>> 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.

♪♪ >>> IT'S "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

WELCOME, EVERYBODY.

SINCE 2003, SENATOR RON RICE HAS BEEN THE FACE OF THE LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS, BUT THIS IS A YEAR OF CHANGE IN TRENTON, AND NONE MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN THE CHANGE AT THE TOP OF THE BLACK CAUCUS.

RON RICE IS STEPPING ASIDE AND IS BEING REPLACED BY OUR GUEST TODAY, FROM THE 35th DISTRICT, ASSEMBLY WOMAN SUMTER.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALWAYS, DAVID, EVEN IN THIS VIRTUAL WORLD.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU ARE REPLACING AN ICON, ONE OF THE FIERCEST, MOST CANTANKEROUS, INTELLIGENT, LONGWINDED AND DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS, WHO WE SHOULD MENTION IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

HE'S GOING TO REMAIN IN THE SENATE AND BE A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE CAUCUS.

SOME THOUGHTS ON RON RICE?

>> SURE, I AM BY NO MEANS REPLACING RON RICE.

RON RICE ACTUALLY PASSED THE TORCH TO ME.

HE HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL MENTOR.

I SERVED AS HIS VICE-CHAIR SINCE CONGRESSWOMAN BONNIE WATSON-COLEMAN WAS ELEVATED TO CONGRESS.

IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH HIM CHAMPIONING CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES.

>> YOU, I IMAGINE, HAVE DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP STYLES, RIGHT?

>> WE DO HAVE VERY DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP STYLES.

WE DEFINITELY OFTEN PLAY GOOD COP AND BAD COP.

HE ALWAYS SAYS I'M THE NICE ONE AND I'M POLITE, SO HE'LL BE THERE WHEN WE NEED SOMEONE TO HAVE A GOOD TALKING TO.

>> WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE VERDICT THIS WEEK IN THE DEREK CHAUVIN MURDER CASE.

RELIEF, I ASSUME, ON YOUR PART, BUT THE REALIZATION THAT THERE IS STILL SO MUCH MORE TO BE DONE, NO?

>> IT'S BEYOND RELIEF.

IT'S A PIVOTAL POINT IN OUR COUNTRY AND OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR THE CRIMES COMMITTED AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE FOR JUST BEING BLACK.

IT'S A -- A MOMENT, A POIGNANT MOMENT THAT I'M GLAD I'M LIVING TO SEE IT WHERE WE SAW A JURY CARRY THE HEAVY-DUTY BURDEN OF FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THREE DIFFERENT GUILTY VERDICTS, ALL NECESSARY.

THE SCALES OF JUSTICE HAVE TIPPED IN OUR FAVOR, RESPECT AND LOVE TO THE FAMILY OF GEORGE FLOYD WHO SHOWED DIGNITY, GRACE, AND COURAGE THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE ORDEAL AND FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO STOOD SHOULDER TO SHOULDER TO CALL OUT THE WRONG AND THE HATE AND FOR OFFICERS WHO ALSO STOOD WITH THE FLOYD FAMILY AND SAID THAT THIS WAS WRONG, THIS WAS NOT POLICE TRAINING, THIS WAS OVER ENFORCEMENT THAT LED TO THE SENSELESS MURDER OF MR. FLOYD.

>> SO YOU COME INTO THIS POSITION AT ONE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL TIMES IN OUR STATE AND IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY WITH ALL THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.

WE'VE TALKED A LOT -- TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THIS WEEK ABOUT WHAT THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO TO HAVE AN IMPACT.

THERE IS LEGISLATION ON CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARDS, BANNING CHOKEHOLDS, AND MORE THAT ARE SITTING IN -- EITHER IN COMMITTEE OR NOT EVEN ASSIGNED TO A COMMITTEE OR A HEARING.

HOW DO YOU MOVE THAT STUFF TO THE FRONT BURNER?

>> SO, DAVID, LET ME JUST SHARE THAT THERE'S OVER 20 MEMBERS, BIPARTISAN, OF THE NEW JERSEY LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS.

WE HAVE PUT FORTH, SINCE AUGUST, DURING A HISTORIC PANDEMIC IN 2020, OVER 60 DIFFERENT PIECES OF LEGISLATION, AND SOME OF THEM ARE ON THEIR THIRD AND FOURTH TIME OF COMING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

THE BODY CAMERA BILL WAS WAGED FIRST, WHEN ERIC GARNER WAS KILLED YEARS AGO, SO IT'S A RECURRING.

WE, AS A LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS, THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF SENATOR RICE AND NOW THAT TORCH HAS BEEN PASSED TO ME AND A ALL OUR MEMBERS, WE'RE COMMITTED TO THIS WORK.

WE'RE NOT A FLASH AND DASH, ONE AND DONE.

WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THIS BECAUSE NEW JERSEY HAS ITS OWN STORIES.

YOU HEARD ABOUT THE USE OF FORCE REPORTS, SO NOW WE'RE CALLING ON TIMELY REPORTING OF USES OF FORCE THROUGHOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

WE'RE ALSO PUSHING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARD LEGISLATION MOVED SO PEOPLE HAVE POWER AND THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE ALSO PUSHING FOR REPARATIONS TASK FORCE BILL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN LEARN ABOUT NEW JERSEY'S ROLE AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN THE ENACTMENT OF SLAVERY IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY ON BLACK PEOPLE.

SO, THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE.

WE ARE NO WAYS TIRED.

WE LIKE TO SAY WE'RE KEEPING OUR HANDS TO THE PLOW AS A LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS TO KEEP THESE ISSUES ALIVE AND RELEVANT AND BREAK THE SYSTEMIC AND STRUCTURAL RACISM INHERENT WITHIN GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURES.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BIG ISSUE THAT HAD CAUCUS HAD A LOT OF IMPACT ON, THIS LEGAL CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

THE ADMINISTRATION SEEMED TO FUMBLE THE BALL A COUPLE TIMES IN THIS PROCESS.

ARE YOU SATISFIED THAT THIS INDUSTRY IS GOING TO MEET ITS SOCIAL JUSTICE GOALS?

>> SO, DAVID, WE DID A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK, AND I HAVE TO THANK A NUMBER OF THE MEMBERS IN THE BLACK CAUCUS, ASSEMBLY WOMAN BRITTANY TIMBERLAKE, McKNIGHT, SENATOR RON RICE, SENATOR NIA GILL, SENATOR TURNER, AND I CAN GO ON AND ON, ASSEMBLYMAN HERB CONAWAY.

WE PUT COUNTLESS HOURS INTO TRYING TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE HARMED BY THE WAR ON DRUGS, WHICH WERE OUR COMMUNITIES, BLACK COMMUNITIES, OVERARRESTED FOR NONVIOLENT DRUG OFFENSES DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, THAT WE DID NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T GET JOBS, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, BECAUSE THEY HAD A CHARGE.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS TRUE EXPUNGEMENT BECAUSE EXPUNGEMENTS COME WITH A COST OR CAME WITH A COST IN THE PAST.

WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY IF WE WERE COMING UP WITH AN INDUSTRY THAT BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, WOMEN, MINORITIES, VETERANS, DISABLED PERSONS, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MICROBUSINESSES AND LICENSES TO PARTICIPATE IN IT, LET ALONE THAT 70% OF EVERY DOLLAR WOULD GO TOWARDS SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC REFORMS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS, AND THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE.

WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK AS WE GO THROUGH THIS.

THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION.

WE HAD TO FIGHT TO GET AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE ON THE COMMISSION, SO AGAIN, IT'S THOSE INTENTIONAL ACTIONS THAT CREATE THE TRANSFORMATION THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TO BREAK DOWN THE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS.

SO, WE'RE BEING VERY INTENTIONAL IN OUR ACTIONS, LEGISLATIVELY, AT THIS TIME.

>> I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE SOME OF THE CRITICISM THAT'S BEEN LEVIED AT THIS GOVERNOR FROM SOME BLACK LEADERS ABOUT THE CANNABIS BOARD, THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, AND ELSEWHERE.

HE GOT MORE THAN 90% OF BLACK VOTERS IN 2017.

IS HE HEARING FROM ENOUGH BLACK VOICES IN HIS INNER CIRCLE?

