The Toughest Test For New Jersey

It was the section of Governor Christie's State of the State speech that has gotten zero national headlines that has me the most concerned and intrigued.As the Governor addressed the state during Tuesday's speech, he made the big splash by proposing a 10% income tax cut across the board.  He has since touted the plan as he made the media rounds over the last 2 days.

Christie also highlighted the need for real education reform, especially in terms of how teacher tenure is managed.  This is a topic that the Governor has hit on before, thus no big news flashes.  It's a subject that we can surely file away for much future debate between his administration and Democrats.

The final initiative he highlighted was taking back New Jersey's cities.  The Governor laid out reforms in bail for violent criminal, and changing the way the state handles non-violent drug offenders by forcing mandatory treatment.

These two ideas sound fine, and they will, of course, be battled out in the wrestling ring known as the State House between the two sides.  But, the topic itself is one that I have felt needed more urgency shown to it for a very long time.

We have seen certain glimmers of hope in Christie's two years.  He has dubbed that New Jersey is on the comeback.

I would agree with a lot of that.  There has been definitely been a culture of change that is palpable across the state.

However, that sentiment is not always felt in the most troubled, crime-ridden inner cities.  If you drive through the worst sections of Paterson, Trenton, Newark, Camden, Atlantic City, and Jersey City, I highly doubt that they celebrated the Jersey Comeback this week.

My colleague, David Matthau, did a story today that asked the question of whether Christie's plan could help "reclaim" the inner cities.

The state has been on his watch for merely two years, so I do not place blame on Chris Christie for the conditions and crime in these rough cities.

These areas have been neglected for long enough, where drugs and gangs have unfortunately been able to rule the land, forcing residents to either flee or live in peril.

There was a time when places like Newark, Trenton, and Paterson were considered vibrant cities, but that day has long passed.

The task of "reclaiming" the inner cities is not a glamorous one.  It is not one that will happen overnight or even in two years.  And it is a task that is not going to grab gaudy national headlines.

My hope, though, is that it is a task that the Governor does not end up putting on the back burner.  And I hope it is a task he tackles with the same vigor and passion he tackled issues, such as property tax caps, pension and benefit reforms, and now, an income tax cut.

The comeback may have started elsewhere in the state, but for many of the largest and most populated areas of New Jersey, they are a long ways from winning this game.