>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RW J BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

COMMITTED TO THE RELATION OF A NEW, LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

NJ PBS, THIS IS "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUPS CONTINUES TO DRAG AND IT IS RIGHT HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RECENTLY ORDERED CHEMICAL CORPORATION TO BEGIN DESIGN WORK ON A CLEANUP PLAN FOR A NINE MILE SECTION OF THE LOWER PASSAIC RIVER.

IT'S PART OF A ROUGHLY $2 BILLION EFFORT TO REMOVE CANCER-CAUSING DIOXIN, PCBS, AND OTHER HEAVY METALS FROM THE WATERWAY.

BUT POINTS OUT IT WAS NOT THE ONLY COMPANY TO FOUL IN THE RIVER AND IT ARGUES THE EPA IS LETTING OTHERS OFF EASY.

AS PART OF OUR ONGOING SERIES, EXAMINING SUPERFUND SITE AROUND THE STATE, BRENDA FLANAGAN HAS THE LATEST ON THIS MASSIVE CLEANUP EFFORT.

>> COMMUNITIES AROUND THE PASSAIC HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY PATIENT.

MORE PATIENT THAN ANYONE EXPECTED THEM.

THEY REALLY DESERVED TO GET THEIR RIVER BACK.

>> ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE SAYS ALMOST 40 YEARS AFTER EPA WORKERS IN MOON SUITS STARTED CLEANING UP THE SITE IN NEWARK, EFFORTS DRAG ON.

THE FACTORY SITES NOW CAP, WALLING OFF THE DIOXIN USED TO MAKE.

17 MILES OF CONTAMINATED RIVERBED REMAIN FROM NEWARK ON NORTH TO THE CLIFTON.

THE EPA ORDERED OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL, THE CHEMICAL THAT BOUGHT AND OWNED TO START PLANNING WORK ON THE UPPER NINE MILES OF RIVERBED.

>> THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE SAMPLING TO IDENTIFYING CONTAMINATION.

AND THEN WILL ALSO CONDUCT STUDIES TO ASSESS THE RIVER BOTTOM, SHORELINE, AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE RIVER IN REPARATION OF THE CLEANUP.

>> EP EIGHT CONSIDERS UP PRIMARY POLLUTER.

PEOPLE ALONG THE RIVER DUMP TOXIC WASTE INTO THE PASSAIC.

ABOUT 85 OF THOSE COMPANIES LAST DECEMBER AGREED TO PAY $150 MILLION IN EXCHANGE FOR RELEASE FROM FURTHER LIABILITY FROM CLEANUP COSTS.

WOULD'VE LIKED A BIGGER PAYMENT, SHE IS PLEASED TO SEE THE LEGAL LOGJAM FINALLY MOVING.

>> WE SUPPORT THE EPA EFFORT.

>> BUT DEEPLY UNHAPPY WITH THE SETTLEMENT.

THE COMPANY WEBSITE CLAIMS LETS POLLUTERS OFF THE HOOK AND SAYS THE EPA WANT NEW JERSEY TAX PLAYERS TO PAY.

WILL BE LEFT HOLDING THE BAG FOR CLOSE TO $2 BILLION IN TOTAL CLEANUP COSTS.

REACHED OUT TO NORTH HELD IN, LOBBYING THEM TO OPPOSE, RAISING ALARMING QUESTIONS.

>> HOW ELSE WOULD THEY GET THE REMAINDER OF THE FUNDS?

IF THEY ARE GOING TO GET 115 MILLION AND IT'S GOING TO COST 2 BILLION, WHO IS GOING TO GIVE THEM THE REST OF THE MONEY?

>> MAYOR RANDY GEORGE SAYS HIS TOWN IS NOT RESPONSIBLE.

THE EPA SAYS IT IS USING THE SUPERFUND LOGGED TO TARGET LOOTERS.

>> OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT 100% OF THE RIVER WILL BE CLEANED UP BY ALL OF THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES.

AND IS ONE OF THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES.

>> WANTS TO SUE THE 85 COMPANIES IN THAT DISSENT THE GREAT AND FORCE THEM TO PAY A LOT MORE THAN 150 MILLION.

