Atlantic City Seeks New Image: Las Vegas's

[scumonkey]

Many of the gay bars and lounges in NYC have the same thing!
Name a couple- I've never seen this sort of thing!

[RYinNJ]

Splash use to have mirrors and than it changed to tv's with gay porn playing on them(just atop your urinal)... now the bathrooms downstairs are just about see through from the downstairs bar area...... I should have not used the word "many" in the description in my earlier post b/c this is the only example I know of......However gay bars throughout the city are notorious for being a little special! The Eagle had a trough with a wire fence down the middle (talk about exposure). ANyway, sorry to interupt the thread with the history of gay bathrooms in NYC...Back to AC!

[scumonkey]

That's only one and you had to use the words "Use to"
Where's the "many" referred to?
And is not splash a club (one of the very few left)- not a bar or lounge? :confused:

[RYinNJ]

AGAIN, i stated earlier, my use of the word many was wrong....and yes there were mirrors replaced by tv's running gay porn....my point though is that the use of mirrors above the urinals reminds me of places I had been to in NYC.....oh and Splash considers themselves a bar/lounge/club according to their website. Although their web address is splashbar.com indicating a bar. It sort of functions as all three.....But you are right about there being less clubs in NYC than years ago.

[Fabrizio]

Uh... anyway... as I mentioned a while ago, AC had a huge gay beach that by the late 60's was probably one of the biggest in the US. S.Fransico had Castro Street, NY had Christopher Street and AC had NewYork Avenue (and "Snake Alley"... Westminster Avenue). All mostly empty lots today. AC was a gay destination already by the 1920's. It had a number of hotels (like the Hotel DeVille on Kentucky Ave) that catered to the gay crowd. When I lived there, I was into girls and spent most of my time with my girl friend, so I don't have much first-hand knowledge, but the gay scene was there and very much in the open. When casinos came in, the gay scene left AC.

I think it would be hard-to-impossible for AC to attract a cool gay crowd today. The city is just not nice enough now for an upscale fashion&design crowd. So much of the beautiful stuff that gays would be attracted to has been destroyed. The Chelsea area could really only be the only area that might work... but the folks in AC are clueless about zoning and landmarking and the few nice things they have left.

[ablarc]

...but the folks in AC are clueless about zoning and landmarking and the few nice things they have left.
Sounds like Charlotte twenty years ago but not today --since there are now no nice things left.

[Fabrizio]

But I bet you can a least take pee in peace.

And that must count for somethin'.

[Intheknow]

The Phila/ NY gay population goes to Rehobeth Beach in Delaware for their beach frolicking. I have not been in bathrooms in Tiplitzkys (I'll go to the Martinique if I have to go) but if what Zip says is true, it's alittle strange.

I don't care if you sleep with farm animals just so they're not my farm animals.

[Fabrizio]

There you go.... I had a feeling you made your living selling eggs.

[Intheknow]

Nope, but if the economy keeps its downward spiral I may be selling apples on the corner, maybe in front of Tiplitzkys. I'll still use the Martinique bathroom.

Read some reviews of Chelsea on tripadvisor/hotels.com. The two troubling complaints, in my opinion, are the loud air conditioner and the thin walls (hard to repair/fix). I hope they do well but I have my doubts.

[zipburn]

It is true, there is only one stall and its not a porcelin stall like normal it was aluminum and it stuck out quite far. I was standing roughly 3 feet from the wall. Sort of like I was using a heavy duty work sink. Right above the stall was about a 3-4 sq ft mirror with a punch button in the center to flush. It was definitely big enough that as soon as somone walks in the door there is a show going on. As I could see the door and myself at the same time. The mirror would have been fine I think if it was a normal stall but since its so far out it didn't work. Besides that I enjoyed myself. The quarter was packed tonite, rougly 600+ for the "taste of the quarter" event.

[Intheknow]

Was a "taste of the quarter" worth the price of admission? Were you stuffed? I can't believe I missed it, we could have had a drink together.

The new Trump tower opens this weekend-20 floors anyway.

The City appears to be spray painting for under ground utilities all over the City, it looks like hell. The State is planting itself in City Hall to do an audit, this is a good thing but the State is just one step above AC's level of incompetence.

[American Gaming Guru]

I hope this is the beginning of a rebirth of the Trump brand in AC.

Taj Mahal prepares to open doors on new 40-story hotel tower

By DONALD WITTKOWSKI

Published: Tuesday, August 26, 2008
http://media.pressofatlanticcity.com/smedia/2008/08/26/07/53-taj.standalone.prod_affiliate.101.jpg

Main entrance to the new $255 million Chairman's Tower at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City pictured, Monday August 25, 2008, which is scheduled to open Labor Day weekend at the Taj Mahal.
Staff photo by Michael Ein









ATLANTIC CITY - They are de-Tajing the Taj. First they ripped out the gaudy pink and purple hues that dominated the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort's over-the-top decor since the 1990s.

Then they converted the stark main hallway connecting the parking garage with the casino into a promenade of retail shops and restaurants called Spice Road to create a more inviting entrance.
Next came sophisticated European-style penthouse suites, a spruced-up casino floor and a sexy lounge called Ego that everyone jokes immediately brings to mind the swaggering personality of Donald Trump.
Now get ready for the most dramatic part of the Taj Mahal's transformation: a brand new, shimmering $255 million hotel tower that rises 40 stories and symbolizes the rejuvenation of the Trump casino empire.
"For us, it's really important," said Mark Juliano, chief executive officer of Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc., parent company of the Taj Mahal and two other Trump casinos. "With the limited amount of capital that the company has, we thought this was the best use of $255 million that we could have ever done."

The 782-room project is dubbed the Chairman Tower in honor of Trump himself, the chairman of Trump Entertainment. But the tower is also surprisingly un-Trump-like. For one thing, there is not one sign on the outside of the building that blares the Trump name. Compare that with the Taj's existing 1,250-room casino hotel, which is covered with 10 signs trumpeting the Trump moniker.

From the outside, the new tower boasts a sleek profile wrapped in reflective silver glass. The building has eight sides, cut like an irregular-shaped diamond. So many different sides ensure that guests will either have a view of the ocean or the surrounding bays in rooms and suites that include floor-to-ceiling windows.
"These windows absolutely add to the cost of the project. But they open up the views in the room and make it feel bigger than it really is," said Joseph Polisano, Trump Entertainment vice president of project development.
The tower's first 20 stories will open Friday, just in time for the busy Labor Day weekend. The rest of the hotel will be completed by year's end. A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 18, with Trump, his daughter, Ivanka, and Gov. Jon S. Corzine heading the list of dignitaries expected to attend.
A wide corridor of glossy marble floors connects the new tower with the existing casino complex. Muted brown, gold and orange tones dominate the color scheme throughout the tower - the opposite of the flamboyant pinks and purples from the Taj's garish yesteryear.
"The purples, lavenders and pinks have been gone for a long time, two years now," Juliano said of the start of the Taj Mahal's makeover. "This new color scheme is in keeping with the casino floor and Spice Road. We think it has longer life and is warmer."
The Taj project is the third new casino expansion this year, preceded by the 960-room Waterfront Tower at Harrah's Resort and the 800-room Water Club at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. Glitzy hotels are the centerpiece of a strategy to turn Atlantic City into a more glamorous tourist destination to beat back extra competition from the new slot parlors in Pennsylvania and New York.
"I've been talking for years of how to get the daytripping customer to stay for two or three nights and how to transform the city into a resort destination. You need rooms to do that," Juliano said.
For each casino, it may be a matter of survival. Figures released this month by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission showed that Harrah's and Borgata were the only properties in town to post an increase in gaming revenue this July. Juliano attributed the increases at Harrah's and Borgata to their new towers.
Industrywide, gaming revenue fell 6.6 percent in July and is down 6.1 percent for the first seven months this year. Competition from slot parlors, the sluggish economy and high gas prices have been blamed for Atlantic City's weak business.
Gaming revenue is down nearly 8 percent for the year at the Taj, the flagship of the Trump casinos. Juliano expressed hope that the new tower will reverse that trend by attracting more overnight customers as well as more convention business.
Rates for regular rooms will range from about $160 per night on weekdays to $400 on peak Saturdays. Suites will start at about $425 per night and top out at $1,000 on Saturdays, Juliano said.
Few may remember that four hotel towers were originally envisioned for the Taj Mahal when it opened in 1990. Now it has two, but there is talk already of a third if the Chairman Tower lives up to expectations.
"This site has the potential for two more towers," Juliano said. "We'll go right to tower No. 3 when we feel confident that tower No. 2 is doing what it should be doing."
E-mail Donald Wittkowski: DWittkowski@pressofac.com (DWittkowski@pressofac.com)

[Fabrizio]

"I've been talking for years of how to get the daytripping customer to stay for two or three nights and how to transform the city into a resort destination. You need rooms to do that," Juliano said.


No, Mr. Juliano.... you need an inviting city to do that. And btw: Your casinos destroyed one of the most beautiful side streets in AC. How many more l o n g stretches of blank walls are you guys planning to build?

Juliano attributed the increases at Harrah's and Borgata to their new towers.

Could it also be attributed to the fact that those towers are not actually in AC?

----

Although that photo looks like an anonymous office building entrance from about 20 years ago, a round of applause that the design of the new tower, the taste level, is miles above the old Taj ...but a sealed reflective glass tower on a beach-front, does not a pretty environment make. It's just nuts.

---

BTW: I'm surprised the Trump organization allowed that photo to be taken and published... is that supposed to entice?

---

[66nexus]

Gonna have to agree there. While the new tower exterior outstyles the Taj that lobby is a little on the plain-square side. While I don't think its ugly, it just doesn't say 'tourism' as much as it does 'business' and 'commercial'. Looks more Manhattan-ish

[Intheknow]

Fabrizio, do you have any pics of NEW hotels with that many rooms that you approve of, the cost of building has increased dramatically in the last year, year and a half, you have to look at the economics as well as the aesthetics.

This City's main problem is its government, the Casinos must demand that CRDA money goes into repairing and cleaning this city. The image of AC is not good, to say the least.

