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

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RWJBARNABAS 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 EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

♪♪ >>> WELCOME TO "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

JOINED THIS WEEK BY A CLASSY CREW OF COLLEAGUES WHO COVER THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

KATHERINELAND IS NEW JERSEY BUREAU CHIEF FOR POLITICO.

SOPHIE DIETO MUNOZ AND COLLEEN O'DAY IS SENIOR WRITER AND PROJECTS EDITOR FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

WE ARE JOINED BY DIANA, THE CHAIR OF THE NEW JERSEY CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION.

DIANA, GOOD TO SEE YOU, IT'S BEEN A WHILE, HOW YOU DOING IN IS >> DOING WELL, DAVID.

IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN.

>> SO, ALL RIGHT.

THINGS ARE STARTING TO REALLY MOVE NOW WITH THE STATE'S ADULT USE CANNABIS INDUSTRY, BUT THE PROCESS HAS BEEN SO SLOW.

I GUESS IT WAS LAST FRIDAY, YOU LICENSED 14 CANNABIS BUSINESSES AFTER SOME REALLY LONG DELAYS.

WHAT WERE THESE LICENSES FOR, AND WHAT IMPACT ARE THOSE LICENSES AND THOSE NEW BUSINESSES GOING TO HAVE ON -- IN THE SHORT-TERM, LET'S SAY, ON SUPPLY, FOR INSTANCE?

>> SO, THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION'S OCTOBER 15th MEETING FEATURED THE ISSUANCE OF 14 AWARDS FOR MEDICINAL CANNABIS BUSINESSES, AND IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO ADVANCE THOSE AWARDS BECAUSE EVER SINCE THE COMMISSION LAUNCHED SIX MONTHS AGO, WE HAVE REALLY BEEN PUTTING PRIORITY ON GETTING THOSE APPLICANTS ANSWERS ON THEIR APPLICATIONS.

THE PATIENCE AND PERSPECTIVE, THE BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE WAITED MORE THAN TWO YEARS TO HEAR BACK FROM THOSE APPLICATIONS, AND WE -- GETTING THOSE OUT THE DOOR WAS CRITICAL BECAUSE WE CAN NOW HAVE MORE CULTIVATORS AND RETAIL DISPENSARIES ONLINE THAT CAN BEGIN SERVING PATIENTS.

>> AND SO, THE PRIORITY IS STILL, AT THIS POINT, GETTING ENOUGH SUPPLY FOR THE MEDICAL SIDE OF THE INDUSTRY, YES?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PATIENTS REMAIN A TOP PRIORITY BECAUSE EVEN AS WE GET CLOSER TO BROADER LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL -- GETTING THAT RECREATIONAL INDUSTRY UP AND RUNNING, WE STILL HAVE OUR PATIENTS IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE THAN 100,000 PATIENTS WHO NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR MEDICINE.

>> SO, DID I HEAR RIGHT THAT IT COULD TAKE UP TO A YEAR FOR THE COMPANIES THAT GOT LICENSES LAST WEEK TO ACTUALLY START SELLING TO THE PUBLIC?

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> MORE OR LESS.

>> AND BY "THE PUBLIC," I MEAN NOT THOSE WHO ARE ENROLLED IN THE MEDICAL PROGRAM.

>> WELL, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RECREATIONAL CANNABIS, THE TIME THAT IT TAKES FOR A BUSINESS TO GET UP AND RUNNING AFTER BEING ISSUED AN AWARD BY THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION DEPENDS ON A LOT OF FACTORS.

BUT ULTIMATELY, IT BOILS DOWN TO, HOW QUICKLY CAN THE BUSINESS GET ITS OPERATIONS TOGETHER, GET ALL OF ITS CONSTRUCTION OR RETROFITTING DONE TO ITS FACILITY?

HOW QUICKLY CAN THE BUSINESS GET ITS LOCAL PERMITS?

AND HIRE STAFF SO THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES TO OPEN THE DOORS TO THE PUBLIC, THEY ARE READY AND THEY HAVE ALL OF THEIR DUCKS IN A ROW.

THE COMMISSION WILL BE HERE MAKING SURE THAT THE BUSINESSES HAVE EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE OPERATORS AND ARE ADHERING TO STRICT REQUIREMENTS, BUT A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON HOW QUICKLY THE BUSINESSES THEMSELVES CAN GET THEIR THINGS TOGETHER.

>> SO, I HEAR YOU TRYING TO AVOID SAYING THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A YEAR.

IS IT UNREASONABLE TO THINK THAT IT COULD TAKE A YEAR?

>> I THINK WE COULD -- WE'LL SEE THAN OTHERS.

I THINK IT IS -- IT SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT WE'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, IN SOME PLACES, BUSINESSES THAT DID TAKE UPWARDS OF A YEAR TO GET THEIR FACILITIES READY TO GO AND BE READY TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.

BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN AT THE COMMISSION SIDE TO GET PEOPLE THE AWARDS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN SO THAT WE ARE NOT A BARRIER FOR THE INDUSTRY GETTING UP AND RUNNING BUT RATHER WE ARE HELPING TO ESTABLISH THE INDUSTRY QUICKLY AND SOLIDLY SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN SERVING OUR CONSUMERS.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SOCIAL JUSTICE ASPECT OF ALL THIS.

ALL DISPENSARIES THAT GOT LICENSES LAST WEEK ARE CERTIFIED AS WOMEN OR MINORITY OWNED.

HOW IS THAT CERTIFIED?

BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE BELIEVE YOU CAN GET A BLACK OR BROWN PERSON TO FRONT FOR SOME LARGER CORPORATE PLAYERS.

THERE ARE CYNICAL PEOPLE AMONG US WHO WOULD THINK THAT.

WE ALSO HEAR ABOUT JOBS.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND, BUT HOW WILL YOU CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A BLACK OR BROWN OWNED OR WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS?

>> CERTIFICATION HAS TO COME FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY, THEIR DIVISION OF REVENUE AND ENTERPRISE SERVICES, SO UNLESS A BUSINESS HAS THAT CERTIFICATION IN HAND, THEN THE COMMISSION CANNOT CONSIDER THEM TO BE CERTIFIED AS MINORITY OWNED, WOMEN OWNED OR VETERAN OWNED BUSINESSES.

AND YEAH, WE HEAR -- WE ALSO HEAR THE SAME CRITIQUE THAT SOME PEOPLE -- SOME BUSINESSES MAY BE LOOKING FOR FRONT PEOPLE OR TOKENIZING INDIVIDUALS JUST FOR THE SAKE OF SECURING THE LICENSE, BUT OTHERWISE THEN SIPHONING ECONOMIC VALUE ELSEWHERE, AND THE COMMISSION HAS INVESTIGATORS ON HAND WHO LOOK AT THE COMPANIES THAT ARE AFFILIATED WITH BUSINESS APPLICANTS.

WE LOOK AT THE PARENT COMPANIES.

WE DO AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, BUT WHAT IT -- BUT AS FAR AS THE CERTIFICATION GOES, AS LONG AS THE BUSINESS THAT WILL BE HOLDING THE LICENSE IS CERTIFIED, THEN THAT MEETS THE STANDARDS THAT ARE IN PLACE UNDER CURRENT REGULATIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I THINK THAT OUR VIEWERS WOULD HARANGUE ME FOR WEEKS TO COME IF I DIDN'T JUST ASK YOU THE BOTTOM LINE QUESTION.

HOW LONG BEFORE ADULT USE, MARIJUANA SALES, DELIVERIES, ET CETERA, CAN BEGIN IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY?

YOUR BEST GUESS.

>> WELL, WE'RE LOOKING RIGHT NOW AT SOME POINT IN 2022.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT BY THE TIME THAT THE RECREATIONAL CANNABIS BUSINESS LICENSURE APPLICATIONS BECOME AVAILABLE, WE'LL HAVE A STRONGER SENSE OF AN APPROXIMATE TIME FOR WHEN ADULT USE SALES CAN BEGIN.

BUT IN THE INTERIM, WE DO HAVE OUR MEDICINAL ATC, ALTERNATE TREATMENT CENTERS.

