New Jersey Nightly News; 12/29/1978

New Jersey Nightly News. With Rebecca suable in Trenton and Clayton Vaughn in Newark. Good evening. Clayton Vaughn has been on vacation this week in the news tonight millions of New Jersey drivers will be paying higher insurance rates in the coming year. The president of the Newark police union says he's not making any guarantees that frustrated cops won't themselves cause violence there and milk prices will be going up in the state next week. In sports the troubled Rutgers basketball team hopes to turn everything around tonight in Madison Square Garden. Paul Budlong will have the story. And our closer look retrospective report tonight takes us back to the Newark art center. It's not much of a New Year's gift today Insurance Commissioner James Sheeran announced auto insurance rates are going up. Commissioner Shearin says it will cost some 3 million motorists more to drive next year an average of 14 per cent more. The only companies not included in the rate hikes are Allstate New Jersey's largest and Prudential. The increases will take effect between now and April 1st.

Also today word that milk prices in New Jersey will go up next week. The minimum retail price in the state will rise half a penny a quart meaning most stores will raise their prices at least a penny a quart. Agriculture officials say demand for milk is up but production is down. And that translates into higher prices. Newark Mayor Kenneth Gibson made it official today. Those 200 police officers and 241 other city workers will be laid off as of Monday despite an 11th hour budget appropriation by the City Council yesterday. But the repercussions from those layoffs are still to come as Sandra King reports. All seemed normal on the streets of Newark today as police officers went about their usual business. But the grumblings of bitterness and discontent were there both on the street and at the offices of the Fraternal Order of Police. We're twenty one hundred petitions urging the recall of Mayor Gibson. We're being prepared for mailing. And not even FOP president Tom posts a motto would rule out the possibility of the

police violence that could come. With the New Year. We are dealing with individuals we're dealing with emotions and family problems. To sit here and say that individual people will not do anything. I can. Say that no. Can the union control it if in fact some of the men decide they've got nothing to lose. Well the union will make every attempt. To control the situation if anything should happen. But again I repeat. We are dealing with frustrated individuals who have who now feel that they have been let down by the the citizens of Nurick by the business community and by the administration the city. Has a motto also predicted that while his union has called no action 1979 may begin with police slowdowns or scouts and by the end of January he said there may be a full work stoppage. But police director Hubit Williams is looking ahead without trepidation.

Director when those 200 police officers are laid off on Monday. Do you fear violence work stoppage. Strike. Those immediate terms. Peace Officers. Are not going to strike. It's against the law. They never strike in this department. Williams also dismiss the possibility of police violence saying that most officers are just law abiding citizens. In Newark. I'm Sandra King. Taxes on parking and payrolls are still legal in the financially troubled city. The governor though has signed a bill allowing Newark to impose the special local taxes. A continuation of legislation first approved in 1970. Last year the parking lot in payroll taxes brought in more than 8 million dollars to Newark. More than 6000 welfare recipients in Newark stand to lose their benefits next week. State regulations stipulate that welfare benefits can be cut off for 90 days to anyone refusing to cooperate with a new state workfare plan for placing able

bodied welfare recipients and job training programs. The director of the Division of Public Welfare in Newark says that a majority of recipients have so far refused to sign up for the program and that payments will be cut off to those who continue to refuse to register for job training or turned down job offers. When I say that I mean that clients who have been sent out for a job interview have been accepted for employment and they refuse to work a job on me. That's within reasonable distance of where they live. And with a reasonable salary they refuse to participate and to work on the job they will be cut off immediately. The new work welfare division is run by the state board and down the much publicized workfare program was run by the city itself. The state objected to the city running its own program in Newark however that problem does not exist because the state is in control. The earnings of factory workers in New Jersey you're going up at the prices they have to pay for consumer goods are going up faster.

