Shuttered Atlantic City Casino May Host Syrian Refugees

So far, the owner of Atlantic City’s former Revel casino has proposed using it as an indoor water park, a medical tourism resort, an equestrian facility, and a so-called “genius academy” where the world’s top minds would tackle society’s problems.

Now add this to Glenn Straub’s thoughts for the property: housing Syrian refugees. He said Tuesday that he’s willing to let people displaced by the civil war in Syria stay at the 47-story resort as he fights in court over its future. Straub has been trying to reopen Revel since buying it in April for $82 million but has been beset by litigation from utility companies and former tenants.

“We treat our dogs better than we treat the Syrians right now,” he said. “If the government wanted to house Syrian refugees, I’d give them use of the building and let them put those people there.”

Straub said his only request would be to be reimbursed for the cost of operating the building.

This article appeared in print on page 18 of the November 4th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.