Additionally, Lenfest announced today that Brian Tierney, the co-owner of the Daily News and Inquirer from 2006 to 2010, will serve the publications as a consultant as they move forward without Katz. After thorough investigations and significant media coverage, he was not charged. When he sits down to talk about Norcross, Kenney suddenly looks like hed rather be someplace else. After conducting a national search, and narrowing down the selections to three individuals, the CCSD board was preparing to conduct in-person interviews with potential candidates. Hidden Mickey Hidden Mickeys Disney secrets Disney newsDisney forum Disney blog, MyCityPaper.com mobile responsive website design, hosting and search engine optimization is powered by CMS Bot. He recruited John Adler, a Harvard graduate, to run against Laskin in 1991. Norcross launched the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, which New Jersey Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts praised for its "unflagging commitment to the city," and helped to facilitate the opening of the MD Anderson Cooper Cancer Center in October 2013. Likewise with "Director" Drew A. Katz, Interstate General Media co-owner Lewis Katz's son. Thats the reality. After a five-hour court hearing about the injunction, Norcross lost and within minutes, the report was made public. South Jersey business magnate George E. Norcross III and his family will become majority partners of a longtime Atlantic City bread and submarine roll maker next month. George Norcross's net worth But that was just the beginning: He developed an elaborate plan to wrest Camden County away from the GOP; then he would move on to other counties, win control of their freeholders, and build alliances that could raise enormous sums of cash for his favored candidates for the state legislature. Norcross has also benefited from his connections to the Delaware River Port Authority. In Philadelphia, all eyes were on one super PAC in particular: American Cities, which was backing Tony Williams for mayor. Thank you for reaching out. He is a member of famous Businessman with the age 66 years old group. The July 28 show on the Camden waterfront was sponsored by PhillyVoice.com, which is run by Donald Norcross' niece, Lexie, the daughter of South Jersey power broker George Norcross. Jennifer Beck, a Republican legislator from Monmouth County, has since proposed a bill to plug up this hole in the public trough. A machine performs a prescribed function. THE STORY OF HOW Norcross built himself into the most powerful man in New Jersey begins with revenge. Dougherty is going to regret helping Norcross establish a beachhead in Philadelphia, because theres no way this alliance is going to last, one observer says. AmeriHealth Inc., one of the parent companies of (AmeriHealth New Jersey), agreed to sponsor the July 28, 2016, concert, Camden Rising, AmeriHealth New Jersey spokeswoman Jill Roman said. The domain of the website was registered to Norcross's insurance. What was rarely, While a report last year from the New Jersey comptroller was critical of that arrangement, it also noted that there was technically nothing unlawful about it, a point Norcross reiterates when I bring it up. Neil's family has a long history in the legal profession. The parameters of the agreement entailed that Norcross would to withhold support and endorsement for, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono, in exchange for Christie not campaigning for any Republican Assembly or Senate candidates in South Jersey. (It was renewed last year, for $310,000.) He could work in politics, insurance, bomb building, or the construction of a better mousetrap, and hed enjoy the same electric charge emanating from the same place. And as far as many carpenters were concerned, Philly carpenters boss Ed Coryell had gone off the reservation. Thats likely part of Norcrosss play in Philadelphia, but it would be uncharacteristic for him to stop there. By financially supporting candidates not only in Camden County, but all over South Jersey, George Norcross was able to consolidate his leadership and demand unity among, and allegiance from, those whom he helped get elected. At the time, recalls Norcross, four hundred grand was like $4 million.. [30], Norcross was listed as one of the state's wealthiest people, ranked 41st in New Jersey in 2015 with a net worth of almost $250 million.[31]. Why would carpenters in Jersey give a damn about Kenney? That evening we had a dinner meeting with a potential business partner, says Hilferty, and we hear on the radio that Jim has won the primary. Increase website traffic and elevate your brand with a CMS Bot business website. In fact, the super-PAC money that made the biggest difference in the mayoral race had nothing to do with American Cities, and plenty to do with George Norcross. In as early as 2011, Norcross began giving a series of speeches focusing on education, and on the future of public education in Camden specifically. My apologies and sympathies go to Floridians. Plus this company, plus whatever else Im doing, and you know Im nuts, Im gonna have a heart attack.. The national carpenters union unilaterally removed him as head of the Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters. And it sure looks like President Donald Trump and NJ political boss George Norcross really have a lot in common! Norcross III became Chairman of the Camden County Democratic Association at the age of 32, and through financially backing South Jersey Democratic candidates using a platform of fiscal conservatism combined with social pragmatism, was able to gain influence in democratic circles in the surrounding suburbs as well as in Camden. To make a long, f-bomb-filled story short, Norcross succeeded. I meet with him in the Mayors Reception Room in City Hall, where hes holding a press conference encouraging Philadelphians to vote. Soon after Rouhanifard took the helm at Camden, a school district I see starting in the next number of months, principally with the affiliations we have, and then the process of a new project will follow. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The education ruined Young George for college. When he sets his sights on a target, he captures it. The McGreeveys. Many believe that in exchange for Christie not investigating Norcross and DiVincenzo, at a time when Christie showed a willingness to prosecute even minor infractions and perpetrators of the public trust including an Asbury Park councilman for getting his driveway paved for free. Christie allowed the two biggest powerbrokers in the state to escape similar investigative scrutiny in exchange for their tacit support for his gubernatorial candidacy, or at least, their less-than-zealous support for Jon Corzines re-election campaign in 2009. From left: Bob Brady, Jim Kenney, George Norcross, Lexie Norcross, Steve Sweeney, John Dougherty, Ed Coryell (in water). Its not clear whether it will once again set up shop later this year. Alessandra T. Norcross is, according to a September report, 25 years old. That PAC in turn quickly cut a $725,000 check to yet another super PAC Building a Better Pa. That was the Dougherty-tied PAC supporting Kenney for mayor. [15] In September 2015, Norcross was announced as one of the local investors in The Camden Waterfront, a $1 billion development on Camden's waterfront initially developed by Liberty Property Trust and designed by Robert A.M. high-poverty New York City borough where he noticed children with a strong Lexie Norcross, 26, was a controversial figure partly because of her age and relation to George Norcross. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 64 years old? Katz's partner Nancy Phillips, formerly an Inquirer investigative reporter, is now reportedly a special assistant to the publisher. [21], In the wake of the Veterans Health Administration scandal of 2014, Cooper announced a "Veterans VIP Priority Program" that provided day care to veterans in New Jersey's seven southern counties. Norcross was with Dan Hilferty, the CEO of Independence Blue Cross, when he got the news. 79, of Phoenix, went to be with the Lord on December 13, 2008. teaching experience and lack of state credentials, his arrival in Camden had I know I felt terrorized when outgoing President Donald Trump urged the unruly mob down the street to the Capitol to fight like hell. Then, some demonstrators put up a hangmans noose designed for then-Vice President Mike Pence, because he was doing his constitutional duty to accept the 2020 electoral votes in favor of the winner, Joe Biden. It took one night for the. Next, Rouhanifard left the classroom and worked as a financial analyst for Look, he says. Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. Through the '60s and '70s, he made a practice of bringing "Young George" to meet New. He served on the board of and was the chairman of United Way. It plants lawn signs! Norcross has a daughter, Lexie, and a son, Alex. Fee said Conner Strong & Buckelew was not involved in the concert. 1966 WirePhoto Actress Kim . It is widely suspected that Christie, prior to his run for New Jersey Governor, struck deals with critical Democratic power brokers in the state, Joe DiVincenzo, County Executive of Essex County, and Norcross of South Jersey, to forward his own gubernatorial ambitions. While investigating a murder at the infamous burlesque hall The Star Room, George gets more than he ever thought possible from the talented and most desirable Nina . But as his career neared its end, in the late 80s, the entire South Jersey region still operated as a kind of beggar in relation to the north. In September 2015, Norcross was announced as one of the local investors in The Camden Waterfront, a $1 billion development on Camden's waterfront initially developed by Liberty Property Trust and designed by Robert A.M. Stern. The committee was funded by a trio of multimillionaire hedge fund investors who supported controversial education policies: charter expansion and school vouchers. There was plenty of journalistic handwringing over the fact that a powerful political figure now partly controlled a major local media company. But she also was accused of downplaying hard news in favor of fluff and tawdry. He called his closest supporters the Can Do Club and lived by high-achiever mantras like Second Place Is First Loser. In a pivotal 1991 election, he worked with TV adman Neil Oxman and paid for $400,000 in commercial spots to dethrone Laskin, an unheard-of move in a state election. But his power seems to yield various forms of return. Norcross chose Pennsauken High School, his alma mater, and the private Lawrenceville School that his daughter Lexie attended. his time on Wall St., or his executive jobs at NYCDOE and in Newark. Super PACs