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THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

I'M RAVEN SANTANA IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> THE STATE SUPREME COURT OPENED TODAY WITH ONLY SIX JUSTICES.

70 IS THE MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE FOR JUSTICES IN NEW JERSEY.

BUT GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS YET TO NOMINATE ANYONE TO REPLACE HIM.

CHIEF JUSTICE STEWART RABNER HAS THE AUTHORITY TO FILL THE VACANCY WITH A JUDGE FROM THE APPELLATE COURT.

BUT DOESN'T PLAN TO DO SO.

SO HE WILL NOT MOVE UP A MURPHY APPOINTED JURIST.

MEANWHILE THE GOVERNOR'S NOMINATION TO REPLACE JUSTICE JANIE LAVEKIA STILL HASN'T GOTTEN A CONFIRMATION HEARING.

QUESTIONS REMAIN AS TO WHY NO ONE HAS FILLED THE NEW VACANCY AND WHY HIS NOMINEE HASN'T GOTTEN A HEARING.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN BREAKS DOWN THE LEGAL BACKLOG.

>> IT'S A VERY POLITICAL PROCESS FOR A COURT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE NONPARTISAN.

>> BUT JERSEY'S JUDICIAL POLITICS DO COME WITH A PLAY BOOK, PROFESSOR RON CHEN SAYS.

AND WHEN VACANCIES OCCUR ON JERSEY'S HIGHEST COURT.

THIS SET OF UNWRITTEN RULES TYPICALLY GUIDE AS PROCESS DESIGNED TO KEEP THE SEVEN SUPREMES POLITICALLY BALANCED.

BECAUSE UNLIKE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT WHERE PARTISAN SNIPING IS ALMOST A SPECTATOR SPORT.

>> THE WORST FEAR OF THE JUSTICES OF OUR SUPREME COURT IS THAT THEY WOULD -- THEY'RE DEEMED TO BE ACTING POLITICALLY OR THAT THE COURT ITSELF IS TOO POLITICIZED.

>> AND IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT NOW AS NEW JERSEY'S HIGH COURT WRESTLES WITH GROWING VACANCIES.

THE PANEL JUST BID GOODBYE TO JUSTIN FERNANDEZ WHO TURNED 70 ON TUESDAY AND AGED OFF THE BENCH.

BUT CHIEF JUSTICE STEWART RABNER WON'T APPOINT THE NEXT SENIOR JUDGE IN LINE AS A TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT BECAUSE HE'S A DEMOCRAT.

THAT WOULD SKEW THE COURT, WHOSE SIX REMAINING MEMBERS ARE SPLIT.

FOUR DEMOCRATS TO TWO REPUBLICANS.

RABNER SITED THE UNWRITTEN RULE GOVERNORS HAVE ABIDED BY THE TRADITION THAT NO MORE THAN FOUR MEMBERS OF THE SUPREME COURT CAN BE AFFILIATED WITH A SINGLE POLITICAL PARTY.

FORMER JUSTICE PETER VANERO APPLAUDED.

>> I THINK IT'S NEWS WORTHY THAT THE CHIEF JUSTICE WOULD APPLY THE UNWRITTEN RULE THAT GOVERNORS HAVE APPLIED.

BECAUSE IT GIVES THE PUBLIC ADDED CONFIDENCE THAT THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY WILL MAKE DECISIONS NOT ON THE BASIS OF PARTISAN AFFILIATION.

BUT ON THE BASIS OF THE LAW AND THE FACTS AND THE JUSTICE'S BEST JUDGMENT.

>> BUT NOW THE HIGH COURT'S ACTUALLY GOT TWO VACANCIES, ONE'S FILLED BY A TEMP.

AND GOVERNOR MURPHY NOMINATED RACHEL WAINER FOR THAT SEAT A YEAR AGO.

HE STILL SUPPORTS HER.

>> I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE SHE'LL BE AN A OUTSTANDING, ASSUMING SHE'S CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE, AN OUTSTANDING JUSTICE ON THE SUPREME COURT.

>> REPUBLICAN SENATOR HOLLY BEGS TO DIFFER CONCERNED OVER POLITICAL BALANCE ON THE COURT SHE BLOCKED HER CONFIRMATION USING ANOTHER UNWRITTEN RULE, SENATORIAL COURTESY, WHICH LETS HER CONTROL NOMINATIONS FROM HER HOME COUNTY.

HOWEVER, REPUBLICAN FERNANDEZ VENA'S RETIREMENT MAY HAVE CRACKED OPEN A DOOR FOR COMPROMISE, CHEN SAYS.

>> THE SPECULATION WHICH I ASSUME IS INFORMED SPECULATION IS THAT NOW THE SENATOR AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, NOW THAT THERE ARE TWO SEATS OPEN ARE HAVING DISCUSSIONS.

>> SENATOR SHAPEZZI DIDN'T REPLY TO OUR REQUEST FOR AN INTERVIEW.

AND MURPHY HASN'T YET NAMED A REPLACEMENT FOR FERNANDEZ VENA SAYING WE WANT TO GET THIS RIGHT.

BUT THE PRESIDENT OF NEW JERSEY'S BAR ASSOCIATION FEELS FRUSTRATED BY WHAT HE SENSES IS A LACK OF URGENCY.

>> IT'S A CRISIS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT FOCUSED ON IT.

WE'RE NOT RECOGNIZING THE POTENTIAL IMPACT THIS COULD HAVE.

>> HE POINTS OUT IT TAKES TIME TO VET AND CONFIRM NOMINEES.

MEANWHILE, JUSTICE ALBAN TURNS 70 IN JULY CREATING ANOTHER VACANCY ON THE HIGH COURT.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO PUT THEM IN THAT POSITION TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT RULINGS.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO GET INTO THE SPACE OF DO WE WAIT?

HOW LONG DO WE WAIT?

NOW THAT'S AFFECTING SIGNIFICANT CASES THAT NEED RESOLUTION.

SO IT'S TIME.

IT'S TIME.

AND I HOPE THAT THE GOVERNOR GETS INVOLVED PERSONALLY.

>> ONE POSSIBLE IMPACT, A SHORTHANDED COURT COULD DELAY RULING ON A DEADLOCKED CASE.

>> IT COULD BE DEADLOCKED 3 TO 3 FOR INSTANCE.

AND DECIDE THEY'RE GOING TO PUT WEIGHT TO ISSUE A RULING UNTIL THEY HAVE A FULL COMPLIMENT OF MEMBERS.

>> AND NOBODY WANTS A LOG JAM ON THE HIGH COURT'S DOCKET.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> MORE THAN 180,000 NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS WILL GET A LETTER FROM THEIR WATER PROVIDERS IN THE COMING DAYS TELLING THEM THEIR WATER IS DELIVERED THROUGH A LED SERVICE LINE.

IT'S PART OF A LAW GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED LAST SUMMER WHICH ALSO REQUIRES EVERY LED SERVICE LINE IN NEW JERSEY GET REPLACED WITHIN A DECADE.

THE NOTICES INCLUDE INFORMATION ON WHAT RESIDENTS CAN DO TO MINIMIZE THEIR RISK IN THE MEANTIME.

AND HOW TO GET THEIR WATER TESTED.

THE OUTDATED PIPES HAVE BEEN AT THE HEART OF LED PROBLEMS AND WATER SYSTEMS FROM NEWARK TO TRENTON TO BERGEN COUNTY AND BEYOND IN RECENT YEARS.

TENS OF THOUSANDS MORE CUSTOMERS COULD BE IMPACTED AS THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SAYS MORE THAN A MILLION SERVICE LINES ACROSS THE STATE HAVEN'T BEEN CATALOGED YET.

DP COMMISSIONER, SEAN, SAID THE NOTICES ARE MEANT TO INFORM NOT CAUSE ALARM.

>> PART OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS INSURE THE PUBLIC, TO ASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT WE ARE ON THE JOB.

THAT THIS ISN'T NEW.

>> TWELVE SCHOOLS IN PATTERSON WILL BE RECEIVING MAJOR REPAIRS AND UPDATES AFTER THE CITY'S SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS AWARDED $4.5 MILLION BY THE NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR EMERGENT REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE WORK.

BUT CONSIDERING THE DISTRICT'S OVER ALL NEED FOR REPAIRS IS IN THE TENS OF MILLIONS, SOME SAY THIS AWARD IS JUST A DROP IN THE BUCK FOR A DISTRICT THAT HAS 17 BUILDINGS, MANY 100 YEARS OLD.

SO HOW WILL THE MONEY BE USED?

JOANNA GAGIS GOT A TOUR OF ONE OF PATTERSON'S AGING HIGH SCHOOLS.

>> IT DOESN'T EVEN PUNCH THE SURFACE UNFORTUNATELY.

BUT IT'S A HELP.

IT'S 4.5 MORE THAN WE HAD.

>> THE PATTERSON PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE JUST AWARDED $4.5 MILLION FROM THE SCHOOL'S DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OR SDA, THE STATE AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR FUNDING SCHOOL BUILDING AND REPAIRS PROJECTS IN THE STATE'S POOREST DISTRICTS.

>> THE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS, EAST SIDE AND CANDIDATE.

WE ALSO HAVE NORMAN S SQUARE THAT HAS A PLAY AREA TONIGHT ROOF.

SO THAT NEEDS TO BE RESURFACED.

WE HAVE SCHOOL TWELVE THAT HAS SOME PROBLEMS OUTSIDE THAT WHOLE STAIRCASE HAS TO BE REDONE.

SCHOOL NUMBER SIX NEEDS TO REPLACE THE FIRE ESCAPE.

SCHOOL 25 NEEDS A NEW ROOF.

SCHOOL NUMBER THREE NEEDS A TEACHER'S RESTROOM.

>>> IS IT STATE IS COMMITTING $75 MILLION THIS YEAR TO BE DIVIDED BETWEEN ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH FORMER ABBOTT NOW CALLED SDA DISTRICTS GETTING THE BULK OF IT.

NEWARK TOPS THE LIST AT 6.5 MILLION.

ELIZABETH, 4.8.

AND JERSEY CITY IN PATTERSON CLOSE TO $4.5 MILLION EACH.

>>> THERE HAS BEEN NEGLECT WHEN IT COMES TO THE STATE PROVIDING THE FUNDING.

WE ARE AN SDA DISTRICT.

AND SO THE STATE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR FACILITIES BUT OVER THE PAST DECADE, WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN FULL FUNDING AROUND THAT.

WE DID GET SOME BUILDINGS BUILT.

BUT THE NEED IS DIRE FOR NEW FACILITIES BECAUSE WE ARE OVER CROWDED.

>> THREE NEW SCHOOLS WERE BUILT IN PATTERSON OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS.

BUT THE DISTRICT RECENTLY HAD TO CLOSE TWO SCHOOLS.

PS 14 AND PS 17.

BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO OLD AND DECREPIT TO CONTINUE USING.

THOSE SCHOOLS WERE REROUTED TO NEARBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

BUT THE SDA ANNOUNCED IT WAS BROKE.

LEAVING DISTRICTS LIKE PATTERSON WITH 17 BUILDINGS OVER 100 YEARS OLD WITH NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE WHAT THEY COULD GET.

>> SO THE MAJORITY OF THE MONEY BEING RECEIVED NOW IS GOING TOWARDS FIXING UP OUR FACILITIES SO THAT OUR KIDS CAN LEARN IN ADEQUATE SPACES.

>> WE HAVE THE FACE OF THE BRICK POPPING OFF.

AND THAT'S HAPPENING THROUGHOUT ALL ELEVATIONS ON THE BUILDING.

SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO DO IS TO DO ALL THE ENTRANCES.

WHERE A PERSON CAN GET HURT BY FALLING SPALDING BLOCKS.

>> THE TOTAL NEEDED FOR REPAIRS JUST HERE AT JOHN F. KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL ALONE, ABOUT $70 MILLION SAYS FACILITY'S OFFICER, NEIL MAP, THAT DOES INCLUDE VENTILATION AND AIR QUALITY ISSUES WHICH ARE BEING ADDRESSED IN A SEPARATE POT OF MONEY COMING FROM FEDERAL SR 2 AND SR 3 FUNDS.

TOTALING $106 MILLION.

>> BOTH OF THOSE ARE BEING USED FOR OUR HVAC SYSTEM.

UPGRADES OF AIR CONDITIONING, WINDOW REPLACEMENTS, SO ALL OF THE COVID MONEY THAT CAME IN IS BEING USED FOR -- AND TARGETING THOSE AREAS.

>> BUT ALL OF THESE REPAIR COSTS COULD BE INFLATED BY SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES THAT HAVE UP ENDED THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE WAITING ON A NEW ROOF AT PS 5.

ROOFING INSTALLATION IS NOT AVAILABLE ANY WHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

SO THAT ROOF HAS BEEN DELAYED OVER TEN MONTHS NOW.

SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'RE GOING O WITH A SHINGLED ROOF.

WE WON'T BE WAITING ON INSTALLATION.

BUT WE'RE HOPING SUPPLY LZ BE AVAILABLE.

AND WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A TEN MONTH CONSTRUCTION.

>> THE PROJECT DESIGNS SHOULD BE DRAWN UP SOME TIME THIS SPRING.

AND THEY EXPECT THE MAJORITY OF THE PROJECT REPAIRS TO BE HANDLED THIS SUMMER.

IN MATTER SON, JOANNA GAGIS, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> PATTERSON HAS ALSO ANNOUNCED TODAY THEY WILL KEEP THE MASK MANDATE IN THEIR SCHOOLS UNTIL AT LEAST EARLY MAY DESPITE THE GOVERNOR LIFTING THEM IN MARCH.

THIS AS THE NEWARK ARCHDIOCESE SAYS ITS CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WILL LIFT THE MANDATE NEXT MONTH.

THE MAYOR ANNOUNCING TODAY THE CITY IS LIFTING ITS VACCINATION REQUIREMENT FOR MOST INDOOR PUBLIC SPACES.

THOUGH IT'S KEEPING ITS MASK MANDATE IN SCHOOLS AND IN MOST INDOOR ESTABLISHMENTS.

AT LEAST THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH.

THE CITY'S PROOF OF VACCINATION MANDATE WILL END FOR PLACES LIKE RESTAURANTS, BARS, AND SHOPS.

BUT A VACCINE PROOF OR A NEGATIVE TEST REQUIREMENT WILL STAY IN PLACE FOR EVENTS WITH 250 PEOPLE OR MORE.

MAYOR ROZ SITED A DECLINE IN NEW CASES AS THE RATIONAL FOR MAKING THE CHANGE.

AND THE CDC IS SAYING THEY PLAN TO PUT OUT NEW MASKING GUIDANCE AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK.

THE TALK OF NEW GUIDANCE COMES AS NEW JERSEY SAW JUST OVER 2500 NEW CASES TO DAY.

AND 65 NEW DEATHS.

CURRENTLY, 77% OF ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS ARE FULLY VACCINATED BUT ONLY 51% HAVE GOTTEN THEIR BESTER SHOT.

IN AN EFFORT TO GET MORE FOLKS VACCINATED AND BOOSTED, THE STATE HELD A GRATEFUL FOR THE SHOT EVENT LAST NIGHT IN PATTERSON AT THE CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH.

IT'S A PARTNERSHIP THAT BRINGS VACCINE ACCESS DIRECTLY TO PLACES OF WORSHIP.

REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE U.S. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ATTENDED LAST NIGHT'S EVENT.

>> THERE ARE LOTS OF REASONS WHY PEOPLE MAY NOT THINK IT'S NECESSARY OR MAY BE RELUCTANT TO GET THE BOOSTER.

THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS IN PREPARING THEM THROUGH THE OPPORTUNITIES WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GOING FORWARD, TO GET BACK TO WORK, OUT TO RESTAURANTS AND GET TO WHAT IS GOING TO BE A NEW NORMAL.

>> IT'S THE END OF AN ERA FOR THE SETH BOYD AND COURT PUBLIC HOUSING IN NEWARK.

THE MAYOR STRAIKED INTO THE DEMOLITION CRANE TO DELIVER THE FIRST BLOW TO THE OVER 500 UNIT COMPLEX.

BUILT AFTER THE GREAT DEPRESSION IN 1939.

SETH BOYD AND CORP WAS A FIRST PUBLIC HOUSING COMPLEX IN THE CITY OF NEWARK BUT DOORS WERE CLOSED AND RESIDENTS RELOCATED IN 2015 DUE TO HIGH MAINTENANCE COSTS AND PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES.

OFFICIALS SAY THE DEMOLITION OF THE ABANDONED HOUSING COMPLEX SIGNALS THE MUCH NEEDED REVITALIZATION OF THE DAYTON STREET NEIGHBORHOOD.

PLANS FOR THE AREA INCLUDE NEW RESIDENTIAL UNITS, COMMERCIAL SPACE, A SCHOOL, A HEALTH FACILITY, AND A PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY.

>> PARTS OF THE CITY THAT'S BEEN THIS WAY FOR A LONG TIME, A LOT OF TIMES GET NEGLECTED AS WE DEVELOP OTHER PARTS MOSTLY DOWNTOWN.

WE WANT TO GO TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE ON CLINTON AVENUE.

SETH BOYD IS A PART OF THAT.

AND A NUMBER OF BLOCK AREAS, WE WANT TO DO DEVELOPMENT IN THOSE PARTS OF THE CITY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE US FROM WHERE WE WERE TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

>> THE FUTURE OF WORK TASK FORCES CREATED BY GOVERNOR MURPHY THREE YEARS AGO STARTED AS A WAY TO EXAMINE HOW TECHNOLOGY AND AUTOMATION WOULD IMPACT WORKERS IN THE FUTURE.

BUT COVID-19 PROMPTED MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE TO REFOCUS ITS MESSAGE.

THE SHIFT COMES AFTER HEARING WORKERS WERE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT A LACK OF FULL-TIME JOBS WITH BENEFITS AND ACCESS TO TRAINING AFTER THE PANDEMIC DEMONSTRATED HOW VULNERABLE SOME OCCUPATIONS WERE TO UNFORESEEN FORCES.

I SPOKE WITH OUR WRITER AND SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR, COLLEEN O'DAY ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A NEW REPORT RELEASED TODAY.

ACCORDING TO THIS REPORT, WHAT IS THE GREATEST CONCERN IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS ON WORKER'S RIGHTS ?

>> YOU KNOW, SO, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT TECHNOLOGY IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT AND THERE IS A CONCERN THAT IT WOULD DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT PEOPLE OF COLOR.

BLACKS AND HISPANICS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE JOBS THAT WOULD HAVE THEIR JOBS AUTOMATED.

SO THAT'S REALLY A CONCERN.

THERE'S A LOT OF TALK OF -- THERE'S A LOT OF INTIMATION ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THIS REPORT.

AND TRYING TO HELP, YOU KNOW, MITIGATE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.

SO YOU KNOW, THAT CASHIER, YOU MAY NOT HAVE A CASHIER ANY MORE WHEN YOU GO.

AND IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE TODAY, IT MAY BE TOMORROW.

YOU KNOW, YOU MAY DO A SELF- CHECK OUT.

SO THOSE KINDS OF JOBS ARE PRETTY EASILY LOST TO AUTOMATION AND THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO THOSE FOLKS DO NEXT?

WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE THE SKILLS TO, YOU KNOW, TO MOVE INTO A DIFFERENT POSITION.

>> DO THESE INNOVATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY ALSO AFFECT THINGS LIKE GENDER, RACE, OR EDUCATION?

>> YOU KNOW, MEN SLIGHTLY MORE THAN WOMEN IS WHAT THE REPORT FOUND.

BUT THERE'S NOT A HUGE GAP THERE.

>> WHAT OTHER EXAMPLES DO YOU HAVE IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TECHNOLOGY?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S PEOPLE WITH THESE LOWER -- LOWER WAGE JOBS.

MIDDLE SKILL JOBS, ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN THINK CAN BE -- CAN BE GIVEN TO ROBOTS.

>> IS THERE ANY GOOD NEWS WITH THIS REPORT?

WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS, BUT WHAT THE ARE THE POSITIVE IMPACTS OF TECHNOLOGIES IN THE WORKPLACE?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, THE REPORT TALKS ABOUT SOME OF THE WAYS THAT NEW JERSEY IS KIND OF IN THE LEAD OR AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, UP WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER STATES IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, NEW JOBS IN THE GREEN SECTOR.

