New Jersey Nightly News

George and I cleaned with Ken. And Bill Perry with sport. Good evening. The governor is working overtime to sway one more Senate vote in favor of the gas tax before tomorrow's crucial vote. High school football and women's rights Bergin and sports with Bill Perry. And we continue our closer look probations series. Tonight we accompany a mercer county probation officer on a typical day in the field. The governor's office intensified its lobbying efforts today to sway the crucial 20 first vote for the gasoline tax. The Senate will take an overdue vote on the controversy tomorrow. Reid reports. The governor's search for the swing vote is complicated by the decision of two legislators to abstain from the roll call. One Democrat the other a Republican. Both citing conflicts of interest. Democrat Senator Laurence Weiss who chairs the powerful Budget Committee has consistently refrained from voting on any issue involving motor fuels. He heads a distributorship in Middlesex County.

American Petroleum situation with this particular tax on the table because of transportation and transportation is just for nothing. Lewis a Republican from Union County cites the same problem but he is being chastised by its colleagues. They claim dishonest abstention is a charade that he is really protecting himself from a tough re-election bet against Anthony Russo the son owns a diesel fuel distributorship. He says one of his clients caucus trucking firm is threatening to withdraw its business if he votes for the tax protection of his business and abandonment of his constituents. Well some people are saying that this is a cop out. If I had the opportunity to. I would not be saved. People that are. Kind of twisting arms and saying that. I was walking away from this one. Casting about I make

no bones about it. For me against this particular piece of legislation with the Weissenborn votes frozen the governor's staff is targeting two Republicans and three Democrats. Cain is hoping they will bend as John COFFIELD did on Monday. The two Republicans are Leonard Connors and Joseph Connors is considered to be the best insulated against the backlash vote. He comes from a newly carved district in Ocean County and he won easily. Bubba had a narrow victory in Passaic County. He's also well aware that his district will be cast out of favor if he does not deliver. Bubba said today he received numerous calls from Union and business leaders carrying the governor's banner although eight Democrats support the gas tax not one member of the leadership lent a vote on Monday the governor's forces are working on Majority Leader Stephen Percy and Joseph. He said today he is not locked into a no vote. His fear is that a change of mind will be read as a thank you to Kaine for his judicial appointment. Number five on the list is Gerald Stockman. Stockman has said since March he is philosophically opposed to a gas tax but a new wrinkle could move him. The New Jersey

Education Association says it now will help the governor search for the twenty first vote. Stockman a candidate a group endorsed is at the top of the phone list in Trenton. I'm read a shade. Meanwhile the governors may be the winner of today's special senatorial election in Hudson County. The secretary of state's office has already completed arrangements to have the winner certified and escorted to Trenton to be sworn in just in time for the tax vote tomorrow afternoon. Voter turnout was reported light today in that Hudson County race to replace former state senator William Musto Musto was ousted from office last month because of this federal racketeering conviction. Among the four candidates in the thirty third district race is Democrat Nicholas Rocca a 69 year old Union City lawyer and close associate of Musto the Republican candidate is Dennis Weehawken. There are two independent candidates Carlos minnows chairman of the Union City Republican Party and Liberal Marotta. A former Union City corporate

council. The polls will be open until 8:00 PM. Thousands of state employees stand to lose their jobs if the gas tax is not passed by the state Senate. While the Cain administration is trying to avoid those layoffs it is also committed to reducing the size of state government. As Steve Katz reports the administration wants to take a scientific approach to trimming the fat. In the past decade the number of people working for the state of New Jersey has mushroomed by over 30 percent from fifty thousand seven hundred one thousand seventy two to the present sixty six thousand six hundred. And that's not including employees of the independent authorities such as the Meadowlands Commission. If you include them the total population of the bureaucracy is one hundred and one thousand eight hundred. Well the feeling in Trenton now as in Washington is that the days of government as a growth industry are gone. The trick for the candid ministration will be to reduce the size of the bureaucracy without affecting what it calls essential services. Alpha So is Governor Kaine's waste watcher. He says the government can slim itself down

only if it follows a careful and complex plan. The only way you can do it objectively is to plot a spread of the payroll dollars over the activities of state government where you can identify where employees are providing a service in a program role and whether providing an administrator a straight of role. What you'll find out the Solis says is where the money's being spent wisely and where it's not using the plan he guarantees that at the end of time Cain's first term as governor the bureaucracy will be smaller and more efficient. But for that to happen reforms are also needed in New Jersey's civil service system. The first major civil service reform in about 30 years is now being planned. Civil Service Commission president Eugene McCaffrey will hand a draft of a bill to Governor Kaine tomorrow. It will redefine the role of civil service to the extent that we will try to put forward a professional personnel management system. One way it will do that is to create a vacancy review board to decide whether positions should be filled once they become vacant. The bill would also allow top government executives to bring assistance from outside the

