Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? The Staten Island Ferry crosses New York Harbor past the Manhattan skyline. New Yorkand the Waterfront Commission itselfbelieves that, without the compact, the industry could go backwards to what it once was. 2023 www.northjersey.com. Following release of the report, the large majority of the commission's executive staff were fired, including the New Jersey Commissioner Michael J. Madonna (the New York Commissioner's seat was vacant at the time of the report's release, although the report faulted the actions of the former New York Commissioner, Michael C. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. But during Wednesday's arguments, there was little reference made to mafia crime families and whether they would make inroads back to the ports should the Waterfront Commission be dissolved. [20][1], The Supreme Court has paused New Jersey's withdrawal from the compact creating the commission until it has addressed the merits of an injunction filed by the State of New York.[21][22]. The decision Monday means the high court declined to hear the commissions appeal in a lawsuit arguing that New Jersey could not unilaterally walk away from the federally approved interstate compact that established the agency. New York sued New Jersey in March over its withdrawal efforts, arguing that the two states would have to agree to the commission's disbanding, and said the work of the commission is not over, with organized crime still seeking to "exert influence" over port operations. Lesniak was jubilant about the Supreme Courts move and predicted a quick end to the Waterfront Commission, in part because he doesnt think New York has lifted much of a finger to fight yet. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson signaled that she was unconvinced that the 70-year-old agreement between the two states was meant to be binding forever. Chris Christie in his final week in office, even though he had once vetoed it as unconstitutional. Justice Amy Coney Barrett said it seems very odd that New York wants to keep the commission even though most of the ports business is now conducted on the New Jersey side of the harbor. Description. Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Even if the commission cant sue to save itself, the state of New York could sue New Jersey and cases between states can land back at the Supreme Court. Acting Solicitor General Brian H. Fletcher, whose office argues the governments position for the Justice Department in cases before the Supreme Court, acknowledged in his brief last month that New York could still sue New Jersey state officials in federal court over the Waterfront Commission and seek an injunction. As New York admits, there is nothing in the plain text of the compact that expressly limits New Jerseys withdrawal, Feigenbaum said. On Monday, the nations high court declined to hear an appeal of a lower court ruling that sided with New Jerseys argument that the commission didnt have standing to sue the state. In laymans terms, New Jersey argues that the Waterfront Commission hinders harbor business and causes labor shortages with a lengthy hiring process. The commission which includes one member from each state appointed by its governor The Port of New York and New Jersey is the largest port complex located on the East Coast of North America. WASHINGTON U.S. Supreme Court justices spent nearly an hour poking holes in the points made by a lawyer representing New York during oral arguments Wednesday in a case spurred by New Jersey's bid to leave the bi-state Waterfront Commission. Colleen Wilson covers the Port Authority and NJ Transit for NorthJersey.com. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The justices will decide the case in the coming months. News Header: Former Checker Barred From Returning to Waterfront Following The commission added that the agency has worked to break the cycle of corruption on the waterfront by preventing individuals with mob ties from infiltrating the workforce. If New York believes that New Jersey has violated the agreement between the two states, it could seek leave to file an original action against New Jersey in this court, he said. Solicitor General, as well some states including Texas, have since sided with New Jersey. January 18, 2023. New Jersey began the process of withdrawing from the Waterfront Commission in 2018 as some state lawmakers made the case that the commission The governor has set a March 28 date for the state to take over the enforcement role in the state's ports.NJ Governors Office. Chris Christie signed a law withdrawing from the commission and handing over law enforcement operations on the New Jersey side of the port to the New Jersey State Police. Michael Murphy, the New Jersey representative on the commission whom Christie appointed, said that full divorce could happen early next year. This applies to the appointment of commissioners and the approval of each state of the agencys operating budget. In an interview, Paulin said she doesnt know what Hochul believes yet, but that New Jersey is setting a dangerous precedent by trying to walk away from bi-state agreements simply because it wants to. The governor is pleased with the Supreme Courts decision to reject the Waterfront Commissions appeal, the governors spokesperson Michael Zhadanovsky said in a statement Monday. All rights reserved (About Us). VIDEO: Supreme Court justices question Bidens authority on student loan forgiveness, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The commission immediately went to federal court seeking an injunction against the state and Gov. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter. "I am optimistic that New Jersey will prevail in this case and will finally be allowed to reclaim authority over its ports with a regulatory structure more suited for the 21stcentury," Murphy's statement said. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a Bronx native, told Vale her argument "doesn't make any sense" and that "once you said the compact did not intend this to be perpetual, I think you ended the game.". News Header: Former Checker Barred From Returning to Waterfront Following Findings That The commission was set up in August 1953 (a year before the movie On the Waterfront) to combat labor racketeering. New York has yet to take a position in the matter. The Waterfront Commission was established in the 1950s to fight corruption and crime at the port of New York and New Jersey. The U.S. Supreme Court ordered an abrupt halt Thursday to New Jerseys planned exit from a bi-state watchdog agency that regulates the ports and piers of New York Harbor, just four days before the state was ready to call it quits. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter. New Jersey began the process of withdrawing from the Waterfront Commission in 2018 as some state lawmakers made the case that the commission was no longer necessary to police the ports and instead the New Jersey state police could take over that work, particularly with 80% of port activity taking place in New Jersey. And on Friday, the shipping industry said it would no longer pay millions in annual charges to the commission, pointing to the states position that it would not be able to operate legally without a quorum. Local journalism needs your support. And unlike in most cities, NYC residents have a unique opportunity to weigh in regularly on their neighborhoods actions and developments, thanks to, After the revelation last month about a provocative letter sent by some Gowanus Superfund Community Advisory Group (CAG) to EPA heads, some thought that the next monthly meeting would be filled with fireworks (see our last issue). Jeremy Feigenbaum, the New Jersey solicitor general, argued that the Waterfront Commission has caused "over-regulation of business" and is ill-equipped to oversee modern shipping, which relies largely on containers to send and transfer goods 80% of which land in New Jersey ports, not those in New York. Gov. The U.S. Supreme Court will not intervene in New Jerseys efforts to kill the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor a bi-state agency created more than 65 years ago to police the regions ports ending for now a years-long legal fight over the policing of the ports of New York and New Jersey. The Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor was created to address racketeering and unfair hiring practices at the jointly run Port of New York and New Jersey. Jackson challenged Vales argument that because of that silence, both states must agree on the Waterfront Commissions dissolution. The two-member commission with one commissioner from each state oversees licensing and inspections at the Port of New York and New Jersey and has its At the time the commission was created, about 70 percent of the port's business came through the New York side of the port. Chris Christie signed a law to pull the state out of the commission. Additional motions and responses from the two states are expected to be filed to the Supreme Court through November. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday handed New Jersey a victory in its effort to abolish the 70-year-old Waterfront Commission, declining to intervene for now The questionnaires also seemed on some level to be seeking information of just what the commission does and the day-to-day work of its staff. Granting a motion by New York to stop the state from terminating the nearly 70-year-old compact ratified by Congress that created the Waterfront Commission, the high court in a brief written order also declared that the state could not simply walk away from its responsibilities to fund the commission. I dont know that we can draw the inference that you want us to draw.. New Jersey set in motion its intent to end its agreement with New York after legislators amid political pressure from the New York Shipping Association and the International Longshoremans Association voted in 2018 to withdraw from the commission. Others, though, say an even higher stakes battle might be at hand. WebWaterfront Commission of New York Harbor - Police News January 4, 2023 News Header: Warehouseman Application Denied Based on Felony Conviction, Fraud, Deceit Phil Murphy at Port Newark in December. Wednesday's court appearance came less than a year after New York sued New Jersey over its attempt to exit the commission, a process that began in 2018 when the New Jersey Legislature approved the withdrawal. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. New Jersey argues that was a long time ago and that the agency has now outlived it useful life. Pretty much everyone agrees the state of New York does have standing to challenge New Jerseys exit. Industry officials also maintained that the commission overstated the problem of crime on the docks. The Waterfront Commission declined comment on Monday. WCPD),[4] with state-certified peace officers that provide law enforcement services to the WCNYH areas. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Last month, the Office of the Solicitor General in its own brief concluded the commission did not have the authority to file a petition seeking to overturn efforts by the New Jersey Legislature to withdraw from its interstate agreement. Protecting the safety of New Yorkers and our vital industries is my top priority, and we cannot afford to lose the Waterfront Commissions unique authority and expertise in combating crime at our port, said New York Governor Kathy Hochul on March 14, 2022, when New York filed legal action in the Supreme Court to block New Jersey from terminating the Waterfront Commission. Murphy reiterated the state's belief that the commission, which was formed in 1953, is "outdated and inefficient" and "has become an impediment to economic growth. [18] In May 2015, Governor Chris Christie conditionally vetoed S-2277 (and the corresponding bill A-3506 passed by the New Jersey General Assembly), citing his concerns that the state lacked the authority to withdraw from the compact and arguing that the solution should be to modify the operations of the commission to minimize interference with waterfront operations. Austin Raynor, assistant to the solicitor general for the U.S. Department of Justice, took questions from the court about department's defense of New Jersey. She noted the bistate agreements silence on the matter of whether the states intended for this to continue forever, or that they would jointly agree to leave, but that one couldnt decide Im done and out. . After a federal judge struck down the New Jersey law ruling that the governor and the state Legislature could not simply walk away from its agreement with New York the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed the ruling. One party cant keep the other on the hook forever, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. It argued that New Jersey could not simply decide for itself that it no longer wanted to honor its obligations under a bilateral compact ratified by Congress. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. However, Chief Engineer Christos Tsiamis, who has been providing updates to the project almost every month for the past dozen years, diffused all, After advocacy from PS 676 students started three years ago, the new and improved Hamilton Avenue footbridge opened with a ribbon cutting on a rainy day in January. Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Upon assuming the position, current Governor Phil Murphywho previously promised members of the International Longshoremens Association that he would, as he declared in his campaign speech before the 2017 election, figure out the damn Waterfront Commission once and for allwas faced with a lawsuit on his first day of office. Division of Licensing and Employment Information Centers, United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, "N.J. officials take a step back in controversial port fight", "Waterfront Commission disputes lawsuit by union and shippers charging hiring interference", "Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor - Police", "Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor (WCNYH)", "Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor Police Vehicles, Pier 88, New York City", "Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor Police Command Center, OpSail and Fleet Week 2012, New York City", "Waterfront Commission Police Boat, New York-New Jersey", "A business card from Detective David Bistacco from the Waterfront Commission and a @NYCPBA "courtesy card" are hard", "Corruption Found at Waterfront Watchdog", "Bill to dissolve Waterfront Commission approved by N.J. Senate panel", "Christie acts on bill to dissolve the Waterfront Commission", "Chris Christie's final acts: Bills he made law and killed, from drones to circus animals", "U.S. Supreme Court blocks New Jersey's exit from Waterfront Commission", "U.S. Supreme Court Stops Efforts to End NY/NJ Waterfront Commission", Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department (MTAPD), Roosevelt Island Department of Public Safety, Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor Police, City University of New York Public Safety Department, Department of Environmental Protection Police, Department of Health and Hospitals Police, Department of Citywide Administrative Services Police, New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, New York Racing Association Law Enforcement and Safety Division, Spring Creek Towers Department of Public Safety (Starrett City), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Waterfront_Commission_of_New_York_Harbor&oldid=1123553406, Specialist police departments of New York (state), Specialist police departments of New Jersey, Law enforcement