Essex Archives

Happy Birthday, Senator Jim Wallwork

September 17, 2021 10:38 am

James H. Wallwork, an Essex County Republican who spent fourteen years in the New Jersey Senate and two in the State Assembly, is celebrating his 91st birthday today. Wallwork is one of two living members of the Senate Class of...

Menendez, Booker stay in N.J. for 9/11 events

September 10, 2021 1:14 pm

New Jersey’s two United States Senators will remain local on September 11, with Bob Menendez and Cory Booker choosing to attend a commemoration ceremony in Essex County instead of the memorial service at the World Trade Center. Menendez and Booker...

Labor Leader: John J. Giblin served as State Senator, Essex County Freeholder

September 6, 2021 12:10 amSeptember 5, 2021 6:05 pm

John J. Giblin (1909-1975) was one of New Jersey’s most powerful labor leaders, serving as president of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 68, chairman of the national union, Essex County Freeholder and State Senator. Giblin was the patriarch...

Labor Leader: Joel Jacobson picked a public fight with Frank Sinatra

September 6, 2021 12:10 amSeptember 4, 2021 3:48 pm

One of the great New Jersey fights of the 1970s was between labor leader Joel R. Jacobson (1918-1989) and Frank Sinatra. Sinatra and Dean Martin were playing blackjack before their performance at the Golden Nugget Casino in Atlantic City in...

Labor Leader: Paul J. Krebs, last president of NJ CIO served one-term in Congress

September 6, 2021 12:07 amSeptember 4, 2021 3:50 pm

The last New Jersey Democrat to lose a U.S. Senate race in New Jersey was Paul Krebs (1912-1996), labor leader and one-term congressman from Livingston. His story involves one of the great New Jersey labor union feuds. The account starts...

Labor Leader: Vincent J. Murphy was NJ AFL-CIO president, two-term Mayor of Newark

September 6, 2021 12:01 amSeptember 4, 2021 3:46 pm

One of the most influential labor leaders in New Jersey history was Vincent J. Murphy (1893-1976), who spent nine years as the president of the New Jersey AFL-CIO after two terms as the Mayor of Newark. He was the Democratic...

Caldwell planning board member accused of ‘derogatory statements’ about affordable housing residents

September 3, 2021 6:28 pm

A longtime Caldwell Planning Board member is under fire for callous remarks about people who live in affordable housing. Nathan “Chip” Gardner has been asked to recuse himself or resign after the attorney for a developer accused him of having...