New Jersey’s urban areas have lost hundreds of thousands of residents in recent decades.  Despite billions of dollars being spent on revitalization efforts, New Jersey’s focus on renewing our urban communities has been unsuccessful.

Governor Corzine has followed the same path as those before him and despite bold promises, hasn’t made any progress or achieved any real results. Programs like the Urban Fund and New Jersey Enterprise Zones have been renewed year after year despite the absence of any clear indication that they are actually working. Meanwhile, unemployment in our urban cities is nearly 15%, only 40% of students pass the High School Placement Test, on average there are 1,700 violent crimes per year, and more than 22% people live below the poverty line.

The Christie Plan looks at four areas that need improvement if New Jersey’s cities are going to be vibrant communities where parents can raise their family, children can grow up feeling safe and secure, and students graduate school with a quality education and an ability to find a meaningful job in their home city.

• Improve the quality of urban schools and expand educational opportunities
• Provide affordable, quality housing for those who need it most
• Make our cities attractive to business and job growth
• Improve public safety and cut violent crime