FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE.

AND THE PSEG FOUNDATION.

FROM NJ PBS.

THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> HELLO.

WELCOME TO SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

I'M RAVEN SANTANA IN FOR BRIANA ME THE VANNOZZI.

TENANTS WHO DIDN'T PAY RENT FROM MARCH 2020 THROUGH THE END OF 2021 AND WHO MET CERTAIN CRITERIA WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTED FROM GETTING KICKED OUTS OF THEIR HOMES.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE FOR EVERYONE.

ATTORNEYS ARGUE SOME JUDGES ARE MISINTERPRETING THE LAW.

AND DECLINING TO DISMISS CASES THAT SHOULD BE THROWN OUT.

TENANTS ARE BEING EVICTED WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T BE.

RENT OWED DURING THAT COVERED PERIOD CANNOT BE USED TO EVICT A TENANT.

SO WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>>> THE TENANTS DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE.

>> ATTORNEY CATHERINE WISE IS TALKING ABOUT A CAMDEN COUNTY MOM OF THREE WHO LIKE MANY NEW JERSEYIANS LOST HER JOB IN THE PANDEMIC AND FELL BEHIND ON RENT.

A NEW STATE LAW SHOULD SHIELD HER FROM EVICTION.

BUT CLAIMS THE COURT COMPLETELY BOTCHED HER CASE AND ENTERED AN EVICTION ORDER ANY WAY.

AND SHE'S NOT ALONE ADVOCATES SAY.

>> THE COURTS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND THE NEW STATUTE.

AND TO APPLY THE NEW PROCEDURES IN A CONSISTENT AND LEGAL WAY.

>> WEISS AND A COALITION OF 20 ADVOCATES FILED A BRIEF.

BUT NOT JUST TO HELP THE CAMDEN TENANT APPEAL HER EVICTION CASE.

THEY'RE USING IT AS AN EXAMPLE AND ASKING JERSEY'S APPELLATE COURT TO RECOGNIZE IT FACES A CRISIS OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.

THE BRIEF STATES THE NUMBER OF PROCEDURAL MISTAKES IN THIS CASE COULD LEAD LITIGANTS TO ASSUME THAT EVICTIONS CAN AND WILL GO FORWARD REGARDLESS OF THE RULES.

>> IF THE COURT DOESN'T PAY ATTENTION, THEN THE TENANT STANDS AT VERY GREAT RISK OF EVICTION.

WHETHER OR NOT THE PAPERS THAT WERE FILED MEET LEGAL STANDARDS.

>> THE LAW IS VERY CLEAR.

THE WORDS IN THE LAW ARE CLEAR.

BUT IT IS NEW AND IT IS DIFFERENT.

AND IT SOMETIMES TAKES COURTS AND OTHER ENTITIES A WHILE TO FIGURE OUT JUST HOW TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> SETON HALL'S DIANE SMITH ROTE A REPORT WITH RUTGERS LAW CAMDEN.

THE POTENTIAL IMPACT DEVASTATING WITH 50,000 EVICTION CASES PENDING THIS YEAR.

>> 98% OF TENANTS DO NOT HAVE ATTORNEYS.

WHILE 85% OF LANDLORDS IN EVICTION COURT DO HAVE ATTORNEYS.

>> THE NEW EVICTION LAW PROTECTS TENANTS WHO MEET CERTAIN INCOME REQUIREMENTS, SUFFERED ECONOMIC LOSS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, FILED A CERTIFICATION, AND FELL BEHIND ON RENT FROM MARCH 2020 THROUGH AUGUST OF LAST YEAR.

AN EXTENSION ALSO SHIELDS RENTERS FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH DECEMBER 2021.

BUT IT REQUIRES THOSE TENANTS TO ALSO FILE FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

JOSE ORTIZ IS WITH ESSEX NEWARK LEGAL SERVICES.

>> WE'RE SEEING EVICTION JUDGMENTS BEING AGAINST TENANTS FOR THE COVERED PERIOD.

