New Jersey Nightly News; New Jersey Nightly News Episode from 11/20/1980

The state Supreme Court give caesuras world a reprieve. Eddie Jordan gets a reprieve in sports the nets trade Fast Eddie to the L.A. Lakers and Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha gives crucial testimony in the Frank Thompson Abscam trial. New Jersey Nightly News with Rolling Stone. Bill Perry speak. Good evening caesuras world officials have gotten a reprieve today the state Supreme Court gave them more time to comply with a crucial order from the Casino Control Commission that order to outline a plan by next week for severing Caesars. Two top officials from the company's casino operation here in New Jersey. That was the condition the commissioner set for issuing caesuras a permanent casino license. But today the Supreme Court suspended that November 26 dead law and order of the appellate division of the Superior Court to schedule hearings quickly in the case. Caesuras is fighting the order to remove Clifford and Stuart Perlman its chairman and vice chairman from the operation of the boardwalk Regency casino. The

Casino Control Commission said the Perlman's brothers Perlman brothers didn't live up to state standards of good conduct because they had made business deals with reputed underworld figures. Today's decision marks the first time ever with the Supreme Court has ruled on a Casino Control Commission case since New Jersey's gambling referendum passed in 1976. Critical testimony came today from Congressman John Murtha in the Abscam trial in Brooklyn. The Johnstown Democrat testified it was his New Jersey colleague Frank Thompson who put him in touch with FBI undercover agents while suggesting there was money to be made. SANDRA KING has the story. It was the most damaging testimony in nearly two weeks of trial. One Congressman John Murtha witness against another Frank Thompson saying Thompson drew him into the Abscam web with a promise of jobs for his district and cash money for his pockets. Murtha told the court that on three separate occasions last year Thompson approached him on the floor of the house with talk of wealthy Arabs looking to invest some

$200 billion. Thompson he said spoke of walking around money for them as well as for a third colleague John Murphy of Staten Island. Murphy is a defendant in this case but under questioning by Murphy's lawyer Murtha made it clear he'd never discussed the deal with Murphy. His contact was Thompson and in their talks Murtha said the figure of $50000 was mentioned. In fact he quoted Thompson as having said. Now here's the deal. You go down to that house in Georgetown. They'll say to you. Now here's the money. The Pennsylvania representative said Thompson told them further that they and Murphy would split the cash three ways and he again quoted Thompson this time urging. Go down and listen to them. Howard will pick up the money. The Howard referred to Howard Criden Abscam alleged bag man and Murtha did go that day to the Georgetown townhouse where FBI men were posing as the agents of the non-existent Arabs. Last week in Brooklyn federal court. The Abscam jury watched a tape of Murtha turning down a

cash bribe but leaving the door open to future offers. We've got a business you know. But on the stand today Murtha who is an unindicted co-conspirator in this case claimed he never intended to strike a deal that he just wanted jobs for his district. Murtha is a witness for the prosecution. But on cross-examination the defense got a chance at him too. And under questioning by Thompson's lawyer mouth his credibility was called in question. Attorney Steven Kaufman cited repeated inconsistencies between Murtha's initial statements two FBI men when he said it was Criden who had first contacted him. His statements last February to the press. His testimony before a grand jury in June and finally his sworn statements today. Kaufman accused Murtha of having made a deal with federal law enforcement officials in order to avoid being prosecuted himself. The deal he suggested was that Murtha would help build the case against Thompson and Murphy in return for some kind of immunity Cosmin would have the jury believe that Murtha

was lying on the stand today but that he told the truth last February when he was questioned by the FBI. Back then he said he knew nothing of any Thompson deals that Thompson never mentioned money to him. This is Sandra Kim reporting. Governor Byrne is calling for major changes in the property tax system burned today told the state's municipal leaders he'd like to either see a statewide property tax system or a regional distribution of property taxes. The governor said the current system perpetuates disturbing inequalities among municipalities. While some communities prosper easily others are struggling to provide basic services. Byrne called for a careful study of the two proposals right now but one of the governor's spokesman said Byrne hopes to pass some kind of property tax reform by the end of his term next year. Worster Craig nuclear power plant and Fort Hood River will shut down Friday for repairs. Officials say one of the reactors heating systems is leaking slightly radioactive water but they say the leak is contained and poses no health or environmental

