NEW YORK, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- The Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor is again attacking mob power on the docks, but critics say its time has passed.
For the first time in decades, the panel held hearings in New York this month to gather evidence of corruption for a report next year, The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger reported.
The hearings were intended to put the longshoreman's union and shipping companies on notice that the docks will again be policed aggressively, said Commissioner Ronald Goldstock.
But those interests, along with some officials, say the commission is obsolete and a $2-per-container surcharge to fund it hurts the port by adding to costs.
New Jersey state Sen. Ray Lesniak has introduced a bill to dissolve the agency and transfer its licensing powers to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He says the FBI, Port Authority Police, U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark and other law enforcement agencies can police the port.
Last week, the U.S. attorney unsealed a racketeering indictment against Albert Cernadas Sr., a former executive vice president of the International Longshoremen's Association and president of ILA Local 1235 in Newark.
