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

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT BY ORSTEAD.

AND PSEG.

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

♪ >>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH RIHANNA THE NOSY.

>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY TODAY SIGNED INTO LAW A BILL PROHIBITING THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM DOING BUSINESS WITH THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT OR ANY COMPANIES WITH TIES TO IT.

THE MOVES COMES AMID AN ESCALATION OF ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS BY RUSSIA INCLUDING AN AIRSTRIKE ON A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL UKRAINIAN PRO PRESIDENT, VOLODOMYR ZELENSKYY CALLED AN ATROCITY.

CIVILIAN EVACUATIONS ARE UNDERWAY FROM SEVERAL CITIES INCLUDING FROM THE NORTHEASTERN BORDERS CITY OF SUMI.

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY SAID EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO EVACUATE SOME 18,000 PEOPLE FROM BESIEGED TOWNS IN THE KYIV REGION AND THE CAPITOL ITSELF.

ACCORDING TO U.N., MORE THAN 2.2 MILLION UKRAINIANS HAVE FLED THE COUNTRY.

MEANWHILE, IN WASHINGTON, CONGRESS REACHED A BIPARTISAN DEAL TO PROVIDE MORE THAN $13 BILLION IN MILITARY HUMANITARIAN AND ECONOMIC AID TO UKRAINE.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE U.S. IS HOPING TO CRIPPLE RUSSIA'S ECONOMY.

THE LATEST EFFORT TO DO THAT WAS THE DECISION TO BAN OIL IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA.

NEW JERSEYANS ARE ALSO PAYING THE PRICE AS THE COST OF GAS CONTINUES TO HIT RECORD HIGHS.

OUR SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS THAT THE PAIN GOES BEYOND THE PUMP.

>> I SPENT OVER 100 SOMETHING DOLLARS A WEEK OF GAS.

GOING TO MY CUSTOMERS.

SO I AM GOING TO HAVE TO SURCHARGE THEM.

>> Reporter: THAT IS HOW PLUMMER, RICK SANTANA WILL COPE WITH SKYROCKETING GAS PRICES.

HE PAID $4.29 A GALLON FOR REGULAR AT THIS EXXON STATION AND WILL UNDOUBTEDLY PAY MORE TOMORROW AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN BAND RUSSIAN ENERGY IMPORTS.

THE U.S. HOPES TO SQUEEZE VLADIMIR PUTIN'S POCKETBOOK AND END HORRIFIC RUSSIAN ATTACKS IN UKRAINE WHERE BOMBS DEVASTATED A MATERNITY HOSPITAL IN MARIUPOL TODAY, BARRY AND CHILDREN IN RUBBLE.

>> WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

WE HAVE TO STOP HIM SO WE HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE FOR A WHILE, HOPEFULLY NOT TOO LONG.

>> THEY'VE GOT TO TAKE OUTPUT AND, THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.

>> JIMMY RUNS A TREE SERVICE AND LIKE MOST AMERICANS, HE WILL SUPPORT THE HIGHER GAS PRICES BUT HE WILL PASS THEM ON TO CUSTOMERS.

>> I HAVE TO FILL UP THIS BIG TRUCK AND THE OTHER TRUCK.

I'M GETTING KILLED, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO RAISE YOUR PRICES.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY REACHED ANOTHER ALL-TIME HIGH TODAY, SITTING AT $4.32 PER GALLON.

I WOULD LOVE TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN END IN SIGHT.

BUT WE TRULY DON'T KNOW WHERE THESE PRICES ARE GOING TO GO.

AAA'S TRACY NOBLE SAYS GAS PRICES ROSE $0.05 OVERNIGHT.

SPIRALING GAS PRICES COULD COMMENCE CONSUMERS TO CARPOOL, SWITCH TO MASS TRANSIT OR DELAY RETURNING TO THE OFFICE BUT WITH THE COP OF DIESEL TOPPING $5 A GALLON, CONSUMER PAIN WILL SPREAD WELL PAST THE PUNT PUMP.

>> WE HAVE A SURCHARGE THAT WE CHARGE CUSTOMERS AND IT IS UP- AND-DOWN ACCORDING TO THE PRICE OF FUEL IN OUR REGION.

