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♪ >>> HI, EVERYBODY, WELCOME TO "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR IS RAPIDLY PASSING BY AND THE GENERAL CONSENSUS AMONG PARENTS IS THAT THIS IS THE TERRIBLE WAY FOR KIDS TO TRY TO LEARN.

IT CAN FEEL LIKE PARENTS AND TEACHERS ARE ALL PULLING IN THEIR OWN DIRECTIONS.

MEANWHILE, THE SCHOOL YEAR IS TICKING AWAY.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS WATCHING ALL OF THIS.

SHE IS A MOM AND A STATE LEGISLATOR, CHAIRPERSON OF THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, SENATOR MARIA RUIZ.

SENATOR, HOW YOU DOING?

>> GOOD MORNING, I'M GREAT.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> ALL RIGHT.

THE TERM THAT'S STICKING WITH ME AS I HEAR STAKEHOLDERS TALK ABOUT THE SCHOOLYEAR IS LEARNING LOSS.

CAN WE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT IS?

>> SO, LEARNING LOSS, FOR MANY OF US, HAS BEEN A TITLE OR A SUBJECT MATTER THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED SINCE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN IN OFFICE.

ACTUALLY, IT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I LAUNCHED MY CAMPAIGN TO JOIN THE ELECTED FORCE.

LEARNING LOSS HAS BEEN IMPACTING SEVERAL COMMUNITIES FOR DECADES, EVEN LONG BEFORE I WAS IN THE STATE HOUSE.

BUT NOW, IT'S BECOME SOMETHING THAT ALMOST EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THAT POLICYMAKERS ARE FINALLY IN TUNE WITH ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN FACING SOME OF OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AND OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES AND SOCIALLY DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES FOR DECADES.

LEARNING LOSS IS A REAL THING.

IT HAPPENS OFTENTIMES IN SCENARIOS WHERE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SETTING IS NOT REACHING ITS BEST CAPABILITY OR MAXIMUM CAPACITY IN ADDRESSING ACADEMIC ISSUES.

IT HAPPENS, FOR INSTANCE, IN SUMMERTIME, RIGHT, WHEN A CHILD IS NOT ENGAGING IN ANY KIND OF ACADEMIC SETTING OR PERHAPS THE HOUSEHOLD IS -- ENGLISH IS NOT ITS FIRST LANGUAGE, SO YOU SEE A REGRESSION IN THOSE MOMENTS THAT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS FACE EVERY SEPTEMBER.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED DURING COVID-19 IS THAT THOSE ISSUES HAVE GOTTEN COMPOUNDED.

LACK OF TECHNOLOGY, LACK OF HAVING SOMEONE IN THE HOUSE WHO CAN NAVIGATE THE SCHOOL DAY WITH A CHILD, AND LACK OF INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH HAS CREATED THIS AND MADE IT, I THINK, EVEN BIGGER.

>> SO, YOU'RE PUSHING A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE STATE TO COMPILE A LEARNING LOSS REPORT THAT IDENTIFIES AND QUANTIFIES THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT ON LEARNING, SO THE STATE CAN USE THAT INFORMATION TO DO WHAT?

>> SO, I THINK THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF GETTING DATA OFTEN IS TO HELP US NAVIGATE POLICY AND REGULATIONS, PARTICULARLY AT TIMES WHEN THE BUDGET MIGHT BE STRAPPED FOR FUNDING.

WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE PRECISELY DO YOU HAVE TO FINE TUNE WHATEVER RESOURCES YOU HAVE SO IT HAS ITS MOST MAXIMUM IMPACT.

THE HEIGHTENED LEVEL, I THINK, RIGHT NOW TO GET THAT DATA IS THAT WE MISSED OUR NEW JERSEY STATE ASSESSMENTS LAST YEAR FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, BUT IT WOULD BE, I THINK, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN THE MARCH AND MARCH TIME FRAME WITH OUR STUDENT BASE.

WHERE WERE THEIR PITFALLS?

WHERE WERE THEIR GAINS IF THERE WERE ANY?

WHERE SHOULD WE PUT FUNDING PARTICULARLY NOW WHEN I THINK SUMMER IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS IS GOING TO LOOK DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT.

SUPERINTENDENTS ARE TALKING ABOUT ROBUST RISING PROGRAMS, SO KIDS ARE READY TO GO BACK INTO SEPTEMBER AS OPPOSED TO HAVING SEPTEMBER AS A CATCH TIME FRAME.

