WORKS MAJOR FUNDING FOR CHECKBOX WITH -- A CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ FUNDED BY THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION MAKING SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD PER PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS GIVING SERIOUS POLITICAL PLAYERS AND INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION, AND INSIGHT.

ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.COM.

DAVID: WELCOME TO CHAT BOX.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

GOOD TO BE BACK.

SUMMER IS UNOFFICIALLY HERE AND THERE SURE IS ABOUT TO GET HOT AGAIN.

HIS MEMORIAL DAY -- IT'S MEMORIAL DAY VIOLENCE IN SEASIDE HEIGHTS IS ANY INDICATION.

WE TALKED TO ONE LAWMAKER WHO WANTS TO GET TOUGHER ON TROUBLEMAKERS TO RESTORE ORDER ON THE SHORE.

AND, THE LATEST ON THE CONTINUING CONFRONTATION BETWEEN FEDERAL AUTHORITIES AND POLITICAL LEADERS IN NEW JERSEY, NEWARK, SPECIFICALLY.

YOU KNOW ABOUT THE ARREST OF MAYOR RAS BARAKA AND ASSAULT CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST CONGRESSWOMAN LAMONICA MCIVER OF NEW YORK.

WE WELCOME BACK TO CHAT BOX THE CONGRESSWOMAN HERSELF.

>> I HOPE YOU HAD A GOOD VACATION.

DAVID: I DID AND IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I BET WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 13% PRIMARY LAST YEAR YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING THIS WOULD BE THE JOB, WERE YOU?

REP. MCIVER: ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I CAME TO CONGRESS WITH HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE 10TH.

NOW I AM FIGHTING FOR BASIC RIGHTS AND SERVICES.

IT'S NOT WHAT I IMAGINED, BUT I'M WORKING THROUGH.

DAVID: I HAVE SEEN YOU IN CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS WHERE YOU SERVED AS PRESIDENT.

KEEPING NEWARK CITY COUNCIL CROWDS IN ORDER WITH A CALM, COOL VOICE.

VERY IMPRESSIVE BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN SOME COUNCIL PRESIDENTS GET RUN OVER BY CROWDS.

BUT SOMETHING ON THAT DAY AT DELANEY HALL BROUGHT OUT A DIFFERENT SIDE OF YOU.

WHAT WAS THAT?

REP. MCIVER: IT WAS A VERY INTENSE SITUATION, DAVID.

I CANNOT IMAGINE I WOULD DEAL WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

AND AS A HUMAN BEING.

THE WAY THE WHOLE EVENING UNFOLDED.

AS MENTIONED, MULTIPLE TIMES, WE WERE THERE TO DO OUR JOB.

I WAS THERE WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

CONGRESSWOMAN BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN AND ROBERT MENENDEZ.

HOMELAND SECURITY CREATED THAT SITUATION.

THEY CREATED EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED AND TRANSPIRED OUT THERE.

WE WERE SIMPLY THERE TO DO A OVERSIGHT VISIT.

IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE DONE BEFORE, ALTOGETHER.

IT HAS NEVER BEEN THAT CHAOTIC OR THAT CONFRONTATIONAL.

IT WAS DEFINITELY UNBELIEVABLE AND UNNECESSARY TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT UNFOLD.

DAVID: THAT BROUGHT OUT, WHAT, ANGER?

REP. MCIVER: DEFINITELY.

DAVID: FRUSTRATION?

REP. MCIVER: DEFINITELY FRUSTRATION.

IT WAS A MIXTURE OF EMOTIONS, SCARED, FRIGHTENED, UPSET ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

IT WAS JUST REALLY AND TRULY AN UNBELIEVABLE EPISODE OUT THERE.

ONCE AGAIN, WE WERE JUST THERE TO DO OUR JOBS.

WE DO NOT THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

DEFINITELY, A MIXTURE OF EMOTIONS.

DODAVID: -- DAVID: THERE ARE CAS FROM REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST YOU.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

REP. MCIVER: I THINK IT'S JUST POLITICAL INTIMIDATION.

