>> Tonight on NJ Spotlight News.

A mass killing in Allen, Texas.

And multiple shootings in Newark, is New Jersey safe from guns getting in the wrong hands?

>> Where firearms are regulated and firearms are owned at less high rate you see less injury and death.

>> A done deal.

>> what do we want?

>> A new contract for 9000 Rutgers faculty and staff, but who is paying the price?

Congestion pricing fears as the reality of a $23 toll to enter lower Manhattan is one step closer.

And lights out.

What the writers Guild strike could mean for New Jersey's booming TV and film business.

NJ Spotlight News starts right now.

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♪ >> From NJPBS, this is NJ Spotlight News.

>> Good evening and thanks for joining us on this Monday.

Tonight, the nation is enduring the pain of another mass shooting.

After a gunman opened fire Saturday at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, a suburb outside of Dallas, killing eight people including children, and wounding at least seven others before being killed by police.

Authorities are zeroing in on a specific motive of the 33-year-old shooter.

Investigators believe he may have been influenced by domestic violent, extremist ideals, including from Neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups.

The gunman used an assault style weapon, had multiple rounds of ammunition, and was wearing armored ballistic gear.

As of today, there have been 202 mass shootings within the year, according to the gun violence archive.

Reviving calls by some for stricter gun control.

In Newark, police say they responded to an early morning shooting on the 400 block of Orange Street on Sunday.

That left one man dead and three others injured.

The investigation is ongoing.

No arrests have been made.

For a deeper look at how gun reforms impact gun violence, I am joined by Mike, executive director of the New Jersey gun violence research Center.

Thanks for offering some of your time on this.

We had another tragedy over the weekend, both here in the state.

Of course, nationally.

It's spurred more people to look at what is happening with our gun reforms.

Yet, concealed carry, as a whole is caught in this limbo in the courts.

How is that affecting some of the incidents we are seeing, what do we know happens one gun laws are loosened?

>> We know that where concealed carry is more prevalent, you see more firearm injury and death.

As New Jersey is going to the court battle to determine what the state can and cannot do in terms of regulating concealed carried -- concealed carry licenses, we are vulnerable.

The question New Jersey is trying to raise the court is, can we designate specific places where individuals cannot carry firearms, like schools and public parks.

That is the debate going on in the legal system.

>> We have seen that advocates for having stricter laws say the results of having more guns out there, more guns accessible in those public places, at least statistically, shows more incidents with guns, with shootings, happened, is that the case?

>> You can zoom out and say the more gun laws, the less death.

But it is important to say specific gun laws backed by data, when they are present, reduce specific forms of gun violence and death.

Reducing high-capacity magazine access is going to help with mass shootings, like what we saw in Texas over the weekend.

Having the licensing law can help reduce suicide by fire, homicide more broadly.

It depends on the legislation.

>> When you have a situation in Texas where authorities believe that there may be some ideals based in extremism, perhaps white supremacy, there was a patch the shooter allegedly had on him that had Neo-Nazi ties, how do we look at that in light of the fact that guns are prevalent and that accessibility in other parts of the country is easy?

>> We have seen a number of incidents, where white supremacist leafs have been -- beliefs have been a motivational factor.

It sounds like it might be the case in Texas.

I think the question becomes, it is not only whether there is more firearms and more injury deaths but it is when the firearms are ended up in the hands of people with extremist believes, are motivated to cause violence to others, you see these horrific tragedies happening in places like Texas.

>> Yet, in Newark, we had a shooting where we don't know the motive, but we do know that there are a lot of illegal guns on our streets.

That's a problem for decades.

>> yeah.

Because there is no strict federal legislation, states are left to work on their own.

Neighboring or nearby states with less restrictive legislation are places where straw purchasing happens.

People bring the illegal firearms into the state, 80% of all firearms are -- in New Jersey, come from outside of New Jersey.

New Jersey is beholden to the whims of their peers across the country.

>> Which is something we have heard time and time again.

Mike with the gun and violence research Center.

Wi -- the recent shootings are Spring, federal and law makers are being urged for more action, calling on the government to carry more rules, by a law signed by present Biden closing background check loopholes.

It is a regulation that will reduce the number of deadly weapons ending up in the wrong hands, according to activists.

David Cruz reports.

>> Enough to the killing, to the loss of lives.

>> Bob Menendez in Newark, echoing the calls for an end to gun violence in the days after the mass shooting in Texas that left eight dead.

That, five days after another shooting in Oklahoma, with six dead.

Also, closer to home, four dead in the past week, including a seven-year-old in separate Newark shootings.

The senator and New York Mayor -- Newark Mayor swimming against the tide of gun violence, set to break records in the country.

The mayor presides over a city where gun violence is on the decline, says more resources are critical.

>> I would say, obviously, we need more hands on deck.

And the great work that these organizations are doing have to be expanded.

This does not mean we do not have incidences in Newark.

The difference between now and 10 years ago -- we can respond holistically, where in a previous time, it was only the police's responsibility.

We only put pressure on the police.

>> Now, he says, organizations help not only to prevent violence before it happens but to care for victims families and affected communities.

>> There are many things that they can do.

They have to counsel the mother whose child it was who was there.

The count who was there -- the On2 was there -- the aunt who wa s there.

Hospital-based, intervention tries to intervene so, no one seeks revenge, which causes another homicide to take place.

Or those kids that are related to the boy through football or other things, who may believe they will become victims, who then begin to exhibit behaviors where they themselves participate in violence and crime.

We intervene in their lives early on.

>> A year after the safer communities act, extended background checks for gun purchases over 21, funded state red flag laws and other crisis intervention programs, Menendez called on the ATF to do more.

>> What goes on in Newark, where the mayor, deploys, doesn't deploy outreach strategies, or plan.

The New York Police Department does not respond to a call without backup.

If individuals respond to a call with the proper tools and training, we should expect nothing different from our regulators in Washington.

Simply put, the ATF needs a plan, it needs a strategy, it needs to enforce its tools at its disposal.

Anything less is an insult to the brave men and women who answer the call of duty in Newark, and to the citizens who are caught in the crossfire.

>> Police are not saying if the guns used in the recent homicides were purchased legally.

Officials cannot honestly say if stricter gun laws will help slow the record gun violence.

Only that silence and complacency are deadly allies in a fight where the victims far outnumber the perpetrators.

I'm David Cruz NJ Spotlight News .

>> Thousands of Rutgers University union members are starting the week with the new contract.

The overwhelming majority of educators, researchers, and clinicians voted to ratify the agreements, bringing to a close roughly a year of tense negotiations, cap by historic week long strike at the states flagship school.

Our correspondent has the story.

>> We are here to talk about a historic contract.

>> It is official, with a 93% vote, three records faculty unions ratify their new contract, deals reached, a week long strike after more than 10 months of failed negotiations.

The agreements include salary increases and job security for almost 9000 union members.

>> It is important.

It is critical and transformative, we took a step forward in fighting for longer contracts for faculty, for decent pay, for our grad workers.

We have taken the fight to management.

We have been on the offensive.

That is the first time this is happened in the country.

That needs to be noted.

>> Union leaders credited Governor Murphy for his crisis intervention that broke a bitter gridlock and broadsides to negotiating.

The governor promised state funding to support an agreement.

The big question is who will pay for the records union settlement and how much.

Rutgers President John Holloway said he is not sure.

>> You cannot sign an open ended agreement without knowing what the cost is going to be.

It is negotiations one-on-one.

>> The dollar amount tied to a percentage increase is a lot more complicated when you have a rapidly changing workforce, particularly with the largest increases at the 43% for part-time lecturers.

The headcount changes every semester.

I want to give you precise answers.

It would not do much to give you ballparks.

>> Holloway asked for more time to get the data.

He says Rutgers faces a $125 million deficit.

He asked offices to make 10% spending cuts, saving $25 million a year.

Holloway would not predict contract costs.

Can you tell me whether it is going to involve a tuition increase?

>> That is premature.

The board of governance is the governing body had records that makes the decision.

>> He offered no specifics, but the contract set a precedent that other schools could ask for more funding to support their contract negotiations.

That Lori's lawmakers.

>> Due to the inflationary pressures, we expect the next contract to be costly.

Without additional safe support, most institutions will have no choice but to increase tuition beyond the 2%.

>> That Leave The Door Open for many others.

There also has to be honest disclosures as well, as to what we will do with some of our higher Ed institutions.

>> Lawmakers wanted to know whether in exchange for state aid, colleges and universities would permit oversight of their budget processes.

>> If there was a fusion and operational aid, most of them would be willing to trade off a little more accountability in order to receive that kind of state investments.

>> The assembly budget chairwoman says she is willing to wait for hard numbers from Rutgers.

She pointed to the states deadline, she says she expects president Holloway to get them the information without delay.

NJ Spotlight News.

>> We have an update tonight on the pending implosion of the former Nabisco factory in Fair Lawn.

News --NJ Spotlight News has learned that the plan was called off following backlash from the community.

In a statement, Greek development, at the center of the project, said the building will be knocked down, but will utilize an alternative method of demolition that does not include the use of explosives.

Ownership is undertaking the additional time and expense to ensure the well-being and peace of mind of the surrounding residents.

The decision was made public hours before scheduled planning board meeting, where the factory's future was going to be discussed.

The implosion had already been delayed multiple times as locals voiced concern over potential health and safety hazards.

In our spotlight on business report, New York City's congestion pricing plan cleared a major hurdle.

The Federal Highway administration on Friday approved the program, which will add a controversial toll for any cars entering Manhattan's central business district, in an effort to cut down on gridlock.

The administration approved the environmental assessment from the MTA, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, triggering a 30 day public review period, during which appeals can be made by opponents.

Governor Murphy reacted to the announcement.

In a statement, calling it, unfair, ill advised, and a money grab.

The governor and other prominent Democrats and commuter advocates railed against the plan which could charge drivers as much as 23 drivers a day if they enter New York below 60th Street.

The Murphy administration said it is looking at all legal options to block the plan.

More than 11,000 screenwriters are on day six of a nationwide strike, after negotiations between union members and the writers Guild of America, and studio executives fell apart.

Sticking points include higher pay, more riders per show, and royalties for streaming services among other demands.

Member say the focus on streaming has driven a decline in conditions for writers, for a push for more contact.

Members are willing to strike for 100 days.

That is how long the last stoppage lasted in 2007.

It has the potential to up and the lucrative fall TV season and productions in New Jersey.

For more I am joined by Susan Sherman, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University.

Let ask you first -- we ask you first, how far apart is the writers Guild and the streaming network on what they asking for?

>> There -- they are about as far apart when your bargaining.

Frankly, they've been bargaining for a while.

>> Higher wages are on the table.

But a lot of this is about structural changes too.

What are the union members asking?

>> Well, primarily, wages are different for much of the entertainment industry.

They don't have jobs.

They are freelance.

They get a contract to write a script for a series or a movie.

They get paid on that contract in several different ways.

One would be in a writers room.

In the old days when you're in the writers room, you are there to create the script and then some of you would also be on site for production for changes.

Or because the script would not be fully written, and we would be in production, so the writers are writing the next episode while we were filming.

So, that is all being changed, with the advent of streaming.

The other way I should say writers get paid is through residuals.

They used to get paid just like actors do, every time something they wrote was rebroadcast, they would get a check.

So, all of that has changed with the advent of streaming.

>> Considering how far apart they are on this, how protracted could a strike like this be?

What does it say for the movement overall?

>> I predict that it will be a long strike, because most of the studios, the producers, have been busy repairing content, that will get them through -- I have heard different estimates -- but it may get them through fall.

It's a lot of production.

For example, New York, New Jersey together, there something being filmed, a movie being filmed, right outside my window.

What's surprising me is that the actors are refusing to cross picket lines.

The Teamsters are refusing to cross.

We saw the same thing in the Rutgers strike two weeks ago.

There is a level of solidarity across unions, that we have not seen in the past for quite a long time.

>> You're right about that.

>> That is going to be a big factor.

>> Susan Sherman is a distinguished professor at labor studies at Rutgers University.

Thank you so much for your time.

>> on Wall Street here is how stocks closed today.

>> Support for the business report provided by the Chamber of Commerce southern New Jersey, working for economic prosperity by uniting business and community leaders for 150 years.

Membership and event information online at chambersnj.com.

♪ >> Two years after the remnants of hurricane Ida swept through New Jersey, many survivors are rebuilding, and struggling financially.

They urged lawmakers to pass a bill providing mortgage relief to ease the pressure.

Ted Goldberg in Trenton, where homeowners testified about the grueling road, after grueling storm.

>> Survivors say getting a break on their mortgage would be a godsend.

That could happen thanks to a new bill in the state Senate.

>> The bank is coming after me for foreclosure, because I refused to pay mortgage on a house I don't live in.

I've been trying to work with the bank.

They don't have -- there is no forbearance bill.

I don't have any protection against them, taking my house.

>> if I was able to get relief on that and have this mortgage forbearance, it would have given me the breathing space to do what we needed to do to get back into the home sooner, and to finish the home.

>> Liana lives in Milford and remembers when remnants of hurricane Ida caused chaos in New Jersey, and seriously damage her home after her children's first day of school.

>> They actually had a good first day.

Then we started getting flash flood warning's, even though I reassured them, before I knew it, I could see that we cannot get out in our car and we had to be evacuated.

>> The Jones stayed with family after four months, moving back in once power and heat were restored.

They cannot use their laundry room and could only cook with the microwave.

>> Some of their clothes were ruined, some of their backpacks, everything we did nothing to pick up off the floor.

I did not think anything would would -- would get on her ground-floor.

>> What happened next is a familiar story with anyone who was dealt with damage after the deadly storms that have hit New Jersey.

>> I had flood insurance.

I thought this would be all right.

But, they did not give us enough.

FEMA would not give me anything because I was still talking to insurance.

>> She still had to pay her mortgage.

So did Eric von, even though his home was unlivable, forcing him to move into an RV in his driveway, with his young children.

>> It is not fair.

The RV payment is less than our rent.

That's one of the reasons why did it as well.

At the time there was nothing available.

Everybody was looking for a rental after hurricane Ida.

People lost their homes.

>> Senate Bill 3640 would grant mortgage forbearance to cash-strapped owners struggling to pay their mortgage.

Now, owners could get a reprieve for payments for up to a year and a half.

It was start to when Ida hit in September 2021.

A spokesperson with the New York's banking Association says they do not oppose the bill, just the year and half long period for certain homeowners.

>> One year is largely appropriate and reasonable.

Should any subsequent forbearance be provided, we feel there should be certain qualifiers and conditions in place, before the automatic allowance of the 180 days.

>> The bill passed through the community and urban affairs committee, an identical bill is in the state assembly Bill committee, so struggling homeowners may have to wait a bit longer for that forbearance to take effect.

In Trenton, I am Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

>> That is all we have for you tonight.

A reminder, you can now listen to NJ Spotlight News anytime, via podcast, wherever you stream.

Make sure you download it and check us out.

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

Have a great evening.

We will see you back here tomorrow.

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