WHERE THEY SHOULD NOT BE EVICTED UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> MANY TENANTS LACK COMPUTERS TO HANDLE VIRTUAL HEARINGS AND OFTEN GET LOST IN COURT PROCEDURES.

ONE CLIENT, A MOM WHOSE BABY WAS SICK MISSED AN APPOINTMENT AND TRIED TO RESCHEDULE.

>> THE RESPONSE SHE GETS BACK FROM THE TENANT COURT IS WAIT UNTIL YOU GET YOUR LOCK OUT NOTICE, WE CAN'T RESCHEDULE THE CASE.

AND THAT WASN'T THE INTENT OF THIS.

>> ORTIZ BELIEVES IT IGNORES THE SPIRIT OF REFORMS AUTHORIZED BY JERSEY'S SUPREME COURT LAST AUGUST, DESIGNED TO RESOLVE DISPUTES WITHOUT GOING TO TRIAL.

MEANWHILE, LANDLORD ATTORNEYS LIKE DEREK REID REPORT CASES GET ADDRESSED DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON THE JUDGE OR THE COUNTY.

>> THE ONLY CONSISTENT THING RIGHT NOW IS THE INCONSISTENCY.

SO I THINK WE CAN AGREE ON THAT.

BUT I WOULD SAY THAT A LOT OF THE INCONSISTENCIES I HAVE SEEN ARE DUE TO THE DETRIMENT OF PROPERTY OWNERS.

CASES THAT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED THAT SHOULDN'T BE DISMISSED AND PROPERTY OWNERS THAT HAVE GONE WITHOUT RENT NOW FOR TWO YEARS IN SOME INSTANCES.

>>> BUT NEW JERSEY'S ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURT SAYS IT'S CONVICTED REPEATED MANDATORY TRAINING FOR ALL CIVIL JUDGES ON LANDLORD TENANT MATTERS.

JUDICIAL DECISIONS ARE NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL.

JUDGES ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY REQUIRED TO MAKE AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT IN EACH PARTICULAR MATTER BASED ON THE FACTS PRESENTED TO THEM.

AS FOR THE CAMDEN MOM'S CASE, SHE HAS A LEGAL SERVICES ATTORNEY NOW.

AND HER EVICTIONS ON HOLD DURING APPEAL.

>> SHE'S A TENANT THAT'S COMPLETELY, IN OUR OPINION, PROTECTED BY THIS NEW LAW.

SO THIS CASE SHOULD BE DISMISSED.

>> HE EXPECTS A COURT RULING WITHIN A COUPLE MONTHS.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ISSUED A SCATHING REPORT AGAINST THE WOODLAND BEHAVIORAL AND NURSING CENTER DETAILING MULTIPLE ALLEGATIONS OF NEGLECT AND ABUSE.

AMONG THEM, THAT STAFF MADE NO EFFORT TO RESUSCITATE A PATIENT IN CARDIAC ARREST OR EVEN TO CALL 911.

IGNORED PATIENT'S CALLS FOR HELP.

AND FAILED TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF COVID.

WOODLAND WAS FORMALLY CALLED ANDOVER SUB ACUTE AND REHAB TOO.

THE SITE OF A MASSIVE COVID-19 OUTBREAK IN THE SPRING OF 2020 WHERE MORE THAN A DOZEN BODIES WERE FOUND IN A MAKESHIFT MORGUE.

THE NAME HAS CHANGED BUT ITS OWNERSHIP IS THE SAME.

IT'S ONE OF 15 NURSING HOMES IN NEW JERSEY THAT THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES RANKS WITH JUST ONE STAR.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS IT WILL NOW APPOINT A STATE MONITOR TO OVERSEE THE FACILITY.

JOINING ME NOW IS THE STATE'S LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN.

THIS REPORT INCLUDES A LONG LIST OF NEW VIOLATIONS.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO READING IT?

>> IT WAS PRETTY STUNNING.

YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN QUITE A FEW OF THESE TYPES OF REPORTS, ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS BEFORE.

THIS ONE HAD MULTIPLE IMMEDIATE JEOPARDIES.

VERY, VERY, VERY SERIOUS VIOLATIONS OF RESIDENT'S RIGHTS, TERRIBLE MEDICAL CARE.

REALLY STUNNING.

I HAVE TO SAY.

>> I MEAN, WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST TAKE AWAY FROM IT?

BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WAS A LONG LIST OF, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT WENT WRONG.

>> MY TAKE AWAY WAS THAT THERE WASN'T NECESSARILY A LOT IN THERE THAT COMES AS A TOTAL SHOCK TO THE SOME BUD MAN'S OFFICE.

THIS IS A VERY LARGE FACILITY I HAVE COMMITTED A LOT OF RESOURCES TO BEING IN THAT FACILITY.

BEING AVAILABLE TO THE RESIDENTS OF THAT FACILITY.

AND WE ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS A VERY PROBLEMATIC FACILITY.

THAT THERE WAS NOT SURPRISING TO US THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE DEFICIENCIES.

AND IT WAS NOT A SURPRISE THAT THEY WERE SERIOUS ONES.

>> WOODLAND, FORMERLY ANDOVER, WAS IN THE SPOTLIGHT TWO YEARS AGO FOR A MASSIVE COVID OUTBREAK.

WHY HAS IT CONTINUED TO REMAIN OPEN?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A FACILITY OF THIS SIZE, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE MORE THAN 450 PEOPLE LIVING THERE.

AND THIS IS THEIR HOME.

SO IT IS NOT A SIMPLE PROCESS OF SIMPLY SAYING WELL, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THIS FACILITY AND WE HAVE TO FIND SOME PLACE ELSE FOR THESE PEOPLE TO LIVE.

RIGHT?

THIS IS THEIR HOME.

AND SO DUE CONSIDERATION CERTAINLY NEEDS TO BE MADE TO CONTINUITY AND ALLOWING PEOPLE TO STAY IN THE HOME THAT THEY'RE LIVING IN IN THIS LONG- TERM CARE FACILITY.

I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS OVER THE YEARS AT THIS FACILITY.

I THINK PROBABLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS THE RESULT OF A COUPLE YEARS OF COVID, OF THE WIDESPREAD STAFFING CHALLENGES THAT WE EXPERIENCE ACROSS THE LONG-TERM CARE SYSTEM.

REALLY COMING TO A HEAD IN A PLACE LIKE WOODLAND.

IN A PLACE LIKE WOODLAND THAT IS IN A ROW MOTE AREA.

BUT IS EXTREMELY LARGE, IT'S THE LARGEST NURSING HOME IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

AND YET IT'S IN ONE OF THE LEAST POPULATED STATES, COUNTIES, IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

RIGHT?

SO YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THAT THERE AND YOU THINK YOU HAVE -- STATEWIDE YOU HAVE STAFFING CHALLENGES.

BUT IN A PLACE LIKE THAT, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO STAFF A FACILITY OF THAT SIZE FROM THE LOCAL LABOR POOL.

>> I MEAN, LORRIE, BACK TO YOUR POINT, THE REPORT SAYS THE FACILITY HAS 72 HOURS TO CORRECT THE VIOLATIONS.

IT'S BEEN FOUR DAYS SINCE IT WAS ISSUED.

DO YOU THINK THIS REPORT WILL CHANGE ANYTHING.

>> I ABSOLUTELY DO THINK THIS WILL CHANGE THINGS.

AND I THINK THAT THIS HAS FOCUSED A LOT OF ATTENTION ON THE CHALLENGE OF MANAGING THESE VERY LARGE INSTITUTIONS.

WHICH IS WHAT MANY OF OUR NURSING HOMES ARE IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

THEY ARE OPERATING AND FUNCTIONING AS LARGE INSTITUTIONS.

WOODLANDS IS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF HOW LARGE INSTITUTIONS IN THIS CURRENT ENVIRONMENT ARE UNMANAGEABLE.

