>> JUST AHEAD NORTH CAROLINA'S TOP HEALTH OFFICIAL UPDATES US ON THE LATEST COVID VACCINATION EFFORTS, STATE LAWMAKERS KICK OFF THE NEW SESSION WITH OLD TENSIONS POTENTIALLY REMAINING, PLUS THE NEW PRESIDENT FORMALLY ADDRESSES RACIAL INEQUITY.

COMING UP ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM.

♪ HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM, I'M DEBORAH HOLT NOEL.

AS WE CLOSE OUT THE MONTH OF JANUARY, NORTH CAROLINA'S COVID-19 METRICS CONTINUE TO CLIMB.

HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE ALSO DEALING WITH THE CHALLENGE OF VACCINATION.

BUT NC CENTRAL UNIVERSITY IS AMONG THE SCHOOLS STEPPING IN TO HELP WITH THAT PROCESS.

DAVID HURST REPORTS.

>> WHEN PFIZER ANNOUNCED THEIR COVID-19 VACCINE HAD TO BE STORED AT ULTRA-COLD TEMPERATURES, SOME HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE STATE DIDN'T KNOW HOW THEY'D STORE IT.

>> AND WE HEARD FROM SEVERAL OF THEM THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE STORAGE CAPACITY THAT THE PFIZER VACCINE REQUIRES.

>> UNC SYSTEM UNIVERSITY STEPPED UP AND FOUND FUNDING TO GET MORE THAN 60 ULTRA COLD FREEZERS TO DISTRIBUTE ACROSS THE STATE.

THE STATE 6 HISTORICALLY MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS WILL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL MOBILE FREEZER UNITS TO SERVE RURAL AREAS AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.

THAT INCLUDES NC CENTRAL WHO WILL RECEIVE 7 FREEZERS AND DISTRIBUTE THEM TO SITES AND DURHAM, HALIFAX, GRANVILLE AND VANCE COUNTIES WHERE ULTRA COLD STORAGE IS NOT AVAILABLE.

>> WE HAVE OBTAINED ONE FREEZER WHICH SHIPPED, AND WE'RE GETTING A COUPLE MORE IN THIS WEEK AND WE'LL BE PROVIDING THEM TO PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE LUMBEE TRIBE.

>> DOCTOR DEEPAK KUMAR DIRECTOR OF THE CHAMBER'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT NC CENTRAL SINCE THE 3 SEARCH WILL HELP OVERCOME A LOGISTICAL CHALLENGE THE MANY COMMUNITIES ARE FACING AND WHO WILL HELP THEM SAFELY STORE THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

>> IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO VACCINATE PEOPLE THEN IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PROBLEM.

WE HAVE HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS AND WE KNOW HOW COVID-19 IS AFFECTING DISPROPORTIONATELY TO UNDERSERVED MINORITIES.

>> THE FREEZERS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO SUPPORT HOSPITALS AND PHARMACIES.

IN DURHAM, I'M DAVID HURST REPORTING.

>> OF COURSE, STORAGE IS ONLY A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE THAT IS VACCINATING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JOINED BY SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THE CHALLENGES ALL TOO WELL.

NORTH CAROLINA'S SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DOCTOR MANDY COHEN.

SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR TAKING THE TIME.

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU DEBORAH.

>> ONE OF THE RECENT STRATEGIES HAS BEEN TO DEVELOP MASS VACCINATION SITES TO TRY TO GET MORE VACCINATIONS INTO THE ARMS OF NORTH CAROLINIANS FASTER, BUT SOME HEALTH PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THEY SAY THAT THIS HAS CUT INTO THEIR SUPPLY.

WHAT'S BEEN THE IMPACT OF THE MASS VACCINATION PROGRAM?

>> I THINK THAT OUR VACCINE PROVIDERS HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB AND YOU KNOW WE GOT OFF TO A LITTLE BIT OF A SLOW START BUT AS WE'RE SITTING HERE TODAY, THIS PAST WEEK WE HAD ALLOCATED AND DELIVERED EVERY SINGLE FIRST DOSE VACCINE THAT CAME TO NORTH CAROLINA.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

SO THERE ARE NO VACCINES SITTING ON THE SHELF AND THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE REALLY HARD WORK OF ALL THE VACCINE PROVIDERS.

