Gov. Christie Touts Efforts to Help Atlantic City

Gov. Chris Christie emphasized the need to help Atlantic City escape its current crisis, and said his administration is offering its full support to do so following a summit on Monday, The Press of Atlantic City reports.

However, he didn’t offer specific details. Instead, his office issued a press release touting its efforts to help Atlantic City’s recovery over the last few years.

After stating at a summit of political and business leaders that “We have work to do” after the City lost three casinos and about 8,000 jobs this year, Christie emphasized his administration’s work in a press release issued Monday afternoon.

Christie met with about 30 political and business leaders in Atlantic City Monday afternoon as part of what was called the Atlantic City Summit. He was met with protestors upon his arrival, according to The Press of Atlantic CIty.

It’s the second time in as many months the Governor was met with protests upon his arrival in the region.

The Summit was closed to the public, but Christie spoke following its conclusion.

A day earlier, State Sen. President Stephen Sweeney, who is open to the idea of lifting a ban on building casinos outside Atlantic City, told nj.com he didn’t expect any ideas to come out of Monday’s event. Sweeney was in attendance on Monday.

Some of Christie’s points:

• According to data from the Atlantic City Alliance, casino hotel occupancies for 2014 are above 95 percent;

• Luxury tax receipts in 2011-2013 were up over 20 percent in each quarter over the previous four-year average. This reflects gains in non-gaming activities, such as bars, clubs and shows;

• Visitor spending at non-gaming outlets now account for 28.5% of total visitor spending at casino properties ($942 million), up from 22.3% two years earlier;

• Atlantic County’s retail sector has expanded over the past three years, with 2013 estimated retail wages and salaries increasing 8.1% relative to 2010 from $381.9 to $412.9 million; and
  

• Wages at full-service restaurants in Atlantic County reached estimated 2013 levels that were 28.3% ahead of 2010, and bars were 42.7% ahead; growing from $128.1 mm to $164.3 mm and from $12.8 mm to $18.3 mm respectively.

In 2011, the state established the Atlantic City Tourism District, which is aimed at expanding the variety of attractions Atlantic City has to offer;

Atlantic City’s Do AC campaign spent over $9 million on citywide events, including this summer’s Blake Shelton and Lady Antebellum concerts.

Christie also cited the Public Safety Task Force, Clean and Safe Initiative, the advent of online gambling and Miss America’s return to Atlantic City as positives.

The Christie Administration is also helping casino workers who have recently lost their jobs with the Atlantic City Unites Here Center at the Atlantic City Convention Center, individualized services for job seekers, a job fair set for Sept. 10 at the Atlantic City Convention Center, a One-Stop Career Center at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, outreach to local businesses and community information sessions.

The Revel was the latest casino to close, following the Atlantic Club and the Showboat. Trump Plaza will close Sept. 16, and the fate of the Trump Taj Mahal remains in question.

The attached image is a Patch file photo.