>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND ORSTED.

COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>>> FROM NEW JERSEY PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> IT WASN'T QUITE A TRAFFIC JAM, BUT HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TURNED YOU UP TO SPEAK AT A VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING ON NEW YORK'S PROPOSED CONGESTION PRICING PLAN.

A PLAN THAT COULD COST NEW JERSEY DRIVERS ANYWHERE FROM $5 TO $23 IN FEES ON TOP OF TOLLS.

IT WAS THE FIRST OF SIX PUBLIC HEARINGS PLANNED BY NEW YORK STATE AND MTA OFFICIALS.

ANOTHER ONE WILL BE HELD TOMORROW.

AS LAST NIGHT'S MEETING WENT ON FOR HOURS, COMMUTERS AND OTHERS WAITED PATIENTLY TO HAVE THEIR SAY A BOTH FOR AND AGAINST THE PLAN.

EVERYTHING FROM COMMUTING COSTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT WAS DISCUSSED.

THE MTA SAYING THE EXTRA CASH FOR ANYONE ENTERING MANHATTAN BELOW 60th STREET WOULD SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVE ALL OF THEIR SERVICES.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ HAS THE HIGHLIGHTS.

>> Reporter: THEY CALM FROM ALL OVER THE TRI-STATE AREA, VIRTUALLY SPEAKING, FOR A SIX- HOUR SESSION, LARGELY MIXED ON A PLAN THAT WOULD TAX VEHICLES HEADING INTO THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT OF MANHATTAN IN ORDER TO IN THEORY, ANYWAY, EASE THAT TRAFFIC TO THE BENEFIT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND REGIONAL ECONOMY.

AND FUND MASS TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS, MAINLY IN NEW YORK, TO ENCOURAGE ITS USE.

>> IT'S CLEAR TO ME THAT THE ARCHITECTS OF THIS PLAN HAVE NOT DONE A GOOD ENOUGH JOB TO ENGAGE WITH FRONTLINE AND WORKING CLASS PEOPLE, AND THE IDEA THAT SOMEONE WHO HAS A CAR CAN AFFORD TO PAY A CONGESTION PRICE UP TO 23 IS ABSURD.

>> THE REASONS FOR THE CONGESTION ARE THE PROLIFERATION OF FOR-HIRE VEHICLES, LESSER ENFORCEMENT OF TRAFFIC LAWRKSZ AND CONSTRUCTION.

AND YOU HAVE A PROGRAM HERE THAT DOES NOTHING TO ADDRESS THOSE CAUSES.

IT SEEMS THAT THE STATE IS SAYING, WE HAVE CONGESTION, WE KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE, AND WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD A PROGRAM THAT DOES NOTHING TO ADDRESS THOSE PROBLEMS.

>> I RIDE MY BICYCLE, AND SO DOES MY GIRLFRIEND.

LET ME TELL YOU PLAIN AND CLEAR, THERE ARE TOO MANY CARS ON NEW YORK CITY STREETS.

CONGESTION PRICING IS NOT JUST ANOTHER TOLL, AND CERTAINLY NOT A TAX ON THE POOR.

IT IS A MEANS BY WHICH PEOPLE FUND THE FUTURE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> I LIVE IN THE CONGESTION ZONE.

AND HONESTLY WE'RE DROWNING HERE IN THE CONGESTION ZONE.

SO MANY PEOPLE ARE DRIVING IN, AND THE AIR QUALITY IS PRETTY BAD.

WE HAVE HIGH ASTHMA RATES.

THE NOISE POLLUTION IS TERRIBLE.

WE HAVE THE SLOWEST BUSES IN THE COUNTRY.

SO I'LL REPEAT THAT AGAIN.

THAT'S ATROCIOUS.

>> FELICIA PARK ROGERS OF THE TRI-STATE TRANSPORTATION CAMPAIGN SAT THROUGH MORE THAN FOUR HOURS IN ORDER TO GIVE HER TESTIMONY.

