>> Major funding for NJ Spotlight News is provided in part by NJM Insurance group serving the insurance needs of residents and businesses for over 100 years.

Sprue shield of New Jersey, and by the PSEG foundation.

Briana: A federal government watchdog released two scathing reports on the FAFSA rollout, saying education leaders failed to manage technical glitches.

Chasing Kane.

After attempts to get this from the congressman, we tracked him down looking for answers on anything.

>> We can talk about the Yankees, the Giants.

Transit.

Briana: A travel advisory for women seeking reproductive services outside the state.

>> There is no place to go.

If you are in Texas and have to go to Tennessee, you don't have that information.

Briana: A disability housing shortage.

Experts gather to find solutions to make sure those with intellectual and developmental needs have a place to call home.

>> Parents like myself 65 and older are going to die.

and we are wondering where our child is going to live.

They can't stay in the house.

Briana: NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

>> From NJPBS studios.

This is NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: Thanks for joining us.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

We begin with a few key stories we are following.

A pair of scathing reports from the nonpartisan government accountability off a is shedding light on the botched federal student a door FAFSA rollout.

Which students it hurts most.

Laying blame at the feet of leaders within the U.S. Department of Education for family to account for tech issues or keep up with deadlines almost from the start of the overhaul after it was approved in 2020.

It resulted in mistakes that weren't addressed or even caught until students started filing applications.

A glitch caused anyone born in the year 2000 to be blocked from completing the FAFSA for several months.

Others received messages there warm was going to expire while others got notices they qualified for federal grants they were intelligible.

All of this according to the watchdog kept fewer low income students and those from immigrant families from applying for financial aid.

The students that likely needed it most.

Making the case to an New Jersey's takeover of the Patterson Police Department.

Lawyers for the mayor were in court Tuesday defending their lawsuit against the takeover.

And asking a slate of judges to avoid what they called a hostile takeover of the law enforcement agency, claiming the Attorney General's decision to intervene is cousin, quote, violence to residents, taxpayers and voters.

Pointing to an armed robbery last week in broad daylight as among the reasons the city should take back control of peace officers.

Patterson, releasing results of the summer strategy for public safety which leaders say continued to historic reduction in gun violence resulting in the number -- lowest number of year-to-date homicides.

The state took control of the department in 2023 following years of problems including criminal charges against a dozen officers and a high profile shooting.

The court is not saying when it will issue an opinion on the lawsuit.

The state is facing a federal lawsuit from a group of six hemp companies asking a judge to toss out New Jersey's new strict regulations on intoxicating hemp products including those with THC and the Delta eight compound.

The Governor signed into law or regulations on the manufacturing and sale of those items, immediately barring anyone under 21 from buying products with Delta eight and giving stores 30 days to pull the items from shelves.

Advocates argue the products, which are legal, can have the same effects as marijuana and end up in the hands of kids because they are available at gas stations and convenience stores.

Attorneys for the businesses claim the law will force operations to close or lay off employees causing them harm.

41 days out of the November election, New Jersey will potentially play a pivotal role with all 12 members of the house and one U.S. Senate seat up for grabs, helping decide the balance of power.

Covering the reelection campaign of one recover -- Republican incumbent has become a game of chase.

Tom Kane Junior has avoided questions from the New Jersey press corps.

Effectively giving the silent treatment to those tasked with holding elected officials accountable.

Our Washington correspondent recorded one of his attempts to talk with the Congressman.

Here is what happened.

>> Do you regret endorsing Donald Trump?

Would you -- In the district?

How are you going to vote?

Are you in favor of mass deportations in New Jersey?

In your district?

What about Ukraine?

Do you think Trump will do enough to support Ukraine in the war effort?

Taiwan?

You pick the topic.

I would love to talk to you about literally anything.

What did you have for lunch?

I'm trying to get your sense on a topic of truly, you name it.

We can talk about the Yankees, the Mets, the Giants.

NJ transit.

Briana: ben joins me from D.C.. That was a little uncomfortable to watch.

Walk me through sort of how that transpired.

>> That is an average interaction for me with the Congressman.

