On Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) delivered remarks at the Netflix Studios groundbreaking at Fort Monmouth.
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00:00Well, thank you everyone and welcome to the groundbreaking for Netflix Studios' Fort Monmouth.
00:18I would like to thank the New Jersey National Guard for joining us
00:22in honor of this occasion and this place. And Sydney, that was a beautiful rendition
00:28of the National Anthem. Thank you.
00:37Established in 1917, Fort Monmouth carries a rich legacy of service to our nation,
00:43playing a key role in driving innovation in military communications and technology.
00:48It was the proud home of the Signal Corps. Their work here increased the readiness of the Army
00:54and our allies, as well as documented decades of the Army's history, including General Eisenhower's
01:01official documentary of the D-Day invasion, which won an Academy Award. We are humbled to become a
01:08part of this institution's remarkable story and next chapter, which we hope includes a couple more
01:14Academy Awards. As we are keeping Fort Monmouth in the name of our new studio, we keep all the
01:22patriots who served here in our hearts, including Netflix's own Mark Wachter.
01:37Right after 9-11, Mark joined the United States Army and later trained right here in preparation for the
01:42global war on terror. We thank all who have served our country. And as the daughter of a veteran,
01:59I would also like to thank their families.
02:01In 2011, the fort's military mission ended and the base closed. But because of the vision and
02:15dedication of the people you will hear from today, our story took a dramatic turn. One fit for Hollywood.
02:23And like all good Hollywood stories, there were lots of twists and turns, challenges and surprises,
02:29and a few seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But spoiler alert, they were surmounted.
02:37Fortunately, there were plenty of heroes and heroines that saved the day. And where do all good
02:42movies start? The hometown, or in this case, hometowns. Throughout this process, we have relied on the
02:50partnership, guidance and support of our local mayors. And of course, the indefatigable work of Kara
02:57Copac and everyone at Femera.
03:10The impact of this project will be felt most acutely by our neighbors. So we have and will continue to
03:16seek guidance from our mayors, who would definitely win the best newcomer to building a studio award.
03:22For ensuring that the people living closest to the project are well served, please join me in thanking and
03:30welcoming Eatontown Mayor Anthony Tallarico and Oceanport Mayor Tom Tverdick.
03:37Good morning, everyone.
03:49I remember exactly where I was when I heard that Fort Monmouth was put on the BRAC List.
03:54I remember wondering what that meant for a region that was so intertwined with the Army. The economy,
04:00the generations of locals and the workforce, the social fabric of the community was Fort Monmouth.
04:06Back then, no one alive probably even remembered what the area was like before Fort Monmouth came.
04:12And as they move forward, fewer and fewer will be lucky enough to have experienced it.
04:18To fill the void, the area needed something with the depth and the breadth of an entire industry.
04:24And so here we are.
04:25I would like to thank Governor Murphy and his administration, the driving force behind the
04:31attraction of Netflix to New Jersey. The fostering of the film industry's return to New Jersey is
04:36absolutely wonderful for us. But you know what? It's also wonderful for the film industry because
04:42New Jersey has a lot to offer. Thank you, Senator O. Scanlon and his assembly delegation,
04:48and to my Senator Gopal and Assemblymembers Vineland and Peter Paul.
04:51Your concern for the region as this project developed is evident. To Commissioner Director Arnone
04:56and your board, thank you for the tremendous partnership that the county brings. And I extend
05:02that thanks to former Commissioner Burry, with whom I served when this project was in its infancy.
05:06Thank you to our partners in Titton Falls, who, though this project is not in your town,
05:12your assistance in advocating for us was noted and very much appreciated. Mayor Coffey and I spent
05:18countless spirited hours discussing every angle of the project, and now Mayor Tavridic and I do the
05:23same. The relationship between Eatontown and Oceanport is strong, and I'm thankful for that.
05:28We appreciate having you as a partner as we redevelop our towns. And while each of those I
05:33previously mentioned were instrumental in the creation of the Netflix plan and lining up all the pieces,
05:39it was the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority who breathed life into the plan and gave it
05:44wings. This group liaised between the army, the state, the county, three towns, countless agencies,
05:50bureaucracies, public utilities, power brokers, and back drama. The men and women of Vermeer are led
05:56by Executive Director Kara Kopach to teach a master class on teamwork, diplomacy, and public leadership.
06:02There's nothing I can say besides thank you. I was hoping to get a clap there. Eatontown stands ready
06:16and excited to work with Netflix. Council President East and Council Members Jones, Ahriman, Lawson,
06:21Faust, and Escalante are here to welcome you. Here today also are Fire Chief, Fire Official, Construction
06:27Official, Police Chief Healy, former Chief and Administrator Lucia and Attorney Bayer,
06:32our First Aid Squad Police Department. We're all here as well for you. And beyond the gates are 12,000
06:37residents and businesses with whom you will soon enter a partnership. To the Netflix representatives
06:42we have worked with and those to come, and to Ted Sarandos and your visionary team, thank you for
06:47your commitment, thank you for your investment, and welcome to Eatontown.
06:58Good morning, everyone. We're here today at the former Fort Monmouth Army Base located in Titton
07:03Falls, Eatontown, and Oceanport, New Jersey. And no matter the weather, this is a very sunny day for all
07:10of us. As a lifelong resident of Oceanport, I'm honored to be a part of this historic moment here at the
07:17Netflix groundbreaking ceremony. We have with us today many government officials, private investors,
07:24and true visionaries who believed Fort Monmouth could be redeveloped and become an economic driver
07:30for the local municipalities, Monmouth County, and the state of New Jersey of this former Fort
07:36Monmouth Base. Collectively, in less than a decade, this group has transformed a closed military facility
07:43into an active residential and commercial development that breeds social and economic life into Monmouth
07:50County. This Netflix groundbreaking is the capstone on what has already been an amazing success story,
07:57and the result of your collective efforts is all around for all of us to see. There are so many of
08:03you here today, and I would ask that you stand up, especially the Fort Owners Group, and be recognized for
08:10your vision and believing in what has become of this site. So if you could please stand and be recognized.
08:19And if you've been to the Fort Gym and you know Coach Shempi,
08:22he'd only have one thing to say, and let's clap it up for this group.
08:32I want to thank Ted Sarandos for providing us with a Netflix all-star team,
08:36including but not limited to Sonia, Nick, and Kevin. Together with Eatontown, Oceanport,
08:42and Camara these past years, let's give them a Shempi.
08:51We're not standing here today without a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, and long, long hours of work
08:56on their part, and we're blessed to have worked with this group from Netflix. As the mayor of a small town,
09:02I can tell you that we're always treated with respect and dignity by the incredible professional
09:07staff at Netflix. I want to thank Governor Murphy, who is here with our First Lady, Tammy.
09:20Governor, it was your vision that created the pathway for Netflix to be able to make this place
09:24its East Coast production facility. It was you who put the team together with the EDA and Femera to get
09:31this difficult and complicated project completed. The Fera team is led by Kara Kopack, who is a rock star.
09:45Maybe Ted, now you can make her a movie star.
09:47Kara and her staff have an amazing work ethic, and more importantly, are the part of the community
09:55fabric of Oceanport and Eatontown. Can the Femera staff please stand up and be recognized,
10:01and let's give them a Coach Shempi clap it up.
10:03My colleagues on the Femera board are here with us today, and I want to highlight the contributions
10:18by a former board member, Lillian Berry, and her husband, Don, who I do not believe made it here
10:22today. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to the residents of Monmouth County during your long
10:28and storied career, Lillian. We have our Congressman Frank Pallone, Senators Declan O. Scanlon, Vingo Powell,
10:36and their staff members, all of whom work tirelessly for the betterment of Oceanport and New Jersey.
10:41Let's clap it up for them.
10:48We have Commissioner Director Tom Arnone and his fellow commissioners are here today,
10:52alongside Sheriff Sean Golan, Vicki Flynn, Jerry Scharfenberger. Thank you for all that
10:58you do for the residents of Monmouth County and for being an instrumental part in the next Netflix
11:02development. Let's clap it up for them.
11:10We have our Titton Falls Mayor Risa Clay and Little Silver Mayor Bob Neff here with us today,
11:14and of course Eatontown Mayor Anthony Tallarico is here with his hard-working team today. Let's clap it up for them.
11:20And thank you to the Oceanport team led by our Borough Administrator Donna Phelps. We have Councilwoman Patty
11:31Cooper here today, Councilmans Mike O'Brien, Brian Keeshan, Rick Gallo, and Billy Deeren, Oceanport Police Chief Gary Grimes,
11:40and our Fire Chiefs Richard Gallo Jr. and Kenny Carroll. Oceanport Construction Official Mike Tuleen,
11:47working alongside the Django Wygers. You guys have a lot of work and long, hard work ahead of you.
11:55Let's not get those permits in late. Let's get them in ahead of time so they can start building. Let's
11:59clap it up for that team.
12:07So lastly, I want to thank our former Oceanport Mayor Jay Coffey, who was instrumental in the early
12:16stages of putting this all together and getting us to where we are today. My friend, thank you, Jed.
12:28Thank you all for your hard work, dedication, and support for being able to put this together.
12:33It takes a team. And to everyone who has been part in getting us to this point, it's because of you
12:38that New Jersey is the best state in the union and why Netflix chose to be here. And in closing,
12:45an old saying in the film industry is, all roads lead to Hollywood. Well, the new saying is,
12:52all roads lead to Eatontown and Oceanport, New Jersey.
13:03And now we'd like to welcome the co-CEO of Netflix, Ted Surrenders.
13:07Good afternoon, everybody. What a great day. What a great day to be back in Jersey.
13:21It's also a great excuse to wear a hard hat. I don't get to do that in my daily life. So it's
13:25really exciting. As the mayor's pointed out today feels a bit like a homecoming for me. I grew up in
13:31Phoenix, Arizona, but I was born just down the road at Monmouth Medical. And in one of the great
13:39coincidences of all time, so did our CFO, Spence Newman, who's here, also born at Monmouth Medical.
13:46But today is a bit of a homecoming for the film industry, too. A lot of people from outside of
13:50Jersey don't know that the motion picture technology was invented by Thomas Edison in his lab in West
13:56Orange. He also built the world's very first movie studio. Now, it wasn't anything like all this.
14:02It was a single room called Black Mariah, which rotated around on tracks to chase the sun around
14:08because the artificial light wasn't bright enough yet. And some of the greatest silent films of all
14:13time were shot up in Fort Lee. The Marx Brothers made their very first short comedy here. So this is
14:19hollow ground for a comedy nerd like myself. But of course, all that didn't last. The combination of
14:25World War I, the Spanish Flu, the desire to run away from Thomas Edison's enforcement drove the film
14:33industry west. But while the film and TV industry in New Jersey was down, it was never out. And now
14:39it's coming back in a very big way. Over the last few years, Netflix has filmed movies and series here
14:46like Office Romance, Happy Gilmore 2 with Adam Sandler, The Beast in Me, The Rip. I mean,
14:54phenomenal. And we've got seven productions actually happening right now in New Jersey as we speak.
15:03Many of them would be right here if we were ready. So today, the film and television industry in New
15:07Jersey is stronger than it's ever been. So we're taking another huge step forward. We're going to
15:13officially begin demolition today to pave the way for Netflix studio Fort Monmouth.
15:18Netflix is making a significant infrastructure investment at Fort Monmouth to transform this
15:28into a state-of-the-art production facility that's going to occupy more than 292 acres and include
15:34sound stages, a back lot, and all kinds of post-production support. Netflix is proud to invest in American
15:40innovation and the creative community. We estimate that these studios will create thousands of jobs
15:47for New Jersey residents, billions of dollars of economic output, and many cultural benefits for
15:53the region and for the state. Over the past four years, Netflix has contributed $125 billion to the
16:00U.S. economy. We've hired 140,000 U.S. cast and crew members, and we are excited to continue our
16:07investment in this country and to New Jersey in the coming years. We want to thank some of the people
16:13here who made this dream come true. I'm going to thank a lot of them. So if this was the Golden Globes,
16:18I'd be asking the people, please don't play me off. So at the top of that list, of course, is Governor Murphy
16:24and First Lady Tammy. Thank you. We definitely would not be here if not for them today, for this vision
16:33and the boldness that it takes to see something and see it through. So thank you for your vision,
16:39for your determination, and for your commitment to the state of New Jersey.
16:42By the way, I should mention, from the very first conversation we had, I was in love with this idea.
16:47But I would tell you that Ann and Matt and their teams adopted it as their own and are as enthusiastic
16:53as I ever was on that first day, and that's what makes this possible too. I want to acknowledge too,
16:58Mr. Speaker, Craig Coughlin, thank you for your continued work on behalf of Netflix and the New
17:03Jersey film industry. I want to thank our friends and partners, Eric Brophy and Tim Sullivan, thank you,
17:09who have helped make New Jersey a wonderful place to do business. Again, I'll add to the list of
17:16acknowledgements to Kara Kopach, who is the driving force behind the Fort Monmouth Economic
17:20Revitalization Authority and a vital part of our success and why we're here today. To our friends in labor,
17:26who have supported this vision from the very beginning, I'd like a special thanks to Mike
17:30Bricka, the new president of Monmouth and Ocean County's Building and Trades. Thank you so much.
