>> Major funding for "NJ Spotlight news" is provided in part by NJM insurance group, Serving the needs of businesses and residents for more than 100 years.

And by the PSEG foundation.

Anchor: Tonight, should the state reconsider the multibillion-dollar turnpike expansion now that data from the new Midtown toll seems to be reducing congestion?

>> It has shown we don't need to spend $11 billion on turnpike expansion in order to reduce congestion.

Anchor: Plus, firearm purchasing on the rise and but our folks buying them for the right reasons?

>> People are buying firearms to keep themselves safe, that's the motivation for purchasing but maybe they've been misled on how frequently that happens.

Anchor: In recent see Cole's -- sinkholes sending fear into the community.

>> If it can open up randomly in the middle of 80 why wouldn't it happen under our parking garage or our building?

Anchor: And Democrats on the fence, showing up at the state predominantly red district to fight back against the president's agenda.

"NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

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

Anchor: Good evening and thank you for joining us on this Tuesday night.

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

First, the battle escalating over the controversial turnpike expansion project, with back-and-forth public testimony at today's New Jersey Turnpike Authority board meeting about the state plan to spend nearly $11 billion to widen the Hudson County extension to and from the Holland tunnel.

Environmental advocates, elected officials and other activist led the charge against it today, and called for an immediate halt to further work.

They pointed to data showing how New York's congestion pricing has reduced traffic at the tunnel and on the turnpike, questioning if there is still a need to expand if congestion isn't as much of an issue.

Opponents also want to know the true cost of the project since the last estimate was made three years ago.

Those in favor today said the work is critical for public safety and updating infrastructure to meet the needs of the 21st century.

They pointed to the jobs created.

Despite the pushback, the board unanimously approved construction to begin later this year, starting with replacing the decades-old Newark Bay Bridge.

>> For economic future and quality of life, this means everything.

>> Perhaps the best benefit of congestion pricing is its shown we don't need to spend $11 billion on a turnpike expansion in order to reduce congestion on the Turnpike.

Anchor: Also tonight, a new plan to stop three schools from closing in the Middletown school district but it will double local taxes for homeowners and families.

In a letter to the community Monday, district officials said they got approval from the state to raise the school property tax above the 2% cap.

If homeowners and families in town are willing to pay this will tack on an additional 5% on their bill, that's on top of the tax increase the town already green lit for its budget.

It's a blow for the wallet but would likely mean the district could make up its $10 million shortfall and keep two elementary and one middle school open.

If taxpayers don't want to foot the bill or close the schools, the district says they will have to lay off about 120 staff members and eliminate afterschool activities.

The whole situation has caused an uproar in town.

The public will get a chance to vote on the proposals, it will be left to the school board to make the choice with a series of public hearings kicking off Wednesday night where we will continue our coverage.

An update on efforts to make school buses safer for students with disabilities.

The state Senate this week unanimously approved a bill creating a special education transportation task force that will create a panel of parents, advocates, educators and state officials, giving them a year to investigate the system serving vulnerable kids, outline its faults and come up with recommendations.

Last week, committee approved a separate bill requiring video cameras and GPS trackers on school buses transporting disabled students.

This comes after three deaths of disabled students and a litany of safety complaints from families about the transportation systems used by districts to get special needs kids to her from school.

If signed into law, the task force would look into issues like training school bus drivers and aides and how they handle emergency situations and if special education plans drafted for students do a good enough job laying out transportation needs.

Gun rights advocates frequently argue that private citizens who own and use a firearm for safe defense can help save lives.

New research from records finds gun owners barely use weapons for protection.

A study from the gun violence research Center revealed more than 1% -- no more than 1% of gun owners across the country have used their guns for self-defense in the last year.

It also found they are more likely to be distrustful of others.

Adults with firearms access are more likely to be -- than others.

I'm joined by our guest and co-author of the survey.

When you look at the research and it shows an overwhelming majority of folks are not using their weapons for personal safety, what does it say about the broader narrative in the U.S. about self-defense and self protection?

>> I think it says people are buying firearms to keep themselves safe, that's the motivation for purchasing but maybe they've been undersold about how these same folks are exposed to gun violence.

They are making a cost-benefit decision without the right numbers in hand.