That was maybe the seventh or eighth, maybe more, time I tried to interview him on basically anything.

I have worked for Spotlight for eight months and covered Congress for a decade and he has given me nothing on any topic.

I am wearing my credential.

This is something that gets me into places where the public can't go.

As the eyes and ears of New Jersey, I am one of two full-time New Jersey reporters down here.

This is something, this is standard and it makes it hard to understand where he is on any topic.

Briana: When you talk to other Republican strategists they will say he doesn't need to do conventional interviews with press reporters.

It does not getting him into the eyes and ears of constituents because he is doing one-on-ones all events.

Is that true?

What is lost when we as the press can't hold folks accountable or give that layer of transparency that is our job and the reason we are here?

>> Right.

I can speak from the Washington perspective, my task is to cover 12 House members, two senators and that is the New Jersey delegation in Congress.

What is lost is a sense of why they are doing what they are doing.

Why did you vote on this, wide use of court a bill -- why do you support a bill on -- pick your topic.

Mr. Kaine is a blank slate.

It is difficult to understand where he is on any issues.

Briana: When you talk about the fact that you have covered Congress for a decade, New Jersey delegation for almost a year now, do you run into this type of situation with other members?

Is this unique and specific to Tom Kane or is this a tactic we are seeing deployed by others?

>> That is a good question.

This is my third newsroom covering Washington.

I have been here since 2014.

I have interviewed hundreds of lawmakers.

Ted Cruz before him.

All sorts of slices of the political spectrum.

Mr. Kane is the only person in my career who has ever pretended I do not exist area briana: We have been dropping episodes of our election exchange podcast where we had his Democratic challenger on.

We were unable to get through to his campaign to get a response.

How does this play out when someone is up for reelection?

How does it change how you are able to write a story or present information to readers and viewers?

>> I'm really stuck with whatever public record I can dredge up.

A lot of my reporting on Mr. Kane is about how he may have voted, what he did in committee, where he stands in relation to the broader national Republican Party.

It is very cloistered, I would say, and controlled.

When lawmakers don't talk to the press, they are only putting out messages they want to put out and that hurts in my view, the public and undermines the informed constituency.

This is not partisan.

I would underscore after I followed Mr. Kane and tried to show what interacting with him was like I talked with Jeff Van Drew and other Republicans from New Jersey an hour or two later and we have written tough but fair stories on him.

He talked with me for 9, 10 minutes.

Within New Jersey, this is distinct to Congressman Kane.

Briana: Thanks so much.

Tonight we are taking a deeper look at the increasingly crowded race for the next mayor of Jersey City.

The election is more than a year away but the latest candidate to toss their hat in the ring is shaking up the contest.

Jim Solomon kicked off his campaign bid last week promising to fight corruption and make Jersey City the best version of itself.

How will he do it while differentiating himself from the rest of the pack?

David takes a look.

>> James Solomon is the most recent entrance into the race for Mayor in the cities second largest and arguably most dynamic city.

A young, earnest white guy new to the city who has benefited from the demographic shift downtown to build a potent political base.

Sound like someone you know?

>> I don't take donations from real estate developers.

That is because we deserve folks in office who are independent from their influence and make development work to the people of the city.

To me the dream job is to be Mayor.

You can't ask for a better job because you get to serve the community you love every day, go to home -- home to your family every night.

>> A resident of the city for just over a decade, the 40-year-old father of grew up in Millburn and started his political career in 2017, defeating his hand-picked candidate for the city Council.

He is a full-time councilman who was inspired to run after he survived a cancer diagnosis in large part due to the support of his community.

>> The best part of Jersey City are its people.

This is a diverse set of folks who are down to earth.

There is no bull -- the people are real and the city Israel.

That is the best part of it.

They deserve a government that matches how good they are.

>> And Solomon gives them major credit for advancing bayfront, which provides thousands of new affordable housing units, and fighting the county political organization.

But he disagrees on the controversial Pompidou Museum project that would cost taxpayers millions.

He criticizes the mayor for tolerating a culture of corruption.

>> The worst part is the corruption.

You pay property taxes, you may more of your hard money every day to fund the political system that doesn't care about you.

