>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY 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.

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

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

BRIANA VANNOZZI IS OFF.

>>> LARGER GATHERINGS WILL SOON BE PERMITTED IN NEW JERSEY.

WITH COVID-19, HOSPITALIZATIONS TRENDING DOWNWARD, AND THE NUMBER OF VACCINATED RESIDENCE INCREASING, GOVERNOR MURPHY TODAY ANNOUNCED THE STATE IS RELAXING SOME PANDEMIC RELATED RESTRICTIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WEEKS.

STARTING ON MAY 10th, BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR CAPACITY WILL INCREASE.

>> BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING, WHETHER IT IS CONTINUING TO REGULAR MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, OR GETTING VACCINATED, YOU ARE HELPING US CRUSH THESE CURVES YET AGAIN.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE ARE PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE MORE STEPS FORWARD IN OUR REOPENING PROCESS.

AS WE HAVE SAID FROM DAY ONE, WE HAVE BEEN EAGER TO RELAX OUR RESTRICTIONS AS SOON AS THE NUMBERS GIVE US CONFIDENCE THAT WE COULD DO SO SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY, AND THAT TIME HAS COME.

AND, I WOULD HOPE THAT THESE ARE THE FIRST SET OF ANNOUNCEMENTS OF I HOPE, MANY SETS OF ANNOUNCEMENTS OVER THE NEXT NUMBER OF WEEKS.

>> EVENTS LIKE HIGH SCHOOL PROMS, WEDDINGS, FUNERALS, AND PERFORMANCES WILL INCREASE FROM 35% TO 50% CAPACITY, OR 250 PEOPLE.

THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE RULES FOR INDOOR DINING, CAPACITY WILL REMAIN CAPPED AT 50%.

OUTDOOR GATHERINGS WILL ALSO BE INCREASED FROM 200 500 PEOPLE.

AND, THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE ASKED ASKED TO RAISE THE LIMIT AGAIN BY MEMORIAL DAY.

MURPHY SAYS MASKS SHOULD STILL BE ONE OUTDOORS.

IF YOU CANNOT SOCIALLY DISTANCE.

BUT, THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE STATE WILL RELAX THE SIX FOOT DISTANCING REQUIREMENT OUTDOORS IF THE CDC MOVES IN THAT DIRECTION.

THE LATEST COVID NUMBERS FROM THE STATE SHOW WHERE THE GOVERNOR IS USING RESTRICTIONS.

JUST OVER 1200 NEW CASES REPORTED TODAY, AND ANOTHER 19 DEATHS.

THE VACCINATION NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GROW, GOVERNOR MURPHY SAYS NEARLY 6.7 MILLION SHOTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN, AND 2.8 MILLION RESIDENTS ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON SHOTS MAKE UP LESS THAN 4% OF THE STATES TOTAL VACCINES, BUT ARE SEEN AS KEY TO REACHING THOSE WHO ARE STILL UNVACCINATED.

ON FRIDAY, AN INDEPENDENT CBC PANEL GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO RESUME THE USE OF THE VACCINE WITH A WARNING LABEL AFTER 15 WOMEN, OUT OF 8 MILLION PEOPLE WHO GOT THE SHORT DEVELOPED RARE, BUT SERIOUS BLOOD CLOTS.

THE PANEL CONCLUDED AFTER A REVIEW OF THE DATA THAT THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE RISKS.

BUT, EVEN AS THE STATE HEALTH HAS GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD TO RESUME ITS USE, IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO GET BACK UP AND RUNNING.

AND, HEALTH LEADERS ARE FACING NEW CONCERNS OVER HESITANCY.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> WE DON'T WANT TO SPREAD MORE FEAR BY SAYING YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS AND THAT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE IT'S BEING SHOVED DOWN PEOPLE'S THROATS, AND THAT IS DANGEROUS.

>> DR. KEVIN EMDEN SAYS THEY WILL RESTART THE J&J VACCINATION OUTREACH AT A PUBLIC CLINIC ON WEDNESDAY.

THE COUNTY HAS STILL GOT PROBABLY 5000 DOSES ON HAND, BUT HE IS SENSITIVE TO FOLKS WHO MAY FEEL MORE VULNERABLE TO RARE BLOOD CLOT COMPLICATIONS LIKE YOUNGER WOMEN, AGES 18 TO 49.

SO, YOU OFFER OTHER COVID VACCINE OPTIONS.

>> IT IS STILL A NEW, SCARY THING.

SO, WE DO HAVE ALTERNATIVES FOR THE J&J VACCINE, WE'VE BEEN LUCKY BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN USING THEM IN OLDER ADULT POPULATIONS ARE THOSE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN SEEN TO HAVE THESE RARE COMPLICATIONS.

SO, WE RESELL IT TO THE POPULATION.

IT'LL BE A LITTLE BIT EASIER.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO SAY IF YOU'RE A WOMAN IN THAT AGE RANGE IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER OPTION AND YOU CAN GET A DIFFERENT VACCINE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER THAT., BUT THAT SAID, THE RISK FROM THIS VACCINE IS STILL VERY, VERY LOW.

>> Reporter: MONTCLARE EPIDEMIOLOGIST SAYS THE CDC DIRECTED PROVIDERS TO INFORM VACCINE RECIPIENTS ABOUT SYMPTOMS OF THOSE BLOOD CLOTS ASSOCIATED WITH J AND J.

IT'S COMPLICATED VACCINATION PROGRAM.

THE ACT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON CALLS PUTTING ON HOLD DID NOT HELP AT ALL.

>> PATTERSON'S MAYOR SAYS IT WILL BE HARDER TO CONVINCE VACCINE HOLDOUTS WHEN HIS CITY RESUMES GIVING COVID SHOTS THIS WEEK.

PATTERSON HAS CURRENTLY GOT ABOUT 400 LEFT OVER J&J DOSES ON HAND AND WILL AGAIN TARGET THE CITY'S HOMELESS AND ITS HOMEBOUND RESIDENTS.

HE IS ALSO PLANNING TO OFFER A POP UP CLINIC AFTER EVENING PRAYERS AT LOCAL MOSQUES, STARTING THIS FRIDAY.

>> WE ARE SEEING THAT WE ARE NOT GETTING A LARGE NUMBER OF MUSLIMS GETTING VACCINATED, SO WE ARE GOING TO GO TO AND WE LET THEM KNOW WE ARE GOING TO BRING JOHNSON & JOHNSON.

IF THEY DON'T WANT JOHNSON & JOHNSON WE CAN ALWAYS BRING MODERNA.

>> USING TWO DOSE VACCINES CAN ALSO BE RISKY.

THE CDC RECENTLY REPORTED 5 MILLION PEOPLE NATIONWIDE.

NEARLY 8% OF THOSE WHO GOT AN INITIAL DOSE OF PFIZER OR MADONNA, NEVER SHOWED UP FOR THE SECOND DOSE.

IT'S A BIT BETTER, JUST 7% IN NEW JERSEY.

>> AS WE WANT TO MOVE TOWARDS REOPENING THE STATE, REOPENING DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS.

IT GETS US OFF THE TRACK THAT WE'VE BEEN ON TOWARDS REACHING HERD IMMUNITY.

>> WE ARE ENTERING A NEW PHASE OF THE VACCINATION WORLD NOW.

YOU KNOW, A MONTH OR TWO AGO EVERYONE WAS CLAMORING TO GET THE VACCINE.

OKAY?

AND THERE JUST WAS NOT ENOUGH.

>> DR. JEFFREY CARSON WHO OVERSAW RUTGERS J&J VACCINE TRIALS INSIST IT IS SAFE, BUT WITH RISING HESITANCY AND INCREASE OVERALL AVAILABILITY, HE THINKS CLINIC SHOULD START OFFERING PEOPLE COVID VACCINE OPTIONS.

THE MAXIMUM WHO COMES IN AND SAYS I REALLY WANTED VACCINE BUT I AM HESITANT TO TAKE THIS ONE, THEN I CERTAINLY WOULD COOPERATE WITH THEM AND FIND A SPOT FOR THEM FOR THE VACCINE.

BUT, GET THEM VACCINATED.

>> WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE A CHOICE IF THEY FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE J&J VACCINE COULD >> THE GOVERNOR TODAY CERTAINLY SOUNDED EAGER TO RESUME J&J SHOTS, BUT EARLIER COMPRISED ONLY 4% OF JERSEYS COVERED VACCINATION TOTALS.

>> WITH THAT, WE ONCE AGAIN HAVE ALL THREE TOOLS BACK IN OUR TOOLBOX, SO OUR CONFIDENCE LEVELS, WE ARE RESTORED BY THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> HE IS STILL RACING TOWARDS NEW JERSEY'S GOAL BEFORE .7 MILLION ADULTS VACCINATED BY JUNE 30th.

I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> EVEN WITH ALL THE DEMANDS FACING THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT IS FACING A STOPPING SHORTAGE.

AND THAT MEANS FEWER PEOPLE TO STUDY AND RESEARCH COVID-19, AND ANOTHER STATEWIDE HEALTH ISSUE.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD TO TURN TO OUTSIDE HELP FOR THINGS LIKE DATA ANALYSIS, AND IS NOW SEEKING MORE FUNDING.

LILO STAINTON TOOK A CLOSER LOOK.

HOW HAS THIS STAFFING SHORTAGE IMPACTED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PANDEMIC?

>> HI, RHONDA.

THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OF COURSE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, NO AGENCY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT WEAKNESSES.

BUT, IT'S CLEARLY BEEN A CONCERN, RIGHT?

FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

IT COMES UP ALL THE TIME AND CONVERSATIONS WITH VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS THAT I HAVE HERE THEY TALK ABOUT YOU KNOW, HOW THE DEPARTMENT IS LOST.

ALL THESE BODIES OVER THE YEARS, AND IT TURNS OUT OF COURSE AS YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET IS A VERY REVEALING DOCUMENT, AND IT TURNS OUT THAT ONE OF THE WAYS THAT IT IMPACTED THE DEPARTMENT IS THAT THEY AREN'T ABLE TO DO THE KIND OF DATA ANALYSIS THEY SHOULD.

THIS IS CLEARLY SOMETHING THAT THEY FEEL IS A NEED GOING FORWARD, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE YEAR WE'VE SEEN IN THE PANDEMIC WE'VE BEEN THROUGH.

>> THEY DO HAVE TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO DO THE WORK.

SO, HOW DOES THAT JUSTIFY?

>> I DID THE MATH THIS MORNING.

THEY SPENT 26.6 MILLION OR WILL HAVE SPENT BY THE END OF APRIL THIS YEAR.

26.6 MILLION ON McKENZIE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WAS VERY OPEN ABOUT THAT WHEN I ASKED.

BUT, YOU KNOW.

WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR IN THE BUDGET IS JUST OVER 5% OF THAT, WHICH IS LIKE $1.37 MILLION.

SO SMALL IN THE STATE BUDGET.

IT'S HARD TO GET YOUR MIND AROUND.

TO ESSENTIALLY BUILD, YOU KNOW.

RAID THEIR CAPACITY IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

ONE OF THE WAYS IS YOU KNOW, SPENDING ABOUT HALF $1 MILLION ON THIS DATA ANALYTICS WHICH WOULD BE A TEAM OF FOLKS THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO PULL DATA INFORMATION FROM OTHER EXISTING SOURCES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING NETWORK AND CENTRALIZING IN A WAY IN ANALYZING IN A WAY THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN.

>> >> I GUESS IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT EVEN WHEN THIS PANDEMIC IS BEHIND US, DATA ANALYSIS NEED IS GOING TO BE THERE.

>> IS ONE OF THESE THINGS THAT IT REALLY WAS MAGNIFIED BY THIS.

MAYBE IT WAS NOT SUCH A NEED 10 YEARS AGO BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THESE STRAINS, BUT NOW WE DO.

AND, IT'S REALLY, HOW DO YOU USE THEM?

I THINK THE STATE YOU KNOW, THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF MODELING, THEY'VE HAD TO SORT OF OUTSOURCE YOU KNOW, MUCH OF THIS WORK.

