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AND IT NEW JERSEY REALTORS.

MORE INFORMATION ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM .

FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER, IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

GOVERNOR MURPHY IS POISED TO SIGN A GUN-CONTROL BILL THAT HE SAYS WILL PROTECT RESIDENTS FROM THE SCOURGE OF GUN VIOLENCE.

THE SENATE HAS GIVEN FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL TO CONCEALED CARRY LEGISLATION, DESPITE OPPOSITION FROM REPUBLICANS.

THE BILL WOULD STRICTLY LIMIT CONCEALED CARRY OF GUNS IN NEW JERSEY.

IT COMES IN RESPONSE TO A U.S. SUPREME COURT RULING THIS SUMMER THAT MADE IT EASIER TO OBTAIN PERMITS TO CARRY GUNS.

THE LEGISLATION WOULD REQUIRE GUN OWNERS TO OBTAIN A CARRY PERMIT, PURCHASE LIABILITY INSURANCE AND TAKE TRAINING COURSES.

IT WOULD INCREASE PERMIT FEES AND PROHIBIT GUNOWNERS FROM CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPONS IN CERTAIN PLACES LIKE SCHOOLS , PUBLIC PARKS, AND BARS.

SOME PLACES LIKE STORES IN THE WILLOWBROOK MALL ARE ALREADY SHOWING SUPPORT.

BOTH SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS EXPECT THE MEASURE WILL BE CHALLENGED IN COURT.

>>> NEW STATS ON CRIME IN JERSEY CITY SHOW A BIG DROP IN THE NUMBER OF SHOOTINGS AND HOMICIDES IN THE CITY THIS YEAR.

A DIRECT RESULT OF MORE COPS ON THE STREET.

BUT IT'S NOT ALL GOOD NEWS.

OTHER CRIMES, INCLUDING AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS AND BURGLARY ARE ON THE RISE.

CITY OFFICIALS ARE SOME CRIMINALS FEEL EMBOLDENED .

THE WAY TO ADDRESS THAT IS THROUGH BELL REFORM.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ HAS THE REPORT.

>> Reporter: JERSEY CITY MANAGER STEVE PHILIP WHO MANY ARE PROTECTING AS A GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE IN 2025 RUNNING ON TOP SAFETY BRASS IN THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL AS HE MADE HIS END-OF-THE-YEAR CRIME STATS ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> THE IMPORTANT THING IS TRENDS.

NOT THE ACTUAL DATA.

WE HAVE A WEEK LEFT IN THE YEAR , OF COURSE.

WE ARE ON TARGET FOR THE LOWEST NUMBER OF HOMICIDES.

QUITE A SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT.

WHEN WE TOOK OFFICE ON AVERAGE, THERE WAS MID-20s NUMBER OF HOMICIDES PER YEAR.

THIS YEAR, WE ARE AT 12.

THAT'S A VERY DIFFERENT TREND THAN YOU'VE SEEN IN CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> Reporter: DOWN 50%.

SHOOTINGS DOWN 30% ACCORDING TO CITY STATS.

OTHER CRIME, ROBBERIES, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, BURGLARIES, MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT ALL UP SLIGHTLY, ADMITS THE MAYOR.

IT IS A CITY, HE SAYS.

AS SUCH, SUBJECT TO THE FORCES THAT SPUR CRIME.

OF LATE, SAYS THE MAYOR AND HIS TOP COP, THE EFFECTS OF BILL REFORM.

A WELL-INTENTIONED EFFORT THAT NEEDS A SECOND LOOK.

>> NO QUESTION THAT IT HAS HAD A CONSEQUENCE OF LOWER-LEVEL CRIMINALS BEING MORE EMBOLDENED AND GETTING MORE EMBOLDENED AS THEY DISCOVER THE EFFECTS OF BILL REFORM.

THEY ARE NOT KEPT IN FOR THINGS THEY USED TO BE KEPT IN FOR AND WE'VE SEEN THEM BECOME MORE EMBOLDENED AND MORE WILLING TO ESCALATE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR BECAUSE THERE ARE FEWER IMMEDIATE REPERCUSSIONS.

