>> Funding is provided by MGM insurance group, serving the insurance needs of -- rising Lukes Cross Blue Creek -- Blue Shield of New Jersey.

New Jersey realtors, the voice for real estate in New Jersey for more information online at MJ realtor.com and by the PSJE foundation.

♪ >> From NJ PBS this is NJ spotlight news.

>> Good evening, thank you for joining us this Wednesday night I am brown.

-- Breanna.

>> New Jersey's largest city has a new way to go after gun violence, launching a new strategy for the office of -- shifting resources to committee groups and people they serve.

It is a plan the mayor hopes will break generational cycles of violence and trauma, serve as a national model to help victims of those crimes and more importantly prevent them from happening.

Senior political correspondent David Cruz reports.

>> I am not standing here for sympathy.

I am standing here for your empathy.

I am standing here for every black mother in the city that buried their children.

>> She is a survivor she struggles every day with the sadness and the self-imposed guilt of a mother who has lost three children all in their 20's to gun violence.

Her tragedy is the exception more than the rule.

She is one of the thousands of individuals dealing with the painful loss of family members, and the challenges of carrying on.

>> It is hard being a parent in the city of New York -- Newark.

We do it every single day.

I come in, every black woman gets up in the city is walking with a book -- open heart.

>> Working with the city's office of violence prevention and trauma recovery, this is an example of the work the office has done the past years to help victims of violence, today the department unveiled the strategic plan that treats gun violence as the health crisis it has become.

>> When we looked at Covid, we always use these maps.

We call them hotspots maps.

We sent workers out to the areas, set of vaccines in all types of testing sites in the area because they are hotspots.

We want to do the same thing with violence and crime.

These are hotspots.

We don't want to just send police to the hotspots, we do, we want to send social workers, outreach workers, job trainers to the hotspots.

>> They are working with $11 million of funding, once part of the Public Safety budget and another $70 million for organizations like the Newark street team and others that work on violence prevention and victim recovery.

>> We are shifting the culture to think about trust, healing, resilience, that is the ultimate goal.

We know there has knowledge -- been a lot of trust in our law enforcement, or systems we have to rebuild trust in the community.

We have to rebuild the community to know they are resilient and can bounce back from whatever the harms are that it happened.

>> The coalition refers to refunding the community rather than defunding the police.

They say crime in the city has steadily been decreasing as well as arrest and incarceration's.

A sign that new approach to law enforcement can have a positive impact.

>> Uphold people's rights and follow the Constitution of the United States, at the same time reduce violent crime.

In newark we are resting less people than five or 10 years ago.

Making less arrests.

We are also seeing a constant reduction.

What does that mean?

That means there is no causal relationship between arresting people and reduction of violence.

>> No one is saying the work is done.

The term, the work, was used interchangeably with the life today.

In this model it is all hands on deck with everyone expected to play a role in trying to prevent crime and lift up its victims.

David Cruz, NJ Spotlight news.

>> Buried beneath President Biden's reelection that was any White House dreams for Cory Booker.

Touting Biden's track record and successes.

Both Murphy and Booker were considered potential presidential candidates if I did not run again.

Governor Murphy has been confirmed to make two trips of the capital this week.

Among them a fundraising event with top donors for President Biden.

Murphy's oval office plans are sidelined for now.

What does he do next?

I am joined by columnist, Charlie style.

You write that Murphy is having to surrender to reality here.

Is this the end of oval office hopes for him right now?

>> I think for now.

Permanently?

No.

He is 65 and we have an octogenarian running for president as the nominee of the Democratic Party.

We have a Republican Former President only 4 years behind him that is in the pole position become the Republican nominee.

This is the revenge of the oldsters.

These guys, you know, built that kind of power.

Have that kind of position in their golden age.

That extends the horizon for anybody who has ambitions.

>> That is a good point where does he go from here?

You have mentioned, he has talked about it numerous times, he has been in Israel, he has his role in the Democratic Governors Association.

He has been out there looking very presidential making deals and statements about national topics.

Jabs at Governor Ron DeSantis.

Where does he go from here?

>> I do not know.

I think he is putting himself into the orbit of relevance in the possible second term Biden administration.

That could mean a whole range of positions and roles.

Maybe another ambassadorship.

It is really hard to say.

At least by raising money and raising his profile at the same time, I think Phil Murphy at least puts himself, in the starting lineup.

>> What about for the other Jersey guys?

Chris Christie?

Cory Booker?

Is there some scenario where they wait in the wings?

At least for Booker, you mentioned Joe Biden is not getting younger in this presidency.

>> Right, I think Cory Booker is relatively a young guy.

A big future ahead of him.

Chris Christie, less so.

You could argue that Chris Christie, his moment passed in 2012.

That was his best shot.

If I was looking at it from the perspective of Kristi, things are so tumultuous.

The old rules of presidential campaigning and preparing to be a candidate have been thrown out the window.

>> I cannot let you go without least mentioning the line you loading your column about Governor Murphy's makeover.

His hairstylist the one to lose the most.

Do you expect to see a tone down?

>> No, I am his hairstylist told him to just go out his hair and not do anything with it.

