FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT.

BY ORSTED.

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.

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

MORE SIGNS THE PANDEMIC IS WANNING ACROSS NEW JERSEY AND THE NATION, THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 IS NOW AT ITS LOWEST POINT IN MONTHS, CASE RATES ARE DECLINING, SHOTS IN ARMS ARE STEADILY RISING AND THE CALLS ARE GROWING LOUDER TO CONTINUE REOPENING THE STATE.

RWJ BARNABAS, ONE OF THE STATE'S LARGEST PRIVATE EMPLOYERS AND AN UNDER WRITER OF NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS NOW REQUIRING HIGHER LEVEL STAFF TO BE VACCINATED BY THE END OF JUNE.

A DECISION IT SAID WILL EVENTUALLY BE EXTENDED TO ALL 35,000 EMPLOYEES.

ACROSS THE STATE, MORE THAN 4 MILLION RESIDENTS ARE NOW FULLY IMMUNIZED BUT FEDERAL HEALTH LEADERS STILL AREN'T IN AGREEMENT ABOUT JUST HOW LONG PROTECTION LASTS FROM THE COVID- 19 VACCINATION.

THE CEOs OF PFIZER AND MODERNA SAY A THIRD BOOSTER SHOT MAY BE NEEDED WITHIN A YEAR.

THE NATION'S LEADING INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT SAYS WE STILL DONE KNOW.

HOW'S THAT GOING TO PLAY OUT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE YET TO GET THEIR FIRST DOSE?

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> I WAS KIND OF HESITANT BECAUSE I HEARD SO MUCH NEGATIVE >> DESPITE POLICE GIVINGS.

SHE GOT HER SECOND DOSE OF PFIZER'S COVID VACCINE AT A POP UP CLINIC RUN BY HORIZON AND HOSTED BY SDA'S CHURCH OF THE ORANGES, SHE ORIGINALLY BALKED AT VACCINATIONS BUT CHANGED HER MIND AND WOULD TAKE A BOOSTER NOW.

IT'S A MATTER OF FAITH.

>> MY CHURCH WAS DOING IT.

MY DOCTOR TOLD ME I SHOULD DO IT TOO.

BECAUSE I HAVE UNDERLINING ISSUES.

>> EVEN THOUGH THERE'S SOME RESISTANCE, MY SENSE IS THAT IT'S BREAKING.

IT'S BREAKING AND PEOPLE ARE FALLING IN LINE.

>> PFIZER AND MODERNA CEOs PREDICTED WE'LL NEED A BOOSTER MAYBE AS SOON AS SEPTEMBER.

CLINICAL TRIALS ARE UNDER WAY TO DEVELOP SAFE AND EFFECTIVE SHOTS THAT COULD HELP STRENGTHEN PEOPLE'S IMMUNITY AND PROTECT AGAINST NEW AND POSSIBLY MORE DEADLY VARIANTS.

>> IMMUNE RESPONSES DON'T LAST FOREVER.

>> RUTGERS DEAN PERRY SAYS VIRUSES MUTATE AND IMMUNITY CAN FADE LEAVING FOLKS MORE VULNERABLE TO NEW STRAINS.

>> THE CEOs WOULD NOT BE MAKING A STATEMENT LIKE THAT IF THEY DIDN'T FEEL THERE WAS A WANING OF ANTIBODIES GOING ON OVER TIME AND THEREFORE ARE PREPARING FOR THE BOOSTER.

>> TRIALS STARTED IN JULY OF 2020.

A LOT OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN PHASE THREE TRIALS ARE BEYOND THE SIX MONTH MARK HEADING INTO ONE YEAR.

THEY SEEM TO BE MAINTAINING THEIR ANTIBODY LEVELS.

THEIR IMMUNITY AT A PRETTY HIGH RATE.

>> MONTCLAIR IMMUNOLOGIST NOTES THE VACCINES PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST MOST VARIANTS.

SPEEBLG THE QUESTION WILL BE WHAT NEW VARIANTS DEVELOP.

AND WE'RE SEEING THAT HAPPEN IN INDIA.

THAT BECOMES A MUCH BIGGER CONCERN IN TERMS OF BOOSTERS.

