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I, for one, am happy there were no bidders on Bader Field. We do not need a casino built on the emergency evacuation route out of Atlantic City at Albany Avenue.

Many of us have been caught trying to enter the city when there were multiple events drawing large crowds. I have often experienced the gridlock starting on Albany Avenue trying to get home to Chelsea Heights or to Ventnor. This gridlock extends into the city near the Atlantic City Convention Center area. When trapped in this kind of traffic, I often wondered if emergency-management officials are even aware of these situations.

Keep Bader Field for flying. Atlantic City has been far too remiss by allowing tourists who pilot small aircraft to be turned away from our city. If they own a plane, they have dollars to spend here. Bring back the small planes, encourage helicopters and then use the other areas for park/playground sites for the residents. Add something to encourage boating. Have all hotels offer special packages to the flying tourists, as in years past when they encouraged June honeymooners.

Now that the surrounding states are adding or increasing their gambling, we have to rethink our strategy about our visitors. We can no longer rely mainly on the casinos. But there are enough entertainment opportunities in and around Atlantic City to encourage the return of the family and flying vacationers.

JUDITH ORR

Ventnor

5 comments:

• vzewvt13 (18) posts 5:42 pm

  Orr is absolutely right when she says to keep Bader Field for flyers. Furthermore, she hits the nail on the head when she talks about getting rid of a perfectly good evacuation route for emergency purposes. We need a good evacuation route in case mother nature does a number on us, or even a terrorist attack. I would say that our lives shouldn't be put on the line just because of a casino wanting to buy Bader Field.

• Siochain (19) posts 7:25 am

  AC residents should have no or low property taxes. Also, the residents of surrounding 'bedroom' communities should also share in lower tax rates. The casinos generate enough revenue and pay enough taxes to help the casino workers and families residing in 'Greater Atlantic City Region'. Sorry, got off track a little here. But, really, selling Bader Field is a temporary, and minor, fix for ongoing and surmounting financial issues facing AC and Atlantic County. Casinos were voted in to create jobs. I bet you any money percentage wise there are less workers per square foot in the casino resorts than there were 15 years ago. Government sanctioned labor force reductions granted for the casinos crying wolf.

• vzewvt13 (18) posts 9:59 pm

  I agree with both watchdog and Orr. Orr's on the right track while Watchdog appears more on the point when he states that statewide corruption never gave Atlantic City a chance to improve. I'm certain Mayor Langford realizes this and will do his best to use Bader Field as an opportunity to improve the city, for instance, lower property taxes. If people lose their homes due to high property taxes the city will REALLY look like the toilet Watchdog talks about.

• Siochain (19) posts 10:23 am

  Hey everybody, I'm with Orr. Mostly. Helicopters, yes. Small aircraft, not sure on that one. What would be the best? HISTORIC PRESERVATION! National Park. Country's first airport. Atlantic City's role in WWII. A little bit of culture and pride in the city could go a long way. Keep a slice natural...nature walk. Atlantic City has lost way too much of it's heritage to casino development.

• Watchdog (23) posts 7:38 am

  Bader field should be sold for development. The city should try to get the most money that it can for it. The money should be used by the city to improve the environment and make Atlantic City a desirable place for people to visit as it once was and is no longer. The city is a toilet. The Boardwalk is a toilet. The people working on the Boardwalk appear to be like that of a circus act. The city has been a toilet long before casinos were built. The prospect to allow casinos to operate was that casinos would improve the city which never happened. Statewide corruption never gave the city a chance for improvement. Bader field with diligent planning could become a very nice place. The only thing casinos did for southern NJ was provide a means for employment. The employment trend is NOT positive with the prospect of casinos shutting down. The local government needs to do something constructive to improve the city and environment. Visiting a toilet is not appealing to most people. Bader field is an obsolete airport anyway and we don't need planes flying around the city. The airport at Pomona or Atlantic City International is close and convenient enough for people to fly in and out of southern NJ. Selling Bader Field with proper planning could be a long term windfall for southern NJ. Give the city the means necessary to make Atlantic City a desirable destination to visit and consequently improve the local economy which results in a better quality of life for those living in the area.

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