>> Funding for NJ Spotlight provided by the New Jersey education Association, RWJ Barnabas health, let us be healthy together, and New Jersey realtors, the voice of real estate in New Jersey.

>> Atlantic City Mayor Marty small denies any wrongdoing after authorities charged the mayor and his wife with abusing their teenage daughter.

He is not the first mayor to find himself in hot water.

Ask if he were convicted of those crimes, they would rise to the level of losing his office.

>> Ghost guns, clamping down on 3D technology and illegal firearm trafficking.

>> The influx of tens of thousands of illegal weapons poses an obvious danger to the safety, stability, and security of our communities.

>> Your voice, your vote, Andy Kim leads in the latest poll to unseat the state's and Battle Senior Senator Bob Menendez might still have the staying power even as his trial looms.

Party then your crackdown, how farmers are fighting new restrictions that could limit their event planning.

>> Farmers are fending for themselves and they do not have the time or the understanding of where they should start when they have to deal with the Township.

>> NJ Spotlight Spotlight news starts right now.

♪ >> From NJPBS Studios, this is NJ Spotlight News with Breonna Vannozzi.

Joanna: some shocking news out of Atlantic City, Mayor Marty small and his wife are facing charges related to the alleged physical and emotional abuse of their 16-year-old daughter.

The mayor is accused by prosecutors of beating her with a broom until she was unconscious and repeatedly punching her in the legs along with threats of earth slamming her down the stairs before actually throwing her to the ground and threatening to smack the Weed out of her head.

His wife who is the superintendent of schools in Atlantic City is accused of repeatedly beating her daughter, dragging her by her hair, and striking her with a belt.

They told us in a statement they are innocent of all charges and that this is not about public correction or misconduct, but he joins a long line of beleaguered Atlantic City leaders accused of misconduct while in office.

He to talk about this and why Atlantic City has a long history of corruption and complication is Mike, the director of the Institute for New Jersey politics.

Thank you so much for joining us today to talk about this.

To be fair, the mayor has not been accused of any kind of misconduct or corruption charges in his official office but this is a complicated story nonetheless.

The principle of his daughter's school is now accused of withholding charges of allegations of abuse to the state.

Something she is required to do.

She ran his reelection campaign in 2021.

How now does the mayor govern Atlantic City with these charges?

With all of these complicated stories hanging over his head?

Mike: It will be difficult for him.

Until he can get resolution on this criminal trial, New Jersey law allows for the forfeiture a public office for crimes of the second or the third degree with many of the crimes in these -- he is charged with our crimes of the second or third degree.

If he is convicted, they would rise to the level of him losing his office and it does not really so much a matter that it does not involve the office itself because of the seriousness of the crime that is involved here.

Joanna: Some of those charges aggravated assault, simple assault, making terroristic threats, also, his wife is facing many similar charges.

She is the superintendent of schools, another complicated layer.

What are we looking at in terms of the timing of what a case like this could look like?

A trial could look like?

How long could he be governing with this hanging over his head?

Mike: I do not think that we see very quick resolutions to matters that are not in municipal court.

You are talking about in all likelihood the rest of the calendar year, if not next year going into next year, the tricky part of that for him is that he is facing potentially his reelection next year, his term is up next year and this could be a real factor in whether or not he runs or wins another term as mayor.

Joanna: When you look at Atlantic City as a whole, he is many in a long line of free conduct -- misconduct charges that have come down the line.

What is it about this city that makes it so right for corruption from -- or misconduct?

Mike: The city's political scandal problems a day to the beginning of legalized gambling.

What I think you can say about the five mayors who have been facing criminal charges while in office seem were for public corruption and others were involved in corruption, a public office, some of the more personal in nature, the last mayor who was indicted was about a personal embezzlement of funds of the youth basketball team he had founded.

The mayor before that I got into trouble was over -- that got into trouble was over falsifying military accomplishments.

It is not always a public corruption charge but it does not make it any less serious.

Joanna: Let us talk about his wife who is the superintendent of schools, could have been hurt -- what could happen to her position?

Mike: They have less protection than the mayor has according to the law.

Counsel cannot remove the mayor, unless it is like involving attendance.

