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Briana: Congestion relief?

One million fewer vehicles are entering midtown Manhattan.

Commuting times are faster.

New Jersey transit is seeing a bump.

What is it worth the price?

Former senior Senator Bob Menendez is looking to avoid 11 years behind bars.

Is he playing his final card, the trump card?

Mr. Menendez: President Trump is right.

This process is political and corrupt to the core.

Briana: No deal.

Engineers for New Jersey transit reject the latest contract offer, meaning a potential strike is looming.

And deportation fears.

Immigrants and no refugees here in the state are concerned about their status as President Trump's crack down continues.

>> And I know the fear the community feels right now is real.

But I also want to send them a message.

We have got to stay calm.

Briana: "NJ Spotlight News" against now.

-- begins now.

♪ Announcer: From NJPBS Studios, this is "NJ Spotlight News" with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: Good evening and things for joining us this Thursday night.

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

First, the congestion pricing program in New York City is cutting traffic, helping to create safer streets and raking in cash for mass transit.

Those are the findings of new data released this week by the MTA, which shows trip times into Manhattan have fallen by 10% to 30% on average.

It is quicker to get through the Holland tunnel.

About 48% faster during the first three weeks congestion pricing was rolled out, compared to the same time last year.

Overall, New York transportation officials say one million fewer vehicles have entered the central business district.

But the analysis did not include changes to travel speeds on the GW bridge.

The new fees began January 5 and charged most drivers nine dollars for entering Manhattan south of 60th Street.

Meanwhile, lawyers for New Jersey filed an amended lawsuit in federal court this week in another attempt to put a pause on the plan.

Also tonight, President Trump wants to support school choice and restrict how schools teach certain topics related to race, sex, gender, or politics.

In two sweeping executive orders, the president directed several government agencies to make plans for redirecting federal money to support school choice.

Giving the education secretary 60 days to issue guidance to state somehow how they can use federal funds to give parents more options on where their kids go to school, using taxpayer dollars for private education, an issue trump has been championing since his first term.

Another order would remove federal funding from K-12 schools that teach what is known as CRT, or critical race theory -- something the administration refers to as indoctrination.

Also, topics on racism, politics, and gender ideology, the idea that someone's gender can differ from their biological sex at birth.

The order goes into effect within 90 days.

And New Jersey transit's engineers are inching closer to a potential strike, as first reported by New Jersey monitor.

The brotherhood of locomotive engineers and trainmen union has rejected a contract settlement recommended by the federal board overseeing the negotiations.

The labor fight started after the engineers contract lapsed in 2019.

A federal law has been keeping things afloat since then, but the union could go on strike as early as March 22 if they cannot reach an agreement.

Pay raises are at the heart of the dispute.

New Jersey transit engineers are asking for a 14% wage hike starting in the 2028 fiscal year.

That would include other smaller increases to eventually bring their pay up to just over $55 an hour.

The rail agency is proposing 4% increase starting the same year, leaving the rate at just over $50 an hour.

The engineers union says the higher purpose would be more competitive with wages at other transit systems.

Union reps are meeting today with the new acting head of New Jersey transit.

After spending more than half a century in public office, New Jersey's former U.S.

Senator, Bob Menendez, on Wednesday was sentenced to 11 years in prison after a corruption conviction that stunned the state's political establishment -- accepting cash, gold bars, and other luxuries from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for his political clout and for acting as a foreign agent to Egypt.

Before his sentence was handed down, and emotional Menendez told a Manhattan federal judge "other than family, I've lost everything I've ever cared about.

Every day I'm awake is a punishment."

while maintaining his innocence, the once powerful Democrat claimed to be a chastened man, then walked outside the courthouse and delivered this statement to the press and the public.

Have a listen.

This Menendez: President Trump is right.

This process is political and it is corrupted to the core.

I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system.

Briana: So let's dig into that.

I'm joined by Micah Rasmussen, director of the red of each Institute for New Jersey politics.

What an about face.

Menendez comes out.

The defiant Menendez we are used to seeing.

And almost sends up a flare to the Oval Office with those choice words.

Micah: I think he is trying to be all things to all people.

As much as he is capable of being contrite in the courtroom -- he did not acknowledge wrongdoing or anything else.

To come out and send a different message to trump, a different message to the public -- he has not stopped being who he is.

I don't think there has been a full reckoning for him personally, an acknowledgment that he was wrong or that there was guilt.

That probably complicated the cases lawyers had to make.

Briana: Is there any other way to interpret when he says President Trump was right, this was a political witch hunt, these are people who are after a higher office?

Am I interpreting it incorrectly, or was that and ask for a plea from the president?

Micah: There are really only two cards he has at this point.

One of them is a potential pardon from Trump.

Let's face it -- trump has made pretty empathetic comments about Menendez getting a raw deal for a long time, as Menendez has faced these legal problems.

The other is -- anybody's guess on what trump might do -- it is really getting inside his head and figuring out what he might do is a fools errand.

The other shot he has got is for the Supreme Court to toss aside his conviction, his public corruption conviction, which the Supreme Court seems to have had a lot of problems with those laws over the years and seemed willing to do, and has set aside other politician Colin -- politician convictions.

He seems to be going after both shots that he has and we will see what happens.

Briana: What does it do to these pardons?

These were rarely used privileges by the commander-in-chief when there were grave miscarriages of justice, and I will say President Biden certainly did that as well before leaving office.

But are they being abused now?

Micah: One of the founders, maybe Munro -- she was really against the pardon for that reason.

It could have been used politically.

In New Jersey, our governor did not have a pardon until 1947, himself.

It was something he decided in consult with the full court they all had a vote on it.

That was why Bruno Hautman could not be pardoned for the Lindbergh baby kidnapping.

It is something you have to treat carefully.

It is something you have to be mindful of abuse.

And I agree with you that it has got to be reserved as a check and a power on judicial excess, judicial overreach.

At least as sensibly, that is the case Menendez is making.

Of course, I don't think anybody says the judge did something that was untoward or reached an unjust conclusion.

Briana: Let's shift gears.

There were dozens of executive orders that have been signed by the president just since taking office.

Sort of a firehose, if you will, of things that have been coming out, but also confusion that has come with it.

What do you make of those first couple weeks in office and the sheer amount of action that is being taken?

Micah: You and I have talked about how Democrats do not even seem to be able to keep up with this right now.

There is just too much going on at once.

They will decide they are going to meet to discuss the cease on federal spending, the paws on federal spending, and then he will repeal it before they can even meet.

The volume is so high.

Andy Kim will say he wants to talk about the pardons and then they will be on to something else.

They do not seem to be able to keep up.

However, this is the flurry of the opening days in the office.

We will see if Democrats can settle on a message.

I do think that one of the issues here is that trump is in the honeymoon period, such that it is, and people are giving him benefit of the doubt.

Politicians don't generally like to get out far in front of the public.

They want to figure out where the public is.

Briana: That says, -- that said, it seems the response is quiet.

Even Governor Murphy, who in the past has been diplomatic, but also not afraid of criticizing the president -- Micah: Governor Murphy has put a stake in the ground and said I am looking for administration help on congestion pricing.

There is some indication that he is getting a receptive ear.

We will see where it goes.

We don't know where it will go.

At that point, you do not take for two it is shots while you are trying to work on this major issue with the administration.

You sort of hold your fire.

In his case, that is what is going on.

For a lot of them, they are trying to see where the public is.

Briana: Maybe understanding that in order to get anything accomplished, they also need to be a little more measured in their approach and their response.

Micah, thanks so much.

Good to talk to you as always.

Concern is continuing to mount among New Jersey's immigrant communities as they process new executive orders from the White House, targeting undocumented migrants, and the first new law of the administration, the Lincoln Riley act -- Laken-Riley act, targeting immigrants who are accused of theft and violent crimes.

The president says he wants to detain migrants at the U.S. Navy base at one ton of obey in Cuba.

Actions from the oval office are also causing panic among those who are here with legal status.

>> You know, we received hundreds and hundreds of calls specifically from mothers.

>> Reverend bolivar Florez spoke about panicked calls to pastors at more than 470 churches across New Jersey since the Trump administration launched ice raids into their communities.

>> in particular, this affected me when I heard, Pastor, I don't want to send my children to school, or when I heard an old lady say to me, reverent, can you go to the supermarket?

And buy food for me?

Because I am scared to go to the supermarket.

In 2025, in a free country of the United States?

>> Vice arrested immigrants -- -- ICE arrested immigrants at a church.

People are afraid to attend.

Ministers launched a new hotline to offer legal counsel and support.

He also explained even conservative ministers did not expect this from Donald Trump.

>> we say we know he may implement that policy as part of the campaign nationwide.

He always said that.

But we never think of it in this way, where he don't care -- he don't treat people as a human being.

