Borgata Deal
Finally, there’s a deal. No, it’s not going to help you get a nice meal or an overnight stay. But it will help Atlantic City’s balance sheet. Borgata, the city’s most successful casino by revenue, accepted $72 million in tax-appeal payouts for 2009-2013, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports here. The MGM-owned property also agreed not to appeal taxes paid from 2013-2015 (another potential liability that had been hanging over the city) and it will start paying its Payment-In-Lieu-of-Taxes (click here if you want to remind yourself of that controversy). The deal was arranged by the lawyers now in charge of Atlantic City. For those counting, today is day 99 of the state takeover. This Borgata deal is a big piece of restoring the city’s financial viability in the eyes of banks and debt-ratings agencies, but as anyone in Atlantic City who saw their property taxes rise under the state on day 1 of the takeover will tell you, it does little to help their wallets.
AC Dispatchers Arrested
The opioid epidemic really is everywhere. Yesterday, two Atlantic City public safety dispatchers were arrested after one was allegedly selling oxycodone to another while on duty. Lynda Cohen at BreakingAC.Com has the details.
Galloway’s Jimmie Leeds R
A small group of concerned residents went to a Galloway Township council meeting on Tuesday to air their concerns over safety on the busy Jimmie Leeds Road, that carries traffic to and from Stockton University, a hospital and local businesses and homes. The residents live at an elder housing complex on the road. The mayor told the residents that the township is working with the county on improvement projects for the road that are pending approvals. The Current has the full story here. Pedestrians were struck along the road in October last year and one died in a hit-and-run accident on the same stretch last month.
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The rest of today’s headlines include news on how the producers of Atlantic City fashion week are working with ACIT, the Ocean City boardwalk’s reopening and details from Gov. Christie’s signing of anti-opioid legislation. All that and more below:
One Dead in Atlantic City Shooting–One person died in a shooting in Atlantic City on Wednesday night, according to police. The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit — which investigates homicides — was called to a scene at South Carolina and Drexel avenues. BreakingAC
Community Supported Agriculture, The New Trend In Healthy Living–The number one New Year’s resolution for 2017 is to embrace healthier eating, and it’s not a surprise when over the past several years there has been a developing awareness of where our food comes from. Now, community gardens - where residents purchase a plot of land for the season and grown their own vegetables - are popping up in towns all over South Jersey. www.snjtoday.com
Somers Point School District Safety Seminar Addresses Threat Incident–n after school incident back in December prompted Interim Superintendent Tom Baruffi to call for a district wide seminar on safety Wednesday, February 8 to talk about what procedures and programs the district has in place to keep the schools safe. Baruffi said about 50 parents attended the meeting held at the Jordan Road School to hear about district plans in light of the incident. Shore News Today
Atlantic City Fashion Week Producers Bring Panel to ACIT to Talk Fashion with Students–Hundreds of buzzing students gathered in the auditorium of the Atlantic County Institute of Technology on Wednesday to talk fashion. It was the third year the executive producers of Atlantic City Fashion Week, Lamont and Jeana Bowling, have held a panel discussion for students in South Jersey to learn more about the fashion industry. Press of Atlantic City
A ‘Day Without Immigrants’ strike comes to the Shore–ASBURY PARK -- Hector Manny was 16 when he first moved to the United States, working 14-hour days, six days a week in restaurants. Asbury Park Press
Full length of Ocean City Boardwalk reopens–OCEAN CITY — The full length of the Ocean City Boardwalk reopened Wednesday, Feb. 15. Shore News Today
Christie quickly signs anti-opioid legislation–TRENTON — Just a day after meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on drug addiction, Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation Wednesday aimed at curbing the state's opioid Press of Atlantic City
Borgata and Atlantic City reach tax appeal deal– The City of Atlantic City has reached a settlement of a major tax-appeal debt owed to the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa, which the state says agreed to accept less than half of the $165 million owed it. Philly.com