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 ...
"If anyone gives you any grief, you can always pretend you had no idea you paddled into a state park."
I thought that all navigable water ways were common property, with no ownership rights to enforce.....
I would take the risk myself. If someone actually had the b@lls to write me a citation for "trespassing" on public land when I was perfectly willing and able to buy a permit, I'd do my damn best to burn those state forests to the ground every year for the rest of my life.
The issue may be camping alongside the rivers, not actually paddling a canoe on the water.
That was my question.
WHERE does the government get the right to shut down a business because the State can no longer operate?
If the State is not in operation, how can it 'enforce' anything or require anything from anyone, since it does not, for all practical purposes, even exist?
>>>>If the State is not in operation, how can it 'enforce' anything or require anything from anyone, since it does not, for all practical purposes, even exist?
Bump! You are good! I hope you are a conservative lawyer!
I wonder if the entire schedule of events will be pushed back, or if the preliminary events will just be cancelled completely. I was thinking of going up next week to try my luck at the $300 LHE.
Well, now it is...........the casinos are exempt from the smoker ban.
Pass the Popcorn over here please.
ditto 2
Norm and Karl, I pinged you only to make the comment that this is why I was opposed to our recall here in California. The Dims get to hide behind a nominal Republican governor. I'd much rather than control everything so, like in NJ, they have nowhere to hide. Although what's done is done, I honestly think we shot ourselves in the foot with that recall. Sigh.
They'll probably move it back a week or two. That will coinside with my 2 week vacation....hmmm...
Thanks, Wolfstar, I understand your feelings on the Recall, and acknowledge that while things may appear to some to now be headed the right direction, in fact, nothing much has changed. If anything, things are getting worse.
The rate of spending has increased and is reflective of the gullibility and general apathy of the voters of this state.
This 'borrow and spend' your way to prosperity hasn't worked before and likely will not work in this case either.
And the down side is???
Worst of all, our crazy Marxist legislature keeps passing one insane Leftist bill after another, but they get to hide behind the skirts of our pseudo-Republican governor.
Where I live, there isn't a single Republican who represents me in the state legislature or Congress.
I let my mom do that a few times, then I gave in and drove the hour. I was worried she'd get lost. I never gambled. Not that I think it's a bad thing...to each his own. I just wasn't as lucky as she was. Anyhow, I was company for her since she didn't know anyone. I'd stand there for hours next to her, holding all her containers of quarters she won...bored out of my mind!
Do they still have the free buses with the complimentary $20 worth of quarters?
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