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

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

NOT LONG AGO, LABOR DAY WAS THE ANTICIPATED DAY MANY WORKERS WERE EXPECTED TO HEAD BACK TO THE OFFICE.

BUT, THE RISE OF COVID-19 CASELOADS, DRIVEN BY THE DELTA VARIANT IS DETERRING EMPLOYEES FROM MAKING THAT RETURN.

EVEN WITH STRICT WORKPLACE SAFETY PLANS IN PLACE, COMMUTERS ARE RELUCTANT TO GET BACK ON MASS TRANSIT.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO TAKE THE TEMPERATURES AND IN THE CASE OF THE PANDEMIC RETURN TO NORMALCY.

SR.

CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

IT'S LIKELY THAT YOUR RIGHT TO WORK MAY REMAINED CHANGED FOR SOME TIME.

>> MORNING TRAINS PICKED UP COMMUTERS IN SUMMITS TODAY, BUT RIDERSHIP IS STILL LAGGING AT ABOUT 50% OF PRE-COVERED LEVELS ON NJ TRANSIT.

BRIAN BENJAMIN IS ONE COMPUTER WHO HAS NOT BEEN ON BOARD.

>> UP IN THE OFFICE THREE TIMES OVER THE LAST 15 MONTHS OR SO.

I THINK EVENTUALLY WE GO WILL GO BACK BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY CHANGED.

>> HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSER TO HOME I WOULD SAY THAT I DON'T COME OUT AS FAR AS I USED TO.

>> I LIVE IN MAPLEWOOD SO IT'S LIKE A BUS HERE, ACTUALLY, A TRAIN HERE AND THE LIKE A BUS TO WHERE I WORK AT THE MALL.

>> SHONDA COSTA JUST STARTED A NEW JOB AND SWISHED OF HIS COMMUTING ROUTINE.

>> I WAS USING A WOOD TO GET TO WORK, WHICH IS A LITTLE TOO PRICEY AFTER YOU DO IT LIKE FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

SO, I WAS LIKE I HAVE TO CIRCUITING BACK IN THE HABIT OF USING THE BUS IN THE TRAIN.

>> BUS RIDERSHIP WITH THE NEW JERSEY HAS HIT 65 TO 70% OF PRE- COVERED LEVELS.

ABOUT 60% FOR TRAVEL INTO NEW YORK CITY.

LET RAILS CHANGE THAT 60% FOR THE AGENCY CEO REPORTED RIDERSHIP REMAINED RELATIVELY STEADY FROM LAST MONTH.

AND THE SCHEDULES PERPLEXED ON RETURNING WRITERS.

>> THEY CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD WITH THAT LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE IN AVERAGE BETWEEN TRAINS, WHICH I'M SURE PEOPLE WHO USUALLY COMMUTE KNOW, BUT I WAS LIKE WELL, YEAH.

>> MEANWHILE, THE PORT AUTHORITY REPORT AS OF MIDSUMMER, TRAFFIC WAS ALREADY CLOSE TO PRE-PANDEMIC ROADBLOCK AT HUDSON RIVER TUNNEL AND BRIDGE CROSSINGS.

>> IT IS COMING BACK, WE ARE NEARLY ALL THERE, BUT JUST EMPIRICALLY FROM DRIVING AROUND SOME OF THE TRAFFIC IS TERRIBLE.

IT'S PERHAPS THE WORST IT HAS EVER BEEN.

GRIDLOCK SAM SCHWARTZ IS WE ARE THERE, WE ARE AT THE PANDEMIC LEVELS IS NOT ABOVE PRE- PANDEMIC LEVELS.

>> WITH THE DELTA VARIANT RECENT SURGE, ANY COMPANIES ARE RECONSIDERING WHETHER THEY SHOULD REOPEN IN SEPTEMBER.

THAT JUST THROWS MORE UNCERTAINTY INTO AN ALREADY VOLATILE COMMUTING SITUATION.

>> REALLY UNDERSTANDING AND CAPTURING AS MUCH RIDERSHIP AS POSSIBLE IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR THE VIABILITY AND THE VITALITY OF THE TRANSIT AGENT.

