>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS IN J SPOTLIGHT NEWS, WITH -- >> GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

THE STATES NEWLY LEGAL CANNABIS MARKET IS EXPECTED TO BRING IN MILLIONS OF NOT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

JERSEY IS NOW THE 18th STATE TO ALLOW RECREATIONAL CANNABIS.

BECAUSE THE SALE OF RECREATIONAL POT IS STILL ILLEGAL ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, MEANING DISPENSARIES ARE CASH ONLY.

IN THE RUNNING THEM I LEFT VULNERABLE TO A RIGHT RANGE OF PROBLEMS.

I STILL THINK THE PUBLIC BANK IDEA IS A GOOD IDEA, AND IT'S THE RIGHT IDEA.

>> THAT WAS GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO, TALKING ABOUT HOW A STATE-RUN BANK MAY BE ABLE TO HELP THE FACILITY EXPANSION OF A CANNABIS INDUSTRY IN NEW JERSEY.

CANNABIS SALES HAVE BEGUN.

THE STATE-RUN BANK IS AN IDEA THAT APPEARS TO HAVE GONE IF YOU WILL PARDON THE PUN UP IN SPOKE.

WITH THE FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITING BANKS FROM HANDLING CANNABIS MONEY, WHAT IS A CANNABIS ENTREPRENEUR TODAY.

>> WE DON'T COME FROM ANY.

SO I'M DOING THIS ALL WITH MY OWN FUNDS.

THAT I HAD TO RAISE AND KIND OF SAVE UP FROM OTHER ENDEAVORS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND KIND OF PUTTING ALL MY EGGS IN ONE BASKET RIGHT NOW IN THIS INDUSTRY.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY OF A BANK HELPING US PUT THAT IN ON OURSELVES AND KIND OF ASSISTING US.

>> THAT MEANS WORKING WITH SMALLER CREDIT UNIONS IN THE OCCASIONAL BANK.

SOME, LIKE VALLEY BANK IN NEW JERSEY OPRY IN THE INDUSTRY.

BUT THEY ARE THE EXCEPTION.

>> STILL UNTIL THE SAFE BANKING ACT IS PASSED.

LEAVING RISK TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS IN TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE OF THE CASH.

SO, WE ARE REALLY ADVOCATING FOR THE SAFE BANKING ACT IN THIS STATE OF NEW JERSEY, WE HAVE TWO OR THREE BANKS THAT BANK WITH CANNABIS DISMISS OWNERS.

>> BUT -- SAYS SANTOS ARE WAITING FOR THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT TO CLEAR UP, HENCE THE LOBBYING FROM THE SAFE BANKING ACT.

RECENTLY PASSED BY THE HOUSE, WHICH WOULD CLEAR REGULATORY PATHS FOR THE CANNABIS BUSINESS IS TO WORK WITH THEIR LOCAL BANKS, LIKE ANY OTHER FLOWER SHOP, OR DRUGSTORE.

BUT THE BILL IS STALLED IN THE SENATE, WHERE MEMBERS LIKE CORY BOOKER SAY IT WILL HELP SO- CALLED BIG CANNABIS, BUT DO NOTHING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.

>> THE BIG MONEY INTERESTS JUST WANT TO MAKE THE BLINKING ELEMENTS OF THIS LEGAL.

WE ARE NOT GETTING THE KIND OF SUPPORT FOR THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ELEMENTS, LIKE EXPUNGING PEOPLE'S RECORDS.

>> -- ROZ McCURDY HAS BEEN AN INVESTOR AND OBSERVER OF THE INDUSTRY FOR YEARS.

HE STAYS AWAY FROM VOTING ON CANNABIS ISSUES, BUT THE IDEA THAT THE SAFE BANKING ACT ONLY HELPS WITH WEED IS A FALLACY.

>> THE PROBLEM IS, BIG CANNABIS, THE CORPORATE CONGLOMERATES THAT ARE PUBLICLY TRADED IN CANADA AND WHATNOT, THEY HAVE ACCESS TO BANKING.

THEY HAVE ACCESS TO, NOT ONLY TO LENDING AND FINANCING FROM THESE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

BECAUSE THEY ARE BACKED BY A VERY WEALTHY PEOPLE.

A LOT OF TIMES, BILLIONAIRES IN THEIR TRUST.

BUT THE SMALL BUSINESS PERSON FROM JUST LOOKING TO OPEN UP A DISPENSARY IN THEIR HOMETOWN, THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO BUILD OUT THEIR FACILITIES.

THERE IS NOT SBA FINANCING AVAILABLE TO THEM.

SO THEY ARE HARMED THE MOST.

>> BOOKER SAYS THAT HE IS HOLDING OUT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, WHICH PUTS THE SAFE BANKING ACT IN PERIL AGAIN.

MANY CANNABIS ENTREPRENEURS SAY SOCIAL JUSTICE IS ALSO ACHIEVED BY ACCESS TO CAPITAL.

WHICH LEAVES TANTALIZING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE REGULATORY HIGHWAY AND ONLY THE BIG PLAYERS HAVE SO FAR BEEN ABLE TO CROSS.

AND DAVID CRUZ, IN J SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> IN UKRAINE, THERE IS NO TIME TO WASTE.

ACCORDING TO U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN, WHO TODAY HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE ON RAND STEIN AIRBASE IN GERMANY.

AFTER MEETING WITH MILITARY LEADERS FROM 40 OTHER COUNTRIES.

AND IN A MAJOR FOREIGN POLICY SHIFT, TODAY, GERMAN LEADERS ANNOUNCED THE COUNTRY WILL SEND UKRAINE HEAVY WEAPONS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

AS I LAY LEADERS AGREED TO MEET MONTHLY TO REACT TO THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND AND COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING UKRAINE'S MILITARY FORCES FOR THE LONG-TERM.

MEANWHILE, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, ANTHONY BLANK AND TODAY WAS BACK ON CAPITOL HILL, TESTIFYING BEFORE THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE ABOUT THE RECENT MEETING IN THREE AND 20.

NOW, ACCUSING WESTERN ALLIES OF PURSUING A SO-CALLED PROXY WAR, IGNORING THE RISK THAT COULD LEAD TO A NUCLEAR CONFLICT.

IS THE EASTERN REGIONS OF UKRAINE CONTINUE TO BE UNDER HEAVY ATTACK FROM RUSSIAN FORCES.

IN NEWARK TODAY, A VISIT FROM THE QUEEN.

BROOKS CITY NATIVE, RAPPER, ACTRESS AND PHILANTHROPIST, QUEEN LATIFAH HELPED BREAK GROUND ON A NEW FAMILY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN.

A PLAN SHE HAS BEEN WORKING TO DEVELOP.

TRANSFORMING PROPERTIES ON THE CORNER OF SPRINGFIELD AVENUE INTO MIXED VIEWS SPACE.

PART OF A GOAL TO REVITALIZE AND BEAUTIFY THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A SLEEK COMPLEX OF MODERN LOOKING HOMES SURROUNDED BY FITNESS AND BUSINESS CENTER, A NUMBER OF OTHER AMENITIES.

THE DEAL IS, 16 MINUTES WILL BE SET ASIDE AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THE REST ARE BEING SET AT MARKET RATE RENT, STARTING AT $1800 A MONTH.

WORK BEGAN OVER THE WINTER.

TODAY'S EVENT MARKED THE NEXT PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION.

EVENTUALLY, LEADING TO 76 UNITS AND GROUND-FLOOR SPACE FOR NONPROFITS TO SET UP SHOP IN THE CITY.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NOT JUST HARD TO COME BY IN THE STATE.

IT'S NOT A CRISIS LEVEL.

THE NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION, AND THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NETWORK OF NEW JERSEY FIND THERE'S A NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF NEARLY 7 MILLION AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE RENTAL HOMES FOR EXTREMELY LOW INCOME RENTER HOUSEHOLDS.

THOSE ARE HOMES WITH INCOME AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL.

