MAJOR FOUNDING FOR REPORTER'S ROUND TABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ IS >>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR REPORTER'S ROUND TABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTORS.

THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJ REALTOR.COM.

RWJ BARNABUS 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.

♪ ♪ >>> HI, EVERYBODY, WELCOME TO "REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE," I'M DAVID CRUZ.

THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN OF 2021 IS NOW LAW.

SIGNED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN THIS WEEK.

IT'S ALMOST $2 TRILLION AND DEDICATES MONEY TO STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SOMETHING DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR AND HOPING FOR.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE WITH STATE SENATOR POWELL OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, WELCOME AND GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, MAN.

>> GOOD MORNING, DAVID.

>> IMAGINE YOU WATCHED THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS TO THE NATION.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR THAT YOU LIKED AND IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU WANTED TO HEAR THAT MAYBE YOU DIDN'T?

>> I WAS JUST HAPPY TO HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT, YOU KNOW, WAS SHOWING CIVILITY, BIPARTISANSHIP, YOU KNOW, AND BEING A ROLE MODEL.

I MEAN, I THOUGHT HE GAVE A GREAT SPEECH, AND I HEARD FROM REPUBLICANS THAT MAY NOT AGREE WITH EVERYTHING IN THE STIMULUS PLAN THAT HE IS AT LEAST LEADING AND SHOWING AN EXAMPLE FOR EVERYONE.

WE ARE PAST THE DAYS OF PUTTING OUT TWEETS AND EVERY OTHER WAY THAT DIVIDES PEOPLE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT SPEECH.

>> ONE OF MY BIG TAKE AWAYS WAS THE CONTENTION THAT GOVERNMENT MATTERS.

HE SAID GOVERNMENT IS NOT SOME FOREIGN FORCE IN A DISTANT CAPITOL, THE GOVERNMENT IS US.

AFTER A FOUR YEARS OF A PRESIDENT WHO INSULTED GOVERNMENT AS THE ENEMY.

THIS REALLY REPRESENTS A KEY CHANGE IN TERMS OF MESSAGE AND PHILOSOPHY, NO?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, LISTEN, GOVERNMENT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY ON TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE.

IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT ZIP CODE OR RACE, RELIGION, SEXUAL OR YEN -- ORIENTATION IS.

>> JUST THE SENSE THAT EVERYBODY IS GOVERNMENT.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOUR MAYBE DOWN THE STREET IS ON THE ZONING BOARD.

OR THE PLANNING BOARD OR CITY COUNCIL PERSON.

IT KIND OF, TO ME, MADE THAT A LOT MORE CLEAR THAN IN PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS WHICH KIND OF PORTRAYED GOVERNMENT AS PEOPLE BEHIND THESE IRON CURTAINS, YOU KNOW?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, REPUBLICANS TALK ABOUT SUPPORT THE POLICE OFFICERS.

POLICE OFFICERS ARE THE GOVERNMENT.

POSTAL OFFICERS, OUR GARBAGE GETTING PICKED UP.

THESE ARE ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A BED ROCK OF THE COMMUNITY, NOT SOMETHING THAT IS HOSTILE.

>> THE AID TO STATES AND LOCALITIES IS SOMETHING THAT GOVERN ER MURPHY AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE BEEN HOPING FOR.

THE QUESTION NOW IS, HOW THAT MONEY GETS USED.

SHOULD THERE BE SOME RESTRICTIONS ON HOW THE GOVERNOR USES THOSE FUNDS?

>> I THINK THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS, SOMEWHAT TO THE LAST STIMULUS.

IT HAS TO BE RELATED ON COVID-19 EXPENSES.

I KNOW MANY OF THE MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES WHO ARE GETTING IT WILL BE HELPING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, HELPING SOME SMALL BUSINESS BRANDS AND HELPING WITH COST THAT THEY LOST REVENUE.