AND IT IS GOING TO TAKE A RANGE OF STRATEGIES.

THERE'S NO ONE SINGLE STRATEGY FOR GETTING THIS MANY VACCINES OUT SO QUICKLY THAT'S GOING TO GET US TO OUR GOAL.

SO WE WANT TO HAVE SOME OF THOSE MORE HIGH THROUGHPUT PLACES WHERE FOLKS CAN COME.

BUT WE KNOW WE ALSO HAVE TO GET OUT TO EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA.

AND THAT'S THE BALANCE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SEEK.

WE HAVE TO GET SPEED AND WE HAVE TO GET EQUITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND HOW ARE WE DOING ON SUPPLY AND DEMAND?

>> I WILL SAY WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

NOWHERE IN THE COUNTRY DOES.

WE ARE VERY VERY VERY LIMITED ON SUPPLY AND THAT IS A TAKE AWAY MESSAGE.

NOW WE DID HAVE SOME THAT WAS A BACKLOG A FEW WEEKS AGO, THAT IS NO LONGER THE CASE NOW.

WE'RE USING EVERY SINGLE DOSE THE MINUTE WE GET IT HERE INTO NORTH CAROLINA, AND THE REALITY IS THERE JUST AREN'T ENOUGH DOSES TO GO AROUND FOR EVERYONE WHO WANTS IT.

AS YOU KNOW NEVER WERE VACCINATED AND THOSE WHO ARE OVER 65 AND OVER AND ALL OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

BUT WE KNOW THAT DEMAND IS SO MUCH GREATER THAN THE SUPPLY OF VACCINE RIGHT NOW SO EVERYONE IS GOING TO JUST HAVE TO BE PATIENT, WE'LL GET TO YOU I PROMISE.

EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE A SPOT TO GET THEIR SHOT, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME WEEKS AND MONTHS FOR US TO GET THERE.

>> WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING TO ADJUST AND ADDRESS THAT ISSUE?

>> IT'S VERY SIGNIFICANT CONCERN TO ME AND THE WAY WE'RE MOVING FORWARD AND GIVING OUT VACCINE IS VERY MUCH TRYING TO BAKE IN EQUITY.

SO FIRST WE ARE GIVING COMMUNITIES MORE VACCINE IF THEY HAVE A HIGHER PROPORTION OF THOSE WHO ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, HISPANIC LATIN-X, NATIVE AMERICAN.

SO WE WANT TO GIVE YOU MORE VACCINES.

THAT'S THE START.

THEN WE ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT VACCINE EVENTS THAT WE KNOW ARE REACHING OUT SPECIFICALLY TO OUR HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS.

WE WANT TO SEE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE FAITH COMMUNITY WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT KNOW HOW TO REACH THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS IS ABOUT TRUST.

TRUST AND ACCESS.

AND SO WE NEED TO SEE THAT FROM OUR PARTNERS AND WE AT THE STATE WANT TO SUPPORT PARTNERS WHO ARE WORKING IN A TRUSTED WAY WITH THEIR COMMUNITY SO THEY GET MORE VACCINE.

IF THEY HAVE MORE OF OF THE HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATION THEY'RE SERVING, MORE VACCINE.

IF THEY'RE USING THE EVENTS TO TARGET THOSE CAN COMMUNITIES AND REALLY GET INTO THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THEN THERE'S A LOT OF JUST BEST PRACTICES THAT WE'RE SHARING WITH FOLKS ABOUT SETTING ASIDE APPOINTMENTS USING OFF HOURS GOING ON THE WEEKEND USING CHURCH LOCATIONS, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

WE ALSO JUST PUT OUT ABOUT 2 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN TRANSPORTATION BENEFITS BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE TO NOT JUST PUT THE SITES IN THE RIGHT PLACE BUT THEN FOLKS STILL ARE GOING TO NEED TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM SO WE'RE TRYING TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT STRATEGIES HERE TAKE TO GET FOLKS ACCESS TO VACCINE.