THEY'RE DIFFICULT TO STAFF.

AND BASICALLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY CREATE INHUMANE CONDITIONS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE.

>> DO YOU THINK FUNDING SHOULD BE WITHHELD?

>> IF YOU'RE WITHDRAWING FUNDING, YOU'RE BASICALLY CLOSING THE FACILITY.

AND YOU NEED TO HAVE, AND I'M SURE THERE ARE, CONTINGENCY PLANS IN PLACE FOR SUCH A THING.

BUT CERTAINLY, AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE RESIDENTS LIVING THERE, THEY REALLY NEED TO BE GIVEN CHOICES THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

THEY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THIS PROCESS, RIGHT?

AND SO IF YOU PULL FUNDING COMPLETELY, THAT REALLY IS A PRETTY DRASTIC ACTION.

AND IT'S A BLUNT INSTRUMENT.

BUT I THINK THE THREAT OF THAT REALLY IS REAL IN THIS CASE.

>> LORRIE BREWER, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING US.

AND TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT.

>> HAPPY TO DO SO.

>> THE STATE SUPREME COURT HAS REJECTED THE REQUEST FROM A UNION REPRESENTING CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS TO BLOCK GOVERNOR MURPHY'S VACCINE MANDATE.

NOW, OFFICERS AT STATE PRISONS AND COUNTY JAILS MUST GET THEIR FIRST SHOTS BY TOMORROW.

AND NEED TO BE FULLY VACCINATED BY THE END OF MARCH.

OR COULD FACE LOSING THEIR JOBS.

THE SUPREME COURT'S REFUSAL TO HEAR THE CASE COMES AFTER A STATE APPEAL'S COURT UPHELD THE GOVERNOR'S MANDATE LAST WEEK.

IN A 5-2 DECISION, THE SUPREME COURT'S CHIEF JUSTICE WROTE THAT UNIONS DID NOT DEMONSTRATE THAT THE MANDATE WOULD CAUSE IRREPARABLE HARM OR THAT IT WAS IN THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST.

THE RULE AFFECTS NEARLY 60% OF THE STATE'S CORRECTIONS OFFICERS WHO REMAIN UNVACCINATED.

>>> THE PANDEMIC FORCED MANY CITIES INTO USING VIDEO CONFERENCING SOFTWARE LIKE ZOOM FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS.

AND ADVOCATES SAY VIRTUAL OPTIONS HAVE EXPANDED ACCESS TO PUBLIC MUNICIPAL MEETINGS.

BUT AS THE PANDEMIC SUBSIDES, SOME TOWNS ARE RETURNING TO IN- PERSON PUBLIC MEETINGS ONLY.

NOW, SOME RESIDENTS ARE CALLING FOR VIRTUAL MEETING OPTIONS TO BE EXPANDED AND MADE PERMANENT.

DAVID CRUZ REPORTS.

>>> ZOOM AND VIDEO CONFERENCING SERVICES LIKE IT HAVE BECOME AS MUCH A PART OF OUR DAILY LIVES AS FACE COVERINGS AND HAND SANITIZER.

AND WHILE YOU MAY BE HEARING TALK ABOUT ZOOM FATIGUE, THE FACT REMAINS THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC, ZOOM HAS MADE IT EASIER TO ATTEND CITY COUNCIL, PLANNING BOARD, AND OTHER PUBLIC MEETINGS.

>> ONE OF THE FEW SILVER LININGS FROM THE PANDEMIC WAS SEEING WHERE VIRTUAL SYSTEM REALLY ADDED TO WHAT THE CITY COULD DO.

AND IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY DOES LET PEOPLE PARTICIPATE.

AND SO MY IDEAL IS FOR US TO MOVE TO A HYBRID SYSTEM WHERE WE'RE MOVING IN PERSON AND PEOPLE CAN CALL IN TO THE CITY COUNCIL VIRTUALLY AND WATCH THE MEETINGS ONLINE.

