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♪♪ ♪♪ >>> HI, EVERYBODY, WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX," I'M JOANNA.

DAVID CRUZ IS OFF THIS WEEK.

TONIGHT, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF COVID LEARNING LOSS AND WHAT SOME EDUCATORS ARE DOING THIS SUMMER TO CATCH STUDENTS UP WHO HAVE FALLEN BEHIND, BUT FIRST, THIS WEEK, NEW JERSEY VOTERS ELECTED THEIR PRIMARY CANDIDATES AND ASSEMBLYMAN JACK CIATTARELLI HAS WON THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE WITH ABOUT 49% OF THE VOTE.

ASSEMBLYMAN JOHN BRAMNIK IS HERE WITH ME TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND A HOST OF OTHER THINGS.

WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX."

NOW THAT HE'S SECURED THE NOMINATION, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT JACK CIATTARELLI WILL BE ABLE TO UNITE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BEHIND HIM?

>> SURE, BECAUSE THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT REPUBLICANS WOULD RATHER HAVE JACK CIATTARELLI THAN GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A FAMILY.

YOU HAVE A LITTLE DISPUTE.

YOU GET TOGETHER, YOU PUT YOUR FORCES TOGETHER AND YOU TARGET MURPHY AND HIS POLICIES.

>> AND THIS IS NO LONGER, THEN, ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP?

DOES THIS BECOME A FIGHT AGAINST AND ABOUT GOVERNOR MURPHY?

>> WELL, I WOULD HOPE WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP ISN'T RUNNING IN NEW JERSEY.

IT'S GOING TO BE A QUESTION, IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE A WHETHER PHIL MURPHY REALLY CAN HELP NEW JERSEY LONG-TERM WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY TAXES, WITH RESPECT TO COST OF LIVING, WHETHER WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE IN THE STATE, WHETHER BUSINESSES WILL COME TO OUR STATE AND STAY IN OUR STATE.

THOSE ARE THE ISSUES, I THINK, THAT AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVING AND THEIR JOBS.

>> ASSEMBLYMAN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE RECENT RUTGERS EAGLETON POLL, RIGHT NOW, GOVERNOR MURPHY IS POLLING 26 POINTS AHEAD OF ASSEMBLYMAN CIATTARELLI.

OF COURSE, ANYTHING CAN CHANGE IN FIVE MONTHS, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT HISTORY IN NEW JERSEY, IT'S BEEN OVER 40 YEARS, MORE THAN 40 YEARS SINCE A DEMOCRAT HAS WON RE-ELECTION IN THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR.

IS ASSEMBLYMAN CIATTARELLI POISED TO TAKE ON AND TAKE DOWN GOVERNOR MURPHY?

>> SURE, BECAUSE PEOPLE AREN'T FOCUSED RIGHT NOW ON NOVEMBER'S ELECTION.

THEY WERE FOCUSED ON A PRIMARY.

NOW THE FOCUS WILL ALL BE THE POLICIES OF PHIL MURPHY AND JACK CIATTARELLI SERVED WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE, HE'S A REASONABLE GUY.

HE'S NOT AN -- AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT NEW JERSEY WANTS, AND I THINK JACK FILLS THAT VOID VERY WELL AS OPPOSED TO MURPHY, WHO I REALLY BELIEVE IS VERY, VERY FAR TO THE LEFT AND DOESN'T REPRESENT THE AVERAGE VOTER IN NEW JERSEY.

>> THE GOVERNOR RECENTLY SIGNED A BILL THAT RELINQUISHED MUCH OF HIS POWER.

HE ENDED THE STATE OF EMERGENCY.

WITH HIS SIGNING OF THE BILL, THOUGH, HE STILL MAINTAINS SOME POWER, EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY DURING THIS TIME.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT HE'S GIVEN BACK ENOUGH AUTHORITY TO MAKE THE LEGISLATURE A CO-EQUAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

IT'S THE CRAZIEST BILL I'VE EVER SEEN.

THERE WERE BETWEEN 14 AND 16 EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT BECAME LAW.

HAVING A EXECUTIVE ORDER COME OUT IN PUBLIC DEBATE, FOCUSING THE PUBLIC AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE -- SCHOOLS SHOULD HAVE, WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE A MORATORIUM ON RENTS?

