Briana: Tonight on NJ Spotlight News.

A day of remembrance, hundreds more in the late Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, paying their respects to a political Trail Blazer.

>> I am living proof of her impact, I made that very clear.

If it were not for her, there would not be people like me.

Briana: Dozens displaced.

>> There cannot be any justification for the conditions.

Briana: Families forced out of their apartment following an inspection.

Blaming the landlord for poor oversight.

Cannabis confusion, questions remain for those who can consume the drug, first responders demanding answers.

>> There are so many uncertainties that we do not have answers to.

I cannot give a clear answer on, can we do this?

Briana: New work heating up, impacts from intense heat in urban areas causing detrimental impact on mental and physical health.

>> The increases of temperature are leading to an increase in suicidal ideation and deaths by suicide.

Briana: NJ Spotlight News starts right now.

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♪ >> From NJ PBS, this is NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vanozzi.

Briana: Good evening and thank you for joining us.

I am Raven Santana.

The celebration of life continued for Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver.

Her political career was honored in Trenton, and today in new work -- Newark.

Political dignitaries were there to speak about her impact on their lives and on the state.

Her casket was escorted to the Essex County historic Courthouse with the public was able to pay their respects.

She was the first black assembly speaker and influenced a generation of younger women of color who are currently serving in the state house.

There will be a final farewell tomorrow at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, Rev.

Al Sharpton give the service and eulogy.

Our senior correspond or -- correspondent was there.

Reporter: Day two of this three-day celebration of the life and career of Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, brings us to Newark where it all began.

Before she became a historic figure as assembly speaker and lieutenant governor, she was a daughter of SX.

In the sunshine of a Newark morning, Bob Menendez community and political leaders greeted the casket carrying Sheila Oliver.

It was a return to the place where she grew up, and how to scrap from or brooms to back rooms.

-- boardrooms to back rooms.

He first met her when she was 18 years old.

He remembers the fight to elevate all over to speaker back in 2010.

>> What was her prize, becoming the speaker and being able to deal with Christie and Sweeney.

Reporter: It was not easy to fight for a progressive agenda with a tough crowd like that.

But Oliver was never afraid to push back.

>> I have never engaged in the name calling that the governor has, I have let -- left that to his wheelhouse.

There comes a time where enough is enough.

He likes to say we are all adults, and the adults are in charge.

What he did reflects that he is not acting like an adult.

>> They work together to move the government forward.

>> Those are two tough guys, she had to be up to that task and beyond.

>> Absolutely.

When reporters talk to me, they say to me, how is it to be her boss?

I say, nobody was Sheila Oliver's boss.

There was nobody, she did it on her own, she was on a mission.

>> You seek Timberlake and Spade and McKnight, they are living proof of the impact of Sheila Oliver.

>> I am living proof of the impact of Sheila Oliver.

I made that very clear, if it were not for her, there would not be people like me.

She shattered ceilings when she was the only one in those spaces.

So many of us have had the opportunity to write on her shoulders.

>> She was always the smartest person in the room.

She did not like flaunting.

She did not let you know.

You knew it, but she never let you know.

She was subtle and efficient at what she did, and a kind person.

>> A champion for truth, justice, and the Essex County way.

>> It is important to get up on Sunday and carry the power of her legacy.

>> The state will say off final farewell tomorrow at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark.

Governor Murphy will speak at the service and the eulogy will be delivered by the Rev.

Al Sharpton.

Raven: A nightmare for dozens of Lane Field residents forced out of their homes with only a days notice.

City inspectors condemned the building on Tuesday after they say they found ghastly, sewage leaks, old and other dangerous conditions.

With only 24 hours notice, Emily's are scrambling for a place to live as the city looks to crack down on the landlord and its other buildings.

We spoke to a longtime resident, and the mayor about what they are doing to support the families.

>> I couldn't believe it.

I did not panic at that point.

Reporter: She does not care about the remaining eight point -- eight months of her lease.

She has lived at this building for 32 years.

She blames the current landlord for issues in the building.

She says they are a are cry from her previous landlord.

>> They would come in right in and fix everything.

They just sold the building last year to these people.

The maintenance people, they do not call back, they do not pick up.

They say they are busy, they have people ahead of you, nonsense.

Reporter: These pictures came from a city inspection.

Residents complained about mold and sewage leaks.

She had problem with her bathroom.

>> I couldn't flush the toilet.

Last week I heard a noise, my bathroom flooded.

The pipe burst in the bathroom.

>> There is no justification for the conditions in this building.

Reporter: The mayor says the landlord has had three other buildings condemned in the city of Plainfield this year.

>> Every time we receive a complaint, if we receive a complaint, we have to go in.

We went and, the conditions were deplorable.

Reporter: Residents were angry and were only given 24 hours.

Some families had to stay at the Langfield performing arts center.

The mayor says I days notice is standard operating procedure.

>> It is 24 hours because of the enormity of the conditions that were found.

We found conditions where there were no shut off of gas valves.

There was a leak from one of the stove's, those conditions require immediate evacuation.

Reporter: Union County groups gave out food and supplies in downtown Plainfield, offering mental health services and laundry.

The mayor says there is no timeline for people to move back in.

It could be days, weeks or even months.

>> Residents will be able to move back in once the violations have been abetted.

And our inspections Department conducts an inspection, and finds the conditions to have been abetted to the point where it is safe for residents.

>> I will never come back to this building.

Especially as long as these people are owning it.

Raven: The landlord did not respond to requests for comment.

The city is inspecting more buildings, which could lead to more buildings being condemned and more people searching for a place to live.

Raven: Thousands of New Jersey veterans have received additional health benefits made available under the act act signed by President Biden.

It expands V.A.

benefits for those who work exposed to burn pits, agent orange, and other toxic substances.

According to statistics, the Department of Veterans Affairs haves -- has received many disability claims.

They have processed almost 535000 and approved 348,000.

Are enough veterans taking advantage of the benefits and what type of outreach is being done?

We are joined by Dr. Sharif.

The former president and CEO of Newark University Hospital and former New Jersey Commissioner of health.

We are nearing the anniversary of the pack to act.

How many claims have you received?

Guest: We have received over 800,000 claims across the country.

The medical center, and all of the clinics they manage have done tens of thousands of toxic exposure testing.

The are working hard to make sure every veteran in New Jersey and across the country knows about these benefits.

Raven: What does outreach look like?

Guest: We have done over 2000 outreach events across the country.

We bring the health care system and our colleagues at the benefits administration to gather into communities where veterans are.

To remind any veteran listening, if you were exposed to toxic substances during your surface, going anywhere in Central Command from the first Gulf War to the post 9/11 conflict, or if you are a Vietnam veteran, you likely qualify for being -- for benefits.

This law allows us to be comprehensive and what we cover in the care we deliver.

Try to apply by Monday to have your benefits to be able to be backdated to August 10 of last year.

Raven: I want to go back to that exposure.

Can you give me examples of how military personnel would be exposed?

Guest: When people were deployed to Iraq, and Afghanistan, the way that military installations would depose -- dispose of waste was a giant pits where they threw materials to be burned.

It generated large clouds of lack smoke.

Especially for the soldiers and servicemembers stationed to them, and those who were guarding them and maintaining them.

What we have done is presume if you were deployed to any of these countries in service to our country, you were exposed to this toxin, all you have to demonstrate is you have one of the potentially 300 conditions that we presumed to be connected to that exposure.

These conditions can be rare or common.

A number of lung conditions are associated with burn pits, but also serious conditions like cancer.

Raven: There were issues when trying to file claims for some people who went online.

What is your advice if someone ran into an error message?

Guest: Because there was overwhelming demand to access the website and the call center, there were delays and some veterans got error messages.

Have data of over 5000 veterans who have experienced that.

The good news is, our I.T.

department believes we have the information we need to register your intent to file.

But if you are uncertain, go to the website and click intent to file again.

You do not have to complete the full application.

For that reason, we have extended the deadline to Monday at midnight Eastern time.

If you are unsure and haven't heard from us, who have the chance to do it again by Monday August 14 at midnight.

Raven: Thank you for joining me.

It has been well over a year since the launch of recreational weed sales in the garden state, questions remain as to who can and cannot consume it.

After a debate over off-duty police officers last year, the rules are too vague for firefighters and other first responders many have said they are reluctant to be the test case when it comes to figuring out how exactly this law price -- applies to them.

>> We are the lab rats that are going to figure this out.

Reporter: He fought fires for years in Elizabeth and says firefighters and EMTs drive through a haze of uncertainty over cannabis use even though weed is illegal.

New Jersey's Attorney General issued guidelines that allow law enforcement officers to indulge while off duty.

As long as it doesn't hurt on the job performance.

But for other first responders, it is murky.

>> There are so many uncertainties that we do not have answers to.

I cannot give one of my members of their answer on, can we do this.

My answer is, what our legal team says, do not be the test case until there is more.

I do not know when that comes.