I MEAN, WE HAVE A LOT OF BEACH COMMUNITIES IN MY DISTRICT THAT LOST A LOT OF REVENUE LAST YEAR, THEY DID A LITTLE BETTER AS THE SUMMER WENT ON.

THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS I THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP, AND ULTIMATELY, HOPEFULLY IT WILL HELP PEOPLE'S TAX BILL.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CANNABIS CLEAN-UP EFFORTS.

I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN A BIG ADVOCATE FOR BUSINESS IN MONMOUTH COUNTY, WHERE EVERYTHING IS SO DEPENDENT ON TOURISM AND THE GOVERNOR WILL INCREASE IT TO 50% NEXT WEEK IN RESTAURANTS AND BARS.

IS IT TOO LITTLE TOO LATE?

>> I WOULD HAVE LIKED ON TO SEE CLARITY EARLIER.

MY HOPE IS THAT WE ARE AT 100% BY MEMORIAL DAY.

I THINK IF THE MAJORITY OF NEW JERSEYRESIDENTS ARE VACCINATED, THERE'S NO REASON TO NOT BE AT 100%.

WE HAVE TO WEAR MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCE OUTSIDE.

WE HAVE TO BE UP AND RUNNING BY MEMORIAL DAY.

NOT JUST FOR OUR ECONOMY, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT NORMALCY, MENTAL HEALTH AND A VARIETY OF REASONS AND YOU KNOW, NOT ENOUGH CREDIT GOES TO THE FOLKS WORKING AND DOING EXTRAORDINARY JOB ON GETTING THE VACCINES OUT, INCLUDING J AND J HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

SO IT'S AN INCREDIBLE TIME WHEN WE THINK OF THE VACCINE HITTING AND KILLING THE FIRST PERSON A YEAR AGO AND HERE WE ARE A YEAR LATER AND THE VACCINES ARE OUT.

AND OBVIOUSLY, ROLL OUT AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN CONCERNING.

WE ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION FOR THE INDUSTRY THIS SUMMER.

IT CAN GO EITHER WAY, RIGHT?

IF YOU GET TO 100% CAPACITY IN THE SUMMER, PLACES LIKE ASBURY AND BELLMAR AND ON, THEY WILL HAVE A GOOD SUMMER.

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE READY TO GO.

AS THEY ARE VACCINATED, THE SIDE AFFECTS ARE MINIMAL, A DAY OF PAIN AND NOTHING SERIOUS, WE HAVE SEEN MINIMAL AFFECTS WHEN PEOPLE GET THE VACCINE AND GET THE VIRUS OF AFTER THAT.

I THINK PEOPLE WILL RETURN TO NORMALCY.

>> AND A NOTICEABLE UPTICK IN HOPEFUL FEELINGS TOO THAT I'M GETTING.

>> A LOT OF OPTIMISM NOW AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN A WHILE IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK CANNABIS, IN THE FEW MINUTES WE HAVE LEFT.

THERE WAS THIS IS THE PUBLIC QUESTION AND THE DECRIMINALIZATION BILL AND THE CLEAN UP OF THE BILL AND THE NUMEROUS VERSIONS OF THE ENABLING LEGISLATION AND THAT HAD TO BE CLEANED UP AND THAT GOT CLEANED UP AND GOVERNOR SIGNS AND IT THERE'S MORE CLEANING UP TO DO.

YOU HAVE A BILL ON OUT THAT CREATES A MISTAKE THAT PEOPLE FELT WAS IN THERE.

COVERING POLICE NOTIFICATION TO PARENTS.

TELL ME ABOUT IT.

>> I THINK IT WAS A MISTAKE FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO DO THIS ORIGINALLY.

I READ THE BILL TWICE.

I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CANNABIS PROCESS.

I HAVE BEEN MORE FOCUSED ON TAXES AND SCHOOLS.

SO, OBVIOUSLY I SUPPORTED LEGALIZATION.

BUT THIS HAS NOT BEEN A PRIORITY FOR ME.