AND HIGH TAX HIGH COST OF LIVING STATE LIKE NEW JERSEY, ADVOCATES TELL RAVENS ANTENNA THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY RESIDENTS FALLING INTO THAT CATEGORY.

>> THEY ALL ARE LIVING ON COUCHES WITH RELATIVES.

PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN THIS VERY TEMPERATE SITUATION.

>> Reporter: SHARING THE HARSH REALITY FOR NEW JERSEY'S MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES, AND ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT, 73% OF NEW JERSEY'S POOREST RENTER HOUSEHOLDS ARE SEVERELY -- AND SPENDING MORE THAN HALF OF THEIR INCOMES ON HOUSING.

WITH LITTLE LEFT OVER FOR OTHER BASIC NECESSITIES.

>> THERE ARE FEWER THAN FOUR APARTMENTS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE TO THEM.

IN THE SHORTAGE IS EVEN MORE SEVERE IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, WHERE FOR EVERY 10 OF THE LOWEST INCOME RENTER FAMILIES, THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT THREE APARTMENTS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE TO THEM.

DIANE -- IS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION.

SHE SAYS THE REPORT SHOWS HOW THE LOWEST INCOME RENTERS ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO SUFFER DISPROPORTIONATELY FROM THE EFFECTS OF LOST INCOME AND HOUSING INSECURITY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE HAVE A DYSFUNCTIONAL HOUSING SYSTEM IN OUR COUNTRY.

WHERE THE POWER TILTS HEAVILY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE LOWEST INCOME RENTERS.

TO REBALANCE POWER IN FAVOR OF TENANTS.

WILL BUILD HOMES ON THIS GOLF COURSE.

AND IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

WE WILL PUT HOUSING ON THAT AREA OF THE TOWN THAT IS VERY SWAMPY.

TOWNS ARE AGREEING TO.

AND NOW, WITH NEEDED IS THE RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE AGREEMENTS HAPPEN.

>> ARNOLD COHEN IS THE SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR OF NEW JERSEY.

COHEN SAYS MORE MONEY IS KEY TO PROVIDING THE RESOURCES TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

GOVERNOR MURPHY MADE A GREAT FIRST STEP.

IN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, AND PUTTING THAT INTO AFFORDABLE HOMES AND TOWNS.

WE ARE NOT SHUTTING THIS DOWN.

SOMEBODY, SOME TOWN THAT DOESN'T WANT IT.

THEY SORT OF HAD PROVED PLANS.

THE TOWNS WENT TO SEE HAPPEN IN THESE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THOSE APARTMENTS GET BUILT.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOMES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

>> THAT'S WHY ADVOCATES ARE URGING GOVERNOR MURPHY AND LAWMAKERS TO INVEST $975 MILLION FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN IN CRITICAL HOUSING PROGRAMS.

>> IT'S A MULTILEVEL STRATEGY.

YOU NEED THE FUNDING THERE TO CREATE THE HOMES.

YOU NEED TOWNS TO MOVE THROUGH THEIR COMMITMENTS AND WHAT THEY HAVE PLEDGED TO DO.

AND ALSO, THEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE HOMES ARE ACTUALLY BUILT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A FAIR PROCESS TO ACTUALLY GET IN THEM.

>> FOR IN J SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M RAVENS ANTENNA.

>>> AND ANOTHER WIDENING GAP OF THE HAVES AND HAVE-NOTS, THE DIGITAL DIVIDE TO LOW-COST HIGH- SPEED INTERNET, IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND RURAL ENLOE COME HOMES.

ACCORDING TO THE S.E.C., MICROSOFT, AS OF YESTERDAY -- AS OF LAST YEAR, ONLY 4 HAVE -- NEW JERSEY SECURED $190 MILLION FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE INTERNET ACCESS IN THE STATE.

SO FAR, NONE OF THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTIVE.

CONGRESSMAN -- JOINS ME.

HE'S BEEN PUSHING FOR AN IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS TO EXPAND THAT ACCESS TO AREAS IN HIS DISTRICT.

CONGRESSMAN, WELCOME, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WHAT'S HOLDING UP THIS MONEY.

