Ac Primetime W/ Mel Taylor. Atlantic City News, Info, Events.

'We cut salary and boat checks', said Jeffrey Chiesa, the man currently in charge of Atlantic City. Reformed Police and Fire contracts were the hot topic, so Chiesa called into the big radio show in town. The former State Senator, Attorney General and current 'CEO' of the financially ailing city, Chiesa was a guest on the Harry Hurley WPG Radio show, on Friday morning, March 17. Click to listen. What we all learned from that interview: in order to financially right size the city, the state wants to cut PD salaries, increase hours and eliminate some benefits. This would save the city about $20 million. Fire department cutbacks would save the city $14 million. Harry Hurley provided recap / analysis from a March 13 memorandum he was first to acquire, that became effective March 15. State wants to change Atlantic City police & fire contracts: Reduction in salary, across the board Reduction in force. From 274 to 250 officers Increase health benefit contributions & prescription co-pays Changes t

ACprimetime Radio talks with Steel Pier's Anthony Catanoso. Listen to the interview with Mel Taylor from March 15, 2017. Preparation is now underway to place cranes & other equipment on the iconic Steel Pier on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Special cranes will be used to erect the long awaited, 225 ft observation wheel that will overlook the Atlantic City Boardwalk by  late Summer 2017. A side access road was built, along with a beefing up of the Boardwalk...in order to safely move heavy equipment back and forth across the boards in front of the former TAJ MAHAL.....soon to be Hard Rock Hotel Casino.

LISTEN> Sweet. ACprimetime was able to finagle some up-close & personal talk-time with Dr. Harvey Kesselman, President of Stockton University. While the good Doctor is crazy busy with bringing Stockton to the shores of Atlantic City by Fall 2018, he was kind enough to invite us in for a little digital chit-chat. It was informative and fun. We packed up the mobile ACprimetime Radio Podcast Studio and pointed our GPS to the Galloway campus of the very impressive Stockton University. Some topics discussed & stuff we learned: Mayflower Hotel, The original, temporary Stockton on the Boardwalk....back in 1971. Dr. Kesselman once had longer hair than me. Much longer. A beard too. We're both South Philly & Delco (Delaware County, PA) guys. Stockton Safe vs Sanctuary. Atlantic City Campus, Island Campus or Boardwalk Campus? The skinny on those past Showboat issues. Yes, former Atlantic Club/Hilton/Golden Nugget property was considered, among other locations. Stockton is a designated 'anchor' project

Will Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian get a second term? Not if long time resident & former city employee Joseph Polillo has anything to say about it. LISTEN to the ACprimetime Radio Podcast for March 6, 2017. Polillo is quite the man about town. Whip smart and well-bearded. Knows where most of the bodies are buried. Well known for his Atlantic City postcard shop, King Neptune parade floats, and his position as former Director of Licence & Inspections for the city, 'Postcard Joey' is taking a serious look at running for Mayor of Atlantic City. 'Postcard Joey' Polillo is taking a serious look at running for Mayor of Atlantic City.

As we reported two weeks ago, Hard Rock entertainment will soon be the new owner of the former Taj Mahal Casino on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. That is very good news for this section of our wooden way that was sitting empty and quiet for much of the summer of 2016 all thanks to daily picketing by using 54 members many of whom did not want to strike against Taj Mahal owner Mr. Carl Icahn . But that's another story for another day. It looks like by the summer of 2018 hard rock will be up and running on that massive property the Taj Mahal. This is certainly good news for Anthony Catanoso…the man who runs Steel Pier, right across the Boardwalk from the former Taj Mahal. This should also speed up development of the $14 million observation wheel the 227 foot high, new age Ferris Wheel that's been sitting offshore in containers ready to be erected on the historic Pier. The Taj Mahal Casino has been closed since October 10. It will soon be controlled and owned by a group of investors one of them being Hard Rock. T