>> Reporter: BEST TRUCKING COMPANIES, TOM WEINGARTEN SAYS FUEL IS HIS SECOND BIGGEST EXPENSE AFTER LABOR.

>> ALL OF THIS IS GETTING THROUGH THE CHAIN.

WE GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, TO THE CLOTHING STORE OR WHATEVER, HOME DEPOT, YOU ARE GOING TO BE PAYING MORE BASED ON THE COST OF FUEL.

>> Reporter: WHAT IMPACT WILL AMERICAN CONSUMER PAIN HAVE ON VLADIMIR PUTIN?

THE U.S. IMPORTS ONLY 3% OF ITS OIL FROM RUSSIA BUT THE PRICE PER BARREL BARREL IS SET GLOBALLY.

>> IT IS A WORLD MARKET AND I THINK WITH THE PRICE IT IS MORE SYMBOLIC OR RETRIBUTION OH.

I THINK EVERYONE WANTS TO HURT PUT IN HIS POCKETBOOK.

BUT WE ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON RUSSIAN OIL.

>> Reporter: HOWEVER, EUROPE IS ON MARKET ANALYST, TOM SAYS THE CUMULATIVE WEIGHT OF SANCTIONS IS PUSHING RUSSIA TOWARD RECESSION AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S TOP THREE OIL PRODUCERS.

RUSSIA DEPENDS ON OIL REVENUES.

THE OTHER MAJOR PLAYERS ARE SODIUM MAY ARABIA AND THE U.S.

IT IS PREDICTED AMERICAN ALL COMPANIES WILL WRAP UP OUTPUT BY 1 MILLION BARRELS A DAY, POLITICS NOTWITHSTANDING.

MET AT THESE NUMBERS YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A SEDUCTIVE SIREN CALL OF HIGH PRICES RESULTING IN U.S. CRUDE PRODUCTION PROBABLY GETTING CLOSE TO 13 MILLION BARRELS A DAY.

>>> U.S. DIPLOMATS ASKED THE SAUDIS TO INCREASE PRODUCTION AS PART OF AN OPEC NATIONS GROUP THAT INCLUDES RUSSIA.

CONGRESSMAN, TOM MALINOWSKI HE SAYS IT IS TIME TO TWIST ARMS.

>> RATHER THAN KISSING UP TO SAUDI ARABIA, WE NEED TO REMIND THEM WHO THE SUPERPOWER IN THIS RELATIONSHIP IS.

WE UNDERWRITE 100% OF THEIR SECURITY.

RATHER THAN BEING BLACKMAILED BY THEM OVER THE PRICE OF OIL, I THINK IT IS TIME FOR US TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

MAYBE SOME OF THOSE TRIPS WE HAVE IN SAUDI ARABIA CAN BE SENT TO POLAND.

>> Reporter: MALINOWSKI SUPPORTS SUSPENDING THE FEDERAL GAS TAX AND RELEASING MORE OF THE U.S. STRATEGIC OIL RESERVES TO SOFTEN THE STING AS THE EXXON STATION OWNER SAID -- >> THE SANCTIONS ARE GOOD BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE HAVE TO HAVE SOLUTIONS TO GET THE PRICE IS REDUCED.

>> Reporter: IN PARAMUS, BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> AS AFFORDABILITY CONTINUES TO BE THE BUZZWORD IN TRENTON, GOVERNOR MURPHY'S BUDGET INCLUDED A PROPOSAL TO USE MORE THAN $300 MILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MONEY TO CREATE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROTECTION FUND WHICH WILL BE USED TO HELP FINANCE THE BUILDING OF OVER 3000 HOUSING UNITS BY THE END OF THE GOVERNOR'S SECOND TERM IN 2025.

ADVOCATES SAY EFFORTS TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE LONG OVERDUE WITH MANY PROJECTS WAITING FOR FUNDING.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ HAS OUR REPORT.

>> WE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF UNITS SHORT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.

>> TRACY KNOWS HER MARKET WELL.

HER ORGANIZATION, PROJECT FREEDOM HAS BUILT OVER 600 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE HOUSING.

IN A BOOMING MARKET RATE REAL ESTATE MARKET, FINANCING IS EASY FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPERS BUT TRIED TO GET BACKING FOR AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT.

GENERALLY, NOT SO EASY.

>> IT IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCED.

YOU HAVE TO LAYER ON ALL TYPES OF FINANCING TO MAKE IT WORK.

>> Reporter: STILL WITH THE NEED SO CRITICAL, THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF ALREADY APPROVED AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS AROUND THE STATE.

MANY JUST WAITING FOR THE KIND OF GESTURE THEY GOT FROM THE GOVERNOR THIS WEEK.

>>> A NEW $300 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION FUND.

THIS FUND WILL HELP US BUILD THE ENTIRE CURRENT BACKLOG OF 3300 ALREADY APPROVED BUT STILL YET TO BE BUILT 100% OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS BY THE END OF MY SECOND TERM.

>> WHAT CRITICS SAY IS A LOT OF THESE ARE DEVELOPMENTS THAT IN MANY CASES HAVE BEEN WAITING IN THE QUEUE, ALREADY APPLIED FOR STATE FUNDING AND IT HASN'T BEEN FUNDED TO BUILD THEM AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SUPERCHARGE THE ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN THERE IS REALLY AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.

>> Reporter: FOR EVERY ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE, SMALL COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THIS ONE IN NEWARK ARE READY TO GET BACK INTO BUSINESS.

THEY SAY THEY HAVE BEEN SHUT OUT OF IT FOR YEARS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT STRATEGICALLY IS WE DO HAVE SOME PLOTS ESPECIALLY IN THE LOWER BROADWAY SECTION THAT COULD PROBABLY DO FOUR OR FIVE STORY 16 OR 20 UNIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS AND THOSE ARE THINGS WE ARE WRESTLING WITH RIGHT NOW BUT AGAIN, IT GOES BACK THE DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO DO THE PREDEVELOPMENT WORK TO DO THE CAPACITY BUILDING IN ORDER TO GET THOSE PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE.

>> THAT COULD BE A BIG ASK SEEING AS HOW THE $300 MILLION IS LIKELY ALREADY DEDICATED BUT MURPHY PROMISED TO NOT DO ONE THING THAT ADMINISTRATIONS FROM BOTH PARTIES HAVE DONE FOR DECADES.

>> AND WE ENDED THE PRACTICE OF RAIDING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING RAIDING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND TO FILL BUDGETS ELSEWHERE.

>>> THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND IS THE SINGLE LARGEST SOURCE OF STATE INVESTMENT INTO THE CREATION OF HOMES THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD AND HAS BEEN FUNDED THROUGH A PORTION OF THE REALTY TRANSFER FEE SO ANY TIME SOMEONE BUYS A HOME, A PORTION OF THAT FEE GOES INTO THEIR STATE'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND.

OVER ITS 25, 30 YEAR HISTORY, IT HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF BACKFILL FOR STATE BUDGET HOLE.

>> Reporter: NO MORE, SAYS THE GOVERNOR AND THAT IS MUSIC TO THE EARS OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SOUNDING THE ALARM FOR YEARS IN A STATE TEAMING WITH HUDDLED MASSES, YEARNING FOR AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE, I HOPE THIS ATTENTION FROM THE STATE REPRESENTS A NEW BEGINNING.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET IS ALSO INCREASING RELIEF TO UNDOCUMENTED NEW JERSEYANS WHO MISSED OUT ON FEDERAL PANDEMIC RELIEF.

MURPHY IS PROPOSING A ONE TIME $53 MILLION FUND THAT WILL GIVE A $500 BENEFIT TO SUCH RESIDENTS.

THE FUND WOULD BUILD ON THE EXCLUDED NEW JERSEYANS FUND WHICH RECEIVED MORE THAN 35,000 APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS OF UP TO $4000 BEFORE IT EXPIRED AT THE END OF FEBRUARY.

THE STATE IS STILL PROCESSING APPLICATIONS FOR THAT PROGRAM.

SO FAR, NEARLY OR THOUSAND 600 HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR ALMOST $11 MILLION IN BENEFITS WHILE ABOUT 300 HAVE BEEN DENIED.

ROUGHLY 31,000 APPLICATIONS ARE STILL BEING EVALUATED.

>>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS ANNOUNCED HIS INTENT TO NOMINATE DR. SHARIF ON THE HALL FOR UNDER SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

HE IS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN NEWARK WHERE HE HAS LED THE HOSPITAL THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS NEW JERSEY'S STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER.