IT CLAIMS THE TOWNS AND SEWAGE COMMISSION ARE LIABLE BECAUSE EPA HAS DETERMINED THAT THE CHEMICALS THAT WENT FROM THE INDUSTRIAL SITES WENT THROUGH THEIR SEWER SYSTEMS, AND THEREFORE, THEY ARE ON THE HOOK.

AN ATTORNEY FOR THE NEW JERSEY BAY KEEPER CALLS THE ARGUMENT A STRETCH.

>> I DO NOT SEE HOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN OR HOW THAT WOULD WORK.

HOW ANY COURT WOULD BUY THAT AS A CHARGE.

I DO NOT NECESSARILY HOLD IT AGAINST THEM FOR TRYING TO REDUCE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN BUT I WOULD MUCH RATHER SEE THEM PUT THAT EFFORT INTO GETTING THE DESIGN DONE.

>> SHE SAYS OXYCONTIN OXYCHEM.

I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS."

>>> SOUNDING THE ALARM OVER A PENDING MERGER BETWEEN TWO BANKS IN NEW JERSEY.

ONE HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF ILLEGAL AND DISCRIMINATORY LOAN PRACTICES THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY HURT LOW INCOME RESIDENTS OF COLOR.

NOW ACTIVISTS ARE WORKING TO STOP THE MERGER UNLESS AUTHORITIES DO MORE TO COME BACK WHAT WHAT IS KNOWN AS.

JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS.

>> WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT 1955.

WERE TALKING ABOUT 21ST-CENTURY REDLINING RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.

DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE OF DENYING SOMEONE ALONE OR OTHER FINANCIAL SERVICE BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD CONSIDERED HIGH FINANCIAL RISK.

IT'S MOST OFTEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR LIVING IN POOR COMMUNITIES.

A PRACTICE THAT LAKELAND BANK IN NEW JERSEY WAS RECENTLY CHARGED WITH.

>> IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022, THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ENTERED INTO A HISTORIC $13 MILLION CONSENT ORDER WITH LAKELAND BANK FOR ENGAGING IN A PATTERN OR PRACTICE OF LENDING DISCRIMINATION BY REDLINING IN THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN AREA.

>> THE FAIR HOUSING ACT OF 1968 PROHIBITS HOUSING DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR AND OTHER FACTORS.

NEW JERSEY CITIZEN ACTION ANALYSIS OF LAKE'S MORTGAGE DATA FOR 2018-2021 FOUND LOAN FOR BLACK RESIDENTS ONLY CONSISTED OF 1.7% OF ITS TOTAL LOANS.

>> LAKELAND BANK WAS CHARGED WITH VIOLATING THE FAIR HOUSING ACT AND DENYING LOW AND MODERATE INCOME BLACK AND HISPANIC CONSUMERS ACCESS TO READ IT WITH REASONABLE INTEREST RATES AND CLEAR TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

>> UNDER THE DOJ'S CONSENT ORDER, LAKELAND BANK HAS TO OPEN TWO NEW LOCATIONS, ONE IN NEWARK.

LAKELAND MIGHT SOON BE PURCHASED BY PROVIDENT BANK, HEADQUARTERED IN NEW JERSEY CITY.

JOINING FORCES WITH MAYOR AND OTHERS, ASKING THE FEDERAL RESERVE TO HOLD EMERGED BANK TO THE SAME REQUIREMENTS AS THE CONSENT ORDER, AND THEN SOME.

>> REGULARS, LOCAL LEADERS, AND JUSTICE ADVOCATES MUST DEMAND MORE FROM THE BANKS OPERATING IN NEW JERSEY IN ORDER TO END REDLINING ONCE AND FOR ALL.

BEYOND THE CONSENT AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, WE NEED AGREEMENTS.

WE NEED CRA AGREEMENTS WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS FOR THE LAKELAND PROVIDENCE MERGER.

>> PROVIDENCE BANKS, AND A STATEMENT, "AGREED TO ASSUME ALL OF LAKELAND'S BANK OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE ORDER AND WILL CONTINUE TO ADHERE TO ALL ELEMENTS OF THE DOJ CONSENT ORDER."

A CRA AGREEMENT AS A COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT AGREEMENT.

