>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION, THE PSEG FOUNDATION, AND BY THE CLEAR EMERGENCE ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY, AND SMART HEAT NJ.

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

>>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING, I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

IT IS BACK TO THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL FOR GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY, AND REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER, JACK CHEERILY.

THE DAY AFTER THE TWO WENT HEAD- TO-HEAD IN A DEBATE ON NJPBS.

THE DEBATE HAD ITS HEATED MOMENTS WITH A FEW FEISTY EXCHANGES ON TOPICS SUCH AS TAXES AND ABORTION.

BUT THE ROCK IS CROWD ADDED TO THE DRAMA WITH BOTH CANDIDATES TRYING TO AVOID BEING DROWNED OUT BY STEERING OR JEERING.

SR.

CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN ANALYZES IF EITHER CANDIDATE MAY HAVE WAY WITH VOTERS ON THE FENCE WITH ELECTION DAY LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AWAY.

>> Reporter: THE CANDIDATES DUELED FOR AN HOUR AS A ROWDY CROWD JEERED AND CHEERED THE CAMPAIGN FINAL DEBATE BETWEEN INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT, PHIL MURPHY AND REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER, JACK CIATTARELLI AT ROWAN UNIVERSITY.

HE WAS WITNESSED VERBAL JOUSTING ON THE PANDEMIC, THE ECONOMY, AND MORE, BUT NEITHER CANDIDATES SCORED A KNOCKOUT.

>> NO HARM, NO FOUL, NO HOME RUNS.

>> IF DOING WHAT THEY HAD TO DO WAS GETTING THROUGH THE NIGHT, MAKING THEIR QUOTES, APPEALING TO THEIR BASES, THEY BOTH DID THAT.

THAT'S WHERE THEY TIED WITH THE PERSON AHEAD.

>> THAT WILL BE MURPHY UP BETWEEN NINE AND 13 FOR SWITCHING THE LATEST POLLS AND LEADING IN PUBLIC OPINION ON HOW HE HAS HANDLED THE PANDEMIC OR ITS SURVEYS SHOW THAT THAT IS THE VOTERS BIGGEST CONCERN.

JACK CIATTARELLI CONTINUES AS OPPOSITION TO THE CONTROVERSIAL MASK AND VACCINATION MINUTES.

>> I THINK THE BEST WAY TO GET AS MUCH COOPERATION AS YOU CAN IS DEFINED POLICY THAT WORKS FOR A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE AS OPPOSED TO A VERY HEAVY-HANDED OR ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL APPROACH.

YET HE CRITICIZED MURPHY FOR SPEAKING WITHOUT A MASK AT A RECENT INDOOR FUNDRAISER, BUT THE GOVERNOR NOTED THAT BOTH OF THEM WERE APPEARING MASSLESS TO SPEAK ON THE DEBATE STAGE.

MURPHY, HOWEVER, SHOWED LITTLE LIGHT ON INCREASE INTO MORE THAN 8500 COVA DEBTS AT LONG- TERM CARE FACILITIES.

>> IS A TRAGEDY WITHIN A TRAGEDY AS IN LONG-TERM CARE, AND THERE WAS A FULL ACCOUNTING WITHOUT QUESTION.

INDEPENDENT OF MY OFFICE OF THE.

>> WITH DEMOCRATS HOLDING A 1 MILLION+ MAJORITY AMONGST REGISTERED NEW JERSEY THOSE ARE VOTERS, JACK CIATTARELLI CONTINUED REACHING OUT TO THE MODERATE .

THEY ASKED TWICE IF HE CAMPAIGNED WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

>> IS THAT A NO?

>> NOTE HIM CAMPAIGNING WITH ME QUESTION >> I GO OUT THERE AND CAMPING ON MY OWN AND WHEN MY OWN ELECTIONS.

>> IS NOT JUST KIND OF HAULING A MINE WITH THE ELEMENTS OF THE TEXAS REPUBLICAN PARTY.

FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK SHOWING THAT HIS STRIPES, HE'S MORE OF A NEW JERSEY REPUBLICAN, WHERE YOU CAN SO WE CAN SERVE IT ON THE ISSUE BUT MAYBE NOT AS FAR TO THE RIGHT AS OTHERS.

