FUNDING FOR AN SPOTLIGHT USE, PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RJ W BARNABAS HEALTH.

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

>> GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, FILLING IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY ANNOUNCED $50 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR NEW JERSEY'S BLUE ACRES BUYOUT PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS HOMEOWNERS TO SELL THEIR FLOOD DAMAGED OR FLOOD PRONE HOLMES TO THE STATE AT MARKET RATES.

THE STATE THEN DEMOLISHES THEM AND PRESERVES THE LAND.

BUT ADVOCATES SAY THIS NEW ROUND OF FUNDING IS NOT ENOUGH FOR A STATE IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE FEAR THAT BUYOUTS WILL NOT TARGET COMMUNITIES WITH LOWER INCOME OWNERS AND RENTERS WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE.

AS BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS, IT'S A DIFFICULT PROCESS IN SOME PEOPLE SIMPLY DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES.

>> VERY OVERWHELMING, KIND OF LIKE NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL IT.

THE WATER JUST KEPT COMING.

>> Reporter: ITEM FLOODED SARAH AND HENRIQUE'S HOME JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER SHE BOUGHT IT.

MORE THAN 8 INCHES OF RAIN SWAMPED WHOLE NEIGHBORHOODS HERE, BUT FOOTINGS ARE A REGULAR OCCURRENCE BECAUSE THE STORM SEWERS CITIZENS ARE WEARY.

>> LAST SUMMER, WE FLOODED A TOTAL OF 12 TIMES AND IT WAS SIGNIFICANT FLOODING.

>> OUR BASEMENT WAS COMPLETELY FLOODED.

WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WEATHER, HOT WATER HEATER, THE WASHER AND DRYER.

>> Reporter: THE STATE BOUGHT OUT SIX HOMES WITH BLUE ACRES FUNDING AFTER SUPER STORM SANDY DEVASTATED THE IRONBOUND.

SIPES STATE.

BUT AFTER IDA, HE HAS HAD IT.

>> LIKE I SAID, IT WAS ENOUGH MONEY.

WE ARE READY TO GO.

IF WE GET ANOTHER SANDY, I'M GOING.

>> WE KNOW THE AREAS WHICH ARE MOST FLOOD PRONE AND WE KNOW THE HOMES THAT STAND IN THOSE AREAS.

WE WILL WORK WITH HOMEOWNERS TO GET THEM OFF THIS COSTLY MERRY- GO-ROUND.

>> Reporter: GOVERNOR MURPHY ON TUESDAY ANNOUNCED A $50 MILLION BOOST TO BUYOUT THE PROPERTIES HIT HARDEST BY IDA.

BUT ADVOCATES LIKE PETER PASSIVE BACK WANT A FURTHER COMMITMENT.

>> WE REALLY DO NEED TO BE PRIORITIZING THE FUNDING AND SUPPORT IN COMMUNITIES WHERE WE HAVE OUR LOWEST INCOME OWNERS AND RENTERS.

AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT A MYSTERY.

SO WE CAN DO THIS.

>> Reporter: THE DEP HAS GOTTEN 281 BLUE ACRES OFFERS SINCE IDA.

HOMEOWNERS WHO WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO BUY THEM OUT.

BUT IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THIS, IT'S NOT THAT EASY.

>> OKAY, A BUYOUT WOULD BE GREAT, BUT THIS IS OUR FIRST HOME.

THIS IS OUR BABY.

WE ALREADY PUT WORK INTO IT.

AND WE DON'T WANT TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> WE CAN'T JUST ASSUME THAT BUYOUTS ARE GOING TO BE THE ANSWER EVERYWHERE.

IN SOME PLACES, THAT'S GOING TO MAKE SENSE.

IN OTHER PLACES, HARD INFRASTRUCTURE IS GOING TO MAKE SENSE.

>> Reporter: DEP COMMISSIONER SEAN LATOURETTE SAYS THEY ARE STILL COMPILING FORMULAS TO DETERMINE WHICH PROPERTIES WILL QUALIFY AND HOW TO BUILD EQUITY INTO THAT EQUATION.

IT'S COMPLICATED.

>> SURE, THERE WILL BE HOLDOUTS.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

AND THINK HARD ABOUT ARE WE GOING TO DO WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, WHICH HAS BEEN IN SOME CASES, TO WITHHOLD BUYOUTS BECAUSE WE COULD NOT GET ENOUGH FOLKS INTERESTED.

RIGHT?

AND SO, THAT NEEDS DEEP AND HARD THOUGHT AND WE ARE DOING THAT NOW.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THE STATE WILL ALSO HELP COMMUNITIES BUILD ROBUST STORM WATER UTILITIES AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH NEW JERSEY'S CLIMATE RESILIENCE, BUT IT WON'T WORK WITHOUT COMMUNITY BY IN.

>> IN A COMMUNITY LIKE IRONBOUND, WHICH IS ALMOST 80% RENTERS, WE NEED TO THINK OF COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING SOLUTIONS TOO THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO STAY HERE AND THRIVE HERE.

>> ENSURING THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING, AND IDENTIFYING THE PROJECTS AND THE ACTIVITIES THAT MEET THEIR VISION FOR THEIR COMMUNITY IN THE FUTURE IS ABSOLUTELY THE FOCUS.

FOR THE BLUE ACRES PROGRAM OR ANY OF THE OTHER EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE.

>> Reporter: FOR THE BLUE ACRES PROGRAM TO REALLY DO EQUITY JUSTICE, SOME ADVOCATES SAY IT WOULD HAVE TO ADDRESS NOT JUST FLOOD VICTIMS CLIMATE EXPOSURE, BUT THEIR ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY AS WELL.

>> STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR DO NOT BENEFIT IN THE SAME WAY FROM BUYOUTS AS WEALTHIER PEOPLE AND WHITE PEOPLE DO.

SO, WHILE THEY MAY END UP BEING ABLE TO RENT SOMEWHERE ELSE, WITH NEW PROGRAMS, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A BETTER SITUATION.

>> Reporter: CARMEN REYES UNDERSTANDS THAT.

SHE BOUGHT HER HOUSE ON ESTHER STREET AND PAID $45,000.

SANDY PUSHED HER TO THE SECOND FLOOR.

BUT SHE STILL REFUSES TO LEAVE.

>> SHE SAID MOM, WHY DON'T YOU SELL YOUR HOUSE?

I WANT TO STAY HERE IN MY HOUSE.

>> Reporter: EVEN WITH THE FLOOD?

>> YES, I DON'T CARE.

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY, AND NEW YORK GOVERNOR KATHY HOGLE JOIN THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF CHRIS -- THE COMMISSION'S BOARD IS ACCEPTED TO ACCEPT THE NOMINATION NEXT MONTH.

HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CAMDEN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP.

A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NONPROFIT.

HE ALSO SERVED AS COMMISSIONER OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FROM JANUARY 2006 UNTIL DECEMBER 2008.

THE GATEWAY PROGRAM IS FINALLY MOVING FORWARD, WITH MONEY ALLOCATED FOR THE HUDSON RIVER TUNNEL PROJECT.

WORK IS ALSO ADVANCING ON THE PORTAL BRIDGE.

>>> THE U.S. IS ON TRACK TO HIT ANOTHER GRIM MILESTONE IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

ACCORDING TO JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE COUNTRY WILL LIKELY SURPASS 1 MILLION COVID RELATED DEATHS WITHIN DAYS.

THE U.S. HAS SEEN ALMOST 82 MILLION COVID-19 CASES SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE LATEST UPTICK IN CASES HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY A SPREAD OF NEW VERSIONS OF THE OMICRON VERSION, OVER THE PAST MONTH.

ON THE VACCINE FRONT, THE FDA ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD BE LIMITING THE USE OF THE SINGLE SHOT JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE DUE TO A RARE, BUT SEVERE BLOOD CLOTTING SIDE EFFECT.