YOU CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT HAD THIS BEEN IN-HOUSE, YOU KNOW.

PERHAPS WE COULD HAVE PIVOTED QUICKER AND MADE DECISIONS MORE QUICKLY, BUT AS, YOU KNOW.

ASSEMBLYWOMAN MORAN SAID, YOU KNOW THIS IS THE DEPARTMENT THAT IS ADVISING THE GOVERNOR ON WHAT TO DO AS FAR AS REOPENING.

WE NEED TO HAVE YOU WITH THE STAFF AND YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION.

SO, IT WAS A GOOD ARGUMENT I THOUGHT THEY MADE.

>> LILO, THANK YOU.

>> THANKS, RHONDA.

>>> THERE ARE NEW NUMBERS THAT SHED LIGHT ON INCREASING HATE CRIMES AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS IN NEW JERSEY, BUT THEY DON'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY.

PRELIMINARY DATA FOR THE NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE SHOW THAT THE NUMBER OF HIGHEST INCIDENCE JUMPED 74% ACROSS THE STATE LAST YEAR.

THERE WERE 68 INCIDENTS REPORTED IN 2020 COMPARED TO 39 IN 2019, AND SO FAR THIS YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN 26 BIASED INCIDENTS.

THAT PACE CONTINUES, WE WOULD EXCEED LAST YEAR'S NUMBER.

EXPERTS SAY THESE INCIDENTS ARE UNDERREPORTED, AND THERE ARE MORE CASES THAT POLICE DON'T EVER HEAR ABOUT.

LATE LAST WEEK, THE U.S. SENATE OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED A BILL TO COMBAT RISING HATE CRIMES AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS.

THAT HAS NEXT TO THE HOUSE AND PRESIDENT BIDEN IS EXPECTED TO SIGN IT INTO LAW WHEN IT REACHES HIS DESK.

>>> NEW JERSEY U.S.

SENATORS BOB MENENDEZ AND CORY BOOKER WANTS BILLIONS OF MORE FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.

AT A NEWS CONFERENCE HELD IN PENN STATION EARLIER TODAY, SENATOR BOOKER SAID THAT $2 BILLION, NEW JERSEY TRANSIT IS RECEIVING IN COVID RELIEF MONEY IS NOT ENOUGH TO MEET ALL OF THE STATES TRANSIT NEEDS.

>> IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR THE SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS RANKING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AT A D+.

IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT WE HAVE RACKED UP ALMOST $2 TRILLION OF FIXED INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIT.

IT IS NOW TIME THAT WE INVEST IN AMERICA AGAIN.

IT IS NOW TIME THAT WE INVEST IN NEW JERSEY AGAIN.

>> THE SENATOR IS SAYING MORE FEDERAL MONEY WOULD HELP THE TRANSIT $17 BILLION FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES INCREASING REAL CAPACITY, MODERNIZING STATIONS, AND MOVING TO A ZERO EMISSIONS BUS FLEET.

AND OF COURSE, ADVANCING THE GATEWAY PROJECT IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN NEW JERSEY WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING THAT MANY OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED.

GET A DRIVERS LICENSE.

STARTING SATURDAY, MAY 1st, IMMIGRANTS CAN MAKE APPOINTMENTS ONLINE WITH THE MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION FOR THEIR INITIAL PERMIT.

THEY WILL NEED TO SHOW PROOF OF LIVING IN NEW JERSEY, OR PROVIDE AN AFFIDAVIT TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT.

APPLICANTS WILL HAVE TO PASS A WRITTEN AND VISION TEST, AND NEED THREE MONTHS OF SUPERVISED DRIVING BEFORE THEY COULD TAKE THE ROAD TEST.

GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED A LAW PAVING THE WAY FOR THIS BACK IN DECEMBER, 2019.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO ROLL OUT SOONER, BUT WAS DELAYED BY COVID.

THEY EXPECT THE LAW WILL ALLOW 400,000 IMMIGRANTS TO RECEIVE THEIR LICENSES.