AND THE BILL HAD GOOD THINGS IN THERE ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ZONES AND HOW FUNDS ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

IN REALITY, THERE'S THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CLEANED UP.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING OBJECT THE ONLY CLEAN-UP BILL, BUT TO NOT ALLOW A PARENT OR GUARDIAN TO KNOW WHAT A 15 OR 16-YEAR-OLD IS DOING IS CRAZY TO ME.

I'M MAD AT MYSELF, AND OTHERS SHOULD BE MAD AT THEMSELVES THAT THEY DID NOT DRILL ON IT.

I WILL BE HONEST, I MISSED IT.

THE SECOND I LEARNED WHAT IT WAS AFTER, I WAS LIKE, THIS HAS TO CHANGE ASAP.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SENATE WILL BE MOVING IT ON SECOND READING ON MARCH 25TH.

HOPEFULLY THE ASSEMBLY RIGHT AFTER.

HE SPOKE TO THE SPEAKER AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE GOVERNOR IS IN SUPPORT.

SO HOPEFULLY WE GET IT CLEANED UP, ASAP.

>> I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHT ON THE COMPLAINTS BY MANY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION HAS NO BLACK MEN ON IT.

CAN THAT BE FIXED?

>> I MEAN, IT'S, YEAH, ALL THE SPOTS FILLED?

I DON'T THINK ALL THE SPOTS ARE FILLED YET.

>> ALL THE SPOTS ARE FILLED.

>> WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE STAFFING STRUCTURE, I KNOW THERE'S DIVERSITY, MARIA WHO IS EXTRAORDINAIRE IS ON THERE.

FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAD, THERE'S EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE ON THERE.

AND HOPEFULLY THEY FIX THE STAFFING STRUCTURE.

MAYBE I WILL MAKE A BIG STINK ABOUT MAKING SURE THERE'S SOUTH ASIANS ON THERE TOO.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND JUST BECAUSE THE COMMISSIONERS THEMSELVES MAY NOT BE BLACK OR SOUTH ASIAN OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THEY JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S PROGRAMS THAT ARE INCLUSIVE FOR ALL THE COMMUNITIES AND ALL THE VOICES.

>> ALL RIGHT, SENATOR POWELL, THANK YOU FOR TAKING A FEW MINUTES WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

JOE HERNANDEZ IS THE NEW JERSEY REPORTER FOR WHYY AND WBGO RADIO AND DANIEL MUNOZ COVERS THE STATE FOR NJBIZ, LET'S START WITH THE STIMULUS PACKAGE.

KAREN YEE, IT'S EVERYTHING THAT THE DEMOCRATS WISHED FOR EXCEPT THE MINIMUM WAGE.

AND REPUBLICANS SAY IT'S TOO.

AID TO STATES AND CITIES AND $1400 FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND $300 UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSION.

IS THE SUPPORT FOR IT GOING TO HOLD, YOU THINK?

>> YEAH, I THINK SO.

WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE HURTING SO MUCH ACROSS THE BOARD.

THEY ARE GETTING PUSHED OUT OF HOMES EVEN THOUGH THERE'S AN EVICTION MORATORIUM.

AND THE MONEY GOES TO SCHOOLS.

THE KIDS HAVE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOR THE WHOLE YEAR IN SOME CASES.

IT'S MORE THAN A PLACE FOR LEARNING.

THEY HAVE BECOME INTEGRAL TO THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDING SERVICES FOR PARENT PARENTS A PLACE TO ACCESS INTERNET AND OTHER SERVICES.

IN SOME CASES, IN NEWARK, YOU KNOW THE SCHOOLS DO LAUNDRY THERE, REOPENING THE BUILDINGS WILL BE A HUGE BOOST FOR EVERYONE AND I THINK THE AFFECTS OF THAT WILL BE FELT BEYOND JUST CHILDREN THAT WILL BE A ABLE TO COME BACK AND HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN A LOT OF THE KIDS HAVE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF TRAUMA, LOSING LOVED ONES.

MAYBE THE PARENTS ARE GETTING SICK OR PARENTS ARE DYING.

I THINK IT WILL GO A LONG WAY, AND AT THIS POINT, THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH PAIN THAT, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD, REALLY, TO OPPOSE THIS.

AND MOVE IT FORWARD.

>> DAN, YOU ARE ON THE BUSINESS BEAT, IS SMALL BUSINESS GOING GET BEHIND THIS?

IS THERE STUFF IN THERE FOR THEM?

>> THE REACTION FROM THE NEW JERSEY CHAMBER OF CONGRESS IS A LOT OF WHAT WE NEED.

EXTENDS PPP LOANS MONEY TO RESTAURANTS.

LOW INTEREST LOANS THAT BUSINESSES CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

THERE'S THINGS FOR AIRPORTS, UNITED AIRLINES IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST EMPLOYERS IN NEW JERSEY AND IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, SO THERE'S THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE EMPLOYERS CAN KEEP PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY ON THE PAYROLL.

BUSINESS GROUPS ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THE MONEY AND WITH THE AID FOR BUSINESSES IN THIS PACKAGE.

>> JOE, THE STATE ALREADY BORROWED SOME MONEY TO FILL BUDGET GAPS.

THE FEAR IS THAT, WHAT EVER THE STATE GETS FROM THE FEDS WILL GO TOWARDS ELECTION YEAR TAX BREAKS AND NOT SO MUCH TO PAY FOR IMPORTANT STATE PROGRAMS.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER KIND OF SAFEGUARDS THERE?

>> WELL, THE STATE HAS ALREADY BORROWED THE MONEY, AND NOW, IT THESE PAY IT BACK OVER A SERIES OF MANY YEARS.

BUT, I THINK THE, THIS IS ONE OF THE CRITICISMS FROM REPUBLICANS IS THAT WITHOUT TAX INCREASES IN THE COMING YEAR, FOR THE BUDGET, THE STATE WOULD HAVE TO JUSTIN -- JUST INCREASE TAXES THE NEXT YEAR.

THE MONEY COMING THROUGH THE STIMULUS IS NOT SCORED IN THE BUDGET.

WHICH MEANS IT'S NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN THAT.

SO IT'S SORT OF GRAVY AND THE STATE WILL BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT IT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE MONEY FOR THROUGH THE REGULAR STATE BUDGETING PROCESS.

>> AND PRETTY CONVENIENT, RIGHT, THE SUMMER BEFORE ELECTION YEAR.

I MEAN, BEFORE THE ELECTIONS.

>> RIGHT, I MEAN, IT WILL BE GOOD FOR THE STATE.

I MEAN, GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS BEEN BANGING THE DRUM FOR STATE AND LOCAL AIDE FOR A LONG TIME AND I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE $10 BILLION WORTH OF IT FOR NEW JERSEY IN THIS STIMULUS BILL.

SO, IT'S GOING TO MAKE, I THINK, A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM THE TOP DOWN PRETTY HAPPY.

>> WE HEARD FROM SENATOR POWELL ON THE CANNABIS CLEAN-UP BILL, THE STATE HAS REALLY STUMBLED ITS WAY TO A CANNABIS INDUSTRY, DAN, CAN ANYONE GET THIS RIGHT?

ARE WE GOING TO SEE MORE CLEAN-UP BILLS?

>> I THINK WE ARE GOING TO DEFINITELY SEE MORE CLEAN-UP BILLS.

WHEN EVER I INTERVIEWED PEOPLE THEY COMPARED IT TO THE CASINO INDUSTRY, AND HOW WHEN IT WAS FIRST LEGALIZED IN THE '70s, IT'S BEEN A CONSTANT WORK IN PROGRESS OF CONSTANTLY TWEAKING IT AND HAVING TO UPDATE IT AND DEAL WITH UNFORESEEN CONSEQUENCES.

SO, I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF ISSUES TO WORK OUT.

