Thank You AC Weekly! Wednesday, Jul 29 2009

AC Weekly called out the Baltimore Sun for that newspaper’s horrendous coverage of Atlantic City.   Pinky Kravitz also deplored the Baltimore Sun’s poor coverage of Atlantic City during an episode of his Pinky’s Cornerradio program.   Mr. Kravitz also mused that a possible reason for the lack of fact checking is the ever-shrinking news staff at most newspapers.

While their newspaper business is not in the best health, a few Google searches and phone calls would have clarified the mis-information in the Baltimore Sun’s Atlantic City story.

Here is the post from AC Weekly.

Any Fact Checking Going on at ‘Sun’?

An AC Weekly reader sent us an e-mail about a recent Baltimore Sun story on Atlantic City, which appeared on the paper’s Web site. It had a few major errors in it.

Now we’re not in the business of finding fault or errors at other publications, but 14 casinos in Atlantic City? Where did the reporter get that number? And the Chelsea, which is referred to as the Holiday Inn in the article, have they heard about that place? See how many factual errors you can find.

Source – http://blog.acweekly.com/2009/07/24/any-fact-checking-going-on-at-sun/

Photo credit – http://www.foundationforbcpl.org/foundation_baltsunlogo.color.gif

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The UAW’s Luxury Golf Course Wednesday, Jul 29 2009

   The United Auto Workers (UAW) labor union, who have been organizing and agitating casino dealers, owns a luxury golf course.   Black Lake Golf Course loses five million a year, according to Red State.   It would not be workers’ dues that pay to keep the golf course afloat, would it?

   The UAW has played an active role in rendering Detroit auto manufactures unable to compete with automobile plants in other areas of the country.   Will UAW play an active role in rendering Atlantic City unable to compete with surrounding casinos?

   The government does not and should not bail out failing Atlantic City businesses.   Yet the UAW lobbies Congress and our President to take our money to pay for UAW’s benefits and amenities, which are not feasible in our current economic climate.

   It is heartening to see Harrah’s Entertainment fight back against the UAW.   Check out their web-site countering the lies from the UAW.

Photo credit – http://media.photobucket.com/image/anti-uaw/f5fstop/antiuaw.jpg

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Adding Allure to The Boardwalk Tuesday, Jun 16 2009

Russ Eisle and Donna Marie are bringing back the charm of the Atlantic City Boardwalk.   Steven Lemongello writes about Mr. Eisle and his wife’s Haunted Tales:

“My wife and I went down to the Boardwalk, and we were looking at the same stores over and over,” Eisle said. “There was nothing for families on the Boardwalk.”

[...]

To give Haunted Tales a local flavor, he and his wife incorporated area folklore into the storyline. Lucy Johannson Leeds – or at least her ghost – is heard telling her tale of becoming the mother of an accursed 13th child, the Jersey Devil. Later, a local pirate, Capt. Beaumont, is heard weaving his tale of buried treasure.

Be sure to take a stroll on the famed wooden way and watch the show at Haunted Tales.

  
(Photo credit – http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3664/3403947465_dc2ff293cf.jpg?v=0)

It is important to financially reward those who take a risk to improve the quality of Atlantic City.

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Blessed Mother Statue at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, A Drama of Authority and Popular Devotion Monday, Jun 8 2009

There is a statue of the Blessed Mother which sits adjacent Our Lady Star of the Sea Church.   The statue, like many items of religious devotion, had been neglected over the years.   Christina Thomasello began to take an interest in the Marian shrine, as thanksgiving to Mary for the Blessed Mother’s intercession in her personal conversion to the Faith.

(Photo credit – http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/5/8c/1d8/58c1d89c-3de4-11de-9a0a-001cc4c03286.preview-300.jpg)

Ms. Thomasello vigilantly removed trash and encouraged other people to do the same.   Slowly and surely the trash lessened and interest grew.   One person brought flowers, another a candle, so on and so forth.   Before long, the statue became a place of vibrant devotion.

Things were well and good, until Ms. Thomasello announced her desire to re-establish the shrine as a dedication to Our Lady of Lourdes.   Rev. Joseph Pham, OLSS’s Pastor disagreed gently, pointing out that the parish is dedicated to Our Lady Star of the Sea, not Our Lady Lourdes.   Ms. Thomasello maintained her position that the grotto had always been dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes.   The disagreement between Pastor and parishioner remained subdued, until Ms. Thomasello ordered a statue to be shipped to the parish of St. Bernadette, who is the young girl to whom the Blessed Mother appeared at Lourdes, France.

