Accountants
The Press of Atlantic City’s Christian Hetrick wrote a great muck-raking read yesterday, revealing just how much the state has paid an accounting firm (Ernst & Young) for helping it analyse Atlantic City’s finances. E&Y even got a raise last year! Through September, the accountants billed the state $1.56 million for “continued analysis of Atlantic City’s finances and cash flow,” a spokeswoman for New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs (which is responsible for both the state takeover and the decision to hire E&Y) told Hetrick. What’s still not clear? What exactly the accountants are doing. To recap, we’re now 84 days since the takeover was announced. What’s happened? A property tax hike and a lot of rumors that police and fire jobs will be lost. Pretty sure everyone living in Atlantic City could find a better use for that $1.56 million. If you want to tell us how you would have spent that money, get in touch here and we’ll write a piece compiling all the answers and send it to the state.
Tax Credits
There is a move afoot in the legislature to extend a tax credits program to incentivize development in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods in Atlantic City. You can read about it in detail here, via The Press of Atlantic City. The bill is sponsored by Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, D-Atlantic. The tax credits under consideration already apply to some other New Jersey cities that get significant state aid but the program does not currently exist in Atlantic City.
Atlantic County Women
Guess which county in New Jersey has the fewest women representatives? Yup, as Matt Friedman of Politico pointed out yesterday on Twitter, it is also the county that elected freeholder John Carman, that guy who made the joke about the women’s marchers being home in time to cook him dinner (he did, belatedly, apologize). Ah, Atlantic County in 2017. We clearly need to start cloning Mays Landing’s Amy Gatto and Somers Point’s Maureen Kern and their municipal counterparts.
I missed it, but a couple of days ago NJ Biz wrote an oped titled, “Quit complaining South Jersey. It’s getting old“. Now, Val Traore, chief executive of The Food Bank of South Jersey has written a brilliant rebuttal – read it here.
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The rest of today’s headlines include articles on Somers Point Mayor Jack Glasser standing for Atlantic County Sheriff, a local effort to help the homeless that is getting state-wide attention and some great Pinelands photography. All that and more below:
First Huddle House Opens in New Jersey–New Jersey is the foremost leader in the free world of diners. Hands down. But, being from the South, I’m partial to Waffle House and Huddle House. Cat Country 107.3
Diane Allen, longtime South Jersey lawmaker, to retire from state Senate–Diane Allen, a Burlington County Republican who has served in the New Jersey Senate for nearly two decades, said Tuesday that she would not seek reelection in November. Philly.com
Christie breaks with Trump on immigration order–Gov. Christie on Tuesday said that the Trump administration botched the rollout of the president’s executive order restricting immigration to the United States and suggested that he disagreed with the White House’s approach to fighting terrorism. Philly.com
Travel Ban Puts Some American Families On Hold–The implications of President Donald Trump's ban on immigration from certain Muslim countries isn't just affecting refugees, asylum seekers, and green-card holders. www.njspotlight.com
Commission rules Straub needs casino license–ATLANTIC CITY — It could be a while before casino gaming returns to the former Revel, now known as TEN. Press of Atlantic City
Ernst & Young gets raise to help state takeover of Atlantic City–ATLANTIC CITY — Well, someone is getting a raise. Press of Atlantic City
Atlantic County mayors support administrations fight over PILOT money–Mayors across Atlantic County are adamant Atlantic City should give the county the 13.5 percent of the PILOT money promised before the legislation passed last year. The leaders of all the municipalities outside Atlantic City unanimously passed a resolution at the Atlantic County Mayor’s Association meeting last week demanding the county get the 13.5 percent of the payment in lieu of taxes from Atlantic City casinos. Press of Atlantic City
Somers Point Mayor announces candidacy for Atlantic County Sheriff–Mayor Jack Glasser has announced his candidacy for Atlantic County Sheriff, for the November 2017 election. "I’m looking forward to getting the endorsement from the Republican Party for this honored position,” Glasser said Tuesday. Press of Atlantic City
South Jersey’s Code Blue Initiative May be Adopted By the State–A South Jersey initiative to help provide shelter for the homeless during the coldest nights may now spread its warmth throughout the state. A Code Blue bill was approved Monday by the State Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and is now headed to the full senate for a vote. www.snjtoday.com
Local Man Uses Photography to Promote and Protect the Pinelands–Albert Horner, a New Jersey native his entire life, has called Medford Lakes his home for the last 22 years. For the former army serviceman - turned sales representative for a large fishing tackle company based in North Carolina, the call of the outdoors has always been in his blood. pinebarrenstribune.com