Reported earlier this week, state Democrats are planning a second in their series of three summit meetings regarding Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed changes to Atlantic City.

The next summit is scheduled for Sept. 10 at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, another area that, in addition to Atlantic City, Christie feels needs state involvement and change.

The first summit was held  Aug. 6; read more about it here.

According to a casino gambling Web site, “Among the proposals being considered at the summit is allowing racetracks to add slot machines. Another issue being discussed is the state becoming more involved in the Atlantic City casino industry. The casinos themselves are pushing to keep the state away.”

These summits are not the same as the Mayor’s Strategic Planning meetings.

Courtesy of HBO

Including one very exciting one co-organized and co-presented by Atlantic City Weekly called “Conversations & Storytelling,” which will be followed by a free and open-to-the-public Viewing Party at Caesars on Sept. 19, the night of the premiere of HBO’s upcoming series Boardwalk Empire.

Click here for all the info, plus info about some of the major events planned for the Atlantic City area over next couple months in relation to the show.

While you’re at it join the AC Weekly Boardwalk Empire Fan Club on Facebook to keep up to date on all the news and promotions surrounding the Cable TV series.

The Making of Boardwalk Empire premieres Monday, Aug. 23, on HBO.

Aside from the premiere of the first season of Boardwalk Empire (yes, we said first season because from what we’ve seen, it’s going to be a tremendous success) set for Sunday, Sept. 19, at 9pm on HBO, Atlantic City Weekly has learned that the cable station will also be running a couple of programs related to the new series, based on local judge Nelson Johnson’s book.

According to a spokesperson for HBO, Making Boardwalk Empire will premiere on Aug. 23 at 8:45pm.

And then on Sept. 16 at 9pm,  Atlantic City: The Original Sin City will premiere. This will be a documentary on the city itself. Word has it that several Atlantic City historians — including Atlantic City Weekly columnist (”Waltz Through Time“) Jim Waltzer — have been interviewed over the past few weeks for the program. To read Waltzer’s columns on our Web site, type in the words “Waltz Through Time” in the search bar and you’ll get a list of Waltzer’s articles. (And for all you Atlantic City history buffs out there, look for new “Waltz Through Time” columns starting up in our paper and online soon. Jim Waltzer and Tom Wilk will both be contributing to the column.)

Click here to watch the trailer for the Making Boardwalk Empire show.

Meanwhile, Harrah’s Entertainment has a really cool Web site for its contest, in conjunction with HBO and Boardwalk Empire, for a chance to win access to a Caesars suite for a year (three days a month) and other prizes.

First Gov. Christie trashes Atlantic City and says the state has to help in order to make the resort safer.

Now a new billboard on Route 30/White Horse Pike unveiled Wednesday is warning tourists and residents of possible police layoffs in Atlantic City.

The sign (shown above) reads: “In AC, everyone wants to get lucky. With 73 less police officers, even the bad guys are feeling lucky.”

The state’s Police Benevolent Association is in charge of the sign. The department could be down 73 officers by Sept. 30 if state funding is not granted.

The posturing includes this quote: “There’s an inside issue here and that inside issue is that the mayor of this city would like to dismantle this police department,” says Atlantic City Police Union President Dave Davidson.

Mayor Lorenzo Langford’s response is that with a $9.9 million deficit, all city departments face layoffs and the police department is not being singled out. “There’s nothing extra special about police. They’re going to be treated just like every other employee,” says Langford.

Langford added that a city of 40,000 residents needs 300 officers to ensure public safety and the city currently has 333 officers. Of course that doesn’t cover the population of the town with all the visitors any given day, hence the shot the PBA is firing with the billboard.

In an interview with the New York Daily News. Michael Lombardo, HBO’s programming president, says that officials at the cable giant feel “strongly” about the soon-to-debut Boardwalk Empire HBO series, which is based on the book by Atlantic County judge Nelson Johnson and which premieres on HBO Sunday, Sept. 19, at 9pm EST.

“We didn’t want to hold it,” Lombardo tells the paper of the series, which gives a close account of Atlantic City in the 1920s and the Prohibition era. “This is a show we felt strongly about and we think it will resonate even in the fall.”

The article, published today, also includes an interview with director Martin Scorsese, who directed the pilot and is one of the show’s executive producers. Scorsese says he would “love” to direct more episodes of Boardwalk Empire — are we talking second season already? — if his busy schedule allows.

He also tells the Daily News why he thinks Prohibition benefited the criminal element.

“It allowed crime figures at the time, Luciano and Capone and Rothstein, to organize to become more powerful,” Scorsese tells the Daily News, “something that pulled all the way through until the 1970s.”

Having watched the first episode, all we can say is that although some of the names have been changed in the cable TV series from the non-fiction book, you’ll hear all of the names mentioned by Scorsese above in the series. Meanwhile, the main character of the series, Enoch Thompson, played by Steve Buscemi (pictured above in the series’ first episode) is based on Enoch “Nucky” Johnson, the one-time main man of Atlantic City during its early 20th century heyday.

Read the entire story and interview with Scorsese here.

