AC “wired” for sound...

September 2006

Call it "The Wire."

And it's just not the HBO show that drew decent reviews from the critics. This show runs in Atlantic City, which once again has taken a shot from a federal investigation into political corruption in the city.

Unless you have been hiding underneath the high tide, you know that Atlantic City Council president Craig Calloway has pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in Federal Court in Camden.

Now we know why Calloway mysteriously dropped out of the mayoral race almost 19 months ago, citing bogus health reasons.

But here's what a lot of Atlantic City powerborkers didn't know – Calloway was wearing a wire while cooperating with federal authorities to reduce his prison term. Some people, like Atlantic City's No. 1 muckraking journalist Harry Hurley, may have known this. But many did not. And as a result, there are many sweaty palms in the city of Atlantic City as this edition of The Insider goes to press.

Who said what to Calloway and how did it sound on tape? So many questions... so many people in power wondering why.

While many of the city's movers and shakers knew of Calloway's supposed troubles, they still chose to break bread with him, talk to him, and cajole him. How else can you explain why so many reputable businesspersons are wondering now what they might have said to Calloway while he was wearing the wire in the tradition of the late Al Black, who helped bring down former Atlantic City mayor Jim Usry's administration.

Anxiety rules Atlantic City as September approaches. There are wild rumors flowing everywhere about who might be implicated, but it is certain that there will be more indictments in Operation "Steal Pier." And some of those names are bound to bring shock and awe to everybody around Atlantic City.

Sources tell the Insider that this is a methodical, carefully constructed probe bent on wiping out city corruption and greed at the Atlantic City level.

The fact that it took almost nineteen months to allow Calloway to plead guilty tells you something, doesn't it?

This time the Federal Government means business as it tries to stamp out a damn spot that has plagued Atlantic City for far too long.

And there are many in the media, and they know who they are, who also might have something to worry about. Some of them accepted Calloway like he was the savior of the city, and seemed to wear blinders when they put him on the air or wrote about him, despite knowing about his troubled past and questionable political tactics.

To quote Thomas Paine: "These are the times that try men's souls."

Is it live... or is it memorex? Only U.S. District Attorney Chris Chisty knows for sure. In the City That's Always Turned On, "wired" suddenly has a whole new meaning.

Summer good for most businesses...

So what kind of season was it at the Jersey Shore, with the high gas prices and falling real estate market? A very good one, according to the Ocean City Boardwalk merchants The Insider talked to. Few of them were bothered by the horrible weather on Labor Day weekend because they had already made record profits.

"If you have to have Labor Day weekend than you ain't gonna make it." said one longstanding Boardwalk merchant. "It was a great season because the weather was great; especially in August."

Sands Sold to Pinnacle Entertainment...

This just in to The Insider; employees at the Sands will receive termination notices this week as the casino announces it has been purchased by Pinnacle Entertainment. The Sands will be shut down within 70 days and all the employees will lose their jobs. They will receive severance packages, however. Pinnacle wants a brand new facility and didn't want to bother to try and renovate the Sands as it exists now.

The Insider is written by a prominent local business person who chooses to remain anonymous at this time. The opinions and news bites are that of The Insider and do not necessarily reflect the positions or views of this magazine, it's staff, or its publisher.