>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY NJN INSURANCE GROUP.

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AND BLUECROSS/BLUESHIELD NEW JERSEY.

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>> THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I'M BREONNA VANOZZI.

>>> A NATIONWIDE SURGE OF WHITE SUPREMACIST PROPAGANDA, WITH NEW JERSEY SEEING ONE OF THE BI INCREASES.

IT COMES IN THE FORM OF FLYERS OR GRAFFITI FOUND IN TOWN CENTERS AND COLLEGE CAMPUSES, PROMOTING RACISM AND WHITE POWER.

A NEW REPORT BY THE ANTIDEFAMATION LEAGUE FINDS 300 INCIDENTS OF PROPAGANDA WERE REPORTED IN 2020.

MORE THAN DOUBLE THE YEAR BEFORE.

WHAT'S MORE, THE NEW JERSEY EUROPEAN HERITAGE ASSOCIATION WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR 10% OF THE NATIONAL TOTAL.

THE REPORT COMES IN THE WAKE OF A MASS SHOOTING AT THREE ATLANTIC AREA SPAS WHERE THREE OF SIX OF THE WOMEN WERE OF ASIAN DECENT.

THE MAN SUSPECTED OF THE KILLING HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH EIGHT COUNTS OF MURDER.

HE CLAIMS THE ATTACKS WEREN'T DRIVEN BY RACISM.

BUT AS HATE CRIMES, INCLUDING THOSE AGAINST ASIAN-AMERICANS CONTINUE ON THE RISE, THIS LATEST ATTACK HAS ASIAN COMMUNITIES AT HOME AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON HIGH ALERT.

>> I'M SCARED.

I'M VERY AFRAID.

>> Reporter: 20-YEAR-OLD NEW JERSEY RESIDENT, HILDA ROMERO, SAYS SHE'S LIVING IN FEAR AFTER BEING THE VICTIM OF AN ANTI-ASIAN-AMERICAN ATTACK IN JUNE.

>> SHE SAYS IT'S BECAUSE OF YOUR PEOPLE, YOUR DIRTY PEOPLE IS WHY WE HAVE TO WEAR A MASK AND PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING AND DYING.

>> Reporter: ROMERO WHO IS FILIPINO AND KOREAN SAYS THE INCIDENT WHICH HAPPENED AT A BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST IN JERSEY CITY STILL HAUNTS HER.

>> SHE PROCEEDED TO HAVE A BIG GULP IN HER HAND, SHE POURED CHERRY COKE ALL OVER ME.

AND I WAS SHOCKED.

SHE ALSO HAD CHILDREN.

FOUR CHILDREN.

THEY THREW TRASH ON ME BECAUSE SHE TOLD THEM TO DO SO.

AND I WAS MORTIFIED TO WHERE OTHER PEOPLE JOINED IN EGGING HER ON, AND I WAS SCARED.

MY ONLY REACTION WAS TO RUN.

>> Reporter: THIS WEEK'S SHOOTING NEAR ATLANTA THAT LEFT SIX WOMEN OF ASIAN DECENT DEAD HAS ESCALATED FEARS IN THE ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY BUILT POSSIBILITY OF MORE HATE CRIMES WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN ON THE RISE.

THE GROUP "STOP AAP HATE" HAS BEEN TRACKING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ASIAN-AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

IT'S LAUNCHED 3,800 INCIDENTS NATIONWIDE, 59 IN NEW JERSEY.

THOSE REPORTS CAPTURE JUST A FRACTION OF THE TRUE NUMBERS.

>> WHILE A LARGE PORTION OF THAT DATA IS FOR THINGS LIKE MAJOR CRIME, WE'RE ALSO -- NEED TO LOOK AT INCIDENTS THAT DON'T RESULT IN A DEATH OR IN A MAJOR CONSEQUENCE.

>> Reporter: RONALD CHEN IS A DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF LAW AT RUTGERS LAW SCHOOL, AND COFOUNDER OF NEW JERSEY ADVOCACY GROUP, JERSEY PROMISE.

HE SAYS IT'S CRITICAL THAT ASIAN-AMERICANS FEEL CONFIDENT REPORTING HATE CRIMES IN ORDER TO PREVENT THEM.

