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

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GRADE 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.

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

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> A CALL TO ACTION TIGHT FOR PARENTS AND EDUCATORS ACROSS THE STATE AFTER DATA FROM A STATEWIDE STANDARDIZED TEST GIVEN DURING THE SPRING REVEALED STEEP PLUNGES IN SCORES FOR K-12 STUDENTS ACROSS THE BOARD.

SOME ESTIMATES SHOWED NEW JERSEY STUDENTS LOST ABOUT SEVEN YEARS WORTH OF PROGRESS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WHEN SCHOOLS WERE SHUT DOWN AND STUDENTS WERE TASKED WITH LEARNING REMOTELY.

OVERALL PROFICIENCY RATES FELL BACK 2015 LEVELS.

THE REPORT CARD ALSO SHOWS WIDENING RACIAL DISPARITIES .

LESS THAN 35% OF HISPANIC STUDENTS AND JUST 30% OF BLACK STUDENTS SCORED PASSING RATES IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS .

THOSE NUMBERS DROPPED EVEN FURTHER IN MATH , TO 19 AND 15% RESPECTIVELY.

EXPERTS SAY THAT NEWS IS NOT SURPRISING.

WHAT THEY'RE FOCUSING ON NOW IS HOW TO HELP THOSE KIDS BOUNCE BACK.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> THE SCORES WERE NOT UNEXPECTED.

EVERYBODY KNEW THERE WOULD BE A DECLINE IN SCORES.

>> Reporter: EDUCATION ADVOCATE SAYS THAT YOU EXPECTED TO SEE SUCH DEEP LEARNING LOSSES IN NEW JERSEY.

TEST RESULTS SHOWED THE COVID DRIVEN SHUTDOWNS OFTEN HAVE VIRTUAL LEARNING TOOK A TOLL ON STUDENTS.

ERASING YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENT AND WIDENING EXISTING GAPS.

THE CHALLENGE IS GETTING CAUGHT UP.

>> WE HAVE TO BE LIKE EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS.

YOU DO THE TRIAGE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT HAS TO BE DONE RIGHT AWAY.

THEN YOU MAKE A PLAN FOR LONG-TERM HEALTH.

THAT'S WHAT EDUCATORS ACROSS NEW JERSEY DID FROM THE FIRST MOMENT DOORS OPENED AGAIN.

>> THERE IS A LOT TO LEARN.

LAST SPRING, 1.4 MILLION NEW JERSEY STUDENTS TOOK THE STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT TESTS.

AVERAGE RESULTS SHOWED SCORES DECLINED COMPARED TO PRE-PANDEMIC, 2019, BY ALMOST 9% IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS.

A SIMILAR DROP IN MATH AND A TWO-POINT DROP IN SCIENCE.

HARDEST HIT , KIDS IN ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED DISTRICT AND ENGLISH-LANGUAGE LEARNERS.

TEST SCORES DON'T SHOW EVERYTHING.

>> SOME STUDENTS WERE MORE SEVERELY IMPACTED.

A LOT OF THAT WAS PREDICATED UPON THEIR STATION IN LIFE VIS-÷-VIS SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS.

EVEN SOME OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, YOU KNOW, IF THEY LOST A FAMILY MEMBER TO COVID OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

>> IS NEW JERSEY PLANS CORRECTIVE STRATEGIES, IT CAN DIP INTO $135 MILLION OF COVID RELIEF FUNDS.

THE INSTITUTE HAS ANNOUNCED THEY HAVE ALREADY FUNDED 10 MILLION TO CORRECT LEARNING LOSSES BUT WANT MORE DATA FROM THE DEPARTMENT .

DATA TO LET EDUCATORS COMPARE SPECIFIC DISTRICTS AND LEARNING PLANS.

>> NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR US TO BE LOOSEY-GOOSEY ABOUT ALL OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE KNOWN FOR DECADES .

NOW IS THE TIME TO BUCKLE DOWN AND REALLY FOCUS ON RESEARCH STRATEGIES .

WHERE ARE THE OUTLIERS?

WHAT CAN I LEARN FROM THE DATA, RIGHT?

HOW CAN I GET KIDS ON THE SIDE OF THE TRACKS , YOU KNOW, TO LEARN MORE?

