By Senator Chris Brown
It was heartbreaking to see so many of our casino families with no money waiting in food lines simply to feed their children, because unemployment has been a complete disaster.
Atlantic County needs to act now to develop a concrete plan that follows the President’s guidelines to open up our economy so our families can get back to work. Consistent with those federal guidelines, our plan should be predicated on the criteria of downward trends for flu-like and COVID-19 symptoms within a 14 day period; a downward trajectory of documented cases and positive tests as a percentage of total tests within 14 days; and the ability to treat all patients without crisis care and put into place a robust testing program for healthcare workers. Governor Murphy’s “The Road Back” plan is similar to the federal guidelines in that we need to see a 14 day downward trend in health metrics, robust testing, and hospitals stepping down from crisis care.
Obviously, we cannot open our economy until we fall within the federal and State parameters. Once we do fall within those parameters, we have to be ready to re-open, which means our plan has to be written immediately, which is why I am working in a bi-partisan manner with my colleagues in the Senate, County Executive Levinson, Freeholder Chair Formica, our local mayors, and business associations to prepare a plan.
Despite the fact these health parameters apply broadly across the country and our State, our economic recovery plan must recognize the differences and unique circumstances that exist between our county and our State and the differences between our county and each of our local communities. Clearly, we have to treat New Jersey differently than Pennsylvania, Atlantic County differently than Bergen County, and Folsom differently than Atlantic City. One size does not fit all.
First, any recovery plan must acknowledge South Jersey, fortunately, has faced less of the brunt of the pandemic than North Jersey. According to Rutgers University, the rate of positive cases per thousand residents is lower in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Gloucester counties than in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Passaic counties. We also have relatively fewer hospitalizations in our region. Equally important, Atlantic County has a testing and tracing system already in place.
The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is showing Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey have all passed the peak for deaths and use of hospital resources, which is why the Institute believes these States can prudently reopen in May.
Second, as I earlier noted, any recovery plan must acknowledge Atlantic County’s economy is unique. Obviously, the needs of New Jersey’s Route One Corridor are not the same as the intersection of Atlantic City Expressway and the Garden State Parkway. Atlantic County does not have the same year-round economy since it is more reliant on the seasonal tourism industry and the jobs it creates than other parts of the State outside of our region.
According to Stockton University, our county is looking at a $5 billion loss in regional gross domestic product. Three months can make or break our year. Not opening for the summer of 2020, even partially, is effectively shutting our region down until the summer of 2021. We need a finalized plan ready to go the moment we meet the health parameters.
Third, we have to rebuild our economy from the ground up, which is why we need a plan to do just that. Since each municipality in Atlantic County is unique, each town can use their tax rolls and mercantile certificate lists while working with local business associations, to reach out to their businesses on how they can re-open and operate while protecting the health of their employees and customers, consistent with guidelines set forth by the federal and State governments.
Once the towns receive their individual business plans, they can submit their municipal plan to the county for review. Atlantic County can then submit the plan to the Governor’s Restart and Recovery Commission.
Finally, the plan to help our economy recover must have faith that people will do the right thing. It is in businesses owners’ interest to keep their employees, their customers, and themselves healthy and safe by following the guidelines and taking sensible and, perhaps, innovative precautions. Each municipality and county knows best when to open and manage our economy from our beaches, our boardwalks, and our golf courses to our construction sites and our professional practices. I am also confident families will take the appropriate responsibility by wearing masks, spacing themselves out accordingly on our beaches and in stores, and staying home even if they feel slightly under the weather.
With businesses which have temporarily closed teetering on the edge of not being able to reopen when restrictions are lifted, our working families need to see a light at the end of this tunnel. A bottom up plan developed under the county’s umbrella with our municipalities addressing the unique needs of our region is the best way to move forward while reassuring families they have a future where they can work, raise their children, and save for retirement.
Again, my personal thanks to the our front line workers and businesses helping all of us as best they can to get all of us through this difficult time.