>> WHEN ALL THIS GETS OUT, SUDDENLY THE COMMUNITY ITSELF LOSES CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITY OF GOVERNMENT.

>> I'VE EXPERIENCED EIGHT DIFFERENT TIMES IN WHICH I'VE BEEN VERBALLY ASSAULTED OR FELT PHYSICALLY THREATENED.

>> Reporter: CASEY OKOMORO SAYS REPORTING CRIMES CAN BE TRICKY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY DON'T INVOLVE ASSAULT.

HE FELT HOPELESS AS HE DESCRIBED NOT HAVING ANY EVIDENCE TO PROVIDE TO POLICE.

>> THEY DID APPROACH ME, STARTED YELLING OUT RACIAL SLURS.

I DID HAVE TO RUN ABOUT HALF A BLOCK BEFORE I SAW A PATROL CAR.

IT WAS VERY MUCH A HE SAID, SHE SAID KIND OF INCIDENT.

>> PEOPLE YELLED AT ME AND TOLD ME TO GET AWAY FROM THEM BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE GONNA GET THE CORONAVIRUS FROM ME.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO TELL YOU THAT I STOOD STRONG AND THAT I DID WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE TO HOLD THAT ACCOUNTABLE AND SAID THE RIGHT WORDS BUT I DIDN'T.

>> Reporter: ATTACKS ON ASIAN-AMERICANS WILL NOT STOP AFTER THE PANDEMIC, AND THERE ISN'T ONE SOLUTION TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

KIM SAYS TACKLING THE ISSUE WILL INVOLVE PROVIDING ASIAN COMMUNITIES WITH RESOURCES SO THEY HAVE AN OPEN MIND AND OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT SO THEY FEEL CONFIDENT REPORTING CRIMES WHEN THEY HAPPEN.

>> WE'LL CONTINUE OUR COVERAGE ON THE RISE IN HATE CRIMES AGAINST THE ASIAN-AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS COMMUNITY TOMORROW MORNING ON REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ.

HE SPEAKS WITH ANDY KIM ABOUT WHAT WASHINGTON IS DOING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

THEN HIT THE BIG STORIES THIS WEEK WITH A PANEL OF VETERAN REPORTS.

WATCH IT LIVE AT 10:00 AM ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

AND DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS SO YOU NEVER MISS A SHOW.

>>> IN WASHINGTON, THE HOUSE IS ANDED TO CUT TWO IMMIGRATION REFORM BILLS TODAY.

THE PROMISE ACT FOCUSES ON THE ROUGHLY 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE BROUGHT TO THE U.S. AS CHILDREN KNOWN AS DREAMERS, INCLUDING ROUGHLY 50,000 IN NEW JERSEY.

AND THOSE HERE UNDER TPS.

ANOTHER IS AIMED AT GIVING TEMPORARY LEGAL STATUS TO FARM WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

IT IS SEEN AS A FIRST STEP IN A BROADER PLAN BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO GIVE ALL 11 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS LEGAL STATUS.

THAT FACES A TOUGH ROAD AHEAD, ESPECIALLY IN THE SENATE.

REPUBLICANS HAVE LARGELY REJECTED THAT PROPOSAL.

AMID A RISE OF UNACCOMPANIED MEXICAN CHILDREN CROSSING THE U.S. BORDER.

>>> IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO THAT MOST SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN REMOTE LEARNING.

CASES REMAIN STUDY AT 31 CASES AND LIVES LOST.

DISTRICTS HAVE RETURNED TO IN-PERSON LEARNING, MOST ON A PART-TIME BASIS.

GOVERNOR MURPHY SAYS NOW'S THE TIME TO GET STUDENTS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

ONE HUDSON COUNTY SCHOOL HAS BEEN QUIETLY UP AND RUNNING SINCE SEPTEMBER AND COULD BE A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE STATE.

>> WE NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT NOT OPENING SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: THEY OPENED WITH FIVE-DAY IN-PERSON LEARNING IN SEPTEMBER FOR AT LEAST HALF THE DISTRICT'S 3,000 STUDENTS.. >> THERE WAS CERTAINLY HESITANCY IN THE BEGINNING BUT WE KNEW IT WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR OUR KIDS TO BE PRESENT.

>> Reporter: THE REST DO ALL REMOTE LEARNING.

NO HYBRIDS HERE.

PARENTS HAD TO COMMIT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

>> THAT'S A REAL CHOICE AS OPPOSED TO SAYING YOU'RE GONNA GO TWO DAYS ON AND TWO DAYS OFF.

I DON'T FEEL FOR ME AS A PARENT THAT WOULD BE A REAL CHOICE.

>> Reporter: PARENT, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS ALL AGREE GETTING THERE TOOK A MAGICAL BLEND.

INTENSE PLANNING AND COOPERATION.

A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF RAPID COVID TESTS, DESK SHIELDS, AND SPECIAL HEPA FILTERS IN EVERY CLASSROOM AND LOTS OF LUCK.

>> GOOD PLANNING.

WENT TO SOME GOOD FORTUNE.

AND THEN WE CAN FEEL THAT WAY BECAUSE WE DID HAVE GOOD FORTUNE.

THE NUMBERS LAID OUT.

BUT THEY COULD NOT HAVE LAID OUT BETTER.

>> Reporter: THE NUMBERS HAD TO WORK IN ORDER TO SAFELY DISTANCE KIDS IN SCHOOL.

HOBOKEN CAPPED CLASS SIZES AT 15.

THAT REQUIRED THE REST, ABOUT 50% OF STUDENTS TO OPT FOR ALL REMOTE LEARNING.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

AN INCREDIBLE STROKE OF LUCK BECAUSE?

>> IF WE WERE TO ADD ADDITIONAL STUDENTS, IT WOULD TAKE OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES AND PUT US IN A PLACE THAT WAS PRECARIOUS AND THREATEN THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM, IN THE SCHOOL.

AND WE COULDN'T MANAGE THAT.

>> Reporter: THE DISTRICT HIRED 40 EXTRA TEACHERS TO HELP STAFF THE ADDITIONAL CLASSES.

UNION LEADERS HAMMERED OUT AGREEMENTS ABOUT COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

>> WE WENT AROUND TO EVERY SINGLE BUILDING.

TOOK CO NOTES.

AND KIND OF WENT BACK AND SAID, LOOK, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN SOME OF THESE BUILDINGS.

>> WE DID EVERYTHING FROM VENTILATION SYSTEMS TO HAVING THE AMOUNT OF PROPER PPE IN THE BUILDINGS FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE STAFF.

AND JUST WORKING TOGETHER THIS SUMMER.

ALL THE THINGS WERE LAID OUT.

>> THEY CHALLENGED THE PLAN IN THE MOST RESPECTFUL, PROFESSIONAL WAY.

AND THAT MADE THE PLAN BETTER.

>> THE ABILITY OF THIS DISTRICT TO PIVOT BECAUSE WE WORK TOGETHER WELL IS WHAT MADE THIS WORK.

>> Reporter: HOBOKEN DID GO TO ALL-REMOTE LEARNING AROUND MAJOR HOLIDAYS.

THEN IT SET UP MANDATORY COVID TESTING FOR ALL STUDENTS BEFORE THEY COULD RETURN TO IN-PERSON CLASSROOM LEARNING.

THE CITY AND SCHOOLS OFFERED FREE TESTING.

THEY GOT 17 POSITIVES AFTER THANKSGIVING ALONE.

>> WHAT WOULD IT HAVE BEEN LIKE IF YOU HAD NOT TESTED AFTER THE HOLIDAY?

>> IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER.

BY CATCHING POSITIVE CASES IT PROHIBITED ANY SPREAD OR TRANSMISSION IN THE SCHOOL.

>> THE HOBOKEN SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR GOING ALL IN.

NOT A VERY EASY CHOICE TO MAKE BUT A COURAGEOUS AND COMMENDABLE ONE.

>> Reporter: AND HOBOKEN HELPED SCHEDULE VACCINATIONS FOR TEACHERS.

IT'S A MODEL REQUIRING THE TRUST AND COOPERATION THAT ELUDES SOME TOWNS.

AS HUNDREDS OF NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS STRUGGLE TO REOPEN FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING, GOVERNOR MURPHY CALLED HOBOKEN A BRIGHT LIGHT.

>> WHOSE PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE REMAINED OPEN FOR IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION THROUGH THE NEARLY THE ENTIRETY OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

>> Reporter: HOBOKEN WILL ALLOW PARENTS TO SWITCH KIDS TO REMOTE LEARNING ON JANUARY FOUSHTH.

AND THEY MAY HAVE TO OPEN GYMS TO HANDLE THE EXTRA STUDENTS.

>> GOING INTO THE SUMMER AND JUST PREPARING THEM FOR WHAT LIFE WILL BE LIKE IN DECEMBER I THINK IS MAYBE A GOOD IDEA.

>> Reporter: I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> IT'S NOT ONLY SCHOOLS BUT JUST ABOUT EVERY INDUSTRY IS RELYING ON GREATER VACCINE AVAILABILITY TO HELP WITH REOPENING.

ACROSS THE STATE, MORE THAN 3 .2 MILLION VACCINE DOSES HAVE BEEN GIVEN WITH 1.1 MILLION RESIDENTS NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

RESEARCHERS ARE FINDING A SURPRISE BENEFIT TO THE SHOT.

THOSE WHO SPENT MONTHS SUFFERING FROM LONG HAUL COVID-19 SAY THEIR SYMPTOMS ARE IMPROVING AND DISAPPEARING AFTER GETTING A DOSE OF THE VACCINE.

39% REPORTED IMPROVEMENT.

14% FELT WORSE.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

JOHN, THIS IS PRELIMINARY DATA BUT IT'S GOOD NEWS.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD SYMPTOMS FOR MONTHS ARE FEELING BETTER THANKS TO THE VACCINE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S WONDERFUL NEWS.

THE PEOPLE, PATIENTS SHOULD ABSORB THIS INFORMATION.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IT, GIVES US A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THESE PATIENTS THAT WERE IN SUPPORT GROUPS THAT WERE ABLE TO GLEAN SOME INFORMATION.

>> TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE SEEING.

THERE ARE REPORTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD SYMPTOMS FOR MONTHS.

AND NOW THEY'RE GETTING ONE DOSE, TWO, BOTH DOSES OF THE VACCINE.

AND SOME OF THOSE LONG HAUL SYMPTOMS ARE DISAPPEARING.

WHAT CAN WE ATTRIBUTE THAT TO?

>> WE FEEL -- AND I'M NOT THE EXPERT ON IMMUNOLOGY, OR VACCINATION.

BUT IT'S PROBABLY BOOSTING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM SO IT TAKES AWAY THE VIRUS.

THAT'S WHAT THE REPORTS ARE STATING FROM PATIENTS, THAT SOME OF EVEN THEIR FOGGY MEMORIES ARE GOING AWAY.

SO IT'S ALMOST A -- IT IS A BOOST TO THE IMMUNE SYSTEM.

>> WHAT OTHER TYPES OF EVENTS ARE HEARING ANECDOTALLY, SYMPTOMS THAT ARE BEING ALLEVIATED?

>> WE'RE SEEING PATIENTS THAT BESIDE THE BRAIN FOG, THEY'LL HAVE TINGLING IN THEIR EXTREMITIES THAT ARE SOMEWHAT GOING AWAY OR 11ING.

LESSENING.

WE'RE HAVING PEOPLE THAT IS KIND OF A NEUROPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH DIABETES, OR MOVEMENT, THAT IS GOING AWAY.

THAT'S PROMISING.

>> IS IT THOUGHT THIS IS NOT A LIFELONG ISSUE AS WE'VE SORT OF BEEN THINKING OVER THIS LAST YEAR?

>> SCARRING OF THE TISSUE OF THE LUNGS AND HEART POSTCOVID IS PROBABLY NOT FIXABLE.

BUT AT LEAST WE CAN GET BACK BACK TO RIGHT BY CONDITIONING THEM TO A SIMILAR STATE.

SCARRING DOESN'T GO AWAY WITH THE VACCINATION.

IT'S THE ABILITY OF THE PATIENT TO WORK WITH WHAT THEY'RE LEFT WITH.

THE RESERVES THEY'RE LEFT WITH.

>> IF THIS INFORMATION BEARS OUT TO BE TRUE AND STAND UP TO TESTS AND TRIALS, WHAT ARE THE WIDER IMPLICATIONS THAT THE VACCINE COULD BE HAVING A DOUBLE EFFECT?

>> I THINK IT'S GONNA BE EITHER ERADICATED OR LESSENED AS TIME GOES ON SOONER THAN LATER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

>>> IT WASN'T JUST THE PANDEMIC THAT SLAMMED US A YEAR AGO.

THE ECONOMIC CRISIS HIT JUST AS HARD.

MANY ARE STILL OUT OF WORK.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS MORE.

>> IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO THIS WEEK THAT THE FLOOD OF LAYOFFS BEGAN IN NEW JERSEY AS THE STATE SHUT DOWN BUSINESSES TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THE NEW JERSEY LABOR DEPARTMENT SAYS IN THE PAST YEAR, ONE OUT OF EVERY THREE WORKERS LOST THEIR JOBS AND HAD TO GO ON UNEMPLOYMENT.

THAT'S MORE THAN TWO MILLION JOBLESS CLAIMS FILED.

EVEN IN THE WEAK JOB MARKET, SOME COMPANIES ARE STARTING TO THINK ABOUT SUMMER HIRING.

WAWA IS OFFERING A $75 INCENTIVE TO EMPLOYEES WHO GET A CORONAVIRUS VACCINE.

THEY'VE MOVED TO LAUNCHING A GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT PROGRAM.

APPLICATIONS WILL NOW OPEN TO N APRIL.

THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS SELECTEDED BY A LOTTERY WITH $400 FOR 12 MONTHS TO HELP THEM PAY FOR BASIC NECESSITIES.

THE MAYOR SAYS THERE'S BEEN CONCERN THAT PEOPLE WON'T SPEND THE MONEY ON APPROPRIATE ITEMS.

BUT DATA FROM OTHER PLACES SHOWS OTHERWISE.

>> THERE'S DATA THAT SHOWS 40% OF THE MONEY THAT WAS SPENT IN STOCKTON WAS ON GROCERIES.

AND THEN PEOPLE ARE SPENDING ON MEDICINE, CLOTHING, REDUCING DEBT.

AND I'VE OFTEN SAID THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE A FLAT TIRE AWAY FROM FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.

>> 110 RESIDENTS WILL BE SELECTED FOR THE PROGRAM WHICH IS BEING FUNDED THROUGH DONATIONS MADE BY JACK DORSEY, A BACKER OF THE NATIONAL MAYORS FOR GUARANTEED INCOME PROJECT.

>>> YOU'VE GOT SOME BREATHING ROOM IF YOU OWE FEDERAL TAXES.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS EXTENDED THE APRIL 15th TAX FILING DEADLINE TO MAY 17th.

THE IRS SAYS THE DECISION WAS MADE TO HELP TAX PAYERS NAVIGATE THE UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC.

THE IRS A LITTLE SAYS ESTIMATED QUARTERLY PAYMENTS WILL STILL BE DUE ON APRIL 16th.

And we're Awaiting word whether New Jersey will EXTEND ITS TAX FILING DEADLINE.

HERE'S A CHECK ON THE TRADING DAY.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY IEEW BUSINESS 102.

LIGHTING THE PATH AND LEADING THE WAY.

>> THIS WEEKEND JOIN RHONDA FOR NJ BUSINESS BEAT.

SHE TAKES A LOOK AT A LOOMING DOUBLE CONCEPT.

MASS EVICTIONS AND UTILITY BILLS.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE STATE LIFTS THE MORATORIUM ON BOTH?

>>> BURDENED BY THE PANDEMIC, NEW JERSEY IS ON THE BRINK OF ALLOWING EARLY VOTING BY MACHINE.

SOME LAWMAKERS WANT TO GET THE SYSTEM READY IN TIME FOR THIS NOVEMBER'S ELECTION.

THE GOVERNOR AND ALL 120 LEGISLATORS ARE ON THE BALLOT.

COUNTY OFFICIALS ARGUE THERE'S STILL TOO MANY TECH HURDLES AND THEY'RE MISSING ONE MAJOR FACTOR TO MAKE SURE THE ROLLOUT GOES SMOOTHLY.

MONEY.

WE ASKED OUR SENIOR WRITER, COLLEEN O'DAY ABOUT THE FATE OF THE BILL.

>> THIS BILL COMES AT A TIME WHEN OTHER STATES ARE LOOKING TO CURTAIL EARLY VOTING.

WHAT'S THE REAL PUSHBACK HERE?

>> THE ISSUE FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS IS THAT EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF TIME BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE.

ONCE THEY GET THERE, THERE'S A CERTAIN PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

IT'S NOT LIKE YOU AND I COULD JUST GO TO AMAZON, CLICK AND BUY SOMETHING TOMORROW.

YOU GOTTA GO THROUGH A PROCESS.

IT'S GOTTA GET APPROVED.

BY THE TIME THESE MACHINES COME IN, THEY'RE GONNA BE VERY DIFFERENT IN THOSE COUNTIES THAT HAVEN'T HAD THIS KIND OF EQUIPMENT YET.

STAFF IS GONNA HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO USE IT.

THE POLL WORKERS.

AND THE PUBLIC IS ALSO GONNA HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO USE IT.

>> NOT ENOUGH TIME.

AND IT SOUNDS LIKE NOT ENOUGH MONEY EITHER.

IS THERE ANY FUNDING TIED TO THIS BILL?

>> OFFICIALLY, THE BILL ONLY PROVIDES $2 MILLION FOR THESE THINGS CALLED BALLOT ON DEMAND PRINTERS.

WHICH MEANS YOU GO INTO A POLLING PLACE THAT IS SERVING A WHOLE COUNTY.

THEY'RE NOT GONNA HAVE YOUR POLLING INFORMATION.

SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PRINT IT OUT USING AN OPTICAL SCANNER.

THE BILL SAYS IT WOULD COST ANYWHERE FROM $28 MILLION, $48 MILLION.

THE COUNTY SAYS MORE THAN LIKE $77 MILLION.

THERE'S MONEY IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET EARMARKED FOR THIS.

BUT IT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED IN THE BILL.

AND IT'S BETWEEN $20 AND $40 MILLION.

IT'S KIND OF UNCLEAR WHICH FIGURE THAT IS.

BUT THAT STILL IS JUST NOT GONNA BE ENOUGH IS WHAT THE COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE SAYING.

>> WHAT'S THE RUSH TO GET THIS OUT BY NOVEMBER?

AND WHY NOT -- I DON'T KNOW, TEST RUN THIS IN A COUPLE OF AREAS THAT MAYBE HAVE THEIR FOOTING?

>> THAT REALLY SEEMS LIKE A VERY SMART OPTION.

AND THAT'S WHAT COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE CALLING FOR.

BUT THERE ARE SOME LEGISLATORS THAT HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR THIS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE AND SAY NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT.

WE'VE TAKEN TOO LONG.

24 OTHER STATES ALLOW THIS OPTION.

AND ESPECIALLY AS YOU KNOW, WHEN OTHER STATES ARE TRYING TO PULL BACK ON VOTING RIGHTS, NEW JERSEY SHOULD BE A LEADER AND PUSH FORWARD.

BROADEN VOTING RIGHTS.

>> COLLEEN O'DAY, WE'LL BE CHECKING BACK BUT AS THE VOTE COMES UP.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, BREE.

>>> ONCE THE STATE FULLY REOPENS, OUR COURT SYSTEMS ARE FACING A WORKLOAD NIGHTMARE.

THERE'S A SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES IN THE STATE.

20% OF BENCHES ARE EMPTY.

AS COURTROOMS REMAIN CLOSED, THE CASES CONTINUE TO PILE.

SOME JUDICIAL WORKERS ARE PREDICTING AN AVALANCHE FROM THE BACKLOG.

>> WE ALL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO OVER THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS.

TO GET OUT OF THE SITUATION WE'RE CURRENTLY IN.

>> CASES ARE PILING UP SINCE CRIMINAL TRIALS ARE STILL SUSPENDED THERE IS THE EVICTION MORATORIUM, WHICH LIFTS TWO MONTHS AFTER THE EMERGENCY ENDS.

>> WE'RE GONNA BE UPWARDS OF 100,000 CASES.

WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE WORKERS, JUDGES.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE 74 JUDGE POSITIONS OPENING IN THE STATE ACCORDING TO NEW JERSEY COURTS.

THAT'S UP 21 FROM THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.

>> IT IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF JUDICIAL VACANCIES THAT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY HAS EVER SEEN.

>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW JERSEY STATE BAR ASSOCIATION SAYS WHILE IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE OPEN SEATS, THE TIMING WAS.

>> BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE PANDEMIC.

>> Reporter: ESSEX COUNTY HAS THE MOST OPENINGS.

16 TOTAL.

>> I NOTICE JUDGES WHO SIT IN VARIOUS FAMILY POSITIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

THESE FOLKS ARE WORKING 8, TEN, 12-HOUR DAYS TO PROCESS TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MATTERS.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE A DELAY BECAUSE YOU HAVE OPENINGS.

THERE'S ALWAYS A NATURAL AMOUNT OF OPENINGS WITH RETIREMENT.

BY THE NEXT WEEK, IT'LL BE 63 MOST LIKELY.

AND THAT'S NOT OUTSIDE THE REALM OF WHAT WE NORMALLY HAVE.

>> Reporter: THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE SAYS THEY HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES NONSTOP FOR WEEKS AT A TIME.

>> EVERY SINGLE NEW JUDGE THAT WE MAKE COSTS CLOSE TO OR MAYBE A MILLION DOLLARS OF TAXPAYER MONEY.

WE AREN'T LOOKING TO RUN IN AND START FILLING VACANCIES LAST YEAR WHEN THE COURTS WERE WINDING DOWN AND CLOSING.

NOW IT'S REVAMPED AND THE FACT WE'RE WORKING OVERTIME.

TAKE OUR TIME MAKING THOSE PICKS.

ONCE WE MAKE THEM, IN LARGE PART, THOSE PEOPLE ARE IN THOSE JOBS FOR LIFE.

>> Reporter: THE OTHER REASON FOR THE HOLDUP AND THERE'S A LOT OF TRAINING THAT'S REQUIRED ONCE APPOINTED.

>> IF THERE ARE NO OTHER JUDGES THERE AT THE TIME THAT MENTOR THEM AND TELL THEM WHAT TO DO AND TEACH THEM SOME OF THE WAYS THAT IT WORKS, THAT'S NOT THE BEST WAY TO MAKE NEW JUDGES.

>> IF IT DOES TAKE TIME AND TRAINING, WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO GET THAT BALL ROLLING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE?

>> THE JUDICIARY WASN'T READY FOR THAT.

THEY WEREN'T READY TO HAVE LOTS OF NEW EMPLOYEES BECAUSE ALL THE OTHER JUDGES WERE HOME.

>> SAYING THAT JUSTICE DELAY SIDE JUSTICE DENIED.

NEW JERSEY FACES A PROBLEM AT TWO LEVELS.

BOTH AT THE STATE LEVEL AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> Reporter: THOMAS HEALY IS PROFESSOR OF LAW AT SETON HALL SCHOOL OF LAW.

>> THERE ARE 17 SEATS IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT COURT FOR NEW JERSEY AND SIX OF THEM ARE VACANT.

THIS ALL GETS INTO KIND OF PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS AND CONGRESSIONAL POLITICS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

WHEN TRUMP WAS PRESIDENT, THERE WERE TWO DEMOCRATIC SENATORS FROM NEW JERSEY.

AND ORDINARILY FEDERAL JUDGES WILL NOT BE APPOINTED IN A STATE WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE SENATORS, USUALLY TWO.

THERE'S REALLY NO AGREEMENT.

>> Reporter: ON A STATE LEVEL, JUDGES ARE NOMINATED BY THE GOVERNOR.

>> THE REPUBLICAN SIDE VERSUS THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, WITHIN THE COUNTY.

>> Reporter: THERE'S ALSO VETTING BY THE GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE AND SENATORS IN THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

MULTIPLE INTERVIEWS AND BACKGROUND CHECKS BEFORE A CANDIDATE IS NAMED.

>> AND WHEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN A PROCESS FOR JUST ONE CANDIDATE AT A TIME, IT CAN TAKE SOMETIME.

THE PARTIES ARE REALLY WORKING WITH EACH OTHER TO TRY TO GET THIS DONE.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY STATE BAR ASSOCIATION HOPES THE NUMBER OF JUDICIAL VACANCIES AND CUT IN HALF BY THE SUMMER.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

THE PETER G. PETERSON FUND.

>> THE ORSTED VISION IS A WORLD THAT RUNS ENTIRELY ON GREEN ENERGY.

THE WIND PROJECT WILL PROVIDE REMOVABLE OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, SUPPLY CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

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