>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR CHAT BOX IS PRESENTED BY THE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

>> NJM , SERVING THE NEEDS FOR BUSINESSES.

>> AND THE POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK.

INSIDER NJ IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS POLITICAL PLAYERS AND INTERACTIVE FORM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION, AND INSIGHT.

>>> WELCOME TO CHAT BOX.

I AM DAVID CRUISE.

WE HAVE A SHOW TODAY WITH A LOT HAPPENING.

LET'S GET THE LATEST FROM PUERTO RICO IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE FIONA.

WE BEGIN WITH THE CURRENT STATE OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.

AND THE POST-PANDEMIC ERA WITH THE MAN AT THE HEAD OF THE FEDERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

MR. SECRETARY, BUENOS DIAS.

>> IT A NICE VISIT LAST WEEK.

THAT RELIED HEAVILY ON CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE REFORM EFFORTS.

DO YOU CONSIDER CHARTER SCHOOLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WHAT IS THE RIGHT MIX OF TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS IN SO-CALLED RENAISSANCE SCHOOLS.

>> IN MANY CASES, FOR SOME FAMILIES, THEIR BETTER OPTION.

I HAVE SEEN GREAT EXAMPLES OF THAT.

I ALSO THINK THAT, I WORK WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS.

WORKED WITH TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS.

AND I'VE SEEN ISSUES OF CONCERN IN BOTH AS WELL.

I DO THINK IT IS A VIABLE OPTION.

I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF PRIVATE CHARTERS THAT TAKE AWAY MONEY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING AND I DO NOT THINK THAT IS WHAT YOU WOULD REFER TO.

>> ISSUES FACING SCHOOLS AND KIDS AND FAMILIES.

AND HOW DO WE RECOVER FROM THIS?

SOME KIDS HAVE LOST A WHOLE SCHOOL YEAR?

>> AS MUCH AS WE WERE THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN REMOTELY.

WE KNOW THAT WE'VE SEE THE JOINED THE FACES OF KIDS CATCHING UP THIS YEAR WHEN I VISITED SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE MORE MONEY IN EDUCATION NOW THAN WE EVER HAD.

WE NEED TO MATCH THE FUNDING TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.

WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING.

SUMMER PROGRAMMING.

SMALLER CLASS SIZES.

HIGHER QUALITY MATERIALS AND SUPPORTS FOR OUR EDUCATORS THAT ARE PROVIDING INSTRUCTION TO STUDENTS.

WE KNOW WHAT TO DO.

WE DO SEEM TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT GOING BACK TO THE SAME SYSTEM WE HAD IN 2020.

THE SYSTEM CLEARLY DOES NOT WORK FOR US AND IF WE COMPOUND THAT SYSTEM WITH DISPARITIES IN ACHIEVEMENT AND LEARNING LOSS, FOR SO MANY STUDENTS WHO HAD SCHOOL DISRUPTED, WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.

WE CANNOT GO BACK TO THE SAME SYSTEM.

I AM SEEING MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS BEING FORMED.

I'M SEEING PROGRAMS WHERE THERE AIR FAMILY LIAISONS AND CONNECTED FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS THAT ARE COMMUNITY WRAPAROUND SERVICE COORDINATORS BEING BROUGHT IN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LOCAL YMCA, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, HELPING TO MAKE SURE THE STUDENTS ARE BEING THAT WHEREVER THERE.

>> TEACHES.

NOT ENOUGH OF THEM FROM BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM OUR TWITTER FOLLOWERS.

HERE'S ONE OF THEM.

SHOULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO MORE TO HELP WITH TEACHER RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT AND WOULD YOU BE OPPOSED TO SOMETHING LIKE A FEDERALLY SUPPORTED ZERO INTEREST HOME LOAN PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS TO ATTRACT THEM TO THE PROFESSION?

>> I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION AND I THINK WHAT WE HAVE REALLY IS NOT JUST A RECRUITMENT ISSUE, BUT A RETENTION ISSUE.

WHAT WE ARE PAYING TEACHERS, WHEN WE ARE PAYING TEACHERS UP TO 33% LESS THAN OTHER COLLEGE GRADUATES, THE BIGGER ISSUE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PAYING OUR TEACHERS WHAT THEY ARE DUE AND WE HAVE INVESTED $20 MILLION TO CREATE COLLEGE PROGRAMS TO RECRUIT TEACHERS AND SUPPORTING OUR HBCUs TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PREPARATION PROGRAM HAS CANDIDATES OF COLOR WERE GOING TO GO TO THE CLASSROOMS.

WE KNOW STUDENTS LEARN BETTER WHEN THEY HAVE DIVERSE TEACHERS.

SO WE ARE DOING PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS.

90% OF THOSE WHO APPLIED WERE DENIED.

TODAY WE FELT MORE THAN 200,000 TEACHERS, NURSES, VETERANS, RECEIVE OVER $10 BILLION IN LOAN RELIEF.

WE AGREE WITH INCENTIVIZING PUBLIC SERVICE BY PROVIDING LOAN RELIEF AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR STATE.

NOT ONLY TO ADDRESS BRINGING TEACHERS IN, BY BEING CREATIVE IN OUR TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMMING AND IDENTIFYING HAS LISTED EARLIER.

BUT INCREASE THE RESPECT.

>> ON THE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM, WHY NOT JUST VERIFY INCOME ELIGIBILITY WITH THE IRS AND APPLY THE FORGIVENESS WITHOUT AN APPLICATION?

YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW THAT THERE IS AN APPLICATION OR DO NOT FILL IT OUT CORRECTLY.

>> WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE INFORMATION OUT.

IT IS A SIMPLE FORMAT.

AND YES, WE HAVE WORKED WITH OUR SISTER AGENCIES ON THINGS LIKE THAT.

SOME THINGS REQUIRE AN ACT OF CONGRESS AND OTHER THINGS DON'T.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD COMMUNICATION AND REACHING THE STAKEHOLDER THAT THE PROCESS IS SIMPLE AND WE HAVE A 43 AMERICAN AMERICANS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO $20,000 IN LOAN RELIEF.

THE PROCESS DOES REQUIRE MINIMAL EFFORT, BUT WHEN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROCESS IS SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD.

>> SO MUCH STRESS ON TEACHERS AND PARTICULARLY STUDENTS.

CHALLENGES TO MENTAL HEALTH.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT EVEN BEEN TALKED ABOUT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

BUT THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE IT EVEN WORSE.

HOW DO YOU APPROACH SOLUTIONS FOR THAT?

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

DID EXIST BEFORE.

BUT IT WAS IN THE SHADOWS.

WE WOULD NOT ADDRESS UNTIL THERE WAS AN OUTBURST WERE A PROBLEM.

WHAT WE ARE PROUD OF RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE HAVE THE MONEY FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS BEING PRIORITIZED FOR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND THEN, JUST YESTERDAY, WE ANNOUNCED THE GRANTS PROGRAM THAT CAME OUT OF THE BIPARTISAN SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT TO ENSURE SCHOOLS HAVE MORE MONEY.

TO MAKE A SAFER.

MAKE SCHOOL THAT SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE TOOLS THAT THEY HAVE TO CREATE SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING BUT ALSO FOR HIRING SOCIAL WORKERS.

SCHOOL SECURITY THAT CAN MAKE SURE THAT IT IS SAFE AND THAT STUDENTS GET THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

NEW JERSEY GOT OVER $20 MILLION IN SUPPORT FROM THIS GRANT ALONE, SO I'M HOPING TO HEAR SOON HOW THAT TRANSLATES INTO SAFER SCHOOLS AND MORE SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS.

>> EDUCATION SECRETARY MIGUEL CARDONA.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING A FEW MOMENTS WITH US.

>>> UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN NEWARK IS THE STATE'S ONLY PUBLIC ACUTE-CARE HOSPITAL.