THE FDA SAYS JOHNSON & JOHNSON'S TREATMENT WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE TO THOSE WITH A SEVERE ALLERGY TO MODERNITY AND PFIZER'S VACCINES, OR WHO HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO THEM, OR WHO REFUSE ANY OTHER TYPE OF VACCINATION.

>>> IN NEW JERSEY, THE STATE RECORDED JUST UNDER 3400 NEW CASES TODAY AND EIGHT NEW DEATHS.

HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN ON THE RISE.

DESPITE THE INCREASE IN CASES, STATE SENATE REPUBLICANS YESTERDAY SENT A LETTER TO GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY, PRESSING HIM TO END VACCINATION AND TESTING MANDATES FOR SOME WORKERS.

WITH US TO DISCUSS THAT LETTER IS REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR HOLLY --YOU SIGNED ON TO CALL HIM TO END MANDATES.

WHY NOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN SOME OF THE CASES ARE ON THE RISE HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> I THINK IT'S FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON THE MANDATE THAT GOT LAMENTED LAST MONTH THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO WORK IN PRISONS, SHERIFF'S OFFICERS, AND IT GOES DOWN TO JUST MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.

IT'S SEEN IN ADMIN STAFF AND PRETTY MUCH ANYONE WHO WORKS IN THESE INSTITUTIONS WILL BE TERMINATED IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN BOOSTED.

AND A COUPLE OF RECENT SCIENTIFIC STUDIES, INCLUDING ONE OUT OF YALE, AND ONE OUT OF CANADA HAVE INDICATED THAT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY INFECTED, WHO HAD THE TWO SHOTS TO BEGIN WITH DO NOT GET ANY SORT OF MEASURABLE BENEFIT AGAINST OMICRON BY GETTING THE BOOSTER.

SO, IF ALL OF THESE POLICIES ARE BEING TAILORED AROUND SCIENCE, WOULDN'T WE ACCEPT PEOPLE WHO HAVE MAYBE HAD TWO SHOTS OR HAD A PREVIOUS INFECTION AS BEING EQUAL TO SOMEBODY WHO, WITH THE BOOSTER IS NOT SHOWING ANY SORT OF MEASURABLE PROTECTION.

OR OTHER WISE.

YOU POINTED OUT VARIOUS STUDIES.

SOME OF THESE SHOW DIFFERENT FINDINGS, SO THAT IS AN ISSUE.

I'M WONDERING IS WELCOME IF YOU ARE ALSO A BIT CONCERNED ABOUT STAFFING AT THESE FACILITIES.

>> WELL, STAFFING IS A HUGE ISSUE IN A LOT OF FACILITIES.

AND WE WERE HAVING AN ISSUE WITH CERTAIN STAFFING LEVELS PRE-PANDEMIC.

WE ALSO HEAR ABOUT NO SHORTAGES OF NURSES.

AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN A LOT OF OUR PRISONS, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TAKING EARLY RETIREMENT, SAME THING AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS.

SO, I THINK THAT WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE A MUCH MORE MEASURED APPROACH.

AND AS THE SCIENCE DEVELOPS, WE WILL START TO RESEND A CERTAIN NUMBER OF THESE THINGS.

>> I WANT TO SWITCH GEARS WITH YOU JUST FOR A MOMENT.

IN TURN TO THE SUPREME COURT.

YOU HAVE SAID YOU ARE PRO- CHOICE WITHIN REASON.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THIS LEAKED DRAFT OPINION, SHOWING THE SUPREME COURT HAD VOTED TO STRIKE DOWN ROE V WADE?

>> WELL, IT WAS TWOFOLD.

ONE, I'M CONCERNED, NOT ABOUT PLACES LIKE NEW JERSEY, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS ON WOMEN IN OTHER STATES, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO TRAVEL, INTO GET ACCESS.

AND, JUST FOR WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE IN GENERAL, YEAH, DEPENDING ON POLICIES GETTING PUSHED FORWARD IN OTHER STATES, COULD THAT POTENTIALLY ENDANGER A WOMAN'S LIFE?

