Calling the state’s award of a $420K tax credit to MTV’s Jersey Shore a “shocking abuse of public monies,” — and possibly even illegal — the Italian American anti-defamation group One Voice Coalition wants the subsidy stopped, and is looking into taking legal action against the NJ Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). Representing a national network of more than 5,000 Italian American anti-defamation activists from the coalition’s Bloomfield headquarters, President Andre’ DiMino has told the governor and state legislators that using public money to promote the show is “disgraceful.”
“They’ve abrogated the public trust by awarding a tax credit to a show that not only stereotypes Italians, but promotes violence and cast members who revel in openly breaking the law,” he said.
DiMino — a past president of UNICO National — has consistently led the charge against Jersey Shore , and believes that there are better ways to use the public’s money.
“One has to wonder what is on the minds of folks at the NJEDA,” he stated. “With NJ experiencing record unemployment, and residents losing their homes, the money could clearly be used to create jobs and provide property tax relief, rather than aiding and abetting a racist show.”
One Voice’s stated mission is to “secure the rightful representation of Americans of Italian origin and of all peoples whose paths toward social equality have been impeded. The powers of intellect, wisdom and due process of law will be brought to bear on all inequities.”
Do you think they have a legal point? Do you want your tax dollars subsidizing Snookie’s antics?
I believe the initial article claimed the subsidy was for Season 1. It’s nice to know the complaints pile in now.
Anyway–the tax credit was not used to promote the show—theoretically at least. The credit is given to producers to entice them to have the show in Jersey at all rather than some other beach location with a different group. The hope is that more people go to the Jersey Shore and spend their money in New Jersey. The NJEDA should just respond with some conservative estimates of the reward on their investment and that should be the end of this.
I can only imagine the far reaching powers the NJEDA has to be able to to get involved in giving tax credits to TV shows. Bureaucracy at its best. According to their website this “what we do”.
If you are a business in need of financing to grow in New Jersey, a not-for-profit organization seeking capital to expand community services, a municipality looking to attract a major corporation within your boundaries, or a developer requiring funds for a major redevelopment project, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) is ready to put its resources to work for you.
With our large portfolio of varied programs and services, the EDA can assist you with access to capital, including tax-exempt and taxable bond financing, loans, loan guarantees, and business and tax incentives. In addition, we offer real estate development assistance and state-of-the-art technology facilities like the Technology Centre of New Jersey in North Brunswick and the Waterfront Technology Center at Camden.
Budmanzz, I know what your saying about attracting people to the shore. Makes a little sense. I’d rather see them concentrate on bringing businesses to NJ like our VP Biden says, ones that will bring ‘jobs that will last forever’.
Maybe they can entice Solyndra to move operations.
Solyndra again, herb? You need to expand your references. Here are some more greenie treehugger stories for you:
for our Americans in uniform:
http://inhabitat.com/solarcitys-solarstrong-project-will-double-the-number-of-residential-solar-panels-in-the-u-s/
for Steve Jobs and company:
http://inhabitat.com/apple-unveils-exciting-new-pictures-of-its-foster-partners-designed-green-headquarters-in-cupertino/
I can furnish many more examples for you if you like, herb.
“Solyndra again”…right… I love your wording like were supposed to brush off a 1/2 billion dollars down the tube, when the administration was warned that it would be a failure. Oh, and conveniently the company CEO paid 4 trips to the white house before getting that money. This one is bad ‘ole boy.
I guess One Voice Coalition doesn’t realize our government’s sole purpose is to make more money for businesses. Duh. Isn’t that in the Constitution?
I find myself agreeing with nick again. We should not be subsidizing any businesses with tax dollars. Not Farmers, not steel mills, not tv production, not the oil and gas industry, not “green” businesses.
Of course we shouldn’t punish them either.
Did the Sopranos get the same tax credit? What about the newer Jersey shows, like Jerseylicious, Real Housewives of New Jersey, or Cake Boss?
Why all this hate just for the Jersey Shore? That show produced one of the best sayings ever:
T-SHIRT TIIIMMMMEEEE!!!
First off, the 400k is to get the TV to film. Filming itself costs more than the 400k in subsides so the money comes right back to NJ.
Shore rentals in Sleazeside Heights were rock bottom before the ‘Shore came there. They didn’t clean the place up, but they didn’t make it worse either. In fact, for property owners and local businesses it made it better = higher rent rates now.
The Jersey Shore has to do with Guidos, not Italians. I think its racist to assume that all Guidos are Italians. After all, who in the cast is Italian?
Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi (NY) is of Chilean descent adopted by an Italian family
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino (Staten Island) is half Spanish half Italian
Jenni ” J-WoWW” Farley (NY) is half Irish half Italian
Paul “Pauly D” Delvecchio (Rhode Island) is half Spanish half Italian
Ronnie Ortiz-Magro (Bronx) is half Puerto Rican half Italian
Sammi “Sweatheart” Giancola (NJ) said “I am not Italian, but I can understand why some Italians are upset”
Vinny Guadagnino (Staten Island) is the only full Italian
Angelina Pivarnick (Staten Island) is Polish
“Filming itself costs more than the 400k in subsides so the money comes right back to NJ.”
of course it just might be a tad hard to film the “Jersey Shore” reality show anywhere else, so we could have had the economic benefit AND their fair share of taxes like everyone else has to pay.
of course it just might be a tad hard to film the “Jersey Shore” reality show anywhere else, so we could have had the economic benefit AND their fair share of taxes like everyone else has to pay.
Well, they did film in Florida and Italy, and still call themselves Jersey Shore.
Really? Last year they filmed it in Miami and this year in Florence, Italy. Given the fact that most of them are from NY they could have named it “Jones Beach.” Pretty sure they landed a NJ contract BEFORE naming the show.
Fact is, I dont recall One Voice providing 1) entertainment to me or 2) NJ property owners & businesses a way to increase their income.
In fact, all One Voice is doing is creating a legal battle that my taxes are paying to fight! Strong arming the government with 5,000 Italians sounds pretty stereotypical too. Let it go One Voice, Im sure they used Teamsters on the set…