Dan Stamm

Who Should Be Charting Out Atlantic City's Future?

Atlantic City's elected officials are reeling from a threatened state takeover of the city's finances and assets and are struggling to find the right response.

Shortly before a state takeover bill was expected to be introduced Wednesday, Mayor Don Guardian and City Council members said they want to work with the state rather than fight it.

But several also warned the city would not be bullied, and Atlantic County Freeholder Ernest Coursey cautioned against adopting "a plantation mentality" regarding Atlantic City, where blacks constitute the largest population group at nearly 40 percent.

"There's no fight, no war," Guardian said. "We weren't elected as generals; we were elected as diplomats."

"We want to offer an olive branch to the state," added City Council President Marty Small. "But realize that it's a two way street. We're not going to be bullied, and we're not going to be intimidated."

Coursey, an Atlantic County official, said, "It will be a cold day in hell before we stand idly by" for what he called "a hostile takeover."

"Other than giving us some more dollars, what can the state do to get us out of this hole?" he asked. "Everything the state touches turns to crap. Don't come in here with a plantation mentality, and say, 'Do as we say.'"

State Senate President Steve Sweeney said he will introduce a bill giving the state vast power over most major decisions in Atlantic City, including the right to sell off city assets and land. He said there is "Atlantic City fatigue" in the state Legislature with repeated requests for money.

The bill, which still had not been introduced early Wednesday afternoon, would give the state Local Finance Board control of "any of the functions, powers, privileges, immunities, and duties of the governing body."

It would give the board control over governmental and administrative operations, the right to dissolve any municipal board or commission, and the right to sell municipally owned assets including water, sewer, wastewater and storm water facilities as well as city-owned real estate.

Sweeney wants Atlantic City to sell its water company and the former Bader Field airport site.

Guardian said it is too soon to predict whether Atlantic City would challenge a takeover bid in court.

Sweeney said the city should file for bankruptcy if the legislature does not quickly adopt the measure once it is introduced. Guardian said that remains an option, given that the city remains locked in a dispute with its top casino, the Borgata, over $161 million in tax refunds it must pay due to successful tax appeals.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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