♪ Major funding of New Jersey Spotlight News is right you by NJM Insurance group, Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey, and by the PSEG foundation.

Raven: tonight on NJ Spotlight News, facing tough questions wear a seat on the state was the highest court.

Plus, two damming reports describe a toxic culture in the state's Police Department.

An NAACP leader calling for the superintendent to resign.

Colleen: I would think things need to change.

Raven: Tensions are high at Port Newark as longshoremen prepare for a possible strike.

>> I hope we come to an agreement soon, there is concern about our employees being out of work, our customers.

Raven: And the mayor of Jersey City continues to bring the fight of the museum, but at what cost?

>> They can us the building.

Raven: NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

♪ >> from NJPBS to Beals, this is NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi.

Raven: Good evening and thanks for joining us.

I'm Raven Santana for Briana Vannozzi.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on federal charges, making the first New York mayor to ever face criminal prosecution.

The federal charges include wire fraud, bribery, conspiracy, and unlawful campaign contributions.

The indictment accuses Adams of performing favors for Turkish foreign nationals and accepting more than 100 thousand dollars in lavish gifts and soliciting more than $10,000 in illegal campaign contributions.

Adams, who was elected mayor in 2021, called the charges "entirely false."

Adams has denied wrongdoing.

Governor Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office but is monitoring the situation.

Adams refuses to resign, saying I asked New Yorkers for wait for my defense.

Mayor Adams: It is a painful day, but inside of all of that, it is a day when we will finally revealed why for 10 months I have gone through this, and I look forward to defending myself and defending the people of this city.

Raven: Also, riders face another round of have after an Amtrak train derailment at Penn Station, causing delays up to an hour during the evening commute.

The problems began when an Amtrak regional train had one set of wheels derail as it was leaving the station.

Part of the train was still at the platform, so passengers were able to get off.

NJ transit service returned to a normal service about five hours later, around 7:00 p.m. NJ transit trains have been rocked by disruptions throughout the summer.

And the Senate Judiciary committee today advanced the nomination of former acting state Attorney General John J Hoffman to serve on the state Supreme Court.

Governor Murphy nominated Hoffman to replace Justice Lee Solomon after he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 in August.

Hoffman is an unaffiliated voter but served as acting AG for three years under Republican Governor Chris Christie, though he was never officially confirmed to the post.

As AG, he led officers to be equipped with body worn cameras and establish a new directive on police involved shooting.

He left the role 2016 to become senior vice president at Rutgers University.

After today's unanimous vote, Hoffman's nomination goes to the full Senate before confirmation before he can be sworn in as associate Justice.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will continue fighting with full force in Lebanon despite the U.S.-led push for a cease-fire.

Netanyahu's remarks came as we got to UN's General assembly, where diplomatic efforts to end the airstrikes along the Israel-Lebanon border have dominated talks.

Israel is preparing for a possible ground invasion, targeting Hezbollah militants.

More than 6000 have been killed in Lebanon in recent days.

Countries are calling for an immediate 21-a cease-fire to allow for negotiations in the escalating conflict, calling the conflict "intolerable," saying it presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation.

While this proposed deal only applies to the Israel-Lebanon border, negotiators are hoping a three-week pause would start failed talks of a cease-fire and a hostage release of Hamas.

I'm joined by rockers Professor -- rockers Professor Michael Boyle.

Thank you for joining a skewed way is Israel focused on Hezbollah and Lebanon when the attack last year and Israel was waged by Hamas?

Prof. Boyle: there has been an ongoing exchange of violence, leading to something like 60,000, 70,000 civilians to the north, and Israel return fire into southern Lebanon.

We see the Netanyahu government has officially declared that returning to the north is now one of their key objectives and their argument is the only way they can do so by some way dealing with the threat in Hazlet and southern Lebanon.

Raven: What is Israel's goal in attacking Lebanon?

Prof. Boyle: Officially, their argument is they want to degrade the intelligence and military infrastructure of has by doing target strikes on rocket launchers, drone factories, and so on, in order to stop threat to Israeli civilians.

