>> Major funding is provided in part 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.

And by the -- Briana: New Jersey's Attorney General calls for immediate reforms of the state police after investigations revealed misconduct, discrimination and bias.

Plus, former New York City Council president sworn InterCon -- >> I am looking forward to bringing a perspective that is relatable, and definitely in tuned to Americans of today and the challenges they are facing.

Briana: Also, weeks after the death of an NHL star and his brother, South Jersey residents plea for safer streets.

>> People feel very vulnerable.

They feel they are not protected, either by the infrastructure, by law enforcement.

Briana: And a golden celebration.

New Jersey and the city honor Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, giving her a hometown welcome.

>> I am grateful for your support.

And to all of the young kids, not just athletes, but whenever you aspire to do, I truly hope you chase your dreams.

Briana: NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

♪ >> From NJ PBS Studios, this is NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: Good evening and thanks for joining us this Tuesday night.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

We begin with.

A few key stories we are following.

first, South Jersey Democratic powerbroker is swinging back.

His attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the indictment brought against him this summer by Attorney General Matt Plotkin.

Charging Norcorss, his brother and three others with running a criminal enterprise that allegedly used political power and unlawful threats to steal property and development rights along the Camden waterfront from legal owners.

In a motion filed the attorney claimed the indictment read more like a screenplay for a crime thriller but without the crime, sandy government palpably fails to state an offense and the elected -- were nothing more than everyday hard all business negotiations.

A hearing date is scheduled for January 2 for a judge to consider arguments to dismiss the charges.

Also tonight Attorney General Matt Platt can is ordering sweeping reforms for the New Jersey state police after releasing a pair of scathing investigations into the law enforcement agency which found bias and discrimination within hiring practices and an ability for the force to police itself.

The state is taking control of the human resources department along with other functions, concluding that some troopers are favored while others are retaliated against for reporting misconduct.

The office is recommending more than two dozen changes, including disclosing complaints made against senior offices in the state police.

The investigation's reforms come about a year after the Justice Department began its own review of the agency.

The state police has had a troubled history.

It has been subject to two federal descent degrees and dozens of lawsuits brought by officers alleging racial and gender bias.

And a historic moment for New Jersey as LaMonica McIver was sworn into the house last night in Washington, D.C.

He represent the state's 10th congressional district, succeeding the late representative Donald Payne Junior who died in April.

She overwhelmingly won in a special election last week and was surrounded by her family in the New York Mayor who she credited with introducing her to politics at the age of 10.

The house stood and applauded her after she was sworn in Congressman Frank Pallone said the 30 weight -- She is the youngest person ever elected to Newark city Council, the youngest elected as the Council President, and now the youngest person elected to Congress on behalf of New Jersey.

Newly seated Congresswoman LaMonica McIver is with me now to talk about what comes next.

Great to talk to you.

What was that experience like having your family by your side standing there before the delegation and taking this very serious oath?

Rep. McIver: It was unbelievable, honestly.

It was an honor and a humbling experience to be there, definitely a surreal moment.

All of the campaigning for the last 19 weeks came to a full perspective last night.

It was definitely just an honor to be there.

I needed to go home and sleep it through to see if this is real.

It is definitely an honor for me to be currently serving as congresswoman of the 10th congressional district as of last night.

Briana: It sounds like they didn't give you much time to sink in, just given his schedule you had today.

Have you gotten committee assignments?

Where are you going to be serving?

Rep. McIver: Currently just for the time until we end out this Congress session I am serving on Homeland Security and Small Business.

Really looking forward to putting whatever effort I can into these last couple of weeks of this Congress on those two committees.

Super excited about that.

Thankful to the committee for assigning me to those two very important committees.

Briana: Do you have a list already of legislative priorities that you are planning to tackle?

You mentioned this session will be short for you because of course you are back on the ballot in November.

What do you hope to tackle?

Rep. McIver: Right now I think we are getting acclimated to the trying to learn all the ins and outs of it.

For me one of the focuses is to make sure we are providing services to people of the 10th congressional district.

As you know we have been without a member since April, and people are in dire need of certain services that their federal government should be offering.

We are really looking forward to making sure we can get the district offices up and going and making sure we are able to serve the residents.

That is the priority for this short period of time.

I have been on this show multiple times talking about some of the issues in the 10th congressional that are important to me, especially around affordability.

But in this short span we're trying to make sure we are ready and willing to serve the people of the 10th congressional district in this short time sp an.

Briana: You stepped down from your role as Newark city Council President, but the fact you are the youngest person to be elected to Congress from New Jersey.

How do you think your work both in Newark as city Council President, and also being a younger member of this delegation will inform what you bring to the table?

Rep. McIver: I think I bring a younger perspective.

I don't mean that as in young, youthful all the time.

I think people under 40 who have families, they have young children, sometimes their voices are not always at the table.

Especially at the federal level.

I think being able to bring that perspective definitely sets the tone.

I think at the same time I am always advocating for young people, asking them to get involved and engaged in what is happening politically and cynically.

Because when you are not at the table and informed, most of the time you are on the menu.

I try to explain that to a younger generation of young voters, to be engaged in what is happening.

But definitely for me I am looking forward to bringing a perspective that is relatable, and definitely entombed -- in tuned to Americans today and different challenges they are facing.

Briana: Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, thank you so much for your time.

There is a push enter N2O increase over tight of New Jersey transit, especially after the second worst summer of health -- of hell for riders.

They want the agency to make good to hire a customer advocate, someone to voice suggestions and frustrations to top leaders.

Now, a new bill is proposing to take control of that position away from the very organization under certain a, and put -- un der scrutiny, and put the power back in the hands of riders.

Brenda Flanagan reports.

Brenda: Trains and buses ran mostly trouble-free this morning but riders struggled to keep track on the mobile app which crashed during the rush, unable to process request for tickets, routes or delays.

A flood of posts cited technical issues, down for hundreds of consumers.

One frustrated commuter commented if we had a consumer advocate to look to for timing and information they would have heard more clearly how wrong, lacking, and fed up we are with NGT's catastrophically bad performance.

>> It is obvious to me New Jersey transit doesn't want a customer advocate, does not want someone that would report directly to the board and be responsible to riders.

And that is very disappointing.

Brenda: The former State Senator's bill creating an NJ transit consumer advocate passed in 2018 but she claims the agency's hire disqualified himself by promoting his boss's interest override or's concerns.

Riders have been clamoring for a replacement.

>> We need someone else in charge of hand -- hiring -- The board member has not been transparent about the vacancy and has failed.

>> The hiring of a public advocate is in its final stages.

That is all the information I can give at this time.

>> I cannot believe that they have had no opiate person signing up for this job here let's really demand accountability from the people who are running it.

>> We have a long way to go and we need to make sure the riders feel that their interests are being represented.

There is nobody within New Jersey transit right now whose soul job is to advocate for commuters.

Brenda: a State Senator bipartisan bipartisan legislation to create a new three-member rider advocacy position independent of NJ transit.

Members would be appointed separately.

One each by the governor, Senate President, and a summary speaker.

The commission would then hire an NJ transit rider advocate.

>> At the end of the day we are strengthening the customer advocate position to make them accountable directly to the commuters through their elected representatives and not have them accountable to New Jersey transit.

Brenda: It advocates -- They could investigate and research customer concerns and testified to NJ transit's and legislative committees.

But foremost among their duties, the advocate would conduct monthly meetings with riders and solicit conduits.

The bill would repeal any new advocate hired by NJ transit support.

-- transit's board.

>> They have to have some independence from the agency they are auditing.

>> I will be supportive of anything that improves life for the customer of New Jersey transit.

Brenda: NJ Transit said it is still finalizing a process to hire an advocate.

The rider advocacy bill on Monday moved unopposed through the assembly Appropriations Committee.

I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: What if you are bad driving habits changed someone's life forever?

Those are the kinds of questions you will be seeing along state roads starting this week, linked to a new safety campaign from the department of transportation.

It's aimed at addressing dangerous driving behaviors and promoting safety as a way of life.

The what if and other messages will run on billboards, social media, and other digital platforms through the end of the year in the hopes it will resonate with drivers on a personal level so they think about the consequences of speeding, driving while distracted, or under the influence.

Maybe the most glaring recent example of that is the traumatic death of NHL hockey star Johnny good euro brother Matthew, who were killed by an alleged drunk driver last month while riding their bikes near their family home in South Jersey.

The incident has put a spotlight on safety issues pedestrians and cyclists face throughout the state.

Reporter: In the months since the brothers were killed by an alleged drunk driver, tributes have popped up nationwide.

The latest gesture came from the Philadelphia Flyers who brought in their father as a guest coast -- coach.

>> I think it will be therapeutic for him to be around us and run some drills.

He has done it before.

He is a coach.

It was great.

Reporter: The rink where they learned to skate has become a shrine for the family.

Hockey sticks and pictures are outside the out serving alongside Johnny's go-to purple Gatorade and skittles which he used to teach his sons how to skate.

When the good drove brothers were hit by a car they were biking near this intersection.

>> My experience on that road is I turn onto it and off of it as quickly as possible.

Reporter: Their death has raised questions about how safe bicyclists feel in New Jersey and how safe they actually are.

Questions that inspired a survey of more than 1000 people.

>> People feel like they are not protected either by the infrastructure, by law enforcement.

Reporter: Smith is a triathlete who was also struck a car while biking.

>> I saw a car coming towards me.

I had the right-of-way.

I heard the engine gone and the next thing I knew I was on the ground.

I had a massive concussion.

I broke three ribs and shattered my collarbone and I am still recovering from that two years later.

Reporter: 18 bicyclists have been killed by these crashes in New Jersey this year.

Already more than each of the previous two years.

Mike Fraser owns sneakers and spoke in nearby Woodstown.

He says biking has become much more dangerous around South Jersey because of the rise in population and businesses.

>> Warehouse is in the traffic that comes with that that the trucks and stuff, the construction side of it.

Which I imagine will also be the employee side.

It is a lot of traffic on back roads.

The push for people moving down this way, finding jobs down this way, it is increased traffic.

Reporter: If you weeks ago Woodstown hosted a town of 60-plus people, all concerned about what steps should be taken.

>> We had residents from multiple counties.

We had officials, our state assembly man here.

It was actually pretty good.

The mayor was here.

Just open discussion.

Reporter: He has a few ideas for solutions, including infrastructure projects and empathy.

>> I believe what they see is a bike going down the road and they don't see a person on a bike who is a father, mother.

I love rails and trails.

I think they are awesome.

>> My whole life there has been an emphasis on education and punishment of bad actors.

We aren't really seeing a change.

Reporter: Cory Hannigan works for tri-state transportation campaign, and he would like to see changes to infrastructure to benefit bicyclists and pedestrians.

>> What has worked in other states, other countries, that are seeing progress on this front, is really looking at what infrastructure saves lives, what infrastructure calmes traffic.

Reporter: While rural communities may not have the financial resources to improve and for structure, they have some strengths.

>> It is open fields a lot of the times.

It seems a lot easier to widen the sidewalk to 10 feet.

Reporter: as communities debate how to make their streets safer, the South Jersey community and the hockey world will continue to remember the good drove brothers and honor their families.

I'm Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: Rent prices just won't let up.

Multiple national real estate reports show the Northeast has seen the largest regional increase in rent cost in the country.

That includes six North Georgie counties where the medium rent will run you more than $2800 a month.

Joanna Gagis reports.

>> Number one reason we have high prices in New Jersey is lack of supply.

Joanna: The high cost of living was top of mind for the assembly housing committee that heard testimony from a range of experts on how to address.

>> Housing costs have reached an all-time high in the U.S. last year.

It is no secret it follows a supply and demand mechanism.

When housing supply goes down, buyers have fewer homes to choose from.

And sellers have more power.

And we see housing prices go up.

Joanna: The pew charitable trust also addressed the lack of development that has led to a shortage in supply over the last two decades.

>> We see a big dip from 2009 to 2011, which created a great shortfall.

And frankly what happened out of it.

This is New Jersey's housing inventory today.

It is less than half of what it was in 2018.

At the same time on the right side of the slide you can see the medium home cost in New Jersey has riven 46% in the past four years since the pandemic.

Joanna: Some testimony addressed underlying causes for the drastic rate increases.

>> For the past five years everything that goes into operating, maintaining and improving a building has gone up in price including the labor, utility costs, material, property taxes.

Joanna: They argue those costs make it challenging for developers to build in the state as well as landlords to maintain their affordable properties.

Some testified about streamlining permitting and estate ease the process but despite the challenges, advocates say it is the working core who bear the burden.

>> In 2021, renter households making less than $30,000 a year had an average of $380 left over each month after paying rent.

That is $380 for food, clothing, transportation, everything else.

Joanna: Carl from the eviction Lab at Princeton University says 80% to 90% of evictions are caused by Mr. Rounds.

-- by missed rent.

>> Evictions are a cause of poverty.

They are profoundly destabilizing events that can cause households to enter into downward spirals.

Joanna: New Jersey is well above the national average for evictions and they disproportionately affect the Black community and families with kids.

He also points to research showing new housing construction keeps rent and surrounding building 6% lower.

While rent increases are also an area the legislature was asked to address.

>> It prohibits rent increases that are unconscionable.

But what percentage is unconscionable?

New Jersey law is silent on that.

It is not appropriate standard to judge a rent increase on whether or not it is shocking enough.

A family should not be shocked at the end of their lease term by proposed new rent they cannot afford.

>> We need better enforcement of rent control laws and clear standards for permissible rent increases.

Joanna: Point of the suggestions was to find ways the state can come up with a more permanent subsidies to fund affordable housing development, similar to the where the state funds the transportation trust fund.

>> Adding a 4% tax on the sale of homes above $1 million could raise substantial revenue for the state.

This could fund vital programs that make living in way -- raising a family in the state more affordable and the impact would be limited to a small fee of the housing market.

Joanna: The committee said it will consider many of the recommendations made as it looks for ways to legislate affordability in the state.

I'm Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: And we are welcoming back a hometown hero, Olympic star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone returned Monday night for a celebration honoring the two gold medals and six world records she set at the Olympics in Paris this summer.

Crowds packed the stands and lined of the fence in the rain for a glimpse of the track phenom on the very field the borough named after her three years ago.

The mayor joked that since she surpassed every other excitation, it should be renamed McGlocklin-ville.

She was presented a key to the city, an honorary Street naming, and proclamations honoring McLaughlin-Levrone and her parents.

The 25-year-old credited it as a place where she fell in love with Track and Field, and she is proud to tell the world about her one square mile hometown.

That feeling of pride of course is mutual.

>> I am always at a loss for words whenever I come home, honestly.

It was here where I first fell in love with Track and Field.

It was here where the dream became one stuck in my mind since I was eight years old, that this was my passion, this was what I wanted to do.

And God has blessed me with an amazing family, an amazing support system, an amazing town, an amazing state to get that accomplished.

Thank you for all you have done.

Briana: And a reminder that we are continuing to drop episodes of our NJ decides 2024 election exchange podcast.

All 12 U.S. House seats are up for grabs in one senate seat is on the line.

This is a chance for you to meet the candidates and hear why they think they deserve your vote.

Today's episodes feature Sue Altman, Democratic candidate from district seven who is trying to unseat Republican incumbent Tom Payne Junior.

You will also hear from Matthew Jenkins, the Democrat trying to defeat Republican representative Chris Smith in district four.

>> We should 100% be going to bat for New Jersey at the federal level.

It is ridiculous.

New York gets a lot of the pie, California gets a lot of the pie.

We need to have strong voices in Washington that will recoup that money to New Jersey full stop.

Look at New Jersey transit.

My opponent voted down money for New Jersey transit, now we have almost a dysfunctional transit.

It is inexcusable.

And the salted deduction, my goodness, that was a retaliatory attacks to put on blue states to make the cost-of-living in blue states even higher.

Trump did that to get back at us for voting against him, for voting for Biden in 2020.

>> When we are talking about our energy, my policy is all the above.

Wind, solar, nuclear, and yes, stilll gas, coal, and oil for quite some time.

Windfarms offshore have been used around the world for decades.

They work.

They work very well.

I tried to enter into other conversations, whether I join other podcast, I try to talk to other people.

It is like, give me the information or where you're getting your information so I can look at it.

My degree is in biochemistry molecular biology.

I am a scientist, I like research.

They can never seem to get me this information.

Briana: Check it out by downloading the NJ decides election exchange on cast wherever you listen.

That is going to do it for us tonight.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

For the entire team at NJ Spotlight News, thanks her being with us.

Have a great evening.

We will see you right back here tomorrow.

>> New Jersey education Association, making public schools great for every child.

RWJBarnabas Health, let's be healthy together.

And New Jersey realtors, the voice of real estate in New Jersey.

More information is online at NJrealtor.com.

>> Have some water.

Look at these kids.

What do you see?

I see myself.

I became an ESL teacher to give my students what I wanted when I came to this country.

The opportunity to learn, to dream, to achieve, a chance to be known, and to be an American.

My name is Julia, and I am proud to be an NJEA member.

♪