the NYCDOE website, the OPM, Office of School Design and Charter Partnerships Norcross was named the second most powerful man in the New Jersey business world by NJBiz.com in 2014, 2015, and 2016, and made the list's top five in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Says Rendell: When I ran for mayor and governor, George helped me. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, George Norcross III, has declared himself as a Florida resident. She was not terminated but voluntarily left after her ownership share, along with her fathers, was bought out by Katz, Lenfest and their partners. What might Norcross actually do for Philadelphia? Nothing he does, says historian Howard Gillette, is all bad. Norcross was with Dan Hilferty, the CEO of Independence Blue Cross, when he got the news. But can the guy with the cigar and the horns really save a city, or can he only serve himself? A 2013 article authored by Philadelphia Magazine reporter Steve Volk entitled, George Norcross: The Man who Destroyed Democracy, profiled George Norcross III, who is commonly referred to as the most powerful Democrat in New Jersey politics. Today, OPM is referred to 42 (Extensions of Remarks - March 16, 2016)", "George Norcross Jr., Labor And Civic Leader", "Carol C. Norcross, 84, advocate for seniors, matriarch of a powerful South Jersey family", "Norcross to be sworn in to House seat on Wednesday", "Philadelphia Restauranteur Plans to Open Two Restaurants Along Camden Waterfront", "MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper Celebrates Five Years", "Cooper honored for its Veterans VIP program", Partnership of Rowan University and Rutgers-Camden, "George Norcross: The good works of the Dark Lord (Moran)", "U.S. Attorney ends speculation about Norcross", "Attorney Kevin Sheehan is Mentioned in Reference to "Unregistered Lobbying" Found by NJEDA Task Force", "Judge Rules Against George Norcross Efforts to Stop NJEDA Task Force", "Governor's Task Force on EDA Tax Incentives", "George E. Norcross III, Executive Chairman", "South Jersey Democrat is Among the State's Wealthiest; George Norcross III made njbiz.com's list at No. , money, salary, income, and assets. In June that year, the state approved the partnership. Or self-interest? In June that year, the state approved the partnership. George Norcross, Jr. was active in the community of Camden and a board member of Cooper University Hospital. 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. Why would carpenters in Jersey give a damn about Kenney? multi-cultural society. But his body language conveys his feeling: His butt shifts suddenly in his seat. 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. He pores over the relevant data and, like a military commander, plots out a campaign that will bring victory. I think if you know George and you spend time around him, says one longtime friend, attorney Arthur Makadon, its obvious that hes just a man who is looking over his shoulder., George Norcross Jr., whom admirers called Big George and Chief, was a longtime AFL-CIO president. In 2012, Norcrosss firm scored a $630,000 contract with the School District of Philadelphia. Months later in January 2012, the UHA was passed. Both Doc and George need to be the top dog in the room.. Not because they like me, but because they have no choice. He talks about his legacy: No one will ever, ever again not include or look down or double-cross South Jersey. Norcross revered and adored his father, George E. Norcross Jr., known as "Chief" to his four sons. Next, Rouhanifard left the classroom and worked as a financial analyst for Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Additionally, Lenfest announced today that Brian Tierney, the co-owner of the Daily News and Inquirer from 2006 to 2010, will serve the publications as a consultant as they move forward without Katz. daughter. And the stands they take on the issues reflect the values of any true blue-dog Democrat.. There was plenty of journalistic handwringing over the fact that a powerful political figure now partly controlled a major local media company. A crooked smile shades his face pink. 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. On Oct. 25, AmeriHealth Inc. donated $1 million to the super PAC, which three days later paid back the $950,000 loan. Further current residents question whether their children, will, in the future, still be residents to even attend the Lanning Squares newest school, in the most rapidly developing neighborhood. Norcross is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Cooper University Health Care System and Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey and has served as a trustee since 1990. White for eleven months and then moved on to the post of Chief of Executive In September 2015, Norcross was announced as one of the local investors in The Camden Waterfront, a $1 billion development on Camden's waterfront initially developed by Liberty Property Trust and designed by Robert A.M. Stern. In 2013, Cooper University Health Care in Camden, which Norcross chairs, bought a 20 percent stake in AmeriHealth New Jersey. son. Christie, Cerf and a national superintendent search firm Ray and Associates, selected Rouhanifard for Camden from a pool of more than 100 applicants, indicating the Governors Office and state DOE never intended on Camdens school board to pick their eventual district leader at all. Johnny Doc, Kenneys most potent ally, was also Coryells fiercest political enemy. 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. Website design, managed and hosted by DEP Design, depdesign.com, a New York interactive agency. Norcross sued the State of New Jersey to try stop the highly critical report from becoming public. [15] In September 2015, Norcross was announced as one of the local investors in The Camden Waterfront, a $1 billion development on Camden's waterfront initially developed by Liberty Property Trust and designed by Robert A.M. [9] His mother died at the age of 84 in 2016. I have a dear friend who is a strict Democratic voter. Kenney tells me he has known Norcross for years (Fifteen, 20?), but he doesnt share any anecdotes or insights about the man. He also communicated that from his tour, parents did not care about the charter or public designation, but that they only want good schools for their children a theme Rouhanifard repeated often during his initial public meetings. It didnt matter that Kenney, in fact, still had a few lines left to memorize. But if a Camden resident doesnt like what Norcross is doing, what recourse does she have? And the Chief revealed the meanings behind veiled words and silences. Three much smaller donations from regulated industries two casino companies and another health insurance company also helped fund the event. He availed himself to the political staff on state and local levels, including Mayor Redd and George Norcross making numerous public appearances at city ceremonies, athletic events, and ribbon cuttings. Norcross, in his statement, said the three companies at the tower, known as Triad1828 Centre, and their leaders "have invested more . [26], Norcross has been associated with businesses that are alleged to have received special treatment from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. 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." When Philly.com got word of the three-minute private meeting a few days later and posted a story, it set political insiders buzzing. And he made South Jersey, once a region laughed off by the glitzier, more powerful North Jersey, a force to be reckoned with. his time on Wall St., or his executive jobs at NYCDOE and in Newark. The July 28 show on the Camden waterfront was sponsored by PhillyVoice.com, which is run by Donald Norcross' niece, Lexie, the daughter of South Jersey power broker George Norcross. He wouldnt be where he is today without Norcross. When Phil Murphy hired a team of high-powered lawyers to investigate how the state doled out tax breaks, the move was viewed as a declaration of war on the powerful South Jersey political machine. It truly would be near impossible to overstate the political reach and influence Norcross exerts in the state. Now, we learn that the great champion of South Jersey Democrats, George Norcross III, has declared himself as a Florida resident and, presumably, a Democratic voter there as well. 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. 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. The apparatus Norcross speaks of adapts to win. Apparently, you can take the friend out of Jersey, but not vice versa. educator, community, and student concerns. It plants lawn signs! The pieces only came together after Kenney won the primary election: Norcrosss fingerprints were all over the money. He is now said to have helped elect 50-some county freeholders, state lawmakers and Congressmen currently in office in New Jersey. David L. Cohen, a Norcross friend for 25 years. 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. And why would they cross their Philly brethren in Carpenters Union Local 8, which was backing Williams in the race? And there is: Norcross grins about as much as youd expect from a fabulously wealthy, healthy man. The Camden Rising concert, which was meant to showcase Camden to visiting delegates during the Democratic National Convention in nearby Philadelphia, also displayed the power of the Norcross family, with Democratic U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross helping to introduce the acts. Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. That was hardly obvious at the time, which looks to have been the point. AmeriHealth Inc., one of the parent companies of (AmeriHealth New Jersey), agreed to sponsor the July 28, 2016, concert, Camden Rising, AmeriHealth New Jersey spokeswoman Jill Roman said. We all want the same thing, whats best for the children. After thorough investigations and significant media coverage, he was not charged. 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. George was loved by all and was known as the Gentle Giant. This is George Norcross were talking about the widely feared, fantastically wealthy all-powerful boss of the South Jersey Democratic Party and when George Norcross wants a meeting, he gets a meeting. ", 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. So helping out Doc and Kenney was a way to weaken Coryell. Norcross was born on March 16, 1956, in Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey. It will be a political firefight. 