Rescue plan for Atlantic City would open casinos in New Jersey

“Anything they do, we don’t want a part of it”, the council president said. He has been discussing with legislative leaders about “some accommodation on this”.

The proposed legislation that Christie vetoed would have assisted the struggling city – funds from the casinos that normally go to the state would have been redirected to the city.

Christie did not explain his decision to reject the Atlantic City legislation, which came in the form of a pocket veto. “Sweeney, or by Gov. Christie”.

While there already is oversaturation in the Northeast’s casino market, these two casinos will do well because the goal is primarily to keep New Jersey gambling revenue in-state.

“We can not afford to let Atlantic City go bankrupt”, said Sweeney, who many expect will run for governor next year.

Lavin’s suggestion? Sign those Atlantic City rescue bills into law.

“New Jersey has joined “Alice in Wonderland.’ Gov. Christie has vetoed his own bills, bills that he conditionally vetoed after months of silence from the governor”, said state Senator Jim Whelan, the former Democratic mayor of Atlantic City”. This would make sure that these sites are legitimate entertainment complexes, and not merely glorified gambling halls.

“We’ll have the meeting sometime next week”, Guardian said. “I have expressed mixed feelings personally about a casino in Jersey City, but ultimately we will follow what the majority of Jersey City residents recommend when they vote in November”. Though locations were not specified, the leading contenders are in the Meadowlands sports complex in East Rutherford and in Jersey City.

The mayors of Newark, Paterson, and Jersey City have issued support for expansion of casinos, as have the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, whose district includes Atlantic City, said in a statement that Christie’s vetoes show a “brazen disregard” for Atlantic City’s fiscal recovery and said he would move forward on measures to restore the region’s economic security.

The bill will help the state compete with other states that have recently allowed gambling, the freeholder resolution stated.

“If they are allowed to do this in Atlantic City, they will be allowed to do it anywhere”, Guardian said of the takeover. Other casino tax appeals are likely, as well.

First, the two North Jersey casinos will create 12,000 jobs and up to $5 billion in new private investment; in fact, we are requiring a minimum of $1 billion in private investment as a condition for applying for one of the casino licenses. Hotel rooms could be open by June, although he did not give a timetable on when a casino might reopen. The proposal would locate a casino within easy reach of New York City and numerous northern New Jersey communities from which gamblers would come.

“The sooner the state steps in, the sooner it can get the job done and get out”, he said. He, Sarlo and state Sen. “Sweeney doesn’t watch out”, said City Councilman Kaleem Shabazz.

Fulop said 90 percent of the necessary property has been purchased or optioned.

Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian said the city isn’t at the point of bankruptcy.