LONG TIME RESIDENTS WOULD REMEMBER THAT BLOOD WAS LITERALLY SPELLED BY NEW YORKERS AND OTHERS IN THE CREATION OF THIS FACILITY.

SO IT WAS DISTURBING TO SEE LAST WEEK THAT THE HOSPITAL'S FIRST DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION OFFICER SUDDENLY AND SURPRISINGLY RESIGNED, ESPECIALLY SINCE MANY WERE CALLING FOR AND EXPECTING THEM TO BE THE NEXT CEO.

WE ARE JOINED NOW.

COULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LED TO HER DEPARTURE THAT DID NOT LEAD TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO YOU ARE PART OF THE BASE OF THE PLACE.

NOW YOU SAY YOU WERE PUSHED OUT OF YOUR JOB BECAUSE OF RACISM THAT IS RAMPANT AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.

>> I WAS AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS AND IN THE INAUGURAL ROLE WHERE THEY OVERSAW COMMUNITY, STRATEGIC PLANNING, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

AND DESIGN THE FIRST EVER DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION DEPARTMENT.

THERE WAS QUITE A CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE THAT WENT INTO THE OFFICE BUT IT SHOULD NOT SURPRISE PEOPLE THAT IN THE NATION AND SOCIETY, WHERE SYSTEMIC RACISM IS RAMPANT IS ACTUALLY AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.-THE MOMENT I STARTED THERE, I FELT SCRUTINIZED AND QUESTIONED AND HELD TO A DIFFERENT STANDARD, WHETHER I HAD OTHER SENIOR LEADERS DESCRIBING ME AS TOO AGGRESSIVE, WHICH I HAVE READ AS A RACIST AND SEXIST STEREOTYPE THE BLACK WOMEN LAID LEADERS ARE DESCRIBED AS TOO AGGRESSIVE.

I WAS DISINVITED FROM SEVERAL MEETINGS.

ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES JOKED THAT CHRIS WAS THERE TO CARRY OUR WATER.

SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM MICRO AGGRESSIVE BUT I CALL THEM EXPRESSIONS OF BIAS.

I FACED BARRIERS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION FOR DOING THE VERY WORK THAT I WAS HIRED TO DO, WHETHER THAT WAS HIRING FOR NEW ROLES AND NEWLY CREATED INITIATIVES OR DEPARTMENTS.

THOSE ROLES OFTEN TIMES WERE LOWER SALARY CLASSIFICATIONS AND I WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A CASE FOR WHY THIS WORK WAS OF VALUE.

WHY IT WAS STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT.

ORGANIZATIONALLY RELEVANT TO THE MISSION AND VISION OF UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.

AND I KNOW THAT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, I WAS TREATED AS A SECOND-TIER CHIEF.

AND, SINCE I LEFT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, MY EXPERIENCE IS NOT UNUSUAL, UNFORTUNATELY.

IN MY EXPERIENCE, IT WAS NOT SINGULAR AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.

MY OFFICE HEARD THE CONCERNS OF PEOPLE WHO RAISED ALLEGATIONS OF RACISM OR DISCRIMINATION.

SO I WAS NOT UNUSED TO THAT.

>> YOU MENTIONED DR. OMAHA.

WAS HE NOT AN ALLY?

>> LET ME BE CLEAR.

HE WAS AN ALLY.

BUT TOO FREQUENTLY, HE FOUND HIMSELF TRYING TO NAVIGATE OR MEDIATE BETWEEN AND OTHER SENIOR LEADER WHO WOULD TELL ME THAT I WILL NOT DO IT UNLESS DR. ELNAHAL TELLS ME TO DO IT OFTEN TIMES, AGAIN, I THINK THAT THEY WOULD WORK AROUND EQUITY AND INCLUSION, WHETHER THAT WAS EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES FOR INTERVENTION.