THEY, BY LAW, DO HAVE A PATHWAY TO BEGINNING TO SERVE THE ADULT USE COMMUNITY AS LONG AS THEY CERTIFY TO THE COMMISSION THAT THEY ARE WELL EQUIPPED AND WELL SUPPLIED ON THE MEDICINAL SIDE OF THINGS FIRST.

SO, WE COULD SEE AN ATC THAT PRESENTS ITS CERTIFICATION BEFORE THE SPRING OF 2022.

ONLY TIME WILL TELL.

>> ALL RIGHT, DIANNA HOUENOU, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

AND THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> GREAT TO TALK TO YOU AS WELL, DAVID.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> I FEEL, KATHERINE, LIKE IT'S TAKEN SO LONG FOR THIS INDUSTRY TO GET GOING, AND IT'S STILL NOT GOING.

IS THIS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS IN JERSEY?

OR IS IT JUST JERSEY?

>> I THINK IT'S A COMPLICATED PROCESS AND MY HOME STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, WHEN MARIJUANA WAS LEGALIZED, THEY FACED A LOT OF THE SAME ISSUES, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH REGULATIONS.

YOU HAVE TO DO LICENSING.

A LOT OF TOWNS DON'T WANT A MARIJUANA SHOP IN THEIR TOWN.

SO, TO ME, IT SEEMS REALLY SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED IN MY HOME STATE.

SO, I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS NECESSARILY UNIQUE.

IT'S IMPORTANT.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, A NEW INDUSTRY.

IT'S CONTROVERSIAL.

AND SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO GET IT RIGHT.

>> SOPHIE, I FEEL LIKE IN A FEW YEARS YOU'RE GOING TO BE WRITING A STORY ABOUT THE CRC RENEWAL OFFICES HAVING THESE LONG LINES THAT GO AROUND THE CORNER.

IS THERE -- DO YOU FEEL THERE'S A SENSE OF URGENCY, EITHER ON THE PART OF POTENTIAL PLAYERS HERE OR ON THE PART OF THE PUBLIC THAT'S SAYING, LIKE, LET'S GET THIS GOING?

>> I THINK THE PUBLIC WANTS IT TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING IMPATIENT BUT WHEN IT COMES TO BUSINESSES, I KNOW IT WAS UPHELD A BIT BY A LAWSUIT.

WRITING ABOUT LONG LINES, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GETTING IMPATIENT, AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME.

>> COLLEEN, THESE TWO CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR, OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO SEE EVERYTHING IN THE PRISM OF A GUBERNATORIAL RACE BUT THESE ARE TWO CANDIDATES WHO HAVE VERY DIFFERING VIEWS ABOUT THIS CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

ON THE ONE HAND, JACK CIATTARELLI SAYS THAT HE THINKS VOTERS ARE HAVING BUYER'S REMORSE NOW.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE INCUMBENT GOVERNOR IS COUNTING THIS AS ONE OF HIS BIG VICTORIES.

WHO'S RIGHT HERE, AND WHY HAS IT TAKEN SO LONG FOR SOMEONE TO BE ABLE TO BUY LEGAL WEED?

>> YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS TO BE RIGHT BECAUSE AS SOPHIE POINTED OUT, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE VOTERS DID, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT.

BUYER'S REMORSE, I'M NOT SURE.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY KIND OF POLLING THAT SAYS THAT'S THE CASE.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE WHAT -- HOW LONG THIS IS GOING TO TAKE AT THIS POINT.

CERTAINLY, IF THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION WERE TO CONTINUE, IF THE GOVERNOR GETS RE-ELECTED, I WOULD THINK THAT WE'D CONTINUE DOWN THE SAME PATH.

NOT SURE AT ALL WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF JACK CIATTARELLI GETS ELECTED BECAUSE HE HASN'T REALLY SAID MUCH ABOUT WHAT HE WOULD DO OTHER THAN TO SAY WHAT YOU POINTED OUT, DAVID, WHICH IS THAT HE, YOU KNOW, HE THINKS THERE'S BUYER'S REMORSE AND I WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED DECRIMINALIZATION AND NOT LEGALIZATION.