>> SO, FOR US, AND SENATOR RICE TRAINED US WELL IN THIS REGARD, WE'RE MAKING SURE WE STAY AT THE TABLE.

WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THE ISSUES OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE UPLIFTED AND THAT'S OUR JOB AS THE 20 MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS.

FROM CAPE MAY ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO HUDSON COUNTY.

SO, WE ARE NOT WAITING TO BE ASKED FOR A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

WE'RE PULLING OUR CHAIRS UP TO THE TABLE.

WE'RE WRITING POLICY, AND WE'RE MAKING IT KNOWN WHAT'S NEEDED FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

THE GOVERNOR, TO HIS CREDIT, WHEN WE ASKED, WE AGITATE HIM TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN AS.

IF THE TEAM IN THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE DOES NOT HEAR US, WE PICK UP THE PHONE AND MAKE THAT CALL AND MAKE IT KNOWN.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME AS A NEW CHAIR TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE OPEN DIALOGUE, NOT ONLY WITH THE GOVERNOR BUT WITH THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE SPEAKER AND OUR ELECTED BLACK LEADERS ACROSS THIS STATE.

SO, WE'RE NOT MONOLITHIC AS BLACK PEOPLE.

WE'RE NOT MONOLITHIC IN OUR POLICIES.

NEW JERSEY, YOU KNOW, 9 MILLION PEOPLE AND WE HAVE RURAL, URBAN, AND SUBURBAN, BUT BLACK PEOPLE TOUCH EACH PART OF THOSE COMMUNITIES, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HEARD, IT'S RESTORATIVE IN OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND OUR ABILITY TO LIVE AND BREATHE FREELY IS HAPPENING HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> SHAVONDA SUMTER, GOOD TO SEE YOU, AND THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> THANK YOU, DAVID.

BE SAFE.

>> YOU TOO.

>> LET'S GET OUR PANEL IN HERE.

SOPHIE IS THE STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR NJ ADVANCE MEAD.

MATT FREEMAN IS REPORTER FOR POLITICO AND DUSTIN IS THE STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR THE RECORD "USA TODAY" NETWORK.

BUENOS DIAS, PANEL.

WE HEARD FROM THE NEW LEADER OF THE LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS THERE.

THE CAUCUS HAS HAD GOOD AND BAD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE FRONT OFFICE OVER THE YEARS.

MATT, RON RICE IS A SINGULAR INDIVIDUAL.

THAT HAS NOT ALWAYS HELPED HIS CAUCUS, THOUGH.

DOES SUMTER REPRESENT A LEADERSHIP, A REAL CHANGE IN EITHER STYLE OR SUBSTANCE?

>> CERTAINLY IN STYLE BECAUSE RON RICE'S STYLE CAN'T REALLY BE REPEATED ANYWHERE ELSE, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT OUR ISSUES, USUALLY TACKED CLOSER TO GOVERNOR MURPHY IN TERMS OF HER POLITICAL RELATIONSHIP, SHE'S VERY CLOSE TO JOHN CURRY, SO MAYBE THERE WILL BE A LITTLE LESS TENSION THERE.

OF COURSE, SENATOR RICE WAS NEVER REALLY -- I MEAN, HE WAS MORE ALIGNED WITH MURPHY THAN MOST DEMOCRATS, AT LEAST EARLY ON.

CHAIRMAN CURRY'S GOD DAUGHTER, SO THERE'S A CLOSENESS THERE.

THERE'S -- AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT IN THE FUTURE, BUT CERTAINLY SENATOR RICE WAS -- IS ARGUABLY THE MOST -- SINGLE MOST INDEPENDENT MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE.

SO, I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT WILL WORK OUT.

>> THERE'S ALSO A LEGISLATIVE LATINO CAUCUS, WHICH HAS BEEN TRYING TO WORK ON THE ADMINISTRATION WITH ISSUES FACING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE LATINO.

SOPHIE, YOU'VE BEEN COVERING THE HUNGER STRIKES AT THE STATE HOUSE.

ADVOCATES ARE CALLING FOR DIRECT RELIEF FOR A LOT OF THESE WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR OVER A YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED $40 MILLION IN AN AID PACKAGE.