WIND ENERGY.

WIND -- LEGAL MARIJUANA COMES ONLINE.

THOSE WILL BE SOME KIND OF NEW AREAS.

SOLAR AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, THE JOB WAS -- EXCUSE ME, THE REPORT IS REALLY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP FOLKS GET THE NEXT SKILLS.

SO IT RECOMMENDS LIFELONG LEARNING ACCOUNTS WHICH ARE WAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN SAVE TO GET TRAINING IN THE FUTURE IF THEY DO WIND UP LOSING A JOB TO AUTOMATION, AND ALSO SOMETHING CALLED PORTABLE BENEFITS SOME FOR FOLKS WHO MAYBE ARE NOT IMPACTED BY TECHNOLOGY TODAY BUT ARE IN THE GIG ECONOMY, UBER DRIVERS, FOLKS LIKE THAT, FOR THEM TO HAVE BENEFITS THAT THEN THEY CAN MOVE FROM JOB TO JOB.

AND IT MAY BE ANYONE.

BUT YOU KNOW, SO YOU HAVE YOUR BENEFITS, BUT THEY GO WITH YOU.

SO YOU DON'T LOSE YOUR RETIREMENT INCOME WHEN YOU MOVE FROM ONE JOB TO ANOTHER.

OR MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY RETIREMENT INCOME NOW BUT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO GET IT THROUGH THIS KIND OF SYSTEM.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS LIKE THAT IN THE REPORT.

>> COLLEEN O'DAY, PER USUAL, EXCELLENT REPORTING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME ONCE AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU, RAVEN.

>> FOR MORE OF COLLEEN'S REPORTING ON THE TASK FORCE'S PLAN TO HELP NEW JERSEY WORKERS HEAD TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG.

>>> WHAT'S CAUSING THE RISE IN INFLATION?

THE BIDEN ECONOMIC TEAM IN THE HOT SEAT TODAY ON CAPITOL HILL ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM OUR OWN SENATOR, BOB MENDEZ, RHONDA SCHAFFLER JOINS US WITH THE DETAILS AND ALL THE OTHER TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> RAVEN, INFLATION WAS A HOT TOPIC ON CAPITOL HILL TODAY AS BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS TESTIFIED ON THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY.

THOSE OFFICIALS SAID THE PANDEMIC HELPED CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT LED TO INFLATION AND THEY POINTED OUT THE ECONOMY IS RECOVERING AND UNEMPLOYMENT IS FALLING.

BUT, LAWMAKERS ARGUE THEIR CONSTITUENTS ARE FEELING THE PAIN OF RISING PRICES.

AND NEW JERSEY U.S.

SENATOR BOB MENDEZ SAID SOME COMPANIES ARE MAKING THINGS WORSE.

>> THAT PAIN HAS BEEN MAGNIFIED BY COMPANIES THAT ARE HIDING BEHIND THE HEADLINE INFLATION FIGURES TO JUSTIFY RAISING PRICES AND PROFITS ON THE BACKS OF HARD WORKING AMERICANS.

>> SENATOR MENDEZ CALLED OUT CONSUMER PRODUCTS COMPANY, KIMBERLY CLARK FOR SHARPLY RAISING PRICES ON N95 MASKS.

>>> NEW JERSEY HAS SET A NEW SPORTS BETTING RECORD.

SPORTS BOOKS TOOK IN NEARLY $1.35 BILLION IN BETS LAST MONTH SURPASSING THEIR PRIOR HIGH MARK.

THAT CAME DESPITE NEW COMPETITION FROM NEW YORK.

JAY, DIRECTOR OF THE LLOYD D LEVINSON INSTITUTE AT STOCKTON UNIVERSITY SAYS IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY WHAT THE LONG-TERM IMPACTS OF THE NEW COMPETITION WILL BE, BUT SHE'S ENCOURAGED BY THE JANUARY NUMBERS.

>> EVERYONE WAS ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE NUMBERS BECAUSE THE FEAR WAS THAT PEOPLE WERE LEAVING NEW YORK AND CROSSING THE BORDER INTO NEW JERSEY TO PLACE THEIR BETS ON MOBILE DEVICES.

