This past Saturday, March 25th, Atlantic City’s concerned community came together to raise awareness of the public safety issue the city faces. The New Jersey State AFL-CIO and our affiliates, alongside Atlantic City’s firefighters, police officers, and community activists, handed out flyers to visitors at the Boardwalk to warn them about drastic budget cuts to public safety departments. Together, with our brothers and sisters in public safety, we discussed the impact of budget cuts with patrons of the boardwalk and how critical it is that they contact their state legislator to fund public safety in the city.
The budget cuts would result in the lay off 100 firefighters, leaving the city with 125 firefighters and the smallest police department Atlantic City has seen since gambling was legalized there in the early 1970’s. Atlantic City welcomes over 27 million visitors each year, which poses unique safety concerns and risks around the clock. Reductions in first responder positions will add pressure to an already strained department, resulting in unsafe staffing levels and longer response times. Ultimately, these issues will begin to affect the safety of the residents and the many visitors of Atlantic City.
Please support our brothers and sisters that keep Atlantic City safe every day. Visit www.dontgambleonsafetyac.com and urge your state legislators to pass A-4556, which seeks to properly fund public safety in Atlantic City and ensure safe staffing without burdening the hardworking families in the area.