See 2-Page State of NJ Letter: Gives AC Mayor ‘Small’ Authority

We have obtained an internal official state of New Jersey document which unambiguously outlines for all to see … just how little authority Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small has at this time.

It seems almost impossible to believe, but, in light of what’s outlined in the two-page letter (see below), Small may have less governmental authority than any Mayor in America.

For years, the residents of Atlantic City and beyond have well known that the state of New Jersey officially took over full control of Atlantic City.

Of interest, there were many local Atlantic City complaints when former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie initiated the state takeover.

However, Christie largely allowed the local legislature and Mayor to retain a lot of authority regarding local matters. The state focused its attention on the big issues.

Read this letter that we’ve obtained. Atlantic City now faces a much more restrictive environment versus the Christie Administration.

And, yet the same locals who complained about Christie say nothing now.

Here’s the letter. Read it and you decide.

The state has vested significant power in former New Jersey Senator Chris Brown, who is the Senior Advisor to Atlantic City.

CHRIS BROWN AUTHORITY & ROLE

The Director (of New Jersey Community Affairs) appoints Chris Brown as the Senior Advisor. The Senior Advisor will serve as the team leader and representative point of contact on behalf of the Director to establish a streamlined system of communication between the Director, DIGS, and City staff. All requests and concerns of Atlantic City shall be submitted by the Business Administrator (*BA"), in writing, through the
Senior Advisor to the Director for the Director's approval.

The Senior Advisor will coordinate with DLGS staff and develop a five-year plan with each of
the City departments, including, but not be limited to, Police, Fire, Office of Emergency Management, and Lifeguard Services.

HIRING PRACTICES - REQUIREMENTS

All hires, which include replacement and new positions, requested by Atlantic City shall be submitted by the Business Administrator via an MOU waiver. Atlantic City shall not add an employee nor enroll them in the Civil Service system until the BA submits the waiver, in writing,
to the Senior Advisor and the Director approves the request and assigns a waiver number.

All board appointments, which include replacement and new positions, shall be requested as follows. The Business Administrator shall submit the mayoral appointments.

ATLANTIC CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT PURVIEW

Note here (in the excerpt) and in the full letter above that, the state affords Atlantic City Council President much more power than The Mayor.

The letter reads:

"Atlantic City Council appointments shall be submitted by the Council President, or his designee. The proposed appointments shall be submitted through the Senior Advisor, by either the BA or Council President, as dictated by the appointment, to the Director for the Director's approval."

CASINO REINVESTMENT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

All requests for funding from the CRDA by Atlantic City shall be submitted in accordance with the Faulkner Act, which establishes the Business Administrator as the authorized position to approve any fiscal matter. Accordingly, all department heads will be informed, in writing, of this new policy. All requests from department heads must be submitted to the Business Administrator
first for a preliminary review of the request to determine litness and applicability.

These outlined highlights, coupled with the entire contents of this stunning, memorialized 2-page memorandum, fully paints the picture of how little authority Mayor Small actually possesses.

FORMER ATLANTIC CITY MAYOR DON GUARDIAN

When New Jersey Assemblyman Don Guardian was Mayor of Atlantic City … the state also possessed total oversight authority of Atlantic City on paper.

However, Guardian was provided far greater local authority versus Small.

The state of New Jersey has made the position of Mayor of Atlantic City very “small” indeed.