>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "REPORTERS ROUND TABLE" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.com.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND BY MJN INSURANCE GROUP SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE, THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, REPORTING TO EXECUTIVES AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS I N ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "REPORTERS ROUND TABLE."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

WELL, EVERYBODY IS BACK IN SCHOOL, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF.

THE NEWS TEAM HAS BEEN REPORTING FOR WEEKS NOW ON PREPARATIONS FOR AND NOW THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

LET'S GET A TEACHER'S PERSPECTIVE HERE.

SEAN SPILLER IS PRESIDENT OF THE NJEA, THAT'S THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

THEY ARE THE LARGEST TEACHERS UNION IN THE STATE.

HE'S ALSO THE SHANE SPILLER WHO IS MAYOR OF MONTCLAIR.

HE IS ON TEACHER BUSINESS TODAY THOUGH AND WE WELCOME SEAN SPILLER TO "REPORTERS ROUND TABLE."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH.

.

>> SO YOU HAVE CASES NOW IN SEVERAL SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE.

THAT NUMBER VERY LIKELY TO GROW AS IT GETS TOWARDS WINTER.

WAS IT A MISTAKE TO NOT HAVE A PLAN FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING?

>> WELL, I THINK ALL DISTRICTS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE LEARNED FROM THE LAST 18 MONTHS, AND IF NOTHING ELSE WE HAVE SHOWN HOW QUICKLY SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ADAPT TO CHANGING ENVIRONMENTS.

SO I DOUBT THERE'S A DISTRICT THAT HASN'T LEARNED FROM THAT AND WILL NOT KNOW HOW TO PIVOT AS NEEDED TO GO TO A VIRTUAL SPACE, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE TO SEE IF WE CAN GET BACK TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION WHICH IS SO VALUABLE FOR SO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS.

I APPRECIATE THE SAFEGUARDS THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT IN PLACE, AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE THOSE HAVE GOOD EFFECT AND HOPEFULLY KEEP OUR BUILDING SAFE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF.

>> WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET SOMETHING RAMPED UP IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO THAT VIRTUAL OPTION?

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A PROGRAM LIKE THAT GOING?

>> WELL, LESS THAN LAST TIME, ALTHOUGH REMEMBER WE HAD TO DO IT OVER A WEEKEND.

BUT WHEN I SAY THAT I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST AT THIS POINT DISTRICTS HAVE REALLY WORKED HARD AND ALSO WITH THE STATE SUPPORT TO ENSURE ALL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE TECHNOLOGY THEY WOULD NEED.

YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES PREVIOUSLY WE WERE FACING SITUATIONS WHERE STUDENTS MAY NOT HAVE HAD A LAPTOP OR NOT ENOUGH FOR THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO WERE IN A HOME.

Wi-Fi CONNECTION WAS A PROBLEM.

YOU KNOW, GETTING THE SCHOOL PLATFORM READY AND WHAT WOULD THE EXCHANGE BE FOR HOMEWORK AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO ALL OF THAT AT LEAST DISTRICTS ARE BETTER PREPARED THAN THEY WERE BEFORE.

SO I THINK IF THERE'S A PIVOT, AT LEAST THERE'S A FRAMEWORK THAT'S ALREADY THERE AND I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO DO IT PRETTY SMOOTHLY.

>> SO THE GUIDANCE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IS OFTEN EASY TO MISS OR REINTERPRET DEPENDING ON WHAT PART OF THE STATE YOU HAPPEN TO BE ADMINISTERING IN.

YOUR UNION IS LIKE A LOT OF UNIONS ACROSS THE STATE AND REALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE RANK AND FILE IS THE RANCH A RANK AND FILE AND THEIR OPINION IS ALWAYS VARIED.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT BUY-IN FROM THE UNION ON MANDATES AND VACCINES AND TESTING AND SOME OTHER ISSUES.

LET ME BRING IN KAREN Y ERCK E FROM WNYC.

KAREN, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YOU HAD A QUESTION FOR SEAN SPILLER?

>> I DIDN'T.

DO YOU EXPECT THE NUMBER OF CODE CASES TO RISE IN THE NUMBER WEEKS, YOU KNOW, AS SCHOOLS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED BY THE STATE TO IMPLEMENT TESTING PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS?

AND AS WE START GETTING CLOSER TO THAT OCTOBER 18th DEADLINE FOR TEACHERS TO BE -- START GETTING TESTED WEEKLY IF THEY'RE NOT VACCINATED ALREADY.

>> WELL, I THINK SOME OF THE KEY PIECES THAT MAY DRIVE THAT, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MANY OF OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO BE VACCINATED AT THIS POINT.

SO, OF COURSE, THAT CREATES A CHALLENGE.

WE ALSO SEE IN DISTRICTS, WE KNOW WITH GOOD INTENT, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR HAS BUILT IN SOME EXCEPTIONS TO THE MASK WEARING IN TERMS OF TEMPERATURE AND OTHER PIECES, AND CERTAINLY IF WE'VE GOT INSTANCES WHERE DISTRICTS MAYBE ARE BEING A LITTLE TOO LOSE WITH THAT INTERPRETATION WE WILL HAVE CASES WHERE PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT MASKS AND, OF COURSE, THAT CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS AS WELL.

CERTAINLY I THINK WE ARE ALL WATCHING CLOSELY, AND I KNOW WE REMAIN IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE GOVERNOR AND HIS TEAM TO TALK ABOUT LOOKING AT THOSE PIECES AS THEY ARISE AND MAKING SURE THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY LOOPHOLES OR GAPS IN THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE.

HOPEFULLY THAT WILL KEEP THE NUMBERS DOWN, ALTHOUGH CERTAINLY AS NOTED, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO AREN'T VACCINATED THAT'S A CHALLENGE.

>> MATT FRIEDMAN OF "POLITICO" IS ALSO WITH US TODAY.

MATT, YOU HAD A QUESTION ON THE VACCINATION MANDATES FOR TEACHERS?

>> JUST CURIOUS IF YOU ARE HEARING ANY PUSHBACKS FROM TEACHERS ON THE VACCINE MANDATES, AND, IF SO, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO WIN THOSE PEOPLE OVER?

I'M ALSO CURIOUS, I THINK WE'VE HEARD THAT, YOU KNOW, A LARGE MAJORITY OF TEACHERS ARE VACCINATED.

I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE SPECIFIC DATA ON WHAT PERCENTAGE THAT IS.

>> YEAH, THANKS.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE -- AS DAVID NOTED TO START THIS, WE -- AND I CERTAINLY GET A LOT OF E-MAILS.

WE HAVE 200,000 MEMBERS WE REPRESENT, ALL WITH VARYING OPINIONS.

SOME, OF COURSE, ARE RIGHT THERE WITH WE SUPPORT WHAT IS GOING ON, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR BUILDINGS ARE SAFE.

WE'VE GOT OTHERS WHO ARE CERTAINLY MORE WORRIED AND SAYING, HEY, WE WANT EVEN STRICTER PRECAUTIONS, AND WE HAVE OTHERS SAYING THINGS SHOULD BE LOOSER.

WE HAVE ALWAYS SAID FROM THE START THAT THE GUIDANCE IS GOING TO CHANGE, BUT WHAT WON'T CHANGE IS OUR COMMITMENT TO SAYING WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS DONE WELL, FOLLOWING THAT SCIENCE.

WE ARE GOING TO KEEP DOING THAT AS WELL DESPITE THE VARYING OPINIONS, BUT OVERWHELMINGLY OUR MEMBERS SUPPORT BEING VACCINATED OR BEING TESTED.

WE THINK THAT'S REASONABLE.

THE SAFEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO BE VACCINATED.

FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN'T OR FOR WHATEVER REASON AREN'T VACCINATED, THEN MAKING SURE THERE'S TESTING GOING ON TO CATCH CASES EARLY AND STOP THE SPREAD.

IT IS GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT PIECE.

YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS IN TERMS OF HOW MANY MEMBERS ARE VACCINATED, I THINK WE'LL GET A BETTER SENSE AS SCHOOL STARTS UP HERE AND WE SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE IN THE TESTING PROGRAM.

I KNOW THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION HAS DONE SOME GENERAL ASSESSMENTS TO SEE, AND THE NUMBERS ARE PRETTY HIGH IN THERMS OF THOSE VACCINATED, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY KEY SPECIFICS HERE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> SEAN, WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT A TEACHER SHORTAGE.

