Do something important Saturday, make SURE you're registered to vote

The good, no, make that great people at The Healing is Power Foundation Inc are taking time to make sure you get registered to vote. It's more important this year than ever. Besides Trump vs Clinton you'll be having a say in whether or not we allow casinos in North Jersey and locally if our local city May elections stay where they are or the May date all gets rolled into November elections in 2017. You the voter have some very important decisions to help make. Saturday noon to 4pm. Be a voter.

Great news: A poll shows casino gambling in North Jersey to be failing big time

Johnny has never made any bones about his distaste for a casino anywhere near Jersey City. We pay, the owners get rich and get our money even if we don't go to the casino in the form of abatements. Well, to that voting end of things, a new Farleigh Dickinson Public Mind poll shows 57% opposed to a casino opening via ballot box in North Jersey. Only 35% approve of a casino up north.

Nice to see common sense hasn't left a majority of taxpayers.

More squabbling over casinos between north Jersey and south Jersey

A group of south New Jersey interests are trying to keep north New Jersey from getting casinos (you can already gamble your brains out on your smartphone app or ipad app already) and have raised money and a stink in trying to keep their share of the pie. There's a great article today on the forces marshaling down south to defeat any plan for casinos up north.

Once again Johnny will say that you can build the greatest casino that ever was with golden fountains and silver elevator cars but the minute one opens in nay borough other than Staten Island, it'll be closed within the year. NYC opens a casino, the north Jersey one just closed.

While we're happy Mayor Fulop seems to have backed off wanting a casino in Jersey City...

...We still don't trust this mess is over, and sure wonder why the flip. Fulop as many know has sidled up with a Boston developer to build an unneeded, unnecessary and unsustainable casino in Jersey City, no doubt on the taxpayer's dime while all parking and game revenues go to the very few.

Suddenly though, Fulop paid a visit to Atlantic City and came back thinking, "Know what, maybe we don't want that."  Good, he's been reading the Jersey City Desk again. We have explained in graphs, numbers and anecdotal evidence that a casino would be a very bad thing here.

But why the flip? Let's try and find out together.

Today, Fulop said his discussions with Atlantic City leaders — he met today with its council president, Marty Small — and residents have cooled him to the idea of a Jersey City casino. It's not clear anymore that casinos can bring an economic boost and jobs without bringing along crime and broken promises of economic development, he said.

He said he will spend the next few weeks mulling it over and will announce before November whether he still supports casino expansion. If he decides not to, he told the media in Atlantic City today, he will campaign against the referendum.

"I'm not reluctant to say that sometimes I make a mistake and my position can change based on new information," he told The Jersey Journal.

So, is it really self-reflection at work here? Was this the mayor's fist time to AC and to look around and really see what the economy there is? While we're happy he's obviously been listening to Johnny Jersey City residents must remain ever vigilant on this issue.

Johnny's long said Steve Fulop had some similar traits to Chris Christie

Today that really came to the fore. We have a bully governor with his ridiculous support of a man who told lies about his own state concerning 9/11. We have a mayor who is so running for governor and some pretty skeevy funding but won't admit it. How do you think they'll handle the issue of a casinos in North Jersey? Let's see:

Christie:
Christie also continued allegations Thursday that Prieto is simply acting on behalf of Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, a likely Democratic candidate for governor next year. One of Fulop's possible rivals for the Democratic nomination is state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), the main sponsor of the takeover.

Fulop:

Steven Fulop ‏@StevenFulop  9h9 hours ago

Steven Fulop Retweeted The Jersey Journal

I never read this bill.  @GovChristie will blame me soon 4 Trump's dumb comments on #abortion . my fault as well.  

Our Mayor badly needs an edit key on his smartphone. Abortion? Yes, we get it, Trump's a boob but abortion here was just, well, really out of place. Where's Ryan Jacobs when you actually need him? Back to our leaders...

Christie:
Chris Christie this evening in a statement following the governor’s press conference and repeated accusations that Fulop, acting in the role of a politically ambitious boss, has Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-32) on a short leash.

Fulop:
"If the governor wants to stop north Jersey gaming as a result of this tantrum as he threatens, that is his choice — it doesn't bother us either way," the mayor said. "Jersey City will be just fine."

Johnny:

Shut up the both of you. No casinos in Jersey City, ever.

Kennedy vs Nixon this is not...

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop has decided to elevate his office and place it squarely into the realm of Trenton. Fulop who is bursting at the seams to bring a giant mostly unwanted casino that'll bring the usual bad actors to the contracting game tables and of course more traffic and more crime while well-connected individuals that might donate to a Fulop run for Governor run get all the concessions and the city gets shit but for the infrastructure bill, has decided he's challenging state senate leader Steve Sweeney to a debate over the future of casinos in North Jersey.

While the proper idea of a debate might be two STATEWIDE assembly figures and not a mayor interjecting himself into the process, Fulop's BFF Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto would be the logical choice here, Fulop challenged Sweeney to a debate on NJTV’s On the Record with Michael Aron anyway. That's just sad. His petulance is showing again:

“In recent media reports, Senate President Sweeney inserted my name into the discussion regarding supposed obstacles that he alleges that I inserted for political reasons,” Fulop said in a statement.