>> WE KNOW PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SET A GOAL OF VACCINATING ARE GETTING VACCINATIONS INTO THE ARMS OF 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE A DAY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT GOAL, AND HOW IS NORTH CAROLINA TRACKING FOR YOU IN YOUR GOALS FOR COVID-19?

>> WELL, OUR VACCINE PROVIDERS AS I SAID BEFORE HAVE BEEN DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB.

SO NOW WE ARE GETTING OUT ALL OF THOSE FIRST DOSES THAT COME TO US.

WE'RE GETTING THEM RIGHT OUT.

SO AS OF THE BEGINNING OF OUR VACCINE WEEK, IF YOU WERE, WE HAD 99% OF OUR FIRST DOSES WERE OUT IN ARMS.

THAT IS TERRIFIC.

SO WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP PACE.

THE REAL ISSUE NOW IS HOW MUCH VACCINE DO WE GET TO OUR STATE AND WE WANT TO BE AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE.

NORTH CAROLINA WANTS TO BE AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE TELLING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WE CAN HANDLE MORE VACCINES.

WE HAVE THE CAPACITY, WE WERE READY AND RARING TO GO.

AND WE HEARD BACK FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

THEY ACTUALLY GAVE US A BUMP UP THIS WEEK IN OUR ALLOCATION.

NOT A LOT, 15% MORE, WHICH REALLY TRANSLATES INTO ABOUT 20,000 MORE VACCINES, I'LL TAKE IT THOUGH.

WE'LL TAKE IT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND THE MORE WE CAN GET FOR OUR STATE THE BETTER.

>> WELL EVERY BIT COUNTS.

AND DOCTOR COHEN THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> WELL, THANKS EVERYONE AND REMEMBER WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PANDEMIC, LOTS VIRUS AROUND, SO DO YOUR 3 W'S WEAR A MASK ALL THE TIME WAIT PHYSICALLY DISTANT AND WASH YOUR HANDS.

THANK YOU AND STAY WELL.

>> WASHINGTON DC HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION IN RECENT MONTHS, BUT WORK IS NOW UNDERWAY IN OUR OWN CAPITAL AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RETURNS TO WORK.

HOUSE SPEAKER, TIM MOORE POSTED THIS VIDEO OF REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS RETURNING TO THE LEGISLATIVE BUILDING WEDNESDAY.

HE'LL HAVE TO FIND COMMON GROUND WITH DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ROY COOPER, ON BIG ISSUES LIKE COVID-19, HEALTH CARE, THE STATE BUDGET, AND REDISTRICTING.

AND TODAY WE'RE JOINED BY TWO OF OUR STATE LEGISLATORS, SENATORS DON DAVIS AND NATALIE MURDOCK, HELLO TO BOTH OF YOU, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> HELLO >> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COVID-19 AND WE KNOW THAT THERE IS MORE RELIEF DOLLARS ON THE WAY.

LOTS OF AREAS OF NEED.

SENATOR MURDOCK CAN YOU SHARE WITH US WHAT THE GREATEST AREA OF NEED IS IN YOUR DISTRICT.

>> YES, OUR GREATEST NEEDS IN DISTRICT 20 HERE IN DURHAM PROUD TO REPRESENT DURHAM COUNTY WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WORKING FAMILY SUPPORT AND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SMALL BUSINESSES WITH LESS THAN 100 EMPLOYEES WERE EXCLUDED FROM PREVIOUS FEDERAL RELIEF PROGRAMS.

OUR MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES IN PARTICULAR ARE REALLY STRUGGLING.

22% OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE U.S. HAVE CLOSED SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, 41% OF THOSE BUSINESSES WERE BLACK OWNED, AND OVER 30% OF THOSE BUSINESSES WERE LATINO OWNED.

NORTH CAROLINA FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING.

14% OF ADULTS REPORTED THAT THEIR HOUSEHOLDS WERE HAVING DIFFICULTY HAVING ENOUGH FOOD TO EAT.

