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Good evening. I'm cannot I han and I don Torrance 1981 they be remembered as the year of indecision. New Jersey voters seem to have a hard time deciding just who they want to their next governor to be. Jim McQueen will be looking back on that story for us and the United States Senate put off deciding what to do about Harrison Williams until 1982. Sandra King has been covering that story for us from Brooklyn to Washington D.C. These are just two of the stories we'll report on this evening we will also examine New Jersey's economy in the wake of the Reagan budget cuts. New developments in Atlantic City and the Pinelands plan. And we'll take a look at the year in sports. The story that overshadowed all others was a New Jersey governor's race a race that was so close that some of us thought it might be four more years for Brendan Byrne. Jim McWhinnie our political correspondent has been following the race Jim. Well Ken from January to early December there was uncertainty over who would be the next governor the candidates all share the highly contagious affliction called more than mania. More than being the official residence of Governor Brendan Byrne who is ending his second and

final term allowed by law the job being open after the race was on up. The. 21 candidates ran in the June primary helped by the first time use of matching public campaign funds in a primary. The. Jim Florio a four term congressman from Camden County beat out 12 other Democrats for the party's gubernatorial nomination is a bonus from North Jersey. Cut into each other's support. But couldn't crack Florio South Jersey political base. Tom Kaine a former speaker of the state assembly edged out seven Republican opponents to capture the nomination. Which had alluded him four years before. Both Cain and Florio went at each other quickly. Campaigning well before the traditional Labor Day start and agreeing to televised

debates to stir up interest polls well into the race showed nearly half the electorate could not name either candidate. I've heard a lot on TV about it and I mean that. His writing tell me different things I don't hear too much talk about it. Florio made Reaganomics an issue and was relying once again on his South Jersey support to put him over the top by just keeping even with Cain in North Jersey. Cain claimed the election was not a referendum on Reaganomics. The Republicans theme was that it was time for a change. After eight years of a Democratic governor and only one GOP governor in 28 years Cain's plan for business tax breaks he said would stimulate the state's economy became a central issue. Florio said it would wreck the economy coming as it would on top of the substantial federal aid cutbacks by the Reagan administration. It seemed the ultimate irony that even Election Day could not stop the

momentum of the state's most expensive and crowded gubernatorial race. The results were so close. Both Cain and Florio refused to concede even a recount. Asked by Florio who is less than 2000 votes behind Cain was overshadowed by politics. Democrats accused Republicans of using strong arm tactics at many urban voting areas posting armed men and threatening posters to intimidate minority voters under a program called the national ballot security task force. Lawsuits are still lingering. But the month long recount upheld Cain's victory by seventeen hundred ninety seven votes the narrowest victory for governor in the state's history. Jim Kane of course is a Republican burn a Democrat. How different will the new administration be. Well the principal difference will be in the legislature Kaine of course a Republican will be dealing with a Democratic controlled legislature. Governor BYRNE Of course being a Democrat could propose and dispose of a lot of programs with the cooperation of his own party.

Now has to go to these Democrats and has to peel away one or two to try to get approval for his programs which might be a little difficult. Jim what happens now though that the Democrats are out of power at least as far as the governor's mansion is concerned. Well the word is at the moment that the power will reside with the Democrats in both the Senate and the assembly. In other words the legislature and they'll try to beef up their administrative staff so that they can crank out a lot of publicity for their members and also to come up with some positive programs rather than being construed as anti Cain for the next two years and the next two years are the most important because they want to retain the Democratic control when both houses come up for re-election within two years. Thank you Jen. Abscam it's become a household word a troubling one for New Jersey politicians Saundra King has been following the developments particularly in the case of Harrison Williams. Sandi Kent Pete Williams Abscam troubles began back in 1979. That's when FBI undercover men lured the senator into a series of meetings that would later be used as proof of his corruption. The agents had

posed as representatives of a bogus Arab shake and it was secretly recorded tapes of those meetings that led to his indictment in 1980 and his conviction last May. The trial had lasted more than four weeks. Witness after witness had taken the stand. Many of them government agents or informants all pointing the finger at Pete Williams. But the most damaging evidence came from the tapes themselves for hours and days the jury had watched and listened to scenes like this is a very very very very personal Secretary Rice's chair and a very very you know that's very. Nice.

