>>> FUNDING PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND THE OCEAN AND WIND PROJECT AND PSE&G .

COMMITTED TO A CREATION OF A SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

SOME MIXED NEWS ON COVID AS WE MOVE CLOSER TO AN EXPECTED PEAK AND HOSPITALIZATIONS IN JUST A FEW WEEKS, WE ARE SEEING THE FIRST DAY IN TWO WEEKS OF DAILY CASES BELOW 20,000.

BUT HOSPITALIZATIONS ROSE AGAIN OVERNIGHT.

AND NOW STAND AT 6089.

THE STATE IS REPORTING 550 OF THOSE PATIENTS ARE ON VENTILATORS THE HIGHEST NUMBER WE HAVE SEEN SINCE MAY, 2020.

NEW JERSEY HAS ALSO SEEN A RECORD NUMBER OF KIDS WITH COVID HOSPITALIZED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

MANY OF WHICH ARE NOT YET ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID VACCINATION.

MORE THAN HALF A MILLION KIDS IN OUR STATE ARE AT RISK ACCORDING TO STATE HEALTH LEADERS BECAUSE THERE IS NO APPROVED VACCINE FOR THAT AGE GROUP.

THIS MEANS A MASK COULD BE A CHILD'S ONLY LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST A VIRUS.

WHICH IS SPREADING AT AN ALARMING RATE.

WE REPORT HOW DAYCARES AND PARENTS ARE WORKING TO KEEP THEIR KIDS SAFE.

>> Reporter: TEMPERATURE OKAY AND KIDS ARRIVING AT THE CHILDCARE CENTER IN SOMERVILLE GET THERE TEMPERATURES TAKEN, PUT ON THEIR MACS AND CHANGE CHOOSE.

THE ENTRY RITUAL IS DESIGNED TO KEEP COVID OUT OF THE DAY CARE CENTER WHERE MOST CHILDREN ARE SIMPLY TOO YOUNG FOR VACCINATIONS.

>> IT IS TOUGH.

IF HE WAS OLD ENOUGH TO GET VACCINATED, WE WOULD.

>> Reporter: THIS NINE MONTH OLD, HIS FATHER KNOWS THE OMICRON SURGE IS HITTING KIDS, BUT ALL THE TEACHERS ARE VACCINATED AND WEAR MASKS.

TEACHERS WHO TRAVEL OUT-OF- STATE MUST QUARANTINE.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB OF MAKING SURE THE TEACHERS ARE SAFE AND THEY ARE EITHER HAVE A NEGATIVE TEST AND AFTER THE HOLIDAYS.

WE FEEL PRETTY SAFE WITH CHARLIE BEING HERE.

>> AT THIS POINT I FEEL OKAY WITH IT.

YOU TAKE ALL THE PRECAUTIONS.

THEY LEAVE THEIR SHOES OUT HERE AND THEY HAVE SCHOOL SHOES AND THEY WEAR MASKS ALL DAY.

>> WE HAVE CLOSED ZERO DAYS DUE TO COVID AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE PROUD OF.

WE WORK WITH AN AGE GROUP WHERE THEY REALLY CANNOT GET VACCINATED.

>> Reporter: SHE KEEPS TRACK OF 42 KIDS AND 10 TEACHERS.

SHE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IS AT STAKE TO KEEP HER BUSINESS RUNNING, SO PARENTS CAN GET TO WORK.

SODA SUSAN, WHO HEADS A DAY CARE IN PASSAIC, WHERE AGE COHORTS ARE SEPARATED AND TEACHERS DON'T SWITCH BETWEEN CLASSES.

>> WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP OUR COVID CASES TO A MINIMUM BOTH IN OUR FAMILIES AND WITH OUR STAFFING.

WE DON'T MIX THE CLASSROOMS WITH CHILDREN.

IF ANYONE ADULT TESTS POSITIVE OR HAS BEEN EXPOSED, WE ARE LIMITING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED.

>> Reporter: WHILE KIDS AGE 5 AND UP ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINATIONS, THAT IS A STEP SOME FAMILIES ARE NOT READY TO TAKE.

INCLUDING THIS MOTHER.

>> I WOULD RATHER WAIT UNTIL THE STUDIES ARE FINISHED.

I THINK IT IS A NEW VACCINE.

I BELIEVE IN HER IMMUNE SYSTEM AND IN LINE.

