FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE 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.

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

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT, I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH MORE TROUBLE FROM NEW JERSEY'S CAPITAL CITY, WHERE A LONG-RUNNING POLITICAL SPAT BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND TRENTON CITY COUNCIL COULD LEAD TO A STATE TAKEOVER OF THE CITY'S DRINKING WATER SUPPLY, WITH LOCAL AND STATE LAWMAKERS BACKING IT.

SAYING TRENTON WATERWORKS WHICH SUPPLIES DRINKING WATER TO MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE IN THE GREATER TRENTON AREA IS FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE SAFE DRINKING WATER OBLIGATIONS.

THIS AFTER THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ISSUED A RECENT REPORT CALLING TRENTON WATERWORKS DEFICIENT.

AND A LOT OF FINGER-POINTING HAPPENING OVER WHO EXACTLY IS TO BLAME.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> Reporter: DRAWING FROM THE DELAWARE RIVER, TRENTON WATERWORKS TREATS 28 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER DAILY, SENDING IT TO THE RESERVOIRS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO MORE THAN 200,000 CUSTOMERS, BUT WATER STORED IN THE 150-YEAR-OLD UNCOVERED RESERVOIR HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY ALGAE, AND PLANS TO FIX ISSUES AT THE TREATMENT PLANS NOT MIRED IN MUNICIPAL AND POLITICAL MUCK, MORE TOXIC THAN ANY WATER SUPPLY.

>> QUALITY, CLEAN WATER SHOULD NOT BE A PART OF POLITICS, AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS CASE.

COUNSEL HAS TO SHOW THAT THEY PUT POLITICS ASIDE AND THEY ARE DOING WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY.

>> Reporter: THE MAYOR HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE WITH WATERWORKS OFFICIALS, WITH A LIST OF CRITICAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS VOTED DOWN BY CITY COUNCIL, LED BY HIS BITTER POLITICAL RIVAL, KATHY McBRIDE WHO IS RUNNING FOR MAYOR, SHE CLAIMS THE FAULT OF THE FAILURES OF THE WATER UTILITY FALLS ON THE ADMINISTRATION WHO IS NOT EVEN ALLOCATING ALL OF THE PRESENT FUNDING BONDED TO IT.

MEANWHILE, AFTER INSPECTING THE WATERWORKS FACILITIES, JERSEYS DEP IS DEMANDING IT SUBMITTED PLANS TO FIX PROBLEMS AND REPLACE THE OLD RESERVOIR WITH STORAGE TANKS WITH THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

THAT'S THE BREAKPOINT, SAYS STATE SENATOR, SHIRELY TURNER.

>> TURNER HAS A DYSFUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW AND THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL CANNOT AGREE ON ANYTHING.

>> Reporter: TURNER AND OTHER LAWMAKERS SENT THE DEP A LETTER ASKING THE AGENCY TO AGGRESSIVELY INTERVENE.

>> IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THE DRINKING WATER THAT IS BEING CONSUMED IS GOING TO BE HIGH QUALITY, AND SAFE.

AND THAT WAS WHAT WE ARE CALLING ON THE DEP TO DO, TO COME IN AND COLLABORATE IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND TRENTON WATERWORKS.

>> Reporter: FOR THE OTHER TOWNS, THEY GET DRINKING WATER FROM TRENTON WATERWORKS, THEY WANT THE DEP TO STEP IN AFTER WATCHING MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEMS GO DOWN THE POLITICAL DRAIN.

>> AND IT MAKES ME WANT TO TEAR MY HAIR OUT, THAT THE DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR IMPACTED PEOPLE'S LIVES, IMPACTED PEOPLE'S SAFETY, AND MUNICIPALITIES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY'S BORDER.

>> Reporter: JEFF MARTIN SAID HE'S DONE WAITING.

>> WE ASKED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO MOVE ON IT IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT IS THAT IMPORTANT AND WE CERTAINLY REACHED A BREAKING POINT.

