Everything gets rusty so quickly by the sea – and have you thought about how that affects the bridges you drive over, multiple times a day around here? Yeah, maybe you don’t want to think too long about that. The Gazette of Cape May has a look at a drawbridge that is causing problems for local fisheries and the cost of bridge improvements.
There are a couple of interesting local election battles heating up around here. In Northfield, a pair of Republican men are facing challenges from a duo of Democratic women for city council. The challengers are saying that taxes need to be brought under control – while the incumbents focus on Northfield’s schools and city spending. Shore News Today’s The Current has the details – they asked all candidates to fill them in on their platforms.
It would be easy to be snarky and cynical about the BOOM in LOCAL hiring related to the project to build Stockton University’s Island Campus in Atlantic City, since we all know the developer is a non-profit from New Brunswick and the construction company that won the no-bid contract for the work is from Lawrenceville…. But maybe you should just read The Press of Atlantic City’s story about how some local security guards and admins have been hired and feel optimistic about commitments from the contractor to train local people for construction jobs. Right?
Here’s the rest of what we’re reading today:
Avalon Cuts Down 210 Pine Trees On Dunes Despite Protests–The borough cut down about 210 Japanese black pine trees on the maritime dunes, despite months of opposition by a residents’ group. Press of Atlantic City
Officer’s Retaliation Suit Against Atlantic County Rejected in Superior Court–An Atlantic County Superior Court civil jury rejected a sheriff’s officer’s complaint that fellow officers retaliated against her after she reported a colleague “plucked her on the buttocks.” In a lawsuit filed in 2013, Atlantic County Sheriff’s Officer Joyce Jackson-Allen alleged retaliation, including pictures of mice caught in traps with the caption “Rat Free Zone,” started appearing after her report to U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission representatives. Press of Atlantic City
Man Charged In Hit-And-Run That Left Bicyclist Critical–Todd Battaglia is accused of hitting Glen Bott, who was biking along East Mill Road in Port Republic. NJ.com
Atlantic City Pushes Recovery Plan To Trenton–Atlantic City officials presented their fiscal recovery plan Wednesday to state lawmakers, who were receptive but raised questions about the plan’s key parts. The Assembly Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on the city’s plan to avoid a state takeover. Press of Atlantic City
AC: We’ve Made The Necessary Cuts And Reforms–Atlantic City officials told lawmakers on Wednesday that they’ve made the necessary cuts and reforms to meet the terms of legislation that called for the financially-troubled resort town to come up with a five-year fiscal plan. “We did the responsible thing,” City Council President Marty Small told members of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, while briefing them on the 120-page document submitted to the state on Monday.
Time, Salt Air Takes Its Toll On Middle Thorofare Bridge–The captains of the big fishing trawlers heading out to the Atlantic from Lund’s and other fisheries in Cape May face their first challenge almost immediately: passing under the drawbridge. Shore News Today
Incumbents Face Challenge For Two Seats On Hamilton Township Committee–Republicans outnumber Democrats 4-1 on the Hamilton Township Committee, but with two of the seats held by Republicans up for election Nov. 8, that control could change. Shore News Today
EHT Not In Favor Of Consolidating With Sewer Authority–As part of a required review of municipal best practices used by the state to evaluate aid allocations, the Egg Harbor Township Committee is considering whether to consolidate services with its sewer authority, which is autonomous from the governing body. Mayor James “Sonny” McCullough said the MUA operates efficiently on its own. Shore News Today
Atlantic City Police Recover 1,150 bags of Heroin, Arrest Two–Detectives from Atlantic City's Special Investigations section arrested two men Wednesday and recovered 1,150 bags of heroin and a hand gun. Just after 9 a.m. police saw two men, later identified as James Garland, 30, and Anthony Allen, 46, make a drug deal in the 1500 black of Sewell Avenue, police said in a news release. Press of Atlantic City
Gatto wants to bring the next generation of leadership to county government–At age 34, Hamilton Township resident Amy Gatto has nine years of municipal government leadership under her belt. In addition to being elected to the Hamilton Township Committee at age 25, she served as mayor for two years and deputy mayor for three years, and has been budget and safety liaison for most of the time. Shore News Today