The superintendent or the principal do not have those same protections.

They have a due process right but they do not have the right to conduct themselves with impunity.

You can expect to see charges in which depends on the willingness of the school board members to move on those employees.

It remains to be seen what kind of political welder is on the school board but it will be tough for them to ignore charges involving a student.

Joanna: Thank you for the insight.

Mike: Thank you.

Joanna: In a battle to get illegal guns off of the street, ghost guns are the hardest to track.

Technology might actually be making it worse.

Brenda Flanagan attended a hearing today to learn how 3D printing of guns along with gun parts sold on the black market are wreaking havoc on our communities.

>> Investigators played audio of multiple shots fired in Trenton, so-called numerous discharge event they claimed is part of a rising statewide threat posed by easily obtained ghost guns.

They are assembled from kits or created out of plastic by 3D printers, at the weapons are cheap, easy to get, and used repeatedly in multiple crimes.

Agency testified in a statehouse hearing.

>> Ghost guns are associated with shootings, robberies, incidents of domestic violence, and road rage.

They were recovered along with high-capacity magazines.

>> Experts told the state commission of investigation police went from recovering one ghost gun a week in 2019 to one per day last year.

Click on select serial numbers but can be.

Traced by their bullet casings.

detectives discovered individual weapons like this popular polymer 80 ghost gun were used in multiple crimes in a single neighborhood.

>> Five shootings occurred over a four month period.

The first two shootings were the first location days apart, 11 victims, two were killed.

The weapon recovered during the search warrant.

>> They identify 21 guns used in 159 shootings all across New Jersey and say organized crime buys gun parts and b -- in b ulk and that 3D prints are easy to download.

>> An idiot can put together this plastic gun.

It is like IKEA furniture.

It comes with the blueprint.

It comes with a little chip to do it.

You do not have to be mechanically inclined to do it.

You drill a couple of holes, cut the plastic, and within a couple of hours somebody has a gun.

>> The Internet also offers black-market switches, a small plastic piece that when inserted into a regular firearm transforms it into an automatic weapon.

Often accompanied by plastic extended magazines.

>> The more bullets that are fired in an incident the more likely that the gunfire killed someone and its bystanders, or causes additional damage.

>> Switches were available on popular video sharing websites both options appear to ship directly to any requested address.

They compromise weapons by making them less reliable and less accurate and more dangerous to bystanders and the general public.

There is no reason a law-abiding citizen possesses a switch.

>> Switches are easy to print and expert to testify that the technology is outstripping statutes.

>> The influx of illegal weapons poses an obvious danger to the safety, stability, and security of our communities.

What may be less obvious is how much havoc even one or two of these guns can wreak in a community.

>> Experts testified New Jersey needs reforms and stronger statutes to address ghost guns, switches, and gun violence.

They will issue a report with recommendations in a few months.

At the Statehouse, I am Brenda, NJ Spotlight News.

Joanna: Andy Kim has a significant lead over both of his challengers for U.S. Senate.

The po puts him atl nine percentage points higher than his Republican challengersl, Christina Serrano Glassner and Curtis Bouchard, but those numbers are without the embattled Menendez in the list.

This race gets much more interesting.

He has until early June to declare a run as an independent and if he does, he cuts Andy Kim's lead in half.

He is -- he appeals to Hispanic and black voters who are split on who they will vote on if he is not in the race.

What is the latest with the Menendez court battle?

>> Late last year in an effort to explain half $1 million in cash, prosecutors say they found in his home, shoeboxes, duffel bags, and a suit jacket pockets, Senator Bob Menendez told a story that was hard for many to understand, much less believe.

>> I have drawn from my personal credit union savings account for the better part of 30 years $400 every week in cash.

While that may seem old-fashioned, or some people may think of it as crazy, the reality is that the government has those records.

They have the accounts that show that.

They chose not to use it.

>> Supposedly fear a government confiscation was the motivation there.

In response to the defense motion to squash the money evidence, prosecutors said on Friday that some of the cash was wrapped in $10,000 bands from a bank where neither Menendez nor his wife had an account.