BUT I'M HOPEFUL THEY WILL MOVE ON AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: THE DEP SAID IN A STATEMENT, THE PROFESSIONALS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE STAFF OF TRENTON WATERWORKS BY PROVIDING COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE TO HELP THEM MEET THESE CRITICAL GOALS.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE JOB HAS TO GET DONE.

COUNSEL IS NOT ALLOWING US TO GET THE JOB DONE, AND DEP WILL HELP US DO THAT.

>> Reporter: PROBLEMS AT THIS PLANT GO BACK DECADES, AND THE MANAGER SAID THEY CAN'T MEET ALL OF THE DEP'S DEMANDS BY THE END OF OCTOBER.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS REACHED OUT FOR ADDITIONAL COMMENT, THEY ARE HOPING AN UPCOMING COUNCIL VOTE MIGHT SIGNAL SOME COOPERATION.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> A MASSIVE LONG-DELAYED DEVELOPMENT PLAN ALONG THE HUDSON RIVER FRONT IN HOBOKEN IS FINALLY MOVING FORWARD.

17 YEARS AFTER IT WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED.

THE PROJECT NOW CALLED HOBOKEN CONNECT INCLUDES PLANS TO BUILD NEW RETAIL AND OFFICE SPACE WITH NEARLY 400 APARTMENTS AND SOME SET ASIDE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

PLUS, FLOOD RESILIENT OPEN SPACES, ALL ON PIECES OF WATERFRONT LAND OWNED BY NEW JERSEY TRANSIT.

MORE THAN 600,000 SQUARE FEET OF NEW CONSTRUCTION WILL BE BUILT NEXT DOOR TO THE HOBOKEN TERMINAL, WHICH CONNECTS NEW JERSEY TRANSIT AND PATH TRAINS.

THE PROJECT IS GETTING ROUGHLY $176 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING THAT WILL PAY FOR MAJOR RENOVATIONS OF THE TRAIN TERMINAL ITSELF, PLUS CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW BUS TERMINAL AND REHABBING A LONG EMPTY HISTORIC FERRY TERMINAL TO MAKE WAY FOR PUBLIC ACCESS.

THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO CREATE ABOUT 10,000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS.

>> IT WILL TRANSFORM THE TERMINAL STATION, THE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL LEAD TO MORE HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SMART BY THE WAY, AT ALL LEVELS.

WEAVING THE OLD AND THE NEW TOGETHER.

IT IS A BIG DAY THAT THE STATE CAN SUPPORT THIS AND FINALLY GET IT OFF THE GROUND.

>> Reporter: THE WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM CO-OWNED BY GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS BEEN IMPLICATED IN A SCATHING REPORT, OUTLINING ABUSE IN THE LEAGUE.

AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE FINDS WIDESPREAD ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, ABUSE, COERCION AND OTHER MISTREATMENT BY THREE COACHES IN PARTICULAR.

ONE OF WHOM, KRISTI HOLLY SERVED AS THE HEAD COACH FOR MURPHY'S TEAM, SKY BLUE AFTER BEING ASKED TO RESIGN ABRUPTLY IN 2017 AMID ONGOING COMPLAINTS BY PLAYERS ABOUT HOLLY'S VERBAL AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE.

BUT, HE WENT ON TO BECOME THE HEAD COACH OF THE TEAM IN 2020, WHERE ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, HE CONTINUED SIMILAR MISCONDUCT THAT FIRST SURFACED AT SKY BLUE.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS REACHED OUT TO THE TEAM WHICH WAS RECENTLY RENAMED GOTHAM FC AND WERE GIVEN A STATEMENT THAT READS, WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE AND ARE INDEBTED TO EVERYONE WHO CAME FORWARD TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND SHAPE THE REPORT, INCLUDING OUR OWN PLAYERS AND EMPLOYEES.

JOINING ME NOW IS THE REPORTER AT THE BERGEN RECORD WHO COVERS THE TEAM AND HAS THE LATEST DETAILS ON THIS REPORT.

MELANIE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

REALLY GREAT REPORTING.

