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

A FULL PLATE ON THE SHOW TODAY.

WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE PUSHBACK GOVERNOR MURPHY'S BEEN GETTING FROM ENVIRONMENTALISTS SINCE HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

AND LATIN SOUL LEGEND JOE BATAN JOINS US LATER ON.

BUT WE BEGIN TODAY WITH THE LOOK AT THE EARLY DAYS OF THIS NEW CONGRESS, RULES, COMMITTEES, INVESTIGATIONS ALL BEING DECIDED NOW.

WHAT'S IT MEAN FOR JERSEY, AND FOR THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE?

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT IT SEEMS IS CONGRESSMAN JOSH GOTHEIMER, PROBLEM SOLVER CAUCUS, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, WELCOME.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, APPRECIATE IT.

>> LET'S START WITH THIS DEBT CEILING, WHICH THIS WEEK IS COME UP NOW.

WE'VE REACHED IT.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PEOPLE?

>> SO IT'S BASICALLY THE THING ABOUT IT IS THE COUNTRY'S CREDIT CARD.

AND WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO PAY OUR BILLS FOR EXPENSES WE'VE ALREADY HAD.

AND ONCE YOU HIT THE DEBT CEILING, IT'S LIKE YOU'VE MAXED OUT ON YOUR CARD.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THEN YOU CAN'T -- YOU NEED TO EXTEND THE CREDIT, EXPAND IT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BORROW MORE AS A COUNTRY.

WE'RE NEARING HITTING THAT LIMIT.

I SAY THAT BECAUSE THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT CAN USE EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES TO HELP PAY FOR THINGS WHILE WE TRY TO WORK THIS OUT IN CONGRESS.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THE ISSUE IS, AS YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T ADDRESS IT, LITERALLY THE UNITED STATES WILL DEFAULT ON WHAT IT'S BORROWED.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE WON'T PAY OUR BILLS AND THAT IS NOT A GOOD THING.

IT AFFECTS THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF COURSE WILL AFFECT THE MARKETS, AFFECTS OUR STANDING IN THE WORLD.

SO IT'S A PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE TO SOLVE.

AND I'M ALREADY HARD AT WORK ON TRYING TO BRING FOLKS TOGETHER TO DO THAT.

>> WHEN ALL THIS STUFF WAS GOING ON WITH THE SPEAKERSHIP, WE WERE TALKING, YOU AND I A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, ABOUT THESE POTENTIAL RULES CHANGES THAT ARE COMING INTO THE CONGRESS.

>> YEAH.

>> WE'VE SEEN SOME OF IT.

TELL ME WHAT RULE CHANGES HAVE BEEN THE MOST MAJOR TO AFFECT WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING IN CONGRESS THIS TERM?

>> WELL, AS YOU RIGHTLY POINT OUT THERE WERE SOME CHANGES TO THE RULES OF THE HOUSE.

ONE OF THEM, WHICH, YOU KNOW, THE FREEDOM CAUCUS, THE EXTREME RIGHT, WHAT -- YOU KNOW, WHAT CHANGE THEY WANTED WAS FOR LITERALLY ONE MEMBER OF CONGRESS AT ANY MOMENT TO CALL INTO QUESTION THE SPEAKER, IN OTHER WORDS SAY WE SHOULD HAVE A VOTE RIGHT NOW ONCE AGAIN ON WHO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SHOULD BE.

AND YOU SAW VOTE AFTER VOTE THAT WE WITNESSED IN THE BEGINNING OF CONGRESS, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT AND THE RULES THAT THEY GOT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AT ANY TIME, DURING THE YEAR.

SO WHAT IT MEANS IS, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT THEY'RE THREATENING IS IF WE -- IF WE TRY TO MOVE FORWARD AND GET AN AGREEMENT TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING SO THE UNITED STATES CAN PAY ITS BILLS THEN THEY WILL TRY TO THROW KEVIN McCARTHY OUT.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE SAID.

AND THEY WILL USE THAT RULE TO TRY TO DO SO.

