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♪ Briana: Tonight on "NJ Spotlight News," the congestion pricing war wages on.

Governor Murphy speaking out for the first time, calling the Midtown toll outrageous, and vowing to fight on.

>> We have not given up.

We are considering all are alternatives.

We are also monitoring the data very carefully, so this is only a few days In.

Plus, a critical immigration vote in the house this week, and two natures members also running for governor, or a no-show.

>> it's a statement in a way, of what they might bring to content.

We have known their history in Congress has not been the best when it comes to immigration policy, so we are concerned about what that means.

Briana: Also, port strike number two -- all eyes on the shipping docks to see if workers will walk out once again.

>> as soon as the strike starts and starts the last one in a few days, things start to get.

I would say bumpy.

And the more time moves, the less easy it is to recover from disruption.

BRIANA: and housing for the homeless.

The city of Newark offering 200 public housing units to those in search of temporary shelter, NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

♪ Announcer: From NJPBS studios, this is "NJ Spotlight News" With Brianna Vanozzi.

♪ Briana: Good evening and thanks for joining us on this Wednesday night.

I'm Brianna Vanozzi.

We begin with a few of today's top headlines.

First, Governor Murphy says he's not done with the congestion pricing battle, telling a group of reporters at an unrelated event today, his office is reviewing all the legal options available to defeat the toll that went into effect at midnight on Sunday, and turned as much drivers an extra nine dollars to enter Manhattan South of 60th Street.

It's the first comment made publicly by Murphy since a federal judge last week rejected the state as quote request for a Temporary Restraining Order on the plan.

The governor, calling it outrageous that the Federal Highway Administration allowed the first in the nation congestion toll to move forward despite acknowledging needing more information about the environmental impact of the plan.

Murphy also sidestepped questions about there being less traffic at the bridges and tunnels since the toll began, saying his administration is gathering data on that, and shut down the notion that New York offers confessions to soften the blow for New Jerseyans.

>> It is deficient in the ways we knew it would be deficient.

Even with a discount.

I mean, give me a break.

You start at $15, you go to a nine dollars and we are supposed to feel good that we are paying only an extra six dollars a trip?

Come on, man.

It is deficient because it is costing our commuters money, and because it's going to lead to a displacement of pollution from Manhattan to New Jersey and and both of those are.

Briana: Also tonight, saying goodbye to former President Jimmy Carter, who died at the age of 100 at his home in Plains, Georgia.

The public, military officials, lawmakers and other dignitaries are paying their respects today as the late President's remains lie in state at the Capitol Rotunda until tomorrow morning.

His flag-draped casket sitting , on top of the same wooden platform that was built for Abraham Lincoln as the in 1865.

Carter's coffin was transported through Washington, D.C. on the horse-drawn casing.

He will be honored on Thursday at a memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral, where President Biden will deliver the eulogy, and all five of the former and current living U.S. presidents are expected to attend.

There will also be a private funeral service for Carter at Marantha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, where he was a parishioner and taught Sunday school for many years.

Carter was remembered for his deep religious faith, long public service and humanitarian work beyond politics.

His remains will be interred and buried on January 9, which has been declared a national day of mourning, at his home garden in Georgia alongside his wife, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

And good news for anyone carrying medical debt, a new federal rule kicks in this week that will prevent unpaid medical bills from hurting your credit score.

The consumer financial protection bureau will block lenders from getting access to medical debt information when a consumer is trying to borrow money.

Credit agencies will have to remove any mention of medical debt when lenders request a credit report.

The Bureau's director says medical debt is often inaccurate , and doesn't indicate a borrower's ability to pay other bills.

The new rule will help some 14 million Americans, many who have health insurance, and have been financially responsible, but have gotten hit by debt from an unexpected illness or accident.

The Bureau estimates this rule will translate into at least 20,000 more people obtaining a mortgage every year, and boost the average credit reports by 20 points.

As Governor Murphy plans the state's next step in fighting congestion pricing, he's also facing criticism for rejecting what New York Governor Kathy Hochul called very generous offers, to settle the case outside of court.

Sources within her office say, New Jersey left significant money on the table during the failed settlement talks that potentially could have propped up the beleaguered New Jersey transit system, and helped prioritize other mass transit projects on the docket here.

So what exactly did the Murphy administration turned down, and how generous was it?

Politico NJ reporter Rye Rivard spoke to sources within both administrations, and joined us with the latest.

Good to talk to you.

Can you give us more details about the offers from New York, specifically you wrote about a $500 million offer.

Was that part of a pre-existing agreement, or was that a new proposal?

