Atlantic City in the Red

Tornoe toon: Cash for Clunkers in Atlantic City

So Atlantic City passed their $200 million budget, but things look rough for the gambling mecca moving forward.

Here are some numbers from Michael Clark's Press of Atlantic City piece:

• The city has to defer more than $6 million in payments to the state's pension system, leaving a large hole that needs to be filled next year.

• The budget includes an $11 million increase in taxes

• The city had to raid their piggy bank to pay for the budget, depleting their surplus by $9 million, all the way down to $850,000.

But hey, at least the air show was cool.

Atlantic City Casinos: It's Only a Flesh Wound

As if the times weren't already tough enough for the casinos in Atlantic City, Delaware Governor Jack Markell has signed his controversial sports betting bill into law, paving the way to sports betting and table games to make their way to Delaware's 3 racinos (one of which I pissed off with this cartoon).

Atlantic City’s casinos have been taking a beating, with gaming revenue down 15.7 percent for the first four months of 2009 and headed for a third straight year of declines.

It's estimated that table games in both Pennsylvania and Delaware would cut into Atlantic City’s $4.55 billion annual gaming revenue by about 5 percent, although he has also calculated a worst-case scenario of about 10 percent.

If Atlantic City wants to survive, it needs to get on the path following Las Vegas to a family destination. Atlantic City still offers something that no casino in the surrounding area can ever compete with - the beach.

Unless the Delaware racinos, protected by a state-run monopoly, get smart and build a casino at Rehoboth Beach.

Scott Evans needs help in Atlantic City

MGM gambling with Atlantic City

Maybe it isn't the best time to invest in a huge casino in one of the most chaotic environments in the country.

MGM plans new Atlantic City casino
Business Week

For the artwork, I tried to experiment with a bit of a different style. I inked it entirely with quills (as opposed to a brush) and tried to keep it free and loose. I also kept my sketch looser than normal, because I wanted to try and draw with the ink.

It was fun, but I can safely say I'm no Joe Kubert.


Here's the sketch:

The stupendous, amazing Atlantic City

I'm sorry, I wish I had something cool I could tell you, or offer a bit of insight on this cartoon. But it's 5:00 AM, and I'm beat! Today (well, yesterday) was a great day, as I got to meet two amazing artists that I admire, James Gurney and Richard Thompson. I'll post some pics up tomorrow, but for now, sleeeeee........

NJ Democratic Party Conference Sketches

Last month, I had the good fortune to cover the Democratic Party's 2007 Conference in Atlantic City for The Press. It's the first time I've ever tired to cover an event like this by sketching, but I learned some valuable lessons that I'll take with me next time.

It was just a shame that the only national candidate to show up was Hillary (strong-armed by her buddy Corzine). Maybe this proves that it was a waste of time and money to push up New Jersey's primary date, a fact I bemoaned in a cartoon I did that weekend:

The best part of the luncheon had to be when Hillary threw out a line that she considers herself an honorary New Jerseyan, but that she doesn't want New Jersey to, "...charge any more property taxes than what I pay across the river in New York." Yeah, uncomfortable reaction by state Dems at best.

Anyway, on to the sketches:

Hillary may have been the only candidate to attend
the conference, but supporters of both Obama
and Edwards were on hand to simply support
their candidates, or in the case of
U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman, taking a swipe
at Hillary to do so.


No matter how much they preach 'Party of the people,' normal
folks still seem to stand outside of the political process.


Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts wearingly fields reporters'
questions about Mims Hackett Alfred Steele, 2 assemblymen
netted in the latest round of arrests
by U.S. Attorney Chris Christie.


United we bargain, divided we beg...unless your represented
by the Governor's former girlfriend.


Lobbyists and their electronic devices swarm
outside the conference.


The "honorary New Jerseyan" tries her best to play off
a property-tax jab she unintentionally aimed at the democratic
leadership in attendance.


Just a random face awash in a sea of politicos.


More interesting faces.

Total Recall

Well, my old punching bag Mayor Levy is in hot water again. According to a story by Derek Harper at The Press of Atlantic City, six of the nine Atlantic City councilmembers have signed the petition seeking Levy's recall.

Part of the support for a recall is the continued push of the Levy-Callaway-Baldwin salary hike scheme, which voters overwhelmingly opposed, and whose opposition was upheld in both the Superior and Appellate Court level. Levy is appealing the decision to the Supreme Court.

The best quote has to come from Councilman Robinson, who said that he signed the recall because Levy "has turned the city administration over to (Business Administrator) Domenic Cappella, who is letting evil rule his life."

Recall group: Majority of council have signed petition

Here's the sketch:

Atlantic County Executive

One of the more interesting races to watch in the state is right here in Atlantic County. Dennis Levinson, a former history teacher and the only Republican county executive in the state, is defending his Atlantic County Executive seat against his challenger, Sheriff Jim McGettigan.

Already a contentious debate with 3 months to go, this fight will just continue to degrade and degrade, until the candidates are simply reduced to pissing on one another.

From Matt Friedman at PoliticsNJ.com:

"Each candidate insists that his opponent is desperate. Levinson often repeats of McGettigan, “The only time he opens his mouth is to put the other foot in.” McGettigan, for his part, says that Levinson’s campaign is in a “tailspin.” The personal animosity between the candidates is palpable, with charges of pension padding, misuse of public resources and incompetence flying back and forth on a daily basis."

Atlantic County Executive fight
PoliticsNJ

McGettigan peppers executive race with salty language
Press of Atlantic City

Here's the sketch:

Mayor Levy...where ARE YOU?

Mayor Levy is like the Invisible Man of Atlantic City, and these days, it's probably best that he keeps out-of-sight. Between a recall bid and his recent health problems, Levy has been a pre-occupied man. Add to that the latest in-fighting between the Atlantic City Council and administration, and their reluctance to okay the resort's budget, and it's not been a great week for Mr. Mayor.

Here's the sketch:



Responding to recall bid, Levy says he won’t quit

Atlantic City Council passes budget

AC stills brings the best

Just some quick hits about recent corruption issues in Atlantic City:

Law firm accuses Pleasantville BOE of organized corruption

Ex Atlantic City school board candidates file whistleblower suit

Scandal has not dulled interest in Atlantic City Council seats in resort



Here's the sketch: