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♪ >>> HI, EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

THIS IS OUR FINAL SHOW BEFORE THE PIVOTAL MIDTERMS NEXT WEEK, SO WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE TIME TALKING ABOUT IT FROM A VARIETY OF ANGLES.

WE BEGIN TODAY WITH A REPUBLICAN WHO'S NOT ON THE BALLOT NEXT WEEK, A MOSTLY HONEST BROKER OF THOUGHT AND OPINION TO START OUR CONVERSATION TODAY.

STATE SENATOR DECLAN OH SCANLON JOINS US.

SENATOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> SO DOES THIS MIDTERM FEEL ANY DIFFERENT THAN MIDTERMS PAST IN TERMS OF TONE, URGENCY, THINGS LIKE THAT?

>> I THINK THAT THIS IS A CYCLE THAT FEELS REALLY GOOD RIGHT NOW FOR REPUBLICANS.

SO THERE HAVE BEEN MANY THAT DIDN'T, SO IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

BUT, LOOK, YOU GO BACK TO 2010 WHEN YOU HAD MIDTERMS WITH A DEMOCRAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

THOSE TIMES FEEL GOOD FOR REPUBLICANS AND WE PERFORMED PRETTY WELL.

IT DOES FEEL LIKE THE MOMENTUM IS WITH US RIGHT NOW.

AND IT DIDN'T.

OVER THE SUMMER, YOU HAD TO CONCEDE THERE SEEMED TO BE A WANING OF MOMENTUM DURING PRESIDENT BIDEN'S FIRST, YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS, YEAR IN OFFICE.

IT REALLY SEEMED LIKE IT WAS INEVITABLE.

THEN THERE WAS A MOMENT WHEN THINGS DIDN'T SEEM SO ROSY.

BUT RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE PEAKING AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT MOMENT.

I THINK WE HAVE A SHOT TO TAKE BOTH HOUSES.

I THINK WE WILL ABSOLUTELY TAKE THE HOUSE, AND I THINK WE'VE GOT A GOOD SHOT TO TAKE THE SENATE AS WELL.

>> WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT HOW DIVIDED THE COUNTRY IS.

DO YOU SENSE THAT, AND HOW DO WE REUNITE PEOPLE?

>> LOOK, THERE IS A MORE CAUSTIC TONE TO OUR POLITICS NOW THAN RECENT MEMORY.

THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES IN OUR HISTORY WHEN POLITICS GETS CAU CAUSTIC.

IT'S A CYCLE, AND WE ARE IN A CAUSTIC MOMENT RIGHT NOW.

AND I LAMENT THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, BOTH SIDES ARE GUILTY OF, YOU KNOW, OF TAKING US THERE.

YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF INTERESTING PRESIDENCIES NOW THAT I THINK HAVE HELPED PAVE THE WAY.

BUT WE'LL BE OKAY.

I HAVE FAITH IN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

WE ARE A LONG-TERM REPUBLICAN.

WE'RE GOING TO BE AROUND FOR A WHILE.

YOU'LL SEE THE PENDULUM SWING BACK.

IT'S REALLY BRUTAL RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR CONTROL LIKE THIS.

IT'S ALMOST ALWAYS PEOPLE TAKE OFF THE GLOVES IN THE FINAL WEEKS.

AND, YOU KNOW, ANY ELECTION CYCLE, PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION YOU AND I ARE HAVING RIGHT NOW.

ISN'T THIS WORSE THAN ANY OTHER TIME?

WELL, IT'S BAD, AND IT'S BRUTAL, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A CANDIDATE IN THE RING.

BUT IT'S AMERICAN POLITICS, AND WE'LL GET THROUGH IT.

>> IF YOU TALK TO DEMOCRATS, THEY SAY DEMOCRACY ITSELF IS AT STAKE.

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, RACE, GENDER.

YOU TALK TO REPUBLICANS, AND THEY SAY IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID.

WHO'S RIGHT, AND ARE THOSE THINGS MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE?

CAN'T WE TALK ABOUT THEM ALL?

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE A DOG IN THE FIGHT.

YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO VOTERS.

AND RECENT POLLING SAYS REPUBLICANS ARE RIGHT, THAT IT IS THE ECONOMY.

IT'S ENERGY POLICY.

IT'S DRUG PROBLEMS.

IT'S CRIME.

ALL OF THOSE ISSUES, BY THE WAY, FAVOR REPUBLICANS BECAUSE WE'RE MORE COMPETENT WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH THEM.

BUT THE VOTERS THEMSELVES ARE SAYING THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT MATTER TO THEM.

AND CLOSE TO THREE QUARTERS OF THEM SAY THE COUNTRY IS GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION RIGHT NOW.

AGAIN, THAT BODES WELL FOR THE PARTY THAT'S OUT OF POWER.

SO FORGET ABOUT REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS SAY.

THE VOTERS THEMSELVES ARE SAYING IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID, AND THESE OTHER ISSUES.

AGAIN, ENERGY POLICY, CRIME, PARENTAL CONTROL AND INTEREST IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE ON VOTERS' MINDS, AND THESE ARE POLICIES WHICH REPUBLICANS DO BETTER THAN DEMOCRATS.

>> I'M SURE YOU'D GET SOME PUSHBACK ON WHO HANDLES THOSE ISSUES BETTER, BUT WE'RE NOT HERE TO DISCUSS THOSE JUST YET.

RECENTLY JACK CIATTARELLI SAID ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IN HIS CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR WAS THAT HIS CAMPAIGN WAS TOO WHITE.

YOU DON'T HEAR THAT KIND OF TALK FROM REPUBLICANS VERY OFTEN.

IS HE RIGHT?

IS THERE A DIVERSITY DEFICIT IN YOUR PARTY?

>> UM, LOOK, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY LEANS DEMOCRAT AND LEANS LIBERAL.

BUT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR THAT, AND YOU SEE -- I CAN -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A BATCH OF YOUNG UP-AND-COMING POWERFUL PEOPLE IN THE MONMOUTH COUNTY PARTY THAT ARE MINORITIES.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

AND IT'S A MATTER OF CONVINCING SOME OF THESE HARD COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, THAT LEAN JUST REFLEXIVELY LEAN TO THE LEFT THAT WE'RE RIGHT.

WE HAVE A JOB TO DO TO CONVINCE THEM.

AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT, AND I LIKE OUR PROSPECTS TO MAKE INROADS INTO THESE COMMUNITIES.

LOOK, LOVE OR LOATHE DONALD TRUMP, HE DID PRETTY WELL WITHIN THE LATIN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND BETTER IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY THAN MANY REPUBLICANS BEFORE.

SO THERE ARE ARGUMENTS TO BE MADE AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH REASONABLE PEOPLE, AS ALL PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY ARE, YOU CAN WIN THOSE ARGUMENTS, WIN THOSE PEOPLE OVER.

DO YOU WANT TO INCLUDE MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND PEOPLE OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS IN YOUR ADMINISTRATIONS, IN YOUR CAMPAIGNS?

ABSOLUTELY.

LOOK, JACK CIATTARELLI IS A GUY WHO TELLS IT LIKE IT IS.

HE DOESN'T MINCE WORDS.

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY PEOPLE IN THIS STATE LOVE HIM AND WILL LIKELY ELECT HIM GOVERNOR AT SOME POINT.

SO I APPRECIATE JACK HAVING THAT FRANK DISCUSSION.

>> WE TALKED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, YOU AND I.

YOU SAID WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THE RACE IN CD 3 WHERE BOB HEALEY NOW HAS EVIDENTLY CLOSED THE GAP ON ANDY KIM.

WHAT'S DRIVING THAT PUSH, DO YOU THINK?

IS IT MONEY?

>> LOOK, BOB HAS RAISED MONEY AND INVESTED SOME OF HIS OWN MONEY, SO HE'S FOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THE BATTLE.

REPUBLICANS GENERALLY GET OUTSPENT.

BOB HAS BEEN ABLE TO LEVEL THAT PLAYING FIELD TO SOME EXTENT.

BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY THE ISSUES.

