Atlantic City Blew It Most Relevant Insight the Big Hustle & Expert Analysis by George Anastasia
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SPECIAL INAUGURATION ISSUE PHOTO: AP/MEL EVANS we are sorry A new beginning MAYOR DON GUARDIAN TAKES OVER to see you go... january 2014 • www.BoardwalkJournal.com • ISSUE 57 MAY 2013 THE REGION'S HOW ATLANTIC CITY BLEW IT MOST RELEVANT INSIGHT THE BIG HUSTLE & EXPERT ANALYSIS BY GEORGE ANASTASIA September 2013 A Look Back At The Epic Battle For Atlantic City between Donald Trump & Steve Wynn A LOOK AHEAD AT THE FUTURE OF INTERNET GAMBLING WITH ‘WAR AT THE SHORE’ AUTHOR RICHARD “SKIP” BRONSON 2 | The Boardwalk Journal | January 2014 The Boardwalk Journal | January 2014 | 3 THE PEOPLE & STORIES YOU CARE ABOUT... 4 | The Boardwalk Journal | January 2014 The Boardwalk Journal | January 2014 | 5 JANUARY 2009 DOES ANYBODY WANT BADER FIELD? LARRY MULLIN LEAVES BORGATA LANGFORD VS. SMALL: A PREVIEW TAKING YOU INSIDE A SITDOWN WITH MR. TONY BENNETT ATLANTIC CITY OUT & ABOUT IN A.C. TRUMP TALKS: ‘THE DONALD’ ON ATLANTIC CITY, THE APPRENTICE SINCE 2009 AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE TRUMP EMPIRE 6 | The Boardwalk Journal | January 2014 The Boardwalk Journal | January 2014 | 7 table of contents VOL. 6 ISSUE 1 • January 2014 IN THIS ISSUE... 10 THE BIG PICTURE James J. Leonard Jr., Esq. 15 THE RAW FEED FOR A 16 THE BOARDWALK JOURNAL HOLIDAY PARTY 22 MAKE your New Year'S FREE reSolution about loVE, laughter, nutrition, EXerciSE DIGITAL Bernie Parent 23 EagleS' loSS hurtS, but SUBSCRIPTION paleS in compariSon Vince Papale 24 HISTORY ON THE BOARDWALK Chelsea Fairfield VISIT 27 DECISION 2014 BEGINS BoardwalkJournal.com Harry Hurley 30 LET IT SNOW Lloyd D. Levenson, Esq. 34 MUSICAL MAYORS IN AC FOR ADVERTISING 36 ATLANTIC CITY'S COUNCILMEN RATES 38 LANGFORD LETS LOOSE IN LETTER 40 ATLANTIC CITY INAUGURATION 47 MBCA ANNUAL WINTER LUNCHEON email 52 MASTERPIECE'S ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY 56 RELIANCE MEDICAL GROUP PRESENTS BOARDWALKJOURNAL@gmail. 2014 VISION TO EMPLOYEES com 58 RANDAZZO'S FREEZE FOR A CAUSE 60 ANTHONY’S OUT TO LUNCH Anthony Previti, Esq. 62 MAYORS IN ATLANTIC CITY Ken Calemmo & Kristine Kodytek ENOUGH SAID. 8 | The Boardwalk Journal | January 2014 The Boardwalk Journal | January 2014 | 9 The very next day it was announced that the Atlantic Club would close its doors. While it is unlikely that Atlantic City is going to make a full-fledged come back in 2014, there are a few balls in play One of the alternatives that The Governor referenced in his that could stymie any further discussions about permitting comments is re-visiting the state law that restricts casino casinos to open outside of Atlantic City for a bit longer. gambling to Atlantic City and consider expanding to other areas of the state, including the Meadowlands complex in The fact that internet gambling could produce an North Jersey, a move that many believe would be fatal for additional $100 to $150 million this year is certainly a Atlantic City. plus as is Trenton’s ability and willingness to work with newly elected Mayor Don Guardian, which in and of itself For his part, Senate President Steve Sweeney has also made may buy Atlantic City some additional time to turn things a long-term commitment to Atlantic City and has thus far around. dismissed any talk of allowing casinos elsewhere in the state. On its face, this is good news for Atlantic City, as In a perfect world, Christie and Sweeney would hold off Sweeney is considered by many to be the front runner to those who want casinos at the Meadowlands for the next succeed Christie as Governor. four years and Atlantic City shows real progress allowing But Sweeney is now embroiled in a battle with Steven Guardian a second term going into the 2017 gubernatorial Fulop, the 36 year old mayor of Jersey City, who woke primary where Steve Sweeney manhandles Fulop and up one day and decided that he too was going to run for Atlantic City is safe thru 2025, which is more than enough Governor and then with the help of Bill Clinton raised time for its much delayed renaissance to take form. almost $700,000.00 at a fundraiser where pictures with Clinton were going for $10,000.00 a pop. But in the real world, Christie has “Bridgegate” and the big picture Sweeney has Fulop and Atlantic City continues to BY JAMES J. LEONARD JR., ESQ This tug of war between Sweeney and Fulop has dire underperform. Publisher of The Boardwalk Journal implications for the future of Atlantic City, as Sweeney is deeply committed to the city and I don’t think Fulop could Stay tuned … As the national media descended on Trenton to cover unfortunately be nearing its final act. find us with a GPS, let alone care if we fell into the ocean. Chris Christie and his handling / bungling of what we now know as “Bridgegate”, I wasn’t as interested as I should have