>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCATION, 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 NJPBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> MORE COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOT OPTIONS COULD SHOULD BE AVAILABLE.

THE NEWS TODAY, FROM JOHNSON & JOHNSON THAT THE COMPANY WILL ASK FEDERAL REGULATORS EARLY THIS WEEK FOR AUTHORIZATION OF A BOOSTER DOSE FOR ITS CORONAVIRUS VACCINE.

THE DRUGMAKER IS THE LAST AMONG THE THREE MAKERS TO ASK FOR A GREEN LIGHT ON EXTRA INJECTIONS, AND GROWING DATA SHOW THAT OLDER ADULTS AND OTHER HIGH-RISK GROUPS CAN BENEFIT FROM THE ADDED LAYER OF PROTECTION.

AND, AN FDA ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED TO MEET OCTOBER 14th AND 15th TO DISCUSS WHETHER TO GIVE EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION TO MODERNA IN NJ.

MEANWHILE, A RECOMMENDATION FOR VACCINES AND YOUNGER KIDS AGE 5 TO 11 MAY COME FROM REGULATORS WITHIN WEEKS.

THE STATE IS PUSHING FOR ANYONE ELIGIBLE TO GET THEIR SHOT JUST SHY OF 5.9 MILLION PEOPLE ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED IN THE STATE.

THAT IS JUST ABOUT 75% OF ALL ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS, ACCORDING TO THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

WITH ANOTHER ROUGHLY 1100 CONFIRMED CASES REPORTED TODAY, AND 9 MORE DEATHS.

LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE FEELING THE PINCH, WORKING WITH DEPLETED RESOURCES AND DWINDLING ENERGY.

A YEAR AND HALF INTO THIS PANDEMIC.

THE STATE SAYS LOCAL AND COUNTY DEPARTMENTS RECEIVED MORE THAN $56 MILLION IN FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING FOR THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

BUT, SR.

CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS THE DOLLARS MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH.

>> THE PUBLIC IS GETTING INCREASINGLY ANGRY AT US.

WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO DO OUR JOB.

>> Reporter: MEGAN HAS A STATEWIDE ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL HEALTH OFFICERS.

SHE SAYS THE ANGRY POLITICAL PUSHBACK ON TOP OF BACKBREAKING WORKLOADS AT LOPE HAVE CREATED TOXIC CONDITIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTHCARE STAFFERS AS THIS PANDEMIC PILES INSULT UPON INJURY.

>> WHEN YOU FEEL THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN PART OF THE PUBLIC WHO JUST DOES NOT SUPPORT YOUR MISSION, WHICH IS REALLY TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY, I THINK THAT THAT IS REALLY TOUGH FOR MORALE.

>> IN ADDITION TO HAVING THE BURNOUT FROM SEEING ALL OF THIS DEATH, WE ARE NOW SEEING PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING BOMBARDED BY POLITICIANS WHO ARE MAKING THEIR WORK SEEM USELESS.

THEY SPREAD FALSEHOODS ABOUT VACCINATIONS, AND IT JUST ADDS TO THIS FEELING OF HELPLESSNESS, AND BURNOUT.

>> Reporter: SO, HOW WOULD THE DIRECTORS LEADING PUBLIC HEALTH SCHOOL GRADE THE STATE OF PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE IN NEW JERSEY?

>> A D SIMPLY BECAUSE WE BEADED UP.

>> Reporter: IN A CDC SURVEY MORE THAN 26,000 PUBLIC HEALTH STAFFERS REPORTED MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS LIKE DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND PTSD.

24% FELT HOLY, THREATENED, HARASSED.

ALMOST 60% HAD WORKED OVER 41 HOURS A WEEK SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED IN MARCH OF 2020.

>> WE USE THE SCHOOL NURSES TO BACKFILL OUR INNOVATION CONNECTS, BUT THE SCHOOL NURSES ARE SO OVERWORKED THIS TIME AROUND FROM THE CONTACT TRACING THAT THEY ARE DOING DURING THE REGULAR JOB.

THEY ARE JUST NOT INTERESTED, EVEN THOUGH THE PAY IS PRETTY GOOD.

>> PEOPLE ARE ONLY IN CRISIS IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> CAMDEN'S DR. PASCAL SAYS PUBLIC HEALTH AID MONEY TANK STATEWIDE IN 2010 AFTER THE H1N1 FLU PANDEMIC TAPERED OFF.

HIS DEPARTMENT WORKFORCE PLUNGED FROM 300 TO JUST 80, AND THEN COVID HIT.

GOVERNMENTS STARTED INFUSING DOLLARS INTO LOCAL HEALTH OFFICES, BUT IT ARRIVED LONG AFTER THE COVID VIRUS, LEADING DEPARTMENTS UNDERSTAFFED, UNDERTRAINED, AND UNPREPARED.

>> BECAUSE OF THE FUNDING THAT WE DID NOT GET, AT THE BEGINNING, WHICH WE DID NOT HAVE OVER THE YEARS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, CONTACT TRACING AND THIS INVESTIGATION DID NOT STOP.

AND, PEOPLE DIED BECAUSE OF THAT.

>> I KNOW THAT THIS IS A TREMENDOUS BURDEN ON PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH HAS BEEN SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED FOR A LONG TIME NOW.

>> I STRONGLY BELIEVE PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING NEEDS TO BE RESTORED.

>> Reporter: PATTERSONS HEALTH OFFICER SAYS THE FEDERAL PIPELINES PUFFED COVERT AGENTS TO STATES THAT GRANT MONEY THAT EXPIRES AFTER TWO OR THREE YEARS WON'T HELP TO PERMANENTLY RESUSCITATE PUBLIC HEALTH ANEMIC INFRASTRUCTURE, OR PROPERLY TRAINED DESPERATELY NEEDED STAFF.

>> WE KNOW FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE HALF THE STAFF HAVE NO PUBLIC HEALTH TRAINING.

AND, THEN WE ARE EXPECTING THEM TO DO THIS VERY PUBLIC HEALTH WORK.

AND, FOR THAT, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THEM.

>> DIRECTORS DEAN PARISE IS A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY COULD HELP HIS SCHOOL CERTIFY MORE LOCAL STAFFERS BUT, THE STATE NEEDS TO PROVIDE CONTINUED FUNDING THAT DOES NOT DRY UP WHEN COVERT INFECTION RATES DROP.

GOVERNOR MURPHY'S REACTION?

>> IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO GET RESOURCES TO THEM, WE WILL.

WE'VE DONE THAT.

IF WE NEED TO DO MORE, WE WILL DO THAT.

THEY'VE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES.

JUDY, YOU WORK WITH LOCAL HEALTH OFFICES UP AND DOWN THE STATE.

>> THEY ARE TIRED AND WEARY AS MANY PEOPLE ARE.

BUT, THEY KEEP ON GOING AND AGAIN, THERE IS NO WORDS, ENOUGH WORDS OF GRATITUDE FOR THE WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING.

>> I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE MEDICAL REPORT IS PROVIDED BY HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> A NATIONWIDE RALLY IN DEFENSE OF REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

TOWNS ACROSS NEW JERSEY IN THE COUNTRY HAVE WOMAN'S MARCHES ON SATURDAY, THE RESTRICTIVE NEW ABORTION LAW IN TEXAS, CALLING FROM HER PROTECTIONS TO ABORTION ACCESS.

THE ISSUE HAS BECOME A POLITICAL LIGHTNING ROD IN THIS YEAR'S GUBERNATORIAL RACE WITH GOVERNOR MURPHY SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE STATES REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ACT FOR ROUGHLY A YEAR, NOW BUT, THE BILL HAS YET TO GET EVEN A COMMITTEE HEARING, PUTTING IT MILES AWAY FROM A LEGISLATIVE VOTE, OR LANDING ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL COMMUNITIES, ALL OF NEW JERSEYANS HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, ESPECIALLY REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE.

>> THAT WAS THE MESSAGE THAT WAS SHARED THIS WEEKEND THAT ONE OF TWO WOMAN'S MARCHES HELD HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TOOK TO THE STREETS IN MONTCLAIR, AND PROTESTED THE RECENT TEXAS BAN ON ABORTIONS AFTER 6 WEEKS, AND IT'S A PART OF A BILL PENDING THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ACT.

THAT'S BECOME SOMEWHAT OF A CENTERPIECE IN NEW JERSEY'S GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN.

>> WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT ALTHOUGH THERE ARE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IN THE STATE, THERE IS CASE LAW WHICH IS ENTIRE ON THE BACK OF ROE V WADE.

IF ROE V WADE IS IMPAIRED, THAT ENTIRE PROTECTION IN PLACE WILL FALL DOWN LIKE A HOUSE OF CARDS.

ROMAN GOVERNOR MURPHY STIRRED THE CUPBOARD A REMINDER THAT THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT COULD OVERTURN OR SIGNIFICANTLY CHIP AWAY AT ABORTION RIGHTS IN THE UPCOMING CASE AGAINST MISSISSIPPI THAT HAS BANNED ABORTIONS AFTER 15 WEEKS.

IN A RECENT DEBATE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES, REVOKING, JACK CHEERILY OFFERED HIS TAKE ON THE RECENT TEXAS BEEN.

>> DO NOT SUPPORT THE LAW IN TEXAS.

I CONSIDER THAT A FORM OF EXTREMISM.

BUT, I TELL YOU WHAT ELSE CAN I CONSIDER A FORM OF EXTREMISM, THE BILL THAT HE WANTS ON HIS DESK THAT HIS OWN DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP WON'T POST.

IT IS A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW ABORTION IN MONTHS 7, 8 AND 9, PERFORMED BY SOMEBODY OTHER THAN EMPTY.

>>'S CAMPAIGN WEBSITE SUPPORTS A 20 WEEK BAN ON ABORTIONS, BUT THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS.

I WILL NOT FORCE A VICTIM OF OR INCEST TO CARRY A PREGNANCY TO FULL TERM, HIS WEBSITE READS.

NORMALIZE SUPPORT POLICIES THAT REQUIRE AN EXPECTANT MOTHER TO RISK YOUR LIFE OR FACE HEALTH RISKS FOR CARRYING A PREGNANCY TO TERM.

THESE ARE THE VERY REASONS WHY LATER ABORTIONS ARE ALLOWED IN THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ACT.

>> THAT IS JUST NOT SIMPLY HOW ABORTION WORKS PRETTY WOMAN JUST IS NOT WAKE UP ONE MORNING AND DECIDED SHE NO LONGER WANTS TO BE PREGNANT AND THEN SHE IS COUNTED AS A CHILD FOR SIX MONTHS.

TERMINATING A PRESENT HE PREGNANCY YET SEVEN, EIGHT, OR NINE MONTHS FOR NO REASON IS A COMPLETE FALLACY.

>> IS ISSUE PLEASE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, AND IN THE UPCOMING SUPREME COURT CASE, FEMALE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP ROLES HERE IN NEW JERSEY HAVE BEGUN SHARING THEIR PERSONAL STORIES WITH ABORTION, INCLUDING SOME SPEAKERS AT THE MONTCLAIR EVENT THIS WEEKEND, AS MARLEY DESCRIBES.

>> ENCASES LIKE, HIS WAS NOT VIABLE.

MAKING A DIFFICULT DECISION.

RIGHT?

OR, IN RHONDA'S CASE WERE SHE WAS TWICE.

AND DID NOT WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE CHILD.

RIGHT?

AND MADE THAT DECISION.

DOES NOT REGRET THAT DECISION.

