Briana: tonight on "NJ Spotlight News," off to the races.

With over 23,000 in-person votes already cast, candidates are ramping up their message.

>> We can expect even more of the hot button issues going on while you are trying to drive voters to come out and vote.

Briana: Also, abortion taking center stage this election cycle as Democrats are trying to avoid any threat of a red wave.

>> One of the reason you are hearing about it is it sends democratic voters to the polls.

Apparently no issue oother that abortion moves Democrats like this.

Briana: Plus, searching for peace.

Tensions on the rise over the is collating Israel-Hamas war.

>> There are many residents in this community who feel this counsel doesn't care about them.

This resolution, while not perfect or some, will start that process.

Briana: In addressing homelessness.

Atlantic City officials announced the creation of a group to connect the on housed -- unhoused with essential services.

"NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

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

Briana: hello, thanks for joining us f. I am Raven Santana, in Fort Briana Vannozzi.

Thousands of about seven cast -- thousands about Kevin Cash New Jersey and it is more of a culture war them campaign war.

When it comes to hot button issues like abortion and parental rights, Democrats are wasting no time capitalizing on the issues in hopes of avoiding a red wave.

But will it be enough?

Our senior political correspondent has more on what races to watch.

Reporter: Sure, election Day proper is next Tuesday, but we have been voting for weeks in New Jersey.

And finally the Republicans appear to be catching up on this.

The GOP Chairman says he is not a big fan of early voting, but when in jersey -- >> It denies the voter the opportunity to make a full if informed decision.

Reporter: That may be a reason the campaigns start earlier and earlier.

Votes have already been cast by mail and early voting, in those early birds have already been given the message.

In the districts expected to be the most competitive, the third can fourth, 11th, and 16th, the message has stoked the flame of hot button issues.

>> Moriarty voted for the radical left that prohibits parents from being told when their five-year-old wants to change their name or their gender in school.

>> Even endorsed the idea of spaying women like dogs.

My generation fought for Roe v. Wade.

Reporter: Almost all the campaigns start off by saying it is about affordability, stupid.

What affordability is not what is driving voters and what the political class likes to call low-turnout elections.

Michael Rasmussen has paid attention to all the noise all summer so you don't have to.

In this final week of election season, he says expect more of what you have been seeing.

>> You remind them of everything you have set the last six or eight weeks and say, see, if you care, you need to show up, or if you care about abortion-rights, you need to show up.

>> Those who have not gone in the vote by mail process can we go after them in early voting at the polls.

We still continue to chase vote-by-mails all the way through election day.

Reporter: Still, money is key, in all four of the races we are watching made the list of most expensive come with independent expenditure groups in the 11th district alone expected to spend upwards of $9 million.

That is where a relative newcomer Republican is challenging the incumbent.

>> I've seen the ads attacking him.

They are all lies.

>> don't get me started.

Reporter: In South Jersey, where Republicans have been making inroads, the talk is about phantom candidates they claim this guy may be a real person, but he is not a real candidate.

They claim his campaign is a creation of South Jersey Democrats intended to siphon votes from Republican Chris double --Chris del borello.

>> You cannot have a fake candidate taking money from the outside.

That is coordination when you don't run a campaign.

There is potentially significantly illegal things going on that have to be examined.

>> There's been some discussion as to whether or not somebody is entering the race in good faith and putting their name on the ballot in good faith.

The problem is we can't really define good faith.

Reporter: Generally that is left to the voters, who are increasingly forced to wade through political muck and Meyer to figure it outcome which leaves a lot of them just deciding to stay home.

Even if election day lasts a whole month.

Raven: Not only are we tracking the highly contested legislative districts across the state, we are also looking at the issues that are driving voters to the polls.

Yesterday we focused on parental rights.

Today it is abortion and women's reproductive rights.

Since Roe was overturned more than a year ago, Governor Murphy has made reproductive rights a priority, declaring the status a haven for women.

And now Democrats are capitalizing on the issue, telling residents that a vote for Republicans could unroll the reproductive rights codified as law in New Jersey.

Why has abortion or women's reproductive rights such a big issue factoring in the selection in the state?

Lilo: it is kind of a surprise because we -- it seems this is a settled issue, one would think come in New Jersey.