NEW JERSEY CITIZEN ACTION RECENTLY FILED CHARGES WITH THE FEDERAL RESERVE, ASKING THAT ANY MERGER APPROVAL BETWEEN PROVIDENT AND LIQUID MUST IMPROVE CRA AGREEMENTS.

SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TO NEWARK, A REGION WHERE PREDATORY LENDING PRACTICES, REDLINING, AND PRICE GOUGING HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO GENERATIONAL POVERTY.

>> TELLS YOU WHY THESE COMMUNITIES ARE SUFFERING AND LOOK THE WAY THEY LOOK VERY DELIBERATELY.

IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE VERY DELIBERATE ACTION IN REVERSING THAT.

THAT IS WHY WE STAND WITH OUR NEW JERSEY CITIZEN ACTION IN ASKING THE FEDERAL RESERVE BEFORE THEY SANCTION HIS AGREEMENT, SANCTION THIS MERGER, THAT THEY SHOULD ENFORCE THE CONSENT ORDER SAID BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

>> WAS SURPRISED TO SEE A DETAILED LETTER COME FROM THE FEDERAL RESERVE LAST MONTH IN RESPONSE TO THEIR CHALLENGE FILED IN DECEMBER.

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY 38 YEARS HERE, WE RECEIVED A LETTER, A FIVE-PAGE LETTER FROM THE NEW YORK FED AND MORE THAN HALF OF THAT LETTER SPOKE DIRECTLY TO THE DEMANDS THAT WE HAVE PUT OUT.

HOW MANY MORTGAGES, HOW MANY SUBSIDIES.

WHO THEY HAVE GIVEN IT TO YOU, ONE OF THE INCOMES, AND WORD OF THOSE PEOPLE LIVE?

>> NEW JERSEY CITIZEN ACTION IS MEETING AGAIN WITH PROVIDENT BANK LATER THIS MONTH TO DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL TERMS OF A CRA.

THE FEDERAL RESERVES WHETHER TO APPROVE AND WHETHER TO INCLUDE THE DEMANDS MADE BY NEW JERSEY CITIZEN ACTION.

I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

"NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS."

>>> THE DEMAND AT FOOD PANTRIES AROUND THE STATE IS BACKUP TO PANDEMIC LEVELS DUE TO HIGH FOOD PRICES AND OTHER ECONOMIC FACTORS.

NOW RESIDENTS FACING FOOD AND SECURITY ALSO HAVE TO ATTEND WITH THE DROP IN FEDERAL BENEFITS.

EMERGENCY SNAP OR FOOD STAMP PROGRAM ENDED NATIONWIDE A WEEK AGO AND DESPITE STATE EFFORTS, ADVOCATES ARE WARNING WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF A "HUNGER CLIFF".

JOHN HURDLE JOINED ME NOT TO EXPLAIN AS PART OF OUR HUNGER IN NEW JERSEY SERIES.

>> JOHN, I THOUGHT THAT WHEN THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION INCREASED THE MINIMUM SNAP PAYMENT FOR FOLKS IN THE STATE, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO OFFSET WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

WHY, THEN, ARE WE SEEING GAPS FOR SOME PEOPLE LIKE YOU REPORTED?

>> THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT THE NEW STATE MINIMUM OF $95 A MONTH AND SNAP PAYMENTS WILL ONLY OFFSET THE ENDING OF THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY ALLOCATION.

THAT WAS ALWAYS TEMPORARY.

IT WAS INTRODUCED TO HELP PEOPLE, LOW INCOME PEOPLE WITH THE COST OF FOOD DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THAT CAME TO AN END AT THE END OF FEBRUARY.

>> TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR AN AVERAGE FAMILY AND WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO TURN FROM HERE?

YOU HAVE BEEN REPORTING FOR YEARS NOW ABOUT THE STRESS ON OUR FOOD PANTRIES.

>> INDEED.

WHAT I AM HEARING FROM FOOD PANTRIES THIS TIME AROUND IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THERE ARE FEDERAL CHECKS THEY'VE BEEN RELYING ON FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW, ARE MUCH SMALLER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN FOR ALL THAT TIME.

THEY ARE GOING TO SIMPLY TURN TO FOOD PANTRIES.

PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT IS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE LESS MONEY, BUT ALSO WHAT I'M HEARING FROM FOOD PANTRIES IS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE DISINCLINED TO WRANGLE WITH MORE EUROPE?