I THINK THAT IF YOU'RE IN BED AND BACKING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OR THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION FOR THAT MATTER, I THINK THERE'S PUSHBACK GOING THE OTHER WAY.

I THINK THAT THE VOTERS ARE LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, AND BOB HEALEY HAS DONE A GREAT JOB, HIS CAMPAIGN AND HIS CAMPAIGN MANAGER CAME OUT OF MONMOUTH COUNTY.

SHE'S AN UP-AND-COMING YOUNG REPUBLICAN, AND SHE'S RUN A GREAT CAMPAIGN.

AND BOB IS DOING A GREAT JOB.

SO THAT'S A REAL BELLWETHER.

I THINK SUE KYLIE STANDS A SHOT AS WELL.

>> I WANT TO GET YOU YOUR OPINION ON THIS TOM CANE AND TOM MALINOWSKI RACE.

WHY IS CANE A BETTER CHOICE TO MALINOWSKI?

>> FOR ALL THE REASONS I JUST SAID.

MALINOWSKI SIDES WITH THE PRESIDENT ON ALL THOSE ISSUES I MENTIONED WHERE WE'RE GOING THE WRONG DIRECTION.

ENERGY POLICY, INFLATION, SPENDING, WHICH HAS -- THE TRILLIONS OF ADDITIONAL DOLLARS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO BUY VOTES ESSENTIALLY WERE SPEND.

MALINOWSKI WAS A BIG PART OF THE ADVOCACY FOR THAT.

>> DECLAN O'SCANLON, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, MAN.

THANKS FOR COMING ON AGAIN.

>> THANKS, DAVID.

APPRECIATE IT.

ANYTIME.

>>> OF COURSE, EARLY VOTING HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WEEK NOW AND CONTINUES THROUGH SUNDAY.

SUNDAY?

YES, SUNDAY VOTING.

SO HOW IS IT GOING, AND WHAT ELSE CAN VOTERS EXPECT THIS YEAR?

WE TURN TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE PROGRAM AT THE NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, HENLE PATEL.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, DAVID.

HI, EVERYONE.

>> SUNDAY VOTING, THAT'S A REAL NOVEL IDEA.

DO WE HAVE ANY STATISTICS ON HOW EARLY VOTING IS GOING RIGHT NOW?

>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE SEEING AN UPTICK.

THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR OF EARLY VOTING IN NEW JERSEY.

YOU KNOW, THE REALITY IS THAT A LOT OF VOTERS ARE NOT AWARE THAT THIS IS AN OPTION YET.

BUT MORE AND MORE VOTERS ARE BECOMING AWARE, AND WE'VE SEEN ALREADY A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, 25%, 30% INCREASE FROM USAGE LAST YEAR.

SO THIS IS -- EARLY VOTING IS A METHOD OF VOTING THE VOTERS ARE LEARNING ABOUT, USING, AND REALLY ENJOYING, REALLY LOVING IT.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THIS FLEXIBILITY.

>> WHAT ABOUT VOTE BY MAIL?

ANY INDICATION THAT THAT'S UP?

>> YES.

I MEAN, WE'VE -- YOU KNOW, VOTE BY MAIL, WE'VE SEEN ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, MORE AND MORE VOTERS USING IT AGAIN.

VOTERS LIKE OPTIONS.

THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE.

VOTING JUST ON ONE DAY A YEAR, THAT ONE TUESDAY, IS NOT AS CONVENIENT FOR EVERYONE.

PEOPLE LIKE HAVING THESE OPTIONS.

VOTE BY MAIL, WE'VE SEEN INCREASES ON THAT AS WELL, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT STARTED, AND IN NEW JERSEY, THAT WAS YEARS AGO.

>> DO WE HAVE ANY INDICATION OF WHAT GROUPS -- WOMEN, MINORITIES, YOUNG VOTERS -- THAT ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPTION?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT RUNS ACROSS THE BOARD, RIGHT?

VOTE BY MAIL IS SOMETHING YOU SEE A LOT MORE USAGE OF WITHIN THE SUBURBS, AND THAT'S BEEN THE CASE, AND IT'S CONTINUED TO BE THE CASE.