LIKE THE CHILDREN AND MAYBE THIS OTHER PLACE.

>> Reporter: THEY CALL THIS CRITICAL TO HELPING RECOVER LOST LEARNING.

GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS HIRED 5000 VOLUNTEER TUTORS WHO CAN HELP THE STUDENTS WHO NEED THE MOST HELP.

INTENSE TEACHING FOR SMALL GROUPS.

BUT WHO WILL FIND, TRAIN, AND DEPLOY ALL OF THOSE TUTORS?

>> OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE EIGHT TEACHER SHORTAGE.

WE SEE STATES TRYING TO HIRE OR RETIRE EDUCATORS.

MY NEED TO GO PAST THAT.

THE MORE WE CAN BRING KIDS INTO A SMALLER SETTING TO BE EDUCATED, I THINK, CAN HELP.

WE ARE IN A UNIQUE TIME PERIOD WITH THE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL FUNDS NEW JERSEY IS SITTING ON.

I HOPE IT CAN BE USED IN A STRATEGIC WAY AND THAT THE DOE WILL DIVIDE REGULAR REPORTS.

>> SQUEEZING IT INTO REGULAR SCHEDULES WON'T BE EASY.

FOR THEY TEACH KIDS TO TEST BETTER?

I HOPE TO REFOCUS EDUCATORS AWAY FROM STANDARDIZED TEST.

>> SHOULD MAYBE BE USED TO GUIDE WHERE PUBLIC POLICY GOES.

BUT THIS IS NOT TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING DOWN AT THE SCHOOL.

>> SHE HELPS PLANS TO GET LEARNING LOSSES ADDRESSED INVOLVE PARENTS AND GET POLICIES IN MOTION.

>> WE NEED SOME GRACE IN SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO LET KIDS CATCH THEIR BREATH AND CATCH UP.

WE HAVE NOT ALLOWED THAT.

WE CAME BACK AND THE FIRST THING WE MET THEM WITH WAS A STANDARDIZED TEST.

HOW IS THAT HELPFUL?

>> Reporter: I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> TOM MALINOWSKI IS ENDING HIS STINT IN CONGRESS, MUCH LIKE IT STARTED , HOLDING A TOWN HALL IN SPRINGFIELD THIS SATURDAY BILLED AS A FAREWELL EVENT WITH ABOUT 350 CONSTITUENTS.

TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES IN WASHINGTON AND TAKING QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE.

HE HELD ABOUT 140 TOWN HALLS IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY DURING HIS YEARS IN OFFICE.

THE VISIBILITY WITH THE PUBLIC AND PRESS BECAME A STICKING POINT DURING THE HEATED SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RACE , WHICH MALINOWSKI LOST THE REELECTION BID THIS NOVEMBER BY THREE PERCENTAGE POINTS IN A REMATCH WITH REPUBLICAN TOM KEAN JR.. DEMOCRATS ESSENTIALLY SACRIFICED THE SEAT DURING THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS, LEAVING MALINOWSKI TO FIGHT FOR HIS POSITION WITH A HEAVILY PARTISAN MAP THAT NO LONGER LEANED IN HIS FAVOR.

BECAME ONE OF THE MOST CLOSELY WATCHED RACES OF THE MIDTERMS AND THE MOST EXPENSIVE CONGRESSIONAL RACE IN NEW JERSEY HISTORY.

SENIOR PROJECT EDITOR AND DATA WRANGLER COLLEEN O'DAY IS HERE WITH HER SPENDING NUMBERS AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR FUTURE RACES.

YOU LOOK AT THE FINAL NUMBERS HERE.

HOW EXPENSIVE WAS THE RACE?

>> IT WAS ALMOST $22 MILLION SPENT BY CANDIDATES AND OUTSIDE GROUPS LIKE THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE AND OTHER PROREPUBLICAN GROUPS.

A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

TOM MALINOWSKI PERSONALLY SPEND MORE THAN TOM KEAN'S.

BUT THERE WAS A LOT MORE SPENT ON HIS BEHALF IN OPPOSITION TO MALINOWSKI.

HE LOST BY LESS THAN THREE PERCENTAGE POINTS WHILE TRAILING A LITTLE BIT IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT.

THE DISTRICT IS REPUBLICAN.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN NUMBERS LIKE THIS IN NEW JERSEY BEFORE.

>> IT IS A STATE NOTORIOUS FOR HUSBANDING.

WERE ANY OF THE OTHER SO-CALLED HOTLY CONTESTED RACES CLOSE SPENDING WISE?

>> WE HAD A COUPLE THAT WERE CLOSE AND THEY WERE TWO OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS THAT WE HAVE COME TO THINK OF AS SWING DISTRICTS.

WHERE ANDY KIM IS REPRESENTATIVE.

HE WON REELECTION AS A DEMOCRAT.

15.5 MILLION, CLOSE TO 16 MILLION SPENT.

IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT WHERE DEMOCRAT MIKEY CHERYL WON, THEY WON THEIR SEATS BY COMFORTABLE MARGINS.

>> REDISTRICTING CLEARLY NOT GOING ANYWHERE IN TERMS OF USING IT FOR POLITICAL GAIN .

KNOWING THE OUTCOME OF THAT MALINOWSKI RACE, WHAT'S THE IMPLICATION HERE?

>> I THINK THAT WE MAY HAVE SAID THIS IN PAST DISCUSSIONS.

THE MAP WAS DESIGNED TO PROTECT ALL DEMOCRATS EXCEPT TOM ZALASKI .

HE WAS KIND OF THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB AND PUT IN A DISTRICT THAT WAS MORE REPUBLICAN.

11,000 REPUBLICANS REGISTERED MORE THAN DEMOCRATS AND HE DID LOSE.

THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION THAT IN A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR, IF HE WAS A POPULAR PRESIDENTIAL IT , THERE COULD BE A DEMOCRAT ON THE TICKET.

OTHER THAN THE SEVENTH, WHICH IS GOING TO BE CONSIDERED A SWING DISTRICT FOR THE NEXT DECADE, IT COULD BE POSSIBLE -- CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE IT -- THAT THE OTHERS ARE GOING TO BE SAFE WITH NINE DEMOCRATIC SEATS AND TWO REPUBLICAN SAFE SEATS.

>> SHOULD WE EXPECT THESE RACES TO BECOME MORE CHALLENGING AND MORE EXPENSIVE AS YEARS GO ON?

>> I WOULD CERTAINLY EXPECT THE COSTS ARE ONLY GOING TO GO UP, PARTICULARLY WITH THE PROLIFERATION OF OUTSIDE SPENDING , BUT REALLY HAS NO CHECKS ON IT.

ABOUT 80 MILLION IN TOTAL BENT AND I THINK IT WAS ABOUT A THIRD OF THAT WAS OUTSIDE SPENDING BY THESE GROUPS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO RAISE AND TO SPEND MONEY WITHOUT REPORTING WHERE THEY GET IT IN MANY CASES AT WILL.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> A MILESTONE IN THE PROSECUTION OF ONE OF THE DEADLIEST ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM IN HISTORY.

A FORMER LIBYAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL ACCUSED OF MAKING THE BOMB THAT BLEW UP PAN AM FLIGHT 103 , A NEW YORK BOUND PASSENGER PLANE OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND IN 1988 .

NOW IN U.S.

CUSTODY.

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, HE IS FACING FEDERAL CHARGES IN WASHINGTON, D.C. , FOR HIS ROLE ALLEGEDLY SETTING THE TIMER ON A BOMB THAT DOWNED THE BOEING 727, JUST FOUR DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, KILLING 259 PEOPLE ON BOARD AND 11 ON THE GROUND THAT INCLUDED 40 NEW JERSEY PASSENGERS AND 35 SYRACUSE STUDENTS FLYING HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS AFTER SEMESTERS ABROAD.

HE IS ACCUSED OF BEING THE THIRD MAN IN THE PLOT.

TWO OTHER MEN WERE PROSECUTED AT THE TIME , BUT THIS MADE THE FIRST APPEARANCE IN AN AMERICAN COURTROOM HAPPENING TODAY THE ONLY ONE TO DO SO IN DECADES LONG ATTEMPT TO DO SO FOR THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MASS MURDER.

>> FRONT AND CENTER AT THE STEAKHOUSE WERE LAWMAKERS TOOK THE FIRST STEP IN MOVING A PACKAGE OF BILLS TO BLOCK ELECTED OFFICIALS' HOME ADDRESSES FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.

THEY WOULD ALSO NO LONGER BE REQUIRED TO INCLUDE THEIR PERSONAL ADDRESS ON FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORMS.

PROPONENTS ARE TOUTING EFFORT IS A WAY TO SHIELD LOCAL AND STATE ELECTED LEADERS AND POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES, CITING THE ATTACK ON NANCY PELOSI'S HUSBAND AS AN EXAMPLE.

WATCHDOGS AND CRITICS SAY NOT ONLY WILL IT CREATE A BUREAUCRATIC NIGHTMARE, BUT NAKED NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CHALLENGE CANDIDATES ON RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

>> SUCH AS THE ATTACK ON HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI'S HUSBAND AND A FEW OTHER INSTANCES IN NEW JERSEY.

I THINK THE BILLS ARE WORTH CONSIDERING.

>> Reporter: THE ASSEMBLYMAN EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF REVIEWING THREE BILLS ADDRESSING THE PRIVACY OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS DURING TODAY'S COMMITTEE MEETING.

THE FIRST OF CALLS FOR THE REDACTION AND NONDISCLOSURE OF THE HOME ADDRESSES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE.

ALSO ON THE TABLE, AMENDMENTS TO THE BILLS SPECIFYING WHO IS CONSIDERED AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

ONE BY ONE, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE VOTING TO CONSIDER THE MEASURE WITH AMENDMENTS.

BUT THE MOVE IS NOT SITTING RIGHT WITH EVERYONE.

>> GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS COULD NOT OCCUR IF THIS KIND OF REDACTION IS NECESSARY.

>> Reporter: THE DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTE FOR NEW JERSEY POLITICS SAYS THAT KNOWING THE ADDRESSES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ANYONE RUNNING FOR OFFICE IS A WAY TO VERIFY WHO THEY ARE AND IF THEY LIVE IN THE APPROPRIATE MUNICIPALITY.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, JOHN SMITH.

HOW DO WE KNOW WHICH JOHN SMITH WE ARE TALKING ABOUT?

WE KNOW WHICH JOHN SMITH BECAUSE IT IS THE ONE WHO LIVES AT SUCH AND SUCH AND ADDRESS.

IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT, WE ARE GOING TO BE LESS CLEAR ABOUT WHICH PEOPLE ARE STANDING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.

WERE NOT GOING TO KNOW.

>> Reporter: THE BILL COMES TWO YEARS AFTER THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THIS U.S. JUDGE AT HER HOME THAT LEFT HER HUSBAND INJURED AND HER 20-YEAR-OLD SON DEAD.

NOW DANIELS LAW, AND AFTER HER SON, PROHIBITS THE HOME RELEASE OF JUDGES AND CURRENT AND FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.

>> JUDGES ARE DIFFERENT IN THAT THEY ARE NOT REPRESENTING THE PUBLIC ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, RIGHT?

THEY ARE NOT DIRECTLY PERFORMING THE REPRESENTATIVE WORK OF GOVERNMENT.

WERE NOT GOING TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY LIVE ON SOMETHING THERE VOTING ON.

WERE NOT GOING TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT A CANDIDATE WHO IS RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE ACTUALLY RESIDES IN THE TOWN OR THE COUNTY OF THE DISTRICT THEY ARE RUNNING IN.

THAT'S A DISTRICT QUALIFICATION.

IT'S NOT QUITE THE SAME AS A JUDGE.

>> Reporter: TWO OTHER BILLS UP FOR CONSIDERATION WOULD NO LONGER REQUIRE STATE LAWMAKERS TO DISCLOSE PROPERTY ADDRESSES OR PROPERTY THAT THEY OWN ON FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORMS.

>> WASH IN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO DOES NOT PAY THEIR TAXES BE EXEMPTED FROM A LISTING OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO PAY THEIR TAXES?

WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE THE KIND OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.