>> IT'S A CONCERN BUT FOR ME I PUT MY FAITH IN GOD.

I KNOW THAT IS NOT A CONVENTIONAL THING TO SAY.

BUT WE TAKE IT DAILY.

DAY BY DAY.

>> Reporter: SOME 520,000 KIDS IN NEW JERSEY ARE NOT YET ELIGIBLE FOR A COVID VACCINATION AND HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE ALL AT RISK.

NEW JERSEY REPORTED 83 HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS EARLIER THIS WEEK.

TODAY IT IS UP TO 94 AND MOST WERE NOT VACCINATED.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?

THIS DOCTOR ADVISES -- >> FOR CHILDREN UNDER FIVE, THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT THEM IS TO GET EVERYONE AROUND THEM VACCINATED.

IF I HAVE A PARENT WHO IS USING A CHILDCARE CENTER, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY ASK THEM, ARE YOU CHILDCARE WORKERS IMMUNIZED?

>> Reporter: CDC STUDY SHOW KIDS WHO GET COVID ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO DIABETES.

SOME MAY HAVE SUFFERED DAMAGE FROM THE VIRUS.

>> AND THE CONCERN IS THAT SOMEHOW COVID-19 DISEASE MIGHT TRIGGER SOME KIND OF AUTOIMMUNE PROBLEM WHERE YOU DESTROY THAT PART OF THE PANCREAS THAT MAKES THE INSULIN.

>> Reporter: WITH SO MUCH AT STAKE, CHILDCARE CENTER STRUGGLED TO FIND A BALANCE.

THIS SCHOOL CLOSED TWICE BECAUSE OF KIDS TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID.

ONE WAS OLD ENOUGH TO BE VACCINATED, BUT WAS NOT.

SHE CANNOT DEMAND THAT OF PARENTS.

>> IT IS TOUGH FOR ME BECAUSE I DO FEEL LIKE IT WOULD KEEP US OPEN MORE.

IT WOULD HAVE MORE CONTINUITY OF CARE FOR FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE SERVICE FAMILIES WHO ARE WORKING AND NEED US TO BE HERE AND BE OPEN FOR THEM TO HAVE AN INCOME AND A LIVELIHOOD.

>> Reporter: COVID'S IMPACT ON DAY CARE CAN AFFECT AN ENTIRE FAMILY.

>>> NEW JERSEY IS ONCE AGAIN UNDER A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

THE GOVERNOR MAKING THE DECLARATION DURING HIS STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH YESTERDAY.

SAYING THE MOVE IS NECESSARY AMID A SURGING COVID-19 CASES DUE TO THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS OMICRON VARIANT.

MURPHY REINSTATED THE EMERGENCY DESPITE LAWMAKERS DECLINED TO EXTEND SOME OF HIS EMERGENCY POWERS DURING THE LAST VOTING DAY.

MURPHY SAID THE MOVE ALLOWS THE STATE TO HELP KEEP SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES AND HOSPITALS SAFE AND OPEN AND TO CONTINUE PROVIDING VACCINATION AND TESTING PROGRAMS.

BUT, WILL THE NEW ACTION REQUIRE THINGS LIKE UNIVERSAL VACCINE MANDATES OR PASSPORTS?

FOR THOSE ANSWERS AND MORE DETAILS, WE TURN TO OUR HEALTHCARE REPORTER.

>> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR HAS CALLED THIS A NECESSARY STEP.

WHAT DOES RE-DECLARING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ACTUALLY MEAN?

>> HE SAID IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH THAT FOR MOST PEOPLE IT WILL NOT CHANGE HER DAILY LIVES.

AND THE TRUTH IS, IT IS NOT INTENDED TO CHANGE ANYTHING.

IT IS INTENDED TO ALLOW THE STATE TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT IT IS DOING.

WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE OPERATING VACCINE CLINICS AND TESTING PROGRAMS.

AND RUNNING THE VACCINE, THE BACKEND OF THE VACCINE REGISTRATION DATABASE.

AND IT MEANS THE STATE IS ALLOWED TO TELL DISTRICTS THEY NEED TO HAVE MASK MANDATES IN PLACE IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS.

IT ALLOWS THE STATE TO CONTINUE TO REQUIRE A WHOLE HOST OF DIFFERENT WORKERS, WHETHER HEALTHCARE WORKERS OR STATE WORKERS OR EDUCATION WORKERS THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE VACCINES .

OR GET REGULARLY TESTED.

