>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND, THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT BY ORSTED AND PSEG, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW, LONG- TERM, SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

MAJOR FUNDING FOR CHASING THE DREAM IS PROVIDED BY THE JPB FOUNDATION, WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE PETER G. PETERSON COMMUNITY FUND.

>> FROM NJPBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS FROM ACROSS THE HUDSON RIVER.

NEW YORK GOVERNOR, ANDREW CUOMO IS RESIGNING FOLLOWING A DAMNING REPORT FROM THE STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL DETAILING MULTIPLE ACCUSATIONS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AGAINST AT LEAST 11 WOMEN.

AS HE FACED A NEARLY CERTAIN IMPEACHMENT IN THE STATE LEGISLATOR.

CUOMO, MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT A MIDDAY PRESS CONFERENCE THAT BARRED REPORTERS, OFFERING AN APOLOGY TO HIS ACCUSERS, THEY INCLUDE STAFFERS, AND AIDE WHO SAID HE GROPED HER, A STATE POLICE TROOPER ASSIGNED TO HIS PROTECTIVE DETAIL, AND WOMEN WORKING OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT, SOME SUGGESTED TO UNWANTED TOUCHING.

BUT DENIED THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS AND CALLED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S PROBE FLAT AND LACED WITH BIAS.

CUOMO ADMITTED TO MAKING INAPPROPRIATE JOKES AND HAVING MEN AND WOMEN BOTH HUGS AND KISSES SAYING HE DID NOT FULLY APPRECIATE THE GENERATIONAL AND CULTURAL SHIFTS THAT EXIST.

>> I THINK THAT GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE BEST WAY I CAN HELP NOW IS IF I STEP ASIDE, AND LET GOVERNMENT GET BACK TO GOVERNING.

AND THEREFORE, THAT'S WHAT I WILL DO.

BECAUSE I WORK FOR YOU.

AND DOING THE RIGHT THING.

AND DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR OF SERVING YOU.

IT HAS BEEN THE OWNER OF MY LIFETIME.

>> HE STILL FACES THE POSSIBILITY OF CRIMINAL CHARGES THAT THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR BELIEVE OFFICE IN TWO WEEKS.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, KATHY HOGLE WILL SERVE THE REST OF HIS TERM AND BECOME THE STATE'S FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR.

WHAT DOES THIS RESIGNATION MEAN FOR THE LARGER ME TO MOVE IT PLAYING OUT HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

RETURN TO SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, LORETTA WEINBERG WHO HAS BEEN LEADING THE STATES EFFORTS.

>> SENATOR WEINBERG, I WANT TO START FIRST WITH YOUR REACTION TO THE GOVERNOR'S STATEMENT TODAY.

I THINK MANY OF US SAT THERE WATCHING THINKING THERE WAS NO WAY HE WAS RESIGNING WITH THE WAY HE STARTED OUT HIS CONVERSATION WITH THE PUBLIC.

>> A.

THE IDEA OF HIS RESIGNING POSITIVELY.

I THINK THAT HE COULD NOT SERVE.

AS GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS AROUND, PARTICULARLY AROUND COVID.

AROUND THE TRI-STATE AREA WHERE WE ARE SO INTERTWINED WITH NEW YORK, AND SO, I THINK HE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF HIS STATE, AND ON BEHALF OF THE REST OF US.

>> OBVIOUSLY, A RESIGNATION FROM SOMEONE OF HIS STATURE HAS RIPPLE EFFECTS.

HOW DOES THIS PLAY INTO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING IN NEW JERSEY?

AND REALLY EVERYWHERE WITH ME TOO MOVEMENT.

>> THE FACT THAT THERE WAS SOME ACCOUNTABILITY WE ARE MOVED BY, THAT THERE WAS, THAT THERE WERE SO MANY WOMEN WILLING TO STEP FORWARD, AND IT I THINK IT ADDS TO THE IDEA THAT NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW, OR ABOVE APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR WHEN CARRYING OUT PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITIES.

I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF NEW JERSEY.

WE'VE MADE GREAT STRIDES IN THE LEGISLATION WE PASSED.

WE HAVE A FEW MORE THINGS TO GO THAT JUST GOT TIED UP IN THE LAST FEW DAYS BEFORE WE WENT INTO RECESS.

