>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD, BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER, AND 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 HELLO AND WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, ACROSS THE STATE, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OUTDATED SERVICE LINES POSE A THREAT TO RESIDENTS POTENTIALLY DELIVERING WATER LACED WITH TOXIC LEAD RIGHT INTO THEIR HOMES.

3 YEARS AGO THE CITY OF NEWARK BECAME THE EPICENTER FOR LEAD CONTAMINATION, RESIDENTS HAD TO RELY ON BOTTLED WATER TO DRINK.

NOW IT IS A SUCCESS STORY, THE VICE PRESIDENT, KAMALA HARRIS VISITED TODAY TO TOUT THE CITY AS A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE NATION, PRAISING ITS WORK.

BUT, OTHER CITIES ARE ALSO IN DESPERATE NEED OF REPAIR.

THE WATER COMMISSION PLANS TO SPEND UP TO $50 MILLION TO REPLACE 7000 SUCH LIENS IN PASSAIC, CLIFTON AND PATTERSON AND MORE WORK WILL COME THANKS TO A LAW SIGNED BY PHIL MURPHY LAST JULY THAT REQUIRES EVERY SERVICE LINE IN THE STATE TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE DECADE.

THESE REPAIRS ARE COSTLY AND WITHOUT THE MONEY IN PLACE, MANY COMMUNITIES WILL STRUGGLE TO REPLICATE NEWARK'S SUCCESS.

BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> Reporter: KAMALA HARRIS IS NATIONWIDE TOUR TOUTING THE TRILLION DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE LAW CAME TO NEWARK, WHERE SHE HELD THE SINGULAR ACCOMPLISHMENT, REPLACING 23,000 SERVICE LINES, CARRYING WATER TO PEOPLE'S HOMES IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS, AN EFFORT SPEARHEADED BY THE MAYOR.

>> WE CAME HERE AT THE BEGINNING TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED HERE IN NEWARK AS AN EXAMPLE AND ROLE MODEL OF WHAT CITIES AROUND OUR COUNTRY ARE CAPABLE OF DOING.

>> PEOPLE TOLD US WE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO GET THIS DONE, THIS WAS IMPOSSIBLE, IT WOULD TAKE YOU 10 YEARS OR MORE, WITHOUT OUR COLLABORATION AND LEADERSHIP, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET TO THIS POINT, AND GOD'S GRACE, WE STARTED AT A VERY LOW POINT, IT IS GREAT AND EMOTIONAL TO END TODAY LIKE THIS.

>> Reporter: THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE CITY'S CORROSION CONTROL TREATMENT FAILED IN 2015, CITY LEADERS HANDED OUT FILTERS TO REPLACE THE OLD LINES, BUT THE CRISIS HIT CRITICAL MASS WHEN THOSE FILTERS WERE CRITICAL AND QUESTIONED BY THE EPA.

WORK TO REPLACE THE LINES KICKED INTO HIGH GEAR, NEWARK CAME UP WITH A WINNING RECIPE.

>> WHICH IS A NATIONAL RECIPE FOR SUCCESS, IT INVOLVES THREE THINGS, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THE MONEY, SECOND IS YOU CAN'T CHARGE CUSTOMERS A COST SHARE, MANY OF THEM CAN'T AFFORD IT, AND THIRD YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT WAITING FOR PROPERTY OWNERS TO GIVE YOU WRITTEN PERMISSION.

>> Reporter: WITH A $120 MILLION LOAN FROM ESSEX COUNTY, THEY DIDN'T CHARGE HOMEOWNERS FOR THE WORK, AND DIDN'T CONTRACT LANDOWNERS.

>> IT ALLOWS TENANTS AND RENTERS TO AUTHORIZE THIS WORK TO BE DONE.

AND I THINK THAT WAS A GAME CHANGER.

>> Reporter: PARTICIPANTS TOLD THE VICE PRESIDENT THE CITY ALSO WORKED HARD TO KEEP RESIDENCE IN THE LOOP.

>> THEY STOOD FOR HOURS, UPDATING ANY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS WE HAD.

>> WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THEY TURN ON THE FAUCET FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, THEY WEREN'T GOING TO DRINK A GLASS OF LEAD.