MOVING FORWARD.

SCENIC TRI-STATES JANET TURNER SAYS 11% OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS TOTALLY DEPEND ON PUBLIC TRANSIT TO GET AROUND, AND SHE NOTES THAT MORE THAN 80% OF WEEKEND TRADE TRAVELS BACK.

SHE HOPES AND A TRANSIT NEEDS MORE INPUT FROM ITS TRAVELING PUBLIC.

>> THERE ARE CURRENTLY VACANCIES ON THE BOARD FOR ANY REGULAR RAIL WRITER OR BUS WRITER.

THE POSITION OF CUSTOMER ADVOCATE HAS STILL NOT BEEN RESOLVED.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS INPUT THAT IS VITAL TO THE AGENCY RIGHT NOW.

>> COVERT SAFETY CONCERNS MIGHT ALSO DISSUADE RETURNING WRITERS, SAYS SENATOR LORETTA WEINBERG.

>> MY GUESS IS THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL BEING, FACING ALL OF THIS WITH SOME TREPIDATION.

NOT KNOWING WHAT THE DELTA VARIANT IS ACTUALLY DOING, AND I SEE THAT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

PEOPLE TAKING PICTURES OF OTHER PEOPLE ALL, NO MASKS ON, WEARING THE MASKS AND APPROPRIATE WAYS.

AND, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN IT THAT MASK REQUIREMENTS WILL BE ENFORCED, BUT THE WORKFORCE WILL BE PROPERLY VACCINATED.

>> NJ TRANSIT WILL ONLY SAVE SEVERAL THOUSAND OF ITS PLAYS WHO HAD GOTTEN COLLEGE OFF.

BRIAN BENJAMIN FIGURES HE WILL BE DRIVING BACK TO WORK WHEN THAT DAY COMES.

>> OUT THE FREEDOM OF BEING ABLE TO DRIVE AND NOT HAVING TO BE IN TOO CLOSE OF CONTACT WITH FOLKS.

>> I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> STATE AND LOCAL HELP THE PARENTS PREPARE FOR THE ROLLOUT OF BOOSTER SHOP .

FELT FEDERAL HEALTH EXPERTS ARE STILL DEBATING WHETHER THE EXTRA VACCINE IS NEEDED RIGHT NOW.

AND FDA VACCINE COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED TO WORK TOMORROW ON WHAT TO RECOMMEND AUTHORIZATION.

THE CDC ADVISORY PANEL ON THE ASIANS IS NOT MEETING UNTIL NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS SHOTS.

LEAVING OPEN THE POSSIBILITY FOR RELEASE.

AS LOCAL OFFICIALS TYPICALLY WAIT FOR A GREEN LIGHT TO FUND THE CDC BEFORE TAKING ACTION.

GOVERNOR MURPHY TODAY SAID THE STATE IS EAGERLY AWAITING GUIDANCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON BOOSTERS.

HE HAS MORE THAN 2400 NEW POSITIVE CASES, AND 26 FATALITIES ARE BEING REPORTED.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE CURVE IS ONCE AGAIN FIGHTING BACK, BUT IT WILL GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE HEARD FROM EPIDEMIOLOGISTS IN RECENT WEEKS.

MORE THAN 5.7 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE STATE ARE NOT FULLY VACCINATED.

AND JUST OVER 73,000 HAVE NOT HAD THEIR THIRD DOSE.

MEANWHILE, MODERNA INDICATES TODAY OF THE THIRD DOSE OF THE COMPANY'S VACCINE.

THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT IMMUNITY PROVIDES OVER TIME.

A CLINICAL TRIAL DONE FOR KIDS AGES 5 TO 11 IS ALSO GETTING CLOSER TO RELEASE.

OFFICIALS AT PFIZER EXPECT TO HAVE THE INFORMATION READY BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SHOTS TO BECOME AVAILABLE BY HOLLOWING.

FOR THE PANDEMIC, PARENTS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS ARE SCRAMBLING TO FIND WAYS TO TRANCE STUDENTS THIS YEAR AS THEY GRAPPLE WITH THE NATIONWIDE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE.

