The Hidden Problem Behind Atlantic City’s Casinos That Officials Are Finally Confronting
A quiet crisis has grown for years a few streets from Atlantic City’s casinos and coastline. The city’s historic network of tiny hotels, formerly advertised as budget-friendly alternatives to large resorts, has become a source of safety concerns, quality-of-life complaints, and unhappiness for residents who want their city to feel secure and welcoming again
City officials are exhausted.
Atlantic City Council decisively adopted tight hotel regulations on properties under 100 rooms last Monday. City officials say these low-income housing complexes aren’t supervised, allowing crime to proliferate.
A new law will closely monitor small motels. For owners to meet health and safety standards, laws require security cameras, updated safety measures, and annual inspections. The city may fine motels for not addressing inspection issues in 30 days.
Visitor tracking is another important law. Administrators must now record visitors to avoid 90-day stays. Long-term, unmonitored stays, which increase crime, may decrease.
Officials believe it’s part of a wider image-improvement push for Atlantic City. After decades of fighting narcotics, prostitution, and disorder at some of the smallest hotels, officials want to show locals and visitors that the city is committed to real, visible progress.
Council Vice President Kaleem Shabazz said the initiatives demonstrate the city’s cleanliness and safety. He said some motel owners produce more problems than the city can handle.
More than half of Atlantic City’s 40 hotels have fewer than 100 rooms. In summer, hotels near main corridors contain thousands of short-term rooms. Vacations and home violence strain city services and adjacent neighborhoods, warn officials.
NEW Atlantic City regulation is a start, but it’s not the first regional effort to handle this issue. Nearby Absecon officials limit motel stays to reduce police calls and long-term occupancy. These initiatives have potential, forcing Atlantic City to act.
Residents who have seen these concerns for years think the new limitations will help. The city wants its smaller motels to be safe and welcoming.
This is Atlantic City’s boldest cleanup of troubled attractions regions. City administrators hope the new limits would boost safety, tourism, and confidence in a reputation-dependent community.
Sources:
City of Atlantic City
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
Atlantic City Council Interviews
