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

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

And by the PSEG foundation.

Briana: tonight on "NJ Spotlight News," calls to resign.

Senator Cory Booker leading the charge to expel his now guilty Senate colleague Bob Menendez, who shows no signs of stepping down.

>> I can't imagine anyone in the Senate struggling with the decision whether he should be sitting in.

I'm sure the executive branch will take the same view.

Joanna: Plus, primary winner LaMonica McIver will face off with Carmen Bucco in the special election for the 10th Congressional District.

>> I am a leader they can depend on, a true advocate that is going to stand for them when it's good, when it's bad, when it's ugly, all of the above.

Joanna: Also, more transit troubles.

Potential delays from excessive heat may further disrupt your daily rail commute.

And buyer beware -- if you are looking for an apartment in Hudson County and seeing rents skyrocketing, it's because landlords could be colluding.

>> We have seen people's rents go up as high as 40 percent in one year.

We think that is unconscionable.

Joanna: "NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

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

Joanna: Hello, and thanks for joining us.

I'm Joanna Gagis.

Briana Vannozzi is off tonight.

The state watched as the jury handed down guilty verdict after guilty verdict in the corruption trial of Senator Bob Menendez and his codefendants, Fred and Wael Hana.

The charges included bribery, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy to act as a foreign agent.

As the new settled in, several lawmakers in New Jersey renewed calls for Menendez to resign, something the senator has defiantly refused to do at even after the verdict came down.

It leaves the Senate with the option to vote him out, but do they have the votes to do so?

If he does leave, what will happen to the balance of power in the U.S. Senate?

Brenda Flanagan has more on the fallout from the senator's guilty verdict.

Sen. Menendez: I've never been anything but a patriot of my country and for my country.

I have never ever been a foreign agent.

Brenda: Senator Bob Menendez vowed to battle on.

He is running for reelection as an independent after a Manhattan jury convicted him of all counts, Democrats jump on new shows, Iraq is caucus calling for his immediate-- a rock is caucus calling for his immediate resignation.

>> The most selfish act possible is for Bob Menendez not to look in the mirror and realize that for the good of his country -- if he cares in his country, he needs to get out of town.

Either way, what jerk -- by the way, what jerk blames his new wife at the trial?

Brenda: Claire McCaskill urged Chuck Schumer to call the expulsion vote next week, and if Menendez refuses to step down, Jersey's junior senator says he will step up.

Sen. Booker: If found beyond a reasonable doubt that he was guilty on all six charges, and so yes, he must stand down and leave the Senate.

If he refuses to do that, I will lead the effort to make sure he is removed from the Senate.

Brenda: That would require a 2/3 majority, including a few Republicans.

Governor Murphy said he is ready to appoint a placeholder to Menendez's seat pending the November election.

Patricia Campos-Medina ran for the Senate seat in the Democratic primary and says Murphy needs to acknowledge the cultural impact of Menendez's election.

>> This is a big loss for the Latino community, a void Latinos are going to feel for the next 20 years.

That will go a long way for Latinos to vote for Democrats in November.

Brenda: Congressman Andy Kim won the primary.

By taking ascendancy now, Kim could accrue a bit of seniority.

Rep. Kim: the focus is on what is next for Senator Menendez.

If he doesn't step down or is-- does step down or is expelled, that is the governor's decision.

If asked, I would accept.

>> I don't think it is appropriate to appoint my opponent for governments.

Brenda: The Republican candidate agrees Menendez should resign, but still backs Donald Trump for president despite his felony convictions.

>> No one found gold bars in Donald Trump's wardrobe.

This is an old case of peccadilloes in the past.

I don't think they are comparable, and voters will decide in November if they want Donald Trump to be the leader.

Brenda: On the other hand, it is 34 felony counts and he was convicted by jury of his peers.

>> I think Donald Trump is running his race and his mission is to defeat the Biden administration.

Brenda: Menendez has been barred from attending intelligence briefings on Israel, and given his conviction as a foreign agent willing to do favors for Egypt and Qatar, former prosecutors say -- >> I can't imagine anyone in the Senate struggling with the decision whether he should be sitting in.

I'm sure the executive branch will take the same view.

>> As long as you enriched him, it didn't matter the insensitive nature of the information he had access to.

He was a senator for sale, and that is probably a scary thing for a lot of the jurors.

Brenda: Former federal prosecutor said the court ordered a presentencing report for Menendez, who faces decades in prison.

As for the cash the senator stashed because his Cuban family distrusted banks, ironically, that was also seized by the FBI.

I am Brenda Flanagan, "NJ Spotlight News."

Joanna: While we wait to see whether Senator Menendez either resigns or is expelled from the U.S. Senate, Governor Murphy has a big role to play in what comes next.

Here with us are two influential people in a New Jersey politics who have insight, a State Senator and a former advisor to Governor Murphy and head of his policy PAC.

Thank you both so much for being with us tonight.

Dan, I want to start with you.

There is a timing issue at play here while we wait to see what happens with the senator, whether he resigns or is voted out.

Governor Murphy has a significant role to play, and there is a timing issue.

Because he has the power to appoint a replacement, what can you tell us about what the process will look like?

Daniel: listen -- first of all, thank you so much for having me.

Obviously appalled by the conviction of Senator Menendez that was found guilty of yesterday.

Listen, we went through a similar process recently when the lieutenant governor, may she rest in peace, passed away, and the governor went through an expedited, expeditious process to appoint a lieutenant governor.

Enoch to that process out -- he knocks that process out of the park.

You will see a similar one here.

He will go through the process and he will move quickly, and if history is any guide, he will appoint the right person and someone who will stand up for the state in D.C. Joanna: should the senator resign?

What is your opinion?

Daniel: Absolutely.

I think he should've resigned when he was indicted.

I think he should resign today.

What was found in that court case was absolutely appalling.

Not only taking money, taking gifts, taking bribes, but treating state secrets about as bad as it can get.

Yes, in my opinion he should have.

He should have last year.

He absolutely should today.

Joanna: Senator, your thoughts?

Should the senator resign?

>> Absolutely.

Will he resign?

I don't think he will.

I think you will stay in.

His sentencing is not until October 20 nine.

We will absolutely see him appeal.

And I think that while the governor may want and expeditious process, the state of politics for the Democratic Party, where you have more than seven out of 10 people wanting President Biden to step aside, you have a super majority of people who say it is the right thing for Senator Menendez to step aside, of course everybody would want that, but I don't think he is going to do it.

I think by the time they do an expulsion proceeding, you are well into the fall.

Joanna: It's a good point, that timing issues at play because ascendancy doesn't happen until October 29.

Just to touch on that point, Senator, Republicans have been quick to capitalize on that division that exists within the Democratic party, but we don't see many Republicans calling for Menendez to resign.

I can't help but wonder, is there some dissonance there?

Right now at the top of the Republican ticket is a convicted felon.

Sen. Schepisi: I think it is more a function of opportunity.

I think that the longer Senator Menendez does stay on the ticket, the better the chance of potentially for the first time ever having a Republican Senator -- not ever, but during the time-an adult --during the time I have been an adult, New Jersey having a Republican Senator.

The numbers are so close that could a very real chance of becoming a U.S. senator, and I think that that kind of comes into play as well.

Joanna: Dan, to the senator's point, the governor could appoint somebody if the timing works out who ends up being an incumbent, or there are rumblings that he could do something like appoint Tammy Murphy come his wife, who was an opponent of Andy Kim.

He is the Democratic primary candidate.

Who do you think the governor points, and who should he appoint?

Daniel: Listen, I am out of the predictions business on this.

I genuinely have not had a conversation with the governor about this.

I will leave names out of it.

I don't believe given his previous statements months ago on whether or not this is a possibility that he would appoint someone that is currently in the race.

That is just my opinion, but that is what he has said publicly.

Sen. Schepisi: Tammy Murphy, and zero chance Andy Kim gets appointed.

Daniel: Senator, are you available?

Sen. Schepisi: You would get rid of me in New Jersey it would be awesome.

Joanna: Thank you both.

Sen. Schepisi: thank you.

Daniel: thank you so much.

Joanna: While all eyes were on the Menendez jury decision, voters in the tent Congressional District watched LaMonica McIver when the special election to replace Donald Payne, jr., who died in April.

She was favored to win the race given her ability to fund raise, and she wanted a big way, securing 48% of the vote in a field that included 10 other challengers.

She goes to a special general election in September when she will face an opponent who won his primary uncontested.

What message issue bringing to voters in the 10th Congressional District?

She joins us now.

LaMonica McIver, thank you for joining us.

Congratulations on a huge win.

You are running to take over the seat of the late congas men Donald Payne, --late Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. What is your message to voters as to why they should vote for you?

Ms. McIver: One, I am a leader they can depend on, to advocate that will stand with them when it is good when it is bad, when it is ugly from all of the above, and that is why they should support me.

I hope that support continues through the next election, September 18.

Joanna: The winner of the special election will only serve out the term until January 3, and then after that, party leaders will appoint a new representative.

There is a convention tomorrow to select to select who the person will be.

Are you in conversation with party leaders?

Would be you --will it be you?

Ms. McIver: Don't know.

I follow the process as indicated.

They put out an announcement online.

Me and my team worked together and got it in.

We are hoping for the best tomorrow.

We are having a conversation with many Democratic district leaders across NJ 10 over the last eight weeks, but we don't take anything for granted, I don't take anything for granted, and we are hoping that tomorrow is successful for me to be on the November ballot.

Definitely don't want to take it for granted.

We are hoping and asking and pleading with those Democratic stakeholders across NJ 10 to select me.

Nothing is for granted here.

Joanna: You are favored to be the selected appointee in the inner backroom conversations in New Jersey.

If you are appointed, if you are elected, he would replace someone who is well-regarded in the 10th Congressional District -- you would replace someone who is well-regarded in the 10th Congressional District.

How would you carry on the legacy of Donald Payne, Jr., vs. charting your own priorities?

Ms. McIver: For sure, no mistake made, Donald Payne, Jr., was a legend, as was Donald Payne, S r. One thing about Congressman Payne, Jr.'s leadership, working with him as the council president and is a congressperson, he was a gentle leader, he was strong.

He might been quiet, but he was very strong in his leadership.

I look to carry that on and being strong and delivering for folks in NJ 10, but at the same time, as I was the youngest woman elected to the city Council and youngest member of the Council, I look to bringing forward a breath of fresh air, a breath of new ideas, new ways how we can do things, to start my legacy into this role if all goes well.

Joanna: We know right now in New Jersey there is only one member of the house, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman.

You would be potentially if you won the second Black woman to serve in the house in New Jersey.

We will be watching the race to see how it unfolds.

LaMonica McIver, thank you so much.

Ms. McIver: Thank you so much, thank you for having me.

Joanna: Skyrocketing rent prices have plagued New Jersey families for years.

City leaders in Jersey City and Hoboken have identified a major reason why rent costs increase so much each year.

They say algorithms from companies like real page are artificially raising rent prices and preventing competition in the market, and a 2022 report by pro-public up found that these -- ProPublica found that these landlords collude.

And you look at the effort to ban the algorithms.

Reporter: Kevin has a great view from his Jersey City apartment, although he has paid more and more for it in the three years he has lived here.

Rents started at $4400 a month, and after renewing his lease -- >> $1500 increase, which was shocking, obviously.

And then another $800 after that.

In our most recent renewal, they are attempting to up it to $7,111 per month.

Reporter: He lives with his partner and dog.

They are some of the residents facing steeper rents despite living in a rent-control building.

He says they received the same explanation.

>> "We can't give you a different rate because the software is telling us what the rate is and we have no control."

Reporter: The software is an algorithm from companies that use a formula suggesting how much to charge for rent.

He is the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against the company, also being investigated by the Department of Justice for possibly violating antitrust laws by sharing information among companies.

Weller is become a fixture at City Hall, saying local leaders took too long to take action against equity residential, his landlord.

>> The city was helping the landlord out by not enforcing rent control.

But for the city's nonenforcement, Real Page would not have been able to affect the tenants.

>> They are refusing to abide by a legal ruling and basically thumbing their nose at the city and the courts.

Reporter: Equity residential did not respond to our request for comment.

City Councilman James Solomon introduced and helped pass a resolution asking the status of Real Page.

>> People's rents go up as high as 30 to 40% in one year.

That is unconscionable.

Reporter: David leads the New Jersey Apartment Association, a group representing landlord and developers.

>> It is up to the landlord at the end of the day to make a determination as to whether they will raise rent.

Reporter: Broken says it is unfair to penalize landlords for using AI when so many industries do the same.

>> If I wanted to use technology, I could gather that information much quicker than if you were to hire 100 people to call every single apartment complex in that area to get the same information.

>> all of these landlords should not be taking all the information that they have, sharing it with each other, and then saying how do we get a dollar more.

That should not be allowed.

Reporter: The assemblywoman plans to introduce a bill that would ban software like Real Page.

"I understand these of technology in our businesses and support innovation.

However, I cannot advocate for tools that victimize mentors and potentially allow property managers to include on rents to artificially impact the market.

I'm committed to investigating the issue further and introducing legislation to clarify the love rent-setting algorithms, and if found to be harmful, ban their use."

>> If there is discussion about removing our abilities technology, I would like to have a further conversation with the legislature before anything like that happens.

Reporter: In a statement, the company says there formula does not violate antitrust laws, and they denied allegations of raising rents, and the formula has not changed much since they were investigated by the Department of Justice in 2017.

For "NJ Spotlight News," I'm Ted Goldberg.

Joanna: in our "Spotlight on Business" report, as of train delays and cancellations aren't enough, now NJ transit is experiencing heat-related problems on its airlines.

The recent temperatures have impacted air-conditioning units, leading to more potential delays and cancellations.

This comes at a time when NJ transit is picking up the slack on 20 additional bus routes in Passaic and Hudson Counties after Coach USA announced it was canceling service on those routes.

Coah is filing for bankruptcy, 22 declining rid -- pointing to declining ridership and inflation.

Stocks slide after more selloffs in the tech world.

>> Support for the business report is provided by Halsey, a neighborhood built on heart and hustle.

Joanna: Finally tonight, preserving critical parts of New Jersey and American history.

Two centuries ago a Black farmer founded Snow Hill, what you now know as Lawnside, New Jersey.

It was a freak Black commit -- free Black community bought by abolitionists.

Today it is rich with artifacts with letters, posters, videos, and Mark.

Thanks to thousands of dollars in federal support, the group will be able to modernize and digitize their impressive collection.

Cravens and Tenet visited the lungs -- Raven Santana visited the Lawnside historical Society to see the significant history that will be saved.

Raven: Nestled among this residential community is the Peter Mott house.

Peter Mott was a Black farmer who built the house and used it to hide to those seeking freedom in the underground railroad network.

>> There are stories of people who were pursued by so-called slave catchers or bounty hunters, and the community Valley around them and repelled to those people.

So there is a rich history of people working together and trying to help one another.

Raven: Linda Shockley is president of the Lawnside historical Society, which has committed itself to preserving and maintaining the Mott house.

On a yearly basis they received 12,000 visitors to visit the now-Museum located in the only historically African-American Inc. municipality in the United States.

Linda: We get calls, we get emails from people saying "I think my grandfather is buried at the local cemetery."

It's amazing.

There may be something in our collection that will speak to someone who's been searching for information about people.

Raven: She says that search will get a lot easier now that the historical society was awarded a $34,000 grant, part of $6 million in federal support for 30 institutions nationwide to digitize its collection of artifacts including documents, photos, and deeds, including those shown here.

>> Right now we get lots of calls from historians, genealogists, and academics who want to know about one side.

This will lighten the burden to go through boxes and provide this information.

The Former President -- Raven: The former president the African-American genealogy group in Philadelphia's chief curator of the project.

She says grant will prevent history from being forgotten or erased.

>> Erasure is real.

The landscape is disappearing.

We have the people who knew what the landscape used to be.

They are disappearing as well.

And they have all of this rigid stuff in their homes, and so this project and just the awareness of it, people are starting to say, hey, why don't we take this to the Lawnside historical Society?

Raven: Jordan says more than 1000 different items are said to be digitized.

>> There will be included tons of manuscript collections, images in various forms, videotape, some ancient formats, video, hard box videos.

Also, programs.

Lawnside is known to have more secret societies than most communities of its size.

They said this in the late 1800s.

And so as such, we have a rich -- lots of programs, tickets.

Raven: Jordan says the goal is to make the collection available when the municipality of Lawnside celebrates the 100th anniversary in 2026.

For "NJ Spotlight News," I'm Raven Santana.

Joanna: That does it for us.

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

I am Joanna Gagis.

For the entire team, thanks for being with us, have a great night, and we will see you back here tomorrow.

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