>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND, THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT BY ORSTED.

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

FROM NJPBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> AND HONOR TO SERVE ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

THOSE WITH GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY TONIGHT DOING HIS FIRST INTERVIEWS SINCE WINNING HIS SECOND TERM.

GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I AM LEAH MISHKIN AND FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

WELL, IT WAS A VERY TIGHT RACE.

TIGHTER THAN MANY EXPECTED.

NOW THAT REPUBLICAN, JACK CIATTARELLI HAS CONCEDED, THE FOCUS IS ON THE GOVERNOR'S AGENDA FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

THE GOVERNOR TALKS CANDIDLY WITH SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ ABOUT HIS CONCERN OF THE RISING COVERED NUMBERS WITH THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY APPROACHING.

HAS PRIORITY FOR THE STATE MOVING FORWARD.

WHETHER A WHITE HOUSE BID IS IN HIS FUTURE.

>> MUCH MORE DRUM ON ELECTION NIGHT THAT ANYBODY EXPECTED.

AND IN ELECTION NIGHT WHERE SOME OF YOUR TEAM SAID THAT THIS THING MIGHT BE CALLED AROUND 8:30 POINT:00 ROLLS AROUND, CAN YOU TAKE US INSIDE WHERE TEAM MURPHY IS HOLD UP?

I'M ASSUMING MIDDLETOWN ON ELECTION NIGHT BACK WHAT IS GOING ON AT 10:00?

WHO IS MAKING, WHO IS DOUBTING THINGS AND WHO IS BUCKING EVERYBODY A QUESTION >> WELL, SO YOURS TRULY, I WAS WITH MY WIFE AND MY KIDS IN A ROOM IN ASBURY PARK.

WATCHING THE RETURNS AND GETTING UPDATED BY OUR TEAM.

WE KNEW, AND THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH OTHER ELECTIONS IN NEW JERSEY, WE KNOW CERTAIN COUNTIES COME IN EARLIER THAN OTHERS WITH THEIR MACHINE VOTE.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, WE KNEW THAT AS AN EXAMPLE, MONMOUTH, WHERE I LIVE IN OCEAN COUNTY'S WERE COMING IN EARLY.

SO, YOU ARE IN THAT UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION WHERE YOU STILL FEEL CONFIDENT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD OUTCOME.

BUT, THERE IS A PERIOD OF TIME AND THERE WAS THAT NIGHT I THINK WENT AROUND 10:00.

A COUPLE OF HOURS PLUS OR MINUS THAT.

WHERE YOU KNOW, WE WERE DOWN, BUT STILL HAVE THAT CONFIDENCE THAT WE WOULD WIN THIS THING AND SURE ENOUGH, THAT IS THE WAY IT PLAYED OUT.

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK VOTERS WERE SAYING THAT NIGHT?

WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF THIS RED WAVE THAT EVERYBODY KEEPS TALKING ABOUT?

WAS IT REAL?

>> I THINK IT WAS REAL.

AND I THINK PEOPLE WERE LIKE HOW COME YOU ARE STILL ABLE TO WIN QUESTION MARK MY ANSWERS THAT IS BECAUSE WE PUT THE POLICIES IN PLACE THAT WE DID OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS THAT WERE ALL ANCHORS THAT KEPT US FROM GETTING WASHED AWAY ON ELECTION.

AND, I DO KNOW THAT THERE IS ANY ONE REASON.

I'VE SAID THIS.

THERE'S A LOT OF HURT OUT THERE.

NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

WHETHER THEY'RE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO WEAR A MASK, OR A VACCINE FOR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE THERE, OR YOU LOST A LOVED ONE OR SMALL BUSINESS, OR YOU LOST YOUR JOB, OR YOU'RE JUST ANGRY.

YOU KNOW, I AM FIRST UP TO BAT IN THE CYCLE AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL.

YOU PROBABLY HAVE SOME FATIGUE STILL FROM LAST YEAR.

