In a year that we’ve seen hundreds upon hundreds of billions of taxpayers’ dollars dumped into seemingly worthless “bailouts” and “stimulus packages,” Atantic County Freeholders decided to do their own stimulus for Boscov’s, the privately owned department store at the Shore Mall:

Atlantic County Freeholder Chairman James Curcio, who voted against the application, said the action is “not a good idea.”

“To give a pass-through loan of this type to (Boscov’s) is unfair to the other businesses in this county,” Curcio said. “We are singling out one business at a time when other businesses in the county are struggling. There is risk to the people of Atlantic County. This is something that worries me. The people of Atlantic County are going to be carrying this risk for some time.”

Atlantic County taxpayers are now on the hook for up to $1 million if Boscov’s defaults on their loans needed to stay in business after its original owner, Mr. Boscov, bought the chain back.

McDevitt and Curcio should be applauded for trying to hold the line on fiscal discipline in Atlantic County. Yes, Boscov’s employs local county residents. But too often we’ve seen private industry gobble up taxpayer money to no benefit of our economy.

Based on the first round of ELEC reports, the Atlantic County Republican Freeholder candidates are bankrolled much deeper than their Democrat candidates. Tom Barlas reports from the Press:

Reports released this week by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission, or ELEC, show Republicans John Amodeo and Vince Polistina have more than $54,000 in their campaign accounts.

Jim Curcio, Hammonton’s local Freeholder is defending his crown against another Hammontonian, Sam Mento. According to the report Mento has $5,000 in his account, and Curcio has “more than $5,000.” That race is a little closer so far in dollars, but Curcio enjoys a strong Republican base in Hammonton and the outlying towns he represents.

Republicans in Atlantic County may breathe a little easier for now, as threats of a growing Dem voter count in the county have yet to translate into bigger coffers for their candidates.

Frank Giordano, Altantic County Freeholder, has left the Democratic Party and joined up with Atlantic County Republicans to make the Freeholder Board a 7-2 Republican Majority.

Republicans further bolstered their once-dwindling hold on the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders when a Democratic member of the panel joined their ranks.
Freeholder Frank Giordano left the Democratic Party to become a Republican on Friday.

Full story at AC Press

He was found in his car in Atlantic City with a gunshot wound to the chest. He underwent successful surgery and suvived.

According to a press release from Atlantic County today, an interlocal agreement between Atlantic County and the Town of Hammonton will allow Hammonton to control the bidding process for much needed roadwork on Central Ave between Bellevue and Route 30.

The town will receive $2 million for engineering costs of the project. The road is a county road, but the county has agreed to the interlocal agreement, perhaps to speed up the process of it getting done, and cutting down on engineering costs.

A Press article today outlined Denny Levinson and gang’s new ordinaces that make stricter disclosure rules in the county.

Atlantic County officials today will take the first steps toward making their proposed “Government Integrity Agenda” law.
The Board of Chosen Freeholders will introduce two ordinances, with one creating an open application process and public directory of people involved with volunteer county positions. The second ordinance requires public integrity training for all county employees in management positions.

EHT’s mayor won the vote 87-61 to replace Bill Gormley.

And boy is he angry.