SHE POINTS OUT THAT THEIR STUDIES SHOW ONLY ABOUT 2% OF NEW JERSEY COMMUTERS USE THEIR CARS TO GET INTO THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

BUT THE IMPROVEMENTS FROM THE PLAN TO MASS TRANSIT ON THE NEW YORK SIDE WILL BE A BIG BENEFIT TO EVERYONE.

>> WE'RE A REGION, OUR ECONOMIES ARE INTERDEPENDENT.

OUR SOCIAL AND FAMILY AND CULTURAL LIVES ARE INTERDEPENDENT.

AND IT DOESN'T JUST GO ONE WAY.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S TONS OF PEOPLE GOING FROM NEW YORK INTO NEW JERSEY ALL THE TIME.

OUR ECONOMIES RELY ON EACH OTHER, AND ABSOLUTELY IF ONE PIECE OF THE REGION IS IMPROVED, THAT'S BETTER FOR EVERYBODY ACROSS THE REGION.

>> Reporter: YEAH, YEAH, SAYS CONGRESSMAN JOSH GOTth EIMER.

OUR GOOD NEIGHBORS HAVE ESSENTIAL ANNEXED NEW JERSEY AND ITS COMMUTERS TO FUND THEIR OWN IMPROVEMENTS AND BAIL THEMSELVES OUT FOR THEIR OWN INCOMPETENCE.

>> THIS IS A DISASTER ON EVERY FRONT.

THE MTA, THEY ARE USING JERSEY AS THEIR PIGGY BANK BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT A MASSIVE MISMANAGEMENT ISSUE TO DEAL WITH.

BUT TO TURN AROUND AND A WHACK JERSEY DRIVERS MAKES NO SENSE.

>> Reporter: SAM SCHWARTZ HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN CONGESTION PRICING FOR SO LONG HE'S THE ONE WHO COINED THE TERM GRIDLOCK.

HE SAYS UNFORTUNATELY THERE WASN'T MUCH NEW TO LEARN FROM LAST NIGHT'S HEARING.

>> WHEN I PRESENT IT TO PEOPLE, SHOW THEM A NEW YORKER CARTOON OF TWO DOGS TALKING AND SAYING, I WOULDN'T BE OPPOSED TO A CAT TAX, SO THIS IS KIND OF LIKE THAT.

EVERYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SOLVE CONGESTION.

EVERYBODY WOULD LIKE TO DRIVE FASTER.

THE PEOPLE IN TRANSIT WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO HAVE BETTER TRANSIT.

BUT NOBODY WANTS TO PAY FOR IT.

AND TRAFFIC IS AT RECORD LEVELS NOW, AND TRANSIT IS SUFFERING.

>> Reporter: MAYBE WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

BUT EVEN THOSE WHO AGREE THAT TRAFFIC AND TRANSIT ARE A MESS STILL MOSTLY THINK IT'S SOMEBODY ELSE'S JOB TO FIX IT.

THE MTA HAS FIVE MORE OF THESE SESSIONS SCHEDULED AFTER WHICH A PLAN WILL HAVE TO BE AGREED UPON, BECAUSE THE ONE UNIVERSAL TRUTH IN ARGUMENTS FROM ALL SIDES HERE IS THAT THE REGION IS RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND THAT THE TRAIN IS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE STATION.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THOUSANDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR RENT.

HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN STATE AND FEDERAL RENTAL ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN HANDED OUT, AND THE STATE SAYS MORE THAN 60,000 FAMILIES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF THAT.

BUT SOME RENTERS DIDN'T RECEIVE THEIR CHECKS.

OTHERS ARE ON A WAITING LIST FOR ASSISTANCE AS THE CURRENT ROUND OF FUNDING HAS BEEN DEPLETED.

ADVOCATES ARE SAYING MORE HELP IS NEEDED.

IN THE MEANTIME, SOME TENANTS ARE JUST TRYING TO HANG ON.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> I NEGATIVE EXPECTED TO SAY TO NEW JERSEY NOT TO BE THERE FOR ME.

>> Reporter: CARLEEN GOT COVID, LOST HER JOB, AND NOW FACES LOSING HER APARTMENT, LIKE THOUSANDS OF NEW JERSEY TENANTS WHO COUNTED ON GOVERNMENT RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THE SOUTH JERSEY RESIDENT OWES MORE BACK RENT THAN SHE CAN PAY.

BUT AID MONEY HAS RUN OUT, AND SHE IS NOW ON A STATE RENTAL ASSISTANCE LOTTERY.

>> I DIDN'T EXPECT THEM TO STOP PAYING FOR ME.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY WERE GOING TO SO-CALLED RUN OUT OF MONEY.

>> BEING SADDLED WITH THE RENTAL IS COMPROMISING THE ABILITY OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO SURVIVE.

AND THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT WAS HOLDING OFF SOME OF THESE EVICTIONS HAS RUN OUT.

>> PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN, IF THEY DON'T HAVE A PROMISE OF PAYMENT OR FUNDS ARE GOING TO BE' VUCTD.

>> Reporter: TENANTS ATTORNEYS DO PRAISE THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR ITS OVERALL MANAGEMENT OF $720 MILLION IN STATE AND FEDERAL RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

DCA CLAIMS IT HAS PRESERVED HOUSING FOR 66,000 FAMILIES SO FAR.

BUT NEW JERSEY IS WITNESSING A NEW WAVE OF LOCKOUTS SINCE THE PANDEMIC EVICTION MORATORIUM EXPIRED IN JANUARY.

EVICTION COURT CASES HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED FROM ROUGHLY 25,600 FILED JANUARY THROUGH JULY IN 2021, TO ABOUT 58,000 DURING THE SAME PERIOD THIS YEAR.

AND WHEN GOVERNMENT RENTAL ASSISTANCE CHECKS GO MISSING, AS FIRST REPORTED BY N.J. ADVANCE MEDIA, SOME EVICTION CASES GO OFF THE RAILS.

>> THE MONEY WAS PROMISED AND DIDN'T GET WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO.

MAYBE IT WENT TO THE WRONG PERSON.

MAYBE THE CHECK WAS NEVER CUT.

I DON'T KNOW.

ONCE THAT HAPPENS, IT'S BEEN ENORMOUSLY DIFFICULT.

>> Reporter: KATHRYN WEISS CLAIMS THE STATE HIRED A COMPANY TO DISBURRS RENTAL ASSISTANCE CHECKS BUT THAT THE CONTRACTOR WILL NO LONGER DISCUSS PAYMENT PROBLEMS WITH ADVOCATES.

SHE CALLS IT -- >> WEAK QUALITY CONTROL AND WEAK PROBLEM SOLVING RESPONSE.

AND WE'VE CONTACTED THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS TO SAY WHAT IS GOING ON.

THEY HAVE ALWAYS TALKED TO US BEFORE.

AND WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET THIS FIXED.

>> Reporter: SOME ERRORS HAVE BEEN CORRECTED, SO WE REMAIN OPTIMISTIC.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, IT'S BECOMING TOO LATE FOR MANY, MANY TENANTS.

>> WE NEED SOME BETTER COMMUNICATION.

WE NEED SOME MORE TRANSPARENCY.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FACT OF WHATEVER HAS HAPPENED WITH THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE CAN MAKE THEIR WAY INTO COURT, ESPECIALLY WHEN SOME OF THOSE ARE A LARGE SUM OF MONEY PAID ON THE TENANT'S BEHALF TO KEEP THEM IN THEIR HOME.

>> Reporter: A SPOKESMAN SAYS HER RETURNED CHECKS OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT ISSUES WITH CHECKS, DCA AND OUR VENDOR WORK WITH THE TENANT AND OR LANDLORD TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, AND THAT IF THE TENANT A SIGNS A LEGAL RELEASE, THE CONTRACTOR IS THEN AUTHORIZED TO DISCUSS WITH THE ATTORNEY.

THIS IS DCA'S DIRECTION TO THE CONTRACTOR, AND IT IS THEIR POLICY.

THE DEPARTMENT REPORTS LESS THAN 1% OF PAYMENTS HAVEN'T BEEN PROPERLY PROCESSED.

IT'S LOGGED 430 CHECKS RETURNED AS UNDELIVERABLE SINCE LAST OCTOBER, AND 315 COMPLAINTS ABOUT PAYMENT PROBLEMS, WHICH IMPACT BOTH TENANTS AND LANDLORDS.

>> YOU HAVE TENANTS THAT CAN'T GET THE MONEY TO STOP AN EVICTION OR TO GET THE LANDLORD PAID, SO THERE'S NOT AN EVICTION FILED.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU HAVE THE HOUSING PROVIDERS ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT ARE SITTING THERE WAITING, MONTH AFTER MONTH, WAITING FOR THIS MONEY, WHICH, YOU KNOW, NO ONE CAN TRACK DOWN, NO ONE KNOWS WHERE IT IS, AND THERE'S NO REAL PROMISE THAT IT IS GOING TO BE PAID IN ANY TIMELY MANNER.

>> Reporter: IT DOESN'T HELP THAT LANDLORDS AND TENANTS FACE A 31,000-CASE BACKLOG.

ADVOCATES ON BOTH SIDES SAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALLOCATE MORE MONEY TO HELP TENANTS STAY IN THEIR HOME.

MORE THAN 43,000 ARE ON A WAITING LIST, BUT ON EIGHT APPLICATION WEBSITES -- >> THE STATUS NOW SAYS EXHAUSTED, WHICH I THINK SPEAKS FOR US ALL.

>> BOTTOM LINE, YOU HAVE TO BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE FOR EVERYTHING IN NEW JERSEY.

>> Reporter: SHE ASKED CAPE MAY COUNTY TO HELP PAY HER RENT.

IT'S MONTH TO MONTH.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> WITH THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR FAST APPROACHING, SCHOOL NURSES AND COUNSELORS ACROSS THE STATE ARE STEPPING UP THEIR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES STUDENTS FACE AS THEY PREPARE FOR A RETURN TO CLASSES.

THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT THIS IS BOBBY BREYER, WHO COVERS MENTAL HEALTH FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

FIRST OF ALL, I'M GLAD YOU ARE WITH ME TONIGHT.

LET'S TALK FIRST ABOUT HOW THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS HAS REALLY WORSENED.

WHAT ARE WE SEEING IN TERMS OF NUMBERS?

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, RHONDA.

YEAH, THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN INCREASING EXPONENTIALLY OVER THE PAST DECADE, EVEN BEFORE COVID-19 CAME ABOUT.

UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THESE NUMBERS SHOWED THAT THERE'S PERSISTENT FEELINGS OF SADNESS AND HOPELESSNESS AMONG ADOLESCENTS AND HIGH SCHOOL AGE YOUTH.

THIS NUMBER PARTICULARLY SHOWED THAT MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY AND FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE PARTICULARLY HIT HARD DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

>> BOB BEER, AS YOU REPORTED, OUTPATIENT SERVICES ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND.

SO WHAT ROLE WILL THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND NURSES PLAY?

>> SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND NURSES ARE REALLY ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RIGHT NOW.

AND THE FOLKS THAT I HAD SPOKEN TO THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY ARE DOING A GREAT DEAL TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS ARE SAFE AND COMFORTABLE AS THEY HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL.

SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE A PIER-TO- PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK SO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEAK TO SOMEBODY IN SCHOOL LEADERSHIP.

THAT WOULD ALWAYS BE AN OPTION IF STUDENTS WANTED TO SPEAK TO A NURSE OR COUNSEL OH, BUT THESE PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT GROUPS WOULD HELP STUDENTS CONNECT ON AN EMOTIONAL LEVEL SO THEY COULD GET BACK TO CLASS QUICKLY.

>> DOES IT SEEM LIKE THERE'S ENOUGH MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN OUR STATE SCHOOLS?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE ARE RESOURCES RIGHT NOW.

THERE IS A HUGE LACK OF PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PSYCHIATRISTS ACROSS THE STATE, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO CHILD PSYCHOLOGY, ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, AND SOURCES THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH.

SO THAT THERE'S STILL A GREAT NEED FOR MORE PSYCHOLOGISTS.

THERE ARE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND FOLKS LIKE SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND NURSES WHO ARE OUT ON THE FRONT LINES, FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD, ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS ARE READY TO HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL.

BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY GAPS THAT NEED TO BE FILLED IN.

>> GIVEN THAT THIS IS SUCH A BIG PROBLEM, AND THEN WE HAVE OTHER KIDS WHO ARE JUST STRESSED OUT THESE DAYS, HOW DO SCHOOL DISTRICT MAKE SURE THEY DON'T CREATE MORE STRESS?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN PLACE NOW, LIKE I HAD MENTIONED, THE PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT NETWORK.

THERE'S ALSO OPTIONS WHERE ONE SOURCE TOLD ME THEY CALL IT THREE BEFORE ME.

SO IT WOULD BE THREE DIFFERENT SELF-REGULATING OPTIONS WHERE STUDENTS COULD REGULATE THEIR EMOTIONS FROM A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS BEFORE THEY SEE A SCHOOL NURSE.

SO THOSE WERE JUST SOME OF THE WAYS THAT SCHOOL NURSES AND SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE TRYING TO LESSEN THE STRESS AND TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION RIGHT NOW, RATHER THAN PART OF AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT STUDENTS ARE FACING.

>> LET'S HOPE.

SO BOBBY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, RHONDA.

>>> PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS WILL GET A FINANCIAL BREAK AS THEY PICK UP SCHOOL SUPPLIES THIS YEAR.

TOMORROW NEW JERSEY WILL START A TAX HOLIDAY ON BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES AS WELL AS ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT.

THESE ITEMS WILL BE EXEMPT FROM THE STATE'S SALES TAX FOR THE NEXT TEN DAYS.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME NEW JERSEY IS HOLDING A TAX HOLIDAY FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

AS MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS, WHILE SOME WELCOME SAVING MONEY, OTHERS SAY THERE ARE BETTER ALTERNATIVES TO A SHORT- TERM TAX BREAK.

>> Reporter: IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN WHEN PARENTS HEAD TO THE STORE FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES AS THEY GET READY TO SEND THEIR KIDS BACK TO CLASS.

BUT THIS YEAR IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT AS INFLATION IS CAUSING PRICES TO SOAR.

>> COST IS A FACTORS, YES.

BUT I'M HOPING I DON'T NEED A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF.

THAT WILL HOPEFULLY KEEP THOSE COSTS DOWN, BUT IT'S HUGE.

>> Reporter: IRVIN HASN'T STARTED SHOPPING YET FOR HER SON, SO IT WAS A PLEASANT SURPRISE.

>> I JUST HEARD ABOUT IT ON THE RADIO, LIKE DRIVING HERE, THEN I SAW THE SIGNS.

I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, ALL RIGHT, SO I CAN LOOK AT MY LIST AGAIN AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I CAN ACTUALLY USE, SO THAT'S AWESOME.

>> Reporter: IT'S THAT KIND OF REACTION DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS WHO PUSHED FOR THE NEW JERSEY TAX HOLIDAY ARE HOPING MORE FAMILIES WILL HAVE.

FOR TEN DAYS CUSTOMERS WILL BE EXEMPT FROM PAYING THE STATE'S NEARLY 7% TAX ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

>> AND THIS ISN'T JUST NOTE BOX AND CRAYONS AND PENS AND PAPER.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $3,000 COMPUTERS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PRINTERS, ART SUPPLIES, SPORTS SUPPLY.

GET ATHLETIC GEAR.

THESE ARE ALL GOING TO BE TAX- FREE FOR THE NEXT TEN DAYS.

THIS IS EXCITING.

>> Reporter: SUPPORTERS SAY THE AVERAGE AMERICAN CAN EASILY SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING.

IS OVER BIT OF RELIEF HELP.

NATIONALLY, AMERICANS FAMILIES ARE EXPECTED TO SURPASS LAST YEAR'S RECORD HIGH ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES SPENDING WHICH WAS $37 BILLION.

THE HAVING A COST PER FAMILY IS 864, WHICH IS $168 MORE THAN THE PREPANDEMIC PRICES.

BUT THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS THAT THE TAX HOLIDAY WON'T ACTUALLY HELP THE MAJORITY OF FAMILIES THAT REALLY NEED IT.

>> TO THE EXTENT THAT ANYONE BENEFITS FROM A SALES TAX HOLIDAY, WE DO KNOW IT'S MOSTLY HIGHER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, BECAUSE HIGH-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS ARE THE ONES WHO CAN WAIT FOR THIS WEEKEND WHO CAN TIME THEIR PURCHASES.

THEY DON'T NEED TO MAKE A BUNCH OF PURCHASES ALL THE TIME SO THEY CAN GO OUT THIS WEEKEND AND BYE A BUNCH OF STUFF, INCLUDING COMPUTERS, WHICH ARE SELLING FOR UPWARDS OF $3,000.

THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THE BIG BENEFITS FROM THIS WEEKEND.

MOST LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, THEY'VE GOT TO BUY STUFF WHENEVER IT BREAKS OR WHEN THEY NEED A NEW THING, AND THEY AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT THERE AND MAKE A BUNCH OF PURCHASES JUST THIS WEEKEND.

>> Reporter: POLICY EXPERTS SAY THIS WILL BE A MAJOR BOOST FOR BUSINESSES.

>> THEY'RE THE CLEAR WINERS FROM THIS POLICY.

THEY ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM A SURGE IN BUSINESS.

THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO RAISE THEIR PRICES DUE TO AN INCREASE IN DEMAND.

>> Reporter: ASSEMBLY MINORITY LEADER SAYS HE WOULD HAVE PREFERRED A SOLUTION THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED MORE LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS FOR FAMILIES.

>> WE HAD OFFERED FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF TAX CUTS THAT WOULD BE MORE IMPACTFUL.

PROBABLY THE BEST OF THOSE WOULD BE REINDEXING THE INCOME TAX BRACKET WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN CHANGED SINCE 1996.

WE WOULD INDEX THEM FOR INFLATION BACK TO THE YEAR 2000, AND GOING FORWARD IT WOULD BE INDEXED EVERY YEAR.

THIS WOULD SAVE THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER IN NEW JERSEY, MIDDLE CLASS, WORKING POOR PERSON, $1500 A YEAR, WHICH WOULD BE CERTAINLY MORE SUBSTANTIVE AND MORE HELPFUL GOING FORWARD.

>> IF MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES AREN'T IN FAVOR OF SAVING PEOPLE MONEY BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY SHOULD SAVE MORE, WELL, THEN, THAT'S THEIR OPINION.

WE THINK THAT DOING SOMETHING THAT HELPS PEOPLE SAVE MONEY AS THEY GET BACK TO SCHOOL MAKES THEIR LIVES A LITTLE BUTT EASIER, MAKES IT LESS WEAR AND TEAR ON THEIR POCKET BOOK IS A GOOD THING.

AND FOR PARENTS LIKE IRVIN, WHO KNOWS THE SALES SAVINGS ARE SMALL, SHE SAYS SHE'S JUST HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO KEEP A FEW MORE DOLLARS IN HER POCKET ANY WAY SHE CAN.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS TONIGHT, A LAWSUIT INVOLVING COVID-19 VACCINES.

