>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS BROUGHT TO YOU BY NJ INSURANCE GROUP.

AND HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AND INDEPENDENT LICENSEE.

>>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS .

>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

NEW JERSEY HITS ANOTHER MAJOR MILESTONE ON VACCINE DOSES.

AS OF TODAY, THE STATE HAS SURPASSED 4 MILLION TOTAL DOSES ADMINISTERED.

AND NEARLY 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

THAT IS MORE THAN ONE IN FIVE ADULTS.

THE PACE OF VACCINATIONS IS EXPECTED TO PICK UP NOW.

THE GOVERNOR SAID NEW JERSEY IS RECEIVING CLOSE TO 500,000 DOSES THIS WEEK WHICH IS ABOUT A 20% INCREASE OVER LAST WEEK.

AS THE STATE EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY TODAY, JERSEY CITY DOLED OUT J&J VACCINES TO ESSENTIAL WORKERS, INCLUDING THOSE EMPLOYED BY RESTAURANTS, WAREHOUSES AND GROCERY STORES.

PRIORITIZING THE SINGLE SHOTS FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO TAKE OFF TWO DAYS FOR MODERNA OR PFIZER.

>>> THE GOVERNOR ALSO ANNOUNCED A BIG INCREASE IN THE OUTDOOR GATHERING LIMIT.

STARTING THIS FRIDAY THAT NUMBER WILL JUMP FROM 50 UP TO 200 PEOPLE.

THE INDOOR CAPACITY LIMIT WILL REMAIN AT 25.

BUT SEATING CAPACITY IS BEING INCREASED AT LARGE VENUES.

>>> WHILE IT APPEARS A LOT OF PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN NEWARK, THE LOW VACCINE RATE STILL PERSISTS.

CASES ARE ONCE AGAIN ON THE RISE.

TODAY A NEW SITE IS OPENING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FEMA THAT COULD HELP BOOST VACCINES IN THE CITY.

PROVIDING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOSES A WEEK.

BUT SOME ARE CONCERNED THE SHOTS MAY NOT END UP IN THE ARMS OF THOSE WHO NEED THEM MOST.

OUR SENIOR CORRESPONDENT REPORTS.

>> Reporter: PREPARATIONS CONTINUE INSIDE OF THE FEMA VACCINATION MEGA SITE DESIGNED TO PUMP 6000 SHOTS A DAY HOPEFULLY INTO MANY BROWN AND BLACK ARMS IN NEWARK.

THE WORK IN THEORY, IF YOU BUILD IT, THE LARGELY UNVACCINATED LOCALS WILL COME FROM SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.

SOME RESIDENTS SAY APPOINTMENTS HAVE BEEN SCARCE AND SOME PEOPLE HESITANT.

>> PEOPLE AND ALSO TRUSTING NOW.

THEY ARE NOT SURE OF THE EFFECTS AND THE OUTCOMES.

BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY THING.

IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.

>> HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY CAN GET VACCINATED.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE VACCINE.

>> 5% OF THE CITY OF NEWARK IS VACCINATED.

>> Reporter: UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL CEO SAYS COVID CASES ARE RISING IN NEWARK AND ACROSS NEW JERSEY.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE UP ANY HOPES THE FEMA SITE WILL HELP NEWARK WIN THE RACE AGAINST COVID'S MUTATING VIRUS.

THE SITE DID A SOFT LAUNCH.

500 APPOINTMENTS.

TOMORROW, 2000.

WEDNESDAY IT WILL BE FULL SPEED.

6000 SHOTS A DAY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FOR AT LEAST TWO MONTHS.

>> A SIMILAR FEMA SITE THAT WAS SET UP IN PHILADELPHIA WAS SUCCESSFUL IN INCREASING THE DIVERSITY OF FOLKS WHO ARE VACCINATED BUT ALSO FOLKS LOCALLY IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.

