For Atlantic City, the hits just keep coming.
The numbers are in for the 11 shore casinos for the second quarter of the year. They are not pretty.
Gross operating profits were down 22.6 percent as the casinos raked in only $149 million in the period April through June, as opposed to $192 million for the same period the year before.
And once again the finger of blame is being pointed at Pennsylvania, including Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack, which continues to literally eat Atlantic City’s lunch. Those people who routinely used to shuffle over the bridges and “downtheshore” and now staying closer to home.
But that might not even be the biggest indignity suffered by the struggling shore town.
There’s a new billboard looming over the main highway into town. It’s not one that’s likely to make city officials smile. It carries a message from the city Police Benevolent Association.
This is what is says: “In AC, everyone wants to get lucky. With 73 less police officers, even the bad guys are feeling lucky.”
Ouch!
The police union is vehemently opposed to cuts imposed by the budget-constrained city. The police force could be down 73 officers by Sept. 30 if state funding is not granted. That’s not likely, given the kind of tough budget talk emanating out of new Gov. Chris Christie in Trenton.
Inside the casinos, I think that’s what they call crapping out.
The numbers are in for the 11 shore casinos for the second quarter of the year. They are not pretty.
Gross operating profits were down 22.6 percent as the casinos raked in only $149 million in the period April through June, as opposed to $192 million for the same period the year before.
And once again the finger of blame is being pointed at Pennsylvania, including Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack, which continues to literally eat Atlantic City’s lunch. Those people who routinely used to shuffle over the bridges and “downtheshore” and now staying closer to home.
But that might not even be the biggest indignity suffered by the struggling shore town.
There’s a new billboard looming over the main highway into town. It’s not one that’s likely to make city officials smile. It carries a message from the city Police Benevolent Association.
This is what is says: “In AC, everyone wants to get lucky. With 73 less police officers, even the bad guys are feeling lucky.”
Ouch!
The police union is vehemently opposed to cuts imposed by the budget-constrained city. The police force could be down 73 officers by Sept. 30 if state funding is not granted. That’s not likely, given the kind of tough budget talk emanating out of new Gov. Chris Christie in Trenton.
Inside the casinos, I think that’s what they call crapping out.
Comments