I'M JUST URGING THE STATE TO TAKE ACTION TO GET THESE RESOURCES OUT THE DOOR.

WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THOSE RESOURCES ARE, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE KNOW, AND YOU HAVE SAID BEFORE, THERE ARE ENTIRE STREETS IN PARTS OF YOUR DISTRICT WHERE FOLKS STILL HAVE CONNECTIVITY, WHERE PEOPLE WHO STILL NEED TO WORK FROM HOME DURING THE PANDEMIC HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR HOUSE JUST TO GET INTERNET ACCESS.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, LISTEN.

ESPECIALLY, WE ARE SEEING AS WE COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, THAT BOTH DURING AND AFTER, MORE PEOPLE ARE WORKING FROM HOME THAN EVER BEFORE.

THEY WILL WORK FROM HOME.

BUT YOU CAN WORK FROM HOME UNLESS YOU'VE BROUGHT THEM.

AND SUSSEX AND WARREN COUNTIES, YOU HAVE LITERALLY HUGE NEIGHBORHOODS, BIG SWATHS.

IS IT ON THE STATE?

>> RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SEEING THE COUNTIES INTO THE STATE, LET'S GET THOSE RESOURCES OUT THE DOOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S STUCK IN RED TAPE.

WITH TO GET THEM OUT THE DOOR.

THEN, WE ARE WORKING WITH LOCAL BROADBAND PROVIDERS, LIKE NETWORKS AND -- WHO ARE READY TO WIRE THE STREETS, TO GET BROADBAND RIGHT OUTSIDE THE HOME, AND THEN, THE HOMEOWNER CAN HAVE IT RUN RIGHT FROM THE CURB TO THEIR HOME.

BUT WE NEED TO GET THESE RESOURCES OUT THE DOOR.

AND ABLE TO GET THESE RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY, WHERE RIGHT NOW, OBVIOUSLY, ON THEIR OWN, WE HAVE RURAL AREAS, THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS JUST NOT THERE.

WE NEED TO START LAYING THE FIBER.

AND BY DOING SO, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT EVERY HOME THAT WANTS TO CAN GET BROADBAND.

IN BEFORE I LET YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST THAT FOR STRUCTURE.

IT'S THE COST.

YOU KNOW WHAT IT COST TO HAVE THOSE HIGH-SPEED LINES TO YOUR HOUSE.

IT'S NOT CHEAP.

>> WELL, YOU RAISE A GREAT POINT.

PART OF WHAT THESE RESOURCES ARE FOR, SO YOU ARE CONNECTING IN PLACES THAT ARE UNDER CONNECTED, AS I SAID.

AND THEN, THE OTHER PART OF THESE RESOURCES, TO HELP WITH THE AFFORDABILITY SIDE OF THIS, SO WITH HARDER PRESSED FAMILIES, AND IN BOTH THE LAST COVID PACKAGE, AND BEFORE THAT, BOTH HAD RESOURCES TO HELP LOWER INCOME FAMILIES GET CONNECTED, BUT ALSO, IN OUR SCHOOL, OUR SCHOOLS AS WELL.

AND OUR PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, AND OUR PRIVATE SCHOOLS, ALSO GET RESOURCES THERE.

BUT AGAIN, THE PLACES I HAVE NO CONNECTIVITY AND AVAILABILITY, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES TOO.

>> ALL RIGHT, CONGRESSMAN -- THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> STRENGTHENING BUSINESS TIES FROM THE EMERALD ISLE.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE LATEST FROM GOVERNOR MURPHY'S TRADE MISSION OVERSEAS.

AND TONIGHT'S TOP HEADLINES.

>> RIHANNA, GOVERNOR McKEE FOCUSING ON RENEWABLE ENERGY TODAY DURING HIS STAY IN IRELAND, THE GOVERNOR HAD OFFSHORE WIND COMPANY -- HOSTING A PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE TOPIC WHILE BACK IN JERSEY, A BIG OFFSHORE WIND CONFERENCE KICKOFF IN ATLANTIC CITY.

INDUSTRY LEADERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPANIES ARE GATHERING TO TALK ABOUT BOTH OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPING OFFSHORE WIND.