IS THERE A TEACHER SHORTAGE AND HOW DO WE IN 2021, IN THE MOST DIVERSE STATE IN THE COUNTRY, HOW DO WE RECRUIT PARTICULARLY TEACHERS OF COLOR INTO THE CLASSROOM?

>> WELL, DAVID, I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT IN TWO PARTS THERE BECAUSE BOTH OF THEM ARE SO IMPORTANT.

FIRST, YES, WE ARE SEEING A MAJOR SHORTAGE OF EDUCATORS COMING INTO THE PROFESSION.

WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ENROLLED AND THE TEACHER PREP PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND WE'VE SEEN A MAJOR DECLINE IN THE LAST DECADE OR SO.

PROBABLY NOT SURPRISING.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD A GOVERNOR PREVIOUSLY WHO, YOU KNOW, REALLY WENT AFTER THE PROFESSION BOTH IN THINGS THAT WERE SAID BUT ALSO GOING AFTER COMPENSATION BENEFITS, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT WOULD ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THE PROFESSION.

SO WE ARE REALLY SEEING THAT IMPACT.

WE ALSO NOTE AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, MORE DIFFICULT TO DRAW THAT CORRELATION, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A LAG BETWEEN SOMEONE'S ACTIONS AND THE EFFECT.

SO WE'RE SEEING THAT NOW.

WE ARE THANKFUL THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS REALLY SHOWN THE COMMITMENT WITH SCHOOL FUNDING.

HE HAS SHOWN THE COMMITMENT WITH SHORING UP THE PENSION AND OTHER PIECES, AND BEING SUPPORTING OF T THE PROFESSION AS A WHOLE.

WE ARE ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE STATES IN THE NATION, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A TEACHINGS POPULATION THAT REFLECT THE STUDENT POPULATION.

IT IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE D.O.E.

AND US AND EVERYONE ELSE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE WORKING HARD TO RECRUIT A DIVERSE WORKFORCE, WE ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CURRICULUM IN THE TEACHER PREP PROGRAMS IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO.

SPECIFICALLY TEACHERS OF COLOR.

THEN WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT THE CURRICULUM WE TEACH OUR STUDENTS IS ALSO REFLECTIVE OF THE DIVERSITY WE HAVE AND CELEBRATES THAT DIVERSITY AS A STRENGTH.

I THINK WE ARE MAKING STEPS ON ALL OF THOSE FRONTS AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP GOING AND ARE INTENTIONAL ABOUT DOING SO >> ALL RIGHT.

IN THE LITTLE TIME I HAVE LEFT, THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THE STATE WILL MOVE TO UNIVERSAL PRE-K, THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS, BUT IT IS GOING TO TAKE TEN YEARS.

THAT LONG?

WHY SN.

>> HEY, LISTEN, WE'LL GO AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW, WE SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR'S, YOU KNOW, GOAL HERE TO GET UNIVERSAL PRE-K. THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.

WE ALL KNOW WITHOUT QUESTION, ALL OF THE EVIDENCE SHOWS, YOU KNOW, UNIVERSAL PRE-K IS AN ABSOLUTE GAME CHANGER.

WE HAVE TO GET THERE.

WE UNDERSTAND ALL OF THESE THINGS COME WITH A PRICE TAG, TAME WE'RE ALL TRYING TO DEAL WITH INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND OTHER COSTS IN EDUCATION THAT ARE GOING TO REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT SOONER.

I AM SURE HE WOULD WORK TO HAVE THAT DONE SOONER POSSIBLE, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE THERE'S A PATH FORWARD AND WE ARE ALL GOING TO WORK AS PARTNERS TO GET IT DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE >> ALL RIGHT.

SEAN SPILLER IS PRESIDENT OF THE NJEA.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

NEXT TIME YOU COME ON WE WILL TALK ABOUT MUNICIPAL TAX RATES AND IN CITY SERVICES.

ALL RIGHT?

>> SAUOUNDS GOOD.

THANKS, DAVID.

APPRECIATE IT >> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S BRING IN OUR THIRD PANELIST HERE.

NIKITA IS WITH "NEW JERSEY MONITOR."

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

"NEW JERSEY MONITOR" IS A NEW NEW JERSEY NEWS SITE UP FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW.