[American Gaming Guru]

I just got these pics off of The Press' website. I really like the look of the rooms! I just wish that they added amenities such as outdoor pools and bars etc like Borgata did. The Taj has a great deal of outdoor space that is currently not being utilized to its full potential. I guess since Trump has very limited financial resources right now, they did the best they could with their available cash. Hopefully it is successful and they can continue with additional towers and more amenities. The casino, restaurants, Spice Road, lobby etc. were renovated well. They look fantastic.

http://media.pressofatlanticcity.com/smedia/2008/08/26/12/917-tajtower11.standalone.prod_affiliate.101.jpg
Exterior photo of the new $255 million Chairman's Tower, left, at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, Monday August 25, 2008. The tower is scheduled to open Labor Day weekend at the Taj Mahal

http://media.pressofatlanticcity.com/smedia/2008/08/26/12/815-tajtower2.standalone.prod_affiliate.101.jpg
Main entrance to the new $255 million Chairman's Tower at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City pictured, Monday August 25, 2008, which is scheduled to open Labor Day weekend at the Taj Mahal.

http://media.pressofatlanticcity.com/smedia/2008/08/26/12/476-tajtower3.standalone.prod_affiliate.101.jpg
Workers Kenny Morrissey and Shakiya Goffney work on the meeting rooms hallway at the new $255 million Chairman's Tower at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, Monday August 25, 2008. The tower is scheduled to open Labor Day weekend at the Taj Mahal.

http://media.pressofatlanticcity.com/smedia/2008/08/26/12/411-tajtower4.standalone.prod_affiliate.101.jpg
Bedroom in a standard room in the new $255 million Chairman's Tower at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, Monday August 25, 2008. The tower is scheduled to open Labor Day weekend at the Taj Mahal.

http://media.pressofatlanticcity.com/smedia/2008/08/26/12/365-tajtower5.standalone.prod_affiliate.101.jpg
Bedroom in a standard room in the new $255 million Chairman's Tower at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, Monday August 25, 2008. The tower is scheduled to open Labor Day weekend at the Taj Mahal.

http://media.pressofatlanticcity.com/smedia/2008/08/26/12/277-tajtower6.standalone.prod_affiliate.101.jpg
Trump Entertainment Resorts officials Mark Juliano, left, and Joseph Polisano tour a suite in the new $255 million Chairman's Tower at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, Monday August 25, 2008. The tower is scheduled to open Labor Day weekend at the Taj Mahal.

http://media.pressofatlanticcity.com/smedia/2008/08/26/12/368-tajtower7.standalone.prod_affiliate.101.jpg
Bedroom in a suite in the new $255 million Chairman's Tower at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, Monday August 25, 2008. The tower is scheduled to open Labor Day weekend at the Taj Mahal.

http://media.pressofatlanticcity.com/smedia/2008/08/26/12/614-tajtower8.standalone.prod_affiliate.101.jpg
Trump Entertainment Resorts CEO Mark Juliano peers at the view of the ocean from a suite in the new $255 million Chairman's Tower at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, Monday August 25, 2008. The tower is scheduled to open Labor Day weekend at the Taj Mahal.


http://media.pressofatlanticcity.com/smedia/2008/08/26/12/57-tajtower9.standalone.prod_affiliate.101.jpg
Ocean view from a suite in the new $255 million Chairman's Tower at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, Monday August 25, 2008. The tower is scheduled to open Labor Day weekend at the Taj Mahal.

[OmegaNYC]

It seems like AC is making a comeback.

[American Gaming Guru]

I am not sure if I ever posted this, but these are the future Taj hotel tower expansion plans. The new tower is obviously in the middle:

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm232/AmericanGG/TajExpansionPlan.jpg?t=1219785030

[Fabrizio]

Their plans for Pacific Avenue look wonderful.

[giselehaslice]

I think that the new tower looks really good. The key to it being a home-run will be if they can tie the old casino and buildings into the new one seemlessly. I dont really care for when hotels/casinos don't try to match the old with the new (a la MGM Grand Las Vegas.)

Does anyone know the timetable for the other towers? I'm guessing not too soon due to the market.

[Intheknow]

At the start of the Casino industry in AC, AC was a pit. The Casinos promised the world to the City, as they do today. The politicians were greedy back then, as they are today. The big difference is that todays politicians in AC are also stupid, down right dumb. People don't change (or Casinos), the rebuilding of the City will be promised-again, but nothing will come of it for the people of AC.

It's really sad and pathetic that our boardwalk is being neglected and there is no outrage from politicians or Casinos, we will never be a tourist destination if we don't do something. Build all the hotels you want, put in 100,000 rooms, add sports betting, etc., it won't make any difference on how the City is portrayed. Doesn't anyone get it?

The new tower will be demolished before they add any new towers, business is bad, real bad. I expect bankruptcies in the near future, and I'm serious.

Omega, "seems" is the correct word in your statement. Smoke and mirrors is all I see.

[Fabrizio]

I get irritated about the talk of making AC a "resort destination" and then we look at the plans above and see fully half of a beach block (a beach block) dedicated to a HUGE windswept parking lot. We see Pacific Avenue as an unwalkable service road and the side streets just as scary looking. No warmth. No charm. No reason to wander around and enjoy the town: there is no town. AND you hear fans of Atlantic City thinking this is WONDERFUL or being so brain dead that it doesn't even register.

[Intheknow]

What is happening now is a regurgatation of the first wave of Casinos, just "newer". These Casinos just want to make money, which is what they are in business for, but they should, must, improve the City if they want to make it in the long run.

What's good for the City is good for the Casinos, don't people look at the past to see into the future?

[Fabrizio]

Also: is it any wonder that people don't feel safe on these streets? Is it any wonder that no-man's-land streets like this attract the drug dealers, prostitues and other unsavories?

You are right: this stuff is just a stylish update on the 1980's-style Tropicana and Bally's method of urban design.

[giselehaslice]

You are right that there is no warmth in the service ally ways or any of the other roads in the town. It really is a shame that AC does not have a nice streetscape and streetlife, because it would definatley be a better and more enjoyable place if it were.

What I look at, and some other people look at in development is improvement. You have to admit that the new Trump tower is better designed and in many ways a great improvement than the old tower.

While some people will dwell on the fact that the Pinnacle site is a gaping hole in the middle of the boardwalk (which it is, no doubt), it is better or will be an improvement over Sands.

Right at this moment Atlantic City is not a resort city. I don't think anyone on here thinks that AC can compare to many of the places some people want to compare it with (aka South Beach), but Small steps like the new Taj tower, The Chelsea, The Water Club and others will ultimatley be an Improvement and lead to a nicer place to be, even if it's streets are dead to anyone other than junkies and prostitutes.

[Fabrizio]

By destroying city streets, the Casinos keep it all for themselves. It means that there is less opportunity for independently owned small business like restaurants, night clubs, boutique hotels and shops to create competition for them.

[Intheknow]

Which creates a one-dimensional city that limits itself to gamblers, forget about families, foreign travelers, students, etc. they don't spend money or add to an eclectic city. We have the same type of landscape that Ocean City, Wildwood etc. has but we are limiting ourselves. Under- utilization rears it's ugly head again.

Gisel, you been in Tiplitzkys bathroom yet? Check it out.

[Fabrizio]

Please think twice before putting "Tiplitzkys bathroom" and "rears it's ugly head again" in the same post. Thank you.

[giselehaslice]

No, I have not been to Teplitzky's bathroom yet. Why?

[Intheknow]

It's a joke, read last couple pages. I know you and your sense of humor.

Good one Fabrizio. I'm not that witty to have connected my remarks.

[Intheknow]

Now the next section of Ac to become a wasteland is between the Hilton -moving south- to the Enclave. I see it happening before my eyes. It just keeps repeating itself, get rid of affordable housing, make some new empty lots and lets see if they build a Casino.

How does this continue to happen?

[christopher1]

Guys and Gals,

Are we talking about ATLANTIC CITY, NJ :\"New Jersey"?????????????

New Jersey Right???? Jersey???? Just wanted to make sure........ Sorry to be cynical but I cannot believe what I am hearing. News flash to all; the casino business is a multi billion dollar industry and its here to stay. It ain't going nowhere. NJ has been the same for over 100 years and its not going to change.

And BTW........ if I want to go to a "RESORT" Atlantic City, NJ is the last place on my list.

Face the facts; people go to Atlantic City for the same reason they go to the middle of the freak'n desert: TO GAMBLE!!!!!!!!!

So love AC for what it is; a gambling city; play the slots, shoot some craps, and get drunk on the pier.

ADIOS.

[66nexus]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I was in no way talking about the Atlantic City in New Jersey. Son of a gun...I didn't even know there was an Atlantic City in NJ...

[Intheknow]

In case you haven't noticed, less and less people are coming to AC to gamble, we better do something to reverse this trend.

My grandmom still comes here for a resort vacation and to buy crack, so there!

[American Gaming Guru]

I hope they get their financing and build both towers at the same time. AC desperately needs ROOMS!

One tower or two? Revel to decide hotel capacity for new casino

By DONALD WITTKOWSKI Staff Writer, 609-272-7258


Published: Wednesday, August 27, 2008
http://media.pressofatlanticcity.com/smedia/2008/08/27/03/70-6028370.standalone.prod_affiliate.101.jpg












ATLANTIC CITY - With construction about to enter a pivotal phase, the developer of a $2 billion casino project is facing a critical decision: Should it build two hotel towers or just one?

It would mean the difference between having 3,600 rooms or 1,800 when Revel Entertainment Group opens its ocean-themed megaresort in 2010 - Atlantic City's first new casino since Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa made its debut in 2003.
Construction crews have been building two towers on Revel's 20-acre development site bordered by New Jersey, Oriental and Metropolitan avenues and the Boardwalk, next to the Showboat Casino Hotel.
Work on the second tower will soon come to a halt after its base - called the podium - is completed, according to Revel spokesman Joseph Jaffoni. The lull will give the company time to decide whether to finish the entire tower now or wait until later on.
Revel always planned to proceed in this way, so any possible slowdown with the second tower should not be interpreted as a change in the project or a delay in construction, Jaffoni said.

"Work is not stopping. It is completely in sync and consistent with the plans," he said in an interview Tuesday.

When Revel Chairman Kevin DeSanctis unveiled designs for the project last November, he told city officials it was possible that the casino could open with just one tower, followed by a second hotel when there is enough demand for it.
By possibly holding off on the second tower, the company could save hundreds of millions of dollars. Revel is trying to line up financing for the entire development, no small feat at a time when the lagging U.S. economy and global credit crisis have made it difficult for casino companies to secure funding for major projects.
Jaffoni declined to discuss Revel's financing efforts. The privately owned company reportedly obtained a $160 million loan earlier this year to build the structural steel and keep the project going until the rest of the funding is arranged.
Revel's designs envision twin hotel towers and another building that appears sculpted by waves. The hotel towers are currently just a few stories high, but when completed each will contain 1,800 rooms and soar 710 feet high, dwarfing anything on the Boardwalk.
There has been no letup in construction despite the loss of three Revel executives who were killed in a July 31 plane crash while en route to a business meeting to discuss the casino with a Minnesota-based glass manufacturer.
E-mail Donald Wittkowski: DWittkowski@pressofac.com (DWittkowski@pressofac.com)

[Intheknow]

[quote=Intheknow;239671]Revel wants to use the City of Atlantic City to facilitate a $56 million dollar loan to widen the road around their casino. This project is in deep trouble, if it gets finished, it won't be for another 5-7 years. The credit markets are bad and getting worse.

