New Jersey Nightly News; 01/14/1981

The interview with the founder of chemical control. Well you can't say no jersey Nightly News has learned that Governor Byrne is part of his proposed ban on handguns is considering a plan to have the state buy the weapons from their owners. Queenie has the story. According to sources the governor will decide in a few weeks whether a gun bounty should be included in the handgun bill he sends to the legislature. Current staff is now trying to find out how much the state can afford to pay for each gun and what I found he would reduce gun related crimes. Originally the idea was to pay a bounty of 50 to 75 dollars for each handgun turned in to authorities. New guns can cost several hundred dollars. The governor's aides confided they were surprised to discover it would cost a minimum of 30 million dollars just to buy back 600000 handguns legally registered in the state. And there are more than 1 million illegal handguns circulating in New Jersey in his State of the state address the governor said he was determined to take the lead nationally in creating a top gun control supporters of guns out to justify a major state expenditure on

grounds of gun related crime and injuries cautious side even more money. But a bounty provision can be expected to draw its share of criticism as a waste of time and money. I think he's. Private. Right by actions and not. Something to the people who come along with the going to get a bounty provision could indeed put New Jersey at the forefront of handgun control. Five years ago Massachusetts considered a similar bounty but felt it was too expensive. Last summer New York City had an amnesty program. Still. Several hundred thousand illegal handguns in the city. Only 400 were eventually turned in at the State House. I'm Jim acquainted with Jersey mayors and city officials held a strategy session today in transit. The mayors are concerned about the status of the state's cap laws which could force 15 million dollars in local budget cuts next year.

The mayor still no wait and see attitude since they won't know what budgetary rules to play by until the legislature deals with the issue. But they're braced for more of that action. We can't afford to lay off a third of our people and the longer that the longer that it takes for the system to make to be made and with civil service the 45 day notice the percentage of people who have to be laid off go up accordingly. So we're not talking of 4000 5000 maybe. Bills introduced at the State House would leave the Capitol right where it is at 5 percent. BARRY SCOTT Koski the state's director of local government services told the mayors that's the figure governor Burns aborts that this is not a change in the capital number one this is only a reaffirmation of past practice of state government. So we're not here endorsing an amendment to the Capitol but merely affirming past practice has been ruled incorrect. Attorney General John Degnan the mayor's main opponent charges some cities are circumventing the

cap law. He maintains local government should use a smaller revenue base to figure the 5 percent increase. The mayor's counter that permitted 5 percent annual increase doesn't begin to keep pace with inflation. They see tremendous inflation factor that nobody anticipated when they created this cap. It would put tremendous burden I mean as a politician to do away with basic city services. So for now New Jersey localities are caught in the middle. And today state officials caution us not to expect much relief from the legislature not in an election here in Trenton. Federal officials indicated today they will likely approve a full power license for the sale of two nuclear power plant in lower our waste Creek that is provided the power plant satisfactorily completes an emergency drill in March. Members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission after a two hour hearing decided to wait until after that drill is evaluated to issue the license. The chief prosecutor in the Abscam

case today questioned the good faith of two officials from the U.S. attorney's office in New York who have been critical of the government's conduct. And still more details came on the Abscam role of Camden's mayor as due process hearings continued in Brooklyn for Angelo Eric Katty former Congressman Frank Thompson and five others. SANDRA KING has the story. The seven defendants have already been found guilty. But if they can prove they were entrapped but they were victims of government misconduct they could see those convictions overturned. So lawyers for the defense have jumped eagerly on the statements of two high level assistants from the U.S. attorney's office in Newark. They've charged that a government informant M. Weinberg improperly coached some Abscam targets who then were prosecuted for doing as they've been told. But prosecutor Thomas Puccio today dismissed their criticism as petty and disruptive while questioning their motives. The Newark office he said had sought a larger role in Abscam. Instead it was shut out completely.