You pay for a tax break to a developer, 800 units of luxury housing without an affordable unit.

That's the problem.

You pay for a government that doesn't fill potholes and pick up trash.

That needs to change.

>> This independent candidate supports Solomon.

She may decide to run for city Council.

She is turned off by the former governor in the race and says voters should be wary of Jim McGreevey, who resigned from office amid scandal two decades ago.

>> The reason he was forced to resign was not his extramarital affair.

It was the corruption and the nepotism which we see too much of.

So I hope voters remember that and you know, decide we don't want more corruption and nepotism and we want to chart a new path area >> Solomon fired his first political salvo at McGreevy for his cozy relationship with South Jersey Republican George Gilmore, who was convicted of tax evasion and fraud but was pardoned by Donald Trump in 2021.

Gilmore is hosting a fundraiser for McGreevy tonight.

>> This is a guy who is not playing for second place.

He was going after McGreevy, going after the Hudson County Democratic organization.

He was painting his independence is why he is reading -- ready to leave the city.

>> He enters a field that includes Bill O'Day.

They are the best financed and well-known candidates in an election that is still a year away, but already becoming the center of attention in a city that will have a new mayor for the first time in more than a decade.

David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: Reproductive rights has become a key issue for this election cycle.

One Democratic lawmaker wants the state to create a warning system of sorts to let pregnant people know about abortion restrictions outside New Jersey before traveling to other parts of the country.

The senator introduced legislation that would task the New Jersey Department of State with creating a reproductive health travel advisory, color coding other states red, yellow or blue depending on the severity of abortion law restrictions read why do this here in a state that has codified reproductive care into law?

The senator joins me to explain.

Great to see you in person.

Thanks for making the trip.

What kind of information would be included?

Why do you deal this is needed?

>> It is hard to imagine talking about this in 2024 in America.

I'm lobbying for travel advisories for overseas.

I stay locked into the federal government earnings for American citizens and where they travel and to think about having to do this speaks volumes to where we are.

If you are an individual, a woman traveling across the country for business or thinking about going to school in Mississippi, it will help you to know what kind of medical services are available to you should you need emergency care of some kind, particularly, this is all about reproductive medical care.

There is no place to go to say I will be in Texas and I have to go to Tennessee.

You don't have that information at your fingertips read you can find it but it is hodgepodge.

Many of us feel are Department of State working with the Department of Health should establish an advisory system.

So New Jersey residents can know what to expect when they travel.

Briana: This closely mirrors what the U.S. State Department uses, typically for countries that are experiencing war, civil unrest, violence, things like that.

Why does the system fit for something like reap reductive health care when it is used for something so extreme as traveling to a worn torn -- war-torn country?

>> It only comes into play being similar in the fact that it conveys information in a real-time way that allows in this case a New Jersey resident, or anyone who wants to look at the New Jersey website, to know what to expect when they go to a state that offers, that could offer less than where they live.

A New Jersey we have a full bank of rights, as should be.

When the Supreme Court made their decision and cut loose various states to establish different standards and rights, you as an American female do not have the will rights across all feet -- equal rights across all 50 states.

Something unexpected could happen.

This isn't just about abortion.

This is health care and briana: Who do you see this helping?

You mentioned someone who is perhaps considering the -- going to school in Mississippi or is pregnant and traveling.

Did constituents come to you concerned about, I am taking this family trip and I don't know if something happens to me, if I will be able to get access that I need?

Is that how it went down?

>> I have the fortune to be surrounded by people who think out of the box.

This need was identified by staff in research, that we should take this step.

I thought immediately, I have nieces of a certain age that travel, for business or considering a vacation to Florida.

It is all those little pieces.

When this is in place a New Jersey resident can go to one site and when they have a concern or health issues, maybe unsteady and need to have a circumstance looked out in an emergency way, they know heading into the state of Georgia, let us say, what to expect.

Some states have gone Draconian taking rights away from people.

Our citizens have a right to know what to expect when they travel.

Briana: Thank you, Senator.

>> My pleasure.

Briana: The U.S. Justice Department is accusing credit card company Visa of operating an illegal monopoly, and stifling competition in the debit card industry in a way that drives up prices for nearly everything.

