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

MORE INFORMATION IF ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM RJW BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

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

♪ >>> HI, EVERYBODY, WELCOME TO REPORTERS ROUND TABLE, I'M DAVID CRUZ.

WELL, JUST IN TIME FOR THE BIG FOOTBALL GAME THIS WEEKEND GOVERNOR MURPHY ANNOUNCING THAT HE IS EXPANDING CAPACITY FOR INDOOR DINING AND OTHER STUFF LIKE LIVE SHOWS AND WEDDINGS.

SOME ARE APPLAUDING THE MOVE, AND SOME ARE SAYING IT'S TOO LITTLE AND MAYBE A LITTLE TOO LATE FOR SOME BUSINESSES.

WE'LL SEE WHAT OUR GUEST THINKS.

HE'S AN ACTIVE CRITIC OF THE GOVERNOR'S COVID POLICIES, BUT STILL MANAGES TO KEEP A CIVIL TONGUE NO MATTER HOW MUCH SOME OF YOU ON TWITTER TRY TO BAIT HIM.

SENATOR, WELCOME TO THE SHOW, MAN.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> HI, DAVID.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO, CAPACITY UP FROM 25% TO 35%.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS, AND I'M QUOTING HERE, I FEEL CONFIDENT IN SIGNING THIS ORDER BECAUSE OF THE RECENT TRENDS IN OUR HOSPITALS AND OUR RATES OF TRANSMISSIONS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE DATA DICTATES DECISIONS, BUT DID HE GIVE ANY REAL DATA TO SUPPORT THIS DECISION?

>> NO, HE NEVER HAS, AND IT DOESN'T EXIST.

WE ARE -- WE KNOW, FOR A FACT, BECAUSE WE HAVE EXPERIENCE IN VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER STATE IN THE NATION, CERTAINLY EVERY OTHER STATE IN THE NORTHEAST, THAT SAYS YOU CAN GO TO 50, GO TO 75%, WHICH WOULD MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE FOR THESE RESTAURANTS, AND HAVE NO NEGATIVE IMPACT ON TRANSMISSION RATES OR OTHER HEALTH METRICS.

THE ONLY CORRELATION THAT WE DO KNOW WITH NEW JERSEY'S OVERLY TIMID AND RESTRICTIVE, UNNECESSARILY TIMID AND RESTRICTIVE RESTRICTIONS, IS UNEMPLOYMENT RATES AND BUSINESS FAILURES AND THE STRESS WE PUT ON OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY, IT'S JUST -- THIS IS THROWING CRUMBS AT SOMEONE WHO'S STARVING.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

AND IT CONTINUES, THE TIMIDITY AND OVERRESTRICTIVE POSITION THAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S TAKEN THE WHOLE TIME.

AND LOOK, I'M ALL FOR RESTRICTIONS THAT MAKE SENSE.

IF YOU GIVE ME THE SCIENCE AND YOU GIVE ME THE EXPERIENCE, YOU SHOW ME WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE FACTS, I'M HAPPY TO BACK THE POLICY.

AND I DID EARLY ON.

NO ONE KNEW WHAT WAS -- WHAT WE WERE FACING, REALLY, BACK IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR, APRIL.

IT WAS OKAY.

I GET IT.

BUT WE HAVE BEEN OVERLY TIMID AND RESTRICTIVE SINCE THEN, AND WE'VE UNNECESSARILY DAMAGED BUSINESSES, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

I LOVE HOW THE GOVERNOR SAID, WELL -- >> PART OF THE CREDIBILITY IS THAT -- >> ARE YOU HERE?

>> SORRY.

>> NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THE DATA IS THAT THEY'RE USING TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.

>> THEY HAVE NOT SHOWN US ANY DATA.

BECAUSE, BY THE WAY, THE DATA DOESN'T EXIST.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

IT'S A WHIM.

>> POLITICS IN YOUR MIND?

>> I THINK IT'S A COMPETENCE QUESTION.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT POLITICALLY -- WHAT POLITICAL BENEFIT THEY GET FROM THESE OVERLY RESTRICTIVE POLICIES.

