>> Major funding for NJ Spotlight News is provided in part by NJM Insurance Group, ensuring the needs of residents and businesses for more than 100 years.

Briana: Tonight on NJ Spotlight News, making roads safer.

New Jersey gets the nation's first taskforce charged with eliminating traffic deaths completely.

>> we are taking a crucial step towards ensuring that a walk, a drive, or a bike ride never again results in an empty seat at the table.

Briana: Plus, Governor Murphy will lay out his plans and priorities for the state as he enters his last year in office.

>> State of the state speeches are interesting, because they are part stump speech, part policy document, part roadmap.

Briana: Also, the fight over who controls Paterson's police continues.

Local advocates worry that returning control to the city could be a miscarriage of justice.

>> It is about the people of Paterson.

The Black and Brown communities here who have been subject to long-standing police misconduct and brutality.

Briana: And after a year-long wait, the first cannabis lounges in New Jersey are looking to light up.

>> Just been a journey, a bunch of red tape going through city approval, state approvals, and of course doing actual work.

Briana: NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

♪ >> From NJ PBS Studios, this is NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: Good evening and thanks for joining us on this Monday night.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

We begin with a few of today's top headlines.

First, as new data shows traffic fatalities surging, state leaders are putting a focus on making New Jersey's roads safer.

Governor Murphy today signed a new law creating the target zero commission, a new 13 member body that will create plans and policies to eliminate, get this, all traffic deaths and serious injuries in the state by 2040.

But the commission will have its work cut out.

According to statistics, New Jersey experienced a 14% increase in traffic deaths last year compared to 2023.

Some communities have already launched their own efforts, like Hoboken, which has not seen a single traffic death in seven years.

The city has been praised as a national leader in safe streets, but most of New Jersey does not have a plan and the recent high-profile death of hockey star Johnny Gaudreau has put a spotlight on the issue.

>> Too many of our roads have been these on for people and motor vehicles, and pedestrians and cyclists like myself have to share the rows with these machines.

They are driven by people, people who make mistakes.

But those mistakes should not put our lives at risk.

This is why today's signing of the New Jersey target zero commission bill is so significant.

It marks a commitment to the building of infrastructure that protect cyclists, walkers, and all road users.

Briana: Also tonight, after all that drama, the Philadelphia 76ers have abandoned plans to build a new arena in Center City.

Of NBA basketball team will instead remain at the sports complex in South Philly.

The stunning reversal comes just weeks after the sixers got the green light from the city Council to build a controversial billion-dollar downtown arena, and after years of planning and heated protests over the move.

At a press conference today, Philly's mayor and leadership from the sixers revealed a deal with Comcast, which owns the Wells Fargo Center where the sixers and the Philadelphia Flyers play.

Play will instead transform the current sports complex by 2031, spending nearly $3 billion to also bring residential units and other attractions.

Comcast will also now take a minority stake in the team, and help with a bid to bring a WNBA team to Philly.

New Jersey of course made a longshot bid to bring the team here to Camden's waterfront, offering hundreds of millions in tax revenue -- tax credits, but ultimately it was not enough.

After years of scandal, the Clark mayor is out of a job.

The embattled Union County mayor resigned on Friday as part of a plea agreement following criminal charges.

The 64-year-old pleaded guilty to committing official misconduct and forgery for using the town's resources, things like computers in fact machines, while operating his oil tank storage removal business without having the proper licensing.

Now, according to court documents, he also directed Clark employees to perform work for his business while being paid by the Township.

Investigators say they also found signatures impersonating an engineer on permit applications.

As part of the deal, he will have to pay a $15,000 fine over the next three years, and will be sentenced in February to probation.

The judge also ordered him to be forever disqualified from holding any future public office, and he's out as the GOP municipal Chairman.

He came under fire in 2022 for making racist comments with members of the Police Department there which were caught on secret recordings.

Governor Murphy is preparing to take the final lap of his time in office, delivering his state of the state address before a joint session of the legislature in Trenton tomorrow, where he will lay out his plans and priorities for New Jersey under the last year of his administration.

It comes after a highly contentious presidential election, and as the state gears up for what is expected to be an equally tough gubernatorial race.

Senior political correspondent David Cruz has a preview.

David: For a few years now, Governor Phil Murphy has used his state of the state speech to enumerate his accomplishments.

So, over the past six state of the state speeches, you have heard about the anchor tax relief program, and the birth of the cannabis industry, minimum wage, and family leave.

Genuine accomplishments.

But reaction from even fellow Democrats, some of whom want to succeed Murphy, is basically, meh.

>> Let me say it this way.

I think the most effective governors push kind of a bold agenda.

And mostly Fekete -- effective executives, whether it is governors, mayors, a bold agenda and you can clearly define their administration with one clear a compliment.

One thing I can say about the Murphy administration is I still don't know what that thing is that over the last seven years, that is the driving point they have changed New Jersey.

>> State of the state speeches are interesting because they are part stump speech, part policy document, part roadmap.

This one is particularly interesting because as you said, he will give another one next year, but next year is a valedictory, is the goodbye.

So this is kind of the last substantive one.

But even this one, I would look at it as sort of the beginning of the goodbye tour.

David: But hold on, say folks in the governor's office.

This is a chief executive who has promised to run through the finish line.

So while you may hear that laundry list of Murphy victories tomorrow, you are also going to hear new initiatives, including proposals, they say, on education, reproductive rights, housing, public safety, and yes, tax relief.

Among a dozen or so action items.

>> [Inaudible] David: Republicans, again including those looking to succeed Murphy, say that beyond the medley of hits, the governor should address lingering issues including crime, despite stats showing a decrease.

>> It still has to be addressed.

Over development, these towns don't want a number that said you have to have 400 new units regardless of the impact on the local community.

I have to think I believe he should address -- address health insurance.

Because over and over again, one can't get into the doctor, and when they do they can't get the bills paid.

There is all kind of denials and reductions.

That's going to be a brand-new issue.

David: With just over a year left in the term, Murphy's agenda is subject to the political realities of New Jersey's robust election schedules.

If you ain't on the ballot, you probably ain't the priority.

>> Very difficult for the last year of a governor.

The assembly may say you are worried about -- we're worried about our jobs.

We're more worried about all these people running for governor and less about you.

So it is difficult.

David: In the end, most people don't remember these speeches much beyond the 24 hours after they are delivered.

To use a sports metaphor, as this governor often does to make his points, Phil Murphy has hit some doubles and moved some runners over, but he's got one more at-bat to hit a homerun.

I'm David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: Make sure you keep it right here for the Governor's state of the state address tomorrow.

We will be live from inside the assembly chamber at the Statehouse with full coverage of the address.

You can catch the speech and all of our analysis starting at 3:00 p.m. right here on NJ PBS and streaming on our NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel.

A handful of progressive advocacy groups are jumping into the fray over the Paterson police take over, filing an amicus brief in support of the Attorney General.

After a state appellate court ruled in December the Attorney General's office illegally took over the troubled law enforcement department almost two years ago.

The state immediately appealed, and New Jersey's Supreme Court agreed to temporarily pause the decision.

Now as Brenda Flanagan reports, the fight appears to be centered around a home rule and political power.

>> It is about the people of Paterson.

The Black and Brown communities here who have been just a subject to long-standing police misconduct and breast algae -- and brutality.

Brenda: That is why they are asking New Jersey's Supreme Court to uphold the takeover of Paterson's police almost two years ago.

Jerseys police appointed new leadership, inviting community participation, and rolling out reforms.

She is with the Institute for social justice.

>> These people need accountability.

That is when it comes down to, the need for accountability so they can have a government, a police department they can trust, and they do not have that right now.

>> The reality is there were a lot of issues in this Police Department going back years that culminated with the killing of Seabrooks.

Brenda: He was shot and killed by Paterson police after they were called to his apartment where he was suffering and mental health crisis.

His death sparked demands for justice, and that same month Attorney General Matt plaque and took over the apartment.

The mayor and displaced police chief sued, claiming he lacked the legal authority to supersede the city.

But is really a fight for political power, says one local activist.

>> To me, it is not the Police Department, it is the mayor's office and about control.

The end goal is to not maintain permanent control, is to bring the department to be.

Change is difficult.

Change is not easy.

Change can be uncomfortable but this particular process was needed.

There is no law that says the Attorney General has the authority to do what he did.

As a matter of fact, it ultimately comes down to people placing their trust in the mayor.

Brenda: The mayor argues an appellate court panel agreed with him, and his former police chief, ordering the AG count and hitting a reset button.

But New Jersey's Supreme Court ordered a temporary stay, so now both sides are prepping for battle.

>> I was elected by a large margin on the people of Paterson.

And quite frankly, I tell folks in the city, I may not look like you, but I always look out for you.

And I'm looking out for them every day.

They know who their mayor is.

They don't know who the Attorney General is.

They know where to find me, they put their faith in me.

