$900 Million
The City of Atlantic City City Council met for the first time since the mayor’s house was raided by the FBI, and Amy Rosenberg reports, on twitter, that the Council President Marty Small (who lost a bet and had to wear a Cowboys blanket) met with developers on a $900 million non-casino project.
Atlantic City Council Pres. @marty_small says "We're not going to be distracted," by Mayor Frank Gilliam's legal issues. "We're going to continue that momentum. We’re going to keep instilling investor confidence." He met tdy with developers on a $900 million non-casino project.
— Amy S. Rosenberg (@amysrosenberg) December 12, 2018
Who remembers Glenn Straub’s Phoenix Project ($500 million) when he was going to bring “extreme sports,” super yachts, equestrian entertainment and a bunch of other weird sh*t to the Southeast Inlet or Bader Field?
Something tells me the current dudes are more credible.
Supermarket
In possibly related news, the City Council President Small said the governmental and administrative affairs committee, which he chairs, met with CRDA Monday to discuss a possible 2019 groundbreaking on a major supermarket! (Video here: 17:30 mark)
Close readers of this space will recall that Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, in an interview with ROI-NJ last week, said Atlantic City residents are “yearning” for a suburban-style super-center supermarket or something, since we lack the “diversity” of produce available in Somers Point or Absecon or something.
Sick Time, Supermarkets, ICE + Immigrants – Friday’s Roundup
In October, CRDA retained the services of a consultant (Uplift Solutions) whose board’s chairman is also the CEO of Brown’s Super Stores which owns 10 ShopRites across the Delaware Valley. #corporatesynergy
For photographs of the diverse array of fresh produce available at any number of mom-and-pop shops that do not enjoy a robust working relationship with the EDA, see our instagram feed.
Marijuana Studies
Elsewhere in public-private partnerships, Stockton is working with the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association (the main marijuana industry trade group) to “grow its cannabis curriculum,” Payton Guion reports. Stockton offers a minor in marijuana studies. I am not being glib.
Casino Revenue
Lastly, in business, the Division of Gaming Enforcement released its November revenue report and how did Resorts do it?
Overall, gaming revenue for the city is up 20% but there are now two more casinos, meaning six of the original seven casinos saw year-on-year revenue drops. But Resorts saw a 10% increase. Maybe they just had a bad 2017.
In unrelated news, my mom was a waitress at Resorts. Hi mom! Actually, I’m not sure she reads us anymore…
For more feats of journalism…
Map shows how shore residents think about global warming–The Earth is gradually warming, but a majority of Cape May County residents don’t believe it will harm them personally. That’s one of a dozen public opinion estimates published earlier this year in Yale University’s Climate Opinion Map. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
DECRYING IT AS ‘POLICING FOR PROFIT,’ CRITICS WANT REFORM OF NJ’S CIVIL ASSET FORFEITURE–The practice of civil asset forfeiture in New Jersey is sometimes referred to by critics as “policing for profit” and now many are calling for the Legislature to reform it. www.njspotlight.com
Municipal court reform slips away this year after promising start–This was supposed to be the year in which New Jersey finally ensured municipal courts are focused on justice and not generating revenue. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Ventnor firefighter latest to plead in health care fraud case–A Ventnor firefighter has admitted to being an owner of the company that reaped a percentage of the multimillion-dollar health benefits fraud scheme. breakingac.com
Trump, Kushner, LeFrak could potentially benefit from federal ‘opportunity zones’–WASHINGTON — The Trump Organization, the family real estate interests of presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner and Trump friend Richard LeFrak, a New York developer, could all benefit from a new federal program that has designated "opportunity zones" in "economically distressed" areas around the country and offers tax benefits for developers. www.nbcnews.com