Flushing more money? Some topics we cover on the FEB 22 edition of ACprimetime Radio podcast: Bart Blatstein is Mr. 'Buy & Hold'.  Smart vulture investor, not so hot business operator. See: Playground Pier. CRDA $2 million toilet upgrade for Boardwalk Hall. More money being foolishly flushed? How to make AC more business friendly. Streamline permitting process ( AC Councilman Jesse Kurtz on Dan Klein Radio show ) Councilman Jesse Kurtz: encourage street fairs, festivals. The struggle to make Atlantic City more business friendly. Streamline & simply permitting process. Remove unneeded red tape. Less paperwork. Encourage more events in Atlantic city. Event promoter. LISTEN > Dan Klein WOND Radio show: shouldn’t we entice producers to come in? Am I missing something? Chad Minnes is best known for his Lacey Cleaning company. And with that success, is able to invest $$ in SWFpro.com;  a professional wrestling show that draws 1,000+ to these family friendly events. Minnes wants to bring SWF to Atlantic

Bye Bye Ocean Views LISTEN > Atlantic City is already well aware of the harmful affects of mountainous dunes along the Boardwalk. And in a few weeks, Margate & Ventnor will get to enjoy some ugly dune building as well. Listen to ACprimetime Radio Podcast. Here come the Downbeach dunes... featuring discussion on Harry Hurley WPG 1450 Radio show. Obstruct the summer views & cool breezes on Absecon Island. These unsightly & un-needed sand mountains hurt home & business values as well. Most real estate agents think so too. NOTE: sand replenishment IS needed in front of Showboat & REVEL.....as well as in Longport. A handful of Margate homeowners kept up the good fight though. They dug deep and bankrolled their own lawsuit to keep fake dunes out of this section of Absecon Island. On Feb 3, those homeowners suffered another loss. A U.S. District Court Judge ruled the proposed dunes would NOT cause a nuisance, be a public health hazard, or harm any beachfront homes in Margate. The City of Margate reluctantly raise

Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian says Atlantic County non-casino taxpayers should be OK with a smaller share of the hated, casino-friendly PILOT  bill. The good Mayor likely got un-friended and lost many Facebook followers after that statement got out. LISTEN to Atlantic County Exec Denny Levinson. He responds on the Don Williams Radio Show. WOND 1400am. In 2015, the Mayor signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Atlantic County Exec Denny Levinson for 13.5%. (SEE DOCUMENT BELOW) As AC's financial outlook sunk ever further, Guardian had a change of heart about that 13.5%. The Atlantic City Mayor now wants to offer the county just 9.92 % – that's $4 million less per year for the county taxpayers. That's more than $40 million less... over life of the PILOT’s 10-year term. https://youtu.be/VN72PdRZJ28 All of this could be a moot point. The signed document (MOU below) needed OK from City Council. That never happened. Many were miffed that Guardian went rogue and did a deal with Levinson. County Exec L

Casino Control Commission Chairman Levinson Thousands of new Atlantic City jobs were put on hold this week. Is that the fault of Casino Control Commission Chairman Matt Levinson...or former REVEL owner Glenn Straub? Read on and decide for yourself. Straub feels that government regulations are the impediment, along with too much red tape. Straub (operating as a lessor under the name 500 Broadway) believes that since he’s leasing the casino to a third-party (Robert Landino), he shouldn’t personally need a casino license. Straub attorney, the highly respected LLoyd Levinson defended the REVEL owner and sourced a section of the New Jersey Casino Control Act. Listen to LLoyd Levinson defend Straub's position > According to LICENSING & APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY, and to the untrained eye....it kinda looks like Straub does NOT need a license since he will NOT operate the casino. But in Levinson's remarks below, he strongly states that Straub has far too much control over the entire property, and has not sufficiently