According to a Fairleigh Dickinson/PublicMind poll published today, New Jersey voters are split on Gov. Chris Christie’s recent proposals regarding the state’s casino, racing and entertainment industries.

According to the poll:

Fifty-six percent say it’s a good idea to privatize racetrack operations.

However, 48 percent say state intervention in Atlantic City is a bad idea; 38 percent support it.

Read more from the BusinessWeek Web site.

Gov. Christie on the 'Today' show

Did you know New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has his own YouTube page?

Well, he does. And it’s chock full of recent interviews from national media outlets such as Imus in the Morning and the Today show.

In fact, Christie’s appearance on NBC’s Today show this morning is already up and running in case you missed it.

Check it out.

The Hilton Atlantic City’s “Summer Speaker Series” has had to endure its fair share of hardships.

First, the debut of the series, featuring FOX news faces Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly was canceled due to weather. (It has been rescheduled for Aug. 5)

Then, Former President Bill Clinton’s plane was delayed this past Friday, but he eventually made it to Atlantic City and gave a lecture to the sold-out Hilton crowd. Doing so, Clinton became not only the first president ever to enter an Atlantic City casino, but also the first speaker in the Hilton’s summer series, which also includes Ann Coulter and James Carville sharing the stage on Aug. 21 and Dick Cheney taking the stage Sept. 18.

Did you attend the Bill Clinton event? Leave a comment.

To read the full “Report of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on New Jersey Gaming, Sports and Entertainment: An Economic Recovery Plan for the State of New Jersey” click on the link at the top of this page.

Gov. Chris Christie

Governor Chris Christie’s proposal for a state takeover of part of Atlantic City — the casino and entertainment zones —  stems from a report from the Governor’s Advisory Commission on New Jersey Gaming, Sports and Entertainment.

The report’s recommendations deal with, among other things, revitalizing Atlantic City’s gaming industry and changes to the horse racing industry in the state.

Here’s a look at the report, released by the Governor’s Office, as it pertains to Atlantic City and Atlantic City Race Course in Mays Landing, which could expand to  a 10 -day meet.

Improving the Competitiveness of the Gaming Industry – A Comprehensive Approach and Commitment to Atlantic City

Casino gaming represents one of New Jersey’s largest industries, accounting for nearly $1 billion in state and local taxes (state taxes are constitutionally dedicated to programs for seniors and the disabled) and more than $2 billion in revenues spread across more than 2,000 businesses.

However, since 2007, the industry has been in serious decline, losing more than 25% of its gross revenue base (equating to $1 billion in lost revenues). Employment has slipped from 50,000 jobs to 38,000 and all other market indicators are trending negatively. While there can be agreement that it is in the interest of the State to encourage growth in the Atlantic City-based gaming industry, it is clear to the Commission that immediate attention must be directed at stabilizing the industry before efforts can be made to improve it.

The Commission recommends an economic framework that focuses on job creation, capital investment, regulatory reform and increased tax revenues. These goals include:

·        Creating a “Clean and Safe” Tourism District with State oversight, with the goal of making Atlantic City clean and safe by July 1, 2011.

·        Creating a Master Plan for the new Tourism District, focused on enticing new entrants to build both gaming and non-gaming attractions that will increase demand in the City. The Plan should be delivered to the Governor no later than July 1, 2011.

·        Improving the financial stability of Atlantic City by attracting other world class operators to ownership of the eleven existing facilities as well as any new ones.

·        Increasing the meeting and convention business in the Atlantic City market by at least 30% per year for the next five years.

·        Bringing the New Jersey regulatory structure into the 21st century by reducing costs and redundancies and by supporting the attraction of operators while maintaining strict integrity.

·        Increasing visitation and spending through joint marketing efforts on par with other national destination resorts.

·        Improving intermodal transport to Atlantic City, including increasing air, rail and ferry options.

Creation of a Sustainable Industry Structure to Preserve Live Horseracing – Reinvigorating Horseracing in New Jersey


In an effort to stabilize New Jersey’s ailing horseracing industry, the Commission recommends immediate implementation of an experimental short term plan in 2010 to reinvigorate the sport.  The plan calls for the elimination of the thoroughbred meet at the Meadowlands and the creation of a 50-day summer meet with a $1 million a day purse at Monmouth Park (the “50-day meet”).

A 21-day weekend fall meet is also planned at Monmouth to supplement the 6 days of turf racing at Atlantic City Race Course. These changes were legislatively approved and signed into law by Governor Christie in May.   A number of future potential options include:

·        Thoroughbred racing at Monmouth and Atlantic City (a 50-71-day meet at Monmouth Park and potentially 10 days of turf racing at Atlantic City).

·        Thoroughbred Racing at Monmouth and potentially 10 days at Atlantic City and 70 standard bred dates at Monmouth.

·         Lease the Meadowlands Racetrack to the standard bred horsemen for $1 dollar a year for three years with early termination rights and an equity-based share of the Bayonne OTW parlor.

·         Convert to a commercial use one of the standard bred farms in New Jersey that has a mile track, and build a 5,000 seat grandstand complete with all necessary amenities.