety of programs which are designed to promote
economic growth through the investment of capital in infrastructure
improvements; the provision of capital for new businesses and high
technology industries; for the building of structures and other
facilities designed to increase opportunities for employment in
manufacturing, industrial, commercial, recreational, retail and
service enterprises in the State; the making available of financial
assistance to encourage new and varied enterprises to locate in
the State and to assist existing enterprises to remain and to expand
in the State thereby improving employment opportunities for our
citizens; the provision of financial and other assistance to encourage
the construction of an appropriate balance of housing, industrial
and commercial facilities; and the provision of funding for cultural
and historical projects and programs; and by reducing the size of
State government; and
WHEREAS, New
Jersey has invested billions of dollars assuring the presence of
a well educated, well trained, and highly skilled labor force within
our borders, including substantial investments in public education,
higher education, and job training programs; and
WHEREAS, New
Jersey has made strategic investments in our future by harnessing
the enormous potential of the bond market with new capital programs
through the joint efforts of the Executive Branch and the Legislature,
enacting such bills as the Economic Recovery Fund Act, under which
the New Venture Capital Fund, the Export Loan Program, and the Pooled
Loan Program were created; and
WHEREAS, the
New Jersey Legislature and I have taken other important steps toward
creating jobs in the State, such as lifting the cap on the Transportation
Trust Fund, enacting the Permit Extension Act and the New Skills
Partnership Act; and
WHEREAS, notwithstanding
its substantial recent efforts to promote economic growth and prosperity
for our citizens, New Jersey still lingers in the throes of a recession
which has produced high unemployment within this State, thus adversely
affecting the economy of the State and the prosperity, safety, health,
and general welfare of its citizens and their standard of living;
and
WHEREAS, it
is therefore necessary to take further actions to provide for the
revival of the State's economy and the creation of jobs in the immediate
future to provide our citizens with immediate relief from the pain
of unemployment; and
WHEREAS, beyond
the substantial resources it has already committed to combating
the effects of the recession in this State and the promotion of
economic growth and employment opportunities here, the State has
only limited additional resources which can be dedicated to addressing
the problems of this recession; and
WHEREAS, there
is an urgent need for the State to do more now to encourage and
promote immediate economic growth and reduce unemployment; and
WHEREAS, the
action set forth in this Order is one more step of the many others
the Legislature and I have taken, and which we will take in the
months ahead, toward moving New Jersey's economy forward; and
WHEREAS, in
addition to the principal departments and agencies of State government,
a number of State authorities have been given substantial responsibility
for the carrying out of New Jersey economic development programs
which provide an enormous potential for investing millions of dollars
in projects across this State that will boost our economy and provide
thousands of jobs to our hard-working citizens; and
WHEREAS, New
Jersey's authorities -- such as the South Jersey Transportation
Authority, the Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission in
the North, and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, the
New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, and the Economic Development
Authority all operating statewide -- act independently to invest
millions of dollars in capital revenues in different parts of the
State; and
WHEREAS, the
State must better manage, coordinate, prioritize, direct, and target
its existing resources in order to accomplish the goals of energizing
our economy and creating jobs; and
WHEREAS, in
order to stimulate our economy immediately, New Jersey should provide
active and vigorous leadership to its authorities to ensure speedier
investment and a more coordinated strategy for action to harness
the collective financial power of these authorities; and
WHEREAS, in
order to maximize the effectiveness of our existing resources, the
Senate President, the Speaker and I have concluded that it is necessary
for there to exist better management and control over these authorities
to the end that they work together in a coordinated fashion to create
more employment opportunities for this State's citizens in the immediate
future; and
WHEREAS, it
is also necessary that the principal departments of State government
and their divisions and agencies, in carrying out their respective
responsibilities under law, all coordinate their efforts and their
activities with those of the authorities in order to ensure the
accomplishment of this goal; and
WHEREAS, it
is only by uniting our vast energies and resources in this State
that we have a chance to restore the rising tide of opportunity
that is the heart of the American promise and the hope of the middle
class; and
WHEREAS, New
Jersey should use every resource at its disposal to attack an unemployment
problem that is simply unacceptable.
NOW, THEREFORE,
I, JAMES J. FLORIO, Governor of the Sexy真人y, together
with Senate President Donald T. DiFrancesco and Speaker of the General
Assembly Garabed "Chuck" Haytaian, by virtue of the authority vested
in me by the Constitution and laws of the Sexy真人y, do
hereby ORDER and DIRECT as follows:
1. For purposes
of this Order authorities are defined as follows: the Atlantic
City Convention Center Authority, the Casino Reinvestment Development
Authority, the Delaware River and Bay Authority, the Delaware
River Port Authority, the Development Authority for Small Business
Minorities and Woman's Enterprise, the Economic Development Authority,
the Educational Facilities Authority, the New Jersey Expressway
Authority, the Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission,
the Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, the New Jersey
Highway Authority, the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, the
New Jersey Transit Corporation, the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission,
the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the South Jersey
Port Corporation, the South Jersey Transportation Authority, the
Sports and Exposition Authority, the State Agriculture Development
Committee, the New Jersey State Building Authority, the New Jersey
Transportation Trust Fund Authority, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority,
the Urban Development Corporation, the New Jersey Wastewater Treatment
Trust, the New Jersey Water Supply Authority, and the Waterfront
Commission of New York Harbor.