IN NEW JERSEY, THE UNDERSTAFFING IS SO DIRE, DISTRICT ARE CUTTING THE SCHOOL DAY SHORTLY BE PUTTING TEACHERS BEHIND THE WHEEL.

THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN BUILDING FOR YEARS, BUT NOW, DISTRICTS ARE COMPETING WITH TRUCKING AND DELIVERY COMPANIES LIKE AMAZON WHO OFFER SIGN-ON BONUSES AND WAGES TO ATTRACT A DWINDLING LABOR POOL.

JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS.

FOUR INDUSTRY ALWAYS HAS A STRUGGLE LOOKING FOR AND FINDING GOOD PEOPLE TO BE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS.

THE PANDEMIC JUST HAS ESCALATED THAT TO VERY CRITICAL LEVELS.

>> SO CRITICAL THAT DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE ARE NOT ABLE TO GET ALL THEIR STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL BY BUS EVERY DAY.

DISTRICTS LIKE CAMDEN.

>> IT IS OUR DUTY TO ENSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE STUDENT WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR TRANSPORTATION RECEIVES THE TRANSPORTATION.

SO, IT'S GOING TO CHALLENGE AND BE A HURDLE FOR US TO OVERCOME.

FEELING BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE, CAMDEN HAS HAD PICKUP TIMES WHICH ALSO MEANS AND TIMES OF THE SCHOOL DAY.

SO, THE DRIVERS CAN MAKE MULTIPLE RUNS.

BUT, EVEN STILL, 571 STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT ARE LEFT WITHOUT ANYTHING.

SO THEY ARE OFFERING REIMBURSEMENT TO PARENTS WHO DRIVE THERE THE SCHOOL AND AT A $100,000 LIABILITY TO THEIR AUTO INSURANCE.

>> THE PARENTS ARE WILLING TO TRANSFER THEIR OWN STUDENTS, THEY CAN BE REIMBURSED UP TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT AND NOT EXCEED $1000 FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.

>> SUPERINTENDENT OF THE REGIONAL EDUCATION SERVICES COMMISSION, MARK FINKELSTEIN SAYS HIS DISTRICT HAS BEEN PUTTING OUT SEVERAL BID TO MEET THEIR SHORTAGE AND IN THE MEANTIME, THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT IS WORKING OVERTIME.

BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP FACED A SIMILAR STRUGGLE THIS SUMMER, AND THEY ARE INVESTING THE COMPANY THAT CANCELED THE CONTRACT DUE TO A SHORTAGE.

>> THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TODAY.

WE MADE A CHOICE, WE RECEIVED NO BIDS AT THE TIME.

>> SO, THE DISTRICT TOOK MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN 10.

>> ABOUT 13 DRIVERS.

AND, THE BUSES.

SO, REALLY SUCCESSFULLY WE WERE ABLE TO PUT STUDENTS ON BUSES WHO NEEDED RIDES.

WHICH WAS THE MAJORITY OF THE FAMILIES.

HOWEVER, IT DOES MEAN THAT SOME OF THE BUSES WERE IN HERE VERY EARLY.

WE WERE LOOKING TO HIRE MORE DRIVERS.

>> BUT THEY ARE COMPETING AGAINST OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE SAME DRIVER WILL.

BILL PASCUAL WHO REPRESENTS NEW JERSEY SCHOOL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION SAYS THE STATE HAS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IN THE SHORTAGE BECAUSE BACKLOG THAT THE MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION ARE SLOWING DOWN THE LICENSE PROCESS.

>> YOU GOT TO DO TESTING, THE WRITTEN TEST, THE DRIVER TEST, AND SOMETIMES, IT CAN TAKE 2 TO 3 MONTHS TO GET YOUR LICENSE.

AND THAT IS JUST NOT DOABLE.

>> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE RECORDINGS RIGHT NOW TO BECOME A LICENSED BUS DRIVER ARE TOO STRINGENT OR ARE THEY APPROPRIATE?

>> AS FAR AS STRINGENT COMING UP TO SEE SOMEBODY PUSH THROUGH THE SYSTEM BE PUT IN AN UNSAFE MANNER.