I THINK THAT'S MAINLY WHAT IT IS, WHAT WE ARE SEEING PLAY OUT FROM CENSORING ME TO KICKING ME, BONNIE, AND DROP OFF OUR COMMITTEES FOR SHOWING UP AT DELANEY HALL TO DO OUR JOBS.

THERE WAS A RESOLUTION.

BASICALLY INTRODUCED BY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES TO HAVE ME EXPELLED FROM CONGRESS.

THESE ARE JUST POLITICAL TACTICS THAT REPUBLICANS LIKE TO USE TO TRY TO SILENCE US OR STOP US FROM DOING OUR JOBS AS DEMOCRATS.

AND AS ELECTED LEADERS.

THAT WON'T HAPPEN FOR ME, DAVID.

I DON'T PLAN TO STOP DOING MY JOB.

THESE THINGS WON'T SCARE ME INTO NOT DOING MY JOB.

I WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE 10TH.

DAVID: DO YOU FALL TARGETED -- FEEL TARGETED?

REP. MCIVER: I DO IN SOME CASES.

I AM NOT THE FIRST TO BE HERE IN THIS SPACE.

SINCE JANUARY 20 WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THIS PLAY OUT UNDERNEATH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

FROM JUDGES.

UNIVERSITIES, SCHOOLS.

I THINK WHEN YOU DON'T ROLL OVER AND DIE FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION OR STOP DOING THE JOB ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE THEY TARGET YOU.

THEY TRY TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF YOU.

TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN THEY WANT YOU TO DO.

THAT WON'T HAPPEN.

IT WON'T HAPPEN TO THIS NORTH GIRL.

I CAME TO CONGRESS.

PEOPLE ELECTED ME TO DO A JOB AND THIS IS NOT MY FIRST RODEO IN POLITICS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, AFTER WORK ON BEHALF OF THE 744,000 PEOPLE I REPRESENT.

ALL OF THESE TACTICS AND INTIMIDATION, ME BEING TARGETED, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HINDER ME FROM SERVING THE PEOPLE OF THE 10TH.

DAVID: ALL THOSE CHARGES PENDING AND WHO KNOWS WHAT WHIM THE PRESIDENT AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE ACTING ON IN A MONTH.

THE LARGER QUESTION, THOUGH, IS, HOW WILL THE FEDERAL -- HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CONDUCTING ITSELF, DEFYING PROTOCOLS FROM SUPPOSEDLY COEQUAL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, IGNORING JUDGES, TRYING TO BYPASS BASIC CIVIL RIGHTS LIKE PRIVACY.

DENYING ILLEGAL SEARCH AND SEIZURE PROTECTIONS.

MORE.

IS THERE ANY DOUBT OF THESE EFFORTS ARE GOING TO INTENSIFY?

REP. MCIVER: NO, I THINK THEY ARE CONSTANTLY RAMPING UP.

I THINK TRUMP HAS LITERALLY WEAPONIZE TO MANY DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING THE DOJ TO HIS LIKING TO GO AFTER PEOPLE HE DISAGREES WITH OR DOES NOT LIKE.

I THINK THAT FROM OUR OWN U.S. ACTING ATTORNEY IN NEW JERSEY, SHE HAS MADE POPULAR COMMENTS ABOUT TURNING NEW JERSEY RED.

WORKING ON BEHALF OF TRUMP, THESE DIFFERENT COMMENTS.

I THINK WE WILL SEE MORE OF THIS.

JUST LIKE WE SAW THE JUDGE CHARGED AND ARRESTED.

ALL THESE OTHER ATTACKS HAPPENING TO MANY ELECTED LEADERS.

AND IN GENERAL INSTITUTIONS AS WELL.

THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.

WE ALL HAVE TO RISE UP AND BE TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT ALLOWING THEM TO INTIMIDATE US FROM DOING THE JOB WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

DOGE DODAVID: -- DAVID: HAVE YON TO ANYBODY FROM JUSTICE?

REP. MCIVER: WITH MY ATTORNEYS WE HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH.

THE LAST CONVERSATION WE HAD WAS THEM CHARGING ME VIA TWITTER AND THEN HAVING TO GO FIND THE CHARGES AND MOVE FORWARD.

WE ARE FOLLOWING THE STEPS.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HAVING TO DEAL WITH ANY KIND OF CRIMINAL CHARGE OR ANYTHING.