So, it's not fair that someone would exceed his authority and encroach upon my duty.

Brenda: He says it is a matter of home rule, long regarded as a baseline belief in New Jersey.

The league of municipalities filed briefs to support Paterson.

Among the opponents, jersey's ACLU, asking the state Supreme Court to hear their side of the story.

>> The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer of New Jersey.

Brenda: And a state takeover is in his legal toolbox, the advocates argue.

They know plaintiffs stress home rule but that poses a much greater danger to civil liberties and civil rights which are central to the advocate's missions.

>> We cannot wait for bad acting police departments to invite the Attorney General for accountability.

What we know right now is local police departments cannot police themselves.

So what we need is somebody who has been given the authority by the legislature such as the Attorney General to take over police departments to be able to do so.

Brenda: And he says while the federal government has sometimes stepped into address Police Department deficiencies in cities like Newark and Trenton, the incoming administration has disavowed such tactics.

For now, everything is on hold while the legal process plays out.

Litigants have until tomorrow January 14 to file paperwork in the case.

In Paterson, I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: The annual winter respiratory virus season is back in full swing and it is here with a vengeance.

New Jersey medical centers are seeing a significant uptick in people catching the flu, RSV and COVID-19.

In fact the CDC ranks New Jersey as among the highest in the nation for flu activity.

And according to weekly surveillance data from the State Department of health, about 5% of all emergency department visits due to respiratory illness during the first week of January were attributed to the flu.

Health experts say most cases are relatively mild, but they are still highly contagious.

Dr. Suraj Saggar, chief of infectious disease, has tips on how you can stay healthy this season.

He joins me now.

Thank you so much for giving us some of your time.

Let's talk first about which respiratory viruses are most prevalent this year, and how that compares with last winter.

Dr. Saggar: Like a lot of winters, especially pre-pandemic, we are seeing a rise in influenza A, RSV, COVID-19, as well as other viruses like parainfluenza, human metapneumovirus, and what we call the non-novel coronaviruses, i.e., the common, every year seasonal version of coronavirus.

There are a whole host of viruses out there.

We are much better able to be detecting these viruses.

And so now we have much better data in terms of their incidence, prevalence, and to summarize, we are right in the middle of flu and cold season.

Briana: You mentioned Covid.

Where do we stand there?

Are we seeing an increase in cases, or are respiratory viruses like the flu taking center stage?

Dr. Saggar: I would say COVID is in third place right now.

It is really RSV and influenza that are leading.

We are seeing an increase in Covid after a very slow start.

What I would say is that we are seeing typical influenza and RSV, maybe how another years.

COVID-19 kind of lasts throughout the year.

What we are seeing here in New Jersey is mirroring the rest of the United States.

COVID-19, slow to start, now starting to take off, may peak later.

Briana: Are there any new mutations or strains, doctors that we should or that you and your team are worried about?

Dr. Saggar: We look at specific strains of different viruses and what I will say is that for COVID-19, the main strain still remains, you could say, descendants of the Omicron virus.

So while yes, there are some small mutations in the names of the viruses and the strains, the current medication, the current vaccines, the vaccine boosters, are all effective at preventing severe or critical disease.

Thankfully they are not conferring any increased transmit ability.

So it is not more infectious, nor are they seeing anymore virulence, meaning they are not causing any more severe disease than strains we have seen in the past.

Briana: I am thinking too about public health measures.

Has your hospital reinstated things like masking, or even distancing to the extent that you can?

And are those measures, that have largely been forgotten now?

Dr. Saggar: They are never forgotten.

Our own institution, the safety of our patients and especially the most vulnerable patient population is paramount.

What we do do is utilize very specific and targeted isolation practices.

So, we look at the patient, we look at their host factors, what diseases they might have, and then we institute specific precautions for that patient and for that situation.

So while we don't have a universal mask mandate, we are very astute in monitoring our caseload of not just COVID-19, of RSV, of parainfluenza, of all the different viruses, bacteria, etc.

And then we intervene early if needed based upon that data.

Briana: Let me ask you quickly before we have to go, what can we do?

Of course handwashing, handwashing, handwashing.

But people always want to know how I can prevent myself from getting the flu or Covid or RSV this year.

Dr. Saggar: People are looking for high-tech solutions but it comes down to hand hygiene.

Highly effective, extremely effective.

You'd be surprised how many people forget and don't always wash their hands.

They touch elevator buttons, they may be in the mall touching different surfaces.

You really want to wash your hands regularly throughout the day.

You want to avoid touching your face, which the average person does five to seven times a minute.

