>>, the governor announcing millions to shore up our streets along the coastline.

>> Getting the boardwalks tuned up the making them resilient, whatever repairs or fixing needs to be done.

>> Plus, protecting public land, the state is promising to keep Liberty State Park open to the public and closed to any and all private investors.

>> There is no commercialization.

There is no privatization.

There could never be.

>> Also covering up cop misconduct, an investigation reveals the tens of millions have been paid out in secrecy to pay for police Disorderly Conduct.

>> These lawsuits are secretive.

You do not see housecleaning after them because there is no admission of wrongdoing.

>> And, outing students, another school district votes to require teachers to out certain students based on their gender identity, claiming it protects parent's rights.

NJ Spotlight News starts now.

>> funding for NJ Spotlight News is provided by -- New Jersey realtors, the voice for real estate in New Jersey.

More information on line at -- and the foundation.

[typewriter typing] ♪ >> From nj PBS, this NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi.

Raven: good evening.

Governor Murphy was down along the shore today, touring small businesses in Asbury Park and promoting his proposal for a new $100 million program to reinforce and spruce up the states iconic Boardwalk.

The money coming from federal COVID-19 relief funds.

>> Getting the boardwalks tuned up and making them more resilient, whatever repairs or fixing need to be done.

The shore is an extraordinary gem for our state, particularly beginning Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day but not just that period of time.

Raven: the funding needs to be approved by state lawmakers as a deadline looms in Trenton where tensions are family growing between the governor and Democratic legislative leaders.

Senate President -- earlier this week floated the idea of keeping in place a surcharge on the state's corporate business tax, something Murphy is strongly opposed to.

One assembly Speaker has pitched a program that would sharply cut property taxes for New Jersey senior citizens, an idea that Murphy calls a nonstarter and argue to date it will cost you much because it offers tax breaks to seniors he may not be needed.

>> The other part concerning his it would be for everybody so I have a $10,000 break.

I don't think we should be in the business of giving the likes of me tax breaks.

Raven: the Department of environmental protections commissioner is doubling down on a plan to revitalize Liberty State Park.

Announcing that there will be no commercialization in the park's future.

The announcement was made during an open house last night highlighting the new public amenity slated to begin this fall.

In addition, announcing plans to clean up the parks contaminated land.

Our senior correspondent has more on the vision to create recreational space and exclude any privately-un-spaces from being developed.

>> The privatization or the commercialization of public land that that belongs to no one because it is the province of everyone, that is not a thing.

There is no commercialization.

There is no privatization.

There could never be.

>> The Commissioner put an exclamation point on it at this week's open house on the future of liberty State Park.

The most visited state park in the state system and the one with the most potential for greatness.

>> I don't have to tell you that Liberty State Park is an incredible place.

It is rich with history and full of opportunity.

It is a crowned gem of our state park system in the but if we are honest, it is a rough cut gem, one that we will fashion together and shying together to better serve the needs of all of our families.

>> While unveiling the long-awaited plan for the part facelift, three phases beginning this fall with the cleanup of the park's 230 acre contaminated interior, turning it into an urban park with wetlands and tree canopy, then creation of active recreation areas, oilfields, etc., first in the north, and then in the southern sections of the park.

>> I think we are excited to see all of these things you know that we have fought for and the development of the park.

>> That is a Hall of Fame basketball coach and Executive Director of the People's Park foundation.

Sounding like his group had an impact on the plan.

As a member of the task force and help with the plan together, he was an advocate for recreation facilities, but his group was also advocating for large-scale commercial sports and entertainment facilities in a campaign largely funded by a former CEO who owns the golf course next door.

A campaign that many felt tried to pit black and brown communities against preservationists and in my mentalist.

>> I will not say in a city as diverse as Jersey City that this is along racial lines.

It is youth versus older people active recreation purchase -- versus environment is good I hope it's not that because that makes him since.

>> The Commissioner, another advocate for increased active recreation opportunities of the plan addresses an important need.

>> I think it is also awesome they will clean up the park finally.

It has been about 60 years where we have been living around this contamination, so I think that is a plus to the area and the environment and I also think that having active recreation is a plus as well.

The kids on the south side of Jersey City need an opportunity like that.

>> I think there should be like a park and maybe like a basketball court and soccer courts and stuff to do.

