Friday, July 15, 2011
3 killed in fiery crash in southern NJ
Eyewitness NewsOLDMANS TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- Police say a car ran off Interstate 295 in southern New Jersey, crashed into a tree and burst into flames, killing three people and seriously injuring a 9-year-old boy. State Police Sgt. Brian Polite says the crash happened just after 6 p.m. Monday in Oldmans Township, about 25 miles south of Philadelphia.
Three adults were trapped in the burning car and pronounced dead at the scene. Polite identified them as 24-year-old Manuel Marshal of Cheverly, Md., 27-year-old Jessie Jones of Lanham, Md., and Arthur Briscoe, whose age and hometown weren't immediately available.
Polite credited two bystanders with saving the life of Jones' son, Hakeem, by pulling him from the car. The boy was flown to Philadelphia Children's Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition with a broken femur. (Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »new jersey, accident, new jersey news
Efforts to repeal Christie's budget plan fails
(FILE) New Jersey Gov. elect Chris Christie announces Thursday, Dec. 16, 2009, in Trenton, N.J., that he is appointing Kim Guadagno, right, who will be New Jersey's first lieutenant governor, to pull double duty in the new administration by also serving as secretary of state. (AP Photo / Mel Evans) Eyewitness NewsTRENTON, N.J. -- A second consecutive day of attempts by Senate Democrats to repeal Republican Gov. Chris Christie's cuts to social and urban programs failed Tuesday when no GOP lawmakers crossed the aisle to buck the governor. Democrats needed three Republicans to join with all 24 of their members to overrule Christie's vetoes of funding for financially strapped communities, college tuition assistance and more than a dozen other programs. Vote after vote came down along party lines until Democrats finally called it quits.
The day before, votes to undo cuts to child abuse services, women's health clinics, legal aid and other safety-net programs also all fell short.
The most contentious cut addressed Tuesday was a $139 million allotment for struggling New Jersey cities and towns that Christie reduced before signing the Democrats' budget. In a move that shocked Democrats, Christie eliminated all but $10 million from the program to help communities facing foreclosures, withering real estate prices and low tax revenues.Democrats said the cuts would force urban areas that rely heavily on the money to lay off police officers and other public workers.
"They basically just voted to put people to death in urban areas," Senate President Stephen Sweeney said after the vote.
Sweeney and Democratic lawmakers say the governor gutted their budget to punish his political foes, at the expense of the state's most vulnerable residents. Christie shaved $1.3 billion in spending off the Democrats' budget, shrinking it to $29.7 billion before signing it into law.
Although Christie had earmarked almost $150 million for aid to communities in his original budget proposal, he vetoed almost all of it after Democrats delivered him a budget that spent more than the revenues Christie said the state would take in.
"The Democratic Majority put politics first and people second" by dropping their own plumper budget on Christie just days before the end of the fiscal year, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean Jr. said.
All 13 override votes Tuesday failed 24-13, with two Republicans absent and one abstaining. Sweeney put the Senate under call, meaning that any non-votes are counted as a `no.'
Before votes were tallied, Republican Sen. Diane Allen of Burlington County sat expressionless as Sweeney gave her one last opportunity to cast a vote.
"There are a lot or excellent programs that were cut," Allen said. "As it stands today, it's very sad that we're in a position where we don't have the money."
Democratic Sen. Donald Norcross of Camden said the survival of his city was literally at stake. Almost 40 percent of Camden's draft budget is made up of funds from the program.
"What do you do when you lay off half your cops? Do you say, `I'm sorry,"' Norcross said.
It's unclear whether Democrats will be able to salvage any of the aid to communities. The Legislature could pass a supplemental spending bill during the year, but Republicans are unlikely to go along unless the state collects more revenue than Christie has predicted.
Democrats may also try to overcome Christie's veto of a tax on the state's wealthiest citizens that would bring in more revenues, but the measure would have to originate in the Assembly.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Politics & Elections »new jersey politics, politics & elections
Young boy saves man from drowning
11-year old Manuel Martinez learned to swim just two years ago at the Boys and Girls Club. So when rescuers showed up Saturday to this family pool in Clifton, they didn't think he was the one who saved a grown man from drowning.
Dep chief Henry Cholewczynski/Cliftom Fire Dept 210
"I asked what happened and everyone kept pointing to this little kid," said Henry Cholewczyski with the Clifton Fire Department.Manuel kept his cool Saturday when a 34-year old family friend who couldn't swim slipped on the vinyl lining of the pool and found himself in the deep end. As Javier Sanchez thrashed around, Manuel calmly threw him a rope that he found on the side of the pool, and dragged him to safety.
