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NEW JERSEY REALTORS.

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MORE INFORMATION ON LINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.

AND BY THE PSEG FOUNDATION.

FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

THREE DAYS, NINE ROUNDS OF VOTES.

THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS STILL HAS NO SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

THE REPUBLICAN STALEMATE CONTINUES WITH GOP LEADER KEVIN McCARTHY FAILING TO SWAY HIS OPPONENTS EVEN AFTER MAKING ANOTHER NEW ROUND OF COMPROMISES WITH THE GROUP OF FAR RIGHT MEMBERS WHO ARE DENYING HIM THE MAJORITY VOTE , MAKING HISTORY AS THE FIRST CONGRESS IN 100 YEARS TO GO THROUGH AT LEAST NINE ROUNDS OF VOTING BEFORE ELECTING HIS BEAKER.

DEMOCRATS REMAIN UNITED BEHIND MINORITY LEADER HAKEEM JEFFRIES OF NEW YORK.

ASIDE FROM McCARTHY, THE TRACTORS HAVE TOSSED IN A FEW OTHER NAMES AS NOMINEES.

FLORIDA REPRESENTATIVE BYRON DONALDS AND OBAMA REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN HEARN AND EVEN DONALD TRUMP.

WITHOUT A SPEAKER, THE HOUSE SEIZES FUNCTION.

LAWMAKERS CANNOT BE SWORN IN OR RECEIVED CLARITY SECURITY CLEARANCE.

THEY LACK REPRESENTATION IN THE NATIONS CAPITAL.

UNCHARTED TERRITORY FOR THE COUNTRY.

KELLY DITTMAR, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT RUTGERS, CAMDEN, HELPS EXPLAIN WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THE FIRST QUESTION WE NEED TO GET TO IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT ESSENTIALLY IS NOT WORKING?

>> THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM.

IN THE FIRST DAY, IT'S KIND OF ENTERTAINING FOR THOSE OF US WHO WATCH POLITICS.

THE SECOND DAY, WE START TO WORRY ABOUT THE FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT.

BY NOW, WE SEE THE EFFECT.

IF YOU NOTICE ON TWITTER AND SOCIAL MEDIA, IT'S REPORTED THAT MEMBERS DON'T HAVE ACCESS.

MEMBERS ELECT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICES AND INFORMATION BRIEFINGS THAT MEMBERS WHO ARE SWORN IN DUE.

AT THIS POINT, WE ARE GOING TO START TO SEE EFFECT ON THE FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT.

EVEN TO THE BASIC LEVEL OF CONSTITUENCY SERVICE.

THOSE MEMBERS CAN DO FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

IT WILL ONLY BECOME MORE IMPORTANT THE LONGER THIS GOES WHEN THE SENATE RETURNS AT THE END OF THIS MONTH OR LATER IN JANUARY.

IT WILL REALLY STUDY ALL OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD WITHOUT THE HOUSE.

>> WE EVEN HEARD THAT TODAY FROM LAWMAKERS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AT THAT WHO SAID THEY WERE HEARING FROM AGENCIES THAT THEY COULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR OFFICES.

CONSTITUENTS , OF COURSE, ARE AT RISK.

WHAT ARE THE BROADER IMPLICATIONS FOR THE COUNTRY?

>> DAY TO DAY SERVICES THAT GET STYMIED.

TRUST IN GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS OF CONGRESS.

MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT WATCHING C-SPAN ALL DAY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE DEBATE.

THEY PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THE PATIENCE FOR IT.

THEY MIGHT FEEL UNAFFECTED BY IT UNTIL THE POINT THAT THEY REACH OUT TO THEIR MEMBER OF CONGRESS FOR SOMETHING NECESSARY FOR THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES OR THE ONES THEY LOVE OR WORK WITH AND THEN THEY REALIZE THAT WHAT THEY SEE AS A CIRCUS IS ACTUALLY AFFECTING WHAT THEY CAN DO AND WHAT SERVICES THEY CAN RECEIVE.

I THINK THEN THERE WILL BE MORE PRESSURE ON THESE MEMBERS TO CHANGE AND COOPERATE IN A WAY THAT WOULD ACTUALLY ALLOW GOVERNMENT TO FUNCTION.

>> I AM THINKING ABOUT NEW JERSEY'S FRESHMAN, TOM KEAN JR. AND ROB MENENDEZ WHO DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE THE APPARATUS SET UP IN D.C., LIKE THEIR INCUMBENT COUNTERPARTS DO TO GET THE WHEELS ROLLING BEHIND THE SCENES.

SHOULD FOLKS IN THOSE DISTRICTS BE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED?

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT'S NOT AT THE EMERGENCY LEVEL AT THIS POINT BUT THEY DEFINITELY SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION AND PRESSURING MEMBERS TO ELECT THE SPEAKER .

YOU KNOW, TO BE PART OF THESE CONVERSATIONS AND PASS TO THE GRIDLOCK.

TO FIND A SOLUTION.

IT'S GOING TO BE HARD FOR TWO FRESHMEN MEMBERS TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE ON PUSHING THROUGH THIS IMPASSE.

BUT THEY CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

I'M SURE THEY ARE ALREADY PUTTING OUT TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS IN THAT VEIN, RIGHT?

HERE'S WHAT I'M DOING TO TRY TO MOVE THE BALL FORWARD AND I THINK THEY WILL RECEIVE GREATER PRESSURE AND SHOULD RECEIVE GREATER PRESSURE TO DO THAT.

THEY'RE THERE TO REPRESENT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THEY SAY THAT ON THE FLOOR BUT WITHOUT A SPEAKER, THERE'S NO WAY TO DO THE WORK.

>> WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE, KELLY?

WE'VE GOT A RELATIVELY SMALL GROUP OF MEMBERS WHO ARE WIELDING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INFLUENCE HERE, HOLDING UP AND MAKING THIS GRIDLOCK HAPPEN.

HOW DOES THE BRANCH MOVE FORWARD?

IT POINTED WELL.

>> THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT AVENUES FOR IT.

WE ARE ALL IN RELATIVELY UNCHARTED TERRITORY.

ONE IS KEVIN McCARTHY BACKS OUT LEAVING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO COME FORWARD, THOUGH IT'S NOT THAT SOMEONE ELSE WILL GET THE NECESSARY NUMBER OF VOTES EITHER.

BUT YOU COULD INCLUDE THAT IN THE NEGOTIATION.

SO MANY OF THESE FOLKS ARE NEVER KEVIN'S.

THAT MIGHT BE PART OF IT.

THERE'S ALSO THE POTENTIAL FOR COOPERATION WITH DEMOCRATS BUT THAT SEEMS UNLIKELY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT HOPELESS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT BECAUSE THE FOLKS WHO ARE VOTING AGAINST -- LARGELY, BUT NOT ALL, BUT MANY OF THE FOLKS VOTING AGAINST KEVIN McCARTHY RAN IN ELECTIONS TO SAY THEY DON'T WANT THIS GOVERNMENT BODY TO WORK.

THAT THEY WANT TO PULL AWAY FROM WASHINGTON.

THEY THINK THE PLACE IS BROKEN.

IT'S HARD TO SEE THEIR MOTIVATION TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT WORK.

THIS IS WHAT WORRIES ME THE MOST AND MAKES IT HARD TO GET TO A LOGICAL SOLUTION.

IF THEY WERE THERE TO GET THINGS DONE, THIS WOULD ALREADY BE RESOLVED.

IN ORDER TO GET THINGS DONE, THEY NEED TO ELECT A SPEAKER, NUMBER ONE.

>> SOME WOULD ARGUE THAT THEY HAD THE TIME BEFORE THE VOTE ON TUESDAY TO DO SO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ALL RIGHT , ASSOCIATE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE FOR RUTGERS, CAMDEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHT.

>> IN QUEUE.

4 STUDENTS BOMBARDED BY INFORMATION FROM SOCIAL AND NEWS OUTLETS WILL GET SOME GUIDANCE ON HOW TO DETERMINE WHAT IS TRUE AND WHAT IS NOT.

NEW JERSEY BECAME THE FIRST DATE IN THE COUNTRY REQUIRING PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO TEACH MEDIA LITERACY IN K-12, A MOVE AIMED AT COMBATING THE RISE OF MISINFORMATION WHICH SPIKED DURING THE PANDEMIC, BY REQUIRING A COURSE TO HELP STUDENTS DISCERN WHICH COURSES ARE CREDIBLE.

SIX YEARS IN THE MAKING.

A COMMITTEE PUT TOGETHER BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, INCLUDING TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, AND MEDIA SPECIALISTS WILL DEVELOP THE CURRICULUM WITH A FOCUS ON TEACHING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FACT , OPINIONS, POINTS OF VIEW, FIRST AND SECONDARY INFORMATION.

ANYONE WHO HAS EVER HAD TO DO WITH GETTING A CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPROVED IN NEW JERSEY KNOWS THAT THE BUREAUCRATIC HURDLES THAT NEED TO BE CLEARED.

GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED A BILL TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS, ORDERING A THREE DAY TURNAROUND FOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS AND GIVING DEVELOPERS THE ABILITY TO CONTRACT WITH THIRD-PARTY PRIVATE-SECTOR INSPECTION AGENCIES.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS CAN GET HIT WITH MAJOR DELAYS OF TOWNS DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO GET THROUGH THOSE INSPECTIONS QUICKLY.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO USED THE BILL SIGNING TO UNVEIL MORE THAN $19 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THE LACK OF IT HAS REACHED CRISIS LEVELS SINCE THE PANDEMIC ACCORDING TO ADVOCATES.

THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS THIS ROUND OF FUNDING WILL HELP COMPLETE ROUGHLY 80 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS ACROSS THIS DATE.

>> AND OUR ADMINISTRATIONS BUDGETS, WE END OF THE PRIOR PRACTICE OF RAISING THEIR TRUST FUND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE HAS BEEN QUITE SIMPLE.

MONEY MEANT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD GO TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THESE GRANTS APPROVE OUR RESOLVE.

>> NETFLIX IS OFFICIALLY BUILDING A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PRODUCTION STUDIO AT THE OLD FORT MONMOUTH ARMY BASE IN MONMOUTH MONDAY.

THE VIDEO STREAMING COMPANY IS PROMISING TO CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND BOOST THE LOCAL ECONOMY , BUT AT WHAT COST TO RESIDENTS?

BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> FROM NETFLIX , THE GIANT STREAMING COMPANY THAT BROUGHT YOU THE DOCUSERIES HARRY AND MEGAN COMES A BRAND-NEW PROJECT, THE PROPOSED $900 MILLION NETFLIX EAST POSTPRODUCTION FACILITY TO BE BUILT ON 92 ACRES OF THE DEACTIVATED FORT MONMOUTH MILITARY BASE.

FEATURING 12 SOUNDSTAGES, CREATING 12 THOUSAND LOCAL JOBS AND GENERATING $4.6 BILLION OF ECONOMIC VALUE OVER A DECADE, THE COMPANY PROMISES.

PROPONENTS RAVE.

>> ECONOMICALLY, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 1500 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT FULL-TIME PRODUCTION JOBS AND 3000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS.

THIS IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

IT WILL BE A GREAT BOOST TO THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

>> WE HAD A HUGE WEEK ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FRONT.

I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THAT.

>> GOVERNOR MURPHY PURSUED NETFLIX AND OTHER REDUCTION COMPANIES, NOTING THAT NEW JERSEY OFFERS A RANGE OF INCENTIVES INCLUDING TAX CREDITS UP TO 30% OF ELIGIBLE PRODUCTION COST AND THE SUB TO THE FOUR BRICK-AND-MORTAR STUDIO DEVELOPMENT OF UP TO 40%.

THE TACTIC GOT A THUMBS DOWN FROM ONE EXPERT.

>> I WOULD CHARACTERIZE THIS AS A BIG MISTAKE ON THE PART OF NEW JERSEY.

I MISTAKE MANY OTHER STATES HAVE MADE.

NEW JERSEY WILL BE THE LATEST TO MAKE IT.

>> Reporter: THIS ECONOMIST STUDIES HOW FILM AND PRODUCTION COMPANIES IT STATES AGAINST EACH OTHER, OFFERING LUCRATIVE SUBSIDIES TO LURE STUDIOS INTO SIGNING CONTRACTS.

>> THESE PROGRAMS DON'T WORK , DON'T PAY FOR THEMSELVES AND WILL NOT.

THE BENEFITS .

AGAIN, COLLECTING PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR.

BUT THEY HAVE THE APPEAL.

>> Reporter: HE EXPLAINS IT IS MORE OF A POLITICAL WINDFALL FOR ELECT DID OFFICIALS THAN AN ECONOMIC ONE FOR TAXPAYERS.

>> WEAR A HARD HAT AND DISHEVELED AND DO ALL OF THE SILLY POLITICAL STUFF THAT HAPPENS AROUND THESE PROJECTS.

THAT WORKS REALLY WELL FOR THEM.

BY THE TIME THE BILL COMES DUE , THEY ARE GONE AND IT IS SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROBLEM.

>> Reporter: WHEN FORT MONMOUTH SHUT DOWN A DOZEN YEARS AGO, 14,000 JOBS DISAPPEARED, FRAYING THE ECONOMIC FABRIC OF THE NEARBY OCEAN PORT.

MANY LOCAL OFFICIALS WELCOME NETFLIX.

>> WE CANNOT WAIT TO WORK WITH THEM AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER.

SOME PEOPLE ARE WORRIED.

ANY CHANGE CAN BE DIFFICULT.

BUT WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

IT'S A HUGE ECONOMIC BOOST.

>> Reporter: NETFLIX USE THE PROJECT AS AN EAST COAST HAVE, A PERFECT MATCH FOR THE WESTERN PRODUCTION COMPLEX IN ALBUQUERQUE.

HOME TO THE STRANGER THINGS SOUNDSTAGE , FOR EXAMPLE.

IN 2018, NEW MEXICO OFFERED A 25% TAX CREDIT IN EXCHANGE FOR A 10 YEAR, $2 BILLION DEAL.

>> IT'S ABOUT ECONOMIC AND CREW DEVELOPMENT AND HAVING ACTUAL PARTNERS THAT ARE HERE ON A LONG-TERM BASIS.

>> Reporter: NEW MEXICO ECONOMIC SECRETARY OF DEVELOPMENT ALSO TOLD THE BENEFIT FOR JOB TRAINING.

CRITICS EXAMINING NEW MEXICO'S NETFLIX DEAL SAY TAXPAYERS COULD END UP PAYING MORE IN SUBSIDIES THAN THE COMPANY GENERATES AND REVENUES.

HOWEVER, SHE STANDS BY THE DEAL.

>> I DON'T HAVE CONCERNS FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO IN TERMS OF NETFLIX AND THEIR ABILITY TO FULFILL THEIR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS WITH US.

I THINK THEY ARE DOING SOME FANTASTIC CONTENT HERE.

>> AS FOR NEW JERSEY, THE INK IS STILL WET ON THIS NETFLIX DEAL.

THE COMPANY HAS NOT APPLIED FOR ANY NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TAX INCENTIVES AT THIS TIME AS AN AGENCY SPOKESWOMAN.

DAYS AGO, JERZY DID SEAL THE DEAL WITH LIONS GATE TO PARTNER ON DEVELOPING A NEWARK FACILITY THAT QUALIFIES FOR UP TO $100 MILLION IN TAX SUBSIDIES.

THEY HOPE TO SEE THE FILM INVESTMENTS PAY OFF.

BUT IN PAT GAROPPOLO'S REVIEW, THE PROGRAM GETS -- >> HALF A STAR.

WOULD NOT RECOMMEND.

>> Reporter: THE MOVIE MIGHT NOT HAVE LEGS.

BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDERS CAN TRULY BE A LIFELINE IN THE COMMUNITY.

LOCAL LEADERS SAY IT HAS GOTTEN HARDER TO RECRUIT MEMBERS OVER THE YEARS.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE COST OF LIVING RISING TO UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS.

A NEW PROPOSAL MOVING THROUGH TRENTON WOULD OFFER A PRETTY SWEET INCENTIVE TO THOSE NEW VOLUNTEERS.

HOW ABOUT A LOWER OR NO PROPERTY TAX BILL?

TED GOLDBERG HAS THE STORY.

>> PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES DO NOT REALIZE WHAT WE DO AND HOW MUCH WE DO.

UNTIL THEY NEED US AND THEY ARE IN THEIR DARKEST HOUR AND WE ARE THERE TO HELP THEM.

I THINK OUR NEIGHBORS THAT WE SERVE WOULD WELCOME US.

>> Reporter: IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND FIRST AID SQUAD TO RUN NEW JERSEY ARE STRUGGLING TO ATTRACT NEW RECRUITS.

31 YEAR VETERAN MARY HAD RIGHT BELIEVES GIVING PEOPLE A BREAK ON PROPERTY TAXES ENTICES THEM TO VOLUNTEER.

>> THERE ARE VERY FEW INCENTIVES FOR VOLUNTEERS IN EMS AND NEW JERSEY.

THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED A LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARD PROGRAM WHERE YOU CAN HAVE MONEY PUT ASIDE BY THE MUNICIPALITY.

THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING MORE IN THE FOREFRONT AND SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF RIGHT NOW.

>> WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH VOLUNTEERS , GIVEN THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY.

IT'S BEEN GETTING WORSE OVER THE YEARS.

THIS IS NOT A NEW THING.

IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 20 YEARS, WHERE WE HAVE HAD FEWER VOLUNTEERS BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT TO WORK MULTIPLE JOBS.

>> Reporter: PAULO WEILER LEADS THE EMS COUNCIL OF NEW JERSEY.

SHE HAS SEEN MULTIPLE STANDARDS FOR VOLUNTEERS TO PAY LESS ON THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.

>> I HAD A MEETING BETWEEN A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS THAT I BELONGED TO.

THE DISTRICT GROUP.

AND MENTIONED THE BILLS.

THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WAS , OH, I DO NOT THINK I AM GOING TO STOP WRITING ANYMORE IF I CAN GET UP TO 100% OF MY PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTED.

>> THIS COULD BE A BENEFIT TO ATTRACT VOLUNTEERS AND RETAIN THEM.

IT'S VERY TOUGH IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO OFFSET THAT FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS.

>> KEVIN ROONEY HAS COSPONSORED THE LATEST EFFORT.

AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION THAT WOULD LET MUNICIPALITIES OFFER UP TO 100% RELIEF ON PROPERTY TAX IS.

>> THEY ARE OUT ON CHRISTMAS.

WE WERE HOME ENJOYING OUR DINNER.

THEY WERE OUT ON A CALL.

FIRST AID CALL.

A FIRE CALL.

THE VOTERS HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE .

THAT IS WHETHER OR NOT TO SUPPORT THE VOLUNTEERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY BY ADOPTING US.

IT HAS A REAL GOOD CHANCE.

IT'S NOT THE LEGISLATURE JAMMING IT DOWN THE VOTERS THROATS.

IT'S WHERE THE VOTERS ACTUALLY HAVE THE OPTION TO CHOOSE.

>> I DO NOT THINK IT WOULD SOLVE THE VOLUNTEER CRISIS , BUT IT COULD BE ANOTHER TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX.

>> MIKE SARAH HEADS THE LEAD OF MUNICIPALITIES.

HE HAS HEARD ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT IS FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO ATTRACT VOLUNTEERS.

HE LIKES THAT THE BILL LEADS THE STANDARDS UP TO THE 564 MUNICIPALITIES.

BUT HE DOES NOT EXPECT MOST OF THEM TO OFFER FULL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR VOLUNTEERS.

>> EVERY TIME YOU DISPLACE A DOLLAR OF YOUR TAX BASE, IT HAS TO BE MADE UP SOMEWHERE ELSE.

IT'S EITHER BEING DISPLACED TO OTHER TAXPAYERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS THEM THROUGH A CURBING OF SERVICES OR SOME OTHER MANNER.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY A BALANCING ACT.

>> Reporter: ASSEMBLYMAN ROONEY SAYS HE HELPED THE BILL GETS A VOTE THE FORMATE AND SINCE IT IS A KIND ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT, IT WOULD NEED TO PASS LEGISLATURE, GET A SIGNATURE FROM GOVERNOR MURPHY, AND BE APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF VOTERS.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM TED GOLDBERG .

>> Reporter: IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT, YOU COULD BE AMONG THE THOUSANDS OF NEW JERSEYANS ELIGIBLE FOR STATE PRETTY TAX RELIEF CHECK.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR YOU TO CLAIM IT.

THE LATEST DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY DATA SHOWS A LITTLE OVER 1 MILLION RESIDENTS FILED APPLICATIONS FOR GOVERNOR MURPHY'S NEW ANCHOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PROGRAM OUT OF A POOL OF ROUGHLY 2 MILLION WHO ARE ELIGIBLE.

THERE ARE ONLY A FEW WEEKS LEFT TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY.

BUDGET AND FINANCE WRITER JOHN WRIGHT HAS BEEN COVERING THE PROGRAM EXTENSIVELY AND JOINS ME NOW FOR MORE ON WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.

JANUARY 31st IS THE DEADLINE, I BELIEVE.

IS THERE AN ALL-OUT POST TO MAKE RESIDENTS AWARE THAT THIS MONEY IS OUT THERE?

>> THAT'S RIGHT .

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THIS DATES MARKETING EFFORTS RAMP UP.

REALLY TRYING TO REACH A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE KIND OF LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE.

THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 1 MILLION APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED.

THE NUMBER SHOULD BE CLOSER TO 2 MILLION BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

EVERYONE WHO QUALIFIES THROUGH THEIR APPLICATIONS.

IT SEEMS TO BE THAT RENTERS ARE BEHIND SCHEDULE.

IN SOME WAYS, THAT MAKES SENSE.

FOR THE LAST DECADE OR SO, RENTERS HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT OF THIS TYPE OF STATE-FUNDED PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

THE STATE BUDGET PROVIDED ENOUGH MONEY TO BRING RENTERS BACK IN.

THEY WILL BE PROVIDED, IF THEY MEET THE INCOME STANDARD, UP TO $150,000 OF ANNUAL INCOME, A $450 CHECK FOR DIRECT DEPOSIT BY LATE STRING SPRING.

A TAX RETURN TO MAKE THE PHONE CALL.

IT'S WORTH 400 $50 TO A RENTER.

THEY'RE USING INCOME AND RESIDENCY FROM 2019.

THAT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING.

BUT BASED ON HOW MUCH YOU MADE IN 2019 AND WHERE YOU LIVED IN OCTOBER OF THAT MONTH.

THE DEFINITELY WORTH LOOKING UP THE DETAILS.

IT COULD BE $450 SITTING OUT THERE FOR YOU.

>> THAT'S NO SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY.

WHAT IF I WAS A HOMEOWNER IN 2019?

IS IT THE SAME PROCESS FOR ME TO APPLY?

>> PRETTY MUCH, YES .

HOMEOWNERS QUALIFY FOR BIGGER BENEFITS.

RENTERS GOT BACK IN THE MAKES.

HOMEOWNERS GOT A BOOST IN THE NEW ANCHOR PROGRAM.

IT IS WORTH FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION.

HOMEOWNERS QUALIFY CAN MAKE UP TO 250,000 ANNUALLY AND STILL RECEIVE A BENEFIT HERE.

THE BENEFITS ARE AS LARGE AS 1500 FOR SOMEONE MAKING UP TO 150,000 ANNUALLY AND 1000 FOR SOMEONE MAKING UP TO 250,000 ANNUALLY.

THOSE ARE BIG NUMBERS.

THINK ABOUT INFLATION AND TALENT PROPERTY TAXES HAVE BEEN GOING UP IN RECENT YEARS.

THIS WOULD CERTAINLY HELP CUSHION THE BLOW.

IT MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO TRACK DOWN A TAX RETURN.

IT'S WELL WORTH IT TO GET ENOUGH VOTES AT THIS LEVEL.

>> WHY IS THE UPTAKE SLOWER THAN OFFICIALS ANTICIPATED?

YOU'VE GOT ABOUT HALF THE POOL OF PEOPLE APPLAUDING.

>> IT'S HARD TO REACH PEOPLE WHO RENTED SOMEWHERE IN 2019 AND MOVED ALONG.

THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCONNECT.

THE MAIN CHANGE, THIS WAS THE HOMESTEAD PROGRAM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IN NEW JERSEY.

IT WAS CHANGED AND REBRANDED AS ANCHOR.

MAYBE PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR THE HOMESTEAD APPLICATION.

YOU WANT TO APPLY FOR THE NEW ANCHOR PROGRAM TO ACCESS THIS LEVEL OF BENEFIT.

