Charity auction to implode Trump casino is latest blunder in business’ long history

The conclusion to a very unusual charity auction was supposed to take place in Atlantic City on Tuesday.

News 12 Staff

Jan 21, 2021, 1:28 PM

Updated 1,191 days ago

Share:

The conclusion to a very unusual charity auction was supposed to take place in Atlantic City on Tuesday.
The auction was for the chance to press the button for the implosion of the former Trump Plaza casino and hotel. But the event was called off due to safety concerns. It was the latest blunder in the troubled casino’s long history.
Bids for the auction went up to $175,000. The winner was only going to push a fake button, not start the actual implosion. But it turns out that it didn’t matter. Because it seems that no one in the city had run the auction plan by the casino’s current owner, Carl Icahn. Icahn called the whole thing off because of safety concerns.
Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small says that Icahn will donate $175,000 himself.
The final flubs in the casino’s final days were not surprising to people who came to Atlantic City to see the casino bearing President Donald Trump’s name. It would be coming down on the last full day of his administration.
Roy Valencia says that he remembered 10 years ago when he worked at the casino delivering room service. He lost his investment in an employee stock program when the business went bankrupt.
“And everybody put in money, every week all the employees. And a few months later, it went into bankruptcy. Everybody lost everything,” Valencia says.
But he admits that he still kind of misses the place.
“It was nice, rooms in the penthouse. It’s sad to see it go down. It’s falling down. They wouldn’t take care of it. Might as well take it down. Build something new,” he says.
While the demolition work continues, the final implosion of the building will take place sometime next month.


More from News 12
2:02
MTA pushes back start date of congestion pricing two weeks to June 30

MTA pushes back start date of congestion pricing two weeks to June 30

2:11
Temperatures dip overnight; Weekend to feature sun and clouds with some light rain

Temperatures dip overnight; Weekend to feature sun and clouds with some light rain

0:26
Police: Man charged with wielding machete during road rage incident

Police: Man charged with wielding machete during road rage incident

0:14
Police: Hazlet man accused of setting multiple fires over span of 5 months

Police: Hazlet man accused of setting multiple fires over span of 5 months

0:20
Burglary at Manchester Township bagel shop caught on video

Burglary at Manchester Township bagel shop caught on video

1:43
Police: 2 people injured when tractor-trailer crashes into Cedar Grove pharmacy

Police: 2 people injured when tractor-trailer crashes into Cedar Grove pharmacy

1:53
Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

3:03
Rutgers students remain on alert amid uptick of incidents near New Brunswick campus as 'Rutgers Day' nears

Rutgers students remain on alert amid uptick of incidents near New Brunswick campus as 'Rutgers Day' nears

2:25
Middletown street renamed in honor of iconic New Jersey brothers Stevie and Billy Van Zandt

Middletown street renamed in honor of iconic New Jersey brothers Stevie and Billy Van Zandt

0:25
Services announced for US Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. who died at 65

Services announced for US Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. who died at 65

1:08
New Jersey man says his business and family are at risk if TikTok app is banned

New Jersey man says his business and family are at risk if TikTok app is banned

1:09
Workers call out Gov. Murphy for saying there are 2 sides to casino smoking ban proposal

Workers call out Gov. Murphy for saying there are 2 sides to casino smoking ban proposal

0:31
Police: Former Giants lineman Korey Cunningham, 28, found dead in Clifton home

Police: Former Giants lineman Korey Cunningham, 28, found dead in Clifton home

1:21
SUV crashes through Dunkin' in Old Bridge

SUV crashes through Dunkin' in Old Bridge

0:23
North Wildwood approved for emergency beach replenishment

North Wildwood approved for emergency beach replenishment

0:52
Clothesline Project raises awareness of sexual assault survivors

Clothesline Project raises awareness of sexual assault survivors

0:42
Police: 3 women accused of stealing nearly $600 worth of merchandise from Target

Police: 3 women accused of stealing nearly $600 worth of merchandise from Target

2:17
South Brunswick implements plan to prevent fatal crashes

South Brunswick implements plan to prevent fatal crashes

2:28
Main Street New Jersey: Showcasing the best of North Brunswick

Main Street New Jersey: Showcasing the best of North Brunswick

0:28
Former Carteret middle school teacher accused of sexually assaulting student

Former Carteret middle school teacher accused of sexually assaulting student