>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAYBE MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GRADE FOR EVERY CHILD.

RW J BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND, OR STEAD, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW, LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

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

>>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

GUILTY ON ALL THREE CHARGES.

THAT VERDICTS, IN THE CASE OF A FOREIGN MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER CONVICTED ON CHARGES OF MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER IN THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD.

IT CAME NEARLY A YEAR AFTER FLOYD'S KILLING IGNITED A WAVE OF INTERNATIONAL PROTEST IN A MOVEMENT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.

OUTSIDE THE MINNEAPOLIS COURTHOUSE, CELEBRATIONS, SIGHS OF RELIEF, IN NEW JERSEY, POIGNANT AND PEACEFUL GATHERINGS.

A GROUP OF DEMONSTRATORS LOCKING TRAFFIC FOR 9 1/2 MINUTES, THE AMOUNT OF TIME THE CONVICTED OFFICER KNEELED ON HIS NECK CAPTURED ON VIDEO WELL TAKING A REST.

HE FACES UP TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON, A RARE EXAMPLE OF PUNISHMENT AFTER A POLICE KILLING, AND HE WILL AWAIT HIS SENTENCING SCHEDULED FOR JUNE.

WHILE IN JAIL.

LEADERS FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN TO GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID THE NATION CANNOT STOP HERE IN ADDRESSING RACIAL INJUSTICE.

YESTERDAY'S VERDICT BROUGHT SOME MEASURE OF JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE FLOYD FAMILY AND BILLIONS OF OUR RACISM IS STILL IN AMERICAN LIFE.

WE MUST BE RESOLUTE IN OUR FIGHT FOR JUSTICE TO ENSURE THE PAIN OF YESTERDAY AND THE PAIN OF TODAY DOES NOT BECOME THE PAIN OF TOMORROW.

I REMAIN COMMITTED TO THIS, AND I KNOW MILLIONS OF YOU SHARE THAT COMMITMENT.

LET'S KEEP WORKING TOGETHER.

>> IT WAS A MIX OF EMOTIONS X ACTIVISTS, ACTIVISTS AND RESIDENTS WATCH THE CONCLUSION OF A LANDMARK TRIAL.

SR.

CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ TAKES A DEEPER LOOK.

>>> THE GUILTY VERDICTS WERE GREETED WITH CHEERS BY MANY, AND WITH A SENSE OF RIGHTEOUS RELIEF BY OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN PLEADING FOR DECADES THAT ATTENTION BE BROUGHT TO POLICE UTILIZATION OF BLACK PEOPLE.

>> GET UP, GET OUT OF MY WAY 50 MAKE IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE A JURY NOT BEING PERSUADED BY THE VIDEO OF GEORGE FLOYD DYING ON THE STREET WITH A KNEE ON HIS NECK.

BUT, ANY CELEBRATING WHILE UNDERSTANDABLE SAYS LONGTIME COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, LARRY HIM SHOULD BE SHORT-LIVED.

>> THE CONVICTIONS IN THE GEORGE FLOYD MURDER TRIAL ARE THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE.

EVEN AS THE JURY'S VERDICT WAS BEING ANNOUNCED, A WHITE POLICE OFFICER WAS PUMPING FOUR BULLETS INTO THE CHEST OF A 15- YEAR-OLD BLACK GIRL IN OHIO.

BEFORE THE SUN GOES DOWN TODAY, WE KNOW THAT THREE PEOPLE WILL BE KILLED BY THE POLICE ON AVERAGE, THE POLICE KILLED THREE PEOPLE A DAY IN AMERICA.

ON AVERAGE, THEY KILL 1000 PEOPLE A YEAR IN AMERICA.

48% OF THE OWNER PEOPLE KILLED BY THE POLICE ARE BLACK.

EVEN THOUGH WE ARE ONLY 13% OF THE POPULATION.

>> I DID TAKE A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE THAT SOMEONE WAS FINALLY HELD ACCOUNTABLE, BUT THEN, ALL I KEPT THINKING ABOUT WAS THE NEXT STEPS.

YOU KNOW, WHAT IS HAPPENING NEXT, WHAT DO WE DO NEXT, AND NOT JUST NATIONALLY, BUT LOCALLY AS IT PERTAINS TO POLICE REFORM.