I THINK IT'S A COMPETENCE QUESTION, AND A FAILURE TO ACCEPT THE REALITY THAT THEY'VE BEEN WRONG WITH THESE OVERLY RESTRICTIVE POLICIES.

AND AGAIN, THE GOVERNOR NOW IS SAYING, WELL, BUT WE'VE BEEN CONSISTENT THE WHOLE TIME.

YOU CAN'T MAKE UP FOR POLICY THAT SUCKS BY SAYING, AT LEAST WE WERE CONSISTENT WITH IT.

THAT DOESN'T WORK.

I SCRATCH MY HEAD WHEN I HEAR HIM SAY THAT.

YES, OTHER STATES HAVE GONE HIGHER, 75%, 100%, AND THEN BACK DOWN WHEN NECESSARY.

FINE.

PEOPLE WOULD ACCEPT THAT.

BUT TO SAY WE'VE BP OVERLY RESTRICTIVE BUT CONSISTENT ISN'T -- DOESN'T MAKE THE POLICY A GOOD ONE.

>> WHAT'S AN APPROPRIATE CAPACITY LEVEL FOR BARS, RESTAURANTS, ET CETERA, IN YOUR MIND?

WOULD YOU GO TO 100%?

>> I WOULD GO TO 50%, 75%, VERY EASILIMENT THERE ARE STATES THAT HAVE BEEN AT 100% AND DON'T SEEM TO BE SHOWING ANY NEGATIVE HEALTH OR OTHER HEALTH METRIC PROBLEMS.

>> SO, LET'S SAY YOU DO THAT.

LET'S SAY YOU DO THAT, RIGHT, AND NUMBERS OF INFECTIONS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS INCREASE IN THE TWO WEEKS AFTER, WHAT DATA WOULD DRIVE YOUR DECISION?

>> NOW, THAT'S A FALSE PREMISE, BECAUSE WE KNOW, OTHER STATES HAVE GONE TO THOSE PERCENTAGES AND THERE IS NO FOLLOWING TWO-WEEK BUMP.

THAT'S COUNTERINTUITIVE, MAYBE, BUT IT'S THE REALITY F. YOU LOOK AT ALL THE NORTHEAST STATES, WE'VE DONE THE WORK.

YOU'VE SEEN THE CHART THAT I PRODUCED THAT SHOWED THE HEALTH METRICS IN EVERY NORTHEAST STATE AND THEY'RE ALL OPEN IN GREATER CAPACITIES THAN WE ARE AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAVE BETTER METRICS THAN WE DO, SO NO, I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT PREMISE.

IF YOU WANT TO DEAL WITH A HYPOTHETICAL AND YOU DID HAVE AN INCREASE, THEN YOU CAN BACK DOWN.

THAT'S FINE.

AND RESTAURANTS AND OWNERS, THESE BUSINESS OWNERS, WILL UNDERSTAND THAT AND ACCEPT IT.

>> I HAVE LIMITED TIME AND TWO QUESTIONS, RIGHT?

SO, LET ME GET THE FIRST ONE IN, IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

HOW IS THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION GOING?

>> WE COULD IMPROVE DRAMATICALLY.

THE BIG PROBLEM IS IN THE REGISTRATION PROCESS.

IT'S A DISASTER.

AND IT REALLY IS A MESS.

WE'VE PUT TOGETHER, MY OFFICE, ALL THE SITES YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP ON IF YOU WANT TO GET A VACCINE IN MONMOUTH COUNTY, AND IT'S LIKE FIVE OR SIX.

IT'S A PROBLEM.

ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS AND JUST CAN'T HANDLE THAT -- THOSE SYSTEMS.

AND SOME OF THEM ARE FAIRLY COMPLICATED.

SO, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

BUT LOOK, I CAN'T LAY ALL THE VACCINE ROLLOUT ISSUES ON THE GOVERNOR.

IT'S SUPPLY IS THE PROBLEM.

THAT'S A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ISSUE THAT HAS TO IMPROVE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET TO AROUND 375,000 DOSES A WEEK IN NEW JERSEY, 25,000 OR SO DOSES IN MONMOUTH COUNTY.

WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR THERE.

WE'VE GOT TO RAMP UP AND GET THERE AND BE HONEST WITH PEOPLE AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT WHO GETS VACCINATED, AND THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC GROUP OF PEOPLE.