THAT WAS REJECTED AS WAY TOO MODEST.

WHAT'S THE SITUATION THERE AFTER -- WHAT IS IT, ALMOST THREE WEEKS OF HUNGER STRIKES NOW?

>> YEAH, SO TODAY ACTUALLY MARKS DAY 17 OF THE HUNGER STRIKE.

IT STARTED WITH ABOUT 35 PEOPLE AND IT'S DOWN TO ABOUT A DOZEN WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, BEING WATCHED OVER BY A NURSE.

THERE'S STILL CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES.

LABOR UNIONS ARE COMING OUT AND VOICING THEIR SUPPORT.

WE'VE GOT THE HISPANIC CHAMBER COMING OUT AND VOICING THEIR SUPPORT.

SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING OUT AND SAYING, THERE SHOULD BE RELIEF.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE CONVERSATIONS HAVE STALLED A BIT, IT SOUNDS LIKE, BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THESE ADVOCACY GROUPS, YOU KNOW, THEY LOOK AT WHAT NEW YORK HAS DONE WITH $2 BILLION IN THEIR BUDGET AND THEY WONDER WHY THAT CAN'T BE DONE HERE.

SO, IT'S JUST STILL GOING TO BE ONGOING UNTIL THEY SAY -- THEY SAY THEY WON'T STOP UNTIL THEY GET WHAT THEY WANT.

>> ALL RIGHT, I HAVE TO DISCUSS CHRIS CHRISTIE ON THE PROGRAM OR HE WON'T RETURN MY PHONE CALLS.

SO, MATT, YOU WROTE THIS WEEK THAT THE PRESS IS MORE INTO CHRISTIE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT THAN VOTERS ARE.

AXIOS PRESENTED THEIR STORY THIS WEEK AS IF IT WAS A SCOOP.

I MEAN, CHRISTIE TALKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IS, LIKE, DUH, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, HE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT RUNNING IN 2024 SEVERAL TIMES FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW, AND I GET -- THE SCOOP IS WE'RE TAKING THESE MICRO-LEVELS OF UPPING IT.

NOW, FIRST OF ALL, CAN I JUST EXPRESS SOME FRUSTRATION THAT THIS STORY IS BASED ON THREE ANONYMOUS SOURCES WHO SAY CHRISTIE'S VERY SERIOUS AND HERE'S WHY CHRISTIE WOULD BE A GOOD CANDIDATE.

HERE'S -- JUST PUT YOUR NAME ON THE RECORD.

WHY DO WE LET PEOPLE DO THIS?

WHY DO WE LET PEOPLE ANONYMOUSLY PUT POLITICAL SPIN OUT THERE?

IT'S JUST DUMB.

SURE, HE COULD RUN IN 2024.

I DON'T SEE WHAT IT IS THAT HE BRINGS TO THE TABLE THAT HE DIDN'T BEFORE.

YOU KNOW, HE RAN IN 2016.

HE, LIKE, WHAT WAS HE, LIKE 10th OR 11th PLACE IN IOWA AND 7th PLACE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE?

HE MADE NO IMPACT ON THE SCENE AND SOON DROPPED OUT AND ENDORSED TRUMP.

THAT'S -- VOTERS KIND OF HAD THEIR SAY HERE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S REALLY CHANGED FOR HIM SINCE THEN.

HE'S KIND OF BOTH MANAGED TO -- HE DID CRITICIZE TRUMP IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THE ELECTION WITH ALL THE STOP THE STEAL RHETORIC AND SAID HE SUPPORTED HIS IMPEACHMENT BUT HE'S ALSO COME OUT NOW IN FAVOR OF THESE, YOU KNOW, LAWS, A LOT OF WHICH ARE REALLY MEANT TO MAKE IT A LITTLE HARDER TO VOTE.

SO, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS ABOUT THE NATIONAL PRESS, AND IT'S REALLY MORE NATIONAL THAN HERE, THAT EVERY TIME YOU SAY CHRIS CHRISTIE, THEY JUST JUMP.

IT'S ALWAYS SEEMED A BIT THAT WAY.

HE'S ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE APPEAL TO THE SORT OF, YOU KNOW, NEW YORK TO D.C. PRESS CORPS THAN HE DOES TO REGULAR PEOPLE, AT LEAST POST-2012 OR SO.

