NJN News; Monday August 26, 1996 11:00 PM

One minute, coming up. Ah, yes, Lord. Here we are again. Stop next time. I just had luck doing anything. You don't believe it. I don't believe you. You guys will have to move. You guys will have to move. Major funding for NJN News is made possible by Grant Strutton,

the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, which believes that an informed citizen relates to a healthy democracy. The SCNG committed to serving customers, strengthening the business community, and investing in New Jersey's future. First Fidelity is now first union, serving the financial needs of individuals and businesses from Connecticut to Florida. HIP Health Plan of New Jersey dedicated to providing quality health care to employees of large and small businesses, as well as individuals for two decades. And by Bell Atlantic, the heart of communication, in partnership with public television, serving to inform and lighten and educate the citizens of New Jersey. NJN News with Kent Manahan. Dick Forney with Business and Jerry Henry with Sports.

New Jersey native Christopher Reeve draws cheers from the convention floor, one of the featured speakers in Chicago on the first day of the Democratic National Convention. Good evening. Ken is in Chicago. I'm Ken St. John. We'll have more on Reeves' remarks and reaction from some of the New Jersey delegates in a moment. But first, Democrats have been celebrating tonight. Party leaders chanting four more years electrified the crowd, more than 120 New Jersey delegates are preparing to nominate Bill Clinton for president at the 42nd convention. Michael Aaron caught up with the many from New Jersey who are playing a part in the nominating process. Chicago is a much more peaceful city than it was on this date and day of the week, 28 years ago. Instead of hippies in the street, there are yuppies on their way to work. New Jersey delegates and press are expecting the convention to be another scripted television show like the Republican Convention in San Diego as the national journal. Put it, a cast of thousands, no plot.

But that seems to be fine with the New Jerseyans. In fact, that's how they wanted. We saw a great show take place in San Diego. And that's what it was, a show without any substance whatsoever. We did the substantive piece for the last three years, Bill Clinton's policies make a big difference in America. There's nothing dramatic going to happen here except that he's gone to give his vision for the next four years. It may not be dramatic, but it's important for the country. Like their Republican counterparts two weeks ago, the Democrats just want to stay unified, have a good time, and build party spirit. We have to reelect Bill and take back to Hill. Because the main thing now, of course, is to get a Democratic Congress. This morning, they heard from the president's economic advisor, Laura Tyson, who was born in Bayon, raised in Frankfurt, and touted her boss. He thinks America's brightest days are in front of us, not behind us. And they heard from HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros, who urged them not to be complacent.

We may have a lead today. This is going to be a tough election. I want to say to you, we need to win New Jersey in 1996. We need to win New Jersey. Last night, the delegates attended a reception thrown for party chairman Tom By a number of corporate supporters. The mood among the delegation seemed very upbeat heading into the convention. There was a cake with the seal of New Jersey on it, and people posing for pictures of themselves with an image of the president that then get transferred to buttons. Brendan Byrne called the convention basically a social event, but, of course, the delegates know there is work to be done. I think that one of the things that we've got to do is that when Dole talks about a 15% tax cut, we've got to make America stop and think that they've already got a big tax cut out of Bill Clinton in the sense that the economy is better. Interest rates are down. The only thing that could divide them, it appears, is the welfare bill Clinton signed last week. Welfare has the potential here to be what abortion was in San Diego. I disagree with the president signing of that bill,

and I hope, however, that he's right, that this experiment will succeed. However, I intend to keep him to his promise that if it doesn't work, that he will take corrective action. Former Governor Jim Floreo, who sidesteped our questions about his desire for a comeback, thinks New Jersey has a message to deliver to America at this convention. You want the country to get a message from New Jersey that tax cutting doesn't really work? Well, I want the message to be out there that there's no free lunch. That when you go and in New Jersey's experience cut income taxes, there are all the things that happen, like property tax increases, like school aid being reduced for one third of our highest performing districts. This is where the New Jersey delegation is staying. There are many personal agendas being pursued inside here this week, so I'm having to do with this year's elections, or next year's gubernatorial race, or even the U.S. Senate race in the year 2000. But most here also will tell you the immediate task at hand is to re-elect Bill Clinton,

and maybe even win back the Congress. We also must replace the speaker of the House by taking back the Congress of the United States. Michael Aaron and J.N. News, Chicago. Among the featured speakers tonight was Princeton native Christopher Reeve. He told the audience that discrimination of any kind must not be tolerated. He stressed that the nation must take care of its families and not slash programs people need. Reeve, who was paralyzed in a horseback riding accident last year, spent many months in rehabilitation at the Kessler Institute in West Orange. The Americans with Disabilities Act is so important. It must be honored everywhere. It is a civil rights law that is tearing down barriers, both in architecture and in attitude. Kent Manahan joins us live now from the convention floor with reaction to Reeve's remarks