THIS CONFERENCE IS HOSTED BY THE BUSINESS NETWORK FOR OFFSHORE WIND WHICH IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT.

THE GROUP'S PRESIDENT AND CEO, LIZ BURDOCK SAYS THERE IS A NEED FOR SMALL AND MIDSIZE BUSINESSES TO ENTER THE DEVELOPING BUCKET.

>> AS WE SEE THE U.S. INDUSTRY JUST SKYROCKETING, WE HAVE MORE THAN 17,000 MEGAWATTS OF OFFSHORE WIND UNDERDEVELOPMENT.

THAT EQUATES INTO ABOUT 2000 TURBINES.

WE NEED A LOT OF BUSINESSES, IN ORDER TO ENTER INTO THE OFFSHORE WIND SECTOR, IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BUILD AND CONSTRUCT THESE PROJECTS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> A LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST MIDDLESEX WATER HAS BEEN GIVEN CLASS-ACTION STATUS BY A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE.

THE LAWSUIT CENTERS ON EXCESSIVE LEVELS OF FOREVER CHEMICALS AN AND WATER.

AND IT ALSO SAYS, THE COMPANY DID NOT DO ENOUGH TO ALERT ITS CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE ISSUE.

CLASS-ACTION STATUS MEANS ALL RESIDENTS AFFECTED CAN JOIN THE SUIT.

FINALLY, ADDITIONAL MONEY IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR UTILITY BILLS.

THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE STATE WILL RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL $12.8 MILLION FOR THE LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS WERE EXPANDED FOR THIS PROGRAM.

THE EMBASSY IS URGING RESIDENTS IN NEED TO APPLY ON THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS WEBSITE.

ANOTHER VOLATILE DAY ON WALL STREET, HERE'S A LOOK AT THE CLOSING NUMBERS.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> WELL, TWITTER EMPLOYEES HAVE A NEW BOSS.

BILLIONAIRE TESLA AND SPACEX CEO, ELON MUSK IS BUYING THE SOCIAL NETWORK IN A $44 BILLION DEAL.

THE COMPANY'S BOARD AGREED TO THE BUYOUT AND PLANS TO TAKE THE COMPANY PRIVATE, ENDING A WEEKS LONG WHIRLWIND, WHERE MUSK BECAME ONE OF TWITTER'S LARGEST SHAREHOLDERS.

THE AGREEMENT MEANS THE WORLD RICHEST MAN WILL NOW BE AT THE HEAD OF ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

FOR HIS PART, THE PRIMARY INTEREST IN THE COMPANY HAS TO DO WITH WHAT HE SAYS IS TWITTERS CENSORSHIP OR FREE SPEECH.

THE OWNERSHIP WILL SILENCE THE VOICES OF THOSE WITH WHOM HE DISAGREES.

EITHER WAY, A LOT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, JOEL PETTY IS AN EXPERT IN NEW-MEDIA ENJOINS US TO EXPLAIN WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN NEXT.

WELL I GUESS THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION, OR THE $44 BILLION QUESTION IS, WHAT MIGHT AN ELON MUSK TWITTER LOOK LIKE?

>> WELL, HE'S MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR THAT HE HAS A STAKE IN HOW THE PLATFORM IS RUN.

IT'S BEEN A FREE SPEECH ADVOCATE AND IN A LOT OF CASES, AN ADVOCATE FOR SERVER DEVS WHO HAVE BEEN BANNED OR REMOVED FROM THE PLATFORM.

FOLKS ARE PREDICTING THAT FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN BANNED WILL BE RETURNING TO TWITTER.

>> COULD THAT BE PRESIDENT TRUMP?

>> IT COULD BE, ALTHOUGH HE HAS HIMSELF MADE A HUGE STAKE ON TRUTH SOCIAL, WHICH IS HIS OWN PLATFORM.

>> MOSCOW SAID, ONE OF THE BIG MOTIVATING FACTORS IS THIS IDEALIZED VIEW OF FREE SPEECH.

MY WORDS, NOT HIS.

HOW DOES HE RECTIFY WHAT HE ENVISIONS AS FREE SPEECH AND THEN THE REALITY OF JUST HOW MESSY THAT IS.

>> WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS, TO TRY TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF TWITTER, BUT CERTAINLY, IN TERMS OF UPPER MANAGEMENT MAKING DECISIONS, WE COULD SEE A CHANGE.

IT IS TRUE THOUGH, THAT MOST OF THESE KINDS OF DECISIONS ABOUT CONTENT AND WHO IS ALLOWED ON THE PLATFORM AND WHO IS NOT, AND WAS ALLOWED TO BE SAID, THOSE ARE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE BY LOWER-LEVEL EMPLOYEES ON A VERY MASSIVE SCALE.

SO, THE IDEA THAT A SINGLE PERSON AT THE LEADERSHIP ROLE IS GOING TO DRASTICALLY BE ABLE TO HAVE HIS HANDS ON APPROACH TO DECIDING HOW THIS NEW FREE- SPEECH VERSION OF TWITTER WOULD RUN IS PROBABLY NOT TERRIBLY REALISTIC, ALTHOUGH FOR A FEW HIGH-PROFILE CASES, LIKE MAJOR QS POLITICIANS, MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE IS ANOTHER ONE WHOSE PERSONAL ACCOUNT WAS REMOVED.

THERE'S PRESSURE TO RETURN HER ACCOUNT.

SOME OF THOSE HIGH-PROFILE CHANGES MIGHT GO THROUGH.

OTHERWISE, ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, WE ARE LOOKING MORE AT POTENTIALLY CHANGING THE RULES AND SORT OF JUST COMMUNITY STANDARDS OF THE PLATFORM.

>> WHEN YOU SAY CHANGING THE RULES, THERE'S BEEN TALK ABOUT THE RULES LOOSENING EVEN.

AND EVEN FOR JOURNALISTS LIKE MYSELF, TWITTER IS VERY MUCH A HISTORICAL ARCHIVE THAT WE USE AS MUCH AS IT IS IN REAL-TIME FOR NEWS.

WHAT IS THE APPLICATION THERE?

>> WELL, THERE IS CERTAINLY A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO JUST KIND OF HAVE FINE-GRAINED RULES ABOUT HOW COMMUNITIES HAVE TO WORK ON TWITTER.

BUT THE BIG PICTURE IS THAT THE ATTITUDE AT THE VERY TOP.

CERTAINLY, IT SEEMS LIKE HE WANTS TO BE HANDS ON.

HE SORT OF FINDS THIS TO BE A PERSONAL KIND OF MISSION.

RATHER THAN A WE WILL SEE WITHOUT VISION LOOKS LIKE.

ASSOCIATED PROFESSOR, JOE PANIK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.

A HISTORIC VOTE FOR THE LABOR MOVEMENT LED BY A GROUP OF BARISTAS.

IT BECAME THE FIRST STORE IN THE STATE TO UNIONIZE.

VOTING UNANIMOUSLY TO JOIN STARBUCKS WORKERS UNITED.

THE MORE THAN 200 OTHER LOCATIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY UNIONIZE.

>> IT WAS AN AMAZING VICTORY FOR US.

BRISA, TORI BYRD HELPED ORGANIZE.

HE SAYS MORE THAN 240 STARBUCKS STORES HAVE EITHER UNIONIZE OR FILED PAPERS TO VOTE ON IT.

ALL IN THE LAST FIVE MONTHS.

>> IS A SKILL THAT'S PRETTY UNHEARD OF.

I DON'T SEE THAT SLOWING DOWN AT ALL.

I THINK IT'S A LITTLE FASTER.

I DO THINK MOMENTUM IS ON THE WORKERS INSIDE.

AND YOU KNOW, THE FASTER STARBUCKS CORPORATE AND HOWARD SCHULTZ UNDERSTAND THAT, THE BETTER FOR EVERYBODY.

BECAUSE THIS IS INEVITABLE.

>> NO STARBUCKS STORE HAD EVER SUCCESSFULLY UNIONIZE BEFORE DECEMBER.