THERE WERE A MULTIPLE ISSUES AND IN MY JUDGMENT, WITHOUT ANY HEARINGS, THE LEGISLATURE ABDICATED ITS RESPONSIBILITY AS AN EQUAL PART OF GOVERNMENT.

>> WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE MORATORIUM, QUICKLY?

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT SHOULD BE EXTENDED, THE MORATORIUM ON LANDLORDS BEING ABLE TO EVICT?

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT LATER IN THE SHOW, BEING ABLE TO EVICT THEIR TENANTS?

>> WELL, I CAN TELL YOU, LANDLORDS SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.

TENANTS SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.

TELL ME WHEN WE HAD A HEARING ON WHETHER OR NOT A MORATORIUM SHOULD EXIST.

WE'VE HAD, ACTUALLY, HEARINGS ON THE STATE DIRT, THE STATE CANDY T STATE SONG, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY HEARINGS ON THESE KIND OF LAWS THAT AFFECT BOTH LANDLORDS AND TENANTS?

I'M SURPRISED THE MEDIA HASN'T REALLY CALLED FOR TRANSPARENCY.

THAT WORRIES ME, THAT THE MEDIA, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN CALLED THE FOURTH BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT AND THEY'RE ALLOWING THESE LAWS TO BE PASSED WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC DEBATE, THAT'S A SHOCK TO ME AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT THE LEGISLATURE HASN'T HAD HEARINGS EITHER.

>> CERTAINLY YOU'VE GOT A HEARING COMING UP TOMORROW.

THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OVER THE WEEKEND.

BUT YOU HAVE A HEARING COMING UP TOMORROW TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF MASKS IN SCHOOLS.

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THAT HEARING?

>> THE GOAL IS TO LET PARENTS AND TEACHERS AND EXPERTS EXPRESS THEIR VIEW.

YOU HAVE A 7-YEAR-OLD CHILD IN 90-DEGREE WEATHER RUNNING AROUND A PLAYGROUND WITH A MASK.

NOW, THAT MAY BE RIGHT OR WRONG IN CERTAIN PEOPLE'S MINDS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO PARENT THAT DOESN'T WANT TO BE HEARD ON IT, AND WE TRIED TO FIND PARENTS WHO WERE ACTUALLY FOR THE MASKS AND SO FAR, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANYONE WILLING TO TESTIFY THAT AN 8-YEAR-OLD SHOULD BE WEARING A MASK ON A PLAYGROUND IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

SO, I THINK I'M ALLOWING PEOPLE TO BE HEARD.

ONCE AGAIN, I DON'T ADVISE EVERYTHING PHIL MURPHY'S DONE, BUT I DO ADVISE THE FACT THAT THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS AND EXPERTS HAVE NOT HAD A PUBLIC HEARING.

THAT, I FIND OFFENSIVE.

>> ASSEMBLYMAN, QUICKLY, YOU WERE CRITICAL THIS WEEK.

YOU STOPPED BY AN UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE.

YOU'VE BEEN CRITICAL OF THE OFFICES NOT BEING OPEN.

THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ISSUED US A STATEMENT SAYING THAT OPENING MORE OFFICES WOULD MEAN THAT FEWER CALLS WOULD BE ANSWERED.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> THAT SOUNDS LIKE CRAZINESS, RIGHT?

WE HAVE PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE THE TRENTON OFFICE, THIS ONE-STOP OFFICE, ALL THEY WANT TO DO, HAVE A FACE-TO-FACE WITH SOMEBODY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, AND THEY'RE TOO BUSY TO MEET WITH CITIZENS?

I MEAN, THAT'S INSANITY.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

NO ONE CAN HAVE A FACE-TO-FACE MEETING BECAUSE THEY'RE TOO BUSY ANSWERING THE PHONES?

THAT'S LIKE -- THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.

>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR LOGIC WITH US, AS ALWAYS.

ASSEMBLYMAN JON BRAMNICK, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>>> AS WE APPROACH THE END OF THE YEAR, SUMMER LEARNING LAWS OR THE SUMMER SLIDE AS IT'S SOMETIMES CALLED IS ALWAYS A CONCERN FOR EDUCATORS, BUT THIS YEAR, LEARNING LOSS HAS BEEN A CONCERN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

JOINING ME RIGHT NOW ARE TWO EDUCATIONAL LEADERS, DR. MARNY HAZLETON, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND DR. SCOTT, SUPERINTENDENT OF WEST ORANGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEIR DISTRICTS ARE DOING THIS SUMMER TO COMBAT THAT LEARNING LOSS.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM, BOTH OF YOU.