Why would not you know. Finally in an attempt to counter the damage done by the tapes Williams himself took the stand. He dismissed the Abscam meetings as baloney Sessions said he had sought no personal gain. That while his behavior was foolish it was not improper. But the jury didn't believe him. And after three days of deliberation the verdict was in. Guilty on all counts. Course I'm. Very deeply disappointed. In the verdict. We just received. It my heart. I know I did no wrong. There is no wrongdoing and that makes this verdict obviously. The most difficult. But still more difficult to come before the Senate Ethics Committee in Washington. Williams again insisting he was innocent first before the

committee later. In an exclusive interview with us right now people think they saw me on television stuffing money in my pockets you say. It's that kind of publicity 18 months. Putting me in the middle of a stand. And a lot of Abscam was money and money had no part of mine when it was offered. I refused it flatly and immediately. But one month later the Ethics Committee made its recommendation to the Senate Pete Williams should be expelled. But expulsion can only be decided by a vote of the full Senate. That vote postponed twice last year should come sometime this month. So Senator Williams contested his conviction on the basis of due process he felt his due process had been violated but late last year the appeal was denied him. Do you see any signs that he will decide to resign rather than face possible humiliation by his colleagues in the Senate. Don that's hard to call. There were some of us who thought he might resign right after the

conviction in may of course he did not. Then there was speculation that he wouldn't sit for the humiliation of the ethics committee hearing he did. Others were sure that as soon as the Ethics Committee made its recommendation if it went against him that in fact he would resign he didn't he has refused to even discuss resignation. So if I had to call it now I'd say he will run on. Jim a question. If Harrison Willian is expelled from the Senate there will have to be someone appointed. And on an interim basis and then there will be an election in November for a new senator from New Jersey who are some of the people who are likely to be involved in this process. Well there are only two announced candidates so far both of them Democrats Howard Rosen of Essex County and former Bergen County Congressman Bennie McGuire there's a whole list of Democrats and Republicans in the wings among the Democrats being mentioned Jim Florio a possibility but becoming more remote as we head toward that time. Peter Shapiro the Essex County executive also Port Authority chairman Allan

Sagger has been mentioned. Also Frank Guarini the congressman from Hudson County among Republicans mills and Fenwick's been mentioned Jim Corder congressman also Jeff Bell and Dave Norcross who ran against Bradley last time and also met with all of them. Jim and Sandi thank you both very much. And we'll be back with more of the 1981 if you want. Peregrine falcons had been extinct as a breeding bird in the East since the 1950s. In the past six years the New Jersey Division of fish life released over 50 in the marshes of New Jersey. As adults these manmade structures to breed New Jersey is the first eastern state to have friends in 30 years. Find out how you can support projects like this.

President Reagan dominated the national news and particularly with his economic program a profound effect on people and business. Steve Taylor has been following this story for us. And developments should or should not be developed with correspondent Dan Hodson. We'll start first with you. The idea behind Reaganomics or supply side economics is to let the economy improve itself rather than having Washington do it at the center of the strategy are tax cuts money which theoretically people will invest rather than pay the government. The Patterson project chart of the effects of the cuts on one single mother of three. ARMSTRONG She lost aid for dependent children food stamps and Medicaid. And with her small secretary salary she wonders what she'll do if her kids get sick. When I have to tell.