17:35I hope your brothers and sisters are ready because we've got a lot of work to do.
17:39And the union work won't stop once this studio is built. Fort Monmouth will be the home for IATSE,
17:44Teamsters, SAG-AFTRA, WGA, and DGA partners for generations to come.
17:48I'd like to acknowledge Senator Vinkupal, our legislative champion throughout this journey,
18:01and what a journey it is, but your support has been incredibly invaluable. Senator Oskallion,
18:06we're grateful for everything you've done both here and in Trenton. And finally, I'd like to thank
18:10the teams who made sure our work benefits their closest neighbors. County Commissioner Arnon,
18:18Eatontown Mayor Telrico, Ocean Port Mayor Tverdick, and thank you so much for making us feel like home
18:24for us. When Thomas Edison was building that single room studio and rotating it around trying to find the
18:34sun, he could have never imagined what we were about to build here. He would have been blown, well,
18:39actually, to be honest with you, he would have been blown away just by how light the brights
18:42have gotten. It's amazing. But once he got over that shock, I bet he'd be pretty impressed with
18:47the entertainment that he helped create. He'd be very proud of the industry, the film and television
18:54that he has brought to life and helped launch. And I bet he'd be glad that we're bringing it back here
18:59to his hometown. Now, please welcome the leader who has done more than anyone to make this place
19:05possible. My friend, Governor Phil Murphy.
19:10What a morning, guys. Good morning, everybody. So, Ted, I wanted to start by thanking you,
19:23but the folks with Seth Rogan's The Studio beat me to the punch. But I'm still going to thank you.
19:30My dear friend, Monmouth County, long ago Monmouth County native, Ted Sarandos for that very generous
19:37introduction and most importantly for your extraordinary leadership. When I saw Ted this
19:42morning before we started, my words were simple, welcome home. Ted, to you and your colleagues at
19:49Netflix, thank you as always for choosing New Jersey. You are truly the ideal partners to help
19:55breathe new life into Fort Monmouth and we could not be more thrilled to welcome you all to New
20:01Jersey. And by the way, in just under three decades, Netflix has completely revolutionized
20:08the world of entertainment. From DVDs to streaming to gaming beyond, you have been at the forefront of
20:16every recent transformation in media. And here in New Jersey, as you rightfully pointed out, the birthplace
20:23of the motion picture industry, we are incredibly honored to be a part of Netflix's next chapter
20:31of revolutionary innovation in entertainment. And frankly, I can think of no better home for Netflix
20:37than Fort Monmouth, a facility that boasts its own legacy of revolutionary innovation. It was nearly 80
20:45years ago when the U.S. Army worked within the halls of Fort Monmouth to send radar signals to the stars
20:53for the very first time as part of what was called Project Diana. And soon, Netflix will work within these
21:01very same walls to capture and send stars of a different variety into the homes and screens of
21:09hundreds of millions of viewers across the globe. So while today's groundbreaking certainly marks
21:17an evolution for this part of our state, in another sense, it is also a return to form.
21:23Because just like the early days of Fort Monmouth, our ambitions for this facility and every single
21:30creator who will work within it are stratospheric. And with Netflix and New Jersey working hand in hand,
21:37this much is clear. The sky is the limit. So we are absolutely honored that Monmouth County,
21:44which I might add is Tammy's in my home county, will now serve as Netflix's new home on the East Coast.
21:52But of course, none of us would be standing here today without the leadership,
21:56not just of Ted and his extraordinary colleagues, but as well a number of our state's biggest champions,
22:03I might add importantly, on both sides of the aisle. And I want to thank a few of those folks in
22:08particular. Congressman Frank Pallone is not here to the best of my knowledge, but I want to give a
22:13shout out. Lieutenant Governor Tahisha Way right in front of me.
22:16The aforementioned Speaker Craig Coughlin, State Senator Declan Oskanlon, State Senator Vin Gopal,
22:28Monmouth County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone. We heard from two exceptional mayors,
22:34to them and all the passel of elected officials here today, deep thanks for everything you have done
22:40to get us to this day. Again, I want to give another shout out to Kara Kopach along with her colleagues
22:46at the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority, who have been valiantly leading the
22:52charge on this project, and it has not been easy. Finally, I want to also thank all sorts of people
22:58we could thank, but I want to thank our friends at the EDA, Tim Sullivan, Board Chair Terry O'Toole,
23:03the whole team and other board members who are with us today, and every member of their team, the
23:08aforementioned Eric Brophy on my team. Together, this extraordinary group has developed the single
23:14best film incentive program in the entire country. And as a testament to that fact, just this past
23:27December, the Economic Development Authority voted to support Netflix's new facility right here at Fort
23:34Monmouth through the so-called Aspire program, which will help ensure it creates good-paying union
23:40jobs for New Jerseyans for many years, if not decades, to come. And after today's groundbreaking,
23:47as Ted alluded to, those good-paying jobs are soon to follow. Because as we start building the 12
23:54state-of-the-art sound stages that will serve as the centerpiece for this new facility, we will be
23:59relying on New Jersey's construction workers, laborers, electricians, carpenters, sheet metal
24:07workers, teamsters, plumbers, pipe fitters, and more to get the job done. Let's give a big shout out to
24:13our brothers and sisters in labor. With their talent and ingenuity, these workers will build the future of
24:24entertainment right here in the Garden State. And as part of this process, we're also going to create
24:30new economic opportunities, as the mayors alluded to, for local business owners in Fort Monmouth's
24:36surrounding communities, Oceanport, Eatontown, Tenton Falls, but beyond as well. And even better,
24:43those businesses will soon be able to reach an entirely new segment of customers, thanks to the
24:49affordable housing units that we will be building on the grounds right here of Fort Monmouth as part
24:54of the project. In short, today's groundbreaking is a culmination of our efforts to supercharge
25:02this region's economy and cement New Jersey's status as a global leader in filmmaking and television
25:09production. And in the months and years ahead, more and more viewers will be able to see New Jersey's
25:14growing imprint on this industry simply by opening up Netflix. Ted mentioned this later this summer,
25:21Netflix will release the highly anticipated sequel to the Adam Sandler classic Happy Gilmore,
25:28which was filmed in New Jersey and in part right here in Monmouth County. As we speak, Netflix is
25:34working on another production, The Whisper Man, featuring Robert De Niro and Michael Keaton,
25:40they've been shooting scenes up in Patterson. Later this year, Catherine Bigelow, the Oscar-winning
25:44director of films like The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty, is expected to release her next film
25:51on Netflix, which was shot, guess where, in Jersey. So from North Central to South Jersey,
25:58the Garden State is once again shaping the future of entertainment with the help of the greatest partner
26:04you could ever ask for, Netflix. Ted, again, huge thanks to you and your team. And now, yeah.
26:15And now it is lights, camera, action as we begin our best chapter yet right here in Fort Monmouth.
26:20Thank you all. God bless you all. It is now my honor to turn the podium back over to our emcee
26:26to the day, for the day, Netflix Vice President Ann Kelly. Ann, come on down.
26:42Governor, thank you. It's always an honor to be with you. Our story now takes a political turn to
26:48Trenton, where bills are passed and amended, and to Monmouth County, where approvals are sought and
26:54hopefully received. Our next speakers have been with us, ensuring the state legislature and county
27:01commission were responsive, clear, and helpful. First, we're honored to have the director, in a
27:07sense, of all the actors in Trenton, the speaker of the New Jersey Assembly, Craig Coughlin.
27:12To all my Senate colleagues, please do not tell Senate President Nick Scatari that I'm the director.
27:26He may take it personally. It's true, but he may take it. Thank you all for being here, and thank you
27:33for letting me be here along with you. It is really a super day for the state of New Jersey, for Netflix,
27:40and for all of us who relish the opportunity to continue to move the New Jersey economy forward.
27:47I want to take a second to, they've been acknowledged a little bit, but I want to
27:50acknowledge my colleagues, Margie Donlan, Luanne Peter-Paul, Vicki Griffin, and Jerry Schaffenberg,
27:56who are here today. Thank you for the work that you've done, the support you've given to this project,
28:00and vote for me for speaker next year.
28:02So this is really, as I said, it's a truly special day, and it's a day of momentum. Right here in Fort
28:12Monmouth, we are laying the foundation for what will be one of the most advanced film production
28:18studios and campuses on the East Coast. And that's not just progress, that's momentum. Through the
28:24Aspire program, as part of the Economic Development Act of 2020 that we passed, New Jersey has made
28:31something really clear, I think, to everybody. And Ted, I'm going to ask you to carry this message to
28:36all of the CEOs that you meet. If you invest in New Jersey, New Jersey's going to invest in you.
