New Jersey eases Atlantic City oversight with removal of designee

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is scaling back the Garden State’s intervention into Atlantic City finances with the removal of the outside law firm appointed by his predecessor that led the gambling hub’s recovery efforts for the past year and a half.

Murphy announced late Monday that he was ending attorney Jeffrey Chiesa’s role within 30 days as the state designee for Atlantic City’s state takeover, which took effect in November 2016 following his appointment by former Gov. Chris Christie.

Murphy, who took office in January, said state oversight efforts in Atlantic City will revert to New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs, which is led by his lieutenant governor, Sheila Oliver.

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“The economic revitalization of Atlantic City is critical to advancing our overall state economy," Murphy said in a statement. “The actions we are taking today will ensure we are working in full partnership with the city to ensure economic growth and empowerment for all Atlantic City residents.”

Murphy’s move follows his February appointment of attorney and former Clinton administration official Jim Johnson as special counsel to review the takeover and provide recommendations that could lead to a return of local control. He said some litigation matters will remain with the state designee’s law firm, Chiesa, Shahinian and Giantomasi PC, with others handled by the attorney general’s office or outside counsel. Chiesa, a former New Jersey attorney general and U.S. senator, was credited by Christie late last year with forging settlements on owed casino property tax appeals and finding $56 million of budgetary savings.

“DCA will continue to play an active role in Atlantic City to build upon the significant gains the City and State have made over the last 18 months in stabilizing Atlantic City’s finances,” said Oliver in a statement. “This ongoing partnership between DCA’s knowledgeable local government experts and the City’s governing body and its professionals will keep Atlantic City moving in the right direction for its residents and businesses and the surrounding region.”

Atlantic City sold $49.2 million of bonds through New Jersey’s state intercept program on April 4 to finance deferred pension and healthcare contributions, which Oliver said were the city’s last major debt hurdle. The city, which held two bond sales last year to fund casino property tax appeal settlements, now has around $400 million in outstanding bonded debt, according to Moody’s Investors Service.

Atlantic City Mayor Frank Gilliam said in a statement he was “happy about the steps taken by Governor Murphy and Lt. Governor Oliver” and sees a “very bright” rebirth on the horizon. The former city councilman defeated incumbent mayor Donald Guardian last November and was sworn in on Jan. 2.

Moody’s has a Caa3 long-term issuer rating for Atlantic City with a positive outlook. S&P Global Ratings rates Atlantic City debt at CCC-plus.

Atlantic City’s fiscal struggles have stemmed largely from increased regional gambling competition that prompted five casino closures between 2014 and 2016. The Jersey Shore resort’s remaining seven casinos saw a 1.5% revenue decrease for March compared to the year-earlier period, according to an April 12 report released by New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement. Two casinos are slated to open this year including Hard Rock International at the shuttered Trump Taj Mahal property and AC Ocean Walk at the former Revel site.