ACADEMIC CAMPS, SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S SO CRITICALLY NECESSARY, EVEN WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE PANDEMIC ITSELF, HOW THINGS ARE BEING DRIVEN BY SCIENCE AND BY DATA, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THE DEPARTMENT OF BANKING AND INSURANCE, AND I THINK THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS LAGGED BEHIND IN GETTING THAT DATA INFORMATION, BUT I THINK THEY MIGHT BE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

WHAT WILL HELP US LEGISLATORS NAVIGATE IT ALL, PARENTS KNOW WHERE THEIR CHILDREN ARE, WHICH IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

I THINK FAMILIES WANT TO SEE, HOW DID MY CHILD DO THIS YEAR?

IT'S NOT FOR A PUNITIVE MEASURE.

IT'S JUST TO TAKE A REAL, TRUTHFUL LOOK TO SEE WHERE MY CHILD IS, HOW CAN THE TEACHER UTILIZE THAT -- THOSE TULZ TO BENEFIT HER IN THE CLASSROOM, AND HOW CAN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT USE THAT INFORMATION TO CREATE BETTER PROGRAMMING?

>> SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS CALL FOR THE GOVERNOR TO GET A WAIVER FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN ORDER FOR THE STATE TO CANCEL STANDARDIZED TESTS?

>> SO, I THINK ANYONE WHO'S HAD ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH ME WOULD SAY THAT THAT WOULD BE A SEVERE LOSS TO THE STATE.

FIRST OF ALL, THERE ARE HUGE CONSEQUENCES FOR GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, SPECIFICALLY NOW FOR FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES WHO WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE TWO PARTS THAT, BY LAW, HAVE TO MEET SOME OF THOSE PROVISIONS FOR GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS NEXT YEAR.

I UNDERSTAND WHOLEHEARTEDLY THE PRESSURE THAT STUDENTS ARE FACING, THAT TEACHERS FACE ON A DAILY BASIS, THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE, AND THAT MOTHERS AND FATHERS HAVE AT HOME AND STUDENTS THEMSELVES, BUT WHAT I AM ENCOURAGING THE DEPARTMENT AND STAKEHOLDERS IS HOW CAN WE DO THIS A LITTLE MORE CREATIVELY WITHOUT THROWING THE ENTIRE THING OUT OF THE BOX?

COULD WE HAVE CHILDREN SIT FOR AN HOUR A WEEK AND DO THAT ON THAT DAY AND THEN MOVE ON, EVEN IF IT TAKES US THREE MONTHS, EVEN IF THE DATA WE COLLECT BACK IS NOT QUITE AS CLEAR AS IT WAS BEFORE, COULD WE STILL DO SOMETHING THAT REMOVES PRESSURE, THAT WE DO IT JOINTLY, THAT CREATES SOME OBJECTIVE DATA MATRIX LINE ACROSS THE BOARD AND THAT WE DO IT COLLECTIVELY TO KIND OF ELIMINATE THE STRESS FACTOR THAT HAS BEEN BUILT AROUND THE ASSESSMENT CONVERSATION.

>> SO, WE'RE HEARING TEACHERS SAYING THEY DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO A CLASSROOM UNLESS THEY GET VACCINATED AND THAT'S RAISED QUESTIONS.

ARE TEACHERS NOT ESSENTIAL WORKERS, AND SHOULDN'T THEY BE ON THE LIST TO GET VACCINATED NOW?

DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> SO, 100%, TEACHERS ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

I THINK ONE THING THAT EVERY SINGLE HOUSEHOLD HAS RECOGNIZED IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN OF LEARNING AGE, IF YOU DID NOT KNOW THIS BEFORE, THAT TEACHING IS THE MOST REMARKABLE PROFESSION YOU CAN COMMIT YOURSELF TO, AND WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY, 100% MOVE TEACHERS UP SOONER RATHER THAN LATER INTO THIS NEXT BRACKET.

LET'S GET THEM VACCINATED.

LET'S MAKE THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT RETURNING INTO THE CLASSROOM THAT THOSE DISTRICTS ARE ALLOWING THOSE SCENARIOS AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE GOVERNOR TAKE SERIOUSLY SO THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT REALLY REOPENING OUR SCHOOLS IN THIS ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR, AND PART OF THAT MUST BE VACCINATING OUR FRONTLINE WORKERS, AND IN THIS CASE, IT'S OUR TEACHERS WHO WE HAVE TO PROTECT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SENATOR TERESA RUIZ, APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION.