GIVE US 60 SECONDS ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING OVER THERE.

>> SO THEY'RE GOING PRETTY WELL.

THE "NEW JERSEY MONITOR" IS A NONPROFIT NEWSROOM.

WE FOCUS ON STATE GOVERNMENT AND, YOU KNOW, NOT TO BRAG BUT I THINK IT HAS BEEN GOING WELL SO FAR.

>> SO DO YOU HAVE A BEAT THAT YOU ARE COVERING OR ARE YOU COVERING EVERYTHING?

>> THAT'S ALSO A LITTLE BIT IN FLUX I WOULD SAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, KNOWING ME I'M PROBABLY GOING TO END UP COVERING POLITICS MORE THAN A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, ANY -- WHAT KIND OF STUFF HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SO FAR?

>> SO FAR IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF COVERAGE ON SCHOOLS.

SIMPLY THAT'S -- THE LEGISLATURE OBVIOUSLY IS ON A PRETTY EXTENDED BREAK AND WE DON'T EXPECT THEM BACK UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION, SO AS FAR AS LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY THERE'S NOT MUCH TO WRITE.

>> ALL RIGHT, MAN.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU GUYS OVER THERE.

WE'LL BE SEEING YOU ON THE PROGRAM AS THE YEAR GOES ON.

>>> KAREN, WE HAD A FEMA REP ON "CHAT BOX" THIS WEEK.

YOU GOT A CLOSE LOOK AT SOME OF THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL DAMAGE INFLICTED BY IDA.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE IMAGES THAT STICK WITH YOU OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN?

>> YES.

I WENT DOWN IN NEWARK THE DAY AFTER THE STORM AND THERE ARE SO MANY STREETS IN NEWARK THAT ARE CONSTANTLY FLOODED EVEN WHEN IT RAINS JUST A LITTLE BIT, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT THE DAMAGE WAS AFTER IDA.

A LOT OF WHAT I SAW WERE JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVING IN ILLEGAL BASEMENTS, RIGHT.

I MEAN THERE'S AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS, PEOPLE FIND HOUSING WHERE THEY CAN AND OFTENTIMES IT IS A BASEMENT APARTMENT WHICH IN MANY CASES IS NOT ZONED TO BE A RESIDENTIAL LAUGHING SPACE.

SO PEOPLE JUST LOST EVERYTHING.

I MEAN I MET THIS ONE FAMILY THAT THE WATER HAD RISEN PAST THEIR KITCHEN COUNTER AND IT WAS COMPLETELY UNINHABITABLE.

THEY HAD TO ESCAPE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO ESCAPE THE WATER.

THANKFULLY THEY WERE ABLE TO GET OUT BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, 30 PEOPLE DIED.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DIED TRAPPED IN THEIR APARTMENTS, TRAPPED IN THEIR CARS BECAUSE OF THE FLOODWATERS.

I WENT DOWN TO MANVILLE WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS HERE AS WELL TO VISIT THE REGION, AND SOME OF THE DEVASTATION THERE, I MEAN IT WAS JUST INCREDIBLE.

YOU WOULD DRIVE DOWN MAIN STREET AND BUSINESS AFTER BUSINESS WAS JUST COMPLETELY DEVASTATED.

EVERYTHING WAS OUT ON THE CURB.

I MEAN THE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS WAS TALLER THAN I WAS.

I'M NOT VERY TALL, BUT WE ARE TALKING 6, 7 FEET OF DEBRIS PILED UP ALONG MAIN STREET.

THE FURTHER YOU GET INTO THE LOST VALLEY SECTION, WHICH IS SORT OF THE LOW-LYING AREA, YOU CAN SEE IN THE IMAGES JUST EVERYTHING FROM THE BASEMENT, THE FIRST FLOOR COMPLETELY EMPTIED OUT, DISHWASHERS, REFRIGERATORS, TOYS, CARS WERE COMPLETELY RUINED, AND PEOPLE WERE REALLY, REALLY STRUGGLING AND WERE REALLY AT A LOSS.

YOU KNOW, I WAS SPEAKING TO THE OEM COORDINATOR IN TOWN AND HE WAS SAYING THEY WERE EXPECTING 3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN, RIGHT.

