>> Major funding for NJ Spotlight News is brought to you by NJM Insurance group.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New PSEG foundation.

>> We are just expecting there to be more voter awareness and more anticipation and excitement over the election.

Briana: Plus, violence prevention.

Activists say federal funding cuts to local intervention programs are putting some communities at risk.

>> Law enforcement depends on residents and communities, providing Intel, leveraging the relationships so they can respond to the more serious violent crimes happening in the neighborhoods.

Briana: NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

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

Joanna: Thank you for joining us.

We begin with a few of today's top headlines.

First, the Newark Mayor announces he is filing a lawsuit against the interim Attorney for New Jersey, Alina Habba.

He is suing them for false arrest and malicious prosecution and he is suing Habba for defamation after arrested and detained by ICE agents outside the lane he hall on May 9.

He was there for an oversight visit.

Baraka was the only one arrested that day and charged with trespassing.

The charges were later dropped and the federal judge overseeing the case issued a rare rebuke of Habba's actions.

Mayor Baraka appeared in front of the courthouse to make his announcement.

>> This is not about revenge.

Not about me going after individuals because I think they wronged me specifically.

Ultimately, I think this is about them taking accountability for what has happened to me.

To arrest me, to handcuff me, to drag me away, to take my fingerprints and a picture for a class E misdemeanor is egregious and malicious.

For me to appear in a hearing, and after the hearing for the U.S. marshals to take me into the basement to take my picture and fingerprints again is egregious and malicious.

Joanna: Habba issued a statement last night saying "my advice to the mayor -- feel free in joining me in prioritizing violent crime and public safety.

Far better use of time for the great citizens of New Jersey."

This is happening in the last stretch of the gubernatorial primary where Baraka is one of six Democratic candidates.

President Trump appealed to New Jersey voters during a virtual rally last night in support of the Republican candidate who is considered the front runner in the primary.

The president says the election is being watched all over the world because New Jersey is ready to pop out of the blue horror show and vote for someone who's ready to make things happen.

President Trump's endorsement has seemingly boosted Ciattarelli's campaign and a reversal from his last campaign where he did not receive an endorsement from Trump.

The president drove the point home last night, saying "other people are going around saying I endorse them.

It is not true."

Two counties in New Jersey expressed shock and concern when they were added to the department of homeland security's list of sanctuary jurisdictions, meaning they refused to cooperate with federal officials to identify or detain immigrants without legal status.

Cumberland and Warren Counties, that both went for Trump last year and both controlled by Republicans, denounced the allegations, saying they've always had a good working relationship with Homeland Security and ICE.

A group of 3000 sheriffs and local law enforcement leaders across the country admonished DHS for publishing the list which they say creates unnecessary erosion of unity and collaboration with law enforcement.

Shortly after that, the department removed the list from its website.

They say it is being updated regularly both the have not offered criteria used to determine what makes a sanctuary jurisdiction.

Early in person voting started today and will run through this Sunday, June 8.

New Jersey's Attorney General updated guidance for local law enforcement that he says will ensure election integrity at all of the state's polling locations but looking for any instances of voter intimidation, improper electioneering, or any other criminal activity.

The Attorney General's office has also posted information on its website for residents to understand all of their voting rights.

That includes all of the deadlines for in-person and mail-in ballots to be cast.

Even though this is a primary and lines likely won't be that long, some voters were already out taking advantage of the early voting options.

Ted Goldberg caught up with some of them at locations in Mercer and Union Counties to see how it is going and who they are casting a ballot for.

Ted: With one week to go until primary day, Denise and Kevin are busy scooping up ballots in Mercer County.

>> I absolutely love the job.

It is great.

I love being part of the process.

And we learn something new every day.

Ted: The trucks that pick up the ballots must have a registered Republican and registered Democrat, ensuring a balanced process.

>> All the people have access to vote early, it is great for them.

>> They want to get out and drop their ballot off, some are physically unable to get to a polling site so this is perfect for seniors.

>> A lot of people didn't even have an idea this existed.

When I tell them, they are surprised.

Ted: While primaries typically have low turnout, election workers expect a bump because of all the candidates trying to succeed Phil Murphy.

>> With the different people that are running for governor.

I'm definitely predicting a higher turnout.

>> Because of the volume of candidates on both the Democratic and Republican primary tickets, we are expecting there to be more voter awareness and more anticipation and excitement over the election.