THANKS FOR TAKING SOME TIME WITH US AND GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

THAT'S IT?

>> THANKS FOR COMING ON.

SORRY TO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH ENTERTAINMENT FOR YOU, SENATOR.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S BRING OUR PANEL IN, CARLY SITRIN IS THE EDUCATION REPORTER FOR POLITICO NJ.

STACEY BARCHENGER IS STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR "USA TODAY" NETWORK AND NORTH JERSEY.COM AND MATT ARCO IS THE POLITICS REPORTER FOR NJ ADVANCE MEDIA.

PANEL, WELCOME.

CARLY, LET'S START WITH YOU.

LEARNING LOSS IS REAL.

WE USED TO CALL IT BE GETTING LEFT BACK WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL.

BUT IS THERE GOING TO HAVE TO BE AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THESE KIDS MISSED AND HOW TO GET IT BACK, MORE IMPORTANTLY?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK THE SENATOR PRETTY MUCH SUMMED UP THE ISSUE IN THAT THERE IS NO DISAGREEMENT THAT REMOTE LEARNING HASN'T WORKED FOR MOST PARENT AND MOST FAMILIES.

IT'S JUST KIND OF LEFT A LOT OF KIDS KIND OF WORKING ON THINGS LIKE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND NONTRADITIONAL LEARNING AND THERE'S BEEN SOME CONCERN THAT IN THE ACADEMICS, THERE'S A LOT OF TIME THAT'S BEEN LOST.

SO, FOLKS IN THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS THIS TUESDAY ARE KIND OF PROPOSING SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE, RIGHT?

SOME SENATORS HAD CONSIDERED, YOU KNOW, DO WE NEED MORE FUNDING FOR BUILDING OUT PROGRAMS OVER THE SUMMER TO HELP SUPPORT LEARNING OVER THE -- THROUGH THE SUMMER AND THE FALL?

SUPERINTENDENT HAD PROPOSED A 24-MONTH FULL FUNDED STATEWIDE PLAN TO ADDRESS LEARNING LOSS, BUT HE SAYS THE STATE SHOULD CONSIDER.

AND AS PART OF THAT, HE'S ASKING FOR MORE MONEY FOR SUPPORT STAFF AND MORE SCHOOL COUNSELORS, AND THINGS THAT AREN'T JUST NECESSARILY ABOUT THE ACADEMIC SCORES AND GETTING GRADES UP BUT ARE MORE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY IS HEALTHY AND STRONG AND ABLE TO RECOVER FROM THIS PANDEMIC AND MOVE FORWARD IN A SUCCESSFUL WAY.

>> SO, WILL WE BE SEEING -- I GUESS WHAT WE USED TO CALL SUMMER SCHOOL, AS A PART OF AN EXTENSION OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL YEAR?

>> I MEAN, IT HASN'T BEEN PROPOSED AT THE STATE LEVEL YET AS A UNIVERSAL PROGRAM, BUT THERE ARE MANY DISTRICTS THAT ARE TAKING IT UPON THEMSELVES TO SAY, YEAH, WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO NEED TO STAND UP SOME SUMMER PROGRAMS TO GIVE KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF CATCH UP OR, YOU KNOW, NAIL DOWN SOME SUBJECTS OR TOPIC LISTS THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REALLY GET TO IN REMOTE LEARNING OR, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES.

PEOPLE HAVE LOST FAMILY MEMBERS.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STRESSED OUT BY THE FEAR OF GETTING COVID, AND SO YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS IN THE MOOD TO LEARN LONG DIVISION IF YOU JUST LOST SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY.

SO, THERE IS TALK ON A DISTRICT LEVEL OF A NEED FOR MORE FUNDING TO STAND UP SUCH PROGRAMS, BUT STATEWIDE, NOTHING'S REALLY BEEN PROPOSED FORMALLY YET.

>> STACEY, THERE'S NOW -- YOU HEARD THE SENATOR TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT.

THIS CALL FROM THOSE WHO WANT TO CANCEL STANDARDIZED TESTS, BUT THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO MEASURE PROGRESS OR MORE SPECIFICALLY LACK OF PROGRESS AMONG THESE KIDS.

IS THERE A CONSENSUS FORMING AROUND THIS ISSUE?