>> WOULD IT CHANGE IN THE POLICY OR THE OUTLOOK ON THIS INDUSTRY FROM A NEW GOVERNOR POTENTIALLY SLOW THIS PROCESS DOWN EVEN MORE?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THAT CERTAINLY IS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE AS THE GOVERNOR, YOU HAVE A LOT OF POWER OVERTLY, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE BEHIND-THE-SCENES POWER TO TELL THE FOLKS THAT YOU HAVE APPOINTED, SLOW IT DOWN.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S WRITTEN INTO ANY LAW, BUT CERTAINLY, WE'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN FROM GOVERNOR TO GOVERNOR, SO I THINK THAT COULD HAPPEN.

>> SOPHIE, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT JOBS A SECOND AGO AND I KNOW YOU COVER A LOT OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE STUFF.

BUT DOES THIS ECONOMY NEED A WEED INDUSTRY TO GET GOING IN ORDER TO GET SOME STIMULATION, NO PUN INTENDED?

>> I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW MANY NEW JOBS IT WOULD CONTRIBUTE, BUT I'M POSITIVE THAT IT WOULDN'T HURT WHEN IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR JOBS AND THIS WOULD BE A JOB OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT?

IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD PROBABLY INTEREST SOME PEOPLE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE TRY TO LEAVE THE STATE TO FIND A JOB IN THIS INDUSTRY.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER FACTORS WHEN IT COMES TO WHY PEOPLE AREN'T LOOKING FOR JOBS AND IT'S NOT JUST THE WEED INDUSTRY, YOU KNOW?

THERE'S JUST SHORTAGES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

AND WHO KNOWS, THERE MIGHT BE A WEED SHORTAGE COMING UP, AND THAT COULD AFFECT THINGS.

>> SUPPLY CHAIN.

OH NO.

KATHERINE, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN YOUR HOME STATE AS THEY MOVED TOWARDS LEGALIZATION.

WHAT DID YOU SEE DIFFERENT, CULTURALLY, SOCIALLY, IN MASSACHUSETTS ONCE THERE WAS A LEGAL WEED INDUSTRY AND HOW DO YOU EXPECT IT WILL BE IN JERSEY?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK IT TOOK SOME TIME.

I MEAN, I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT HAPPENS.

I DIDN'T SEE EVERYTHING, BUT I THINK THE THING THAT IS STRANGE IS IT JUST BECOMES NORMAL.

IT JUST BECOMES, LIKE, DRINKING ALCOHOL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I WOULD SAY, WITH A LITTLE MORE CONTROVERSIAL.

BUT I THINK ONCE THE NEW INDUSTRY ROLLS OUT, I THINK IT WILL BECOME A LITTLE BIT MORE NORMALIZED TO SMOKE WEED OR GO BUY GUMMIES.

I MEAN, THAT'S -- YEAH, THAT'S JUST DEFINITELY WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN MY HOMETOWN AT LEAST.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ENDORSEMENTS BUT I WANT TO SET IT UP WITH THIS PIECE OF SOUND FROM OUR DEBATE.

HERE'S JACK CIATTARELLI WHEN WE ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD ACCEPT AN OFFER FROM DONALD TRUMP TO COME TO JERSEY TO CAMPAIGN FOR HIM.

>> DAVID, IF YOU WATCHED MY CAMPAIGN REALLY QUICKLY, I'M NOT INTO ENDORSEMENTS OR OTHER PEOPLE CAMPAIGNING FOR ME.

PEOPLE SEE RIGHT THROUGH THOSE THINGS.

I MEET AND GREET WITH THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.

>> IS THAT ENOUGH?

THAT'S A NO?

>> I'M SORRY, WHAT'S A NO?

>> TRUMP'S NOT RUNNING.

>> IS THAT A NO?

>> A NO TO HIM CAMPAIGNING WITH HIM?

DAVID, I GO OUT THERE AND CAMPAIGN ON MY OWN.

I'LL WIN MY OWN ELECTION.