IN ORDER TO MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS.

NONE OF THAT IS ACTUALLY NEW.

IT JUST ALLOWS THE STATE TO CONTINUE DOING THOSE THINGS.

>> Reporter: MY NEXT QUESTION IS, WHY NOW?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

THAT IS PARTLY BECAUSE AN ORDER THAT WOULD'VE ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN, THAT TO CONTINUE EXPIRED ON TUESDAY.

THE GOVERNOR HAD HOPED THAT THE LEGISLATURE WOULD ACT ON A RECOMMENDATION HE MADE A WEEK OR SO AGO SAYING, CAN YOU EXTEND 120 OF THESE VARIOUS STATE WAIVERS AND GOVERNMENT ORDERS?

AND THEY SAID, NO.

THEY DECLINED TO VOTE ON THAT.

THEY DECLINED EVEN TO VOTE ON A PARED DOWN VERSION THAT WOULD HAVE DONE IT FOR LESS OF A TIME.

MURPHY WAS LEFT WITH FEW OPTIONS.

'S OFFICE SAID THEY WERE WORKING WITH LAWMAKERS, BUT IT WAS NOT CLEAR TO ME HOW.

AND INSTEAD HE DID THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT LETS HIM DO ALL THESE THINGS.

>> Reporter: UNDER THE EMERGENCY YOU KIND OF TOUCHED ON WHAT IS INCLUDED UNDER THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE WILL NOT SEE?

>> THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT MURPHY MADE REALLY CLEAR AND STRESSED IN THE SPEECH, IN A LITTLE VIDEO HE RELEASED WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

ALL OF WHICH WAS PRERECORDED.

HE SAID IT WILL NOT MEAN LOCKDOWNS.

IT WILL NOT MEAN NEW RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESSES SCHOOLS, GATHERINGS, PLACES OF WORSHIP, IT WILL NOT CHANGE THAT.

AND IT WILL NOT MEAN NEW VACCINE REQUIREMENTS OR MASS VACCINE REQUIREMENTS OR A MANDATE THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A VACCINE PASSPORT.

HE WAS PRETTY CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT HE DID, GIVES THEM A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF POWER TO TINKER AROUND THE EDGES ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT POLICIES.

THEY STILL HAVE A LOT OF TOOLS WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES.

>> Reporter: AND WE KNOW THAT NOT EVERYONE IS A FAN OF THE MOVE.

WHAT ARE CRITICS SAYING?>> RIGHT.

ANOTHER GOOD QUESTION.

SOME OF THE CRITICS ARE IN HIS OWN PARTY.

AND THEY SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND IT IS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD.

THERE IS SOME DATA TO SUGGEST OMICRON MAY BE SLIGHTLY CRESTING AND MAYBE GOING DOWN AND A LOT OF THIS WAS DRIVEN BY THAT EXPLOSION.

BUT, YOU KNOW, PLENTY OF PEOPLE AND CERTAINLY A LOT OF REPUBLICANS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE EVERYDAY PEOPLE WHO DON'T FOLLOW POLITICS HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THE VIRUS.

WHEN THEY HEAR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, THEY WILL NOT BE THRILLED.

>> Reporter: THANK YOU FOR BREAKING THAT DOWN.

EXCELLENT REPORTING.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>> A BIG POLITICAL CHANGES COMING TO.

WHEN VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS TO SELECT A SUCCESSOR TO RETIRING CONGRESSMAN IN NEW JERSEY EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THE ELECTION MAY LACK ANY REAL DRAMA AS LOCAL AND STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS LINED UP BEHIND THE EARLY FAVORITE.

ROBERT MENENDEZ JR., THE SON OF SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ.

THE MANEUVERING IS RAISING RED FLAGS FOR ACTIVIST TO SAY FLAWS IN THE STATES SYSTEM FOR SELECTING CANDIDATES HAS TURNED THIS ELECTION INTO A CORONATION.

A POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT REPORTS.

>> Reporter: FOR STARTERS YOU CAN CALL HIM ROB UNLESS YOU MISTAKE HIM FOR BOB, HIS DAD.

THAT IS BOB ON THE RIGHT.

HE IS THE U.S.

SENATOR AND FORMER MAYOR OF UNION CITY AND IN HUDSON COUNTY ESPECIALLY, BIG TIME AS THEY USED TO SAY.