Father Pham refused to give the statue to Ms. Thomasello.   He argued pastorally that the addition of St. Bernadette would confuse the faithful.   The argument is rooted in Marianology (the study of the Blessed Mother).   The Pastor’s position is that the parish grounds ought to focus on explaining the apparition of Mary known as Our Lady Star of the Sea, not Our Lady of Lourdes.   Father Pham further argues, and the Diocese of Camden agrees, that legally the statue belongs to the parish, because it was sent to Our Lady Star of the Sea Church.   All parish property ultimately falls under the authority of the Pastor.

The dispute over the dedication of the grotto is a local instance of the drama between popular devotion and authority within the Catholic Church.    Juliet Fletcher writes in today’s Press of Atlantic City features a story about some historical evidence supporting the argument that popular devotion has previously recognized the Marian grotto as a place for devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes.

The story is intriguing and illustrates the intricacies of both the Catholic Faith and the difficulties of being a Pastor.   Catholics encourage fellow Catholics to grow in their faith and to find ways to spread the Faith to others.   We also pray for our Pastors and must be obedient to their God-given authority, which is bestowed through the Sacrament of Holy Orders.   It is oft times difficult to ascertain the right course of action, yet Catholic and non-Catholic alike can enjoy the intrigue of the parish drama unfolding between Father Pham and Ms. Thomasello, authority and popular devotion.

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Absentee Ballot Update Thursday, Jun 4 2009

Yesterday, we reported a court hearing on what turned out to be 117 late arriving absentee ballots.  

Also on Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Valerie Armstrong ruled that 117 absentee ballots delivered 54 seconds after Tuesday’s 8 p.m. deadline would not be counted. The four members of the Board of Elections, who are scheduled to appear before the grand jury on June 10, were split on a decision to count the late ballots. Armstrong is required to break any tie.

 It is believed that those ballots were brought in by Councilman Marty Small’s campaign, according to reports Tuesday night.

The absentee and messenger ballots could influence the City Council At-Large Democrat Party nominations.   It is possible, but unlikely, that absentee ballots could snatch the nomination away from Moisse Delgado, Frank Gilliam, or George Tibbitt.

Harry Hurley opines:

HarryHurley.com
 
BREAKING NEWS
 
June 3, 2009
1:00 P.M.
 
Atlantic City Councilman George Tibbitt
has taken the lead in the race for City Council at Large.
 
Tibbitt leads by more than 200 votes at this hour.
 
Mo Delgado and Frank Gilliam will finish 2nd and 3rd for the three seats.
 
About 600 more absentee ballots are continuing to be counted.
 
Developing. 

There is still a slim chance that Ernest Coursey could break in to the top three, but he will have to appear in most, if not all, of the remaining absentee ballots.

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Free Internet in Atlantic City Thursday, Jun 4 2009

Amy Baratta reports:

TRUE to the city’s marketing tagline, “Always Turned On,” the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority teamed up with FreeFi Networks, a Los Angeles-based company that offers content and advertiser-supported Public Internet WiFi access, to create one the largest free wireless hotspots on the East Coast.

The free, public-access network covers nearly the entire footprint of the Atlantic City Convention Center, including all five exhibit halls and pre-function areas, as well as the adjacent rail station and Boardwalk Hall, the city’s special events venue located on the Boardwalk.

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Breaking News – Court Hearing on New Messenger Ballots Wednesday, Jun 3 2009

The Atlantic County Board of Elections is participating in a 3pm court hearing on some newly discovered messenger ballots, in Courtroom 3A.   A representative of the Kurtz Team will be attending this hearing to bring you the results of what transpires.

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Steve Lonegan Coming to Atlantic City Saturday, May 30 2009

Steve Lonegan will be in Atlantic City today (Saturday, May 30). Mr. Lonegan is visiting all 21 counties on a Victory Lap of New Jersey. The Atlantic County stop is at the Irish Pub in Atlantic City, on St. James Place, at the foot of the Boardwalk, from 7pm – 9pm. The event is free and you are invited to attend. You are also free to make a contribution to “Lonegan for Governor,” if you are so inclined.

Steve Lonegan will be joined by Derek Brown, who is running for Atlantic County Freeholder At-Large, Joe Nickels and Sue Sandman, who are running for Republican State Committeemen, Myself, an Atlantic City Mayoral candidate, and my team of City Council At-Large candidates Lan Dang, Sharon Zappia, and Bob Willman.

Steve Lonegan will point out how New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been the fastest growing government agency in the country over the last decade.   The DEP has mandated Atlantic City’s sand dune height, ruining the view of the Ocean from the Boardwalk.

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Democrat Primary – City Council Candidate Notes Saturday, May 30 2009

The Democrat City Council At-Large candidates will appear as follows on the primary ballot:

 

George Tibbitt
(Photo credit – http://www.fannielouhamer.info/sitebuilder/images/new_jersey_IV-476×564.jpg)

Frank Gilliam
“Mo” Delgado
Nashir U. Sheikh

Durwood Pinkett
(Mr. Pinkett is in the middle in the back, Photo Credit – http://www.acweekly.com/images/issues/2007-10-11/large/img_7470_redwelling_2.jpg) 

Fareed Abdullah
Joseph Hicks

Eugene Robinson
(Photo Credit – http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0gyWcxg5U216u/610x.jpg)

Earnest Coursey
(Mr. Coursey is third from left walking in front row, phto credit – http://www.fannielouhamer.info/sitebuilder/images/new_jersey_IV-476×564.jpg)

 

Keisha Bey, (Marty Small,) & Dafiq Rasheed
(Photo credit – http://www.dafiqrasheed.com/Dafiq_Rasheed_For_City_Council/News_files/photo.jpg)
Rizwan Malik

 

Carol Ruffu
(Ms. Ruffu is on the far right, photo credit – http://www.fannielouhamer.info/sitebuilder/images/new_jersey_IV-476×564.jpg)

(Feel free to leave your own comments and thoughts on the election.)

Here are some notes from the campaign trail.   The Lorenzo Langford supporters I encounter are satisfied with his two Council running mates, “Mo” Delgado and Frank Gilliam.   Those supporters are more pleased with “Mo” Delgado, due to his name recognition and speaking ability, yet are satisfied with both.  

Although George Tibbitt is on Lorenzo Langford’s ticket, there are people working for Mr. Langford, who are encouraging Earnest Coursey to be the third vote for City Council.   This phenomenon coupled with George Tibbitt’s popularity adds doubt to what would otherwise be a no-brainer, no-contest re-election for the lone incumbent (Mr. Tibbitt) in a crowded field.

Neither Rizwan Malik, nor Nashir U. Sheikh have appeared at any community forums (to my knowledge).   Mr. Sheikh has a formidable 8-1/2 x 11 flier campaign around town. 

Dafiq Rasheed has impressed many older voters.   Because of the crowded field and the presence of many new faces, there is a desire to pick at least one younger candidate to carry the torch.   For those looking for at least one younger candidate, Mr. Rasheed is the lead choice.   He also introduces new technology to Atlantic City campaigns, second only to the Republican mayoral candidate.   Here is Mr. Rasheed’s Twitter link.

Keisha Bey gives a heart-touching speech at community forums on the gunshots that she and her son have heard from their home.

“Mo” Delgado is undoubtedly the best public speaker in the crowd.

Carol Ruffu has myriad experience and has been well-received at the community forums.   She enjoys sharing the fact she is descended from a previous Atlantic City Mayor.

Earnest Coursey has painted himself as the candidate with the most elected experience.

I was thoroughly impressed by Durwood Pinkett and disappointed to see him depart the race.   I suspect he will play a large role in the Atlantic City political landscape for years to come.   According to the Press of Atlantic City, Mr. Pinkett and Eugene Robinson are the two candidates, who have dropped out, but will still appear on the ballot.   I wonder what happens if one of the two is elected?

Frank Gilliam claims to have been honored for his criminal justice work in South Africa.

Joseph Hicks has made personal responsibility the cornerstone of his campaign.

Fareed Abdullah was removed from Lorenzo Langford’s ticket and is now collaborating with David Tayoun.   Mr. Abdullah’s main issues are increasing youth programs and addressing police brutality.

(The candidates without photographs did not yield photographs through Google image search.)

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Confusing City Council Race Saturday, May 30 2009

Today’s Press of Atlantic City features the latest curve ball in what has become the most confusing City Council election ballot in recent memory.   Emily Previti writes:

Rizwan Malik is a real estate investor who owns properties in Atlantic City, Ventnor and Egg Harbor City. But it’s unclear where he lives.

The 45-year-old registered to vote in 1997 at an Arctic Avenue address. Despite several neighbors and tenants’ assertions that he is a landlord and does not live there, he has insisted he still lives in a unit at 2419 Arctic Ave. and rents out the rest as well as all units in 2421 Arctic. He bought the structures in 2001 and 2003, respectively, according to property records.

His wife used an address on the beach block of Oxford Avenue in Ventnor when she registered to vote in 2004, the same year Malik bought the three-story, single-family house, according to voter registration and property records. Phone listings show him living there, too, at the same number for a sporting goods business he started in 1998, according to property records.

A Press of Atlantic City reporter encountered the conflicting information in trying to contact Malik for a candidate profile.

Malik declined to comment on who lives with him at the Arctic Avenue property he calls home.

I sat next to Mr. Malik and Scott Evans’s lady-friend during Mr. Evans’ selection as one of three Mayoral nominees to fill Bob Levy’s vacancy during the AC Democrat Committee meeting at the UAW Hall in Chelsea Heights.

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