I IMAGINE FOLKS ARE WANTING TO DO GET AS MANY ISSUES WORKED ON OUT AS POSSIBLE, BUT, ONCE THE RECREATIONAL MARKET IS IN FULL SWING, I IMAGINE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT COME UP THAT PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WHAT'S GOING ON, THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.

OR, THROUGH BETTER OR FOR WORSE.

IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

>> PERPETUAL STATE OF TWEAKING.

THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT HE WANTS STATES TO MAKE EVERYONE ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINES BY MAY THE 1st.

AROUND NEW JERSEY, IT'S BEEN EITHER REALLY EASY OR NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT AND THAT HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESS ABOUTS AND SCHOOLS AND PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING.

ANY SIGN THAT IS GETTING BETTER, JOE?

>> WELL, AS YOU SAY, I THINK IT DEPENDS A LOT ON YOUR SITUATION, YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES, WHETHER YOU ARE ELIGIBLE OR NOT, HOW EASILY IT IS FOR YOU TO GET A VACCINE.

DEFINITELY THE J AND J VACCINE IS GOING TO BE HUGE FOR NEW JERSEY WHEN IT GETS A NEW SHIPMENT OF THE VACCINES BECAUSE THEIR SINGLE DOSE.

YOU CAN POP IN AND OUT.

BUT MAY 1st SEEMS DOABLE THE WAY THE VACCINES HAVE BEEN GOING.

THE STATE HAS BEEN INCREMENTALLY OPENING UP ELIGIBILITY.

NOT TO SAY THERE'S STILL FOLKS FROM THE EARLIER CATEGORIES THAT HAVE NOT GOTTEN A VACCINE.

OLDER PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT SAT IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER ALL DAY.

>> I TALKED ABOUT THE PRESIDENT, THAT HE IS TRYING TO MAKE GOVERNMENT MORE RELATABLE.

BRINGING SEXY BACK WHEN IT COMES TO GOVERNMENT.

ME A QUICK SENSE OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU SEE THAT AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE GOTTEN THE SENSE IN YOUR WORK OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT PEOPLE ARE KIND OF EXPECTING MORE FROM GOVERNMENT AND SUGGESTING THAT GOVERNMENT HAS A ROLE?

LET'S START WITH YOU, KAREN.

>> YEAH, I THINK GOVERNMENT HAS PLAYED SUCH A BIG ROLE IN OUR LIVES.

WHETHER YOU WERE INVOLVED IN POLITICS OR NOT, DETERMINING HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN BE IN YOUR RESTAURANT, WHETHER YOUR CAN BE OPEN, WHAT YOU HAVE ON TO WEAR WHEN YOU WALK OUT, WHETHER THE KIDS CAN GO PHYSICALLY IN A SCHOOL, HOW MANY DAYS AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO WEAR AND HOW FAR APART THEY CAN BE FROM THEIR FRIENDS OR WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN HUG THEIR FRIENDS.

RIGHT, REGARDLESS OF YOUR LEVEL OR INVOLVEMENT OR AWARENESS OR ACTIVITY WITH GOVERNMENT, IT WAS EVER PRESENT.

AND SO, FOR BETTER OR WORSE.

PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF WHAT STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTROLS AND THE FAILURES ARE APPARENT, IT IMPACTS YOUR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE VACCINES, YOU SEE THE FAILURES OF THE GOVERNMENT BEING ABLE TO ROLL OUT A PROCESS THAT TAKES IN TO ACCOUNT THE MOST VULNERABLE.

OLDER PEOPLE WITH NO INTERNET.

COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHO DON'T HAVE INTERNET ACCESS.

YEAH, I THINK FOR BETTER OR WORSE, LIKE THIS YEAR HAS REALLY PROVEN HOW MUCH GOVERNMENT AND ITS FAILURES REALLY IMPACT EVERY DAY PEOPLE.

