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>> Tonight on "NJ Spotlight News," transit meltdown.

>> They are susceptible to heat, to wind, to lightning strikes, to cold.

We were having problem after problem.

>> Another nightmare start to the week on the tracks, with downed wires causing major delays and with temperatures rising outdoors, commuters are overheating indoors.

Plus, a former organized crime prosecutor breaks down the charges leveled against Democratic power-broker, George Norcross.

Also, Juneteenth celebrations honoring the end of slavery across the state today as Governor Murphy announces a historic clemency program pardoning thousands who were unfairly constant -- unfairly arrested.

And code red.

As record-breaking heat threatens the state this week, lawmakers look to establish cooling centers for residents experiencing homelessness.

>> That population is already burdened with health issues.

So many of the homeless have pretty significant health issues.

It's absolutely necessary.

>> "NJ Spotlight News" begins now.

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

>> Hello and thanks for joining us tonight.

I'm Raven Santana in for Brianna Vannozzi.

As if commuting in the heat is not already brutal, thousands of passengers experience another meltdown.

This time, downed wires leaving many stranded for hours.

Yesterday's transit nightmares comes just weeks before fares are scheduled to increase by 15% with 3% annual increases in the following years.

Amtrak, which is the landlord for the lines, is usually blamed for NJ transit delays.

As correspondent Brenda Flanagan reports, Governor Murphy is demanding NJ transit and Amtrak get together to prevent a summer full of transit troubles.

>> I don't know, but it's really bad.

>> angry NJ transit rail riders suffered another service met on Tuesday, a system shutdown that stopped transit for hours.

>> no service at all.

>> Another NJ transit nightmare, riders fumed on social media.

"Took me three hours to get home.

Absolute absurdity."

"Three and a half hours have been trying to get my family home."

moreover, this latest crisis comes after a similar shutdown stranded riders three weeks ago.

Governor Murphy today called at unacceptable.

>> It feels like both Amtrak and NJ transit had issues.

We are trying to get to the bottom of that.

We have been dogged for -- whatever used to be because of of lack of manpower.

That is not the reason today.

>> unfortunately, it is so frequent that it's not a surprise anymore when people are stuck.

>> NJ transit trains run reliably only 86% of the time.

While aging tunnels do cause problems, decrepit signal and electrical wires also caused shutdowns.

It is a vulnerable network that is not ready for this long, hot summer.

>> they are unreliable and susceptible to heat, wind, lightning strikes, cold.

So we are having problem after problem associated with that.

>> I really worry about the climate and continued heat waves and as we move into the fall and into summer.

I think we will be getting a bunch of sucker punches that are going to hurt the system.

>> The RPA's Tom Wright says Amtrak owns the track and switches while NJ transit pays to use them and endures disruption when something breaks.

The agencies argue over repairs.

>> I think of New Jersey transit and Amtrak as sort of two spouses that get divorced and share their same house, and they fight over the refrigerator and over who is going to vacuum.

They fight over who is going to pay for the roof.

>> Governor Murphy has asked Amtrak and NJ transit to coordinate responses to service interruption, but as always, the bottom line here is money.

Murphy fired off a letter demanding Amtrak needs to make immediate short-term and long-term investments to address infrastructure vulnerabilities.

The agency replied it is working with NJ transit, which stated, both sides are fully aligned to reduce such occurrences while we were collectively on the longer-term work that needs to be prioritized on Amtrak's Northeast corridor to replace and upgrade their antiquated infrastructure.

But NJ transit is still confronting a budget cliff, is an -- even as it raises fares 15% starting July 1.

>> Trying to force NJ transit to do more with less does not make any sense in this situation.

This is a key part of the economic engine of the state, and it's got to have the resources that it needs.

>> riders' reactions?

>> you are not going to want to pay more for the same service if the service is not as good as you would need it to be.

>> yes, it should be more dependable, but things happen, and because things happen, what you do is make an adjustment.

>> many commuters say they would pony up for a decent ride.

>> extortion coercing businesses with property rights on Camden's border front and securing millions in tax credits.

These are just some of the allegations in the 100 -- 111-page indictment for the powerful influence or for the New Jersey Democrat who has never been elected to office.

He and his associates have been accused of multiple criminal acts that the Attorney General says span over 12 years.

Will this be a slamdunk for the prosecutor's office, or could this case proved to be more difficult?

For more expert insight, I'm joined by a former federal and New Jersey state prosecutor specializing in complex organized crime and corruption prosecutions.

Thank you for joining me.

The defendants in this case are charged with racketeering among other crimes.

Racketeering is usually associated with organized crime cases.

You read this indictment.

What is the Attorney General laying out here?

>> A lengthy enterprise whose purpose was to use political power to force property owners to disgorge the value of their property and to transfer that value to the defendants and their associates.

Use the pressure of government to force people to give up valuable property rights.

>> You read this indictment.

Was there anything that stood out for sake of -- or shock you?

>> it was not shocking.

One of the things that was, of course, of interest was the extent to which there was electronic surveillance evidence that was quoted in the indictment.

When you have a case in which there is direct electronic surveillance evidence -- in other words recordings -- of the defendants speaking about what it is they are planning to do and how they are doing it and in several instances in the indictment allegedly actually carrying out the crime by making threats, that is powerful evidence, and and very difficult for the defense to overcome.

>> we know that George Norcross has been influential politically in South Jersey for long time.

The AG says this criminal enterprise expands 12 years -- spans 12 years.

How can he prove all of this activity was criminal and not just for political gain?

>> that is the key question in the case.

That will require showing that the value that was extracted from the victims went to people who were designated by the defendants, either themselves or their friends and associates, and if that is the case, then that is a completed crime.

>> the indictment accuses Norcross of using his political influence to craft legislation that served his own interest.

He allegedly conspired with allies to leverage control of a development and benefit from state tax incentives.

How is this extortion and not just good, old-fashioned horsetrading?

>> The history of how this legislation was created and how it was influenced by the, as the indictment characterizes, the group, the Norcross enterprise -- the background is important to understand how they were positioned to carry out the objectives of the conspiracy.

It's not necessarily criminal in every respect, but it is part of organizing and strengthening the power of the enterprise, but that is just preparation for the commission of the ultimate crime that is alleged in the indictment.

>> in a complicated case like this, what is the timeline?

When might this even go before a jury?

>> it is hard to say.

I don't know how backlogged cases are in the New Jersey courts.

When I was handling these kinds of cases a long time ago, there were times when the Chief Justice would assign a special judge to handle the case so that it can be expedited, recognizing that there is a very strong public interest in moving a case like this expeditiously.

>> Thank you so much.

>> Good to be with you.

>> Hundreds of people gathered in Newark today for a celebration to mark Juneteenth, the day when union forces and forced the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas, signaling the end of slavery.

Today's festivities at Harriet Tubman square here in Newark included free meals from black-owned restaurants, live music, games, and more, and while people may associate slavery with the South, New Jersey was once so reliant on slave labor that it earned the nickname "the slave state of the North."

Reparations Council was formed last year which has held public discussions that explore slavery's roots in systemic racism today.

Tonight's meeting is a check in with the two-year project which will culminate in a report on ways what's up are Missy and slavery continue to impact the state and offer policy solutions -- ways white supremacy and slavery continue to impact the state and offer policy solutions for restitution.

Thank you for joining me.

New Jersey has been widely viewed as a progressive state, but unfortunately in your reporting, you highlighted how our state does in fact have history with slavery.

Let's talk about that a little.

>> people generally associate slavery with the South, but New Jersey actually has an extensive history with slavery to the point where they really relied on the slave trade and even slave labor just to create the colony itself, so that extensive history, the Institute for social justice says extends to today.

The history of slavery never really disappeared.

It turned into other things, if it is Jim Crow era, exclusionary zoning laws, disparate rates of incarceration, so that is why they have created this reparations Council.

>> people may not know, as you just mentioned, but the state did create that reparations Council, so let's talk more about that.

You touched on it, but who is on it and what do they do and why exactly did they create it?

>> The Institute for social justice made their reparations Council because at the state level, they felt like there was not a lot of support.

The state did create a wealth disparity task force, but the Institute said that was not enough.

It was not exactly tackling reparations, and the idea of how slavery continues in some capacity today, so that's why they went ahead after advocating for several years and said, we are just going to do it ourselves.

So they created this council that has 40-plus members, nine different committees to look at all the ways slavery continues in some way today.

>> we know the Institute for social justice is convening in Newark to discuss an update.

What can we expect?

>> This is really just a one-year check in for them.

They launched this effort on Juneteenth last year.

Council members will talk about the different things they discussed in the various public meetings they have had since September and take a look at some possible ideas for reparations in the state, if that is cash payments or different policies that could help promote better wealth and socioeconomic status for Black Americans in New Jersey.

>> I guess the big question is -- do we anticipate the state will honor their findings and make reparations?

>> That's the million-dollar question.

I think everyone is kind of wondering what exactly will happen.

The Institute will put out their report that will collect all these findings on Juneteenth of next year.

If the state will listen to them is yet to be seen.

I think they hope that they will in some way that will create some conversation about potential policies, socioeconomic policies that could help tackle these great wealth disparities in the state, but your guess is as good as mine.

>> Excellent reporting.

Thank you for joining me.

>> Have a good one.

>> You can see the New Jersey reparations Council Juneteenth event tonight at 7:00 p.m. and hear about the progress they have made.

It will stream live on our website and on the NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel.

Also in Newark today at St. James AME Church on this Juneteenth, Governor Murphy signs an executive order with the goal of pardoning thousands of New Jerseyans.

He says the move will make history and provide relief to those who have suffered from unfair incarceration.

Our senior political correspondent explains how the new clemency program will work and how it will make the process faster.

>> it was 159 years ago today when General Gordon Ranger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce a new beginning in our nation's story.

The enslaved people of America had at long last been declared you.

>> In case the symbolism was not clear enough, Governor Phil Murphy quoted Scripture and spirituals before a largely black and brown audience at the St. James AME Church on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Newark.

The event -- agent and signing of an executive order.

>> creating a new clemency initiative that will make our progress for granting legal relief to New Jerseyans Ferrer, more equitable, and far more accessible.

Here in New Jersey, receiving a pardon or having your sentence commuted was not a matter of either fairness or objectivity.

It was a matter of who you knew and how well-connected you were to those in power.

>> That's why there have been over 100 pardons or commutations over the last 30 years in New Jersey.

The executive order does not change that immediately.

It establishes a six-member clemency advisory board and the criteria for expedited consideration of requests.

>> members of the board will consider applications for clemency on an ongoing basis and ultimately offer impartial recommendations on who should be granted a pardon or commutation.

Importantly, this executive order will also clearly spell out the categories of individuals who will receive expedited review by the clemency advisory board.

We have reviewed best practices from around the country and from social science to identify individuals who, based on the time that has elapsed since their offense, and/or the nature of their offense, will be at the front of the line for consideration for pardons.

>> young offenders of nonviolent crimes, victims of sexual abuse, and those most adversely affected by the war on drugs, and as noted by Wallace Peeples, their families.

Quick stand up if you came here to represent your homies.

Stand up.

Look at them.

Look at them.

Look at them.

[APPLAUSE] They came here to represent that -- their friend, that her brother, their sister that they walked the track with, went against the guards with, put grievances in, so today, I just want to salute y'all because y'all ain't have to be here.

>> exacerbated by a road to freedom, paid for the privilege to but impossible for the rest.

The governor says it will be six months before the recommendations reached his desk.

Deferred yes, but no longer denied.

>> The Parsippany Troy Hill Starbucks is the latest to unionize with a unanimous vote to establish their union.