BUT, THE PREACHER SPECIFIC THAT HAS IT.

THE PRETRIP IS THE WRITTEN TEST THAT COMES BEFORE THE DRIVING PORTION OF THE COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE OR CDL TEST.

MECHANICAL KNOWLEDGE IS SIMPLY UNNECESSARY FOR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS WHO ARE TRAVELING SHORT DISTANCES.

>> EVEN LOCKED IN WITH THE TRUCK DRIVERS THAT TRAVEL AND THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT.

WHEN THEY ARE HEAD.

BUT, IN THIS CASE, IT DETERS DRIVERS WHEN WE SAY IF THEY HEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, A PREACHER DOES REQUIRE YOU TO GO UNDER THE HOOD AND KNOW THE PARTS.

>> THEY ARE ADVOCATING FOR A CHANGE TO THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS AND ASKING THE NBC THE TO SPEED UP THE LICENSING PROCESS TO GET MORE BACK ON THE ROAD THE SCHOOL YEAR.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM JOANNA GAGIS.

>>> IT'LL TAKE 10 YEARS AND ABOUT $1 BILLION, BUT GOVERNOR MURPHY TODAY DOUBLE DOWN ON HIS COMMITMENT TO BRING UNIVERSAL PRE-K TO THE STATE.

HE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT DURING A VISIT TO AN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER.

HE DIRECTED THE POWER OF EDUCATION TO CREATE A TIMELINE AND PLAN FOR THE EXPANSION PRIORITIZING SCHOOL THE NEED.

HE REPORTED 19 DISTRICTS ROUGHLY $20 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING TO ENHANCE THEIR PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS.

THAT INCLUDES 10 NEW DISTRICTS AND 9 THAT WAS AND WITH THE HELP OF THE MONEY.

ADDING MORE THAN 1140 SEATS FOR 3 AND 4-YEAR-OLDS ACROSS THE STATE.

THE ADMINISTRATION IS POINTING TO PRESCHOOL AS ONE WAY TO CLOSE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN'S INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN THAT COULD HELP THE STATE GET THERE SOONER.

>> IT'S BEEN A CENTRAL PRIORITY OF OUR MINISTRATIONS AND A ONE.

THE PANDEMIC ONLY MADE IT MORE CLEAR THAT ACCESS TO HIGH- QUALITY STANDARDS ALIGNED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

FURTHER, INVESTING IN PRE-K IS HOW WE INTEND TO KEEP NEW JERSEY A NATIONAL LEADER IN EVERY FIELD.

WE ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE ALL THE BENEFITS OF HIGH-QUALITY BK ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY NEW JERSEY CHILD, AND TODAY, WE ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO THAT REALITY.

>> NEW JERSEY IS TAKING ON THE TEXAS TORSION BAND, JOINING THE MULTISTATE COALITION IN FILING A BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S LAWSUIT, LOOKING TO PREVENT ACCESS FROM PROHIBITING MOST ABORTIONS AT 6 WEEKS.

THAT INCLUDES FOR PREGNANCY RESULTING FROM SEXUAL ASSAULT OR INVOLVING A FAX THAT COULD CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE AFTER BIRTH.

A NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREW BROCK SAYS THE TEXAS LAW TURNS PRIVATE CITIZENS INTO BOUNTY HUNTERS.

BY EMPOWERING THEM TO SUE ABORTION PROVIDERS, CALLING AND IN EFFECT TO THE CONSTITUTION.

OTHER ATTEMPTS TO BLOCK THE LAW FAILED ON THE SUPREME COURT AFTER THE RULE WENT INTO EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER 1st.

A FEDERAL JUDGE THIS WEEK SAID IN OCTOBER 1st HEARING TO CONSIDER TEMPORARILY BLOCKING THE BAND FILING AN EMERGENCY REQUEST FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

MEANWHILE, IN NEW JERSEY, A BILL TO CODIFY THE RIGHT TO ABORTION HAS BEEN STALLED IN THE LEGISLATOR FOR NEARLY A YEAR.

SEE ECKSTEIN TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 A.M., APPLICATIONS TO THE STATE A.D.A.

GO LIVE FOR BUSINESSES IN NEED OF GRANT AND ASSISTANCE AS THEY CLEANUP FROM HURRICANE HENRY AND IDA.

THE STORM, PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT ON FRAGILE PIECES OF HER INFRASTRUCTURE.

IN PASSAIC COUNTY, THE RECOVERY WAS WITH A ADVISORY IN SOME PLACE WITH 250,000 RESIDENTS THAT COULD BE THERE FOR A MONTH.

ALL DUE TO AN UNCOVERED RESERVOIR THAT WAS TREATED WATER, ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING IN THE NATION.

AS MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DIRECTED THE ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED OVER A DECADE AGO.

>> Reporter: FEARS THE NEW STREET RESERVOIR IN PATTERSON HAS BEEN PROVIDING WATER TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HOMES ACROSS THE COUNTY.

BUT, FOR THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS, RESIDENTS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TRUST US A FIVE.

SEE I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING A LITTLE CRAZY.

I MEAN, IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU CANNOT TURN ON THE SINK AND EVEN BRUSH HER TEETH.

>> DAILY 250,000 RESIDENTS LIVING IN PATTERSON, PASSAIC, AND PARTS OF CLIFTON AND WOODLAND PARK, WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE BOILING THE WATER FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

SOMETHING THEY HAVE HAD TO DO SINCE SEPTEMBER 2nd.

THE WATER COMMISSION OFFICIALS SAY THE ADVISORY WAS NECESSARY AFTER TROPICAL STORM IDA FLOODED THE AREA.

>> THERE WAS ONE THAT WENT INTO THE RESERVOIR, AND AS A PRECAUTION, THE COMPANY CALLED THE WATER ADVISORY BECAUSE THE WATER IN THE RESERVOIR HAVE BECOME COMPROMISED.

AND THEY DID NOT TO TAKE A CHANCE ON SENDING THE WATER TO OUR CUSTOMERS WITHOUT IT BEING UP TO THE STANDARDS, THE WATER STANDARDS THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY HAVE THERE.

>> ONE OF THE RESERVOIRS THAT ARE OPEN TO THE AIR, ARE ELEVATED.

AND SO, YOU CANNOT GET THEM FROM THE LANDSCAPE INTO THE RESERVOIR, WHICH CAN BRING SEDIMENT, AND IT CAN BRING IN A LEASE.

IN THE CASE OF THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE OPEN, THERE ALSO PART OF THE LAND.

AND SO, THEY HAVE TREES GROWING AROUND THEM, SHRUBS GROWING AROUND THEM, RUNOFF THAT COMES DOWN FROM THE HILLSIDE TO THEM POTENTIALLY.

THAT MAKES THEM MORE VULNERABLE TO CONTAMINATION FROM THINGS LIKE THIS.

>> AND ISSUE SOME EXPERTS SAY COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.

BUT, 2009, THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ISSUED AN ORDER REQUIRING THE AIR RESERVOIRS WITH TREATING WANTED TO BE COVERED.

VALLEY WATER COMMISSION SYSTEM STAYED OPEN.

>> A LOT OF IT WAS A LOCAL OPPOSITION TO THE OPENING RESERVOIRS.

PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND THEM, THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL, THEY LOOK NATURAL.

>> IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ABOUT WHAT IT TASTES LIKE AN THE WAREHOUSE NEEDS TO BE SAFE.

THESE RESERVOIRS EXISTED FOR A LONG TIME.

AND, IN ANY DENSELY DEVELOPED AREAS LIKE OURS, COVERING THEM CAN BE A REALLY COMPLICATED, AND TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS.

BUT, WHAT WE MEAN BY COVERING IS, ENSURING THAT IS NOT OPEN TO THE ELEMENTS THAT USUALLY MEANS LARGE WATER STORAGE TANKS.

SO, FINDING THE LAND AREA TO PUT THOSE TANKS, AND IN THE PLACES WHERE IT WILL PROVIDE THE RIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT FOR A WATER SYSTEM.