SO IT IS A LEARNING CURVE FOR ME AS WELL.

I RELY HEAVILY ON MY ATTORNEYS TO GUIDE ME THROUGH THE PROCESS.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE IN THIS SITUATION.

IT IS A VERY STRESSFUL SITUATION TO BE INVOLVED IN.

I'M A MOM.

I'M A WIFE.

I HAVE A FAMILY.

OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU HEAR A JUDGE TELLING YOU YOU CAN GET UP TO 16 YEARS IN PRISON FOR THIS, IT IS, HONESTLY, UNSETTLING TO HEAR.

BUT, WHEN THE PRODUCT -- WE ARE GOING TO RUN THE PROCESS THROUGH AND MY ATTORNEYS WILL STAY IN CONTACT WORKING THROUGH THAT.

DAVID: ONLY IN NEW JERSEY DO YOU HAVE TO GO TO CONGRESS TO FACE YOUR FIRST CRIMINAL CHARGES.

YOUR PARTY HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BATTLE TRUMP.

WHAT IS THE DEMOCRATIC STRATEGY NOW?

REP. MCIVER: TO MAKE SURE THAT, ONE, WE ARE UNIFIED.

IF THIS CAN HAPPEN TO ME, IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANY MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, IMAGINE HOW THE DEPARTMENTS ARE BEING WEAPONIZED ON OUR CONSTITUENTS.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE CALLED AND COMPLAINED ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE BEEN HANDLED OR TREATED BY THESE DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS.

WHETHER IT IS BY ICE OR HOMELAND SECURITY.

WE ALL NEED TO BE UNIFIED, WHICH WE ARE.

I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING ME THROUGH ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS NATIONALLY.

SO MANY FOLKS HAVE REACHED OUT AND OFFERED SUPPORT AND BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, SINCE THE MATTER BROKE OUT.

OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO PUSH BACK, TO CONTINUE TO DO OUR JOBS, TO CONTINUE TO SHOW UP FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE ELECTED US.

I KNOW THAT IS MY GOAL.

AS ONE DEMOCRAT OUT OF 200 PLUS, THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO CONTINUE TO PLAN ON DOING.

IT DOES NOT STOP THE WORK PEOPLE HAVE ELECTED ME TO DO.

WE ARE STILL HANDLING CASEWORK, STILL SHOWING UP, START ADVOCATING.

NOTHING WILL CHANGE ABOUT THAT, DAVID.

DAVID: NOW YOU HAVE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BUDGET PLAN, HIS BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL.

HOW MUCH OF IT HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

REP. MCIVER: I MEAN, MOST OF IT, NUMBER ONE, MEDICAID IS SUCH A CRUCIAL PART HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE WHO BENEFIT FROM MEDICAID, NEW JERSEY FAMILY CARE HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

TO THINK THAT WE WILL BE KICKING PEOPLE OFF OF THEIR HEALTH CARE.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

THIS BIG, DANGEROUS BILL IS GOING TO HURT PEOPLE.

PEOPLE CAN DIE.

WITHOUT COVERAGE.

WE SEE THE LIMITATIONS TO SNAP BENEFITS.

WE SEE ALL THESE THINGS POURING OUT OF THIS VERY DANGEROUS BILL.

IT WILL BE CRITICAL FOR NEW JERSEY IF THE BILL PASSES.

I HAVE BEEN PRAYING LEFT TO RIGHT THAT THE SENATE STOPS THIS.

DATA THEY DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO ON THEIR SIDE SO THE BILL DOES NOT SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY.

BECAUSE WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS IN NEW JERSEY.

WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE SPEAKING OUT TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS WILL IMPACT THEM.

IT IS REALLY -- IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE WE ARE HERE, IN THE SAME BREATH OF THE GOP.

THEY ARE PRODUCING TAKING PEOPLE OFF THEIR HEALTH CARE, REDUCING SNAP BENEFITS, BUT RAISING THE DEBT CEILING.

GIVING THEIR FRIENDS AND TAX BREAKS.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

MAKE IT MAKE SENSE.

IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO AND WHAT THEY SAY THEY ARE DOING.

BECAUSE WE SEE EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

DAVID: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUING FOUR TOWNS INCLUDING NEWARK FOR SANCTUARY CITY POLICIES.

YOU SAY TO THE CITY OF NEWARK, DON'T CHANGE A THING.

REP. MCIVER: I SAY TO ALL FOUR CITIES, DON'T CHANGE A THING.

THIS IS ONCE AGAIN PART OF THE BULLYING TACTIC TO GO AFTER PEOPLE THAT DON'T BELIEVE IN WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN.

WHO DON'T AGREE WITH THEM, WHO ARE CRITICS OF THEM.

THEY WILL GO AFTER YOU.

THEY HAVE MADE PROMISES TO DO SO.

WE SAW THAT WITH THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR OUT OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

DAVID: DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE FLYING INTO NEWARK AIRPORT WITH SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE THERE?

REP. MCIVER: I DO FEEL COMFORTABLE.

I THINK THE CHANGES WE HAVE BEEN MADE HAVE BEEN NECESSARY.

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE REDUCED THE FIGHTS COMING INTO NEWARK AIRPORT, WHICH WE HAD TO DO.

YOU CAN'T BE FLYING INTO A PLACE OR FLYING OUT IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PERSONNEL.

SO I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM PLAN.

WE HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE FAA ABOUT MAKING SURE THESE SOLUTIONS ARE URGENT AND WE OPERATE WITH URGENCY BECAUSE IT'S URGENT.

DAVID, I AM A TRAIN GIRL.

I CAN HOP ON THE TRAIN.

I LOVE THE RAIN.

I AM USUALLY TAKING THE TRAIN.

BUT I WENT TO NEWPORT THE -- NEWARK THE OTHER DAY AND GOT HERE SAFELY, OBVIOUSLY.

I WILL MANAGE THAT SITUATION TO MAKE SURE WE STAY ON TOP OF THE NECESSARY THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN IN NORTH NEWPORT.

DAVID: I AM CURIOUS ABOUT HOW SOMEBODY WHO HAS -- HOW SOMEBODY WHO HAS GONE FROM WORKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF CONGRESS ON A NATIONAL MAELSTROM, HAVE YOU GOTTEN USED TO THE PACE OF THE JOB YET?

REP. MCIVER: I AM GETTING USED TO IT DAY-TO-DAY.

DO I WANT TO GET USED TO CRAZINESS AND CHAOS?

I DON'T KNOW.

DO YOU WANT TO SIGN UP TO GET USED TO THAT?

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO DO.

COMING FROM THE LOCAL LEVEL TO THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND I HAVE SAID THIS MULTIPLE TIMES, IT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE WORK YOU ARE DOING ON THE LOCAL LEVEL WHERE YOU ARE GETTING THINGS DONE FASTER AND MOVING QUICKER.

WHEN YOU GET TO CONGRESS, THINGS ARE VERY SLOW.

IN THE SPACE WE ARE IN IN CONGRESS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL IT'S LIKE WHEN WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

IT IS UNHINGED.

WE DON'T EVEN HAVE BASIC DECENT GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONALISM HAPPENING NOW AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

DAVID: REPRESENTATIVE, THANK YOU, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

REP. MCIVER: DAVID, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DOWEATHER WAS NOT -- DAVID: EVEN THOUGH WEATHER WAS NOT GREAT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WE SAW BIG CROWDS DOWN THE SHORE ESPECIALLY AT SEASIDE HEIGHTS WITH A BEEFED UP POLICE PRESENCE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE ROWDY AND VIOLENT.

MORE THAN 70 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED OVER THE WEEKEND.

FOUR WERE STABBED.

AND THERE WAS A TEMPORARY SHUTDOWN OF THE BOARDWALK AT SEASIDE HEIGHTS.

WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?

WHAT CAN OFFICIALS DO TO HELP STOP IT?

JOINING US THIS THE ASSEMBLYMEN THAT REPRESENTS SEASIDE HEIGHTS, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WERE YOU IN SEASIDE OVER THE WEEKEND?

WHAT HAPPENED DOWN THERE?

MR. KANITRA: I WAS THERE SUNDAY MORNING -- SUNDAY MORNING AND I SAW A GREAT WEATHER, BUSINESS IS MAKING MONEY, AND FAMILIES ENJOYING THEMSELVES.

BUT CLEARLY AS THE DAYS GO ON, WHEN YOU GET EMBOLDENED JUVENILES THAT WANT TO CREATE HAVOC, ISOLATED INCIDENTS PUT A STAIN ON TOURISM IN NEW JERSEY.

DAVID: ROWDY KIDS IN SHORT TOWNS IS NOT A NEW PHENOMENON.

IS THERE SOMETHING DIFFERENT HAPPENING NOWADAYS?

ASSEMBLY KANITRA: I THINK IT IS GETTING WORSE EVERY YEAR.

I WAS THE MAYOR OF POINT PLEASANT BEACH AND CITY COUNCILMAN OF POINT PLEASANT BEACH AND I SAW THIS FROM MY EARLIEST DAYS IN POLITICS.

KIDS ARE BEHAVING DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY DID WHEN YOU AND I WERE YOUNGER.

THEIR RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY IS WANING.

SO INCREDIBLY MUCH.

I THINK A LOT OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE WHY.

WHY IS THAT HAPPENING EVERY YEAR?

WHY DO THEY SEE -- FEEL EMBOLDENED TO TALK BACK TO POLICE OFFICERS?

WHY DON'T THEY HAVE A FEAR OF REPERCUSSIONS BUILT INTO THEM ANYMORE?

WHY DO THEY FEEL EMBOLDENED TO PROMOTE THESE PARTIES, MAKE THESE FLYERS, AND CAUSE HAVOC IN PUBLIC AREAS?

THIS IS NOT HAPPENING IN BARS AND CLUBS THE WAY THAT TROUBLE USED TO HAPPEN.

DAVID: DO WE KNOW THESE WERE POP UP EVENTS?

I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM.

DO WE KNOW THAT THE EVENTS THIS WEEKEND WERE RELATED TO POP UP PARTIES OR ANYTHING?

ASSEMBLYMAN KANITRA: IT DEPENDS ON YOUR DEFINITION OF POP UP.

THESE THINGS I'LL START GOING VIRAL VERY QUICKLY.

SOMETIMES IT STARTS WITH ONE KID WHO FASHIONS HIMSELF AS A "PROMOTER."

AND MAKES A FLYER ON CANVA.

WHEN I WAS MAYOR OF POINT PLEASANT BEACH WE WOULD GET FIVE ALL THE TIME ON INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, AND FACEBOOK.

IT IS CRAZY HOW EMBOLDENED THESE KIDS ARE.

I SAW ONE FLYER WE HAD FACING A POP UP ALREADY IN POINT PLEASANT BEACH AND IT SAID BRING YOUR OWN WEED, BRING YOUR OWN BOOZE AND PUBLIC BOXING MATCHES.

THINK ABOUT THE LACK OF FEAR OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR THAT.

EVEN WHEN THERE IS NOT NECESSARILY A FLYER, ONCE KIDS HAVE ALL STARTED TO GO TO A CERTAIN AREA ITS TEAM ROLES THEY START POSTING LIVES, INSTAGRAM LIVES, FACEBOOK LIVES, TIKTOK SAID EVERYBODY ELSE SEES THAT IS WHERE THE PARTY IS.

WE HAD AN INCIDENT IN WOODBRIDGE THIS WEEKEND AND ONE IN SEASIDE HEIGHTS AND OTHER PLACES UP AND DOWN THE NEW JERSEY SHORELINE LIKE POINT PLEASANT BEACH DID NOT HAVE INCIDENTS BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL CONGREGATED IN ONE SPOT.

IT CONVINCES -- CONDENSES THE PROBLEM AND RESPONSE NEEDED BECAUSE AT SEASIDE HAS TO CALL IN NEIGHBORING TOWNS.

THEY NEED TO BRING IN COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND STATE RESOURCES AND IT CREATES A TOTAL MESS.

DAVID: THE POPULATION OF SEASIDE HEIGHTS IT'S ABOUT 2500 PEOPLE.

WHAT IS THE POPULATION OF THE BOARDWALK ON A SUMMER WEEKEND?

YOU HAVE DEMONIZED LAW ENFORCEMENT.

