>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, ACHING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GRADE FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND ORSTED, 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 BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

I HAVE BRIANA VANNOZZI.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE RISING TEEN BULLYING AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, MOST PARENTS AGREE KIDS ARE SUFFERING.

BUT THERE IS A CLEAR DIVIDE OVER HOW TO ADDRESS IT.

IN BERKELEY HEIGHTS, THE HOMETOWN OF 14-YEAR-OLD ADRIANA KIRSCH WHO RECENTLY DIED BY SUICIDE, SOME FAMILIES ARE CALLING ON THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS ADRIANA'S LAW, REQUIRING LEGAL CONSEQUENCES FOR ANYONE WHO FILMS AN ASSAULT ON A MINOR OR SHARES THAT VIDEO.

SOME EXPERTS, THOUGH, ARE WARNING AND HOLDING LAW ENFORCEMENT COULD CAUSE MORE HARM FOR STUDENTS AND TARGET YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN TAKES A LOOK AT THE PROPOSAL AS THE MOTIONS ARE RUNNING HIGH.

>> UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE ALL WE ARE DOING IS SPINNING OUR WHEELS HERE.

THAT'S IT.

>> Reporter: AMANDA SHERMAN IS PUSHING FOR CHANGE.

HER SON ATTENDED CENTRAL REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BERKELEY, THE SAME PLACE WHERE AUTHORITIES CHARGE TWO GIRLS IN THE ATTACK ON ADRIANA CUSH THAT GOT PUSHED TO SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE 14-YEAR-OLD DIED BY SUICIDE DAYS LATER.

AS A GRIEVING COMMUNITY LOOKS FOR ANSWERS, THE FOCUS IS ON KIDS SHARING BULLYING VIDEOS.

>> IT IS A CRIME THAT IS TAKING PLACE.

IT IS A MINOR INVOLVED.

AND IT IS BEING SHARED.

THERE HAS TO BE SOME WAY TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR THESE CHILDREN.

SO IF IT CANNOT BE LAW, THEN AT VERY LEAST THERE SHOULD BE, THE SCHOOL SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THE SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE REAL CONSEQUENCES AND POLICIES FOR POSTING THESE VIDEOS AND CALL IT ADRIANA'S LAW.

LESTER THE BURKE THE COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE PROPOSAL.

>> IS A GOVERNING BODY WE RECOGNIZE WE HAVE NO ROLE IN THE OVERSIGHT OF OUR SCHOOLS.

AS PARENTS AND RESIDENTS WE FEEL IT IS NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

>> Reporter: ONE COUNCILMAN, JAMES BYRNE, ATTENDED THE CENTRAL REGIONAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WHERE BULLIES STUDENTS AND PARENTS PLEADED FOR REFORMS.

GOP LAWMAKERS FROM THIS DISTRICT HAVE ALREADY DRAFTED A BILL THAT WOULD MANDATE SCHOOLS IMMEDIATELY REPORT TO POLICE ANY ASSAULT RESULTING IN A STUDENT INJURY.

BYRNE VENTED HIS FRUSTRATION.

>> THIS IS GOING ON ALL OVER THE STATE, AND I AM GLAD THESE KIDS STOOD UP AND BROUGHT IT TO THE FOREFRONT, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO CORRECT IT IN BERKELEY.

>> THEY ARE TREATING THINGS AS IF IT WAS AN EPISODE OF LAW AND ORDER.

THESE ARE NOT MATTERS FOR THE MOST PART TO BE SOLVED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> Reporter: THIS IS NOT THE WAY, SAYS STUART GREENE WHO FOUNDED THE NEW JERSEY COALITION FOR BULLYING AWARENESS AND PROVISION.

>> WHEN YOU INVOLVE LAW ENFORCEMENT MORE INSIDE OF SCHOOLS, WHAT RELIABLY HAPPENS IS THAT YOU CREATE WHAT IS CALLED THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.

