Lewis Pek Editor
Comment December 2016
The US has been in the news a lot, with one man in particular stealing all the headlines. Despite everything that has been said about and by the President-Elect, one thing is clear, he’s certainly an advocate for casinos - though his ability to run them himself is a little questionable.
Atlantic City, the place that saw the rise and fall of Trump’s casino fortunes, was shaken in November by a story that got a little lost in the whirlwind of the presidential election. The story centres around one of Mr. Trump’s major Republican party backers, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and his seizing of power in Atlantic City.
Mr. Christie has taken control of the assets and major decision-making in the struggling resort city that is currently half a billion dollars in debt. The shift in power means that the state now controls Atlantic City, not the City Council. It can sell assets, reverse decisions of the council, break union contracts and hire and fire workers.
The takeover has been condemned by the council and is likely to be challenged in court, but it gives the state a chance to lay out its vision of a new working relationship with the city and its gaming infrastructure.
At face value it looks like the start of undemocratic policies “Trumpeted” by the Republican party. “This is an example of what this country could turn out to be under Chris Christie and President-Elect
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THIS COUNTRY COULD TURN OUT TO BE UNDER CHRIS CHRISTIE AND PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP
Donald Trump, taking away our rights and sovereignty,” said an Atlantic City community activist. However, the news reminded me of an interview, given by Steve Wynn in 2014 with the Wall Street Journal, a must-listen for anyone interested in the early days of casino gaming in the US. In the interview Mr. Wynn talks about his meeting the Rat Pack at 23 years of age on his first night in Vegas. He also discusses his reasons for selling up and leaving Atlantic City, having spoken to two state governors that they needed to take control of the city away from the local government: “They were so corrupt and stupid,” says Wynn. “I said to the governors they must take control of central planning if they are to save this community. Atlantic City had to have the infrastructure of Las Vegas - it had to be a destination city, or face obsolescence.” Wynn’s wish has finally come true, but will a benign dictatorship be better than a ‘corrupt’ democracy? I guess we’re about to find out.
EDITORIAL
G3 Magazine Editor Lewis Pek
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