Anchor: Your research has often pointed to the fact that not only does access to firearms lead to more gun violence but also like suicide, unintentional injuries.

Did any of the published study that just came out touch on that and did you ask firearm owners about that?

MICHAEL: Absolutely.

We found that less than 1% of folks with firearms in our sample had engaged in defensive gun use in the past year but a substantial number had known some buddy who died by firearm suicide or had been shot or witnessed a shooting in their neighborhood.

These same folks are really using firearms in self-defense, but it does happen.

But they are frequently exposed to gun violence which in turn has all sorts of mental and physical tolls it inflict some people and communities.

Anchor: How do you balance, as a public health researcher, the legitimate concerns of gun owners, things like wanting to be able to protect their family and have the option of self-defense with it being linked to increased exposure for that violence?

Michael: It's important to put out that I'm not saying people never defend themselves or guns or bad, but the idea is if you bring a firearm into your home, understand the risks and take steps to lower the risks.

Store them securely.

If someone is in crisis, store it outside of the home.

Don't leave yourself in a situation where a tool you brought into your home to keep yourself safe creates exposure to risk for things nobody was hoping would happen.

Anchor: Is that something you would like to see shift in the conversations around firearm use and ownership?

Michael: Yeah, I'd like to see the debate be less about rights in the Second Amendment and more about understanding that hundreds of millions of Americans have chosen to have firearms and what can we do to make sure we are all safe?

Which is a very reasonable thing to want to be.

Anchor: Considering what the research shows and what the gun violence research center does, what are you up against right now in terms of being able to put on these studies and carry out your work?

Michael: We have a couple of things working against us, one is the federal government has unleashed what you could probably call a war on science and has essentially eliminated funding for things like gun violence research.

Also in New Jersey, the current budget proposal is looking to/our budget -- slash our budget and we won't be able to gather data like this.

It's really the opposite of what you should be seeing in this moment when New Jersey could lead on gun violence prevention silent -- prevention science.

Anchor: Talk about the importance of that in light of the Bruin case and what has shifted in public discourse, how much does that matter?

Michael: It matters a ton.

The number of folks applying for permits to carry firearms has gone through the roof.

The number of folks engaging in potentially unsafe practices have gone through the roof.

Even as we seen progress on shooting numbers in New Jersey cities.

There are a lot of unknowns about who owns of firearm and what we can do to improve gun violence prevention in New Jersey.

It's almost impossible to do that without science and cutting science budgets doesn't get us further along.

Anchor: Mike, good to talk to you, thank you for sharing your findings.

Tonight, we have more on Democratic led town halls targeting deep red areas of the state where progressive groups are organizing so-called stop the cuts events, calling attention to proposed budget slashes coming from the Trump administration at a time when Republicans have been advised to avoid in person of Vince.

David Cruz reports.

Reporter: This congresswoman wasn't holding back recently when she called out Republican Congressman Chris Smith and other Republicans in the New Jersey delegation when it became clear the GOP lawmakers were avoiding in person town halls as an actual strategy.

Democrats like Watson Coleman and Senator Andy Kim have joined Democrats across the country holding in person Townhall meetings in Republican districts.

>> In this very diverse state, New Jersey, it is a state that has a history of looking after one another.

There are three members of Congress who think they are not answerable, accountable to anybody but Donald Trump, Elon Musk and the rest of their sycophants.

Reporter: Watson Coleman headlined an event in Bridgewater, part of Tom Kane's district, called stop the cuts, a sensibly aimed at raising awareness about pending cuts to Social Security, Medicaid and other federal programs.

After more than a dozen speakers from a progressive coalition brought together by New Jersey citizen action, there were no actual questions about the federal cuts or the budget.

Mostly just calls to stop Trump and stop Elon Musk.

But Teresa from Basking Ridge, a single mother of two, was there to provide the perspective of and dispel some misconceptions about Medicaid recipients.

>> When I first started with the program, I can't have more than $1500 in liquid assets or I will not be eligible as soon as the next month for benefits through disability.

People who have disabled children, the maximum amount is $968 I believe that you can get per month for your child.

I have two children and we don't even qualify for the maximum amount allowed, which might sound weird because I just told you I don't work.

