Tidal Flooding, Prescription Drug Monitoring – Thursday’s Roundup

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Tidal flooding in the South Jersey area is set to be slightly worse than usual this year, due to rising sea levels and a potential El Nino pattern, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports, citing a new federal report. Areas further inland and Philadelphia are also seeing more flood days each year, the report shows. Models show that an El Nino effect is expected to develop this year, between now and April 2018, and that would compound tidal flooding in coastal areas.

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Local Campaign Finance, Beach-Tag Vending Machines – Wednesday’s Roundup

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Local Campaign Finance
The Atlantic City fight for mail-in ballots turned out to be the make-or-break in yesterday’s mayoral primary. Council President Marty Small won at the polls, but lost to Frank Gilliam when the mail-in ballots were counted, the Press of Atlantic City’s John DeRosier reported. That difference comes down to money and out-of-town contacts. Gilliam had raised a whopping $87,105 ahead of the election, according to his most recent campaign finance filing. More than double the $36,673 Small raised over the same period.

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Elections, Atlantic Coast Drilling, Club Wa – Tuesday’s Roundup

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Elections
Atlantic County has some interesting primary elections today and The Press of Atlantic City’s John DeRosier has the rundown on the last few weeks of campaigning in the Democratic primary for mayor of Atlantic City, and the Democratic primary for a spot on the party ticket for New Jersey Assembly (District 2). Then, of course, there’s the race for governor (NJSpotlight has all the details on that race you ever needed to know). We’ll be covering the results as they come in on our homepage and Twitter. Atlantic Coast Drilling
President Trump yesterday opened the door to possible drilling off the Atlantic Coast, by five permits to allow companies to conduct seismic surveys with air guns, a technology used to explore for oil and gas, NJSpotlight reports. Conservationists have long fought drilling off the Atlantic Coast, which they say would harm marine wildlife.

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Casinos, and a Music Video – Friday’s Roundup

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Casinos
Yesterday there was a mysterious event in Trenton featuring Governor Chris Christie and executives from Caesars Entertainment and MGM. Nothing much was said, but there were some hints at some kind of potential collaboration and investment, with details to be announced soon, the Press of Atlantic City reported. This is interesting. The sixth-most-valuable package of land in Atlantic City (according to 2017 assessments it is worth $153.5 million*) is a parcel in the marina district, including land between the Borgata and Harrah’s (owned by MGM and Caesars respectively). Once upon a time, Steve Wynn had plans for it – the Mirage Atlantic City.

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South Jersey Politics, Crime Reporting – Thursday’s Roundup

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South Jersey Politics
There’s a battle going on between George Norcross’ South Jersey Democrats and their North Jersey brethren over who will lead the State Assembly next year as Speaker. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Andrew Seidman has the details. Maybe it seems like yet another childish political fight but it should matter to Atlantic County residents at least, since current Speaker Vincent Prieto has not been afraid to cross swords with Norcross’ man in charge of the Senate, Stephen Sweeney, over issues such as the Atlantic City takeover. And if you want more details, read Tuesday’s Politico piece by Matt Friedman on the speaker fight and how the prospect of (independently wealthy) Governor Phil Murphy will do little to water down Norcross’ influence. Crime Reporting
The 2014 disappearance of an Egg Harbor Township man is now being investigated as a homicide after his remains were found this year.

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Back-Bay Flooding, Downbeach Invasion – Wednesday’s Roundup

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Back-Bay Flooding
Not enough attention is being paid to “insidious” back-bay flooding, which plagues thousands in New Jersey who live on waterfront areas behind or on the bay side of barrier islands, Wayne Parry reports for the Associated Press. Many studies are being conducted, as government slowly seems to be realizing that flooding from bays is as much of a problem as the somehow sexier beachfront flooding. And municipalities are starting to invest in dredging, pumps and renovating drains. According to the article, Ocean City is also investing in raising roads – something that has not yet had much traction around Longport, Margate, Ventnor and Atlantic City. Downbeach Invasion
Absecon Island’s year-round residents are used to the annual invasion of the Memorial-Day-to-Labor-Day crowds, but it was a little different this weekend in Margate, reported Amy Rosenberg for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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Teacher Layoffs, PILOT, Brown’s Park – Tuesday’s Roundup

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Teacher Layoffs
Here’s a look via NJ.com at the school districts that are likely to lay off staff next year – none are in Atlantic County, but some of South Jersey’s bigger districts are featured. If you’re interested, you might want to revisit our interactive map that showed how immigration is propping up school enrollment in New Jersey, as the wider population exodus from the state continues. PILOT
Tea Party-affiliated activist group Liberty & Prosperity is suing New Jersey over its PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreements with Atlantic City casinos and other big businesses. Lawyer Seth Grossman, who leads the group, likes to call the PILOT peanuts in lieu of taxes. He says the arrangement helps the casinos avoid tax increases in the future, putting the burden on homeowners and small businesses around the county.

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Tired Taj, Plan Stan, Coy Roy – Friday’s Roundup

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Tired Taj
“The building is tired,” Jim Allen, Hard Rock International chairman told the East Coast Gaming Conference yesterday. He was talking about the Taj Mahal, which is going to need some $400 million (more than previously estimated) to become a Hard Rock Casino. Turning white elephants into giant guitars doesn’t come cheap. The Press of Atlantic City has the details.Speaking at the same event, Jeff Gural, owner of the Meadowlands racetrack, said he can wait six years to build a casino in North Jersey. Plan Stan
Assemblyman Chris Brown wants to know what, exactly, the state officials in charge of Atlantic City are planning on doing with Bader Field.

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Primaries, Hep C, Singh – Thursday’s Roundup

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Primaries
New Jersey’s 2nd legislative district (AKA most of Atlantic County) is one of the only districts in the state that is split between Republicans and Democrats. This year, Senator Jim Whelen’s retirement means there is a little more to fight over than usual, and it is shaping up to be an expensive fight. NJ Spotlight has a broad look here at the upcoming primaries across the state, with a few details on South Jersey. Hep C
More and more suburban New Jerseyans who are addicted to opioids also have hepatitis C, according to a new study reported by NJ Spotlight. A study in Princeton found that 41 percent of addicts treated in one healthcare network were infected with Hep C.

Singh
There is a little writeup here on NJSpotlight from an interview with Atlantic County’s Hirsh Singh on WNYC yesterday.

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