>> SO, THEN, OF COURSE, A FEW DAYS LATER, JACK CIATTARELLI HAS THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CHAIRWOMAN DOWN TO CAMPAIGN WITH HIM.

BUT MURPHY IS REALLY THE ONE PULLING IN THE BIG GUNS.

OBAMA THIS WEEK.

BIDEN NEXT WEEK.

SOPHIE, HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK ENDORSEMENTS COUNT?

DO THEY DRAW ATTENTION TO THIS RACE?

WHAT'S THEIR IMPACT, DO YOU THINK?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

I'M NOT SURE.

I THINK WHEN YOU BRING IN PEOPLE LIKE OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENTS, CURRENT PRESIDENTS, EVEN IF CIATTARELLI DID GET TRUMP TO STUMP FOR HIM, I THINK THAT DOES BRING IN INTEREST FROM VOTERS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO NEWSPAPERS ENDORSING AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THAT, I DON'T THINK THAT HAS THAT BIG OF AN IMPACT ON VOTERS OR, YOU KNOW, THESE UNION GROUPS COMING OUT BEHIND CANDIDATES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW BIG OF AN IMPACT THAT HAS BUT WE DEFINITELY SEE THAT MURPHY'S COLLECTING A LOT OF THOSE ENDORSEMENTS.

>> I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING IF THAT'S BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY HAVE TO RUN UP THE SCORE OR IF THEY'RE THINKING THE SCORE IS TIGHTENING AND THEY NEED TO BRING IN THE BIG GUNS.

KATHERINE, IT LOOKS LIKE DEMOCRATS ARE THE ONES THAT NEED SOME GOOSING TO GET TO THE POLLS THIS YEAR, THOUGH, RIGHT?

I MEAN, THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ENTHUSIASM, GOT REPUBLICANS EXCITED.

DEMOCRATS, EH.

>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S NECESSARILY TRUE, BUT I THINK WHAT YOU SAID JUST A SECOND AGO WAS LIKE YOU SAID IT EXACTLY CORRECTLY.

THERE'S TWO WAYS TO INTERPRET BRINGING IN BIDEN OR OBAMA, AND SO REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING, LIKE, LOOK, THE, YOU KNOW, MURPHY CAMPAIGN IS NERVOUS.

THIS IS A LOT CLOSER THAN SOME OF THE POLLS ARE SUGGESTING.

AND SO THEY'RE BRINGING IN ALL OF THESE SURROGATES.

WHEN I TALK TO DEMOCRATS, THEY PRIVATELY SAY, NO, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

MURPHY'S GOING TO WIN.

HE'S JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE HE HAS A MANDATE WHEN HE COMES INTO -- YOU KNOW, WHEN HE IS RE-ELECTED SO HE CAN GET MOST OF HIS AGENDA ACCOMPLISHED AND SHOW THAT HE HAS POWER.

SO I THINK THERE ARE REALLY TWO WAYS TO INTERPRET WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND WE ONLY ARE GOING TO KNOW THE ANSWER POST-ELECTION DAY.

>> YEAH.

COLLEEN, OF COURSE, VOTING BY MAIL HAS BEEN ONGOING, AND EARLY VOTING BEGINS THIS WEEKEND.

THAT'S PART OF THE REASON FOR THE BIG OBAMA RALLY THAT THEY'RE HAVING IN NEWARK.

IS IT TRUE THAT THE EARLY VOTING IS FAVORING DEMOCRATS?

I ALWAYS ASSUME THAT, BUT IS THERE DATA THAT SHOWS THAT?

>> SO, THIS IS FOR THE VOTE BY MAIL SO FAR.

I MEAN, EARLY VOTING, WE WILL BE ABLE TO TELL, ACCORDING TO THE LAW, SUPPOSEDLY, EVERY DAY, THE NEXT DAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME DATA POSTED OR WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, SIFT THROUGH THE LIST OF WHO VOTED IN AND WHO HASN'T AND SEE WHICH PARTY HAS -- >> OF EARLY VOTING?

>> THAT'S FOR EARLY VOTING.

