>>> THE FUTURE OF ATLANTIC CITY
AND THE GOVERNOR'S RACE TOP OUR
AGENDA.
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>>> WELCOME TO A SPECIAL EDITION
OF "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."
WE'RE COMING TO YOU THIS WEEK
FROM HARRAH'S HOTEL AND CASINO
IN ATLANTIC CITY WHERE THE
SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY DEVELOPMENT
COUNCIL HAS BEEN HOSTING A DAY
OF PANEL DISCUSSIONS ON POLICY
ISSUES.
WE HAVE FOUR REPORTERS HERE THIS
WEEK.
TWO OF WHOM COVER ATLANTIC CITY
ALL THE TIME.
TWO OF WHOM MADE THE LONG DRIVE
DOWN FROM NORTH JERSEY TO BE
WITH US.
STARTING WITH NICK ACOCELLA OF
POLITIFAX.
THE WEEKLY POLITICAL NEWSLETTER.
SUZETTE PARMLEY OF THE
"PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" WHO WAS
AT THE STATEHOUSE YEARS AGO AND
NOW COVERS ATLANTIC CITY.
DEREK HARPER OF THE "ATLANTIC
CITY PRESS."
ALSO AT THE STATEHOUSE A FEW
YEARS AGO AND NOW FOCUSING ON
ATLANTIC CITY.
AND MY FRIEND JOHN MOONEY FROM
NJSPOTLIGHT.COM.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
LET'S START WITH ATLANTIC CITY
SINCE WE'RE IN ATLANTIC CITY.
AND THERE WAS BIG NEWS IN
ATLANTIC CITY THIS WEEK, NAMELY,
THAT REVEL CASINO, THE PROJECT
THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE
HANGING THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY
ON, ANNOUNCED IT WAS DECLARING
CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY.
MIDWEEK THIS WEEK.
SUZETTE, IS THAT A TERRIBLE
THING?
MAYBE A BAD THING?
MAYBE A GOOD THING?
HOW SHOULD WE VIEW THAT?
>> THERE'S NO WAY TO SAY IT'S A
GOOD THING, ESPECIALLY FOR
ATLANTIC CITY.
AND GOVERNOR CHRISTIE PEGGED
THIS PROJECT, $2.4 BILLION, THE
MOST EXPENSIVE EVER BUILT IN THE
STATE'S HISTORY, AS A
GAME-CHANGER FOR THE CITY TO
MAKE IT AN OVERNIGHT
AND AS THOSE PLANS TANK THERE'S
A FIVE-YEAR OVERHAUL, AND, OF
DESTINATION.
COURSE, THE ADMINISTRATION THAT
STARTED LAST YEAR.
AND REVEL'S PROBLEMS ARE
DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE FUTURE OF
THAT OVERHAUL AND THE DIRECTION
IT'S GOING TO GO FOR THE CITY.
>> DEREK, HOW DO YOU SEE IT?
>> MORE OR LESS THE SAME WAY.
IT'S SUCH A HUGE PROJECT.
SO CENTRAL TO THE DIRECTION THAT
ATLANTIC CITY PEOPLE WANT TO GO
IN THAT TO SEE A BANKRUPTCY OF
THIS SIZE IS JUST -- ALTHOUGH A
LOT OF THIS IS STILL GOING TO
COME OUT WHEN THE PAPERS ARE
ACTUALLY FILED NEXT MONTH.
ALL THE DETAILS AND SEE ALL THE
NITTY-GRITTY OF WHO IS GETTING
PAID, WHO IS NOT GETTING PAID
AND WHO IS GOING TO HAVE
PROBLEMS AND WHO IS NOT.
BUT I AGREE WITH SUZETTE.
A LOT OF THIS IS KIND OF HARD
FOR THE GOVERNOR TO SAY IT'S A
GOOD THING.
>> THERE WAS A PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE GOVERNOR THAT DAY
SAYING THIS IS GOOD THAT THE
INVESTORS ARE WILLING TO
BASICALLY DOUBLE DOWN ON
ATLANTIC CITY INSTEAD OF SHUT
THE DOORS.
THAT WAS PUTTING A BEST FACE ON
A NEGATIVE SET OF FACTS, WOULD
YOU SAY?
I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE EVER
THOUGHT THEY WOULD JUST SHUT THE
>> OF COURSE.
DOORS ENTIRELY.
THERE'S STILL A LOT OF MONEY
COMING IN.
EVEN WITH ALL THE DEBT THAT IT
HAD, IT STILL HAD -- STILL IS A
GREAT PLACE.
IT'S STILL BRAND NEW.
IT'S STILL HAS A LOT OF THINGS
GOING FOR IT.
IT STILL HAS $261 MILLION IN
POTENTIAL TAX CREDITS THAT WILL
BE COMING OVER THE NEXT 20
YEARS, SHOULD IT PROCEED.
SO IT'S NOT AS IF IT'S JUST --
IT COMPLETELY IS WITHOUT ANY
OPTIONS GOING FORWARD.
>> LET ME STAY WITH THOSE OF YOU
WHO COVER ATLANTIC CITY FOR A
MINUTE.
WAS THERE SOMETHING CONCEPTUALLY
WRONG WITH HOW REVEL PRESENTED
ITSELF IN THIS MARKET?
I'VE HEARD SAID THAT MAYBE IT
WAS TOO BIG AND SET A BAR TOO
HIGH IN TERMS OF PRICING.
THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
>> THREE THINGS.
WRONG PLACE.
WRONG TIME.
WRONG CONCEPT.
>> WRONG PLACE?
>> WRONG PLACE?
WRONG PART OF THE CITY OR WRONG
CITY?
>> ATLANTIC CITY RIGHT NOW IS
BASICALLY SATURATED BY
COMPETITION FROM SURROUNDING
STATES.
I THINK REVEL WOULD HAVE DONE
SPECTACULAR ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO.
2002, VERSUS 2012.
THE BIGGEST REASON PROBABLY IS
MY STATE, PENNSYLVANIA, NOW HAS
11 CASINOS.
IT BUILT 11 CASINOS IN SIX
YEARS, NEXT TO ATLANTIC CITY'S
12 CASINOS THAT HAVE BUILT UP
THIS INDUSTRY OVER 30 YEARS.
AND LAST MONTH, THE STATE OF
PENNSYLVANIA BECAME THE SECOND
LARGEST GAMBLING REVENUE IN THE
COUNTRY NEXT TO LAS VEGAS,
SURPASSING ATLANTIC CITY.
WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME.
TOO MUCH COMPETITION.
TOO MUCH SUPPLY.
NOT ENOUGH DEMAND.
AND THE CONCEPT, IT'S INFINITELY
FLAWED ACCORDING TO -- YOU TALK
TO GAMBLERS.
THEY DON'T ALLOW SMOKING.
IT'S COMPLETELY NONSMOKING, THE
FIRST IN THE CITY OF ATLANTIC
CITY TO SAY WE'RE 100%
NONSMOKING.
IT'S NONUNION.
IT'S SPRAWLING.
IT'S 6.3 MILLION SQUARE FEET AND
RIGHT NOW WHEN YOU HAVE 11
CASINOS IN PENNSYLVANIA, YOU
HAVE THEM IN MARYLAND IN
DELAWARE, THE BIGGEST QUESTION
TO PEOPLE IS, DO YOU NEED ALL
THIS OTHER STUFF?
WHEN I CAN DRIVE, YOU KNOW, TEN
MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND PLAY A
SLOT MACHINE?
THAT'S BEEN THE BIGGEST
IMPEDIMENT TO ATLANTIC CITY
>> SO, DEREK IS THERE A HUGE
SENSE OF PESSIMISM HANGING OVER
RIGHT NOW.
THIS CITY RIGHT NOW OR NOT?
>> OH, IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU
TALK TO.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSER TO THE
PROJECT OR THE WALL STREET
PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
PESSIMISTIC ABOUT ATLANTIC CITY
AND THE FUTURE OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS AT LEAST.
>> DIDN'T THEY PUT UP MOST OF
THE MONEY FOR REVEL?
>> THE ANALYSTS, THEY HAVE BEEN
VERY -- WHAT SUZETTE SAID ABOUT
THE OVERSUPPLY.
BUT, ALSO, ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID
ABOUT ATLANTIC CITY'S -- IT HAS
HOPED TO BE A DESTINATION MARKET
FOR YEARS.
I REMEMBER READING STORIES IN
THE PRESS FROM THE '80s WHERE IT
REALIZED IT NEEDED TO BECOME
THIS DESTINATION RESORT INSTEAD
OF BEING A COLLECTION OF CASINOS
THAT ARE MORE ALONG THE LINES OF
THE LAS VEGAS LOCAL CASINOS.
>> HAS IT EVER DONE THAT?
HAS IT BECOME THAT DESTINATION
RESORT OR IT NEVER MADE IT?
>> REVEL IS THE -- IS THE
STRONGEST PUSH OR THE BORGATA TO
A CERTAIN EXTENT AS WELL.
BUT THE REVEL IS -- THE
STRONGEST PUSH TOWARDS THAT
THEY REBRANDED THEIR WHOLE
SECTION OF THE CITY.
GOAL.
IT USED TO BE CALLED THE SOUTH
INLET.
YOU DRIVE INTO ATLANTIC CITY AND
THE SIGNS DON'T SAY SOUTH INLET.
THEY SAY REVEL BEACH.
THEY SAY -- THEY GOT ROADS
WIDENED.
THEY GOT PATHWAYS CLEARED.
THEY GOT ALL THIS STUFF DONE FOR
THEM.
YOU HAD HUGE UTILITY UPGRADES.
ALL THIS STUFF NEEDED TO BRING
TO THIS.
