Atlantic City, NJ – Atlantic City business leaders announced today on the boardwalk that casinos and related businesses can reopen to the public Friday, November 2nd, after closure Sunday, Oct. 28th, due to the impact of Hurricane Sandy.
"We want to thank Governor Christie, the state officials, public safety personnel and the emergency management teams who have put Atlantic City into the position to open the city in the most positive way," said John Palmieri, Executive Director, Casino Reinvestment Development Authority.
"Today's opening is more symbolic than about business," said Tony Rodio, President of the Casino Association of New Jersey. "For the 40,000 employees at our 12 casinos and for the thousands of businesses that provide services to our properties, we must open quickly to restart our economic revival for Atlantic City. Today, we gathered on our famed Boardwalk to begin this process and to debunk the idea created by some media that our Boardwalk was destroyed. We are thankful that our Boardwalk survived intact and our hearts and prayers go out to our neighbors and our friends who are also beginning their road to recovery.”
“The speed with which our partners were able to prepare to reopen their doors is a testament to the resilience of our state, and our nation in the face of a disaster of this scale,” said Liza Cartmell, President of the Atlantic City Alliance. “As we recover, our hearts go out to all those who have suffered the storm’s destructive effects. Atlantic City will continue to be an important economic partner as we move forward, anchoring and creating new jobs while also maintaining its special place in the New Jersey landscape.”
Palmieri, Rodio and Cartmell spoke at the press conference held on the boardwalk this afternoon. Reports indicating large-scale damage to the boardwalk are inaccurate. The iconic Atlantic City boardwalk is intact except for a one to two block extension in the eastern inlet area, which does not front any of the casinos and was previously closed to pedestrian traffic. This small section is located in a residential section of Atlantic City, not along the promenade that visitors associate with the resort community.
Transportation access into Atlantic City via major roadways – the Atlantic City Expressway, Route 40, and Route 30 – has fully resumed, clearing the way for the public.