THEY NOT ONLY BRING THE FOLKS WHO CAN ADMINISTER THE VACCINES, THEY BRING VACCINE SUPPLY.

>> Reporter: THE 36,000 DOSES OF VACCINE.

AS NEW JERSEY LIST OF ELIGIBLE VACCINE RECIPIENTS EXPLODES, A PENT-UP BACKLOG OF FRUSTRATED RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET APPOINTMENTS WILL ALSO GAIN ACCESS TO THESE 6000 DAILY SLOTS THROUGH THE STATE'S OFFICIAL REGISTRATION WEBSITE AND HOT LINE.

THE GOVERNOR ACKNOWLEDGES.

>> IT IS THE SAME WEBSITE AND THE SAME PHONE NUMBER.

YOU ARE NOT RESTRICTED TO BEING A CITIZEN OF NEWARK OR ESSEX COUNTY.

HOWEVER, THERE IS HAND IN GLOVE EXERTED PUSH TO REACH INTO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

TO CONNECT FOLKS AGGRESSIVELY, PROACTIVELY.

>> IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF THEY DO 6000 VACCINES A DAY AND MOST OF THE VACCINATIONS ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUTSIDE OF THIS VICINITY.

GET YOUR VACCINATION.

>> Reporter: THE MAYOR PROMISED TO WORK WITH CLERGY AND NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATES TO SEND TEAMS OUT INTO THE CITY STREETS TO ACTIVELY CANVAS AND REGISTER RESIDENTS TO GET THEIR SHOTS HERE.

>> WHAT I HAVE DONE PERSONALLY, I CALLED INDIVIDUALS THE DAY BEFORE OR THE NIGHT BEFORE TO FOLLOW UP TO ENSURE THEY ARE NOT CONFUSED OR IF THEY HAVE ANY OTHER CONCERNS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE HERE.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

>> Reporter: HE IS HELPING REGISTER AND REASSURE FOLKS HE WORKED WITH A BISHOP WHO OPENED HIS CHURCH FOR VACCINATIONS ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

1600 SHOTS HERE THIS WEEKEND MANY PERSUADED BY THEIR PASTOR.

>> THEY BELIEVE THE VACCINE TOOK TOO QUICK TO BE DEVELOPED AND SO BECAUSE OF THE QUICKNESS OF THE DEVELOPMENT, THEY BELIEVE IT MAY NOT BE AS SAFE AS IT SHOULD BE.

>> Reporter: CONVINCING RESIDENTS IS ONLY PART OF THE PROBLEM.

THE FEMA SITE FACES LOGISTICAL HEADWINDS.

>> THEY WILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WE HAD ESPECIALLY WITH THE URBAN RESIDENTS.

>> Reporter: ESSEX COUNTY LEADS IN COVID CASES AND THE EXECUTIVE SAID IT IS TAKING EXTRA MEASURES IN ITS EFFORTS TO VACCINATE.

>> YOU WILL HAVE TO GO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

A LOT OF THEM DON'T DRIVE.

WE ARE DOING HOMELESS AND HOMEBOUND NOW.

YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO TO THEM.

>>> STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT PREGNANT PEOPLE FACE AN INCREASED RISK OF SEVERE COVID- 19 INFECTION.

BUT NOT MUCH WAS KNOWN ABOUT THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 VACCINES ON PREGNANCY.

UNTIL NOW.

WE REPORT ON A NEW VACCINE STUDY THAT MAY REASSURE THOSE WHO ARE PREGNANT.

>> ONCE THE BABY WAS BORN I WANTED TO GET THE VACCINE AS SOON AS I COULD.

AS SOON AS I WAS ABLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT, I DID.

I GOT MY FIRST SHOT WHEN SHE WAS SIX WEEKS OLD.

>> Reporter: IT IS BEEN SIX WEEKS SINCE SHE RECEIVED HER FIRST COVID-19 VACCINE AND SHE SAID DESPITE THE LACK OF DATA SHE HAS NO REGRETS.

>> I AM ARE CONCERNED THAT THE VACCINE HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON HER.

I AM HOPING IT IS KICKING UP HER IMMUNE SYSTEM.

>> Reporter: THIS MATH TEACHER WELCOMED A BABY GIRL IN FEBRUARY.

SHE SAID FOR HER GETTING THE VACCINE WAS ULTIMATELY A BETTER OPTION THAN NOT GETTING IT.

>> ESPECIALLY WITH THE RESEARCH, I WOULD WANT TO GET IT BEFORE HAVING THE BABY.

I THINK IT WOULD HELP THE BABY IF I COULD HAVE GOTTEN IT BEFORE SHE WAS BORN.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO A STUDY, PREGNANT WOMEN WHO GET THROUGH PFIZER AND MODERNA COVID-19 VACCINE MAY PASS ALONG ANTIBODIES TO THEIR NEW FORMS THROUGH PLACENTA AND BREASTMILK .

>> IT SAYS YES YOU DO GET THE SAME KIND OF RESPONSE IN PREGNANT PATIENTS WHO GET THE VACCINE AS NONPREGNANT PATIENTS WHO HAD COVID.

>> Reporter: THIS DOCTOR IS THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF OB/GYN AND WOMEN'S HEALTH FOR ATLANTA HEALTH SYSTEM.

SHE SAID WHILE THE STUDY IS SMALL AND THE FIRST OF ITS KIND, IT SHOWS PROMISING DATA.

>> THEY TOOK 131 PATIENTS, 84 ARE PREGNANT.

31 WERE BREAST-FEEDING.

AND 16 WERE NOT PREGNANT.

OF THE PATIENTS THEY LOOKED AT A GROUP OF PATIENTS WHO ACTUALLY HAD COVID DURING THE PREGNANCY.

IT IS A SMALL GROUP.

IT WAS PROBABLY PEOPLE WHO WORKED IN THE HOSPITAL.

THAT WAS THE TIME OF FRAME WE WERE VACCINATING HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

IT IS A WHITE, NON-HISPANIC GROUP.

DOES IT APPLY TO EVERYBODY?

I CANNOT SAY.

WE HAVE TO ASSUME.

THE POINT IS, WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT AND GET THE VACCINE DO HAVE THE SAME KIND OF PROTECTION OR THE SAME KIND OF ANTIBODIES AS SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT PREGNANT.

>> Reporter: EPIDEMIOLOGISTS SAID MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE HAS SCARED SOME FROM GETTING THE SHOT.

ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR UNFOUNDED FEARS HAS BEEN INFERTILITY.

>> WE KNOW THE MRNA CANNOT PASS INTO OURSELVES AND GET TO OUR DNA.

THERE IS NO CHANGING OF OUR STRUCTURAL COMPOSITION OF OUR DNA SO THE RISKS AND THAT TERM BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HOW THESE VACCINES WORK, SHOULD BE FAIRLY LOW IN TERMS OF LONG- TERM IMPACT ON OUR REPRODUCTIVE CAPABILITIES.

>> WE HAVE SOME 30,000 WOMEN WHO ARE OUT THERE IN OUR COUNTRY WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND THERE ARE NO HORRIFIC, HORRIBLE, DEADLY REACTIONS.

>> Reporter: THIS DOCTOR IS THE DEAN OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SAID HE HOPES THE STUDY PROVIDES REASSURANCE TO THOSE WHO ARE PREGNANT OR LACTATING AND ARE ON THE FENCE ABOUT RECEIVING THE VACCINE.

>> I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK THIS HAPPENED IN SIX MONTHS TIME.

IT IS TWO DECADES WORTH OF WORK THAT LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE VACCINES.

>> I WOULD ENCOURAGE WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT WHO ARE LACTATING TO SIGN ON TO THE BE SAFE REGISTRY THROUGH THE CDC.

