>> 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.

THIS WEEK MARKED ONE FULL YEAR SINCE WE WERE LAST IN OUR NJ PBS STUDIOS.

I MENTION THAT BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING BACK AT THE YEAR JUST PAST AND IT WAS IN OUR STUDIOS THAT I HEARD ABOUT OUR FIRST CONFIRMED CASE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW JERSEY BACK IN MARCH OF 2020.

I REMEMBER DISTINCTLY THE TELEVISION MONITOR JUST ABOVE MY DESK OVER MY LEFT SHOULDER AND THE PERSON WHO WAS BREAKING THAT NEWS WAS THE ACTING GOVERNOR AT THE TIME, BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR WAS IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER UNDERGOING SURGERY, I THINK MAYBE THAT VERY SAME DAY, BUT THAT ACTING GOVERNOR WAS SHEILA OLIVER, WHO JOINS US ON "CHAT BOX" TODAY.

GOVERNOR, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> YOU AS WELL, DAVID.

>> SO, WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THAT DAY, IF ANYTHING?

>> I REMEMBER THAT OUR COMMUNICATION TEAM, THE POLICY STAFF IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, OUR STATE POLICE OEM OPERATION, WE ALL GATHERED AND GOT A BRIEFING THAT WE HAD OUR CONFIRMED CASE OF THE CORONAVIRUS, AND WE ANTICIPATED THAT WE HAD SOME ADDITIONAL, AND WE WERE WAITING FOR CONFIRMATION.

WE -- IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE YOU WOULD SEE ON A MOVIE WITH EVERYONE ASSUMING THEIR POSITION, EVERYONE SETTING UP COMMUNICATIONS, YOU KNOW, THE ROCK, WHICH IS MANNED BY THE STATE POLICE, BECAME HEADQUARTERS CENTRAL, AND WE BEGAN TO OUTREACH TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE STATE, ELECTED OFFICIALS, HEALTH OFFICIALS ACROSS THE STATE, THE MAJOR HOSPITALS, HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, BECAUSE WE KNEW WHAT WE WERE IN STORE FOR.

THAT IS WHAT I REMEMBER FROM THAT DAY.

AND YOU ARE CORRECT, IT WAS THE VERY DAY THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY WAS SCHEDULED AND HAVING HIS SURGERY.

>> DID YOU -- WERE YOU ABLE TO SPEAK TO HIM THAT DAY?

HOW DID THAT GO?

>> NO, WE DID NOT WANT TO BOTHER THE GOVERNOR WHATSOEVER.

YOU KNOW -- YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL AND THEY'RE GETTING YOU PREPPED UP AND WE DID NOT WANT ANYTHING TO INTERFERE WITH HIM JUST BEING RELAXED AS HE WENT INTO THE O.R.

>> YEAH.

DID YOU THINK, ON THAT DATE, THAT THIS WAS GOING TO TURN INTO WHAT IT EVENTUALLY BECAME?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE CONFINED TO THOSE CASES IN BERGEN COUNTY.

I THOUGHT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTAIN IT.

I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE PUTTING PROTOCOLS IN PLACE THAT WOULD NOT SEE ESSEX TOUCHED BY IT BUT NEVER IN MY WILDEST IMAGINATION DID I ANTICIPATE WHAT WE WWW.GOTH.

>> WE HAD AN INTERVIEW, YOU AND I, DURING THE PERIOD WHEN YOU WERE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR-ELECT AND I ASKED IF YOU'D EVER STOPPED TO THINK, HERE I AM, THIS KID AND NOW I'M LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND YOU SAID, NO, THIS WAS JUST A NATURAL PROGRESSION OF YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER.

BUT I KNOW YOU WEREN'T COUNTING ON CORONAVIRUS THEN, SO HOW MUCH DID THE CORONAVIRUS CHANGE WHEN YOU HAD PLANNED TO DO AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I GUESS BECAUSE I HAVE WORKED IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR FOR SO LONG AND I HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN MANY ISSUES, POLICY ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, DAVID, I HATE TO TELL YOU, BUT I OFTEN TELL PEOPLE, IF THE FOUR WALLS FELL DOWN AROUND ME, I'D SIMPLY STEP OVER THE DEBRIS AND KEEP GOING.