MARNIE, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHAT DOES LEARNING LOSS LOOK LIKE IN YOUR DISTRICT RIGHT NOW AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF OF, LET'S CALL IT, IRREGULAR LEARNING, DR. HAZLETON?

>> WELL, WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED WITH THE ACADEMIC PROGRESS OF OUR STUDENTS.

WE HAVE WELL OVER 600 STUDENTS, WE WERE MAKING STRIDES AND GAINS, AND THROUGH VARIOUS INFORMAL AND FORMAL ASSESSMENTS, WE HAVE DOCUMENTED THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT ON GRADE LEVEL.

WE HAVE ABOUT 50% OF OUR STUDENTS BACK FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING AND THE REMAINDER OF THOSE STUDENTS HAVE -- THEY HAVE OPTED TO STAY IN THE VIRTUAL SETTING, WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS WHO WERE ALREADY STRUGGLING PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

>> DR. CASCONE, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN WEST ORANGE?

>> I WOULD ECHO DR. HAZLETON'S SENTIMENTS.

SOME OF THOSE DISPROPORTIONATALTIES THAT EXISTED PRE-PANDEMIC ALONG SUBGROUP LINES OF RACE, OF STUDENT DISABILITY, SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS, THAT WIDENED.

THEY EXISTED BEFORE, AND THEY'VE WIDENED.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE HAVE A HANDLE ON, DOWN TO THE STUDENT LEVEL, WHO THOSE STUDENTS ARE, DOWN TO THE STANDARD LEVEL, WHICH STANDARDS THEY ARE IN MOST NEED OF REMEDIATION, AND THAT ENABLES US TO REALLY BE TARGETED IN NOT ONLY OUR PROGRAMMATIC INTERVENTIONS BUT THOSE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT LEVEL INTERVENTIONS.

>> I JUST WANT TO SET THE STAGE, STATEWIDE, TO SUPPORT WHAT BOTH OF YOU HAVE SAID.

JERSEY RAN A STUDY EARLIER IN THE YEAR AND THEY FOUND THAT ONE IN THREE STUDENTS IS PROJECTED TO BE ON GRADE LEVEL IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND LESS THAN ONE IN FOUR STUDENTS PROJECTED TO BE AN GRADE LEVEL IN MATH.

AND WHEN YOU REALLY TAKE A STEP BACK, I MEAN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE STARTLING.

DR. HAZLETON, STARTING WITH YOU, HOW TO YOU USE THE SUMMER MONTHS TO HELP REMEDIATE SOME OF THIS LOSS?

>> WELL, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PROBABLY OVER 20 YEARS, LINDEN WILL HOST A SUMMER LEARNING ACADEMY, WHICH IS FREE TO ALL STUDENTS ENTERING INTO THE THIRD GRADE THROUGH THE 12th GRADE.

WE HAVE A HALF-DAY PROGRAM AND IT WILL NOT ONLY FOCUS ON REMEDIATION.

WE ARE ALSO FOCUSING ON THAT SDL PIECE, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND WE ALSO HAVE AN ENRICHMENT COMPONENT.

WE KNOW THAT IN ORDER TO ENGAGE OUR STUDENTS AND TO MOTIVATE OUR STUDENTS, WE NEED TO OFFER A WELL-ROUNDED PROGRAM, AND I THINK WE HAVE DESIGNED A VERY STRONG AND ROBUST PROGRAM FOR THIS SUMMER, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING OUR SCHOLARS.

>> CAN YOU MAKE THAT COME TO LIFE FOR US FOR A MINUTE?

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL PIECE AND YOU TALK ABOUT MAKING IT FUN, AND THEN WE TALK ABOUT SUMMER SCHOOL, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE SO THAT A CHILD IS ENGAGED AND WANTS TO BE THERE?

>> SO, WE HAVE, ON THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, SUMMER SCHOOL WILL BE APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS SO THE FIRST TWO HOURS, TWO AND A HALF HOURS WILL BE DEDICATED TO ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATH.