YOU BASICALLY END UP INEVITABLY TARGETING KIDS OF COLOR.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT A PUNITIVE LAW IS GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER.

>> Reporter: ROCKERS PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR DR. MORRIS ELIAS SAYS NEW JERSEY STRICT ANTI-BULLYING STATUTE ALREADY INVOLVES CONSEQUENCES INCLUDING SUSPENSION, EXPULSION, AND REPORTING CASES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR ACTS OF HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION.

>> CERTAINLY POSTING THE VIDEO WOULD BE CONSIDERED HARASSMENT IF NOT BULLYING.

>> Reporter: HE BELIEVES THE REAL CHALLENGE IS MAKING SCHOOLS MORE REWARDING AND UPLIFTING FOR KIDS SO THEY DON'T SEEK VALIDATION BY ATTACKING OTHER STUDENTS TO GET CLICKS ONLINE.

>> FOR SOME KIDS IT FEELS LIKE THE BEST DEAL THEY HAVE TO BE SOMEBODY, TO BE MEANINGFUL.

WE ARE IN A CULTURE WHERE LIKES MATTER.

AND THEY SEEM TO MATTER LESS THAN WHAT YOU ARE BEING LIKED FOR.

IF THE ONLY THING THEY THINK THEY CAN BE PART OF IS THIS SORT OF NEGATIVE LIEN GROUP, THEN THEY ARE GOING TO CHOOSE THAT.

BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE TO BE PART OF SOMETHING.

>> Reporter: HE THINKS SCHOOLS NEED TO GIVE KIDS POSITIVE OPTIONS, BUT SHERMAN SAYS THE WORLD IS BECOMING MORE DIGITAL BY THE DAY, AND THAT THE CURRENT RULES AND CONSEQUENCES NEED TO BE UPGRADED AND UNIFORMLY ENFORCED BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

>> THERE HAS TO BE A WAY.

THERE HAS TO BE A WAY AROUND IT.

WE NEED THE PEOPLE IN THOSE POSITIONS TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND SAY ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT.

>> Reporter: I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> LATE YESTERDAY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE RELEASED THE NAME OF THE POWDERS WILL PLEASE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE SHOOTING.

TWO OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO THE DEPARTMENT'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM, JOSE HERNANDEZ FIRED THEIR WEAPONS AND FATALLY STRUCK SEABROOK'S WHO HAD BEEN BARRICADED INSIDE HIS APARTMENT SATURDAY AFTERNOON DURING AN HOURS LONG STANDOFF WITH THE LEASE.

THREE TO OTHER OFFICERS WHO RESPONDED THAT IT TO THE INCIDENT USE LAST LETHAL FORCE WHICH DELAYED RELEASING THE OFFICERS NAMES, CITING ALLEGED THREATS MADE TO THOSE INVOLVED.

>>> AND SENIOR POLITICAL'S CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ CONTINUES THE CONVERSATION ON REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE TOMORROW MORNING, TALKING TO NEWARK'S FEDERAL INDEPENDENT MONITOR PETER HARVEY ABOUT POLICE REFORM.

THEN AN ANALYSIS OF THIS WEEK'S BIG POLITICAL STORIES WITH A PANEL OF LOCAL JOURNALISTS.

CATCH YOU TOMORROW AT 10 A.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOUR STREAM.

>>> THE STATE IS NOW BACKING OUT OF THREATS TO APPEAL FEDERAL ORDERS BLOCKING PARTS OF ITS NEW CONCEALED CARRY GUN LAWS.

IN A LETTER WEDNESDAY, ATTORNEY GENERAL TOLD A FEDERAL JUDGE'S OFFICE WILL DROP THE APPEALS EFFORT WHICH SOUGHT TO GET THE LAW ENFORCED WHILE CHALLENGES TO IT WORK THROUGH THE COURTS.

THE NEW LAW INTENDED TO BAN GUNOWNERS FROM CARRYING THEIR FIREARMS IN A NUMBER OF PUBLIC SPACES, INCLUDING RESTAURANTS, PARKS, AND BEACHES AMONG OTHER LOCATIONS.

