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♪ >>> VACANCIES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, LOTS OF THEM.

IT'S A GOOD THING COVID IS OVER, OR IS IT?

HI, EVERYBODY.

IT'S REPORTERS ROUND TABLE.

I'M DAVID CRUISE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN.

HOPE YOU HAD A NICE SUMMER.

OUR SEASON PREMIER FEATURES OUR STATE HOUSE WATCHERS AND ONE WHO'S MAKING HIS REPORTERS TABLE DEBUT.

SENIOR WRITER FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

CHARLES STYLE IS MAKING HIS REPORTERS ROUND TABLE DEBUT IS DANIEL HAN, HEALTHCARE REPORTER FOR POLITICO.

WE START WITH THE WOMAN WHOSE JOB IT IS TO FILL ALL THOSE VACANCIES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND CURE EVERY ILL THAT AILS US ALL.

SHE'S THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, COMMISSIONER, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, DAVID.

>> SO LET'S START WITH THE VACANCIES IN YOUR DEPARTMENT.

WE SHOULD MENTION THAT THERE'S ABOUT 5,500 TOTAL EMPLOYEES IN THE DEPARTMENT AROUND THE STATE.

THE STATE REPORTED LAST WEEK THAT THERE WERE ABOUT 100 VACANCIES THERE.

IS THAT STILL THE NUMBER, AND HOW DID WE GET HERE?

>> WELL, FIRST WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE 500.

THERE'S 5,500 EMPLOYEES, A LITTLE BIT OVER IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

4,500 OF THEM ARE IN OUR PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS.

REMEMBER, WE DO RUN FOUR OF THE STATE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS.

SO SOME OF THOSE VACANCIES ARE WITHIN THE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS.

IF YOU LOOK THROUGHOUT THE STATE, I LIKE TO GO BACK TO MY FIRST WEEK HERE WHEN I JOINED IN AUGUST OF 2019, I MET WITH THE STAFF AND THE FIRST THING ASKED THEM IS HOW MANY VACANCIES DO YOU HAVE, AND THEY TOLD ME, WE HAVE 457.

I SAID, THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

YOU CANNOT BE CONTINUING TO DO YOUR WORK WITH THAT MANY VACANCIES.

WHAT THEY TOLD ME WAS THAT THE 467 WERE LONG-STANDING VACANCIES THAT HAD BEEN ELIMINATED OVER THE LAST DECADE.

SO WE STARTED A STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS TO LOOK AT EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED IN THE DEPARTMENT TO CARRY OUT THE WORK THAT WE'RE CALLED TO DO.

AND THEN THE PANDEMIC BROKE OUT.

SO AS YOU KNOW, IN THE PANDEMIC, WE REORGANIZED JUST ABOUT ALL THE WORK WE DO.

PROGRAM MANAGERS CONTINUED TO DO THEIR EVERYDAY WORK, EITHER REMOTELY OR IN THE OFFICE, AND THEN A GROUP OF US RUN THE OFFICE FULL TIME HANDLING THE PANDEMIC.

AND WHAT WE LEARNED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND WHAT WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON STRATEGICALLY IS WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED, WHAT DO WE NEED TO HOLD ON TO, HOW CAN WE REORGANIZE TO MAINTAIN GOOD OUTCOMES FOR THE STATE AND CONTINUE OUR MISSION?

SO WE'VE DONE A LOT OF REORGANIZATION.

>> WHAT'S THE CHALLENGE IN FILLING THESE JOBS?

>> WELL, PART OF THE REORGANIZATION, BY THE WAY, IS THAT MANY OF THE JOBS WERE FILLED THROUGH CDC GRANTS, AND WE HAVE CDC GRANTS THAT CARRY US THROUGH 2024, AND WE ONBOARDED OVER 200 INDIVIDUALS TO SUPPORT US THROUGH THE GRANTS THROUGH JULY OF 2024.

DIFFICULTIES WITH FILLING JOBS PRIMARILY AT THE HIGHER LEVELS ARE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF SALARIES, STATE SALARIES VERSUS WHAT YOU CAN GET IN THE PRIVATE INDUSTRY.

PARTICULARLY, IN INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE CLINICAL BARACK GROUND.

SO THAT'S WHERE OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES ARE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I DON'T WANT TO ASK THIS TOO LOUDLY BECAUSE I'M A TERRIBLE JINX, BUT WE SAW A STATEMENT FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE CDC THIS WEEK THAT SAYS, THE END IS IN SIGHT AS FAR AS COVID GOES.