Like maybe like even like the stuffer dogs?

Everything is a joy you know, and like there should be more places to hang out >>.

State parks, national parks, are intended for conservation and passive recreational purposes.

Now, we believe, the governor and I come at that urban state parks are different.

They should serve the communities that host them, but they can't answer for every open space challenge in the most densely populated county in our country.

>> This was expected to be a more contentious event, but the DEP plan seem to please most everyone.

It is worth noting that DEP plans for the park have been put forth before.

This may be the first one with a dedicated $50 million allocation , but that will not get done.

All that needs to get done here.

Teacher administrations will have to pay the freight for that going forward.

I am David Cruz.

NJ Spotlight News.

Raven: in Newark, a 13-year-old is in stable condition after he was shot over the weekend.

And now officials want to make sure it does not happen again.

Today, the mayor joined the city's public safety director to announce the city's summer crime reduction initiative that they say will target violence in the city's hotspot areas as well as keep Newark surrounding community safer.

Alyssa Rose Cooper has more on the anti-crime initiative that will be rolled out citywide and countrywide that includes incorporating more community-based programs.

>> So there is only really two choices to this, right?

We either will help you out of your trauma or your trauma is going to create more trauma.

Right?

Which means you will be arrested.

>> The Newark Mayor is looking to curb additional violence in the city as the summer approaches.

So the city is teaming up with other local municipalities and federal agencies in an effort to keep community safer.

>> It is important for those other cities to be here because Newark, East Orange, South Orange, these are continuous and contiguous borders where since crime is a disease it does not stay in one place.

Violence moves, or what happens in orange shows up in Newark and then Irvington and on and on.

>> A major concern during warmer weather.

>> Historically we see an increase of state-wide shooting incidents between May and September.

Last year during these months there were a total of 500 shootings in New Jersey.

This represents 48% of all the shootings that year.

And during those same months between May and September of 2020 one New Jersey reported 709 shootings.

Again, that number represents 50% of the shooting incidents that year.

That is why we are well prepared to address God violence through the summer months >> Through our crime initiatives.

The announcement comes just days after police say Echo's gun was used to shoot by 13 your boy inside this part.

The team was rushed to University Hospital and is now in stable condition and officials confirmed that an 18 year old person of interest is now in custody.

>> Are police officers are doing an incredible job at apprehending people who are violating the law, and we are going to give them more resources to do that to apprehend people who are violating the law but to bring criminals to justice, to take people off the street.

I do not know in my mind what would make a person shoot a 13-year-old boy.

Except use includes intelligence-based policing to patrol areas around the city where data shows are criminal hotspots, but more important, the city plans to incorporate more community-based programs to prevent crime from happening in the first place.

>> And so we want to have -- on the corners it starts on June 1 and will take place every Tuesday and Thursday in each of the hotspot areas.

This includes youth and adults and gives them the opportunity to express thoughts and opinions regarding the community in an artistic way.

The office will provide resource tables and information at each location.

We will have city-wide community walks on Mondays with all departments on Thursdays with our community partners where we will go and knock on doors and take the resources directly to the people who are affected.

This is a collective trauma we are expensing and while we have individuals who are directly affected, we are affected vicariously, secondarily, and we are experiencing it collectively so there has to be a collective approach to this.

>> The community must understand and must trust what is going on here.

This is law enforcement that is for the benefit of the communities of the more that we view upfront community trusts us and the more input were going to get and we take the people off the street who the streets need a break from.

>> All steps officials say will help them be proactive instead of reactive, as they work to make neighborhood safe.

Raven: a state grand jury has voted to criminally and died a police officer manslaughter.

The officer fatally shot Charles Sharpton September 2021, after sharp called 911 to report burglars in his backyard.

According to an investigation by the Attorney General's office, the two officers arrived on the scene and found sharp in the front yard.

One shouted that Sharpe had a handgun and the man fired several rounds, striking Sharpe while he was still on the phone with a 911 dispatcher.

A replica 45 caliber firearm was recovered near sharp.

In a statement, the Attorney General said sharp's life was cut short outside his un-home by one of the very officers he had called upon for help.

If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.

At a time that demand for greater police accountability what we are learning police departments across the state are spending millions to resolve claims of misconduct and have agreed to pay out at least $87 million since 2019 to settle cases against their officers.

This is according to an investigation by NJ advanced media, the payments by nearly 500 police departments were often done in secrecy until now.

NJ advanced media reporter Riley Yates joins me to discuss those costly lawsuits and how they represent a fraction of just how much legal settlements involving law enforcement are costing the state.

Riley, $87 million is a lot of money.

Can you give us some examples of what claims will result with that money?

Riley: Sure.

I mean one of the stories I featured was a woman who was punched in the face by a police officer during a domestic dispute call in the officer was from Mobile neighboring town and she suffered a broken eye socket , and she received $500,000.

I interviewed another man who was, he claimed he was beaten up by Trenton police officers who were in his home to, came to his home to serve a warrant for old parking tickets and fishing license violations, and he received $85,000.

In both cases, the township admitted no wrongdoing but paid those settlements.

Raven: yeah, just hearing that is just, you know, disturbing, so when we think about the payout, what is the average amount for a payout?

You talked about different amounts in those examples but what is the average amount?

Riley: yeah, so, look, we got 370 settlements from 147 police departments, and the median payout with $70,000, which is just for a perspective, about $20,000 more than the typical New Jersey resident burns in a year.

Raven: and then, rightly, ultimately who is footing the bill, taxpayers?

Riley: yeah ultimately directly or indirectly it is the taxpayers.

A lot of municipalities, there are what called are joint insurance firms which is a bunch of municipalities that have banded together to cover those claims, so ultimately that is taxpayer money.

Uh, it is course taxpayer money when you are self-insured, which the cities are, and in some case it is private insurance that covers it, but the premiums are of course paid for by the government and the government is funded through taxpayer money.

Raven: you know, rightly, I think the bigger question is, do the lawsuits lead to any changes or are officers actually facing consequences for their actions or are these infractions that are described under the rug?

Riley: critics certainly say that is the problem, that these lawsuits are secretive and you do not, you do not see housecleaning after them, because there is no admission of wrongdoing.

Often the officers to state.

In fact, we looked at the pension records and 60% of the officers named in these lawsuits were still police officers.

About 25% of them had retired but that also speaks to how long these lawsuits drag out.

Of course the union site that is not the case.

They say bet officers when they do something wrong or disciplined and that uh you know the process is working how it is supposed to.

Raven: and then, rightly, I am interested to know where was the most expensive lawsuit settled in what was it for?

Riley: yeah that was in Camden County.

And that was sick capture quite a bit of headlines.

It was a man who was paralyzed from the neck down after an alleged beating by Camden County regional police officers.

And that case was settled after a trial led to a hung jury and there was a $10 million settlement.

Uh, in the county denounced that settlement and said it was forced upon it by its insurance carrier to which the attorney for the man who was injured said was disturbing, considering that uh she said it spoke to a lack of accountability for the county.

Raven: wow, Riley Yates, thank you.

Excellent reporting.

We will see where this all leads.

Riley: thank you for having me in your interest in the story.

Last night Raven:, a Board of Education voted to move forward with a policy that would require teachers and staff member's two-out certain students based on their gender identity.

An earlier version of this policy was initially struck down back in February, but now it is advancing with the support of some parents and the majority of the board.

Some state lawmakers like Senator Joba Nacchio say this kind of decision protects parental rights and children in this boat comes less than one week after a judge blocked a similar policy in Hanover Township, stating that it was a violation of New Jersey discrimination laws and targets LGBTQ+ children and a conservative advocacy group new surgery project is declaring the boat a win.

The school district is expected to consider this policy for a final boat at their next board meeting on June 14.

♪ In our spotlight of business report tonight, they are calling it an act that is named after the two music icons that is being introduced by New Jersey's on representatives.

Ahead of Taylor Swift MetLife Stadium show on Friday, where the cheapest seats are $2000 to the lawmakers bill targets pricey retail tickets and addresses these, ticket sale transparency, but most important helps to protect buyers.

And, open for business, the doors of three New Jersey's newest recreational cannabis shops are now officially open.

This month, sweet spot in Camden County, nova Farms and Gloucester County and earth and IV in Brunswick are the later shops to help expand the cannabis market, now a total of 30 shops are open in the state for adults over 21 the by legal weed.

Earth and IVy is the first recreational shop to open as New Jersey celebrates a year of legal recreational cannabis sales.

And here is a look at how the markets closed today.

♪ ♪ NJ transit is trying to prove its access link program to provide services for people with disabilities make sure that they get to and from their next destination in a timely manner.

After many users complained about slow and canceled rides, NJ transit reached a settlement agreement with the DOJ in December that they must improve their service.

Today, NJ transit announced they will select six local transportation organizations and give them technology upgrades and training so they can continue to improve rides for access link customers.

In the transit agency also launched a new pilot program in partnership with lift [GUNFIRE] -- lyft and Uber.

We spoke with one person about the program quite is critical for livelihood.

>> A Rutgers professor has been using a wheelchair since he was 16 years old, after falling from a tree, he suffered a spinal cord fracture, leaving him a quadriplegic with limited use of his hands.

>> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> When he can't catch a ride from family or friends and he gets around the access link.

>> I would be your driver today.

What is happening, fellas?

>> Access link is the NJ transit service for people who cannot access buses or trains.

>> I am grateful for access link, but realistically, I think access link outgrew it self within the first for years.

>> But it is not a perfect solution for people with disabilities like him who are trying to hold down a steady job.

Access link bands are not always on time.

>> You can't get to your job an hour later two hours late because the driver drove you you know around to drop off five or pick up five or six other people, and then you get to your job and your boss does not understand.

>> Back in December, NJ transit reached a settlement agreement with the Department of Justice requiring that Department of Justice to improve access link.

As part of the settlement, and used a pilot program has been created that allows people with disabilities to use and Uber or Lyft instead of access link.

People can sign up if they don't need a wheelchair, and if they live in region two or five, covering eight counties.

The website says affair with Uber would cover -- would cause the same as access link.

>> The goal is to improve access thank expand by improving options for customers and reducing waiting time and trip times in while also making more cost-effective for NJ transit.

>> He is hopeful it will work, even though he cannot use Uber because of his wheelchair.

>> The less competition you know, the better for people with you no serious mobility issues who cannot use Uber >>.

Not every access link user is optimistic.

There we go.

A few gross uses access link and sings about his issues with it.

♪ >> ♪ I wait outside It was cold ♪ ♪ >> He says some of the drivers have been cold as well and not very reliable.

>> My ride went from 3:00 to 3:20 and I call the right number at 3:3500 ready for this?

It says the number you reached is no longer in insistence -- in existence.

He >> Made headlines 20 years ago when he was shot in the head on the observation deck of the Empire State building was a terrorist killed his friend and shot five other people.

>> I remember very little that they are they told my whole family that I died.

>> It took months for Gross to heal in a hospital and a rehab facility.

Though his vision never fully returned.

>> If I go like this, right, and I look straight ahead and I can see this.

His >> Family is not comfortable with him driving, so they told him to use access link.

His bad expenses have left him pessimistic towards the idea that it will work well with Uber .

>> I worked at BJ's.

At 10:30, I would get a 6:30 ride and I would be late getting there sometimes and they pick me up three hours late and they don't care.

>> In the two weeks since this program launched, NJ transit tells us that more than 2000 customers have signed up, and rideshare apps have provided about 4000 rides.

NJ transit says the program could expand, depending on how the rest of the launch goes, while they continue to fix the problems customers are currently dealing with.

For NJ Spotlight News, I am Ted Goldberg.

Raven: That is all we have for you tonight.

And a reminder, you can now listen to NJ Spotlight News anytime the podcast wherever you stream.

Nature to download it and check us out.

I am Raven Santana.

The entire NJ Spotlight News team, thank you for being with us and we will seek you here tomorrow.

♪ >> The members of the New Jersey education Association, making public schools great for every child.

Our WJ Barnabas health but let's be healthy together, and Orsted, committed to the creation of a new long-term sustainable clean energy future for New Jersey.

♪ >> 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 us.orsted.com.

♪ >> Life is unpredictable, health insurance should not be.

Over 90 years, the rising blue cross blue chips New Jersey has provided quality affordable health plans New Jersey residents and have served generations of New Jersey families and businesses and we are committed to driving innovations that put you at the heart of everything we do.

Our members are our neighbors, friends, families and are here when you need is the most.

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♪ ♪