ATLANTIC CITY-Public officials, community leaders, and elected politicians began their three-day visit to Atlantic City to learn about potential new services, ideas and to interact with those delivering critical information and possible solutions to the problems faced in New Jersey.
Except, the conference rooms were empty as speakers spoke and those officials gathered at the many cocktail parties across the city’s casinos hosted by some of the most influential pay to play professionals in the Garden State.
A photo posted by New Jersey State Trooper Kevin Lyons from the League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City. Lyons noted the absence of public officials at a seminar given by the NJ Division of Pensions and Benefits.
“So, all over the state, I listen to municipal leaders complaining about healthcare costs. I’m at the one (yes one) seminar on health care at the league of municipalities conference and you can see the participation level. They missed a great presentation by the Assistant Director of Health Benefits for the NJ Division of Pensions and Benefits,” Lyons said. “Maybe if some attendees were genuinely concerned about healthcare costs they would chase solutions and not cocktail parties. #njleague @nj_league”
With healthcare benefits and pensions being a sore subject in New Jersey that is one of the leading causes in increased taxes statewide, Lyons wondered why more did not attend.