BUT THE FACT THAT THE SENATOR'S SON HAS BEEN BASICALLY HANDED A SEAT IN CONGRESS HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH THAT SAYS THE CURRENT CONGRESSMAN, ROB MENENDEZ WOULD SUCCEED.

>> I DON'T KNOW ANYONE THAT COULD MATCH WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE DISTRICT.

>> Reporter: ROB MENENDEZ IS AN ATTORNEY WITH THE BIG-TIME LAW FIRM, RECENTLY APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, HE IS THE ONE ON THE LEFT NEXT TO ROB'S FATHER.

TO THE POWERFUL PORT AUTHORITY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

AND NOW ENDORSED BY GOVERNOR MURPHY AND JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL IN HUDSON.

AND IN HUDSON, WHERE IT IS LIKE 9-1 DEMOCRATS, THE PARTY BOSSES THEY LIKE FOR THE SEAT IS THE GUY WHO GETS OF THE SEAT.

AND YES AROUND HERE IT IS GENERALLY GUYS.

>> FOR SOMEBODY TO COME OUTSIDE OF THE SYSTEM, YOU WILL NOW RUN UP AGAINST A GOVERNOR, THE SENATORS, EVERY LOCAL MACHINE THAT IS GOING TO LINE UP.

SO YOU ARE AT A TREMENDOUS ORGANIZATIONAL, FINANCIAL, LEGITIMACY STANDPOINT, DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE NOW THIS ERROR AND PARENT HAS INHERITED THE LINE.

WHICH MEANS THAT HE WALKS INTO ELECTION DAY WITH 35% OF THE VOTE.

IF YOU AND I WERE TO RUN A MILE BUT I SAY I CAN ONLY START RUNNING ONCE YOU HAVE RUN TWO THIRDS OF THE WAY, YOU MAY NOT FIND THAT TO BE A FAIR RACE.

>> Reporter: HE HAS BEEN THERE.

HE TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO UNSEAT IN 2020.

THE LATEST BEST EXAMPLE, OF THE POWER PARTY OFFICIALS HAVE TO CONTROL AND SOME SUGGESTS SUBVERT DEMOCRACY.

>> I DON'T KNOW ROBBY MENENDEZ FROM A HOLE IN THE WALL.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE DISTRICT IT IS LIKE AN AWESOME PLACE TO RECRUIT A FANTASTIC CANDIDATE OR TO HAVE A REAL PRIMARY OR YOU HAVE -- YOU EXPOSED DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WHICH ARE SUPER RELEVANT RIGHT NOW.

IT IS A SHAME.

A REAL SHAME.>> Reporter: THERE WAS AN OP-ED ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE WOMEN IN POLITICS.

SHE SAID THE PARTY APPARATUS OFTEN WORKS AGAINST THE INTEREST OF VOTERS, PARTICULARLY IN PLACES LIKE HUDSON WEAR A SEAT IN CONGRESS CAN BE A LIFETIME GIG.

>> ROBERT MENENDEZ JR. COULD BE A GOOD CONGRESSMAN, BUT IT IS FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO PROVE IT TO VOTERS.

IT IS FOR VOTERS TO EVALUATE HIS SKILLS AND TO MAKE AN ARGUMENT TO THE VOTERS THAT HE IS THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB.

PRIMARY ELECTION IS ABLE TO DO THAT FOR CANDIDATES.

>> Reporter: MENENDEZ WAS MENTIONED FOR A FEW MINUTES AS A POTENTIAL CANDIDATE TO CHALLENGE STEVE PHILLIPS FOR MAYOR IN JERSEY CITY LAST YEAR BUT THAT EFFORT SPUTTERED.

THERE WAS A SENSE AMONG SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS YOU TALK TO THAT HE WAS MAYBE LOOKING FOR AN EASIER CAMPAIGN TO RUN.>> WE JUST DON'T WANT TO TAG ALONG SOMEONE WHO JUST CAME UP ON THE SCENE.

WE WANT TO SEE SOMEBODY WHO IS RIGHT AND CHALLENGING AND PUSHBACK, FIGHTERS.

>> Reporter: MENENDEZ OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY LAST WEEK AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM HIM.

HIS REPS SAY HE WAS TOO BUSY FOR INTERVIEWS THIS WEEK.

IT WILL BE UP TO VOTERS, TECHNICALLY, TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WANT THE SENATOR'S SON TO BE THEIR FAVORITE SON.

