>> FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP.

SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

NEW JERSEY REALTORS.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJ REALTOR.COM.

AND BY THE PS E.G.

FOUNDATION.

FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

NEW JERSEY HAS A MATERNAL CRISIS, FROM TAMMY MURPHY WHO IS LEADING EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CARE FOR MOTHERS AND NEWBORNS.

MURPHY AND HIS WIFE ESTABLISHED NURTURE MJ, WITH THE GOAL OF ENDING RACIAL DISPARITIES IN MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH.

17 NEW JERSEY SPOTLIGHT --STARTUP COMPANIES WERE AWARDED GRANTS TO SUPPORT THE WELL-BEING OF MOTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN.

EACH RECEIVED A GRANT OF 75,000.

SOME OF THE PROJECTS FUNDED INCLUDE PRODUCTS TO FIGHT MORNING SICKNESS AND SPECIAL PACIFIERS THAT CAN DISPENSE MEDICATION.

THE FIRST LADY SAYS THE COMPANY GRANTS WILL HELP TURN THE TIDE IN THE STATES MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH CRISIS.

>> THEY HAVE THE PROCESS TO ADDRESS EACH OF THESE CONCERNS.

USE DISCOMFORT AND MAKE SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL ADVANCES.

AND MORE THAN THAT, EVERY SINGLE AWARDEE HAS LED THEIR WORK NOT ONLY WITH INNOVATION AND TALENT, BUT ALSO WITH EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING THE PACIFIC DISCUSSED SPECIFIC NEEDS OF MOTHERS.

>> FUNDING COMES FROM THE NJ EDA AND COMMISSION ON SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY.

THEY EXPECT TO HOLD ANOTHER COMPETITION IN THE FUTURE TO AWARD MORE GRANTS.

>>> NEW JERSEY HAS ITS SHARE OF CONGESTED ROADWAYS AND TRAFFIC JAMS.

AND IN BERGEN COUNTY, THERE ARE PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT BOTTLENECKS ON ROUTE 17 NEAR THE GARDEN STATE PLAZA MALL.

THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED A GRANT FOR A NEW TRAFFIC STUDY TO COME UP WITH IDEAS ON HOW TO IMPROVE THAT STRETCH OF HIGHWAY.

OFFICIALS WANT INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS ON HOW THE PLAN IS SHAPING UP AND HOW THOSE COULD CAUSE SOME HEADACHES IN THE SHORT TERM.

>> IT'S TOO MUCH CONGESTION.

>> LOCATED MOSTLY ALONG THE COUPLE MILES OF TWO-LANE HIGHWAY, ESPECIALLY AT RUSH HOUR.

>> WHEN IT'S REALLY BAD, IT JUST SITS.

TOTAL GRIDLOCK.

>> IT JUST GETS BACKED UP ALL THE TIME.

>> IF THERE IS A ACCIDENT, THE HIGHWAY GETS SHUT DOWN.

>> EMERGENCY RESPONDERS SOMETIMES CAN'T GET THROUGH THE CARS AND THEY BLOCK COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC.

SO THEY ARE WORKING TO REFRESH ENGINEERING PLANS TO WIDEN AND IMPROVE THE TWO-LANE BOTTLENECK WITH SOME $870,000 FROM THE STATE.

>> IT'S A LONG PROJECT, A BIG PROJECT BUT SO IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY.

>>> IT WOULD ADD AN EXTRA LANE NORTH AND SOUTHBOUND ALONG A STRETCH.

IT WOULD REBUILD PLEASANT AVENUE, PASSAIC STREET AND CENTRAL AVENUE.

IT ALSO ADDS AND IMPROVES EXIT RAMPS ALONG THAT STRETCH.

THE PRICE TAG, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS TO HIGHLIGHT.

BERGEN COUNTY SEEKING PUBLIC INPUT ON THE AMBITIOUS PLAN ON THIS WEBSITE UNTIL FEBRUARY 2nd.

>> BEFORE IT'S ALL UP AND RUNNING, THE BACKLASH IT WOULD CAUSE.

MASSIVE PROJECT.

>> THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT WILL DISRUPT PROFIT -- TRAFFIC PATTERNS IN AN AREA ALREADY NOTORIOUS FOR TRAFFIC AND BRING RIGHT-OF-WAY PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE HIGHWAY.

>> IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT A DOZEN OR SO, I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE MAKING ANY ADJUSTMENTS.

BUT REALLY THIS IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYBODY.

>> WHILE THE COUNTY STUDIES THE PROJECT AND COLLECTS OPINIONS, IT WILL SPEND 10 MILLION TO IMPROVE --AVENUE.

THAT COULD SERVE AS AN ALTERNATE ROUTE WHEN CONSTRUCTION STARTS ON THE MAIN PROJECT.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING TO EASE THAT CONGESTION AND IMPROVING THE INTERSECTIONS, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO WIDEN CERTAIN SECTIONS.

>> Reporter: THE COUNTY ENGINEER SAYS THE DEVELOPMENT WILL WRAP UP THIS SUMMER BUT FINAL PLANS WON'T BE DONE FOR YEARS.

IT COULD GET POLITICALLY DICEY TO COUNT ON FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING FOR SUCH A LONG TERM PROJECT.

>> IF IT KEEPS THE REGION MOVING, IT'S A NECESSARY EVIL.

>> FOR NOW, THEY WILL KEEP PUSHING THROUGH THE BOTTLENECKS AND TRYING TO KEEP A SENSE OF HUMOR.

>> Reporter: I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THE CITY OF GARFIELD IS RECEIVING $2.4 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO REMOVE LEAD PIPES FROM THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY.

THE NEWS IS THE LATEST ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS BEING USED IN NEW JERSEY.

GIVEN THAT THE STATE HAS ABOUT 250,000 KNOWN LED SERVICE LINES, THE MONEY IS VERY MUCH NEEDED.

BUT IT'S STILL NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH.

>> I MOVED TO GARFIELD 10 YEARS AGO FROM ALBANIA, IT WAS QUITE A SHOCK TO REALIZE THAT THE WATER COULD NOT BE DRINK.

>> THANKS TO A GRANT FROM A BIPARTISAN LAW, SOME PEOPLE IN GARFIELD WHO GET THEIR DRINKING WATER FROM TOXIC SERVICE LINES WILL GET NEW SERVICE LINES.

>> FEDERAL INVESTMENTS ARE NEEDED.

TOWNS DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY.

>> Reporter: THE CONGRESSMAN SPOKE ABOUT SERVICE LINES EARLY THIS WEEK.

THE CITY HAS MORE THAN 5000 OF THEM AND CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE ALL OF THEM ON ITS OWN.

HE SAYS FEDERAL FUNDS ARE A GREAT PLACE TO START.

>> I COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER PLACE TO SPEND OUR RESOURCES.

AND PROTECTING WHAT THEY DRINK DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

>> Reporter: IT PROVIDES $15 BILLION FOR STATE TO REPLACE LED SERVICE LINES.

NEW JERSEY'S SHARE OF THAT IS 48 MILLION.

LESS THAN 10% OF WHAT EXPERTS SAY IS NEEDED TO REPLACE EACH LINE IN THE STATE.

THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL ESTIMATES THERE ARE AROUND 350,000 OF THEM IN NEW JERSEY.

>> THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT, BUT IF I HAD A $28,000 BILL, THAT WOULD BE LIKE A $2400 PAYMENT.

IT HELPS BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO PAY FOR THE WHOLE THING.

>> ANYTHING WE CAN GET IS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITIES BUT IT COMES DOWN TO WE HAVE TO GET THIS OUT.

>> Reporter: CINDY ROPER IS A SENIOR POLICY ADVOCATE FOR THE NATIONAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL.

SHE SAYS THEY WILL HAVE TO START FACTORING IN THE PRICE OF SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT WHEN THEY CALCULATE WATER BILLS.

SINCE CITIES CAN'T COUNT ON FEDERAL FUNDS FOREVER.

>> IF YOU HAVE PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THE WATER MAIN IS BEING REPLACED AND YOU ARE APPROACHING HOMES WHERE RESIDENTS CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY TO HAVE THEIR LEAD PIPE REPLACED, LEAVING BEHIND A PARTIAL IS NOT AN OPTION.

