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♪ >> From NJ PBS, this is "NJ Spotlight News."

>> Good evening and thanks for joining us.

I am Rhianna Vannozzi.

New Jersey leaders demanding an apology from the Biden administration after Prospect Park Mayor Mohammed Carola, the longest serving Muslim mayor in the state, says he was blocked by the Secret Service from attending a White House celebration Monday marking the belated end of Ramadan.

He says he was personally invited to attend, but told just hours before the event that his security clearance was denied with no explanation.

The Syrian-born mayor believes he has been on an FBI terror watch list since he began experiencing aggressive searches and questioning when traveling.

He is calling on the Biden administration to disband the list because it's a racist policy.

>> Celebration on Saturday.

Some of New Jersey's top congressional leaders along with Congressman Pasqual sent a sharply worded letter demanding an explanation.

So far, the White House has punted.

>> This is under the purview of the Secret Service.

What I will say more broadly is that -- and I can say this -- the president was very proud to welcome nearly 400 Muslim Americans to the White House to celebrate.

It was a meaningful event to celebrate with leaders who were here from across the country.

This particular situation is under the purview of Secret Service and so I will leave it to them to speak to that.

>> Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah joints we now.

It is good to see you.

Let me ask you first, why do you think you were turned away from this event which you were invited to?

>> Hello and thank you.

I think it became apparent after speaking to the Council on American-Islamic relations that I have been placed on some type of watchlist in 2019, which explained my travel difficulties.

They have provided me a redacted copy with my name and date of birth on it.

It is some type of dragnet operation.

The question is why did I get on that list and how?

How do I clear my name?

This is not a question for me, it is a question for 1.5 million people on the list.

>> The list you are referring to is this secret FBI terrorist watchlist, which documents were released showing some of those names.

Do you believe this is an issue of racial profiling?

>> Absolutely.

The majority of the names on the list are Arab and Muslim.

The trouble in part here is there is no due process.

It does make me feel like a criminal.

I think the FBI, Secret Service, these federal agencies that use this list have a lot to answer.

I think our president is the only person who has the power now to disband this list or revamp it in a way that does not trap innocent people and destroy their lives.

Brianna: Describe for us what that has been like.

In terms of, as you said, traveling difficulties and other times when you feel you have been pinpointed.

>> I could go back to 2019 when we traveled to Istanbul.

It costs us to miss flight connections and it cost me $6,000 to buy new tickets to come back to the United States.

Somehow as I was the last person to leave the plane with my family, agents were at the gate saying, you have been selected randomly.

It cannot get more hilarious than this.

And then when I'm being interviewed by an agent, I get a flat out question, and I quote, Did you meet with terrorists?

How am I supposed answer?

It is ridiculous.

And then when I came back from Canada driving, I get detained in a classroom where my four-year-old daughter is asking me why?

I was locked in in front of people.

It is humiliating and we are owed answers by our government.

Brianna: What, beyond answers and an apology, are you looking for?

>> I think if anything, there needs to be a reform to the list.

We are not telling federal agencies not to protect our nation, not to do their job.

When I went to Syria, I understood 100% that I had to be questioned.

Brianna: There are national security advisors who would say there are reasons for having that list.

>> Absolutely, but it is not a smart list.

I have met presidents.

I have met high elected officials.

I have met presidents of other countries.

I have interacted with the Secret Service plenty of times.

But they met me as a person, as Mohamed Khairullah.

But when they meet me through that dragnet operation, they don't know who I really am, they don't question how I got on this list and why.

We have a problem.

Brianna: Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah.

Thank you for coming on to talk about this.

And while the Biden administration is preparing to send 1500 active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border starting next week, it is in anticipation of a surge of migrants when the Trump era border policy known as Title 42 expires on May 11.

According to the White House, the troops will be deployed for 90 days and designated to a support role so that customs and border protection can focus on fieldwork.

Senator Bob Menendez in a statement classified the decision as militarization of the border.

He called it unacceptable.

Menendez recently proposed his own plan to secure the borders.

The Title 42 policy was created during the pandemic to address public health concerns.

It allowed U.S. officials to turn away tens of thousands of migrants.

Even with the restrictions, the U.S. has seen a record number of people crossing the border.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently resumed bussing migrants to sanctuary cities like New York where Mayor Eric Adams accused the governor of playing racial politics.

In Trenton, budget hearings continue with the heads of New Jersey's major transportation agencies going before lawmakers.

New Jersey transit in particular has an uphill battle.

The agency says its budget will be in the red if ridership does not return to pre-pandemic levels.

That means fare hikes are on the table unless the government steps in.

Senior correspondent friend of Flanagan is at the Statehouse with the latest.

>> You couldn't actually see a looming fiscal cliff, but it is there, in the pages of the proposed budget.

With ridership still 20% off pre-COVID levels and pandemic aid running out fast, this is an agency on the brink of a $1 billion short, all possibly by 2025.

>> This is largely due to contractual obligations, reduced fund subsidy and low ridership.

>> Nj transit officials told the budget committee its dire finances need serious action.

It is currently analyzing its own crisis.

Agency exacts are considering several fixes including corporate consolidation and realigning service.

Fares have not increased in almost a decade.

>> Maintaining reliable service is key to getting people back ended -- and avoiding a death spiral where you reduce -- which results in a cycle of diminishing ridership and cuts in service.

>> Republicans criticize the agency's decision to move its headquarters to a more expensive lease in Newark and question whether politics had influenced the choice.

>> New Jersey transit is going to be facing a very difficult period of time in which tough financial decisions are going to have to be made.

At this time, why are we looking at upsizing instead of downsizing?

>> I can say to you unequivocally, I lose no sleep at night believing that board made a decision that was anything other than the best for New Jersey transit and its customers.

>> Even before COVID sent ridership off the rails, NJ transit couldn't rely on the farebox to make ends meet.

Instead it has robbed Peter to pay Paul and it will again.

The next 2.6 billion dollar operating budget moves dollars from capital to operating buckets.

It also grabs money from New Jersey's clean energy fund and gets another cash infusion from the New Jersey Turnpike.

It is getting $140 million in state subsidies through the next fiscal year.

It draws down all $800 million of its remaining federal pandemic funds.

That one shot, along with fares, commercial revenue and other reimbursements as a shaky funding platform.

>> We now are going to have a $1 billion deficit.

You cannot raise fares and cut service and survive.

>> The legislature today should be focused on making sure the state appropriations are at a level that helps the agency not only just meet their mission, but thrive.

We need NJ transit to have robust service to not only meet existing needs, but to meet existing state environmental goals.

>> Advocates want a dedicated funding source like the surcharge on the corporate business tax that is due to sunset at the end of the year.

Governor Murphy says he will let it expire and has also said he will fix NJ transit if it kills him.

I am Brenda Flanagan.

Brianna: Travel is rebounding at airports.

The port authority is reporting record-breaking passenger traffic.

The state agency says travel during the first quarter of 2023 is exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

32 million passengers total at Newark Liberty, JFK and LaGuardia.

That surpasses a previous record hit in 2019 by one million travelers.

Traffic volume at bridges and tunnels is at the highest levels since 2008.

The Seaport of New York and New Jersey was the nation's second busiest during the first three months of 2023.

The path continues to have a sluggish rebound to get back to pre-pandemic levels.

Even there, ridership is at 59% of what it was during the same time in 2019.

Port Authority COO Jim Heitman says it is promising.

>> It is great news for the local job market.

And the regional economic benefits that go along with that are a good representation of us being back.

We took a huge hit from COVID from a revenue perspective.

But we worked our way through that and now we are really optimistic about taking on these good problems to have when people are using our facilities.

>> Thousands of students will have to find a new way to get to school come September.

The regional high school district's ending bus service for students who live closer than 2.5 miles from their school.

Local officials are blooming cuts in state aid, saying the district has lost $25 million since the school funding formula was reworked in 2018.

According to the superintendent, eliminating courtesy bussing will save $3.5 million and impact 3000 high schoolers.

The district has already cut staff positions, 15% of the administration and cut the budget.

The Freehold district is calling on lawmakers to change the state funding system as they hash out the budget.

Rutgers union members are not done picketing.

The union representing 2500 at ministry to staff rallied today in the streets of Newark and New Brunswick.

Contract negotiations have been ongoing for a year.

Three other unions recently reached agreements with the University.

The administrative union and others have not.

Their members voted on a strike pledge, which is one step lower than authorizing a strike like the thousands of faculty and medical worker union said last month.

The Ministry of workers say they are seeking better pay, job security and permanent telework, among other changes.

>> We do the work behind the scenes that faculty do not do.

We need raises.

We need accessible, affordable health insurance.

We need fair hybrid working language.

We are here because these are the folks in this building who are holding up our contract so that we can move forward.

Brianna: Rutgers union members were not the only ones rallying.

Students at Seton Hall University walked out in protest at the South Orange campus, calling out what they say has been a lack of support for the school's African studies program, claiming it is under attack after the program's only full-time professor and program director left the university last year and has not been replaced.

Senior political correspondent David Cruz reports.

>> Under the watchful eye of campus security and under what some here said is a highly restrictive on-campus demonstration policy, a group of student activists nonetheless did their best to be heard.

They were calling for support from the administration for an African studies program they say has been stripped of its relevance.

[Chanting] >> If we don't get it.

>> Shut it down.

>> [Indistinct] >> The program was ahead of its time when it was founded in 1970 but has over the decades been shifted to back burner status, says Ingrid Hill, with the People's Organization for Progress which served as advisors to the student demonstrators.

She is a former student and 30 year employee at the university.

>> They talk about it, the programs, but it never is never really fully integrated into the overall mission of the university.

>> Another complaint from students was what they call heavy-handed policies that they say are meant to intimidate students and discourage the very discourse universities are supposed to protect, like making one student responsible for the safety of everyone at the event they organize.

>> what is the impact of those rulings?

>> You can be expelled.

>> Seton Hall welcomes students to express concerns and is committed to academic freedom, civil discourse and our Catholic mission, said the University in a statement today.

We have a number of policies in place that enable students to exercise their right to speak out while also ensuring the safety of our entire campus community and the ability to maintain university operations.

That policy includes, evidently, arbitrary decisions on when press can cover events on campus.

>> The policy is that today we will not be having press on campus.

>> You are saying today is the day when you are enforcing the policy?

>> I am sorry?

>> I asked you what the policy was and you said today.

>> So, what I said was that today, we are not allowing press on campus.

>> At that point, security escorted us off campus but students continued their demonstration, including a planned confrontation with Phil Murphy who was touring a campus building nearby.

>> I'm going to have my team follow-up up with her, OK?

>> And an occupation of President's Hall where they heard from activist Larry Hamm.

>> Have courage.

You are carrying on a tradition of those who have been fighting for justice since this country was founded.

>> It was an act of defiance punishable by what the university calls disciplinary action in a letter that ordered the students to vacate the building.

A spokesperson for the students said they would not leave the building until all of their demands are met.

What started as a modest student demonstration may just have turned into a battle of will.

Brianna: In our spotlight on business, another rate hike today from the Federal Reserve.

The agency voting unanimously to raise interest rates by .25%.

It is the 10th rate hike since the central bank started its battle against inflation in March of 2022.

Today's move raises the key rate to a range of 5% to 5.25%.

It comes as the banking sector is in a fragile position with the recent collapse of three major banks.

The Federal Reserve also signaled today it will likely pause any future rate hikes if inflation continues to ease as expected.

New Jersey-based Bed, Bath & Beyond is officially being delisted by NASDAQ effective today.