AND APPLYING FOR ANOTHER BENEFIT.

THEY MAY FIND THAT IT IS JUST EASIER TO GO TO THE LOCAL FOOD PANTRY AND GET WHAT THEY NEED THERE.

>> THEY ARE EXPECTING THE DEMAND, THE FOOD PANTRIES.

CAN THEY HANDLE IT?

IS THE STATE EQUIPPED TO STEP IN TO GIVE THEM SOME AID IF NEED BE?

>> WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE FOOD PANTRIES IS THAT YES, PEOPLE WILL BE FED.

THEY ARE EXPECTING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE TURNING TO THEM.

IN FACT, ONE FOOD PANTRY THAT I SPOKE WITH IN NEWARK EXPECTED THE DEMAND INCREASE IN THE COMING MONTH COULD BE AS HIGH AS 50%.

BUT THEIR INCREASED SUPPLY IS GOING TO DEPEND ON WHAT THEY GET FROM FOOD BANKS, WHICH, OF COURSE, ARE EFFECTIVELY THE WHOLESALERS OF THE EMERGENCY FOOD NETWORK IN NEW JERSEY.

>> IS THERE ANY TALK ABOUT A LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO HELP GIVE A BOOST?

>> I THINK THE LEGISLATOR WILL SAY THAT THROUGH THE LAW, THE NEW LAW THAT PROVIDED THE HIGHER MINIMUM SNAP PAYMENT, THAT LOT WAS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR MURPHY ON FEBRUARY 8th.

THEY WILL SAY THAT THE STATE HAS ALREADY DONE ITS PART HERE.

I HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM A SPEAKER IN THE ASSEMBLY AND HE DOES RECOGNIZE THAT THIS SO-CALLED "HUNGER CLIFF" STILL EXISTS.

OF COURSE, THE LEGISLATOR HAS DONE ITS PART TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THE EFFECT OF THAT.

>> VERY TOUGH SITUATION.

THANKS SO MUCH, JOHN.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>>> NEW JERSEY'S FARMERS LOST OUT ON MILLIONS IN FEDERAL AID DURING THE PANDEMIC.

ACCORDING TO ANALYSIS DONE BY AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF MEDIA, FEWER THAN TWO IN 10 NEW JERSEY FARMERS RECEIVED FEDERAL ASSISTANCE, COMPARED TO NINE IN 10 FARMERS IN MIDWESTERN STATES LIKE IOWA, ILLINOIS, AND NEBRASKA.

IN SHORT IT'S BECAUSE THE AID WAS DOLED OUT USING AN EXISTING FARM FORMULA, WHICH FAVORS STATES WITH LARGER AGRIBUSINESS.

THE SITUATION IS ESPECIALLY FRUSTRATING FOR NEW JERSEY'S SMALL POPULATION OF BLACK FARMERS WHO HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN LEFT OUT OF FEDERAL FARM ASSISTANCE AND LENDING.

NOW, U.S.

SENATOR CORY BOOKER IS PUSHING LEGISLATION TO GIVE BLACK FARMERS THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES.

RAVEN SANTANA HAS A LOOK AT JUSTICE FOR BLACK FARMERS APP AND HOW IT AIMS TO REVERSE.

>> JOE HAS BEEN IN THE FARMING BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES.

HE CONES K AND J ORGANIC FARMS IN PITTSBURGH TOWNSHIP WITH HIS GRANDSON, KENNETH SINCE 2019.

THE 79-YEAR-OLD IS ALSO ONE OF THE BLACK FARMERS IN THE AREA.

>> THAT'S IT?

>> THAT'S IT.

>> JUST TWO?

>> TWO.

WE WORK JUST AS HARD AS THEY DO OR HARDER.

WE SHOULD BE TREATED EQUALLY.

>> HOWEVER, HE AND HIS GRANDSON ARE NOT TREATED EQUALLY AND HE SHARED SOME CHALLENGES HE RECENTLY HAS FACED BEING A BLACK FARMER.

>> I HAD A BURGER AT PHILADELPHIA.

THEY WERE GIVING ME GREAT PRICES.

ONE FRIDAY I WAS OFF, I DECIDED TO GO UP TO THE MARKET AND LOOK AROUND.