SHOULD TEACHERS BE AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST?

>> TEACHERS SHOULD BE IN THE LIST NOW.

WE WANT THEM TO GO BACK TO THE CLASSROOM.

IT DOESN'T POSE A HUGE RISK TO THEM BUT IF WE WANT TO INSIST THEY BE OUT IN PUBLIC WITH OUR KIDS, THEY SHOULD BE ON THE LIST.

EVEN IF THEY WERE ON THE LIST, GETTING DOSES TO THEM IS AS HARD AS GETTING DOSES TO ANYONE ELSE RIGHT NOW.

HOPEFULLY THAT WILL FREE UP BUT THEY SHOULD BE ON THE LIST.

AND MAYBE WE SHOULD MAKE AN ACCOMMODATION, GO INTO SOME OF THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO A PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR TEACHERS IN THESE DISTRICTS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT.

BUT ALSO WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE TO THE DETRIMENT OF OLDER FOLKS AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO MUCH GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF SERIOUS ILLNESS OR DEATH, SO WE GOT TO BALANCE ALL THAT OUT.

AND BE FAIR TO EVERYONE.

>> RIGHT.

MORE VACCINE NEEDED.

ALL RIGHT, SENATOR O'SCANLON, THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

LET'S BRING IN OUR PANEL.

KAREN COVERS NEW JERSEY FOR WNYC.

MICHAEL IS COLUMNIST FOR THE RECORD AND MICHAEL HILL IS ANCHOR, CORRESPONDENT, FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

HEY, PANEL.

LET'S PICK UP ON THIS INDOOR CAPACITY EXPANSION JUST IN TIME FOR THE SUPER BOWL.

MICHAEL HILL, FIRST OFF, WHO YOU GOT IN THE GAME?

AND IS A 10% INCREASE IN CAPACITY REALLY GOING TO MEAN MUCH FOR RESTAURANTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES?

>> I CAN SAY THAT I HOPE IT DOES, BECAUSE THEY ARE HURTING IN SO MANY WAYS, AND IF THEY DON'T GET MORE HELP THEN SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO FAIL.

I AM A HUGE, HUGE, HUGE PATRICK MAHOMES FAN.

BELATEDLY, I'VE BECOME A TOM BRADY FAN AS WELL BECAUSE ANYBODY AT 43 YEARS OF AGE WHO CAN DIRECT A TEAM LIKE TAMPA BAY THAT DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE ELEMENTS AND SO FORTH, TO A SUPER BOWL, I MEAN, HE IS -- HE'S THE BEST QUARTERBACK THAT HAS EVER BEEN IN THE NFL, BUT I AM A HUGE, HUGE PATRICK MAHOMES FAN.

>> ALL RIGHT, KAREN, I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE MORE AN INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL FAN.

YOU GOT A PICK FOR THE GAME?

>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO'S PLAYING, I'M SORRY.

>> ALL RIGHT, GOOD.

LOTS OF RESTAURANTS HAVE BEEN INCHING PAST THIS 25% CAPACITY ANYWAY.

HOW MUCH OF THIS IS THE GOVERNOR BOWING TO PRESSURE FROM INDUSTRY AND HOW MUCH OF IT IS ACTUAL DATA?

>> WELL, I THINK TO THE SENATOR'S POINT EARLIER, THAT'S BEEN THE PROBLEM, RIGHT, WITH THESE CLOSINGS AND THESE REOPENINGS.

HE KEEPS SAYING -- THE GOVERNOR KEEPS SAYING DATA DETERMINES SPACE BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT DATA, AND THE DATA IS THERE.

WE JUST HAVEN'T BEEN TOLD, THESE ARE THE BENCHMARKS, THIS IS THE THRESHOLD AT WHICH WE WILL REOPEN TO CERTAIN CAPACITY OR WHICH WE WILL CLOSE, AND SO TO PUT THIS IN CONTEXT, WHEN THE GOVERNOR IMPLEMENTED A 10:00 P.M.

CURFEW FOR THESE RESTAURANTS, WE HAD LOWER CASE RATES AND A LOWER POSITIVITY THAN WE DO NOW, AND RIGHT NOW, HE'S LIFTED THAT CURFEW.

