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

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJBARNABAS 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 NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> HELLO.

WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

I AM JOANNA GAGIS, IN OR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

WE ARE A THIRD OF THE WAY INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR AND THE STATE HAS NOT RECEIVED SET SCORES FROM THE NEW JERSEY LEARNING ASSESSMENT THAT TOOK HIS LAST RUN.

EXPERTS SAY THE DATA IS CRITICAL TO UNDERSTAND HOW STUDENTS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC AND WHERE EDUCATORS NEED TO FOCUS EFFORTS TO HELP STUDENTS CATCH UP.

SOME ARE CRITICAL OF THE STATE HOLDING THE SCORES AND SAY ONCE THEY ARE RELEASED THEY EXPECT A MASSIVE DOWNWARD SLIDE, UP TO 12 POINTS.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER HAS MORE FROM AN EVENT LAST NIGHT CONVENED BY THE EDUCATION ADVOCATE THE GROUP THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER EDUCATION LEADERS CALLING FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY AND A MORALISTIC APPROACH TO STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN THE STATE.

>> WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED, AND HE SAW IN THE NATIONAL TEST SCORES IS THAT NOT MANY OF US ARE NEW TO UNDERPERFORMING DISTRICTS.

THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP IS VERY REAL.

THAT'S WHY FOR OUR FRIENDS ON HERE, THEY KNOW WHEN SOMEONE'S HANDS UP AND SAYS NEW JERSEY IS NUMBER ONE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THIS COUNTRY, I ALMOST HAVE THIS IMMEDIATE REACTION TO VOMIT VERY LITERALLY.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT'S NOT THE TRUTH.

>> SENATE MAJORITY LEADER EXPRESSING HER FRUSTRATION WITH THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION OF DELAYED RELEASE OF 2021-2022 ASSESSMENT SCORES TAKEN LAST SPRING.

AS FAST HAD OF THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, RUIZ SAYS NOT KNOWING THE RESULTS DOES MARMENT GOOD.

>> FOR INSTANCE, A CHILD IS SICK, YOU USE A THERMOMETER.

IS IT TIME TO GIVE THEM TYLENOL TO REDUCE THE FEVER?

WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHERE IT DATA, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND SCHOOLS ARE PRECISELY IN THAT WAY.

NOT FOR PUNITIVE MEASURES.

IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, DOES IT IMPACT THE CHILD IN A NEGATIVE WAY FROM BEING PROMOTED INTO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL.

IT DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE EXPERTISE AND GREATNESS OF THE TEACHER LEAVING THE CLASSROOM.

WHAT IT SHOULD DO IN A VERY QUICK WAY IS SAY THAT THE STUDENT IS STRUGGLING IN THESE AREAS.

WE SHOULD BE WORKING ON AN INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING PLAN TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BRING GROWTH UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> Reporter: MANY DISTRICTS RUN THEIR OWN ASSESSMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO GET THE SNACK SHOP, BUT EDUCATION EXPERTS WANT THE STATE TO MORE TRANSPARENTLY SHIRTS DATA.

DURING SEVERAL OTHER ADVOCATES LAST NIGHT FOR THIS FORUM HOSTED BY THE URBAN LEAGUE OF ESSEX COUNTY TO DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SCORES WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING LEARNING LOSS THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE KNOW INDIVIDUAL REPORTS HAVE BEEN RELEASED.

FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO DO THEIR CHILDREN'S DATA, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.

I AM GLAD THEY DO.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT DISTRICTS HAVE THEIR DISTRICT LEVEL DATA.

THEY KNOW HOW TO SLICE AND DICE THE DATA FOR THEIR ENTIRE DISTRICT.

WE DON'T YET KNOW WHY THERE ARE FULL COMPREHENSIVE DATA SETS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED.

>> COLE WAITES IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAYS MANY STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN URBAN SCHOOLS, WERE BEHIND ON MATH AND READING SCORES BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

THE TRAUMA STUDENTS HAVE FACED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS MADE THINGS WORSE.

>> STUDENTS IN THE HIGHEST TRIALS LOST ABOUT THREE OR FOUR POINTS, WHICH WOULD EQUATE TO MAYBE, YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE FROM A QUARTER YEAR OF LEARNING, IF YOU WILL.

MAYBE THREE MONTHS OR AS MUCH AS SIX MONTHS.

BUT THE STUDENTS THAT WERE IN THE LOWEST DID NOT DROP THREE OR FOUR POINTS.

THEY DROPPED 12 POINTS, 14 POINTS, 16 POINTS.

YOU ARE LOOKING AT STUDENTS IN THE LOWEST QUARTILE'S HAVING LOST UP TO A YEAR OF LEARNING.

>> THE CONCEPT OF LEARNING AND RECOVERY GUIDED BY DATA AND UNDERSTANDING WHERE TENANTS ARE IS QUINTESSENTIAL TO MY WORK AS AN EDUCATOR AND MUCH OF THE WORK FOR FOLKS HERE ON THE CALL AND LOOKING IN.

IT'S MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES.

>> LIKE LANDING A JOB.

>> BUSINESSES WILL SAY, WE CANNOT AND QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES.

CANNOT FIND THEM TO PASS THE SKILLS TEST OR HAVE THE TECHNICAL SKILLS TO WORK ON A MANUFACTURING PLANT.

WHATEVER JOBS ARE ON HEALTHCARE AND FINANCE.

WE ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING PEOPLE.

WE HAVE THE DATA.

DATA IS GOOD.

MORE DATA IS ONLY BETTER.

>> Reporter: THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS EXPECTED TO RELEASE SCORES NEXT MONDAY.

ADVOCATES SAY THIS TRANSPARENCY WILL GIVE THEM THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO HELP ACHIEVE GREAT LEVEL LEARNING.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> VOTED TO END A STRIKE THAT WOULD HAVE PUT REAL WORKERS OUT OF A JOB AND HAD A MASSIVE RIPPLE EFFECT ON THE ECONOMY, POTENTIALLY COSTING $2 BILLION A DAY OR 765,000 WORKERS THEIR JOBS.

AFTER THE HOUSE VOTED ON THE SAME LEGISLATION THAT WOULD FORCE RAILROAD UNIT TO ACCEPT A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED IN SEPTEMBER NEGOTIATED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

A DEAL THAT WAS ACCEPTED BY EIGHT OF THE 12 UNIONS AND SOLVED.

THE DEADLINE IS NEXT FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9th.

NEGOTIATIONS STALLED OVER MATTERS LIKE PAID SICK LEAVE AND COMPENSATION FOR REAL WORKERS.

THE HOUSE VOTED YESTERDAY TO PROVIDE SEVEN DAYS OF PAID SICK LEAVE BUT THE MEASURE FAILED TODAY IN THE SENATE.

THE AGREEMENT TODAY MAKES A STRIKE ILLEGAL AND THE MEASURE AWAITS THE PRESIDENT'S SIGNATURE.

>>> GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN WILL BE ALLOWED TO DONATE BLOOD UNDER NEW GUIDELINES FROM THE FDA.

THEY HAD BEEN BARRED IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF FDA RULES WRITTEN IN THE '80s TO PROTECT BLOOD SUPPLY FROM HIV AT THE HEIGHT OF THE AIDS EPIDEMIC.

IT CAN NOW DETECT HIV MUST FASTER AND ADVOCATES SAY THE ROLES ARE DISCRIMINATORY.

UNDER THE NEW RULES, ANYONE DONATING WILL HAVE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR RATHER THAN SEXUALITY.

THAT IS WELCOME NEWS FOR MANY ON THIS WORLD AIDS DAY.

A GLOBAL DAY EVENT TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE VIRUS AND RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES TO IT.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN WAS AN EVENT IN NEWARK TODAY, LOOKING AT THE ISSUE OF EQUITY AND WHY PEOPLE OF COLOR REMAIN THE MOST IMPACTED BY HIV.

>>, AND CHECK UP ON YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE WORTH IT.

>> THAT'S KEVIN TAYLOR'S MESSAGE.

HE HELPED ORGANIZE THIS EVENT IN NEWARK FEATURING TABLES LOADED WITH INFORMATION AND PEOPLE WAITING TO HELP CONNECT FOLKS WITH HEALTHCARE SERVICES.

THE THEME, ACHIEVING EQUITY TO AND HIV.

HE SAYS CLINICS NEED TO GO WHERE PEOPLE ARE.

>> WE HAVE REALIZED A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH HEALTH DESERTS, JUST LIKE FOOD DESERTS.

HOW DO WE GET THE MOUNTAIN TO MOHAMMED?

IN DOING SO, IT STIGMATIZES THE CONVERSATION.

THE CLINIC JUST POPPED UP AND NOT IN A DARK CORNER DOWN A DARK ALLEY.

