
Sen. O'Scanlon Sounds Off, NJ's Top Headlinesc
10/8/2022 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
David Cruz talks with Sen. Declan O'Scanlon (R) & reporters on NJ's top headlines.
David Cruz talks with Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) about NJ's taxes, commuter fees, red light camera tickets & his push to repeal a law requiring the daily laundering of sheets & towels by hotels. Reporters Lilo Stainton from NJ Spotlight News, Daniel Muñoz from The Record / USA Today Network & Sean Sullivan from NJ.com talk about the top stories making news in the Garden State this week.
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Reporters Roundtable is a local public television program presented by NJ PBS
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Sen. O'Scanlon Sounds Off, NJ's Top Headlinesc
10/8/2022 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
David Cruz talks with Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) about NJ's taxes, commuter fees, red light camera tickets & his push to repeal a law requiring the daily laundering of sheets & towels by hotels. Reporters Lilo Stainton from NJ Spotlight News, Daniel Muñoz from The Record / USA Today Network & Sean Sullivan from NJ.com talk about the top stories making news in the Garden State this week.
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♪ >>> INTERSTATE RIVALRIES MANIFESTING IN INTERSTATE SNIPING.
NEW YORK NEEDS TO BACK OFF.
HI, EVERYBODY, WELCOME TO "REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE," I'M DAVID CRUZ, ON THE PANEL THIS WEEK, LEELO STAYTON, DANIEL MUNOZ, THE BUSINESS REPORTER FOR THE USA TODAY NETWORK, AND SEAN SULLIVAN, REPORTER FEOR NG ADVANCED MEDIA.
WE BEGIN TODAY WITH THE MAN WHO SINGLE HANDEDLY TOOK DOWN THE RED LIGHT CAMERA MONSTER A FEW YEARS AGO, AND NOW HE'S TAKING ON NEW YORK'S CALL TO TAX NEW JERSEY COMMUTERS.
HE'S THE REPUBLICAN SENATOR FROM M MONOMOUTH, WE WELCOME BACK SENATOR DECK LAN SCAN LAN.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> DAVID, GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL.
>> LAST TIME WE SPOKE YOU WERE IN LONDON, I THINK.
TODAY, WHERE IN THE WORLD IS DECK LAN?
>> I'M IN LAKE PLACID TODAY, YOU'RE CATCHING ME IN MY DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TRAVELS.
>> NICE.
ALL RIGHT.
SO YOU'RE TAKING ON THE NEW YORK LAWMAKER FOR SUGGESTING THAT HIS STATE IMPOSE A $50 FEE ON NEW JERSEY DRIVERS, WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?
>> IT'S GARBAGE, IT'S NEVER BEGINNING TO HAPPEN.
IT'S NEW YORK POSTURING, AND THESE LEGISLATORS OVER THERE, THINKING THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING CLEVER WHEN IT JUST DEMONSTRATES THEIR FOOLISHNESS.
NEW JERSEY BANNED RED LIGHT AND SPEED CAMERAS WISELY BECAUSE THEY DON'T IMPROVE SAFETY.
WE KNOW THAT DEFINITIVELY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONCENTRATION IN STATES THAT PERMIT AUTOMATED ENFORCEMENT, VERSUS THOSE THAT DON'T, ON A SCALE OF SAFETY, FATALITIES AND ACCIDENTS, THE ONES THAT PERMIT IT ARE NO SAFER, IN FACT, MANY OF THE ONES THAT BAN IT ARE SAFER THAN THE ONES THAT PERMIT IT.
SO WE BANNED IT, YEARS AGO.
NEW YORK HAS GONE THE OTHER WAY.
AND CONTINUES TO EXPAND THEIR SCAM OF A PROGRAM, THEIR -- WHAT AMOUNTS TO GOVERNMENT SANCTIONED THEFT.
IF THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK ARE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO CONTINUE TO ELECT PEOPLE THAT PERMIT THESE SCAMS, THAT'S FINE.
THEY CAN BE SUBJECT TO THEM.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY NEW JERSEY SHOULD BE COMPLICIT IN NEW YORK'S SCAM OF A SYSTEM.
AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE.
NOT JUST NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, MARYLAND.
RMBC GIVES OUT OUR DRIVER'S INFORMATION TO PERMIT THOSE STATES TO CARRY OUT THEIR HIGHWAY ROBBERY.
SO MY BILL WOULD ELIMINATE THAT.
WE WOULD STOP SHARING THAT INFORMATION.
WHEN IT COMES TO SPEED AND RED LIGHT CAMERAS.
NEW YORK GOT THE IDEA, GOING TO PUNISH US IN RESPONSE.
WHICH, AGAIN, IS GARBAGE AND IF THEY WANT TO TRY THAT, THAT'S FINE.
WE COULD JUST SLAP $100 FEE FOR NEW YORKERS WHEN THEY COME INTO NEW JERSEY.
THIS COULD ESCALATE AS YOU CAN SEE -- >> YES.
>> THE RIDICULOUSNESS.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> SO THIS IS ALL BASED ON TRAFFIC BETWEEN THE TWO STATES.
THE GOVERNOR MURPHY WANTS TO PUT A HOLD ON SO-CALLED CONGESTION PRICING WHICH CHARGES COMMUTERS EXTRA FOR DRIVING INTO MANHATTAN'S CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.
HE WANTS THE PRESIDENT TO ORDER AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY ON THE WHOLE THING.
YOU ON THE SAME PAGE WITH HIM ON THIS, I IMAGINE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THE CONGESTION PRICING IS, AGAIN, ANOTHER WAY TO PICK THE POCKETS OF OUT OF TOWN DRIVERS.
MOST OF WHICH ARE JERSEYIANS, AND CONNECTICUT FOLKS AS WELL.
IT'S JUST, AGAIN, A WAY TO STEAL MORE MONEY FROM THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY WHO, BY THE WAY, ARE TRAVELING INTO THE CITY TO CREATE COMMERCE, AND TO HELP IT RECOVER.
EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND THERE IS MONEY THAT HELPS NEW YORK.
SO BY, AGAIN, SLAPPING ON THESE ADDITIONAL FEES, THEY'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE DISSUADE PEOPLE FROM GOING INTO THE CITY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> IT'S COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
>> SO I GOT YOU AGREEING WITH ONE DEMOCRAT, CHECK.
SO YOU HEARD PRESIDENT BIDEN SAY RECENTLY THAT COVID IS OVER.
IS HE RIGHT ON THAT?
>> LOOK, NO, IT'S STILL WITH US.
BUT THE PANIC TIME OF THE PANDEMIC ABSOLUTELY IS OVER.
HE'S RIGHT ABOUT THAT.
HE SHOULD HAVE CLARIFIED.
SO IS IT COMPLETELY OVER?
NO.
PEOPLE ARE STILL DYING OF COVID.
BUT WE REALLY HAVE IT UNDER CONTROL.
IT IS, GOD WILLING, WE'VE -- WE'RE THROUGH THE PANIC PART.
AND WE CAN GET BACK TO RELATIVE NORMAL.
WE SHOULD END THE RIDICULOUS MASK MANDATES THAT THE UNIONS OVER IN RUTGERS ARE STILL TRYING TO PERPETUATE WHICH SHOWS HOW OUT OF TOUCH THESE FOLKS ARE.
>> LET ME TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING PARTICULARLY SPECIFIC TO THAT.
BEFORE WE GET INTO SOME MORE POLITICS.
TALK ABOUT THE COVID TOWELS LAW THAT YOU WANT TO REPEAL.
>> AGAIN, AN EXAMPLE OF TRENTON'S READY FIRE, AIM LEGISLATING.
THIS -- THESE RAGS ARE RIDICULOUS.
I ARGUED AGAINST THE BILL WHEN IT WAS PASSED.
AGAIN, THIS BILL MANDATES THAT EVERY OCCUPIED HOTEL ROOM BE DISINFECTED EVERY DAY, AND EVERY SHEET, AND PILLOW CASE, ET CETERA, BE CHANGED, EVERY SINGLE DAY.