THE LAST HOUR WILL BE DEDICATED TO S.T.E.A.M.

AND ALSO ATHLETICS.

>> SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY.

>> YES, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH.

>> ARTS AND MATH.

>> AND ARTS.

IT CAN BE S.T.E.A.M., S.T.R.E.A.M., S.T.E.M., SO WE ARE ALSO GOING TO INCLUDE CODING.

LINDEN HAS AN EXCELLENT ONE-TO-ONE ALL APPLE DEVICE PROGRAM AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO ALLOW OUR STUDENTS -- WE ALSO ARE GOING TO HAVE COUNCILLORS ON HAND AND THEY WILL ENGAGE IN THAT SEL COMPONENT WITH OUR STUDENTS.

>> DR. CASCONE, BRING IT TO LIFE FOR US.

WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE IN WEST ORANGE FOR YOUR STUDENTS?

?

>> RIGHT, SO, WE HAVE A PRETTY FULL SLATE OF PROGRAMS THAT RUN THE GAMUT OF K-12.

YOU KNOW, WITH OBVIOUSLY CRITICAL FOCUSES ON MATHEMATICS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE GROUND THAT WE NEED TO GAIN WITH STUDENTS IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO TAKE LONGER THAN FOUR WEEKS, AND YES, WE CAN ACCOMPLISH SOME, AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT, AS DR. HAZELTON INDICATED, THAT REALLY MORE -- AS IMPORTANT AS THE ACADEMIC SIDE THIS SUMMER IS REALLY KIND OF UNDERSTANDING WHERE OUR STUDENTS ARE MENTALLY, SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND SORT OF GAINING GROUND AS FAR AS THAT GOES.

THE PROCESS OF BRINGING THESE STUDENTS ALONG AND BRINGING THEM BACK UP TO SPEED IS GOING TO BE A MULTIYEAR PROCESS AND TO ME, AS RELEVANT AS THE PROGRAMMING AND I WOULD SAY THAT THAT PROGRAM IS GOING TO REMAIN AND KIND OF A SIDE CAR CAPACITY OVER THE COURSE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, MOVING INTO THE NEXT YEAR AS WELL, IS HOW ARE WE LOOKING AT OUR SCOPE AND SEQUENCE OF OUR COURSES AND UNDERSTANDING WHERE OUR STUDENTS ARE COMING IN, AND MAKING APPROPRIATE MODIFICATIONS TO THE STARTING POINTS OF THOSE CURRICULUM SO WE'RE MEETING KIDS WHERE THEY ARE AT THE START OF THAT NEXT COURSE, THOUGH THAT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT STARTING POINT THAN IT WAS IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

>> IT'S AN INTERESTING POINT.

THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT TEACHERS HAVE WORKED EXTREMELY HARD THIS YEAR UNDER UNIMAGINABLE CIRCUMSTANCES.

A LOT WAS SAID LAST SUMMER ABOUT, WE'LL GET THESE KIDS CAUGHT UP, AND YET HERE WE ARE, END OF 14 MONTHS LATER AND A LOT OF THESE KIDS ARE NOWHERE NEAR CAUGHT UP.

ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THIS IS KIND OF THE LONG RUN, THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE YEARS TO GET THESE STUDENTS CAUGHT UP?

DR. HAZELTON, WE'LL GO TO YOU.

>> THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A MARATHON.

DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE ASSEMBLED A DIVERSE COMMITTEE, AND WE WORKED ON A FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN WITH THE STARTING POINT BEING WHAT DO WE WANT OUR DISTRICT TO LOOK LIKE POST-COVID.

OUR CHILDREN ARE RESILIENT, AND WE HAVE A DEDICATED STAFF, AND WE ARE PREPARED TO PUT IN THE WORK IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT NO CHILD IS LEFT BEHIND.

WE TRULY BELIEVE ALL STUDENTS CAN LEARN.

AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE UP THIS LOST TIME.

THEY JUST NEED THE SUPPORT AND THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, AND WE ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT.

>> ONE OF THE WAYS THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE IT IS THROUGH THE FEDERAL FUNDS COMING TO SCHOOLS THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

DR. CASCONE, HOW MUCH IS COMING TO WEST ORANGE, AND HOW DO YOU INTEND TO USE THOSE FUNDS?

