NJ Spotlight News
NJ Spotlight News: December 13, 2021
12/13/2021 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Watch as the NJ Spotlight News team breaks down today's top stories.
We bring you what's relevant in New Jersey news, what's important and our insight. Watch as the NJ Spotlight News team breaks down today's top stories.
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NJ Spotlight News is a local public television program presented by THIRTEEN PBS
NJ Spotlight News
NJ Spotlight News: December 13, 2021
12/13/2021 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
We bring you what's relevant in New Jersey news, what's important and our insight. Watch as the NJ Spotlight News team breaks down today's top stories.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.
R WJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.
OCEAN RING PROJECT.
COMMITTED TO CREATION OF LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.
>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, GOVERNOR MURPHY FOR THE FIRST TIME DISCLOSE THE VACCINATION RATE AMONG STATE WORKERS.
HE SAID 70% OF THOSE WORKERS ARE FULLY VACCINATED AND HE CALL THAT A STARTING POINT AND SAID THAT IS NOT WHERE WE WILL END UP.
STATE WORKERS ARE REQUIRED TO GET VACCINATED OR UNDERGO REGULAR TESTING.
HE ALSO SAID TODAY THAT NEW JERSEY HAS NEARLY 3000 NEW CASES TODAY WHICH IS DOWN FROM SUNDAY'S CASELOAD OF 3500.
NEW JERSEY'S RATE OF TRANSMISSION HELP STEADY FROM YESTERDAY AT 1.41.
THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL IS TRENDING HIGHER PROMPTING STATE OFFICIALS YET AGAIN TO URGE RESIDENTS TO GET BOOSTER SHOTS.
MEAN TILE GOVERNOR MURPHY IS STAYING THE COURSE WHEN IT COMES TO MASK MANDATES.
HE IS NOT FOLLOWING NEW YORK'S LEAD WITH TOUGHER MANDATES BUT HE WILL KEEP THE MASK MANDATED SCHOOLS FOR NOW.
SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN HAS THE LATEST ON THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS THROUGH NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS AND THE STATE'S PLAN TO FIGHT IT.
>> WE TRY TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON FACTS, SCIENCE AND DATA.
WE WANT TO KEEP KIDS AT SCHOOL, FACE TO FACE BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT LEARNING LOSSES LOOK LIKE.
>> GOVERNOR MURPHY ANNOUNCED NO CHANGES TO SCHOOL QUARANTINE RULES OR HIS SCHOOL MASK MANDATE IS COVID-19 CASES AMONG STUDENTS AND STAFF SPIKED OVER 6000 IN THE WEEK AFTER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.
COVID-19 IS NOW SURGING ACROSS NEW JERSEY WITH MANDATORY MASKING SET TO EXPIRE JANUARY 11 BUT NO MOVEMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR TO REMOVE THE MASK REQUIREMENT FROM SCHOOLS.
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE AND ALMOST CERTAINLY MORE PEOPLE WOULD GET SICK AND SCHOOLS WOULD HAVE TO SHUT DOWN.
THE RATE OF INFECTION NEARLY DOUBLE FOR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF DAVE NOVEMBER AND INCREASED 2 1/2 TIMES FOR STAFF.
>> THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO CONTINUE THE MASK MANDATE I KNOW THAT IS DUE TO BE REVISITED IN JANUARY.
THAT WOULD BE THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME TO TAKE AWAY THE MASK MANDATE.
>> THE RAPID SPREAD ACROSS THE STATES DRIVING UP CASELOADS IN SCHOOLS.
>> WE WANT TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN AND FUNCTIONING.
THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS KEEP COMMUNITY RATES AS LOW AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.
>> I THINK NEW YORK HAS A FAIRLY GOOD MODEL.
I THINK WE NEED TO REQUIRE VACCINES AND/OR MASKS FOR INDIRECT ENTITIES.
>> HE SAYS THE MANDATE IS, GOVERNOR REMAINED UNWILLING TO FOLLOW IN NEW YORK CITY'S FOOTSTEPS AND DECLARED TOUGHER MANDATES OUT HOW TO SCHOOL.
PHILADELPHIA DISCONNECTED A REQUIREMENT FOR VACCINE PROOF INDOOR DINING.
>> EVERY TIME YOU THINK YOU HAVE THIS THING FIGURED OUT IT TAKES A TURN AND EIGHT OUT OF 10 OF THOSE TERNS ARE NEGATIVE BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S BAIT AND SWITCH, WE ARE WILL CALL IT AS WE SEE IT IT IS NOT A CONSISTENT WAS SAYING WE'RE LEAVING ALL OPTIONS ON THE TABLE.
AT THIS MOMENT I DON'T SEE ANY SHIFT OF ANY SIGNIFICANCE.
>> DURING HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN HE FACED WITHERING CRITICISM OVER COVID-19 SHUT DOWNS AND HE REMAINS CAUTIOUS NOW EVEN AS A SECOND TERM GOVERNOR.
WRECKERS TRIED TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE.
>> HE HAS TO TREAD SOME WATER HERE.
EVEN THOUGH THIS IS HIS SECOND TERM, RIGHT.
HE COULD PROBABLY DO WHATEVER HE WANTS.
I THINK HE IS A GOOD ENOUGH GOVERNOR TO KNOW HE SHOULDN'T BE DIVIDING THE STATE EVEN MORE THAN IT IS DIVIDED RIGHT NOW.
>> THE DELTA VARIANT CONTENT RATES TO DOMINATE ACROSS THE U.S.
WHICH JUST HIT A TERRIBLE MILESTONE EVEN AS WINTER PROMISES ANOTHER SURGE, 800,000 DEATHS.
>> WE WILL GET TO 1 MILLION AT SOME POINT.
MOSTLY DUE TO DELTA.
SOMEWHAT DUE TO OMICRON.
WE ARE NOT IN GREAT SHAPE.
>> 80% OF HOSPITALIZATIONS OCCUR CROSS THE UNVACCINATED BUT THEY ARE SCENE BREAKTHROUGH CASES, BOOSTERS TO HELP REDUCE BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS OF THE STATE WILL OBSERVE THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF ITS INITIAL VACCINATIONS, THIS COMING WEDNESDAY, BY PUSHING THE PUBLIC TO GET BOOSTED.
A NEW MEGA SITE WILL OPEN AT BRIDGEWATER COMMONS IN THE STATE WILL UNVEIL A NEW FREE AT- HOME COVID-19 TEST KIT SO FOLKS CAN CHECK THEIR STATUS.
>> I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT A PRETTY BAD WINTER.
WHAT YOU HAVE TO ADD IN NOW, OUR BEHAVIORS OF CHANGE THE PEOPLE OF GOTTEN MORE COMFORTABLE GATHERING UNMASKED.
PEOPLE ARE HAVING PARTIES.
PEOPLE HAVING HOLIDAYS TOGETHER.
THERE ARE GOOD ASPECTS OF THAT.
IT ALSO MAKES THE SITUATION MORE DANGEROUS.
>> BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.
>>> RECENT DATA FROM THE CDC SHOWS THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED EVEN MORE DEATHS THAN REPORTED.
THE DAMAGE SHOWS THE TRUE DEATH TOLL TO THE PANDEMIC COULD BE 20% HIGHER THAN THE OFFICIAL NUMBER.
THE CDC CAME TO THAT CONCLUSION AFTER EXAMINING SO-CALLED EXCESS DEATHS.
THUS THE NUMBER OF DEATHS ABOVE THE TYPICAL YEAR.
THE EXCESS DEATH RATE AMONG HISPANICS IS EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH.
THE 2020 RATE WAS 40% HIGHER THAN 2019 AND FOR THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF THIS YEAR IT IS BEEN 17% HIGHER THAN 2019.
DR. SANTOS, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER IN BELLEVILLE JOINS ME TO TALK ABOUT THE NUMBERS AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REDUCE THEM?
>> WHY DO WE SEE HISPANICS MAKING A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF THE COVID-19 DEATHS?
>> VERY UNFORTUNATE WHAT WE SCENE UNCOVERED BY THIS PANDEMIC HISPANIC PATIENTS TEND TO LIVE IN MULTIGENERATIONAL HOMES.
WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER THAT IS INFECTED WITH COVID-19 AND WE GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS OF QUARANTINE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO BE FOLLOW THROUGH WHEN YOU'RE IN A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOME AND THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FOLKS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO BE MAINTAINED.
ONE PERSON GETS INFECTED AND VERY EASILY MULTIPLE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS GET INFECT IT AS WELL.
>> GIVEN THAT SITUATION, WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REDUCE THESE HIGH NUMBERS?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING, PEOPLE LIVE IN THESE MULTI GENERATIONAL HOMES IN OUR COMMUNITY IS THE FACT THAT A LOT OF FOLKS ARE NOT GETTING THE CARE AND PROTECT PREVENTATIVE HEALTH SERVICES THAT IS NEEDED.
SO WHEN THEY GET DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19 WERE ALSO FINDING OUT, BY THE WAY THEY HAVE DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, KIDNEY DISEASE.
THE COVID-19 IS DONE HAS UNMASKED SOME OF THE DISPARITY OF CARE THAT HAS BEEN IN OUR POPULATION AND WE ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND IMPROVE HEALTH SERVICES OUT THERE AND PROVIDE EDUCATION TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN UNCOVERED BY COVID-19.
>> THIS ISSUE OF HEALTHCARE DISPARITY IS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION AND IT IS A BIG PROBLEM.
HOW DO WE START PUTTING PROGRAMS IN PLACE TO DO WHAT YOU SAY AND HOW WIDESPREAD IS THIS ISSUE?
IS HEALTHCARE DISPARITY A NATIONAL PROBLEM AND HAS IT ALWAYS BEEN THIS BAD?
>> I THINK HEALTHCARE DISPARITY IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM THERE'S VERY SIMILAR GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS THAT IT PROVIDED A SAFETY NET TO ADDRESS HEALTH CARE DISPARITY BUT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.
FOOD SCARCITY COMES INTO THIS AS WELL.
WHEN WE SEE FOLKS TYPICALLY HAVING MORE THAN ONE JOB IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOOD AND SHELTER TO THEIR FAMILIES, SO THE NEED, THE FINANCIAL NEED AND ECONOMIC NEEDS OF THE FAMILIES ARE SO DEMANDING THAT THE PROVIDER OF THE FAMILY DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO GO TAKE CARE OF HEALTHCARE NEEDS FOR THEMSELVES.
THEY DON'T HAVE TIME FOR HEALTHCARE PREVENTATIVE SERVICES.
OFFERING HOURS OF WEEKENDS AND EXTENDED HOURS DURING THE WEEK, TELEHEALTH IS ANOTHER INITIATIVE THAT WE ARE UNDERTAKING.
WE ARE REALLY DOING THE BEST WE CAN IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO RESOURCES TO ADDRESS HIS BIG CONCERN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> WHAT ARE WE SEEING IN TERMS OF VACCINE HESITANCY AND SOME GROUP STILL?
>> UNFORTUNATELY VACCINE HAS STILL REMAINS AN ISSUE, I THINK THERE HAS BEEN IMPROVEMENT IN HEALTHCARE, VACCINE HESITANCY BUT THERE IS STILL SOME RELUCTANCE OUT THERE, WE ARE REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP TRUST AND TO HAVE A CLEAR MESSAGE.
I THINK THE DEFINITION TO BE FULLY VACCINATED IS SOMETHING IS CURRENTLY BEING ENTERTAINED.
WE WOULD TYPICALLY SAY TO VACCINES AND THEN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE LAST SHOT FULLY VACCINATED, I THINK CURRENTLY WE HAVE MORE LATITUDE TO SAY THREE SHOTS YOU'RE FULLY VACCINATED.
AS A CLEAR MESSAGE AND BUILDING TRUST IS THE APPROACH WE ARE TAKING.
>> DR., THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC CONTINUES TO WEIGH ON THIS COUNTRY DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS TO FIGHT IT.
THE BATTLE AGAINST OPIOID ADDICTION IS HAPPENING LOCK BY BLOCK, NEIGHBORHOOD BY NEIGHBORHOOD.
EARLIER THIS YEAR THE CITY CREATED ITS FIRST OPIOID RESPONSE TEAM.
MEMBERS WHO RECEIVE TRAINING FROM THE POLICE AND OTHER GROUPS GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY OFFERING HELP.
