Long-time Atlantic City activist Steve Young returned to WPG Talk Radio 95.5s “Hurley in the Morning” today at 8:04 a.m.

You can listen to the wide-ranging interview on the WPG Talk Radio app and simply click on the podcasts button on the front page.

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I pressed Steve Young in every on-air way possible at every turn and I regret to inform you that at this time, Young still remains “110%” committed to shutting down Atlantic City on Saturday, July 4, 2020, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at The Clayton Graham Public Safety Building.

I have also talked with Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small since this morning’s interview. Mayor Small remains optimistic that he can work through the issues and achieve effective conflict resolution and avoid this potential shutdown.

The casinos have received permission from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy to re-open at 25% capacity on Thursday, July 2, 2020. Should this “shutdown” occur - on what is normally the busiest Saturday of the year - it will be very detrimental to the casinos and all Atlantic City businesses and patrons.

Young restated his allegation that Atlantic City is affected by “systemic racism.” I offered to him a blunt assessment that he is The Chairman of the Atlantic City Planning Board, a member of the Atlantic City Citizen’s Advisory Committee and that he has received a grant for his own personal business from the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority.

Steve Young shared the following regarding the CRDA grant that he received:

“Polaris Development Group LLC Black owned company in Atlantic City received in the year 2001 the amount of $200,000 from CRDA to do a Market and Feasibility Study for a Black Wall Street on Black Historical Kentucky Avenue in Atlantic City. To create a Entertainment District. All was completed and been waiting almost 20 years for implementation.”

“However, government politics and CRDA changes every 3 to 4 years bringing systemic racism to delay advancement of Black Economics and doing for self in Atlantic City,” said Young.

My point in sighting these examples is that there are great opportunities for African-Americans in Atlantic City and that Young, himself is a perfect example that this upward mobility and potential already exists.

Of interest to you may also be today’s 9:00 a.m. hour, again it’s available on demand on our WPG Podcasts.

This is Mayor Charles Cain’s regular weekly “The Auto Plaza at English Creek” program. But, today it was an hour discussion, with a number of listener phone calls all about this important subject matter.

Young ultimately blamed Governor Murphy for the “systemic racism,” something I strenuously reject and disagree with.

Governor Murphy just may be the most inclusive Governor in New Jersey history. Making this particular Young allegation the exact opposite of the truth.

There will be more developments over the next few days. I’ll keep you posted right here and on-air with any important updates.

Avoiding the shutdown of Atlantic City this Saturday, July 4, 2020 is a moral imperative.

It’s America’s Independence Day and such an important day for peak commerce.

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