I THINK THE MORE PEOPLE WHO LOG INTO THE REGISTRY THE MORE DATA WE CAN GLEAN AND THE MORE WE CAN UNDERSTAND.

>>> TODAY THE STATE IS REPORTING MORE THAN 3000 NEW COVID CASES AND ANOTHER 16 LIVES LOST.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE AT THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE FEBRUARY.

AND MORE PATIENTS WERE ADMITTED FOR COVID YESTERDAY THAN WERE DISCHARGED.

COVID-19 HAS KEPT THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL AND FRUSTRATED PARENTS FEAR THAT REMOTE SCHOOL HAS CONTRIBUTED TO LEARNING LOSS, CAUSING THEIR KIDS TO FALL BEHIND.

TODAY THE EDUCATION ADVOCACY GROUP IS RELEASING THE FIRST AND SO FAR ONLY PUBLIC STUDY TRACKING LEARNING LOSS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE GOT AN EARLY LOOK AT THE DATA.

>> ONE IN THREE STUDENTS IS PROJECTED TO BE ON GRADE LEVEL IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS.

AND LESS THAN ONE IN FOUR STUDENTS IS ADDICTED TO BE ON GRADE LEVEL FOR MATH.

OUR BLACK AND LATINO STUDENTS ARE DOING EVEN WORSE.

>> Reporter: IT COMES AS NO SURPRISE THERE HAS BEEN LEARNING LOSS DURING THE COVID- 19 PANDEMIC.

STUDENTS LEARNING FROM HOME AND MANY WITH LITTLE OR NO ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY.

EXPERTS WERE STARTLED TO SEE THE RESULTS IN A FIRST OF ITS KIND STUDY TO MEASURE THE LEARNING LOSS AND EVEN MORE SHOCKED TO SEE THE DISPARITIES FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR.

>> WE FOUND BLACK AND LATINO STUDENTS HAVE MORE LOST LEARNING IN THE FALL THAN THE MORE ADVANCED TO JUST PEERS.

SO IN MATH THE BLACK STUDENTS LOST CLOSE TO 50% OF LEARNING AND 43% OF LEARNING IN ELA.

>> Reporter: AN EDUCATION POLICY GROUP THAT RAN THE STUDY HOPES RESULTS LIKE A 50% LEARNING LOSS AMONG BLACK STUDENTS WILL LAUNCH A STATEWIDE CONVERSATION.

>> TODAY'S REPORT IS A ROADMAP FOR US TO ALL COME TOGETHER AND SAY, WE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO LOOK AT THE DATA, TO TALK ABOUT POLICY AND A TRUTHFUL SETTING, AND TO USE THE GENEROUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT ARE COMING INTO THE STATE AND THE DISTRICTS TO DEAL WITH THE CURRENT PANDEMIC LEARNING LOSS.

>> Reporter: ONE SOLUTION COMES FROM A HEARING IN THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE THAT WOULD ALLOW PARENTS TO HOLD THEIR CHILDREN BACK TO CATCH UP ON THE YEAR THEY LOST.

>> WE BELIEVE THE MOST URGENT SOLUTION IS PRIORITIZING SUMMER LEARNING FOR ANY STUDENT WHO WANTS TO LEARN THIS SUMMER.

IT REALLY WOULD BE A PARENTAL CHOICE.

WE CANNOT LET THE SUMMER GO BY WITH MORE STUDENTS FALLING BEHIND.

>> WE KNOW THERE IS LEARNING LOSS AND WE ARE THROWING EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK AT THAT.

PUT A TON OF MONEY FROM THE PRIOR FEDERAL MONEY, NOT JUST FOR CAPITOL BUT AT LEARNING LOSS AND MENTAL HEALTH.

WE ARE GETTING GUIDANCE ON THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

WILL THAT POTENTIALLY INCLUDE SUMMER EXTRA HOURS, TUTORING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS?