THE NOMINATION WOULD BE A RETURN TO VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR DOWN THE HALL.

HE JOINED THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IN 2000 AT THE END OVERSAW QUALITY OF CARE AT THE VA IN 2018.

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HEAVY TOO THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN ON NEW JERSEYANS DURING THE BUDGET ADDRESS.

TODAY THE STATE REPORTS ANOTHER 747 CONFIRMED CASES WITH 12 NEW DEATHS.

BUT MURPHY'S SPEECH DID NOT SPEND A LOT OF TIME TO SING ON COVID-19 AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

I TALKED WITH HEALTHCARE WRITER, LILO STATEMENT ABOUT SOME OF THE KEY HEALTHCARE PRIORITIES IN THE BUDGET.

>> LILO, WE DID NOT HEAR TOO MUCH ABOUT THE PANDEMIC OR HEALTH SPENDING IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.

WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THAT?

>>> YES, AND NO.

I WAS MORE SURPRISED WHEN I DID NOT HEAR THAT MUCH ABOUT IT IN THE LAST BUDGET THIS YEAR, THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE CLEAR THAT HE IS READY TO MOVE INTO WHAT HE IS CALLING THE ENDEMIC PHASE OF THIS DISEASE.

SO IN SOME WAYS, I WASN'T SURPRISED.

THAT THERE WERE SOME PROGRAMS THAT HE SPECIFICALLY NOTED AS BEING RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC.

I AM STILL LOOKING THROUGH THE DETAILS IN THE BUDGET TO TRY AND SEE IF THERE IS NO MONEY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH ON THE LOCAL LEVEL.

IT SEEMS THAT IT LARGELY CONTINUES THE INVESTMENT LEVELS THAT WERE MADE LAST YEAR, SOME OF WHICH WERE -- LAST YEAR SO I THINK THERE COULD BE GOOD NEWS IN THE DETAILS BUT I AM STILL TRYING TO FIGURE THAT PART OUT.

>> Reporter: ONE THING THAT IS INTERESTING IS THERE IS A FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH AND THIS IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT QUITE A BIT >> YES, AND THAT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT MURPHY TIED DIRECTLY TO THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE ALL SEEN THE IMPACT THIS CRISIS HAS HAD ON FAMILIES, ON INDIVIDUALS, FEELING IT OURSELVES.

KIDS IN SCHOOL HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY HARD HIT OR KIDS NOT IN SCHOOL.

MAYBE THAT IS A BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM, WE LEARNED.

AND I THINK MURPHY'S COGNIZANT OF THAT OBVIOUSLY SO HE WANTS TO CREATE A STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE.

IT WOULD USE FEDERAL FUNDING, NO DOLLAR AMOUNT WAS GIVEN BUT IT INVOLVES SOME KIND OF LEGISLATION SO TBD ON EXACTLY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE BUT IT IS CLEARLY A NEED.

THERE WERE ALSO A NUMBER OF INVESTMENTS, INSURANCE FOR LOWER INCOME FOLKS IN NEW JERSEY, AND THE ARGUMENT THAT HE CONNECTED WITH THE PANDEMIC AS WELL IS ESSENTIALLY SAYING PEOPLE OF LOWER INCOMES AND LARGELY PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO OFTEN ARE OF LOWER INCOME WERE PARTICULARLY HARD HIT BY THIS PANDEMIC.

SO IT IS SORT OF THIS DOUBLE WHAMMY IF YOU ARE POOR AND BLACK AND HE WAS REALLY CLEARLY TRYING TO SIGNAL INVESTMENTS IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS.

>> Reporter: ALSO HEALTH INSURANCE SUBSIDIES WHICH HAVE PROVED EFFECTIVE IN GETTING PEOPLE TO INCREASINGLY SIGN UP FOR HEALTHCARE INSURANCE ON THE EXCHANGE IF THEY NEED IT.

>> EXACTLY.

IT LOOKED LIKE THAT WAS SOMETHING HE WANTED TO FIND OUT OF STATE MONEY.

THERE WEREN'T ANY DETAILS ON THAT.

BUT THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER EXPANSIONS.

AS YOU SAID, THAT HAS MORE PEOPLE LOSING THEIR JOBS, SOME STILL DON'T QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID.

THERE IS A REAL NEED THERE.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, MEDICAID ITSELF INCREASED BY 400,000 INDIVIDUALS WHICH IS A HUGE JOB.

IT WAS OVER 1 MILLION PEOPLE, UP FROM 1.6 OR 1.7 MILLION BEFORE THE PANDEMIC SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW THIS HAS IMPACTED PEOPLE, HEALTH INSURANCE CONNECTED TO JOBS IS CLEARLY ONE AREA WHERE PEOPLE WERE HARD-HIT AND MURPHY IS TRYING TO ADJUST THAT.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

>>> WITH MASKS OFF AND THE STATES PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OVER, THERE IS A SENSE THAT THINGS ARE HEADING BACK TO NORMAL BUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THOSE WHO ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED SAY THEY ARE FEELING LEFT BEHIND AS COVID-19 REMAINS A WORRISOME RISK FOR THEM.

AS PART OF OUR LIVING WITH COVID SERIES, REAGAN SANTANA REPORTS ON HOW THOSE WITH HEALTH ISSUES ARE MANAGING WITHOUT PANDEMIC PROTECTIONS.

>> WITH MY AGE ON THE CONDITION THAT I HAVE, IF I HAD TO CHECK INTO A HOSPITAL WITH COVID, THE CHANCE THAT I COME BACK FROM THE HOSPITAL IS MINIMAL.

>> >> Reporter: AS MASK MANDATES LIFTED NEW JERSEY, NOT EVERYONE IS FEELING SAFE TO VENTURE OUT MASKLESS, ESPECIALLY THE IMMUNO COMPROMISED LIKE RISE, A RESIDENT LIVING WITH A IMMUNO COVER MUST CONDITION FOR 15 YEARS SAYS ALLOWING A NO MASK OPTION COULD BE FATAL FOR HIM AND OTHERS.

>> THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT NOT ONLY AM I RISKING MYSELF, RIGHT, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE RELATIVES WHO ARE EXTREMELY IMMUNOCOMPROMISED SO YOU ARE PLAYING.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IS WE FEEL EXTREMELY LEFT BEHIND.

HIS FRUSTRATIONS ARE ECHOED BY CHRIS MILLER, ASSISTANT TO THE POLICY DIRECTOR OF DISABILITY RIGHTS, NEW JERSEY.

THE 56-YEAR-OLD SUFFERS FROM CEREBRAL PALSY AND SAYS THE DISABLED COMMUNITY HAS BEEN LEFT OUT OF PROVISIONS FOR THE PANDEMIC AND HOWEVER, MURPHY SAYS HE HAS IMPLEMENTED POLICIES FOR THOSE TO BE ASSISTED WHO HAVE DISABILITIES.

>> EARLIER IN THE PANDEMIC, I DID -- I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME.

AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE END OF THE PANDEMIC, I FEEL MORE CONFIDENT THAT THE GOVERNOR IS FINALLY -- >> FOR SOME, IT'S AVAILABLE RESOURCES, NOT MASKS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN NOT FILLING LEFT BEHIND.

>> MENTAL HEALTH IS A BIG ISSUE AND THE SERVICES ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

THEY ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE NOR ARE THEY CULTURALLY CONFIDENT.

I DON'T FEEL CONFIDENT TALKING TO SOMEBODY THAT IS TWO YEARS OUT ABOUT MY JOURNEY LIVING WITH HIV FOR 36 YEARS.

>> ED BARROW IS IMMUNOCOMPROMISED AND HAS BEEN LIVING WITH HID FOR 36 YEARS.

HE SAYS WHILE HE RESPECTS THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION TO REPEAL THE MANDATE HE ALSO HOPES PEOPLE RESPECT HIS DECISION TO WEAR A MASK AFTER FEELING DISHEARTENED BY A RECENT CONFRONTATION.

>> I GO TO MEDICAL FACILITIES HERE AND THEY ALL HAVE SIGNS THAT YOU HAVE TO WEAR A MASK AND THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO GOT ON THE ELEVATOR WITH ME THAT DID NOT HAVE A MASCOT AND I SAID, CAN YOU READ?