>> SO, UNDER THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, WE'RE RECEIVING JUST UNDER $7 MILLION.

THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF WHICH IS A LITTLE OVER $4 MILLION AND THEN A SECOND INSTALLMENT OF $2 MILLION, SO WE'RE USING THAT PARTIALLY FOR ONGOING CRITICAL UPGRADES TO OUR FISCAL PLANS BUT WE'RE INVESTING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THAT CAPITAL INTO SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS.

I MEAN, IN ADDITION TO ACADEMIC SUPPORT PROGRAMS, WE'RE INVESTING APPROXIMATELY $800,000 OF THAT INTO EXPANDING, AUGMENTING OUR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES.

WE'RE EXPLORING A PARTNERSHIP PRESENTLY WITH RUTGERS UNIVERSITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TO BRING ON FOUR ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME CLINICIANS THAT WILL PERFORM INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, GROUP THERAPY, RISK ASSESSMENT, PARENT OUTREACH AND TRAINING, AS WELL AS THE RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A MENTAL HEALTH CURRICULUM, K-12.

SO, WE'RE PLACING A KEEN EMPHASIS ON THAT MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SIDE AS WELL AS THE ACADEMICS.

>> DR. HAZELTON, I KNOW YOU'VE SAID THERE NEEDS TO BE A FOCUS ON BRINGING IN MORE TEACHERS.

IS THAT PART OF YOUR PLAN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE LOOKING TO HIRE ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC COACHES AS WELL AS SOCIAL WORKERS AND COUNSELORS AND THE FIRST PART OF OUR SF FUNDING WILL ADDRESS THOSE STAFFING NEEDS.

THE SECOND PART OF OUR FUNDING WILL GO TOWARDS INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT UPGRADING OUR VENTILATION SYSTEM IN THE HIGH SCHOOL TO ADDRESS AIR QUALITY ISSUES.

AND SO, WE ARE LOOKING AT STAFFING.

WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT EXPANDING OUR LEADERSHIP CAPACIT SO THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO UNDERGIRD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR TEACHERS WITH A STRONG EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP IN EACH BUILDING.

>> WELL, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR INSIGHT WITH US.

WE WISH YOU THE BEST AS YOU GO THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS AND PREPARE FOR WHAT WILL NO DOUBT BE A CHALLENGING YEAR AHEAD.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE MOVE NOW FROM THE ISSUE -- >> THANK YOU, JOANNA.

>> WE MOVE NOW FROM ISSUES IN SCHOOL TO ISSUES IN THE HOME.

I'M JOINED RIGHT NOW BY SHARON BARKER, VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NETWORK OF NEW JERSEY.

SHARON, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE, THANK YOU.

>> WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN NEW JERSEY IF THE MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS ENDS?

>> WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS OF EVICTIONS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE.

I ANTICIPATED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS THAT THERE WILL BE OVER 200,000 EVICTIONS FILED.

SOME OF THEM ARE BEING FILED NOW.

AND AT THAT POINT, PEOPLE CAN BE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE THINK THE EVICTION MORATORIUM MEANS YOU CAN'T FILE THE EVICTION.

THEY CAN.

WE HOPE THEY WON'T.

BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT THEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME UNTIL 60 DAYS AFTER THE END OF THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.

>> WHAT COULD BE THE IMPLICATION, BOTH FOR RENTERS AND FOR LANDLORDS?

WE'RE GOING TO DIG IN THERE A BIT MORE, BECAUSE LANDLORDS ARE CERTAINLY IMPACTED BY ALL OF THIS AND THE LACK OF INCOME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'M FROM THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NETWORK SO WE WORK WITH DEVELOPERS, WE WORK WITH LANDLORDS, WE WORK WITH HOUSING COUNSELORS, SOME SOCIAL WORK ORGANIZATIONS, THOSE WHO PROVIDE FOOD, CHILD CARE, ET CETERA.

WE HAVE OVER 275 MEMBERS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFELY HOUSED.