I WAS BEING TOLD THAT THE PHILOSOPHIES FROM THE DEPARTMENT WERE DIFFERENT AND THAT THEY DID NOT SEE THE RELEVANCE WHERE THEY DO NOT SEE THE PARTY OR ACCOUNTABILITY AND I WAS HOPING TO CREATE WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.

ALTERNATELY, I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO DR. ELNAHAL AND SAY I AM A CONSENSUS BUILDER BUT WHEN I HIT A BRICK WALL BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT WILLING TO DO THE HEAVY ORGANIZATIONAL LIFTING, THIS SOCIAL CONVERSATIONS TO MAKE MORE EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT, NEED TO INTERVENE.

I DON'T THINK HE ALWAYS LIKED TO INTERVENE, BUT HE WOULD HAVE TO, OTHERWISE IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN.

>> THE HOSPITAL HAS PURSUED A MULTIFACETED STRATEGY OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS THAT DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION HAS THE FOUNDATION AND SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT PROGRESS WE'VE MADE IN PURSUIT OF THAT GOAL AS WELL AS OUR UNWAVERING FOCUS ON PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL CARE TO ALL OF OUR PATIENTS.

IS ANY OF THE ACCURATE, IN YOUR MIND?

>> YOU DESCRIBING THE WORK THAT I LEAD.

THE HOSPITAL IS DESCRIBING THE WORK THAT I EXECUTED AND DELIVERED.

AND THE FACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE MILESTONE SHOULD NOT SURPRISE PEOPLE.

WE DID HARD WORK.

WE DID MEANINGFUL WORK.

WE DID CONSEQUENTIAL WORK.

BUT WE COULD HAVE DONE MORE WORK AND WE DID THAT WORK AT THE EXPENSE OF REBUILDING DISTRICTS.

AS I'VE EXPLAINED PREVIOUSLY IN THE PRESS, I HAD EVEN BEEN CALLED A LIAR ONCE IN AN EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP GROUP MEETING AS THOUGH I COULD NOT EASILY CONFIRM AND VOUCH FOR THE ACTIVITY THAT I WAS DESCRIBING.

AND WHY WAS THAT NECESSARY?

WHY WAS IT NECESSARY TO SCRUTINIZE ME IN WAYS THAT WERE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER STAFF.

I WAS AGGRESSIVE AROUND THIS.

I WAS AGGRESSIVE ABOUT ESTABLISHING UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AS A HUB OF RACIAL HEALING.

THERE WAS SOME DISCOMFORT AMONG SOME LEADERS AROUND HOW EXPLICIT MY WORK WAS AND THOSE THAT I HAD HIRED AROUND THE SOCIAL JUSTICE, HEALTH JUSTICE AND RACIAL JUSTICE MISSION.

HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR DR. ELNAHAL THE LEADERSHIP OF OTHERS WHO WERE ALLIES WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION, DESPITE THE BARRIERS, WE WOULD NOT HAVE ACHIEVED THE THINGS THAT WE DID.

I DID NOT FIND AN EQUAL ALLY IN THE INTERIM CEO AND THAT IS JUST MATTER-OF-FACT.

AND THE OTHER THING I CAN SAY ABOUT IT IS THAT NOT ONLY AM I DESCRIBING THE DIFFERENTIAL WORKING CONDITIONS AND BEING SCRUTINIZED DIFFERENT WAYS BUT I WAS INVESTIGATED TWICE.

THOSE INVESTIGATIONS FELT VERY RETALIATORY.

I FELT AS THOUGH I WAS BEING TARGETED AS A BLACK WOMAN AND A BLACK WOMAN HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVE.

I WAS BEING TOLD BY MY THEN CEO THAT CONCERNS HAD BEEN RAISED, WHETHER THOSE PERSONS WERE REPUBLICAN OR OTHERWISE THEY FELT THAT MIKE CRITICAL FEEDBACK OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AROUND A LACK OF PREPAREDNESS WAS SHAMEFUL.