Guest: So this was during settlement talks to resolve the lawsuit that New Jersey filed to stop congestion-pricing tolls you that is $500 million that would have gone towards the Midtown bus terminal in Manhattan, which is obviously used by a lot of New Jersey commuters coming to and from work.

Our understanding is that New York thought this was a great deal that they have been committed to paying for this.

On the New Jersey side, there was the impression that this money was New York would have been paying anyway as part of a split.

That's typically done for projects that are Port Authority projects, where you sort of split the cost of projects that are bi-state projects.

Briana: What else was on the table?

I think it was in December when Governor Hochul held a press conference and gave us that quote about these are generous offers and even sort of site-mentioned, New Jersey transit customers stuck on their trains.

Was there money being offered to help with our own mass transit systems here?

Guest: The way that talks were described to me, is that there wasn't a direct subsidy, like I think some people had the impression.

There wasn't just money that New York would be shuffling to New Jersey to put towards New Jersey transit.

There were things like, you know, money that would have gone towards the bus terminal that would be used by it New Jersey commuters.

That New York offered or pledged to prioritize the New Jersey Transit parts of New York Penn Station during a redo of Penn Station.

So, I think it has been an impression among critics of Murphy that he turned down money that was directly towards, say,'s buying a new bus or a new train for New Jersey transit, and those things were not really on the table.

There were also discounts or toll credits for drivers of New Jersey crossing the George Washington Bridge, but the governor's position going back several years has been he wanted a full rebate, for a full discount.

And that is not something that we understood New York offered either.

Briana: I guess it is subjects with just how generous it was.

The governor today addressed some of this, and he also deflected it.

It almost seems like maybe there are still some offers on the table -- do you know anything about that?

What is the governor's office telling you about why they may have turned some of this down?

Guest: They have said they are pursuing litigation, the litigation is still sort of alive.

New Jersey has basically lost to this point.

Obviously, congestion-pricing tolls already started.

But there are still things happening in court, still things that can happen in court, not only in the New Jersey lawsuit, but in several others filed by other people against congestion pricing, mostly in New York courts.

So there has been, as far as I can tell, a public emphasis on the court cases from the New Jersey governor's office.

Briana: In a couple of weeks President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in to office.

He has been a staunch critic of this.

What type of challenge does that present?

Is this reversible at this point, once Trump gets into office?

Guest: Over in New York, Representative Jerry Adler told us a while ago that he doesn't really see a path on Congress and doing this.

The path to the president on doing this is a little harder to stop something once it has started -- I think there was a rush to get congestion-pricing tolls and it is in place.

I think there are some administrative things, as we know, President-elect Donald Trump has promised to do a lot of aggressive things to sort of take actions across the board.

His administration several years ago tried to do some things, they got tarnished in court.

I don't really think it is clear what he will do if it will be among his priorities, and how that would work.

Briana: And certainly now that the program is in effect, a lot of the leverage is lost.

Are the two sides still communicating?

Are Governor Murphy and Governor Hochul's office is still communicating?

Guest: I think the two governors while they have fought over some things, generally have a very good relationship and have compartmentalized their fights and friendships, and I have seen no indication that that compartmentalization has changed.

They are still allies, both still Democrats and both still have a lot of things they want to get done for the region.

Briana: Alright, Rye Rivard, thank you so much for sharing your reporting and for coming on the show.

Two of the most high-profile Democratic candidates for governor in New Jersey are being criticized by opponents from both parties, who are calling out Congress members Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer for missing a vote this week on a key immigration policy.

An issue that became a central theme to the 2024 presidential election, and could very well factor into this year's gubernatorial race.

As senior political correspondent David Cruz reports, it's just the latest example of backlash for holding office while running for another.

♪ Reporter: On the day she announced her run for governor last year, just a couple of weeks after she won reelection to Congress, Mikie Sherrill still seems to be unclear what she was running for.

>> You know, my focus is always been on the people of New Jersey and how I can best deliver and advocate for them.

That is why I chose to run for Congress right now, to make sure I am relentlessly delivering for people.

Reporter: You can forgive the candidate for misspeaking.

She is actually running for governor.

But it is an example, say her critics, of the kind of mixed missions a candidate for governor can project when they are running for one office from the safety of another.

This week's vote on the Laken Riley Bill is an example.

Neither Mikie Sherrill nor Josh Gottheimer, who also announced his run for governor just after his reelection to Congress, was available for vote.

The bill, named for a woman who was killed by an undocumented migrant in Georgia last year, got yes votes from 48 other Democrats, but none from the New Jersey delegation members who voted.

>> This bill mandates that attention of noncitizens -- detention of noncitizens for immigrants, who are accused of shoplifting or property crime.

I think it is a statement about the type of leadership they might bring to Trenton.

We have known their history in Congress has not been the best when it comes to immigration policy, and so we are concerned about what that means.

Reporter: their absence was noted on social media from both sides of the gubernatorial race.

Republican Jack Ciattarelli posted on X, "Shame on Josh for Jersey, and Mikie Sherrill's, for got Leslie ducking a vote.

Josh and Mikie didn't have the courage to stand up to the extreme left base."

"This is cowardly" said a post from Democrat Steve Fulop, "if you don't have the courage to vote for a bill, then what does that say about your courage to lead as governor?"

Spokespeople for Cheryl and Gottheimer, meanwhile, didn't explain their absences, but explained how they would have voted.

Sherrill saying the bill mandates detention and , quote, eliminates due process right for some people including DACA recipients who haven't been convicted of or charged with a crime.

Which is why I previously voted against it.

Gottheimer's campaign said, quote, he has entered into the Congressional record that he would have voted for the bill, as he did when a similar measure was up for a vote last year.

So in that regard, says analyst Micah Rasmussen -- >> They are not ducking a vote.

Sometimes when you miss a vote, you are doing it so that you can duck the issue.

Neither one of them is ducking the issue here.

Neither one of them are trying not to go on the record.

They are telling us exactly what they would have done.

So from that respect, they are not to be criticized.

They didn't do this in order to not be counted.

They are being counted.

Reporter: although neither can be pinned down by an actual on the record vote for a bill which negatively impacts close to 1,000,000 undocumented people in the state.

Gottheimer would have been the only yes vote from the delegation, on the bill which got support from almost 50 other House Democrats, and appears to be headed for passage in the Senate as early as this week.

I am David Cruise, NJ Spotlight News.

-- I'm David Cruz, NJ Spotlight news.

Briana: Meanwhile, the Murphy administration is taking stock of its accomplishments over the last year, counting among them a decrease in crime.

The governor and top law enforcement leaders in the states gathered to date, Tou Thao the most recent violent -- to tout the most recent violent crime figures which show the fewest shooting victims recorded for a second straight year, along with a double-digit drop-in auto thefts.

Ted Goldberg has the details.

>> those are trends that no other state in America can boast.

Reporter: Governor Phil Murphy says he is not spiking a football.

But Wednesday's news conference in East Rutherford still looked like a touchdown dance, celebrating the second straight year that New Jersey set a record low for shootings.

>> More families have remained intact.

More cities and towns are free from the scourge and threat of violence.

>> Our firearms homicide rate is 67% below the national average.

That's a staggering statistic.

>> There were more people around their family holiday tables last month and more New Jerseyans were able to ring in the New Year with the people they love.

Reporter: Cities statewide have enough similar findings, whether it be Camden celebrating a decade turnaround last Tuesday, or Newark praising its decrease in murders a week ago.

>> from investor in traditional law enforcement activities, to rebuilding trust in our criminal justice system to strengthen a community based violence prevention and intervention at every level, we have introduced innovative solutions and collaborated with New Jerseyans across every walk of life.

>> you are safer in New Jersey because we have invested in our communities as partners in our strategy, through violence prevention programs that are breaking cycles of violence.

Reporter: Leaders have pat their own backs while praising community groups and law enforcement.

State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan says police have successfully helped a number of people avoid the criminal justice system, and.

>> Drug overdoses, as well as our illegal drug-related overdose deaths are down 31% in New Jersey.

That is another staggering number.

So aside from not having gunshot victims, to have people who have support from troopers when detectives are out there giving out Narcan and giving out their personal cell numbers to people struggling in addiction for when they are ready, that the trooper takes them to recovery coaches instead of to the county jail.

Reporter: Leaders agree that more work could be done.

Lieutenant Tahesha Way says additional gun reform could be on the way.

>> The wave of mass shootings that seem to constantly be in the news reminds us of the ever present danger of gun violence made worse since the Supreme Court loosened restrictions on carrying a gun in public.

We will continue to do everything within our powers, to protect our sacred communities.

Reporter: Governor Murphy also mentioned a drop in car thefts.

About 15,000 cars were stolen last year, a double digit drop percentage wise from 2023, but still higher than pre pandemic levels.

>> We also saw an 11% decrease in auto thefts, which represents a crucial step in decreasing violent crimes, including students, which often begin with an auto theft.

Reporter: According to state data, 778 people were gunshot victims last year.

New Jersey was at 1300 or 1400 gunshot victims a year a decade ago.

It's a lot of progress, with leaders quick to take credit and give out some, as well.

In East Rutherford, I am Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: In new Oracle officials are finding a path home on the -- in Newark, officials are finding a path home for the chronically unhoused.

The city rolled out a new program this week, designating 200 public housing units to be used as transitional housing for the chronically homeless residents.

The first 15 people moved in this week from emergency shelters, and were given keys to a newly renovated unit.

The program partners with staff from Bridges outreach, a nonprofit dedicated to homelessness prevention and support, to offer residents at wraparound services, including behavioral health counseling and treatment, financial help, and other resources to get folks back on their feet.

Mayor Baraka has launched a number of what are called housing-first initiatives, to help more people find temporary and permanent shelter.

Data from the state Department of community affairs shows some of the strategies appear to be working.

Newark dropped its homeless rate by more than 50% last year.

In our Spotlight on Business Report tonight, another port strike is looming.

Feels like déjà vu, but tens of thousands of longshoremen could walk off the job from Maine to Texas next week if the union and management cannot reach agreement on long-standing contract issues.

The two sides struck a deal in October and ending a multi-day work stoppage that included a significant pay raises for longshoremen, but never result how to handle the use of automation on the docks.

Now, as Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan reports, the dispute is coming to a head with just days to resolve it.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] Reporter: Reporter: The October strike lasted just three days.

The union hit pause after reaching a tentative agreement to boost wages 62% over the next six years.

But talks continued over a much more complicated issue.

The use of automated cargo cranes that could cost union jobs.

With a January 15 deadline looming and workers willing to walk out again, a strike could disrupt supply chains of consumer goods.

>> IC prices rising and rising quickly.

I don't see mass shortages.

Reporter: the supply chain expert says East and Gulf Coast ports handle more than half the nation's shipping container traffic.

Shipping companies have advised customers to pick up cargo that's already import before January 15, and some have rerouted orders to California or Canada.

Timing is everything.

>> I don't think it is going to be a strike that lasts weeks and weeks.

I don't think economy can take it.

>> As that lasts one in a few days, things start to get bumpy, and the more time moves, the less easy it is to recover from the disruption.

Reporter: This shipping automation analyst says foreign ports have moved quickly to adopt the new technology.

You are up to China to Latin America.

But -- >> There is not a single U.S. port within the top 50 in terms of productivity.

And we invented containerization.

We invented the whole thing and again we are lagging behind.

Reporter: the Longshoremen's Association has resisted automation for decades.

Union leaders made their position clear in October.

Accept technologies that allow the job to be safer and more.

But we are never going to support automation that display the work force robotics of a people.

We will never accept that.

>> automation is a do or die type of thing on both sides.

That is where we are facing this current situation, because they can't make an agreement about two different visions or perspectives.

Reporter: But the US Maritime Alliance but which represents ports and shipping companies, noted in December that jobs and automation are not mutually exclusive.

Stating, modern technology is proven to dramatically increase the amount of cargo that can move through Emily.

Union members make more money when they move more cargo, and ports need to hire more workers to manage that growth.

The union is facing an evolving workplace, says this guest from Rutgers -- >> There are good jobs you can get without a college degree, without an advanced degree.

And those workers, if laid off, they are laid off, are going to have a real hard time.

Or I would say almost an impossible time finding a job that is going to pay an equivalent pay rate and with equivalent benefits.

Reporter: He says a compromise might preserve some jobs or even paid laid-off workers, in exchange for integrating more robotics into port operations, although that might impact the wage agreement reached in October.

He expects a strike.

>> the labor market is still pretty tight.

Even though we have a changing political climate, I don't think we will see any slow down and the type of strike activities and organizing that we have been seeing coming out of Covid the last three or four years.

Reporter: Union leaders have met with the President-elect.

They have got record profits, and I would rather these foreign companies spend it on the great men and women on our docks than missionary, which is expensive and which will constantly have to be replaced, says the president.

How would he handle a strike?

>> Honestly I don't know which way he will go.

It certainly is not in the new administration as quote best interest to have a long strike and long-term inflation.

Reporter: Negotiators have about a week left to reach agreement.

I am Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: That will do it for us tonight.

But tune in to ChatBox tomorrow night with David Cruise.

He will continue the congestion -- congestion-pricing tolls with it and with two local transportation reporters.

Can New Jersey transit handle the influx, and tips for commuters to survive the price increase.

That is Thursday night at six :00 p.m. on the NJ Spotlight News Youtube channel.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

For the entire team, thanks for being with us.

We will see you right back here tomorrow.

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