The leaders of Atlantic City and Atlantic County want to work with the state, but not be taken over by them. Some leaders in Trenton are discussing possibly taking over operations of the city government. Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian was among the local lawmakers on Wednesday pushing back against this notion. Guardian noted that…
Casino revenue figures for 2015 were released on Wednesday and they tell a dismal story about gambling in Atlantic City. The win totals for the past year were 6.5 percent lower than 2014 and just half of the revenue generated ten years ago in 2006. The N.J. Division of Gaming Enforcement said that casinos in…
Many lawmakers are tired of helping Atlantic City out. Senate President Steve Sweeney said a number of lawmakers he works with have “Atlantic City fatigue.” Sweeney criticized the leadership for not taking all possible steps to make the financial crisis they are under better, including still using city vehicles for council and mayor. The state…
A proposal has is being considered in Trenton that would see a state takeover of Atlantic City. The measure called the “Municipal Stabilization and Recovery Act,” would ensure the state makes most of the important decisions in the city over the next 15 years. Mayor and council would remain in place but would only be…
Efforts to expand casino gaming to North Jersey took a step forward this week. Gov. Chris Christie helped Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto reach a compromise on a ballot question. The deal will mostly follow the Senate bill but will ensure the new investment in a North Jersey casino will ensure…
The fight over which proposal the state will go with to expand casino gaming just got more involved. Gov. Chris Christie said he favors the proposal by Senate President Steve Sweeney over the proposal by Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto. The Sweeney bill is kinder to Atlantic City but would still allow new casinos in North…
Three bills aimed at helping Atlantic City recovered were sent to Gov. Chris Christie’s desk last week. The measures included the provision to have the eight casinos pay $120 million in lieu of property taxes for 15 years. Leaders in the city say this will help stabilize the tax base and avoid tax appeals. Another…
No more freedom for Atlantic City drug gang leader Mykal Derry. Derry was handed a life sentence in prison for running a huge drug operation in the gaming resort. The 35-year old Derry was the leader of a crime gang known as “Dirty Block”. He and his brother killed a rival drug dealer in Atlantic…
Yep, I’m interested. Those words coming from Steve Wynn, who says he’s interested in a casino in northern New Jersey if casinos in that part of the state receive legislative and voter approval. Wynn’s representatives say his company has interest in a casino but only if state regulators can agree on how many casinos can…
State lawmakers discussed the controversial proposal of allowing casinos in northern New Jersey. Assembly and Senate committees held separate hearings in Trenton on the proposal. Atlantic County Assemblyman Chris Brown says any conversation about North Jersey casinos helping Atlantic City is just “deceiving”.