Rezoning Train Stations
One of Atlantic County’s most criminally untapped resources is its train line connection to Philadelphia. (Of course, part of the reason it’s criminally untapped is because years of under-investment have rendered the train service infrequent and slow.) Now a new report published Tuesday by the Regional Plan Association says that local zoning that prohibits multifamily development outside train stations is a major obstacle to expanding transit-oriented development, particularly in New Jersey. Can you imagine faster, more frequent trains to Philly plus – say – apartments over The Walk development in Atlantic City? Or near the Absecon train station? Read more about the regional report via NJSpotlight here.
VA Report
Remember last year when a veteran set himself on fire outside the VA clinic in Northfield? The VA Inspector General yesterday reported that staff at the clinic repeatedly failed to ensure he received adequate mental health care. Since the death, more resources have been funnelled to the clinic and the director has been removed. Read more via USA Today.
Morning clouds over Atlantic City. Photo by Gerald (@gpo321 on Instagram).
Casinos
Atlantic City’s total gaming revenue fell slightly in October this year to $185.8 million compared to $186.4 in October 2016. The Taj Mahal did some (limited) business in October 2016, which accounts for most of the difference. Year-to-date the casino industry’s growth has come from online gaming (up 26.7 pct for the year through October, versus casino gaming up just 0.3 percent over the same period). The problem for New Jersey’s coffers is that internet gaming is not taxed at the same rate as the casinos, so the state is not seeing much of the benefit from that online gaming revenue increase. Gaming taxes year-to-date are $178.2 billion, up just 3 percent from $172.9 billion last year. Read the Division of Gaming Enforcement’s press release.
In the rest of the day’s news, segregation is worsening in New Jersey schools, a woman rescued by a good samaritan (who died from injuries sustained while trying to stop the woman’s attacker) says there is more to her story, a Camden County gun range has prompted controversy with a new ad, and the remaining at-large Harborfields detainee was recently indicted for murder. All that and more below:
Christie’s Push For New Government Offices Stymied–The Christie administration’s plan to push through financing for construction of two new state-government office buildings before the end of Christie’s tenure appears to have stalled, after lawmakers took notice and others said the project would not meet appropriate planning and code standards and was rushing the approval process. www.njspotlight.com
Bat Signed By Halladay, Jersey Signed By Bobby Clarke: Spoils From An Arrest Go On Sale–Yo, Philly, do you remember when Eagles linebacker Charles “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik flattened New York Giants halfback Frank Gifford, ending the game with an Eagles victory in 1960? Well, you can bid on an autographed copy of that moment, captured in a famous black and white Sports Illustrated photograph, courtesy of Mark Begley, a Cherry Hill man whose Philadelphia sports memorabilia was confiscated after his arrest two years ago for mortgage fraud. www.philly.com
Remaining Harborfields Escapee Was Recently Indicted For Murder–Three of four inmates who escaped from the Harborfields Juvenile Detention Center have been located in Bridgeton, authorities said. Michael Huggins, 18, of Bridgeton, remains wanted. breakingac.com