>> tonight on New Jersey Spotlight News, savings for seniors.

After weeks of negotiations, a tentative deal between Governor Murphy and lawmakers could mean major tax cuts for residents over age 65.

>> this is nothing more than an election-year gimmick in an effort to try to essentially purchase votes.

>> a storm brewing.

Nestlé's union workers fight to keep the 75-year-old coffee manufacturing plant open in New Jersey.

Some are fearing their jobs will be outsourced.

>> today is our time to stand up and fight for people's rights, to keep their jobs here in America!

>> plus, hunger in New Jersey.

Advocates push lawmakers to support a free lunch program for every student in the state.

>> this is why school meals were all is currently important in New Jersey, because we have a high cost of living.

>> finding your roots.

A Trenton Museum is helping families trace their African ancestry one local resident makes a remarkable discovery.

>> it was important for me and my family to know where we are from, who our people were.

>> NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

>> Funding for NJ Spotlight News provided by the members of the New Jersey Education Association, making public schools great 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.

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

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More information is online at NJrealtor.com and by the PSEG foundation.

♪ >> from NJPBS, this is NJ Spotlight News with breanna.

>> thank you for joining us.

New Jersey's seniors are poised for a tax cut.

Governor Murphy and democratic eaters and the legislature have democratically -- tentatively agreed despite mounting criticism.

The deal is a compromise on the stay NJ proposal that became a sticking point in state budget negotiations.

Briefly threatening a government shutdown.

It will cut property taxes in half for older residents making less than half $1 million a year.

The robe?

The full cost is unknown and if approved, eligible residents would not see the money for another three years.

A Senior correspondent Renda Flanagan reports, opponents argue the new version of the program benefits the wealthy at the expense of lower income seniors.

>> we think it will change the equation for many as they're sitting at the kitchen table and thinking about can they afford to stay here.

>> Sean Merritt for Kerch to hash some advocates a plot of the plan to cut property tax in half for seniors even though it is a reduced benefit with an income cap.

They aim to shield folks on fixed incomes from onerous bills that would force them from their homes.

Even though it will not kick in until 2026, the revised measure now includes renters, says AARP's Evelyn.

>> with an income cap, more resources could be directed toward our renters.

>> initially Speaker Craig Coughlin's stay NJ plan offered a 50% cut on property taxes for seniors pubic critics including Governor Murphy called it a benefit for the riches homeowners.

Trenton's top three Democratic lawmakers reach this compromise.

The 50% tax credit is capped at $6,500 instead of 10,000.

For homeowners age 65 and older who must earn a half $1 million or less.

It includes a tax credit for homeowners.

For Democrats it is sweet campaign candy but not everyone is running for reelection.

>> I do question if someone who is making half $1 million a year really needs help from the state to pay their property taxes.

>> this assemblywoman who is not on the November ballot continues to voice concerns.

She says stay NJ fails to help the folks who need it most even though the latest compromise would add another $250 in the next budget to the current anchor rebate program for homeowners and renters.

>> so again it all goes back to the issue of equity, what will this provide for the over 50% of black and Hispanic seniors who rent their homes versus live in owner occupied residences.

>> it is less regressive but it still has the same fundamental flaws as the original proposal.

>> NJ policy perspectives Peter Chen says budget analyst revised downwards when the bill comes due in three years, could New Jersey afford to pay it?

>> I don't know if that's the best way for the state to spend its money when we are facing serious physical clips.

NJ transit is about to face a $900 million budget deficit.

Is this how we want to spend the money?

>> it is pretty obvious that this is what they want voters to remember.

>> it's a well-worn tactic that is brazen but effective.

As all 100 20 legislative seats go on the ballot in a low turnout election that has some Democrats chewing their nails.

>> you're not just saying you're getting a credit.

A pretty strong answer.

I expect it to have an impact.

>> this is nothing more than an election-year gimmick in an effort to try to essentially purchase votes.

We all know the money might not be able to be there in three years.

>> Republicans have their own plan to immediately return some of New Jersey's current revenue bonus to taxpayers.

>> why not do something that is going to give immediate relief?

We have a $10 billion surplus.

People can get relief immediately.

Why are we delaying it until 2026?

>> with Democrats holding a Trenton trifecta at the GOP's plan is D.O.A..

Meanwhile there is no official cost estimate for stay NJ but if it passes, will it get full funding when the full current revenue surplus as many predicted, runs short?

I am Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

>> the long-term cost of a program like stay NJ is being met with more criticism given recent sobering budget news.

The fiscal Buna New Jersey has been enjoying is coming to an end with a looming fiscal crisis waiting in the wings.

That concern coming from a five year budget forecast included in a recent report by Armour Senate President Steve Sweeney's center for public policy at Rowan University.

Here with all the details and more is budget and finance reporter John Reitmeyer.

Hi John, how bad of a picture is this?

What did the forecast predict?

>> when you really look at this, you have to consider what is planned, both on the spending side and what you could expect to receive on the revenue side.

And then when you map that out over a number of years, that is when you start to see these projected gaps between what the state would expect to take in on an annual basis and then all of the planned spending that is either on the books or will soon have to be.

Think like increased funding for New Jersey transit.

Coming at a time when revenue sources like the Corporation business tax, there is a surcharge due to expire.

On one hand, you have projected costs going up.

On the other hand projected revenues at least in some areas are going down.

That is what these long-range projections bear out.

>> how big of a gap or a shortfall are we talking because when we have a budget that is $53 billion, you know, 100 million is a lot to you and I but it's a drop in the bucket compared to that.

>> that's right.

Under the working group at the Sweeney's center did a couple scenarios.

Under the one that they found to be the most likely to occur, we were looking at three to $4 billion structural gaps, starting in the 2025 fiscal year.

So right now the governor and lawmakers are in the final stages of negotiations for a budget that will be in place for the 2024 fiscal year starting on July 1.

We are looking at around this time next year, may be planning for some of these gaps and that is under current policies, before you even factor in what could be the final pieces of the budget deal that we are expecting now within a matter of days.

>> I M even more struck by this news because it was just recently, I believe a week or so ago, you are reporting on tax collections not meeting expectations.

So even more bad news.

>> it is right in the trend that we have been seeing.

Tax collection searched coming out of say the worst months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Do you expect that to continue?

It's almost like an individual getting a bonus or maybe a stock dividend and then planning their whole budget on that and not knowing that that is really just a one time in use in.

>> it is kind of course correcting.

>> right, you cannot buy a new car or a fancy apartment based on one year search.

So that is what these long-range projections show is what things will look like a few years down the road instead of now in the near term.

>> I mentioned at the top, stay NJ, the most recent proposal.

What does this mean for other legislative priorities?

>> it just means that the picture is a lot tighter than it has been.

In recent years, we get to a point in the budget process where New Jersey is flush with cash.

New Jersey is not in a fiscal crisis right now.

The surplus is robust enough budget is as big as it's ever been.

Based on project good spending and where revenues are expected to go over the next few years, that is where the gaps start to come in.

It is useful for lawmakers to have this information at their fingertips right now, so they do not commit the state to big new programs that will cost too much money down the line.

>> we will see that happens.

John, thank you so much.

Catalytic converter thefts have skyrocketed here in New Jersey and nationwide over the last few years.

Thieves, they slip under cars, swipe the gadgets that contain precious metals and they go for a pretty penny at scrap yards.

In Bergen County alone officials reported nearly one thousand catalytic converter thefts in 2022.

Spurring federal -- Federal lawmakers to act.

U.S.

Senator Bob Menendez introduced a bill creating a task force to focus on countering the surge of thefts.

The group will be led by the Department of Justice and include federal and local law and oarsmen.

Menendez called a recent state law putting restrictions on the sale and purchase of the can orders a good first step but said local police cannot go at it alone.

They will need the help of the federal government to counter criminals operating across state lines.

>> plasters federal bust of a major ring is a wake-up call to all of us.

It's clear we have to do more to crackdown on crime.

We need to increase public awareness, we have to update laws where needed.

We have to provide law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter crime and then share the best practices across federal, state and local partners.

>> in our spotlight on business report after 75 years, Nestlé's coffee manufacturing plant in freehold is facing an uncertain future.

The company invited Teamsters union leaders which represent more than 200 brokers at the factory to talk about the future of the site.

The food and beverage giant says the facility is outdated and limiting its growth.

The move comes as Nestlé has invested millions in manufacturing plants worldwide, causing workers to rally today outside the plant demanding to keep their jobs.

Ted reports.

>> today is our time to stand up and fight for people those rights to keep their jobs here in America.

That is what we fight for.

>> the Teamsters union representing Nestlé workers is protesting the possible closure of this coffee plant.

A long time freehold staple that has provided a coffee smell in the community and roughly 200 union jobs.

Thomas has worked here for 46 years.

>> a perfect day would be a day like today, cloudy, overcast.

You can smell it through the whole town.

>> it's been a staple in the community for 75 years.

>> Mayor Kevin has reached out to state and federal legislators to see what could be done about protecting those jobs and the people who depend on the jobs to feed their families.

>> there is a lot of residual impact with the closure of a plant like this for this immediate area.

We have great restaurants on route 33 here.

It closure of a plant like this will have a direct effect on restaurants, downtown businesses and things like that.

>> everybody's got families and health benefits.

It's a big hit to everybody.

>> I've been here 26 years.

Nestlé has been good to me.

But I would like that opportunity to be extended to other families that are here.

And it's kind of a shame that it's not.

You have a lot of young families here looking for the same opportunity that I have.

And I hope they get it.

It is just hard to be in limbo.

Nobody likes that.

>> Nestlé met with union leadership today to begin affect bargaining.

The union says that is a step that is only taken when a plant will close but Nestlé has confirmed that that will happen and they have not issued a timeline about when a decision like that could be made.

In a statement they told us we appreciate the union's willingness to discuss the situation, including the annual cost savings required to make continuing operations viable for our business in the long term.

Decisional bargaining with the union has concluded and now our leadership team will make a decision regarding the factory.

We are committed to giving employees updates in a timely manner.

Those employees are struggling to stay optimistic with no clear timeline.

>> the future, I don't know the future right now.

I'm just living for today and hoping for the best.

>> were going to have to wait and see what happens, but we will do after we can to make sure.

Plant one try to stay open and it does not have a tremendous impact on our town and the surrounding community.

>> we obviously want a favorable decision that the factory stays open but the uncertainty is hard to live with, because you do not know what plans you can make.

You don't know what the future holds.

>> Nestlé open a new coffee plant in Mexico but they would not confirm that that is where the jobs could go if they leave New Jersey.

I'm Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

>> the majority of New Jersey's casinos saw in person gambling revenue drop in May, the second month and a road that there has been a decline, bringing in just over 220 $7 million.

Two and a half percent less than may of 2022 according to data released this week from the state division of gaming enforcement.

In person gambling is considered a key metric for the health of casinos.

Experts say the new data reveals traditional gaming like slots and table games, they are not growing as quickly as newer products.

Online sports betting.

Internet gambling helped boost overall gaming revenues, raking in more than $470 million for the state.

That's a 9% increase from last year.

Despite fewer people heading to brick-and-mortar spots to place bets, Atlantic City's in person casino revenue for the entire market is actually above 2019.

Figure that.

On Wall Street, the market rally stalled to start the week.

Here is how stocks closed.

♪ >> support for the business report provided by Newark alliance, presenting the brown mill anniversary block party.

An outdoor festival on June 24 in downtown Newark.

Online at Halsey fest.com.

♪ >> lawmakers took a big step toward giving free school lunch to every student in New Jersey, regardless of their families income.

The proposal unanimously passed an assembly this week.

Advocates have long argued universal free school lunch removes the stigma that keeps hungry students from participating in current programs.

Recent statewide data finds one in 12 households in New Jersey struggles with food insecurity.

For more I'm joined by one of the bill's main supporters, hunger Free New Jersey director Lisa Pitts as part of our ongoing series, hunger in New Jersey.

Lisa, I'm glad that we get a chance to talk about this, because it seems for the first time that lawmakers are really on the verge of aching this happen.

Let me start with context in terms of need among students in the state.

>> yes, we have over 300,000 students who are currently eligible for free meals at school.

What this bill would do would be to expand access to free school meals incrementally and then ultimately result in school meals for all of our students.

In New Jersey, at no cost.

>> we have seen and talked about the steady rise in food insecurity, particularly throughout the pandemic and then even more so in these months since.

What would a program like this mean for reaching all of those, you know, kids throughout the state?

>> granted, we know from the pandemic when meals were free to all children that participation in school meals went up.

The need was there, families took advantage of the program, kids had access to healthy breakfast and lunch every day.

Since that has ended, we have gone back to the categories of free, reduced and paid.

What it means to families is its a huge savings to struggling working families.

In order to be eligible for free school meals, you have to be at about 185 percent of the federal poverty level.

In New Jersey we eliminated the reduced price category a couple of years ago.

That hundred 85% of the federal poverty level is extraordinarily low.

I mean, the levels are set so low, they are inadequate.

They have not kept up with inflation.

You are talking about families that are making over that income amount, hard-working families.

Maybe a family of four making over $55,000 a year.

So these are the families that are not often eligible for any programs, but they are struggling to make ends meet.

And being able to know that they can send their children to school and the kids can get a healthy breakfast and lunch every day at no cost to them is an enormous help to these families.

When meals are made available for free for all students, increase does take up among the students who were previously in the paid category.

Again, that does not mean those children are from high income households.

The file in large, the increase in participation is generally among the kids that are getting the reduced price meals and the kids that are just sort of over the income limit where households are struggling.

Just to paint a picture, looking at a state like New Jersey, this is why school meals for all is critically important in New Jersey, we have a high cost of living.

Wages have not kept up with inflation.

When you look at job growth, some sectors where there has been the largest job growth, there are a lot of service and district jobs that typically pay lower wages.

You're talking about families who are earning 40, 50, 60,000 a year and having to provide for two or three children.

So being able to get free meals in school for those kids, for those struggling working families, is critically important.

School meals for all is really the most effective, efficient, equitable way to ensure that all of our kids have access to healthy meals, so they can learn and grow to their full potential.

>> hunger Free New Jersey director Lisa, thank you so much.

>> thank you.

>> finally tonight, in honor of Juneteenth, tracing the roots of Black Americans in New Jersey.

The William Trent House Museum recently hosted an event helping local residents connect with their family heritage.

Using DNA analysis and historical experts.

It's a process that has been difficult, if not impossible, due to slavery and a lack of records.

As Melissa Rose Cooper tells us, for many black participants is the first time they are getting a true understanding of the lives in the journeys of their ancestors.

>> I want to know who I am.

I do not want to say I am black in America, African-American.

Especially when you say African, what part of Africa, do you know?

And we did not know.

And because of that it was important for me and my family to just know where we are from, who our people were.

>> Princess took matters into her own hands.

Several years ago, she decided to retrace her ancestry, linking her family's roots back to the African countries of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

>> we are part of your rope and please know that I am still researching what that really means for me.

You know, the people there, the languages they speak.

We are excited about it.

>> now they are inspiring others to retrace their ancestry, sharing results at a recent Juneteenth event at the William Trent House in Trenton.

>> we wanted to bring people together to learn about the African history, African ancestry, but also about genealogy as well, which includes genetic testing, as well as pedigree or family tree.

>> Gerald cannot wait to see what his ancestral tree looks like.

He and his family submitted their information to African ancestry and are awaiting the DNA kits.

>> descendants of African people in America do not know their African ancestors, whether they're from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Morocco, and any other country on the continent of Africa.

It's important, I believe, that we understand our heritage in her ancestry, where we are from, to connect to our place in America, the United States of America.

>> figuring out lineage can be difficult for African-American families.

>> a lot of information was not written down and then some things actually were written down, but they were in the wills of the white families that owned them.

And so the in slaver would sometimes put the names of the person that they enslaved in their will.

And then pass that person down to their daughter for a wedding gift or to their son, so that they can continue to have free labor of essentially is what it was all about.

And so, we really found out that we are lucky if you had a first name of a person that was enslaved.

>> thanks to technology more information is now available and advocates encourage families to pursue their ancestral lineage.

>> we are the ones who built America.

If it was not for our free labor America would not be what it is.

It's a powerhouse.

It is a -- it is everything that history tells us that we are not, but had it not been for the free labor of African-American, we would look vastly different.

>> if you're looking to retrace your roots, advocates recommend getting as much information as you can from the oldest members of your family so that you can have the best chance of successful results.

For NJ Spotlight News, Melissa Rose Cooper.

>> that's going to do it for us tonight, but a reminder to download the NJ Spotlight News podcast so you can listen anytime.

For the entire NJ Spotlight News team, thank you for being with us.

Have a great evening.

We will see you back here tomorrow.

♪ >> members of the New Jersey education Association, making public schools great for every child.

Our WJ Barnabas health, let's be healthy together.

And or stead, committed to the creation of a new, long-term, sustainable, clean energy future for New Jersey.

♪