New Jersey Nightly News; New Jersey Nightly News Episode from 03/12/1982

New Jersey Nightly News with Don Torrance and can't lend a hand that evening. Democrats have gotten a hold put on their redistricting plan by US Supreme Court justice who will hear the Republican side next week. In sports Rutgers days a lot of the team Pats scandal knows the highlights and new jerseys so little senator reflects on the resignation of Harrison wood. The state Democratic Party has won a Supreme Court order temporarily reinstituting the map of congressional districts which was thrown out by a three judge federal panel last week. U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Brennan signed the order forbidding the state's June 8th primary from being conducted under a new redistricting plan which had been ordered by the lower court from March 22nd. Justice Brennan has asked the state's Republicans to file a response by Monday. The Republicans as well as the Democrats see the temporary suspension in their favor and we're confident the Supreme Court agree with us and if they don't and decide to continue to stay we don't want to delay this. And we'll take our chances with the federal court's

decisions or the Supreme Court's decisions that are temporary in nature. What it does is that there is sufficient grounds for belief that the bill which was an action by the legislature is constitutional that the Supreme Court should want to hear argument on both sides as to whether or not to grant a more permanent stay. Justice Brennan will decide whether to continue or lift the postponement after hearing from the Republican congressman. Last week the Federal Court ruled the redistricting that jawn drawn up by the Democratically controlled legislature and signed into law by former Governor Brown on his last day in office unconstitutional. The court found the new boundaries violated the one man one vote doctrine and ordered the legislature to come up with a new plan by March 22nd or face court ordered redistricting. Governor Kaine announced today that Lawrenceville insurance agent Clifford Snedeker will be the new head of the Division of Motor Vehicles. The division regulates 5 million New Jersey drivers and contributes 300 million dollars a year to the state treasury in the form of license fees. Then Hodgson reports this change of leadership comes at a time

when some major questions of the future of the direction of the division are still unanswered. What Clifford Snedeker has spent 80 years as a Republican Assemblyman and 30 years as an insurance agent. And this will be one of his biggest challenges of the new head of the Division of Motor Vehicles. Twenty five million. I'm computerized files on New Jersey drivers. The apparent cause for frequent complaints at the division is unresponsive and inefficient. The current DMV director Jonas County says she stepped back in time four years when she took over the job a year and a half ago. The revolution in the computer industry occurred in the last few motor vehicles. So we sought to rectify that situation by design modern computer system which will greatly improve services to the public. Kelsey's efforts to streamline the operation have apparently had some effect. For the first time since records were kept in 1980 the Division of Motor Vehicles was not the most complained about state

agency. In fact it was clear down to number four. There are still millions of records that need to be computerized but so far the Cain administration has not revealed whether it wants to spend the money to do it. A second major issue facing that a fireman is the operation of its 50 motor vehicle agency offices around the state directorships for most of the offices are handed out as political prizes. Former Attorney General John Degnan wanted the state to take the offices over the current DMV director was Koski want them to be contracted out to private individuals. Snedeker says he hasn't taken a position yet. I'm going to I'm going to look at the department completely I want to read the report given to the attorney general or to report their own know what was recommended with regards to the licensing sections making them private or making them state operated. There's also the possibility of completely eliminating inspections that have been done in many many states and given over to private enterprise which is a service stations. I'd like to see really what the cost of that is and how effective it is in fact Snedeker reserve comment on

most issues facing the DMV saying he wants more time to become better informed on all the pros and cons. He did say he favors a continuation of the required safety inspections for all vehicles and that he seriously questioning the need for the recently passed requirement for pictures and driver's licenses. What's Gonski says she's stepping down from the records ship in order to pursue a career in the private sector but declined to say exactly where in Trenton. I'm Dan HOBSON. The resignation yesterday of Harrison Williams leaves New Jersey with just one United States senator. William stepped down one expulsion from the Senate seemed inevitable. And today New Jersey's remaining Senator Bill Bradley reflected on that move and his role in the Senate debate concerning Abscam crimes by Williams. On Wednesday Bradley took the Florida call for expulsion and then a discussion tape for airing on New Jersey network's McLaughlin's B John McLaughlin asked Bradley about the statement. This was interpreted by the national press is like the last nail in the senator's coffin did you view it that way yourself.

I really don't know John. I have never advised Senator Williams to resign or not to resign. And I feel that was a decision for him to make and he did. Well there was no real need for you to speak no compulsion to do so why did you choose to do that. Jon for 25 months I've lived with this issue. And whenever people like you and citizens and town meetings and constituents who would visit me would ask the question. About Abscam and about what I thought I said always that I would make my statement on the floor of the United States Senate. That is what I did last Wednesday at the conclusion of the debate. But at one point you said you would make a statement after that your report is very thin. This is what I read have to try no. No I never said that I've always said that. The appropriate place to make the statement would be the floor of the United States Senate because this is a decision that is a very lonely decision for a U.S. senator to make it has to do with the Senate as an institution.