>> DUSTIN, IS THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT MORE EXPOSURE TO HIM?

I MEAN, WE SURVIVED EIGHT YEARS OF CHRIS CHRISTIE AND EVERYTHING FROM THE TUNNELS INTO NEW YORK TO THE LANES AT THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE, WE KNOW HIM A LOT MORE INTIMATELY THAN THE NATIONAL PRESS.

IS THAT WHY THE NATIONAL PRESS JUST JUMPS AT THE MENTION OF HIS NAME?

>> I THINK THAT'S PART OF IT.

WE SAW CHRISTIE DAY IN AND DAY OUT AND IT WAS VERY TURBULENT TIMES, TO SAY THE LEAST.

BUT CHRISTIE'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU LIKE HIM OR NOT, HE'S A CHARISMATIC FIGURE.

HE'S PROBABLY AS CLOSE TO DONALD TRUMP AS YOU CAN GET AND PROBABLY FOR THAT REASON, THAT DRIVES A LOT OF THE NATIONAL INTEREST AND THE COVERAGE OF HIM.

BUT I SUPPOSE IT'S ALSO THE FACT THAT HE IS A FORMER GOVERNOR.

HE DOES HAVE EIGHT YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, PLUS AS A U.S. ATTORNEY SO HE'S SOMEWHAT UNIQUE IN THAT WAY, BUT I THINK THERE'S REALLY NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, IN TERMS OF AN INTERESTING NARRATIVE, CHRISTIE ALWAYS DELIVERED.

I THINK MICHAEL AARON HAS DONE SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT IN THE PAST WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING TO WRITE ABOUT WITH CHRIS CHRISTIE.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

I AGREE WITH MATT.

TRYING TO MAKE THIS A FIVE-ALARM STORY THAT HE'S SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING IS NOT A STORY AT ALL.

OF COURSE HE'S SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING.

>> ALL RIGHT, OTHER NEWS.

SOPHIE, ALL'S WELL AT THE UNEMPLOYMENT AGENCY?

CLAIMS ARE DOWN ABOUT 7% FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEK, AND WAY DOWN COMPARED TO THE SAME WEEK IN 2020.

WHAT'S THE LATEST OVER THERE?

>> SO, UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS ARE STILL DROPPING.

THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE SAME TRENDS AS THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

BUT NEW JERSEY STILL HASN'T GAINED BACK THE SAME AMOUNT OF JOBS AS THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, LARGELY BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE LEAVE THE WORKFORCE ENTIRELY, WHICH IS KEEPING OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DOWN.

IN TERMS OF FRUSTRATION, THERE'S NOT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S STILL THE SAME FRUSTRATION THAT HAS ALWAYS EXISTED.

PEOPLE WAITING WEEKS AND WEEKS FOR THEIR CLAIMS, BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT THE LABOR DEPARTMENT WAS, YOU KNOW, DEALING WITH WAS THE PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING TO HIT THEIR YEAR-END MARK AND NEEDED TO HAVE THEIR CLAIM REVIEWED, WHICH IS A FEDERAL MANDATE.

AND THEY AUTOMATED THAT PROCESS, WHICH SEEMS TO BE GOING RELATIVELY WELL, COMPARED TO THE WAY THE LAST YEAR HAS UNFOLDED FOR THAT DEPARTMENT.

FROM WHAT I HEAR, MOST PEOPLE ARE HAVING THEIR CLAIMS SEAMLESSLY TRANSFERRED OVER.

THEY'RE TRANSFERRED TO PROGRAMS WITHOUT EVEN HAVING TO DO ANYTHING.

SO, FOR NOW, ALL'S WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE, BUT THERE'S STILL SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING ASKED TO PAY BACK MONEY OR THESE ONGOING APPEALS WHERE PEOPLE GO 8 OR 12 WEEKS WITHOUT GETTING ANY PAY.

>> ALWAYS ODD HOW PEOPLE JUMPING OUT OF THE MARKET BRINGS THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DOWN.

IT'S A LITTLE IRONIC THERE.

YOU ALSO WROTE ABOUT HOW THE STATES NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO PEOPLE?

