Below are some key highlights from our latest Breakfast Talk! Click the links to learn more about the panelists, and to follow their ongoing work!

Joseph Sciorra, the Director for Academic and Cultural Programs at the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, Queens College (City University of New York) discussed the legacy of labor activist Pete Panto who was murdered for his union activities in 1939. Sciorra dove into the history of labor conditions at the time of Panto’s death, conditions that would come under public scrutiny and lead to the creation of the New York – New Jersey Waterfront Commission. For more information on Panto and Dr. Sciorra’s research on the labor activist, check out this New York Times article.

Peter Catapano, a professor of History at New York City College of Technology (CUNY), delved into the history of the NY-NJ Waterfront Commission and the extent of the crime that took place on the docks. He outlined specific depictions of criminal elements that arose in newspapers, films, and books of those times. He spoke about the investigations that led to the establishment of the Waterfront Commission and ushered in a host of regulations.

Ry Rivard, a journalist who covers energy, the environment, and transportation in New Jersey for Politico, gave the contemporary context of the shipping industry as it relates to the Waterfront Commission. As New Jersey has moved to leave the compact, there are now questions as to whether the Waterfront Commission is still needed. Rivard broke down the issue from the perspectives of both New York and New Jersey. You can read more about the ongoing legal battle on the future of the Waterfront Commission in his article in Politico.