NJN News; Thursday April 23, 1998

Welcome. Michael Aaron reports. A federal panel on race comes to New Jersey to talk about housing needs.

Demonstrations around the state focus on keeping developmental centers open. It's being called the biggest ever settlement in New Jersey in a citizen's lawsuit over the federal Clean Air Act. The rain winds surf from battering the Jersey shore once again, but the question is, will the beaches be ready to open by this summer? I'll try and find out the answer. And daughters all across New Jersey take the day off from school to get some on the job lessons. NJN News for Thursday, April 23rd. Major funding for NJN News is made possible by Grandstruck, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, which believes that an informed citizen released to a healthy democracy. The SE&G committed to serving customers strengthening the business community and investing in New Jersey's future. First union serves the financial needs of individuals and businesses from Connecticut to Florida.

HIP Health Plan of New Jersey dedicated to providing quality health care to employees of large and small businesses, as well as individuals for two decades. And by Bell Atlantic, in partnership with public television, serving to form, lighten, and educate the citizens of New Jersey. From NJN, the New Jersey Channel, the Emmy Award-winning NJN News with Kent Manahan, Dick Forney with Business, and Jerry Henry with Sports. Good evening. As the convicted killer of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. died today in a Nashville hospital, the social symptoms surrounding King's death by the rifle of James Earl Ray are still with us today. President Clinton has made racial understanding and healing a priority for the country. Yet discrimination remains one of America's key racial problems. Today, the president's panel on race visited Newark to talk about discrimination in housing, something that was supposedly outlawed 30 years ago.

But every day, African Americans and other minorities are turned away from apartments and homes where whites are welcome. Michael Aaron reports. Anger of people and sadness followed the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968, and so did a piece of landmark national legislation. It was called the Fair Housing Act 30 years later, not that many more Americans live next door to someone of a different race. Discrimination in housing on the 30th anniversary of the act was the theme this morning at a three-hour panel discussion at Rutgers Law School, organized by HUD and the president's initiative on race. I ability to choose where we live and our access to credit to make it possible where we live. I have serious implications for educational employment and social opportunities. The law says Americans are free to live wherever they can afford to, but landlords, retailers and banks often engage in racial steering, or as it was called here this morning, discrimination with a smile. They're very nicely shown the door and told that essentially they don't qualify.

To root out discrimination, HUD sends out testers, a minority and a white who apply for the same home. If they're treated differently, the Justice Department can sue the owner or lender. As happened at these two apartment complexes in Clark, where the owners were fined $300,000 and ordered to cease and desist. It's a pattern of behavior, fair housing advocates see all too often. Three out of every four times, a person of color or an African-America goes out looking for housing. Three out of four times, they will face discrimination and differential treatment. What's it like being discriminated against in housing? Well, basically it makes you feel like you're the lowest form on the earth. By contrast, South Orange Maplewood was held up at the panel discussion as an example of a New Jersey community where racial integration is working because of the efforts of concerned citizens. I think what's going on in Maplewood and South Orange we heard about today could be a national model that will have a great impact on a future of this problem. 30 years ago, the Kerner Commission described two Americas separate and unequal. Today we heard that although progress has been made, housing discrimination is still at the very heart of America's race relations problems.

Michael Aaron, NJN News Newark. Environmentalists are claiming a major victory tonight in the fight for clean air. New Jersey Steel of Sailorville will pay $1.3 million to settle charges the company violated clean air laws. It's the largest sum ever paid in a citizen's lawsuit under the Clean Air Act. New Jersey Perg and other environmental groups filed the suit in 1995 after the company's own monitoring showed continuous violations. The case demonstrates that citizens will step in when government fails to respond to serious pollution in the state of New Jersey. The company has now reduced its emissions to meet federal clean air act standards. Less than a week before the North Princeton Developmental Center permanently shuts its doors, the workers union is turning up the heat, criticizing the governor for the impact the shutdown could have. Today unions held several protests around the state, blasting the shutdown and privatization in general. Rich Young has our story.

Some 30 technicians, aides and other workers protested at the Trenton Psychiatric Hospital today. While this facility is staying open, some workers here are out of a job. The shutdown at North Princeton is affecting this and other institutions statewide. Some employees are being transferred, others privatized. Nothing is being saved here. Okay, we do an excellent job. And all these years and have not been privatized. And I think frankly we do a better job. This Trenton protest was not the only one. About two dozen union members express similar concerns outside the North Jersey Developmental Center. When North Princeton shuts down next week and Marboros Psychiatric at the end of June, workers with seniority can bump less senior workers from their jobs. Some believe the replacements won't be experienced in dealing with mental patients. In fact, some patient family members are criticizing the governor's plan on the radio. Christine Whitman is on a crusade to close New Jersey's facilities for the developmentally disabled. David's mother has asked governor Whitman to visit these facilities to see for herself the inhumanity of what she's doing.

And to many workers agree. It's going to mean a lot of injuries. A lot of clients is going to get her as well staff. The governor sees it differently. Inexperienced people are not being put in positions of supervising patients where we privatize as things like food services. That does has nothing to do with the management of patient care. And we're very, very careful about that. The state human services department says it's still unclear exactly how many employees will be bumped or laid off. The unions say in time Whitman will realize it wasn't a prudent move. Richeng and JN News Trenton. A new development in the killing of a 10 year old Salem County girl last weekend. The mother of the man accused of murdering Crystal Carlson is now charged with helping her son and the murder. Authorities have charged Cynthia Plummer with evidence tampering and hindering apprehension. Her son William McPherson is accused of strangling and stabbing Carlson. Investigators say Plummer encouraged her son to get rid of the girl's body.

Tonight the woman is free on bail. Remembering the six million on this Holocaust Remembrance Day. A union County man is gathering pennies. One for each Jewish victim of the Nazis. But he's also getting nickels, dimes and even dollar bills. So far about 11,000 of his $60,000 goal has been collected. The plan is to give the money to the Jewish foundation for the righteous. It goes, it's a really great cause. I mean, these people, they see millions of people. I mean, just for nothing. And it's just, it's a really great reason to give them money. Youngsters from all around the state have been part of the fundraising effort. Still to come tonight on NJN News, the summer shore season is about a month away. How ready are communities whose beaches have been battered this year? This pill is being heralded as a love drug. A quick fix for impedance. Is it? I'm Sarah Lee Kessler. We'll find out in tonight's health watch. Thank you.

So Bradley is keeping himself in the public forum, but in a new location. He's now accepted a part-time teaching job at Notre Dame. He also plans to open a new office in North Jersey in August. And if he finally decides to run for president as some say he might in the year 2000, a regional survey out today shows he get the support of New Jerseyans. A moderate storm sell traveling up the coast from North Carolina is bringing wind, rain and high surf to the New Jersey shore once again. This while shore communities are trying to replenish their beaches in time for the summer season. Will they make it in time? Our Ken St John went to the shore communities today in search of some answers.

The Memorial Day weekend that signals the beginning of summer is just over a month away, but beach towns are still reeling from a string of north easters this winter that washed away many beaches. See how city was the hardest hit. Many towns are racing against the clock to be ready for tourist and vacationers. Since we last spoke, the county has come through for us and they've put this 4,000 foot geo tube here from first street to 12 street, which is going to build up the dunes and help protect the properties across the street. Some properties sustain major damage and the move is underway to replenish some of the beaches that were washed away. We have applications in for some permits to do a beach replenishment in both the north and the south end of Seattle City, but I don't believe the permits will be here in time for this summer. The beaches will be ready. They'll be large enough for people to enjoy. Beaches draw tourists to New Jersey every summer for realtors. That means rentals. Some realtors say that rentals have not slumped off due to publicity about beach erosion. In general, I think some of the beaches have built back up and the people who have rented so now that the media is out of the picture that that whole thing is cooled off a little bit and we're not getting the inquiries we had.

The inquiries we're getting now are for people who have been late making a rental decision. So the word at the shore of this season seems to be come on down. Can St. John and JN News, Seattle City keep May County. When it comes to appealing dental care denials from HMOs, the HMOs are winning. This year, New Jersey consumers appealed 46 denials in the first year of the new state law giving them that right. An independent panel handling the cases has decided 36 so far, citing with HMOs 23 times. Despite the panel's decisions, the HMOs did agree to provide care in some of the cases. Over 2 million New Jersey residents are enrolled in HMOs. For many minutes, the best news since the end of the draft, Viagra, the brand new anti-impotence pill out for just three weeks is so popular copycats are showing up. Fakes for sale on the internet. Meanwhile, demand for the real thing is keeping doctors busy. Health and medical corresponded Sarah Lee Kessler reports.