YOUNG VOTERS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT, ESPECIALLY AS THEY ARE AT DORMS AND COLLEGES, BEING ABLE TO USE VOTE BY MAIL TO VOTE AT THEIR HOME DISTRICTS.

EARLY VOTING IS SOMETHING WE'RE SEEING UPTICKS OF IN EVERY COUNTY, AND WE -- YOU KNOW, WE'VE STARTED SEEING -- WE HAVE FINALLY THE OPPORTUNITY WITH EARLY VOTING AND SUNDAY VOTING, AS YOU MENTIONED, SOULS TO THE POLLS COMING TO NEW JERSEY, A LONG TRADITION OF BLACK CHURCHES.

SO WE'RE SEEING BLACK CHURCHES ACROSS THE STATE PARTICIPATE IN IT AND GO TO EARLY VOTING SITES, ENCOURAGE THEIR CONGREGANTS TO GO TO EARLY VOTING SITES.

SO I THINK VOTING OPTIONS WORK FOR EVERYBODY.

>> IT USED TO BE THAT DEMOCRATS HAD THE VOTE BY MAIL EDGE.

IS THAT STILL THE CASE?

HAVE REPUBLICANS STARTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SAY USED TO BE, IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE HISTORICALLY, THAT'S NOT THE CASE FOR VOTE BY MAIL.

VOTE BY MAIL HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING THAT BOTH PARTIES USE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND NEW JERSEY.

IN 2020, OUR BIG VOTE BY MAIL ELECTION, THE COUNTY WITH THE HIGHEST TURNOUT OF VOTE BY MAIL WAS HUNTERTON COUNTY.

BUT, YES, WE HAVE BEEN SEEING THE LAST FEW YEARS MORE DEMOCRATS USING IT.

IT'S A LOT TO DO WITH SUBURBS AND SUBURBAN OPTIONS, AND A LOT UNFORTUNATELY TO DO WITH WHAT MESSAGING GOES OUT ABOUT VOTE BY MAIL AND ABOUT VOTING OPTIONS.

IT MATTERS WHAT ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PARTY LEADERS AND OTHER FOLKS ARE SAYING ABOUT THESE OPTIONS.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OR SOME OF THE IMPEDIMENTS ACTUALLY THAT STILL REMAIN TO PEOPLE VOTING?

>> THERE'S A NUMBER OF THEM.

WE DO NONPARTISAN ELECTION PROTECTION WITH OUR PARTNERS EVERY YEAR, AND IT'S ANOTHER ELECTION AND ANOTHER SERIES OF CALLS FROM VOTERS WHO ARE CHECKING.

THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE REGISTERED.

THEY MOVED HERE.

THEY INTERACTED WITH AGENCIES.

THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE REGISTERED AND THEY'RE NOT ON THE ROLLS.

SO ONE OF THE BIGGEST IMPEDIMENTS EVERYONE IS FACING IN NEW JERSEY IS WE DON'T HAVE SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION.

SO IF YOU MISS THE VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE, YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK IN VOTING IN THIS MIDTERM, A MAJOR IMPORTANT ELECTION.

AND THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE CASE.

20 STATES, D.C. HAVE SAME-DAY REGISTRATION.

WE SHOULD HAVE IT TOO.

>> WHAT'S THE BEST ADVICE FOR VOTERS, MAYBE ESPECIALLY FIRST-TIME VOTERS WHO ARE GOING TO GO TO THE POLLS ON TUESDAY?

>> GREAT.

FIRST PIECE OF ADVICE IS YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TILL TUESDAY.

EARLY VOTING IS OPEN RIGHT NOW.

GO VOTE.

YOU CAN GO VOTE THIS WEEKEND.

BUT THE OTHER ONE IS LOOK UP THE CANDIDATES.

LOOK THEM UP.

THERE'S VOTE 411.

THERE'S OTHER WAYS TO DO THIS.

LAST I'LL SAY THIS.

IF YOU FACE ANY ISSUE OR EVEN IF YOU JUST HAVE A QUESTION, WANT TO KNOW WHERE YOUR POLLING PLACE IS, CALL.

