>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

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

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

ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.COM.

♪♪ >>> ILLEGAL CANNABIS, EASY TO GET.

LEGAL WEED?

NOT SO MUCH.

HI, EVERYBODY, THIS IS "CHAT BOX."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY FOR THE CREATION OF A LEGAL CANNABIS INDUSTRY IN NEW JERSEY, THE QUESTION NOW IS, WHEN?

AND YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WONDERING.

LAWMAKERS ARE NOW CONSIDERING HEARINGS ON JUST THAT.

ONE OF THOSE WHO'S DOING THE CONSIDERING IS ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CRAIG COUGHLIN, WHO JOINS US NOW.

MR. SPEAKER, WELCOME BACK TO "CHAT BOX."

GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

>> ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?

>> I'M HANGING IN THERE.

SO, THE SENATE PRESIDENT, NICK SCUTARI, SAID THERE SHOULD BE SOME HEARINGS INTO THIS.

HE SAID HE'S GOING TO ASK THE ASSEMBLY TO SEE IF THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE TO MAKE IT WHAT HE CALLED A JOINT PANEL OF LEGISLATORS FROM BOTH HOUSES.

HAS HE ASKED, AND ARE YOU IN?

>> WELL, WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS AROUND -- ABOUT THAT, BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE, MONDAY OF THIS WEEK, I MET WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FROM THE CANNABIS COMMISSION, AND EXPRESSED TO HIM, I THINK IN PRETTY CLEAR TERMS, THE FRUSTRATION THAT MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY AND MYSELF ARE FEELING RELATIVE TO THE PROCESS.

I THINK IT'S TIME WE GET ON WITH IT.

I THINK THE GOAL HERE IS TO STAND UP AN INDUSTRY.

THERE'S A LOT THAT GETS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE BILL AND IT'S TIME.

IT HAS BEEN -- THE BILL -- THE ENABLING LEGISLATION WAS PASSED A YEAR AGO.

IT WAS -- IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

THERE ARE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS IN THERE, AND WE NEED TO GET GOING ON THIS.

SO, WE'RE CONSIDERING THE, YOU KNOW, THE POSSIBILITY OF PARTICIPATING IN THE HEARINGS, AND FOR NOW, I THINK WE HAD A PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME REAL ACTION.

>> WHAT'S GIVING YOU THE BIGGEST CONCERN?

>> WELL, I MEAN, THE NOTION THAT -- LOOK, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE -- FIRST OF ALL, WE'VE -- THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO MAKE IT LEGAL, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> THEY HAVE A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT THAT'S GOING TO COME ABOUT IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.

I THINK IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE ARE -- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WORKED THROUGH IN CRAFTING THE LEGISLATION, BECAUSE THAT DID TAKE SOME REALTIME, IT HAD REAL CONSIDERATION, TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AROUND HOW WE GO ABOUT SPENDING THE REVENUE THAT COMES FROM THAT, ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE -- HOW WE GO ABOUT CREATING A NEW INDUSTRY THAT OUGHT TO RESULT IN NEW JOBS, NEW REVENUE FOR THE STATE, NEW OPPORTUNITIES.

FOR ALL THOSE REASONS, WE NEED TO GET IT DONE.

>> THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION SAYS THAT THEY'VE DELAYED STARTING THIS INDUSTRY BECAUSE THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT SUPPLY BEING MET FOR THE MEDICINAL MARIJUANA SIDE OF THE INDUSTRY BUT I GOT TO TELL YOU, MR. SPEAKER, THERE'S PLENTY OF ILLEGAL WEED OUT THERE WITH SOPHISTICATED HOME DELIVERY SERVICES.

I MEAN, CONCERNS EXPRESSED OVER THE WEEKEND THAT LICENSES AREN'T MAKING THEIR WAY INTO COMMUNITIES THAT WERE EXPECTED TO BENEFIT FROM LEGALIZATION.

I MEAN, THIS IS -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT'S AN OUTRAGE, BUT I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY EMBARRASSING THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO STAND UP AN INDUSTRY.

