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

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GRADE FOR EVERY CHILD.

RW J BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND OR STEAD, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG-TERM CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTION FOR NEW JERSEY.

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

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I AM JOANNA GAGIS IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

EVEN AS COVID IS SURGING ACROSS OUR STATE AND NATION, A NEW STUDY FOUND THAT COVID VACCINES GET MORE THAN 18.5 MILLION AMERICANS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND HAS SAVED MORE THAN 3 MILLION LIVES.

JUST TONIGHT, THERE ARE MORE THAN 2000 CONFIRMS CASES IN THE GARDEN STATE.

GATHERING FOR A MEETING OF THE MINDS TALKING ABOUT THE LESSONS THEY HAD LEARNED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC AND HOW THEY CAN BEST SERVE AND PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITIES AS THEY GEAR UP FOR ANOTHER COVID SPIKE.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN HAS MORE.

>> TOGETHER TO COMPARE NOTES AND SHARE COVID STORIES, SPEAKING FOR THE RECORD ABOUT THE PANDEMIC IMPACT.

>> ALL YOU HEARD THROUGHOUT OUR TOWN WERE SIRENS.

YOU KNEW THAT EMS FOLKS WERE GOING INTO THAT HOUSE WITHOUT PROPER PROTECTION AND DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO WERE COUGHING AND IN MANY CASES DYING.

>> BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WERE VERY PRESSED TO OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES.

>> CITY LEADERS FROM AROUND NEW JERSEY MET AT A COVID TASK FORCE ROUNDTABLE AND RECALLED HOW THEY PAINFULLY LEARNED TO COPE WITH THE VIRUS.

IN 2020, COVID SWEPT QUICKLY THROUGH DENSELY POPULATED NEIGHBORHOODS, TAKING A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF LIVES AMONG PEOPLE OF COLOR DURING THE PANDEMIC MAJOR SURGES.

PLAINFIELD MAYOR ADRIAN MAP SAYS THEY LEARNED A CRUCIAL LESSON.

>> WHAT YOU HAVE IN A COMMUNITY LIKE LYNNFIELD, WITH SO MANY IMMIGRANTS AND A LOT OF THEM UNDOCUMENTED AND LIVING IN VERY CLOSE QUARTERS, THAT ALSO WAS A BIG ISSUE WHICH LED TO THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS IN CERTAIN POPULATIONS.

>> WE HAVE SEEN SUCH TERRIBLE DISPARITIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.

>> JENNIFER MIN JARECKI OF ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL SAYS THEY ARE LOOKING AT DATA TO SEE WHERE HEALTHCARE NEEDS TO FOCUS MORE OUTREACH.

>> SPECIFICALLY MEN, AND MEN OF HISPANIC ORIGIN, THEY HAVE THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF DEATH AND MORTALITY THROUGHOUT THE COVID PANDEMIC.

SEVERAL PERCENTAGE POINTS HIGHER THAN OTHERS.

SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO.

>> ONE OTHER CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE WAS VACCINE HESITANCY.

WHICH WAS REAL IN PATTERSON.

ESPECIALLY AMONGST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN.

WE OPENED UP SATELLITE SITES, IT WAS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHURCH THAT WAS HELPFUL IN GETTING MORE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN TO COME IN.

>> PATTERSON MAYOR ANDRE SEO SAYS THEY ALSO RECRUITED BLACK INFLUENCERS TO GET VACCINATED.

MANY CITIES WORK WITH AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHURCHES TO HOLD VACCINATION CLINICS IN ORDER TO BOOST VACCINATION RATES.

MEANWHILE, MAYORS CLAMPED DOWN, ENFORCING REGULATIONS ON PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES TO KEEP THE VIRUS CONTAIN.

>> WE TOOK OFF RIMS ON BASKETBALL COURTS.

WE TAPED OFF PLAYGROUNDS AND SPENT THAT ENTIRE SUMMER WITH ZERO RECREATION IN A COMMUNITY OF 140,000 PEOPLE WHERE A LOT OF KIDS LOOK TO OUTDOOR RECREATION.

IT JUST WAS NOT HAPPENING.