18% OF RENTERS ARE BEHIND ON THEIR RENT AND 35% OF ADULTS WERE STRUGGLING WITH JUST BASIC USUAL HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES.

WITH SO MANY BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM AND PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT TO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> AND SENATOR DAVIS WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN YOUR DISTRICT?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND I AGREE WITH SENATOR MURDOCK, BREAD AND BUTTER ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT BUT I'M GOING TO GO A STEP FURTHER AND SHARE ABOUT VERY LIFE IN TERMS OF HEALTH.

WHAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO SEE NOT ONLY IN MY DISTRICT AND ACROSS EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND THE STATE, AFRICAN AMERICANS IN PARTICULAR ARE STILL EXPERIENCING HIGHER RATES OF DEATH AS A RESULT OF COVID-19.

AND RIGHT NOW AS WE ARE WORKING TO DEAL WITH VACCINE DISTRIBUTION, OUR ROUGHLY POPULATION ACROSS THE STATE IS ABOUT 22% OR SO, AND THAT DISTRIBUTION NUMBER IS ABOUT 11% AS OF TODAY.

SO I'M GREATLY CONCERNED BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE THESE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO US TODAY, THEY WERE IMPORTANT TO US BEFORE COVID.

THERE ARE 3 MAJOR CRISES THAT I'LL BRIEFLY SPEAK TO.

WE HAVE AN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA HEALTH CRISIS.

HIGH UNINSURED, HIGH NON-INSURED, UNDER-INSURED AND NON-INSURED RATES ARE VERY HIGH IN THE EAST.

NOT ONLY THAT BUT WE TENDED HAVE SEEN HEALTH DISPARITIES FROM BIRTH TO DEATH ALL THE WAY DEALING WITH LIFE EXPECTANCY IS TENDS TO BE MUCH SHORTER HERE IN THE EAST.

>> SO WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE DOLLARS TARGETED?

>> WE HAVE WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO SEE THESE DOLLARS RIGHT NOW.

COVID-19 IS REAL, MATTER OF FACT THERE'S DIFFERENT STRANDS THAT NOW ARE SURFACING, WE HAVE SEEN DOLLARS TIED TOWARDS EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY TOWARDS THE NATURE OF THIS SITUATION WHY AND HOW THAT VACCINATION CAN IMPACT THEM AND HELP US MAKE DECISIONS, GOOD DECISIONS.

SO THAT WE'RE NOT RELUCTANT TO GET THE VACCINATION.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE TESTING WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HELP RESIDENTS KNOW HOW THEY CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES AND TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY IN TERMS OF THE 3 W'S AND SO FORTH.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VACCINATION AND WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS MASS VACCINATIONS, WE NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE PEOPLE EVEN IN THESE RURAL COMMUNITIES THE NOOKS AND CRANNIES AND SMALLER PLACES ACROSS THE STATE.

SO THERE'S JUST A LOT OF EFFORT THAT I BELIEVE WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TAKE TO LITERALLY SAVE LIVES WITHIN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

>> SO BIG PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORT PLUS GETTING THOSE SHOTS DISTRIBUTED TO VARIOUS COMMUNITIES.

LET'S MOVE TO TALKING ABOUT A BIG ISSUE THAT CAUSED GRIDLOCK IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND IS LIKELY TO CAUSE IT AGAIN, MEDICAID EXPANSION.

WHERE DO WE STAND AND WHAT IS YOUR EFFORT GOING TO BE TO TRY TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON MEDICAID EXPANSION, SENATOR MURDOCK?

>> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

AS YOU KNOW DURHAM IS CONSIDERED THE CITY OF MEDICINE.

WE'RE PROUD TO BE A STATEWIDE LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH CARE ISSUES, AND NO ONE CAN DENY THAT THE COVERAGE GAP IN NORTH CAROLINA HAS REACHED A CRITICAL POINT.

WE HAVE CLOSE TO OVER 300,000 WORKING ADULTS THAT HAVE LOST THEIR EMPLOYER-SPONSORED HEALTH INSURANCE DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

I MYSELF AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER ACTUALLY WENT WITHOUT INSURANCE SOME TIME.