AND HE STARTED RACE BAITING ME BECAUSE HE WAS A MEMBER OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND I SAID THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU PEOPLE.

YOU ARE IN A HEALTHCARE FACILITY WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY ARE SICK.

>> MEDICAL EXPERTS NOTE THE RISK FACTORS ARE NOT JUST ABOUT -- MORE ABOUT INDIVIDUAL RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> WE SHOULD PUMP THE BRAKES.

THAT'S MY PERSONAL OPINION ESPECIALLY IF A PATIENT IS ON CHEMOTHERAPY.

WHAT WE WANT TO TRY TO CONTROL AND MORE EARNEST IS GETTING AN INFECTION FROM ANOTHER PERSON.

>> ONE THOUGHT EVERYONE I SPOKE WITH AGREED ON IS WHATEVER YOUR CHOICES, MASK OR MASKLESS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO RESPECT EVERYONE'S DECISION AS YOU NEVER KNOW HOW SEVERELY THEIR LIVES ARE OR HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THIS VIRUS.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

>>> IN TONIGHT'S SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS, NEWARK IS LOOKING TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.

LAYER AS BARAKA HAS PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND THE CITY COUNCIL HAS GRANTED APPROVAL.

THE AMENDMENTS REQUIRE ALL PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS WITH AT LEAST 15 HOUSING UNITS SET ASIDE 20% OF THOSE UNITS FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW OR MODERATE INCOMES.

RIGHT NOW, THE ORDINANCE ONLY COVERS DEVELOPMENTS OF 30 UNITS OR MORE.

THE MAYOR ALSO WANTS TO EXTEND THE PERIOD OVER WHICH THOSE UNITS REMAIN AFFORDABLE TO 50 YEARS, UP FROM THE CURRENT 30 YEARS.

MARACAS SAYS THE CHANGES WILL ENSURE THAT ALL NEWARK RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE, DECENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THE AMENDMENT MUST STILL BE REVIEWED BY THE CITY PLANNING BOARD BEFORE ADOPTION.

HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW THE STOCK MARKET CLOSED TODAY.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY ROWAN UNIVERSITY, EDUCATING NEW JERSEY LEADERS, TRANSFORMING NEW JERSEY'S FUTURE.

>>> FEDERAL AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING A BOMB THREAT MADE AGAINST THE CATS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER IN CHERRY HILL.

EFFORT WAS RECEIVED YESTERDAY BUT POLICE SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING SUSPICIOUS.

IT WAS CONDEMNED BY LEADERS IN SOUTH JERSEY'S JEWISH COMMUNITY WHO SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ANTI-SEMATISM BEHIND THESE THREATS.

MEANWHILE, A NEW REPORT FROM THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE FINDS A SHARP JUMP IN THE NUMBER OF PROPAGANDA INCIDENTS FROM WHITE SUPREMACIST GROUPS AROUND THE COUNTRY INCLUDING A MAJOR PUSH FROM A GROUP BASED IN OUR STATE, THE NEW JERSEY EUROPEAN HERITAGE ASSOCIATION.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS ON THE DANGER THAT IS PRESENTING AS PART OF EXPLORING HATE, OUR ONGOING SERIES OF REPORTS ON ANTI-SEMATISM, RACISM AND EXTREMISM.

>> WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE ARE AT NEARLY 5000 INCIDENTS OF WHITE SUPREMACIST PROPAGANDA IN 2021 SO THIS IS NOT A SMALL NUMBER.

>>> OF THOSE 5000, THE ANTI- DEFAMATION LEAGUE COUNTED 179 INCIDENTS IN NEW JERSEY LAST EURO ALONE.

>>> WE LOOK BACK TO 2017 ONE WE STARTED THIS.

WE COUNTED 12.

SO THE JUMP FROM 12 TO 179 IS ENORMOUS AND IT SPEAKS TO A GENERAL EMBOLDENING OF WHITE SUPREMACISTS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

>> THE ADL HOPES TO PUT PEOPLE ON ALERT AND RAISED THE ALARM WITH THEIR RECENTLY RELEASED ANNUAL REPORT, TRACKING WHAT THEY SAY ARE INCIDENCES OF WHITE SUPREMACIST PROPAGANDA, EXTREMIST GROUPS SPREADING MESSAGES OF HATE ON STICKERS, FLYERS AND BANNERS.

