>> 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 ORSTED, 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.
>> HELLO, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.
BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT, A LONG SERVING LIBERAL VOTING U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE IS RETIRING.
REPORTS SAY STEPHEN BREYER WILL ANNOUNCE HE IS LEAVING THE COURT, PAVING THE WAY FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO NOMINATE A REPLACEMENT.
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, THE PRESIDENT HAD SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT A BLACK WOMAN TO THE COURT.
BREYERS RETIREMENT COMES AS THE NATION'S HIGHEST COURT IS WEIGHING SOME OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL CASES INVOLVING REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, RELIGION, AND GUN RIGHTS.
JOIN ME NOW IS PROFESSOR HARRY DAIN, A PROFESSOR OF LAW AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY.
>> PROFESSOR, WHAT WILL THIS VACANCY MEAN FOR THE COURT, WHICH NOW HAS A CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY?
>> I THINK, THE CONVENTIONAL INTERPRETATION, WHICH IS BASICALLY CORRECT, IS THAT IT'S GOING TO ALLOW BIDEN TO SHOW UP AND SHRINKING SO-CALLED THE LIBERAL WING.
JUST AS RYER WAS THE OLDEST MEMBER.
>> THE SUPREME COURT, OF COURSE, JUST STRUCK DOWN PRESIDENT BIDEN'S WORKPLACE VACCINE MANDATE, AND THERE WERE VERY BIG ISSUES COMING BEFORE THE COURT.
HOW WOULD THAT INFLUENCE THE PRESIDENT THINKING FOR A NOMINEE?
AND DO YOU THINK THE ISSUES RIGHT NOW BEFORE THE COURT ARE REALLY GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE IN THE HEADLINES FOR QUITE SOME TIME TO COME?
>> IT PROBABLY WILL BE.
THE COURT IS DUE TO DECIDE SOME ABSOLUTELY MOMENTOUS QUESTIONS, SUCH AS OVERRULING ROE V WADE.
THE MAKEUP OF THE COURT IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND I'M SURE THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL KEEP THAT IN MIND.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WHOEVER'S ON THE COURT IS GOING TO BE THERE FOR A LONG TIME, VERY LIKELY, AND WHAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE DOING IS REALLY, THINKING, IN THE LONG TERM.
ABOUT SELECTING SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO REACH ACROSS THESE IDEOLOGICAL LINES, AND MAYBE CREATE A NEW MAJORITY SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, WHETHER THAT IS FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, 10 YEARS FROM NOW.
20 YEARS FROM NOW.
AND MAYBE ALSO, RETHINK THIS WHOLE TRUCK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN INTO, THAT THERE ARE THESE WELL- DEFINED IDEOLOGICAL WINGS ON THE COURT.
THE CURRENT SITUATION IS REALLY SUPREME COURT NOMINEES USED TO BE CONFIRMED BIPARTISAN MAJORITIES.
SUPREME COURT JUSTICES AT ONE TIME OFTEN ENDED UP BEING UNPREDICTABLE.
SOME OF THE MOST LIBERAL JUSTICES WERE APPOINTED REPUBLICANS, SOME OF THE MORE CONSERVATIVE ONES WERE APPOINTED BY DEMOCRATS.
WE USED TO LIVE IN A TIME WHEN THE COURT WAS RESPECTED AS AN INSTITUTION, WHERE IT WAS JUSTICES THOUGHTS FOR THEMSELVES.
AND, DID NOT NECESSARILY GET THEMSELVES INTO THESE IDEOLOGICAL RUTS.
>> LET ME ASK YOU, WHAT WILL SUPREME COURT JUSTICE BREYER BE REMEMBERED FOR IN TERMS OF CASES?
>> THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING, HE WILL BE REMEMBERED, NOT SO MUCH FOR SPECIFIC CASES.
IT'S A PRAGMATIC APPROACH.
HE WAS MUCH LESS CONCERNED THAT SOME OF THE OTHER JUSTICES.
ON ALL SIDES WITH, IT MIGHT BE CALLED THE TECHNICALITIES AND WAS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE PRACTICAL PRAGMATIC CONSEQUENCES OF THE DECISIONS.
>> PROFESSOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHT AND SPENDING TIME WITH ME TODAY.
>> YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME, THANK YOU.
>> WHILE COVID CASES REMAIN AT MUCH LOWER LEVELS THAN EVEN A WEEK AGO, THE STATE REPORTED 143 NEW DEATH TODAY, WHICH MEANS 2000 RESIDENTS HAVE DIED FROM COVID SO FAR THIS JANUARY.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, COVID DEBTS THIS WEEK REACHED THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE LAST YEAR.
IT'S A REMINDER THAT THE PANDEMIC IS STILL COSTING THOUSANDS OF LIVES EVEN AS CASES RETREAT IN NEW JERSEY, AND AS FROM THE NORTHEAST.
THE STATE REPORTED MORE THAN 6000 NEW CASES TODAY.
MEANTIME, AN UPDATE TO A STORY WE REPORTED ON EARLIER, NEW YORK'S MASK MANDATE IS BACK, AFTER AN APPEALS COURT JUDGE GRANTED A STAY TO A LOWER COURT RULING AGAINST MASKING.
NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS ARE CONTINUING TO MANAGE MANDATES AND STAFFING SHORTAGES DUE TO COVID.
THE MILLVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN SOUTH JERSEY ANNOUNCED IT'S A SECONDARY SCHOOL WILL MOVE TO AN EARLY DISMISSAL SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT MONTH.
TO DEAL WITH STAFFING ISSUES.
AND, SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE DECIDED THEY WON'T COUNT FAILING GRADES, OR WHOLE MIDTERMS.
THE ONGOING PANDEMIC HAS CREATED MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, INCLUDING ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.
AT BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, MANY STUDENTS WERE ALREADY STRESSED, TRYING TO BALANCE WORK, CHILDREN, AND SCHOOL.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, THERE IS COVID.
LAST FALL, TWO STUDENTS ATTENDING STARTED A LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY GROUP CALLED MIND.
AS RAVEN SANTANA REPORTS, THE SUPPORT GROUP COMES AT A CRITICAL TIME FOR STUDENTS STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
>> I HAVE BEEN IN THIS FIELD FOR A LITTLE OVER 25 YEARS, AND THIS PAST SEMESTER WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I LEFT TWO SINGLE STUDENTS IN A SEMESTER.
SO, IT'S UPSETTING.
>> IS THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES INTO YOUR 3, STUDENT DEMAND FOR THERAPY HAS EXPLODED, ACCORDING TO DR. JENNIFER.
DEAN FOR STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES AT BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
>> WE HAVE A PERSONAL COUNSELING EMAIL BOX THAT WE MONITOR OVER THE WEEKEND.
AND, I CAN HAVE UPWARDS OF 20 TO 50 EMAILS IN THERE.
OF STUDENTS ASKING FOR APPOINTMENTS.
PRE-PANDEMIC, MAYBE IT WAS LIKE 5 OR 10, YOU KNOW?
>> ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, IN JERSEY, DEPRESSION INCREASED 29% FROM 11.8% TO 15.2% OF ADULTS BETWEEN 2018 AND 2020.
THE RATE OF SUICIDES IN 2019 WAS 7.100 THOUSAND IN PEOPLE AGES 15 TO 24 YEARS OLD, AND IN 2019, THE NUMBER OF SUICIDES AMONG MALES WAS HIGHEST FOR THOSE AGED 25 TO 34 YEARS OLD.
>> IT'S JUST YOU NEED EVERYBODY TO HELP.
IT'S ME AND A STAFF OF 6 LICENSE COUNSELORS.
WE CANNOT DO IT BY OURSELVES.
I TRY MY HARDEST ONE I AM WITH THE STUDENTS TO NORMALIZE MENTAL HEALTH.
IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER KIND OF HEALTH THAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE, RIGHT QUESTION MARK PHYSICALLY FIT.
WE WANT TO BE MENTALLY FIT AS WELL.
BUT, THERE IS STILL THIS STIGMA.
AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ACTIVE MINDS DOES TRY TO COMBAT THAT STIGMA.
LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN COLLEGES SUFFER EITHER THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH OR SUFFER FROM MENTAL ILLNESS, WHICH AFFECTS THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.
AND IT'S NOT ONLY A FEW PEOPLE KIND OF THING, IT IS A HUGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS.
>> PEOPLE WHO CAN, YOU KNOW SAY I HAVE ADHD OR OCD, AND WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS LIKE THAT.
IT'S, IT REALLY HELPED ME, AT LEAST TO BE ABLE TO PUT A NAME TO WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING, YOU KNOW?
>> THEY ARE COPRESIDENTS FOR THE ACTIVE MINDS CHAPTER OF BCC WHICH THEY STARTED IN FALL OF 2021.
THE NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY GROUP LOCATED ON MORE THAN 600 CAMPUSES PROVIDES HEALTH AWARENESS AND EDUCATION FOR YOUNG ADULTS.
SPECIFICALLY, USING PEER TO PEER OUTREACH.
THEY SAY THEY ARE FOCUSED ON CHANGING THE CULTURAL AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AS BCC STUDENTS ARE NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS, AND MANY TIMES, FACE UNIQUE STRESSORS, LIKE BALANCING WORK, CHILDREN, AND FINANCIAL PRESSURE.
>> SO WE ARE THINKING, WHAT WOULD AN ACTIVE MINDS CHAPTER LOOK LIKE AT BERGEN?
AND A LOT OF THE STUDENT BODY, HERE, AT LEAST IN MY EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE I'M FROM HACKENSACK WHERE THE STUDENT BODY IS PREDOMINANTLY FIRST- GENERATION AND IMMIGRANT STUDENTS OF COLOR, THOSE SAME STUDENTS AT THE SAME DEMOGRAPHIC COME TO BERGEN.
IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY ARE NOT ONLY A LOT OF FINANCIAL AND PERSONAL BARRIERS TO PEOPLE RECEIVING MENTAL HEALTH, SUPPORT, BUT THERE ARE ALSO CULTURAL BARRIERS.
>> M.A.C.
NORMALIZING AND PRIORITIZING STUDENTS MENTAL HEALTH IS CRITICAL TO THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING, AND TO WANT TO FIND HELP.
>> WE HAVE REALIZED THAT THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT TIME FOR US TO TAKE THAT LEAP FORWARD INTO PROVIDING THE REST OF OUR PEERS WITH A PEER FRIENDLY OUTLET.
IT WAS MORE OF A BUILDING A COMMUNITY FOR THE STUDENTS, AND LETTING THEM HAVE THAT OUTLET OF RELIEF THAT IS FREE FROM THE STIGMA.
>> ACTIVE MINDS CURRENTLY MEETS ONCE EVERY OTHER WEEK IN PERSON ON CAMPUS, AND HAS ABOUT 25 MEMBERS IN ADDITION TO HOLDING MEETINGS AND EVENTS, LAST SUMMER, MEMBERS OF ACTIVE MINDS CONDUCTED A SURVEY TO ASSESS WHETHER OR NOT STUDENTS AT BCC HAVE ACCESS TO RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE.
THEY PLAN TO LEASE THE RESULTS SOMETIME THIS SEMESTER, AND THEY HAVE HOPES OF PROVIDING MORE AWARENESS AND MORE ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM RAYMOND SANTANA.
>> WITH A LIFTING OF NEW JERSEY'S EVICTION MORATORIUM, THERE ARE FEARS THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL BECOME HOMELESS.
WE WILL SOON LEARN IF THAT IS THE CASE.
TODAY MARKED THE ANNUAL STATEWIDE COUNT OF HOMELESS PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY, WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE POINT IN TIME SURVEY.
EVEN BEFORE THE FINAL NUMBERS ARE IN, DUE TO THE PANDEMIC ALONE, ADVOCATES EXPECTED THIS YEAR'S COUNTY WILL BE HIGHER.
MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS THIS PART ABOUT HER ONGOING SERIES, CHASING THE DREAM THAT FOCUSES ON POVERTY, JUSTICE, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
>> YOU GUYS WILL GO FROM 1 TO 5.
YOU KNOW, FROM 16 10.
>> MORE THAN 20 YEARS, BRENDA WHITAKER HAS BEEN DOING WHAT SHE CAN TO FIGHT THE HOMELESS PROBLEM IN NEW JERSEY.
AS A DIRECTOR OF HOUSING RESOURCES FOR HOME, SHE IS JOINING OTHER MEMBERS ON HER TEAM TODAY AT THE BUDGET INN HERE IN TRENTON.