>> OUTREACH PROGRAMS, WE NEED MORE BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE, THE LOCATIONS THAT THEY ARE IN.

THE MORE WE HAVE, THE BETTER.

IT'S HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO COME IN AND TO ADMIT WHATEVER CONDITION THEY HAVE.

NOWADAYS, IT DOES NOT MATTER BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH MEDICATION THEY CAN USE TO SUPPRESS IT.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY IS REPORTING FEWER CASES THAT THE EPIDEMIC IS FAR FROM OVER.

CASES FELL FROM ABOUT 1320 10 TWO 1120 19.

A 17% DECREASE.

PEDIATRIC CASES DROPPED EVEN MORE FROM 13 IN 2005 TO JUST TO IN 2020.

AN 85% DECREASE.

SOME HEALTH PROVIDERS SUSPECT COVID KEPT PEOPLE WITH HIV FROM REACHING OUT.

>> WAS PEOPLE IN GENERAL WERE TESTING.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE NUMBERS COME TO BE.

BUT IT IS STILL THE SAME COMMUNITIES BEING IMPACTED.

TYPICALLY IT'S YOUNG, AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO GAY AND OF COLOR AND TRANSGENDER WOMEN.

THE CHALLENGE IS THAT WE ARE JUST NOT GETTING THESE PEOPLE IN AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE TO.

>> SINCE THE EPIDEMIC BEGAN, 86,000 NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH HIV/AIDS.

MOST OF THEM, 77%, COME FROM MINORITY COMMUNITIES.

>> Reporter: IF AN INDIVIDUAL LIVING WITH HIV WHO HAS FOUR CHILDREN AND THREE JOBS IS NOT ABLE TO TAKE HER MEDICATIONS EVERY DAY, AS A RESULT OF THE VIRUS IS PERCOLATING IN THE BODY.

THEY CONTINUE TO BE INFECTIOUS TO THEIR SEXUAL PARTNERS.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT HERE.

TALKING ABOUT, HOW DO WE ATTEND TO THE SOCIAL AND STRUCTURAL INEQUITIES IN OUR SOCIETY?

>> THE COVID EPIDEMIC MAGNIFIED EXISTING INEQUITIES AND SENT EXPERTS SCRAMBLING TO CONNECT WITH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

THE LEARNING CURVE STILL REACHING TOWARDS INCLUSION.

>> THE GROUPS FUNDING US DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT WE NEED.

>> Reporter: SAID RESIN AND A MONEY WORK FOR A TRANSGENDER CENTER GROUP THAT AIMS TO TEST 500 PEOPLE FOR HIV EVERY YEAR WITH A NEW GRANT FROM THE CDC.

AGAIN, TARGETED OUTREACH.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT IS JUST A GAY ILLNESS, WHICH IS SURPRISING IN THE YEAR 2022.

WE ACTUALLY KNOW THAT HETEROSEXUAL PEOPLE ARE CONTRACTING IT MORE THAN HOMOSEXUAL PEOPLE.

>> AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN.

>> NEW JERSEY UNVEILED A STRATEGIC PLAN TO END THE EPIDEMIC BY 2025.

THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF NEW INFECTIONS BY 75%.

PROMOTE ACCESS TO TESTING SO THAT 100% OF FOLKS KNOW THEIR STATUS.

AND PROMOTE ACCESS TO CARE SO 90% ARE TREATED AND VIRALLY SUPPRESSED.

>> MAKE THE VIRUS UNDETECTABLE, WHICH MEANS IT IS NOT TRANSMITTABLE.

>> BUT YOU HAVE TO GET TO PEOPLE.

>> HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO GO OUT LIKE THIS?

>> CRITICAL.

ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.

>> Reporter: RUSSELL MILLERS TRAVELING HELP WHEN IT RUN BY THE COMMUNITY RESEARCH INITIATIVE BRINGS TESTING AND HEALTHCARE INTO NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> THE PEOPLE WE SERVE ARE THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.

BUT YOU'RE NOT COMING IN FOR SERVICES OR BELIEVE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICES.

>> CRUCIALLY, NO ONE IS TURNED AWAY.

IN NEW YORK, RANDY FLANAGAN, AND J SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE MEDICAL REPORT IS PROVIDED BY HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>> MANY IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE OTHER SHOE TO DROP AFTER THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE VERSUS WADE THIS YEAR.

THEY ARGUE THAT IT COULD OVERTURN THE 2015 DECISION PROTECTING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

JUSTICE CLARENCE THOMAS INDICATED THAT THE COURT SHOULD READ CONSIDER THAT POSITION.

WHILE DEMOCRATS HOLD A MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT THIS WEEK WITH SUPPORT FROM SEVERAL REPUBLICANS.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

I'M JOINED BY THE DEAN OF THE RUTGERS LAW SCHOOL WHO IS HERE TO HELP US UNDERSTAND IT BETTER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT THAT JUST PASSED IN THE SENATE.

WHAT DOES IT DO, WHAT DOES IT NOT DO TO PROTECT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN THIS COUNTRY?

>> ESSENTIALLY, IT BASICALLY SAYS IF TWO PEOPLE OF THE SAME GENDER GET MARRIED IN A PARTICULAR STATE AND THEN THEY MOVE OR THEIR TRAVELING TO A DIFFERENT STATE, THAT THE OTHER STATEHOUSE TO RESPECT THAT MARRIAGE.

THE OTHER STATEHOUSE TO GIVE UP RECALL FULL FAITH AND CREDIT TO THAT MARRIAGE.

THE CONCERN HERE IS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE --AND THOSE OF US THAT REMEMBER THE WORLD UNDER GOMA, THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT AND BEFORE MARRIAGE EQUALITY AND I REMEMBER THAT YOU COULD HAVE COUPLES WHO WERE MARRIED IN MARYLAND BUT NOT MARRIED IN GEORGIA WHERE THEY WERE MARRIED IN NEW YORK NOT IN TEXAS.

WHAT THIS LAW DOES IS IT SAYS, THAT IS NO LONGER A LANDSCAPE.

WHAT IT DOES NOT DO IS REQUIRE ANY PARTICULAR STATE TO ISSUE MARRIAGE LICENSES TO PEOPLE OF THE SAME GENDER.

THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT DISTINCTION FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND.

>> WE KNOW THIS COMES AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE SUPREME CONCERNED THE SUPREME COURT COULD OVERTURN A BURGER FILE.

THE RIGHT OF TWO SAME-SEX INDIVIDUALS TO MARRY.

WHAT PROTECTIONS EXIST OF THAT DECISION WERE TO BE OVERTURNED.

>> THAT'S WHY THIS PARTICULAR ACT IS IMPORTANT.

IF AN FACT OBERFEFELL IS OVERTURNED.

CERTAINLY NOT LIKELY IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

BUT IF OBERGEFELLE IS OVERTURNED, THEY DON'T HAVE TO ALLOW YOU TO GET MARRIED SAME-SEX.

BUT IF YOU DO AND TRAVEL SOMEWHERES ELSE FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS NOT ALLOWED, THE STATE WILL STILL HAVE TO RECOGNIZE YOUR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT.

IT ESSENTIALLY SAID STATES DON'T HAVE TO RECOGNIZE ANY OF THESE MARRIAGES.

DON'T CARE IF THEY ARE MARRIED IN NEWARK OR CALIFORNIA.

IF YOU COME TO OUR STATE, WE WILL PRETEND LIKE YOU WERE NOT MARRIED AT ALL.

THIS MAKES IT SO STATES CAN NO LONGER DO THAT OR IT'S BACK ABOUT A DOZEN REPUBLICANS VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.

SOME SAYING THEY SUPPORT IT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT INFRINGE ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHAT DO THEY MEAN BY THAT?

>> BASICALLY, WHAT HAD TO HAPPEN IN THE SENATE WAS SOME SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONS TO THE BILL, WHICH PASSED THE HOUSE BEFORE WITHOUT THOSE AMENDMENTS.

ESSENTIALLY, WHAT THE AMENDMENTS SAY IS NO CHURCH, NO RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION, NOBODY HERE HAS WHAT WE WOULD DEFINE AS CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION TO MARRIAGE EQUALITY IS EVER GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO ALLOW A SAME-SEX COUPLE TO GET MARRIED IN YOUR CHURCH.

NO RELIGIOUS PERSON WILL BE REQUIRED TO SOLEMNIZE A MARRIAGE BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE OF THE SAME GENDER.

NO FACILITY WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A RECEPTION FOR TWO PEOPLE OF THE SAME GENDER IF IT IS IN OPPOSITION TO THEIR RELIGIOUS FAITH.

ESSENTIALLY WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IS NOT THAT SURPRISING GIVEN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS FROM THE SUPREME LORD AND OTHERWISE, WHICH IS A VERY DEEP PROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, EVEN IN THE FACE OF WHAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE THERE DISCRIMINATION.

>> THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING ALL OF THAT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT VETERANS ARE NOT GETTING WHAT THEY NEED AT DATE RUN THAT'S HOMES.

HE CONFIRMED THAT HE WILL BE OUTSOURCING MANAGEMENT OF THOSE HOMES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS AND THE CARE DELIVERED TO THE VETERANS LIVING THERE.

DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, NEW JERSEY VETERANS IN NURSING HOMES SAW SOME OF THE HIGHEST COVID RELATED DEATH TOLLS OF ANYWHERE IN THE U.S. AS WE RECENTLY REPORTED, THE MENLO PARK HOME IS AT RISK OF LOSING FEDERAL FUNDING AFTER NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SAFETY VIOLATIONS.

THE OTHER TWO STATE RUN THAT HOMES HAVE FACED THEIR OWN SHARE OF CRITICISM.

NOW THE STATE IS TURNING TO AN OUTSIDE VENDOR TO WRITE THE SHIP.

>> WE ANNOUNCED THAT WE WOULD PUT OUT AN RFP TO GET A WORLD-CLASS COMPANY THAT DOES NOTHING BUT THIS TWO MEN AND TO SERVE OUR VETERANS AT THE LEVEL THEY DESERVE TO BE SERVED.

DETAILS STILL TO COME.

THIS IS LESS ABOUT POINTING FINGERS AND MORE ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE NEED HELP.

AND ENOUGH ALREADY.

THESE FOLKS DESERVE THE VERY BEST.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO GIVING THEM.

WE WON'T STOP AND I WON'T STOP UNTIL THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY GET.

4 HUNTERS WILL HAVE TO WALK THEIR FIRE ON MONDAY NOW THAT AN APPEALS THAT HAS HALTED THE RECENTLY REINSTATED BEAR HUNT.

THREE ANIMAL-RIGHTS GROUPS BROUGHT -- >> HERE IN THE CITY OF PATTERSON.

EVERYONE IN THIS CITY, YOU KNOW, AS THE FORMER SHERIFF.

BEING HERE AS THE DIRECTOR, I HAVE DIRECT COMMUNICATION.

EVERYONE HAS MY CELL PHONE NUMBER AREA THEY CAN CALL ME 24 HOURS PER DAY, SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK.

WHETHER IT'S FAITH-BASED OR CIVIC GROUPS.

WHETHER ACTIVISTS, IT DOES NOT MATTER WHO IT IS.

I'M THERE TO WORK THE PROBLEMS OUT AND BUILD TRUST AND LEGITIMACY WITH THE COMMUNITY.

BUILDING TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY IS FUNDAMENTAL TO EFFECTIVE POLICING.

>> WE KNOW THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PATTERSON REFLECT THE COMMUNITY BY MANY WAYS IN TERMS OF THE DIVERSE AT THE OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HIRED.

YET IN SPITE OF THE ACCESS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS, YOU SAY YOU FEEL THERE ARE MANY IN THE COMMUNITIES SAYING THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY EXPERIENCED.

LOOKING AT NEWARK MY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE INSTALLATION OF A FEDERAL MONITOR.

MANY CALLING FOR A CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARD.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WOULD SUPPORT IN PATTERSON?

>> YOU KNOW, LOOK, THEY TRIED TO PUT A CIVILIAN --IT WAS MORE OF A COMMITTEE THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER BECAUSE IN NEW JERSEY, THE LAW WAS THE ISSUE.

IT WAS NOT THAT THE POLICE WERE FIGHTING AGAINST IT.

IT WAS NOT THAT YOU KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATION OR COMMUNITY WAS FIGHTING AGAINST IT.

IT WAS MORE ABOUT THE LEGAL ASPECT AND THE HURDLES THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO TRY AND GET THAT CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD.

I DID MY CAREER IN THE NYPD.

I HAD A CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARD.

MY ENTIRE CAREER AS A POLICE OFFICER, AS A DETECTIVE.

>> SO YOU WOULD SUPPORT THAT?

>> SURE.

OF COURSE WE WOULD SUPPORT THAT.

>> THERE ARE SPECIFIC INCIDENTS WE HAVE SEEN FROM A MAN WHO WAS DETAINED BY POLICE AND LEFT IN A PARK FOR HOURS IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES TO A RECENT SITUATION BETWEEN A JUVENILE AND THE POLICE WERE THERE ARE ALLEGATIONS OF THE JUVENILE BEING MISTREATED IN POLICE CUSTODY.

