For many years, he has been named one of the most powerful non-elected political figures in New Jersey by the website PolitickerNJ.com. $17.99 + $4.99 shipping. Later that year, a journalism start-up called PhillyVoice launched, with Norcrosss 20-something daughter Lexie at the helm. After thorough investigations and significant media coverage, he was not charged. I meet with him in the Mayors Reception Room in City Hall, where hes holding a press conference encouraging Philadelphians to vote. General Majority spent $8 million to protect Democrats majorities in the state Senate and Assembly in 2013, and $6 million on Assembly races in 2015, making it the biggest independent spender in those years. Neil's family has a long history in the legal profession. But he didnt dive in. Lexie Norcross, 26, daughter of former co-owner George Norcross, who lead Philly.com, has left her position, and sent a good-bye email sent out to colleagues over the weekend, spokesman Daniel Fee confirmed. Progressive Democratic groups often highlight the fact George Norcross who with his childhood friend, New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney, holds sway over the Democrat-controlled state . This would mean the world to him, Norcross reportedly told Laskin. 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 . It plants lawn signs! Beatrice Claubaugh Norcross Obituary (1931 - 2022) - Legacy Remembers And Im getting older now. George Norcross' daughter, Alessandra, a director of the parent company of the Inquirer, is an officer of the foundation and a board member of KCNA." Further, both residents and reporters paid specific attention to the proposed, and eventual, location of the KCNA and the history regarding the demolition and refusal to rebuild the public . The concert coincided with the 2016 Democratic National Convention and was one of a number of events occurring throughout the Philadelphia and South Jersey region during the week. , money, salary, income, and assets. He is a smart, competent man. Today, OPM is referred to But his power seems to yield various forms of return. Norcross was also the subject of a federal investigation in 2016 where his phones were wiretapped. Did Norcross ever reveal to you that he directed cash into Johnny Docs super PAC? But she also was accused of downplaying hard news in favor of fluff and tawdry. Thats likely part of Norcrosss play in Philadelphia, but it would be uncharacteristic for him to stop there. They were used only to support the Lady Gaga / Lenny Kravitz Camden Rising concert during the convention to showcase Camden, N.J. that was attended by thousands of convention-goers and delegates.. 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. Errichetti had appointed Norcross director of a reconstituted Camden Parking Authority in 1978 when Norcross was only twenty-two. A childhood friend of Norcrosss, Sweeney is the New Jersey Senate president and vice president of the International Association of Ironworkers, and is widely assumed to be a big-time gubernatorial candidate in 2017. And why would they cross their Philly brethren in Carpenters Union Local 8, which was backing Williams in the race? Our journalism needs your support. They werent as well-funded or as sexy, and they were backed by known entities: the teachers union and Johnny Doc. Kenney thanked his unprecedented coalition of diverse groups and repeated his mantra that every neighborhood matters.. The Norcross apparatus, as he describes it, also seems a valid tool to use, whether the goal is winning a race or running a newspaper. [24], The office of the Attorney General of New Jersey and the United States Attorney's office under Chris Christie investigated Norcross after he was secretly taped discussing state politics. [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]. Donald W. Norcross (born December 13, 1958) is an American politician and labor leader who is the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 1st congressional district in South Jersey.A member of the Democratic Party, Norcross was first elected to this congressional seat in 2014, following the resignation of Rob Andrews.His district covers much of the New Jersey side of the Philadelphia metro area . Her first husband was Mitja Nikisch, a pianist and son of celebrated orchestral conductor Arthur Nikisch.They divorced circa 1934. George was loved by all and was known as the Gentle Giant. [5] He is regarded as New Jersey's most powerful unelected leader. George E. Norcross, III (born March 16, 1956) is an American businessman and a Democratic Party organiser and power broker in New Jersey. Georgina Cross, Author John, son of John Norcross, Ribchester. Everything he was saying was just wrong, he recalls. Jennifer Beck, a Republican legislator from Monmouth County, has since proposed a bill to plug up this hole in the public trough. 3), A Review of Demoralized: Why Teachers Leave the Profession They Love and How They Can Stay, a Review from the Perspective of a Black, Socialist Union Leader, Warning! Convention 2016 a division of General Majority PAC put on a fantastic free concert featuring Lady Gaga and Lenny Kravitz during the Democratic National Convention. He served on the board of and was the chairman of United Way. George Norcross Obituary (2008) - Phoenix, AZ - The Arizona Republic That was hardly obvious at the time, which looks to have been the point. Apparently, you can take the friend out of Jersey, but not vice versa. The mystery, the lack of accountability, the unanswered questions about whos influencing our leaders and to what end everyones worst nightmares about super PACs have been fully realized, right here in Philadelphia. WWB Holdings owns media site PhillyVoice, where George Norcross' daughter, Lexie Norcross, is founder and CEO. [27], An investigative task force was formed to look into the operations and procedures of the EDA. (Interstate 195 in New Jersey is the highway that runs from Trenton, along the Delaware, across the state to the shore; essentially dividing New Jersey, geographically, two halves; North Jersey and South Jersey.) Trump and Norcross. 