Casino Exec's concerned about who's steering AC...

October 2007

The situation with Atlantic City mayor Bob Levy and his latest so-called leave of absence has many casino executives concerned. While many of these same execs are used to the chaos of the Atlantic City political scene the Levy case is different in that it has become so public.

"This is the worst it has ever been," said an Insider casino source.

"There's real trepidation all over the city in the casino ranks. Everyone is wondering how it will play out."

Levy was supposed to resign late in September, but then checked into an unknown hospital, leaving the city in the hands of city administrator Dominic Capella. Capella was not elected to the office, and now City Council is fighting for control of the mayoral office.

All this is going on while billions of dollars in potential Atlantic City development is sitting on the fence. It used to be funny to many in the city, but it is not anymore as there is too much at stake. And do not forget the scenario where the state of New Jersey steps in and appoints a caretaker. Could that caretaker be former state senator Bill Gormley?

Stay tuned everybody. People around the country cannot believe what is going on in Atlantic City at the local political level. Truth is really stranger than fiction. The Insider is betting that the next mayor of Atlantic City will be William "Speedy'' Marsh.

Remember the Booming Boardwalk Hall...

Where have all the concerts gone? Last fall, Boardwalk Hall was packed with shows like Elton John, Barry Manliow and Barbara Streisand. But this season the only major show at Boardwalk Hall is The Police, while acts like Genesis, Van Halen and Bruce Springsteen played Philadedlphia in late September and early October.

One explanation for the lack of big-time acts may be the exodus of Bally senior vice president Ken Condon in December. Condon is leaving Harrah's Entertainment at the expiration of his contract in December. It was Condon who booked many of the major acts into Boardwalk Hall, as well as major fights such as the Jermain Taylor-Kelly Pavlik middleweight bout that put 10,000 in Boardwalk Hall on September 29th.

Look for Borgata to maybe step up with shows, but Borgata would rather do them at its own Event Center inside the casino.

Innaugural Blues Festival a hit...

Speaking of concerts, Insider kudos to Herb Birch (Bubba Mac) for staging a two-day blues festival at Bernie Robbins Stadium. While attendance could have been better, it was a bold move by Bubba Mac who is laying the groundwork for future endeavors with blues festivals.

Locals certainly miss the live music that Bubba Mac provided in Somers Point with the Bubba Mac Shack. And where has all the live music gone in Somers Point for that matter? The Bubba Mac Shack is missed. And if you heard some rumblings from the Blues Festival it might have been from the shouting match between AC Surf owner Mark Schuster and AC Seafood Festival promoter Tony Sbarra. Sbarra wants Schuster to pay him money he feels he is owed from the event. Meanwhile Schuster has either fired or accepted resignations from veteran Surf staffers, and many are wondering if there will be a Surf team in Atlantic City next season.

OJ Thought "What Happens In Vegas, Stays in Vegas"...

From the too funny but true Insider section: How about OJ Simpson telling a reporter that he thought what happened in Vegas stays in Vegas, prior to his latest arrest. We guess that means if anybody in Atlantic City is arrested for a CDS they can say, "This is the city that is always turned on officer." Stay safe people.

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.