PART OF OUR NETWORK ALSO INCLUDES HOMELESS SHELTERS, AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT THE HOMELESS SHELTERS ARE ALREADY FULL AND THEY'VE BEEN FULL, AND BECAUSE OF COVID, THEY HAVE LESS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING PEOPLE IN SO THEY HAVE LESS BEDS FOR PEOPLE OVERNIGHT, AND IF THE EVICTION MORATORIUM ENDS UP WHERE PEOPLE ARE REMOVED IN A MASS EXODUS OR PUSH OUT OF THEIR APARTMENTS, WHERE ARE THEY GOING?

YOU KNOW, WE JUST DON'T HAVE SOMEWHERE FOR THEM TO GO.

AND THEN HOW DOES THAT IMPACT, YOU KNOW, LISTENING TO THE PREVIOUS STORY, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT CHILDREN?

WHERE DO THEY GO BACK TO SCHOOL?

DO THEY HAVE INTERNET CONNECTION?

WHERE ARE MOM AND DAD OR WHOEVER THEIR ADULT IS THAT'S TAKING CARE OF THEM, WHERE ARE THOSE PARENTS GOING TO BE AND HOW ARE THEY GOING TO GET TO WORK?

AND MOST OF THEM LIVE IN AREAS WHERE IT'S WALKABLE AND THEY CAN GET TO THE SCHOOL BY WALKING OR THEY CAN GET TO THEIR JOBS BY WALKING.

AND TO EVICT THESE PEOPLE AND HAVING A FAMILY UPROOTED IN THAT WAY IS A CRISIS SITUATION.

I MEAN, USING THE WORD CRISIS IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION IN THIS AT ALL.

>> BUT CERTAINLY THERE ARE LANDLORDS WHO SAY, LISTEN, ESPECIALLY SMALLER, YOU KNOW, LESS DEVELOPMENT OWNERS AND SMALLER LANDLORDS, HOMEOWNERS, SAY, WE'RE HURTING TOO, AND THIS MORATORIUM HAS LEFT US WITHOUT INCOME THAT WE DEPEND ON.

WHAT PROTECTIONS ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW FOR LANDLORDS?

>> WELL, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS.

SO, THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE COMING OUT THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTO HMFA, HOUSING MORTGAGE FINANCE AGENCY AND HOPEFULLY THOSE WILL BE HELPING THE LANDLORDS.

THERE'S ALSO THE COVID EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH IS LOVINGLY REFERRED TO AS CVE WRAP THAT'S RUN THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

AND A LANDLORD CAN ACTUALLY APPLY FOR THAT FUNDING ON BEHALF OF THEIR TENANT.

IN THAT PROCESS, THEY WOULD HAVE TO LET THEIR TENANT KNOW THEY APPLIED AND OF COURSE THEN THE TENANT WOULD HAVE TO BE ELIGIBLE WHEN THEY FILL OUT THE FULL APPLICATION.

BUT A LANDLORD CAN START THE PROCESS, AND THERE'S MONEY THERE TO PAY THE RENT AND GET THAT DEBT OFF THE SHOULDERS OF THE TENANT.

WE WANT THIS TO BE BOTH SIDES.

WE REPRESENT BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN HERE.

WE DON'T JUST REPRESENT TENANTS THROUGH OUR MEMBERS.

WE REPRESENT DEVELOPERS AS WELL AND LANDLORDS.

AND WE WANT TO SEE EVERYONE END UP IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE AS MUCH WEALTH OR AS MUCH DEBT.

THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB OF STANDING UP THIS PROGRAM, BRINGING IN A WONDERFUL CONTRACTOR THAT JUST MADE IT HAPPEN MUCH FASTER THAN MOST OF THE OTHER PLACES IN THE COUNTRY.

I MEAN, I CAN'T SING THEIR PRAISES ENOUGH.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS GONE OUT OF HER WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROGRAM IS UP AND RUNNING.

HER STAFF IS PHENOMENAL.

AND WE GIVE THE GOVERNOR A LOT OF CREDIT FOR THE FACT, OH, I'M SO GLAD YOU HAVE A PICTURE OF HER THERE.

I'M SO -- WE GIVE THE GOVERNOR A LOT OF CREDIT FOR SPEAKING TO THE EXPERTS WHEN ALL THIS WAS HAPPENING.

AND ASKING WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING?

WHAT ARE WE FACING?

WHAT IS COMING DOWN THE ROAD, AND HOW CAN YOU RESPOND WHEN THIS HAPPENS?