and tonight's activities, Kent. Kent, the applause you're hearing just lowering at this moment as Christopher Reeve is winding down his remarks here live on the convention floor in Chicago. You heard some of what he had to say. I am joined here on the convention floor live with Assemblywoman Arlene Frischka of Woodbridge and Rick Thigpen, the Executive Director of the State Democratic Party and Assemblyman Rudy Garcia of Union County. And we thank you all for taking a few minutes to talk to us. Just about what you have heard tonight and your reaction to Christopher Reeve, he certainly has stirred this crowd in a very emotional way. Absolutely. He's an incredibly courageous young man. Unfortunately, it takes someone like Christopher Reeve being injured in this fashion to call attention to the problem and lack of research and so forth on spinal cord injuries. Hopefully this presence here this evening will make more people aware of the need for more research because it is probably one of the few injuries that can be cured

if there is enough research put into it. Rick, what do you think the crowd will take away from this message here tonight from Christopher Reeve? Hopefully a little bit of humility, his concern for his fellow humans, his sense of wisdom that he's learned from this traumatic experience. It's really very impressive that somebody could go through something like this and come out of it so positive and have really a lot to offer a lot of people as a result of it. People are going to be very moved by this message and a question about it. Your reaction Assemblyman to what you've heard tonight? I think Christopher Reeve made a very important point that people have disabilities. In his case it may be a wheelchair. And I think his message today transcended that. And he made us all feel like a community. And where there are people who are suffering regardless of this ability, may it be a disability, a physical one, or may it be a physical disability or some other type of disability that we should all pull together and be smarter and invest our dollars in educating people and making sure people have a better life in the future

so they don't have to be dependent on the government. So I think his message not only talked about people with physical disabilities but also transcended that. And he gave us hope that we could all pull together to help those are least fortunate in our community the way it was intended to be. We're hearing the standing ovation which we knew that Christopher Reeve would receive tonight as we stand here on the convention floor. Of course he received a standing ovation as he took the microphone this evening. But you know the question I have heard asked around why does it take someone from the entertainment field though here at a national convention to drive home a message like this? Why does it focus more? Does it focus the attention of the people more do you think? Is that the reason and why not a politician bringing this message? I think one of the message that he brings is that no matter where you are in life sometimes there could be instances that could make you fall down to a level where you need other people's help.

And it's not by his doing but something that happened to him and that we are all vulnerable and especially a person who's sort of Superman. That would be the wheelchair. In the last seconds we have left these messages now messages we want to hear from entertainers today. Absolutely this is simple with the almost there but for the grace of God go why. He cares about other people and he's touching people's hearts. Assemblywoman Rick thank you very much for being with us. And of course the other big story here in Chicago has been the jockeying among the democratic many of them, some of them delegates for the gubernatorial race next year in New Jersey. And Michael Aaron is here with more on that story Michael. Ten thanks very much. Last week Michael Murphy the former Mars County prosecutor became the first new the Jersey Democrat to say flat out that he wants to be governor. He's considered a long shot and doesn't have much of an organization. Other Democrats here are hosting parties to promote themselves. Murphy is just making the rounds of their parties.

We sat down and talked to him about his pitch. You announced your intention to form an exploratory committee last week. Why do you want to run for governor? I want to run for governor because I don't think the state's being well led right now. You know Christie Whitman is the head of her popularity nationwide in New Jersey. And I frankly don't believe that the citizens of the state and I personally don't believe that she's laying the foundation for the future that's so necessary. I consider this state to be a captive of the tyranny of the immediate. All we're doing today is borrowing tomorrow's dollars to pay for today's needs. And I think that the promise of the future is a promise that needs to be kept. And I'm talking about education issues. I'm going to be talking about environmental issues. And if somebody doesn't come out and raise those issues, she's going to walk right into office. And I assume that Mrs. Whitman is going to be back there to run again. And I'm going to be there to challenge her. You're running from Morris County. Not a big democratic base. You're presumably running against people from more traditional democratic strongholds.

Tamden, Middleses, Hudson, maybe Essex. How do you figure you can do it? Well, I'll tell you, I think I can do it. I can run out of the suburbs and I can run well in the cities. You know, New Jersey historically has been an organization state. Party leaders have dictated the results on occasion. But I know those people. I know the people who are talking about running. I have a lot of respect for them. But I haven't spent my entire adult life running for public office. And I think if the people of this state, the Democrats, and later on the citizens of this state, are ready for somebody who wants to talk about issues and not talk about organization politics and capacity to fundraise, then I can be the alternative candidate. And I think that I have a shot at that. And I'm ready to give it a shot. Is that what inspires you to follow in your stepfathers? What step? Well, I'm not trying to be Dick Hughes. There will never be another Dick Hughes. But the reality is I was raised in a family that was trained to learn that public service is good work.