>> SO, PEOPLE SHOULDN'T ACTUALLY SEE A CHANGE IN THEIR SPECIFIC CLAIM.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS NEW JERSEY, BECAUSE IT HAS SUCH A HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE WOULD HAVE AN ADDITIONAL SEVEN WEEKS OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

NOW THAT THERE'S SO MANY FEDERAL PROGRAMS, IT'S KIND OF MOOT, SO BECAUSE WE'VE COME BELOW THE 8% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE PROGRAMS.

WE'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR EXTENDED BENEFITS ANYMORE.

BUT PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO SEE ANY DIFFERENCE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE P.U.A.

AND THE PUEC PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE THESE FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE THAT AREN'T TYPICALLY ELIGIBLE.

SO, PEOPLE WON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM THEMSELVES.

IT'S MORE JUST THAT THE LABOR DEPARTMENT HAS TO SWITCH THESE PEOPLE OVER TO ANOTHER PROGRAM AND THAT WILL ALSO BE AUTOMATED.

>> ALL RIGHT, POLITICS NOW.

THE GOVERNOR'S RACES ARE SET FOR THE MOST PART, LOOKS LIKE MURPHY IS RUNNING UNOPPOSED AND REPUBLICAN JACK WILL BE FACING OPPOSITION FROM SINGH.

HIS SOMETIMES NEMESIS IN THE SOUTH.

YOU WANT TO ELABORATE ON THAT A BIT?

>> YEAH, I JUST THINK THINGS ARE ALIGNING KIND OF INTERESTINGLY IN TERMS OF HOW THAT'S WORKED OUT.

THE FIRST TWO YEARS, THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION WAS DOMINATED BY FIGHTING WITH GEORGE NOR CROSS AND STEVE SWEENEY, HIS CHILDHOOD FRIEND, AND WE HAD THESE REALLY, IN A LOT OF CASES, DAMNING REPORTS ABOUT THE TAX INCENTIVES AND ABOUT THE COMPANIES CONNECTED TO GEORGE NORCROSS.

WHAT THEY SAID IN THEIR APPLICATIONS VERSUS WHAT THEY ACTUALLY INTENDED.

AND WE CAN ARGUE ALL DAY ABOUT WHETHER THE LEGAL LANGUAGE, WHAT EXACTLY -- HOW YOU CAN INTERPRET THAT, BUT I THINK THE PLAIN INTERPRETATION, WHEN YOU SAY, WE WILL CONSIDER MOVING OR, YOU KNOW, OUR JOBS ARE AT RISK AT MOVING VERSUS WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF MOVING, YOU KNOW, THIS IS PRETTY SMALL DISTINCTION.

BUT NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, COOPER HEALTH HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR ITS TAX CREDITS, WHICH WERE HELD UP.

THE NORCROSS INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE ON THEIR WAY.

THEY'VE GOT SOME CERTIFICATIONS.

THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE TAX CREDITS YET BUT THEY'RE CERTAINLY MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

AND THEY'VE DEVELOPED A KIND OF DETENTE BETWEEN MURPHY AND NORCROSS.

I THINK THINGS AREN'T EXACTLY -- I WOULDN'T SAY THEY'RE BEST BUDDIES BUT WE'VE SEEN THE WAR TURNED DOWN.

IT'S QUITE A CONTRAST FROM TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THE OFFICIALS IN CAMDEN HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE TO TELL MURPHY HE WASN'T WELCOME THERE AND MURPHY WAS HOLDING HIS OWN PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT TAX CREDITS.

SO THINGS JUST HAPPEN TO BE ALIGNING RIGHT AHEAD OF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

LOOK, I'M NOT SUGGESTING ANYTHING'S THERE THAT I DON'T HAVE EVIDENCE OF.

I JUST THINK THE TIMING IS INTERESTING.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THEY'VE THREATENED TO PRIMARY HIM, WHICH ALL OF US WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO WHO WOULD THAT PRIMARY OPPONENT BE, AND NOW HE'S RUNNING UNOPPOSED.

>> YEAH, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYONE.

>> YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET A COVID UPDATE IN HERE.

WHAT'S THE COVID HEADLINE OF THE WEEK?

JULIE AT THE BUDGET HEARING, SLOWING VACCINATION RATES, DOUBLE WHAMMY MUTANTS.

DUSTIN, WHAT'S THE LATEST?

>> WELL, JUST YOU SAID, I THINK THE MOST INTERESTING IS THE PLUMMETING VACCINATION RATES.

UP UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO, WE WERE HEARING ABOUT THE SUPPLY-DEMAND IMBALANCE THAT WE HAD BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN THINGS HAVE REVERSED, AND YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE NOW THE COMMISSIONER AND SOME OTHERS IN SOME ADS, YOU KNOW, MY QUESTION IS, WHY HAVEN'T WE SEEN THAT EARLIER?

WHY WEREN'T EFFORTS BEING MADE MONTHS AGO TO RAISE THE AWARENESS ON THE VACCINES, TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET THEM, IF THEY'RE SKEPTICAL, TO BELIEVE IN THEIR EFFECTIVENESS?

WE SAW VIRTUALLY NOTHING UNTIL RECENTLY, AND NOW WE HAVE TO GO ON THE OFFENSIVE TO TRY TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED, AND THEN OF COURSE, IT'S MUCH MORE DRAMATIC, THE DECREASE IN THE NUMBERS OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

SO, IT'S ON THE STATE NOW.

YOU KNOW, MURPHY CAN'T SAY, BLAME IT ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SAY, WELL, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE SUPPLY, BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH DEMAND.

SO, THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG CHALLENGE FOR HIM TO GET TO, YOU KNOW, 70% OF THE ADULT POPULATION IN A FEW MORE WEEKS.

YOU KNOW, BEGINNING OF SUMMER IS HIS TARGET.

SO, IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR HIM.

>> I THINK WE'RE STILL ON THE 30% TOTAL ACROSS THE STATE.

SOPHIE, BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE STILL AT A SLOWER RATE THAN THAT, THOUGH, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE MOST RECENT NUMBERS, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY THERE ARE INEQUITIES IN HANDING OUT THE VACCINE.

I KNOW THAT THE UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY, IT'S BEEN REALLY TOUGH FOR THEM, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PUTTING THEMSELVES OUT THERE IF THEY GO TO THESE PLACES.

THEY DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY'S GOING TO BE THERE TO SPEAK SPANISH TO THEM AND EXPLAIN WHAT VACCINE THEY'RE GETTING, WHAT THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE.

SO THERE ARE DEFINITELY STILL INEQUITIES THAT EXIST IN DISTRIBUTING THE VACCINE THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT.

>> ALL RIGHT, MATT, I HAVE 30 SECONDS.

CANNABIS COMMISSION, GO.

>> WELL, THEY'VE HAD THEIR SECOND MEETING.

THINGS ARE GOING OR THE CLOCK IS STARTED ON GETTING WEED IN STORES, AND ALREADY WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, STATE LAWMAKERS STARTING TO LOOK AT THE LAWS AS TO WHO BENEFITS WITH MONEY FROM CANNABIS SALES AND TRYING TO GET THEIR OWN TOWNS IN IF THEY MISSED OUT ON THE EARLIER PART.

I THINK ONE INTERESTING THING IS LIKE ARE THESE CANNABIS BENEFICIARY TOWNS THE IMPACT ZONES, ARE THEY GOING TO BE LIKE THE ABBOTT DISTRICTS AND JUST SAY THE SAME FOR YEARS AND YEARS NO MATTER HOW THEY CHANGE DEMOGRAPHICALLY OR WILL THERE BE ADJUSTMENTS GOING ALONG TO ALLOW MORE TOWNS OR PARTS OF THE TOWNS ARE CHANGING OR WHATEVER, TO ALLOW THEM TO QUALIFY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL WE GOT FOR "ROUNDTABLE" FOR TODAY.

THANKS TO OUR PANEL, SOPHIE, MATT, DUSTIN, AND TO OUR GUEST, SHAVONDA SUMTER.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT, INCLUDING "CHAT BOX," NJ BUSINESS BEAT AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANNA.

FOR THE ENTIRE CREW HERE, I'M DAVID CRUZ.

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.

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