AND I'M GOING TO WORK TOWARDS MOVING US TOWARDS THAT SYSTEM.

>> A RECENT MEEPTING ON CHANGES TO THE MUNICIPAL WARD MAPS DREW A HUNDRED PEOPLE IN JERSEY CITY.

ALMOST HALF IN ATTENDANCE VIRTUALLY.

UNHEARD OF FOR WHAT IS USUALLY MUNICIPAL ESOTERICA FOR GADFLYS.

IN PLACES LIKE HOBOKEN WHERE LOCAL MEETINGS ARE LEGEND FOR THEIR LENGTH AND VOLATILITY, THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT SAYS THE MORE PUBLIC ACCESS, THE BETTER.

>> THERE'S PROS AND CONS TO BOTH WAYS.

THE PROOF COURSE IS NUMBER ONE, WE KEPT EVERYONE SAFE.

THAT WAS THE MAIN FOCUS OF WHY WE DID IT.

BUT SECONDLY TO THAT, WE WERE ABLE TO REALLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE PARTICIPATION OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOT NECESSARILY IN THE CITY DURING OUR MEETING TIMES.

THEY WERE ABLE TO JUST KIND OF LOG ON TO THEIR ZOOM ACCOUNTS AND PARTICIPATE THAT WAY.

SO WE DID MAINTAIN A LARGE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS.

WHICH IS ALWAYS NICE TO SEE.

WE WANT AS MANY PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE AS POSSIBLE.

WITH OMICRON CASES SUBSIDING AND NO PUBLIC MEETINGS RETURNING TO IN-PERSON, SOME RESIDENTS ARE FINDING THAT ZOOM ACCESS IS BEING DISCONTINUED.

THIS RESIDENT AND CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WAS PART OF AN EFFORT TO ENFORCE THE CITY BY PUBLIC REFERENDUM INTO ALLOWING ZOOM ACCESS TO PUBLIC MEETINGS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL HERE REALLY HAMMERED HOME TO PEOPLE IS YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON.

AND THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO HOW INTERESTED YOU ARE.

AND I THINK PEOPLE JUST FOUND THAT OUT OF TOUCH AND REALLY TONE DEAF GIVEN WHAT'S GONE ON IN THE WORLD FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> MATT MORGAN RUNS AN ONLINE COMMUNITY GROUP WHERE HE SAYS RESIDENTS FLOCKED TO VIRTUAL MEETINGS.

>> WHEN THE MEETINGS WENT ONLINE, A LOT OF PARTICIPATION VIA ZOOM.

PEOPLE CALLING IN ONLINE, WRITING EMAILS TO BE READ AT MEETINGS.

BUT ALL THIS INCREASED ATTENTION SORT OF WENT BACKWARDS WHEN THE MEETINGS WENT IN PERSON.

THE TOWNSHIP USED TO HAVE TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK PUBLICLY AT THE MEETINGS.

THEY REDUCED THAT TO ONE.

AND THEY ALSO SHAVED TWO MINUTES OFF OF THE TIME FOR THAT REMAINING PORTION.

SO IT REALLY DIALED BACK THE AMOUNT OF PARTICIPATION THAT PEOPLE COULD HAVE.

>> I THINK THERE'S SOME SENSE THAT THERE'S A BENEFIT OF IN- PERSON AS WELL.

I MEAN NORMAN ROCK WELL IS NEVER GOING TO PAINT A PICTURE OF SOMEBODY WATCHING A COMPUTER SCREEN.

>> MIKE SARA OF THE LEGAL MUNICIPALITY SAYS A LOT OF TOWNS HAVE HAD THE ZOOM OPTION THRUST UPON THEM AND THAT THE LEARNING CURVE HAS BEEN A LITTLE STEEP.

>> YES.

I THINK THERE'S A LEARNING CURVE.

I THINK WE HAD A CRASH COURSE.

TWO YEARS AGO.

