Atlantic City Council Lights Up at Trump’s Criticism of Smoking Ban

“Trump’s criticism of the smoking ban is a ploy to divert attention from his underperforming casinos.”

Trump’s comments have had a galvanizing effect on city council with several members ready to vote a complete and total 100 percent smoking ban on Atlantic City.

Gene Robinson of the council says there may be enough support to vote in a total ban with him saying there is no way that the current 75-25 percent would be reduced or lifted.

Mark Juliano, newly appointed CEO for Trump Entertainment Resorts, weighed in on the issue. Stating that his boss, Donald Trump’s comments were backed by the recent analysis that the Atlantic City casino industry as a whole is experiencing a 4 percent decline.

Juliano, speaking to clarify Trump’s comments, stated that Trump wants the council to repeal the most costly aspect of the partial ban. Trump wants the council to strike the requirement that casinos build fully enclosed smoking sections with extensive ventilation.

Besides the cost and the disruption of operations on the gaming floor by construction, Juliano went on to say that this expenditure of money would be totally wasted if the city council or the state government votes in a total smoking ban after construction of the enclosed smoking areas.

In conclusion, it would seem that Trump has a valid argument. The intent and action by city council by voting a partial smoking ban was a noble one with the intent to protect as many of the casino employees as possible. There is no turning back as to repealing the smoking ban.

As was reported earlier this week, the cost to install the casino within a casino in just the Taj Mahal alone would be very expensive and would be wasted effort and money when the ban becomes total.

Perhaps the solution is for the council to vote in the complete ban to smoking immediately. The expense of installing the separate ventilated areas would be eliminated at a time when the casinos have been struggling with declining profit sheets.

There is no doubt that a complete ban will cause more people to stay away from Atlantic City. This will cut into the casino’s profits even more. Undoubtedly there will be some employees that lose their jobs. Nevertheless, Atlantic City should be confident that with its amenities and new attractions (and upcoming ones) it can compete successfully with the slot parlors of it’s neighbors in nearby states.