♪ >>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR REPORTERS ROUND TABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY -- NEW JERSEY REALTORS, A VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.com.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

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♪ ♪ >>> HELLO, EVERYBODY.

THIS IS "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

WELL, SCHOOL IS OUT BUT THE DEBATE OVER WHAT OUR KIDS ARE LEARNING IS ONLY INTENSIFYING.

CRITICAL RACE THEORY, IT IS AN ACADEMIC CONCEPT THAT HAS AT ITS CORE THE IDEA THAT RACE IS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT AND THAT RACISM IS NOT JUST A PRODUCT OF INDIVIDUAL BIAS OR PREJUDICE BUT ALSO SOMETHING EMBEDDED IN LEGAL SYSTEMS AND POLICIES.

I'M SURE THAT DEFINITION IS INSUFFICIENT, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT IT IS GOOD TO DEFER TO GREAT MINDS FOR CLARITY.

SO OUR GUEST TODAY IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THOSE.

HE IS AN AUTHOR AND SCHOLAR AND CHAIR OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES DEPARTMENT AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY.

IT IS A PLEASURE TO WELCOME BACK DR. EDDIE GLAUDE.

PROFESSOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> IT IS MY PLEASURE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL.

>> SO HOW INCOMPLETE WAS THAT DEFINITION OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY?

WHAT IS IT AND WHAT DOES IS IT NOT?

>> WELL, LET'S BE CLEAR.

I THINK YOU'VE GOT THE BASIC CONTOURS RIGHT.

IT IS A RESPONSE TO THE BACHE DECISION IN PART, CLAIMS AROUND REVERSE DISCRIMINATION AND THE LIKE, TRYING TO INTERROGATE THE WAY THAT THE RULE OF LAW AND EQUAL PROTECTION, HOW IT LIMITS THE NATURE OF OUR RESPONSE TO RACISM IN THE COUNTRY.

AND SO YOU SEE A WIDE RANGE OF LEGAL MINDS FROM DEREK VEIL TO KIMBERLY CRENSHAW TO RICHARD DELGADO AND OTHERS WHO ARE TRYING TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT OFFER A MORE ROBUST UNDERSTANDING OF THE WAY IN WHICH WHITE SUPREMACY AFFECTS THE DISTRIBUTION OF ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE AND HOW THE LAW FITS IN THAT, YOU SEE.

BUT IN OUR CURRENT MOMENT, CRITICAL RACE THEORY DOESN'T NECESSARILY REFER TO THAT.

IT IS SOMETHING MUCH BROADER AND SOMETHING MORE INSIDIOUS.

>> SO I MEAN I GUESS IN THE BROADEST CONTEXT, IS THERE A CURRICULUM ASSOCIATED WITH IT?

WHERE IS IT BEING TAUGHT?

>> WELL, IT IS CERTAINLY TAUGHT IN LAW SCHOOLS PRIMARILY.

YOU HAVE CRITICAL RACE STUDIES, YOU HAVE CRITICAL LEGAL STUDIES.

IT IS PRIMARILY A FEATURE OF THOSE WHO ARE BEING TRAINED TO RECEIVE THEIR JDs, THEIR LLMs, AND THOSE WHO GET -- YOU KNOW, WHO ARE PRACTICING LAWYERS IN SOME WAY.

SO IT IS A NARROW FIELD THAT ACTUALLY IN SOME WAYS HAS INFLUENCE AND HAS BEEN INFLUENCED BY BROADER CURRENTS WITHIN THE FIELD OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES.

BUT, AGAIN, THE WAY IN WHICH IT IS BEING USED IN OUR CURRENT POLITICAL DEBATE DOESN'T REALLY REFER TO THAT MOVEMENT THAT I KNOW OF COMING OUT OF LAW SCHOOLS.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.

NO ROOM FOR NUANCE, RIGHT?

SO I MEAN IT HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE FREAKED OUT, OR DOES IT HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE FREAKED OUT?

AS YOU SAY, IT HAS BECOME AT THE CENTER OF OUR SO-CALLED CULTURE WARS, RIGHT?

WITH PEOPLE SUGGESTING THAT IT IS TEACHING OUR KIDS TO HATE THEIR HEROES, OUR INSTITUTIONS, AND THAT IT SEPARATES EVERYBODY BY RACE.

THAT'S WHAT WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT.

>> YEAH.

