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And, RWJ Barnabas health.

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Host: Tonight on "NJ Spotlight News," the fight for justice and affordability will be the centerpieces of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka's surprising gubernatorial bid.

>> of the secret sauce of politics is authenticity, and Ras Baraka is one of the most authentic politicians in the country.

RAVEN: Plus,, heated words.

>> I am making a simple statements and you will not allow me to share my words my comment.

I have read him of.

[shouting] BRIANA: Last night Board of Education meeting, where once again the controversial transgender student guideline policy was on the table.

Also, four state psychiatric hospitals are under scrutiny after a new lawsuit details a history of abuse and neglect.

And, Seton Hall University celebrates a major mouse, welcoming, for the first time to campus, and NAACP College chapter.

>> I see the chapter helping in more advocacy efforts.

We are coming up on a huge election year and I want to make sure all of college students are able to vote and educated.

BRIANA: "NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

♪ Announcer: From NJ PBS studios, this is "NJ Spotlight news" with Briana Vannozzi.

♪ BRIANA: Good evening and thanks for joining us this Wednesday night.

I Briana Vannozzi.

am Democrats used to consider him a radical.

Now Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is running for the party's nomination to be the next governor.

The mayor of New Jersey's largest city made his announcement unexpectedly last Monday during an impassioned for Black History Month.

He is the third Democrat, and arguably the most progressive to join the crowded field for the 2025 election.

Baraka's roots run deep through Newark.

He is planning to run on the legacy he has made there--a vow to fight for justice, affordability, and as he has often said in the past, "Giving the power back to the people. "

But do his staunch liberal views make him delectable in a statewide race?

Senior political correspondent David Cruz reports.

>> I want to be the governor of the state of New Jersey!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] Reporter: As much speculation as there was about Newark Mayor Ras Baraka running for governor, his announcement, which electrified this audience at the war Memorial in Trenton, took everyone by surprise, including evidently the campaign itself.

>> I think he got caught up in the excitement.

The room was filled with people from Cape May to Trenton to Somerset and Plainfield, and obviously a lot of Newark people and I think they were giving him that energy.

Reporter: James Gee of Stono Public Affairs hosted the Black History Month celebration that served as the backdrop for the announcement.

He is a longtime friend and advisor.

He says Baraka, the mayor of the state's largest city, has a message that can resonate beyond the state's urban centers.

>> So many people think that Newark is an anomaly, it's a place where people are struggling and trying to get from the first of the month to the 30th of the month.

And I think Ras Baraka has discovered that the challenges of Newarkers are the challenges of New Jersey.

>> Froot Loops and Apple Jacks may look different, but they taste the same.

Cruz: In a speech and Q&A at Rowan University yesterday, Baraka brought the point home several times.

>> The reality is the issues I am talking about are not city issues.

These are state issues.

Housing is an issue in the state.

Affordability is an issue in the state of New Jersey.

Access to food is a problem in Cumberland County, is a problem in Warren County, in Essex County, in Union County.

We are not talking about problems germane to black people, we are talking about problems that are problematic for all of us in the state and we all have a responsibility to address them together.

Reporter: He has never been a glad-hander or particularly friendly to press.

He has run a tight political operation in the city at has not been seriously challenged in two reelection campaigns, but he joined the Democratic field that already includes Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, former Senate President Steve Sweeney, and will likely be joined by Congress members Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer.

So, as the pundits like to say -- >> You have got to have a lane, and the geographical lanes are going to be tight, particularly in Essex County.

There will be more than one candidate coming out of Essex.

Though he doesn't get a clear lane, nobody gets a clear lane.

They get their own Counties maybe if they are lucky.

So you have to distinguish yourself in some other way.

I think the lane he seems to be going after is the progressive Lane, the most progressive candidate in the race.

Reporter: And as the son of a poet, activist and firebrand Amiri Baraka, the mayor says he is unafraid of the political challenges you make.