AND WE WERE WORRIED THAT THAT COULD IMPACT THE REVENUE HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

BUT THE NUMBERS WERE GREAT.

>> WHAT'S NOT SO GREAT, BRICK AND MORTAR CASINO REVENUES IN JANUARY WERE BELOW THE LEVEL SEEN PREPANDEMIC.

>>> AMAZON WAREHOUSE WORKERS IN NEW YORK ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO VOTING ON WHO THEY SHOULD UNIONIZE.

THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD SAYS THE WORKERS IN THE COMPANY HAVE TENTATIVELY AGREED ON TERMS FOR A UNION ELECTION WHICH WILL BE HELD IN LATE MARCH.

AMAZON WORKERS IN ALABAMA WILL BE VOTING TO UNIONIZE.

THESE VOTES WILL BE CLOSELY WATCHED BECAUSE IF APPROVED BY WORKERS, THIS WOULD MARK THE FIRST TIME AMAZON WAREHOUSE EMPLOYEES WOULD BE REPRESENTED BY A UNION.

OTHER BIG COMPANIES, INCLUDING STARBUCKS, ARE SEEING EFFORTS BY WORKERS TO UNIONIZE.

HERE'S A LOOK NOW AT HOW THE STOCK MARKET ENDED THE TRADING DAY ON WALL STREET.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS NEWS STORIES.

SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY NJCU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.

A GAME CHANGING FORCE OFFERING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY, OR BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND DATA SCIENCE.

WE'RE STEPS AWAY FROM THE EXCHANGE PLACE PATH TRAIN IN JERSEY CITY AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

LEARN MORE AT NJCU.EDU/GAME CHANGER.

>> AND MAKE SURE YOU TUNE IN TO NJ BUSINESS BEAT WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THIS WEEKEND SHE DIGS INTO INCREASING INFLATION RATES.

WHY PRICES ARE SKYROCKETING AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR WALLET, YOUR HOME, YOUR RETIREMENT, AND MORE.

CHECK IT OUT ON NJ PBS SATURDAY AT 10:00 A.M. ON NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YouTube CHANNEL.

>>> LIBRARIES ARE MORE THAN A SPOT TO PICK UP THE LATEST BEST SELLER.

THEY CAN ALSO SERVE AS COMMUNITY CENTERS AND TECH HUBS.

LIBRARIES ACROSS THE STATE WERE RECENTLY AWARDED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FUNDING TO PAY MORE MUCH NEEDED UPGRADE SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE THOSE NEEDS.

THE LATEST ROUND OF GRANTS WILL HELP PAY FOR PROJECTS IN 13 OF NEW JERSEY'S 21 COUNTIES.

INCLUDING IN UNION COUNTY WHERE I RECENTLY VISITED THE ROZELL PUBLIC LIBRARY TO SEE HOW THE MONEY WILL GO TO USE.

>> THIS BUILDING HAS SERVED THIS COMMUNITY LONG AND HARD BUT IT'S TIME FOR AN UPDATE.

>> AFTER SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR 84 YEARS, THE ROZEL PUBLIC LIBRARY IS FINALLY GETTING THE REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS IT NEEDS AND DESERVES THROUGH THE LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION BOND ACT.

WHICH AUTHORIZES $125 MILLION IN STATE BONDS FOR TECHNOLOGY UPDATES AND BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS FOR LIBRARIES ACROSS THE STATE.

>> IT WAS INTENDED AS A ONE TO ONE MATCH.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE FUNDING FROM THE BONDS WILL MATCH THE COMMUNITIES INVESTMENTS.

SO THE -- A TOTAL OF $125 MILLION WAS APPROVED BY VOTERS IN 2017.

THE FIRST ROUND OF THE GRANTS, THEY WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH COMPETITIVE GRANTS.

AND THE FIRST ROUND WAS DISTRIBUTED IN 2020.

AND THE SECOND ROUND WAS DISTRIBUTED IN JANUARY OF 2022.

FOR A TOTAL OF 70 LIBRARY PROJECTS.

ACROSS ALL THE COUNTIES IN NEW JERSEY.