>> SAYING HE DOUBTS THE U.S. SUPREME COURT WILL OVERTURN ROE V WADE, JACK CIATTARELLI PROMISE TO CODIFY ABORTION RIGHTS AND NEW JERSEY LAW WITHIN LIMITS, BUT ONLY IF THE LANDMARK DECISION IS OVERTURNED.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO HERE IN NEW JERSEY TO PROTECT THE LENS RIGHT TO CHOOSE, WE WILL DO THAT.

I WILL BE VERY HAPPY IF YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT ROE V WADE BUT I'M NOT A BIKING THAT SADLY WITH THIS SUPREME COURT PACKED WITH TRUMP.

SO, WE, REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ACT IS ESSENTIAL.

>> ON THE BUDGET, HE ARGUED STATE SPENDING BILL AND BY BILLIONS BECAUSE OF LONG OVERDUE PAYMENTS INTO PENSION SYSTEMS AND EDUCATION AID.

JACK CIATTARELLI, WHILE CRITICAL, WOULD NOT LIST WHAT PROGRAMS HE HAD CAUGHT.

PERHAPS THE NEXT BEST EXCHANGE CAME AFTER MURPHY BLAMED NEW JERSEY TRANSIT'S CONTINUED LACK OF DEDICATED FUNDING ON PRIOR ADMINISTRATIONS.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE MESS THAT WE INHERITED, THE MESS WITHIN THE MESS, IT WAS NJ TRANSIT.

NOBODY, NO ENGINEERS, POLITICAL CRONIES, UNDERFUNDING .

UNSAFE, DISASTER.

WE ARE FIXING NJ TRANSIT.

YOU ASKED FOR THE JOB.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING YOURSELF INTO, AND YET YOU KNOW WHAT WE HEAR FROM YOU QUESTION MARK IT'S ALWAYS THE PREVIOUS ADMISSIONS FAULT OR DONALD TRUMP'S FAULT.

SO, >> THE CROWD, SOMETIMES NOT SO RAUCOUS, DESPITE REPEATED SHUSHING FROM PANELISTS AND MODERATOR, BRIANA VANNOZZI.

CUT INTO TIME AVAILABLE FOR REBUTTALS AND QUESTIONS.

>> I AM DISAPPOINTED THERE WAS NO REAL DISCUSSION ABOUT VOTERS, BLACK AND LATINO VOTERS AND SPECIFICS ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THEM.

THE ACT OF THE DEBATE HELP CONNECT CANDIDATES TO VOTERS CUSTOMER >> THIS IS ABOUT GOING FORWARD OR GOING BACKWARD AND I WANT TO SAY, I THINK YOU DID A HECKUVA JOB CONSIDERING THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> I FEEL AS THOUGH I GOT MY POINT ACROSS, ANSWER THE QUESTIONS, BUT THE PROCESS FELT A LITTLE BUMPY.

>> WE HAVE A REFERENDUM THAT IS THE MESSAGE FROM JACK CIATTARELLI VERSUS A CHOICE THAT IS FROM THE MURPHY CAMPAIGN.

>> Reporter: WE WILL SEE WHO CONNECTED BETTER ON NOVEMBER 2nd.

I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> WHAT IS NEXT FOR BOTH OF THE CAMPAIGNS?

I SPOKE WITH SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ AND CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, MICHAEL AARON.

LET ME START WITH YOU, AS A SEASONED OBSERVER OF MANY POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, AND DEBATES, WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF LAST NIGHTS GET TOGETHER?

>> THAT WAS ABOUT AS GOOD AS A DEBATE AS I'VE EVER SEEN.

I THOUGHT MOST MEN WERE AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME.

ONE OF DAVID CRUZ'S GUESTS IN THE AFTER PROGRAM SAID THAT JACK CIATTARELLI WAS POLISHED.

I THINK HE WAS POLISHED, AND MURPHY WAS PASSIONATE.

AND VICE VERSA.

THERE SOME POLISH ABOUT MURPHY TOO, AND THERE IS SOME PASSION ABOUT JACK CIATTARELLI AS WELL.

SO, I THOUGHT IT WAS A HIGH- LEVEL DEBATE.

THE PANEL DID WELL, THE CANDIDATES WERE REALLY, VERY STRONG.

THEY DID NOT SKIP A BEAT.

