Residents in cash-strapped Atlantic City, N.J., said that they are worried about how they will manage if Mayor Don Guardian moves forward with his plan to close City Hall and suspend all nonessential city services beginning April 8, the Wall Street Journal reported today. Guardian said that the city has no choice because it is running out of money and state officials have rejected pleas for a bailout. Gov. Chris Christie (R) and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D) continued to blame each other yesterday for an impasse that has left Atlantic City on the edge of bankruptcy. Christie said that he wouldn’t provide aid unless state Assembly members approve a bill already passed by the Senate that gives the state full control over the city’s government and assets. Prieto has declined to put the bill up for a vote because he opposes a provision that would let the state alter collective-bargaining agreements with the city’s unions.