"I felt happy that I saved him, he's a good family friend," said Manuel.
Manuel says he's watched enough rescue shows on TV to know what to do. When he grows up, he says he'd like to help people in a different way, as a police officer or a firefighter. Either way, this sixth grader is off to a great start.
(Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »new jersey, new jersey news, jen maxfield
10 Samaritans lift truck off NJ bicyclist
Eyewitness NewsNORTH PLAINFIELD, N.J. -- Police say 10 good Samaritans lifted a pickup truck off a woman who was struck on her bicycle in New Jersey. North Plainfield police say 57-year-old Katie Miller was riding the bike through an International House of Pancakes parking lot in North Plainfield when she was hit Monday.
Restaurant manager Jose Preciado tells The Courier News of Bridgewater that he, a cook and several diners acted because Miller was having difficulty breathing and turning purple.
Police Chief William Parenti tells the newspaper the bystanders might have saved Miller's life. He says the 57-year-old woman suffered broken ribs and possibly a punctured lung.Police say the pickup driver was turning and didn't see Miller until it was too late. He wasn't cited, but the accident remains under investigation.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »new jersey, new jersey news
Start A Kids Sports Photography Business
This e-guide and accompanying one-hour audio gives the real deal about what it takes to start a home-based Kids Sports Photography Business. Great for hockey moms who love to get all the shots!
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Three unrelated murders in Jersey City overnight
Eyewitness NewsJERSEY CITY (WABC) -- Three men were killed in unrelated overnight homicides in Jersey City.
First, 44-year-old Craig Samson, of Newark, was fatally shot in a grocery store at the intersection of Ocean and Orient avenues just before midnight.
Then 27-year-old James Cobbs, of Jersey City, was fatally shot on Rutgers Avenue just after 12:45 a.m.
Finally, 52-year-old Jose Pazminowas was shot in the parking lot of Dunkin Donuts at Tonnelle and Manhattan avenues at around 3:30 a.m.No arrests were immediately made.
All the murders are under investigation, although they do not appear connected.
(Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)Get more New Jersey News »
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Riders give NJ Transit mediocre marks in survey
By WAYNE PARRYPOINT PLEASANT BEACH, N.J. -- NJ Transit riders are not thrilled about the price of a ride, late trains and buses and service interruptions, and they give the sprawling statewide system mediocre marks in a new customer satisfaction survey. Yet these same riders realize that few better alternatives exist. About two-thirds of respondents say they use the public transit system even though they have a car, and would recommend the system to friends and relatives.
The agency released the first results Wednesday of Scorecard, an ongoing rider satisfaction survey where riders are asked to rate the system on a scale of 0 to 10. NJ Transit's overall rating came in at 5.2, corresponding to "acceptable."
"We want to be better than simply `acceptable' and are committed to moving the needle to that end," said James Weinstein, NJ Transit's executive director. "Thanks to this invaluable input from our customers, the Scorecard will be a living, breathing document that puts the spotlight on the areas where NJ Transit most needs to improve."For riders at the Point Pleasant Beach train station waiting for a train to New York City, the biggest of those areas is price. Justin Hager, 23, of Point Pleasant, was bound for New York to see a concert Tuesday at Irving Plaza with a companion.
"The price to go to the city is not good," he said after buying tickets from an automated kiosk. "That's $60 we've spent without setting foot in New York City. And it's not like anything's cheap there."
Yet Hager said once the tickets are purchased, the ride is a fairly pleasant experience. His overall rating of NJ Transit: 6 out of 10.
That's the same score Alexandra Smith of Brick gave the system. She, too, bemoaned the price of getting from here to there on public transit.
"I rode from New Brunswick to New York City three days a week when I was interning in the city," she said. "The student discount helped, but it still wasn't that great. You pay $400 a month to ride to the city where you make zero dollars."
NJ Transit spokeswoman Courtney Carroll said the fiscal year 2012 budget to be unveiled Wednesday does not include a fare increase. Past fare increases were necessary to close budget gaps caused by increasing costs, she said.
Smith said the trains to the city from New Brunswick to Manhattan were routinely crowded.
"I'd be standing for an hour," she said. "That was rough."
Yet Smith also had some good things to say about the system.
"I like the quiet cars a lot," she said, referring to designated rail cars in which cell phone use is strongly discouraged and headphone-wearing patrons are expected to keep music down to a level at which no one else can hear it.
NJ Transit is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system, with 240 bus routes, three light rail lines and 12 commuter rail lines. About 428,000 people use the system each weekday.
It is the third largest transit system in the country, with 165 rail stations, 60 light rail stations and more than 18,000 bus stops linking New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.
The survey was taken in April and May, both online and by customer service representatives at transit stations. About 19,000 people filled out responses.
Customers were asked to consider 32 attributes of the system related to facilities, service, vehicles, communications and the overall experience of using NJ Transit.
Bus passengers rated their overall satisfaction with service at a 5.5. They listed on-time performance, fares and the weekday evening schedule as the most important areas for NJ Transit to improve upon. Nearly 261,000 people use the system's buses on a typical weekday, representing 61 percent of all NJ Transit customers.
Rail passengers gave NJ Transit an overall score of 4.5, ranking on-time performance, fares, mechanical reliability and the handling of service disruptions as areas most in need of improvement. About 132,000 customers ride NJ Transit trains on a typical weekday, composing about 31 percent of all customers.
Light rail customers, accounting for about 8 percent of all riders, gave NJ Transit an overall satisfaction rating of 6.5. They ranked fares, security and seating availability are the most important aspects of service to improve. About 33,000 customers use the three light rail lines on a typical weekday.
Access Link, NJ Transit's service for customers with disabilities, was given an overall rating of 7.5, and serves about 3,000 customers on a typical weekday.
Surveys will be conducted quarterly, with the next one later this month.
Patricia Sroke of Hackensack was visiting a relative in Toms River on Tuesday while dropping a friend off at the Point Pleasant Beach train station. Sroke, 56, and her husband usually take the car to the shore because the train is too expensive, she said.
"I come by car all the time," she said. "For us, $30 each way is a lot. I'll just drive."
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ONLINE: njtransit.com
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Bath salts or drugs?
Eyewitness NewsWILDWOOD, N.J. -- Authorities say they've removed some 1,400 packets of synthetic drugs labeled as "bath salts" and similar products from shops on the Wildwood boardwalk. The items were surrendered by shop owners visited Tuesday by state and city inspectors as part of a New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs summer safety initiative.
Officials say the packets of powder marketed as bath salts or incense can be smoked or snorted and mimic the effects of cocaine or methamphetamines.
Consumer Affairs spokesman Neal Buccino said the shop owners were persuaded to surrender the items voluntarily after being informed that the substances were likely illegal in New Jersey, and no charges were filed.Officials estimated the value of the products at $35,000.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »new jersey, new jersey news
Roadmap to a Successful Action Sports Career
After Months Of Research We Have Put Together The Most Complete Guide On Earning A Full Time Income As A Pro Skater Or Other Extreme Sports Industry Occupations.
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Boil water and conservation request in Bergen Co.
Eyewitness NewsNEW JERSEY (WABC) -- United Water issued an urgent water conservation request and a boil water advisory in parts of Bergen County. United Water has issued a boil water advisory for customers in the following communities: - Englewood Cliffs - All residents
- Englewood - Residents east of Grand Avenue /Engle Street
- Tenafly - Residents east of Engle Street
Residents must boil their water until further notice.
Customers in the affected towns will have to boil their water for one minute for the following: drinking, cooking or baking, making ice cubes, taking medication, brushing teeth, washing food, mixing baby formula or food, mixing juices or drinks, feeding pets and all other consumption.Water does not have to be boiled for the following activities: showering, washing dishes or clothes.
The boil water advisory was issued following a 30-inch main break on Hollywood Avenue & Route 9W in Englewood Cliffs which occurred this afternoon.
In addition, residents of Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Fort Lee, Leonia, Palisades Park, and Tenafly should use water for essential purposes only.
"The water storage tank that supplies these towns is draining rapidly," said Jim Glozzy, general manager of United Water New Jersey. "It is essential that customers in these communities use water only for their basic needs until the repairs are completed." Glozzy explained that residents may have low water pressure or no water, especially if they live on upper levels of high rise buildings.
Glozzy said that United Water's emergency crews will work though the night to restore service.
He expects repairs to be completed sometime Thursday morning.
Once the repairs are completed, laboratory personnel will begin taking water quality samples to ensure the safety of the water. It typically takes between 24-48 hours to obtain results. They will be reported to the New Jersey State Department of Environmental Protection which will issue the order to lift the advisory at the appropriate time.
United Water is working with the Bergen County Office of Emergency Management to coordinate the response.
For current information customers can visit www.unitedwater.com/uwnj or call 800-422-5587.