Guest: The head says nobody should come to work impaired by any substance, but cannabis is illegal under federal law.

That means looking to individual employers and towns for guidance.

>> There is nothing that says first responders cannot use recreational cannabis, it is not exonerate them from their local union agreement, drug testing, rules and regulations.

>> We have not gotten official guidelines, they are leaving it up to different agencies to work on it.

Guest: The president of jerseys EMS counsel has advised them to consult lawyers.

>> A squad may have a different policy than a squad in a no other place, which may be different than another place, which could be different than another place.

Reporter: There is no clear test to measure impairment from cannabis use, any first responder squads rely on volunteers who fit into a different legal category.

But one former firefighter says, as long as first responders maintain a drug-free or place, they should be able to use medicinal cannabis.

>> I could have had a stroke or heart attack.

But because I found this medication, it took the stress, anxiety, I slept, I lost 120 pounds.

Reporter: This former firefighter founded a nonprofit that partners with cannabis vendors to sell merchandise and donate a portion to first responders.

He has conducted seminars on how cannabis can benefit firefighters and EMTs.

But he is clear on responsible use.

>> Some people say, I just took a puff, I can get out of trouble.

I don't believe in that.

We are trying to fight a stigma, you are going to give credit to the other side, the opposition on this issue.

Reporter: The Department of community affairs as the fire safety commissions subcommittee on cannabis use by firefighters has not yet formulated a recommendation but are having discussions.

It is apparently a back burner issue.

Raven: In our spotlight on business, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday temporarily blocked a settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma.

The bankruptcy settlement would have shielded the family who owns the company from lawsuits over their role in the countries opioid I pandemic.

Under the original deal that was locked, the owners would receive immunity in exchange for paying $6 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits over its misleading marketing.

The justices agreed to the Biden administration's request to halt the agreement.

Turning to Wall Street, here is how trading numbers closed today.

>> Support for The Business Report provided by the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey, working for economic prosperity by uniting business and community leaders for 150 years.

Membership and event information online at ChamberSNJ.com.

Raven:l cities across the country that experiences island effect.

These cities, the daytime temperatures are 1-7 degrees hotter than temperatures in suburban areas.

It has proven to impact physical health and mental health, with increases in aggression and suicide rates.

Why are some communities disproportionately impacted by heat?

Our mental health writer joins me.

Who is most impacted by this and why?

Guest: When we look at this issue, it is primarily people living in cities, black and brown communities in Newark, Trenton and Camden who have felt the biggest impact of the urban heat island effect.

It is sections of cities like the ironbound and the temperature increases in these sections of cities.

Raven: You can be and one section in Newark, and move to the Ironbound, and feel like it got seven degrees hotter.

But you are saying that is actually happening.

Guest: It is, when we look at folks who have spoken to -- if it is 94 degrees in Newark, it could be 5-10 degrees hotter in the Ironbound.

Add to that you have the airport nearby, trucks coming through, as someone who go -- grew up there, she spoke about how it changed through the years.

It used to be hot in the summer, but now it feels like it is even hotter.

We know that from recent literature there are mental health impacts.

Raven: The Ironbound is filled with shops, new development, but the problem is, when new development happens, it changes the fabric of the communities.

Is that impacting that?

Guest: That is a huge impact we are seeing.

That is what advocates have been calling for, environmental impact studies that would look at what developers do, how this would impact communities.

We look at neighboring places.

What it would do to a community.

A lot of times we see displacement.

A lot of folks who grew up in a community, schools, public parks, are no longer accessible because of these areas.

It has a huge impact, and one that reverberates through generations.

Raven: It is not just environmental impact.

It is also mental health.

Tell me what you found through speaking with people and reporting.

Guest: With the emerging literature with mental health, the increases of temperature due to urban heat island effects are leading to an increase in suicidal ideation and deaths by suicide.

It is leading to additional mental health complications like hospitalizations and exacerbations of underlying and pre-existing mental health conditions.

Raven: What is the solution?

Guest: Right now a lot of advocates have said tree planting is a solution.

Those trees help to cool down communities, and impact people living in areas that are filled with asphalt.

There are a number of advocate organizations working towards that.

If these issues are not met, this is the impact that will happen, on our immediate children and generations to come.

Raven: Long-term impacts potentially if there is not enough green infrastructure.

Thank you so much for joining me.

That is going to do it for us tonight.

A reminder to download the NJ Spotlight News podcast so you can listen anytime.

For the entire NJ Spotlight News team, thank you for being with us, have a great weekend, we will see you back here on Monday.

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