SO WHEN I SPEAK ON MEDICAID EXPANSION AND LACK OF HEALTH INSURANCE.

I KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE TO CHOOSE TO MAKE YOUR PAYROLL INSTEAD OF PAYING YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE OUT OF POCKET.

AT ONE POINT MY PREMIUM WAS OVER $500 AND MEDICAID EXPANSION IS THE STRONGEST TOOL THAT WE HAVE WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

BUT THE REALITY IS REPUBLICANS SIMPLY DO NOT AGREE.

THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS THAT WE CAN EXPLORE.

GOVERNOR COOPER HAS LEAD WITH THIS BY STARTING A BIPARTISAN PANEL, MULTI INDUSTRY PANEL AT THE TOP OF THIS YEAR.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

I DO THINK MEDICAID EXPANSION IS THE BEST WAY TO DO IT, BUT IT DEFINITELY SEEMS THAT OUR COLLEAGUES DID NOT AGREE.

>> I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO GETTING YOUR OPINION ON A RECENT REPORT BY THE CDC SENATOR DAVIS SAID THAT THESE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NOT BIG SPREADERS OF COVID THAT WE THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE.

IS IT TIME TO GET KIDS BACK INTO SCHOOLS OR DID THIS REPORT CHANGE YOUR MIND IN ANY DIRECTION?

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IS MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE MADE AVAILABLE.

FOR SOME, THEY'RE FINE AND THEIR STUDENTS ARE DOING FINE VIRTUALLY.

YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW DISTRICTS MANY DISTRICTS, NOT ALL ACROSS THE STATE OFFERING TRACKS AND I'VE BEEN INTO THE SCHOOLS.

IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S WORKING FOR THE MOST PART FOR THE STATE.

I JUST THINK RIGHT NOW AS WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE VARYING DEGREES OF COMFORT AND THIS IS REAL ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF HAVING RELUCTANCE OF SENDING THEIR KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL RIGHT NOW.

AND I JUST BELIEVE AT THE END OF THE DAY, PARENTS SHOULD HAVE A KEY ROLE IN MAKING THAT DECISION AND THAT OPTION SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

NOW THAT'S NOT TO SAY ALREADY THERE'S ENORMOUS LEARNING GAP THAT'S BEEN CREATED KEEP IN MIND WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THERE WAS THAT GAP BEFORE COVID.

SO I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE GAP WIDENING.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY EVEN AS A CHILD MAY NOT BE THE MAJOR SPREADER, THAT CHILD COMES HOME AND SOME FAMILIES MAY STILL HAVE CONCERNS.

>> SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE ALL OF THESE MEASURES INTO CONSIDERATION.

SENATOR MURDOCK SENATOR DAVIS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS.

>> ANOTHER BATCH OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS FROM PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN LOOKS TO ADDRESS RACIAL INEQUITY, ONE OF THEM DEALING WITH FAIR HOUSING POLICY.

MARCIA FUDGE, BIDEN'S PICK FOR HOUSING SECRETARY SPOKE ON THE PURPOSE OF THOSE POLICIES DURING HER CONFIRMATION HEARING THURSDAY.

>> OPENING THE DOOR FOR FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY FAMILIES OF COLOR, WHO HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY KEPT OUT IN THE COLD ACROSS GENERATIONS TO BUY HOMES AND PUNCH THEIR TICKET TO THE MIDDLE CLASS.

>> ONE OF THE DIRECTIVES TAKES ACTION ON THOSE HOUSING LAWS, WHILE OTHERS ADDRESS THE DOJ'S USE OF PRIVATE PRISONS SUPPORT FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AND RACISM TOWARD ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS.

WE WANT TO BRING OUR PANELISTS INTO THE DISCUSSION NOW, MARY C. CURTIS A COLUMNIST FOR ROLL CALL AND HOST OF THE EQUAL TIME PODCAST, ADDUL ALI, CHAIRMAN OF NORTH CAROLINA BLACK CONSERVATIVE VOICES, AND MORRISVILLE TOWN COUNCILMAN STEVE RAO.

SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU GUYS WITH US AGAIN.

>> PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> I WANT TO PICK UP ON THE MARCIA FUDGE CONFIRMATION HEARING, AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WAS ASKED OF HER AT THE HEARINGS WAS IS IT EVER OK TO TREAT PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY BASED ON THEIR RACE CAN WE ACHIEVE HOME OWNERSHIP EQUITY WITH POLICIES THAT ARE NOT BASED ON RACE?

LET ME OPEN UP WITH YOU STEVE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, DEBORAH.

I THINK THAT IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT HOME OWNERSHIP IS NOT BASED ON RACE, AND THE FACT THE MATTER IS THAT THE NEW SECRETARY IS RIGHT ON POINT.

I MEAN ONLY 46% OF BLACK AMERICANS TODAY OWN HOMES AND THEY'VE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST DENIED MORTGAGES DENIED LOANS, AND THE PROCESS OF REDLINING WHERE MORTGAGES AND LOANS ARE DENIED BASED ON RACE AND IN LOW INCOME AREAS OF THIS COUNTRY AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM AND THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE CANNOT BASE HOMEOWNERSHIP ON RACE.

EVERYBODY EVERY AMERICAN IN THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO PURCHASE AND OWN THEIR OWN HOME.

>> NOW TALKING ABOUT THE POLICIES TO ADDRESS FIRST, WE HAVE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER OUT THERE AND ADDUL, WE HAVE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER BUT POLICY STEMMING FROM THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER CONGRESS IS GOING TO HAVE TO ENACT.

DO THOSE POLICIES NEED TO SPECIFICALLY REFERENCE RACE OR BE RACE-BASED?

>> I DON'T THINK SO AND I THINK FROM WHAT WE SAW WITH THE LAST SUBPRIME MORTGAGE DEBACLE THAT CRIPPLED THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMY SOLELY PUTTING PEOPLE IN HOUSES AND GETTING THE MORTGAGES BASED ON THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN IS A HORRIBLE IDEA, AND AGAIN BRIEFLY WE JUST SAW THE RESULTS OF THE LAST TIME WE ATTEMPTED THAT AND QUITE FRANKLY VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE THOSE SUBPRIME MORTGAGES WERE ABLE TO TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES IS SOMETHING LESS THAN 10% SO I AGREE WITH THE CAR WITH THE COUNCILMAN.

WE SHOULD NOT BE DECIDING WHO GETS A HOME BASED ON RACE.

IT SHOULD BE BASED ON YOUR ABILITY TO COMFORTABLY PAY FOR THAT MORTGAGE AND WE SHOULD BE PROVIDING IF ANYTHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO BUY MORTGAGES THAT THEY CAN AFFORD SO I I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN ON THAT.

>> AND MARY, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S CLOSE TO YOUR HEART, YOU FOLLOWED IT.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> WELL, YES, I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AND SEE THAT SO MANY OF THE PAST POLICIES THAT HURT AFRICAN AMERICANS WERE BASED ON RACE.

UNTIL THE FAIR HOUSING ACT OF 1968 YOU COULD LEGALLY DISCRIMINATE.

OBVIOUSLY I'M IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BY THAT HOME, AND SO THE REMEDIES DO HAVE TO REFERENCE RACE.

EVEN WITH THE MORTGAGES THAT THE PREVIOUS GUEST MENTIONED, MANY TIMES WE SAW THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO QUALIFIED FOR BETTER TYPES OF MORTGAGES WERE STEERED TO THE RISKY ONES BASICALLY BECAUSE OF RACE, AND WE SAW THE LAST ADMINISTRATION, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, PULL BACK ON THE ENFORCEMENT OF A LOT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE FAIR HOUSING ACT.