HE MAY HAVE SOME FOLKS WHO, I HEARD TOO MUCH OF IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE ELECTION, YOU SEEM LIKE YOU'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.

YOU KNOW, YOU WON'T NEED MY HELP.

YOU KNOW, THAT IS PROBABLY ALSO A FACTOR IN THERE.

WE WILL DO A FULL POSTMORTEM BUT A COMBINATION OF REASONS.

I WILL COMMIT TO DO THAT.

>> HE SAID THERE WERE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO MAYBE DID NOT, COULD NOT HEAR YOUR MESSAGE, WOULD NOT HEAR YOUR MESSAGE, WHO ARE THEY, AND HOW IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT YOUR DIRECTION IN A SECOND TERM?

>> I'M NOT SURE I CAN GIVE YOU A CRISP ANSWER YET AS TO WHO THEY ARE, WE ARE STILL TRYING TO PARSE THROUGH THE DATA, AND WE MAKE OUR CALLS AS WE'VE HEARD MANY TIMES BASED ON THE DATA.

I, I THINK THE DIRECTION OF THE STATE WE ARE HEADED IS THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I BELIEVE THAT WITH ALL MY HEART, AND I BELIEVE IF WE HAD NOT DONE THAT ON THAT JOURNEY, WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN WASHED AWAY.

SO, I THINK IF YOU LOOK BACK AND THINK ABOUT THE FIRST FOUR YEARS, IT IS PUTTING A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE WHETHER IT IS SIGNING BILLS, EXECUTIVE ORDERS, SETTING UP REGULATORY REGIMES FOR NEW INDUSTRIES.

I CAN GIVE YOU A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT EXAMPLES.

AND THEN, WE'VE HAD SOME GOOD AMOUNT OF FRUIT BORN FROM THAT.

I THINK THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IS GOING TO BE LESS SETTING UP THAT INFRASTRUCTURE OF ARCHITECTURE AND A LOT MORE OF THE FRUIT BEING ONE FROM THAT.

>> GETTING BACK TO ELECTION IT REALLY QUICK, OTHER ACCOUNTS WERE SOMETIMES MISLEADING.

IT WAS BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS COUNTED AND WHEN IT WAS COUNTED.

IT WAS NOT UNIFORM AND IT WAS REALLY NO WAY TO TELL WHO HAD VOTED BY MAIL OR EARLY VOTING, MACHINES, PROVISIONALS.

IT'S REALLY A RECIPE FOR RUMORS AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES TO GROW, AND WE SAW SOME OF THEM PROPPING UP ON ELECTION NIGHT.

BUT, IS IT TIME TO BRING SOME UNIFORMITY AND REFORM TO THE WAY WE COUNT THE VOTE?

BECAUSE THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING WRONG AT THE POLLS.

BUT, JUST ACCOUNTING PROCESS TOOK A LOT.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME REFORMS THAT YOU CAN SUGGEST FOR THAT?

>> YEAH, IT IS A VERY FAIR QUESTION, DAVID.

AND BY THE WAY, I HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN THE VOTE, IN THE ACCURACY OF THE VOTE.

MY OPPONENT, WHO HAS SPREAD IT VERY GRACIOUSLY AND PRIVATELY WITH ME BUT ALSO MADE PUBLICLY THAT SAME POINT.

AND HE IS RIGHT.

AGAIN, WE NEED MORE DATA IN ORDER TO ANSWER THAT FULLY.

BUT, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF SOME THAT MIGHT BE IN THE CARDS AND MIGHT BE BECAUSE THIS IS FAR FROM, WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK AND ANALYSIS TO DO.

YOU MAY RECALL LAST YEAR, WHEN WE HAD MUCH MORE UNIVERSAL VOTE BY MAIL.

WE ALLOWED COUNTIES TO BEGIN WE ALLOWED COUNTIES TO BEGIN% COUNTING THE VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

WE RAISED THE PENALTY DRAMATICALLY FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD INAPPROPRIATELY DISCLOSE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

WE DID NOT DO THAT THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE HAD A NORMAL, WE WENT BACK TO NORMAL.