THEY WERE PRETTY AMAZING.

>> DAVID, LET ME TURN TO YOU, THEN.

I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, DID THE PERFORMANCE OF EITHER CANDIDATE POTENTIALLY SWAY VOTERS?

>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY.

WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS EVEN A REAL QUANTIFIABLE POOL OF VOTERS THAT ARE UNDECIDED, AND WE DECIDED THAT PROBABLY THEY ARE, BUT AS FAR AS LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE, MOVING THE NEEDLE EITHER WAY, I THINK AT TIMES, AND GOT SO BOISTEROUS, AND THE AUDIENCE BECAME SO MUCH A PART OF THE DEBATE, THAT SOME PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PARTISANS GOING INTO THE DEBATE PROBABLY LEFT SAYING, LET ME SEE WHO ELSE IS ON THIS BALLOT.

SO, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT MOVED THE NEEDLE A LOT, I DON'T KNOW THAT THE DEBATES GENERALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE MUCH, UNLESS SOMEONE REALLY MESSES UP PRETTY BADLY, AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY MESSED UP THAT BADLY YESTERDAY.

>> MICHAEL, BACK OVER TO YOU, WHAT DO BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE TO DO NOW IN THE FEW SHORT WEEKS REMAINING BEFORE ELECTION DAY?

>> POUND THEIR MESSAGES AND THROUGH ADVERTISING.

AND, PHIL MURPHY HAS A BIG ADVANTAGE IN THAT DEPARTMENT BECAUSE HE HAS THE PAST $7 MILLION OF PUBLIC MATCHING FUNDS LEFT TO SPEND COMPARED TO JACK CIATTARELLI'S ONE AND HALF MILLION.

I THINK MURPHY HAS BEEN SAVING HIS MONEY FOR A FINAL BLITZ.

THE ADS ON BOTH SIDES ARE PRETTY GOOD.

I THINK WE ARE JUST GOING TO SEE MANY MORE FROM MURPHY.

CAN JACK CIATTARELLI GET FREE ADVERTISING THAT'S GOING TO HELP HIM.

AND CAN HE COME BACK FROM THE DIFFERENCE THAT WE ARE SEEING CURRENTLY IN THE POLLS.

>> I GUESS IT'S POSSIBLE.

I DON'T THINK THAT HE HAS THE, THE MONEY TO COMPETE 1 FOR 1 WITH THE GOVERNOR AS FAR AS TELEVISION ADVERTISING GOES.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT LAST NIGHT AS WELL, AND THERE WAS A SENSE THAT IF THERE IS, AND ENTHUSIASM GAP ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, AND MOMENTUM ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AS THE REPUBLICAN SEEMS TO SUGGEST, THEN IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO WHO HAS AN OPERATION THAT I CAN GO OUT INTO THE FIELD, AND GET OUT THE VOTE.

>> CONVENTIONAL WISDOM SAYS THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE MUCH BETTER AT THAT THE REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS TEND TO REPRESENT URBAN AREAS.

REPUBLICANS ARE SPREAD OUT.

THERE MAY BE ENTHUSIASM ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

BUT, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THERE ARE JUST INHERENTLY BETTER AT GETTING PEOPLE TO THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY.

>> MICHAEL, DAVID.

THANKS FOR YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENTS.

GOOD TO CHAT WITH YOU, GUYS.

>> AND NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD TO BUY FOOD OR TO PAY THE RENT IS SADLY ALL TOO COMMON FOR LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.

AND, COVID-19 HAS MADE THOSE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES WORSE, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AND SANTANA REPORTS ON A NEW STUDY THAT PUTS SOME NUMBERS AROUND THE HARDSHIPS.

>> DESPITE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING APPROPRIATED BY FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC TO PROTECT VULNERABLE AMERICANS, A NEW POLL HIGHLIGHTS THE PANDEMICS RACIAL HEALTH DISPARITIES.

>> THIS RECENT SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED IN AUGUST MORE THAN ONE YEAR AND A HALF INTO THE PANDEMIC.

AND, WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT IN SPITE OF THE HISTORIC FEDERAL ASSISTANCE HAS COME TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE HURTING.

LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN PARTICULAR, AND DISPROPORTIONATELY HOUSEHOLDS OF COLOR.