government without going through civil service that could eventually cut through the middle management level that makes up so much of the bureaucracy. So while the administration is fighting layoffs now it's bureaucracy 20 proposals would eventually have the same effect in Trenton. I'm Steve Katz. A Senate subcommittee today wrapped up the first round of hearings on organized crimes influence on Atlantic City's Local 54. The head of the Union was the committee's last witness Kevin Flanagan reports. Frank you raise the current president of Atlantic City's Local 54 appear before the subcommittee today. He was to testify about alleged involvement of organized crime in his union although he appeared as a result of a congressional subpoena. He remained on cooperative like a bird colony or. Current or. How to become a villain. You're relying on the advice of my attorney I refuse to answer the question and invoke my right against self-incrimination on the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution and I did

States. In response to Mr. generation's refusal to answer questions. Committee chairman Roth lectured the union officials. It's up to them he said to see that their unions are kept free from corruption. Well Teresa was portrayed by the union's lawyer as an example of integrity. The senators were still unable to obtain answers to their questions and I would like to now ask Mr. Dreissiger he'd like to reconsider. He's such a fine public servant. I'd like to ask you some questions about your pension funds and your dealings with them are you not willing to answer those questions with the jurors. No. Because of the lack of information provided by the union officials committee members will continue to probe the affairs of Local 54 and when Union officials are brought back to testify again they may be forced to set one committee member to testify on the basis of limited immunity from prosecution in Washington Kevin Flanagan for the New Jersey news. Card counters and blackjack rules occupied a full day of testimony today before the Casino Control Commission. After a ruling by the state Supreme

Court the commission must decide on two options whether to bar card counters or change blackjack rules to lessen the player's advantage. The Flanagan report. Card counters like are currently barred from Atlantic City casinos today used to explain a couple of the major blackjack rule changes under way on what gamblers call the soft 17 a six and an ace. The dealer must now stand. The proposed change would require the dealer to take another card thus increasing the odds for the house. Then there's the double down double down as if she had $10 on this and you see this you want to double down so you put another $10. One more card only. They want to do away with doubling at the hearing. The division of Gaming Enforcement said it opposes those rule changes. Most of the substantive rule changes unfairly disadvantage the majority of blackjack players in Atlantic City rather than exclude card counters. The division recommended adopting new dealing procedures using modified equipment. But the

Casino Hotel Association opposed rule changes. We don't want it. We are happy with the game the way it is. We believe that the public likes the game the way it is. We believe that the public gets fair odds and that we get a fair revenue. Donnelly said card counters should remain barred. However he admitted that if the commission does allow counters the casinos want substantive changes on the soft 17 and double down rules used in support of the idea of rule changes. I think the changes are fine if they go in concert with not excluding the card counters and also if they're made optional. This was the only scheduled public airing on blackjack rules. The commission however will accept further written comments it must render a decision by August 3rd in Lawrenceville. I'm Brenda Flanagan. Governor has nominated in Atlantic County Agricultural agent to be the state's new secretary of agriculture. Arthur Brown Jr. is in line to succeed long time agriculture secretary. When he retires July 1st.

More on the story. We caught up with the new secretary designate a local farm this afternoon. He said he just found out himself about the nomination yesterday and really hasn't had time to formulate any specific goals or plans for the 300 employees and the state agriculture departments. Five point six million dollar budget. But he says the lower property values that have resulted from the pilot's Protection Act are one of the major problems facing farmers in the state. I hope that we can come up with a solution that as I said earlier that will do something compensate the family for the the lower value land values that he is now witnessing because this is a lot hinges on the law about land values as you know I don't know that it is used as collateral for borrowing power. And most every farmer needs operating capital early in the spring to get started. And if his buying power is cut back drastically then he's in a very such a serious situation.

Prices and high interest rates the last few years have a lot of farmers either bankrupt or on the verge of it in order to keep farm production strong in the state he says will push for some kind of economic assistance for young farmers especially some of the younger farmers that are going out and starting a new have to borrow money for land and operating. And very deep trouble and this is where I think we're going to have to get into some incentives maybe in low interest rates or some other type of program. If we're going to continue keeping a viable agriculture in the state of New Jersey prices so far this year are higher this year should be much better for state farmers. His nomination was supported by both the Atlantic and Cumberland County Board of Agriculture although he's apparently popular with the farmers environmental groups we talked with withheld any endorsements saying they need more time to study his record. In Mays Landing Atlantic County I'm Dan Hodgson. The city of Asbury Park Like many New Jersey cities is facing hard economic times tonight. The city council though may find a way to put more money into its coffers. Larry has the story.

You don't see any for sale signs but the Asbury Park City Council tonight received bids for the purchase of parts of the property along the city's boardwalk. The boardwalk is operated by the city and it is the city's problems that are prompting the sale. Asbury Park mare Ray Carter says the city's problems aren't too different from some other New Jersey communities. We're in the same condition the other 31 urban eight cities of New Jersey. Lack of new way to boast lack of new investment. The flight from the shopping centers to the shopping centers from the downtown shopping year and 5 percent. So we're in a crunch for funds to relieve the crunch. The city look to the boardwalk which on a good weekend can draw a crowd of 80000 people. The city isn't selling the actual boardwalk. What is for sale are the buildings along the boardwalk. The Casino which is really an arcade and the Convention Center. In addition the successful bettor must agree to invest 13 million dollars in new construction over the next 10 years according to the Mehr the investment the new owners will be required to make would bring in new tax dollars which

would be spent in different ways with the new rentals for more policemen more code enforcement reduce taxes of course and the computerized city operations. The bids received tonight will be examined by the city council and it will be at least a week before a decision is made on whether to sell. Now Carter says he knows of at least two bidders who are interested in the property which has an income potential and an excellent view of the beach in Asbury Park. I'm Larry Stewart. And now here's a look at the weather forecast tonight will be clear and cool with temperatures in the mid 50s sunny and pleasant tomorrow with highs in the upper 70s and the outlook for Friday. Again sunny and warm. As we saw in last night's introductory segment of our probation series

adult supervision makes up almost half of the workload and probation departments throughout the state. Tonight producer Jenna's cell and you're and I continue our report with a profile of an adult probation officer at work then a Zull turned Ski of the Mercer County Probation Department. So how you making out now. Yeah in your prime that you used the same address for 10 years. This is Dennis. He's a senior Mercer County Adult Probation Officer Posey is one of approximately 80 adults supervises as part of his probation reports twice a month supervisory caseload is high. Probation experts say you should really be half the number he now sees on top of the heavy supervisory caseload Penske also has to do a pre-sentence reports social and criminal activity histories of those who either plead

guilty or are found guilty of an indicted offense. This information is forward to the judge so that he has an idea of your background. And he can accordingly and. Every Thursday he goes to the Mercer County Courthouse to discuss the pre-sentence reports he has completed with the sentencing judge. On the day we went along the med was superior court judge. We have an individual here and there for your honor. I'm sensing a charge of distribution of control herself. This rests as a result of the undercover investigation that spanned that period of months there was a continual involvement. And like I said it records from a residential home in the Cape to him bragging about how he's going to you know only change if he wants to and he plans on going out and get involved in drugs. Which he obviously did.

The judge and probation officer discussed the probation report in depth so that come sentencing day usually the following morning the probation officers presence is not required in court. I do approximately a pre-sentence reports a month a pre-sentence report as you just seen in just the interview alone takes an hour hour and 15 minutes with the investigation that's behind it with the writing up of the report. It could stretch to be eight nine hours which is a given day probation officer just like any other employee only works approximately 18 days a month considering vacation and holidays. So if I spend a day in doing one pre-sentence interview simple addition shows that I spend approximately maybe 12 days on presents interviews or it still leaves me maybe six days on supervision and he says this is just not enough time to do a proper job of supervision and the supervision aspect what they call rehabilitation is not really done. Individuals are just basically kept track of.

That bothers a dedicated professional with six years as a probation officer. He often feels frustrated often. Often. Because you just don't have the time. And especially when you see offenders turn into repeat offenders In other words I might have an individual on probation who is doing well his probation expires and I feel he has done well and is adjusted. And then maybe three or four months later another case is on my desk he's been arrested again. That's frustrating. Equally frustrating to the fact that he only makes seventeen thousand three hundred dollars a year and that includes incriminates for his advanced degree and longevity. High school graduate 18 years old starting at General Motors would make more his first year than I make. And I've been here six years and I have a master's degree probation officers like

tents are not armed even though they often go to dangerous places and sometimes they have to deal with probationers who have histories of violence. He doesn't want to carry a gun. Not necessarily. I've never been threatened. I've never been put in fear by anyone. It's like a game to the individuals that commit the crimes and they come through the system. They realize that they've been caught and this is part of it. They realize if you don't feel that much animosity from them there isn't any animosity towards them. It's all part of it. It's like a game so tense. He would however like to change some of the rules of the game. He'd like to eliminate some of the bureaucracy study commissions and revise reports and he would like to see probation separated from the judiciary. Since we're in direct conflict as far as pay goes and management rights with the judiciary would have to be an independent Department of Corrections or department of parole Bureau of parole hire more probation officers decrease

the workload. And if the probation officers were motivated maybe with a higher pay and less workload more respect from the whole system they could perform the social services necessary to try to help quote unquote rehabilitate people. If this were done it might be cheaper than building more prisons and there might be less crime and less repetitive members. Meanwhile most of the work is done in his office a tiny prefab cubicle which offers his clients little or no privacy due to his heavy caseload so tense he rarely gets out in the field to check on his clients. Most checking is done by telephone. Well most of these work is done in-house Maggie Springer an 11 year veteran of juvenile probation spends the bulk of her time out of the office. That's because supervising adults and juveniles are two very different assignments. Tomorrow night in part three of our series will meet Springer and some of her charges. Oh. Oh man.

Bill Perry is in New York with tonight's sports report. Bill thank you can talk about some all star football football. That's right football in June high school style some of the very best players in the state are at Rutgers this week practicing for this Saturday's annual New Jersey All-Star Game and Scanlon checked it all out. This Saturday 80 of the time graduating seniors from New Jersey high schools will be locking horns in the fourth annual north south All-Star Game. Now many of these kids are going off to major college football programs.

So Saturday's game will be a taste of what's to come. I think if that's what it is a good part of it it's going to be a new custom that a bigger people a better people is that like than I like high school. Just be ready for it. Good to meet a lot of great players here they were saying there was at least one person who played in this game so you have time friends and buddies you know. You know practice hard because the game is between all stars you know. Every player is going to be if you could continue to work out this week leading up to Saturday's clash at 4pm stadium. All right thank you. Vancouver white caps winners of six in a row and the cosmos

at Giants Stadium tonight once again the cosmos will be without rice Bergen who last year was the top defender which has been out all season after undergoing offseason surgery for a torn Achilles heel right now 30 years old was a regular for the 1974 World Cup teams. He joined just now wrapping up a difficult rehabilitation process hoping to be back soon how difficult has the process been well. Six months you have to do this thing every day when you get back on the field. Are you going to be a member. I probably run 100 miles an hour.

Because you never know what kind of things looks good. But as long as you do it on the field you never know. But we will find out pretty soon. All right cosmos Vancouver tonight I'll be leaving our New York studio in just a couple of minutes to go to the game at Giants Stadium of highlights for tomorrow night maybe another two or three weeks before right. Well be out there playing finally at Wimbledon today. Fairfield fellow American Kathy scores 6 4 and 6 1 let's take it back to Kent. Thank you Bill. Once again our top story tonight Governor Kaine is trying to come up with the twenty first vote for his controversial gasoline tax now stalled in the state Senate. Another vote is expected tomorrow along with a new senator. The winner of today's special election to fill bill must should be certified in time for tomorrow's vote. And that's our news for tonight for Bill

Perry and the rest of the nightly news team on Cannot I hand wishing you a good night. New Jersey Nightly News is a joint presentation of the New Jersey network. 13. Portions record. Just one second. Yeah let's do.

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New Jersey No.

We're. Going to enjoy Trenton. Hi everybody Claire Wenzel Jersey whether Watts will remember the widely scattered showers that I predicted for last night. Well they managed to scatter themselves in my direction. In any event today was a beautiful day lots of sunshine moderate temperatures and it looks as if the rest of the week is going to be gorgeous as well. Welcome back a little bit to tell you about that. Let's take a look at our current temperatures right now. 70s statewide seventy five in Trenton and in New York 77 down at the seashore in Atlantic City. The cool spot burnin Valley at 70 degrees and it's 73 in a place called Moksha pond if you can believe that. Located in Sussex County. I'll come back with a mock on mock saw and the beautiful Garden State weather forecast following Susan's of course consumer line so. But let's join Kent Manning hand right now to get the latest news headlines can't. Thank you Claire. The governor is working overtime to sway one more Senate vote in favor of the gasoline tax before tomorrow's crucial vote. We'll have a report. And we continue our closer look probation series tonight we accompany a mercer county probation officer on a typical day in the field. Those stories and more

coming up at 7:30 on New Jersey nightly news. But first let's join consumer line. Ears.