Con man Weinberg was the focus again later as Puccio conceded the informant had led Eric Kenny to believe he'd make him an instant millionaire lawyer Henry first charged Weinberg for the Camden mayor a $100000 a year job as a public relations man for the make believe shake who turned out to be an agent in disguise. PUCCIO agreed but said Eric he had made offers of his own including the sale of hand grenades have a defense lawyer then charge that Weinberg had offered Eric a condominium in Florida. Missions on over a billion dollars in Arab investments again for she didn't deny it but he insisted those inducements a no way mitigate the guilt of their eye candy for his six co-defendants. This is some tracking reporting the tiny borough of island heights in Ocean County has become the latest battleground for Historic Preservation. And though the mayor doesn't like tax dollars spent in that area a citizens group has already applied for historic designation and received state approval.

More from South Jersey correspondent Bob Torrance Island heights like Cape May and Ocean Grove is rich and Victorian gingerbread target architecture and rich and equally detailed memories of simple childhood summers to people like Lee Murphy. The roots here go back five generations before preservation was a political issue. The designation is important only in that it's an affirmation of the inequality of the district. And. It's a reward to the people for. Having preserved them to this point. And courage with the future. The tax laws. That would only be for. COMMERCIAL. Properties for public properties. I think we have a responsibility to allocate a certain number of tax dollars because it is our heritage and I think we have a responsibility to protect that for future generations. Murphy and her cultural and heritage Association worked three years on the historic designation proposal. The state's cultural and environmental services committee has approved the

proposal. What would it mean if Island Heights gets the designation from the federal government. Well budget constraints on a new administration that promises economies and spending make grants for restoration work unlikely. Murphy stresses that there would be no restrictions on private property but property like this home built by the want to make a family of Philadelphia at the turn of the century would be protected by restrictions. That's one thing I love Heights Mayor Howard Kirschner doesn't like. He also doesn't like the idea of the government getting into the preservation business. I think you have to draw the line on priorities in the federal government on how to spend the tax monies especially in this day and age. You might want to pay the program would be better served if it were handled by private foundations. This classic confrontation between preservationists and those who don't think taxpayers money should go toward such projects isn't really much of a confrontation at all at this point. The proposal for the historic designation is now in Washington. The Interior Department should approve it. Well then the argument will be over. Private property owners will be put under any restrictions

they'll still be able to do with their homes whatever they will. But the municipal buildings are part of the original want to make her stay here will be under. The town of Eilat Heights will be able to get editions or changes to be outside of the building without getting approval first. In Eilat Heights dog park which three children died today in a raging fire in a Patterson home. The early morning blaze also injured three firemen fire officials there are still trying to determine the cause of the fire. Meanwhile Jersey City officials say they're still investigating the cause of a tenement fire in that city which killed two mothers and four children yesterday morning. And in Keansburg at the scene of the beach view rest home fire investigators are focusing on a living room wall. They now believe the fire there that took 30 lives began in the home's living room but they're still looking for the exact cause. Meanwhile other Keansburg officials say they plan to toughen and strictly enforce local fire codes. So far 51 people have died in fires across the state since the beginning of the year. New

Jersey has been plagued by above normal snow fall and record low temperatures for nearly a month. And as a result thousands of people have been left without heat and for many others the cold weather has caused water pipes to freeze Wells has more. It's been the same story all over the state all month. The temperature at the Newark weather bureau has only risen above 32 twice since the first of the year. State officials were concerned about supplies of heating oil for the remainder of the winter but after meeting with several major oil producers in the state energy commissioner Joel Jacobson says he thinks supplies will be adequate but prices will be sky high price of heating oil has increased from 40 cents a gallon. In June. 1076 wanted to control. The present price of crude oil. Early this morning its highest dollar 20 in my judgment this is silly. The only limitation will. Conscience. On the state.

He was playing so well the solution to the cold snap has also created havoc with home heating systems. Several hundred Jersey City residents fled their heatless homes and took refuge at the Jersey City Armory this morning the boiler at the armory broke down and now the people will be transferred to the c y o Center in Jersey City. The Hackensack water company has had 700 calls this week about frozen water pipes at this house. The company brought in a compressor and used a thawing device that sends electrical current through the plumbing lines. The process takes less than four hours but the five people living in this house had to wait three days for service without water. The water company also warns people not to run water as a means of preventing freeze ups. Unfortunately we can't make the recommendation around water now because of the state controls on this. Also if they do they are subject now to. Find some. Additional commuters in North Jersey experience delays getting to work and service stations did a brisk business recharging dead batteries and conditions in South Jersey