AS MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS, THE RESPONSE TEAM HAS HAD SUCCESS GETTING OPIOID USERS INTO TREATMENT CENTERS.
>> EVERY DAY I DRIVE DOWN BROADWAY WE SEE WHAT THE SURGE OF DRUGS HAVE SEEN TO THE SPECIFIC SESSION OF ART CITY.
HANNAH HAS TO BE ACTION.
>> Reporter: PATERSON MAYOR ANDRE SAYEGH IS PRAISING LOCAL EFFORTS TO FIGHT THE OPIOID CRISIS.
EARLIER THIS YEAR THE CITY CREATED ITS FIRST OPIOID RESPONSE TEAM.
>> COMPRISED OF INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
OUTREACH WORKERS.
OUR PART IS IT EVEN THIS VILLAGE.
SO HOPEFULLY WE DRIVE DOWN BROADWAY WE WON'T SEE AS MUCH OF THE SCOURGE AND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE ASSISTANCE OR PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN DIRE NEED.
>> WHILE OUR NATION CONTINUES TO CONTEND WITH COVID-19 EPIDEMIC, THE EPIDEMIC OF DRUGS IS GONE ON LONGER AND LEFT ITS OWN TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION AND DEVASTATION.
ILLEGAL DRUGS AND OPIATES CONTINUE TO RAVAGE EVERY COUNTY AND TOO MANY COMMUNITIES IN OUR COUNTRY.
EVERY DAY IN AMERICA OVER 115 PEOPLE LOSE THEIR LIVES TO OPIATES.
EVERY DAY.
WE MUST STOP THEIR FLOW IN OUR OWN STREETS.
>> CLOSE TO 2400 PEOPLE RETREATED FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN PATTERSON IN 2020 ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT DATA AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.
EVERY WEEK MEMBERS OF THE OPIOID RESPONSE TEAM GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY OFFERING HELP TO THOSE IN NEED.
>> WE SERVE MEALS AND OFFER MEDICAL ASSISTANT TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM OPIATES AND HEROIN.
>> THAT'S HOW DESPERATE IT IS, 30 TO 40% OF PEOPLE THAT TALK TO US ARE TAKING THAT REFERRAL AND THERE ARE MORE THAT MAY NOT BE READY TO TAKE IT.
>> Reporter: LEADERS SAY ESTABLISHING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE SUFFERING FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS CRITICAL TO RECOVERY PROCESS.
>> HOW DIFFERENT THIS IS, NORMALLY IN THE PAST I WAS OUT HERE HANDCUFFING PEOPLE NOW I AM TALKING TO THEM AND GIVING THEM FOOD AND SAYING HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?
>> WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE AND WHAT WE DO RECOGNIZE, WE CANNOT ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF THE PROBLEMS OF ADDICTION.
THIS OPIOID SITUATION HAS THE MOST TENACIOUS GRASP ON AN INDIVIDUAL, IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE, SOMETIMES, IF WE DIDN'T UTILIZE COLLABORATION LIKE THIS TO GIVE MEDICALLY ASSISTED TREATMENT, TO HAVE OPIOID RESPONSE TEAMS OUT THERE AND TALK THEM INTO COMING IN GETTING TREATMENT BECAUSE MOST OF THEM WANT THIS TREATMENT.
>> THE PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH $150,000 IN FUNDING AND THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AS WELL AS $900,000 FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
SINCE LAUNCHING IN SEPTEMBER, THE OPIOID RESPONSE TEAM HAS HELPED NEARLY 275 INDIVIDUAL REFERRALS TO TREATMENT.
MEMBERS ARE HOPING TO GUIDE YOUR PEOPLE INTO RECOVERY.
FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.
>>> THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED A PACKAGE OF AND SAFETY BILLS THAT ARE BACKED BY GOVERNOR MURPHY.
IT INCLUDES MEASURES TO REQUIRE FIREARM SAFETY TRAINING AND MANDATE SAFE STORAGE OF GUNS WHILE SPEAKER HAS SUPPORTED PUTTING THE BILL UP FOR PHOT VOTE IN A FULL ASSEMBLY.
