Ciattarelli & Arnone: Leave Trump Liquor Licenses Alone
Ciattarelli & Arnone: Leave Trump Liquor Licenses Alone
State Efforts to Revoke Licenses in Somerset & Monmouth Businesses Driven by “Partisan Politics"
Somerville – Successful small business owner and 2025 gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli joined with Monmouth County Commissioner Director Thomas Arnone today to call on the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control to abandon its efforts to revoke the liquor licenses issued to Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, Somerset County, and Trump National Golf Club in Colts Neck, Monmouth County.
Prior to running for Governor, Ciattarelli represented Somerset County in the State Assembly and on the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
In a joint letter addressed to Attorney General Platkin and ABC Director Krueger, Ciattarelli and Arnone stated, “No one following this truly believes that these businesses are being so aggressively targeted and publicly dragged through the mud for any other reason than the name of the family associated with these golf clubs.”
“As residents and taxpayers – as well as former and current elected officials representing Somerset and Monmouth Counties, respectively – we urge you to not allow partisan politics to impact the livelihoods of the several hundred working class New Jersey residents employed at both golf clubs. These men and women depend on each club’s continued operations to keep a roof over their heads, put food on their tables, care for aging relatives, and send their children to college or trade school,” the letter continued.
Hearings initially scheduled for this summer on this matter were postponed as the State continues to pursue the revocation.
The letter delivered to Attorney general Matthew Platkin and Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control Interim Director Kirstin Krueger reads as follows:
Attorney General Platkin and Director Krueger,
We write to request that the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control abandon its efforts to revoke the liquor licenses issued to Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster and Trump National Golf Club in Colts Neck.
Given the long history of animus towards former President Trump by Governor Murphy and this Administration, as well as the excessive media coverage driven by the Attorney General’s Office, the only possible conclusion is that the thrust of your effort is political in nature.
No one following this truly believes that these businesses are being so aggressively targeted and publicly dragged through the mud for any other reason than the name of the family associated with these golf clubs.
As residents and taxpayers – as well as former and current elected officials representing Monmouth and Somerset Counties, respectively – we urge you to not allow partisan politics to impact the livelihoods of the several hundred working class New Jersey residents employed at both golf clubs. These men and women depend on each club’s continued operations to keep a roof over their heads, put food on their tables, care for aging relatives, and send their children to college or trade school.
Moreover, thousands of New Jersey families and hundreds of community nonprofits patronize these clubs either as members or guests for dining, entertainment, recreation, charity events and fundraisers. Is the state really willing to punish these people to garner headlines about the former president amid his current campaign?
We understand that your respective offices postponed the hearings scheduled for this summer on these matters. While we believe that is a step in the right direction, we urge you to abandon your pursuit of this matter. These businesses, their employees, as well as their patrons, should be able to continue operations without the threat of political retribution hanging over them.
Sincerely,
Thomas Arnone
Current Director, Monmouth County Board of Commissioners
Jack Ciattarelli
Former State Assemblyman, Former Somerset County Freeholder
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