The long-term goal is returning is released to the north and also ensure that the attacks cannot happen again.

Whether the strikes they are launching will enable that outcome, whether they will make enough of an impact on has been allowed to cut the violence and stop the attacks of civilians in the North is unclear.

Raven: What are the reactions we are seeing from the international community on the international tax, which is like in Gaza putting civilians in the crossfire.

Prof. Boyle: Absolutely.

The estimates are at least 500,000 deaths so far in Lebanon.

International reaction has been critical of Israel's decision, acknowledging come of course, there's a reason to want to return citizens to the north, there is an argument this is not what is needed.

At the moment, there is a cease-fire proposal on the table, backed by the United States and France.

Israel and Lebanon into a 21-day cease-fire.

Israel is under a lot of pressure to invade this relatively quickly.

Raven: Do these attacks in Israel mean -- in Lebanon mean Israel has changed his focus and will no longer wage war in Gaza?

Prof. Boyle: No, it does not.

In effect, they are still fighting in Gaza.

Attacks on Gaza have continued.

There is a fear among Palestinians that they will be forgotten, less focused now that there is a war in Lebanon.

There are increasing calls within Israel itself is a look, is this strategically wise, right?

We essentially have a two front war, and it is unclear how they are connected.

Hezbollah is arguing they will not accept the cease-fire it of Israel and lived until there is a cease-fire in Gaza.

The fact that Israel is fighting a two front war makes it more complicated.

Raven: You touched on the cease-fire they are calling for, but how do you see this all playing out?

Prof. Boyle: Israel's position at the moment is that they will not accept a cease-fire, that they will continue to fight in full force.

I don't know if that is actually two or a negotiating tactic, right?

It is strategic to say I will never accept a cease-fire, and then you get a cease-fire once you have terms you are more satisfied with.

There is a possibility to get a reasonably quick cease-fire.

The danger is all out war, which is not out of the question.

I ran has been implemented in this, and the question is, is Iran going to come to the defense of Hezbollah, or will it allow it to be attacked by the Israeli military?

The real danger is an all out war, and will Israel be convinced of a 21-day cease-fire?

Raven: I guess we will have to wait and see how this unfolds.

Michael, thank you for joining us.

NAACP state leaders are now calling for the resignation of State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan after the Attorney General released a pair of scathing reports uncovering systematic racism, gender bias, favoritism, and retaliation for anyone who reported misconduct.

The office is recommending more than two dozen reforms, including disclosing complaints to state police, but will those be enough to revert long-standing systematic issues?

To discuss more, I'm joined by senior writer and project editor Colleen O'Dea.

Pretty much the state police need to do a better job at hiring women and people of color, and according to your report, it was really a promotions, when we thought about the discrimination issue.

Colleen: Right.

Individuals who were spoken to for the study that we've done by this law firm really said if they were people of color and women that they just felt discriminated against.

They felt like transfers are used to take you either out of a position of getting promoted or to let somebody else get promoted above you--a white male.

There were also feelings of not being able to report issues because you might be retaliated against.

Raven: We spoke a little off-camera about this.

Superintendent Callahan has been in that position since 2017.

So is this something that has been going on for quite some time under his watch?

Colleen: It has been going on for decades.

Obviously this report shows that it has been continuing.

There have been lawsuits that, you know, have been pending for decades.

Raven: this was not new.

Colleen: This was not new at all.

There were reforms put in around 2000, roughly the same time we had an issue of police profiling motorists, a federal Justice Department investigation, that there was a parallel track involving lawsuits of troopers, again, saying these same kinds of things, that they were being discriminated against, that they were being retaliated against.

So this is a long-standing program.

Raven: We know the office is recommending more than two dozen changes.

Can we talk about the most drastic changes?

My question is, is this enough to change the culture?

Colleen: Certainly I think the most drastic one is the Attorney General's office is going to absorb all of the human resources and equal opportunity office function from the state police, because they just don't have the confidence, those functions have not been progressing properly under the state police watch.