SO, I DID NOT GET UNHINGED OR UNNERVED.

I ALSO HAD AN OBLIGATION TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE CALMNESS AND PROVIDE LEADERSHIP TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, SO I DIDN'T GO INTO A PANIC.

I WAS READY AND YOU KNOW, I'M A GOOD SOLDIER, DAVID.

>> I MEAN, YOU HAVE THE BIGGEST DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE, THOUGH, NO?

I MEAN, YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE -- YOUR DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MOST PEOPLE IN THIS STATE, PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES, RIGHT?

>> WE DEFINITELY ARE.

AND I AM SO PROUD OF THE STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS BECAUSE WE SWUNG INTO ACTION RIGHT AWAY.

YOU KNOW THAT WE HAD TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR PEOPLE.

SUBSEQUENTLY, WE GOT INTO A MAJOR ROLLOUT OF OUR RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

MY CODES AND SUB CODE OFFICIALS AND MY FIRE MARSHALS WHO DO INSPECTIONS OUT IN THE FIELD, WE HAVE A MASSIVE OPERATION IN DCA AND EVERYONE STEPPED UP, AND I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE EMPLOYEES AND THE STAFF AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENT.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HITTING PEOPLE THE HARDEST, PARTICULARLY AMONG THOSE PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, ARE GETTING HIT THE HARDEST?

WHAT ARE YOU FINDING THAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM OUT THERE?

>> HOUSING.

WITHOUT QUESTION.

AND YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REGARDS DCA AS THE STATE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY, EVEN THOUGH -- >> THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

THEY DON'T -- THE FEDS CONSIDER US THE STATE'S PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

AND WE BEAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING CERTAIN THAT EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED, HOMELESS SERVICES ARE PROVIDED, FOOD, INITIALLY FOOD WAS THE NUMBER ONE CHALLENGE.

BUT AS THE MORATORIUM, YOU KNOW, WAS IMPOSED ON RENT AND UTILITIES, WE KNEW AT THAT POINT THAT AS A DEPARTMENT, WE HAD TO GEAR UP AND PREPARE BECAUSE EVENTUALLY WE WERE GOING TO BE CONFRONTED WITH PEOPLE WITH ARREARAGES WITH THEIR RENT.

SO, WE PRE-PLANNED WHAT OUR STRATEGY AND GAME PLAN WAS GOING TO BE.

AND AS THE C.A.R.E.S.

ACT WAS AFFECTUATED, THAT PROVIDED US WITH RESOURCES.

YOU KNOW THERE ARE TWO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ATTACHED TO DCA, THE NEW JERSEY REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND THE NEW JERSEY HOUSING MORTGAGE FINANCE AGENCY.

BOTH OF THOSE ENTITIES ARE UNDER THE DCA UMBRELLA, AND HMFA BEGAN TO PREPARE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO LANDLORDS AND THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BEGAN TO PREPARE TO PROVIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE, PPE FUNDING, A VARIETY OF THINGS TO SMALL BUSINESSES.

SO, WE WERE IN IT KNEE DEEP IN DCA.

>> AND IT'S NOT LIKE THERE WASN'T AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS ALREADY.

I MEAN, NEWARK, JERSEY CITY, CAMDEN, ATLANTIC CITY, BURLINGTON, NOW PEOPLE LOSING THEIR JOBS, CAN'T PAY THEIR RENT, I MEAN, CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE PENDING HOUSING CRISIS THAT COMES -- AND EVICTION CRISIS THAT'S WAITING FOR US?

>> YES.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE JUDICIARY UNDER THE GUISE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR, JUDGE GRANT, JUDGE GRANT -- GLEN GRANT -- AND WE KEPT IN COMMUNICATION WITH HIM, BECAUSE WE KNEW EVEN THOUGH THE COURT WOULD NOT MOVE ON EVICTIONS, THAT DID NOT MEAN THAT LANDLORDS COULD NOT FILE.

AND ALREADY, WE KNOW THAT 14,000 EVICTION ORDERS HAVE BEEN FILED.

