>>> FROM NJ PBS.

THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

GOVERNOR MURPHY TODAY SIGNED OFF ON A RECORD SETTING BUDGET APPROVING A STATE SPENDING PLAN OF $46.4 BILLION AHEAD OF THE JUNE 30th DEADLINE AND WITH THE HELP OF A $10 BILLION SURPLUS FROM UNEXPECTED TAX REVENUE.

THE NEW BUDGET INCLUDES A RECORD CONTRIBUTION TO THE PUBLIC WORKER PENSION SYSTEM, NEARLY $7 BILLION, INCREASED SPENDING FOR 12-K SCHOOLS AND PROPERTY TAX BREAK, AND A $500 REBATE FOR ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS AND SETS ASIDE ROUGHLY $4 BILLION TO PAY DOWN DEBT AND A HOT BUTTON ISSUE FOR REPUBLICANS AND CRITICS FOR THE EXTRA SPENDING.

AFTER MURPHY AND THE DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR APPROVED ROUGHLY THE SAME AMOUNT IN BORROWING AFTER VOTER APPROVAL OVER FEARS THE PANDEMIC WOULD DESTROY THE ECONOMY.

CRITICS ALSO SAY THE BUDGET PLAN FUNDS DOZENS OF LAST MINUTE ADD ONS KNOWN AS CHRISTMAS TREE ITEMS IN TREENTON PAYING FOR LAWMAKER'S PERSONAL PROJECTS AS THE GOVERNOR AND ALL 120 MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE ARE UP FOR REELECTION THIS YEAR.

AT A BILL SIGNING IN WOOD BRIDGE TODAY, THE SPENDING PLAN INVESTS IN A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

>> AFTER A YEAR IN WHICH THE PANDEMIC DISRUPTED PRACTICALLY EVERY FAUCET OF OUR LIVES, A YEAR WE FOCUSED EVERY DAY ON SAVING LIVES EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE LOST OTHER 26,000 MEMBERS OF OUR NEW JERSEY FAMILY, A YEAR IN WHICH SO MANY OF OUR STATE WERE KNOCKED DOWN BUT NOT OUT.

NEW JERSEY IS NOW STANDING BEFORE THE DAWN OF THE NEW POST- COVID DAY THAT IS BREAKING.

AND THIS IS THE BUDGET THAT WE'LL SEE WITH THIS DAY IS BETTER THAN YESTERDAY.

>> JOHN, NO SURPRISES TODAY.

WE KNEW THE GOVERNOR WAS GOING TO SIGN THIS BUDGET PLAN AS IS, BUT IT WAS REALLY THE WHARP SPEED WHICH THIS WAS CALLED INTO CONNECTION.

>> YEAH, THERE WAS A LENGTHY BILL SIGNING CEREMONY TODAY TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THE BUDGET DOES: PENSION FUNDING, TAX RELIEF AND ALL THESE THINGS THAT LASTED LONGER THAN THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT LAWMAKERS GAVE THE PUBLIC LAST WEEK TO DIGEST THE TOTALITY OF THE SPENDING BILL BEFORE IT WAS VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEE AND FULL HOUSES.

WE'VE HEARD EVEN AS TODAY'S BEEN SORT OF A CELEBRATION AMONGST THE MAJORITY DEMOCRATS, WE'VE HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY FROM REPUBLICANS THAT HOLD A MINORITY IN BOTH HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE AND A LOT OF GROUPS AND ACTIVISTS WHO WANT TO SEE THAT WHOLE PROCESS OVERHAULED.

THERE'S A STRONG STATEMENT PUT OUT BY GROUPS THAT WERE BASICALLY SAYING THAT THE CURRENT PROCESS WITH JUST A LIMITED NUMBER OF VOICES MAKING THE FINAL BIG DECISIONS, YOU KNOW, ADDS TO SYSTEMIC RACISM IN NEW JERSEY BECAUSE OF THESE RACIAL DISPARITIES THAT ARE IN PLACE THAT MAYBE DON'T GET A FULL ENTERING IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BUDGET ITSELF AND THAT'S SOMETHING REALLY TO KEEP AN EYE ONGOING FORWARD TO SEE IF THE PROCESS THAT LEADS TO THE BUDGET ITSELF COMING TOGETHER AT THE END OF JUNE IS GOING TO GET ANY KIND OF AN OVERHAUL IN THE FUTURE.

>> WELL ON THE OTHER HAND YOU HAVE SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SAYING OUR PROCESS IS ACTUALLY RIGHT ON PAR IF NOT MORE TRANSPARENT THAN OTHER STATES AND THE ISSUES CALL THERE HAD NOT GIVING THE PUBLIC ENOUGH TIME AND 12 PAGES OUT OF 600 THAT HAD CHANGES FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND MUCH TO DO ABOUT NOTHING ACCORDING TO THOSE FOLKS.

.

>> POINTING TO WHAT OTHER STATES DO AS WHAT NEW JERSEY DOES AND THE QUESTION IS NEW JERSEY LISTENS TO SOME RESIDENTS THAT WANT THIS PROCESS TO BE OPENED UP.

>> RECORD SPENDING, IS IT SUSTAINABLE BEYOND THIS YEAR FLUSHED FOR CASH?

>> THAT'S ANOTHER BIG QUESTION.

THERE'S A PORTION OF THE EURO YOU'RE SPENDING THAT WILL RELY ON ONE TIME RESOURCES NAMELY THE SPENDING DOLLAR OF A MASSIVE BUDGET SURPLUS AND THERE'S SOME SURPLUS BEING CARRIED OVER, WHICH IS BEING RESPONSIBLE, BUT IT DOES OPEN UP QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CAN YOU SUSTAIN THIS LEVEL OF SPENDING IN THE FUTURE WITH ONE TIME RESOURCE AND WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE MOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

JONATHAN.

BUSY DAY FOR SURE.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>>> NOT INCLUDED IN THE NEW BUDGET IS THE ROUGHLY $1 BILLIONS IN STATE FUNDS ADVOCATES AND UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS ARE DOCUMENTS AFTER BEING INELIGIBLE FOR PANDEMIC RELIEF AID AND IN A LAST DIGIT EFFORT, A GROUP OF PROTESTERS TOOK TO THE TURNPIKE MONDAY NIGHT BLOCKING TRAFFIC BETWEEN EXITS 12 AND 13 ON THE NORTHBOUND SIDE FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES AROUND 5:45:00 P.M. AS RUSH HOUR WAS MOUNTING.

THEY WERE TIRED OF NOT BEING HEARD AND MURPHY INCLUDED A NEW JERSEYEN FOPPED THIS WEEK AND IT TRANSLATES TO ABOUT $96 FOR EVERY UNDOCUMENTED WORKER.

>> IT'S UNACCEPTABLE WE HAVE TO GET TO THIS INSTANCE TO BE HEARD.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO LET HIM KNOW THAT $40 MILLION IS NOT ENOUGH, $96 IS NOT ENOUGH, AND WE'RE HERE TO LET HIM KNOW THAT ESSENTIAL WORKERS WERE THE FIST FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE WORST PANDEMIC AND THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS WE'RE LIVING IN AND ESSENTIALLY WEE WERE THE FIRST ONES TO RESPOND AND IT'S UNACCEPTABLE THEY'RE BEING LEFT OUT.

>>> STARTING JULY 26, ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL JOIN THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AS DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION AND ENFORCEMENT OF PROTECTING INVESTORS AND PROSECUTING BAD ACTORS IN THE MARKET.

HE'S THE LONGEST SERVING ATTORNEY GENERAL IN 25 YEARS.

HE BEGAN UNDER GOVERNOR.

GRAY WE'LL IS THE FIRST TO SEEK THE NATION AS STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND IT'S BECOMING A FAMILIAR STORY IN CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND NEW JERSEY.

ATLANTIC CITY DEALING WITH THE WAVE OF CRIME AND TENSIONS ARE RISING WITH HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND AT TIMES THE SITUATION HAS BECOME SO DRASTIC IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THE STATE TO STEP IN.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ REPORTS.

>> IT'S SUMMER AND THE ATLANTIC CITY BOARD WALK IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

THEY SEEM INTENT ON TAKING YOU PAST CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE BOARDS LIKE HERE WHERE A MERCHANT WAS STABBED AND KILLED IN APRIL.

STEADFAST VACATIONERS HAVE BEEN SPENDING A SUMMER WEEK IN ATLANTIC CITY EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST 30.

>> USED TO BE ABLE TO WALK DOWN THE DOCKS AND SEE PEOPLE ASK NOW IT'S 50, 60 YEARS.

>> FEEL COMFORTABLE WALKING AROUND AT NIGHT HERE?

>> I DO NOT.

>> I DO.

>> I'LL WALK THE BOARD WALK AT NIGHT FROM THE FLATSHIP DOWN.

I'VE BEEN GOING TO THE CITY.

IT WAS REALLY GOOD AT THE BEGINNING AND NOW YOU CAN'T LET YOUR KIDS OUTSIDE AND NO SAFETY AND POLICE LEAVE THE BOARD WALK AT 6:00 P.M. AND YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN AFTER THAT.

>> WE ONLY HAVE THREE MONTH MONTHS TO MAKE MONEY.

>> THIS MAN MAYOR MARTY SMALL SR.

DEALING WITH CRIME PROBLEM IN THE CITY ITSELF WHERE FOUR PEOPLE WERE SHOT AND ONE FATALLY IN A SINGLE INCIDENT LAST WEEK.

>> WE'RE GOING TO STICK TO OUR PLAN AND THE PROGRAM WITH EVOLUTION.

>> THE CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY IN A CITY OF 40,000 DESPITE NINE CASINOS AND SCORES OF TELLS AND RETAIL SHOPS ALONG THE CASINO DISTRICT.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS STILL AROUND 15%.

THE GOVERNOR GIVING MORE CONTROL TO THE CITY AND FIVE MAYORS HAVE GONE TO JAIL AND IF RESIDENTS ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR LEADERS TO SET A TONE AND SOME SUGGEST SMALL HAS FALLEN SHORT.

THIS CONFRONTATION ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL DIDN'T HAPPEN.

>> COUNCIL WOMAN SEES HER CRIME INCREASE EVERY DAY AND WORKED IN STREETS AND SPREADING A SHUCKSESFUL PROGRAM LIKE ATLANTIC CITIES AND JUST IN TIME FOR THE STATE, WHICH HAS RUN THE CITY FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS TO TAKE OVER PATROLS IN THE CASINO DISTRICT.

>> IN REGARDS TO TAKING BACK THE BOARD WALK AND I THINK THE STATE SHOULD COME IN AND DOUBLE AROUND WITH THE VISION AND SOME PEOPLE AREN'T BUT AS THE MAN AND THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CITY AND ONE THAT DRIVES THE AGENDA, WE DON'T WANT THE STATE POLICE IN HERE.

WE'LL TAKE HELP AND DON'T NEED THE STATE POLICE IN HERE FULL- TIME POLICING OUR TOWN.

WE'VE BROUGHT THE FINES SOMEWHAT UNDER CONTROL AND THE CITY AND CRIME UNCHANGED.

THE MAYOR IS ON TOP AND PLENTY OF PEOPLE AROUND HERE ARE NOT SO SURE.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> MEANWHILE, IN ANOTHER SURF SIDE TOWN IN FLORIDA, THE DESPERATE SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS OF A PARTIALLY COLLAPSED CONDO BUILDING STRETCHES INTO THE SIXTH STRAIGHT DAY.

RESCUE TEAMS CONTINUE THEIR METHODICAL WORK SIFTING THROUGH THE REMAINS.

THE DEVASTATION DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO WORDS ACCORDING TO FEMA OFFICIALS ON THE GROUND.

11 ARE DEAD AND 150 ARE UNACCOUNTED FOR AND THE BIGGEST SUSPECT IS CORROSION FROM SALT AIR AND WATER.

WE ASKED WHAT PROTECTIONS WERE IN PLACE FOR BUILDINGS ALONG JERSEY'S COAST TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING HERE.

THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF CHANGES IN PROTECTION AND BUILDINGS CODES OVER THE YEAR AND THE QUESTION THAT COMES TO PEOPLE'S MINDS IS COULD THIS HAPPEN HERE?

WE HAVE A BUILT UP COASTLINE AND HIGH-RISES AND CONDO BUILDINGS IN CERTAIN SEASIDE TOWNS.

WHAT PROTECTIONS ARE IN PLACE.

>> FIRST OF ALL, THINGS THAT PEOPLE IN JERSEY AND CITIES EVERYWHERE KNOW WE'RE SAFE.

JERSEY HAS THE BUREAU OF HOUSING INSPECTION THAT INSTITUTES A FIVE YEAR INSPECTION ON MULTIFAMILY DWELLINGS AS WELL AS HOTELS AND MOTELS AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN AREA OF EXPERTISE AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A RANGE OF THINGS, NOT NECESSARILY STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING ISSUES.

