@ChristynRoyce @TrumpPrisonDate @TheRickWilson In 1971, I attended Stockton University, still under construction in Atlantic County. The first year of classes were held in various Atlantic City hotels that were due to be demolished for the new casinos, such as the Claridge Hotel. (1)
@ChristynRoyce @TrumpPrisonDate @TheRickWilson All around us was the dilapidated City, and some more affluent sections. The Mob has always been in the background of growing up in that area. My family moved to Hammonton, NJ when I was 3. We were not part of “the family”, but most of the other residents were. (2)
@ChristynRoyce @TrumpPrisonDate @TheRickWilson My family was Irish/German, and nearly all the other residents in the town were 1st & 2nd generation Italian, largely from Sicily, at that time, and nearly everyone in town were related to each other in some way. “I think that’s my cousin”was a common statement! (3)
@ChristynRoyce @TrumpPrisonDate @TheRickWilson Anyway, I loved growing up there, even though at times, it was obvious our family were outsiders. Anyway, in Stockton, Trumphf was a big deal, he was “going to save Atlantic City”. He was flashy yet deplorable in actions and words. Yet the people of Atlantic City had hope. (4)
@ChristynRoyce @TrumpPrisonDate @TheRickWilson His casino wasn’t the first. Resorts International (Merv G owned) was... Anyway? Suddenly, when Trump and his.. buddies... came on the scene, entire neighborhoods in Atlantic City, mostly low-income, were “mysteriously” burned down. (5)
@ChristynRoyce @TrumpPrisonDate @TheRickWilson Oddly, the areas that burnt down happened mostly in old AC neighborhoods where the families did not want to sell. Yet, like a “miracle”, those neighborhoods burned and - voila - Trump and his other casino pals had plenty of prime Atlantic City property to build their casinos. (6)
@ChristynRoyce @TrumpPrisonDate @TheRickWilson It was a big topic of conversation and speculation by not only the students at my University, but also the professors + administrators, that these fires were, at minimum? Very convenient. I’m not saying Trump did this. But it’s interesting. The casinos went up. (7)
@ChristynRoyce @TrumpPrisonDate @TheRickWilson All was well in Atlantic City...on the surface. But all along, behind the PR machine of Trump, there were many business (like a big piano company) & contractors who went or of business when Trump “found reason” not to pay them. These were enormous jobs for these contractors. (8)
@ChristynRoyce @TrumpPrisonDate @TheRickWilson Trump’s alleged womanizing and dirty dealings were common knowledge back then. Just like it’s common knowledge that he left Atlantic City in almost ruins today. Yet, he had an almost cult-like following of people who dismissed the darkness surrounding him. (END - for now).