BUT I THINK IT'S ONGOING.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, AS WE CAN KIND OF GRAVITATE TOWARD NORMAL IS A BALANCE IN BETWEEN.

WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE IN- PERSON OPTION.

BUT THERE MIGHT BE OTHER WAYS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETINGS IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT IN PERSON.

>> JERSEY CITY AND HOBOKEN ARE WORKING ON A HYBRID SYSTEM FOR THEIR MEETINGS GOING FORWARD, ACTIVISTS POINT OUT THAT EVEN THE STATE'S SMALLEST TOWNS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL FUNDS THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT TO UPDATE AND UPGRADE THEIR TECHNOLOGY.

LEAVING REALLY NO EXCUSE FOR NOT WIDENING PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THE UNITED STATES IS EXPECTED TO EXPERIENCE AS MUCH SEA LEVEL RISE OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS AS THE NATION SAW OVER THE PAST CENTURY.

A NEW REPORT RELEASED TODAY BY NOAH PROJECTS SEAS WILL RISE AN AVERAGE OF 10 INCHES TO A FOOT NATIONWIDE BY 2050.

IT'S LIKELY THAT NEW JERSEY WHICH HAS SO FAR EXPERIENCED SEA LEVEL RISE AT ROUGHLY TWICE THE GLOBAL AVERAGE WILL SEE EVEN MORE.

THAT RISE WILL LIKELY MAKE FUTURE COASTAL FLOODING FROM HURRICANES AND STORMS MORE DANGEROUS.

IT'S ALSO EXPECTED TO GREATLY INCREASE THE FREQUENCY OF COASTAL FLOODING AROUND THE COUNTRY.

EVEN DURING CALM WEATHER WITHOUT ANY STORMS OR HEAVY RAINS.

THIS MORE FREQUENT AND LIKELY MORE INTENSE FLOODING IS A THREAT TO COASTAL ECONOMIES.

AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS COMMUNITIES FURTHER INLAND ACCORDING TO THE REPORT.

SEA LEVEL RISE IS DRIVEN BY CLIMATE CHANGE AND EXPERTS SAY SLASHING THE AMOUNT OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS WORLDWIDE IS CRITICAL TO KEEPING THE CHANGES FROM BEING MORE DRASTIC.

NEW JERSEY'S ECONOMY GETS A MAJOR BOOST AS REVENUES RISE.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER JOINS US WITH THE DETAILS AND ALL THE OTHER TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> RAVEN, AS THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION WORKS ON THE PROPOSED NEW STATE BUDGET, OFFICIALS WILL CONSIDER THE LATEST LOOK AT NEW JERSEY'S STATE REVENUES.

WE NOW HAVE THE JANUARY REPORT ON REVENUE COLLECTIONS FROM THE STATE TREASURY AND THE PICTURE LOOKS STRONG.

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OVER ALL, TOTAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS ARE UP MORE THAN 4 BILLION-DOLLARS OR NEARLY 22% ABOVE THE SAME SEVEN MONTHS IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.

THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN TAX COLLECTIONS IN ALL THE MAJOR CATEGORIES, THAT'S INCOME TAX, SALES TAX, AND THE CORPORATE BUSINESS TAX.

THE SALES TAX, THE LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE, INCREASED BY $187 MILLION.

A GAIN OF JUST OVER 16%.

THE JANUARY REPORT REFLECTS ACTIVITY IN DECEMBER, SO THOSE NUMBERS ARE PROOF OF A STRONG HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON.

THE TREASURY SAYS SOME MODERATION IN SALES TAX GROWTH IS EXPECTED IN FUTURE MONTHS.

INCOME TAX COLLECTIONS ALSO ROSE.

BUT OFFICIALS THERE EXPECTING MODERATION AS WELL.

AND THERE WAS A BIG JUMP IN CORPORATE BUSINESS TAX COLLECTIONS.

RUNNING ABOUT 30% HIGHER FISCAL YEAR TO DATE COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR.

