New AC Coffee Shop
There’s a new coffee shop in Atlantic City and it’s the result of a neat collaboration between Stockton University and the Rescue Mission – oh, and it’s “pay what you want”. The coffee shop, called ‘Hopeful Grounds’, will provide job training to Rescue Mission residents. It’s already proving popular with shoppers at the Rescue Mission Thrift store, Diane D’Amico reports for The Press of Atlantic City.
Overdose Death Charges
An Ocean County man accused of supplying a lethal dose of heroin to a 26-year-old from Brick Township has been charged with (among other things) strict liability drug-induced death. This charge has been rarely used, in spite of the levels of the opioid epidemic in New Jersey. This new case will follow the conviction in February of a Camden county man on the same charge.
Winslow Junction, by @timmcglynn on Instagram
Tootblans
Did you know that one of the best-sounding baseball stats – the Tootblan – was invented by a Ventnor resident? It was news to us, too, and it’s a fun story. Route 40’s Bill Sprouse has the details.
It’s About Taxes, Stupid
USA Today took at look at Atlantic City’s past and why Hard Rock thinks it can be successful with a new casino now. It comes down to costs. Hard Rock Chairman Jim Allen said he’s not concerned about what’s happening elsewhere: the tax rates in surrounding states are much higher than Atlantic City’s. Investors will be more willing to invest in Atlantic City properties and bring more jobs to the city, he adds. “It’s Atlantic City that has a competitive advantage,” he says. “It’s a very welcoming area to do business.” What’ll happen to those 3,000 $12-an-hour jobs when the current PILOT deal for casino taxes runs out in 14 years? Lets hope the local economy has diversified by then.
Click here to get the Route 40 Roundup, complete with a daily featured event, delivered direct to your inbox each weekday.
The former editor of the Gazette and Leader newspapers in Cape May, Bill Barlow, interviewed Kim Guadagno and contributed the piece to Route 40. Read the piece here and feel free to contribute back to Barlow via his PayPal. Every little bit helps us continue to report local news that matters.
In the rest of the day’s headlines appellate judges ruled pay and benefit cuts for Atlantic City’s firefighters can go forward (we’ll be writing more on this topic next week, when we’ve digested the details), a new pet health company is adding jobs near Rowan University, and the Center for Disease Control is doing a study in Atlantic County. All that and more below:
Poll: Use Them or Lose Them — What’s the Best Policy for Sick Day Payouts?–Does it make sense for some public employees to get a big bonus at retirement when they cash in unused sick days and vacation time? www.njspotlight.com
PennEast Project Files for Water Permit from State DEP–The developer of the PennEast pipeline today filed for a critical water and freshwater wetlands permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection for its project, perhaps one of the most troublesome regulatory reviews remaining for the project. www.njspotlight.com
‘A million little pieces:’ National Park Service, state lower boom on Atlantic City crafter village–ATLANTIC CITY - Sometimes it seems the little people in Atlantic City can never get a break, especially the ones who run little businesses. Philly.com
A.C. firefighter cuts can go forward, appellate judges rule–ATLANTIC CITY — The state can cut city firefighters’ pay and benefits while a legal case against a state takeover of the city advances, an appellate panel ruled Thursday. Press of Atlantic City