I MEAN THIS TOWN HAS TWO RIVERS, THEY FLOOD NORMALLY.

THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO, BUT THEY GOT 10 INCHES IN ABOUT THREE HOURS.

SO THEY HAD SO MANY RESCUES, TRYING TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES THROUGH THE ROOFS.

IT IS GOING TO BE A LONG RECOVERY FOR THE FOLKS OF MANVILLE AND FOR OTHER FOLKS AROUND THE STATE AS WELL.

>> HOW MUCH HAS IT INTERRUPTED THE DAILY LIVES OF PEOPLE?

IMMIGRANTS I AM THINKING PARTICULARLY FROM GETTING BACK TO SCHOOL, WORK, ALL OF THAT STUFF.

HOW ARE THEY DEALING WITH IT?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN I THINK FOR SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR, I MEAN IDA HIT RIGHT WHEN A LOT OF KIDS WERE GETTING READY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW, CREST KILL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE PHOTOS WITH THE AUDITORIUM COMPLETELY INUNDATED.

A LOT OF SCHOOLS HAD TO GO REMOTE.

THEY COULDN'T EVEN WELCOME KIDS BACK IN PERSON, AND I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF DISTRICTS STILL IN THAT POSITION BECAUSE THEY JUST HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR THE DAMAGES OR MAKE THOSE SPACES HABITABLE FOR CHILDREN.

YES, FOR IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS THAT WERE ALREADY SUFFERING, YOU KNOW, COULDN'T AFFORD THEIR RENT, COULDN'T AFFORD FOOD, EXCLUDED FROM SO MANY FORMS OF RELIEF.

GOVERNOR MURPHY HASN'T GIVEN OUT THE $40 MILLION IN WORKER FUNDS, AND NOW TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO THEM AND HAPPEN TO THEM IN PLACES MAYBE WHERE IT IS NOT A LEGAL RENTAL, SO WHAT SORT OF PAY THEY'RE ABLE TO GET IS GOING TO BE LIMITED BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF WHERE THEY'RE LIVING >> ALL RIGHT.

LET ME MAKE A SHIFT TO THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

MATT CHITARELLI WANTS THE LEGISLATURE TO HOLD HEARINGS ON HOW THE GOVERNOR HANDLED THE STORM.

ALMOST EVERYONE SAYS THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

WAS THAT A SWING AND A MISS OR DID JACK CHITARELLI MAKE CONTACT?

>> I THINK IT WAS A MISS BECAUSE I CALLED THE NEXT DAY THE ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN LEADER WHO IS RUNNING FOR STATE SENATE, AND HE WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY MORE FOCUSED ON MY DISTRICT RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS A WAY OF SAYING BUZZ OFF WITH THAT.

I HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD MUCH FROM REPUBLICANS ON THAT EITHER.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT MAYBE THIS ISN'T THE ONE TO USE AS A SORT OF POLITICAL HIT.

IF WE LOOK AT IT TO BE FAIR LIKE COULD THE STATE HAVE DONE MORE, I MEAN I'M SURE, YES.

I'M SHUURE MURPHY COULD GO BACK AND CLOSE OFF SOME HIGHWAYS THAT FLOODED HE WOULD.

BUT AS THIS WAS PREDICTED TO BE, IT DID TURN OUT -- AT THE VERY LEAST, AT THE ABSOLUTE WORST OF THE FORECAST, AND I THINK IT USUALLY TURNED OUT TO EXCEED THE FORECAST IN MOST PLACES IN TERMS OF HOW BAD THIS STORM WAS, OFTEN BY A LOT.

I THINK KAREN JUST MENTIONED OR SOMEONE MENTIONED MANVILLE GOT, WHAT, 10 INCHES IN THREE HOURS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, GOT 10 INCHES OVERALL.

A LOT CAME IN THREE HOURS.

NOBODY WAS EXPECTING A DOWNPOUR QUITE LIKE THAT.

>> SO WE'VE BEEN OFF FOR SOME WEEKS NOW.

HAS THE CAMPAIGN CHANGED MUCH FROM MEMORIAL DAY?

IS CHITARELLI STILL DOWN 15 MINUTES, MATT?

