Stopping short of calling it a state takeover of Atlantic City, New Jersey Governor announces his appointment of a state emergency manager to help deal with the city’s financial crisis in the wake of the closure of four of the city’s 12 casinos, which has obliterated the city’s tax base. Christie announced the executive order during a summit meeting on Atlantic City’s future at the offices of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority on January 22, 2015. (Video by Brian Donohue | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Kevyn Orr named to Atlantic City emergency management team

By Wayne Parry
Associated Press

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Former Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr has been appointed to an emergency management team to oversee Atlantic City's operations as part of plans to help the struggling seaside gambling resort get back on its feet.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie issued an executive order today appointing Kevin Lavin as the city's emergency manager. Lavin is a corporate finance lawyer and adviser to troubled companies.

He also appointed Orr, who helped guide Detroit through 20 months of bankruptcy, as special counsel to the emergency manager.

Christie said his state is trying to dig Atlantic City out of "an enormous hole." Atlantic City lost four of its 12 casinos last year, and three others are in bankruptcy.

Neither Lavin or Orr would say whether a Detroit-style bankruptcy filing is in store for Atlantic City, calling such talk premature.

"This is urgent; the trend lines for the city are not good," Orr said after being introduced at the third summit meeting Christie convened on ways to help the city. "The situation is not going to change."

Orr, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney has not severed all ties to Michigan. On Tuesday, he was in Lansing for Gov. Rick Snyder's State of the State address. And he'll be back next week for two events: Monday, Orr will speak to the Economic Club of Grand Rapids and Tuesday the Detroit Economic Club is hosting him for what it is billing as "The Exit Interview."

Crain's Detroit Business contributed to this report.