>> HOW TO FIX IT?

MAYBE FASTER CRIMINAL TRIALS.

MAYBE WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE THEM IN JAIL AWAITING TRIAL.

MAYBE WE WANT TO HAVE THEM SPEED UP.

THERE HAS BEEN TALK IN TRENTON ABOUT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF JUDGES.

MAKING IT MORE EFFICIENT TO GET PEOPLE TO TRIAL FASTER.

>> AND NEED TO BE REPERCUSSIONS AND PENALTIES ASSOCIATED REGARDLESS OF THE DEGREE.

THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS HE IS NOT THE ONLY MAYOR DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF BILL REFORM.

THEIR CONVERSATIONS UNDERWAY ABOUT REFORMING BILL REFORM.

SOMETHING THE MAYOR WANTS COMMENTS ON.

IT WILL HAVE TO WORK ON MOVING TO THE LEGISLATURE.

IN THE MEANTIME, MORE CLOSED CIRCUIT CAMERAS AROUND THE CITY.

THE ANTIVIOLENCE COALITION, A FREQUENT CRITIC , SAYS PHILIP HAS ACTUALLY COME SOME WAYS SINCE HIS EARLY DAYS AS MAYOR.

>> I FEEL LIKE HE HAS EVOLVED IN HIS WAYS OF TRYING TO BRING FORTH SOME DIFFERENT APPROACH TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

HE CAN EVOLVE EVEN MORE.

WE DON'T WANT HIM TO GET CENTRALIZED ON POLICE AS PREVENTION.

VIOLENCE IS -- PEOPLE THROW THAT WORD OUT THERE A LOT.

PEOPLE HAVE ALL OF THESE SOLUTIONS TO VIOLENCE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT VIOLENCE, THERE IS A HOLISTIC APPROACH.

YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FOR FAR TOO LONG.

>> THE POLICE BUDGET IS UP $4 MILLION.

THERE ARE MORE, ALBEIT YOUNGER, MORE DIVERSE COPS ON THE BEAT.

SUGGESTING THAT POLICING , MORE OF IT, NOT LESS, IS THE PLAN.

THE RESULTS, SAYS THE MAYOR, ARE PROVING HIM RIGHT.

DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS .

>>> THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE STATE SENATE IS PROMISING TO BE TOUGH ON CRIME.

FORMER REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN DOUG STEINHARDT WAS SWORN IN YESTERDAY TO FILL THE REST OF MIKE DOHERTY'S TERM.

HE RESIGNED AFTER BEING ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE LAST MONTH TO SERVE AS THE COUNTY SURROGATE.

IN AN OP-ED , STEINHARDT WROTE THAT HE WILL FOCUS ON ENDING THE MURPHY-BIDEN SOFT ON CRIME POLICIES THAT MAKE EVERY COMMUNITY LESS SAFE.

HE ADDED HE WILL FIGHT FOR POLICIES THAT BACKED THE POLICE AND SUPPORT WHAT HE CALLED COMMON SENSE GUN LAWS THAT PROTECT BEAGLE GUNOWNERS.

SEPARATELY, STEINHARDT ALSO VOWED TO FOCUS ON MAKING NEW JERSEY MORE AFFORDABLE.

THOUSANDS OF NEW JERSEY VETERANS COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR ADDITIONAL HEALTH BENEFITS, MADE AVAILABLE UNDER THE PACKED ACT , SIGNED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN OVER THE SUMMER.

IT IS A NEW LAW THAT EXPANDS VA BENEFITS FOR THOSE WHO WERE EXPOSED TO BURN PITS , AGENT ORANGE, AND OTHER TOXIC SUBSTANCES, PREDOMINANTLY IN IRAQ AND AFGHAN FAN.

IT IS THE LARGEST HEALTHCARE BENEFIT EXPANSION IN VA HISTORY.

MORE THAN 820,000 VETERANS HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED SCREENINGS, ACCORDING TO THE VA, WITH 39% REPORTING CONCERN OF EXPOSURE.