I DON'T THINK AS OF TODAY, THERE'LL BE NEW OUTCOMES IN NEW JERSEY THAT WILL COME OUT OF THIS BUT IF YOU LOOK A FEW YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, MAYBE THERE WILL BE.

IT'S JUST TOO EARLY TO TELL.

>> WHAT HAVE WE SEEN CHANGE IN CONSTRUCTION OVER THE YEARS?

I MEAN BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE BUILT UP FROM THE HUDSON RIVER DOWN LONG RANCH ATLANTIC CITY ON THE COASTLINE AND HIGH WINDS, MAYBE NOT LIKE FLORIDA DO HAPPEN AND CORROSION.

>> EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS, THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS SORT OF RE-RELEASING THEIR DESIGN GUIDANCE AND PART OF THAT NEW JERSEY IS CONSTANTLY UPDATING THEIR BUILDING CODES TO DESIGN FOR HIGHER WIND FORCES.

>> THERE IS OOSTATE BUILDING CODE THAT'S ADOPTED BY MUNICIPALITIES SO THEY'RE SORT OF IS INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE, THAT INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE TAKES INTO ACCOUNT FROM ORGANIZATIONS THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE INSTRUCTION AND KIND OF DESIGNED FROM THAT.

THAT GETS ADAPTED BY A STATE AND LOCALITIES HAVE THEIR.

>>> BRACE YOURSELF FOR THIS OPPRESSIVE HEAT WAVE SLAMMING OUR AREA.

IT'S NOT QUITE AS INTENSE AS THE HEAT DOME BAKING THE NORTHWEST, BUT IT'LL FEEL DOWNRIGHT MISERABLE AND THAT DOME OF HIGH PRESSURE IS SPARKING RECORD SETTING TEMPERATURES ON THE WEST COAST MADE WORSE BY HUMAN CAUSED CLIMB CHANGE.

EXPERTS SAY THAT MAKES SUCH EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS MORE LIKELY AND SEVERE.

THE OPPRESSIVE TEMPERATURES ARE FORCING CITIES UP AND DOWN THE STATE TO OPEN COOLING SITES AND URGE PRECAUTIONS.

CLIMATOLOGISTS WORRY NEW JERSEY COULD BEGIN SEEING SOME OF THE SAME WEATHER PATTERNS HERE.

MELISSA ROSE-COOPER REPORTS AS PART OF OUR ONGOING SERIES OF STORIES ON CLIMATE CHANGE: PERIL AND PROMISE.

>> 2-YEAR-OLD MAYA IS ALL SMILES AND GIGGLES.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE THIS SUMMER WILL AVERAGE WARMER THAN LAST SUMMER BY RANDOM CHANCE ESSENTIALLY BUT IF YOU COMPARE, SUMMER IS THIS DECADE TO SUMMERS 100 YEARS AGO, ALMOST ALL OF THEM ARE WARMER THAN THOSE.

WE'RE 12 DEGREES OR SO ABOVE NORMAL TODAY DURING OUR HEAT WAVE.

2 OR DEGREES OF THOSE ARE SO DURING THE LONG TERM.

HEAT ON TOP OF THEM.

THE KIND OF THINGS WE'RE EXPERIENCING IN TODAY'S CLIMATE.

>> THE HEAT COULD LEAD TO POWER OUTAGES BUT PSE&G SAID THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE ANY LOS OF POWER DOESN'T LAST LONG.

>> WE PREPARE ALL YEAR ROUND FOR WEEKS LIKE THIS.

WE HAVE A SERIES OF CHECKLISTS THAT WE GO THROUGH AND A SERIES OF THINGS -- OF ITEMS WE ASSESS AND EXPECT AND ADDRESS AND WE'RE READY FOR THESE TYPES OF HOT WEEKS.

WE DO MONITOR OUR SYSTEM BOTH REMOTELY AS WELL AS IN-PERSON WITH PERSONNEL ON SITE 24/7.

WE LOOK TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYTHING THAT WE SEE FROM A CONDITION STANDPOINT IS MONITORED AND AGAIN, ANY ABNORMALITIES THAT WE MIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY COME ACROSS, WE'RE THERE TO RESPOND AND TO ADDRESS BIG OR SMALL.

