County Taxes
County Executive Dennis Levinson explains his position in an opinion piece on the county-versus-city fight over the Atlantic City casinos’ PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) money. The state offered the county 10.4 percent of the casinos’ PILOT, but Levinson and Mayor Guardian had an agreement it would be 13.5 percent. The difference is $40 million that would have to be made up by county taxpayers. Levinson said that while the success of a court fight against the state is uncertain, “We’ll try anyway. Even if we lose, the depositions should be very interesting.” We see what you did there, Denny…
Swamp Pink, aka Deer Salad. Picture by Tom Briglia for the Inquirer.
Deer Salad
A humble, endangered lilly known as the Swamp Pink gets the Kevin Riordan treatment in this Philadelphia Inquirer piece about the plant, which is native to South Jersey and threatened by – among other things – its appeal to deer.
Motels
We wrote on Friday about a motel on Route 40 in Egg Harbor Township that could be turned into affordable housing if it gets planning board sign-off. Read the piece, with plans, on our site here. Could this be the future for more of the Black Horse Pike motels?
In the rest of the news from the weekend and this morning, about 8,000 people (including us) were at the ACUA’s Earth Day festival on Sunday, a Margate holocaust survivor will talk at Stockton on Tuesday, and Pleasantville police say a guy tried to shoplift 9 packs of cigarettes from a Wawa even as two cops were in the store. All that and more below:
Shore Visitors Greeted With Sticker Shock at the Gas Pump–Out-of-state visitors may see sticker shock at the gas pumps this summer. Garden State residents have had five months to grow accustomed to the state’s higher gasoline tax, which rose 23 cents Nov. 1. Press of Atlantic City
South Jersey Woman Accused Of Beating Husband To Death With Fire Extinguisher Indicted–A South Jersey woman accused of beating her husband to death with a fire extinguisher has been indicted for murder, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina said on Friday. Laciana Tinsley, 42, of Willingboro, was also indicted by a Burlington County Grand Jury on one count of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. patch.com
‘The Voice’ Contestant to Perform at CCC Event–Cumberland County College's Faith Fellowship Club will host South Jersey singing sensation Dawson Coyle on Thursday, May 4, during "The Gathering," the club's annual celebration of National Day of Prayer. A contestant on the popular TV show "The Voice" this season, singer-songwriter Coyle made it through several rounds of the competition as part of Blake Shelton's team. NJ.com
Amazon To Open 1 Million Square Foot Warehouse In South Jersey–Amazon announced plans on Friday to open a 1 million square foot fulfillment center in Logan Township, Gloucester County. It will pack and ship larger items, such as patio furniture, sports equipment and music equipment. patch.com
March Shows Atlantic City Has Vested Interest in Science–Nature rained on science’s parade Saturday, but it did not stop about 150 people from holding a March for Science on the Boardwalk. Speakers used the beachfront to make the point that science is crucial to the future of the city. Press of Atlantic City
Bench Dedicated in Northfield as a Promise to Veterans–Dick Mathers, of Ocean City, credits Charles Richard Ingram III with inspiring the changes that will allow him to get medical services at the Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic in Northfield rather than having to drive to Vineland or Wilmington. “Just this week, I got the call that I could come to Northfield,” said Mathers, 85, a Korean War veteran who attended a memorial service dedicating a bench to Ingram’s memory Saturday at the Northfield Baptist Church next to the clinic. Press of Atlantic City
‘Gang Rivalries’ Cited in Shooting Outside Vineland Nightclub That Hurt 3–Three people were shot outside Grant Plaza on East Landis Avenue in Vineland early Saturday morning, the city’s second shooting in as many days. A representative of the property said the incident is tied to gang rivalries that have overtaken the area. Press of Atlantic City