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

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY STUDENT.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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AND PSEG.

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

>>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, IN FOR RIHANNA BONEAU SEE.

RUSSIA ANNOUNCED ANOTHER CEASE- FIRE TODAY TO ALLOW MORE UKRAINIAN CITIZENS TO FLEE THEIR COUNTRY BUT UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS SAY ARTILLERY FIRE HALTED EVACUATION EFFORTS.

TWO PREVIOUSLY CEASE-FIRE ATTEMPTS HAVE FAILED.

POWERFUL BOMBS WORK REPORTED.

A RESIDENTIAL AREA NORTH OF KYIV AS THE RUSSIAN TROOPS CONTINUED THEIR ASSAULT TO TAKE UKRAINE'S CAPITAL.

AHEAD OF A THIRD ROUND OF TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES, UKRAINE PRESIDENT, VOLODOMYR ZELENSKYY HAS CALLED FOR A GLOBAL BOYCOTT OF ALL RUSSIAN PRODUCTS INCLUDING OIL.

REPORTS ARE THAT U.S. OFFICIALS ARE CONSIDERING A BAN OF RUSSIAN OIL EVEN IF THEY HAVE TO GO IT ALONE.

GERMANY SAYS IT WILL NOT SUPPORT IT.

OIL PRICES CONTINUE TO SURGING AND GAS PRICES IN NEW JERSEY SET A RECORD HIGH OF $4.09 A GALLON.

MEANTIME, PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY'S REQUEST FOR A NO-FLY ZONE OVER HIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN REJECTED BY NATO AND THE U.S. U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, ANTONY BLINKEN SAYS THERE HAS BEEN NO DECISION YET ON WHETHER TO PUT U.S.

TROOPS IN BALTIC COUNTRIES WHICH ARE MEMBERS OF NATO.

LINCOLN SAID THE U.S. WILL COME TO THE AID OF LITHUANIA AND OTHER BALTIC NATIONS IF THEY ARE ATTACKED BY RUSSIA.

IT HAS BEEN 12 DAYS SINCE RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE AND SO FAR 1.7 MILLION UKRAINIANS HAVE LEFT THEIR COUNTRY.

A U.N. OFFICIAL HAS CALLED THE EXODUS THE FASTEST GROWING REFUGEE CRISIS SINCE WORLD WAR II.

GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID NEW JERSEY IS READY TO WELCOME UKRAINIANS.

BUT HE SAID AGENCIES IN THE STATE ARE SPREAD THIN, AND FINDING HOUSING FOR THE AFGHANISTAN EVACUEES THAT SETTLED HERE.

JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS ON WHETHER THE NEXT WAVE OF HUMANITIES CAN BE ACCOMMODATED.

>> Reporter: THE WORLD WATCHED IN HORROR THIS WEEKEND AS THE WAR IN UKRAINE BECAME A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

INNOCENT UKRAINIANS TRYING TO FLEE BESIEGED CITIES AND TOWNS WERE SHELLED AND KILLED AFTER RUSSIA AGREED TO PROVIDE SAFE PASSAGE FOR THEM.

>> SPEAKING TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF MARIUPOL, HE SAID THE STREETS ARE FLOWING IN BLOOD.

BLOOD IS EVERYWHERE.

INNOCENT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SLAUGHTERED, KILLED.

THEY ARE HIDING IN BASEMENT, TRYING TO SURVIVE AND HOPING FOR THE NEXT SAFE CORRIDOR.

>> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT FOLKS TRYING TO GET UP BUT SIMPLY CAN'T BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE?

>> MOST BRIDGES OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL ARE DESTROYED.

THERE ARE ROADBLOCKS, CHECKPOINTS AND SO PEOPLE ARE HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME LEAVING THOSE MAJOR CITIES BECAUSE OF CONSTANT BOMBING THAT IS HAPPENING.

THAT IS WHY WE KEEP BEGGING NATO FORCES AND THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE UNITED DATES OF AMERICA TO CREATE A NO-FLY ZONE OVER UKRAINE.

