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

♪ >>> THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BREANA VANNOZZI .

>>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

I AM MICHAEL HILL IN FOR BREANA VANNOZZI.

OAKUM NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS PROMISING STATES WILL SEE A ROUGHLY 16% INCREASE IN VACCINE DOSES OVER THE NEXT 3 WEEKS.

IN NEW JERSEY, THAT TRANSLATES TO ABOUT 130,000 VACCINE DOSES PER WEEK, SPLIT BETWEEN PFIZER AND MODERNA.

>> WE ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ALL OF THE SIGNS COMING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, ESPECIALLY COMING OUT OF A CALL YESTERDAY, AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN OUR VACCINE ALLOCATION.

YOU APPRECIATE THIS THAN ANY OF US, IT IS NOT JUST THE INCREASE WHICH WE DESPERATELY NEED, BUT HAVING A 3 WEEK WINDOW AS OPPOSED TO 1 WEEK TO THE NEXT.

THIS WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS ABOUT STATEWIDE DISTRIBUTION AND ADMINISTRATION.

MAKE NO MISTAKE THAT WE LIKE EVERY OTHER STATE NEED GREATLY INCREASED VACCINE PRODUCTION AND DELIVERY.

WE JUST NEED THE DOSES TO MAKE OUR PROGRAM RUN AS IT HAS BEEN PURPOSE BUILT TO RUN.

>> OR HELP APPEARS ON THE WAY TO STATES IF JOHNSON AND JOHNSON'S SINGLE-DOSE CANDIDATE WINS APPROVAL.

AND NOW EXPECTS TO RELEASE EARLY DATA FROM ITS PHASE THREE TRIAL NEXT WEEK.

ONCE GRANTED EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATIONS, IT WOULD ADD 100 MILLION DOSES TO THE PIPELINE BY JUNE.

IN TOTAL, THE STATE NOW HAS ADMINISTERED MORE THAN 642,000 DOSES, MORE THAN 550,000 OF THOSE FIRST DOSES.

TODAY, STATE LEADERS REPORT NEARLY 4000 NEW COVID-19 CASES, NO MORE THAN 676,000 TOTAL WITH 107 NEW DEATHS FOR A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 21,200 CONFIRMED AND PROBABLE FATALITIES.

HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUE TO FALL SLOWLY, WITH JUST FEWER THAN 3200 PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED AS OF LAST NIGHT.

THE LOWEST NUMBER SINCE NOVEMBER.

>>> AS MORE DOSES START ROLLING IN, GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS SAYS HE WANTS SITES ACROSS THE STATE TO KEEP OPERATING BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.

OTHER STATES, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CAMPING OUT IN LONG LINES OUTSIDE OF DISTRIBUTION CENTERS.

THAT IS HAPPENING IN PATTERSON AS WELL.

EVER SINCE THE CITY HAS OPENED UP WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE STATES ONLY WALK UP VACCINATION SITE, WITH NO APPOINTMENTS REQUIRED.

RAVEN SANTANA REPORTS ON GROWING CONCERNS AND CRITICISM OVER THE CITY'S UNIQUE APPROACH.

>>> THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, NOT PATTERSON RESIDENT, YOU CANNOT.

I SAID WHITE MY GOD, WHAT TROUBLE APPEARED I SAID I'M 85, CAN YOU LET ME IN TO GET A SHOT?

>> Reporter: IT IS BEEN A ROUGH MORNING FOR 85-YEAR-OLD MARTHA WANG.

THE EAST HANOVER RESIDENT WAITED IN LINE FOR 4 HOURS HERE AT INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE SHE WAS TOLD PATTERSON WAS ALLOWING WALK-INS TO EVERYONE.

>> THE MAYOR SAID EVERYBODY CAN COME.

>> Reporter: HER DAUGHTER JENNIFER SAID CONFUSION TURNED INTO FRUSTRATION ONCE THEY WERE TOLD CERTAIN DAYS REDESIGNATED ONLY FOR PATTERSON RESIDENCE, DESPITE HER STILL RECEIVING THIS GOLD WRISTBAND.

