>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOMORROW.

AND ORSTED.

CREATED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>>> FROM NJPBS THIS IS SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH AN UNEXPECTED TURN OF EVENTS WITH ASTRA ZENECA'S CORONAVIRUS VACCINE.

NEW ROFRTS SAY THE DRUG MAKER MAY HAVE USED NEW REPORTS SAY THE DRUG MAKER MAY HAVE USED OUTDATED DATA.

A ASSOCIATION THAT POLICING THE INTEGRITY FLAGGED THE INFORMATION AFTER THE COMPANY SAID THE VACCINE WAS 75% EFFECTIVE AGAINST THE VIRUS AND SHOWED NO MAJOR SIDE EFFECTS.

IT'S AN UNUSUAL PUBLIC REVELATION.

THOSE INTERACTIONS ARE TYPICALLY KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.

IT COULD ERODE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE SHOT.

ASTRA ZENECA WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

>>> THE STATE IS OPENING UP NURSING HOMES FOR INDOOR VISITS.

FOLLOWING FEDERAL GUIDELINES FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RULES TO FOLLOW THOUGH BUT AS BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS, FOR MANY FAMILIES THESE VISITATION MARKS IN PERSON VISITS WITH LOVED ONES IN A YEAR.

>> I MADE HER SMILE.

I MADE HER VERY HAPPY.

I WAS ABLE WITH A GLOVED HAND MAKE CONTACT WITH HER.

>> Reporter: VIRGINIA RECENTLY GOT TO SEE HER MOM BUT ONLY BECAUSE SHE'S IN FRAIL HEALTH.

THE SHE CHEERED WHEN THE STATE RELEASED REVISED GUIDELINES THAT WILL ALLOW LOVED ONES IN CARE WITH FEW RESTRICTIONS.

>> WE RECOGNIZE FAMILIES NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE TOGETHER.

ES PERBLGLY WHEN SO MANY HAVE BEEN KEPT ASIDE FOR SO LONG.

>> I THINK THERE WERE A LOT OF US WHO THOUGHT THE DOOR HAD BEEN FLUNG OPEN.

IN REALITY WE NEED MORE DETAIL AND UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THE GUIDELINES WILL BE.

>> THE GOVERNOR MADE IT CLEAR THAT VISITATION IS NOW A REQUIREMENT.

IT IS NOT AN OPTION SOLELY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CARE FACILITY.

S THAT VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY'S LONG TERM CARE ADVOCATES SAYS THEY MAKE SWEEPING CHANGES EVEN IF THERE'S A COVID OUTBREAK LONG TERM CARE VISITS CAN CONTINUE IF THEY CAN CONFINE THE OUTBREAK TO ONE AREA.

AND THEY SAY COMPASSIONATE CARE VISITS SHOULD BE ALLOWED REGARDLESS OF OUTBREAKS.

>> THAT IN AND OF ITSELF OPENS UP HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF VISITS.

THIS IS DRAMATIC POSITIVE CHANGE FOR FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS HAVE WANTED TO GET IN.

NOW WE NEED TO GET FACILITIES TO ADOPT AND ACCEPT THE GUIDELINES.

>> Reporter: AND NOW THEY HAIL OTHER CHANGES THAT WILL ALLOW OTHER FACILITIES TO MAKE CHANGES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

ALSO IF THEY'RE NOT FULLY IMMUNIZED AND LIVE IN A FACILITY WHERE 75% OF THE PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN VACCINATED.

BUT SO MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN.

CAN VISITS HAPPEN ON WEEKENDS.

IN THE EVENING.

>> HOW MANY PEOPLE AT THE TIME, WHAT IS THE FREQUENCY OF THE VISITS.

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN COME AT A CERTAIN TIME.

IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT, CAN THEY BRING FAMILY.

>> IF I WAS A FAMILY AND I HEARD THE MESSAGE YESTERDAY, I WOULD HAVE SAID I'M GOING TO GO VISIT MY FAMILY MEMBER TONIGHT.

