New Jersey Nightly News; 10/03/1976

New Jersey and Clayton get it because Obama is on vacation I'm reporting tonight. In the News New Jersey's top economic advisory group has come up with a controversial plan to follow through on Governor Burns pledge to revitalize the state's decaying cities we'll have a report and we'll talk on a closer look about some of those recommendations like tax tips from the cities to the suburbs and business shifts from the suburbs to the Senate. Elsewhere today is today's fact was yesterday's speculation in the daily news when it resumes publication will cut back on its New Jersey coverage. And in sports line has a preview of another major behind the bars boxing match and a look at a college volleyball team working on a string of 47 losses in State Economic Policy Council today released a wide ranging series of proposals aimed at halting the decay of New Jersey City's report comes in the wake of the governor's pledge to make revitalization of the cities a

priority issue and this is the second administration and the proposals are also not likely to make many politicians happy. Mariam are also reports New Jersey cities are caught in a vicious cycle. The high concentration of the poor and the elderly means drain on city services. That means higher taxes and higher taxes drive out the middle class. Everybody knows about the vicious cycle but few people who run the government try to do anything comprehensive about it. They're faced with two equally unmanageable alternatives either to increase the number of people paying taxes or to decrease the number of people using city schools public housing and welfare. The State Economic Policy Council that advises the governor and the legislature released its recommendations today suggesting that the state tried both alternatives encouraging zoning that will let lower income people move to the suburbs and getting suburban residents and state government to help pay more for the cities. The Economic Policy

Council says suburban commuters don't pay for the roads they use to get into and out of the city. And that's not fair. The council says it's also unfair that city people pay the same electric rates as suburban residents when it's cheaper for the electric companies to supply cities. But the city's biggest problem is the property tax. It's just not enough nourishment for urban areas starving to death from lack of funds. The council recommends some kind of tax sharing with the suburbs and a much greater dome from the state to pay for things like public housing and welfare. Small business growth is another part of the magic formula for rejuvenate cities and in addition to property tax relief the council suggests that the state give away land to Homestead and businesses land that the cities are now saddled with as a result of tax defaults. These are radical to most political realists and the chairman of the Economic Policy Council realizes that Hart would like to stay away from political reasons. We're looking at it from the economist point of view. We see these as meritorious ideas

in the art of the science of getting the legislation has clearly gone down. We recognise these are difficult issues and this is where we see the crew leadership. The council's proposals now governor and from there it's anybody's guess about how far they go with the legislature. In Trenton I Mariama now a much brighter picture is being painted by another report formally out tomorrow by the Regional Plan Association that's a citizens research and advocacy group concerned with the New York metropolitan area report is on New Jersey. And it says New York Patterson New Brunswick and possibly Hackensack have the greatest potential for becoming major metropolitan Sutter's report inner city crime rates are falling while suburban crime rates are going up. The report has three recommendations. One the private firms reconsider office and service jobs in inner cities church and civic groups along with government encourage tenant and block associations and three of the state establish a firm

urban policy to get people back into the cities 67 cities across the country will be getting more than 200 million dollars in federal housing money the idea to upgrade distressed housing projects two of those cities are here in New Jersey. While the half million dollars will go to the project in Newark to fix up fourteen hundred apartment units another three hundred fifty thousand dollars will be handed out to set up a project management program. The money is being used in projects that would have been demolished in the past. Jersey City will also be getting more than 12 million dollars in similar housing money. The two top administrators of the Lodi Housing Authority convicted last week of extortion and racketeering have been fired. The two Andrew and offered will be sentenced next month. Their lawyers say they will challenge the dismissals if their clients get suspended sentences or if they are cleared on appeal. Officials of the New York Daily News now confirmed the story reported on this broadcast last night that the newspaper's New Jersey operation is

facing a severe cutback and the newspaper is de-emphasizing New Jersey coverage. More from reporter Jack Otter. What Pickett's marched for the 50 50 day. For the Daily News building in New York. U.S. officials were announcing the cutback in Jersey coverage. Some speculated that the New Jersey edition is the first victim of the economic crunch brought on by the pressman strike. That speculation which. By the way. Given my management here for the comeback of the. Heart since the. Last of operate. One official. But it. Makes competition with suburban his papers difficult but at the New Jersey office in West Orange where staffers got the bad news this morning there was a different story for The Daily News and they have to provide a comprehensive state coverage began in 1974 as an experimental program. In today's announcement which seemed to be the vision the experiment. Failed. The circulation of the edition was almost

