Oops They Did It Again
Your friendly neighborhood development authority raised just over half a million dollars yesterday selling off some Atlantic City property that, actually, it decided isn’t useful for development after all (after some years of tax-free ownership that prevented anyone else doing anything with it). The Press of Atlantic City’s new reporter David Danzis has the details. CRDA is a glass-half-full kind of place that emphasizes the good news, so it’s best we don’t remind them how much they paid for the land in the first place, or that the city could have used some additional property taxes over the last few years or so.
A Pocket History of Steve Sweeney
Say what you will about the blogger formerly known as Wally Edge, but he cranks them out, and today, apropos of what I’m not sure, comes a history of the 2001 state senate race that saw Steve Sweeney beat out Raymond Zane by 3 points, with the help of The Norcross, with whom Sweeney, “set the record for the most money spent in a legislative race in New Jersey history up to that point.” A momentous day for South Jersey! Don’t let these people tell you Atlantic City’s not a playground for crony capitalists.
Not Down Or Out
Sen. Bob Menendez kicked off his reelection campaign yesterday and Matt Friedman at Politico says that whatever you think of him, you have to be impressed by his organizing skills.
Shaken, Not Shacked
A customer at the new Shake Shack in Marlton demanded to know who made his burger (spoiler alert: because he loved it so much) and a video of his demand went viral and then a journalist at NJ.Com wrote about it and I don’t even know what to think anymore…. Who are the consumers? Who are the advertisers? Are we the bad guys in this dystopia?
For the rest of the headlines, see below:
he Starbucks at East Jimmie Leeds and South Pitney roads has closed permanently, according to a sign outside of the store.–The Starbucks at East Jimmie Leeds and South Pitney roads has closed permanently, according to a sign outside of the store. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Somers Point Traffic Stop Leads To Several Guns–An Egg Harbor Township man was arrested after police found guns and ammunition during a traffic stop in Somers Point. breakingac.com
EHC Man Accused Of Leading Child Porn Network Released Pending Trial–An Egg Harbor City man charged with being the leader of a child pornography network was released pending trial Wednesday. Joseph McCormick, 49, allegedly had images even his attorney deemed “disturbing” on electronic equipment that was seized by members of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. breakingac.com
CUmberland County Men Admit To Possessing Meth Packaged As Mexican Candy–Two Cumberland County men admitted to possession of four pounds of methamphetamine packaged as Mexican candy in Louisiana Federal Court last week. breakingac.com
Atlantic City Man Arrested In Shooting–An Atlantic City man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly trying to shoot someone last week. Patrol officers responded to the 200 block of North Tennessee Avenue just after 5 p.m March 20 for reports of gunfire, Sgt. Kevin Fair. breakingac.com
Man Pleads Guilty In Burlco Overdose Death–A 37-year-old Sicklerville man has admitted responsibility for the 2015 overdose death of a man who bought heroin laced with fentanyl from him, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced Tuesday. www.philly.com
In Camden, Ronald’s House Has Been Teddy’s House, Too–At the Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey, Ann “Teddy” Thomas smiles and sits down on the rug next to Mateo Bonacquisti. He’s barely a year old, has been diagnosed with cancer, and is going to have surgery to save his sight. www.philly.com
New Jersey Natural Gas Looks To Roll Out Energy-Efficiency Portfolio–New Jersey Natural Gas yesterday filed an expansive six-year proposal to help its customers reduce their energy usage, seeking to invest more than $341 million in a wide array of programs to help lower bills. The filing with the state Board of Public Utilities seems to align itself with the aggressive clean-energy agenda of the Murphy administration and its goal of ratcheting down greenhouse-gas emissions, as evidenced by bills now moving through the Legislature. www.njspotlight.com
Will Making It Easier To Vote Increase Participation In NJ Elections?–New Jersey lawmakers have begun moving legislation meant to increase participation in elections and give voters more information on which to base their votes, part of a long-sought effort by Democrats to expand voting here. A package of bills is being considered by the state Senate that would provide for automatic voter registration through the Motor Vehicle Commission, allow for secure online voter registration, and expand early voting in the state, among other things. www.njspotlight.com
Pleas For Increases In State Aid As Murphy’s Budget Gets Its First Close-up–Burlington County resident John Russo, with some assistance from his wife, Loretta, leaned into a microphone yesterday and urged lawmakers to boost a state grant that helps family members care for people like him who suffer from the debilitating neurogenerative disease ALS. www.njspotlight.com
NJ Dumps Pension Investment In Gun Company That Makes Semi-Automatic Rifles–New Jersey has dumped its pension investment in a semi-automatic rifle manufacturer as the debate over guns swirls across the nation. www.nj.com
NJ’s Cannabis Crusader Wins The Right To Sue, Loses Fight To Get Out Of Jail–Marijuana activist Ed "NJ Weedman" Forchion is one for one in his latest string of court battles. A federal judge denied a motion last week from the Trenton City Police Department seeking to dismiss Forchion's civil suit, which accuses the department and the Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri of violating his civil rights when officers from both agencies raided his eatery and "weed temple," in April 2016. www.nj.com
Menendez Kicks Off Senate Re-Election Campaign–Sen. Bob Menendez put on a big show Wednesday morning in his hometown of Union City. www.njtvonline.org
Sea Isle City Swears In New Chief Of Police–During the March 27 City Council meeting, Mayor Leonard Desiderio administered the oath of office to Sea Isle City's new Chief of Police, Thomas McQuillen. Chief McQuillen is a native of Sea Isle City, who joined the SICPD in 1993 as a Class II officer and became part of the organization fulltime in 1999. www.nj.com
Baseball Preview, 2018: NJ’s Top Catchers, A Position Deep In Talent–New Jersey has a deep, talented and versatile pool of catchers. Returning First-Team, All-State catcher Peter Serruto of Millburn -- a Rutgers University recruit -- leads the list of backstops who can do it with the bat, arm and glove. Some of the best hitters in the state will be catchers, who will also be in draft discussions as spring turn to summer. www.nj.com
Hate Crime Complaints Are Up In NJ After Going Down For Years–Reports of hate crimes are on the rise in New Jersey after years of steady decline, according to new data released by the State Police. The state's top law enforcement official alluded to President Donald Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric in a statement announcing the new stats, but acknowledged the rise could also be attributed to improved reporting practices in an area that has long suffered from a lack of reliable data. www.nj.com