I stand by my words.

[acplayer]

I hope Revel builds both towers.
I think Bashaw shouldn't expose customers to his own personal sexual preference at Teplitzky's.

And here's some Gay A.C. memorabilia for ya.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/acplayerr/acbeachbw1970s.jpg

[American Gaming Guru]

Cant stop laughing! Check out the message on the lifeguard tower in the background :D

[Fabrizio]

That shot must be the mid to late 80's You can see the "Resorts" sign, so gambling was well on it's way and the city was now going into it's steep decline. The gay beach was by now gone. And the erosion has eaten away at the big beach AC had been famous for. The gay beach was in front of the Claridge and on a summer day it was packed.

I can't imagine gays having an impact on AC... they way they once did ... or the way they do now in places like S.Beach or even NewJersey's CapeMay.

The revitalization of AC is in the hands of corporations... whose offices and interests are miles and miles away.


----

[Intheknow]

Heard some things on the "street" tonight, take it for what it's worth. Chelsea hotel, food is great at Chelsea Prime and Tiplitzkys. The hotel has opened to soon, problems for employees-frazzled to say the least. I think kinks will be worked out but they did open to soon and this is a mistake.

I hope they are a success, I'm still leary.

Out of towners from California- quote- "I can't believe that two blocks from the beach is a ghetto". The truth hurts, it hurts even more when the politicians think all is fine and dandy.

[zipburn]

Out of towners from California- quote- "I can't believe that two blocks from the beach is a ghetto". The truth hurts, it hurts even more when the politicians think all is fine and dandy.

Tell me about it... Whelan, who happens to be in Sen. Gormleys place advocated for Bader Field to be closed to put up Soccer Fields...This guy is now our rep in the state?

In response to your earlier post about the taste of the quarter. For $25 dollars there is no way you could beat it, the food was phenomnal. You couldn't get that level of food at any buffet in the city. Plus it was a charity event. What was funny is that The Palm had its table directly across from Carmine's with only about 15-20 feet seperating the tables. The Palm's celebrity chef was state rep V. Polistina, Carmine's was state Sen. J. Whelan.

[antinimby]

like Ocean City, Md. for example which has condos, hotels, houses, bars, concerts, shopping, boardwalk, nightlife, boating, amusement park, etc...almost everything except casinos.Sorry to go offtopic a bit but I just had to ask. Why couldn't Coney Island do the same thing?

[American Gaming Guru]

Fabrizio, the pic of the "gay beach" shows no beach at all. Like I have said before, Long Island has had many of the same erosion problems. I remember the beaches being enormous as a kid and now have to be replenished every few years. I see the terrible erosion in AC towards the north of town (TAJ, Revel areas) but this pic seems to show erosion right in the middle of the boardwalk back in the 80's

Thoughts?

Intheknow, I too have heard the same about The Chelsea. The place looks great, the beach service is unparalleled, the food is even better, However; the place DID open way too early.

[American Gaming Guru]

Here is some commentary I posted on The Press' website today in regards to the article below. What does everyone else think?

What Bob McDevitt is doing is ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING! City Hall took a stand that in these horrible financial times, that they are pro business, pro redevelopment and pro ATLANTIC CITY!

You know what the bonding is going to cost taxpayers? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!! But helps strengthen the balance sheet of a MULTI BILLION DOLLAR DEVELOPMENT that is going to create jobs and re-invent a long desolate area of Atlantic City. Now what can possibly be wrong with that?

Bob McDevitt is threatening progress and THOUSNADS of jobs for his own union.

Congratulations!

Local 54 move could cause Revel 'a problem'

By MICHAEL CLARK Staff Writer, 609-272-7204

Published: Thursday, August 28, 2008






ATLANTIC CITY - A local casino union's successful effort to force a $54 million bond ordinance onto the November ballot could severely affect Revel Entertainment Group's $2 billion casino project, the developer's CEO Kevin DeSanctis said Wednesday.

Local 54 of UNITE-HERE effectively blocked Revel's creative attempt to sidestep the current credit crunch Tuesday, submitting a petition for a referendum on an already-approved bond ordinance for crucial road improvements around the South Inlet megaresort.
The ordinance, passed by City Council earlier this month, allowed Revel to begin negotiating the bond's financial terms with the city, which would act as a vehicle to deliver lower interest rates to Revel from private bondholders.
A referendum"could have an impact on the project," DeSanctis said in a phone interview Wednesday. "And if it were severe, and it could be, that could create a problem for us."
According to Deputy City Clerk Rhonda Williams, the petition garnered 2,807 signatures, far more than the required 2,000 to force a referendum. City officials have 10 days to verify the signatures and approve the petition.

"That many residents in that short of time speaks for itself," Local 54 President Bob McDevitt said, projecting that there would be 3,000 signatures by the end of Wednesday.

Although Revel attorneys repeatedly stressed that the deal would not cost the city anything, nor endanger its bonding capacity, McDevitt said he remained unsold by Revel's confidence and City Council's blind approval.
Revel "can prove (its claims) in a true open public discourse," said McDevitt, unsatisfied with the public meeting held on the ordinance earlier this month.
The bond, giving Revel as many as 30 years for repayment, would assist in a $90 million project to redesign access roads around the casino project.
Connecticut Avenue would be widened to six lanes from Melrose Avenue to the Boardwalk.
The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority approved the roadway project in July, after DeSanctis emphasized that the megaresort would not work without wider roads for traffic.
DeSanctis implied that the union's move could endanger jobs at the construction site.
"Anyone of our 500 employees working on the site, if they have complaints about what happens from this, go talk to Bob McDevitt," he said.
While McDevitt claims to be preventing a hasty government decision, DeSanctis said there is no question the union's actions are simply a squeeze play to force executives to the negotiating table.
"I think it's obvious that this has nothing to do with the bond referendum and everything to do with (Local) 54 structuring some type of deal with us two years before we are open," he said. "And if that is intended to create some pressure, I have to tell you, that doesn't move me too much."
McDevitt has said Local 54 is seeking a neutrality agreement with Revel - essentially a pledge from the casino not to obstruct its workers from unionizing.
According to McDevitt, there have been no negotiations, only discussions that have gone nowhere. DeSanctis confirmed that Wednesday, saying he's spoken with McDevitt only three times.
Neither McDevitt nor DeSanctis denied reports that Local 54 is pushing Revel to agree to lock outside businesses leasing property at Revel into a deal that would staff their businesses with union workers. Such an agreement could be harmful to Revel by narrowing a pool of potential restaurants and boutiques the casino likely would attract.
"It's really hard for me to respond to that," DeSanctis said. "All I can say is I can only discuss my employees (with the union)."
McDevitt reserved commenting Wednesday, saying he did not want to feed into Revel's claims about his motivations.
"People can speculate all they want," he said. "The fact that 3,000 people signed this petition speaks volumes."
With a nationwide credit crisis delaying construction of other resort developments, Revel continues to build, but has emphasized the importance of the deal in its targeted opening date of 2010.
City officials also express the importance of the project to the resort's economy. Among them is Councilman Tim Mancuso, who spoke out against the bond ordinance but said he was unhappy about the referendum.
"The timing is going to be difficult," Mancuso said Wednesday.
Mancuso pointed out that residents are just now receiving their ballooned property tax bills.
"Now they're going to hear about the Revel deal," he said, "and not knowing all the facts, they'll probably say, 'Help us, don't help them.'"
E-mail Michael Clark: Michael.Clark@pressofac.com (Michael.Clark@pressofac.com)

[Intheknow]

Desperate times lead to bad decisions. What amazes me is that Mancuso (a city councilmen) is on some kind of financial board for AC, he's a gym teacher! This is one of the reasons AC is the way it is, unqualified people making major decisions on it's future.

[acplayer]

Yeah AGG, I think they should have added No Speedo's to the No Ball Playing.... Anyway, here's some non-gay A.C. beach memorabilia...

1971

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/acplayerr/acgirl41971.jpg

[Fabrizio]

Oh God... let's see if we can give her a quick color correction...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/ronaldo/acgirl419712.jpg

That's a little better. It's 1971 and note the wide expanse of beach. The beaches at OceanCity and Cape May look like this. Note the big beautiful beach at Wildwood:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/ronaldo/wildwood.jpg

While these beaches are exactly as they've always been, funny that the beach at AC, the most important of them all, is now a shadow of its former self.

---

Have a look at this condo development they're doing between Wildwood and Cape May. I look at this and all is right with the world:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/ronaldo/Image25.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/ronaldo/Immagine26.jpg

[giselehaslice]

We went and checked out the Grand down in Diamond Beach a while ago(the pictures posted above), and it really is top notch. There are still two more phases to come down the line.They are another smaller condo building where the sales office is now and another taller building to the south of the current building, which is slated to be a hotel. The fixtures in all the units are nice, views will be amazing and the amenities look great (pool, private beach club.) The prices are somewhat steep (the shore is very expensive) 1 bedrooms start at 1Million and Penthouses go for close to $7million. It's in one of the nicest locations on the Island, right next to the gated SeaPointe Village complex.

[Fabrizio]

This is the kind of architecture that one hopes to find at a top-notch sea-side resort. Very similiar to the things I posted that Disney is doing. Compare it to the architectural garbage that is the Enclave condo and the other instant eyesores that have been built in AtlanticCity.

[giselehaslice]

You are right. It really blends in with the whole victorian style of the area (Cape May is probably 5 or 6 miles south.) It also is very classy inside (from the renderings), reminds me of the interior of Congress Hall.

[acplayer]

For as much as A.C. was declining during the 1960's, it still looked a hell of a lot better than it does today.
Lets face it, A.C. will never be what it once was but with some good leadership and proper planning it can definately be improved.

1961 Beach scene.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/acplayerr/acbeach1961.jpg

[Intheknow]

Do any of you have proof that the sandberms obstructing the view of the ocean are in fact helping with beach erosion.

Does anyone have old aerial pics of AC beach showing that it indeed is eroding.

Those condos in Wildwood are having alot of trouble selling.

The Breakers are condos that were going to be built 2 years ago in AC, on the boardwalk, about 6 blocks south of Enclave, it is still an empty lot. The picture of it looks nice though, similar to above pics.

[giselehaslice]

Actually, no, the condos are selling quite well. When we visited in the wintertime, there were very limited units with ocean views left.