NONPARTISAN ELECTION PROTECTION IS HERE TO HELP 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

CALL US.

WE'LL HELP YOU.

>> GO YE FORTH AND VOTE.

HENLE PATEL, DIRECTOR OF THE DEMOCRACY IN JUSTICE PROGRAM FOR THE NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> GREAT SEEING YOU TOO.

BYE, EVERYONE.

>>> WE CLOSE TODAY WITH A DISCUSSION ABOUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES FACING US THAT NONE OF THE MIDTERM CANDIDATES SEEM TO BE TALKING ABOUT.

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, ESPECIALLY AS WE MARK THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF SUPERSTORM SANDY.

MARCUS SIBLEY IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVIST, CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW JERSEY PROGRESSIVE EQUITABLE ENERGY COALITION, AND JEFF TITTLE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST AND RETIRED DIRECTOR OF THE NEW JERSEY CHAPTER OF THE SIERRA CLUB.

GENTS, GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

LET'S START WITH SANDY, WHICH DEVASTATED THE STATE A DECADE AGO AND STILL RESONATES TODAY.

JEFF, YOU WERE PART OF THE HUD SANDY TASK FORCE AND THE FEMA SANDY TASK FORCE.

HAVE WE MADE ANY PROGRESS IN THE LAST TEN YEARS?

>> NO.

IN FACT, I THINK WE'VE GONE BACKWARDS BECAUSE WE'VE ALLOWED ALL THIS DEVELOPMENT TO HAPPEN DOWN THE SHORE IN SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE AREAS WHEN IT COMES TO SEA LEVEL RISE AND STORM SURGES.

NEW JERSEY IS NUMBER TWO IN THE NATION AFTER FLORIDA FOR BUILDING IN THESE VULNERABLE AREAS.

ALSO WE BUILT BACK A LOT OF WHAT WAS DESTROYED IN SANDY IN THE EXACT SAME LOCATION AND IN THE EXACT SAME WAY, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY BECOMING MORE VULNERABLE.

THAT'S EVEN TRUE WITH INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE AS STORMS ARE GETTING WORSE, WE'RE NOW ALMOST 20 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE ANOTHER SANDY.

WE MAY HAVE SOMETHING MUCH WORSE COMING OUR WAY.

WE'VE HAD IDA.

SO THE CONCERN IS THAT WE'RE NOT STRONGER THAN THE NEXT STORM.

WE'RE SORT OF LIKE AN OSTRICH WITH ITS HEAD IN THE SAND AND A GIANT WAVE IS COMING RIGHT AT US.

>> YIKES.

>> MARCUS, MILES TO GO STILL?

>> I THINK WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS MORE WORK THAT CAN BE DONE.

WE DEFINITELY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED WHAT'S BEEN CAUSING THESE STORMS.

THERE'S MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES THAT IS LEADING TO MORE FREQUENT STORMS.

SO THERE IS ABSOLUTELY MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

BUT I DO AGREE WITH JEFF.

THERE HAVE BEEN DEVELOPMENTS IN PLACES THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE DEVELOPMENTS.

THAT'S GOING TO PUT MORE PEOPLE IN HARM'S WAY AS THESE STORMS INCREASE.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS MORE WORK THAT CAN BE DONE.

>> LET ME STICK WITH YOU, MARCUS.

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST COLLECTIVE FAILURE AND THE BIGGEST SUCCESS COMING OUT OF SANDY?

>> I WOULD START WITH FAILURE.

THE BIGGEST FAILURE IS THAT WE STILL DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW WE HAVE TO MEET THIS MOMENT.

LIKE WE ARE LITERALLY IN A CLIMATE CRISIS.

IT IS URGENT.

WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE SPEAKING ONLINE ABOUT HOW URGENT IT IS, IT ACTUALLY IS THAT URGENT.

SO WE'VE BEEN TAKING SOME GREAT STEPS, INVESTMENTS IN MORE RENEWABLE ENERGIES TO TRY TO LESSEN OUR RELIANCE ON FOSSIL FUELS.

