Briana: Tonight on "NJ Spotlight News."

Governor Murphy expressing profound grief over the loss of Israeli and Palestinian families here in New Jersey.

>> We are saying innocent lives lost on both sides.

We want folks to know we are here for them.

Briana: With the state election more than a week out, strong words for any threat of a potential red wave.

>> I want to make sure everyone is taking this seriously.

I think enthusiasm will decide this.

Briana: More of our exclusive interview with and battled U.S.

Senator Bob Menendez.

Was he acting as a foreign agent for Egypt as charged?

>> First of all, this particular charge is outrageous as it is absurd.

Briana: Plus, feel the bern.

Bernie Sanders joining 1700 striking RWJ nurses.

Mr. Sanders: It is way past time for hospital executives to treat you with the respect and dignity you need.

Briana: "NJ Spotlight News" begins now.

>> Funding for "NJ Spotlight News" from NJM, and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

And by the PSEG foundation.

♪ >> From NJ PBS this is "NJ Spotlight News" with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: Good evening and thank you for joining us this Friday night.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

Governor Murphy's office working around the clock to help New Jerseyans whose relatives are unaccounted for in Israel and trapped in the Gaza Strip.

Playing out in JEWISH and Palestinian communities as the king -- as the situation gets more dire on the grounds.

A statewide legislative election days away that some analysts say could bring a red wave flipping seats Republican after years of a Democratic stronghold.

How is the governor balancing it all?

He joins me to discuss.

Governor Murphy, thank you for being with me.

New Jersey has one of the largest Jewish populations in America, the largest Palestinian American population in America and tensions and emotions are high.

What is your message to those communities?

We have seen in places there have been clashes, Council meetings that have been shut down, arrests.

What is your message to folks feeling unsupported both Israeli Americans and Palestinian Americans?

Gov.

Murphy: I would say we are here for you.

The good news is, members of both the Jewish or Israeli specific or Palestinian communities in New Jersey are responsible folks trying to wake up and do the right thing by their families, faith, communities and that is a good place to start.

But you cannot underestimate the tension.

Hamas perpetrated a barbaric assault.

We have to call that out unequivocally, for the innocent lives lost and killed in Israel.

By the same token we are seeing innocent lives lost on all sides of this.

I want folks to know we are here for them, particularly as it relates to using our bully pulpit and security presence protecting houses of worship, daycare centers, schools.

We are spending enormous time focused on that.

College campuses are another hot spot.

Secondly, putting my diplomatic hat on.

Praying for a peaceful, comprehensive, that elusive two state solution where everyone can live peacefully side-by-side.

That cannot include Hamas.

Israel has every right to defend itself against Hamas, but let's hope that cooler heads prevail in New Jersey and elsewhere.

Briana: Let me ask you about the bully pulpit you mentioned.

Are you in coordination with federal authorities?

We have one New Jersey American unaccounted for, a member of the IDF.

A family from Tenafly and at least two New Jerseyans in Gaza.

Have you been in communication with their families and have helped?

Gov.

Murphy: Are we in touch with the feds, yes, through national security.

It is a good connection and would not trade it with any other state's relationship.

And yes we are in touch with families.

Both Israelis with missing family members or whose lives have been taken.

And Palestinians who are either in our community or trapped in Gaza, or folks in Jersey who have family members trapped in Gaza.

None of it is easy.

One guy for instance, an intermediary, reached out and begged me to get him out of Gaza.

Between outrage and steps, turned out he wanted to but -- to be with his family, his mother.

These are heart-wrenching stories.

I spoke to an Israeli whose father was murdered on October 7.

War is hell.

Briana: How do you begin those conversations?

Gov.

Murphy: I tell them we are in their prayers, God bless them.

They are not easy, but are harder for them than me.

Briana: Your attention is often split.

We are over a week out from elections.

Republicans we have spoken to feel optimistic they have the winning issues, parental rights, budget, affordability, etc.. Should they feel as optimistic about gaining a majority in at least one of the legislates is -- legislative?

Gov.

Murphy: On the others, these will be close elections, a low turnout election, no governor, senator or members of the house.

Democrats take these for granted at their peril.

I want to make sure everybody is taking this seriously on the edge of their seat because enthusiasm will decide this in a low turnout election.

With all due respect to parental rights, parents always matter.

They are making something out of something that is not in their courts.

Affordability, we have had 20 tax cuts for middle-class families and seniors.

Especially directed toward seniors.

Thirdly, on the ballot, I can say this not as speculation, but because a minority member has said it that reproductive freedom and abortion is on the ballot.

They said if they get the keys they will defund Planned Parenthood as they did under the Christie administration and restrict abortion rights.

Briana: He is saying that was mischaracterized, that they would not have the ability to do that, but would look at the funding.

Gov.

Murphy: The ability means he does not think he will win the majority.

They did it under Governor Christie eight years, zero funded Planned Parenthood and they will do it again if they get majorities.

Briana: There were minutes from the Turnpike Authority commission vetoed, looking at a toll hike.

Some Republicans and critics have called it a pre-election ploy, a full rundown of what will be discussed and the budget , why veto them now?

Gov.

Murphy: It is the first year we are back on our feet since I signed that in 2020.

I think we owe it to ourselves to look at revenue and traffic statistics to make sure we still lead.

The last thing a consumer needs with inflation and interest rates is another tax or toll increase.

We want to take that seriously.

Briana: You are back from a big trip to East Asia, nine days.

You were in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, initially unannounced for security purposes.

What is the economic benefit for New Jerseyans who are wondering about the ties?

Gov.

Murphy: Not one taxpayer dollar goes toward those trips, those were privately funded.

A taxpayer should know their tax dollars were not funding the trip, but we behaved like they were.

There were three pods to this.

We meet with heads of state, the Prime Minister of Japan and presidents of both korea and Taiwan and their foreign ministers.

There is a huge higher Ed component, research exchange of faculty of students has had a big benefit in New Jersey.

Thirdly and most importantly, it is a huge jobs and investment opportunity for us.

Jersey plays well on the international stage.

Some benefits are felt immediately.

For the Korean community watching, your drivers license works in New Jersey and in South Korea.

Did not work until we signed it.

Briana: And academic partnerships with Rutgers and JIT.

Gov.

Murphy: Princeton, NJIT, Stockton, all signed memoranda of understanding or exchanges.

Some benefits from a trip like that are immediate, literally jobs created within a week or two.

Others are in the medium-term and other seeds were planted that will not come home to roost until long after we are gone and that is OK. As long as it is good for Jersey, I am OK. Briana: Thank you.

Governor Murphy among the first of Democrats to call for embattled U.S.

Senator Bob Menendez to resign following his September indictment on federal corruption charges.

Tonight we continue coverage of our exclusive interview with the senator.

Senior political correspondent David Cruz pressed Menendez on his most recent charge, accused of acting as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government in exchange for bribes while sitting as chairman on the powerful Senate.

David: Let's talk about Egypt and the indictment related to your role with the government.

You had tough rhetoric on Egypt regarding human rights, but on the other hand you greenlighted from your chair of a foreign relations arm sales and considerations in exchange for what prosecutors say was money, gold and a Mercedes-Benz for your wife.

Was this constituent services or acting as an agent of a foreign government?

Sen. Menendez: First of all, this particular charge is outrageous as it is absurd.

My parents came to this country in search of freedom.

I have for 50 years in public service been loyal to only one nation, the United States of America.

That is what I have given my life's work to and to improve the lives of people in this country and around the state.

It is more than rhetoric I conducted as it related to Egypt.

I stood up to the president of Egypt, in the presence of eight other United States senators and challenged him on human rights violations, prisoners, press freedom, NGO's.

And I have done that twice, previously in the residence of the ambassador.

Each time I have done directly face-to-face to the president of Egypt what no other member has done as clearly and the administrations both Republicans and Democrats have used both carrots and sticks with Egypt as it does with other countries.

When it wants to induce that country to act a certain way in May give assistance.

When that country is doing something wrong like violating human rights, it may use sticks.

At the end of the day, the ultimate decision-maker as it relates to Egypt or any country in the world, is whatever the administration is.

We have made an impact on that but mine has been clear and unequivocal, and has not been to the benefit of Egypt when it has not acted correctly.

This is among the most outrageous of the charges, and it flies in the face of a long history, a long history of opposing human rights violations, rule of law, independent journalists and others inside Egypt.

David: So the considerations that Egypt received including a green light from your committee, the quid pro quo, was Egypt behaving better in exchange for arms sales and other considerations?

Sen. Menendez: Each consideration depended upon the nature of the sale, whether it was defensive equipment, equipment for the Sinai, where they are playing a vital role for security with Israel, which everybody has called for.

These followed the traditional uses of both foreign aid and arm sales in a way that ensures the U.S. national security interests were pursued.

David: One of your co-defendants receiving a contract to certify Halal?

Sen. Menendez: You would have to ask him.

David: It was your relations with Egypt officials that eased the way for him to get that contract.

Sen. Menendez: David, there are a lot of suggestions.

As I read the indictment, there are a lot of inferences, but not a lot of facts at the end of the day.

Those inferences try to play and create a storyline that is the most negative, pejorative storyline you can create.

But when those get challenged by the facts in the legal proceedings that motions and trials will allow us to do, then we will see a totally different story.

Briana: You can see the full interview on "Chat Box" with David Cruz this weekend.

Sunday morning at 10:30 on NJ PBS.

The ongoing feud between 1700 striking nurses and management at RWJ University Hospital with Vermont Senator Sanders jumping into the fray, holding a hearing of the labors committee, calling out the hospital for the strike 12 weeks and counting for what nurses say are unsafe staffing levels.

A spokesperson for RWJ said it was unconscionable, saying Sanders was inserting himself into labor negotiations.

Brenda Flanagan was there.

Brenda: The event played more like a union pep rally then Senate committee hearing.

Senator Sanders electrified many nurses near Ground Zero of their 85 day old strike against RWJ University Hospital.

Sanders made it clear whose side he is on.

Sen. Sanders: It is way past time for hospital executives to treat you with the respect and dignity you need.

Brenda: Sanders was the only senator at his committee hearing.

Hospital executives no-showed, sending written testimony instead saying they cannot risk anything taken out of context, concerned it could impact negotiations.

They are chair stayed empty while a panel of nurses spent 90 deeply emotional minutes talking about why they feel so abused by the system.

Too few nurses struggling to care for too many patients.

>> The anguish you feel, the dread, anxiety this causes every day.

You cannot turn left without having something you need to do, can't turn right without it and there is nowhere in the help.

>> We will not be compliant to a broken system or management puts profits over patients.

These so-called nonprofit hospitals have more than enough money to invest in their workforce to ensure we have safe staffing.

Brenda: Sanders asked how the hospital could spend more than $100 trout -- million on traveling nurses for the strike, but will not boost staff to patient ratios.

Sen. Sanders: Nurses have told me they are unable to provide the quality care they want to provide, and the care their patients deserve.

[APPLAUSE] Sen. Sanders: The reason for that is the totally inadequate nurse-patient ratios they are forced to deal with.

Brenda: In a statement the RWJBarnabas Health CEO called Sanders' assertions inaccurate and misleading adding that RWJ has safe staffing guidelines derived from national evidence-based practice by medical centers.

RWJBarnabas Health underwrites "NJ Spotlight News."

Hospital negotiators claim they have made generous salary offers and agreed to give nurses an extra $20 if staffing ratios fall below a set standard.

Union members voted to continue the strike.

>> This is a test case in New Jersey.

I think every hospital system is backing Barnabas in their actions right now because they are terrified.

They know nurses are not going to take this anymore.

Brenda: The Senator wrapped up his hearing and another in solidarity with nurses said the U.S. needs federal mending -- minimum staffing requirements.

>> The hospital needs to be pushed to come to an agreement.

There need to be face-to-face negotiations between the hospital administration and the union.

That would make a difference.

Brenda: Hospital executives say a contract is obtainable in the near future, but no new talks are scheduled.

In New Brunswick, blend -- earned a Flanagan, "NJ Spotlight News."

Briana: In our spotlight on business report, Governor Murphy vetoed the 2024 budget approved this week by the Turnpike Authority, but turnpikes were not the only controversial item.

The Authority is moving forward with a $10 billion project to widen the Turnpike extension two and from the Holland tunnel, despite outcry from transportation and environmental activist.

Ted: If you ever thought the New Jersey Turnpike has too many cars, the Turnpike Authority agrees with you, at least for the eight miles around exit 14 and 14A.

>> We are at capacity and cannot handle the lanes we have or the demand.

Ted: I $10 billion proposal to widen the Turnpike along this 10 mile stretch moved closer to reality this month when the Turnpike Authority released a draft of an impact -- environmental impact statement to replace the two lane work -- Lane Newark bridge.

>> Newark's economic successes have brought in more people that want to live in their cities.

>> it is not one for one in terms of population growth and traffic growth, but it does drive traffic growth.

Ted: Larry was the task lead on the environmental impact statement.

>> Before we launched into analyses we had meetings with New Jersey DEP and other environmental agencies to use the latest and best practices, analytical models.

Ted: The massive project will not make air quality notably worse.

He says the project is meant to happen over a long period of time to keep animals safe and traffic flowing.

>> Includes limiting the seasons during which construction will occur to avoid those seasons when fish or marine mammals could be in the bay.

Construction is being phased so the Turnpike on the extension, the existing four lanes of traffic will be maintained.

Ted: If the project goes forward the Turnpike will have less dense traffic despite more cars.

But not everyone agrees with these findings.

>> To release a statement that assumes there will be no environmental impact to adding a four lane overpass is ludicrous.

>> It is akin to treating obesity by loosening your belt.

Ted: John Richmond is on the steering committee for MPower NJ.

He is not convinced an extra Lane leads traffic and said the state should have had more public input.

>> The congestion pricing plan will result in more vehicle miles traveled in New Jersey and thus have a serious negative impact, environmental impact on New Jersey residents.

Expanding the Turnpike's will do exactly those things.

It will lead to more cars, more vehicle miles traveled.

>> Before we increase asthma rates and COPD rates, we should be investing in transit.

Ted: Despite Governor Murphy rejecting their budget yesterday, the Turnpike Authority is moving ahead with permitting.

As it gets closer to breaking ground, there will be more environmental impact statements and likely more skepticism from people against widening highways.

For "NJ Spotlight News," I'm Ted Goldberg.

Briana: Stocks open higher as investors eyed a rebound.

Here is how markets closed for the week.

Tune in this weekend to "NJ business beat."

Looking at the commercial real estate market as companies try to get workers back to the office.

And, how the modern office is changing in New Jersey.

Watch Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. A reminder early in person voting starts tomorrow, Saturday, October 28 at some 150 locations across the state.

Cast a ballot using a machine in any of the early pulling sites between then and Sunday, November 5.

Each county has at least three locations and the stakes are high.

All 120 seats in the state legislature are up for grabs plus a lot of local, county and school board seats.

Head to our website njspotlightnews.com and click on the NJ decides for our voting guide with info on each legislative race plus answers to last-minute voting questions.

That does it for us tonight but do not forget to download the "NJ Spotlight News" podcast to listen anytime.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

Thanks for being with us, have a great weekend.

See you back here Monday night.

>> 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.

♪ >> Our future relies on more than a clean energy.

Our future relies on empowered communities, the health and safety of our families and neighbors, schools and streets.

The PSEG foundation is committed to equity and economic empowerment, helping towns go green, supporting civic centers, scholarships and workforce development that strengthens our community.

♪