>> PEOPLE LIKE HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND LONG-TERM CARE CLIENTS WHO GOT VACCINATED EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC COULD LIKELY BE FIRST IN LINE FOR A THIRD SHOT.

MODERNA IS REPORTED LID DEVELOPING BOOSTERS THAT MIGHT TARGET SPECIFIC STRAINS.

>> BUT THERE'S NO SET RULE NOW THAT SAYS IN SIX MONTHS OR IN A YEAR WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE A BOOST.

WHAT WE DO IS WE FOLLOW THE DURABILITY OF THE RESPONSE.

WE KNOW WE CAN MEASURE IT BY LABORATORY TESTS.

BUT YOU CAN ALSO SEE IF THERE ARE BREAKTHROUGH INFECTION.

>> THE DIRECTOR OF RUTGERS CLINICAL MODERNA TRIAL SAYS MESSENGER RNA VACCINES AREN'T THAT HARD TO TWEAK.

>> YOU CAN JUST MODIFY THE MESSENGER RNA TO THE STRAIN OF CONCERN OR STRAINS PLURAL OF CONCERN.

SUCH THAT MAYBE A POTENTIAL BOOSTER SHOT COULD POSSIBLY COVER MULTIPLE DIFFERENT VARIANTS.

>> BUT CREATING A VACCINE DOESN'T MEAN PEOPLE WILL TAKE IT.

>> I'M 100% CERTAIN THIS WILL HAPPEN, THE PROPORTION OF PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY GO BACK FOR THEIR BOOSTER WILL BE LESS THAN THE PROPORTION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED.

>> IT'S REALLY CHALLENGING TO SAY THAT YES, THE BOOSTER IS THE NEXT STEP.

WE'RE REALLY NOT SURE.

BUT IF THAT IS THE CASE, HORIZON WILL CORRAL RIGHT BEHIND IT JUST AS WE DID WITH THE VACCINES.

>> POTENTIALLY NEXT YEAR, WE MIGHT HAVE TO COME BACK AND DO SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT WE JUST DID.

SO IT'S THE REALITY OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

>> ABOUT HALF THE CONGREGATION IS VACCINATED HERE AT CHURCH OF THE ORANGES.

BUT ONLY 1/3 OF ITS 700 OR SO CONGREGATES GATHER WEEKLY FOR SERVICES.

THE PASTOR SAYS HE WANTS TO SEE A 75% VACCINATION RATE PLUS BOOSTERS IF NECESSARY BEFORE HE'LL CALL EVERYONE BACK TOGETHER.

>> THE MAJORITY OF SCHOOL AGE KIDS ARE STILL NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A COVID-19 SHOT.

THOUGH THAT COULD CHANGE COME SEPTEMBER.

UNTIL THEN, REACTION IS MIXED AMONG THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY OVER THE CDC'S NEW MASK WEARING GUIDANCE.

BOTH THE NJEA AND AFT, THE LARGEST UNIONS REPRESENTING TEACHERS IN NEW JERSEY AND NATIONALLY ARE CALLING FOR MASK REQUIREMENTS TO CONTINUE IN SCHOOLS.

EVEN AS WE EMERGE FROM THIS PANDEMIC WITH JUST UNDER 700 NEW CONFIRMED CASES BEING REPORTED TODAY AND 17 MORE DEATHS.

BUT ONE SUPERINTENDENT IN OCEAN COUNTY DOESN'T AGREE WITH KEEPING THE MANDATE IN PLACE.

CENTRAL REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT TRIANTA PENNED A LETTER TO GOVERNOR MURPHY SAYING IT'S TIME FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO DITCH THE MASKS.

>> SO YOU REACH OUT TO THE GOVERNOR, ASKED HIM TO LIFT THIS MANDATE ON MASKS, AT THE SAME TIME THOUGH, SUPERINTENDENT, THE STATE IS KEEPING THE MANDATE IN PLACE INDOORS ELSEWHERE.

WHY SHOULD IT BE DIFFERENT IN SCHOOLS ?

>> IT'S TIME.

TIME TO GET THE MASKS OFF.