>> OFFICIALS SAY THE SUPPORT THE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE PROPOSED SO UP TO WATER SYSTEMS COULD BE MADE.

THE FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS COULD COST ABOUT $30 BILLION.

>> THE QUESTION THAT IT CAUSES, THE WORST OF A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT, ALREADY OVER AND COMMUNITIES.

AND, THAT WE NEED TO ACCELERATE THE PROGRESS, NOT JUST ON THE SIDE OF MOVING FORWARD WITH COVERING THESE RESERVOIRS, BUT IMPROVING THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS IN THESE COMMUNITIES AT LARGE.

>> OFFICIALS DON'T HAVE AN EXACT END DATE FOR THE BOAT WATER ADVISORY, BUT THEY WANT CUSTOMERS TO KNOW THEY ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO MAKE SURE THEIR WATER SUPPLY IS CLEAN.

IN THE MEANTIME, RESIDENTS CAN ALSO PICK UP WATER AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.

YOU CAN FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> AND OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT, AND JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IS HAVING 8 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS OF JOB GAINS DESPITE HAVING UNEMPLOYMENT RATES THAT SIT AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION.

7.2%, DOWN JUST A 10th OF A PERCENTAGE, ACCORDING TO THE NEIGHBOR NUMBERS.

THE STATE ADDED JUST OVER 20,000 JOBS IN AUGUST, AND HAS NO RECOVERED ABOUT 65% OF ALL THE JOBS LOST IN MARCH AND APRIL 2020 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

KNOW AS THE GAINS WERE SPLIT BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, BUT MAINLY IN BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

MEANWHILE, SOME 300,000 WORKERS WHO RELIED ON THE FEDERAL PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE BEFORE IT EXPIRED EARLIER THIS MONTH ARE NOW RECEIVING EXTENDED BENEFITS TO THE STATE, AND AUTOMATIC SWITCH THAT WENT INTO EFFECT THIS WEEK.

>>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO DECADES, THE STATE IS MAKING WHAT IS CONSIDERED A FULL PENSION PAYMENT, THAT MEANS ENOUGH MONEY TO RESTORE THE FUND TO GOOD HEALTH, AND CURRENTLY ACTUARIES SIZE NEEDED TO MEET OBLIGATIONS FOR RETIREES.

THE APPROVED SITUATION FOLLOWS YEARS OF UNDERFUNDING THAT LEFT NEW JERSEY WAS ONE OF THE NATIONS WORST FUNDED PUBLIC WORKER RETIREMENT SYSTEMS.

WE ALSO HAVE BUDGET AND FINANCE WRITER, JOHN REITMEYER, TO BREAK DOWN HOW MUCH IS BEING PAID OUT , AND HOW THE NUMBERS HAVE CHANGED.

JOHN, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE NUMBERS, IT'S NOT JUST THE FACT THAT THE STATE IS MAKING A FULL PENSION PAYMENT, IS ALSO ABOUT A RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES.

SO, WHAT WAS JUST ENACTED IN LATE JUNE HAVE THE FIRST FULL CONTRIBUTION THAT WOULD BE CALCULATED BY THE STATES ACTUARIES IN OVER TWO DECADES.

SO THAT IS ONE ACCOMPLISHMENT.

THE OTHER GOOD THING THAT HAS HAPPENED RECENTLY IS THAT MOST RECENT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH JUST ENDED ON JUNE 30th HAVE SOME REALLY BAD INVESTMENT RETURNS.

WE ARE STILL WAITING ON THE FINAL NUMBERS.

CAN THE STATE TYPICALLY SWINGS ABOUT A 7% RETURN ON INVESTMENTS.

AND, IT'S GOING TO BE UP OVER 20, MAYBE 25% WHEN THE FINAL NUMBERS COME IN.

AND SO, THAT REALLY HELPS BECAUSE THE MORE MONEY YOU GET FROM YOUR FUNDING FOR LESS MONEY YOU NEED TO COLLECT REALLY FROM TAXPAYERS TO MAKE UP ANY FUNDING.

>> MAKE SENSE.

SO WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THE PENSION FUND RIGHT NOW, AND CAN YOU SORT OF QUICKLY WALK US THROUGH WHAT IS BEING PAID OUT?