BUT THAT STARTS TOMORROW OR THAT STARTS SATURDAY, DEPENDING ON WHEN YOU'RE WATCHING THIS IF YOU'RE NOT WATCHING IT LIVE.

I'M NOT EXPECTING TO SEE THOSE PROBABLY POSTED UNTIL MONDAY, JUST BECAUSE OF THE WEEKEND, BUT FOR VOTE BY MAIL, YES, IT'S BEEN ROUGHLY THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WHO GOT A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT HAS RETURNED IT BUT THERE ARE MORE DEMOCRATS WHO GOT THOSE BALLOTS AND SO THERE ARE, I THINK, SOMETHING LIKE 170,000 -- THIS WAS AS OF LAST -- THE END OF LAST WEEK -- 170,000 DEMOCRATS HAD RETURNED THEM VERSUS ABOUT 50,000 OR 55,000 REPUBLICANS SO THEORETICALLY, YOU WOULD THINK THAT WOULD HELP THE GOVERNOR.

>> RIGHT.

SO, AM I HEARING YOU RIGHT, THAT THERE ARE MORE DEMOCRATS GOT VOTE BY MAIL APPLICATIONS BUT FEWER PERCENTAGEWISE RESPONDED THAN REPUBLICANS?

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> NO.

NO.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS GOING TO BE MATH ON TODAY'S SHOW EITHER.

>> I'M SORRY.

IT'S ABOUT -- ABOUT A THIRD OF THE DEMOCRATS WHO GOT A BALLOT HAVE RETURNED IT, AND ABOUT A THIRD OF THE REPUBLICANS WHO GOT A BALLOT RETURNED IT.

AND THERE'S JUST SO MANY MORE DEMOCRATS WHO GOT A BALLOT, SO THERE'S SO MANY MORE DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE RETURNED THE BALLOT.

>> GOT YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

>> THE SMALLER -- >> YEAH, YEAH.

>> THE SMALLER GROUP IS THE UNAFFILIATED THAT'S LESS THAN 20% OF UNAFFILIATED WHO GOT A BALLOT RETURNED IT.

>> YEAH.

AND SOPHIE MADE A REFERENCE TO THIS.

WE HAVE THIS LUKEWARM, NOT EVEN LUKEWARM ENDORSEMENT FROM THE STAR LEDGER.

THEY SEEM TO BE SAYING, FEH TO THE INCUMBENT WHILE STILL ENDORSING HIM.

ARE VOTERS FEELING THAT WAY, DO YOU THINK COLLEEN?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT SOME VOTERS PROBABLY ARE AND THAT'S WHY DEMOCRATS ARE A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT WHO'S COMING OUT TO THE -- YOU KNOW, WHO'S GOING TO GO TO THE POLLS.

THEY DO HAVE SOME THINGS IN THEIR FAVOR THIS YEAR, CERTAINLY WITH EARLY VOTING, THERE'S GOING TO BE THIS PUSH THIS WEEKEND AND NEXT WEEKEND FOR SOULS TO THE POLLS, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT NEW JERSEY'S EVER BEEN ABLE TO DO BEFORE BUT IT'S COMMON IN OTHER STATES WHERE, YOU KNOW, AFTER A RELIGIOUS SERVICE, WELL, DURING THE SERVICE, THE REVEREND GETS PEOPLE EXCITED AND THEN AFTERWARDS, YOU KNOW, THEY EITHER CARAVAN OR TAKE A BUS OVER TO THE POLLS AND FOLKS VOTE.

THOSE THINGS ARE BELIEVED TO HELP DEMOCRATS MORE THAN REPUBLICANS.

AGAIN, AS KATHERINE SAID, WE WON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW ALL THIS WORKS UNTIL AFTER THE VOTES ARE COUNTED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

OTHER STUFF.