AND REMEMBER TRUMP HAD TALKED ABOUT IN HIS CAMPAIGN HE HAD TO PROTECT THE SUBURBAN HOUSEWIVES FROM HORDES OF LOW INCOME PEOPLE INVADING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THIS IS PULLING BACK ON THOSE AND SAYING, LISTEN, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT PAST POLICIES THAT DISCRIMINATED, SO WE CAN OF COURSE ELIMINATE MORTGAGE DISCRIMINATION AND HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND MAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MORE OPEN TO BLACK PEOPLE.

>> I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO ANOTHER EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT SPECIFICALLY REFERENCED RACISM IN ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS REALLY WONDERING DOES IT PAVE THE WAY FOR EASING UP RACISM AND WHAT DOES IT REALLY ADDRESS THAT PARTICULAR EXECUTIVE ORDER.

WHAT WAS IT THE REAL PURPOSE, DO YOU THINK STEVE?

>> WELL, I MEAN FIRST OF ALL I THINK THAT AS AN ASIAN-AMERICAN MYSELF AND I'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH MANY CHINESE AMERICANS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA IN THE TRIANGLE REGION.

YOU KNOW CALLING THE CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 THE CHINA VIRUS, SPECIFICALLY PROFILING AND TARGETING ASIAN AMERICANS THAT THIS PANDEMIC WAS THEIR FAULT, I THINK HAS BEEN VERY EMBARRASSING TO THE ASIAN COMMUNITY AND I THINK THAT THIS IS THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS ADDRESSING THE SPECIFIC FACT THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE TARGETING OR TREATING ANY AMERICAN DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE OR THEIR COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.

I THINK THIS IS THE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I MEAN WHETHER HAVING NOW PRESIDENT TRUMP OUT OF THE OVAL OFFICE, HE DOESN'T HAVE A MICROPHONE ANYMORE.

I THINK THAT IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR ASIAN AMERICANS TO GET THROUGH IT.

BUT THIS IS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND THIS SPECIFIC SITUATION, THE PRESIDENT NEVER REFERRED TO IT AS THE CORONAVIRUS HE ALWAYS REFERRED TO THIS AS THE CHINA VIRUS.

>> WE'VE GOT JUST A FEW SECONDS LEFT AND I WANT TO GET BOTH YOU MARY AND ADDUL IN HERE.

ADDUL FIRST, YOUR OVERALL IMPRESSIONS OF THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND IS THIS A PAVING A PATH OR REALLY MAKING SOME CHANGES IN TERMS OF EQUITY OR IS IT JUST EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT COULD BE OVERTURNED IN THE FUTURE?

>> I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU CAN RULE BY EXECUTIVE ORDER.

I THINK AT SOME POINT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE CONGRESS INVOLVED, NOR DO I THINK YOU COULD EXECUTIVE ORDER PEOPLE'S THINKING.

I THINK THE MORE OPEN WE BECOME AS A COUNTRY AND HAVE CANDID CONVERSATIONS AMONGST THE RACIAL GROUPS, THE BETTER OFF WE'LL BE, BUT I DON'T SEE THAT EXECUTIVE ORDERS WILL CHANGE PEOPLE'S MINDS IN AND OF THEMSELVES.

>> MARY LAST THOUGHTS.

>> I THINK THEY'RE A START, AND YOU HAVE SUSAN RICE AHEAD OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

ALSO YOU SEE AFTER THE INSURRECTION AT THE CAPITOL WHERE THERE'S SO MUCH OF WHITE SUPREMACY.

SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO WERE THERE WITH CONFEDERATE FLAGS AND SUCH, THIS IS SO NEEDED AND IT IS A START AND YOU SEE THAT HE HAS ALSO BROUGHT BACK THE ANTI BIAS AND DIVERSITY TRAINING IN FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS SO AS YOUR PREVIOUS GUEST SAID, WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS BUT FIRST WE NEED TO FACE THE TRUTH.

>> LET'S MOVE TO SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF CURRENT AND THEN OUR CULTURAL NEWS, A PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED TRANSFORMATION OF THE $20 BILL IS NOW MOVING AHEAD.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS IT WANTS TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS OF PUTTING HARRIET TUBMAN ON THE $20 BILL MOVING ANDREW JACKSON TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BILL, BUT NOT EVERYONE IS HAPPY ABOUT THE MOVE.

