New Jersey Nightly News; New Jersey Nightly News Episode from 11/28/1978 6:30 pm

New Jersey night. Was Rebecca suable in Trenton and Clayton Vaughn in Newark. Good evening. In the news tonight the cost of living in the north Jersey metro area went up seven tenths of one percent between September and October. Many low income families could be cut off from the proposed lifeline utility rates program and some north Jersey postal workers have won a new ally in their fight to save their jobs. Clayton. Good evening Rebecca. Rutgers basketball team opens the season tomorrow night against Colombia ball bloodline and tonight's sports report takes a last preseason look at Rutgers is considered by many to be among the top 20 teams in the country. And on tonight's closer look an investigative report on the New Jersey film commission's role in arranging contacts between movie producers and a mob dominated New Jersey Teamsters Local. The cost of living in the New York northeastern New Jersey area went up by seven tenths of one percent between September and October. Food housing clothing and friends were taken all increased in the past year grocery prices have gone up by more

than 11 percent. Rebecca. The Board of Public Utilities has added a new twist to the controversial lifeline or reduced rate plan. The board today recommended a change in the original proposals and wants to give only some senior citizens a break on their monthly gas and electric bills in order to finance the reductions. The BPU says that revenues from casino gambling may be used. Jeffrey Hall reports the BPU has been debating who would qualify for the reduced rate or a Lifeline program for some time originally or a low income utility customers were supposed to qualify. But that plan was scrapped because it would have cost other customers too much money. Today the BPU modified the plan. It recommended to the legislature that senior citizens could qualify for the reduced rates but only if they were over 65 and only if both spouses earned a combined annual income of less than seventy five hundred dollars plus any Social Security benefits.

People who are handicapped would also qualify. But to get the benefits older families and the handicapped would have to conserve. Their utility use wouldn't be able to exceed a prescribed formula if they were met the requirements they would be able to save from about $2 to about $27 on their monthly bill. The plan must be approved by the legislature the BPU was recommended that financing come from existing revenues like casino gambling. The board does not want general utility customers to pay higher rates to finance the plan. I'm Jeffrey Hall. Postal workers who took part in that wildcat walk out of the Jersey City bulk mail center last summer are still finding the penalties leveled against them by postal authorities. Almost 200 workers at the center are in the process of being fired and many of those workers are fighting those missiles through the postal grievance procedures. Their cause may have been helped today with the announcement the noted labor negotiator Theodore keel was ready to get involved in the fight. More from reporter Jack Connery.

At a news conference in New York or the postal union leaders stress the Keil fine fresh from weeks of negotiations and a newspaper strikes here camp will serve partly as an advisor who will conduct an impartial investigation into the grievances filed by striking postal workers who took part in a walkout in Jersey City last July. Postal Workers Union spokesman Moe Biller says worker tension is still high in Jersey City. The public especially in these areas where this will go out should be aware of the tensions that go on in a totally mechanized setup with the type of more secure way sure where a ship cannot come into the buildings and so on. People are allegedly been bad boys or bad girls whatever you want to call them but the fact that they work on the very difficult circumstances when a lot of pressure. Biller also says the grievances filed will result in a long agonizing procedure for everyone involved but it will cost taxpayers almost three million dollars.

That's where Kiel may come in. Because of the unusual circumstances the procedures may not be effective. And it's important to find some way that they've made may be made effective. It's not simply a matter of. Doing justice. It's also a matter of appearing. That. Justice is being done. He will also be looking at the postal system's new payroll program. Which union leaders say is fouled up paychecks and confused workers about their vacation and sick leave benefits. But the big thrust will be for amnesty. Union officials want all those fired or facing dismissal to get their jobs back without disciplinary action for the illegal walkout. Also Union officials are hoping that the busy Christmas season will be an ideal time to put pressure on postal leaders and get some changes there and they hope that the indoor kill will be demand to play a big part in applying that pressure. In New York City.