BLACK, LATINO, NATIVE AMERICAN HOMES POINT >> ACCORDING TO THE NEW DATA FROM THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION, HARVARD TH SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND NPR, THE MAJORITY OF FAMILIES MOST IMPACTED BY COVID-19 EARNED LESS THAN $15,000 A YEAR AND OF THE STOMACH, 30% LOST ALL OF THEIR SAVINGS.

THE POLL ALSO FOUND THAT 14% REPORTED SERIOUS PROBLEMS PAYING THEIR MORTGAGE OR RENT.

14% OF HOUSEHOLDS REPORTED SERIOUS PROBLEMS SUPPORTING FOOD AND 11% REPORTED SERIOUS PROBLEMS MAKING CAR PAYMENTS WHILE 18% REPORTED FACING OTHER SERIOUS FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.

DR. RICH IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION, WHICH IS AN UNDERWRITER OF NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

HE'S ALSO THE FORMER ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE CDC SAYS THE HEALTH OF AMERICAN THE SHOULD BE JUST AS MUCH A PRIORITY FOR THE HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT CARE FOR THEM.

>> THEY DECIDE NOT TO GIVE PEOPLE FOOD OR WATER.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD STEP IN AND ACT, BUT HERE, YOU HAVE 12 STATES THAT DECIDE NOT TO GIVE PEOPLE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP IN AND TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM.

>> YOU GO IN THERE, YOU WASH UP AND YOU TAKE YOUR CHILD IN THERE.

>> STRUGGLES FIRSTHAND.

THE TRENTON RESIDENT WHO HAS STRUGGLED FINANCIALLY AS A SINGLE NOTICE OF WHAT IS ON FAMILY DURING COVERT, ALSO WORKS WITH THE NONPROFIT ARM IN ARM.

THEY ASSIST LOW INCOME FAMILIES WITH COMMON CHALLENGES DURING THE PANDEMIC, LIKE FOOD AND HOUSING.

>> I KNOW THE FAMILY RIGHT NOW, IT'S THE HUSBAND HE'S THERE FOR.

THEY HAVE THEIR LIVING OUT OF THEIR VAN.

THEY TRY TO, THE BEST THAT THEY CAN TO FIND A PLACE TO STAY AND, THIS IS A UNITED STATES CITIZEN WHOSE GOT CUT OFF IN THE PANDEMIC.

HE DID NOT KNOW THAT THEY COULD NOT GET EVICTED.

>> THE BASIC UNDERLYING THEME IN THE POLL, AND WHAT WE SEEM THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC IS THAT IT'S HAVING.

THEY REALLY INSEPARABLE.

>> STACY BERGER IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NETWORK OF NEW JERSEY.

THE POLL HIGHLIGHTS DISTURBING TRENDS LIKE HAVING TO PUT OFF RECEIVING MEDICATION SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD IT.

>> THIS SHOWS THAT LOWER INCOME TENANTS IN PARTICULAR ARE GIVING UP THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS, THEY ARE FORGOING TAKING MEDICATION, FORGOING GOING TO THE DOCTOR, TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES, EVEN SOME ROUTINE MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS THAT MANY FOLKS JUST TAKE FOR GRANTED, LIKE A FLU SHOT ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK SAID THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO DO BECAUSE THE HEALTH OF THE HOUSING COST IS JUST SO OUT OF CONTROL.

>> DOCTORS ARE CALLING ON LOCAL LAWMAKERS TO ADDRESS THE DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF LICHEN BROWN HOUSEHOLD STILL IN CRISIS MORE THAN ONE YEAR AND HALF AFTER THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I AM RAVEN SANTANA.

>> MEETS TOMORROW AND FRIDAY TO DISCUSS WHETHER TO BUY BOOSTER DOSES FOR BOTH THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON AND MODERNA COVID-19 VACCINES.

BUT, NEW RESEARCH BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH TIMES THAT THOSE WHO RECEIVED THE J&J SHOT MAY BE BETTER OFF GETTING A BOOSTER THROUGH PFIZER OR MODERNA.

OR NEW BRIEFING DOCUMENTS FROM THE FDA IN ADVANCE OF THURSDAY'S MEETING, QUESTION THE STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE IN THE CLINICAL DATA SUBMITTED BY NEW JERSEY-BASED J&J.

WHICH, THE COMPANY SAID SUPPORTED THE NEED FOR A BOOSTER, AND SIX MONTHS OR LATER.

THE FDA ANALYSIS FOUND THAT J&J USED A TEST IN ITS RESEARCH THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SENSITIVE ENOUGH.

HEALTHCARE WORKERS ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE COVID-19 FIGHT ARE BATTLING FATIGUE AND OTHER STRESSES.

SO, RUTGERS HAS NOW LAUNCHED A NEW MENTAL HEALTH HELPLINE FOR THOUSANDS OF NURSES IN OUR STATE.

THE CONFIDENTIAL PEER SUPPORT SERVICE CONNECTS THEM WITH RETIRED OR FORMER NURSES TRAINED IN MENTAL HEALTH WHO ARE ABLE TO LEND AN EAR AND PROVIDE HELP.

THE HELPLINE IS CALLED NURSE TO NURSE.

I TALKED WITH BARBARA, A NURSE AND HELPLINE COUNSELOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH ME TO TALK ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC ABOUT GIVING SUPPORT TO THOSE FRONT-LINE WORKERS WHO SUPPORTED ALL OF US TO THE FIRST OF THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT WAS BEHIND THE HOTLINE WERE NURSES CAN GET HELP FROM PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED?

>> WELL, THIS PEER SUPPORT LINE IS PIGGYBACKED OFF OF THE COP TOOK OFF LINE, WHICH HAS SUPPORTS FOR COPS AND COPS.

THIS, THE NURSES, NURSE TO NURSE, THIS WAS ACTUALLY, ALREADY BEING, THIS WAS CONCEIVED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

AND, THIS WAS BEING WORKED ON.

SO, LUCKILY, WE ARE ABLE TO GET IT OUT AT SUCH AN IMPORTANCE TIME.

BUT, THAT'S WHERE IT COMES FROM.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COUNSELORS HEARING FROM THE NURSES WHO ARE REACHING OUT.

>> RIGHT NOW, PROBABLY SOME OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT NURSES ARE FACING FEELINGS OF OVERWHELMED AS WELL AS EXHAUSTION, ALSO HEARING A LOT OF MORALE ISSUES.

FOR NURSES, USUALLY, OUR MORALE IS PRETTY HIGH.

WE ARE PRETTY PASSIONATE ON WHAT WE DO, NO MATTER WHICH ARENA WE ARE WORKING IN.

SO, EVERYONE IS FEELING A LITTLE BEAT UP IN EVERY WHICH WAY RIGHT NOW.

>> CERTAINLY NOT SURPRISING.

GIVEN THE WORK THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

WHAT ADVICE ARE THEY RECEIVING?

HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO GET THROUGH THIS PERIOD?

WHAT ARE THE COUNSELORS SAY TO THEM?

>> EACH CALL IS COMPLETELY INDIVIDUAL.

WHAT ONE NURSE MIGHT BE FEELING OVERWHELMED WITH IS, AND THEIR EXPERIENCE MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THAN ANOTHER ONE.

SO, IT IS CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.

BUT, THE IMPORTANT THING HERE IS THAT THEY ARE SPEAKING TO A PEER, A FELLOW NURSE.

WE ALL WALKED IN THE SAME SHOES, AND HAD VERY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

SO, YOU'RE SPEAKING TO SOMEONE WHO HAS WALKED IN YOUR SHOES, AND HAS HAD THE TRAINING TO HELP GUIDE YOU THROUGH THIS.

AND, MAKE A WONDERFUL CONNECTION WITH YOU TO BE QUITE HONEST.

IT'S BEEN REALLY REWARDING.

>> YEAH, I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE RETIRED NURSES AND OTHERS WHO ARE ON THE OTHER END OF THAT PHONE CALL, THAT VERY CRUCIAL PHONE CALL.

HOW ARE THEY RESPONDING TO THIS ROLE THEY ARE PLAYING?

>> PRIDE?

AS WELL AS SOMETHING I HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHICH I'M NOT SURPRISED, BECAUSE WE ARE NURSES, IT IS, THIS IS MY WAY OF GIVING BACK.

AT THIS TIME.

>> IT REALLY IS A WONDERFUL INITIATIVE THAT IS UNDERWAY, AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THIS WORK WILL HELP A LOT OF NURSES WHO DEFINITELY NEED IT NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, RHONDA.

I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH.

>> 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.

>>> IN 2017, NEW JERSEY ELECTED CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS IN AN EFFORT TO STOP DEFENDANTS FROM BEING DETAINED FOR WEEKS, OR EVEN MONTHS, BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO POST CASH BAIL.

NOW, FOUR YEARS INTO THE REFORMS, WHAT DOES THE DATA SHOW ABOUT HOW IT'S WORKING?

LEAH MISHKIN REPORTS ON THE SUCCESSES AND THE CHANGES THAT ADVOCATES STILL WANT TO BE MADE.

>> IT USED TO BE THAT YOU WERE CHARGED WITH A CRIME.

THE JUDGE SET A BAIL AMOUNT, AND IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD IT, YOU WOULD STAY IN JAIL UNTIL YOUR CHILD.

THAT CHANGED NEARLY 5 YEARS AGO, WHEN NEW JERSEY ENACTED CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

>> NOW THEY GOT AN OUTSTANDING SYSTEM THAT DETERMINES WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE HELD OVER JAIL BASED UPON RISK FACTORS, WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO RETURN, WHETHER THEY ARE A DANGER TO SOCIETY RATHER THAN IF THEY HAVE THE MONETARY AMOUNT OF MONEY.

AND, THAT MAKES A HECK OF A LOT MORE SENSE.

>> REPORT BY NEW JERSEY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM HAS RESULTED IN MORE SERIOUS OFFENDERS, AND FEWER LOW-RISK DEFENDANTS AWAITING PRETRIAL IN JAIL.

>> IN 2012, 12% OF INMATES WERE WAITING IN JAIL BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT AFFORD A BAIL OF $2500 OR LESS.

THAT NUMBER HAS DROPPED TO .2%, OR 14 INMATES IN 2020.

AND, BAIL, THE COURTS SAYS IS ONLY USED AS A LAST RESORT.

USUALLY, WHEN SOMEBODY CONTINUOUSLY FAILS TO APPEAR IN COURT, WHICH IS NOT HAPPENING OFTEN.

THE REPORT FINDS THAT PEOPLE ARRESTED IN 2019 SHOWED UP FOR ABOUT 90.9% OF COURT APPEARANCES.

>> THE LEGISLATION THAT WE PASSED, SEVERAL YEARS AGO IS WORKING.

>> ANOTHER WAY TO MEASURE SUCCESS THE BILL REFORM IS TO LOOK AT HOW MANY PEOPLE WAITING FOR THEIR TRIAL ON THE OUTSIDE AND THAT BEING CHARGED FOR NEW CRIMES.

THESE REPORT FINDS FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS.

THE RATE HAS REMAINED LOW AROUND 13.7% FROM 2017 TO 2019 POINT >> THE OTHER INTENDED EFFECT, JUST WE ARE SAVING LOTS OF MONEY ON THE TAXPAYERS BACKS.

>> THE JAIL POPULATION HAS BEEN CUT BY ROUGHLY 40% SINCE 2012.

SOME COUNTIES HAVE DECIDED TO SHARE SERVICES TO REDUCE COSTS.

>> IS ABOUT 6 OR 7 COUNTIES THAT ARE IN THOSE TYPES OF AGREEMENTS.

I WOULD SAY BY THE END OF 2021, WE WILL HAVE 14 COUNTY JAILS.

IT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SALARIES AND WAGES AND HEALTH BENEFIT EXPENSES THAT THE COUNTIES THAT ARE CLOSING THEIR JAILS ARE SAVING.

THE RACIAL DISPARITY STILL REMAINS.

DEFENDANTS MAKE UP NEARLY 60% OF ALL THE PEOPLE INCARCERATED IN NEW JERSEY ON A ONE DAY SNAPSHOT IN 2020.

>> 68%, NEW JERSEY COURTS SAY WERE CHARGED WITH SERIOUS OFFENSES.

AS CHIEF JUSTICE, BLACK DEFENDANTS ARE MORE LIKELY WANTING TO BE ARRESTED AND MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE THE COMPLAINT, WHICH REQUIRES A TRIP TO JAIL, AS OPPOSED TO A SUMMONS, WHICH ALLOWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, ADDING, NEW JERSEY'S JUSTICE SYSTEM IS FAIR AND MORE EQUITABLE TODAY UNDER CJ ARE.

THEY MUST CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO CONFIRM INEQUITIES WHEREVER WE FIND THEM.

>> ANY SYSTEM THAT USES PRIOR CONVICTIONS AS A BASIS TO DETERMINE WHETHER SOMEONE IS LIKELY THAT, TO COMMIT A CRIME IN THE FUTURE IS LIKELY TO REPLICATE THE RACIAL DISPARITIES THAT WE HOPE TO LEAVE BEHIND.

>> AT ACL, YOU SEE YOUR SUPERVISING ATTORNEY AND THE DOLLAR SALAAM THAT IS STILL PART OF IT.

>> I THINK THE COURTS HAVE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE TO CONCERNS ABOUT DISPARITIES.

THEY HAVE DONE AN ADMIRABLE JOB OF TRACKING IT.

THE NEXT STEP IS TO START MAKING FIXES TO IT.

>> HE ALSO HOPES THE RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL IS ALSO ADDRESSED SINCE PEOPLE ARE SITTING IN JAIL FOR TOO LONG, HE SAYS BECAUSE OF A BACKLOG CREATED BY COVID SINCE TRAILS WERE NOT HAPPENING.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS , I AM LEAH MISHKIN.

>> AND NOW, OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS TONIGHT PRETTY MAY HAVE NOTICED YOU ARE PAYING MORE FOR A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS.

INFLATIONS SURGED AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER, PUSHING CONSUMER PRICES UP 5.4% FOR THE YEAR, THAT ANNUAL INCREASE IS A 13 YEAR HIGH.

COSTS ARE RISING ARE SOME KEY ESSENTIALS LIKE HOUSING, FOOD AND GASOLINE.

ECONOMISTS BLAME SOME OF THE INCREASES ON THE SUPPLY-CHAIN BOTTLENECKS WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON.

PRICES DID FALL FOR A FEW THINGS, LIKE USED CARS AND AIRLINE FARES IN SEPTEMBER.

BUT, WITH OVERALL PRICES FOR SO MANY GOODS RISING SHARPLY, MANY PEOPLE ARE FEELING SQUEEZED.

AND, THAT IS BECAUSE AVERAGE HOURLY WAGES ARE NO LONGER KEEPING PACE WITH INFLATION BASED ON THE LATEST DATA.

IF YOU ARE A COMMUTER BOUND FOR NEW YORK ON A NJ TRANSIT TRAIN, YOU HAVE PROBABLY BEEN ON YOUR WAY IN ONLY TO HEAR THIS IN OUR .

WE ARE DELAYED BECAUSE THE PORTAL BRIDGE IS STUCK.

WELL, AFTER YEARS OF DELAYS, MORE THAN A CENTURY OLD SPAN IS GETTING REPLACED.

THE NJ TRANSIT BOARD APPROVED A $1.6 BILLION CONTRACT FOR A NEW BRIDGE.

IT WILL STAND 50 FEET ABOVE THE HACKENSACK RIVER, 25 FEET HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT BRIDGE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW MORE SHIPS TO PASS UNDER THE BRIDGE, WITHOUT DISRUPTING TRAIN HABITS.

CONSTRUCTION COULD BEGIN IN JUST A FEW MONTHS, AND THE FIRST TRACK IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN A LITTLE MORE THAN FOUR YEARS FROM NOW.

THE PORT REPLACEMENT AS PART OF THE GATEWAY PROJECT, WHICH ALSO INVOLVES REPLACING THE HUDSON RIVER TRAIN TUNNELS.

NOW, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE CLOSING NUMBERS ON WALL STREET.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT, PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY MAGAZINE, COVERING ALL OF NEW JERSEY.

WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO GO, AND SO MUCH MORE ON LOCAL NEWSSTANDS AND ONLINE AT NJMONTHLY.COM.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS EVENING, BUT BE SURE TO TUNE INTO CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUISE TOMORROW AT 6:30 P.M. DAVID WILL TALK WITH FORMER GOVERNOR, CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN ABOUT THE STATE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN NEW JERSEY, AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND WHAT SHE SAYS THE GOP NEEDS TO DO TO SAVE THE PARTY.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER, HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

>> 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.