Arduous Rock Atlantic Metropolis has issued a memo to its staff informing them that they have to obtain firm approval earlier than discussing related gaming issues with members of the media.
An inside memo distributed to Arduous Rock Atlantic Metropolis on line casino staff tells them to keep away from talking with the media except firm authorization is first obtained. Arduous Rock’s President Joe Lupo can be the president of the On line casino Affiliation of New Jersey. (Picture: Politico)
First obtained by Politico, the Arduous Rock memo tells the resort’s greater than 3,600 staff that they need to chorus from talking with the media on behalf of the on line casino. All media entry requests should be accepted by Arduous Rock Atlantic Metropolis’s public relations director.
Solely approved and accepted group members are permitted to symbolize the property within the media. This contains radio call-ins, TV interviews, and/or feedback to newspaper and journal writers,” the memo warns.
The letter goes on to inform workers members that they aren’t to reply to media inquiries.
“DO NOT try to reply questions from a reporter,” the memo states. “They [journalist] should undergo public relations. Present the journalist an e-mail deal with or telephone quantity for a public relations group member to contact.”
Unhealthy Press
Arduous Rock Atlantic Metropolis President Joe Lupo additionally heads up the On line casino Affiliation of New Jersey (CANJ). Lupo himself has been the topic of latest unfavourable publicity for feedback he made throughout a February luncheon with the Public Relations Council of Better Atlantic Metropolis.
Throughout his deal with, Lupo scolded an effort amongst some resort staff to ban indoor on line casino smoking. Teams reminiscent of On line casino Staff Towards Smoking Results (CEASE) have come out in assist of laws being pushed in Trenton to finish the casinos’ clear indoor air loophole.
Lupo downplayed the opposition among the many gaming trade’s workforce.
“I don’t imagine that 30 folks strolling down the boardwalk represents the 21,000 staff which are employed within the casinos,” Lupo mentioned.
The remark instantly garnered backlash from CEASE.
Joe Lupo shouldn’t be mocking on line casino staff who merely desire a protected office. Whether or not it’s 30 staff or the 1000’s who’ve joined CEASE, we deserve respect and a voice in our personal well being and security,” responded Pete Naccarelli, co-founder of CEASE.
Naccarelli went on to say that Lupo “is main the battle to maintain forcing us to breathe secondhand smoke on the job.” CEASE later demanded an apology from Lupo, an enchantment that went unfulfilled.
Assist Rising
New Jersey lawmakers proceed to mull two items of laws within the Senate and Common Meeting. These would repeal the casinos’ indoor smoking exemption supplied to them below the state’s 2006 clear air act. The payments proceed to draw legislative cosponsors.
Senate Invoice 264 — authored and launched in January by Senators Shirley Turney (D-Hunterdon, Mercer) and Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex) — has since garnered 14 Senate cosponsors. Meeting Invoice 2151 — launched in February by Assemblypersons William Moen (D-Camden, Gloucester), Paul Moriarty (D-Camden, Gloucester), and Herb Conway (D-Burlington), has attracted the signatures of 32 cosponsors.
However earlier than the lawmakers can vote on the laws, the payments should first cross their assigned committees. With sturdy hostility from the gaming trade, the payments have stalled of their respective chamber well being committees.
SB 264 rests with the Senate Well being, Human Providers, and Senior Residents Committee. AB 2151 stays with the Meeting Well being Committee.
