Rate Hikes, Electoral Apathy and a Showdown on Chelsea – Friday’s Roundup

By |

***Looking for exclusive, direct-to-your-phone updates on Atlantic City area news? There’s an app for that! You can now download our Route 40 app via the Apple store or Google Play. We are so grateful to the Center For Cooperative Media at Montclair State University and the Push App and everyone else who has made this possible (read more about this project in New Jersey here).***

New Jersey American Water announced a 12% rate increase, effective next month. I’m sure their water’s delicious.

Real People, Gambling = Jobs and We Need to Talk About Desegregation – Thursday’s Roundup

By |

Max Pizarro did like a ten-minute interview with Jeff Van Drew at a fundraiser in Pittsgrove and is that Ron Jaworski behind him waving the beer around? I’m not sure what Van Drew said, though at one point he relayed the riveting anecdote of a friend who still insisted on calling him, Senator Van Drew, Jeff, despite the dizzying heights to which he, Jeff, had risen in local politics recently. “That’s what this country was based upon–real people who really came from, in some sense, the working-sector, whether it was in a profession, whether it was in any field…,” he said, etc. Nothing quite says Real America to me like a Michelob Ultra wrapped in the cocktail napkin they insist on giving you with your beer at fancy-ass fundraisers. JVD also said one of his proudest accomplishments was fighting for people in his district who had medically necessary procedures that weren’t covered under their insurance–not by expanding access to healthcare on principle, but by calling the president of the health insurance company to intervene.

We are Problem Solvers – Wednesday’s Roundup

By |

We had a storm! Some trees were down, reportedly. Gnats were plentiful this morning, there’s a raccoon on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, an opossum in Chelsea, deer in Venice Park, and a horse was spotted walking down the Atlantic City Expressway Monday afternoon.

I hate to sound too biblical, but is Mother Earth trying to tell us something?

Sports! – Monday’s Roundup

By |

The Supreme Court has OK’d sports betting, which is good news for us because as of yesterday, New Jersey was “already gearing up to cash in,” per The Wall Street Journal (paywall).

Bird Life, Boardwalking, Soak The Rich, Scromiting – Friday’s Roundup

By |

Bird Life
It’s easy to forget we have lots of amazing bird species in Atlantic County, especially if you don’t get out to the Forsythe very often or are perennially distractable like I am. Have you seen my car keys? What is this typer thing doing here. Oh the Press of AC has a cool story about the World Series of Birding, coming to town this Saturday. Dateline: WOODBINE.

Boardwalkers Be Advised

By |

Our World Famous Atlantic City Boardwalk has grown longer by at least a few hundred feet in the last couple weeks (who’s counting?) but anyone contemplating a wander on foot to the end should be advised the Boardwalk currently dead-ends rather dramatically at around Grammercy Place, with no ramps, steps or exits back to Maine Avenue as of now. To get back to street level, you have to turn around and walk back to Pacific Avenue (more than 1,000 feet by my unofficial reckoning) to find a ramp to get down to street level. The issue was raised Tuesday morning at the Boardwalk Committee Meeting where residents pointed out they’d seen people climbing over the railing to get to Maine Avenue. If you’re on a bike or otherwise mobile, that might not be a big deal but if you’re not so mobile, a two-thousand-plus foot detour is a bigger deal. When I was there I saw a 72 year old man (his estimate) who had scaled the wall with his dog.

How to Get a Turtle out of the Street and More – Thursday’s Roundup

By |

Nicole Leonard at the Press of AC has a depressing and informative and amazing story on the opioid epidemic through the lens of EMTs and “responder fatigue” that sometimes comes with saving the same people over and over again. “For some, it’s become a calling. For others, the frustrating, heart-wrenching cycle of emergency calls for overdoses has caused a type of fatigue that is hard to come back from.” Amy Rosenberg’s story on Mayor Gilliam’s State of the City address contains the interesting nugget that only one member of the City Council attended the big luncheon, “a sign of the contentious and complicated local political scene.” Sheesh.

Rusty Bikes, Offshore Wind, NJ Gun Crime – Wednesday’s Roundup

By |

Got a bike that’s suffering from rust because of the tough Absecon Island climate? We spoke to the owner of AAAA Bike Shop in Ventnor, Mike Wiesen, about how to protect your bike from rust or clean up an already-rusty one. Also – read Nanette LoBiondo of Downbeach Pilot on AAAA Bike Shop’s 40th anniversary.

Who Cares About Our Events Calendar?

By |

Have you used our events calendar? Do you find it useful? What about the featured events in the Route 40 Roundup newsletter?

We started the events calendar on our site because, as residents, we found it hard to find event listings locally online. We hoped we could create a comprehensive-enough calendar that would provide a useful service. But some recent changes have made it no longer feasible to continue in its current form.

Drug War Disparities – Tuesday’s Roundup!

By |

Phil Murphy did an interview with The Record and NorthJersey.com where he was asked about pardoning marijuana offenders, given his efforts to legalize recreational marijuana.

Under a few current proposals, offenders would be able to petition to have prior convictions expunged, but it costs money to hire a lawyer, pay court fees and take the time to go to court. In California, a few district attorneys have been working to automatically expunge or downgrade offenses–within their jurisdictions.

Long-Delayed CRDA Audit Gets New Publication Date

By |

A New Jersey audit of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority that begun almost two years ago is finally nearing completion. The office of the state auditor will send its report to CRDA on May 21 and it will be made public around June 11, after the Authority has had time to make an official response. CRDA, based in Atlantic City, controls more than $300 million in assets and is one of New Jersey’s most important entities. 

Student Visas, Legal Cannabis, Vikings – Monday’s Roundup

By |

Student Visas
Vincent Jackson has a cool story about what might happen to the summer economy if employers couldn’t get enough student visas for workers. “With the anti-immigration rhetoric coming out of Washington, D.C., there had been concern over possible change to or limits on the J-1 student work and travel visa program.” Legal Cannabis
The influential Tom Moran of the Star-Ledger said marijuana will be legalized in New Jersey, it’s just those crafty politicians in Trenton are risk-averse and right now it’s safer to let the other guy take responsibility. Vikings Softball
The Atlantic City Vikings softball team could become a factor in the Cape Atlantic League under new coach Anthony Nistico, who’s stockpiling talent, Glory Days’ Dave O’Sullivan writes. Elsewhere, Margate’s Glenn Klotz says the new drainage pipes on the beach are a “developing emergency.”