SO TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT PEOPLE SO THERE IS AT LEAST A CHANCE TO SK:MAKE A MASSIVE RALLY WAS HELD IN TIMES SQUARE THIS WEEKEND CALLING FOR A NO- FLY ZONE BUT THEY HOPE FORCES NATO FORCES AREN'T NOT ALLOWING BECAUSE SHOOTING DOWN RUSSIAN PLANES WOULD LIKELY LEAD TO A THIRD WORLD WAR.

IN THE MEANTIME REFUGEES WHO CAN PLAY ARE DOING SO.

MORE THAN 7.5 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE ESCAPED, MOSTLY THROUGH POLAND AND RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES IN THE NEW JERSEY AND THE U.S. ARE WAITING TO SEE WHAT ROLE THEY WILL PLAY IN RESETTLING SOME OF THESE FOLKS.

>> THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMAND FOR REFUGEES EXPECTS UP TO 4, MAYBE 5 MILLION.

IT IS ENTIRELY UP TO PRESIDENT BIDEN TO MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT HOW MANY REFUGEES FROM UKRAINE TO ACCEPT INTO THE COUNTRY.

I WOULD GUESS THAT HE IS AMENABLE TO THE IDEA AND CERTAINLY, GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY HAS TOLD PRESIDENT BIDEN THAT HAD WE HAD IN NEW JERSEY ARE READY TO ACCEPT UKRAINIAN REFUGEES.

>> Reporter: READY BUT ABLE?

YOU RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS NEW JERSEY IS STILL STRUGGLING TO PLACE AFGHAN REFUGEES IN PERMANENT HOUSING BECAUSE INVENTORY IS SO LOW AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW MANY UKRAINIANS TO EXPECT NEXT WILL BE ACCEPT 10,000?

ARE THEY GOING TO GO TO FORT DIX LIKE THE AFGHANS DID?

ARE WE GOING TO SEE A REPRISE OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE AFGHAN REF FG'S REFUGEES?

PERHAPS WE CAN TRIAGE THE REFUGEES WHO LEFT AND FIND OUT WHICH ONES HAVE FAMILIES IN THE UNITED STATES ALREADY IN WHICH COULD COME TO STAY WITH FAMILY HERE.

>> I'M NOT SO WORRIED ABOUT HOUSING.

AND THE REASON IS THAT DEPENDING ON HOW THIS PLAYS OUT, UKRAINIANS WILL BE COMING TO UKRAINIANS WHO ARE ALREADY HERE.

SO IF WE START WITH A FAMILY MOTTO, THERE WON'T BE QUITE THAT IMMEDIATE NEED FOR HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO CONTEXT WHATSOEVER WHICH IS HOW THINGS PLAYED OUT WITH THE AFGHAN SITUATION., A LONG-STANDING PROGRAM CALLED THE LAUTENBERG AMENDMENT NAMED AFTER FORMER U.S.

SENATOR, FRANK LAUTENBERG ALREADY ALLOWS REFUGEES FROM UKRAINE AND THE REGION.

>> THAT WAS TO PROTECT I ALREADY GROUPS WITHIN THE SOVIET BLOC.

THAT HAS MEANT FOLKS WHO ARE U.S. CITIZENS NOW WHO ARE FROM THE UKRAINE COULD FILE FOR THEIR RELATIVES WHO ARE SO STILL IN UKRAINE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WE FILED APPLICATIONS FOR WHO ARE IN THE WAITING PROCESS RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: NO MATTER THE CHALLENGES, THESE ORGANIZATIONS STAND READY TO CLEAN UP THE MESS BROUGHT ON BY THIS WAR.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

>>> THE MAYOR OF -- BEACHES WAITING IN POLAND TO ASSIST A 1 MILLION REFUGEES HAVE FLED TO THE COUNTRY.

INSPIRED BY HIS POLISH AND SLAVIC HERITAGE, ALONG WITH THE UKRAINIANS THAT COME IN EVERY SUMMER TO WORK ON THE BOARDWALK, PAUL SPOKE WITH US DURING A BREAK FROM HIS VOLUNTEERING TO LET US KNOW WHAT THE SITUATION IS LIKE FROM PEOPLE COMING OVER THE BORDER AND WHAT IS BEING DONE TO HELP THEM.

>> WE WATCHED THE PROGRESSION OF HOW THINGS WERE UNFOLDING IN UKRAINE AND HOW A SOVEREIGN GOVERNMENT, SOVEREIGN COUNTRY WAS INVADED AND IT WAS REALLY THAT 40 MILE CONVOY HEADED TOWARDS KYIV THAT WAS THE LAST STRAW.

POINT PLEASANT BEACH IMPORTANTLY HAS A CONNECTION TO THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.

EVERYONE KNOWS POINT PLEASANT BEACH FOR OUR BOARDWALK, RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS WELL IN THE SUMMERTIME THEY ARE STEP BY A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF YOUNG UKRAINIANS ADULTS WHO HAVE BEEN COMING OVER FOR YEARS AND YEARS, FORGING BONDS WITH THE COMMUNITY, MAKING LIFELONG RELATIONSHIPS AND THAT ALL COMBINED KIND OF COMPELLED ME TO ACT.

WE HAVE BEEN TO THE MEDICA AND KISH IN BORDER CROSSINGS, REFUGEE CENTER IN CHUMASH AND THE TRAIN STATION IN CENTRAL CHUMASH AS WELL AND I WILL SAY MOST INTERESTING IS IT IS NOT AS CHAOTIC AS YOU WOULD IMAGINE CONSIDERING THE HARDSHIPS THAT A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH.

YOU KNOW, THEY ARE VERY RESERVED .

THEY ARE NOT PUSHING AROUND.

THERE IS NO YELLING, NO SCREAMING, NOTHING LIKE THAT.

BUT YOU CAN SEE THE EMOTION ON THEIR FACES AND WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM, IT POURS OUT AND IT IS HARD FOR ANYBODY WHO IS HERE INTERACTING WITH THEM NOT TO GET EMOTIONAL AS WELL.

THE FIRST DAY WE WERE HERE, WE WENT TO BERKELEY TO THE REFUGEE CENTER AND TALKED TO THE DIRECTORS OF THE REFUGEE CENTER.

WE FOUND OUT DESPITE THE FACT THEY HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CLOTHING AND WATER AND OTHER GOODS, THEY WERE SEVERELY LACKING IN CABLES TO CHARGE THEIR PHONES.

THEY WERE ALSO LACKING IN AIR MATTRESSES BECAUSE THEY WERE SLEEPING ON HARD FLOORS OF AN ABANDONED SUPERCENTER SO WE BOUGHT ABOUT $1200 IN CHARGING CABLES AND AIR MATTRESSES AND WE RAN THEM RIGHT OVER.

WE ARE GOING TO DO A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.

WE HAVE GOODS WE BROUGHT WITH US FROM THE STATES.

WE ARE GOING TO SET UP A TABLE AT A REFUGEE CENTER AND HAND THINGS OUT.

WE ARE GOING TO DO A COUPLE OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL TRYING TO GET SOME RIDES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED THEM LOCALLY.

EVERYBODY WATCHING CAN HELP IN THEIR OWN WAY.

IF YOU HAVE THE ABILITY, THE TIME ON YOUR SCHEDULE, JUMP ON A PLANE AND COME OVER HERE.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR BODIES ON THE GROUND.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH THE MASSES OF REFUGEES FLOODING ACROSS THE BORDER RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU ARE AT HOME, THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT CHARITIES WE HAVE WORKED WITH AND TALKED WITH THAT WE THINK WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.

AND TO BE ABLE TO DO A LOT WITH DOLLARS.

THAT IS CHARK US, WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN AND I WOULD ALSO SAY POLISH RED CROSSES HUGE AS WELL.