>> SHE POINTS TO A RECENT POLL THAT SHOWS 62% OF AMERICANS DON'T WANT TO SEE ROE V WADE OVERTURNED BY THE SUPREME COURT.

THERE ARE 31 WHO WOULD LIKE THE DECISION TO BE REVISITED.

THIS ISSUE REALLY PUTS DOWN ALONG GENDER LINES AFFECTING A QUARTER OF WOMEN IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> ONE IN FOUR WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES ARE GOING TO HAPPEN ABORTION BEFORE THE AGE OF 45.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE HOW COMMON IT IS.

THE REASON WE DON'T HEAR IT IS BECAUSE OF THE STIGMA.

>> THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RESUME SESSION TODAY AND WHAT IS SURE TO BE A HIGHLY CHARGED DOCKET WHILE THERE IS STILL NO MOVEMENT ON A LAW HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM JOANNA GAGIS.

>> AND NEXT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, LIVE AT 8:00 P.M., NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS PRESENTING THE FINAL TELEVISED GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE BETWEEN THE TWO CANDIDATES ALONG WITH OUR COSPONSORS, WNYC, NEO PUBLIC RADIO AND THE RELATIVE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC CITIZENSHIP SHOULD WE WANT YOUR INPUT, SO SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG, AND BE SURE TO WATCH LIVE ON NJPBS AND WNYC STATIONS OR ONLINE AT NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND OUR PARTNERS WEBSITE.

>>> THE POLLUTED STRETCHES OF THE LOWER PASSAIC RIVER HAVE BEEN CALLED NEW JERSEY'S LARGEST CRIME SCENE, PACKED WITH DANGEROUS CANCER-CAUSING CHEMICALS.

NOW, THE DECADE-LONG WORK TO CLEAN THE MESS IS TAKING ANOTHER STEP FORWARD.

THE EPA APPROVED A PLAN MONDAY TO DEAL WITH TOXIC MUD ON THE RIVERBED.

BETWEEN GARFIELD AND BELLEVILLE.

BUT, AS LEAH MISHKIN REPORTS, THE ACTIVE WORK IS STILL YEARS AWAY FROM THE BEGINNING.

>> WE CANNOT TURN AROUND A CENTURY OF POLLUTION OVERNIGHT BUT TODAY WE ARE TAKING A VERY IMPORTANT STEP.

>> EPA DEPUTY MISTRETTA, JANET McKAY, ANNOUNCING A GREEN LIGHT FOR CLEANUP EFFORTS ON NINE MILE STRETCH OF PASSAIC RIVER FROM GARFIELD TO BELLEVILLE.

IT WILL NOT HAPPEN IN TANDEM WITH ALREADY PLANNED WORK FOR THE 8.3 MILES OF RIVER.

FROM BELLEVILLE TO NORTH BAY.

>> WILL BE ABLE TO REUSE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE SAME TIME AS THE LOWER 80s BEING DONE, WHICH ALLOWS THE WORK TO HAPPEN MORE EFFICIENTLY.

>> AND SPEEDING UP EFFORTS TO GET BACK TO A TIME WHEN PEOPLE USED TO SWIM AND EAT THE FISH FROM THESE WATERS.

>> I HEAR STORIES FROM OLDER NEW YORKERS WHO REMEMBER THE DAYS THAT THEIR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS USED TO FISH, THERE.

GO CRABBING, OR SLIM.

BUT, SADLY, THOSE DAYS ARE NO MORE.

>> TODAY, THE RIVER IS POLLUTED WITH OVER 100 CHEMICALS, INCLUDING DIOXIN, PCBs, MERCURY, COPPER, LEAD, AND PESTICIDES, SUCH AS DDT.

>> CAUSING LONG-TERM HEALTH PROBLEMS.

BIRTH DEFECTS, AND CANCER IN SOME OF OUR POOREST COMMUNITIES.