IF YOU APPLY FOR A PERMIT , THERE HAVE TO BE PUBLIC NOTICES OF THOSE PERMIT APPLICATIONS.

THAT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAPPEN.

>> ALL THREE BILLS PASSING THE COMMITTEE MEETING FOR CONSIDERATION.

SPONSORS OF THE BILLS WOULD NOT MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE FOR COMMENTS.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER'S ARE -- >>> HOSPITALS ARE DEALING WITH SIGNIFICANT STAFFING SHORTAGES.

SOME CLAIM TO BE A CRISIS LEVELS.

ACCORDING TO A NEW JERSEY HOSPITALS ASSOCIATION REPORT, THE TURNOVER RATE AT INTENSIVE CARE AND NURSING HOMES JUMPED FROM 18% TO 30% IN 2021.

THE RATE OF UNFILLED REGISTERED NURSING POSITIONS IS ALSO UP SIGNIFICANTLY.

THAT IS DESPITE FALLING UNEMPLOYMENT IN OTHER INDUSTRIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

A NEW LEGISLATIVE EFFORT WERE TRAINED JOBLESS RESIDENCE TO WORK IN VARIOUS HEALTHCARE FIELDS , USING THE STATE'S 18 COUNTY COLLEGES TO TEACH THE NEEDED SKILLS.

FOR MORE, I AM JOINED BY ALEXIS BAILEY.

VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.

ALEXIS, GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

I AM CURIOUS HOW THIS BILL WOULD HELP BOLSTER THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY .

IT IS REALLY A SECTOR THAT WE KNOW HAS BEEN LACKING IN TERMS OF WORKFORCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS IS A SECTOR THAT WE KNOW, PRE-PANDEMIC, WAS SUFFERING FROM A WORK SHORTAGE.

THIS ONLY EXACERBATED WHAT WE ARE SEEING.

THIS WILL HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE UNEMPLOYED AND TRY TO GET THEM INTO TRAINING AND DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD , WHICH WE THINK CAN HELP GET PEOPLE OFF THE SIDELINES AND FILL IN A LOT OF THE GAPS WE ARE SEEING IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY.

>> WHY HAS THE INDUSTRY BEEN SO DIFFICULT TO BACKFILL OR PHIL, AS YOU SAID?

THERE WERE SHORTAGES PRE-PANDEMIC.

>> IT IS DEFINITELY A TOUGH INDUSTRY TO WORK IN.

DEFINITELY VERY REWARDING.

YOU ARE TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE'S LIVES AND REALLY CARING FOR THEM.

ESPECIALLY -- PEOPLE GET HOME HEALTH AIDES.

THERE CARING FOR ELDERLY AND SICK PEOPLE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE WORKING.

IT IS A CHALLENGING FIELD TO GET INTO.

NOT SOMETHING EVERYONE MIGHT WANT TO GET INTO.

AS WELL AS NOT EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE THERE AND HEALTHCARE OUTSIDE OF DOCTORS AND NURSES.

NOT EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

I THINK THIS BILL AND A PROGRAM LIKE THIS WILL HELP MORE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE AND DISPEL ANY MYTHS THEY MIGHT HAVE ABOUT MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT HEALTHCARE JOBS.

>> YOU MENTIONED HOME HEALTH AIDES AS ONE OF THE JOBS.

I KNOW HISTORICALLY THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES WITH THE WAGES THAT SOME OF THESE FOLKS ARE PAID FOR SOME OF THESE VERY DEMANDING JOBS .

DOES THIS BILL LOOK TO RECTIFY ANY OF THAT OR ADDRESS ANY OF THE WAGE DIFFERENCES THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT?

>> THE WAGE ISSUE IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.

THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT WE SEND BACK TO THE MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT RATES, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALWAYS WANT TO LOOK TOWARDS.

THIS BILL DOES NOT PARTICULARLY TOUCH ON THAT ISSUE BUT DOES LOOK AT SOME OF THE DIFFERENT ISSUES AROUND WAGES AND RESOURCES THAT IMPACT PEOPLE.

BEING ABLE TO TAKE ANY JOB INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION ACCESS AND HOW FAR THESE JOBS ARE FROM THEIR PLACE OF RESIDENCE.

>> HOW QUICKLY WOULD SOME OF THIS CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN FOLKS WHO ARE CURRENTLY JOBLESS AND GETTING THEM TRAINED AND SKILLED IN THESE SECTORS A START?

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, ON THE SURFACE, IT'S SEEMS LIKE YEAH, IT MAKES SENSE.

TAKE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT CURRENTLY WORKING AND GET THEM IN THE FIELD WHERE WE NEED PEOPLE TO FILL JOBS.

>> A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS, WHETHER FOR CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANTS, HOME HEALTH AIDES, THE TRAINING CAN BE DONE RELATIVELY QUICKLY.

IT IS ABOUT CONNECTING PEOPLE ON THE SIDELINES THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD CANDIDATE AND GETTING THEM INTO THE TRAINING PROGRAMS AND CONNECTED WITH EMPLOYERS.

WE KNOW THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR DOES THIS ALL THE TIME WITH PEOPLE THAT INTERACT WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS ACROSS THE STATE.

THIS IS A WAY TO ENHANCE THE MECHANISM AND MAKE IT MORE TARGETED TOWARDS HEALTHCARE.

>> Reporter: ALEXIS BAILEY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION IS SHIFTING FOCUS ON SOME OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION UPGRADES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE STATE TO PLACE HIS THAT CONNECT COMMUTERS TO TRANSIT HUBS.

TODAY, ANNOUNCING MORE THAN $24 MILLION TO THE SAFE STREETS TO TRANSIT PROGRAM THAT WILL DO WHAT THE NAME SUGGESTS MAKES SURE PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS CAN SAFELY AND RELIABLY GET TO AND FROM THE BUS STATIONS, MEANING INVESTMENTS AND BIKE LANES AND WALKING PATHS, TRAFFIC SIGNALS, AND OTHER AREAS THAT AFFECT DAILY COMMUTES.

GOVERNOR MURPHY UNVEILING THE PLAN IN DOVER WHERE LOCAL LEADERS SAY THEY WILL USE THE MONEY TO PUT BIKE RACKS AROUND TOWN AND UPGRADE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUT LIGHTS ALONG SCHOOL ROUTES AND OTHER HEAVILY TRAFFICKED AREAS.

THE PLAN IS TO BETTER LINK PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS IT SERVES AND CREATE MORE SO-CALLED TRANSIT VILLAGE PROGRAMS.

IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT, A DEEPER LOOK AT WHAT APPEARS TO BE A RESURGENCE OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT.

FROM WAREHOUSE WORKERS AND GREASES STAGING WALKOUTS TO PICKETS AT MAJOR AIRLINES AND THREATS OF A RAILROAD STRIKE THAT WOULD CRIPPLE THE ECONOMY, WORKERS ARE FLEXING THEIR COLLECTIVE POWER AFTER THE PANDEMIC PUT A FLOODLIGHT ON QUALITY-OF-LIFE ISSUES AND OTHER LONG-STANDING GRIEVANCES.

NEW JERSEY LAWMAKERS CONSIDERING A STRIKE TO HELP GET UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS FASTER.

JOINING ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE LEGISLATION AND THE LARGER MOVEMENT IS TODD, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OF LABOR STUDIES.

LABOR UNREST WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT RIGHT NOW .

IT'S HITTING JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER INDUSTRY.

A LOT OF THIS IS COMING OUT POST PANDEMIC.

WHAT IS FUELING THIS MOVEMENT?

>> IT'S A VARIETY OF FACTORS.

THE PANDEMIC INITIATED A LOT OF THESE FACTORS.

CONCERNS AROUND WORK AND SAFETY ISSUES.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE RISING COST OF INFLATION .

THE EXPERIENCE OF WORKERS TAKING ACTION COLLECTIVELY DURING THE PANDEMIC .

WHEN THE STICK TOGETHER AND MAKE DEMANDS, THEY WERE ABLE TO RESOLVE SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS IN THE WORKPLACE.

TRANSLATE THAT INTO OTHER CONCERNS OVER WAGES, HOURS, SCHEDULING, STAFFING.

A PERFECT STORM OF ISSUES COMING TOGETHER AT ONCE IN THE CONTEXT OF, IT HAS BEEN DECADES OF WAGE STAGNATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

INCREASING INCOME INEQUALITY.

IT IS AT THE FRONT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS IN RECENT YEARS.

>> IS THAT THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS EFFORT TO UNIONIZE AND ESTATE WALKOUTS, ET CETERA , THEN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN PREVIOUS DECADES?

>> I THINK THAT IS A BIG PIECE OF IT.

IN THE LABOR MARKET, THEY ARE MORE EMPOWERED.

THEY TAKE COLLECTIVE ACTION, WHETHER UNIONIZED WORKERS OR NONUNIONIZED WORKERS GOING ON STRIKE TO WIN THEIR DEMANDS.

OR WORKERS IN NONUNION WORKPLACES COMING TOGETHER TO UNIONIZE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THERE IS A GREAT ENERGY AMONG YOUNG WORKERS RIGHT NOW.

A LOT OF THE ORGANIZING WINS WE SEE ARE WITH WORKERS UNDER 30, WORKERS IN STARBUCKS ON AMAZON, AND OTHER INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY NOT HAD UNIONS IN RECENT DECADES.

YOUNG PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND TRYING TO TURN THESE JOBS THAT ARE NOT SO GREAT INTO BETTER JOBS.

>> WHAT IS YOUR TAKE MY QUICKLY ON THIS BILL PICKING THROUGH TRENTON RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY HELP FOLKS WHO ARE ON STRIKE , NOT GETTING A PAYCHECK, ACCESS TO UNEMPLOYMENT AID THAT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE THERE AND ESSENTIALLY FAST TRACK IT FOR THEM ?

>> SURE.

THE ROOT OF ALL POWER FOR WORKING PEOPLE IS SOLIDARITY.

THEIR ABILITY TO COME TOGETHER.

SO PEOPLE CAN WITHHOLD THEIR LABOR COLLECTIVELY AND GO ON STRIKE.

THAT IS HOW THEY ULTIMATELY WIN MEASURES AT THE BARGAINING TABLE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE SOURCES OF LEVERAGE IS THE RIGHT TO GO ON STRIKE.

BUT THE RIGHT TO GO ON STRIKE AND THE ABILITY ARE NOT ALWAYS THE SAME THING.

A LOT OF PERSONAL HARDSHIP TO GO ON STRIKE , WHICH IS WHY WE DO NOT SEE IT ALL THAT OFTEN.

WHEN WE DO, THEY DO NOT LAST VERY LONG.

THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION IN TRENTON IS REALLY MODIFYING AND UPDATING EXISTING LAW.

THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AFTER 30 DAYS.

THIS REDUCES THE WINDOW TO TWO WEEKS AND ADDRESSES A FEW OTHER TECHNICAL ISSUES .

IT IS KIND OF TWEAKING AROUND THE EDGES OF THE EXISTING LAW.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO TRY TO HELP EQUALIZE THE BALANCE OF POWER BETWEEN WORKERS AND VERY LARGE, POWERFUL EMPLOYERS.

IT IS THE ABILITY TO GO ON STRIKE AND MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES IN THE WORKPLACE.

LITTLE TWEAKS TO THE LEGISLATION CAN HELP WORKERS ENDURE A STRAIGHT STRIKE AND MAYBE USE THE TOOL TO MAKE THEIR JOBS INTO BETTER JOBS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

'S >> THANK YOU.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>>> ON WALL STREET, HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW MARKETS CLOSED TODAY.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

MAKE SURE YOU GO OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE NJREALTOR.COM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US .

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP.

SERVING THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION AND NEW JERSEY REALTORS.

THE BOYS FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.

>>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP HAS BEEN SERVING NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES FOR OVER A CENTURY AS PART OF THE GARDEN STATE WE HELP COMPANIES KEEP THEIR VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, EMPLOYEES ON THE JOB, AND PROJECTS ON TRACK.

WORKING TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES FROM ILLNESS AND INJURY , TO KEEP GOODS AND SERVICES MOVING ACROSS THE STATE.

WE ARE PROUD TO BE PART OF NEW JERSEY.

NJM, WE'VE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.