Reporter: At a union hall in Congressional District four, where Chris Smith is the congressman, a similar event with a like-minded audience.

It was Senator Kim's second Townhall of the day.

>> I just finished up my third Townhall and less than 72 hours.

Some of you might have been there.

[APPLAUSE] I want to tell Chris Smith, it's not too hard to do, I'm happy to organize one for him.

Reporter: It's unclear whether the audiences this weekend or more residents of the districts or curated by organizers.

The cuts across the country have seen the programming void left by the lack of Republican town halls and are filling it with rallies like these.

>> Whether a political rally, opposing rally or town meeting, it is probably a good visual for them especially in the districts with Republican legislators.

Reporter: Rachel is an advocate for her older sister and her own child, all of whom rely on Medicaid.

She noted the importance of reaching out, especially at events like this, especially in districts like this, where many seniors and single moms share the same burdens.

>> I would love the next time we get a Townhall together to do more outreach with specifically Republican constituents.

I think we need to hear their voices, I think they don't know what's going on and I think they would be equally concerned about these issues.

I've been telling people, health care is not a political issue, itsy human issue -- it is a human issue.

Reporter: There is a Townhall tonight and fellow Republicans don't talk to the press either so they had no comment for this story.

But the mostly well attended town halls are the first side that Democrats have found a counterpunch that is finally landing.

I am David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.

Anchor: Residents of an apartment complex built on top of an abandoned mineshaft are questioning whether homes are safe now that three sinkholes have opened up nearby near I-80 in the last few months.

Since then, neighbors say fractures above doorways in apartments have appeared along with tracks in the walls and on the roof.

An engineering report said there's no risk of collapse but as Ted Goldberg reports, the people who live there are not buying it.

>> It is scary, it's only a couple hundred feet away so if a single can open randomly in the middle of 80 why would it not happen beneath our parking garage or our building, which is right here?

Reporter: The New Jersey Department of Transportation is hard at work to fill these sinkholes.

People at the Avalon Wharton apartment building know that because they get a front row seat.

Residents like Liam are concerned not just with the noise and light but the structural integrity of their building, which is a football field or two away from heavy construction and built on top of an abandoned mineshaft.

>> I was disappointed in the overall response.

I think the Avalon is completely crooked and covering up everything to line their pockets or save face.

Reporter: He and Eliana have lived here about two years and reached out to management after discovering more crack's up around the building.

>> When the sequel happened I started taking, looking deeper into those crack's and they have significantly progressed.

>> It wasn't until the second sinkhole opened up in February and we started noticing these different tracks all over the building and questioned the structural integrity.

>> The response is there's nothing wrong with the building, we are overreacting.

When the dismissive emailed came in, that's when we decided to contact the mayor.

Reporter: The mayor served on Wharton's planning board when the building was built 13 years ago and still sits on the board today.

After he was contacted, the state Department of community affairs got involved.

>> Part of the DCAA inspection process is the building has to get private inspectors.

Reporter: Residents say they have serious doubts about the engineering firms that were hired.

>> They hired the two engineering firms that help to build the building, which is a blatant conflict of interest because they will be liable for any mistakes made.

>> Why I expect them to do the right thing and have a truthful report, I find it hard to believe they are willing to accept any mistakes they may have made while building the building.

Reporter: The mayor did not respond to our request for comments, but has said the building is safe to live in, and sorted two engineering firms who looked things over.

They said they observed crack, bombs and wearing do not appear to be recently developed and are consistent with the expected loading, settlement, shrinkage and loading of the building this age and construction type and no structurally significant damage was observed.

>> I'm uncomfortable and scared every day, I don't want to be here but I'm on maternity leave and going through my savings because of that and I don't have the space to leave at the moment.

>> I haven't paid rent in two months, I've put the amounts I would normally pay into an escrow account because according to New Jersey State safe habitation law, you don't need to pay rent to a building that's unsafe.

Reporter: They're more than 500 abandoned mines a statewide that are mapped out.

Many recent singles are caused bicycles falling -- are caused by these mines.

This is a distinguished professor at Rutgers Newark and says it's hard to investigate why mineshaft's collapse.