I KNOW MAYBE THEY HAVEN'T HAD THE PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT ASSEMBLYMAN BRAMNICK BROUGHT UP EARLIER BUT THEY'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO THE EXPERTS AND OUR MEMBERS AND TO TENANTS AND LANDLORDS.

NO ONE'S HAPPY WITH THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW.

TENANTS ARE VERY SCARED ABOUT THE DEBT THAT'S ON THEIR SHOULDERS.

>> AND IN SOME CASES, THAT DEBT MAY GROW EXPONENTIALLY BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THIS TIME WHERE LANDLORDS CAN'T EVICT THEIR TENANTS IS THAT SOME ARE STARTING TO SUE, AND IT'S A CIVIL SUIT.

WHAT IMPLICATION COULD A SUIT LIKE THAT HAVE ON A TENANT, ON SOMEONE WHO'S ALREADY STRUGGLING JUST TO STAY IN THEIR HOME?

>> IT'S AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER.

ONCE SOMEONE FILES, FIRST OF ALL, AN EVICTION, IT STAYS ON THE TENANT'S RECORD SO LET ME JUST TALK THERE FOR ONE SECOND.

THAT STAYS ON THEIR RECORD, WHETHER THEY'RE FOUND GUILTY IN AN EVICTION SITUATION OR NOT OR WHETHER THE LANDLORD WAS WRONG, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

IT STAYS ON A TENANT'S RECORD FOREVER.

OR AT LEAST FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

SO IT HURTS THEM IN JOB APPLICATIONS.

IT HURTS THEM IN GETTING A LOAN FOR A CAR.

IT HURTS THEM IN ALL DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WOULD KEEP THEM FROM GETTING TO A POINT WHERE THEY COULD PAY BACK THE MONEY THAT'S OWED.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, IF YOU'RE FILING A CIVIL SUIT, MOST OF THEM ARE FILING BOTH.

THEY'RE GOING TO FILE THE EVICTION AND THE CIVIL SUIT.

AND IF A LANDLORD FILES A CIVIL SUIT FOR THAT JUDGMENT FOR THAT FUNDING, WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD RIGHT NOW WITH TWO BILLS -- AND I'M SORRY I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME AT THE MOMENT.

I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THAT.

BUT TWO BILLS THAT ARE BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE A LETTER GOING TO THE LEGISLATURE STATING, PLEASE MAKE SURE THIS DOESN'T GO TO COLLECTION AGENCIES.

LET'S GET THIS SO IF YOU DO GET A SUIT AND YOU HAVE THIS DEBT, THAT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAY IT BACK WITHOUT IT HURTING YOUR CREDIT RECORD.

AND THAT THERE ARE NOT ADDITIONAL FEES ON TOP OF IT.

I MEAN, IT'S TO THE POINT WHERE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DIG THEMSELVES OUT.

>> DO YOU SUPPORT ASSEMBLYMAN BRAMNICK'S CALL FOR OPEN HEARINGS IN THE LEGISLATURE, VERY QUICKLY, WITH JUST A FEW SECONDS LEFT.

>> HEARINGS NEVER HURT BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE DEALING WITH CRISIS.

WE'VE GOT PEOPLE RIGHT NOW BEING LOCKED OUT OF APARTMENTS EVEN THOUGH THEY SHOULDN'T BE, AND WE HAVE LANDLORDS THAT ARE CALLING AND THEY NEED THE MONEY BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THEY PAY THE MORTGAGE ON THAT PROPERTY.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH EVERYONE, AND I RECOMMEND THAT EVERYONE, WHETHER IT'S UTILITIES OR RENTAL ASSISTANCE OR IF YOU'RE A LANDLORD AND YOU NEED HELP, GET IN TOUCH WITH US.

GO ON TO HOUSINGHELPNJ.ORG, WE STARTED A PROGRAM AND YOU CAN FIND A LOT OF INFORMATION RIGHT THERE.

>> THANK YOU, SHARON BARKER, SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

AND THANKS TO ALL OF MY GUESTS TODAY.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO GET MORE "CHAT BOX," NJ BUSINESS BEAT AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, AND I'LL BE BACK IN THIS SEAT NEXT WEEK, SO TUNE IN AGAIN.

FOR THE ENTIRE CREW OVER HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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