To the Editor

To James Kennedy's insightful "Six ways to head off economic disaster in Atlantic City," (7/19) I offer two more:
First, rampant, institutionalized governmental corruption and incompetence may be the single greatest impediment to meaningful, sustained, city-wide progress and must be excised like a cancer. The appointment in Pleasantville of a state monitor with veto powers seems to have mitigated the skullduggery of the Board of Education there; similar but broader controls should be implemented immediately in Atlantic City. The future of Atlantic City is too important to New Jersey to leave in the hands of self-serving local politicos.
Second, accept (gratefully) that Atlantic City is, and always will be, first and foremost a seashore resort community. Neighboring states will always be able to build bigger, glitzier casinos, but they can never replicate our beaches and boardwalks! Planners should study and expand upon the playbooks of OceanCity and Cape May. Development of Bader Field presents a singular opportunity to recreate Atlantic City as a desirable and exciting year-round family vacation destination--once again, America's Favorite Playground; this opportunity must not be squandered.