We'll have a complete look at the gubernatorial sweepstakes on the news on Wednesday night. Kent. Michael, the delegation here just heard from President Clinton and the women we have spoken to say it is the women's vote that will really make the difference for President Clinton in New Jersey. For the first time. I truly believe that he needs the women's vote. I think that in the 1992 election that his margin of victory was clearly due to the women's vote. And that came about really due to the efforts of a lot of hardworking women in the state. Half of New Jersey's 122 delegates to the Democratic Convention are women. And they say that statistic alone is an indication that the party takes them seriously. There are events planned just for women every day of this convention. This morning, in celebration of Women's Equality Day, with Cherry Hill Mayor Susan Bass-Levin on the dayus, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton addressed the DNC Women's Caucus, stressing the importance of the women's vote to the President's reelection bid.

We know that it is women and will be women who will come out to vote their hearts their minds their pocketbooks their children's future their belief in the kind of community and country we should have that will make victory possible in November. Mayor Levin says when it comes to issues like choice, crime, education and the economy, the Democratic Party is light years ahead of the GOP, but she admits much more still needs to be done to encourage women. The Democratic Party has many women. We need more, there's no doubt about it, that we need more women to run for office and more women to help out in campaigns. But unlike the Republican Party, we're not just talking about things, we're doing things. Patricia Perkins August is a councilwoman in Elizabeth and a first time delegate to a national convention. I think that parties begin to realize that women can play an important role in politics.

And I think there are more or less leaning towards being more friendlier to the fact of having women participate not only as helpers, but also as elected officials. So it's a slow process, but I think it's moving forward. Kent Manahan, NJN News, Chicago. And of course we'll have more from Kent Manahan and Michael Aaron out of the Democratic National Convention as the Convention unfolds all week long. Still ahead, why thousands of people are being forced to boil their water tonight in North Jersey and state auditors leave a bitter taste for some owners of bars, restaurants, and liquor stores stay with us. Three municipalities in North Jersey still are being told

to boil their drinking water for at least another day until officials are certain untreated water has been flushed from the system. The advisory affects 250,000 people in North Jersey. The three municipalities in North Jersey are still being told to boil their drinking water for at least another day until officials are certain untreated water has been flushed from the system. The advisory affects 250,000 people in Hoboken, Jersey City, and Lindhurst. United American Water Company, which runs the system, says they hope to have things back to normal by midweek. The mishap in the water system occurred during a thunderstorm on Friday. State auditors are turning up millions of dollars in unpaid sales taxes from New Jersey's retail liquor industry. Bars, liquor stores, and restaurants around the state have come under special scrutiny by the tax auditors. As state house correspondent Jim Hooker reports, the added attention is paying off with the state coffers. Added 20.

Larry Flickinger spent big money to keep close track of the sales tax he rings up in his neighborhood liquor store. Attacks that until the law was changed four years ago was paid by wholesalers that sell to outlets like Flickinger's. The computer that I have cost $10,000. And without this sales tax requirement, you wouldn't have needed it? I wouldn't have had it. I would have went with the regular register. It would have been $10,000 more in a bank. Many liquor retailers haven't paid such careful attention to detail. Between last October and June of this year, state tax auditors have uncovered $42 million. They say as owed the state and unpaid sales taxes by the liquor retail business. $19 million has been collected, and officials believe about $100 million more in potential assessments is still out there. I believe we have enough audits in the liquor industry, which is what our current focus is to keep us going probably for the next three years. 1100 liquor outlets have been checked by a beefed-up audit force so far,

and 90% of them were found to owe back taxes. Industry veterans say the auditors are counting too many drink sales out of the bar business. You might give away two or three. You might spill two or three, and you may pour the balance. But there's also breakage involved. None of these things are being considered from what I understand. The retail liquor industry is just the first of a number of cash intensive industries that taxation intends to focus on. Still to come, industry wide audits of auto-bottere repair shops, pizzerias, and restaurants that don't have liquor licenses. State officials say they believe they're untapped millions and uncollected taxes in those businesses too. Jim Hooker, and JN News, Lawrence Township. Coming up in business news, a precipitate company looks to the Middle East as a sort of source that is, of new business, and just how long should the phone company have to wait for payment before services disconnected, a face-off between regulators, and a New Jersey utility over the issue seems likely to stay here. That's fine, Scoot, that's good.