>> The motions filed by the defense are called motions in advance of trial and the defense attorneys are trying to basically exclude as much as possible that is introduced before the jury.

In response to the government, they are saying that is not the right way to go.

It is relevant for the jury to consider.

>> A prosecutor said the senator's defense team has so far unsuccessfully trying to keep damaging evidence away from an eventual jury as the news of the motions allows that same evidence to seep into their minds.

>> Excluding a lavish lifestyle like the co-conspirators, excluding the fact that the co-conspirators were not registered as foreign agents under the act, and terms as Senator Bob Menendez, he is trying to exclude evidence like the gold bars on the basis it is speculative evidence.

That is in my personal opinion not going to carry any water.

>> The motion to delay until July, she deals with some undisclosed medical issues.

But yesterday it was prosecutors who moved forward a delay of the senator's trial citing conflicts with the representation of some of the other codefendants.

The defense says they are actually ready to go next month.

That is a flip-flop on the part of both sides.

What can it mean for the senator's future?

>> I just do not think that he is a realistic politician, he did not get where he is with flights of fancy, that is not in the cards for him.

His Senate career is coming to an end.

My guess and my strong suspicion would be that he -- his goal has to be to get himself out of as much legal trouble as he possibly can.

That would be the kind of deal I would think you would be looking for.

>> Most experts assume our emotions are likely as prosecutors keep the pressure on and the defense looks for safety involves -- valves to relieve it.

The establishment continues to shake from the upheaval of the case.

NJ Spotlight.

Joanna: As legislators hammer out the details on how to fund our schools next year, voters and Toms River and Seaside Heights are taking the matter into their own hands.

And it is being held to see if the two districts should merge and if they do, he could bring millions of dollars in state aid back to Toms River that has been on the losing end of the school funding formula for years now.

Not everyone is on board with the move.

Ted is in Toms River to hear from education leaders and community members as they cast their votes.

>> Depending on how the election goes, Seaside Heights could lose its only school, Hugh J Boyd elementary.

>> It is a win-win situation for taxpayers and the community.

>> I think it is a travesty.

>> The planets on the ballot which could put Seaside Heights into the Toms River school district.

Suzanne and Sherry and teach at Hugh J Boyd and are president for the teachers union there.

>> It has been here for years and it has provided so many services for our students and we fear that they will not get it over the bridge.

>> If it passes Boyd elementary would stay open for five more years, or until enrollment drops below 125 students.

>> We had a proximately a high 250 -- I high figure.

The mayor used to be the superintendent in spots word.

He said it would be a boost for local students.

>> They will have a diverse curriculum which is pre-k through eight and a dessert that has a straightforward curriculum.

Our kids take to sixth grade and go to Central with other surrounding towns and the curriculum we have is not equal.

>> It is sending us to east over, supposedly in our test scores are higher than theirs.

It kinda proves the fact that we are getting sent over the bridge for a better education when the school they are sending us to has lower test scores than we do.

>> We are digging out of post-COVID and our funding issues over the last year has been having an impact on time river scores but east over, it is a school that needs a TSI or improvement.

I know that you J Boyd scores have come and TSI.

>> Refers to a state program for underperforming schools.

The Toms River superintendent does not deny that Boyd elementary students have higher test scores than where they would go.

He says bringing more students to Toms River brings more state resources.

>> It will bring 35 or $40 million over the next 10 years in tax levy revenue that comes from Seaside Heights that will benefit all of the children.

>> They are skeptical that taxpayers will benefit long-term.

>> Ask any community that started sharing with another school district and they go and it comes to equalized taxes and we want to pay more in the end.

When you go to a community that pays 51%.

>> They are afraid the longer travel time means that they were not participate in as many activities as their Toms River classmates.

>> We fear our students may not participate in the after school activities, PDA functions, concerts, there is no transportation to and from.

>> Transportation is consistent as a regional school district.

They become an extension of our family.

>> Seaside students go to Central regional high school, the acting superintendent tells us that if the referendum passes, the Central regional school district will be left with a $3 million hole in its budget.

Our community should not be on the hook to assist neighboring towns and school districts who should really be looking at other options at long-term plans and better manage their funds and provide for their own constituents.

>> Voters in Toms River and Seaside Heights must approve it.

NJ Spotlight news.

Joanna: As Myla on business report, farmers in New Jersey were thrilled when the governor signed a law allowing them to host events on their farms like weddings, raising revenue.

Farmers in Howell Township might face a new set of restrictions on those events if a new ordinance passes requiring them to pay for expensive permits.

We then visited a few of those forms to hear their concerns.

>> Our feed bill here every month is just around $4000.

The farrier could be $800.

>> It has been an expensive year for Stephanie, she owns under 14 acres of land on her farm I know yet which rescues several different types of animals including horses.

>> They need a lot of care, when we get them initially, it does cost a lot of money.

>> That is why she was excited to take advantage of a bill that would allow farms to hold special events.

A preserved farm that produces agricultural or horticultural products worth more than $10,000 annually may hold up to a maximum of 26 special occasion events per capital under year -- calendar year.

Six of which may have 250 or more guests in attendance.

>> We can have fundraisers to help horses.

>> She was hoping to use the form to host fundraisers but that changed when the Howell Township proposed an ordinance that would regulate special events on farms.

The proposal would require events with more that 30 people to obtain a potentially costly site plan approval.

>> What keeps me up at night is there is an accident on a farm or an event that I approved.

>> He is a director of community development and land use for Howell Township and he says the process has been tedious as they have to take into account all parties involved.

>> It tasks us, the township, with certain things.

Competing interests.

Businesses that are doing this activity to have gone through the approval process.

We want to be fair to them as well.

There is paramount first and foremost, health and safety.

Forms are never built to be a banquet hall.

We want to make sure that the public is going to this property, where they had never had before, utilities are worked out, the facilities where the bathrooms are, where the food is coming from, we want to make sure it is safe for the property owner and people visiting the site and we have a responsibility to all of the taxpayers of Howell Township.

>> Stop all of these permit fees.

>> The struggles of sisters Giuliana and form a, the two alone --norma, the two alone produce honey, fruits, and vegetables.

>> We have the utility bills and not just that, all of the supplies we need to fill our jar.

It was a struggle, we did close, but we did pick ups online.

>> Roadside pickups, we did deliveries for elderly customers.

>> When COVID hit they say they were forced to pivot to stay afloat and have been struggling ever since.

They are concerned the new resources could impact their livelihood and the sisters say they have been hosting 2320 five vendors for events, bringing in 500 people.

>> I have a big barn and to bring in 30 people, it is nonsense.

>> Members of the advisory committee argue that farmers have been left out of the process and stress why their suggestions are important.

>> Farmers do not have the time or the understanding of where they should start when they have to deal with the Township or legislation.

With Trenton.

>> Howard says the council is working tirelessly to make sure that the proposal is fair to everyone.

He expects by early May the ordinance will be introduced and the town will hold a public meeting.

He is optimistic it will be approved by the end of May.

For NJ Spotlight news, I am Raven Santana.

Joanna: A peanut butter and jelly pot brownie, the first cannabis food item to be sold in New Jersey, it is the product of butacake, a black women owned business to sell edible products.

They started with dissolvable oral strips in December of last year and are now ready to bring their brownie to at least 10 dispensaries around the state.

The timing is interesting because the cannabis regulatory commission has not yet rolled out state wide regulations for a barter edible market that could eventually include candies, drinks, and other goodies.

They have approved waivers for butacake to sell these products.

This could open up national distribution for their brownie.

>> They just never allowed edibles specifically not brownies, to be the first one, this is a big leap, we have been going back and forth and pleading our case to the powers that be for our brownie to be the first one to launch in the legal market.

It is an incredible accomplishment, with the help of our colleagues in the industry and especially in Columbia care, we get all of these brownies packaged up and sent to sores.

Joanna: Mark is reacting to drone Powell sang interest rates need to remain higher longer -- saying interest rat -- markets reacting to drone Powell saying interest rates need to remain higher for longer.

♪ That does it for us tonight, do not forget to download the NJ Spotlight news podcasts you can listen anytime.

For the entire news team, thank you for being with us, have a great night, we will see you tomorrow.

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