Atlantic City, today, is a city divided by the boardwalk.  Prior to 1970, Atlantic City had become one of the United States most depressed local economies.  In 1970, gambling was legalized in Atlantic City, and the city regained some of the economic vitality it had lost in previous years. Still economically stunted, the city had a new claim to fame, and tourism rose dramatically.  The actors behind the construction and operation of this themed space involved some of the richest people in the world.  Twelve hotel/casinos were erected and the city was affected greatly by it, because today’s urban economy is political. 

These casinos were not built to benefit the city or to bring tourism to the city, but to make them more money.  They do not care whether those who live there are poor and live in crummy houses, rather they care that their area will bring in people who have money they can take.  They want their beaches to be clean, their area to be safe, and their customers to be happy.  This is why they get involved in the political realm of the city, rather than the city itself.  The politicians can make sure their beaches are clean and their area is safe.    

            Politics in this city show little if no regard to the city because it has little if no incentive to do so.  Politicians are limited to the office with their money, something which the city has little and the casinos on the strip have an abundance of.  Politicians get money from their constituents, and in turn they are in debt to them.  A politician cares mostly about the casinos because that is where most of the money comes from and the money will keep coming.  If the casinos care about the politicians so they can assure the prosperity of their business and the politicians care about the casinos to assure their place in politics, we have to wonder who is looking out for Atlantic City’s inhabitants.  The inhabitants are the only ones looking out for each other, because the casinos care that they are still making money and the politicians care about keeping the casinos happy.

            In Monopoly, hotels are built by cashing in houses. Atlantic City works the same way.  Trump, a kingpin on the boardwalk, has fought many battles to upgrade his business.  Trump wanted most of the land in front of one of his casinos cleared to make way for a car park.  In a certain area, Trump needed to clear his lot. There stood a dilapidated house with electrical wiring drooping precariously at its sides.  The owner of the house refused to budge from the home in which she raised her children. Also, a mom-and-pop restaurant and a scruffy second-hand shop attempted to defy and stop Trump’s plans.  Trump went around these people and got his way, because he has political power.  Trump, assisted by his friends in the local government, forced these people to sell out. Herein lies the problem: a conflict between a country that believes in thrusting self-promoting moguls, and the country that idolizes small businesses, families and property rights.

            With all the back and forth fighting that goes on between those who live there and those who compete for capital investment, the city remains in a substandard sate.  The city is cluttered with poorly maintained residences, cheap shops, strip clubs, and bars.  Since the owners and politicians put all effort into catering to the casinos, there is little done for the city that surrounds the boardwalk.  Money is needed to fix up the city, and because the politicians and casinos have no incentive to take care of the city, no one does.  Single cases have been fought against Trump, but there has been a different focal point addressed by the smallholders in the city towards Trump’s actions.

            Smallholders in the city are not mad at Trump, but rather local town planners for taking Trump’s side.  Their main argument is that New Jersey’s Casino Reinvestment Authority has abused the law of “eminent domain.”  This law allows for the forced purchase of property for public use, such as railways, roads, or aqueducts. Trump used eminent domain to expand his car park cheaply.  This enraged local smallholders because it was an abuse of government power.   This is the heart of political economy.

            The car park Trump built is not for public use, yet he was able to get the government to give him the okay and this is the mystery.  Trump will probably always be able to get his way, because he has the right friends.  This theme space, unlike others, has a great amount of wealth to influence the political arena.  What this means is that the casinos will always be safe and growing, and the city will be forced to accommodate them sacrificing their own growth.  Take a look at the following article, which shows that the city works for the casinos rather than its people.