Number two, I'm sorry, less than ten. Camera two and Dick is on to it. It's like a woman in a theater. Four, two, three, four. Time now for business news, here's Dick Forney. Dick. I guess the message of this first story is pay-up or else. You got that right. The State Board of Public Utilities is considering new regulations which would protect consumers who are late in paying their phone bills from having their local service disconnected. Under the regulations to be considered by the BPU, any utility would be prohibited from disconnecting service. A lessened account is more than 90 days past due, or the amount owed is greater than $50. The regulations are being considered at a time when Bell Atlantic New Jersey has tightened its policy on disconnects. What we're doing a little differently, though, is that customers have continually ignored those notices and have either sent us bad checks or have neglected to pay the bills altogether. We're not giving them as many opportunities to extend their bills as we had,

to extend their payment periods we had in the past. Bell Atlantic says it tightened its bill paying policy because of an increase in the number of delinquent customer accounts and fraud. One state consumer advocacy group calls the policy, quote, at best ineffective and at worst, cruel. Meantime, merger media continues in the telecommunications business with the nation's fourth and fifth largest long-distance providers, teaming up. World Com of Mississippi is buying MFS communications of Nebraska for about $14 billion in stock. The proposed merger means even greater competition for two companies with major presidents, says here in New Jersey, AT&T, as well as Baby Bell, such as Bell Atlantic. And that's because World Com and MFS are already players in long-distance, local, and internet communications. Percippany-based HFS corporation is beefing up its international hotel franchise locations with four new properties in Jerusalem. HFS, the world's largest hotel of Motel franchise operator, says it will convert two existing properties

to a day's in format and build two new ins in Israeli Israel's capital city, Jerusalem by 1999. Roseline Headquartered ADP says it has acquired health benefits America of Salt Lake City. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. HPA provides services that help employers design and administer corporate health care benefits. HPA has revenues of more than $30 million annually. ADP says it hopes to make benefit design and administration an important part of its future business as a natural extension of its payroll, tax filing, and human resource management services. A summer snoozer on Wall Street. Stock market results are next. Tonight's NJN News Business Report is made possible by Core State's New Jersey National Bank, providing financial services to New Jersey families and businesses. Pretty light trading on Wall Street today, less than 300 million shares changing hands as a stock market's dog days continue.

What trading there was was mostly selling. Here's the tail of the tape. The Dow industrial slid nearly 29 points to close at the 56.93 level. The MX index was off a third of a point the NASDAQ composite lost less than four and the standard of poorest 500 fell about three. Well, I thought it was business as usual once they had that meeting last week with nothing. Is there nothing happened yet? Sports is coming up next day with us. Jerry Henry is off tonight. Here's a look at sports. It was a big weekend for New Jersey's AA baseball team. The Trenton Thunder clinched their second straight

Eastern League Southern Division crown with a victory Saturday. And the league's writers have named Thunder Skipper Ken Makka, Manager of the Year. Some of those things that you get after your team has a good time. Those are the guys that come out and do the job for you. Just try to push them in the right direction and hopefully they pick up some things. But basically, the players are the people that go out and do it. And when we did clinch the other night, went in the club box and told them it was their night. They better have a good time. And consequently, they did. So, I don't know what to do. They better have a good time and consequently, they did. So, everybody was alive the next day. We survived yesterday. And hopefully, we'll get back to the business of playing baseball. The NFL season kicks off on Sunday. And today, the Giants made their final moves and preparations for the season opener. The Giants waved six players, including wide receiver Arthur Marshall, who was acquired on a draft-day deal with Denver in 1994.

Marshall caught 33 passes and won touchdown in his two years with the Giants. The team also placed depends on Ben Jamal Dopp on injured reserve. The Giants opened the season Sunday night against the Buffalo Bills at the Middlelands. Another terrific day across the region. We saw sunny skies with highs in the 80s. It was a great day to go fishing and Harris fishing pier in the Beck Bay and Atlantic City. These anglers were trying to hook into big ones, but sometimes it seemed the bait was attracting more seagulls than fish. As far as ozone levels, bright sunshine sent levels into the cojello or moderate range over most of the state. Tomorrow, similar moderate ratings are forecast around New Jersey. In North Jersey tonight, partly cloudy with a low of 65. Tomorrow, a mix of sun and clouds with a chance of a shower. Highs will be in the 80s. In South Jersey tonight, partly cloudy with a low of 60. Tomorrow, partly sunny with a chance of a shower. Highs in the mid 80s. Finally, tonight, there's a creative way teams are telling peers not to gamble. It's called Project 21 and it was started seven years ago by Harris Casino Hotel. High school and college students from the tri-state area

create posters and essays to warn peers that gaming underage is illegal. And the Casinos will prosecute offenders. Eleven students with the best ideas received $1,000 in scholarship money. That's our news for tonight. I'm Ken St. John for Jerry Henry Kent, Manahan Michael Aaron out in the Democratic National Convention. And of course, Dick Fordy, who stayed up late with me tonight. I'm Ken St. John, you have a good night. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.