WATCH VIDEO & Listen to Podcast. > City Council of Atlantic City drained a little more of the swamp... and voted NO. They denied local socialite Gary Hill with getting another 5 yr MUA / AC Water Company board-member term. The fiscally responsible vote went down on Wednesday evening, Jan 25, inside Council chambers. This coveted MUA / Municipal Utilities Authority position costs Atlantic City taxpayers $36,000 annually. For the past 10 years, Mr. Hill, who also serves as a CRDA board member, received an annual $6,000 MUA / salary. In addition, Mr. Hill has enjoyed a platinum healthcare package for himself and his husband, ex AC Councilman; John Schultz. WATCH ATLANTIC CITY COUNCIL VIDEO from Jan 25, 2017. If re-appointed, the MBCA & Schultz-Hill Foundation executive would have been grandfathered into another 5 year MUA term that includes full healthcare. Since 2011, health-care is no longer offered to part-time municipal personnel in AC. On the Jan. 27 edition of the 'Hurley in the Morning' radio show, Ha

LISTEN > In the shadows of towering casinos and highrises, Atlantic City still attracts a passionate crew of fishermen....and women. Many feel the outdoor and water based activities are ripe for growth now that AC is finally forced to diversify it's economy. Tautog Along the Jetties of Absecon Inlet We talk with Noel Feliciano from One Stop Bait & Tackle in Atlantic City, on this week's edition of ACprimetime Radio. Tautog, stripers, and a few blues are keeping anglers busy along the deep waters of Absecon Inlet, flowing between Atlantic City & Brigantine. One Stop Bait & Tackle 416 Atlantic Ave Atlantic City, New Jersey Call (609) 348-9450 Juan Hocker: Someone referred us to this bait shop, an every since then it's been nothing but the best. Friendly, funny, very helpful...and they got nice deals. The owner is the best. Luis Quijano: Every time I go to Atlantic city and fish, I get my bait from them. The owner is a funny character. Great selection. Remember people... always support the local m

LISTEN > ACprimetime Radio & ACprimetime.com tracks the Re-invention of Atlantic City. Sometimes we take a look at our coastal neighbors along the South Jersey shore. Some towns compete with each other, some are in the same boat as AC, some are directly affected by what happens in AC. Ventnor, Margate, Ocean City…..and even way down there in Wildwood…. a community that never got fat n happy….and lazy…..relying on casino gaming cash flow…. like Atlantic City did. Wildwood.... the Beach Concert King? Could Wildwood leap frog Atlantic City as the Summertime beach concert king? Wildwood in now in direct competition .. more than ever… with Atlantic City for the most popular shows. Compare the Wildwood promoter concert deal... with the concert deal that AC puts together with their promoter; Live Nation. In Wildwood, the concert promoter ponies up the cash to produce the show and guarantees it won't be a money loser. In Atlantic City, the concert promoter collects all kinds of big money upfront. The city then h

It’s no secret. Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian is not a fan of Miss America. Listen to ACprimetime Radio> Oh sure, he’ll be on stage with the ladies for photo ops. The bow tied guy will even get front row center seats inside Boardwalk Hall for the pageant…..but he’s NOT a fan of Miss A. Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian is also member of the CRDA; Casino Reinvestment Authority, which is funded by the casinos….who typically don't like Miss America either. Why? Those 'types' are less likely to gamble. They hog up too many casino hotel rooms. How dare they. CRDA declined opportunity to have Atlantic City featured on ABC-TV's New Year's Eve telecast that reaches 59 million viewers. The ( CRDA & Dick Clark Productions/Miss America ) agreement rewarded Atlantic City with significant new broadcast television exposure, social media integration with the organization and retains a truly iconic event in Atlantic City,” said Robert Mulcahy, chairman of the CRDA board. Some, including Mayor Don Guardian, thought the mo

Listen> ACprimetime RADIO: Can you trust the mainstream media? Nope. Can you trust Facebook? Fake news and inaccurate reporting …..affects not only who’s in the White House……but what outside investors….and visitors….think about Atlantic City. Will the new Stockton university in Atlantic City…ready for student by FALL 2018.. have plenty of SAFE SPACES available for millenials who are easily offended? New, bigger, longer... Fortified Boardwalk & inlet seawall. Well on it’s way to completion. Will Atlantic City fishermen still have access to jetties? That dynamic duo of the airwaves…..representing the community…..Kevin Hall…and Henry Hank Green…of the Kevin Hall Show Program…invited a rising star in the AC journalism community to their friday night radio show…..we’ll play some clips of Christian Hetrick of the Press of AC. AC councilman William Speedy Marsh. They cant fire him from his Pleasantville school facilities director position Congressman Frank Lobiondo had his personal space invaded by a very angr