FOR SO LONG.

THE APPLICATIONS ARE JUST GOING THROUGH THE FLOOR.

YOU USED TO HAVE TO FIGHT PEOPLE AWAY FROM TRYING TO GET A JOB AS A POLICE OFFICER AND ESPECIALLY AS A SEASONABLE POLICE -- SEASONAL POLICE OFFICER LIKE IN POINT PLEASANT BEACH WHERE WE WOULD HAVE HAD 1000 APPLICATIONS OVER A DECADE AGO BUT NOW WE ARE LUCKY TO GET BARELY ENOUGH APPLICATIONS TO MEET THE DEMAND.

THAT COULD BE 80 OFFICERS, EXTRA NEEDED IN THE SUMMERTIME.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT WITH THE BUDGET ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE?

IT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF.

IT'S COSTING THE TAXPAYERS A TON OF MONEY IN THESE OTHER ADDITIONAL TOWNS WITH RESOURCES ALLOCATED TO RESPOND TO THE INCIDENTS.

DAVID: THE IMAGES PEOPLE GET OUR OF ROWDY TEENAGERS BUT TWO THIRDS OF THE ARRESTS THIS WEEK AND FOR ADULTS.

ARE THE BARS HELPING THE PROBLEM OR MAKING IT WORSE?

IS IT THE CLUBS ARE JUST OPEN DRINKING?

ASSEMBLYMAN KANITRA: I WILL TAKE IT IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

I THINK THE REASON THE NUMBERS WEREN'T HIGHER FOR JUVENILES IS BECAUSE OF OUR LAWS THAT HAMSTRING COUGHS FROM BEING ABLE TO JUMP IN AND ACTUALLY ENGAGE WITH AND ARREST JUVENILES.

SO, YOU ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY SEEING THAT BEING ARRESTED BECAUSE REALLY, THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN BE ARRESTED.

DAVID: THAT TAKES US TO THIS BILL THAT THE GOVERNOR CONDITIONALLY VETOED, THE PUBLIC BRAWL BILL.

HE SAYS IT IS A LITTLE BROADER AND COULD GIVE THE POLICE THE ABILITY TO ARREST DEMONSTRATORS IF THEY WANTED TO BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO PUT A CROWD TOGETHER.

THEN, SOMETHING ABOUT MASKS?

ASSEMBLYMAN KANITRA: THE CONDITIONAL VETO IS SYMBOLIC OF EXACTLY WHAT GOT US HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WE GOT HERE AND IT STARTED ALL THE WAY BACK WITH ERODING LAW ENFORCEMENT IN GENERAL.

WHEN WE GOT TO ASSEMBLY BILL 5610 BACK IN THE DAY, DEALING WITH HOW DO WE ATTACK ALCOHOL AND PUBLIC WEED AND NUISANCES ON THE BOARDWALK?

THEY WERE SO AFRAID OF OFFENDING ANYBODY.

AND BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE OVERLY POLITICALLY CORRECT AND PANDER TO EVERYBODY.

THAT IS WHERE WE REALLY STARTED OFFICIALLY HANDCUFFING THE COPS.

THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GO UP TO THE JUVENILES.

ALL I AM SAYING, DAVID, IS THAT THIS NEW LINE ITEM VETO WHERE THE GOVERNMENT WAS WORRIED ABOUT INFRINGING ON PEOPLE'S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND FREE SPEECH AND EVERYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES IS SO VAGUE.

THE TERM IS EXPRESSIVE FACE COVERINGS.

WHAT IS AN EXPRESSIVE FACE COVERING?

WHY ARE WE SO WORRIED ABOUT THAT THAT WE ARE WILLING TO PUT NON-LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS IN FRONT OF LAW-ABIDING ONES?

DAVID: IN THE BILL, WHAT WAS THE GOOD STUFF IN THERE THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED THE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO YOU?

ASSEMBLYMAN KANITRA: FOUR OR MORE PEOPLE CREATING A PUBLIC DISTURBANCE IS NOW CONSIDERED A PUBLIC BRAWL.

THAT'S GREAT.

THAT HAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

THAT IS RARE IN TRENTON, AS YOU KNOW.

MORE IMPORTANTLY IT TAKES WHAT IS CURRENTLY A DISORDERLY PERSONS OFFENSE, WHICH MOST LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE JUST BARELY HANDING OUT TICKETS FOR.

THEY AREN'T EVEN REALLY DETAINING ANYBODY ON THAT.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS QUESTIONABLE GUIDANCE, ESPECIALLY AS IT PERTAINS TO JUVENILES.

THIS WOULD TAKE IT FROM A DISORDERLY PERSONS OFFENSE AND MAKE IT A CLASS FOUR CRIME AND TO GIVE POLICE MORE OPPORTUNITY AND TOOLS AT THEIR DISPOSAL TO DETAIN PEOPLE, ARREST PEOPLE, POSSIBLY HAVE THEM FACING UP TO 18 MONTHS IN JAIL DEPENDING ON HOW SEVERE THE PUBLIC BRAWL AND DISTURBANCES AND HAVE THEM FACE A SEVERE FINANCIAL REPERCUSSIONS TOO.

IT WAS REALLY A GOOD BILL.

IT IS WHY I AM A COSPONSOR OF IT AND WHY I JUMPED ON WITH THE DEMOCRATS.

IT IS JUST A SHAME THAT THE GOVERNOR LINE ITEM VETOED IT.

THAT MEANT IT WAS NOT IN PLACE FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AND NOW WE HAVE GOT TO GET IT PASSED THROUGH.

WE ALREADY PASSED THE SECOND VERSION THROUGH THE ASSEMBLY THIS WEEK.

DAVID: I THINK JUNE 2 IS THE NEXT VOTE.

I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.

WHAT ABOUT THE ADULTS?

ADULT KNUCKLEHEADS ARE OFTEN MUCH MORE DANGEROUS THAN JUVENILE KNUCKLEHEADS.

IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, THE BARS, THE CLUBS , THAT MIGHT BE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS KIND OF JERSEY SHORE CULTURE?

ASSEMBLYMAN KANITRA: I GENERALLY DON'T BELIEVE -- GENUINELY DON'T BELIEVE THE ADULT ASPECT OF THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE 70'S OR 80'S.

BACK IN THE DAY, WHEN I WAS RUNNING AROUND I HEARD WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HELLS ANGELS RUNNING AROUND THE JERSEY BEACH CREATING HAVOC.

ADULTS, ALWAYS, YOU MIX ALCOHOL AND THAT SITUATION AND THERE WILL BE ISOLATED INCIDENTS.

THAT WOULD HAVE AN AFTER HOURS, JUNIOR EARLY LATE AT NIGHT -- GENERALLY LATE AT NIGHT AND IN BARS AND CLUBS.

THESE PROBLEMS ARE HAVING IN PARKING LOTS, MALLS, BEACHES, AND BOARDWALKS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

DAVID: WHAT NOW?

WILL WE SEE AN INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE THE NEXT FEW WEEKENDS UNTIL THINGS CHILL OUT A LITTLE BIT?

I HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

ASSEMBLYMAN KANITRA: THEY ARE ALREADY CRACKING DOWN WITH ALL THE ARRESTS USING EVERY TOOL AT THEIR DISPOSAL.

WE ARE SEEING IT UP AND DOWN THE JERSEY SHORE.

THE TOLERANCE FOR THIS HAS WANED.

IF YOU'RE COMING TO THE JERSEY SHORE TO CREATE HAVOC AND RUIN THE EXPERIENCE FOR FARA -- FOR FAMILIES ALL OVER THE TRI-STATE AREA YOU SHOULD EXPECT A TICKET, AT THE MINIMUM.

DAVID: GOOD LUCK AND STAY SAFE DOWN THERE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

THAT IS CHATBO THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU ALSO TO CONGRESSWOMAN LAMANNA, DIVER FOR JOINING US.

WE ARE ON BLUESKY.

FOLLOW US THERE AT DAVIDCRUZNJ.

AND YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE TO THE NJ SPOTLIGHTNEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR A CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PRESENTED BY MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD, AND PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR A CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ A POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS.

INSIDER NJ IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS POLITICAL PLAYERS AND INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSIONS, AND INSIGHT.

ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.COM.