>> 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.

THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

THE FUEL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY, THE NATIONAL OIL HEAT RESEARCH ALLIANCE AND BIOHEAT, THE EVOLUTION OF OIL HEAT.

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.

♪ >>> HI, EVERYBODY, WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

LOTS ON THE PLATE TODAY.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME PROGRESS IN TRENTON ON FINANCIAL HELP FOR UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS HIT HARD BY COVID-19.

AND WE'LL TALK TO THREE ICONS OF PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT IN NEW JERSEY WHO PICKED THE SAME YEAR TO RETIRE.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THEM AND WHAT'S NEXT FOR TRENTON.

BUT FIRST, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS NEWS REGARDING THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINES, AS IF VACCINE HESITANCY WASN'T BAD ENOUGH, WE GET THE NEWS THIS WEEK THAT THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION AND THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL RECOMMENDED A HALT TO DISTRIBUTION OF THE J&J VACCINE.

THIS CAME AFTER REPORTS OF SIX WOMEN DEVELOPING RARE BUT SEVERE BLOOD CLOTS AFTER RECEIVING THE ONE-DOSE VACCINE.

ONE OF THE WOMEN DIED AND ANOTHER ONE HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED SO HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU BE CONCERNED?

LET'S BRING IN OUR FIRST GUEST.

SHE IS A PRINCETON GRAD WITH A MEDICAL DEGREE FROM DUKE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND AN EXECUTIVE MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES MANAGEMENT FROM COLUMBIA SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, NOW THE CHIEF STRATEGIC INTEGRATION AND HEALTH EQUITY OFFICER FOR UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.

IT IS A PLEASURE TO WELCOME CHRIS PARNELL TO "CHAT BOX."

DOCTOR, GOOD TO MEET YOU AND WELCOME.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> WE SHOULD POINT OUT THAT ALMOST 7 MILLION J&J DOSES HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED, SO THE SIDE EFFECTS COME OUT TO LESS THAN 1 IN A MILLION, ZERO CASES IN NEW JERSEY, BUT LET'S TELL PEOPLE WHO APPEARS TO BE AFFECTED AND WHAT THE SYMPTOMS ARE.

>> SO, WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT SIX WOMEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 48 OUT OF NEARLY 7 MILLION JOHNSON & JOHNSON DOSES THAT HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED NATIONALLY DEVELOPED A VERY RARE FORM OF BLOOD CLOTS.

THOSE BLOOD CLOTS ARE KNOWN AS CEREBRAL VENOUS THROMBOSIS.

IN ADDITION TO THAT RARE BLOOD CLOTTING DISORDER, THESE PATIENTS ALSO HAD THROMBOCYTOKEMIA SO THEY HAVE LESS PLATELETS THAN YOU WOULD NORMALLY NEED.

SO THOSE SYMPTOMS OR THAT DISORDER WAS EVIDENCED ABOUT 6 TO 13 DAYS AFTER ADMINISTRATION OF THE VACCINE, AND THOSE PERSONS PRESENTED WITH A RANGE OF SYMPTOMS, WHETHER IT WAS SEVERE HEADACHE IN ALMOST ALL OF THE CASES, ABDOMINAL PAIN, LEG PAIN AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH.

>> SO THE CDC SAYS THEY'RE GOING TO NEED ANOTHER WEEK TO LOOK AT THE DATA.

WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING AT AND WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE CDC AND THE FDA TO BE CONFIDENT THAT THE DATA IS SHOWING A DIRECT LINK.

WHEN WE LOOK AT ADVERSE REACTIONS THAT OCCUR BECAUSE OF A VACCINE OR BECAUSE OF ANY INTERVENTION OR THERAPEUTIC, YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER, IS THIS A CORRELATION OR IS THIS A DIRECT LINK?

MEANING, IS THIS DIRECTLY CAUSED BY THE VACCINE ITSELF?

SO THE CDC IS TAKING WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE PROPER TIME TO FULLY EVALUATE WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE SIX WOMEN THAT THIS DISORDER OCCURRED IN AND WHAT WE CAN KNOW ABOUT WHAT MAY HAVE PRECIPITATED THOSE SYMPTOMS WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED AND WHAT WE KNOW TO DATE IS THAT IT WAS A VERY RARE OCCURRENCE AND ONLY HAPPENED IN WOMEN, WOMEN 18 TO 48.