BECAUSE, THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN.

YOU KNOW, AND THAT GUILTY VERDICT HAS NOT FIXED THE SYSTEM.

>> JOHNSON AND HAMM HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR POLICE REFORM AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARDS WITH SUBPOENA POWER.

THE NEWARK DEPARTMENT IS STILL UNDER A FEDERAL CONSENT TO CREATE AFTER DECADES OF POLICE ABUSES AND IN JERSEY CITY, POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS HAVE BEEN STRAINED FOR YEARS.

AS EVIDENCED BY THIS MAY BE BEING THERE LAST SUMMER AND RECENT TENSIONS BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND SOME BLACK LEADERS.

A BILL IN THE STATE LEGISLATOR TO A VALID ESTABLISHED MUSICAL REVIEW BOARDS HAVE BEEN WAITING ALMOST A YEAR FOR ACTION.

IT IS NOT A LOAN, SAYS RYAN HAYGOOD OF THE NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.

>> THERE ARE PIECES OF LEGISLATION RIGHT NOW BUT TWO THINGS LIKE BAND CHOKEHOLD.

THAT LEGISLATION HAS NOT MOVED IN A LETTUCE LITTER.

THERE'S LEGISLATION AROUND DOING AWAY WITH QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

ALL THE STATES ARE PASSING THAT, NEW YORK, NEW MEXICO DID THAT.

WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING THAT.

COLORADO DID THAT.

WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THAT HAPPEN.

WE HAVE NOT YET MUSTER THE POLITICAL WILL TO DO THAT HERE, AND I THINK UNTIL WE DO THAT, WE WILL BE HAVING THESE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS REPEATEDLY.

YOU KNOW, WE THINK ABOUT THE 60s, AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE FREEDOM MOVEMENT AT LARGE.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE OTHER LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED.

AND MOVEMENTS THAT HAVE COME.

INCLUDING SOME OF THE MOVEMENTS OF TODAY.

OFTEN TIMES, AS THE COUNTRY WE LIKE TO SORT OF REFLECT BACK ON THAT AS EVIDENCE OF BEING THIS RACIALLY PLURALISTIC SOCIETY.

YOU KNOW, THE GREATEST IN THE WORLD AND SO FORTH.

BUT I OFTEN HAVE TO REMIND FOLKS THROUGH LECTURES AND SPEECHES THAT IT IS PRECISELY THROUGH THE INSTITUTION OF POLICE THAT WE SEE THAT WE ARE SIMPLY JUST NOT THERE YET.

>> THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN.

>> IT IS STILL DIFFICULT BUT I SUPPOSE IT'S POST-RACIAL SOCIETY TO DISCUSS RACE FRANKLY.

AND EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF RACE IN POLICING.

PEOPLE SAY BLACK LIVES MATTER.

IT'S NOT INTENDED TO MEAN THAT OTHERWISE DON'T MATTER, IT'S INTENDED TO MEAN THAT BLACK LIVES DOES NOT MATTER.

AND THAT MORE THAN EVER, OUR COUNTRY NEEDS TO HONESTLY FACE NOT ONLY ITS PAST, BUT IT'S PRESENT BEFORE ANYONE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

I AM DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> AMID THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON RACE IN POLICING, THE MIDDLESEX OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING AN INCIDENT CAPTURED ON VIDEO.

IN WHICH BELIZE SEES THE BIKES OF AT LEAST FOUR TEENS PLACING ONE YOUNG BLACK MALE IN HANDCUFFS.

ROUGHLY 55 SECOND LONG VERSION OF THE STOPPED HER OUTRAGE AFTER IT CIRCULATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, INCLUDING FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE ACLU, WHO QUESTIONED WHETHER POLICE WERE THE RIGHT AVENUE TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION.

IN THE FULL 17 MINUTE LONG VIDEO OF THE SAME GROUP, IT DEPICTS A DIFFERENT SCENE WITH ABOUT 20 TEAMS OF DIFFERENT RACES TIMES WEAVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC ON THEIR BIKES, ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD.

THE VIDEO IS EDITED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT SHOWS ONE OFFICER STOPPING THE GROUP, THEN LETTING THEM OFF WITH A WARNING.