According to an antitrust lawsuit filed this week, Visa abused its dominant position in the debit card market by penalizing customers and merchants who used a competitor.

According to the complaint, Visa bills more than 60% of debit card transactions in the U.S. and collects more than $7 billion annually in processing fees.

The Justice Department says visa prices it services in a way that makes it too expensive for merchants to use rival networks, and says visa pays would-be competitors to stay out of the market.

Visa's General Counsel dismissed the lawsuit as meritless.

And vowed to mount a vigorous defense.

Finally, tackling gaps in care for some of the most vulnerable residents among us.

We have covered the long wait lists and lack of housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities but the problem is even more acute for those with complex medical and behavioral needs.

Roman 1-iron -- role in universities Sweeney Center for Public policy held the first of its kind conference on the topic.

Advocates and state leaders shared ideas and frustrations on the challenges families are facing.

>> Parents 65 and older are going to die, and we are wondering where our child is going to live.

They can't stay in the house.

If I'm not directing the services.

RAVEN: Mary lives with her son, Sean, who has severe autism and bipolar disorder.

They live in Medford.

She moved from Ridgewood to South Jersey after finding it a -- a day program that would meet her son's needs.

She said Sean dealt with the loss of his father, moving to an environment away from friends, and began to show severe behavior stemming from the trauma.

She felt the safest option for Sean was to have him home.

>> I don't feel it is right that myself and my son are locked in the house, and every time we go out, that I have to worry about an interaction where he might hit somebody, which could involve them filing a complaint against him, or involvement in the justice system.

It is so complicated even to go out into the community.

It is lonely and isolating, and he doesn't have the life, he doesn't have a structure of activities and things he could do because of his behaviors.

RAVEN: She joined other advocates, care providers, and officials, including Paul Aronson, the state ombudsman for into -- individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families.

At the Sweeney Center for Public policy.

>> Lots of folks age out of the system at 21.

Where there are both federal and state requirements, it is an entitlement.

There have to be some services put in place for folks 21 and below.

Beyond that, it is not required.

The good news is, here in New Jersey we have a lot of support and services For folks 21 and older.

But not everybody knows about it.

In our office, whether it is cultural or language barriers, not accessing information.

Raven: The conference focuses on housing and services for adults with issues and medical needs making it difficult for them to find an appropriate place to live.

These individuals are often unable to live in traditional group homes but there disabilities aren't severe enough for them to live in a state developmental Center.

>> The answer is somewhere in the middle.

It is providing different housing supports for different folks, recognizing people with disabilities, like people without disabilities, have different needs and preferences.

They might want to live in an apartment or a house, in the city or a suburban area, or rural area.

We need to do all we can meet those needs.

>> one size does not fit all.

We need a variety.

We also need to recognize people with developmental disabilities should have as many choices as we all have.

I live in an over 55 community and nobody said there is too many of you.

RAVEN: Lisa is an attorney who represents families with special needs, and the president of Circle Haven, a nonprofit working on an intentional community that will be built on donated land near Rowan University in the Township of Mullica Hill.

0 >> It will be a mix of affordable housing for families, and affordable housing for individuals with developmental disabilities.

So we are mixing our community.

Small units, 1, 2, three bedrooms at the most and a shared community center.

Raven: They hope to work with legislators to address the housing crisis for those with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

She hopes to see more intentional communities built throughout the state in the future.

I'm Raven Santana.

briana: That does it for us tonight.

but before you go, a reminder to download the NJ Spotlight News podcast so you can listen to us anytime.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

Thanks for being with us.

Have a great night.

We will see you right back here tomorrow.

>> New Jersey education Association, making public schools great for every child.

RWJ Barnabas health.

Let's be healthy together.

And New Jersey realtors.

The voice of real estate in New Jersey.

More information is online at NJrealtor.com.

>> I'm Gloria.

2024 president of New Jersey realtors.

whether it is guiding first-time buyers through the process or securing space for small business owners, New Jersey realtors have helped clients through real estate transactions for more than a century.

No matter what your unique needs are, there is a knowledgeable realtor for you.

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