THAT'S WHY WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

THE ANSWER TO COME UP WITH AN AGREEMENT, BECAUSE THAT CAN'T BE THE ANSWER.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BRING EVERYONE TO THE TABLE TO TRY TO GET AN AGREEMENT AND THEN ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT THE CONGRESS ANNOUNCED WERE THESE INVESTIGATIONS.

NOW INTO CHINA, INTO THE WEAPONIZATION OF THE GOVERNMENT INTO THE BIDEN FAMILY.

IS THIS WHAT THE NEXT TWO YEARS IS GOING THE LOOK LIKE?

>> I THINK THE APPOINTMENTS THE REPUBLICANS MADE TO THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND SOME OF THESE FREEDOM CAUCUS EXTREMISTS, YOU KNOW, THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE PLENTY OF INVESTIGATIONS.

THAT'S WHAT THEY PLAN TO MAKE A LOT OF NOISE ABOUT OVER THESE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.

I MEAN, THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES, THOUGH, LIKE THE DEBT CEILING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER ON.

>> FOLKS SHOULD KNOW HOW THIS NEW CONGRESS IS SET UP.

THE HOUSE IS IN REPUBLICAN CONTROL.

THE SENATE IS IN DEMOCRATIC CONTROL.

OF COURSE THE PRESIDENCY.

A LOT OF THIS STUFF THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE COMING OUT OF THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE IS GOING TO BE COUNT BY THE SENATE.

SO REALLY, IT BEHOOVES REPUBLICANS IN TERMS OF JUST KIND OF A POLITICAL STRATEGY TO TAKE THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO BEAT UP ON DEMOCRATS, AND THE INCUMBENT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

I MEAN, IS THAT OVERSIMPLIFYING THINGS?

>> NO, I THINK THERE'S SOME WHO BELIEVE THAT'S -- I'M SURE THE STRATEGY THAT THEY SHOULD EMPLOY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE WANT COMMON SENSE AND PEOPLE WANT TO GET STUFF DONE FOR THEM, NOT JUST SCREAMING AND YELLING.

SO I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SHOW THAT THEY CAN GOVERN.

AND, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY THAT'S WHAT ALL OF US -- THAT'S WHAT I WANT, I WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO GET STUFF DONE FOR US AND MAKE PROGRESS, WHETHER IT'S FOR VETERANS, SUPPORTING COPS AND FIREFIGHTERS AND OBVIOUSLY DEALING WITH THIS DEBT ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SCREAM AND YELL ALL YOU WANT, AND MAYBE IT'S GOOD FOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND CABLE TV BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER, NOT MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WAKE UP WORRYING ABOUT.

SO IT'S A STRATEGY FROM THE EXTREMISTS.

I THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE OBVIOUSLY GRAPPLING WITH THAT.

AND THEY HAD TO CUT SOME DEALS TO MOVE FORWARD A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

BUT THAT'S NOT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO GOVERN FOR THE COUNTRY AND GET THINGS DONE IN A COMMON SENSE WAY.

YOU'RE GOING TO NEED PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE WILLING TO WORK AND SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND FIGURE OUT REASONABLE COMMON SENSE WAYS TO MOVE FORWARD, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT PEOPLE WANT, BUT ALSO THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH CHALLENGES LIKE THE DEBT CEILING THAT YOU MENTIONED A FEW MINUTES AGO.

>> I'VE GOT TO ASK YOU ABOUT TECHNICALLY A LOCAL CONGRESSMAN GEORGE SANTOS OUT OF NEW YORK WHO HAS CREATED EVIDENTLY HIS ENTIRE LIFE OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH AS HE RAN FOR CONGRESS.

WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO HIM, WHAT HE SHOULD DO?

>> I MEAN, IT'S A COMPLETE WORK OF FICTION, RIGHT, AND EVERY DAY WE LEARN SOMETHING NEW.

LIKE YESTERDAY, WITH -- YOU KNOW, HE CLAIMS HIS MOTHER WAS IN 9/11, AND TURNS OUT SHE WASN'T IN THE COUNTRY, APPARENTLY, AND STOLE MONEY FROM THIS CHARITY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S -- I DON'T KNOW HOW THE GUY LOOKS HIMSELF IN THE MIRROR.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE ETHICS COMMITTEE AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AND PROSECUTORS WILL -- ARE LOOKING INTO, MY UNDERSTANDING, HIS FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES AND OTHER CLAIMS HE'S MADE.

