The intent of the hearings is to examine recommendations made by Gov. Christie's Advisory Commission on Gaming, Sports and Entertainment.
On July 21, Christie announced his plans for a state takeover of Atlantic City to save its struggling casinos, clean up its image and boost tourism and convention business there.
The first summit hearing, held last month in Atlantic City, underscored the deep divisions between the northern and southern parts of the state.
North Jersey lawmakers, including Sen. Ray Lesniak, a Union County democrat, have long championed building a casino in the Meadowlands, while South Jersey lawmakers, like Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D., Cape May) are adamantly opposed to any new competition to Atlantic City.
Today's focus was on salvaging the Meadowlands complex and racetrack. In opening remarks, panel chair Sen. James Whelan, an Atlantic County Democrat and former Atlantic City mayor, declared, "We are in this together."
Among the first speakers was East Rutherford Mayor James Casella, who expressed his concern over what he said was the continuing decline of the horse racing industry. "I would hate to see this place go back to what it was, which was a barren wasteland," Casella said. "This really is the economic engine, not only of North Jersey, but all of New Jersey."
Bergen County executive Dennis McNerney said he believed Christie's commission report was "motivated by special interests."
Morning speakers looked at ways to make the Meadowlands complex, including Xanadu, its partially built entertainment and retail complex that was taken over by lenders on Aug. 9, into a world class entertainment destination.
But that goal, said some South Jersey lawmakers, could not be achieved at the expense of Atlantic City.