>> SHE BEGGED IN THERE AND BAGS AND WAS ALMOST CRYING TO THEM, AND THEY SAID NO, YOU ARE NOT FROM HERE MUSCLE YOU HAVE TO LEAVE.

>> Reporter: SIMILAR COMPLAINTS LED TO AN EMERGENCY MEETING LAST FRIDAY NIGHT BY PATTERSON CITY COUNCIL, REMEMBERS CRITICIZE THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION FOR LETTING SENIOR CITIZENS WAIT OUT IN THE COLD FOR HOURS WITH NO SHELTER OR RESTROOMS.

THEY CALLED FOR AN APPOINTMENT BASED SYSTEM THAT LIMITS VACCINES TO PATTERSON RESIDENCE.

>> IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON HERE.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS OPEN TO EVERYBODY WITHOUT APPOINTMENTS.

>> OUR SENIORS DESERVE BETTER.

THE RESIDENTS OF PATTISON DESERVE BETTER.

IT IS ABSURD THAT RESIDENTS ARE STANDING IN LINE.

IT IS ABSURD TO TELL THEM THEY CANNOT GET THERE VACCINATION.

>> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR TODAY EXPRESSING HIS OPPOSITION TO WALK IN VACCINE SITES.

>> THE PATTERSON TEAM AND THE MAYOR IS A GREAT LEADER, AND WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO HIM AND HIS TEAM.

WE ARE NOT WILD ABOUT FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET AS MANY SHOTS IN THE ARM AS POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: THE PATTERSON MAYOR HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE VACCINATION SITE, WHERE HE HIGHLIGHTED THE CITY'S PROGRESS, DESPITE RECEIVING BACKLASH FOR THE WALK-IN LOCATION WITH A LONG LINE AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES.

>> IF YOU WANT TO WAIT IN LINE FOR THIS VACCINE, WE WILL COME AND ACCOMMODATE YOU.

MOST ARE HAPPY.

WITH THE STATE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM, PEOPLE WAIT WEEKS AND MONTHS.

YOU COME HERE AND WAIT HOURS.

IT'S YOUR CHOICE TO MAKE.

>> Reporter: A CHOICE MOST PEOPLE I SPOKE WITH SAID THEY WOULD DO AGAIN.

>> WE GOT HERE AROUND 8:30.

IT'S NOT BEEN THAT LONG.

IT IS BETTER THAN WAITING FOR THE SIX WEEKS TO GET AN APPOINTMENT.

>> Reporter: WERE YOU EXPECTING TO WAIT A LONG TIME?

>> YES, AND I WOULD WAIT LONGER.

>> IT'S A LITTLE COLD BUT YOU HAVE TO SACRIFICE.

>> Reporter: AFTER VACCINATING MORE THAN 6000 PEOPLE IN JUST A NUMBER OF WEEKS, THE MAYOR SAYS THE CITY WILL NOW NEED TO OPERATE ON JUST 700 DOSES, AFTER RECEIVING A SMALLER THAN EXPECTED VACCINE DELIVERY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> LAST WEEK WE HAD 2010 THIS WEEK 700.

THEY REDUCED OR SUPPLY BY 1300.

THIS VIRUS DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE AND NEITHER DO WE.

IF WE AREN'T GETTING AS MUCH WE DO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF PETTER SONY IN SET WANTED.

THAT IS HOW TENUOUS THE SITUATION IS.

>> Reporter: AFTER SHARING MARTHA WANG'S EXPERIENCE WITH THE MAYOR, HE DID THINGS MAKE THINGS RIGHT.

LATER IN THE DAY, WE SAW HER IN A CHAIR RECEIVING THE FIRST ROUND OF THE MODERNA VACCINE.

>> I APPRECIATE IT, AND I THANK YOU.

>> IT'S NOT A PERFECT PROCESS.

LIKE I STATED BEFORE, THERE IS UNCERTAINTY ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN DECLARATIVE IN SAYING WE WILL GET YOU MORE VACCINES.

THE MORE VACCINES WE CAN GET, THE MORE PEOPLE WE CAN VACCINATE.

>> Reporter: FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

>>> THE UK COVID VARIANT HAS KILLED A NEW JERSEY MAN, SOMEONE THE STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER SAID HAD UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS.

SIX NEW CASES OF THAT.

FOR A TOTAL OF EIGHT IN NEW JERSEY.

MUTATIONS IN THE VIRUS HAVE LED TO QUESTIONS ON WHETHER WE SHOULD ALL BE WEARING DOUBLE MASKS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD.

WE HAVE SOME GUIDANCE ON THAT AND MORE FROM DR. STANLEY WEISS, AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST AT RUTGERS SCHOOL FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> Reporter: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE HAVE A LOT OF TERRITORY TO COVER HERE.

I AM HEARING SO MUCH RIGHT NOW ABOUT DOUBLE MASKING.

IS THAT NECESSARY?

>> THERE ARE PROBLEMS WHEN YOU PUT ON A MASK IN TERMS OF ITS FIT.

I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO GET A MASK THAT FITS YOU WELL.

IF YOU FEEL AIR IS ESCAPING, PARTICULARLY AROUND HER NOSE, IT IS NOT FITTING, IF YOU WEAR GLASSES, LIKE I DO, AND IT FOGS UP, IT IS NOT FITTING WELL.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO TRY TO ADJUST THE MASK, BUT YOU MAY NEED A DIFFERENT TYPE OF MASK.

IN ADDITION, SOMETIMES IF YOU PUT ANOTHER MASK ON TOP OF IT, YOU CAN GET A BETTER FIT SO IT ADHERES MORE CLOSELY TO YOUR FACE.

THAT IS ONE REASON TO PUT A SECOND MASK ON.

A SECOND REASON IS WE HAVE SEEN SOME MASKS WHICH HAVE A VENT RIGHT IN THE FRONT.

THAT VENT MEANS THAT AIR ESCAPES OUT UNFILTERED, SO YOU ARE STILL PROTECTED BY THAT MASK, BUT THOSE AROUND YOU ARE NOT.

>> Reporter: SHOULD WE BE DOUBLE MASKING MY GIVING ALL OF THESE NEW TREES MUTATIONS AND STRAINS AND VARIANCE?

>> WE NEED TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND BE WEARING THE MASK.

WHATEVER IS BEST IN FITTING YOU IS WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND AT THE TIME.

THERE IS NO REASON WHY THE NEW VARIANT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE OLD IN TERMS OF A TYPE OF MASK WE NEED.

THE ESSENCE IS HAVING PROTECTION , BOTH FOR YOURSELF AND THOSE AROUND YOU.

>> Reporter: ARE THE VACCINES GOING TO WORK AGAINST THESE NEW STRAINS?

>> THE GOLD TEST ON KNOWING WHETHER SOMETHING WORKS IN MEDICINE, INCLUDING VACCINES, ARE CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIALS.

THE INITIAL TRIALS WERE DONE BEFORE WE HAD THESE NEW VARIANCE.

THEY SHOWED FOR THE TWO MRNA VACCINES EXTREMELY HIGH EFFICACY.

THEY HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE IMMUNOLOGY OF THOSE VACCINES, AND THEY FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT IT IS LIKELY TO OFFER ALMOST EQUIVALENT OR EQUIVALENT PROTECTION AGAINST THE VARIANT FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM.

>> Reporter: ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO GET THERE SECOND DOSE, AGAIN, ON TIME BECAUSE OF WHAT SEEMS LIKE A SHORT SUPPLY OF THESE VACCINES?

>> I AM CONCERNED.

IN MEDICINE, IT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FROM THE CLINICAL TRIALS IN THAT BACKGROUND.

WE ALSO COME OUT LIKE I JUST DESCRIBED FROM THE IMMUNOLOGY, THAT THE BOOSTER DOSE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

NO ONE KNOWS, BECAUSE THE CLINICAL TRIALS WERE NOT DONE THAT WAY, WHAT CHANGING THE INTERVAL OF TIME BETWEEN TWO DOSES ARE.

I AGREE WITH THE MANUFACTURERS, MODERNA AND PFIZER, THAT THEY DO NOT THINK THAT THEIR DOSAGE SHOULD BE CHANGED.

THERE IS DIVIDED OPINION IN PUBLIC HEALTH BECAUSE OF THE VACCINE SHORTAGE AS TO WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.

I THINK IT IS BETTER TO HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF IMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING IT.