>> DIOXIN IS TRACED BACK TO A CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING PLANT TO MEET A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS PRODUCING AGENT ORANGE, WHICH WAS USED DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.

DUMPING THE TOXIC WASTE RIGHT INTO THE WATER.

THE STATE ANNOUNCED SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE SITE IN 1983.

IT MADE IT ONTO THE FEDERAL SUPERFUND LIST IN 1984.

THE MAIN SITE WAS DEEMED CLEANED IN 2001.

BUT, SCATTERED POLLUTION ALONG MILES OF THE RIVER REMAINS.

THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE WATER IF HEALTH, IT IS THE MUD AND SEDIMENT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER.

>> IS A PAINFULLY LONG PROCESS, AND WE ARE ONLY PAYING THE SORDID ACCELERATION OF IT, BUT HAS THE RIVER WAS ADDED TO THE SUPERFUND PRIORITY LIST.

>> THE QUESTION IS, WHEN WOULD PEOPLE BE ABLE TO EAT THE FISH OR SWIM HARRIGAN?

>> DECISIONS ABOUT EXACTLY HOW CLEAN AND TOTAL THE RIVER HAS TO BE FOR THAT GOAL?

AND, TO MAKE ESTIMATES OF HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE.

WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT ALMOST ANYONE OF THESE AQUATIC SUPERFUND SITE FOR CONTAMINATION HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES, EVEN ONCE THE REMEDY IS UNDERWAY, AND WHAT THE REMEDY HAS BEEN COMPLETED, IT IS STILL TYPICALLY DECADES BEFORE THE FISH RECOVER SUFFICIENTLY.

>> PASSAIC RIVER COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP COCHAIR SAYS WITH THIS NEW STEP, IT BRINGS HOPE TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE BY THE RIVER, THAT IT WILL BE CLEAN IN THEIR LIFETIME.

>> PARK IS A VERY POPULAR PLACE ALONG THE RIVER.

AND, YES, THE IN WATER PORTION OF IT IS STILL NOT 100% SAFE HERE YOU CAN STILL ENJOY THE WATERSIDE, AND YOU CAN STILL ENJOY BEING AT THE RIVER, AND YOU CAN FISH.

YOU JUST CANNOT EAT THE FISH THAT YOU CATCH FROM THE RIVER.

AND SO, IT IS SOME ASPECTS OF THE CONNECTION ARE BEING MADE NOW, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE ENHANCED GOING FORWARD.

>>'S ESTIMATE OF THE PROJECT WILL COST SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO $2 BILLION.

WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN THE COMING YEARS.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM LEAH MISHKIN.

>>> HOW CLOSE COULD NEW JERSEY AND THE NATION BE TO DEFAULTING ON OUR DEBT?

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS AN UPDATE AND TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

HEY, RHONDA QUESTION MARK >>> A STOP OF MOUNTAINS BOTH ON THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, AND THE POLITICS AROUND IT.

WASHINGTON, D.C. HAS CONGRESS WENT TWO WEEKS TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING AND THE BORROWING LIMIT IS NOT RATED OR THE AMOUNT THE UNITED STATES COULD DEFAULT ON ITS DEBT.

AMID POLITICAL WRANGLING ON CAPITOL HILL, PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY URGED CONGRESS TO TAKE ACTION AND WARN THAT FINANCIAL MARKET WORRIES OVER THE DEBT CEILING COULD IMPACT A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> THE DAYS AHEAD, EVEN BEFORE THE DEFAULT DATE, PEOPLE MAY SEE THE VALUE OF THEIR RETIREMENT ACCOUNT STRENGTH.

UNLESS THE INTEREST RATE GO UP, WHICH WILL ONLY RAISE THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS AND CAR PAYMENTS.

>> IN THE MEANTIME, HERE IN NEW JERSEY, THE MARKET MINISTRATION AND LAWMAKERS EARLIER THIS YEAR AGREED TO PUT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO A SPECIAL FUND TO BE USED TO MAKE OUT SOME OF THE STATES OUTSTANDING DEBT.

