Small Town Problems, CRDA Audit, Margategate Redux – Thursday’s Roundup

It’s A Small Town Thing
Local business person and all-around man about town Mike Einwechter has been charged by Ventnor police with stealing funds raised at a benefit concert he organized for the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. The outrage on Facebook was deafening (and ongoing). Einwechter – who has a large social media presence – apologized there and said he was talking to a lawyer, before logging out of his account. This is your daily reminder that South Jersey is a Small Town place. And that it’s always worth questioning nonprofit organizations. There are nonprofits running our hospitals and bidding for government contracts that receive much less scrutiny than some guy everyone in a small town has a story about.

More about:

Audits! Nepotism! And the Very Classy ‘RolePlay Lounge’ – Wednesday’s Roundup

Let Us Now Praise Transparent Men
Gov.-elect Phil Murphy has asked members of his transition team to sign a non-disclosure agreement and promise not to speak to the press. Also they can’t talk about the agreement itself, Politico reports. Also, he worked for Goldman Sachs. Seems like a great start! $600 Million
The U.S. Dept.

More about:

Sweeney vs. Captain Carl and More – Tuesday’s Roundup

Late Capitalism
Senate President Steve Sweeney said our beloved CRDA should not, repeat NOT, be giving Carl Icahn $5.6 million to pay for site work at the Trump Plaza he closed and let molder for 3+ years, the Observer’s Christian (“We miss you”) Hetrick reported. In a “harshly-worded statement” (Christian’s words) Sweeney said Icahn was “no friend to Atlantic City” and that he had “serious questions about allowing him to take $5.6 million in funds intended to promote economic development for the city and its residents and instead use the money for his own property.” “But that’s EXACTLY what CRDA’s for!” the Howler said. Icahn, the noted populist billionaire and Princeton University Snowflake, has been in Atlantic City only a short time, but he’s already left a mark.

More about:

New Jerseyish Doings Right Here on Albany Avenue and More in Monday’s Roundup

New Jerseyish
A week ago ROI-NJ reported that Melissa Orsen, the chief executive of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, had resigned and was expected to be named general counsel for South Jersey Industries, whose headquarters are moving right here to Albany Avenue (aka Route 40!). Today Politico follows up with the fun addendum that SJI subsidiary South Jersey Gas was awarded $12.6 million to move from Folsom to A.C. in August 2015, a few months after she became EDA chief. Everyone sees that looks weird, right? Apathy is the disease. Corruption is the symptom.

More about:

A Turkey for Carl and More in Today’s Roundup

Ivy League Snowflake Gets Free Stuff
Noted Princeton alumnus Carl Icahn, who’s worth an estimated $16.4 billion and probably recently abused his position as adviser to the president to manipulate futures markets, was given preliminary approval from the CRDA for $5.6 million to pay for the demolition of the Trump Plaza, the indefatigable Wayne Parry of the AP reports. CRDA Chairman Bob Mulcahy supported the holiday turkey for the billionaire, reportedly saying, “That land could be very valuable.” They love their vacant lots. Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian, who naturally has far-less say in the matter than Mulcahy, was opposed to the handout. “…[W]hy are they asking us for $5.6 million?

More about:

Carl Icahn Goes to the CRDA, Fight for $15 and More – Tuesday’s Roundup

$15
Gov.-elect Phil Murphy pledged to support raising the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour, from the current $8.44 per hour. “This is as high on the priority list as anything we’ve got,” Murphy said, Politico reports. Free to those who can afford it… Noted billionaire (and former special regulatory adviser to President Trump) Carl Icahn is seeking public funds for the demolition of Trump Plaza, the Press of AC’s Nick Huba reports. The CRDA is scheduled to talk about the project at today’s board meeting at 2 pm.

More about: