An exclusive interview.

In the U.S. 10-year Senator Bob Menendez speaking out in his interview thing he is innocent and still refuses to step down.

>> if we get to a trial, that ultimately will show people in New Jersey what the truth really is.

BRIANA: Also, standing with Israel.

Representative Michael Cheryl reaffirms her support for Israel and calls for more humanitarian aid for Palestinian Bud Selig waivers on the possible Cease Fire.

>> My number one consideration is how we ensure Israel remains secure, but that we also ensure that we have a better outcome for the civilians in Palestine.

BRIANA: Plus, avoiding police involved shootings.

The state is celebrating the expansion of the ARRIVE Together program.

The jury is still out for some mental health advocates.

>> We have been feeling people.

And so -- we have been failing people.

I think this program is a good step, a step in the right direction, but we could be doing more.

BRIANA: And, saying goodbye to a 60-year-old New Jersey landmark.

That the El England smokestack crumbles down to make way for more modern windfarms.

"NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

>> Funding for "NJ Spotlight News" 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.

New Jersey Realtors, the voice -- And by the PSEG Foundation.

♪ >> From NJPBS, this is NJ Spotlight News with Breana Vannozzi.

BRIANA: Good evening and thank you for joining us.

Senator Bob Menendez says he is innocent and he plans to prove it.

In his first interview since being indicted on bribery and corruption charges, New Jersey's senior senator defended himself against allegations he acted as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government, denied any wrongdoing in accusations that the hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash federal authorities found in his home or bribes, and pledged to clear his name, all while remaining in office.

He spoke with our senior the Dickel respondent David Cruz for this week's episode of chat box an exclusive interview.

>> let me ask the most obvious questions up front.

The U.S. attorney says they found half $1 million in cash around the house staff, in some cases in the pockets of your jacket and gold bars seemingly strewn about.

I don't know many people who leave the explanation you gave about fears of having the cash confiscated.

How do you explain the gold bars , where they come from, and cash in pockets.

Why not have this stuff in a safe, for instance?

Sen. Menendez: let me say, first of all, the government presented this in the most salacious and sensational way possible in order to have the desired effect that they have to prayer the achieved.

The reality is that we presented information to the government on those issues and others, that clearly explains a different rationale for its existence which is nothing the government simply decided not to acknowledge and use.

And so while I can't get into every specific of the charges the government has alleged because I need to be able to preserve that for my defense, you know, this is an example of how, in fact, we did give the government information, and how, in fact, they choose not to use it, and how I look forward to both the process and motions and a trial, if we get to a trial, that ultimately will show people in New Jersey what the truth really is.

>> It just sounds frantic.

Why not put the cash in the safe, for instance, and the gold bars in the safe in the home, if the point is to safeguard them?

Sen. Menendez: again, I can't get into all the specifics, but as I have said, I have drawn from my personal credit union giving the code for the better part of 30 years, $400 every week in cash.

While that may seem old-fashioned, some people may think of it as crazy, the reality is that the government has those records, they have the accounts that show them and they chose not to use it.

So, you know, this is why I look forward to being in the position to actually speak to these issues so that New Jerseyans will have a different set of facts.

>> Your wife is the codefendant, you have separate attorneys.

Can you describe your relationship during the period that is in this indictment.

Were you partners in your political and other endeavors?

Sen. Menendez: we were husband-and-wife and we are husband and wife.

I love her dearly.

In fact we do what everybody else is a husband-and-wife do together.

That is the relationship we have had over the three years we have been married and I look forward to a long relationship with her is >> because the suggestion is you will working together, she was introducing you to the other codefendants in this case.

Did you know them before you met her?

Sen. Menendez: I used some of them before her and others I didn't.

>> I know you want to talk about other crises facing the world.

You are not chair of Foreign Relations.

You had to sit out a briefing on the Israeli, so are.

Is it fair to say that you have been sidelined by these legal issues?

Sen. Menendez: absolutely not.

And that we one thing, I was not barred from going into an intelligence briefing, I still have my intelligence credentials.

Phil really is, after some of them has done foreign policy for over 30 years and who knows intimately the U.S.-Israel relationship and the challenges Israel faces, particularly in the horrific actions of Hamas, I didn't need to go to an intelligence briefing to tell me what we need to do to stand by Israel, and, at the same time, help for Palestinian people who are innocent.

So I have often not gone to an intelligence briefing, because I often learned there would've already knew in public and that I am barred from speaking about.