300000 daily because that circulation covered such a large geographical area. The news was having trouble attracting advertisers. Our circulation was spread throughout the state so that we never built up our circulation in any one county to the point where it was significant to the advertisers. This office will remain open for the remainder of the year. There are plans to close it by the end of 1970. That's only a handful of reporters will be left to cover the State of the. There will be no more special jersey sports sections or editorials. Most of the reporters expect to be transferred to Jersey second largest island isn't it. I was going. Home. To New York. In one story. I'm Jack Carter the New York Post with its fresh agreement with striking pressman is rushing to get back into publication agreements still need to be reached with several other unions but of all the pieces fall into place the post could be on the street tomorrow. New York

newspapers eight weeks old in the Daily News and the times are still trying to come to terms with the latest federal study of the new offshore oil and gas leasing sides of the New Jersey coast. So as the chances of oil spills reaching the shore are 50 to 1. Those probabilities are in the Department of Interior as final environmental review of the proposed sites which are farther out and deeper than the area now being explored. And although those 50 to 1 odds against our study does warn that if a spill should hit the shore it could be devastating if it occurred at heavily used beaches in the middle of the summer. Angry senior citizens met with Human Services Commissioner and Klein today on the crisis in the popular discount drug program. Under that program the elderly buy only a dollar for a prescription drug. The state picks up the rest of the tab. But it's so popular that it's going to run out of money early next year unless something is done. Hearings already set Thursday on one legislative proposal to restrict eligibility. Today a spokesman for the legislature ought to have the guts to solve the problem without getting the program back. The

US naval officer who posed as a double agent today identified one of the two Russians on trial in New York for espionage. It's the first time that either of the Russians has been identified in court as being involved in the spy case. The Americans said he communicated with his contacts through notes and phone calls over a nine month period as they tried to buy U.S. defense secrets with drop points at New Jersey highways and phone bills. And the ruling has come down on the side of fraternity at Rutgers in New Brunswick. It is social probation for that rush party which featured a stripper social probation means no parties no fraternity money for entertainment in the house on top of that the probation won't be lifted until the members do something called community work projects. College officials apparently recognizing the necessity of emphasizing the obvious. Also declare that strippers are now persona non grata at fraternity functions and in this age of non discrimination strippers I've also been barred from sorority houses. Nothing in the meantime is happening the young lady as far as we know started all this by performing for those 8 assize months ago. Her name is Suzette. She is said

to perform a number of sexual acts they say to size say they'll appeal on the basis of the investigation was triggered by rumor and hearsay statement which lack physical. Was. Was. Was. Was. But you won't see much of. The. Final play. Of the next comic. Right. Watch a great performance. Public television. Here's the weather forecast for New Jersey tonight. It'll be partly cloudy throughout the state with

temperatures inland dropping into the mid 40s to around 50 degrees. It will be a little warmer at the shore tonight with temperatures there from 50 to 55 degrees. Tomorrow it will be partly cloudy in New Jersey with the chance of a few afternoon showers. Temperatures throughout the state will be from 63 to 67 degrees at the shore tomorrow. Visibility will be five miles or more. The outlook for Thursday in New Jersey partly sunny and milder. I'll fall back on with a Tuesday sports report for the Garden State. Thanks lighting. We've talked before about James Scott is an undefeated light heavyweight fighter. But what makes God unique is that he does his boxing in a wrong way state prison where he's serving a 30 to 40 year sentence. James got his at two pro fights behind the walls we're away on this one in May then another in September. He won them both raising his pro record at 12 0 and won. His next bout will be a big one next Thursday at Rahway.

It's got will fight this man any Gregory of New York. Gregory is the number one ranked contender for Mike Rosman is light heavyweight championship. At a news conference today in New York to announce the fight I talked with Gregory. Why would he risk his ranking and reputation by fighting Gene Scott behind prison walls. You know I've been number one for like eight months for a fight are you going to be afraid to be a fighter. I don't consider myself crowned champion of the world right in this situation where you have a lot to lose and not a lot to gain by going the wrong way I am not a little. Counter and I am in my ability right now from the world soon to be history. I assume you want Rossman. I want him back he want democracy today and I want him this right. Gregory and he might get Rossman But first the as the James got it wrong ways they presume that by coming up on Thursday that well the Professional Golfers Association of New Jersey is

holding its annual tournament this week at the Forest Gate. Course in James were about 100 pros teed off today for the first round. They're going after $20000 in prize money after one round to meet more of the Playboy Club has the lead with five under par 66 defending champion able to chart this is close behind at 67. The New Jersey PGA will continue at Forest Gate with the second round tomorrow and then a 36 hole finale on Thursday. Boyd said that everyone loves a winner and that seems true enough most of the publicity goes the teams with winning streaks and winning records. But tonight Trisha Gaspar is has a report on the team at the other end of the spectrum. While most teams are striving for a winning season the women's volleyball team. Mary Dickinson would like to read just one day. When the three years of the team's existence they racked up no wins. And 27 losses in one day. But this year under the leadership of their new coach Don died the girls hope to turn all that around. With God's

extensive background in coaching volleyball the team looks better than they ever were and even though they did lose their first two games this season God says they were encouraging losses. But the biggest problem right now is the team's ability. It's now they can't seem to get that extra confidence to earn them a victory. But team captain Ronnie feels that it's her job to keep everyone's spirits high. If you never feel like you know the next I don't want the ball. What's the most frustrating and disappointing thing about being on a team that can't win at this point. I think it's because everybody's trying so hard we practice so hard and then when the time of the game comes we just can't get it together. We will though. Tonight you can try to get the break.

Things straight when they play fellows in college. Needless to say. Everyone it ranks for that first victory and willing to contend with a trust deficit that morning and he said this is a dangerous business. The best the five playoff for the American League and it begins tonight in Kansas City. Jim Beatty will be pitching for the New York Yankees. Dennis Leonard will be on the mound for the Kansas City Royals the National League playoff between the Phillies and L.A. Dodgers begins in Philadelphia and that starts tomorrow night. Thank you Paul. Results will be shown starting Friday night in Morristown But today at the State House the emphasis was on how five craftsman demonstrated pottery throwing woodworking metalworking and walls. Was part of the kick off for the Morristown craft market. Friday at 7:00 p.m. continues on Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 6. Morristown our craft market is run by two nonprofit groups with proceeds going to craft education programs and a community service. And there are the city fathers of Bloomfield who are about to outlaw tattoo parlors and ordinance was introduced last night at the council meeting to that effect and approve of its

formally adopted at the next meeting later this month. Anyone caught tattooing would be subject to a fine of $500 90 days in the local slammer and on Bloomfield are modest. From all of this the tattoo parlors are all over town but in fact there isn't a single one. The town Health Officer Joseph would just like to keep it that way. The Arco says he made his recommendation to the council as a preventive measure rather than waiting for some tattoo and to have to resort to what the health officer called government by crisis last night. Sound off commentator 30 New Jersey talk about Marlon Farber the New York Times reporter have to go back to jail because of his refusal to give up confidential information on the Dr. axe murder case. The Farber cases stirred things up in newsrooms across New Jersey has inspired another of our pundits. Here's John McLaughlin. His column appears in the New Jersey editions of The New York Daily News. Editorial writers are a little upset at the decision of the state supreme court in the Marc

Farber New York Times case. The editors argue that because Mr. Farver has been ordered to turn over his files and adjust which murder case that the First Amendment has been trampled on and that the state shield law is in tatters the shield law is supposed to protect reporters from having to disclose their confidential sources but the situation is not as grim as all that. Even editors would concede that they're right at the front of the war fair trial is at least as fundamental as the right of the press to go about its business without government interference. And of course they take some pains to make sure that what happened to Mr. Farver one half of the other reporters who find themselves in a situation unlike fodder they will be given a preliminary hearing before being tossed into the slammer. Prosecutors and or defense attorneys will have to prove they have compelling reasons for making reporters testify. They still bear that the trial judge William Arnall didn't think of those before Farmer went to jail. But then the judge evidently has trouble staying awake during court proceedings. I still bet also that the state Supreme Court didn't think of what I thought of in September on July 6th.

My father first petitioned for Eric. But in all fairness to the court it was pre-occupied at the time it was on vacation. I'm John McLaughlin. Miley. Miley. Miley. Thank you. Thank you I came to be where you log. You must speak. Thanks thanks. And I thank you for get you. Thank you and I shank you can beg. A trunk. Thank you. Swear this so that you know I get this. Thanks. For watching public television. Thanks. Thanks.

Thanks. Thanks. God. Now was. Was in his inaugural address in January governor Byrne dedicated his second term to the revitalization of New Jersey cities and the nine months since then there have been few indications of his being followed up. As we reported earlier on this news broadcast that may have changed with two major reports on the present and future of New Jersey the Regional Plan Association says its researchers have found cities on a surprising upswing in associations as crime taxes and unemployment in 10 New Jersey cities are down.

