TROIANO: WORKING ON TAX DECREASE, CAN'T TALK ABOUT SPECIFICS

Wildwood's City Commission made news recently when it announced that it was looking to cut the proposed tax increase from 18 cents down to just under eight cents. Coastal Broadcasting spoke with Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano on Thursday, following the public hearing on the budget on Wednesday, and he said that he could not go into the specifics of the plan the city is looking at. During the interview, the Mayor said the city is making changes to its day-to-day operation. The city is beginning to charge for events that are held in Wildwood, and more specifically on the beach. Troiano said when times were bad, the city had to go out of its way to bring people down. Now that times are tough, the city is going to do what it has to in order to bring in additional revenue. Taxing amusement rides, bring an Off Track Betting establishment to Wildwood, and working with some developers, is among some of the other larger ways the commissioners are looking at bringing down the tax rate in the future.

CHRISTIE: NO THANKS PALIN, BUT GIULIANI CAN CAMPAIGN FOR ME

In one of the most high profile races nationally in the 2009 election, GOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie has said he will not invite former Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin out on the campaign trail with him. Christie has said he does hope that former New York Governor Rudy Giuliani will stump for votes with him in the Garden State. Christie told a New Jersey radio station that he did not feel it would benefit him to be out on the campaign trail with Palin. Palin announced last week that she was going to resign as governor of Alaska. New Jersey and Virginia are the only two states with gubernatorial elections this year.

CHRISTIE CONTINUES TO LOSE GROUND IN POLLS

More evidence that Gov. Jon Corzine is closing in the polls. A new Rasmussen poll shows that Chris Christie's lead has shrunk to seven points, compared to a similar poll in June that had him up 13 points. The poll did have a number of undecided voters that said they were inclined to vote for Christie. Voters said they trust Christie more than Corzine on issues like taxes, cutting government spending, and cutting government corruption.

MENENDEZ PUSHES NATURAL GAS LEGISLATION FOR VEHICLES

United States Senator Robert Menendez has introduced legislation to have more vehicles run on clean natural gas. The NAT GAS Act, introduced today by Menendez and co-sponsored by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senator Orrin Hatch, would extend and increase tax credits for natural gas vehicles and refueling. “Our economic crisis has shined a spotlight on the urgent need for alternative, cleaner and cheaper sources of energy that we don’t have to import," Menendez. "By making it easier and cheaper to own a vehicle that runs on natural gas, we can help families save money on energy, create new manufacturing jobs and clean our air.” The legislation would extend for 10 years the alternative fuel credits for natural gas used as a vehicle fuel, the purchase of natural gas-fueled vehicle, and the installation of natural gas vehicle refueling property credit.

POTENTIAL WOODBINE ETHANOL PLANT COULD BRING AT LEAST 50 JOBS

Woodbine and Garden State Ethanol is continuing discussions on bringing an ethanol plant to the borough. Woodbine Mayor William Pikolycky told Coastal Broadcasting that the project is on a track that ground could be broken next year. An ethanol plant in Woodbine could provide between 50 and 60 full-time jobs, along with construction jobs to put the plant together. Pikolycky estimated that 100 workers would be needed to build a plant of that size. The plant would use algae and turn it into ethanol, which is a type of fuel. The Mayor also said it would likely cost $250,000 to build the plant. Garden State Ethanol is continuing to work with the state and the Pinelands to see if this facility could become a reality. The land picked out in Woodbine is on an old landfill.

CAPE MAY POINT GETS COAH APPROVAL

A single affordable housing apartment is all Cape May Point had to provide to meet the latest COAH demands. The borough has met those requirements and now have COAH's certification through 2018. Under five percent of the state's municipalities have met the obligations laid out under affordable housing rules. The certification ensures that Cape May Point will not be involved in a builder's remedy suit.

OCEAN CITY: PUBLIC HEARING ON BEACH CURFEW

Ocean City's Council will vote tonight to reinstate a beach curfew. A second reading and public hearing will be held on the ordinance that would revise the hours people are allowed on the Ocean City beaches. The resort had changes it curfew to comply with Department of Environmental Protection rules that required 24/7 beach access. Council is looking to implement a curfew from 10 PM to 5 AM.

AC COUNCIL DOES SUPPORT MOVE TO REDUCE DUNE HEIGHT

A unanimous vote supported the lowering of the dune height near Atlantic City's boardwalk. A local group has supported this plan as a way to make it easier to see the ocean. The Department of Environmental Protection has said they would not support such a move, because of the safety concerns a storm brings to beach communities. Without the state agency's approval, no plan can move forward to reduce the dune height.

TWO-YEAR-OLD SMACKED BY CAR IN HOSPITAL

A small child was rushed to the hospital after being hit by a vehicle in Atlantic City. The two-year-old boy was taken to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center and transferred to the Cooper University Hospital; he has been placed in critical condition. Allegedly, the boy ran out the door of an apartment on the 2500 block of Fairmount Ave. and into traffic. The driver of the vehicle, Shalonda Benton, was charged with driving without a license, with other charges potentially pending.

ATLANTIC CITY AIRPORT GETS CANADIAN AIRLINE

Seasonal service to Toronto will begin this fall out of the Atlantic City International Airport. The Canadian owned WestJet made the announcement on Wednesday that it will fly from Oct. 22 to May, with a single flight leaving and returning each day. Fares are going to start a $79. After this test-run, the airline will decide whether it is warranted to make Atlantic City an all-year destination from the airline.

VINELAND MOVING FORWARD WITH PURCHASE OF NEWCOMB HOSPITAL

Vineland city officials finalized using Urban Enterprise Zone dollars to purchase the old Newcomb Hospital in the city. It is planned that the Health Department will move into the building once it is rehabbed. A plan was announced last year about the redevelopment of the facility, that includes a medical education center and assisted living units. $5 million is coming from UZ funds to help the city move forward with this plan.

NJ TRANSIT APPROVES BUDGET, NO FARE INCREASE

A $1.8 billion budget was adopted on Wednesday by New Jersey Transit, and the agency will not raise fare for a second year in a row. The Board of Directors held their meeting and is making for lost revenue through furloughs, wage freezes, and labor contract savings. The public transportation group is installing a second rail tunnel into New York City, and approved nearly $200 million for the project this year.

TV AND COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM VINELAND STORE

About $3,000 worth of electronics were taken from the Cumberland County Air Solutions store in Vineland. The owner reported the missing items to police on Monday. It has been reported that a television, two laptops, and a HDMI cable were taken. It appears that the thief broke through a window at the business when entering. Also, about $80 in cash was missing from a cash box.