[Fabrizio]

For as much as A.C. was declining during the 1960's, it still looked a hell of a lot better than it does today.


AC looked pretty much like that into the 70's. It is after the approval of gambling that the city was basically torn down. To be replaced with what?

-----

Re: The Grande at Diamond Beach: when things are genuinely beautiful, they tend to sell well. The high end does not suffering as much.

[Intheknow]

Actually, no, the condos are selling quite well. When we visited in the wintertime, there were very limited units with ocean views left.

Why do they advertise on billboards on AC expressway? It's not because they are not nice, it's just that Nothing is selling. It looks like all of Wildwood is for sale, great example of the loan problem we are currently in. Alot of people that shouldn't have gotten a loan built and bought in Wildwood and now they are hurting.

Fabrizio, from your personal experience are AC beaches that much smaller from when you lived here?

August casino #'s should be very interesting.

Today, MGM announced they are postponing groundbreaking in AC. They are still bullish on AC but "banks just aren't lending money". ACpress.com

[Fabrizio]

Fabrizio, from your personal experience are AC beaches that much smaller from when you lived here?

Why are you asking this? I've said it over and over again, including in my post up above. Plus there must be 20 or so old photos on this thread from the era: see for yourself.

re: advertising the Grand. The Grand is selling. It is successful. To think that the advertisements are evidence that they are not selling, is awfully screwy logic.

Advertisments are up because 1) that's what you do...things aren't sold with a wave of a magic wand. 2) the development will include another building still being built.

--

[Intheknow]

The grand has sold 51% of the initial units, it won't be fully operational until next summer, maybe they are going to expand, this according to the Grand 1-888-331-6583. If they are selling so well you would not advertise on a billboard. So stating that another building is currently being built is a screwy statement.

The picture of the gay guy shows the beach looking as wide as it does today, you saying it's shrinking doesn't make it so, where's the proof? When you're a little kid everything looks bigger and wider.

In case no one has heard the housing market is in bad shape and getting worse, same for commercial and industrial market. Saying to yourselves that it is good and everything is going good is just foolish.

[Fabrizio]

intheknow: it is tiring. Follow the thread. The gay pic is the 1980's. The beach is small and heavily eroded.

I lived in AC in the 70's. The beach was wide and flat. Look at the pic above from 1971. The beach is wide and flat.Got it now?

Advertising: "If they are selling so well you would not advertise on a billboard." LOL. Where would you advertise? You really must go to NYC to tell those stupid developers to take all that advertising down.

How long have sales been open? How many units are being sold? 51% already sold might be a very good sales number. You tell us. And when would you stop advertising: at how many units sold?


--

[Intheknow]

So from 1970 to 1981-11 years the beach had major erosion but from 1981 till 2008 -27 years the beach is basically the same, amazing! Are pics of same beach area?

Where would I advertise? No where, I would build something that would be sold by word of mouth. Everyone here never admits when they are wrong, how many stories of the SECOND building at the Grandes been completed. Show me pics of the SAME exact beach from the 70's and today, I think your depth perception is off. Do you think the sandberms are helping? Talk about tiring, please prove to me your statements.

[scumonkey]

I have no pics but here is a little info that might help:

Mans interference with the natural processes of the shore can cause more problems than they solve.
A natural shoreline is constantly changing- sands shift,
beaches grow and shrink, in a rhythm that man made object destroy.

GEO.101-02 Introduction to Geology



Human Interference With Shoreline Processes Beach drift and longshore currents can create problems for populated shoreline areas. Artificial structures can be built which interfere with the natural deposition and erosion and often create worse problems than existed originally:

Jetties - parallel barriers built at entrances to harbor or rivers to prevent deposition in the channel. They can cause deposition on the up-current side and erosion on the down-current side.
Groins - short walls built at right angles to the shore to trap moving sand and maintain or widen beaches can cause erosion down-current.
Breakwaters - structures built parallel to shore to protect it from the force of large breaking waves. Deposition occurs in the quiet water area, whereas erosion can strip the shoreline down-current.
Dams, etc. - other structures built on rivers can reduce the amount of sediment load reaching the ocean, resulting in increased beach erosion.

[Fabrizio]

Intheknow: ok... you're right... and all those photos in this thread up above have been Photoshopped.

And yes: the SMART thing to do is to build a 500 million dollar condominium complex and sell it by word of mouth.

The builders of 15CPW, the Plaza... and every other luxury condominum building are so ...stupid.

I wonder when they will admit they are wrong? You really should teach marketing.

I wonder why this is still on the web? (see link below) The builders of the most successful and expensive condo in HISTORY... and it's still on the web. What losers.... you really should explain to them that these units should be sold word of mouth:

http://www.15cpw.com/

(I love South Jersey: ignorance and arrogance: a lovely combination)


---

[Intheknow]

All I asked is for some proof, how do you know when those pics were taken i.e. high tide, low tide, full moon, quarter moon etc.... My ignorance will continue until you provide proof, please provide, because I'm currently in a state of bliss over your claims.

The Grande dunes, like so many other places in arrogant S.J., are banking on selling the units before they are finished. With only 51% sold (which I doubt) this project screams of future law suits and refunds. If my recollection is correct "a friend" told me they were making some creative offers for people to buy. Also, I believe, the construction is cheap, which is also common in ignorant S.J.

The MAJORITY of new condos do not advertise on billboards. How many billboards are in Tuscany? Billboards are not the point here.

This thread pertains to the image of AC not how to sell a property.

[Fabrizio]

*sigh*

Absecon Island Shore Protection
Project Update: February 2004

"Moreover, continued erosion in recent years has reduced the height and width of the beachfront, increasing the potential for damages and the need for storm protection measures..."

http://209.85.135.104/search?q=cache:ZE-gSKR4rKMJ:www.nap.usace.army.mil/cenap-dp/projects/absecon/AbseconBrochure2.pdf+erosion+shore+atlantic+city+n ew+jersey&hl=it&ct=clnk&cd=8&client=safari

-----

"To reduce beach erosion along the oceanfront and protect homes and businesses from the rising sea, in 2003 the US Army Corps of Engineers together with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection began a $63 million beach and dune system along the 8.5 mile oceanfront of Absecon Island."

http://www.cara.psu.edu/case_studies/action_examples/absecon_island/infoResourcesActionEx_AbseconIsland.asp

------

"The MAJORITY of new condos do not advertise on billboards."

Go to NYC... plenty... scores actually.... of super-luxe condos DO advertise with huge billboards. They are all over the city. There is nothing strange about it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27855330@N06/2596267088/sizes/o/

http://www.adrants.com/images/powerhouse_condo.jpg


---

[Intheknow]

Didn't the Army Corps of Engineers build the levys in New Orleans that failed? Lets rely on them for an honest assessment, spending taxpayer money is there #1 priority, like all other gov. agencys. Grown men playing backyard Tonka toy games vs. mother nature, I'll take mother nature.

The question was do the sand berms that obstuct the view of the ocean from the boardwalk do any good, if there is a catastrophic storm ain't nothing going to stop it.

I'll bet the grand dunes lies vacant for years. Wildwood over built, just like Ocean City, and every other SJ shore town. Prices are plummeting and "new" construction is already falling apart.

Why was there "beach erosion in recent years" all of the sudden? I guess the weight of all the new casinos lowered the island.

[zipburn]

the natural tendency of a barrier island is to move backwards... if you drive over the longport-somerspoint bridge onto the island you will notice sand up against the bulkhead that wraps around the back part of longport....just by looking at the situation you can see that boat docks seem poorly placed as jetski/boat lifts are located directly above sand... to maintain ac's beaches it requires constant beach replinshment and with out sand dunes the water would travel back to the seawall located under the boardwalk then churn up the sand at the point and consistently lower the sand on the sea-facing side of the island while increasing the sand on the mainland facing side...

[Intheknow]

Yet the water has never reached the sandberms so it's not going to reach beyond them- under the boardwalk. I'll admit the northend looks bad where Revel is going up, but going south I don't see a problem.

[zipburn]

Whelan, Ward say petition can't force referendum on Revel bond

By MICHAEL CLARK Staff Writer, 609-272-7204


Published: Saturday, August 30, 2008






ATLANTIC CITY - State Sen. Jim Whelan and City Councilman Bruce Ward jointly called a petition for a public vote on a critical casino bond ordinance moot Friday, claiming a referendum would be unlawful.

The pair said they received a response from the state's Office of Legislative Services on Friday declaring referendum-proof a
$56 million bond ordinance designed to finance roadwork around Revel Entertainment Group's $2 billion casino project.
Earlier this week, Local 54 of UNITE-HERE presented the city with a petition with 3,000 signatures seeking a ballot question on the ordinance, claiming the bond was rushed and left government officials and the public uninformed.
Revel attorneys discussed the ordinance at length during three City Council meetings, accompanied by the city's bond counsel for the last two, trying to assure residents that the measure would not cost the city anything.
The developer is taking advantage of a law that allows it to acquire bonds from private holders through the city's bonding ability, using the resort as a conduit to avoid the high interest rates of the current market.

Revel CEO Kevin DeSanctis warned that a vote against the ordinance could impede the casino project, a harsh reality of the country's credit crisis.

Whelan said the Legislative Services letter, which is expected to take the form of an official legal opinion Tuesday, points to several statutes, including one in the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law that rules out the option of a referendum for a bond ordinance.
"No ordinance, amendment or revision of an ordinance, or resolution under this act shall be submitted to or adopted by initiative or referendum, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary," the law reads.
Another statute in the Faulkner Act reads: "A bond ordinance which authorizes obligations to fund, refund, renew, extend or retire obligations ... shall not be subject to referendum."
"You can't change the rules in the middle of the game," Whelan said. "That's the underlying point here."
Whelan said he could not release the response from Legislative Services until it is a formal opinion.
Local 54 officials did not directly challenge the legal reasoning behind Whelan and Ward's charge, instead choosing to criticize the two for trying to silence local residents.
"It is unfortunate that Sen. Whelan's and Councilman Ward's first thought when presented with a petition signed by 3,000 citizens is to try to circumvent the desire of the people," Ben Begleiter, a research analyst for Local 54, wrote in a brief statement.
"Why is it that in Cape May, the city is holding a public vote on a $10 million bond issue, and in Atlantic City, Sen. Whelan and Councilman Ward just want the people to pay their taxes and not have a voice in Atlantic City's future? What is there to be afraid of?"
Whelan said his concern is that Local 54 is misinforming voters to help create an obstacle for Revel as leverage in labor negotiations.
The senator's sentiments echoed those of DeSanctis earlier this week, who claimed the union's president, Bob McDevitt, is trying to pressure the company into an agreement two years before the casino's projected opening.
McDevitt, the driving force behind the petition, opted not to comment Friday, instead directing calls to Begleiter. He also reserved his response to DeSanctis this week, hoping to not "feed into" the criticism.
The road widening, which would expand Connecticut Avenue to six lanes from Melrose Avenue to The Boardwalk, is essential to the casino's success, Revel executives say.
Whelan said he met with McDevitt and Revel on several occasions after the ordinance passed and the petition began to circulate.
"We just couldn't reach a middle ground," he said.
The city clerk received the petition Tuesday, starting a 10-day countdown to verify the signatures and approve the referendum for the November ballot.
However, Ward said he was not certain of the petition's status with the city since receiving the letter from Legislative Services. Whelan said he expected Ward to communicate their stance and the state's stance with the city.
Deputy City Clerk Rhonda Williams, who met with city attorneys about the petition earlier this week, did not return calls seeking comment Friday afternoon.
E-mail Michael Clark: Michael.Clark@pressofac.com (Michael.Clark@pressofac.com)


______________


Looks like the unskilled labor union, LOCAL 54, loses on labor day. If i was Kevin D. I would use this issue in my justification for not allowing Local 54 to set up shop in their casino/hotel. I wonder how many of their signatures were from legal US residents.