The hairstylist apparently had very little to do with this new transformed Governor Murphy.

>> Thank you so much, Charlie.

>> You are more than welcome.

>> Make sure you tune into Chatbox with David Cruz.

He continues the conversation with both sides of the aisle getting reaction to President Biden's reelection announcement along with the pros and cons of a Trump v. Biden rematch.

One North journey -- Jersey town known for touting itself as a progressive community is being sued over accusations of discrimination.

Two black firefighters are suing the Township.

Alleging the our department's promotion process favors white firefighters.

It contends that lack firefighters face egregious race to Chris -- discrimination in the process.

Among other items it was reworked to diminish the value of seniority that the suit would have favored black members of the department.

Added a subjective job performance a valuation and conspired with a test prep company to offer services for evaluation exams the white firefighters only.

They are seeking unspecified compensation for damages.

Pandemic assistance soften the blow but did not prevent poor families from living paycheck-to-paycheck.

A report finds 157 thousand more households in the state became financially insecure during 2021.

A 14% jump from 2019.

The report dubs them Alice, asset limited income constrained employed.

Assets above the federal poverty line but still unable to afford the basics.

For more on the report I am doing -- I am joined by Dr. Stephanie Hoopes.

>> These reports always paint a pretty clear picture for us about financial hardships for folks in New Jersey.

What does it tell us?

>> The first time we have had a chance look at the impact of the pandemic on these families that were struggling before Covid it -- hit.

To see how that played out over the last few years.

The main finding show we are still in the middle of it.

2021 was a very unique year with all kinds of competing forces.

We had increases in wages and low wage jobs for the first time in a long time.

Some extraordinary pandemic assistance.

At the same time, love job loss, hours cut back, as well as -- a lots of job loss, as well as inflation.

You lay in migration, people moving out of densely populated areas, quarantining, and all that.

We had a lot of going on.

The rate of financial hardship increased, not quite as bad as the last economic disruption that we had.

The great recession.

>> What does that mean in terms of have any folks here are struggling and what that struggle looks like?

That is about 1.5 million households in the state.

A pretty big number, what does the life look like for them?

>> Our official statistics show us 11% of households are struggling.

The Alice data shows another 26% are struggling.

37% that is 1.3 million households.

This is not a small group over on the side.

This is people that we know.

That we interact with on a reglet basis.

During the pandemic -- on a regular basis.

During the pandemic they saved us.

Essential workers delivering food and medicine.

We saw close up a lot of households struggling with enough food.

With an Internet connection with their kids to be working remotely.

>> While the public health crisis portion of it may be behind us, the financial burden, according to your findings here, are not.

What would you say that the Crux of the problem?

>> At the court is this Mitch met -- mismatch between the basic cost of living in the household survival budget.

The basis of housing, childcare, food, transportation, eldercare, smart plan, taxes.

And what jobs.

.

While we have seen increase in low-wage jobs, has not been as fast as inflation on the household basis -- basics.

It is a mismatch between jobs and what it costs to live in those places.

>> Is their assigned policymakers should be looking for?

>> Great question we conclude the report with some really important warning signs.

We are concerned about lack of savings for Alice households.

Sustained levels of food insufficiency.

About a quarter of folks on the Alice threshold are behind on rent payments.

We see sustained anxiety and nervousness.

Those tells that the economic hardship is continuing.

As many of the pandemic supports are going away, this is not a time to be complacent.

We need to be paying attention to Alice.

>> Those warning signs are definitely key.

Dr. Stephanie, thank you so much.

>> Thank you Breanna.

I appreciate.

>> In our stoplight -- spotlight on business the ink is drying but a merger between two major hospital systems is near.

They signed a definitive agreement to combine the operations which is expected to expand access to health services for residents and visitors in Cake Bay County.

Right now Cape regional is the only hospital.

It is problematic during the summer when the population increases about temple.

Cooper is based in Camden and South Jersey's only level one trauma center.

The merger means there will be more than 900 licensed bed, physicians, and dozens of and what Tori -- ample Tori -- Bed, Bath & Beyond staring down its final days.

Preparing to close its doors in more than 100 Buy Buy Baby locations.

They will be slashing thousands of jobs.

The move comes days after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The closing sales start today and a senior correspondent ring the Flanagan reports, customers turned out in droves to get a hold of final goods.

>> A line of parents pushing strollers, rolled in for the going out of business sale, while shoppers with cards queued up a Bed, Bath & Beyond looking for deals after the New Jersey-based big-box store declared bankruptcy.

The Chapter 11 filing feels loyal at Beth beyond shoppers with nostalgia.

>> A lot of wedding gifts.

>> College come when you're getting ready for the dorms is where I went.

And Buy Buy Baby, I do not know where people will go for baby registries.

>> You get everything here.

Small appliances, there are towels.

Sheets, everything.

Much cheaper than the other stores.

>> A peek inside shows many empty shelves, lots of empty -- inventory gone as the company goes through a painful and public demise.

They are closing all stores, 13 in New Jersey, 120 Buy Buy Baby stores and its cosmetic chain nationwide.

The popular 20% coupons no longer accepted.

