Route 40 (https://rtforty.com/2018/05/page/3/)
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.
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.
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 $300 million in assets and is one of New Jersey’s most important entities.
Student Visas
Vincent Jackson has a cool story about what might happen to the summer economy if employers couldn’t get enough student visas for workers. “With the anti-immigration rhetoric coming out of Washington, D.C., there had been concern over possible change to or limits on the J-1 student work and travel visa program.” Legal Cannabis
The influential Tom Moran of the Star-Ledger said marijuana will be legalized in New Jersey, it’s just those crafty politicians in Trenton are risk-averse and right now it’s safer to let the other guy take responsibility. Vikings Softball
The Atlantic City Vikings softball team could become a factor in the Cape Atlantic League under new coach Anthony Nistico, who’s stockpiling talent, Glory Days’ Dave O’Sullivan writes. Elsewhere, Margate’s Glenn Klotz says the new drainage pipes on the beach are a “developing emergency.”
If any sheet-metal workers, ironworkers or teamsters out there were considering giving money to a Phil Murphy Super PAC they should definitely not because it was established to push “Governor Murphy’s Agenda” and “can and undoubtedly will be used” to hurt the feelings of Senate President Steve Sweeney, etc., according to a letter from our current favorite CRDA board member William Mullen. (h/t to the Playbook)
“All we do is Build,” they say. When they’re not f*&#$-ing around in Trenton I guess. Elsewhere in my god are we in high school, the NJEA said it would review member conduct after Project Veritas (last seen trying to set up The Washington Post by selling it fake Roy Moore accusers) entrapped union officials into “discussing how they use questionable means to defend teachers accused of wrongdoing” (NJ 101.5’s words). Meanwhile back on planet earth, “New Jersey’s public school system continues to be among the most segregated in the nation.”
Everyone’s a Suspect
County Prosecutor Damon Tyner told the Philly Inquirer he would be ready to prosecute lower-level participants in the big prescription health-benefits scheme after the feds are done with the big fish. “Nobody should be comfortable,” Tyner reportedly said. PILOT Details
Dennis Levinson, in a letter to county mayors, gave the terms of the PILOT settlement with the state. Michelle Brunetti Post at the AC Press has the deets. 20.4%
For a few hours yesterday “something momentous” happened in New Jersey when more than 20% of the state’s electricity was delivered by solar energy, the valuable NJ Spotlight reports.
Not SAFER
The state doesn’t want Atlantic City to apply for federal grants that would pay for some of its firefighters’ salaries, David Danzis reports for The Press. My memory might be getting foggy, but I remember last year’s incarnation of state overseers also objected to the use of federal money to pay for municipal firefighters. The state says that the federal grants don’t cover 100 percent of new hires’ salaries and the city would be on the hook down the road. But the grants can be rolled over, so turning down the chance to apply doesn’t make a whole lot of immediate sense to me, unless it’s about reducing the state’s future pension liability, which – I think that horse bolted. PSEG Files
Meanwhile, on the topic of state funds…
Mini-Golf Scope Softening
The great Margate mini-golf war is settled, declares the Inquirer. Changes included lowering the course’s “cave structure” and softening “the project’s overall scope”, according to Margate businessman Ed Blumenthal who brokered the deal. Soccer
Atlantic City’s only pro-sports team is gearing up for its debut – we caught up with players and the team’s development director yesterday. Read our story and watch the video here. Garces
The top chef behind restaurants in the Atlantic City Tropicana is being sued in Philadelphia by investors who want to remove him from having managerial control of three restaurants (Amada, Village Whiskey, and Tinto), the Inquirer reports.
Under overcast skies as gale-force winds blew across the bay, a group of soccer players from as near to home as Somers Point and as far afield as South America and Europe ran drills and bantered on Atlantic City turf yesterday.