>> I look forward to the storms because Matter of Fact Sock I don't feel like I am doing my job until the storm shows up.

I was born for these storms and I was born for this time.

So as this race goes on, New Jersey is never, ever going to be the same, no matter what happens in the end.

You mark my word, the state will never be the same, because Ras Baraka Noc is running for governor of the state of New Jersey.

Reporter: As kickoffs go Baraka , sent the charge into this race.

If the U. S. Senate primary and the presidential election all happening between now and the governor's race into 2025, they will have to bottle that enthusiasm and sipped slowly in order to make it last.

I am David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.

BRIANA: House Speaker Nessie Pelosi Speaker Mike Johnson made his first visit to New Jersey today and sticking office, and he was greeted by a crowd -- taking office, and was greeted by a crowd of protesters.

Progressive activists mobilized with Democratic Congressional candidate Sue Altman to speak out against Johnson's appearance at a fundraiser in Union County representative Tom Kean, Jr. .

Altman is vying for Tom Kean's feet in the seventh of Congressional District and taking every opportunity to connect his record with the MAGA wing of the Republican Party.

Members of the left-leaning groups New Jersey citizen action, Planned Parenthood, and New Jersey working families, chanted, accusing Kean's record in Congress of being out of step with New Jersey values and saying his support of the speaker allows him to pursue extreme agendas.

Kean's campaign declined to comment.

A new lawsuit is accusing the state of running its psychiatric hospitals like prisons.

A complaint filed this week by the advocacy organization Disability Rights New Jersey details heinous conditions for the 1100 patients being treated at the four state uprooted facilities, and is suing members of the administration for allowing the conditions to persist.

The complaint describes scenarios of patients allegedly being physically, sexually and verbally abused, deprived of basic needs like showers and water, which is allegedly kept behind locked doors at nurses stations.

In one example patient allegedly , a suffered a permanent traumatic brain injury after being assaulted by other patients under the watch of hospital staff.

In another case, a patient was sexually assaulted by a staff member while another kept watch.

The lawsuit also highlights seven unexpected deaths disability rates they were intent investigations.

We reached out to New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services, but they wouldn't comment on the offending investigation.

We will have more reporting on our website, go to NJspotlightnews.

org.

Culture Wars fully erupted at last night's Board of Education meeting in Old Bridge after a pro-parental rights group brought in an outspoken pastor from North Carolina to help preach their views against the transgender education policy known as 5756.

The board just recently pledged support for keeping 5756 intact.

As a Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan reports, a new slate of members just found enough momentum to revoke it.

>> Take him out.

Take him out!

Reporter: Old Bridge police escorted firebrand preacher John Amanchukwu out of the room during an emotional debate over repealing controversial policy 5756, the state's recommended transgender student guidance for school districts.

The North Carolina pastor hit turbulence less than 30 seconds into his comments when he dropped the N-word.

>> Point of order.

Point of order.

>> The responses -- all of the above -- I have a right.

>> I know that you have the right.

But I have to cut this short because you are upsetting -- >> No.

.

>> I do not agree with the use of the word.

>> You are being racist because of the end of the day, I can't get up here and speak.

Reporter: The pastor promoted his appearance on X, promising takes on America's wokest school boards, and speakers board states he charges $10,000 to $50,000 for appearances.

A quick Google search shows he is often tossed from board meetings.

He lasted about nine minutes in Old Bridge for getting ejected.

>> Take him away.

Thank you.

Reporter: afterwards, the New Jersey project, and anti-trans organization, posted on X, "this got ugly real quick.

I apologize to rev for all of New Jersey. "

The group campaigned for school board slate last fall.

Voters elected avowed pro three parental rights members, a new majority that flexed its new political muscle.

Just hours before the meeting, the board added an agenda item, move the Board of Education approved the abolishment of policy 5756 to reverse the old board's vote adopting transgender guidelines.