emerged after the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that enabled PACs to spend unlimited sums on political races provided the PACs didnt coordinate with the candidates benefiting from the spending. But a lot of people I care about are, so in deference to them, I wouldnt want to say anything negative. I just cant win., My biggest mistake was allowing myself to be defined and branded in the 90s, he continues. If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. And he does win. was tasked with: Developing and implementing structural changes to the portfolio of NYC schools in order to address systemic inequities and improve access to high performing schools. His eyebrows twist with real curiosity, and his eyes begin casting around, wildly alight, as if the answer to the Riddle of Him might be written on one of the walls in this Cooper University Hospital conference room. Well, Norcross maintains that he is less involved in politics than he used to be. Additionally, many of the homes surrounding KCNA have either been purchased by Coopers Ferry Partnership or acquired through eminent domain. But AmeriHealth Inc., the parent company of the health insurer AmeriHealth New Jersey, donated $1 million to a super PAC that has spent millions to help Democratic lawmakers. The money raised some eyebrows. He formerly belonged to Mar-a-Lago, the club owned by former United States President Donald Trump.[7]. Another is that Norcross is courting Phillys building trades so theyll support his brother, Donald, if he runs for U.S. Senate, as many expect. Afterward, the registrant suddenly changed to a mysterious company called WWB Holdings, LLC. Perhaps Norcross, and what he wants, is as much of a mystery to Kenney as he is to the rest of us. GEORGE NORCROSS OBITUARY. Its all about power, says John Williamson, president of the Camden Fraternal Order of Police. A crooked smile shades his face pink. George Norcross Obituary George Addison Norcross was born on 27 October 1839 at Upton, Worcester Co., MA. Note that clicking the link below will block access to this site for 24 hours. When DRPA issued its final disbursements in 2011, Cooper University Hospital received $6 million. When Philly.com got word of the three-minute private meeting a few days later and posted a story, it set political insiders buzzing. He has close ties to Jersey carpenters. But he also grimaces. When Norcross lost control of the newspapers in 2014, after a nasty, deeply personal feud between the owners involving lovers, lawyers and daughters, some wondered if he would retreat from Philly. his meteoric rise in education ensued. But a year later, her fix continues to languish in a committee chaired by Nia Gill, an Essex County Democrat who isagain, go figureallied with Norcrosss Southern Jersey crew. But it appears that without Norcross, the most pivotal donation of the 2015 mayoral race never would have happened. Norcross revered and adored his father, George E. Norcross Jr., known as "Chief" to his four sons. As early as January 2014, Rouhanifard, because of his cooperation with CMO leaders and receiving his coronation from both Christie and Cerf, began receiving gushing articles from both conservative and liberal education reform advocates in print. Of Norcross, Rutgers University-Camden history professor Howard Gillette, in his 2005 work Camden After the Fall, wrote: The son of a powerful labor leader, Norcross had worked his way up the system, first by assisting several state legislators including Angelo Errichetti. He led the effort to create the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and to partner with MD Anderson Cancer Center to create the MD Anderson Cooper Cancer Center, which opened in 2013. When Laskin shot him down, Norcross asked again: This is really important to me personally. The answer was no. Johnny Doc wouldnt talk. daughter. And it was Norcrosss longtime adman, Neil Oxman, who produced the pro-Kenney TV commercials funded by all that super-PAC cash. city educators and public officials, noting Rouhanifards young age, thin Even as a memorial is planned for the late Lewis Katz, former co-owner of Philly.com, the Daily News and the Inquirer, new details are emerging about the deal he inked to take over the media portfolio just four days before dying in a freak plane crash. She was remembered as "a tireless advocate for senior citizens.". daughter. George E. Norcross III (born March 16, 1956) is an American businessman and a Democratic Party organizer and power broker in southern New Jersey. George Norcross, Chris Christie, and Paymon Rouhanifard: The triumverite who snaked renaissance (corporate takeover) schools into Camden, The Genuine Problems I have with the Education Reform Communitya series (Pt. And Im getting older now. If George Norcross comes into Philadelphia big-time and does the same type of things as a corporate citizen as hes done for South Jersey, that would be a plus., Colandus Francis, president of the Camden County NAACP, disagrees, to say the least: Why is Camden one of the poorest cities in the country if hes done so much for Camden? Hes strutted into Philadelphia, landed taxpayer-funded contracts, apparently helped elect the mayor, and perhaps even funded a new media organization. George Norcrosss income source is mostly from being a successful Businessman. Norcross bought the Inquirer, the Daily News and Philly.com