I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT.

AND IT HAPPENED ANYWHERE FROM 6 DAYS TO 13 DAYS AFTER ADMINISTRATION.

>> SO, THESE J&J JABS, THEY WERE SEEN AS A WAY TO GET THE VACCINE INTO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND INTO RURAL AREAS, YOU KNOW, ONE SHOT, AND DONE.

BUT NOW THIS SEEMS TO PLAY RIGHT INTO THE NARRATIVE OF THOSE WHO ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE VACCINE.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF, SEE, I TOLD YOU SO ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

HOW DO YOU COMBAT THAT NOW, ESPECIALLY AMONG COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHO ARE STILL LAGGING BEHIND THE REST OF THE STATE IN VACCINATIONS, BUT STILL LEADING IN NEGATIVE OUTCOMES?

>> YOU KNOW, WE HOLD THE LINE.

AND THAT'S THE SIMPLEST WAY THAT I CAN PUT IT.

WHAT WE ACTUALLY WERE SEEING IS THAT IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, THOSE HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED COMMUNITIES, WE WERE SEEING SOMETHING DESCRIBED AS SLOW TO YES, BUT WE ACTUALLY STARTED TO SEE A CHANGE IN THAT.

IF YOU LOOK AT EVEN NATIONAL POLLING DATA THAT WAS DONE BY THE KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION, WE WERE SEEING A CONVERSION OF THOSE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN SLOW TO YES ACTUALLY BECOMING WILLING OR ENTHUSIASTIC AROUND RECEIVING A VACCINE DOSE.

OUTSIDE OF THOSE ISSUES RELATED TO HESITANCY, WE SAW MORE ISSUES RELATED TO ACCESS, MEANING, THE TIME, THE LOCATION, WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE HAD TRANSPORTATION TO A VACCINE SITE, ISSUES AROUND HEALTH LITERACY AND LANGUAGE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THOSE BEDROCK INITIATIVES THAT WE KNOW WORK, CONTINUE TO EXPLAIN THE SCIENCE IN PLAIN SPOKEN TERMS, CONTINUE TO EXPLAIN IT IN SOCIALLY AND CULTURALLY FLUENT OR RELEVANT TERMS, AND USE TRUSTED AND CREDIBLE MESSENGERS AND THOSE MESSENGERS ARE GOING TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THEY EVER WERE BEFORE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HELP THE PUBLIC DECIPHER WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT THE J&J VACCINE HAS BEEN PAUSED AND WHY DID THAT HAPPEN AND EXPLAIN HOW THAT IS ACTUALLY EVIDENCE THAT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING EFFECTIVELY.

>> I LOVE THAT YOU REFER TO COMMUNITY IMMUNITY AS OPPOSED TO HERD IMMUNITY.

DO WE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE LANGUAGE THAT WE USE?

I JUST FEEL LIKE GRANDMA RELATES MUCH EASIER TO THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY IMMUNITY, YOU KNOW?

IT'S ALL OF US, NOT SOME NONDESCRIPT HERD.

IS THAT KIND OF IN YOUR MIND WHEN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE?

>> DEFINITELY.

LANGUAGE MATTERS.

WE KNOW LANGUAGE MATTERS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES RELATED TO EQUITY OR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES RELATED TO CULTURAL COMPETENCE OR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES RELATED TO HEALTH LITERACY.

IT'S NOT JUST IMPORTANT WHO CARRIES THE MESSAGE, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT HOW THEY CARRY THE MESSAGE, WHAT THE MESSAGE INCLUDES, AND WHAT NETWORKS THAT MESSAGE IS SPREAD ALONG.

SO I ADOPTED COMMUNITY IMMUNITY FROM ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I THOUGHT, THAT MAKES MORE SENSE.

THAT'S MORE ACCESSIBLE.

IT'S EASIER TO UNDERSTAND.

AND IT SHOWS THAT WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

>> DO WE HAVE TO KIND OF -- WE KEEP HEARING THAT MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BEING AFFECTED.

DOES THAT AFFECT THE MESSAGING AND THE WAY YOU GET THE MESSAGE OUT TO PEOPLE?

>> I THINK IT DOES.

WHEN YOU KNOW DIFFERENT SUB POPULATIONS ARE BEING AFFECTED IN DISPARATE WAYS OR THE TRENDS ARE EMESHLGING IN DIFFERENT RACIAL OR ETHNIC GROUPS OR ACROSS DIFFERENT AGE DISTRIBUTIONS, YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO MESSAGE THOSE GROUPS?

YOUNGER FOLKS ARE SOMETHING THAT WE REFER TO IN PUBLIC HEALTH AS DIGITAL NATIVES.

THEY HAVE BEEN RAISED AND CULTIVATED IN A VERY VIRTUAL SPACE.

THEY UNDERSTAND SOCIAL MEDIA, SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE USING MULTIMODAL METHODS OF COMMUNICATION AND NOT ONLY USING MULTIMODAL METHODS OF COMMUNICATION, WHETHER THAT'S SNAPCHAT OR WHETHER THAT'S ON TWITTER OR WHETHER THAT'S ON INSTAGRAM, BUT THAT WE'RE ALSO USING INFLUENCERS THAT MATTER IN THOSE COMMUNITIES TO SAY, HEY, IT'S A PRIORITY FOR YOU TO GET SAFE AND STAY SAFE.

AND THEN EDUCATE ON WHAT IS MEANT BY GETTING SAFE AND STAYING SAFE.

PRACTICING THOSE BEDROCK PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES, WEARING YOUR MASK ALL THE TIME WHEN YOU'RE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD, FREQUENT HAND WASHING, BEING AT LEAST SIX FEET APART FROM OTHERS AND AVOIDING CROWDED AND CRAMPED INDOOR SPACES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WORDS MATTER.

PLATFORMS MATTER.

DR. CHRIS PERNELL, GOOD TO MEET YOU.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO THERE HAS BEEN A YEARLONG CAMPAIGN TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE STRUGGLE OF UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING DEMONSTRATIONS AND WORKERS HAVE BEEN ENGAGING IN HUNGER STRIKES OUTSIDE OF THE STATE HOUSE ALL WEEK LONG.

THIS WEEK, IT LOOKED LIKE FINALLY THE GOVERNOR WAS HEARING THEM.

POLITICO REPORTED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS ABOUT TO PROPOSE A $40 MILLION FUND FOR ONE-TIME PAYMENTS TO THE HARDEST HIT.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THAT IS THE DIRECTOR OF MAKE THE ROAD NEW JERSEY, WHICH ADVOCATES FOR THE RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANTS, UNDOCUMENTED AND OTHERWISE.

SARA, WELCOME BACK TO "CHAT BOX."

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING IN EVERYTHING FROM LAUNDROMATS TO DAY CARE, TO RESTAURANTS IN THE COUNTRY WITHOUT REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND THEREFORE INELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT OR ANY KIND OF STIMULUS PAYMENTS, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE'S A HALF A MILLION UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN NEW JERSEY WHO ARE NOW PAST A YEAR OF SURVIVING WITHOUT RELIEF, AND THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT KEPT US SAFE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THEY DELIVERED PACKAGES TO OUR DOORSTEPS.

THEY MADE MEALS.

THEY STOCKED SUPERMARKET SHELVES.

THEY ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND WHEN THEY LOST THEIR JOBS, THEY HAVE BEEN INELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT, FOR PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT, FOR STIMULUS PAYMENTS FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, SURVIVING FOR MORE THAN A YEAR WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF RELIEF.

>> SO, YOU BROKE DOWN WHAT $40 MILLION FUND, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WAS PROPOSED THIS WEEK BY THE ADMINISTRATION, YOU BROKE DOWN WHAT THAT $40 MILLION WOULD MEAN FOR THOSE WHO WERE AFFECTED.

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

>> YOU KNOW, WE FOUND THAT IT'S REALLY JUST COMPLETELY INSUFFICIENT.

JUST TO PUT THIS IN CONTEXT, MORE THAN A DOZEN STATES AND MUNICIPALITIES HAVE TAKEN ACTION TO PROVIDE RELIEF, JUST LAST WEEK, NEW YORK STATE PASSED A HISTORIC $2.1 BILLION FUND FOR EXCLUDED WORKERS, IMMIGRANT WORKERS LEFT BEHIND.