>> GREAT INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS THERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> FIND THE LINK TO APPLY IN JOHN REITMEYER'S FULL STORY ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> AMAZON IS SCALING BACK AS ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY CONTINUES TO WORSEN GLOBALLY WITH LANCE TO CUT SOME 18,000 CORPORATE AND TECHNOLOGY JOBS.

IT IS A MASSIVE EXPANSION FROM THE 10,000 JOBS AMAZON PREVIOUSLY PLANNED TO CUT.

LAYOFFS REPRESENT ABOUT 6% OF THE TOTAL CORPORATE WORKFORCE AND IT WILL BE CONCENTRATED IN HUMAN RESOURCES, DEVICES, AND THE BOOKS DEPARTMENT .

ACCORDING TO A MEMO FROM AMAZON CEO ANDY GERACI, AFFECTED EMPLOYEES WILL GET NOTIFICATIONS JANUARY 18th.

THE GIANT SAW BUSINESS BOOM DURING THE PANDEMIC .

IT IS NOW RECKONING WITH A RETURN TO MORE IN-PERSON SHOPPING AND A SURGE OF INFLATION HITTING CONSUMER WALLETS.

>>> LOOKING AT WALL STREET, HERE IS A LOOK AT TODAY'S CLOSING TRADING NUMBERS.

AND A REMINDER TO CATCH BUSINESS BEAT.

A NEW YEAR MEANS IT TIME TO GET FINANCES IN ORDER AND FROM RETIREMENT AND CHANGES COMING IN 2023 TWO DEBT MANAGEMENT AND BUILDING GENERATIONAL WEALTH.

WATCH IT SATURDAY MORNING AT 10:00 A.M. STREAMING ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

>>> SOME THINGS GET BETTER WITH TIME.

THAT'S THE CASE FOR THE BOSS' DEBUT ALBUM, GREETINGS FROM ASBURY PARK, TURNING 50 TODAY.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN RELEASED THE ALBUM JANUARY 5th, 1973, PUTTING THE DOWNTRODDEN JERSEY SHORE TOWN ON THE MUSICAL MAP.

THROUGH INTERVIEWS, SPRINGSTEEN HAS SAID HE GOT THE IDEA FOR THE NAME AFTER SPOTTING A POSTCARD WITH THAT MESSAGE ON THE ASBURY PARK BOARDWALK.

THE ALBUM WILL BE SOLD , PEAKING AT 60 ON THE CHARTS.

BUT WENT ON TO BE NAMED ONE OF THE GREATEST DEBUT ALBUMS OF ALL TIME BY ROLLING STONE AND REACHED DOUBLE PLATINUM STATUS WITH BEST-KNOWN TRACKS FUNDED BY THE LATE AND SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

STILL CLASSICS TODAY.

SONGS FROM THE ALBUM WERE WRITTEN BY SPRINGSTEEN ON A PIANO IN THE BACK OF A SECOND-FLOOR ABANDONED BEAUTY SALON IN ASBURY PARK.

IT DOES NOT GET MORE JERSEY THAN THAT.

THROUGH THE YEARS, HIS MUSIC NEVER DEPARTED FROM THOSE HUMBLE ROOTS.

HAPPY 50th.

THAT'S OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

MAKE SURE YOU JOIN US NEXT TUESDAY , JANUARY 10th AT 2:00 P.M. AS GOVERNOR MURPHY DELIVERS THE 2023 STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS LIVE AND IN PERSON FROM THE STATE HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS.

WE WILL HAVE INSIGHT FROM OUR TEAM OF REPORTERS AND POLITICAL EXPERTS PLUS THE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE.

WATCH ON-AIR OR ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GRADE FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND ORSTED.

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

THE OVEN WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE, OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

JOBS, EDUCATIONAL , SUPPLY CHAIN AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

ORSTED.

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

ONLINE AT US.ORSTED.COM.

>>> FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, NEW JERSEY REALTORS HAVE BEEN HELPING THEIR CLIENTS ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS.

NEW JERSEY REALTORS LIVE AND WORK IN CITIES , SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOODS, AND COMMUNITIES JUST LIKE HERE IN BEAUTIFUL ASBURY PARK.

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR UNIQUE NEEDS ARE, THERE IS A NEW JERSEY REALTOR FOR YOU.

FIND YOUR NEW JERSEY REALTOR AT NJ.REALESTATE/FIND.