United Water New Jersey serves 800,000 people in Bergen and Hudson counties.
(Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »new jersey, bergen county, water main break, new jersey news
Firefighers battle fire and heat in Wayne, NJ
They face two very big problems they faced - flames spreading throughout the building and the high heat and humidity.
Firefighters can't shed 90 pounds of equipment fast enough to catch their breath and cool down. "Make sure the guys are rehabbed. We change out our guys frequently. That why we brought in so many towns to help us," Barry Turner said.The fast-moving fire began around 11:45 a.m. in the upper floor or attic area of the three story condominium that is part of the Brittany Chase complex on Brittany Drive off of Berdan Avenue.
"Police came and knocked on the door hard just to say 'Come on! Come on! Get out!" said medina cajevic, who helped a 90 year old resident escape.
Others too were running from the building.
"I just saw everyone like rush out, everyone started crying," Priyal Shah said.
As everyone got out safely, some were still praying as the fire quickly spread.
"There is a common attic area in the building and once it took it up there , it went through the building," Turner said.
While this fire was most fought from outside, the heat forced dozens of firefighters to rotate out at various times, pulled into the shade and given water.
Others were brought to cooled rehab tents where they could be evaluated.
"Get them hydrated. Get them fluids. Make sure their heart rates are good. You want to do that throughout the event," Dr. James Pruden of St. Joseph's Health Care System said.
One firefighter fell through a portion of a floor, but returned to duty. Five other firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion.
As many as 20 units were damaged by the fire.
(Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »new jersey, wayne, fire, new jersey news, tim fleischer
$1M bail for NJ man charged in father's killing
Eyewitness NewsMORRISTOWN, N.J. -- Prosecutors say a New Jersey man shot his father in the head so he could steal money and credit cards from his safe to buy drugs.
A Superior Court judge on Tuesday ordered bail maintained at $1 million cash for 25-year-old Brendon Matos. He's being held at the Morris County jail.
He's charged with murder in the death of 56-year-old Nelson Matos inside their Randolph home.
Investigators say the father was killed July 5 as he washed dishes in the kitchen.Prosecutor Robert Bianchi said Brendon Matos then went on a three-day spree, buying drugs and partying with women at hotels until he was arrested on Friday.
Public defender Dolores Mann told the judge she will review information in the case before filing an application for lower bail. No plea has been entered.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)Get more New Jersey News »
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PLAGUE - DVD MoviePlane crashes in NJ; 1 seriously hurt
Eyewitness NewsWEST MILFORD, N.J. (WABC) -- Federal aviation officials say one person was seriously injured when a small plane crashed Saturday afternoon at a northern New Jersey airport.
It wasn't immediately clear what caused the crash, which occurred around 12:40 p.m. at Greenwood Lake Airport in West Milford.
The pilot sustained serious injuries and there is substantial damage to the aircraft.
Investigators say the pilot was the only person in the plane.Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Holly Baker says police have responded to the scene in Passaic County.
The airplane is an Aero Vodochody L39C.
The plane is registered to Air Vatche Inc. from Wilmington, Delaware.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Get more New Jersey News »
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Rutgers proposes raising tuition, but by how much?
Eyewitness NewsNEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (WABC) -- The chairman of Rutgers University's Board of Governors wants a lower tuition hike than the university has proposed. Ralph Izzo says the 3.6 percent tuition increase recommended by the board's finance committee is too high.
Izzo is asking the rest of the board to consider a 1.8 percent hike. He says the university would have to cut about $12 million in costs to meet the goal.
The board on Thursday is also considering fee hikes of 1.6 percent and room and board cost increases of 3.3 percent.In-state students who live on campus paid more than $23,000 last year.
Several students, faculty and staff criticized the board for looking at tuition increases as the number of top administrators and salaries of high-profile coaches grow.
(Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Education News »rutgers university, college costs, college, tuition hike, education news
Stun gun found on plane at Newark
Web produced by Bob Monek, Eyewitness NewsNEWARK (WABC) -- An investigation is underway into how a stun gun got past security and onto a plane that landed at Newark Liberty International Airport.
It's the latest TSA security embarrassment. This time involving a JetBlue Flight out of Boston that landed Friday night in Newark. A Port Authority Police report shows that as the crew prepared the plane for another flight, "a stun gun was discovered" in a back seat pocket in which a female passenger in "seat 10B" had direct access.
We've learned she's been identified, but it's still not clear whether the stun gun was hers.
The stun gun was disguised to look like a cell phone. While illegal in New Jersey and New York, you can buy them for less than $50 dollars on the internet.It's small, compact and it is deceptive. That's probably one reason it went undetected by TSA screeners, that and the sheer volume of carry-on baggage allowed by the airlines.
"You have just too damn many things for a screener to see all of the contraband items that could possibly go thru that x-ray system," aviation security expert Billie Vincent said.
The investigation, being led by the FBI's office in Boston, is focusing on how the stun gun got onto the plane, Bryan Travers, a spokesman for the FBI's Newark office, said.
"People get caught bringing stuff to the checkpoint all the time," he said.
A TSA spokesperson added that "the TSA employs multiple layers of security to minimize risk, deter future attacks, and protect the traveling public."
"The problem is we keep failing," Vincent said.
The former head of the Federal Air Marshals says prohibited items will continue to slip through screening as long as airlines refuse to further restrict the size and number of carry- ons.
"We're getting what we've asked for - delays and hassles because we make it difficult for these people to do their jobs," he said.
If we restrict the number of carry ons and the size, he says it would improve the system in many ways.
"Since it's fewer items and smaller items, the screener has a much higher probability of detecting contraband," Vincent said.
(Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)Get more New Jersey News »
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Paralyzed player tweets standing picture
John Antalek, Eyewitness NewsNEW JERSEY (WABC) -- There's another amazing development in the recovery of Eric LeGrand, the Rutgers football player paralyzed during a game last year.
LeGrand is now standing.
He tweeted a photo with his mom, Karen, next to him.
The tweet says "Standing up little by little in therapy."He also tweets, "standing tall, we can't fall. Standing upright again."
LeGrand was paralyzed from the neck down while making a tackle on a kickoff return in a Rutgers game against Army last October 16th.
You can follow LeGrand on Twitter @BigE52_RU.
(Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)Get more New Jersey News »
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Preparations under way in NJ for Sept. 11 exhibit
Eyewitness NewsTRENTON -- Preparations are under way at the New Jersey State Museum for an exhibit commemorating the Sept. 11 attacks. It will run from Sept. 7 through Sept. 30.
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno will announce the details at the Statehouse on Thursday.
She says the goal is to honor and unite New Jersey residents.About 700 New Jerseyans died in the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and aboard a hijacked airliner that crashed in western Pennsylvania.
Also on Thursday, New Jersey is unveiling a Sept. 11 curriculum for students from kindergarten through high school. The classroom lessons focus on the attacks, the history of terrorism and the heroics of regular people.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »new jersey, new jersey news
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Cop: 'Melrose' actress giggled after fatal crash
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- A police officer says an actress who had appeared in the "Melrose Place" television series was giggling and laughing after a motor vehicle crash that killed a New Jersey woman. The officer says Amy Locane-Bovenizer said police and emergency personnel were "being overly dramatic."
Montgomery Police Officer William Wilkes testified Monday during a hearing to determine whether statements the actress made to police after the June 2010 crash will be admissible at her trial.
Locane-Bovenizer is charged with aggravated manslaughter stemming from the death of 60-year-old Helene Seeman.Prosecutors allege the 39-year-old actress, who lives in Hopewell, was drunk and speeding when her SUV struck a vehicle driven by Seeman's husband.
The court hearing will continue Tuesday with cross-examination.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »new jersey, drunk driving, new jersey news
Atlantic City's first casino gay bar
Eyewitness NewsATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- The new owners of Resorts Casino Hotel rescued it from near-death, slashed everyone's pay, got sued twice by older female employees, opened Atlantic City's first casino gay bar, and announced plans for a Naked Circus. It's been a dizzying six months for the nation's first casino to open outside Nevada. Now it has culminated in a permanent casino license for the new regime.
The New Jersey Casino Control Commission on Wednesday granted the license to Resorts and its co-owners, Dennis Gomes, a former Nevada casino regulator credited with helping drive the mob out of Las Vegas, and Morris Bailey, a deep-pocketed New York real estate investor.
"I'm just excited and really happy," Gomes said. "I can't wait to get back to the casino and kick some butt."Resorts was within days of having to close last December when Gomes and Bailey took it over. Gomes said the casino was in such a big hole it rivaled "the Grand Canyon."
When it opened its doors on May 26, 1978, Resorts became the nation's first casino outside Nevada. For years, it was fantastically profitable. But as more casinos opened in Atlantic City - there are now 11 - Resorts' share of the market fell. By the time casinos started opening in the Philadelphia suburbs in late 2006, Resorts already was in a steep decline, an afterthought for all but the bus-riding senior citizen slots player who remains its typical customer.
