New Jersey Nightly News; New Jersey Nightly News Episode from 08/16/1979 6:30 pm

If a. New Jersey nightly. Rebecca suable in Trenton and Clayton Vaughn in Newark. Good evening. In the News Tonight gasoline supplies have leveled off around the state but the price keeps going up. And we'll take a look at Newark crime situation and how it plays in city politics. Good evening Rebecca. And the sports news tonight. Bill Perry will have highlights of the cosmos

win last night in their opening playoff game. And a report on the opening of the New Jersey Nets rookie camp and on a closer look we'll talk with a public advocate and with General Public Utilities about a possible state takeover of Jersey Central Power and Light. It's going to cost you more to drive during the last of the summer Labor Day weekend at the end of this month. The big gas station owners group in the state says gas prices may jump by as much as four cents a gallon by Labor Day. In recent months the average wholesale price of gas in New Jersey has gone up four cents a month. With some brands averaging 6 the retailers say they can't absorb those increases so they're being passed along in the form of higher retail prices at the Con. The auto club's latest weekly survey shows average prices now of ninety four and a half are regular. Ninety eight point three for unleaded and ninety nine and a half for premium. That same survey does show however that supplies stabilize with only one station in a hundred now limiting sales. But with one in 10 out of at least one rate of gas. But if you don't to worry about this sort of thing remember the gas supplies go by the month.

And this is only the 16 discrimination against blacks and other minorities in New Jersey is keeping them locked up in ghettoes frozen out of jobs. Two reports recently released detail the discrimination. The First a study by The New York Regional Plan Association shows that blacks live in urban ghettos while whites with the same income live in the suburbs. The report says much of Hudson and Passaic counties have housing affordable to blacks. But discrimination keeps them out. The other report in New Jersey magazine says affirmative action programs for blacks and Hispanics have not been successful. The report says minorities are seldom accepted into trade unions and other skilled jobs. And when they are are not given work or a chance to learn a trade. More than 2000 gallons of slightly radioactive water was accidentally released from the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant earlier this week. A spokesman for Jersey Central Power and Light Company said today a mis understanding between a technician and a

supervisor at the blad caused the radioactive water to be dumped into Oyster Creek which runs into Barnegat Bay. Jersey Central says there is no danger to human or marine life. The accidental release began on Monday was discovered on Tuesday. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said today that the amount of radiation involved was very small. There was good news today for boaters in Monmouth County. Governor Byrne announced that the Leonardo state Marina which the boat owners say has needed improvements ever since the state took it over 30 years ago is finally going to get them. My power was with the governor today. Maybe it wasn't intentional but the marine the governor used for his tour made his point at low tide the boat can't even get out of the marina Marina and the channel coming into it are sometimes as shallow as four feet. The dredging project will deepen the water at low tide to at least eight feet falling apart and I think that this reclamation

project will answer both aspects of the question. First of all the collapse of the sides the second problem which is from the Leonardo merino the governor sailed to a flood control in the wake a creek at Raritan Bay and a bird there he announced a $150000 dredging project to keep the bay from overrunning the creek. The marina and the creek improvements are supposed to be finished by late fall. In Keansburg. A Clifton man is being held on $100000 bail in Hackensack in the rape of two women from lenders may be a suspect in at least some of a number of other sexual assaults on women recently in Essex Bergen and Passaic counties. Twenty seven year old Caro William Pettengill is charged with the rape of the two 19 year old woman last Sunday. Earlier this month police in the three northern New Jersey counties said they were looking for a man who had

committed a string of rapes and other sexual assaults. The Bergen County prosecutor says officials do not believe that Ingo was responsible for all the earlier attacks and urged women to continue to use extreme care. Five men and three companies have been charged with taking over a town own that dump in Rockland County New York just across the line from New Jersey and using it to dispose of garbage from out of town and collecting the fees. One of the men is from Wayne New Jersey one of the companies is located in Hillsdale and the assumption is that a lot of garbage that ended up in New York started out here in New Jersey. The other four men named are from New York State the other two companies also located there. Rahway state prison officials think they have the guy who's been using the prison phone to make obscene calls to women collect since that's the only way inmates can use the phone and prison. Several women in Middletown Township complained about the calls for starting out collect and winding up dirty. But now they say they've gotten a 31 year old inmate from Nutley who now faces new charges of among other things unauthorized

use of the phone. They cracked the case when phone logs were checked after one woman complained she refused to collect call until a caller told her that if she didn't accept it could find her husband in a pine box some Texaco aviation fuel which was possibly bad and has been blamed for the grounding of planes at several airports in New York was also delivered to airports here in New Jersey. Read Wells reports. Teterboro is the busiest airport in New Jersey. Texaco delivered 30000 gallons of gas in your Teterboro last week. He also delivered a shipment of the same gas to Linden airport. When reports of aborted takeoff at airports in Westchester County in Long Island began to filter in. Texaco denied that the gas was bad but they agreed to replace it. And so far we have no reported problems at all from anybody used to fuel. Mechanics with too much lead because airplane engines to misfire in flames but the gas has now been replaced here at Teterboro and there isn't likely to be any interruption in the

500 flights that arrive and depart. The 17000 members of the State Employees Association are still working without a contract. While their union leaders keep changing their minds on how the ratification vote should be taken efforts to get the contract issue settled they're overshadowed by the house squabbling between union dissidents and the leadership. More from the 17000 member state employee association may do its fifth about face tonight and also has a vote on the five point five percent pay raises at union meetings. Secret ballots have already been mailed out to members and were to be counted on Monday. But factions in the union say that mail in ballot could be illegal since it could be tampered with. But this is the guy who may really lose as a result of tonight's meeting. SAMMON

union's executive director seen here during the strike. He's already now only survived one attempt by the Board of Governors to fire him and dissident members say they think they have enough votes to override a veto by the union president. The squabbling and the delay in voting have state workers worried but it doesn't affect state services. The other State Civil Service Association. But it won't get there until the votes. I Mariama Rosso. Norks rising crime rate is becoming a bigger and bigger issue in the state's largest city in the north ward. Last night there was a call for citizen patrol. The system in the same ward and one company here has said it might leave the city because of crime although in this case the crime may be coming from inside the company not the street.

We have two reports the first from Sandra King. At the heart of the protest. Newark resident they're frightened and they're mad. FBI figures show the 33 percent rise in crime run even higher. But behind the organized activity two men north ward councilman and Anthony long time a local hero on the crime issue may be the key to political success and survival. Imperially meeting last night was to have counted Korinos rally today. The former state senator who lost the last three elections and is readying a comeback that he'll run for a state assembly seat this year and crime is Mike Lee to be the pivotal issue here. We're fighting for our lives to survive in the city of Moore we're fighting to unify the decent people against the criminal elements who are aware that they have to rob rape and do whatever they please in this city.

But Reno showed up at NPR Yeah leads me that way and even reportedly bowed to a demand that today's rally not end with a march on City Hall. The rally did snarl for traffic and today no one could complain to cops. But the cry for time police vigilance or else. Because if they don't happen here that's going to happen everywhere everywhere because. How did he and today City Hall apparently took the threats to heart. Dispatched to the scene. Mayor can it get in. Chief of staff representing the man who may have the most at stake here to know is that he hoped to get 5000 residents to join the protest. Instead he killed less than 500 of those who didn't show up say they represent the politicians apparently share that you. Are not the crime problem

nor the agitation surrounding it show any signs of going away anywhere. I'm Sandra King. Crime in the work is becoming too much for American enterprise. At least that's what a company official was quoted as saying in a recent newspaper report the company a producer of small appliances says it has suffered some 100 robberies in the last year so it's thinking of moving to Massachusetts. But company officials have refused to talk to us by repeated requests over the last two days. But is neighborhood crime really the problem most neighborhood residents didn't want to talk on camera. They say they don't want any trouble. But as an example of trouble one local businessman reported that he had been robbed at knifepoint by two employees of Merritt enterprises. He says there's been no action yet by police. And the consensus on this block is if there is a crime problem here it's located inside Merritt enterprises.

Police Director Hubert Williams for one is very familiar with merit. We've been aware for some time that Merritt has had a number of problems which crime probably you're referring to. We're investigating a number of investments down there the point of the significant amount of money the theft problem also appears to be an inside activity. There's been a number of thefts from the planet. Some of them as have been breaking entries but not all. Of the rest that we've made have been arrests of the employees. We put them with actual goods in interested in learning more about how it lived next door to the plant for 50 years. The crime in the area is no worse than anywhere else. They have been Taverner they think have no problem. You kid maybe once in a while grab it and run. And that's about it. I don't see nothing really major like that neighborhood crime is the least of marital problems in the Ironbound section of Newark. The bell program is going on usual cemetery vandalism and

Mattawa and a cemetery where there's been a rash of such incidents recently. Someone entered a century old mausoleum and the latest one mausoleum known locally as the witch's tomb and drove a stake through the skeletal remains of one of the four persons and two men there. Cemetery dates back to 1853 but now it's not being kept up in the mayors of the Borough Council may have to take it over. Rebecca. There's a more cool weather in store for us tonight when we wake up tomorrow it's going to be summer again tonight. Clear skies low temperatures will be in the low 50s in the north and down to the mid 40s in the south. Tomorrow should be sunny warmer highs in the low 80s and as far as Saturday partly sunny. They. Play out their underway in the cosmos and here is Bill Perry.

