OT - Atlantic City - default, bankruptcy, and state takeover

[T2Kplus10]

Just disgraceful what local politicians did to AC over the years and how ridiculous the spending got (even for NJ standards). Say what you will about Christie (and Sweeney), they are on the right side of this issue (vs. the AC Mayor and Prieto):

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ss..._city_file_for_bankrup.html#incart_river_home

 

[patk89]

Just disgraceful what local politicians did to AC over the years and how ridiculous the spending got (even for NJ standards). Say what you will about Christie (and Sweeney), they are on the right side of this issue (vs. the AC Mayor and Prieto):

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ss..._city_file_for_bankrup.html#incart_river_home

AC spends far more than it takes in from taxes. They squandered the casino revenues and that golden goose is now deceased. Unions or no unions, expenses need to be cut immediately and drastically. Why should the rest of broke NJ pay for this?

 

[Abro1975]

They need to do what Long Branch did after their big fire, replace the crappy boardwalk honky tonks w fancy condominiums .

http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf...istie_better_be_care.html#incart_2box_opinion

 

[redlight123]

Agree no more tax money to AC. Let the locals pay. Same for beach replenishment. Let the locals pay. Washing taxes back into the ocean is a waste. Those who want to live there should pay.

 

[RU4Real]

They need to do what Long Branch did after their big fire, replace the crappy boardwalk honky tonks w fancy condominiums .

http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf...istie_better_be_care.html#incart_2box_opinion

The difference is that you can sneak out of Long Branch to the west pretty easily without having to engage in a gun battle.

 

[lighty]

Instead of turning into another Long Branch, I wish they would seriously consider turning into a New Orleans. They already have the infrastructure - plenty of hotels, restaurants, national entertainment acts each week, and a huge boardwalk to work with.

Work out creative ways to bring more clubs to the boardwalk (offer tax breaks or free rent) and allow people to drink while walking on the boardwalk. Design it so you have to be staying at a hotel and you aren't able to drive. I believe a plan could be created to have people enjoy drinking on the boardwalk with tons of entertainment places to choose from - and avoid drinking while driving.

Anybody that has been to New Otkeans or Memphis knows how popular this aspect is. It's not just 20 somethings. All age groups are there. And AC would be the only within a huge driving area of the East Coast to offer it.

If the area is is led with people, gambling revenues will increase as well.

AC needs to figure out a way to take advantage of what it's already got not turn into another Shore town with condos. They are far further down the entertainment route than many would believe. IMO, entertainment and the beach would make it a great destination. Focus on those things instead of gambling. And, if done right, gambling would succeed as well.

Considering a politician tried bringing the idea up last year, it is on their radar.

 

[RUScrew85]

Agree no more tax money to AC. Let the locals pay. Same for beach replenishment. Let the locals pay. Washing taxes back into the ocean is a waste. Those who want to live there should pay.

I wish I could like this twice.

 

[Zak57]

Instead of turning into another Long Branch, I wish they would seriously consider turning into a New Orleans. They already have the infrastructure - plenty of hotels, restaurants, national entertainment acts each week, and a huge boardwalk to work with.

Work out creative ways to bring more clubs to the boardwalk (offer tax breaks or free rent) and allow people to drink while walking on the boardwalk. Design it so you have to be staying at a hotel and you aren't able to drive. I believe a plan could be created to have people enjoy drinking on the boardwalk with tons of entertainment places to choose from - and avoid drinking while driving.

Anybody that has been to New Otkeans or Memphis knows how popular this aspect is. It's not just 20 somethings. All age groups are there. And AC would be the only within a huge driving area of the East Coast to offer it.

If the area is is led with people, gambling revenues will increase as well.

AC needs to figure out a way to take advantage of what it's already got not turn into another Shore town with condos. They are far further down the entertainment route than many would believe. IMO, entertainment and the beach would make it a great destination. Focus on those things instead of gambling. And, if done right, gambling would succeed as well.

Considering a politician tried bringing the idea up last year, it is on their radar.

This is actually the best idea I've heard regarding AC. Sure it will never happen though.

 

[mal359]

Why not legalize prostitution and marijuana in AC?

 

[RU-ROCS]

Wasn't it Ben Franklin who said there are only three things certain in life: death, taxes and government corruption in Atlantic City? ;)

 

[RUScrew85]

This is actually the best idea I've heard regarding AC. Sure it will never happen though.

Bring back Nucky Thompson.

 

[albanyknight]

Well if we can figure out how to inject 200 years of history and tradition, not to mention great weather into AC, I see no problem in making it another New Orleans.

:flushed:

 

[Zak57]

Well if we can figure out how to inject 200 years of history and tradition, not to mention great weather into AC, I see no problem in making it another New Orleans.

:flushed:

Well AC has plenty of history itself and while it won't mimic New Orleans itself the logic is still very good. If you want to use the Vegas strip as a better example that works also.

 

[jay_hq]

It failed to become the las vegas so now you want to try and make it new orleans?

Ha!

 

[RU4Real]

Well if we can figure out how to inject 200 years of history and tradition, not to mention great weather into AC, I see no problem in making it another New Orleans.

:flushed:

I'm gonna suggest that I've spent a lot more time in New Orleans than you - I don't think the weather there is "great", except in late fall / mid spring. It's ridiculously hot and humid in the summer and can get pretty cold and damp in the winter. And it rains a lot. Also sometimes there are hurricanes. And more frequent flooding.

Of the maybe 30 times I've been to N.O. I can recall one trip when the weather was "perfect".

 

[Finster Baby]

I'm sorry, I don't want a toothless homeless guy pushing me in a cart past the $5.00 t-shirts that are sun damaged and stained. Not what AC should look like. Sad. All that money going into politicians piggy banks.

 

[RUhasarrived]

Why let that prissy Princetonian off of the hook here?Las Vegas had all of the corruption of AC,but they had the one thing prohibited to them by Bradley's bill-sports betting.

 

[El Curioso Impertinente]

AC spends far more than it takes in from taxes. They squandered the casino revenues and that golden goose is now deceased. Unions or no unions, expenses need to be cut immediately and drastically. Why should the rest of broke NJ pay for this?

Because the revenue generated by those Casinos was given to the state, and not to Atlantic City.

Meanwhile, legalizing Marijuana, Sports Betting and Prostitution in Atlantic City would salvage the city for sure.

 

[nukem]

Instead of turning into another Long Branch, I wish they would seriously consider turning into a New Orleans. They already have the infrastructure - plenty of hotels, restaurants, national entertainment acts each week, and a huge boardwalk to work with.

Work out creative ways to bring more clubs to the boardwalk (offer tax breaks or free rent) and allow people to drink while walking on the boardwalk. Design it so you have to be staying at a hotel and you aren't able to drive. I believe a plan could be created to have people enjoy drinking on the boardwalk with tons of entertainment places to choose from - and avoid drinking while driving.

Anybody that has been to New Otkeans or Memphis knows how popular this aspect is. It's not just 20 somethings. All age groups are there. And AC would be the only within a huge driving area of the East Coast to offer it.

If the area is is led with people, gambling revenues will increase as well.

AC needs to figure out a way to take advantage of what it's already got not turn into another Shore town with condos. They are far further down the entertainment route than many would believe. IMO, entertainment and the beach would make it a great destination. Focus on those things instead of gambling. And, if done right, gambling would succeed as well.

Considering a politician tried bringing the idea up last year, it is on their radar.

Lighty, I have been saying this same thing for years and I would take it one step further. The casinos should have partnered up and made the boardwalk a year round attraction. Make it an indoor/outdoor thing with something akin to Freemont St in Vegas. Make the boardwalk have some type of retractable windows that can be opened and closed depending on the weather. Allow people to walk from bar to bar or restaurant. And buy up all the crap on that boardwalk. To think of all the money that was wasted by the casinos and city and state over the years is disgusting.

