Funding for nj spotlight ░░░░░░░░ provided by the members ░░░░░░░░ the New Jersey education ░░░░░░░░ making public schools great ░░░░░░░░ every child rwj barnabas ░░░░░░░░ let s be healthy ░░░░░░░░ and the ocean wind ░░░░░░░░ by worsted and pseg ░░░░░░░░ to the creation of ░░░░░░░░ new long term sustainable ░░░░░░░░ energy future for New ░░░░░░░░ Music from njpbs this ░░░░░░░░ nj spotlight news with ░░░░░░░░ vannozzi good evening and ░░░░░░░░ for joining us tonight ░░░░░░░░ m Brianna vannozzi a ░░░░░░░░ mask mandate could be ░░░░░░░░ on the table after ░░░░░░░░ nation s top infectious ░░░░░░░░ experts said this weekend ░░░░░░░░ u s is quote ░░░░░░░░ in the wrong direction ░░░░░░░░ Anthony Fauci on Sunday ░░░░░░░░ frustration over the surge ░░░░░░░░ new infections rippling across ░░░░░░░░ country calling it an ░░░░░░░░ predicament at this point ░░░░░░░░ the pandemic well for ░░░░░░░░ part governor murphy is ░░░░░░░░ to leave masking up ░░░░░░░░ individual responsibility but says ░░░░░░░░ will take into account ░░░░░░░░ new CDC guidance on ░░░░░░░░ issue when it becomes ░░░░░░░░ after more than a ░░░░░░░░ of daily low case ░░░░░░░░ that number is steadily ░░░░░░░░ 594 new confirmed tests ░░░░░░░░ three additional deaths being ░░░░░░░░ today positivity rates and ░░░░░░░░ are also on the ░░░░░░░░ state leaders say positive ░░░░░░░░ will get worse before ░░░░░░░░ get better especially as ░░░░░░░░ delta variant now accounts ░░░░░░░░ nearly three quarters of ░░░░░░░░ new cases in the ░░░░░░░░ the trends we are ░░░░░░░░ over the past several ░░░░░░░░ suggest we are not ░░░░░░░░ seeing these numbers continue ░░░░░░░░ rise now thankfully because ░░░░░░░░ number of fully vaccinated ░░░░░░░░ jerseyans is so high ░░░░░░░░ are relatively hopeful we ░░░░░░░░ not return to where ░░░░░░░░ were even a little ░░░░░░░░ than a couple of ░░░░░░░░ ago but I beg ░░░░░░░░ unless more of you ░░░░░░░░ whatever reason have not ░░░░░░░░ vaccinated step up and ░░░░░░░░ your doses these risks ░░░░░░░░ remain to cut down ░░░░░░░░ the risk being posed ░░░░░░░░ the unvaccinated public health ░░░░░░░░ are suggesting people upped ░░░░░░░░ mask game those thin ░░░░░░░░ coverings were never their ░░░░░░░░ and experts are strongly ░░░░░░░░ the use of an ░░░░░░░░ or kn 95 mask ░░░░░░░░ to the delta variant ░░░░░░░░ more transmissible than previous ░░░░░░░░ that message goes double ░░░░░░░░ anyone traveling especially within ░░░░░░░░ states popular tourist destinations ░░░░░░░░ accounting for 40 percent ░░░░░░░░ the country s Covid19 ░░░░░░░░ is traveling safe for ░░░░░░░░ with unvaccinated kids Joanna ░░░░░░░░ takes a look I ░░░░░░░░ everything gets wiped down ░░░░░░░░ sanitized on the plane ░░░░░░░░ mean they do it ░░░░░░░░ I just feel more ░░░░░░░░ if I m also ░░░░░░░░ behind it and then ░░░░░░░░ sanitize my hands Erica ░░░░░░░░ is an executive at ░░░░░░░░ urgent care facility in ░░░░░░░░ who s visiting family ░░░░░░░░ the area she s ░░░░░░░░ to travel but cautious ░░░░░░░░ how she does it ░░░░░░░░ on what s going ░░░░░░░░ whether or not I ░░░░░░░░ take down my math ░░░░░░░░ eat or drink anything ░░░░░░░░ is one of 30 ░░░░░░░░ passengers flying united through ░░░░░░░░ on any given day ░░░░░░░░ the country yesterday 2 ░░░░░░░░ million passengers took to ░░░░░░░░ skies but what does ░░░░░░░░ mean for covet spread ░░░░░░░░ that the highly contagious ░░░░░░░░ variant accounts for nearly ░░░░░░░░ percent of the new ░░░░░░░░ cases in New Jersey ░░░░░░░░ percent in the u ░░░░░░░░ we know that the ░░░░░░░░ are actually even higher ░░░░░░░░ than they were last ░░░░░░░░ and the main differences ░░░░░░░░ people are traveling um ░░░░░░░░ re going on our ░░░░░░░░ vacations uh we re ░░░░░░░░ wearing masks indoors and ░░░░░░░░ areas and we re ░░░░░░░░ largely to places that ░░░░░░░░ lower vaccination rates than ░░░░░░░░ Jersey does that and ░░░░░░░░ from around the world ░░░░░░░░ coming here to visit ░░░░░░░░ like the jersey shore ░░░░░░░░ reuven came to the ░░░░░░░░ Coast from California and ░░░░░░░░ heading off to Israel ░░░░░░░░ he feels safe doing ░░░░░░░░ that he s vaccinated ░░░░░░░░ m not really worried ░░░░░░░░ kova you know because ░░░░░░░░ I feel like if ░░░░░░░░ m taking care of ░░░░░░░░ and if I m ░░░░░░░░ on a mask and ░░░░░░░░ m making sure that ░░░░░░░░ m healthy and making ░░░░░░░░ that I m keeping ░░░░░░░░ distance with other people ░░░░░░░░ like not keeping contact ░░░░░░░░ people who aren t ░░░░░░░░ a mask you know ░░░░░░░░ I m just being ░░░░░░░░ and taking care of ░░░░░░░░ then I think I ░░░░░░░░ be good the number ░░░░░░░░ breakthrough cases for the ░░░░░░░░ are low even with ░░░░░░░░ delta variant but it ░░░░░░░░ the unvaccinated travelers that ░░░░░░░░ dr meg fisher concerned ░░░░░░░░ those with kids if ░░░░░░░░ re unvaccinated you should ░░░░░░░░ be traveling to maybe ░░░░░░░░ shouldn t be traveling ░░░░░░░░ but certainly you should ░░░░░░░░ be going to a ░░░░░░░░ spot what that means ░░░░░░░░ our children is for ░░░░░░░░ under 12 they re ░░░░░░░░ vaccinated so I would ░░░░░░░░ those children to keep ░░░░░░░░ children safe it would ░░░░░░░░ better to not go ░░░░░░░░ a hot spot right ░░░░░░░░ one of the hottest ░░░░░░░░ for coveted spread is ░░░░░░░░ whose caseload makes up ░░░░░░░░ a quarter of all ░░░░░░░░ new cases in the ░░░░░░░░ s it s something ░░░░░░░░ cabarro and lana khan ░░░░░░░░ when planning their trip ░░░░░░░░ Chicago especially because lana ░░░░░░░░ 12 and not yet ░░░░░░░░ we re taking the ░░░░░░░░ precautions always kind of ░░░░░░░░ know making sure that ░░░░░░░░ re washing our hands ░░░░░░░░ the time to stay ░░░░░░░░ of social distance from ░░░░░░░░ and to protect ourselves ░░░░░░░░ know and even though ░░░░░░░░ are required on flights ░░░░░░░░ in airports with 400 ░░░░░░░░ passengers flying united each ░░░░░░░░ the airline has launched ░░░░░░░░ program to ensure proper ░░░░░░░░ throughout its facilities and ░░░░░░░░ fleet we announced a ░░░░░░░░ called clean plus and ░░░░░░░░ s a partnership with ░░░░░░░░ clorox and the cleveland ░░░░░░░░ to make sure that ░░░░░░░░ cleaning processes for our ░░░░░░░░ are enhanced and and ░░░░░░░░ and effective for all ░░░░░░░░ our customers as they ░░░░░░░░ through the front door ░░░░░░░░ airlines work to make ░░░░░░░░ safe a White House ░░░░░░░░ told Reuters today the ░░░░░░░░ s will not lift ░░░░░░░░ restrictions for non u ░░░░░░░░ passengers who ve been ░░░░░░░░ places like the U ░░░░░░░░ China India or South ░░░░░░░░ within the last 14 ░░░░░░░░ that while the CDC ░░░░░░░░ considering whether to reinstate ░░░░░░░░ guidance indoors even for ░░░░░░░░ vaccinated I think that ░░░░░░░░ a very reasonable move ░░░░░░░░ like the American academy ░░░░░░░░ pediatrics has said for ░░░░░░░░ going back to school ░░░░░░░░ masks should be worn ░░░░░░░░ everyone vaccinated or not ░░░░░░░░ experts caution if you ░░░░░░░░ squeezing in a last ░░░░░░░░ summer trip especially if ░░░░░░░░ have young kids leave ░░░░░░░░ time to quarantine before ░░░░░░░░ kids are back inside ░░░░░░░░ buildings in newark I ░░░░░░░░ Joanna gagas nj spotlight ░░░░░░░░ meanwhile there s growing ░░░░░░░░ in the push to ░░░░░░░░ vaccines mandatory for health ░░░░░░░░ workers nearly 60 medical ░░░░░░░░ representing millions of doctors ░░░░░░░░ and other health personnel ░░░░░░░░ those employees should be ░░░░░░░░ to get vaccinated against ░░░░░░░░ as a moral imperative ░░░░░░░░ new infections rising sharply ░░░░░░░░ u s Department of ░░░░░░░░ affairs announcing today it ░░░░░░░░ be the first federal ░░░░░░░░ requiring its health care ░░░░░░░░ to get vaccinated in ░░░░░░░░ so far hackensack meridian ░░░░░░░░ and rwj barnabas health ░░░░░░░░ the only two major ░░░░░░░░ care facilities requiring all ░░░░░░░░ to get vaccinated or ░░░░░░░░ their job statewide data ░░░░░░░░ all the pleading reasoning ░░░░░░░░ persuading just hasn t ░░░░░░░░ the needle significantly in ░░░░░░░░ weeks still hovering just ░░░░░░░░ 5 2 million people ░░░░░░░░ are fully vaccinated so ░░░░░░░░ leaders are trying another ░░░░░░░░ going door to door ░░░░░░░░ in communities where vaccination ░░░░░░░░ lag and using a ░░░░░░░░ personal approach to reduce ░░░░░░░░ our health care reporter ░░░░░░░░ stington has more on ░░░░░░░░ s being done lilo ░░░░░░░░ push to get more ░░░░░░░░ vaccinated as you write ░░░░░░░░ really turned personal data ░░░░░░░░ doesn t seem to ░░░░░░░░ enough to get people ░░░░░░░░ this hurdle of hesitancy ░░░░░░░░ well for some people ░░░░░░░░ s hesitancy for some ░░░░░░░░ it s not the ░░░░░░░░ kind of data but ░░░░░░░░ but and we can ░░░░░░░░ about that but it ░░░░░░░░ also you re absolutely ░░░░░░░░ it s the personal ░░░░░░░░ um I was so ░░░░░░░░ by what mayor cold ░░░░░░░░ lakewood was telling me ░░░░░░░░ mean it s these ░░░░░░░░ he s having with ░░░░░░░░ and neighbors he describes ░░░░░░░░ as being a nag ░░░░░░░░ some cases um and ░░░░░░░░ know these are not ░░░░░░░░ decisions for people um ░░░░░░░░ you know our colleague ░░░░░░░░ flanagan reported um you ░░░░░░░░ in lakewood there s ░░░░░░░░ tremendous um orthodox Jewish ░░░░░░░░ and a lot of ░░░░░░░░ in that community are ░░░░░░░░ they believe they were ░░░░░░░░ to the virus got ░░░░░░░░ and have antibodies and ░░░░░░░░ don t need the ░░░░░░░░ and the mayor of ░░░░░░░░ is saying there s ░░░░░░░░ really enough good data ░░░░░░░░ for him to easily ░░░░░░░░ that argument and say ░░░░░░░░ still need to get ░░░░░░░░ that s what medical ░░░░░░░░ are telling us but ░░░░░░░░ would be so much ░░░░░░░░ if there was better ░░░░░░░░ on this you know ░░░░░░░░ these sort of nuances ░░░░░░░░ people are still using ░░░░░░░░ reasons to not get ░░░░░░░░ yeah tough to make ░░░░░░░░ case when we don ░░░░░░░░ have enough updated information ░░░░░░░░ about those towns lilo ░░░░░░░░ the state was watching ░░░░░░░░ having significantly low you ░░░░░░░░ lagging vaccination numbers right ░░░░░░░░ so it s interesting ░░░░░░░░ these aren t necessarily ░░░░░░░░ towns that have the ░░░░░░░░ rate those are so ░░░░░░░░ know there s some ░░░░░░░░ small population towns that ░░░░░░░░ really really low rates ░░░░░░░░ quirky demographically