>> "Chat Box major funding for "Chat Box" -- major funding for "Chat Box" with David Cruz provided by insider nj, giving serious political players an interactive forum.

Online at insidernj.com.

David: hi, "Chat Box welcome to "Chat Box."

I am David Cruz.

Hope you enjoyed the holiday.

Summer is here and the time is right for parks and festivals.

We have you covered on both read we will get you set for the New Jersey city Jazz Festival in a few minutes.

We begin with what many are calling a major victory forthe preservation of New Jersey's most visited State Park, Liberty state park.

The Commissioner unveiled the plan for the future of LSP to mostly positive reviews.

Good to see you.

>> Thanks for having me.

David: You were clear last week, no privatization, no commercialization, no equivocation.

Guest: The land belongs to everyone, it is not a thing, full stop.

David: Some said the original plan for the park in the 1970's included commercial aspects.

Is that not true?

Why is it different today?

Guest: We need to be clear about what we mean when anyone of us says commercialization or privatization.

The fence that restricts over 40% of the landmass that makes up Liberty State Park will not be replaced with ticket booths for private commercial of vents.

No arenas or large concert-like stadiums.

When I said no commercialization and privatization, that is what I mean.

There will be opportunity for small business to engage with their community members in a new, open, outdoor marketplace.

It will bring concession opportunities into the park so when folks are visiting and enjoying all we will create together, they will grab a bite, have a drink.

Perhaps opportunities to engage in water-based recreation, kayak launch, things of that nature.

When we say no commercialization or privatization, we means this -- we mean this will be run by your state park service like every other park in our state parks system.

David: One of the ironies, you can get a $15 hamburger, but not a $2 hot dog.

Let's talk about this open house.

It was expected to be a contentious of vents, but you pulled a rabbit out of your hat -- contentious event, but you pulled a rabbit out of your hat.

Who had input and what were you trying to balance?

Guest: I wish I was a magician, but I am not.

What I have learned over my time in this administration, which has focused intently on engagement of our community.

We operate on a philosophy at the Department of environmental protection that, we cannot sit in an imposing government building and tell folks the way it ought to be.

We have to get into communities and ask folks how they want it to be and help them.

That is the story of liberty State Park.

Yes there has been rancor and contention because people feel strongly about public spaces.

They are in extension of our community, our home.

We took that to heart starting in 2020 when we unveiled a plan that there was negative reception of.

It was believed we were not seeking to accommodate the needs of our host community and the needs of young athletes in a space constrained community.

That was not the case, but we did not make that clear enough.

We went back to the drawing board and focused on community feedback.

Nearly 4000 surveys in multiple languages all performed by the Department of environmental protection and that helped us to arrive at where we are.

That work takes time.

In that time fear can fill the vacuum of information, or the silence.

Folks who feared the worst and thought maybe they may not see a park that reflects them or preserves our natural and historical heritage, they got concerned and rightfully so.

I am glad we put forward our plan.

It has always been our intent to serve everyone.

David: Job one is cleanup and restoration of over 200 acres that remain contaminated.

What will that be like when finished?

Guest: It will be outstanding.

Three primary phases.

1A, interior restoration.

A natural resource-based restoration and nature-based climate resilience solutions within the interior section of the park.

That will clean up the long blighted area which include numerous contaminants at relatively low levels.

That will be removed and sealed off and will have the ability to open up part of the Liberty State Park that is 1/3 the size of Central Park.

David: Active recreation coming in the second and third phases?

Guest: The first phase is both the interior restoration and cleanup, as well as the immediate active recreation in the northern section of the park.

When cleanup is complete in phase 2, we will bring in additional active recreation in the southern part of the park.

The northern part does not need the cleanup first.

We can get the immediate active recreation going right away.

We have bids for design contractors and intend to come back to the community with alternates.

What is the right orientation, for example?

What support facilities do we need?

The community decides.

David: The biggest concern was, how will this get paid?

$50 million in the Liberty State Park protection act, but that is not close to what it will take to get this job done.

That is for future legislators to fund?

Guest: I think there is misunderstanding about the funding that is secured.

That phase 1 funding for the nature-based restoration, as well as immediate active recreation, the addition of ballfields and support facilities, there is funding secured for that.

Depending on the exact design, we may be short.

But, what is important to understand si, -- is, this requires a sustained commitment.

We carry that from the Murphy administration.