THEN AGAIN, MORE AND MORE AMERICANS SUPPORT ORGANIZING.

A GALLUP POLL FROM LAST SUMMER SHOWED 68% OF AMERICANS APPROVED OF UNIONS.

RUTGERS PROFESSOR TODD BUSHONG SHOWS THAT IT'S MUCH HIGHER AMONG YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO VOTING TO ORGANIZE A SECOND AMAZON WAREHOUSE ON STATEN ISLAND.

FROM THE GREAT RECESSION IN 2008 TO THE ONGOING CRISIS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, TO THE COVID PANDEMIC.

WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF ALL OF THIS.

AND LABOR UNIONS ARE ONE OF THE WAYS THE ALL OF THIS CAN TAKE ACTION.

YOU CAN FEEL EMPOWERED AT A VERY LOCAL POLICE.

AND START TO TAKE ACTION TO TRY TO FEEL SOMETHING.

>> WE FEEL MORE LIKE MACHINE GUARDS.

WE FEEL VERY PUSHED TO OUR LIMITS.

ANY CHANGES THAT WE WANT ARE GOING TO TRY TO HELP US FEEL MORE HUMAN.

IN THIS COMPANY.

MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH LABOR FOR EVERYBODY.

MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE MORE HELP ON THE FLOORS.

IN BYRD HELPS THAT HER HOPEWELL STORE CAN SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER STARBUCKS LOCATIONS AROUND NEW JERSEY.

>> NOBODY EXPECTED THE FIRST UNIONIZED STORE TO BE IN -- I DON'T KNOW IF A LOT OF PEOPLE COULD EVEN POINT TO IT ON A MAP.

AND IF WE DID THAT, IF OUR STORE CAN DO IT, AS A SMALL AND TIGHTKNIT, AND AS UNIQUE AS IT IS, THEN ANY OF THE STORES IN NEW JERSEY CAN DO IT.

>> WE HAVE BEEN SEEING INCREDIBLE VICTORY MARGIN, BUT I THINK A LOT OF THE KEY INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS ARE THAT IT REALLY IS BOTTOM-UP, AND WORKER DRIVEN.

SO THAT'S TRUE OF ALL THESE OTHER STORES IN NEW JERSEY.

I ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL SEE SOME SIMILAR OUTCOMES.

>> THE OTHER STORES DEVOTED TO ORGANIZE SHOULD KNOW THE RESULTS PRETTY SOON.

THE BALLOTS ARE DUE ON THURSDAY, WHILE HAMILTON'S BALLOTS ARE DUE FRIDAY.

IN MERCER COUNTY, I AM TIM GOLDBERG.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> AND FINALLY, FOR 40 YEARS, IT WAS A VILLAGE IN PATTERSON HAS BEEN A HUB OF GENEROSITY, PROVIDING HOT MEALS, SHELTER, AND HOPE TO THE CITY'S HOMELESS.

THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN IN 1982 AS A SOUP KITCHEN, SERVING JUST 30 PEOPLE.

IT NOW SERVES 350 MEALS PRETTY.

MANAGES HALFWAY HOME, CHILDCARE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS.

WHILE ON SUNDAY, ABOUT 200 PEOPLE CELEBRATED THOSE FOUR DECADES OF SERVICE, BRINGING TOGETHER CURRENT AND FORMER CLIENTS, WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE CARE THAT THEY RECEIVED, THE GAPS THAT WERE FILLED, AND HOW THE ORGANIZATION TURNED THEIR LIVES AROUND, ALL BECAUSE OF THE BELIEF BY FOUNDER VINCENT HOUMA, WHEN YOU TAKE SOMEBODY'S HAND, DON'T LET GO UNLESS THEY CAN STAND ON THEIR OWN TWO FEET.

THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS EVENING.

IN THE MEANTIME, HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND CHECK US OUT ON OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS.

YOU CAN FIND ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" TEAM, WE THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT, AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>> MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND OR STEAD, ORSTED.

COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABLE, CLEAN ENERGY FOR NEW JERSEY 'S FUTURE.