ALL OF THE ABOVE IS MY GUESS.

>> Reporter: THERE WILL BE LONG- TERM CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE LEARNING LOSS EQUALS EARNING LOSS ONCE THE STUDENTS GRADUATE AND ENTER THE WORKFORCE.

>> IT IS ESTIMATED FROM THE STUDY THAT MORE BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN, ABOUT $80,000 OF EARNINGS LOST.

WHICH IS ABOUT A FULL YEAR'S WORTH OF INCOME OR TWO YEARS WORTH OF INCOME FOR THE AVERAGE BLACK FAMILY IN NEW JERSEY.

>> FOR PARENTS WATCHING THIS, WHAT SHOULD THEY BE LOOKING FOR TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEIR KIDS FALL AND HOW THEY CAN BE THE ADVOCATE FOR THE CHILD?

>> PARENTS SHOULD BE TAKING THIS INFORMATION AND TAKING IT BACK TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS.

REALLY TRY TO DIG DEEPER WITH THE TEACHER AND UNDERSTAND, ARE THERE GAPS THAT NEED TO BE FILLED FOR YOUR STUDENT?

IS YOUR STUDENT SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY READY TO CONTINUE PROGRESSING?

>> Reporter: A SENATOR HAS INTRODUCED A SEPARATE BILL THAT WOULD EXPAND SUMMER LEARNING OPTIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

SHE SAID THE TIME TO MOVE IS NOW, BEFORE ANY MORE TIME IS LOST.

>>> HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS CAME OUT TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR ASIAN-AMERICANS THIS PAST WEEKEND A STOP ASIAN HATE MARCH WAS HELD IN FT. LEE ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

THE MAYOR DECLARED THAT FT. LEE IS NO PLACE FOR THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN HATE.

AND TOLD THE ASIAN COMMUNITY, WE STAND BY YOUR SIDE.

ANOTHER STOP ASIAN HATE RALLY WAS HELD IN PRINCETON ON SATURDAY.

AND HUNDREDS MORE GATHERED TO PROTEST AGAINST RACISM, AGAINST ASIAN-AMERICANS.

THERE HAS BEEN A RISE IN BIAS CRIMES AGAINST ASIAN-AMERICANS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

>>> NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN CALLS THE RECENT SHOOTINGS OF EIGHT PEOPLE IN ATLANTA, INCLUDING SIX ASIAN-AMERICAN WOMEN, A SCAR UPON OUR COUNTRY.

HE FLEW DOWN TO ATLANTA TO PAY HIS RESPECTS TO THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AND HE IS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST HATE.

THE POSTED VIDEOS AND IMAGES ON HIS TWITTER FEED SAYING, WE NEED TO STAND UP AGAINST DISCRIMINATION AND RACISM IN ANY FORM.

TOMORROW WE WILL HEAR MORE FROM THE CONGRESSMAN WHEN HE SITS DOWN WITH US FOR AN INTERVIEW.

>>> NEW JERSEY IS ABOUT TO RECEIVE MORE THAN $6 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDS THANKS TO THE LATEST COVID-19 RELEASE PACKAGE.

STATE LAWMAKERS ARE NOW SAYING THEY SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT.

I SPOKE WITH JOHN ABOUT THAT.

>> Reporter: WHY IS IT THAT STATE LAWMAKERS FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE MORE SAY IN HOW THE FEDERAL MONEY IS SPENT?

>> I THINK THE ANSWER IS IN TWO PARTS.

ONE IS THAT, THE STATE WHEN I FIRST GOT FEDERAL AID FOR THE PANDEMIC WAS IN A CRISIS MODE.

NOW WE ARE MOVING OUT OF THAT TRIAGE SITUATION AND MORE INTO A RECOVERY EFFORT.

THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE MORE OF A TRADITIONAL ROLE, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SPENDING ON THINGS LIKE ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

THE OTHER THING IS BASICALLY THAT, WE ARE NO LONGER GETTING A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY.

