N.J. County Bans `The Sopranos'

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) â€” TV mob boss Tony Soprano got whacked in his own backyard. <br><br>Essex County officials have denied the award-winning HBO series ``The Sopranos'' a permit to film scenes

Monday, December 18th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) â€” TV mob boss Tony Soprano got whacked in his own backyard.

Essex County officials have denied the award-winning HBO series ``The Sopranos'' a permit to film scenes on county-owned property, citing noise and safety concerns. County Executive James W. Treffinger took the rejection a step farther on Saturday, saying he would never grant a permit for the series.

``I have no intention of granting a permit for our taxpayer-owned facilities for a profit-making enterprise which depicts an ethnic group in stereotypical fashion,'' Treffinger said.

County officials cited safety concerns because of a nearby deer hunt in the rejection of HBO's request last week to shoot three days and nights of gunfight scenes in the South Mountain Reservation.

But Treffinger and Sheriff Armando Fontoura also said they disapprove of the show's depiction of Italian-Americans.

``I'm constantly having to defend my county and state,'' Fontoura said. ``I don't think the show is good for Essex County. It's not accurate. That's not what we're all about.''

Essex County is a favorite location for the show; the fictional Tony Soprano lives in North Caldwell, creator David Chase's hometown.

HBO spokeswoman Tobe Becker said Essex officials never mentioned their objection to the show's content.

Essex County's rejection of the filming permit isn't the only backlash the program has faced. Organizers of this year's New York City Columbus Day parade refused ``Sopranos''-related floats. And William Paterson University withdrew permission for the show to film on campus after a professor scheduled to lecture about negative Italian-American images protested.

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On the Net:

The Sopranos: http://sopranos.hbo.com/sopranos/

Essex County: http://co.essex.nj.us/