Route 40 (https://rtforty.com/2017/11/page/2/)
The incisive Amy Rosenberg reports on Sheila Oliver, who could be the most powerful official in Atlantic City after being named head of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs by the next governor. Oliver was elected lt. governor November 7.
Governor-elect Phil “The Jolly Leaper” Murphy was in Atlantic City yesterday to speak before the New Jersey League of Municipalities. The Press of AC’s John DeRosier says Murphy “did not offer many details” on policy implementation but laid out priorities.
One of Atlantic County’s most criminally untapped resources is its train line connection to Philadelphia. (Of course, part of the reason it’s criminally untapped is because years of under-investment have rendered the train service infrequent and slow.) Now a new report published Tuesday by the Regional Plan Association says that local zoning that prohibits multifamily development outside train stations is a major obstacle to expanding transit-oriented development, particularly in New Jersey.
A significant chunk of the $5.7 million spent on the past election by the NJEA’s Garden State Forward super PAC came from membership dues. “Many members were under the impression that the money spent on the race was only from voluntary donations,” found NJTV’s Leah Mishkin.
A pharmaceutical sales representative from Galloway on Monday became the 11th person to plead guilty in an ongoing investigation into health insurance fraud in South Jersey. Most of the guilty pleas so far have come from pharmaceutical reps and other people who are not public employees, as Amy Rosenberg reports for The Inquirer. The investigation, however, hinges around millions of dollars in prescriptions that were written for teachers, police and firemen in and around this area, according to documents released by the U.S. attorney’s office for the district of New Jersey.
There are miles and miles of wide (more than six feet) firebreaks in the pinelands, often built and maintained by local residents, as well as paid contractors. But the Pinelands Commission is considering a change to its Comprehensive Management Plan that would require a permit for the construction and maintenance of any firebreak wider than six feet.
The casino formerly known as the Revel is under a “notice of settlement agreement of sale” to AC Ocean Walk, which is controlled by Denver-based developer Bruce Deifik.
Calls to Deifik and a lawyer for Revel-owner Glenn Straub were not immediately returned. Deifik is backing TEN, which has been trying to reopen the Revel since last year.
uperior Court Judge Julio Mendez on Monday denied a request by Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian’s campaign to be present when the county’s 6,100 vote-by-mail ballots are reviewed by staff of the Board of Elections, reports Amy Rosenberg for The Inquirer. The campaign had wanted to challenge ballots it contends were improperly submitted – but Mendez did set some particular requirements on the election board to safeguard mail-in ballot documentation.
If you read one review of the Atlantic City and County election campaign shenanigans this season, make it this one by The Inquirer’s Amy Rosenberg: Why Atlantic City-area elections this year would make Nucky Johnson Proud. (Separately, we’re following up our weekend look at financial contributions to the NJ 2nd district’s campaigns with a look at expenditures and in-kind contributions. Stay tuned.)
The Democrat and Republican machines vying for control of the Atlantic City area worked up until the last minute of the election, spending big and seeking more contributions in the third-most expensive race in the state this year.