Posted on 07/05/2006 8:15:28 AM PDT by frogjerk
UL. 5 8:54 A.M. ET New Jersey's casinos ushered the last of the gamblers away from slot machines and tables Wednesday, and janitors locked the doors behind them as a state government shutdown claimed its latest victims. In the first mass closure in the 28-year history of Atlantic City's legalized gambling trade, all 12 casinos were under state orders to lock up. Atlantic City's casinos are lucrative for New Jersey. They have a $1.1 billion payroll, and the state takes an 8 percent cut -- an estimated $1.3 million a day. But as a stalemate over the state budget entered its fifth day Wednesday with no deal in sight, even they had to shut down. With no state budget, New Jersey can't pay its state employees, meaning the casino inspectors who keep tabs on the money and whose presence is required at casinos are off the job. State parks and beaches were also closed Wednesday because of the lack of staff. "It's like last call at a bar. It's a little bit eerie," said Michael Trager, 36, of Cincinnati, was playing a video poker machine at 10 minutes to 8 a.m. when an attendant told him to conclude his bet. "They said, 'That's it, you gotta cash out. We're closing.'" The doors to the Boardwalk side of Caesar's were locked by janitors. An announcement came over the public address system telling gamblers the casino was closing. "It's history," said Andy Trechock, 41, of Depford, as he stepped away from a slot machine at Bally's Wild Wild West casino. The problem started when the Legislature missed its July 1 constitutional deadline to pass the budget amid a fight with Gov. Jon S. Corzine over his proposed boost in the state sales tax. Without a spending plan, Corzine ordered state offices shut
(Excerpt) Read more at businessweek.com ...
This is the camping season and since the state is shut down, people can not get permits to camp/canoe in state forests.
The Casino Inspectors are State Employees.
I thought Tony Soprano's family did the the Garden State garbage collections.
Wait wait ... They are having budgetting problems ... so they close down the states largest cash crop ..... the liberal logic boggles me.
LOL!!
What a show it is. A documentary on socialism.
And now...on with the show.
Corzine made sure that all welfare checks were sent out BEFORE he closed down the state. The August welfare checks need to be mailed by the end of this month.
You have my sympathy. I've spent time in Massachusetts so I know the feeling.
It also should be pointed out that the countys that a Republicans run are doing quite well. Nj aint all that bad, which is why i reside in Wall. Its just too bad that the dem run country have the population gets these clowns in office
Atlantic and Burlington County went blue in the last election. I am pretty sure it will go red in 06.
just got the email below;
From: #################3
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 11:20 AM
To: ###################
Subject:
Just to let you know..I heard that they are gonna have extra police out on the major highways pulling people over even if they are speeding 2 miles per hour over the speed limit..no excuses, they will give out tickets to make up for the closings at AC, MV, parks and some beaches...they will be doing this for 30 days...so don't speed because there will be no exceptions..they will plan to generate 9 million dollars and they will plan to issue 1 ticket every 20 minutes...
However, the casinos are legal places of business, and I'm just a little confused how a budget problem justifies shutting down legal business, and the ton of support businesses that go along with it, to in essence spite your face, while shooting yourself in the foot.
The most despicable thing is that the dems are arguing on how to raise taxes to cover the budget, not on how to reduce spending to balance the budget. of course the NJ newspapers dont have anything to say about that.
As he was signing copies of his latest tome, he regaled us with his election knowledge. He asked everyone in line what state and county we lived in. When he got to me I was ashamed to say it but told him I was from Atlantic County, he looked up at me and grinned saying,"You folks have a lot of work to do."
Looks like Corzine is doing the work for us.
The government (my guess) oversee's banks, oil and gas stations - how come those are not shut down?
I wonder if they can sue for damages.
This is tragic. Look at all the money people are going to save! Terrible.
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