ALL RIGHT CUSTOMER SO WE HAD VOTE BY MAIL, YOU GET THE PILOT ONLY IF YOU SENT AN APPLICATION IN.

WE HAD IN PERSON EARLY VOTING, WHICH BY THE WAY WAS A HIT THAT WILL GROW, BY THE WAY.

OVER TIME.

AND THEN, WE HAVE THE REGULAR, WE WENT BACK TO COUNTING VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS.

NOT BEFORE ELECTION DAY FEAR THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED.

YOU GET THE BBM COUNT A LOT EARLIER THAN WE GOT IN THIS YEAR'S ELECTION.

>>, JUST TWO MORE QUICK QUESTIONS.

ONE UNCOVERED ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REPUBLICANS CAN SAY ABOUT YOU, YOU HAD TO CANCEL THANKSGIVING.

WHAT IS THE GUIDANCE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON HOLIDAY GATHERINGS?

SEE I CAN ENJOY THEM.

BUT, PREFERABLY, IF YOU ARE INDOORS, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR RUB PEOPLE WHOSE VACCINATION STATUS YOU KNOW.

NOW, THE GOOD NEWS ON THANKSGIVING IS THAT IT'S LARGELY A FAMILY HOLIDAY.

SO, PEOPLE KNOW EACH OTHER.

BUT, THIS NONSENSE ABOUT CANCELING THANKSGIVING IS JUST, THEY COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM WHAT WAS SAID AND WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.

BUT, DAVID.

I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT SAY THIS.

AS I SIT WITH YOU TODAY, THE NUMBERS NOW FOR SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW HAVE TAKEN A VERY MEANINGFUL TURN IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

AND, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE BEEN SEEING IN EUROPE NOW FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS.

AND I'M CONCERNED.

WE ARE NOT WEARING THEM WITH THE FIVE ALARM HELP OF FOLKS HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

THEY GOT TOGETHER BOOSTER SHOT.

IF THEY ARE INSIDE, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU'RE CONFIDENT IN THE VACCINATIONS THAT IS OF THE FOLKS WITH YOU.

IF YOU'RE NOT, I HATE TO TELL YOU, YOU PROBABLY SHOULD PUT A MASK ON.

OR TAKE IT EVERY YOU'RE DOING OUTSIDE.

YOU GOT A WARM COUPLE OF DAYS HERE.

LET'S TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

BUT, ENJOY THE HOLIDAY, ENJOY IT RESPONSIBLY.

>> IF YOU HAVE MORE OF A MANDATE TO HAVE SOME CLEARANCE TO MAKE MORE MANDATES IF THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GO WHERE THEY ARE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

YOU NEVER TAKE ANYTHING OFF THE TABLE.

BUT, PEOPLE HAVE HAD IT WITH THIS.

AND I DON'T BLAME THEM.

IT'S ALSO A REALITY.

I'M NOT TRYING TO PICK A FIGHT HERE.

BUT, IF YOU'RE VACCINATED, YOU ARE OVERWHELMINGLY LESS LIKELY TO GET IT OR GET SICK, OR TO GET SERIOUSLY SICKER.

PLEASE NOT DIE.

THIS IS OVERWHELMINGLY A PANDEMIC RIGHT NOW WITH FOLKS ARE UNVACCINATED.

THAT IS A VAST MINORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE.

NO, I WOULD BE ASKING IF 80% OF THE POPULATION, PLUS OR MINUS TO PAY A PRICE FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE NOT GUILTY OF.

THEN, THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN.

>> RECOMMENDS QUESTION BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE GOT TO RUN FOR BUT, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT ASK.

BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY STARTING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT PHIL MURPHY'S PLANS ARE.

YOU WANT TO TELL US RIGHT NOW IS YOU NOT PLANNING TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT?