in partnership with philanthropist H.F. Gerry Lenfest and businessman Lewis Katz. Further, Norcross began speaking of a then-hypothetical network of charter schools in Camden on account that saving Camden, would require saving its public schools, or at least having educational options open to its families. Norcross also remarked in Fall 2011 regarding Camden education, I think a material change could happen 24-30 months from now. And I got portrayed, you know, as the guy with the cigar and the horns., Norcrosss critics believe hes not difficult to understand. This is the state of Philly politics: The only plausible check on Johnny Doc is George Norcross, another unelected white guy thisclose to the building trades. I stayed in the background because I thought thats what political bosses did. It will be a political firefight. The article details that much of the money designated for disbursement is targeted to reward companies that donated to Christies campaigns, the Republican Governors Association while Christie was Chairman or companies with ties to George Norcross III., Norcross, in addition to being the Chairman of Connor, Strong & Buckelew, one of the largest insurance firms in the country, is also the long-serving Chairman of Cooper Hospital that recently received $40 million from the state in 2015 NJEDA funds. For his part, Rouhanifard did facilitate and preside over the establishing of the first renaissance schools and their expansion, as well as initiated the universal enrollment system he referred to in his initial Camden Commitment speech which would be called Camden Enrollment the following year. Published as Norcrossing the Delaware in the May 2016 issue of Philadelphia magazine. He raised $2 million, for instance, for the 2003 state senate race that installed unknown challenger Fred Madden over incumbent George Geist. Look, says Ali Sloan El, a longtime city activist, George is for George.. Protestors sing and dance to support the Rockettes. I understand, as a reporter, why the Palmyra Tapes incident has to be part of the George Norcross narrative. In June that year, the state approved the partnership. He wasnt permitted to have the conversation. Hes not. Did this one signal that Norcross, after spending 30 years methodically taking over the state of New Jersey, was setting his sights on Philadelphia? ^ [1], PolitickerNJ.com, November 2014; accessed February 7, 2016. Yet, the same local media was somehow unaware that Norcross has voted in Florida for the past two years while he continued to serve on the Democratic National Committee in apparent violation of DNC residency rules. Many South Jersey residents who were familiar with Christie, and his visible role as New Jerseys primary public crime fighter, found his leniency toward Norcross, a man to who many long have suspected of being a corrupt public actor, in word curious. He played the role of matchmaker, of deal-broker. For many years, he has been named one of the most powerful non-elected political figures in New Jersey by the website PolitickerNJ.com. Or so it seemed. The family has plans to. Nearly two thirds of $1.6 billion in tax incentives in his hometown of Camden, New Jersey, went to his own company, business partners, political allies and clients of his . Further cementing their respective legacies, concerning Christie and Norcross, speculation holds that an agreement took place, dubbed the I-195 Deal. He ran the Camden County Democrats, but the GOP was firmly in control of the board of freeholders. We have estimated His 17-year-old daughter, Lexie, walks in for dinner with an old family friend, a Camden attorney. True to form, Norcross has accomplished all this in the dark, granting not a single on-the-record interview about these moves. Through the 60s and 70s, he made a practice of bringing Young George to meet New Jersey governors, senators, congressional leaders and business people. But stories about Norcrosss bare-knuckle tactics occasionally leak out, most famously in the recordings known as the Palmyra Tapes. Even before the Rouhanifard completed one year in Camden, the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, the 74 Million, The New Teacher Project, and popular New Jersey-focused education reform blog, NJLeftBehind published articles praising Rouhanifard as the change Camden needed. Before being elected Governor in 2009, Christ Christie, as US Attorney, was making a name for himself as a public Corruption Buster by bringing criminal charges on elected officials throughout New Jersey. But perhaps the most alarming article for supporters of public education in Camden was an article published in the June 14th issue of the Reason Magazine, The Slow and Glorious Death of Americas Worst School System, where author Jim Epstein wrote: Within the next decade, the Camden school district is on course to enter a death spiral, sending the city the way of New Orleans, which has replaced all of its traditional schools with chartersPaymon Rouhanifard is probably the best superintendent Camden has ever had, but he wont be able to turn around the school system. AmeriHealth Inc.s donation did not pay for the entire event. . Today, OPM is referred to He cleared the way for his brother, Donald Norcross, to get a state senate seat in 2010 when then-senator Dana Redd was elected Camdens mayor, but Donald has since earned respect and an Inquirer endorsement.