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. By the 1970s, only about 8.4-percent of all exports and imports were coming through New York due to transformations in the global economy and trade. 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. New Jersey lawmakers saw things differently, and instead found organized crimes influence had waned. Attorneys from the U.S. Justice Department have sided with New Jersey in a dispute with New York over the future of the controversial Waterfront Commission, which monitors hiring and criminal activity at the ports, according to a brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court this week. The Southern District said the commission provided invaluable support in investigations of La Cosa Nostra families and racketeering cases involving labor unions. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. [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. Whether anyone would actually be hired was not promised. New Jersey officials, continuing to press forward on a unilateral withdrawal from the watchdog agency that oversees the regions major ports, suggested there could be job offers on the table for those currently working for the bi-state commission. WebWaterfront Commission of New York Harbor 3.8 out of 5 stars.3.8 4 reviews Write a review Snapshot Why Join Us Jobs 4 Reviews 2 Salaries 3 Q&A Interviews Photos Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor Careers and Employment About the company Company size 51 to 200 Headquarters New York Link Waterfront 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 in whether the state can leave the bi-state agency tasked with keeping the ports around New York Harbor free of organized crime. Chief Justice John Roberts at one point during argument said it seemed to him that after 70 years of the Waterfront Commission's operation it's going to take a long time and hard work to kind of unravel all of this if New Jersey wants to walk away. Our withdrawal is long overdue, said New Gov. Now, all eyes are turning to New York and to the merits of the commission itself and whether organized crime is still a major threat. But while the high courts action ends the commissions efforts to stop New Jersey, that may not be the end of the battle. The bill was approved by Gov. Legislators voted to shut down the Waterfront Commission in 2018, charging that it was over-regulating business at the port in an effort to justify its existence, and hurting the states economic interests. Phil Murphy has announced that New Jersey will withdraw from the commission in three weeks despite letters from the office of New York Gov. June 24, 2019. Phil Murphy. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. While a federal judge struck down the New Jersey law, ruling that the governor and the state Legislature could not abandon the bi-state agreement, the ruling was overturned by he U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. 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 Ted Sherman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. The commission which includes one member from each state appointed by its governor has jurisdiction over all the regions piers and terminals, including the ports in Newark, Elizabeth, Bayonne, Staten Island and Brooklyn. 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. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter. Phil Murphy wants to use the State Police take up the responsibilities of the commission, including the vetting and licensing of dockworkers. 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. Employees were specifically asked: Describe in detail the work required of this position. In laymans terms, New Jersey argues that the Waterfront Commission hinders harbor business and causes labor shortages with a lengthy hiring process. Under statutory mandate, the mission of the commission is to investigate, deter, combat and remedy criminal activity and influence in the port district and also ensures fair hiring and employment practices. 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 commission which includes one member from each state appointed by its governor The Police Division operates in Manhattan and Brooklyn and has three offices, two in NY: The Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor cooperates with various state, federal, and local law enforcement authorities in pursuing investigations into waterfront-related crimes. 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. State officials have also not even suggested such a move might be under consideration, despite New Jerseys self-imposed deadline for withdrawal now three weeks away. U.S. Supreme Court justices on Wednesday indicated they might rule in favor of New Jersey leaving a bi-state agency with New York created to police ports, stem the INTERNAL POSITIONS ONLY. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. New York, though, has yet take New Jersey to court over the states decision to end their partnership. The U.S. Supreme Court in November decided it would not hear the case. But New Jersey, in its own filings before the court, argued that the reasons for the commission no longer exist, adding that cargo is now moved in shipping containers, handled by far fewer longshoremen, and that most of the ports operations have shifted to New Jersey. [6][7], WCPD uses marked police patrol cars (such as Ford Explorer[8]), command centre vehicles[9] and boats for water work. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar chided New York's case in those documents, calling its arguments "internally inconsistent.". YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. All rights reserved. Chris Christie, a Republican, signed legislation withdrawing his state from the compact. New Jersey wants the Supreme Court to let it out of a commission that has fought mob corruption since 1953. In light of the complete transformation of the harbor since the 1950s, the New Jersey Legislature determined that there was no longer a continuing need for bi-state regulation of the overwhelmingly New Jersey-centered port activity, and that New Jersey should resume state regulation of its docks, the state Attorney Generals office wrote. Jackson and other justices seemed skeptical of New Yorks argument in the case. Rather, the justices were most interested in the sovereign powers of states involved in a bi-state commission, and the minutiae of contract and compact law used to create the commission. 