>> NOT PLANNING ON RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

I HAVE BEEN ASKED THIS AND I'VE BEEN UNEQUIVOCAL.

MY NOSES PRESSED AGAINST THE JERSEY GLASS AND IT WILL BE.

I'M HONORED AND HUMBLED TO BE ABLE TO BE THIS STATES GOVERNOR FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

>> AND YOUR SECOND TERM WOULD BE A FOUR YEAR TERM QUESTION MARK >> PLEASE GOD.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> ALL RIGHT, GOVERNOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU, MANY THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS.

I THANK YOU, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S HANDLING OF THE PANDEMIC WAS ONE FACT ANY VOTERS CONSIDERED HEADING INTO THE POLLS.

NOW, THE FDA IS CONSIDERING WHETHER TO EXPAND PFIZER'S EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION TO INCLUDE BOOSTER ELIGIBILITY FOR ALL ADULTS.

OPENING UP BOOSTER ELIGIBILITY IS SOMETHING SOME STATES HAVE ALREADY DONE.

MURPHY DID SOMETHING THAT HE'S CONSIDERING AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

ESPECIALLY SINCE THANKS GIVING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, AND A NEW POLL FROM MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY SHOWS TWO THIRDS OF AMERICANS PLAN TOGETHER LIKE THEY DID BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

1570 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 WERE REPORTED TODAY IN NEW JERSEY.

THAT IS ABOUT ONE THIRD OF WHERE WE WERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WITH 1530 CASES.

SO, OUR HEALTH EXPERTS ARE WORRIED ABOUT A COVERTS LIKE THIS WINTER.

SR.

CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> HOLIDAYS ARE COMING UP SO I'M CONCERNED.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GATHERING THE FAMILY.

I WANT EVERYONE TO BE SAFE.

>> SO NATALIE JOINED FOLKS SEEKING COVERED BOOSTERS JUMPING THE GUN ON UPDATED FDA BOOSTER GUIDANCE EXPECTED BY WEEKS END.

A STEADY STREAM OF ALL AGES REGISTERED AND ROLLED UP THEIR SLEEVES AT THIS ESSEX COUNTY VACCINATION SITE.

PERRETTI IS WEARY OF WAITING FOR HEALTH OFFICIALS TO ALL GET ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT WHO QUALIFIES FOR A THIRD SHOT.

>> GUIDANCE HAS BEEN CHANGED FOR NEW YORK CITY ALSO THAT THEY ARE RECOMMENDING THAT EVERYBODY GET STRESS.

SO, ONCE I HEARD THAT I WAS LIKE OKAY, TIME FOR ME TO GO.

>> I'M GOING TO LONDON AND THERE'S A BABY THAT I WILL VISIT, AND THE BABY CAN BE VACCINATED AND I WANT TO SURE THAT I DON'T RISK THE BABY.

>> WE ARE GATHERING AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT ALL BUT ONE OF US AT THIS POINT HAS HAD OUR BOOSTER.

AND, HE WILL SOON.

>> ABOUT 1000 PEOPLE IN IT COVERED BOOSTERS AT THREE ESSEX COUNTY SITES THAT NOW WERE THE ONLY REAL RULE IS PEOPLE WHO GOT MRNA VACCINES HAVE TO WAIT SIX MONTHS FOR A BOOSTER.

J&J, TWO MONTHS.

OTHERWISE, IT IS UNOFFICIALLY DON'T ASK DON'T TELL.

>> PEOPLE ARE REALLY CONCERNED WITH WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE THE NUMBERS ARE INCREASING.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE HIGHWAYS ARE COMING UP WITH MULTIPLE SEASONS HERE.

SO, PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY RUNNING IN AND SOME PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY COMING AND NOT TELLING THE TRUTH ANYWAY.

THEY'RE JUST COMING TO GET THE SHOT, WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE.

SEE MY PEOPLE ARE NOT NECESSARILY RUSHING OUT TO GET IT.

RIGHT NOW, IN NEW JERSEY, I BELIEVE THE NUMBER IS ABOUT 15% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION WAS VACCINATED HAS GOTTEN A BOOSTER.

SO, I THINK THAT BY SENDING THE MESSAGE THAT EVERYBODY IS ELIGIBLE, WE CAN GET THOSE ROOSTER DOSES UP AS WELL.

>> WITH COVERED CASES TRENDING UPWARDS ABOUT 11% NATIONALLY, AND FAMILIES TRAVELING FROM ALL OVER THE NATION FOR THANKSGIVING, HEALTH EXPERTS TO EXPECT TO SEE A POSTHOLIDAY SPIKE.

>> THE QUESTION IS, HOW STEEPLE THAT INCREASED THE?

AND WHAT IS THE PEAK QUESTION MARK LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, WE WERE INCREASING AT EVENTUALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND, WE WERE ALSO INCREASED IN NEW JERSEY TO A VERY SIGNIFICANT DEGREE.

THE INCREASES WERE SEEN NOW ARE MUCH MORE BLUNT.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE VIRUS IS ESSENTIALLY HITTING WALLS OF MORE AND MORE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED PEOPLE.

>> A COUPLE DOCTORS DROPPED IN FOR BOOSTERS AND DESCRIBED WHAT THEY ARE SEEING IN NEW JERSEY.

>>-I'M EXPOSED TO IT, AND I'M SEEING MORE CASES EVERY DAY.

AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THE BOOSTER.

>> I THINK THE BREAKTHROUGH CASES ARE MUSLIM VACCINATED.

>> CONTROVERSY OVER COVERT SHOTS AND MASKS CONTINUES TO DIVIDE THE COUNTRY AND FAMILIES.

JEAN BRUNO IS GETTING A BOOSTER AND GETTING TESTED BEFORE HEADING TO THANKSGIVING IN VIRGINIA.

>> HE IS SAFE THAN SORRY, AS OPPOSED TO SOME FAMILY MEMBERS.

MY SON-IN-LAW SIGN THAT DON'T BELIEVE IT BECAUSE THEY JUST DON'T.

SO.

>> HOW DO YOU GUYS COPE WITH IT?

>> WE JUST DON'T.

WE JUST DON'T WORK WITH HIM.

>> ATTENTION AMONGST AMERICANS GATHERING FOR THANKSGIVING, THEY CREATE A NORMAL HOLIDAY, BUT MANY ARE BEING VERY CAREFUL.

>> WE FOUND TWO THIRDS OF AMERICANS SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO NORMAL WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT THEY GATHER AROUND THE TABLE.

THAT NUMBER IS UP SIGNIFICANTLY FROM LAST YEAR.

>> HOWEVER POST TO PATRICK MARINO'S POLITICS WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT FAMILY REUNIONS.

HE SAYS TWO THIRDS WON'T ASK GUESTS ABOUT VACCINATION STATUS.

BUT.

>> THERE'S A HUGE DIVIDER.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO SAY THEY'RE GOING TO ASK DEMOCRATS.

YOU KNOW, LIKE 3 AND 4 IDENTIFY AS DEMOCRATS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ASK ABOUT IT AT ALL, NOT GOING TO MENTION IT ARE REPUBLICAN.

>> FOR VACCINE HOLDUP, NEW JERSEY'S COVERT RESPONSE ADVISER HAS THIS ADVICE.

>> IF THEY'RE NOT VACCINATED, I RECOMMEND THEY DON'T TRAVEL.

>> IF THEY DO, HE SAYS WERE A MASK AND GET TESTED BEFORE AND AFTER TRAVEL.

I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> ANOTHER GRIM MILESTONE IN THE MIDST OF THIS PANDEMIC.

NATIONWIDE DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS SOARED TO MORE THAN 100,000 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A 12 MONTH PERIOD MARKING A 29% INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THAT CARVING TO PROVISIONAL DATA FROM THE CITY'S THE, WHICH IS ADJUSTED TO ACCOUNT FOR DELAYS IN REPORTING.

BUT, NEW JERSEY IS JUST ONE OF FOUR STATES THAT SAW OVERDOSE DEATHS DECREASE, IF ONLY SLIGHTLY.

BETWEEN APRIL 2020 AND APRIL 2021, FATALITIES HERE DROPPED BY 1%, AND ESTIMATED 2918 PEOPLE ALL IN NEW JERSEY DIED OF DRUG OVERDOSE DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.

>> WORKING ON THE LONG-AWAITED GATEWAY TUNNEL UNDER THE HUDSON RIVER IS MOVING FORWARD.

NOW THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL HAS PASSED, MONEY WILL START FLOWING IN EARLY 2022.

AND, CONSTRUCTION ON THE PROJECT IS NOW TO BEGIN IN 2023.

ONCE IT HAS BUILT, THE GATEWAY TUNNEL WILL ALLOW MORE TRAINS TO PASS BETWEEN THE RIVER BETWEEN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ALLOWING FOR EXISTING TUNNELS TO BE CLOSED FOR URGENTLY NEEDED REPAIRS.

GATEWAY IS SEEKING MORE THAN $5 BILLION IN GRANT FUNDING FROM THE RECENTLY ASSIGNED FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE AND AUTHORITIES EXPECT THAT MONEY TO BE IN PLACE IN 2022.

MEANWHILE, GEOLOGIC STUDY WORK HAS BEGUN ON THE MANHATTAN SIDE OF THE PROJECT TO HELP WITH THE TUNNELS ENGINEERING.

BUT, REPRESENTS NEW JERSEY ON THE GATEWAY COMMISSION AND IT SAID IN A STATEMENT TUESDAY, THE PROJECT IS TAKING BIG STEPS TOWARDS THE START OF A FULL CONSTRUCTION WITH THE NEW FEDERAL DOLLARS, AND PREPARATION WORK UNDERWAY.

>> GREAT SIGNS FOR THE HEALTH OF NEW JERSEY'S ECONOMY AS REVENUE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO RISE.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE DETAILS, PLUS ALL THE TOP BUSINESS STORIES OF THE DAY.

RHONDA?

>>> NEW JERSEY'S REVENUE PICTURE CONTINUES TO BRIGHTEN AS TAX COLLECTIONS REMAIN STRONG IN OCTOBER.

NUMBERS RELEASED BY THE STATE TREASURY SHOW THAT INCOMING SALES TAX COLLECTIONS ROSE LAST MONTH.

CORPORATE BUSINESS TAX COLLECTIONS DECREASE, BUT THEY ARE STILL UP STRONGLY HERE TODAY.

OVERALL, TAX COLLECTIONS ARE UP 25%, COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR AGO.

AND, AMAZON HAS BEEN EXPANDING IN NEW JERSEY FOR YEARS NOW, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE COMPANY IS DITCHING THE PLANS FOR A MAJOR EXPANSION IN JERSEY CITY.

AMAZON WAS IN TALKS WITH THE DEVELOPER, MAX KELLY TO LISA ABOUT 400,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE SPACE IN HARPER'S SIDE ALONG THE BATTLEFRONT.

BUT, BLOOMBERG REPORTS AMAZON HAS PULLED AWAY FROM THE DEAL.

THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE COMMENT FROM THE COME.

IN WASHINGTON, THE HOUSE IS TRYING TO PASS THAT BUILD BACK BETTER BILL LATER THIS WEEK.

TODAY, DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE A NEWS CONFERENCE TO URGE ITS PASSAGE.

THEY FOCUSED ON HOW THE BILL WOULD ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE BY OFFERING AMONG OTHER THINGS, CLEAN ENERGY INCENTIVES.

NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN, JOSH GOT HEIMER SAYS CLIMATE RELATED DISASTERS ARE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS COST ALIENS.

>> AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT HURRICANE IDA AND WHAT IT DID TO MY STATE RECENTLY, HOMES AND BUSINESSES, AND SCHOOLS GUSHINGLY ROADS AND SADLY, TAKING MANY LIVES, YOU REALIZE JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE ACT AND NOT DELAY.

THESE COSTS ONLY GET WORSE IF WE FAIL TO ASK.

>> DEMOCRATS ALSO SAY THE BUILD BACK BETTER BILL WILL CREATE NEW JOBS IN THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE BILL WILL LIFT THE CAP ON SALT ELECTIONS TO $80,000 A YEAR THROUGH 2030.

GAS PRICES HAVE HELD FAIRLY STEELY THIS WEEK BUT THE STEEP RISE OVER THIS PAST YEAR HAS ANGERED DRIVERS.

TODAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN ASKED THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE WHAT ROLE OIL AND GAS COMPANIES HAVE BEEN RISING PRICES FOR THE PRESIDENT IS PRICES ARE RISING AT THE PUMP, EVEN THOUGH INDUSTRY COSTS ARE DECLINING.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING TO BOOST PRODUCTION OF COVID-19 VACCINES.

THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTED THE ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO INVEST BILLIONS TO INCREASE MANUFACTURING CAPACITY.

AND OFFICIALS SAID THAT X RATED CAPACITY WILL HELP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVERT VARIANCE, OR OTHER FUTURE VIRUSES.

NOW, HERE IS A CHECK ON THE WALL STREET TRADING DAY.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY AND JUNIOR BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT HALL OF FAME.

VIRTUAL EVENT ON DECEMBER 19 MORE INFORMATION ONLINE AT NJ.ORG.

>>> ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS, THE BOUNDARIES OF NEW JERSEY'S 12 CONGRESSIONAL AND 40 LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS ARE REDRAWN.

THE LEGISLATIVE FREE DISTRICT PROCESS IS MEANT TO ENSURE EQUAL REPRESENTATION IN TRENTON BASED ON NEW CENSUS DATA.

BUT, A POLITICAL COMMISSION DRAWS THE LINES, AND IT NOTIFIES POWER FOR ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER FOR THE NEXT DECADE.

SO, HOW WILL THE COMMISSION ENSURE EVERY RESIDENT IS REPRESENTED FAIRLY?

ERVIN SANTANA REPORTS.

>> ASIAN POPULATION NEW JERSEY HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THE LAST CENSUS.

YOU MUST DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST.

>> AS IT PREPARES TO REDRAW THE BOUNDARIES OF NEW JERSEY'S 40 LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS, THE LEGISLATIVE APPORTION COMMITMENT IS HOLDING A SERIES OF PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR THE LATEST IN ATLANTIC CITY.

THE DISTRICT IS REQUIRED BY THE STATE CONSTITUTION, AND IT COULD IMPACT WHO REPRESENTS THE COMMUNITY AND SHIFT POLITICAL POWER IN THE STATE.

>> THE CONTEXT IS NEW JERSEY POPULATION IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIVERSE.

NOW, WE ARE UP 40% PEOPLE ACROSS OUR STATE.

ON LEGISLATION, AND ALLEGES THAT IS, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY REFLECT THAT.

>> FOLLOWING THE 2020 CENSUS COUNT, LATINOS COMPRISE 20.9% OF NEW JERSEY'S TOTAL POPULATION.

HOWEVER, LATINOS CONTINUE TO LAG BEHIND IN REPRESENTATION, AND LATINO REPRESENTATION OF THE STATE LEGISLATOR AND TOP POLITICAL PLAINTIFF.

>> YOU CAN INCREASE THE NUMBER OF WOMEN, HISPANICS, AFRICAN- AMERICANS, POTENTIALLY ASIANS WITHIN THE LEGISLATOR.

EITHER TODAY, OR HOPEFULLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT DECADE, AS POPULATIONS INCREASE IN PEOPLE MOVE IN AND ABOUT THE STATE.