BUT, SO FAR, NO MONEY HAS BEEN USED FOR DEBT REPAYMENT.

OUR JOHN REITMEYER IS LOOKING INTO WHY.

>> THE TREASURY HAS TOLD ME IN RESPONSE TO REALLY ISSUES THAT ARE BEING RAISED BY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS FOR THE MINORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE, THERE IS WORK GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES ON THE DEBT RELIEF INITIATIVE.

>> SO, THE FULL STORY ON THAT BEHIND-THE-SCENES WORK, CHECK OUT JOHN'S ARTICLE ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> IT'S LOOKING LIKE A COVID- 19 RELATED SLOWDOWN WAS JUST THE TIP FOR NEW JERSEY'S FILM INDUSTRY.

MORE THAN $500 MILLION ARE ESTIMATED TO BE SENT FOR TELEVISION, FILM, AND OTHER MEDIA PRODUCTION IN NEW JERSEY THIS YEAR.

AT LEAST TWO RETAILERS ARE ALREADY ROLLING OUT SHOPPING DISCOUNTS, WELL AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON.

AMAZON, TODAY ANNOUNCED IT IS STARTING TODAY TO HAVE DEALS.

THIS WEEKEND, TARGET IS KICKING OFF EMOTIONAL DEALS AS RETAILERS ARE FACING SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, SO THEY ARE HURTING CUSTOMERS TO SHOP EARLY THIS YEAR TO MAKE SURE GIFT ARRIVES UP TOP.

HERE IS A CHECK ON WALL STREET'S TRADING FOR TODAY.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER, AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> THE CASE IS BEING MADE FOR A RETURN TO A NEW NORMAL IN A POST-PANDEMIC ROUTE.

A REPORT FROM THE NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE POINTS OUT ON THE COVID-19 CRISIS SIX POST PRE-EXISTING CRACKS OF STRUCTURAL RACISM IN A STATES FOUNDATION.

THEY DEVASTATED BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WERE RESIDENTS ARE GETTING SICK AND DYING AT DISPROPORTIONATE RATES.

IN FACT, THE CORONAVIRUS WAS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH OF BLACK RESIDENTS IN 2020.

FOR A DEEPER LOOK AND SUGGESTED REPAIRS, WE ARE JOINED BY ANDREA McCHRYSTAL, THE LAW AND POLICY DIRECTOR AT THE INSTITUTE.

ANDREA, LET ME START WITH STRUCTURAL RACISM.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT IN THE REPORT?

WHAT AREAS OF LIFE FOR OUR BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENCE?

>> SURE.

SO, WE KNOW AS WE ILLUSTRATE IN THE REPORT THAT COVID-19 HAVE A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON US WHERE WE WERE RECENTLY UP UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO HAD THE HIGHEST DEATH RATE IN THE NATION.

BUT, THIS COVID-19 BIAS HAS NOT HAD A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

IT WAS THE HIGHEST CAUSE OF DEATH IN 2020.

AND NEWARK WHICH IS ABOUT THE STATE'S LARGEST CITY HAD A ONE POINT DEATH TOLL THAT SURPASSES SEVERAL OTHER STATES.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT, FOLKS HITTING SICK, FOLKS WERE DYING, IS THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE IN JOBS THAT PUT THEM AT HIGH RISK QUESTION MARK OR IS THIS BECAUSE OF PRE- EXISTING OR UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT PERHAPS THEY MAY HAVE?

HOW DO YOU WEIGH THAT?

>> IS DEFINITELY ACCOMMODATION OF THAT TOO.

SO WHEN A SHORT-TERM COMMUNITY OF COLOR IS LIKELY TO BE A FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, MORE LIKELY TO HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS.

SUSCEPTIBLE TO A NUMBER OF OTHER SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.

BUT, AS A PREFORMED CRACK, HE ALSO SEE THAT IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL STABILITY, WE HAVE ONE OF THE WORST RACIAL WEALTH GAPS IN THE NATION WITH THE MEDIA NETWORK OF A FAMILY OF $352,000, THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION AND FOR BLACKGUM IS ONLY 6100.

THE ACCESS TO HEALTH, THE ACCESS TO QUALITY OF LIFE, THAT'S NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE BEST PREPARATION FOR THE VIRUS, IS IT THERE, IN EQUAL MEASURE CUSTOMER >> SO, THE INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AS IT USUALLY DOES PUT SOME POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.

WHAT ARE YOU ALL RECOMMENDING IN THIS INSTANCE?

>> SO WE HAVE SHORT-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS WERE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS EQUITABLE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION, BUT WE CONTINUE ANY EVICTION MORATORIUMS AND WE ARE ABLE TO GET THOSE RESOURCES AS NEEDED FROM THE ANTI-COMMUNITIES.

ON TOP OF THAT, OUR POLICY PROPOSAL IS THE REPARATIONS TASK FORCE.

WHICH IS CURRENTLY IN THE LEGISLATOR, AS WELL AS OTHER STATES USE PRISONS.

THE INVESTING COMMUNITIES, AND A VOTER REGISTRATION, BEING IMPLEMENT IN THIS DATE, AND EXPANSION OF HOMEOWNERSHIP.

STUDENT LOAN CANCELLATION WITHIN THE GARDEN STATE AS WELL.

>> SO SOME OF THOSE ITEMS, ALREADY IN THE NEXT.

OR IN THE PIPELINE, RATHER?

OTHERS MAY BE A WAYS AWAY?

>> THE SAME DAY OF VOTER REGISTRATION, IT'S ALREADY INTRODUCED.

ALSO, WE HAD A COMPREHENSIVE BILL.

THE NEW JERSEY TRUST IS TRANSFORMATION ACT.

AS WELL AS INITIATIVES WE HOPE TO LAUNCH VERY SOON IN RESPONSE TO THE CRACKS THAT WE ARE SEEING.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, ANDREA?

>> SO MUCH.

>>> IT WAS A VIOLENT WEEKEND IN THE STATE CAPITAL.

THE TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOOTING RESPONSE TEAM RESPONDED TO AND ARRESTED SUSPECTS IN THREE SEPARATE SHOOTING INCIDENTS.

LEAVING TWO PEOPLE DEAD, AND THREE TEENS IN CUSTODY.

ONE LOCAL ARTIST, THOUGH, WANTS TO STARTING A CONVERSATION AROUND THE VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LIVES LOST, AND THE POTENTIAL THEY HAD.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

>> SO, HE TOOK THE VIDEO WHILE I WAS TEACHING THE CLASS, THE POETRY CLASS.

AND THEN, THAT'S ME, RIGHT THERE.

>> NOTHING BUT SMILES, HEARING THE SOUND OF THE STUDENT VOICE.

>> YOU SEE.

>> IT'S A MEMORY THAT HE HOLDS DEAR TO HER.

SINCE HIS LIFE WAS CUT SHORT IN 2016 AT THE HANDS OF GUN VIOLENCE.

>> WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF WORKING ON POETRY PROJECT TOGETHER.

SUPER ENTHUSIASTIC.

MIKE TOOMEY CUT SHORT BECAUSE OF NONSENSICAL GUN VIOLENCE THAT STRUCK ME.

WHAT POTENTIAL IT IS, WITH THE INDICATION WAS GOING PLACES.

>> A POTENTIAL THE NATIVE AND OCCUPANCY FOR HIMSELF AFTER GETTING SHOT THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE DEATH AT THE CLUB IN FLORIDA.

ONE OF THE DEADLIEST MASS SHOOTINGS TO HAPPEN IN THIS COUNTRY.

SHE SAYS THE EXPERIENCE A LOT OF HER STUDENTS DEATH AND WHAT GAVE HER THE PUSH TO START THE POTENTIAL PROJECT.

>> THIS IS MEANT TO HIGHLIGHTING GIVE JUSTICE TO THE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES, AND ALSO ILLUMINATE WHAT CAN BE INSPIRED BECAUSE OF THEIR LIFE, THE LIFE THAT THEY LIVE AND WHAT THEY LEFT BEHIND.

>> THE MULTIMEDIA INSULATION WAS WAS LAUNCHED ON JUNE AFTER RECEIVING FUNDING FROM THE KRESGE FOUNDATION USE VARIOUS FORMS OF ART TO OUR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE.

MURALS OF THEM WILL BE PLACED AROUND THE CITY MARKING THE LOCATIONS WHERE THEIR LIVES WERE TAKEN.

EACH ONE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY YELLOW SQUARE, THAT WILL ACT AS A QR CODE WHERE VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO WAIVE THEIR PHONE OVER IT USING THE APP, BRINGING THE ARTWORK TO LIFE.

YES A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE THAT PASSED AWAY, HERE.

THEY KIND OF LIKE SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE STORY.

>> HIP-HOP ARTIST AND COMMUNITY ACTIVIST ALSO KNOWN AS BINGO IS ONE OF THE ARTISTS CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROJECT.

AFTER LEARNING ABOUT THE VICTIMS YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND TRANSFORMS THEIR STORIES INTO LYRICS THEY CAN BE PLAYED WITH EACH MURAL.

THE PROJECT IS SOMETHING THAT HITS HOME, GROWING UP IN TRENTON AND LOSING HIS CHILDHOOD FRIEND TO VIOLENCE.

>> BECAUSE ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD SOMETHING IS I KNOW ABOUT 97%.

IT'S A SMALL CITY BUT HAS A LOT OF NEGATIVITY.

A LOT OF VIOLENCE OR PRINT ON THE FLIPSIDE, YOU HAVE GOOD PEOPLE HERE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE JUST KIND OF OFFERING MY INPUT IN MY PLATFORM AND DO WHATEVER I COULD TO SHED LIGHT ON THE POSITIVITY AND THESE PEOPLE WERE HERE.

>> AS OF OCTOBER 1st, POLICE IT HAD BEEN 25 HOMICIDES THIS YEAR IN THE CITY SO FAR.

AND, NOW OFFICES ARE INVESTIGATING TWO MORE FOR THIS PAST WEEKEND.

LAST YEAR, THERE WERE 40 HOMICIDES AND ALL TIME RECORD FOR THE CITY.

THE TRAUMA CONNECTED TO THESE INCIDENTS IS AN ASPECT THAT IS OFTEN FORGOTTEN, ACCORDING TO THE TRENTON HEALTH TEAM FOR THAT'S WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT.

>> USING ART BRINGS THE STORY FORWARD AND WE ARE THEN ABLE TO CONNECT THEM WITH MANY OTHER COUNSELING AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND COMMUNITIES TO HELP THEM FIND PRODUCTIVE WAYS AND HEALTHY WAYS TO WORK THROUGH THEIR TRAUMA, AND GO ON A PATH TO HEAL.

>> THIS IS AROUND ME, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO BE CONFINED BY THAT, I AM NOT BOUND BY THAT BUT I'M A PRODUCT OF IT BUT NOT SUBJECTED TO THE ADVERSE REACTION TO THAT.

>> WILL BE ABOUT 17 TO 20 MURALS PLACED AROUND THE CITY.

ONCE THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE.

>> SHE SAYS SHE HOPES TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO PUSH FORWARD, AS WELL AS REMIND THE COMMUNITY THAT THESE LIES MAY BE LOST, BUT THEIR SPIRITS WILL LIVE ON FOREVER.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> AND, THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT BUT IN THE MEANTIME, HEAD TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING, OR ANY OF OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS FOR THE LATEST UPDATES.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FROM THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING, WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

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