I THINK NEW JERSEYIANS ARE SMART ENOUGH TO BE SAFE AND KEEP A DISTANCE IF THEY HAVE ISSUES AT HOME.

EVERYBODY THAT WANTED TO BE VACCINATED HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET VACCINATED.

I JUST THINK THE TIMING OF IT.

WE HAVE TO RETURN TO NORMALCY.

RIGHT NOW, UNLESS HE LIFTS EXECUTIVE ORDER 175, I'D LIKE TO START NEXT YEAR AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT MASKS AND HAVE KIDS BE KIDS AGAIN.

BECAUSE THE ILL ILL EFFECTS OF WEARING THE MASKS ARE WORSE THAN NOT WEARING THE MASKS.

>> WAS THERE PRESSURE FROM THE COMMUNITY FROM YOUR STAFF FROM FACULTY.

>> WE HAD PRESSURE, THERE'S A GROUP PRIMARILY IN OCEAN COUNTY THAT'S BEEN GOING AROUND TO EVERY LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD CALLED MASKS OFF.

CHALLENGING SCHOOL BOARDS TO TAKE THE MASKS OFF.

AND I TOLD HIM IT'S NOT OUR DECISION.

YOU HAVE TO GET IT THROUGH THE GOVERNOR OR THE STATE BORE OF ED.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE YOU SHOULD FOCUS YOUR EFFORTS ON.

SO WE SAID WE'D BE HAPPY TO HELP.

SO THAT'S WHY WE WROTE THE LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR.

>> THE CDC'S LATEST DATA SHOWS THE COUNTY ANY WAY HAS ABOUT 36% OF ALL RESIDENTS VACCINATED.

SO NOT AN EXTREMELY HIGH NUMBER, DO YOU FEEL CONFIDENT KNOWING THAT NUMBER, THAT 36% NUMBER OF VACCINATION RATE.

>> I DO ACTUALLY I GOT THE COVID, I WENT TO BEING WITH THE SENIORS, AND I GOT COVID AS WELL.

AND IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME BECAUSE I'M OVERWEIGHT AND I HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

I THINK THE NUMBERS HAVE GONE DOWN.

AND YOU SEE OTHER STATES WHERE THEY HAVE NO MASKS.

AND TEXAS HAD ZERO DEATHS FROM COVID THIS PAST MAY.

I THINK YESTERDAY.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE PROOF.

THERE'S YOUR SCIENTIFIC NUMBERS.

I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVE TO WEAR MASKS IN JERSEY.

>> DO YOU SHARE, SUPERINTENDENT, ANY OF THE SAME CONCERNS AS THE NJEA, THE AFT WHO HAVE SAID LISTEN, WE DON'T HAVE GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOLS YET FROM THE CDC ABOUT MASK WEARING IN SOME OF THESE SAFETY MEASURES, NONE OF THAT HAS CHANGED FOR SCHOOLS.

THIS IS ABOUT THE PUBLIC.

AND OF COURSE THIS VIRUS AFFECTS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, SHAPES, AND SIZES.

>> OBVIOUSLY, LISTEN, I CAN'T VIOLATE THE LAW, I TELL MY KIDS YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CHANGE THE LAW.

AND THEN HOPEFULLY WHEN GUIDANCE COMES OUT WITH THE CDC AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET BACK TO NORMAL.

BUT IF YOU DON'T LIKE SOMETHING, YOU DO IT THE RIGHT WAY, AND THAT'S GOING TO THE GOVERNOR.

GOING TO THE STATE BOARD OF ED, AND HOPEFULLY MAKING CHANGE THE RIGHT WAY, BUT IF THE LAWS DONE CHANGE, WE HAVE TO OBEY THE LAWS.

>> SUPERINTENDENT, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, ENJOY.

>> THE MAKEUP OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE COULD LOOK A BIT DIFFERENT AFTER THIS YEAR'S ELECTION, ALL 120 SEATS ARE UP FOR GRABS.

IN SOUTH JERSEY, THE BATTLEGROUND SECOND DISTRICT IS AMONG ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE PRIMARY RACES NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS FOLLOWING.