That was the conclusion today in a report released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The report tends to support predictions for the New Year made yesterday by the governor's economic policy council reporter Mike Power has more on that pessimistic forecast. The people of New Jersey will have a bad year in 1979 if the economists predictions are true. The governor's economic policy Council predicts a mild recession for New Jerseyans although not as bad as the one in 1974 and 75. Here's part of the council's forecast. Fewer new houses will be built. The economists say housing starts will decline from about 2 million to a million 700000. That trend could be reversed they say if the legislature lets banks charge higher interest rates on mortgage loans. The ceiling is now nine and a half percent. And economists say if the rate is raised to ten or ten and a half percent the housing industry will stay healthy. Whatever happens to the interest rate

the New Jersey home building industry will definitely have a one bright spot. Casino construction is increasing the demand for single family homes in Atlantic County. A trend the Council predicts will last several more years. The outlook is not so rosy for jobs in New Jersey. Economists say another 30000 people in the state will lose their jobs in 1979 pushing the unemployment rate from seven and a half to eight and a half percent. Economic activity the governor's counsel says will grow only one or two percent. That's less than it needs just to stay even with unemployment. This man is a top labor leader. And he says Labor has a solution not my solution in particular but I certainly subscribe to the idea that the AFL CIO nationally has called for mandatory controls on both prices and wages.

Partiality says the unemployment rate could go higher than the forecasters predict as high as nine and a half percent. It's a story the people of New Jersey have heard many times before. In Trenton. I'm Mike power. Resorts International could end up owing the state of New Jersey one million dollars. The money would cover the cost of the state's investigation of resorts and would be due even if the snow control commission denies resorts a permanent license. State law requires casinos to pay the full cost of the state's background investigation. Resorts has already paid half of it half a million. But even if the full tab hits one million it shouldn't hurt the casino coffers too much. Today they've won one hundred twenty five million dollars in gamblers money. In spite of the investigation of resorts Atlantic City mayor Joseph Lazarro says Atlantic City officials can take care of the casinos themselves. Thank you. The mayor was responding to last week's criticism from Governor Byrne. The governor had attacked Atlantic City's commission for endorsing resorts application for a permanent

license. Mayor Lazarro says he thinks city officials know more about their town and feel it's quote a terrible mistake not to have an Atlantic City resident. All the Casino Control Commission in Washington today. House Ethics Committee released its findings on the Korea gate investigation. According to the report the committee says it's reasonable to infer. That former New Jersey congressman Cornelius Gallagher received money from Korean businessmen Tang sun park in exchange for political favors. Gallagher was released from federal prison in 1975 after serving two years on income tax evasion. The committee had already exonerated newly reelected Congressman Edward patten of New Jersey on similar charges. Cemeteries in northern New Jersey may be hit by a grave digger strike. Local 365 of the grave diggers union is threatening to go on strike at midnight this Monday and they may be joined in sympathy by a second Sematary Union. Roger Wells reports.

Grave diggers and cemetery workers at four private cemeteries in Essex and Bergen counties and seven cemeteries affiliated with the Newark large diocese are represented by local 365. At this point it appears as though the Archdiocese of New York and Newark and the four nonsectarian cemeteries are on a collision course. The grave diggers contract expires New Year's Day and union leaders do not hold out much hope for an 11th hour settlement. Madonna's cemetery in Fort Lee negotiated separately with their cemetery workers and the grave diggers contract here doesn't expire until next summer. But the office workers at Madonna are also organized and members of local 365 and they say they are going to strike and are certain the grave diggers here will honor their picket line. We are the first. Office of any cemetery to organize and our situation has become intolerable. We have people in the office that haven't gotten a raise in over two years. We've been negotiating we've been. Thrown around for six months and just being bold all and we had a

meeting last Thursday. And they refused to make any compromises at all. They offered some peanuts and that's about it. Madonna's cemetery is run by the Newark large diocese and members of the archdiocese were not available for comment. Grave diggers currently earn two hundred and forty nine dollars a week and are asking for a $70 weekly increase and additional fringe benefits. Should there be a strike. Most of the cemeteries involved have holding Krips. But union leaders say that's only a temporary solution. And funeral directors may have to seek cemeteries that are not on strike. Informally I'm Raj worlds available blood supplies for New Jersey hospitals normally run low this time of year. It's due to the back to back holidays and the lack of schedule donors. But New Jersey Blood Services says blood supplies in North Jersey right now are critically low with less than a day's supply in reserve. And a spokesman says this three day weekend could wipe out all remaining supplies. If you're able to give blood this weekend cool 2 0 1 8 2 8 9 1 0