IT WAS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION RULING THAT CONSTRICTED CONCEALED CARRY LAWS WERE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

BUT A GROUP OF DONE RIGHTS ADVOCATES SUED NEW JERSEY TO OVERTURN PARTS OF THE NEW LAW, AND A FEDERAL JUDGE AGREED TO IN ISSUE FEDERAL RESTRAINING ORDERS WHILE ON A LARGER CASE TO CURRENTLY BLOCK THE NEW LAW PLAYS OUT.

>>> ATLANTIC CITY CASINOS ARE FIGHTING BACK AGAINST A PROPOSED SMOKING BAN, ARGUING THAT THE RULE WOULD PUT THEM AT A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE TO CASINOS IN NEIGHBORING STATES.

THE CURRENT AND FORMER CASINO WORKERS CONTINUED THEIR DESPERATE PLEAS FOR ACTION FROM LAWMAKERS TODAY AT A JOINT LEGISLATIVE HEARING IN TRENTON, SAYING THEY ARE BEING WORST TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR HEALTH AND A PAYCHECK.

TED GOLDBERG REPORTS.

>> EVERY DAY I FEAR, IS THIS THE DAY THAT I WILL INHALE THAT CLOUD OF SMOKE THAT WILL GIVE ME CANCER?

>> Reporter: CASINO WORKERS PACKED INTO TRENTON TODAY, CONTINUING THE DEBATE ON WHETHER NEW JERSEY SHOULD CASINOS IN ITS INDOOR SMOKING BAN.

SOME OF THEM TESTIFIED WHILE RECOVERING FROM CANCER.

>> I WENT FOR A BIOPSY AND IT TURNED OUT I HAD A NODULE OF CANCER.

I JUST HAD IT REMOVED.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS NOT A NECKLACE.

IT IS A SURGICAL SCAR.

I AM OUT ON MEDICAL LEAVE NOW.

I WANT TO LEAVE MY JOB, BUT ALL THE ONCOLOGISTS INVOLVED HAVE TOLD ME THAT IT IS THE CHOICE OF LIFE OR DEATH AT THIS POINT.

LAST YEAR I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE TWO BREAST CANCER.

WHILE I AM NOT SURE, WE WILL NEVER KNOW THE EXACT CAUSE OF MY ILLNESS, I CANNOT HELP BUT WONDER IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN, IF IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED HAD I NOT WORKED IN THE CASINOS.

>> Reporter: THE BILL ON THE TABLE HAS A LITANY OF COSPONSORS, ALLIES THAT ARGUE CASINOS NEVER SHOULD'VE BEEN EXEMPTED FROM NEW JERSEY IS SMOKE-FREE AIR ACT OF 2006.

>> THERE IS NO BASIS IN COMMON SENSE FOR SOME 20,000 NEW JERSEYANS WORKING IN ATLANTIC CITY CASINOS AND THE CUSTOMERS THEY SERVE DAILY TO BE VICTIMS OF A LOOPHOLE THAT TREATS THEM AS SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR HEALTH.

>> I HAD A BABY AND A FAMILY TO SUPPORT.

TODAY I COULDN'T HELP BUT WONDER IF IT IS FROM THE SECONDHAND EXPOSURE I HAD WHILE PREGNANT.

>> Reporter: WORKERS OPPOSED, SAYING THAT IT WOULD CAUSE.

THIS WORKAROUND BEING A QUICK FIX.

>> DEDICATED VENTILATION SYSTEMS, PURIFICATION SYSTEMS, SMOKELESS TABLES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

>> Reporter: SOME OTHERS THINK THE TIMING IS NOT RIGHT AND THINK IT SHOULD COME LATER.

>> WE ARE POTENTIALLY ON THE BRINK OF A RECESSION.

OUR GOVERNOR HIMSELF HAS SAID THAT.

THAT IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.