>> OFFICIALS STRUGGLED TO ENFORCE MANDATES REQUIRING MASKS, REMAINING A CONTROVERSIAL AND POLITICIZED ORDER.

OFFICIALS NOW REALIZE THE CLOSING SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES ALSO CREATED MORE HARDSHIP.

>> WE FOUND ALL THE STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN PATTERSON, REALLY DID NOT HAVE ACCESS.

AGAIN, WE ACTUALLY BOUGHT THEM THE COMPUTER.

WE GAVE THEM THE COMPUTER.

WE GOT THEM COMPUTER EQUIPMENT.

BUT THEY HAD THE COMPUTER BUT THEY COULD NOT GO ONLINE.

>> CITIES LEARNED HOW TO CONTACT TRACING, WHERE TO FIND AND STOCKPILE PPE, AND SENT MOBILE VACCINATION AND TESTING VANS OUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

BUT IT TOOK THEM MONTHS TO REALIZE JUST HOW OVERWHELMED THEIR WORKERS FELT IN SMALL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE NOT DESIGNED OR STAFFED FOR PANDEMICS.

THEY NEED MORE SUPPORT.

>> I WAS BURNED OUT.

EVEN NOWADAYS, BURNOUT.

PEOPLE CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.

STAFFING, THEY CAN'T HANDLE IT.

IT IS ALMOST PTSD.

NOT EVEN JUST THE ACTUAL WORK.

IT IS MENTALLY ON YOU.

A LOT OF PEOPLE COULDN'T HANDLE IT.

THEY WERE TIRED, THEY QUIT THEIR JOBS, AND EVEN ON OUR END, THEY QUIT AND MOVED TO OTHER AGENCIES, THEY DID PRIVATE WORK, AND WE LOST MORE STAFF.

SO IT WAS REALLY TOUGH.

>> INSIGHT SHARED AT THIS ROUNDTABLE WILL GO TO NEW JERSEY'S COVID TASK FORCE ON RACIAL AND HEALTH DISPARITIES.

VALUABLE LESSONS LEARNED THE HARD WAY.

IN PATTERSON, I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN.

>> FOR ALL OF THOSE AFFECTED FINANCIALLY BY COVID, FEDERAL FUNDS WERE SET ASIDE TO HELP HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS REMAIN IN THE RESIDENCE.

NEW JERSEY GOT SOME $270 MILLION TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

BUT MORE THAN ONE YEAR LATER, LESS THAN 10% OF APPLICANTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR AID, AND THE STATE ONLY SPENT A FRACTION OF THAT MONEY, ABOUT 10 MILLION OUT OF THE 270.

THAT DATA CAME FROM A RECENT NORTH JERSEY.COM ARTICLE WRITTEN BY ASHLEY WHO IS WITH ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT WHY THE FEDERAL AID IS SO SLOW TO ROLL OUT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS APPLICATION PROCESS THAT HAS FRANKLY LEFT SO MANY WAITING FOR ASSISTANCE, EITHER DENIED ALL KIND OF IN LIMBO?

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

NEW JERSEY, ALONG WITH ALL OTHER STATES IN THE COUNTRY, HAVE WHAT IS CALLED A HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE FUND.

THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HELP PEOPLE WITH THEIR MORTGAGES, PROPERTY TAXES, BASICALLY HOUSING RELATED ISSUES THAT COULD CAUSE THEM TO GO INTO FORECLOSURE.

WHAT I AM HEARING FROM FOLKS, A LOT MORE PEOPLE ARE BEING DENIED AND ACCEPTED.

THE REASON, THE MAIN REASON FOR THE DENIAL THAT WE ARE SAYING HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT APPLICANTS HAVE TO PROVE THAT THEY WERE IMPACTED BY COVID.

AND THAT IS CONFUSING A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE TO SHOW THAT THEY EITHER LOST 10% OF THEIR INCOME OR THAT THEY HAVE SPENT 10% MORE IN THE YEARS OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND SAYING SUBMIT TAX RETURNS, RECEIPTS, THAT SORT OF THING, AND I AM TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING THAT THEY DID THAT AND THEN WERE REJECTED AND THEY WERE REALLY SURE WHY.

>> IN YOUR REPORTING ALSO MADE IT CLEAR THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF --THERE WAS A LACK OF CLARITY AROUND WHAT SOME OF THE SPECIFICATIONS WERE.

THEN PEOPLE FOUND THEMSELVES DENIED.

IN YET OTHER STATES SEEM TO BE DOING IT BETTER, MORE EFFICIENTLY.

DISTRIBUTE MUCH MORE THAT MONEY.

WHERE COULD AND SHOULD NEW JERSEY IMPROVE THAT PROCESS?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

I AM NOT SURE WHAT OTHER STATES ARE DOING TO GET IT OUT SO MUCH MORE QUICKLY.

THAT 10% SHOW THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, I COULDN'T FIND ANOTHER STATE THAT DID THAT.

SO THAT MAY BE CAUSING A LITTLE BIT OF A BURDEN.

OTHER STATES MAY JUST DO STATIONS, BUT NEW JERSEY WANTS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT FRAUDULENTLY GIVING OUT PAYMENTS SO THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF PROTECTION.

BUT I THINK IMPROVING WHAT IS ON THE WEBSITE COULD ALSO BE REALLY HELPFUL, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TIMES EVEN THE HOUSING COUNSELORS ARE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT SOMETHING THAT AN APPLICANT NEEDED THAT WAS BURIED IN A REPORT TO THE TREASURY.

AND IT IS NOT EASILY ACCESSED FROM THE WEBSITE.

AND THESE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE TRAINED TO BE HELPING RESIDENTS FILL OUT THESE FORMS.

SO MAYBE PUTTING OUT MORE INFORMATION AND REALLY TELLING THE PUBLIC WHEN DIFFERENT THINGS CHANGE, THAT WAS ANOTHER THING I HEARD.

EARLIER IN THE YEAR, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO GET UP TO $35,000, AND PEOPLE WERE GETTING REJECTED BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE THAN THAT.

SO THEY ACTUALLY, THE AGENCY ADMINISTERING THIS PROGRAM RAISED THE CAP TO 75,000, BUT NOT MANY PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT THAT.

SO PEOPLE WHO URGE WERE REJECTED FOR THAT REASON WERE CONTACTED.

THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T APPLY THE FIRST PLACE MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN IF IT WAS MORE THAN THAT 35,000.

SO JUST BEING MORE PROACTIVE WITH COMMUNICATION WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.

>> THOSE WHO WERE REJECTED OR DIDN'T APPLY CAN NOW EITHER REAPPLY OR APPLY FOR THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE OF THAT DEBT LIMIT THRESHOLD CHANGING.

>> YES.

>> YEAH.

IMPORTANT STUFF, AND WE KNOW THERE ARE COUNTLESS NEW JERSEYANS RIGHT NOW STILL STRUGGLING, STILL FEELING THE EFFECTS OF COVID AND THE FEAR OF LOSING THEIR HOMES.

ASHLEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> IT SEEMED LIKE A DONE DEAL.

A 2 MILLION SQUARE-FOOT WAREHOUSE PROJECT COMING IN THE RURAL COMMUNITY OF MULLICA HILL.

BUT LOCAL RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN DEMANDING A STOP TO THE PROJECT, SHOWING UP IN DROVES AT PLANNING BOARD MEETINGS.

THE MEETING SCHEDULED FOR THIS MONTH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LAST WEEK, BUT WAS POSTPONED BECAUSE THE FACILITY COULD NOT HANDLE THE SIZE OF THE CROWDS TURNING OUT.

IT WAS RESCHEDULED FOR LAST NIGHT, AND SURE ENOUGH, THE CROWD WAS LARGE AND MILD.

AS TED GOLDBERG REPORTS, THEIR COLLECTIVE VOICES PIERCED THROUGH WHAT WAS SURE TO BE AN EASY APPROVAL PROCESS FOR THE WAREHOUSE DEVELOPER.

>> Reporter: IT IS NOT EVERY DAY THAT JOINT LAND-USE BOARD MEETINGS IN HARRISON TOWNSHIP TURN INTO A RAUCOUS CELEBRATION.

BUT AFTER A OR PLUS OUR MEETING, PEOPLE WERE OVERJOYED TO HEAR THE BOARD REJECTING THE PROPOSAL FOR A 2 MILLION SQUARE-FOOT WAREHOUSE IN MULLICA HILL.

>> SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO GO AGAINST BIG CORPORATE AMERICA.

NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE INTENTIONS ARE.

BUT I FELT WE ALL BROUGHT ENOUGH STUFF.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND ANGST IN THE MORNING THINKING ABOUT THIS.

FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.

WE ARE HAPPY ABOUT IT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE NOT DONE.

BECAUSE WE KNOW IT CAN COME BACK.

>> THIS IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE AN UPHILL BATTLE.

WE HAVEN'T HAD MUCH OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DIVULGE, GET ALL THE INFORMATION WE WANTED.

WE SHOWED UP.

>> MORE THAN 250 PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO PROTEST THE WAREHOUSE PLAN FROM RUSSO DEVELOPMENT.

>> I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE POLLUTION, THE SAFETY, THE ENVIRONMENT, EVERYTHING.

SO I AM REALLY HEARTBROKEN AND DISAPPOINTED.

>> WE HAVE OVER 136 CHILDREN THAT ATTEND OUR CENTER ON A DAILY BASIS.

AND THEY WILL BE PLAYING OUTSIDE IN A PLAYGROUND THAT IS GOING TO BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO A PARKING LOT, ALMOST 1 MILLION SQUARE-FOOT WAREHOUSE WITH EXHAUST FUMES AND NOISE.

>> ASKED FOR THE MEETING ITSELF.

PROTESTERS WERE INFURIATED WHEN THE BOARD MADE SOME OF THEM DITCH THEIR SIGNS.

AND THEY COULDN'T INITIALLY TALK IF THEY SPOKE AT A PREVIOUS MEETING.

>> YOU ARE WRONG.

IT IS ILLEGAL TO SAY YOU CANNOT ADDRESS THIS BOARD AGAIN.

>> YOU HAVE SPOKEN ONCE.

>> AND YOU'RE WRONG ABOUT THAT!

>> ONE PROTESTER WAS ESCORTED OUT BY HARRISON TOWNSHIP POLICE, WHILE ANOTHER ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND OBSTRUCTION.

BUT PUBLIC COMMENT CONTINUED ON AS PEOPLE VOICED THEIR OBJECTIONS TO THE WAREHOUSE PROPOSAL.

>> WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE MAYOR THAT THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY IS THE 1.6 MILLION TAX REVENUE.

WE, THE CITIZENS, HAVE TOLD YOU WE DON'T WANT THE 1.6 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE.

>> I AM FAMILIAR WITH ROUTE 3, ROUTE 4, THE GWB, AND THE LINCOLN TUNNEL.

MY WIFE AND I RELOCATED DOWN HERE TO GET AWAY FROM THE EXACT SITUATION REPEATED HERE.

>> WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT THE LUNG DISEASES, THE CANCER, THE ASTHMA, THE DANGER TO OUR CHILDREN?

I DON'T THINK WE EVER GOT A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THAT BEFORE THIS WEEK APPLICATION THAT WE CAN CHECK THESE BOXES IS COMING THROUGH.

AND THEY JUST SMILED GLIBLY AND OBJECT MY HE IS HUSBAND.

SEE MY MY KIDS GO TO THE DAY CARE.

MY SON HAS ASTHMA.

IT IS CONCERNING THAT HE IS GOING TO BE EXPOSED TO THAT EVERYDAY.

>> MY DAUGHTER WANTS TO GROW UP IN MULLICA HILL, MAYBE RAISE HER FAMILY IN MULLICA HILL LIKE A LOT OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.

IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN IF THIS GOES THROUGH.

PEOPLE WILL EXIT THIS TOWNSHIP AS QUICKLY AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN IMAGINE.

>> THE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING RUSSO DEVELOPMENT ARGUED THAT THE PROPOSAL WOULD NOT THREATEN PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THAT TO DENY THE APPLICATION WOULD BE QUOTE ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS.

AFTER FOUR ACRIMONIOUS HOURS, PROTESTERS HEARD WHAT THEY WERE HOPING FOR.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DENY THE APPLICATION.

>> HOW ABOUT THAT?

YOU'VE BEEN ASKING FOR NEWS ALL NIGHT?

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> IT PROVES THAT OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY LISTENS TO US.

THEY HAVE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHAT THE RESIDENTS THINK, AND THEY HURT US TODAY.

WE WERE TOUGH ON THEM, BUT THEY LISTEN.

>> IN A STATEMENT, RUSSO DEVELOPMENT SAID QUOTE WE ARE DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY HARRISON USE LAND BOARD ACTED ARBITRARILY AND FAILING TO ADMINISTER THE APPLICABLE ZONING OF THE PROPERTY.

WE FULLY INTEND TO PURSUE OUR VESTED RIGHTS TO REDEVELOP THE PROPERTY FOR THIS APPROPRIATE AND EXPRESSLY PERMITTED USE.

NO WORD YET ON IF THEY WILL SUIT OVERRULE THE FINAL VOTE.

IF THAT HAPPENS, YOU CAN EXPECT ANOTHER FIGHT FROM THESE RESIDENTS.

IN HARRISON TOWNSHIP, I AM TED GOLDBERG.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> IN THIS TIME OF DIVISIVE POLITICAL RHETORIC, WE ARE HEARING CALLED THE NEW JERSEY FOR CIVILITY.

ASSEMBLY SPEAKER COUGHLIN ADDRESSED YESTERDAY URGING THEM TO DO BETTER.

>> HURLING INSULTS, CALLING NAMES, THAT'S NOT PASSION.

THAT IS UTTER DISRESPECT.

TO EACH OTHER AND TO THE OFFICE WE HOLD.

>> Reporter: HE DID NOT ADDRESS THE MESSAGE AT ANY ASSEMBLY MEMBERS SPECIFICALLY, BUT SPEAKER COUGHLIN'S ADMONISHMENT COMES AFTER THE LOWER HOUSES SESSION WORK CONTENTIOUS DEBATE OVER GUN LEGISLATION ENDED WITH THE MOST EGREGIOUS EXAMPLE OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE OR DISRESPECT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

>> I'M 100,000 PERCENT CONFIDENT THAT THIS BILL IS CONSTITUTIONALLY DEFENDABLE.

>> TAKE YOU VERY MUCH.

TO YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

I HAVE A SECTION FOR THE SPEAKER, SO YOU PROBABLY LIKE THAT.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME WRITE THIS, MR. BERGEN.

>> SENATOR DANIELSON, I WOULD ASK YOU THAT MAY BE THE 3000 OPIOID DEBTS LAST YEAR AS OPPOSED TO >> ASSEMBLYMAN, TAKE YOUR SEAT, YOU ARE OUT OF ORDER.

SIT DOWN.

>> Reporter: AFTER BEING CALLED OUT FOR CALLING ASSEMBLY DANIELSON A SLUR, BRIAN TWEETED I DID SAY IT AND I MEANT IT.

I HAVE SPEAKER COUGHLIN WITH ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE TONE AND TENOR THAT HAS TAKEN OVER TRENTON AS OF LATE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

YOU CALLED YESTERDAY ON YOUR CHAMBER TO SHOW MORE CIVILITY EVEN AS THEY HASH OUT THESE HOT BUTTON ISSUES THAT COME OUT.

WHY WAS THAT CALL SO IMPORTANT?

>> IT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I HAD, AS I SAID IN MY COMMENTS, THAT I HAVE WITNESSED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MEETINGS WHAT WAS, WHAT SHOULD BE PASSIONATE, LIVELY DEBATE, AND IN A THOROUGH AND THOUGHTFUL WAY.

EVOLVING INTO NAME-CALLING, INSINUATION, AND THINGS THAT ARE NOT BECOMING AND NOT IN KEEPING WITH WHAT THE CHAMBER WOULD BE ABOUT.

>> YOU DID NOT CALL ANYONE OUT BY NAME, BUT I BELIEVE THE SITUATION YOU ARE REFERRING TO WAS WITH ASSEMBLYMAN BRIAN BERGEN, WHO IS A REPUBLICAN, AND ASSEMBLYMAN JOE DANIELSON, WHO WAS A DEMOCRAT.

I GUESS BERGEN ON A HOT MIC HAD USED PROFANITY TO DESCRIBE HER SANITY ASSEMBLYMAN DANIELSON.

WAS THAT A SIMILAR SITUATION?

>> I DID NOT CALL ANYONE OUT FOR REASON.

BECAUSE I WANT THE GENERAL TONE, THE OVERALL WAY OF CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE CHAMBER TO BE BEYOND ANY DEFINITION THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE BEING INCREDIBLY RESPECTFUL TO EACH OTHER.

TO THE OFFICES THAT WE HOLD, TO THE PRIVILEGES THAT WE HAVE REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY.

SO THERE BEEN OTHER TIMES IN OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL MEETINGS WHERE I THINK THAT WE HAVE GONE TO A PLACE THAT I DON'T THINK IS IN KEEPING WITH THAT SENTIMENT AND THAT DUTY.

SO I WAS TALKING TO ALL OF US WHEN I SAID WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

I PURPOSEFULLY USE THOSE WORDS.

IT WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

WE NEED TO DEMAND MORE OF OURSELVES.

WE SHOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW PEOPLE CONDUCT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT.

THAT MATTER TO THEM WITHOUT DEMONIZING EACH OTHER.

WITHOUT DEMONIZING THE IDEAS.

>> AND OBVIOUSLY POLITICS IS A CONTACT SPORT.

BUT IS THERE A DIVISIVENESS THAT YOU HAVE SEEN NATIONALLY THAT YOU THINK IS MAYBE SEEPING INTO POLITICS HERE IN NEW JERSEY WHERE IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT DEBATING THE IDEAS, LIKE YOU ARE SAYING, BUT IT BECOMES MORE PERSONAL, WHERE IT IS KIND OF ATTACKING THE CHARACTER OF A PERSON RATHER THAN THE THOUGHT PROCESS AND PULLEY SYSTEM?

>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

THAT IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

YOU CAN DISAGREE, THAT IS FINE.

DISAGREEMENT IS GOOD.

THAT IS HOW WE SHAPE CONSENSUS.

BUT BY VILIFYING THE PERSON WHO IS SPEAKING, THEY ARE NOT A BAD PERSON BECAUSE THEY DON'T AGREE WITH YOU.

THEY JUST HAVE A DIFFERENT IDEA.

OBVIOUSLY THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT WERE JUST WRONG.

CRIMINAL ACTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND WE SHOULD CALL THEM OUT AND CONDEMN THEM.

BUT WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN ISSUE AND WHETHER SOMETHING OUGHT TO BE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, WE SHOULD NOT VILIFY THE PERSON WHO MAKES THE STATEMENT.

THEIR IDEA IS THE ONE WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT.

AND WE SHOULD DO THAT RESPECTFULLY.

WE SHOULD DO THAT.

AND YES, I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.

AND I SURE DON'T WANT THAT CREEPING INTO OUR CHAMBER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CRAIG COUGHLIN.

>> ASK AGAIN.

>>> IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT, NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY IS SLASHING ITS BUDGET AND ITS TEACHING STAFF.

THE SCHOOL IS FACING A MASSIVE BUDGET DEFICIT, $12 MILLION, AND IN RESPONSE IS GOING 37% OF ITS PROGRAMS.

THAT WILL INCLUDE 30 TEACHER LAYOFFS, 40 UNDERGRAD PROGRAMS, 28 GRADUATE PROGRAMS, AND MORE.

BOARD CHAIR JOSEPH SCOTT CALLED THE ANNOUNCEMENT A DIFFICULT BUT NECESSARY NEXT STEP TOWARDS THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THE UNIVERSITY MISSION.

THE SCHOOL, WHICH IS AN UNDERWRITER OF NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, HAD ALREADY CUT PROGRAMS TO SAVE AROUND $10 MILLION LAST YEAR.

WITH ALL OF THE CUTS, THE UNIVERSITY IS PREPARED TO SEE ITS STUDENT POPULATION FALL FROM AROUND EIGHT THOUSAND TO AROUND 5000.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE U.S. SENATE DONATED VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO BAN TIKTOK ON ON ALL OF THE DEVICES.

SEVERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE NOW FOLLOWING SUIT, BANNING THE SOCIAL MEDIA SITE ON STATE DEVICES.

GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS NOT MADE THE CALL IN NEW JERSEY, BUT LAWMAKERS IN OCEAN COUNTY ARE PUSHING FOR A TICK-TOCK BAND.

THE CHIEF CONCERN, THAT THE APP CREATES A SECURITY THREAT FROM CHINA, WHERE TICK-TOCK ORIGINATOR.

THAT COMES AFTER FBI DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY CAUTIONED THAT THE APP COULD BE USED TO TAKE OVER USERS DEVICES, AND THAT CREATES AN AMERICAN DATA SECURITY THREAT.

>>> AND HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW THE FINANCIAL MARKETS CLOSE AFTER A WEEK OF TUMULTUOUS TRADING.

MAKE SURE YOU CATCH NJ BUSINESS BEAT WITH RHONDA AS SHE PUTS THE 2023 OUTLOOK IN FOCUS, AND WHY MANY ARE WORRIED THAT THERE IS A RECESSION LOOMING.

WATCH IT SATURDAY AT 9 P.M., RIGHT HERE ON NJ PBS.

>>> AS THE EXCITEMENT BUILDS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, FOR SOME FAMILIES IT CAN FEEL LIKE THE MOST RESTFUL TIME OF THE YEAR.

IN CAMDEN, HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES FIND THEMSELVES STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY, AND THAT IS WHERE THE SALVATION ARMY IS STEPPING IN, RUNNING A TOY DRIVE AT THE KROC CENTER.

THE GOAL, 10,000 TOYS FOR THE 1700 FAMILIES THERE SERVING THIS YEAR.

BUT AS MELISSA ROSE COOPER TELLS US, THERE ARE EVEN MORE FAMILIES IN NEED.

SHE IS IN CAMDEN TODAY WHERE THE TOYS ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED TO HELP PUT SMILES ON THE FACES OF COUNTLESS KIDS ON CHRISTMAS.

>> IT MAY SEEM LIKE JUST A TOY, IT IS A DINOSAUR OR A BARBIE.

TO FAMILIES WHO CAN AFFORD THAT TO THEIR CHILD, THAT SPEAKS HOPE, IT SPEAKS LIFE, IT SPEAKS LOVE.

IT SAYS TO THE FAMILY, WE SEE YOU.

>> THE ASSOCIATE OF THE KROC CENTER BELIEVES BELIEF CAN GO A LONG WAY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

HOSTING A CHRISTMAS TOY SHOP WHERE FAMILIES CAN PICK OUT TWO GUESS FOR EVERY CHILD IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD WHO IS 12 YEARS OLD AND UNDER.

ALL FOR FREE.

>> WE STARTED APPLICATIONS IN OCTOBER, WE HAD PRETTY MUCH 1700 FAMILIES THAT CAME IN AND SAID WE NEED HELP.

WE NEED CHRISTMAS ASSISTANCE.

WE KNOW THESE ARE FAMILIES THAT REALLY DO NEED HELP.

>> EVERY ITEM IN THE TOYSHOP IS DONATED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

MAKING SURE THAT AS MANY KIDS AS POSSIBLE HAVE PRESENCE UNDERNEATH THE CHRISTMAS TREE, WITH 700 FAMILIES STOPPING BY FOR HELP TODAY, ALONE.

>> I KEEP TISSUES.

EVERY DAY, WE ARE JUST CRYING HEARING THE STORIES, HEARING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR LIVES.

WE ARE ABLE TO ASSIST A FAMILY TODAY, ACTUALLY, ON THEIR WAY TO APPLY FOR CHRISTMAS ASSISTANCE.

THEY WERE SHOCKED.

MOTHER WAS SHIELDING THEIR CHILD FROM THOSE BULLETS.

WE HAD ANOTHER SINGLE FATHER WHO CAME IN WHO HAS TWO CHILDREN, THE MOM OF THE OLDEST CHILD HAS PASSED AWAY, THE MOM OF THE SECOND CHILD IS USING ON THE STREET.

SO HE COMES IN AS A SINGLE DAD NEEDING HELP.