LET ME ASK YOU FIRST, DETAIL FOR ME WHAT SOME OF THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE AGAINST THIS COACH.

>> SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST KRISTI HOLLY, THE EARLY ALLEGATIONS ARE ABOUT VERBAL ABUSE AND WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW THE EXTENT OF WHAT THAT WAS AT SKY BLUE, SO THIS REPORT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE PUBLIC ESSENTIALLY IS HEARING ANY KIND OF DETAIL REGARDING WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED WITH REGARD TO THIS FIRING.

A LOT OF THESE COACHES, EVEN THOUGH THERE WEREN'T ISSUES OF MISCONDUCT TO THE PLAYERS, THEY WERE ABLE TO GO UNSCATHED FROM TEAM TO TEAM AND THAT SPECIFICALLY IS AN ISSUE THAT COMES FROM KRISTI HOLLY, WHICH COMES FROM BEING THE COACH OF SKY BLUE AND NO REAL REVOLUTIONS AS TO WHY HE WAS LET GO.

>> IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PUBLIC OUTPUT AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, WHICH YOU WRITE ABOUT, WHICH THEY THANKED HIM FOR HIS TIME AND YET ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS WERE OUT THERE.

>> EXACTLY, ONE OF THE FINDINGS OF THE REPORT IS THE ISSUE OF THE SYSTEMIC FAILURE ACROSS THE LEAGUE, BY U.S. SOCCER AND SPECIFICALLY HOW THERE'S THIS CULTURE WHERE PLAYERS WERE SCARED TO SPEAK UP BECAUSE OF RETALIATION, AND ALSO MADE TO FEEL THEY HAD TO BE GRATEFUL TO EVEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY.

SO THE COMPLAINTS WERE PUT ON THE BACK BURNER, THEY DIDN'T FEEL THEY HAD THE PROPER RESOURCES OR ABILITY TO SPEAK UP AND SAY THIS IS HAPPENING TO ME.

>> DO WE HAVE ANY SENSE AS TO WHETHER GOVERNOR MURPHY KNEW ABOUT THESE ALLEGATIONS?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT SKY BLUE, IF YOU LOOK BACK, THERE IS A HISTORY OF ISSUES IN THE TEAM SPECIFICALLY, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY AT THE TIME, WHEN THOSE REPORTS CAME OUT WAS THAT HE WAS KIND OF A HANDS-OFF OWNER AND THAT SYSTEMIC ISSUE ACROSS THE LEAGUE WITH TEAMS, IN TERMS OF OWNERS NOT REALLY BEING INVOLVED, PEOPLE LETTING IT BE A FREE-FOR-ALL.

SO WE SAW THAT WITH SKY-BLUE SPECIFICALLY, WHEN THERE WERE REPORTS OF POOR RESOURCES, PORSCHE FACILITIES, THE FACT THAT THE OWNERS MAY HAVE BEEN HANDS-OFF, IS HOW THIS WAS ABLE TO HAPPEN FOR SO LONG.

>> WE CAUGHT UP WITH GOVERNOR MURPHY THIS MORNING, WE ASKED HIM ABOUT THIS.

TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> DISGUSTED BY WHAT I HAVE READ, I HAVE NOT READ THE ENTIRETY OF THE REPORT, BUT I HAVE READ ENOUGH OF IT, IT IS DISGUSTING AND COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.

SECONDLY, I WOULD SAY, THAT STUDY WAS DONE BY THE U.S. SOCCER FEDERATION, I HOPE THE LEAGUE WILL GET OUT AHEAD OF THIS AND WILL PUT REFORMS IN PLACE, PUT STEPS IN PLACE, SO THAT STUFF LIKE THIS CAN NEVER EVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> THIS SPEAKS TO WHAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT, THAT OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS HANDS-OFF APPROACH.

JUST AS A WHOLE, WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT WOMEN'S SPORTS?

>> I THINK THAT WOMEN'S SPORTS IN GENERAL HAVE BEEN MISMANAGED AND NOT TREATED WITH THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE.

