Super Bowl XLIV Prediction / Pick Sunday, Feb 7 2010 

Who do you think will win?   Whoever gets closest will receive a copy of Steve Lonegan’s Putting Taxpayers First.

My prediction:

Colts 24 – Saints 21

Image sources – http://www.greaterdallasbicyclists.com/images/SuperBowlXLIV.gif & http://laist.com/attachments/la_jimmy/superbowl.jpg

Atlantic City Digest – January 31, 2010 Sunday, Jan 31 2010 

New Jersey Initiative and Referendum 101 Saturday, Jan 23 2010 

Last Saturday, I promised Jim from Northfield that I would share information on how citizens can get ordinances on the ballot.   I invite him and you to read the Office of Legislative Services’ Report on ‘Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities.   (Thank you Senator Jeff Van Drew for sharing this information with me.)

The salient point with regard to the conversation I had with Jim is that a number of the voters in a given county or municipality that is needed to initiate an ordinance on the ballot is the number of voters which is equal to or greater than 10% of the voters from that same county or municipality who voted in last November’s election.  

For example, the number of signatures from registered Atlantic City voters, which are needed on a petition to initiate an ordinance on the ballot is 714.1.

Please leave a comment or e-mail me for more information.

The Cartel Movie Trailer Tuesday, Jan 12 2010 

The Cartel is a fantastic documentary on New Jersey education.   It is professional and very interesting.  I encourage you to watch it.

Here is the trailer

Check out the movie’s official site.

Full Body Airport Scanners Monday, Jan 4 2010 

The discussion on the 2 January show was intense over whether or not there should be full body scanners in airports and if so, in what capacity.

There was some uncertainly as to what exactly is seen in a full body scan.   The following are some images from  full body scanners:

Do you think these full body scanners should be used?  If so, in what capacity?   Leave your comments below.   I will share some of the comments on my next show.

Image sources – http://www.projo.com/blogs/shenews/photos/rapi_scan_lg.jpg & http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/brainiac/airport_xray_scanner-thumb.jpg & http://www.dvorak.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/tsa-body-scan.jpg

What Atlantic City Does Right Tuesday, Dec 22 2009 

If you ever want to know what tourists like about Atlantic City, and what they do not, search out what average people have to say about our town.   Here is what one occasional visitor to Atlantic City, kayni’s corner cafe has to say:

Last week, my friend, F, and I made our trek to Atlantic City. It’s been two years since I was in AC, so I was excited because this was another chance to experience the place and also see if the place has changed. We stayed at the Borgata and got great room rates. Borgata after all has been getting all the raves in AC. When we arrived, Borgata didn’t disappoint and that I would totally stay there again.

[...]

There are a lot of changes in AC especially with the additions of the malls at the boardwalk. I think there’s a push to make it look like Las Vegas, but I think it will take quite a while before AC can compete with Vegas. On its own, AC has the advantage of being near the beach and its boardwalk has a beauty on its own. Finding trinkets at the boardwalk shops is something I really enjoy. AC has its own beauty and that I’m glad I got this chance to see this place again.

I am glad to see positive things being said about Atlantic City.   Kayni is a good reminder of what we do right in Atlantic City.   Kayni also has some great photographs.   Check out Kayni’s original post.

Another Bad Idea from the Mayor Tuesday, Dec 22 2009 

Michael Clark of The Press of Atlantic City reports that “Langford proposes resurrecting Atlantic City Multi-Cultural Affairs Office.”

A looming fiscal crisis in 2010 is not stopping Mayor Lorenzo Langford from trying to re-create a government office dedicated to multicultural affairs, a defunct city division deleted by rival council members about six years ago.The new office would include the creation of two new jobs to run the new Multi-Cultural Affairs Office – a director and a clerk typist.

The last thing we need to is create new departments.   Atlantic City is facing a $20 – $57 Million budget deficit in 2010.   Does Mr. Langford need some smelling salts to wake up to out fiscal realities?

I suggested on last Saturday’s show that the City cross-train people already working in Cultural Affairs to execute the functions and purpose of a Multi-Cultural Affairs Office.   However, Michael Clark notes:

… according to the ordinance.The measure does not provide any specific duties or goals for the Multi-Cultural Affairs Office or its employees. The office would be operated within the city’s Department of Health and Human Services.

We do not need anymore city offices that do not have and do not execute “specific duties or goals.”

It is good to see that some of our elected officials get it:

Councilmen Steven Moore and George Tibbitt, both public allies of Langford, questioned the proposal Tuesday and referenced a huge budget shortfall projected for next year. Moore was adamant Tuesday that the city must refrain from hiring any more employees.

Thank you! Councilmen Moore and Tibbitt.   Good words, let us see your words backed up with cuts, cuts, and more cuts, plus sustained opposition to the Langford agenda of hiring more employees and creating more government offices and departments.

Your Help is Needed Monday, Dec 21 2009 

Saranne Rothberg needs your help.   She is working to turn a piece of vacant property she owns in Atlantic City into a playground.   That lot is currently used for drugs and other unsavory activity.   You can be part of the Urban Renaissance.

Read Lynda Cohen of The Press of Atlantic City’s update on this project.  

Tax-deductible donations can be made through the Comedy Cures Foundation at 140 County Road, Suite 15, Tenafly, NJ 07670. Put “A.C. Playground” in the memo. Those willing to help also can call

888-300-3990

or e-mail:

Info@ComedyCures.org

I helped with the C-Sure Playground project in Ventnor, NJ.   It is very fulfilling to participate in a citizen-initiated playground project.   I encourage you to join me in helping Saranne Rothberg turn a drug lot into a playground for Atlantic City children.

Will There Be Pleasantville – Atlantic City Light Rail? Monday, Dec 21 2009 

Eric Scott Campbell of The Atlantic City Press reports:

The city launched its downtown redevelopment this fall, a $150 million project to convert its business district into a “transit village” where casino workers would live.

Railroad right-of-way still links the resort and Pleasantville, and shuttles run between the casinos and the Atlantic City rail station. Mayor Jesse Tweedle and City Administrator Marvin Hopkins talked seriously about the prospect of “transit villagers” commuting via train.

Tweedle said he believes the project would be cost-effective, but he did not give a timetable for when it might happen. The first new homes and businesses in the redevelopment area could open in three years, project leaders estimate.

It is a good idea to have a train from Pleasantville to Atlantic City.   But we must keep our focus on the funding source.   From whom will the money come?   

I do not want to pay for this light rail.   Further, if I had available investment capital, I would not invest it in this project.   Would / will you give start-up capital for a Pleasantville – Atlantic City light rail project?

New Jersey has a $10 Billion deficit for 2010.   The State will have a lot of financial re-ordering before it can or should pursue funding the Pleasantville – Atlantic City light rail.

The funding would have to come from a state authority, most likely the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) or the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA).   I am interested to see what, if any, response officials from CRDA and SJTA have to this light rail idea.

Will this light rail project be discussed at one of the four (Mayoral, Cordish, Chamber of Commerce, and Peoples) Atlantic City summits?

Image Source – http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/2238011/LYNXCar104atTremontStation-main_Full.jpg

Al Franken’s Spat Toward Joe Lieberman, John McCain says, “Where is the Comity?” Monday, Dec 21 2009 

As I promised on the show, here is the video of the Al Fraken / Joe Lieberman spat.

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