Thank you Rebecca the cosmos began their quest for another North American Soccer League title today in very impressive fashion in Toronto. The Cosmos beat the blizzard three to one. It was a scurrilous first half before a record crowd of thirty thousand three hundred fifty six in Toronto in the second half just over 15 minutes in. You had nice skin scored to make it 1 nothing Cosmo's 90 minutes and 50 seconds later Vladislav made it 2 0 on the rebound the goal by bogey proved to be the game. Ricky Davis gave the cosmos a 3 0 lead almost seven minutes later just your average 30 footer cosmos off the shot that went around a score with just two 22 to play so the cosmos won it three to one in the final in the second game of the series will be played Sunday night at Giants Stadium. A three day rookie mini camp is underway for the New Jersey Nets at Montclair State College the first session was held this morning there will be another session this evening starting at 7:00. There will be a double session tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. and again at 7:00 and then on Saturday a final workout 10:00 in the morning. The public is invited free of charge 20 free agents showed up today three thousand nine hundred seventy nine drafted players are on hand Calvin that a first rounder wearing number 30

already signed unsigned first round pick Cliff Robinson an unsigned third round pick John dirty with their veteran Bob Elliott coming off a knee injury was also on hand today. The three draft choices and Elliott will be invited back to camp on September 15th of the 20 free agents maybe five will get asked back to fall camp with the Nets. Kevin locker you want as much time to evaluate those in camp and he'll be the man who has to decide who survives and who gets cut an unpleasant task. Players were two of the lies. That really have a tough time facing reality. You know they really don't know that there are many people who really know how good they really are so many good things to live with and it's a tough situation to tell you and then that you know feel that you can they be MBA in most cases the list hits again I don't know I don't join up on the job at all. I mentioned John dirty before. He's a 65 corridor shooter out of Davidson and Little Falls New Jersey now. John was a bit upset that he lasted until the third round of the

Player Draft. So yeah I was hoping to go. You know I was disappointed but the more I thought about it you know the more and more happy I am to be here in New Jersey I think it's a good thing for me and you know really delighted to be. A real good shooter on and that's why I feel I have a pretty good shot of making this team you know and and and that's a reason to you know shooting being you know stronger parts much maybe the spotter for. The. Strength of forces shooting and perhaps the rap against you is not all that quick and maybe a little weak defensively Is that true or maybe perhaps you know I think you know that's really working hard on it. I think a lot of it's you know it's a wrap but I'm sure. It's. Or to put the fence up with the Giants made a few poor moves today and a victim was free agent defensive end Steve Brown out of William Patterson the Giants picked up three players and

cut three including Brown Steve looked pretty good in the first two preseason games but apparently it wasn't enough. Today the Giants picked up defensive lineman Willie you Lady and Jeff Weston along with defensive backs which read from the waiver West Keith Jenkins and Mike Jones were the other giants dropped from the roster Jones a running back was picked up just this past Monday it's a very tough business. Rebecca thanks very much Bill. Motorists from Central Jersey who fought traffic jams on the way to the shore got some relief today. A new nine mile stretch of interstate I-95 was open to traffic. The new section extends I-95 from Route 5 to 7 in Ocean County to Route 9 in Monmouth County. Governor Vern presided at the formal dedication ceremony. The contractors who built the highway were eight months late finishing the job the state will assess them about seventy two thousand dollars in penalties for the delay in the last four miles of I-95 a completed it'll connect to route thirty four and thirty eight

and the Garden State Parkway. Residents in Vineland can breathe a sigh of relief. Burr made that 11 foot long python that escaped from his owner last Saturday has been found. William fuller Burmese owner said Bernie turned out to be a snake in the grass. He was bad while the lawn was being mowed. Fuller doesn't know where Bernie went what he did while he was gone but he assures everyone Fermi was never a threat. To humans. The president of the Atlantic electric company says his utility is not interested in taking

over the operation of the financially troubled Jersey Central Power and Light Company. J.D. Feehan also says that a state takeover of JCP NL would mean higher electric bills for customers of all of the state's utilities Feehan was responding to proposals made a series of hearings which continue through next week at these hearings. JCP and all is asking for nearly ninety nine million dollars and rate increases tonight on a closer look we'll examine the idea that some alternative means be found for supplying power to the company's 670000 customers. One of those who has suggested that perhaps a state takeover or another private utility takeover of the Jersey central operations is Deputy Public Advocate Alfred Nardelli. Mr. Nardelli Why do you think such a takeover might be warranted in Word the with the customers of Jersey Central benefit. Clayton for the past six months Jersey Central has been using the Board of Public Utilities as a revolving door for additional rate increases. On February 1st Jersey sent to receive 31 million dollars on June 8 they received 25

million dollars. And we are now currently litigating a request by Jersey central core and another 99 million dollars to be effective September 1st. Mr not only everybody knows that oil has been costing more and more and that there were some expenses from Three Mile Island the question really is whether or not a state takeover would benefit Jersey centrals customers. Well compounding the problem is that Jersey Central is having difficulty financing needed construction. On June 29 It floated 50 million dollars worth of bonds at an interest cost of 12 percent. Eight state authority or a public authority issuing such bonds because of the tax exempt status and because of the increased credit worthiness of the state of New Jersey could probably follow have floated those bonds at 7 or 8 percent so there would be a substantial savings right there. William Coons is chairman of General Public Utilities GP U which is a holding company which in turn owns JCP you know Mr. Jones I assume that you do not agree with Mr. Nardelli his proposal that doesn't make financial sense for a company like this.

While I don't really think so. Let's go back to the revolving door and slow it though long enough to look at it a moment if we can the revolving door the first step of a row of revolving door that Mr. Nardelli refers to put TMI too into rate base. Provided the revenues were that it was actually my own Three Mile Island excuse me the second case took it out of rate and in fairness substitutes and purchased power costs for the rate base investment return their out. Meanwhile of course the customers that have been enjoying the benefits of the lower cost energy. When we get to substituting somebody else for Jersey Central I'll be the first to say we ought to study everything. We happen to think that Mr Mr Finian has identified the fundamental points to be considered like espresso. Yes yes a few years ago the board studied the possibility of a power authority. I think Commissioner Now Justice Pollock was then on the commission and lead that that study. Broadly anticipated and by a number of various groups that consensus clearly was that it was not in the best interest of the customer to go in that direction.

Whether or not another utility company should take us over Mr Fiend has responded. The obvious other candidate would be public service I would have to suggest that if we were permitted to charge public service rates to our customers without turning on public service in any way they have their cost to recover. That we'd be in better shape than we are today we have to look at the position of Jersey central reason be the other utilities in the state Jersey centrals rates have been lower than public service consistently for good reasons I'm not knocking buildings and I think those are the facts. Nursing settles customers as a result of Oyster Creek nuclear plant have saved over 400 million dollars since it went into service. You know as one quarter of TMI Three Mile Island you know number one it saved over 300 million dollars of that weight and they got more than a quarter of that. You say things so you know. Nuclear power has kept the rates lower at Miss Deveen statement suggests we have had an accident and things have turned around a bit. The increase which is where we're requesting right now the ninety eight million dollar increase has nothing to do with Three Mile Island.

It's a direct I think about all of that. But but let me get back to to Mr. Nardelli his comment about the about the possibility of a state takeover in the savings that might accrue from that are a recall that during the the first Arab oil embargo there were some bumper stickers going around relating to the high cost of oil at the time and the calls for nationalization that said if you like the postal service you're going to love nationalized oil. What makes you believe that the state could operate Jersey Central more efficiently and at a greater cost savings to the consumer than Jersey Central can because it could. Get money cheaper. And Clayton the Tennessee Valley Authority has been operating very well for some 40 50 years. New York has a State Power Authority of the state of Washington gets most of its power from a publicly owned power in New Jersey we don't have a history of it but it's Or we're saying is that now is the time to study this question very closely. And in response to the other part of the question about public service right now public service has a 30 percent reserve capacity when Salem number two

comes on line later this year. It will happen 38 percent reserve capacity so here we have a large new New Jersey utility with excess capacity and we have Jersey Central with not enough capacity and not enough funds or not the financial credit to get enough funds to build it it seems like a natural to get these two companies together. Right. I don't think we have to look at carefully one way when we talk about the current inability of Jersey central to finance which is real because of the impact we have to realize that that is temporary. Unit 1 is certainly a good unit it ran for a half years with an exemplary record. It is going to be back in service the NRC has delayed the return of service but it's coming back it's in other words the point is it's a temporary period of strife here and why what you're saying is leadership has operated this long that you want to continue to let it in or go out you know I don't I don't like the way the free enterprise flag in this regard I think it is a question of looking at the ultimate cost to the customer and if a Power Authority took over this company tomorrow or if public service took over this

company tomorrow the same power bills that we're asking to be paid now would have to be paid by those organizations. Mr. Killen thank you very much for being with us today Mr. Nardelli Our thanks to you also sir. OK. Once again our top story. A survey of gasoline stations around the state indicate the supply is leveling off but the price is going up. Motorists will pay possibly as much as four cents more a gallon by Labor Day. And that's the news. Not Rebecca. Good night for the New Jersey nightly news. New Jersey Nightly News is a joint presentation of New Jersey Public Television and WAPT 13. The program is broadcast weeknights at 6:30 on Channel 13 and at 7:30 the New Jersey Public Television. There's a repeat broadcast at 10:00 p.m. on New Jersey Public Television. And at 8:00 the following morning on Channel 13 portions prerecorded.