Back on a sunny day in July 2010, Governor Christie came been in Christie’s comments that day during his marathon to Atlantic City amid much fanfare and led a raucous pep press conference that may ultimately derail his plans to run rally in front of the iconic Boardwalk Hall and pledged his for President in 2016. support to the revitalization of Atlantic City through the creation of The Tourism District and assured the crowd I mean don’t get me wrong, I love political soap operas and the city that talk of legalized state gambling elsewhere as much as the next guy, but “Bridgegate” is brand new, a in New Jersey would be held in abeyance for a five year drama barely seconds into its first act. period so that Atlantic City would be given one final chance to get its act together. There is plenty of time to speculate on what fired aide Bridget Anne Kelly may or may not say about Since that time, 42 dismal months have passed and now for what Christie knew or later learned about the George the first time, Christie, the eternal Atlantic City optimist Washington Bridge fiasco or what David Wildstein has blinked. would say other than: I assert my rights under the Fifth Amendment of The United States Constitution if he is one Just before the end of 2013 and a few days before day granted immunity. “Bridegate”, Christie said this of Atlantic City: That story is certain to play out over the next several weeks “It’s obviously a critical year because we need to begin and months and years as 2016 approaches. to see progress in Atlantic City or we’re going to start considering alternatives, it’s a year when we have to show But it’s another drama that Christie is at the center of some significant results.” Embattled NJ Governor Chris Christie New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney and Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian holding their copies of the Boardwalk Journal in December 2013. that I have been watching much more closely, that may 10 | The Boardwalk Journal | January 2014 The Boardwalk Journal | January 2014 | 11 President / CEO Founder and Publisher of The Boardwalk Journal il capo di tutti capi JAmes J. LeonArd Jr., ESq. Editor-in-Chief BEST LEGAL SERVICES Underboss - SILVER - rebecca m. Leonard Director of Operations Consigliere Kenneth m. Warren Jr., Esq. Chief Photographer Tom Briglia Contributors CRIMINAL FAMILY CIVIL IMMIGRATION Ken Calemmo ~ ~ ~ Chelsey Fairfield Harry Hurley Lloyd D. Levenson, Esq. Anthony Previti a full service litigation firm Administrative Staff JAMES J. LEONARD JR., ESQ. Shernita demby For inquiries or comments, please email us at when results matter [email protected] www.boardwalkjournal.com facebook.com/boardwalkjournal BoardwlkJournal call for a free consultation THE BOArdwalk JOUrnAL® is published by Boardwalk Media Group, LLC, ©2013 1200 ATlaNTIC AVENUE ATlaNTIC CITY, NJ 08401 ATTORNEYS AT LAW 1200 ATLANTIC AVENUE 609.345.0500 second floor all RIGHTS RESERVED 1200 ATLANTIC AVENUE atlantic city, nj 08401 ISSUE 57 ATLANTIC CITY, NJ 08401 (609) 345-5800 (609) 345-5800 Now Available www.leonardlawgroup.com at Atlantic County www.LeonardLawGroup.com 12 | The Boardwalk Journal | January 2014 The Boardwalk Journal | January 2014 | 13 HBO recently announced that its award-winning Atlantic City based political gangster drama Boardwalk Empire would end after the 5th season, which is set to air next fall in its usual timeslot. Series creator Terence Winter, also known for his work on The Sopranos, is reportedly interested in spending more time writing screenplays for feature films, like he did on this years The Wolf of Wall Street starring Leonardo DiCaprio. In all likelihood, the real life mob convention of 1929 will play a significant role in the final season as the fictional Nucky saga winds down, as Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky and Al Capone all converge on the Boardwalk for an epic summit, where the nationwide crime syndicate known as La Cosa Nostra was first established. In real life, Nucky Johnson merely secured hotel rooms for the gangsters who came to town for the summit and made sure they ate and drank well, but was otherwise not involved in the meeting. You can bet in the HBO version, Nucky Thompson will not only have a seat at the table, he will probably at the head of it … Something we recently heard, from numerous reliable sources, was so shocking even to us, that we are exercising extreme due diligence and reporting it as a “blind item” until we are able to confirm its veracity. The rumor involves a relatively well-known local political figure who has reportedly The "Party Nerdz" hosted Sindustry Night at The Pool After Dark, Harrah's Atlantic City expressed interest in switching parties, a move that would certainly have significant implications on Photos: Tom Briglia/PhotoGraphics both the county and state levels, in both parties.