SOMETIME LATER, ANOTHER OFFICER IDENTIFIED AS A SERGEANT ARRIVES AT THE SCENE, STEPPING IN TO TAKE THE BIKES INTERESTING ONE YOUNG MAN WHO REFUSES TO GIVE HIS APPEARED HE IS LATER LET GO.

THE BIKES ARE RETURNED, BUT IT'S UNCLEAR WHETHER HE WAS CHARGED WITH A CRIME.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT RETURN OUR REQUEST FOR COMMENT.

THE DECISION TO KEEP JERSEY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALL VIRTUAL UNTIL SEPTEMBER IS FACING BACKLASH FROM SOME PARENTS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.

LESS THAN A WEEK BEFORE JERSEY CITY WAS SET TO RESUME A HYBRID LEARNING SCHEDULE, THE SUPERINTENDENT INFORMED THE DISTRICT THAT RULES WILL REMAIN REMOTE, BLAMING A LACK OF STAFFING.

HUNDREDS OF TEACHERS REQUESTED ACCOMMODATIONS TO WORK FROM HOME.

SOME OUT OF COVID-19 MEDICAL CONCERNS COULD ACROSS THE STATE OR, MORE THAN 2900 NEW CASES AND 46 ADDITIONAL DEATHS ARE BEING REPORTED.

ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, LESS THAN 70 SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE STILL FULLY REMOTE, NOW, THE COMMUNITY IS DEMANDING ANSWER WHY JERSEY CITY IS ONE OF THEM.

JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS.

>> Reporter: HEARING THAT JERSEY CITY WOULD REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL SEPTEMBER FOR SCHOOLS WAS NOT THE NEWS THAT JENNIFER WAS EXPECTING OR WANTING TO HEAR.

SHE IS A MOM OF A 10-YEAR-OLD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AND EIGHT- YEAR-OLD WHO IS NOW DEALING WITH ANXIETY FROM ABOUT LEARNING, AND A THREE-YEAR-OLD TODDLER.

>> I WAS FURIOUS.

I WAS SHAKING FROM ANGER.

I WAS EXPECTING TO HEAR OKAY, PARENTS WE ARE READY FOR YOU, APRIL 26.

EVERYTHING THAT HAS GONE AS PLANNED, WE ARE READY.

THE MacBETH BECAUSE TEACHERS HAD ALREADY GONE BACK INTO THE BUILDINGS ON APRIL 15th TO PREP THE CLASSROOM FIRST A STUDENT RETURN THIS COMING MONDAY.

SO, WHAT CHANGED AND WHY?

THERE IS NO CLEAR ANSWER.

ONE SUGGESTION FROM SUPERINTENDENT RAICHLEN WALKER IS A TEACHER SHORTAGE LAST WEEK.

>> ALMOST 160 TEACHERS THAT DID NOT RETURN AT THAT TIME.

WE HAD 500 THAT DID NOT RETURN THE NEXT DAY, AND WE HAD 500 TEACHERS THAT WERE REQUESTING ACCOMMODATIONS.

>> IN A SURVEY SENT TO PARENTS AND TEACHERS, 60% OF TEACHERS SAID THEY WOULD RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM, AND ONLY 35% OF PARENTS WANT THEIR KIDS BACK IN THE BUILDING.

>> IF YOU HAVE 35% OF PARENTS AND STUDENTS WHO WANT TO RETURN TO THE BUILDING, AND YOU HAVE 60% OF TEACHERS WHO ARE ALSO WILLING TO RETURN TO THE BUILDING, DON'T THOSE NUMBERS WORK WHERE YOU CAN PROVIDE A HYBRID OPTION FOR THOSE THAT DO WANT TO BE BACK IN SCHOOL?

>> THAT HAS BEEN SET A NUMBER OF TIMES AND PEOPLE HAVE CERTAINLY REQUESTED DECISIONS UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES AND PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONED THE LEADERSHIP AND THEY TALKED ABOUT THOSE NUMBERS.

AND, YES.

THEY HAVE TO KNOW THAT BASED UPON THAT PARTICULAR MATRIX, WE CAN CERTAINLY SUPPORT THAT.

>> BUT IT SEEMS THAT THAT IS NOT THE MATRIX THEY ARE USING.

AND JERSEY CITY MAYOR STEVE PHILIP IS ONE OF THOSE CRITICAL OF THE LEADERSHIP.