IT'S ONE OF THE FEW DISTRICTS IN THE STATE WHERE REPRESENTATION IS SPLIT AMONG BOTH PARTIES DESPITE DEMOCRATS HOLDING A SLIGHT LEAD IN REGISTERED VOTEDDERS AND THIS YEAR ALL EYES ARE ON AN OPEN SENATE SEAT.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ REPORTS.

>>> THE SECOND DISTRICT IS ONE OF THOSE RARE SPLIT DISTRICTS.

THE SENATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS BROWN IS A REPUBLICAN, WHILE THE ASSEMBLY REPRESENTATIVES ARE BOTH DEMOCRATS.

BROWN IS RETIRING FROM THE STATE SENATE THIS YEAR.

DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLYMAN VINCE MAZIO IS RUNNING FOR THE SEAT UNOPPOSED.

LEAVING MOST OF THE INTERESTS FOR THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, FORMER ASSEMBLYMAN VINCE BACK ON THE BALLOT AFTER A TEN-YEAR LAYOFF FACES ATTORNEY SETH GROSSMANN WHO GAVE JEFF VANDREW A RUN FOR HIS MONEY IN THE 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RACE DESPITE CONTROVERSIES REGARDING HIS COMMENTS ON RACE AND OTHER ISSUES.

>> IF THE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T STAB ME IN THE BACK I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN CONGRESS.

BUT NOW IT'S LIKE GROUND HOG DAY, WE'RE DOING IT OVER AGAIN, AND I'M HOPING THAT THE REPUBLICANS WON'T BE AS COWARDLY AND STUPID THIS TIME AS THEY WERE THREE YEARS AGO IN REPEATING THE DEMOCRAT LIES.

>> THAT'S SOME CLASSIC SETH GROSSMANN, CAUSTIC WHERE PAULISTINA IS MORE MEASURED BY COMPARISON.

>> THERE ARE STATEMENTS THAT I WOULDN'T MAKE THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE PAST, I DON'T AGREE WITH THEM.

ICON I, CONDEMN THEM.

BUT THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS COMMUNICATE TO THE VOTERS OF DISTRICT TWO WHAT I THINK IS BEST AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

>> THIS DISTRICT IS SLIGHTLY MORE DEMOCRATIC BUT ITS VOTERS ARE MOSTLY UNAFFILIATED.

NAY ELECTED JEFF VAN DREW TO CONGRESS AS A DEMOCRAT AND REELECTED HIM AS A REPUBLICAN TWO YEARS LATER.

IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY THIS YEAR THROW, VOTERS COULD BE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE LIKE GROSSMANN WHO'S A DEEPER SHADE OF RED.

>> PRIMARY ELECTION SEEMS TO BE HIS BAILIWICK.

IT SEEMS TO BE WHERE HE CAN, YOU KNOW, PLAY TO HAVE SOME OF HIS STRENGTHS AND ENTHUSIASMS OF REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS.

SMALLER TURN OUT.

YOU CAN HAVE A GREATER IMPACT.

WHEN YOU GET INTO THE MUCH LARGER TURN OUT OF A GENERAL ELECTION, YOU WOULD EXPECT GROSSMANN TO STRUGGLE.

>> MAZIO HAS GOTTEN FLAK FOR SUPPORTING THE ATLANTIC CITY TAKE OVER FIVE YEARS AGO.

TODAY HE'S PUSHING TO EXTEND THE TAKE OVER AND FINDS HIMSELF ON THE DEFENSIVE FOR SUPPORTING A NEW PILOT PLAN THAT'S PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES FOR CASINOS WHICH OPPONENTS SAY SHORTCHANGES LOCAL TAX TAXPAYERS.

>> WE HAVE TO TAKE A PAUSE ON THAT AND DO SOMETHING OF SUBSTANCE THAT MAKES SURE THE TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC CITY AND THE COUNTY GET TREATED RIGHT WHATEVER THE NEW BILL IS GOING TO BE.

>> THAT'S FOR NOVEMBER'S DEBATES THOUGH.

RIGHT NOW THIS IS PRIMARY SEASON.

AND MOST EYES ARE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

WHERE VOTERS HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN THIS -- >> ARE YOU A REPUBLICAN WHO BELIEVES THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS ELECTED FAIRLY AND SQUARELY?

