>> Tonight on "NJ Spotlight News", full speed away.

The famed Gateway tunnel project breaks ground with a new infusion of major cash.

>> With these new dollars, gateways future is assured.

All systems go.

There is no turning back.

>> And coming home, a New Jersey family gets out of Gaza and residence in Ridgewood try to prove he's is possible amid rising tensions.

>> We urge our federal -- fellow citizens to remember what unites us is far greater than what divides us.

>> Sexual harassment persists in New Jersey clinical campaigns according to a new investigation by NJ advanced media.

>> There is no where they feel comfortable reporting this or no system set up in New Jersey's political campaigns to handle these kind of obligations.

>> And, crisis prevention.

>> They are actually being tasked with trying to find solutions that outreach that connection to get those people the resources that they need.

>> Social workers partner with law enforcement to help de-escalate mental health 911 calls.

"NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

>> Funding for NJ Spotlight by the members of the New Jersey Education Association, making public schools great for every child.

RWJBarnabas 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 NJPBS, this is "NJ Spotlight News" with Rihanna Vannozzi.

>> I am Joanna Gagis.

The machinery is primed and ready to dig at the side of the Gateway project, a sign that work on the train tunnel under the Hudson River will officially begin.

The project that has been in the works for years just received a new chunk of change from the federal government, bringing the total to $11 billion that the feds will fund.

A Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan reports that infusion of cash means a manger reduction in the state's fiscal responsibility for the project that transportation experts say will dramatically improve the lives of New Jersey residents communing in and out of New York.

>> These are hard dollars at translate into hard hats.

>> an exalted Chuck Schumer announced construction of the Gateway train tunnel project under the Hudson River began in earnest today, hyper fueled by the Biden administration's promise to kick in another 3.8 billion dollars in funding.

It boosts the federal share up from half to more than 70% of gateways $16 billion price tag.

>> It brings the federal total to over $11 billion.

With these new dollars, gateways future is assured.

All systems go.

There is no turning back.

>> this represents the largest infusion of federal funds for any mass transit project in the country in modern history.

What that means for New Jersey is, it will reduce the state's financial burden.

>> The CEO of the Gateway development commission says New York and New Jersey are each obligated to pick up a quarter share of Gateway's cost, but with this extra shot of federal infrastructure at funding, he roughly guesstimates -- >> New Jersey's contribution could be as low as $300 million for the entire project.

That is a huge deal.

I can't give you a dollar amount, but this meaningfully lessens the burden on New Jersey.

>> We will redo our financials.

This is good news for New Jersey in terms of our share.

We did financing for the Northbridge, we got a lot of credit for that in are hoping to see a low investment for New Jersey to see these tunnels built.

>> Construction equipment framed the announcement at the Hudson yards complex in West Manhattan.

Deep underneath, workers will start building a 550 foot long reinforced concrete box to protect the Gateway tunnels right-of-way for Penn Station right up to the Hudson River's edge.

>> We are trying to create a level of ability for people that will make a difference in their lives.

Gateway will provide an enormous, economic incentive.

When we are done, we will double train capacity between New York and New Jersey.

>> Gateway advocates feel the need for speed.

The man's, rising.

A new study from the regional plan Association predicts that as commuters reconfigure their post-COVID work from home schedules, trans Hudson transit ridership could exceed its pre-pandemic peak by the time the new tunnels completed in 2035.

Meanwhile, the old tunnel keeps deteriorating.

It's two tracks damaged by Superstorm Sandy, corroding faster than Amtrak can repair them.

Every ear, a delay adds another $1 billion to gateways price tag, an extra $80 million a month warns RPA President Tom Wright.

>> The cost of these things go up exponentially and the longer it takes to do this project, the more expensive it is going to be.

>> Right worries of one track fails, it would/rail service by 75%, sending economic shock waves across the nation and New Jersey.

The RPA calculates about half a million North Jersey residents who commute to New York City earn $62 billion last year.

Politics remains a wildcard.

>> 30 years, people have been talking about this particular project.

A lot of talk, not a lot of walk.

>> President Biden's infrastructure coordinator funded -- noted they have funded 38 thousand projects.

U.S. Transportation Secretary P the judge pointed out the 200 thousand daily rail riders who will not have to worry about disruptions after gateways built.

>> People who will be arriving through those tunnels free to think about their families, their upcoming job interview, the homework assignment, whatever it is that mattered most in their life.

>> What happens next in New Jersey?

A big portion of tunnel a Avenue needs to be elevated to make way for two massive boring machines.

They will start grinding their way underneath the river in 2025.

>> To U.S. families trapped in Gaza just came home.

A mom from Union, New Jersey and her three kids and a family of three from Massachusetts.

An aid worker from New Jersey was also able to leave Gaza.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives led by new speaker Mike Johnson past a $14.3 billion aid bill or Israel that did not include President Biden's key initiatives like humanitarian support for those in Gaza, aid for Ukraine and funds to increase security with China and Mexico.

That bill is dead on arrival in the Senate and the White House says the GOP plan fails to meet the urgency of the moment and would have devastating implications for our safety and alliances in the years ahead.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israel's defense minister today, urging a pause of the fighting in Gaza to allow for more humanitarian aid.

That request was denied as Israel has reiterated it will not cause until hostages held by Hamas are released.

The leader of Hezbollah spoke today for the first time since the start of the war, indicating that conflict between Hezbollah and Israel could escalate if Israel does not stop its attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Wow that conflict is nowhere near resolution, here at home, a rabbi and an E mom in Ridgewood are demonstrating peace is possible even when there is disagreement.

Ted Goldberg spoke to them about how they are urging their communities to come together in the midst of so much tragedy.

>> We are fortunate to call the United States our home, where we live in peace, safety and freedom amongst our diverse faiths, ethnicities and viewpoints.

>> A rabbi and an E mom in Ridgewood joined forces today, hoping to unite Jewish people and Muslims.

>> Recognize the pain and suffering of all those affected in our community by the crisis in the Middle East.

>> The war between Israel and Hamas has sparked protests and renewed fears of bigoted attacks against Jews and Muslims.

Rabbi David find Andy Mann back who comes up have not got swept up in anger since they have been friends for 15 years and live a block apart in Ridgewood.

>> We see each other all the time.

He has seen my children grow up.

>> We have built a relationship.

We feel we live in the same neighborhood, we are brothers and sisters.

We care about each other and have the same dreams.

>> They hope the Jewish and Muslim communities can agree on peace and understanding going forward.

>> There are many significant things we do not agree on, but we agreed that we pray for peace and we agree that we are friends and not fighting with each other.

>> While we may disagree on political and other issues, we are all bound by a common decency as neighbors and Americans.

We urge our fellow citizens to remember that what unites us is far greater than what divides us.

>> They say it is important for Jewish and Islamic communities around New Jersey to engage in dialogue about sensitive subjects, even if it leads to people disagreeing with each other, maybe especially if they lead to disagreement.

>> I say, this is going to hurt.

OK, we are open-minded to listen to each other to try and understand each other's feelings.

We realize we are not going to heal everything.

>> Dialogue is hearing each other, not yelling at each other.

That is the model for what education is, what being neighbors are, communities need to come together.

Peoples need to come together.

More is when dialogue fails.

>> Occasionally, dialogue can succeed.

>> Sometimes, we change our minds.

The experience of living together, we might change our minds.

We have to be able to respect each other and understand our differences and take it from there.

>> Ridgewood has avoided large-scale anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.

This Rabbi Andy mom hope to keep it that way, even if it leads to an argument sometimes.

I am Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

>> Just a few years ago, the conversation around sexual abuse and harassment in New Jersey politics felt like a watershed moment.

Katie Britt and came forward to say she had been raped by a campaign staffer while working on Governor Murphy's campaign.

Allegations that were denied, but that lodged a working group of women who developed a new plan to create oversight of campaigns in the state.

Fast forward five years later and those plans have all but failed.

Rihanna Vannozzi sat down with NJ advanced media journalist Kelly and Sue who have been covering this topic and have startling, new allegations of sexual abuse that is continuing in state politics even today.

>> Thank you for joining me to talk about the support piece of reporting.

Kelly, here we are years after the #MeToo movement.

There have been workgroups, reforms, legislation issued and introduced.

Yet, we are still seeing these stories of really disturbing behavior.

Why is that?

>> Yeah, we have heard from women across politics in New Jersey that a lot has not changed on political campaigns.

They are still experiencing sexual harassment.

Some report sexual assaults and misogyny and groping.

A lot of women are saying it is because there is nowhere that they feel comfortable reporting this, or no systems set up in New Jersey's political campaign to handle these kind of allegations.

It has been difficult and surprising for a lot of people who have been watching this since the #MeToo movement that not much has been reformed here.

>> Sue, can you share with us some of the personal anecdotes that these women came forward with?

Were they kept anonymous, or did they want their names put out there?