>> I AM DISAPPOINTED, UPSET.

I THINK IT'S REALLY A DISGRACE ON THE PART OF THE ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD AND I'M HOPING THAT THEY REVISIT THIS DECISION.

>> WALKER INDICATED THAT THEY CANNOT, OR WON'T, AND HE BLAMES UNION CONTRACTS.

>> I WOULD LIKE THE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITHOUT STAFF, THE INDICATIONS THAT, YOU KNOW.

AND EVERYONE IS WORKING, OR THEY ARE NOT.

I MEAN, EVERYONE IS IN, OR THEY ARE OPERATING REMOTELY.

>> WHY WERE TEACHERS PREPARING TO COME TO THEIR CLASSROOMS AT ALL AND WHAT IS THE UNION SAYING ABOUT IT?

IT'S A FINGER-POINTING FEST HERE IN JERSEY CITY.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS IN OUR CONTRACT, BUT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POLICY.

>> SO THERE'S NO HYBRID OPTION AT ALL FOR JERSEY CITY?

>> AS OF NOW, NO.

AND TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU, I AM ASKING THE BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE AS A POLICYMAKING COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD.

WE NEED TO DEVELOP POLICY, BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE NEVER GOTTEN.

NO ONE HAS EVER GONE THROUGH THIS.

WE NEVER HAD HYBRID SCHOOL BEFORE.

WE'VE NEVER HAD THIS NO SCHOOL BEFORE PEOPLE AT THE STOMACH POSSE.

>> HE SAYS THEY'VE HAD A YEAR TO FIGURE THAT OUT AND IF THE FAMILIES LEFT SUFFERING.

>> I AM EXHAUSTED.

EXHAUSTED.

I CAN COUNT ON MY HANDS HOW MANY TIMES I'VE LITERALLY HAD AN EMOTIONAL, MENTAL BREAKDOWN THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.

AND THEY FAILED US, THERE WAS NO PLAN.

>> 65% OF PARENTS FEEL DIFFERENTLY THAN SPARSER, BUT SHE'S ORGANIZING APPARENT PROTEST TOMORROW MORNING FOR THOSE LIKE HER WHO ARE DEMANDING AN IN-PERSON OPTION.

MAYOR PHILIP SAYS HE WILL BE THERE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM JOANNA GAGIS.

>> YOU CAN ADD PRINCETON UNIVERSITY TO A GROWING LIST OF NEW JERSEY'S FOUR YEAR COLLEGES MANDATING VACCINES FOR RETURNING STUDENTS.

THE IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS AS THE REQUIREMENT APPLIES TO ALL UNDERGROUND GRADUATE, AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.

JUST SHY OF ABOUT 8000 TOTAL CRUDE MEDICAL AND RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS WILL BE ALLOWED.

IT IS UNCLEAR IF PROFESSORS, FACULTY AND OTHER STAFF WILL BE PART OF THE MANDATE.

PRINCETON JOINS RUTGERS AND DICKINSON UNIVERSITIES IN THE DECISION.

SO FAR, ANOTHER SCHOOL HAS INCLUDED FACULTY AND STAFF IN THE REQUIREMENT.

THE STATES GOAL IS TO FULLY VACCINATE 70% OF THE ELIGIBLE ADULT POPULATION BY JUNE, AND ACROSS NEW JERSEY TODAY, MORE THAN 6.2 MILLION DOSES HAVE BEEN A MINISTER.

MORE THAN TWO HALF-MILLION PEOPLE ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

THIS, JUST WEEKS AFTER HEALTH LEADERS ANNOUNCE THE START OF THE THIRD CORONAVIRUS WAVE IN OUR STATE.

MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT THIRD WAVE AND THE STATES COVID-19 RESPONSE AT NURSING HOMES GREW TENS OF TIMES TODAY.

MONICA'S GOT A CHANCE TO GRILL NEW JERSEY'S HEALTH COMMISSIONER OUT OF THE BUDGET DRINKER TOPICS RANGE FROM TAXING EQUITY TO REOPENING PLANS, AND LONG-STANDING ISSUES TIED TO THE NATIONS UNDER INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

COULD IT HAVE PREVENTED HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS OF DEATHS?

STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER SAYS DECIDEDLY, YES.