>> WELL, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF PUBLIC POLLING TO GO ON, BUT HAVE I SEEN ANY REAL INDICATIONS OTHER THAN WHAT HIS CAMPAIGN IS SAYING THAT THERE'S BEEN A SHIFT IN THE RACE?

NO, NOT REALLY.

THERE'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, A SINGLE -- I GUESS HAS THE POTENTIAL.

IF THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION REALLY SCREWS UP THE RELIEF, THAT COULD BE A POTENTIALLY BIG ISSUE.

YOU NEED A GAME CHANGER ISSUE FROM OUTSIDE TO CHANGE THIS RACE.

WHILE I HATE TO DRAW CONCLUSIONS BECAUSE THERE'S VERY FEW YOU CAN FROM CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS AN EVEN MORE DEMOCRATIC STATE THAN THIS ONE, TO THE EXTENT IT SHOWED US ANYTHING, I THINK -- AND, AGAIN, I WANT TO LIMIT WHAT WE READ INTO THIS.

BUT IF PANDEMIC POLICIES, IF THE SORT OF STRICTNESS, IF THE LOCKDOWN MEASURES, IF THE VACCINE MANDATES, THINGS LIKE THAT WERE REALLY CAUSING A BACKLASH WITH SUBURBAN VOTERS LIKE CLEARLY CHITARELLI HAS GONE TO, WE MIGHT HAVE SEEN THAT OVER THERE.

CLEARLY I THINK THE ONE LESSON I TAKE FROM THERE THAT MAYBE COULD BE APPLIED HERE IS THAT THIS SORT OF ANTI-VACCINE MANDATE, ANTI-MASK, ANTI VARIOUS RESTRICTIONS HAS NOT REALLY CAUGHT FIRE WITH MOST PEOPLE AS PASSIONATE AS A LOT OF THE REPUBLICAN BASE IS AROUND IT.

>> TALKING TO SOME PEOPLE RECENTLY IN THE ADMINISTRATION.

THERE'S A GENUINE CONCERN FOR A LACK OF, LET'S CALL IT ENTHUSIASM.

ARE DEMOCRATS SITTING ON THEIR HANDS OR LOOKING LIKE THEY'RE SITTING ON THEIR HANDS A LITTLE BIT?

>> I DID HEAR SOME CONCERNS ABOUT COMPLACENCY WITH THE MURPHY CAMPAIGN FROM AT LEAST ONE POLITICAL OPERATIVE.

I THINK THIS PERSON WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT THEY -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S A PAID CANVASSING PROGRAM IN THE STATE'S URBAN AREAS, IN NEWARK, IN PATTERSON AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE REALLY DEPENDING ON VOLUNTEERS IN THE SUBURBAN AREAS, WHICH REALLY HAVE SWUNG TOWARD DEMOCRATS.

THEY REALLY WANT TO ENSURE IT STAYS THAT WAY.

BUT THEN I TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE.

THEY'RE LIKE -- YOU KNOW, I TALKED TO SOMEBODY WHO SAID I CAN'T EVER REMEMBER A PAID CANVASSING OPERATION IN A SUBURBAN AREA.

SO I'M NOT TOTALLY SURE.

I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS CONCERN ABOUT COMPLACENCY, ESPECIALLY IN AN OFF-YEAR ELECTION WHERE A LOT OF VOTERS JUST AREN'T ENGAGED, EVEN WITH THE GOVERNOR IS UP, AND ESPECIALLY AFTER A SORT OF 2020 HANGOVER WHEN EVERYONE VOTES LIKE THEIR LIVES DEPEND ON IT.

>> OKAY.

THE KEY TO THE MURPHY CAMPAIGN, THEY MADE A BIG DEAL ABOUT A VIDEO THAT SHOWS JACK CHITARELLI WAS, IN FACT, AT THE STOP THE STEAL RALLY IN SOUTH JERSEY LAST YEAR.

HE TOLD US THIS WEEK THAT HE WAS AT THE RALLY BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS A STOP THE STEAL RALLY.

WE GOT A SCREEN GRAB THOUGH RIGHT HERE THAT IT SHOWS CHITARELLI IN FRONT OF A SIGN.

YOU CAN'T SEE THE WHOLE THING, BUT I MEAN I GUESS THAT COULD SAY STOP THE STATE OR STOP THE STEAM, BUT IT VERY LIKELY SAYS STOP THE STEAL.