A NEW JERSEY COMPANY HAS RECEIVED A 2 MILLION-DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT RESEARCH ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

THE FUNDING WENT TO NOKIA BELL LABS.

WHICH IS DEVELOPING THERMAL ENERGY ARCHITECTURE THAT WILL REDUCE DATA SERVER COOLING ENERGY AS WELL AS DELIVER BOTH HEATING AND COOLING TO BUILDINGS.

THE U.S. ENERGY SECRETARY, JENNIFER GRANDHOLM WAS IN NEW JERSEY YESTERDAY AND TOURED NOKIA BELL LABS WITH SENATOR BOB MENDEZ WHO SAID IF WE WANT TO STAY COMPETITIVE, CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENT IS A MUST.

>>> GLOBAL DEMAND FOR CLEAN ENERGY IS ON THE RISE.

AS NATIONS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR TOGETHER ACT TO COMBAT THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

IF WE HOPE TO PRESERVE OUR COMPETITIVE EDGE OVER CHINA, IF WE WANT MORE COMPANIES TO INVEST IN AMERICA, IF WE WANT THE 21st SEMPLEG 21st CENTURY TO BE ANOTHER AMERICAN CENTURY, THEN WE MUST BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE OUR BUSINESSES AND WORKERS NEED TO WIN.

>> A JERSEY CITY BASED CRYPTO CURRENCY FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY WILL PAY $100 MILLION IN A SETTLEMENT WITH NEW JERSEY AND FEDERAL SECURITIES REGULATORS.

NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS THE SETTLEMENT IS CONNECTED TO THE COMPANY'S OFFERS AND SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECRETARIES.

ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, MATT PLATKIN SAYS CRYPTO CURRENCY RELATED INVESTMENTS MAY OFFER INVESTORS SOMETHING NEW BUT HE SAYS THEY STILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES.

THEY DID NOT ADMIT TO OR DENY THE FINDINGS OF REGULATORS.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE DAY UNFOLDED ON WALL STREET.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

SPEEB SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY IBEW LOCAL 102.

PROUDLY SERVING NEW JERSEY'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1900.

LOCAL 102.

LIGHTING THE PATH.

LEADING THE WAY.

SUERS AS WE HONOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK PEOPLE IN AMERICA DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, TWO HISTORIANS FROM NEW JERSEY ARE TRYING TO PRESERVE BLACK HISTORY IN THE STATE'S THIRD LARGEST CITY.

IT'S ALL IN AN EFFORT TO GET PATTERSON'S UNDER GROUND RAILROAD STOP OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED AND MAINTAIN THE LEGACY OF TWO MEN WHO HELPED SLAVES ESCAPE TO FREEDOM.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

>> THERE ARE 695 UNDER GROUND NETWORKS TO FREE COME, UNDER GROUND RAILROAD SITES IN THIS COUNTRY IN 39 STATES.

WE WANT TO BE PART OF THAT WITH THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE TO HAVE AN ONGOING NARRATIVE.

>>> SO HISTORIAN AND RESEARCHER, JIMMY RICHARDSON IS CONTINUING HIS FIGHT TO GET THE CORNER RECOGNIZED BY THE NATIONAL UNDER GROUND RAILROAD, NETWORK TO FREEDOM.

THE SITE PAYS TRIBUTE TO JOSIAH HUNTOON.

A WHITE BUSINESS OWNER WORKING TOGETHER WITH A FREE BLACK MAN TO HELP SLAVES.

>> THE SITE OF JOSIAH HUNTOON'S SPICE MILL CALLED THE EXCELSIOR.

THIS IS THE FORMER HOME OF JOSIAH HUNTOON WHERE HIS BASEMENT WAS ALSO AN UNDER GROUND RAILROAD SITE.

OR A SAFE HOUSE.

SO WITH THE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER, IT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PLACE FOR ENSLAVED PEOPLE TO COME TO MOVE ON THE NEXT LEG OF THEIR ESCAPE.