THIS IS AN AREA THAT HAD BEEN
LARGELY DEMOLISHED IN THE LATE
'60s.
AND A BANKRUPTCY OF THAT --
AFTER ALL THAT HOPE AND ALL THAT
DREAM IT DOESN'T HAVE VERY GOOD
CONCLUSIONS.
>> THERE WERE A BUNCH OF PANEL
DISCUSSIONS HERE THIS MORNING AT
THIS CONFERENCE IN WHICH
LEGISLATORS FROM THIS AREA
EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT INTERNET
WAGERING, SPORTS BETTING AND
MOBILE PHONE WAGERING AND IN THE
CASE OF BORGATA, IN-ROOM
GAMBLING WOULD BE A LIFE LINE
FOR THIS INDUSTRY IN THIS CITY.
NICK, YOU COVERED THE SPORTS
BETTING TRIAL COURT HEARING UP
IN TRENTON?
WAS IT IN TRENTON?
>> FEDERAL COURT IN TRENTON.
>> A WEEK AGO.
SOME HEAVY HITTERS REPRESENTING
BOTH SIDES.
WHAT'S YOUR VIEW ON SPORTS
BETTING, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO
>> ASIDE FROM THE SHOW OF THE
TRIAL COURT, WHICH IS NOT GOING
SUCCEED OR NOT?
TO MEAN MUCH --
>> LET ME FLESH IT OUT.
ARGUING FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S BAN ON SPORTS
BETTING WAS --
>> THE STATE IS CHALLENGE --
>> ATTORNEY PAUL FISHMAN OF NEW
JERSEY AND ARGUING FOR THE STATE
OF NEW JERSEY WAS OLSON, THE
FORMER SOLICITOR GENERAL WHO HAS
BEEN INVOLVED IN NATIONAL
POLITICAL STORIES.
>> WHO WAS REALLY INCREDIBLE TO
WATCH UP THERE.
BUT MY IMPRESSION WAS THAT --
HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO LAST?
EVEN IF WE WIN AND WE'RE NOT
GOING TO WIN FOR SEVERAL YEARS
BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO THE
SUPREME COURT.
EVEN IF WE WIN IT'S NOT GOING TO
SAY, WELL, ENGINE IS ALLOWED TO
DO IT.
EVERYONE IS ALLOWED TO DO IT.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE DELAWARE
AND PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW YORK TO
SAY, WE'RE IN, TOO.
SO THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED
WITH CASINOS IS GOING TO HAPPEN
WITH SPORTS BETTING, ONLY
QUICKER.
>> JOHN, YOU COVER THE STATE.
YOU HAVE A HANDLE ON THE
STATEWIDE ISSUES AND THE
WHAT'S YOUR VIEW OF WHAT'S GOING
ON DOWN HERE THESE DAYS?
LANDSCAPE.
>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK -- I
VIEW A LOT OF THE POLITICS OF
IT, AND WE ARE GOING INTO A -- I
KNOW WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS.
WE'RE GOING INTO AN ELECTION
WHERE THE GOVERNOR IS PRETTY
AGGRESSIVE AGENDA ON A BUNCH OF
THINGS IS GOING TO BE UP FOR THE
AND THIS WAS A BIG PUSH HE MADE.
VOTERS.
CLEARLY TRYING TO SAVE A CITY
THAT, YOU KNOW, FROM DEMISE AND
THROWING SANDY IN THERE AS WELL
HAS CERTAINLY A BIG TWIST TO HIS
BUT -- AND THIS ISN'T GOING
WELL.
STORY.
HE ALSO HAS THIS ISSUE.
UP IN THE NORTH -- NORTH
COUNTRY, WE HAVE THE
AND THAT, YOU KNOW, WHICH HE IS
VOWING TO PUT A LOT OF MONEY
MEADOWLANDS.
INTO.
AND, OBVIOUSLY, NOT A CASINO.
BUT THIS WAY OF SPURRING
DEVELOPMENT AND SPURRING, YOU
KNOW, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AT LEAST
HIS WAYS OF DOING IT, THESE ARE
PROBABLY THE TWO BIGGEST
TROPHIES.
AND I WOULDN'T SAY THEY HAVE
MUCH OF A SHINE ON THEM RIGHT
>> AUTHORIZE MAYOR'S RACE HERE
IN ATLANTIC CITY THIS YEAR, I
NOW.
BELIEVE, CORRECT?
THE INCUMBENT, LORENZO LANGFORD
IS BEING CHALLENGED BY
FREEHOLDER CHARLES GARRETT WHO
WAS AT THIS CONFERENCE LAST
AND MAKING THE ROUNDS AND TRYING
TO GET HIMSELF KNOWN AND HAD A
NIGHT.
GOOD LINE.
HE SAID ATLANTIC CITY HAS A
TOURISM DISTRICT.
IT DOESN'T NEED A TERRORISM
DISTRICT.
I GUESS THAT WAS A COMMENT ON
CRIME IN THE CITY.