>> AND ANY SENSE OUT THERE THAT YOU ARE SEEING THAT PEOPLE DON'T THINK THAT GOVERNMENT IS ENTIRELY EVIL ANYMORE?

>> I THINK PEOPLE HAVE HAD A BIGGER EXPOSURE TO IT LIKE KAREN SAID.

I IMAGINE A LOT OF BUSINESS OWNERS, A LOT OF EMPLOYEES HAVE NOT HEARD OF THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OR THE SMALL A BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, BUT NOW IT'S SUDDENLY, THESE ARE THE LIFE LINES FOR EMPLOYERS FOR PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, TO STAY OPEN FOR PEOPLE TO STAY IN AND WORK.

AND I IMAGINE MOST PEOPLE, OF A DR. ANTHONY FAUCI UNTIL LAST YEAR.

I THINK THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN THEY SAY, A WAR TIME ECONOMY.

IT WAS A WHOLE GOVERNMENT APPROACH THAT WE WOULD NOT SEE IN A UPON PANDEMIC YEAR.

>> JOE, ANY SENSE THAT THE GOOD VIBES ARE GOING TO STICK?

>> I MEAN, IT DEPENDS WHO ARE, WHETHER THEY ARE GOOD VIBES AND BAD VIBES AND HOW YOU THINK THE GOVERNMENT HAS HANDLED THINGS.

BUT I THINK DAN AND KAREN ARE RIGHT ON, THAT GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN INEXTRICABLE FROM THE LAST YEAR.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TOUCHED ALMOST EVERYONE.

IF NOT EVERYBODY UNLIKE IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE PAID ATTENTION TO THE LAWS BEING MADE ANDTHE POLICIES BEING MADE, NOW, YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE ARE VERY, SOME PEOPLE ARE REALLY THANKFUL FOR HOW AGGRESSIVE SOME GOVERNMENTS HAVE BEEN, AND IN OTHER STATES, YOU HEAR RESIDENTS WHO ARE UPSET ABOUT HOW GOVERNMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN AS AGGRESSIVE AND VICE VERSA, I SAY GOOD VIBES AND BAD VIBES, BUT OVERALL, MORE VIBES.

>> KAREN, YOU HAD AN AMAZING SERIES ON THE RADIO THIS WEEK.

ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE COVID PANDEMIC ON LATINO MEN IN NEW JERSEY.

DEVASTATING STATISTICS, FAMILIES, DECIMATED, A GENERATION OF FATHERS LOST.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU FOUND.

>> SURE, SO I PICKED UP ON THIS BACK IN OCTOBER.

THE COMMISSIONER AT THE TIME SORT OF RATTLED OFF THE STATISTIC THAT REALLY CAUGHT MY EYE, SHE SAID, AMONG THE DEATH BETWEEN 20-34-YEAR-OLDS, 27% WERE HISPANICMEN AND WE WERE GETTING THE IDEA THAT YOUNGER PEOPLE WILL BE OKAY.

AND IT RAN UP AGAINST THAT.

IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS I STARTED TO DIVE IN TO WHO WAS DYING YOUNG AND WHETHER THE STATISTIC SPREAD OUT TO THE WORKING AGE YOUNG, 18-49 AND IT DOES, AND DISPROPORTIONATELY SO IN NEW JERSEY.

SO NATIONALLY AMONG THE DEATHS OF 18-49, 14% ARE LATINO MEN , IN NEW JERSEY, 40% ARE LATINO MEN.

YOU HAVE LATINO MEN THAT ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS BECAUSE OF THE KINDS OF JOBS THEY ARE DOING.

RESTAURANT WORK, CAR WASHING, CONSTRUCTION.

BECAUSE OF THE JOBS, IT'S HARMFUL ON THEIR BODIES.

THEY ARE DEVELOPING DISEASES THAT DON'T PRESENT AS SYMPTOMS.

IF THEY DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE THE DISEASES, THEY ARE UNDER INSURED AND UNINSURED.