>> MORE THAN 6 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE NOW DIED FROM COVID-19 INCLUDING NEARLY 1 MILLION IN THE U.S.

ACCORDING TO DATA FROM JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY.

IN NEW JERSEY, ANOTHER SIX COVID DEATHS WERE CONFIRMED TODAY AND 904 NEW CASES.

AS THE COVID NUMBERS HAVE IMPROVED, AND NEW JERSEY'S LATEST PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ENDED TODAY.

BOTH HERE IN NEW JERSEY AND IN NEW YORK CITY, SCHOOLCHILDREN NO LONGER ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS AND NEW YORK HAS ALSO DROPPED ITS MASK MANDATE AND VACCINE REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC VENUES.

WHILE MANY ARE WELCOMING THE CHANGE, OTHERS FEEL IT IS TOO MUCH TOO FAST.

AS PART OF OUR LIVING WITH COVID SERIES, SR.

CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN WENT TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN MILD ALL OF TO SEE HOW KIDS AND ADULTS WERE ADJUSTING TO BEING MASK OPTIONAL IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

>> Reporter: THIS PRINCIPLE CHEERFULLY GREETED HER STUDENTS, SOME WHO WERE STILL MASKED.

WITH THE STATE MANDATE LIFTED AND MASKS OPTIONAL AT MOUNT OLIVE'S PRE-K-12 DISTRICT, PARENTS CAN CHOOSE WHETHER KIDS COVER UP.

HAPPY FACE SIGNS ENCOURAGED LET'S SEE THAT SMILE.

>> I COULD CRY, I'M SO EXCITED.

THE KIDS ARE SO EXCITED.

THE STAFF IS SO EXCITED AND THERE IS A RENEWED SENSE OF ENERGY IN THE BUILDING.

>> IT'S LIKE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR A LOT OF KIDS.

THEY GET TO SHARE THEIR SMILES AND SEE WHAT EACH OTHER LOOK LIKE.

>> Reporter: SIX-YEAR-OLD TERESA'S MOM SAID HER DAUGHTER CHATTERED ABOUT NO MORE MASKS ALL WEEKEND.

>> SHE STARTED KINDERGARTEN KIND OF AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC SO HAVING THEM GO THROUGH SCHOOL ON THE COMPUTER THE FIRST YEAR AND HAVING TO BE IN MASKS, SHE HASN'T REALLY EXPERIENCED A NORMAL YEAR IN SCHOOL YET SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A PIECE OF NORMALCY.

>> IT HAS BEEN A HARD COUPLE OF YEARS FOR THEM AND IT IS NICE FOR THEM TO INTERACT IN A NORMAL WAY.

>> Reporter: SOME FAMILIES FELT LESS SECURE.

NEW JERSEY FAMILIES COVID ACTIVITY MAPS SHOW SIX COUNTIES IN THE GREEN WITH LOW ACTIVITY.

THE REST REPORT YELLOW, MODERATE ACTIVITY INCLUDING MOUNT OLIVE.

JOHN PEERS HAS BEEN KEEPING TRACK FOR MADISON AND AMELIA.

>> I FEEL IT IS NOT THE TIME.

I FEEL IT IS TOO SOON.

EVENTUALLY WE WILL TAKE THEM OFF.

RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT READY.

>> SO THE GIRLS WERE WHERE THEIR MASKS?

>> OH, WELL.

>> ELISE BELIEVES MASKS PROTECT HER GRANDSON.

>> THIS WILL KEEP HIM.

>> Reporter: WHY?

MAKE A HAS ASTHMA.

>> Reporter: PRINCIPAL CAR IS WELL AWARE OF HEIGHTENED TENSIONS OVER MASKED AND ALERTED TEACHERS.

>> LET US KNOW IF ANYBODY WAS MAKING FUN OF EACH OTHER FOR THEIR MASK CHOICES.

>> Reporter: MOUNT OLIVE WILL CONTINUE SOME PANDEMIC PROTOCOLS SAID THE SUPERINTENDENT.