The decision comes after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is in the process of shutting down its remaining stores.

Here is how markets reacted.

The U.S. Supreme Court is taking up a case that could severely limit the powers of federal agencies and a group of New Jersey fishing operations are at the heart of the debate.

Eight Cape May fishing companies are seeking to overturn a federal rule that requires them to pay for a third-party monitor on their fishing trips.

It is meant to ensure fishing regulations are being followed at sea.

The industry argues the requirement is a costly government overreach.

The case is expected to focus on the so-called Chevron deference principle which for decades has led the court to differ ambiguous law-enforcement questions to the agencies themselves.

The Chevron principle has long been a target of conservative judicial activists.

The case is likely to be argued this fall and the decision could come next year.

Former Democratic Senate president Steve Sweeney is wading into what is becoming a controversial topic, expanding the offshore wind industry.

He is hosting a conference today, touting it as a way to cut down on greenhouse gases and create jobs.

Offshore wind has become the foil of Republican leaders who blame the industry for recent marine mammal deaths, without evidence.

Ted Goldberg reports.

>> Former Senate President Steve Sweeney stopped by Rowan University to tout New Jersey's potential for offshore wind energy.

And, air his grievances about the Garden State not developing offshore energy as quickly as other countries.

>> In Europe, three decades of not more -- they don't have issues for it is the same ocean.

I do not think we have issues.

What we have is politics.

>> People have long argued that offshore wind helps the environment.

Speakers tried a different tack.

They say offshore energy means more jobs, especially for people who are not college-educated.

>> Maybe they are good at heights but after that, they don't have skills.

But we can train them.

Maybe you are good with your hands doing other things.

We are short on electricians and all these other key jobs.

There is opportunity for job creation.

Tens of thousands of new jobs.

There are no other industries in New Jersey that have that potential.

>> We will protect health and safety first and foremost.

We are going to protect our environment by reducing emissions and improving air quality.

And yes, we are going to promote sensible economic policy.

>> A representative for the Danish energy company says onshore construction could start by the end of the year for the ocean wind project.

Electricity could come from offshore wind as soon as next year.

Senator Sweeney blames partisan fighting for that timeline not being sooner.

>> It shouldn't be politics.

It should be facts and nothing but facts.

This offshore wind is not just good for the United States, but it is very important for the state of New Jersey.

>> As Sweeney said these words, New Jersey Senate Republicans continued their call for a moratorium on offshore surveys for windfarms.

The Senators say there could be a connection between surveys and the increasing number of dead whales washing up on New Jersey's beaches.

They are not satisfied with the scientists who say there is not one.

>> Nobody can say with certainty that the combination of sonar in one area and drilling in another area has not created a situation where these animals are disoriented or frightened to the point where they are leading to their own demise.

>> One thing that the other side of the aisle gets -- is not following the science fair where is the harm if we pause for 30 days or 60 days in this project to see if we are going to see a continuation of the unprecedented number of whale deaths and dolphin deaths that we have seen.

>> I do not think there is a debate.

I think there is swirling misinformation.

Because of our emissions of fossil fuels over decades are warming our oceans, estate if I our oceans, changing habitat patterns and forcing particularly juvenile whales that are in search of food sources to come into conflict with amplified vessel traffic.

>> -- has started a training program for 21 new jobs associated with the ocean wind project.

Anyone who completes the training will be eligible for jobs starting at $65,000 a year.

The deadline to apply is June 5.

Brianna: And that is all we have for you tonight.

Make sure you check out Chat Box with David Cruz tomorrow night.

David talks with former Senate President Steve Sweeney about the November legislative races, his potential run for governor and his support for expanding offshore wind in the state.

That is Thursday at 6:38 p.m. wherever you stream.

You can now listen to "NJ Spotlight News" anytime via podcast wherever you stream.

Make sure you download it and check us out.

I am Brianna Vannozzi.

Thanks for being with us.

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