THERE ARE A LOT OF CONSIDERATIONS THAT GO INTO WHY PEOPLE SEEK AN ABORTION AND WHY, IN SOME CASES, ONE IS NECESSARY.

I ALSO, AS AN ATTORNEY HAVE REALLY GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE LEAKING OF A FIRST SUPREME COURT IMPLICATION.

>> GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID ON AIR WEDNESDAY THAT WOMEN FROM ALL STATES ARE WELCOME TO COME HERE TO NEW JERSEY FOR ABORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE SERVICES IF ABORTION BECOMES ILLEGAL IN THEIR HOME STATE.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW FAR HE INTENDS ON GOING WITH THIS.

I THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON NEW JERSEY, AND MEDICAL NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY BEFORE WE MAKE BLANKET STATEMENTS.

>> SENATOR, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE SPEAKING WITH YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> IN WOODBRIDGE TOWNSHIP, WORRIED PARENTS ARE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS AFTER MORE THAN 100 FORMER STUDENTS AND STAFF OF COLONIAL HIGH SCHOOL DEVELOPED RARE BRAIN TUMORS.

THE SCHOOL RECENTLY UNDERWENT RADIATION TESTING, BUT RESULTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE YET.

PARENTS WENT TO SEE MORE TESTS.

AND THEY ALSO WANT THE OPTION OF KEEPING THEIR KIDS AT HOME.

JOANNA GAGIS ATTENDED A WOODBRIDGE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING LAST NIGHT, WERE PARENTS WERE TOLD BY A REMOTE LEARNING OPTION IS NOT AVAILABLE.

>> THERE IS A FAIR NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF KIDS WERE OFFERED A REMOTE LEARNING OPTION.

>> ONE OF SEVERAL PARENTS IN THE COLONIAL REGION WHO SENT A LETTER TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, ASKING THAT THEIR KIDS BE ALLOWED TO LEARN REMOTELY AFTER GROWING CONCERN AROUND A POSSIBLE CANCER CLUSTER, TIED TO COLONIAL HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE ADDRESSED THE ISSUE AT LAST NIGHT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING.

>> THERE SAYING THAT THERE'S NO SUBSTANTIAL THREAT OF, SUBSTANTIATED HEALTH CONCERN.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE WHAT BASIS, ON WHAT BASIS WAS THIS DETERMINATION MADE?

>> SO, I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING -- WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

EIGHT WOODBRIDGE SUPERINTENDENT DR. JOSEPH --CONFIRMED THAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS NOT GRANTED PERMISSION TO ALLOW A REMOTE OPTION SINCE THOSE WERE RESERVED FOR COVID RELATED CLOSURES ONLY.

THE PARENTS PUSHED BACK ON THE ANSWER IN A LETTER AND AT THE BOARD MEETING.

>> IT'S FRUSTRATING, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE CAN SAY THAT THERE'S NO IMMEDIATE CONCERN IF WE DON'T HAVE THE RESULTS.

>> Reporter: THE RESULTS OF TWO WEEKS OF RADON AND RADIOLOGICAL TESTING THAT OCCURRED IN AND AROUND THE HIGH SCHOOL GROUNDS IN APRIL, AFTER RESIDENT -- BROUGHT THE GROWING LIST OF CANCER CASES TO WOODBRIDGE MAYOR JOHN McCORMICK.

HE IMMEDIATELY FUNDED THE TESTING.

RESIDENTS NOW HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE END OF MAY FOR ANY RESULTS.

THEY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROCESS.

>> WITH THE TESTING ITSELF, AS FAR AS I KNOW, YOU ARE ONLY DOING IT CORRECTLY WITH RADON TESTING.

ARE YOU DOING ANY TYPE OF OTHER SOIL SAMPLING FOR ANY OTHER CONTAMINANTS?

>> WE RECEIVED THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

WE HAVE PLANS WITH OUR CONSULTANTS, GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE TO CONFER WITH THEM.

RIGHT BY THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND THE INITIAL CLAIMS OF GUESSING -- >> WHILE THE TOWNSHIP AWAITS THE LEVEL OF TESTING, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE WAITING TO STEP UP AND FUND FOR TESTING.

>> WE NEED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

WE NEED THE STATE DEPARTMENTS TO TAKE ACTION.

IF YOU GO TO THE PETITION THAT WE STARTED, AND READ THE COMMENTS.

IF LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE OVER 20,000 PEOPLE WHO SIGNED IT.

THE PETITION ASKS FOR AIR, WATER AND SOIL.

OF ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY CANCER OR TUMORS.

SOMETHING THAT --HAS BEEN HANDLING ALONE.

>> WE BOTH TALKED TO THE STATE AND SAID WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE COMPILED.

AND GO THROUGH THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SUBMITTED ON THEIR OWN.

BECAUSE THE HAS TO BE LOOKED AT.

>> ALONE CONVENED LEADERS FROM THE EPA, AND STATE TOWNSHIP.

HE SAYS THAT THE STATE COMMITTED TO HELP WOODBRIDGE.

>> THE STATE MAY DECIDE TO STEP IN AND DO MORE, DEPENDING ON THE RESULTS.

THE FEDS HAVE BASICALLY SAID THAT THEY HAVE TO ASK THEM IF THEY WANT HELP.

BUT THEY ARE PREPARED AND READY TO DO THAT.

>> Reporter: IN THE MEANTIME, PARENTS CONTINUE SENDING THEIR KIDS INTO A SCHOOL BUILDING, WONDERING IF THEY TOO COULD BE ADDING THEIR NAME.

FOR AN SPOTLIGHT NEWS, IN OTHER NEWS, THEY WELCOME 96.6 VISITORS AS TRAVEL STARTED TO LOOK POSITIVE.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE FINDINGS IN THE DIVISION OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TOURISM IN 2021.

I SAT DOWN WITH CHRIS PIKE, THE DIRECTOR OF IMPACT STUDIES, WHICH PREPARED THAT REPORT FOR THE STATE.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

WE DID SEE AN INCREASE LAST SUNDAY, BUT WE KNOW THAT IT WAS SOMEWHAT UNEVEN.

SO WE DID SEE SOME LINGERING COVID IMPACTS AFTER ALL.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WE HAVE BEEN ISSUED BASED.

STILL FIGHTING BEHIND.

>> AND LET'S DIG INTO SOME OF THE NUMBERS.

WHAT SORT OF INCREASE DID YOU SEE?

>> WE SAW A 14% INCREASE IN VISITATION.

MAKING UP ABOUT HALF OF YOUR PANDEMIC LOSSES.

>> WAS THERE ANYTHING UNIQUE OR DIFFERENT IN SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT YOU SAW IN VISITORS SPENDING OR OTHER POTENTIAL --THAT LOOKED DIFFERENT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

>> WHAT YOU REALLY SAW IS, HAVING THE LONGER LENGTH TO STAY THAT REALLY WAS BASED ON -- YOU ALSO SAW THE SPENDING ON -- THIS DEMAND GREW FOR THE AREAS.

MAKING SURE THAT YOU SAW -- THAT STILL HAVE THE CLOSURES OF CERTAIN MUSEUMS.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT THE BUSINESS SPENDING RECOVERY.

WHERE ARE WE WITH THAT?

>> STRUGGLING STILL.

IT'S MUCH FURTHER BEHIND.

BUT THAT SHOULD BE THE STORY OF 2022.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS FROM THE PAST YEAR, AND THE SPENDING INCREASES.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE STATE'S ECONOMY?

TOURISM IS A BIG DRIVER HERE.

SO WHAT WAS ACTUALLY BROUGHT IN FROM THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS?

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OVER $37 BILLION IN SPENDING, DIRECTLY FROM VISITORS.

WE ARE TALKING 430,000 JOBS BEING SUPPORTED.

THAT'S ONE OUT OF EVERY 12 JOBS IN NEW JERSEY, BEING SUPPORTED BY VISITOR ACTIVITY.

IN ANOTHER $6.4 BILLION, WHICH EQUATES TO $1400 PER HOUSEHOLD THAT THEY ARE SAVING, BECAUSE TOURISM IS HAPPENING IN NEW JERSEY.

>> WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE TOURISM ISSUES THIS YEAR, WE HAVE HEARD FROM SMALL BUSINESSES AND OTHERS THAT THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING STUFF.

HOW BIG OF A CONCERN IS IT.

HOW BIG OF A CONCERN IS IT?

>> IT CERTAINLY AN ISSUE THAT SOME BUSINESSES ARE HAVING.

I THINK WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO START TO SEE.

WHETHER IT'S FINDING OTHER WAYS TO SERVE THEIR CUSTOMERS, WHETHER IT'S THE REOPENING OF VISAS TO ALLOW INTERNATIONAL WORKERS TO COME BACK IN.

>> IT ANY OTHER PREDICTIONS THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF OVERALL INCREASES IN TOURIST ACTIVITY OR DOLLARS SPENT?

>> I THINK WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE SOME VERY SIMILAR GROWTH.

WHAT YOU SAW IN 2021 WAS THE JERSEY SHORE ONE WHICH YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IN 2022 IS YOU'RE GOING TO START SEEING BUSINESSES COMING BACK TO SUPPORT THE 202 COORDINATOR.

WHICH YOU ARE GOING TO SEE -- NEWARK, --COUNTY.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT RECOVERY IN 2022.

>> CHRIS, THANKS FOR TALKING TO US.

>> WE KNOW TOURISTY LOVE OUR JERSEY SHORE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS WILL BE BUSTLING THERE THIS SUMMER.

VISITOR SAYING --ARE A HOT COMMODITY WITH STRONG RENTAL DEMAND AND A LOT OF PROPERTIES ARE ALREADY UP.

AND HOW MUCH IT WILL COST YOU.

>> FOR DECADES, THE JERSEY SHORE HAS BEEN A FAVORITE DESTINATION FOR FAMILIES.

THIS YEAR IS EXPECTED TO BE NO DIFFERENCE, BUT FINDING A PLACE TO STAY COULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT.

>> THE SUMMER SEASON IS OFF TO A BEING UPSTART.

I MEAN, WE ARE SEEING RECORD NUMBERS OF PEOPLE FLOCKING OR WANTING TO FLOCK TO THE JERSEY SHORE.

THIS SUMMER.

THERE'S NOT TOO MUCH LEFT, UNLESS YOU HAVE SPECIFIC WEEKS IN MIND THAT ARE NOT IN THE HIGH SEASON, BETWEEN JULY AND AUGUST, BUT PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING HAS BEEN RENTED.

>> RECORD NUMBERS, AS PEOPLE BEGAN WORKING AND GOING TO SCHOOL REMOTELY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> 2020 BROUGHT MAYBE ALMOST DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE TO THE SHORE AREAS.

2021 WAS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.

WE SAW OUR SUMMER SEASON CONTINUE WELL AFTER LABOR DAY.

ESPECIALLY IF THE WEATHER IS GREAT.

WE SAW RENTERS STAYING RIGHT THROUGH TO THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER.

>> IT HAS JUST BEEN INSANE.

PEOPLE BEEN TRYING TO GET THERE --AND/OR, SINCE THE SEASON.

THERE'S AN INFLUX FOR SURE.

>> THIS YEAR, REAL TO ESTIMATE THE DEMAND HAS INCREASED ABOUT 20%.

>> PEOPLE WERE VERY EAGER TO RE- RENT FROM LAST YEAR, THE NEW YEAR.

AND THE PRICES, MATCHING EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD TODAY, BETWEEN GAS AND HOLMES SALE PRICES.

THERE'S FEWER RENTALS THIS YEAR THAN THERE WERE THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

A LOT HAS TO DO WITH THE SECONDARY HOMES ARE PRIMARY HOMES.

SO THEREFORE, WE LOST A LOT OF RENTALS.

>> INTEREST WAS LOW FOR A LONG LONG TIME.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE 2.5% MORTGAGE RATES, THAT MAKES HOUSING A VERY VERY ATTRACTIVE INVESTMENT.

PEOPLE DID NOT WANT TO BE IN HIGH DENSITY AREAS.

SO THEY WERE LOOKING FOR ANY KIND OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOME DURING COVID.

WITH LESS DENSITY.

THE THIRD FACTORS WE HAVE NOT BUILT ENOUGH HOUSING IT.

SO THERE'S JUST A HUGE SUPPLY OF DEMAND AND BALLAST.

>> HOW MUCH MORE RENTERS WILL PAY ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT RENTERS ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> A SUMMER RENTAL FOR MAY, FROM LABOR DAY, MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY CAN REACH ANYWHERE FROM $60,000-$150,000.

JUST DEPENDING ON THE SPEECH BLOCK LOCATION.

THE CLOSER TO THE OCEAN, THE MORE EXPENSIVE IT IS.

>> Reporter: IF YOU'RE STILL SOMEONE WHO NEEDS A PLACE TO STAY OVER THE SHORE THIS SUMMER, ALL HOPE IS NOT LOST.

>> THE BEST MONTH IS SEPTEMBER.

HANDS-DOWN, THAT IS THE BEST MONTH TO RENT.

THERE'S PLENTY OF AVAILABILITY IN SEPTEMBER TO COME DOWN.

THEY'RE STILL REALLY GOOD AVAILABILITY IN JUNE.

SO IF YOU ARE LITTLE BIT FLEXIBLE WITH YOUR DATES.

YOU MAY NOT GET THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF JULY, THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF AUGUST, BUT THE LAST WEEK OF JUNE, THE LAST WEEK OF AUGUST, LABOR DAY.

GREAT WEEKS TO TRY FOR.

>> REALTORS ALSO RECOMMEND CHECKING FOR CANCELLATIONS OFTEN.

MAKE SURE TO BOOK RIGHT AWAY.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> MORE EVIDENCE THAT THE LABOR MARKET REMAINS HEALTHY.

U.S. COMPANIES ADDED 420,000 NEW JOBS THIS MONTH.

THE LATEST JOBS REPORT ALSO SHOWS THAT THE U.S. UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINS AT 3.6%.

THE LOWEST LEVEL IN DECADES.

STILL, U.S. EMPLOYMENT REMAINS ABOUT 1.2 MILLION BELOW PANDEMIC LEVELS.

COMPANIES KEEP HANDING OUT PAY RAGES, UP 5.5% FROM A YEAR AGO.

BUT THOSE WAGE GAINS ARE NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION, WHICH IS AT 40 YEAR HIGHS.

ANOTHER VERY VOLATILE DAY ON WALL STREET.

HERE IS A LOOK AT THE CLOSING NUMBERS.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT, PROVIDED BY MARTIN TUCKMAN'S SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AT NJ I.T.

OFFERING NEW JERSEY'S FIRST BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE.

>> TO JOIN ME FOR NJ BUSINESS BEACH THIS WEEKEND, WITH THE SPOTLIGHT ON NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK.

LOOKING AT EVERYTHING FROM THE CURRENT CLIMATE FOR THE INDUSTRY, TO CYBER SECURITY FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

WATCH IT ON NJ PBS, SATURDAY AT 5:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 9:30.

THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE WEEKS BIG POLITICAL HEADLINES, CHECK OUT REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ.

HE TALKS WITH KIM -- KOH DEAN OF THE RUTGERS LAW SCHOOL ABOUT THE LEAKED SUPREME COURT DRAFT DECISION TO OVERTURN ROE V WADE AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IN NEW JERSEY.

THAT'S SATURDAY, 6:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:00 A.M. PLUS, ON TOP BOX, DAVID TALKS WITH HIP-HOP ICON AND MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE DARRELL McDANIELS OF RUN DMC WHO SHARES HIS OWN DENTAL HEALTH JOURNEY AND TALKS ABOUT HIS NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK.

THAT'S SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:30 A.M. WOLFE ON NJ PBS.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>>> IN JM INSURANCE GROUP.

SERVING THE BUSINESS NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.