[Intheknow]

All you need to know about the state of AC gov. can be read at ACpress.com involving the 4 arrests at the Labor Day rally today. Make sure you read the readers comments at bottom of article.

This is the image we are up against.

Beyond pathetic.

[AC11]

From The Atlantic City Scoop blog.

Here Joseph Polillo answers questions that were posed to candidates in June’s Mayoral primary. There are two months and two days until 4 November’s election. Voters will choose amoung Republican candidate John McQueen, Democrat Lorenzo T. Langford, and Independent Joe Polillo.
Mr. Polillo takes on a wide range of issues in this interview.

Jesse O. Kurtz: What makes you different from the other mayoral candidates?
Joseph Polillo: I pay my taxes on time. [Only] once was I late due to a death in my family.
I am a somewhat successful businessman. I owe no one money – I have no debt. I do not use credit cards. I have no mortgages. And after working a lifetime I have money in the bank; savings, investments and pension funds. I don’t call people names. I hate no one. And I don’t lose my self-control.
I am non-partisan, unaffiliated, and not associated with any politicians. I am an Independent person, citizen. I can not be bought or bossed. I have spoken out on many issues over many years that affect Atlantic City. The other candidates do not speak out. They are not pro-active. Most of the politics consist of name-calling. Seeking public office for their own benefit only and to give jobs to their family and friends. I seek not my own.
As a member of the Atlantic City community, and as a member of many civic and business groups, such as the Atlantic City Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, Absecon Lighthouse, Chelsea Neighborhood Association, Midtown Business and Civic Association, Atlantic City Hotel and Lodging Association, Atlantic-Cape Big Brothers and Sisters, Rolling Thunder, and National Veterans Advocate Group. I have never seen the other candidates as members of any civic or business groups mentioned above.
A further difference is that I am a successful businessman, www.thepostcardshow.com; a successful television show for years. I have been an inspector for the City for 29 years, Vice President of the Atlantic City White Collar Professional Association, and a graduate of New York University with a Bachelor’s Degree.

2: How do you describe Atlantic City to people not familiar with the City?
JP: I describe Atlantic City as the World’s Famous Playground, a city with a great history since 1854. 154 years of greatness, a city of many firsts, the famous beach and boardwalk. It is the very first boardwalk. Atlantic City is the world famous rolling chairs, fresh air, year round great weather, free, no-fee beaches, brand-name casinos, wonderful hotels; a nightlife for all ages, fine restaurants, and all modes of transportation; a super modern convention center, a great convention hall, and all the major entertainment headliners of the world, bringing millions of tourists to Atlantic City every year. We are serviced by a major international airport and geographically located within 1/3 of America’s population.
There are many casinos and hotels to come with even greater job and career opportunities.

3: What does the Mayor of Atlantic City do?
JP: The mayor is to be the leader of the government and the community.
The mayor is to be the guardian of city funds, and to bring efficiency, and to manage the affairs of the city.
However, over the past few years our mayors have done none of the above. They have not made decisions that benefit the people of Atlantic City. Their goal should have been to lower the property taxes, with land rateables. Revenue comes in to the city hand over fist. The spending continues. Mayors should manage the city monies in a more responsible way.
Other major failing of our mayors has been that they do not attend Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) meetings to defend the city’s best interest. The above mentioned action is what mayors should do.

4: What does the term “Moving the City Forward” mean?
JP: [No answer given]

5. What will you add to City government?
JP: I would add 24 hour / 3 shifts to city enforcement services.
I would add a Director of Public Safety – completing the form of government voted on by the voters.
I would add police neighborhood foot patrols – with beat patrol call boxes – the reinstallation of community policing.
I would reinstate the neighborhood watch program.
I would add a hiring freeze and use attrition to reduce the number of employees.
I would add uniform office operating hours. All offices should open and close at the same time.

6. What will you eliminate from City government?
JP: I would eliminate weights and measures office and return the office to the county.
I would remove the public library in to the county library system at considerable savings to the city.
At a future date, I would like to eliminate the Mayor/Council form of government, which is too large, and return to the Commissioner form of government, which is the right size and has more accountability.
I would eliminate most automobiles and most cellular phones. Everyone does not need a vehicle and a cell phone.
I would eliminate all motor vehicles from the Boardwalk.

7. Do you support an ordinance banning smoking in casinos?
JP: Yes! 100%. The state failed in its responsibility to protect the public’s health and welfare statewide, when it passed the cigarette smoking ban on all public buildings, bars and restaurants, and gave the casinos an exception, permitting them to allow smoking while banning it for everyone else at great financial hurt to all small businesses.
There was an ordinance passed by Atlantic City permitting smoking in sections on the casino floors (75/25). When that compromise was reached, the casinos failed to fulfill their part of the agreement, to implement and construct the sections, whereas the city passed the 100% ban of smoking on the casino floor by October 15th, 2008.
I expect the state of New Jersey to lift the exception and for the federal government to ban smoking in all public places nationwide.

8. Should casino employees be able to run for political office?
JP: Yes! Casino employees should be allowed to run for public office. A casino employee should step up and run and challenge the law.
The restriction-ban on casino employees running for public office in Atlantic City is certainly an unconstitutional provision of the casino legislation law.
Any law left unchallenged shall stand.

9. Do you prefer a larger legal department that does less contracting of attorneys, or a smaller legal department with more contracting of attorneys?
JP: I support a law department of a city solicitor and in-house assistant solicitors. There should be no out-sourcing of contracts for cases; and the law department should handle all cases itself.
At this time the city does both! The city’s law department should be reinstated. The contracting out of city legal matters should stop.
The establishment of a department of law was an idea of mine for years. The department should not be large!

10. Do you support the City’s employment of lobbyists?
JP: No! I do not support the city’s hiring of a lobbyist, at a cost of $100,000 or more. It is a total waste of money. There is no need to hire a lobbyist – we have State Senators and Assemblymen to lobby the state.
Further, that is the job of our elected officials, such as our Mayor and our elected Council and our appointed department heads.
The Mayor is to be the city’s lead lobbyist, the ambassador and main representative of our city. The employment of a lobbyist is duplication and duplication is waste, a total waste of money.
Hiring a lobbyist is similar to the city hiring outside lawyers to handle the city’s legal problems.
The city should not contract out the jobs to others that it pays its employees to do, which is total disrespect of the taxpayer dollars.
The lobbyist contract shall be rescinded.

11. Are you satisfied with the City’s public transportation regulations?
JP: Yes, to a point.
I believe Pacific Avenue should remain two-way. Atlantic Avenue should remain two-way also, where cameras and motion sensors are installed. New Jersey Transit has a right of way agreement that only NJT buses are allowed routes on Atlantic Avenue,
Jitneys will not be permitted on Atlantic Avenue, if Pacific Avenue goes one-way, or not. Jitneys should be allowed to extend their roués in to the local neighborhood. A route test run in to Chelsea Heights is planned at this time.
Further, CRDA has commissioned a regional transportation study. Due to the construction project underway, e.g. Revel, Pinnacle, The Chelsea, MGM and Gateway, plus Badar Field.

12. What are your priorities for upgrading City infrastructure?
JP: The city should have a capital improvement budget and a projects list for the future of Atlantic City incorporated by law within the master plan.
The following is my short list of capital improvement projects for the future of Atlantic City.
The projects listed below are to correct the city negligence and its failure to improve the city infrastructure over the past fifty years.

1) The redirecting of the entire Boardwalk w/rolling chair lanes.
2) A modern system of comfort stations to conform to state law.
3) Cul de sac street ends meeting the Boardwalk for easy vehicle turnarounds.
4) The reconstruction of Pacific Avenue with Jitney cuts.
5) The bulkheading of Chelsea Heights and Route 40 at the Albany Avenue intersection.
6) Span bridges, not draw bridges, at the entrance to Atlantic City.
7) Remove yellow lines atop Albany Avenue Bridge. Add lanes.
8) Remove Albany Avenue Monument in to Chelsea Park.
9) Shorter Atlantic Avenue bus stops. Add parking meters.
10) Removal of yellow stripes in median of Atlantic Avenue from Trenton to Jackson Avenues. Add another travel lane.
11) Add green arrow left-hand turn lanes, where necessary.
12) Install police and fire call boxes, for police foot patrols.
13) Make City Hall’s front entrance handicap accessible.

13. Will you promote more, less, or the same amount of public housing?
JP: [No answer given]

14. Are there too many, not enough, or just the right number of City employees, vehicles, and cell phone plans?
JP: There are too many city employees hired for NO reason. I would institute a hiring freeze.
I would phase out cell phone use altogether. Every employee has an office, a desk and a phone. There is no need for cell phones.
Some Nextel direct connect is possible for construction inspectors, code, health, and mercantile inspectors.
There is no need for 600 vehicles. I would cut the fleet. Set up carpools and use city transportation vehicles to transport inspectors for their inspections, or use public transportation.
I would save money on maintenance service and gas by selling off all out of warranty vehicles.
No automobile should be taken home. Employees must use their own automobile to drive to and from work.

15. Is there enough enforcement of drug, prostitution, and overcrowding laws?
JP: There is never enough enforcement. The police department is doing a good job. A hundred retirements did not help much. Undercover units are doing a good job. The police have some of the prostitution on the run.
The massage parlors are being raided and being limited.
Code enforcement is doing a better job.
Foot patrol in the neighborhoods is needed. Better utilization of the police force through day-to-day operations. Also, call boxes should be installed.
Community policing should operate in shifts out of city firehouses as sub-stations.
Citizens should be hired for police office work and officers trained – at great expense – should be on patrol doing police work, not office work.
More police are needed due to the large number of retirements.

16. Does the City have a role in enforcing immigration laws?
JP: All levels of government should enforce federal law.
Legal immigrants are very mad about illegal immigration.
Certainly the city should play a role in the enforcement of the immigration laws of our nation. To continue to do nothing is ludicrous. Enforce the illegal overstays on visas, also. Anyone in the country illegally, from wherever they are from, should be assisted to leave.
The oath of office for all our public officials is to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States … officials should be asked to swear to secure the borders to ensure domestic tranquility.
The office holders and public officials are not up-holding their oaths of office.

17. Do you support the needle exchange program?
JP: No, I do not support the free needle exchange program.
Drug addiction is a disease. Giving free needles to the drug addict is condoning drug use. Saying “yes” to drugs, addictive drugs at that, is counter-productive to good health and the public safety. Drug addiction and its needs lead to crime.
If you know who needs the needles, then you know who is doing the illegal drug, and who is in possession of illegal drugs. The needle perpetrates the disease.
Do you give the pot smoker the cigarette paper? Don’t you lock-up the pot smokers and dealers with possession? Do you give the alcoholic a drink?
The diabetic can’t get needles for his high sugar without a prescription, but you give the drug fiend the needles for free. Is there anything wrong with that picture? This needle exchange has brought an abundance of heroin sellers to Atlantic City.

18. How will you avoid scandal and build a more positive reputation for Atlantic City?
JP: As the newly elected mayor of Atlantic City I would avoid scandal and build a more positive reputation for Atlantic City, by having no associations with anyone who has been associated with scandal and I would avoid any person who approached me in anyway in an inappropriate manner, seeking something to be done for them personally and asking for something to be done, which did not conform to the proper rules of law and ethics. There would be no deals and I will not associate with anyone who I perceive to have ulterior motives, other than the correct thing to do. Furthermore, I would conduct myself in the proper manner. There would be no scandal and the reputation would be positive for myself and Atlantic City. I would treat people with respect.

[Intheknow]

I'm all for him, but sadly I don't think he has a chance with all the absentee ballot B.S. I am personally voting for him, I know him, and he is a down right honest guy. Something this City sorely needs.

[American Gaming Guru]

I do not know him personally, but from what I have heard (on radio, interviews etc) this man seems to be genuinely honest and with the city's best interests in mind. I think he would make a fine mayor and hope that he wins.

[Intheknow]

Let's get back to some development news or lack thereof. If you go to the wall street journal, August 20, 2008 pg c-1 (Real Estate) you can see how my pal Curtis Bashaw and Cape Advisors is doing. It concerns his Manhatten Condo project.

Now, do you really think he's going to develop a Casino?

As always, I'm a realist not a pessimist. These people talk about and spend money like it's not real, they will soon find out how real it is.

The interesting part to me was how the investors don't have any legal recourse due to the structure of the contracts. I'm just a little guy from AC and I could see right through it, even rich people can be fooled.

AGG- our choice for next mayor of AC has a shot if the current bumbleheads keep up their antics, it's a shot in hell but it's a shot.

[unknown memory]

From The Atlantic City Scoop blog.

Here Joseph Polillo answers questions that were posed to candidates in June’s Mayoral primary. There are two months and two days until 4 November’s election. Voters will choose amoung Republican candidate John McQueen, Democrat Lorenzo T. Langford, and Independent Joe Polillo.
Mr. Polillo takes on a wide range of issues in this interview.
This guy sounds promising. If he does win, I hope he does what it takes to make this city become better than what it is. If not, you locals better take things into your own hands and make your voices heard loud.

I was in AC two nights ago for dinner at Rainforest Cafe for the first time in my life since I use to read not so good reviews about their food (in general for all RC branches). I've been to other RCs but never inside the restaurant part before.

I'm kind of surprised how much has changed in just an year. I didn't remember seeing all those stores during the last summer's visit. Although, that area makes that part of AC look cleaner, the chain of local stores right near it does clash a bit with the setting. The main focus though, really should be the local streets, the crime, and make the neighborhood more inviting for both its residents and us, visitors. Everything does scream "money" to me at this point if the city puts up more stores and less improvements.

(I couldn't help to look at those cigarette butts stuck between the historic boardwalk's boards. Then again, it's the same for some of the other popular boardwalks along the Jersey shore. Sadly.)

Seeing that giant Pinnacle billboard on the way into AC gave me awkward feelings. That tagline statement of saying that AC needs more casinos.... I keep feeling like something else should be there. >_> Hmm.. *sighs and shrugs*

[American Gaming Guru]

Intheknow. I read that article as well and actually posted a copy of it on that specific buildings discussion thread.

http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13300&highlight=100+Eleventh+Avenue

I think that we can all agree that no casino will be built there for quite some time. The same can be said for Pinnacle's and MGM's sites as well unfortunately.

I really hope the financial markets turn around soon!

I will be attending the Chairman Tower ribbon cutting ceremony the morning of September 18th and will be staying over the night before to sample the Taj's new addition.

Has anyone heard any feedback on it as of yet? It opened this past weekend (appx. 300 rooms of it anyway).

[Fabrizio]

Re:Pinnacle, MGM, Bashaw's development:

And since AC wrongheadedly depends mostly on the casinos to re-shape the city, expect it to remain the empty-lot... bombed-out dump, much of it currently is.

[giselehaslice]

Was in AC over the past weekend and have a few things to share.

We drove around the Island first, mainly because I wanted to see the Revel site and see anything new since I last visited the site a while back. It looks like it is really coming together nicely. It looks like much of the podium building has been framed out, the parking garage was starting to be built and of course the towers were already looking pretty tall. All in all, lots of progress.

After this, we drove towards the Downbeach. While driving, I have to say, the city is looking nicer than I have ever seen it. Tons of people walking along the streets, going in and out of shops (not The Walk), and restaurants. The Walk was over-spilling with people, it was hard to drive because sidewalks were overflowing into the streets. Most of the city looked like a vibrant, a walkable and pedestrian freindly place. Not bombed-out looking as some of you suggest.

Drove past Pinnacle site, does not look terrible. It just looks like somethings going to be built there, which (hopefully) somthing will.

After parking at Tropicana, we walked down to the Chelsea. I was very impressed. It had a very cool sense of style to it, and just seemed very cosmopolitan, boutique and trendy. It was not huge, but I guess thats kinda the point. The beach in front of it looked amazing with all of the black and white striped beach cabanas lined up, all filled with people.

I appologize for no pictures. I actually was going to bring my camera, but silly me! I forgot.

[Intheknow]

Were you wearing rose colored glasses or do you live in Iraq?

That Pinnacle site is pretty impressive for an empty lot.

Honestly, what shops were people coming out of, just name one.

[giselehaslice]

Congratulations! You have won the award for most abrasive person in the world!

[Fabrizio]

"Tons of people walking along the streets, going in and out of shops (not The Walk), and restaurants."

Yes, I'd love to know what shops along the street (not the Walk) had tons of people. Thanks.

This is big news... and it must have been quite a surprise for you too, since only last week you wrote: "You are right that there is no warmth in the service ally ways or any of the other roads in the town. It really is a shame that AC does not have a nice streetscape and streetlife, because it would definatley be a better and more enjoyable place if it were."

!!

--

[Intheknow]

I'd like to thank my Mom and Dad, all my friends that have stood by me all these years, the Academy......What did I win?

[acplayer]

Giselehaslice, I'm glad the Chelsea has nice beach cabanas too but as you can see, there were nice cabanas in A.C. long before the Chelsea or casinos. Also, I know you're an optimist but I recently road my bike and drove all around A.C. as well and although I can see the potential, it was, for the most part depressing.

1950s
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/acplayerr/acbeachtents1950s.jpg

[giselehaslice]

You know what fabrizio, you are worse than in the know. I will bet that you have not been in AC for over a year, and you are still bashing the place!

Any news that has anything positive in it is like the end of the world for you. I think you should pack your stuff up and move to Morbidville because you seem to thrive on anything negative.

Sorry for having hope guys! Obviously you don't! Thats whats wrong with this world now.

[Fabrizio]

Uh... Gisel, why are you accusing ME of being negative and bashing the place when you, yourself, wrote only a week ago that: "It really is a shame that AC does not have a nice streetscape and streetlife" AND " even if it's streets are dead to anyone other than junkies and prostitutes."

You wrote that dear, I didn't.

In the meantime, I asked a simple question: I'd love to know what shops along the street (not the Walk) had tons of people.

Still waiting. Thanks.

----

... I recently road my bike and drove all around A.C. as well and although I can see the potential, it was, for the most part depressing.


---

[Intheknow]

Fabrizio is not worse than me, take that back!

I am having trouble understanding your reasoning, AC is depressing. Are you telling me that all the old pics on this thread don't look better than today's AC? Why can't we have cabanas like above, the Chelsea cabanas are cheap looking and they lack class, anyway they are going to have to sell them soon.

I'm still waiting for you to name one store, just one.

By the way, I just enjoyed an hour in O'Donnell Memorial Park, very quite and pleasing. Other people in there- A guy reading a book, someone playing with their dog, kids playing a game of soccer. Now that's what it's all about. It's ashame they're scrapping their plans to put a beautiful 6-lane highway thru it.

[giselehaslice]

Fabrizio, please don't call me dear. Yeah, I did write that stuff a week ago, but for the not-so-smart who do not understand sarcastic writing, it is a type of descriptive writing in which you basically mock something else. I do not understand why you are bashing my saying of (not the walk) either. That's pretty lame if youre trying to get some sort of a point across. I do not know the actual names of the stores, but they were flower shops, bodegas and other small businesses and ethnic restaurants. I really wish I got a pic of this.

Also, hold back on your South Jersey comments. You lived here once! And beleive me, there are far more offensive things people could say about Italians. Luckily for you, I'm not trashy enough to say these things or be offensive like you are though.

[blackdragon905]

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--route30casino0903sep03,0,7760963.story



Atlantic City eyes new casino far from others

By WAYNE PARRY |Associated Press Writer September 3, 2008 ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - For much of the last 30 years, the casino experience in Atlantic City has involved sand, seagulls and the Boardwalk.

But in its effort to survive withering competition from Pennsylvania (http://www.newsday.com/topic/us/pennsylvania-PLGEO100101000000000.topic) and New York (http://www.newsday.com/topic/us/new-york-PLGEO100100800000000.topic) slots parlors, the city is considering expanding casino gambling into areas that were never envisioned when gambling was approved here in the 1970s.

The City Council Wednesday night approved changes to its master plan that will rezone parts of Route 30 to allow construction of a casino on the site of a former oil depot.