Them I'm strong and her children have moved in with her mother and two brothers. She has so far kept her job but she knows what many critics of the Reagan cut say that she could live better on surviving welfare programs if she quit her job. So we will be raising another group. Yes because children have seen. It fade away. Take care of business. We found a more positive effect of Reaganomics and Patterson who owns a chemical company plans to use his tax cuts to build a new industrial park where he hopes other companies will build with their tax savings creating jobs. I think what we do is government spending and increased investment in private business is a very important thing. The industrial expansion pope and the president want is being made harder by another Reagan administration policy tight money and high interest rates to fight inflation. Construction of all types is way off. Sales are down and several thousand New Jersey workers

have been laid off. This is the GM roller bearings plant in Clark. In October it was hailed as a symbol of economic revival when workers bought the plant to keep it open. In December 800 of the workers were hit with a two week end of the year layoff because of slumping car sales. The Reagan cuts in aid to state programs have already cost some state workers their jobs at the State Department of Human Services more than 300 employees were laid off in November. And Commissioner Timothy Carden said service cuts will be inevitable unless the state legislature appropriates more money. Incoming Governor Kaine and the new legislature will find themselves under pressure to make up for other cuts to mayors of New Jersey cities said two weeks ago they won't be able to maintain public housing with federal cuts made and planned in that area and the state's aging train and bus systems will also be getting fewer federal dollars which means New Jersey commuters will be bringing more complaints to Trenton about high fares and unreliable service. Steve how much of the slack will the state be able to pick up.

Informed opinion is not very much because the state has its own budget problems there own shortages of their own generated shortages and they're getting less federal money too. People are going to be coming to Trenton and I don't think you're going to be getting much the way positive answers at all. Steve how will we really know though if Reaganomics is working in New Jersey what will the signs be. Well you'll know it the way I'll know it in the rest of the country because unemployment will be down people will be going back to work they'll be an increase in investment. This is what will happen if if the supply side theory is accurate that the economy will be recovering on its own and the government about the same time will be able to balance the budget because it will have more revenue from all the taxes these newly healthy businesses are paying. Thank you very much. That option meanwhile has been keeping traffic track of an industry that's growing in the state of New Jersey casinos in Atlantic City and he's been keeping an eye on the pylons plan as well. Don the pylons comprehensive management plan begins its second tour this month casino gambling in Atlantic City is a little over three years old. Both are still feeling growing pains. With the opening of the Playboy Hotel Casino in April the Claridge in August and the Tropicana in

November a total of nine casinos are online poring over 30000 people attracting over 17 million visitors and grossing over one billion dollars for the year. But despite this profit margins are low because you know say they need relief from restrictive state regulations. As you know construction has stopped for the time being. But industry officials say they think it will pick up again in the coming year. One big reason they say is in what Tom Kane realizes that Brendan Byrne did not. He has a realization that the state should not be in some of these areas in which there presently and at the management of the casino should reside with the people who know the business and not with the people in trend. Downey also says Atlantic City's decision to change their form of government to a strong mayor council form will permit the city to speak with a stronger more effective voice directing investors. In November voters rejected the current commission government by an overwhelming 3 to 1 margin. After widespread criticism that it was ineffective and disorganized the casino industry has

succeeded in reducing the unemployment rate from its average over 12 percent to one thousand seventy seven to just six and a half percent in 1981. But many Atlantic City residents are more concerned with developments at Rhode Island Avenue and those at Resorts International. We're 330 suspicious vacant building fires broke out in Atlantic City in 1901. Most agree it's because speculator owners find their land worth more without a building on it. The result is continued displacement of the poor and elderly the population of Atlantic City has decreased while the rest of the county is growing. And they move in. Dora Sewell lives with their daughters in the south inlet section of Atlantic City. She remembers before casinos when her street was lined with homes and trees. Now most of the homes have been demolished home just behind hers burned down a few weeks ago came very close to burning hers as well. You can say no. I think I must improve home. Close to forty five.