A TIME MAGAZINE COLUMNIST CALLED THE MOVE A SIGN OF DISRESPECT.

ADDUL, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IS IT DISRESPECTFUL?

>> SO LOOK.

NO I DON'T THINK IT'S DISRESPECTFUL AT ALL AND QUITE FRANKLY I THINK IT WOULD BE PRETTY COOL TO SEE HARRIET TUBMAN ON THE $20 BILL, BUT I WANT TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS JUST NOT WINDOW DRESSING.

WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING IS ENSURING WE HAVE POLICIES THAT WILL GET OUR PEOPLE MORE OF THOSE TUBMANS SO THAT'S GREAT THAT'S GOOD AND FINE AND WELL, BUT WE NEED SOME POLITY TO BACK IT UP SO I CAN GET SOME MORE SOME MORE TUBMANS THERE.

>> I LIKE THAT SOME TUBMANS.

MARY?

>> YOU KNOW I THINK THAT YOU KNOW YOU SAW COVID ANY TIME THERE'S A CRISIS, BLACK FOLKS ARE HIT DISPROPORTIONATELY WHICH IS WHY SOME OF THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, TARGETING BLACK BUSINESSES ARE GREAT.

AND ALSO IT WOULD BE GOOD TO SEE.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING WELL SHE WAS AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE AS CURRENCY, IT'S DISRESPECTFUL TO PUT HER ON CURRENCY BUT THIS WAS A WOMAN WHO WAS A UNION SPY, A SUFFRAGETTE A CIVIL RIGHTS WORKER AND A NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT ABOUT HER AND ALL THE THINGS SHE DID SO SURE AS SHE REPLACES ANDREW JACKSON WHO, LET'S FACE IT, OWNED SLAVES, AND WAS IN CHARGE OF THE TRAIL OF TEARS FOR NATIVE AMERICANS SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE A JUSTICE.

I HEAR YOU MARY AND STEVE, I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT AS WELL.

>> WELL I THINK HARRIET TUBMAN IS AN AMERICAN HERO AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HEROES IN OUR COUNTRY AND WHAT SHE DOES AS A SPY AND FREEING ALL SLAVES IS INCREDIBLE AND THAT STORY NEEDS TO BE TOLD TO OUR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN.

AND SO I THINK FOR THOSE THAT SAY THAT IT'S DISRESPECTFUL, I COMPLETELY DISAGREE I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND TERMS A RICH HISTORY, PRESIDENT ANDREW JACKSON DID SERVE IN THE PRESIDENCY.

BUT AS I READ MORE HISTORY, I'M JUST SHOCKED AND APPALLED OF HOW HE BEAT SLAVES, HE DISENFRANCHISED 50 MILLION NATIVE AMERICANS FROM THEIR ANCESTRAL LANDS.

THIS WAS A MAN THAT HELD THE WHITE HOUSE, BUT IT HAS TO BE CALLED OUT AND HISTORIANS NEED TO BRING THAT OUT TO OUR CHILDREN THAT NO PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES REGARDLESS OF WHAT TIME IN HISTORY.

CAN DO THAT TO AMERICAN CITIZENS AND TREAT THEM SO INHUMANELY, SO I THINK TAKE HIM OFF THE BILL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND PUT HARRIET TUBMAN ON THERE.

I'M EXCITED.

>> ALWAYS SOME THOUGHTFUL INSIGHTS FROM ALL OF YOU, STEVE RAO, MARY C. CURTIS, ADDUL ALI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

WE ALSO APPRECIATE OUR SENATORS, NATALIE MURDOCH AND DON DAVIS AND DOCTOR MANDY COHEN FOR TAKING THE TIME TO JOIN US.

IF YOU'RE ON TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM YOU CAN REACH US USING THE HASHTAG NCBLACKISSUES AND YOU CAN FIND ALL OF OUR VIDEOS ON PBSNC.ORG/BLACKISSUESFORUM I'M DEBORAH HOLT NOEL FOR BLACK ISSUES FORUM.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

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