SO I'LL LEAVE IT TO THEM TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

RIGHT NOW HE'S SWORN INTO CONGRESS, AND GIVEN COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AND WILL BE THERE UNTIL OBVIOUSLY ACTION IS TAKEN.

BUT USUALLY WHAT GOES FIRST IS THE ETHICS COMMITTEE MAKING -- MAKING A DECISION, AND ANALYZING HIS DISCLOSURES AND ANY OTHER CLAIMS THAT HE'S MADE.

SO WE'LL SEE.

BUT THE WHOLE THING IS JUST -- IT'S ALMOST HARD TO BELIEVE, LITERALLY ISSUE AFTER ISSUE.

AND WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST, AND HIS FAMILY IN THE HOLOCAUST, AND APPARENTLY MADE THAT UP.

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW HE KEEPS IT ALL STRAIGHT.

>> HAVING DISCUSSED ALL OF THESE THINGS, WHERE DO YOU SEE AN END FOR YOUR PROBLEM-SOLVERS CAUCUS TO TRY AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER?

IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS AN END RIGHT NOW?

>> WE HAVE TO SOLVE -- IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEBT CEILING, WE HAVE TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

WE HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.

THE ECONOMY DEPENDS ON IT.

PEOPLE'S SAVINGS DEPENDS UPON IT.

OUR SAVINGS IN THE WORLD DEPENDS UPON IT.

WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SOLVE IT.

WE HAVE TO SIT TOGETHER, AND KEEP SITTING TOGETHER, AS WE'RE ALREADY DOING, TO WORK THROUGH IT.

REMEMBER, THERE'S ALWAYS LOUD VISES AND EXTREMISTS THAT GET LOTS OF ATTENTION.

AND I GET THAT, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TEND TO LIKE TO WATCH THE FIGHT, YOU KNOW, AND THE CAR CRASH.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY A BUNCH OF US SIT DOWN EVERY SINGLE WEEK IN THE PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS, WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE NOW INTERESTED THAN EVER BEFORE, WE WERE AT 58 LAST CONGRESS, RECONSTITUTING NOW, AND WE'LL BE OVER THAT NUMBER IN THIS CONGRESS.

YOU KNOW, OUR JOB IS TO SIT DOWN EVERY WEEK AND JUST WORK TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT WHERE WE CAN AGREE AND GET 80% OF WHAT WE WANT, AND MOVE FORWARD, VERSUS 0% TAKING THE COUNTRY DOWN THE ECONOMY DOWN.

WE'RE -- I'M NOT GOING TO STOP WORKING AT IT UNTIL WE GET THERE.

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO.

>> ALL RIGHT, IT'S JUST BEGUN, FOLKS, CONGRESS AND JOSH GOTHIMMER, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> FIRST INNING, MAN, FIRST INNING.

>> WE'LL TALK TO YOU AGAIN SOON.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, TAKE CARE.

>>> WE GO FROM THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN CONGRESS TO OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN NEW JERSEY, WHERE WHALES HAVE BEEN WASHING ASHORE WITH ALARMING FREQUENCY.

SEVEN DEAD ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD, FIVE IN NEW JERSEY IN JUST OVER A MONTH.

WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING TO THESE MAMMALS IS STILL UNKNOWN.

BUT ENVIRONMENTALISTS, LIKE THOSE LIKE CLEAN OCEAN ACTION AND LAWMAKERS ARE CALLING FOR A PAUSE IN OFFSHORE WIND OPERATION AND TESTING UNTIL OFFICIALS CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE'LL START WITH THAT AND THEN GET INTO A CONVERSATION ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD OF THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION WITH OUR GUEST, ANGELI RAMOS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW JERSEY CHAPTER OF THE SIERRA CLUB, AND DEB O'MALLEY, THE DIRECTOR OF THE ENVIRONMENT NEW JERSEY, WELCOME TO YOU BOTH, HELLO.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> HELLO, DAVID.

>> LET'S START WITH THESE WHALES.

THIS IS A SUBJECT OF SOME CONTROVERSY.

LET ME FIRST HEAR FROM ONE OF THE STATE SENATORS WHO HAS PROPOSED A PAUSE TO THE -- SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES OFFSHORE, REGARDING RENEWABLE WIND.

>> SOMETHING IS GOING ON WITH THESE WHALES.

I'VE BEEN HERE 50 YEARS.

WE HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS.

NONE OF THEM HAD EVER SEEN THIS.

AND SO I THINK IT IS RESPONSIBLE TO TAKE A PAUSE, TO TAKE A BREAK AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

THEY'RE HELL BENT TO PROCEED.

BUT NOBODY RIGHT NOW CAN SAY DEFINITIVELY WHAT IS HAPPENING.

AND UNTIL WE CAN SAY THAT, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE CONTINUING.

>> SENATOR PAUL ASTINA THERE.

LET'S START WITH YOU, ANGELI.

YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS.

IS THE SENATOR INCORRECT?

>> WELL, I THINK, I MEAN, I CAN UNDERSTAND THE SENATOR'S CONCERNS.

WE'RE ALL CONCERNED.

WE'RE ALL SADDENED TO SEE WHALES DYING, OF COURSE.

BUT I DISAGREE WITH HIM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE WHALES THAT HAVE BEEN WASHING UP ASHORE, THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT LINKS THEIR DEATHS TO VESSEL STRIKES.

AND SO WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT THIS PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN COMMERCIAL SHIPPING, WHICH IS WHAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE, YOU KNOW, HITTING THESE WHALES AND CAUSING THESE WHALES TO DIE.

BUT THE BIGGEST THREAT TO WHALES, AND MARINE MAMMA MALES IN GENERAL AND MARINE WILDLIFE IS CLIMATE CHANGE.

HOW DO YOU FIX CLIMATE CHANGE OR HOW DO YOU CURB THE IMPACTS?

IT'S THROUGH CLEAN ENERGY.

THERE IS AN URGENCY TO CONTINUE WITH, YOU KNOW, THE DEVELOPMENT OF OFFSHORE WIND FROM NEW JERSEY.

BUT FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

SO I DISAGREE, BECAUSE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A DIRECT LINKAGE FROM OFFSHORE WIND WITH THESE WHALE CASUALTIES.

>> DOUG, THE SENATOR THERE, AND JEFF ANDREW, A CONGRESSMAN, HAVE CALLED FOR A PAUSE IN SOME OF THE ACTIVITY THAT'S HAPPENING OFFSHORE.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT, TAKING FOUR WEEKS TO KIND OF SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?

>> WELL, I THINK REALLY THE CONCERN HERE IS WE NEED TO BE ACTING ON THE SCIENCE.

AND NOAA HAS DEFINITIVELY COME OUT AND SAID THERE'S NO INFORMATION THAT WOULD SUPPORT ANY OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S BEING USED IN OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW WOULD HAVE ANY LINK DIRECTLY TO THE DEATHS OF THESE WHALES.

SO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THE OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY NEEDS TO HAVE THE HIGHEST ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS POSSIBLE.

BUT WE SHOULDN'T IMMEDIATELY BLAME THE OFFHER WIND INDUSTRY DIRECTLY FOR THE DEATHS OF THESE WHALES.

>> ALL RIGHT, I WANT TO MOVE ON FROM THAT WHOLE CONTROVERSY, TO A GENERAL LOOK AT HOW PHIL MURPHY HAS BEEN DOING, ENVIRONMENTALLY SPEAKING.

I KNOW JUST RECENTLY HE WAS DOWNGRADED FROM THE GREENEST GOVERNOR IN AMERICA, AND FROM AN "A" RANKING TO A "B" PLUS RANKING, AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT SOME OF HIS STANCE.

LET'S HEAR FROM THE GOVERNOR.

WE TALKED TO HIM THIS WEEK ABOUT IT, WE ASKED HIM ABOUT IT, AND THIS IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT I'LL PUT OUR RECORD UP AGAINST ANYBODY'S, INCLUDING AND ESPECIALLY IN THE FIVE YEARS.