CALIFORNIA, OREGON, COLORADO, NEW MEXICO, ALL OF THESE STATES HAVE STEPPED UP TO PROVIDE AID, AND YOU KNOW, IN NEW JERSEY, WE HAVE A HIGHER SHARE OF UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS IN OUR WORKFORCE THAN IN NEW YORK AND OTHER STATES.

WE REALLY -- UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS ARE DOING THE CRUCIAL BACK BREAKING AND RISKY WORK TO KEEP OUR STATES SAFE, AND SO, THE $40 MILLION FUND IS JUST INSUFFICIENT AND NEEDS TO BE MORE.

AND WE'RE URGING THE GOVERNOR TO INCREASE THAT.

I WILL ALSO SAY THE LEGISLATURE HAS ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACT AND HAS FAILED TO ACT THERE WITH LEGISLATION WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT THAT WAS PENDING ALL OF LAST YEAR TO PROVIDE RELIEF, AND LEADERSHIP FAILED TO BRING THAT FOR A VOTE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ENCOURAGED THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY IS TAKING ACTIVE STEPS, THAT HE IS LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY, THAT HE IS LISTENING TO THE 34 ESSENTIAL IMMIGRANT WORKERS, MAINLY WOMEN, WHO HAVE BEEN FASTING FOR NOW NINE DAYS AND WE'RE URGING HIM TO INCREASE THE FUND AND TO REALLY PROVIDE REAL RELIEF THAT WILL SUSTAIN THESE FAMILIES, THESE WORKERS, AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR WHOLE STATE CAN GET ON THE PATHWAY TO RECOVERY.

>> SO I SAW A NUMBER OF, LIKE, $92 PER PERSON WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE.

BUT THEN I SAW -- I THINK IT WAS FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION -- A PROPOSAL THAT SUGGESTED $2,000 ONE-TIME PAYMENT AND $600 A WEEK IN UNEMPLOYMENT TYPE PAYMENTS.

IS THAT ABOUT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S THE DEMAND OF THE HUNGER STRIKERS.

THAT'S THE DEMAND OF THE COALITION FOR RECOVERY FOR ALL.

WE NEED REAL RELIEF.

IT'S BEEN A FULL YEAR.

WHILE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY HAS RECEIVED $3,200 IN STIMULUS PAYMENTS, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT, UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ARE REALLY SURVIVING ON FUMES, AND IT'S TIME FOR REAL RELIEF, NOT CRUMBS, NOT PITTANCE.

WE NEED REAL FUNDS TO SUSTAIN THESE FAMILIES.

>> YOU MENTIONED THAT BILL THAT WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THAT WAS PUT FORTH BY TERESA RUIZ, WHO SAID -- I THINK IT WAS $35 MILLION.

SHE SAID SHE PROPOSED THAT ALMOST A YEAR AGO AS A WAY TO START THE CONVERSATION, BUT AS YOU SUGGESTED, NO PROFILES IN COURAGE FROM THE LEGISLATURE HERE.

THEY'RE ALL UP FOR RE-ELECTION, AND SEEM UNWILLING TO SUPPORT A BILL LIKE THAT RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE SEEN THAT UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ARE PAYING INTO THE SYSTEM.

THEY'RE PAYING $600 MILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES.

A BILLION DOLLARS INTO THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM COMING OUT OF THEIR PAYCHECKS OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS.

THOSE ARE THE FUNDS THAT ARE SUSTAINING OUR UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM HERE IN NEW JERSEY, AND SO TO TELL SOMEONE THAT THEY SHOULDN'T QUALIFY FOR AID, THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR RELIEF DURING A PANDEMIC WHEN THEY'VE PAID INTO THE SYSTEM, WHEN THEY'VE BEEN PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, WHEN THEY'VE BEEN DOING THE WORK TO PROTECT SO MANY OTHER RESIDENTS, IT'S JUST -- IT'S UNFATHOMABLE AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP TO STAND UP AND PROVIDE REAL RELIEF.

>> ALL RIGHT, SARA CULLINANE, MAKE THE ROAD NEW JERSEY, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

KEEP IT UP.

THANKS FOR TAKING A FEW MINUTES WITH US.

>> THANK YOU, DAVID.

GREAT TO SEE YOU.

