As a New Jersey native, I always struggled with my feelings for Atlantic City. To this day, there are parts of Atlantic City that still have that early-20th-century charm. Unfortunately, most of the time it is quite difficult to see any of the charm in Atlantic City through the thick fog of crime and economic instability. At one time, Atlantic City was one of the only places where people in the Northeast could gamble. As times changed, people in the Northeast no longer needed to travel all the way to Atlantic City in order to gamble. There are various casinos throughout Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Maryland. As a result, four of Atlantic City’s casinos shut down this year. Crime is also a major contributor to Atlantic City’s downfall; the city is ranked second in New Jersey in violent crimes. It is one of the last places you want to find yourself walking around at night, which is a real shame because the city is known for its nightlife. I am truly hopeful things will change in Atlantic City; it is in a great location and has endless potential. However, with the current crime rates, combined with the lack of quality casinos, it is hard to see a bright future. — Matt McNeal, account executive