SO, WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS THAT HE'S POINTING TO AND WHERE ARE CASES COMING FROM?

ARE THEY COMING FROM RESTAURANTS?

YOU KNOW, IS INFECTION NOT HAPPENING IN RESTAURANTS, IT'S JUSTIFIED THIS MEASURE?

SO WITHOUT THAT FACT, YEAH, I THINK YOU CAN -- PEOPLE CAN TAKE FROM IT, YOU KNOW, IS HE BOWING TO POLITICAL PRESSURE, IS HE BOWING TO INDUSTRY PRESSURE, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THE REASON BEHIND IT.

>> MIKE KELLY, THIS IS REALLY KIND OF A RACE AGAINST TIME, RIGHT?

I MEAN, AS MUCH AS THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO SAY THAT IT'S ABOUT HARD DATA, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THIS IS OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S HANDS, NO?

>> WELL, YEAH.

AND PICKING UP ON WHAT KAREN SAID ABOUT THE DATA, I DON'T TRUST THE DATA THAT I HAVE SEEN.

THE DATA THAT I HAVE SEEN IS LARGELY FROM THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S CREDIBLE.

YOU KNOW WHAT, WHEN MURPHY DID THIS, I THOUGHT, THIS IS THE KIND OF STUFF THAT DONALD TRUMP WOULD PULL, YOU KNOW?

AND THIS IS WHY I DON'T THINK WE CAN HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH DECISIONS IN THE HANDS OF POLITICIANS, ESPECIALLY POLITICIANS THAT ARE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTIONMENT.

IT JUST ISN'T CREDIBLE.

>> ALL RIGHT, WHO DO YOU GOT, KC OR TAMPA BAY?

>> KC IS GOING TO WIN BY THREE TOUCHDOWNS.

>> OKAY.

>> TAKE IT TO THE BANK.

>> WOW.

21-POINT SPREAD?

KAREN, VACCINES IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, VACCINATION RATES AMONG BLACK PEOPLE AND LATINOS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS BY MANY ACCOUNTS.

NOT ONLY IN NEW JERSEY BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I GUESS THE NUMBER OF FACTORS ARE HOLDING PEOPLE BACK, YES?

>> YES, I MEAN, THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM.

FOR ONE, WE DO KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF THE RACE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING VACCINATIONS, 3% BLACK, 5% LATINO.

WE KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM, WAS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.

WE HAVE TO OVERCOME HESITANCY IN THESE COMMUNITIES BUT ALSO THE BURDENS OF ACCESS, RIGHT, AND I THINK PART OF THE ISSUE IN HOW THE VACCINATION PROGRAM HAS BEEN ROLLED OUT, WE KNEW THERE WERE DISPARITIES IN COMMUNITIES AND THIS NEEDS TO BE BUILT INTO THE PROGRAM.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PARTNERING WITH HOUSES OF WORSHIP AND DOING MOBILE UNITS INTO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, BUT WHY WASN'T THIS DONE EARLIER?

WHY WASN'T THE CALL CENTER SET UP?

THAT'S ANOTHER WAY WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT HAVING ACCESS TO THESE VACCINES, PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, DIGITAL DIVIDE, PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE INTERNET ACCESS, WHO DON'T HAVE TIME TO KEEP CLICKING REFRESH, AND SO IF WE'RE REALLY INTENTIONAL ABOUT TRYING TO GET RID OF THESE DISPARITIES THAT WE KNOW COVID HAS EXACERBATED, THEN THESE SORT OF SOLUTIONS NEED TO BE BUILT INTO THE INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT SORT OF SEEN AS SORT OF LIKE AFTER THE FACT SOLUTIONS.

>> MICHAEL HILL, YOU GOT YOUR FIRST JAB THIS WEEK.

WHAT WERE -- YOU HAD RESERVATIONS GOING IN.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE?

>> IT WAS SIMPLE.

MY RESERVATION WAS THAT I HAVE HAD FLU SHOTS BEFORE AND THEY MADE ME FEEL AS IF I HAD THE FLU OR WORSE, AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS HAVE EXPLAINED TO ME WHY THAT WAS, THAT I'M BUILDING THE ANTIBODIES.