KRISTOFFER RUFFO WHO HAS BEEN AT THE HEART OF PUSHING THIS, RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

>> WAS VERY CLEAR.

HE WAS EXPLICIT ON HIS TWITTER ACCOUNT THIS WAS ABOUT BRANDING.

HE WANTED TO FREEZE THE PHRASE CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND WITHIN IT CATCH ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DON'T LIKE, WHICH HE CALLED THE AMERICAN'S DEEM IMPROPER, RIGHT.

SO CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS PART OF A KIND OF REPUBLICAN-HIT JOB.

IT IS A THIRD FRONT THAT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE NINE BLACK AND BROWN FOLK AND YOUNG FOLK, THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WAS MOTIVATING THE INSURRECTION ON JANUARY 6th, AND NOW THIS IS PART OF THE ARGUMENT TO STOKE WHITE RESENTMENT AND WHITE FEAR.

THEY'RE TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN TO HATE THEMSELVES.

THEY'RE NOT ONLY WANTING TO REPLACE YOU DEMOGRAPHICALLY, THEY WANT TO RID YOU, THEY WANT TO ERASE YOU FROM HISTORY, THEY WANT TO MAKE YOUR MONSTROUS, RIGHT.

SO THIS IS ALL ABOUT STOKING FEARS, BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE REALLY RESPONDING TO, WHAT THEY'RE LABELLING AS CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS ALL OF THE WORK THAT'S COMING OUT OF THIS ANTI-RACIST MOVEMENT.

SO THE STUFF THAT WE SEE WITH PROF PROFESSOR KINDI WITH HIS BOOK "HOW TO BE AN ANTI-RACIST."

THE STUFF WE SEE WITH ROBIN DeANGELO AND HER WORK ON WHITE FRAGILITY, AND HOW SOME OF IT HAS TRIED TO MAKE ITS WAY INTO PRIMARY EDUCATION.

SOME OF THAT STUFF IS UNEVEN, I'LL ADMIT THAT.

SOME OF THE STUFF, YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT IT IS RIGHTLY CALIBRATED TO THE AGE GROUP.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT WHAT THEY'RE DESCRIBING, RIGHT, IS JUST SIMPLY THIS -- WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS SIMPLY THE LATEST EFFORT TO ARREST WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A GENUINE RACIAL RECKONING IN THE COUNTRY.

THEY'RE TRYING TO ARREST SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE, THAT'S ALL THEY'RE TRYING TO DO.

>> YEAH.

EVEN WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF THE CONTEXT OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY, YOU TALK ABOUT THIS DISCOMFORT OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO FACE NOW ABOUT WANTING TO BE THE AMERICA THAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE OR SHOULD BE AND HOW THAT TAKES SOME SERIOUS, HARD LOOK AT OURSELVES.

>> RIGHT.

IT IS ALMOST AS IF FOR SOME OF OUR FELLOWS THAT IF AMERICA IS NOT INNOCENT, IF AMERICA IS NOT THOUGHT OF AS THE SHINING CITY ON THE HILL, THEN SOMEHOW THE WHOLE THING COLLAPSES, RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE, MANY OF THEM, WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIAN, RIGHT, AND YOU WOULD SAY, WELL, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE IDEA OF ORIGINAL SIN, RIGHT?

THERE IS A STAIN AT THE HEART OF YOUR OWN SELF-CONCEPTION, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE UNITED STATES WE HAVE TO BE PURE AND PRISTINE.

WE CAN'T DEAL WITH THE EVILS, THE UGLINESS THAT IS, IN FACT, A PART OF THIS NATION'S HISTORY.

AND SO TO MY MIND IT ACTUALLY REFLECTS A DEEP IMMATURITY, A REFUSAL TO GROW UP, THAT AMERICA HAS TO REMAIN INNOCENT IN ITS ADOLESCENCE AND NOT BE HELD ACCOUNT FOR ALL OF THIS STUFF OR MESS THAT IT HAS DONE OVER THE COURSE OF ITS HISTORY.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE HEIGHT OF NAIVETY TO THINK THAT THERE IS ANY PERFECT NATION.

I MEAN IF YOU STUDY EVEN THE MOST RUDIMENTARY HISTORY BOOKS, THERE IS NO PERFECT NATION.

AND TO THINK THAT YOUR NATION IS THE PERFECT NATION, IT IS ALMOST CHILD LIKE.

>> TO MY MIND IT IS.