I'm Jack Otter. Going to burn all the time and signing into law the bill of cuts down the amount of state money to schools part of the governor has offered to head off a projected state budget deficit. The action isn't going to make it any easier however for the many school systems across the state which already face serious money problems. New Brunswick schools may be the prime examples and some education officials consider the New Brunswick system the worst in the state. Today state education commissioner Fred Burke toured several schools there to get a firsthand look at some of their problems. Reporter Raed Wells has the story. Work arrived at Roosevelt junior high accompanied by New Brunswick superintendent of schools Frank Greene. It was Reno who since last June had sought this personal attention from the commissioner after last year's basic skills test results were released to test scores in New Brunswick were dismal and ream felt he needed help from the outside. The first stop this morning was the 5000 volume library.

And we had a few people coming. Then the commissioner went into the classroom and talk to the students. For the work you do up here down here your animals and I wouldn't point any fingers of blame in the New Brunswick school system. He said his tour was quite routine and merely part of his job. Well I mean the schools is only two or three times a month and I thought the time that I paid a visit to the New Brunswick schools and familiarize myself with the programs and the attempts to bring about improving the basic skills which are underway here. On the other hand superintendent Green was more specific about public school maladies in New Brunswick. All the problems were facing your basic skills. Test they were given last year. The basic skills were lowest in the state and sixth and ninth grade so that's one problem that we're facing and we have to improve our skills. In last years basic skills test only 16 percent of the city's sixth graders

passed and for the eighth graders It was much better. Only 18 percent passed. That means 4000 of the city's 5000 pupils need help. School officials here in New Brunswick are hoping that today's tour might eventually lead to increased state aid for this district. Aid in the form of additional funds for remedial courses or for an administrative plan to help upgrade the schools. In New Brunswick I'm read Worlds. Hundred and fifty people are homeless tonight after a fire destroyed their six story apartment building in Atlantic City. The fire broke out late last night in the Preston apartments near the intersection of Pennsylvania and Atlantic Avenue. No major injuries reported but one firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation. Fire officials are investigating the cause of that blaze. The Pinelands review committee last night officially released its plan for saving the Pine Barrens and to no one's surprise the committee said what it's been saying on officially since June that 370000 acres of the Pine Land should be preserved undeveloped and

that the other six hundred thirty thousand acres should be open for development but only with careful regulation. Last night's public hearing in Mount Holly the first of six on the plan drew opposition from local pine lands officials. They said pine lands preservation would deprive them of new and necessary taxes. Clayton Ana returned to Ovide teaching methods isn't the only way to improve the basic skills of schoolchildren may not even be the best word. Results of a yearlong study of an experimental teaching program called philosophy for children show that just getting children to talk about what they read or even what they feel may be enough to improve their performance. So on working points. Children here in Pompton Lakes and their counterparts in Newark have been the subjects of the experiment. The idea seems obvious. Get children to talk about what they read and what they think. Get them to share their ideas and their feelings. Christmas like.

This is. This is. Christmas. Pittsburgh Steelers. It's a new concept for formal classroom teaching and a new curriculum developed state college by Dr. Matthew Letterman. And today the philosophy for Children program got the official seal of approval from the federal government which is designated as eligible for special federal funds and the Educational Testing Service which says the results of its year long study show the program works. The experimental groups in both Pompton Lakes and Newark showed significant increase in all phases of academic achievement after the philosophy program was introduced into their school day Letterman says that's exactly what he'd hoped for and the first thing you know they find that their ideas are being invited solicited and they're being listened to and that they feel encouraged by that. And this gives them tremendous assurance which otherwise they would like because philosophy is not that kind of program where individual competence