I WAS TOLD THAT THE LANGUAGE IN THE COMMENTARY THAT I WAS PROVIDING WAS NOT BECOMING OF A HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVE.

I CHALLENGE ANYONE, GO BACK TO LISTEN TO THE TYPE OF COMMENTARY I PROVIDED AND SHOW ME WHERE THE COMMENTARY WAS BEYOND THE PALE OR OUT AGAINST THE OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS AND EXPERTS WHO ARE LIKEWISE SPEAKING IN SIMILAR WAYS.

>> PEOPLE SAY HERE IS AN UNSUCCESSFUL CEO CANDIDATE WHO IS NOW A DISGRUNTLED FORMER EMPLOYEE.

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BE THE CEO OF A PLACE THAT YOU SAY WAS SO UNWELCOMING TO YOU?

>> I WANTED TO BE THE CEO BECAUSE OF COMMUNITY DRAFTING ME.

I WANT TO USE THAT IN PARTICULAR.

ABOUT THE TIME THAT DR. ELNAHAL ANNOUNCED , I WAS APPROACHED BY THE STAFF PERSONS IN THE ORGANIZATION.

I'M SUPPOSED WAS APPROACHED BY STAFF.

WAS APPROACHED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THEY SAID, DR. CHRIS, WE SEEN YOU THE TYPE OF LEADERSHIP THAT CAN HELP UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL DELIVER.

YOU REFERENCE YOUR VALUES.

MY PARENTS LIVED THROUGH THIS REBELLION.

I KNOW THE WEIGHT OF THE BLOOD IN THE SOIL.

I KNOW THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS STRUCK NOT JUST AS A BARGAIN TO PROVIDE SAFE AND EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE BUT TO BE A SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HELP FOR THE COMMUNITY.

I SAW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY MAKE A DOWN PAYMENT ON HEALTH AND RACIAL JUSTICE, BUT TO AGGRESSIVELY ACHIEVE HEALTH AND RACIAL JUSTICE.

WHY NOT ME?

THIS IS NOT THE POINT I WOULD LIKE TO RAISE.

WHY IS IT THAT WHEN A BLACK WOMAN PURSUES AN OPPORTUNITY THAT IS EQUAL AND OPEN TO ALL, THERE IS SOMEHOW CAST UPON HER THAT SHE DID SOMETHING WRONG.

I WOULD INVESTIGATED.

WOULD BE IN RETALIATION FOR STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT.

I THOUGHT THAT IF I WAS ABLE TO COME IN, WE COULD TOTALLY AND FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ORGANIZATION, TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY WORKERS, NOT ONLY PATIENTS, BUT NOT ONLY FAMILY MEMBERS AND VISITORS, BUT ALL PERSONS ACROSS THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE COULD RECEIVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY AND SAFEST AND MOST EQUITABLE CARE.

WE NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY.

I WAS FIGHTING FOR A CHANCE.

>> OKAY.

DR. CHRIS PERNELL, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH US AGAIN.

>>> FINALLY, TWO MANY OF US WERE HAVING THE STORY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH, MILLIONS OF US WHERE BEING DASHED BY HURRICANE.

THERE WAS ALREADY FRAGILE INFRASTRUCTURE.

FROM ROADS, BRIDGES, AND AN ISLAND OF 3 MILLION AMERICAN PEOPLE WITHOUT WANTING WATER.

HALF A MILLION PRETREAT IS LIVE IN NEW JERSEY AND MANY ARE STILL HAVING TROUBLE REACHING LOVED ONES.

WE HAVE A LABOR LEADER BASED IN CENTRAL PUERTO RICO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE VISIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE LEFT VULNERABLE DURING THESE CRISES.

>> COULD YOU TAKE US TO THE DAY THAT THE HURRICANE STRUCK?

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE WHERE YOU WORK?

>> THAT HAPPENED ON SUNDAY.

MONDAY IT STARTED, I WOULD SAY IN THE EARLY MORNING WITH THE WIND STARTING.