About a mile from the Boardwalk and only slightly closer than that to the three marina district casinos, the proposed gambling hall would be built by Penn National Gaming (http://www.newsday.com/topic/economy-business-finance/penn-national-gaming-incorporated-ORCRP011951.topic) in an area currently known best for traffic jams and sewage smells.




The vote came after about two dozen residents of the nearby Venice (http://www.newsday.com/topic/us/california/los-angeles-county/los-angeles/venice-PLGEO100100102389700.topic) Park neighborhood urged the council to reject the plan, or at least defer it until Penn National officials could meet further with homeowners.

Mike Johnson (http://www.newsday.com/topic/sports/mike-johnson-PESPT003691.topic), vice president of the Venice Park Civic Association, knows exactly where he stands on the proposal _ "2,311 feet and six inches" away, he said.

"The major problem will be traffic. Sometimes in the morning and evening, it's extremely hard to get into and out of Venice Park. And that's without this casino."

Matthew Glass, another neighborhood resident, voiced a commonly heard complaint: that there are plenty of other vacant sites within existing casino zones where a new project could be built.

"With all the current development in Atlantic City, I can't fathom why you would want to put it so close to a residential neighborhood," he said. "The residents of Venice Park do not want a casino in their backyard."

Representative or several unions, however, supported the plan, saying it would bring badly needed jobs to Atlantic City.

And George Miller (http://www.newsday.com/topic/politics/george-miller-PEPLT004523.topic), an attorney for Penn National, said the company is flush with cash and ready to build, unlike many struggling casino operators or would-be operators in Atlantic City.

"They can build this project with cash," he said. "We're talking about spending $2 billion."

He said residents' concerns about traffic will be addressed as the proposal makes it way through numerous levels of city and state approvals.

"If we're not right about the traffic, this project goes down," Miller said. "People have to be able to get to our building. If they can't, we lose."

The city is also considering allowing as many as four or five casinos on the site of the former Bader Field airport property. Penn is also interested in that site, and tried to get the city to give it development rights there in exchange for an immediate up-front payment to help keep local property taxes down.

But the city and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority decided to open the Bader bidding up to any interested parties in hopes of getting the highest price and best plans for the site.

[AC11]

I really like the idea of Penn National coming to AC, but why there? Couldn't they make an offer for Bashaws land? Or how about buying the Toll bros property combined with west hall? Or the three square blocks between Pacific, Atlantic, Delaware and Rhode Island Ave. near showboat that has had multiple signs for condo projects with multiple mayors names on them for years. Cant the city help negotiate a deal between these parties to develop one of the empty or nearly empty blocks in the city?

Putting a casino out there on route 30 is just poor development.

[66nexus]

I too, have seen patrons entering and leaving the lower-end retail spots, do fokls realy think that visiotrs are avoiding those countless, and notably nameless, stores that do not sit in the Walk? Do you think those lower-end spots don't have their market?

I know folks wish that AC was what it was, and that things were great and so on...but the fact is, it isn't. So, when there is a new development (like it or not) to try and check it with something of the past is almost entirely irrelevant. Maybe when the B'walk is spruced up and built-out folks will get their 'cityscape' desire...until then, it's just not there yet.

[Fabrizio]

Gisel: I'm sure that everyone here could tell that post of yours was actually meant to be sarcastic. You are quite a comedy writer!! Excuse me for not getting it: http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showpost.php?p=248169&postcount=1276

-----

In the meantime: the idea of these streets overflowing with pedestrians just intrigues me. So let me ask again: what off The Walk stores have tons of customers... what flower shops (as Gisel mentions) and other retail? What streets are doing so well? I would like to know... thanks.

You don't know how thrilled I am to hear that:

Most of the city looked like a vibrant, a walkable and pedestrian freindly place.


(gee... or was that meant to be sarcastic too...)


---

[Intheknow]

I just finished reading todays AC press, ACpress.com, I'm now going to throw up.

Many development items.

[Fabrizio]

Why, oh why, do you keep pushing this acpress.com site? It has nothing to do with Atlantic City.

I'm telling you folks: from Trenton on down... it gets strange...

[Intheknow]

Really, let's take a sample of todays headlines; AC council delays action on eminent domain for Pinnacle site, Humane Society spared from A.C. redevelopment plan, A.C. Council votes to allow Route 30 casino, Local 54's petition on Revel roads dies in A.C. No, nothing to do with Atlantic City's development and image, I apologize.

Did you get a bad batch of wine over there in Tuscany?

[Fabrizio]

Take an index finger. Any one will do. (You can leave the other one where it was... in your nose or where ever) Now type in the following:

a c p r e s s . c o m

You tell me.

[American Gaming Guru]

Intheknow. I just finnished reading it as well. Great stories today. Here they are (and my comments on each):

Atlantic City Council delays action on eminent domain for Pinnacle site

By MICHAEL CLARK Staff Writer, 609-272-7204


Published: Thursday, September 04, 2008





http://media.pressofatlanticcity.com/smedia/2008/09/04/06/0-pinnacleproperty.thumb.prod_affiliate.101.jpg (http://media.pressofatlanticcity.com/smedia/2008/09/04/06/811-pinnacleproperty.standalone.prod_affiliate.101.jpg ) GRAPHIC: Click on the image above for a larger view




ATLANTIC CITY - More than 20 years ago, Quang Ha lost everything he had worked to establish.

His bicycle factory was seized and he was thrown in jail. It was a result of the communist government he lived under in Vietnam.
Now, his business is again at risk.
"This country, I guess they do some of the same things," said Ha, who fled Vietnam in 1981, spent five months in a Hong Kong refugee camp, migrated to the United States and landed in Atlantic City in 1989.
Ha's is one of several small businesses near the site of the planned Pinnacle Atlantic City casino, whose owners are hoping to expand the $1.5 billion project and revitalize what they consider a blighted area around them.

City Council on Wednesday was scheduled to vote on a resolution to deem the properties in need of redevelopment to open the door to eminent domain. However, a last-minute change to the measure removed the properties in question to allow council members to further consider the owners' cases.

Other businesses being considered include Steel's Fudge on the Boardwalk, which opened 88 years ago.
Pinnacle Atlantic City CEO Kim Townsend attended the meeting Wednesday and acknowledged that council's delayed decision on the surrounding properties would slow down their project.
Opponents of the eminent domain effort point to Pinnacle's announcement in February that the poor credit markets could break their project plans.
The company's chairman, Dan Lee, reaffirmed the plans to build when he addressed New Jersey gaming regulators late last month, despite the poor market.
Officials with the developer have stressed their project's uncertain future has not stopped their efforts to continue with the preconstruction process, including the eminent domain effort.
But the looming possibility that development could fail has some officials concerned about demolishing properties and, in the end, building nothing to replace them.
"We don't want to see a big hole there," Councilman George Tibbitt said.
Asked to respond to Tibbitt's comments, Townsend told a reporter, "There already is a hole there, honey," referring to the vacant lot Pinnacle created when the Sands Casino nearly a year ago.
"Our dirt lot looks better than the adult bookstore around us," she said.
Councilman Tim Mancuso said he was wary of leaving the properties out of the resolution Wednesday, implying that most of them are simply trying to bilk the developer out of money.
He cited an unnamed owner who asked Pinnacle for $30 million after the property was valued at $16 million and then filed a tax appeal with the city.
"I don't want projects held up because someone is trying to do a squeeze play," Mancuso said.
Townsend said she believes 99 percent of the property owners holding out are similar to the type Mancuso described.
That idea brought tears to Christina Walsh of the Institute for Justice, a Virginia group fighting eminent domain abuses nationwide.
"You're going to stand up there and call (Quang Ha) a holdout for more money?" she asked Mancuso Wednesday. "That is wrong. And (claiming) eminent domain is a last resort - that is a bold-faced lie."
William Potter, a Princeton-based attorney representing several of the property owners, assured City Council that allowing eminent domain would lead to painful litigation.
"You want to take it to court, God bless you," Mancuso said later. "That's what they're there for."
Pinnacle officials are not the only ones who believe the area and properties are blighted. The city's Planning Board sat through days of hearings and hours of testimony that stretched over more than six months.
The redevelopment area originally consisted of four city blocks. The L-shaped area stretches along the beach block from Indiana Avenue to Kentucky Avenue and extends to Atlantic Avenue. However, the city's Planning Board exempted two separate portions along Atlantic and Pacific avenues in June.
Council members are expected to review the properties again in the committees for Planning and Development and Revenue and Finance.
E-mail Michael Clark: Michael.Clark@pressofac.com (Michael.Clark@pressofac.com)

This is exactly why AC has had so much trouble competing in recent history. There is so much blight and companies that want to come in and change that just get fleeced by greedy property owners! Do I feel for the existing businesses? Of course I do. But they should keep them clean and inviting as a way to contribute to the community. Anyone who thinks that these businesses, that are in question, are not a blighted mess should open their eyes.

And for all the geniuses out there that think Pinnacle is going to "flip" the land for huge profits, think again and do some more research. They acquired most of the existing plot by way of a 1031 property exchange. If they decided to sell, they would be subject to a very large tax burden. It does not make sense, and Dan Lee has reiterated the same.

[American Gaming Guru]

Atlantic City Council votes to allow Route 30 casino

By MICHAEL CLARK Staff Writer, 609-272-7204


Published: Thursday, September 04, 2008






ATLANTIC CITY - City Council gave a developer the approval to stretch the city's casino reach all the way to its outskirts Wednesday, amending a new master plan that allows casino zoning along Route 30.

The city's decision came in the face of residents in the Venice Park section adamantly voicing opposition to a casino "in their backyard."
The rezoning of the property will be incorporated in the master plan, but the supposed developer still has a long way before reaching its goal.
Penn National Gaming, a Pennsylvania-based casino and racetrack company, has a tentative agreement to buy the 23-acre property owned by local Realtor Stephen Frankel and Arthur Ponzio, a planning consultant.
The site is occupied by Clayton's Self Storage, one of a local chain of storage and truck rental facilities owned by Egg Harbor Township developer Ralph Clayton.

In July, the city's Planning Board approved an amendment in the master plan to include the rezoning that would allow a gaming hall.

