Atlantic City Could See NJ Take Over Finances
By David Madden
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., (CBS) -- The New Jersey legislature is considering a bipartisan plan that would have the state tale over Atlantic City's finances. And the locals are none too thrilled with the proposal.
Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford), a likely gubernatorial candidate, is behind the move. He says if this plan doesn't work, he'd push for a bankruptcy filing for the city. State Senator Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic City), a former Atlantic City mayor, says Sweeney's call took many like him by surprise.
"I think it's an extraordinary step when you start talking about taking away the democratic rights of people," Whelan told KYW Newsradio.
That's a sentiment echoed by locally elected officials like City Council President Marty Small. "You have a bunch of outsiders with opinions on how to fix Atlantic City," Small said, "but you don't consult with the people that the people of Atlantic City overwhelmingly elected to run their government."
The state has already formed a tourism district. They're monitoring local spending. There's even an emergency manager in place who reports directly to Governor Chris Christie. "The dominant characteristic outside of the casinos is vacant ground and underutilized sub standard properties," Whelan said. "That's what it was 6 years ago. They were going to fix it. It's still that way today."
But Sweeney, in a statement, says Atlantic City "has to recognize and accept the serious financial problems that continue to plague the city's operations and management". If his proposal isn't passed, Sweeney says he'll support a declaration of bankruptcy for the town.
Local officials vow to fight this proposal. Whelan believes Atlantic City simple needs more time to diversify itself while Small suggests the state work with the city more, rather than try to take it over.
