>>> HELPING PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR EVERY CHILD.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>>> THIS IS SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

I AM IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

AS WE ROUND THE CORNER TOWARDS THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF COVID, THEY SAY THE VIRUS IS HERE TO STAY.

MORE THAN 1200 NEW CASES WERE REPORTED TODAY, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO MORE THAN 1 MILLION RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN INFECTED IN NEW JERSEY.

20 MORE DEATHS WERE REPORTED AND TRANSMISSION IS OVER 1% AFTER BEING ON A STEADY DECLINE.

WE HAVE MORE THAN 6 MILLION RESIDENTS VACCINATED AND KIDS AGES 5 TO 11 ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET THE SHOT, SO AT ONE POINT DOES IT SIMPLY BECOME A DISEASE WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH, LIKE THE FLU?

WITH CASES REMAINING RELATIVELY STEADY, WHEN DOES A PANDEMIC BECOME AN ENDEMIC?

WE ARE EXPLAINING HOW.

>> Reporter: THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

IT BECOMES AN AND >>, LIKE THE FLU, AND ARE WE GETTING CLOSER TO THAT?

METRICS ARE VERY SQUISHY.

>> THERE IS NO MAGIC NUMBER OR SOLUTION.

THERE IS NO, NO, ONLY 100 CASES THAT MAKES IT AN AND ENDEMIC.

IT IS A GENERAL FEELING OR A SENSE, WHICH IS YOU HAVE A DISEASE.

>> BASICALLY, WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW --WE ARE SEEING -- WE ARE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER CASES ARE INCREASING FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

IT IS TOO EARLY TO KNOW HOW LOW WE CAN GO.

>> Reporter: WHEN COVID FIRST CAUGHT FIRE, DOCTORS GROPED FOR WAYS TO TREAT THE NEW VIRUS WHEN VICTIMS HAD NO IMMUNITY.

THAT HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.

75% OF NEW JERSEY IS VACCINATED AND COVID SHOTS JUST GOT APPROVED FOR YOUNG KIDS AND WITH NEW COVID MEDICINES AND BILLS FROM PFIZER AND WORK IN THE PIPELINE -- >> MUCH LIKE TAMIFLU IS IF YOU ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY CASES EARLY, WHEN THEY ARE STARTING TO SHOW SYMPTOMS, YOU CAN REDUCE THE SYMPTOMS AND PEOPLE CAN STAY HOME AND FEEL BETTER.

WE HAVE A WAY TO TREAT IT.

>> Reporter: THEY HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CATCHING THE FLU.

>> Reporter: BECAUSE VIRUSES MUTATE, PEOPLE WHO GET ANNUAL FLU SHOT COULD ALSO END UP GETTING A YEARLY COVID BOOSTER THROUGH VACCINES THAT GET TWEAKED EVERY YEAR TO COMBAT DIFFERENT STRAINS OF INFLUENZA.

SOME 50% TO 60% OF THE WHITE POPULATION GETS AN ANNUAL FLU SHOT REGARDLESS IT IS MORE THAN 1000 PEOPLE ON AVERAGE IN NEW JERSEY EVERY FLU SEASON.

>> WE DO HAVE FLU DEATHS AND WE WILL SEE COVID DEATHS EVERY YEAR.

THAT IS WHAT AN ENDEMIC EVERY YEAR.

WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PFIZER MEDICATION AND THE MERC MEDICATIONS, WE MAY PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GETTING MORE SICK BUT IT DOES NOT MEAN PEOPLE WILL GET REALLY SICK.

>> WHAT ABOUT MANDATES?

THERE IS SOME THAT OF AN ORDER TO GET A TEST AND IT MAY CONTINUE, EVEN AS THE DISEASE MOVES INTO ITS ENDEMIC PHASE BECAUSE MANY PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS BELIEVE THEY PROBABLY ARE NOT GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON, AT LEAST FOR CERTAIN PROFESSIONS.

>> WE HAVE MECHANISMS IN PLACE FOR MANDATING VACCINES IN SCHOOLS WHETHER THEY ARE K-12 AND OTHER SETTINGS.

THOSE EXIST AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT WORKERS, LIKE MILITARY AND SO ON.

>> THEIR VERY EFFECTIVE IN TERMS OF ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED FOR THEIR OWN TONE, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH THE PUBLIC FOR PROTECTION.

>> Reporter: A FEDERAL MANDATE ORDERED PRIVATE COMPANIES WITH 100 OR MORE WORKERS TO GET EVERYONE VACCINATED BY JANUARY 4th BUT MANY BUSINESSES HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT ON THEIR OWN TO PROTECT STAFF AND CUSTOMERS.

SOME MAY CONTINUE.

AS FOR MASTS, THOSE MANDATES MAY PERSIST IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS BUT OTHERWISE -- >> AS WE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE VACCINATED --I THINK THOSE WILL LIKELY GO AWAY.

I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF, STARTING IN SEPTEMBER 2022, WE STILL HAVE MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOL.

>> MINIS MIGHT CHOOSE TO WEAR MASKS IN INDOOR PLACES LIKE BUSES AND TRAINS AND BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS WILL STILL OCCUR.

>> WE WILL STILL SEE --DESPITE WHAT WE ARE DOING, THERE ARE OUTBREAKS OF INFECTION.

THEY WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN IN ALL REALMS OF SOCIETY.

>> Reporter: PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORIES WILL FOLLOW THE VIRUS.

>> IT IS LIKELY THAT -- WE WILL RECOMMEND THINGS LIKE WEARING MASKS IN PUBLIC SETTINGS MORE.

WHEN THE VIRUS --YOU CONTENT TO RELAX IN AREAS WHEN IT IS NOT -- >> Reporter: THE NEW NORMAL WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO GET USED TO.

>>> PRIVATE EMPLOYERS WILL HAVE TO ENFORCE A NEW VACCINE MANDATE OR ENSURE THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE GETTING TESTED.

THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED THE NEW RULES.

WHO IS GOING TO GET AFFECTED AND WHEN WILL IT START?

WE HAVE SOMEONE JOINING US NOW TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL.

STEPHEN, WHO WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE NEW VACCINE MANDATE?

>> QUITE A FEW PEOPLE.

THE MANDATE HAS BEEN --IT WILL IMPACT ABOUT 85 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THAT COVERS ALL EMPLOYERS WITH 100 OR MORE EMPLOYEES.

>> Reporter: WHAT WE SAW PREVIOUSLY WAS A MANDATE FOR ALL FEDERAL WORKERS.

THIS IS NOW EXPANDING SIGNIFICANTLY.

TALK ABOUT WHAT THE REGULATIONS WILL BE IN TERMS OF WHEN PEOPLE NEED TO BE VACCINATED AND IF THEY CHOOSE TO FORGO VACCINATION, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

>> THE VACCINATION DATE IS SCHEDULED FOR THE FOURTH BUT THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYERS THAT NEED TO BE READY BY DECEMBER 4th.

MOST ARE ALREADY IN COMPLIANCE.

PEOPLE DO NEED TO BE VACCINATED BY THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY.

THIS LAW IS SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE IMPACTING HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

HEALTHCARE WORKERS REALLY DID NOT HAVE A CHOICE.

IT WAS EITHER TO BE VACCINATED OR UNEMPLOYED.

THE MANDATE THAT WE HAVE NOW FOR PRIVATE EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES ALLOW PRIVATE EMPLOYERS TO HAVE EMPLOYEES GETTING VACCINATED OR TESTED ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

IT IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT BUT PRIVATE EMPLOYERS CAN MANDATE THAT EVERYONE MUST BE VACCINATED, SIMILAR TO THE HEALTHCARE LAW MANDATE.

>> THIS TESTING IS NOT INCUMBENT ON THE EMPLOYER, AM I CORRECT, TO PROVIDE THE TESTING OR TO PAY FOR THE TESTING.

HOW IS THE EMPLOYEE SUPPOSED TO HANDLE THAT?

>> YOU ARE CORRECT.

THE EMPLOYER DOES NOT HAVE TO PAY BUT THE MANDATE DOES REQUIRE EMPLOYERS OF 100 OR MORE TO GIVE EMPLOYEES UP TO FOUR HOURS OF TIME OFF TO GET TESTED AND IT IS FOUR HOURS OF PAID TIME OFF.

IT WILL INCUR COST TO EMPLOYERS BUT THE COST ITSELF FOR THE TESTING IS TO BE BORNE BY THE EMPLOYEES.

>> THERE ARE PROVISIONS MADE FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE TIME OFF TO GET VACCINATED AND ANY EFFECTS?

>> YES, VACCINATIONS -- YOU CAN GET FOUR HOURS TO GET VACCINATED AND THE EMPLOYEE BEARS THE COST OF THE VACCINATION.

THOSE WHO DO NOT WANT TO GET VACCINATED AND NEED TO GET TESTED ON A WEEKLY BASIS, THOSE TESTS ARE ALSO AT THE EMPLOYEE'S EXPENSE.

>> IF THERE IS A HIGH DEGREE OF COMPLIANCE, IS THERE ANY GUIDANCE IN TERMS OF MASK WEARING AND AT ONE POINT THEY CAN COMFORTABLY, SAFELY REMOVE THOSE MASK REQUIREMENTS?

>> THE ONLY REQUIREMENT IN THE MANDATE OR MASK REQUIREMENTS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNVACCINATED --I MEAN PEOPLE WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED, THEY -- THEY HAVE THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON ONE THAT IS ONLY ONE VACCINE.

MOST EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE TO BE WEARING MASKS IN THE WORKPLACE.

ONLY THE UNVACCINATED.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK THIS MANDATE WILL BE RECEIVED BY BUSINESSES, VERY QUICKLY?

>> I THINK -- IT ALLOWS THE EMPLOYER TO SAY OSHA IS REQUIRING THIS AND IT IS NOT NECESSARILY COMING FROM US, THE EMPLOYER.

SO IN ESSENCE, IT ENABLES EMPLOYEES TO SOMEWHAT PASS THE BUCK HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, STEPHEN ADLER.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME.

>>> A NEW PILL CAN STOP THE SEVERE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19.

PFIZER ANNOUNCED ITS MEDICATION HAS AN 89% SUCCESS RATE AT REDUCING THE RISK OF HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH FOR HIGH-RISK ADULTS.

THAT COMES WHEN THE DRUG IS PAIRED WITH ANOTHER ANTIVIRAL MEDICATION THAT IS USED TO TREAT HIV PATIENTS.

THE PFIZER DRUG IS KNOWN AS -- PFIZER IS SUBMITTING HIS CLINICAL TRIAL RESULTS TO THE FDA COME EVEN AS THE U.K. HAS ALREADY AGREED --THIS COMES AFTER MERCK ANNOUNCED IT ANTIVIRAL PILL.

THEY CREATE ERRORS IN THE CODE OF THE VIRUS.

AS ONE CORRESPONDENT LIKES TO SAY, NEW JERSEY POLITICS WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN.

THIS ELECTION LIVED UP TO THAT MANTRA WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE THAT IS STILL NOT OVER THREE DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION AND A POLITICAL TAKEDOWN IN THE SENATE, THE LIKES OF WHICH WE HAVE NOT SEEN.

HE HAS NOT CONSIDERED THE RACE, EVEN THOUGH HE IS MORE THAN 50,000 VOTES BEHIND GOVERNOR MURPHY WITH JUST 5% LEFT TO REPORT.

ANOTHER ALSO HAS NOT CONCEDED AND ALL THE VOTES ARE COUNTED IN HIS DISTRICT.

THE VICTOR IN DISTRICT 3 HAS ALREADY COME UNDER FIRE THIS MORNING FOR SEVERAL INFLAMMATORY POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ONE IN 2019 IN WHICH HE SAID MOHAMMED WAS A PEDOPHILE AND ISLAM IS A FALSE RELIGION AND ONLY FOOLS FOLLOW MUSLIM TEACHINGS.

HE LIKENED VACCINE MANDATES TO THE HOLOCAUST EARLIER THIS YEAR.

HE RELEASED AN APOLOGY, SAYING I AM A PASSIONATE GUY AND SOMETIMES SAFE RINGS IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT.

IF I SAID THINGS THAT HURT ANYBODY'S FEELINGS, I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE.

WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE COMMENTS, HERE IS WHAT GOVERNOR MURPHY HAD TO SAY.

>> I AM STUNNED.

WE EXCHANGED TEXTS WEDNESDAY MORNING, I GUESS, AND WEDNESDAY MIDDAY.

WE SPOKE YESTERDAY AND I AM STUNNED.

THIS GUY, HE IS A DANGEROUS GUY, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HIS TWITTER FEED.

I THINK IT IS TWITTER OR FACEBOOK.

THE STUFF THAT IS OUT THERE IS OUTRAGEOUS.

I WANT TO BE UNEQUIVOCAL.

I DO NOT WELCOME THIS.

HE HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER, PARTICULARLY OVER THE PAST 2 1/2 YEARS, BUT WE HAVE GOTTEN A TON DONE TOGETHER.

NO MATTER HOW GOOD OF AN IDEA WE HAD, AND THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP --HE HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING.

I AM VERY BUMMED AND HE DESERVES THE SPACE HE NEEDS.

>> WITH SWEENEY OUT, ANOTHER IS IN AS SENATE PRESIDENT.

SOURCES CONFIRM THAT TODAY.

IF TWO VERSES ARE LIKELY TO BE REVERSED TWO CANDIDATES UNWILLING TO CONCEDE DEFEAT, WHAT HAPPENS?

ONE CORRESPONDENT SAT DOWN WITH THE FORMER NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR TO TALK ABOUT HOW THESE RACES GET CALLED AND HOW LONG IT COULD TAKE.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

DEMOCRATS ON TUESDAY NIGHT GOT A WAKE-UP CALL.

PHIL MURPHY ALMOST LOST.

STEVE SWEENEY APPARENTLY DID LOSE.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

>> GOOD POLICY -- CLEVER POLITICS BECOMES A GAUGE.

WE ARE DEALING WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THEY ARE NOT COMMUNICATING ABOUT THE SPECIFICS OF COMPLICATED MATTERS.

>> THEY ASKED FOR A RECOUNT.

THE LAST RECOUNT WAS IN 1981.

THEY VOTED AGAINST TOM KANE.

IT TOOK 27 DAYS TO SORT OUT.

HE FINALLY --YOU CONCEDED TO HIM AND HE WON BY 1700 VOTES.

WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE FOR YOU?

>> I WAS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE INCOME.

>> DOES IT STILL STING?

HE BECAME GOVERNOR EIGHT YEARS LATER, SO MAYBE THAT WIPED AWAY ANY HARD FEELINGS.

>> TAKE WHAT YOU CAN FROM THE LOSS WHAT YOU CAN LEARN.

I HAVE GAINED A SENSE OF MATURITY AND MORE EXPERIENCE.

>> IS NEW JERSEY LESS OF A BLUE STATE THAN WE THINK?

IS IT REALLY A PURPLE STATE?

>> I THINK NEW JERSEY IS A STATE RESPONDING TO --THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEAL WITH SOME ISSUES FROM A POSITION OF STRENGTH AND THEY THINK THINGS CAN BE ABLE TO BE DONE EASIER.

NEW JERSEY IS A GOOD STATE IN TERMS OF MANAGEMENT.

IT IS ADEQUATE IN THIS DAY AND AGE, ESPECIALLY WITH APPROPRIATE ACTION.

IT IS NOT REFLECTIVE OF WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.

WE SHOULD BE DOING MUCH MORE.

>> YOU THINK WE WILL KEEP ON BEING A PROGRESSIVE STATE?

>> HE STILL HAS A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE.

>> FORMER GOVERNOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS THIS WEEK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE PANDEMIC LEFT COUNTLESS FAMILIES THINKING ABOUT WHERE THEIR MEALS WILL COME FROM BUT RESTAURANTS WERE TRYING TO SURVIVE WITHOUT NO ONE TO SERVE MEALS TO.

GOVERNOR MURPHY LAUNCHED SUSTAINED A STIR, THAT FUNNELS MONEY TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT FEED THE HUNGRY.

THEY THEN PURCHASE MEALS FROM STRUGGLING RESTAURANTS.

GOVERNOR MURPHY CALLED IT A WIN- WIN.

SO FAR, THEY HAVE DELIVERED MORE THAN 2 MILLION MEALS AND IT ALREADY --HE ANNOUNCED ANOTHER $10 MILLION FOR THE PROGRAM.

THEY WILL SERVE UP ANOTHER 1 MILLION MEALS.

SUSTAIN AND SERVE IS RUN THROUGH THIS AUTHORITY.

THIS IS WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT.

>> WE WILL SEE IF WE CAN GET IT TO WORK.

WE HAVE FOUND WE HAVE 400 RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE STATE IN ALL 21 COUNTIES CONNECTING PEOPLE WHO NEED A MEAL.

>> COVID RELIEF LAID BARE THAT NEW JERSEYANS DO NOT KNOW WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM.

FOR ME, IT COMES BACK TO DIGNITY.

>> DEMOCRATS TRIED BUT FAILED TO HOLD A VOTE ON THE PRESIDENTS MASSIVE BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN.

WE HAVE THAT PLUS TODAY'S TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES.

RHONDA, WHAT HELD UP THE VOTE IN WASHINGTON?

>> CONCERNS OVER THE COST OF THE PROPOSED BUILD BACK BETTER BILL DELAYED THAT HOUSEBOAT THAT WAS PLANNED FOR THIS MORNING.

DEMOCRATS COME -- THEY HAVE A PROPOSAL ADDED LATE YESTERDAY THAT WOULD LIFT THE $10,000 LIMIT ON THE STATE AND LOCAL TAX DEDUCTIONS TO $80,000.

DEMOCRATS ALSO ADDED BACK IN A NEW PAID FAMILY LEAVE PROGRAM.

ONCE IT GETS TO THE SENATE, MORE CHANGES ARE EXPECTED THERE.

THE JOB MARKET CAME ROARING BACK IN OCTOBER.

THE U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT SAYS 531,000 JOBS WERE ADDED TO THE ECONOMY LAST MONTH.

THEY BEAT EXPECTATIONS.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE NATIONALLY DROPPED TO 4.6%.

IT IS, OF COURSE, HIGHER THAN THAT IN NEW JERSEY.

IN TERMS OF NEW JOBS, MOST OF THE GAINS CAME IN THE LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY SECTOR AS PEOPLE HAVE STARTED TO RETURN TO RESTAURANTS AND THEY ARE TAKING VACATIONS.

THE COVID NUMBERS ARE CONTINUING TO DECLINE.

>>> STOCKTON UNIVERSITY HOSTED A BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS CONFERENCE TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE WORKPLACE IS CHANGING.

CEOs SPOKE ABOUT HOW FLEXIBILITY IS KEY IN THE POST- COVID WORLD AND HYBRID SCHEDULES ARE IN DEMAND AND STRONG COMMUNICATION IS KEY.

THE DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS SAID TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE POST-COVID WORKPLACE BY FOCUSING ON LEARNING SOFT SKILLS.

STUDENTS NEED TO LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH UNCERTAINTY AND HOW TO BE AND THAT ATTIC.

>> THAT IS SOMETHING THE PANDEMIC HAS BROUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT.

IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO JUST GRADUATE WITH A DEGREE IN MARKETING BUT STUDENTS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN COMMUNICATION BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC HAS REALLY CHANGED AT ALL.

>> THEY ARE WANTING TO GET MORE TRAINS TO ACCOMMODATE GROWING RIDERSHIP.

22 TRAINS ARE BEING ADDED DURING PEAK TRAVEL TIMES.

ADDITIONALLY, 14 NEW WEEKEND TRAINS WILL BE ADDED.

SERVICE WILL START OPERATING HOURLY.

THEY WILL TAKE AFFECT ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14th.

HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW WALL STREET ENDED THE WEEK.

THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> TURNED TO THE NJ BUSINESS FEED AS WE FOCUS ON THE JOB MARKET AND LOOK AT HOW NEW JERSEY'S WORKFORCE IS CHANGING, FROM COMPANIES NO LONGER DEMANDING COLLEGE DEGREES AND WORKERS USING THEIR NEWFOUND LEVERAGE TO DEMAND BETTER WAGES AND JOBS.

SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE.

REPORTING TO EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

>>> THE NEW STRAW LAW TOOK EFFECT.

IT IS PART OF A LARGER EFFORT THEY PUT NEW JERSEY AT THE FRONT OF THE PLASTIC PACK, FIGHTING OFF SINGLE USE PLASTIC WAYS.

WAS THAT MEAN FOR BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS?

WE HAVE THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WITH US.

COMMISSIONER, NEW JERSEY'S PLASTIC BAN PUTS THE STATE AS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST PLASTIC WASTE.

HOW IS THIS ROLLING OUT AND WHY IS IT A STAGGERED START?

>> WE WILL GET OUR RESIDENTIAL USED TO DOING THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY, SO WE CAN IMPROVE THE CLEANLINESS OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND SPEND LESS MONEY ON WASTE MANAGEMENT AND THEREBY IMPROVE OUR ECONOMIES.

SO WE ARE DOING THIS IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT STEPS.

THE FIRST IS TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN REDUCE RELIANCE ON SINGLE USE PLASTIC STRAWS AND THEN NEXT YEAR, IN MAY OF 2022, WE WILL MOVE ON TO REDUCING RELIANCE ON SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS.

>> CUSTOMERS WILL PRETTY QUICKLY FIGURE OUT THAT IF THEY SIMPLY ASK FOR A PLASTIC STRAW OR PLASTIC BAG, THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO GET IT.

IS THERE SOME DEGREE OF SMOKE AND MIRRORS AND THIS THAT IT CANNOT ACTUALLY REDUCE PLASTIC WASTE IN THE WAY THE STATE IS HOPING?

>> I DO NOT THINK THERE ARE SMOKE AND MIRRORS.

I THINK IT IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT WITH RESPECT TO PLASTIC STRAWS THAT IN THE PURSUIT OF IMPROVING THE CLEANLINESS OF OUR COMMUNITIES, REDUCING PLASTIC WASTE AND REDUCING RELIANCE ON FOSSIL FUELS THAT CREATE PLASTICS IN THE FIRST PLACE, WE CANNOT LEAVE ANY NEW JERSEY AND BEHIND.

THERE ARE FOLKS WHO, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF A DISABILITY OR RECENT DENTAL WORK, YOU ARE GOING TO NEED A STRAW.

WE DO NOT WANT TO MAKE THAT COMPLETELY UNAVAILABLE TO FOLKS.

THE WAY WE WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE OUR ENVIRONMENT IS BY TAKING SOME STEPS TOGETHER AND ENSURING THAT FOLKS HAVE ACCESS TO THE THINGS THEY NEED.

IN MY VIEW, AND IN THE VIEW OF THIS LAW, THAT OTHER WAY IS NOT THE WAY WE HAVE TO WORK TO PUT THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENT IN FRONT TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: THEY FOUND MICROPLASTICS IN NEARLY ALL OCEAN LIFE EXISTS.

WE ARE CONSUMER FISH THAT HAVE PLASTIC IN IT.

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE IMPACT OF PLASTIC ON HUMANS AND ANIMALS?

>> THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT IT CAN OCCUR BOTH TO ECOLOGY AND TO HUMANS.

IN YOUR EXAMPLE, WITH RESPECT TO PLASTICS IN THE STOMACHS OF WILDLIFE, WE SEE WASTE ALONG OUR STREETS AND COMMUNITIES, PARKING LOTS OF HOURS STORES, THAT WASTE CAN OFTEN BE WASHED INTO THE WATER SYSTEMS AND INTO STREAMS AND STORE WATER SEWERS AND PLASTIC TAKES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO BREAK DOWN AND IT CAN BECOME THESE TINY PARTS OF MICROPLASTICS THAT GET INTO WILDLIFE AND THAT CONTAMINATE WATER SUPPLIES AND WE HAVE TO START BY REDUCING IT AT THE SOURCE.

WE WANT TO CREATE LESS PLASTIC IN THE FIRST INSTANCE AND WE WANT TO DISPOSE OF PLASTIC WERE EVER WE CAN AND THE USE OF SINGLE USE PLASTICS WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

THAT IS WHAT THEY DO.

>> COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> IF YOU MISSED ANY HEADLINES THIS WEEK, TUNE INTO THE ROUNDTABLE WITH ONE CORRESPONDED AT 6:00 AT NIGHT AND SUNDAY AT EIGHT IN THE MORNING.

YOU CAN ALSO CATCH CHATTERBOX SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY AT 10:30 A.M. BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, THE MOST IMPORTANT BREAKING NEWS OF THIS WEEK, I AM THRILLED TO TELL YOU OUR ANCHOR, BRIANA VANNOZZI, HAS WELCOMED A BABY BOY.

THEY WERE BEFORE NOVEMBER 3rd, WEIGHING IN AT EIGHT POUNDS FIVE OUNCES AND 21 INCHES LONG.

BOTH MOM AND BABY ARE DOING GREAT.

THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS WEEK.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY.

>>> WE ARE SERVING INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS.

WE ARE PART OF THE BLUE CLOTH BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.