That conversation with Bill Bradley will be aired in its entirety at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday with a repeat broadcast scheduled for Thursday night at 8 o'clock. The assault trial of New York school board president calls Sharif and five co-defendants began today in superior court in New York. During opening arguments defense attorneys charge the Essex County Prosecutor's Office with conspiring against Sharif and mishandling the case. Diane doctor reports the trial of Carl Sharif and five others began with assistant Essex County prosecutor Glenn Goldberg telling a crowded courtroom about the alleged beating of Newark drug addict Bobby Simmons. Goldberg said the defendants planned and carried out a vigilante style attack on Simmons on July 17th 1981. They paid to enforce them. There are. The Simmons incident allegedly stemmed from the robbery of this building at 73 Lincoln Park in Newark a building the defendants used as headquarters for their civic

group called the sage society not far from here the place where Carl Sharif about three weeks later allegedly shot at another man also a drug addict identified as David Major. But defense attorney slammed away at Goldberg and the Essex County prosecutor's office charging its members with misconduct in the way the probe was handled. The members of the Ethics Committee. Oh yeah the prosecutor's office and Bobby Simmons and Ray Brown Jr. is one of six defense attorneys The group also includes his father Ray Brown who is defending call Sharif in pretrial hearings before Judge Stanley Bedford The defense claimed prosecutors put major and Simmons up in the gateway Hilton and gave them money which may have been used to buy drugs. The defense

charges it was an effort to buy their testimony and the motivation. Politics with Sharif holding the powerful school board post and being a close aide of Newark Mayor Ken Gibson. If you ever see. Black man which is going to become a target for the likes of this prosecutor's office. The likes of Salman but I don't want to make sure that you're not. I think you may think otherwise. When more was done. So what's expected as the trial gets underway is not just a case against six defendants. The Essex County prosecutor's office will also be on trial. And prosecutor George Schneider may be called to take the stand to defend himself and his office in Newark. I'm Diane Dr.. Patterson's nonunion workers got the good news yesterday the bad news came today a judge ruled yesterday that the administration of Mayor Pat Kramer acted wrongly in cutting the salaries of

nonunion workers by 11 percent. So today Kramer's administration sent layoff notices to about 30 of the nonunion employees. The workers had agreed to the pay cuts as an alternative to layoffs but the judge ruled Cramer had no authority to cut salaries. So Cramer use the other approach. Layoffs unionized police and firemen had refused the pay cut scheme so many of them were laid off earlier. Paterson is facing a large budget deficit. April 15th will remain the eviction deadline for most of the seasonal residents of the Delaware water gap. The U.S. Department of the Interior has refused a request to extend the deadline for the 140 residents of national parkland in the water gap. New Jersey congressman had been trying to convince Interior officials to make the extensions. The people who occupy the summer cabins have been fighting to keep them for 15 years. The federal government bought the land a nine hundred sixty six for the talk's Island dam project. When that project fell through the Interior Department took over the land and rented the cabins back to their former owners. But the Interior Department doesn't want to be a landlord anymore so the people will have to

vacate those places. The Interior Department says a maximum of 19 vacation cottages will be offered special use permits until March 1st 1984. Here's a look at our weekend weather forecast and I will be cloudy and mild The temperature in the upper 30s to low 40s partly cloudy skies mild temperatures again tomorrow some chance of afternoon or evening showers though the high in the upper 50s to low 60s and the outlook for Sunday Sunday yet again mild. Trenton voters will be selecting a mayor this spring when the filing deadline still two weeks away four

candidates have taken up petitions to run for the city's highest office already. Brenda Flanagan reports. Sixty two year old Arthur Holland has served four terms as the city's mayor earning himself the nickname the perpetual potentate. But 1982 may prove to be a tough year for Holland. President Reagan's new federalism combined with a faltering economy has left the city's property tax owners facing a proposed $1 and 16 cent property tax increase. However the mayor rejects alternatives to the bigger tax bite. You can write off any more people. But the state and the nation are asking for is a takeover of the cities ultimately Holland says funding cutbacks force the city to reduce lower priority services. The mayor does outline at least one solution to the budget crunch yet to state why uniform property tax which taxed people with Brian called for. On the basis of rebels and distribute the money on the basis of need you'd have no problem.