>> Reporter: TIME IS TICKING AFTER GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY SIGNED A LAW REQUIRING MUNICIPALITIES TO REPLACE ALL LED SERVICE LINES BY 2031.

ADVOCATES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WORRY THAT SOME PLACES WILL FALL BEHIND.

>> DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES ARE NOT USED TO SPEAKING UP FOR THEMSELVES AND ADVOCATING FOR THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF THE -- OF LIFE.

THIS IS ONE THING.

>> Reporter: YVETTE JORDAN LIVES IN NEWARK, HER HOME USED TO HAVE THREE TIMES THE SAFE LEVELS OF LATE --LEAD.

NEWARK HAS SINCE REPLACED NEARLY EVERY LED SERVICE LINE IN THE CITY WITHOUT CHARGING RESIDENTS.

JORDAN SAYS THERE ARE STILL CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO IMPROVING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN NEWARK AND STATE WATER.

>> THERE IS STILL EDUCATION HAPPENING AND NECESSARY FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.

SO THAT WE ARE ALL VIGILANT AND HOLDING THE GOVERNMENT'S FEET TO THE FIRE.

>> Reporter: IT CAN BE TRICKY TO ESTIMATE THE EXACT NUMBER OF SERVICE LINES IN EACH CITY.

ANYTHING BUILT BEFORE 1986 WERE LEGALLY ALLOWED TO USE LED SERVICE LINES AND NEITHER WERE RECORDED.

IN GARFIELD, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ADVOCATE IS LEAVING NEW JERSEY'S EDUCATION LAW CENTER AFTER 26 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP.

HE IS STEPPING DOWN TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND WILL BE REPLACED BY ROBERT KIM IS A LEADING EXPERT IN LAW AND POLICY.

UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF --A CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY, NEW JERSEY BECAME A NATIONAL LEADER IN ENFORCING EDUCATION RIGHTS OF LOW-INCOME STUDENTS AND STUDENTS OF COLOR.

HE ALSO SECURED GROUNDBREAKING RULES FROM THE NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT ON SCHOOL FUNDING.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS ANCHOR BRIANA VANNOZZI SAT DOWN EARLIER THIS WEEK.

>> DAVID, 26 YEARS.

I WONDER WHAT YOU MAKE OF THE LEGACY, AND IF YOU SEE YOUR ALERT -- WORK IS AMONG YOUR GREATEST COMPLIMENTS.

>> I THINK THE ADDED RULINGS ALONG THE WAY, STARTING IN 1997 THEY HAVE BROKEN A LOT OF NEW LEGAL GROUND.

NOT JUST IN NEW JERSEY BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

MORE IMPORTANTLY TO ME, IT HAS REALLY MOVED NEW JERSEY TO THE FOREFRONT OF ADDRESSING DEEP STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS IN OUR SYSTEMS, WHICH WAS THE VERY WIDE DISPARITY IN FUNDING AND RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTCOMES.

FOR CHILDREN IN OUR HIGH POVERTY AM OFTEN RACIALLY ISOLATED SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

>> I WONDER IF THEY HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR STUDENTS AND THE SCHOOL FUNDING CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE.

EVERY BUDGET SEASON, EVERY TIME WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

>> WE NEED THE LEGISLATURE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAD TO DEAL WITH WAS BOTH PARTIES, AND BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATIONS WERE RELUCTANT TO STEP UP AND DO IT IS NEEDED.

SO GOING FORWARD, REALLY GET THE LEGISLATURE TO KIND OF COMMIT ITSELF TO CONTINUING ON THE PATH.

>> BEFORE YOU GO, WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU AND THE CENTER?

>> WE HAVE A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ROBERT KIM.

AN EXPERT ON EDUCATION LAW AND POLICY.

HE WILL TAKE THE HELM AND MOVE FORWARD.

FOR ME, I DON'T INTEND TO WALK AWAY FROM THE ONGOING EFFORTS AND THE STRUGGLE FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY.

WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

SO I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE, I WILL DO WHAT I CAN TO CONTINUE TO HELP OUT THE CAUSE.

>>> WE WISH YOU GOOD LUCK.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>>> PARENTS AND EDUCATION ADVOCATES ARE DEMANDING ANSWERS AFTER LEARNING THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NEWARK SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD HIS CONTRACT RENEWED LAST MAY WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT.

THE CITY SCHOOL BOARD RENEWED ROGERS CONTRACT FOR FIVE YEARS AT AN ANNUAL SALARY OF ABOUT $290,000.

ACCORDING TO AN OPINION PACE.

THE EDUCATION REPORTING WEBSITE REVIEWED SCHOOL BOARD DOCUMENTS FROM LAST MAY AND DID NOT FIND ANY BOARD APPROVALS FOR THE CONTRACT RENEWAL.

THAT SIGNALS IT WAS RENEWED WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OR HEARING.

SOME HEARINGS AND ADVOCATES PLAN TO VOICE THEIR DISCONTENT AT THE SCHOOL BOARD RETREAT SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW.

>>> NEW JERSEY'S ECONOMY AND IN 2022 WITH CONTINUED JOB GROWTH.

IN DECEMBER, 1400 NEW JOBS WERE ADDED TO THE ECONOMY, WHICH MARKS 32 STRAIGHT MONTHS OF GROWTH.

NEW JERSEY'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HELD STEADY AT 3.4%, SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN THE NATIONAL RATE OF 3.5%.

THE STATE SAYS JOB GROWTH IN NEW JERSEY HAS BROUGHT PACE, WITH EVERY PRIVATE INDUSTRY ADDING WORKERS, EXCEPT FOR CONSTRUCTION.

THE U.S. ECONOMY WAS STILL ADDING JOBS IN DECEMBER AS WELL.

SEVERAL TECHNOLOGIES COMPANIES HAVE ANNOUNCED LAYOFFS, INCLUDING GOOGLE.

THE BILL INCREASES THE MINIMUM MONTHLY BENEFIT FROM $50-$95.

THE ASSEMBLIES HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY ANNOUNCED THE BILL YESTERDAY AFTER HEARING FROM ADVOCATES WHO WARNED THAT A HUNGER CLIFF WAS COMING FOR THOSE WHO EXPERIENCED FOOD INSECURITY.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE FEDERAL SUPPLEMENT IS SET TO EXPIRE NEXT MONTH.

THE FEDERAL SUPPLEMENT IS $45 A MONTH, THE BILL APPROVED YESTERDAY WOULD ENSURE THAT RECIPIENTS DON'T SEE A DROP IN THEIR BENEFITS.

>>> HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW WALL STREET TRADING ENDED THE WEEK.

>>> A REMINDER TO JOIN ME FOR NJ BUSINESSWEEK THIS WEEKEND.

HOW A LOOMING RECESSION COULD IMPACT NEW JERSEY'S HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

AND WHERE THOSE BUSINESSES STAND IN THEIR PANDEMIC RECOVERY.

SATURDAY AT 5 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 9:30 ON NJ PBS.

>>> A NEW SPECIALTY PHARMACY HAS OPENED IN NEW JERSEY THAT FOCUSES ON HELPING THOSE LIVING WITH HIV.

THE PHARMACY IS LOCATED IN A WALMART SUPERCENTER IN NORTH BERGEN, THE ONLY HIV FOCUSED PHARMACY IN THE NORTHEAST.

AS THE WALMART REINTRODUCES ITSELF TO THE COMMUNITY, IT IS ALSO CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF SOMETHING THE COMPANY HOPES WILL IMPROVE LIVE.

THESE ARE MEDICATIONS THAT ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE IN COMMUNITY PHARMACIES, TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA CARE TO GET TO THE PROCESS.

AND ALSO THROUGH MANAGING THEIR CARE.

ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT WALMART IS, 90% OF THE POPULATION LIVES WITHIN 10 MILES OF ONE.

SO NO BETTER WAY TO BRING ACCESS TO CARE AND THROUGH THESE PHARMACIES.

>> THE HIV FOCUSED SPECIALTY PHARMACY IS WALMART'S FOURTH IN THE COUNTRY AND THE FIRST IN THE NORTHEAST.

THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF SPECIALTY PHARMACY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS TEAM SAYS THIS LOCATION WAS CHOSEN BASED ON DATA SHOWING AREAS WHERE NEEDS WERE NOT BEING MET.

>> FOR EVERY 100,000 RESIDENTS, THERE'S 40,000 LIVING WITH HIV.

IN THE U.S., MANY OF THEM DON'T GET CONSISTENT CARE SO WE ARE MAKING SURE WE ARE PROVIDING COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT AS WELL AS PHARMACISTS THAT CAN REALLY HELP OUR PATIENTS LIVING WITH HIV FIND THE CARE THEY NEED.

>> IT ISN'T ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PATIENTS WITH HIV.

SERVICES ARE OPEN TO ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THE GOAL OF RAISING AWARENESS AND PREVENTING THE VIRUS FROM SPREADING.

WALMART PARTNERING UP WITH THE GARDEN STATE'S LARGEST HIV FOUNDATION, HYACINTH, AS PART OF THE DEBUT.

>> WE CAN GET THEM TESTED, KNOW THEIR STATUS, CONNECT THEM TO CARE, AND YOU CAN GET FREE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING.

>> HYACINTH OFFERS FREE TESTING SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, INCLUDING SETTING UP MOBILE VANS IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES.

>> IT FEELS LIKE I AM REALLY PARTICIPATING, I'M HELPING OUT MY COMMUNITY, MY MEMBERS.

WE ALL KNOW WE ARE ALWAYS VULNERABLE, BECAUSE WE DON'T GET A LOT OF INFORMATION OR ACCESS.

>> WE KNOW WE ARE WELL-POSITIONED IN AREAS TO SERVICE THOSE NEEDS.

WE THINK ABOUT WHERE WE HAVE OUR PHARMACIES, THEY ARE OPEN IN 4600 LOCATIONS.

LOOKING AT OUR GEOGRAPHIES AND USING OUR DATA, WE CAN ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS BEYOND WHAT YOU SEE IN OUR STORES AND FOCUSING ON HEALTH AND WELLNESS TO BRING THAT TOGETHER AND PROVIDING HOLISTIC SOLUTIONS.

WE FEEL THAT WE ARE WELL-POSITIONED TO DO THAT.

>> WALMARTS HIV FOCUSED SPECIALTY PHARMACY WILL ALSO PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE GARDENS.

PLANS ARE IN THE WORKS TO OPEN MORE LOCATIONS IN THE FUTURE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> A NEW YEAR BRINGS A NEW HOME FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN NEWARK AND A CELEBRATION OF IT OPENING OF THE NEW LOCATION FOR THE CITIES LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY CENTER.

ADVOCATES SAY IT WILL SERVE AS A SAFE SPACE WHILE ALLOWING LGBTQ PETE TO TACKLE MAJOR POLICY ISSUES.

SENIOR COURSE BEEN --CORRESPONDENT JOANNA GAGIS TELLS US WHY IT'S AN IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> I'M REALLY HAPPY.

>> Reporter: CELEBRATING THE RECENT MOVE OF THE ORGANIZATION SHE LEADS INTO THIS NEW BUILDING ON MARKET STREET IN NEWARK CALLED EQUAL SPACE.

>> OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT IS A SPACE FOR LGBTQ PEOPLE, SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS VISIBLE AND VIABLE AND CELEBRATED.

THIS SPACE OFFERS US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE PEOPLE BE ABLE TO JUST HANG OUT.

WHEN WE STARTED, WE WERE A DROP IN CENTER.

PEOPLE COULD JUST WALK BY, HANG OUT.

>> WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT AND GENTRIFICATION, THE CENTER HAD TO FIND A NEW LOCATION.

THEY MOVED TO THE NEWARK PUBLIC LIBRARY DURING COVID, BUT NEEDED A SPACE THAT COULD BE OPEN ON EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS.

THEY FOUND IT HERE.

>> THE PUBLIC SPACE OUT HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT.

>> FOR EQUAL SPACE, WHICH RUNS THE BUILDING TO A RANGE OF ENTREPRENEURS AND IMMUNITY GROUPS, THEY SAY THE CENTER WAS A PERFECT FIT FOR THEM.

>> WE ARE ALL ABOUT EQUITY.

EVEN MYSELF BEING A NON-BINARY INDIVIDUAL, I KNOW THIS IS A SAFE SPACE FOR ANYONE.

ESPECIALLY BEING LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY CENTER, WHERE YOU HAVE ALL WALKS OF LIFE LOOKING FOR A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN RELAX, WHERE THEY CAN TALK TO PEOPLE AND WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE SUPPORT THEIR COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: THE CENTER HELD ITS GRAND OPENING LAST NIGHT, BRINGING TOGETHER MANY WHO HADN'T GATHERED SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED.

>> IT WAS YOUNG PEOPLE, OLD PEOPLE, BLACK PEOPLE, WHITE PEOPLE, ASIAN PEOPLE, EVERYBODY WAS HERE AND HAVING A GOOD TIME.

THERE ARE VERY FEW ENTERTAINMENT VENUES IN THE CITY OF NEWARK FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE LOST A COUPLE OF THEM, LOST ORGANIZATIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO THIS WAS A WAY TO START REBUILDING ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

>> HE FELT AT HOME INSTANTLY WHEN HE MOVED HIS OFFICE INTO EQUAL SPACE.

HE IS THRILLED TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY CENTER AS A NEIGHBOR AND BROUGHT A SLEW OF FRIENDS TO SUPPORT THE OPENING LAST NIGHT AND GET TO KNOW THE MISSION.

>> IT WAS A REALLY COOL THING TO SEE THAT I AM WORKING IN THE SAME SPACE AS THE NEWARK LGBTQ CENTER.

I THINK WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE IS WHAT THE LGBTQ CENTER IS ADDRESSING.

THEY ARE BRINGING THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY THAT I EXPERIENCED IN NEW YORK, IT'S VERY SEGMENTED.

SORT OF STRATIFIED.

THE DIFFERENT LAYERS OF OUR COMMUNITY NOT REALLY HAVING A SINGLE PLACE TO JUST CALL THEIR OWN.

>>> IN ADDITION TO THE PARTIES THEY PLAN TO THROW, THEY ALSO PLAN TO TACKLE SOME IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT OFTEN AFFECT PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> WE ARE GOING TO TRAIN THEM HOW TO DO PODCASTS, IN THE VIDEO SUITE, WE WILL BE DOING SUPPORT GROUPS, HAVING COMMUNITY PANELS AROUND DIFFERENT ISSUES.

POLICING, HEALTHCARE, HEALTH EQUITY.

>>> THOSE OFFERINGS AVAILABLE TO THEM NOW BECAUSE OF EQUAL SPACE.

>> WE DO THESE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS EQUITABLE ACCESS.

NOT JUST ABOUT HAVING EQUALITY, IT'S MAKING SURE WE HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS.

>> Reporter: THE HOPE IS THAT WITH THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY CENTER HERE AT EQUAL SPACE, THEY WILL ATTRACT MORE FOLKS WHO ARE ACCEPTING OF AND ALIGNED WITH THE MISSION OF GROWING THE LGBTQ PRESENCE HERE IN NEW JERSEY'S LARGEST CITY.

IN NEWARK, JOANNA GAGIS, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE POLITICAL HEADLINES THIS WEEK, TUNE IN TO REPORT HIS ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ.

HE TALKS WITH MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY PATRICK MURRAY ABOUT WHETHER THEY SAY -- SEE POLITICS IN WASHINGTON AS A DIRTY BUSINESS OR HONORABLE WORK.

SATURDAY AT 6 P.M. AND SUNDAY AT 10 A.M. ON NJ PBS.

AND ON CHATTERBOX WITH DAVID, HE SPEAKS WITH A PANEL OF EXPERTS ABOUT THE CURRENT OFFSHORE WIND POLICY AND THE PROMISES MADE AND KEPT BY THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION.

SATURDAY AT 6:30 AND SUNDAY ON 10:30 A.M. ON NJ PBS.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

FOR EVERYONE CELEBRATING ON SUNDAY, HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR.

AND FOR THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

ENJOY THE WEEKEND, SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY.

>>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND OR STEAD.

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

>> OUR FUTURE RELIES ON EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES TO HELP THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS, OF OUR SCHOOLS AND STREETS.

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

INVESTING IN PARTS.

HELPING TOWNS GO GREEN.

SUPPORTING CIVICS CENTERS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.