RELATIVE TO THE BUDGET.

THIS WILL BE OVER $6 BILLION.

NOW THE STAKES ARE HIGHER BECAUSE THAT IS A BIG BATCH OF FEDERAL AID COMING AROUND THIS TIME.

>> Reporter: FROM WHAT WE KNOW NOW, WHERE DO LAWMAKERS WANT SOME OF THIS MONEY TO GO?

>> I THINK WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT GOING FORWARD.

SOME OF THE INITIAL INDICATIONS ARE THINGS LIKE MAYBE DEBT RELIEF.

NEW JERSEY HAS SIGNIFICANT BONDED DEBT AND TOOK ON MORE DEBT AT THE STATE LEVEL DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

MAYBE PAYING DOWN SOME OF THE BONDED DEBT WOULD BE A GOAL.

THERE IS ALSO TALK OF INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE.

NOT SO MUCH ROADS AND BRIDGES BUT MAYBE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE OR OTHER LEAD PIPES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE WILL HEAR MORE OF AS BUDGET COMMITTEE HEARINGS PROGRESS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

>> Reporter: REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR MORE MONEY FOR BUSINESSES AS WELL.

>> WE ARE ALREADY SEEING LEGISLATION MOVE AHEAD THAT WOULD ALLOCATE ABOUT $100 MILLION IN EXISTING OR ALREADY RECEIVED FEDERAL FUNDS REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN ON THIS MESSAGE FOR MONTHS NOW.

>> Reporter: WILL LAWMAKERS GET THIS RIGHT TO HELP DECIDE WHO HAS A SAY?

CAN THE GOVERNOR JUST DECIDE TO MAKE EVERY CHOICE HIS OWN?

>> LEGISLATORS TRADITIONALLY HAVE THE POWER OF APPROPRIATING.

THERE IS A NEW BUDGET BEING WRITTEN AND IT HAS TO BE PUT IN PLACE BY THE BEGINNING OF JULY.

THEY COULD DO IT THROUGH LEGISLATION SEPARATELY.

THAT SAYS AS PART OF THE FEDERAL AID THEY GET A ROLE OR THEY COULD WRITE IT IN THE BUDGET LANGUAGE SO IT WOULD AT LEAST BE IN EFFECT FOR THE 2022 FISCAL YEAR.

>>> HERE IS A QUICK CHECK ON HOW STOCKS FARED ON WALL STREET TODAY.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY AND JC YOU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.

A GAME CHANGING FORCE.

WE ARE STEPS AWAY FROM THE EXCHANGE PLACE IN JERSEY CITY AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

AND MORE AT NJCU.

>>> SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SAVE SMALL BUSINESSES WITH CREATIVE IDEAS BUT FOLLOW RESTRICTIONS.

ENTER PATTERSON, WHICH WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WARMER WEATHER WITH A SEVEN DAY A WEEK SIDEWALK SALE.

WE WENT TO DOWNTOWN PATTERSON TO LEARN HOW THE OUTDOOR SHOPPING COULD BOOST SALES.

>> Reporter: A SHUT DOWN AND LIMITED CAPACITY AND PANDEMIC FEARS CAUSING MORE AND MORE OF THESE FOR RENT SIGNS TO POP UP IN CITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

INCLUDING PATTERSON.

>> TOWARD THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW WHAT, DON'T LET GO.

>> Reporter: HE IS A CO-OWNER OF CIVILIZED NATION.

A SNEAKER AND APPAREL STORE ON MAIN STREET THAT HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 15 YEARS OR SO.

RIGHT NOW HE SAYS THEY ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE 10 CUSTOMERS INSIDE WITH THE 35% INDOOR STATE RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE.

BUT THEY ARE LETTING IN FOUR AT A TIME TO BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS.

>> WE ARE SURVIVING.