BUT I HAD RESERVATIONS.

I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE EXPERIMENTAL ABUSE OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND LATINOS IN THIS COUNTRY, AND THAT'S REAL.

MY CONCERN IN GETTING OVER THAT, MY CONCERN IS THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO MEET THE SAME FATE THAT MY OWN MOTHER MET IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR WHERE SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THIS VIRUS AND BY THE TIME SHE WAS DIAGNOSED, SHE'S 89 YEARS OELD, COMPETING UNDERLYIN HEALTH ISSUES AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT SHE HAD NO CHANCE.

SHE WAS SO SICK BY THE TIME THAT SHE REACHED THE HOSPITAL, SHE WASN'T EVEN A CANDIDATE FOR A VENTILATOR.

THEY SAID, IF YOU PUT HER ON THAT AND SHE SURVIVED, HER LIFE WOULDN'T BE THE SAME ANYWAY.

THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS DID A LOT TO TRY TO HELP HER BUT HER CONDITION WAS -- AND I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT WAS REALLY BEYOND HELP AT THAT POINT AND SHE SUFFERED.

SHE REALLY SUFFERED AT THE END.

AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO ME.

IF ME GETTING THE FLU VACCINE, THE FIRST DOSE YESTERDAY, THE SECOND DOSE IN THREE WEEKS HELPS PEOPLE MAKE A DECISION, IT IS A PERSONAL CHOICE.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO REPORT YESTERDAY.

THIS IS A PERSONAL DECISION I AM MAKING.

IF IT INFLUENCES OTHER PEOPLE TO THINK THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE HERD IMMUNITY AND A SAFER SOCIETY, THEN SO BE IT.

BUT FOR ME, IT WAS A PERSONAL DECISION, BUT I WANTED TO SHOW PEOPLE WHAT THE PROCESS WAS AS WELL.

>> ALSO, CAN WE SAY, CHECK OUT THE GUNS ON MICHAEL HILL?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

LOOK.

MIKE, I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT THAT'S -- IT'S JUST -- LOOK, DAVID, DON'T EMBARRASS ME.

>> IT'S GRATUITOUS IS WHAT IT IS.

MIKE KELLY, IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR NOW.

THE GOVERNOR'S GOT ABOUT TEN MONTHS TO EITHER BE THE HERO OF THE PANDEMIC OR THE GUY WHO GOT TAKEN DOWN BY COVID.

WHERE IS HE RIGHT NOW?

>> OH, I THINK HE'S, YOU KNOW, RIDING A GOOD WAVE.

AS A VERY WISE PERSON ONCE SAID TO ME, ELECTIONS BASICALLY COME DOWN TO ONE PERSON RUNNING AGAINST ANOTHER, AND RIGHT NOW, GOVERNOR MURPHY IS BASICALLY RUNNING AGAINST THE JV TEAM.

THE REPUBLICANS JUST DON'T HAVE A BENCH HERE AT ALL, NOT TO USE TOO MANY SPORTS ANALOGIES, BUT I THINK MURPHY'S RIDING FAIRLY WELL.

I MEAN, JUST TO PICK UP ON SOMETHING THAT KAREN SAID, I THINK THE ORGANIZATION IN DISTRIBUTING THESE VACCINES HAS BEEN BOTCHED.

IT'S BEEN BOTCHED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

AND IT'S BEEN BOTCHED HERE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

TO RELY ON, YOU KNOW, SIGNING UP ON -- THROUGH THE INTERNET, I THINK, IS ASKING A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT THIS THROUGH AHEAD OF TIME, AND WHAT WE'RE NOW SEEING, THIS GRIDLOCK, SO TO SPEAK, WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO GET VACCINES.

IT'S REALLY DISGUSTING.

AND IT WON'T IMPROVE UNTIL WE GET -- UNTIL WE GET MORE SUPPLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I WANT TO SWITCH GEARS HERE FOR A MINUTE.

AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, OUR COLLEAGUE, MICHAEL HILL, IS LEAVING US THIS WEEK.

HE'S GOING ON TO A GREAT NEW OPPORTUNITY AT NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO, WNYC.