The one thing AC has that none of these other places have is that beach and ocean. This would allow it to take advantage of it year round. Even if they did it in sections to try it out. Yes I know it costs money but the Casinos have pocketed a shit load of money through the years. If they want to survive, they should come up with a plan to come together and get something like this done. It would be the first of it's kind.

 

[rutgersdave]

Lighty, I have been saying this same thing for years and I would take it one step further. The casinos should have partnered up and made the boardwalk a year round attraction. Make it an indoor/outdoor thing with something akin to Freemont St in Vegas. Make the boardwalk have some type of retractable windows that can be opened and closed depending on the weather. Allow people to walk from bar to bar or restaurant. And buy up all the crap on that boardwalk. To think of all the money that was wasted by the casinos and city and state over the years is disgusting.

The one thing AC has that none of these other places have is that beach and ocean. This would allow it to take advantage of it year round. Even if they did it in sections to try it out. Yes I know it costs money but the Casinos have pocketed a shit load of money through the years. If they want to survive, they should come up with a plan to come together and get something like this done. It would be the first of it's kind.

This is crazy talk. I want all of the individuals that agree with this idea put up their money for this venture. No more state money for stupid ideas. Atlantic city politicians are blackmailing North Jersey for 1/2 the tax revenue for the new Northern Jersey casinos planned up North.North Jersey residents don't want to drive 2.5 hours to Atlantic City anymore.

The only idea to save AC would be legalized pot and prostitution until it legal in other part of the state.

 

[nukem]

This is crazy talk. I want all of the individuals that agree with this idea put up their money for this venture. No more state money for stupid ideas. Atlantic city politicians are blackmailing North Jersey for 1/2 the tax revenue for the new Northern Jersey casinos planned up North.North Jersey residents don't want to drive 2.5 hours to Atlantic City anymore.

The only idea to save AC would be legalized pot and prostitution until it legal in other part of the state.

Where in my post did I say use state money? I said for the casino's to partner up. They've had 30-40 years of good times. It was also a stupid idea to put a gambling mecca in the middle of a desert but somehow they figured it out there through a ton of private investment.

 

[patk89]

Because the revenue generated by those Casinos was given to the state, and not to Atlantic City.

Meanwhile, legalizing Marijuana, Sports Betting and Prostitution in Atlantic City would salvage the city for sure.

Plenty of tax revenue was funneled thru AC over the decades and promptly seized by the political class and their union cronies. So, you are suggesting that sports betting related taxes would somehow wind up in a different place than the historical gambling revenues? Or that pot and prostitution thrown into that cesspool of a city would revive it? I'm very skeptical. I do agree that something needs to give but they need to provide incentives for private money to take risks/make a bet on AC. It those efforts fail, at least it is not the overburdened NJ taxpayers who are handed the bill.

 

[NotInRHouse]

Christie throws millions to Revel and then wants to cry crocodile tears.

Christie wants small government but then wants the state to control a city. How did state control of the schools in Newark pan out? Oh right, they had lead in water fountains for years and sat on it.

Anything Christie has been given "control" over has gone to crap. He can't be trusted with anything.

If he were a real leader and truly concerned with small government and freedom, he would legalize marijuana and prostitution in AC.

But he is a feckless imbecile who can't be bothered to return to NJ unless he can line his own pockets.

How many more millions will Gibson Dunn take in to write about AC and destroy the records?

The Christie-Sweeney-Norcross government is thankfully on its last legs.

 

[albanyknight]

I'm gonna suggest that I've spent a lot more time in New Orleans than you - I don't think the weather there is "great", except in late fall / mid spring. It's ridiculously hot and humid in the summer and can get pretty cold and damp in the winter. And it rains a lot. Also sometimes there are hurricanes. And more frequent flooding.

Of the maybe 30 times I've been to N.O. I can recall one trip when the weather was "perfect".

True but how are you going to get Jersey women to wear beads and dangle their ta-tas from the balcony of AC hotels?

 

[NickKnight 1]

I'm sorry, I don't want a toothless homeless guy pushing me in a cart past the $5.00 t-shirts that are sun damaged and stained. Not what AC should look like. Sad. All that money going into politicians piggy banks.

I go to Atlantic city every year for weeks at a time, plus hundreds of day visits.
for 30 years.
There are no $5. sun damaged and stained t shirts, and homeless pushing carts.
Why make up crap like this, I see more good things happening every time I go there.
You read every day about the 4 casino closings, but not about the 2 already
coming back. A water park being built and a new casino opening in May.
More concerts the last few years then ever.

 

[newell138]

Because the revenue generated by those Casinos was given to the state, and not to Atlantic City.

Meanwhile, legalizing Marijuana, Sports Betting and Prostitution in Atlantic City would salvage the city for sure.

Quite possibly one of the smartest things said on this board. Everyone forgets that in the 80s and 90s AC was pumping millions into the state coffers, now when they need a boost people dont want to hear about it. It wasn't just the locals who were corrupt, there were plenty of politicians and others who were feeding off the corruption going on there, just like everywhere else in NJ.

Legalize weed and sports betting, allow open containers on the boardwalk and you will be raking in the $$ again.

 

[Phi_1055]

I go to Atlantic city every year for weeks at a time, plus hundreds of day visits.
for 30 years.
There are no $5. sun damaged and stained t shirts, and homeless pushing carts.
Why make up crap like this, I see more good things happening every time I go there.
You read every day about the 4 casino closings, but not about the 2 already
coming back. A water park being built and a new casino opening in May.
More concerts the last few years then ever.

I'm there about as often as you are. Revel is scheduled to reopen. What is the other one?

 

[RUSONIC]

I think if they would make the rooms more affordable and lower the minimum bets on table games they might get an increase in traffic. Try to find a $5 table of any game, its impossible. You take a guy like me that would risk $200 gambling, when minimums are $25 dollars, it makes for a lot of early nights. Also $300 to $500 a night for a room, not going to happen.

 

[FELONIOUSMONK]

I am at Ballys at a conference . A morgue but they are feeding us so I will let you all worry about it

 

[Phi_1055]

Because the revenue generated by those Casinos was given to the state, and not to Atlantic City.

Meanwhile, legalizing Marijuana, Sports Betting and Prostitution in Atlantic City would salvage the city for sure.

The CRDA is funded by a 1.25% tax on casino revenues and has pumped about $2 billion into AC.

 

[El Curioso Impertinente]

The CRDA is funded by a 1.25% tax on casino revenues and has pumped about $2 billion into AC.

True, and yet the schools in Atlantic City are just Ok. Same goes for the Senior Center. Most of that money has gone to the Police, Construction Costs, Infrastructure Builds, etc. As Mike Tyson once said, a billion ain't what it used to be, lol.

 

[Phi_1055]

I think if they would make the rooms more affordable and lower the minimum bets on table games they might get an increase in traffic. Try to find a $5 table of any game, its impossible. You take a guy like me that would risk $200 gambling, when minimums are $25 dollars, it makes for a lot of early nights. Also $300 to $500 a night for a room, not going to happen.

There are $5 minimum bet tables. You just need to know where to look. Bally's Wild West has them and you can find them at other properties at non-peak times.

 

[mikebal9]

I think if they would make the rooms more affordable and lower the minimum bets on table games they might get an increase in traffic. Try to find a $5 table of any game, its impossible. You take a guy like me that would risk $200 gambling, when minimums are $25 dollars, it makes for a lot of early nights. Also $300 to $500 a night for a room, not going to happen.

On a weeknight you can stay for $44 at Harrahs. I stayed at Trop on a Friday night over the summer for about $120. I also found $5 craps tables both times, though admittedly it did bump to $10 around 9pm on weekends.

 

[Phi_1055]

Legalize weed and sports betting, allow open containers on the boardwalk and you will be raking in the $$ again.