IT'S NOT CLEAR IF STEVE SWEENEY WILL POST THE BILLS IN HIS CHAMBER.
HE HAS SAID HE SUPPORTS SOME BUT NOT ALL OF THE BILLS AND HE WANTS LEGISLATION FOCUSED ON GUNS USED IN CRIMES THAT MAKE THEIR WAY INTO THE STATE ILLEGALLY.
GOVERNOR MURPHY SAYS, WHILE NEW JERSEY IS THE STRONGEST GUN SAFETY STATE IN THE U.S., THERE IS STILL TOO MUCH GUN CRIME.
>>> REPUBLICANS CHALLENGING A STATEHOUSE VACCINE MANDATE HAVE LOST THEIR COURT CHALLENGE.
ON FRIDAY AND APPELLATE DIVISION JUDGE DENIED A GOP REQUEST TO HALT A REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE PROOF OF COVID-19 VACCINATION OR A NEGATIVE TEST IN ORDER TO ENTER THE STATEHOUSE IN TRENTON.
THAT REQUIREMENT REMAINS FIRMLY IN PLACE THIS WEEK.
THE CASE IS NOT OVER, HOWEVER, IS THE JUDGE SCHEDULED A HEARING ON THE MATTER FOR APRIL.
RECENTLY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS TRIED TO ENTER THE VOTING CHAMBER WITHOUT SHOWING A VACCINE CARD OR PROOF OF TEST.
INITIALLY STATE POLICE BLOCK THEM FROM ENTERING BUT THEY EVENTUALLY LET THEM IN.
SINCE THEN SECURITY AROUND THE STATEHOUSE HAS BEEN INCREASED WITH TROOPERS SETTING UP CHECKPOINTS AT BUILDING ENTRYWAYS.
>>> PERHAPS ONE OF THE COVETED PIECE OF PROPERTY IN NEW JERSEY IS LIBERTY STATE PARK.
WITH ITS BIRDSEYE VIEW AND OF MANHATTAN AND PARCEL FOR DELIVER HELPERS BUT OTHERS WANT TO PROTECT THE PARK SO THEY ARE BACKING A BILL THAT WOULD PROHIBIT THE STATE FOR SINTERING PROPOSALS FOR LARGE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT THERE BUT THE LEGISLATION MAY NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE LAME DUCK SESSION.
SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CREWS FOCUSES ON THE PUSH TO PROTECT LIBERTY STATE PARK.
>> Reporter: EVEN BEFORE RONALD REAGAN BROUGHT NATIONAL ATTENTION OVER 40 YEARS AGO DEVELOPERS HAVE BEEN LICKING THEIR CHOPS TO GET A PIECE OF WHAT IS TODAY NEW JERSEY'S MOST VISITED STATE PARK.
IT IS UNMATCHED VIEWS, BREEZY OPEN SPACES, JUST A 10 MINUTE FERRY TRIP FROM MANHATTAN I JUST HARD TO FIND ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.
BUT FOR AS LONG AS THERE HAVE BEEN LUSTFUL DEVELOPERS, THEY HAVE BEEN EQUALLY ARDENT PROTECTORS OF THE PARK, FIGHTING OFF THE ADVANCES OF DEVELOPERS, LOOKING TO BUILD WATER PARKS, AMPHITHEATERS OR RACETRACKS HERE.
THE LATEST OF THESE WAS FORMER REEBOK CEO, PAUL FIREMAN, THE OWNER OF THIS PLACE, LIBERTY NATIONAL GOLF COURSE.
HE WANTED TO TRADE SOME LAND HE OWNED NEARBY FOR THIS SITE AT CAVEN POINT, A HOME FOR MIGRATING BIRDS SO HE COULD MOVE THREE OF HIS 18 HOLES HERE.
>> I THINK IT IS A NATURE PRESERVE, I THINK IT IS A JEWEL IN NEW JERSEY'S CROWN, ESPECIALLY WHERE IT IS LOCATED.
>> Reporter: THE POPULAR SENTIMENT WAS FOR THE BIRDS AND SUPPORTERS SEEMED TO HAVE READ BACK THE EFFORT WITH FIREMAN ANNOUNCING THAT HE WAS NO LONGER INTERESTED IN THE IDEA.