>> LOOK, I SHARE THE FRUSTRATION OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE ASSEMBLY AND BY VIRTUE OF MY CONVERSATIONS WITH SENATE PRESIDENT, WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE.

AND WITH THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY.

IT'S JUST -- THE TIME HAS COME TO GET THIS DONE.

>> HAS THE CRC LIVED UP TO WHAT WE EXPECTED?

SHOULD WE LOOK AT THEM FOR WHY THIS ISN'T HAPPENING?

ARE THERE EXTERNAL FORCES WHY IT'S NOT HAPPENING?

>> WELL, DAVID, YOU KNOW, WE SET OUT WHAT I THINK WAS A REALLY GOOD PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

I THINK PROBABLY THE MODEL FOR MANY OF THE STATES IN THE UNION.

>> SUPER SPECIFIC IN A LOT OF AREAS.

>> RIGHT.

SO, WHY THAT GOT -- WHY WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT DONE YET IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED SOME, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SEEK ANSWERS TO.

BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK THE CLEAR MESSAGE THAT I EXPRESSED TO THE COMMISSION WAS THAT THERE IS -- IT IS NOW TIME TO GET THIS DONE BECAUSE WE CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S MOVE ON TO SOME OTHER BUSINESS.

BUDGET SEASON HAS BEGUN.

YOUR FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR, I KNOW.

LOTS OF MONEY FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE.

DOES THE BUDGET YOU'VE SEEN HANDLE IT RESPONSIBLY WHILE LOOKING TO THE DAY WHEN ALL THAT FEDERAL MONEY'S GOING TO BE GONE?

>> WELL, LOOK, I THINK THERE'S A NUMBER OF GOOD THINGS, AND WE'RE IN A REALLY GOOD STARTING PLACE FOR THE BUDGET, AS YOU KNOW.

ONCE THE GOVERNOR INTRODUCES IT, IT NOW BECOMES THE LEGISLATURE'S JOB TO REVIEW IT AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT THAT THOROUGH AND THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE AND AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MADE ANY NUMBER OF CHANGES AS THINGS HAVE GONE ON IN THE PAST.

BUT THERE'S SOME REAL GOOD THINGS IN THERE.

NO NEW TAXES.

THE FEE HOLIDAY.

CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE 14 TAX CUTS THAT WE PASSED OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

CONTINUED STRONG SUPPORT FOR EDUCATIONAL FUNDING.

PENSION PAYMENTS.

ADDITIONAL MONEY INTO THE DEBT DEFEESMENT ACT, WHICH IS -- OR INTO THE DEBT DEFEESMENT FUND, WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOK TO WHEN WE SAY, HAVE WE BEEN GOOD STEWARDS OF HOW WE'VE MANAGED THIS, WHAT I WOULD LOOK AT AS A WINDFALL TIME, RIGHT?

WE DID OUR -- OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION HAS DONE JUST A WONDERFUL JOB AT MAKING SURE NEW JERSEY GETS A FAIR PIECE OF THE PIE.

YOU KNOW, BOTH IN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING, THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT'S GOING TO BRING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

>> SO, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU SEE EYE-TO-EYE WITH THE GOVERNOR ON A LOT OF HIS INITIATIVES IN THE BUDGET.

IS THERE ANYTHING IN THERE THAT GIVES YOU CONCERN THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, A FURTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT?

>> LOOK, I THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED A NEW ANCHOR PROGRAM.

WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT AFFORDABILITY IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AND I THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS TRIED -- HAS ADDRESSED THAT WITH HIS ANCHOR PLAN, WHICH MEANS ABOUT $700 IN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR OVER A MILLION NEW JERSEYANS.

BUT WE'RE STARTING TO DO THE DEEP DIVE NOW ON SOME OF IS THIS.

INEVITABLY, WE'LL LOOK TO SEE IF WE CAN FIND WAYS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT.

WE'LL LOOK IF WE CAN SEE AREAS WHERE WE NEED TO INVEST MORE FUNDS.

