Chris Christie, New Jersey Governor, Calls for Atlantic City Makeover

Watch out, Vegas, Atlantic City might get all done up like a fresh-faced showgirl (oxymoron?) if legislatures agree with a proposal to spruce up the still kinda gritty boardwalk-clad gambling city with a state-controlled plan. At a press conference today, Christie stood firmly behind the proposals issued in a report by the New Jersey Gaming, Sports and Entertainment Advisory Commission to add both gaming and non-gaming attractions that will draw a crowd to the South Jersey locale.

In addition to heavily focusing on the state's improvement of Atlantic City, the proposals include the possible sale or closure of the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford because, Christie said, Atlantic City has a much stronger effect on the state's overall economy.

"Investors do not want to go a city they see as unclean and unsafe," Christie said earlier today at Meadowlands Stadium, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. Actually, no one wants to go somewhere unclean and unsafe, and AC has been fighting its dirty Jerz reputation for years.

There's already a super swanky express Amtrak train from New York City to Atlantic City, so maybe eventually the destination city will match even the nicest public transportation to it.

Also, the New York Times pointed out that "Atlantic City casinos have been battered by new competition in recent years from 26 casinos or slot machine parlors in Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and Delaware." So, it's high time for a much-needed update if the East Coast gambling mecca wants to maintain a competitive edge.

The state-run Gaming, Sports and Entertainment Advisory Commission will negotiate the terms of the proposal, Christie said. July 2011 is the deadline for the commission's "master plan" for the Atlantic City gaming district overhaul.

Close your eyes, and imagine a future trip to Atlantic City with this. Hey, it could happen.

via The Star-Ledger

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