2 Peas, 1 Pod - Insider NJ the NYCDOE website, the OPM, Office of School Design and Charter Partnerships And it sure looks like President Donald Trump and NJ political boss George Norcross really have a lot in common! George Norcross out as owner of Philadelphia newspapers, website 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. Imagine if his relationship with Dougherty becomes as robust as the one he has with Steve Sweeney in New Jersey: Together, the two would utterly dominate Philadelphias political scene. The Camden School District had previously started its own search last winter, and this search expanded upon that, bringing previous semi-finalists and then additional candidates, the governors office said. But before that would ever take place, Governor Christies office informed the Board president, Kathryn Blackshear that the state was assuming responsibility of appointing the next superintendent in Camden. had to flee Iran by slipping into neighboring Pakistan before finally settling Look, he says. And I got portrayed, you know, as the guy with the cigar and the horns., Norcrosss critics believe hes not difficult to understand. persecution, how their familys assets were frozen, that he and his family they Patricia Mueller, a friend of Norcrosss, is the treasurer for the Carpenters Fund for Growth and Progress. Protestors sing and dance to support the Rockettes. Later that year, John Mooney wrote, Not one to do things small, George Norcross has enlisted a power-packed partnership of playersseen and unseenin a bid to essentially create a mini-district of new schools for the city of Camden. And with that, the path for Camdens forthcoming renaissance schools was set. Through the 60s and 70s, he made a practice of bringing Young George to meet New Jersey governors, senators, congressional leaders and business people. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. 1966 Wirephoto Don Hull executive director the AAU spoke to Glenn Davis I just cant win., My biggest mistake was allowing myself to be defined and branded in the 90s, he continues. Norcross was born on March 16, 1956, in Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey. 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. He told me that he couldnt remember ever doing a taped interview with a reporter, and glared at my recording device, Lizza later wrote. New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) during the Bloomberg years, In a cool, calculated voice, Norcross brags about his influence with governors and U.S. senators: In the end, the McGreeveys, the Corzines, theyre all going to be with me. Aside from Though, Norcross has been described in local print media as, the guy with the cigar and horns, an arrogant and profane bully who threatens to castrate his political enemies, and an individual presiding over an environment where hardball politics ends and a culture of intimidation, dubbed La Costra Norcoss by his enemies, Norcross has been irrepressible in influencing South Jersey, but specifically Camden-based politics, to his will. THE STORY OF HOW Norcross built himself into the most powerful man in New Jersey begins with revenge. Why is George Norcross' twenty-something daughter an Inquirer/Daily South Jersey Assemblyman Troy Singleton is the assistant to the executive secretary-treasurer of the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters. [23], In February 2012, Norcross penned an op-ed in the Courier-Post that called for the merger of Rowan University and Rutgers-Camden, positing it could be a "catalyst for the kind of renaissance that could make South Jersey an epicenter of intellectual and economic success for decades." Where to begin? Look, he says, the report itself says nothing happened that was illegal.. George Norcross: The Man Who Destroyed Democracy The 18-story, 394,164 square-foot building will also house The Michaels Organization, NFI, and two new restaurants spearheaded by Philadelphia celebrity chef Michael Schulson. George Norcross (George E. Norcross) was born on 16 March, 1956 in Camden, NJ, is a Businessman. He came in better prepared, familiar with every layer of coverage necessary for an idiosyncratic industry comprised of horses, riders and grandstands. Governors kowtow to his enormous political power. But the particular subject is never important. Neither would Coryell, national carpenters leaders and many, many others. ", Fast-Growing Commerce Bancorp Counts On Political Ties, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Norcross&oldid=1113690264, American political bosses from New Jersey, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia neutral point of view disputes from November 2014, All Wikipedia neutral point of view disputes, Wikipedia articles with possible conflicts of interest from October 2017, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 2 October 2022, at 19:54. Rouhanifard assumed the positions of Chief of Staff to Deputy Chancellor John Primarily, the Office of Portfolio Management with NYCDOE was responsible for transitioning more choice schools (charters, and magnet) into NYCs portfolio of school offerings, while simultaneously targeting and transitioning failing or underperforming public schools for closure. But to be certain Cooper will succeed, he must consider the health of the city as a whole. It truly would be near impossible to overstate the political reach and influence Norcross exerts in the state. None of these contracts have been publicly reported until now. I regretfully do not have my fathers personality.. Says Rendell: When I ran for mayor and governor, George helped me. So far, in Philadelphia, Norcross has received far less scrutiny. [26], Norcross has been associated with businesses that are alleged to have received special treatment from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. However, I think I am going to decline at this time., He declined your request for an interview both on and off the record.. Weve got to make it safer here, he says, and weve got to improve the quality of education, or no one will move here and anyone who achieves any measure of success wont stay.. And he made South Jersey, once a region laughed off by the glitzier, more powerful North Jersey, a force to be reckoned with. He is chairman of the board of trustees for Cooper University Health Care System and Cooper University Hospital both in Camden, New Jersey, and has served as a trustee since 1990. Is this altruism? The most powerful man in New Jersey has never held public office. Its only natural to wonder when my number will come up.. The touring companies for Lady Gaga and Lenny Kravitz alone were paid $1.825 million. Next, Rouhanifard left the classroom and worked as a financial analyst for As the years passed, Norcross sometimes joked that he was different enough from his dadfierce and ambitious, where the Chief was gentle and content; feared, where his dad was belovedthat he wondered if he had been adopted or left on the doorstep. For our first meeting, at Cooper University Hospital, where he is chairman of the board, he dressed in a deep blue suit and French cuffs, his head topped by an avalanche of thick white hair. I understand, as a reporter, why the Palmyra Tapes incident has to be part of the George Norcross narrative. What we have here, and I say we because its not just me, is a sophisticated apparatus that achieves a result.. George Norcross, a wealthy insurance executive, has for decades run New Jersey's most vaunted Democratic political machine, a seemingly unstoppable behemoth that carries huge influence over who. Call 1-212-653-8737, My City Paper , mycitypaper.com deemed failing, he began a 100-day listening tour. I will make one thing clear, we will not make those decisions without dialogue with the families and communities, Rouhanifard said. John Mooney, of NJ Spotlight, asked one of the meetings attendees, their opinion of the new superintendent and his strategic plan, and Elizabeth Ceprero-Abreu, a bilingual teacher in the district for eight years asserted. Amy Kennedy Vanquishes Norcross/Harrison - Insider NJ 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. Officer in the Office of Portfolio Management (OPM). The money, however, wasnt used on an election. Ascending to the chairmanship of the Camden County Democratic Committee at the tender age of 31, Young George, a high-school soccer and basketball player, brought the jock-ready jargon and just-win mentality of the locker room to state politics. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 64 years old? And Norcross plays an enviable role as both the highest bidder and the guy who reaps the greatest proceeds. Retrieved May 26, 2019. His 17-year-old daughter, Lexie, walks in for dinner with an old family friend, a Camden attorney. The elder Norcross died in May 1998; his son's voice gets softer as he pulls mementos out . Alessandra T. Norcross is, according to a September report, 25 years old. We share a bridge. It's now a family affair at The Inquirer and Daily News.The daughter of famous/notorious South Jersey Democratic political boss and newly minted owner of both papers George Norcross is listed on the masthead as a "Director" of Interstate General Media LLC. in Tennessee during the 1980s. speeches highlighting his time teaching in a primary school in a low-income, Increase website traffic and elevate your brand with a CMS Bot business website. The KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy, a five-school, 2,800-student behemoth to be built on land near Cooper, might stabilize the children and families of an entire neighborhood, Norcross says. Docs biggest labor enemy was rendered impotent, and Norcrosss allies are now in charge of the citys carpenters. 1966 Luci Johnson Wedding Party Daughter President Politics Wirephoto 8X10 Photo. In talking about his career, for instance, he betrays no passion for the industry that provided his wealth. (Theres a good number of executives who are in the private sector, who I bounce ideas off of.) But Kenney doesnt talk about Norcross the way you talk about a person you really know. . But he knows his apparatus is always geared up to produce the result. You can say an insider said it.. childhood, that he and his family were Iranian refugees escaping religious On Oct. 25, AmeriHealth Inc. donated $1 million to the super PAC, which three days later paid back the $950,000 loan. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. His promotion of a biomedical research facility and a closer allegiance between Rutgers and Rowan should yield greater academic status and potentially foster future economic spin-offs. I believe in him, but he also needs to believe in us. Five months later, in May 2014 in the same school where he pitched the Camden Commitment to educators and residents, Rouhanifard announced 241 layoffs for Camden schools. At 66 years old, George Norcross height not available right now. George Norcross firm and partners got N.J. tax credits for Camden offices, years after task force scrutiny. Copyright 2023 My City Paper :: New York City News, Food, Sports and Events. 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. Behind all this striving, Norcross has also maintained a network of admirers. 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. Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Claudia Vargas, in Plan for KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy in Camden approved by state, reported on the political dealings associated in the establishing of KCNA. Or so it seemed. It didnt matter that when Norcross arrived, Kenney was minutes away from delivering his first speech as the presumptive next mayor of the fifth-biggest city in America. I wonder if the National Socialist Workers Party supported Adolf Hitler this way on his rise to power? When Philly.com got word of the three-minute private meeting a few days later and posted a story, it set political insiders buzzing. But he also grimaces. The wiretapping ended quickly, however, after it became clear that neither Norcross nor the people with whom he works or associates did anything wrong or untoward and was given a clean bill of health. Neil Gorsuch's Family: His Wife, Children, Parents & Siblings - Heavy.com From 2014 through 2019, he was named one of New Jersey's most powerful people by NJBiz.com. Norcross was with Dan Hilferty, the CEO of Independence Blue Cross, when he got the news. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 16 March. Genealogy for George Howard Norcross, Sr. (1818 - 1896) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. I think George is wrong when he says he cant win, says Paolantonio. [6], Norcross is a member of the Democratic National Committee. The United States Attorney's Office for New Jersey sent Norcross a letter confirming that no action was warranted and the investigation was closed. The family has plans to. George Norcross slipped in through the back door. his time on Wall St., or his executive jobs at NYCDOE and in Newark. We both say, Lets stop by and say hi to Jim.. [13], Norcross is the executive chairman of insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm Conner Strong & Buckelew, where he has worked since 1979. Biography. Volks article explains that George Norcross, along with brothers Donald, and Phillip grew up in neighboring Pennsauken, and became exposed to politics through their father who was a local political actor and union leader. And there is: Norcross grins about as much as youd expect from a fabulously wealthy, healthy man. Mary Ellen Norcross. When the Philadelphia Business Journal asked a spokesman at PhillyVoice whether Norcross owned the site, he declined to confirm that or anything else about PhillyVoice. To this day, the website refuses to say whether Norcross was an investor. If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. There was plenty of journalistic handwringing over the fact that a powerful political figure now partly controlled a major local media company. His daughter, Lexie Norcross, helped run the Philly.com website, which often uses celebrity news and other teasers to draw online clicks. One would think there might be great joy in this life, coptering over the common man to make millions; telling the governor what you want and knowing hell pay attention; building a new cancer center and erecting a prestigious new medical schoolthe first in New Jersey in 35 yearsin Camden, the land he feels bound to by blood, the land that needs a champion like him. He is regarded as New Jersey's most powerful unelected leader. 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. Norcross studied the city. George Norcrosss income source is mostly from being a successful Businessman. Its a deep irony that Norcross, so often singled out for criticism in the media, routinely produces candidates who win newspaper endorsements from the Inquirer and Courier-Post. Plus this company, plus whatever else Im doing, and you know Im nuts, Im gonna have a heart attack.. Keep em coming; Camdens kids need you! The Norcross name is very familiar to virtually any Democrat with designs on rising through the political ranks in South Jersey. Months later in January 2012, the UHA was passed. He wouldnt be where he is today without Norcross. I am an aggressive Type-A-on-steroids personality, he says. He served on the board of and was the chairman of United Way. (It was also extended, two years ago, for $500,000.) And so Norcross has turned his sights on all of Camden, Americas poorest city. Afterward, the registrant suddenly changed to a mysterious company called WWB Holdings, LLC. Goldman Sachs and as an associate at AEA Investors, LP on Wall St. From there, Illustration by Tim OBrien. In New Jersey, health insurance companies and other corporations from state-regulated industries are barred from making campaign contributions in state and local elections. George Norcross, the state's most powerful political boss, stepped from behind the curtain and offered rare public testimony on Monday at a Senate hearing that is destined to be remembered only. Notice of the issued tax credits was buried in a pair of Excel spreadsheets on a government website. To his credit, one person who does agree to be interviewed for this story is Jim Kenney. She cant even call his office to complain. He pores over the relevant data and, like a military commander, plots out a campaign that will bring victory. For the next 20 years, Norcross focused on the battlefield of New Jersey politics, to the point that he is now said to own South Jersey. Johnny Doc, Kenneys most potent ally, was also Coryells fiercest political enemy. Lexie Norcross, 26, daughter of former co-owner George Norcross, who lead Philly.com, has left her position, and sent a good-bye email sent out to colleagues over the weekend, spokesman Daniel Fee confirmed. It will be a political firefight. Likewise with "Director" Drew A. Katz, Interstate General Media co-owner Lewis Katz's son. NOBODY IN THIS town wants to talk about George Norcross. George Howard Norcross, Jr. son.