This is the first oral medication that actually works for imponence. That's what Livingston Urologist Stanley Bloom says about Viagra. He estimates there are 30 million American men with sexual dysfunction problems. For most, the cause is physical. In this man's case, it's blood pressure medication. You've used this twice this last Friday. How do the pills work? Very good. Since the FDA approved Viagra three weeks ago, doctors like Bloom have written 40,000 Viagra prescriptions a day. If somebody comes around and says, here's a pill. Take one of these an hour before sexual activity. You're going to function very well sexually. There are very few side effects. What man is not going to be interested in that. Especially, Dr. Bloom says, since the alternatives to the pill are much more invasive. Other medications in the past have worked by increasing blood flow and improving nerve conduction. With this medication, the individual has to be stimulated.

It gives you a sensation and then your partner and you begin to get involved in for play and then it creates an erection at that point. It's an enhancer without being an initiator. Viagra is also not for everyone. If somebody has normal sexual function and he takes the pill, it's not going to change anything. So, even though this has been heralded of the love drug, it's not an apodisiac. That's an exaggeration. I think this is the beginning of a new era of the treatment of sexual dysfunction. Also on the horizon, two other pills currently undergoing phase three clinical trials. Serenly Kestler and JN News Livingston. Here's one for you. They're serious about silly string in one Bergen County town. Other happy folks found spraying silly string in Ridgewood face up to a thousand dollars in fines and that's a lot of allowance. The village council has enacted a new law banning the aerosol string.

After residents complained about kids spraying it, making a mess at town celebrations. A man who dressed up at Smoky the Bear put the fourth in the fourth of July paraded town is a big supporter of the new law. Smoky says, hey, the silly string ruined my fur. Well, I don't know how dick fight is that, but we're going to attempt it next. Go. Well, okay, following that silly string, a North Jersey company sells some old standbys of the bath and kitchen. And perfect together, tourism chief show off the latest new Jersey Tourism ad campaign. I'll let you tails next. We know this company better by its products than its name.

Don't make silly string. Jersey City company may not be a household name, but many of its products are staples of the bath and kitchen cabinet. Today, BlockDog says it'll sell three of its best known product lines to a newly formed company, which will also be headquartered here in New Jersey. 2000 Flushes Bathroom Cleaner, X-14 Multi Purpose Cleaner, and carpet fresh room and rug deodorizers are being purchased by global household brands. Terms of the deal are not disclosed. Block says it'll hold on to its most famous brand, Lava Soap, as well as Sensodyne Toothpaste and Pulidant. In 1997, tourism pumped more than $25 billion into New Jersey's economy and helped create more than 6,000 and make that 600,000 jobs. But many in the state's second biggest industry have been mone the lack of an effective advertising campaign in recent years to promote the state to potential visitors.

Frankly, many thought the state's slogan of the last five years of what a difference a state makes was, well, lame. When I took office, for example, we changed the tourism slogan. When my predecessor took office, he did the same thing. And you know what? We were both wrong. Admitting that the state's slogan was lacking an appeal, the governor in her budget address said she had decided to turn to one of New Jersey's most successful pitchmen. Ladies and gentlemen, our new state slogan is, New Jersey and you, perfect together. Today, state tourism officials made good on the governor's promise. New Jersey, it's a blend of sparkling beaches and sizzling nightlife, where history comes alive, where Edison's brilliance still shines for new generations. From the first recorded sounds to the smooth jazz sound of Sarah Vaughn, New Jersey has something for everyone. New Jersey and you, perfect together. No, no, Christie. It's perfect together.

Thomas, are you? I've been saying it for years. Perfect. Perfect together. The emphasis this year is on what's known as cultural tourism. We've been facing visitors to the states more than 30 professional theaters and arts centers, as well as its historical sites and museums. Even such unique attractions as Hunterton County's Northlands, a huge model railroad complex and entertainment center that features a doll museum and an old-time theater pipeline. It's the kind of experience that blends recreation with education or education, as you call it. More and more people are looking for an educational experience to complement the relaxation and recreation that you typically find as part of a vacation. Cities like Boston and Cleveland and some other states such as New Mexico have successfully drawn tourists by emphasizing the arts. Those responsible for the tourist industry in New Jersey think it'll work here too. So if we can capitalize on that, we can certainly benefit New Jersey by drawing the visitor in, encouraging them to stay over one more night to see that performance at Paper Mill or one more night to see that special exhibit at the New York Museum.