From conversations I has with casino managers about five years ago the city's concern with permitting open containers on the boardwalk is that it will bring trouble from the locals. Ways to control that - such as requiring wristbands purchased for a fee - were thought to troublesome. I don't know whether or not they are seriously reconsidering the idea now.

 

[imbazza2]

Why not legalize prostitution and marijuana in AC?

Because the revenue generated by those Casinos was given to the state, and not to Atlantic City.

Meanwhile, legalizing Marijuana, Sports Betting and Prostitution in Atlantic City would salvage the city for sure.

"If you do not learn from history, you will only repeat it." Over 100 years Ac has cesspool of corruption
Hookers and pot with just be pimped by politicians. It is time to let AC live and die on its own.
Stop supplying the corrupt with funds to further milk AC/NJ

 

[newell138]

From conversations I has with casino managers about five years ago the city's concern with permitting open containers on the boardwalk is that it will bring trouble from the locals. Ways to control that - such as requiring wristbands purchased for a fee - were thought to troublesome. I don't know whether or not they are seriously reconsidering the idea now.

Meanwhile the st Pattys day parade in AC was a huge success because the cops let everyone drink openly that day. It was just as crowded as NYE.

 

[El Curioso Impertinente]

"If you do not learn from history, you will only repeat it." Over 100 years Ac has cesspool of corruption
Hookers and pot with just be pimped by politicians. It is time to let AC live and die on its own.
Stop supplying the corrupt with funds to further milk AC/NJ

Your complaints are well noted. However, what you're calling corruption is the inevitable accumulation of mistakes that would occur regardless of the Politics involved.

Complex systems acquire and accumulate mistakes. Let's not act like there's a viable alternative.

AC has done a fantastic job of providing profit for the Donald Trumps of the World. But their Wealth accumulation comes at a cost. One that is borne by Main Street.

 

[RU4Real]

It's a little disingenuous to visualize Bourbon Street and say "let's turn Atlantic City into New Orleans". In many respects, it already is. New Orleans, from the 100,000' level, is a total shithole. It has one of the worst crime rates in the nation, the government is historically corrupt, the police department is both corrupt and utterly rogue. It's not a good model to emulate.

 

[mal359]

"If you do not learn from history, you will only repeat it." Over 100 years Ac has cesspool of corruption
Hookers and pot with just be pimped by politicians. It is time to let AC live and die on its own.
Stop supplying the corrupt with funds to further milk AC/NJ

So, let yet another NJ city rot instead of doing something?

 

[El Curioso Impertinente]

So, let yet another NJ city rot instead of doing something?

Agreed, the obvious answer is to simply increase taxes on the Plutocrats, lol. The Cost of allowing AC to rot is simply to high a price to bear.

 

[rufanpops]

On a weeknight you can stay for $44 at Harrahs. I stayed at Trop on a Friday night over the summer for about $120. I also found $5 craps tables both times, though admittedly it did bump to $10 around 9pm on weekends.

If you have a total rewards card (caesars, harrah's, bally's) and basically any tier credits at all, you can get a free room basically any sunday through thrusday night. If you reach diamond status, you can get a free room virtually any night you want. I was just at caesars from Saturday through yesterday for no charge other than the resort fee and tax ($26 a night total). If you go to AC to any casino and don't get a player's card (get rated) than you are a just giving away money. My best friend who went with me last month and bought in for $100 and played $5 blackjack at Wild Wild West til it was gone 25 minutes later and then didn't gamble the rest of the trip, is now eligible for the free rooms, you hardly have to gamble at all. I play bigger ($25-$100 a hand at blackjack) but I've never lost more than $600 bucks and regularly win more than $1500 and I always get my rooms free and most of my meals comped through rewards points. Oh, and weed and prostitution are basically legal already as I've been caught with both in my hotel rooms numerous times and never had any trouble. Security at Caesars usually just asks you to put a towel under the door and to keep the noise down.