THESE ARE THE TYPE OF FAMILIES WE ARE HELPING, BUT WE CANNOT DO IT ALONE.

>> I AM A GRANDMOTHER OF 28, SO THIS HELPS ME GET THROUGH.

I ALSO HAVE A JOB.

THIS HELPS THE EXTRA PART OF IT WHERE I CAN GET THE KIDS, LITTLE KIDS TOYS THAT THEY WANT.

I HAVE WHAT I CALL ADOPTED DAUGHTERS, AND THEY HAVE KIDS, SO I TRY TO GET SOMETHING FOR THEM.

I AM JUST GRANDMA.

I TRY TO DO EVERYBODY.

>> NOW MICHELLE BROWN CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THE SMILES ON THEIR FACES WHEN THEY OPEN THE GIFTS.

SHE IS ANKLE THE KROC CENTER CAN HELP HER DO THAT.

>> I THINK EVERYBODY IN CAMDEN SHOULD KNOW THIS.

EVERY HOLIDAY THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF HELP FOR THEM, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE DEPRESSED, THAT YOUR KIDS DON'T HAVE TO GO WITHOUT ANYTHING.

UNLESS YOU PLAY YOUR BEST TO FORWARD YOU WILL NEVER KNOW.

>> GEORGE BARRY HAS BEEN VOLUNTEERING AT THE KROC CENTER FOR THREE YEARS.

FOR HIM, GIVING BACK IS CLOSE TO HOME.

>> I AM FROM THE CITY OF CAMDEN.

I GREW UP DOWN IN THIS AREA AND I KNOW IT IS HARD TIMES AND I LIKE TO HELP PEOPLE OUT AND TRY TO MAKE THEIR CHRISTMAS A BETTER CHRISTMAS.

>> BUT EVEN WITH ALL THE TOYS ON THE SHELVES AND THE HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES THE KROC CENTER HAS ALREADY HELPED, IT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH.

AT LEAST 400 MORE FAMILIES ARE CURRENTLY ON A WAITLIST.

>> IT IS HONESTLY THE YEAR THAT WE HAVE SEEN THESE ASTRONOMICAL NUMBERS.

WE HAVE NEVER SERVED THIS MANY FAMILIES BEFORE.

WHEN WE INTERVIEWED THE FAMILIES BACK IN OCTOBER, WE ASKED THEM HAVE YOU EVER APPLIED FOR CHRISTMAS ASSISTANCE BEFORE?

45% HAVE NEVER.

SO THAT SPEAKS A LOT.

THAT SAYS THAT THESE FAMILIES ARE GOING THROUGH A TOUGHER TIME THAN THEY HAVE EVER HAD BEFORE.

SO WE ARE JUST TRYING TO DO OUR PART IN HELPING OR ASSISTING THEM.

>> CENTER IS STILL ACCEPTING DONATIONS THROUGH THIS WE CAN.

THEY ARE HOPING PEOPLE WILL FIND IT IN THEIR HEARTS TO HELP OUT DURING THIS SEASON OF GREAT NEED, TO HELP PUT A SMILE ON EVERY CHILD COME CHRISTMAS MORNING.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR YOU TONIGHT, BUT DON'T MISS THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WITH SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ.

THIS WEEK, DAVID TALKS WITH REPUBLICAN SITTER JOHN BRANIGAN GIVES HIS COMEDIC TAKE ON ALL THAT HAPPENED IN WASHINGTON POLITICS THIS YEAR.

THAT IS SATURDAY AT 6 P.M. AND SUNDAY AT 10 A.M. AND ON CHAT BOX THIS WEEK, DAVID LOOKS AT THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF THIS YEAR IN NEW JERSEY POLITICS, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND MORE.

THAT IS SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY AT 10:30 A.M., ALL RIGHT HERE ON NJ PBS.

THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS WEEK.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND WE WILL BE BACK WITH YOU ON MONDAY.

>> AND JM INSURANCE GROUP, CHOOSING THE INSURANCE NEEDS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

AND NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE BOYS FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJ REALTOR.COM.

>> 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.

IN JM.

WE HAVE NEW JERSEY COVERED.