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Briana: Tonight on NY Spotlight News, defying the governor.

State Democratic leaders siding with Republicans on hot button issues, like offshore wind and parental rights.

>> We are trying to drive the Democratic party back to the middle.

I think we are being successful in that because both the Senate President and the speaker have now come out against this policy.

Briana: Plus, no bribes allowed.

Political candidates can now be charged with bribery, even if they don't win an election.

Also, a full rebrand.

Bye-bye to Seaside Heights's party town reputation.

The mayor turning once popular nightclubs into family-friendly destinations.

>> We want you to come down, bring your partner, your spouse, your friends.

Dance, drink.

But understand, we don't want fights.

This is not a nightclub atmosphere.

Briana: And, chasing the dream.

A Trenton housing program is restoring abandoned properties, creating pathways for lower income families to buy their own homes.

>> I want you to own something, and I wanted to leave something behind to my children and my family.

Briana: NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

Announcer: Funding for NJ Spotlight News is provided by the members of the New Jersey Education Association, making public schools great for every child.

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And Orsted, committed to the creation of a new long-term, sustainable, clean energy future for New Jersey.

♪ Announcer: From NJ PBS, this is NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi.

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

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

In a rare political move, New Jersey's top Democratic lawmakers are breaking with the Murphy administration.

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Senate president Nick Scuderi are doing the course of Republicans in criticizing the state's approach to offshore wind projects and new rules around gender identity in public schools.

Their surprising comments come at a time when so-called culture war topics are taking center stage in towns across the state and as all 120 legislators are on the ballot this fall.

Senior political correspondent David Cruz reports.

David: Through much of the first six years of the Murphy administration, Democrats in the legislature have supported and enabled the governor's progressive agenda.

With few exceptions, including issues like gender inequity and offshore wind.

But now as they approach elections in the fall, Democrats are finding, through internal polling or just simply while out campaigning, that the policies they backed are now getting pushback from some of the state's more conservative voters.

Republicans know this.

>> I think this administration has taken a hard left and I think the Democrat party in the leaders in both houses have supported that hard left.

David: Senator bluecoat is pushing a bill to overturn the recent state board of Ed updates to policies on equity which included updates to language that substitutes gender identity for gender and favors the term equity over equality.

No matter that the rules, such as they are, don't require local districts to do anything like allowing boys to play on girls sports teams.

The contentious vote and reaction to it prompted a rare response from the assembly speaker and Senate president.

Though the state Board of Education sets taglines on curriculum, says the joint statement, it is our local communities through their elected board of education that the side on the final lesson plans.

>> I think they are absolutely concerned about the extreme agenda that has been coming out of the Murphy administration and that they have been supportive of throughout this entire last term and before that.

Now all of a sudden we're in an election year and they are getting worried, and they should be.

Because parents are upset.

>> I think to some extent the die has been cast since the close governor's race in 2021.

The take away legislator leaders took from that election was be extra cautious on everything.

Do not defend anything that is controversial.

Even things that you have had a hand in.

Only be unapologetic about affordability.

David: Including lately the potential cost of electrifying the state with the help of offshore wind, as Democrats have been championing.

When the BP you opened the application window for more offshore wind projects recently, the anti-wind crowd bellowed.

And for the second time in two weeks, Democrats blinked.

Kind of.

A second joint statement says quote, there are still many unanswered questions about the economic impact these projects will have on ratepayers as well as potential impacts on one of our state's largest economic drivers, tourism at the short.

See what they did there?

Longtime environmental activist Jeff tittles says Democrats are trying to play both sides to their own potential detriment.

>> When they see them being wishy-washy or kowtowing to special interests, they get turned off.

This will be an off year election and that means it is about the base coming out.

David: Neither the speaker nor the Senate president was available to talk to us about this today, so it is tough to say what motivated their recent statements.

Maybe it is pushback against a governor who is not on the ballot in the fall, and maybe it's Republican footsteps, which they are just now starting to hear more clearly.

I'm David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: Meanwhile, a former assemblyman is back on trial after the state Supreme Court on Monday ruled that bribery is illegal no matter how you try and frame it.

In a unanimous decision the court ruled New Jersey candidates can be charged with accepting a bribe even if they lose an election.

The case involved Jason O'Donnell, a former Hudson County lawmaker and one time Bayonne mayoral candidate, who was charged with accepting cash with the promise to give someone a city job Hattie won the mayor -- had he won the mayor's seat.

It's good to talk to you because this is a really interesting case.

Talk to me first about the implications here for the former assemblyman.

Colleen: He faces some pretty stiff penalties.

Bribery is a very serious offense and that was why his lawyers had argued that by not having been elected, he should not face bribery charges.

Briana: What was the case being made as to why this did not have legs?

Simply the fact that he did not hold the office he was running for, in which the bride was promised?

Colleen: Right.

The Supreme Court in its decision seemed to dismiss that pretty quickly in terms of saying it seems just like common sense to say that whether or not you win the office, the bride was placed and the promise was there.

So that the intention was to carry it forward.

So that, yeah, the gentleman who was working with prosecutors had offered the $10,000 and wanted to be, essentially, the tax lawyer for the city.

And this was something that O'Donnell agreed to.

And so, it seemed fairly clear-cut, at least it seems from the reading of the Supreme Court decision.

Briana: And yet, it almost did not come this far.

A Superior Court ruling had rejected this entire notion, which was very surprising at the time.

Colleen: Yeah, and that actually had some implications for legislation after that judge's ruling.

Lawmakers moved pretty quickly to pass a bill that would very specifically say, you know, candidates can be convicted of bribery even if they are eventually elected.

That bill went to the governor.

He conditionally vetoed it because of some technicalities.

He wanted some changes in language.

Interestingly, that still has not passed to the assembly agreed to the conditional veto, the Senate did not.

We may not have to do that now because we have this established case law from the Supreme Court.

Briana: Now this former state lawmaker Jason O'Donnell, who held that office in the assembly for five years, he will stand trial.

Give us a little primer on what this is going to look like and how this case may or may not have a role in it.

Colleen: So he is going to stand trial.

It goes back to the trial court for a full hearing.

I am not sure what kind of defense he is going to have.

According to what we understand, there is video and audio evidence of him accepting the $10,000 in, by the way, a Baskin-Robbins paper bag.

Another interesting piece of New Jersey -- Briana: Pretty classic.

Colleen: Lore, right.

So, he's both on audio and video allegedly agreeing to this exchange, $10,000 for this tax job.

His lawyers are going to have their work cut out for them.

Briana: And of course this will have implications for future cases.

Colleen O'Dea, thank you so much.

Colleen: Thank you.

Briana: For more of Colleen's reporting on the state Supreme Court's decision and what it means for other bribery cases, head to njspotlightnews.org.

The push to expand commuter rail service to Sussex County is still on.

Congressman Gottheimer a group of rail officials to Andover yesterday where work is underway to build a new train station that will be served by New Jersey transit's restoration of the Lackawanna cut off, a rail line built in the early 1900s, part of a mainline between Hoboken and Buffalo, New York.

The restoration is expected to be done in 2026 and could eventually be part of a new Amtrak service connecting New York City to Scranton.

The route is projected to generate about $80 million in economic activity each year, a big reason why Amtrak selected it as a candidate to study.

If approved, Amtrak officials say service to Scranton could begin as soon as 2028.

>> We have been working for years to get a train stop here and to get Amtrak to run all the way from New York up to Pennsylvania through this area.

Unbelievable big help for commuters that come from here to New York every day could we are talking 40,000 people every day.

This is the highest, longest commute times in the state, in this area.

It will give people a big relief.

Briana: More than 1700 nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University hospital in New Brunswick are on strike for a fifth day.

They walked off the job Friday after contract negotiations between the hospital and the nurses union stalled.

Staffing levels and increased paid sick days remain the sticking point between both sides.

The nurses say depleted staffing levels are creating dangerous conditions for patients, and causing burnout for workers.

Robert Wood Johnson health, an underwriter of NJ Spotlight News , has maintained that the medical facility remains open, fully operational, and completely staffed thanks to replacement nurses.

Judy Danella is president of the nurses union.

She says passion on the picket line is at an all-time high.

She joins me now.

Thank you for taking some time today.

Let me start first with an update on negotiations.

Where do things stand?

Judy: Right now, we're supposed to meet tomorrow morning with the hospital per the mediator's request.

Briana: What is inside, though, the latest offer from the hospital?

Can you share any details?

Judy: The second proposal that they had given out pretty much mirrors the first with a minor change with the on-call, but pretty much everything else was the same as the one the members rejected 75%.

Briana: List for us what that includes.

Judy: That includes the safe staffing, but with the caveats if somebody calls out sick a penalty would not be attached.

We still wanted that to be removed.

They did do the on-call, they needed six hours plus time and a half, and caps on insurance, they wanted 08 and eight.

We still want to make it down, we feel they can do better than that.

We wanted 0-0-0.

Briana: I mean, the staffing situation in particular has been an issue for you all, but also for nurses at facilities across the state and across the country.

What has that been like, and give us a sense of what you all are up against?

Judy: Well, again, because of the nursing shortage, you know, it's harming itself with the nursing shortage.

But I think in general, with the replacement workers they have now, they are giving them better staffing guidelines than we could ever have, perhaps because they are paying high dollars for these people to come in.

New York, if they can do it -- like I said, we have tried for 20 years to get this through the state and we are hitting roadblocks after roadblocks.

If the state took a little initiative and if the hospitals worked with them, we could probably get this passed and everyone would get there ratios.

Briana: Meaning, would you like to see the governor's office step in here?

Judy: I absolutely would.

Briana: Is that even on the table?

Judy: It is not, to my knowledge.

They may have been in touch with the USW headquarters but not locally with us, they have not.

Briana: At this point you are all on day five.

We are talking about a massive hospital system here in the state.

How long do you foresee this going?

How long do you all plan on staying on the picket lines?

Judy: It is really up to the hospital.

We are ready, willing, and able to get back to work.

Briana: What type of scenario does that create for your nurses?

Obviously they have mortgages, rent to pay, bills to pay.

If we are looking at a protracted strike?

Judy: The one good thing is we will get unemployment.

It does not pay the salaries we get is nurses.

I think actually some nurses are probably going to start looking for other jobs, because like they say, the emails we are getting every day it is like, we love our replacement workers.

That is what they are saying.

Like I say, after 28 years, it's hard-pressed to even want to continue my employment there.

I will continue, but not with the press releases that are going out that are saying we are just greedy individuals.

Briana: Judy Danella is the president of the United steel workers local 4-200 on the situation with the hospital.

Thank you so much.

In our spotlight on business report, the days of the Jersey Shore TV series and binge drinking on the boardwalk are over in Seaside Heights, where the mayor is on a mission to rebrand the shore town as a family friendly destination, starting with conversion these -- converting the sites of former each front bars and nightclubs, focusing on quality of life issues and even boosting the age requirement to get a short-term rental.

Melissa Rose Cooper has the story.

>> We make the boardwalk a part of our everyday walk and become an get drinks, we see entertainment, it is great.

Melissa: Kimberly and her husband love visiting Seaside Heights.

Four years, the Jersey Shore town has been essential visit for vacations.

>> We are pretty much regulars.

You see the same people which is really nice, but you also get to see families coming.

We like it.

Melissa: The kind of family friendly atmosphere the mayor enjoys seeing.

But he says years of rowdy behavior by teens and young adults has given the area a bad reputation.

>> Drinking in public, underage drinking and so forth.

It was affecting everyone because people that came down for the summer were frightened that they did not know what was going to happen at night or when it got darker.

They were fearful of something happening, injuries or attacks.

Melissa: So Voz is working to make it a welcoming family destination.

Plans are in motion to redevelop this area where three former nightclubs once stood into a thriving mixed-use development complete with apartments, shops, and restaurants.

The town is also implementing new guidelines to curb Disorderly Conduct.

>> We changed the rental rules.

Certain times of the year with the exception of April through June 30 you have to be 21 years of age to rent.

In that period I just mentioned.

Otherwise it is 18.

But we have worked with our landlords, our hotel owners, and we're gearing all of our toes to basically families.

We bring kids down, but they have to learn that this is not the seaside of half a dozen years ago.

It is a different community.

We are not going to tolerate at 2:00 in the morning beer parties.

Those days are over.

>> Cyr side has always gotten a bad rap for some reason but this is a great place to come to.

I have been to every boardwalk in New Jersey and this one is very family-friendly, there is a lot to do, the stores are very clean and nice.

Melissa: He has been managing a store on the seaside boardwalk for 30 years and says even though some people complain about there being disruptions, it does not take away from the town's beauty.

>> There are bad apples in every bunch.

You cannot go to every town and say sometimes there is a bad seed.

If one bad bunch comes at does not mean the whole town is not family-friendly.

Melissa: Jenny Larson has been coming here since she and her husband were in their 20's dating.

Two kids later, she says their visit is always fun for everyone.

>> I know a lot of people say in a daytime it is more family oriented but there is nothing wrong with some nightlife.

It's great.

>> Yes, you can have a drink, you can dance.

We are all for this, we want you to come down.

Bring your partner, your spouse, your friends, dance, drink.

But understand, we don't want fights.

This is not a nightclub atmosphere.

Dance, have fun.

That is what you are here for.

Melissa: The mayor says the town has already seen positive changes.

He hopes redeveloping the area will be the next steps in making Seaside Heights enjoyable for everybody.

For NJ Spotlight News, I'm Melissa Rose Cooper.

Briana: On Wall Street, U.S. bank straps dropped today after Moody's rating company downgraded 10 lenders.

Here's how the markets closed.

A Trenton native is paving the path for low income families to find their way to homeownership, creating a program that helps residents redevelop abandoned properties, helping to build up the capital city using what it already has rather than tear it down.

Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis reports as part of our ongoing series, chasing the dream, focusing on poverty, justice, and economic opportunity.

>> I did not want to spend a penny more renting.

I wanted to own something and leave something behind to my children and my family.

Joanna: Vanessa Solivan is not officially a Trenton homeowner -- is now officially a Trenton homeowner.

>> This used to be my grandmother's house.

I played in this house as a girl, and I know its potential and I am very excited.

I have my beautiful garden.

Joanna: The idea came from Sullivan's persistent request that the town Council and Mayor help her turn the abandoned property into one she could redevelop.

Mayor Reed Gusciora found a way to make it work.

>> What we used was a dried-up fund from regional contribution agreements that towns that did not want to do affordable housing, they would give money to the urban areas.

We're utilizing those lapsed funds for this purpose, to rehabilitate Vanessa's home and then give it to her.

Joanna: Gusciora says the program is different from others that have failed in the past because this is no handout.

Homeowners like Vanessa have to have skin in the game.

>> She had to demonstrate that she had financial literacy, that can she could pay taxes and utilities.

>> How I was able to have those funds is I used my entire income tax refund to purchase the home and my legal fees, which came to a total of $5000.

The program is specifically for people like myself that are working and are making between $30,000 to $35,000 a year.

Joanna: With somewhere near 1000 abandoned properties around the city, the mayor is exploring ways to expand the program using a coronation of government funding as well as some outside funding sources.

>> We are starting out small.

We are going to utilize the RCA funds until they dry up and then work with other nonprofits to try and raise money in the future.

Joanna: While the city is still figuring out what that growth will look like, Vanessa has a clear goal.

>> I hope to get 20 more families in homes within the next three years.

Joanna: There is a benefit to Trenton for expanding the program.

Abandoned properties that attract crime will now stabilize housing for Trenton residents, and generate tax revenue for the city.

>> It is a couple thousand dollars a year.

And Vanessa here on out will have to pay for those property taxes.

Joanna: Her mom, who lives just across the garden Epenesa now owns, has no doubt her daughter will be a success.

>> she is still going to keep going.

She ain't quit yet.

I'm there for her.

Joanna: This moment of returning what was once her grandmother's home to the next generation, an emotional one for both mom and daughter.

>> If y'all knew the members we had in there, and we are going to have more now.

The family has gotten bigger and it is growing.

So I'm very proud of my daughter.

Joanna: And to help other families achieve the same dream of homeownership, she plans to turn her front room into a storefront.

>> Have community meetings and let this be the headquarters for new beginnings.

So if any family or anybody has any questions they want to ask me about the process, I'm very open to sharing my experience.

Joanna: And in partnership with the Princeton Justice initiative, the next five families that apply will receive free legal services, proving it takes a village to create one.

Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: Finally tonight, a tribute to the lately government -- late lieutenant governor Sheila often ar -- Sheila often are -- Sheila Oliver.

According to Governor Murphy's office, the portraits will be displayed at the Statehouse in Trenton when they are complete.

Unlike former governors, the fairly new role of lieutenant governor has not been recognized with official paintings.

Murphy said in a statement, it is time to address this shortcoming and set a new standard to commemorate their time in public service, calling the position pivotal to gubernatorial administrations.

Oliver died a week ago after being hospitalized for undisclosed medical conditions.

Her body will lie in state Thursday, then at the Essex County Courthouse in Newark on Friday.

Civil rights leader, Rev.

Al Sharpton, will deliver the eulogy at Oliver's funeral Saturday morning.

That is going to do it for us tonight, but a reminder to download the NJ Spotlight News podcast so you can listen anytime.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

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

Have a great evening.

We will see you here tomorrow.

Announcer: 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.

New Jersey realtors, the voice for real estate in New Jersey.

More information is online at NJrealtor.com.

And by the PSEG foundation.

Major funding for chasing the dream is provided by, The JPB Foundation, with additional funding from the Peter J Peterson and Joan Ganz Cooney Fund.

>> 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.

♪

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