The plan garnered little attention from residents then, but Wednesday they came out in full force.
"I don't speak against the developer or development," said Anthony Cox, president of the Venice Park Civic Association. "But I do speak for the preservation of our neighborhood."
A prime concern among the section's residents is traffic.
"We have bad traffic now," said resident Michael Johnson. "Additional traffic on (Route 30) would be unbearable."
George Miller, a local attorney representing Penn National, later told residents that roadwork and improvements would be essential to their project.
Angry and worried residents were countered Wednesday by laborers from unions such as the International Union of Operating Engineers' Local 68, who praised the plan because it would create more jobs.
"Notice that everyone that has come to this podium and spoke in favor of this project does not live in Venice Park," area resident Barbara Thomas said to rousing applause.
City legislators, although unanimously approving the measure Wednesday, have previously downplayed the possibility that the project will get off the ground, citing several developmental obstacles.
The property's state environmental zoning allows development on only 3 percent of the 23-acre property. Also, about seven acres of the overall land are wetlands that prohibit construction.
There are also concerns about contamination, a possible result of the site's former use as an oil depot.
Although plans are less than concrete, the company envisions 100,000 square feet of casino space and about 1,500 guest rooms, according to George Miller, a local attorney who represents Penn National.
The project attests to the aggressive nature of Penn National, which already made an $800 million offer for the city's coveted Bader Field before it went out to bid.
Miller warned City Council that discouraging development will lead to the city's economic demise, much like it did before the resort welcomed the casino industry.
"If we don't change, we're going to go back to the '60s and '70s when this was not a pleasant place to be," said Miller, emphasizing a need for more hotel rooms. "If we don't do something, everyone's going to get hurt."
Miller's law partner, Dan Gallagher, told residents that the measure was simply to get Penn National started.
"We still have a long way to go," he said, noting a lengthy approval process with the Department of Environmental Protection, among others. "We're just trying to get to the table."
E-mail Michael Clark: Michael.Clark@pressofac.com (Michael.Clark@pressofac.com)

I too love Penn's enthusiasm for Atlantic City. But they are undoubtedly looking at the history of building on the boardwalk and want nothing to do with it (MGM, Penthouse/Trump and now Pinnacle). I don't think the idea of a Route 30 casino is a good either. I would much rather the Boardwalk be built-out and the main area of town revitalized. With so many land owners holding out there hands for more than their properties are worth, it just makes it very difficult.

[Fabrizio]

Pinnacle officials are not the only ones who believe the area and properties are blighted.

This is exactly why AC has had so much trouble competing in recent history. There is so much blight...


My, my.... such negativity.

[American Gaming Guru]

Local 54's petition on Revel roads dies in Atlantic City

By MICHAEL CLARK Staff Writer, 609-272-7204

Published: Thursday, September 04, 2008






ATLANTIC CITY - An effort to force a $56 million bond ordinance to a November referendum was killed Wednesday after city officials concluded the law would not allow a citywide vote.

The decision came after about 3,000 signatures were collected by members of a casino union circulating a petition against a municipal bond that would help with road improvements around Revel Enter-tainment Group's South Inlet casino project.
After meetings between the City Clerk's Office and City Solicitor Kathy Kissane, officials rejected the vote, citing the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, which states an ordinance is not subject to a petition.
"That's the end of it from the city side," City Clerk Rosemary Adams said Wednesday. "As far as we're concerned, it's done."
The law was the same one cited by the state's Office of Legislative Services in a letter to state Sen. Jim Whelan's office last week.

Whelan asked for an opinion from the state after he heard about the drive by Local 54 of UNITE-HERE, led by President Bob McDevitt.

The petition was prompted by a general public confusion over the bond ordinance, which is designed to use the city as a vehicle to obtain financing from private bond holders at cheaper municipal interest rates.
Residents were unclear that Revel was using the city only as a middleman and that taxpayers would not be on the hook for any money.
"I don't think it's any secret that City Council isn't working for the people," said Ben Begleiter, an analyst with Local 54.
Begleiter accused Whelan of trying to deny the residents the right to speak and vote for their city's future.
But the motivation behind the petition was questioned by Revel CEO Kevin DeSanctis, who attributed the move to the union's plan to pressure the company into a labor agreement.
DeSanctis declined comment Wednesday night.
McDevitt said he had not received the letter the city sent him Wednesday, but noted his displeasure with the decision.
"All I'll say is a lot of cities have slogans," he said, listing Philadelphia's "city of brotherly love" and "the city that never sleeps" for New York. "Here it's 'shut up and pay your taxes.'"
Despite the referendum effort, Revel officials have continued to negotiate with the city over the bond, including the still-undecided interest rates.
City officials have projected that Revel would receive a 4.5 percent to 5 percent interest rate, better than half the rates on the private market.
If approved, the bond would allow Revel as many as 30 years for repayment.
Should Revel default on the bond, the private bond holders would place a lien on the 20-acre property and could reacquire the land for about a quarter of its value, Revel attorneys have said.
DeSanctis has said that the road improvements are vital to the success of the $2 billion casino project. He recently hinted that a vote against the bond ordinance could cause severe problems with the development.
The road project, previously approved by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, would expand Connecticut Avenue to six lanes from Melrose Avenue to the Boardwalk in an effort to avoid traffic congestion.
The battle illustrates the difficulties developers face in trying to obtain financing and continue work in an extremely poor credit market. But some city officials have criticized Revel for rushing the complicated deal.
Residents rigorously questioned the bonding at various City Council meetings and a public hearing. Their interest came out of both confusion and frustration.
Revel attorneys continually stressed that the city stood to inherit a new road if all else failed. But many characterized approval of the bonding as another instance of resort officials bending over backward for casino developers for little in return.

E-mail Michael Clark: Michael.Clark@pressofac.com (Michael.Clark@pressofac.com)

Again, Local 54 really screwed this one up for the city and for their own union members. I hate to say it, but Tropicana Entertainment/Columbia Sussex has good cause for appeal (although I do not believe that they are a good operator and will never be given back their license).

Local 54 should not be in the business of ruining businesses! It is no wonder it is so difficult to prosper in New Jersey!

[Intheknow]

AGG, I disagree with you. The casinos are only looking out for themselves not the city. The proof of my statement is 30 years in the making and growing.

I posted a letter earlier from a "hold-out" on what he was offered for his apartment complex-it came to $55,000 per unit, way low.

As I stated before fair value is in the eye of the beholder.

The Casinos are a business, their goal is to make mucho profits and keep people in the casinos. Time is a major issue with casinos, studies, etc. The less time to eat at a free buffet the more time to gamble etc. they do studies on this stuff.

The casinos can not be trusted to enhance the surrounding City.

Fabrizio, no need for that. It's in my favorites under AC Press, I figured you were intelligent enough to figure out what I was talking about, what with all the prior posts quoting from this source.

[Fabrizio]

For the general public: the web site to The Press of Atlantic City, AC's daily newspaper, is:

www.pressofatlanticcity.com

---

However, I sure do agree with you about this: The casinos can not be trusted to enhance the surrounding City .

and I'm sure there are, in many cases, two sides to the stories about offers from Casinos... I just can't believe the Casinos are never without fault.


---

[Intheknow]

In fact, the Casinos are the only one's who can change the surroundings of the City, very easily. City Council refuses to listen to the taxpayers but when the Casinos say "jump" they jump. Why don't the Casinos demand that the City improve the surrounding areas???? Their taxes support the city, correct? Wouldn't a clean vibrant City benefit everyone? Maybe they are to busy counting their money? Hopefully new competition will change their views.

[pianoman11686]

I was in Atlantic City this past weekend for a daytrip. I had been planning to go spend most of my time in the Borgata anyway, but upon arriving I lost all desire to hang out in the Boardwalk area. It just doesn't look attractive. It looks outdated and in need of a major facelift. There's really no sense of place.

Meanwhile, the Borgata was packed with people, and even the Water Club was practically soldout. They seem to know what they're doing over there. The problem for Atlantic City, of course, is that the Borgata is just one hotel, and it's in a part of town that's - how should I say this - consists of freeway offramps and vacant plots of land. If there's any hope for making Atlantic City itself a premier destination, one would expect to integrate newer hotels like the Borgata into (what's left of) the urban fabric. As it stands now, most visitors just drive right off the freeway, into the parking garage, and stay inside the Borgata until they're ready to leave. The city loses out. How can this be fixed?

Side note: I spent the earlier part of the day visiting Cape May, and the place looked great - well-maintained, busy, vibrant.

[Intheknow]

I hope you at least bought a tee shirt and had your palm read while on the boardwalk.

You see what MOST people see when visiting the boardwalk, a prime location just wasted.

[Fabrizio]

Those "I'm With Stupid" T-shirts are pretty cool though. They even sell them with the arrow pointing down.

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If only AC had done what CapeMay did in 1976.... back then AC still had the bones to become one of the most elegant casino/resort cities in the world. Unrivaled ornate Hotels and streets still full of fine old Victorians. Letting eveything up to the unguided decisions of corporations and the anarchy of the free market was NOT the way to go:


http://www.capemaytimes.com/history/victorian.htm


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[Intheknow]

In 1976 many of these Casinos bought/owned AC's old hotels before legalized gambling. Gov. Brenden Byrne would not let them add additions to these hotels as the Casinos wanted to do, not to save them but to save money and open asap, he made them tear them down.

Wasn't the Dennis the first Casino? It had enough rooms so they could be within the rules imposed by the state agencies?

Not that it really matters now, they still could have and should have built more appealing structures.

Haven't heard a peep about the new trump what ever you want to call it. I've seen it from the beach, wasn't really awed at all.

City has been really slow, it's going to be a real rough winter.

[American Gaming Guru]

Haddon Hall/Resorts International was the first casino.

However, you are correct, the casino companies wanted to keep the grand old structures. It was THE STATE OF NJ that demanded that they be ripped down and rebuilt!

With that said, I agree, they should have done a much nicer job.

[pianoman11686]

If only AC had done what CapeMay did in 1976.... back then AC still had the bones to become one of the most elegant casino/resort cities in the world. Unrivaled ornate Hotels and streets still full of fine old Victorians.

Unfortunately, the ball was not in Atlantic City's court when the decision was made, in 1976, to legalize gambling. It was a state referendum, and there were other interests in mind besides historic preservation.

Letting eveything up to the unguided decisions of corporations and the anarchy of the free market was NOT the way to go

Actually, it was quite the opposite. Casino development was strictly prescribed and regulated by state agencies, which mandated that all casinos be located within self-enclosed resorts:

The Casino Control Act further specified that all gambling in Atlantic City take place within the confines of casino resorts. The Act declared that the "rehabilitation and redevelopment" of Atlantic City's resort business would offer a "unique opportunity" to make maximum use of the natural resources available in Atlantic City" to effect "the restoration of Atlantic City as the Playground of the World and the major hospitality center of the Eastern United States. Regarding the structure of the casino industry, the Act stated:
"Restricting the issuance of casino licenses to major hotel and convention facilities [casino resorts] is designed to assure that the existing nature and tone of the hospitality industry in New Jersey and Atlantic City is