NJN News; Thursday October 15, 1992

Major funding for NJN News is provided by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. First Fidelity Bank, PSENG, and New Jersey Bell, a Bell Atlantic company. This is NJN News with Kent Manahan, Steve Heismic, and Jerry Henry with Sports. Steve has the night off, I'm Michael Aaron. The spotlight will be on Richmond, Virginia tonight, as the three presidential candidates go at it in round two of the debates. With Bill Clinton still holding a comfortable lead in the latest national polls, and Ross

Perot still the king of the one-liners, the pressure is on George Bush to be on top of his game and the 90-minute face-off at the University of Richmond. The format features a single moderator and questions from the audience. To get ready for tonight, Bush and Clinton jogged today, Perot got a haircut. Some think that if George Bush doesn't somehow win tonight's debate, his candidacy is finished. Others think he still has time to close the gap. One local analyst says no debate is due or die, but that this one presents a dicey problem for Bush. I think he's probably getting suggestions from his headlers to not get so excited that he becomes kind of strident, which was a problem for Bush earlier on when he was vice president under Ronald Reagan. So he's walking a fine line. His handlers are saying, be presidential, ponder your answers carefully, give your answers as the president of the United States. And yet others are saying you've really got to attack Bill Clinton.

And that's a difficult job to do both of those at the same time. President Bush will be back in New Jersey again tomorrow, campaigning in the town of Edison in Middlesex County, a traditionally democratic area that supported him in 1988. This afternoon, in Trenton, a group of women legislators, professionals, and business owners got together to announce their support for the Bush quail ticket, saying the president has nominated more women to his administration than any other president. The New Jersey Republican women for Bush contend only the president's agenda adequately addresses child care and support issues, as well as increasing access to jobs. The New Jersey Clinton campaign had no organized event in the state today. The Perot campaign sent supporters to four busy intersections today around the state at both rush hours to wave at passing motorists. Only two Perot faithful were on route one in West Windsor around four this afternoon. But united we stand, the Perot organization says 50 people were out all told, signaling their support for the Dallas businessman, similar waves for Perot or scheduled to take

place around the country this weekend. There was nothing she wanted more than to feel normal. That was the prosecution's explanation today of how a 17-year-old mentally retarded girl was lured to the Glenbridge basement, where she was then allegedly gang raped. Sandre King reports on day one of a trial that's been three and a half years in the making. For more than three and a half years, they've been investigated, indicted, photographed, and followed. But it wasn't until today that Chris Archer, Bryant, Grober, and twins Kevin and Kyle Scherzer, had to sit in a courtroom while a jury heard the details of what the state insists they did. On March 1st, 1989 in this Glenbridge basement, it's alleged that these four and several others assaulted a mentally handicapped girl who considered them her heroes, assaulted her sexually and repeatedly, and a gang rape that included a broomstick and a baseball bat. But as prosecutor Glenn Goldberg told the jury, you might have thought this case was

going to be about sex. In reality, it's about acts of aggression, cruelty, humiliation, and degradation. Axe Goldberg said that the former high school athletes believed they'd get away with. And whatever happened in that basement almost did remain hidden. According to the state, the boys swore the girl to secrecy. In fact, it wasn't until weeks later that whispers of what happened started to spread through Glenbridge, and not until late May that the charges and arrests began. But although in most rape cases, the victim's sexual history is banned here, it will be permitted, prompting feminist outrage and protest. We're not hearing about these young men's, previous sexual history, and what they've done to rape others, or whatever attempts they've made. All we're hearing about here is what her previous sexual history has been about. And we don't even know what that is yet. But the defense here will be able to use the fact that the victim had been sexually active as they tried to prove she was a willing and knowledgeable participant. She was certainly experienced enough to know what sex was and to know enough to say yes

or no. And in his opening today, Ford told the jury she went willingly because it was her desire then as it had been in the past to perform these kind of acts. He called the case a great American tragedy, and though the victim has a mental age of eight in an IQ that's ranged from 41 to 64, Ford claimed she said yes to his client and the others and knew what she was doing. And while Ford described her as a mildly retarded, promiscuous girl, Goldberg insisted she did not understand she had the right to say no. The three other defense lawyers will open tomorrow and, like Ford, they're likely to walk a fine line, not condoning what happened in that basement, but insisting that it was no crime. Sandra King and JN News, Newark. The State Assembly approved legislation today, making it a crime to reveal the name of a rape victim, sponsored by Assemblyman Lee Solomon. The measure would make anyone who knowingly discloses, releases or reveals the name of an alleged

adult victim of a sexual assault guilty of a disorderly person's offense. There would be an exception, though, under the law if consent were granted by the alleged victim to make the identity public to the news media or publication. It will give rape victims a feeling of security, will promote the reporting of the crime, and not only protect the victim of the crime, but perhaps prevent future crimes and the creation of future victims. New Jersey law already protects the identity of child assault victims, a disorderly person's charge carries a six-month prison term and a $1,000 fine. A number of Republican legislators pressed the case today for a permanent source of funding for shore protection. The bill there, pushing is designed to steer $15 million toward the needs of the shore, this year and in future years. Kent St. John reports. The Senate has already passed the shore protection and tourism act, which would dedicate $15 million a year from the Realty Transfer Tax to pay for the shore preservation project.

With an assembly vote looming on Monday, leaders from both houses called in reporters today to predict smooth sailing for the legislation, despite criticism from the governor. We really hope that the governor is going to take a look at this and realize that it is our only hope and sign the bill speedily. The governor is an environmental type, a shore protectionist for the environment. How would he even consider vetoing this? While the governor hasn't said he vetoed the legislation, he has criticized the proposal because it doesn't specify where other cuts would be made to free up the money. I will sign anything that someone puts on my desk that provides for real dollars. I'll take the heat. If someone wants to go propose a tax bill, send it to my desk and if it's reasonable providing for real money, I'll sign it. I've taken heat in that direction in the past. I'm willing to do it again because the Jersey Shore is probably the most important natural resource that we in New Jersey have.

I would suggest to the governor that he start proposing a tax that he would like to see to cover the $15 million that he would be ready to sign. With the Jersey Shore generating $18 billion a year in tourism revenue, Shore legislators say the $15 million to preserve the coast just makes good sense. The governor is worried about emergencies and storms. Well, we are too. And isn't $15 million a minimal amount per year to be ready for those emergencies and those storms? Can say John and J.N. News, Trenton. The controversy over the homestead rebate program is about to be played out in the U.S. mail. About 2 million taxpayers will soon be receiving checks, but hundreds of thousands more will be getting a letter from the Florio administration instead. Marie DeNoia has that story. Battle lines over the homestead rebate program were drawn months ago. When the Republican legislature chopped the program in half during the budget process. The program, which last year provided checks ranging from $100 to $500 to $2.5 million

people, had been one of governor Florio's answers to taxpayer gripes about his sales tax increase. But Republicans opted to cut that program from $685 million to just $300 million. Florio administration officials blamed the Republican sales tax rollback. Republicans blamed the governor's budget proposal. The bottom line for thousands of taxpayers will be smaller rebate checks. And in about 800,000 cases, no checks at all. But those taxpayers who don't get checks will be getting a special letter from the Florio administration explaining why. This is really a matter of courtesy. I mean, if someone was entitled to it last year, didn't get informed that someone changed the rules, and now is sitting at home waiting for their check, the least you can do by virtue of just courtesy, is to inform them that they are not going to be getting the check and why. I have told them that they are going to have major problems with this speaker if they in fact go ahead and do what they intend to do.

These fighting words from assembly speaker Chuck Heitai in this afternoon, who said the governor's plan to send letters came as a complete surprise to the Republican leadership. He estimates the mailings will cost about a million dollars, and he believes the letters will perform more than a courtesy that they'll give the governor a chance to blame the Republicans for the rebate cuts in writing. If there's a million dollars to spend, there is ample areas of opportunity for the governor to put it into the budget rather than sending out a political message for his political benefit. The governor maintains the letters will not contain a political message, but valuable and necessary taxpayer information. In any case, those checks and the letters explaining the lack of them will be in the mail by the end of the month. Marie DeNoia, NJN News, Trenton. In other news tonight from around the state, 41 people, most of them from New Jersey, have been arrested in what authorities are dubbing Operation Border Crossing. Police say the suspects traveled across the George Washington bridge into Upper Manhattan