WE HAVE A DIRECTOR OF DATA MANAGEMENT IN OUR DEPARTMENT.

I CALL HIM THE BRAINIAC.

HE IS THE COMPILING OF NUMBERS AND PROJECTIONS AND DEMOGRAPHICS, AND HIS NAME IS DR. CHRISTOPHER WHEELER.

DR. WHEELER ANTICIPATES THAT WE WILL HAVE MINIMALLY 178,000 EVICTION FILINGS IN THE STATE.

>> 178,000 FOR THE YEAR?

>> FOR THE -- SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, YES.

>> WOW.

SO, I MEAN, WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR SOME CITIES IF THESE 178,000 EVICTION CASES BECOME ACTUAL EVICTIONS?

>> WELL -- >> I MEAN, THAT'S A SUPER CRISIS IN THE MAKING.

>> IN THE FIRST WAVE OF C.A.R.E.S.

FUNDING THAT WE GOT, YOU KNOW THAT WE HELD THE LOTTERY.

WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO APPROXIMATELY 27,000 OR 28,000 FAMILIES.

THAT RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS RENT, AR ARREARAGES, AND GOING FORWARD 12 MONTHS.

SO, THERE ARE FAMILIES IN NEW JERSEY WHO ARE COVERED FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.

IF THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE A PROBLEM AT THE END OF THE 12-MONTH PERIOD, WE HAVE FUNDING AND WE PROJECTED THAT FUNDING FOR ANOTHER 12-MONTH PERIOD.

WE CAME INTO SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY WE WERE ABLE TO COBBLE TOGETHER, WHICH WAS ABOUT $9.1 MILLION.

THAT ENABLED US TO HELP 7,000 ADDITIONAL FAMILIES.

YESTERDAY, I TRAVELED TO UNION CITY, WHICH YOU KNOW IS DENSELY POPULATED AND A LOT OF RENTERS, AND I TEAMED UP WITH MAYOR STACK AND ASSEMBLYMAN WOIMBERLEY, AND WE MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT ON MARCH 22nd, DCA WILL BEGIN TO ADMINISTER A PHASE II RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

WE HAVE FUNDING OF $353 MILLION.

THAT PEOPLE IN THE STATE CAN GO ONLINE, MONDAY THE 22nd.

THEY CAN FILE AN APPLICATION.

WE LEARNED FROM THE FIRST TRANCHE HOW TO SIMPLIFY THE PROCESS.

WE HAVE A CALL CENTER, SO PEOPLE CAN CALL IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS OR INFORMATION.

IF PEOPLE ARE OF LIMITED ENGLISH-SPEAKING ABILITY OR WE KNOW OUR OLDER ADULTS AREN'T COMPUTER SAVVY, WE WILL HELP THEM COMPLETE THEIR APPLICATIONS OVER THE PHONE.

SO, PEOPLE CAN START DOING THAT ON MONDAY.

THERE WON'T BE A CUTOFF.

IN THE FIRST WAVE, YOU HAD TO APPLY WITHIN THAT ONE WEEK OR EIGHT-DAY PERIOD.

NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A ROLLING APPLICATION PERIOD, AND SO EVERYONE DOESN'T HAVE TO RUSH THAT FIRST DAY TRYING TO GET THEIR APPLICATION IN, WE WILL ACCEPT APPLICATIONS ON A ROLLING BASIS UNTIL WE HAVE WHAT WE BELIEVE ARE $353 MILLION WORTH OF APPLICANTS.

WE WILL THEN CONDUCT A RANDOMIZED LOTTERY AS WE DID.

THAT'S THE FAIREST WAY TO DO IT.

PEOPLE HAVE ASKED US, SHOULDN'T WE ALLOW THE MOST VULNERABLE?

NO, WE'VE GOT TO DO IT FAIR.

WE CAN'T PICK AND CHOOSE.

SO, A LOTTERY WILL BE CONDUCTED AGAIN.

AND NOW, WE HAVE THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, AND WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED THAT, NOBODY COULD BE HAPPIER THAN OUR DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING.

>> LED ME RIGHT INTO MY NEXT QUESTION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS STIMULUS PLAN FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

THIS IS SOME BIG-TIME RELIEF.