I THINK WE'VE ADDRESSED AS MUCH AS WE CAN LEGISLATIVELY TO GIVE WOMEN, OR MEN, IN SOME CASES, THE ABILITY TO STEP FORWARD SAFELY, ANONYMOUSLY IF THEY SO CHOOSE, AND TO GET A FAIR HEARING.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IN A GOVERNOR IN NEW YORK.

WHENEVER THAT HAPPENS.

GRATEFUL THAT IT'S A WOMAN, THAT SHE IS A GOOD WOMAN, AND I THINK SHE WILL BRING A LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN AN ATTEMPT TO STAY TOGETHER AGAIN.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE A GOVERNOR LIKE ANDREW CUOMO, WHO DENIED THESE ALLEGATIONS, THESE ACCUSATIONS THAT REALLY RAN THE GAMUT AND SO YOU KNOW, IT'S A GENERATIONAL, IT'S A CULTURAL SHIFT THAT I'M NOT APPRECIATIVE OF.

HOW DO YOU NEGATE THAT GRAY AREA?

>> YOU COME FROM A PRETTY POLITICALLY SAVVY FAMILY, AND YOU HAVE NOT LEARNED WHAT IS INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR, PARTICULARLY TO SUBORDINATES, OR TO A STATE TROOPER WHO IS CHARGED WITH PROTECTING YOUR LIFE.

IT IS, YOU KNOW.

IT RUNS THE GAMUT BETWEEN, IT FRUSTRATES ME.

SOMEBODY LIKE ANDREW CUOMO IS CLAIMING WELL, I DID NOT KNOW ANY BETTER.

IT'S GENERATIONAL.

SO I'M A COUPLE OF GENERATIONS AHEAD OF ANDREW CUOMO, AND BELIEVE ME, I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO.

AND, I JUST I CANNOT ACCEPT THAT.

>> AND AT THAT, WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE.

SENATOR LORETTA WEINBERG.

ALWAYS GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MEANTIME, GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY IS STILL STANDING WITH NEW YORK LEADERS AND A DECISION TO HOLD OFF ON STATEWIDE MASK MANDATES .

EVEN AS A DELTA VARIANT NOW ACCOUNTS FOR 90% OF NEW POSITIVE TEST BEING SEQUENCED HERE, STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER, SAID MONDAY, THE DEPARTMENT'S PREDICTIVE MODELS SHOWCASE THOSE ARE LIKELY TO HIT A THOUSAND A DAY DURING THIS NEW SURGE.

IT APPEARS TO BE TRUE SO FAR, NEARLY 1400 CONFIRMED CASES, AND NINE ADDITIONAL DEBTS REPORTED TODAY, STATEWIDE.

IT IS A PANDEMIC OF THE UNVACCINATED, ACCORDING TO PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS WITH NEARLY 5.4 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE STATE, NOW FULLY IMMUNIZED.

THAT STILL LEAVES ABOUT 4 MILLION RESIDENTS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN INOCULATED, INCLUDING KIDS , ESPECIALLY THOSE AGED 12 AND UNDER WHO ARE NOT YET ELIGIBLE FOR THE SHOTS.

THAT IS BECOMING A LARGER CONCERN FOR MEDICAL EXPERTS WITH A SPIKE IN THOSE TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS SAYS ROUGHLY 94,000 CHILDREN WERE DIAGNOSED WITH THE VIRUS LAST WEEK, THAT ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 15% OF THE NATIONS CORONAVIRUS CASES.

AS RESEARCHERS RACED TO UNDERSTAND WHY AN INCREASING NUMBER ARE ALSO DEVELOPING LONG- HAUL COVID SYMPTOMS, WE ASK DR. MEG FISHER, PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AND SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW JERSEY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

DR. FISHER, IN ADDITION TO THE UPTAKE IN CASES THAT WE ARE SEEING AMONG CHILDREN, ARE WE ALSO SEEING MORE SEVERE ILLNESS?

>> THIS WAS A LITTLE HARD TO REALLY SAY FOR SURE.

WE ARE CERTAINLY HEARING MANY MORE REPORTS OF THE MEDIA HAVING REALLY TALKED ABOUT THIS, AND WE ARE HEARING FROM MANY DIFFERENT STATES THAT INTENSIVE CARE UNITS IN PEDIATRIC HOSPITALS ARE FULL, AND THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE MORE HOSPITALIZATIONS.

HOWEVER, WHEN WE LOOK AT IT FROM A NATIONAL VIEWPOINT, IT'S NOT REALLY TOTALLY CLEAR THAT A DELTA VARIANT IS CAUSING MORE SEVERE DISEASE IN CHILDREN.

SO, IT'S NOT FAIR WHETHER THIS IS A REPORTING EFFECT, OR WHETHER IT IS A TRUE THING, AND IN ANY CASE, WE KNOW THAT EVERY CHILD IN THE HOSPITAL IS A BAD WAY TO GO.

>> CERTAINLY.

THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THIS WEEK SAID THAT ABOUT 13 CHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY BEING HOSPITALIZED DUE TO COVID-19.

TALK TO ME ABOUT YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS.

WE'VE GOT THE SCHOOL YEAR COMING UP, AND HER ACTIVITIES RESUMING.

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT ALL OF THAT?

DO WE KNOW THAT CHILDREN HAVE BEEN INFECTED THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC, AND WE HAD IT UP IN THE HOSPITAL.

MANY OF THOSE WERE CHILDREN WHO HAD OTHER UNDERLYING PROBLEMS THAT PUT THEM AT GREATER RISK.

AND THEN THERE WERE THESE CHILDREN WHO ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE DISEASE HAD THIS VERY SEVERE MULTISYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME, WHICH PUTS THEM NOT ONLY IN THE HOSPITAL, BUT IN INTENSIVE CARE.

THESE ARE SEVERE REACTIONS, VERY RARE, BUT IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE WAS OVER 4000 CASES.

AND IN NEW JERSEY, WE HAD ABOUT 130 CASES.

>> DO WE HAVE DATA, DR. FISHER, ON LONG-HAUL COVID IN KIDS?

IS THAT DATA BEING ACTIVELY COLLECTED?

>> WE KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IN NEW JERSEY, NOT ONLY.

BUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

AND YES, WE ARE BEGINNING TO GET A HANDLE ON IT.

BUT WE ARE ALSO JUST BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND LONG-HAUL DISEASE IN ADULTS.

AND IN ADULTS, THIS IS OCCURRING IN A 3rd TO 2/3, IN SOME CASES, EVEN HIGHER PERCENTAGES OF ADULTS WHO BEEN HOSPITALIZED, AND THESE PROLONGED SYMPTOMS.

SO, TO FIND WITH COVID OR POSTACUTE COVID ARE SIMPLE SYMPTOMS THAT ARE OCCURRING A MONTH AFTER YOU BEEN INFECTED.

SO, THE VIRUS IS NO LONGER WITHIN YOU.

THIS IS YOUR BODY'S RESPONSE FOR THE LEFTOVER PROBLEMS OF HAVING HAD COVID.

>> ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT AS THEY HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL?

>> CERTAINLY.

IT IS CONCERNING, BUT YOU KNEW THAT IF YOU USE THE APPROPRIATE MEDICATIONS, SYSTEMS IN SCHOOL.

SO, IF YOU KEEP CHILDREN 6 FEET APART, IF CHILDREN ARE WEARING MASKS, WE KNOW THAT EVEN BEFORE WE HAD ANY VACCINES, THAT WITH MASKING, AND KEEPING THE DISTANCE, AND TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE AWAY FROM EACH OTHER IN FOUR WAYS, ETC.

WE SAW THAT SCHOOLS COULD BE OPEN, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF COVID-19.

>> DR. FISHER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND INSIGHT TODAY.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN STATE HISTORY, RESIDENTS NOW HAVE ACCESS TO THE NAMES OF POLICE OFFICERS RECENTLY FOUND GUILTY OF MISCONDUCT.

ALL SEARCHABLE ONLINE.

AS OF YESTERDAY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE WERE REQUIRED TO PUBLIC IDENTIFY COPS WHO HAVE BROKEN THE ROLES AS PART OF A DIRECTIVE ISSUE LAST YEAR BY ATTORNEY GENERAL GRAY WALL.

IT CAME AFTER YEARS OF PROTEST FROM ADVOCATES CALLING FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY, AND IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE FOR HIS MURDER.

POLICE UNIONS SUED OVER THE DIRECTIVE ARGUING IT COULD ENDANGER OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ON THE SUPREME COURT THAT STRUCK THAT DOWN IN ADDITION TO NAMES, DEPARTMENTS MUST LIST THE DESCRIPTION OF THE WRONGDOING COMMITTEE DURING THE BACK HALF OF LAST YEAR, AND THE SPECIFIC DISCIPLINE AN OFFICER RECEIVED PEER OFFICERS GIVEN MAJOR DISCIPLINE PRIOR TO THAT TIMELINE.

THEY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK A JUDGE TO KEEP THEIR NAMES PRIVATE.

OUR SENIOR WRITER IS DIVING INTO THE DATA AND SAYS THAT THE CONDUCT RANGES FROM BEING CHRONICALLY LATE FOR WORK TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

>> ABOUT A QUARTER OF THOSE 211 INDIVIDUALS WERE TERMINATED.

THE REST WERE EITHER DEMOTED.

IN A FEW CASES, WHERE THEY WERE SUSPENDED FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PEOPLE COULD LOOK FOR THEM TO FINDING IT BY JANUARY 31st EACH YEAR.

FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S INFORMATION.

>> FULL STATE PROTECTIONS THAT HAVE KEPT MANY RENTERS FROM LOSING THEIR HOME DURING THE PANDEMIC ARE SLATED TO END SOON.

UNDER A NEW BILL SIGNED BY GOVERNOR MURPHY LAST WEEK, ENDING THE EVICTION MORATORIUM FOR FAMILIES ABOVE A CERTAIN INCOME THRESHOLD WHILE KEEPING IT IN PLACE FOR OTHERS, AND SETTING ASIDE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL AID FOR TENANTS WHO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PAY THEIR RENT AND UTILITY BILLS DURING THE COVID HEALTH CRISIS.

ALL THE NEW PARAMETERS, THOUGH, ARE LEADING TO CONFUSION FOR BOTH LANDLORDS AND RENTERS.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER HAS A STORY.

>>> FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, RENTERS ACROSS NEW JERSEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THE HEAD, REGARDLESS OF NONPAYMENT THANKS TO AN OMISSION MORATORIUM IN THE STATE.

, AUGUST 31st, THOSE PROTECTIONS ARE ENDING FOR SOME TENANTS.

THE ACTOR RENTERS WHO WILL BE IMPACTED BETWEEN 80% AND 120% OF THE COUNTY AREA IN THE INCOME.

AND SO, THOSE FOLKS ARE GENERALLY A LITTLE BIT MORE ABLE TO WEATHER THE CHALLENGES AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE LAST YEAR.

HOWEVER, THEY DO HAVE COVERAGE UNDER THIS NEW LAW THAT WAS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR MURPHY LAST WEEK.

SO THAT THE COVER PERIOD WHICH IS MARCH 1st FROM LAST YEAR, FROM AUGUST 31st OF THIS YEAR, THEY ARE PROTECTED FROM EVER BEING EVICTED FROM NONPAYMENT.

LATE PAYMENT OR PAYER RENTAL INCREASE DURING THAT PERIOD.

>> MAKING LESS THAN 8% OF THE MEDIAN INCOME, THE MORATORIUM WILL BE ASKED ENDED THROUGH DECEMBER 31st.

>> FROM THE TENANT PERSPECTIVE, I THINK IT REALLY DOES A GOOD JOB AT ADVOCATING THOSE WHO SHOULD BE ABLE TO PAY RENT AND SHOULD START PAYING RENT, VERSUS THOSE THAT MAY STILL NEED ASSISTANCE.

THE BILL CONVERTS ALL THE DEBT THAT WAS ACCRUED BETWEEN MARCH OF 2020 AND AUGUST OF 2021 INTO CIVIL DEBT, WHICH MEANS THAT THAT CAN NO LONGER BE THE BASIS FOR AN EVICTION.

AND LASTLY, CLEARLY PROVIDES $750 MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE.

>> FROM THE LANDLORD'S PERSPECTIVE, THE NEW LAW CONTINUES TO PUT THE BRUNT OF THE FINANCIAL WEIGHT ON THEM.

>> I REPRESENT A NUMBER OF PROPERTY OWNERS WHO HAVE TENANTS THAT CAN'T PAY RENT.

BUT, BECAUSE OF THE STATE OF VARIOUS EVICTION MORATORIUMS, THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE HOUSING TO PEOPLE WHO CAN'T PAY FOR RENT, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGE.

THEY HAVE TO PAY THEIR GAS BILL.

ALL THE NORMAL EXPENSES OF PROVIDING AN APARTMENT.

>> THEY SAY THE CDC'S RECENT DECISION TO EXTEND THE FEDERAL EVICTION MORATORIUM, DESPITE PREVIOUSLY INDICATING THERE WOULD BE NO MORE EXTENSIONS AFTER JULY 31st.

ALSO, IS NOT HELPING THE SITUATION.

>> IT'S BEEN UNCLEAR REALLY FROM THE BEGINNING, BECAUSE THE CDC EVICTION MORATORIUM, THE FIRST ONE SUGGESTED THAT EVEN FILING PAPERWORK, GOING TO COURT, DOING ANY ACTION WAS PROHIBITED.

THE CDC HAS SINCE SAID THAT IS NOT EXACTLY WHAT WE MEANT.

SOME COURTS ARE ALLOWING POVERTY OWNERS TO FILE FOR PAPERWORK, THEY CAN FILE, THEY CAN SOMETIMES HAVE COURT HEARINGS.

BUT OTHER COURTS ARE NOT LETTING THEM, OTHER COURTS ARE TAKING MORE RESTRICTIVE VIEW.

IT'S REALLY COUNTY BY COUNTY, JURISDICTION BY JURISDICTION.

THERE'S 1 MILLION DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS.

>> BUT WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF EVICTIONS PENDING IN THE STATE, ADVOCATES ARE HOPEFUL THE NEW LAW WILL BRING SOME RELIEF.

>> WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE A STATE LEADER AMONG THE TOP NATION, PROVIDING EVEN STRONGER PROTECTIONS.

>> TENANTS MAKING MORE THAN 80% OF THE MEDIAN INCOME WHO ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO PAY RENT WILL HAVE TO CERTIFY UNDER PENALTY OF LAW THAT THEIR FAILURE TO PAY IS COVID RELATED.

IF THEY CAN PROVE THAT, THAN THE MORATORIUM WILL BE EXTENDED FOR THEM.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> AND OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT, THE U.S. SENATE TODAY PASSED A MASSIVE TRILLION DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE BILL DRAWING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AFTER WEEKS OF INTENSE DEBATE AND HEATED NEGOTIATIONS.

IN THE END, 19 REPUBLICANS JOINED ALL 50 DEMOCRATIC SENATE MEMBERS AND A 69 TO 30 VOTE PUSHING THE BILL THROUGH.

IT INCLUDES BIG INCREASES IN FUNDING FOR ROADS, BROADBAND ACCESS AND ENERGY USAGE.

IT'S CONSIDERED A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN PRESENT FINDINGS ECONOMIC AGENDA.

NEW JERSEY STANDS TO RECEIVE $12 BILLION WILL GO TOWARD NEW JERSEY TRANSIT, CRUMBLING BRIDGES AND WATER SYSTEMS.

NOT TO MENTION THE LONG-AWAITED GATEWAY TUNNEL UNDER THE HUDSON RIVER.

MORE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY PETE BUTTIGIEG ONCE AGAIN MADE A STOP IN JERSEY AGAIN WITH LOCAL MAYORS TO TALK ABOUT THE PLAN.

BUT, THE LEGISLATION FIRST NEEDS TO PASS IN THE HOUSE WHERE IT FACES AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE.

I ASKED CONGRESSMAN ANDY KIM TODAY JUST MOMENTS AFTER THE SENATE VOTE.

>> I WANTED TO ASK YOU FIRST ABOUT YOUR REACTION TO THE PASSAGE OF THIS BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THROUGH THE SENATE TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE A GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY GOVERN.

AND THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND TRY TO FIND SOME WAYS TO SOLVE SOME OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE.

INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALWAYS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

PLACES WHERE YOU COULD HAVE REAL BIPARTISANSHIP, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS IN THAT DIRECTION.

SO I'M VERY ENCOURAGED BY WHAT I SEE IN THE SENATE, AND I HOPE WE CAN REPLICATE THAT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> BASED ON WHAT YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW, WHERE WE SIT RIGHT NOW, DOES THE MEASURE FALL SHORT?

WE HEARD THE SPEAKER SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE WOULD LIKE TO WAIT AND SEE A MORE SWEEPING BILL COME THROUGH, PERHAPS HOLD OFF, AND WORK NEGOTIATIONS THAT WAY.

COULD THAT UPEND EVERYTHING THAT IS NOW ACHIEVED?

>> WELL, WE CERTAINLY DO HAVE SOME UNCERTAINTY IN TERMS OF WHAT COMES NEXT.

AND SOME OF THAT COMES FROM THE QUESTIONS ABOUT DOES THIS ADDRESS THE BIGGEST CONCERNS WE HAVE?

PRINCESS.

I MENTIONED A LOT OF CONCERNS RIGHT NOW.

ESPECIALLY ABOUT PRESENTING WITH THE DISTRICT SHORELINE.

ESPECIALLY A LOT OF MONEY.

CONSTITUENTS ARE EXPENSING FLOODING EVERY SINGLE DAY.

SO IS THIS GOING TO ACTUALLY SOLVE A PROBLEM, OR IS THIS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT ISN'T THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE FACE WITH FOUR YOU WERE IN YOUR DISTRICT YESTERDAY IN OCEAN COUNTY, TO UNVEIL THE PLANS FOR A NEW OUTPATIENT CLINIC FOR VETERANS.

SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING.

>> IT HAS BEEN.

THE VETERAN COMMUNITY AND MY DISTRICT HAS BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME.

THIS CURRENT CLINIC THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW THAT WAS BUILT OVER 30 YEARS, IT WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT FOR ABOUT 5000 PATIENTS.

RIGHT NOW YESTERDAY WAS TOLD THAT 12,000 PEOPLE ARE SUBSCRIBED TO THAT CLINIC.

WELL BEYOND.

I FINALLY AFTER WHAT LASTLY ALL THE PUSHING WE HAD DONE, WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO ANNOUNCE A NEW STATE OF THE OFFICE WHERE FOOTAGE OF THE PREVIOUS OR CURRENT PLACE SOMETHING THAT WILL DO A LOT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE DELIVERING FOR THE VETERAN COMMUNITY WHICH IT OCEAN COUNTY IS THE LARGEST VETERAN COMMUNITY AND THE CURRENT STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

>> SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, THEN, CONGRESSMAN.

FOLKS WON'T HAVE TO DRIVE UP TO EAST ORANGE INTO PHILLY?

AS I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS END UP DOING IN SOUTH JERSEY.

>> IS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE EFFORTS, AND CAPABILITIES FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

IS GOING TO BE AN ENTIRE SEPARATE ENTRANCE FOR OUR WOMEN VETERANS, FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH.

AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS AND I KNOW RIGHT NOW, I'VE BEEN LACKING IN THE CURRENT FACILITY.

SO, YES, THERE'S GOING TO BE BETTER IMPROVED SERVICES FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

DENTAL AND A LOT OF OTHERS.

YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE THAT HAVE MORE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CONCERNS, THEY PROBABLY WON'T HAVE TO GO UP TO EAST ORANGE STILL FOR SOME OF THEM, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO BRING AS MUCH OF THAT CAPABILITY TO OCEAN COUNTY, TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AS POSSIBLE.

>> CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> TURNING OUT TO WALL STREET, HERE IS A LOOK AT TODAY'S CLOSING TRADING NUMBERS.

A LONG-AWAITED REPORT FROM THE UNITED NATIONS IS CHARACTERIZING THE CLIMATE CRISIS AS A CODE RED FOR HUMANITY.

A SOBERING ASSESSMENT THAT CONCLUDES IT IS TOO LATE TO PREVENT GLOBAL WARMING FROM WORSENING IN THE COMING DECADES.

BUT, LEAVES OPEN THE CHANCE TO TURN THE SITUATION AROUND IF MAJOR PLAYERS INCLUDING NEW JERSEY DO THEIR PART.

LEAH MISHKIN REPORTS AS PART OF OUR ONGOING SERIES WITH OUR STORIES OF CLIMATE CHANGE, PERIL AND PROMISE.

>> MORE HEAT WAVES, GREATER SEA LEVEL RISE.

HEAVY RAIN STORMS, MORE INTENSE HURRICANES, HOW MUCH MORE OF THESE THINGS SO WE GET DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH WARMING THERE IS.

>> AND THE GLOBE IS WARMED BY 1 DEGREES CELSIUS SINCE THE LAST HALF OF THE 19th CENTURY.

ACCORDING TO UNITED NATIONS INTERGOVERNMENTAL CHANGE REPORT PUT TOGETHER BY MORE THAN 200 AUTHORS FROM 66 COUNTRIES.

THE IPCC REPORT SHOWS WE ARE NOT FAR FROM THE 1.5 DEGREES CELSIUS THRESHOLD SET BY WORLD LEADERS.

>> IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE THAT WE WILL REACH THAT 1.5 DEGREE LEVEL SOMETIME IN THE NEXT 20 TO 30 YEARS.

>> CURRENTLY BURNING IN THE LEFT, THEY SEEM TO DO WHAT IS WORSE INTENSITY EVERY YEAR NOW.

NEW JERSEY HAS ALREADY ASKED VARIANCE A HIGHER DEGREE OF FUTURE WARMING THAN IT HAS THAN OUR NEIGHBORS.

FRANKLY BECAUSE OF MORE URBAN COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE.

>> A CLIMATE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION SAYS THE BIGGEST EFFECT IN NEW JERSEY WILL BE SEA LEVEL RISE, SOMETHING ECHOED BY THE CODIRECTOR OF THE CLIMATE INSTITUTE, DR. ANTHONY BERKLEY.

>> DEPENDENT ON HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL GREENHOUSE GASES WE PUT INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, SEA LEVEL COULD RISE ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO 4 FEET BY THE END OF THIS CENTURY.

SO, THAT IS CLEARLY GOING TO HAVE A LARGE IMPACT IN TERMS OF COASTAL FLOODING.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE DECREASES IN TEMPERATURE THAT RESULTS IN MORE FREQUENT, AND MORE INTENSE HEAT WAVES.

ALSO, A MORE INTENSE RAIN.

>> THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO GLOBAL WARMING AS CARBON DIOXIDE, FOLLOWED BY METHANE.

>>, THE WORLD HAS WARMED OVER THE LAST HALF-CENTURY IS UNPRECEDENTED IN RECORDS GOING BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

AND, WHAT WE REALLY HAVE TO DO IS, ESSENTIALLY REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS TO ALMOST 0.

THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACT NO.

THREE DIFFERENT THINGS ARE BEING CONTEMPLATED CURRENTLY.

AS PART OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AGENDA.

AND IN CONGRESS.

NUMBER 1, THE ELECTRICITY STANDARD, MUCH LIKE THAT HAS BEEN TASKED BY NEW JERSEY LAWMAKERS TO DRIVE TOWARDS 100% CARBON SOLUTION FREE ELECTRICITY AND THE POWER SECTOR BY 2035.

NUMBER 2, MASSIVE INVESTMENTS IN CLEAN ENERGY, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND OTHER INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND NUMBER 3, INVOLVING THE JUSTICE >> THE U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL IS QUOTE CODE RED FOR UNION.

>> THERE ARE NATURAL CHANGES IN CLIMATE THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST CERTAINLY.

THERE WERE ICE AGES, 20,000 YEARS AGO, THE NORTHERN PART OF NEW JERSEY WAS COVERED BY AN ICE SHEET.

BUT, THE CAUSES OF THE ICE AGES ARE KNOWN.

THEY WERE CAUSED BY SMALL, SLOW CHANGES IN THE EARTH'S ORBIT THAT PLAY OUT OVER TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

THEY CANNOT CHANGE THE CLIMATE IN 50 YEARS.

THE WAY WE HAVE SEEN.

THE CHANGES IN CLIMATE WE ARE SEEING NOW ARE OVERWHELMINGLY THE RESULT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES.

>> THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MORNING, QUOTES GLOBAL HEATING IS AFFECTING EVERY REGION ON EARTH, WITH MANY CHANGES BECOMING IRREVERSIBLE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM LEAH MISHKIN.

>> FOR MORE ON THIS STORY AND THE FULL UNITED NATIONS REPORT, CHECK OUT TOM JOHNSON'S ARTICLE ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG .

>>> THIS JUST IN, AS WE LEAVE YOU, THE FEDERAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND NEW JERSEY HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT OVER REFORMS AT THE STATE'S ONLY WOMEN'S PRISON, AGREEING TO A PROPOSED CONSENT DECREE OF THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY FOR WOMEN WITH A FEDERAL MONITOR TO OVERSEE COMPLIANCE.

IT COMES IN THE WAKE OF AN INVESTIGATION THAT CLAIMED THAT THE STATE FAILED TO PROTECT INMATES FROM SEXUAL ABUSE BY STAFF.

WE WILL HAVE A FULL REPORT TOMORROW.

AND, THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

BUT, YOU CAN HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG, OR ANY OF OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI, FROM THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US, WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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