8/19/2019 Asbury Park Press front page Tuesday, March 8 2016

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Monmouth University gets edged out by rival Iona,

a loss that could leave the Hawks out of the NCAA

Tournament. Full coverage, Sports and APP.com

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TUESDAY 03.08.16

VOLUME137

NUMBER 58

SINCE 1879

ADVICE 6D

CLASSIFIED 8D

COMICS 5D

HEALTHY LIVING 1D

LOCAL 3A

OBITUARIES 8A

OPINION 11A

SPORTS 1C

TECH TUESDAY 5A

WEATHER 8C

On a quiet night, the whistles of oncoming NJ Tran-sit trains can be heard for miles.

But as early as midnight on Sunday, it could get sud-denly, eerily quiet. There won’t be any train whistlesbecause there won’t be any trains in service, save forthe passing freighter or rare late-night Amtrak.

More than 4,000 NJ Transit workers could strike asearly as Sunday, if a coalition representing them can’tcome to an agreement on a new contract with their em-ployer.

The full impact of a strike will likely first be felt onMonday, when more than 100,000 Manhattan-boundcommuters pack onto buses, light rail cars, ferries andtheir own cars to start their work week in New York. It

would be the first NJ Transit work stoppage in 33years.

“It’s as stressful for our employees as it is for thecommuters. It’s tense. You’re talking about your pay-check,” said Steve Burkert, general chairman ofSMART-TD Local 60.

At a union rally on Saturday, New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charlie Wowkanech yelled into a micro-phone as nearly 1,000 workers and supporters cheeredand chanted in unison.

“Gov. Christie gets a raise every year. He doesn’twait five years. Why should you?” Wowkanech said. “If

we stay together, and we fight together, we’re going towin together. Stay strong and we’re going to

NEWARK - Commuters bracing for traffic Arma-geddon if NJ Transit workers strike next week might dowell to follow Gov. Chris Christie’s lead: He’s going onvacation.

Christie on Monday said he has no plans to cancel avacation this week celebrating his 30th anniversarywith wife Mary Pat and insisted he’s not concernedabout the optics of being away as negotiations continuein advance of a threatened work stoppage.

“That’s what you get concerned about,” Christie saidwhen asked about the “optics” of going away. “What Iget concerned about are the results, not the optics.”

Christie, speaking after an event promoting charterschools, says he’ll be back by the end of the week; hehasn’t disclosed where he is going. He said he’ll be in thenegotiation loop regardless.

A strike could come Sunday. Looming worst-case

projections call for added highway volume causingbackups of between nine and 23 miles at the majorcrossings to New York City.

“I’m never truly on vacation. I’m away, and I’m hop-ing to have a little bit of time to relax. I’m sure I’ll betaking calls and giving instructions and directions,” hesaid. Christie said he will be away “three or four days.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio took heat for

Christie goingaway despiteNJ Transit railstrike threatGovernor says he’ll stay in contact

while taking vacation with his wife

BOB JORDAN @BOBJORDANAPPMIKE DAVIS @BYMIKEDAVIS

S

URVIVAL

GUIDE

What commuters

can expect if the

state’s trains stop

rolling next week

NEW JERSEY TRANSIT STRIKE

105K Manhattan-boundcommuters would bedisplaced by strike.

10K Number of additionalcars per hour thatwill hit the road.

25The number of milesin which traffic back-ups will be possible.

MIKE DAVIS @BYMIKEDAVIS

See STRIKE, Page 4A

A study finds weekly wagesare rising, but balanced by

more low-wage hiring. 1B

FREEHOLD - The reversal of David Bass’ convic-tion in a Neptune murder came five days too late.

Bass died at age 65 on March 2, according to thestate Department of Corrections website.

But on Monday, the state’s highest court unanimous-ly ordered a new trial for Bass, a former Asbury Parkresident, after the justices said he should have been al-lowed to question a favorable plea deal given to thestate’s key witness against him.

Bass had been convicted in a 2006 double shooting inNeptune that left 19-year-old Jessica Shabazz dead andJames Sinclair, then 29, of Long Branchwounded.

The justices said Bass was unfairly prejudiced athis trial because he couldn’t bring up the terms of theplea bargain given to Sinclair, the state’s key witnessagainst him. That plea deal, which cut a potential lifeprison term for the accuser to a term of probation,might have shown that Sinclair’s testimony was biased,

Dead man’s murder conviction tossedKATHLEEN HOPKINS @KHOPKINSAPP

See MURDER, Page10A

Negotiations ongoing

NJ Transit, rail workers meet again; union head says “Every-body thought outside the box a little bit” in talks. 10A

See CHRISTIE, Page 10A