I WANTED TO GIVE MIKE KELLY AND KAREN AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHIME IN ON MICHAEL HILL'S FINAL DAY WITH US.

LET'S START WITH YOU, MIKE KELLY.

>> HAPPY TO DO SO.

MICHAEL, FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS.

I'VE ALWAYS ADMIRED BEING ON THE AIR WITH YOU.

I STARTED WRITING DOWN, COOL, CALM, COLLECTED, AND A GREAT, GREAT VOICE.

YOU'RE GOING TO REALLY SUCCEED, I THINK, WITH NPR, AND I WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST.

>> THANK YOU, MICHAEL.

>> KAREN, HE'S YOUR PROBLEM NOW.

>> I AM SO EXCITED TO BE WORKING WITH MICHAEL.

WHEN I HEARD THE NEWS, I WAS ECSTATIC.

I IMMEDIATELY TEXTED HIM.

I COVERED NEWARK FOR A LONG TIME AND RUNNING INTO MICHAEL IN THE FIELD, HEARING MICHAEL'S PERSPECTIVE ON NEWARK AND ITS HISTORY JUST -- HE'S SO PROFESSIONAL.

HE ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT THINGS IN CONTEXT, AND HE'S ALWAYS LOOKING AT WHAT THINGS MEAN FOR PEOPLE, RIGHT?

WHO IS HARMED, WHO IS LEFT BEHIND, AND I THINK HE -- BEING ABLE TO RAISE THAT TO A REGIONAL LEVEL, THAT PERSPECTIVE IS GOING TO BE SO GREAT FOR OUR LISTENERS, AND I THINK HAVING HIS FACE TO WAKE UP TO IN THE MORNING IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL TREAT FOR EVERYONE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ANYTHING TO SAY TO THESE TWO CHARACTERS?

>> WELL, I CAN'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH.

MIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK OF YOUR REPORTING, YOUR PERSPECTIVE, FROM YOUR COLUMNS AND SO FORTH.

I THINK IT'S SO NEEDED.

EVEN THE COLUMNS YOU RECENTLY WROTE ABOUT WHETHER THERE EVEN SHOULD BE AN IMPEACHMENT.

I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO REALLY -- IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

REALLY CONSIDER THAT.

KAREN, I'VE SEEN YOU.

I'VE SEEN YOUR WRITING IN THE ONLINE.

I'VE HEARD YOU REPEATEDLY ON WNYC, AND YOU KNOW -- YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SAY WHAT I THINK OF YOUR REPORTING IN THIS BROADCAST, BUT YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW WHAT I TOLD YOU DURING THE SUMMER, THAT I WOULD TRY TO DO.

AND OF COURSE, I CAN'T MENTION IT HERE, BUT I THINK THE WORLD OF YOU AND MIKE, THE SAME THING.

YOUR PERSPECTIVE OVER THE YEARS ABOUT NEW JERSEY AND HAPPENINGS IN NEW JERSEY, IT'S -- IT HAS BEEN, I MEAN, INVALUABLE.

REALLY HAS BEEN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE WISH YOU THE BEST.

I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING ON WITH US, AND WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN VERY SOON.

>> BE WELL.

GOOD LUCK, MICHAEL.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MICHAEL, ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS IS JOINING US HERE WITH A MESSAGE FOR YOU.

>> HEY, MICHAEL, DID YOU REALLY THINK YOU WERE GOING TO GET AWAY WITHOUT YOUR FRIENDS EMBARRASSING YOU A LITTLE AND WAXING POETIC?

YOU KNOW IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING HOW MUCH YOU'LL BE MISSED.

YOU ARE A TRUE MASTER AT YOUR CRAFT, AND MORE THAN THAT, YOU ARE SO HUMBLE AND SO UNASSUMING, AS WE ALL SEE HERE, YOU ARE NEVER ONE TO TAKE A COMPLIMENT WITHOUT GIVING IT BACK TENFOLD AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR TEAM.

THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN'T JUGGLE.

I'M SO GOING TO MISS OUR TIME TOGETHER LIVE ON THE SET.

ANYONE WHO'S DONE HOURS OF LIVE TELEVISION TOGETHER KNOWS IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE A TRUST FALL, AND YOU ARE ALWAYS, ALWAYS CARRYING OUR TEAM, HOLDING OUR TEAM.

