Mayor Marty Small Says National Podcast Helped Showcase 'The Real Atlantic City'

ATLANTIC CITY — Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small says reaching audiences outside South Jersey is an important part of changing long-held perceptions about the city.

During a recent appearance on WOND's Off The Press with Scott Cronick, Small discussed his guest appearance on The Joe Budden Podcast, one of the country's most popular podcasts, saying it gave him an opportunity to present a different view of Atlantic City to hundreds of thousands of listeners.

"When you get an opportunity to tell Atlantic City's story on a platform like that, you take it," Small said.

Small said many people who have never visited Atlantic City continue to rely on outdated stereotypes that no longer reflect the city's progress.

"People still think Atlantic City is what it was years ago," he said. "That's just not true."

The mayor said appearances on national media platforms allow him to highlight Atlantic City's restaurants, entertainment, beaches, casinos and ongoing redevelopment while correcting misconceptions about crime and quality of life.

"I'm always going to promote Atlantic City," Small said. "That's part of my job."

Small said he welcomes opportunities to speak with national audiences because he believes positive exposure ultimately benefits local businesses and tourism.

He added that while Atlantic City still faces challenges, the city is experiencing significant investment and momentum that many people outside the region don't see.

"We have great things happening here every day," Small said. "People need to hear about them."

The mayor said continuing to tell Atlantic City's story on regional and national platforms remains an important part of attracting visitors, residents and future investment to the city.

Here's a link to the full Joe Budden podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLmqsNfdNGw