>> WHEN I WAS COMIN' UP,

IT WAS THE LIFE.

YOU KNOW, LIKE HOW NOW

A LOTTA PEOPLE WANNA BE

DOCTORS, LAWYERS.

IT WAS YOUR LIFE TO GO

INTO THE CASINO.

>> WE HAD MICHAEL JACKSON HERE

WHEN WE OPENED.

MICHAEL JACKSON

AND DONALD TRUMP.

AND PEOPLE-- PEOPLE JUST

WANNA SEE THEM.

>> SHAME ON ALL OF US, UH,

IN THE CITY OF ATLANTIC CITY

AND THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

YOU HAD A MONOPOLY ON GAMING

ON THE EAST COAST.

YOU WERE DOING FIVE BILLION

DOLLARS OF GROSS GAMING REVENUE.

CLEARLY, NO ONE IN THE CITY

OR STATE EVER PREPARED FOR

AN END OF MONOPOLY.

[ MUSIC ]

>> FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM

HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY:

THE JPB FOUNDATION,

AND THE FORD FOUNDATION.

AS PART OF "CHASING THE DREAM:

"POVERTY AND OPPORTUNITY

"IN AMERICA."

>> THE ROLLERCOASTER RIDE

OF ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY.

FROM ONCE CRUMBLING CITY,

TO GAMBLING MECCA,

TO THE EMPTY SHELLS OF CASINOS

THAT NOW LINE THE BOARDWALK,

HAS BEEN WELL-DOCUMENTED

IN NEWS REPORTS HERE

AND ELSEWHERE.

BUT THE HUMAN STORIES BEHIND

THE HEADLINES ARE RARELY HEARD.

OVER THE LAST YEAR,

AN NJTV DOCUMENTARY TEAM

SPENT TIME WITH THOSE MOST

AFFECTED BY THE BOOM AND BUST

OF ATLANTIC CITY'S

CASINO ECONOMY.

LISTEN TO THEIR STORIES,

THEIR STRUGGLES AND THEIR

STRIVING FOR A BETTER FUTURE.

THEY ARE THE VOICES FROM

ATLANTIC CITY.

>> ATLANTIC CITY IN MY YOUTH

WAS A VERY INTERESTING TOWN.

WE DIDN'T HAVE GAMBLING

AT-AT THAT TIME.

BUT WE HAD A BUSTLING TOURISM,

TRADE, THE BOARDWALK WAS FILLED.

KENTUCKY AVENUE WAS IN

ITS HEIGHT, WHICH WAS THE MECCA

OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN

ENTERTAINMENT.

AND I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT I WAS,

UH, POOR UNTIL I WENT

TO COLLEGE.

>> IN THE '60s AND '70s,

IF YOU WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH

TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT

RELATED JOB, POLICE OFFICER,

SCHOOL TEACHER,

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

YOU WERE OKAY.

YOU HAD YEAR-AROUND WORK.

BUT EVERYBODY ELSE WAS

IN A SEASONAL WORK.

PEOPLE WOULD WORK FROM MAY

UNTIL OCTOBER AND THEN LIVE

ON UNEMPLOYMENT AND WHATEVER

THEY COULD SCRAPE TOGETHER

DURING THE WINTERTIME.

IT WAS A VERY GRIM EXISTENCE

FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON

THAT WORKED IN THE CITY.

>> ATLANTIC CITY HAD BEEN

A REALLY VIBRANT TOURIST

COMMUNITY AT THE TURN

OF THE CENTURY.

IT REALLY DREW THE EMERGING

MIDDLE CLASS FROM URBAN AREAS

UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST

TO COME TO THESE MARVELOUS

OLD HOTELS.

WE HAD THE FIRST BOARDWALK

IN THE COUNTRY.

SO THIS NEW IDEA OF THE MIDDLE

CLASS HAVING ENOUGH MONEY

TO GO ON VACATION,

ATLANTIC CITY WAS REALLY

A PART OF THIS NEW IDEA.

>> BUT IN THE 1950's WITH

THE POPULARIZATION OF AIRFLIGHT,

AMERICANS BEGAN TO GO

FARTHER AND FARTHER AWAY

ON THEIR SUMMER VACATIONS.

SO TAKING THE TRAIN OR

A SHORT DRIVE TO ATLANTIC CITY

BECAME LESS AND LESS POPULAR.

[ BUILDING CRUMBLING ]

IN THE 1970's, ATLANTIC CITY

WAS IN DECLINE AND IT HAD BEEN

IN A STEADY SECULAR LONG TERM

DECLINE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

SO THAT WAS THE ECONOMIC ERA

WHERE ATLANTIC CITY WAS

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW.

SOMETHING TO THE BRING

THE CITY BACK.

SOMETHING EXCITING.

AND THE THOUGHT OF CASINO

GAMING CAME ON THE TABLE.

>> THE WHOLE THOUGHT HERE

WAS THAT, UH, WE HAVE

THE ABILITY TO BRING MILLIONS

OF MORE PEOPLE INTO THE CITY

IF WE HAD AN ATTRACTION.

AND GAMING SEEMED TO BE

THE EASIEST WAY TO DO THAT

SINCE IT WAS ONLY IN

LAS VEGAS AT THE TIME.

THE UNDERLYING REASON WAS

TO PROVIDE JOBS THAT

WERE YEAR-AROUND.

THAT HAD SOME MEDICAL BENEFITS.

SOME RETIREMENT, AND A FUTURE.

THE TALK STARTED WHEN I WAS

ABOUT FIFTH GRADE.

AT THE DINNER TABLE,

THE SIGNS IN PEOPLE'S WINDOWS.

I THINK IT WAS THE ONLY TIME

IN MY LIFE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY

WAS FOCUSED ON ONE OBJECTIVE.

AND IT DIDN'T MATTER

WHO YOU WERE.

DIDN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU WERE

BLACK ON THE NORTH SIDE,

OR JEWISH FROM MARGATE,

OR ITALIAN FROM DUCKTOWN.

NONE OF THAT MATTERED.

THIS AREA WAS ABSOLUTELY

CONSUMED WITH GETTING GAMING

TO ATLANTIC CITY.

>> IF THEY WOULD HAVE

A REFERENDUM IN ATLANTIC CITY

NOW FOR THE POOR PEOPLE,

THE MINORITIES, THE ELDERLY

TO VOTE FOR GAMBLING, THEY WOULD

VOTE GAMBLING DOWN.

>> I REMEMBER TAKING A VERY

ACTIVE POSITION AGAINST

CASINO GAMBLING, BECAUSE MY

BELIEF WAS THAT GAMBLING WAS

A CORROSIVE SOCIAL,

UH, ACTIVITY.

UH, THAT IT PREYED

DISPROPORTIONATELY UPON

POOR PEOPLE.

AND IF EVERYTHING CONTINUES

THE SAME WAY AS IT IS NOW,

A YEAR FROM NOW, A SIGNIFICANT

AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WON'T EVEN

BE HERE.

THEY WILL BE MOVED OUT BY

THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT

OF COMMERCIAL INTEREST.

>> ATLANTIC CITY REALLY

PIONEERED THIS IDEA OF TAKING

A DEPRESSED URBAN COMMUNITY,

AND TRYING TO TURN IT AROUND

WITH CASINO GAMING.

THERE WERE FOUR PROMISES

MADE TO THE PEOPLE OF

ATLANTIC CITY AND TO THE PEOPLE

OF NEW JERSEY.

THE FIRST WAS TAX REVENUE.

THE SECOND WAS GOOD JOBS.

THE THIRD WAS ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY

AS A WHOLE.

AND THE FOURTH WAS TO

LOWER CRIME RATES.

[ MUSIC ]

>> THE NIGHT THAT THE ELECTION

HAPPENED, I REMEMBER PEOPLE

SCREAMING IN THE STREETS,

HORNS BEEPING.

IT WAS A HUGE CELEBRATION.

>> SCHOOLS RECESSED,

CITY WORKERS GOT TIME OFF,

AND NEW JERSEY'S GOVERNOR,

BRENDAN BYRNE, SIGNED THE NEW

STATE LAW PERMITTING

THE GAMBLING TO GO AHEAD.

>> THE GOOD FEELING WENT ON,

YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS AFTER THAT.

>> ONCE THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST

FAMOUS RESORTS IN THE WORLD.

IN RECENT YEARS IT BECAME A SLUM

OF RESORTS, BUT NOW THE OLD

PLACE HAS BEEN RESCUED,

AND IT'S FUTURE SUCCESS

WOULD SEEM TO BE GUARANTEED.

>> I WAS HERE FROM DAY ONE.

WE HAD TO DO INTERVIEWS,

AND GET COSTUMED, AND THEY'D

TAUGHT YOU HOW TO PUT

YOUR MAKEUP ON.

AS A SERVER YOU WORE SOMETHING

A LITTLE SKIMPY.

THE HAREM ATTENDANT THING

HERE AT THE TAJ, WHERE WE HAD

OSTRICH FEATHERS ON OUR HEAD.

THEN WE WENT INTO

THE BROWN VELVET YEARS.

NOW WE'RE IN STRAIGHT BLACK.

IT'S KIND OF APPROPRIATE

FOR THE TIME, THOUGH.

>> I STARTED IN THE CASINO

INDUSTRY, UM, NOT LONG

AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

I FOUND MYSELF WORKING AS

A SECRETARY, AND NOT MAKING

A LOT OF MONEY, AND A FRIEND

OF MINE, UM, SAID, "I CAN

"GET US INTO BLACKJACK SCHOOL."

SO I THOUGHT, "OH, A BLACKJACK

"DEALER MUST REALLY BE EXCITING

"IN THE CASINO."

THE LIGHTS, THE GLAMOUR,

THE SHOWS, THE RESTAURANTS.

>> THE EIGHTIES WERE GREAT.

THERE WERE NIGHTCLUBS OPEN,

EVERYBODY DRESSED TO THE NINES.

THE TIPS WERE BIG.

IT WAS EXCLUSIVE.

WE HAD HIGH ROLLERS.

>> DONALD TRUMP ACTUALLY

WAS A VERY, VERY GOOD

OWNER AT THAT TIME.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, ONE DAY,

I WAS SITTING BOX ON

A CRAP GAME, AND HE LOOKED

RIGHT AT ME AND SAID, "HELLO."

[ LAUGHING ]

MADE ME FEEL SPECIAL.

>> THE CASINO IS

A-A PLACE OF VICE.

PEOPLE HAVE MONEY.

THEY WANNA HAVE FUN.

THEY DRINK, THEY GAMBLE.

DRUGS IS SOMEWHERE

IN THE PACKAGE.

AND WHERE THEY GONNA

GET DRUGS FROM?

THE PROJECTS.

SOME NIGHTS YOU COULD MAKE

MAYBE $2,000 A NIGHT.

THE CASINOS WERE PROVIDIN'

PLENTY OF FOOD FOR EVERYBODY.

>> I GRADUATED FROM ATLANTIC

CITY HIGH SCHOOL, AND I TOOK

A PASSION FOR DOIN' HAIR.

I WENT ON TO GO TO THE BELLEZZAS

THAT WAS AT CAESAR'S, BALLY'S,

AND THE HILTON.

SO I WORKED AT THOSE SALONS.

EVEN IF IT WAS NOT, YOU KNOW,

A REAL GOOD, HIGH PAYING JOB,

I STILL WAS ABLE TO MANAGE.

I CAN PROVIDE FOR MYSELF

AND MY FAMILY, AND I COULD

ALSO HELP ANOTHER.

>> IT WAS BUSINESS.

IT WAS BIG BUSINESS.

WITH OVERTIME, I COULD

PROBABLY MAKE BETWEEN

$45-60,000 A YEAR.

I HAD VACATION TIME,

FULL BENEFITS, SICK TIME.

I HAD EVERYTHING.

>> SINCE THE FIRST CASINO

OPENED IN 1978, THERE HAS

BEEN AN ONGOING ABILITY

FOR MY GENERATION.

I CAME INTO GAMING IN 1981

AT PLAYBOY.

I WAS 19 YEARS OLD, SO,

MY GENERATION HAS UNIQUELY,

I THINK, IN THE HISTORY OF

ATLANTIC CITY, BEEN ABLE

TO OWN A HOME, PUT CHILDREN

THROUGH COLLEGE, AND SAVE

FOR YOUR RETIREMENT.

>> YOU'D JUST ROLL DOWN HERE.

THE MONEY WAS GOOD.

I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW,

WORK, GO OUT, DANCE,

GO TO THE BEACH THE NEXT DAY.

THOSE WERE THE GOOD YEARS.

>> THE STORY OF THE TAJ MAHAL

IS REALLY A CAUTIONARY TALE.

WHEN THE TAJ MAHAL OPENED,

DONALD TRUMP WAS THE SOLE OWNER.

HE PUT A BILLION DOLLARS

INTO THE PROPERTY, AND IT WAS

THE PREMIERE PROPERTY

IN ATLANTIC CITY FOR MANY,

MANY YEARS.

IT WAS A BIG, WELL-CONSTRUCTED

PROPERTY THAT SINCE AROUND,

UH, 2004, HAS BEGUN TO DEGRADE.

THERE'S WATER STAINS ON

THE CEILING.

THERE'S-- URINALS AND TOILETS

HAVE PLASTIC BAGS OVER THEM

BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT BEING FIXED.

>> DONALD TRUMP REALLY

PIONEERED, IN SOME SENSE,

A PROBLEM THAT WE IDENTIFY,

WHICH IS THIS TREND TOWARDS

FINANCIALIZATION

IN THE INDUSTRY.

HE FINANCED THE TRUMP TAJ MAHAL

WITH JUNK BONDS, AND HE WAS

CONSTANTLY, UH, CREATING NEW

FINANCIAL SCHEMES IN ORDER TO,

IN A SENSE, TAKE AS MUCH MONEY,

IT SEEMS LIKE, AS HE COULD

OUT OF THE CASINOS FOR HIMSELF

AND HIS COMPANIES,

BUT NOT LEAVING STRONG

BUSINESSES IN HIS WAKE.

AND THAT'S BEEN THE TREND

THAT WE'VE SEEN IN ATLANTIC CITY

IN RECENT YEARS.

WE'VE SEEN MORE HEDGE FUNDS,

MORE PRIVATE EQUITY COMPANIES,

COMING IN AND BUYING CASINOS

IN ORDER TO EXTRACT

SHORT TERM PROFITS,

BUT NOT AS MUCH CONCERN

WITH BUILDING UP THE LONG TERM

VIABILITY OF THESE BUSINESSES.

>> I THINK DONALD TRUMP'S

IMPACT, UH, WHEN HE WAS

ACTUALLY HANDS-ON WAS VERY

POSITIVE IN THIS CITY.

I MEAN, I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE

HIM OUT TO BE SOME KINDA SAINT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE

WAITING TO GET PAID FOR

CONSTRUCTION OR VENDORS,

THEY GOT-- THEY GOT HOSED.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

BUT THEY NEVER WENT AFTER

THE EMPLOYEES.

THEY NEVER TRIED TO TAKE

THE EMPLOYEES' WAGES, OR TAKE

THE EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS,

AND, YOU KNOW,

IT WAS A PLACE WHERE,

FOR THE MOST PART, YOU FELT

APPRECIATED AS A WORKER.

YOU REALLY DID.

>> WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF

OUR CUSTOMER BASE THAT WE

HAD BEFORE, I THINK, BECAUSE

OF THE DECLINE IN OUR SERVICES

AND OUR APPEARANCE.

THEY'RE GRADUALLY MAKING CUTS.

YOU KNOW, THEY TRY TO CUT

YOUR WORK WEEK BACK.

BUT I DIDN'T THINK IT

WOULD EVER COME TO THIS.

[ MUSIC ]

>> IN THE LAST BANKRUPTCY,

WHICH WAS THE THIRD

TAJ MAHAL BANKRUPTCY,

CARL ICAHN BECAME INVOLVED,

AND THE STORY BECAME,

"YOU KNOW, WE JUST CAN'T

"OPERATE WITH THESE RICH

"UNION CONTRACTS."

YOU KNOW, UH, $15 AN HOUR,

A STARTING WAGE OF $8.50

AN HOUR.

THESE ARE BIG, FAT

UNION CONTRACTS.

THE ONLY THING THEY HAD

WAS HEALTH CARE.

>> THEY STRIPPED THE TAJ WORKERS

OF ANY PENSION CONTRIBUTION,

SEVERANCE, HEALTHCARE.

AND THEY WANT TO TRY TO DO IT

TO THE REST OF THE TOWN.

>> WE HAVE A CONTRACT

WITH ALL THE CASINOS.

WE HAVE A MOST FAVORED

EMPLOYER CAUSE, WHICH SAYS

IF WE AGREE TO SOMETHING

WHICH GIVES IT A COMPETITIVE

ADVANTAGE TO THAT PROPERTY,

THE OTHER PROPERTIES CAN

ADOPT IT.

IF THAT'S WHAT WE ACCEPT

AS THE WORKERS, THEN EVERY OTHER

PROPERTY IN THE CITY HAS A RIGHT

TO INVOKE THAT AGREEMENT

IN THEIR PROPERTIES.

SO OVERNIGHT YOU HAVE

NO HEALTHCARE, NO PENSION,

NO HALF HOUR PAID MEAL BREAK,

AND YOU'RE-YOU'RE BACK TO WHERE

WE WERE, LIKE I SAID, IN 1976.

WE'VE BEEN IN THIS BATTLE NOW,

SINCE, YOU KNOW, THE BEGINNING

OF THE YEAR TO TRY AND GET

THESE WORKERS BACK ON

THE BENEFIT PLAN,

AND TRY AND GET THEM BACK

IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE

WORKING CLASS AS OPPOSED TO

WORKING POOR, BECAUSE WORKING

POOR DOESN'T WORK FOR ME,

AND IT DOESN'T WORK FOR

ANYONE IN THIS CITY.

WE WERE ALL WORKING POOR

IN 1976.

THE WHOLE REASON WE BROUGHT

GAMING TO ATLANTIC CITY WAS SO

WE COULD BE WORKING CLASS.

>> GROSS GAMING REVENUE

PEAKED IN ATLANTIC CITY IN 2006,

AND THEN IT BEGAN TO FALL

GRADUALLY, AND THERE ARE THREE

MAJOR REASONS FOR THAT FALL.

THE FIRST IS THAT CASINOS

WERE POPPING UP IN OTHER

STATES AND LOCALITIES.

IT'S FEWER AND FEWER MILES

TO DRIVE TO THE CLOSEST CASINO

THAN IT WAS WHEN ATLANTIC CITY

HAD AN EAST COAST MONOPOLY.

THE SECOND REASON GAMING

REVENUE FELL IS THE FINANCIAL

CRISIS OF 2008-2009,

AND THEN, "BANG!"

ATLANTIC CITY GOT HIT WITH

ANOTHER BLACK EYE WITH

SUPERSTORM SANDY WHEN

THE CASINOS HAD TO SHUT DOWN

FOR A WEEK, AND EVERYTHING

WAS FLOODED.

