LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills to
donate all revenue made by military sectors

WHEREAS, Public documents were uncovered detailing marketing contracts
between 2011 and 2014 totaling $377,000 between the New Jersey Army
National Guard and the New York Jets; and
WHEREAS, According to National Guard spokesman Patrick Daugherty,
promoting and increasing the public's understanding and appreciation of
military service in the New Jersey Army National Guard increases the
propensity for service in our ranks, referring to the $377,000 the Jets
received from the Jersey Guard between 2011-2014; and
WHEREAS, In addition, according to Christopher Baxter and Jonathan
Salant of NJ.com, the New Jersey Army National Guard and the Department
of Defense paid the Jets a total of $377,000 from 2011 to 2014 for the
salutes and other advertising, citing federal contracts; and
WHEREAS, Between 2011-2012 stipulating that teams would be paid sums
ranging from $60,000-$1 million each (in federal taxpayer money) to
pause before the start of games and salute the city's "hometown heroes";
and
WHEREAS, These are expressed as efforts to recruit but in no way has
been proven effective; and
WHEREAS, The New York Jets weren't the only team accepting tax dollars
in exchange for access to football; the Falcons, Ravens, Bills, Bengals,
Browns, Cowboys, Packers, Colts, Chiefs, Dolphins, Vikings, Steelers and
Rams have also accepted the money; and
WHEREAS, The New York Jets and 13 other NFL teams took $5.4 million in
taxpayer money between 2011 and 2014 to give shout outs to America's war
heroes, most of which came from the National Guard; and
WHEREAS, According to a NJ.com breakdown, other teams that received
taxpayer funds include the Cincinnati Bengals ($138,960), Cleveland
Browns ($22,500), the Green Bay Packers ($600,000), Pittsburgh Steelers
($36,000), Minnesota Vikings ($605,000), Atlanta Falcons ($1,049,500),
Buffalo Bills ($679,000), Dallas Cowboys ($62,500), Miami Dolphins
($20,000), St. Louis Rams ($60,000), Kansas City Chiefs ($250,000),
Indianapolis Colts ($620,000), and Baltimore Ravens ($884,500); and
WHEREAS, If these teams truly want to honor our veterans and service
members, they should be making these patriotic overtures out of grati-
tude for free; few fans know the defense department is funneling taxpay-
er money into the NFL in exchange for veteran tributes; and
WHEREAS, The public believes they're doing it as a public service or a
sense of patriotism; and
WHEREAS, The Giants, Mets and Yankees did not receive military money,
but have all staged events to honor the United States Armed Forces;
money came as part of advertising contracts; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
urge the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills to donate all revenue made
by military sectors; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills.