NJN News; Tuesday November 24, 1998

You A judge orders striking Jersey City teachers back to work by Monday or face losing their jobs. Newark City Council claims the Port Authority is cheating residents will tell you why. The insurance commissioner says clients of HIP health care don't have to worry. The Board of Public Utilities tells PFC and GDU shape up and students in Pennington bake up a better Thanksgiving for those less fortunate. NJN News for Tuesday, November 24th. Major funding for NJN News is made possible by Grants Truff.

The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, which believes that an informed citizen reads to a healthy democracy. The SEMG committed to serving customers strengthening the business community and investing in New Jersey's future. First union serves 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. From NJN, the New Jersey Channel, the Emmy Award-winning NJN News with Kent Manahan, Dick Forney with Business, and Jerry Henry with Sports.

Good evening. A superior court judge has ordered striking teachers in Jersey City back to work by Monday or face being fired. And late today is spokesman for the Jersey City Teachers Union told NJN News that members hope the walkout can be settled tonight. It's day four of the strike by 2,500 teachers and 1,000 support staff. And the lives and education of 32,000 students are still being disrupted. Trisha Gaspriss has the story. A superior court judge Martin Greenberg today told the teachers to be back at work by 830 Monday morning or else. And who does not thereafter pursue the duties of his or her employment on a regular, diligent and good faith faces. She'll be deemed to have resigned his or her employment with a plaintiff. These teachers in front of PS38 have nearly 200 years of experience among them. And they say they want to get that experience back in the classroom. I wish it was over. I want to go back to my children.

My children come out here and cry and want me to be back with them. What happens is supervisors are coming in and they're asking me to do one thing. And then another supervisor comes in and asks me to do something else. And it's just so the paperwork is unbelievable. And I need to talk with my children. People are coming in with the attitude that our teachers do not teach. And our children do not learn. And that's an insult to my profession, to me, and to my students, and to the city. Get along with your teacher. 25 years. You love it? I absolutely love it. You can't do this job with that lovely job. It's very important to us. And we're doing this for a reason. The reasons may get lost in the rhetoric and the acrimony that this strike is sparking. While teachers say it's not about money, the Board of Ed disagrees. Officials say it an average salary of $56,000. Teachers here are the second highest paid in the country. Meanwhile, elementary schools have half days. And the city's five high schools are closed. It's kind of confusion and everything. But I'm not saying anything now. I don't think waiting for all the teachers to come back and start school.

They're just slowing down children's education. And most of all, school keeps children off the streets from doing home. Since they're on strike, it's not helping us. One parent we spoke with thought both sides should be locked in a hotel somewhere with a settlement being their only out. Keep them there. And give them at least no more than a seven day deadline. And they have to. And it's mandated to come out with finalizing this contract. So teachers can go back to school. And children can be taught. Do you think kids are suffering because they don't have the regular teacher? Yes. Tell me why. Because they want to teach a bit. Richty Gaspers, NJN News, Jersey City. Entrance reports that the prospect of picket lines next Monday if there is no settlement is still up in the air. Teacher Union representatives told her they would not decide what to do until Sunday evening. Over in New Jersey's largest city, they're also headed for the courtroom, taking on the port authority of New York and New Jersey. New York City Council has filed papers against the port authority,

claiming the agency cheated the city out of billions. Marie DeNoia reports. The lease was first signed back in 1947. And under the terms, the port authority has developed run and expanded Newark International Airport and port Newark on the city of Newark's soil. And while the lease calls for a flat yearly rent and 75% of the air and seaport's profits, the city council is now alleging the port authority has been manipulating the figures all these years, concealing profits and doping the city and its taxpayers out of billions. We do not feel at this point in time that we are in receipt of our fair share of the amount of revenue that is generated by the port authority of New York and New Jersey. And so, Newark has filed a demand for arbitration and a civil lawsuit. We have folks in our city starving that cannot make ends meet. And we have a giant corporation sitting out here feeding on the little people, the people the taxpayers in our city.