THIS IS NOT A SNAPSHOT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MOVIE.

LET'S REMEMBER WHAT NEW JERSEY WAS LIKE AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL MATTER FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY.

AND THE ENORMITY OF WHAT WE'VE DONE TO MAKE US THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY PROGRESSIVE STATE IN AMERICA.

SO I LOVE THESE GUYS.

BUT I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING MAYBE AT A SNAPSHOT OF THIS PARTICULAR PLANT OR THAT PARTICULAR PLANT.

I'VE GOT TO BE PRAGMATIC AND REALISTIC AT THE SAME TIME.

BUT NO STATE IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS HAS DONE AS MUCH AS WE'VE DONE.

>> SO I GUESS THAT'S A POINT WELL TAKEN, IF YOU CONSIDER THE ENTIRETY OF HIS RECORD.

BUT LET ME ASK YOU, EACH OF YOU, LET'S START WITH YOU, ANGELI, WHAT ARE THE GOVERNOR'S STRENGTHS IN THIS AREA AND WHAT ARE HIS WEAKNESSES IN THIS AREA?

>> YEAH, I THINK IN GENERAL WE CAN ALL AGREE OFFSHORE WIND.

IT IS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT.

HE HAS JUMP STARTED THE OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT HERE IN NEW JERSEY, AND A GREEN MARKET, AND GREEN JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

SO WE'RE INCREDIBLY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.

BUT THAT'S NOT JUST THE ENTIRE PICTURE, RIGHT?

I WANT TO BE PRAGMATIC AS WELL AS THE GOVERNOR IS POINTING AT.

>> RIGHT.

>> WE HAVE THREE MORE YEARS LEFT OF HIS, YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATION.

AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE AS MANY GREEN MOVES THAT HE CAN ACCOMPLISH, YOU KNOW, TO GET NEW JERSEY TO A REALLY SOLID STATE, TO GET US INTO A POSITION OF BEING CLIMATE LEADERS, IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

AND SO THAT REQUIRES A LOT MORE.

SO LIKE PUSHING FOR ELECTRIFY CATION, SPECIFICALLY, OF CARS.

I CAN GIVE YOU A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE.

GOVERNOR MURPHY'S ADMINISTRATION ADOPTED THE CLEAN CARS -- SORRY, THE CLEAN TRUCKS RULE.

LET ME BE SPECIFIC WITH THAT.

DECEMBER 2021.

WE NOW NEED HIM TO ADOPT CLEAN CARS TOO, WHICH IS THE EQUIVALENT OF CLEAN TRUCKS, BUT FOR OUR REGULAR CARS, LIGHT DUTY CARS, SO THAT WE CAN BE, AGAIN, LEADERS IN THIS SECT, IN THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR, WHICH IS THE SECTOR THAT ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTES THE MOST TO CARBON EMISSIONS, AND POLLUTION IN OUR STATE.

SO SENDING THAT SIGNAL TO CAR MANUFACTURERS, AND SO THAT WE CAN BE ALIGNED WITH THE MOST PROGRESSIVE ELECTRIC VEHICLE RULES, AND SECTOR IN THE COUNTRY, IS WHAT'S GOING TO TAKE US INTO THE NEXT STEP.

AND WE ARE BEING PRAGMATIC.

WE HAVE THREE MORE YEARS.

THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE.

I'M SURE DOUG HAS PLENTY MORE TO SAY.

>> DOUG, I THINK I HEAR ANGELI SAYING, FOR LACK OF A BETTER EXPRESSION, THE GOVERNOR'S TAKING HIS FOOT OFF THE GAS.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

DO YOU SEE THINGS THAT WAY AS WELL?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THE CHALLENGE HERE IS OBVIOUSLY THE RECORD OF THE CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION WAS ATROCIOUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

WE'VE BEEN PLAYING CATCHUP.

IT GETS LATE EARLY OUT THERE, AS YOGI BEAR USED TO SAY.

LESS THAN THREE YEARS LEFT IN THE TERM FOR THE GOVERNOR.

AND GOVERNOR McAGREE HAVE I USED TO HAVE A GREAT SAYING, PLAN YOUR WORK, AND WORK YOUR PLAN.

AND GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS A COMMITMENT TO MOVE FORWARDS 100% CLEAN ENERGY BY 2050.

WE NEED TO SEE MORE ACTION BY DP, AND OTHER STATE AGENCIES, NOT ONLY TO TAKE IT EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS ISSUED, BUT THE PUT THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS INTO RULES.

SO THE GOVERNOR MORE THAN A YEAR AGO COMMITTED TO REDUCING CLIMATE EMISSIONS BY 50% BY 2030, WHICH IS IN LINE WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, IT'S IN LINE WITH CLIMATE SCIENCE.

IT'S IN LINE WITH LEADING STATES.

BUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE ACTIONS NECESSARY TO ACTUALLY REDUCE THOSE EMISSIONS.

AND THERE ARE STILL MULTIPLE FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT ARE PENDING AROUND THE DATABASE, GAS COMPRESSION STATIONS AS WELL AS GAS POWER PLANTS.

THAT'S REALLY THE RUB HERE IS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S RECORD NEEDS TO REFLECT NOT ONLY CLIMATE SCIENCE BUT IT NEEDS TO REFLECT HIS OWN AGENDA, AND HE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO FULFILL THE AGENDA TO MOVE TOWARDS CLEAN ENERGY, AND AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS.

>> MORE TO BE DONE.

ANGELI RAMOS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SIERRA CLUB, AND DOUG O'MALLEY DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT NEW JERSEY.

GREAT TO SEE YOU BOTH, THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> THANKS, DAVID.

>> THANKS, DAVID.

>>> OUR FINAL GUEST IS A LEGENDARY FIGURE, NOT ONLY HERE ON THE EAST COAST, BUT REALLY ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

HE BEGAN HIS CAREER IN 1966 AND REALLY HAS NOT STOPPED WORKING EVER SINCE.

HE'S AN INNOVATOR, AND A TREND SETTER IN SOUL, LATIN SOUL, BOOGALOO AND SALSA.

A SURVIVOR OF THE NEW YORK WORLD, GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

>> LONG TIME, DAVID, HOW YOU DOING?

>> I'M HANGING IN THERE.

IS IT POSSIBLE -- IS IT POSSIBLE THAT YOU'RE 81 YEARS OLD?

>> WELL, YOU GOT ME ONE YEAR OVER.

I'M 80.

>> YOU'RE 80.

>> 80.

SAME AGE AS MOSES WHEN HE WENT TO EGYPT.

>> WELL, YOU HAVE PARTED THE RED SEA MUSICALLY.

HOW MANY NIGHTS A YEAR DO YOU STILL GO OUT AND PLAY?

>> WELL, IT VARIES.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE THE OLDEN DAYS WHERE WE HAD MAYBE THREE OR FOUR ENGAGEMENTS A DAY.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED TO DO IS I WORK LESS AND PROBABLY MAKE MORE, BECAUSE MY TIME IS PRECIOUS NOW.

SO I PLAY MAYBE 20 TIMES OUT OF THE YEAR BUT I DO MOSTLY MAJOR CONCERTS, AND SOMETIMES LITTLE INDIVIDUAL CLUBS ALSO.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE A CHOICE NOW, YOU KNOW.

>> YEAH.

AS THE SONG SAYS, IT ALL STARTED LONG AGO.

1966 FOR YOU.

CAN YOU TELL BRIEFLY THE STORY?

YOU WERE ARRESTED FOR CAR THEFT AS A TEENAGER, AND YOU WENT TO XKOXAKIE PRISON AND THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE, DIDN'T IT?

>> OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, MOST KIDS AT THAT TIME WE HAD A LOT OF TIME ON OUR HANDS, WE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, OUR DREAMS WERE EITHER TO BECOME A MUSICIAN OR A SPORTS FIGURE.

I TRIED TO BE JACKIE ROBINSON, BUT THAT DIDN'T COME THROUGH.

SO I ENDED UP WITH THE MUSIC.