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. In the mid-1930s, Gregor became the mistress of the married vice chancellor of Austria, the Austro . $17.99 + $4.99 shipping. Kenney also recently reappointed Heather Steinmiller, a senior V.P. And they say his primary motivation isnt power, but his love for his father, which they describe as moving in its sincerity and unusual in its depth. teaching experience and lack of state credentials, his arrival in Camden had Though Norcross was never accused of wrongdoing, the tapes are chilling. Mary Ellen Norcross. TRENTON, N.J. It took three decades for Democratic power broker George Norcross to build one of the most effective and influential political machines in the country. [22] In November 2014, Cooper and Norcross were awarded the "Seven Seals" award by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve in recognition of the program. He wouldnt talk to me for this story. None of these contracts have been publicly reported until now. According to We all think we know, he says. He recruited John Adler, a Harvard graduate, to run against Laskin in 1991. Probably because he thought I would be a good mayor, he says. He one of the Richest Businessman who was born in American. Hes not. [21], 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. The massive number of government jobs and contracts that used to exist just dont anymore, he says. He served on the board of and was the chairman of United Way. By contrast, Katz's longtime partner is Inquirer city. + $4.99 shipping. Norcross Jr. was active in the community of Camden and a board member of Cooper University Hospital. He might even have been prosecuted a decade ago if not for a bungled criminal investigation. Published as Norcrossing the Delaware in the May 2016 issue of Philadelphia magazine. UNC-Chapel Hill, and during his time there was president of the schools Stern. 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. Things Aint Always what They Seem: Our Society is in Deep Trouble and Oligarchy is the Blame, What the Fight For Camden(NJ) Schools Truly is(a Struggle for Our Survival), Buy Education Reform and Gentification in the Age of #CamdenRising: Public Education and Urban Redevelopment in the Camden, NJ, Education Reform and Gentrification in the Age of #CamdenRising Public Education and Urban Redvelopment in Camden, NJ, The Myth and Traction of the Failing Urban School Narrative, Camden Education Association 840 Cooper St. Camden, NJ. Its only natural to wonder when my number will come up.. 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! He played the role of matchmaker, of deal-broker. Stay up to date with the latest materialGet posts via email. From left: Bob Brady, Jim Kenney, George Norcross, Lexie Norcross, Steve Sweeney, John Dougherty, Ed Coryell (in water). Outfitted in a suit and bow tie, Young George sat quietly in meeting spaces all over New Jersey. Ron DeSantis. 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. WWB Holdings owns media site PhillyVoice, where George Norcross' daughter, Lexie Norcross, is founder and CEO. [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. New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) during the Bloomberg years, In its Oct. 4 filing with the New Jersey State Election Law Enforcement Commission, the super PAC said it would dissolve its operations in New Jersey. He knew less about how politics is actually practiced than I did., So Young George dropped out and found his way, ultimately making more money, in the insurance industry, and garnering more power, in politics, than the Chief ever even sought. They werent as well-funded or as sexy, and they were backed by known entities: the teachers union and Johnny Doc. South Jersey Assemblyman Troy Singleton is the assistant to the executive secretary-treasurer of the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters. The money, however, wasnt used on an election. Patricia Mueller, a friend of Norcrosss, is the treasurer for the Carpenters Fund for Growth and Progress. when they hid Pence and his family in a bunker. And that said, if George Norcross came at me with some money, to be part of another campaign, Id do it, gratefully. One is simply that Norcross is moving into Philly because its good for business. She cant even call his office to complain. And the police forcewhich has at least temporarily waived the civil-service exam process in order to staff upwill become a giant patronage mill, churning out government jobs for good little Camden County Democrats. $17.99 + $4.99 shipping. The image he conjures is of a political Transformer: Its a car! Dougherty is going to regret helping Norcross establish a beachhead in Philadelphia, because theres no way this alliance is going to last, one observer says. The neighborhood in which KNCA is situated is one where the most visible signs of redevelopment with massive building construction, home rehabilitation, and rising home prices are apparent. Glenwood, Utah - Ellison Lon Norcross Sr. "Red" passed away peacefully at his home in Glenwood on January 5, 2021 at the age of 73. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Norcross was named the second most powerful man in the New Jersey business world by NJBiz.com in 2014, 2015, and 2016,[14] and made the list's top ten list in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. George. If George Norcross comes into Philadelphia big-time and does the same type of things as a corporate citizen as hes done for South Jersey, that would be a plus., Colandus Francis, president of the Camden County NAACP, disagrees, to say the least: Why is Camden one of the poorest cities in the country if hes done so much for Camden? [1], Norcross has been a prominent political leader in New Jersey for more than 30 years, since before he became chairman of the Camden County Democratic Committee in 1989, a position he held until 1993. I am an aggressive Type-A-on-steroids personality, he says. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Genealogy for George Howard Norcross, Sr. (1818 - 1896) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. 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. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). (He has a great vision for Camden.) Kenney even says he may ask Norcross for advice from time to time. My friend still votes for Democrats, and lately has been lamenting the GOP administration of Gov. Norcross has a daughter, Lexie, and a son, Alex. Jennifer Beck, a Republican legislator from Monmouth County, has since proposed a bill to plug up this hole in the public trough. The Chief died, in 1998, with that promise unfulfilled. And Im getting older now. But it appears that without Norcross, the most pivotal donation of the 2015 mayoral race never would have happened. So far, in Philadelphia, Norcross has received far less scrutiny. Im also guessing that the Secret Service was scared that day when they hid Pence and his family in a bunker. Apparently, you can take the friend out of Jersey, but not vice versa. 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.. His daughter, Lexie Norcross, helped run the Philly.com website, which often uses celebrity news and other teasers to draw online clicks. If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. Thats just how significant, how full of implicit meaning, a meeting with Norcross is. I know I felt terrorized when outgoing President Donald Trump urged the unruly mob down the street to the Capitol to fight like hell. Then, some demonstrators put up a hangmans noose designed for then-Vice President Mike Pence, because he was doing his constitutional duty to accept the 2020 electoral votes in favor of the winner, Joe Biden. But the particular subject is never important. Then Kenney, fresh off his private chat with a walking, talking embodiment of the one percent, took the stage, and his kaleidoscopic mix of supporters went nuts: prominent African-Americans and white working-class voters, LGBT leaders and immigrants, millennial fanboys and old heads. high-poverty New York City borough where he noticed children with a strong Afterward, the registrant suddenly changed to a mysterious company called WWB Holdings, LLC. Later that year, a journalism start-up called PhillyVoice launched, with Norcrosss 20-something daughter Lexie at the helm. 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. Many believe that in exchange for Christie not investigating Norcross and DiVincenzo, at a time when Christie showed a willingness to prosecute even minor infractions and perpetrators of the public trust including an Asbury Park councilman for getting his driveway paved for free. Christie allowed the two biggest powerbrokers in the state to escape similar investigative scrutiny in exchange for their tacit support for his gubernatorial candidacy, or at least, their less-than-zealous support for Jon Corzines re-election campaign in 2009. Isaiah Wesley Norcross. But AmeriHealth Inc., the parent company of the health insurer AmeriHealth New Jersey, donated $1 million to a super PAC that has spent millions to help Democratic lawmakers. The junior Katz is also the CEO of the similarly named Interstate Outdoor Advertising. For many years, he has been named one of the most powerful non-elected political figures in New Jersey by the website PolitickerNJ.com. AmeriHealth Inc.s donation did not pay for the entire event. The article details that much of the money designated for disbursement is targeted to reward companies that donated to Christies campaigns, the Republican Governors Association while Christie was Chairman or companies with ties to George Norcross III., Norcross, in addition to being the Chairman of Connor, Strong & Buckelew, one of the largest insurance firms in the country, is also the long-serving Chairman of Cooper Hospital that recently received $40 million from the state in 2015 NJEDA funds. teaching experience at Public School 192 in Harlem through Teach for America. And he does win. 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. Wherever he can get it, he wants more., But the truth is more nuanced. By evaluating access to high-quality schools, the demand for educational services and the supply of space available for those services, Office of Portfolio Management strives to develop the optimal distribution of schools and educational programs. When DRPA issued its final disbursements in 2011, Cooper University Hospital received $6 million. 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. 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.