Chelsea Neighborhood Association Mayoral Forum Video Saturday, Oct 25 2008 

Uncategorized Jesse O. Kurtz 12:44 pm

Chelsea Neighborhood Association’s (CNA) candidate forums are an institution of Atlantic City politics.   This past Thursday the three mayoral candidates, Independent Joseph Polillo, Republican John McQueen, Jr., and Democrat Lorenzo Langford, appeared and fielded a series of questions.   The Atlantic City Scoop was there taking video for you to see where the candidates stand on various issues.

Joseph Polillo’s Opening Statement:

John McQueen, Jr.’s Opening Statement:

Lorenzo Langford’s Opening Statement:

On the Smoking Ban, parts i – iiii:

Is City Government an Employment Agency?

On the Recent Property Re-Valuation:

On Alternative Energy:

 

   On Cutting the Municipal Election:

 

   On Public Safety:

 

   Lorenzo Langford on Making Pacific and Atlantic Avenues One-Way:

 

   Lorenzo Langford on Employee Retirements:

 

Press of AC on Lorenzo Langford Thursday, Oct 23 2008 

Mayoral Race and Political Jesse O. Kurtz 5:00 pm

   This is from today’s Press of AC editorial endorsement for John McQueen, Jr.to win this November’s Mayoral election.  

Here are their comments on Lorenzo Langford, Democrat candidate:

Langford was not interviewed by The Press editorial board after he apparently confused the date of the meeting. But he has a track record in office – and it isn’t good. Langford’s administration was steeped in much of the classic divisiveness, patronage and politics of City Hall, including pressuring city employees to collect absentee ballots for a political ally. That violated the Hatch Act, and Langford settled a federal complaint in 2006 by agreeing to stay out of office for 18 months.

Still, the most compelling reason why Langford does not deserve another term is how he handled hundreds of thousands of dollars of settlement money wrongly given to him by City Council, which was controlled by his supporters at the time. The settlement was contested by the state inspector general from the start, and Langford knew it – yet he spent and gave away the money. The Supreme Court of New Jersey ordered him to repay it. It has yet to be fully repaid. Someone with that kind of indifference to the law, the courts and the taxpayers of Atlantic City should not be entrusted with the highest office in the region’s largest and most important city.

At last count, Mr. Langford owes me and every citizen in Atlantic City approximately twenty-four cents.   Mr. Langford, where is my quarter?

 

A Great Idea for Atlantic City Thursday, Oct 23 2008 

AC City Council Jesse O. Kurtz 6:00 am

   Maryland enacted a law in 2005 forcing sex offenders to place pumpkin signs on their doors.   The pumpkins serve to dissuade children from going to those homes.


(Photo credit – http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,438725,00.html)

Fox News reports:

ANNAPOLIS —  Sex offenders in Maryland have begun receiving paper signs in the mail that read “No candy at this residence,” which they must post on their front doors or possibly face a parole violation.

The signs began arriving last week in the mailboxes of the about 1,200 violent and child-sex offenders across Maryland. The signs were accompanied by a letter explaining they must stay at home, turn off outside lights and not answer the door on Halloween.

Maryland is also distributing pamphlets statewide to warn families to stay away from homes with the pumpkin signs.

“Halloween provides a rare opportunity for you to demonstrate to your neighbors that you are making a sincere effort to change the direction of your life,” the letter to sex offenders reads.

   Maryland has a great law.   Innocent children should be more highly valued than sex offenders.   The children are innocent.   This law is a reasonable measure that municipalities can take.   Atlantic City Council, please consider an identical measure.

   Matthew 18

6 But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea.

 

Atlantic City Nostalgia from a Vegas Refugee Wednesday, Oct 22 2008 

Casino Gaming , Jesse O. Kurtz 7:30 am

   AtlanticCityTripping.com features a reflection on Atlantic City’s thirty-year anniversary of casino gaming from Dr. Dave Schwartz:

Before you go further, you’ve got to work with me as I explain, then come to grips with, the universal Atlantic City inferiority complex. We are so used to everyone telling us that the place is a dump that we tend to circle the wagons and insist that it’s the greatest spot on earth, even when a fool can see that the city government is a joke and the place leaves a lot to be desired. When I first started doing what I do, I had the same knee-jerk reaction to any criticisms of Atlantic City, but I’ve come to see that the critics often have a point.