Ted: In each of the last four gubernatorial primaries, fewer than one in five eligible voters actually voted.

In Union County, Board of elections administrator says a stealthy station could help encourage people to vote early.

>> We rolled out the selfie stations during the presidential primary election and the general.

They did not take off last year as I was hoping they would.

I'm hoping, like everything else in our elections culture, it takes a few years.

Ted: Meanwhile, the leader of the Center for public polling expects New Jerseyians to largely ignore the primary.

Only a quarter of eligible voters knew the next election was in June.

>> Voters and citizens alike are absolutely fatigued by politics, so it is not unique to New Jersey.

It is something we see another context.

New Jerseyans are not aware of their State Senator or assembly people.

Ted: Those who do vote might notice a change to ballots.

The county line is gone for the first time for both parties after a court decision last year sided with advocates who say he gave preferential treatment to certain candidates.

It has been replaced with an office block design.

>> We draw every position out of a bin.

Wherever you land is where you will be placed on the ballot.

Not a lot of questions have come in.

People have been pretty receptive.

Ted: Tuesday was the first day of in person early voting and folks on both sides of the aisle in Hamilton enjoyed the lack of long lines.

>> We never did early voting before.

This is our first time.

Ted: Any thoughts?

>> I might do it all the time.

Ted: The issues that brought voters here run the gamut.

>> I have not been happy with Murphy.

Allowed to say that?

Ted: You can say whatever you want.

>> I vote strictly Republican.

That is all I have to say.

>> The taxes are high in New Jersey.

I lived here all my life and I want to stay here.

They make it hard to stay in New Jersey.

>> I see a divide between the two parties, it breaks my heart.

You have to vote.

You have to make sure people are aware that we want these parties to go together.

We want them to work for us, work for this country and get rid of the divide.

>> Our taxes are high in Mercer County.

I don't know if anybody could ever do anything about it, but give it a shot.

Ted: As of Tuesday, more than 270,000 mail-in ballots have been received statewide.

Democratic ballots have outnumbered their GOP counterparts 3-1, but primary data still a week out and there.

I'm Ted Goldberg.

Joanna: We are one week away from primary election day, and let's be honest, most voters are either completely unaware of it or just don't really care that much.

My next two guests care a lot.

They are political strategists following every detail of the race closely, especially in the final stretch.

We have Republican strategist Jeanette Hoffman and Dan Brian with us now.

Great to have both he will with us -- both of you with us.

New Jersey is kind of centerstage nationally, one of only two states that as a gubernatorial election right after the presidential election.

We have a Trump endorsement for Jack.

When we see President Trump last night hold a rally where he said New Jersey is ready to pop out of that blue horror show, one, do you think that voters agree?

Two, is this race all but over for Jack to Cittarreli?

Do you think the voters agree?

Jeanette: New Jersey has become more red since Phil Murphy is governor.

Every month, we look at the voter registration statistics and it creeps more Republican and less democratic.

People identifying as Republican, and less are doing so as Democrat.

That is because of you look at the issues, Democrats are failing to deliver on key issues such as property taxes, fixing New Jersey transit, making the state more affordable, lowering your taxes, and that is why they are switching to the Republican Party.

President Trump did well here.

He lost by only five points.

He did better than any Republican president since Ronald Reagan, delivering in key counties that use the trend Democratic.

I think Jack will do quite well in November and he looks like he has wrapped up this primary for the gubernatorial nomination.

Joanna: Democrats seem to have gotten the memo that affordability is one of the key issues affecting voters, driving voters out to the polls.

We have seen all the candidates in the Democratic primary make that a key point.

How much do you think they are hitting the issues that matter?

How much do you think any of them is standing out from the crowd on that issue?

Dan: I think affordability is something you have her Democrats talk about over the last decade.

As you can imagine, I will disagree a bit with my good friend, Jeanette.

Democrats have had incredible political success of the last decade plus.

Republicans have had close calls and that's all they've had to point to.

No big victories in the last decade of politics in New Jersey , partly because the Democrats have been delivering.

They delivered on progressive issues like equal pay, higher minimum wage, tax equity, fully funding education.

They have been delivering incredible historic property tax relief through the budgets of the last five years.

Once things have stabilized in the state budget.

Democrats have been talking about affordability for a long time.

They will continue talking about it.

That is because they been able to deliver real results, whereas Republicans have not been able to do that.

Joanna: What Democrats did do was reelect a Democratic governor immediately following a Democratic president.

