School Vouchers
New Jersey’s teachers’ union spent tens of thousands of dollars – multiple times some of its members’ salaries – campaigning against the introduction of school vouchers in Atlantic City, but the issue has not gone away and interest seems to be spreading to other nearby communities. You can read the Route 40 exclusive here.
Fighter Jets
The Press of Atlantic City has the news that Atlantic City International Airport will not house the new F-35 Fighter Jets that Sen. Cory Booker and local Rep. Frank LoBiondo had hoped to lure to the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 177th Fighter Wing, which is based at the airport. Booker and LoBiondo got some pretty sweet lobbying money from the aerospace sector (more on that on Route 40 later) to try and do the deal and LoBiondo described the Air Force’s decision as a setback. The Press doesn’t go into detail, but presumably expansion of the base is now less likely. You can read the story here.
Tax Breaks
Meanwhile, a company has decided to move 80 staff into a vacant office floor in Atlantic City. That’s great news – or is it? Most of those jobs already exist and the company, which develops computer systems for the aerospace sector, is based just outside the city in Egg Harbor Township. Enroute Computer Solutions had threatened to leave Atlantic County, but now it is staying after getting just shy of $10 million in tax credits, The Press of Atlantic City reports. Considering Atlantic County (and Atlantic City) are in a financial crisis brought on by giving tax breaks to big businesses and squeezing homeowners to make up budget shortfalls, you’d think there would be more hesitation over the use of tax incentives to move businesses from one area to another, but on the flip side, it is good to keep jobs in the area. It’s just hard not to wonder whether that money could be better spent drawing in businesses from outside the area.
Snow! Maybe!
In weather news, it’s going to get cold and miserable and we might even get some snow by the end of the week.
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The rest of today’s headlines include an update on a Caesars robbery case, a look inside a South Jersey Poinsettia farm and a move in Cherry Hill to fix on a location for a rehab center. You can see what we’re reading here:
Thousands of Poinsettias Grown Every Year at South Jersey Greenhouse–The Garden State is known for their "Jersey Fresh" produce, but during the holiday season La Rosa Greenhouses stays busy producing the quintessential Christmas flower - the poinsettia. December 12th marks National Poinsettia Day, and for many, seeing this flower pop up in stores symbolizes that it's time for Christmas. www.snjtoday.com
Hundreds Gather in Atlantic City for Trooper Funeral–All of the monitors that line the Atlantic City boardwalk displayed Trooper Frankie Williams’ photograph as people from all across the country came together to say goodbye. Underneath a gray sky, the boardwalk was packed with blue and gold, as family, friends, co-workers, and law enforcement officers paid their respects and remember the fallen state trooper. www.snjtoday.com
Cherry Hill to Shift Rehab Center to Baker Lanes, Preserve Masonic Lodge as Open Space–After a tumultuous few months during which the residents of a Cherry Hill neighborhood were told that an inpatient behavioral health facility would be installed within their development, the township government has brokered a deal to preserve the land as open space and situate the facility elsewhere. Under terms of the deal, the Camden County government would pay $1.7 million to purchase the unoccupied U.S.S. New Jersey masonic lodge No. 62 in the Brookfield development. NJ PEN
NY Couple Wrote Bad Checks In Purchases Of 3 South Jersey Homes: AG–The couple opened a bank account under the auspices of a fake law firm to write the checks and buy houses in Gloucester and Camden counties. West Deptford, NJ Patch
Tanger Outlets To Donate To Atlantic City Police Foundation–The Atlantic City Police Foundation will receive a donation from Tanger Outlets The Walk to help purchase bicycle racks for the Atlantic City Police Department. Press of Atlantic City
Fourth Defendant Pleads Guilty In Caesars Robbery Case–Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced that a fourth defendant pleaded guilty today in an armed robbery of the Caesars Casino in Atlantic City in July 2014 that involved a former casino security guard and targeted employees handling cash boxes. BreakingAC