AFTER GROSS GAMING REVENUE

PEAKED IN 2006,

SOME BRAIN TRUST GOT THE IDEA

THAT WE COULD BUILD

SOMETHING BIGGER AND BETTER

TO BRING CUSTOMERS BACK.

SOMETHING LIKE ONE OF THE BEST

RESORTS IN VEGAS, AND THAT'S

WHERE THE REVEL IDEA CAME FROM.

BUILDING THE REVEL WAS

SUPPOSED TO BE THE GREAT

SAVIOR TO ATLANTIC CITY.

>> WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED

TALKING ABOUT THE NEW CASINO

FOR ATLANTIC CITY,

THE WHOLE BIG THING WAS TO

MAKE ATLANTIC CITY BETTER.

IT WAS GONNA BE BETTER FOR

EVERYBODY FINANCIALLY,

UM, POPULARITY.

IT WAS GONNA REBUILD

OUR COMMUNITY.

>> COMING HOME FROM PRISON,

I GOT HIRED WITHIN A MONTH

AT BORGATA.

THEY SAID BORGATA HAS SOME

TYPE OF THING WHERE THEY DON'T

DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PEOPLE

WITH FELONIES AND STUFF.

THEY'LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE.

THEN I RESIGNED, BECAUSE REVEL

WAS BEING BUILT AND I HAD

AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE DOUBLE

WHAT I WAS MAKING AT BORGATA.

SO I JUMPED SHIP,

RESIGNED, AND WENT OVER THERE

TO DO CONSTRUCTION,

AND THEN THE RECESSION CAME

IN 2008, AND NOW THE REAL

BIG TROUBLE STARTS.

>> I DIDN'T SEE THE WRITING

ON THE WALL.

I WORKED THE TRUMP PLAZA

FOR 28 YEARS, AND I DECIDED

TO TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH AND

OPEN THE REVEL BECAUSE IT WAS

THE NEWEST, MOST BEAUTIFUL

CASINO IN ATLANTIC CITY, AND I

WANTED TO BE A PART OF THAT.

>> I STARTED ON OPENING DAY,

AND IT WAS AWESOME.

I'VE BEEN TO VEGAS.

I'VE LIVED IN ATLANTIC CITY,

SO I KNOW THE FEELS OF

THE DIFFERENT CASINOS.

WHEN I WALKED IN THE REVEL,

IT WAS DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY

A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO BE

A PART OF.

>> THEY HAD A NO SMOKING POLICY,

UH, WHICH WAS VERY NICE FOR

A CASINO, AND HAD WINDOWS,

WHERE MOST CASINOS DON'T HAVE

WINDOWS 'CAUSE THEY DON'T WANT

YOU TO SEE THE DAYLIGHT.

WE HAD GREAT VIEWS OF THE OCEAN,

AND, UH, THE MOON COMING UP

OVER THE OCEAN AT NIGHT,

AND IF YOU PLAYED INTO

THE WEE HOURS, YOU COULD SEE

THE SUN RISING, AND IT WAS

A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.

THEY GAVE US HIGH HOPES WHEN

WE SIGNED ON AT THE REVEL.

MANY PROMISES-- BONUSES,

INCENTIVES, WHICH THEY NEVER

FOLLOWED THROUGH ON BECAUSE

THEY WEREN'T TURNING A PROFIT.

>> WHEN THE REVEL STARTED HAVING

THEIR DIFFICULTIES,

AND NOW THEY'RE FINANCIALLY

IN A RUT, THEY STARTED CUTTIN'

BACK OUR HOURS, AND WHEN

THEY DID THAT, THAT--

UH, WE LOST OUR BENEFITS,

BECAUSE NOW EVERYBODY

WAS CONSIDERED PART TIME.

>> WE WERE REALLY TURNING

A CORNER AND BECOMING SUCCESSFUL

WHEN THEY SENT OUT A WARN

NOTICE TO LET US KNOW THEY WERE

CLOSING WITHIN 60 DAYS.

WE OPENED IN APRIL OF 2012,

AND IT CLOSED

SEPTEMBER 1st, 2014.

ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

>> PINK SLIPS WENT OUT TO

TRUMP PLAZA WORKERS TODAY.

THE CASINO PLANS TO CLOSE.

>> THE ATLANTIC CLUB CASINO

DID CLOSE HALF A YEAR AGO,

AND SHOWBOAT'S 2,000 WORKERS,

THEY GOT THEIR BAD NEWS TODAY.

>> I CALL IT THE YEAR

OF THE AXE.

FOUR CASINOS CLOSE, ONE AFTER

THE OTHER, AFTER THE OTHER.

8,000 EMPLOYEES LOST THEIR JOB

OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR,

BUT 8,000 EMPLOYEES IS JUST

THE MINIMUM NUMBER BECAUSE

OF THE RIPPLE EFFECT,

OR THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT,

BECAUSE ONE PERSON IN

THE CASINO LOSES THEIR JOBS,

AND IT AFFECTS OTHER PEOPLE

OUTSIDE OF THE INDUSTRY.