>> THE IDEA OF WANTING TO GET THIS SITE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED DATES BACK TO THE 1990s.

THAT'S WHEN HIS GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER RESEARCHED AND ESTABLISHED HIS RELATIONSHIP AND WORK WITH HUNTOON.

>> SHE HAD DISCOVERED HIS PRESENCE ON THE CENSUS RECORD IN 1860.

AND PRESUMPTIVELY HE HAD BEEN WORKING ALL READY DURING THE PREVIOUS PERIOD AND CONTINUED TO WORK FOR HIM AFTER WORDS.

AND SINCE WE HAD KNOWLEDGE OF HUNTOON AS AN UNDER GROUND RAILROAD OPERATIVE DURING THAT PERIOD, IT SEEMED QUITE LOGICAL TO DEDUCE FROM THAT -- FROM HIS PRESENCE THAT THEY WERE COLLABORATING ON THE UNDER GROUND RAILROAD.

>> FIVE APPLICATIONS LATER, EFFORTS TO GET HUNTOON'S CORNER RECOGNIZED BY THE NATIONAL UNDER GROUND RAILROAD, NETWORK TO FREEDOM, HAVE ALL BEEN DENIED.

>> THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT.

SO I GUESS THE REAL ANSWER IS IT'S A GROWING AND WIDENING NARRATIVE THAT THEY REALLY WANT AN ANSWER TO.

AND I THINK IT REALLY HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT NORTH JERSEY IS REALLY UNDER REPRESENTED IN TERMS OF THE UNDER GROUND RAILROAD.

IT'S DOCUMENTED A LOT OF UNDER GROUND RAILROAD ACTIVITY REALLY TAKES PLACE IN THE SOUTH.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

IT HAPPENS TO BE NORTH JERSEY DOESN'T GET THE RECOGNITION BECAUSE THE RESEARCH HAS NEVER BEEN THERE.

>> HISTORIANS SAY A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT NEW JERSEY'S ROLE IN THE UNDER GROUND RAILROAD.

AND RECOGNIZING THE SITE WOULD HELP BRING SOME OF ITS IMPORTANCE TO LIGHT.

>> THE THREE SITES THAT ARE NOW UNDER GROUND RAILROAD SITES IN NEW JERSEY ARE ALL IN SOUTH JERSEY.

AND NORTH JERSEY PLAYED A ROLE IN THE UNDER GROUND RAILROAD, A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE UNDER GROUND RAILROAD.

NOT ONLY DID WE HAVE SITES THAT INCLUDED HOUSES, CHURCHES, THERE WAS A BARN IN BETWEEN BELLEVILLE AND NEWARK WHERE ONE PERSON SAID HIS FATHER HOSTED ENSLAVED PEOPLE.

BUT WE ALSO DID FUNDRAISING HERE.

WE CREATED ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETIES TO PETITION FOR THE RIGHTS OF ENSLAVED AND FREE PEOPLE.

SO NEW JERSEY'S AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAS A VERY RICH LEGACY OF BEING PART OF THE ABOLITION, ANTI-SLAVERY AND CIVIL RIGHTS WORK OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES DURING THIS PERIOD.

AND IT NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED.

AND JUST AS THIS FREEDOM BELL REPRESENTS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FIGHT FOR LIBERATION, RICHARDSON WANTS TO MAKE SURE HUNTOON'S CORNER IS A PERMANENT REMINDER OF PATTERSON'S RIGHTFUL PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNDER GROUND RAILROAD.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

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

I'M RAVEN SANTANA, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

.

>>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD, RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER, AND ORSTED, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG- TERM, SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> LOOK AT THESE KIDS.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE MYSELF.

I BECAME AN ESL TEACHER TO GIVE MY STUDENTS WHAT I WANTED WHEN I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO DREAM, TO ACHIEVE, A CHANCE TO BE KNOWN AND TO BE AN AMERICAN.

MY NAME IS JULIA.

AND I'M PROUD TO BE AN NJEA MEMBER.