>> They are not taking them.

>> Look at this pile.

>> I got this coupon yesterday in the mail and it is no good?

>> Now.

>> -- no.

>> What do you think?

>> I hate that all the stores are closing.

>> When you compare it to Amazon online it is not so great.

>> Almost a perfect storm.

>> He said bed bath lost its focus is a retail world shifted especially during the pandemic when stores like Target adapted by offering online selections that could be picked up at stores were shipped to customers.

The lesson learned.

>> Keep track of where the world is.

Somehow they really missed online shopping.

They did not realize the impact that Amazon was going to have on their core business.

>> Bed, Bath & Beyond will conduct final sales and liquidate its inventory between now and June 30.

That is when it expects all of its properties will be vacated.

>> It was a very good employer for a very long time.

They offered good pay, benefits, and it was a nice place to work.

>> Business insider reporter Dominic says the company remains open to finding a buyer.

He believes bed Bath rushed to layoff some 1300 workers in its home state just days before a New Jersey law took effect requiring employees to receive a weaker severance pay for every year worked.

Bed bath and not have that kind of cash.

>> Take all of that together and it was a tailspin that was extreme we difficult to escape from.

>> Retail industry analysts say people are still spending on goods and 2700 stores have opened nationwide this year compared to 1800 have closed.

Customers are fickle.

Many shoppers want to touch the merchandise and also order online.

>> They all go hand-in-hand.

What we have seen in retail, it has been incredibly successful.

Almost $1.5 trillion worth of growth in the last few years.

It has been a really strong time for retailers.

Not everyone is always going to survive.

>> The end of Bed, Bath & Beyond will leave empty properties other retailers are likely to snap up but leaves long time shoppers with a sense of loss.

>> We were just in, there was not much less -- left in this store.

>> I am Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Breanna: Turning to Wall Street here is today's closing trading numbers.

♪ Breanna: In Perth the future and past Arkham -- are combining.

A historical site once home to the first black man to vote in the U.S. is at a standstill.

It is now owned by the well-known and ultra-wealthy Kushner development company.

The battle emphasize what history gets reserved in ho -- who holds the power to preside.

>> This may look like an empty lot of grass, before local historians it could be the key to discovering more about an iconic figure.

>> Over there there is a brick wall, to the left of that wall is comers Lane.

A dead-end street that when two thirds of the way down this block, two houses was built there and one of those was the one Thomas Pearson and his wife ended up living in.

>> The first black man in the country to vote in an election after the ratification of the 15th a moment.

>> Adopted March 30, 1870, that allowed former enslaved people to vote.

Before that there was no constitutional law that allowed them to vote.

>> He casted his vote in an election right here in City Hall the very next day.

The city historian says helped Mark an end to black voters being shut out of U.S. politics.

>> Was very active in civil rights during and before the Civil War, part of the underground railroad movement.

Peterson had the support of the majority of his community to come out and vote.

That is very important.

>> There is a push to learn more about of his legacy.

The last decade, historians have been asking to search here for artifacts.

>> The house disappears around 1913 after Peterson had passed away.

I cannot find any of construction on the site until the 1950's.

There was a, I think it was an electrical supply company that is in this area.

It was here until the early 2000.

That got me thinking.

If the ground is not been disturbed all that much, is it possible there's something?Down that >> There is one problem, the land is owned by the Kushner development company, owned by the uncle of Jared Kushner who served as theory near -- Senior advisor to President Donald Trump.

He says the city has been trying to get Kushner to greenlight an ecological dig but no luck so far.

>> Negotiations in echo well for whatever reason.

Right now it is a challenging situation because we are trying to bring everyone back to the table.

To make sure we come to a compromise.

>> While historians say they understand the city's positions to continue negotiations with Kushner instead of actions like eminent domain, they believe the artifacts are too important to ignore.

>> There is a parking and after him, a school named after him, they have events on the anniversary of his vote their packed.

You have politicians showing up from all over.

He is part of the pride of place.

I think a not to that, I Kushner could go a long way.

>> He has not responded yet to our request comment on whether an archaeological dig on the site where he once lived would be allowed.

They are hopeful negotiations will work out soon.

Breanna: Finally tonight, what a month it has been for Jersey City native Dan Hurley.

The Uconn men's head basketball coach right behind leaving his team to the national title in the NCAA tournament.

His love for the city that raised it was on full display throughout the tournament.

You could not miss it.

On Tuesday night he receive the key to Jersey City from the mayor.

An honor only given out a handful of times over the last decade.

He is the son of legendary state basketball head coach Bob Hurley, the credits Jersey City for most of his character traits and instilling a toughness that has gotten him to where he is today.

As Hurley puts it, I am from Shirley -- Jersey City, this is how people from Jersey City acts.

Congratulations.

I will do it for us tonight.

You can listen to NJ spotlight news anytime via podcast.

I am Brenda, for the entire NJ Spotlight News team, thank you for being with us, have a great evening and I will see you tomorrow.

♪ >> The members of the New Jersey education is -- Association making public schools great for every child, are WJ Barnabas health let's be healthy together and committed to the creation of long-term sustainable clean energy future for New Jersey.