[...]

When I’m pointing out what I see as deficiencies here, it’s not in a mocking spirit – it’s more of an instructive one. I really want the city to get better. I just am becoming less optimistic that it will.

Still, you can have a lot of fun there, if you’re just willing to go with the flow. The gambling is gambling, but you can find a lot more there – there’s plenty of cool shops on the Walk. Seriously, if this place was on the Strip, people would be going nuts. If you’re going to spend the afternoon there, I suggest heading over to White House Subs at Mississippi and Arctic for lunch-or dinner. This is the real deal. If you’re at Harrah’s the Sack’o Subs is a permissible substitute. For dinner, don’t even think about the chain places in the Quarter: you’ve got to hit Tony’s Baltimore Grill, on Atlantic and Iowa Avenues (right behind the Trop’s garage). The service is usually awful, but the food is great, and the experience is one-of-a-kind.

   Dr. Schwartz is not a fan of the eminent domain for private gain employed by Atlantic City City Council for Pinnacle Atlantic City.

Looking NE


Looking SW

Two views of the “big hole” Pinnacle AC CEO Kim Townshend is so proud of. See my blog entry for more. This is what $400 million buys you these days, apparently.

   Dr. Schwartz has a great analogy for Atlantic City’s political and business climate:

A really, really, pathetically old guy singing off key, and hoping for money. Here’s my analogy for the city: you had this guy, then a little further down some guy banging drums, then past that a guy playing sax. If they pooled their resources, they’d be a kickass band (or not). But instead they just plug along by themselves and sound miserable.

   Dr. Schwartz – in the typically cynic-laden manner of bloggers – makes an ironic observation of Trump Taj’s recent addition.

 

 The new Chairman Towerand the old Taj, side by side. Notice the construction elevator still attached, 1 day before the rooms opened. It’s not a soft opening… it’s downright flaccid.

   Here is a poignant observation concerning Harrah’s.

How Harrah’s AC uses its priceless water frontage: blank walls and loading docks!

   All photographs are credited to

Dr. David Schwartz is an Atlantic City native, currently living in Las Vegas where he is the Director of the UNLV Center for Gaming Research. When not being interviewed by every media outlet in the known universe about matters relating to the gaming industry, Dr. Dave spends his time collecting photos of casino carpeting and a lot of time listening to Theolonius Monk (and Rush.) His fabulous blog is http://www.dieiscast.com

 

Bravo! Atlantic City Firemen! Tuesday, Oct 21 2008 

Non-Political , Jesse O. Kurtz 5:00 pm

   Atlantic City has fantastic firemen.   Coastal Broadcasting News blogs:

The Press of Atlantic City reports that a fire took place in Atlantic City on the 500 block of N. South Carolina Ave. at 1:47 AM on Monday morning. Firefighters rushed to the scene and rescued 20 people inside of the burning apartment. At the peak of the blaze, it has been reported that 40 firefighters were on the scene. The fire began on the first floor and made its way up at three-story building. A majority of the building experienced extensive smoke damage, along with fire damage in the areas around where the fire began. The cause of the fire is still begin investigated, but no one died in the fire.


(Photo credit – http://farm1.static.flickr.com/85/234409906_8343d15f92.jpg?v=0)

Atlantic City firemen chatting outside of City Hall.

 

Casino Connection on the Smoking Ban Delay Thursday, Oct 16 2008 

AC City Council and Casino Gaming Jesse O. Kurtz 12:06 pm

   The following is from our friends over at Casino Connection Blog:

A Judicious Choice

from Casino Connection Blog by admin

Last Wednesday, with just a week to go before a full smoking ban was to take effect at Atlantic City’s casinos, City Council said it will consider delaying the order for a year, or until the economy improves.

Though smoking opponents showed up to make their displeasure felt–as they had every right and reason to do–it looks like City Council is going to make the difficult decision to opt for a continued partial ban, which restricts smoking to a quarter of the gaming floor.