WE NEED TO SEE IF WE CAN FIND WAYS OF COST SAVINGS.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE FOCUSED ON IN THE PAST AND YOU KNOW, BUDGET SHARE, PINTA MARIN IS GOING TO LEAD A ROBUST DISCUSSION LONG THESE LINES SO I THINK WE'RE IN A REALLY GOOD STARTING PLACE AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE HAVE A SMOOTH JUNE BECAUSE THAT'S MORE FUN FOR YOU GUYS IF WE DON'T, BUT I THINK FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY, IT'S MORE COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING IT, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE INSISTED ON IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND THE GOVERNOR'S BEEN A PARTNER IN THIS, IS MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE -- WE USE THINGS IN A VERY FAITHFUL WAY TO MAKING SURE WE DON'T, TO YOUR POINT, OR TO YOUR QUESTION, WE DON'T CREATE FUNDING OBLIGATIONS GOING FORWARD THAT, WHEN THE -- WHEN FEDERAL MONEY GOES AWAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS.

SO THAT'S THE $1.3 BILLION IN THE DEBT DEFEESMENT FUND MEANS WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SPEND MONEY TO PAY OFF OLD DEBT AND TO AVOID BORROWING.

SO FAR, THAT'S RESULTED IN $600 MILLION IN SAVINGS FOR PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY.

THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO LET US DO THAT.

THE ARP MONEY THAT WE GOT FROM THE -- FROM WASHINGTON AT THE BEGINNING -- DURING THE PANDEMIC, STILL HAS $3.1 BILLION LEFT IN THAT.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD DO THINGS THAT ARE TRANSFORMATIVE WITH THAT BUT ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN POINT TO AFTER TEN YEARS AND SAY, HEY, LOOK, WE ADDRESSED THIS.

YOU KNOW, THE WORLD CHANGES, AND WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO FIX -- YOU KNOW, CHANGE THINGS.

>> YOU GOT SOMETHING IN MIND THERE?

>> WELL, I MEAN, THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR.

I THINK WE'VE BEEN -- WE'VE BUILT, WE'VE STRENGTHENED THE HOSPITALS IN PREPARATION FOR, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT MIGHT COME IN THE FUTURE, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> I SAW A REPORT BY NJ POLICY PERSPECTIVE THAT CALLED FOR MULTIYEAR BUDGETING.

THEY SAY IT WILL MAKE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE EASIER.

OTHERS HAVE SAID THIS, AS I'M SURE YOU KNOW, BUT WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> I THINK, PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, WE DO THAT NOW.

CONSTITUTIONALLY, WE HAVE A ONE-YEAR BUDGET, SO WE DEFINITELY CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION TO DO IT TWO YEARS, BUT WE HAVE, AND IN FACT, WE HAD A BILL EARLY ON TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE LOOK AT THINGS IN A TWO-YEAR PROJECTED -- I THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

I THINK WE DO IT AS A PRACTICAL MATTER.

I LOOK AT THESE THINGS FROM A TWO-YEAR PERSPECTIVE.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO HAVE NEXT YEAR?

IT'S NOT 50 FIRST DATES, RIGHT?

YOU DON'T WAKE UP NEXT YEAR AND SAY, OH BOY, IT'S ALL NEW AGAIN.

HOW ARE WE LOOKING AT THESE THINGS RELATIVE TO THE FUTURE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO, YEAH, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO LOOK AT IT AND IT'S A CONCEPT THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TALK ABOUT HUNGER IN THE STATE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD ON THIS FOR YEARS NOW.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RECENT SUCCESSES YOU HAVE HAD AND SOME LEGISLATION THAT YOU'RE PUTTING FORWARD TO HELP FIGHT HUNGER IN THE STATE?

>> WE HAVE ENACTED 17 PIECES OF LEGISLATION, ALL DESIGNED TO HELP ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

RECOGNIZING THAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

ONE OF THE THINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, IS ADDRESSING HOW PROVIDING FOOD ASSISTANCE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

THAT WAS SOMETHING, CANDIDLY, I DIDN'T APPRECIATE UNTIL I STARTED TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE.

MY KIDS HAVE ALL BEEN THROUGH COLLEGE.

THEY WORD ABOUT THE FRESHMAN 15, THEY CALL IT, FROM MEAL PLANS.

NOT EVERYBODY'S THAT FORTUNATE.