Well, the new ad to begin a five week flight on the air in New York, Philadelphia and Hartford tomorrow. A broad base retreat for socks today, but no fatal damage was done. So say the experts, the Dow fell 33 and a third to close at the 91 43 level. The MX composite slipped five and two thirds. The NASDAQ composite knows dived 36 points. The S&P 500 backed off about 11 in the bond market. Long-term interest rates are closing in on 6 percent. Once again, the 30 year issue fell almost three eighths of a point in price. Today is yield edged up to 5.98 percent. So if you didn't get your mortgage locked in, all well. Better look another time. All right. Thanks, Dick. Still ahead of check of our forecast coming up in Jerry. What do you have in sports? Good news for some student athletes. They can work and play that story next. This is good news for some Jerry. That's right. I tell you, it has been a hotly debated issue between college administrators and coaches for a long time.

Should student athletes be allowed to have a part-time job? This week, the NCAA ruled in favor of students in division 1 schools, allowing them to work and play. Here's more. Proponents of the new ruling state has been a long time coming and a big help to student athletes. Under the new format, athletes who have been enrolled for one year can now work part-time and earn up to $2,000 a year. They can also work while their sport is in season. Rutgers University athletic director Bob Mulkei agrees. They have to at least have the ability to make some dollars so that they can do the things that the other students do on weekends. If they want to go to a movie, they want to go out deed. If they want to do some other things, they want to buy some clothes. I think this offers the opportunity. Obviously, they got to comply with the rules and work. But I think that it's a step in the right direction. But not all coaches and administrators agree. So I'm saying it will bring on a new wave of cheating and allow athletes to be paid for work they've never done.

However, coaches we've talked to here in New Jersey applaud the new ruling. I wouldn't want to be an athletic administrator and have to monitor this whole situation. But I think you can't just not enact legislation because you're so worried about abuse. I mean, that doesn't make sense to me. I think the fact that we did this and we put a cap of $2,000 and hopefully we monitor this well and we give it a try. Most of the jobs will be right here in school. They won't be off campus. And I think that'll be good for them. I think it's a good boost to them. And as long as they manage their time and hit the books, everything will be fine. The ruling affects some 300 division one schools across the country and will go into effect this August elsewhere. Today, Rutgers basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer was named coach of the year by the nation's Black Coaches Association. Stringer is also the biggest coach of the year. That's great. Congratulations. Well, I mean, because they are too bad. No, one game. That's right. Well, the state got a share of rain and clouds today, temperatures mostly in the upper 50s. Rainy and breezy along the shore this morning, duck weather as they say. And these webfooted friends were enjoying today's rain and on again off again, light showers on the bay and ship bottom Long Beach Island.

Condition should improve though over the next 24 hours. And here's the New Jersey forecast. The northern part of the state tonight periods of rain with lows in the lower 40s. Tomorrow, a mix of sun and clouds with highs in the mid 60s. In South Jersey tonight, cloudy with the chance of showers, lows in the mid 40s. And tomorrow partly sunny with highs in the upper 60s. Finally tonight, take our daughters to work day had lots of parents and daughters and sons in tow making the way around the workplace today. Girls and boys showed up everywhere from laboratories to office buildings. Jim Hookers spent the day with youngsters who got a taste of life on the job. Andy, the bomb squad robot made a big splash with the kids at state police headquarters today. So did buster the drug sniffing dog. The elite state police let their hair down as they welcome their children. Girls and boys for a kind of law enforcement career day. When I spoke to him earlier this morning, that's one of the things I talked about was a someday we hope you come back as a trooper.

The state police seems to have found plenty of takers like trooper daughters Danielle Coleman, a nine-year-old and 10-year-old Cassandra Nadio. Do you want to be when you grow up, you think? Probably like my mom. What's that? A trooper. Do you want to be a trooper one day, you think? I might. I don't know yet, but it sounds exciting. For the grants, it's a family affair. Mom and dad are both troopers with mom handling narcotic duties with buster. But parents we spoke with here at state police headquarters say they don't necessarily care if their kids become troopers or even go into law enforcement. They just want them to choose careers that'll make them happy. The main thing is that she knows that she can do and be anything that she wants to be. When a bill comes to my desk, I can either sign it and make it law. Governor Whitman's office was among the hottest tickets of the day at the state house, with dozens of girls packed into hear her speak. We need more women entering the workplace, we need more women in the state police, we need more women in government.

Whitman addressed another group earlier, including some journalists and their daughters. Some kids, like NJN photographer Frank Foley's daughter Megan, got to spend the day at the rough and tumble Jersey Shore. Jim Hooker, NJN News. We had some daughters at work today, two here at NJN Gabriella, whose dad works here. These are our sound man. Make sure our microphones are on. Okay, she joined us here today. And a few others as well. That's right. That's our news for tonight. I'm Kent Manahan. You can read that too, right? Say good night. Good night. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

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