Bayonne Assemblyman William Sampson (D-31) won’t get his full-time job as a longshoreman back after the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor upheld a prior decision that stripped him of his license for excessive absences.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The commission voted unanimously (2-0) to not reconsider their December 21st ruling that said Sampson, a crane operator at the Global Container Terminal until recently, could not renew his longshoreman’s license due to excessive absences.
The New Jersey Monitor, who first reported the story earlier today, wrote that a memorandum of understanding on the decision would be available at a later date to be determined.
In light of the decision, Sampson made a public appeal for the commission to reconsider and the International Longshoreman’s Association Local 1588, his union, voted to spend $50,000 in an effort to get his license back earlier this month, as HCV first reported.
Neither Sampson of Local 1588 returned inquiries seeking comment on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old freshman state legislator, who had unsuccessfully argued that his duties in Trenton prevented him from working at port, was Mayor Jimmy Davis’ selection to replace Assembly Majority Whip Nick Chiaravalloti in early 2021.
The falling out between Chiaravalloti and Davis has never been explained and likely never will since the Hudson County Democratic Organization has a longstanding policy of deferring to local mayors on their legislative delegation picks.