New Jersey

Office of the Governor | ICYMI: Great Point Studios and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center Partner with Lionsgate to Open 12 Acre TV and Film Complex in Newark, New Jersey

Published

3 years ago

May 17, 2022

Lionsgate Newark Studio

Newark, NJ – Nice Level Studios, a studio funding/administration enterprise specializing in movie and tv infrastructure, and The New Jersey Performing Arts Middle (NJPAC), Newark’s anchor cultural and civic establishment, immediately introduced a partnership with international content material chief Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) to construct a significant new manufacturing facility in Newark. The power might be owned and operated by Nice Level Studios. As the ability’s long-term anchor tenant, Lionsgate will obtain naming rights to the studio. NJPAC will handle public affairs and neighborhood relations for the studio and create instructional packages and internships for Newark highschool and faculty college students.

The power would be the first purpose-built studio in New Jersey particularly constructed for TV and movie manufacturing. It will likely be positioned in Newark’s South Ward on the website of the previous Seth Boyden Housing website, which is conveniently positioned close to Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport, the Port of Newark, NJ TRANSIT, the PATH system, and several other main highways. Operations are anticipated to start in late 2024.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s energetic encouragement, along with the not too long ago handed laws on movie and tv incentives, had been instrumental in attracting Lionsgate to New Jersey.

“One in all my administration’s priorities has been to boost New Jersey’s movie {industry} and create new income streams for our State,” mentioned Governor Murphy. “With the addition of the Lionsgate Newark Studio, New Jersey will cement its place as a hub for tv and movie manufacturing with its proximity to all types of transportation and entry to greater than 14,000 certified union members within the area. Consequently, the introduction of the Lionsgate Newark Studio not solely promotes the financial vitality of our state, but additionally gives good jobs and entry to alternative for all South Ward neighborhood members.”

“Bringing a mission of this magnitude into Newark is a monumental victory for our metropolis,” mentioned Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. “It should convey a whole bunch of latest jobs, create new instructional alternatives for our college students, and invigorate the revitalization of the South Ward.”

Nice Level Studios founder Robert Halmi known as upon many years of expertise as founding father of the Hallmark Channel and a producer of greater than 400 movie & tv tasks to create a facility that matches the wants of immediately’s tv and movie productions.

The 300,000 square-foot, full-service, fashionable leisure advanced will embody manufacturing levels starting from 20,000 to 30,000 sq. ft, places of work, help house and parking for 400 automobiles and 65 vehicles. The power will provide a full set of manufacturing providers on website, together with grip and electrical, gear, props, set constructing, eating places, location catering, cleansing service, and safety. It’s anticipated to create greater than 600 new long-term jobs, with precedence for positions going to residents of Newark, and generate greater than $800M of annual financial affect for Newark and New Jersey.

“We’ve a shared imaginative and prescient for the way forward for the leisure {industry}, and it’s mirrored in each element we put into this advanced,” mentioned Founder & CEO of Nice Level Studios Robert Halmi. “Given the rise in studio manufacturing post-Covid, we’re assured that increasing our studio program into New Jersey might be a welcome addition.”

“It is a nice alternative to scale our East Coast studio footprint with our companions at Nice Level Studios and the New Jersey Performing Arts Middle to help our sturdy movie & tv manufacturing,” mentioned Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer. “Lionsgate Studios Newark can also be an vital a part of our dedication to variety, fairness and inclusion, enabling us to create a whole bunch of jobs, present instructional alternatives to native college students and contribute to the financial revitalization of the South Ward of Newark.”

NJPAC originated the concept for the mission with the Metropolis of Newark and the Newark Housing Authority, developed a coalition of companions, and collaborated to convey the mission to public announcement.

“NJPAC regularly seeks alternatives to behave as a catalyst for financial growth in its residence metropolis of Newark,” mentioned NJPAC CEO John Schreiber. “We’re grateful to Mayor Baraka and the Newark Housing Authority for embracing our mission to convey a world class movie studio again to the town the place celluloid film movie was invented and to Governor Murphy for creating tax incentives to make New Jersey extra engaging to the movie {industry} and particularly for the event of studios, like Lionsgate Newark. With out their collective efforts, this mission wouldn’t have seen the sunshine of day.”

The 12-acre, $125 million-plus facility might be owned by a three way partnership between Nice Level Studios and its institutional monetary associate, Lindsay Goldberg, a non-public funding agency centered on partnering with entrepreneurs and family-owned companies to assist them develop. Matrix Improvement will function the mission developer and Gensler, a world structure, design and planning agency with greater than 3,500 energetic shoppers, has signed on to prepared the ground with structure and grasp planning.

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) encompasses world-class movement image and tv studio operations aligned with the STARZ premium international subscription platform to convey a novel and different portfolio of leisure to shoppers around the globe. The Firm’s movie, tv, subscription and location-based leisure companies are backed by a 17,000-title library and a beneficial assortment of iconic movie and tv franchises. A digital age firm pushed by its entrepreneurial tradition and dedication to innovation, the Lionsgate model is synonymous with daring, unique, relatable leisure for audiences worldwide.

ABOUT GREAT POINT STUDIOS

Nice Level Studios is a media-focused funding fund specializing in movie and tv infrastructure. It was based by Robert Halmi and Fehmi Zeko. They’re presently increasing into new studio funding/administration companies in different places in North America and the U.Okay.

Robert Halmi is the founding father of the Hallmark Channel and was Chairman of Crown Media. Robert has been the Chief Government Officer of 4 public corporations. As President and CEO of Hallmark Leisure, Robert remodeled the enterprise from a small manufacturing firm into one of many first fashionable studios, with manufacturing, distribution and broadcast multi functional firm. Beneath Halmi’s management, Hallmark Leisure produced over 2,000 hours of unique content material. Halmi is an energetic member of the Academy of Tv Arts & Sciences and serves on the board of the Worldwide Emmy Committee.

Fehmi Zeko has established a file of serving to international know-how, media and telecommunications shoppers construct sturdy corporations and ship worthwhile progress by means of landmark M&A, turnaround and progress initiatives. Fehmi has led the banking methods in international communications, media, leisure and telecom at Financial institution of America, Macquarie Capital and Citigroup. Fehmi has had constant success offering working recommendation and capital to drive the completion of a whole bunch of transactions and elevating a whole bunch of billions in fairness and debt capital. He has constructed, led and/or expanded market sector practices in main establishments by means of long-standing company relationships with shoppers resembling Viacom, Lionsgate, Newscorp, Fox, Time-Warner, Comcast NBCUniversal, Cablevision, Disney, CBS, Yahoo, Fb, Sony, Warner Music, Thomson Reuters, Bertelsmann, Vivendi, Dash, American Tower, Apollo, Bain, TPG, KKR, TH Lee and Blackstone, amongst others.

ABOUT NJPAC

The New Jersey Performing Arts Middle (NJPAC), positioned in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the many largest performing arts facilities in america. It’s the inventive, cultural, instructional and civic middle of New Jersey — the place nice performances and occasions improve and rework lives every single day. As New Jersey’s city sq., NJPAC brings various communities collectively, offering entry to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s greatest artists, whereas appearing as a number one catalyst within the revitalization of its residence metropolis. Via its in depth Arts Education schemes, NJPAC is shaping the following era of artists and humanities lovers. NJPAC has attracted greater than 10 million guests (together with virtually 2 million kids) since opening its doorways in 1997, and nurtures significant and lasting relationships with every of its constituents. Go to www.njpac.org for extra data.

ABOUT LINDSAY GOLDBERG

Lindsay Goldberg is a non-public funding agency that focuses on partnering with households, founders and administration groups looking for to actively construct their companies. Since 2001, Lindsay Goldberg has raised greater than $17 billion of fairness capital and has invested in over
50 platform corporations and over 250 follow-on alternatives. For extra data, go to www.lindsaygoldbergllc.com.

ABOUT MATRIX DEVELOPMENT GROUP

Matrix Improvement Group is a privately held, full-service actual property funding and growth firm with places of work in New Jersey. The corporate is an energetic investor and
developer of business, industrial, residential, and golf and hospitality properties all through the Northeast and mid-Atlantic areas. Since its founding in 1979, the corporate has developed a multi-billion greenback actual property portfolio that has been acknowledged for its management by quite a few charitable, neighborhood and actual property organizations.

ABOUT GENSLER

Gensler is a world structure, design, and planning agency with 50 places throughout Asia, Europe, Australia, the Center East, and the Americas. Based in 1965, the agency serves greater than 3,300 energetic shoppers in just about each {industry}. Know-how improvements, new client behaviors, and the affect of the worldwide well being disaster are driving media workplaces, studios, newsrooms, and campuses to embrace change. Gensler companions with shoppers to ship tailor-made design options which are purpose-built to adapt to new expectations. We create compelling workplaces that assist industry-leading media shoppers appeal to inventive expertise, create a rewarding office expertise and linked tradition, and forge new territory whereas staying rooted in authenticity. Gensler’s media shoppers embody NFL Media, DreamWorks, Comcast, Washington Publish, New York Instances, Conde Nast, and Audacy.

Architectural renderings of the studio can be found right here.

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New Jersey

New Jersey weighs making underage gambling no longer a crime

Published

7 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Press Room

New Jersey weighs making underage gambling no longer a crime

TRENTON (AP) — Should underage gambling no longer be a crime?

New Jersey lawmakers are considering changing the law to make gambling by people under the age of 21 no longer punishable under criminal law, making it subject to a fine.

It also would impose fines on anyone helping an underage person gamble in New Jersey.

The bill changes the penalties for underage gambling from that of a disorderly persons offense to a civil offense. Fines would be $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second offense, and $2,000 for any subsequent offenses.

The money would be used for prevention, education, and treatment programs for compulsive gambling, such as those provided by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.

Atlantic city waterline aerial

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“The concern I had initially was about reducing the severity of the punishment,” said Assemblyman Don Guardian, a Republican former mayor of Atlantic City. “But the fact that all the money will go to problem gambling treatment programs changed my mind.”

Figures on underage gambling cases were not immediately available Thursday. But numerous people involved in gambling treatment and recovery say a growing number of young people are becoming involved in gambling, particularly sports betting as the activity spreads around the country.

The bill was approved by an Assembly committee and now goes to the full Assembly for a vote. It must pass both houses of the Legislature before going to the desk of the state’s Democratic governor, Phil Murphy.

The council said recently that it conditionally supports the bill but has concerns about it.

21 top spots to take a first-time visitor to New Jersey

Someone from out-of-state, or maybe even out of the country, is visiting New Jersey for the first time. Where do you take them? After grabbing a bagel and before chowing down on a slice of Jersey pizza, be sure to treat your out-of-town guest to a day in the Garden State with some of these places in mind.

Gallery Credit: Jen Ursillo

NJ’s wealthiest ZIP codes in 2024

These are the 10 most expensive ZIP codes in New Jersey, based on the median sale prices of homes, according to PropertyShark.

Gallery Credit: Dino Flammia

Celebrities who vowed to leave the United States after the election

Rumors are flying that Bruce Springsteen has vowed to leave the country if Donald Trump wins the 2024 election. He didn’t say it.

But false promises of leaving the country if a celebrity didn’t get their way has been a real thing and not always said in jest.

Here’s a list of famous people who promised to leave the country if Trump were elected. I hope you didn’t bet money on them leaving since none did.

Gallery Credit: Jeff Deminski

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New Jersey

New Jersey State Police Gave a ‘Free Pass’ to Motorists with Courtesy Cards or Ties to Police, Investigation Finds – Insider NJ

Published

15 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Press Room

New Jersey State Police Gave a ‘Free Pass’ to Motorists with Courtesy Cards or Ties to Police, Investigation Finds – Insider NJ

The Office of the State Comptroller found even motorists suspected of dangerous driving offenses were let go by New Jersey State Police.

TRENTON—An investigation finds that New Jersey State Police troopers routinely gave preferential treatment to certain motorists who presented a courtesy card or asserted a personal connection to law enforcement—even when motorists were suspected of dangerous offenses, like drunk driving, according to a new report by the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller.

OSC’s Police Accountability Project reviewed body worn camera footage of 501 no-enforcement stops by New Jersey State Police–meaning stops where New Jersey State troopers did not issue tickets or make arrests. In 139 or 27 percent of these no-enforcement stops, motorists presented a courtesy card, claimed to have a friend or relative in law enforcement, or flashed a law enforcement badge and then were let go, OSC’s report said. In some cases, the trooper released the motorist immediately, offering some version of “you’re good.” The report found that courtesy cards are in wide usage and function as “accepted currency” by state troopers. (In all but one case, the troopers gave the courtesy card back to the motorist, enabling the card to be used again.)

Reviewing more than 50 hours of body worn camera footage of the stops, which took place over ten days in December 2022, OSC found that troopers regularly decided not to enforce motor vehicle laws after receiving a courtesy card or being told the driver has ties to law enforcement. For instance, one motorist, who was stopped for driving over 90 miles per hour, admitted to drinking alcohol but was let go without a sobriety test after he presented two courtesy cards. Another motorist was stopped for driving over 103 miles per hour and was released after she volunteered that her father was a lieutenant in a local police department. The most significant consequence the troopers imposed in these stops was advising the motorists that they had left a voicemail message for the law enforcement officer named on the courtesy card or invoked as a friend or relative. OSC has released video excerpts of the footage.

“Our investigation shows that some people are being given a free pass to violate serious traffic safety laws,” said Acting State Comptroller Kevin Walsh. “Law enforcement decisions should never depend on who you know, your family connections, or donations to police unions. Nepotism and favoritism undermine our laws and make our roads more dangerous.”

Overall, close to half of the 501 non-enforcement stops reviewed by OSC involved speeding, many for more than 20 miles per hour over the speed limit. In three stops, drivers stopped for reckless driving, careless driving, and/or speeding, also admitted to drinking alcohol, yet were released without being asked to step out of the car for a field sobriety test. Both drunk driving and speeding are major causes of traffic fatalities. According to data compiled by the New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, in 2022, New Jersey recorded 646 fatal collisions that resulted in 689 deaths or 1.89 fatalities per day. This was among the highest number of traffic-related deaths in New Jersey in the past 15 years.

OSC initiated this investigation in response to reports that law enforcement officers’ decisions not to enforce motor vehicle violations were influenced by improper factors, including courtesy cards. Courtesy cards, often referred to as PBA cards, FOP cards, or gold cards, are given out by police labor associations to law enforcement officers. They also can be purchased through “associate memberships” with police associations and are sold by private companies.

OSC’s investigation found that courtesy cards are widely used. In 87, or 17 percent, of the no-enforcement stops OSC reviewed, motorists presented courtesy cards that came from municipal police departments, county and state agencies, as well as inter-state and out-of-state law enforcement agencies. They all appeared to be equally effective at getting motorists released without enforcement.

Asserting a relationship with law enforcement appeared to carry equal weight, OSC found. In 52 or 10 percent of the no-enforcement stops reviewed, the driver or passengers did not present a courtesy card but claimed a connection to law enforcement, and the trooper decided to let them go. In 29 of those stops, the motorist or passenger identified themselves as current, retired, or in-training law enforcement officers. Other stops resulted in no enforcement when the drivers or passengers claimed a relative, friend, or neighbor worked in a law enforcement agency.

In one stop, a trooper said he stopped a motorist for driving 97 miles per hour. After an extended conversation about the “friends” they had in common, the trooper told the driver to “stay safe” and let him go. In another stop, a trooper performed a computerized look-up of the driver’s credentials and discovered the driver had an active warrant for his arrest. But when the driver’s friend introduced himself, letting the trooper know that he was also an off-duty trooper, the stopping trooper walked back to the motorist, apologized for stopping him, and let him go without even mentioning the warrant. OSC was unable to determine from the footage what the warrant was for.

Other findings include:

Providing preferential treatment to motorists who present courtesy cards or assert close personal relationships with law enforcement appears to have a discriminatory impact. Of the 87 courtesy cards observed in the sample, for instance, 69 were presented by White drivers.
Even when courtesy cards were not present, racial disparities were observed in the sample. New Jersey State Police policy requires troopers to request all three driving credentials (license, registration, proof of insurance) when making motor vehicle stops, but OSC found overall, White and Asian drivers were less likely to have all three of their credentials requested and verified when compared to Black and Hispanic/LatinX drivers. Additionally, troopers conducted computerized lookups of Hispanic/LatinX drivers 65 percent of the time, while looking up White drivers only 34 percent of the time.
In many stops, OSC was unable to ascertain why the troopers made the decision not to enforce motor vehicle violations because of the quality of the video footage or other factors. Still, OSC observed several of those stops involved dangerous offenses, underscoring the importance of reviewing no-enforcement motor vehicle stops, which are not routinely reviewed.

OSC made 11 recommendations, including that New Jersey State Police regularly review no-enforcement stops to better understand racial/ethnic trends in motor vehicle data and determine if additional training is needed. OSC also recommended that the Attorney General consider issuing a directive that would explicitly prohibit law enforcement officers from giving preferential treatment to motorists because of their ties to law enforcement or possession of courtesy cards.

Read the report.

Watch excerpts of the body camera footage.

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