.

"REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

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AND BY POLITICO'S NEW JERSEY PLAYBOOK, A TOPICAL NEWSLETTER ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS, ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM.

♪ ♪ >>> WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN?

ONE FORMER CONGRESSMAN FROM HUDSON COUNTY IS ABOUT TO TRY.

HI, EVERYBODY, IT'S "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE," I'M DAVID CRUZ, GLAD TO BE BACK WITH YOU, OUR PANEL INCLUDES DANIEL HAHN, HEALTH CARE REPORTER FOR POLITICO NJ, BRENT JOHNSON, POLITICS REPORTER FOR NJ ADVANCED MEDIA, AND WE'LL HEAR FROM THE PANEL IN JUST A BIT.

WE BEGIN TODAY WITH THE MAN WHO SERVED EIGHT TERMS IN CONGRESS, REPRESENTING HUDSON, ESSEX, AND UNION COUNTIES, ALBIO SERES RETIRED FROM THE HOUSE, AND HE'S RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF HIS HOMETOWN OF WEST NEW YORK.

ALBIO JOINS US NOW, WELCOME TO "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE".

>> DAVID, NICE TO SEE YOU, WE GO BACK A LONG WAY.

>> YES, WE WERE BOTH YOUNG AND HANDSOME ONCE.

>> THANKS.

>> SO YOU SERVED AS MAYOR OF WEST NEW YORK THREE TERMS, I THINK.

YOU MISSED A JOB THAT BADLY, OR DID YOU JUST GET THAT FED UP WITH CONGRESS?

>> WELL, IT'S A COUPLE OF THINGS, YEAH, YOU KNOW, WHEN I LEFT.

I HAD A FEW THINGS THAT I WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH THAT I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO ACCOMPLISH BECAUSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO CONGRESS WAS THERE.

AND THEN NOW THAT I RETIRE, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO COME HOME, AND I WANT TO FINISH SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT I THINK IS SO IMPORTANT FOR WEST NEW YORK.

WE HAVE A LIBRARY THAT IS 100 YEARS OLD, AND I WANT TO BUILD A LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE RESIDENTS OF WEST NEW YORK.

I ALSO WANT TO BUILD A WATER FRONT PARK ON ONE OF THE PIERS, WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW COMMUNITIES ALONG THE WATER FRONT, THAT'S NOT A PARK ON THE PIER.

WE HAVE THE PIER THERE, IT'S A MATTER OF CONVERTING THE PIER INTO A PARK FOR THE PEOPLE.

AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO BUILD A BIGGER ROAD.

IT'S BECOMING VERY DANGEROUS ON THE WATER FRONT, WITH ALL THE DEVELOPMENT, THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC.

I'M CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET HURT CROSSING THAT STREET.

>> SO IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE, I KNOW YOU KNOW, GOING FROM NOT ONLY THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BACK TO THE LOCAL LEVEL.

BUT NOW BACK TO BEING IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP THE STREETS CLEAN, MAKE SURE THE CITY POOL IS NICE.

YOU CAN'T PLAY AS MUCH GOLF, I CAN TELL YOU.

DO YOU HAVE THE ENERGY FOR THIS?

>> OH, YES.

YOU KNOW, I'M COMING HOME.

THIS IS WHERE -- YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

BUT I THINK I AM MORE EXPERIENCED NOW.

I HAVE BETTER CONTACTS.

I CAN SERVE THE PEEOPLE OF WEST NEW YORK BETTER AFTER GOING THROUGH WHAT I'VE GONE THROUGH THE LAST FEW YEARS.

>> YOU'VE GOING TO HAVE TWO CHALLENGERS, COMMISSIONER COSMO CIRILLO AND PROBABLY FORM MAYOR FELIX ROQUE.

IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF CAMPAIGN RUNNING FOR MAYOR.

HOW DOES THE CAMPAIGNING CHANGE FOR YOU.

YOU CAN'T RELY ON TV AS MUCH, RIGHT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS, WHEN I RAN IN WEST NEW YORK, IT'S A DOOR TO DOOR ISSUE.

TALKING TO THE PEOPLE, ASKING THE PEOPLE TO SUPPORT YOU.

AND I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN THAT, DAVID.

YOU KNOW, I DID IT FOR A LONG TIME, BEFORE I BECAME MAYOR, IF YOU REMEMBER.

>> YEAH.

I REMEMBER -- >> SO I'M HOPING TO DO THE SAME THING.

>> I REMEMBER BACK IN THE OLD DAYS WHEN YOU WERE GETTING KICKED OUT OF COMMISSIONERS' MEETING BECAUSE YOU WERE A GADFLY AT THE TIME.

I'VE GOT TO ASK YOU ABOUT CONGRESS.

WE TALKED LAST WEEK, AND YOU SAID YOU WERE KIND OF SICK OF THE PLACE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE SPECTACLE OF THE SELECTION OF A SPEAKER LIKE THE ONE THAT WE SAW LAST WEEK?