SR.

CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> WE GOT HIT HARD.

AND WE CONTINUED TO BE HIT.

>> HEALTH COMMISSIONER, JUDY SPOKE OF THE COLOR PANDEMIC AND GOT HIT WITH QUESTIONS AT A BUDGET HEARING THAT FOCUSED LAST ON SPENDING AND MORE ON HER DEPARTMENT'S ACCOUNTABILITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN COVID ROARED THROUGH NEW JERSEY'S LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES DURING THE FIRST SEARCH, KILLING THOUSANDS.

LAWMAKERS AGAIN ASKED WHETHER THE DEPARTMENT'S INSTRUCTIONS TO REINVENT HOSPITAL PATIENTS BACK INTO THE NURSING HOMES HELPED SPREAD THE VIRUS.

>> IS THE NARRATIVE OUT THERE AS RECENTLY AS LAST WEEK SAYING THIS GOVERNOR KNOWINGLY PUT PEOPLE IN HARMS WAY IN THESE NURSING HOMES, IS THAT TRUE OR FALSE?

>> TOTALLY FALSE.

TOTALLY FALSE.

I STAND BY WHAT WE DID.

>> SHE INSISTED SHE WARNED NURSING HOMES I COULD NOT ISOLATE PATIENTS TO ASK THE DEPARTMENT FOR HELP.

BUT, SHE ALSO ADMITTED THAT NO ONE KNEW ABOUT A SYMPATHETIC SPREAD BACK THEN.

>> THERE WERE PEOPLE WALKING AROUND INTO OUR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES WITH NOT A SYMPTOM AND SPREADING THE DISEASE.

>> IT IS NOT THE DOH'S FAULT.

LIKE, WHO IS BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE, OR WHAT, WHO IS AT FAULT OF THE 8000 THAT'S QUESTION MARK >> THE VIRUS-- THE NOVEL VIRUS, THAT WE'VE NEVER BEFORE SEEN?

>> THE COMMISSIONER NOTED HER DEPARTMENT HAS FINALLY CAUGHT UP WITH LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY INFECTION CONTROL INSPECTIONS AND ISSUED 613 CITATIONS FOR DEFICIENCIES, INCLUDING 2.2 MILLION AND FINDS TO 79 PROVIDERS.

SHE SAID THE INDUSTRY HAS LACKED RESILIENCY FOR YEARS.

>> WHEN YOU DON'T INVEST ADEQUATELY IN AN INDUSTRY, YOU'RE GOING TO FAIL.

THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURES ALONE SHOULD ALL BE CHANGED.

WHY DO WE HAVE SEMI PRIVATE AND MORE ROOMS?

TO THE MOST NORMAL PEOPLE.

IT SHOULD ALL BE PRIVATE.

>> WHEN INDUSTRY REP CONCURRED NOTING THAT MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT WHICH COVERS 70% OF INDUSTRY COSTS IS TOO LOW.

>> IF WE WANT PRIVATE ROOMS, IF WE WANT TO PAY OUR STAFF SOME MORE, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS INVEST IN THE INDUSTRY.

>> HE ALSO AGREED A SYSTEMATIC SPREAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE VIRUS IS LETHAL RAMPAGE.

SOME DEMOCRATS ON THE ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE NOTED THE FORMER PRESIDENT NEW AS EARLY AS FEBRUARY THAT THE COVID VIRUSES RIDES THROUGH THE AIR.

>> IF YOU KNEW WHAT THE PRESIDENT KNEW, AS OF FEBRUARY 7, HOW MANY LIVES DO YOU BELIEVE WOULD HAVE BEEN SAVED IN THE STATE?

>> I THINK IT WOULD'VE BEEN SUBSTANTIAL.

I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIAL.

>> THIS INVARIANCE ARE DRIVING INFECTIONS AND WHILE JERSEY HAS VACCINATED HALF OF ITS ADULTS, IT MAY HAVE TO RAISE THE GOAL TO 85% IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE HER HERD IMMUNITY.

UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS AGREE.

>> I THINK AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN GET TO THAT, IS REALLY THE GOAL.

OTHERWISE, WE MAY HAVE A REDUCTION IN SPREAD AND A REDUCTION IN CASES, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE OUT WORKS HAVE BEEN INTO THE FUTURE.