So, we need to take a look at this entity. But even as the city council was stating its case before reporters, across the hall, Mayor Sharp James was drafting his own response. And he's 100% against the city council. The administration will join with the port authority in answering this bogus suit. I'll be on the side of the port authority to answer any of the questions because I believe the port authority has been ever fair to the city of New York. The port authority says it paid the city a record $36 million for the privilege of using its property last year, and that it has fully lived up to all of the obligations under their agreement. The lease, as it stands right now, runs straight through the year 2019. But a finding of bad faith on either side could break it immediately. Marie DeNoia and Jan News, Newark. PSE&G needs to immediately improve the way it communicates with customers and emergency officials after storm-related power outages. So says a report from the State Board of Public Utilities,

a powerful storm hit New Jersey over the Labor Day weekend, cutting service to some 250,000 residents. The report faults the state's largest utility for not telling customers when power would be restored. Some homes were out for six days. The P.P.U. standard is two days. A variety of recommendations are included in the report. PSE&G claims it's already started working on correcting the problems. More bad news today for HIP Health Plan of New Jersey, but state officials are saying subscribers don't have to worry. The company, HIP, hired last year to provide care for its members, is now hanging up for sales sign. Instead of seeking reorganization under Chapter 11, Health Care Enterprises of New Grunswick wants to sell its assets, pay up as much of its debt as possible, and shut the door. The question is, now what happens to HIP's 194,000 subscribers? We should not result in any disruption of services. The centers are happy to say are open, are running well. Perhaps they're running better than they have in recent weeks.

We've restocked them. We have staff fully supporting the patients in those clinics. So there should not be any impact for New Jersey HIP subscribers it. The state won permission last week to operate Pinnacles 23 health care centers. It now pays more than ever to shop around for auto insurance under the new tiered rating system that took effect this month. New Jerseyans could be paying as much as three times more than they have to for coverage. Michael Aaron explains. Tiered rating is the new system that replaced the dreaded surcharge system of the mid-90s. Basically, it's a deregulation of auto insurance. Companies are free to set up new rating tiers based on their own assessment of a driver's risk and are free to charge whatever rates they wish. As a result, rates are suddenly varying wildly. An assembly hearing today, insurance and banking commissioner Janie Levecchia, told the committee chairman, Kip Bateman, that the same policy in his district could cost as much as $3,000 or as little as $1,200 depending on which company he went with. In Assemblyman Larry Chatsadakis' district,

the identical policy could cost $3,300 or $1,300. In Assemblyman Rudy Garcia's district, as much as $3,600, as little as $1,400. Meaning that the difference between the two is about $2,200. Since November 1st, drivers who renew their policies are seeing these revised and varying rates. The commissioner said 15% of New Jerseyans have seen their rates go down by more than 15%. 37% have seen their rates go down by less than 15% or stay the same. 36% have seen their rates go up by less than 15%. And 12% have seen their rates go up by more than 15%. The insurance department today unveiled this handbook to explain it all to us. New Jerseyans are not accustomed to shopping around for auto insurance, but that's what we're being advised to do. I think shopping around is particularly for insurance is a very new concept for the New Jersey motorists to become comfortable with. And our job at the department is to make them comfortable with it because it's in their interest to do so.

A good consumer is an educated consumer, and I don't see why they won't shop their auto insurance like they shop everything else. The insurance industry likes tiered rating. Insurance agents were enthusiastic today. But in our opinion, tiered rating is the first meaningful attempt to restructure the rating basis for insurance consumers in New Jersey. About the only unhappy people are those seeing rate hikes. But now they're being advised to shop around. You can get the new tier rating booklet and accompanying price charts for your territory by calling the insurance department at 1-800-446-SHOP. Michael Aaron, NJN News Trenton. Coming up on NJN News, clergy members offer their views on combating youth violence. Just in time for the holidays, a low-fat holiday dinner. I'm Sarah Lee Kessler. In tonight's health watch, we'll find out how. The New Jersey Black Ministers Council is urging Governor Whitman to move ahead with the appointment of one of their own as Secretary of State.

Last night, we told you the governor is considering the Reverend Buster Soares, a charismatic Somerset County minister, for the post. We think it's an excellent nomination. He's very talented, very intelligent, very committed. And we believe he would be an asset to the state. Soares would replace Lana Hokes who left in June. The governor's office will not confirm whether Soares has been offered the post. Clergy men and representatives of nonprofit organizations are offering their suggestions for combating youth violence. As State House correspondent Jim Hooker reports, many say it's the adults who have to do a better and set a better example for the kids. He decided that he was going to throw the rock at our vehicle as we went through the intersection. Recruits for Reverend Richard Starling's church-based mentoring program can come to him in the strangest ways.