>> IT IS A CRISIS THAT HAS BEEN LOOMING FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

A POTENTIAL ONSLAUGHT OF EVICTIONS AFTER THE GOVERNOR LIFTS THE MORATORIUM.

THOUSANDS OF STAND TO LOSE THEIR HOMES AS ADVOCATES SEARCH FOR WAYS TO SOFTEN THE BLOW TO TENANTS.

NEW JERSEY'S COURT SYSTEM IS PREPARING AS WELL, FOR THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PENDING EVICTION CASES.

JUDICIAL LEADERS HAVE AT LEAST URGENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP THE COURTS HANDLE THE OVERWHELMING TASK.

SR.

CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ HAS THE STORY.

>> THE DAILY PANDEMIC DRUMBEAT CAN BE EXHAUSTING.

SO MUCH TO STILL WORRY ABOUT.

VACCINATING, MASKING, GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, AND FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TENANTS IN NEW JERSEY, AT HOUSING AND SECURITY.

THE REALITY IS, THAT WE WERE IT NOT FOR AN EVICTION MORATORIUM IMPOSED BY THE STATE, MANY WOULD BE FACING HOMELESSNESS.

THE COURT SYSTEM HAS SEEN MORE THAN 62,000 LANDLORD-TENANT FILINGS BETWEEN MARCH OF 20 IN FEBRUARY OF 21.

THE NUMBER ANTICIPATED FOR 2022?

194,000.

>> THAT IS AN ENORMOUS TIDAL WAVE OF EVICTIONS FROM PEOPLE.

THE COURTS WOULD FIRST OF ALL HAVE TO HANDLE ALL OF THAT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY ARE SET UP FOR THAT.

SECOND, YOU HAVE PEOPLE DISPLACED ALL OVER THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

>> AND ALL OF THOSE SITUATIONS END UP TOUCHING THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

THAT IS WHY STATE SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE STUART RATNER ESTABLISHED A COMMITTEE MADE UP OF COURT OFFICIALS, ADVOCATES FOR LANDLORDS, AND NONPROFITS WITH THE MISSION OF FINDING A WAY FOR THE SYSTEM TO MANAGE THE COMING TSUNAMI.

MORRIS SANDERS IS COUNSEL FOR LEGAL SERVICES OF NEW JERSEY, AND A MEMBER OF THAT COMMITTEE.

>> THE GOAL SHOULD BE RESOLUTION HERE.

IT SHOULD NOT BE EVICTION.

EVICTION SHOULD BE THE LAST BECAUSE THAT JUST DOES NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM FOR ANYONE.

IT MAKES IT WORSE.

IT INCREASES HOMELESSNESS, IT DRIVES UP COSTS FOR ALL PARTIES.

>> THE COMMITTEE ISSUED A 69 PAGE REPORT THAT EXAMINES THE MANY ASPECTS OF THE PENDING CRISIS, AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, IT IS A CRISIS.

THE COMMITTEE ISSUED A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS.

AMONG THEM, LANDLORD-TENANT SHOULD OMIT STATEMENTS BEFORE TRIALS, WHICH WOULD HELP OUT COURT OFFICIALS TRYING TO MANAGE CASES.

THE COURTS WILL NEED TO HIRE ADDITIONAL JUDICIARY STAFF TO TRIAGE COMPLAINTS.

THEY SHOULD ENCOURAGE PRETRIAL SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES, CONDUCT HEARINGS, AND TRIALS VIRTUALLY WHEN POSSIBLE, AND REVAMP PROCEDURES, AND PAPERWORK.

>> WE NEED A MULTIPRONGED APPROACH, HERE.

WE NEED A SYSTEM THAT WILL PROVIDE RESOURCES ACROSS THE BOARD.

WE NEED ALL PARTS OF GOVERNMENT TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS MOVING FORWARD.

SO, WE NEED RENT ASSISTANCE, WE NEED RED INSISTENCE THAT BOTH PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO TENANTS WHO HAVE FALLEN BEHIND DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND LOSS OF INCOME AND INCREASED INSPECTIONS THAT THEY'VE HAD AS A RESULT OF IT.

>> EVICTIONS LAST A LONG TIME.

THEY AFFECT YOUR CREDIT SCORE, YOUR NEXT APARTMENT APPLICATION, AND MORE.

>> EVEN IF THE EVICTION IS NOT COMPLETED, EVEN IF YOU AND THE LANDLORD WORK SOMETHING OUT, THAT FILING IN AND OF ITSELF CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT.

IT DOES MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO GET ANOTHER PLACE TO LIVE.

>> EFFORTS IN THE LEGISLATOR FOR THE SO-CALLED PEOPLE BILL TO DEAL DIRECTLY WITH SOME OF THE DISPARITIES INCLUDING HOUSING LAID BARE BY THE PANDEMIC HAVE STALLED IN THE LEGISLATOR AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME.

>> I WAS REALLY IN FRONT OF LEGISLATION WHEN WE THOUGHT THIS CRISIS MIGHT BE A FORM OF CRISIS.

NOW, YOU KNOW.

WE ARE ONE YEAR LESS AND I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOT OF THE PRINCIPLES THAT WERE PUT OUT OF YOU KNOW, MAKING IT SO THAT YOU CAN'T JUST AUTOMATICALLY EVICT PEOPLE IF THEY MISS ONE MONTH OF RENT FOR THIS WHOLE THING.

THAT'S WHAT CURRENT LAW WOULD SAY.

GORDON SAYS NOW, BUT THE SEASON IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR LAWMAKERS TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE.

YOU CAN READ THE REPORT AT NJCOURTS.GOV.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS BEFORE THE COURTS FINALIZE ANY NEW POLICIES.

I AM DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> IN RECENT YEARS, THE STATE PENSION FUND HAS BEEN SHEDDING ITS INVESTMENTS AND GUNS AND AMMUNITION FOR LAWMAKERS HAVE VOICED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT USING PUBLIC FUNDS TO INVEST IN SUCH COMPANIES ALTHOUGH AN OUTRIGHT BAN AGAINST IT FAILED TO PASS A FEW YEARS AGO.

WHILE THE PENSION FUND HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS, IT STILL HOLD A STAKE IN ONE GUN MANUFACTURER.

JOHN WRIGHT MEYER SPOKE WITH THEM.

WHAT IS THE STATE PENSION FUNDS TO HOLDING ANY KIND OF STEAK WHATSOEVER?

>> THE PENSION FUND HAS A LOT OF INVESTMENTS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY LIKE THE STOCKS, MAYBE YOU AND I OR SOME VIEWERS TRADE YOU KNOW, ON AN ONLINE ACCOUNT OR THEY CAN JUST GET RID OF THEM IN AN EASY WAY.

I'M SO, THE PENSION FUND HAS HAD INVESTMENTS AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN GUN MANUFACTURERS AND AMMUNITION MANUFACTURERS, AND AT TIMES, THE ARGUMENT HAS BEEN THAT THESE ARE NOT ALWAYS THE KIND OF INVESTMENTS THAT YOU CAN JUST SHUT EASILY, SOMETIMES THEY ARE PART OF OTHER FUNDS, OR THEY ARE LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS WHERE THERE IS A COMMITMENT TO INVESTING FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME SO UNLESS YOU'RE WILLING TO TAKE A BIG LOSS, WHICH REMEMBER, THESE ARE FOR PUBLIC WORKERS, THESE HELP PAY RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR PUBLIC WORKERS.

IT'S SMARTER TO STAY IN THOSE INVESTMENTS.

EVEN AT TIMES WHEN LAWMAKERS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE AS THEY HAVE IN THE PAST WITH GUN INVESTMENTS.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, A LOT OF THE PREVIOUS INVESTMENTS HAVE BEEN DE-VESTED.

>> YEAH.

TO BE SURE, JUST A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN LAWMAKERS STARTED RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT THIS, AND GOVERNOR MURPHY ALSO HIGHLIGHTED CONCERNS ABOUT THE PENSION FUNDS OWNERSHIP OF A STAKE IN A COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURED SEMI AUTOMATIC SESSIONS AND SO, THERE WAS AN EFFORT AT THE TIME TO TAKE STOCK OF WHAT NEW JERSEY ACTUALLY OWNS, AND SINCE THAT TIME THE INVESTMENT IN THE SEMI AUTOMATIC ARTIFACT SURE HAS BEEN SHATTERED, AS WELL AS IN MORE RECENT YEARS, AND INVESTMENT IN IN ANY MUNITION MANUFACTURER.