I am guilty of it as well.

And you want to make sure you are fully vaccinated based upon individual risk factors, your age.

Seasonal influenza, RSV, COVID-19 boosters are all available.

I implore everyone to talk to your health care avail -- health care provider so you can make the best decision for you and your family.

Briana: Suraj Saggar, thank you so much.

Dr. Saggar: Thank you so much for having me.

Briana: After nearly a year long wait, cannabis business owners around the state have the chance to open up a consumption lounge, places where you can go to safely and legally lie down -- light up.

Applications opened up earlier this month, but some insiders say strict regulations could dampen demand for a license.

As Raven Santana found out, some unlikely businesses are showing interest in entering the market.

>> It has been a journey.

Just a bunch of red tape going through city approval, state approvals, and of course just actually doing the work.

Raven: It has been almost two weeks since he cannabis regulatory commission opened the application portal for consumption lounge is, and he says he is finally feeling optimistic after spending more than $1 million on safety measures and strict regulations over a span of three years.

>> Older mitigation systems, air purifying systems, noise cancellation, just insulation to cancel any noises going on.

ADA bathrooms.

You name it.

Anything to just build an assembly room just to have people here.

And then also to mitigate the smoke and make sure everybody is safe in a climate controlled environment.

Raven: The CEO and owner of this street-level retail dispensary with the cannabis consumption area located in the basement level gave me a tour of the 1200 square-foot consumption lounge that can fit about 75 people.

>> There is going to be a security guard, an armed guard outside checking ID's, making sure everyone is safe.

There will be three bartenders on the main floor helping to customers.

.

Going to be two flower hosts and two bartenders downstairs in the consumption lounge.

Then of course there is the manager, the inventory control specialist, a few delivery drivers.

Raven: He admits the new requirements have not been easy or cheap credits to CRC for their guidance.

>> The CRC has been helpful.

Anytime we ask questions they have been very helpful and expedited my application just because I am a minority, impact zone, social equity applicant.

Raven: Application fees cost $1000 total, $200 to submit an $800 upon approval.

The annual licensing for the consumption lounge will cost $1000 for micro businesses and $5,000 for standard businesses.

Cannabis consumption areas will be attached to licensed dispensaries.

The regulations include restricting lounges to adults 21 and older, no unregulated cannabis, and no food or alcohol sales.

The facility is required to implement odor control measures, where consumption limits must be enforced.

And the lounge needs signs clearly explaining these rules.

>> I think it is going to be surprising for a lot of people.

Even if you own more than one retail location, you can only have one consumption area.

And so you are going to have to choose amongst those different retail locations where that consumption lounge is going.

Raven: Molly is the chair of McGlocklin and Stearns cannabis practice group.

She noted just one of a few changes she noticed in the CRC's application released January 2.

She warns there'll be certain issues people may not have dealt with in the same way when obtaining a license the first time around.

>> Now that the application portal is open and you can submit the application, that is just the first step.

There may be some additional hurdles with respect to the conception area on a zoning and planning level.

A local land-use level.

A security level.

Coordination with police.

Raven: Which is why she foresees a decrease in applications.

>> I think we are going to see a decrease in the number of licenses.

I have started to see a difference in the type of person who is seeking a license.

I have started to see people who have absolutely no interest in cannabis, but who had a logistics business, who have a distribution business, who have a business that has a lot of crossover.

Raven: Despite the challenges, they agree the wait was worth it, and believe the application answers and clarifies and number of issues, including limiting on regular did cannabis, Safed consumption, and -- Briana: A heads up for commuters.

It is going to cost you a little more to ride the path.

Fares increased Sunday for the first time in a decade.

A1 Ray Tripp now cost three dollars up from $2.75.

Customers 65 and older will get a slight break, also a $.25 increase.

The increases apply even if you buy the multi trip Metro card.

The Port Authority says the fare hikes are partially due to inflation but also to raise money for a multimillion dollar plan to upgrade the path trains.

The agency will also roll out a new program for commuters with disabilities starting this summer, offering them for the first time a 50% discount on their rides.

The fare changes come a week just after congestion pricing went into effect, pushing more people onto mass transit systems that are already stretching to meet demand.

That is going to do it for us tonight.

Before you go, a reminder, you can download the NJ Spotlight News podcast so you can listen to us anytime.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

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

Have a great night.

We will see you back here tomorrow.

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We support arts and culture- related and nonprofit organizations that serve to improve the lives of children, rebuild communities, and helped to create a new generation of safe drivers.

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