More than 8,000 people have lost their jobs in Atlantic City's collapse, as casinos continue to close and the city's real estate tax base shrinks by more than $3 billion over the next year. Into this nightmare steps Governor Chris Christie, who announced today that he was taking control of the city's operations through an executive order.

What will Christie be able to do that the town's affable Mayor Don Guardian hasn't? It's not clear, but NJ.com reports that the governor appointed consultant Kevin Lavin and bankruptcy attorney Kevyn Orr to figure it out ("Two Kevins, especially one with an unusual spelling, are always better than one," the Vegas oddsmakers like to say).

"He has inherited an awful mess," Christie said of Guardian. "What we are doing is giving to the mayor enhanced tools to be able to bring this to a successful resolution. This is not a move in any way to supplant mayor's role here in the city....It is not the end of the world. We have problems to fix. But I absolutely believe all of them are fixable if in fact we have the political will to get them done."

Christie added, "We need more aggressive action. It's time to confront the dire circumstances with which we are confronted."

It's hard to see what could be more aggressive than a 51% room rate reduction at the Taj, but the town may not have to worry about their $2.5 billion boondoggle being empty. Yesterday a judge approved the sale of the Revel casino to Florida developer Glen Straub for $95.4 million.

What does Straub envision for his bargain?

Straub said he’d build a second tower at Revel that would stand 30-35 stories. In it: a colony of “some of the smartest people in the world,” living and working on pressing global problems, like nuclear waste disposal.

Thursday’s interview also included talk of high-speed ferry and rail systems and an “underground passageway” for tourists to comfortably traverse Atlantic City during winter.

Atlantic City needs guidance from someone, he said — “something like a dad.”

Here's hoping that AC's new Dad won't step out for a pack of cigarettes in 2016.