New Jersey Nightly News; New Jersey Nightly News Episode from 11/07/1979 6:30 pm

The voters go for transportation repairs and more Republicans in the assembly. And we'll take a closer look at what yesterday's elections might mean. In sports the nets lose and Harry Carson of the giants talks about the prevent defense. New Jersey Nightly News with Cameron stone. Correspondent Gus Manning and Bill Perry with scores. Good evening. The votes have been counted the winners are planning ahead and the losers are trying to figure out what went wrong. Democrats lost 10 state assembly seats to the Republicans but still retain a majority although a slim one. Democrats 44 seats the Republicans 36. Today both sides conducted postmortems on the results. Mehram are also reports. Governor Byrne didn't look like a guy who just lost a nice chunk of legislative support. He was philosophical today saying a shift in assembly seats has happened routinely in the

midterms of recent New Jersey governors. And he boasted the Democrats still had unprecedented control. It will be the first Democratic governor in the history of New Jersey to serve it. Majority in both Houses burn said the seats the Democrats lost were generally and Republican did. Those Democratic losers included Gretta Kiernan and Harold Martin in the thirty nine. Robert Burns and Paul can Tylo in the thirty eighth Rosemarie to Toro in the 23rd and Walter Lawsky in the eleventh. Education Chairman Daniel Newman lost after a combined push by Republicans and the New Jersey Education Association. Barbara Berman and Mary Keating Croce in the six lost after slick campaign by their Republican opponents in the one really Democratic district where a Democrat lost the 30th in Hudson in Essex. Transportation chairman John Calley lost out to that bombastic man of the people Tony impurity Ali the former independent

senator now running as a Republican. Burns said he didn't see the lost seats as a referendum on President Carter. And he said he didn't think he'd have any problem working with the way to you Republican minority. The Republicans are going to be sensitive to the fact that they do play a greater role. There has been six years of remarkable progress in the legislature. The 1981 election as to how much progress is made in the next two years. But the Republicans weren't being quite so sensitive. We're going to give them all the trouble that he deserves when there were only 26 of us. They didn't pay much attention to us well now they've got to pay attention and they've got some catching up to do and we'll be looking for that in January. The governor has big plans for the lame duck legislature. He says he hopes to see both auto insurance and civil service reform before the new assembly takes over in

January in Trenton. I marry him arrest him. Voters are split on the two statewide bond issues. The four hundred seventy five million dollar transportation bond issue was approved by voters said no to spending 95 million dollars in bonds on higher education facilities. As expected the transportation issue got heavy support in most of the larger northern and central counties. But the education question was defeated in counties that traditionally show strong support for educational issues that matter has more on that story. The transportation bond issue will cost New Jersey voters four hundred seventy five million dollars but it will attract a matching grant from the New York New Jersey Port Authority and three times more in federal aid. And all a little over 2 billion dollars will be spent over the next seven years for rehabilitation and expansion of state and local highways bridges and mass transportation. One hundred and fifty million will go to upgrading rail and bus services 80 million for county and municipal roads and two hundred forty

five million for state highways. Money will also be used for bus shelters park and ride lots of parking decks and vans for the handicapped. State transportation commissioner Louis Gavin Seanie says that many of the projects will not be held up. Some are already designed and ready to go. We have a red tape taskforce that has been functioning quite effectively to try to keep reducing those potential potentials for delay. The things we're able to do internally within state resources will not incur anything like those because of the way we're very sensitive to the toll of inflation through the law as well as the frustrations to the public at large that will be our effort to not get bogged down with red tape but to get on with it. One of the oldest and most troublesome areas in Mercer County to benefit from the bond issue is the circle on Market Street in downtown Trenton. There are now four arteries that empty into two lanes of the circle causing exasperating morning and

evening traffic jams. Plans call for a widening Market street from two to four lanes to help alleviate that problem. The State Department of Transportation says that people will feel the effects of this project and others like it around the state within the next year and a half. But it may not even be that long before the proponents of higher education bonding start pushing for a new bond issue to take to the voters. Yesterday's rejection came as a surprise to officials who were asking for 95 million dollars for renovations and improvements of higher ed facilities. Rutgers officials blamed voter rejection on a late start in campaigning and a lack of funds they project will continue to cause major problems. It's going to mean that our New Jersey students in the state university and in the state colleges are going to continue to suffer in a number of programs from serious overcrowding and I think it also means that the state is going to continue to suffer from the kind of the brain drain that results when some of our more talented students. Go out of New Jersey to go to college.

Schools that were slated for funding with the New Jersey Institute of Technology the New Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry Rutgers University and state colleges. I'm Kent Monaghan. And voters in Monmouth Counties voted yesterday to Sunday closing laws those laws will expire January 1st. Reports of stores in those counties plan to start staying open almost immediately and it will be open this Sunday. Hamburgers was active in the fight to kill the Sunday closing laws and the company doesn't plan to delay cashing in on its electoral victory just because it won't be official until January. They will open because our legal people say it's all right. And that's really the way we worked it because no one is going to buy the prosecutor. That's probably how it would turn out I believe all the stores will be opening. Members could be fined for its early Sunday openings but Christmas profits will offset any such penalties and because Bamberger will be open Sunday so will the small stores in the mall most of them have leases which say they have to open whenever the large department stores do.

But with Christmas coming up many of them are as happy as Bamberger is about the chance to make money seven days a week. I think definitely the extra business as well as your own store as well as my own store specially my own store. And what about the older independent stores in downtowns like Red Bank here. Well you'll see a lot of them open on Sundays too not because of any law or lease but because of competition. And some of those stores in downtowns and in malls survive that extra competition. In Monmouth County. I'm Steve. In Essex County there was a major Republican upset in the race for sheriff. Incumbent Democrat John Cryan was turned out of office after three terms when the campaign began it looked like an easy win for the Democrats. But a federal indictment charging Cryan with extortion racketeering bribery changed all that. Today crime refused to be interviewed but an aide described him as crushed. The Republican who entered the race as the underdog and emerged as the winner is Charles Cummings a retired Montclair police

captain. Cummings today admitted the crucial factor in his victory was the indictment facing his opponent. Well let's face facts. There are almost two and a half to one against the Republican Party Democratic Party. And I feel that. But yours are very important. But in this particular case and in line with the hard work and everything that an Essex Republican chairman John runa held the Cummings when is the beginning of new Republican strength in Essex. In other election news there was a major upset in the race for Mercer County Executive Arthur side pack of the Democratic incumbent lost to Republican Bill Maher Theseus had served in county government for 20 years and was elected to the first county executive post four years ago. So I think was defeated in the county that is the home of the state Democratic Party chairman. Meanwhile voters in Princeton Township endorsed a measure to

consolidate with Princeton Borough by a two to one margin last night. However Burl ready residents defeated the merger. And since a majority in both communities was needed for consolidation the merger will not take place and voters in Burlington hundred and Cape May Cumberland Morris Warren and union counties approved initiative and referendum questions which means they would like to give voters the right to place questions directly on the ballot. Yesterday's vote in those counties is not binding however. It was just an opinion poll. The Hackensack madeleines Development Commission took a big step sideways today when it voted to send one development plan for a Meadowlands complex back to the drawing board and left open the door for a competing project. Jack kind of he has details. The commissioners held their discussions behind closed doors but when they emerged the direction of development at the Meadowlands was still not clear. A report done by the governor's cabinet and released today expressed reservations about any

massive retail shopping complex. And the commissioner seemed to be buying time with their votes. Time to pinpoint the governor's preferences on what will or will not be built that web shopping mall opponents with a sense of victory. We're delighted with today's results. This is a victory for the cities of New Jersey and for the small merchants in New Jersey. Developer AJ system and had hoped for a final go ahead on his project. He didn't get it but his attorneys saw silver lining in today's clouded commission mandate. The only thing it said was that before you put the shovel in the ground on the retail part let's study the impact on the surrounding areas. That was something that we plan to do as part of the development plan stage anyway. We look forward to working with all of the state officials on that study. Hartz Mountain People were looking for a zoning change to get their project rolling. The commission boat seemed to say not yet well we would think that

would have to assess the vote as it's given by the commission. I certainly can't call it a loss. So while such a project is still the front runner here it's too early to say who will put the first shovel in the ground. You're in the middle lands. In Secaucus. I'm Jack comany. Officials at Marlborough stateside psychiatric hospital report a fifth patient has died from food poisoning there. Officials say the latest victim is a 76 year old woman. She and four other persons died from poisoning traced to a chicken dinner at the facility a week ago Sunday. Another 131 were sickened after the meal. The New York City Council took on their kind of Gibson today in another attempt to beef up the city's police force. The Council passed an ordinance last winter establishing a minimum police staff following the layoff of 200 officers during a budget crunch. The ordinance came up again today because the mayor claims the city doesn't need the extra officers and the council says it does. Raj Wells reports on an emotion packed council meeting.

Local merchants off duty policeman and their families in bus loads of senior citizens showed up for today's council meeting again making their feelings known before they ever entered council chamber. Inside there was an uproar. The start of the meeting was delayed nearly an hour when it finally got started with 30 days with the delight of the crowd. And with. Certain officials drive to get the minimum manpower measure on yesterday's ballot.

The measure for the Newark City Council today for immediate action. And after more than hours of debate about Mark. Even though the measure passed today it is Gibson who says he has no intention of hiring more policemen and so the law the force in the mayor's office to hire more police and bridges upon the city's ability to govern the manpower issue may eventually wind up in court in New York and protests demonstrations continued in orange today over last week's shooting of 17 year old Darryl Walker. Nearly 300 people showed up outside City Hall this morning. That's the largest crowd to protest the shootings since demonstrations began Monday night last night with protesters led by the local request to have

both policemen involved in the shooting dismissed. The mayor refused. Demonstrators are staging a sit in at his office does not work in his office on Wednesdays. A grand jury probe of the Walker shooting begins later this week. And now here's the weather forecast for the state tonight will be clear and cool with temperatures in the mid 50s in London in the low 40s along the coast. Tomorrow should be sunny and cool with highs in the low to mid 50s. And on Friday it should be partly cloudy and cool with a chance of showers. And it's time for the latest sports news here's Bill Perry.

Thank you Karyn The nets are still winless on the road 0 1 5 after last night's 1 0 8 95 loss at San Antonio tonight the nets try again and used an overall new jerseys for nine in last night's game the nets hung tough. The three quarters they jumped out to a seven nothing lead but trailed by four after the first win for Goran's got it to four with a buzzer beater left baseline. The Mets were up by 3 at the half thanks to John Williams Three point soup dialling from long distance. Forty seven forty four 11 first half point for Williams in the nets are up two after three quarters but then the Spurs got it going. Warning System might Gail George Gervin with the slam plus the foul three point play. Now it's Williamson dialing from the same area code as before this time. No answers. Yanked after this brick disperse thirty nine fourth quarter points Girvan scoring and then finding the open man in a close ball game became a rout. San Antonio wins it want to wait to 95 Billy halts on the receiving end right here. Some baseball news today Chicago Cubs relief ace Bruce suitor has won the National Young Award

previous relief pitchers to win the Cy Young. Mike Marshall and Sparky Lyle The Daily News reported today that the Yankees will sign three free agents tomorrow Bob Watson but Houston's agent says wait a minute his client hasn't made up his mind yet. An election note. Former Phillies pitcher Jim Bunning won a Kentucky state Senate seat yesterday. The Giants made some roster moves today they cut Bobby Hammond and Gene Washington and signed kick return specialist Steve Odom recently let go by Green Bay. Now much has been said and written this week in the media about the prevent defense prevalent but seemingly preventing nothing in the NFL. Most conspicuous of course the Giants effort against Dallas this past Sunday. You know the story of the Giants up 14 to six with four minutes to play Dallas course twice to win at the wire. The Giants were getting no pass rush electing instead for the most part to rush the realignment and have the other eight defensive players drop back on the pass coverage the result too much time for Rodgers thought back and he drove the Cowboys twice discourse. I talked with number 53 Gary Carson the Giants all star linebacker about the strategy and those final minutes a game

60 Minutes unknown. If you let up for one minute and play your heart out. For one. You know. A real. You know good team is going take advantage of it. And. They've got a great team and got great first one Arias and her prevent defense somewhat of a misnomer it seems in this league. The team just can score when the opposition goes into the prevent. Well. I think maybe we've developed some tendencies. In the past couple weeks that you have to capitalize on. I think we're going to have to correct that. Dallas you know they're very computerized and I'm pretty sure that they knew what to run when. We got on to two minutes and we went to our. Prevent defense and. What they ran they ran it well.

They had some big plays and it just killed us. Excuse me. Main Events the total ice world boxing promoters are putting the finishing touches on their next card we already told you that Scott Frank would meet Ron stander on December 11th also stay for the way champ Rocky Lockridge will defend his title against Sammy Goss on the same card that's our sports guy. Thank you. And while other victorious candidates have staff positions to fill and platform promises to keep the newly elected harbor master of Egg Harbor City in Atlantic County has a pretty straightforward task finding the harbor. As we reported last night Egg Harbor really doesn't have one at least not one that's navigable a so-called Harbor is just a neglected wide spot in the river about seven miles from town. But the town nevertheless has always had a harbor master paid $25 a year duties uncertain. Last night Democratic incumbent Charles Mann. Q So lost to his Republican opponent meant you also recently said during his tenure he didn't do a damn thing as far as duties go but the victorious

challenger Republican Joe when Burke said during the campaign I promise to do twice as much as my predecessor. Yesterday's assembly elections brought some predictable results. Both sides claim victory. The Democrats could brag they will still keep control of the assembly the first time ever that a governor's party has ruled the legislature for his entire term. The GOP

is crowing over its surprising gains winning back 10 seats and although the Democrats still hold a 44 to 36 edge the Republicans promise to be heard more clearly mad to have more impact in the next session. With me tonight to take a closer look at those results and some of the other major votes our correspondent Gus Henning Berg and Newark. And here in Trenton are political analysts Tom Kane and Dick Leone. Gus What are your impressions of the election results. Well Karen first of all I think we demonstrated once again in New Jersey that we're not very politically astute. Most of the people stayed home. Secondly. I think though the Republicans didn't gain as much as they expected to. It is important that we've got a little bit more balance between Republicans and Democrats than we had before. This tendency toward a one party system in New Jersey was getting dangerous and particularly because we are about to face a time when the all of the districts will be redrawn. And I'm more comfortable. With a two party system at that point than one and the other

comment is that I think perhaps the most dramatic individual election result was a wedding of Anthony Imperioli in Newark who's been a Democrat an Independent and now are elected as a Republican. And I think the most important thing perhaps to consider at this point is what it all means politically and in terms of the governor's programs. Tom what's your thought. I guess I disagree with you that it was less than the Republicans expected I think it was more of this is the first time I think since Watergate that the Republicans have really come back strongly in some of their prime counties. BERGEN Morris Monmouth Ocean very strong victories in those areas and also victories in Essex and Mosa counties and we really didn't expect those so I think one of the significant things about this is the Republicans have come back strongly. It is a two party state and the Republicans look awfully strong going into the presidential year. I don't mourn of the things that struck me about this election even though there was a low turnout was that the people who went to the polls seem to know what they were doing. There are numberous But districts Barbara McConnell and

Carl wideout for example and even a couple of new ones so that the striking thing is that whopper Tisha patient was low and the Republicans regain seats in areas where they had had them in the past where people felt they were getting good representation they kept the people in office. A lot of incumbents let's face it the vast majority were re-elected. What about the point of the governor's programs what can we expect. I think realistically governor Burton has not been pushing very hard in the last year for brand new things this legislature and this governor. Came through an income tax fight which which reduced everybody's horizons about what was possible politically and I suspect that he will be entering a phase of being a lame duck governor in the last year or two and we won't see a lot of breakthroughs or new initiatives that a lot of jockeying for position looking to 1991. Some of the Democrats who lost that were REAL been loyalists I mean Harold Martin voted I think against the interests of a conservative district and I think that's one of the reasons perhaps he lost up in Bergen County with somebody like Barbara McConnell who when there were issues that were conservative and affected

her district went really against the governor and what the Republicans succeeded and I think that may be it certainly may be a message that a certain Democrats and that would give the give the governor a lot of protein a lot of problems with the program. Well maybe Tom but you know in perspective in the 60 years before Bernie was elected in 73 the Democrats control both houses of the legislature once for two years. Now he's going to be governor for eight years and have that in effect the whole way through was looking at a little bit historically. I think he did a pretty good situation. What will this mean in terms of the redistricting the dugouts mansion. Well I think it's going to be very tough to do any kind of redistricting. My own experience is it takes takes really a majority of 10 if any parties going to successfully do a redistricting by itself so I think what the Democratic Party is going to have to do is going out to find some Republicans to go along with whatever plan they come up with and that's healthy. They had redistricting is less of a political partisan issue is it than it is a geographical issue. How many seats there's Asterix get how many does Hudson get and one of the consequences you might see

is that there's a democratic representation in the assembly in Bergen it's way down the last four seats. That there will be some attempt to carve up Bergen in ways that help other counties. Because don't you think though that the on the redistricting question where where you've had major population transfers in the state since the 1970s census. Will probably have a much longer range impact on state politics than anything else which might come out of this election. It might happen one of the things that's always surprising is during redistricting you'll find congressmen lurking around the halls of the state legislature asking for this town and please don't give me that town so I don't think you can predict in advance what the outcome will be without a tremendous swing in New Jersey and i could happen again. OK one of the other surprising outcomes perhaps was the defeat of the educational bond issue and the passage of the transportation bond issue. What are your thoughts there. I think that they were almost classic cases of how to lose and how to win the transportation people started early they lined up every conceivable group. And made it appear that almost

everyone was in favor their bond issued the higher education people because of the governor were not able to start campaigning until I fell over and really never got a message across to people. There was also the feeling of I think an education bond issue that in the face of declining enrollment as that was for new buildings and for new facilities and I just don't think people were ready to support that I think the highway bond issue of the transportation Monday issue was for potholes and for new tracks and this kind of thing and that people went along with it. OK. Well Tom Kane and Dick Leone and the guy standing Bergen Newark thank you very much for helping us put election 79 in some perspective. And that's the news for Gus and of Bergen Newark I'm Karen Stone. Good night from New Jersey. New Jersey Nightly News is a joint presentation of New Jersey Public Television and

w o any TV there.