risks. The repair work is expected to take about a week and until the spokesman say shutting down the plant will probably kill some fish in the Barnegat Bay Area. Fish died because of the drop in water temperature that comes with the plant shutdown. Meanwhile Jersey Central Power and Light officials who own the Ocean County plan say they'll have to pay between a half and three quarters of a million dollars every day for replacement power. While the plan is out of commission Meanwhile the operators of two nuclear power plants in Salem County have another concern right now. Salem one and Salem. Two plans are protected by a five man fire brigade and a sprinkler and foam system. But public service electric and gas facilities have no backups. The local volunteer fireman there refused to answer any calls. South Jersey correspondent Don Torrance reports. Sales of one and two nuclear power plants like space stations in a remote corner of the solar system. Like most nuclear plants. They are isolated from communities though not isolated enough for some neighbors required to have their own firefighting capability in case any one of a number

of flammable substances goes up in this large blue tank is flammable oil on top of it you can see pipes running which is a sprinkler system. If a sensor in the case that there is heat or fire coming from the tank then the sprinkler system will automatically actuate and spray the fire around the electrical panels. Lab chemicals many non radioactive substances could catch fire sprinklers and compressed foam. Tanks are everywhere. Yet the power plants must have backup. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission recognizes the volunteer fire company at the lower Elouise Creek five miles away has that back up here inside the lower Elouise Creek Fire Department you can see all the new gear brandnew rescue unit a new water tanker truck over there. Even a brand new rescue boat. As a matter of fact a brand new building. A lot of it paid for with tax money from Salamone and Salem to nuclear power plants. But the people of lower Elouise freek'n the firefighters in particular aren't so sure that those nuclear power plants are good neighbors and they're very fearful of what they might find if they have to go inside to fight a fire.

They formally voted not to answer a call at Salem and say they will demand local law that requires them to answer any call the firemen have a ban on talking with newsmen now. But one talk with us though he wouldn't give his name. Make. Sure they feel as though they've been lied to. About a fight. Well the committee voted not to the farm and say Salem officials misled them about chemicals stored inside the plants leaving several off a list. We left off a lot of insignificant and minor chemicals that we have located all around the plant. It was not done intentionally but we are adding to that list now that we know they they want to know all of the chemicals and we're going to present it to them. So very also admits the company hasn't pushed as hard as it should to get a training program going for local farm and I'm familiar with nuclear plants. But he says plateaued or P.S. EMG is ready to write those roles. Trouble is the fire department won't negotiate down the farm and feel betrayed. And until that feeling passes they aren't likely to talk. The NRC says it isn't worried but

would like the issue resolved. All this could delay further the startup of the Salem to play in lower Elouise creek down towards. Municipalities and the state must now consider taking advantage of the sun before issuing building permits. That according to a new bill signed into law today. The law is the first statewide conservation zoning law in the country. Manahan. Reports. The bill directs municipal officials to revive their master plans by 1982. The revisions would require developers to design streets and construct commercial industrial and residential buildings in a way which maximises the use of solar energy in the future. For example in a residential setting the new legislation would require municipalities to position streets so that houses could be built to face in a southerly direction. The house would then be constructed with one large window or many windows facing south and few if any windows on the north side to take full advantage of the sun.

The bill which is an extension of the state's Land Use Act was signed into law at ceremonies in Blackwood today. The bill sponsor Assemblyman Dan Dolfin says it will not place any hardship on developers and will benefit homebuyers through the planning process of a municipality. The homeowners in that municipality will be able to obtain financial benefits and that if they won't they will cut down on the utilization of non renewable energy resources such as gasoline and oil and at the same time start utilizing renewable energy resources such as the sun or the wind. But the New Jersey Builders Association says contractors will probably have to sacrifice building lots and some future residential developments and that will result in higher costs for the remaining lots in Blackwood. I'm Kent Monohan. After nearly eight weeks of water rationing North Jersey residents still have not been able to achieve more than a 10 percent level of conservation. Jersey City has had one of the

worst records and began withholding consumption figures from the Department of Environmental Protection. So this morning DNP officials went to Jersey City to find out why Reggie Wells has more. Today state officials met behind closed doors with Jersey City engineers. The meeting was closed to the press and when it ended DGP officials slipped out a back door and refused to comment. The session had gone on for several hours and several times it became quite heated. The city's business administrator sidestepped the usual boring press and explained why Jersey City had been withholding figures. We found that there were some possible discrepancies in the rate of water being brought into the sewer system from other water providers in the state and one was being diverted out of the Jersey City system. And we found ways of monitoring the system closer with better calibration of our equipment with determining what they're sending in so we can determine how much is actually flowing through our system and therefore how much we're actually conserving. Tell me why some of the people who might not have wanted us to wanted us to come into this meeting.

I don't think there's anything to hide in any way. I think that I'm being perfectly honest with you right here and this is the whole scope of the meeting. I have no problem meeting with you telling you what was discussed at the meeting. There's a meeting going I've been out here for two and half three hours and yelling was yelling about yelling cut. No I guess my hearing's not too good. I know Jersey City officials say they had stopped reporting figures several weeks ago because they did not wish to be portrayed as the only water system in North Jersey. Not conserving. Critics also say that Jersey City probably didn't want to reveal that their meters and monitoring equipment weren't properly calibrated. In any event city engineers will be repairing equipment tomorrow and figures will be available next week. The Jersey City water company predicts that consumption figures for Jersey City next week will probably reveal that Jersey City is doing as well a conservation or as poorly as all the other water companies in North Jersey. Ridgewell. And no rain expected in the weather forecast tonight will have clear skies with temperatures in the low to mid 30s. It will be partly sunny not quite so cool tomorrow. Highs will be in the mid to

upper 40s and the outlook for Saturday partly cloudy and cool. New Jersey has proven to be fertile grounds for development of regional theatres with 11 professional equity theatres of its own. One example is the whole theater company of Montclair 11 married couples all professional actors from New York City went to

Montclair in 1971. Soon after they founded the company putting their own talents to work there. The company recently opened its eighth season with the American premiere of cool a musical review of the works of Cole Porter producer Gaye Rosenthal and correspondent Gus Henning Berg of taking a closer look at the whole theatre company and discovered it's more than a theater. The company's founder converted space in Montclair First Baptist Church into a 90 per RC pocket theater for its first public performance in 1973. That first show was Thornton Wilder's Our Town a tribute to small town America of which Montclair counts itself apart. But right from the beginning the company was more than just a community theater. I think our commitment more is to all of New Jersey and northern New Jersey in particular because. Our subscribers now come from about 200 towns from around us so what started out as far as our town is now a

state today the whole theater company resides around the corner from the church in a converted bank on Bloomfield Avenue Montclair Main Street. Of course many things have changed in seven years but the intensity and excitement of what happens inside remains the same as that very first production. Oh. My. Gosh. I. Mean.

To me. This is a scene from the Company's production of Carl sparkling salute the cohort of multicolored harmonies the musical revue was originally staged by an English troupe at London's mermaid theater. This is the American premier. You. Like. On a middleman the fetus producing director says in the whole theater rendition much of the dialogue of the original version has been eliminated. It's the kind of show that is tasteful enough so that it crosses into a lot of different world since it's not a show that is elitist snobbish because it's called Porter and it crosses many generations. I love it. My daughter loves it. And she's nine. And my parents. And then you know and grandparents love it so it's that kind of mass appeal the. Mass appeal certainly there is the show has been nearly sold out since its

opening in mid-October middleman says the response to the show and to his theater in general is healthy and the good sign for a state with an identity crisis like New Jersey. There is a real movement in this state to claim its own identity separate from the city of Manhattan. And theater has to be in the middle of that the whole theater has become more of a non resident company over the years. And the early days all of the performers were company members. But to provide more diversity non-company actors were at it. Cole is a perfect example. No member of its cast is a member of the company. Sherri Mathis is best known for soap opera fans for her part in search for tomorrow on CBS. But Sherri is a versatile trooper. Who. As time went on the production of the company which have now become multifaceted with the addition of musicals and

classics and comedies and new plays put tremendous professional demands on us. Therefore we try to strive to bring the best possible people to New Jersey to to offer that kind of a product. And. Adelman says it cost three quarters of a million dollars to run the theater about $80000 to mount a musical like code. The company currently has about 4000 subscribers and the broad based philanthropic support middleman says it's not enough to do a show like code. It has wonderful reviews. People are flocking to come to the theater. It's jammed you said yourself. This is a success. Well we'll go out of business at this rate. I need the extra money that comes from tax deductible donations in order to grow. The whole thing. The company is more than just a fine example of regional theatre at its best and the company's commitment extends far beyond simply providing entertainment at Montclair. It provides a wide variety of educational programs for surrounding communities. And one such program is provided