I MET THE BROKER.

WHEN HE SEEN ME, HE SAID OH, YOU ARE JOE.

I SAID YES.

HE GAVE ME THIS BAD LOOK.

AND FROM THAT POINT ON, HE COULD NOT MOVE MY PRODUCE.

IT ALWAYS WAS AN EXCUSE.

THE MARKET IS BAD, NOTHING IS MOVING.

>> NEARLY TWO DECADES AFTER A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT WAS SETTLED, HE SAYS NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

WHEN GOING OUT TO SELL HIS CROPS, OFTEN TIMES, HE RECEIVES BIDS LOWER THAN MARKET PRICE THAT WOULD FILL TO SECURE ANY BID ON THEM.

AS A RESULT, HE NEEDED TO TAKE OUT GOVERNMENT LOANS BUT SAYS HE WAS NOT ABLE TO BORROW AS MUCH AS HE REALLY NEEDED.

>> JUST THIS PAST YEAR,.

THE NEXT DAY, WE PUT THEM UP FOR BID.

WE HAD A BIT OF $15.

THE FOURTH DAY WE PUT THEM UP, WE GOT A BIT OF $10.

AND THAT HAS BEEN THE PRICES FOR THE WHOLE 40 SOME YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING, FARMING.

IF THEY DO NOT PAY FOR YOUR SUPPLIES, THE NOBODY ELSE GETS PAID.

THAT LEFT ME IN THE HALL.

>> TO LOSE THAT LAND WAS NOT JUST AN ECONOMIC CRIME BUT A MORAL ONE, AS WELL.

>> SENATOR CORY BOOKER IS THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THAT JUSTICE FOR BLACK FARMERS ACT, WHICH HE RECENTLY REINTRODUCED ALONG WITH SIX OF HIS FELLOW SENATORS.

THE LEGISLATION AIMS TO ADDRESS AND COLLECT HISTORIC DISCRIMINATION WITHIN FEDERAL FARM ASSISTANCE AND LENDING AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

>> OUR BILL IS GOING TO ALLOW EXISTING BLACK FARMERS, AS WELL AS A NEW GENERATION OF BLACK FARMERS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT PROGRAM THAT THEY WERE DENIED GENERATIONS AGO.

>> IN 1920, THERE WERE NEARLY 1 MILLION BY FARMERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

TODAY, DUE IN LARGE PART TO THIS HISTORY OF HIS TERMINATION, SAYS IT'S ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE LESS THAN 50,000 REMAINING BLACK FARMERS.

>> AMERICAN DREAM IS DESTROYED.

PEOPLE WERE HARD-WORKING AMERICANS PLAYING BY THE RULES, UNDERCUT, UNDERMINED, AND TARGETED RACIAL DISSEMINATION.

WE, AS A COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THIS IS A SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE HARM, WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON TRYING TO RIGHT THE WRONGS OF THIS CHAPTER OF AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> FOR "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS", I'M REMISS ANTENNA.

>>> OFFSHORE WIND PROJECTS ARE MOVING FORWARD IN NEW JERSEY DESPITE OPPOSITION.

THE STATE BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES ON MONDAY AGREED TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS TO BUILD MORE OFFSHORE WIND FARMS AROUND THE COAST.

THE VOTE COMES AMID LINGERING CONTROVERSIES OVER DEAD WHALES WASHING ASHORE ON BEACHES AROUND THE METROPOLITAN AREA.

SCIENTISTS SAY THERE IS NO LINK BETWEEN THE WHALE DEATH AND OFFSHORE WIND, BUT SOME LAWMAKERS ARE CALLING FOR A MORE ON THE PROJECT UNTIL MORE DATA IS COLLECTED.

THERE ARE ALSO GROWING BASTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE DEVELOPMENT WILL COST CONSUMERS.

THE BPU ALREADY APPROVED THREE PROJECTS.

NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN BILLS, THOUGH.

THE NEW PROJECTS ARE A KEY COMPONENT OF GOVERNMENT MURPHY'S CLEAN ENERGY GOALS OF EVENTUALLY REACHING 11,000 MEGAWATTS OF OFFSHORE WIND CAPACITY IN NEW JERSEY BY 2040.

YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE PLANS AND OPPOSITION IN TOM JOHNSON'S STORY ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> THE HITS JUST KEEP COMING FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM MALL.

THE BOROUGH OF EAST RUTHERFORD IS SUING THE DEVELOPER AND THE NEW JERSEY SPORTS AND EXPOSITION AUTHORITY, CLAIMING THE TOWN IS OWED MILLIONS FROM PILOTS OR PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES.

ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT, AMERICAN DREAM IS OVERDUE ON ABOUT $7.5 MILLION FOR PILOTS, GIVING IT THE RIGHT DEVELOP HOTELS, OFFICES, AND A BASEBALL STADIUM WITHIN THE MEADOWLANDS COMPLEX.

AMERICAN DREAM IS ALSO BEHIND ON ROUGHLY $200,000 IN SEWER PAYMENTS TO EAST RUTHERFORD.

ACCORDING TO AN ATTORNEY FOR THE TOWN, THE MALL OWNER WAS MAKING GOOD ON ITS MAIN PILOT AGREEMENT UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH AGO, WHEN IT FAILED TO MAKE A $125,000 INSTALLMENT.

THERE HAS BEEN CONTENTION BETWEEN THE BOROUGH AND MEGAMALL OWNER BETWEEN IT OPEN WHEN THE PILOTS WERE DUE.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR AMERICAN DREAM TELLS "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" THE DEVELOPER PLANS TO "VIGOROUSLY DEFEND THEIR POSITION."

>>> ON WALL STREET, THE MARKET REACTED TO WORD TODAY FROM THE FED THAT INTEREST RATES WILL LIKELY HAD HIGHER.

HERE IS HOW IT CLOSED.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER.

WE KEEP LIFE FLOWING.

ONLINE AT NEWJERSEYAN.COM.

>>> ONE OF THE STATES MOST FINANCIALLY TROUBLED SCHOOL DISTRICTS COULD SEE A BOOST OF STATE AID IN ITS FUTURE.

AN APPELLATE COURT ON MONDAY RULED LIQUID PUBLIC SCHOOLS DO NOT RECEIVE ADEQUATE STATE FUNDING TO GIVE STUDENTS A THOROUGH AND EFFICIENT EDUCATION.

THE DECISION REVERSES A 2021 FINDING BY THE STATE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER AND ORDERS THE DEPARTMENT TO FIND A WAY TO IMPROVE THE DISTRICT'S FUNDING.

LAKEWOOD IS A FAST-GROWING COMMUNITY WITH A LARGE, ORTHODOX JEWISH POPULATION.

ACCORDING TO THE COURT RULING, 80% OF IT TOWNS AT SCHOOL AGED KIDS ARE ENROLLED IN PRIVATE, RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS.

THE COURT SAYS THE DISTRICT IS "SEVERELY STRAINED BY OBLIGATIONS TO PROVIDE BOTH TRANSPORTATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR THOSE THOUSANDS OF NONPUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS."

MONDAY'S DECISION REVIVES A NEARLY DECADE-OLD CASE BROUGHT BY LIQUID PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENTS, CLAIMING THAT 2008 SCHOOL FUNDING REFORM ACT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL WHEN APPLIED TO LAKEWOOD BECAUSE IT DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL THOSE OUTSIDE COSTS.

>>> FINALLY TONIGHT, FORMER CONGRESSMAN TOM MALINOWSKI HAS BEEN LAYING LOW SINCE LOSING HIS RE-ELECTION BID THIS NOVEMBER TO NOW REPRESENTATIVE, TOM KING JUNIOR.

AS HE WEIGHS WHETHER TO TRY AND RECLAIM THE SEAT, TOM MALINOWSKI IS EYEING ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON DEMOCRACY BY CONVERTING HIS CAMPAIGN ARM INTO A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE.

TOM MALINOWSKI'S DISTRICTS FOR DEMOCRACY PAC IS PLANNING TO COUNTER EFFORTS THAT BECAME ACTIVE DURING LAST YEAR'S SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS.

I HAVE RECENTLY ASKED HIM ABOUT HIS NEW MISSION.

>> WE'VE SEEN EIGHT TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INTEREST, MONEY, TIME BEING POURED INTO SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES AND THE ELECTIONS, WHICH WERE TYPICALLY PRETTY SLEEPY.

NOW YOU, YOURSELF WITH AN ARM OF QUITE A BIT OF MONEY ARE INVOLVED.

WHAT IS YOUR HOPE HERE?

WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO?

>> THANK YOU, BRIANA.

WE'VE GOT THE BEST PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

SOMETHING WE ARE PROUD OF, IT'S SOMETHING WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON.

I AM INTERESTED IN PROTECTING IT.

I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY, I THINK MOST NEW JERSEYANS BELIEVE THAT FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO REMAIN GREAT, KIDS HAVE TO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO LEARN AND TEACHERS HAVE TO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO TEACH, WITHOUT POLITICS, WITHOUT POLITICAL INTIMIDATION.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE SEEING IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AS NATIONAL RIGHT-WING MOVEMENT THAT'S BEEN TRYING TO TAKE OVER EDUCATION IN STATES LIKE FLORIDA, TEXAS, AND VIRGINIA, COME TO NEW JERSEY PROMOTING CENSORSHIP OF BOOKS.

TAKING BOOKS OUT OF LIBRARIES.

PUTTING ENORMOUS PRESSURES ON TEACHERS IN SOME OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO NOT TALK ABOUT SENSITIVE SUBJECT.

MOST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS I TALKED TO OUR AGAINST IT.

MOST PARENTS I TALK TO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

THE FOLKS I WANT TO ATTEND OUR.

WE ARE TRYING TO CHANGE THAT.

>> WOULD YOU, ESSENTIALLY, BE LOOKING TO COUNTER GROUPS LIKE "MOM'S FOR LIBERTY," THESE ARE RIGHT-WING THAT CAME ON THE SCENE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CONTENT CURRICULUM BOOKS, AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT INTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> LOOK AT GROUPS LIKE "MOM'S FOR LIBERTY" AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THEY HAVE PROMOTED BANNING BOOKS ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST.

THEY PROMOTED BANNING BOOKS ABOUT AFRICAN-AMERICANS SPORT HEROES LIKE HANK AARON AND JACKIE ROBINSON BECAUSE THOSE BOOKS MIGHT TOUCH UPON THE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.

THOSE WONDERFUL AMERICAN HEROES EXPERIENCED IN THEIR LIVES.

TO HAVE THAT IMPORTED INTO NEW JERSEY, IT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK, REALLY DOES THREATEN THE POLITY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN OUR STATE.

>> WHAT DO YOU SEE AS YOUR ROLE AND THE USE OF THIS MONEY?

IS IT GOING TO BE TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD?

TO HANDPICK THOSE CANDIDATES?

OR TO GIVE THEM THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO RUN IN A STATE LIKE NEW JERSEY, WHERE WE KNOW IT NOW COSTS A LOT OF MONEY.

>> IT ACTUALLY DOES NOT AND SHOULD NOT COST A LOT OF MONEY TO RUN SCHOOL BOARD RACES AND I DO NOT WANT TO CHANGE THAT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF LOCAL FOLKS.

MOSTLY MOMS AND DADS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS WAVE OF CENSORSHIP THAT IS SWEEPING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND COMING TO NEW JERSEY.

THEY ARE ORGANIZING THEMSELVES.

I DO NOT HAVE TO DO THAT.

WHAT I CAN DO IS BE A CONVENER, FACILITATOR, YES TO RAISE A MODEST AMOUNT OF MONEY SO THAT PEOPLE WHO STAND UP AND SAY I AM GOING TO RUN FOR LOCAL OFFICE, I'M GOING TO RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARD, HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

THE ENERGY IS ALL FROM THE BOTTOM UP.

IT IS NOT COMING FROM BEER OR ANYBODY LIKE ME.

>> OUR CONGRESSMAN, TOM MALINOWSKI, GOOD TO TALK WITH YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, SIR.

>> THINK YOU, ANYTIME.

>>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

YOU CANNOT LISTEN TO "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" ANY TIME VIA PODCAST, WHEREVER YOU SCREAM.

JUST MAKE SURE TO DOWNLOAD IT AND CHECK US OUT.

YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS ALONG WITH NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE.

>>> FOR NOW, I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FROM THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT TEAM, HAVE AN ANTI- EVENING.

GOOD NIGHT, WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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