YOU ARE SO GRACIOUS.

THERE IS NO ONE WHO HASN'T BENEFITTED BY YOUR PRESENCE, BY YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, SO WE THOUGHT THAT THERE MIGHT BE A FEW OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD A COUPLE OF THINGS THEY WANTED TO SAY.

>> MICHAEL HILL, I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU FOUND A NEW HOME AT WNYC.

YOU LOVE RADIO AND I KNOW IT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY, BUT I'M GOING TO MISS YOU SO MUCH.

MOSTLY, I'LL MISS OUR CHATS ABOUT THE POLITICS OF EVERYTHING, COVID HAS TAKEN SUCH A TOLL AND WE CAN'T CELEBRATE IN PERSON AND GIVE YOU A HUG, SO HERE'S A VIRTUAL HUG.

BE WELL.

IT'S YOUR VOICE THAT WILL BE WAKING ME UP IN THE MORNING.

BYE-BYE.

>> MICHAEL HILL, I AM GOING TO MISS YOU.

I AM SO SORRY FOR US THAT YOU ARE LEAVING, BUT I AM SO, SO HAPPY AND EXCITED FOR YOU.

YOU ARE, OF COURSE, THE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL.

PEOPLE KNOW THAT FROM WATCHING YOU.

WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW IS WHAT A GENTLEMAN YOU ARE AND WHAT A KIND SOUL AND THAT IS WHAT I'M GOING TO MISS ABOUT YOU.

BEST OF LUCK, MICHAEL.

>> CONGRATULATIONS, MICHAEL.

I'M THRILLED FOR YOU.

YOU ARE THE PERFECT PERSON FOR THIS JOB.

YOU HAVE A WAY OF TAKING THE MOST SERIOUS AND IMPORTANT TOPICS AND MAKING THEM SIMPLE AND EASILY DIGESTIBLE, AND YOU HAVE A KINDNESS OF SPIRIT THAT MAKES PEOPLE JUST OPEN UP TO YOU AND MAKES YOU AN INCREDIBLE JOURNALIST AND A GREAT FRIEND.

AND WE ARE GOING TO MISS HAVING MICHAEL HILL ON OUR AIR.

THAT IS FOR SURE.

CONGRATULATIONS, AND GOOD LUCK, MY FRIEND.

>> MICHAEL HILL, I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT HOW AMAZING YOU ARE, BUT WHAT I MOST FEEL HONORED ABOUT, NOT JUST CALLING YOU MY COLLEAGUE BUT CALLING YOU MY FRIEND BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN SINCE THE MOMENT THAT I STEPPED INTO THAT NEWS ROOM.

I'M GOING TO MISS YOUR AMAZING STORYTELLING.

I'M GOING TO MISS THE WAY YOU USED TO SAY, HELLO M MS. SANTANA,WHEN I WALKED INTO THE NEWS ROOM PRE-COVID TIMES BUT WHAT I'M GOING TO MISS IS THE POSITIVITY THAT YOU BROUGHT IN EVERY DAY, YOUR KINDNESS THAT YOU SHOWED TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THAT NEWS ROOM, THE CALMNESS THAT YOU BROUGHT TO THE NEWSROOM, DURING SOME OF THE MOST CHAOTIC TIMES, AND YOU'RE JUST A GEM.

>> MICHAEL, IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH A PERSON SO COMMITTED TO GETTING THE FACTS AND ISSUES THAT MATTER TO THE PUBLIC.

I'M GOING TO MISS YOUR PROFESSIONALISM AND HUMOR IN THE OFFICE BUT THIS ISN'T A GOOD-BYE SPEECH BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE FRIENDS.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW SHOW, AND I WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS.

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.

WE ARE SO THRILLED FOR YOU, AND I HOPE THAT MAYBE YOU'LL LET THE WNYC NEWSROOM IN ON A FEW OF YOUR HIDDEN TALENTS.

ALL OF YOUR MUSICAL TALENTS, THAT IS.

>> ALL RIGHT, BRIANNA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU SHOULD KNOW, FOLKS, THAT MICHAEL HILL IS ONE OF THE GREAT MOUTH TRUMPETERS OF ALL TIME.