here in New York. It's part of the company's arts alternative program which uses theatre as a tool for learning and development. Jason Baso an actor and founding member of the company is currently working with fourth grade students from the Roberto Clemente school in New York. This particular workshop includes a variety of theater games from improvisation to word association and it's just been started. This school year to try and made it using the arts in order to affect behavior in a positive way. We're always sort of acting out. Kids have lots of energy. They're acting out a lot. We like to to focus that energy to take that energy to focus it to concentrate it. BASSA works with the children four days a week. The group was tested and the basic skills last May. I will be tested again in 12 months after they have participated in the workshop.

Judy Delgado the whole field of education director says the company hopes to see an improvement in those schools further validate the use of the arts in the public school curricula. We're trying to show how. Our work. Affects the basic skills area. In a positive and. It's very new because it's never been done. Here. With public school. Give me a few words when I you describes how it feels to get that very strong when you guys choose that it's real a few. Weeks later run downstairs way. I get instant feedback from the kids on me and I am sure all the time and I know if it's working even if it's not working you feel that I have gained a lot of I guess self-confidence and self-esteem myself just by working with the kids because they're instant critics.

The arts alternative program is just one educational service the whole theater company provides. There's also a professional theater school which offers over 35 courses taught by professionals an internship program and an outreach program which includes master workshops and theatrical training projects but says many people are unaware of the company's dual role. There's some people who only know assistant theater and there are other people who don't know it. As an education in you know educational institutions. And what we're really trying to do is get people to understand. That we are both. That's hard to do social service work but that's very unique. We do do educational programs into place. I don't think anybody else quite offers that range of programming. And I'd like to think it's because of the way we do what we do in. The whole theater company's production of coal runs through November 23rd and maybe brought

back again in May. The company's next production a thousand clowns opens next month. And now Bill Perry with tonight's sports Bill. OK. Thank you Karen. On Tuesday night the L.A. Lakers lost Earvin Magic Johnson because of a knee injury. Today. The Nets

finally moved Eddie Jordan. Fast Eddie The former Rutgers star goes to L.A. for a number one draft choice in 1982. We caught up with Eddy today as he was packing to fly to the coast to join his new team. Eddie makes his home in 10 to fly not too far from Piscataway but a long way to L.A.. He. Actually. Actually he will be back January 16th when the Lakers come here to play the nets. You. Hate to go. Not really Eddie was collecting DNP did not place far too often this season. Last year he was a starter and he led the nets and minutes played them glad to get out of this situation. Over the last two months anyway. So I'm glad to you know start all over again. You have to be diplomatic about it and say you know I'm glad to go somewhere else but I am because I've always said that if I was to be true to trade me into a contender.

Eddie Jordan always a popular player here. This is Eddie this afternoon with some neighborhood kids. Good luck to you in L.A.. Maybe he'll be mini magic. Eddie didn't play last night as the Nets lost to San Antonio and over time 112 104 first quarter Mike Newman on fire for the Nets. Michael corner hitting from the outside is well-tanned first quarter point for all current 12 for Newman. There he is with the left hand off balance now. That's by 220 to a 26 at the quarter. Watch this in the second quarter. When he did catch and shot from Mike Devinsky the first time Edgar Jones touched the ball after the missed by Walker a smash later Jones with a tip off and Newman missed. That's by 10:57 47 at the half. George Gervin wags what a field goal. There was five or seven left in the first half went wild in the third quarter scoring 17 to bring the Spurs back. The iceman erasing the deficit San Antonio lead 78 75 after three despite a defensive sandwich there. The iceman with two more fourth quarter a new Gerben shoot out new and finished with 35 Gerben with thirty eight close throughout the

fourth quarter. It ended 98 off the end of regulation in the overtime period Dave Corzine right here with eight of the Spurs 14 points and San Antonio scored the first six points of the overtime. They won at 112 104. Billy Martin has signed a five year contract extension as manager general manager of the Oakland A's and boxing tonight in ice world in toto Wescott Frank headline's the card. That scandal was there in paragraph highlights for you. Tomorrow night I'm taking a day off well-deserved. May. OK Bill thank you. And that's the news for Bill Perry. I'm Karen Stone. Good night for the New Jersey. New Jersey Nightly News is a joint presentation of New Jersey Public Television and W. 13.

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