>> THE REPUBLICAN COCHAIR OF THE 11 NUMBERS THAT MAKE THE THE APPORTIONMENT COMMISSION COMPRISED OF REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, AND A TIE-BREAKING 11 MEMBER, A FORMER JUDGE.

EACH PARTY'S MEMBERS TO SUBMIT A MAP THAT FAVORS AT LYRICAL PARTY.

>> THIS YEAR, CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS AND ELECTED JUDGE PHIL HARSHMAN FROM MERCER COUNTY TO SERVE AS THE 11th MEMBER.

THE TIEBREAKER.

HE HAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF LEEWAY IN DETERMINING WHAT THE FINAL MAP WILL LOOK LIKE.

>> THE DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC AND CITIZENSHIP AT ROWAN UNIVERSITY SAYS IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THE CONCERNS OF RESIDENTS AS THEY WITHDRAW THE LINES BASED ON THE LATEST CENSUS DATA.

>> YOU CAN'T CREATE MAJORITY WHITE DISTRICTS BECAUSE YOU TAKE 10% OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO, AND ASIAN-AMERICAN POPULATIONS, AND SPLIT THEM UP SO THAT THEY NEVER HAVE THEIR OWN MAJORITY DISTRICT.

>>, COMMISSION GROUP CITIES AND TOWNS TOGETHER TO CREATE DISTRICTS WILL BE CLOSELY WATCHED.

IN PUBLIC TESTIMONY, SEVERAL PEOPLE PUSHED FOR TWO ATLANTIC COUNTY TOWNS, GALLOWAY AND TINY PORT REPUBLIC TO BE PUT BACK INTO DISTRICT 2 WITH THE REST OF THEIR COUNTY.

THE TWO COMMUNITIES HAS SPENT THE PAST DECADE AS PART OF A DISTRICT COMPRISED PRIMARILY OF OCEAN COUNTY COMMUNITIES.

>> PLEASE PUT THAT REPORT REPUBLIC BACK IN THE DISTRICT WITH ATLANTIC COUNTY WHERE OUR INTERESTS LIE, AND WHERE WE LIVE, AND WHERE WE KNOW THE PEOPLE, AND THEY KNOW US.

>> WITH THE FINAL MAPS LOOK LIKE WILL INFLUENCE HOW THE DEMOCRATS CONTROL THE STATE HOUSE FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

REPUBLICANS CAN HOPE TO JUST CREATE AS MANY COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS AS POSSIBLE.

>> IS A DEMOCRATIC MAP AND A REPUBLICAN, AND IF ONE OF THEM WINS OUT, THAT PARTY NOT ONLY WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO WIN, BECAUSE THE MAP IS CONSTRUCTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT MIGHT FAVOR THEM, BUT IT'LL BE EASIER TO RAISE MONEY.

BECAUSE, THE FOLKS WHO GIVE TO LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGNS ARE GOING TO SAY WELL, THE DEMOCRATS ARE LIKELY TO WIN, OR UNDER THIS METHOD JUST GOT APPROVED, THE REPUBLICANS ARE LIKELY TO WIN.

>> WHILE THERE IS A LOT OF STATE FOR BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, THE COMMISSION OF DEMOCRATIC COCHAIR, LEROY JONES RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THIS CRITICAL PROCESS HAPPENED ONLY ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS, AND IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE MAXIMIZE THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC INPUT THAT THE COMMISSION RECEIVES TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE, AND ACTING IN THEIR BEST INTEREST.

THE NEXT TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS BE HELD VIRTUALLY IN THE LAST MEETING WILL BE HELD IN PERSON ON DECEMBER 10th IN TRENTON.

AND, IF YOU CAN ATTEND IN PERSON OR VIRTUAL MEETING, YOU CAN SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM RAYMOND SANTANA.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS FOR THE VERY LATEST STORIES IMPACTING THE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES OF NEW JERSEY.

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