is the first issue in terms of sharpness or aptitude instead. All opinions are elicited all views and beliefs are elicited. Six New Jersey school districts now use the philosophy curriculum but Lippman says that number could jump to 300 by the next school year in Pompton Lakes. SANDRA KING Here's the official forecast for New Jersey better than it's been tonight partly cloudy but cold across the state. Temperatures will be in the upper 20s to the low 30s. Tomorrow it will be mostly sunny and mild temperatures in North Jersey will range from 40 to 45 degrees. A little warmer in the south and part of the state highs there will be in the low 50s. There's a chance of rain across the state though that's 10 percent chance tonight 10 percent chance tomorrow. The outlook for Thursday mostly cloudy with a chance of rain in the morning. I think I can tell you about our jersey program this week. Tax attorney with

the IRS if they decide to order your tax return. We talk about a volunteer probation program for juvenile offenders in Burlington County. And we visit the summer set and a cab ride horseback riding and the balance coordination and most important of all confidence in youngsters who are disabled. Don't miss Jersey finals Tuesday at 8 on New Jersey Public Television. Basketball is here already. Here to tell us about it. Thanks Rebecca and a lot of people are looking forward to tomorrow night. The much heralded Rutgers basketball team opens its season at home against Colombia. By now you've heard all about Rutgers Scarlet Knights are coming off a 24 and seven season and just about everyone is back including all-American James Bailey the last time Rutgers coach Tom Young had so much talent with three years ago when Rutgers went undefeated and reached the Final Four. As for the inevitable comparison Young says this year's team is not as good. At least not yet.

We don't think so mainly because of the experience factor. We only have really three or four guys with as much experience we had. Now what happens between the somber and late February is a different ballgame because as the season goes on a new guys get experienced them. We may be we may be good but a completely different team not near as quick as it was. But this team does have a player who can dominate an entire game number 20 James Bailey the 6 9 senior averaged more than 23 points and nine rebounds a year ago. He's undoubtedly the player upon whom Rutgers will depend. That's obvious from watching these unbelievable plays from last year's win over St. Johns. Right now though Coach Tom Young is not too happy with his fame. According to him the last couple of weeks of practice have been lousy. But then again and James Bailey he is a player who can turn things around with one slam dunk. I really don't want to make no predictions anything but. Honesty. I really feel something deeper decided we should be able to go an awfully long way to shiver closer to death do we

have like maybe 10 players deep. Last you knew you before was six maybe seven deep in ASH you carry a smile if you are proud of it. And before that game tomorrow night the Rutgers women opened their season against Fordham Rutgers coach Teresa Grant has recruited some of the top players in the area. The lady knights are expected to have one of the very best teams in the entire east. Also tomorrow night Seton Hall is at home against Merrimack College game time 08:00 Seton Hall is coming off a big win over Georgia Tech a team that Sports Illustrated ranked 10th in the country. Seton Hall is sometimes overlooked. But don't forget their off season recruiting. They picked up freshman like Danny calendar all of them North Bergen high and Howard McNeil from Glassboro high. But these new players together with returning stars like Nick Caylus and Seton Hall will be able to play with just about anyone this year. Overall they're simply a lot of talent in South Orange this season. Seton Hall coach Bill Raftery should have very little to complain about. Although at times I'm

sure he'll try. Nationally today Oklahoma running back Billy Sams was awarded college football Heisman trophy and a real shocker the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball fired their manager Sparky Anderson Anderson replaced by John McNamara. And that's Ford's plane. Well a New York man is being held in New York as a suspect in the November 17th bank robbery in North Arlington that was the robbery in which one of the bandits shot one of his own fingers off when a shotgun accidentally discharge the severed finger was found in the bank and police got his fingerprint of course came up with 21 year old Robert Martin who had gone to a New York hospital where he said he had been hurt by a mugger who had shot him. Police are still looking for one possibly two others involved in the robbery and the $3000 that was taken. And in the meantime they got a complaint and of the tanner on Martin who faces extradition now from New York. New York police for good measure of also charged Martin with giving a false police report. Because of that muggers story.

But. You know you'll be an out of the way. I'm down. For my. Success every step much of it I. Say nothing. I'll try. I'm Bill Bixby. Join me for action adventure on Dominic and I third once upon a classic season here I'm going to watch Dominic. Saturday at 6:30 on New Jersey Public Television. Tonight. On a closer look we have a special investigative report. This is the second such report that we have produced in conjunction with New Jersey magazine. Since 1977 the state Motion Picture and Television Development Commission has been trying to induce filmmakers to work in New Jersey governor Brendan Byrne appointed author Sidney

Kingsley chairman of this commission Joseph Freedman is the executive director of one of the problems faced by film producers is money. Motion picture unions have traditionally asked for high salaries and tight work rules. But the New Jersey Film Commission has made a deal to remedy the situation or so. Producer Bill and run off are discovered when he visited the commission's office in Newark after the people involved in the decision to make the film Amityville Horror in Toms River got to the point of staff setting up their negotiations. They were very concerned with. The kind of labor conditions they would find you know all we could do is introduce them to the proper people. And dies. I found out afterwards from the people in a IP in California that they were very very satisfied with the arrangements made by. The. Local Jersey Teamsters. This essentially cost less to make a film in New Jersey

because of labor agreements and the like. Well yes because the Teamsters don't have at least the Teamsters here in New Jersey don't have a set contract with any of the major studios as they do say on the West Coast or the West Coast things that they can. Be flexible or they can decide exactly just how much they would charge for the particular work that has to be done. Teamsters are essential to the production of a movie. They drive all the trucks load and unload all the props and heavy equipment. For 52 years. Members of the New York City Teamsters Local 817 had soldiers stiction over films made in New Jersey local 817 is noted for its integrity and the high wages that it gets for its members. But the State Film Commission has been suggesting to producers that they can cut costs by working with another local. Teamster local 560. Based in Union City. Robert Matsui heads the motion picture division of local 560.

Mr. Kingsley called me one day and he told me they were looking to bring the movies into Hoboken. They were going to the movie voices and whole book and I thought he would like to know if I would get involved. He said it's going to take time. It's a problem to get him here he says. They need cooperation with the union and give them the best breaks you can get and things like that that I would do and I said yes and I did. You may have heard of Teamster local 560 until this past June it was the home local of Anthony Tony Pro Provenzano law enforcement officials going down the province on its control of 560 is a classic study in labor racketeering. Steven Brill is a contributing editor for Esquire magazine. He is also the author of the Teamsters a best selling book that details the inner workings of the Teamsters Union traveling around the country one of the things I've been stressing is that. Is that the book talks about a lot of very good local unions in the Teamsters and a lot of very bad ones. And the example that I always use very very easily is.

The ultimate terrible Teamster local is local 560 local 560 is little more than. Then a subsidiary for organized crime. I would say it has the. Worst reputation of a local union a country rock kind of activities have the officers of a local 560 been involved in the range of organized crime activities and that's what they've been involved in. From orchestrating hijackings to extortion to loan sharking. To murder. We have the. Former president the secretary treasurer of local 562 province has been convicted of murder. Anthony Provenzano is in jail now. But even with Tony Pro in prison his family continues to control local 516 with one of his brothers Nunzio serving as president. Another brother Salvatore serving as vice president and his daughter Josephine in the office of secretary treasurer Robert let's say the man chosen to run local 560 is motion picture division which is one of

Anthony Provenzano his most trusted subordinates. It is a relationship with the Provenzano extends well beyond union businesses. Let's see. Is chairman of the committee to defend Anthony Provenzano a group soliciting contributions for Tony Pros. legal expenses at a more personal level. Anthony Provenzano is the godfather of at least one of Robert lots of his children. But the State Film Commission seems unconcerned about the past history of both local 560 And Robert let's see who has served time in prison for breaking entry and larceny. Are you aware that Mr. Letts is a convicted felon a man who served time in prison. Are you aware of the reputation that Teamster local 560 has had that law enforcement officers say that's dominated by organized crime. I think Bill I would like not to get into it because that's not the concern of the commission. And. I'm just. Going to talk to me as a private citizen but as a appointed

official of a state commission I don't think that's my place this point. Representatives of the State Film Commission argue that the question here is not the integrity of local 560 but featherbedding on the part of New York City teachers. We have you here a contract which is probably one of the best contracts in the country and one of the one of the disciplines and that's gone. As a guarantee. My head of a status that there will be no betting and it is recommended that's gone and that's most extraordinary. Officers of local 817 German charges of featherbedding moaning. They point to master contracts they have with five major studios adding You don't hear them complain. Local 817 members more than half of whom live in New Jersey told us that they feel they are being slowly pushed out of New Jersey film projects and I was surprised that no

one at the State Film Commission has even bothered to contact them. Robert Lutz is rolling film production isn't confined to just labor matters. In fact he's become something of a quasi official ambassador for the State Film Commission. When I was talking to Mr. Freeman he mentioned that you and local 516 made a personal commitment to Governor burn to help bring movies deduction is that right. That's absolutely right. That's absolutely right. Because the advertisement and Californian variety a few of the papers out there and I've had I don't know how many calls from directors and producers mostly producers and we work everything out. I hesitate to speculate. Just in general terms about having any group involved in any situation what the ramifications are certainly the track record of 560 is that. We're 560 officers go there is corruption in this crime there's extortion and it seems to me that

that you're hoping against hope. If you if you assume that a 560 gets involved and I mean something like the movie industry where there's so much discretion both in content. And in the kinds of costs involved in producing a movie you're hoping against hope that a 560 gets involved that it's going to be honest because there's nothing in the track record that says it's going to be honest. The influence of Teamster local 560 is already being felt on New Jersey movie sites. Teamsters working on films shot in New Jersey have been given letters encouraging them to donate to the Anthony defense fund. So I'm going down but this is just the beginning. This year there were only 13 films shot in New Jersey but the state has ambitious plans to turn this abandoned railroad terminal in Jersey City or some other North Jersey site into a massive motion picture complex. The film commission envisions the construction of the largest production center on the East Coast with the subtleties equal or superior to those available in Hollywood. If that ever occurs

Teamsters Local 560 will be on an even more powerful position since only Teamsters approved by 560 will be allowed to work in this complex. Robert Stuart the chief of the federal Organized Crime Strike Force in New Jersey testified earlier this year that labor racketeering has not changed essentially sends the 1950s when it was so brutally exposed in the classic On the Waterfront. Ironically until this year the last major motion picture shock in New Jersey. A steward told members of the Senate subcommittee on investigations that it is a serious mistake to believe that the circumstances portrayed in Marlon Brando's on the waterfront are somehow passe. What we have today is the exact same problem as in the 1950s involving many of the same suspects. I was like oh right. Local 560 has been the subject of repeated congressional and criminal investigations. Its officers and their associates of them convicted of a dozen major crimes including murder

counterfeiting and loan sharking two recent books suggest a local 560 was the spawning ground for the conspiracy to kidnap and murder Jimmy Hoffa. The question that must be raised is whether the New Jersey motion picture commission an agency of the state government should be working so closely with local 560 encouraging 560 ever growing influence over New Jersey's economy. Once again our top story is the Board of Public Utilities is calling for a reduced lifeline utility rates program so that low income families who are not headed by senior citizens would be excluded. And a general alarm fire in Atlantic City overnight destroys a six story apartment house and 100 families homeless. And that's the news. Good Night and Good night for the New Jersey Jersey joint presentation of New Jersey public television broadcast weeknights at 6:30 on Channel 13 at 7:30. The New Jersey Public

Television an updated edition is broadcast at 10:00 p.m. the New Jersey Public Television. And at 7:00 the following morning on Channel 13 portions pre recorded.