>> VACCINATION RATES CONTINUE TO LAG IN MINORITY NEIGHBORHOODS, EVEN THOUGH THE VIRUS KILLS PEOPLE OF COLOR AT RATES 2 AND THREE TIMES THAT OF THE GENERAL POPULATION.

HE APPLAUDED THE STATES INITIATIVE TO GIVE SHOTS IN CHURCHES AND COMMUNITY CENTERS.

>> WE ARE REROUTING, WORKING WITH UNITED WAY, THE CITY OF NEWARK, AND THE COUNTY HERE IN ESSEX TO MAKE SURE WE GO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WHERE PEOPLE ARE.

>> BUT NEW JERSEY'S CAREFUL STEP-BY-STEP REOPENING FRUSTRATED SOME LAWMAKERS WHO SEE OTHER STATES LIKE CONNECTICUT THROWING OFF RESTRICTIONS, EVEN AS JERSEY CONTINUES WITH LOCKDOWNS.

>> I THINK SOMEBODY HAS TO HAVE THE GUTS AND THE COURAGE TO SPEAK OF FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING, AND LOSING 30 TO 40% OF THEIR BUSINESSES, WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR WELL-BEING.

>> WHEN WE START SEEING THE TRENDS COMING DOWN, AND WE WILL DO INCREMENTAL OPENINGS SO THAT WE CAN FEEL SAFE.

>> SHE'S HOPING FOR A SUMMER THAT'S IF NOT NORMAL, AT LEAST LESS RESTRICTED.

I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> A MONTH-LONG DEBATE OVER THE HIGH COST OF RENT IN ASBURY PARK COMES TO AN END.

THE DECISION, RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS GOT ALONG WITH TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS CHOICE SHARONDA QUESTION MARK >> THE DOWNSIDE OF REDEVELOPMENT AND GENTRIFICATION, MANY COMMUNITIES IS OFTEN RISING RENTS.

AND, THAT STORY HAS BEEN PLAYING OUT IN ASBURY PARK.

BUT, AN EFFORT TO PASS A NEW TOUGHER RENT CONTROL ORDINANCE WAS DEFEATED BY VOTERS LAST NIGHT BY A NEARLY 2 TO 1 MARGIN.

THE PARK AFFORDABLE HOUSING COALITION FOUGHT TO PUT THE ORDINANCE ON THE BALLOT, WHICH WOULD HAVE CAPPED RENT INCREASES AT 4% FOR THE CURRENT RATE OF INFLATION.

THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED MORE PROTECTIONS THAT ANOTHER CONTROL ORDINANCE RECENTLY PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

BUT, THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER.

ONE OF THE HOUSING COALITION'S ORGANIZERS, MATT DANIELS, SAYS HIS GROUP IS HOPING THAT CITY COUNCIL WILL DO MORE.

>> WE'VE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO CITY COUNCIL TO CHANGE IT, AND AT THE MOMENT, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING WHAT WE ARE CALLING AMENDMENTS, AND YOU KNOW, BRINGING THOSE BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND HAVING THEM MAKE THE DECISION IN PUBLIC ON WHETHER THEY ARE REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF ASBURY PARK.

>> CITY COUNCILS RENT CONTROL ORDINANCE CAPS WHAT INCREASES AT 3 1/2%.

AND WOULD ALLOW LANDLORDS TO RAISE RENTS TO MARKET PRICES ONCE A TENANT MOVES OUT.

A BILL THAT AIMS TO STOP FINANCIAL SCAMS HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE HOUSE.

THE LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN, JOSH GOT HEIMER WOULD CREATE A TASK FORCE WITHIN THE SECURITY AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION TO STRENGTHEN SAFEGUARDS FOR SENIORS WHO ARE OFTEN VICTIMS OF FINANCIAL FRAUD, BUT ARE RELUCTANT TO REPORT IT.

THE MOST COMMON SCAMS ARE FRAUDSTERS WHO CLAIM THEY ARE CALLING FROM THE IRS.

WORK HAS BEGUN ON NEW JERSEY'S FIRST OFFSHORE WIND MANUFACTURING REALLY AT THE MARINE TERMINAL IN GLOUCESTER COUNTY.