A full ban was sure to cause a further drop in casino revenue, with gamblers who smoke vowing to head to casinos out of state. Atlantic City casinos saw an overall drop of 5.7 percent in revenue last year—the first decline in the industry’s history–and Borgata President Larry Mullin has reportedly projected a 15 percent decline for 2008.

City Council is right to rescind the ban, if only temporarily.

You have to give credit to UNITE-HERE Local 54 President Bob McDevitt, who also weighed the detrimental effects of tobacco against the overriding issue of jobs and economic stability.

“Smoking is not healthy,” McDevitt told the AC Press. “Smoking kills people. So does job loss, unemployment and the threat of foreclosure. People will lose their ability to feed their families.”As the industry here scrambles for ways to fend off competition from Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut, it’s vital to eliminate any obstacles to solvency. An ordinance to postpone the Atlantic City smoking ban faces a second reading before council on October 22.

–Marjorie Preston

   This post was preceded by “Let My People Smoke,” where Ms. Preston said the following:

read in this week’s Global Gaming Business Weekly that smoking bans in France have led to a 20 percent drop in casino revenues. And NPR just reported that pubs in Great Britain are closing at the rate of 60 per month due to smoking bans. These culturally rich, historic meeting places are gone forever, along with the camaraderie that made them great, because patrons can no longer have a pint and a smoke as they have done for decades, perhaps centuries.

Here in Atlantic City, Donald Trump predicts that our 100 percent smoking ban, coming October 15, is going to be a “disaster.” I absolutely agree with him, and for the first time, I agree that revenue, jobs and opportunity will be lost because of smoking bans in adult entertainment venues.

I do not support smoking. I wish everyone in the world would quit. But I also believe in the right of adults to choose their own behavior, and to conduct themselves as they see fit.

To those who respond that casino workers should not have to work around smokers, I have to agree with others who say, folks, the bans that are ostensibly meant to help you could help you right out of a job. If smoking bans are going to cripple the industry, we should all do as Pennsylvania has done and leave room for compromise.

I have hereby exercised the prerogative of a woman to change her mind.

–Marjorie Preston

 

Cool Post from @ the Beach Thursday, Oct 16 2008 

Uncategorized Jesse O. Kurtz 6:00 am

   Liberals and Conservatives find a lot in common when it comes to local issues.   Check out @ the Beach for great local insights downbeach, from our Absecon Island neighbors.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

http://athebeach.blogspot.com/2008/10/beach-banter-fall-beach-08.html

 

A rapidly imploding economy and stock market is starting to have a serious effect on our local economy here in Atlantic County. Atlantic City’s 11 Casinos it’s reported have had their worst month ever! Too be blunt business is drying up as people start to worry about more mundane things then gambling. That aside the weather this fall so far has been beautiful! So come on down and take a walk on the beach and spend a couple of dollars in the local small businesses still open. Without a doubt this is the best time of year @ the Beach.

 

Atlantic City New Republican Club Formed Wednesday, Oct 15 2008 

Political Jesse O. Kurtz 9:00 pm

 Atlantic City


New Republican Club

 

Officers:

 

Jesse O. Kurtz, President
Walter Collette, Treasurer
Henrietta Collette, Secretary

Bob Derbyshire, Municipal Chairman
Rebecca Orsatti, Municipal Vice- Chairman
Domonique McQueen, Membership Chairman

 

 

 

For Immediate Release                                                
15 October, 2008       
Media Contact: Jesse O. Kurtz, 609.334.3756, JesseOKurtz@gmail.com

 

                    Atlantic City New Republican Club Formed, Officers Selected

 Atlantic City – The New Republican Club was formed and officers selected during its first meeting.   Jesse O. Kurtz was selected President, Walter Collette Treasurer, Henrietta Collette Secretary, and Domonique McQueen Membership Chairman.             

            “Only Communist states have one political party running the show,” said Club President Jesse O. Kurtz.   The club believes that the resurgence of a second political party will lessen corruption in municipal government.   The Republican Party is needed to create a debate on the issues affecting Atlantic City residents.  

