Atlantic City Weekly

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Thanks to the cooperation of Senator Jim Whelan and Assemblymen John Amadeo and Vince Polistina, the acting commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, Mark Mauriello, has consented to attend a meeting with the Boardwalk Committee’s Dune Committee on Tuesday, Oct. 20, in Boardwalk Hall. The legislators representing Atlantic County had written to the commissioner about the issue of the growth of the dunes since they were installed. In his letter to them, Mauriello said, “Although I cannot agree with the recommendation of the Boardwalk Committee, I am available to discuss the matter with [them].”

We requested the opportunity to explain our view of the issue and we are delighted to be able to talk directly with the commissioner and then take a walk on the Boardwalk to show him the effect of the dune growth on those strolling on the boards and the safety issues it has created. The meeting is only open for the commissioner and his staff, the Boardwalk Committee’s Dune Committee, the legislators and representatives of Atlantic City and Atlantic County. The results of our meeting will be in next week’s column.

Dream Becomes Reality

For the past several years, there has been a dream about the establishment of an Aviation Research and Technology Park, adjacent to the Federal Aviation Technical Center. I’m happy to inform you that the dream will become a reality at 11am, on Monday, Oct. 19, with the groundbreaking of the first building to be constructed on that site. It will take place at the Midland Hanger No. 3, at the Atlantic City International Airport. According to a press release, the park will be a high-technology aviation facility that provides the opportunity for FAA’s partners to perform research, development, testing integration and verification of NextGen technologies. The Aviation Park will enable private firms to enter into agreements with the FAA to engage in research projects, with access to state-of-the-art federal laboratories.

The Aviation Research and Technolgy Park, Inc., a non-profit corporation, engaged a nationally recognized consulting team to undertake an independent feasibility study. The study concluded that the site can accommodate 400,000 square feet of lab and support space.

More than 2,000 new, high-skilled jobs will be created, adding to the existing labor force of 3,000 at or in support of the Tech Center. It is nice to know that the dream of this project will become a reality with the groundbreaking of the first of what may be seven buildings in the complex. It will bring to our area major aviation firms that will help plan and execute the next generation of the aviation industry.

The Aviation Research and Technology Park is a cooperative effort of the following organizations: the South Jersey Economic Development District, the Aviation Research and Technology Park of N.J., The FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic County, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, the Richard Stockton College of N.J., the N.J. Economic Development Authority, the South Jersey Transportation Authority of the A.C. International Airport, and the United States Economic Development Administration. The support of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber has been gratefully acknowledged and appreciated for their assistance in the development of this magnificent project.

A License for Panhandlers?

One of the biggest and most persistent complaints from people walking the Atlantic City Boardwalk is about the number of panhandlers asking for money. Unfortunately, the courts have ruled that they have the right to do this. At the present time the only restriction that Atlantic City has is an ordinance that prohibits aggressive begging.

I recently read an Internet story relating that Raleigh, N.C., had an ordinance wherein a license must be obtained by beggars or panhandlers that has specific rules to obtain and maintain a license. The following are the main elements of the ordinance: the permit is free, they last for one year, photo identity is needed to apply, a warrant check is conducted before a permit is issued, when the license is issued the guidelines are to be explained to the individual, no begging or panhandling may take place within 100 feet of any ATM or any other machine at which money is dispensed to the public and no begging or panhandling may take place between the hours of 9pm to 8am.

Before reading this information, I had a call from A.C. 1st Ward Councilman Bruce Ward about his attending our next Boardwalk Committee meeting. As soon as I finished reading it, I called him and told him about it. He said he would contact Council Solicitor Billie Moore with a request to obtain a copy of the Raleigh, N.C., ordinance. I also placed a call to Atlantic City Police Captain Joe Fair and told him about it. He sent a communication to Police Chief John Mooney with a copy of the newspaper story to inform him of my call. Capt. Fair stated, “I believe that the addition of such an ordinance would be a valuable tool in our effort to make Atlantic City safer and promote tourism. I recommend that the Atlantic City Solicitor’s Office be contacted and requested to research the Raleigh ordinance and determine whether it would be legally appropriate to create a similar ordinance in Atlantic City.”