AND, IT MADE LANDFALL AT AROUND 2:30 P.M.

IN MY AREA.

HERE, WE ARE IN THE MOUNTAINS, SO IT GOT VERY WINDY, WHICH WAS UNEXPECTED AND IT HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD BE A TROPICAL STORM, NOT A HURRICANE.

IT BECAME A HURRICANE JUST BEFORE MAKING LANDFALL.

SO, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATED THE FACT THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE WORSE THAN FORESEEN.

FOR US, THE WINDS ARE BAD, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE WITH FIONA, THE RAIN WAS THE WORST THING.

THE MUDSLIDES, THE ROADS WASHING AWAY.

THE BRIDGES.

NO ONE WAS EXPECTING TO SEE UPWARDS OF 30 INCHES OF RAIN, SO IN MY COMMUNITY, WE RECEIVED OVER 30 INCHES OF RAIN AND IT WAS DEVASTATING.

>> WITH SOME VIDEO OF THE AREA WHERE YOU'RE STANDING NOW.

I IMAGINE THAT IT IS MUCH DRIER THAN IT WAS DURING THE HEIGHT OF ALL OF THIS.

>> YES.

WHERE I AM STANDING RIGHT NOW, THE WATER COMPLETELY COVERED IT.

I THINK MAYBE 6 OR 7 FEET DEEP.

IN THIS AREA, IT WAS COMPLETELY FLOODED.

AS YOU CAN SEE THE BRIDGE BEHIND ME, IT ACCUMULATED TO THE DEGREE THAT COMES DOWN THE MOUNTAINS.

AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS COMPLETELY FLOODED.

ALL OF THE STREETS AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ACCESS FOR TWO DAYS BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO RAIN.

USUALLY THIS CLEARS UP FASTER, BUT SINCE THEY CONTINUE TO REIGN OVER TWO DAYS, THE HURRICANE HIT SUNDAY INTO MONDAY.

MONDAY, CONTINUED TO RAIN COPIOUSLY.

SO, THE WHOLE AREA WAS FLOODED FOR TWO DAYS AND THEN IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAD TWO LANDSLIDES THAT COMPLETELY LEFT US WITHOUT COMMUNICATION.

THE ROADS WERE COMPLETELY COVERED SO WE WERE ABLE TO LEAVE.

AND THE COMMUNITY HAS A LOT OF SOLIDARITY SO OUR NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE HEAVY EQUIPMENT LIKE A BOBCAT, THE CATERPILLAR, THEY HAD TO GO INTO ACTION AND AS A COMMUNITY TOGETHER, WE CLEANED THE BRIDGE.

WE MADE THE ACCESS FOR EVERYONE TO LEAVE AND THEY CLEANED THE ROADS.

SO WE ARE STILL WAITING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP US.

>> HOUSE WHEN TO ASK ABOUT THAT.

NO ELECTRICITY, NO WATER FOR MOST OF THE ISLAND, RIGHT?

>> NO ELECTRICITY.

NO WATER.

60% OF THE ISLAND IS STILL WITH NO RUNNING WATER.

OVER 80% OF THE ISLAND HAS NO ELECTRICITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO LIVE WITHOUT RUNNING WATER.

GENERATORS, YOU CAN USE A GENERATOR FOR EIGHT HOURS AND MAYBE 10 IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO RUN THE GENERATOR FOR 10 HOURS.

AND IF YOU'RE LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE AND GENERATORS CANNOT BE LEFT ALONE SO YOU HAVE TO BE PHYSICALLY THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING HAPPENS AND IT IS VERY COMPLICATED.

COOKING, CLEANING, HYGIENE, THE IMPACTED COMMUNITIES AND PUERTO RICO ARE THE POOREST.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PURCHASE GAS OR HAVE A GENERATOR, OR TO BUY A WATER TANK, YOU'RE SPENDING ALL YOUR DAYS WITH NO ELECTRICITY, NO RUNNING WATER, AND YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS, EITHER.

IF YOU CANNOT GET OUT OF YOUR E COMMUNITY, WHERE YOU GOING TO GO?

WE SPENT OVER 18 HOURS WITH THE HURRICANE BLOWING.

THE WIND AND THE RAIN.

MAKES EVERYTHING VERY COMPLICATED ON THE SIDE.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT FIVE YEARS SINCE MARIA, YESTERDAY WAS FIVE YEARS SINCE MARIA AND THEN IT'S BACK TO THE SAME CONDITION IT WAS WHEN HURRICANE MARIA HIT.

I SPENT FIVE MONTHS AND 21 DAYS WITH NO ELECTRICITY.

WE ALL SPENT FIVE MONTHS AND 21 DAYS WITH NO ELECTRICITY POST MARIA.

>> YOU MUST BE SAYING, HERE WE GO AGAIN.

HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE THE RESPONSE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES ON THE ISLAND THIS TIME?

ANY BETTER?

ANY WORSE?

>> IT HAS NOT IMPROVED AT ALL.

I WOULD SAY THAT IT IS WORSE.

WITH MARIA, THE LESSONS HAD TO BE LEARNED.

WITH MARIA, MAYBE, AND I SAY MAYBE, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PEOPLE AND AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN HURRICANE SEASON.

WE ARE A TROPICAL ISLAND.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE UP FOR GRABS.

THEY SHOULD BE ORGANIZED.

THE GOVERNORS SHOULD HAVE AN ORGANIZED RESPONSE FOR THESE HURRICANES, THE TROPICAL STORMS THAT ARE COMING TO JUMP INTO ACTION IMMEDIATELY.

I'VE NOT SEEN ONE GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL SINCE SUNDAY, OFFICE OF THE HURRICANE, BUT MONDAY, COME TO THE COMMUNITY AND ASK, DOES ANYBODY NEED ANYTHING?

MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR IS MY ELDERLY GRANDMOTHER.

SHE'S 92 YEARS OLD.

IF I WAS NOT THERE, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO HER?

THESE ARE THE VULNERABLE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR AND IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY.

THEY'RE NOT UP TO PAR.

>> HAVE YOU SEEN ANYONE FROM FEMA ON THE GROUND?

>> AT LEAST MY COMMUNITY, NOT SEEN ANYONE.

YESTERDAY, OUR MAYOR WAS CALLING FOR A GENERATOR TO TRY TO GET THE WATER PLANT UP AND RUNNING BECAUSE THERE IS NO ELECTRICITY.

THEREFORE, THERE IS NO RUNNING WATER BECAUSE THE WATER PLANT RUNS ON ELECTRICITY.

HE WAS BEGGING FOR GENERATOR.

HE MADE A PETITION TO LUMA ENERGY TO GET THE GENERATOR.

THE JACKET THE GENERATOR TO HIM.

HE HAD TO POST ON FACEBOOK AND HAD TO GO VIRAL FOR A GENERATOR TO COME TO GET THE WATER PLANT UP AND RUNNING.

INTO THIS MOMENT, THIS TIME, WE STILL DO NOT HAVE ONE.

BECAUSE THE WATER PLANTS, TAKES A WHILE TO GET THEM UP AND RUNNING, EVEN IF THEY BRING THE GENERATORS IN.

>> HANDS-ON WITH THE GROUP.

PLEASE SEND OUR BEST TO EVERYONE THERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> OUR THANKS TO DR. CHRIS PERNELL, AND EDUCATION SECRETARY MIGUEL CARDONA.

YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL WE CAN FIND FRESH CONTENT EVERY DAY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, EVERYBODY.

FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM HERE.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR CHAT BOX IS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT PROVIDED BY PSE&G.

MAKING THINGS MORE SUSTAINABLE FOR NEW JERSEY.

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

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ, POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS.

IT IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS POLITICAL PLAYERS AND INTERACTIVE FORM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION, AND INSIGHT.

>>> ONLINE AT INSIDER NJ.