>> WE BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE THAT WHITE SUPREMACISTS HAVE BECOME SO VISIBLE IN THIS WAY AND WHEN WE EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY, TAKE THEM AWARE OF THESE ISSUES, THEY WILL BE VIGILANT ABOUT IT.

I HOPE THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>>> THE ADL BLAMING THE FRONT FOR THE FOCUS TO RESISTANT MUSIC AND THE NEW JERSEY EUROPEAN HERITAGE ASSOCIATION FOR 91% OF WHITE SUPREMACIST PROPAGANDA INCIDENCES THEY HAVE DOCUMENTED.

>> IN THE CASE OF THE PATRIOT FRONT, THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE RALLY IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, THE NEW JERSEY EUROPE HERITAGE ASSOCIATION WAS ONE OF ONLY SIX GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLICLY IDENTIFIED AS BEING INVOLVED IN THE JANUARY 6th INSURRECTION AT THE CAPITOL.

SO WE ARE ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT EXTREMISM.

AND WHAT THAT MAY LEAD TO.

AND WHETHER THAT CREATES A THREAT OF VIOLENCE TO THE FOLKS THAT RESIDE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>>> BUT NOWADAYS, SOCIAL MEDIA SEEMS TO BE THE MOST POPULAR PLATFORM TO GET THEIR MESSAGE OF HATE OUT.

>> EVEN THOUGH WE TALKED NEW JERSEY SPECIFIC, THERE ARE NO BORDERS ANYMORE ON HOW THESE GROUPS ARE RADICALIZED OR HOW THEY RECRUIT.

THE MAJORITY OF IT IS DONE ONLINE.

>> Reporter: PAUL GOLDENBERG IS THE SENIOR ADVISORY FOR THE RECTUS COMMUNITY CENTER FOR RESILIENCE.

HE SAYS DOMESTIC TERRORISM AND EXTREMISM ARE NOTHING NEW.

BUT THEIR ABILITY TO SHARE THEIR AGENDAS ONLINE ALLOWS THEM TO REACH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE INSTANTLY.

>> PEOPLE SAY SIX AND STONES, YOU KNOW, WILL BREAK YOUR BONES BUT WORDS WILL NEVER HARM YOU.

AND I WOULD LIKE ANY OF THOSE FOLKS THAT TRULY BELIEVE THAT TO TAKE A LOOK AT A COUPLE OF THE WEBSITES THAT ARE AND WERE RUN BY SOME OF THESE WHITE SUPREMACIST GROUPS, THESE VIOLENT WHITE SUPREMACIST GROUPS.

OVER 100 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MURDERED, MASSACRED IN SYNAGOGUES, MOSQUES, SEARCHES AND IN SOMETIMES SEEK TEMPLES AND THE COMMON DENOMINATOR BETWEEN THEM ALL HAS BEEN SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> Reporter: LEGALLY, NO CRIMINAL ACTION CAN BE TAKEN AGAINST ANYONE FOR BEING PART OF AN EXTREMIST GROUP OR HAVING OR SPREADING HATEFUL VIEWS THANKS TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT BUT ANTI-HATE ADVOCATES SAY ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS OF THE GROUP IS TO BE VISIBLE SO IF YOU COME ACROSS A DISTURBING MESSAGE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, ADVOCATES ASK YOU TO AVOID SHARING IT SO YOU DON'T FEED INTO THEIR AGENDA.

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

>>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT BUT MAKE SURE YOU TUNE IN TOMORROW NIGHT FOR CHAT BOX WITH SR.

CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ.

HE TALKS WITH FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT SWEETIE ABOUT THE STATE BUDGET, REDISTRICTING AND HIS PLANS FOR A COMMIT POLITICAL COME BACK AND A POSSIBLE GUBERNATORIAL RUN TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE AGAIN TOMORROW.

>>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS FOR BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

AND BY THE PSEG FOUNDATION.

MAJOR FUNDING FOR EXPLORING HATE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE SYLVIA A AND SIMON B -- TO FIGHT AND I SO MUCH AS HIM.

SUE AND AN EDGAR WALKING ON THE THIRD.

THE PETER J PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUN.

--