AND AS DEMOGRAPHICS CHANGE, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS.

THAT'S NEW.

WE HAVE A FIRST IN THE NATION FOOD ADVOCATE, FOOD INSECURITY ADVOCATE, FIRST IN THE NATION, AND THE GOAL THERE IS TO TRY TO BRING ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING SUCH GREAT WORK THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY TOGETHER.

PROBABLY MOST SIGNIFICANT PIECE IS THAT WE INCREASED S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS TO PROVIDE LUNCH AND BREAKFAST.

WE'LL SAVE -- IT'S AN AFFORDABILITY ISSUE AS WELL.

PROBABLY SAVE A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER FAMILY FROM THEIR FOOD BILL.

>> I WANTED TO GET IN A COUPLE OF POLITICAL OR ELECTORAL QUESTIONS HERE.

MOVING THE STATE'S PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY UP TO FEBRUARY TO MAKE US MORE RELEVANT IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE AND ALSO SAW THAT THE PARTY'S NOT REPRESENTED DEMOGRAPHICALLY BY IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IS IT GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH YOUR HOUSE?

>> WELL, I'M CONFIDENT THAT IF, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD GET THAT PASSED.

>> YOU LIKE IT?

>> IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE, RIGHT?

NEW JERSEY'S MUCH MORE DEMOGRAPHICALLY LIKE THE COUNTRY THAN IOWA OR NEW HAMPSHIRE.

I MEAN, GREAT STATES IN THEIR OWN RIGHT, BUT I THINK WE'RE A LITTLE MORE REFLECTIVE OF THE BROADER DIVERSITY THAT THERE IS IN THE COUNTRY.

AND WE'RE A BIG STATE.

WE'RE STILL A BIG, IMPORTANT STATE, SO I THINK THAT MAKES SOME SENSE.

>> YOU ALSO CALLED FOR COUNTIES AND TOWNS TO BETTER COORDINATE THEIR ELECTION TALLIES, BECAUSE THERE WERE WEIRD TALLY SWINGS -- I'M THINKING OF BERGEN COUNTY, PARTICULARLY, HAD SOME PEOPLE SUSPICIOUS BECAUSE THERE WERE BOXES OF VBMs THAT DON'T GET COUNTED UNTIL A CERTAIN TIME IN THIS COUNTY, BUT OVER IN THIS COUNTRY, IT'S A DIFFERENT THING.

>> YEAH, I THINK -- YOU KNOW, DURING THE PANDEMIC, WHEN EVERYTHING WAS VOTE BY MAIL, WE ALLOWED THE COUNT TO START EARLIER ON THE VOTE BY MAILS, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S -- WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL VOTERS HAVE ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM, WHICH IS AS GOOD AND SECURE AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS.

YOU KNOW, MORE PEOPLE ARE VOTING BY MAIL NOW THAN THEY WERE -- THAN EVER BEFORE.

AND SOMETIME -- AND BECAUSE OF THE RULES, YOU CAN'T START THE COUNTING UNTIL LATE.

CONSEQUENTLY, THE RESULTS COME BACK LATE.

WE WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT THOSE VOTES -- IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT WAY OF VOTING, RIGHT?

20 YEARS AGO, WHEN I WENT CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, I WENT TO THE MALL.

NOW I CAN GO ONLINE OR GO TO THE MALL.

IT'S THE SAME CHRISTMAS PRESENT.

IT'S THE SAME VOTE.

AND SO, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THAT CONFIDENCE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

>> ALL RIGHT, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CRAIG COUGHLIN, THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

ENJOY YOUR BUDGET SEASON.

>> I'M SURE YOU'LL BE WATCHING.

THANKS, DAVID.

ALWAYS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> WELL, THE CALENDAR HAS MOVED ON TO APRIL AND THAT CAN ONLY MEAN JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH.

AND YOU KNOW I APPRECIATE ME SOME JAZZ.

I'M HAPPY TO SAY NJ PBS IS GETTING IN ON THE CELEBRATION WITH SOME OF OUR GREAT ARTS PARTNERS, INCLUDING MY JAZZ ALMA MATER.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT JAZZ AND JAZZ IN JERSEY ARE STEVE WILLIAMS, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF WBGO IN NEWARK, AND JOE LEE, VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER FOR NJ PBS.