>> and I know the fear the community feels right now is real.

But I also want to send them a message.

We have got to stay calm.

>> a sudden barrage of executive orders from the new administration has caused chaos, and not just among advocates that help undocumented immigrants.

Decades with the refugee resettlement program received a cease and desist order last Friday.

There federal funding remains on home -- on hold as investigators determine whether their mission is consistent with Trump' is America first agenda.

It is an ideological litmus test, says the pastor.

>> When there is uncertainty about financing, we cannot hold on for very long.

We don't have a gigantic piggy bank over here.

>> His church-based nonprofit just laid off 20% of its staff and he is worried about paying $134,000 a month to rent 67 apartments for newly arrived refugees.

He says others who have already settled in with their kids in school and gotten jobs feel deeply threatened.

>> They have fears about whether their documentation, which was absolutely legal, will be legal in a couple of weeks, as the president takes a swipe at humanitarian programs and it TPS and the other forms of protection.

The cruelty hits on every angle.

>> They are not going to get people like me to stop, all right?

>> Courtney, with Church world service, won't abandon hundreds of refugees legally resettled through her program.

Courtney: This is my mission and I have a vision of a world where people have access to food and have access to a safe home.

I'm going to keep working toward that.

It does not matter what a presidential order says.

>> Another order paused the Temporary Protected Status program, which admits refugees fleeing wars, disasters, and political upheaval.

A jersey coalition that provides safe haven for Afghan refugees says it recalls the terror of Trump's Muslim man at U.S. airports back in -- Muslim ban at U.S. airports back in 2017.

>> Afghanistan was not on the no-fly list that folks were being turned away.

Visas were being revoked.

Folks who were volunteering at airports.

This is a re-trauma to say.

-- a retraumatization.

>> Advocates met in Trenton to ask the state to step up with interim funding as they work to regain federal support.

I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: An executive order signed Wednesday by President Trump will crackdown on anti-Semitism in the U.S., asking all heads of government agencies to come up with plans on ways to combat the rising tide of antisemitic incidents.

It takes aim at college campuses, suggesting that foreign-born students who take part in protests as "Hamas sympathizers" could see their visas canceled or be deported.

New Jersey lawmakers are considering a bill to create an official state definition of anti-Semitism, using language from the international Holocaust remembrance alliance.

Proponents say it is the most clear way to fight anti-Semitic attacks, while critics point out the definition conflates criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.

Ted Goldberg takes a look.

Ted: A bill that would have New Jersey adopt a formal definition of anti-Semitism seems almost certain to become law.

Last summer, the government committee in the state Senate passed a bill adopting a definition from the international Holocaust remembrance alliance, or IRA.

The assembly version has three sponsors and a whopping 56 cosponsors.

>> When you see the legislature on something so important, we should recognize it is a significant moment in time, and we appreciate that.

>> It is scary times.

But having to feel like this, put together in a room with Democrats and Republicans, we are united for one purpose -- to stand up and to call out hate.

Ted: This comes in the wake of a massive jump in anti-Semitic incidents reported at the state level and nationwide.

>> You do not comprehend the immediate threat that we, the Jews, feel.

For those treating this like any other bill, it is not.

It is our existence.

>> I have heard countless Giu Giu's, stereotyping Jews, and -- I have heard countless Jew jokes.

Students have a right to go to campus without hate.

The individuals responsible for anti-Semitic speech crosses the line from free speech into hate speech.

Ted: Some of the lawmakers and advocates are the children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors.

They say a formal definition is needed to differentiate what forms.

>> Like all groups, Jews must define their own experience of oppression and define how they experience anti-Semitism.

>> The perverse use of the word genocide to describe Israel's efforts to defend itself from existential threats.

Ted: Most of the definition is what you would normally consider anti-Semitic, like denying the Holocaust or saying Jews control the media.

Where the definition has seen controversy is certain criticisms of Israel, like holding them to different standards than other democracies.

>> This has nothing to do with Jews.

This is about protecting Israel.

Ted: Roz has been accused of being anti-Semitic even though the Stockton professor is Jewish.

>> It will be harmful for Palestinian.

It will be harmful for Jews.

It will be harmful because it would signal that the state of New Jersey does not care about the U.S. constitutional law anymore.

It silences Palestinians who, for example, will say that Israel is a racist state, right?

That is a legitimate critique against any other state in the world, including the United States.