>> I DO THINK THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE WERE ENOUGH INVESTIGATIONS THAT WE CAN SAY THAT THE ELECTION WAS FAIR.

>> AND THIS.

>> WHY IS ANY OF THAT RELEVANT?

>> IT'S RELEVANT TO VOTERS WHO WANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU STAND ON AN ISSUE THAT CAUSED A NEAR INSURRECTION IN JANUARY.

>> YOU MEAN THE INSURRECTION THAT TOOK PLACE WHEN STORES WERE LOOTED IN ATLANTIC CITY.

>> NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE INSURRECTION THAT TOOK PLACE WHEN PEOPLE STORMED THE CAPITOL.

>> OH WHEN THEY WALKED INTO THE CAPITOL AND THEY TOOK SELFIES OF THEMSELVES AND YEAH, OKAY.

>> I'M DAVID CRUZ, FY SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> CITIES AND TOWNS ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS WHEN IT COMES TO THE LEGAL SALE OF POT.

THEY'VE GOT EXACTLY THREE MONTHS FROM TODAY TO DETERMINE IF THEY'LL WELCOME RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA BUSINESSES WITH OPEN ARMS, SET LIMITS THROUGH NEW ORDINANCES OR JUST BAN WEED SALES ALL TOGETHER.

THE STATE LAW GIVES EACH MUNICIPALITY THE POWER TO CONTROL MEDICAL AND LEGAL MARIJUANA BUSINESSES AND AS JANINE DONALDSON REPORTS, IF TOWNS DO NOTHING, THEY MAY BE STUCK WITH THAT CHOICE FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA BECAME LEGAL IN NEW JERSEY IN FEBRUARY.

NOW TOWNS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO ALLOW DISPENSARIES BY AUGUST 21st.

BRIDGEWATER MAYOR, MATTHEW SAYS IT'S FRUSTRATING AND POOR PLANNING.

>> EVERY MUNICIPALITY SHOULD BE BANNING MARIJUANA RIGHT NOW.

NOT BECAUSE EVERY MUNICIPALITY IS AGAINST LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN THEIR TOWN BUT HOW AS A MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL CAN YOU POSSIBLY PLAN AND ADDRESS LOCAL ZONING AND REGULATORY ISSUES IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE RULES.

>> THE PROBLEM IS THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION ALSO HAS UNTIL AUGUST 21st TO ANNOUNCE ITS REGULATIONS.

>> A TOWN ISN'T GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO DECIDE HOW THEY WANT TO PROCEED UNTIL THE CRC ISSUES IT REGULATIONS, AND IF THAT'S 20 MINUTES BEFORE THIS DEADLINE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND AND DIGEST AND THINK THIS THROUGH CAREFULLY.

>> MANY TOWNS ARE CHOOSING TO OPT OUT BY ADOPTING THEIR OWN ORDINANCES, MICHAEL SARA WITH THE LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES SAYS THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS.

>> IT'S NOT JUST SAYING NO.

IN SOME CASES AN OPT OUT MIGHT BE MAYBE LATER.

AND I THINK IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT'S A PRUDENT DECISION.

YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO OPT IN LATER.

>> TOWNS CAN OPT IN TO HAVING THE SAME RULES AS A CRC, TOWNS THAT DON'T MAKE A DECISION ARE AUTOMATICALLY OPTED IN AND CAN'T CHANGE THEIR RULE FOR FIVE YEARS.

>> OUR FEELING WAS BAN IT NOW.

YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE RULES ARE.

YOU CAN SEE HOW IT'S IMPLEMENTED IN OTHER TOWNS AND THEN DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE POLICY.

>> WILDWOOD MAYOR PETE SAYS THEY'RE WORKING TO PASS AN ORDINANCE BANNING DISPENSARIES BECAUSE THEY TOO DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION.

>> THERE'S CERTAINLY A LOT OF QUESTIONS RELATIVE TO THE ZONING REQUIREMENTS.

HOW MANY LICENSES WOULD BE PERMITTED PER MUNICIPALITY.

WHAT THE NUMBER OF LICENSES WOULD BE BASED ON.

A LOT OF POLICE ISSUES.

