Happy belated MLK Day to all.
Chris Christie leaves office officially today and they didn’t call him the historically unpopular lame-duck governor (HUL-DG) for nothing. The Republican Man Baby pocket-vetoed a bill that would have created tax incentives for businesses around the Atlantic City International Airport, John DeRosier at the Press of AC reports (h/t to Jim Kennedy).
Now, Route 40 has been critical of these kind of incentive arrangements, but if no one’s going to pay taxes, we might as well have an aviation industry. That’s the point of a race to the bottom. And the bill was supported by Vince Mazzeo, and Chris Brown, and Colin Bell and Jim Whelan. Denny Levinson called the veto a “vindictive parting shot.”
A spokesperson for the HUL-DG said the airport incentives bill had been approved “hastily.”
There’s still some optimism Phil Murphy will back the airport Growth Zone bill.
Snakes!
Someone put a python in a Parkway toll basket, and that’s about the most terrifying thing I can imagine.
Marijuana Debates
Payton Guion at NJ.com has the latest on the marijuana legalization bill that’s supposed to be introduced by Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, which is different from the one recently reintroduced by Senator Nicolas Scutari. Under the Gusciora proposal, which hasn’t yet been proposed, there would be a lower number of legal dispensaries and legal growers, and the tax rate would be lower, but New Jerseyans would also be allowed to grow (a limited amount of) their own marijuana at home.
For the rest of today’s South Jersey news see below:
Atlantic City library honors MLK during annual read-in program–The atrium of the Free Public Library on Saturday echoed with the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
NJ Politics Digest: Lawmakers to Review Sexual Misconduct Policies–Top Democratic lawmakers plan to review the state legislature’s sexual misconduct policies amid a wave of sexual harassment scandals sweeping the nation. observer.com
Fund-Raiser Benefits Family Who Lost Home In Fiery Drunken-Driving Crash–Noranne Thompson and Stephen Weiss decided last year that they wanted the music to mean more than just putting on a show. breakingac.com
Atlantic City casino revenue rose in 2017 for 2nd consecutive year–Atlantic City's casinos saw their gambling revenue increase in 2017 for the second year in a row. www.nj.com
This new brewery digs deep, using Jersey water from 800 feet below–Days after Beer Connoisseur said New Jersey makes the best beer in the country, the Garden State has added another brewery to its already impressive roster. www.nj.com
Parkway officials studying feasibility of full interchange at Exit 20–The agency that operates the Garden State Parkway has agreed to look at expanding Exit 20 in the Seaville section of the township, in response to requests from local officials. www.shorenewstoday.com
Law firm running Atlantic City for state has now billed $4 million–The North Jersey law firm appointed by departing Gov. Christie to oversee a state takeover of Atlantic City has now billed more than $4 million for its services, according to invoices released by the state late Friday in response to an Open Public Records Request by the Inquirer and Daily News. www.philly.com
TRUMP TAX CUT COULD MEAN $850 MILLION WINDFALL FOR PSEG– Public Service Enterprise Group is expecting to record a one-time, noncash earnings benefit in the range of $660 million to $850 million as a result of the sweeping tax cut signed into law last month by President Trump. www.njspotlight.com