YOU CAN SEE IT ACROSS THE BOARD, WE SAW IT WITH WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, WE SAW IT A FEW YEARS AGO WITH THE MARCH MADNESS AND THE FIASCO THAT HAPPENED THERE.

PEOPLE AREN'T BEING TRANSPARENT ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE RUN.

SO THAT IS NOW COMING TO LIGHT HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>>> AT THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, NEW JERSEY FACED A CRITICAL TEACHER VACANCY THAT WAS MADE WORSE BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

PROMPTING THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION TO ROLLOUT NEW TACTICS OR DISTRICTS TO RECRUIT TEACHERS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY RETIRED.

AND AS MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS, IT APPEARS TO BE WORKING.

>> EDUCATION AND BEING AN EDUCATOR IS A DIFFICULT LOCATION IN THE BEST OF TIMES, TEACHERS DON'T GET PAID ENOUGH.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF EXTRA WORK, BURDEN ON THEM, AT HOME, THEY HAVE TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK HOME.

>> Reporter: FOR NEIL THOMAS, A TEACHER FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, THE PANDEMIC DIDN'T MAKE THINGS BETTER.

SO HE MADE THE DECISION TO RETIRE IN JUNE 2021.

>> I DO HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AS WELL AS DIABETES, I DID NOT WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE.

AND POSSIBLY RISKING MY LIFE.

>> Reporter: LESS THAN 2 YEARS LATER, HE IS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS A LOT YOU COULD DO AS A FORMER EDUCATOR, THE PANDEMIC REALLY CHANGED'S.

HOWEVER, THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO POSSIBLY HELP IN THE SHORTAGE OF THE STATEWIDE AND NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE.

>> Reporter: THOMAS IS ONE OF 26 RETIRED TEACHERS WHO AGREED TO COME BACK TO NEW YORK SCHOOLS TO HELP EASE THE CHALLENGES OF AN ONGOING TEACHER SHORTAGE.

LAST YEAR, GOVERNOR MURPHY ALLOWED DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE TO TEMPORARILY REHIRE TEACHERS WITHOUT LOSING THEIR PENSION OR BENEFITS.

NEWARK IS ONE OF NEARLY 100 DISTRICTS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM.

THEY ARE PAYING A SALARY OF $92,000 FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.

>> WE WERE ECSTATIC BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT WE WOULD DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

>> Reporter: DR. MENDEZ SAYS THEY NORMALLY EXPECT A REDUCTION OF APPROXIMATELY 200 TEACHERS EACH YEAR BECAUSE OF RESIGNATIONS AND RETIREMENT.

WITH THE INCREASE IN STUDENT ENROLLMENT, ALMOST DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF VACANCIES, MAKING IT HARDER TO ATTRACT ENOUGH TEACHERS.

>> IT'S AN EMPLOYEE'S MARKET RIGHT NOW, THEY COULD GO SOMEPLACE ELSE AND LOOK FOR BETTER PAY.

ALTHOUGH WE WERE VERY PROUD OF THE SALARIES WE HAD AS A RESULT OF THE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT WE HAD MADE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

MANY OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS HAVE DONE SO DURING THE PANDEMIC SO THEY WERE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT THEY KNEW THEN.

SO, THEY MADE THEIR SALARIES FOR TEACHERS ATTRACTIVE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> Reporter: HAVING THE RETIRED TEACHERS BACK IS A WIN-WIN FOR THE STAFF.

>> THEY KNOW THE COMMUNITY, THEY KNOW OUR SCHOOLS, THEY KNOW OUR CHILDREN.

>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT SAID IT'S MERELY A BAND-AID ON A BIGGER ISSUE, KEEPING TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> NOTHING WORKS BETTER AT RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, SO IF YOU ARE IN A DISTRICT WHERE THE DISTRICT IS PUSHING PEOPLE OUT WITH HEAVY WORK LOADS AND REDUNDANCIES, AND NOT TRUSTING OR RESPECTING THEM, YOU CAN RECRUIT THEM ALL YOU WANT, BUT IF THEY ARE ONLY GOING TO STAY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, WHAT'S THE POINT?