While housing and race relations have improved the group recommends more of the same urban prescription cooperation between local state and business leaders. But another study of top economists paints a picture. Frankly the economic policy council's been suffering because the suburbs have been thriving. Drastic measures are needed to erase the competitive disadvantage and it makes some proposals. Have the suburbs carry some of the urban tax burden lower utility rates for city dwellers have the state carry more of local welfare costs. Give away land to interested businessman to open shops and offices discourage further suburban development. No one is sure how these proposals will translate into legislation or whether they'll ever get off the economists drawing boards and if they do what will New Jersey's cities be like in 20 years. Our guest this evening is chairman of the Economic Policy Council is Professor Joseph Seneca of Rutgers University. Professor you have covered a

lot of material in this 11th annual report as a luminous and for the first time it recommends very specific things from the council in terms of ideas and how to approach the problem of urban blight in New Jersey. Is it possible to summarize it in a paragraph or two. Well I'll try. I think we're saying here that the problem of New Jersey cities can't be met by one single type of policy number one. It requires a multifaceted approach dealing with some of the elements we've mentioned and perhaps perhaps more. Number two one of the main components would be aggressive and forceful leadership shown by both the executive in the legislature and forging in forging a coalition to make visible commitments of the private sectors interest in revitalizing the cities. And finally I think we're saying that there's an education lesson needed in the part of all New Jersey citizens that are

doing nothing about the cities as they stand now will still cost everyone money. Professor if you'll forgive me the way I read the report which was cursory knowledge was that it breaks down primarily into two areas. One is how the tax dollar is going to be spent in New Jersey available revitalisation dollar whether or not it's going to the suburbs in the form of more commuter highways whether or not it's going to the inner cities. Those sorts of questions and the other has to do with jobs particularly in the inner cities. But the thing that strikes me from the report is that we are getting into a situation where we're almost pitting the inner cities against the suburbs. Do you think that's a fair evaluation. I don't think we're putting it in terms of suburbs versus cities I think we're talking about redressing the balance of policies that tended to favor suburban growth and development to the detriment of the economic interests and vitality of central cities.

You're talking for instance about moving lower income people out of inner city environments and putting them into suburbs. You're talking about for instance causing the commuter to pay more for those highways that you drive on to go in and out of the inner cities. It seems to me that you're bound to run into what might amount to a stone wall of opposition from suburban New Jersey about all to the extent that some of these proposals are politically controversial there's no doubt. We have before us a State Supreme Court decision and now Laurel Mann an executive order by the governor of favoring and mandating of this personal policy we believe that that would be a long run type of solution to the problems and the opposition to that sort of solution are very overwhelming. We stayed in see a short term approach is to have a wider question arrangement where the saw the suburbs begin to

take their share of some of the costs they impose upon the central cities in the form of commuting costs. Uniform Service costs highway maintenance costs. These are costs that are generated by suburban use of center city area. In these days of Proposition 13 does that have any chance of application. Well that's a it's a good question. Clearly the long history of tax resistance in our state combined with the current characterized by the Proposition 13 movement suggests that any new spending policies particularly major amounts are likely to be shiny and bone in your future. But there's two ways to look at tax relief. One is simply to lower tax rates which is the way the current Proposition 13 minutes. Has been stressing the other approach that we say is to expand the tax base and at the same time not lower government costs particularly the spending that is associated with what we would call treating the

symptoms rather than disease than the disease. Welfare costs unemployment costs all sorts of state aid to cities which essentially try to hold the line rather than to restore the economic vitality of the cities and expand the tax base and put the cities back on their feet so we see that sort of programs like this as an investment whose future returns will be lower state spending for us Atika thank you for being with us tonight. Thank you. And once again our top stories the New Jersey Economic Policy Council the state's top advisory body for economics today issued a report on the state's urban areas and list of the number of controversial recommendations among them a shift of the tax burden from cities to suburbs. Meanwhile a Citizens Research Group will report tomorrow the New Jersey cities are not a good base for business with crime rates falling while crime goes up in the suburbs and the New Jersey edition of The New York Daily News may be a thing of the past. When the paper resumes publication Garden State coverage will be cut back.

And that's the name for Rebecca gone. Goodnight for the New Jersey night honey. Joint presentation of New Jersey public television

broadcast weeknights at 6:30 on Channel 13. Public edition is broadcast at 10:00 pm in New Jersey public television and it's 7:00 morning on Channel 13.