TO GET MORE DETAILS, WE ARE DELIGHTED TO BE JOINED BY THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NEWARK'S UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND NEW JERSEY COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.

NOW THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS.

DR., IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU BACK ON NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THIS IS A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING FOR THE VA. HOW ARE YOU CONDUCTING OUTREACH TO MAKE SURE OTHERS ARE AWARE OF THIS NEW LAW?

>> WE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EVERY POSSIBLE AVENUE TO GET THE WORD OUT TO VETERANS.

WE CONSIDER IT OUR RESPONSIBILITY IN VA AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE AS MANY VETERANS AS POSSIBLE AWARE OF THIS EXPANSION OF BENEFITS.

THE FACT THAT WE ARE AWARE OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR DECADES TO FINALLY RECEIVE CARE FOR THE VARIOUS TOXINS THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO.

BURN PITS AND AGENT ORANGE, RADIATION, AND MORE.

WE JUST GOT THROUGH A WEEK OF ACTION, WHERE WE HAD OVER 100 EVENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN PERSON, AT MEDICAL CENTERS, INCLUDING THE EAST ORANGE VA IN NEW JERSEY AND WE GOT A CHANCE TO BE IN PERSON AND ANSWER QUESTIONS AND ENROLL VETERANS FOR BENEFITS AND TOXIC EXPOSURE SCREENINGS TO BEGIN THE PROCESS.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT VETERANS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR IN REGARDS TO THESE EXPANDED BENEFITS?

WHAT TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE IF THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED?

>> YOU ARE DEPLOYED TO PARTICULAR PLACES AT PARTICULAR TIMES, AND THEN YOU ARE PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO CERTAIN TOXINS.

IF YOU HAVE AN ASSOCIATED CONDITION THAT WE HAVE DETERMINED THE LAW TO BE CONNECTED TO THAT EXPOSURE, YOU WILL QUALIFY FOR WHAT WAS CALLED SERVICE CONNECTION.

IN OTHER WORDS, YOUR CONDITION IS RELATED TO YOUR SERVICE.

THAT MEANS ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND A SLEW OF BENEFITS IN ADDITION TO THAT.

>> THE MOST RECENT DATA AVAILABLE SHOWS THAT THEY HAVE OVER 200,000 RELATED CLAIMS SO FAR.

HOW MANY MORE ARE YOU EXPECTING AND HOW IS THE VA HANDLING THE INFLUX OF THESE CLAIMS?

>> WE EXPECT WELL OVER 1 MILLION CLAIMS TO COME IN AND WE ARE ESTIMATING IN THE MILLIONS OVERALL AS WE IMPLEMENT THIS LEGISLATION OVER THE YEARS.

WE ARE SEEING ON TRACK WITH WHAT OUR PROJECTIONS ARE.

THAT MEANS SUCCESS WITH OUR OUTREACH.

BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE COMPLACENT.

EVERY SINGLE AVENUE AND OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO GET THE WORD OUT IS IMPORTANT.

WE'VE ALSO DONE OVER 800,000 TOXIC EXPOSURE SCREENINGS FOR VETERANS ALREADY EXPOSED.

EVEN MORE FINANCIAL CO-PAYS AND HIGHER PRIORITY BENEFICIARY TRAVEL AND OTHER BENEFITS.

IN NEW JERSEY, SPECIFICALLY, WE HAVE DONE OVER 800,000 OF THOSE SCREENINGS.

WE PLAN TO DO SO MUCH MORE.

IF YOU ARE A VETERAN IN NEW JERSEY, KNOW THAT YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR BENEFITS EVEN IF YOU COULD NOT BEFORE.

>> WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS TO HEALTHCARE AND HOW COULD THIS LAW CHANGE THAT?

>> ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE IS A PROBLEM SYSTEMWIDE, ESPECIALLY POST-PANDEMIC, ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE AFFORDABILITY OF HEALTHCARE IS AN ISSUE FOR ALL AMERICANS, VETERANS INCLUDED.

THIS IS A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO GET CARE WITH SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL HELP.

IT'S ALSO THE CASE THAT THE VA, MOST IMPORTANTLY, IS THE BEST HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FOR VETERANS OUT THERE.