>> WHEN FIREMEN SAID HE WAS WITHDRAWING HIS GOLF COURSE INTEREST IN JULY 2020, IT WAS A PUBLICITY STUNT GETTING BAD STUNT PRESS.
>> Reporter: HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF LIBERTY STATE PARK FRIENDS AND YOU SHUT THE FRONT OF THE LINE FIGHTING OFF THE PAUL FIREMAN'S OF THE WORLD HE IS BEEN PUSHING FOR A BILL, THE LIBERTY STATE PARK PROTECTION ACT THAT WOULD BAR ANY LARGE-SCALE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT LIKE A GOLF COURSE, FROM BEING BUILT THERE AND WOULD SUBJECT MOST DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY.
>> THE PROTECTION ACT IS NOT A PURE SLAW, IT ALLOWS FOR SMALL- SCALE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES.
THERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE BILL LIKE FOOD VENDORS, HIKE AND KAYAK RENTALS.
>> Reporter: WITH THE PROENVIRONMENT GOVERNMENT OR AN PROGRESSIVE SUPPORTING THE BILL IT STILL HAS NOT MADE IT PAST COMMITTEE IN THE ASSEMBLY, EVEN AFTER THE SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE CLEARED IT LAST WEEK.
SENATOR SMITH CHAIRS THE BODY.
>> IT TURNS OUT, WE HAVE AN IMMEDIATE EMAIL FROM AN ASSEMBLY MEMBER SAYING HE HAS SOME AMENDMENTS HE WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THE LEGISLATION.
AND ALSO MY STAFF FINDS A LETTER THAT WAS SENT IN ON THE BILL I THINK IN NOVEMBER, THE SIGNATURES OF A WHOLE BUNCH OF PROMINENT PEOPLE, THE HEAD OF THE NAACP, I THINK HUDSON COUNTY FREEHOLDER AND THEN SOME OTHER GROUPS IN HUDSON COUNTY SAYING WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THE LEGISLATION.
>> Reporter: THAT COULD SPELL TROUBLE FOR THE BILL AND THE FEW WEEKS LEFT IN THE LAME DUCK SESSION BECAUSE EVEN IF THEY MANAGE TO OUTMANEUVER THIS BILLIONAIRE, SOMEONE IS ALWAYS GOING TO WANT A PIECE OF THIS PLACE.
NO WORD FROM THE SPEAKER ON THE PROSPECTS OF THIS BILL BUT EVEN SUPPORTERS SAY THAT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THIS, THE LEGISLATURE WILL PASS THE BILL TO PROTECT LIBERTY STATE PARK.
I AM DAVID CREWS, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.
>>> IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS TONIGHT A BILL THAT WENT ENACT TAX BREAKS FOR ATLANTIC CITY CASINOS HAVE ADVANCED OUT OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
THE PILOT BILL ALLOWS CASINOS TO MAKE PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF PROPERTY TAXES TO ATLANTIC CITY.
THE BILL HAS SOME KEY SUPPORT AS THE HEAD OF THE ATLANTIC CITY CASINO UECKER'S UNION IS BACKING IT.
AS WE REPORTED THE OUT GOING STATE PRESIDENT HAS SAID CASINOS HAVE TOLD HIM FOR THE NINE GAMBLING HOUSES ARE IN DANGER OF GOING OUT OF BUSINESS IF THE TAX RELIEF BILL DOES NOT PASS.
THE PILOT BILL STILL NEEDS TO BE APPROVED BY THE FULL SENATE AND ASSEMBLY.
>>> HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW THE STOCK ROCKET PERFORMED ON THIS MONDAY.
>>> SEA LEVEL RISE DRIVEN BY CLIMATE CHANGE IS SHRINKING BEACHES UP AND DOWN THE JERSEY SHORE'S THOUGH THE DAMAGE IS NOT LIMITED TO THE OCEANFRONT, THE QUIET DAYS TUCKED BEHIND NEW JERSEY'S BARRIER ISLANDS ARE ALSO SEEING THE WATER CREEP UP.
THAT LEAVES BAYSIDE COMMUNITIES MORE VULNERABLE TO FLOODING IN FUTURE STORMS BUT LIVING SHORELINES COULD BE A NEW FORM OF PROTECTION IN A MASSIVE NEW PROJECT IS A PRIME EXAMPLE.