>> WELL, THE VALUE, MOST RECENT NUMBERS WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE SOME OF THESE HAVE BEEN AUDITED IN SOME OF THESE HAVEN'T WHEN WE LOOK AT ANNUAL REPORTS, AND MONTHLY REPORTS.

BUT, IT WAS OVER $90 BILLION, WHICH IS STILL A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR ALL OF THE STATE'S PENSION FUNDING TROUBLES, THE FUND IS STILL COMING UP, PRETTY BIG PENSION FUND ON ITS OWN.

IT HAS A LOT OF OBLIGATIONS AND THAT'S WHERE THE TRIPS COMING.

AND SO IT PAYS OUT SOME 11 OR $12 BILLION ANNUALLY NOW AND BENEFITS.

AND SO, THE PENSION IS, CAN YOU MAKE UP ENOUGH TO KEEP PACE IN TERMS OF INVESTMENT RETURNS AND ALSO CONTRIBUTIONS BY EMPLOYERS, NAMELY, THE STATE, THE STATES BIG EMPLOYERS AND OTHERS FOR THE TAXPAYERS.

NOT TO MENTION WE HAVE TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE STILL.

>> YEAH.

AND THAT'S THE BIG ISSUE, BECAUSE THE STATE HAS BUT IT IS THIS WHOLE PENSION CONTRIBUTION COMING OFF OF A YEAR OF REALLY BANNER TAX REVENUES.

AND IT WAS ALSO LAST YEAR WHEN WE THOUGHT WE WOULD NEED MORE MONEY TO RESPOND TO THE PANDEMIC.

IT TURNED OUT TO NOT REALLY BE NECESSARY.

SO, THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO YOU SUSTAIN THIS LEVEL OF FUNDING IN THE FUTURE WHEN INVESTMENT RETURNS COME BACK DOWN TO EARTH AND MAYBE REVENUES ARE NOT AS ROBUST?

>> SOMETHING I THINK WILL BE A PROBLEM NOT TOO FAR FROM NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JOHN REITMEYER COULD >> THIS WEEKEND, JOIN RHONDA SCHAFFLER FOR NJ BUSINESS BECAUSE SHE TAKES A LOOK AT THE HEALTH OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, HOW ARE THEY FARING, WHAT AID IS AVAILABLE TO HELP ALONG WITH ADVICE FOR STARTUPS.

WATCH IT ON OUR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL SATURDAY MORNING AT 10:00 A.M. >>> TURNING OUT TO WALL STREET.

HERE'S A LOOK AT TODAY'S CLOSING TRADING NUMBERS.

CLEAR >> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY SJ MAGAZINE.

HEART AND SOUL OF SOUTH JERSEY.

ONLINE AT SJMAGAZINE.NET.

>> WE ARE JUST DAYS INTO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR AND ALREADY, PARENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE OF THE YOUNGEST STUDENTS ARE REPORTING BURNOUT AND EXHAUSTION.

ALL DUE TO THE STRESS OF THE PANDEMIC CAUSED BY THE SHIFTING DEMANDS OF PARENTING, ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, AND THE UNCERTAINTY OF COVID-19 OUTBREAKS.

A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, DR. REAM EXPLAINS, A LOT OF FAMILIES DON'T FEEL THEY HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCES TO COPE WITH THE CHANGING SITUATION AROUND THEM.

>> DR. REEM, IT PROBABLY COMES AS NO SURPRISE THAT ANY PARENT THAT FEELS REALLY PRINTOUT.

WHAT IN PARTICULAR IS WEIGHING ON PARENTS RIGHT NOW?

>> THEY DON'T -- IN GENERAL THEY FEEL THE INCREASING DEMANDS ON PARENTS WITH LIMITED RESOURCES AND I THINK LAST YEAR AND A HALF WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THE RESOURCES THAT PARENTS HAVE YOU KNOW, RELIED ON, IN SOME FASHION THEY'VE BEEN TAKEN AWAY.

SO THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE MEAN.

THERE WAS EVERYONE PANTING SO DIFFERENT.