>> DOCTORS ARE REMINDING PATIENTS TO STAY COOL WITH LIGHT LOOSE CLOTHING TO AVOID HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES LIKE HEAT AND EXHAUSTION.

>> THE NUMBER ONE WAY BODIES LOSE HEAT IS THROUGH EVAPORATION AND HAVE PROFUSE SWEATING AND EVAPORATE AND REMOVE HEAT FROM THE BODY AND HAVE THE HIGH TEMPERATURES AND HUMIDITY AND THE BODY IS CHALLENGED AND IT'S GROWN 75% AND BECOME MORE CHALLENGING FOR THE BODY TO COOL EVAPORATION BECAUSE MORE MOISTURE IN THE AIR AND MAKES IT NEW MOISTURE OFF THE BODY TO EVAPORATE.

>> I MEAN, IT'S EXCRUCIATING AND TIRING BUT WE NEED IT BECAUSE WE PRACTICE AND PLAY IN THIS TYPE OF HEAT SO I'M PRETTY USED TO IT.

>> PEOPLE ARE RUNNING AROUND AND PLAYING AT THE PARK.

BUT THE SPRINKLERS SEEM TO BE ONE OF THE WARMEST PLACES AND COOLEST TO BE.

>> I GIVE THEM A TOOL.

WITH MY KIDS AND THEY WANT TO GO IN THE WATER AND I BRING THEM DOWN SO THEY CAN HAVE FUN.

>> HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

COOLER TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TOWARDS THE END OF THE WEEK.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSE-COOPER.

>>> THE CONTROVERSIAL PENNYS PIPELINE IS MOVING A STEP CLOSER TOWARDS CONSTRUCTION.

THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT TODAY RULED THE PIPELINE COMPANY CAN USE EMINENT DOMAIN TO CLAIM PIECES OF NEW JERSEY'S LAND NEEDED FOR THE PROJECT.

IT WANTS TO BUILD A 120-MILE LONG NATURAL GAS LINE BETWEEN PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY.

THE 5-4 ALLOWS COMPANIES TO USE STATE OWNED LAND FOR CONSTRUCTION AND REVERSED A LOWER COURT DECISION THAT KEPT THE STATE'S LAND PROTECTED FROM EMINENT DOMAIN POWERS.

PROPONENTS OF THE PROJECTS SAY WITHOUT IT, RESIDENTS WILL SEE ENERGY PRICES RISE AND JOBS LOST.

GOVERNOR MURPHY TODAY SAID HE'S DISAPPOINTED BY THE DECISION BUT THE FIGHT ISN'T OVER.

>>> TONIGHT IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS, UNITED AIRLINES IS HEDGING A BET THAT POST- PANDEMIC TRAVEL WILL CONTINUE REBOUNDING AT RECORD RATES INVESTING IN THE LARGEST AIRCRAFT PURCHASE THE INDUSTRY HAS SEEN IN A DECADE ORDERING 270 NEW AIRLINERS FOLLOWED BY 25,000 NEW UNION JOBS INCLUDING 5,000 AT LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, THE LARGEST HUB.

THE AIR BUS AND WILL HAVE MORE SEATS AND STORAGE FOR CARRY ON BAGS ALONG WITH OTHER AMENITIES AND NO WORD ON LEG ROOM THOUGH.

UNITED CEO SCOTT KIRBY EXPECTS THE AIRLINE TO RESUME A FULL SCHEDULE OF LIGHTS OUT OF NEWARK BY NOVEMBER AND AIRLINE TRAVEL JUMPS TO 80% OF PRE- PANDEMIC LEVELS.

>>> S&P HIT A RECORD HIGH TODAY AND A LOOK AT CLOSING NUMBERS ON WALL STREET .

>>> DOWNTOWN NEWARK IS ABOUT TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER REDEVELOPMENT EFFORT THIS TIME LED BY NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER WITH $150 MILLION PROJECT CREATING AN ARTS NEIGHBORHOOD COMPLETE WITH HOUSING, CULTURAL CENTERS AND A RIVER FRONT CAMPUS PART OF A LARGER MISSION TO KEEP THE REVITALIZATION MOMENTUM MOVING FORWARD IN THE CITY WHILE EMBRACING ITS STORIED PAST.

>> THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE CITY OF NEWARK.

THE ARTS CAN TRANSFORM IT.