>> Reporter: BECOMING A TEACHER IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY CAN MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO SPEND UP TO $1500 OVER AND ABOVE YOUR TUITION.

THAT IS THINGS LIKE PRACTICE EXAMS TO SHOW BASIC SKILLS AND TEACHER READINESS.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS LOVE TO SEE OUR GRADUATES, WITH THE FLEXIBILITY TO TEACH SPECIAL ED AND ESL AND ELEMENTARY.

EVERY TIME YOU ADD A CERTAIN LOCATION, YOUR ADDING COSTS TO BECOMING A TEACHER.

>> Reporter: THE PROGRAM IS SET TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

SO EDUCATION ADVOCATES ARE HOPING THEY WILL LOOK TO INCREASE SALARIES TO CREATE A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION TO ENDING THE TEACHER SHORTAGE.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> THERE IS LIGHT BEING SHED ON A HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL TECHNIQUE USED IN SOME SCHOOLS WHERE STUDENTS, PRIMARILY THOSE WITH DISABILITIES ARE LOCKED IN SO-CALLED ISOLATION ROOMS, PADDED CLOSETS THAT ARE USED TO RESTRAINT STUDENTS FOR MISBEHAVIOR.

UNDER STATE LAW, IT IS COMPLETELY LEGAL BUT A NEW PROPOSED BILL WOULD REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY PARENTS IF THEIR CHILD IS PUT IN ONE OF THE ROOMS AND REQUIRE EDUCATORS TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHEN AND FOR HOW LONG THEY USE THE TECHNIQUE.

THE MOVE COMES IN THE WAKE OF AN INVESTIGATION BY THE STAR-LEDGER REPORTER, KAYLEE HAYWARD, WHO JOINS ME NOW.

WHAT IS THE LATEST NOW THAT LAWMAKERS ARE SEEKING TO DO?

>> WELL, THESE QUIET ROOMS ARE USED IN SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE STATE, BUT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW MANY OR HOW OFTEN.

AND THE STATE IS NOT REALLY GIVING US THAT MUCH INFORMATION.

SO, LAWMAKERS ARE PROPOSING A NEW LAW THAT WOULD AT LEAST REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO TELL PARENTS EVERY TIME THEIR KIDS ARE PUT IN ONE OF THESE QUIET ROOMS, AND IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE THE STATE TO ACTUALLY COUNT HOW MANY TIMES KIDS ARE PUT IN THE ROOMS AND WHICH SCHOOLS ARE USING THESE QUIET ROOMS.

>> SO, THROUGH YOUR REPORTING, YOU WROTE THAT UNDER GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE, THESE ROOMS WERE ESSENTIALLY ENABLED, ALLOWED TO HAPPEN, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NO REQUIREMENTS UP UNTIL THIS POINT.

ARE LAWMAKERS LOOKING AT DOING AWAY WITH THESE ROOMS, ASIDE FROM JUST BRINGING IN SOME TRANSPARENCY?

>> RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BE ON THE ROOMS, OTHER STATES HAVE DONE THAT, STATES LIKE PENNSYLVANIA, FLORIDA, NEVADA.

THEY HAVE ALL SAID THAT YOU CAN'T USE THESE ROOMS AT ALL SCHOOLS, BUT IN NEW JERSEY, THEY ARE STILL LEGAL.

THERE IS NO LEGISLATION PENDING THAT WOULD MAKE THEM ILLEGAL, HOWEVER THERE IS LEGISLATION PENDING IN CONGRESS THAT WOULD MAKE THESE SECLUSION ROOMS ILLEGAL ACROSS THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

BUT, IT'S UNCLEAR I KNOW HOW MUCH SUPPORT THAT HAS.

>> WHAT DID YOU FIND IN TALKING TO PARENTS.

WERE THEY EVEN AWARE THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING IN SOME CASES WITH THEIR CHILDREN?