agencies of New York City, Pages using law enforcement agency with local civilian police general nature, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 November 2022, at 10:14. New Jersey, however, has sought for more than five years to kill the Waterfront Commission, calling the agency a vestige of a past. Some academics and other states have expressed concern in their submitted amicus curiae briefs over whether a Supreme Court ruling could affect other interstate compacts. It certifies that those hired on the waterfront are not tied to organized crime and are otherwise fit to work in the shipping trade. Gov. The commission, which approves and denies those seeking port jobs like longshoreman, includes representation from both states. A host of regulations were ushered in, those with criminal records were barred from serving as union officials, and containerization later gained popularity in the 1960s. Phil Murphy was sworn in, the Waterfront Commission sued the governor to stop him from submitting the formal notice needed to leave the commission. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals decision, which now stands, found that the commission doesnt have standing to sue New Jersey. The Waterfront Commission participated in the investigation of criminal activities by the leaders and members of the Gambino crime family and union leaders. The commission was created in 1953 when organized crime had infiltrated the port and was demanding payments from workers and shippers through extortion and The Division of Licensing and Employment Information Centers is responsible for screening, registering, and licensing individuals who are interested in working at the dock. Hochul to bring a new case last year before the Supreme Court. The Waterfront Commission was established in 1953 after being passed by both state legislatures of New York and New Jersey and Congress as well as being signed into law by then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower. [17], In October 2014, the New Jersey Senate passed measure S-2277 which would direct the governor of New Jersey to withdraw from the bi-state compact and transfer the commission's oversight responsibilities in New Jersey to the state police. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). The Justice Department filed court documents in August that sided with New Jersey and argued that leaving the commission would allow the state to "exercise its full sovereign authority." The letter said New Jerseys move cannot go unchecked.. To put the workforce into context, about 40,000 to 50,000 workers were showing up at the docks in 1953 and about 8,000 registered workers were showing up by 1980, according to Catapano. Vale pushed back, suggesting the commission, which employs about 70 people, makes it harder for corruption and undue influence to succeed.. The Supreme Court docket has recorded the arguments being filed by both the defendant and plaintiff since March 2022. All rights reserved. The commission's formation followed by several decades the creation of the vastly bigger Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees transportation infrastructure in the region. WCNYH Background Information Questionnaire. Phil Murphy said he is "thrilled" about the brief and is confident this will bolster the Garden State's case that it can withdraw from the bistate commission without consent from New York, according to a statement released Monday. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Yes, he said in an interview, there are still some signs of organized crime around the harbor, but hardly to the extent that it was controlling the waterfront and not to any greater extent than organized crime is involved in any other activity in the state of New Jersey.. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. It is our responsibility to New Yorkers to stop New Jerseys unlawful actions and preserve the ongoing work of this law enforcement agency., Governor [Phil] Murphy continues to believe that New Jersey should have the right to withdraw from a nearly 70-year-old commission that does not meet todays needs or serve New Jerseys interests, said Bailey Lawrence, a spokesperson for the New Jersey governor, as reported by Law360 on October 24, 2022. He looks forward to the case being argued during the Supreme Courts upcoming term and remains optimistic that New Jersey will prevail.. [12], On August 11, 2009, the New York State Inspector General Joseph Fisch issued a report of his two-year investigation of the Waterfront Commission. Ted Sherman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, did not have the authority to file a petition, ruling that the governor and the state Legislature. If not, that would open the door to an ongoing fight should New York go to court to seek an injunction. WebWaterfront Commission of New York Harbor (WCNYH) News. At another point, however, Roberts distinguished the Port Authority from the Waterfront Commission, which he called a "very important but relatively small enterprise dealing with a particular problem. Roberts suggested to Judith Vale, who was arguing on behalf of New York, that it would be not that disruptive for New Jersey to withdraw. 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