So, you know, we will see if that makes a difference.

When we get to culture issues, I think they took a long time to put through, I would look through the men's prison, that is under a federal monitor at the moment, because there are different issues, because there was sexual abuse and sexual assaults there, but it is the culture that takes a long time to change.

In one of the things that really, I think, does have to change it are changes in personnel, particularly in higher levels who make a commitment to putting these changes through.

Raven: Because we know that starts from the top, you know.

So I guess my next question is, will we see resignations, and will Superintendent Callahan step down?

Colleen: So I was surprised when I read the report that no one was calling for him to step down.

He does have Governor Murphy's confidence.

The governor has said that.

The legislature is still kicking back into gear.

We will see if any lawmakers are calling for it.

I think one of the reasons that perhaps he is still in his position right now is because he has agreed to go along with every reform that was suggested.

He does also have the support of at least some of the troopers of color.

We will have to see what happens as time goes on.

But I would think things will need to change or, you know, we might see him go.

Raven: We will look for those changes.

Thank you again for excellent reporting.

And the conversation about reforming the state police continues tomorrow on Reporters Roundtable, where David Cruz talks with the director of salvation and social justice about the agency's history and whether the proposed reforms go far enough.

Plus, a panel of local journalists to talk about all the week's political headlines, at noon streaming on the NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel.

A controversial new plan to bring an outpost of a French museum to Jersey City is moving forward, despite vocal pushback from many in the community.

The project relies on giving a tax break to a developer in return for the space to build a central satellite location and lower levels of a residential tower, already slated for construction in the square.

It comes after the state pulled funding for another version of the museum earlier this year, saying the plan was not economically viable.

This by city Council approval for millions in tax breaks, there are still lingering questions about how much this museum will really cost, and who will pay.

Ted Goldberg reports.

Ted: Last night's city Council meeting in Jersey City where black we've been here two hours, and you have not said nothing.

Ted: As counsel people press for new information about bringing this to Jersey City thanks to a 30 year tax abatement proposed by Mayor Steve Fulop.

>> Let him answer.

>> There's no way it shows up on day one, it just does not happen that way.

Ted: The question of tax breaks also led to some sparks.

>> It's not that hard, just answer yes or no.

>> The taxpayers are going to talk about it.

Ted: The state pulled funding for the original proposal in the new one relies on tax breaks at the city level.

Mayor Fulop's plan includes the economic authority, but in response to the story, the EDA tells us, the Centre Pompidou has not been approved for any taxes and is from the injury EDA come of the museum could be eligible for incentives under our cultural arts and facilities program, but applications have not yet opened.

City Council voted 6-3 to approve the tax break.

It is important, even if Centre Pompidou does not pan out.

>> We will never be able to afford it.

>> You cannot buy real estate on the square.

If we could do that now, can you imagine what the value will be three years now?

Ted: The next mayor of Jersey City could settle this.

Many are already against that, as are almost residents who came to last night's meeting, which ran for more than five hours.

Mary: They cannot afford that, but we can build this museum?

It is ridiculous.

Linda: To spend my money so quickly?

I would rather not spend money on things that are not worth it.

Albion: A newly developed when all helped to revitalize the area, this ring for Jersey City, but also has the potential to transform into a Taurus designation for beyond -- Taurus designation.

Sarah: It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to allow us to assert our probably working-class, hard-working on a global stage.

Phyllis: The plan was to have this museum for us.

Ted: While there were a couple of jokes, most of the residents were upset at the proposal in the mayor behind a, who's also running for governor.

Michael: You guys know what Jersey City is.

All of you.

Esther: This is only to pad his resume for governor, using the taxpayers as piggy banks.

Michelle: Existing taxpayer millions.

Kevin: It is not for us, it is for a few developers to solve rich people problems.

Ted: At the opening of a new library today, Mayor Fulop defended the proposal and call the Council's vote tough and courageous.

Mayor Fulop: I get the controversy around it, but sometimes people need to look at the bigger picture.

Government cannot do this by ourselves.

We need the resources to do it.

We look for public-private partnerships.

>> Last night was the perfect night to see us get work done.

>> We need a public safety in Journal Square, dozens of opportunities for us to do that.

>> I'm going to tell you, people are not going to forget.

I vote no.

Ted: Some of the Council people apologized to each other by the end of the meeting, but some of the residents here were not in a forgiving mood and say they will remember the next time they go to vote.

In Jersey City, I'm Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

Raven: In our spotlight on business report tonight, we may be just days away from a strike that could shut down activity at ports from Maine down to Texas, including here in Newark, and that could spell serious trouble for an economy already hampered by rising inflation for the union representing longshoremen is ready to walk off the job saying the group representing the four does not come into the bargaining table with a fair offer come a decision that you have wide ranging effects not only on our economy but the political climate ahead of a critical election.

Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis reports.

Tom: I hope we come to an agreement soon.

We are concerned about our employees being out of work.

We are concerned about our customers and their ability to serve their customers.

Joanna: longshoremen working at the port in Newark could walk off the job Tuesday morning, potentially bring a commerce in the area to a screeching halt.

That's because negotiations for a new contract between the International Longshoremen's Association, the IRA, and their employers, the U.S. Maritime Alliance, has stalled.

Todd: Representatives have said the employer has not made counterproposals around wages, there's a lot of anger around introduction in new technology from the south, which is impacting their jobs, and the union is making the case that the employers need to bargain over those changes.

Joanna: The ILA is the largest association of maritime workers in the U.S.

They are asking for a 75% wage increase for a six-year period over the $39 they are now.

They are prepared to strike at all of their East Coast and Gulf of Mexico ports October 1.

Tom: Their ability to pay without getting a paycheck every week.

Joanna: Tom employees a little more than 100 workers but the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says some 600,000 jobs are impacted by the flow of goods at the ports, and J.P. Morgan estimates a strike could cost the economy $5 billion a day.

Anthony: Logistics and the ports are so important to our economy here in New Jersey that it would have a verbal effect across the board, not just retail, manufacturing, but also the service providers that services industries, right?

Bankers, accountants, you know, this could have a devastating a effect.

Joanna: We saw the global supply chain him to shut down during COVID, and that skyrocketed prices.

What can this do for the cost of goods for consumers?

>> It's going to go up.

That's the one certainty.

Is a very certain rubric.

Less capacity, higher prices.

If you only have so many ships, those prices are going to go hide.

Joanna: A union representative says their employer has been trying to get the ILA to accept a lowball wage package that he calls "insulting officers that are a joke considering the work my ILA Longshore workers perform and the billion dollar profits the companies make off the backs of their labor."

Meanwhile, the U.S. Maritime Alliance filed an unfair practice charge with the national labor board today, accusing the union is not bargaining in good faith.

Last week, they said they letter to President Biden to mask it with two sides to come together.

As of now, he said he will not enforce the act which would force workers back to work but could be a complicated political decision.

Todd: When the railroad workers were threatening to go on strike , that left scars and bad feeling, and we are going into an election, so there's a lot of politics at play in the background as well.

Joanna: For now, businesses are adjusting to keep shelves stocked with goods.

Some have ordered higher quantities in the last few months.

Others are rerouting shipments to the coast.

Todd: I know when I talk to our manufacturers, I know they are saying we can't get it from your, can we get it from South America?

A lot of them will even talk to their competitors and share materials and products.

Joanna: For those holding out hope that the strike would be a voted -- would be averted -- >> And less the unions and suddenly have a come to God moment, there will be a strike.

Joanna: They have four days to figure it out.

In Newark, I'm Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight News.

Raven: That does it for us.

Before we go, make sure you download the NJ Spotlight News podcast to listen any.

I'm Raven Santana.

For the entire NJ Spotlight news team, we appreciate you being with us.

We will see you back here tomorrow.

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♪ >> 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.

♪