            Atlantic City Republicans will spend the remaining time before November’s elections reaching out to voters to let them know that the Republican Party will fight to cut spending and lower taxes, as well as reform the corruption in city government.   It is an uphill battle to even the playing field of voter registrations, which currently stands at a ratio of 7.25 Democrats for every one registered Republican.   The Republicans are up for the challenge as they strive to gain legitimacy for their club.

             The municipal committee also met.   They replaced outgoing Municipal Chairman Walter Collette with Bob Derbyshire.   Rebecca Orsatti is still the Vice-Chairman.

             The Atlantic City New Republican Club will meet at 5:30pm on the second Wednesday of every month.   The site for the 12 November meeting will be announced.

 Contact Club President Jesse O. Kurtz for more information:

JesseOKurtz@gmail.com

609.334.3756

### 

 

Atlantic City Candidates Debate Wednesday, Oct 15 2008 

Beyond Atlantic City and Mayoral Race , , Jesse O. Kurtz 6:00 pm

CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS OF ATLANTIC CITY – UNITED

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

 

September 29, 2008

Atlantic City, NJ

 For Immediate Release

 

The Civic Associations of Atlantic City – UNITED will be conducting a Candidates Night on Tuesday, October 21, 2009 at Dante Hall, 14 N. Mississippi Ave, Atlantic City, NJ.  Doors will open at 5:30pm and the debate will begin promptly at 6:00pm.

 

This event will be open to the public and not restricted to Atlantic City Residents.

 

The questions will be asked by a panel that consists of the Presidents of the Civic Associations or their Board Representatives. Questions from the audience may be submitted to the panel’s committee from 5:30 to 6:00.

 

The debate will be conducted in the following order

Atlantic County Sheriff Candidates

Atlantic County Freeholder- at – Large Candidates

Atlantic City Mayor Candidates.

 

For further debate information please contact Carol Ruffu at 348-8887 or 457-7397

                                                           

 

City Council Needs an Economics Lesson Wednesday, Oct 15 2008 

AC City Council and Casino Gaming Jesse O. Kurtz 6:00 pm

   We agree with Roger Gros’s recent blog post, ”Delaying the Inevitable,” where he states:

The idea that Atlantic City could or should control how a company develops its property—casino or not—is simply ludicrous. A company responds to many things, but most importantly, it responds to the economic conditions under which it must build its projects. To think that a government could force a company to build according to its original timetables when economic conditions change so radically is akin to forcing developers to leave or not even consider Atlantic City.

[...]

So maybe the City Council of Atlantic City should go back to school to learn basic economics. Private companies are beholden to shareholders who demand fiscal responsibility from company officials. To betray that duty to shareholders would verge on the criminal. So Atlantic City’s effort to “hold their feet to the fire” as Mason said is foolhardy and will eventually dry up investment dollars that would normally be committed to the city.

—Roger Gros

Mr. Gros’s analysis is spot-on the mark.   I wish that there were more people pointing out that the City Council is largely devoid of sound economic principle.   The same City Council that is responsible for the creation of a near-$200 MILLION budget, for 40,000 residents, lacks the understanding of how a market economy operates.   Let us review the Councilmen.

—Councilman William “Speedy” Marsh has held numerous positions for different boards of education.  

—Mr. Mancuso is a teacher and coach.  

—Mr. Mason has a background in security services and working for the police.  

—Mr. Ward is a lawyer and former health administrator and professor.  

—Mr. Small is a Board of Education employee and former social worker and employee with the Boys and Girls Club.  

—Mr. Moore is a community organizer and former social worker.  

—Mr. Tibbitt is a union worker and tradesman.

—Mr. Robinson has worked with various youth centers relying on government funding.

—Mr. Schultz operates multiple businesses in Atlantic City.

I invite reader response, especially if I am neglecting any of the Councilmen’s jobs and business experience.   However, from the information that has been provided to the public, City Council – with a few exceptions – has very little economic understanding.  They are good at spending our money, but have little experience and exposure to handling their own budgets in a market economy.

(We thank www.cityofatlanticcity.org for the photographs.)

 

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