I WAS BLESSED AFTER STUDYING MUSIC THEORY UNDER MARK FRANCIS AT KOXAKIE, I CAME OUT AND STARTED A BAND.

I'M A SELF-TAUGHT MUSICIAN.

AND I GOT TOGETHER A GROUP OF YOUNG KIDS, 11 AND 12 YEARS OLD, AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

WE PRACTICE FOR SIX MONTHS, AND THEN WE WERE MAKING RECORDS.

>> YOU HAVE NEVER GONE OUT OF STYLE.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN AUDIENCE FOR YOUR MUSIC.

WHAT -- WHY IS THAT?

I MEAN, YOU SEE ARTISTS, EVEN FROM THE GENRES IN WHICH YOU BECAME FAMOUS.

BUT THEY COME AND THEY GO.

BUT YOU CONSISTENTLY, I MEAN, IT'S BEEN 60 YEARS, MAN.

>> YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M BLESSED FIRST OF ALL, I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE BIG BOSS.

HE MUST HAVE BEEN IN MY COURT ALL THIS TIME, AND WAITING FOR ME TO SEE THE LIGHT.

AND ACTUALLY A LOT OF THINGS THAT I DID WHEN I WAS YOUNGER CAME INTO VIEW NOW BECAUSE I WAS RIGHT ON TARGET, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LYRICS TO THE SONGS THAT TELL YOU A STORY, AS OPPOSED TO JUST SAYING RICE AND BEANS ON MY SHOE, OR DANCE AND SHAKE YOUR BOOTY, I WAS TELLING A STORY WITH MY MUSIC.

THEN AGAIN, LATIN SOUL WAS JUST RIGHT FOR JOE BATAN BECAUSE IT ALLOWED ME TO SING IN ENGLISH, WITH A LATIN BEAT.

AND OF COURSE THAT REALLY WASN'T BEING DONE AT THE TIME, NOT WITH A STORY, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE DOING IT, BUT NOT WITH A STORY.

THE ONLY ONE THAT REALLY CAME CLOSE WAS SMOKEY ROBINSON.

HE WAS DOING IT BEFORE EVERYBODY.

HE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS LATIN SOUL.

HE COULD DANCE THE CH A-CHA.

LATIN SOUL WAS A TERM THAT WASN'T USED.

WHEN I CHOSE THE WORD LATIN SOUL IT ENCOMPASSED THE LATIN COMMUNITY AND THE SOUL, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

WHEN THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER AND IT WAS LIKE THERE'S A NEW SOUND.

SOMETHING THAT NOBODY ELSE WAS DOING, AT LEAST IT GAVE ME A SPOT, YOU KNOW, IN THE LIMELIGHT, TO EXIST.

>> WE SHOULD TELL PEOPLE JUST FOR THE RECORD THAT YOU ARE NOT LATINO.

YOU ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN.

AND FILIPINO.

BUT YOU ARE STEEPED IN NEW YORK'S LATIN COMMUNITY.

WHO WERE SOME OF YOUR INFLUENCES?

I KNOW YOU LIKE THE CROONERS TOO, RIGHT?

>> OH, DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY.

YOU KNOW, THEY SAY -- I HAD -- LATINO.

SO IN OTHER WORDS IRREGARDLESS OF MY NATIONALITY, I NEVER THOUGHT THAT WAY COMING OUT OF EAST HARLEM.

WE THOUGHT OF OURSELVES AS HUMAN BEINGS.

A LOT OF THAT RACIAL CONTENT CAME IN YEARS LATER WHEN IT STARTED TO BE RECOGNIZED AND PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT.

BUT MY UPBRINGING, IT SORT OF INVITED A LOT OF FAN BASE ON ME AFTER A WHILE WHEN PEOPLE FOUND OUT THAT I WASN'T LATINO.

AND I WAS -- IT DIDN'T MATTER WHERE I WAS, AS LONG AS I WAS INVOLVED IN YOUR CULTURE, AND SOMETHING THAT I LOVED TO DO.

>> YEAH.

>> I WAS PROBABLY MORE BALIGUA THAN A LOT OUT THERE.

I HUNG OUT.

I DUG IT, I MARRIED IT, I DID EVERYTHING YOU COULD THINK ABOUT.

THE LATIN COMMUNITY IS THE FIRST ONE TO RESPOND TO JOE BATAN, ALL RIGHT, AND BECAUSE OF WHAT UNIQUE THING THAT I DID, IT SORT OF BROUGHT ME ALONG.

AND THEN WHEN I FOUND OUT WAS IN 2010 WHEN THEY CALLED ME -- RECOGNIZED AT THE SMITHSONIAN.

THE GENTLEMAN THERE, SAID YOU KNOW, JOE, WE WANT TO HONOR YOU.

AND I SAID WHY, HE SAID YOU'RE A BRIDGE FOR THE LATIN COMMUNITY, FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AND NOW THE ASIAN COMMUNITY.

WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THREE QUARTERS OF THE WORLD.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT.

AND THEN OF COURSE ONE SONG THAT I HAD NEVER REALLY THINKING THAT IT WOULD MEAN ANYTHING LATER WAS "YOUNG GIFTED AND BROWN".

>> YES.

>> AND THAT SORT OF ENCOMPASSED A LOT -- THERE'S A LOT OF BROWN PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

EVERYBODY CONSIDERS THEMSELVES NOT THIS, NOT THAT, THEY WERE BROWN.

SO THAT SORT OF ENDEARED ME TO A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE.

AND OF COURSE WITH THE LYRICS IN MY STORIES, IT SORT OF IDENTIFIED WITH THE AVERAGE PERSON WALKING DOWN THE STREET.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT ANYBODY COULD HAVE DONE, BUT DIDN'T DO.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THIS.

BUT 100 YEARS AGO YOU PLAYED A GIG IN JERSEY CITY AT A PLACE CALLED EL CENTRO, WHICH PEOPLE STILL TALK ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW, WE WERE AT A FUNERAL RECENTLY AND SOMEBODY MENTIONED SEEING YOU PLAY AT EL CENTRO, AND NOW HERE WE ARE 100 YEARS LATER, YOU'RE GOING TO BE PLAYING ABOUT FOUR BLOCKS AWAY FROM WHERE EL CENTRO WITHOUT ORIGINALLY, YOU'LL BE PLAYING NEXT WEEK IN JERSEY CITY.

TELL US ABOUT THAT GIG THAT'S UPCOMING.

>> YEAH, WELL I GOT A CALL FROM TODD.

HE'S AN OLD LATIN MUSIC, WHEN HE HAD THE CLUB IN MAXWELL, AND HE ASKED ME TO COME PLAY, COME DOWN TO WHITE EAGLE HALL.

I SAID WHERE IS THAT?

HE SAID JERSEY.

I ADD PLAYED HALL IN BROOKLYN.

THAT WAS AMAZING.

SO I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

I MEAN, I GUESS I'VE BEEN ALL OVER JESSE RADIO AND WE'RE HOPING WE GET A SELLOUT, AND EVERYBODY COMES DOWN.

IT'S THE ONLY FREQUENT TIME YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE ME BECAUSE THE LAST TIME I PLAYED IN JERSEY WAS ARTHRITIC CITY, AND THAT WAS DURING THE SUMMERTIME.

SO BECAUSE NOTHING IS PROMISED, EVERYBODY, MY FRIENDS AND EVERYBODY TO COME ON.

IT'S THE ONLY SHOW IN TOWN.

COMING WITH A 12-PIECE BAND, AND WE'RE GOING TO ROCK THE HOUSE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUNG, GIFTED AND BROWN.

AT 80 YEARS OLD.

JOE BATAN, GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN, THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU, GOD BLESS.

>> AND THAT'S "CHAT BOX" FOR THIS WEEK, THANKS TO JOSH GOTHEIMER, ANGELI RAMOS, AND JOE BATAN.

TAKE A FIRST LOOK AT CHAT BOX AND REPORTERS ROUND TABLE.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FROM THE ENTIRE CREW HERE AT GATEWAY CENTER IN DOWNTOWN NEWARK, THANKS FOR WATCHES, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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

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.

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