to buy drugs. Nineteen vehicles were confiscated in the buy and bust operation, which involved port authority police, along with Bergen County and New York City officers. Officials say many of those arrested were mothers who had their children along for the ride, as they were allegedly purchasing drugs. The federal government says the Pasek Housing Authority has rooted out its corruption problems and is ready to take back control of its public housing sites. HUD officials took over the authority two and a half years ago. After an audit found that top officials misspent nearly two million dollars in government funds. Coming up on NJN News Inflation, still under control. And in tonight's special segment, a critical look at the effort to regulate Atlantic City's casinos. If you see news happening, call the NJN News Kip Line at 1-800-Jersey-1, at 1-800-5-3-7-7-391. A new book about the Atlantic City casino industry raises questions about the effectiveness

and integrity of New Jersey's casino regulators. In our special segment tonight and tomorrow night, Margie Smith takes a closer look at some of the allegations in author David Johnston's book, Temples of Chance. When former governor Brendan Byrne and then state senator Steven Persky cut the ribbon at the opening of the first New Jersey casino, it was with a promise of economic hope for the blighted Atlantic City and a promise to the New Jersey voters the industry would always be highly regulated. And today there are 12 casinos in Atlantic City and regulations have changed a bit in the last 14 years.

Casinos have more control over their business-related decisions. They have 24 hour gambling and new games, ethics rules no longer prohibit casino control commissioners from eating or drinking in the casinos. And some critics charge that along the way the state has broken its promise of strict regulation. You have to have a casino control commission when what we have is a casino out of control commission. Investigative reporter David Johnston covered the Atlantic City Casino industry for the Philadelphia Inquirer for four years and is the author of Temples of Chance. In the book Johnston argues that New Jersey's casino regulators, the Casino Control Commission, which oversees the regulations and awards licenses, and the division of gaming enforcement, the Army of the Attorney General's Office, which investigates casino complaints and enforces the casino law, have two standards. One for the little guys, the dealers and others who do business with the casinos, and another for the casino owners and operators. As one example, Johnston points to a loan Donald Trump got from his father to make a bond payment due on the Trump castle in December of 1990.

Fred Trump bought three and a half million dollars in shifts, but never gambled, allowing his son to make the payment on time. State law requires anyone loaning money to a casino to meet commission approval, which Fred Trump never did. What's shocking about that story is that the director of the division of gaming enforcement time, Jack Swinney, who was hand picked for that job by the commission chairman, Steve Persky, knew about the loan in advance and did nothing to stop it. The former director, now Judge Swinney, says Trump's attorney, told him in advance, Fred Trump was going to purchase the chips, but he says he didn't see anything wrong because he thought the senior Trump was going to gamble with them when he didn't. Swinney says an inquiry began. Johnston believes the commission should have required Trump to return the money, instead he was fined $65,000. Swinney likened the agreement to a plea bargain, saying the penalty was mitigated because Trump admitted his guilt. Former casino control commissioner David Waters believes Trump got off too easy. We should have had a complete investigation and a complete presentation. What occurred?

Who was involved at Secret Center? Why wasn't there one? That is not... I suppose, according to Swinney's philosophy, would have been too aggressive. The perception in Trump's case is that he is now so important to Atlantic City. He controls three of the 12 casinos and the largest among them, the Taj. There is, I think, a fear among the regulators. In fact, I know one of the division lawyers told me that in 1990, they made a decision that they were going to prop up Donald Trump, whatever it took. Swinney calls that accusation absolutely ridiculous. He says the division put the heat on Trump as much as anyone else. Senator Pat Dodd also denies a double standard, saying the chip case was simply a new situation. That was a brand new one. No one had ever seen that before. We've since corrected it. I believe there were fines involved, but it's not favoritism. It was a new gimmick that we hadn't seen before. Former commissioner Waters says he believes while the commission was tough on employees, never cracked down on the casinos themselves the same way.

Right by the time I left, the word on the street, this is no longer the casino control commission. It was a casino controlled commission. Waters claims the casino industry has been successful in convincing the state. Strict regulation isn't the way to go. And he says although the changes have been gradual, they accelerated when current commission chairman Stephen Persky came on board. There's been a perceptible shift in the attitude of the regulators towards the industry. And then I think they become more empathetic towards what the industry calls their problems. Chairman Persky refused our request to be interviewed for this piece. Commissioner Charles Irwin, who was appointed this year, defended the system, saying the commission attempts to maintain a standard across the board, but he adds the commissioners have an interest in seeing the industry succeed. If you were to say in a particular instance, a casino presented what you might call a marginal presentation with respect to their financial stability. And then say, well, now shouldn't you hold them to the highest standard and therefore

take their license? Well, if I would have voted that way as a casino control commissioner, what am I doing in Atlantic City? Irwin says it wouldn't be appropriate to deny the license in that hypothetical case because it would result in a closed casino and lost jobs. Commissioner Dodd says that should not be interpreted as a casino-friendly attitude. They're not friendly with the industry. We're friendly with the city, city government, councilman mayors, the Atlantic City Expressway Authority, people we don't license. And these are the people that need our help. The regulatory process in New Jersey lacks integrity and that is exactly what Steve Persky promised the voters would not happen. Not because anybody took money, but because the industry has become such an important source of revenue to the state and has created so many jobs. Johnston cites other examples. He says, prove a double standard exists. We'll look at one involving allegations of money laundering tomorrow. Margie Smith, NJN News, Atlantic City.

When we come back, big blue, singing the blues. And the bill of rights back where it belongs will be right back. Here's tonight's business news. The sluggish economy continues to keep inflation in check. The experts say consumer demand is so weak. Producers have been unable to force any price increases. According to the Labor Department, the cost of living increased to modest, too tense of

a percent last month, even though prices for fruits and vegetables were up sharply. That's the smallest monthly inflation rate since July, with inflation for the year to date running at an annual rate of less than 3%. Here in New Jersey, a sharp increase in clothing costs boosted prices for tens of a percent in the North Jersey, New York region. In the South Jersey, Philadelphia area, inflation was measured at only one-tenth of a percent. While those low inflation figures may be good news for many of us, they're bad news for the thousands of Americans collecting Social Security. Based on today's inflation reports, Social Security benefits will increase by 3 percent next year. That's the smallest increase since 1987. In other economic reports out today, first time unemployment claims are at their lowest level in seven weeks. The Labor Department says 383,000 people filed for their first time jobless checks during the week ending October 3rd. That's down 16,000 from the previous week. Thanks in part to declining jobless claims in Hurricane ravaged Florida.

Meantime, the Commerce Department says business sales posted their sharpest drop in eight months during August, while inventories rose for the sixth time this year. The stock market retreated today as traders absorbed news of lower than expected earnings for IBM. Big blue stock fell five points on word that operating earnings were down 50 percent from a year ago. The Dow industrials lost nearly 21 points in heavy trading, although gainers had a slight lead over losers on the broad market. On the secondaries, the AMEX was off a fraction while the over-the-counter market was up two points. Raway-based Merkin company says its third quarter earnings were up 17 percent. The drug maker credits strong sales of its newer products, including its high blood pressure and hepatitis B medications. Another out-of-state company has been lured to New Jersey. Signature foods, the parent company of TJ Cinnamon's Bakery franchise system, has moved its headquarters from Kansas City to Rutherford. Governor Floreo welcomed the nation's first manufacturer and distributor of Cinnamon Rolls to the Garden State by munching on some.

Fifty corporate jobs are the first to come here. By 1994, its anticipated 15 additional franchises will be operating throughout the state, producing more than 200 jobs in all. Just ahead, a taste of Indian summer, we'll check the forecast. Sounds very nice. In sports, Rutgers players try to put last weekend behind them and get ready for army. Jerry Henry has the story next. Good evening, Dave Barber here in the NJN Weather Center looking at our satellite picture in motion today.

Plenty of bright white clouds onto the west of us, a frontal system there, partly sunny skies for us here during the afternoon hours. But this frontal system, sliding closer, will get a little bit better organized, and some scattered thunderstorms look like they're going to pass us by to the north, tomorrow a different story though, high pressure and control just to the south, helping to lift some moisture on up toward that frontal system. There's the map for tomorrow, frontal system getting better defined, showers and thunderstorms along and ahead of it looks like Friday night, early Saturday, we'll have some thunderstorms, maybe later in the day Saturday, the front will slide on through and we'll have mostly a nice weekend with high pressure building back into control of our forecast for the weekend. But for tonight, some scattered showers, possible northern sections of the wise partly cloudy, some patching fog will also be possible overnight, low temperatures in the mid 50s to near 60 degrees, and for tomorrow, kind of breezy winds out of the south, front moving closer, getting better organized, some isolated thunderstorms, possible northern sections with high temperatures generally, 70 to 75 degrees, can't Mike. Sounds all right Dave. Yes it does, Jerry Henry is here now with the sports, and Jerry everybody was talking baseball today, but you're starting with football.

We're going to talk about baseball, but you might say it's crunch time for some guys up the road. At the start of the season, the Rutgers Army match up Saturday seemed nearly automatic for the Charlotte Knights, but now with some eight starters out with injuries, nothing is automatic. In fact, Rutgers has found it tough this week, shaking off last weekend's trouncing at Syracuse. The defense was victimized for 50 points, 33 in the first half of the game. Now at three and three, the Knights are looking to salvage the rest of the season. Everybody was down the first couple of days, but everybody got their head in the right direction. We're basically thinking about Army now. Last week, we struggled a little bit defensively and offensively too. We scored 28 points, but it's kind of hard to be 50. So hopefully this week, we won't have to score 50 points to win the game. The key to winning, though, may weigh heavily on the Rutgers defense once again, which will face the nation's third ranked rushing offense. Army with this wish bond set averages just over 294 yards a game. It's a very difficult offense to prepare for, but it basically comes down to blocking and tackling, getting off blocks, running to the ball.

It's like any other week, blocking, tackling, getting off blocks, that's it. More on Rutgers tonight at 8 o'clock on NJN. It's Pat Scanlan's sports world, Pat's guest tonight. Rutgers head coach Doug Graber, along with sports writer and author Mike Sellersick. The Giants say quarterback Phil Sims may be out longer than the estimated four weeks Sims was placed on injured reserve yesterday after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow Monday. Now coach Ray Handley says Sims will return sometimes, sometimes the season, but he can't put a timetable on it. The Giants traveled to L.A. this week for Sunday's game with the Rams. Then that's open their exhibition season tonight in North Dakota, where they will take on Minnesota. It, of course, marks the debut of new head coach Chuck Daley. Then that's wrapped up camp yesterday at Princeton. Daley says his team is poorly conditioned, the worst he's seen. Despite that, he seems to be having fun with his new job. I'm exhausted. Other than that. There's a lot of work to be done. A lot of teaching. You know, keeping them involved, it's almost like starting over as a high school coach again.

Well, I love it. It's putting the puzzle together, you know, the crisis management. Well, that's what's all about. You know, you can set home and watch TV and, you know, drink some soda pop, but this is a lot more fun. In case you missed it last night, in Atlanta, it was one of baseball's dramatic endings. Ninth ending two out in Francisco Cabrera delivered the winning hit for the braze. It drove in two runs to give Atlanta a dramatic three-two win over the pirates. They went into the ninth down two-nothing, but Sid Brains slide into home plate, salvaged the season for his team. What an exciting night in Atlanta. What was it that Yogi said? I don't know. Over to the show. Well, history was made in the Garden State today, tight security at New York airport had travelers wondering who's arriving. Well, it wasn't a who, but a what? The Bill of Rights was among more than 200 passengers returning from Spain. The document left American soil for the first time ever this summer when it was part of an American display at the World's Fair in Seville. This afternoon, armed security was on hand to escort this piece of history to its final destination in New England.

It seems fitting that the plane landed here since New Jersey was the first day to ratify the Bill of Rights more than 200 years ago. Wonder if it traveled first class. That's our news for tonight. I'm Michael Aaron. I can't mount a hand from all of us here thanks for being with us. See you tomorrow.