DOES ANYBODY CARE ABOUT THIS?

>> WHETHER OR NOT ANYONE CARES REALLY DEPENDS ON WHERE RANK AND FILE DEMOCRATS LAND.

OBVIOUSLY NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATS DON'T LIKE TRUMP AND TRIED TO TIE CHITARELLI TO TRUMP.

AND WHILE THERE'S NO QUESTION HE ATTENDED THE RALLY, WE HAVE HIS WORD ONLY FOR WHETHER OR NOT HE KNEW.

BUT THE DEGREE TO WHICH THAT IS IMPORTANT IS REALLY KIND OF QUESTIONABLE, BECAUSE IF YOU ARE A VOTER, PARTICULARLY AN INDEPENDENT VOTER, SAY A MODERATE OR A DEMOCRAT, YOU ARE NOT REALLY GOING TO BE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HE KNEW IF, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE HEARING ALL OF THE MURPHY ATTACKS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, JACK ESSENTIALLY BEING A VERSION OF TRUMP FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> MATT, DO YOU THINK THIS CAMPAIGN IS GOING TO PICK UP?

IT'S BEEN KIND OF SLOW.

>> I MEAN THE PROBLEM FOR CHATARELLI AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET BEYOND TRUMP IN THE PRIMARY IS THAT TRUMP WON'T GO AWAY.

TRUMP IS STILL THE REMAINING FORCE IN REPUBLICAN POLITICS.

JUST NEXT DOOR NOW THEY'RE DOING A, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, AUDIT OF THE 2020 ELECTION.

THEY CAN'T GET OUT OF THEIR OWN WAY.

TRUMP IS A HUGE LIABILITY FOR REPUBLICANS IN NEW JERSEY AND HE WILL BE AS LONG AS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS THE PARTY OF TRUMP, AND FRANKLY IT STILL IS.

>> KAREN, HUDSON COUNTY NOW OUT OF THE IMMIGRANT DETENTION BUSINESS.

IT IS SOMETHING ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR FOR A WHILE, BUT NOW THERE'S A REAL DANGER TAKE SOME OF THESE DETAINEES ARE GOING TO GET SENT HALFWAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF CONCERN OVER THAT?

>> IT IS A HUGE CONCERN.

WE SAW WHEN ESSEX COUNTY, THEY FINALLY DON'T HAVE ANY MORE DETAINEES, THEY'RE OFFICIALLY OUT OF THE BUSINESS.

WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED THEIR PLANS TO CLOSE DOWN, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE DETAINEES WERE BEING TRANSFERRED TO OTHER STATES WHERE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT AS FRIENDLY AND DON'T PROVIDE FUNDING.

YOU KNOW, HUDSON AND ESSEX AND NEW JERSEY, THEY GIVE FUNDING TO PROVIDE LAWYERS FOR DETAINEES.

>> RIGHT.

>> IN MANY CASES DETAINEES FAMILIES ARE IN THE REGION, IN NEW YORK OR OTHER PARTS OF NEW JERSEY, THEY CAN VISIT, THEY HAVE MORE ACCESS TO LEGAL HELP, TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, TO FRIENDS.

IF THEY'RE BEING SENT TO OTHER STATES, LOUISIANA, YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY HARD TO GET TO AND REALLY HARD TO GET HELP.

SO THAT'S THE CONCERN.

THE ACTIVISTS ARE GOING TO TRY TO PETITION I.C.E.

TO RELEASE DETAINEES, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW LIKELY THAT IS TO HAPPEN GIVEN WITH WHAT WE SAW WITH WHAT THEY DID INNE ES ESEX COUNTY.

YOU KNOW, BERGEN IS JUST WAITING FOR THE POPULATION OF DETAINEES THEY HAVE TO BE TRANSFERRED OUT, DEPORTED OR RELEASED.

THAT WILL LEAVE ELIZABETH.

THERE WERE FOUR DETENTION CENTERS IN THE STATE.

THERE ARE NOW THREE AFTER ESSEX CLOSED DOWN.

THAT LEAVES ELIZABETH, AND ELIZABETH, I.C.E.

JUST EXTENDED THEIR CONTRACT THROUGH 2023 WHILE GOVERNOR MURPHY WAITED TO SIGN A BILL THAT WOULD BAN ANY FUTURE I.C.E.

