ASBURY PARK PRESS :: MONMOUTH EDITION

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Manalapans Andrews eager to run for U.S. Track and Field team. 1C
THURSDAY 08.04.16

EXCLUSIVE
INVESTIGATION
One of Americas most prominent Olympic
organizations failed to alert authorities to
allegations of coaches sexual abuse. Page 1B

EATONTOWN

Monmouth Mall
plan nixes hotel
New proposal keeps live, work, play environment
elements alive, but on a slightly reduced scale

Atlantic City
takes new hit
as Taj Mahal
plans to shut
JOHN BRENNAN @BERGENBRENNAN

ATLANTIC CITY - The resort citys struggling casino industry which has suffered a decline in gross
revenues of more than 50 percent in the past decade
took another body blow Wednesday with the announcement that Trump Taj Mahal would close its doors after
the Labor Day weekend.
The casino, which opened to great fanfare in 1990 under then-owner Donald Trump but which now is controlled by fellow billionaire Carl Icahn, will be the fifth
of Atlantic Citys casinos to shut its doors since 2014.
Only seven casinos remain on the southern New Jersey
island best known for its iconic Boardwalk.
Taj Mahal, which has had a troubled financial history
since its inception, nearly closed in 2014 along with four
rivals. On July 1, most of the casinos workers went on
strike after negotiations with Icahn failed to produce a
resolution.
Icahns announcement produced a vitriolic reaction
from UNITE HERE Local 54 President Bob McDevitt.
I would never have thought Carl Icahn was so onedimensional, McDevitt said in a statement. The great
dealmaker would rather burn the Trump Taj Mahal
down just so he can control the ashes. For a few million
See CASINO, Page 7A

Long Branch resident Dion Harrells wrongful

conviction for a rape in 1999 was vacated by
Judge Ronald L. Reisner at Monmouth County
Courthouse in Freehold on Wednesday.
TANYA BREEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTOS BY THOMAS P. COSTELLO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Monmouth Mall contributed over $5 million to Eatontown in 2015 taxes. Its valued at $230 million and sits on 100 acres.

DAN RADEL @DANIELRADELAPP

EATONTOWN A new plan for Monmouth Mall

one that doesnt include a hotel and loses some of its
girth is under consideration.
The new design still would create the live, work
and play environment touted by the developer in an
earlier proposal, but it would do so on a slightly reduced scale, according to borough officials.
The plan also would trim the number of apartment
units from 800 to 700, lower building heights from 150
feet to 85 feet and increase set backs from neighboring property lines.
Borough officials, in interviews with the Asbury
Park Press, expressed cautious optimism about recent discussions with representatives of mall owner
Kushner Cos. after a previous redevelopment plan
with their biggest taxpayer was pulled back in the
face of public criticism.
I think we are close to having a workable agreement. Nothing has been written in stone. Were addressing the major concerns that were brought up at
the public meetings, Mayor Dennis Connelly told
the Press.
The stakes are high for all concerned. The mall
contributed over $5 million to the borough in 2015
taxes. Its valued at $230 million, sits on about 100

KATHLEEN HOPKINS @KHOPKINSAPP

FREEHOLD Dion Harrell lived under the cloud of

a rape accusation for almost 28 years, but on Wednesday, the 50-year-old Long Branch man walked out of the
Monmouth County Courthouse an innocent man,
cleared by a DNA test he fought to have done.
I wasnt giving up, Harrell said as a courtroom
filled with his friends and family broke into applause.
Thank you all for coming.
Harrell was accused of rape by a 17-year-old girl in
1988 and later convicted of the crime at a trial in 1992.
He served four years in prison and later was required
to register as a sex offender under Megans Law.
The conviction continued to haunt Harrell he
twice refused to register as a sex offender, as required
under Megans Law, and landed back in jail. The sexual
assault conviction and his listing on the states sex offender registry put up roadblocks to employment and
housing, according to his attorney.
See HARRELL, Page 7A
Monmouth Mall in Eatontown on Wednesday.

See MALL, Page 7A

APPs Hockey Classic

is coming Sunday!
With two NJSIAA Non-Public state crowns and a pair of
Gordon Conference Cups to his name, Ryan Bogan Jr. will
go down as one of the most decorated skaters in CBA
history and as well as the programs all-time leading scorer.
Come support Bogan and 41 of the top local skaters at the
2nd Annual APP Hockey Classic on Aug. 7. Get tickets
and more information at app.com/hockey.

ADVICE
CLASSIFIED
COMICS
LOCAL
MOVIES

5D
1E
4D
3A
2D

OBITUARIES
OPINION
SPORTS
WEATHER
YOUR MONEY

Long Branch man

cleared of 1988
rape by DNA test

10A
13A
1C
8C
6A

VOLUME 137
NUMBER 186
SINCE 1879

Be sure to visit us at APP.com to watch

videos from our interview with Dion Harrell