>> Almost all the members of your party in the state here and several of your colleagues in the Senate have suggested you resign.

I have seen you beat the odds before.

But you have been in this business a long time.

Winning a primary, even if these charges go away, will be near impossible.

Don't you serve your party in your state better by resigning now?

Sen. Menendez: no.

On the conferring.

If I had taken the same course of action previously, that all the good work that I have done for Sandy recovery, the good work I did during the fundamental, the billions are brought to the state that Governor Murphy said was indispensable to the state, all the work I have done on lowering the cost of prescription drugs and so much more, would not have been accomplished.

As I said, that would be the easy way out.

As it relates to your primary, I trust the people of New Jersey, I have trusted them for nearly 50 years.

They have never disappointed me.

I will work hard not to disappoint them.

BRIANA: You can see the full interview on chat box with David Cruz, it will be available starting tonight at 6:00 p.m. on the NJSpotlightNews Youtube channel or Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. on NJPBS.

The international crisis between Israel and Thomas is filling into communities across New Jersey, as both for Israel and Pro-Palestinian groups hold demonstrations and speak out against a rise in harassment and hate speech against each side.

In North Jersey, tensions erupted after the city Councils in Englewood and Teaneck approved resolutions standing with Israel Israel, resulting in a public meeting being shut down.

The situation in Middle East is being described as catastrophic.

Israel's military said it target out -- carried out a targeted rate than that with tax overnight as, quote, "part of the permissions for the next stage in combat."

imminent as to be October 7 attacks by Hamas.

Meanwhile the main you and agency helping the Palestinians trapped in the besieged city say they will have to halt operations if you will is delivered,: If the end of a lifeline for civilians.

Officials in Gaza they more than 7000 people have been killed.

Upwards of 18,000 injured, the majority, civilians, women and children.

Pressure is building on the U.S. and international community to get desperately needed aid into Gaza, and many countries are advocating for a cease-fire or a humanitarian pause in the fighting permit for more, I am joined by New Jersey Congresswoman Mikey Cheryl sits on the Armed Services Committee.

Thank you for joining us.

The president has put forward a massive aid package for Congress to approve for both Israel and Ukraine.

Some of that money for humanitarian aid.

Where do you stand on the package and the sheer amount it is, and the fact that humanitarian aid has been slow to get into Gaza?

Rep. Sherrill: it's a good package.

It has aid to Israel, can Ukraine come Gaza, as well as work on our own U.S. defense many fracturing based end or munitions to keep the United States secure.

The problem remains the far right extremists in the house who want to block, among other things, aid to Ukraine.

BRIANA: Do you see it getting hung up and prevented from being passed?

Rep. Sherrill: and we will probably get into, we have the means car and he has been, up to this point, very aligned with the far right extremists in his conference.

For example, not voting to pay our debt, not voting to keep it open.

Voting against both of those things.

Voting against Ukrainian aid, pretty extreme in a way that is concerning to me.

On some social issues.

I am hopeful that now that he is in leadership, that he will understand this moment that we are in in this country and what you have to do to ensure that we are strong and resilient and supporting the values in this country.

BRIANA: Since you brought it up, let's say on that for a moment, what type of government do you expect from Representative Johnson?

Rep. Sherrill: You know, I am not sure what to expect.

I am very hopeful that we can come to a better place, because, I'll tell you, his history would lead one to expect a failure in governance.

And certainly what we have seen over the past several weeks has been a complete failure of the GOP got to a point where they can govern.

Your party is so divided and some members who are incredibly extreme and out of step with the American people, seem to have the lead in how they are moving forward.

BRIANA: The first action he took was to bring a resolution to the floor in support of Israel, condemning Hamas.

Last time we spoke with you, you said you wouldn't sign on to our letter urging a ceasefire.

Where do you stand on that now?

Rep. Sherrill: I think very have to be as a country who is supporting the fight against Hamas is to be incredibly thoughtful about what that means and how best to move forward.

We have learned hard lessons about counterinsurgency's.

Hard lessons about fighting terrorism.

And I think we have to be very thoughtful about how we move forward and aligned with our democratic values.

How we make sure we are protecting civilians.

How we are getting humanitarian aid to civilians.

BRIANA: So to be clear, a more thoughtful approach, but he wouldn't support a cease-fire at this point?

Rep. Sherrill: Right now, I am working hard with our allies on moving forward.

And if there is a time when different legislation comes forward that I think will help in that effort, I will consider it.

