Colleagues old and new weigh in on Palmieri’s appointment to CRDA

John Palmieri is up against a big challenge. As the recently announced head of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, he’s tapped to revitalize the struggling Shore town that faces multiple obstacles.

The Press of Atlantic City was set to interview Palmieri, but instead ended up talking to his current and former colleagues when Gov. Chris Christie’s administration forbade the interview until Palmieri could be briefed.

Everyone had reassuring things to say about the man charged with leading the uphill battle, though some, including former Providence, R.I., Mayor Vincent “Buddy” Cianci Jr., who worked with Palmieri to revitalize Providence, worry Atlantic City’s got its sights set too high: “I don’t know if anyone can do the kinds of things they expect to get done there.”