Mazzeo, Whelan Worried By Chiesa Cuts
The governor’s emissary to Atlantic City, Jeffrey Chiesa, would like to cut 101 firefighting jobs from the Atlantic City Fire Department, as part of a commitment to public safety and economic revitalization in the World’s Playground. Cuts to the ACPD are on the horizon as well. This is old news, as we say.
The new news is that local representatives Sen. Jim Whelan and Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, having sponsored the legislation that brough Chiesa and his mighty hatchet to Atlantic City, now possess concerns he may wield that hatchet too frothily.
“We must be cognizant of public safety concerns related to a depleted and understaffed public safety department,” they wrote, in a letter to Chiesa, obtained by the Press of Atlantic City.
Under the cuts, three or four fire companies could be closed and at least one fire station – possibly the one on S. Annapolis Avenue – could be closed entirely, Christian Hetrick writes.
The union’s estimating 49 of 54 potential retirees will take the buyout.
Sweeney Has Another Idea
Elsewhere in South Jersey, Senate President Steve Sweeney stakes out the controversial position that property taxes unfairly burden our middle class. What’s to be done about it? We must “maximize the use of shared services by municipal governments.” Meaning cuts to things like police and fire.
Inside ACDevCo
There are a lot of eggs in the proverbial Atlantic City Development Corp basket, with many hoping the non-profit’s investment in the city could herald a new era of non-casino-generated bounty. Route 40 took a look under the hood, though, and at least through 2015 (the date of ACDevCo’s latest tax filing) there wasn’t a whole lot going on there.
The rest of today’s headlines include news on new restaurants at Tropicana, NJ’s attempt to bring public-worker pension costs under control and a state-wide argument over beach access.
Garces opening 3 restaurants at Tropicana in Atlantic City–Jose Garces will open two restaurants and a bar this spring at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, marking his return to the shore resort 2½ years after the shutdown of Revel Casino kicked him, other restaurateurs, and 3,000 workers to the curb. Philly.com
NJ Seeks Help from Bankers to Bring Down Public-Worker Pension Costs – NJ Spotlight–New Jersey is already one of the nation’s most indebted states, and its public-employee pension system, according to one recent estimate, is now the worst-funded state-retirement plan in the country. www.njspotlight.com
Opinion: Health Crisis Looms if Obamacare is Repealed Before Replacement – NJ Spotlight–After nearly seven years and dozens of failed attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Republicans in Congress will soon get their wish. www.njspotlight.com
As Temperature Dips, Beach Access Debate Gets Underway – NJ Spotlight–A supposedly consensus bill guaranteeing public access to beaches and waterfronts cleared its first legislative hurdle with only nominal opposition. www.njspotlight.com
The Don Norcross doctrine: Worked with Christie, can work with Trump–From across the table at a Cherry Hill Starbucks, U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D., N.J.) sounds like a guy fighting a tenacious winter cold. Philly.com
In Atlantic City, builder employing boss’ son gets no-bid contract for $206M project–When the Atlantic City Development Corporation, a private non-profit company that leverages public dollars, awarded a no-bid contract to build the $206 million Stockton University and South Jersey Industries campus in Atlantic City, it was no surprise the contract went to the similarly politically connected Joseph Jingoli & Son. Philly.com
Booker to testify against senator’s nomination for AG–Breaking with tradition, Sen. Cory Booker will testify on Wednesday against fellow Sen. Jeff Sessions' nomination to be attorney general. North Jersey
What Happened To Chris Christie, An Early Backer Of Trump?–New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was arguably President-elect Donald Trump’s first major endorsement. The Daily Caller
Is a battle against the U.S. drug epidemic Chris Christie’s swan song?–Christie will forego the conventional formula of achievements and policy goals to instead detail a plan to curb the nation's drug epidemic. NBC News
900 children at risk after possible faulty vaccines in Ocean County–About 900 children may have received ineffective vaccines for chickenpox, rubella, mumps, measles and other diseases through a free or low-cost vaccine program in Ocean County and may need to be revaccinated. Press of Atlantic City
No. 1 St. Augustine tops Holy Spirit–ABSECON – Fans filled the Holy Spirit High School gym to watch one of the Cape-Atlantic League’s best rivalries Monday night. Press of Atlantic City
Feds: Stop practice of painting center lines blue–TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Municipalities across New Jersey that have chosen to honor law enforcement by adding a streak of blue to the middle of their roads have been advised by federal officials to stop the practice. Press of Atlantic City
Straub company to appear before Casino Control Commission over casino license–ATLANTIC CITY — Glenn Straub’s company, 500 Broadway LLC, will appear before the Casino Control Commission on Wednesday in the next step in his push to reopen a casino in the former Revel, now called TEN. Press of Atlantic City