Ted: One of President Trump's recent executive orders calls for U.S. policy to use all appropriate legal tools to prosecute, remove, or otherwise hold into account the perpetrators of unlawful Semitic her -- anti-Semitic harassment.

It is not clear whether protesters could be deported, but Siegel says that is not far off.

>> We are seeing an assault on free speech and on basic freedom in the U.S., and southern academic freedom -- and some academic freedom as well.

Ted: The definition has been adopted in most U.S. states and advocates say it has helped Jewish people more than it has frozen free speech.

>> The federal government, the State Department, Harvard, and Ireland -- I'm friendly surprised by those two.

That reinforces that New Jersey has catching up to do.

>> This will really start to provide the tools law enforcement needs in our communities to combat hate.

>> when we clearly define anti-Semitism, we are better equipped to document and address it.

Ted: A growing problem with no easy solution in New Jersey, or anywhere else.

In Trenton, I am Ted Goldberg.

Briana: The state's largest city has made big strides in curbing certain types of crime, with a recent drop in homicide rates and nonfatal shootings.

But even as Newark touted that success, officials acknowledge they have work to do in many areas.

There has been a significant spike in domestic violence that led to an overall increase in violent crimes.

Joanna Gagis reports on the city's prevention efforts and how they are making sure the right support finds its way to survivors.

>> With the rise of mental health issues is the rise of domestic violence.

Joanna: It has been a disturbing trend since the pandemic.

Rates of domestic violence increasing even as other violent crimes, including gun violence, are decreasing.

>> This is a public health crisis because it affects them and so many ways.

It can go with chronic pain, having mental health issues.

It will exacerbate issues they might have with health, hypertension, diabetes.

Joanna: Kamla Jones is the director of a women's resource Center in Newark, founded in 2017 by the mayor in honor of his sister, who was shot by the husband of their other sister, his intended target.

Shani's best friend was shot alongside her.

The center is a resource for people experiencing and escaping domestic violence.

>> They may have no income as a result of it being withheld from them, a means to get them to come back.

As a result, we have financial literacy information.

We also have people that help them to find jobs.

We have services for clothing if they don't have anything on their backs.

Just ran.

Joanna: They have food on site and connect them with counseling services, along with sexual assault case managers and housing assistance.

In Bergen County, the Center for help -- for hope and safety offers similar support.

>> We provide risk assessments as well as safety planning to help educate victims about their situation.

We inform them of our array of services, which includes safe housing as well as additional housing programs to help our survivors get back on their feet and become self-sufficient.

Joanna: In spite of these assistance programs, the numbers are rising, as indicated by the latest data in Newark.

>> We have 1100 aggravated assaults last year, in which case we recognized that half of those were domestic violence related.

In the prior year, we had approximately 48 homicides.

And we had many of those that were domestic violence related.

Joanna: The city is putting together a strategic plan to address to mystic violence using many of the strategies that have had great success in addressing gun violence here in Newark.

>> Having more resources advocated for to mystic violence, having a response team, having more follow-ups that are happening.

Joanna: The city plans to increase funding for places like the Shani Baraka center.

>> The law program -- the people going through it do not speak the language of the courts.

They don't understand what affects them.

This is criminal.

Joanna: Next month, they are launching a program for men, those who have been victims of abuse who really come out of the shadows, and those who are abusers.

>> Men who are perpetrators need help as well.

>> To be trained in anger management, de-escalation, mediation, ultimately how to have empathy, compassion, and how to be able to come up again with a safety plan, and how to manage feelings, emotions.

Joanna: The ultimate goal -- to break the pattern of abuse.

But not all abuse ends in bruises.

>> Are the being frequently put down by their partner?

Are they being controlled?

Are they not allowed to do things they would like to do?

Joanna: The Center for hope and healing also focuses on the children impacted.

>> We also have a clinic specializing in helping our children via one year of creative arts therapy.

Six months of group and six months of individual to the children who are no longer in an abusive situation but have a lot of healing to go through, so the cycle does not repeat itself.

Joanna: If you or someone you know is a victim, called the national hotline, or text the word "begin" to 88788.

I'm Joanna Gagis.

Briana: That is going to do it for us tonight.

Before you go, a reminder -- tune into Reporters Roundtable tomorrow with David Cruz.

It kicks off the show with the state Attorney General about his legal challenges to President's executive orders.

A panel of local journalists break down the big political headlines of the week.

That is streaming tomorrow at noon on the NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel.

For the entire team, thanks for being with us.

Have a great night.

We will see you back here tomorrow.

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