were worse on Monday temperatures in Atlantic City dropped to six below zero which was an all time low. Later that same day demand for electricity reached an all time high. Power company officials say they do not expect any interruption in service. The Board of Public Utilities that power companies in North Jersey today and urged conservation of natural gas supplies that BP uses the cold weather has created serious but not critical natural gas supply problems. And the New York Weather Bureau also reminds wintry weary residents that spring arrives in 65 days. I'm rich wells and water is beginning to flow into Lambert's fields reservoirs and emergency pipelines there began filling the city's two reservoirs late last night after crews finished repairing yet another crack in it. But city officials

said today they will see how well the pumping up aeration works during the next several days for considering lifting water emergency and that hundreds and county city and on the Delaware Bay thick ice has forced the suspension of ferry service between New Jersey and Delaware. The Cape May lose ferry will stop service for the next week or two until the harbor has become navigable. And now the weather forecast for the state cloudy skies tonight with a chance of some snow flurries around the state. Temperatures will be in the low teens to low 20s tomorrow partly cloudy with another chance of snow flurries temperatures will be in the low 30s and the outlook for Friday partly cloudy. I call. That. How. Last April 21st the 10th anniversary of Earth Day in New Jersey was marked by

the worst toxic chemical fire in the state's history. Chemical control corporation Elizabeth when I've been spectacular flames and thousands of barrels of poisonous chemicals burned out of control sending a sickening mushroom cloud over northern New Jersey. I suspect arson. Actually I rather say suspect arson or negligence on the part of the state. As the chemical control story unfolds the tale gets more bizarre at every turn. Tonight an exclusive interview with the founder of chemical control William kerosine oak and his attorney kerosene has been convicted on state illegal dumping charges and indicted on federal charges. But can I say you know says he is innocent and that the further he worked years to build was taken from him by force and 1977 by organized crime figures rush at the. Time and. I do what I'm told. I get out. So. At that point that's what I'm getting out of. This and I want to know. That.

When I put foot on the right on a bank which read for. Like I was. Trying to wrap it up with this kind of you know printing program to Rachel. Push me against the coronation demand it now or later tell me don't come back. I laugh when I look at I Do they had stock. They had British approval. We're going to find a physical wreck. I don't have no gun. I'm not around me that I want to shoot somebody so I left and I had no power. The man who barged in that day were not all strangers careless you know said I was the first to approach him was my go cart and the operator of northeast pollution which controls 81 percent of chemical controls stock. The second man was John Albert a man involved in a tangled web of toxic waste operations. The law enforcement officials also say is a lieutenant in the New York organized crime family. Both were recently indicted on federal charges connected with illegal dumping and are the subjects of continuing investigations in several surrounding states. Also

there are according to care as you know that day outside in the waiting room was Ed Ferrel an inspector for the State Department of Environmental Protection. But it was kicked and I came out Chad. And I tried I'm good at it here it is going to be trouble. I'm going to wait. Did he know what was going on I mean I would say out of you're saying there's trouble here you better get out of here. I think I'm going to be answered. Yes he did. If you measure so according to kerosene our force may have been the only method left for the mob to take over his company. There was a reference to bad chemical control back from my refused. I refused to write and kerosene I think may have been the best place to set the stage for his indictment about that time on state charges of illegal dumping at two sites one under a bridge in New York the other Lancy St. Elizabeth was set up to take a. Company. Like. I did.

I take up a little bit too small. And a fraction of it but I don't much in Street Little Rock they all come out and want to sell. The. Chemical control obviously affected you financially. How much to the fact it. Broke when I worked at a chemical controller. Mechanic I worked a truck driver anything I can get a job. I have short. Support my family. Since the alleged takeover four years ago of alliance of careless you know this family have been threatened repeatedly. But for the last two years he's been working with state and federal investigators and with environmental officials in several surrounding states to train toxic waste inspectors and he's also supplied a lot of information to Congressman studying the toxic waste problem. Time magazine wrote an article where they say we're up to here with such a question. And I think. I think. Maybe. You're right. We've got a very serious problem and if we don't do something about it very quick we are going to be in a lot of