FINALLY TONIGHT, THE TRINITY OF TERROR, THE THREE-LEGGED STOOL OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS IN ELECTED OFFICE, SERVING ON THE LOCAL COUNTY AND STATE LEVEL, SENATOR LORETTA WEINBERG ANNOUNCED THAT SHE WILL BE -- WILL NOT BE SEEKING RE-ELECTION THIS YEAR AND WILL RETIRE WHEN HER TERM ENDS IN JANUARY.

WELCOME, SENATOR.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I LIKE THAT.

THE TRINITY OF TROUBLE.

>> AFTER 40 YEARS ON THE JOB, HETTIE ROSENSTEIN IS RETIRING AND JEFF TUTTILE, THE MAN WHO COINED THE TERM VIAGRA FALLS, RETIRES AFTER HIS YEARS AT THE SIERRA CLUB.

PANEL, WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER INTRODUCTION.

>> YEAH, REALLY.

>> BUT IT'S GOOD TROUBLE.

>> I'M CURIOUS IF YOU COULD JUST BRIEFLY EXPLAIN HOW YOU ENDED UP DOING WHAT YOU DID FOR THESE DECADES.

HOW DID IT START FOR YOU, SENATOR?

>> I TELL PEOPLE I CAME OF AGE IN THE '60s.

WE HAD MOVED TO TEANECK, WITH MY HUSBAND, TWO SMALL BABIES AND A DOG, AND THERE WAS THE ANTI-VIETNAM WAR MOVEMENT, THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENT, THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, THE SCHOOL INTEGRATION ISSUE, SO I BARELY UNPACKED MY DISHES, WENT DOWN TO THE LOCAL HEADQUARTERS TO VOLUNTEER TO MAKE THE WORLD A BE BETTER PLACE, I THOUGHT, FOR MY LITTLE ONES.

>> HETTY, WERE YOU ALWAYS GOING TO BE A UNION ORGANIZER?

DID YOU COME FROM A UNION FAMILY?

>> I DID COME FROM A UNION FAMILY.

AND I CAME FROM AN ACTIVIST FAMILY FROM THE WOMB.

BUT I WAS A TEACHER AT THE NEW JERSEY JOB CORPS AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH -- OUR WORKING CONDITIONS WERE SO BAD THAT WE COULDN'T TEACH, AND SO MY SISTER WAS ORGANIZING THE UNION IN NEW YORK, AND SO I THOUGHT, WELL, WE'LL DO THAT.

WE'LL ORGANIZE A UNION.

SO THAT WE CAN DO OUR JOBS.

AND AT THAT POINT I DIDN'T KNOW WHO WAS THERE.

>> WHAT YEAR WAS THAT?

>> THAT'S 1979.

1979.

I ENDED UP WITH TWA IN '81 IS, YEAH.

>> JEFF, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A TROUBLEMAKER, I IMAGINE.

>> I CAME FROM A FAMILY OF ACTIVISTS.

MY GRANDPARENTS, MY PARENTS WERE ALWAYS VERY MUCH INVOLVED.

I DID MY FIRST SIT-IN WHEN I WAS 4 YEARS OLD AT WOOL WORTH'S DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND MY FAMILY HELPED START THE FIRST INTERRACIAL CAMP IN NEW JERSEY, WHICH IS NOW CALLED THE NATURE -- NEW NATURE FRIENDS CAMP.

IT WAS THE FIRST INTERRACIAL CAMP.

YOU HAD TO BE A TRADE UNIONIST AND AN ENVIRONMENTALIST.

GROWING UP IN HILLSIDE, IN NEWARK, ON THE BORDER, WE HAD FOUNDERS IN THE AREA, YOU COULD THROW MATCHES ON STREAMS AND THEY WOULD FLARE UP.

I HAD THE PROGRESSIVE ETHIC AND AN ACTIVIST ETHIC SINCE I WAS BORN AND AN ENVIRONMENTALET ETH AS WELL.

>> AND DAVID, MY FAMILY WENT TO THAT CAMP.

>> OH, DID YOU?

>> YEAH.

MY FAMILY.

>> YOU DIDN'T RUN INTO ONE ANOTHER, THOUGH?

>> AND I REMEMBER IT.

>> IT'S STILL THERE.

>> MOST PEOPLE WHO COME ON TO THE ZOOM TYPE CALLS, THEY USUALLY GO IN FRONT OF FAMILY PICTURES OR IN FRONT OF IMPRESSIVE BOOKCASES WITH IMPORTANT TITLES.