STUDY AFTER STUDY SHOWS WE HAVE SUPERIOR QUALITY OVER THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO GET MORE VETERANS IN THE SYSTEM AND WILL NOT STOP UNTIL AS MANY VETERANS AS POSSIBLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS.

>> OTHER SURVIVOR BENEFITS AVAILABLE AS WELL UNDER THIS ACT?

>> DEFINITELY.

IF YOU ARE A SURVIVOR, PLEASE GO TO WWW.VA.GOV OR CALL 1-800 -MY VA -411.

THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HAS A SLEW OF BENEFITS YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR AS A RESULT OF THIS HISTORIC EXPANSION.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>>> OFFICIALS ARE POURING OVER THE JUST-RELEASED RESULTS OF STANDARDIZED TESTS FROM LAST YEAR.

THE STATE PREVIOUSLY RELEASED STATEWIDE RESULTS THAT SHOULD A DROP IN PERFORMANCE OVERALL DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THE NEW RESULTS PROVIDE ANOTHER LAYER OF TRANSPARENCY.

INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE TRYING TO DEVELOP A WAY FORWARD FROM , IN SOME CASES, STEEP LEARNING LOSS.

THE SENIOR CORRESPONDENT JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS THE DETAILED FINDINGS ALSO REVEALED DISPARITIES.

LEARNING LOSS WAS LESS OF AN ISSUE FOR STUDENTS IN WEALTHY SCHOOL DISTRICTS COME COMPARED TO THOSE IN LESS AFFLUENT COMMUNITIES.

>> LEARNING LOSS FROM THE SPRING OF 2019 TO 2022.

AND IN MELVILLE, 38% LOSS IN LEARNING.

>> Reporter: MELVILLE SUPERINTENDENT LOOKING AT TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND HOW THEY PERFORMED ON THE STATE TESTING CONDUCTED IN THE SPRING OF 2021.

THE DATA WAS RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC LATE LAST FRIDAY AND IS NOW BEING ANALYZED TO SEE WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCE LEARNING LOSS MOST COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> IS A DISTRICT, THERE WERE 75.5% PROFICIENT.

MEANING THE STANDARD OF 2019.

THEY WERE REDUCED TO 72.6%.

IN 2019, WHICH WAS 13.8%.

>> Reporter: HADDONFIELD, AND MORE AFFLUENT SUBURB.

IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW WEALTH AND THE SYSTEMS IN PLACE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND ALMOST ALL CASES, WERE INDICATORS OF HOW WELL THE STUDENTS FARED COMING OUT OF IT.

>> IF YOU HAVE A CURRICULUM THAT IS FOLLOWED AND YOU HAVE A CYCLE WHERE YOU GET THE TEST RESULTS AND YOU MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS, YOU BRING FUTURES IN AND CURRICULUM TEAMS TO UPDATE THE CURRICULUM EVERY SUMMER, CHANCES ARE, STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT WILL BE HIGHER AND THEN COMING OUT OF COVID, YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.

YOU ARE MORE IN TUNE TO WHAT STUDENTS KNOW AND ARE ABLE TO DO AND UNDERSTAND.

>> THAT WAS NOT THE CASE FOR MANY DISTRICTS AND ESPECIALLY URBAN COMMUNITIES WHERE THERE ARE MORE STUDENTS OF COLOR.

>> IF WE HAD NOT ACHIEVED THAT BEFORE, WHICH WE KNOW WE DID.

AND IF THE STUDENTS IN THE HIGHER QUARTILES LOSSLESS GROUND AND THE STUDENTS IN THE LOWER QUARTILE'S LOST MORE GROUND, THAT TELLS US THE GAP HAS NOW WIDENED.

SO WHEREAS YOU HAVE THE GAP, YOU ARE LOOKING AT AND ACHIEVEMENTS GOLF.

>> Reporter: SUPERINTENDENTS, MONTHS AGO, WERE ABLE TO SEE HOW THEIR OWN DISTRICTS FARED, BUT COULD NOT EASILY COMPARE TO OTHER DISTRICTS.

THE QUESTION ON EVERYONE'S MIND NOW IS, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

SO MANY DISTRICTS HAVE SEEN, 20, 30, 40 PERCENTAGE POINTS OF LEARNING LOSS.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NEEDS TO HAVE A STRATEGIC , COMPREHENSIVE, MULTILAYERED PLAN FOR HOW WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THIS.

OUR DISTRICTS ARE HUNGRY FOR SUPPORT.

AND ALSO GUIDANCE AROUND BEST PRACTICES.

AND IN EDUCATION, JUST LIKE ANY ENTERPRISE THAT IS URGENT, WE HAVE TO MOVE WITH URGENCY.

>> Reporter: AND SAYS THE PRESIDENT OF NJEA, UNDERWRITER OF NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, MORE TIME FOR TEACHERS TO SPEND TIME TEACHING AND LESS TIME ON PAPERWORK.

>> AND THE EDUCATOR WILL SAY THE AMOUNT OF PAPERWORK NOW VERSUS WHEN THEY HAVE STARTED IS UNBELIEVABLE.

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE NOW.

THE LOSS OF FLEXIBILITY AND FREEDOM IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO TEACH AS AN ART.

IT HAS BEEN PULLED AWAY.

NOW YOU'VE GOT TO TEACH AS A TASK.

>> Reporter: STUDENT GROWTH OBJECTIVES, THEY SAY, HAVE LITTLE VALUE IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> LET'S GET RID OF SOME OF THIS BUSYWORK THAT EDUCATORS OFTEN HAVE TO DO THAT DRAINS PEOPLE AND FORCES PEOPLE NOT TO BE PROFICIENT.

>> WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE CLASSROOM DESIGN.

IF THE CLASSROOM IS FALLING APART, IF THE BUILDING IS FALLING APART, IF THE STUDENTS ARE HUNGRY, THEY CAN PLAN.

>> Reporter: AND THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT.

>> IF WE MAKE JUDGMENTS ENTIRELY BASED ON TEST SCORES, THEN WE ARE REALLY MISSING MANY, MANY PIECES OF THE EDUCATIONAL PUZZLE.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS IT WILL TAKE TIME AND PATIENCE TO HELP US RECOVER.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM JOANNA GAGIS.

>> FOR A DEEPER DIVE INTO LEARNING LOSS, CHECK OUT THE REPORTING ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.O RG.

>>> TAKE A REPORT TO THE JERSEYS SHORE THIS TIME OF YEAR AND YOU WILL SEE THE ALWAYS CHANGING COASTLINE.

THERE IS A NEVER-ENDING BATTLE TO REPLENISH SHORELINES THAT SHRINK DUE TO BEACH EROSION.

IN MONMOUTH COUNTY TODAY, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT MILLIONS OF FEDERAL FUNDS WILL BE SPENT TO REPLANT US THE BEACH IN A SECTION OF LONGBRANCH.

OFFICIALS SAY BY SHORING UP THE BEACHES, THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IS SUPPORTED.

BUT CRITICS SAY BEACH REPLENISHMENT IS A TEMPORARY FIX.

THE SAND WILL WASH AWAY AGAIN.

THEY ASKED THE QUESTION, IS IT WORTH IT?

TED GOLDBERG WENT TO LONGBRANCH TODAY FOR A CLOSER LOOK.

>> LONGBRANCH BEACHES ARE GOING TO LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN A FEW MONTHS.

A BEACH REPLENISHMENT PROJECT WILL DUMP MORE THAN 1 MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF SAND BETWEEN ALDER ON AND TALKING NASTY LEG.

THEY SAY IT IS A MOVE TO PROTECT THE SHORE AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE.

>> WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US, THE RESILIENCY AND PROTECTION OF THE SHORE AND OUR RESIDENTS.

>> ENGINEERING THE COASTLINE TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND A THRIVING TOURISM INDUSTRY, AND TO FIGHT AGAINST THE REALITIES OF CLIMATE CHANGE THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO AVOID, BECAUSE SEA LEVEL WILL KEEP RISING, AND STORM SURGE WILL KEEP COMING.

>> Reporter: CONGRESSMAN FRANK ALONE SAYS MOST OF THIS COMES FROM LAST YEAR'S INFRASTRUCTURE LAW.

HE SAYS THAT THE $24 MILLION IS A MONEY SAVER.

>> IT'S ALWAYS CHEAPER TO DO REPLENISHMENT THAN IT IS TO WAIT FOR THE STORM TO OCCUR AND GO BACK AND HAVE TO SPEND THE MONEY ON A DISASTER DECLARATION TO FIX THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> Reporter: REPLENISHMENT HAS ITS CRITICS.

PEOPLE LIKE JOHN WEBER ARGUE THAT IT IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE AND TEMPORARY.

>> IT DOES NOT LAST.

WE KEEP REPLENISHING THESE BEACHES AND IT DOES NOT LAST.

IT'S INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE AND WE THINK THERE ARE OTHER THINGS WE COULD BE DOING TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.

>> I JUST DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.

I NEVER HAVE.

I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE RESILIENCY.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS NEW JERSEY WOULD BE BETTER OFF USING THE MONEY TO THEM BEACHES.

>> WE ARE SPENDING ALL THE MONEY ON THE BEACH, MAKING THE BEACHES WIDER AND WE ARE NOT INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO THE BEACHES.

FEW PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GET TO THE BEACHES AND ACCESS THEM.

>> HE ALSO THINKS POLITICIANS SHOULD NOT REPLANT IS THE BEACHES BUT SHOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MOVE AWAY FROM HIGH-RISK AREAS.

WHOEVER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT BUYING OUT BEACHFRONT HOMEOWNERS IS A TOUGH SELL.

>> BUYING OUT OCEANFRONT PROPERTIES AND THAT WOULD BIAS WAY, WAY MORE TIME.

NO ONE IS GOING TO GIVE THEM UP UNLESS THEY ARE OFFERED FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR THEIR HOMES.

IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CREATED THAT GIANT POOL OF MONEY TO START BUYING OUT OCEAN FRONT HOMES, WE WOULD BE IN BETTER SHAPE.

IT'S GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE, BUT A MUCH LONGER LASTING SOLUTION.

>> Reporter: THE FIRST DAYS OF THE PROJECT ARE EXPECTED TO WRAP UP BY THE BEGINNING OF MARCH.

DEPENDING ON HOW THE PROJECT GOES, THERE ARE TWO OTHER AREAS ON THE SHORELINE TO ADD MORE SAND TO BOLSTER UP THE BEACHES.

DESPITE CRITICS CALLING IT A WASTE OF MONEY.

TED GOLDBERG, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> CANNABIS SALES ARE BOOMING IN NEW JERSEY.

RECREATIONAL CANNABIS SALES JUMP FROM JULY TO SEPTEMBER, TOTALING OVER 160 MILLION DOLLARS.

THAT AMOUNT IS 46% MORE THAN RECREATIONAL SALES IN THE PRIOR QUARTER.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION, JEFF BROWN, SAYS NEW JERSEY IS ONLY SEEING THE BEGINNING OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE FOR CANNABIS.

THERE ARE NOW 21 DISPENSARIES IN THE STATES ALLOWING RECREATIONAL CANNABIS AND ANOTHER 10 SELLING MEDICINAL CANNABIS TO REGISTERED PATIENTS.

NJ TRANSIT IS RECEIVING JUST OVER $34 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO UPGRADE RAIL STATIONS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE MADE TO FIVE STATIONS ON THE MORRIS TOWN NORTH JERSEY COAST AND VALLEY LINES THANKS TO THE MONEY AVAILABLE UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT.

FUNDS WILL BE USED TO STUDY NEW PLATFORMS AT THE CHATHAM STATION AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE BRADLEY BEACH STOP ON THE NORTH JERSEY COASTLINE.

IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE MADE TO THE ANDERSON STREET , HACKENSACK, AND NEWBRIDGE LANDING STATIONS.

A FEW MONTHS AFTER THEY REACHED A SETTLEMENT WITH THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OF NEW JERSEY TO IMPROVE CERTAIN STATIONS THAT ARE NOT COMPLIANT WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.

HERE IS A CHECK ON HOW THE STOCK MARKET FARED TODAY.

>>> NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE CHOICE OF PAYING RENT OR HAVING ENOUGH TO EAT.

SADLY, THOSE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE IN NEW JERSEY.

FOOD INSECURITY CAN GET HELP FROM THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM KNOWN AS SNAPPER.

THIS CAN BE A CHALLENGE.

THE STATE IS INCREASING ITS EFFORTS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO APPLY FOR SNAP BENEFITS.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS THE STATE HAS LISTED ADDITIONAL NAVIGATORS TO HELP LEAD THE HUNGRY TO HELP.

>> HUNGER LOOKS LIKE PEOPLE SKIPPING MEALS.

PEOPLE NOT HAVING ACCESS TO ADEQUATE NUTRITIOUS FOOD.

HAVING TO COMPROMISE THE FOOD BUDGET AND THE CHOICES THEY MAKE.

IT IS HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE WORKING SOMETIMES TWO, THREE JOBS.

SPENDING 50, 60, 70% OF THEIR INCOME, JUST TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.

>> AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION TO MELISSA PITTS, DIRECTOR FOR HUNGER FREE NEW JERSEY , SAYS TOO MANY FAMILIES ARE IN.

OFTEN FORCED TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISION OF WHETHER TO EAT OR PAY THEIR MONTHLY BILLS.

>> RENT EATS FIRST.

WITH THAT AND THE PRICE OF UTILITIES AND GAS AND FOOD, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR STATE WHO ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND WHO, BECAUSE OF THAT, EXPERIENCE HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY.

>> Reporter: THAT IS WHY OTHER COMMUNITY ADVOCATES ARE APPLAUDING THE INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE MORE ASSISTANCE TO THE PROGRAM OTHERWISE KNOWN AS SNAPPER.

THERE ARE NAVIGATORS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES WHO CAN HELP INDIVIDUALS SEEKING BENEFITS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

>> FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE SHOULD NOT ALSO STRUGGLE TO FIND HELP.

>> EXPANDING THE AVAILABILITY OF NAVIGATORS THROUGHOUT THE STATE IS ESSENTIAL, SAYS ELISA, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

SINCE THE PROCESS CAN BE A CHALLENGE FOR SOME, NAVIGATORS CAN CONFIRM WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE NEEDED TO PROVE ELIGIBILITY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS APPLICANTS MIGHT HAVE.

>> BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO GET TO FOLKS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD OF SNAP BEFORE, BUT MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE .

TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE GETTING CONNECTED .

NAVIGATORS PROVIDE THIS ASSISTANCE COMPLETELY FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL .

AND BECAUSE THEY ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE, THEY ALSO SPEAK VARIOUS LANGUAGES.

IF SOMEBODY SPEAKS SPANISH AND THAT IS THE WAY THAT THEY COMMUNICATE, THEY ARE ABLE TO CONNECT TO A NAVIGATOR ALSO SPEAKS SPANISH.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF NEW JERSEY, ROUGHLY 650,000 NEW JERSEYANS FACE HUNGER EVERY DAY.

175,000 OF THEM ARE CHILDREN.

A BENEFIT LIKE SNAP IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER.

>> MEETING THAT NUTRITION NEED HELPS KIDS WITH SCHOOL AND HOPES CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND HELPS GUARD AGAINST HEALTH ISSUES AND OTHER KEY PROBLEMS THAT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACE.

IT REALLY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROGRAMS THAT WE PROVIDE.

>> ANYONE INTERESTED IN CONNECTING WITH A NAVIGATOR CAN DO SO BY GOING TO AN JASON KNAPP.GOV -- NJSNAP.GOV AND SEE WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN THEIR AREA.

ADVOCATES ARE HELPING MORE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM SO THEY CAN GET THE HELP THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

MAKE SURE TO GO OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

FOR THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GRADE FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND ORSTED.

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