28:41And we're going to do that monetarily, and we're going to do that by all of the talent and commitment
28:46that we're able to muster to bring to make sure that your project is a success to those mayors and
28:51to Tom Arnone. I guess there's real pressure on to get those approvals passed quickly. We have a program
28:57that will help you move along, but we'll work things out. I think it was Michael Keaton who said
29:02that filmmaking is the ultimate team sport. And I think that's true of government as well,
29:09although I suspect that the money is a lot better on the film side. I'm just guessing.
29:16So I do want to take the chance to credit Governor Murphy first and foremost, my dear friend, and
29:22someone who has vision has been second to none when it came to making projects like this. The film
29:27credit program that we've established in New Jersey. Boy, what a difference film credits can make, huh?
29:33No more will we ever have to worry about the Boardwalk empire being shot in New York. We just,
29:38we said to hell with that. We got to change this. And we did. Thank you to Senator Gopal for his
29:43leadership, for Senator O Scanlon for making this a bipartisan effort, because that's what really makes
29:49things work when we come together and recognize the importance of something and work towards that
29:54end. To my colleague, Eliana Pinter Moran, who was the sponsor of the legislation to help make this
30:00all possible in the assembly. To the folks that choose New Jersey, to Kara Kopack, who I've never
30:07met before, but I think she does really good work. And I didn't want to be the only guy who didn't
30:11congratulate you. So thanks for that. I may need a tour someday. I don't know, maybe help me out.
30:22To all of our brothers and sisters in the building trades, thank you for that. The leadership and
30:27teamwork that has turned the dream of making New Jersey the Hollywood of the East is on its way.
30:32And let's remember, as Ted pointed out, this is just really coming home. Our state was the birthplace
30:38of the motion picture industry. And we'll take real pride in reclaiming that title. So to the people
30:44of Monmouth County, I know it's been a while, but good things are are worth waiting for. And this is
30:50an example of that piece by piece, law by law. Together, we all work to get this right. Because
30:55what happens at Fort Monmouth really matters. It's this is about the future. It's about jobs. It's about
31:01revitalization. And it's about making sure that the region thrives for generations to come. Over the
31:09next 20 years, the estimated impact on the economy in New Jersey is between around $4 billion or a
31:17little more. So Netflix, thank you for believing in New Jersey. I'm sure that you'll be great neighbors.
31:23This will be an important part of Monmouth County for decades and decades to come. I know we all are
31:29waiting for the time when we can sit on our couch, binge watch a series and say, I was there when
31:34they started to build this place. And Ted, if I may make one suggestion, I know a soon to be former
31:40governor who was an actor in college. And I thought it would be just great if you could put together
31:46a series based on putting this together. So thank you all, ladies and gentlemen, privilege to be with
31:50you today. Let's have a great day. Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker. Next up, is there anyone except,
32:04of course, for Governor Murphy, more closely tied to this project than our friend and leading man,
32:10Vin Gopal?
32:15Good morning, everyone. You know, for many of us today, this is
32:26this is a very emotional day for many of us and many that are not here. My mom worked on the sport. I
32:33have memories coming here as a child and I remember the day that it closed. I remember when
32:39we hoped that it would get saved in every following commission that happened in more than a decade
32:49that businesses in the area struggled and suffered. I'm struggling a little bit watching,
32:55Governor, some of the primaries on the Democratic and Republican side because they're
32:59talking about how terrible New Jersey is. But in some of our early conversations with Netflix,
33:04there's a reason that they picked New Jersey. And it wasn't just the tax credits. It's everything
33:10about our beautiful Monmouth County from Colts Neck to Asbury Park to the Jersey Shore, urban,
33:17suburban, rural, our incredible schools. We talked about how people always talk about leaving New Jersey,
33:24but they want to do it after their kids are out of the New Jersey school system. Then they'll go
33:27down to South Carolina. New Jersey has so much to offer. And I want to thank Governor Murphy. When he
33:33is done in six months, I think they're going to start looking at his legacy. And this will be one of
33:39the biggest pieces of his legacy that in a bipartisan way, he not just reshaped the film industry.