OCEAN WIND, WHICH IS DEVELOPING THE OFFSHORE WIND PROJECT AND EDW, A STEEL PIPE MANUFACTURER ANNOUNCED THE START OF CONSTRUCTION THIS WEEK.

THE SOUTH JERSEY BUILDING TRADES COUNCILS INVOLVED WITH THE PROJECT IN MORE THAN 30 NEW JERSEY COMPANIES WILL BE INVOLVED IN DESIGN OR SITE WORK.

THE INITIAL WORK WILL CREATE 216 NEW JOBS.

THE FACILITY WILL PROVIDE THE FOUNDATIONS NEEDED FOR THE WIND FARM.

OCEAN WIND IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN OR STEAD AND PS E.G., A FUNDER OF NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

NOW, HERE'S A LOOK AT TODAY'S TRAINING ON WALL STREET.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY SJ MAGAZINE, THE HEART AND SOUL OF SOUTH JERSEY.

ONLINE AT SJ MAGAZINE.NET.

>>> THE NUMBER OF WOMEN RUNNING FOR LEGISLATIVE SEATS ON THIS YEAR'S PRIMARY PALLETIZING RECORD HIGH IN THE STATE.

ONE LAST SET DECADES AGO.

BUT, THEY MAKE UP JUST A THIRD OF ALL CANDIDATES WITH MEN, STILL FAR OUTNUMBERING THEM.

IN ALL, 89 FEMALE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE SEEKING THEIR PARTIES NOMINATION.

THAT IS THE SAME NUMBER THAT FILED FOUR YEARS AGO.

FOLLOWING THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

SENIOR WRITER, COLLEEN O'DAY FINDS NEW JERSEY HAS A LOT OF GROUND TO MAKE UP WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER STATES, JUST HOW FAR?

SHE JOINS US NOW.

COLLEEN, AS IT WAS NOTED IN YOUR PIECE, A FEW PEOPLE SAID THIS IS NOT WHERE THE STATE SHOULD BE.

89 WOMEN TOTAL.

WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONLY, IF YOU NOTICED, ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE CANDIDATES WERE RUNNING FOR SENATE ARE WOMEN.

40% OF THOSE RUNNING FOR ASSEMBLY ARE WOMEN., AND YOU KNOW, WOMEN ACTUALLY MAKE UP A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF THE POPULATION.

SO, CERTAINLY WOMEN ARE NOT BEING REPRESENTED FULLY IN THE CANDIDATES, AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE WOMEN RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND THEN YOU WON'T HAVE WOMEN IN OFFICE.

CURRENTLY, WE RANKED 27th AMONG THE STATES FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR LEGISLATOR THAT IS FEMALE.

YOU KNOW, NEVADA IS SOMETHING LIKE 60%.

GOT REALLY A LONG WAY TO GO BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN UP IN A HIGHER RANKING AROUND 10th OR 12th.

BUT, WHILE OTHER STATES HAVE MADE GROUNDS, WE REALLY HAVE NOT.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN GAINING FEMALE REPRESENTATIVES.

>> SO, WHAT IS THE DETERRENT QUESTION MARK BECAUSE FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN CHRISTIE TODD WHITMAN WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THIS WATERSHED MOMENT FOR WOMEN IN POLITICS.

HAS BEEN DETERRING THEM QUESTION MARK >> YOU KNOW, SO MOST RECENTLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE SAY IS THIS TERRIBLE NEGATIVE YOU KNOW, TOXIC CULTURE THAT IS PART OF POLITICS.

WHO WANTS TO GET INVOLVED WITH SOMETHING WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE YELLED AT, AND I DID THE TWO AND WHO SAID THEY'VE GOT YOU KNOW, THREATENING PHONE CALLS THAT SAID GET OUT OF THIS, YOU KNOW.

USED OBSCENITIES.

>> WHILE.4 SO THAT IS ONE DETERRENT.

BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT HAVE KIND OF BEEN HAPPENING ALL THE TIME THAT WOMEN KIND OF DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MAY BE BELIEF IN THEMSELVES, AND THAT WOMEN, PARTICULARLY NEW JERSEY WHERE THEY STRUCTURE IS SO STRONG THAT THE PARTIES ARE JUST NOT DOING A GOOD ENOUGH JOB OF GOING IN AND RECRUITING WOMEN CANDIDATES.