IT AFFECTS PEOPLE WHO DO

THEIR DRY CLEANING.

IT AFFECTS PEOPLE WHO

DO THEIR HAIR.

IT AFFECTS CHILD CARE WORKERS.

SO IT REALLY IS

A DOWNWARD SPIRAL.

>> THERE'S A REAL HUMAN TRAGEDY

GOING ON HERE, AND IT'S

THE SAME THAT'S BEEN PLAYED OUT

OVER THE COUNTRY OVER THE LAST

30 YEARS.

>> I WAS EMPLOYED AT

THE SHOWBOAT CASINO

ATLANTIC CITY.

I WAS THERE FROM

MARCH 9th OF 1987

TO SEPTEMBER 1st OF 2014.

I OPENED AND CLOSED THE,

UH, THE DOORS.

IT WAS A LOT OF MIXED EMOTIONS,

A LOT OF MIXED FEELINGS,

A LOT OF HUGS, A LOT OF TEARS.

I STILL HAVE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS,

I'VE NEVER GOTTEN RID OF,

OF ALL OF US TOGETHER.

WE WERE FAMILY.

>> I'VE BEEN IN THE CASINO

INDUSTRY FOR 34 YEARS.

>> WHAT'S--

>> I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE

UNEMPLOYED.

>> YEAH, I GOT 27.

>> 27?

>> YEAH.

>> YEP.

>> I BEEN DOIN' IT SINCE '78.

>> WHEN THE REVEL CLOSED

AND I FOUND MYSELF UNEMPLOYED

AFTER 34 YEARS IN THE CASINO

INDUSTRY, I WAS DEPRESSED.

I SAT ON THE COUCH

FOR A COUPLE MONTHS.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS

GOING TO DO WITH MY LIFE.

I ACTUALLY WAS ON THE COMPUTER

EVERY DAY FOR FIVE OR SIX HOURS,

SEEKING EMPLOYMENT, CREATING

DIFFERENT RESUMES, AND, UM,

I WAS UNABLE TO FIND A POSITION

I FELT, UH, A FULL-TIME

POSITION ANYWHERE.

>> EMOTIONALLY, I-I PROBABLY

DIDN'T SHOW A LOT.

KEPT MOST OF IT INSIDE,

BUT I'VE SPENT MANY A SLEEPLESS

NIGHT TOSSIN' AND TURNIN'.

>> APPLES, PLEASE.

>> TRYIN' TO FIGURE OUT

WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT.

>> I APPLIED FOR, UH,

UNEMPLOYMENT.

UM, IT'S FOR 26 WEEKS, UH, ONLY.

UH, THEY DON'T HAVE EXTENSIONS

ANY LONGER.

>> THAT'S GOOD, RIGHT THERE.

>> YOU WANT THAT ONE?

>> THE PAST YEAR WAS...

TO START WITH, SIX MONTHS

OF UNEMPLOYMENT, WHICH ENDED

IN MARCH, WHICH LEFT ME

TRYING TO SURVIVE OFF OF

MY RETIREMENT, WHICH I

DIDN'T WANNA USE THIS EARLY,

AND I'M STILL TOO YOUNG

TO GET SOCIAL SECURITY.

>> WHY ARE YOU HERE?

YOU ARE HERE BECAUSE YOU

ARE PART OF A PROGRAM CALLED

"WORK FIRST: NEW JERSEY,"

AND THIS IS ALL ABOUT WORK.

IT'S ABOUT EVERYONE

GETTING OFF OF BENEFITS

PERMANENTLY, AND WORKING.

SO YOU'RE ONE OF

THE LAID-OFF WORKERS?

>> YES, I AM.

I WAS WORKING FOR THE REVEL.

I WORKED THERE FROM THE DAY

THEY OPENED TO THE DAY

THEY CLOSED.

>> SO WE HAVE TO WORK WITH YOU

35 HOURS A WEEK BECAUSE YOU'RE

TANF, WHICH MEANS YOU'RE--

YOU HAVE CHILDREN

THAT YOU'RE SUPPORTING.

>> I UNDERSTAND WHICH, YOU KNOW,

THE GOVERNMENT RULES

ABOUT THE 35 HOURS A WEEK

IF YOU'RE RECEIVING ANY TYPE

OF ASSISTANCE, BUT I HAVE TO

TAKE TWO BUSSES TO GET TO

THE LOCATION, AND TO ME,

SITTING IN A CLASSROOM FOR

35 HOURS OUT OF THE WEEK IS

NOT RESOURCEFUL FOR ME AT ALL.

>> OKAY.

SO WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?

WHAT-WHAT DID THEY TELL YOU?

>> YOU'RE GONNA GET ME A JOB.

>> WELL, WE'RE GONNA TRY.

OKAY, UH, OBVIOUSLY EASIER

SAID THAN DONE.

EVERYTHING IS GEARED

TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT,

SO IF YOU HAVE INTERVIEWS

YOU WANNA GO TO, JOB FAIRS

YOU WANNA GO TO, HIRING EVENTS,

UM, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO.

YOU MAY NOT, HOWEVER,

DO THAT CONSECUTIVELY.

SO AS AN EXAMPLE, IF YOU

DID THAT ON MONDAY,

TUESDAY YOU'RE REQUIRED

TO BE HERE THE DAY.

YOU KNOW, YOUR FIRST GOAL

IS TO EARN ALL OF YOUR CREDIT.

REMAIN COMPLIANT WITH

THE ACTIVITY, WITH THE SYSTEM,

SO THAT YOU STILL HAVE

THIS LIFELINE TO HOLD ON TO.

>> IF LIFE HAD TOOK

A DIFFERENT COURSE,

I WOULDN'T BE HERE.

I WAS STRUCK TWO DIFFERENT WAYS,

WITH THE DEVASTATIONS

OF HURRICANE SANDY,

AND THE REVEL FINANCIALLY

TAKING MY RESOURCES AWAY.

I'M NOW FORCED TO BE DEPENDENT

ON THE "WORK FIRST: NEW JERSEY"

PROGRAM.

>> MY EXTENDED BENEFITS

HAVE RUN OUT.

WE HAD SAVINGS.

WE'VE USED ALMOST ALL OF IT.

>> NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY

INCOME RIGHT NOW,

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

IF IT WASN'T FOR THE FOOD BANK,

THE COMMUNITY FOOD BANK,

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO.

[ CROWD CHATTER ]

>> AS A CEMENT MASON,

AS AN APPRENTICE, STARTED OUT

AT $17.25, AND AT MY PEAK,

I WAS MAKING $31.25 AN HOUR.

NOW I'M WASHING DISHES FOR

$8.44 AN HOUR, PART TIME.

MY LAST CHECK FOR THE WEEK

WAS $126.

SHE'S IN A SIZE TWO OR A THREE.

I GOT THE WIFE AND-AND

THE NEW BABY.

ME AND MY WIFE WOULD GO TO

THE RESCUE MISSION BEFORE

I STEP BACK OUT ON THE CORNER

AND TRY TO SELL SOME CRACK.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, JUST

KNOWING WHAT YOU USED TO MAKE...

I GOT LIKE 20 APPLICATIONS

TO ALL THESE CASINOS AND LOCAL

BUSINESSES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

IT'S JUST-- I GOTTA GET A SHOT.

SOMEBODY GOTTA GIVE ME A CHANCE,

OR ELSE, IT'S GONNA KEEP BEING

IN THIS POVERTY SITUATION.

>> IT USED TO BE THAT I, UH,

I HAD A GARDEN FOR FUN,

AND, UH, THAT'S CHANGED NOW.

IT'S NOT A GARDEN FOR FUN.

IT'S A GARDEN FOR SUBSISTENCE.

I'VE HAD TO GIVE UP MY HOME

BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD

THE BILLS, SO I AM NOW

LIVING WITH MY GIRLFRIEND.

>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE TRYING

TO NEGOTIATE WITH OUR

MORTGAGE COMPANY, UM,

BUT THEY DIDN'T REALLY

HAVE A LOT OF SYMPATHY.

THEY WANT THEIR MONEY.

YOU SIGNED A CONTRACT.

THE BANK.

>> 11 SEXTON DRIVE,

ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY.

>> I HAVE A BID AT $1,000.

ANY ADDITIONAL BIDS?

GO TO $1,000, GOING ONCE,

TWICE, SOLD.

>> ATLANTIC COUNTY IS RANKED

NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTRY

FOR FORECLOSURES.

EVERY HOUSE, EVERY PROPERTY

THAT WE SELL AT SHERIFF'S SALES,

THAT'S THE POTENTIAL OF A FAMILY

BEING UPROOTED FROM THAT-THAT

HOME AND HAVING TO LEAVE.

>> 10-8, PROPERTY POSTED.

>> TO HAVE TO PUT SOMEONE

LIKE THAT OUTTA THEIR HOMES,

YOU KNOW, VERY TOUGH

FOR OUR OFFICERS,

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING YOU

HAVE TO DEAL WITH EVERY DAY.

>> WE HAVE REALLY IMPORTANT

DECISIONS TO MAKE TODAY.

WE'VE BEEN BUILDING

TOWARDS A STRIKE.

WE DON'T WANT A STRIKE.

ANYONE WHO'S BEEN THROUGH

A STRIKE, YOU DON'T WANNA DO

THAT UNLESS THERE'S NO OTHER WAY

TO EXERCISE LEVERAGE

AGAINST A COMPANY.

I NEED TO HAVE THE HANDS

OF THE COMMUNITY.

[ CHEERING ]

OKAY.

PUT YOUR HANDS DOWN.