KNOCKING ON DOORS TO COMPETE THE ANNUAL POINT IN TIME SURVEY.
>> THIS IS DONE ONE TIME A YEAR THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUESTS THAT WE COUNT EVERYBODY THAT IS HOMELESS, SHELTERED AND ON SHELTERED, AND AT RISK.
BUT, THEY ONLY COUNT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN MOTELS, THAT ARE PAID FOR BY AGENCIES, OR PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREET UNDER THE BRIDGES, IN THE PARTS, AND THE TRAIN STATION.
BUT, WE ALSO INVITE SERVICES TO OTHER PEOPLE, BUT THIS IS THE ONE TIME OF YEAR THAT IT REALLY COUNTS, BECAUSE COUNTING TODAY, WILL HELP US GET FUNDING FOR THE FUTURE.
>> LAST YEAR'S POINT IN TIME COUNT SOUND 8100 MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY WERE HOMELESS.
A NUMBER THAT IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE WITH THE RISE IN POSITIVE COVID CASES.
>> WHEN I STARTED AT HOME FRONT, THERE WERE A LOT OF MOTELS ON THE QUARTER.
WE, WE HAD A GOAL OF GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THE MOTEL AND INTO SHELTER, BUT WITH THE WAVE OF COVID, IT'S ALMOST REVERSED WHAT WE WERE DOING THROUGH THE NUMBERS WERE REALLY LOW IN THE MOTEL.
NOW, YOU KNOW, JUST IN THIS MOTEL, THERE'S DEFINITELY ROOM FOR FAMILIES AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DOUBLED UP.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE THINKING, MAYBE CLOSE TO 70 PEOPLE IN 40 ROOMS?
>> THE END TO THE STATE EVICTION MORATORIUM EARLIER THIS MONTH ALSO A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR BECAUSE THERE CONTINUES TO BE A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
A STRUGGLE ALL TOO FAMILIAR FOR JAMES HILL.
>> MY JOBS IS -- TO COME BACK.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
SO NOW, I KINDA JUST SAID LIKE, YOU KNOW, FORGET IT.
BUT I AM ABOUT TO GO BACK AND JUST GO SOMEWHERE.
>> HE'S BEEN LIVING AT THE BUDGET AND FOR THE PAST 5 MONTHS AFTER HE FELL ON HARD TIMES AND WAS EVICTED.
AND, THANKFUL HOMEFRONT IS HERE TO HELP.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
THEY'RE ALWAYS OUT HERE DOING SOMETHING, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
SO, YEAH, YOU KNOW?
>> MEMBERS OF HOME FRONT DELIVER HOT MEALS AND GROCERIES HERE THREE TIMES A WEEK SO THEY ARE HOPING TO LEAD TO MORE FUNDING SO THEY CAN DO EVEN MORE.
>> THIS IS SO IMPORTANT, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT, YOU KNOW, WORK AND RUN THE SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, WE KNOW THERE IS NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE IS NO COMMUNITY I CAN THINK OF IN NEW JERSEY, OR IN THE UNITED STATES BASEMENT THAT DOES NOT HAVE A SOCIAL SERVICE NEED.
WE ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IN MY AGENCY ALONE, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE $10 MILLION, AND WE WOULD DO MANY THINGS WITH THAT FUNDING.
ONE BEING, MOST IMPORTANT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT IS A BIG CHALLENGE IN THIS AREA.
YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE HERE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN GREAT.
BEEN GETTING VOUCHERS, AND HAVING PROGRAMS, BUT HOUSING IS VERY SCARCE.
>> HOMEFRONT ALSO HAS A SHELTER AND SOME TRANSITIONAL HOUSING UNIT TO ACCOMMODATE HOMELESS FAMILIES.
SHE HOPES EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY DOES TAKE PART IN IT, SO ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE CAN CONTINUE TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.
>>> THE CALL TO CANCEL STUDENT THAT IS GETTING LOUDER, AT LEAST IN NEW JERSEY.
OUR TWO U.S.
SENATORS JOINED OTHER ADVOCATES AND STUDENTS IN JERSEY CITY TODAY, ASKING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO CANCEL UP TO $50,000 IN STUDENT DEBT PER PERSON.