>> A LOT OF PARENTS WERE LIKE ME, I HAVE KIDS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THESE ROOMS UNTIL I STARTED DOING THIS REPORTING, AND A LOT OF PARENTS DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THEM, EVEN THOUGH THEIR KIDS WERE BEING PLACED IN THE ROOMS.

WE DID HEAR FROM SEVERAL PARENTS WHO SAID THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE THEIR KIDS WHEN THEY CAME HOME AND SAID MY TEACHER PUT ME IN A CLOSET OR LOCKED ME IN A TINY ROOM.

>> SURE, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS SOMETHING FROM A HORROR MOVIE, TRULY.

>> IT KIND OF SOUNDS MADE UP BUT A LOT OF PARENTS SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW.

BUT EVEN PARENTS WHO WERE NOTIFIED WHEN THEIR KIDS ARE PUT IN THE ROOMS, THEY ARE OFTEN NOT TOLD HOW LONG THEIR CHILD WAS LEFT IN THEIR, OR WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED TO TELL TEACHERS THAT THEY NEEDED TO PUT THEM IN THE ROOM.

UNDER THE STATE LAW, YOU SHOULD ONLY BE PUT IN THESE SECLUSION ROOMS IF YOU ARE A DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR A DANGER TO OTHERS.

BUT, OUR REPORTING FOUND THAT MANY SCHOOLS ARE USING THEM AS PUNISHMENT FOR KIDS TO TAKE THEIR SHOES OFF IN CLASS, OR REFUSING TO DO AN ASSIGNMENT OR GET IN A FIGHT WITH OTHER KIDS.

>> IS THEIR POLITICAL WILL TO GET THIS DONE?

I IMAGINE SOME LAWMAKERS WERE AS SHOCKED AS YOU AND I WERE TO LEARN THIS?

>> YEAH, THERE IS MOVEMENT IN TRENTON TO GET SOME RULES AROUND THESE ROOMS.

BUT, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE ROOMS, INCLUDING MANY EDUCATORS WHO SAY WE NEED TO KEEP THESE ROOMS IN SCHOOLS TO KEEP TEACHERS SAFE.

THAT IF WE TOOK THEM AWAY, THERE WOULD JUST BE A CHANCE THAT TEACHERS WOULD GET INJURED, WHEN STUDENTS WERE BEING VIOLENT AND THERE WAS NOWHERE TO PUT THEM.

SO IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE.

>> EXTREMELY COMPLICATED, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR REPORTING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY LATE TUESDAY SIGNED THE REVISED BILL PROVIDING CHILD TAX CREDITS FOR NEW JERSEY FAMILIES MEETING CERTAIN INCOME REQUIREMENTS.

THE NEW LAW FIXES AN ERA THAT WOULD HAVE DELAYED THE CREDITS GOING OUT TO FAMILIES UNTIL 2024, INSTEAD FAMILIES CAN APPLY FOR IT WHEN THEY FILE TAXES THIS YEAR AND RECEIVED THE MONEY BY 2023.

FAMILIES EARNING LESS THAN $30,000 PER YEAR WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE UP TO $500 FOR EACH CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF SIX.

>>> IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT, NEW JERSEY IS INCREASINGLY BECOMING A WAREHOUSE STATE.

WITH ABOUT 100 MORE WAREHOUSES TO BE BUILT HERE OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS ALONE.

AND NOT ENOUGH SPACE, QUITE FRANKLY TO DO IT.

THE STATE RECENTLY ISSUED ITS FIRST GUIDELINES ON WHERE THOSE FACILITIES CAN BE BUILT, BUT AS TED GOLDBERG REPORTS, TOWNS AREN'T REQUIRED TO FOLLOW IT.

>> NEW JERSEY'S WAREHOUSE BOOM IS NO SURPRISE, NEW JERSEY IS LOCATED WITHIN A 24-HOUR DRIVE OF NEARLY 80% OF THE ENTIRE NATION'S POPULATION.