>> WE WILL CONTACT TRACE WITH POSITIVE CASES AND USE TESTS TO STAY OF SOMEONE IS UNVACCINATED AND ARE A PER FIRST-PERSON EXPOSURE.

WE WILL GIVE THEM THE OPTION TO TEST AND STAY AND ELIMINATE THOSE UNNECESSARY QUARANTINES.

FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DOESN'T TRACK INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT DECISIONS ON LIFTING THE MASK MANDATE BUT A NEW RUTGERS EAGLETON POLL SHOWS MORE THAN 2/3 OF NEW JERSEYANS AGREE WITH DITCHING THE MASKS.

>> NEW JERSEYANS ARE ARE NOW OF THE MINDSET OF LIVING WITH COVID-19.

THEY ARE MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE TO BE GOING BACK OUT THERE AND RETURNING SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY AT LEAST OVER HAVE SAYING THEY ARE VERY COMFORTABLE DOING SO.

THEY SEE LESS OF RISK, LESS WORRY.

:WELL, SOME NEW JERSEY DISTRICTS WILL KEEP MASKS ON FOR NOW INCLUDING PATTERSON, CAMDEN AND NEWARK WHICH IS LOOKING PAST SPRING BREAK BEFORE IT MAKES MASKS OPTIONAL.

COVID TOOK A TERRIBLE TOO HERE AND THE SUPERINTENDENT REMAINS CAUTIOUS.

>> DURING SPRING BREAK, WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE A TESTING KIT FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF TO TEST UPON THEIR RETURN.

WE WILL MONITOR THE NUMBERS THE WEEK AFTER THE RETURN AND THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS ON APRIL 29th, BEING ABLE TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE OUR STATE AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

>> Reporter: EARLIEST NO MASK DAY IN NEWARK?

MAY 2nd.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> FOR MORE OF OUR LIVING WITH COVID REPORTING HEAD TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG WHERE HEALTHCARE WRITER WE WILL STANTON REPORTS STATE OFFICIALS ARE WARNING OF POTENTIAL NEW SURGEONS SURGING AND VARIANTS.

COLLEEN OC IMPACT OF THE COVID DEATH TOLL.

THE NEW JERSEY OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER IS LOOKING AT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICE REFORMS IN NEW JERSEY.

THE OFFICE HAS LAUNCHED THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT WHICH WILL EXAMINE DATA FROM DATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO SEE WHETHER POLICING HAS IMPROVED IN THE STATE, ACTING STATE, TROLLER COMPTROLLER, KEVIN WILDES JOINS ME.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH ME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT WHY THIS REVIEW IS NEEDED RIGHT NOW?

>> WE ARE CHARGED IN GOVERNMENT WITH BEING A WATCHDOG THAT EVALUATES HOW GOVERNMENT IS DOING, THAT AUDITS AND INVESTIGATES GOVERNMENT AND SERVES AS A GENERAL CHECK ON GOVERNMENT WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF IMPORTANT REFORMS, A LOT OF INTEREST FROM THE PUBLIC, A LOT OF DEBATE AROUND ISSUES INVOLVING POLICING.

WE ARE WORKING ON EVALUATING WHETHER THE REFORMS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE ARE WORKING.

HAS THERE BEEN THE SORT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THOSE REFORMS THAT THE LAW REQUIRES?

ARE THERE WEAKNESSES?

ARE THERE POLICE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVEN'T FULLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE REFORMS IN THE WAY WE ARE SUPPOSED TO?

AS A WATCHDOG, THAT IS OUR SPACE.

WE DON'T MAKE THE RULES.

WE DON'T MAKE THE POLICIES.

OUR JOB IS TO TELL THE PUBLIC, THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR RATHER THE LAWS IN PLACE ARE BEING HONORED >> AND I KNOW PART OF THIS REVIEW WILL ALSO LOOK INTO WHETHER TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE BEING WELL SPENT SO HOW DO YOU MEASURE SOME OF THIS DATA?