THE SENATORS SAY CANCELING DEBT IS A MATTER OF RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE.
SENATOR BOOKER, CITING BROOKINGS INSTITUTE DATA THAT SHOWS BLACK AMERICANS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE STUDENT DEBT THAN WHITE AMERICANS.
SENATOR MENENDEZ SAYS THE AVERAGE MONTHLY STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT IN NEW JERSEY IS OVER $300 A MONTH.
RIGHT NOW, STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS ARE ON HOLD THROUGH MAY, AS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION EXTENDED A COVERT RELATED EMERGENCY DEFERMENT PERIOD.
>> IS FORCING YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE PRIME OF THEIR LIVES TO GIVE UP ON BUYING HOMES, STARTING FAMILIES, OR LAUNCHING A NEW BUSINESS.
AND, PERPETUATING INEQUITIES THAT CONTINUE TO HOLD BACK OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
>> REPAIR WORK WILL MOVE FORWARD ON A SCHOOL BUILDING THAT WAS DAMAGED DURING HURRICANE IDA.
VOTERS THERE APPROVED A $21 MILLION REFERENDUM TO FIX THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, WHICH SUFFERED FLOOD DAMAGE FROM THE STORM.
SINCE SEPTEMBER, ABOUT 1000 STUDENTS HAVE BEEN LEARNING REMOTELY FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE WEEK.
IT WAS A DIFFERENT STORY IN HOBOKEN, WHERE A PLAN TO BUILD A NEW HIGH SCHOOL WAS REJECTED BY THE CITY'S VOTERS.
HOBOKEN VOTERS DEFEATED A REFERENDUM TO BORROW $241 MILLION TO BUILD THAT NEW SCHOOL, AND REFURBISH OTHER BUILDINGS.
VOTER TURNOUT WAS HIGHER THAN EXPECTED IN YESTERDAY'S ELECTION WITH THE MAJORITY OF PRECINCTS REPORTING 66% VOTED NO FOR THE REFERENDUM, WITH ONLY 34% VOTING YES.
THE MAYOR HOPES THAT STAKEHOLDERS WILL WORK COLLABORATIVELY ON A REVISED PLAN THAT REFLECTS THE FEEDBACK OF RESIDENCE.
SOME RESIDENTS HAD SAID THERE WAS A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN THE PROCESS.
A PLAN TO WIDEN THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE LEADING TO THE HOLLAND TUNNEL IS BEING MET WITH OPPOSITION.
JERSEY CITY OFFICIALS AND OTHER ADVOCATES ARE WORRIED THAT THE PROJECT WOULD END UP CREATING MORE TRAFFIC, AND MORE POLLUTION.
THEY ARE URGING THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY TO PUT THE MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT ON PAUSE.
SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ, SPOKE WITH SOME OF THE OPPONENTS WHO SAY THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO SPEND THE MONEY, AND REGULATE THE CONGESTION.
>> THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY IS IN A HIGHWAY WIDENING MINDSET.
STARTING IN SOUTH JERSEY, AND NOW MAKING ITS WAY UP TO ESSEX, AND HUDSON, WHERE A $4.7 BILLION PLAN TO REPLACE THE NEWARK BAY BRIDGE AND WIDEN THE TURNPIKE EXTENSION, LEADING TO THE HOLLAND TUNNEL HAS BEEN MET BY STOP SIGNS.
FROM ENVIRONMENTALISTS, AND TRANS-ADVOCATES.
>> THE TURNPIKE AND PARKWAY EXPANSION IS A HUGE BLACK EYE ON THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION'S ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD.
>> THAT IS FROM A GUY WHOSE ORGANIZATION IS USUALLY ON THE SAME SIDE AS THE GOVERNOR, WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
BUT, THE WIDENING PROJECT, WHICH WOULD EXPAND PORTIONS OF THE HIGHWAY TO 3 AND 4 LANES HAS CRITICS, INCLUDING THE LOCAL MAYOR, SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS.
>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU ARE NOT GETTING MORE CARS TO THE HOLLAND TUNNEL WITH BUILDING ADDITIONAL THINGS ACROSS THE RIVER, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME BOTTLENECK WITH MORE CARS IMPACTING JERSEY CITY, SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S OTHER WAYS YOU COULD SPEND $4.7 BILLION THAT WILL HELP JERSEY CITY, HELP MR. Z, HELP THE STATE AS A WHOLE.
>> WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A CAPITAL PLAN FOR THE TURNPIKE, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED A CAPITAL PLAN FOR TRANSPORTATION.
AND, LOOKING AT THE MASS TRANSIT OPTIONS.
NO, THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE HOLLAND TUNNEL.
THIS IS ALSO ABOUT ACTUALLY EXPANDING THE HUDSON LIGHT RAIL BEYOND JUST HUDSON.
IT'S PICKING OF EXPANDING THE LIGHT RAIL POTENTIALLY TO NEWARK.
IT'S WORKING ON BETTER HOLLAND TUNNEL BUS SERVICE.
WORKING ON BETTER FREIGHT LINES SO WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH TRUCK TRAFFIC.
YOU KNOW, A MYRIAD OF MASS TRANSIT NEEDS THAT OBVIOUSLY EXPANDING HIGHWAYS IS GOING TO DO NOTHING TO SOLVE, AND WILL MAKE YOUR POLLUTION WORSE.
>> THE 8 MILE-LONG EXTENSION IS ICONIC, A REMINDER OF HOW CARS BECAME KING OVER THE PAST CENTURY.
BUT, IT'S ALSO, LIKE A LOT OF OUR BRIDGES AND ROADS, ON ITS LAST LEGS.
WHILE CRITICS SAY THEY ARE ALL FOR REPAIRS, THEY SAY THE INCREASED CAPACITY WOULD SIMPLY INDUCE DEMAND.
AND DO NOTHING TO GET YOU ACROSS THE RIVER FASTER.
>> FIRST OFF, HOLLAND TUNNEL IS A NATURAL BOTTLENECK.
THEY CAN ONLY ACCEPT SO MUCH TRAFFIC IN THERE.
SO WE ARE GOING THROUGH DENSE URBAN ENVIRONMENTS, HUDSON COUNTY, THEY ON THE CITY.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AREAS WITH ALREADY ELEVATED RATES OF ASTHMA, POOR AIR QUALITY, A LARGE INCIDENT OF TRAFFIC CRASHES AND DEATHS.
BY WIDENING THE ROADWAY, YOU'RE INVITING MORE CARS TO TRAVEL THROUGH THESE NEIGHBORHOODS TO CUT THROUGH THE SIDE STREETS.
>> THE EVENTS MEDIA TRANSPORTATION REPORTER AND JERSEY CITY RESIDENT, LARRY HIGGS SAYS HIS ALREADY HAPPENING.
>> IF YOU COME OFF THE BRIDGE, YOU CAN JUMP OFF AND CUT THROUGH AND YOU END UP CUTTING THROUGH YOU KNOW, BERGEN LAFAYETTE IN JERSEY CITY.
IN GREENVILLE TO GET TO THE TUNNEL.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN JUMP OFF THE STATE PARK AND YOU END UP COMING THROUGH GREENVILLE COUNTY CAN JUMP OFF AT CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, >> NOISE IMPACT, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IMPACTS, TRAFFIC IMPACTS AND ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE DESIGNS, ALL OF THAT WORK IS BEING DONE.
THE REPORTS WILL BE MADE PUBLIC, AND PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BE SCHEDULED LONG BEFORE ANY CONSTRUCTION.
CRITICS ARE NOT WAITING FOR THE SALE OF THE AUTHORITY HITS THE BRAKES NOW, THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP HONKING THEIR HORNS.
ALERTING MOTORISTS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE OF WHAT THEY SAY IS A CAR WRECK WAITING TO HAPPEN.
I AM DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.
>> PROPERTY TAX OR A PAYING POINT FOR MANY NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS, AND THEY CONTINUE TO GO UP EVERY YEAR.
IN 2021, THE AVERAGE PROPERTY TAX BILL SET A RECORD.
JOHN REITMEYER TOOK A CLOSE LOOK AT THE LATEST DATA FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, AND JOINS ME NOW TO SHARE SOME DETAILS.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS.
>> SAME HERE.
>> SO WE HAD A RECORD IN PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS AGAIN LAST YEAR, HOW MUCH MORE DID WE PAY IN PROPERTY TAXES?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THE AVERAGE BILL FOR A NEW JERSEY PROPERTY OWNER INCREASED BY ABOUT $170, UP TO $9284, WHICH IS A NEW RECORD FOR THE STATE, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT, LOOK AT IT IN THE CONTEXT OF MEDIAN INCOMES, IT IS OVER 10% OF WHAT THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS IN NEW JERSEY, SO THE BIG SHARE OF WHAT NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS BRING IN EACH YEAR IS GOING TO THE PROPERTY TAX.
IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR DECADES FREELY.
AND, THERE'S NO SIGN OF RELIEF, ALTHOUGH, MAYBE PROPERTY OWNERS CAN FIND SOME SOLACE IN THE FACT THAT THE RATE OF GROWTH IS SLOWING.
>> AND JOHN, OF COURSE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AVERAGE BILL.
THERE ARE MANY PLACES IN NEW JERSEY WHERE RESIDENTS ARE PAYING WELL OVER THAT.
WAS IT WHAT WE TYPICALLY SEE?
THAT IS ANOTHER NEW JERSEY COUNTIES PAYING A HEFTIER AMOUNT?
>> YEAH.
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THE HIGHEST ANNUAL PROPERTY TAXES ON AVERAGE ARE PAID IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY COUNTIES LIKE ESSEX AND BERGEN AND UNION COUNTIES AND SOME OF THE LOWEST ARE PAID IN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY COUNTIES LIKE CUMBERLAND AND CAPE MAY AND ATLANTIC.
AND THAT CONTINUES A TREND THAT WE HAVE SEEN FOR UP TO 7 OF THE STATES 21 COUNTIES OVERALL, HAVING ANNUAL AVERAGE PROPERTY TAX BILLS OVER $10,000 PER THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT FIGURE BECAUSE IT UNDER CHANGES THAT WERE ENACTED IN 2017 AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY CAN NO LONGER FULLY DEDUCT THEIR STATE AND LOCAL TAX BILLS, LOCAL, BEING YOUR PROPERTY TAXES.
>> AND ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, ANY CHANCE WE MIGHT ACTUALLY SEE THAT THIS YEAR?
>> WELL, IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT IN RECENT YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES TO STATE FUNDING PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PROGRAMS LIKE THE SENIOR FREEZE ON HOMESTEAD PROGRAMS, AND THAT HAS ALLOWED MORE SENIORS TO QUALIFY FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF REIMBURSEMENTS, AND ALSO, MORE SENIORS AND DISABLED AND LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME HOMEOWNERS TO QUALIFY FOR HOMESTEAD BENEFITS.
SO THAT'S HELPING IN SOME WAYS TO OFFSET THESE INCREASES FOR SPECIFIC GROUPS THAT PROBABLY NEED THE RELIEF THE MOST.
BUT, I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES, SPECIFICALLY WHAT THEY FUND.
MORE THAN 50% OF THE AVERAGE PROPERTY TAX BILL GOES TO LOCAL SCHOOLS, AND THE BALANCE IS SPLIT UP BETWEEN COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS WHICH DO THINGS LIKE MAINTAIN ROADS, PLOW SNOW, AND RUN HEALTH DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN HEAVILY LEANED ON DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.
AND SO, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE SERVICES WE GET FROM OUR PROPERTY TAX BILLS, BUT ALSO KEEP AN EYE ON THE BOTTOM LINE AND BE CAREFUL OF THAT AS WELL.
>> JOHN, GOOD TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS, THANKS.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> NOW, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE TRADING DAY WRAPPED UP ON THE STREET.
>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT BE SURE TO TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR CHAT BOX WITH SR.
CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ.
THIS WEEK, HE GOES ONE-ON-ONE WITH ROBIN AND DOES, FORMER SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ IN HIS FIRST ON CAMERA INTERVIEW SINCE ANNOUNCING HIS CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE EIGHTH DISTRICT, REPLACING REPRESENTATIVE LBO WHO PLAN TO RETIRE AT THE END OF HIS TERM.
YOU CAN WATCH IT TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 P.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT USE YOUTUBE CHANNEL, OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.
I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT, WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE 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.
HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION, THE PSEG FOUNDATION, AND BY THE CLEAR EMERGENCE ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY, AND SMART HEAT NJ.