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The Greater Atlantic City Chamber would like to thank the following sponsors:
Business Advocacy
- The Chamber was represented at the October 8 City Council meeting in support of delaying the casino smoking ban ordinance, which had been scheduled to go into effect on Oct. 15. The Chamber advanced the position that implementing the smoking ban now under the current economic conditions would put too much at risk for the city’s economy and that of the entire region. Council voted preliminarily to delay the ban for one year, with a final vote on the matter pending.
- The Chamber has set a November 24th date for its panel discussion on the state’s recent Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) legislation. The breakfast event will take place at Blue Heron Pines Golf Club beginning at 8 a.m. and the program scheduled from 8:30 – 9:30. Panelists include Lucy Vandenberg, the NJ Executive Director of COAH: State Senator James Whelan, Assemblyman Vince Polistina and attorney Jack Plackter of Fox Rothschild. Due to the complexity of this issue and its impact on the business community – particularly with respect to the 2.5% fee imposed on most non-residential projects – the event is intended to illuminate the legislation, discuss its ramifications on business and discuss potential amendments to the bill.
- The Chamber has confirmed New Jersey State Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts as its keynote speaker for the annual Board Installation dinner. The event will take place on Thursday, December 4, at the Atlantic City Convention Center. For more information on this event, or the COAH panel discussion, contact Elisa Monroe at (609) 345-4524, or email emonroe@acchamber.com
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The Chamber, in conjunction with the Casino Association of New Jersey and the Stockton College Institute for Gaming Management, is moving forward with its initiative to establish a state-wide advocacy group consisting of vendors and other business leaders who benefit from the casino industry. Initial correspondence will go out in mid-October to several hundred business leaders requesting their support and participation. The goal of this initiative is to more effectively leverage the far-reaching economic impact of the industry by influencing public opinion and public policy as it relates to Atlantic City in general and the industry in particular. Following are some relevant facts and figures about that economic impact:
- The Atlantic City casino industry generates more than $5 billion in gross gaming revenue annually, which is equal to the 24 largest casinos on the Las Vegas strip.
- The casino industry is one of the pillars of the New Jersey economy, employing more than 41,275 people directly and 21,000 people indirectly. For every two casino jobs created in Atlantic City, one job is created elsewhere in New Jersey.
- 35 million people visit Atlantic City annually, making it the fourth most popular destination in the United States.
- In nearly 30 years, the casino industry in Atlantic City has generated more than $17 billion in taxes and fees for New Jersey.
- With $1.1 billion per year generated from the combination of the casino revenue tax, luxury tax, sales and corporate taxes, only the NJ state income tax, sales and corporate business taxes generate more tax revenue for the state than the Atlantic City casino industry.
- In the past 23 years, $1 billion in investments and grants has been generated since the establishment of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority.
- The Atlantic City casino industry purchases a total of $3.5 billion in goods and services each year, with $2.2 billion going directly to 4,200 New Jersey-based companies in all 21 counties.
- The amount of money the Atlantic City casino industry spends on goods and services from NJ-based businesses has more than tripled since 1986.
- The Atlantic City casino industry generates more than $5 billion in gross gaming revenue annually, which is equal to the 24 largest casinos on the Las Vegas strip.
- At its monthly meeting on September 24, the Chamber’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to endorse proposed state legislation (A-3122) that would lift the ban on casino employees holding public office in Atlantic City. This bill would pave the way for a more open and inclusive process by which individuals may serve as mayor or as a member of City Council. There is no other municipality in the state in which employees of any industry are prohibited from running for public office. This is legislation that the Chamber has been monitoring for several months, partly in an effort to ensure that the bill would not exclude key license holders from the political process. The bill was released last month by the Assembly Tourism and Gaming committee by a unanimous vote of 8-0. It will now go to the full Assembly for a vote and then to the Senate.
- On September 17, City Council of Atlantic City voted to enact a new ordinance that will impose stricter limitations on boardwalk entertainers. Among other things, the ordinance will require all entertainers to audition and apply for a license. It will also limit their performances to five specific locations on platforms to be built between the beach and the boardwalk, as well as Kennedy Plaza. While there are other problems and issues to be addressed concerning the boardwalk, this is a positive step toward making the boardwalk a more pleasant one for visitors and merchants alike. The Chamber will continue to work with the Boardwalk Committee the city and others to address several other pressing issues, including condition of the public restrooms on the boardwalk, panhandlers and the homeless population.
- On September 3, the Chamber provided testimony at City Council meeting in support of the Pinnacle redevelopment ordinance. The Chamber also provided support on that issue via a letter to the editor to The Press of Atlantic City from the Chamber Chairman.
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