WE SHOULD NEVER BE DOING ANY KIND OF PUBLIC POLICY THAT COULD HURT THE BUSINESSES THEY COULD BE FACING A RECESSION, JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING.

>> I AM STILL NOT WORKING FULL-TIME AFTER 2020.

I WANT MY JOB, I NEED MY JOB, AND I NEED TO WORK.

>> THIS IS A DANGER TO MY MEMBERS AND THEIR JOBS.

>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT HERE OF UNITE LOCAL 54, THE UNION THAT REPRESENTS CASINO WORKERS.

HE STATED THAT IT SHOULD COME AFTER PENNSYLVANIA BANNED SMOKING IN ITS CASINOS.

IF NOT, HE IS AFRAID IT WOULD BE DISASTROUS TO ATLANTIC CITY.

>> IF THIS BILL PASSES THAN ONE CASINO WILL CLOSE.

THERE WILL BE A 10%, YOU CAN LAUGH ALL YOU WANT.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LAUGH WHEN YOU GET LAID OFF.

>> WHAT WE ARE DOING AT THIS POINT IS AT THE EXPENSE OF WORKERS, WE ARE PROJECTING DUMONT ATLANTIC CITY.

IT IS NOT A GOOD ARGUMENT.

NOW WE ARE GOING TO PUT THIS ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE LEFT?

YOU CAN EVEN GET PEOPLE TO WORK IN THESE PLACES.

>> Reporter: GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS SAID IN THE PAST THAT HE WOULD SIGN THIS BILL IF THE LEGISLATURE PASSES IT AND SENDS IT TO HIS DESK.

IN TRENTON, I AM TED GOLDBERG, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> IN NEWARK TODAY, A LONG-AWAITED UNVEILING.

A NEW MONUMENT OF THE HISTORIC FREEDOM FIGHTER HARRIET TUBMAN ERECTED IN THE SPOT OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE ONCE STOOD, AND APART ALSO RECENTLY RENAMED IN HER HONOR.

ADVOCATES SAY THE MOVE IS A SYMBOL OF LARGER CHANGE AND A SOCIAL RECKONING.

RAVEN SANTANA HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: IT WAS A DAY OF HER FLEXION, HEALING, AND CELEBRATION FOR THE CITY OF NEWARK AS THEY UNVEILED A HARRIET TUBMAN MONUMENT IN THE DOWNTOWN.

THE MAYOR WAS JOINED BY A VARIETY OF GUESTS, INCLUDING FIRST LADY TAMMY MURPHY, QUEEN LATIFAH, AND THE GREAT GRANDNIECE OF HARRIET TUBMAN, MICHELLE JONES GALVIN.

DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE GALVIN DISCUSSED THE MONUMENTS IMPORTANCE TO THE CITY THAT PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

>> I REASONED THIS OUT IN MY MIND.

THERE WAS ONE OF TWO THINGS I HAD A RIGHT TO.

LIBERTY OR DEATH.

IF I COULD NOT HAVE ONE, I WOULD HAVE THE OTHER.

AND NO MAN SHOULD TAKE ME ALIVE.

I KNOW THAT THE MONUMENT WILL INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO TAKE ACTION WHEN THEY SEE INJUSTICE.

>> Reporter: THE MONUMENT IS A RESULT OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF NEWARK AND AUDIBLE, ACTRESS WRAPPER AND NEW YORK NATIVE QUEEN LATIFAH NARRATED THE ON-SITE MONUMENTS EXPERIENCE AND SPOKE ABOUT WHY THE PROJECT WAS PERSONAL TO HER.

>> NOT ONE PART OF THIS HAS BEEN ABOUT A DOLLAR.

IT HAS NOT BEEN ABOUT VANITY.

IT HAS TRULY BEEN ABOUT HISTORY, LEGACY, HOME.

INSPIRATION TO OUR FUTURE.

YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WILL SEE IT.

TO MY MOTHER, AN ART TEACHER, AND ARTIST.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS PROJECT TO US.