WHETHER IT LASTED WITH A SUPPORT SYSTEM, ANXIETIES AND WORRIES ABOUT THE UNKNOWN, AND UNRAVELING THE PANDEMIC.

WITH THINGS CHANGING.

IT HAS INCREASED OUR ANXIETIES AS PARENTS.

>> WHAT ABOUT PARENTS, PARTICULARLY OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN?

MANY OF THEM WENT THROUGH A FULL YEAR, ALMOST A VIRTUAL LEARNING.

KIDS WERE HOME FOR THE SUMMER AND NOW THEY ARE HEADING BACK.

>> YES, SO PARENTS WITH SMALL CHILDREN ACTUALLY INCREASED RISK OF BURNOUT ALREADY.

AND NOT ONLY AWARE OF THIS PANDEMIC AND UNKNOWN.

LIKE I SAID, I CONTINUE TO SAY THIS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE ANXIETY REALLY FOSTERS WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW.

AND YOU DON'T WANT TO EXPECT, AND HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO GO BECAUSE WE CAN DEVELOP A PLAN.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING FOR PARENTS WITH YOUNGER CHILDREN AND SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN.

THEY TRY TO CREATE A PLAN AND THAT PLAN IS CONSISTENTLY CHANGING AND IT IMPACTS THE WAY THAT THEY MANAGE THEIR ROLE AS A PARENT, AS A EMPLOYEE, AS A PARTNER AND SO ON.

>> WELL, WE KNOW JUST HOW IMPORTANT ROUTINES ARE FOR KIDS.

FOR EVERYONE, REALLY.

SO WHAT CAN PARENTS DO >> LIKE SN, I KNOW WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS MANAGING THE THINGS IN MY CONTROL, HOW I MOVE MY BODY-MYSELF, WHAT I TAKE IN AND CONSUME AS IT RELATES TO MEDIA.

WHAT KIND OF VENDORS I HAVE WITH THE PEOPLE AROUND ME THAT ARE ACTUALLY TRIGGERING THE FEELINGS OF CHRONIC STRESS.

SO IT'S REALLY TRYING TO MANAGE WHAT WE CAN IN THIS UNPREDICTABLE UNKNOWN FEELINGS AND EVENTS THAT HAVE CONTINUED ON.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU QUICKLY IF SOME OF THE SURVEYS SHOWED ANYTHING AS IT RELATES TO WHO IS FEELING IT MORE, MOM OR DAD?

BECAUSE WE KNOW THROUGHOUT COVID, WOMEN HAVE LEFT THE WORKFORCE, WOMEN ARE NOT REENTERING THE WORKFORCE FOR TAKE EARLY BECAUSE OF CHILD CARE REASONS.

DID ANY OF THAT SORT OF TURN OUT TO BE TRUE IN THE SENSE THAT YOU KNOW OF IN BURNOUT?

>> YES.

MOTHERS TEND TO FEEL BURNOUT, WE EXPERIENCE BURNOUT FAR MORE THAN FATHERS DO.

>> AND THIS IS HISTORICALLY BASED ON THE IDEA THAT MOMS TEND TO CARRY THAT CHILD REARING AND HOUSEKEEPING, ALL OF THOSE TASKS, THEY SHOULDER THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES MORE FREQUENTLY THAN FATHERS DO.

>> DR. REEM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHT .

THE PARENTS CAN GET TIX LIKE THIS.

>> THINK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT, >>> REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ IS BACK FOR A NEW SEASON STARTING THIS WEEK.

DAVID KICKS OFF THE SHOW LOOKING INTO THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL, A RETURN TO IN PERSON LEARNING, AND THE DEBATES OVER MASK AND VACCINE MANDATES.

HE WILL CHAT WITH PRESIDENT OF THE AND JEA.

A PANELIST EXPOSE THE TOP HEADLINE TO CATCH A LIVE STREAM FRIDAY MORNING AT 10:00 A.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL, TWITTER, OR FACEBOOK.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FROM THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US AND WE WISH EVERYONE A MEANINGFUL AND EASY FAST CELEBRATING YOM KIPPUR.

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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.