WHO'S OPPOSED?

OKAY, IT'S UNANIMOUS.

I CAN TELL YOU, UNTIL MY LAST,

DYING BREATH, I WILL NEVER

ACCEPT WHAT'S GOING ON

AT THE TAJ MAHAL, BECAUSE

THAT'S LIKE ACCEPTING...

POVERTY FOR EVERYONE

IN THIS REGION, AND I WON'T

ACCEPT IT, AND I KNOW

THE WORKERS WON'T ACCEPT IT.

[ CHANTING, DRUMMING ]

>> I HAVE HAPPY NEWS.

MY HUSBAND HAS GOTTEN

A FULL TIME JOB, UH, AT

THE SUGAR HOUSE IN PENNSYLVANIA,

SO HE HAD TO GO OUT OF STATE

TO GET A FULL TIME JOB.

I HAVE SEVERAL FORMER COWORKERS

THAT ACTUALLY LIVE IN THIS AREA

AND DRIVE TO DELAWARE TO WORK.

I THINK AFTER 25 OR 30 YEARS

OF ONE BUSINESS, PEOPLE DON'T

WANNA CHANGE CAREERS.

I WANTED TO REINVENT MYSELF,

AND THAT'S WHY I'M GOING

TO SCHOOL.

THERE WERE QUITE A LOT OF

PEOPLE THAT NEEDED RE-TRAINING

OR RE-EMPLOYMENT, AND THEY

OFFERED, UH, A CERTAIN AMOUNT

OF MONEY FOR YOUR TUITION,

AND SOME EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT

BENEFITS THAT YOU CAN

COMPLETE YOUR SCHOOLING.

I'M STUDYING TO BE

A CERTIFIED MEDICAL

ASSISTANT OF PHLEBOTOMY.

IT'S A GROWING FIELD,

WHERE I WILL HAVE A GOOD,

STEADY JOB.

STARTING OUT, I'LL PROBABLY MAKE

HALF OF WHAT I USED TO MAKE,

BUT AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE,

I'M READY TO HAVE A LESS

GLAMOROUS JOB, AND COME HOME

AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT

WHAT I'M DOING.

>> I THINK LONG TERM,

ATLANTIC CITY IS GOING TO BE,

UH, STILL A VERY VIBRANT GAMING

AND ENTERTAINMENT PLACE,

BUT THERE'S GONNA BE OTHER

INDUSTRIES IN ATLANTIC CITY,

WHICH WILL ANCHOR

THE COMMUNITY BETTER,

BECAUSE WE WERE REALLY

A ONE TRICK PONY, AND THAT'S

REALLY NO WAY TO OPERATE,

UH, A COMMUNITY.

>> TWO OFTEN IN ATLANTIC CITY,

WE FOCUSED ON HOW TO GET

THE TOURISTS TO COME HERE,

DROP THEIR DOLLARS, AND LEAVE,

AND I THINK WHAT WE REALLY

NEED TO DO IN OUR NEXT WAVE

OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

IS FOCUS ON HOW DO WE CREATE

A COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE

WANT TO MOVE TO.

>> I SEE A FUTURE FOR

THE GREEN ECONOMY, FOR WIND

FARMS OFF THE OCEANS, BECAUSE

WE HAVE GREAT OCEAN BREEZES.

>> HARRAH'S IS OPENING

A 400,000 SQUARE FOOT

CONVENTION CENTER.

THAT'S GONNA BE A HOME RUN.

THERE'S GONNA BE TONS OF

BUSINESS COMING IN.

>> I DO THINK IT'S WORTH

SAVING CASINO JOBS.

THEY WERE ONCE GOOD JOBS.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, NOBODY HAS

WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER HERE.

THERE'S JUST AN ALLURE TO

BEING IN ATLANTIC CITY,

BY THE OCEAN, TO TAKE

THE WALK ON THE BOARDWALK.

I JUST THINK IT CAN BE

GOOD AGAIN.

>> WITH FIVE CASINOS NOW CLOSED,

AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

FENDING OFF A STATE TAKEOVER

OF ITS FINANCES, THE FATE

OF ATLANTIC CITY SEEMS

ANYTHING BUT CERTAIN,

A CAUTIONARY TALE, PERHAPS,

ABOUT UNBRIDLED OPTIMISM

MEETING HARSH ECONOMIC REALITY.

BUT ALSO A STORY OF HUMAN

RESILIENCE AND HOPE,

AND THE FACE OF WHAT SEEMS

LIKE UNRELENTING ADVERSITY.

FOR NJTV, I'M MICHAEL HILL.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> song: EVERYTHING DIES BABY

THAT'S A FACT

MAYBE EVERYTHING THAT DIES

SOMEDAY COMES BACK

PUT YOUR MAKEUP ON

FIX YOUR HAIR UP PRETTY

AND MEET ME TONIGHT

IN ATLANTIC CITY

[ MUSIC ]