I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD GET A SINGLE MESSAGE, THAT THEY SHOULD GET THINGS AS IT WAS PROMISED AND IS DELIVERED.

IF YOU ARE A FEW DAYS LATE IN MEDICINE, VERY FEW THINGS MATTER BY A VERY SHORT INTERVAL OF TIME, BUT ANY SUBSTANTIAL LENGTHENING BRINGS YOU INTO DOING THINGS NOT AROUND THE SCIENCE, BUT THE GUESSWORK.

WE ARE NOT GOOD WITH MEDICINE OR SCIENCE ON GUESSES.

SOMETIMES IT'S RIGHT AND SOMETIMES IT'S WRONG.

I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED ADHERENCE, PRETTY CLOSE TO THE CURRENT SCHEDULES.

>> Reporter: WHAT ABOUT PREGNANT WOMEN?

SHOULD THEY GET THE VACCINE?

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THEM?

>> WE ACTUALLY KNOW RELATIVELY LITTLE.

THERE WERE SOME SPECULATIONS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT ACTIVITY BETWEEN A CERTAIN PROTEIN IN THE PLACENTA WITH SOME OF THE ANTIGENS ON COVID-19.

IT TURNS OUT THAT IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A REALISTIC ISSUE, AND DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A PROBLEM.

THROUGH CLINICAL TRIALS AND OTHER STUDIES WE DO, WE USUALLY EXCLUDE PREGNANT WOMEN.

THEREFORE IN THE LARGE VACCINE TRIALS, WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE NORMALLY WHO WERE PREGNANT.

THERE WERE SOME WOMEN WHO WERE LATER DISCOVERED TO BE PREGNANT .

IT IS A SMALL SAMPLE SIZE, BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT I HEARD THAT WAS HARMFUL IN THOSE WOMEN.

>> Reporter: DR. WEISS, IT IS ALWAYS ENLIGHTENING AND INFORMATIVE TO TALK TO YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WONDERFUL SEEING YOU AGAIN.

>>> FEWER PEOPLE NOW SAY THEY ARE HESITANT TO TAKE THE VACCINE IN NEW JERSEY.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO A NEW STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SURVEY THAT FINDS A 78% OF RESPONDENTS SAID THEY WOULD LIKELY GET THE VACCINE WHEN IT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

THE SURVEY OF ABOUT 2700 RESIDENTS EARLIER THIS MONTH SHOWS A MAJOR SHIFT FROM MID- DECEMBER WHEN JUST 44%, FEWER THAN HALF OF THOSE POLLED, SAID THEY WOULD DEFINITELY GET A VACCINE.

BUT HESITANCY STILL EXISTS IN SOME COMMUNITIES.

THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TASK FORCE SHOWS LOW SINGLE- DIGIT PERCENTAGES OF BLACK SAND BROWN'S TAKING THE COVID VACCINES.

THE TOWN OF TEANECK IS WORKING TO REVERSE THAT.

IT IS PUT ON A WEBINAR WHERE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY CAN MAKE DOCTORS ONLINE AND ASK QUESTIONS AND GET ANSWERS.

THE MISSION, TO RAISE THOSE LOW MONOMERS AND COMMUNITIES HIT HARDEST BY THE VIRUS.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ REPORTS.

>> Reporter: IT IS ONE OF THE MOST ENDURING AND FRUSTRATING ASPECTS OF THIS PANDEMIC , THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HIT THE HARDEST HAVE THE LEAST ACCESS TO GOOD MEDICAL CARE, AND THE COMMUNITIES MOST AT RISK ARE ALL TOO OFTEN THE ONES WHO ARE THE LEAST INFORMED ABOUT HOW TO ARM THEMSELVES.

THAT IS LEADING TO ALARMINGLY SMALL PERCENTAGES OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE OPTING INTO INOCULATION.

>> UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 3 TO 5% OF VACCINATIONS BEING EITHER BLACK OR HISPANIC AMERICANS IN NEW JERSEY.

SO, THAT IS CONCERNING, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE OF COLOR IMPACTED BY THIS PANDEMIC DISPROPORTIONATELY .

WE SEE THAT RIGHT HERE IN NEWARK, AND WE SAW THE WORST OF IT IN THE SPRING.

>> Reporter: EFFORTS TO REACH THESE COMMUNITIES WHOSE MISTRUST OF THE MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT IS BOTH WELL- DOCUMENTED AND WELL-FOUNDED ARE CRITICAL TO WRESTLING COVID TO THE GROUND.

IN TEANECK, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL ARE TAKING A DIRECT APPROACH EMMA TELLING PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT THEY HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY.

ON A FACEBOOK PANEL DISCUSSION THIS WEEK, THE MAYOR AND OTHERS FROM THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY TOOK QUESTIONS AND TRIED TO COUNTER SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION.

>> WE HAVE TO FESS UP TO OUR HISTORY.

EVEN THOUGH IT IS BLACK AND BROWN, MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO GIVE THE CLARITY AND CALL THAT, YES, WE HAVE NOT SERVE YOU WELL.

WE MISTREATED YOU AND HAVE ABUSED YOU AND WE INAPPROPRIATELY UTILIZED YOU IN MEDICAL EXPERIMENTATION, ET CETERA.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AS A MEDICAL COMMUNITY.

OUR COMMUNITY HAS NOT HEARD THAT ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.

>> Reporter: MORE THAN 1000 PEOPLE WATCHED OR SHARED THE DISCUSSIONS.

THEY SAID BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENCE IN THE TOWNSHIP NEED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF THE VACCINATED TO MORE CLOSELY MATCH THE PERCENTAGES OF THOSE WHO ARE DOING THE SUFFERING.

>> AND ICU NURSE CALLED ME TO SAY THAT THE PEOPLE WHO I AM TREATING ARE BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.

THEY ARE THE ONES ON THE VENTILATORS.

THEY ARE THE ONES I HAVE BEEN SEEING FOR MONTHS, EVEN IN THE SECOND WAVE PEER GET, I KNOW WHEN I GO TO GET MY VACCINE ARE MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE, THOSE ARE NOT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AWAITING THE VACCINE.

SO, THERE IS CONCERN.

TO ME, IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT HERD IMMUNITY, AND THE FACT THAT, IF YOU DON'T GET IT, WE WILL ALSO GET SICK, IT HAS TO BE THAT GENUINE CONCERN AND TRUST FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION, AS WELL AS EQUITABLE BACKS AND EXIT TO THE VACCINE SHOULD YOU DECIDE.

>> Reporter: PICK YOUR REASON.

MEDICAL EXPERIMENTS ON UNSUSPECTING VICTIMS, A RUSHED APPROVAL PROCESS, THAT BILL GATES WANT TO WANTS TO PUT A TRACKING CHIP IN YOUR BODY MYTH, THE VACCINE WILL GIVE YOU COVID OR CHANGE YOUR DNA.

DOCTORS ON THE PANEL HAVE HEARD IT ALL.

>> OUR FOCUS NOW AND PROBABLY BEFORE THE VACCINE WAS RELEASED SHOULD HAVE BEEN EDUCATING SPECIFIC IMMUNITIES ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF THE VACCINE.

THAT WAY WHEN THE VACCINE IS AVAILABLE, PATIENTS ARE, YOU KNOW, ACCEPTING OF THE VACCINE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN THE VACCINE WAS BEING DEVELOPED, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A PUBLIC HEALTH BOMBARDMENT WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINE, THE BENEFITS, THE RISKS, ALL OF THE TRUTH ABOUT THE VACCINE.

THAT WAY WHEN THE COMPANIES THAT ARE PRODUCING THE VACCINE ARE READY TO SUPPLY TO THE GOVERNMENT AND STATES, THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY READY TO VACCINATE OUR POPULATION.

>> Reporter: NOW IF ONLY OFFICIALS COULD GET THE DISTRIBUTION PART RIGHT.

MORE VACCINES HITTING TWO MORE PEOPLE, WITH SHORTER WEIGHTS AND LESS CONFUSION.

THAT MIGHT HELP TO INSPIRE EVEN THE RIGHTFULLY SKEPTICAL TO GET IN LINE.

I'M DAVID CRUZ , NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS .

>>> COMING UP THURSDAY FROM NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS , VACCINATING NEW JERSEY, THE PATH TO OUR POST COVID FUTURE.

HEALTHCARE WRITER LILO STAINTON WILL LEAD A PANEL DISCUSSION THAT INCLUDES A SPECIAL JUST NEW JERSEY HEALTH COMMISSIONER, THURSDAY AT 4:00.

TO REGISTER, HEAD TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND CLICK ON THE AD FOR THE ROUNDTABLE.

>>> NJ TRANSIT BUS RIDERS ARE NOT SHY ABOUT ASKING FOR FIXES AND UPGRADES, BUT NOW THERE IS A BIG CHANCE TO GIVE THE AGENCY A REAL EIFFEL ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO NEED.

A NEW ONLINE SURVEY SOLICITING COMMENTS HAS NJ TRANSIT PLANS TO COMPLETELY REDESIGN ALMOST 40 BUS ROUTES AROUND NEWARK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES.

BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS SO MANY PEOPLE DEPEND ON BUSES, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC FOR JOBS AND TRANSPORTATION, TO TESTING AND VACCINE SITES.

IT IS CRITICAL THEY GET THEIR TWO CENTS IN.

>>> WE HAVE TO GET TO THE COVID TESTING SITES, THE COVID VACCINATION SITES.

PUBLIC TRANSIT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

>> Reporter: ESPECIALLY NJ TRANSIT BUSES.

IT IS ALSO HAS SO MANY ESSENTIAL WORKERS COMMUTE TO JOBS THAT HOSPITALS AND SUPERMARKETS AND WAREHOUSES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WHILE OFFICE WORKERS CAN AVOID RIDING THE RAILS, 70% OF NJ TRANSIT'S BUS PASSENGERS STILL SHOW UP AT THE CURB.

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG, THEY TWEET ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE 25.

THIS IS THE SECOND WEEK THAT I END UP HAVING TO TAKE AN UBER.

>> WE HAVE BEEN IN THE PANDEMIC FOR ABOUT A YEAR.

WRITERS HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THAT THEY NEED AND WANT MORE BUSES ON THEIR ROUTES IN ORDER TO GET TO THE DESTINATIONS IN A TIMELY MANNER.

>> Reporter: THAT IS WHY TRI- STATE TRANSPORTATION IS WELCOMING THE LATEST PROJECT CALLED NEW BUS NEWARK, PART OF THE AGENCY'S 10 YEAR STRATEGIC LAND.

IT AIMS TO REDESIGN THE 38 LOCAL BUS ROUTES CENTERED ON NEW JERSEY'S LARGEST CITY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES.

WITH MORE THAN 400,000 JOBS WITHIN A QUARTER-MILE OF BUS SERVICE HERE, IT'S AN ECONOMIC HUB FOR SOMEONE HUNDRED 65,000 RIDERS.

RJ PALADINO SAYS THEY HAVE SPOKEN WITH NEWARK'S MAYOR AND AREA BUSINESSES, BUT THEY ARE ALSO REACHING OUT TO RIDERS WITH AN ONLINE SURVEY.

>> WHAT ISSUES ARE THEY ENCOUNTERING, WHETHER IT IS TRANSFERS ARE THE SPAN OF SERVICE THAT WE OPERATE.

THEY ALREADY USE OUR SERVICE, BUT HOW COULD THEY USE IT BETTER?

>> THEY CAN PROVIDE SERVICE ALL DAY LONG, BUT IF IT'S NOT WHAT THEY NEED, NOBODY WILL TAKE IT.

THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT NOW AS NEW JERSEY TRANSIT TRIES TO REGAIN RIDERSHIP COMING OUT OF COVID.

THEY RELY HEAVILY ON THEIR FAREBOX REVENUES TO SUPPORT THEIR OPERATING BUDGET.

>> Reporter: STUDIES BY TRI- STATE TRANSPORTATION IN THE REGIONAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION SHOWS THE AGENCY NEEDS TO FOCUS FIRST ON THE POPULATION IT SERVES.

THEY ARE MOSTLY -- >> FROM BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE FROM LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, AND THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THEIR BUSES.

>> THE BUS NETWORK HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED IN DECADES.

IN THAT TIME, SO MANY THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WHERE PEOPLE WORK, WHAT THEIR HABITS ARE, HOW THEY USE TECHNOLOGY.

SO, IT IS CRITICAL TO UPDATE THE BUS NETWORK TO MEET THOSE NEW TRAVEL PATTERNS.

>> Reporter: THEY SAY THAT SOME COMMUTERS NEED WORK SHIFT ACCESS TO NEW INDUSTRIES LIKE WAREHOUSES, WHILE OTHERS WANT MORE FREQUENT BUS SERVICE TO AMENITIES IN DOWNTOWN AREAS.

HE SAID IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD NOT COME WITH FARE HIKES OR SERVICE CUTS.

>> THE ONES WHO ARE STILL WRITING TRANSIT ARE THE ONES WHO DEPEND ON IT THE MOST.

IT SEEMS UNFAIR TO BURDEN THE BUDGET SHORTFALL ON PRECISELY THOSE PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THE NEW BUS NEWARK PROJECT WILL SUBMIT FINAL SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NETWORK REDESIGN I THE END OF SUMMER.

>> IT'S AN AGGRESSIVE TIMEFRAME.

WE ARE MOVING FAST ON THIS, BUT IT IS PART OF WHAT WE SEE AS BEING AN URGENT NEED.

WE ARE ALONG FOR THE RIDE AND MOVING FAST.

>> Reporter: I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> PLAINCLOTHES OFFICERS IN NEWARK MUST WILL BRATTY CAMERAS.

MAYOR AND PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR SAYS OFFICERS WILL DO SO IMMEDIATELY.

THIS FOLLOWS THE NEW YEAR'S EVE SHOOTING AND KILLING OF AN UNARMED MAN DURING A POLICE INVESTIGATION OF A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD SHOOTING.

THE VIDEO SHOWS A DETECTIVE AND THE MAN RUNNING INTO EACH OTHER , AND THE DETECTIVE SHOOTING THE MAN AS BOTH ARE FALLING TO THE GROUND.

THE OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING.

THE NEW BODY CAMERA POLICY HAS SOME EXCEPTIONS FOR NEWARK OFFICE IS ASSIGNED TO WORK WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES.

ONCE ON SURVEILLANCE DUTIES MUST WEAR THEM DURING AND ARRESTED OFFICERS TO GET AN APPROVED REQUEST NOT TO WEAR THEM.

THE PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR ANTHONY AMBROSE SAYS IT IS ANOTHER STEP IN BUILDING TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY WITH THE PEOPLE OFFICERS OBSERVED.

AMBROSE HAS ANNOUNCED THAT HE IS RETIRING AFTER 34 YEARS OF SERVICE.

HIS SUCCESSOR STILL HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENTS ARE IN BETTER SHAPE NOW THAN WHEN HE TOOK OVER FIVE BACK YEARS AGO.

>>> MUCH-NEEDED HELP IS ON THE WAY TO THE STATES SMALL BUSINESSES.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS A MILLION- DOLLAR BREAKDOWN AND TODAY'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> Reporter: THE STATE IS ABOUT TO ROLL OUT MORE FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR NEW JERSEY'S SMALL BUSINESSES.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TODAY ANNOUNCED A $10 MILLION SECOND PHASE OF ITS SMALL BUSINESS EMERGENCY LOAN PROGRAM.

THIS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE UP TO $100,000 IN LOW-COST LOANS, AND THE MONEY CAN BE USED TO PAY RENT, MORTGAGES, COVER PAYROLL, AND OTHER EXPENSES.

THEY SAY BUSINESSES MUST PREREGISTER BEFORE THEY CAN APPLY FOR THE LOANS.

PRE-REGISTRATIONS WILL BEGIN NEXT MONTH ON THE 10th OF FEBRUARY.

DEVELOPERS ARE EYEING TRACTS OF FARMLAND AND FOREST IN NEW JERSEY TO BUILD NEW INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSES, AS THE PANDEMIC HAS CREATED A BOOM IN e-COMMERCE.

LOCAL OFFICIALS SEE THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS AS A WAY TO BRING JOBS AND TAX REVENUE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, BUT AS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS'S JON HURDLE FOUND OUT IN HIS REPORTING, RESIDENTS ARE WORRIED ABOUT TRAFFIC AND POLLUTION, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

>>> THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS BEING TURNED INTO SOMETHING LIKE INDUSTRIAL PARKS.

SOME FOLKS THAT I HAVE TALKED TO HAVE SAID, WELL WE MOVED HERE BECAUSE IT WAS A QUIET, BRUTAL CORNER OF NEW JERSEY.

AND NOW, WE HAVE THE PROSPECT OF A 1 MILLION SQUARE FOOT OR 2 MILLION SQUARE-FOOT WAREHOUSE BEING BUILT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD , AND WE REALLY DON'T LIKE THAT.

>> Reporter: FIND OUT WHICH COMMUNITIES MIGHT ALLOW NEW WAREHOUSE DEVELOPMENTS BY READING HIS STORY ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG .

IN THE MEANTIME IN NEWARK, THERE IS NEW EFFORT UNDERWAY TO REDUCE FLIGHT AND FIND BUYERS FOR A BANDED PROPERTIES IN THE CITY.

INVEST NEWARK HAS LAUNCHED THE NEWARK LAND BANK WEBSITE.

IT CONTAINS A LIST OF THE AVAILABLE PROPERTIES THAT WILL BE SOLD DIRECTLY TO BUYERS WHO REGISTER ONLINE.

THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF LAND BANK OPERATIONS.

>> INITIALLY, WE WILL HAVE JUST UNDER 100 PROPERTIES, AND THEY WILL BE SPREAD OUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF NEWARK.

THERE WILL BE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, COMMERCIAL, AND UNDERSIZED LOTS AS WELL.

>> Reporter: ONE GOAL IS TO INCREASE HOMEOWNERSHIP IN THE CITY.

PROPERTY SALES ARE SET TO BEGIN NEXT MONTH.

THEY ARE ALREADY SEEING INTERESTED BUYERS REGISTERING ON THE WEBSITE.

>>> HERE'S A LOOK AT TODAY'S SELLING ON WALL STREET.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU, A REMINDER TO JOIN US ON THURSDAY AT: 30 P.M. FOR OUR LIVE YOUTUBE SHOW "CHATBOX" WITH SENIOR CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ.

THIS WEEK HE TACKLES ALL THINGS COVID-19 , INCLUDING A DEEPER LOOK AT THE NEW STRAINS OF THE VIRUS, AND THE STRUGGLE OF NEW JERSEY'S VACCINATION PROGRAM.

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME TO CHATBOX@NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG , OR ASK THEM LIVE DURING THE STREAM.

I AM MICHAEL HILL IN FOR BREANA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM , THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A SAFE NIGHT.

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

PSE&G , WE MAKE THINGS WORK FOR COMMUNITIES.

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

>>> EVERY DAY, NEARLY 2 MILLION CUSTOMERS ACROSS NEW JERSEY RELY ON PSE&G TO PROVIDE NATURAL GAS.

AND EVERY DAY, PSE&G IS COMMITTED TO DOING IT SAFELY.

THAT INCLUDES MAKING SURE YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOU SMELL GAS.

A NATURAL GAS LEAK SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN EGGS.

IF YOU SUSPECT A GAS LEAK, LEAVE YOUR HOME IMMEDIATELY.

YOU GET FAR AWAY, THEN CALL ON ONE.

REMEMBER, SMELL, LEAVE, CALL.

PROTECT THE ONES YOU LOVE.

LEARN MORE AT NJ.PSEG.COM.

>>> IN UNCERTAIN TIMES YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO HAS YOUR BACK THAT IS WHY AT HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY , MAKE SURE OUR HEALTH PLANS HAVE ALL THE BENEFITS YOU NEED, MORE WAYS TO GET CARE VIRTUALLY, MORE SUPPORT FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH, MORE TOOLS ON YOUR PHONE, ALL IN A RANGE OF HEALTH PLANS ARE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN FIND JUST WHAT YOU NEED.

AND WE CAN HELP, BECAUSE EVERYONE SHOULD FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HAS THEIR BACKS, NOT JUST IN UNCERTAIN TIMES, BUT ALL THE TIME.