Republican gubernatorial candidate Christopher Christie says that increases in foreclosure filings is further evidence that New Jersey needs to change governors.
"In Jon Corzine's New Jersey, foreclosure filings went up 43 percent in July as more and more people lost their jobs and are on the verge of running out of their unemployment benefits," Christie said in a statement released today. "In Jon Corzine's fantasy, he sees our economy rebounding, but the reality is that foreclosure filings increased 50 percent or more in eight different counties as homeowners desperately struggle to make ends meet."
"New Jerseyans are facing a daunting 9.3% unemployment rate with nearly 200,000 lost jobs in the last year alone, and the only thing Jon Corzine is offering are more broken promises," Christie said. "Enough is enough – the only chance we have to put a stop to Jon Corzine's failed policies which have only driven our economy further into the ground is to change governors."
RealtyTrac, a publisher of foreclosure data, said that New Jersey had the 11th highest foreclosure rate in the nation last month.
"It is unfortunate, but not unexpected that Chris Christie would blame Governor Corzine for the global economic crisis while offering no tangible ideas or solutions of his own. This type of campaign is typical of a candidate who seeks the ego trip of the Governor's office without a clue of what to do if he were ever to win", said State Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Woodbridge), the Deputy Senate Majority Lesder. "Though New Jersey's challenges are similar to all other states and nations, Governor Corzine has created programs to assist homeowners through the NJ Hope Program offering free foreclosure mediation, credit counseling and assistance with mortgage refinancing. In addition, through Federal stimulus aid, New Jersey is creating jobs and putting people back to work"
"Chris Christie's has repeatedly said that he would turn down this Federal aid. That position alone should scare the daylights out of every New Jerseyan", Vitale concluded.