On this episode of ACprimetime Radio, we continue tracking the Re-invention of Atlantic City. Imagine that. The man who virtually built the casino industry in Atlantic City, will be our next President of the United States of America. The social justice warriors inside of most local newspapers, TV & Radio hate Donald J. Trump. While not a perfect man, ya gotta love the set of cahones on The Donald. The reporters inside The Press of Atlantic City and The Philadelphia Inquirer.....and a few WOND 1400am Radio dorks..... are now huddled in their 'safe spaces'. These hacks were totally triggered by Trump's populist win. On occasion, these journo-pundits do emerge from their parent's basement to stalk a local GOP Congressmen or two.....record some iPhone video GOTCHA.....and post to their Twitter account. Traditional Journalism is officially over with this past election. Take that one to the bank, cupcake. State take-over of Atlantic City is official. Tim Cunningham could be in charge.....for next 5 years. Take-over

Assemblyman Brown on ACprimetime Radio LISTEN > He fights hard against North Jersey Casinos than NJ Assemblyman; Chris Brown. That's why we had him as a guest on ACprimetime Radio. Didya know? Brown served two military tours and is now a successful Atlantic City attorney. Super-passionate about keeping casino gaming out of North Jersey. We talk about: Atlantic City Casinos. Our love/hate relationship with: Borgata Crazy tax assessments & tax appeals The REAL financial value of Borgata. (it's $1.8 Billion....NOT $850 million.) In an over-saturated market, the NJ sees no net gain by expanding gaming Protecting jobs in Atlantic City & Atlantic County The pros & cons of North Jersey casinos National & local security. Lone-wolf terrorism The 9-11 Memorial on the Atlantic City Boardwalk His new found love of pod-casting What you’re saying is in this over-saturated market, the answer is to add casinos to the market?” Assemblyman Chris Brown.  

Jeff Gural, owner of Meadowlands Race Track, called into ACprimetime Radio to discuss benefits of North Jersey Casinos. Click to listen. On Nov 8, NJ voters will decide on whether to expand gaming in New Jersey. The referendum, if OK'ed by voters, will allow 2 casinos to operate in the northern portion of the state. One of those potential casinos could be Jeff Gural's Meadowlands. Listen to ACprimetime Radio Interview Gural tells ACprimetime Radio that the $200 million per year that Atlantic City could get, if the referendum passes, could help the beleaguered city re-invent itelf and diversify it's economy, something AC might be forced to do... before long. Atlantic City Considers North Jersey Casinos. Jeffrey Gural Preps Meadowlands for Gaming. Gaming is spreading, says Gural. NJ can take that casino tax money....or those dollars will find a home in New York, Philly or Maryland.

CEO Haskell & COO Randle CEO Sam Haskell and COO Josh Randle are the men behind the women of the Miss America organization. We visited the MISS AMERICA ORGANIZATION in Atlantic City on Aug 29, inside the beautiful Claridge Hotel. Listen. They're featured guests on ACprimetime Radio. CEO Sam Haskell http://media.blubrry.com/acprimetime/content.blubrry.com/acprimetime/Miss_A_HASKELL_8.31.2016_aup.mp3 COO Josh Randle http://media.blubrry.com/acprimetime/content.blubrry.com/acprimetime/AC_Miss_A_Josh_b.mp3 Topics covered: It's more than just a beauty pageant, ABC-TV, ratings, Return on Investment, diversity, first openly Gay contestant, scholarships, 15 year anniversary of 9-11, etc. The Miss America Organization is the nation's largest scholarship provider for young women, featuring 52 state license organizations, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Miss America 2005 pageant held on September 18, 2004, would be the last one televised live on ABC. It the last one held in Atlanti

Listen to South Jersey weather expert; John Bolaris, as he explains the likely impact of Tropical Storm Hermine on the South Jersey shore.