JEFF TITTLE SHOWS UP IN FRONT OF HIS BAR.

>> I NOTICED THAT.

>> WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN TRENTON WHEN YOU ALL GOT TO TRENTON?

LET'S START WITH YOU, HETTY.

WHEN DID YOU GET TO TRENTON AND HOW DIFFERENT WAS IT THEN THAN IT IS TODAY, IF AT ALL?

>> OH, YEAH.

IT WAS VERY DIFFERENT.

WELL, I WAS A LOT YOUNGER AND MUCH MORE IDEALISTIC AND HADN'T SEEN ALL THAT SAUSAGE MAKING AT THE TIME BUT HERE'S WHAT I WILL SAY.

THE LEGISLATORS ACTED MORE ON THEIR OWN.

NOW, THE LEADERSHIP REALLY, IT FEELS LIKE, CONTROLS EVERYTHING.

THERE WERE A LOT MORE LEGISLATORS WHO WOULD SORT OF SPEAK OUT.

THAT'S HOW I REMEMBER IT.

A LOT MORE MAVERICKS AT THE TIME.

>> JEFF?

>> YEAH, I FIRST STARTED GOING TO TRENTON WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, DRIVING ALEX, A PROGRESSIVE STATE SENATOR FROM HILLSIDE WHERE I GREW UP, AND YOU REALLY HAD PEOPLE WHO WERE DEDICATED TO CHANGING THE LAWS AND MOVING THINGS FORWARD AND EVEN STANDING UP TO THEIR OWN PARTY.

AND WHEN I STARTED GETTING ACTIVE MORE ON MY OWN IN THE ENVIRONMENT LATER, I WALKED IN, I HAD A MEETING WITH HELEN AND SHE SAID WHATEVER YOU NEED, YOU'RE GETTING ACTIVE.

WE NEED SOMEBODY TO GET ACTIVE UP THERE IN THE HIGHLANDS SO YOU FELT THAT GOVERNMENT RESPONDED AND THE LEGISLATURE RESPONDED.

TODAY, THINGS SEEM TO BE MORE ON AUTOPILOT AND THERE'S JUST TOO MANY BOBBLE HEADS.

>> WELL, I WAS GOING TO GO TO SENATOR -- BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO GO AFTER YOU CALLED THEM ALL BOBBLE HEADS.

>> NO, I WOULD NEVER SAY THAT ABOUT LORETTA.

>> NOT LORETTA.

>> YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, I CAN RETIRE BECAUSE TWO OF THE WOMEN I RESPECTED THE MOST IN TRENTON GOT TO RETIRE BEFORE ME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PRESENT COMPANY EXCLUDED.

>> MUCH MORE FULL OF INDEPENDENCE, SENATOR?

>> WELL, WHEN I CAME INTO THE SENATE, 25-SOME-ODD YEARS AGO, IT WAS COMPLETELY DOMINATED BY REPUBLICANS.

SO, YES, IT WAS VERY DIFFERENT FOR ME WHEN I CAME INTO THE ASSEMBLY, THERE WERE 22 OF US, 22 DEMOCRATS OUT OF THE 80 MEMBERS, AND ONLY ONE OTHER WOMAN IN OUR CAUCUS WHO SOON LEFT TO GO INTO THE TAIL END OF THE FLORIO ADMINISTRATION, SO WE WERE AN INEFFECTIVE MINORITY, TO SAY THE LEAST.

BUT IT WAS A GREAT LEARNING PROCESS.

AND INTERESTED IN WHAT -- YOU KNOW, I PROBABLY AGREE WITH WHAT HETTY SAID, MORE LEADERSHIP DOMINATED IN TERMS OF THE AGENDA AND WHAT GETS POSTED AND COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AND SO ON, BUT THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF ROOM IN BOTH HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR THOSE LEGISLATORS WHO CHOOSE TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT AN ISSUE, ABOUT MOVING LEGISLATION FORWARD FOR AN ISSUE, ABOUT ENGAGING ADVOCATES AND GRASSROOTS SUPPORT.

SO, I THINK THERE'S PLENTY OF LEEWAY AND PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THAT KIND OF INDIVIDUAL ACTION.

>> WHO WAS YOUR FAVORITE GOVERNOR TO WORK WITH AND/OR AGAINST, AND GIVE ME A LETTER GRADE FOR THE CURRENT GOVERNOR.

I KNOW CHRIS CHRISTIE ONCE FAMOUSLY SUGGESTED THAT SOMEONE TAKE A BAT TO YOU, SENATOR.

IS HE YOUR FAVORITE NEMESIS?

>> YES.

I SAID CHRIS CHRISTIE WAS MY FAVORITE GOVERNOR TO WORK WITH AND AGAINST.

I HAVE A WHOLE COLLECTION OF BASEBALL BATS AND ORANGE TRAFFIC CONES.

THANKS TO CHRIS CHRISTIE.

HE WAS AN INTERESTING ADVERSARY, AND HE WAS WRONG ON SO MANY ISSUES, CONTINUES TO BE WRONG ON MANY OF THOSE ISSUES, AND IT HAS BEEN QUITE REFRESHING FOR ME TO HAVE GOVERNOR MURPHY THERE WITH HIS SIGNING PEN, BECAUSE IF ONE COLLECTED VETO PENS, I WOULD BE THE WINNER OF THAT CONTEST.

>> WELL, WHAT LETTER GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE CURRENT GOVERNOR?

>> YEAH, I WOULD ACTUALLY GIVE THE CURRENT GOVERNOR A B-PLUS.

>> JEFF TITTEL, WHO WAS YOUR FAVORITE GOVERNOR TO WORK WITH AND/OR AGAINST?

>> WELL, MY FAVORITE ONE TO WORK WITH WAS JIM BECAUSE HE LIKED POLICY, THOUGH SOMETIMES HE'S CALL ME UP AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING BUT I THINK WE GOT A LOT DONE UNDER HIM WITH THE CLEAN CAR BILL AND THE HIGHLANDS AND STREAMS AND THEIR FIRST RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARD.

CHRIS CHRISTIE WAS MY FAVORITE TO WORK AGAINST BECAUSE WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, LIKE ONE TIME I DIDN'T GO TO ONE OF HIS PRESS CONFERENCES ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HE HAD ME -- THEY CALLED ME UP TO SAY, WHY WEREN'T YOU THERE?

HE WANTED TO HAVE A FIGHT WITH YOU.

SO I THINK IT WAS HIM.

GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS COME FORWARD WITH A LOT OF IDEAS AND PROGRAMS, BUT A LOT OF THEM HAVE NOT GONE IN PLACE YET, AND SO EVEN THOUGH I'D LIKE TO GIVE HIM LIKE A B-PLUS OR AN "A" ON WHAT HE'S SAID, IT'S REALLY CLOSER TO AN AVERAGE.

>> LET'S CALL IT A "C." HETTY?

>> OH, WELL, YOU KNOW, CHRIS CHRISTIE GETS THE NUMBER ONE FROM ALL OF US.

>> THE ANIMUS.

>> HE WAS AN AMAZING RIVAL, THAT IS FOR SURE.

AND DID A LOT OF DAMAGE.

SO THERE'S NO QUESTION.

I PUT HIM THERE.

I REALLY LIKED PHIL MURPHY.

HE'S THE MOST PRO-UNION GOVERNOR I HAVE EVER HAD.

I'VE LIVED THROUGH TEN OF THEM AND I'VE NEGOTIATED WITH TEN OF THEM.

AND HE REALLY FUNDAMENTALLY BELIEVES IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

I MEAN, HE'S DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB UNDER UNBELIEVABLY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

I ALSO REALLY LIKED JIM.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO REALLY LIKE JIM.

BUT I GIVE GOVERNOR MURPHY AN "A."

>> ALL RIGHT.

FAIR ENOUGH.

HETTY ROSENSTEIN, LORETTA, JEFF, DON'T BE A STRANGER AND THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR ALL YOUR GOOD WORK.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S "CHAT BOX" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS, CHRIS PERNELL, SARA CULLINANE, HETTY ROSENSTEIN, LORETTA WEINBERG AND JEFF TITTEL.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER, @DAVIDCRUZNJ.

FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FOR ALL THE CREW OVER HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT 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.

THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

THE FUEL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY, THE NATIONAL OIL HEAT RESEARCH ALLIANCE AND BIOHEAT, THE EVOLUTION OF OIL HEAT.

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.

♪