YOU DON'T GO TO THE DOCTOR, AND YOU GET THE VIRUS AND IT HAS NEGATIVE OUTCOMES.

IT'S ALL OF THE THINGS THAT SORT OF BUILT UP ON EACH OTHER AND THE INEQUITIES WE ALL KNEW EXISTED ARE CAUSING PEOPLE TO DIE IN A CONCENTRATED TIME.

WHAT WAS SURPRISING TO ME, EVERY PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERT KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THE NUMBERS DID NOT SHOCK THEM.

WE HAVE TO TAKE IT AND LEARN FROM IT.

AND YES, OVERWHELMINGLY OLDER PEOPLE DIED, WHEN YOU LOOK HOW SKEWED THE STATISTICS ARE FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE, IT'S AN IMPORTANT NUMBER AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REOPENING, WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THE FAMILIES.

FATHERS, BROTHERS, COUSINS, YOUNG KIDS LEFT WITHOUT A FATHER.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GO OUT AND SEE, WHO IS SERVING US, WHO IS SERVING US FOOD, WHO IS CLEANING THE CARS AND THE HOMES.

CONSIDER SOME HUMANITY IN ALL THAT.

>> SO MUCH SADNESS IN THAT PIECE WE HEAR PEOPLE AT FUNERALS AND TALKING ABOUT LOVED ONE WITHES THAT DIED.

I WAS STRUCK BY THE HEADLINE OF A GENERATION OF FATHERS LOST, I MEAN, THAT HAS EXTENSIVE IMPACT.

NOT JUST NOW, BUT IN THE FUTURE, RIGHT?

>> DEFINITELY, I MEAN, I THINK ONE OF THE STORIES I, ONE OF THE FAMILIES I PROFILED IN THE FIRST PIECE, YOU KNOW, THE FATHER WAS A CAR WASHER.

AND HE LIKELY GOT EXPOSED AND HE DIED IN DECEMBER.

IT WAS NOT EVEN THE FIRST WAVE.

THIS WAS WELL AFTER WE KNEW A LOT MORE ABOUT THE VIRUS.

HE FOUR CHILDREN AND YOU SORT OF SEE THE TRAUMA PLAYING OUT DIFFERENTLY IN THE KIDS AND THE BURDEN OF CARRYING ON WITHOUT HIM.

RIGHT.

SO, THE MOM ALSO GOT SICK.

WAS ON A VENTILATOR.

SO SHE IS IN RECOVERY.

AND SO YOU HAVE THE YOUNG, THE OLDER SON TAKING ON THE MANTEL OF MAN OF THE HOUSE.

RIGHT, AND HE IS IN HIS 20s.

HE NOW WORKS AT THE SAME CAR WASH. YOU SORT OF SEE THAT REPEATING ITSELF, RIGHT, THAT AGAIN, WE ARE SEEING THE SAME DISPARITIES CONTINUE, AND THIS YOUNG MAN IS NOW TAKING ON THE ROLE THAT HIS DAD USED ON TO HAVE.

AND YOU KNOW, HE IS STILL DEALING WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA AND TRYING TO GET HIS MOM BETTER.

AND YOU HAVE THE DAUGHTER TOO, IT'S HARD.

WHERE CAN I, WHERE CAN I WORK?

HOW DO I GO BACK TO SOCIETY WITHOUT A FATHER?

AND SO, DEALING WITH GRIEF IN QUARANTINE, I FOUND IT REALLY INTERESTING TO TALK TO THESE FAMILIES BECAUSE THEY MENTION AND THIS IS NOT IN THIS PIECE, BUT THEY TALKED ABOUT THE DOUBLE GRIEF.

YOU ARE SORT OF GRIEVING YOUR LOVED ONE IN ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE AND THEN WHEN THINGS OPEN UP, AND IT GOES BACK TO NORMAL.

YOU WILL GRIEF THE PERSON AGAIN.

YOU WILL START DOING THE THINGS YOU DID BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND THAT PERSON IS NOT THERE.