>>> THE TIEBREAKER IN THE STATES CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING PROCESS IS ATTEMPTING TO CLARIFY WHAT HE PICKED THE MAP DRAWN BY DEMOCRATS OVER THE ONE SUBMITTED REPUBLICANS.

FORMER JUSTICE, JOHN WALLACE JR. SAID BOTH MAPS WERE CONSTITUTIONAL.

BUT SAID THE DEMOCRATS MAP BETTER SATISFIED THE STANDARD FOR PARTISAN FAIRNESS, WHEN COMPARED TO THE REPUBLICAN DRAWN MAP.

HE ALSO SAID HE APPRECIATED THE DEMOCRATS TOOK PUBLIC TESTIMONY INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN DRAWING NEW BOUNDARIES FOR THE STATES 12 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

WALLACE CAME UNDER FIRE LAST MONTH AFTER HE SAID HE CHOSE THE DEMOCRATIC MAP SIMPLY BECAUSE THE LAST CREATURES DESTROYING MAP FROM 2011 WAS DRAWN BY REPUBLICANS THE STATE GOP IS FIGHTING THE DECISION AND THEY FILED A LAWSUIT ASKING THE COURT TO THROW OUT THE NEW MAP.

DEMOCRATS ARE NOW ASKING THE COURT TO DISMISS THAT SUIT AND THE COURT HAS ORDERED BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES TO SUBMIT BRIEFS ADDRESSING WALLACE HIS STATEMENTS BY JANUARY 21.

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY ANNOUNCED TUESDAY HE WILL RENOMINATE TO FILL A VACANCY ON THE NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT.

THE SENATE DID NOT CONFIRM THE CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY BEFORE THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDED YESTERDAY.

THIS WAS DUE TO THE NEED FOR APPROVAL FROM REPUBLICAN SENATOR HOLLY.

SHE REPRESENTS BERGEN COUNTY AND BY LAW HAS THE POWER TO STOP A SUPREME COURT NOMINEE FROM ADVANCING IF THE NOMINEE RESIDES IN HER DISTRICT, WHICH SHE IS AS AN ENGLEWOOD RESIDENT.

CONCERNS OVER THE COURSE BALANCE OF POWER HAS KEPT HER FROM LETTING THE NOMINATION MOVE FORWARD.

BUT SAID AFTER CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION, SHE IS MOVING CLOSER TO A DECISION.

>>> BUSINESS LEADERS REACTING CRITICALLY TO THE GOVERNOR STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

SOME SAYING, SHOW ME THE MONEY.

AS AN RELEASING SOME FEDERAL COVID DOLLARS FOR STRUGGLING BUSINESSES.

WE HAVE THE DETAILS AND ALL THE OTHER TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES OF THE DAY.

>> Reporter: BUSINESS GROUPS APPLAUDED GOVERNOR MURPHY'S PLEDGE NOT TO RAISE TAXES THIS YEAR.

BUT THEY WANTED MORE FROM HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

WITH THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION AND THE STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ARE CALLING FOR THE GOVERNOR TO RELEASE MORE FEDERAL COVID-19 RELIEF DOLLARS TO BUSINESSES THAT ARE STILL STRUGGLING.

CHAMBER PRESIDENT AND CEO SAID THE SMALL BUSINESS SECTOR IS THE BACKBONE OF NEW JERSEY'S ECONOMY AND IT IS STILL HURTING.

>> IF ALL THE PROGRAMS THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED FOR IMPROVING OUR ECONOMY, WHICH ARE GREAT PROGRAMS.

THE INNOVATION EVERGREEN FUND AND TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AND SO FORTH.

IF THEY ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL, OUR OVERALL ECONOMY HAS TO BE STRONG.

WHICH MEANS OUR SMALL BUSINESS SECTOR HAS TO BE STRONGER THAN IT IS AND IT NEEDS MORE HELP.

>> Reporter: HE IS A MEMBER OF THE NJ BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

MURPHY TOUTED TAX CUTS HE MADE BUT THIS IS GROUPS POINT OUT NEW JERSEY TAXES ARE STILL TOO HIGH.

SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS TOO HIGH IS INFLATION.

IN THE PAST YEAR INFLATION IS MEASURED BY THE GOVERNMENTS CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, ROSE 7%.

THAT IS THE FASTEST PACE SINCE 1982.

AND IT IS INCREASING EXPENSES FOR HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES.

FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO BUY A USED CAR, PRICES ARE UP 37% COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO.

GAS, FOOD, HOUSING, ALL THE COST MORE.

RESTAURANTS SAY THEY ARE RAISING PRICES OR LIKE DOMINOES SAID THIS WEEK THEY ARE CUTTING BACK ON PROMOTIONS COVID GETS SOME OF THE BLAME FOR ALL THIS, AS WORKERS HAVE CALLED OUT SICK.

THERE ARE SHORTAGES FOR SOME PRODUCTS, WHICH PUSHES A PRICES.

>>> THE PUSH TO DEVELOP CLEAN ENERGY THROUGH OFFSHORE WIND GOT A BOOST TODAY.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS FOR AN AUCTION OF 488,000 ACRES OFF THE COAST OF NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK.

THE LATE FEBRUARY AUCTION WILL ALLOW OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPERS TO BID ON SIX LEASE AREAS.

THE MOST AREAS EVER OFFERED IN A SINGLE AUCTION.

DURING TODAY'S AN AUCTION, GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID CLIMATE ACTION CAN DRIVE INVESTMENTS WHILE ALSO READING JOBS.

THERE HAS BEEN PUSHBACK AGAINST WIND FROM COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN AND RESIDENTS.

BUT THE GOVERNOR SAID, THERE ARE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.

>>> LET'S TAKE A CHECK ON WALL STREET TRADING FOR TODAY.

>>> A SLOW BURNING STRUGGLE BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND THE NEED FOR MORE RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE IS UNDERWAY.

THAT IS WHERE THE PASSAIC SEWERAGE COMMISSION WHICH TAKES CARE OF SEWERAGE FROM DOZENS OF NORTH JERSEY COMMUNITIES WANTS TO PROTECT AGAINST FUTURE OUTAGES WHEN MAJOR STORMS HIT BY BUILDING A NEW NATURAL GAS POWER PLANT TO PROVIDE BACKUP POWER FOR ITS MAIN FACILITY.

THE BOARD MEETS TOMORROW AND THE UTILITY COULD TAKE A BIG STEP FORWARD TO STARTING CONSTRUCTION.

BUT COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARGUE A NEW POWER PLANT IS LASTING AND ALREADY HEAVILY POLLUTED NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OVERBURDEN NEIGHBORHOODS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

INCREDIBLE AMOUNTS OF POLLUTION CONCENTRATED IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD OF LOW INCOME BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: RESIDENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS ARE FURIOUS ABOUT A PROPOSED PLAN TO DEVELOP A NEW POWER PLANT IN NEWARK'S EASTWARD JUST OFF THE AREA AND SECTION.

>> THERE IS NO OTHER COMMUNITY IN NEW JERSEY THAT HAS TWO POWER PLANTS.

HOW IS IT THAT WE WILL HAVE ONE THAT HAS THREE?

THERE IS A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE ONE.

NOT ONE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT.

NOT ONE GARBAGE INCINERATOR.

WE HAVE IT ALL.

>> Reporter: AD HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC AND SEVERAL NEARBY FACTORIES THAT HAVE LED TO INCREASED HEALTH PROBLEMS FOR RESIDENTS.

THINGS LIKE INCREASED RATES OF CHILDHOOD ASTHMA.

BUT THIS IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE NATURAL GAS POWER PLANT.

THIS ONE IS BEING CREATED AS A BACKUP ENERGY SOURCE FOR THE PASSAIC SEWERAGE COMMISSION.

THE PROCESS SEWAGE WASTE FOR 48 NORTH JERSEY CITIES AND TOWNS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF GALLONS EACH DAY.

DURING SUPER STORM SANDY POWER WENT OUT AND THE NEAR BOWL NEWARK BAY FILLED WITH 800 MILLION GALLONS OF RAW SEWAGE.

IT WAS THEN THAT THEY STARTED PLANS FOR A BACKUP POWER PLANT.>> BACKUP ENERGY AND ENERGY RESILIENCE IS IMPORTANT BUT THIS FACILITY HAS NOT SHOWN THAT WHAT IT PROPOSES TO DO IS THE BEST, MOST JUST WAY TO ACHIEVE ENERGY RESILIENCE.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD A POWER PLANT THAT IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS FACILITY.

THE MOST LOGICAL WAY FOR THEM TO ACHIEVE ENERGY RESILIENCE WILL BE A DIRECT CONTRACT WITHOUT POWER PLANT.