Gomes has a long career in the casino industry, with management jobs at the Tropicana Casino and Resort (where he famously made a tic-tac-toe-playing chicken into a top draw), Trump Taj Mahal Casino and Resort, the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, and Hilton Nevada's properties. And his tenure as Nevada's top casino corruption investigator was chronicled in the 1995 Martin Scorsese film "Casino."
So when Resorts' previous owners, the Los Angeles hedge fund Colony Capital LLC stopped paying their mortgage and turned the casino's keys over to their lenders in 2009, Gomes saw an opportunity where others saw a money pit caught in a death spiral. He and Bailey, who had tried to open a casino in Pennsylvania, bought Resorts for $31.5 million, a fraction of the $140 million Colony paid for it in 2001.
The first thing he did was slash expenses, mostly payroll. The 2,000 workers on the payroll were all made to re-apply for their jobs. Ultimately, more than 200 were laid off, and nearly 500 others had their pay slashed by as much as 52 percent.
When Gomes took over, it soon became clear just how far things had fallen at Resorts. The casino's revenue from slot machines and table games was down 19 percent since the beginning of the year; it was taking in less than $436,000 a day, compared with $538,000 a day a year earlier, ranking it 10th out of Atlantic City's 11 casinos.
Resorts posted a gross operating loss of $18.5 million last year, a worsening of nearly 41 percent from 2009.
The first step was dreaming up a new identity for Resorts, taking what was widely considered a liability - its 90-year-old building that's smaller than the most successful casinos - and trying to turn it into a plus. Gomes and his staff rebranded Resorts in a roaring '20s theme, in part to capitalize on the success of the hit HBO series "Boardwalk Empire" about Prohibition-era Atlantic City. Because the place was built in the 1920s, it didn't need a makeover to fit in perfectly with the new theme: the marble floors and polished brass fixtures are luxurious reminders of that bygone era.
It didn't go completely smoothly; two groups of female cocktail servers sued the casino after they were let go, allegedly for not looking sexy enough in the new skimpy costumes. Celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred is representing some of them.
And six other workers who lost their jobs also sued, alleging age discrimination, among other things.
The casino still is losing money, though Gomes says he expects to reach the break-even point soon. In June, it was one of only four Atlantic City casinos to post an increase in monthly revenue compared to June 2010. It was up nearly 1 percent.
Timothy Ebling, Resorts chief financial officer, said the casino expects to have a positive cash flow in July and August.
Gomes said the casino hopes to add new restaurants, fix its aging roof, and possibly build a year-round glass-enclosed beach bar.
Under new rules New Jersey adopted earlier this year, Resorts' new license is considered permanent. It will be reviewed every five years by the state Division of Gaming Enforcement, but will only need to be renewed if major problems crop up.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »new jersey, atlantic city, new jersey news
Rutgers grad in Jersey City mob beating improving
Eyewitness NewsJERSEY CITY (WABC) -- A Rutgers graduate student who was the victim of a vicious beating that left him in a coma is showing signs of recovery. There are reports that 22-year-old David Strucinski opened his eyes for a few minutes on Monday.
Police say he was in a cab with friends when they spotted other friends in a street fight in Bayonne.
Strucinksi jumped in to help and was attacked.So far, six teens have been arrested.
(Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »new jersey, bayonne, assault, new jersey news
Pedestrian impaled after apparent drag racing crash
Eyewitness NewsJERSEY CITY (WABC) -- A horrible crash in New Jersey left one pedestrian dead and another hurt late Tuesday.
Police say reckless driving led to the crash, and authorities are investigating if drag racing was involved.
The accident happened on Kennedy Boulevard, one of Jersey City's main thoroughfares, at St. Paul's Avenue just before 11 p.m.
It appears a pair of brothers may be responsible. Police say two vehicles collided while driving at a high rate of speed. When they collided, one car veered off and slammed into a third car.The two pedestrians apparently could not avoid the cars and were struck. Police say one of the victims, who remains unidentified, had his leg impaled on a fence outside a school. He also suffered intense head trauma. After an extended extrication of the pedestrian from the fence, the person was pronounced dead.
He is described as a Hindu male, approximately 25 to 30 years old. He had no ID on him.The second pedestrian, identified as Rodrigo Ramirez, was struck by the car and knocked to the ground. Ramirez was rushed to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but police say 19-year-old Giancarlo Guevara-Cabezas was driving the car that hit the pedestrians. He was following his brother, 24-year-old Carlos Guevara-Cabezas, at the time of the crash. Jason Vermillo, 30, was driving the third vehicle involved. Vermillo was treated and released for minor cuts.