I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ALL WANT TO BE HERE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S OKAY TO PAVE OVER THE GARDEN STATE, MAKING IT COMPLETELY IMPERVIOUS.

>> A NEW WAREHOUSE COULD BE COMING TO THE FORMER AMERICAN SITE IN WEST WINDSOR.

THE BRIDGE PLAN WOULD INCLUDE SEVEN BUILDINGS, OVER 653 ACRES.

IT HAS DRAWN SOME LOUD OPPOSITION IN WEST WINDSOR FROM PEOPLE LIKE FOX.

>> THIS LOOKS LIKE A RIVER, AND THIS WAS LAST YEAR.

SO DON'T TELL ME THAT IS 20 YEAR STORMS, FIFTY-YEAR STORMS, WE SEE THIS ALL THE TIME.

THIS IS GOING TO ADD A LOT OF RUNOFF, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO ADD A SINGLE FLUID OUNCE MORE.

>> EARLIER THIS MONTH, NEW JERSEY'S OFFICE OF PLANNING ADVOCACY ADOPTED THIS GUIDANCE, DOCUMENTS THAT CONSIDERS ADDING WAREHOUSES, FOX SAID IT DIDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WEST WINDSOR WHERE THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD APPROVED OF THE PROGRAM IN JUNE.

>> WE THOUGHT THIS WAS GREAT, BUT THEY DIDN'T FOLLOW IT.

THEY HAD IT BEFORE THE APPROVAL, THEY HAD EVERY CHANCE TO LOOK IT OVER AND THEY DIDN'T FOLLOW IT.

DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS WRONG WITH THIS PROJECT, THAT THEY REQUIRED 82 CONDITIONS FOR APPROVAL.

>> THE STATEMENT SAYS, THERE WILL BE NO ADVERSE AIR QUALITY IMPACTS FROM THIS PROJECT.

>> THE SIDING GUIDANCE MAY HAVE COME TOO LATE FOR THE WEST WINDSOR PROJECT BUT LEADERS SAY IT IS A BIG HELP AS THEY CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> WE HAVE MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE DEALING WITH APPLICATIONS THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING THEY HAVE EVER HAD TO DEAL WITH.

SO I THINK THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN POSITIVE BECAUSE IT IS REALLY A CREDIBLE THIRD-PARTY SOURCE.

HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO LOOK AT, HERE'S THE PROCESS, IF YOU BRING A WAREHOUSE HERE, WHAT WOULD BE THE EFFECT SAY ON THE OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY?

>> IT'S 12% OF NEW JERSEY'S JOBS, SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT ECONOMIC STIMULUS GOING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HAVE TO BALANCE IT.

>> EVEN THOUGH IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE, FOX WANTS TO SEE THOSE GUIDELINES WRITTEN INTO LAW SO THEY CAN BE ENFORCED, INSTEAD OF ENCOURAGED.

>> THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY ANY MUNICIPALITY HAS TO FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE.

IT'S THERE FOR A REASON, BUT WE CAN'T RELY ON THE GOOD NATURE OF PEOPLE TO JUST DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN MONEY IS HANGING IN THE BALANCE.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT GREED ALWAYS WINS.

>> IN THE NEXT STEP IS COUNTY APPROVAL BUT ADVOCATES LIKE FOX WILL CONTINUE TO PROTEST TO KEEP THIS WAREHOUSE OUT OF HER BACKYARD.

I'M TED GOLDBERG, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW THE MARKET CLOSED TODAY AFTER A TWO DAY RALLY.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NEW JERSEY, ANNOUNCING ITS 2022 NEW JERSEY BUSINESS HALL OF FAME NOVEMBER 3 AT THE HYATT REGENCY IN NEW BRUNSWICK.

EVENT DETAILS ONLINE.

>> YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ WHERE HE GOES ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE RENOWNED WHITE HOUSE CHIEF MEDICAL ADVISOR, DR. FAUCI, THAT IS TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 P.M. ON THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US TONIGHT, I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI, FROM THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

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