NJ Democrats ask AG to stop fighting Paramount merger, cite state economy concerns

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(The Center Square) – A group of New Jersey elected Democrats argue stopping the Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. Discovery merger will cause harm to their state’s economy and are asking state Attorney General Jennifer Davenport to withdraw from the lawsuit in which a number of state attorneys general are attempting to stop the movie studio merger.

A coalition of 12 Hudson County, New Jersey officials wrote in an op-ed: “We respectfully urge our Attorney General to withdraw our state” from the Paramount merger lawsuit “or work toward a prompt and reasonable resolution of this matter and to be a voice of reason in the room.” 

The officials all hail from Hudson County, where Paramount recently developed its 1888 Studios. 

The officials called this “decision to make Hudson County a cornerstone of [Paramount’s] long-term production strategy” a representation of “the most consequential economic development opportunity Hudson County has seen in half a century.”

“This is the creation of an entirely new economic ecosystem and a self-sustaining creative economy in our state: careers for electricians, laborers, carpenters, stagehands, technicians, artists, and countless others; new customers for our small businesses; and, critically, accessible pathways into a growing industry for young people and working families who too often have been excluded from the prosperity being created around them,” the officials wrote. 

The officials say that “a combined Paramount-Warner Bros. enterprise would only increase production activity and investment in this State, potentially including an expanded permanent presence at 1888 Studios,” which would in turn benefit New Jersey.

Paramount provides thousands of jobs to New Jerseyans with plans in the works for more, the officials said.  

Additionally, in Hudson County alone, “~$1.2 billion in capital expenditures in the campus that Paramount will call home” has been made possible, with plans for millions in future investments.

“There will be occasions when antitrust enforcement legitimately compels the State to challenge powerful companies notwithstanding local and statewide economic consequences,” the officials wrote. 

However, “the State should have an exceptionally compelling reason before spending taxpayer dollars on multistate litigation of uncertain merit that may undermine those very investments,” according to the officials.

“We are increasingly concerned that New Jersey taxpayer dollars are being committed to litigation whose merits appear uncertain while its potential costs to the State and to our economy continue to escalate,” the officials wrote.

The officials involved in the op-ed include Bayonne Mayor Sharon Ashe-Nadowski, Hudson County Executive Craig Guy, Hudson County state Sen. Raj Mukherji, Hudson state Sen. Brian Stack, Hudson state Sen.Angela McKnight, Assemblyman Jerry Walker, Assemblyman William Sampson, Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla, Assemblywoman Katie Brennan, Assemblyman Larry Wainstein, and Assemblyman Gabriel Rodriguez. 

None provided comment, although Mukherji and Walker referred The Center Square to the op-ed. 

Davenport's office declined to comment when contacted by The Center Square. 

As a point of interest in the attorneys general’s lawsuit, actor Mark Ruffalo was recently called out for remarks in opposition to the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger that Paramount described as “antisemitic” in a reply to the actor.