>> Reporter: THE MONUMENT IS REPLACING A CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE THAT WAS TAKEN DOWN IN THE SUMMER OF 2020 IN THE WAKE OF THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS.

AND AT A TIME WHEN MULTIPLE COLUMBUS STATUES AROUND THE STATE WERE TAKEN DOWN.

LAST YEAR A GROUP OF LOCAL ITALIAN-AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS CHALLENGED THE HARRIET TUBMAN PROJECT, ARGUING THAT IT CUT OUT ITALIAN HISTORY IN NEWARK AND THAT THE COLUMBUS STATUE SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED, A STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD ACTUALLY AGREED WITH THE GROUPS ARGUMENT.

BUT THE STATE DPT COMMISSIONER OVERRULED THEM IN AUGUST AND GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT FOR THE ORIGINAL PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY IS NOT A RACING HISTORY, BUT COMPLETING IT.

WE ARE NOT DEMEANING OTHER PEOPLE STORIES, WE ARE TELLING OUR OWN.

AND THE WORLD FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW IS SCARY ONLY TO THOSE THAT DESPISE JUSTICE.

>> Reporter: LOCAL ARTIST NINA COOK JOHN DESIGNED THE MONUMENT.

SHADOW OF THE FACE WITH THE WINNER OF A NATIONAL OPEN CALL.

COOK JOHN ENVISIONED THE RENAMED PARK AS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN VISIT FROM ALL CORNERS OF NEWARK AND BEYOND TO LEARN ABOUT THIS TUBMAN'S LIFE AND JOURNEY AS WELL IS THE STORY OF BLACK LIBERATION.

>> THIS IS NOT A LEGEND.

IT IS ABOUT A LEGACY.

SHADOW OF A FACE IS DEDICATED TO THE WOMEN OF NEWARK.

I SEE YOU.

YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

YOU MIGHT NOT ALL BE IN THIS ROOM TODAY, BUT I SEE YOU.

>> Reporter: THE MONUMENT IS NOW ON DISPLAY AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT HARRIET TUBMAN SQUARE IN NEWARK.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I AM RAVEN SANTANA.

>>> CAMDEN RESIDENTS WERE PROMISED THEY WOULD BE HIRED FOR NEW JOBS WHEN THE STATE AWARDED MORE THAN HALF $1 BILLION IN TAX BREAKS ROUGHLY A DECADE AGO FOR COMPANIES TO MOVE TO THE CITY.

THE DATA NOW AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FINDS MOST OF THOSE COMPANIES ONLY HIRED A HANDFUL OF LOCAL RESIDENTS, AND ARGUMENT OPPONENTS MADE AT THE TIME WHEN THEY CONTESTED THE PROGRAM AND ITS PLEDGE TO SPUR DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATES POOREST CITY.

NANCY SOLOMON IS THE SENIOR REPORTER FOR WNYC, SHE HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THIS PROGRAM FROM THE BEGINNING AND JOINS ME NOW.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, NANCY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

SO, WHAT WAS THE INTENTION OF THIS PROGRAM?

THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY BEHIND IT.

>> RIGHT, AND IT IS STILL ONGOING.

STATEWIDE THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF TAX BREAKS GIVEN OUT EVERY YEAR.

IN THIS PROGRAM EXISTED BEFORE THE BIG JUMBO BRAKES WENT TO BUSINESSES THAT WERE WILLING TO MOVE TO CAMDEN.

IT IS AN ONGOING PROGRAM, THE IDEA IS TO INCENTIVIZE BUSINESSES TO EITHER STAY IN THE STATE OR TO COME TO THE STATE.

AND SO IN 2013 THE PROGRAM WAS REVISED TO INCLUDE THESE REALLY JUMBO TAX BREAKS FOR A BUSINESS THAT WOULD MOVE TO CAMDEN.

>> Reporter: RIGHT.

