Remember the days when Atlantic City didn’t have casinos? Only one of us was born at that point but it’s amazing to look back at these old pictures, via Newsworks, and listen to their piece discussing what’s happened to this crazy town. So many promises were made, so few fulfilled. And there are so many vacant lots! It’s been 40 years (or more) of constant redevelopment. Apparently, this is not just a New Jersey issue, but it definitely feels like South Jersey is in the eye of the public-private development storm.
In other news, the state is now deciding whether or not to take over the government of Atlantic City, after yesterday issuing a 45-page-report that pretty much shredded the recovery plan pitched by Mayor Don Guardian and his team of advisors. Just as everyone was finally starting to think that Christie would maybe, maybe, go gently into that good night and leave Atlantic City alone to fix its problems. It’s hard to understand how a state agency that’s been supervising the city since 2010 will now be able to turn things around by running the place directly, so it looks like we’ll be headed for a legal fight. The Mayor and City Council members are holding a press conference at City Hall at 1pm today.
And while we’re on the topic of lawsuits, check out our prescient story from yesterday about more litigation brewing over the city’s tax schemes.
Here’s the rest of what we’re reading today:
Six Arrested in Cocaine, Heroin Bust at Atlantic City Rooming House–Four men and two women were arrested and charged Monday with selling cocaine and heroin out of an Atlantic City rooming house, police said. Cops executed a search warrant on Pennsylvania Avenue around noon and seized 75 grams of raw heroin, 67 grams of cocaine and a loaded handgun, Atlantic City police said in a news release. NJ.com
Glou. County Program Offers Recovery Coaches to Addicts–Gloucester County Prosecutor Sean Dalton announced the start of a Recovery Coach Program for individuals who are addicted to drugs. He called this program the first step in helping individuals on the road to recovery. SOUTH JERSEY OBSERVER
Despite Similarities, Candidate for New Jersey Governor Says He’s No Corzine–Philip D. Murphy, a former Goldman Sachs executive, appears to have wrapped up the Democratic nomination a year before the election. Mr. Murphy, 59, is a former Goldman Sachs executive and United States ambassador to Germany who has never been elected to public office, credentials that bring to mind the one-term Democratic incumbent Mr. Christie defeated in 2009. www.nytimes.com
Atlantic City Teachers Union Sues District, State to Recoup Benefits payments–The union representing teachers and other staff in the school district has filed a lawsuit against the district and its state monitor, claiming the decision not to make payments to eligible employees who waived the district health insurance plan is illegal. The lawsuit, filed Oct. 25, asks the court to immediately reinstate the payments, including retroactive payments due since September, plus interest. Press of Atlantic City
Atlantic County Economic Development Alliance building $2 m annual budget–The nonprofit Atlantic County Economic Alliance, charged with diversifying the county economy in the wake of casino closings, is working on building a $2 million annual budget. It has some substantial funding promises from businesses, as well as governmental arms such as the Atlantic County Utilities Authority, its board chairman told a freeholder meeting Tuesday. Press of Atlantic City
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