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♪ >> From NJ PBS, this is NJ Spotlight News with Breanna for nosy.

>> What exactly is happening with the head of New Jersey's election law enforcement commission?

Initial reports were Governor Murphy was looking to oust his executive director position over his criticism of dark money influence in the Murphy campaign.

Recently emails were released showing what some are calling insensitive and inappropriate comments made on LGBTQ and racial topics.

Today, David Cruz attended a hearing where those accusations were aggressive and David is there -- were a just and David is there.

David: there were four issues they dealt with today.

Number one, did Executive Director Jeff Brendel failed to cooperate when he refused to acknowledge the attorney general office questions?

Two, was he insubordinate when he showed up for work after a member of his staff had tested positive for COVID?

Number three, was he a racist?

And number four, where the emails, or more specifically the first email made public, an example of homophobia in the workplace?

Here is a sample of what happened.

>> Make no mistake about it.

The effort to undo this highly respected agency, an important New Jersey institution, began with an effort to remove me as Executive Director, an effort orchestrated by the office of the Governor.

Unfortunately when I would not get into this pressure and resign, it quickly unraveled into a legislative effort first to allow the governor to select an executive editor, and now one where the governor would replace the commissioners with others appointed by the governor with no signatory courtesy confirmation.

This effort to do with the current commissioners and a statutory independence along with its admirable history is not justice, it is politics, naked and raw politics.

An attempt to turn a highly respected and independent governmental agency into uncontrolled by the patronage -- into one controlled by the patronage of the governor's office.

David: He said if he were to participate in the investigation he would be precisely doing what the statute prohibits, namely subjecting himself as a high official to discipline by the Attorney General's office.

There was confusion and ultimately consternation from several members of the states LGBTQ community tried to testify.

>> Shame on all of you.

A bunch of White, straight men.

Shame on all of you.

Go take a diversity and inclusion class and you will see the problem here.

Sunshine law is transparency in government and you have all failed that today.

>> The fact that the individual making the decision here just use the word hetero phobia, which is not a thing, is really a showcase of what is going on here.

To be someone who is Black, clear, and a woman -- Black, Queer, and a woman -- I would not feel comfort will being someone who works underneath a supervisor who has those hateful ideals.

>> So the question for us to examine is, has -- did this email, has the career of Mr. Brendel resulted in the creation of a hostile work environment?

And by a preponderance of the evidence, there is no evidence that it does.

And so from the point of view of the commission, that allegation is not sustained and the ruling is there will be no discipline.

>> No, it did not really surprise me because I know the kind of commission has been managed and the way we have approached it.

We know it is a very fair decision and the right decision by the commission.

David: As you see, the commissioners voted not to -- However, the elections transparency act which evolved from this complaint, is headed for an assembly vote on Thursday.

It is expected to be approved, and that would give the governor absolute authority to replace all of these board members, rendering today's decision moot.

David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.

Back to you.

Joanna: Thank you for that report.

We will be watching to see what happens.

As the makeup of ELEC get sorted out, soo too will the nature of New Jersey's legislature.

Yesterday was the deadline to file for the primary election in June.

Who is throwing their name in the ring and who is backing out?

This year, the legislature is in a shakeup with about 20 lawmakers retiring and a new legislative map that is pitting previous allies against each other.

And there is a large swell of female legislators leaving their posts.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan has all the latest on what we can expect to see.

>> You cannot take any of this for granted.

That is why get so intense when these races start to kickoff.

Brenda: But he is not at the starting gate this year.

Former SM women Rauf to Pluto -- as all 120 legislative seats go up for grabs.

This June's jersey primary opened up opportunities for dozens of new faces, partly because the freshly rejoined legislative map help persuade more than 20 incumbents to opt out.

>> The map is everything.

Everyone has an individual personal reason.

They are not one and the same.

It all starts with the map.

>> It will be the largest class of freshmen we have had in 16 years.

I think most voters would probably view an infusion of new perspectives as a good thing.

Brenda: This primary portends a legislative makeover what it is unlikely to alter the balance of power where Democrats now control both houses.

Republican Senator Steve, another incumbent retiring, envisions an uphill battle for his party.

