New Jersey Working Families State Director Sue Altman has released the following statement reacting to a bombshell report from WNYC/Pro Publica finding that George and Phil Norcross engaged in a ‘mafia-like shakedown’ of a Camden non-profit to steer prime waterfront real estate to business partners and Cooper Hospital, which is chaired by George Norcross:

George and Phil Norcross have no shame. They admit to muscling out a nonprofit devoted to Camden’s revitalization and in a move reminiscent of a mafia-style shakedown handing 17 acres of prime waterfront real estate it to a business partner in line to make millions.

The Norcross brothers see Camden as their personal playground. They aren’t interested in building a better future for residents of one of America’s poorest cities. Instead, it is clear that they will stop at nothing to reward their friends and allies at the expense of the people of Camden: whether it’s efforts to stop a supermarket deal in favor of a client’s proposal, rewrite the state’s tax incentive laws to benefit favored companies or carry out a scheme to take real estate from a nonprofit.

We need real economic development in Camden. Not laws written in secret by lobbyists to benefit the Norcross’ friends and business associates and shakedowns to deprive a non-profit of critical resources to help Camden residents.