Hollow notes Trenton's crime index decreased by 3 percent last year but adds he doesn't foresee substantial increases in the police or any other department this year. Holland's major opponent the Rev. S. Howard Woodson Jr. announced his candidacy last May president of New Jersey's Civil Service Commission. Woodson endorsed Hollande in 1978 but now accuses the mayor of weak leadership. What's in with established a list of priorities but renovated housing and hands. Public safety and a rejuvenated business district by aggressively courting private investment and focusing spending on priority items. He thinks the city can survive Reaganomics. In some communities there is a Can joining of municipal. And some state and private enterprise monies that City Hall establish what it considers to be priority and invite enterprise to come in and join them. And there are at least two potential dark horse candidates. Forty three year old Wiley fuller Jr. a janitor for Burlington County a spouse's hard line Reaganomics but says

available dollars should be more wisely spent. Wiley also ran for mayor in 1978. Twenty nine year old Neal Katyal is a newcomer to politics a substitute teacher in the Trenton school system could tell proposes five referendum questions he says are designed to fight crime lower taxes and ensure decent education for children. The election is scheduled for May 11 in Trenton. I'm Brenda Flanagan. A lot of cities nine casinos reported one hundred one million dollars in gaming revenues for this February that's a 10 million dollar increase over the previous month and for four of the six casinos which have been operating for more than a year this February also topped the wind totals for the same month back in 1981. The Sens showed the biggest increase the casino took in ten point two million last month. A 107 percent increase over February of 1981 when the casino was called the Brighton and was under different management Valley's Park Place Harrah's marina and Resorts International all better last February's records with Caesars boardwalk Regency and Golden Nugget showing showing only slight decreases.

There is good news for New Jersey motorists and it's at the gas pumps if you can believe that. The state's Department of Energy says the average price of a gallon of gasoline fell six cents in January that's the largest monthly decrease in three years. Energy officials also say that gas is cheaper now than it was a year ago. And we already said that the gas is six percent cheaper now than it was a year ago one of the reasons is the reduced demand for that gas. The Energy Department says New Jerseyans use 16 million fewer gallons of gas this past January than the previous January Don. New Jersey State Police have announced troopers will be carrying 12 gauge shotgun in their patrol cars from now on. The decision follows the recommendation of a special committee set up to evaluate police procedures after the shooting death last December of Trooper Phillips of Monaco. Then Hudson has more. Carrying shotguns in patrol cars is just one of four major recommendations that state troopers Fraternal Association has been making for some time. Shotguns similar to this will be carried foam rubber scabbards and trunks of the patrol cars permanent mountings can be installed inside the

car. But with union and state police officials agree the shotguns will only be used under very limited circumstances when there's an obvious threat of danger. If you stop a vehicle and everything looks routine the trooper who gets out of the vehicle approaches the car. And then if he sees he's dealing with some other situation the shotgun is of no value to him. And that would be back in the car. Of course we had the 9 millimeter at that point. He might be able to cope with the situation. So Mike claims a six shot 38 caliber revolver state troopers now carry is no match for criminals carrying the 13 or 14 shot semiautomatic revolvers as a result he claims that 300 state troopers are now in the process of buying themselves 9 millimeter semiautomatic to use as backup revolvers. He says many are already using it even though the caliber of that particular gun makes it against the law for them to carry. State Police Superintendent Clinton but not all says a committee is looking into whether or not the semiautomatic is really better than a 38 caliber revolver guys. But he emphatically denies that his troopers have started carrying the

gun illegally. These people that are called troopers are are selected they're well-selected they're well trained they're well disciplined and I highly doubt the 300 of them are running around with weapons that are in violation of the regulations. I just don't believe that. I know this organization too well but Gano says the call to use the semiautomatic revolvers is just an emotional reaction to troopers of Monaco's murder last year. And he says he won't be pressured into making a hasty decision. State patrol troopers have been involved in twenty seven shooting incidents in the past 10 years. Two have been killed and although Gunnell says the number of threats against Troopers is increasing there's no indication yet that actual violence against the troopers is rising. In Trenton. I'm Dan hops. 462 workers at the Owens Illinois plant in North Bergen are out of work tonight. The company's glass container plant shut down for good. Owens Illinois officials say the plan had been losing money for the past two years the official said the switch from glass to plastic containers in the high number of

competitors in the Northeast has led to the shutdown. That's going on here with sports and the Scarlet Knights are off to a good start and I think they certainly are done thank you very much. The Scarlet Knights can pack their bags for less West Lafayette Indiana where they'll face to Purdue boilermakers in the second round of the N I T all that following a 55 to 51 win

over Iona last night in Piscataway. Our camera crew and Tricia Gaspar us were there. It was this shot from Clarence Tillman in the first 40 seconds of the game that put Rutgers on top. Two to nothing. That was the only time in the entire first half that Rutgers led for the rest of the half. Rutgers tried to play catch up but never caught up. Iona dominated with a helping hand from Steve Burke with 10 points at the end of the half it was 29 22 and time for Tom young to speak to his team wouldn't you. Well we felt that they were just beating us on the officer boards because they had four offensive tappings I think we had one. So I'm at a pretty good and obviously they listened they were motivated in the second half it looked like the same Rutgers team at least the numbers on the uniforms were the same but they didn't play like the same Rutgers team. Within six minutes the Scarlet Knights were up by 10 points and they never trailed again. Clarence Tillman led the team with