That is a record-breaking moment that we saw with Phil Murphy.

Jeanette, do you think Republicans are now poised to do the same on the flipside?

We have a Republican president.

It would be a turn in historical voting in New Jersey if we saw a Republican governor.

Do you think that is likely to happen?

Jeanette: I think so.

I don't think voters are ready to elect a third term of Phil Murphy and that is what you will get if you elect any of the Democratic nominees that are vying for this seat come November.

It would be historic if you had Democrat, Democrat, Democrat.

I think when you look at what is at stake here, it is New Jersey issues at play.

Property taxes.

My good friend Dan says Democrats delivered property tax relief.

Ask any homeowner and they are not feeling it because property taxes have risen to historic levels under Governor Murphy.

There's no relief unless you elect a Republican governor because none of these candidates have any plans.

Joanna: We saw a contentious primary from the beginning.

Do you think that the tone, the tenor, the contentious nature has galvanized the Republican base, the MAGA base?

Do you think it has turned people away and voters will sit this out?

Jeanette: I don't think so.

The turnup is going to be what it is going to be.

It is low.

It is always low, around 30% or so.

It is unfortunate.

You heard John, he's a great guy, saying the nastiness in politics is something that turns people off.

It always is.

I don't know if that will make people stay home.

I think people are excited for change in November.

I think the Democratic side will have a similar turnout level.

I think it will be what it is going to be.

Unfortunately, in primaries, people don't turn out that much.

Joanna: We know that.

Dan, we are seeing on the Democratic side in this final stretch, candidates out there doing whatever they can.

Philip was out there handing out voting cards.

This morning, Mayor Baraka, different kind of political move if that is how you characterize it.

He is filing a countersuit against Alina Habba for the arrest that happened at Delaney Hall a few weeks ago.

Do you think that this is him stepping into the political theater of the moment and tried to use this to galvanize whatever Basie can?

-- base he c an?

Dan: I think that's a piece of it.

I don't think it is all that surprising he's doing that.

It is also authentic to who he is.

I am not sure it would be any different if he were not running for governor right now.

Frankly, if it was a week after the election, he would probably do the same thing.

He has run a really authentic, powerful campaign.

He's been a fantastic candidate.

He's been able to command rooms.

He's got incredible oratory skills.

I mean, I think it certainly helps that the arrest and all of this, the fighting with the Trump Administration has come in the middle of the statewide primary but it is the kind of thing you can see Baraka doing a year ago.

Joanna: Is there anything these candidates can do to pull away a lead?

We know this can be a single digit margin percentage point lead for any of the six candidates still in the race.

What do they need to do?

Do you see anyone pulling ahead?

Dan: I would probably consider, Jeanette and I are political nerds.

You have six campaigns spending eight figures in one single cycle, it is incredible.

I am not sure it's ever happened in American history.

To that sense, even the strongest candidate -- leading in almost every poll since last year.

She has been a formidable candidate since the start.

One of the reasons that I think the winner will have something like 30%, rather than 50% or 40%, you have six really good campaigns.

One with really good candidates.

All running hard campaigns.

No one is giving up.

Everyone's running through the take.

It has been an incredible primary cycle.

In a way, I will be sad to see it over.

You are certainly going to see everyone running through the tape.

Joanna: In the words of our good friend, New Jersey politics never let you down so don't count that out.

Jeanette Hoffman, Dan Bryan, thank you both.

Jeanette: Thanks so much for having us.

Joanna: Keep it right here for NJ besides 2025 primary election night coverage next Tuesday, June 10 starting at 8:00 p.m. with all the results.

We will have reports all across the state at the different campaign headquarters and in studio political analysis with Briana Vannozzi, David Cruz, and other strategists and analysts.

That is next Tuesday, June 10 right here on NJPBS and streaming on our YouTube channel and digital site until the last race is called.

In tonight's spotlight on business report, Elon Musk is accusing the New Jersey Turnpike Authority of corruption.

The charge comes as the authority announced last week it was moving away from its contract with Tesla for electric vehicle charging stations.

Tesla currently operates 64 charger stations along the Turnpike corridor and says it built another 116 along the Turnpike to meet customer needs.

But the canceled contract with Tesla means the electric vehicle company will have to remove all of its chargers from the highway.

The Turnpike Authority has denied Musk's claim of corruption and explain its contract with a new company, saying it was best position to handle the charging stations because they offer open access EV chargers.