>> We are going to work hard at it.

But we have more competitive districts with this map on a state level through legislature than we did on the last map without a doubt.

Brenda: Advocates pushing for more diverse candidates however scanned the primary list and expressed disappointment, pointing out New Jersey is a majority minority state with a 69% White male legislature.

>> I was hoping to see more Latinos, more Asian-Americans, more women.

And I do not see those communities reflected in the candidates that have signed up to run.

Brenda: She says political parties need to step up, actively recruit and support minority candidates.

Meanwhile, New Jersey, which ranked in the middle of the pack nationwide in terms of females of those leaders -- female legislators, lost ground with those retiring.

>> The largest group of women who have left the legislature in any one election cycle.

New Jersey has been doing a lot better in terms of our representation for women in the legislature.

But we are going to lose nine of them right off the bat.

So we have to work even harder to build a bench.

Brenda: In some districts, incumbents run unopposed.

But the primary deadline did bring some surprises.

In South Jersey's District three.

>> It is clearly going to be one for the ages.

Brenda: The incumbent Republican is running for Senate, challenging the incumbent senator, the truck driver who pulled off a sensational upset.

Her advantage is three back -- >> He has the support of our caucus.

Brenda: The new map merged boundaries in district 27, Essex County, pitting two veteran Democrats against each other in a primary battle of iconic incumbents.

>> He is well-funded and has big name recognition.

On the other hand, the senator has been challenged for and she has been successful.

Brenda: The race to remake the state now begins in earnest.

I am Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Joanna: To read more about the latest legislative maps and who will and will not be running, read Colleen O'Dea's piece.

The Patterson community is still absorbing yesterday's announcement the New Jersey Attorney General's office will take over the police department effective immediately.

Patterson police have long been accused of harassment, excessive use of force, and the deadly shooting of a member of the Patterson healing collective.

The Patterson Mayor has rejected the idea of a federal investigation into his Police Department.

But as Melissa Rose Cooper reports, today he sang a different tune.

>> I feel like anyway we can get more resources to our Police Department we have to leverage that opportunity.

Melissa: The mayor addressing the state Attorney General's office take over of the Patterson Police Department, shortly after celebrating the promotion of over a dozen city firefighters.

He says he recognizes trust between residents and police is an issue he wants to fix.

>> When I first took office not a single police officer was wearing a body camera.

Now every police officer in Patty sent -- in Patterson is.

We understand we have to do a top to bottom audit and assess where we are so we can find out how we can improve the way we protect and serve the public.

We completed the audit and we are still in the process of implementing those recommendations.

So the Attorney General, if he wants to come in and help build on the product -- process we have made, we welcome that.

Melissa: He confirmed his office would take immediate steps to start the process of restoring confidence within the community, including bringing in NYPD chief of strategic initiatives as officer in charge of the Patterson Police Department.

In 2014, she was brought into build police community relationships in Staten Island following the police involved killing of Eric Garner.

Also announcing overseeing the department in the interim.

>> I think the announcement is a step forward because a step begins with recognition that there is a problem with the Patterson Police Department and policing in general.

Melissa: But Black Lives Matter Patterson is not convinced of the Attorney General's plan will help the community.

Instead, he believes having access to additional resources like more funding for community- based programs is a better solution than having more police.

>> Whether it is a police officer in Patterson, in New Jersey, or NYPD, even if it were bringing someone from another state, a police officer is still a police officer that mentality -- that brings that mentality.

What we do recognize is NYPD still has their many issues.

We cannot look to this particular officer and say he brought so many changes to New York policing when we understand that people are still being killed by police officers.

>> He should have never been shot in the back by a police officer.

He is paralyzed.

My granddaughter should be able to walk with her father, but she cannot.

Her whole life has changed.

They get suspended with pay and then they are right back on the force.

We cannot live like that.

Melissa: The mayor says he has always been committed to making sure residents feel safe but some people in the community still did not agree.

>> We have implemented measures like body cameras.

We have also had an audit to make sure additional training, particularly around de-escalation.

Want to reassure those residents pub safety is a priority of mine and the Attorney General's too.

So this collaboration will hopefully yield very positive results.

Melissa: The mayor says he has been in talks with the AG about future plans for the Patterson Police Department and they both agree the goal is to protect the city and regain the public's trust.

For NJ Spotlight News, I am Melissa Rose Cooper.

Joanna: Georgia King, a Memphis woman who fought for social justice and worked to prevent homelessness.

But not for the Newark residents living in the Georgia King Village, an affordable housing complex that residents say is deplorable, riddled with mild -- mold, rats, and other problems that have not been addressed despite complaints.

It landed the owner and management in court.

A judge gave the company one month clean up its act and the homes of they -- of those who say they have been forced to live in squalor.

>> Would you want your mother or family or friend to live like this, seven years?

Ted: She has lived at Georgia King Village in Newark for 30 years.

She says the last seven years under Ellen M development have produced consistent.

Problems.

>> They are still there.

This is what the rats do.

Ted: so many residents complained that Newark city Council voted unanimously to strip away tax breaks from L:NM if they did not fix the problems within 60 days.

Today in court, a judge gave LNM about a month long extension.

The city has two weeks to submit an amended complaint with new issues that have popped up at Georgia King Village and LNM has more time to make these fixes.

>> They do not deserve any extra time.

I really think the extension was another slap in the face of every Black and Brown person.

Ted: A big point of contention is how many of the issues at Georgia King Village have been abated.

Lawyers for the city argue that number is about 50%.

While LNM argues it is closer to 90%.

People -- people who live here say neither number sounds close to the truth.

>> They are putting a lot of window dressing.

That is what their emphasis has been in the past, making everything look good on paper, on their website, etc., while residents are sleeping in squalor.

Cabinets, bathrooms, refrigerators, stoves.

They forgot all about the infrastructure.

>> If it can be done, it should have been done.

Ted: She spoke with us last month about her issues at Georgia King Village.

She says rats are still chewing through her apartment.

>> I am living in fear.

Their size alone, I cannot stand it.

Just seeing their picture, what runs through my mind.

>> What you have described is completely and utterly unacceptable.

Ted: Governor Phil Murphy chimed in last night on ask Governor Murphy, when a caller brought up the conditions at Georgia King Village.

The state's Department of community affairs inspected the building this winter and found nearly 470 violations.

They will reinspect on April 25.

If there are still violations, they might finel.

>>-- fione LNM.

>> We have been focused on shrinking inequities in the state since I put my hand on the Bible five years ago.

We have a long way to go.

But at the same time we are the wealthiest state in America.

Ted: People have asked her why residents simply do not move out.

She says it is not that simple.

>> A lot of the people who live at Georgia King Village are poor people that cannot afford to move.

They cannot afford to move out or the cost of getting in Mover or paying the extra deposit or security or first month rent or whatever.

Ted: In response to our request for comment, a spokesperson from LNM sent us the statement.

Our on-site management team has been working tirelessly to resolve any outstanding issues at Georgia King Village and to date has completed work to address all violations at 96% of the originally identified apartment units.

We are committed to providing our residents with the high quality affordable housing they deserve both now and in the future.

Their next day in court is able 26th when LNM and the city of Newark meet for a scheduling conference.

Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

Joanna: If you woke up to an unexplained deposit in your bank account from the state of New Jersey this morning, you are one of the early recipients of the state's anchor property tax rebate.

Those deposits started hitting accounts today for the more than 800,000 New Jersey residents who signed up to receive the rebate electronically.

Paper checks will go out in early April.

Overall, more than 1.7 million people in the state applied for the rebate.

The majority of them homeowners although more than 500,000 renters also applied for relief.

The state is on track to finalize nearly all of the payments by May 3 the state has set up a hotline for anyone trying to track down their payment and Governor Murphy has included the anchor program rebates in his budget for the next fiscal year as well.

Part of his plan to provide more property tax relief for New Jersey residents.

Bed, Bath & Beyond is making major cutbacks.

They are closing 43 sotres, two warehouses and one fulfillment center and that means layoffs.

377 jobs will be cut, but the companies making these cuts just one day before a new law takes effect in New Jersey that will require large businesses like Bed, Bath & Beyond with 100 or more workers to pay severance and they lay off at least 50 people.

That severance is one week of pay for every year worked at the company.

By laying off their workers on April 9 instead of April 10 when the law kicks in, the company stands to save millions of dollars.

Senior reporter Dominic Reuter has been covering the issue hand he joins me now.

Thank you so much for being with us today.

Tell us what you think about the timing of these layoffs coming on April 9 just a day before the new state law is going to take effect.

Dominic: I think the timing of the layoffs coming from Bed, Bath & Beyond are very difficult to explain with almost any other rationale except for the timing that is outlined from the law that Governor Murphy signed back in January that set April 10 as a deadline for a new severance requirement for a large company.

Joanna: So, folks in the business community might argue this is a smart move because if the company waited another day they would be facing possibly millions in additional severance payments to their workers.

Where does this leave the workers in terms of the kind of money that they could be seeing that they are missing out on?

Dominic: The law as written was pacifically designed to call back to the days of Toys "R" Us when it went under and left a lot of retail workers High-end drive.

They categorically -- lawmakers in New Jersey and Trenton specifically wanted to avoid this issue.

On the other hand, Bed, Bath & Beyond does not have a lot of cash right now and by my estimates, they would be facing many millions of dollars of mandatory severance payments.

Above and beyond what the federal government currently requires.

So this is a sweeping new rule that a lot of business leaders do not like.

Joanna: To that point, a lot of business leaders in New Jersey have long said the state is not friendly for business, that there are a lot of rules here that might be protections for workers but make it hard to keep a business afloat could more workers potentially be laid off if Bed, Bath & Beyond had filed on April 10 and had to pay these millions?

Could we see more workers out of a job?

Dominic: The new rule does go into effect April 10 and that means any future layoffs, any future notice that is given is going to require this new framework.

Part of what is compelling about this situation now is that Bed, Bath & Beyond apparently is seeking to get a large number of terminations out the door that it may have been trying to hold out a little longer.

May be questionable cases that it decided it did not want to take the risk after April 10.

Joanna: Do you think there could be repercussions here, that the workers might have any legal or otherwise challenge against Bed, Bath & Beyond because of this timing?

Dominic: I am aware of a class-action suit that was filed on Friday.

One store manager is saying that he and similarly situated plaintiffs were denied enough notice under the warn act.

Unfortunately, the rules do not treat retail workers very favorably.

The current iteration of federal layoff rules, which most states follow, is designed for plants, for full-time workers.

Which is why New Jersey tried to make a new rule that tailored to the retail industry.

But we will have to see how it shakes out for future closures that happen after April 10.

Joanna: Thank you so much.

Here's a look at how the markets closed today.

>> Support for the business report provided by, New Jersey American water, we keep life flowing.

Online at newjersyamwater.com.

♪ Joanna: That is all we have for you tonight.

What a reminder, you could now listen to NJ Spotlight News anytime via podcasts wherever you stream.

Make sure to download it and check us out.

You can also follow us on our social platforms and at njspotlightnews.org.

I am Joe Gannett -- I am Joanna Gagis.

Thank you for being with us tonight, and we will see you tomorrow.

♪ >> The members of the New Jersey education Association, making public schools great for every child.

RWJ Barnabas health.

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

>> We want to remember women that took that first step.

>> The girls like hearing the story about Rosa Parks and the fact that she was sitting down, she was not moving out of her seat, the girls like to hear that because they hear she was a strong woman.

>> A woman that was exiled from her country, they cannot believe that, despite all those hardships, she developed skills and broke barriers.

They are just completely blown away with women like that.

>> I am very grateful that I am still here.

>> That is me and my daughter when we went to celebrate our first anniversary.

>> with a new kidney I have strength.

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>> Nobody thought I would be here.

Nobody.

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That is possible now.

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RJW Barnabas health, let's be healthy together.

>> Our future relies on more than clean energy.

Our future relies on empowered communities.

The health and safety of our families and neighbors, of our schools and streets.

We are committed to sustainability equity, and economic empowerment.

Investing in parks, helping towns go green, supporting civic centers, scholarships, and workforce development that strengthens our community.

♪