Point. Two. Percent figures are not available but the city estimates over 400 buildings were demolished in Atlantic City last year. Another eight hundred are scheduled for demolition. Rents are also increasing rapidly. 60 percent of the city's 976 inlet population has moved out. Housing has become the number one issue of concern in Atlantic City. The development pressure in Atlantic City has been increased by tighter development regulations in surrounding pile and protection areas seven counties and 52 municipalities in the pile and have until January 14th to bring their zoning maps into compliance with the pilots plan. So far only three municipalities have done so only one county is even working toward it. Opposition to the pylons is still strong in part because there was not more local input into the making of the plan. Planet county executive Charles Worthington gets very upset when he talks about the violence commission and the way the plan was put together and they say

there's really no room for you in this decision making process we know what's best. We've going to have to live with it and you going to have to adopt it. The violence commission is considering a plan to give us a pal of his who are working towards compliance another six months to finish. But they say areas which are not trying to comply face losing any decision over their control to make decisions at all. If it comes to that Worthington says Atlantic County and the other affected areas will take the issue to court. Dan Tom Kane threw out a successful campaign for governor probably South Jersey and more controlled really well though what can they expect from him what can they ask him in return. There are a lot of rumors on that down Don. Perhaps the most highly placed came from Secretary of Agriculture Philipa Lampy. He told a group of farmers a few weeks ago that not only would there be revisions in the Pinelands act in the coming year but he also said the appointment of Tom Cain will make to the plan his commission will also do a lot toward giving the local control back to the local

municipalities. Then there are some people who say that the future success in Atlantic City depends very much on the building of a convention center there. Will we see any progress on that project in 1992. There should be everyone is expecting there will be a final what is supposedly the final feasibility study should be completed within a month. The legislation to provide for funding has already passed the legislature. So if there are no unforeseen problems they expect that there will be construction by late late fall possibly. Thank you very much Dan and Steve. And we'll be back with sports in just a minute. The. Whole focus is on environmental issues in the Garden State

including a discussion on the hazardous effect of as best is on workers tomorrow evening at 6:00 and Sunday morning at 10:00. Bill Perry's been covering sports in 1981 he has this report on the year in sports. With the addition of the BRENDAN BYRNE Meadowlands Arena to the sports complex in East Rutherford New Jersey has become a national focal point in sports just this past Saturday for example the top two teams in college basketball North Carolina and Kentucky played at the arena December actually served as a microcosm of the year in sports at the arena Rutgers beat UCLA in the first college basketball game at the arena December 3rd 57 54 the nets of course play their home games at the arena. The young that struggled early but are coming on lightly and with new coach Larry Brown looks for improvement in the center there flanked by his assistants Mike Shula and Bill Blair. The arena hosted a major women's tennis tournament and the number of the Toyota Championships were held and Tracy Austin was the winner. There's indoor

soccer at the Meadowlands Arena the cosmos playing in the North American Soccer League indoors for the first time cosmos struggling early. They are simply trying to adapt to the indoor game and the New Jersey rockets are an expansion team in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They are off to a rough start but once they learn to play together they too should show some improvement. Prior to December the arena hosted a National Hockey League exhibition that was in September and by the 82 83 season there should be an NHL franchise in New Jersey maybe even the Rangers who beat the Flyers back in September and that exhibition and the arena staged a boxing show in November state middleweight champion in the white trunks had the card look for additional bouts in 82. The arena opened last July 2nd with a Bruce Springsteen concert and a half year. There were some 30 sports events at the arena some three hundred fifty thousand people attended those events in 1982. There will be approximately 110 athletic events with 1.1 million people expected to attend those figures are estimates of course and do not figure in a possible hockey

