By Briana Vannozzi
Correspondent
As news trickled down the state from Trenton to Atlantic City, weary residents grew fiery as they waited to hear details of the deal brokered between Mayor Don Guardian and Gov. Chris Christie.
“If you’re going to continue to have back room deals and not let the taxpayers know what’s going on with the future that we have to deal with then there’s going to be a problem,” said Steve Young, president of the Atlantic City chapter of the National Action Network.
It was supposed to be an emergency council meeting to declare bankruptcy for the city. Instead, Mayor Guardian and Senate President Steve Sweeney — who remained out of the public’s view — met with council members in an hours long executive session to go over the pending legislation.
“The mayor came back and assured us it’s not a takeover. And just to show you how important it was, because we were upset. All things considered, we were upset. We didn’t know what was going on, but after the emotion dies down and you get a new perspective and understand that we need help,” said Atlantic City Council President Marty Small.
The council voted unanimously to pass a resolution agreeing to work with the state’s plan.
“Please understand we need your help, we need everyone to play their part,” said Councilman at Large Mo Delgado.
“We’ll pull this bill, we’ll start with a brand new bill. Atlantic City will have representation, meaning city council and the mayor, in helping to craft this bill,” Guardian said.
Just how the state will help Atlantic City get back on its feet is still unclear. Details will be hashed out in the coming days and weeks. The council president, while concerned the negotiations could “blow up”, seemed confident in the new plan.
“I believe it’s a partnership. We’re going to go in optimistic and we share this plan, but as they say the devil is in the details. We don’t have a bill but at least we’re in the infancy stage where we can actually sit down at the table, state our position and hopefully things that we want will be worked into the bill. But this is not a takeover,” Small said.
“As part of this bill we’re going to be reintroducing the considerable funding from casinos redirected toward the city so the IETs, the ACA the stabilization of casino property taxes coming in without tax appeals,” Guardian said.
“I think the state has no right to be here in the city. They raped the city since 1980. They took our luxury tax,” said Rochelle Salway.
Though most residents expressed relief, some are still on the fence. So too is Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, who was noticeably absent from yesterday’s press conference.
“I have not seen what the new legislation is going to look like, so obviously I’ll reserve my opinion until I see it. But just by hearing yesterday what was said at the press conference, collective bargaining, doing away with that, that’s something I would have a problem with, so I want to see it first,” he said.
It seems not just the structure but the wording of this plan played a large part in soothing tempers. Call it an intervention, a partnership or an agreement, the leaders in Atlantic City are on board just so long as it’s not a takeover.