BUT THERE'S STILL MORE INVESTMENTS, STILL MORE WORK, STILL MORE LEGISLATION THAT IS REQUIRED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEET THIS HEAD-ON.

I WOULD SAY THE BIGGEST SUCCESS WOULD BE NOW WE SEE WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN A LOT OF LOW TO MODERATE-INCOME BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, LIKE THE FLOODING THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF SANDY HAS BEEN HAPPENING ALL ALONG IN MANY COMMUNITIES.

SO THIS HAS BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHED LIGHT ON WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE FLOOD MITIGATION AND YOU DON'T HAVE OTHER PRACTICES TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE IN A GOOD POSITION WHEN THESE THINGS CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.

SO, YOU KNOW, DAVID, I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE, BUT I THINK SANDY DEFINITELY SHONE A LIGHT ON OUR STATE AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

>> JEFF, AS YOU SAID, WE BUILT BACK BUT NOT BETTER.

SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OVER THE LAST DECADE?

>> WELL, I THINK THE SUCCESS HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND FLOODING, ESPECIALLY HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

BUT THE FAILURE IS THAT WE HAVEN'T STEMMED THE TIDE OR COME ANYWHERE CLOSE.

WE SEE RECORD-HIGH TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE WORLD.

WE SEE MASSIVE DROUGHTS.

WE SEE, YOU KNOW, FLOODS THAT ARE INCREDIBLE AT DIFFERENT PLACES.

WE SAWFISH BOILING OUT IN PUGET SOUND.

AND SO WE'VE JUST BARELY BEGUN TO SCRATCH THE SURFACE.

EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A LOT OF PUBLIC SUPPORT, WE HAVE TO GET THE POLITICAL WILL, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE CLIMATE CHANGE ONE OF THE TOP ISSUES FACING THE VOTERS IN THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS THIS YEAR AND FUTURE YEARS AND HOLDING THE POLITICIANS ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ACTUALLY DO THINGS AND NOT JUST GIVE LIP SERVICE.

>> MARCUS, YOU KIND OF TOUCHES ON THIS IN YOUR LAST ANSWER.

WE HEAR ABOUT THE SHORE AND SOME OF THE STATE'S ENDANGERED NATURAL RESOURCES, BUT OUR URBAN AREAS, NEWARK, JERSEY CITY, PATERSON, FACE THEIR OWN CHALLENGES, WHETHER IT'S TRUCK TRAFFIC TO THE PORTS OR GAS-BURNING POWER PLANTS IN CARNEY.

CITIES ARE OFTEN AN AFTERTHOUGHT, NO?

>> THEY ACTUALLY ARE.

AND THE UNDERSTATED POINT ARE THE ACTUALLY HOW SIGNIFICANT THE HEALTH IMPACTS ARE.

LIKE WE OFTEN SPEAK ABOUT ASTHMA, AND ASTHMA IS ABSOLUTELY A HUGE ISSUE.

IT'S THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY KIDS MISS SCHOOL.

AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE ASTHMA.

IT IS A BIG ISSUE, BUT THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES.

THERE ARE LOW BIRTH RATE.

THERE ARE PREMATURE DEATHS.

CANCER.

ALL TYPE D THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF IMPACTS OF IT.

WHEN WE DON'T GIVE IT THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES, THIS IS AN EQUITY ISSUE.

THIS IS A SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE.

WE KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THESE RED LINE COMMUNITIES HAVE ALWAYS DEALT WITH THESE DISPROPORTIONATE ISSUES.

WHEN WE IGNORE IT AND WHEN PEOPLE CAN BE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND NOT SPEAK ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THESE THINGS, VOTERS NEED TO TAKE ISSUE WITH THAT.

VOTERS NEED TO DEMAND OF THEIR POLITICIANS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AFTER THESE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE FAR TOO OFTEN, IT'S BEEN THE SAME COMMUNITIES WHO DON'T RECEIVE THE FUNDING.

WE HAVE A LOT OF FUNDING COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE MAKING SURE THAT THOSE FUNDS GET DOWN TO, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE NEWARKS AND THE PERTH AMBOYS?