GENTS, WELCOME BACK TO "CHAT BOX."

STEVE WILLIAMS, WHEN WE LAST SPOKE, WE WERE STILL IN THE GRIPS OF COVID, AND WE WERE ALL STILL WORKING IN PAJAMAS IN OUR LIVING ROOMS.

HAS THE JAZZ WORLD BEGUN TO EMERGE FROM THE PANDEMIC?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD, DAVID.

WE ARE NOW, I'M TALKING TO YOU FROM MY OFFICE AT WBGO STUDIOS AND WE HAVE BEEN BACK IN THE BUILDING.

I LED THE WAY, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, BACK JUST AFTER THANKSGIVING, BUT WE HAVE AN ALTERNATING SCHEDULE NOW WITH OUR STAFF.

HALF THE STAFF IN THREE DAYS A WEEK, THE OTHER HALF IN TWO DAYS A WEEK OR MORE IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

SO WHEN YOU AND I FIRST MET, I THINK I HAD BEEN ON THE JOB FOR MAYBE A MONTH, AND NOW HERE WE ARE, MORE THAN A YEAR LATER, AND IN THE STUDIO, AND MAKING A NUMBER OF TECHNICAL AND COSMETIC UPGRADES, TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY OF NOT HAVING PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS, ARRANGEMENT?

>> YEAH.

>> TO EFFECT THAT CHANGE.

SO, YEAH.

>> JOE LEE, YOU WERE MOST RECENTLY IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, WAER, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IN SYRACUSE, WHICH WAS JAZZ FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

YOU LOVE THIS MUSIC ENOUGH TO ARGUE OVER FAVORITE SINGERS, BETTY CARTER VS. SARA VAUGHN, SO WE DIG THAT BUT THE NETWORK IS JUMPING IN ON JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH WITH SOME JAZZ PROGRAMMING OF OUR OWN.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

>> Announcer: NJ PBS CELEBRATES JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH WITH A SET OF PROGRAMS THAT HONOR JAZZ IN ALL ITS MANY FORMS.

IMPROVISATIONS AND ITERATIONS.

>> THERE'S A POWER BEHIND JAZZ.

>> FROM THE GROUNDBREAKING LEGENDS.

>> WHEN THEY ASK ME ABOUT BIRD, I HEAR TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY.

>> HE SAID IF YOU DON'T LIVE IT, IT WON'T COME OUT YOUR HORN.

>> PITTSBURGH WAS A CENTRAL PART OF THE WHOLE JAZZ CIRCUIT.

>> Announcer: THE GLOBAL FUSION THAT EXPANDS THE GENRE.

>> NOW, THAT IS FIRE.

>> Announcer: ALONG WITH A LOOK INTO THE EXCITING JAZZ SCENE HAPPENING HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> THIS IS WBGO NEWARK.

>> Announcer: SIT IN AND GET READY TO SWING THIS APRIL ON NJ PBS.

>> I LOVE IT.

I SAW A BUNCH OF FAMILIAR FACES THERE.

JOE, TALK ABOUT WHAT THE NETWORK IS DOING TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR JAZZ.

>> YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC TELEVISION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HOME FOR GREAT CULTURAL PROGRAMMING, AND ESPECIALLY AROUND MUSIC, CLASSICAL MUSIC AND JAZZ AS WELL.

WHAT WE'RE DOING DIFFERENTLY THIS TIME AROUND IS JUST CURATING IT IN A WAY TO CELEBRATE THE MONTH, SO WE'RE BRINGING TOGETHER SEVERAL PROGRAMS, DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT VARIOUS ASPECTS OR ARTISTS THAT HAVE BEEN FEATURED ON HERE BEFORE, BUT CONCENTRATING THEM IN THE MONTH OF APRIL SO THAT WE CAN BRING ATTENTION TO AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE WHAT IS AMERICA'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD OF THE ARTS.

WITH A FOCUS AROUND ONE OF THE GEMS OF NEWARK AND NEW JERSEY, WHICH IS WBGO.