>> I DON'T THINK WE'VE SEEN THAT YET.

THE QUESTION IS, DO WE ALREADY HAVE TESTS IN PLACE ON THE LOCAL LEVEL THAT WILL HELP US MEASURE THIS AND THEN ARE YOU JUST COMPLICATING IT BY CONTINUING WITH STANDARDIZED TESTING?

OR, LIKE YOU HEARD THE SENATOR SAY, THERE IS A REAL NEED TO KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE HOW MUCH TO MEASURE THAT LEARNING LOSS.

I DON'T THINK WE'VE SEEN CONSENSUS IN TERMS OF WHAT THE BEST APPROACH IS AT ALL.

>> MATT, SOME TEACHERS SAY THEY DON'T WANT TO GET BACK IN THE CLASSROOM UNTIL THEY CAN ALL GET COVID SHOTS.

DO WE KNOW WHERE THE TEACHERS UNION STANDS ON THAT ISSUE, AND DOESN'T THE SHORTAGE OF DOSES ALMOST MAKE THIS A MOOT POINT AT THIS TIME?

>> I MEAN, YOUR LAST REMARK IS THE REAL ISSUE AT HAND.

BASED OFF THE GOVERNOR'S PAST COMMENTS, I THINK TEACHERS WILL BE THE NEXT PEOPLE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SHOTS, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IT'S -- THE DEMAND FAR OUTSEEDS THE SUPPLY, SO GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE CDC HAS GIVEN A STATE TO DATE ABOUT 1.7 MILLION DOSES, 1.2 MILLION HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED, AND ONLY ABOUT 300,000 OF THOSE ADMINISTERED ARE SECOND SHOT PEOPLE.

SO, CONSIDER FOR A SECOND THAT THERE'S CURRENTLY SOME 4 MILLION PEOPLE ELIGIBLE TO GET THE SHOT.

YOU KNOW, EVEN IF TEACHERS ARE ADDED TOMORROW, THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY GET AN APPOINTMENT IS QUESTIONABLE.

I MEAN, IT WAS ALMOST QUESTIONABLE TO OPEN IT UP TO SOME 4 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE STATE GIVEN, YOU KNOW, THE STATE -- THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SHOTS WERE THE 650,000 HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND THEN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LIVING AND WORKING IN NURSING HOMES.

THE PEOPLE MOST AT RISK.

DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE -- EXCUSE ME -- AREN'T AT RISK.

BUT IF THE DEMAND ISN'T THERE, I CAN TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENS IS REPORTERS LIKE ME GET FLOODED WITH EMAILS FROM READERS SAYING, HOW DO I GET A SHOT?

HOW DO I GET A SHOT?

AND THE ANSWER IS, IT'S A LOTTERY AT THIS TIME.

>> SO, YOU'RE AT THESE BRIEFINGS THREE TIMES A WEEK, MATT.

THIS VACCINATION PROGRAM, I MEAN, IT SEEMS TO BE GOING AS WELL AS THE UNEMPLOYMENT OR MOTOR VEHICLE OFFICES OR AM I BEING UNKIND?

>> NO, LOOK, NO, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE BEING UNKIND.

I MEAN, IT IS IN THE ADMINISTRATION'S DEFENSE, FAIR TO SAY THAT THIS IS A HUGE EFFORT THAT HASN'T BEEN TAKEN -- UNDERTAKEN BEFORE.

SO, YEAH, YOU CAN EXPECT SOME HICCUPS, BUT I MEAN, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE HOTLINE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE HOTLINE IS BASICALLY SET UP FOR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MOST AT RISK IN THE COMMUNITY, ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT TECH SAVVY.

I'VE BEEN HEARING ANECDOTALLY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE AND HAVE BEEN MOST SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING APPOINTMENTS ARE DOING IT BECAUSE THEY'RE ABLE TO LOG ON TO THE COMPUTER EVERY DAY AND BOOK DRIRECTLY WITH THE FACILITIES THAT ARE OFFERING THESE VACCINATIONS.

WHEREAS, AN ELDERLY PERSON MAY NOT BE AS TECH SAVVY, SO THEY HAVE TO RELY ON THE HOTLINE, WHICH IS ALL GOOD AND WELL, EXCEPT NOW WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE THAT THE HOTLINE WAS TEMPORARILY SHUT DOWN BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO RETRAIN PEOPLE, DEPENDING ON, YOU KNOW, WHO YOU CALL OR WHO PICKED UP THE PHONE ON THE OTHER END OF THE HOTLINE, YOU GET DIFFERENT ADVICE, SOMETIMES INACCURATE ADVICE.

