State Sen. Paul Sarlo is Senate deputy majority leader and chair of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) discussed the new Hackensack Meridian Medical School at Seton Hall University, and how it is part of a greater economic revitalization for Clifton and Nutley.
“When Hoffmann-La Roche pulled out, it was a huge hole in our economy. And not just a huge hole in the economy, but this parcel of land — leaving it vacant and turning it into strip malls just didn’t feel right. Today, we are able to turn this into a place where we are going to educate the next generation of medical leaders. What will happen from here, the economy that will grow from here, the infrastructure that will be built around it — I was able to support this as the budget chairman. I think, all in all, I’ve done about almost $50 million in appropriations (for the project) over the years to get it to where we are today.”
