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Union, casino must settle disputeWe encourage readers to write letters concerning New Jersey business issues. Please keep letters to fewer than 400 words. We reserve the right to edit letters and reproduce them at NJBIZ.com. Please sign your name and include a telephone number. List your town, or if you prefer, your title and companyÂs name. Send letters to [email protected]
Union, casino must settle dispute
The Southern New Jersey Development Council has been a proponent of gaming in Atlantic City since the early 1970s. We have used the base of our membership and our influence to support and sustain the gaming industry since that time.
That effort, and the support of others, led to the economic success that changed the fortunes of Atlantic City, and influenced the entire New Jersey economy.
Our membership is diverse, and includes both large and small companies, many of whom have union employees, and engage in collective bargaining. We also have labor unions and labor leaders as members. We believe that the cooperation of labor, management and many diverse constituencies is required to make our economy grow.
Right now, Atlantic City is suffering from an economic downturn that is the result of many events. The economy, competition from neighboring states, and a crisis in the financial markets all have taken their toll on the revenues and aspirations of the industry. There is a ripple effect down to those vendors who supply the industry. New investments in capital projects are closely scrutinized and, in some cases, have been put on hold altogether.
It is our position that anything that negatively impacts the regionÂs fragile tourist industry is counter-productive to the long-term goals we all aspire to.
HarrahÂs Resort Atlantic City and the United Auto Workers have been involved in a protracted bargaining negotiation. I commend both sides for continuing the process, but I implore them to resolve the issue, as soon as possible. Disrupting the image of Atlantic City as a family resort may have an unwanted effect of sending patrons across the river.
Right now, we need every tourist dollar we can get. HarrahÂs and the UAW can help by resolving their differences and then using their public relations dollars to foster more tourism.
Tom Viviano, chairman
Southern New Jersey Development Council
Turnersville
New Jersey Future supports bill
I am writing regarding an article that appeared in the July 13 edition of NJBIZ, titled, ÂBanding together to build friendlier regulation. The article described the work of the Smart Growth Economic Development Coalition in regard to helping shape and pass bills that would foster redevelopment and growth.
I attended the July 27 signing of the Economic Stimulus Act in Newark, one of the pieces of legislation that the coalition worked on, and that my organization, New Jersey Future, supported. I was surprised to find out that because of the way the above-referenced article was written and the selective quotes used, some in the public thought that New Jersey Future was not in favor of the act or the efforts of the coalition. The act provides expanded tax credits to redevelop around urban train stations and new financing tools to revitalize older communities, and fosters mixed-income developments in both of these places by extending incentives to residential development projects where previously only commercial projects were eligible.
As the stateÂs smart-growth policy organization, we work tirelessly to collaborate with stakeholders representing economic, environmental and social equity interests to craft policy solutions that simultaneously improve our communities, propel our economy and protect our environment. The work of the coalition and the recently passed Economic Stimulus Act are important parts of this equation.
Peter Kasabach, executive director
New Jersey Future
Trenton
New Jersey, land of the pessimists
IÂm sorry, New Jersey business leaders, owners  hell, residents  are the most negative, gloomy, downtrodden, pessimistic people in the United States (ÂSurvey finds N.J. CFOs still gloomy about economy, NJBIZ.com, July 24).
IÂve lived here and worked here all of my life, and it is amazing how uninformed and out of touch we can be. That must explain the disconnect  more than 40 percent of business owners are planning to expand, but less than a third say business is improving. The majority of our neighbors in Pennsylvania think the president is on track, and we donÂt (of course, that would be too upbeat).
Pat Garrison, principal
Garrison Inc. Public Relations
South Orange
Social media is redefining business
Social media is redefining and turning on its head how small businesses execute viral marketing and guerilla marketing (ÂMaintaining Web sites will aid in small-business growth, July 27).
In the small-business management class I teach, I focus on social media as an effective way for small businesses to market products and services. Social media is scalable and replicable at a fraction of the cost of traditional media, which for many small businesses is marginally effective.
Domenick Celentano, adjunct professor
Silberman College of Business
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Madison