SO, IT'S BEEN A MESS, AND I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM IT FROM READERS AND IT'S, LOOK, AGAIN, IT CAN'T -- YOU CAN'T JUST BLAME IT ALL ON THE ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE THIS IS A NEW PROBLEM, BUT WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE ARE RIGHTFULLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR LIVES.

SO, IT'S CREATING A LOT OF PANIC IN THE COMMUNITY.

I'M HEARING IT.

>> BUT IT DOESN'T INSPIRE CONFIDENCE WHEN YOU HEAR THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER SAY AT A BRIEFING THAT IT'S HARDER THAN WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE.

>> I CAN TELL YOU DIRECTLY HEARING FROM READERS THAT, NO, THAT DID NOT INSPIRE CONFIDENCE.

>> YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, I WANT TO PIVOT HERE AND TURN TO THE SITUATION AT THE EDNA MAHAN PRISON.

TESTIMONY ABOUT HOW THERE WERE WARNINGS ABOUT THIS ALL ALONG.

STACEY, COMMISSIONER MARCUS HICKS STILL ON THE JOB.

IS THIS JUST A POSTPONEMENT OF THE INEVITABLE OR WILL HE SOMEHOW BE ABLE TO SURVIVE THIS SCANDAL?

>> I THINK THAT'S TO BE DETERMINED.

THE ATTENTION FROM THE LEGISLATURE ON THIS ISSUE IS STILL GOING STRONG.

ALL SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE ASKED THAT HE BE REMOVED FROM HIS POSITION.

THE GOVERNOR HAS STOOD BY HIM AND SAID HE SUPPORTS THE POLICIES THAT HE HAS PUT IN PLACE.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT LAWMAKERS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH IS JUST A YEAR AGO, THE CONDITIONS AT THIS PRISON WERE HIGHLIGHTED IN A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REPORT THAT FOUND WIDESPREAD SEXUAL ABUSE, THIS VERY REAL FEAR OF RETALIATION, AND THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS STILL ABOUT IF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THAT REPORT HAVE LED TO CHANGES AT THE FACILITY, AND SO LUAWMAKERS ARE STILL LOOKING FOR ANSWERS ON THAT, AND THERE IS THIS SORT OF GROWING INTEREST IN IMPEACHING COMMISSIONER HICKS, WHICH, I MEAN, WOULD JUST BE SORT OF AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE FOR A LEGISLATURE, AND WE'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT TURNS OUT.

>> THIS ISN'T JUST SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN PERCOLATING FOR YEARS.

THE ATROCIOUS CLAIMS OF WHAT THESE WOMEN HAVE BEEN ALLEGING, SO, YEAH, DOES MARCUS HICKS SURVIVE?

PROBABLY NOT.

BUT I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE REAL TRAGEDY HERE IS OBVIOUSLY WHAT THESE -- THE ALLEGATIONS OF THESE WOMEN, BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND IT'S BEEN A SLOW DRIP OF INFORMATION COMING OUT FROM THIS PRISON ABOUT SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS.

SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT MARCUS HICKS IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, HIM JUST LEAVING THE JOB IS GOING TO BE THE END RESULT OF IT.

I MEAN, IT SEEMS -- I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, THREE PEOPLE WERE ALREADY CHARGED.

THERE COULD BE MORE.

>> CARLY, WE'VE HEARD SO MUCH TALK OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF FEMALE STAFF AND LAWMAKERS.

IT'S BEEN SO HIGH ON THE AGENDA IN TRENTON, THIS SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR WOULD WANT TO GET BEHIND HIM SOONER, AS HE SAYS, RATHER THAN LATER, NO?

WHAT IS HE WAITING FOR?

>> I MEAN, I CAN'T PRETEND TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING THROUGH HIS HEAD RIGHT NOW BUT I THINK SENATOR RUIZ KIND OF HIT ON IT A LITTLE BIT.

THE ISSUE OF, LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AS SIMPLE AS, LIKE, GETTING RID OF THE GUY AT THE TOP.

THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN KIND OF EMBEDDED IN THIS SYSTEM FOR YEARS AND FOR, YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS HOW LONG, AND SO I THINK THE CALCULATION NOW IS, LIKE, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S A QUICK ACTION I CAN TAKE BUT, LIKE, HOW DO I ROOT OUT THESE SYSTEMIC ACCUSATIONS AND ABUSES FROM THIS SYSTEM?

AND THAT'S A MUCH MORE DAUNTING KIND OF OUTLOOK AND CONSIDERATION TO MAKE.

I MEAN, IT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW, I MEAN, IN NO WAY DUE TO THE ALLEGATIONS BUT IN HANDLING IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW AT THE SDA, THE SCHOOLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, WITH DECADES OF MISMANAGEMENT AND CORRUPTION AND WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A SYSTEM THAT IS TOTALLY BUILT ON THAT?

AND I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER.

>> WE HEARD THE WORD "IMPEACHMENT" COME UP.

THE SECOND TRIAL OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT, THE DEFENSE IS GOING TO MAKE ITS CASE OVER THE WEEKEND.

THE VERDICT SEEMS TO NOT BE IN DOUBT REALLY.

WHAT'S IT ALL GOING TO MEAN A MONTH FROM NOW?

THIS IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION AT THE MIDTERMS?

>> I MEAN, TO THE EXTENT, DAVID, THAT AFTER THIS IS ALL SAID AND DONE AND YOU KNOW, TRUMP GETS AWAY -- YOU KNOW, TRUMP IS UNSCATHED BY THIS, YOU KNOW, THE ONE QUESTION THAT I HAVE, THEN, PERTAINING TO NEW JERSEY IS, WHAT SORT OF NATIONAL ROLE AND VOICE DOES TRUMP HAVE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

AND THE ONLY REASON THAT THAT MATTERS IN JERSEY IS BECAUSE IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR.

TECHNICALLY -- YOU CAN SEE A SCENARIO WHERE IF TRUMP IS VERY VOCAL AND CONTINUES -- AND FINDS ANOTHER PLATFORM BEYOND, YOU KNOW, TWITTER, THAT THE GOVERNOR MURPHY RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION CAN USE TRUMP AS A SORT OF BOOGEYMAN THAT UNDER MOST CONDITIONS, GOVERNORS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE A PAST PRESIDENT AS A REFERENDUM ON THE NEW PRESIDENT.

SO, THAT'S WHAT JUMPS OUT AT ME THE MOST BUT IT'S STILL AN OPEN-ENDED QUESTION ABOUT HOW BIG OF A VOICE TRUMP WILL HAVE.

>> BECAUSE IN NEW JERSEY, TRUMP HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

ANOTHER WEEK WITH NO ENABLING LEGISLATION FOR A CANNABIS INDUSTRY IN THE STATE.

WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD LAWS COVERING MAGIC MUSHROOMS BEFORE WE HAD LAWS COVERING LEGAL CANNABIS?

CARLY, WE KEEP ASSUMING IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT THE WEEKS CONTINUE TO SLIP BY.

IT'S MID-FEBRUARY NOW.

IS THIS EVER GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> LOOK, I'VE BEEN COVERING THIS ISSUE NOW FOR, LIKE, MOST OF MY CAREER, AND I HAVE SINCE SWITCHED BEATS AND MOVED ON AND IT'S STILL ONGOING.

SO, I GUESS THE LATEST UPDATE IS THAT THE -- THERE'S BEEN AN EXTENDED DEADLINE SO NOW WE'RE UP TO FEBRUARY 18th OR SO.

THE GOVERNOR HAS BILLS SITTING ON HIS DESK.

HIS OPTIONS NOW ARE, YOU KNOW, DO YOU -- THERE'S STILL SOME QUIBBLING OVER PENALTIES FOR THOSE AGE 20 AND YOUNGER, SO THE QUESTION FACING HIM NOW IS, DO YOU SIGN THE BILLS AS IS, AND ISSUE CLEAN-UP LEGISLATION AFTERWARDS?

DO YOU, YOU KNOW, VETO THEM OUTRIGHT, START THE PROCESS OVER AGAIN?

OR DO YOU CONDITIONAL VETO AND JUST SEND THEM BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE WITH LINE ITEMS YOU THINK COULD BE CHANGED?

OR DO YOU DO NOTHING AND JUST KIND OF LET THEM BECOME LAW WITHOUT YOUR NAME ON IT.

SO, I MEAN, CERTAIN OPTIONS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN OTHERS.

IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE -- THE GOVERNOR'S GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO IRON OUT THIS LANGUAGE AND HOPEFULLY GET SOMETHING DONE IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS, BUT IT'S HARD TO AVOID THE FACT THAT THE VOTERS ALREADY VOTED ON THIS.

THEY SAID, WE WANT IT TO BE LEGALIZED.

AND IN THE MEANTIME, PEOPLE ARE STILL GETTING ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA, AND THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM WHEN YOU HAVE, IN THE CONSTITUTION, A BALLOT MEASURE THAT IS DECIDED THAT IT SHOULD BE LEGAL.

>> STACEY, AT WHAT POINT DOES IT START TO REALLY BECOME A NEGATIVE?

I MEAN, WE CAN JOKE ABOUT IT AND SAY, I WANT MY GUMMIES, BUT THE FACT IS, THIS IS AN INDUSTRY PEOPLE HAVE INVESTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN IT ALREADY.

IS THERE A TIPPING POINT AT SOME POINT WHERE THE INDUSTRY DOESN'T REALLY GET A CHANCE TO GET OFF THE GROUND BECAUSE OF SO MANY DELAYS?

>> I MEAN, IT'S ALL ABOUT DEADLINES AT THIS POINT, RIGHT?

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL WATCHING TO SEE WHEN THEY CAN REACH THIS AGREEMENT AND KIND OF GET THIS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

CERTAINLY IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE CLOSEST WATCHED ISSUES HAPPENING IN TRENTON RIGHT NOW.

IT'S INTERESTING, TOO, THIS IS LEGALIZING MARIJUANA WAS ONE OF THE GOVERNOR'S CHIEF CAMPAIGN ISSUES, AND HERE WE ARE, YEARS LATER, AND IT STILL HASN'T HAPPENED?

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THE IMPACT OF THAT WILL BE.

>> MATT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE LABOR COMMISSIONER ON "CHAT BOX" NEXT WEEK.

IS THE AGENCY GETTING A HANDLE ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT MESS IN THE STATE YET?

>> I THINK THAT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK.

I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO SAY YES, THAT THEY ARE GETTING A HANDLE ON IT AND THEY'LL STRESS HOW THIS WAS JUST A TIDAL WAVE OF CLAIMS AND YES, THAT'S ALL TRUE, AND YES, NEW JERSEY IS NOT THE ONLY STATE DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I BROUGHT UP WITH THE GOVERNOR, WHO'S BEEN SAYING FOR MONTHS NOW, ALMOST A YEAR NOW AT THIS POINT, DON'T WORRY FOR ANYBODY WHO HAS A CLAIM, IT WILL EVENTUALLY GET SOLVED AND IF YOU'RE OWED MONEY, YOU'LL GET MONEY.

BUT YOU KNOW, GROCERY STORES DON'T TAKE IOUs SO YOU HAVE -- TALK ABOUT A FLOOD OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN COMING TO REPORTERS TRYING TO GET HELP.

PEOPLE ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS.

AND THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE ZERO MONEY AND HAVEN'T HAD MONEY FOR MONTHS, SO YES, SOME OF THE PROBLEM IS ON THE TECHNOLOGY THE ADMINISTRATION INHERITED.

SOME OF THE PROBLEM IS ON PRESIDENT TRUMP OR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP DELAYING SIGNING THE MOST RECENT AID PACKAGE THAT -- BY A DAY OR TWO THAT REALLY MESSED UP NEW JERSEY'S INPUT AND OTHER STATES.

SO, YOU CAN BLAME IT ON OTHER FOLKS, BUT LOOK, WE'RE A YEAR INTO THIS, AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, MAYBE THE QUESTION COULD BE, INVESTING IN MORE DOL WORKERS WHO CAN GET THESE CLAIMS RESOLVED BECAUSE FRANKLY, BLUE-COLLAR WORKER THAT'S GONE SIX MONTHS WITHOUT INCOME OR MAYBE, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, LIKE TWO MONTHS WITHOUT INCOME, IS SORT OF DEVASTATING TO EVEN THINK ABOUT.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, ZERO MONEY.

THAT'S VERY REAL.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S "ROUND TABLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

THA THANKS TO OUR GUEST, SENATOR TERESA RUIZ, AND OUR PANEL, CARLY SITRIN, STACEY BARBARA STARR AND MATT ARCO.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT INCLUDING NJ BUSINESS BEAT, "CHAT BOX," AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

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