>> WE WANT TO GIVE SMALL BUSINESSES A BOOST.

>> Reporter: THE LATEST WAY TO DO THAT, THE MAYOR SAID HE WILL ELIAS SIDEWALK SALE FOR DOWNTOWN PATTERSON BUSINESS DISTRICT.

>> INSTEAD OF GOING INTO THE STORE YOU CAN SHOP OUTSIDE.

>> Reporter: THE CITY HAS HELD SIDEWALK SALES IN YEARS PAST BUT ONLY ON THE WEEKENDS.

THIS WILL BE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK DURING STORE HOURS STARTING TODAY.

>> WE PERMITTED THEM TO USE THE SIDEWALK.

>> Reporter: THE SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORS SAID HISTORICALLY THE SIDEWALK SALE HAS HELPED BUSINESSES INCREASE PROFITS BY UP TO 30%.

THE CITY IS HELPING BY EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF DAYS A WEEK THEY WILL HELP BOOST SALES EVEN MORE TO OFFSET THE LOSS FROM LIMITED INDOOR CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS.

>> IT IS A GOOD MOVE.

>> Reporter: HE HAS PARTICIPATED IN SIDEWALK SALES IN YEARS PAST AND ANTICIPATES THIS WILL HELP THEIR BOTTOM LINE BY 20%.

WELCOMING NEWS TO THIS NEWCOMER .

WHICH HAS ONLY BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR ABOUT A YEAR.

>> IT IS A PHENOMENAL IDEA.

THE THINGS YOU HAVE ON PARENTS ARE DOWNSTAIRS MOST PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GO DOWNSTAIRS.

IF YOU ARE PASSING BY, IT GOT YOUR ATTENTION.

>> Reporter: THE OWNER OF THE STORE OPENED HIS STORE THREE WEEKS AGO.

HE APPRECIATES THE INITIATIVE BUT SAYS HE WORRIES PEOPLE WITHOUT A STORE MIGHT TAKE ADVANTAGE.

>> SOME PEOPLE WILL BRING THEIR OWN THING AND PUT IT IN THE STREET.

>> Reporter: SOMETHING THE CITY SAID THEY WILL MONITOR.

>>> ALONG THE JERSEY COASTLINE THERE HAS LONG BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT RISING SEA LEVELS.

BUT A NEW STUDY FROM RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SOUNDS THE ALARM AND A FINE SEA LEVELS ARE RISING AT A RATE NOT SEEN IN 2000 YEARS AND SOUTH JERSEY IS PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO THE EFFECTS.

OUR SENIOR CORRESPONDENT REPORTS AS PART OF OUR ONGOING SERIES ON THE HUMAN STORIES OF CLIMATE CHANGE, PERIL AND PROMISE.

>> Reporter: WE MAY NOT AGREE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS A THING BUT WE ARE GETTING USED TO SEEMS LIKE THIS, EVEN AFTER A NOR'EASTER LIKE THE FEBRUARY STORM THAT BLEW ACROSS THE STATE.

OF COURSE THE GOLD STANDARD IS SANDY, WHICH FLIPPED NEW JERSEY ON ITS SIDE.

AND MADE CLIMATE CHANGE REAL FOR A LOT OF US.

BUT A RECENT STUDY FROM RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SUGGESTS SEA LEVELS OVER THE PREVIOUS CENTURY HAVE RISEN AT A FASTER RATE THAN EVER.

IT IS A GRIM REALITY THAT THIS CONGRESSMAN IS TRYING TO SHARE WITH CONSTITUENTS.

>> YOU CANNOT SOUND TOO CATASTROPHIC.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE CLIMATE DENIERS.

AND I TRIED TO STAY AWAY FROM SAYING, ONE OF THE SCI-FI MOVIES WHERE THE HUNDRED FOOT WAVE WILL COME IN AND THE STATUE OF LIBERTY WILL DISAPPEAR.