MODERNA IS SUGGEST PFIZER AND BIO-NTECH IN VACCINE DEVELOPMENT.

MODERNA ALLEGES PFIZER COPIED TECHNOLOGY THAT MODERNA DEVELOPED YEARS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, SPECIFICALLY ITS MESSENGER RNA, OR mRNA TECHNOLOGY.

MODERNA ISN'T TRYING TO REMOVE THE PFIZER VACCINE FROM THE MARKET, BUT IT IS SEEK MONETARY DAMAGES.

PFIZER SAYS IT WILL VIGOROUSLY DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST THE ALLEGATIONS MADE IN THE SUIT.

>>> IF YOU THINK INTEREST RATES ON CERTAIN LOANS ARE HIGH NOW, JUST WAIT.

FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN JEROME POWELL SAID TODAY THAT HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES SHOULD PREPARE FOR SOME PAIN AS THE FEDERAL RESERVE WILL CONTINUE TO AGGRESSIVELY RAISE INTEREST RATES.

IN A CLOSELY WATCHED SPEECH FROM AN ECONOMIC SUM POSE YUM IN JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING, POWELL SAID HIGHER INTEREST RATES ARE NEEDED TO CONTROL DECADES HIGH INFLATION, BUT BY RAISING RATES, POWELL ALSO EXPECTS THE ECONOMY HE WILL WEAKEN AND THE LABOR MARKET WILL SOFTEN.

HIS REMARKS COME AS THE LATEST ECONOMIC DATA SHOWS INFLATION MAY HAVE PEAKED IN JULY, BUT IT'S NOT YET FALLING FROM HISTORIC HIGHS.

THOSE COMMENTS FROM THE FED CHAIRMAN TODAY UNNERVED WALL STREET.

HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW THE STOCK MARKET CLOSED.

>>> NEW JERSEY'S DROUGHT HAS WORSENED.

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST INFORMATION RELEASED BY THE NATIONAL DROUGHT MITIGATION CENTER, 92% OF THE GARDEN STATE IS NOW ABNORMALLY DRY.

MODERATE DROUGHT CONDITIONS ARE PREVALENT IN MORE THAN HALF OF THE STATE, OR 51%.

THAT'S AN INCREASE FROM 32% OF THE STATE A WEEK AGO.

DROUGHT CONDITIONS ARE NOW SEVERE IN 12% OF THE STATE.

KEY DLAINGS NEWEST DROUGHT MAP SHOW MORE AREAS OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY AND ABOUT HALF OF MONMOUTH COUNTY ARE NOW IN THE SEVERE DROUGHT ZONE.

MOST OF NORTHEASTERN NEW JERSEY AND FAR SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE STATE WORSENED FROM ABNORMALLY DRY TO MODERATE DROUGHT STATUS.

ALL OF NEW JERSEY REMAINS UNDER A DROUGHT WATCH, WHICH WAS ISSUED ON AUGUST 9th.

STATE OFFICIALS ARE URGING ALL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO VOLUNTARILY CONSERVE WATER.

THIS IS NEW JERSEY'S FIRST STATEWIDE DROUGHT WATCH ISSUED SINCE 2016.

>>> STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE REPORTING NEW JERSEY'S FIRST WEST NILE VIRUS CASES THIS YEAR.

EARLIER THIS MONTH THREE MEN TESTED POSITIVE FOR WEST NILE IN BEAR GERNTION MORRIS, AND OCEAN COUNTIES.

ALL THREE MEN WERE HOSPITALIZED.

TWO HAVE BEEN RELEASED.

THE STATE IS URGING RESIDENTS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE VIRUS, WHICH IS CARRIED BY MOSQUITOES.

OFFICIALS RECOMMEND USING INSECT REPELLENT THAT IS REGISTERED BY THE EPA AND SUGGESTS REMOVING ANY STANDING WATER IN YARDS.

THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS IN A TYPICAL YEAR, EIGHT CASES OF HUMAN WEST NILE INFECTIONS ARE REPORTED.

BUT NEW JERSEY REPORTED 36 SUCH CASES LAST YEAR.

FOR MANY PEOPLE, THE VIRUS CAUSES A MILD OR MODERATE ILLNESS, USUAL WELL FEVER.

ABOUT 1 IN 150 PEOPLE DEVELOP A MORE SEVERE FORM OF THE DISEASE.

THERE IS NO SPECIFIC TREATMENT FOR WEST NILE.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT IT IS TO AVOID MOSQUITO BITES.

>>> FANS ARE REMEMBERING NEWARK RADIO LEGEND MICHAEL BORNE WHO HAS PASSED AWAY AT AGE 75.

HE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A LARGER THAN LIFE CHARACTER ON THE JAZZ SCENE.

HE WORKED AT WVGO FOR 37 YEARS WHERE HE HOSTED SEVERAL POPULAR SHOWS BEFORE RETIRING FROM HIS FULL-TIME DUTIES EARLIER THIS YEAR.

HE WAS MOST RECENTLY THE HOST OF THE SINGERS UNLIMITED PODCAST BY WVGO STUDIOS.

HE BEGAN HIS CAREER AS A JAZZ MUSIC DISC JOCKEY IN THE '70s IN INDIANA, AND THEN FOUND HIS WAY TO NEWARK, TAKING ON HIS FIRST SHIFT ON WVGO ON NEW YEAR'S EVE IN 1984.

HE ALSO WORKED AS A PERFORMER AND A WRITER.

>>> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT, WE WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT AN NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS SPECIAL.

"HER STORY" WITH SENIOR CORRESPONDENT JOANNA GAGIS, PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT ON THE MANY SIDES OF ISSUES AFFECTING NEW JERSEY'S WOMEN.

THIS WEEK, WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE AND ALL THAT COMES WITH IT.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> IT'S NO SECRET THAT WOMEN FACE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES IN THE WORKPLACE THAN THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS.

>> JUST A CONSTANT JUGGLE.

THERE'S NO BALANCE.

I THINK THAT'S SUCH AN UNATTAINABLE MYTH.

>> IN THIS EPISODE OF "HER STORY" WE LOOK AT WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE AND ALL THAT COMES WITH IT.

>> I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO WORK JUST TO PAY DAY CARE.

>> KNOWING THAT MY WORK IS RODS BY OTHER PEOPLE AND THAT MY WORK REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE IS SOMETHING THAT WAS SO EMPOWERING.

>> YOU CAN CATCH "HER STORY" SATURDAY, AUGUST 27TH, AT 6:00 P.M., AND SUNDAY, AUGUST 28TH, AT 10:00 A.M. ON NJ PBS.

>>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR US THINK.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

FOR THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, AND WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT BACK HERE ON MONDAY.

>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

AND HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>> I'M MYLES.

AND THIS IS WHAT I WORK FOR.

TO BE MY BEST FOR THEM, AND FOR ME.

IN BODY AND IN MIND.

I NEED A HEALTH INSURER THAT HELPS ME GET THE CARE I NEED FOR BOTH THAT HAS MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS THAT I CAN TALK TO WHEN I NEED TO BECAUSE WHEN I FEEL STRONG AND SECURE, SO DO THEY.

THIS IS MY LIFE.

AND THIS IS HOW HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY WORKS FOR ME.

>> IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH HAS TWO EASY WAYS TO DO IT FROM ANYWHERE.

YOU CAN SEE AN URGENT CARE PROVIDER 24/7 ON ANY DEVICE WITH OUR TELEMED APP, OR USE OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK A VIRTUAL VISIT WITH AN RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH MEDICAL PROVIDER OR PATIENT.

EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT YOU'VE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION, AND SO HAVE WE, SO DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.