WHAT DID YOU FIND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CAMDEN RESIDENTS ACTUALLY EMPLOYED AT WHAT ARE SOME VERY LARGE COMPANIES?

>> YEAH, IT IS A MIXED RESULT.

THERE ARE A FEW COMPANIES THAT THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE IS MORE BLUE-COLLAR.

SO THOSE COMPANIES HAVE HIRED MORE CAMDEN EMPLOYEES.

RESIDENTS.

BUT IT IS PRETTY SHOCKING.

YOU HAVE SUBARU WITH 10 EMPLOYEES, THE 76ers WITH 11.

CONNOR STRONG, GEORGE NORCROSS, THE PARTY BOSSES INSURANCE COMPANY I THINK HAS SIX.

SO THESE ARE COMPANIES THAT GOT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAX BREAKS, AND CAMDEN RESIDENTS PROTESTED THESE BRAKES WHEN THEY WERE ORIGINALLY BEING REWARDED, SAYING WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET JOBS OF THESE PLACES.

AND NOW THE DATA IS AVAILABLE THAT THEY ARE NOT.

THERE ARE A FEW.

COOPER UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL GOT A TAX BREAK.

IT WAS ALREADY THERE BUT I GOT A TAX BREAK AND EMPLOYS CAMDEN RESIDENTS.

SO THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS.

>> IT WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL DEAL, AS I RECALL.

AND I CAN REMEMBER REPORTING ON.

THESE COMPANIES WERE NOT GOING TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR OR HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR HIRING LOCALS.

SO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL TO MAKE THIS MORE WIDELY KNOWN?

>> WELL, I AM NOT SURE ABOUT MAKING IT WIDELY KNOWN.

YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE WAS NO REQUIREMENT THAT THEY HIRE CAMDEN RESIDENTS.

AND NOW THE GRASSROOTS ACTIVISTS FOUGHT TO GET THIS ORDINANCE PASSED BY THE CITY THAT MAKES IT PUBLIC HOW MANY CAMDEN RESIDENTS ARE BEING HIRED.

AND THE COMPANY ON THE OTHER HAND WILL SAY, DO SAY, AND HAVE DONE THAT THEY HAVE DONATED MONEY TO CAMDEN CHARITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO NONPROFITS THAT PROVIDE JOB TRAINING.

THEY SAY THEY ARE GOOD CITIZENS.

I THINK THE MAYOR OF CAMDEN WOULD SAY IS DELIVERING.

THAT THEY ARE HAPPY WITH ALL THE DEVELOPMENT, THE OFFICES, SOME OF THE NEW BUILDINGS.

I THINK SOME OF THE RESIDENTS WOULD ARGUE, THE COMMUNITY ACTIVIST WOULD SAY IT HAS NOT DELIVERED, THAT IT WAS A BOONDOGGLE, THAT IT WAS $1.6 BILLION IN STATE MONEY THAT WENT TO INCENTIVIZE COMPANIES TO MOVE TO CAMDEN, AND YET PEOPLE IN CAMDEN STILL HAVE NOT A LOT OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

>> Reporter: ALL RIGHT, NANCY SOLOMON, WNYC.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORTS AND I, THE LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY FOR MANY NEW JERSEYANS HIT BY TROPICAL STORM IDA CONTINUES.

SOME 18 MONTHS AFTER THE STORM SWAMPED MUCH OF THE STATE, NOW A NEW TRIO STATE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO GIVE FINANCIAL AID TO LOW INCOME RENTERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS STILL TRYING TO MAKE REPAIRS.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE, PLUS COUNSELING SERVICES TO HELP STORM SURVIVORS NAVIGATE ALL THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND THE BUREAUCRACY OF GETTING BACK ON THEIR FEET.

ALL THREE NEW PROGRAMS ARE RUN BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, AND FUNDED BY A $228 MILLION FEDERAL DISASTER RELIEF GRANT.

ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS HAD TO BE LIVING IN ONE OF THE 12 COUNTIES DECLARED A DISASTER FROM THE STORM.