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THOSE MONIES GET THERE BECAUSE AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, THESE PLACES HAVE BEEN FLOODING.

THESE PLACES HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH HEAT ISLAND ISSUES AND ALL TYPES OF CLIMATE CHANGE-RELATED ISSUES FOR DECADES.

SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT WE NEED OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DO THEIR JOB.

THIS IS THEIR JOB TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS.

>> SO WHY ARE WE NOT TALKING ABOUT IT?

WHY ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CANDIDATES NOT TALKING ABOUT IT, MARCUS?

>> WELL, THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL THAT THIS GROUP HAS ENOUGH POLITICAL POWER.

IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO POWER.

SO THIS IS WHY WE ENCOURAGE ALL COMMUNITIES TO GET OUT AND VOTE, BUT NOT ONLY VOTE TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE NUMBERS.

WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE THE NUMBERS TO MAKE CHANGE.

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T REALLY INVESTED IN THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC BECAUSE OTHER TOPICS DEMAND -- THEY GET MORE ATTENTION.

LIKE SO POLICE BRUTALITY, THERE'S A POLICE ISSUE.

THAT WILL GET MORE ATTENTION THAN POLLUTION.

BUT POLLUTION AND AIR POLLUTION SPECIFICALLY IS KILLING MORE BLACK PEOPLE THAN ANYTHING.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE POLICE BRUTALITY AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO GET ENGAGED WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR CLIMATE BECAUSE THAT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT.

SO BECAUSE OF THOSE REASONS, BECAUSE WE AREN'T FOCUSING OUR ATTENTION ON IT LIKE WE SHOULD, POLITICIANS THINK THAT THEY CAN JUST COME AROUND THREE OR FOUR WEEKS BEFORE AN ELECTION, HUG A COUPLE PEOPLE, SHAKE A COUPLE HANDS, AND THEN THAT COUNTS AS THEIR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY.

SO THE COMMUNITY HAS TO DO MORE TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE VIABLE.

WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT.

>> JEFF, YOU NEED AN ENVIRONMENTALIST SUPER PAC OR SOMETHING, NO?

>> WELL, WE NEED MORE THAN THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE GOT THINGS DONE BECAUSE WE SHOWED UP.

THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT, 50 YEARS AGO I WAS PART OF A CROWD OF 250,000 PEOPLE THAT STOOD IN FRONT OF THE CAPITOL AND PROTESTED NIXON VETOING THE CLEAN WATER ACT.

THE SENATE OVERRODE THAT VETO 94-3.

WE NEED TO GO TO THE STREETS.

WE NEED TO GO TO THE BARRICADES.

WE NEED TO PROTEST.

WE NEED TO LOBBY.

WE NEED TO REGISTER VOTERS.

WE HAVE TO DO ALL OF THE ABOVE.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF IMPORTANT CHANGES DONE IN THE STATE AND THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE WE STOOD UP TO THE POLITICIANS AND WE MADE THE ENVIRONMENT AN ISSUE.

WE DIDN'T JUST GO TO MEETINGS WHERE THEY GET A CHANCE TO TAP DANCE AROUND US.

>> SO YOU TALK ABOUT POLITICS AND POLITICIANS.

LET'S GO TO RIGHT TO THE TOP.

LET ME GET YOUR SINCE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD OF THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION.

MARCUS, LET'S START WITH YOU.

>> I WOULD SAY THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION IS DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB.

THEY ARE FIRST UNDERSTANDING THAT OFFSHORE WIND AND OTHER SOURCES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IS A GREAT WAY TO LESSEN OUR RELIANCE ON FOSSIL FUELS.

SO THERE'S BEEN ABSOLUTE INVESTMENTS IN OFFSHORE WIND AND OTHER RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I'M FORTUNATE TO BE ON A COUPLE DIFFERENT COALITIONS THAT WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN MAKING SURE WE'RE PUTTING THE INPUT TO MAKE SURE EQUITY IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING.

SO IN THAT REGARD, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY OPEN TO FEEDBACK AND CRITICISM AT TIMES AS WELL.

BUT ALSO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PUSH BECAUSE SOMETIMES INCONGRUENT DECISIONS ARE MADE.