>> No one is going to put the time and energy into draining them and there are some geophysical techniques you could using to figure out where the mines are but I know pretty much the people that do this type of stuff, and none of them are doing it right now.

Reporter: Less than one mile away, the Mountain View Manor apartment complex has had a sinkhole in their parking lot.

It hasn't been confirmed if it was caused by a mineshaft.

As the ground continues the thaw, the area could see more sinkholes in the chaos that comes with that.

In Morris County, Ted Goldberg.

Anchor: In our spotlight on business report tonight, electric vehicles still in high demand but experts say growth in the industry has collapsed.

The assessment comes as New Jersey tries to meet the requirement to get 330,000 EV's registered by the end of this year but it is woefully behind.

This as the state and federal governments have cut incentives for getting more people on board.

Where does the industry go from here?

Raven Santana reports.

>> 220,000 EV's on the road today, a goal of hitting over 300,000 in the next year would require about a 50% jump, which sounds like a lot.

You never but it will be challenging to hit that goal.

Reporter: Nick warns New Jersey's electric vehicle ambitions are still a long way from reality.

He is founder of Atlas public policy and research firm focused on electric vehicles says national trends prove demand for EV's depend on where you live in what you are currently driving.

>> Big things that will matter to breakthrough for EV's to hit the 25% adoption nationwide, one is affordability.

Increasingly the cost of owning an electric vehicle or at least purchasing one is declining.

Another thing people pay attention to is charging.

The presence of public charging, the ability to travel and use the EV in the same way you use a conventional vehicle is important.

>> Last year we saw about 60,000 more EV's on the road and that's good but it's not year-over-year growth compared to the year before.

We need to be doubling the amount of electric vehicles coming on to our roads to make.

Reporter: Pam Frank is CEO of charge EBC, an organization dedicated to accelerating electric transportation in New Jersey.

State rules require New Jersey to have 330,000 zero omissions vehicles registered by the end of the year and she says for that to happen the state needs a more robust incentive environment.

She says increased registration fees to the opposite.

>> There's a particular feature of New Jersey law that requires when you by a car you have to pay four years of registration upfront.

>> You're looking at $100 or more increase in the monthly payment.

Reporter: Rick is the owner of Liberty family of dealerships that include the Subaru dealership in Emerson and three other locations across New Jersey.

He says demand for EV's cannot be forced.

He says of the 450 Subarus he has available, 10 are EV's like this one behind me, which he says is enough to meet the current demand.

>> If there might be a market here, I will say 10 per month, I might get 50 of them.

Whether I can sell them or not, they are coming.

Otherwise the manufacturers, for every car manufacturer is short of the number they need to send, there is a penalty for the manufacture of $22,000 per unit that they don't send.

>> I'm not as optimistic as I would like to be and the biggest challenge we found is ultimately you can mandate any deadline for electric vehicles the government might want but it's up to the consumer to purchase it.

You can't mandate the purchase of a vehicle.

Reporter: The president of the New Jersey coalition of automotive retailers says the state cutting back on incentives combined with the lack of demand could ultimately drive out business along with customers.

>> For dealers this is a critical point in time.

They are starting to panic.

The biggest fear New Jersey dealers have right now is this will drive business out of New Jersey to surrounding states that don't have high EV mandates.

Right across the river, any consumer that wants to buy a gas vehicle might drive across the bridge and get a vehicle and register it in New Jersey.

It's terrible for our small business dealers.

Reporter: In response to criticism, Governor Murphy's office Lisa statement in support of the commitment, saying the Murphy administration is firmly committed to reducing emissions and increasing EV uptake and will continue to further our ambitious climate goals by providing incentives and setting sales targets to support growing consumer demand for EV's in our state.

They also highlighted several incentives including charge up New Jersey for income eligible applicants to receive $4000, and an incentive program for local state and nonprofit entities purchasing new EV's or charging stations.

For NJ Spotlight News, I'm Raven Santana.

Anchor: That will do it for us tonight but before we go, a reminder -- you can download our podcast wherever you listen and watch us any time by subscribing to the NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel.

You can follow us on Instagram and blue sky to stay up-to-date on the state's big headlines.

For the entire team at NJ Spotlight News, have a great evening and we will see you tomorrow.

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

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More information online at njrealtor.com.

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♪