THE VIRUS IS STILL OUT THERE SO WE HAVE TO FOLLOW SOME PROTOCOLS.

>> MANY OPTED OUT OF INITIAL COVID VACCINATIONS WHILE RESIDENTS LARGELY COMPLIED.

FACILITIES MUST ATTEST THAT THEY'RE READY TO GO.

FACILITIES NEED TO BE TESTED.

>> FACILITIES MUST CHANGE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> IT'S PENT UP DEMAND.

SO MANY FACILITIES HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT AS A FAMILY MEMBER, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE BEEN IN ISOLATION FOR A YEAR AND THEY'RE HURTING AND THEY NEED US.

AND SO I'M HOPING THAT FAMILIES CAN BE PARTLY PATIENT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME PERSISTENT AND WORK DIRECTLY WITH THEIR FACILITIES TO IMPLEMENT.

>> Reporter: THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WILL OFFER MORE DETAILS DURING A WEBINAR FOR FAMILY THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

GINGER LOCUST SAYS HER MOTHER STILL RESPONDS.

>> THERE'S A CONNECTION ON BOTH SIDES.

IT MEANS A LOT TO ME.

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

>> Reporter: THE EASE ON VISITATIONS AT THOSE NURSES HOMES WILL NOT BE THE ONLY RESTRICTION FOR A WHILE.

THE STATE IS NOT SEEING ENOUGH OF A DROP IN NEW INFECTIONS.

TODAY REPORTING ANOTHER ROUGHLY 3,400 NEW POSITIVE TESTS AND 61 MORE LIVES LOST.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE ALSO UP OVER 2,000 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ABOUT A MONTH.

PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS SAY IT WILL TAKE TRUE HERD IMMUNITY BEFORE WE CAN GO BACK TO OUR LIVES LIKE WE KNEW THEM.

THAT CONCEPT IS REACHED WHEN ENOUGH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE EITHER BEEN INFECTED WITH THE VIRUS OR INJECTED.

BUT THE BUREAU IS STILL OUT WHEN WE WILL ACHIEVE IT.

DR. MARTIN BLAZER SAYS THE ANSWER DEPENDS ON A LOT OF VARIABLES.

>> DR. BLAZER REALLY GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST WANT TO KNOW IS THERE A TIME LINE WE MIGHT EXPECT TO REACH THIS HERD IMMUNITY.

>> FOR COVID, THE INITIAL, THE INITIAL ESTIMATES WAS THAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE ABOUT 80% OF THE PEOPLE TO BECOME VACCINATED.

TO REACH HERD IMMUNITY.

SOME OF THE ESTIMATES NOW ARE THAT THE NUMBERS ARE LESS THAN 80%.

LIFE ISN'T JUST LIKE A CHESS BOARD.

THERE ARE VALLEYS AND INTERRUPTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND THAT MEANS, THAT IT WOULDN'T TAKE AS MANY PEOPLE TO BE VACCINATED AS WAS INITIALLY THOUGHT.

>> WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF THREAT THE VARIANTS POSE TO US ACHIEVING THIS?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE ARE TWO THREATS FROM THE VARIANTS.

ONE IS THAT THEY SEEM TO BE MORE INFECTIOUS THAN THE OTHERS.

SO THAT MEANS THAT WE WOULD NEED MORE PEOPLE TO BE VACCINATED JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE MORE INFECTIOUS.

BUT THE OTHER POINT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE DIFFERENT, THAT HERD IMMUNITY FOR THE OLD VIRUS WON'T BE QUITE AS GOOD AGAINST THE NEW VIRUS.

WE SEE THAT EVERY YEAR WITH INFLUENZA.

THAT'S WHY WE NEED A NEW INFLUENZA SHOT EVERY YEAR.

>> DO WE COUNT PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY CONTRACTED COVID-19.

THEY HAVE ANTI BODIES.

SO THEY GET COUNTED IN THIS HERD IMMUNITY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

IMMUNITY IS IMMUNITY.

>> WE ALSO DON'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU HAVE IMMUNITY RIGHT.

I MEAN THE CONSENSUS STILL SEEMS TO BE 90 DAYS AFTER YOU CONTRACTED THE VIRUS.

>> I THINK IMMUNITY IS MORE LONG LASTER THAN THAT.

WE LEARNED A LOT WHEN INFLUENZA CAME TO THE UNITED STATES.

THE H 1 N 1 STRAIN CAME TO THE UNITED STATES IN 2009.

IT TURNED OUT THAT THERE WAS ALMOST NO, THERE WAS VERY LITTLE INFECTION IN PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 55.

IT TURNS OUT THAT ALL THOSE PEOPLE WERE ALIVE 50 YEARS EARLIER WHEN THE LAST VERSION OF H 1 N 1 WAS CIRCULATING.

SO THAT IMMUNITY LASTED MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

AND I'M THINKING, THAT THE SAME THING IS GOING TO BE TRUE FOR COVID ALSO.

>> LET'S SAY WE DO REACH THIS MARK.

END OF SUMMER.

DOES THAT GIVE WAY FOR SOME LARGE GATHERINGS, CONCERT, ALL THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO GET BACK TO.

>> WELL IF WE CAN TRULY ACHIEVE HERD IMMUNITY.

THEN LIFE GOES BACK TO NORMAL.

SO THAT'S WHY, THE CONCEPT IS SO IMPORTANT.

BUT IT IS A LITTLE ILLUSIVE NOW.

BECAUSE THERE'S JUST TOO MANY MOVING PARTS.

WE'RE LEARNING MORE AND YOU KNOW WE'LL PROBABLY KNOW MORE IN A MONTH OR TWO.

>> DR. BLAZER, ALWAYS GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

>>> REACHING THAT HERD IMMUNITY WILL BE EVEN HARDER IF ACCESS ISN'T MADE EASIER AN MORE EQUITABLE.

AS OF MIDDAY MORE THAN 3-1/2 MILLION VACCINE DOSES HAVE BEEN GIVEN ACROSS THE STATE.

A NEW POLL FROM STOCKTON UNIVERSITY FINDS DISPARITIES ARE GROWING BETWEEN JUST WHO IS GETTING A SHOT.

THE POLL SHOWS MINORITY WANT THE VACCINE.

THE POLL OF 700 IN THE STATE SHOW BLACK AND HISPANIC RESPONDENTS WERE MORE LIKELY TO GET VACCINATED IF A DOSE WERE AVAILABLE THAN WHITE RESIDENTS.

SO GET MORE OF THOSE SHOTS OUT.

COMMUNITY BASED GROUPS ARE LAUNCHING FORCES WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

LAUNCHING A NEW VACCINE INITIATIVE.

THE COMBINATION IS THE STATE'S FIRST VACCINE CAMPAIGN FULLY POWERED BY RESIDENTS.

TODAY THEY SET UP OUTSIDE THE I HOP IN NEWARK, WITH ENTERTAINMENT, LOUD SPEAKERS AND OF COURSE ON-SITE VACCINATIONS.

THE IDEA IS PART OF A NATIONAL PROGRAM BY THE ROCKERFELLER FOUNDATION GROWING COMMUNITY MODELS TO DISPERSE THE VACCINE.

STATISTICS SHOW 4% OF ALL SHOTS GIVEN IN NEW JERSEY HAVE GONE TO BLACK RESIDENTS.

>> THESE COMMUNITYS ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO SUBCOMB TO THE CORONAVIRUS.

AND LESS LIKELY TO TAKE THE VACCINE.

IT JUST MAKES NO SENSE WHICH IS WHY THIS EVENT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE TO WORK AS DILIGENTLY AS POSSIBLE TO GET THIS THING DONE AND GET IT ACCOMPLISHED.

AND HONESTLY YOU HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND DO THINGS THAT AREN'T NORMALLY BEING DONE TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE VACCINES TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.

>> Reporter: THE GROUP TACKLING HARASSMENT, ASSAULT AND SEXUAL MISCONDUCT MET TODAY.

HOW CLOSE IS IT TO BEING A REALITY.

>> DRAFTING LEGISLATION REQUIRES A LOT OF INPUT.

>>> HELD BY THE WORK GROUP ON ASSAULT.

IT'S PRODUCED A BILL TO PROTECT THOSE WHO COME FORWARD TO REPORT SEXUAL HARASSMENTS, ESPECIALLY ON CAMPAIGNS.

>> WE WANTED TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT WAS ROBUST AND ADDRESSES SEVERAL DIFFERENT INSUFFICIENTS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THIS REPORTING MECHANISM.

>> Reporter: SOME WHO TESTIFIED BELIEVE THE BILL DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE VICTIMS.

>> ONE OF OUR CRITICISMS IS THERE'S A GAPING HOLE IN THE WALL.

A PERSON WHO WORKS NO MORE THAN FOUR DAYS IN A CAMPAIGN, DOESN'T HAVE TO RECEIVE ANTI HARASSMENT AND ANTI DISCRIMINATION TRAINING.

>> TRAINING IS A NECESSARY STEP TO CHANGE THE CULTURE AND TO CREATE A SAFER MORE EQUITABLE ENVIRONMENT WHERE HARASSMENT, SEXUAL ASSAULT, DISCRIMINATION AND A BOYS WILL BE BOYS ATTITUDE ARE LESS LIKELY TO FLOURISH.

>> I WOULD LIKE THESE INVESTIGATIONS TO BE CONDUCTED MORE LIKE AN ETHICS INVESTIGATION WHERE AT THE VERY LEAST IN THE CASES WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE VIOLATIONS OF THE HARASSMENT POLICY THAT THESE FINDINGS BE MADE PUBLIC.

>> Reporter: THE BILL WAS ESTABLISHED PWHRAOEUPBD A CAMPAIGN OF BEHIND A CAMPAIGN.

>> A PERSON ON A CAMPAIGN TRAIL WOULD LIKELY NOT REPORT DURING THE CAMPAIGN BECAUSE IF IT'S LEAKED TO THE PUBLIC IT WOULD AFFECT THE CAMPAIGN.

>> A KEY COMPONENT OF THE BILL IS THE CREATION OF AN INVESTIGATIVE UNIT AND ADVISORY COMMUNITY THAT WOULD FALL UNDER THE ELECTION COMMITTEE.

ELAC IS NOT TRAINED TO HANDLE SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIMANTS.

AND LORETA WINEBURG ACKNOWLEDGES.

>> WE ALSO GIVE A POT OF MONEY TO SET UP A THREE PERSON UNIT WITHIN ELEC THAT WOULD COME IN WITH THE EXPERTISE TO LOOK AT THESE ISSUES.

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT THE COMPOSITION OF ELAC, IT IS PRIMARILY IF NOT ALL OLDER WHITE MEN.

WHAT WOULD YOU ENVISION THE APPROPRIATE MAKE UP OF THIS PANEL TO BE?

>> PEOPLE WHO ARE SKILLED.

HOPEFULLY WOMEN WHO WILL BRING AN EXTRA SENSE OF UNDERSTANDING.

>> Reporter: BUT HOW THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE SELECTED REMAIN S A POINT OF CONTENTION.

>> WE UNDERSTAND HOW CRITICAL APPOINTMENTS, THAT'S NOT AS STRICT.

>> Reporter: THE WORK GROUP ACKNOWLEDGED MANY OF THE PUBLIC'S CONCERNS AND AGREED THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE ON THE BILL THAT STILL NEED A HEARING AND HAS TO MAKE ITS WAY THROUGH BOTH HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE.

FOR NY SPOTLIGHT NEWS I'M JOANNA GAGGES.

>>> RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE DETAILS IN TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES, RHONDA.

>> Reporter: BRIANA, LAWMAKERS HAVE APPROVED KEY PIECES OF LEGISLATION TO HELP BOTH BUSINESSES AND UNEMPLOYED WORKERS.

THE SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE APPROVED FIVE BILLS IN TOTAL FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

MORE THAN A THIRD OF THAT AMOUNT WOULD GO TO BARS AND RESTAURANTS.

THE OTHER WOULD GO TO ARTS AND CULTURE GROUPS AND OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS.

THIS PACKAGE OF BILLS ADVANCES TO THE POLL LEGISLATURE LATER THIS WEEK EVEN AS SOME REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ARGUE EVEN MORE MONEY IS NEEDED.

MEANTIME THERE WERE SEVERAL BILLS APPROVED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE OUT OF WORK.

NJ'S SPOTLIGHT JOHN MYER SAYS ONE BILL WOULD PROVIDE SMALL BUSINESSS WITH A TAX CREDIT IF THEY HIRE SOMEONE WHO IS CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED.

>> IT DIRECTLY ADDRESSES THE PRESSURE ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM BY GIVING COMPANIES OR BUSINESSES AN INCENTIVE TO HIRE SOMEBODY WHO'S CURRENTLY OUT OF WORK.

SO YOU WOULD SEE THE TAX CREDIT BE GIVEN TO A COMPANY WHEN IT HIRES SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS.

>> YET ANOTHER BILL APPROVED YESTERDAY WOULD HAVE UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS HANDLERS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT WORK WITH STAFFERS IN THE DISTRICT OFFICES OF LEGISLATORS TO HELP ADDRESS UNPAID UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS.

THIS AFTER FRUSTRATED RESIDENTS UNABLE TO GET ANSWERS ON THE STATUS OF THEIR CLAIM BEGAN CALLING THEIR LOCAL LAWMAKERS FOR HELP.

>> STOCKTON UNIVERSITY SAYS IT WILL COVER THE BALANCE OF TUITION AND FEES AFTER GRANTS STARTING THIS FALL.

THIS OFFER IS FOR ELIGIBLE FIRST YEAR AND TRANSFER STUDENTS WITH HOUSEHOLD INCOMES OF $65,000 OR LESS.

NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN BILL PASQUEL IS AMONG A GROUP OF LAWMAKERS URGING THE IRS TO GET STIMULUS CHECKS OUT TO THOSE ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

THE LAWMAKER SAYS SOME PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN DELAYED AND THEY WANT THE IRS TO COME UP WITH A TIME LINE BY FRIDAY.

>>> HERE'S A LOOK AT THE TRADING DAY ON WALL STREET.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT SUPPORTED BY IBEW LOCAL 102.

PROUDLY SERVING NEW JERSEY'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1900.

LOCAL 102, LIGHTING THE PATH, LEADING THE WAY.

>>> GIVING PEOPLE MORE POWER TO INVESTIGATE POLICE MISCONDUCT IS UP FOR DEBATE.

IT WOULD ALLOW TOWNS TO CREATE RECREW BOARDS.

IT GIVES CIVILIANS PERMISSION TO DIG INTO EXCESSIVE FORCE AND ABUSE.

MATTERS TYPICALLY HANDLED BY INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

SO FAR ONLY THE CITY OF NEWARK HAS DEPLOYED SUCH A MODEL.

IS THIS THE WAY FORWARD TO BUILDING PUBLIC TRUST.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ REPORTS.

>>> THE CALL IS FOR CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARDS HAVE BEEN ECHOING OVER THE DECADES.

ESPECIALLY IN NEWARK, WHEN MORE THAN 50 YEARS AFTER THE VIOLENCE OF 1967 THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REMAINS UNDER A FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE.

STEMMING FROM SYSTEMIC ABUSE OF RESIDENTS, MOSTLY BLACK AND BROWN.

NEWARK MAYOR BARACO WHO'S FATHER WAS A VICTIM OF POLICE VIOLENCE THEN LED THE CALL IN HIS CITY.

FORMING A CCRB WHO'S EXISTENCE WAS CHALLENGED BY POLICE.

THE CASE WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT WHICH SAID THAT WHILE THE CITY HAD OVER STEPPED ITS POWER BY GRANTING ITS BOARD SUBPOENA POWERS, THE STATE LEGISLATURE COULD GRANT THAT POWER.

SO IT WAS WITH A TRAIL BLAZERS AUTHORITY THAT BARACA SPOKE BEFORE A MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS AND AFFAIRS COMMUNITY.

>> IT IS ACTUALLY A JOKE FOR THE RESIDENTS TO BELIEVE YOU WERE GOING TO GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO FORSEE POLICE MISCONDUCT WITHOUT A SUBPOENA POWER.

I APPLAUD THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE HERE TODAY.

>> MAYOR BARACA REALLY HAD THE FISSION FOR WHAT A STRONG CCRB CAN LOOK LIKE.

AND HE PUT IN PLACE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL OF NEWARK THE STRONGEST MODEL IN THE NATION.

>> Reporter: THE BILL THE COMMITTEE WAS DISCUSSING WAS 4656 WHICH GIVES EVERY MUNICIPALITY THE ABILITY TO CREATE A CCRB AND MOST IMPORTANTLY ADDS A CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO SUSPECT WITNESSES AND DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE.

WHEN SUBPOENAS SHALL BE ENFORCEMENT IN THE SPRAOER SUPERIOR COURT.

>> THE SUBPOENA IS THE TEETH AS YOU SAID.

THIS WILL GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVESTIGATE NOT ONLY INVESTIGATE BUT TO THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATION EACH MATTER.

>> Reporter: BUT THE FRATERNAL PANEL OF PEACE SAID IT RESENTS NOT HAVING BEEN BROUGHT INTO THE PROCESS.

>> WE OPPOSE THIS BILL BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GUIDELINES IN NEW JERSEY NOW, 9.7 THERE'S A MECHANISM FOR A CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD.

THESE THINGS ARE ALREADY IN PLACE.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS HERE.

NOT BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT AND BE VICTIMIZED MADE US COMPELLED TO DO SOMETHING WITHOUT HAVING OUR EXPERTISE AND OUR UNDERSTANDING PUT INTO THIS PROCESS.

>> WE ALL KNOW THAT THE POLICE NEED OVERSIGHT.

THAT THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS HAS NOT DONE A GOOD JOB.

>> Reporter: THAT'S THE KIND OF STARTING POINT THAT TURNS POLICE OFF.

THEY SAY BETTER TO HAVE INTERNAL AFFAIRS HANDLING INVESTIGATIONS THAN MEMBERS OF GROUPS WHO MIGHT ALREADY BE NEGATIVELY PREDISPOSED TO POLICE.

>> WHEN THE POLICE ARE POLICING THEMSELVES, DATA SHOWS RIGHT, FROM THE FEDERAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DATA SHOWS THAT THE PROCESS WAS NOT AFFECTIVE.

>> IT'S THE SAME THAT I FEEL ABOUT BODY CAMERAS.

IT'S NOT A PROTECTION FOR THE CIVILIAN IT'S A PROTECTION FOR A GOOD POLICE OFFICER.

>> BECAUSE IF YOU'RE A COP DOING YOUR JOB, YOU HAVE TO.

>> YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT YOU SHOULD BE FULLY SUPPORTIVE.

>> WHICH TO BE FAIR SHOULD BE THE CASE FOR MOST POLICE ON A STOP AND FRISK ENCOUNTERS.

IN AN ELECTION YEAR ESPECIALLY JERSEY LAWMAKERS LIKE TO BE ON THE SIDE OF BOTH SIDE OF AN ARGUMENT IF THEY CAN HELP IT.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> FINALLY TONIGHT, WE BRING YOU AN UPDATE ON A BUSINESS WHERE POSSIBILITIES ARE BLOOMING.

TWO YEARS AGO OUR CAMERAS WERE THERE WHEN VASEFUL FLOWER CUT THE RIBBON ON THEIR SECOND SHOT.

PROVIDES MEANINGFUL WORK FOR RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES SELLING FLOWERS AS ONE OF A KIND AS THEY ARE.

LAURA MICHIGAN HAS OUR STORY.

>> Reporter: INSIDE A FLOWER SHOP IN PRINCETON NEW JERSEY, CRISTINA IS PREPARING A FLOWER ARRANGEMENT.

THE VASE FULL OF FLOWERS AND GIFT MANAGERS HAS 30 PLUS YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY BUT THIS STORE.

>> IT'S SO EXTRA SPECIAL.

IT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE REASONS I TOOK THE POSITION.

>> Reporter: THE 12 EMPLOYEES HAVE INTELLECTUAL OR PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENTS.

>> SOME LIVE IN GROUP HOMES, SOME LIVE AT HOME WITH THEIR PARENTS.

WE LAUGH TOGETHER; WE LEARN TOGETHER, WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN.

>> IT'S VERY NICE.

>> Reporter: JOSE AND MOST OF THE OTHER EMPLOYEES HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO WORK SINCE MARCH OF LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL PATRICK WHO COMES IN WITH HIS NURSES THREE TIMES A WEEK AND WORK AND THAT'S WHY THE PLANTS LOOK SO WELL HERE.

THEY MAINTAIN THEM.

THEY PROCESS THE FLOWERS AND SUCH.

AND YOU KNOW HOW CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHEN WE HAVE CUSTOMERS COME THROUGH THE DOOR.

>> Reporter: OTHER STAFF MEMBERS HAVE STOPPED BY WITH THE PARENTS TO VISIT AND PURCHASE FLOWERS.

>> WHICH IS FUN BECAUSE THEY WILL COME IN AND THEN THEY, ACTUALLY GET TO MAKE IT FOR THEMSELVES AND TAKE IT HOME.

SO WE DID A LOT OF THAT AT CHRISTMAS TIME.

>> Reporter: ONE WORKER WAS HERE 7 DAYS A WEEK, SEVERAL HOURS A DAY.

HIS FAVORITE PART.

>> PROCESSING THE FLOWERS.

>> HE KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT THE FLOWERS.

HOW TO CLEAN THEM, HOW TO CARE FOR THEM.

>> Reporter: SHOWING NEW EMPLOYEES FLOWER CARE AND MAINTENANCE INSIDE THE BUILDING.

ALL SKILLS HE HOPES TO USE ONE DAY WORKING AT A WAREHOUSE.

>> I CAN DO WELL.

>> THAT'S THE GOAL OF THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY OPTION.

THAT OPERATES THE STORE.

TO HELP WORKERS FIND EMPLOYMENT SHALL THEY WANT TO MOVE TO OTHER CAREERS INCLUDE TAKING ORDERS, ANSWERING THE PHONES, CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM LIGHTING TO WATERING.

>> THEY JUST REALLY ENJOY IT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THEM COMING BACK.

>> THE STORE HAS REALLY PICKED UP THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S SO INTO THE PROGRAM.

>> Reporter: EVERYONE IS SCHEDULED TO BE BACK BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

>> WE'RE A BIG FAMILY.

>> AND THIS FAMILY IS LONG OVERDUE FOR A REUNION.

I'M LEAH MICHIGAN FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> DON'T FORGET TO CATCH CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ LIVE THURSDAY NIGHT ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWSCHANNEL.

DAVID SPEAKS WITH DR. ANEHAL THE PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL ABOUT ALL THE MIXED SIGNALS ON REOPENING.

HOW DO WE MAKE SENSE OF IT?

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME TO CHAT BOX AT NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG OR ASK THEM LIVE ON THE STREAM.

AND WHILE YOU'RE THERE DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS SO YOU DON'T MISS A SHOW.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, FOR ALL THE NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GREAT ONE.

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

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THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO DREAM, TO ACHIEVE.

A CHANCE TO BELONG AND TO BE AN AMERICAN.

MY NAME IS JULIA TORIANI AND I'M PROUD TO BE AN NJM MEMBER.