BACK CLEAN WATER ACTION, IT TOOK EIGHT MONTHS TO GET HER LINES REPLACED.

>> IT WAS A RELIEF, AS PARENTS OF CHILDREN, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE PROTECTED.

>> Reporter: THE PROBLEM IS A LOT BIGGER THAN NEWARK, IT IS STATEWIDE.

>> THE LEAD LINES ARE IN OLDER SECTIONS OF NEW JERSEY HOMES THAT WERE BUILT PRIOR TO THE 1980S, IN SOME CASES MUCH EARLIER.

AND THERE IS RED ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY HAS ABOUT 350,000 SERVICE LINES BUT THOSE ARE JUST THE ONES I KNOW ABOUT, TOWNS AND UTILITIES ARE STILL DOING INVENTORIES.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 5500 RESIDENTIAL LEAD SERVICE LINES AND THAT SERVICE IS ABOUT 7500 DIFFERENT FAMILIES.>> THE MAYOR SAYS MONEY IS THE PROBLEM, THE TOWN BORROWED $4 MILLION TO START REPLACING 7% OF THE LINES, HE ESTIMATES IT WILL TAKE $30 MILLION TO REPLACE ALL OF THEM.

>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD AT THE TIME, THAT'S WHY WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS, WE BELIEVE FINALLY WE CAN GET A PIECE OF THAT.

>> Reporter: A LAW SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR REQUIRES TO REMOVE EVERY LEAD LINE BY 2021, NEW JERSEY WILL RECEIVE $1 BILLION OVER 5 YEARS TO HELP PAY THE BILL.

BUT THE COST COULD BE MORE THAN DOUBLE, $2.3 BILLION.

>> WE WILL LEVERAGE THIS FEDERAL INVESTMENT AND ENSURE THAT FUNDING REACHES UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

>> Reporter: THANKFULLY GOVERNOR MURPHY AND THE LEGISLATURE HAVE $3 BILLION OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS AT THEIR DISPOSAL, SO THAT IS WHY NEW JERSEY FUTURE AND OUR PARTNERS ARE CALLING ON THEM TO DEDICATE $1.2 BILLION OF THAT TO THE WATER.

>> Reporter: NEWARK'S RECIPE WILL SERVE AS THE MASTER PLAN.

>> NOW FAMILIES AND CHILDREN WILL BENEFIT FROM THE WORK YOU DID HERE.

>>> SEVERAL NEW JERSEY TOWNS ARE DEALING WITH WATER CONTAMINATION FROM A GROUP OF TOXIC CHEMICALS, AND ONE RESIDENT HAS HAD ENOUGH.

CHANELLE HARRIS FILED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST HER TOWNSHIP AFTER RECEIVING A LETTER FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT ADVISING RESIDENTS THEY HAVE BEEN DRINKING CONTAMINATED WATER AND SHOULD USE BOTTLED WATER FOR DRINKING AND COOKING AND SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE ON DRINKING THE WATER.

SERVICES SUIT SEEKS COMPENSATION FOR THE BOTTLED WATER AND FOR THE MEDICAL EVALUATIONS AND ASKS THAT THE CONTAMINATED WELL THAT IS STILL OPEN TODAY BE CLOSED.

THE WATER DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF 34 COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEMS IN NEW JERSEY DEALING WITH THESE PROBLEMS.

>>> A STATE APPEALS COURT HAS UPHELD GOVERNOR MURPHY'S VACCINE MANDATE FOR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, TUESDAY POLICE UNION SUED THE ADMINISTRATION OVER THE MANDATE THAT WORKERS BE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED OR LOSE THEIR JOBS.

THERE IS NO TEST OUT OPTION AND THEY WILL HAVE TO BE UP TO DATE WITH VACCINATIONS BY MARCH 30.

THIS RULE WOULD AFFECT NEARLY 60% OF THE STATES CORRECTION OFFICERS WHO REMAIN UNVACCINATED.

THE STATE PBA SAYS THEY WILL APPEAL THE DECISION OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT, BUT EVEN THE GOVERNOR CREATED SOME CONTROVERSY THIS WEEK, BREAKING FROM THE CDC'S GUIDANCE BY ENDING MASKS IN SCHOOLS ON MARCH 7.

NOW SOME DISTRICTS ARE BREAKING FROM STATE GUIDANCE BY DOING AWAY WITH QUARANTINES ALTOGETHER FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED.

>> WHAT WE SAW RIGHT AFTER THE WINTER BREAK, WE SAW A SHARP INCLINE WITH THE VARIANT WHICH MOSTLY EVERYBODY DID, AND THEN WE SAW A SHARP DECLINE.

WE GOT TO A POINT WHERE WE FELT THE DECLINE WAS AT A POINT WHEN WE WERE HONESTLY EXCLUDING CHILDREN THAT WERE NOT GETTING SICK AT AN ALARMING RATE.

>> Reporter: A MAJOR CONCERN FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, OF THE MORE 3600 STUDENTS QUARANTINED THIS YEAR, MANY OF THEM DID NOT GET SICK YET WERE FIRST TO MISS TIME IN THE CLASSROOM, AND NOW THAT COVID CASES ARE THE LOWEST THEY HAVE EVER BEEN, HE IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE DECISION TO END THE QUARANTINES.

>> THAT WAY PARENTS AND GUARDIANS CAN CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO TAKE THE QUARANTINE AND RETURN ON DAY SIX OR THEY CAN EXTEND IT TO THE 10th DAY.>> MARLBORO IS IN THE FIRST DISTRICT TO END THE MANDATORY QUARANTINED.

WHILE THEY ENDED CONTRACT TRACING ALTOGETHER.

AND WITH MURPHY ENDING THE MASK MANDATE, MORE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE EXPECTED TO CHANGE QUARANTINE RULES AS WELL.

>> I THINK WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION.

>> MOUNT OLIVE SUPERINTENDENT IS ON BOARD WITH THE GUIDELINES, ALLOWING STUDENTS TO GO MUSCULUS NEXT MONTH, BUT HE'S NOT QUITE READY TO DROP THE MANDATORY QUARANTINE.>> THE CONCERNS ARE, ONE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT, WHETHER THE ANSWER IS TO STAY, AND THE SECOND THING IS THIS IS HARDLY POLITICIZED AND THERE'S A LOT OF EMOTION HERE.

THERE ARE PARENTS WHO DON'T WANT TO THE QUARANTINE AND THERE ARE PARENTS WHO DEFINITELY WANT THE QUARANTINES.

>> Reporter: IN JANUARY, THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATED THE GUIDANCE FOR QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION, RECOMMENDING ANYONE TO EITHER TRUST POSITIVE OR IS EXPOSED TO COVID POSITIVE PERSONS STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL FOR AT LEAST FIVE DAYS.

THAT FOLLOWED THE CDC'S DECISION TO CUT ISOLATION TIMES IN HALF.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GOVERNOR SAID SCHOOLS HAVE OPTIONS TO SHORTEN QUARANTINE AND IMPLEMENT A TEST TO STAY PROTOCOL, ADDING THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL BE REVISING THE GUIDE IS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO SCHOOLS AND EVALUATE THE MASKING POLICIES TO ENSURE THE MITIGATION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES REFLECT THE UNIQUE NEEDS AND CIRCUMSTANCES WITHIN THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.>> I'M VERY CONCERNED.

>> Reporter: ROBIN IS A SCHOOL NURSE, SHE IS RELIEVED THEY ARE KEEPING THE MANDATE AND CURRENT QUARANTINE GUIDELINES.

>> WHAT HAS WORKED IN SCHOOLS HAS KEPT SCHOOLS OPEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AND TO THINK THAT THEY ARE REMOVING THE MOST PROTECTIVE THINGS WE HAVE UNTIL WE HAVE A TIME OF SUSTAINED AND LOWERING OF TRANSMISSIBILITY IS WHAT CONCERNS ME THE MOST.