SO, NEW JERSEY HAS AN OVER $80 BILLION PENSION FUND FOR THESE INVESTMENTS WERE IN THE MILLIONS, AND THE REMAINING INVESTMENT IS WORTH LESS THAN 30 MILLION.

SO, A VERY SMALL FRACTION OF THE OVERALL FUND, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE THAT PUBLIC FUNDS SHOULD BE PROFITING OFF OF THE SALE OF FIREARMS OR AMMUNITION, AND LAWMAKERS RAISE THIS AS A CONCERN SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

>> AND JOHN, DO YOU THINK THEY WILL REVISIT THE IDEA OF BANNING SUCH INVESTMENTS?

>> I THINK WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE HOW THINGS WENT DOWN, OR IF THEY PICK UP SIGNIFICANTLY.

AND ALSO, FRANKLY, WHO IS IN THE OFFICE, IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE?

AND THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE LEGISLATOR.

THIS, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A MOVEMENT RIGHT NOW ALSO TO MEN INVESTMENTS AND FOSSIL FUEL COSTS COMPANIES.

GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS PROPOSED, OR SORT OF TAKEN ON THE POSITION OF LET'S NOT DO OUTRIGHT INVESTMENT, RECOGNIZING THAT THEY CAN COST MONEY IN THE LONG RUN, BUT LET'S WORK THROUGH SOMETHING KNOWN AS EST INVESTMENTS WHICH TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THINGS LIKE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND SOCIAL ISSUES TO GUIDE THE WAY THAT THE PENSION FUND MANAGERS IT INVESTMENTS.

SO FOR NOW UNDER THE CURRENT POLITICAL STRUCTURE, THERE IS A SORT OF AN EST APPROACH RATHER THAN AN OUTRIGHT INVESTMENT APPROACH.

>> JOHN, THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>>> HERE IS A QUICK TRACK ON THE WALL STREET TRADING DAY.

FINALLY, TONIGHT, APRIL IS AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH.

SO, AN ANNUAL ART SHOW FEATURING THE WORK OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM IS BEING HELD VIRTUALLY THIS YEAR.

THE ART SHOW IS AN IMPORTANT OUTLET FOR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN A YEAR OF ISOLATION AND LIMITED RESOURCES.

SO, AN ONLINE GALLERY WAS CREATED TO SHOWCASE THEIR WORK.

AND, THIS YEAR, LIKE IN YEARS PAST, THE CREATIVITY DELIGHTED PARENTS, AND TEACHERS ALIKE.

BUT, INSPIRED ONE STUDENT TO CREATE EVEN MORE.

OUR JOANNA GAGIS EXPLAINS.

>> CHILDREN'S WITH DISABILITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH AUTISM, BECAUSE IT REALLY GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SHOWCASE WHAT THEIR TALENTS, THEIR SKILLS, AND THEIR BACKGROUNDS ARE LIKE.

>> KAREN DONNELLY HOSTS AN ART SHOW EVERY YEAR WITH THE YALE SCHOOL WHERE HER STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY CAN DISPLAY THEIR ARTWORK.

BECAUSE OF COLOR, THIS YEAR'S SHOW HAD TO BE VIRTUAL.

>> THE ART SHOW THIS YEAR, WE DID ON A PLATFORM CALLED ART STEPS.COM AND WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE A VIRTUAL ART GALLERY FOR STUDENTS TO SHOWCASE ALL OF THEIR BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK, AND IT WAS A 3-D ART GALLERY THAT PEOPLE COULD ACTUALLY WALK AROUND AND SEE THE ART AS IF THEY WERE ACTUALLY IN A GALLERY IN REAL LIFE.

>> CONNOR IS A SCHOOL STUDENT AT THE YALE SCHOOL PEER FOR HIM, ART IS NOT JUST A HOBBY, IT'S HIS PASSION AND WHAT HE SPENDS MOST OF HIS TIME THINKING ABOUT.

