3 things you learned on the Bill Spadea Show: Raising the minimum wage and more

We are back from Easter break talking about some serious issues around the Garden State. There's a lot going on, including how to save Atlantic City, to the raising the minimum wage in New Jersey. We also briefly discussed Margaret Cho's controversial performance this weekend at the Stress Factory.

We need 'dramatic changes' in Atlantic City

A city once known as "America's Playground" is falling apart. Atlantic City's economy is steadily declining, casinos are going bankrupt, crime rates are increasing and small businesses are closing it's doors. Mayor Don Guardian has made some wild claims regarding the state's bailout plan, calling it a "fascist takeover". I want to address these issues head on, and will begin to do so when I sit with Mayor Guardian during my live broadcast this Friday at Resorts Casino.

Should hotel requirements for casino licenses be eliminated? Cast your vote in my poll above and listen to my full thoughts on saving Atlantic City in the clip below.

Increasing the minimum wage in NJ is bad for business and for you.

Recently, assembly speaker Vincent Prieto decided to sponsor a bill that would increase minimum wage to $15 per hour to assist New Jersey's high cost of living. It seems that this always seems to be the solution politicians come up, which is redistributing tax dollars from hard working New Jerseyans. This is a failing idea. It's evident in Washington and California. What the politicians aren't realizing is that raising the minimum wage hurts the very small businesses that are the backbone of our economy in not only our country, but in New Jersey as well.

Ramapo College professor and economist Murray Sabrin explores country productivity that would be a result of NJ minimum wage increase, saying "it hurts the very people it's supposed to help". When I asked him about the people who respond saying they can't live on minimum wage, Murray said that too many people are starting families without the means to support a family. You can listen to my full conversation with Murray Sabrin below.

It's not only economists who are against this bill. I spoke with 23 year old Nick from Brick Township who believes that increasing minimum wage will "encourage laziness". He shared his story about how he worked a terrible job in high school, which gave him motivation to get a degree. Nick believes that his job increased his work ethic and is now doing very well. That conversation can be heard below as well.

Margaret Cho came clean about being jet lagged before her controversial rant

Comedian Margaret Cho was a guest on our show last week, talking about her upcoming projects, as well as her show this past Saturday at the Stress Factory. Turns out, her performance turned into a controversy. TMZ grabbed footage of her set, where she went off about being a rape victim, white people's privileges, and Gary Shandling. While I may have been offended if I were in the audience, I can back up the response she gave on Twitter to the criticism.

The first thing Margaret Cho said to us on the show was that she was jet lagged. She just got back from a comedy tour in Asia, where she performed on Korea's version of Saturday Night Live. You never know what could happen when a comedian joins us on the show. We will continue to have comedians on our show every week, and you can relive our full interview with Margaret Cho in the clip below.