A witness told police he saw the two vehicles driven by the brothers traveling fast in the left lane as they passed Route 139. He says one car was attempting to pass the other when the two cars collided, causing Carlos' car to spin out and strike Vermillo's vehicle in the oncoming lanes. The witness said Giancarlo then struck Carlos' car, swerved to the right, mounted the sidewalk and struck the pedestrians.
Both brothers, however, claim a fourth vehicle was responsible for the crash. They reportedly told police that Giancarlo was following Carlos when a black car crashed into Carlos from the rear. That forced Carlos to veer to the left and the black car to swerve right. They say that car then struck Giancarlo's car and forced him onto the sidewalk. The brothers say that car then fled the scene.
Giancarlo suffered minor lacerations and was treated and released. Carlos suffered fractures to both legs. Giancarlo Guevara-Cabezas was issued summonses for speeding, reckless driving and unsafe lane change. Carlos was issued summonses for speeding and careless driving.
(Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)Get more New Jersey News »
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1 dead, 13 wounded in Newark shootings
Eyewitness NewsNEWARK (WABC) -- One teenager was killed and 13 other people wounded in three separate shootings during a violent night in Newark. Police say a car pulled up to a group of people outside a building in the South Ward and opened fire at about 10 p.m. Monday.
A 15-year-old boy, identified as Aziz Stewart, was killed and eight others were hurt. Authorities say the victims, five males and three females, ranged in age from 12 to 32.
About four hours earlier, three men and a woman were wounded in a shooting downtown.Another woman was shot in the city's Central Ward.
No arrests have been made.
(Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »new jersey, newark, shooting, new jersey news
NJ Transit OKs budget that keeps fares unchanged
One of New Jersey Transit's new multilevel trains arrives for the first time on a regularly scheduled run at Newark's Penn Station Monday, Dec. 11. 2006. (AP Photo/Mike Derer)
By BRUCE SHIPKOWSKITRENTON -- The NJ Transit board of directors approved a nearly $1.9 billion operating budget Wednesday that will keep the cost of public transportation in the state unchanged next year. The spending plan, which is $85 million higher than the 2011 budget, assumes only modest revenue growth from increased ridership as a result of the region and nation's ongoing economic woes.
The agency initially faced a budget gap of roughly $170 million, mostly because of rising costs for fuel, maintenance and contractual obligations, but was able to trim some costs and saw its state operating assistance amount grow by $33.2 million, to $309.4 million.
"This budget enables us to continue delivery of safe and reliable service to our customers while maintaining the state's transit network in a state of good repair and modernizing our bus and rail fleets," said James Weinstein, the agency's executive director. "The ongoing delivery of new rail and bus equipment will make NJ Transit's fleet one of the youngest in the nation, and our continuous focus on critical infrastructure needs over the years has put the system in good shape going forward."The board approved the nearly $1.9 billion operating budget and a $1.16 billion capital budget for the fiscal year that started July 1. The capital budget includes $64 million for system-wide improvements, such as $16 million for technology upgrades and $2.6 million for police radios and equipment.
"We continue to position ourselves to be a stronger, more financially-stable agency that operates as efficiently as possible while responding to the transit needs of New Jersey residents," said state Transportation Commissioner James Simpson, who also chairs NJ Transit's board.
NJ Transit is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system, with 240 bus routes, three light rail lines and 12 commuter rail lines. About 428,000 people use the system each weekday, and it gets about half its revenue - nearly $900 million - from fares.
Also on Wednesday, the board approved changes to sick leave for non-union workers, who account for about 1,800 of NJ Transit's 11,000 employees. New workers will not be allowed to cash out unused sick time, while the agency will continue to cap the amount of sick time current workers can cash out upon retirement at $15,000.
Details on how much money the agency paid out last year wasn't available late Wednesday afternoon.
The board meeting came on the same day that NJ Transit released the first results of an ongoing rider satisfaction survey. Overall, riders gave NJ Transit a 5.2 rating out of 10.
The survey found NJ Transit riders are not thrilled about the price of a ride, late trains and buses and service interruptions, and they give the sprawling statewide system mediocre marks in a new customer satisfaction survey. But most also realize that few better alternatives exist.
About two-thirds of respondents say they use the public transit system even though they have a car, and would recommend the system to friends and relatives.
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ONLINE: njtransit.com
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Saturday, July 9, 2011
New Jersey man arrested in father's murder
Eyewitness NewsRANDOLPH (WABC) -- Police in New Jersey have arrested a 25-year-old man in the murder of his father, who was found dead in his home Tuesday.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi on Friday announced the arrest of Brendon Matos, of Randolph, in the murder of Nelson Matos.
Authorities say a car was found crashed in the bushes near the home. The car was traced back to the father's house, where police found a bullet hole in the window and the victim dead inside.
Brendon Matos was found hiding in the bushes near where the car was found.Police, who have not released a motive, were said to be looking for a handgun or rifle. They were also looking into Brendon Matos' actions over the last 48 hours.
Neighbors tell Eyewitness News reporter Phil Lipof that the suspect did not have mental issues and was a normal kid. They said Nelson Matos was divorced, and his ex-wife lived in Florida.
In the 2004 Randolph High School yearbook, Nelson Matos purchased a yearbook ad that included a picture of his Brendon as a young boy. The ad, taken out the year Brendon graduated, said, "Congratulations. You have always been the center of my life and as you grew, I was very proud of your accomplishments. Cherish your high school memories. Your journey continues; keep up the momentum and continue to make the wisest choices because success will chase you."
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Family of NJ girl who died on Ferris wheel sues
Abiah Jones of Pleasantville, NJ died in a ferris wheel incident in Wildwood, New Jersey on June 3, 2011 Eyewitness NewsPHILADELPHIA -- The parents of an 11-year-old girl who fell to her death from near the top of a New Jersey shore Ferris wheel have filed a lawsuit against the ride's operator, claiming it was negligent to keep the ride open on a windy day. Twanda and Byron Jones did not specify what damages they believe they should receive in the wrongful death suit they filed Thursday in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court.
Their 11-year-old daughter, Abiah, was on a trip for honor-roll students when she fell about 150 feet from the Giant Wheel at Morey's Mariner's Landing Pier in Wildwood on June 3.
Investigators have not been able to determine how the girl, who was riding alone, got out of the gondola.A state report found the ride's restraints to be working properly and suggested that to get out of the car, a passenger probably would have had to stand.
Though it doesn't offer a complete explanation of what may have happened, the girl's family does list factors that they say contributed to her fall. They blame wind - though details of how hard the wind may have been blowing were not given in the claim - and the ride's lack of restraints for causing the fall. They also say the ride operator was wrong to let her get on alone and that she was not adequately warned of the dangers.
In its report, the state Department of Community Affairs recommended a new rule forbidding children from riding alone in Ferris wheels.
The Giant Wheel has since reopened. Morey's now does not let passengers under 5 feet tall ride alone. When Abiah fell, the minimum height was 4 feet, 6 inches.
Soon after the state issued its preliminary report last month, Twanda and Byron Jones met with reporters in New York and Philadelphia with their then-lawyer, who was promising a broad investigation into Ferris wheel flaws. They said at the time that Ferris wheels should have more restraints.
And the lawyer, Larry Bendesky, said he was looking into whether anyone was responsible for the girl's death.
Since then, the couple has switched law firms.
Jeffrey Reiff, a lawyer at their new firm, said Friday that the Pleasantville, N.J., couple is suing in Pennsylvania court because Morey's Pier does extensive marketing there.
Morey's spokeswoman Lindsey Young, said the company would not comment.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »new jersey, new jersey news
NJ court rules on GPS tracking in divorce case
Eyewitness NewsTRENTON -- Suspicious spouses in New Jersey can use GPS tracking to determine if their loved ones have strayed. An appeals court ruled Thursday that placing the device in a family vehicle does not constitute invasion of privacy.
Gloucester County Sheriff's Officer Kenneth Villanova sued private investigator Richard Leonard, who was hired by Villanova's now ex-wife in 2007.
The court says Leonard had recommended she buy the tracking device after her husband had thwarted efforts to tail him.Leonard spotted Villanova leaving a driveway with a woman two weeks after the device was placed in a glove compartment.
The court said there was no evidence that the husband had driven the vehicle out of public view or to a private or secluded location where he could expect privacy.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »new jersey, new jersey news
NJT, Amtrak back on schedule
Eyewitness NewsNEW JERSEY (WABC) -- A person was hit by an Amtrak train in Woodbridge, New Jersey Friday afternoon.
As a result, the New Jersey Transit Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line service was delayed earlier Friday but is now back on schedule.
Amtrak was also affected but is now on schedule as well.
Police say it was a "trespasser incident" on the tracks.For more information please visit: http://www.njtransit.com/
You can also call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com.
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