>> IT'S PRETTY MUCH UP TO MY WIFE FOR A WHILE, SO I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ATTACHED TO THIS THING.

I HAVE PRETTY MUCH MORE LIKE A LIST OF FUTURE IDEAS I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SO LONG.

>> CONNOR CONTRIBUTED TWO PIECES TO THIS YEAR'S ART SHOW, BUT THAT IS JUST A TINY FRACTION OF THE PIECES HE TURNS OUT ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> HE WILL SIT DOWN AND HE WILL DRAW, YOU KNOW.

ALL FOUR CANVASES IN A DAY OR SO, AND WITHIN FOUR DAYS, EVERYTHING IS-- I MEAN, THE TURNAROUND TIME OF THESE IS AMAZING.

>> NOT ALL STUDENTS ARE LIKE CONNOR, BUT DONNELLY SAYS THIS EXPERIENCE IS MEANT TO EMPOWER EVEN THOSE WHO DON'T LOVE, OR DON'T THINK THEY ARE GOOD AT ART.

>> A LOT OF TIMES, KIDS I THINK, DON'T FEEL EMPOWERED ENOUGH IN THEMSELVES, AND I THINK THAT ART IS A TERRIFIC OUTLET FOR THEM TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES FOR WHO THEY REALLY ARE.

>> WHAT DO YOU SEE IN YOUR STUDENTS WHEN THEY SEE THEIR ARTWORK DISPLAYED ON THE WALL?

>> GIVES ME SO MUCH PRIDE TO SEE MY STUDENTS ARTWORK UP ON THE WALL, AND WHEN I WAS HAVING MY STUDENTS LOOK AT IT, THEY WERE MESMERIZED BY NOT ONLY THE ABILITY TO WALK AROUND IN OUR SHOW BUT TO SEE THE ARTWORK HANGING UP IN A SPACE THAT LOOKS LIKE A PROFESSIONAL ART GALLERY.

>> SO, HOW DID CONNOR FEEL SEEING HIS ARTWORK DISPLAYED?

>> I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT THE ART SHOW THING BECAUSE I WAS A LITTLE BUSY WITH SOMETHING, SO, BUT.

>> YOU'RE CREATING MORE ART.

>> BUT MOM IS A DIFFERENT STORY.

>> THOUGHT IT WAS AMAZING THAT I WAS AN ART HISTORY SO I HAD THE PLEASURE OF TRAVELING THROUGH FRANCE AND GOING TO THE EXHIBITS AND TO SEE MY SONS WORK UP THERE, I WAS, IT MADE ME OBVIOUSLY, I WAS VERY TOUCHED BY IT.

>> THE QUALITY AND DIVERSITY OF THE ARTWORK SOME OF IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

SOME OF IT WAS EVEN COMPARABLE TO ARTWORK YOU WOULD SEE HANGING UP IN A PROFESSIONAL ART MUSEUM, AND SOME OF IT WAS MORE EXPRESSIVE.

BUT, I JUST FOUND A VARIETY OF IT, THE DIVERSITY OF IT TO JUST BE REALLY, REALLY OUTSTANDING.

>> IS OPEN TO MORE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> I KNOW THAT THERE IS SOMEPLACE SOMEWHERE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO CONTINUE TO DISPLAY HIS ARTWORK.

>> Reporter: FOR NOW, YOU WILL EXPERIMENT ON INSTAGRAM BUT HOPES TO START SELLING HIS WORKS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM JOANNA GAGIS.

>> THAT'S IT FOR US TONIGHT.

IN THE MEANTIME, HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG , OR ANY OF OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FROM THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP HAS BEEN SERVING IT'S POLICY MEMBERS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

BUT JUST WHO ARE NJM'S POLICY HOLDERS.

THEY'RE THE SOCIAL SERVICE AND NON-PROFIT WORKERS THAT LEND A HELPING HAND.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS.

THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDE OUR SKILLED LABOR.

AND OUR HOME-GROWN CHAMPIONS.

THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR STATE A GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME.

NJM, WE'VE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.