MASKING AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS HAVE EASED IN THE STATE.

ESSENTIALLY, THE STATE SEEMS TO BE SAYING, DO WHAT YOU FEEL, BUT NOT EVERYONE SEEMS TO THINK WE SHOULD BE PROMOTING THAT KIND OF THINKING.

WHAT'S THE SCIENCE BEHIND THIS APPROACH OF EASING RESTRICTIONS?

>> I THINK -- WE SAY HERE AT THE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT REALIZE THE PANDEMIC IS STILL WITH US BECAUSE WE COUNT CASES EVERY DAY.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE COUNT HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.

AS LONG AS WE'RE SEEING FIVE TO TEN DEATHS A DAY, WE DON'T EVEN CALL IT AN ENDEMIC STATE.

WE KIND OF COIN THE PHRASE WE'RE IN A STEADY STATE.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT PEOPLE ARE LEARNING TO LIVE WITH COVID IN A SAFE MANNER.

PEOPLE ARE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR HEALTH OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR LOVED ONES.

THEY'RE STAYING HOME IF THEY'RE SICK.

THEY'RE TESTING, THEY'RE MASKING IF THEY FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO MASK.

SO I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE LEARNING TO LIVE WITH COVID, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

PEOPLE ARE INTEGRATING GOOD HEALTH PRACTICES INTO THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES.

AND YES, WE WILL LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT OVER TIME.

RIGHT NOW, HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE AT LOW TO A MEDIUM LEVEL.

THE STATE SEEMS TO BE IN WHAT WE CALL A STEADY STATE, AND WE JUST HOPE WE GET THROUGH THE FALL AND WINTER THAT WAY AND THAT THE NEW VACCINE TAKES HOLD AND WE SHOW THE VIRUS THE DOOR.

>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BOOSTER SHOTS AGAIN IN THE FALL OF -- ANY EVIDENCE THAT FOLKS ARE GOING FOR THAT NEXT BOOSTER SHOT?

>> WELL, THE BIVALENT BOOSTER IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT PROTECTS YOU AGAINST OMICRON, THE MONSTER OF ALL VARIANTS THAT WE SAW IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY, AND PARTICULARLY THE B4/B5 VARIANT.

WE ROLLED OUT THE BOOSTERS LAST WEEK, AND TODAY WE'VE GIVEN OVER 80,000 ADMINISTRATIONS.

SO WE'VE BROUGHT UP ALL OUR POINTS OF DISPENSING.

WE WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT SITES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE THERE'S A GREAT DEMAND FOR THE BIVA LENT BOOSTER.

>> I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

SO NOW IT'S MONKEY POX.

I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT THIS ONE.

MANY PEOPLE STILL INSIST IT'S A SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE AND A, QUOTE, GAY DISEASE.

>> MONKEY POX IS A DISEASE THAT IS SPREAD THROUGH CLOSE INTIMATE CONTACT.

IT HAS NOT BEEN QUALIFIED AS A SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE AT THIS POINT.

BUT CLOSE INTIMATE CONTACT, WHEN YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WITH MONKEY POX, THERE'S SOME -- COULD BE SOME RESPIRATORY SITUATION AND ALSO MORE IMPORTANTLY ANY OF THE LESIONS THAT YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH, YOU CAN CONTRACT MONKEY POX.

WE HAVE ABOUT 643 CASES IN THE STATE.

WE'VE SEEN THAT SLOW DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY.

WE DO HAVE OVER 20 SITES WHERE YOU CAN BE VACCINATED AND BE VACCINATED OVER ALMOST 25,000 INDIVIDUALS.

>> SO THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT A POSTMORTEM FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT THE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES IN THE STATE.

WHY HASN'T THAT HAPPENED YET, AND WHEN WILL IT HAPPEN?

>> I HOPE IT WILL HAPPEN WHEN WE FEEL THE INFECTIONS ARE UNDER CONTROL IN OUR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.

THEY'RE JUST A REFLECTION OF THE PREVALENCE OF DISEASE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

SO WE STILL HAVE ON AVERAGE 390 OUTBREAKS IN OUR OVER 600 FACILITIES ON A DAILY BASIS, AND WHEN THAT SLOWS DOWN AND WE LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW MASKING, PROTECTION OF THE INDIVIDUALS COMING INTO LONG-TERM CARE TO VISIT OR TO WORK, HOW THAT HAS HAD IMPLICATIONS FOR THE SPREAD OF DISEASE WILL GIVE US A BETTER PICTURE OF WHAT COULD'VE HAPPENED WHEN WE HAD NO TESTING, NO PPE AND NO INDICATION OF ASYMPTOMATIC SPREAD.

>> LAST QUESTION HERE.

I KNOW THAT YOU'VE ONLY KNOWN THIS JOB AS COMMISSIONER WHILE THERE WAS AN INTERNATIONAL PANDEMIC.

WE, I THINK, TALKED ABOUT THIS ONCE BEFORE.

WHAT'S YOUR PLAN?

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE BEEN ON THIS JOB FOR A WHILE.

IT CAN MAKE A LOT OUT OF A PERSON.

RETIREMENT ANY TIME SOON FOR YOU?

>> I'VE RETIRED THREE TIMES TO DATE, SO THIS WOULD BE MY FOURTH RETIREMENT.

>> GETTING GOOD AT IT.

>> I THINK I'M NOT REALLY GOOD AT RETIREMENT, AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT GOOD AT LEAVING A PLACE WHEN A MISSION IS NOT COMPLETED.

AND OUR MISSION WILL BE COMPLETED WHEN I CAN WALK AWAY INTO MY COMMUNITY AND SAY, I'M REALLY SAFE NOW.

>> ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, DAVID.

>> ALL RIGHT, PANEL, LET'S GET TO YOU WELCOME COLLEEN, CHARLIE, AND DANIEL HAN MAKING HIS REPORTERS ROUND TABLE DEBUT.

DANIEL, WELCOME TO THE GANG.

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU TODAY.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM THE COMMISSIONER THERE?

IF YOU'RE IN A HEALTHCARE PROFESSION OR SOMEONE DEPENDENT ON THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, DID ANYTHING SHE SAID GIVE YOU REASON FOR PAUSE OR FOR OPTIMISM?

>> I THINK THE BIG TAKEAWAY FROM THIS IS WHEN SHE SAID WE ARE LEARNING HOW TO LIVE WITH THIS.

PEOPLE ARE MASKING LESS, WE HAVE GOTTEN RID OF THE STATE'S VACCINE OR TEST REQUIREMENTS FOR JUST ABOUT ALL PROFESSIONS THAT THE GOVERNOR PUT IN PLACE.

SO A CAUSE FOR CONCERN, I WOULD SAY NOT SO MUCH, BUT JUST CAUTION IN GENERAL, I THINK.

>> HEALTHCARE IS YOUR BEETLE, THOUGH, YOU COVERED THE STATE HOUSE AS WELL.

ALL WEEK WE WERE WONDERING ABOUT WHAT KIND OF BACKLASH GOVERNOR MURPHY WAS GOING TO GET.

THEN AFTER THE VOTE WHICH APPROVED THOSE INCREASES, WAY LATER IN THE DAY, THE STATE WORKERS UNION ANNOUNCED A DEAL.

IT WAS CONFUSING.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

DO YOU KNOW?

>> SO JUST TO START OFF, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE STATE BENEFITS PROGRAM CAN BE THOUGHT OF IN TWO SILOS, ONE FOR STATE WORKERS AND ONE FOR LOCAL WORKERS.

THE COMMISSION THAT APPROVED THESE ARE AT A 20% RATE INCREASE.

ALTHOUGH A DEAL IS REACHED WITH THE STATE WORKERS WHERE THEY WOULD PAY SOME HIGHER COPAYMENTS FOR URGENT CARE OR SPECIALTY VISITS, WHICH WOULD BRING DOWN THE TOTAL RATE INCREASE BY LESS THAN -- PERCENTAGE.

THROUGH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THEY WERE ABLE TO BRING THE RATE INCREASES FOR THE WORKERS DOWN TO 3%.

WITH THE STATE EATING IS REST OF THE STATE OF THE INCOMING RATE INCREASE.

SO NOW THE QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LOCAL WORKERS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHO ARE FACING THE RATE INCREASE WITH NO APPARENT SUBSIDY IN SIGHT?

>> THE DEAL DOESN'T COVER MUNICIPAL COUNTY WORKERS.

REPUBLICANS AND SOME DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING THE ADMINISTRATION LEFT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE LURCH.

DID THE STATE UNION COVER THEIR OWN BACK SIDES THERE?