>> SURE, SO IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO DECIDE WHERE PUBLIC FUNDS GET SPENT.

THAT IS UP TO THE LEGISLATURE, THE GOVERNOR, UP TO, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUAL COUNCILS, GOVERNING BODIES, MAYORS.

MAYORS.

OUR JOB IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER WASTE, FRAUD OR ABUSE ARE HAPPENING BY USING A BIG SPOTLIGHT, TAKING -- LOOKING AT DOCUMENTS, CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS, AND THEN REPORTING TO THE PUBLIC.

WE DIVIDE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ABOUT WHERE PUBLIC FUNDS ARE BEING USED.

>> HOW WOULD THIS EXPAND ON THE ANNUAL REVIEWS OF STATE POLICE THAT ARE ALREADY DONE?

>> YEAH, WE HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF EXPERIENCE OVER THE LAST DECADE OR SO HERE WHERE WE EVALUATE THE NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE WITH REGARD TO WHETHER IT IS COMPLYING WITH THE LAWS THAT PROHIBIT RACIAL PROFILING.

AND WE DON'T JUST EVALUATE WHETHER THOSE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER RACIAL PROFILING IS OCCURRING ALTHOUGH THAT IS PART OF IT.

WE ALSO EVALUATE TRAINING.

WE EVALUATE WHETHER THE NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE' INTERNAL.

FAIRS, MISCONDUCT PROCESSES ARE WORKING.

WE LOOK AT MOTOR VEHICLE STOPS, THE SORT OF EXPERTISE WE HAVE DEVELOPED THERE WILL HELP US IN THIS WORK.

WE ARE STAFFING UP WITH REALLY TALENTED FOLKS WHO KNOW ABOUT POLICING AS WELL AND THE COMBINATION OF OUR IS EXCEEDING KNOWLEDGE AND THE EXPERTISE WE HAVE BROUGHT INTO THE OFFICE OF STATE COMPTROLLER WILL HELP US DIVIDE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE AREA OF THE POLICE.

>> TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TIMELINE, WHEN YOU START THE PROJECT, HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE AND IS THERE A TARGETED DATE FOR COMPLETION?

>> WE WILL ISSUE REPORTS.

I CAN TELL YOU WHEN THE FIRST ONE WILL, BUT WE PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY BY PROVIDING INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND THEN THE PUBLIC AND POLICYMAKERS CAN DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THAT.

NO TIMELINE BUT IT HAS WORKED -- IT IS WORK WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF DETAIL AND SO IT CAN TAKE A LITTLE WHILE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> NEW JERSEY LAWMAKERS ARE TAKING AIM AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ITS COMMISSIONER.

THE STATE SENATE LAST WEEK UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A RESOLUTION CALLING ON GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY TO IMMEDIATELY ADDRESS THE BACKLOG IN UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS AND TO REOPEN ONE-STOP CAREER CENTER'S.

WHILE THE STATE HAS SAID IT WILL REOPEN SOME CENTERS ON A LIMITED BASIS, LAWMAKERS AREN'T COMPLETELY SATISFIED.

SR.

POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ HAS LATEST.

>> Reporter: YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT AS SOME HAVE THAT SENATE PRESIDENT, NIX KOTHARI'S ASCENSION TO THE SENATE PRESIDENCY MIGHT USHER IN A PERIOD OF WARM RELATIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AT LEAST A BIT WARMER THAN THE CHILLY DETENTE THAT CHARACTERIZED THE FINAL TWO YEARS OF HIS PREDECESSOR'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

YOU MIGHT NOT BE WRONG BUT YOU PROBABLY AREN'T RIGHT, EITHER.

>> WELL, THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING THINGS I HAVE EVER SEEN.