POLICE WOULD NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO RELATIVE TO A MINOR THAT'S BEEN PULLED OVER OR STOPPED FOR CANNABIS USE.

>> SOME PEOPLE IN SUMMERVILLE AND BRIDGEWATER SAY THEY DON'T MIND HAVING A DISPENSARY.

>> I THINK IT'S MUCH LESS HARMFUL THAN LIQUOR.

IF THERE'S LIQUOR STORES HERE, I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE A MARIJUANA STORE.

>> I THINK AS LONG AS IT'S BEING CONTROLLED AND DONE RESPONSIBLY.

LET THE PEOPLE GET WHAT HEY WANT.

WHY STAND IN THE WAY OF PROGRESS?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S ANY WORSE THAN ALCOHOL.

AND IT SHOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE.

>> BUT NOT EVERYONE AGREES.

>> I PERSONALLY WOULDN'T WANT IT.

THAT'S MY FEELING.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO REALLY HAVE.

ALL THE ISSUES GOING ON.

THAT'S NOT REALLY SOMETHING TO ME THAT WOULD ENHANCE PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> MAYOR BYRON SAYS IT'S A DECISION RESIDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE ON.

>> WHERE IT'S HAVING CONTROVERSY IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANTS IT AREN'T SO SURE THEY WANT A DISPENSARY IN THEIR TOWN.

I THINK THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SECOND QUESTION, IN THE EVENT THAT YOU'RE FOR IT, WOULD YOU BE OKAY FOR A DISPENSARY IN YOUR TOWN, BOTH MAYORS SAY IT'S ABOUT PERCEPTION AND WHAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT DISPENSARIES WILL CREATE.

>> I THINK THE KNEE GASHING REACTION IS TOO QUICK.

I THINK COMMUNITIES SHOULD EDUCATE THEMSELVES ON WHAT THESE DISPENSARIES LOOK LIKE, HOW THEY'RE MARKETED.

HOW THEY ARE RUN AND ORGANIZED.

>> MAYORS SAY IT TAKES EIGHT WEEKS TO PASS AN ORDINANCE SO TOWNS CAN'T WAIT UNTIL AUGUST TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO.

I'M JANINE DONALDSON FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THE STATE'S SHARE OF THE LATEST FEDERAL AID PACKAGE LANDED.

NOW QUESTIONS ARE MOUNTING ABOUT THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION'S CONTROL OVER THAT MONEY.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE LATEST IN TONIGHT'S BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> NEW JERSEY IS NOW SITTING ON MORE THAN 6 BILLION COLLARS IN NEW FEDERAL FUNDS, THE MONEY IS NEW JERSEY'S SHARE OF THE LATEST ROUND OF COVID RELIEF MONEY.

HOW THAT MONEY GETS SPENT IS UP FOR DEBATE.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS' JOHN REITMEIER SAYS LAWMAKERS WANT MORE SAY IN THE DECISION MAKING PROGRESS.

>> THE ARGUMENT IS BEING MADE THAT WE'RE NO LONGER REALLY IN THE HARDEST MONTHS OF AN EMERGENCY.

WE'RE NOW PLANNING FOR THE LONG- TERM RECOVERY.

AND SO FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF LAWMAKERS, THAT MAKES THIS MORE OF A TRADITIONAL APPROPRIATION WHICH THEY HAVE FAR MORE CONTROL OVER THAN AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION WHICH GENERALLY THE GOVERNOR AND THE ADMINISTRATION TAKES CONTROL OF.

>> SOME OF THE IDEAS FLOATING AROUND INCLUDE PROVIDING MORE AID TO BUSINESSES AND SHORING UP THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND.

WHICH HAS BEEN DEPLETED DUE TO A HIGH NUMBER OF WORKERS GOING ON UNEMPLOYMENT OVER THE PAST YEAR.

YOU CAN FIND MORE DETAILS ON JOHN'S STORY AT NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG.

>>> THE STATE KNORR HAS NOW FORMALLY INTRODUCED A BILL REQUIRING NEW JERSEY'S ONE-STOP CAREER CENTERS TO REOPEN IMMEDIATELY.

SENATOR KRISTEN SAYS THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM CONTINUES TO FAIL THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET THEIR CLAIMS RESOLVED OVER THE PHONE OR THROUGH THE WEBSITE.

SHE SAYS WITH THE NEW CDC GUIDELINES IN PLACE, THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR THE GOVERNOR NOT REOPENING THE OFFICES.

AND NEW UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS CONTINUE TO RISE IN NEW JERSEY.

AN ADVANCED REPORT OF INITIAL UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS FILED LAST WEEK ROSE BY MORE THAN 30% IN THE STATE ACCORDING TO FEDERAL DATA.

THE EQUIVALENT FIGURE FOR THE U.S. OVER ALL WAS A DROP OF 7.6%.

THE DEADLINE IS FAST APPROACHING FOR RESTAURANTS TO APPLY TO A GRANT PROGRAM OFFERED BY THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

THE SBA'S RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND WILL STOP ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS ON MONDAY.

$6BILLION IN FUNDING HAS ALL READY BEEN HANDED OUT TO 38,000 RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

HERE'S A CHECK ON THE WALL STREET TRADING DAY.

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

>>> AND JOIN RHONDA SCHAFFLER THIS WEEKEND FOR NJ BUSINESS BEAT.

SHE MAKES SENSE OF HIGH-TECH FINANCIAL TERMS LIKE NONFUNGIBLE TOKENS AND CRYPTO CURRENCY, THEIR GROWING POPULARITY, AND HOW THEY'RE CHANGING THE WAY YOUR MONEY WORKS.

YOU CAN FIND IT ON NJ PBS SATURDAY AT 5:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 9:30:00 A.M. 2020 WASN'T JUST A SIGNIFICANT YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

IT ALSO BROUGHT ABOUT PROTESTS OVER RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

A HIGHLY CONTENTIOUS ELECTION AND POLITICAL CYCLE.

DRIVING UP HIGHER RATES OF HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT FOR A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING JEWISH RESIDENTS AT A TIME WHEN OUR NATION WAS IN LOCK DOWN, ADVOCACY GROUPS TRACKED THE THIRD HIGHEST RATE OF ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS ON RECORD IN NEW JERSEY.

A PROBLEM THAT EXISTED LONG BEFORE COVID-19.

LEAH MICHIGAN REPORTS AS PART OF EXPLORING HATE, OR ONGOING SERIES ON ANTI-SEMITISM, RACISM, AND EXTREMISM.

>> ADVOCATES SAY IT'S BEEN BREWING FOR YEARS.

>> NEW JERSEY IS ONE OF THE HOT SPOTS IN THE COUNTRY.

SPHEEK IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2019 THE FBI HATE CRIME REPORT SHOWED OF THE 1715 VICTIMS OF ANTI RELIGIOUS HATE CRIMES, 60.2% WERE VICTIM OF CRIMES MOTIVATED BY OFFENDER'S ANTI JEWISH BIAS.

A NEW PUIG RESEARCH POLL TRACKING RESPONSES FROM U.S. JEWS IN 2019 FOUND CONCERNS ABOUT ANTI-SEMITISM HAVE RISEN AMONG AMERICAN JEWS.

THREE QUARTERS SAY THERE'S MORE ANTI-SEMITISM IN THE UNITED STATES THAN THERE WAS FIVE YEARS AGO.

DAN IS COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND ISRAEL FEDERATION MANAGER IN THE HEART OF NEW JERSEY.

>> A LOT OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN COMES FROM WITHIN THE SCHOOLS.

BETWEEN K THROUGH 12.

WHICH IS DISTURBING.

AND WHICH IS A SIGN THAT MORE EDUCATION IS NEEDED.

>> A DECREASE IN ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS IN 2019 TO 2020 IN NEW JERSEY THE DIRECTOR FOR THE REGION SAYS THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERABLY HIGHER WERE IT NOT FOR THE LOCK DOWN AND SCHOOL CLOSURES.

>> THE TRAJECTORY WAS THERE.

WE COULD SEE IN JANUARY OF FEBRUARY OF 2020 THAT IT WAS A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE OVER THOSE SAME NUMBERS FOR 2019.

2019 WAS A HISTORICALLY HIGH YEAR FOR ANTI-SEMITISM ACROSS THE NATION AND NEW JERSEY.

>> TREND IS THE SAME ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

THE REPORT SHOWS A 4% DECREASE OF INCIDENTS FROM 2019 TO 2020.

BUT EVEN IN A PANDEMIC, IT WAS STILL THE THIRD HIGHEST NUMBER ON RECORD.

SINCE ADL BEGAN TRACKING ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS IN 1979.

FAST FORWARD TO APRIL 2021.

AND THE REIGNITING OF CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS.

REPORTS SAY ATTACKS AGAINST BOTH JEWS AND PALESTINIANS HAVE RISEN GLOBALLY AS A RESULT.

>> IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE IRA DEFINITION OF ANTI-SEMITISM IN THAT WORKING DEFINITION HOLDING JEWS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN ISRAEL IS CONSIDERED ANTI-SEMITISM.

WARNING VIDEOS OF THE ATTACKS YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE MIGHT BE DISTURBING.

EARLIER THIS WEEK IN WEST HOLLYWOOD CALIFORNIA.

>> WE WERE HERE OUTSIDE SUSHI FUMI IN WEST HOLLYWOOD, A GROUP OF PALESTINIANS, ABOUT 30 OF THEM JUMPED OUT OF A CAR AND ASKED WHO WAS JEWISH.

TWO GUYS SAID THEY WERE.

AND THEY PROCEEDED TO BEAT THEM UP.

>> SOME OF THE MORE RECENT ATTACKS AGAINST JEWS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

EARLIER THIS WEEK IN MIAMI.

MAYOR GABRIEL GROSSMANN TWEETS YESTERDAY EVENING A JEWISH FAMILY FROM NEW JERSEY WAS TAKING A WALK IN BELL HARBOR WHEN ACCORDING TO THE VISITORS, AN SUV PULLED UP TO THEM AND BEGAN SCREAMING ANTISEMITIC PROFANITIES, FU JEW, DIE JEW, FREE PALESTINE AND THREATENED TO RAPE THE WOMAN BEFORE THROWING DEBRIS OUT THE WINDOW.

VILE VERBAL ASSAULTS AND FIRE WORKS DIRECTED AT JEWS.

ACCORDING TO THE ADL, IN THE WEEK AFTER THE CRISIS BEGAN, THERE WERE 193 REPORTED INSIDE TENTS IN THE UNITED STATES COMPARED TO 131 THE PREVIOUS WEEK.

HAMAS AND ISRAEL HAVE AGREED TO A CEASEFIRE.

RICHMOND SAYS IT'S ALSO HAPPENING ONLINE.

DISTURBING CLIPS LIKE THIS ONE IN MILAN, ITALY.

>> SINCE THE OUTBREAK, WE'VE SEEN 17,000 TWEETS WHICH USE THE VARIATION OF THE PHRASE HITLER WAS RIGHT.

BASICALLY BETWEEN MAY 7th.

AND MAY 14.

HATE AGAINST ANY OF US, WE SHOULD ALL BE SHOCKED BY.

PEOPLE NEED TO USE THEIR BULLY PULPIT AND SAY THIS IS WRONG.

PEOPLE SHOULD BE REPORTING HATE.

THEY SHOULD BE REPORTING MISINFORMATION.

>> DAN SAYS THEY'RE PREPARED IF INDEED THEY SEE SIMILAR EVENTS HAPPEN IN JANUARY.

A COMMUNITY ALERT SYSTEM WAS ALL READY IN THE WORKS, AND THEY'RE IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THEY HAVE ALSO REACHED OUT TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST THE ANTISEMITIC RHETORIC HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR EXPLORING HATE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY, THE SYLVIA A AND SIMON B PORTER PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.

THE PETER G PETERSON AND JOE GANTTS, COONEY FUND.

>>> CATCH UP ON ANY OF THE BIG STORIES YOU MISSED THIS WEEK ON REPORTER'S ROUND TABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ THAT'S SATURDAY AT 6:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:00 A.M. ON NJ PBS ALONG WITH CHAT BOX THAT AIRS SATURDAY AT 6:30 AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:30:00 A.M.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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

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