Press of Atlantic City – The head of a state Assembly committee pushing for gambling expansion in North Jersey attacked Atlantic City on Thursday, saying greedy casino executives have ruined the resort and are looking for a state bailout.
Meanwhile, two South Jersey lawmakers continued to advocate for the city, saying such public discussions continue to erode confidence in Atlantic City, which still has two years remaining under Gov. Christie Christie’s promise to block gambling expansion in support of plans to revitalize the oceanside resort.
The debate took place Thursday during a hearing of the Assembly Tourism and Gaming Committee, which vetted a bill that would create a committee to explore gambling expansion outside Atlantic City. No vote was taken as supporters of the bill argued that Christie’s plan for the city should be re-evaluated.
“We don’t want to destroy an industry. They can do that themselves,” said Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, D-Essex, who chairs the committee. “(Casino executives) don’t give one damn about anything but themselves. All they did was take money from that city. Now that the market is challenged, it’s up to us to try to assist. But that doesn’t mean we can’t look at it honestly.”
Assemblyman Chris Brown, R-Atlantic, called on the committee to be patient, saying that any study of gambling expansion uncessarily creates uncertainty for investors. He highlighted nongambling attractions added in Atlantic City in recent years as part of the governor’s push for diversification, including Margaritaville at Resorts Casino Hotel and under-construction outdoor retailer Bass Pro Shops.
