Trampoline Park To Open In Mays Landing This Fall

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As a recent transplant to Atlantic County with two kids in tow, it didn’t take long before I could join in with local parents, kids and – even – politicians lamenting how it can sometimes feel like there’s little to do around here when the beach isn’t an option. So imagine me, whiling away an evening reading some planning board minutes, when the name of a business looking for a resolution just jumps out at me: Trampoline Park Consulting. Oh yes, I thought. THAT would make me happier. And my kids happier.

More about: Business

Nor’Easter, State Takeover Perspective From The Governor’s Race – Monday’s Roundup

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Nor’Easter
It’s windy and this afternoon’s high tide (around 4.20pm) will probably bring the worst of the storm-related flooding, according to top local weather man Dan Skeldon.  Thousands are already without power, but the only damage reported so far is to a traffic light pole in Atlantic City. Still, ferry departures from Cape May have been cancelled as a precaution and – for what it’s worth – Atlantic City Electric is promising to work through the storm to keep the power on wherever possible. State Takeover Perspective From The Governor’s Race
It will be interesting to see how much play the state’s takeover of Atlantic City gets as the governor’s race gets underway. Democrat Assemblyman and governor candidate John Wisniewski slammed the takeover in comments at a town hall meeting in Egg Harbor City this weekend, the Press of Atlantic City reported.

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Why Did The Casino Association Ask A Norcross To Lobby CRDA?

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The Casino Association of New Jersey last year hired Philip Norcross, brother of Democrat power-broker George, to lobby the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) on the topic of “economic development,” according to lobbying records. In recent years, Atlantic City casinos have received millions of dollars from CRDA for investments in their own properties, but last year, as part of the city takeover legislation, CRDA saw that chunk of its budget diverted to pay off city debt. A spokeswoman for The Casino Association of New Jersey, which includes all seven of Atlantic City’s remaining gaming properties, declined to give any details on its lobbying activity. A spokeswoman for CRDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Norcross did not return messages left on Friday. The lobbying records show that Norcross’ Optimus Partners also lobbied the legislature on behalf of the Casino Association on the topic of the takeover legislation.

More about: Government, Watchdog Journalism, Bart Blatstein, Casino Association of New Jersey, CRDA, Optimus Partners, Philip Norcross

Casino Money, Pinelands, Howler – Friday’s Roundup

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Casino Money
In case you haven’t already read it, check out Christian Hetrick’s Press of Atlantic City piece on how everyone’s favorite Casino Reinvestment Development Authority has spent more than $1 billion in casino taxes and fees, sending a lot of that money back to the casinos themselves in recent years. What’s also amazing is that, while CRDA was established in 1984, it was never once audited* – until last year, as Route 40 first reported. (*A spokeswoman for CRDA said the authority’s accountants annually audit its financial statements and the audit that began last year was the first by the state’s auditor.)

Pinelands
NJ Spotlight reports that a gas pipeline that would run through South Jersey’s Pinelands is once again on hold, after the Pinelands Preservation Alliance asked a state appeals court to block the Pinelands Commission from ruling on whether the pipeline complies with state policy and administrative rules. The Pinelands Commission is holding a Special Meeting via conference call on Monday to discuss their next steps in the court battle. The pipeline project is being pushed – and funded – by a consortium including South Jersey Industries, which says it will bring cheaper gas to our area.

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Takeover Tango

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New Jersey’s sinister Department of Community Affairs (if that is, in fact, its real name) has hired Jason Holt to assist in its work of taking over and fixing the grave mess that is the Atlantic City municipal government. This is a curious hiring decision, since, up until a few days ago, Holt had been business administrator for–wait for it–the municipal government of Atlantic City itself, which raises a question or two. Was the Atlantic City government really incompetent, as Governor Christie has repeatedly asserted? And if so, why is the State Department of Community of Affairs hiring the city’s allegedly incompetent personnel to staff its takeover team? By sheer luck, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Amy Rosenberg seems to have wondered the same thing and reports that a spokesman for Christie, “declined to answer a question about whether Holt’s hire undercut repeated assertions by Christie that Atlantic City’s government was incompetent.”

More about: opinion, Voices

Stockton Aviation Project, “Awful People”, New Rowan Business Building – Thursday’s Roundup

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Stockton Aviation Project
The Stockton Aviation Research and Technology Park, being built in Egg Harbor Township on Federal Aviation Administration land just outside the Atlantic City Airport, is proceeding – but the engineering consultants AECOM have asked Atlantic County to cough up more money. This is actually the second time they have asked for an increase in funding for work they say was not included in the original contract. The cost of their agreement is now up 9 percent and actual construction work has not yet started. Route 40 has the story. “Awful People”
Governor Chris Christie, presumably tired after a few days of good behavior on his (politically calculated?) solo crusade to save the state from the drug abuse crisis, had a relapse last night and returned to a favorite topic – how terrible Eagles fans are.

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Stockton Aviation Park Engineer Bumps Up Contract Cost, Again

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The engineering company responsible for the design of the new Stockton Aviation Research and Technology Park has requested more money for the job, raising the total contract cost by 9 percent. The additional costs are connected with work that was not included in the original scope of the project, according to a letter sent by AECOM, the international engineering company carrying out the work, to the Atlantic County Improvement Authority (ACIA). The ACIA approved the request last month. The new work, worth $28,031, takes the total cost of the job up to $766,421.00. A previous change order, approved by the ACIA in August, gave AECOM an additional $41,234.00.

More about: Watchdog Journalism, acia, Atlantic City International Airport, atlantic county improvement authority, egg harbor township, FAA, federal aviation administration, Maser Consulting

Bald Eagles, CRDA and Sports Gambling – Wednesday’s Roundup

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Bald Eagles
Starting off with a feel-good story – 15 new bald eagle pairs were spotted this nesting season in New Jersey, 12 of them in South Jersey. More than half the state’s nests were in Cumberland, Salem and Cape May counties, according to an observers project run by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. You can read their report here and the NJ Advance Media story on the findings here. CRDA
The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority held its first meeting yesterday with new executive director, fresh-faced 32-year-old Chris Howard. The Press of Atlantic City covered the meeting and the challenges ahead of the Authority, which has seen almost a third of its budget redirected to the city itself.

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