Speakers mobilized, many from outside Old Bridge.

This one from Neptune.

>> To undermine a parent's right.

This is what the policy ultimately is doing.

>> I hope you vote to the sanctity of parents' God-given right regarding their minor children and put 5756 where it belongs, in the trash.

>> We at Old Bridge make our own decisions.

Outside influence is not necessary or welcome.

Vote to keep this policy in place.

It hurts no one.

Send these agitators home to their own districts, towns and states.

Reporter: Many speakers came from Monmouth County, where resistance to the bill has sparked protests and lawsuits.

After a couple hours of public comment, a board member who supported 5756 noted they had gotten 104 emails asking to maintain the policy, and only 38 against it.

But one of the newly elected board members replied with a different number.

>> Over 5000 people voted for three candidates who openly advertised that they were a of this policy and I think that speaks volumes.

>> I can't knowingly abolish a policy that there is an something else in place, something else for these children, to help, even if it is one child.

The life of one child is worth just a few minutes of conferencing.

[APPLAUSE] Reporter: The board attorney advised that they could legally revoke 5756, but not rewrite it without risking the loss of from jerseys Attorney General.

The board voted 5-4 to rescind the policy.

I am Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

BRIANA: For the first time in campus history, Seton Hall University is welcoming a certified chapter of the NAACP.

It is considered a major milestone for the school, which came about thanks to a student-led effort.

Students were also the driving force last year in keeping Seton Hall's Africana Studies Department of life, holding protests and Syrians on campus to revive what was New Jersey's first college-level program dedicated to the study of African-American history and culture.

Now they are ushering in a new era.

The inaugural president of the NAACP chapter, says they hope to bring about more equality and justice.

She joins me now.

Welcome.

So great to have you.

Congratulations, this is August.

Huge honor.

What do you see as the role of this chapter in the times that we are in right now?

Guest: I definitely see the chapter helping in more advocacy efforts.

We are coming up in a huge election year and I definitely want to make sure all college students are able to vote and educated on the political economy of now.

I definitely hope to see more of Africana studies programs implemented as well, with the help of the NAACP.

BRIANA: You were pretty integral in getting this chapter to be inaugurated on the campus.

Was there a void or a gap that you saw that you felt, hey, this is the thing to fill that?

Guest: The reason protests we had last semester, I think that was the driving force in me wanting to start the NAACP chapter, as well as what the NAACP has to offer for college students.

BRIANA:.

BRIANA: Where do you see in this coming year.

You mentioned the presidential election coming up, but in Jersey, we have a big Senate race next year, and gubernatorial election.

More and more campaigns looking to college students in their efforts to get the vote out.

Do you see ourselves as a chapter being a pretty pivotal in the elections coming up?

Guest: definitely.

I want to help college students get to know what there is to vote on and how to vote.

Most of them when you ask them are you registered to vote, many aren't, but for the NAACP met one of the biggest things is to get people to vote, and we want to help them.

BRIANA: Your advisor was recently quoted as saying that the first 20 years of this century arguably more challenging for students than perhaps many of the decades past.

Do you agree?

What do you see as a college student?

We are talking about a university that is definitely white.

What do you see as the challenges and especially in promoting diversity on campus?

Guest: Guest: I see the challenges, maybe not enough people possibly educated on diversity.

Everyone is coming from different backgrounds.

So I think in order to fix that, I think everyone should take time to get to know -- everyone is different and we have similarities as well.

BRIANA: What is your first order of business now that you are official on campus?

Guest: Definitely to gain more members.

The NAACP is about rising in membership so I am looking towards having fresh men become involved.

I work in a freshman building as an IRA so it is easier to access them as well.

BRIANA: Do you see the correlation between starting the activism and education in this area early on, say, as a freshman, evolving as folks go through school, so if you're able to recruit students that young, do you see a difference there?

You have been active in a lot of different areas on campus already, what difference does it make being involved at an early age?

Guest: starting from an early age helps to jumpstart their future careers.

Starting from an early age I had an ability to the chapter.

BRIANA: Your advisor is also head of African studies program that we mentioned.

Do you see the two working hand-in-hand?

Guest: Definitely, 100%.

The NAACP has a history of helping with historic Supreme Court cases in education such as Broadview Board of Education.

So I definitely see the chapter helping each other out.

BRIANA: Imani Corbet is the new president of the NAACP chapter at City Hall University.

Imani, great to talk to you.

Guest: Thank you for having me.

BRIANA: Unless Congress acts by spring, one intern New Jersey household getting affordable Internet through a federal program will be cut off.

That is the charge from Congressman Frank Pallone, who serves as the ranking Democrat on the Energy and Commerce committee.

He called on the SEC today in a press conference, urging Congress to re-up money for the connectivity program they call a lifeline.

Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis reports.

>>.

>> If you don't have Internet service today, what does that mean?

It is hard to get a job.

Hard to get an education.

Hard to do everything, even shop.

Everything is so dependent on the Internet.

Reporter: And yet, 23 million households in the U. S., 338,000 of them here in New Jersey, may lose Internet access soon.

That is because the bill that helps subsidize the cost for seniors and families who can't afford it, is set to expire.

>> Essentially it provides, that a minimum, a $30 per month help to pay for your Internet.

>> When this program first got up and running, I know the White House worked with a lot of providers, some of them serving rural areas, some serving urban areas, to encourage them to make available high-speed broadband at a $30 price point and to have a quality service available right at the discount rate for the affordable connectivity program.

Reporter: Meaning that millions were able to access their Internet for free, says the FTC chairwoman.

The affordable connectivity program was first passed during Covid, when the digital divide came into focus.

>> I am sure you saw it here in New Jersey too, kids who would sit with borrowed laptops in front of fast food restaurants and libraries, just to use the free Wi-Fi signal to go to class.

Seniors, who couldn't keep up with those telemedicine appointments because they just didn't have the bandwidth.

And people who are getting the information they needed on a day-to-day basis really participate in modern life.

Reporter: The bill was extended as part of the bipartisan infrastructure and jobs act passed by Congress in 2021 but the program has now run out of funds.

>> If we can get the $7 billion for the rest of this fiscal year, than the program would continue at least until October, and then it gives us an opportunity to continue it beyond.

Reporter: Several community organizations spoke in support of extending the funding, pleading for Congress to come together on the issue once more and not force families back into the days of darkness.

>> There was a consensus in this country where there was very few consensus and many other things, that we didn't want to see those images of kids in parking lots trying to get Internet access on their tablets.

The question around Internet access and having reliable, fast Internet access is one of the great civil-rights challenges of our time.

>> Without access to affordable, high-speed Internet, communities will suffer and lose out on opportunities to learn and find jobs and stay healthy.

Reporter: He shared the perspective from one of his members she shared with the debt if they took the bill away, it would be like taking food out of my mouth.

>> it is our responsibility as NAACP members to support Internet connection for everybody.

It's no longer a luxury.

It is what we need to function.

Reporter: The SEC stopped accepting new applications on February 7, a move that will help them continue funding existing households at least through the end of April.

But if Congress doesn't pass the new extension bill, funding will run out by then.

>> If we are unable to get additional funding, those households will no longer get $30 a month in support, so every household and make hard choices.

Do they cut gas or groceries, the Internet service.

Reporter: Congressman Pallone is looking to get this bill passed by attaching it to the Omnibus appropriations bill.

If that fails, he will try the emergency appropriation bill.

He says, anything to keep this bill from expiring.

Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight News.

BRIANA: In our Spotlight on Business Report, offshore wind enthusiasts know that nothing worth having comes easy.

They are invoking that as they continue the effort to bring the industry here.

The Sweeney Center at Rowan University held its third offshore wind energy conference, and it included the three companies recently selected to build wind farms to supply power to the garden state.

Ted Goldberg has the details.

>> The question is do we want a bronze medal or a gold medal?

I want the gold medal and I think you all want it too.

Reporter: Despite protests and setbacks leaders spoke comfortably about the future of offshore wind energy today.

>> I will try to get through this talk without using a certain Danish word that has a strike through one of the vowels.

Reporter: New Jersey deck limit development authority president Tim Sullivan might be talking about Orsted, the Danish power company that gave the governor a Halloween surprise by bailing on its plans for two offshore wind projects.

.

The state continued with a fourth round of solicitations, and a few weeks ago the board approved two new projects which, they say, could power around 2 million homes.

>> A lot of folks would have melted in the heat of what was happening in the fall in this industry.

This governor has stood strong, if anything, taller and stronger since then.

>> This is New Jersey.

We don't shy away from a challenge, we hit it head-on, and I think we can agree we are on the right track, moving to make New Jersey a leader in the offshore wind industry.

Reporter: That BPU president repeated what New Jersey leaders have said for years, if the state doesn't pursue offshore wind, there will be consequences.

There is a sauced to doing nothing.

>> Lame change impacts related to infrastructure, stronger storms, health impacts related to air pollution.

Governor Murphy's administration is about New Jersey doing our part to mitigate climate impacts and enhancing the clean energy economy.

>> There are still people in the world who think it's a liberal pipedream.

This is an industry that is being invested in by some of the most sophisticated and well-capitalized companies in the energy industry and their infrastructure investors--some of those companies.

.. it is to speak today.

They acknowledged that public approval for offshore wind has tumbled in New Jersey, according to surveys done by Monmouth University.

And the best way to move forward is by more communication with the public.

>> There is the need for early and often engagement.

There is an increased need to get ahead of it.

>> That is super important, to remind them that this is a constant conversation that needs to be engaged with by everyone.

Reporter: Along with fighting climate change, leaders say offshore wind could bring thousands of new jobs and create opportunities for college students like those at Rowan University.

>> From preparing the workforce of the future, to performing the research and development needed to ensure the near-term and future success of the offshore wind industry, we are ready to do this thing.

Reporter: Even if there are more setbacks to come.

>> Sometime between now and the finish line of this industry, there will be some other challenge, something else bad will happen.

That is the nature of building a brand-new industry.

If you had sold all of your Apple stock in the 1990's, he would feel pretty stupid right now.

Reporter: There is still a long way to go.

The projects approved this year are not projected to start construction for four years, and they will not produce electricity until at least 531.

At Rowan University, Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

BRIANA: Turning to Wall Street, stocks slipped for a third day in a row.

Here is where the markets closed.

♪ ANNOUNCER: support for the business report is provided by Junior achievement of New Jersey, providing students with skills and knowledge to explore, choose and advance their career paths for a bright future.

Online at janj.

org.

BRIANA: That does it for us tonight, but make sure to tune into Chat Box with David Cruz tomorrow night.

He talks with New Jersey Department of Environmental protection Commissioner about plans for Liberty State Park, at the latest controversy over removal of lead water lines, and more.

That is tomorrow at 6:00 p. m. on the YouTube channel.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

For the entire NJ Spotlight News team, Thanks for being with us.

Have a great evening.

We will see you back here tomorrow.

♪ Announcer: NJM Insurance Group serving the insurance needs of residents and businesses for more than 100 years.

And by the PSEG foundation.

>> If you need to see a doctor, RWJ Barnabas Health has two easy ways to do it from anywhere.

You can see a provider 24/7 on any device with our telemedicine app, or use the website to book a virtual visit with our RWJ Barnabas Health Medical Group provider or specialist, even as a new patient.

You have taken every precaution, so have we.

Don't delay your care any longer.

RWJBarnabas Health.

Let's be healthy together.

♪