Like the time he and his wife doubled back to a Newark Street corner to talk to a youth seemingly prone to violence. The peer pressure is too great for them to pull away from it on their own. And they need our helping hand. They need us to give them strength to pull away from those things. In fact, many of the clergymen and nonprofit agencies who work with youth say adults play the key role in how our children turn out. I think we have to do more looking in the mirror than we do looking out. Several blamed Hollywood, the media, and other outside influences for helping to fuel violence. When adults find reason for violence, it sets the example for children to find reason for violence. And so it's a case of monkey sea monkey do. And overcrowded prisons, where minorities make up the vast majority of inmates, also came under fire. Children of those inmates, the panel was told, are more likely to end up behind bars themselves. And so we're making the problem bigger than smaller. We're not solving it. I think we're adding to the problem.

And the panel was told children need a better start overall. Nothing is more violent than poverty. Nothing is more violent than what we saw as children, rats, and infested neighborhoods. The task force was formed last summer in the wake of a series of fatal school shootings by students across the country. It meets again in January with a full report due to the legislature this spring. Jim Hooker, Anjane News, Trenton. New Jersey Purg released its report today on what's considered to be dangerous toys. Many of them pose choking hazards to children under three. Others could expose youngsters to toxic chemicals. Purg reports that while toys are generally safer than in the past, harmful toys can still be found on store shelves. And buyers should be aware. Simple things as balloons that when they pop the small pieces cause choking hazards for children, marble, small balls, small parts of toys, or toys that easily break into smaller parts that can be easily placed into the mouth.

Purg says choking accounted for most of the 13 toy related deaths in the U.S. last year, none of them occurred in New Jersey. Tis the season for gift giving and eating. But you don't have to make this the season for weight gain. There's a way to whip up a tasty holiday dinner that's low fat and low cow health and medical correspondent Sarah Lee Kessler reports from a kitchen in low dye. Less is so good and these like gifts, which we are about to receive. This is how Mary Latanzio begins all her meals, holiday or otherwise. But the Pene has no salt, no fat, basal-laced marinara sauce. That's new this year. It's a replacement for the usual calorie-rich pasta. Where are we all used to monogostes or stuffed shells? And there'd be no room for turkey or any vegetables. The goal this year, making the meal low in fat, low in calories for family and friends. It still tastes as good, but it's very, very important for a health reason, for high blood pressure and other things they tell you.

So you got a turkey breast this year instead of a big turkey. What's the reason? It's white meat, it's low fat and it doesn't have too much skin. And skin's a no-no? That's a no-no. Yes, we don't want to skin. Cooked with the skin because that makes it juicy also. But you didn't have to add any margarine to get gravy. Nothing at all. The sweet potatoes are braised and the string beans steamed. No sauce is added. The mashed potatoes made with skim milk. The vegetable bean salad is marinated in low fat salad dressing. It's nutritionist Susan Burgio's recipe. So is the low-cal stuffing, which substitutes veal for beef sausage. Delicious. Very good. Susan, very good. We've added flavor by simmering the giblets in boiling water before we add this broth to the stuffing. And I've sauteed the vegetables. The key to a successful low fat holiday dinner, like Mary's, is to take the family's traditional recipes and modify them so you preserve all the flavors.

What's this? Low fat cheesecake mousse. There's no sugar. It's one third to calories. Angela's pumpkin pie uses graham cracker crust. Is this a meal without guilt? Yes. Serially castler, NJN News, Lodi. Dick, you can tell us how much old this cost. What have you gotten business today? It's not about the cost exactly, but in case you get a headache, Murk unveils a new pain reliever to compete in hopes with popular brands such as Tylodol. And a North Jersey headquarters paper making giant is sold in a nearly seven-bid-in-dollar deal. Those stories are coming up. On the business be tonight, Wayne-based paper and packaging maker Union Camp is being sold to its much larger rival, International Paper, in a $6.6 billion deal.

The Union Camp has more than 1,100 employees here in New Jersey, including about 450 employees at its Pasey County headquarters. It also owns this folding carton mill in Clifton and two others in Munaki and Englewood, with a total of about 442 workers. 209 people work at Union Camp's graphic display manufacturing facility in West Deppford. Late this summer, the company announced the closing of its research and development center in the Princeton area, which employed about 180. International paper is already speculating it can save $300 million to consolidation of operations and the closing of some facilities in the combined International Paper Union Camp company. Meantime shares of Montville-based Bushbook Allen company rose about 14% today on the Union Camp acquisition news. Union Camp owns about 68% of Bushbook Allen, a flavors in fragrances maker. The stock of BBA rose on speculation international paper might sell the division as part of its acquisition of Union Camp.

