New Jersey Sen. President Sweeney Calls on Gov. Murphy to Reopen Atlantic City Casinos
Posted on: June 14, 2020, 08:29h.
Last updated on: June 14, 2020, 11:54h.
New Jersey’s two most powerful lawmakers are at odds over when it’s appropriate to allow Atlantic City’s nine land-based casinos to reopen for business.
Over the weekend, New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D) said the state has been too slow in allowing the economic engine of the Garden State’s southeastern region to restart.
It is past time for New Jersey to reopen casinos,” Sweeney tweeted yesterday. “We can’t continue to keep them closed. The region needs them open and the people have asked for them to open.”
“They can return with safety and common sense. We are seeing other industries do just this Statewide,” Sweeney said.
Before COVID-19 forced New Jersey to shutter nonessential businesses, including casinos, data from the state Division of Gaming Enforcement showed that the nine casinos collectively employed 26,450 workers. Nearly all have been out of work and on unemployment benefits since Gov. Phil Murphy (D) closed the casino resorts on March 16.
Democratic Disagreements
It’s not the first time the state’s second-most powerful Democrat has voiced frustrations with the governor regarding Atlantic City. Last month, Sweeney said the town is “in trouble.”
The Senate president believes the casino floors are capable of reopening safely in a manner that protects public health, but also the regional economy. “The casinos need to get back up and going again. They need to put people back to work,” Sweeney declared.
At the time, Murphy said casinos “are a tough nut” because of the nature of their operations.
We have flattened the curve and it is time for New Jersey to begin to return to life as we knew it,” Sweeney added. “Our residents have been asking for this, and our businesses have been asking for this. Now is the time to embrace our path towards reopening.”
By contrast, Murphy tweeted Friday, “The evidence is overwhelming and the experts are clear: COVID-19 is more lethal inside than outside. We won’t budge on protecting public health.”
Relief Coming
Sweeney is supporting several bills aimed at resurrecting New Jersey’s tourism industry. A4032/S2400 would temporarily reduce certain gaming taxes and fees casinos must make, and allow casinos to fully deduct promotional credits against their gross gaming revenue tax liability.
A4031/S2398 would require the State Treasurer to make interest-free loans to casinos. Another bill, S2479, would require New Jersey hotels to adopt new sanitation measures. “Protecting the health of patrons and employees will be vital. It is time to get back to work,” Sweeney said of his legislation.
One relief measure that has already been put into place is an open container ordinance that allows the public consumption of alcoholic beverages on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Mayor Marty Small Sr. (D) signed the executive order in an effort to lure people to the Boardwalk despite its main attractions being closed.
Unlike in Las Vegas, open containers have been prohibited in Atlantic City for decades. Small Sr.’s executive order will expire once Murphy ends restrictions on bars, or in November, whichever comes first.
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Last Comments ( 16 )
One has to wonder if Murphy's worried about his or the safety of his family....
Murphy is just another hypothetical democratic moron put republicans back in charge of NJ
Governor is idiot, idiot, idiot, trump can hold large rally ,2 sets of laws, governor needs to resign, doesn't see what is going on, ruining economy and people's lifes
MURPHY SHOULD BE FIRED. YOU ALLOW PROTEST AND GIVE PERMITS FOR THOUSAND OF NON FACE WEARING, AND NON PEACEFUL PROTEST, RUIN OUR STATE, YOU ARE A IDIOT AND NEED TO STEP DOWN,
As soon as casinos open in Manhattan, kiss Atlantic City goodbye!
@Maria Lopez - stay off work then, dont come in, dont get paid - very simple. Others want to take the risk let them. You can't let other people who depend on this economy get crippled financially because you don't think its safe Stay at home tucked under the blanket and watch TV you'll be nice and safe
Open up casinos if pools and other businesses are open Casinos should be open too Please open them byJune29th so everyone can have fun
And NJ is the last state in the union to open. I had to go over to PA. to go to a mall. Civilization! First trip to A.C. coming the end of this month!
OPEN THE DAMN CASINOS ALREADY. Im a casino worker and I will be in financial ruin if these nonsense closures continue. You HAVE NO PROBLEM MARCHING IN MASSIVE 3,000 ppl + protests yet you cant open the casinos phil murphy????? What the hell is wrong with you?
Sad to see politics get in the way of common sense. the Atlantic city region was destroyed during the last recession and barely started making a comeback when COVID 19 hit. The govenor needs to allow Casinos to reopen with safety precautions in place so that people can earn a living and vacationers can enjoy the NJ shore.
I am a second generation of Atlantic City slot player. I been playing slots since I was 21 I am now 63 yrs old. My dad and uncles and aunts played in Atlantic City Casinos. Please open then up they are enjoyable and peaceful I would have it any other way. Thank you senator
Why dont these people concern themselves with employees in no way shape or form should these people ever come into a casino without a face mask. maybe a class action law suit needs to occur casino employees have to inhale secondhand smoke no one else does. Now you want to give us a death sentence by not making patrons wear a mask. Casino workers lives matter
OPEN UP A C
As a casino employee that I am, I do not agree that casinos open, this would be a nest to reproduce the virus. Here people get drunk and forget about regulations and keep distance .. I think executives are thinking about the money this market produces but they are not thinking about the health of employees
That’s freaking right. It’s about time some one put that jackass gov Murphy in his place. OPEN the CASINOs back up. Let people have some what normal lives again. It hasn’t been proven that this diseases is airborne or that it can be transferred from surfaces either.