They are the second Starbucks to unionize in Morris County, and they will join over 400 Starbucks stores across the country.

With more than 10,000 unionized Starbucks workers.

This all comes as the Supreme Court actually backed Starbuck'' labor fight against seven employees who were fired after they attempted to unionize in Memphis, Tennessee, the state's second largest city.

>> support for "NJ Spotlight news" is provided by NJMEP.

More on njmep.org.

♪ >> You may have heard of code blue, a program that opens up shelters when temperatures drop below freezing, but now legislators are weighing a bill to create a code red program.

It would provide cooling centers for residents experiencing homelessness throughout the state during periods of extreme heat.

Ted Goldberg explains that while both legislators and shelter operators want this to happen, there is one major hurdle standing in the way.

>> finding a place to beat the heat can be a little more challenging for people experiencing homelessness.

>> It kind of hits close to me because I have a heart condition, so staying out of the heat is very important to me.

I need to drink a lot of water and find shade.

>> try to find places to sit down in the shade that are clean, that are free of refuse, that don't have that element around them and that have cold water on hand.

Comfort, staying clean, so you don't have an odor, you know.

And it gets kind of challenging.

>> advocates say a new bill would open a cooling center for the homeless when temperatures hit 100 or mid 90's for several days, or if air quality is expected to be unhealthy.

>> the population is already burdened with health issues.

So many of the homeless have put a significant health issues.

It is absolutely necessary.

>> They are unable to remove themselves from the heat, unable usually to get into an air-conditioned or shaded area, so they will be exposed to the heat for longer periods of time without the ability to seek shelter.

>> New Jersey has had code blue shelters are extremely cold days since 2017.

Reginald Wallace says a shelter saved his life last winter, and he would really like to see a similar measure for extreme heat.

>> I was sleeping under the steps of the library around the corner on Academy Avenue, and it's raining and freezing and cold, and it's like, it's really bad.

I got really sick.

>> If I was having a place -- if I was having a problem with my heart because of the heat, a place to go where I would be able to cool off and have water, I think that would be essential.

>> groups like the rescue mission of Trenton would not be reimbursed for code red shelters for three years, but the CEO says they will find a way to make it work.

>> The fact that there is the potential to get reimbursed is a plus.

We then say, what is the prospect of how do we have to, to your point, keep those receipts so that we can then submit for reimbursement?

And I'm sure they will have a system where you will go in and do that.

>> According to the office of legislative services, these cooling centers can cost $6 million over three years.

Where that money comes from has become a sticking point.

>> The shelters want to do this desperately, but it takes personnel to open up their doors.

There needs to be adequate funding in the bill to ensure that the reality can match the nice words.

>> the bill does not include or an investment does not include the necessary funding to provide for transportation services, provide for any of the cost associated with warming centers and some of the other ancillary types of services.

We believe the state has to make some type of investment.

>> the debate continues tomorrow in the capital where the bill will be discussed when the Senate health committee meets in the morning.

>> support for the medical report is provided by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

>> That does it for us tonight.

Before you go, a reminder to download the "NJ Spotlight News" podcast so you can listen to us any time.

I'm Raven Santana, and from the entire team, thanks for being with us.

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

>> New Jersey education Association, making public schools great for every child.

RWJ Barnabas health.

Let's be healthy together.

And New Jersey realtors, the voice of real estate in New Jersey.

More information is online at njrealtor.com.

>> And Gloria months, president of New Jersey realtors.

If it guiding first-time buyers through the homebuying process for securing small business owners, New Jersey realtors have been helping clients through real estate transactions for more than a century.

No matter what your unique needs are, there is a knowledgeable New Jersey realtor for you.

Learn more at njrealto r.com/find.

>> look at these kids.

What do you see?

I see myself.

I became an ESL teacher to give my students what I wanted when I came to this country.

The opportunity to learn, to dream, to achieve.

The chance to belong and be an American.

I'm proud to be an NJEA member.

♪