>> Funding for NJ Spotlight news provided by members of the New Jersey education Association, making public schools great for every child.

And by RWJ Barnabas health.

>> Team Menendez's last ditch effort to poke holes in the government's federal bribery case against the senior senator, trying to raise reasonable doubt for the jury gets the case.

Also the race for the presidency.

Representative Mikie Sherrill becomes the first New Jersey delegate to call President Biden to step aside.

>> This could go on for a couple more weeks.

I think there is a lot of model ahead.

>> Plus, not in our backyard.

Jersey City leaders rally against the state's $10.7 billion Turnpike expansion, calling for a full environmental impact study.

And celebrating 50 years of black filmmaking.

The New York Museum kicks off the Black film Festival tonight.

>> We are exposing these films to audiences that were previously never aware of them and filmmakers in turn are finding new people to talk to, new people to communicate with.

>> NJ Spotlight news begins right now.

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

>> Hello and thanks for joining us tonight.

I'm in for Briana Vannozzi.

We are coming down to the final days of the federal bribery trial against U.S.

Senator Bob Menendez and his two codefendants Wael Hana and Fred Daibes.

The defense team for Menendez wrapped up closing arguments today, taking their last shots at the allegations that Menendez engaged in corrupt behavior, saying the U.S. Justice Department failed to provide evidence that would prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the senator participated in a quid pro quo.

An attorney told the jury that a victory for Menendez is a victory for the country.

After Menendez's team finished the final arguments, attorneys for codefendants Wael Hana and F red Daibes offered a closing statement.

Brenda Flanagan is outside the courthouse in New York to share what final points Adam made today on behalf of Menendez.

Brenda; he capped five hours of closing arguments with a appeal to the juror's churches in.

He told them, when you acquit Senator Menendez, America wins.

And then he urged them "resist the temptation to pick the salacious story about a corrupt politician because it is not there."

He spent the morning pick apart the prosecution's evidence, arguing their case is hollow, mostly circumstantial and full of gaps.

Let's consider the government's star witness, Jose Uribe.

He claims he bribed an end as with -- bribed Menendez with a Mercedes Benz.

He caleld hi -- >> All along we have heard the defense team point back to Nadine Menendez.

Did you hear any more of that today?

Brenda: actually we did.

The lawyer mentioned actions that Nadine took him a chic from Menendez.

-- She did not want to tell him about these car payments from Uribe because she had broken up -- because Menendez had broken up with Nadine once before over the chaos in her life with an ex-boyfriend and she did not want him to see more evidence of instability in her life.

If they are in the process of breaking up, how are they going to be putting together a bribery scheme.

Bob Menendez, he said, never took a bribed, that what he was doing was his job.

There was nothing unusual, that he called officials, that he took care of his constituents, and he said that this case dies here.

That was his end quote.

He did manage to spark some objections from the prosecution.

He stepped outside the legal lines a few times and the judge did admonish him to be more careful.

Joanne: So there are a couple things left.

The other codefendants had a chance to present their final closing arguments.

What can you tell us about that?

Brenda: The attorneys for co-defendants Wael Hana and Fred Daibes are insisting that the government failed to prove a quid pro quo.

The Hana attorney argued that even if Hana gave gifts, which he said Hana did, and even if Menendez did do things on Hana's behalf, there is no evidence of corrupt intent, that the government's case is pure speculation.

He says, why does the government ask you to assume the worst?

He says because they lack direct evidence, they have to ask you to infer the facts.

Joanne: We know the government gets the last stab at this.

They get to go with a rebuttal.

What are you expecting and when does the jury get this case?

Brenda: What we expect to see tomorrow is the rebuttal from the government, the judge charging the jury, telling them what the law directs them to do and how to consider the evidence, and then the jury goes behind closed doors for deliberations.

Joanne: It is a moment that we felt like we would never get to, but we are very close.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan bringing us the latest analysis.

Late yesterday, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill joined the small but vocal group of lawmakers calling for President Biden to step out of the 2024 presidential race.

She is the only lawmaker in New Jersey to take this stand and one of a handful of congressional Democrats saying it is time for Biden to pass the torch.

Closed door meetings were held among Democratic caucus member yesterday, leaving many wondering what dominoes would begin to fall within the party.

Many seem to be remain standing at this point, holding in their supper the president.

It is a tenuous place to be with less than six weeks to go before the Democratic national convention, where President Biden's nomination will be confirmed.

So will we see a massive shift between then and now?

Charlie style wrote a piece asking where New Jersey's leaders are landing on the matter.

He is here to talk about the broader implications.

Great to talk to you.

We see a lot of discord playing out in front of our eyes.

While Democrats remain pretty split on whether the president should step aside, should pass the torch, just taking a step back, does that move, if the president were to do so, would that send the Democratic Party into a tailspin?

Charlie: you mean to withdraw and step aside?

I think you will see the fear is the Democratic party will crumble into a Civil War between the more progressive's and -- progressives and the centrists and which standardbearer would be more likely a person to carry the torch or unify the party.

I think that is the big fear right now, that as Trump skates around, goes to rallies and just watches the Democratic Party train wreck, the Democratic Party is losing the opportunity to prosecute the case against him and losing the chance to win.

Joanne: Essentially what I hear you saying is this is a timing issue and the more time goes by, the harder it is.

We saw yesterday Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, the first of anyone in New Jersey to boldly call for the president to step aside, essentially saying she does not believe he can win.

Does Mikie Sherrill doing this signal then to voters a lack of confidence within the party, and some who have supported the president say may be I will not turn out to vote?

What impact does this have on voters?

Charlie: In a lot of ways it is a gamble that the voters are with her in this position.

I'm talking about Congresswoman Sherrill, that there are enough people in her now moderate district, a centrist district with a strong liberal base in her hometown area, she's gambling that the majority of people in her district share that view that he has to go and that there is no chance to win with Joe Biden at the top of the ticket.

I'm not so sure that is the uniform feeling across the state.

We are seeing other members of Congress rally behind Joe Biden.

So I think it is a really fluid situation.

I don't think there is any clear picture yet for any kind of consensus for the Democratic Party.

Joanne: Right now the Black Congressional caucus is standing behind the president.

Hakeem Jeffries is standing behind the president.

So already there is that split.

Is the endorsement of the Black congressional caucus enough to secure the president's position, where this movement does not pick up enough steam?

Charlie: I think it is an important one.

Black voters, particularly Black women voters have been a loyal firewall for President Biden.

So I think that is enough.

I think that will be very important.

If he is able to hold the line and stabilize, I think that will be a look back on their support -- their support will be seen as key.

One of the more interesting things is you have some of the more progressive members of Congress who have been upset with Biden over things like Gaza, are now rallying behind him and ironically calling him the most progressive president we have ever had.

They are out there, hoping to use this moment to push them to the left.

Joanne: Thank you for the analysis.

As always, we will be watching.

I know you will be following it.

Good to have you on.

Charlie: My pleasure.

Joanne: Violence intervention programs having pleasingly been looked at out a way to -- having increasingly been looked at as a way to reduce violence in cities.

Through that effort in New York, train members respond to shooting situations are working to de-escalate the responses of those involved and limit any Parler -- and limit any further violent activity.

Not everyone is happy with how it is playing out.

Members of the Newark police union say some of these responders are intervening and even obstructing law enforcement from doing their job.

Raven Santana spoke to union leaders and the mayor to hear their take on the matter.

>> It is very clear we have this number of homicides in the city, and if we continue to go the way we have been, we will go even lower.

Raven: The mayor says the numbers don't lie when speaking about the success of the Newark office of violent trauma and prevention recovery.

It has received national acclaim for improving the quality of life of residence and addressing the underlying causes of violence throughout the city.

>> We have been recognized by President Obama in my brother's keeper, Biden created the office of violence prevention.

Raven: Backlash from the president of the fraternal order of police union in Newark.

He sat down with me alongside the attorney and General Counsel for the city's FOP to further discuss a letters sent on July 2.

In it, Weber asks officials to investigate the mayor's anti-crime organization, claiming the group has repeatedly interfered with police crime scenes.

>> We have endless amounts of bodycam footage showing OVP members and city officials interfering with crime scenes, literally getting while the officer is asking them to step out of the crime scene, while I'm the phone with the mayor.

Raven: Weber's letter stems from an incident where he says police arrested one of the OVPTR members involved in a shooting near the Newark police academy.

He said several other OVPTR members purposefully obstructed law enforcement as they tried to arrest the suspect.

>> A crime scene is roped off, people disregarding that, being told you have to step to the side, refused to do it.

>> This is not something you want to get closed doors and talk about -- get behind closed doors and talk about.

This is something where the public has the right to know.

Just like a law enforcement officer shoots his or her firearm immediately, hours later it is broadcast all over the place.

It is the same thing on this end.

Raven: Mayor Baraka says the incident was more of miscommunication and says the FOP letter reflects an old us vs. them way of thinking which Newark will never return to.

>> I think the president of the FOP is dead wrong and the sentiment he's using to express this to me is a sentiment of division.

>> I will repeat it, I don't want to dismantle OVP.

Most of them do commendable work.

>> Advocates and the mayor stand by the fact that members are trained and vetted, but admit there is room for improvement, which is why he says he plans to have a meeting of the minds.

>> There is a need for improving.

There is a conversation for improving protocols and improving the relationship so there is clear recognition as to each other is.

>> Already what we have done, we are creating an opportunity for some of the police brass and regular police officers to get together with folks from the office of violent prevention to discuss together.

>> My thing is, what these department members?

Will they handpick the ones they want and everyone will sit there and not discuss the facts of what is going on?

I'd be surprised.

I did not get an invite.

I would love to meet with these people.

I'm not looking for conflict, I'm not looking for arguments, not looking to embarrass anyone.

I'm looking for resolution.

Raven: Weber says if he does not receive an invite, he now wants to spearhead his own meeting with the mayor, members of OVPTR , and other officers.

Joanne: Last night, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority had its one and only information session to address the proposed 10.7 billion dollar highway expansion project that would widen of the Jersey Turnpike.

The info session was held in Jersey City and brought out several opponents of the project, including Jersey City's mayor and several council members, along with residents and advocacy groups who say the health and environmental impacts of the expansion will be devastating.

As Ted Goldberg reports, they are increasing their demands for a full environmental impact study before any work begins.

>> What they proposed does not make sense to a rational person.

Ted: The Jersey City Mayor lent 's voice to this rally, protesting a potential $10 billion Turnpike project.

The Turnpike Authority maintains it needs to widen catch of this eight mile stretch to accommodate more travel within the state.

>> The courts are expanding.

Jersey City, they are thriving and growing.

This program will support that local and state economy in order to provide regional mobility.

We honestly believe this is the right thing to do for the public, for the region.

Number one is always safety.

>> We agree safety is a priority.

It is the added beyond the safety that we are expressing our displeasure with.

>> The Turnpike Authority says the new project won't make pollution much worse in North Jersey.

People like the mayor are not convinced that is true.

He says he's confused why the state would sue to block congestion pricing on environmental grounds, but allow this Turnpike expansion.

>> The number one issue they cited in the lawsuit against New York was air pollution, increased traffic, and the impact it would have on the communities.

It begs the question that when you have roads and more cars projected to come through urban areas, diverse communities like Jersey City, why does the same standard not apply?

Ted: The Newark Mayor also wrote an op-ed criticizing the project, saying the Turnpike Authority's main interests are not on the safety or utility of the existing bridge, but on boarding more vehicles on the road and generating more toll revenue.

People at the rally say the project would make life worse for people living in places adversely affected by pollution.

>> I'm tired of hearing people having to share their struggles.

They know they have adverse health effects.

Asthma.

>> My son suffers from asthma.

When we travel or leave the tri-state area, his symptoms noticeably improve.

There is clearly a problem here with our air quality.

No claims by the state can change what I've seen with my own eyes.

>> It was a very vigorous environmental process.

We have met with the Coast Guard and Army Corps for the past two to three years.

Not only are we adhering and meeting the federal process and review process, we are also similarly -- we met with the state process as well.

Ted: Before the Turnpike Authority hosted its third public information session, protesters called for the Coast Guard to intervene and demand a more rigorous environmental impact statement.

>> The U.S. Coast Guard commission needs to not just accept the environmental assessment of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

They need to look at the entire eight miles and insist on an environmental impact statement.

It is not as hot today as it has been, but will we continue to contribute to letting the world burn?

This project does nothing to help us meet the two to three level of 1.5 degrees Celsius goals of the Paris Accord.

Ted: The Turnpike Authority brought in experts, but their presentation did not get very far before they were shouted down.

[shouting] Demands for a public comment period turned into the same protesters walking out.

Though they tell me they will continue protesting.

In Jersey City, I'm Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

Joanne: The new work Black film Festival is our country's longest running film festival of its kind, and it kicks off its 50th year today in Newark.

It started as a traveling Black film festival in Philadelphia before making its way to the Newark Ms. EM of art in 1974, which then became the festival's permanent home.

It has since become a fixture in the city and has helped to launch the film careers of countless Black movie directors, helping to break down the barriers they faced.

Directors like Spike Lee, or one who went on to win an Oscar, and Warrington huddling, the list goes on.

But behind the scenes, helping to Shou Zi Chew the movies selected for viewing at the Newark black film Festival was the chair of the committee.

I had the honor of having him -- I have the honor of having him here with me now to discuss the significance of this 50th anniversary.

>> It is great to be here.

Joanne: How has the Black festival grown and evolved in its 50 years?

>> I think in terms of the breadth of the films we have been selecting, we began as a committee back in the mid-70's, concentrating mostly on films that were produced here within the United States, but over the years we have expanded that to begin a conversation about cinema across the African Diaspora.

So it is not only the United States, it is the Caribbean, it's South America, it's Europe, and of course Africa.

We have been able to bring in films from all of those areas across the 50 years that we have been functioning.

Joanne: We know representation matters so much in film, especially for younger people.

You cannot be it if you can't see it.

How has the film festival changed the movie industry for black filmmakers, Black actors?

>> I think I will answer that question in terms of our encouraging access, our efforts to turn the festival and the Newark Museum of Art into a space where filmmakers can bring their work before audiences and expose their work in that way and develop a distribution network for themselves.

Joanne: Absolutely.

I'm curious what challenges still exist for folks trying to get their films into mainstream audiences, Black directors, Black filmmakers, producers.

>> Filmmakers broadly, filmmakers of color in particular are in a new environment where the venues for independent filmmakers, for filmmakers who are outside the mainstream, those venues have continuously collapsed.

They are at a point now where distribution outlets are almost nonexistent.

But I believe we are also in an environment, and the Newark Black Film Festival is part of that environment, where the technology which has democratized the filmmaking process is also creating new opportunities for distribution.

And we are excited about being part of that conversation.

Joanne: Let's talk about what you can see and hear this year, this 50th anniversary.

What is airing today?

>> Today it is a new film.

Joanne: A story about an incarcerated man who starts a play?

>> Starts a play within a play.

It has a nonlinear form to it.

When you are watching his story unfold on screen, you are also watching his interpretations of his reality.

A film by a director who actually -- we were as a festival among the first to screen that film back in the 1990's when it first came out.

In the years since that time, she has emerged as a major voice for young black women filmmakers in the country.

On that night, we are also screening a new film by a young filmmaker who is coming up.

They are going to be in conversation on stage that evening, so a new generation poker to a previous generation -- talking to a previous generation.

That will be a major feature of that night.

Joanne: Thank you so much for all that you've done here in the community.

Not only the 50th anniversary, you have a birthday tomorrow.

This is a big week.

The chairman of the selection committee at the Newark Black film Festival, thank you.

Wonderful.

That does it for us tonight.

Before you go, remindera, download the NJ Spotlight News podcast so you can listen anytime.

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

Have a great night and we will see you back here tomorrow.

>> NJM insurance group.

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And by the PSEG foundation.

♪