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Gov. Christie proposes state takeover of government in troubled Atlantic City Gov. Christie proposes state takeover of government in troubled Atlantic City
(about 1 hour later)
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who spent years trying to revive the fortunes of Atlantic City through forceful government intervention, admitted Tuesday that his efforts had fallen short.New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who spent years trying to revive the fortunes of Atlantic City through forceful government intervention, admitted Tuesday that his efforts had fallen short.
In response, Christie, a Republican presidential contender, called for an even more forceful intervention: a state takeover of the Atlantic City government.In response, Christie, a Republican presidential contender, called for an even more forceful intervention: a state takeover of the Atlantic City government.
“The only thing that is really holding Atlantic City back is its governmental structure and the debt and the cost of its government,” Christie (R) said in a news conference Tuesday afternoon. Christie said he had hoped to avoid this step, but could not. “The only thing that is really holding Atlantic City back is its governmental structure and the debt and the cost of its government,” Christie said in a news conference Tuesday afternoon. Christie said he had hoped to avoid this step but could not.
“We wanted to give Atlantic City a five-year opportunity to have some of these problems work out on their own, they did not,” Christie said. “So now we need to take those stronger steps to intervene.” “We wanted to give Atlantic City a five-year opportunity to have some of these problems work out on their own. They did not,” Christie said. “So now we need to take those stronger steps to intervene.”
On Tuesday, a Washington Post story described Christie’s efforts to “save” Atlantic City, a gambling town that was losing gamblers in droves to new casinos in other East Coast states. Christie’s solution was a series of government-led efforts: he took over the touristy half of the city. He helped build a new casino. He tried online gambling. He tried sports betting. On Tuesday, a Washington Post article described Christie’s efforts to save Atlantic City, a gambling town that was losing gamblers in droves to new casinos in other East Coast states. Christie’s solution was a series of government-led efforts: He took over the touristy half of the city. He helped build a new casino. He tried allowing online gambling. He tried sports betting.
None of it worked as Christie expected. On Christie’s watch, four of the city’s 12 casinos closed — including the Revel, the new casino that Christie had worked so hard to build. About 7,000 jobs were lost, and the city struggled to develop a new identity to attract new tourists.None of it worked as Christie expected. On Christie’s watch, four of the city’s 12 casinos closed — including the Revel, the new casino that Christie had worked so hard to build. About 7,000 jobs were lost, and the city struggled to develop a new identity to attract new tourists.
[Chris Christie thought more government could save Atlantic City. Wrong.] [Chris Christie thought more government could save Atlantic City.]
On Tuesday, Christie — taking a break from campaigning for the GOP presidential nomination — said that he and the state senate president, Democrat Steve Sweeney, had agreed on the outlines of a plan to take over many of the city’s functions. The plan must now be passed as legislation. On Tuesday, Christie — taking a break from campaigning for the GOP presidential nomination — said that he and the state Senate president, Steve Sweeney (D), had agreed on the outlines of a plan to take over many of the city’s functions. The plan must now be passed as legislation.
Christie said his plan would give an un-elected state government official sweeping power over Atlantic City’s operations, including the authority to break city contracts, dissolve city agencies, sell city-owned assets or make agreements to share services with other county or city governments. Christie said his plan would give an unelected state government official sweeping power over Atlantic City’s operations, including the authority to break city contracts, dissolve city agencies, sell city-owned assets and make agreements to share services with other county or city governments.
The city council and mayor would remain in place, but — in Christie’s plan — the state would be able to dictate what they passed into law. “The council and mayor would be required to pass ordinances as needed to aid in the financial stability and recovery of the city,” according to Christie’s office. The City Council and mayor would remain in place, but in Christie’s plan the state would be able to dictate what they passed into law. “The council and mayor would be required to pass ordinances as needed to aid in the financial stability and recovery of the city,” according to Christie’s office.
Atlantic City’s Mayor, Republican Don Guardian, had told the Post last week that he felt blindsided by early reports that Christie was considering a takeover. But he stood alongside Christie while Christie made the announcement on Tuesday. Atlantic City’s mayor, Republican Don Guardian, had told The Post last week that he felt blindsided by early reports that Christie was considering a takeover. But he stood alongside Christie while Christie made the announcement Tuesday.
“Last Thursday I placed a telephone call to the mayor, and I told him that my view was the city needed help and I wanted to help the city and that we needed to work together to get to a solution,” Christie said. “I thanked him for putting his residents and his city first and the mayor and I had a very good conversation.” “Last Thursday I placed a telephone call to the mayor, and I told him that my view was the city needed help and I wanted to help the city and that we needed to work together to get to a solution,” Christie said. “I thanked him for putting his residents and his city first, and the mayor and I had a very good conversation.”
Christie said he only wanted this state takeover to last for five years. Christie said he wanted this state takeover to last for only five years.
At the same time, the state legislature is considering another idea that could fundamentally change Atlantic City, by taking away its vital state-granted monopoly on gambling. The proposal is to allow gambling in northern New Jersey, to capture gamblers from New York city and its suburbs — on the theory that, now, they wouldn’t go to Atlantic City anyway. At the same time, the state legislature is considering another idea that could fundamentally change Atlantic City by taking away its vital state-granted monopoly on gambling. The proposal is to allow gambling in northern New Jersey, to capture gamblers from New York City and its suburbs — on the theory that, now, they would not go to Atlantic City anyway.