MATT FRIEDMAN HAD AN INTERESTING ITEM IN HIS COLUMN ABOUT THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ACT AND ITS CHANCES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

KATHERINE, PEOPLE SOMETIMES FORGET HOW CONSERVATIVE NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATS CAN BE.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY DIVISIVE ISSUE IN LAME DUCK, SO MATT HAD REPORTED THAT VINCE MAGGIO WAS ON THE RADIO TALKING ABOUT THIS BILL AND SAID THAT SWEENEY'S OFFICE SAID IT MIGHT BE PARED DOWN TO JUST SIMPLY ENSHRINE ABORTION RIGHTS INTO LAW.

THE CURRENT REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ACT, AS IT'S WRITTEN, KIND OF WOULD GO BEYOND THAT SCOPE.

SO, YOU KNOW, ABORTION IS A REALLY DIVISIVE ISSUE.

AND I THINK IT'S -- WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF SEE IT PLAY OUT IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.

SO IT SHOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> SOPHIE HAD A PIECE ON THESE CAREER CENTERS REOPENING.

I ASSUME THESE FOLKS ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THE STOP-AND-GO RETURN TO WORK ORDERS FROM THE STATE BUT WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CAREER CENTER AND AN UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE AND SHOULD ONE BE PRIORITIZED OVER THE OTHER WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING THEM RESTAFFED AND REOPENED?

>> SO, TECHNICALLY, NEW JERSEY DOES NOT HAVE ANY UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICES.

THE ONE-STOP CAREER CENTERS ARE MORE FOR CAREER GUIDANCE, WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR RESUMES CHECKED, LOOK AT JOB POSTINGS, THEY DON'T OFFER ANY UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, SO THE LABOR DEPARTMENT TELLS PEOPLE, IF YOU'RE HAVING UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS, WHETHER OR NOT THE ONE-STOP CAREER CENTERS ARE OPEN, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET ANY HELP THERE.

I ACTUALLY WENT TO A FEW CAREER CENTERS THIS WEEK.

YOU CAN'T REALLY TELL WHICH ARE OPEN AND WHICH ARE CLOSED BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE WORKING INSIDE BUT THEY'RE NOT LETTING ANYBODY IN.

BUT UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE KEEP SHOWING UP TO THESE CAREER CENTERS AND THEY'RE JUST NOT GETTING HELP.

SO I THINK THE NEXT QUESTION IS WHEN SHOULD THESE CAREER CENTERS START OFFERING UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES IN-PERSON?

YOU KNOW, WE STILL ARE IN A PANDEMIC, AND THESE SERVICES ARE -- YOU'RE ABLE TO DO THESE SERVICES OVER THE PHONE, BUT PEOPLE ARE STILL HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS GETTING SOMEBODY ON THE PHONE, SO THEY'RE STILL ON THIS LIMBO.

ONE SENATOR SAID THERE WILL BE -- SHE'S PRESSURING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES BY 2022 IN THESE CENTERS, BUT 2022 CAN MEAN JANUARY OR IT CAN MEAN NEXT DECEMBER.

SO, WE'LL SEE.

>> WOW.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD ALL THIS REPORTING WHEN THIS WAS A REAL CRISIS, FOLKS WAITING WEEKS AND WEEKS AND SOMETIMES MONTHS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TO COME IN.

HAS THAT EASED ANY SIGNIFICANTLY OR JUST A LITTLE BIT?

SOPHIE?

>> IT'S EASED.

PART OF THE REASON WOULD BE BECAUSE THESE PANDEMIC-ERA UNEMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS OR BENEFITS HAVE EXPIRED, SO THERE'S LESS PEOPLE COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT.

I HAVE SEEN A RISE, ANECDOTALLY, IN PEOPLE GETTING APPEALS LETTERS FROM THE LABOR DEPARTMENT AND NEEDING TO RETURN MONEY.

SO THAT'S, I THINK, THE NEXT CRISIS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHEN IT COMES TO UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

>> WOW.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT IS ROUND TABLE FOR THE WEEK.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND TO OUR PANEL, KATHERINE, SOPHIE, COLLEEN, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN, THANKS.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER, @DAVIDCRUZNJ, AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL WHERE YOU CAN GET MORE "CHAT BOX," NJ BUSINESS BEAT WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FOR ALL THE CREW OVER HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.

RWJBARNABAS 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 EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.