CONTRACTS OR EXTENSIONS IN THE STATE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT IN OUR STATE FOR A WHILE.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY DETAINED AND HOW IT IS GOING TO IMPACT THEIR ABILITY TO GET REPRESENTATION AND THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL.

>> YEAH.

YOU CAN'T ARGUE THAT.

IT WAS VERY UP CRITICAL FOR NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATS TO CRITICIZE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY WHILE PROFITING.

NOT PERSONALLY PROFITING, BUT WHILE THEIR COUNTY GOVERNMENTS MADE A LOT OF MONEY FROM THESE I.C.E.

DETAINEES.

BUT TO THEIR CREDIT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THEM GETTING TRANSFERRED TO LESS FRIENDLY PLACES FARTHER AWAY FROM FAMILIES AND WITH POORER TREATMENT, IT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID WOULD HAPPEN IF THE ACTIVISTS GOT THAT WISH AND CANCELLED THESE CONTRACTS.

I REMEMBER HEARING EXACTLY THIS SCENARIO.

>> AND THESE ARE REALLY LUCRATIVE CONTRACTS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE DEFENSE OF THIS WAS IT IS MAKING A LOT OF MONEY FOR US AND KEEPING PEOPLE CLOSE TO THEIR FAMILIES IN A MORE FRIENDLY STATE.

>> MATT, I WANTED TO GET THIS QUESTION IN AS WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

WE SAW AGAIN CHRIS CHRISTIE TOUTING ANOTHER SPEECH AT THE REAGAN CENTER, AND THE MEDIA TALKING ABOUT IT.

YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS, OTHERS HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS.

WHY IS THE MEDIA PAYING SO MUCH ATTENTION TO A GUY WHO OUT OF A GROUP OF 15 CANDIDATES DIDN'T EVEN GET MORE THAN 1% AMONG REPUBLICANS?

WHAT IS THE EXPLANATION?

>> YEAH, I MEAN IT IS FUNNY BECAUSE WHEN POLLSTERS POLL LIKE POTENTIAL 2024 CANDIDATES, THE ONES I HAVE SEEN RECENTLY HAVEN'T EVEN MENTIONED HIS NAPE.

HE IS NOT EVEN AN AFTERTHOUGHT IN 2024 DISCUSSIONS WITH REPUBLICANS IT SEEMS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE MEDIA -- I FEEL LIKE I'VE ALWAYS -- I THINK IT WAS A REPUBLICAN CONSULTANT.

I'M BLANKING ON WHICH ONE BUT HE SAID WAY BACK IN 2016, HE SAID, A FELLOW LOVES KRISTIE CHRISTIE HAS GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEDIA AND MEDIA EXECUTIVES IN NEW YORK AND D.C. AND HE IS COMPELLING.

HE IS A GREAT SPEAKER.

FRANKLY, HE IS A LOT SMARTER THAN A LOT OF THESE OTHER PEOPLE, BUT THERE'S JUST NOT OOH LOT OF APPETITE FOR HIM IN REPUBLICAN POLITICS.

IT IS OBVIOUS IN EVERY POLL, IN EVERY DISCUSSION, STRAW POLLS, WHATEVER.

HE IS JUST NOT PART OF THE CONVERSATION BUT HE IS WITH THE MEDIA.

I THINK WE NEED TO SOMETIMES GET OUR HEADS OUT OF OUR OWN LITTLE BUBBLE HERE AND SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, CHRISTIE CAN RUN IN 2024. WHO KNOWS?

YOU KNOW, POLITICS IS TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE, BUT RIGHT NOW HE GETS AN INORD NINATE AMOUNT OF MEDIA COVERAGE COMPARED TO ALL OF THIS.

>> THAT'S ALL OF "THE ROUND TABLE" THIS WEEK.

THANKS TO THE PANEL AND TO OUR GUEST SEAN SPILLER.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @DAVIDCRUZNJ.

BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YouTube CONTENT INCLUDING "CHAT BOX" AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FOR EVERYONE OVER HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "REPORTERS ROUND TABLE" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.com.

>>> RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

>>> AND BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE, THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, REPORTING TO EXECUTIVES AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

♪