Stockton Coffee
Stockton University has put out a call for proposals from “national and regional” coffee chains to open a coffee shop right on Atlantic City’s boardwalk in its future residential campus. The store must be ready to serve the 533 students who will take up residence in August 2018. Also, the store will have to contribute a portion of its revenue toward the Stockton site’s tax bill, so if it becomes a thriving business (and it’s hard not to see it being a winner) it is good news all-round for the city. Story from Route 40 here.
Online Gaming
If you’re interested in Atlantic City’s casino industry, NJ 101.5 has an interesting writeup on a recent research report that concludes that online gaming is actually helping draw more people into the real casinos in Atlantic City. That is because some of the casinos – such as Caesars and Resorts – that have online licenses are giving out real-world rewards to online gamers that can be used in their brick-and-mortar casinos on the boardwalk and in the marina, according to the report. The problem is that online gaming, while growing, is still a small market in New Jersey.
Whither Christie
There was a New York Post report yesterday that Gov. Christie would take a White House job. Then Politico said that was “absolutely not true”, citing a Christie aide. Should you even care at this point? After all, it’s not long until local elections and the end of Christie’s term, plus the biggest possible impact state politics could have on our area has already happened in the form of a state takeover of Atlantic City. But imagine a scenario in which Christie gets another gig before the end of his term and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno comes into office. We tried to figure out what Guadagno thinks about the takeover but it seems like she’s not publicly opposed it – yet?
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The rest of today’s and the weekend’s headlines include the news that property tax appeals are declining in New Jersey, there were fatal stabbings and shootings in Atlantic City (where the state wants to cut police and fire headcount…), plus details on an upcoming inter-faith substance-abuse symposium and a feature looking at reaction to the proposed Pinelands gas pipeline. All that and more below:
Symposium Invites Faith Leaders To Join Fight Against Substance Abuse–Join Together Atlantic County, a substance misuse prevention coalition, will co-host a Do No Harm symposium for the county’s faith leaders February 23. Co-hosted by the Atlantic County Opiate Task Force and the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey, the symposium is scheduled for 10 am to 1 pm at the Atlantic County Library Mays Landing branch, 40 Farragut Ave in Mays Landing. Shore News Today
NJ Property Tax Appeals Down More Than Half in 3 Years–Tax appeals in New Jersey fell for the fourth straight year in 2016, an indication people were less stressed about the value of their homes and the economy. New Jersey 101.5 – Proud to be New Jersey – New Jersey News Radio
Atlantic City Woman Creates Bulletin Board for City’s Black History–If you were to step into Jeffries Tower and head to the mailboxes, you’d come to a stop to stare at the board on the adjacent wall. Famous city figures such as businesswoman Sara Spencer Washington and former Mayor Lorenzo T Langford would be staring back at you. Press of Atlantic City
Two Teens Charged with Firing Shots at AC School–Police say two teenagers have been arrested on weapons charges stemming from a shooting at an Atlantic City school complex. Atlantic City police said in a statement on Saturday that a 16-year-old boy and 19-year-old Darren Nedrick, of Atlantic City, have been arrested. NBC 10 Philadelphia
How Atlantic City Plans to Pay for Borgata Settlement–Atlantic City will borrow the $72 million it must pay the Borgata casino under a settlement reached this past week to settle a long-running tax dispute, Governor Chris Christie's administration said. Christie's administration -- which launched a state takeover of the local government in November -- announced Wednesday that it brokered a deal in which the city will pay less than half of the $165 million it owed its most profitable casino. NJ.com
Meet the Pleasantville School Board Member Who Helped Integrate a Delaware School–At the time, it was just another “first day of school,” but almost 65 years ago, Bernice Byrd Couch helped make history. Press of Atlantic City
Is Online Gambling Driving New Business at Atlantic City Casinos?–With the gambling seaside town already decimated by competing casinos in neighboring states, it's been debated for some time whether the ability to wager online would suck even more potential customers out of Atlantic City. New Jersey 101.5 – Proud to be New Jersey – New Jersey News Radio
Atlantic City Police Officers Lure Injured Dog With Valentine’s Day Candy–Two Atlantic City Police Officers were able to lure an injured dog to safety with some Valentine's Day candy. On Valentine's Day, Officers Cindy Rongione and Autumn Mason responded to the Chelsea Heights section of Atlantic City after several reports that a dog was hit by a car. The dog ended up entering Chelsea Heights Avenue School where a fourth-grade class witnessed the police helping the dog. www.snjtoday.com
Along the hotly disputed Pinelands pipeline’s path, hopes, fears, and doubts–America’s most densely populated state becomes a vast swath of rustic green in the Pinelands of South Jersey, but “beautiful” does not describe Route 49. Philly.com
Aide: Report that Christie is taking Trump job is ‘absolutely not true’–The New York Post late last night made the claim in a four-paragraph story attributed to a single source “close to the White House.” POLITICO
Christie tells his staff he is taking White House job–New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is telling friends and staff he is taking a role with the Trump administration, according to a source close to the White House. New York Post
Fatal stabbing in Atlantic City–An Atlantic City woman was killed and a man injured in a stabbing Saturday night. The attack happened at a home on North Harrisburg Avenue before 8 p.m. The 54-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene, acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton said. BreakingAC
Crews battling large Pinelands forest fire–MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP — Firefighters battled flames Sunday that burned more than 100 acres of the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area in southern Ocean County. Press of Atlantic City
Warm weather, long weekend draw crowds to shore towns–WILDWOOD — The Boardwalk resembled a sunny spring day instead of the dead of winter this weekend. Press of Atlantic City