IT IMPLIES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CATCH COVID FROM YOUR OWN USED PILLOW CASES.
IT'S RIDICULOUS.
IT'S COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
IT EXPOSES WORKERS, AND HOTEL RESIDENTS, TO EACH OTHER MORE FREQUENTLY.
YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO INCREASE THE SPREAD OF COVID.
NEVER MIND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, NEVER MIND THE FACT THAT HOTELS CAN'T POSSIBLY GET THE STAFF TO CLEAN, DISINFECT EVERY SINGLE ROOM, EVERY DAY.
IT'S JUST -- IT'S REALLY STUPID LEGISLATION.
AND WE'RE GOING TO GET IT REPEALED.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S MOVE ON TO SOME POLITICS HERE, REAL QUICK, RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
WHAT IS UP WITH YOUR PARTY?
YOU'VE GOT TOM CANE, AND PAUL DEGRUT, TWO CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES BOYCOTTING THE PRESS.
IS THAT PRODUCTIVE AND, B, THE PRESS REALLY UNFAIR TO REPUBLICANS IN NEW JERSEY?
>> LOOK, I LOVE YOU GUYS, AND I ALWAYS FEEL THAT YOU'VE BEEN FAIR TO ME.
YOU USUALLY MAKE ME SAY I'M GOOD.
BUT LOOK, I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON THE POLITICAL STRATEGIES OF OTHER CANDIDATES.
I'M NOT IN THEIR SHOES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY, THEMSELVES, HAVE BEEN TREATED.
SO, LOOK, FOR ME, I'M MR. TRANSPARENCY.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE SOME FOLKS THAT HAVE GOTTEN A BAD RAP FROM THE PRESS.
SO, AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO COMMENT ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES.
SO I'LL LEAVE IT -- LEAVE THAT ONE THERE.
>> ALL RIGHT, ARTSY SIDESTEPPING THERE, SENATOR, WELL DONE.
YOU'VE BEEN PART OF THE LIBERTARIAN WING OF THE GOP, IF THERE IS SUCH A THING, BUT IT'S CLEAR THERE ARE TWO DEFINITE SIDES TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN NEW JERSEY IN 1920 -- IN 2022.
WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT, AND WHO'S GOING TO WIN HERE?
>> LOOK, I THINK THAT WE'RE -- WE'RE A BIG TEN PARTY.
THERE'S LOOM FOR LIBERTARIANS, THERE'S ROOM FOR CONSERVATIVES AND I SPAN THAT GAP.
THERE'S ROOM FOR MODERATES AND WE NEED ALL THREE, REALLY.
IF REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO SUCCEED IN NEW JERSEY, WE NEED TO ALL COME TOGETHER, AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE ONLY SURVIVE IF WE ARE ALL TOGETHER WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTION DAY.
WE COULD DEBATE ISSUES AND APPROACHES TO THEM, WHICH IS HEALTHY, BUT WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER.
SO THERE'S ROOM FOR ALL, AND WE NEED ALL.
AND EACH FACTION NEEDS TO -- THEY NEED THE OTHERS.
>> IT'S ONLY REPUBLICANS WHO I EVER HEARSAYING THAT REPUBLICANS ARE A BIG TENT PARTY, I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU.
LET ME GIVE GET YOU WITH THE MINUTE OR SO I HAVE LEFT TO MAKE SOME BOLD PREDICTIONS ON THE MIDTERMS, PARTICULARLY IN DISTRICTS 3, 7 AND 11.
>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO WIN ALL THREE.
I THINK -- YOU KNOW, LOOK, ELECTIONS, ESPECIALLY IN THESE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, FOR REPUBLICANS, ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE CLOSE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BLOW THEM OUT.
BUT I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO THE POCKETBOOK ISSUES THAT PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT, AND THEY KNOW THAT GOVERNMENT CAN HAVE MOST IMPACT ON THEIR POCKETBOOK ISSUES, I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO SEND A MESSAGE TO DEMOCRATS IN DC, AND ELECT REPUBLICANS.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE HOUSE AND I THINK WE STILL HAVE A SHOT AT TAKING THE SENATE.
SO I'M OPTIMISTIC.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET ME GET YOU TO PREDICT INTO 2025, AND "A," TELL US WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.
AND "B," IF YOU'RE NOT, WHO DO YOU LIKE?
>> LOOK, WE'VE GOT A GREAT BENCH.
I FREQUENTLY SAY, MAY THE PARTY IN THE STATE NEVER BE SO DESPERATE THAT IT NEEDS ME TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.
I APPRECIATE MY NAME IN THE MIX.
YOU NEVER SAY NEVER.
IT WOULD BE A PRETTY COOL POSITION TO BE IN BUT WE'VE GOT A GREAT BENCH.
THERE IS NOT ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT'S CONSIDERING RUNNING THAT I COULD NOT ENTERTAIN BACKING, AT LEAST THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY ANNOUNCED.
JACK -- DID A GREAT JOB LAST TIME.
HE'S A GOOD FRIEND, HE'S ALREADY ANNOUNCED AND HE WOULD BE A GREAT GOVERNOR.
BUT, LOOK, WE -- WE'RE BLESSED HERE IN NEW JERSEY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
WE'VE GOT A TON OF GREAT PEOPLE.
AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ANY ONE OF THOSE, OR WORKING WITH THEM AS GOVERNOR, IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN.
IT'S GOING TO BE NEW JERSEY'S REALLY IN A GREAT POSITION TO HAVE GREAT LEADERSHIP GOING FORWARD AFTER THIS NEXT GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION.
AND THE MIDTERMS.
I THINK REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO GAIN SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND HOPEFULLY TAKE MAJORITIES AND I THINK WE STAND A REAL GOOD SHOT AT THAT.
>> NEVER SAY NEVER IS WHAT I'M TAKING AWAY FROM THAT, SENATOR.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN, THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.
>> DAVE, THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.
THANKS, GUYS.
>> ALL RIGHT, PANEL, LILO, SEAN, DANIEL, WELCOME TO YOU ALL.
LET'S START WITH GOVERNOR MURPHY, HE WAS IN HOBOKEN THIS WEEK, DANIEL, $170 MILLION FOR THIS WATER FRONT DEVELOPMENT THERE ON THE NEW JERSEY TRANSIT RAIL YARDS.
17 YEARS IN THE PLANNING.
IS THIS A BIG DEAL?
>> I MEAN, I THINK THE GOVERNOR CERTAINLY HAS PILED ON A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION ACROSS NG TRANSIT IN GENERAL.
I THINK I RECALL IT WAS SAID AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, IT WAS LIKE THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF BEING SPENT ON NJ TRANSIT IN A CENTURY, OR SORT OF ON NEW JERSEY'S COMMUTER RAIL.
SO I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF THE DELAYS, AND ISSUES THAT NJ TRANSIT HAS IN THE PAST, A LOT OF MONEY HAS TO BE SUNK IN TO THE LINE TO REALLY GET IT UP TO A NATIONAL STANDARD.
>> LILO, REPORTERS CORNERED MURPHY AFTER THAT PRESS CONFERENCE, AND ASKED HIM ABOUT THIS SCATHING REPORT ABOUT ABUSES IN WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER.
INCLUDING HARASSMENT, COERCION, AND WORSE INVOLVING CHRISTY HOLLY, HE WAS ONCE THE HEAD COACH OF SKY BLUE, WHICH WAS THE NAME OF THE TEAM, THE WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAM, OWNED BY THE GOVERNOR, AND THE FIRST LADY AT THE TIME.
IT WAS CALLED SKY BLUE THEN, IT'S GOTHAM FC.
>> GOTHAM FC.
>> LET'S GET THE GOVERNOR'S REACTION TO THAT REPORT AND WE'LL COME BACK AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.
>> DISGUSTED BY WHAT I'VE READ.
I'VE NOT READ THE ENTIRETY OF THE REPORT BUT I READ ENOUGH OF IT, AND IT'S DISGUSTING, COMPLETELY REPREHENSIBLE AND COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
SECONDLY, I WOULD SAY THAT STUDY WAS DONE BY THE U.S. SOCCER FEDERATION.
I HOPE THE LEAGUE WILL GET OUT AHEAD OF THIS, AND WILL PUT REFORMS IN PLACE, PUT STEPS IN PLACE, SUCH THAT STUFF LIKE THIS CAN NEVER, EVER, EVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
>> SO COACH HOLLY WENT ON TO COACH OTHER TEAMS AFTER HE LEFT THE GOVERNOR'S TEAM.
MURPHY SAYS HE WANTS THE LEAGUE TO INVESTIGATE, BUT HE TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY WHEN HE WAS ASKED DIRECTLY ABOUT THAT.
BEFORE THE COACH'S BEHAVIOR.
LILO, DO WE SENSE A PATTERN HERE WITH THIS GOVERNOR, INCIDENTS INVOLVING MISTREATMENT OF WOMEN, KATIE BRENNAN, INMATES AT THE PRISON, MURPHY DEFERS TO THESE FUTURE INVESTIGATIONS, AND THEN HE HAS NO COMMENT UNTIL THEN.
>> RIGHT.
AND I THINK IT'S NOT JUST WITH ISSUES RELATING TO WOMEN, WHICH OF COURSE THEY'RE -- YOU JUST LAID OUT A PATTERN.
I MEAN, I WOULD ARGUE, YOU KNOW, IT'S SORT OF SIMILAR TO THE WAY HE RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT INVESTIGATING, YOU KNOW, NURSING HOMES AND THE STATE'S RESPONSE TO NURSING HOME, YOU KNOW, SICKNESS AND DEATH DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, RIGHT, SO, YOU KNOW, IF NEW JERSEY IS IN A POSITION WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THESE ISSUES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, DESERVE ATTENTION, SOMEHOW THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION SORT OF LANDS ON THEM, SAYS THESE THINGS THAT SOUND REALLY IMPACTFUL, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY CLEAR ALWAYS WHERE THE FOLLOW-UP IS.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S A VERY LEGITIMATE QUESTION.
WHAT COULD YOU HAVE DONE?
WHAT DID YOU DO?
WHAT DID YOU KNOW?
THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF QUESTIONS, AND THEY APPLY TO, AS YOU SAY, SEVERAL DIFFERENT ISSUES.
WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE STILL DON'T REALLY HAVE CLEAR ANSWERS.
>> YEAH.
SEAN MURPHY HOSTING THE PRESIDENT FOR A BUKU FUNDRAISER IN MIDDLETOWN THIS WEEK, THAT'S HIGH PROFILE.
SO WHAT END, THOUGH, IS HE ANGLING FOR A CABINET POST OR IS HE KEEPING THE PRESIDENTIAL FIRES STOKED?
>> YEAH, I MEAN FROM THE BASE LEVEL, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TURN DOWN A VISIT FROM THE PRESIDENT, ESPECIALLY A PRESIDENT OF YOUR OWN PARTY.
AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT BIDEN IS SEEN AS MUCH OF A BAGGAGE FOR -- IN NEW JERSEY AS HE MIGHT BE IN, SAY, PENNSYLVANIA OR GEORGIA.
AND SO FOR MURPHY, I THINK IT'S -- YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOW COST EFFORT, AND, YEAH, HE'S GOT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO LOSE BY IT, I THINK, AND A WHOLE LOT TO GAIN.
YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T SEE MURPHY AS BEING THE TYPE TO TAKE ON, YOU KNOW, MAYBE A CABINET LEVEL POSITION.
BUT, YOU KNOW, SORT OF BEHIND -- MORE BEHIND THE SCENES ROLE, I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO BIDE HIS TIME LIKE PETE BUTTIGIEG DOES.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO IT -- THE INDICATIONS TO ME SEEM TO BE THAT HE IS STILL EYEING THE -- WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC LANDSCAPE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, WHEN HE DECIDES TO THROW HIS HAT IN OR NOT.
>> RIGHT.
THE PRESIDENT THIS WEEK, ISSUING PARDONS FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, ARRESTED FOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION.
LILO, WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
I MEAN, A PARDON CLEARS THE WAY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO GET BACK INTO SOCIETY.
NO?
>> RIGHT, AND, I MEAN, EVEN IF THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, NEVER SERVED OR NEVER, YOU KNOW, THEIR JAIL TERM IS LONG DONE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S ACCESS TO HOUSING FUNDS.
THERE'S ACCESS TO OTHER HELP.
YOU KNOW, JUST PUTTING IT ON YOUR JOB APPLICATION.
IT'S A BIG DEAL.
AND I THINK IT IS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'M THINKING BACK, OF, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WENT TO JAIL FOR, YOU KNOW, A LONG TIME FOR NOT POSSESSION, BUT USUALLY A LONG TIME WOULD MEAN DISTRIBUTION.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING POUNDS, WHICH ISN'T, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY WHAT ANYBODY'S PROMOTING HERE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A -- THIS IS A PRODUCT THAT'S LEGAL NOW, AND EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT LEGAL, IT'S SORT OF LARGELY ACCEPTED.
SO THERE DOES SEEM TO BE A DISCONNECT BETWEEN HAVING THAT HANG OVER YOU LONG TERM.
AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S LARGELY BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WHO WERE ARRESTED FOR THESE, AND CHARGED WITH THESE CRIMES.
>> YEAH.
DANIEL, SPEAKING OF WEED, ANY SIGNS THAT THE INDUSTRY IS GETTING ITS LEGS UNDER IT YET?
>> IT IS CERTAINLY TAKING OFF, BUT I THINK WE'RE -- SINCE THE TOPIC OF SOCIAL JUSTICE IS IN EVERYONE'S MIND, THERE IS STILL SORT OF A LOT OF WIDESPREAD ACCEPTANCE THAT IT IS STILL A WIDE MAJORITY OWNED, CORPORATE OWNED INDUSTRY, THE BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WHO WERE MOST HARMED BY THE WAR ON DRUGS, THERE'S CONSENSUS THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO REALLY PENETRATE THE MARKET.
I KNOW THE STATE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SAID THEY'RE GOING TO DO LISTENING SESSIONS ON HOW TO SUPPORT CANNABIS INDUSTRY, EDAs, AGENCY THAT PUTS OUT GRANTS AND TAX BREAKS AND OTHER THINGS TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES AND SO THIS IS CLEARLY SOMETHING THAT BUSINESSES THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CAPITAL, THAT WALL STREET WOULD HAVE, THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A PUSH TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.
SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND BUSINESS INTERSECTION.
>> ALL RIGHT, OTHER NEWS THIS WEEK, VEHICULAR CRAZINESS, DOWN WILDWOOD.
SEAN, YOU HAD A PIECE ON THIS.
THE COPS KNEW THEY WERE COMING, SAID ANTHONY BUCOLO, OWNER OF THE FOUNTAIN MOTEL ON ATLANTIC AVENUE.
TWO DEAD, AND POLICE KNEW WHAT WAS COMING.
>> THAT WAS A REAL CRISIS THAT JUST BOUNDED DOWN ONTO WILDWOOD AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
POLICE SAY THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF IT ALL THE WAY UP TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TOLD ME THAT THE POLICE WERE STANDING BY, THEY PUT IN AN INFLUX OF, I THINK, 30 TROOPERS AT ONE POINT.
BUT THEY -- POLICE WERE JUST OUTMANNED AND OUTMATCHED AND THIS SPEAKS TO KIND OF A LARGER TREND OF THESE POP-UP EVENTS WE'RE SEEING AT THE SHORE WHEN PEOPLE CAN ORGANIZE SO VERY QUICKLY AND AT SCALE LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT BEING CAUGHT FLAT FOOTED AND, YOU KNOW, WHILE THE AG AND THE GOVERNOR BOTH DEFENDED HOW THIS WAS HANDLED, AND MADE SORT OF VAGUE PLEDGES TO, YOU KNOW, INVESTIGATE WHAT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, AND HOW TO FIX IT AGAIN, FIX IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU SEE VERY OFTEN IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, YOU GET AN AFTER ACTION REPORT, THE FOLKS WHO, YOU KNOW, AFTER THERE'S A MAJOR EVENT YOU SAY, OKAY, WELL, WE HAD SOME WINS AND WE HAD SOME LOSSES, LET'S BREAK EVERYTHING DOWN AND SEE HOW WE CAN DO BETTER IN THE FUTURE.
THE PROBLEM FOR THAT, THEN, DOES THAT BECOME A PUBLIC DOCUMENT?
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE -- WANT TO RELEASE?
THIS ADMINISTRATION, IN PARTICULAR, I HAVE FOUND IS A LITTLE BIT HESITANT TO DO THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S MURKY AS TO WHETHER OR NOT OPRAH SAYS THEY HAVE TO, THEY'RE NOT VOLUNTEERING A LOT OF THIS MATERIAL.
>> ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO GO WITH POLICE CAUGHT FLAT FOOTED SAYS SEAN SULLIVAN.
LILO, DR. ANTHONY FAUCI IS ALL OVER THE AIR WAVES NOW KIND OF DOING, HE ADMITTED DAMAGE CONTROL AFTER THE PRESIDENT SAID COVID WAS OVER.
FAUCI WAS WAS ON CHAT BOX THIS WEEK AND HE COUNTERED THE NOTION, AND FOR A LOT OF US, COVID IS KIND OF OVER, RIGHT, BUT THERE'S A DANGER IN THAT.
>> YEAH, THERE REALLY IS.
I MEAN, I THINK I -- YOUR INTERVIEW WITH HIM WAS GREAT, IF PEOPLE HAVEN'T WATCHED IT, WATCH CHAT BOX.
IT IS -- I WAS -- TWO THINGS, I WAS REALLY STRUCK BY THE FACT THAT HE SAID TWICE THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, RIGHT, HE DIDN'T SAY NEAR THE END, HE SAID IN THE MIDDLE, TO YOU.
AND THAT, I THINK, REALLY SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT THIS ISN'T SOMETHING YET WE TOTALLY UNDERSTAND.
HE SAID WE'VE GOT THESE NEW VARIANTS THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, THE B 4, POINT SOMETHING, SOMETHING, THE B 7, WINTER IS COMING AS YOU NOTED AND WE HAVE REAL APPATHY.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO REMEMBER IT IS DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR, LAST JANUARY, LAST FEBRUARY.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE STILL DON'T HAVE, ON THE AVERAGE OF FIVE DEATHS A DAY STILL IN NEW JERSEY, IN RECENT WEEKS.
300 PLUS NATIONWIDE.
IF ANYTHING -- IF ANY OTHER THING WAS KILLING PEOPLE AT THAT RATE, WE WOULD BE ALARMED.
SO WE NEED TO SORT OF PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE AND DO WHAT WE CAN.
AND I REALLY URGE PEOPLE TO NOT TOTALLY THROW AWAY THOSE MASKS YET.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THEY MAKE SENSE.
AND TO ALSO CHECK LOCAL INFORMATION.
I HAVE A STORY TODAY I HAVE TO SAY I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I LOOKED AT THE MAP THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORY.
WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF TRANSMISSION IN NEW JERSEY, EVEN IF IT'S NOT SENDING PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL THERE'S STILL A LOT OF COVID OUT THERE.
SO WITH THAT HAPPY THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST THE SUN IS SHINING.
>> YES.
OH, IT'S BEEN A RAINY WEEK, THAT'S RIGHT, SO DANIEL, THE IMPACT OF THE STATE'S CHILD TAX CREDIT PROGRAM CAN SLIP BY SOME PEOPLE'S MINDS.
BUT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, NO, YOU HAD A PIECE ON THAT THIS WEEK, CAN YOU UPDATE US?
>> YEAH, IF YOU'RE LOWER INCOME, THE $500 COULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND I THINK IT'S $500 PER FAMILY MAKING UP TO 30,000 A YEAR, IF YOU'RE MAKING THAT LOW, $500 TAX CREDIT WOULD BE A DIFFERENCE IN WHETHER YOU CAN MAKE FOOD OR RENT.
IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO AFFORD THOSE BASIC NEEDS, IT HAS SORT OF A SHOCK WAVE AFFECT.
YOU GET THOSE, I BELIEVE, FROM THE STATE, THEN YOU'RE REALLY ABLE TO PUT MONEY TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND SUPPORT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY.
THERE WAS A STUDY BY RUTGERS THIS SPRING THAT MOST OF LOWER INCOME PEOPLE, MOST FAMILIES WITH LOWER INCOME WILL USE THAT FOR BASIC NECESSITIES, FOOD, RENT IF THEY HAVE DEBT, HIGHER INCOME FAMILIES WHO DO DEBT A LOWER AMOUNT THE MORE THEY MAKE, MIGHT SOCK IT AWAY BECAUSE IT'S MONEY THEY GET, THEY MIGHT AS WELL SAVE IT BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE IT RIGHT NOW.
IT IS MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO A LOT OF FAMILIES.
>> ALL RIGHT, TIME FOR OUR ONLY IN JERSEY SEGMENT, HEADLINES AND NEWS NOTES THAT ARE QUINTESSENTIALLY JERSEY.
DANIEL, YOU GOT ONE?
>> YES, BON JOVI AND BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN RESPONDED AT THIS CLASSIC ICE CREAM PLACE, JERSEY FREEZE.
MY DAD WORKED -- HE OFTEN TOOK US, TOOK ME AND MY FAMILY, ME AND MY BROTHER AND SISTER TO THAT ICE CREAM PLACE, SO I'M A BIT NOSTALGIC TO SEE THAT AND I WAITED IN LINE AT THAT PLACE AND HAD PLENTY OF ICE CREAM RIGHT THERE.
>> THAT LOOKS REALLY DELICIOUS RIGHT NOW.
SEAN, YOU GOT ONE?
>> YEAH, I WANTED TO DRAW THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION TO A GROWING TREND IN SOCIAL MEDIA.
MANY OF US ARE AWARE OF THE NJGOV TWITTER ACCOUNT THAT GOT FAMOUS FOR CYBERBULLYING NEIGHBORING STATES AND GENERALLY -- ONE OF THE RARE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS THAT IS GENUINELY FUNNY.
BUT YOU SHOULDN'T SLEEP ON 85-YEAR-OLD CONGRESSMAN BILL PASS CA RAL'S ACCOUNT, HE'S GOT REAL CHAOTIC VIBES AND I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, LOOKED AT MY PHONE, I DON'T KNOW HOW GOOD THIS WILL COME UP ON SCREEN.
THERE YOU GO, THAT'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WEARING MARIJUANA SUNGLASSES, PULLING ON A JOINT, AND THE CAPTION WAS HASHTAG DANK BRANDON.
COVID REALLY MESSED UP THE BRAINS OF OUR POLITICIANS, AND IN A LOT OF REALLY HURTFUL WAYS, BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT POLITICIANS HAVE GOTTEN WEIRDER IN A GOOD WAY.
>> BILL PASS CORRAL IS CERTAINLY AN ONLY IN GJERSEY CHARACTER.
THAT ESTEEMED JOURNAL KNOWN AS CROSS WORD SOLVER.COM, EXAMINED 3,000 MOVIE SCRIPTS, THE RECORD FOR MOST F BOMBS DROPPED WAS 272.
THE MOST PROLIFIC PERPETRATOR OF PROFANITY, NEW JERSEY'S OWN FAVORITE SON JOE PESCI WHO UTTERED THE FAMOUS ACRONYM 241 TIMES IN ONE FILM.
CAN YOU NAME IT, LILO?
>> CASINO.
>> GREAT MOVIE.
>> THAT'S "ROUND TABLE" FOR THIS WEEK, LILO, SEAN, DANIEL, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.
THANKS FOR COMING ON.
OUR THANKS TO THE SENATOR, BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR FRESH DAILY CONTENT.
YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON MYNJPBS.COM.
THANKS FOR WATCHING, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR REPORTERS ROUND TABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY -- MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NG REALTOR.COM.
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♪

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