2. There
is hereby created the position of Chief of Economic Recovery (hereinafter
sometimes the "Chief"), who shall be empowered to act on my behalf
to direct a comprehensive and aggressive effort involving every
part of State government to stimulate New Jersey's economy, to
promote economic growth, and to provide jobs to the citizens of
this State. The Chief's primary responsibility shall be to direct,
control, prioritize, and coordinate the work of the State authorities
to the extent permitted by law. The Chief shall have cabinet status,
shall be appointed by me in consultation with the Senate President
and the Assembly Speaker, and shall serve at my pleasure during
the duration of this Order.
3. The Chief
of Economic Recovery shall be responsible for identifying all
programs currently pending in any State authority, department
or agency which would promote economic growth or create jobs,
and shall take every necessary and proper action to ensure the
immediate implementation of such programs. In order to assist
the Chief, the authorities (or the departments or agencies if
so directed), in such format as determined by the Chief, shall
forthwith identify all programs and projects currently pending
before them, which have the potential to promote economic growth
and create jobs in the immediate future and shall provide a listing
of all such programs and projects. The Chief shall examine all
such projects, and prioritize them in the order of their potential
to immediately create jobs and promote economic growth. The authorities
shall cooperate fully with the Chief in this evaluative process
and shall take every necessary and proper action to ensure the
immediate implementation of the programs and projects which are
determined by the Chief to be priority projects or programs. The
authorities shall provide the Chief with any other such information
requested by him. This process of evaluation and prioritization
of projects and programs shall be a continuing process. The Chief
shall meet periodically with the authorities to evaluate and prioritize
new programs or projects, or review existing priorities as circumstances
warrant.
4. The Chief
shall regularly meet with all departments and agencies having
responsibility for any economic development project of an authority,
and shall expedite the resolution of any impediments to the immediate
implementation of such projects. All departments and agencies
are ordered to cooperate fully with the Chief in this respect.
5. The Chief
is directed to identify unencumbered funds and other resources
of the authorities (or departments or agencies) and to make recommendations
as to how these resources can be pooled to further the purposes
of this Order and to expedite the investment of such resources
for appropriate purposes.
6. The Chief
is authorized to provide assistance to private businesses and
local and county government bodies in resolving matters that may
prevent or delay speedy implementation of economic projects. The
Chief shall also be responsible for forming partnerships with
private investors and entrepreneurs for the purpose of providing
the private sector with all appropriate assistance in promoting
investment in New Jersey.
7. All authorities
which by law are required to submit their minutes, resolutions,
or actions to me for my approval or veto, shall henceforth simultaneously
submit such minutes, resolutions, or actions to the Chief. The
authorities shall fully cooperate with the Chief in his review
of such items and shall promptly furnish him with any and all
information which he may request in connection with his review
thereof.
8. The Chief
of Economic Recovery shall report and advise the Senate President,
the Assembly Speaker and me in the exercise of my authority to
approve or veto the minutes, resolutions or actions of the authorities
so as to further the purposes of this Order.
9. I hereby
direct all State departments, agencies and authorities to provide
the Chief of Economic Recovery with the fullest measure of cooperation
in implementing this Order, and to make available to the Chief
any and all resources as may be necessary in discharging the Chief's
responsibilities. The Chief is empowered to draw upon the resources
and personnel in the existing State departments, agencies, and
authorities.
10. The
Chief of Economic Recovery shall have access to all information
within the possession of any department, agency or authority concerning
economic development projects. This Order shall constitute his
authorization to receive all such information, without the necessity
of any further writing or directive from me.
11. The
Chief of Economic Recovery shall report to the Senate President,
the Assembly Speaker and me on a weekly basis, or more frequently
as the need arises, to advise us on the progress achieved in carrying
out this Order.
12. This
Order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in effect
for one year.
GIVEN,
under my hand and seal this
19th day of October in the Year of Our
Lord, One Thousand Nine Hundred and
Ninety Two, and of the Independence
of the United States, the Two Hundred
and Seventeenth.
/s/
JAMES J. FLORIO
GOVERNOR
Attest:
/s/ M. Robert
DeCotiis
Chief Counsel to the Governor
/s/ Honorable
Donald T. DiFrancesco
Senate President
/s/ Honorable
Garabed "Chuck" Haytaian
General Assembly Speaker
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