33:46And it's not just about the jobs, the thousands of jobs that are going to come, the building trades,
33:51constructions, painters, electrical, plumbing jobs, but how it affects the local small businesses,
33:58the local florists, the local hotels. Netflix has been extraordinary, with my friend Nick over there,
34:05in making sure,
34:11in making sure that everything goes local. Everything. Before you go to 1-800-Flowers,
34:18let's make sure we hit the local florists. What's going to happen with the economy here in Monmouth
34:23County and throughout New Jersey has a lot to do because of Governor Murphy, his leadership, the EDA,
34:29Kara, as well as the extraordinary partnership with Netflix, who have been there every step of the
34:35way. I also want to thank my extraordinary Assemblymates, Assemblywoman Margie Donlan and
34:41Assemblywoman Luann Peterpaul, as well as Senator Scanlon, Commissioner Arnone, these great mayors,
34:51and all the elected officials, partners, business organizations that made this a truly successful
34:57endeavor. I am looking forward to seeing the incredible business impact this is going to happen
35:02for the generations ahead. Thank you so much.
35:11Thank you, Senator. Next, our friend, Senator Declan O. Scanlon,
35:16driving bipartisan support for this project and the community.
35:25Somehow legislators didn't get access to the teleprompter. That's for mayors and governors,
35:30apparently. But I have my trusty chicken scratch, so I'm going to get through this. A couple of quick
35:36shout outs before I begin. I was here from the start, or just about from the start. This, the closing
35:44of Fort Mahomet, the announcement and the redevelopment was really a 20 year long process. And I was there,
35:51Senator Jennifer Beck, who's not here today, was instrumental. Former Mayor Jay Coffey, before he was
35:56mayor in Oceanport, was a royal pain in the ass, but helped make the design of this property what it is.
36:08And insist on local involvement. He was a fantastic partner and has become a very, very good friend.
36:14I see John Crowley and Dave Shoner are here, two of the biggest promoters of film and television in New
36:21Jersey and really do a wonderful job. And we're kicking California's ass. And I appreciate you for
36:26that very much. I do want to, I do want to thank my legislative mates, Jerry Scharfenberg and Vicky
36:34Flynn. I could not ask for better partners in the legislature. So I've shed a lot of tears for this old
36:41fort. Like so many people who grew up here, this place, this property, the fort itself,
36:48played such a role in our lives. It was a mystery before we got behind the gates.
36:53Once we did, we found it to be a wonderful, wonderful place. Talk to anyone who grew up here.
37:00There are milestones and memories with a nexus to this place. I grew up a half a mile from here.
37:08I saw movies at the movie theater here. I bowled at the bowling alley. I'm still a little prickly about
37:15you Netflix bastards plan to bulldoze the bowling alley. We're going to have to talk about that.
37:23My house, again, is a half mile from here. As a kid, I lied in bed every single night
37:28when at 2100 hours, taps would play here and I could hear it.
37:34In the early 1950s, Whitey Ford was drafted and served here at Fort Monmouth. He played baseball
37:43on the Fort Monmouth Signallers. You can look it up. There's a baseball field about 2000 feet from
37:51here where Whitey Ford played and he pitched. He was a great Yankee pitcher, legendary. He pitched to my
37:58uncle Alan Stern and my uncle hit a home run out of that park off of Whitey Ford. My family still talks
38:06about it to this day. So it's with all that history in mind that I sat on my front porch
38:15on September 14, 2011 and listened to the playing of taps at Fort Monmouth for the very last time.
38:22I did actually say I had real tears that night sitting there with my dog alone. So this isn't a
38:29Greenfield project out in the middle of nowhere. It's the rebirth of a very, very special place.
38:37I've been lucky that my career has, almost from the start, let me play a role in what would happen
38:43after. We all fought, Senator Gopal put it very clearly, we fought to save this place. We wondered,
38:50would it ever be the engine that Fort Monmouth was? We wondered if it would languish. Well,
38:57we're now here to celebrate 20 years later, but it's going to be better than it ever could have been
39:03with the leadership of Netflix. We can't thank you guys enough for that leadership.
39:07So many people led this effort. There are generations of people at the EDA and the current EDA. Tim
39:22Sullivan, specifically for the Netflix project. The mayors have been mentioned already. I mentioned
39:29Senator Beck already. The staff of Femera. Cara, you're amazing. And you've done an incredible job.
39:38Michael Laboud, who led the way, really, in substantial development. He's here. And all
39:43the development you see to the east of this project, out to Oceanport Avenue, are his projects.
39:49Michael, it's amazing. Thank you for your... Lastly, I want to thank Governor Murphy and First
39:59Lady Murphy. It's been mentioned a couple times. It's worth mentioning again. This was personal
40:04for you. The film tax credits were personal for you. It took me a little while to come around
40:09on the film tax credit side. I'm happy to admit I was wrong. And then help lead the charge with you
40:14in a bipartisan way to get it done. You helped convince me. And then you helped... It was your
40:20vision, I think, the two of you, that Netflix should come here. And what a vision it is. And we
40:26will thank you for generations to come for that.
