New Jersey residents have been fighting hawaii’s push to allow two casinos to be built within their north counties, but a recent poll shows that the numbers are now actually starting to move away from opposition and towards help.

But even with that shift, there’s still a way that is long go for legislators to make an impression on the support regarding the majority of their constituents.

A survey by Fairleigh Dickinson University circulated this week shows 50 percent of brand New Jerseyans remain opposed to casino expansion, meaning Atlantic City’s brick-and-mortar monopoly would remain in tact, while 42 percent said they favor allowing the northern area expansion to move forward. That’s a change that is drastic as recently as June, when 56 % opposed expansion and just 37 percent preferred it.

‘The public continues to be skeptical,’ Fairleigh University Professor Krista Jenkins said. ‘As the details of the legislature’s intentions become known, the public’s opinions will be impacted.’

Atlantic City Bankruptcy

The issue in determining whether two gambling enterprises should be permitted to be built throughout the Hudson River from Manhattan is twofold.

Lawmakers in New Jersey are looking for new sources of revenue to invest in expenditures and debt that is escalating. Locating casinos closer to the numerous millions of new york and North Jersey residents would probably do simply that, but it would presumably also drastically cut into Atlantic City’s already serious economy.

Local leaders in the seaside gambling resort town are asking for additional state aid, but State Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-District 3) recently introduced legislation for the state takeover of Atlantic City’s finances. Governor Chris Christie (R) sided with Sweeney this by vetoing three relief rescue packages week.

‘ The governor is not going to ask the taxpayers to continue to be enablers in this abuse and waste,’ Christie spokesman Kevin Roberts said.

Christie’s veto has led Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian to threaten bankruptcy. That could potentially hurt the state’s overall credit rating while increasing borrowing rates for Trenton.

The state legislature and Christie would need to approve the action, which seems very unlikely to file for bankruptcy.

‘My goal is to save lots of Atlantic City and also to avoid bankruptcy,’ Sweeney has said.

Atlantic City is $240 million in financial obligation, $33.5 million short on its municipal budget, and owes the Borgata $160 million in property income tax overpayments. Permitting the town to seek bankruptcy relief would allow Atlantic City to pay only pennies on the dollar on those debts.

Spend Money to Lose Money

Leaders in Trenton understand that competition from neighboring northeastern states has resulted in a struggle that is economic Atlantic City. Brick-and-mortar casino venues now surround what was when the gambling that is sole of the East Coast, with Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, and Maryland all now gambling-friendly jurisdictions.

The problem, at least within the minds of state lawmakers, is that regional officials have done little to overhaul spending and adjust to the changing market.

Atlantic City created $5.2 billion in revenue in 2006. It earned less than half that, just $2.56 billion, in 2015.

Sweeney thinks the city’s $262 million budget is negligent for the certain area with under 40,000 residents.

It’s shaping up to be always a rather exciting year that is political New Jersey. Come November, not only will citizens within the Garden State possibly see their governor whilst the Republican nominee for president (although that still looks like a long shot at this juncture), they will also likely be faced with a series of decisions to make regarding exactly how to rescue, or perhaps bid adieu, to Atlantic City as they’ve known it for many years.