>> Reporter: ACTIVISTS ARE CALLING FOR OTHER RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES TO POWER THE PLANT.

BUT THEY HAVE OUTLINED A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES WITH RENEWABLE SAYING THAT SOLAR AND WIND POWER WOULD BE UNRELIABLE AS BACKUP ENERGY DURING A STORM, WITHOUT BATTERY POWER TO STORE IT.

AND THE SPACE REQUIRED FOR THE BATTERIES WOULD BE 17 TIMES THE SIZE OF THE POTENTIAL CENTER, WHICH DOES NOT EXIST NEAR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

BUT NEW STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS PUT LIMITATIONS ON WHAT THEY CAN DO.

>> THE LAW WE JUST PAST PREVENTS US FROM GIVING PERMITS TO FACILITIES THAT ADD TO THE CUMULATIVE BURDEN.

>> Reporter: BECAUSE THE PROJECT IS CONSIDERED A MAJOR SOURCE OF AIR POLLUTION, THE FEDERAL CLEAN AIR ACT REQUIRES A TOTAL FIVE PERMIT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

NEW JERSEY'S 2020 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE LAW REQUIRES THAT SUCH PROJECTS CONSIDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.

IN SPITE OF THE REQUIRED PERMITS, THE BOARD WILL VOTE ON THURSDAY TO DETERMINE WHETHER TO START CONSTRUCTION, WITHOUT THE PERMITS.

IT TO PUT POLITICAL PRESSURE ON GOVERNOR MURPHY TO APPROVE THE PROJECT ONCE TAXPAYER DOLLARS START BEING SPENT.

>> THE BOARD SHOULD HAVE THE PERMIT FIRST SO THEY ARE NOT INVESTING AT THEIR OWN RISK.

INSTEAD THE BOARD DECIDED TO TAKE A RISK WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY I THINK THAT IS FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE.

AND MORALLY IRRESPONSIBLE TO DO THAT IN THE FACE OF SO MUCH COMMUNITY OPPOSITION.

THEY ARE A PUBLIC UTILITY.

>> Reporter: THE PROJECT YEAR RATES A CATCH-22.

WHILE HE CREATES BACKUP ENERGY IN THE CASE OF STORMS, IT WILL PUMP THE HOUSE GASES INTO THE ARROW THAT WILL FUEL CLIMATE CHANGE WHICH HELPED SANDY BECOME SO POWERFUL 10 YEARS AGO.

THE COMMUNITY IS COUNTING ON THE GOVERNOR TO STEP IN.

HIS ADMINISTRATION OFFERED NO COMMENT.

>> I AM HOLDING OUT HOPE THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY WILL DO THE RIGHT THING.

STOP THIS.

IF HE DOES NOT, IT SHOWS YOU JUST USED OUR COMMUNITIES AS A POLITICAL SAFETY NET.

>> I WOULD HATE TO SEE HIS LEGACY MARRED BY THE BUILDING OF ANOTHER POWER PLANT IN AN OVERBURDEN COMMUNITY.>> Reporter: THE CLOCK IS RUNNING DOWN FOR THE START OF THIS PROJECT.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT BUT BE SURE TO TUNE IN TO CHAT BOX WITH DAVID TOMORROW NIGHT.

HE GOES ONE-ON-ONE FOR AN EXIT INTERVIEW WITH FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT STEVE SWEENEY REFLECTS ON HIS SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES AS HE WALKED AWAY FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND IS A RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN 2025 IN HIS FUTURE?

THAT IS THURSDAY AT 6:30 P.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

AND BY THE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY.

>>> OUR FUTURE RELIES ON WARM AND CLEAN ENERGY.

OUR FUTURE RELIES ON EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES, THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS.

OF OUR SCHOOLS AND STREETS.

THE PSE&G FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY , EQUITY AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.

INVESTING IN PARKS, HELPING TOWNS GO GREEN, SUPPORTING CIVIC CENTERS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.

>>> THIS IS WHAT I WORK FOR.

TO BE MY BEST FOR THEM.

AND FOR ME.

IN BODY AND IN MIND.

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

THAT HAS MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS THAT I CAN TALK TO, WHEN I NEED TO.

WHEN I FEEL STRONG AND SECURE, SO DO THEY.

THIS IS MY LIFE.

AND THIS IS HOW HORIZON BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY WORKS FOR ME.