THAN PEOPLE THINK YOU ARE CRAZY.

THEY DON'T BUY IT.

>> Reporter: JENNIFER WALKER IS THE LEAD AUTHOR OF THE STUDY AND A POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE AT DIRECTORS.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT A 2000 YEAR TIMESCALE AND WE SEE THE SIGNIFICANT ACCELERATION IN THE LAST 100-200 YEARS.

THE RATE OF C RISE IN THE 20th CENTURY IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE AVERAGE OVER THE LAST 2000 YEARS .

>> Reporter: THE CULPRIT, THE WATER AROUND THE WORLD IS GETTING WARMER AND MELTING THE ICE CAUSING SEA LEVELS TO RISE.

WHY?

BECAUSE WE KEEP EMITTING GREENHOUSE GASES.

BUT WHAT IS A FEW FEET MEAN PRACTICALLY?

>> THE FACT THAT NEW JERSEY IS A LOW AND SLOPING COAST, IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SEA LEVEL RISE IT WILL COVER A LARGE AMOUNT OF GROUND COMING IN LAND.

YOU HAVE LONG-TERM SEA LEVEL RISE AND IT IS EXHILARATING.

IT WILL INCREASE THINGS LIKE THE REGULAR SUNNY DAY FLOODING.

REGULAR HIGH TIDE LEVELS WILL COME UP.

AND IT BECOMES IMPACTFUL WHEN YOU HAVE BIG STORMS.

>> WE HAVE WAITED TOO LONG TO DEAL WITH THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

WE CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER.

>> Reporter: FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENTS LEAD, THEY HAVE PUT FORTH A BILL THAT WOULD SET A GOAL OF NET ZERO GREENHOUSE GAS POLLUTION NO LATER THAN 2050.

WITH AN INTERIM TARGET OF CUTTING POLLUTION BY 50% FROM 2005 LEVELS NO LATER THAN 2030.

THEY BOTH ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE ALREADY PAST THE POINT OF NO RETURN ON SOME OF THE IMPACT .

>> I WOULD SAY FROM MAYBE DOWN TO SANDY HOOK WHERE THE NATIONAL PARK IS, YOU HAD MAJOR AREAS WHERE THE HOMES WERE JUST COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

>> Reporter: SOME TOWNS LIKE HOBOKEN ARE PLANNING MAJOR RESILIENCY UPGRADES USING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDS.

BUT THAT DOES LITTLE TO MITIGATE THE PROBLEM IN JERSEY CITY TO THE SOUTH OR ANY OF THE TOWN'S TO THE NORTH.

>> IF WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO FUNCTION IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE LIVE IN, AND IN SOME PLACES THERE MIGHT HAVE TO BE A STRATEGIC WITHDRAW.

IT MAY COME AS A PLANNED ACTION OR IT MAY JUST HAPPEN BECAUSE THE WATER IS GOING TO COME.

>> Reporter: AND UNSTOPPABLE AND PROBABLY INEVITABLE.

UNLESS A TRUE REGIONAL PLAN IS PUT INTO PLACE, WHICH TO THIS POINT DOES NOT APPEAR IMMINENT.

>>> LEAD FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY .

MAJOR SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY A FOUNDATION AND A FAMILY.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT BUT HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG OR FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

AND A HAPPY PASSOVER TO ALL OF THOSE CELEBRATING.

FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

ENJOY YOUR EVENING.

>>> MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

ARE WJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

>>> AND JM INSURANCE HAS BEEN SERVING YOU FOR 100 YEARS.

WHO ARE THE POLICYHOLDERS.

THEY ARE THE SOCIAL SERVICE AND NONPROFIT PIONEERS TO LEND A HELPING HAND.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS.

THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDE OUR SKILLED LABOR.

AND OUR HOMEGROWN CHAMPIONS THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR STATE A GREAT WASTE TO CALL HIM.

AND JM.

WE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.