Casino Expansion Unlikely, Polls Show
Seventy percent of registered voters say they oppose an amendment to expand casino gambling to North Jersey, according to the latest poll from Fairleigh Dickinson – NJ Spotlight has the goods. Atlantic City casino workers want the referendum not just to lose but to lose badly, to avoid having this fight again in a few years.
No North Jersey Casino Campaign Spends Big
To further that cause, the No North Jersey Casinos campaign has been spending a lot – $14 million according to ELEC. Hudson County View, a colleague of ours in the New Jersey News Commons project, reports that the campaign dropped $3,500 just for permission to film inside the Bayonne high school: the school and other Bayonne landmarks appeared in three separate TV commercials paid for by Trenton’s Bad Bet – the anti-North Jersey casino group. Trenton’s Bad Bet has continued an aggressive, multi-million dollar marketing campaign, despite their pro-casino counterparts, Our Turn NJ, suspending their paid media campaign in late September.
AC Badlands
Changing topic and returning to Atlantic City, check out Bill Sprouse’s latest piece on how someone – bless them – is trying to change the zoning in the inlet and build a house there. Maybe one day it will look less like South Jersey’s badlands.
Here’s the rest of what we’re reading:
Electric-Car Coalition–Car dealers, environmental advocates and energy experts are forming a group to push for electric car infrastructure in New Jersey, following the big hike in the state gas tax. ChargEVC said it will do research and make policy recommendations. Politico PRO
Pension Problems–New Jersey has the worst-funded public pension system in the U.S., according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The state's pension liabilities are $135.7 billion, up $22.6 billion from a year ago. Bloomberg.com
A.C. Vows to Fight Takeover–Atlantic City officials vowed to fight a state takeover after the state Department of Community Affairs rejected its proposed fiscal recovery plan. Mayor Don Guardian said the DCA's report was filled with "inaccuracies" and hinted at legal action that would be "enjoyable" just like "the last five weeks of Bridgegate." Press of Atlantic City
Local 54 supports state rejection of Atlantic City plan–The city's main casino workers union sided with the state Thursday in the ongoing battle over state takeover of the city. UNITE HERE Local 54 President Bob McDevitt wrote a letter announcing the union supports the state's decision to reject the city's fiscal recovery plan. Press of Atlantic City
Former Revel Casino Hotel Hires Executives–TEN, the former Revel Casino Hotel, has hired several executives as they prepare for their opening during the first quarter of next year. Frank Leone, who oversaw gaming operations at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, has been appointed senior vice president of casino operations. Press of Atlantic City
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