>> WELL, IT SOUNDS THAT THEY'VE BEEN I GUESS ONE OF THE MOST CONSISTENT SUPPORTERS OF THE GOVERNOR FROM THE TIME THAT HE LAUNCHED THIS CAMPAIGN.

HE'S DONE VERY LITTLE TO ANTAGONIZE THEM IF ANYTHING TO EMBRACE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THEM.

SO THAT DOESN'T COME AS A SURPRISE.

THE BULK OF THE STATE WORK FORCE IS, YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN ALIGNED WITH HIM.

SO THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY SURPRISE ME, AND I -- BUT I DO THINK, THOUGH, IF THIS ISSUE POPPED UP A YEAR AGO, THERE WOULD BE A DIFFERENT OUTCOME.

>> SPEAKING OF REPUBLICANS, COLLEEN, YOU AND I WERE TWITTER BOMBING OR WHATEVER YOU CALL IT WITH SOME FOLKS FROM THE STATE GOP OVER TOM KING JR. AND THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN KEEPING HIM AWAY FROM NEW JERSEY PRESS.

I KNOW YOU FOUND THE RANDOM INTERVIEW HE DID WITH US ON PRIMARY NIGHT I THINK, BUT HE'S AVOIDED THE PRESS FOR SURE.

MY QUESTION IS IS IT BECAUSE THEY THINK HE'S DOING WELL ENOUGH AND DOESN'T NEED TO TALK TO THE PRESS, OR IS HE JUST NOT VERY GOOD AT TALKING TO THE PRESS?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

THERE'S LONG HISTORY WITH TOM KING GOING BACK TO WHEN HE RAN FOR THE SENATE.

THERE'S VIDEO IN FACT THAT STILL EXISTS OF HIM AVOIDING -- WELL, HE AVOIDED APPEARING WITH BONN MENENDEZ AT THE TIME AND AVOIDED REPORTERS GETTING INTO AN ELEVATOR, BUT I THINK GETTING OUT OF THE SAME ELEVATOR ON THE SAME FLOOR, IT WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE.

I WASN'T THERE.

I HAVE SEEN THE VIDEO.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO FOLKS WHO ARE SAYING THAT BECAUSE THE DISTRICT HAS CHANGED AND IT IS MUCH MORE REPUBLICAN, IT NOW LEANS -- IT'S GOT MORE REPUBLICAN REGISTERED VOTERS THAN DEMOCRATS, THAT HE FEELS OR THE CAMPAIGN FEELS HE DOESN'T REALLY HAVE TO COME OUT AND SAY ANYTHING.

IT WOULD ONLY HURT HIM TO COME OUT AND SPEAK.

SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT GIVEN THE QUESTION OF ABORTION AND THE IFFYNESS OF HIS POSITION THERE WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE EITHER CHANGED, THAT THAT IS SOMETHING HE MAY HAVE TO COME OUT AND ADDRESS BECAUSE THE DISTRICT OR AT LEAST SOME PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT REALLY WOULD BE CONSIDERED VERY MUCH PRO-CHOICE.

>> CHARLIE, SOMEBODY TWEETED AT ME THIS MORNING THAT TOM KING JR.

REFUSED TO MEET WITH STUDENT JOURNALISTS FROM WEST FIELD HIGH, WHICH IS HIS HOMETOWN.

WHAT DOES THIS SAY, DO YOU THINK, NOT JUST THE THING WITH THE KIDS, BUT IN GENERAL, WHAT'S THIS SAY ABOUT TOM, DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I THINK COLLEEN PUT HER FINGER ON IT.

I THINK THERE IS -- I THINK IT'S NOT ONLY A REFLECTION OF THE CHANGE IN THE DISTRICT, WHICH HAS BECOME REDDER AFTER REDISTRICTING.

BUT I THINK IT'S A NATURE OF CAMPAIGNS IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE STATE PRESS HAS REALLY BEEN DIMINISHED, AND WHERE SOCIAL MEDIA AND TRADITIONAL ADVERTISING ALLOWS THEM TO GET THEIR MESSAGE OUT UNFILTERED AND WITHOUT BEING, YOU KNOW, DIRECTLY CHALLENGED BY THE TRADITIONAL GATE KEEPERS.

THERE'S FEWER GATE KEEPERS.

AND THEY DON'T SEE ANY UPSIDE, AS SHE MENTIONED, TO ENGAGING WITH REPORTERS WHO ARE ASKING PESKY DRILLED DOWN QUESTIONS AND PUTTING HIM ON THE SPOT.

THAT'S NOT HIS STRENGTH, AND YES, HE HAS AVOIDED THE PRESS.

I'VE HAD HIM COOL MY HEELS A COUPLE OF TIMES WAITING FOR A COMMENT.

BUT I JUST THINK IT'S ALSO JUST THE NATURE OF THE WAY THE CAMPAIGNS ARE CONDUCTED IN THIS MODERN ERA OF DIMINISHED PRESS.

>> PESKY REPORTERS.

>> I WANT TO -- >> GO AHEAD, COLLEEN.

>> I DO WANT TO POINT OUT -- AND CHARLIE'S RIGHT, BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE'RE DOING ISSUE STORIES, AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK BOTH WITH FRANK AND BOB.

SO THERE ARE SOME OTHER REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE GOING TO PUT THEIR CANDIDATES SECOND.

>> WHICH IS REALLY KIND OF -- >> I'VE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE.

>> IT'S KIND OF IRONIC, RIGHT?

BECAUSE THOSE GUYS ARE NEWER TO THE GAME THAN TOM CANE, JR.

INTERESTING.

DANIEL, WE HEARD FROM THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER ON A POSSIBLE POSTMORTEM.

WHY HAS THIS TAKEN SO LONG, AND ARE WE EVER REALLY GOING TO SEE A POSTMORTEM ON THE STUFF THAT HAPPENED AT THE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES?

>> YES, A POSTMORTEM OF THE WORK ADMINISTRATION, HANDLING OF THE PANDEMIC IS SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR PROMISED IN 2020.

WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS A BIT UNCLEAR.

THE GOVERNORS PROMISED IT WOULD BE NOT JUST LONG-TERM CARE BUT ALSO LOOKING AT THE IMPACT OF EDUCATION, OF SCHOOL CLOSURES.

THE LATEST IS THE GOVERNOR RECENTLY SAID ON TELEVISION THAT HE EXPECTS TO SEE SOMETHING COMING UP IN A MATTER OF WEEKS.

WHAT THAT IS SPECIFICALLY, WE DON'T KNOW.

WITH WHOM AND WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE IS STILL VERY UNCLEAR.

>> BACK TO POLITICS.

MIDTERM, RACES TO WATCH, HAS IT CHANGED MUCH, CHARLES?

IS CANE STILL THE MOST INTERESTING RACE?

>> YES, IT IS.

AND IT'S ONE WITH HUGE QUESTION MARKS.

THERE'S A CHANGE IN THE DYNAMICS AND POTENTIAL MOMENTUM SHIFTING FROM REPUBLICANS TO DEMOCRATS.

WE'RE SEEING THAT MORE GENERICALLY, AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S CHANGED -- IT'S HARD TO TELL WHETHER THAT'S CHANGED THE MOMENTUM OR DYNAMICS IN THE 7th DISTRICT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING TO WATCH CLOSELY.

THE BIG QUESTION MARKS OBVIOUSLY ARE HOW MUCH OF THE BACKLASH OVER THE DOBBS DECISION IS GOING TO FUEL THE RACE AND ANIMATE THE DEMOCRATIC BASE AND WHETHER THAT'S ECLIPSED OR AT LEAST COMPETING ON AN EVEN LEVEL WITH THE ISSUE OF INFLATION, WHICH WAS A REPUBLICAN STRONG CARD GOING INTO THIS RACE.

SO I REALLY -- I -- IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME, THOUGH, IN THE SEVENTH DISTRICT AND 11th DISTRICT WITH MIKEY CHERYL FACING THE FORMER PROSECUTOR, THAT THEY FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE THEY'RE GOING TO JAM INTO THIS RACE AS OFTEN AND FREQUENTLY AS POSSIBLE.

IT'S A POWERFUL FORCE.

BUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S GOING TO ACTUALLY BRING MELANOWSKY.

I THINK THE ISSUE WAS MORE CLOSELY WATCHED IN THE 7th DISTRICT.

WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO CARRY HIM OVER THE FINISH LINE IS STILL A BIG QUESTION MARK.

>> COLLEEN, THE DEMOCRATS INSIST THAT BIDEN IS MAKING A COME BACK.

HE'S GOTTEN A BUNCH OF VICTORIES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

IS THE BIDEN BOUNCE REAL?

>> IT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE REAL RIGHT NOW, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A DAY IN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN SEEMS MORE LIKE A MONTH, SO THERE'S STILL A LOT OF TIME BETWEEN NOW AND LEK DAY AND AN AWFUL LOT CAN HAPPEN.