Abortion is protected in the law , protected in the Constitution, insurance is supposed to pay for it.

There are lots of reasons to think this is a safe right.

Well, Democrats are using this issue.

One of the reasons is it gets Democratic voters to the polls.

Apparently no issue other than abortion moves Democrats like this.

Part of it is just big, big Geo TV effort.

But there is also some suggestion in -- while Republicans are generally kind of ignoring this issue or conceding it is settled, I think they are planting some seeds that suggested they might try to take it around the edges.

There are things they could do.

It might change or they might try to change it going forward.

Raven: You kind of touched on this.

We know that jersey is undeniably a blue state.

According to uphold in February -- a poll in February, 62% of people in jersey identify as pro-choice.

Are Democrats doing a good job when it comes to really convincing voters to go to the polls?

Lilo: I guess we will have to see how that comes out.

Early voting is just starting.

I think TBD, but it is definitely catching people's attention.

They have these ads with "morning, Texas -- warning, Texas-style abortion bans coming to Jersey," lots of flames and end of the world messaging.

Not try to belittle this issue, this is usually important not just women, talking about axes to Planned Parenthood, where got cancer screenings, birth control, all kinds of other things.

There is a history, as Democrats are pointing out, that even if it is protected, Governor Murphy reminded people recently that under Chris Christie, they defunded certain programs.

There are ways Republicans could make change if they are elected in a majority and have control.

A lot of ifs there.

Raven: Is that the counterattack?

Lilo: Some of the counterattack's don't bother with that, we have got other issues.

To Republicans' credit, they've been able to use this issue of parental notification, particularly in schools.

Raven: Do you think that this is the issue that could win the red wave?

Lilo: I don't think so.

I feel like the whole affordability, how much it costs to live in New Jersey, property taxes are those perennial things.

Polling has also shown more interest than some of us suspected behind this parental rights, parental notification issue.

That issue is definitely going to move voters on the Republican side.

Raven: We will see what happens.

Ready for those campaigns, those ads.

Lilo: they are something.

Raven: Thank you for joining me.

Lilo: thanks, Raven.

Raven: For which candidate is running in your district and where you can vote, headed to njspotlightnews.org and click on the "NJ decides" tab.

And catch us live election coverage getting with David Cruz at 8:00 p.m. and Briana Vannozzi and a team of reporters and analysts and 9:00 p.m. War continues to wage in Gaza as Israel continues its ground campaign and tries to rescue hostages.

One was rescued overnight.

The latest Israeli strike rocked a refugee camp in northern Gaza.

Israeli officials said the strike killed a senior Hamas commander.

As of Monday, more than 8000 Palestinians and 1400 Israelis have been killed in the fighting, according to the United Nations.

The fighting abroad continues to stoke tensions and security concerns in American communities .

FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress today war is raising the risk of terrorist attacks against the United States, while also fueling a surge in domestic incidents of hate against Jews and Muslims.

Across New Jersey there are ties to both sides of the war, and local leaders are struggling to keep their communities united.

The struggle was on display in Teaneck Monday night, where the mayor and council held a special meeting to pass a resolution in support of Israeli and Palestinian victims two weeks after passing a resolution condemning Hamas and supporting the Israeli government sparked protest.

Brenda Flanagan reports.

>> Two things can be true at the same time.

Brenda: the councilwoman explained that the teaneck resolution recognizes grievances on both sides of the Israel-Hamas war and also aims to heal cultural divisions that have torn the Township apart.

Angry protesters demonstrated October 17 when the Council voted to denounce Hamas and supported Israel's right to defend itself but postponed a vote on this unity measure, angering the town's Palestinian and Muslim community.

Members assured residents they know the entire town is hurting.

>> I have compassion for the Israeli mother who is praying for the return of her family, and I have compassion for the Palestinian mother who is trying to keep her child alive.

>> I recognize there are many residents in the community they don't feel that this Council covers about them.

-- cares about them.

This resolution, while it may not be perfect to some, will hopefully start the healing process.

Brenda: The resolution seeks to mend the rift by declaring zero tolerance for terrorism and hate crimes, supporting a humanitarian solution to minimize the loss of innocent lives, and calling for the safe return of all hostages.

It also promises to keep residents safe in the week of increased hate crimes.

But it fails to note the number of lives lost in Gaza, and that drew angry public comments.

>> Frankly, this is disgusting, shocking, and he related.

We are directly giving a message that Palestinian lives do not matter and as elected officials, you are in breach of your duty.

>> As elected officials, you have one job to do, one, for all the people of Teaneck, and he refused to pass both resolutions at the same time.

Brenda: Several speakers via Z oom describe heightened fears and refused to turn on cameras or give addresses.

>> I personally have felt it.

I do not want my daughter to -- >> I don't think anybody in a Teaneck supports Hamas.

But nobody is condemning the people yelling "free Palestine" in perpetuating violence.

>> Last week we saw six people arrested from four different towns that weren't from Inglewood who came to demonstrate and cause violence and instruction.

Brenda: In response Teaneck closed its library and parking lot and asked folks to stay home, conducting this meeting via Zoom.

A small group of pro-Palestinian protesters did together outside -- did gather outside.

>> We are out here on the outside.

We don't know what is happening.

Just trying to protest against it.

Brenda: The crowd dispersed after about an hour.

>> I want to thank everyone who stayed home.

I know it felt a little bit like our town was under siege.

I hope this will lead to the end of outside agitators coming to our town and drowning out our voices with their chants.

Brenda: But sharp disagreements remain among Teaneck residents.

>> I condemn them.

There will always be free Palestine from the river to the sea.

>> My opinion as an individual is "from River to sea" is hate speech.

Genocide has no place under peaceful Brenda -- under peace.

Brenda: Several recognized it will take more than resolutions to end this conflict.

Raven: Following a two-decade effort to improve New Jersey's child welfare system, a final report by the Center for the study of social policy declared a successful victory in a federal lawsuit.

Two siblings alleged they failed to protect them from abuse and provide services such as medical care and failed to provide caseworkers with adequate resources and training.

The plaintiffs claim these actions violated federal common law and federal statutes.

The state was appointed a federal monitor with the mission to enhance its Child welfare policies and programs into compliant with the goal of creating a system that keeps children safe, healthy, and connected.

So, how exactly did they do it, and why did it take two decades?

To answer that and more, I'm joined by the commissioner of the New Jersey Department on children and families.

Tell us, what did this final report reveal?

>> I think the final report revealed that New Jersey is a system that has significantly reformed and transformed from where we were 20 years ago when the lawsuits started.

Raven: What are some concrete examples of how DCF changed its practices to improve family outcomes?

Christine: I think it has changed over time.

Very early on in the lawsuit under this consent decree, we were looking at things like increasing the number of caseload-carrying staff we had and having to recruit more foster parents and changing the structure of our offices and their various position types that were available to provide services to children and families across the state.

We really built out of structure that allowed us to focus more on the qualitative work and really getting quality outcomes for kids and families.

Raven: So, when we think about -- the goal of DCF is to reunite families.

This report reveals an approved plan to do so.

Talk about those changes.

I think that is really key when I look at this report.

Christine: So, the goal of DCF is to keep children safe, healthy, and connected to their family and to their communities.

What we have been working on is the fact that when children do have to come into foster care for their own safety, that it is time-limited, that we are able to keep them connected to relatives and friends so that they can reduce the trauma that they experience in foster care, and working then with families, with parents, to be able to provide them the necessary supports and services that they need to be able to have their children reunited with them quickly.

And that is how we are orienting the department, focusing a lot on prevention services, primary prevention and tertiary prevention, in order to help support families early in their community so that they never become a call to the child abuse and neglect hotline.

Raven: What measures have been put in place to prevent that from ever happening again and to ensure that long-term safety?

Christine: The structure of the system has changed.

We built out a children's system of care, which is around mental health and behavioral health needs for children, so that children who need the services, their families don't have to become an open child welfare case in order to access the services.

That also has been a big changes since the start of our reform effort.

Families can get those supports that they need without having to call the hotline or coming a call to the hotline.

We have been able to really shrink the number of children who are receiving services through traditional child welfare.

Raven: Christine, thank you for joining me.

Christine: thank you so much.

Raven: In our "spotlight on business" report, a massive recall of eyedrops sold over-the-counter around the country after it was discovered they may be tainted with bacteria that can cause infection or even blindness.

As of Monday the FDA has issued to the one for 27 products sold by seven brands including CVS, Rite Aid, target, and Walmart.

The problem stems from a single manufacturer where unsanitary conditions allowed harmful bacteria to spread and contaminate the solution.

Tainted eyedrops are worrisome because drugs applied to the eye bypasses some of the body's natural defenses.

CVS, Rite Aid, Target, and Walmart are already pulling the products from their shelves, but they may be available online and should be avoided.

Turning to Wall Street, here is a look at where the markets closed for the day.

Announcer: Support for the business report provided by the New Jersey tourism industry Association.

The New Jersey conference on tourism November 30 through December forced at the hotel and casino in Atlantic City.

Raven: Atlantic City has been working to deal with the city's homeless crisis with the creation of a new department.

The boardwalk improvement group, also known as BIG, is focused on working with individuals loitering around Atlantic City's boardwalk and beaches and connecting them with social workers and addiction recovery specialists and other resources and services.

The mayor and advocate shared with me the recent accomplishments in the homeless outreach and how they are expanding the program.

>> If we wasn't out here, we would be with people loitering and doing other things.

Atlantic Avenue has been a tragedy.

Raven: In the shadows of Atlantic City's flashy casinos and bustling boardwalk, a crisis has been festering for years, homelessness.

According to the point in time count of homelessness in Atlantic County by Monarch housing Associates, about 274, 534 people live in Atlantic County and 12.71% of the county's residents live below the poverty line.

There are 291 homeless people in Atlantic City and 86.1% of Atlantic County's homeless population is in ac.

>> On behalf of the great city in Atlantic city, I will tell residents to continue to be patient and know that this is a top priority for this administration to make Atlantic City as clean and safe as it possibly can be.

Raven: In an effort to address homelessness concerns and individuals dealing with drug addiction, this he partnered with the state of New Jersey and the Atlantic City casino Association to form the boardwalk improvement group, also known as BIG.

>> We put our money where our mouth is.

We hired professional personnel, qualified people, to deal with the homeless and drug addition issues in Atlantic City.

>> The mayor said the group is formed through a joint effort with many departments and is the first of its kind initiative in Atlantic City.

During a press event, the city announce it recently hired several employees including social workers and an addiction recovery specialist to help connect homeless individuals with resources and services.

>> Since I've been here the last two months can we have taken 10 persons off the streets and got them apartments.

We are working hard to day by day to make sure that we see persons who want to be helped.

>> The group was established earlier this year and continues to grow.

A new addition to the group, one of its social workers, says the pandemic exacerbated at the homeless crisis.

>> It has been difficult since COVID because the rents have increased and people aren't able to afford rent today.

>> people out here, they don't want to be in the situation, you know what I mean?

It's not as easy as you think.

For example, I came here three days ago trying to go to rehab, OK. Just because I'm on methadone for 110 milligrams -- there are three rehabs in the state.

You try to do the right thing and they make you jump through 20 hurdles.

>> Business owners say the city's homeless crisis is impacting their livelihood.

>> Every time they are out there, no customers come.

I can't even bring my kids to the shop.

>> Our children, the customer, the people sitting on the streets.

We don't need them.

We need the street to be cleaner.

We lose all the businesses.

Nobody here, nobody here.

How we gonna sell?

>> The mayor says the city has been working with the state to appoint a homeless czar to a laxity, which is small says -- to Atlantic City, which is small says will be there soon.

Raven: Wishing you all a safe and happy Halloween.

Don't forget to download the "NJ Spotlight News" podcast so you can listen anytime.

I'm Raven Santana.

For the entire "NJ Spotlight News" team, thanks for being with us and we will see you back here tomorrow night.

>> NJM insurance group serving businesses for over a century.

-- for years.

Blue Cross Blue Shield.

>> Look at these kids.

What do you see?

I see myself.

I became a teacher to give my students what I wanted I came to this country.

The opportunity to learn, to dream, to achieve, the chance to be known and to be an American.

I am proud to be an NJEA member.