LOOK, NO ONE IS -- ALL NATIONAL HISTORIES ARE IN SOME WAYS MYTHS AND ILLUSIONS OR MYTHS AND LEGENDS.

THE UNITED STATES IS NOT UNIQUE IN ITS OWN EMBRACE OF ITS OWN LEGEND, YOU KNOW.

BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO BE A TRULY MULTI-RACIAL DEMOCRACY, THIS IS THE QUESTION.

IF WE'RE GOING TO BE A TRULY MULTI-RACIAL DEMOCRACY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TELL OURSELVES A DIFFERENT KIND OF STORY ABOUT WHO WE ARE.

I'M NOT, YOU'RE NOT LATE COMERS TO THIS GAME.

WE'RE NOT RECIPIENTS OF CHARITY THAT THEY HAVE ALLOWED US TO BE HERE.

NO, THIS COUNTRY IS OURS, TOO, AND THE STORY HAS TO REFLECT THAT JOURNEY, THAT COMPLEXITY, THAT NUANCE.

AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS THIS, THAT THERE ARE THOSE AMONG US WHO BELIEVE THAT AMERICA MUST REMAIN A WHITE NATION IN THE VEIN OF OLD EUROPE, AND IF IT IS NOT THEY'RE WILLING TO THROW THE WHOLE ENTIRE THING AWAY.

THAT'S THE DANGER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CRITICAL FOR SURE.

DR. EDDIE GLAUDE, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

THANKS FOR COMING ON AND SPIN SPENDING A FEW MINUTES WITH US.

>> IT IS MY PLEASURE.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

>>> LET'S BRING IN COLLEEN O'DAY, THE PROJECT EDITOR FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

SAM SUTTON, THE HEALTH CARE REPORTER FOR POLITICAL NJ.

DANIEL MUNOZ IS A REPORTER FOR NJ BIZ.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

EDDIE GLAUDE THERE, ALWAYS INSIGHTFUL.

WE TOUCHED ON THE SO-CALLED CULTURE WARS AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY BEING THE LATEST FRONT THEREIN.

COLLEEN, WE'VE ALREADY HEARD THE REPUBLICAN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR HERE TOUCH ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES, IMMIGRATION, POLICING, MASKING.

ARE WE GOING TO SEE EITHER SIDE OR BOTH SIDES IN THIS RACE MAKE THIS ABOUT MORE THAN TAXES AND TRANSIT?

WILL THERE BE A CULTURE WAR IN THE NEW JERSEY GUBERNATORIAL RACE?

>> I MEAN THAT CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE PART OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE BASED ON, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE ARE SO FAR AND SOME OF THE SMALL DEBATE WE'VE SEEN.

WE HAVEN'T HAD CHITARELLI AND MURPHY GET TOGETHER YET IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, ANY KIND OF A DEBATE.

IT HAS REALLY BEEN, YOU KNOW, CONFINED TO THE PRIMARY SO FAR ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

BUT, YES, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PARTY IS DOING, IT CERTAINLY MAKES SENSE THAT THIS IS KIND OF FILTERING DOWN, TRICKLING DOWN TO THE STATE LEVEL.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE STOKING THE FIRES IN NEW JERSEY IS THIS NEW LAW WE HAVE MANDATING THE STUDY OF DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND EQUITY AT OUR SCHOOLS, AND THAT'S BY NO MEANS CRITICAL RACE THEORY BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP AT LEAST AT A COUPLE OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS AROUND THE STATE WHERE SOME PARENTS HAVE COME OUT AND SAID, OH, NO, YOU KNOW, DON'T TEACH CRITICAL RACE THEORIES AND OFFICIALS HAVE COME OUT AND SAID, NO, WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF THING WE'RE DOING.

>> I GUESS IT BEHOOVES CHITERELLI TO SPICE THE RACE UP A BIT BECAUSE HE HAS A STEEPER HILL TO CLIMB, NO?

>> YEAH, HE SURELY DOES.

YOU KNOW, THE LAST POLLS THAT WE'VE SEEN SHOW THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE WAS A STATE ASSEMBLYMAN -- AGAIN, THAT'S JUST A SMALL PART OF THE STATE SO I GUESS HE IS KNOWN IN HIS AREA AND THAT HE RAN FOUR YEARS AGO, HE REALLY HAS SMALL AMOUNT OF NAME RECOGNITION, SO HE HAS TO BOOST THAT.