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. In arguments before the court, New York Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale said while there was no expectation that the new commission created to clean up the port would be permanent, she told the justices there was an intention to prohibit unilateral withdrawal by either side. That sets up a three-month transfer period where some of the duties of the commission are assumed by the state. And it keeps going until both states decided to end it, she said. New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin and New York Solicitor General Barbara Underwood were in the courtroom, though New York Attorney General Letitia James was not. Your argument is that they surrendered their sovereign authority perpetually. 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). New York then entered the conversation, arguing that workers move back and forth between the two states ports and that it makes sense to keep the current compact intact. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. This applies to the appointment of commissioners and the approval of each state of the agencys operating budget. The Waterfront Commission which includes one member from each state appointed by its governor has jurisdiction over all the regions piers and The Waterfront Commission declined comment on Monday. Six Men Sentenced for Roles in Illegal Loansharking, Check Cashing, Gambling & Money Laundering Schemes Linked to Genovese Crime Family. 2023 www.northjersey.com. less than a year after New York sued New Jersey, filed court documents in August that sided, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Gov. Container ships are docked at the Port of New York and New Jersey in Elizabeth, N.J. New York sued New Jersey over the Garden States unilateral effort to shut down the bistate agency, reports in which they claim to work more hours than there are in a week, handing over law enforcement operations on the New Jersey side of the port to the New Jersey State Police, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. It asked for details on their current positions and resumes. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Additional motions and responses from the two states are expected to be filed to the Supreme Court through November. Follow the AP's coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court. All rights reserved (About Us). If you dont believe me, go to the website of the supposed non-profit, Open, There are many things that set New York City apartits spirit, grit, bustle and community boards. Vale made a last attempt during her rebuttal to convince the justices of the commission's essential role in the region, saying that as recently as 2006 the compact governing the commission was amended by both states to strengthen the organization's work and therefore the two states should work together to determine the commission's future. Elena Kagan, who also grew up in New York, was similarly skeptical of the state's argument as was the court's only member from New Jersey, Justice Samuel Alito. Supporters of that plan including the shipping industry and the union representing port workers said the commission now makes doing things unnecessarily cumbersome and plodding. 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. Roughly $200 billion in cargo moves through the port each year. The Waterfront Commission itself was granted permission to file an amicus brief with the court, in support of New Yorks motion to stop New Jersey from killing the agency. The Waterfront Commission was established in the 1950s to fight corruption and crime at the port of New York and New Jersey. Judith Vale, representing New York, argued that the agreements silence on unilateral withdrawal made the opposite point. The Waterfront Commission had sued to stop New Jersey from abandoning the agreement that established it decades ago, a move that would have effectively killed it. The commission has long outlived its original mission and, today, only stands as a roadblock to hiring and operations at our ports. New Jerseys arguments have been bolstered by the U.S. Office of the Solicitor General, which argues the governments position for the federal Justice Department in cases before the Supreme Court and was specifically asked by the court to weigh in on this one. Chris Christie in his final week in office, even though he had once vetoed it as unconstitutional. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The Port of New York and New Jersey is the largest port complex located on the East Coast of North America. Hochul to bring a new case last year before the Supreme Court. We look forward to an orderly transition from the Commission to the New Jersey State Police.. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter. New York has yet to take a position in the matter. New Yorkand the Waterfront Commission itselfbelieves that, without the compact, the industry could go backwards to what it once was. Axelrod). Paulin said the same logic New Jersey is using to try to wipe away the Waterfront Commission could be used to make things happen that New Jersey might not like for instance, New Yorks unliteral exit from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The New Jersey law takes the money that would have gone to the Waterfront Commission and sets it aside for the State Police to use to regulate the ports. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. I guess what Im trying to push back on is that, if the reason they were silent was not because they thought this was in an agreement for all times, but because they were worried about signaling to the mob bosses that they would be leaving, Jackson said. The Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor was created to address of racketeering and unfair hiring practices at the jointly-run Port of New York and New 609-984-5828. filed to the Supreme Court through November, A look inside the negotiations to split federal transit funds, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. The Waterfront Commission was formed to weed out organized crime and prevent it from infiltrating commerce and work at the ports in New York and New Jersey. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Despite having once vetoed the measure as unconstitutional, then-Gov. 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). New Jersey obviously thinks it can, New York obviously doesnt think it should be able to. The WCNYH has its own police division (a.k.a. The Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor has since 1953 cracked down on mob activity and unfair hiring practices at the sprawling ports. 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