Following the announcement that the New Jersey Turnpike Authority planned to allow a new Chick-fil-A restaurant to open at Brookdale South on the Garden State Parkway, Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia and openly gay Councilman Rich Rockwell have released statements against the proposal:
"This announcement by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to allow Chick-fil-A to open a restaurant at a Bloomfield rest stop is incredibly disappointing," Mayor Michael Venezia said.
"Bloomfield is a diverse community accepting of all races, religions and sexual orientations, which is the antithesis of what this chain stands for."
"Chick-fil-A has a long, documented history of opposing same-sex marriage and supporting anti-LGBTQ legislators and organizations," Mayor Venezia said.
"I implore the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to reconsider this decision and to instead choose a restaurant that is more in line with our values."
"Throughout its existence, Chick-fil-A has used its vast financial success to influence and support policies that are discriminatory to the LGBTQ community," Councilman Rich Rockwell said.
"Chick-fil-A imposes its religion on employees, customers and operators and as a publicly funded entity, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority should not allow this type of business on the Parkway."
"This restaurant chain would be an affront to all of the citizens of Bloomfield that make up the tremendous diversity that makes our town such a great place to live," Councilman Rockwell said.