AND SO INCIDENTS LIKE THESE, ARE THE CONCERNING TO YOU WHEN YOU HANDLE YOUR FORCE AND TALK YOUR FORCE, HOW ARE THESE THINGS ADDRESSED?

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT WE TOTALLY EMBRACE TRAINING FOR RECOGNIZING AND AVOIDING IMPLICIT BIAS.

WE TAKE THIS GUARDIAN PROTECTOR VERSUS THE WARRIOR MIND SET WHEN WE DEAL WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY OR PEOPLE OUT IN THE STREET.

YOU KNOW, THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.

WE ARE THE LARGEST ACCREDITED POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY WITH CLEAR, COMPREHENSIVE POLICIES THAT ADDRESS SCENARIOS SUCH AS USE OF FORCE, DEMONSTRATIONS, PERFORMANCE MEASURES, COLLECTION OF DATA.

WHAT WE HAVE TO REALIZE IS THAT WE WORKED EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS DONE APPROPRIATELY.

>> Reporter: YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE IS ROOM FOR MORE GROWTH?

>> SURE.

WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE AND HE WILL ALWAYS CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.

THAT IS IMPORTANT.

SOUND CONDUCT BY THE POLICE IMPROVES COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS.

THAT IS WHAT WE WORK ON.

THAT IS WHAT WE DO.

>> PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

>>> ARE YOU LIKE MOST OF US, RARELY USING CASH IN A MORE LAX SWIPING THE CARD IS SO MUCH EASIER.

OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT LOOKS AT HOW SWIPING YOUR CARD CAN COME WITH ADDED COST.

MANY BUSINESSES ARE PASSING ON SWIPE FEES TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.

THE COST THEY ARE CHARGED BY THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY FOR USING THE CARD.

THIS WEEK, THE ASSEMBLY PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE BUSINESSES TO MAKE THOSE FEES MORE TRANSPARENT SO YOU CAN DECIDE WHETHER TO PAY CASH INSTEAD OR SKIP THE PURCHASE.

RESTAURANTS WOULD HAVE TO AND THESE FEES ON THEIR MENUS.

IN SOME CASES, VENDORS WOULD HAVE TO COLLECT LAND VERBALLY BEFORE THEY PAY.

IT ALSO PROHIBITS PROFITING OFF OF THOSE FEES.

IN J SPOTLIGHT NEWS ' JOHN REITMEYER EXPLAINS.

>> LAWMAKERS ARE DOING TWO THINGS.

ONE IS TO DO MORE ON THE MERCHANT SIDE TO MAKE SURE CUSTOMERS ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PASSING ALONG OF THESE FEES.

AND ALSO TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE AN ADDITIONAL PROFIT IF THEY ARE PASSING THESE FEES ALONG TO CUSTOMERS, SO THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY IS GOING TO CHARGE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE, THAT IS THE ONLY PERCENTAGE THAT CAN BE CHARGED TO THE CUSTOMER.

THERE CANNOT BE ADDITIONAL MONEY RAKED IN BY THE MERCHANT UNDER THE GUISE OF, THIS IS A CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FEE.

>> FOR MORE OF JOHN'S REPORTING ON THESE FEES, GO TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

LOOK AT OTHER MARKETS CLOSED TODAY AHEAD OF TOMORROW'S JOBS REPORT.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER.

THE LIFE FLOWING ONLINE AT NEWJERSEYAM.COM.

>> RHONDA SCHAFFLER TALKING ABOUT RETAIL AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

HOW MAINSTREAM AND HOME-BASED BUSINESSES OPERATE DIFFERENTLY FROM THEIR BIG-BOX COUNTERPARTS.

THAT IS SATURDAY MORNING ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL AT 10:00 A.M.. >> DON'T MISS THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF REPORTERS WHEN TABLE WITH POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ.

DAVID TALKS WITH FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT SWEENEY ABOUT THE TOP ISSUES FACING THE STATE IN THE NEW YEAR AND THE BIG POLITICAL HEADLINES OF THE WEEK FOR THIS PANEL OF LOCAL REPORTERS.

TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00 A.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

I AM JOANNA GAGIS.

FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OVER 100 YEARS.

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

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THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.

>>> ORSTED WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE, OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

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