RAVEN SANTANA REPORTS AS PART OF OUR ONGOING SERIES, PERIL AND PROMISE TELLING THE HUMAN STORIES OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
>> Reporter: THIS MASSIVE HALL OF SHELVES ARE USED TO FIGHT BEACH EROSION.
THE CAPTAIN IS A DIRECTOR OF THE HABITAT RESPIRATION SOCIETY WHICH IS DEVELOPING THE STATE'S LARGEST LIVING SHORELINE IN BARNEGAT BAY.
USES NATURAL IN FOR STRUCTURE TO MITIGATE COASTAL FLOODING IN PEEP EROSION.
>> THE PROPERTY IS OWNED BY BAYSIDE BEACH CLUB AND WE HAD TO GET APPROVAL THROUGH THEM WHICH UNANIMOUSLY WE HAD APPROVAL TO USE US AS A STAGING AREA.
>> WE KNOW THE HARD INFRASTRUCTURE ONLY LASTS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, WHEN YOU DO A BEACH REPLENISHMENT PROJECT IT IS ESTIMATED THAT EVERY SIX YEARS YOU HAVE TO COME BACK AGAIN BECAUSE THE SAND WASHES AWAY.
>> Reporter: DURING SUPER STORM SANDY THAT MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS COMMUNITIES ALONG BARNEGAT BAY ANOTHER BASE.
THE PROJECT WILL BECOME AN OYSTER REEF WHICH WILL HELP BLOCK FUTURE STORM SURGE AND ALSO PROVIDE HABITAT FOR OTHER MARINE LIFE.
>> NEXT SPRING, LATE SUMMER, WE ARE GOING TO PUT UP TO 70 MILLION OYSTER LARVA SET BY ANOTHER PARTNER, RIGHT HERE ON THE INSHORE REEFS EVENTUALLY THOSE OYSTERS GROW AND THINGS DETERIORATE AND THEN IN A COUPLE YEARS THEY WILL SPOT AND THEY WILL SET THE OTHER REASON WE SLOWLY BRING BACK THE OYSTERS HERE AT BARNEGAT BAY THAT ARE MISSING.
>> Reporter: IN TOTAL THERE 168 UNITS THAT EXTEND FROM THE LAGOON TO THE MOUTH OF THE FOUR KID RIVER.
THE CAPTAIN SAYS IT WILL PROTECT THE HALF-MILE THE SHORELINE AND CREATE A HALF MILE OF NEW HABITAT.
>> THIS IS REEF NUMBER ONE OF 24 UNITS OF SEVEN REEFS.
EACH REEF HAS 24 UNITS.
IF YOU LOOK DOWN YOU CAN SEE HOW IT STRETCHES THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE SHORELINE.
WHEN THE WAVES COME THROUGH, THE OFFSHORE REEF DISSIPATE THAT ENERGY FIRST.
WHENEVER BREAKS DOWN IT HAS A SECOND REEF, THE INSHORE REEFS AND KNOCKS THAT WAVE OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW AT ALBERT MARINE IS PUTTING IN THE SHELL AROUND THE BASE OF THIS.
THEY ARE SECURING THE LIDS AND THEN WE COME BACK BEHIND THEM, SINCE WE HAVE SUCH BLOWOUT TIES, WE ARE JUST GOING TO USE OUR WADERS RATHER THAN A VESSEL AND SECURE THOSE LIDS DOWN.
>> Reporter: HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE WE REAP THE BENEFITS OF THIS, IMMEDIATELY, FEW MONTHS, YEARS?
>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
YOU WILL SEE RIGHT OFF THE BAT WE HAVE DONE OTHER PROJECTS SIMILAR TO THIS AROUND THE STATE.
A STORM CAME THROUGH AND WE WATCHED RIGHT THEN AND THERE AS THE WAVES BROKE DOWN THE ENERGY.
RIGHT AWAY YOU CAN SEE THAT.
BUT IT WILL TAKE A LOT LONGER TO SEE HOW SAY, YOU'LL GRASS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, REESTABLISH.
TO SEE IF THE SHORELINE STARTS CREATING SAND.