HE ALSO HAS TO SOMEHOW ATTRACT SOME INDEPENDENT VOTERS, YOU KNOW, THE UNAFFILIATED.

IT IS LIKELY HE IS GOING TO GET A BIG SHARE OF THE REPUBLICAN VOTE, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE THE MINORITY IN THIS STATE.

THERE'S A MILLION-PLUS MORE DEMOCRATS THAN THERE ARE REPUBLICANS.

>> YEAH.

SAM, I READ SOME DISTURBING NEWS ABOUT AN UPTICK IN COVID CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS.

COULD COVID COME BACK STRONG IN THE FALL AND BECOME THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAIN?

I IMAGINE THAT'S A WORST CASE SCENARIO FOR THE INCUMBENT HERE, RIGHT?

>> I IMAGINE THAT'S A WORST CASE SCENARIO FOR EVERYBODY IF COVID COMES BACK IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

YEAH, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT WE MIGHT SEE RESTRICTIONS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE LIVED THROUGH A FEW MONTHS AGO.

WITH THAT SAID, NEW JERSEY IS ON A MUCH BETTER GLIDE, A MUCH BETTER PATH WITH ITS VACCINATION EFFORT THAN MANY OTHER STATES, BUT I DID THINK IT WAS INTERESTING YESTERDAY.

MURPHY WAS SWORN IN AS VICE CHAIR OF THE NGA, AND THE CHAIR OF THAT ORGANIZATION, THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION, IS HUTCHINSON, THE REPUBLICAN FROM ARKANSAS.

MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF HIS REMARKS THAT HIS PRIMARY CONCERN, YOU KNOW, OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND THE NEXT FEW MONTHS ESPECIALLY IS GRAPPLING WITH VACCINE HESITANCY, BECAUSE AS LONG AS FOLKS ARE RELUCTANT TO GET THEIR SHOT, THAT GIVES A LOT OF RUNWAY FOR THE VIRUS AND ESPECIALLY THE DELTA VARIANT TO BE REALLY FLOURISH.

IT COULD BE DEVASTATING FOR A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE FALL.

>> YES, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE MORE IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A SUMMER LULL IN THE GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN.

DANIEL, WE SAW THE GOVERNOR THIS WEEK HOLDING EVENTS WITH LATINO AND BLACK PASTORS.

HOW CRITICAL IS THIS BASE, NOT ONLY THEIR PROMISING SUPPORT BUT COMING OUT IN THE POLLS?

THEY CAN'T BE STAYING HOME, RIGHT?

>> I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.

I THINK LATINO BASE MAKES UP A VERY LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE NEW JERSEY POPULATION.

I THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE STRIDES TO TRY TO APPEAL TO THAT SET, TO THAT DEMOGRAPHIC, AND THE POLLS DO SEEM TO INDICATE THAT A LOT OF THEM SUPPORT MURPHY OVER CHITARELLI.

SO THE GOVERNOR, I THINK, HAS A LOT OF I GUESS GUN POWDER TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT THIS IS THE PARTY OF I.C.E., OF DEPORTATIONS, OF SORT OF TEARING FAMILIES APART.

HE COULD GO THAT ROUTE OR SOME VARIETY OF THAT.

SO HE HAS A LOT GOING FOR HIM IN TERMS OF GETTING LATINO SUPPORT.

>> YEAH, 80% OF LATINOS, OVER 90% OF BLACKS IN THE LAST GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION BACKED MURPHY.

SO A CRITICAL BASE FOR SURE.

ON TOP OF THIS WE'VE SEEN NOW SENATE PRESIDENT STEVE SWEENEY, ALONG WITH HIS POLITICAL BROTHER GEORGE NORCROSS, MAKING THEIR WAY ACROSS THE STATE MEETING WITH PARTY LEADERS IN THE HOPES OF WHAT?

GETTING IN FRONT OF THE LINE FOR 2025, COLLEEN?

IT IS A LITTLE EARLY OR IS IT NEVER TOO EARLY?

>> WELL, IT IS PROBABLY NOT TOO EARLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, REMEMBER, STEVE SWEENEY WAS PREPARING TO RUN BACK IN 2017 FOR GOVERNOR AND THEN PHIL MURPHY CAME ALONG AND DID WHAT, YOU KNOW, STEVE SWEENEY IS DOING NOW, YOU KNOW, MET WITH ALL OF THE COUNTY CHAIRS AND PHIL MURPHY CAPTURED THE ENDORSEMENT OF ALL OF THE COUNTY CHAIRS.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT CERTAINLY WOULD BEHOOVE THE SENATE PRESIDENT TO GET OUT THERE.