>>> FROM DECEPTIVE CAR SALES TO SHADY CONTRACTORS, CONSUMERS IN NEW JERSEY LAUNCHED MORE THAN 18,000 COMPLAINTS TO THE STATE LAST YEAR.

GOVERNMENT LEADERS ARE RELEASING THE DATA AS PART OF THE NATIONAL CONSUMER PROTECTION WEEK WITH HOPES THAT MAKING THE COMPLAINTS PUBLIC WILL SPUR INTEREST IN MORE CONSUMER PROTECTIONS.

VEHICLE SALES AND REPAIRS TOP THE LIST, MORE THAN 2500 COMPLAINTS RELATED TO REPAIRS, SALES, TOWING, AND PARTS PRICING WERE SUBMITTED.

HOME-IMPROVEMENT WAS RIGHT BEHIND IT.

THAT AMASSED SOME 2300 COMPLAINTS, AND GRIEVANCES AGAINST MAJOR APPLIANCES CAME IN THIRD WITH MORE THAN 1000 SUBMISSIONS.

INTERNET SALES AND ONLINE BANKING WERE ALSO MAJOR SOURCES OF FRAUDS AND SCAMS.

BUDGET AND FINANCE WRITER JOHN WRIGHT MEYER SAYS THIS LIST IS A GOOD REMINDER TO BE VIGILANT.

>> AS CONSUMERS WE HAVE TO BE OUR OWN WATCHDOGS AND ADVOCATES.

THERE ARE NUMBER OF WAYS THAT PEOPLE ARE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF US, WHETHER THAT IS ROBO CALLS, CREDIT CARD SCAMS, GIFT CARD SCAMS.

UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DON'T HAVE OUR BEST INTEREST IN THEIR MIND, AND ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF US.

THERE ARE A LOT OF RESOURCES, WHETHER THAT IS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL OR THE STATE LEVEL THAT YOU CAN TAP INTO TO EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT THE VARIOUS WAYS THAT SCAMMERS ARE TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU.

>>> TURNING OUT TO WALL STREET, HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW THE MARKETS CLOSED TODAY.

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

WE KEEP LIFE LOWING.

ONLINE AT NEWJERSEYAM.COM.

>> A REMINDER TO CATCH NJ BUSINESS BEAT THIS WEEKEND FOLLOWING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.

LOOKING AT THE CHALLENGES THE WOMEN FACE AT WORK FROM THE GENDER PAY GAP TO LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND HOW TO SOLVE THE INEQUITIES.

WATCH IT SATURDAY MORNING AT 10 A.M. STREAMING ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

>>> AND FINALLY TONIGHT, ADDRESSING AN ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS THROUGH ART.

A NEWARK NATIVE AND WORLD-RENOWNED ARTIST RECENTLY UNVEILED TWO OF HIS LARGER-THAN-LIFE SCULPTURES USING UNLIKELY MATERIALS.

THE VERY ITEMS HE SAYS ARE KILLING THE PLANET.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER HAS OUR STORY.

>> Reporter: IS MY JUST LOOK LIKE A BUNCH OF ANTI-WATER BOTTLES TO THE AVERAGE PERSON, BUT FOR WILLIE COLE HE SEES THE BIGGER PICTURE.

>> I AM TURNING WASTE INTO BEAUTY, BUT IN GENERAL WASTE IS HIDING THE BEAUTY.

WHEN THE GROUND IS COVERED WITH GARBAGE YOU CANNOT SEE THE GRASS OR THE FLOWERS.

THESE BOTTLES ARE EVERYWHERE.

>> Reporter: COLE IS TRANSFORMING THE BOTTLES AND THE LARGE-SCALE WORKS OF ART RESEMBLING CRYSTAL CHANDELIERS.

TWO OF THEM, THE SPIRIT CATCHER AND LIMIT HIS LANTERN CAN BE SEEN HANGING FROM THE CEILING INSIDE EXPRESSED NEWARK AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY WHERE COLE IS THE CURRENT ARTIST IN RESIDENCE.