I am sure our legislative partners will be with us in that work.

The later phase, 2, will require additional funding that is not yet secured.

But we are well on our way.

What we will end up seeing, if you can imagine a Liberty State Park, 100 acres around the perimeter filled with active recreational arts and cultural opportunities for the youth and public to enjoy.

And a Central Park, nature-based, at its heart.

David: How long will this take?

Multiple years?

Guest: Many years.

But, phase 1A and our immediate active recreation will be complete before Governor Murphy leaves office.

I look forward to getting together with all our advocates on every side of this matter.

I should not say side because the table is round and large and everyone has a place.

We will together break ground in September this year.

David: In South Jersey we have the question, whether offshore wind is disturbing Wales and causing them -- whales and causing them to beach.

Some suggested we should delay any further work on offshore wind in order to see what the impact is of the work being done now on these whales and dolphins.

Guest: There is no evidence that connects the offshore wind survey work, monitoring and using technology to map ocean floor conditions and gain other data, there is no construction activity occurring right now.

There could be construction activity by the end of this year.

All scientific evidence points us in the direction, the conclusion I offered before.

Our science and technology committee established a week ago, there is no reason to conclude that the unusual mortality event afflicting certain whale species that has been ongoing since 2016, there is no reason to conclude it has to do with offshore wind survey.

There has been panic about the prospect.

It is horrifying to see these mammals wash up on our shores, but there is a reason it is happening.

Unfortunately, it is a confluence of multiple events.

Climate change is real, is here, and is happening right now, and getting worse every day.

Part of those impacts as we identified in 2020 in the New Jersey specific report on climate science is, the rapidly warming and acidifying oceans are having an impact on certain fish habitats including certain crayfish that whales hunt for and consume.

We have seen some move closer to our shores and whales chasing them.

Hungry whales chasing these fish.

This is nature.

Unfortunately, that has put the whales in direct conflict with a shipping super half -- shipping super highway off our coast.

Bringing goods to our ports, one of the busiest in the world, which has had incredible growth recently in its own traffic.

Offshore wind vessels routinely have the presence of marine mammal observers.

If an offshore wind survey vessel were to come into conflict with a protected marine man, there would have to be a -- marine man, -- marine mammal, there would have to be a stop.

There is no reason to conclude it has anything to do with our offshore wind survey work.

But it is a sad sign of our climate reality.

David: Like a restaurant row in the middle of route 3.

You mentioned beach erosion.

Where does that begin and end?

We talked about North Wildwood and areas adjacent trying to coordinate.

Some beaches erode faster and erosion has more impact.

At what point philosophically do we say, we cannot keep replenishing this beach every year at the cost of millions of dollars?

I know it is Millie -- I know it is a sticky topic, but nature wants what it wants.

If it wants the beach back, it will take it back, no?

Guest: We are long overdue for a deep and serious public policy discussion, a legislative discussion, about coastal resilience.

We do an incredible amount of work in New Jersey.

The DEP has built a long-standing and deep relationship with our federal partners at the Army Corps of Engineers.

In that relationship we have seen the engineering of beach and dune projects that provide Greener storm correction for communities and the benefit of replenishing our beaches.

But it is not the case that the state alone or any local government alone could do this complicated, expensive work.

What we do in New Jersey through the use of the shore protection fund, routinely dedicated funding every year, we follow the federal money.

The federal government, to whom New Jersey sends a lot of tax dollars, we get a lot from the government in replenishing our beaches.

We pay a lesser percentage from the state government than the federal government does.

Our municipalities share a tiny fraction of the cost.

Your question is important because there is a lot of discussion within the climate resilience policy Rome that has not yet reached our lawmakers and legislators with respect -- at what point do we make decisions that are different?

As the cost of projects grow and erosion continues or worsens in certain places.

We have some significant hotspots, North Wildwood being one of them.

We will have to make hard decisions.

It will not be as easy as following the federal funds that are available.

I invite that conversation and think it is time.

David: Commissioner, thank you.

Guest: Thank you.

David: The Jersey City Jazz Festival celebrating its 10th year this season with a new permanent home and and always adventurous menu of music.

Joining us from the nearly completed site, Brian Bening Hall.

Good to see you.

Guest: How are you?

David: You have a tremendous backdrop.

Where are you?

Guest: At the rooftop of the Hyatt house in Jersey City.

This is where the VIP lounge will be.

I am getting in early, saving money on a backdrop, using the real thing.

David: Well done.

What is happening now as you prepare?

Guest: Thursday and Friday night we are doing jazz night.

We are introducing live shows throughout Jersey City, ticketed events.

Those are fun.

We are running around like crazy.

We have five events tonight and four tomorrow, as well as setting up for the big bash this weekend.

A lot of moving parts, but it is coming together nicely.

David: This site will have three different stages?

Guest: We have three stages.

One in the newly renovated -- we are still working here -- a nice Plaza stage.

And a giant one.

That will be curated by Smalls live from New York City.

That will be the piano cocktail stage.

The Plaza is our Barnabas stage.

On the pier, we have the pier stage, which will have some great salsa to end the nights.

David: You have a new and permanent location which is no small manner -- matter.

The Hyatt will be one of your sponsors.

They are literally in the middle of the festival.

Guest: It is perfect.

Saturday night we have two performances.

We always wanted a festival where we could bring everyone after a big day of partying, have a proper jam session.

We will do that Saturday night.

Then we have another band on the rooftop that night.

It is great to have multiple spaces to move around.

We encourage people to move around and experience a lot of different things.

This adds another element.

This location is wonderful.

The other great thing we are thrilled about besides this backdrop, we have so many trains, the path, the light rail, bus stops, plenty of parking.

Lots of amenities to make it easy for people coming, the musicians and us.

David: Exchange Place station is literally at the site.

Guest: That is what we are using for our dress.

-- our address.

David: Having a place is important for the festival review talked about inside shows happening in the week, including at White Eagle Hall Thursday, and the statuary, and the Nimbus Center on Friday.

And you have a full outdoor schedule Saturday and Sunday.

What are highlights coming up?

Guest: We have a lot of different stuff which is so much fun.

You know the schedule as well as I do.

That is amazing.

I will mention a couple.

We have a great guitar player, that is a real thrill.

I have listened to him since I was young.

I will be 22 next month.

And we have an amazing band, with Maestro Eddie Palmieri.

We have a gospel on the pier, featuring a kosher gospel prince.

David: It is a wide palette.

Much of it touches on jazz, but it is not straight jazz.

What is your musical philosophy curating a Festival like this?

Guest: Our goal with the nonprofit that produces this is to make jazz inclusive.

I am a musician, I play a million different styles.

Most of my friends play a million different styles.

But when you talk to somebody on the street and say do you like jazz, they immediately think it is one thing or another.

What we want to do is say, there is something for everybody.

Have a great time, grab a bite to eat, cold beverage, and enjoy this wonderful music.

These musicians are all here in our community.

Most are in the tri-state area.

They play around here.

We want to show them support and let them know the music is around you all the time.

Do not be afraid of it.

A lot of times they will say jazz, I do not know when to clap -- it does not matter.

Just show up.

And smile.

David: You are doing shows around the city.

What is the jazz scene like?

We talked about this a few weeks ago.

I was under the impression there is so much more jazz around the city, but we think there should be more venues.

Guest: One of the things we have seen across the board -- this started 20 something years ago -- the midsize venues.

You used to be able to make a living because there were venues when you could play in front of 100 people on a Tuesday night.

Now a lot of places are either 20 people or 800.

A lot of it has to do with how expensive rents are.

The price of a liquor license opening a club is difficult.

Mid-level places are not around as much as they used to be, which would allow people to make a living here in their hometown.

We are constantly working with nontraditional spaces, places that might not always do this.

We close down a lot of streets to do outdoor stuff, but we are looking for any of these 80 to 120 people venues.

That is lacking in the New York area and everywhere.

David: It is happening all weekend long.

Good luck, I will see you out there.

Guest: Can't wait.

David: That is "Chat Box."

You can follow me on twitter and get fresh daily content when you subscribe to the YouTube channel.

Next week's show, we will shoot it before a live studio audience.

We will have a former governor, Cory Booker, and a performance by the jazz house kids.

It will be live.

From the entire crew in downtown Newark, thanks for watching.

>> Major funding for "Chat Box" with David Cruz founded by NJM insurance group.

Promotional support provided by insider NJ, a political intelligence network dedicated to New Jersey political news.

Committed to giving serious political players and interactive forum for ideas, discussion and insight.

Onset -- online at insidernj.com.

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