I should ░░░░░░░░ not the towns themselves ░░░░░░░░ um but you know ░░░░░░░░ state really has its ░░░░░░░░ on lakewood camden um ░░░░░░░░ orange irvington and wallington ░░░░░░░░ in bergen county and ░░░░░░░░ are towns that have ░░░░░░░░ least 10 000 people ░░░░░░░░ still have vaccination rates ░░░░░░░░ know between 50 and ░░░░░░░░ percent um and that ░░░░░░░░ just adult you know ░░░░░░░░ with first shot that ░░░░░░░░ t talk about you ░░░░░░░░ second shots which is ░░░░░░░░ full protection and it ░░░░░░░░ doesn t talk about ░░░░░░░░ which we know are ░░░░░░░░ new sort of issue ░░░░░░░░ concern very quickly lilo ░░░░░░░░ your conversations with these ░░░░░░░░ and local leaders do ░░░░░░░░ tactics seem to be ░░░░░░░░ right way to go ░░░░░░░░ this with numbers really ░░░░░░░░ know not picking up ░░░░░░░░ much I mean they ░░░░░░░░ you know they need ░░░░░░░░ local more local attention ░░░░░░░░ s working with local ░░░░░░░░ care providers and particularly ░░░░░░░░ lakewood um but there ░░░░░░░░ real concern there s ░░░░░░░░ about the variance there ░░░░░░░░ concern when we go ░░░░░░░░ indoors and what that ░░░░░░░░ so you know I ░░░░░░░░ you know people are ░░░░░░░░ about wearing these things ░░░░░░░░ so um you know ░░░░░░░░ is concerning for sure ░░░░░░░░ stington reporting from the ░░░░░░░░ for us today thanks ░░░░░░░░ thank you support for ░░░░░░░░ medical report is provided ░░░░░░░░ horizon blue cross blue ░░░░░░░░ of New Jersey an ░░░░░░░░ licensee of the blue ░░░░░░░░ and blue shield association ░░░░░░░░ years environmental groups have ░░░░░░░░ against the pollution and ░░░░░░░░ that builds up in ░░░░░░░░ surrounding ports newark and ░░░░░░░░ it s a vital ░░░░░░░░ delivering goods into the ░░░░░░░░ but areas around the ░░░░░░░░ haven t had a ░░░░░░░░ investment in years even ░░░░░░░░ neighbors complained of increased ░░░░░░░░ gas emissions and congestion ░░░░░░░░ by the flow of ░░░░░░░░ senior correspondent brenda flanagan ░░░░░░░░ details of long awaited ░░░░░░░░ upgrade we get tremendous ░░░░░░░░ jams sometimes volumes increased ░░░░░░░░ a bad day we ░░░░░░░░ be waiting outside for ░░░░░░░░ hour and then inside ░░░░░░░░ several hours Tom heimgartner ░░░░░░░░ trucking company sends about ░░░░░░░░ hundred tractor trailers a ░░░░░░░░ through port newark and ░░░░░░░░ he s seen trucks ░░░░░░░░ up for miles and ░░░░░░░░ means hours of wasted ░░░░░░░░ while they wait to ░░░░░░░░ up shipping containers packed ░░░░░░░░ consumer goods headed to ░░░░░░░░ store near you and ░░░░░░░░ the region so heim ░░░░░░░░ applauds a 44 million ░░░░░░░░ federal grant that will ░░░░░░░░ fund road improvements along ░░░░░░░░ critical corridor corbin street ░░░░░░░░ port s main access ░░░░░░░░ it will shave at ░░░░░░░░ a half an hour ░░░░░░░░ an hour a day ░░░░░░░░ of round trips think ░░░░░░░░ the positive impact for ░░░░░░░░ health and the planet ░░░░░░░░ possible by a project ░░░░░░░░ once complete will reduce ░░░░░░░░ thousand hours of travel ░░░░░░░░ for vehicles navigating the ░░░░░░░░ complex in one year ░░░░░░░░ Bob menendez and Cory ░░░░░░░░ joined a group of ░░░░░░░░ to announce the u ░░░░░░░░ Department of Transportation grant ░░░░░░░░ 15 thousand trucks travel ░░░░░░░░ corridor every day 30 ░░░░░░░░ hundred trucks an hour ░░░░░░░░ peak the improvements part ░░░░░░░░ a 176 million dollar ░░░░░░░░ year modernization project will ░░░░░░░░ corbyn port and kellogg ░░░░░░░░ and redesigned the tightly ░░░░░░░░ corbin street ramp project ░░░░░░░░ good for the port ░░░░░░░░ s good for the ░░░░░░░░ and it s good ░░░░░░░░ the people it doesn ░░░░░░░░ get better than that ░░░░░░░░ s also expected to ░░░░░░░░ the accident rate here ░░░░░░░░ 40 percent with trucks ░░░░░░░░ rushing to make appointments ░░░░░░░░ area has logged more ░░░░░░░░ 400 accidents with three ░░░░░░░░ and 81 injuries port ░░░░░░░░ chairman Kevin o toole ░░░░░░░░ a truck collided with ░░░░░░░░ k 9 police vehicle ░░░░░░░░ last week the truck ░░░░░░░░ going too fast it ░░░░░░░░ careened on its side ░░░░░░░░ into the van and ░░░░░░░░ had a number of ░░░░░░░░ and dogs that were ░░░░░░░░ they re all recovering ░░░░░░░░ it points to the ░░░░░░░░ that there needs to ░░░░░░░░ some transportation reconfiguring some ░░░░░░░░ in place but it ░░░░░░░░ not just trucker safety ░░░░░░░░ s at issue here ░░░░░░░░ fumes from idling trucks ░░░░░░░░ nearby newark where kids ░░░░░░░░ from asthma at four ░░░░░░░░ The National rate four ░░░░░░░░ the asthma rate the ░░░░░░░░ one reason our children ░░░░░░░░ school for health is ░░░░░░░░ it makes a massive ░░░░░░░░ in what should be ░░░░░░░░ right for every child ░░░░░░░░ is to breathe clean ░░░░░░░░ vulnerabilities to the more ░░░░░░░░ income communities is greater ░░░░░░░░ in other communities and ░░░░░░░░ this particular project will ░░░░░░░░ the air cleaner you ░░░░░░░░ it s almost like ░░░░░░░░ are the cost of ░░░░░░░░ business Maria Lopez nunez ░░░░░░░░ the iron bounds community ░░░░░░░░ claims the port authority ░░░░░░░░ trucking company should do ░░░░░░░░ pay to electrify their ░░░░░░░░ dump dirty diesel we ░░░░░░░░ new trucks and we ░░░░░░░░ t want them at ░░░░░░░░ cost like on the ░░░░░░░░ of truck drivers because ░░░░░░░░ driver is a part ░░░░░░░░ our community heimgartner s ░░░░░░░░ bought two electric trucks ░░░░░░░░ says they re two ░░░░░░░░ three times more expensive ░░░░░░░░ diesel rigs he d ░░░░░░░░ government help to go ░░░░░░░░ he s struggling to ░░░░░░░░ more drivers it s ░░░░░░░░ about the driver experience ░░░░░░░░ frustration of a driver ░░░░░░░░ in traffic dissuades them ░░░░░░░░ wanting to operate in ░░░░░░░░ port which won t ░░░░░░░░ anytime soon this project ░░░░░░░░ take years to complete ░░░░░░░░ port newark I m ░░░░░░░░ flanagan nj spotlight news ░░░░░░░░ more calls for investigations ░░░░░░░░ alleged misconduct by ice ░░░░░░░░ New Jersey s immigration ░░░░░░░░ facilities 15 immigrants detained ░░░░░░░░ previously detained at the ░░░░░░░░ county jail filed a ░░░░░░░░ this month with the ░░░░░░░░ s Department of Homeland ░░░░░░░░ alleging abuse medical neglect ░░░░░░░░ assault and other deplorable ░░░░░░░░ they say are rife ░░░░░░░░ the jail six of ░░░░░░░░ immigrants are identified in ░░░░░░░░ complaint but nine remained ░░░░░░░░ out of fear of ░░░░░░░░ by guards and other ░░░░░░░░ at the facility the ░░░░░░░░ s freedom for immigrants ░░░░░░░░ for constitutional rights and ░░░░░░░░ incorporated filed on behalf ░░░░░░░░ the detainees the 13 ░░░░░░░░ document includes graphic testimony ░░░░░░░░ the alleged incidents by ░░░░░░░░ including violent use of ░░░░░░░░ forcing detainees to use ░░░░░░░░ bed sheets and refusing ░░░░░░░░ help the complaint urges ░░░░░░░░ to open an investigation ░░░░░░░░ imploring ice to terminate ░░░░░░░░ agreement with bergen county ░░░░░░░░ spokesperson for ice declined ░░░░░░░░ request for comment so ░░░░░░░░ culture wars are still ░░░░░░░░ the governor s race ░░░░░░░░ Republican nominee Jack gitarelli ░░░░░░░░ debate criticizing the state ░░░░░░░░ new LGBTQ curriculum drawing ░░░░░░░░ reaction from supporters of ░░░░░░░░ murphy who called it ░░░░░░░░ but a senior political ░░░░░░░░ David Cruz reports not ░░░░░░░░ LGBT advocates think chittarelli ░░░░░░░░ off base we re ░░░░░░░░ teaching gender id and ░░░░░░░░ orientation kindergarten we re ░░░░░░░░ teaching sodomy in sixth ░░░░░░░░ it s the quote ░░░░░░░░ launched a firestorm of ░░░░░░░░ that s still smoldering ░░░░░░░░ gubernatorial candidate Jack citarelli ░░░░░░░░ leaning into from the ░░░░░░░░ the culture wars reaction ░░░░░░░░ quick and direct an ░░░░░░░░ of governor Phil Murphy ░░░░░░░░ the state s largest ░░░░░░░░ advocacy group he is ░░░░░░░░ coded language that they ░░░░░░░░ all the time against ░░░░░░░░ in New Jersey and ░░░░░░░░ for us as the ░░░░░░░░ LGBTQ organization we know ░░░░░░░░ what this language is ░░░░░░░░ ve been combating it ░░░░░░░░ years and to hear ░░░░░░░░ Republican nominee to be ░░░░░░░░ it as they run ░░░░░░░░ governor is really discouraging ░░░░░░░░ uh and quite honestly ░░░░░░░░ expected better for Jack ░░░░░░░░ if he gets elected ░░░░░░░░ s very clear how ░░░░░░░░ s going to govern ░░░░░░░░ state and we can ░░░░░░░░ have that by now ░░░░░░░░ s pivot to the ░░░░░░░░ has been a frequent ░░░░░░░░ of discussion among political ░░░░░░░░ but he insisted in ░░░░░░░░ statement that love is ░░░░░░░░ in an op ed ░░░░░░░░ however the Republican railed ░░░░░░░░ changes to the state ░░░░░░░░ curriculum that now require ░░░░░░░░ to learn about gender ░░░░░░░░ and sexual orientation and ░░░░░░░░ school kids to know ░░░░░░░░ vaginal anal and oral ░░░░░░░░ that s not entirely ░░░░░░░░ though the LGBTQ curriculum ░░░░░░░░ covers historical cultural and ░░░░░░░░ contributions of that community ░░░░░░░░ no reference to sex ░░░░░░░░ but the New Jersey ░░░░░░░░ standards does but the ░░░░░░░░ cabin Republicans say it ░░░░░░░░ murphy who s forcing ░░░░░░░░ agenda while trying to ░░░░░░░░ chittarelli look extreme fighting ░░░░░░░░ to expose young children ░░░░░░░░ overtly sexualized and identity ░░░░░░░░ ideology doesn t make ░░░░░░░░ an anti LGBT bigot ░░░░░░░░ makes them sane reads ░░░░░░░░ statement from the group ░░░░░░░░ is a group that ░░░░░░░░ and stood by Trump ░░░░░░░░ he rolled back progress ░░░░░░░░ transgender Americans from for ░░░░░░░░ people widely and so ░░░░░░░░ them to stand with ░░░░░░░░ it s not a ░░░░░░░░ insider nj columnist Jay ░░░░░░░░ called citarelli s comments ░░░░░░░░ while applauding some of ░░░░░░░░ log cabin Republicans efforts ░░░░░░░░ general I think the ░░░░░░░░ cabin Republicans make the ░░░░░░░░ Party like less extreme ░░░░░░░░ less awful and I ░░░░░░░░ actually looking at their ░░░░░░░░ account earlier and they ░░░░░░░░ really calling out some ░░░░░░░░ the real kind of ░░░░░░░░ French elements of the ░░░░░░░░ Party and not a ░░░░░░░░ of other people are ░░░░░░░░ that so kudos to ░░░░░░░░ for that but uh ░░░░░░░░ jack citarelli does not ░░░░░░░░ a good enough track ░░░░░░░░ on LGBT issues to ░░░░░░░░ deserve the endorsement of ░░░░░░░░ people I don t ░░░░░░░░ a spokesman for the ░░░░░░░░ cabin Republicans wasn t ░░░░░░░░ to talk to us ░░░░░░░░ but as citarelli himself ░░░░░░░░ in another segment of ░░░░░░░░ same video give me ░░░░░░░░ little wiggle room to ░░░░░░░░ time the only places ░░░░░░░░ typically don t go ░░░░░░░░ give me a little ░░░░░░░░ room on how to ░░░░░░░░ about issues because the ░░░░░░░░ is to win New ░░░░░░░░ voters could be in ░░░░░░░░ a long campaign of ░░░░░░░░ language and exaggerated outrage ░░░░░░░░ m David Cruz nj ░░░░░░░░ news well how much ░░░░░░░░ a government worker handling ░░░░░░░░ billion dollars of state ░░░░░░░░ get paid a lot ░░░░░░░░ according to lawmakers and ░░░░░░░░ murphy the legislature fast ░░░░░░░░ a bill last month ░░░░░░░░ rid of a long ░░░░░░░░ cap on the annual ░░░░░░░░ for the director of ░░░░░░░░ state s division of ░░░░░░░░ it s a high ░░░░░░░░ job running the 93 ░░░░░░░░ dollar pension fund that ░░░░░░░░ retirements of nearly a ░░░░░░░░ government workers well the ░░░░░░░░ is justifying the change ░░░░░░░░ to significant turnover at ░░░░░░░░ position in recent years ░░░░░░░░ by the lure of ░░░░░░░░ better paying private sector ░░░░░░░░ on nearby Wall Street ░░░░░░░░ budget and finance writer ░░░░░░░░ reitmeyer explains in our ░░░░░░░░ on business report John ░░░░░░░░ 93 billion dollars worth ░░░░░░░░ pension investments is a ░░░░░░░░ of money but the ░░░░░░░░ of this position is ░░░░░░░░ key right now yeah ░░░░░░░░ s right Brianna right ░░░░░░░░ the uh investment director ░░░░░░░░ uh job is vacant ░░░░░░░░ somebody is filling it ░░░░░░░░ an acting capacity and ░░░░░░░░ s the third time ░░░░░░░░ the last decade that ░░░░░░░░ Jersey has been seeking ░░░░░░░░ fill this position after ░░░░░░░░ person holding it has ░░░░░░░░ uh the state for ░░░░░░░░ private sector and so ░░░░░░░░ know New Jersey is ░░░░░░░░ a very competitive market ░░░░░░░░ it comes to financial ░░░░░░░░ we re right near ░░░░░░░░ Street and there are ░░░░░░░░ opportunities for people who ░░░░░░░░ these positions to move ░░░░░░░░ and the idea of ░░░░░░░░ this salary cap is ░░░░░░░░ to make the state ░░░░░░░░ competitive when it comes ░░░░░░░░ attracting some of the ░░░░░░░░ talent that you want ░░░░░░░░ a side a fund ░░░░░░░░ the size that you ░░░░░░░░ mentioned with so many ░░░░░░░░ s retirements hinged to ░░░░░░░░ well these investments do ░░░░░░░░ s really one of ░░░░░░░░ more overlooked maybe positions ░░░░░░░░ state government but the ░░░░░░░░ one of the positions ░░░░░░░░ perhaps has as much ░░░░░░░░ as any government position ░░░░░░░░ in New Jersey okay ░░░░░░░░ given the fact that ░░░░░░░░ state is making you ░░░░░░░░ one of our largest ░░░░░░░░ payments to the fund ░░░░░░░░ budget cycle as a ░░░░░░░░ how do how do ░░░░░░░░ justify paying this person ░░░░░░░░ than the 200 000 ░░░░░░░░ currently set yeah so ░░░░░░░░ the the old cap ░░░░░░░░ been at 200 000 ░░░░░░░░ was just lifted in ░░░░░░░░ law at the end ░░░░░░░░ June that was enacted ░░░░░░░░ now there s no ░░░░░░░░ and so 200 000 ░░░░░░░░ t seem uh to ░░░░░░░░ a modest salary uh ░░░░░░░░ New Jersey standards even ░░░░░░░░ uh you know when ░░░░░░░░ do the comparison of ░░░░░░░░ that this person has ░░░░░░░░ it it and the ░░░░░░░░ people can make in ░░░░░░░░ financial industry in this ░░░░░░░░ and you know managing ░░░░░░░░ investments it s not ░░░░░░░░ for retirees the pension ░░░░░░░░ is and as you ░░░░░░░░ New Jersey s making ░░░░░░░░ record contribution in the ░░░░░░░░ budget to the pension ░░░░░░░░ after years of under ░░░░░░░░ and so when these ░░░░░░░░ do well whether through ░░░░░░░░ management or just the ░░░░░░░░ doing well that that ░░░░░░░░ ease the burden on ░░░░░░░░ because it eases how ░░░░░░░░ needs to come out ░░░░░░░░ the budget for pensions ░░░░░░░░ the investment returns are ░░░░░░░░ and so generally we ░░░░░░░░ strong investment returns from ░░░░░░░░ pension fund and we ░░░░░░░░ people who are good ░░░░░░░░ generating returns and managing ░░░░░░░░ types of funds in ░░░░░░░░ because it ends up ░░░░░░░░ in everyone s best ░░░░░░░░ to have a well ░░░░░░░░ pension fund than to ░░░░░░░░ a say a poorly ░░░░░░░░ fund where we re ░░░░░░░░ maximizing returns and then ░░░░░░░░ more of the burden ░░░░░░░░ shifted to taxpayers sure ░░░░░░░░ more money comes out ░░░░░░░░ the budget and John ░░░░░░░░ gets the final say ░░░░░░░░ this is it the ░░░░░░░░ legislature treasurer s office ░░░░░░░░ state investment council is ░░░░░░░░ conducting the search to ░░░░░░░░ this position but the ░░░░░░░░ sale on salary will ░░░░░░░░ come down to the ░░░░░░░░ treasurer John reitmeyer great ░░░░░░░░ as always thank you ░░░░░░░░ re welcome turning to ░░░░░░░░ Street here s a ░░░░░░░░ at today s closing ░░░░░░░░ numbers Music Applause Music ░░░░░░░░ tonight some long overdue ░░░░░░░░ after years of pollution ░░░░░░░░ hackensack river may finally ░░░░░░░░ declared a federal superfund ░░░░░░░░ the state is planning ░░░░░░░░ massive cleanup along the ░░░░░░░░ mile stretch of river ░░░░░░░░ the Oregon dam and ░░░░░░░░ county to the mouth ░░░░░░░░ the river in newark ░░░░░░░░ endorsing the waterway for ░░░░░░░░ spot on the federal ░░░░░░░░ list of toxic sites ░░░░░░░░ murphy administration says that ░░░░░░░░ enable the state to ░░░░░░░░ cleanup payments from probable ░░░░░░░░ basically any company along ░░░░░░░░ riverbank that knowingly or ░░░░░░░░ contaminated the water previous ░░░░░░░░ studies found elevated levels ░░░░░░░░ cancer causing dioxins pcbs ░░░░░░░░ and lead mercury in ░░░░░░░░ sampled from the river ░░░░░░░░ it won t be ░░░░░░░░ overnight fix the approval ░░░░░░░░ and cleanup typically takes ░░░░░░░░ but comes as the ░░░░░░░░ river is the cleanest ░░░░░░░░ s been in decades ░░░░░░░░ that does it for ░░░░░░░░ but in the meantime ░░░░░░░░ over to njspotlightnews org ░░░░░░░░ any of our social ░░░░░░░░ to continue following our ░░░░░░░░ I m Brianna vannozzi ░░░░░░░░ the entire news team ░░░░░░░░ for watching we ll ░░░░░░░░ you tomorrow njm insurance ░░░░░░░░ serving the insurance needs ░░░░░░░░ residents and businesses for ░░░░░░░░ than 100 years horizon ░░░░░░░░ cross blue shield of ░░░░░░░░ Jersey an independent licensee ░░░░░░░░ the blue cross and ░░░░░░░░ shield association and by ░░░░░░░░ pseg foundation njm insurance ░░░░░░░░ has been serving New ░░░░░░░░ policy holders for more ░░░░░░░░ 100 years but just ░░░░░░░░ are njm s policyholders ░░░░░░░░ re the social service ░░░░░░░░ non profit pioneers who ░░░░░░░░ a helping hand science ░░░░░░░░ technology innovators the men ░░░░░░░░ women who provide our ░░░░░░░░ labor and our homegrown ░░░░░░░░ the people who make ░░░░░░░░ state a great place ░░░░░░░░ call home njm we ░░░░░░░░ got New Jersey covered ░░░░░░░░ you need to see ░░░░░░░░ doctor rwj 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