>> So, we gave them the opportunity to speak with us first completely off the record.

For the most part, most of these women wanted to remain anonymous because either they still work in New Jersey politics and government, or just the shame of what they went through.

The stories are very heartbreaking.

We we -- we watch them relive them, being groped, having too much to drink and relying on someone to take you home or just trusting somebody hiring you, thinking you are doing a great job and then, all of a son, you are getting kissed and groped against your well.

>> Kelly, you mentioned about reporting these incidents.

It any of these women go forward to the police?

There is no HR so to speak when you are working on a campaign.

Did they document or report formally these incidents?

>> Most of them said no, they were afraid not only of affecting their own careers but they did not want to affect elections for affect anything about how the race was going.

They did not want to give ammunition to their opponents in the races that they were working on.

>> Sue, to Kelly's point, there has been talk over the years about whether or not and how much this plays into the lack of women who are entering politics.

Where do things stand in terms of reforms that have been proposed and have actually been enacted making a difference?

>> So, we wrote a story in 2019 that first took a look at graphic details.

At the time, Senate majority leader Loretta Weinberg introduced a bill that would create an investigative unit.

The bill passed the Senate, it never got any tractive -- traction.

The bill is still pending, but there has been no hearings.

It is hard to know because we are just on the eve of an election, no one wants to talk about this issue right now.

So, we will have to revisit it postelection to see that Phil could be resurrected.

>> That article stemming from the Katie Brennan incident with Al Alvarez.

Katie Britt and worked on Governor Murphy's gubernatorial campaign.

Thank you for joining me.

>> Thank you.

>> Mental health care has become a mainstream conversation these days, both at kitchen tables and in New Jersey political circles.

Why isn't it something we have heard more of on the campaign trail leading up to Tuesday's election?

I am joined by mental health reporter Bobby Brian who looks at how this issue is playing among Republican and Democratic voters this season.

What can you tell us about where mental health is falling as a Purry election and why aren't -- a priority this election and why aren't we hearing more about it?

>> We are related to issues related to offshore winds, abortions were issues surrounding education.

There is a large consensus both among Republican and Democrats throughout the state that this is an issue that is important from a policy perspective, but maybe not an issue driving voters to the polls.

It is not a wedge issue or a controversial issue that we are going to see move voters come this November 7.

>> It is an interesting point.

We have seen policy issues become hot button talking point issues during campaigns.

We have seen the Murphy administration really expand a number of programs.

Talk us through where mental health has fallen in terms of a priority in his administration.

>> It has become a major priority, especially both during and after the height of the pandemic.

In this latest state budget, we have seen millions of dollars go to different programs related to mental health.

Most notably, the arrive together program has received well over $10 million.

>> Arrive together is the program that pairs a police officer with a mental health professional responding to a 911 call.

>> Exactly.

In addition, we are seeing money in this latest budget cgo to this note -- this new program to get more mental health to students across the state.

>> That is the New Jersey statewide student support services program.

>> Exactly.

Finally, we are seeing around 32 million dollars going to continue to fund the 988 suicide and prevention crisis lifeline.

>> Where are you seeing in terms of support from Republican and Democratic members of New Jersey's legislator?

>> There has been widespread support on both sides of the aisle related to what more can be done to address mental health.There has been a number of key priorities that Democrats and Republicans have focused on.

One of which that was passed before the budget was signed into law was a mental health diversion court that would allow folks to be diverted or redirected away from the criminal justice system or a nonviolent offense.

That is one example where we are seeing a lot of these mental health issues popped up in Trenton and whoever is elected this November 7 afterwards.

We are going to see more of these issues be top priority policies for lawmakers.

>> Not something if Republicans were to take over control of one of the houses in New Jersey, we would likely to see funding decrease for?

>> Not at this point, I would say.

It would be something that would be a top priority among the Republicans that have spoken to and Democrats have been pushing this issue, as well.

Although it is not a main campaign issue now, it is certainly going to be a hot topic in Trenton or months to come.

>> Bobby Brier, great insight is always.

For more on all campaign issues and which candidate is running in your district and where you can vote, had to NJ Spotlight News.org and click on the NJ decides 2020 three THAAD.

Make sure you join us here next Tuesday November 7 for our live election coverage beginning with David Cruz and Rhianna Vannozzi will take over starting at 9:00 p.m.

In our stop light -- spotlight tonight, Netflix is building a facility on the site of the army base.

Netflix won the bid to build the studio that will be 500,000 square feet and will include 12 soundstages.

Netflix will have to knock down at least 95 former army buildings, some built as early as the 1920's.

He building plans have to be approved by the three towns that contain the Army base.

Eatontown, Oceanport and him Falls.

The governor today welcome Netflix to the state, emphasizing the new jobs this development will bring.

>> Together, these union workers will literally build a new cornerstone for New Jersey's burgeoning film and television production industry.

Once this facility is completed, our hard-working IATSE members will be the beating heart behind every production, pulling together sets and enabling the words written on paper to come to life.

>> Turning to Wall Street, the market reacting to a loop one jobs report that was less than anticipated.

The economy adding only 150,000 jobs.

Here is how the markets closed for the week.

♪ >> Be sure to tune in this weekend to NJ Business Beat with Raven Santana.

She looks at New Jersey's role in the global economy, exploring the new partnerships created from the Governors East Asian economic trip and how our state universities work with international schools on medical and technological research.

Watch it Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday morning at 9:30 on NJPBS.

While New Jersey continues to expand its arrive together program that pairs police with mental health specialists when responding to a mental health crisis call, we are seeing a growing number of towns developing their own response programs.

Red Bank is the latest two pair social workers with police responding to 911 calls.

Raven Santana has more on what this pulse program looks like.

>> We get a lot of calls from the public, concerned about something somebody is doing that is clearly a mental health issue.

>> The police leave out what happens next?

>> Law enforcement responding to individuals having mental health crisis has been a hot button issue across the country, which is why a handful of police departments in jersey one to help those calling 911 with matters involving substance abuse, homelessness or mental health.

Which is why they partnered with licensed social workers in the group proactive union of law-enforcement enforcement and social service experts, also known as pulse.

They are able to pay for the new partnership through its share of a settlement in an opioid class action lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies and distributors.

>> Now that we have this program, when the police go and file their report, they are checking off that there was a concern and that report is going to pulse's desk.

They are being tasked with trying to find solutions that outreach and connection to get those people the resources that they need.

>> At the unfortunate incident surrounding George Floyd's death, we look at this as a sensible police reform.

My partner and I were out together to figure out how as social workers we can be a part of the conversations when everybody speaking about defunding the police.

You do not want to take services away.

We want to see how we can add services and be more effective.

>> Sean Tate is the cofounder of polls, which started in February 2023 in an effort to help police provide help to people with mental health conditions.

>> We do look at the community and what their needs are and based -- and higher based upon that.

When you look at police involvement, it is often times we are misunderstood.

I think if I can help be a face to and be a link for some of our individuals that look like me with law enforcement, I would love to do that.

>> The group says offering clinical needs to all different types of communities is critical, which is why they are also offering their services in Spanish.

>> It will be one person at a time.

Pulse is going to rotate various social workers through so we have a variety of people meeting with people based on their specialty.

We have a bilingual social worker, we have a high population of bilingual Latino speaking residents.

We feel that would be pretty helpful.

>> We are not social workers, we are not therapists, we are police and have other calls to attend to.

It is generally, deal with it right now and move onto the next call.

That is not helping people.

>> Pulse currently operates in a handful of New Jersey towns including South River and Centerville where Lieutenant James Novak of the Centerville Police Department says he has seen positive results in six months of partnering with pulse.

>> What I have found is 100% of residents of Centerville we used during those three years time had a history with the Centerville Police Department.

On average, 16 prior police context where reports are written and we dealt with them.

In those 16, there was a history of alcohol abuse, drug abuse or mental health.

I looked at our use of force difference from the year prior to that ear to see if had an effect.

In that six month period, our use of force among residents was lowered 42%.

>> Novak is confident the program can help more police departments, not just his.

Everyone I spoke with hopes the partnership will expand to more partnerships in New Jersey to work with, not against, those with mental health conditions.

♪ >> Support for the medical report is provided by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

An independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

>> That is going to do it for us tonight.

This weekend, tune into to Reporters Roundtable.

David talks to the director of the renovate Institute for New Jersey politics at Rider University about whether or stead stunning decision to scrap its offshore wind projects could hurt Democrats of the polls next week.

On Chat Box, David hosts a political panel of GOP strategist Chris Russell and New Jersey state Democratic chairman the Roy Jones about what is at stake in next week's legislative elections.

I am Joanna Gagis.

For all of us at "NJ Spotlight News",.Thanks for being with us we will see you back here on Monday.

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Our future relies on empowered communities, the health and safety of our families and neighbors, of our schools and streets, the PSEG foundation is committed to sustainability, equity and economic empowerment.

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