franchise across from the arena of courses in the sports complex is the track and Giant Stadium the track operates year round with both harness and thoroughbred racing in 1901 for the first time the prestigious Hamiltonian. The trotting classic was held at the big dam at the Stadium of Giants Stadium the Giants had quite a year just a couple of weeks ago the 13 to 10 overtime win over Dallas put the Giants in the playoffs for the first time since 1963 of course with the win over Philadelphia last Sunday. If the Giants and San Francisco this Sunday their cosmos also play in the stadium while the moz didn't win the NASL title in 81 their superstar Giorgio had another great year and finally won the league and the award. In college sports Rutgers has an agreement to play at least two home football games a year at Giants Stadium in 81 that then top ranked Pitt Panthers made a visit and crushed the Scarlet Knights Garden State Ball Four matched Wisconsin and Tennessee over 14000 no shows for the game that's a problem thirty eight thousand plus actually attended the ball. Tennessee one it will have to see about the future of the Garden State Ball there will be a

Garden State bowl five but beyond that we'll have to wait and see. So with the arena stadium and a racetrack the state's sports focus is definitely at the Sports Complex but there were other sports in 1981 worth a mention back in May. Veteran Kathy Whitworth won the LPGA Coca-Cola Classic that was held in Ridgewood in August the volleyball Cup women's tennis tournament was won by one Amanda Leake of the college in Mahwah. The men's tennis tour made a jersey stop and Shlomo Glickstein won the mutual benefit life open in South Orange in early August. A big year for Princeton the Tigers won the Ivy League basketball title with a memorable win in a playoff game over arch rival Penn in March. And the football team out a memorable win they topped Yale. For the first time in 14 years a New Jersey has a world champion in boxing Camden's Dwight Braxton took the WBC light heavyweight title from Matthew saw Muhammad just a couple of weeks ago the bout was held in Atlantic City where there have been numerous title fights in 81 and there will be more in 82 so New Jersey has truly

arrived as a sports mecca 1981 1982 as a tough act to follow. I'm sure it will and I'm looking forward to it all. Happy New Year. Bill talked about the Meadowlands Arena and his report that arena is also called the Brendan barn a RINO now and certainly that name has given the governor his fair share of problems this year and a lot of people were upset. Byrne appointees on the Meadowlands Commission Sports and Exposition Authority namely arena afterburn and that became a campaign issue as a matter of fact so much so that the Florio people were friendly during the campaign that when it opened in the basketball games will be televised with the Byrne arena right in the middle. They were thinking about having it taped over so that it wouldn't create even more antagonism. And there have been a lot of jokes about this burn arena business there was a suggestion to change it to Brendan ban arena because you could save money on changing the big sign out front it would be about the same sort of thing. But I think I think I just an issue in the campaign. I've always thought that it went beyond jokes that in fact it was it was serious and not just

in Bergen County where the sports complex is. I was in Ocean County heavy senior citizen population an area that Jim Florio was counting on. He was at a rally he said all the right things for the senior citizen audience he pushed the right Social Security and Medicaid buttons and he had a telephone hook up from Bill Bradley who's very popular. And when it was all over I talked to seniors in the crowd and they didn't want to talk about Medicaid. They weren't that concerned about Social Security but by God they were upset about Brendan Byrnes name in that arena in Ocean County significantly Jim Florio lost Ocean County. Gentlemen thank you very much both Jim and Steve. Well from the governor's race to the Giants 981 was obviously a year of close calls since 1982 promises more of the same we won't offer any predictions tonight but we do promise to keep you informed about what does happen whether it be the tribulations of the new governor Tom Kaine all the chances of us getting a new hockey team here in New Jersey New Jersey nightly news will be here each week with the state's only comprehensive coverage for Don Torrance and the rest of the nightly news team. I'm can't Monahan Wishing all of you on very Happy New Year.

And. Remember. The show spotlights the big events in bars music sculpture theater

film the whole spectrum from 81 and makes predictions for 80 twos big happenings. The show's called the brand new illustrated Journal of the arts. Robert MacNeil hosts this two hour special tonight at 9 o'clock. Seeing a new and fresh ways all those things we usually take for granted. BILL MOYERS series on public television explores the creative.