YOU KNOW, IN BOTH PARTIES, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

>> VERY QUICKLY, WE SAW A TREND AFTER 2016, IS THAT SOME OF THE SAME DRIVING FACTOR NOW FOR THOSE WHO ARE RUNNING?

>> YEAH, IT IS.

THE WOMEN WHO ARE RUNNING ARE REALLY COMMITTED TO GO OUT THERE AND MAKE CHANGES, NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE WOMEN OR FOR WOMEN'S ISSUES, BUT FOR THINGS LIKE THE ENVIRONMENT, AND YOU KNOW, OTHER ISSUES, THE FAMILY STRUCTURES.

THERE IS A WHOLE SLEW OF ISSUES THAT THEY WANT TO RUN ON BUT YES, DEFINITELY THAT IS PART OF THAT TREND.

>> COLLEEN O'DAY, GOOD TO CATCH UP WITH YOU, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE REPORTING.

>> THANK YOU, BREE.

>> FOR MORE ON THE BREAKDOWN AND ALL OF OUR TEAMS POLITICAL REPORTING ON THE 2021 PRIMARY RACES, HEAD TO OUR POLITICAL PAGE AT NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND CLICK ON NJ DECIDES 2021.

THE HELP FOR JERSEY POLITICS REFUTED YOU CAN ALSO GET INFO ON WHO IS RUNNING IN HER DISTRICT AND FIND ANSWERS ON WHERE AND HOW TO VOTE.

>>> THAT IS THE MUSIC OF THE SHADY STREET SHOW BEEN KICKING OFF AND CLOSING OUT ASBURY PARK'S FIRST EVER DIGITAL CONCERT BENEFIT, BANDIT.

A VIRTUAL SHOWCASE OF LOCAL ACTS TO SUPPORT THE JERSEY SHORE MUSIC AND ARTS INDUSTRY.

IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR NOW SINCE CLUBS CLOSED DOWN AND FANS STOP TOURING IN PERSON.

MUSIC GROUPS LIKE DENTIST AND THOSE PERFORMED ON STAGE AT THE ICONIC STONE PONY IF YOU SET UP NEARBY AT THE WONDER BAR.

DONATIONS ARE STILL BEING ACCEPTED AT ASBURY BAND-AID.COM WITH ALL THE PROCEEDS GOING TOWARD ARTIST GRANTS, BADLY NEEDED AS VENUES REMAIN SHUT AND ARTISTS, OUT OF WORK.

>> OVER THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS AN AMAZING, AMAZING EXPERIENCE TO GET EMAILS FROM PEOPLE THAT WOULD COMMENT ABOUT HOW WHEN THEY WERE FEELING DOWN THEY COULD JUST WALK TO THE BOARDWALK AND SEE A MURAL AND IT WOULD LOOK THERE'S YOURS.

AND, MY FEAR IN ALL OF THIS IS, ASBURY PARK IS NOTHING WITHOUT THE ARTS AND NOTHING WITHOUT MUSIC.

NOTHING WITHOUT THIS.

IT'S NOTHING WITHOUT PERFORMANCE, NOTHING WITHOUT PASSION.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT WE WILL HAVE MORE REACTION AND INSIGHT ON THE DEREK CHAUVIN VERDICT ON CHAT POTS WITH SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ LIVE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 P.M. THAT IS ON THE TRANSFER YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME TO CHAT BOX AT NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND TWEET US, USING THE HASHTAG CHAT BOX NJPBS.

FORGET TO DESCRIBE INTERNAL NOTIFICATIONS SO YOU NEVER MISS A SHOW.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FROM THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

AND, HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>> IN UNCERTAIN TIMES YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO HAS YOUR BACK.

THAT'S WHY AT HORIZON BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY WE MAKE SURE OUR HEALTH PLANS HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED.

MORE WAYS TO CONNECT VIRTUALLY AND MORE SUPPORT FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH TOO.

MORE TOOLS ON YOUR PHONE TOO.

A RANGE OF HEALTH PLANS SO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED.

AND WE CAN HELP BECAUSE EVERYONE SHOULD FEEL LIKE THAT SOMEONE HAS THEIR BACK.

NOT JUST IN UNCERTAIN TIMES, ALL THE TIME.