trouble. Drinking water is going to be. There with the appliance. There have been you can see you know insists the technology does exist and can be developed further to dispose of toxic waste safely because you know says dumpers are getting so sophisticated law enforcement officers need better training to spot them. Today if you have chemicals to Alabama gets resounds. Forty five hundred dollars just for the truck. So they are using sophisticated equipment you can detect and you've got to know what to look for or. What chemicals they're not using stainless steel trailers. It goes on and on. They need help they need people that know how to spot. As for New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection I would just say d EPA needs a lot of help. An awful lot of help. I watched a way for almost a week in the rush to the hatchery kerosene oil says he will be vindicated during the ongoing state and federal investigations of the chemical control story. He's

confident federal charges against him will soon be dismissed and he hopes someday he will be able to start another chemical disposal firm. We don't have the financial resources now to set up another company. I don't. Know but I have the right. To hope to do that. And I would like to. Have. More technology I would say I'm not. Breaking. They can't appreciate me. In any dangerous chemicals. Pressure from a cash. Chemist understand. This can finish but it can neutralize. The engine. And I'll do whatever. You want. And then when I get done with it I'll take it. So that is you have to go I should have to be content to. Be Done. I think cyanide. British Rail Trail right out of nowhere and I was. Messing around with the first one out the door. But jet. Would Never house or bleach neutralize a cyanide So what are we

doing with people that want to spend the money. Well I think. In my estimation people can't. I can use a phrase. Carrot if you take the hope that you're probably dumb enough to use it. How about the kids didn't suffer from the toxic waste we have. That they would have to say to say should I do what I should not do. That's the one I'm wearing. We tried several times to talk to that state environmental inspector who allegedly was at chemical control the day Carol said it was taken over but fail and other DP employees have been instructed by Commissioner Jerry English not to comment on any ongoing investigations particularly those involving kerosene. She labels as a convicted felon. And just today the New Jersey Supreme Court upheld kerosine right to remain free on $25000 bond while he appeals his conviction on those state charges of illegal dumping. Meanwhile kerosine Owens his attorney say there will be a startlingly new

development in the chemical control story in the next several weeks. And now with sports here is Bill Perry bill. Thank you Karen the next point a rare midweek afternoon game today so what to expect a rare when in Philly 76 years 110 that's what five six years of now 168 that's of last 13 in a row 12 straight since probably going to go with the frustration to

set and the game was marred by a second quarter fight between the Mets Mike Nolan and Phillies a Lionel Hollins Both players were rejected. Philadelphia never trailed today we will see Darryl Dawkins on the fence of boards with the Siam 15 for Doc and Sixers have now won four out of four against the Nets this season 3 as I mentioned as one to six in a row and also 16 of 19 overall they are 39 and 7 that's the best record in the NBA the nets overall are 12 and 34 that's the third worst record in the league they've lost 18 of 19 in nice straight spectrum that was Cliff Robinson High man today with 21 for the Nets. Julius Erving led the way for Philly 33 points but it dock including the final two coming up right here off the drive philly wins it 1 10 1 0 5 Julius to the basket. And college ball tonight at St. Peter's the merest and the peacocks the peacocks are now eight and three Rutgers is now seven and six and two and one of the eastern 8:00 tonight described night host George Washington. It's only a game director's move. Kevin back to guard. Earlier this season once Clarence toman became eligible. Then. When Ken came that school last week black number 20 suddenly became the experience

going to switch. Bronson moved into the starting lineup and the sophomore Kevin Black is certainly enjoying his new role. And that's what. This moment to a close we should. Just go. It just makes me think you know playing good you know ball you also see the ball a lot more you shoot more that's going to be a point to like look close enough to come to me for a. Couple of months ago we ran a story on a young man with a handicap and only wanted to compete at the time he was practicing for the upcoming wrestling season after a ruling allowed him to participate we're talking about Richie Stoner and Pat Stanley as this fall. And I suppose some warmish don't have a clue. Day time I was

going to man I didn't catch him he wouldn't have it any other way. No I mean you you never know. Going up again the better you do the better you get. You never know one day. That's. A lot depends on experience and knowing the right holds to counteract an opponent's strategy. Once you're out on the map there isn't anyone who can help reduce pressure matches a reasonable inference first time scale. Thank you for the. Presentation New Jersey Public Television 13.