1. That's the number of New Jersey Blood Services to a 1 8 2 8 9 1 0 1 and the people there will tell you where you'll be able to give. It was a profitable 72 miles that's how far Mayor Thomas Smith drove to personally pick up more than two and a quarter million dollars in Trenton State. Jersey City the money for state aid and even though it would have been mailed to the mayor he said he just couldn't wait. In his words if there's money out there to be gotten I'm going to get it. Here's the weather forecast that New Jersey fair not quite as cold tonight with increasing cloudiness towards morning temperatures in North Jersey should range from the upper teens in the northwest to the upper 20s near the coast. South Jersey low should be in the upper teens to the low 20s tomorrow. Cloudy and mild with a chance of rain late in the day. Highs in the mid to upper 30s in the northern part of the state and from the upper 30s to the low 40s in South Jersey. And the outlook for Sunday New Year's Eve and Monday New Year's Day mostly cloudy and mild with a

chance of rain. You know what you'll be an hour or two way down. Chad's coming. In. So is not much of a good day. I shall tell you nothing. I'll try to get that. I'm Bill Bixby. Join me for action adventure on Dominic. And our third one support the classic season here. I want you tomorrow at 6:30 on New Jersey Public Television. Paul Budde line tells me it's a big night for the Rutgers basketball team. That's right Rebecca. They're facing their biggest challenge of the year in the opening round of the holiday festival tournament in New York. The Scarlet Knights take on St. John's. The winner will then move on to play either Ohio State or top ranked Duke in the finals.

So far it's been nothing but disappointment for Rutgers this year. The team is coming off this nine point loss to St. Peter's a week ago a loss which left the scarlet with a four and three record. And don't forget Rutgers was ranked in the top 20 preseason. Right now the fans are not happy and neither is Coach Tom Young. This week Young has been holding twice a day practice sessions to try to get things back in order. One item of good news James Bailey is back in the lineup. Number 20 Miss St. Peters disaster with a pulled muscle. Rutgers needs his 20 point average to make any kind of showing this weekend. I talked with James Bailey this week. He admits there has been a problem at Rutgers. I the only words you could use is problem what I think is just that it was a few moments over between the players within themselves and with the coach. He was just a matter of something happening to make us all break down and get together including these few little things. And I think I can honestly comfortably say at the time I think they pretty much cleared out.

Matter of fact I would be of this kind of positive role I'm going to cause the problems to which James Bailey rather cryptically referred to seems to be your general communication breakdown. Supposedly a few team meetings were held to clear the air if everything is now settled just how good is this Rutgers team. You know it's not really getting to you you know in the past but given a straight up that's like a. Good. Friday to be able to tell that you are wrong. It doesn't work. Again it's Rutgers and St. Johns tonight in Madison Square Garden that game preceded by Ohio State against number one Duke. The winners meet Saturday. And as we mentioned last night there's an excellent small college tournament tonight and tomorrow at Upsala college in East Orange. Tonight it's Jersey City State against undefeated Stony Brook of Long Island and St. Joseph's of Vermont plays Uppsala in the second game. The winners in that tournament two will meet on Saturday night for the championship. Also tonight in pro ball the New Jersey Nets are at home against the Kansas City kings. The nets are hoping to break a three game losing streak. Other than basketball wrestling tournaments are also proliferating this weekend one of the best

began today in Flemington the Hunterdon Central Invitational. Seven teams surrendered just about a hundred and fifty wrestlers in all. The tournament will continue through tomorrow night. The Hundred and central Invitational was started back in 1957 by central coach Russ regal. Regal is still coaching and he is understandably proud of this tour. About the we know in the United States this is the 22nd annual them and to our knowledge does not none of the United States or even the world there was ever a holiday taught us. So we like to think of this as a high school wrestler by the way Russ wriggles Hunterdon Central team is as usual leading the tournament after the preliminaries Utterson Central has won the event nine years in a row a hundred in central Invitational continues tonight. The finals are set for tomorrow evening. And finally tonight there's one basketball sure I'm sure everybody's very interested in that came over the wire today in the Granite City Classic in Minnesota. Mankato State 88 and Bemidji State 70 have a good

weekend. Rebecca thanks. Have a good weekend. Donald Tucker the superintendent of New Jersey's only reformatory for juvenile burglars murderers and other serious offenders has resigned. The resignation comes after charges that girls at the James Bergh training school in Middlesex County were physically abused. The criticism became even more vocal after two girls slashed their wrists last November. And after charges that Tucker allegedly slapped a girl during a disturbance. OK. Do you think he was really behind the scenes look at a major American Zoo and the story of the 27 great apes fabricated environment to a new modern habitat.