Ooooh, a statement. You didn't say that to On The Record? Oh, and by the way, Sweeney's not wrong. EVERYTHING you do now has a political angle to it. Apparently former ironworkers don't take to mayors meddling in state business:

In response, Sweeney spokesman Richard McGrath said, “The Senate President doesn’t have the time to engage in manufactured theatrics with Mr. Fulop, who once again is attempting to insert himself into the legislative process.”

More meddling than a Scooby Doo episode friends. Johnny used to call Councilman Fulop and Mayor Healy the Jersey City version of Itchy and Scratchy but this Sweeney vs. Fulop preening might get even funnier.

More people betting on casinos in North Jersey

And what do we know about betting at casinos? The house normally wins and in New Jersey even that loaded business model can't keep the casinos in Atlantic City from chundering one after the other. A few weeks ago JC Mayor Steve Fulop said he'd be all for a new casino in Jersey City, all 800 floors of it and a race track in tow, Liberty State Park be damned. Since any new bricks and mortar casinos built in the Garden State must get the approval of the AC casinos and a new constitution, maybe Fulop is betting they'll all be gone soon enough and none will be left to fight a change in said state constitution.

But wait fans of going and hanging out at casinos, the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce has proposed FOUR new casinos. Guess where. Go ahead, guess. That's right, at the Meadowlands. The swamps of Jersey. Yes, what's not to love about that idea? Casinos can't work on the Atlantic Ocean with a wonderful boardwalk but the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce thinks they'll work there? Hooo man, we DO have some real thinkers around this state don't we? Again, pick up your smartphone or tablet and gamble your brains out and you needn't head over to the scenic Meadowlands to do it.

If you're wondering about the plan we'll hook you up with a handy link right here. There is also a schematic as to how they think things would shape up. You have been warned. Do come back and tell us of your excitement to get this done!

Everything dies baby that's a fact
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
Put your makeup on fix your hair up pretty and meet me tonight in East Rutherford

Get your hot fresh news roundup, get it while it's HOT

* On a personal note, as Dan Levin pointed out on Twitter after Ward E councilwoman Candice Osborne had a cow about a skunk under or near her own porch:

Daniel Levin ‏@DanLevin_inJC  59m
murder left and right, out of control spending continues, NO budget and the only thing concerning downtown is skunks

* Atlantic City has raised property taxes 29% to cover what the failing casinos can't put back into the coffers (though they PROMISED it to get tax abatements). Ironically Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop is in AC today talking to AFSCME workers. No doubt telling them they'll pay more if his wrongheaded 95 story casino at Liberty State Park ever gets off the ground. Casinos in NJ are a bad bet for everyone.

* For long-time New Jersey residents or those who are fascinated by cold cases, a woman living in Florida has finally been charged with the 1991 murder of her son in Sayreville.

* The Port Authority has said "No way Jose" to the charges that they owe Jersey City some $400 million is a lawsuit filed by JC Mayor Steve Fulop.

* Accuweather is predicting early snow for the Garden State, Thanksgiving to be exact. They say a big snowstorm is practically expected around Turkey Day this year.

* Finally, a trip to Jefferson Township New Jersey where a bear has it ALL figured out. People, I'll act like people...

Rarely has an idea gone sideways this quickly

Any and all goodwill the year-into-his-job mayor had enjoyed is seemingly melting away this morning. The citizens, they do not want a casino here it has become rather apparent. You can see that by clicking here or here.

One of the best comments yet? @wicked9mouse  16m
@StevenFulop Do not ruin Liberty State Park & another highrise on waterfront - if you want to be mayor of Atlantic City - go by all means

LOL

Johnny can't name names but he has confirmed this morning that a high ranking Jersey City official was gobsmacked by this announcement. They were not told nor consulted, which makes us wonder how secretive this deal was trying to become.

For those of you wondering about the impact of a giant casino or casinos, we'll suggest reading articles here, here and here to help keep you informed on this very important topic.

Ward E Councilwoman Candice Osborne is an emphatic NO on a casino in her ward

Johnny tweeted a question to Councilwoman Candice Osborne if there were any plans she'd support to put a casino in Ward E. Her answer? Absolute NO. The correct answer! Winner winner chicken dinner.

Can't get much more straightforward than that and we appreciate that kind of a no-hedge answer. In reading comments on this idea on the NJ.com website Steve Fulop would appear to have quite a fight on his hands over this idea. The Mayor should either deflate the trial balloon or start building the metaphorical breastworks around his city hall office because we can see right now this is going to be one difficult battle for him.

Steve Fulop says he's open to casino gambling here in Jersey City, what about you?

What do you think taxpayer? Would you like more tax abatements handed out after the city pretends to talk tough on them then give them out anyway? Would you like some more of your money to go to a casino? You know how this works. You help pay for it and get nothing in return. Let's look at Atlantic City. Low wages for the few "full time" jobs. Questionable people who tend to show up around casinos doing business on their behalf. How many casinos there really make money? Not with subsidies but really make their own money? Taxpayers help subsidize Atlantic City and what do they get back? Told the casinos aren't making money and can't contribute what was promised back to taxpayers.

Know who is making money? Wal Mart style casinos in Pennsylvania, is THAT what Mayor Fulop has in mind? He'd better clarify and clarify fast. In fact we'd love to hear the specifics of this pie in the sky idea he's latched onto to drop casinos in Jersey City. Whatever economic benefit he'll claim, yeah...