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TagsChristie welcomes actions which include creation of policed tourism district
The state Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, much to the approval of Gov. Chris Christie, has taken 11 steps toward the implementation of a plan to attempt to revitalize Atlantic City and its gambling and tourism industries.
On Tuesday, the authority approved the implementation of key elements of legislation signed by the governor in February, including authorization of an Atlantic City tourism district.
Besides creating the tourism district, the authority:
- Established a new Special Improvement District.
- Established the AC Tourism District Advisory Commission
- Approved the negotiation and execution of a public private partnership agreement with the casino industry
- Created the AC Tourism District and Community Development Fund
- Established the Convention Center Division in the CRDA
- Established a Community Development Partnership Division in the CRDA
- Awarded a professional services contract to Heidrick and Struggles for executive search consulting services
- Established a Land Use Regulation and Enforcement Division in the CRDA
- Created an interim land use application and hearings procedure
- Amended the authority’s operations budget
“This administration is strongly committed to helping put Atlantic City back on the map as a premier tourism and gaming destination,” Christie said Thursday. “The action taken by the CRDA is the kind of progress needed to chart a new course that brings economic growth, job creation and prosperity to the casino industry, city residents, the South Jersey region, and the State of New Jersey as a whole.”
Christie signed legislation in February, authorizing the creation of a tourism district within the city, with the charge of improving public safety, public health, marketing and infrastructure projects and improvements, as well as providing for what he and legislators see as the reform and modernization of the state’s casino regulatory structure.
At that time, the governor also announced the restart of the Revel Casino project, clearing the way for completion of the $2.8 billion project and thousands of new jobs.
In January, in an effort to bolster investment in the city, Christie signed legislation providing for the issuance of two new casino licenses for facilities with a lower minimum bedroom requirement of 200 rooms rather than the 500 previously mandated.
In October, the governor announced that the city’s government had agreed to state oversight of it’s troubled finances. Following that, the Casino Association of New Jersey announced, the formation of the Atlantic City Alliance, representing a private sector commitment to devote $30 million or more annually to promoting the city as a destination resort and supporting its revitalization
— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
We also need to continue our marketing to conventions, trade shows, corporate meetings and association events, to increase our mid week overnight room demand, and replace our declining casino visitor with a more profitable, higher spending customer, whose hotel and restaurant charges are being paid for by his employer.
New air service, from Southwest's formidable eastern and mis-western cities and new convention and meeting business can fill empty rooms and restaurants mid week, with higher paying cash customers, while offsetting the comps and giveaways now accompanying discounted rooms (rates as low as $28 per night). Let hotel (rooms, restaurant, retail, entertainment) profits replace the declining casino earnings.
AC needs to jump on the Southwest bandwagon, and create a great opening number, and convince the airline and the traveling public about our reborn resort. Didn't we say that in 1978?
Steve Norton
nortongaming@aol.com
317-650-8789