Summary of interview featuring Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small on the Joe Budden podcast.
- Marty Small blamed racism for most of his short comings / challenges.
- Financial Oversight. Mayor Marty Small highlighted that he and his wife oversee a $597 million taxpayer budget. They control local jobs and contracts, including a new 5-year, $300,000 contract for his wife as Superintendent of AC Schools.
- Entertainment: Pushing Live Nation to bring more urban beach festivals to the city.
- Community Investment: Small claims to have put $3.5 million of taxpayer dollars into his Mayor Marty Small Scholarship. Small was roasted for awarding his daughter a $10,000 check. Allegations of nepotism.
- Dispensaries: Small claims local cannabis dispensaries feature minority ownership.
Legal Controversies & Lawsuit
- Child Abuse Charges: Small addressed child abuse and endangerment charges brought against him and his wife LaQuetta. He framed the issue as a private family matter involving their daughter that was weaponized by political opponents.
- Law Enforcement Raid: He detailed a heavy-handed police raid on his home involving 20 officers with battering rams.
- Dismissal & Counter-Suit: Small wants to sue accusers and Atlantic County for millions of dollars.
Podcast Roasted Mayor small
- Throughout the conversation, host Joe Budden and co-hosts challenged Small’s optimistic framing of Atlantic City, pointing out issues like dirty streets, vacant shops, crime, and the presence of political strategists accompanying the mayor.
- Small maintained that the city is safer, cleaner, and fiscally responsible under his administration, expressing confidence that he will win his next election despite political attacks.
A lot of racism and a lot of stupidity. To be fair the State is a bigger problem than Small. Naming a scholarship after himself funded by taxpayers. Hiring criminals like it is a job qualification. We’re not a casino juggernaut meaning casino revenues are down and even he knows it’s going down the toilet. Worst performing school in the County.
4 black guys on a podcast telling black AC mayor his city is a S-hole. Worst case of racism I ever saw. I had to play it back to be sure and almost missed it.
White Girl
Had to look it up, that’s what they called Marty
Behavioral Stereotype: Used colloquially to describe someone (regardless of race) who acts sheltered, naive to urban culture, or overly enthusiastic about mainstream, trendy, or “basic” things (e.g., pumpkin spice, standard pop culture)
Great Day
I don’t feel safe walking a few blocks off the boardwalk and away from casinos. Some people laying around on the ground and in stairwells. Are there any stats on drug and alcohol problem in AC? How about resources?
I see billboards addressing recovery from addiction but how about getting leaders like the mayor and the congressman representative for the 2nd district holding a town hall meeting?
Also Pacific Ave road is a disgrace lots of potholes. Whatever happened to the infrastructure money that would cover that?
AC has a lot of potential but the residents need to feel part of the community so that they take interest in their community.
AC could be so much better with the right kind of leadership. I want to see AC succeed.
Lets have another town hall meeting, what will they all say? $600 million a year without CRDA $$ and its a s**hole. Its racism, its the casinos, an endless list. I agree that some of the conditions are out of their control, recessions, airplanes taking people to nicer vacation destinations, junk being sold on the Boardwalk, on and on and on, but not for 60 years. If they were honest they would all admit they failed and resign. If you listened to Marty he knows Casinos are failing now. Cannabis, he at least tried, it failed but he tried. He wants it to be an “urban” attraction for people who look like him. The other 80% can go somewhere else and they do, they don’t have to put up with AC.
Why I am anonymous is because I am telling it like it is if there is anyone here reading. The so called leaders have no talent, these are bottom of he barrel workers, gym teachers, woke Ed. “professionals” busy with coming up with a trans curriculum, low skill or NO skill. I include County and State in that. Levinson said it too, we are the second poorest county in NJ. Anyone with talent leaves or is stuck here.
What I see is Atlantic Ave looks like baby Camden NJ. Atlantic and Pacific Ave are the worst streets to drive on as well as crossing the streets are dangerous.
Backed up traffic always due to one lane change on the busiest street. Multi-million $ Homes for the rich not the poor, disabled or Seniors struggling to survive AC.
The people of the city being overlooked while bringing in contractors to build the city up for more revenue and to not think of those who are really in need of housing stability, a safer place to shop due to drugs and gangs lined up in front of store fronts.
AC is going down for the people here but going up for the rich and affordable. My opinion matters. I was born and raised here looking for a way out!