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♪ >>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

2021 IS UNFOLDING WITH THE SAME FRACTURES THAT MARK THE YEAR JUST GONE BY.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND ITS AFTERMATH ON NEW JERSEY'S REPUBLICAN PARTY AND EXAMINE THE STATUS OF OUR CITIES WITH A PANEL OF MAYORS LATER ON IN THE SHOW.

BUT WE BEGIN TODAY WITH THE REVERBERATIONS FROM LAST WEEK'S ASSAULT ON THE U.S. CAPITOL.

JARED MAPLES IS DIRECTOR OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, WHICH HAS BEEN MONITORING DEVELOPMENTS AMONG THESE WOULD-BE INSURGENTS LONG BEFORE LAST WEEK'S RIOTS.

DIRECTOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANKS, DAVID, AND GREAT TO SEE YOU AS WELL.

I'M HONORED TO BE HERE AS ALWAYS.

>> YOU KNOW, WE USUALLY TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THE ANNUAL THREAT ASSESSMENT IN NEW JERSEY, AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE IN THE ABSTRACT, BUT THIS YEAR FEELS VERY MUCH ON POINT.

DO ANY OF THESE -- OF THE THREATS THAT WE SAW MANIFEST LAST WEEK IN D.C. COME AS A SURPRISE TO YOU?

>> I HATE TO SAY IT BUT NO.

WE PUT TWO THREAT ASSESSMENTS OUT LAST YEAR, WHICH IS UNPRECEDENTED.

NORMALLY WE DO THE ONE ANNUAL THREAT ASSESSMENT THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.

IN FEBRUARY 2020, WHEN WE RELEASED THE FIRST ONE, WE ACTUALLY ELEVATED WHITE SUPREMACY TO A TOP TIER TERROR THREAT AS YOU AND I DISCUSSED AND THEN ALSO ANTI-GOVERNMENT ANARCHISTS, UP TO THE MEDIUM LEVEL.

AND I SUSPECT THAT YOU'LL SEE THAT ELEVATED EVEN FURTHER GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE THOSE GROUPS ARE ALL ELEMENTS OF THOSE GROUPS ARE ALL COMING TOGETHER IN THE THREATS OF LAST WEEK AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WHILE WE DID REPORT ON THIS, I THINK IT'S SHOCKING STILL TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN AMERICA OF THE LEVEL THAT THEY WENT TO ACTUALLY OVERTHROW THE CAPITOL ESSENTIALLY AND TAKE OVER THE CAPITOL.

>> SO, BUT PRETTY MUCH ANY JURISDICTION ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS THE SAME INFORMATION, THE SAME INTELLIGENCE AND THE SAME THREAT ASSESSMENTS, I WOULD IMAGINE, THAT YOU SHARED.

SO, FROM WHAT YOU SAW LAST WEEK, WAS THAT A FAILURE OF INTELLIGENCE?

POOR PLANNING?

OR SOMETHING WORSE?

>> SO, I WILL SAY, NEW JERSEY, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT OUT AHEAD OF THE CURVE ON THESE TYPE OF ISSUES.

WE CERTAINLY ARE VERY BROADLY REPORTING ON THEM AS FAR AS THE THREAT FROM AN IDEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE.

FROM THE FACT THAT THEY RESIDE HERE IN OUR STATE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF EXTREMIST GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN NEW JERSEY AND PRESENT IN NEW JERSEY.

AND I THINK BECAUSE OF THAT, WE HAVE BEEN PROACTIVE ABOUT REPORTING THAT PUBLICLY.

SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE, AND TO YOUR POINT, ALWAYS INTELLIGENCE SHARING, WE'RE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO FBI, FEDERAL DHS, OUR STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT ACCURATE AND REALTIME INFORMATION.

AND IN THIS CASE -- >> BUT WHEN STUFF HAPPENS LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN D.C. LAST WEEK, WHAT'S THE BREAKDOWN?

WHERE DID THAT ALL BREAK DOWN?

>> SO, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK A LOT OF THIS IS STILL TBD.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A VERY ROBUST AFTERACTION REPORT AND AAR.

I'LL SAY IT'S PROBABLY A LARGE-SCALE -- IT OBVIOUSLY WASN'T A SUCCESSFUL THING LAST WEEK, SO THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME WORK TO DO, AND I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF ALL THAT.

IT'S INTELLIGENCE, IT'S SOME OF THE TACTICAL PIECES, SOME OF THE COMMUNICATION SIDE, AND I THINK THAT THAT WILL BE FIXED.

I'M CONFIDENT IN THAT AND I'M CONFIDENT IT WILL BE FIXED FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY.

SO, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE AS WELL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE INAUGURATION COMING UP.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, WE SAW A LOT OF RIOTING, A LOT OF DEMONSTRATIONS, AND SOME RIOTING ACROSS THE COUNTRY OVER THE PAST YEAR, MANY OF THOSE WERE AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY AND SYSTEMIC RACISM, PARTICULARLY AFTER THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD.

WORST CASE EXAMPLE WAS SEATTLE WHERE THE PROTESTERS TOOK OVER PART OF THE DOWNTOWN.

SOME PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO EQUATE THOSE DEMONSTRATIONS WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN D.C. LAST WEEK, BUT THEY'RE TOTALLY DIFFERENT, ARE THEY NOT?

>> SO, LOOK, I'LL START OUT AND SAY THAT WE'RE APOLITICAL, AS YOU KNOW.

IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT THE IMPETUS FOR VIOLENCE IS.

VIOLENCE IS WRONG IN ANY FORM AND WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO STOP IT FROM HAPPENING IN NEW JERSEY.

LOOK, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN ALMOST ANY TYPE OF LARGE-SCALE VIOLENCE THAT YOU SEE.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT VARIABLES THAT ARE OUT THERE AND I REALLY WOULD SAY, AND SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT WE -- VIOLENCE OF ANY KIND, WHEN IT COMES TO THESE DEMONSTRATIONS, EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO PROTEST IN PEACE.

BUT WHEN IT GOES BEYOND AND STARTS TURNING INTO VIOLENCE AND VIOLATING OTHER PEOPLE'S RIGHTS, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO INTERJECT AND MAKE SURE THAT VOICES ARE HEARD ON ACROSS ALL THE AREAS.

>> FOR SURE.

MY QUESTION IS MORE ABOUT IN TERMS OF WHAT THE INTELLIGENCE WAS.

IN OTHER WORDS, NOTHING -- THERE WERE NO STORMING OF THE CAPITOL, FOR INSTANCE, DURING THOSE DEMONSTRATIONS.

WAS THERE ANYTHING IN TERMS OF THE INTELLIGENCE DURING THOSE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT GAVE ANYONE AN IDEA THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED AFTER THAT?

>> SO, AS FAR AS OVERTHROWING THE U.S. CAPITOL, NO.

THIS LAST SUMMER DID NOT.

I NEVER READ ANY THREAT ASSESSMENT OF THAT NATURE.

BUT A LOT OF THE SAME GROUPS AND IDEOLOGIES DID COME TOGETHER.

ONE OF THE REASONS WE PUT THAT SUPPLEMENTAL THREAT ASSESSMENT OUT IN SEPTEMBER, BECAUSE WE SAW THIS UNIQUE CONVERGENCE AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING, THIS GROUND SWELL, WE'VE SEEN AN UPTICK IN EXTREMIST, THREATS, MESSAGING, WE'VE SEEN THAT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS BUT STARTING WITH THE COVID CRISIS, WE STARTED SEEING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF DISINFORMATION AND MISINFORMATION AND GOING INTO THE SUMMER, THE UNREST THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, YOU SAW THAT AND THE EXTREMIST GROUPS, AGAIN, IDEOLOGICALLY, SOMETIMES THEY'RE DISPARATE.

THE BOOGALOO MOVEMENT IS WIDESPREAD AND THEY WERE MORE RIGHT-WING AND NOT QUITE WHITE SUPREMACY BUT MORE RIGHT-WING GROUP BUT THEY WERE CONVERGING WITH ANARCHISTS AND ANTI-GOVERNMENT FOLKS AND YOU SAW THAT CONVERGENCE OF THREAT AND THAT LED TO THE ELECTION AND ULTIMATELY THE CONTESTING TO THE ELECTIONS WHICH WERE QUITE FRANKLY AND UNFORTUNATELY LIVING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT'S CREATED THAT CAULDRO I IDEOLOGY AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO BE CONCERNED WITH WELL BEYOND THE INAUGURATION.

I'LL BE VERY CLEAR WITH THAT AS WELL.

>> WE HAVE THESE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT ARE SCHEDULED FOR, LIKE, 17th AND THE 20th IN ALL THE STATE CAPITALS, SUPPOSEDLY, ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WHAT IS THE -- WHAT DO YOU EXPECT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN TRENTON IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT YOU EXPECT THERE AND WHO IS GOING TO BE THERE, AND WHAT KIND OF PRECAUTIONS ARE BEING TAKEN?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

OBVIOUSLY, LIKE I MENTIONED, WE HAVE THIS ROBUST AND DEEP INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SHARING INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION, FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL.

WE'VE BEEN AWARE OF THAT THREAT SINCE IT BECAME PRESENT, WHICH IS THERE WERE FLYERS, ONLINE POSTINGS, AND WEB POSTINGS THAT SAID THERE'S THIS MASS DAY OF VIOLENCE AND ARMED PROTESTS ON THE 17th, WHICH WOULD BE THIS SUNDAY, AND THEN OF COURSE ON THE 20th, THE ACTUAL INAUGURATION DAY.

THAT THREAT INTELLIGENCE IS OUT THERE.

WE ARE TAKING IT VERY -- WE'RE TAKING IT REAL -- AS REAL.

BUT WITH THAT SAID, WE'RE NOT SEEING SPECIFIC OR CREDIBLE THREATS TO NEW JERSEY AS IT RELATES TO THAT.

ALL STATE CAPITALS WITH MENTIONED IN THAT BROAD BRUSH INTEL, BUT WE'VE NOT SEEN A SPECIFIC THREAT.

WITH THAT SAID, WE ARE FOCUSED AND DEDICATING EVERY RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE TO STOP POTENTIAL VIOLENCE, AND THAT INCLUDES TACTICAL ELEMENTS SO INCREASING MANPOWER AND RESOURCES ON SCENE AND UNIFORM AMONGST OTHERS.

INCREASING OUR INTELLIGENCE SHARING, MAKING SURE THOSE CONNECTIONS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE AS TIGHT AS WE CAN BE, MAKING THEM AS TIGHT AS WE POSSIBLY CAN MAKE THEM.

MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE INVESTIGATING DOWN THE PIPELINE WHEN SUSPICIOUS REPORTS COME IN ABOUT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY OR THREATS.

THAT WE INVESTIGATE EACH OF THOSE INDIVIDUALLY, DIRECTLY, AND CLEARLY AND COMPLETELY.

AND SO WE'RE DOING ALL THOSE ACTIONS TO PREPARE, AS IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE THAT SPECIFIC OR CREDIBLE THREAT DIRECTLY TO NEW JERSEY OR OUR STATE HOUSE.

>> ALL RIGHT, DIRECTOR OF THE STATE'S OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY, JARED MAPLES, GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> YOU AS WELL.

AND STAY SAFE, PLEASE, DAVID.

AND TO YOUR STAFF AS WELL.

>>> OUR FOCUS FOR A FEW MINUTES HERE ON THE POLITICS SURROUNDING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARDS.

AND WHAT EFFECT THAT'S GOING TO HAVE SPECIFICALLY ON NEW JERSEY'S REPUBLICAN PARTY, WHICH IS GEARING UP FOR GOVERNOR'S RACE THIS YEAR.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT IS REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE MAN FOR NEW JERSEY, BILL.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

>> THANKS, DAVID.

GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN IMPEACHED NOW TWICE.

IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF HIS INFLUENCE ON THE PARTY, NATIONALLY AND IN NEW JERSEY?

>> LISTEN, I THINK HE'S HAD, YOU KNOW, A LIMITED INFLUENCE IN NEW JERSEY TO BEGIN WITH.

JUST LOOK AT THE RESULTS OF THIS PAST ELECTION.

I LIVE IN THE CD-7, WORKED REAL HARD FOR TOM CAIN JR., RUNNING FOR CONGRESS IN CD-7 TOM LOST NARROWLY BY JUST 5,000 VOTES.

BUT THE PRESIDENT LOST THE DISTRICT BY 43,000 VOTES.

SO, TOM KANE HAD TO OVERCOME THE TOP OF THE TICKET GOING THE OTHER WAY BY 43,000 VOTES.

IN MORRIS COUNTY, OUR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE WON RED REPUBLICAN MORRIS COUNTY WITH 13,000 VOTES.

DONALD TRUMP LOST THE COUNTY BY 12,000 VOTES, 25,000-VOTE SWING.

SO, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BEGIN WITH.

THE EVENTS OF LAST WEEK ONLY MAKE IT SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

>> WOW.

YOU JUST OVERWHELMED ME WITH NUMBERS THERE.

AND I MISSED YOUR ANSWER.

IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF HIS INFLUENCE ON THE PARTY?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE, I DIDN'T THINK HE HAD A VERY GOOD BEGINNING, AND SO THE EVENTS OF LAST WEEK ONLY MADE IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

LISTEN, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS TO RETURN TO ITS REAGAN ROOTS, A POSITIVE MESSAGE, A BLUE-COLLAR, WORKING CLASS PARTY, WHICH TO A DEGREE, YOU KNOW, TRUMP DID ENERGIZE.

YOU HAVE TO GIVE HIM -- LISTEN, THIS IS A GUY WHO GOT ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, GOT 74 MILLION VOTES IN NOVEMBER.

BUT THE PARTY HAS TO DO MORE THAN THAT, PARTICULARLY THE BLUE STATE LIKE NEW JERSEY TO REACH OUT TO, YOU KNOW, VOTERS OF COLOR, OF SUBURBAN, YOU KNOW, THE FAMOUS NOW SAYING IS, YOU KNOW, COLLEGE-EDUCATED SUBURBAN WOMEN AND TRY TO BRING THEM BACK TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> FOCUSING ON NEW JERSEY WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE A GOVERNOR'S RACE THIS YEAR, THE FORMER STATE REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN DOUG STEINHARDT SEEMED TO BE A VIABLE CANDIDATE BUT HE DROPPED OUT THIS WEEK TO THE SURPRISE OF MANY.

I GUESS WE GOT TO TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD THAT UNFORESEEN PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS ARE THE REASON.

BUT DO YOU THINK THE PRO-TRUMPINESS OF HIS CAMPAIGN HAD AN EFFECT?

>> WELL, I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO DOUG YET.

WE'RE GOOD FRIENDS.

I THINK HIGHLY OF DOUG, YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY.

BUT IT HAD TO HAVE AN IMPACT.

THE PRESIDENT'S, YOU KNOW, LOSING THE STATE, AS I SAID, AGAIN IN NOVEMBER, BY A WIDE, WIDE MARGIN, AND THEN YOU KNOW, INCITING THIS RIOT UPON THE NATION'S CAPITOL, YOU KNOW, ONLY MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT SO I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO RUN A RACE IN A GENERAL ELECTION IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AS A TRUMP CANDIDATE.

JUST NOT GOING TO WORK.

>> DOES IT LOOK TO YOU LIKE JACK CIATTARELLI HAS A CLEAR PATH TO THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION NOW?

IT'S GETTING A LITTLE LATE FOR SOMEONE TO JUMP IN, RIGHT?

>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

I THINK JACK -- REMEMBER, JACK'S HAD A YEAR HEAD START, HE'S BEEN WORKING FOR OVER A YEAR AS A DECLARED CANDIDATE.

YOU'VE SEEN IT IN A LOT OF ENDORSEMENTS THAT HE HAS HAD, SO ABSENT SOMETHING UNFORESEEN HAPPENING, I THINK JACK IS -- WILL BE OUR NOMINEE.

A LOT OF THE COUNTY CHAIRS HAVE STEPPED UP AND SAID THEY'RE WITH JACK.

NEW JERSEY, WE HAVE A SYSTEM BASED ON COUNTY ENDORSEMENTS AND SO ALL THOSE SEEM TO BE ALMOST COMPLETELY LINED UP FOR JACK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IS THE PARTY BETTER OFF WITHOUT A PRIMARY?

THIS WAY, THEY CAN FOCUS ON THE INCUMBENT?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT DEPENDS ON CYCLE BY CYCLE.

LISTEN, THOUGH, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN LOTS OF PRIMARIES, AND I DON'T SHY AWAY FROM THAT BUT A LOT OF TIMES, I THINK IT MAKES NO SENSE.

I THOUGHT IT MADE NO SENSE FOR TOM TO HAVE A PRIMARY LAST YEAR IN CD-7 BUT PRIMARIES ARE -- CAN BE GOOD THINGS.

CHRIS CHRISTIE HAD A PRIMARY IN '09.

IT SHARPENS YOUR SKILLS AND YOUR MESSAGE.

BUT IN A YEAR LIKE THIS, YOU ALSO GET TO CONSERVE RESOURCES.

YOU GET TO FOCUS ON THE GENERAL ELECTION.

AND SO, IN THAT SENSE, I THINK IT'S A BIT OF A DAMAGE FOR JACK TO AVOID A HOTLY CONTESTED PRIMARY, ACCUSATIONS GOING BACK AND FORTH AMONGST HIS DIFFERENT CANDIDATES AND HAVING TO SPEND SOME MONEY.

SO YOU CAN NOW FOCUS YOUR RESOURCES ON THE FULL CAMPAIGN.

>> ALL RIGHT, THE SEASON HAS BEGUN.

BILL PALATUCCI, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE MAN FOR NEW JERSEY, ALWAYS GOOD TO TALK TO YOU, MAN.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> YOU TOO, DAVID.

GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

>>> SO, ADD ALL THE POLITICAL TURMOIL OF THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THROW IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND AN ECONOMIC RECESSION, AND YOU MAY ASK WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO BE TRYING TO RUN A CITY IN NEW JERSEY?

BUT OUR NEXT PANEL OF GUESTS IS KNEE DEEP IN THAT STRUGGLE IN SOME OF NEW JERSEY'S MOST ICONIC TOWNS, MARTY SMALL SR. IS MAYOR OF ATLANTIC CITY.

REED RUNS THE CITY OF TRENTON.

AND ANDRE IS THE MAYOR OF PATTERSON.

PANEL, WELCOME.

I WAS THINKING THAT AS FAR AS ICONIC NEW JERSEY CITIES GO, ATLANTIC CITY, TRENTON, AND PATTERSON ARE RIGHT UP THERE HISTORICALLY.

LET ME START WITH YOU, MAYOR SMALL.

YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR CITY BACK ENTIRELY, RIGHT?

THE STATE CONTINUES TO PLAY A ROLE THERE.

HAS IT BEEN CONSTRUCTIVE?

>> YES, FIRST OF ALL, DAVE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

GOOD EVENING TO THE LISTENING AUDIENCE AND IT'S A GREAT DAY HERE IN THE CITY OF ATLANTIC CITY.

YES, WE ARE STILL UNDER STATE CONTROL.

IT HAS BEEN A PARTNERSHIP, AND THERE'S BEEN NO BIG FOOTING.

WE'RE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE STATE ON BEHALF OF THE GOOD PEOPLE OF ATLANTIC CITY.

>> WHERE HAVE THEY HELPED THE MOST?

>> WELL, WHEN THE STATE FIRST CAME IN, AS YOU KNOW, IT WAS A CONTENTIOUS BATTLE, BUT THEY HELPED US WITH OUR DEBTS, SETTLING SOME LEGACY DEBT THAT WE NO LONGER HAD.

AS MAYOR, THEY LET ME PUSH MY AGENDA ACROSS.

WE'RE RUNNING THE CITY, WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS.

OF COURSE, WITH THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT THAT THEY HAVE, THEY STEP IN WHEN NEEDED.

BUT IT'S A CONVERSATION, AND IF YOU SAW THE LAW OF MEASURE, THEY CAN REALLY DO WHAT THEY WANT, WE HAVE NO RECOURSE, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN THAT WAY AND WE'RE HAVING A FABULOUS TIME WORKING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND GETTING ATLANTIC CITY WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

>> STILL, I IMAGINE THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE ANYBODY WHO COMES TO THE PARTY, THEY, YOU KNOW, HUNG OUT FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO GO HOME?

>> WELL, LISTEN, IT'S A STATE LEGISLATIVE ACTION.

IT EXPIRES IN NOVEMBER OF 2021.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO LEAVE, AS YOUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAID IT, THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

PERSONALLY, I'M NOT GOING TO FIGHT IT BECAUSE I'VE ACTUALLY LIVED THIS TAKEOVER FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT TO NOW MAYOR.

THE STATE HAS BEEN HELPFUL WITH SOME RESOURCES, AND WE HAVE THE ATLANTIC CITY RECOVERY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS ALL HANDS ON DECK.

WE HAVE A BIG INCENTIVE PACKAGE THAT WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE THAT SHOULD SPUR DEVELOPMENT IN THE GREAT CITY OF ATLANTIC CITY.

GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUSH OUR AGENDA ACROSS AND WE COMING AT 2021 WITH A VENGEANCE.

>> ALL RIGHT, REED GUSCIORA, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE TRENTON DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH PRESENCE THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS THERE.

JUST PHYSICALLY, YOU'RE THE CAPITAL CITY, AND WHILE THAT MAY BE AN HONOR, IT'S ALSO A PAIN IN THE POCKET FOR THE CITY ITSELF, NO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE STATE REALLY DOESN'T PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE IN TAXES.

THEY OCCUPY MOST OF THE PRIME REAL ESTATE DOWNTOWN.

THEY EVEN OCCUPY REAL ESTATE ON THE WATERFRONT, SO WE'RE ALWAYS GOT OUR HAND UP, OUR LAST YEAR OF THE GOVERNOR, WE GOT $37 MILLION IN DIRECT AID AND THEN THE NEXT YEAR, WHEN CHRIS CHRISTIE TOOK OVER, IT WENT DOWN TO $6 MILLION.

SO, THE TERMS OF OUR STATE RELATIONSHIP ARE VARIABLE, BUT WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S JUST THE LUCK OF THE DRAW WHAT KIND OF ADMINISTRATION YOU HAVE.

>> MORE DEMONSTRATIONS ARE COMING TO STATE CAPITALS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

TRENTON, THOUGH, NO EXCEPTION.

YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING IN THE CITY THIS WEEKEND?

ARE YOU GUYS ON TOP OF IT?

>> WE DO.

WE'RE WORKING WITH STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT, COUNTY, AND EVEN FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE A BLUE STATE, BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF KNUCKLEHEADS IN NEW JERSEY THAT LIKE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GOVERNMENT IS ALL ABOUT.

SO, WE ARE PREPARED.

WE HOPE PEOPLE STAY HOME, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF COVID, AND YOU KNOW, GET OVER THE ELECTION AND LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER FOR A BETTER NEW JERSEY.

>> ANDRE SAYEGH, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR IN PATTERSON.

YOU DID NOT INHERIT A GREAT SITUATION THERE.

WHAT'S BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE?

>> I THOUGHT YOU'D HAVE ME ON TO TALK ABOUT THE METS OFF SEASON ACQUISITIONS.

>> WE CERTAINLY WILL GET TO THAT.

>> SO, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON VACCINATING AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

WE GOT HIT REALLY HEARD BY COVID-19.

WE'RE ONE OF THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

IN FACT, WE'RE THIRD WITH ANY MUNICIPALITY OF 100,000 OR MORE, NEW YORK AND SAN FRANCISCO ARE THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED.

TODAY, WE VACCINATED ABOUT 800 PEOPLE.

TOMORROW, WE'LL VACCINATE SEVERAL HUNDRED MORE.

SO, WE REALLY HAVE TO GET THAT MACHINE GOING AS FAR AS INOCULATING AS MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE AS POSSIBLE.

AND WE CREATED A MEGA SITE AT INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL.

IN FACT, THAT POINT OF DISPENSING, WE'VE EXPANDED THE OPERATION AND FIRST WE HAD FOUR STATIONS.

NOW WE HAVE MOVED UP TO TEN STATIONS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE GETS THAT SHOT IN THE ARM THAT DR. FAUCI'S BEEN ENCOURAGING US TO DO.

>> YOU GUYS ALL RUN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE HEAVILY BLACK AND BROWN AND IMMIGRANT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?

I KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU REALLY HAVE TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL AS FAR AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOES.

IN THE TOURISM END OF THINGS.

LET'S START WITH YOU, MAYOR SMALL.

YOU GOT A WATER PARK COMING.

YOU'VE GOT A NEW MEDICAL FACILITY COMING.

THINGS ARE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD IN TERMS OF THAT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YEAH?

>> YES, AND THAT'S DURING A PANDEMIC.

WE HAD A $100 MILLION WATER PARK.

WE HAVE ATLANTIC CARE'S EXPANSION OF THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM AND WE ALSO HAVE STOCKTON UNIVERSITY PHASE TWO, AND I SHOULD BE ANNOUNCING SOON A GATED COMMUNITY CONCEPT BEYOND GOLDEN NUGGET ON THE LAND THAT MGM OWNS, WHICH IS BETWEEN BORAI DEVELOPMENT AND MGM.

A SECOND HOME COMPLEX THAT SHOULD BRING MORE RATABLES TO THE TAX BASE.

BUT YOU KNOW, THE STRUGGLE IS REAL.

WHEN, LIKE YOU SAID, THE CORONAVIRUS HAS ATTACKED THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES MORE THAN ANYONE, WHEN YOU'RE A TOURIST INDUSTRY AND YOU HAVE 100% OF THE PEOPLE WANTING TO GO TO WORK BUT 25% OF THE FACILITIES OPEN, THE MATHEMATICS JUST DON'T MATCH UP SO THERE'S LAYOFFS, THERE'S HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, BUT I'M -- I KNOW IN MY HEART OF HEARTS THAT ONCE THIS PANDEMIC SUBSIDES, THAT THE CITY OF ATLANTIC CITY IS GOING TO COME BACK AND TAKE ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND YOU KNOW, AROUND THE COUNTRY AS A PLACE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO COME.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS PANDEMIC, LIKE I TOLD PEOPLE, THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF ISSUES ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND WE JUST GOT TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, GET THIS VACCINE.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE SIX MEGA SITES IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AT THE ATLANTIC CITY CONVENTION CENTER, AND WE NEED TO GET -- KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, WEAR YOUR MASK, SOCIAL DISTANCE, AND GET AS MANY PEOPLE A SHOT AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN ALL COME THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.

>> REED GUSCIORA, YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE TRENTON ATTRACTIVE TO YOUNGER PEOPLE, HAD A BIG LAND SALE LAST YEAR.

HOW'S THAT GOING?

>> WELL, LOOK, IT WENT GREAT.

WE SOLD 50 PROPERTIES AND GARNERED $4 MILLION, SO THAT IS AN ALL MOR-TIME RECORD FOR OUR AUCTIONS.

THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST IN BUYING REAL ESTATE.

OUR GOLDEN NUGGET, UNFORTUNATELY, IS STILL THE STATE HOUSE DOME AND YOU NEED TO GET MORE INCENTIVES AND WE'RE GLAD FOR THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION FOR PASSING THAT INCENTIVE PACKAGE SO THAT WE CAN ATTRACT MORE BUSINESSES AND RETAIN THAT MUCH MORE, BUT LOCAL CONTRACTORS INVOLVED AND FIXING UP THOSE HOUSES AND TAKING DOWN THE BAD ONES.

WE HAVE A WHOLE INDUSTRY COMING UP WITH JUST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF REVITALIZING OUR SMALLER NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> MAYOR SAYEGH, I KNOW YOU'RE A BIG BASEBALL FAN AND RESTORING THE STADIUM IS A BIG PART OF YOUR PLAN IN PATERSON.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND?

>> WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT WE'VE GOTTEN A STATE INVESTMENT TO THE LEVEL OF $130 MILLION IN STATE TAX CREDITS.

IN FACT, GOVERNOR MURPHY, WHO OFTEN SAYS, AS GOES PATERSON, SO GOES THE STATE, GAVE US AN ADDITIONAL $20 MILLION IN TAX CREDITS SO WE COULD RESTORE HINCHLY STADIUM, WHICH IS ONE OF ONLY TWO STADIUMS STANDING THAT HOSTED NEGRO LEAGUE GAMES SO THERE'S HISTORY THERE.

WE'RE BRINGING IT BACK AND THE IT'S THE CENTERPIECE OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VISION.

WE'VE RECRUITED ONE OF THE MOST REPUTABLE DEVELOPERS IN THE STATE, THEY'VE DONE WORK IN ATLANTIC CITY AND WE KNOW WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN NEW BRUNSWICK AS WELL, SO THAT PROJECT IS TO CREATE A WORLD CLASS VISITORS CENTER AT THE GREAT FALLS, THE SYMBOL OF OUR CITY, AND WE'RE NAMING IT FOR THE FOUNDER, ALEXANDER HAMILTON, SO WE'RE GOING TO ENHANCE THE APPEAL OF THE FALLS AND MAKE IT AN ECONOMIC DRAW, RESTAURANTS, RETAIL ENTITIES ALLST SPRINKLIN THROUGH THE AREA SO WE'LL HAVE A MAJOR DESTINATION AS FAR AS THE GREAT FALLS IS CONCERNED.

>> ALL RIGHT, MAYORS MARTY SMALL SR. OF ATLANTIC CITY, REED GUSCIORA OF TRENTON AND ANDRE SAYEGH OF PATERSON, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL, THANKS FOR TAKING SOME TIME WITH US.

>> NO PROBLEM, THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> THAT'S ALL THE "CHAT BOX" WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS TO ALL OUR MAYORS AND TO BILL AND JARED.

BE WITH US NEXT WEEK WHEN WE SEE IF DEMOCRACY IS STILL STANDING WITH A BRAND-NEW PRESIDENT.

BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR MORE "CHAT BOX", NJ BIZ, AND OTHER LIVE EVENTS, INCLUDING NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND REACH OUT AT #NJTVCHATBOX.

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.

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PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ, A POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS.

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ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.COM.

♪ --Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com