Certainly, events like Miss America are valuable to the community. But overall, I think we've moved on.

It was a sad day for the city; she's been a fabric of this community for nearly 85 years.

We did not undertake this decision lightly. In view of the financial considerations facing MAO (Miss America Organization) now and in the future, we respect MAO's decision to start fresh. We wish the pageant well.

But we want to do what is right for Miss America, and to force her to stay here would not have been right. The best thing to do is let her go, and let her thrive.

I look at the list of headliners and I don't even recognize most of these names.

Yes, we were all shocked. I don't think anybody really knew it was coming.