PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Members of Atlantic City’s largest labor union are taking the Christie Administration to court over tax breaks being granted to a mega casino project.

The state guaranteed $261 million in tax credits to the planned Revel casino to revive private financing interest in the no-longer-stalled project. Local 54 filed suit in Mercer County superior court arguing that state money should not be used for a project that could, in time, hurt several thousand of their 14,000 members.

Ben Begleiter is a union researcher and says this may not be the best move. “Wall Street analysts have suggested that the opening of Revel could cause the closure of two or more casinos in Atlantic City.”

The suit also contends that the state violated the law in rushing the deal through the Economic Development Authority without much public discussion.
State officials declined comment on the action as did the public relations firm representing Revel.

Reported By David Madden, KYW Newsradio.