40:35So I think if we could go back to our 20 years younger selves and show those selves what is happening
40:42here today and talk about how we would have envisioned success for the redevelopment of this place.
40:50Here today, we would look at in awe and say, it is success beyond our wildest dreams.
40:58I look forward to shedding happy tears as we watch it all play out. Again, thank you to
41:04Governor Murphy and everyone else. Let's get the show on the road. Thank you.
41:16Thank you, Senator. And closing out with another hometown hero, Fort Monmouth County Commissioner
41:22Tom Arnone, who is working with us daily to forge a remarkable partnership between Netflix and the county.
41:28So I do believe I have a lot of pressure on me here with these approvals. But I will say,
41:39before I start, I do want to make a few thank yous. And of course, I want to thank my my fellow
41:43commissioners that are here today, Eric Anderson, Ross, Sue Kiley, our constitutional officers,
41:49as you heard, Sheriff Sean Golden, our county clerk, Christine Hanlon. I also want to thank
41:54Kara Kopach and her team for the hard work. And they need an extreme round of applause for the hard
42:00work, the daily work that they do. So, you know, it was as Senator Scanlon said, there's a personal
42:10side and there is a very personal side of this to me, too. So just a few years back in my life,
42:16when I was probably, I think, like 17, I actually worked on this fort in every one of the buildings,
42:22putting in new heating systems with my father's plumbing company that he had the contract for.
42:28So we went inside every building. I did the grunt work of sledgehammering the old ones out and told
42:33to go to the next one and and did that day in and day after until I decided to quit that job
42:40and go on to something else. But so sitting here today, you know, I look down, I come down and I
42:46look at this and say, wow, how things have changed. But, you know, none of this happens without good
42:51leadership and good vision. And, you know, I will remember, and I received that phone call
42:56from Governor Murphy there saying, what do you think? What do you think about an initiative
43:02here in Monmouth County? And what would that initiative be? Netflix. I was like, Netflix?
43:07Netflix coming to Monmouth County. And that vision is here today. It's here today because everybody,
43:15as, as was said numerous times on a bipartisan way. And I do want to just add one thing to this,
43:21because I just want to try to get this. I hope somebody taped that to Senator O Scanlon and said
43:25he was wrong on something there. But with that being said, this was something where teams came together.
43:35And the only way something with this vision, with this complexity,
43:40is going to happen is with people working together. And, you know, I, and I say this,
43:46and I know, Governor, you, you, you're in control of the whole state of New Jersey,
43:51our assembly here, and our senators here, you have a broader span on the state level. But none of this
43:56would happen unless it was in Monmouth County. It could only happen in Monmouth County because of the
44:00way teams work together. We are the Mecca. There's a reason. And I thank you. I thank you so much,
44:08Ted and your team for picking Monmouth County as your vision and your home. And I trust you. And you
44:15could trust me that this will not, you will not be disappointed. You know, since day one,
44:22day one, Netflix entered my office weekend and week after giving us updates of what was going to
44:30happen. That's a sign of a good partner. Now, the sign of my good partnership, the sign of our
44:35our commissioner's good partnership, along with our administrator, Terry O'Connor, which I know is
44:39here somewhere. There, there she is back there to make sure we make your life easy. I'm going to take,
44:47I'm going to add something to merit the verdicts when he said, coming in the crossroads of Eatontown
44:53and Oceanport, you're coming also in the crossroads of Monmouth County here. And we're something that
44:58we're very, very proud of. And I will tell you this, and I sit here in front of a large crowd,
45:03which I am sure is being taped. We will make this process easy for you. We want you here.
45:11We need you here. And we're going to make it happen. Congratulations and welcome Netflix.
45:15Thank you, Commissioner. Um, we've heard a lot of, um, we've heard people say New Jersey and we've
45:30heard people say television, and it's hard to hear those two words without thinking about one show.
45:35And we are very fortunate to have joining us today, David Chase, the creator of Sopranos.
45:42And now for the big moment, you all have hard hats, um, which are yours to keep if you ever need them
46:00again. Um, so please put your hard hats on and, um, Governor and Ted, if you would step over here for
46:11the action sequence. Governor and Ted, uh, we can all get to work and David Chase can give me notes on this
46:38after. But, um, now for some old school special effects, roll sound, roll camera, action.