>> IT'S A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE AND THERE IS NO RIGHT ANSWER, THAT IS WHAT WE HAD ADVISED ALL ALONG, THE BEST THING PEOPLE CAN DO IS FOLLOW THE SCIENCE AND TRY TO ADHERE TO WHAT WILL BE PROTECTIVE AND BENEFIT PEOPLE MORE THAN THE LIKELIHOOD THAT IT WILL HURT PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH SOME DISTRICTS WILL BE ENDING THE MANDATORY QUARANTINE FOR CLOSE CONTACT TO COVID, FAMILIES ARE STILL URGED TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN HOME WHENEVER THEY ARE SICK.

>>> PFIZER IS PULLING ITS FDA REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE A TWO DOSE SHOT FOR KIDS UNDER FIVE, SAYING THEY WILL WAIT FOR DATA ON A THREE DOSE REGIMEN THAT IS BEING STUDIED.

SO FAR ABOUT 6.7 MILLION RESIDENTS AGE 5 AND UP HAVE COMPLETED THEIR PRIMARY SERIES COME CLOSE TO 2.9 MILLION ARE BOOSTED.

GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS BEEN COUNTING ON INCREASED CHILD VACCINATION TO RELAX STATE RESTRICTIONS.

HEALTH COMMISSIONER, SAT DOWN WITH SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUISE TO EXPLAIN HOW THE ADMINISTRATION MAKES ITS DECISION ON THOSE GUIDELINES.

>> I'VE GOT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THESE FOCUS GROUPS WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK AND HOW MUCH INVOLVEMENT DID YOU HAVE IN THAT?

>> WELL, WE HAVE ARRANGE ANYWHERE FROM A SPECIFIC ASSOCIATION TO FACEBOOK LIVE.

PRESENTATIONS.

AND I DO A LOT OF THEM, DR. FISHER, DR. MARGARET FISHER WHO IS THE SPECIAL ADVISOR TO US IN THE PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST, SHE DOES A LOT OF THEM.

AND WE HAVE DONE ALMOST 1000 DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

>> THOSE SOUND LIKE TOWN HALL TYPE MEETINGS AS OPPOSED TO FOCUS GROUPS WHICH IS WHAT THE TIMES REPORTED THIS WEEK.

ARE YOU SAYING THE PURPOSE OF THESE MEETINGS WAS TO INVOLVE STAKEHOLDERS?

AND HOW MUCH OF IT WAS INTENDED TO JUSTIFY OR CREATE A POLICY OF SAY KIDS REMOVING THEIR MASKS IN SCHOOL?

>> IT'S A COMBINATION, WE HAVE HAD FOCUS GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

AND LIKE I SAID, IT HAS BEEN PRIMARILY STAKEHOLDERS.

TO GET THEIR INPUT, TO HELP US MAKE BETTER DECISIONS, THAT AFFECT THEM.

DURING THIS SURGE, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SURGE, WE HAD MEETINGS WITH THE CEOS OF OUR HOSPITALS.

WE HAD WEEKLY MEETINGS IN FOCUS GROUPS WITH LONG-TERM CARE.

THE ASSOCIATION LEADS AND ALSO THE OWNERS AND MANAGERS OF LONG- TERM CARE.

YOU CAN CALL THEM FOCUS GROUPS.

WE MET WITH FUNERAL DIRECT, THEY HAD FUNERAL DIRECTORS WHEN WE WERE ANTICIPATING THE SURGE BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTIES WE HAD IN THE PAST.

TELL US WHAT YOU NEED.

TELL US THE PROBLEMS YOU ARE SEEING.

WE ALSO MET WITH LARGE ASSOCIATIONS TO ADVISE THEM NOT ONLY ARE WE GOING TO SEE A SURGE , BUT THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE 30% OF YOUR STAFF WILL BE OUT SICK.

THESE ARE ALL ONGOING MEETINGS.

>> SO, MOVING FROM PANDEMIC TO "END-DEMIC", WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WHEN WE HAVE A LOW LEVEL OF DISEASE, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE 1918 FLU EPIDEMIC, PANDEMIC THAT LOOKED VERY MUCH LIKE WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH WITH COVID.

THEY SAW SURGES OVER TIME, THEY SAW A SURGE IN 1918, 1919, 1920.

AND WE ARE STILL LIVING WITH SOME ASPECT OF THE SPANISH FLU.

THAT IS WHAT WE EXPECT TO SEE WITH COVID.

BUT WE ARE SO MUCH MORE PREPARED TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THOSE SURGES.

WE CAN SEE THEM COMING, AS WE LOOK AT OUR TALLY STORES, WE CAN SEE THEM COMING, WE CAN SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO EMERGENCY ROOMS FOUR.

AND WE CAN PREPARE LIKE WE DID FOR THIS LATEST SURGE AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE A LOW LEVEL OF DISEASE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH ON A DAY- TO-DAY BASIS.

AND GET TO WHAT WE CALL OUR NEW NORMAL.

>> AND THE REALITY IS THAT THAT IS SOMETHING NEW, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MONITOR COVID FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.>> LIKE WE DO WITH EVERY OTHER DISEASE, COVID IS PUT ON THE LIST.

>> TO SEE THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW, TUNE INTO CHAT BOX THIS WEEKEND AT SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:30 A.M.

IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THIS WEEK'S BIG POLITICAL HEADLINES, DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUISE ON NJ PBS.

THE SENATOR IS SETTLING INTO HIS NEW ROLE AS THE PRESIDENT AND HE SEEMS TO BE TAKING A MEASURED APPROACH TO HOT BUTTON ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP.

FROM NEW BILLS DEALING WITH THE STATES AFFORDABILITY TO A FEW OF THE GOVERNOR'S NOMINATIONS FOR SOME HIGH-PROFILE POSITIONS, SHE WENT ON THE RECORD WITH MICHAEL AARON TODAY TO TALK ABOUT HIS PRIORITIES.>> THANKS FOR JOINING US, I GUESS THE QUESTION THAT MOST PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE WOULD HAVE, HOW WOULD YOUR PRESIDENCY DIFFER FROM A STEVE SWEENEY PRESIDENCY?

CAN YOU ANSWER THAT?

>> WELL, HE'S A LOT TALLER THAN I AM.

JUST KIDDING.

I GUESS WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE HOW THAT IS DIFFERENT, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT STEVE DID, HE WAS AN EXCELLENT LEADER, HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE THE HOUSE FOR 12 YEARS, THE LONGEST IN HISTORY.

IF I CAN DO HALF AS GOOD, I WOULD BE HONORED.

BUT I THINK WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO DO MORE -- LESS IS MORE.

A LITTLE BIT MORE SLOWER AND METHODICAL, TAKING OUR TIME, GIVING MEMBERS OF OUR CAUCUS AS WELL AS FOLKS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND INCREASING OUR MESSAGING AND MAKE SURE THE MESSAGE THAT WE WANT TO DELIVER TO FOLKS IS RECEIVED, WHEN WE DO A LOT OF STUFF ALL AT THE SAME TIME, SOMETIMES THINGS GET LOST IN THE TRANSLATION.

>> WHAT IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY GOING FORWARD?

>> I THINK THE TOP PRIORITY FOR THE STATE AND FOR OUR CAUCUS IS AFFORDABILITY IN NEW JERSEY.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WRESTLING WITH AFFORDABILITY PROBLEMS, PROPERTY TAXES, WAGES, THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE WANT TO ADDRESS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

DOING THAT IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR FIRST REAL BOARD LIST, WE ONLY HAVE EIGHT BILLS ON THE AGENDA AND FOUR OF THEM ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPUBLICANS.

>> YOUR REPUBLICAN COUNTERPART WANTS TO GIVE THE GROSS RECEIPTS TAX THE STATE HAS BEEN SIPHONING OFF FOR YEARS BACK TO AND HIS APOLOGIES, ABOUT $1 BILLION PER YEAR, TO HOLD DOWN PROPERTY TAXES, DOES THAT SEEM LIKE A GOOD IDEA?

>> WE HAVE TO DELVE INTO THAT A LITTLE MORE CAREFULLY BECAUSE IF YOU TAKE THAT OFF THE STATE BUDGET, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY WAY TO REPLACE IT, THAT MIGHT BE PROBLEMATIC FOR THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DOING THAT WITH THE ENERGY RECEIPTS AND THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY PASSED THE BILL SIMILAR TO THAT.

NOT QUITE AS LARGE.>> YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF NOMINATIONS THAT ARE HIGH-PROFILE THAT YOU ARE LOOKING TO CONFIRM.

FOR THE STATE SUPREME COURT, THE NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL, ARE YOU GOING TO TRY TO GET THOSE DONE?>> WELL, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE.

BOTH OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, I KNOW MORE ABOUT MR. PLATKIN , BUT BASED UPON HIS SKILLS THAT HE EXHIBITS DURING HIS TIME WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, I THINK HE HAS GROWN A LOT SINCE THAT TIME AND HELPED STEER US THROUGH THE PANDEMIC THAT NO ONE HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE.

I THINK HE MAY BE READY FOR THE JOB, WE JUST HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.>> WE WILL BE WATCHING YOU, THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>>> IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT, THIS WEEK 50 COMMUNITIES IN NEW JERSEY WERE DESIGNATED FOOD DESERTS BY THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, REGIONS WHERE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD IS LIMITED.

AND NOW $240 MILLION HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM.

THE FUNDING COMES FROM THE FOOD DESERT RELIEF ACT THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW LAST JANUARY AND OFFERS FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO SUPERMARKETS AND GROCERY STORES THAT COMMIT 90% OF THEIR STORE TO FOOD PRODUCTS AND THAT EXCEPT NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS LIKE SNAP AND WICK.

THE COMMUNITIES NAMED INCLUDE CAMDEN, NEWARK, TRENTON AND PATTERSON.

AND HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW THE MARKETS CLOSED FOR THE WEEK.

AND MAKE SURE YOU TUNE INTO NJ BUSINESS BEAT WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER, SHE PUTS THE STATE OF BLACK BUSINESSES IN FOCUS, HIGHLIGHTING THE PROGRESS MADE FROM BUSINESS OWNERS, THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE GAINING FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND HOW OWNERS ARE EMPOWERING EACH OTHER.

CHECK IT OUT SATURDAY AT 5:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 9:30 A.M. >>> AS WE HONOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK PEOPLE IN AMERICA DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, TODAY WE TAKE ON THE TOPIC OF RACISM AND WHETHER THE NORTHERN PART OF OUR NATION HAS ANY CLAIM TO BEING LESS RACIST THAN THE SOUTH.

IT'S AN ISSUE THAT PRINCETON PROFESSOR PERRY DEALS WITH IN HER BOOK SOUTH TO AMERICA, TO UNDERSTAND THE SOUL OF A NATION.

SHE JOINS ME NOW.

YOU WRITE THAT RACISM IS OFTEN COMMONLY THOUGHT OF AS BELONGING TO THE SOUTH, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> I THINK GENERALLY WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE SOUTH, THEY DESCRIBE IT AS A PLACE THAT IS MORE RACIST, A REFERENCE TO HISTORY OF SLAVERY AND JIM CROW, AND IN GENERAL, IT IS THE PLACE THAT IS CONSIDERED THE KIND OF BAD PLACE , FOR LACK OF A MORE PRECISE TERM WHEN IT COMES TO THE RELATIONS OF RACE.

WE HAD ALL THOSE IMAGES IN OUR MINDS, PARTICULARLY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLE AND THOSE HAVE BECOME CODIFIED IN THE PUBLIC.>> IN NEW JERSEY WE ARE IN HIM ONE OF THE MOST RACIALLY DIVERSE STATES IN THE NATION.

PEOPLE SOMETIMES LOOK AT THAT AND SAY WELL RACISM ISN'T OUR PROBLEM OR ISN'T A PROBLEM HERE.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IS MISGUIDED THINKING?

>> IT IS ABSOLUTE IT MISGUIDED TO THINK OF RACISM ISN'T A PROBLEM IN NEW JERSEY AND A PART OF THAT, FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND IT HAS TO DO WITH PEOPLE NOT REMEMBERING THE HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY ITSELF, NEW JERSEY IS DISTINCT FOR HAVING A MUCH LONGER HISTORY OF SLAVERY.

IT HAS THE LAST GRADUAL EMANCIPATION ACT OF 1804 AND THERE CONTINUE TO BE PEOPLE BORN INTO SLAVERY IN THAT YEAR AND SUBSEQUENTLY THROUGH THE 1830S, PEOPLE WHO ARE ENSLAVED IN SOME FORM OR ANOTHER IN NEW JERSEY.

SO THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY IS LONGER IN NEW JERSEY THAN OTHER PLACES AND THERE WAS ALSO HISTORY OF FORMS OF JIM CROW.

EVEN SEGREGATION THAT JAMES BALDWIN DESCRIBED WHEN HE VISITED NEW JERSEY AND PRINCETON SPECIFICALLY IN THE MID-20TH CENTURY.

AND WE SEE THE RESIDUE OF THAT, THERE'S PERSISTENT RACIAL INEQUALITY, PERSISTENT SEGREGATION IN NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS, SO IT IS A MISUNDERSTANDING THAT CAN OFTEN IMPEDE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS INEQUALITY IN THE STATE.

>> DO YOU SEE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY THAT RACE IS DEALT WITH, IS DISCUSSED BETWEEN THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH?>> I THINK IN THE PUBLIC ARENA THERE ARE MORE OPEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT RACE OFTEN IN NORTHERN STATES.

BUT, IN ANY CASE, THERE'S OFTEN A RESISTANCE TO THE KIND OF POLICY EFFORTS THAT WOULD REALLY MAKE THESE STATES EQUITABLE.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS I CAUTION PEOPLE IS NOT TO LOOK, THERE'S A LOT TO LOOK AT THAT IS VERY CONCERNING AND SOUTHERN STATES CURRENTLY, BUT IT'S ALSO THE CASE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY INCLUDING NEW JERSEY THAT EACH PLACE HAS ITS OWN VERSION OF RESISTANCE TO REALLY HAVING THE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AND REALLY HAVING THE POLITICAL WILL TO TRANSFORM THINGS.

>> YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING BACKGROUND WHERE YOU WERE BORN IN ALABAMA BUT GREW UP IN MASSACHUSETTS, PUT IN FOCUS FOR US ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO REGIONS IN YOUR MIND.

>> I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT IN MY OWN EXPERIENCE IS THAT I WAS BORN IN ALABAMA, I MOVED TO MASSACHUSETTS AND THE BOSTON AREA SPECIFICALLY RIGHT AFTER IT HAD ONE OF THE MOST HORRIBLE BUSING CRISES IN THE NATION.

SO I MOVED TO A PLACE THAT WAS TEEMING WITH RACISM.

AND I WAS LEAVING A PLACE THAT HAD, WHILE CERTAINLY EQUAL, HAD A NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CIVIL RIGHTS BATTLE.

SO MY EXPERIENCE AS SOMEONE WHO CAME OF AGE IN THE 70s AND 80s WAS THAT AUSTIN WAS MORE AGGRESSIVELY RACIST THAN ALABAMA.

AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WAS THIS CHARACTERIZATION OF MASSACHUSETTS AND BOSTON AS VERY LIBERAL.

SO IT MADE ME A PERSON WHO WAS CRITICAL ABOUT HOW PLACES WERE DESCRIBED AND TENDED TO OBSERVE WHAT WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE WITH THE STORY AND THE TRUTH NOT MATCHING UP EASILY.

>> YOU WROTE THE BOOK BREATHE AS WELL, THAT'S MORE OR LESS A LETTER TO YOUR SONS, DESCRIBE YOUR ATTENTION WITH THAT BOOK.

>> I WANTED TO TAKE HEAD ON THIS DESCRIPTION THAT I HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT IT MUST BE SO HARD TO RAISE BLACK BOYS IN THIS COUNTRY AND I WANTED INSTEAD FOR PEOPLE TO FOCUS ON THE JOY AND THE BEAUTY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF RESILIENCE NOTWITHSTANDING STEREOTYPE, NOTWITHSTANDING INEQUALITY.

IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO MAKE CLEAR THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN ARE PRECIOUS AND OUR ABILITY TO RAISE THEM IS ALWAYS A GIFT NOTWITHSTANDING THE DIFFICULTIES.

>> SO BEAUTIFULLY SAID, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS AND CHECK US OUT ON OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS WHERE WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS THAT IS IMPACTING THE GARDEN STATE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS WEEK, WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY.>> MGM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, AND THE PSEG FOUNDATION.