IT IS NEVER TOO EARLY, THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> WOW.

ALL RIGHT.

I WANT TO GET BACK TO COVID.

SAM, YOU HAD A PIECE ON SOME R SUR SURPRISE IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY OVER ALMOST HALF A BILLION DOLLARS TO TRAUMA CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE.

IS THIS A SIGN THAT THE STATE DOESN'T WANT TO GET CAUGHT SHORT WHEN THE NEXT HEALTH CRISIS HITS?

>> I CERTAINLY THINK IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THAT.

I MEAN IT WAS AN ITEM IN THE BUDGET, IT IS $450 MILLION, $1450 $$$$1 --Captions by VITAC -- MILLION.

IT IS A HUGE SUM OF MONEY, AND TWO OF THE HOSPITALS AT LEAST, UNIVERSITY AND RWJ, DIDN'T REALLY DO ANY DIRECT LOBBYING TO GET THOSE FUNDS.

COOPER WOULDN'T SAY WHETHER OR NOT THEY DID ANY LOBBYING AT ALL OR ANY SORT OF ADVOCACY FOR IT.

I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO ARE CLOSE TO THE NEGOTIATIONS, A BUNCH OF NEGOTIATIONS THAT THEIR INTENTION WAS FOR THIS MONEY TO BE USED TO STABILIZE HEALTH CARE INFRASTRUCTURE, TO IMPROVE LINES OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTERS WHICH WERE THE HUBS, OF COURSE, FOR EACH REGION OF THE STATE IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC WITH SMALLER HOSPITALS AND LOCAL HEALTH BOARDS.

SO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THAT MONEY WILL BE USED FOR THOSE PURPOSES AND IT WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH AN APPROVAL PROCESS WITHIN DOH AND ALSO WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RECOVERY OFFICE BEFORE IT IS USED.

BUT IT IS A HUGE $450 MILLION IS A LOT OF DEBT, AND IT CERTAINLY CAUGHT A LOT OF FOLKS FLAT FOOTED.

I'M GUESSING -- ACTUALLY, I'M NOT GUESSING, I KNOW FOR A FACT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF HOSPITALS THAT WERE MORE THAN A LITTLE UPSET THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GET CUT IN ON SOME OF THAT.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ABOUT THEIR LEVEL OF CONCERN OVER THE SPREAD OF VARIANTS, PARTICULARLY AMONG THE UNVACCINATED, AND IS ANYBODY GETTING VACCINATED NOW DAYS?

>> FOLKS ARE STILL GETTING VACCINATED, BUT CERTAINLY NOT AT THE LEVELS THAT WE SAW IN THE SPRING, AND THAT IS A PROBLEM.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY BRIEFING NOW IS FOCUSED VERY HEAVILY ON THE SPREAD OF THE DELTA VARIANT ESPECIALLY AND WHAT THAT WILL MEAN FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE EITHER BEEN UNABLE OR UNWILLING OR ARE JUST DEAD SET AGAINST GETTING THEIR JAB.

IT CERTAINLY SEEMS FROM MOST OF THE DATA THAT I HAVE SEEN THAT FOLKS WHO ARE VACCINATED ARE FAIRLY WELL PROTECTED AGAINST THESE NEW VARIANTS.

THERE ARE, OF COURSE, SOME BREAKTHROUGH CASES, BUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF BEING HOSPITALIZED OR WORSE IF YOU ARE VACCINATED IS VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY LOW.

AT THE SAME TIME THESE NEW VARIANTS SPREAD FASTER AND TEND TO GET PEOPLE PRETTY SICK.

SO IF YOU ARE NOT VACCINATED AND YOU ARE LISTENING, I WOULD ADVOCATE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA TO GET THAT JAB NOW.

>> YES.

THERE'S ALSO A BILL ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK, I THINK IT IS ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK, REQUIRING INFECTIOUS CONTROL PLANS FROM THESE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> A BILL WAS SENT TO MURPHY OR A BILL WAS INTRODUCED THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO VERIFY INFECTION CONTROL PLANS AT EVERY NURSING HOME AND THOSE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.

THE VERSION THAT ULTIMATELY GOT TO MURPHY'S DESK ONLY MADE THAT REQUIREMENT FOR FACILITIES THAT HAD VENTILATORS, WHICH IS ABOUT TWO DOZEN FACILITIES IN THE STATE.

THE REASON IT LOOKED THAT WAY WAS BECAUSE DOH AT THE TIME SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE BAND WIDTH TO GO OVER INFECTION CONTROL PLANS FROM EVERY NURSING HOME, ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY, ET CETERA.

IT CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE NOW DOH WOULD WANT TO -- THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD WANT TO BE IN ADDITION AS THEY'RE MORE INFORMED ABOUT HOW THE FACILITIES CAN CONTAIN INFECTIONS.

>> THERE IS STILL A DIRECTIVE INCOMING ON THE WHOLE ISSUE OF HOW THE ADMINISTRATION HANDLED THE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, RIGHT?

I MEAN THAT IS COMING?

>> IT HAS TO COME EVENTUALLY.

MURPHY, YOU KNOW, HAS SWORN UP AND DOWN A NUMBER OF TIMES THAT THERE WILL BE, YOU KNOW, A 9/11 STYLE OR SOME SORT OF LOOK BACK AT HOW HIS ADMINISTRATION RESPONDED TO THIS CRISIS.

YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE THAT LONG-TERM CARE WOULD BE FIRST AND FOREMOST THERE.

>> YEAH.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF GREAT REPORTS WRITTEN BY OUTLETS RANGING FROM "POLITICO" TO "SPOTLIGHT" TO "STAR LEDGER" AND "THE RECORD" THAT HAVE REALLY DOVE INTO THIS ISSUE.

BUT UNTIL WE -- YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ALL DONE WITHOUT A VERY, YOU KNOW, STRONG OPEN RECORDS LAW IN PLACE.

>> RIGHT.

>> OPEN RECORD REQUIREMENTS WERE SUSPENDED AND STILL SUSPENDED AS IT RELATES TO COVID.

SO UNTIL FOLKS HAVE KIND OF GREATER INSIGHT INTO A LOT OF THAT STUFF, THERE'S -- YEAH, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT, WE DON'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT MURPHY'S OR THE ADMINISTRATION'S MISSTEPS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS HORRIFIC OUTCOME.

>> YEAH.

I'M SURE NOBODY WHO OWNS A RESTAURANT OR A SMALL RETAIL SHOP WANT TO HEAR ABOUT A RESURGENT COVID.

MANY OF THEM ARE STILL TRYING TO DIG OUT FINANCIALLY FROM 2020.

DAN, YOU HAD A PIECE THIS WEEK ABOUT HOW MORE THAN HALF OF NEW JERSEY BARS AND EATERIES THAT APPLIED FOR FEDERAL HELP DIDN'T GET ANYTHING, LIKE ZERO?

WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?

>> RIGHT.

I THINK THE AMOUNT THAT WAS ALLOCATED, I THINK IT WAS AROUND $28 BILLION OR SO THAT WAS ALLOCATED TO THE WHOLE PROGRAM RUN BY THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION TO HELP RESTAURANTS AND BARS, I THINK THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE NEEDED $72 BILLION TO GIVE EVERYBODY WHO APPLIED FOR A GRANT, TO GIVE EACH OF THEM MONEY.

SO A LOT OF THEM WERE LEFT OUT.

THERE'S THE PPP PROGRAM.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS GOING THROUGH THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, LOTS OF GRANTS AND LOANS, SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT AVENUES TO GET MONEY, BUT THE FACT THAT THIS WAS -- DIDN'T QUITE COME THROUGH FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, I THINK IT SHOWS.

IN GROUPS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH LIKE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAYS THERE'S AN ENORMOUS NEED FOR CAPITAL JUST TO STAY AFLOAT, NEVER MIND EXPANDING BUT JUST TO STAY AFLOAT AND NOT GO OUT OF BUSINESS, NOT LAYOFF ALL OF THE STAFF, NOT HAVE TO MAKE HUGE SALES OF PROPERTY JUST TO NOT GO OUT OF BUSINESS.

>> IS THERE ANY SENSE THAT THE WORKER SHORTAGE HAS EASED?

>> IT HASN'T.

I THINK IT HAS EASED FROM THE NEWS HEADLINES.

IT IS NOT AS NEW NOW.

BUT WHENEVER I TALK TO BUSINESSES THAT IS STILL SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO, THAT THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS BEING PROPOSED TO HELP THAT.

I THINK SOME ARE WORKING WHERE IF YOU ARE A TEENAGER YOU CAN WORK AN EXTRA TEN HOURS, SO THAT'S UP TO 50 HOURS A WEEK.

THERE'S DIFFERENT BACK-TO-WORK BONUSES PROPOSED IN CONGRESS AND LEGISLATIVE TAX CREDITS.

SO IT IS STILL AN ISSUE IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE SHORE.

YOU STILL SEE SIGNS SAYING "BE PATIENT WITH US," AT RESTAURANTS SAYING "BE PATIENT WITH US, WE HAVE A WORKER SHORTAGE, WE CAN'T DO AS BIG A TURN AROUND PUTTING OUT YOUR FOOD" OR WHAT HAVE YOU OR ONE OR TWO PIERS WILL HAVE TO BE CLOSED FOR HALF OF THE DAY BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SPEAKING OF MONEY, COLLEEN, YOU HAD A PIECE THIS WEEK WHERE YOU FOLLOWED THE MONEY IN THE MOST RECENT ELECTION.

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

>> SO IT WAS -- AND THIS IS STILL, YOU KNOW, A WORK IN PROGRESS.

$37.4 MILLION WAS RAISED BY CANDIDATES FOR THE PRIMARY.

NOT EVERYONE FILED THEIR FINAL REPORTS, SO THAT NUMBER IS PROBABLY GOING TO GO UP A LITTLE BIT.

THAT'S A RECORD FOR A PRIMARY IF YOU'RE NOT COUNTING INFLATION.

IF YOU DO COUNT INFLATION, IT RANKS THIRD.

BUT IT IS STILL A LOT OF MONEY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THIS WAS A PRIMARY, WE STILL DON'T HAVE A NUMBER FROM THE STATE, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE MAYBE LESS THAN 25% OF REGISTERED WENT OUT AND VOTED.

IT WAS A VERY LOW TURNOUT RACE AND YET YOU HAD A LOT OF MONEY SPENT.

WE HAD MORE THAN $2 MILLION SPENT BY INDEPENDENT GROUPS, DARK MONEY GROUPS IN JUST A HANDFUL OF RACES, AND THAT'S ANOTHER RECORD IN TERMS OF A PRIMARY.

>> I EXPECT THAT COME THE FALL WE ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE MONEY SPENT.

I MEAN THERE ARE ONLY TWO GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY COME NOVEMBER, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF ATTENTION PAID TO VIRGINIA AND HERE IN NEW JERSEY I WOULD IMAGINE, RIGHT?

>> OH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

AS YOU JUST SAID, WE ARE ONE OF ONLY TWO GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION STATES THIS YEAR.

IN ADDITION, WE HAVE THE WHOLE LEGISLATURE UP, 120 SEATS.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE GREATEST CONCENTRATION OF MONEY SPENT IN OUR SO-CALLED PURPLE DISTRICTS, THE ONES THAT CURRENTLY HAVE SPLIT REPRESENTATION.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE SECOND DOWN IN ATLANTA COUNTY, THE 16th IN SOMERSET COUNTY AREA.

BOTH OF THOSE HAVE REPUBLICAN SENATORS WHO ARE RETIRING.

WE HAVE DEMOCRATS TRYING TO MOVE UP AND YOU HAVE OTHER REPUBLICANS TRYING TO COME IN.

YOU ALSO HAVE THE EIGHTH DOWN IN BURLINGTON COUNTY WHERE YOU'VE GOT THE SENATOR WHO USED TO BE A DEMOCRAT -- EXCUSE ME, USED TO BE A REPUBLICAN, SWITCHED TO DEMOCRATS.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO RETAKE THAT SEAT.

SO CERTAINLY I THINK YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF MONEY SPENT IN THOSE AREAS.

>> THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."

OUR THANKS TO SAM, COLLEEN AND DAN AND TO EDDIE GLAUDE FOR JOINING US EARLIER.

WE ARE PREEMPTED FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS BUT WE'LL RETURN WITH OUR SEASON FINALE THE WEEK AFTER WHEN OUR PANEL WILL PREDICT THE FUTURE.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @DAVIDCRUZ NJ AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE YouTube CHANNEL FOR MORE GREAT CHANNEL INCLUDING "CHAT BOX," NJ BUSINESS BEAT AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FOR THE ENTIRE CREW OVER HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY -- NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.com.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

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