well seven of the candidates in this year's crowded race for governor talked immigration ICE raids and social justice during a forum Wednesday night held at the NJPAC in Newark where they were also asked about other political flash points showing voters where the gubanatorial hopefuls are divided and on the same page Senior political correspondent David Cruz reports This forum at New Jersey Performing Arts Center organized by New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and others was heavy on social justice issues with questions on immigration policing race and reparations Not really in the issues basket for Republicans who aside from John Bramnik stayed away On the other hand the menu was home cooking for Newark Mayor Raz Baraka the most progressive of the Democrats and the most involved with the issues being discussed We should not just be talking about the inequity that exists here We should be talking about putting more people in homes closing that home ownership gap investing in families in this community to make sure that communities like Livingston and Newark that are 8 miles apart don't have a 14-year life expectancy difference Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulip the wonkiest of the candidates was the cool to Baraka's hot emphasizing the importance of having detailed plans for reaching progressive goals I would focus on housing I would focus on education and I would focus on employment opportunities through diversity and inclusion And I think those are at the forefront of solving this issue More so than policy presentation plays a large part in who clicks with voters here In that respect former Senate President Steve Sweeney unapologetically brandished his moderate credentials I had a reputation of being very direct with people and I don't like lying to people I don't support the immigrant trust doctrine for one reason It's not protecting anyone People are being round up and arrested right now That didn't go over too well in this audience What did resonate was Republican John Bramnik who breaking with his party's other gubernatorial candidates called for something that would be anathema to anyone looking to curry favor with Donald Trump It is time for a path to citizenship There's so many options here where people who've been here for a long period of time who've paid their taxes who've raised a family Why is there not a path critics say Congresswoman Mikey Cheryl is still coming across as a federal lawmaker not yet adept at articulating what's at the heart of progressive voters Here she is answering a question about support of a reparations bill Yes Um I would love to see the study and what the recommendations are and certainly being in South Africa um right after the truth and reconciliation committees I've often thought that is what's something that we do have to do here in this country because the harm has never truly been addressed and we haven't talked about it and I find it harder and harder and harder as we move forward to talk about issues of racism in a thoughtful way Sean Spiller a member of the NJPBS Community Advisory Board and president of the NJA the Powerful Teachers Union whose main exposure to voters is a media campaign funded by the NJA's pack cautioned voters to follow the money Because if we want someone who's going to fight for housing that's affordable we can't expect a person who's funded by high you know cost developers in their cities If we want somebody who's going to make sure we're standing up for the middle class we can't keep getting folks who are funded by Wall Street for Elon Musk and Donald Trump The next few weeks will see a flurry of joint appearances including two formal debates per party in which all the candidates who receive public funds will have to participate as the race for New Jerseys next governor enters a critical phase I'm David Cruz NJ Spotlight News [Music]