>> SENATOR BRAD NICK IS REACTED TO LAST WEEK'S RESOLUTION IN THE SENATE CALLING ON GOVERNOR MURPHY TO TAKE ALL MEASURES NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE BACKLOG OF UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS AND REOPEN THOSE IN PERSON ONE- STOP CAREER CENTER'S WHICH HAVE BEEN CLOSED SINCE THE EARLIEST DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> A PUBLIC SENSOR OF THE MAJORITY PARTY'S OWN GOVERNOR AND EACH OF THE DEMOCRATS JOINED IN, IN THE SENATE AND ALL THE REPUBLICANS.

YOU NEVER SEE THAT.

>> Reporter: SENATE LABOR TOO MANY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, FRED MAN IS A SPONSOR.

HE SAID HIS OFFICE HAS BEEN FIELDING ALBUMS WITH UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS.

>> MY OFFICE CALLS, MY OFFICE EMAILS AND SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND OFTEN, IT DOES NOT.

>> Reporter: MADDEN SAYS HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HEARD FROM LABOR COMMISSIONER, ROBERT A SORROW ANGELO AT TODAY'S COMMITTEE MEETING.

HE HAD AN AIR FILTER SHARE ABOUT FRUSTRATION FROM CLIENTS AND EVEN FROM HIS STAFF TEST WITH HELPING.

>> WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT RECEIVING ANY INCOME, SIX MONTHS PLUS.

THE EMAILS ARE HEARTBREAKING.

SOMEONE'S UNEMPLOYMENT CHECK.

WE HAVE NO REAL RECOURSE HERE.

>> REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE MEMBER, MIKE TESTA SAYS MADDEN AND SCOTT TERRY ARE BEHIND THE TIMES.

>> I'M HAPPY WE ARE FINALLY PUSHING THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO OPEN IN PERSON FOR IN-PERSON MEETINGS BUT SO MANY OF NEW JERSEYANS HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AT THIS POINT PREPARING.

>> Reporter: ANGELO HAS AGREED TO THURSDAY'S MEETING AT WHICH POINT A FULL REACTION MAY BE FORTHCOMING FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO SEEM TO BE HOLDING THEIR FIRE THIS MORNING.

>> WE ARE SUPER HAPPY TO HELP ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS IN LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT ONE AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ARE HAPPY TO HELP THEIR CONSTITUENTS BUT IT WOULD REALLY BE GREAT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WAS ACTUALLY DOING THEIR JOB INSTEAD OF US DOING THE JOB FOR THEM.

FOR MEX KOTHARI COULD TALK WITH US TODAY BUT REPUBLICANS ARE CHEERING WHAT THEY SEE IS A NEW APPROACH TO DEALING WITH THE GOVERNOR, ONE THAT SEES THEM AS NOT PARTICULARLY STRONG WITH VOTERS.

>> TWO THINGS, ONE, THE POLLING OF MURPHY MUST BE BAD AND SECOND, THESE LEGISLATORS ARE JUST TIRED OF EXCUSES AND THEY DON'T CARE THE FACT THAT HE IS A MEMBER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> Reporter: ON THE EVE OF THE GOVERNORS BUDGET SPEECH, DOES THE LABOR COMMITTEE CHAIR EXPECT TO HEAR GOOD NEWS ON THIS SUBJECT?

I WOULD BE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IF HE DID NOT ADDRESS SOME MEASURE IN HIS BUDGET.

>> IT IS POSSIBLE THE GOVERNOR COULD EQUIP THE LABOR SECRETARY WITH A SORT OF PROMISED FUNDING FOR THE DEPARTMENT COME THURSDAY BUT FROM THAT TENOR OF THINGS, IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO AVOID THE FULL BARRAGE OF LAWMAKERS WHO MAY NOW BE SEEING BLOOD IN THE WATER.

I'M DEBBIE CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS >>> IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS TONIGHT, GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY DELIVERS HIS LATEST BUDGET FOR NEW JERSEY TOMORROW WITH A PROMISE TO PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

BUDGET AND FINANCE WRITER, JOHN REITMEYER JOINS ME TO DISCUSS WHAT ELSE WE CAN EXPECT IN THE PLAN WHICH REFLECTS THE GOVERNOR'S VISION FOR THE STATE.

JOHN, THIS BUDGET FROM THE GOVERNOR IS EXPECTED TO INCLUDE SOME PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR RESIDENTS.

WHY NOW?

AND HOW CAN THE STATE AFFORD TO DO THIS?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, RHONDA AND WE HAVE ALREADY HEARD A LITTLE BIT OF A PREVIEW FROM GOVERNOR MURPHY AND IT INCLUDES INCREASED SPENDING OF SEVERAL HUNDRED MORE MILLION DOLLARS FOR DIRECT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

AND I THINK THE REASON IT IS COMING NOW IN SOME WAYS IS BECAUSE THE STATE HAS A LOT OF MONEY RIGHT NOW.

THE INCOME TAX ITSELF HAS BEEN DOING REALLY WELL.

REALLY GOING BACK ABOUT A YEAR NOW, AND THE INCOME TAX IN NEW JERSEY IS CONSTITUTIONALLY DEDICATED TO FUNDING PROPERTY TAX RELIEF SO AS RECEIPTS, AND STRONG AND ARE LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO DO SO, IT ENABLES THE STATE TO DO THINGS LIKE THIS.

I THINK IT IS WORTH NOTING ARE POINTING OUT THAT WE ARE NOT THAT FAR REMOVED FROM THE NOVEMBER ELECTION THAT IS ALL REPUBLICANS WHO WERE SORT OF BANGING THE DRUMS WHEN IT COMES TO THE TAX RELIEF TO PICK UP SEATS IN BOTH HOUSES OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF GOT A STIFFER CHALLENGE THAN HE WAS EXPECTING OR AT LEAST MANY OF THE PUNDITS THOUGHT WAS GOING TO OCCUR.

>> WHAT ELSE CAN WE EXPECT TO HEAR IN TERMS OF SPENDING PRIORITIES?

>> >> I THINK IT WILL BE MORE OF THE SAME FROM GOVERNOR MURPHY THAT WE HAVE SEEN SORT OF OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

AND SO THAT WILL MEAN, YOU KNOW, REALLY ROBUST PENSION FUNDING, THE CURRENT BUDGET IS THE FIRST ONE WHERE THE STATE IS MAKING IT'S FULL EMPLOYER PENSION CONTRIBUTION IS CALCULATED BY THE ACTUARIES.

NEW JERSEY JUST GOT A CREDIT RATING UPGRADE LAST WEEK, THE FIRST IN NEARLY 2 DECADES, PENSION FUNDING WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY.

SO I THINK KEEP AN EYE ON THAT BUT I WOULD EXPECT MURPHY TO STAY WITH THAT.

HE HAS ALSO BEEN SLOWLY RAMPING UP FUNDING FOR K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN NEW JERSEY.

YOU KNOW, THE STATE IS STILL NOT FULLY FUNDING GETS SCHOOL LAW AND LITTLE BY LITTLE THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION HAS INCREASED SPENDING.

OUTSPENDING ITSELF OF THE STATE LEVEL UP 50% OVER THE LAST DECADE OR SO BUT A LOT OF THAT MONEY IS GOING TO THOSE TWO BIG PRIORITY AREAS, THE PENSION SYSTEM AND EDUCATION SO WE HAVE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT INCREASED SPENDING ON PROPERTY TAX RELEASE.

I THINK EDUCATION AND PRINTING PENSION FUNDING AND WE HAVE THIS WILD CARD OF THE PANDEMIC STILL HAPPENING AND WHAT THAT WILL DO TO THE BUDGET AS WELL AS CONTINUED EFFORTS TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> JOHN, WE WILL WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW.

ASK FOR THE PREVIEW TODAY.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> AND IT JOIN US TOMORROW FOR LIVE COVERAGE OF GOVERNOR MURPHY'S 2023 BUDGET ADDRESS.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ, WILL ANCHOR OUR SPECIAL REPORT STARTING AT 2:00 P.M.

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