>> HE'S WATCHING HIS DREAM FOR NEWARK 40 YEARS IN THE MAKING COME TRUE TODAY WITH ANOTHER RESIDENTIAL AND RETAIL BUILDING ON THE GROUNDS OF NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

>> WE'LL BE BUILDING 350 ODD UNITS OF RESIDENTIAL, 80% MARKET, 20% AFFORDABLE AND A 20 STORY TOWER AND THEN THERE'LL BE WHAT THEY CALL FOUR OVER TWOS, FOUR LEVELS OF RESIDENTIAL WITH TWO LEVELS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF RETAIL AND WE'LL BE BUILDING FOR PURCHASE TOWN HOMES AND CANNED MINIUMS ON THE CAMPUS.

>> THIS WILL BE THE SECOND PHASE OF THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT FOR NY PACK.

ONE THEATER SQUARE OPENED IN 2018 AS FIRST STAGE OF REDEVELOPED PROJECT ENVISIONED BY GOVERNOR CAIN IN GRAD SCHOOL LIVING NEAR LINCOLN CENTER AND PUSHED OUT OF HIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THAT ART CENTER WAS BUILT AND THE AREA AROUND IT DEVELOPED.

>> ONLY PROBLEM WAS LINCOLN CENTER WOULDN'T BENEFIT BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE WOULD OWN THE PROPERTY.

WHEN I HAD A VISION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, I WANTED THE PERFORMS ARTS CENTER IN THE CITY OF NEWARK TO BENEFIT BY THAT DEVELOP.

.

>> WHEN IT WAS AN IDEA.

>> THE NOTION OF THE ARTS CENTER IS NOT ABOUT BENEFITING THE PROCESS AND THE LIVABLE SPACES FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEWARK AND 20% OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ONE WAY TO AVOID GENTRIFICATION OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

>> MANY OF THE RESIDENTS ARE WORKERS THAT HAVE COME TO LIVE DOWNTOWN FROM THEIR HOPES IN THE WOODS AND WE'VE DISCOVERED THAT MANY PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE WORK IN NEWARK SO THIS IS NOT HARRIS SON OR A COMMUNITY WHERE YOU SLEEP THERE AND GO BACK INTO THE CITY.

THIS IS A LOCATION THAT PEOPLE LIVE IN AND WORK IN.

>> THE NEW DEVELOPMENT WILL GO UP IN THE PACKED PARKING LOT A.

CENTER STREET WILL EXTEND THROUGH THAT SPACE TO MEET RECTOR SPRITE BEHIND IT.

AS FOR THE RETAIL STORES, HE'S COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO SQUEEZE EVERY DOLLAR OUT OF EVERY INCH OF REAL ESTATE AND MAKING DECISIONS THAT HELP US INCREASE REVENUE AND BUILD NEIGHBORHOODS AND ALSO WE SHOULD HAVE UNIQUE RETAIL THAT YOU CAN'T FIND ANY PLACE ELSE, THAT CAN BE NEWARK ARTISANS THAT CREATE GREAT VISUAL ART OR JEWELRY OR MARCUS SANDERSON BUILDING A FOOD HALL AS PART OF THE COMPLEX AND THAT FOOD HALL WILL HAVE VENDORS FROM NEWARK AS WELL AS VENDORS FROM OUT OF NEWARK.

>> THE PROJECT HAS THE SUPPORT OF MAYOR BARAKA, A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR THE ARTS AND REVITALIZATION FOR THE CITY AND IN A STATEMENT, THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE CAMPUS WILL BE A GAME CHANGING STEP FORWARD FOR THE EVOLUTION OF NEWARK'S DOWNTOWN TO CREATE A LIVE, WORK, PLAY ENVIRONMENT IN THE HEART AND MAKING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES OF ALL KINDS AND TRUE TO ITS MISSION, THE ARTS EDUCATION CENTER WILL EXPAND TO 60,000 FEET AND LIVE ACROSS THE STREET WITH A NEW NAME, THE COOPERMAN CENTER.

FOR DEVELOPMENT OF BREAKING GROUND IN EARLY 2022, THEY'RE EXPECTING TO TAKE ABOUT THREE YEARS FOR THE BUILDING TO BE OCCUPIED WITH RESIDENTIAL AND RETAIL BRINGING MORE FEET ON THE STREET TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

IN NEWARK, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

BUT HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG OR ANY OF OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

.

>> NJ INSURANCE GROUP, SERVES THE INSURANCE NEEDS FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

AND VERIZON BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSES.