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

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

PLENTY IF IT HAPPENS TO BE MENENDEZ, ESPECIALLY IN HUDSON COUNTY.

WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH THE NEW BOSS OF THE SIERRA CLUB IN A FEW MINUTES, BUT WE START TODAY WITH THE SON OF A PROMINENT MEMBER OF THE U.S. SENATE WHO FINDS HIMSELF GEARING UP FOR WHAT MANY ASSUME WILL BE AN EASY PATH TO THE HOUSE SEAT IN THE EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

HE'S AN ATTORNEY AND A COMMISSIONER OF THE PORT AUTHORITY BOARD.

WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX," ROB MENENDEZ.

>> DAVID, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> ROB, HUH?

YOU DON'T THINK ANYONE'S GOING TO NOTICE?

>> NOTICE WHAT?

>> THE NAME.

ROB MENENDEZ.

ROBERT MENENDEZ.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE NAME I WAS GIVEN BY BOTH MY MOTHER AND MY FATHER.

AND YOU KNOW, LISTEN, I'M EXCITED TO BE ON THE SHOW TODAY.

I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS I HAVE HAD WITH FOLKS IN THE EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY.

>> SO, YOU KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING, RIGHT?

SENATOR'S SON, INSIDER, ENDORSED BY THE GOVERNOR JUST DAYS AFTER ANNOUNCING.

THEY'RE SAYING THAT THE PATH HAS -- TO THIS SEAT HAS BEEN CLEARED FOR YOU.

ARE PEOPLE WRONG?

>> LISTEN, I'M EXCITED THAT WE HAVE A PRIMARY IN JUNE.

I WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND I THINK ABOUT BRINGING OUR MESSAGE TO THE VOTERS IN THE EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

MAKING THEM EXCITED ABOUT THE VISION THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE NOT JUST THIS DISTRICT BUT THE STATE AND COUNTRY FORWARD, SO I'M WORKING EVERY DAY.

THE FOLKS WHO ARE -- THE EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT GET THAT CHOICE IN JUNE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE DIALOGUE.

>> YOU SAY THAT YOU COULD FACE A PRIMARY, OBVIOUSLY, BUT YOU GOT THE LINE PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEED, WHICH A LOT OF ANALYSTS ASSUME GIVES YOU ABOUT 35% OF THE VOTE TO START WITH.

IS THE LINE SYSTEM FAIR, DO YOU THINK?

>> LISTEN, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, IT'S ABOUT THE PRIMARY IN JUNE.

THERE'S OTHER ANNOUNCED CANDIDATES FOR THE PRIMARY.

I KNOW HOW I FEEL, DAVID.

THIS IS A MOMENT TO BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED.

TO RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY, WHAT CAN I DO TO BENEFIT THE PEOPLE WHO CALL THIS DISTRICT HOME?

SO, THOSE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS I'M HAVING, CONTINUING TO ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME IN JUNE.

>> BUT ON THE LINE ITSELF, THE CONCEPT OF THE PARTY DETERMINING BALLOT POSITIONING, I'M SURE YOU KNOW THERE'S A COURT CASE MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURTS RIGHT NOW.

DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION ON THAT SYSTEM?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM.

IT'S ACTUALLY BEING HANDLED BY CLASSMATES OF MINE FROM RUTGERS LAW, WHERE I GRADUATED IN 2011, BUT YOU KNOW, LISTEN, I'M FOCUSED ON JUNE.

I'M FOCUSED ON GIVING PEOPLE A REASON TO VOTE FOR ME.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY AND IT'S A UNIQUE MOMENT IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY, AND THAT'S WHERE MY FOCUS IS.

>> SO, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING YOUR MESSAGE OUT THERE.

WHAT'S THE MESSAGE?

WHAT'S AT THE CORE OF ROB MENENDEZ?

WHY IS HE RUNNING?

>> SO, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

ONE IS, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE MOMENT THAT PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES IN TODAY.

THE LAST TWO YEARS, WITH THIS PANDEMIC, HAVE REALLY SHINED A LIGHT ON A LOT OF STRUCTURAL ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR STATE.

I THINK ISSUES FROM OUR WORKFORCE AND FOLKS THAT HAVE THE STRESS OF BOTH CHILD CARE, FOLKS THAT ALSO HAVE ELDER CARE, THE ACCESS TO EDUCATION, ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, I THINK RETHINKING OUR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I'M SOMEONE THAT HAS THIS PUBLIC SERVICE STREAK IN ME, NOT JUST FROM MY FATHER BUT FROM MY MOTHER, WHO WORKED IN CITY SCHOOL SYSTEMS HER ENTIRE CAREER.

I'M SHAPED BY MY GRANDMOTHERS, ONE OF WHOM EMIGRATED FROM CUBA AND PLANTED OUR FAMILY'S ROOTS HERE IN HUDSON COUNTY, UNION CITY, WHERE MY SISTER AND I GREW UP.

EVERY DAY, I WAKE UP TO MY 21-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER AND I THINK ABOUT HER FUTURE.

I THINK ABOUT MY NIECES' FUTURES.

I THINK ABOUT MY NEIGHBOR'S CHILDREN'S FUTURES AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW SO I'M RAISING MY HAND.

I WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

>> SO, WHAT KIND OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WOULD THAT TRANSLATE INTO FOR YOU?

IS THERE SOMETHING OUT THERE, SOME PLAN OUT THERE THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT OR ARE THERE PLANS THAT YOU WOULD PUT FORWARD?

>> SO, YEAH, LISTEN, IN TERMS OF MOVING OUT OF THIS EXACT MOMENT THAT WE'RE IN NOW, I THINK BUILD BACK BETTER LAYS OUT A WONDERFUL FOUNDATION FOR ACHIEVING A LOT OF THE STRUCTURAL CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO SEE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

FOR ME, AS A PARENT OF A YOUNG CHILD, I THINK ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

AS AN ELEMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE, GIVING KIDS THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITIES EARLY ON.

THAT'S PART OF BUILD BACK BETTER.

CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THINKING ABOUT LIVABLE COMMUNITIES, THAT'S PART OF BUILD BACK BETTER.

THERE'S SO MANY GREAT COMPONENTS OF BUILD BACK BETTER.

I WISH IT WAS MAKING MORE PROGRESS IN THE SENATE, BUT YOU KNOW, I'M PROUD TO SEE THAT PASS THE HOUSE.

I THINK DEMOCRATS HAVE CLEARLY LAID OUT THEIR VISION ON HOW WE MOVE THIS COUNTRY FORWARD AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE PART OF THAT EFFORT TO CREATE THESE SOLUTIONS FOR THE EVERYDAY VOTER IN HUDSON COUNTY AND THE EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, GIVE THEM THOSE SOLUTIONS TO A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS THEY'RE SEEING IN THEIR LIVES.

>> SO, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EIGHTH.

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THIS DISTRICT?

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING OR ISSUES FACING RESIDENTS IN THE EIGHTH?

>> SO, I LIKE TO THINK I KNOW IT WELL.

I GREW UP ON 15th STREET.

I WENT TO SCHOOLS IN UNION CITY.

HOBOKEN.

AND I LIVE HERE NOW IN JERSEY CITY WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHERE MY GRANDPARENTS SET THEIR ROOTS.

MY MOTHER WAS BORN IN JERSEY CITY AND MOVED TO UNION CITY WHERE HER AND MY DAD WENT TO DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS, UNION HILL AND EMERSON, AND ONE OF THE REASONS I RAISED MY HAND FOR THIS MOMENT IS BECAUSE I FUNDAMENTALLY BELIEVE IN THE EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

I BELIEVE IT IS THE BEST OF WHAT WE ARE AS A STATE, THE BEST OF WHAT WE ARE AS A COUNTRY.

THIS IS A PLACE WHERE 44% OF THE FOLKS THAT CALL THIS PLACE HOME WERE BORN ABROAD.

ONE IN EVERY FOUR INDIVIDUALS IN THE CURRENT CONSTRUCT OF THE EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS A NONCITIZEN.

SO, ASIDE FROM THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH RIGHT NOW THAT ARE IN FRONT OF US, THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE TORCH THAT I WANT TO PICK UP AND FINALLY GET TO THE FINISH LINE IS IMMIGRATION.

WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION PLAN THAT PROVIDES A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP.

IT IS FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT FOR THIS DISTRICT, FOR OUR STATE, FOR OUR COUNTRY.

AND LISTEN, IN TERMS OF WHAT I ENVISION, ONE THING THAT I HAVE SEEN IN MY EXPERIENCE AND I HAVE SEEN HERE IN THE EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHEN IT WAS 13th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BUT SEE IT HERE NOW THE 8th, IS THE VALUE THAT CONSTITUENT SERVICES CAN HAVE.

WHEN YOU'RE AT THE DINNER TABLE OR YOU'RE AT A DINER AND SOMEONE COMES UP TO YOU AND SAY, A FAMILY MEMBER IS DEALING WITH THIS IMMIGRATION ISSUE.

THEIR VISA EXPIRED, THEY'RE FACING DEPORTATION, THEY NEED SOMEONE THAT CAN BE AN ADVOCATE FOR THEM AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS POSITION IS GIVING THEM THAT ACCESS TO FEDERAL RESOURCES, BEING THE TROOPS ON THE GROUND THAT CAN CONNECT WITH VOTERS, CAN CONNECT WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES, AND PROVIDE THEM WITH HIGH-LEVEL SERVICE THAT ENSURES THAT THEIR ISSUE IS DEALT WITH AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL AND GIVEN THE ATTENTION IT NEEDS.

SO, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I SEE HERE.

LIKE I SAID, IT'S -- THERE'S NO OTHER PLACE THAT I HAVE EVER WANTED TO CALL HOME.

THIS IS IT.

AND I WOULD LOVE TO FIGHT FOR THIS PLACE.

>> SO, YOU SAY YOU GREW UP IN THE DISTRICT.

WHO'S IN THE ROB MENENDEZ INNER CIRCLE?

ARE THERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO OR LOOKING FORWARD TO REACHING OUT TO, TO FORM THE COALITION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S -- I'M A BIG TENT TYPE OF PERSON.

I THINK THAT'S SORT OF ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT THE EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK TIN TERMS OF EFFICIENCY, MEETING WITH ELECTED LEADERS, MAYORS, COUNCIL PEOPLE, STATE SENATORS, STATE ASSEMBLY PEOPLE, UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES THAT THEY'RE SEEING, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE MOST CONNECTIVITY TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

THEY'RE THE FRONT LINE OFFICIALS.

SO, WORKING WITH THEM, WORKING WITH SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS.

I HAD A CALL THE OTHER WEEK WITH FOLKS WHO WORK OUT OF ELIZABETH WHO IN THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE SEEN AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR THEIR SERVICES.

A 35% INCREASE FROM 2019 TO TODAY IN REQUESTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

SO, IT'S EVERYONE.

I'VE MET WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS.

MY WIFE REMINDS ME ALL THE TIME, I HAVE TWO EARS AND ONE MOUTH, SO I CAN DO A LOT MORE LISTENING THAN I CAN DO TALKING.

THAT'S WHAT I PLAN TO DO.

>> SO, AT THE PORT AUTHORITY, HOW DID YOU END UP THERE?

WHY DID YOU END UP THERE?

AND WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO DO THERE?

>> SO, THE PORT AUTHORITY IS THE HONOR OF A LIFETIME TO BE ABLE TO SERVE AS A COMMISSIONER.

I HAD THE EXTREME HONOR OF BEING APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR MURPHY, WAS UNANIMOUSLY CONFIRMED BY THE STATE SENATE, AND THE ONE -- THERE'S A FEW THINGS I WANT TO STRESS ABOUT THE PORT AUTHORITY.

ONE IS THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF THERE.

THEY ARE EXCEPTIONAL.

THESE PEOPLE ARE DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS.

THEY ARE WORKING TOWARDS CREATING A TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WORKS FOR THE ENTIRE REGION, AND THEY HAVE HAD AN EXTREME CHALLENGE THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THE PORT AUTHORITY'S MOTTO IS, KEEP THE REGION MOVING.

THAT'S BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, BUT THEY HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB.

TWO IS, I DON'T WANT TO OVERSTATE, YOU KNOW, IN MY ROLE AS A COMMISSIONER, I THINK THE PORT AUTHORITY IS DOING INCREDIBLE THINGS.

IT'S SHOWING THAT WE CAN STILL DO BIG THINGS IN 2022.

THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE THREE AIRPORTS, THERE'S PLANS FOR THE BUS TERMINAL, I'M PROUD OF ALL OF THOSE THINGS, BUT I ALSO WANT TO FRAME IT CORRECTLY AND GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT'S DUE, AND THAT'S TO THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF.

SO, YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW THAT I WILL GO TO ANY MOUNTAINTOP AND SING THEIR PRAISES BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT DESERVE IT.

AND I THINK THEY ARE DOING INCREDIBLE WORK, AND I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

>> SO, YOUR FATHER, NEW JERSEY U.S.

SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ, YOU KNOW, IN HUDSON COUNTY, HE'S A LEGENDARY FIGURE.

IN NEW JERSEY, HE'S BEEN MORE OF A CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE.

BUT HE HAS A LONGSTANDING REPUTATION OF BOTH AS A CONGRESSMAN AND A U.S.

SENATOR ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, NOT TO MENTION, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING GOING BACK TO BEING MAYOR OF UNION CITY AND BEYOND.

BUT WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM HIM, AND WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ?

>> OF COURSE.

SO, I'VE SEEN HIS CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE UP CLOSE.

AND I KNOW HOW HARD HE WORKS.

HOW MUCH HE CARES.

AND I THINK SORT OF IN MY VIEW, WHEN IT COMES TO BEING A GREAT REPRESENTATIVE, IT'S THAT LEVEL OF EMPATHY.

IT'S CARING.

IT'S WANTING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THAT DIFFERENCE FOR HIM, THAT SPARK STARTED WHEN HE WAS 18 YEARS OLD AND WORKED IN UNION CITY WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THEN TO THE POINT WHERE HE IS IN HIS CAREER.

YOU KNOW, AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE BEEN SO CLOSE TO THOSE EXPERIENCES AND TO SEE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

FOR ME, PERSONALLY, THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE IGNITED SOMETHING INSIDE OF ME WHERE I COULDN'T PASSIVELY BE INVOLVED ANYMORE.

WHERE I FELT THIS STRONG DESIRE TO BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED, NOT JUST FOR ME, NOT JUST FOR MY FAMILY, EVEN THOUGH I CONSTANTLY THINK ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY LOOKS LIKE WHEN I LOOK AT MY DAUGHTER, BUT ALSO FOR ALL FOLKS WHO HAVE SEEN SO MUCH PROGRESS.

I THINK AS A GENERATION, WE HAVE TO REAFFIRM THAT PROGRESS.

WE HAVE TO SAY, WE BELIEVE IN THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE MADE, BUT WE STILL HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO.

SO, I FEEL LIKE MY OBLIGATION IS TO PICK UP THE TORCH AND CONTINUE IT FORWARD ON SO MANY FRONTS, BUT THAT'S THE WORK I'M EXCITED TO DO.

THAT'S WHY I'M PURSUING THIS OPPORTUNITY.

>> SO, YOU TALK ABOUT THIS BEING A DEFINING MOMENT IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY.

ARE YOU FUNDAMENTALLY OPTIMISTIC OR CONCERNED FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY?

>> SO, DAVID, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

ME, PERSONALLY, I'M ETERNALLY OPTIMISTIC.

I MENTIONED EARLIER I BELIEVE IN THE PEOPLE OF THE EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

YOU KNOW, MY MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER, ONE TIME, WE WERE DRIVING AROUND UNION CITY, AND HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES WE WERE EXPERIENCING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR STATE, AND I REMEMBER SHE SAID TO ME, AS I PARKED THE CAR, SHE PUT HER HAND ON TOP OF MINE.

SHE SAID, I BELIEVE IN THE GOODNESS OF EVERY PERSON.

THAT GOODNESS EXISTS INSIDE EACH PERSON.

THAT'S HOW I WAS RAISED.

I BELIEVE IN THAT GOODNESS.

I BELIEVE THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE THE STARTING POINT FOR HOW WE BUILD FORWARD.

BUT WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC.

THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE.

THE FOUR YEARS OF THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY WERE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE.

ESPECIALLY PEOPLE THAT CALL THIS DISTRICT HOME.

SO, WE HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE STRUGGLES PEOPLE ARE FACING, BUT ONE OF THE REASONS I WANT TO RAISE MY HAND IN THIS MOMENT IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN HOW GOOD WE CAN BE.

I BELIEVE THIS EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS THE PATHWAY FORWARD.

THE ROOTS WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO GROW HERE, THE INCLUSIVE NATURE OF THIS COMMUNITY, THIS IS WHAT WE CAN BE AS A COUNTRY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ROB MENENDEZ, PORT AUTHORITY COMMISSIONER, CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE, THANKS, MAN, GOOD TO MEET YOU.

>> HEY, PLEASURE'S ALL MINE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME.

>> THE NEW JERSEY CHAPTER OF THE SIERRA CLUB HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF ALMOST EVERY ENVIRONMENTAL BATTLE IN NEW JERSEY, AND THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING BECAUSE THE GARDEN STATE CAN SOMETIMES BE NOT SO GARDEN-LIKE.

FOR OVER TWO DECADES, JEFF TITTLE RAN THE ORGANIZATION, AND LEFT A BIG VOID WHEN HE RETIRED LAST YEAR.

BUT THERE'S A NEW BOSS AT THE SIERRA CLUB, AND SHE JOINS US NOW.

WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX," ANGELIQUE RAMOS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE MENTIONED JEFF TITTLE.

BIG SHOES TO FILL, NO DOUBT.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT WHAT LED YOU HERE.

YOU WORKED FOR THE STATE FOR A BIT, YEAH?

>> YES.

PRIOR TO JOINING THE SIERRA CLUB, NEW JERSEY CHAPTER, I WORKED FOR THE NEW JERSEY DP FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS DOING ALL THINGS AIR QUALITY, TOXICS, AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

I DO -- I'M -- I DO TALK TO JEFF.

JEFF IS PRETTY MUCH INVOLVED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY, SO HE CONTINUES TO WORK, AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HIM.

SO I'M EXCITED.

>> WE COULDN'T GET RID OF HIM IF WE TRIED.

>> NO, BUT THAT'S A GOOD THING.

>> SO MANY CHALLENGES HERE IN THIS STATE.

WE HAVE SUCH NATURAL BEAUTY.

WE GO FROM THE UPPER ELEVATIONS OF HIGH POINT STATE PARK TO THE WATER'S EDGE DOWN THE SHORE.

RURAL, SUBURBAN, URBAN, EACH PRESENTS THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES, NO?

>> YES, THAT IS VERY MUCH CORRECT.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO DEVELOPMENT IN OUR PROTECTED AREAS, SO DEFINITELY ALL TYPES OF CHALLENGES.

>> SO, WHAT'S THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE FACING THE STATE RIGHT NOW?

IS THERE JUST ONE?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S JUST ONE, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS DEFINITELY CLIMATE CHANGE.

CLIMATE CHANGE HAS -- IT'S REALLY COMPLICATED ISSUE, RIGHT?

IT INVOLVES A LOT OF THINGS.

IT'S INTERTWINED WITH DIFFERENT ISSUES, SO I GUESS WE CAN PUT IT AS NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE IT KIND OF INVOLVES A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES.

>> IT'S REALLY KIND OF ENVIRONMENTALLY THE NUMBER ONE WORLD ISSUE, RIGHT?

>> YES, EXACTLY.

THE NUMBER ONE -- EXACTLY.

WE'RE IN A CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND IT'S NOT JUST NEW JERSEY.

IT'S THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.

NEW JERSEY IS VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, BECAUSE WE HAVE A PRETTY BIG SHORELINE, RIGHT?

AND WE'RE ALREADY EXPERIENCING SEA LEVEL RISE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE EXPERIENCING SO MANY STORMS, RIGHT, THAT REALLY, REALLY PUT US ON EDGE WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE, THE TWO STORMS WE HAD THIS PAST YEAR, IDA AND HENRI, REALLY, I THINK, BROUGHT IT HOME TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW, YOU KNOW?

THESE TWO STORMS FOLLOWED EACH OTHER BY JUST A FEW WEEKS.

ARE PEOPLE -- I THINK PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE MESSAGE, BUT DO YOU SEE PEOPLE TAKING INDIVIDUAL ACTION TO DO EVEN THEIR OWN LITTLE BIT TO SLOW AND STOP CLIMATE CHANGE?

IS THAT THE BARRIER THERE?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, THESE TWO PAST STORMS, IT'S NOT -- I DON'T THINK THEY WERE A WARNING.

I THINK IT WAS MORE OF, LIKE, ACT NOW, BUT I THINK INDIVIDUALS HAVE TAKEN ACTION FOR A VERY LONG TIME IN VERY SMALL THINGS.

YOU CANNOT DO SO MUCH, AS JUST AN INDIVIDUAL, BUT I THINK MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING ORGANIZED TO DEMAND LEGISLATIVE AND GOVERNMENT ACTION WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST SO MUCH WHAT YOU CAN DO AS AN INDIVIDUAL BUT MORE AS YOU CAN DO AS A GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, ENTITY.

SO, I SEE THAT MORE AND MORE HAPPENING.

PEOPLE DEMANDING ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE BECAUSE IT IS HITTING SO CLOSE TO HOME.

DEFINITELY.

>> AND IN NEW JERSEY, OUR WATER IS IN PERIL.

I MEAN, WE'VE GOT THAT, I DON'T KNOW, 500 MILES OF SHORELINE OR WHATEVER IT IS, AND THEN LAKES AND STREAMS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

OUR WATER'S ENDANGERED, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH.

WELL, I MEAN, OUR DRINKING WATER IS IN DANGER FOR VARIOUS REASONS, CONTAMINATION OF DIFFERENT TOXICS, AND OUR VERY OLD INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL, FOR DRINKING WATER.

BUT IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, POLLUTION, YES, OUR WATER IS IN DANGER BECAUSE OF PLASTICS.

THERE'S JUST SO MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES, BUT THEN OUR SHORELINE COMMUNITIES ARE DEFINITELY IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THE THREATS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEA LEVEL RISE.

>> SO, THE SIERRA CLUB HAS BEEN IN THE FACE OF GOVERNORS FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, PUSHING THE ENVIRONMENT AGENDA.

WE HAVE A GOVERNOR NOW WHO LIKES TO SAY THAT HE'S A FRIEND OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

HOW HAS HE DONE, DO YOU THINK?

CAN YOU GIVE HIM A GRADE?

>> YOU'RE PUTTING ME IN A TOUGH SPOT, BUT SURE.

>> WELCOME TO THE SIERRA CLUB SEAT, MY FRIEND.

>> YES, YES.

YES.

SO, GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS DONE A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS.

GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS CLIMATE CHANGE AT THE FOREFRONT OF HIS ADMINISTRATION.

HE HAS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AT THE FOREFRONT OF HIS ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS DEVELOPING OFFSHORE WIND, WHICH IS ALL INCREDIBLE THINGS, INCREDIBLE, POSITIVE THINGS.

HOWEVER, THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCONNECT WITH HIS GOALS, WHAT HE WANTS TO ACHIEVE FOR THE STATE.

WITH THE ACTUAL RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT ARE COMING OUT FROM HIS ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE GOOD INITIAL STEPS, THEY'RE REALLY NOT AS AGGRESSIVE AS THEY NEED TO BE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE HIS OWN GOALS, RIGHT?

HE REALLY WANTS TO DO GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY, AND MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE WITH THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS WHERE IT'S REALLY THE ACTION, RIGHT, WHERE IT REALLY BECOMES ENFORCEABLE FOR NEW JERSEY, THEY NEED TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE.

WE REALLY WANT TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE, AND WE REALLY WANT TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN OVERBURDENED AND ESPECIALLY THOSE SHORELINE FRONT COMMUNITIES SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION OF A GRADE, I WOULD GIVE HIM A "C." HE HAS DONE SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS AND HE'S PUSHING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVENESS IN THE ACTION.

>> HE NEEDS TO BE BETTER AT CLOSING THE DEAL.

>> YES.

YES.

THAT'S A GREAT WAY OF PUTTING IT.

>> SO, AS AN ORGANIZATION, WHAT'S THE SIERRA CLUB ROLE GOING FORWARD?

YOU'RE GOING TO BE STAYING IN THE FACE OF GOVERNMENT.

MORE OF THAT, MORE OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC?

>> YEAH.

WELL, I MEAN, I'M SURE, AS YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO ME JOINING THE CLUB, THAT HAS BEEN WHAT SIERRA CLUB IS ALL ABOUT, RIGHT?

SO, I INTEND TO CONTINUE DOING THE SAME THING, RAISING AWARENESS, EDUCATING PEOPLE, TRYING TO BE IN THE CONVERSATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND THE VARIOUS AGENCIES TO REALLY MAKE THINGS ENFORCEABLE, BEING IN CONVERSATION WITH LEGISLATORS TO REALLY PUSH LEGISLATION THAT REALLY PROTECTS THE ENVIRONMENT, CLEANS OUR WATER, OUR AIR, PROTECTS THE PEOPLE.

WE ARE GOING TO BE AGGRESSIVE.

WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO PUSH FOR WHATEVER MAKES SENSE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PEOPLE.

>> SO, HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT THAN JEFF TITTLE?

I MEAN, JEFF WAS A BIG PERSONALITY, YOU KNOW, THE MASTER OF AWKWARD RHYMES AND WEIRD WORDPLAY.

>> HE LOVES THAT.

>> HOW DO YOUR STYLES DIFFER?

>> WELL, JEFF IS JEFF, AND I'M ANJULI.

I THINK -- I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

I THINK I'M AGGRESSIVE AS WELL, AND I THINK IRAGREE AGREE WITH OF HIS IDEAS.

>> HE COULD BE REALLY, PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE KIND OF GUY SOMETIMES.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE.

NO, I WILL NOT PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE.

MAYBE I'LL JUST BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SUBTLE THAN HE WAS.

OR HE CONTINUES TO BE.

>> YOU'LL HAVE TO SEE.

>> SO YOU'LL WEAR A VELVET GLOVE OVER A FIST MADE OF STONE.

>> YEAH, I'LL DISGUISE THE STONES WITH VELVET.

WHEREAS JEFF DIDN'T HAVE THAT VELVET.

>> NO, HE DID NOT.

ALL RIGHT, ANJULI RAMOS-BUSOT, WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?

>> I'M SO EXCITED.

WELL, I JUST HAVE TO SAY, IT'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE HONOR TO BE PART OF THE NEW JERSEY SIERRA CLUB BECAUSE THE CLUB HAS DONE INCREDIBLE THINGS FOR NEW JERSEY AND I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE DOING THAT.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BECOME INVOLVED, LIKE, GET INVOLVED WITH ALL THINGS CLIMATE CHANGE, ELECTRIFICATION OF BUILDINGS, YOU KNOW, CARS, OUR TRANSPORTATION SECTOR, PUSHING FORWARD RENEWABLE ENERGY, FOCUSING ON TOXICS, WHICH IS A PRETTY BIG DEAL FOR NEW JERSEY.

AND LAND USE, JUST MAKING SURE WE'RE PROTECTING OUR LAND, JUST -- I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK, BUT I WAKE UP EXCITED EVERY DAY TO TACKLE EACH AND EVERY BATTLE.

>> ALL RIGHT, ANJULI RAMOS.

>> BUSOT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR SOMETHING ME.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.

>> THAT'S "CHAT BOX" FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR THANKS ALSO TO ROB MENENDEZ.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER, @DAVIDCRUZNJ, AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE FOR THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR BEYOND THE BOX FEATURES, NJ "BUSINESS BEAT" WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER AND LIVE STREAMS OF OTHER IMPORTANT EVENTS.

HEY, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FROM EVERYONE OVER HERE, HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

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