YOU NAME A TUNE, AND HE WILL BE ABLE TO MIMIC A TRUMPET.

THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, AFTER 128 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS, YOU PICK UP, YOU KNOW?

THIS IS A GREAT LOSS FOR US, REALLY, BECAUSE MICHAEL IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS TEAM, AS A JOURNALIST, HE IS SMART, PROFESSIONAL, DEDICATED, FUNNY, AND INSIGHTFUL, BUT AS A FRIEND, HE'S GENUINE, GENEROUS, CARING, DEDICATED, AND RELIABLE.

WHEN GREAT PEOPLE FIND SUCCESS, IT REALLY DOES RESTORE SOME OF YOUR FAITH.

MICHAEL, WE COULD HAVE TAKEN UP THE ENTIRE SHOW WITH JUST MICHAEL HILL FANS, INCLUDING PRODUCERS, GRAPHICS, AND BELIEVE ME.

YOU WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO SAY SOMETHING TO ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND HERE WHO LOVE YOU?

>> THIS HAS BEEN -- AT NJTV, AS WELL FOR PBS AS WELL.

I SAID THE OTHER DAY, IT IS INCREDIBLY REWARDING TO COVER THE STATE WHERE I WAS BORN, AND TO WORK WITH A TEAM LIKE NJTV, AND I HAVE SAID THIS FOR SO LONG.

WE HAVE NEVER HAD A WHOLE LOT OF RESOURCES AT NJTV, BUT WE HAVE MANAGED TO PULL OFF INCREDIBLE, BIG PROJECTS OUT IN THE FIELD AND TO EARN AND WIN RESPECT FROM THE PEOPLE WHO WANT NEWS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEW JERSEY ABOUT THEIR STATE.

AND WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER AN INCREDIBLE TEAM.

THE FOLKS YOU JUST HAD ON BRIANNA, RAVEN, JOANNA, IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL WORKING WITH SUCH -- I KNOW THEY DESCRIBED ME AS DEDICATED, BUT WE HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM.

AND I THINK IT SHINES THROUGH EVERY NIGHT THAT WE'RE ON THE AIR.

WE PUT TOGETHER A -- DAY IN, DAY OUT, A SOLID, SOLID NEWSCAST THAT WE CAN WALK AWAY FROM AND BE PROUD OF.

AND I HAVE BEEN HONORED TO BE PART OF THAT TEAM FOR THE LAST SIX-PLUS YEARS, AND I'M TELLING YOU, IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING, MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCES I HAVE HAD IN MY LONG -- WHAT SEEMS LIKE MY 128 YEARS IN THIS BUSINESS.

MY DAD SAID TO ME A LONG TIME AGO WHEN I TOLD HIM I WANTED TO BE A JOURNALIST, HE SAID, YOU KNOW IT'S NOT A 9:00 TO 5:00, AND I SAID, EXACTLY.

PASSION DRIVES ME TO DO WHAT I DO.

I LOVE WHAT WE DO AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, I LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT.

>> YOU KNOW, I SAY TO PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, WHEN IT COMES TO JOURNALISM, YOU EITHER ARE THIS THING OR YOU'RE NOT THIS THING, AND YOU, MY FRIEND, ARE REALLY -- REALLY ARE THIS THING, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR BEING A TREMENDOUS COLLEAGUE AND A GREAT FRIEND, AND I WILL SEE YOU ON THE RADIO.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MY FRIEND, AND I ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR GREAT COUNSEL AND I WILL STILL RELY ON IT.

YOU WILL HEAR FROM ME.

>> ALL RIGHT, BROTHER, THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL THE "ROUNDTABLE WE HAVE FOR TODAY.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS, TO OUR PANEL, TO OUR COLLEAGUES, BRIANNA, BRENDA, RHONDA, JOANNA, RAVEN, TO OUR DIRECTOR, AND TO THE SINGULAR MICHAEL HILL.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER, AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR MORE EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, INCLUDING NJ BUSINESS BEAT, "CHAT BOX," AND NJ SPOTLIGHT.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FOR THE ENTIRE CREW 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.

RWJ BARN BUS 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.

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