This spokesperson for International Paper says it has, quote, no plans for, at this point, for Bushbook Allen. Texas-based JCPenney is buying the Genovese drug store chain to get a foothold in the Northern New Jersey and New York City metropolitan region. Penny will pay about $492 million in stock and debt for New York-based Genovese, which has 141 stores in the Tri-State region, five of them here in New Jersey. Genovese has about 150 employees in the Northern part of the state. Last year, Penny bought the record drug store chain and merged it with its thrift drug stores and a more than $3 billion deal. Second thoughts about stocks put a lid on the euphoria that swept through the markets yesterday and sent the Dow into record territory and the market averages retreated today amidst profitating. In spite of another round of merger, Mania, the Dow industrials gave back 73 points to close at the 93.01 level, the ABMEX Composite Slip 5 in change.

The Nasdaq Composite fell 11.5 in the S&P 500 surrender, five in a quarter. Bonds found renewed favor and the price of the long bond gained more than half a point in its yield to ease to 5.21%. And today, White House Station-based Merck Split. It's widely held in top performing stock, two for one, effective in February. It's the first stock split for Merck, one of the companies in the Dow Industrial Average since 1992. The split comes one day after Merck filed with the Food and Drug Administration for approval of its new prescription pain reliever, which many think will rival Johnson & Johnson's popular Tylenol. Merck says its viox medication treats pain and swelling without causing irritation to the stomach. Analysts are predicting annual sales of $1 billion for viox if it gets FDA approval. So a lot is writing on this application. Not bad when you consider how much we like to eat over the holidays. Of course, this won't be to laugh to the holidays, though. Thank you. When we come back, look at the forecast. And Jerry, what do you have in sports tonight?

News of a new lease for the Nets, but where? We'll explain next at sports. In sports, the New Jersey Nets have worked out a new lease at the metallands that runs through the 2007-2008 season, but will the team continue to be a tenant at the metallands? The lease has an escape provision that allows the Nets to relocate without penalty if the after the 2001 season, if it stays in New Jersey. There's also a provision for the team to increase its revenue from parking concessions and advertising. However, the big sticking point for now is location.

The new Nets owners want to move the team to Newark despite efforts to keep them in East Rutherford even with a new arena. Our mind is open in terms of where the arena should be. I can tell you that we would be disappointed if that turned out to be the location, but we ultimately accept the fact that any new arena in New Jersey will need tremendous cooperation from the state, various county and city and other types of funding, federal funding. And if in fact someone decides that the right place to do that is that the metallands will be disappointed. Our ownership group came together to buy this team for two purposes. They wanted to keep the team in New Jersey and they wanted to not just build a championship organization and win a title, but they wanted to do it in a way that integrated it into urban youth. To that end, the nets are already in the planning stages of developing property in downtown Newark. However, the sports authority is working on plans due to be released by the spring that include renovating the existing arena or building a new one in the metallands. Our intent here that we're talking about keeping the nets in New Jersey. This is not about losing the nets to out of state.

So, you know, our goal is to create a long-term future for the nets as well as the state and whether it's Newark or sports complex, which we believe is viable. Extremely viable, as proven by our 20-year track record, but the real goal is to keep the nets in New Jersey long-term. We just have at least a friendly planning disagreement about where that location should be at this point, but ultimately the governor and the sports authority and the nets. And the devils will come together and we will try and figure out whether there is a consensus or a clear indication of where a new arena should be built. That's President Michael Rostoff short of saying the new owners would sell the team if it's not in Newark as some published reports suggest, but it appears Kent that all sides agree that there should be a new arena built at some location. Thank you, Jerry. Well, it was a wonderful day to be outside today. Tonight, though, could be a different story. Let's take a look at the New Jersey forecast in the northern part of the state tonight, cloudy, with lows in the upper 20s overnight.

Tomorrow, partly sunny day with highs in the low 50s. In the southern part of the state, clear skies tonight, lows in the 30s. And tomorrow, it will be sunny with highs in the mid 50s. And finally tonight, students from the Tolgate Grammar School were busy today mixing and baking sweet potato pies. The pie-baking marathon took place at St. Matthew's Church in Pennington. Tomorrow, these goodies, along with turkeys, cranberry, relish and cornbread stuffing, will be delivered to the Trenton area soup kitchen. This is the 12th year that the school and community volunteers have prepared the Thanksgiving feast. It makes me feel great to help out and know that I made a difference. Well, the third graders from the Tolgate School are also looking forward to decorating the dining room. Before that Thanksgiving feast gets underway tomorrow. Surprise, there are on a few pieces missing from those pies as they pack them up there. That's the news. I'm Kath Maddahan for Dick and Jerry and all of us. Thank you for being with us, everyone. We hope to see you again tomorrow night.

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