22 points that helped clinch it 55 50 run a complete turnaround at Riker's time Trischka Gaspar's. And tonight St. Peters will face Syracuse in another first round and I take aim at the Carrier Dome and the Syracuse Orangemen will have the services of center Andrea Hawkins and Trenton guard run Peyton. The two were charged with the sexual assault of a Villanova coed at the Big East tournament in Hartford Connecticut last Friday. Well as the cosmos prepare for the 1982 season two of last year's starters look like they won't be ready to open the regular season. Angelo De Bernardo and this man women are iceberg and are working hard at the cosmos training site in the Bahamas. Rice dragon had been bothered by an achilles problem all last season and underwent surgery in the offseason to correct this serious condition after the surgery the doctor explained. Pretty bad then they had to discredit keyless and they also split they kill us. No there was. That's pretty bad. But.

No it looks pretty good. It's it's just a matter of time. But can the league's top defender last year regain his starting role with the cosmos after his recovery period. I'm not worried about my position. I just worry about my injury. I know I'm the best. Another starter from last year is currently recovering from injury is Angelo De Bernardo a midfielder who underwent the surgery after an injury against Tampa in the playoffs. Angelo knows it's crowded in the cosmos midfield and if he misses the first two games they'll be somebody there to do the job. We get a lot of players the play field position you know you have any skills you have you have combined and you have Romero. Any of those guys can do the job every day so it's going to be a very tough decision for the coach to make but I think that they come through and they do well for us. Now the World Figure Skating Championships premis skater lanes they accept the seventh place by doing just that

slipping and falling. Elaine had problems coming out of a double flip in a triple toe loop. A tough combination. And tonight the Mentos draws to the medal and the Celtics have beat the Nets. The last nine times out and that's sports fans. Thank you Pat. Well I'm all set for a good weekend it's been a very long week here and if you're ready to go we're going to let Rolonda take over and take us to the Wild West. All right. If you are an admirer of the Old West and want to capture some of the beauty of those frontier days then you've got to see the collection of Western art. It's at the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton. This exhibit represents artists who traveled thousands of miles with explorers naturalist and surveyors to record the people and the life of the Old West. Now the results of their work and their wanderings make up the good collection of Western art exhibit includes over 75 paintings and lithographs and Braun sculptures created by artists such as Frederick Remington and Charles Russell Now most of the artworks were collected over a period of thirty seven years by George Boone of Cleveland Ohio who was fascinated by the

legends of American Frontiers. This traveling exhibit has made a stop in Trenton and will be on display throughout April at the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton. The museum hours are 1 to 5 on Saturday and Sunday. And on stage this weekend the studio players community theater presents the 5th production of their season Neil Simon's Chapter 2. The play is based on Simon's own life experiences. It tells the story of a writer who has trouble coping with the guilt and anxiety feels when he falls in love and marries after the death of his first wife. This is a play full of humorous and poignant moments. You can see Chapter Two at the studio playhouse 14 Alvan place in Upper Montclair performances are Saturday at 8:30 and Sunday at 7:30. And tomorrow youngsters are invited to participate in a folk music concert at Ocean County College. Folk singers Gary Schroen Trias and Debbie Lawton will perform as part of a unique program called music for young folks that will be using

all sorts of unusual instruments that you've probably never heard of like this one a mouse bow and would you believe the spoons. So you young folks get your spoons ready and you go to the Ocean County colleges Fine Arts Theater on College Drive in Toms River. Remember that Saturday at 1:00 pm. But if your ears are yearning for some classical music this weekend try this. The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will feature a night of Beethoven violinist Annie cafe Vienna will be the guest soloist That's tomorrow night at 8 p.m. at the Monmouth arts center in Red Bank and Rutgers University will continue their James Joyce tribute this weekend with a whole day of lectures by Joyce scholars. That's tomorrow starting at 9:30 in the morning at the ropes and center on the Newark campus of Rutgers University. Events will continue through Wednesday. Thank god it's Friday. Yeah. Beck thank you so much for hitting our top story tonight U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Brennan today suspended a lower court ruling that had thrown out New Jersey's new congressional redistricting plan.

The lower court had decided the plan violated the principle of one man one vote and four bid the June 8th primary to be held under the new plan. Brennan's ruling puts that order on hold at least until next week. He wants to hear from the state's Republicans. The state's Democrats had sought today suspension. And that's the news for tonight for Don Torrance Potsdam one Rolanda Watts and the rest of the nightly news. I'm cat man wishing you a good weekend. Yeah.

New Jersey Nightly News is a joint presentation of the New Jersey network and w o n e t.