SO, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH CHRIS DANIELS, WHO HAS PRODUCED A FILM ON THE HISTORY OF WBGO, AND SO IN AIRING THAT, WE WANTED TO BUILD SOME PROGRAMMING AROUND IT TO CELEBRATE AND BRING ATTENTION TO JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH.

>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

THIS IS A DOCUMENTARY THAT IS COMING UP THAT CELEBRATES THE BIRTH OF WBGO, WHICH, CAN I SAY, THE VERY IDEA OF A FULL-TIME JAZZ RADIO STATION IS JUST INSANE, EVEN IN TODAY'S RADIO MARKET, MUCH LESS BACK IN THE 1980s.

BUT LET'S TAKE A LITTLE LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTARY.

>> BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN NEWARK WANT TO PUT TOGETHER NEW JERSEY'S FIRST PUBLIC RADIO STATION.

>> I REALLY WANTED TO LEAVE BOSTON.

I WANTED TO COME BACK TO NEW YORK, AND THAT'S WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT WBGO.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF SKEPTICS.

YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO SUCCEED THERE.

JAZZ?

YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT INTO AN ALL-JAZZ FORMAT?

THAT'S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE IN PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

IT CAN NEVER HAPPEN.

AND WORSE THAN THAT, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET THE SUPPORT OF YOUR LISTENERS.

>> THAT IS GOING TO BE ACCOMPANIED, RIGHT, JOE, BY A PANEL DISCUSSION, TALKING ABOUT JAZZ IN JERSEY, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

WE'LL HAVE A PANEL DISCUSSION LED BY YOU AND I, SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

>> REHEARSAL NEXT TUESDAY.

>> WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION NOT ONLY ABOUT JAZZ AND ITS PLACE IN NEW JERSEY BUT AROUND THE DOCUMENTARY ON WBGO, "BRIGHT MOMENTS."

IT IS -- I CAN TELL YOU, FROM A 30-PLUS-YEAR CAREER IN PUBLIC RADIO, AT ALL JAZZ RADIO STATIONS, WEAA IN BALTIMORE, WAER IN SYRACUSE, THE REPUTATION IN THE SYSTEM AROUND WBGO, ITS NATIONAL PRESENCE, IT WAS ALWAYS THE GOLD STANDARD.

SO, I'M SURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF NEWARK AND NEW JERSEY UNDERSTAND ITS PLACE IN PUBLIC RADIO HISTORY AND JAZZ HISTORY, BUT IF THEY DON'T, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND BRING SOME ATTENTION TO IT, BECAUSE IT'S A STATION THAT I'M VERY WELL FAMILIAR WITH FROM MY CAREER.

ITS FORMER PRESIDENT WAS A MENTOR AND A FRIEND OF MINE, SO I'M, YOU KNOW, I KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE STATION AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH THE REST OF NEW JERSEY IS GOING IS TO BE FANTASTIC.

>> REALLY NICE OF YOU TO SHOUT OUT BOWLES.

HE'S THE ONE WHO HIRED ME WAY BACK WHEN.

MAY HE REST IN PEACE.

STEVE, YOU HAVE NOW TAKEN THE REINS OF THIS GROWN ENTITY.

DO YOU FEEL THE WEIGHT SOMETIMES OF THE WORLD RENOWNED STATUS OF THIS RADIO STATION?

BECAUSE JOE IS NOT EXAGGERATING.

THIS STATION IS THE JAZZ STANDARD.

>> NO WEIGHT, JUST AN EXTRAORDINARY SENSE OF GOOD FORTUNE AND HONOR, REALLY, DAVID, TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS STATION.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SAID THE IMPROBABILITY OF JAZZ RADIO AS AN ENTITY, I MUST BE CRAZY, BECAUSE I'VE WORKED AT TWO OF THE THREE IN NEW YORK CITY AREA, HERE AND WQCD, AND I HAVE WORKED AT A NUMBER OF JAZZ RADIO STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

DETROIT, SAN FRANCISCO, PHILADELPHIA, WASHINGTON, D.C., AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A CERTAIN RARITY ABOUT WHAT WE DO, WE HAVE, IN ALL THE MARKETS THAT THE JAZZ RADIO STATIONS EXIST, ATLANTA, FOR EXAMPLE, IS ANOTHER MARKET.

I DIDN'T WORK THERE BUT THAT'S ANOTHER MARKET WHERE JAZZ RADIO HAS THRIVED FOR MANY YEARS.

WE HAVE THIS UNIQUE -- AND CONNECTION TO OUR COMMUNITY IN WAYS THAT OTHER RADIO STATIONS DO NOT HAVE, AND THAT IS -- NOT ONLY IS IT GENEROUS, IT REALLY IS A HALLMARK OF THE INSTITUTION OF JAZZ RADIO, HOW WE RELATE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, YOU KNOW, I TOOK ON THIS JOB WITH OPEN ARMS.

I HAD ACTUALLY WORKED HERE BEFORE, AS YOU KNOW, DAVID, AS THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR, TWICE.

AND SO, I WAS WELL AWARE OF, A, BGO'S IMPACT ON THE WORLD.

I LIKE TO CALL THIS THE GLOBAL MEDIA EMPIRE OF JAZZ, AND I WAS IN AWE, REALLY, OF THE THINGS THAT HAD TAKEN PLACE HERE OVER THE LAST 43 YEARS.

BUT I WAS REALLY EAGER TO JUMP IN, IN THIS ROLE, BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE A PART OF THE EVOLUTION OF THIS INSTITUTION IN AREAS WHICH I KNEW COULD TAKE PLACE, AND I WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I CAME BACK.

>> DARE I SAY, JOE LEE, THIS IS A REALLY GOOD TRIAL RUN FOR GETTING SOME POWERHOUSE ARTS ORGANIZATION AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TOGETHER?

I MEAN, NEWARK ALONE HAS BGO, SYMPHONY HALL, NJ PAC, THE MUSEUM.

IT'S LIKE ALL THE POWER RANGERS READY TO ASSEMBLE.

IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> YEAH.

>> WELL, YEAH, WE ARE RICH IN THAT REGARD IN NEW JERSEY, AND IT'S WORTH CELEBRATING.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ALSO WORTH EXPLORING THAT COMMUNITY CONNECTION THAT STEVE JUST MENTIONED BECAUSE AGAIN, I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND I'VE SEEN STATIONS COME AND GO, MINE INCLUDED, YOU KNOW?

WE WERE A MOSTLY JAZZ STATION THAT BEGAN TO FOCUS MORE ON NEWS WITH STILL SOME JAZZ PRESENCE, AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY TO KEEP IT GOING, SO THE SUCCESS OF WBGO AND ITS CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE, I THINK, IS VERY IMPORTANT AND WILL BE INTERESTING FOR US TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WHEN WE MEET IN LEARNING HOW THIS CLASSIC STATION, THIS HISTORIC STATION IS STILL VIBRANT TODAY.

>> AND LET ME -- >> STEVE WILLIAMS.

SORRY, BOSS, GO AHEAD.

>> LET ME APPLAUD JOE REALLY QUICKLY FOR GIVING JAZZ MUSIC THE PROFILE AS A WHOLE -- SURE, PUBLIC TV IS KNOWN FOR PLACING EMPHASIS ON JAZZ AND JAZZ THOUGHT AND JAZZ CREATION, BUT THE WAY THAT YOU'RE DOING THIS, JOE, IS REALLY ADMIRABLE, AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR THE EFFORT, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO, STEVE HAS INVITED JOE TO COME OVER AND CHECK OUT THE STUDIO AND THE LIBRARY.

>> HE'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.

YES.

>> WE'RE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN.

JOE LEE, STEVE WILLIAMS, GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> MY PLEASURE, MAN.

>> THANK YOU, MAN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S "CHAT BOX" FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR THANKS ALSO TO SPEAKER COUGHLIN.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER, @DAVIDCRUZNJ.

YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR MORE STUFF LIKE "BEYOND THE BOX," "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE," AND OTHER LIVE STREAMS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, EVERYBODY.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FOR THE ENTIRE CREW HERE, HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

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

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

ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.COM.