DOES HE HAVE A CHANCE AGAINST
LANGFORD?
>> UH --
>> I THINK YOUR COMMENT ANSWERS
THE QUESTION.
>> LANGFORD WON HIS LAST
ELECTION WITH 60% OF THE VOTE
WITH TWO OTHER OPPONENTS.
AND THEY WERE TWO CREDIBLE
OPPONENTS.
THIS YEAR, HE FACES CHARLES
GARRETT WHO THE ATLANTIC COUNTY
DEMOCRATS ARE UNHAPPY WITH MAYOR
LANGFORD BECAUSE SOME OF THE
THINGS HE'S DONE IN THE PAST.
HE'S MORE OR LESS -- SENATOR
WHALEN'S SWORN MORTAL ENEMY FOR
FIGHTS THAT GO BACK 20 YEARS.
BUT AT THIS POINT, HE IN THE
LAST RACE, HE SIDED WITH THE
REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLYMAN VINCE
PAULISTINA AGAINST DEMOCRAT JIM
HE INITIALLY EVEN JUMPED IN THE
RACE AS AN INDEPENDENT, JUMPING
WHALEN.
OUT IN SEPTEMBER AND THEN
SUPPORTING PAULISTINA.
EVEN GOING SO FAR AS TO HOLD
FUND-RAISERS AN EVENT FOR HIM IN
ATLANTIC CITY JUST A FEW DAYS
BEFORE THE ELECTION.
PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO SAY HE MAY
NOT GET THE ENDORSEMENT.
AND THE LAST TIME THAT HAPPENED
IN 2005, HE DIDN'T GET THE
ENDORSEMENT AND HE LOST THE
PRIMARY WHICH IN ATLANTIC CITY
WITH THE HEAVY DEMOCRATIC
REGISTRATION, IS ESSENTIALLY THE
BUT IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW
MUCH OF A PUSH CHARLES GARRETT
RACE.
CAN PUSH AROUND THE CITY.
HIS SON WORKED WITH THE HOUSING
AUTHORITY.
THERE'S ANOTHER CANDIDATE IN THE
RACE, DAVIDSON.
A RETIRED ATLANTIC CITY POLICE
OFFICER AND FORMER HEAD OF THE
PBA, BUT I'M NOT SURE -- WELL IT
REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW MUCH
CITYWIDE PULL HE HAS.
LAST TIME I CHECKED, HE DIDN'T
HAVE -- HE WASN'T RUNNING WITH
ANY OTHER CITY COUNCIL
CANDIDATES.
IT WAS JUST HIM, HIMSELF.
>> IS IT SAFE TO SAY THE MORE
CANDIDATES THERE ARE, THE BETTER
FOR LANGFORD.
IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, HE'S
--
>> YOU COULD ABSOLUTELY SAY
THAT.
>> YOU ARE SAYING LANGFORD WON
EVEN WITHOUT THE ENDORSEMENT OF
THE --
>> IN '05, HE DIDN'T GET IT.
HE RETURNED AFTER BOB LEVY FLED
AND ALL THAT CRAZINESS HAPPENED.
HE LOST.
AND THEN IN '09, HE -- LANGFORD
RAN AND WON AGAIN AND THIS YEAR,
HE'S UP AGAIN.
THERE'S NO REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE
AT THIS POINT, BUT THERE HASN'T
BEEN IN THE PARTISAN ERA OVER
THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS, THERE'S
NEVER BEEN A SIGNIFICANT
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE THAT I'M
MIGHT HAVE BEEN A COUNCIL
CANDIDATE BUT NO ONE MAYORAL.
AWARE OF.
>> ARE YOU FOLLOWING THIS
ELECTION?
>> I AM TO AN EXTENT.
EVERYTHING IS ALMOST GOING TO BE
TIED TO REVEL'S SUCCESS OR
FAILURE ON THE POLITICAL LEVEL,
I BELIEVE.
WHEN I CALLED LANGFORD'S OFFICE
ON WEDNESDAY FOR A COMMENT ABOUT
HIS REACTION TO REVEL, HE
SURPRISE LEAGUE DIDN'T RETURN
>> SURPRISINGLY OR NOT
SURPRISINGLY?
THE CALL.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS
THING OPENED APRIL 2nd, HE WAS
LANGFORD WAS AT REVEL, AS WAS I
AT 6:00 A.M.
THERE.
THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS ALL
THERE.
THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS VERY
COMPLIMENTARY OF GOVERNOR
CHRISTIE MAKING REVEL HAPPEN.
PUTTING THAT $261 MILLION
FINANCING GAP TO BUILD THIS
THING TO PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF
JOBS, 5,000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS,
UPWARDS OF 5,000 CASINO JOBS.
THERE ARE NOWHERE NEAR THAT ON
THE CASINO JOBS.
BUT THE THING IS A LOT OF CREDIT
IS BEING GIVEN -- WAS GIVEN TO
CHRISTIE EIGHT MONTHS AGO FOR
MAKING REVEL HAPPEN.
AND NOW, I CAN'T GET ANYBODY TO
RETURN A CALL ON WHAT'S GOING ON
SO A LOT OF ITS FAIL SURGOING TO
BE POLITICAL AND IT'S GOING TO
WITH REVEL.
HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FALL,
I BELIEVE.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FALL.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNORS
RACE.
QUINNIPIAC POLL CAME OUT THIS
WEEK THAT SHOWED CHRIS CHRISTIE
WITH AN APPROVAL RATING, I
BELIEVE IT WAS 73% AND SOMETHING
LIKE 77% SAID HE DESERVES
RE-ELECTION.
BARBARA BUONO, IN A HEAD-TO-HEAD
MATCHUP WITH BARBARA BUONO, IT'S
STILL LIKE 63-20, CHRISTIE.
AND I THINK I READ 83% OF THOSE
POLLED DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT
BARBARA BUONO TO FORM AN
OPINION.
SO THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE,
RIGHT?
OR NOT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
CAN'T GO UP ANY FURTHER.
>> THE LAST TIME A GOVERNOR HAD
THOSE KIND OF NUMBERS WAS
CHRISTY WHITMAN.
>> DID SHE HAVE NUMBERS THAT
HIGH?
>> SHE HAD NUMBERS IN THE 70s.
JUST BEFORE SHE NARROWLY BEAT
JIM McGREEVEY.
SO THINGS CHANGE.
>> THE DIFFICULTY OF IT IS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CITE THOSE
NUMBERS IN TERMS OF NAME
RECOGNITION FOR BARBARA BUONO,
SHE'S GOING TO NEED SOME MONEY
TO GET OUT THERE.
AND THOSE KINDS OF NUMBERS ARE
GOING TO SCARE OFF MONEY FOR
THIS IS -- THIS IS WHAT SHE
NEEDS TO DO RIGHT NOW IS RAISE
HER.
BECAUSE THE ELECTION SEASON IS A
PRETTY LONG ONE.
MONEY.
SO SHE'S GOT TO HUNKER DOWN AND
GET OUT THERE AND BRING SOME
CASH INTO HER CAMPAIGN.
THOSE NUMBERS OUT THERE ARE
GOING TO SCARE OFF A LOT OF
>> THERE WAS A STORY ON THE
WEBSITE "THE DAILY BEAST," WHICH
POTENTIAL FUNDERS.
I DON'T READ, BUT IT'S GOT
PICKED UP BY POLITICKERNJ.COM,
WHICH I DO READ, WHICH MANY OF
YOU PROBABLY READ AS WELL, IN
WHICH SEVERAL DEMOCRATS,
UNNAMED, WERE SAYING BACK-BITING
THINGS ABOUT BUONO.
ONE OF THEM WAS, WELL, WHEN THE
BAR CLOSES AT 2:00 A.M. AND
THERE'S ONLY ONE WOMAN LEFT, SHE
LOOKS PRETTY GOOD, TO WHICH A
WOMAN'S GROUP --
>> YOU DIDN'T READ THAT?
>> I DIDN'T SEE THAT.
>> I THINK NEW JERSEY WOMEN'S
POLITICAL CAUCUS TOOK --
>> I WOULD SAY THAT'S OFF THE
CHARTS.
>> BUT WHAT THE ARTICLE WAS
TRYING TO SIGNAL WAS THAT THERE
IS SORT OF NONUNITY WITHIN THE
DEMOCRATIC RANKS OVER THIS
NOMINEE.
TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU THINK
THAT'S THE CASE?
>> AS JOHN WAS SAYING, I'M NOT
-- I AM OBVIOUSLY NOT
FOLLOWING HER CLOSELY.
MY COLLEAGUES IN THE STATEHOUSE
ARE.
BUT I THINK HER TWO BIGGEST
ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE TIME AND
LACK OF NAME RECOGNITION.
I THINK OUTSIDE HER DISTRICT,
NOBODY KNOWS HER.
ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH JERSEY.
WHEN YOU CAN'T GET THE FEATURE
RALLY AROUND YOU, SOON ENOUGH OR
FAST ENOUGH, AS TIME TICKS AWAY,
YOU HAVE TWO OF THE MOST
EXPLOSIVE MEDIA MARKETS IN THE
COUNTRY.
NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA.
THAT'S WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING
TO COME IN.
THE CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE WAS
$25 MILLION TO $30 MILLION TO
RUN A SOLID RACE.
THAT'S WHAT SHE'S GOING TO NEED.
AND THE MORE TIME THAT PASSES,
YOU KNOW, THE DONORS AND THE
PARTY BOSSES HEDGE ON WHETHER
THEY ARE GOING TO SUPPORT HER,
TIME IS TICKING AWAY.
>> SHE CAN GET $12 MILLION IF
SHE QUALIFIED FOR FEDERAL
MATCHING FUNDS.
I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT $12
MILLION.
BUT THAT'S NOT 25 OR 30.
>> AND HE'S GOING TO -- AND
GOVERNOR CHRISTIE IS GOING TO
HAVE GOBS OF MONEY.
HE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, HE'S -- HE
DOESN'T EVEN NEED IT BUT HE'S
GOING TO BE ABLE TO REALLY --
ANYTHING HE NEEDS IS GOING TO BE
THERE AND THE ISSUES OF PAY TO
PLAY AND SOME NEWS ON HOW SOME
OF THE STATE'S CONTRACTORS ARE
GOING THROUGH THE NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
IN TERMS OF GIVING MONEY TOWARDS
HIS CAMPAIGN.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST GOING
TO BE VERY EASY FOR HIM TO RAISE
MONEY AND SPEND MONEY.
AND IT'S JUST -- IT LOOKS -- I'M
NOT GOING TO INVOKE THE NAME OF
PETER SHAPIRO QUITE YET, BUT
WHAT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW --
>> '85.
>> WAS THAT '85?
>> YES.
>> A BLOWOUT.
TOM KEANE GOT 69 SOMETHING OF
THE VOTE TO SHAPIRO'S 29% OF THE
VOTE AND BROUGHT A REPUBLICAN
ASSEMBLY IN WITH HIM.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN, BUT NEW JERSEY 2013 IS
NOT NEW JERSEY 1985.
IT'S JUST NOT THE SAME PLACE.
IT'S A MUCH MORE DEMOCRATIC
STATE.
BUONO IS GOING TO RUN, I
BELIEVE, A MORE SAVVY CAMPAIGN.
SHE RECOGNIZES THAT SHE CAN'T
OUTSPEND HIM AND SHE'S GOING TO
RUN A LOWER LEVEL GRASSROOTS
KIND OF CAMPAIGN.
SHE'S GOT SOME ISSUES ON HER
SIDE.
>> SHE WAS ENDORSED THIS WEEK BY
GARDEN STATE EQUALITY, THE
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE PROPONENT.
SHE WAS ENDORSED BY THE
PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS OF NEW
JERSEY, WHICH IS NOT THE SAME AS
THE FIREMANS MUTUAL BENEVOLENT
ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS LARGER,
BUT WHICH STILL HAS 3500
HOW DO YOU FROM DOWN HERE SEE
THIS RACE STACKING UP?
MEMBERS.
>> WELL, I'M INTERESTED IN
SEEING WHAT THE EFFECT WILL BE
ON SOME OF THE LOCAL RACES DOWN
HERE.
THE FIRST AND THE SECOND
DISTRICT ARE TWO OF THE CLOSEST
IN THE STATE.
JIM WHALEN IS RUNNING IN THE 2nd
DISTRICT AND THEY THREW
EVERYTHING AT HIM THE LAST TIME
AROUND.
>> AGAINST TWO REPUBLICAN
ASSEMBLY COLLEAGUES AND HE'S A
DEMOCRAT IN THE SENATE.
GO AHEAD.
>> IT'S A SPLIT DISTRICT.
I THINK BOTH ARE TRYING TO PICK
IT UP.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A
GAMBLE ON THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND
IF EARLY SIGNS ARE GOING TO BEAR
THEMSELVES OUT, ONE OF THE
NASTIEST RACES IN THE RACE.
>> GO AHEAD.
THIS IS FOR YOU.
>> I THINK IT'S ONE OF ONLY TWO
SPLIT DISTRICTS IN THE STATE.
I THINK DIANE ALLEN'S.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANOTHER
ONE.
>> SOME PRESS ATTENTION WAS
DRAWN TO THE JOE DIVANCENZO
STATE OF THE COUNTY SPEECH.
HE THOUGHT TO BE ONE OF THE TWO
MOST IMPORTANT POLITICAL FORCES
IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE
STATE.
HE HAD GOVERNOR CHRISTIE AT HIS
SPEECH ALONG WITH SENATE
PRESIDENT SWEENEY, SPEAKER
OLIVER AND I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER
WHO ELSE BUT ONE OR TWO OTHER
IMPORTANT PEOPLE.
>> CORY BOOKER.
>> CORY BOOKER, THANK YOU.
BUT HE DID NOT HAVE BARBARA
BUONO AND THAT LED TO
SPECULATION THAT HE'S REALLY FOR
CHRISTIE AND NOT FOR HIS OWN
FELLOW DEMOCRAT, WHICH I THINK
HE DISPUTES.
DOES THIS AMOUNT TO ANYTHING?
>> WELL IN THE LONG RUN IT MAY
VERY WELL.
IT DEPENDS ON WHAT DIVICENZO
DOES.
HE HAS SAID, YOU KNOW, CHRIS
CHRISTIE IS THE GRAEFRT THING
SINCE SLICED BREAD BUT HE'S
STILL A DEMOCRAT.
LET'S SEE HOW HE FOLLOWS UP ON
THAT.
IT IS ALTOGETHER POSSIBLE THAT
SUPPRESSING THE NUMBERS AND -- A
REPUBLICAN CAN'T WIN IN ESSEX
COUNTY, BUT SUPPRESSING THE
NUMBERS CAN HELP YOU STATEWIDE,
AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE
THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> WHEN SWEENEY IS UP THERE, YOU
KNOW, ALL THE BIG, YOU KNOW
THERE WAS ONE CAMDEN-BASED
DEMOCRAT WHO WASN'T UP THERE,
BUT EVERYONE ELSE WAS THERE AND
CHRISTIE.
AND THE FACT THAT BUONO IS NOT
THERE, I THINK IT SPEAKS TO --
YES, THEY ARE GOING TO ENDORSE
HER AND THEY ALL HAVE, BUT I
DON'T THINK --
>> THEY ARE ALL TRYING TO
PRETEND IT MATTERS.
BUT IT WOULD NOT HAVE MELTED IN
ANY OF THEIR MOUTHS IF HE'S UP
THERE SAYING, WELL, SENATOR
BUONO HAD A CONFLICT.
THAT'S WHY SHE WASN'T HERE.
AND THIS IS A GOVERNMENT EVENT.
THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL EVENT.
AND YOU HAD TO LAUGH.
>> YEAH.
>> ON TUESDAY, GOVERNOR CHRISTIE
DELIVERS HIS BUDGET MESSAGE.
WHAT IS EACH OF YOU LOOKING FOR
IN THAT SPEECH?
IS THERE AN ISSUE THAT HANGS
OUT?
IS THERE A QUESTION THAT REMAINS
TO BE FILLED IN?
ANYBODY?
>> IT'S SANDY, STUPID.
>> AGAIN?
>> NO, STILL.
AND FROM NOW UNTIL NOVEMBER.
>> I'D BE INTERESTED IF HE SAYS
ANYTHING ABOUT ATLANTIC CITY.
>> DEREK?
I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF HE
WOULD.
BECAUSE IN THE GREATER SCHEME OF
THINGS, ON A BUDGETARY BASIS,
ATLANTIC CITY ONLY MATTERS TO
THE EXTENT THAT IT PROVIDES
MONEY FOR PAD AND SENIOR
TRANSPORTATION.
BUT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO
SEE IF THAT COMES UP.
>> SUZETTE?
>> AS YOU RECALL, HIS STATE OF
THE STATE, 99.9% OF IT WAS ON
HE'S GOING TO BE RIDING THE --
SORRY FOR THE PUN, THE SANDY
SANDY.
WAVE THROUGH ELECTION DAY.
AND THAT'S WHY HIS APPROVAL
RATINGS RIGHT NOW ARE THROUGH
THE ROOF.
HE WANTS TO -- HE HAS SAID HE
WANTS HIS LEGACY TO BE AS THE
GOVERNOR WHO HELPED NEW JERSEY
RECOVER FROM SANDY.
SO HE'S GOT A FOUR-YEAR PROJECT
IN HIS HANDS.
BUT I THINK WITH THE BUDGET
ADDRESS IN TERMS OF THE
GOVERNOR'S RACE AND HOW THAT'S
GOING TO PLAY OUT, I THINK BUONO
IS GOING TO HIT HIM HARD ON THE
STATE'S STILL HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE, MINIMUM WAGE.
YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE ISSUE WITH
PROPERTY TAXES.
SO FOR HIM TO -- I DON'T THINK
HE CAN BE A ONE-TRICK PONY NOW
FOR THE BUDGET ADDRESS.
IT CAN'T BE ALL SANDY.
THERE'S OTHER THINGS GOING ON ON
PEOPLE'S MINDS.
YOU STILL HAVE THE EFFECTS OF
THE RECESSION.
PEOPLE ARE -- A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE STILL OUT OF WORK.
AND I THINK SHE'S GOING TO COME
UP WITH A THEME.
JOBS, MINIMUM WAGE, TO SOLIDIFY
THE DEMOCRATIC BASE OF LABOR
UNIONS WHO CARE ABOUT STUFF LIKE
THAT.
SO I THINK HE HAS TO BRANCH OUT.
AND HE DOES HAVE TO, I THINK,
ADDRESS ATLANTIC CITY IN SOME
CAPACITY, GIVEN WHAT HAPPENED
THIS WEEK, TO SOLIDIFY HIS SOUTH
JERSEY BASE GOING INTO NOVEMBER.
>> JOHN?
>> YEAH, I THINK THE BUDGETS --
HE DOESN'T HAVE MANY, BUT IT'S A
WEAK SPOT FOR HIM.
WE ARE GOING INTO THIS BUDGET
WITH A FAIRLY SIZABLE HOLE,
HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURING
OUT HOW TO FILL IT IF HE'S GOING
FINANCIAL HOLE.
TO LIVE UP TO PAYING --
CONTRIBUTING TO PENSION AND ALL
THE THINGS HE NEEDS TO DO.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY
BUDGET.
HE MAY WANT TO TALK ABOUT SANDY,
BUT HE HAS SOME HARD DECISIONS
TO MAKE.
A BIG ONE IS SCHOOL FUNDING.
THAT'S ONE-THIRD OF THE BUDGET.
THE STATE'S CONTRIBUTION TO
SCHOOLS.
AND HE TOOK A BIG HIT A COUPLE
OF YEARS AGO WHEN HE HAD TO CUT
THAT AID TO SCHOOLS.
AND I DON'T THINK -- I THINK FOR
AN ELECTION YEAR, THAT WOULD BE
SOMETHING HE WOULDN'T WANT TO
DO.
BUT HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO DOLE OUT THAT
>> SCHOOLS IS YOUR AREA OF
EXPERTISE AND I'M SEEING THERE'S
$9 BILLION.
JOCKEYING GOING ON AROUND SCHOOL
FUNDING RIGHT NOW.
IT'S BACK AGAIN, THE ARGUMENT
ABOUT WHETHER WE'RE -- WHETHER
HE'S PLANNING TO CUT FROM THE
AT-RISK DISTRICTS OR NOT.
IS THAT RIGHT?
>> IT'S NOT QUITE CUTTING FROM
THEM.
IT'S GIVING THEM LESS -- IT'S
QUITE COMPLICATED IN TERMS OF
HOW THE FUNDING FORMULA WORKS.
IT'S GIVING THEM A LITTLE LESS
EXTRA MONEY THAT IS AIMED FOR
THOSE KIDS WITH THE GREATEST
NEEDS.
AND YES, HE CERTAINLY HAS
SIGNALED THROUGH HIS
COMMISSIONER THAT HE WANTS TO,
YOU KNOW, MAKE THESE CHANGES IN
THE FORMULA.
THERE'S BEEN PUSHBACK FROM
ADVOCATES FOR THESE DISTRICTS,
AND AVID VERSUS BERKS IS THE
LONGEST RUNNING SCHOOL EQUITY
CASE IN THE COUNTRY.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF IT
AGAIN.
SO THIS IS -- AND THIS FEEDS
INTO THE SUPREME COURT AND WHAT
HE WANTS TO DO THERE.
IT'S A BIG ISSUE.
THIS WILL NOT BE AN EASY ONE.
>> WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.
ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS WANT SUBPOENA
POWER TO GET THE STATE TREASURER
TO COME BEFORE THEM WHEN THEY
WANT HIM TO DO SO TO TALK BUDGET
STUFF.
SOMETHING THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS RESISTED.
IS THIS A REAL GAME OR IS THIS
SOME KIND OF POLITICAL -- WE
ALWAYS USE THE PHRASE KABUKI
THEATER.
>> THE TREASURER HAS BEEN TOO
BUSY WITH OTHER MEETINGS TO
THAT'S NOT RESISTANCE, IS IT?
ATTEND.
LOOK --
>> I LIKE THE CHAIRMAN'S LINE IN
THE PAPER, I GUESS IT WAS TODAY,
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BUSY
SCHEDULES, TOO.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT.
>> YEAH, I MEAN, THERE'S -- YOU
KNOW, IN MY YEARS COVERING,
THERE'S CERTAINLY BEEN LESS
GOING INTO THIS BUDGET, LESS
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO
BRANCHES.
THEY ARE NOT EVEN SHOWING UP AT
THESE MEETINGS.
AND IF YOU ASK DEMOCRATIC
LEADERS, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT,
THEY REALLY DON'T --
>> FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I'VE
BEEN COVERING THEM LONGER THAN
YOU AND THEY ONLY SHOW UP AFTER
THE BUDGET SPEECH.
THEY DON'T GENERALLY SHOW UP
WHEN SUMMONED.
WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.
JOHN, SUZETTE, NICK, DEREK,
THANKS VERY MUCH.
WE'LL BE BACK WITH ANOTHER
"ROUNDTABLE" NEXT SATURDAY AT
5:30 AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 9:00.
ON "ON THE RECORD" FOUR
LEGISLATORS TALK SOUTH JERSEY
AND LIFTING ISSUES.
NJ TV WILL CARRY GOVERNOR
CHRISTIE'S BUDGET ADDRESS LIVE
ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
THANKS TO THE SOUTHERN NEW
JERSEY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FOR
HOSTING US.
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "REPORTERS
ROUNDTABLE" WITH MICHAEL ARON IS
PROVIDED BY -- PSE&G.
SERVING CUSTOMERS, STRENGTHENING
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND
INVESTING IN NEW JERSEY'S
FUTURE.
ATLANTIC CITY.
DO ANYTHING.
DO EVERYTHING.
VISIT DO ATLANTIC CITY.COM.
AND DO AC.
PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
"NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE."
THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION, REPORTING TO
EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE
LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF
THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.