I am again, my number one consideration is how we ensure that Israel remains secure, but that we also ensure that we have a better outcome for the civilians in Palestine.

BRIANA: Congresswoman Mikey, thank you so much for your time.

Rep. Sherrill: Thank you.

BRIANA: The state is trying to shift how it responds to behavioral health crises in the wake of deadly police shootings with residents experiencing in mental health emergency.

Attorney General Matt Platkin today today held an event to take the Pulse on a new state program being expended.

It's called ARRIVE Together pairing law enforcement with a , mental health professional on each and every now one call.

City of course when the Flanagan reports.

>> This was an hour and half call.

We were able to secure the cut and make sure the cut was OK. Reporter: the Police Sergeant smiled describing a recent ARRIVE Together case with partner Beth Rodriguez, a mental health screener.

They checked on an elderly woman who kept calling police alarmed about imaginary burglars.

Rodriguez diagnosed the problem.

>> we were able to realize that there was some type of medical issue that needed to be taken care of.

Sometimes older folks they don't take care of themselves or they mismanage their their their pills which in turn was causing the paranoia.

>> I loved going out to the community because you help people when they are at their lowest end.

Reporter: team members working in Middlesex County sat on a panel to assess how well the programs worked since it kicked off here last May.

Together, they have diffused domestic arguments, help folks access medical services, and arranged follow-up care.

>> Sat on the phone and was able to set up the patient with outpatient services.

If that is something I would have never been able to do before.

Reporter: Attorney General Matt Platkin founded ARRIVE Together back in December 2021 main objective is to avoid violent outcomes when someone experiences an emotional crisis by pairing a plain Clos officer with a mental health expert what .

>> We have asked law-enforcement to do too much.

No one person can be everything and do everything that is required in that moment of crisis.

The better news -- the best news about ARRIVE is that it is working.

Reporter: so far,, ARRIVE teams have loved 1300 cases in 10 New Jersey counties .

In Middlesex County, 50 eight responses without an arrest or injury.

Calls differ significantly from regular policing says Highland Park Detective Brian O'Mara.

>> We were there for one hour.

These calls are not 20 minutes, in, leg we are used to.

Reporter: officers on ARRIVE teams express some surprise at how long the call can take.

That presents a hurdle for the smaller departments who would like to join but don't have the staff.

Do we have the officers, the right type of screeners?

Most of the towns really are summary for it.

REPORTER: Advocacy groups .2 police shootings that involve people in crisis -- Najee Seabrooks in Paterson, and Andrew Jerome Washington in Jersey City.

They appreciate ARRIVE Together, but want a community-oriented response that doesn't involve police.

>> We have been feeding people.

I think this program is a step in the right direction, but we could be doing more.

We could be making larger investment in community-led responses.

REPORTER: The Brookings Institute in March raised ARRIVE Together's record.

No arrests in 98 percent of cases, the use of force in 97%.

But it noted the statistics remain thin for a brand new program that is still expanding.

>> These are the most difficult calls that law enforcement customers want to.

>> Nobody is saying mission accomplished.

We are say, this alternative responses working and we want more people to come on board.

REPORTER: The Attorney General says arrive will be operational in all 21 New Jersey counties by December.

In Piscataway, Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

BRIANA: N.L.

a Spotlight on Business Report, unrest within Deliver industry continues ramping up, this time, among thousands of commercial cleaning workers.

Labor union 32 BJ SEIU today had the ears of top state lawmakers as they pushed forward contract negotiations for their members with more than 600 throughout the garden state.

As Ted Goldberg reports, it's the first agreement to be negotiated in the tri-state area since the pandemic changed office building work culture.

♪ REPORTER: There is a lot of work that goes into keeping the dental center clean.

Workers like this one are busy making their way to clean different areas.

>> The security office, the loading dock, the dressing rooms.

Bathrooms.

I clean all the offices.

Rep. Sherrill: She has kept it clean for 16 years.

Her union is negotiating a new contract with cleaning companies for the first time in four years .

The union, 32 BJ, represents more than 6000 cleaners statewide, and they are asking for all of their employees to get retirement, since only some of them are eligible right now.

>> It would be great because they would be able to retire instead of dependent on Social Security, because Social Security doesn't pay you enough.

We aren't even sure who get Social Security, so at least we have retirement and they have retirement fall back on.

REPORTER: Cleaners who are a part of 32 BJ overwritten more than 500 buildings across New Jersey.

Other demands include keeping their same level of healthare , and a $20 million -- $20 minimum wage.

>> Costs are going up, so make more money to pay for college -- I have a daughter in college.

So we should continue to make sure we make more wages so she can further finish for school.

I could be able to pay my rent, grocery, Et cetera.

REPORTER: The union spoke to local leaders today and filled them in on how the negotiations are going.

>> Because of you, airports were safer, buildings were safer, schools were clean and safer.

You did all of that important work, often when everybody else was being told to stay home.

>> During the pandemic we showed up each and every single day to work because we don't get to work from home.

That is something critical.

We are essential workers.

REPORTER: We reached out for some of those cleaning companies for comment, and didn't hear back.

There have been two days of bargaining, and she says there is ground to make up for the current contract ends on December 31.

>> They were in light of pushback.

Everything we asked for, date pushed back.

They had their own plan.

>> If we aren't able to get to that agreement, are members are 100% perfectly willing.

If we cannot get a fair agreement, to hit the bricks in January, in the cold, and go out on strike.

>> We are ready to go on strike.

We are just ready.

We can take nothing for granted.

REPORTER: In case there is no contract agreed upon by that date, the union has scheduled a strike authorization vote for December 13.

The Prudential Center is hosting a game that night, and devils games are some of the events that could be affected by this union going on strike in Newark, Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

BRIANA: Meanwhile, hundreds of United Airlines flight attendant picketed outside Newark airport as part of the nationwide day of action as contract negotiations remain stalled.

The demonstration comes on the heels of the airlines' announcements of the third quarter of any totaled nearly $15 billion.

The union argues those profits will need on the back of workers fighting for better pay, and contracted rules that determine flight schedules.

United Airlines today said, " There is good progress in our negotiations, with since sections of the contract already settled."

>> 19 different airlines, 15,000 flight attendants across America and we stand strong.

We will stand until United Airlines let attendance win.

There is a serious delay in negotiations, and the labor movement, we are here standing together and making sure that the greed at corporate United Airlines is squashed.

BRIANA: The power of numeral unions on full display with the United Auto Workers last night tentatively struck a contract agreement with Ford one of the big three automakers workers have been striking against for six weeks now.

The deal is being called some of the biggest gains for U.S. union workers in, Europe including a 25% pay increase over the length of the offered five-year contract.

If improved, it will end the strike for autoworkers as other negotiations continue.

Union workers at the medieval times London, after a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit medieval times brought against the union last year over a trademark disc, when workers' fight for better pay.

Wall Street stocks struggled to do under the pressure of weak Big Tech earnings.

Here is how the markets closed.

♪ >> Support>> for the business report provided by the New Jersey tourism industry Association.

NJTIA closed their New Jersey conference on tourism on November 30-December 1, at resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.

NJTIA.org for event information.

BRIANA: Be sure to tune in this weekend with Raven Santana she looked, at the health of the commercial real estate market as companies try to get workers back to the office.

She also had two valve works in home two to explore how the modern office is changing in New Jersey.

Watch on NJ Spotlight Youtube channel.

♪ BRIANA: In more than 60-year-old Jersey shore landmark is no more.

The giant BL England Smokestack that was a fixture for drivers heading down the parkway to keep Mae or Ocean City was imploded today.

It was the last major remaining piece of the old Beasley's point powerplant that burned full and oil for decades.

It shutdown a 2019.

A crowd of onlookers watched across the harbor bay this morning as the 463 football stack tilted away from the water and came down in an instant, leaving nothing but smoke where it wants the demolition.

Clears the way for the site to be used as a connection point for several offshore wind farms.

Because the plant is already connected to the power grid, official see it as a key location to power wind turbines.

Two smaller structures remain, but they are slated to be demolished using ground equipment in the near future.

That will do it for us tonight.

But be sure to tune in tomorrow night when I go one-on-one with Governor Phil Murphy.

He talks his latest trip to Asia and its economic impact of the state, Plus, the upcoming election and what his office is doing to help New Jerseyans who are among the missing in Israel.

I am Breana Vannozzi.

For the entire team, thanks for being with us.

Have a great evening.

We will see you here tomorrow.

♪ >> the members of the New Jersey Education Association.

Making public schools great for every child.

RWJ Barnabas Health, let's be healthy together.

And Orsted, committed to the creation of a new, long-term, sustainable, clean energy future for New Jersey.

♪ ♪