YOU KNOW, WILL GAS PRICES GO BACK UP BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN COMING DOWN.

INFLATION, I GUESS, PICKED UP A TINY BIT IN AUGUST AFTER IT HAD BEEN DECLINING.

ALL THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO INFLUENCE WHAT HAPPENS IN NOVEMBER.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT ELSE THERE IS OUT THERE FOR THE -- YOU KNOW, FOR THE EASY WINS FOR BIDEN AND THE DEMOCRATS.

IF THERE ARE MORE AND THEY CAN GET MORE WINS, THEN I THINK THAT THAT MOMENTUM KIND OF IS THE SAME.

>> TIME FOR OUR ONLY IN JERSEY SEGMENT.

STUFF YOU SEE THAT'S QUINTESSENTIALLY JERSEY.

HERE'S MINE, HIRING A POLICE CHIEF IS NO MINOR THING, ESPECIALLY IN A CITY LIKE PATTERSON.

SO MY ONLY IN JERSEY MOMENT IS PATTERSON FIRING POLICE CHIEF BAKORA FOR LITERALLY SLEEPING ON THE JOB AMONGST OTHER THINGS.

THE CHIEF HAS BEEN ON THE JOB FOR THREE YEAR BEFORE ANYONE NOTICED THE CITY WAS EXPERIENCING A HISTORIC CRIME SURGE.

DANIEL, YOU GOT ANYTHING FOR ONLY IN JERSEY?

>> YEAH, GOING WITH THE IDEA OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, THERE WAS A STORY OF A TRENTON COP WHO'S UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE FBI PULLING RANK ON ANOTHER POLICE OFFICER WHILE BEING PULLED OVER AND HAVING SOME PROFANITIES TO SHARE WITH THE OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

I THINK THAT ONE IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE THAT LAST STORY WITH THE AMAZING LEGENDARY REPORTER, KUDOS TO HIM.

>> HOW ABOUT YOU, COLLEEN?

GOT ONE?

>> WELL, THIS IS DEFINITELY ONLY IN NEW JERSEY.

THERE'S A CORRECTIONS OFFICER IN NORTHERN STATE PRISON WHO HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH TAKING BRIBES AND HE WAS TAKING BRIBES ALLEGEDLY FROM AN INMATE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THAT INMATE WITH ESPRESSO COLD CUTS COLOGNE AND JEWELRY.

ONLY IN NEW JERSEY.

>> I MEAN, THAT ONE IS A REAL PUZZLER.

I GET THE COLOGNE AND MAYBE THE COLD CUTS, BUT THAT ONE'S A WEIRD ONE.

ALL RIGHT.

CHARLIE, GOT ANYTHING FOR US?

GO HEAD, COLLEEN.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU SMUGGLE ESPRESSO IN UNLESS THERE'S AN ESPRESSO MACHINE IN THE CAFETERIA FOR THE OFFICERS.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> I MEAN, THE LAST TIME I WAS IN PRISON, I DEFINITELY DIDN'T HAVE AN ESPRESSO MACHINE IS ALL I'M GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT ONE.

CHARLIE, YOU GOT ANYTHING FOR US?

I KNOW WE DIDN'T PREP YOU FOR THIS.

>> I'M A LITTLE -- FIRST OF ALL, I DO HAVE AN ESPRESSO MACHINE, AND THAT WAS LEGALLY PURCHASED.

NUMBER TWO, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SPECIFIC, BUT I STILL AM ASTONISHED THAT A JERSEY CITY OFFICIAL CAN HIT AND RUN -- OR ALMOST RUN SOME GUY OVER, REPORTED SIX HOURS LATER, AND YOU KNOW, NOT FACE ANY CONSEQUENCES.

>> THAT IS FOR SURE QUINTESSENTIALLY JERSEY BECAUSE ANY OTHER STATE -- >> TRY THAT IN IOWA.

YOU KNOW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ROUND TABLE FOR THIS WEEK.

COLLEEN, CHARLES, DANIEL, GOOD JOB.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

THANKS ALSO TO HEALTH COMMISSIONER JUDY.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AT DAVID CRUISE NJ AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL, THE SHELVES OF WHICH HAVE BEEN STOCKED WITH FRESH NEW CONTENT.

I'M DAVID CRUISE.

FOR ALL THE TEAM HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD YEAR.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.