>> EACH CHANDELIER IS ABOUT 3000 WATER BOTTLES, AND THE WATER BOTTLES THREADED ONTO 12GAUGE GALVANIZED STEEL WIRES.

OR SOMETIMES COPPER WIRES.

>> Reporter: THE PROJECT AIMS TO ADDRESS NEWARK'S OWN ISSUES WITH CONTAMINATED WATER.

>> IN 2019 WE HAD A HUGE WATER CRISIS HERE IN THE CITY.

THE PIPES WERE CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD AND THE CITY HAD TO REPLACE THOSE, AND SO OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY, SAFE DRINKING WATER.

AT THE SAME TIME ONE RESPONSE HAD TO BE TO GIVE PEOPLE ACCESS.

GIVING PEOPLE PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES.

BUT THEN WE HAVE A PLASTIC PROBLEM ON OUR PLANET.

ONE CRISIS LEADS TO ANOTHER CRISIS.

>> THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EXPRESSED NEWARK SAYS COLE'S WORK REMINDS VIEWERS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF RECYCLING WHILE ALLOWING THEM TO REIMAGINE SHINS.

>> PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE, DRINKABLE WATER.

IT IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM IN NEWARK AND IT IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM IN FLINT, IT IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI.

BUT IT IS A PROBLEM THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS WORKING-CLASS COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR.

SO THAT IS ONE THING, IT SHOULD BE A HUMAN RIGHT AND UPON A MENTAL RIGHT TO HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY WATER.

ALSO THAT WE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE ABOUT OUR USE OF PLASTIC.

WE SHOULD NOT BE CONTAMINATING THE PLANET, OUR HOME, WITH THESE POLLUTANTS.

WE USE THEM SO EASILY, WE DISCARD THEM SO FREELY WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THEY ARE HAVING ON US AND OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>> Reporter: THE PROJECT IS ALSO CREATING NEW MEANING FOR COLE STUDENTS.

>> HOW TO CREATE SOMETHING NEW FROM SCRATCH PROJECT, LIKE FROM SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO USE LIKE THE BOTTLE.

>> I AM ALWAYS ENERGIZED BY THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

THAT HAS BEEN NICE.

THEY HAVE BEEN LEARNING FROM ME AND I HAVE BEEN CHECKING THEM OUT TO SEE THAT THEY ARE GETTING A BROADER KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHAT ART IS ABOUT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO DO WATERCOLORS OR DRAWINGS, THIS IS ART, WE CAN DO IT IN 10 MINUTES.

BUT THIS TAKES HOURS, DAYS, EVEN MONTHS TO DO.

LEARNING SOME WILLPOWER AND DISCIPLINE IN THE PROCESS.

AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DELEGATE, BECAUSE I USUALLY WORK ALONE.

>> Reporter: AND FOR COLE, WHO GREW UP IN NEWARK, HE SAYS HAVING HIS WORK ON DISPLAY HERE IS A GREAT HONOR.

>> IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I AM ACCEPTED, LIKE I HAVE ARRIVED IN THE CITY.

BECAUSE I SHOW ALL OVER THE WORLD, BUT IN YOUR HOMETOWN IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

>> Reporter: COLE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON SEVERAL OTHER CHANDELIERS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO BE INSTALLED IN NEW YORK CITY THIS WEEK.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT YOU CAN NOW LISTEN TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS ANYTIME VIA PODCAST WHEREVER YOU STREAM IT.

MAKE SURE TO DOWNLOAD IT AND CHECK US OUT.

YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE.

I AM NJ BUSINESS BEAT, FOR THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING, WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

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

NEW JERSEY REALTORS, MORE INFORMATION ONLINE AT MJ REALTOR.COM.

>> AND BY THE PSG FOUNDATION.

>> ORSTED WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, SUPPLY-CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

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

ONLINE AT U.S.TRAN03.COM.