IS ALL THE GRIEF THAT YOU WENT THROUGH, YOU WILL GO THROUGH AGAIN.

PEOPLE WILL BE ASKING ABOUT YOUR LOVED ONE.

THERE'S THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND THE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA THAT WILL BE WITH US FOR A LONG TIME AND BE WITH THE KIDS.

>> POWERFUL REPORTING.

YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT AT WNYC.ORG, AND AT GOTHAMIST.COM.

DAN, THE POLITICS OF THIS, NOT ESCAPABLE.

THEY ARE HOLDING THEIR OWN HEARINGS NOW ON THE GOVERNOR'S PERFORMANCE.

IN LIEU OF A NUANCED DEBATE, ANY SIGNS THEY ARE HAVING AN IMPACT ON POTENTIAL VOTERS?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEEN MADE CLEAR YET.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, WHAT I'M INTERESTED TO BE, SORRY, I MEAN IS IF DEMOCRATS GET ON BOARD WITH THAT.

IF THEY DO APPROVE SOMETHING, A COMMITTEE WITH SUBPOENA POWER.

WHICH IS VERY UNLIKELY.

THE ONE COMMENT THAT STUCK OUT TO ME IN THE PREVIOUS HEARING WAS, ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO -- I CAN'T REMEMBER THEIR NAME.

THEY SAID THIS HAD, A LOT OF ISSUES THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT UP ARE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S FAULT.

THE TRUMP WHITE FAULT.

IT'S NOT CLEAR IF IT WILL IMPACT VOTERS.

IT'S GOING TO AFFECT PEOPLE WHO CURRENTLY LEAN REPUBLICAN AND ANY UNDECIDED VOTERS AND THOSE LEANING DEMOCRATS AND DEMOCRATS ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THEIR MIND.

>> JOE, THE ANNUAL ELECT REPORT IS OUT, IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO SEE WHO IS LOBBYING.

ELECT IS THE ELECTION LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEY TRACK WHERE THE LOBBYING MONEY GOES.

IT STOOD OUT TO ME THAT MIRACLE GRO WAS THE BIG SPENDER, LOBBYING FOR THE WEED INDUSTRY.

ALTHOUGH, I MEAN, IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GROW IT IN YOUR BACKYARD, HOW MUCH MIRACLE GRO WILL YOU BUY?

DID WE SEE IS ANYTHING IN THE ELECT REPORT HAD THAT JUMPED OUT AT US OTHER THAN THAT.

>> THE MIRACLE GRO, DID JUMP OUT.

THEY USE A LOT OF IT IN THE DISPENSARIES.

WHAT JUMPED OUT WAS THE SHEAR AMOUNT OF MONEY, IT WAS OVER $100 MILLION, I THINK, A RECORD, AND IT WAS TWO MAJOR THINGS.

IT WAS THE LEGALIZATION OF RECREATIONAL CANNABIS, AS YOU SAY AND THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES LOBBYING FOR DIFFERENT NEEDS THEY HAVE HAD, THINGS THEY WANTED.

AND DNGA, BEING A HUGE SPENDER.

>> THAT'S THE TEACHER'S UNION.

>> BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY IN SCHOOLS.

WHEN IS IT SAFE FOR TEACHERS AND KIDS TO GO BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

OTHER THAN SCOTT'S MIRACLE GRO, THE SHEAR SPENDING BECAUSE OF THE NEED OF SO MANY SECTORS IS WHAT STOOD OUT.

>> YEP, AND AN ACTIVIST GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO ATTRACT LOBBIESTS.

ALL RIGHT, THAT IS "ROUNDTABLE" THIS WEEK.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER, AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO GET MORE CONTENT LIKE CHATBOX AND BUSINESS BEAT.

FOR THE ENTIRE CREW HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WITH WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTORS.

MORE INFORMATION ONLINE AT NJ REALTOR.COM.

RWJ BARNABUS 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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