SO IF WE'RE PUSHING TOWARDS RENEWABLE, BUT THEN IN THE NEXT SENTENCE, WE WILL MAKE A REINVESTMENT IN THE FOSSIL FUEL PROJECT.

AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THE GOVERNOR TO STAY ON COURSE WITH OUR CLIMATE TARGETS AND OUR GOALS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE LITERALLY DYING.

IT IS THAT DIRE.

FOSSIL FUELS ARE IMPACTING PARTICULARLY BLACK AND BROWN AND POOR COMMUNITIES.

WORST AND FIRST, WE ARE THE FRONT LINE OF THIS CLIMATE CRISIS.

WE NEED ACTIONS THAT ARE DEFINITIVE AND INVESTMENTS THAT ARE DEFINITIVE AND INTENTIONAL SO WE CAN MAKE SURE NOT ONLY ARE WE CLEANING THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE AREN'T LEFT BEHIND FINANCIALLY AS WELL AS HEALTH-WISE.

I THINK WE CAN GET THERE, DAVID.

I TRULY BELIEVE IF WE CONTINUE TO MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS AND WORK TOGETHER, WE COULD ACTUALLY HELP THE PLANET AND HELP THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EXPLOITED.

>> JEFF, YOU'VE BEEN A PAIN IN THE SIDE OF SEVERAL ADMINISTRATIONS IN TRENTON.

I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO DISAGREE A LITTLE BIT WITH MARCUS ON THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION RECORD.

>> I THINK THAT THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK AND NO ACTION.

EVERY MAJOR CHRISTIE ROLLBACK FROM COASTAL ROLLS TO DEALING WITH FLOODING ARE STILL IN PLACE.

HERE WE ARE FIVE YEARS AFTER HE BECAME GOVERNOR AND FOUR YEARS AFTER HE PROMISED TO GET RID OF THOSE RULES AND REPLACE THEM WITH STRONGER RULES, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE SAME RUBRIC OF GOVERNOR CHRISTIE'S ROLLBACKS.

WE'RE NOT CLEANING UP OUR TOXIC SITES LIKE WE SHOULD BE.

WE'RE NOT AGGRESSIVELY GOING AFTER POLLUTERS THAT ARE POISONING OUR CITIES AND OUR RURAL AREAS, SUPERFUND SITES AND OTHER DUMPING.

OUR SOLID WASTE PROGRAM IS A MESS.

IT CAN GO ON AND ON.

YOU KNOW, OFFSHORE WIND IS GOOD, BUT THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT ANY OF THAT OFFSHORE WIND IS GOING TO REPLACE ONSHORE POWER PLANTS.

AT THE SAME TIME THE GOVERNOR TALKS ABOUT OFFSHORE WIND, THERE ARE FOSSIL FUEL PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND THE STATE IS STILL INVESTING ITS PENSION FUNDS IN FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES.

SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK, A LOT OF GOOD THINGS THEY'VE STARTED TO WORK ON.

BUT WE HAVE TO SEE DELIVERABLES.

IT'S TEN YEARS AFTER SANDY, AND WE STILL HAVEN'T HAD ONE RULE PROPOSED OR ADOPTED THAT ACTUALLY DEALS WITH CLIMATE CHANGE ACROSS THE BOARD, AND WE HAVE TO REFORM OUR COASTAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE STILL PRO-DEVELOPMENT, THAT DON'T LOOK AT PROTECTING PEOPLE FROM FLOODING AND FROM CLIMATE CHANGE.

IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR, AGAIN, LIKES TO PLAY TO THE AUDIENCE, BUT THERE HAS TO BE DELIVERABLES, AND THE DELIVERABLES ARE NOT THERE, AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT, AS IT IS FOR US AND FOR THE PLANET.

>> MARCUS SIBLEY, JEFF TITTLE, GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AND THAT'S "CHAT BOX" FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR THANKS ALSO TO SENATOR DECLAN O'SCANLON AND HANEL PATEL.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @DAVID KRCRUZ NJ.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FROM ALL THE CREW HERE AT GATEWAY CENTER, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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