Listen: Fallout from NJ Powerbroker’s Indictment—And More!
An 111-page indictment alleges George Norcross, along with five of his associates—including his brother Philip and former Camden Mayor Dana Redd—of criminal wrongdoing.
By Bob Hennelly
On this episode of the Stuck Nation Labor Radio Hour, we have news about News Guild CWA journalists at the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle who had been on strike against Gannett for 19 days, ratifying their contract containing a 15 percent raise over the next two years, which will translate to a $10,000 to $20,000 raise for several of the lowest paid and longest serving members of the bargaining unit.
We’ve had these fighting journalists on as guests of the show and I’ve written extensively about the News Guilds battle with Gannett for a living wage for the local reporters at close to 50 other newspapers across the country. We know that nationwide, the corporate consolidation of newspapers has devastated local news and helped to further erode democracy as authenticated local news is replaced by cheap to produce aggregated social media.
In the first half of this week’s show, we also look at the fallout from the criminal indictment of New Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross and several others for what New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin charges was a 12-year criminal enterprise to obtain and rights and millions of dollars in tax credits in Camden. Norcross, a former national Democratic National Committee member, has dominated Garden State politics for a generation. His southern New Jersey political machine, which relied on elements of organized labor had an oversized role in national politics.
The 111-page indictment also alleges the involvement of five of Norcross’ associates—including his brother Philip—and former Camden Mayor Dana Redd.
A Norcross-linked company that remediates former atomic power plants was recently in the news for its attempt to dump millions of gallons of radioactive waste water from Indian Point into the Hudson River which was banned by Albany by an impressive grassroots campaign that WBAI’s Eco-Logic played a leading role in bringing together.
In the second half of the show, we get a debrief from NYC DEP Police Det. Matthew Kruger, president of the newly recognized Environmental Police Benevolent Association. The group fought for five years to start a new union after the leader of their old union, the Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association, was accused and eventually convicted of stealing more than $500,000 from the union’s annuity fund.
Listen to the entire show below: