>> Major funding for "NJ Spotlight News" is provided in part by NJM Insurance Group.

Serving the insurance needs of residents and businesses for more than 100 years.

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And by the PSEG foundation.

Anchor: Tonight, replacing Senator Menendez.

Governor Murphy officially appoints his former chief of fill the shoes.

>> I will do my very best to ensure the work is about us.

Anchor: Plus the man running to permanently replace the convicted senator ways in.

>> I look forward to working with him at the capital.

Anchor: And New Jersey transit commuters sound off after the governor announces a week of free rides.

>> It's a courtesy to the community, the passengers, the travelers.

But first the trains are a concern.

There's a lot of work that needs to be done, a lot of engineering.

Anchor: And the end of an era.

>> I've been coming here since I was a child.

Bringing my children here and now my grandchildren.

Anchor: After 94 years, the sights and sounds of family fun at the iconic amusement park on the boardwalk in Ocean City will fade away.

"NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

♪ ♪ >> From NJPBS Studios, this is "NJ Spotlight News" with Rihanna Vannozzi.

Anchor: Thank you for joining us this Friday night.

It is official, George Helmick, Governor Murphy's Former Chief of Staff, will serve the remainder of Senator Bob Menendez's term in the U.S. Senate once Menendez resigns from office next week.

Governor Murphy making the announcement at a press conference in Newark earlier today saying he considered many names for the appointment but decided there is "no one better prepared or more committed to deliver for New Jersey," calling the 44-year-old a "proven public servant and a model of integrity to help restore public trust in state leadership."

An apparent reference to the disgraced Senator who was found guilty on federal bribery and corruption charges.

Helmy is currently at NJ Barnabas health, and underwriter for "NJ Spotlight News."

He also had various roles working for U.S.

Senator Cory Booker including a state director.

He is slated to be sown in September 9 and vowed to hit the ground running.

>> Although I will only serve a few months, I will do my best to ensure our work is about us and not about I.

We work for the people of New Jersey in the people of United States.

Except with great humidity the -- great humility.

Anchor: The governor passed over Andy Kim to replace Menendez, who organized his primary handily and is considered the favorite in the match up with the Republican contender.

Being appointed to the job early would have given him a leg up that some Democrats are frustrated with him after he took on the political machine to abolish the so-called partyline ballot system.

I spoke with the congressman earlier today for our election exchange podcast and asked for his take.

It's an interesting day we are meeting, the governor is appointing a temporary place filler for the Senate seat.

George Helmy is Former Chief of Staff and I would love to get your thoughts.

>> I think George is someone who has worked at the Senate.

When I met him he was the state director for Senator Cory Booker.

So he knows the building.

We are looking for someone who can jump in immediately and fill the role for New Jersey for a couple of months.

You want somebody who knows how to do it and understands how to operate around the Senate.

I certainly support that and I look forward to working with him at the capital the next few months.

Anchor: Someone who can hit the ground running.

I wonder what the conversations were like leading up to it because there was a push for the governor to put you in that seat to lend Democrats perhaps some help in getting you elected in November, and also are Republicans and others said let's not give power to incumbency and put an actual temporary person in the seat.

How did that feel for you given the nature of the entire cycle so far for this race?

Rep. Kim: I never made any asks and didn't even have any conversations about that with the governor's team.

For me it was about November 5.

I deeply believe the people of New Jersey need to be the ones who make a choice when it comes to their long-term and I wanted to really focus on that your I'm excited about November 5 and hopefully this year being the 50th anniversary of my parents immigrating to America, it would be a great honor if that's the year I get elected as the senator from New Jersey.

Anchor: For more on the appointment to U.S. Senate and what it means for the general election, I am joint I a Democratic strategist, and a Republican strategist.

It's really good to see both of you.

Big news of the day, Governor Murphy appointing George Helmy to the U.S. Senate seat.

It mirrors what Chris Christie did when he was in office and appointed an ally.

Good move for the Democrats?

There were concerted efforts on both sides to either keep Andy Kim out and not give Democrats a leg up for November, and of course the case was made to put him in.

>> Let's start with the premise that there is no doubt that Murphy would not be giving her a leg up in the Senate, and he should have done the same thing for Andy Kim, is not about Phil Murphy feelings, it's about New Jersey and if Andy Kim wins in November and he is expected to, he will have gotten some seniority if you were to go in now.

For the sake of New Jersey this is a horrible move by Governor Murphy and also really puzzling.

The entire raison d'être I heard from the campaign is we need a woman in the Senate.

New York Times reported he had plenty of qualified women under consideration, he had the former secretary of state, he had Bonnie Watson Coleman, first Black congresswoman in the state history.

He had his lieutenant governor, another Black.

-- another Black woman.

Yet who does he choose?

One of his cronies, George Helmy , who is unqualified, has never served in public office before but is qualified in the since he's always done the governor's dirty work for him.

It is a puzzling decision and I would go so far as to say it's not great for the Democrats who are trying in the next 80 days to draw a contrast between how Donald Trump treats women and harassed treats women, because I can tell you that Helmy treated me horribly.

Has had critical allegations of racial discrimination lodged against him in a lawsuit, retaliation from a different lawsuit lodged against him.

It's not what the Democrats need right now.

Anchor: Mike, I will have a jump in, but there's no arguing George Helmy is a veteran political operative, he worked with Senator Booker.

Julie: He was a low-level staffer, he's not there because he's qualified, he is there because he's qualified to do Phil Murphy's dirty laundry.

You can't compare his expense to Bonnie Watson Coleman.

Anchor: These votes are critical right now, such a razor thin majority, and you put her in the Senate and now -- Julie: What about the 100 other qualified women?

You want to talk about people qualified, there are plenty of women, women of color and just women, who could have done this and become the first female senator from New Jersey.

Anchor: Mike, is not necessarily a prescriptive process.

We saw Governor Chris Christie do something similar appointing his Attorney General, also a close ally.

In some respects, does it make sense?

Mike: The governor wants to appoint someone he can trust, and so obviously he had been seven years as assistant U.S. attorney and George Helmy has worked for Cory Booker and Governor Murphy.

I think the decision was not to give it to Andy Kim, to not give a leg up.

Historically governor Kane and Governor Christie appointed a placeholder and that's what Governor Murphy has done.

Last time we appointed someone running was to give Bob Menendez a leg up and thus not what we need.

All the demo has got behind him in 20 after they knew he was -- Democrats got behind him in 2020 when they knew he was corrupt.

Just because Andy Kim is a Democrat doesn't mean he should take the boys out of voter hands.

I think by appointing a placeholder he did the right thing, let the voters decide.

Anchor: Andy Kim says he never even made a play for the seat, never called Governor Murphy or asked for it.

Good move or bad move?

Mike: I don't think is a great move politically, I think politically you would love to get a leg up, you would love to be appointed, you get to go around the state, you are the U.S. senator already, it hurt you from an earned media perspective.

I think that says more about his relationship with Governor Murphy than anything else, not to at least have this conversation.

Anchor: Julie, let me have you weigh in, from a political standpoint I think he was trying to make a point he wasn't trying to leverage that with the Murphy's, or is it because his relationship is still fractured?

Julie: The relationship is deeply fractured because Governor Murphy can't get over the fact that who is Andy Kim to push Tammy Murphy out of the race?

It's not only about Governor Murphy's pique, it's about what is best for the state, and by putting Bob Menendez in, like him or not, he did get seniority and it helped him.

Know you have something coming in from California, Adam Schiff, who will be appointed by Gavin Newsom before the next Congress convenes, which means California will have a leg up on new jersey because there senator is coming in early.

This is about chairmanship's and real money coming back to the state, not about Governor Murphy's hurt feelings or the fact that Andy Kim had the temerity to run against Tammy Murphy.

It's about what is best for the constituents Governor Murphy pledged to represent.

I think he's giving the back of a hand to those constituents by effectively saying it doesn't matter what is good for the state, it doesn't matter what seniority he will have.

By the way, Mike, if by some miracle Curtis Basye wins, no harm and no fell, but if Andy Kim wins this year, he will have had seniority.

Mike: I think soon to be senator Helmy could resign as well.

Anchor: That's sort of the rumor right now that might happen.

[crosstalk] Julie: If Andy Kim is not having those discussions with Governor Murphy, I don't see that happening.

Maybe, but we are speculating about something.

It would be helpful if the governor came out and said by the way, if Curtis or Andy Kim wins, I will appoint them to the Senate the day after the election, that would be helpful.

We are trying to define what is in his head and he could say it.

George Helmy is serving until the next Congress convenes, which means the neck senator will not have an advantage.

Anchor: Is the party approaching the Senate race differently based on who the governor has put in as a placeholder or are things pretty much still status quo with how the operation is running?

Mike: I don't get changes the campaign that much, in a good way.

It allows the campaign to go forward, both candidates have to make a case and into Kim's the first Democrat to run in 25 years in the state that is not very well known.

Curtis special -- criticism much more known -- Curtis is much more known.

New Jersey likes an independent voice in the summit -- of the Senate.

Republicans are facing this with a lot of optimism right now in terms of Curtis being very well-positioned as a businessman, a center-right businessman as opposed to a beauty -- a bureaucrat.

Anchor: We have to leave it there -- go ahead, Julie.

Julie: Heap won the district twice when Donald Trump won so he can't be that far left.

This is the same nonsense Republicans have tried against Democrats.

The only thing we know about Curtis is he is allegedly pro-choice but supports the Dell's decision, so explain that to me.

I will take Andy Kim over some one who can't make up his mind.

Mike: Take Andy Kim who likes to vote with the squad, tell everyone something when he was in a centrist district devoted like a centrist but when he gets in a gerrymandered district -- [crosstalk] Mike and Julie, always good to chat with you and spar with you, thank you.

Turning now to breaking news, the state Attorney General's office has released Lee's body camera footage from last month's fatal police shooting of a 25-year-old Fort Lee resident, Victoria Lee.

The images you are about to watch a graphic.

In the video officers can be seen knocking on the door, asking the women inside, Lee and her mother, to open it, and discussed who will have lethal and nonlethal duties before opening the door, warning they could break it down.

Lee can be heard threatening to stab officers in the neck before they force the door open.

Lee is seen approaching officers with a large water jug in hand, as they shouted to drop the knife, firing a single shot in striking her in the chest.

The Attorney General's office also released two 911 calls from Lee's brother, first saying his sister is having a mental health crisis, then he calls back and asks to cancel the request.

The operator says mental health calls cannot be canceled and asks the reason.

He says his sister has a knife.

We will have more on this story on Monday.

Commuters are getting an apology and thank you wrapped in one by way of a free week of rides on New Jersey transit trains, buses and rails during the last week of August after writers endured a summer of health complete with delays, breakdancing cancellations that at some point left folks stranded for hours.

This as the troubled Rail agency is scraping to get by, leaving many to wonder how they will pay for it.

Brenda Flanagan takes a deeper look.

>> Absolutely, sure, I think it's a great idea.

Reporter: Many commuters cheered the news that injury transit has declared a fair holiday from August 26 through September 2, a whole week when folks can write for free.

Monthly pass holders will get 25% of September affairs.

It is the agencies all of branch making amends for another so-called summer of Hell, plagued by brutal breakdowns, hours long delays and sudden cancellations that left riders stranded in ceiling.

--seething.

>> I think it's good.

Reporter: Does it make up for this summer?

>> Yes, it was terrible.

>> It is a courtesy to the commuters, the passengers, the travelers.

But first the trains are a concern.

There is a lot of work that needs to be done, a lot of engineering.

>> When you are a work commuter, I was late for work and I am never late.

Reporter: We caught Robert passing through Newark Penn Station and he says a one week fare respite, while nice, won't fix the problems.

>> Broken trains, no AC or security.

Reporter: Governor Murphy acknowledge that when he announced the fair holiday on Fox five.

>> This is a tip of the cap to say things for your patience, you are not happy with the performance this summer and neither are we.

Reporter: Riders know there's no such thing as a free holiday, it will cost lost revenue and the agency has been scrabbling for every spare dollar.

NJ transit says it is identifying offsets in response to the fair holiday costs.

According to regional planner Zoe Baldwin -- >> It is expensive to give up receiving fares for that amount of time.

I think there has to be an acknowledgment to riders as well that they have literally had another summer of Hell.

>> It is nice, I feel good, a gimmick to say thank you.

Reporter: This businesswoman says they raised affairs 15% in July and will go up another 3% every year afterwards, and that on top of a 2.5% corporate transit fee in active by the legislator will generate up to $1 billion annually over the next five years.

>> It's another kick in the teeth to the business community.

No acknowledgment at all that the business community is putting the bill and underwriting this.

Now they are struggling to find how they will replace this $19 million for a fair holiday.

Reporter: She wants an audit of NJ transit finances to ensure that money isn't wasted even as the agency struggles to boost ridership back to pre-COVID levels and beyond.

Baldwin suspects a longer fare holiday might improve that.

>> A month for free, people might start to take rail even locally.

Reporter: For now she would like federal officials to drop some money and fix Amtrak's unpredictable infrastructure, railways NJ transit will need to handle World Cup crowds in a couple of years.

I am Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Anchor: In our spotlight on business report tonight, Wall Street had quite a week.

Stocks higher today after Thursday's rally, putting markets on track for the best week of the year.

Here is where the trading numbers closed.

Finally tonight, a Jersey shore tradition is coming to an end.

Killian's wonderland, the iconic amusement park on the Ocean City Boardwalk, is set to close after nearly a century of bringing summer family fun and countless memories for all of those who have visited.

The owner and mayor says the business is not viable anymore, so Gillian's will close in the next couple of months.

What is next for the landmark remains uncertain.

>> The caterpillar.

>> What you like about it?

>> It was fast.

>> The train run, that's what I remember the most.

>> The double shot, whatever it is called.

The Ferris wheel.

Reporter: The wonderland is an Ocean City institution, serving generations of tourists and locals since 1929.

>> All of the kiddie rights and when I became a parent of four kids we were appear every night, we would take kids on rides and get popcorn, cotton candy.

>> You see all the generations of kids that go through, and they bring their kids and it is a rite of passage.

>> I've been coming here my entire life since I was a child.

I have been bringing my children here.

Know my grandchildren.

>> I had my first birthday party there.

>> You are member that?

>> A little.

Reporter: The wonderland was nearly foreclosed on three years ago.

The owner and mayor of Ocean City sold the land for $10 million, most event -- most of which went to pay off mortgage debt.

The new owner hasn't said what might replace the rides.

They operate luxury hotels and other towns, so people are speculating this could be a hotel in the future.

>> We were talking about if they will build a high-rise because it takes away from all of this.

>> I hope they use it for a similar thing to get families together, no more restaurants or candy shops.

>> I can see the benefits of their being maybe a three-story hotel.

Brings a lot of tourism, good for the economy.

Also I get to see views of the fireworks every holiday.

Reporter: As long as it's short enough you can see the fireworks?

>> Yeah.

Reporter: Last week the Mayor released a statement saying I tried my best to sustain wonderland for as long as possible but it is no longer a viable business.

The property itself is no longer mine so I can't speak to its future.

The wonderland will close in early October, creating a rush of people trying to use or offload tickets.

>> I had a stash of tickets and we all had tickets to use before the end of summer so it is a mob scene up here.

>> I have to see if I have tickets left over.

>> It is my dad's 50th birthday and he always wanted to go on the Ferris wheel and we never got a chance, but we went last night.

I am scared of heights so it was an experience but I powered through.

Reporter: The Ferris wheel isn't just the most famous ride, also one of Ocean City's most famous sites and people hope it can stick around in some form.

>> The Ferris wheel in Ocean City is similar to the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the big Ben in London.

It symbolizes the city and is iconic.

>> It's what you see when you come over the bridge, and associate with driving into Ocean City so I think it would be great if they could even keep it if people are not riding it.

>> Build around it but keep the Ferris wheel.

Reporter: The mayor did not respond to a request for comment but he's tried to build a hotel in Ocean City before, a over $1 million proposal was rejected last year, but the future for wonderland is uncertain.

Anchor: That does it for us tonight.

Before you go, a reminder to download the "NJ Spotlight News" podcast so you can listen to us anytime.

For the entire team here, thank you for being with us and have a great weekend.

We will see you Monday.

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

RWJBarnabas Health, let's be healthy together.

>> Our future relies on more than clean energy.

Our future relies on empowered communities to -- the health and safety of families and neighbors.

The PST foundation is committed to sustainability, a court ability and empowerment, investing in parks, helping towns go green, supporting civic centers, scholarships and workforce development that strengthen our community.

♪ ♪ ♪