>> ROZEL PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS AWARDED $5.5 MILLION IN NOVEMBER.

ONE OF THE TOP FIVE GRANTS IN THE FIRST ROUND OF FUNDING.

THE LIBRARY'S DIRECTOR JEAN MARIE RYAN WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE ADVOCACY EFFORTS THAT LED TO THE REFERENDUM PASSING CALLS THE FUNDING A GAME CHANGER FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE'RE SHUTTING DOWN THE LIBRARY IN THIS LOCATION.

WE'RE TOUCHING EVERYTHING.

BUT WE WILL CONTINUE LIBRARY SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE'LL BE RELOCATING, NO, I DON'T HAVE A LOCATION YET.

BUT I'M NARROWING THAT DOWN.

>> WHEN WILL THAT START?

>> HOPEFULLY IN THE LATE SPRING.

SO I MEAN, IT'S -- IT'S BECOMING REAL NOW.

>> AND IN ADDITION TO RENOVATIONS AND UPGRADES IN TECHNOLOGY, THE LIBRARY IS ALSO INCREASING ITS USEABLE PUBLIC SPACE BY MORE THAN 15,000 SQUARE FEET.

>> THE CAPACITY WILL INCREASE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SPACE.

SO IT WILL BE ABOUT FOUR TIMES THE USEABLE SPACE.

SO FOUR TIMES THE CAPACITY.

IT'S A GAME CHANGER FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

THERE WILL BE PUBLIC COMMUNITY SPACES.

THERE WILL BE STUDY ROOMS.

TECHNOLOGY IS A GAME CHANGER.

ESPECIALLY IN A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BROADBAND ACCESS THAT IS LESS THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

IT'S HEART BREAKING.

>> I MEAN HOW MANY PLACES ARE LEFT WHERE YOU CAN COME IN THAT IT'S TOTALLY FREE, ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, NO MATTER YOUR RACE, YOUR POLITICAL PARTY, YOUR GENDER, YOUR ECONOMIC BACKGROUND, IT'S FREE FOR ALL.

IT'S LIFELONG LEARNING.

>> TONYA GARCIA IS DIRECTOR OF THE LONG BRANCH FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

RECIPIENTS OF THE SECOND ROUND OF THE FUNDING WHICH WAS ANNOUNCED IN JANUARY.

SHE SAYS A BULK OF IT WILL GO TO RENOVATIONS TO RESTORE THE LOWER LEVEL WHICH SUFFERED SEVERE WATER DAMAGE FROM STORMS AND UPGRADES TO NEW COMMUNITY SPACES.

>> AND SO THAT GRANT THAT WE WERE AWARDED WAS $3.1 MILLION.

IT'S A MATCHING GRANT.

SO OUR CITY GENEROUSLY AGREED TO MATCH THAT GRANT SO THE TOTAL PROJECT FOR LONG BRANCH IS $6.2 MILLION.

ALSO CREATING A NEW TEEN CENTER UPSTAIRS BECAUSE WE LOST THE TEEN ROOM DOWNSTAIRS WHERE WE HAD OVER 900 TEEN PROGRAMS PRE- PANDEMIC.

SO UPGRADING OUR CAREER CENTER WITH NEW COMPUTERS, NEW PRINTING SOFTWARE, WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVING -- THERE'S GOING TO BE A SERVICE WHERE YOU CAN PRINT FROM ANY WHERE IN THE CITY.

BECAUSE THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE.

THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMPLETION DATES FOR THE PROJECTS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE NEW JERSEY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ANTICIPATES TO SEE RIBBON CUTTINGS IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS FOR THE FIRST ROUND OF PROJECTS.

THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

IF YOU MISSEDFULLY OF THE POLITICAL HEADLINES OF THE WEEK TUNE INTO THE REPORTER'S ROUND TABLE TOMORROW MORN, THIS WEEK SENIOR CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ GOES ONE ON ONE WITH FORMER GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE, AND UPDATES OF ALL NEWS STORIES WITH A PANEL OF LOCAL REPORTERS.

TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00 ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YouTube CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

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.

>> ORSTED WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE, OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, SUPPLY CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

ORSTED, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

ONLINE AT US.ORSTED.COM.