Ottos zoo gorilla. A PBS special. Don't miss it. Saturday at 5:00 on New Jersey Public Television. Tonight we continue our review of closer look segments from the past year with a report we broadcast in May. It focused on a unique cultural institution in Newark which stands as a symbol of the efforts of many people to breathe new life into the city. The Newark community center of the arts has classes and music drama and dance scattered through three old buildings in the Clinton Avenue Lincoln Park section of town. It operates five days a week but is especially busy on Saturday mornings. The man in charge of the Center Executive Director Steven Shaiman also conducts the orchestra. He reflected on the many activities at his center.

It was started at the time of planning to center took place in 1967 1968. Saunders Davis the last two schoolteacher's of the school system saw the good children of the city private lessons. Group instruction which would enable them to do better in their public school work as well and give them professional opportunities for those who were talented. Keep an eye up here let's take a literally. 1 to 5 percent of our work. The remainder come from surrounding areas the total population of this student body in the years about 2000. Graduates. Our schools were up for three years and the. Orchestra combines both students and faculty in a way to maximize the impact of the education of the students faculty give advice to the students while they

perform. I give advice to students as director. We find this kind of combination works best for them. True the Saturday programs for kippered started families come mothers and fathers sit here sometimes day all day while their children attend various classes. A first. Class is at the center give opportunities for young children. To study music. They learn very basic concepts about life. In. Strict musical concepts concepts of falling. Fast. Slow. Learner a sense of rhythm. They learn something. The. Bottom. Now let's all sing it together.

Some years ago we entered a music theory department to the center of the arts. The idea was to give the students the musical background enable them to perform better on their musical instruments. How to read music more effectively how to hear effectively and how to write music. OK take it from the full progression. You'll notice jazz program we use no music. The students are taught to play by ear. We have a very fine teacher for that program Duke Anderson who's been associated with some of the leading bands throughout the country. Who led from the heart as a member of the stones. Sheila strage the kind of fine faculty that we have been working in the seven years.

Graduates of leading colleges and countries throughout the country. We teach violin under a very special method developed. In Japan. Suzuki violin. Teaches children very similar things as does the offspring. The differences here we use it to Tipiloura musical instrument. Sometimes one sixteenth of the full songs the chorus is directed by Mr. Kennison dead. My name is Frank Bourassa Franco Rossie has been associated 10 years with a scholar and a son frequently with within the Jewish State Opera and has a important role with the Hackensack the.

Classical ballet program has been an important part of the center's training since the start. We have actually five forms of dance called African dance dance modern dance and modern jazz dance. The important institution of our calling that we

give people an opportunity to express through dance form their various cultural heritage. This includes African dance. Centers give them opportunity. For children to study music dance and drama. We would ordinarily never have the opportunity but then it gives the children of the city the same advantages as the suburban counterparts. At the top of that report seven months ago the Newark Arts Center faced some serious financial problems. Since then the outlook is bright with grants from several foundations and from

the National Endowment for the Arts. The center recently opened a new branch of Newark's Ironbound section and plans to add a program for senior citizens. Once again our top stories state insurance commissioner James Sheerin has approved increases in auto insurance premiums that are run about 14 percent and affects some 3 million New Jersey drivers. Six out of 10 welfare recipients in Newark will be cut off from their welfare checks unless they take part in a state workfare program. And the House Ethics Committee says it looks like former congressman Cornelius Gallagher took payoffs from choreographic your son park in exchange for Gallagher's doing park political favors. And that's the news. For Clayton Vaughn. I'm Rebecca so goodnight and have a happy New Jersey Nightly News is a joint presentation of New Jersey Public Television and w any time on Saturday and Sunday. The program is broadcast at 6:00 p.m. both on New Jersey probably television and on Channel 13.

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