Route 40 (https://rtforty.com/2017/06/page/4/)
Predictive Policing
Vacant lots near laundromats are areas that draw crime in Atlantic City, according to a new policing model of the area. Rutgers Professor Joel Caplan has been working with the city’s police on ‘risk terrain management’ – a new way of looking at crime in cities. Lynda Cohen has the details for BreakingAC.com.
New Jersey’s Casino Reinvestment Development Authority has awarded pay increases to close to one third of its employees, in some cases raising salaries by tens of thousands of dollars, even as it cut jobs earlier this year citing budget constraints.
Casinos
Yesterday there was a mysterious event in Trenton featuring Governor Chris Christie and executives from Caesars Entertainment and MGM. Nothing much was said, but there were some hints at some kind of potential collaboration and investment, with details to be announced soon, the Press of Atlantic City reported. This is interesting. The sixth-most-valuable package of land in Atlantic City (according to 2017 assessments it is worth $153.5 million*) is a parcel in the marina district, including land between the Borgata and Harrah’s (owned by MGM and Caesars respectively). Once upon a time, Steve Wynn had plans for it – the Mirage Atlantic City.
South Jersey Politics
There’s a battle going on between George Norcross’ South Jersey Democrats and their North Jersey brethren over who will lead the State Assembly next year as Speaker. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Andrew Seidman has the details. Maybe it seems like yet another childish political fight but it should matter to Atlantic County residents at least, since current Speaker Vincent Prieto has not been afraid to cross swords with Norcross’ man in charge of the Senate, Stephen Sweeney, over issues such as the Atlantic City takeover. And if you want more details, read Tuesday’s Politico piece by Matt Friedman on the speaker fight and how the prospect of (independently wealthy) Governor Phil Murphy will do little to water down Norcross’ influence. Crime Reporting
The 2014 disappearance of an Egg Harbor Township man is now being investigated as a homicide after his remains were found this year.