I MEAN, WHAT IS THE DIRECT IMPACT OF THAT ON NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS?

I MEAN, JUST THE AID TO STATES AND MUNICIPALITIES ALONE IS GOING TO HAVE SOME BIG IMPACT, NOT TO MENTION THE DIRECT $1,400 PAYMENTS, EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

THIS IS LIKE A BIG KIND OF ALMOST SWITCH IN CULTURAL POLICY IN THIS COUNTRY FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.

>> DAVID, I BELIEVE THIS IS, OTHER THAN FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT, I THINK THIS IS THE LARGEST PUBLIC POLICY AND SUPPORT COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.

BECAUSE THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN IS SUCCINCTLY TARGETING WORKING CLASS FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

IT IS GOING TO CHANGE THE ECONOMIC STATUS OF MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THE ECONOMIC STATUS OF FAMILIES.

THINK ABOUT A FAMILY THAT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO WORK OR THEY'VE HAD REDUCED HOURS FOR THIS PAST YEAR.

THEY ARE GOING TO IMMEDIATELY RECEIVE THAT $1,400 PAYMENT.

THEY WILL RECEIVE A PER CHILD PAYMENT.

THINK ABOUT A FAMILY WITH THREE CHILDREN.

SUBSEQUENTLY, WHEN THEY FILE THEIR INCOME TAXES, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CLAIM A ENHANCED CHILD TAX CREDIT AS WELL.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

THIS IS A BOOM FOR WORKING CLASS PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY, AND IT'S GOING TO CHANGE EVERYTHING.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE LAMENTED ABOUT, THE FEDERAL EFFORT AS WELL AS THE STATE EFFORT, IS FOR INSTANCE, IN NEW JERSEY, HALF A MILLION AT LEAST UNDOCUMENTED WHO HAVE NOT EVEN HAS A SMALL SAFETY NET THAT HAS BEEN AFFORDED TO THOSE OF US WHO ARE CITIZENS.

THAT IS ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM, FOR A YEAR WITH NO MONEY.

I MEAN, WHAT WE'RE CALLING $0 AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S NO WAY TO LIVE AND THAT'S ANOTHER HOLE IN THAT SAFETY NET, RIGHT?

>> IT ABSOLUTELY IS.

AND YOU KNOW, IN THE EARLY DAYS -- MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC, WE HAD AN ANONYMOUS DONOR WHO MADE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE NEW JERSEY PANDEMIC RELIEF FUND.

WE WERE ABLE TO USE THAT FUNDING THROUGH THE CHARITABLE GRACES OF THE PANDEMIC FUND TO SUPPORT THOSE FAMILIES.

AND IT WAS DONE THROUGH IDENTIFIABLE FAITH INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE STATE THAT ALWAYS SERVE THE UNDOCUMENTED POPULATION, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT TO THOSE FAMILIES.

THAT CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR US.

I HOPE THAT THIS TIME AROUND, IN THIS CONGRESS, WE WILL NOT SEE THIS ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION REFORM BOGGED DOWN.

WE SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

WE HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE COMING OVER THE BORDER BECAUSE THEY HAVE PARENTS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HERE.

AND THEY'RE LIVING UNDER THE MOST HORRENDOUS CONDITIONS, YOU KNOW, OVER THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BORDER.

WE'VE GOT TO STOP THIS.

WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A COUNTRY BUILT ON IMMIGRATION.

THERE IS NO ONE WHO IS NATIVE TO THIS COUNTRY EXCEPT THE NATIVE AMERICAN INDIANS, THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, IT REALLY ROILS ME, DAVID, THAT WE HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT, QUOTE, BE LET IN.

WE ARE A COUNTRY OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN, QUOTE, LET IN, AND I THINK THAT THERE IS ENOUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUE NOW.

YOU KNOW, I READ A VERY INTERESTING ARTICLE JUST A WEEK AGO ABOUT FARMING IN NEW JERSEY.

AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE A BIG AGRICULTURAL STATE, AND THERE WAS A FARMER WHO ADVERTISED ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO FOR WORKERS.

HE GOT 483 PEOPLE TO SIGN UP TO COME AND WORK HIS FARM.

THE DAY THEY WERE TO START, 50% OF THAT POPULATION SHOWED UP.

AFTER THAT FIRST DAY, THE ONLY WORKERS REMAINING WERE A GROUP OF ABOUT 147 UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS.

>> THERE'S ALSO A CALL, THOUGH, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, FOR THE STATE TO DO MORE.

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD WORK ON TOGETHER TO PROVIDE DIRECT -- >> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE LEGISLATURE ARE WORKING ON SOMETHING.

AND YOU KNOW, IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, HE PROVIDED FUNDING THAT WOULD HELP 88,000 UNINSURED CHILDREN RECEIVE HEALTHCARE COVERAGE.

THAT FUNDING, ONCE THAT BUDGET IS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE, WILL PROVIDE HEALTHCARE COVERAGE TO THOSE FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT VACCINES FOR A MINUTE.

RESPONSE TO THE VACCINE OVERALL HAS BEEN HIGHER THAN EXPECTED, I THINK.

I REMEMBER WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE VERY LOW BUY-IN FOR A WHILE, BUT NOW THE DEMAND IS THERE, EVEN IF THE SUPPLY IS SLOW TO GET HERE.

BUT BLACK FOLKS, BROWN FOLKS, IMMIGRANTS, VERY LOW VACCINATION RATES.

I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON.

HOW HARD HAS IT BEEN TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO GET THE VACCINE?

>> I THINK, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THE PRIOR FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION CREATED THIS PROBLEM.

I DON'T BELIEVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE COMMUNICATED WITH HONESTLY, AND BECAUSE OF ADVICE TO DRINK BLEACH OR TO PUT A BLUETOOTH LIGHT DOWN YOUR THROAT, WHEN THE OPERATION WARP SPEED WAS CREATED, PEOPLE WERE VERY WARY, UH-OH, THEY'RE GOING TO CREATE THIS STUFF OVERNIGHT.

I WAS ONE OF THE SKEPTICS AS THIS VACCINE WAS BEING CREATED.

AND I PROBABLY HAD THE VIEW OF MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY.

I'M GOING TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT IT DOES TO OTHER PEOPLE.

BUT AS I BECAME MORE EDUCATED, AND AS I BEGAN TO HEAR REAL FACTS COME OUT OF THE TRANSITION TEAM OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, I BECAME A BELIEVER IN THE VACCINE.

I HAVE BEEN VACCINATED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M IN THAT AGE CATEGORY.

I DO HAVE AN UNDERLYING CONDITION.

AND I HAVE BEEN A CHEERLEADER FOR THE VACCINE, AS HAVE MANY OTHERS LIKE ME.

I THINK AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE BEGIN TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE VACCINE, IN THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY, IT HAS CHANGED HEARTS AND MINDS.

OUR FAITH-BASED LEADERS HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB EDUCATING THEIR CONGREGANTS.

WHAT I AM LOVING IS THAT THERE NOW ARE MOBILE UNITS THAT ARE TRAVELING INTO NEIGHBORHOODS AND INTO COMMUNITIES PROVIDING VACCINE RIGHT WHERE PEOPLE LIVE.

THIS IS GOING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT ARE GETTING VACCINATED.

>> SO -- >> SO THE TIDE HAS TURNED IN TERMS OF RELUCTANCE.

>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

YOU KNOW, WE KNOW IN MARCH 2021 IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE KNEW IN MARCH 2020 ON JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASSESS WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE WELL AND MAYBE WHERE YOU NEED TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY FOR THE NEXT EMERGENCY?

>> I THINK, WELL, YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID FROM DAY ONE THAT WE HAD TO RESPOND TO AN EMERGENCY, WE'RE LEARNING AS WE'RE GOING ALONG, AND HE SAID THAT WE WILL COMPILE A MASSIVE POSTMORTEM REPORT.

>> BECAUSE IT ALSO COVERS, LIKE, THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM AND THE MOTOR VEHICLE SYSTEM WHICH ARE CLEARLY NOT UP TO DEALING WITH AN EMERGENCY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

EVERY SINGLE DAY, EVEN THOUGH THOSE AREN'T MY DEPARTMENTS, AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I COMMUNICATE DAILY WITH PEOPLE WITH UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUES, PEOPLE WITH MVC ISSUES, SO WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT.

I THINK THAT WHEN WE DO THIS POSTMORTEM, IF ANYTHING CATASTROPHIC EVER OCCURS TO THIS STATE GOVERNMENT AGAIN, WE WILL BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO DEAL WITH IT.

FOR INSTANCE, WE NOW, WITH THE MOTOR VEHICLES, THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONLINE WAY BEFORE THIS CATASTROPHE OCCURRED.

WE KNEW THAT WE SHOULD HAVE COME UP WITH A SYSTEM OF APPOINTMENTS, WHICH WE DIDN'T IN THE BEGINNING.

AND YOU SAW THOSE LONG LINES WRAPPED AROUND.

WE DID NOT ANTICIPATE IF EMPLOYEES GOT INFECTED WITH COVID WE WOULD HAVE TO SHUT DOWN MOTOR VEHICLE OFFICES.

SO, WE CERTAINLY HAVE LEARNED SOME HARD LESSONS.

WITH UNEMPLOYMENT, I THINK THAT THAT HAS FINALLY MADE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE ADMINISTRATION UNDERSTAND WE MUST INVEST IN THAT 40-YEAR I.T.

SYSTEM THAT EXISTS, AND WE HAVE TO DO IT IN COORDINATION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND THAT WAS PART OF OUR PROBLEM IN THE BEGINNING.

WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PUMP OUT YOUR STATE BENEFITS, BUT THAT $600 EXTRA, THAT SYSTEM FROM THE FEDS WAS NOT IN COORDINATION WITH OUR STATE I.T.

SYSTEM.

SO, WE HAD A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

I THINK WE ALSO LEARNED, WHICH WE HADN'T IN THE BEGINNING, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THE SIZE OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT SEGMENT, WE NEEDED TO HAVE HAD A CALL CENTER FROM DAY ONE WHERE PEOPLE COULD CALL IN, NOT GET A RECORDING, YOU KNOW, NOT BE TOLD, WE'LL CALL YOU BACK, BUT A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD SPEAK TO A LIVE INDIVIDUAL.

AND IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING FOR PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD THE SAME HORROR STORIES THAT MANY OF YOU JOURNALISTS HAVE HAD.

I'VE HAD PEOPLE TALK TO ME ABOUT THEY HAVE $2 IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS.

THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO FEED THE KIDS THE NEXT DAY.

I GOT A EMAIL LAST WEEK FROM A WOMAN WHO APPLIED BACK IN NOVEMBER.

HER CAR INSURANCE WAS DUE THE NEXT DAY.

SHE HAD BEGGED, BORROWED AND STOLE FROM EVERY PERSON IMAGINABLE.

AND YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO GO TO BAT AND TRY TO GET HELP FOR HER.

BUT MY HEART DEFINITELY GOES OUT TO THOSE WHO HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

HOPEFULLY WITH THIS GO ROUND AND THE NEW FEDERAL MONEY WITH PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO GET THE ADDITIONAL $300, WE WILL HAVE LEARNED LESSONS FROM THAT FIRST A PHASE AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL DO A BETTER JOB IN THE SECOND PHASE.

BUT WE HAVE PUMPED OUT BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ON UNEMPLOYMENT, AND IF YOU LOOK PERCENTAGE-WISE, WE'VE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB.

BUT THAT IS OF NO SOLACE TO THOSE WHO AREN'T IN THAT PERCENTAGE THAT GOT THEIRS.

>> ALL RIGHT, STILL SOME WAYS TO GO.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHEILA OLIVER, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANKS FOR TAKING SOME TIME WITH US.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE BEING WITH YOU, DAVID.

TAKE CARE, AND SHOUTOUT TO EVERYBODY AT NJ PBS "CHAT BOX."

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S "CHAT BOX" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS AGAIN TO OUR GUEST, SHEILA OLIVER.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER, @DAVIDCRUZNJ, AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO GET MORE "CHAT BOX" PLUS OTHER GREAT CONTENT LIKE "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE," NJ BUSINESS BEAT, AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

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.