Applegreen has been contracted to provide 240 of those universal chargers along the Turnpike.

Musk criticized the decision, saying the state should allow both companies to cooperate, insisting all possible electric vehicle charging stations should be made available to help the state meet its goal of 100% zero emission vehicles sold by 2035.

The Turnpike Authority's transition to Applegreen starts on Friday.

Federal funding cuts are hitting another aspect of New Jersey life that advocates say is critical to serve the public good, this time it is community violence intervention programs.

The funny that once came from the Justice Department has been terminated, totaling $3.5 million that went to programs in cities like Newark, Camden and Trenton.

Aqeela Sherrills leads the Public Safety collective which is a national organization that helps mediate conflicts and build relationships in high-risk neighborhoods where crime rates are often higher.

He is here now to share his thoughts on these funding cuts.

Thank you for being with us today.

We know that there are millions of dollars in cuts coming from the Trump Administration for programs like yours.

Community violence intervention programs.

Help us understand what these programs actually do.

Aqeela: Community violence intervention programs are resident led strategies around Public Safety strategies.

So, community violence intervention is a community-based approach to creating safety in the community .

It functions as a complementary strategy to policing.

Joanna: That is usa succinct way of saying it.

It is acts of violence, retaliatory actions.

When we talk about funding, where does that funding go?

If we are facing millions in cuts in New Jersey, what impact does that have on folks going up into communities and trying to stop violence?

Aqeela: These dollars allocated from the federal government to support community violence intervention as a strategy in communities goes to pay salaries of front-line workers who are leveraging their relationship capital in neighborhoods to prevent retaliatory violence.

These dollars go to community health workers in hospitals, who are providing wraparound services to victims and survivors of violence and trauma.

These dollars go directly to support programming and services that help to support people healing from trauma and violence.

These things are critical and they work hand-in-hand with law enforcement around creating sustainable safety in communities.

Joanna: How much are we talking about could be lost?

Aqeela: We are talking about close to $150 million for community violence prevention organizations.

About a half dozen organizations who were funded through the community violence intervention prevention initiative in the state.

We are talking about maybe 20, 30 folks laid off right before the summer.

Traditionally in some of our neighborhoods in the state, we have seen spikes of violence where 25, 30 years happened.

Intervention has played a strategic role in those hotspots in cities with helping to temper down violence and serving as a compliment for law enforcement.

Joanna: There will be critics who say we cannot afford to fund all these programs.

Government can only go so far with its funding.

Is there a way -- we have heard some of that criticism from folks in New Jersey who say it is hard to quantify what these programs actually do.

I think of it as prevention and health care.

You don't see it when you go to the emergency room.

How do you quantify the impact, how do you demonstrate data to show these programs are having any impact?

Aqeela: Yes.

Community violence intervention is evidence-based.

There is both anecdotal and evidence that shows that this community violence intervention has reduced violence and crime and sustained reduction.

The Newark community Street team in the next couple of months will be producing its first quantitative report, showing that NCST and its staff has been instrumental in reducing violence and crime in the South wart of Newark with and without law enforcement support.

This work is not a pet project.

It is a function of public safety.

We cannot have Public Safety without the public.

Law enforcement depends on residence and communities providing intel, leveraging relationships, so they can respond to the more serious violent crimes happening in our neighborhoods.

It is important that community violence intervention is stabilized, and those residents who have been trained as public safety professionals in conflict resolution and de-escalation strategies can maintain their work to make our communities safe, especially going into the summer.

Joanna: You have said you will not take this laying down.

How do you fight for more funds?

Aqeela: We are doing a couple of things.

We have appealed the decision from the federal government.

The movement has filed a lawsuit because it is unconstitutional.

These were dollars already appropriated by Congress.

We are working with our philanthropic partners nationally, where we are re-granting dollars to the more vulnerable organizations across the country.

We are active.

Joanna: Aqeela Sherrills, cofounder and leader of the committee based Public Safety collective.

Thank you for the time today.

Aqeela: Thank you.

Joanna: That will do it for us tonight.

You can download our podcast wherever you listen and watch us any time by subscribing to the NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel.

For the entire team here, thank you for being with us.

Have a great night.

We will see you back here tomorrow.

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

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More information online at NJrealtor.com.

And Orsted, committed to delivering clean, reliable, American-made energy.

>> 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.

A chance to belong and to be an American.

My name is Julia and I am proud to be an NJEA member.

♪