>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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AND THE OCEAN RING PROJECT.

CREATED TO THE CREATION OF A LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENT FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> HELLO AND THANK YOU, FOR JOINING US.

I AM RHONDA IN FOR BREANNA., NEW JERSEY IS SETTING A RECORD HIGH NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES.

THE 28,000 TODAY.

MITIGATION EFFORTS ARE BEING RAMPED UP.

THE STATE REPORTED 34 ADDITIONAL DEATHS AND MORE THAN 3600 PATIENTS ARE HOSPITALIZED.

THE NUMBER THE STATE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DID NOT EXPECT TO SEE UNTIL MID-JANUARY.

IN THE MEANTIME, ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, A FEDERAL COVID TESTING SITE WILL OPEN IN EAST ORANGE.

IT WILL OPEN AT 7:00 A.M. AND REMAIN OPEN FOR 12 DAYS PROVIDING FREE PCR TESTS TO RESIDENTS OF THE STATE.

THE SITE WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE 1000 PEOPLE PER DAY AND RESULTS WILL BE AVAILABLE ABOUT 24 HOURS LATER.

THE STATE REPORTS 46.2 MILLION PEOPLE ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

AND 2.2 MILLION HAVE RECEIVED BOOSTERS.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS TOUTING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THEIR BOOSTER SHOT.

THEY HAVE FOUND IT REDUCES THE RISK OF HOSPITALIZATION BY ABOUT 85%.

THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH HAPPENING THIS WEEK ON THE COVID-19 FRONT.

CHANGING GUIDANCE FROM THE CDC AND DIFFICULTIES GETTING TESTS.

IT CAN BE HARD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RESPOND.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER TELLS US ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF ASSESSING THE RISK AS WE CONTINUE TO LIVE WITH COVID-19.

>> IT RATIONALIZES SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAVE AND IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO GET BACK TO A SEMBLANCE OF A NORMAL LIFE.

IT BALANCES RISK AND BENEFIT.

>> Reporter: DOCTOR LOUISE NELSON AT RUTGERS MEDICAL SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN NEWARK ARE APPLAUDING THE CDC CHANGES TO THE COVID-19 GUIDELINES.

THEY SHORTENED QUARANTINE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM 10 DAYS DOWN TO FIVE DAYS AFTER TESTING POSITIVE.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABRUPT NATURE AND MAYBE THE LACK OF EVIDENCE BEHIND THE NEW GUIDELINES BUT IN FAIRNESS, THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF EVIDENCE BEHIND THE PREVIOUS GUIDELINES AND THEY LEAD TO UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

THE GUIDELINES DON'T SAY AT FIVE DAYS YOU COULD JUST GO OUT AND START PARTYING AGAIN BUT YOU ARE SAFE TO GO OUT WITH A MASK.

>> I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE AROUND SOMEBODY WHO CAME OUT OF ISOLATION ON THE SIXTH DAY WITHOUT A TEST.

>> Reporter: DOCTOR LESLIE CANTOR IS A CHAIR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF URBAN GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH AT RECORDS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

SHES IS ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES WITH CDC GUIDELINES IS TAKING A COVID-19 TEST AFTER THE FIVE DAY QUARANTINE IS UP IS NOT MANDATED.

THAT IS A RULE SHE BELIEVES IS NECESSARY FOR SOCIETY TO CONTINUE TO FUNCTION.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, IF EVERYBODY IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS OUT FOR 10 DAYS BECAUSE THEY TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, SUDDENLY WE DON'T HAVE A WAY TO PUT OUT FIRES.

IF EVERYBODY IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS OUT FOR 10 DAYS BECAUSE OF TESTING POSITIVE WE DON'T HAVE OTHER HEALTHCARE.

>> Reporter: PREVIOUS RECORDS HAVE BEEN BEAT.

AND CASES LINK TO THE OMICRON VARIANT ARE LINKED TO THE SPIKE.

AND IT CAN HAVE IMPACTS ON THOSE THAT ARE NOT VACCINATED AS WELL AS THOSE VACCINATED AND CHILDREN.

IN NEW JERSEY, PEDIATRIC HOSPITALIZATIONS JUMPED FROM 18 LAST MONTH TO NEARLY 60.

>> IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS WE EXPECT TO SEE THE MULTI INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME THAT WE SEE IN KIDS AND THAT PRESENT ANYWHERE FROM TWO WEEKS TO EIGHT OR 10 WEEKS AFTER INFECTION.

EVEN ASYMPTOMATIC INFECTION AND THEY COME IN CRITICALLY ILL. >> Reporter: MEDICAL EXPERTS AGREE THAT GETTING VACCINATED AND BOOSTED IS THE BEST WAY TO STAY HEALTHY.

>> IF YOU HAVE A POTENTIAL EXPOSURE OR YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS THAT MAY BE CONSISTENT WITH COVID-19, THAT IS A GOOD CLINICAL HISTORY AND YOU SHOULD JUST MAKE THE DECISION THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE COVID-19.

AND PROCEED ON THAT BASIS.

>> Reporter: HEALTH EXPERTS RECOMMEND WEARING A MASK WHEN INDOORS OR AROUND LARGE CROWDS AS WELL AS SOCIAL DISTANCING WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

AND ALL EYES ARE ON GOVERNOR MURPHY WHO RETURNED FROM AN EIGHT DAY VACATION TO SEE IF NEW RESTRICTIONS WILL BE PUT IN PLACE TO MANAGE THE RISE IN CASES.

I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN CRITICALLY ILL WITH COVID-19 COMP MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT THERAPEUTIC TOOL.

BUT SOME ANTIBODY TREATMENTS ARE INEFFECTIVE.

NATIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES HAVE LIMITED THE AVAILABILITY OF OTHER SO HOSPITALS IN NEW JERSEY ARE CUTTING BACK ON THEIR USE.

A HOSPITAL THAT HAS SEEN A NUMBER OF COVID-19 PATIENTS DOUBLE OVER THE LAST WEEK.

DOCTORS ARE USING A NEW ANTIBODY TREATMENT FROM GLAXOSMITHKLINE BUT THEY ARE SAVING IT FOR HIGH RISK PATIENTS.

AND SOME ARE HOPEFUL THAT SUPPLY CHAIN IMPROVEMENTS PLUS THE COMING ADDITIONS OF ANTIVIRAL COVID-19 TREATMENTS WILL RELIEVE THE PRESSURE BUT FOR NOW HE URGES PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED AND BOOSTED.

>> WHAT I AM SEEING, THE PEOPLE THAT I AM TREATING, THOSE THAT ARE VACCINATED HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF LEAVING THE HOSPITAL.

SO GIVEN THAT THE ANTIBODIES ARE LIMITED TREATMENTS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET IMMUNIZED AND GET YOUR BOOSTER.

THAT WILL PROTECT YOU.

FOR THIS VARIANT, WHO KNOWS, AND MAYBE MORE TO COME.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE DECIDED TO TEMPORARILY SHIFT TO REMOTE LEARNING AFTER THE HOLIDAY BREAK AND THE POWERFUL TEACHERS UNION HAS COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF THAT DECISION CITING CURRENT COVID- 19 CONDITIONS.

THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION ALSO SAYS THAT EVERY DISTRICT SHOULD LOOK CAREFULLY AND HONESTLY AT THE DATA AND MAKE THE DECISION THAT BEST PROTECTS THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF STUDENTS AND STAFF.

THIS WEEK SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN CAMDEN AND NEW BRUNSWICK ANNOUNCE PLANS TO SHIFT TO REMOTE LEARNING JOINING SEVERAL OTHER DISTRICTS.

IN HUDSON COUNTY SIX DISTRICTS ARE GOING REMOTE INCLUDING HOBOKEN, MALONE AND NORTH BERGEN AMONG OTHERS.

SOME ARE GOING REMOTE FOR A FEW DAYS AND OTHERS ARE PLANNING TO KEEP KIDS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM FOR UP TO TWO WEEKS.

WE ARE ABOUT TO END YOUR TWO OF THE PANDEMIC AND ENTER YEAR THREE.

2021 BEGAN WITH THE ARRIVAL OF NEW CORONAVIRUS VACCINES BUT IT IS ENDING WITH AN EXPLOSION OF NEW COVID-19 CASES.

OUR HEALTHCARE REPORTER HAS BEEN COVERING IT ALL AND JOINS ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE PROGRESS MADE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 AS WELL AS THE CONCERNS THAT WILL CARRY INTO THE NEW YEAR.

YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING THE PANDEMIC SINCE THE BEGINNING AND WE ARE ENTERING ANOTHER YEAR OF COVID-19.

WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST DEVELOPMENT YOU THINK?

AND WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED ABOUT COVID-19 IN 2021?

>> IT HAS BEEN A LONG 20 WHATEVER MONTHS.

I FEEL LIKE VACCINES AND THE VARIANTS ARE BIG STORIES.

WE STARTED GETTING VACCINES AT THE END OF 2020 BUT THEY DID NOT REALLY TAKE OFF IN THE MAINSTREAM POPULATION UNTIL 2021.

IT WAS VERY HARD TO GET ONE AT THE BEGINNING AND THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION AND FRUSTRATION OVER ACCESSING THE SHOTS.

WE EVENTUALLY GOT TO WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE.

AND THEN CAME THE VARIANCE.

AND WE LEARNED THAT THE VACCINE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH AGAINST THE VARIANTS AND THERE IS THIS WHOLE EVOLUTION OF THE VIRUS GLOBALLY.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS TO US IN NEW JERSEY AND HOW CHANGES IN WHETHER THEY ARE IN SOUTH AFRICA OR THE UK OR WHEREVER IMPACT IS HERE AT HOME.

>> SO I AM GOING TO ASK YOU THE QUESTION THAT EVERYONE ASKS.

WHY CAN WE NOT BE DONE WITH THIS YET?

>> I WISH WE WERE.

I THINK EVERYBODY IS REALLY TIRED OF IT.

FOR ONE, VACCINATION RATES ARE NOT AS HIGH AS THEY NEED TO BE TO REDUCE THE SPREAD.

AND WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SPREAD IT'S NOT JUST THE DAILY CASE COUNTS THAT ARE NOW IN THE 20,000S IN NEW JERSEY.

IT IS THE IMPACT THAT HAS ON THE SYSTEM AND THAT MEANS, FOR PEOPLE WHO GET VERY SICK, GOING TO THE HOSPITAL BUT WE ARE ALSO HAVING ISSUES AT HOSPITALS AND ISSUES WITH TRANSIT.

ALL KINDS OF SYSTEMS ARE NOT WORKING WELL ENOUGH BECAUSE OF BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GETTING SICK ALL OF THE TIME.

SO WE ARE NOT DONE WITH THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT YET GOTTEN TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN CONTROL IT AND LIVE WITH IT.

AND THE TRUTH IS, WE ARE GOING TO BE LIVING WITH IT.

>> LOOKING AHEAD TO 2022, SOME COUNTRIES ARE TALKING ABOUT A POTENTIAL FOURTH BOOSTER SHOT.

DO YOU THINK THAT CONVERSATION WILL COMPARE?

>> I THINK THERE WILL BE A QUESTION ON IF WE NEED REGULAR SHOTS LIKE WE DO WITH THE FLU.

I THINK THE FACT THAT WE ARE STILL GETTING NEW VARIANTS AND WE ARE LEARNING HOW THE VACCINES EVOLVE A.

THERE IS NO DATA SET THAT GOES BACK MORE THAN TWO YEARS AND EVERYTHING IS SHORT-TERM SO WE DO NOT KNOW HOW THEY WORK OVERTIME.

WE ARE STILL LEARNING A LOT BUT I THINK THERE WILL BE MORE SHOTS.

THAT IS STILL A BIG TBD BUT IT WILL BE WITH US.

WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE PROTECTIONS IN SOME WAY OR SHAPE IN THE FUTURE.

>> THANK YOU, FOR YOUR TIME.

>>> COME JANUARY 1, MINIMUM WAGE IS INCREASING IN NEW JERSEY.

PART OF THE LONG RAMP UP TO $15 PER HOUR.

AS OF SATURDAY MINIMUM WAGE GOES UP TO $13 PER HOUR.

SOME SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SAY THIS WILL HURT THEIR OPERATIONS.

THEY SAY MINIMUM WAGE IS NOT ENOUGH TO LIVE OFF OF IN NEW JERSEY RIGHT NOW.

DAVID CRUISE LOOKS AT BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY.

TRUCK IT HAS NEVER BEEN EASY TO MAKE A GO OF IT ON MINIMUM WAGE BUT FOR PEOPLE OF A CERTAIN AGE TO REMEMBER THE $.38 PER HOUR MINIMUM WAGE OF MY COLLEGE DAYS, THE IDEA OF A $13 PER HOUR MINIMUM WAGE SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING YOU COULD LIVE ON UNTIL YOU DO THE MATH.

>> YOU SIMPLY CAN'T.

YOU NEED A SPOUSE THAT IS EARNING AT LEAST MINIMUM WAGE AND THAT STILL DOES NOT DO IT.

THE CALCULATORS THAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM VARIOUS SOURCES SAY YOU NEED TO BE IN THE MID $70,000 YEAR RANGE TO SURVIVE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> OR AROUND $18 PER HOUR FOR A SPOUSE.

ONE WOMAN IS HAVING A HARD TIME KEEPING EMPLOYEES.

>> SO YOU SAY IT IS ONE DOLLAR PER HOUR.

IT IS $200 PER MONTH AND $1000 DEPENDING ON HOW MANY EMPLOYEES YOU HAVE AND YOU CAN ONLY GET SO MUCH MONEY FROM YOUR CUSTOMERS AND STILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN YOUR CUSTOMER BASE.

AT SOME POINT THEY WILL SAY, IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE.

I DON'T NEED THAT SERVICE FOR THAT PRODUCT.

>> I TALKED TO ONE PLACE AND KITCHEN DISHWASHERS WERE MAKING UP TO FIVE DOLLARS PER HOUR.

SO WHERE DOES IT STOP?

HOW IS THIS ALL GOING TO COME TOGETHER?

WHAT ARE THE EFFECT OF INFLATION GOING TO BE FOR EVERY CONSUMER IN NEW JERSEY?

>> I HAVE HAD TO CUT MY CELL RIGHT IN HALF TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM PAYING MY TEAM ENOUGH TO KEEP THEM WORKING AND TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE BEING PAID PROPERLY.

>> Reporter: THERE IS A NEW REALITY IN THE LABOR MARKET.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT A LONG- TERM PERIOD WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE LABOR SHORTAGES.

THAT IS PUSHING UP WAGES AND IT MAY MAKE THE MINIMUM WAGE LEVELS THAT ARE BEING ESTABLISHED GOING FORWARD IN 2022 AND BEYOND COMPLETELY OBSOLETE.

THE MARKET MAY HAVE SURPASSED THAT IN TERMS OF WHAT PAY IS ESTABLISHED BY MANY DIFFERENT CORPORATIONS AND COMPANIES.

SIX MONTHS AGO, EVERYBODY -- THERE WERE TRANSITORY SUPPLY PROBLEMS.

THEY WOULD SAY, WE WILL COME OUT OF IT SOON BUT WE HAVE NOT.

AND NOW, INFLATION SEEMS TO BE SPREADING THROUGHOUT VARIOUS PARTS OF THE ECONOMY.

AND THAT ITSELF REALLY WARRANTS A RE-EXAMINATION OF THE LEGISLATION AND HOW IT SHOULD BE MONITORED AND CHANGED GOING FORWARD.

>> IT GIVEN HOW MUCH IT TOOK TO GET TO $13 PER HOUR, THAT WOULD MEAN RESTARTING IT DIFFICULT, IF NECESSARY, CONVERSATION.

I AM DAVID CRUISE, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THERE IS AN INCREASE IN CHILDREN WITH ELEVATED LEVELS OF BLOOD LEAD IN THEIR BLOOD.

CHILDREN ARE SPENDING ADDITIONAL TIME AT HOME DURING THE PANDEMIC WHERE THEY MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO LEAD PAINT.

WE ARE SEEING KIDS SKIPPING YEARLY CHECKUPS AND NOT GETTING TESTED FOR LEAD EXPOSURE.

LEADING HEALTH OFFICIALS AND ADVOCATES TO URGED CHILDREN TO GET SCREENED.

JOANNA REPORTS ON THE HEALTH RISK.

>> Reporter: LEAD SCREENINGS ARE DOWN AND SO THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN THAT WERE NOT TESTED IN 2020.

THERE IS CONSENSUS THAT IS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

>> Reporter: COVID-19 HAS CAUSED MANY PARENTS TO SKIP ANNUAL CHECKUPS AND THAT MEANS LESS KIDS BEING TESTED FOR LEAD EXPOSURE.

THAT COMES FROM 2020.

EVEN WITH THE SCREENING DECREASE, THERE HAVE BEEN AN INCREASE IN KIDS WITH ELEVATED LEAD LEVELS IN THEIR BLOOD.

>> THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT KIDS ARE SCREEN FOR RED PAINT LEAD PAINT.

RESIDENTIAL HOMES ARE THE LEAST INSPECTED PROPERTIES WHERE CHILDREN SPEND A LOT OF TIME.

SO, AS CHILDREN ARE SPENDING MORE TIME IN HOMES AND LESS TIME IN REGULATED SPACES, THE RISK GOES UP.

ONE REQUIRES TESTING FOR LEAD IN RENTAL HOMES.

>> THE NEW LAW WILL REQUIRE REGULAR INSPECTIONS OF RENTAL UNITS.

ALL LANDLORDS IN NEW JERSEY THAT OWN HOUSES BUILT BEFORE 1978 ONE LEAD WAS TAKEN OUT OF PAIN WILL HAVE TO TEST THEIR HOMES AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM BEFORE THEY CAN ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT.

>> Reporter: A FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN FINES BUT THEY SAY THAT HOMES MAKE UP 75% OF LEAD EXPOSURE FOR KIDS.

>> ABOUT 71% OF THE HOUSING IN NEW JERSEY WAS BUILT PRIOR TO 1978 AND IT IS NOT JUST THE PAINT CHIPS.

IS THE DUST FROM OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS.

DUST FORM SENATE GETS EVERYWHERE.

AND CHILDREN HAVE MOUTH BEHAVIORS.

>> Reporter: MEANING THEY PUT THINGS IN THEIR MOUTH AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SOME PARENTS AREN'T EVEN AWARE OF.

THEY SAY WIPING WITH A WET RAG CAN GET RID OF THE DUST BUT THERE ARE DISPARITIES IN TERMS OF WHO IS MOST AFFECTED.

IT IS HITTING MINORITIES IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING THE HARDEST.

>> THIS IS A GROUP IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE POWER TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES.

SO HOW DO YOU HELP THESE THAT ARE AT THE GREATEST RISK UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE?

>> IT IS A CONTINUING CHALLENGE.

THE STATE PUBLISHES AN ANNUAL REPORT OF THE RESULTS OF LEAD SCREENING IN NEW JERSEY.

WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT PUBLICIZED.

AND HAVE IT SENT TO EACH CITY MAYOR AND THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT EVERY YEAR.

PICTURE THAT FAMILIES ARE AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF LEAD POISONING.

>> Reporter: IT IS A DANGER TO THE SYSTEM BUT AS A NEUROTOXIN AND CAN WREAK HAVOC ON NEUROLOGICAL TESTING.

>> IT CAN IMPACT THE MEMORY AND WHETHER OR NOT A CHILD MIGHT BE HYPERACTIVE OR HAVE DIFFICULTY RETAINING INFORMATION.

>> Reporter: IT CAN AFFECT BOYS DIFFERENT THE GIRLS.

>> IN BOISE, AND WIRE KIDS FOR LACK OF IMPULSE CONTROL.

TO SIT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME TO LEARN OR HANDLE THEIR EMOTIONS.

THIS IMPACTS THEIR ABILITY TO WORK AND KEEP A JOB.

TRUCK CHILDREN ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TESTED AT AGES ONE AND TWO.

MOST LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS OFFER THE TESTING FREE.

I AM JOANNA GAGIS , NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> MANY AIRLINES ARE CANCELING FLIGHTS DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGES.

AND ONE AIRLINE WILL BE REDUCING ITS SCHEDULE OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

IT JETBLUE PLANS TO CANCEL 1300 FLIGHTS THROUGH JANUARY 13 AS CREWMEMBERS ARE GETTING SICK WITH COVID-19.

THEY SAID THE SCHEDULE CUTS WILL ALLOW THEM TO AVOID MAKING LAST-MINUTE CANCELLATIONS.

IT JETBLUE, DELTA AND AMERICAN HAVE CANCELED COLLECTIVELY MORE THAN 4000 FLIGHTS SINCE CHRISTMAS DAY.

>>> WHETHER IT IS THE REMAKE OF "WEST SIDE STORY" OR OTHER PRODUCTIONS, THERE IS A LOT OF CONTENT MADE IN NEW JERSEY.

THERE HAS BEEN A RESURGENCE IN FILMING THANKS TO TAX CREDITS TO FILM COMPANIES.

AS MORE SHOWS AND MOVIES ARE FILMED HERE, THAT HAS LED TO INCREASED REVENUE AND NEW JOBS.

AS WELL AS BRAGGING RIGHTS FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

WE HAVE THE DETAILS.

THIS HAS BEEN QUITE A YEAR IN NEW JERSEY WHEN IT COMES TO FILM AND MEDIA PRODUCTIONS.

WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE RESURGENCE THAT WE SAW THIS YEAR?

>> I KNEW THAT WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE GOING FOR NEW JERSEY RIGHT NOW WITH THE TAX CREDITS AND THE DEEP TALENT POOL THAT WE HAVE, AND THE THIRST AMONGST FILMMAKERS TO FILM IN NEW JERSEY, EVER SINCE THE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM WAS, CAME TO BE AND LEVELED THE PLAYING FIELD, WE KNEW WE WOULD DO WELL.

2020 CAME ALONG AND SHUT DOWN PRODUCTION COMPLETELY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

WE DID NOT KNOW HOW QUICKLY IT WOULD REVIVE THE INDUSTRY.

BUT IT REVIVED INSTANTLY.

IN 2021, FILMMAKERS CAME BACK WITH A SENDER AND WE HAVE HAD THE BEST YEAR IN OUR HISTORY.

WE HAD OVER HALF $1 BILLION OF REVENUE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF JOBS WERE CREATED HERE.

IT HAS BEEN, A HISTORIC YEAR.

JUST TREMENDOUS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND WHAT PEOPLE CAN GO OUT AND SEE THAT WAS FILMED IN NEW JERSEY?

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT "WEST SIDE STORY.

LOCAL >> THIS WAS HUGE FOR US.

IT CREATED HUNDREDS OF JOBS AND THAT WAS SUBSTANTIAL.

IT WAS VERY REMARKABLE.

THE WHOLE SHOOTING OF THAT PROJECT.

YOU COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT ANYWHERE ELSE LIKE THEY DID IN PATTERSON AND THE OLD MACY'S BUILDING.

SO, KUDOS TO THE CITY OF PATTERSON AND THE CITY OF NEWARK FOR THEIR COOPERATION.

AND THE MOVIE, IT IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

>> OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, ATLANTIC CITY FOR EXAMPLE, WAS A PROMINENT BACKGROUND IN, "BRUISED."

>> THAT WAS A NUMBER ONE STREAMING FILM WHEN IT WAS RELEASED A FEW WEEKS AGO ON NETFLIX.

THE COMPANY IS VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

AND IT WAS ENTIRELY FILMED IN NEW JERSEY AND I WILL MENTION, HALLE BERRY IS COMING BACK AGAIN.

THAT WAS HER DIRECTORIAL DEBUT AND THEN SHE WILL BE STARRING IN ANOTHER MOVIE.

>> ARE YOU IN TALKS WITH OTHER PRODUCTION HOUSES RIGHT NOW?

>> YES.

"THE EQUALIZER" CONTINUES TO FILM OFF AND ON IN NEW JERSEY.

THAT SHOW HAS BEEN SHOT A GREAT DEAL HERE.

AND THEN THERE IS ANOTHER ONE FROM MGM TELEVISION THAT WILL BE STREAMED ON NETFLIX.

FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NOT READ THAT, IT IS A BIG -- AND THEN WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED "RETREAT" AND THAT WILL BE FILMED IN VARIOUS STAGES IN JERSEY CITY.

SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> LOTS OF GOOD STUFF GOING ON.

THANK YOU, FOR TALKING WITH US STEVE ABOUT WHAT IS AHEAD.

>>> OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS STOCKS HAVE CLOSED AT RECORD HIGHS.

HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW THE MARKET PERFORMED TODAY.

THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT BUT HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG AND CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS WHERE WE KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS THAT IMPACTS THE GARDEN STATE.

THANK YOU, FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

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>>> I AM MILES AND THIS IS WHAT I WORK FOR.

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I NEED A HEALTH INSURER THAT HELPS ME GET THE CARE THAT I NEED FOR BOTH.

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