Free Coffee
It’s Wawa Day (aka, the convenience store’s 53rd anniversary) and that means free coffee! All day, any size. Details here via Townsquare.
County Taxes
The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Amy Rosenberg unravels the strange turn of fortunes of county executive Dennis Levinson, who went from being Gov. Christie’s ally against Atlantic City mayor Don Guardian, to being – apparently – kicked to Christie’s curb. “This week, alliances and strategies seemed to have shifted under the odd political theater of the state’s third version of dominance in seven years of control over the struggling Atlantic City’s municipal government,” writes Rosenberg. Read it here.
Early Retirement Plans
When legislators crafted the bill that would allow New Jersey to take control over Atlantic City, it included provisions for early retirement plans that would provide incentives to reduce the city’s police force and fire department. But the state’s lawyer, arguing for police cuts before Judge Mendez on Monday, said early retirement was off the table. It wasn’t quite clear why the lawyer said that (the lawyer for the police claimed
Margate pier by @terrajane on Instagram
it was because he was being “punitive”), so on Wednesday, three legislators (Whelan, Sweeney and Mazzeo) issued a statement clarifying that early retirement plans ARE part of the takeover legislation and are therefore, still on the table. Lynda Cohen wades through the confusion over at BreakingAC.
In the rest of today’s headlines, you didn’t imagine it, there’s a sudden spike in
South Jersey pollen, the Polercoaster developers want $37 million from the state, plus, the Press of Atlantic City’s Nick Huba takes a look at the increasing charter flights into AC and read this piece from NJ Pen on the other side of South Jersey about the future of downtown Haddonfield. All that and more below:
Pleasantville Teacher Uses AC Viral Video to Influence Boys–Leeds Avenue Elementary School instructor Bruce Harper used two incidents of current and former Atlantic City residents stepping in to break up a fight as a teachable moment for his Pleasantville boys club. Harper spent one of his after school boys club sessions showing the students the Ibn Ali Miller breaking up the fight video and talking about the death of Ernest Tyrrell Bing. Press of Atlantic City
Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Announces $2.6 Million in New Grants–At its first board meeting of the year, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Trustees approved 57 grants totaling $2,692,000 to nonprofit organizations whose work in the arts, education, environment and informed communities impact citizens throughout the state for a better New Jersey. New Jersey Stage
Body Found at South Jersey Marina, Authorities Say–The body is that of a male, authorities said. It was found at Barber's Basin in Salem County. NJ.com
Dirt Bike Thieves Sought in South Jersey Communities–Both Cumberland and Salem counties are seeing an uptick in stolen dirt bikes over the last few weeks. One theft happened a few days ago and the victimized family (from Salem County) is hoping their three dirt bikes will be returned. www.snjtoday.com
‘What are my kids going to do?’ Long Branch father faces deportation–Kimberly turns 4 years old in July. She's too young to understand that by then her father might be gone. Asbury Park Press
Atlantic City sees its best month ever for online gambling–ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) -- There's no longer much of a debate about it: Internet gambling is helping to save Atlantic City's casinos. NJ.com
NJ Voters Support Tax Hike for Millionaires, CPAs Say It Could Propel Rich to Leave–A recent public opinion poll revealed an overwhelming number of New Jersey voters would support hiking taxes on those with incomes over $1 million if the new revenue is used to boost education aid or increase public-employee pension payments, two areas the state has been underfunding by billions of dollars in recent years. www.njspotlight.com
Egg Harbor Township boy saves his family from blaze–EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — The O’Connor family was sound asleep Saturday night when their 8-year-old son, Kane, woke to the smell of smoke in their home in the Normsdale Mobile Home Park off Ocean Heights Avenue. www.pressofatlanticcity.com