>>> FUNDING FOR "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

R.J. W BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

IN THE OCEAN PROJECT BY ORSTED.

AND BY PSAG.

COMITTED TO CREATING A LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

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

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

NEW JERSEY REPORTED MORE THAN 20,000 COVID-19 CASES TODAY, THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF POSITIVE TESTS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

KEEP IN MIND, MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING TESTED NOW THAN IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC, AND THESE NUMBERS DO NOT INCLUDE ANYONE TESTING AT HOME.

THE STATE REPORTED ANOTHER 50 COVID DEATH TODAY, AND THERE ARE MORE THAN 3000 PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED.

THAT'S A 47% INCREASE IN THE PAST WEEK.

THE NEW JERSEY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SAYS, HOSPITALS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE ENTERED WHAT'S KNOWN LEVEL READ, WHICH MEANS RESTRICTIONS ON VISITORS EXCEPT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

MEANTIME, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS IT'S ADOPTING THE CDC'S NEW GUIDELINES ON TWITTER QUARANTINES AFTER A COVID EXPOSURE, WHICH SHOULD ALLOW HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO GET BACK ON THE JOB SOONER.

WITH COVID CASES INCREASING, THERE HAS BEEN A RUSH TO GET TESTED AHEAD OF ANOTHER HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

BUT AS MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS, MANY PEOPLE ARE FACING LONG WAITS FOR TESTS AND TO FIND OUT THE RESULTS.

>> RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, I GOT A LITTLE SICK.

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF I HAD COVID.

>> Reporter: THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATING FOR PEYTON BRIAN.

SHE TOOK A COVID TEST AT A TESTING CENTER LAST THURSDAY, BUT STILL HASN'T GOT THE RESULTS.

SO NOW SHE IS WAITING IN LINE FOR THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN A WEEK AT THE CITY MD ON BROAD STREET.

>> ANNOYING TO SAY THE LEAST.

SUPER INCONVENIENT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE HOLIDAYS.

WE ALL WANT TO GO HOME AND VISIT OUR FAMILIES.

WE ALL WANT TO LIVE A REGULAR LIFE AND AT LEAST JUST KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH US.

AND NOW, IT'S LIKE A CONSTANT PROCESS.

>> Reporter: SHE'S NOT ALONE.

AT LEAST FIVE CITY MD TESTING CENTERS ARE SHUT DOWN ACROSS THE STATE AFTER REACHING CAPACITY.

LONG LINES LIKE THIS ARE POPPING UP AS MANY PEOPLE WAY TO GET TESTED.

LIKE THIS COUPLE VISITING FROM SPAIN, TRYING TO MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE FOR THEM TO GO OUT AND BRING IN THE NEW YEAR.

>> WE HAVE, I BELIEVE [ INAUDIBLE ] >> Reporter: MANY OTHERS WILL BE FORCED TO WAIT WITH SIMILAR WEIGHTS AS COVID SHOWS NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN.

OVER 20,000 POSITIVE CASES.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S VERY LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO GROW BECAUSE OF THE EXTRAORDINARILY SPREAD, RAPID DOUBLING TIME OF THE OMICRON VARIANT.

AND THE POTENTIAL TO RAISE THE NUMBER OF CASES 10 TO 20 FOLD IN JUST A WEEK.

WE ARE LUCKY THAT HASN'T GONE UP QUITE TO THAT LEVEL.

BUT WITH IT ZOOMING AT EACH DAY, IT'S NOT A SURPRISE.

IT MEANS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING EXPOSED, AND THEY NEED TO CHANGE THEIR LEVEL OF PRECAUTIONS.

THIS IS A TIME TO INCREASE THE PRECAUTIONS YOU TAKE DURING THIS SURGE, NOT TO BE LOVE AFFAIR.

>> Reporter: IN SOME CASES, THE DRIVER TESTING SITES ARE NOT MUCH BETTER WHEN IT COMES TO WAITS.

THE LINE STRETCHES ALL THE WAY UP, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WAITING PATIENTLY TO GET THE COVID TESTS.

BETTER NEWS OVER AT ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE, WHICH JUST OPENED UP AN OUTSIDE TESTING SITE LAST WEEK.

LINES ARE PRETTY MUCH NONEXISTENT WHEN WE STOPPED BY THIS MORNING.

ESSEX COUNTY HEALTH DIRECTOR SAYING THE COUNTY HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE STATE TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE ENOUGH TESTS FOR ALL OF THEIR SITES.

>> YOU DO NOT NEED APPOINTMENTS.

THESE ARE WALK UPS.

WE HAVE BEEN SERVICING ABOUT 15,000 INDIVIDUALS AND 10,000 THE OTHER DAY.

WE CAN GO AHEAD INDEFINITELY KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND OF TESTING.

NO ONE HAS BEEN TURNED AWAY.

MAKE NEW GUIDELINES FROM THE CDC, SHORTENING THE QUARANTINE PERIOD FROM 10 TO 5 DAYS AFTER TESTING POSITIVE FOR ALSO CAUSING CONCERN.

CHRISTOPHER ROBERTS WORKS AT A HOSPITAL AND THINGS THAT SHOULD GO BACK TO 14 DAYS.

>> COWORKERS OF MINE HAD COVID.

THEY CAME BACK AT 10 DAYS.

THEY GOT SICK AGAIN.

I THINK THEY SHOULD GIVE US MORE TIME TO RECOVER.

>> Reporter: DESPITE CITIES AND COUNTIES EFFORTS, HEALTH EXPERTS MAINTAIN GETTING VACCINATED AND BOOSTED IS THE BEST WAY TO PERMIT GETTING SERIOUSLY ILL FROM COVID.

THEY ARE REMINDING ANYONE MONEY TO CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR TO WEAR MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCE WHEN POSSIBLE.

FOR "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS", I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> YET ANOTHER DAY OF FLIGHT DELAYS AT NEWARK AIRPORT AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

MIDAFTERNOON, 97 FLIGHTS AT NEWARK HAD BEEN CANCELED IN THE PAST 24 HOURS AND MORE THAN 800 ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS WERE GROUNDED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MAINLY DUE TO STAFF SHORTAGES.

WE TALKED TO A FEW SHATTERED TRAVELERS TO SEE HOW THEY WERE COPING.

>> AT LEAST GETTING TO WHERE WE GOT TO GO, YEAH.

I AM FAIRLY CONCERNED, BUT I WILL NOT BE CONCERNED UNTIL I HAVE TO BE.

>> THEY SENT ME AN EMAIL AT THE LAST MINUTE SAYING THE FLIGHT WAS CANCELED.

KIND OF A BUMMER.

WHEN I TRIED TO CALL FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, THEY RATTED ME TO SOUTH AFRICA.

I WASN'T EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I COULDN'T GET ON A FLIGHT.

TODAY, I HAVE TO GO TO MYRTLE BEACH.

WE DON'T GET INTO MIAMI UNTIL TONIGHT.

WE LOST TWO DAYS OF TRAVEL.

>> Reporter: THE NEWER MAYOR WAS JOINED BY OTHER OFFICIALS FOR A VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE ON HOW TO DROP CRIME LEVELS.

HE IS EXPECTED TO SEEK RE- ELECTION NEXT YEAR.

HE HAS LED NEW JERSEY'S LARGEST CITY SINCE 2014.

TOTAL CRIMES HAVE DROPPED ROUGHLY IN HALF DURING THAT TIME , FROM NEARLY 13,000 INCIDENTS IN 2013 TO ABOUT 6300 INCIDENTS IN EACH OF THE PAST TWO YEARS.

HOMICIDES HAVE DECREASED FROM 112 IN 2013, BUT SO FAR THIS YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN 57 HOMICIDES IN NEWARK, OUTPACING LAST YEAR'S TOTAL OF 54.

WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE, HE AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR ATTRIBUTED IT TO INVESTMENTS.

NEWARK HAS BEEN UNDER A DECREE TO PERFORM ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT SINCE 2016.

HE TOLD US IN SEPTEMBER THAT HE THINKS IT IS TIME FOR THE DECREE TO BE LIFTED.

>> I AM INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL TO GOD IN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING HERE WITH US, THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US, PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, TO MAKE SURE VIOLENCE AND CRIME HAS BEEN DOWN IN OUR CITY FOR A VERY LONG TIME NOW.

COLLEAGUES AROUND THE COUNTRY, MORE THAN A DOZEN CITIES ACROSS THE NATION, IN THE YEAR 2020, EXPERIENCED RECORD-BREAKING NUMBERS OF CRIME.

2021, BROKE THOSE RECORDS.

I'M GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL TO GOD THAT WE MISSED THAT HERE IN THE CITY OF NEWARK.

>>> MICHELLE HAS BEEN RELEASED , HOURS AFTER THE NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED HER MURDER CONVICTION FOR THE 1990 WITH DEATH OF HER 5-YEAR-OLD SON, TIMOTHY SHE WAS LET OUT OF PRISON LATE YESTERDAY AFTER SPENDING MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS IN CUSTODY, AND WITH HER ATTORNEY BY HER SIDE, MADE A FEW REMARKS TO THE MEDIA.

SHE SAYS SHE WAS GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED HER AND STOOD BY HER SIDE, ADDING SHE WANTS TO GO HOME AND SEE HER KIDS.

THE FORMER NATIVE HAS WHETHER SOMETHING WAS LIVING IN FLORIDA BEFORE HER ARREST.

>>> YESTERDAY, THE SUPREME COURT CONCLUDED THERE WASN'T ENOUGH EVIDENCE FOR A JURY TO FIND HER GUILTY IN 2016.

THEY CLAIMED HER SON DISAPPEARED FROM A CARNIVAL, AND HE LATER TURNED UP DEAD.

WE TURN TO NEW JERSEY'S FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO ALSO SERVED AS A JUSTICE ON THE NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT.

PETER, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE COURT'S DECISION AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT DECISION?

>> THE COURT'S DECISION WAS VERY CLEAR IN TERMS OF WHAT THE MAJORITY DECIDED.

THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO SUSTAIN A JURY VERDICT OF MURDER, HOMICIDE, BECAUSE THERE WAS INSIGNIFICANT PROOF OF A KNOWING AND PURSE IS FULL CONTACT.

THAT WAS A CLEAR MESSAGE AND MAJORITY OPINION.

THE DISSENT WAS EQUALLY CLEAR.

SHE ALSO DISAGREED WITH THE MAJORITY OPINION.

WE HAVE A 4-3 DECISION OF THE COURT, THIS RESOLVES THE ISSUE.

>> Reporter: THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A DEADLOCK, 3-3, BEFORE BRINGING IN A ANOTHER JUDGE TO BREAK THE TIE THAT WAS AN UNEXPECTED MOVE, WASN'T IT?

>> IT WAS UNUSUAL.

THIS WHOLE CASE HAS BEEN UNUSUAL, BOTH BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT THE COURT WAS AS SHARPLY DIVIDED AS IT WAS, NOT ONLY ON THE SUBSTANCE, BUT ALSO ON PROCEDURAL ISSUES.

USUALLY YOU DO NOT SEE SUCH A SHARP DIVISION AT THE STATE SUPREME COURT LEVEL.

THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CASES WHERE NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT HAS BEEN DIVIDED, BUT NOTHING QUITE TO THE LEVEL.

SO GUESS THIS WAS A UNIQUE DISPOSITION.

>> Reporter: IT WAS ALSO SURPRISING THEY DECIDED TO CONSIDER THE CASE, RIGHT?

>> THE MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION ALSO WAS HOTLY CONTESTED IN THE SUPREME COURT.

JUSTICE PATTERSON CONCLUDING THAT THE RULE FOR RECONSIDERATION WAS NOT ESTABLISHED.

YOU HAD JUSTICE ALVIN ON BEHALF OF WHAT WAS THEN THE MAJORITY AFTER THE JUDGE WAS CALLED UP FROM THE APPELLATE DIVISION, DISAGREEING AND SAYING THE MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION WASN'T PROPERLY SATISFYING.

WHEN YOU HAVE THIS LEVEL OF DIVISION, BOTH AT THE PROCEDURAL AND SUBSTANTIVE LEVEL, IT DOES ALLOW FOR A UNIQUE OUTCOME.

HOPEFULLY, AN OUTCOME WE WOULD NOT TYPICALLY SEE AGAIN IN THE FUTURE, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY A LEGITIMATE OUTCOME BY VIRTUE OF THE PROCESS, AND THE COURT IS NOW ACTIVE IN THE WAY THAT IS FINAL.

>> Reporter: I DO THINK THE MESSAGE IS FROM THIS CASE WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE LEGAL MANEUVERING THAT WENT ON FOR YEARS?

MAC I THINK ONE OF THE MESSAGES IN THIS CASE IS THAT THE JUDICIAL PERSPECTIVE IS NOT ALWAYS UNANIMOUS, THAT WE COULD HAVE REASONABLE JUDGES APPLYING THEIR BEST JUDGMENT, APPLYING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF RULES AND PROCEDURE AND SUBSTANTIVE LAW, AND COME TO DISAGREEMENTS, RESPECTFUL DISAGREEMENTS.

THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS CASE.

WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WAS EVENTUALLY A SEMI-MEMBER SUPREME COURT REACHING INTO THEIR OWN BEST JUDGMENT AND THEIR OWN PERSPECTIVE AND DECIDING THE OUTCOME OF A CASE.

SO WE HAVE A SEVEN-MEMBER COURT THAT WOULD SOMETIMES BE DIVIDED.

I THINK THE COURT WORKS BEST WHEN YOU DO HAVE SEVEN FULLY PARTICIPATING MEMBERS.

YOU SAW THE OUTCOME HERE WHERE IT WAS DIVIDED.

THERE IS A RESOLUTION.

>> Reporter: IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE SPEAKING WITH YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> YES.

THANK YOU.

TAKE CARE.

>>> IN JUST TWO DAYS, NEW JERSEY'S EVICTION MORATORIUM WILL BE LIFTED.

THE MORATORIUM WAS PUT IN PLACE TO HELP THOSE WHO FACED INITIAL HARDSHIP DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

BUT WITHOUT THE PROTECTION, TENANTS WHO WERE UNABLE TO PAY RENT ARE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR HOMES.

MATT SHAPIRO, PRESIDENT OF THE NEW JERSEY TENANTS ORGANIZATION , JOINS ME TO EXPLAIN.

>> Reporter: WHAT IS THE END OF THIS EVICTION MORATORIUM ON DECEMBER 31st MAIN FOR TENANTS HERE IN OUR STATE?

COULD WE START TO SEE EVICTION STARTING AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK?

>> IT'S POSSIBLE, YES.

THE PROTECTIONS UNDER THE LAW THAT WE GOT PASSED IN AUGUST PRETTY MUCH END ON DECEMBER 31st .

IT COULD HAVE ENDED REALLY EARLIER FOR A LOT OF TENANTS BECAUSE MANY OF THEM HAVE NOT ACTUALLY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE LAW BY DOING THE SELF CERTIFICATION ON THE WEBSITE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

THAT CERTIFICATION BASICALLY SAYS THAT IF YOU HAVE AN EVICTION CASE AGAINST YOU FOR NOT PAYING THE RENT THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER, THAT CASE SHOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY DISMISSED.

IT'S A VERY EASY SELF CERTIFICATION TO FILL OUT.

UNFORTUNATELY, OF THE 60,000 CASES, ONLY 22,300 AS OF THIS MORNING, ONLY 22,300 CERTIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN FILED, LESS THAN HALF OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN JEOPARDY FOR NOT PAYING RENT THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER ARE GETTING THE PROTECTION THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO.

>> Reporter: LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

PAUSE ON EVICTIONS DOESN'T MEAN TENANTS WHO ARE BEHIND ON THE RENT WON'T HAVE TO PAY THE RENT.

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> THE CASE WILL BE DISMISSED AS LONG AS YOU FILE THE SELF- CERTIFICATION.

YOU CAN'T BE SUED FOR EVICTION, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU DON'T OWE THE ROUTE.

YOU DO OVER THE RENT.

IF YOU DON'T PAY IT, THE LANDLORD CAN SEE YOU FOR THE MONEY.

THEY CAN'T SUE FOR EVICTION, BUT THEY CAN SUE FOR THE MONEY.

ALL OF THIS CHANGES ON JANUARY 1.

NONPAYMENT STARTING ON JANUARY THE LANDLORD CAN SUE YOU FOR EVICTION.

WE EXPECT TO HAVE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF EVICTION ACTIONS FILED STARTING IN JANUARY.

IT'S A GREAT FEAR.

>> Reporter: DO YOU THINK THAT THE MEN TORE THEM SHOULD BE EXTENDED FURTHER?

>> I DO THINK THE GOVERNOR SHOULD ASK TO EXTEND THE MORATORIUM.

THERE ARE VERY LIKELY GOING TO BE OVER 100,000 EVICTION CASES FILED IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR.

THEY ARE TREMENDOUSLY IN DANGER AND VERY MUCH NEED AN INFUSION OF NEW RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS.

UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, WE DESPERATELY NEED THE GOVERNOR TO ESTABLISH ANOTHER EVICTION MORATORIUM.

>> Reporter: REALLY, IT'S A TOUGH SITUATION ALL THE WAY AROUND.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE ON THIS.

>>> IN TONIGHT'S SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS, THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY INTEREST THE NEW YEAR AND DECENT FINANCIAL SHAPE AS REVENUE COLLECTIONS ARE UP COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR.

I SAT DOWN WITH BUDGET AND FINANCE WRITER JOHN REITMEYER TO DISCUSS THE STATUS REVENUE AND SPENDING GOALS FOR 2022.

>> Reporter: JOHN, FIRST ON THE REVENUE SIDE OF THINGS, IN THE UPSWING WE ARE SEEING CONTINUE?

>> I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WHAT WE ARE COMPARING THE STATE SQ REVENUE AGAINST LAST YEAR WAS A TIME WHEN THE ECONOMY WAS STILL DEPRESSED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND ALL OF THE RESTRICTIONS.

YOU WANT TO BE IN THIS POSITION WHERE YEAR-OVER-YEAR, YOU ARE SEEING A BIG INCREASE.

THE QUESTION GOING FORWARD, AND IT'S A JULY TO JUNE FISCAL YEAR, CAN THE MOMENTUM CONTINUED THROUGH THE SECOND HALF OF THE FISCAL YEAR?

LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A BIG UPSWING IN THE SECOND HALF.

WE DON'T EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR, BUT WE DO WANT TO SEE SOME OF THIS MOMENT AND CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE REMAINING MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

>> Reporter: SO DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE REVENUE SIDE, WHAT POTENTIALLY COULD WE SEE NEXT YEAR IN TERMS OF STATE SPENDING?

WHAT ARE THE GOALS FOR THE STATE BUDGET?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE BIG GOALS IS TO MAINTAIN FULL FUNDING OF THE PUBLIC WORKER PENSION SYSTEM .

AND SO THE STATE TOOK YEARS TO GET UP TO THAT HURDLE, WHICH IS FINALLY REACHED IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THAT CAN BE SUSTAINED GOING FORWARD.

NEW JERSEY HAS THIS PROBLEM OF RELYING HEAVILY ON ONE-TIME SOURCES OF REVENUE.

IN THE CURRENT BUDGET, SOME OF THE SURPLUS FROM LAST YEAR WAS SPENT DOWN.

REMEMBER, THERE WAS ALSO BORROWING THAT OCCURRED LAST YEAR.

THAT HELPED TO MAKE THE STATE'S CONFERENCE FLUSH WITH CASH.

CAN NEW JERSEY SUSTAIN THINGS LIKE FULL PENSION FUNDING BUT DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS BASED OFF OF RECURRING REVENUES AND NOT THESE ONE-TIME SOURCES.

IT'S LIKE ALMOST GETTING AN INHERITANCE, GOING OUT AND BUYING A NEW CAR AND BIGGER HOUSE, BUT THEN HAVING YOUR SAME ANNUAL INCOME TO PAY THE BIGGER MONTHLY PAYMENT.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE BIGGEST GOAL FOR THE BUDGET GOING FORWARD.

HI JOHN, NEW JERSEY STILL HAS SOME OF THAT FIDDLE COVID RELIEF AID TO SPEND AS WELL.

WITHOUT LIKELY HAPPEN NEXT YEAR?

>> WE WILL PROBABLY SEE SOME OF THAT ALLOCATED.

NEW JERSEY RECEIVED OVER $6 BILLION EARLY THIS YEAR AND COVID RELIEF.

THERE IS STILL A SIGNIFICANT SHARE OF THAT MONEY THAT HAS BEEN UNALLOCATED.

PART OF THAT IS BY DESIGN.

THE STATE HAS UNTIL THE END OF 2024 TO OBLIGATE THIS MONEY.

AS WE HAVE LEARNED IN RECENT WEEKS, THIS PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO THROW US SOME SURPRISES.

WE MAY HAVE SOME NEEDS DEVELOP EVEN AS WE SEE THE PANDEMIC.

THE BIG QUESTION WITH FEDERAL AID IS BOTH PACE OF APPLICATION AND ALSO HOW THE DECISIONS GET MADE.

THERE WAS SOME CONCERNS RAISED IN RECENT WEEKS ABOUT POLITICAL FAVORITISM AND WHETHER SOME OF THE DECISIONS BEING MADE IN TERMS OF WHERE TO ALLOCATE THE MONEY ARE TRULY LINING UP WHERE SOME OF THE NEEDS ARE.

THAT WILL BE AN ISSUE TO KEEP AN EYE ON OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS TO AN EAR.

>> Reporter: JOHN, THANK YOU.

>>> HERE IS A LOOK AT THE CLOSING NUMBERS FROM WALL STREET.

>>> WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICS IN NEW JERSEY, 2021 PROVIDED SOME SURPRISES AND UPSETS.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ TALKED WITH ROBERTO REPORTERS WITH HOW NATIONAL ISSUES PLAYED OUT IN THE STATE AND HOW THE CONVERSATION MAY SHIFT IN THE NEW YEAR.

>> CHARLIE SOUTH, STACY SHERMAN, THANKS FOR TAKING A FEW MINUTES.

I GUESS CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT 2021 BEGAN WITH A NEAR OVERTHROW OF THE GOVERNMENT, WE ARE DOING OKAY SO FAR AS WE HEAD INTO THE END OF THE YEAR.

CHARLIE, WATCH OUT AT YOU IN TERMS OF BIG STORIES IN NEW JERSEY?

>> I THINK THE GOVERNOR'S RACE FROM THE PAST YEAR WAS OBVIOUSLY THE BIG ONE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING THAT THE WAY OUR FRAMERS, NEW JERSEY'S FRAMERS SAID THAT THE SELECTION WAS TO MAKE SURE WE WERE INSULATED FROM NATIONAL POLITICS.

BUT I FELT, ODDLY ENOUGH, THIS YEAR, THE NATIONAL MOOD, THE NATIONAL ISSUES SHAPED THIS GOVERNOR'S RACE IN A WAY I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

THEN THERE WERE THE CULTURAL ISSUES WE SAW, THE CULTURAL WAR ISSUES THAT SEEPED THEIR WAY INTO THE DEBATE AND KIND OF FUELED SOME GRASSROOTS ANTIPATHY THAT I THINK REFLECTED ITSELF AT THE BALLOT BOX.

>> Reporter: STACY, EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT POCKETBOOK ISSUES, KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES.

YOU GET A SENSE THAT THE FOCUS OF NEW JERSEY VOTERS' RESIDENTS ' HAVE SHIFTED THAT WAY, THAT WE HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES THAT WERE UP TOP IN THE NEWS OVER THE PAST YEAR?

>> KNOW.

I THINK IT'S ALL ABOUT JOBS AND THE ECONOMY.

PEOPLE WANT TO GET BACK TO WORK.

THEY WANT THEIR KIDS IN SCHOOL.

I THINK THAT'S THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS GETTING HEALTHY AND SEEING FAMILY, JUST GETTING BACK TO NORMAL.

>> Reporter: YOU THINK -- CHARLIE MADE REFERENCE TO CULTURAL WARS.

I AM THINKING WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ITSELF IN NEW JERSEY, THERE SEEMS TO BE TWO SIDES.

YOU HAVE THE MODERATE SIDE, STEVE SWEENEY AND THE SPEAKER.

THEN YOU HAVE THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT WITH THE BLACK CAUCUS, THE LATINO CAUCUS.

THERE SEEMS TO BE HEADED FOR EITHER, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE IN OR THERE IS GOING TO BE CULTURAL WAR WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, NO?

>> I THINK THAT IS IN BOTH PARTIES IF THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER THEY WANT TO LEAN FOR MODERATE.

WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, I THINK COVID REALLY LAID BARE ISSUES OF INEQUITY, OF RACIAL INJUSTICE, AND THAT'S COMING TO THE FOREFRONT.

DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO STOP THIS PROBLEM THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE FOR DECADES.

>> Reporter: CHARLIE, TALKING ABOUT THE ELECTION OF THE FACT THAT THERE IS A NEW SENATE PRESIDENT, WILL THEY HAVE AN IMPACT GOING FORWARD?

THE MAJORITY IS FROM THE MODERATE WING OF THE PARTY.

>> RIGHT.

AND I THINK THAT'S INDICATIVE OF WHERE THIS PARTY IS GOING TO GO.

I THINK STACY IS 100% CORRECT.

AND I THINK YOUR DIAGNOSIS IS CORRECT.

RIGHT NOW, FOR THE SHORT TERM, I THINK THIS IS THE MODERATE WING OF THE PARTY, IS THE DOMINANT.

I THINK THEY WERE FRIGHTENED BY THE OUTCOME IN THE GOVERNORS RACE AND THE LOSS OF SIX SEATS IN THE ASSEMBLY AND STEVE SWEENEY'S LOSS IN THE THIRD DISTRICT, WHICH MADE NATIONAL NEWS.

AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A RETRENCHMENT TO THE MIDDLE.

>> Reporter: I HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT YOU THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS TIME NEXT YEAR?

STACY, LET'S START WITH YOU, ABOUT 15 SECONDS.

>> I HOPE COVID IS GONE, AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON JOBS AND THE ECONOMY.

I HOPE WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY TO RECOVERY.

>> Reporter: SAYS THE WOMAN WHO WORKS FOR BLOOMBERG.

CHARLIE, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS TIME NEXT YEAR?

>> I THINK THAT IS VERY TRUE.

WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT POCKETBOOK ISSUES.

I DO THINK WE COULD STILL BE IN A DISCUSSION ABOUT ABORTION RIGHTS NEXT YEAR.

>> Reporter: AGREED.

CHARLIE STILES, STACY SHERMAN, GREAT TO SEE YOU GUYS.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>>> FINALLY, DON'T TOSS OUT YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE.

THE CAPE MAY COUNTY ZOO IS LOOKING FOR THOSE POST-HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS TREES.

THEY ARE PRODUCIBLE USES AT THE ZOO, FROM HABITATS AND SNACKS FOR SOME ANIMALS TO TOYS FOR OTHERS.

ONCE THE ANIMALS HAVE THEIR FILL, THE REST OF THE TREES ARE GROUND UP INTO MULCH TO BE USED AROUND THE ZOO.

THE TREES MUST HAVE ALL DECORATIONS AND TINSEL TAKEN OFF AND DROPPED OFF BEFORE JANUARY 10 IN A PICKUP TRUCK LOCATED IN THE OFFICE PARKING LOT.

IF YOU DON'T LIVE CLOSE TO CAPE MAY, CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL ZOOS MANY OTHERS ARE LOOKING FOR CHRISTMAS TREE DONATIONS AS WELL.

>>> THAT DOESN'T FOR US TONIGHT.

HEAD OVER TO THE WEBSITE AND CHECK OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS WHERE WE KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THE LOCAL NEWS.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

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