WHERE WE ARE STANDING RIGHT NOW WE WERE STANDING ON A BEACH YEARS AGO.
>> SMALLER AND SMALLER, CLOSER CLOSE TO THE HOUSE.
>> Reporter: FRANK HAS WITNESSED BEACH EROSION IS A NEARBY HOMEOWNER SINCE 2007.
THAT'S WHY FRANK ISN'T JUST THE SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT HE ALSO WAS ONE OF THE HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS THE PITCHED IN TO HELP BUILD THE UNITS.
>> LOOKING AT WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE NOW, THE FIRST BLUSH WITH SEIJI, THAT IS CLOSE, WHAT ARE WE DOING.
WE ARE RUINING OUR SWIMMING ABILITY OR ANYTHING, ANY WATER SPORTS SPORTS, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT THAT WE ARE SAVING OUR HOMES, WE ARE SAVING THE BAY.
I THINK THAT OVERRIDES EVERYTHING ELSE AND ALSO THE WAY THEY DESIGNED IT, AMPLE SPACE ON EITHER AND TO DO ALL YOUR WATER SPORTS AND DO EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO DO.
IT MAY NOT BE EXACTLY THE WAY YOU WANTED.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, LONG TERM, IF IT WORKS, IT IS GOING TO BE FANTASTIC.
>> Reporter: AS HIS LIVING SHORELINE IS BUILT, THE COST OF PROTECTIONS COULD SOON COME TO THE AREA.
THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAS PROPOSED A $6 BILLION PLAN TO BUILD STORM BARRIERS AND ELEVATE STRUCTURES ALONG JERSEY SHORE BAYS.
FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM RAVEN SANTANA.
>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT BUT HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG AND CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS WHERE WE KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THE VERY LATEST NEWS THAT IS IMPACTING THE GARDEN STATE.
I AM RHONDA SHAFTER, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND WE WILL HAVE A GOOD NIGHT AND SEE YOU TOMORROW.
>> MJM SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.
HORIZON BLUE CROSS AND NICHE BLUE SHIELD, BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.
PS E.G.
FOUNDATION AND BY THE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY AND SMARTLY MJ.
LEAD FUNDING FOR PROMISE IS PROVIDED BY.
MAJOR SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY.
>> MJM INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN SERVING NEW JERSEY POLICYHOLDERS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.
BUT JUST TO ARE THE POLICYHOLDERS?
SOCIAL SERVICE AND NONPROFIT PIONEERS WHO LEND A HELPING HAND.
SIGNS THAT THE COLLEGE INNOVATORS.
THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDE SKILLED LABOR AND OR HOMEGROWN CHAMPIONS.
THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR STATE A GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME.
MJM, WE HAVE NEW JERSEY COVERED.
COVID-19's impact on NJ's Hispanic community
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Clip: 12/13/2021 | 3m 44s | Dr. Frank Dos Santos, Clara Maass Medical Center, on ‘excess deaths’ and how to cut them (3m 44s)
Liberty State Park safeguard bill faces difficult path
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Clip: 12/13/2021 | 3m 34s | Environmentalists back bill prohibiting large-scale commercial development in the park (3m 34s)
'Living shorelines' to aid communities at risk of flooding
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Clip: 12/13/2021 | 4m 55s | New project to take place in Ocean County (4m 55s)
Murphy keeps masks mandatory in classrooms
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Clip: 12/13/2021 | 4m 18s | But NJ governor won’t copy New York City’s tougher mandates outside of school (4m 18s)
New gun safety bills approved by Assembly committee
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Clip: 12/13/2021 | 53s | Measures include required firearm safety training and a mandate for safe gun storage (53s)
NJ judge denies GOP challenge to State House vaccine mandate
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Clip: 12/13/2021 | 59s | The case is not over; a hearing is scheduled for April (59s)
Opioid Response Team guides those in need to treatment
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Clip: 12/13/2021 | 3m 34s | Nearly 275 referrals to treatment have been made since launching in September (3m 34s)
Tax break bill for AC casinos passes Assembly committee vote
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Clip: 12/13/2021 | 54s | The PILOT bill would allow casinos to make payments in lieu of property taxes to AC (54s)
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