>> WELL, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IF I HAD ANY DOUBTS ABOUT MY RETIREMENT FROM CONGRESS, THOSE THREE DAYS, AND 2:00 IN THE MORNING VOTE, CERTAINLY MADE MY DECISION SEEM A LOT BETTER THAN BEFORE.

AND WHEN I TALK TO MY FRIENDS THERE, THEY'RE GOING CRAZY OVER THE STUFF THAT'S GOING ON.

SO MY DECISION WAS SOLID, AND IT WAS MADE MORE SOLID BY THE FACT THAT IF NOTHING BUT CHAOTIC CONGRESS THEY ARE IN, IN WASHINGTON.

IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE.

THE GREATEST DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD, TO HAVE A SPECTACLE LIKE THAT.

>> IS THERE ONE MEMORY THAT STANDS OUT FROM YOUR 17 YEARS IN CONGRESS?

>> WELL, REMEMBER, I WAS ON THE FLOOR OF THE CONGRESS WHEN JANUARY 6th HAPPENED.

AND I SAW IT THERE.

I SAW THEM TAKE SPEAKER PELOSI AWAY.

I SAW THEM TELL US TO PUT THE GAS MASKS ON.

I SAW THE SECURITY WALK US OUT OF THERE, WITH GUNS IN HAND.

SO THOSE MEMORIES ARE STILL VERY SHARP IN MY MIND.

>> AND YOU SAID THAT THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON YOU AS WELL.

THAT WHOLE INCIDENT.

BUT YOU WERE ALREADY -- THAT WASHINGTON SEEMED AT LEAST TOWARDS THE END THERE FOR YOU, SEEMED TO BE NOT YOUR SCENE.

>> RIGHT, YOU KNOW, IF I CAN'T DO THE JOB THAT I THINK I'M CAPABLE OF DOING, I SHOULDN'T DO IT.

THAT'S JUST ME.

AND I DIDN'T THINK THAT I HAD -- TOWARDS THE END THERE, I THOUGHT I WAS LOSING THE ENTHUSIASM, AND THE DESIRE TO BE IN WASHINGTON.

SO I DO -- I CAME HOME, AND PEOPLE WERE VERY ENCOURAGING TO ME TO COME BACK.

AND EVERY TIME I GO OUT ON THE STREET, PEOPLE ARE JUST ASKING ME COME BACK, COME BACK.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT, IT IS -- I'M COMING HOME.

THE PROJECTS THAT I WANT TO DO FOR THE PEOPLE OF WEST NEW YORK, I THINK I CAN GET THEM ACCOMPLISHED.

I THINK I CAN GET THEM DONE.

AND I THINK THE PEOPLE OF WEST NEW YORK WILL BE BETTER OFF FOR IT.

>> YOU SUCCEEDED MENENDEZ THE FATHER IN CONGRESS.

NOW YOU'RE BEING SUCCEEDED BY MENENDEZ THE SON.

I'M NOT SURE I'VE EVER SEEN THAT BEFORE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR YOUNG ROB MENENDEZ?

>> WELL, MY ONLY ADVICE WOULD BE TO MAKE SURE HE GETS A GOOD STAFF.

THE STAFF IN WASHINGTON, FOR ME, WAS PARAMOUNT.

IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I REALLY RELIED ON.

AND THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON.

REMEMBER, I WAS A MEMBER OF THREE COMMITTEES.

I WAS ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

I WAS IN TRANSPORTATION.

AND THEN PELOSI APPOINTED ME TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.

SO YOU NEED A GOOD STAFF TO HANDLE ALL THAT.

ON TOP OF THAT, I WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

SO I HAD MY HANDS FULL, BUT I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A GOOD STAFF.

>> YOU ARE FROM HUDSON COUNTY, OF COURSE, BORN AND RAISED, MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL.

AND SO THAT MEANS -- >> I WAS BORN IN CUBA.

>> I'M SORRY, RIGHT, RAISED.

BUT YOU -- SO YOU'RE FROM HUDSON COUNTY IS MY POINT.

SO HAVE TO BE TOUGH, HAVE TO HAVE THICK SKIN.

WHAT IS YOUR FEELING ABOUT JUST IN GENERAL OUR POLITICS, AND THIS COUNTRY TODAY?

>> MY FEELING IS I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

WE SEEM TO BE AT TWO EXTREMES.

THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ROOM FOR PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BOTHERED ME THE MOST.

WE CAN'T CONTINUE ON THESE EXTREMES BECAUSE WE'RE JUST HURTING THE COUNTRY.

AND, YOU KNOW, I BLAME ALL THAT STUFF ON DONALD TRUMP, THE WAY HE HAS DIVIDED THE COUNTRY.

AND I SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN BRAZIL THIS PAST WEEK, AND I HOPE IT DOESN'T CONTINUE THROUGHOUT ANY OTHER COUNTRY.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE -- WE ARE THE SHINING LIGHT OF DEMOCRACY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S BEEN HURT BY THESE DIVISIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FORMER PAIN IN THE NECK TOMEI DOOR DOFINO, FORMER REPUBLICAN, FORMER MAYOR, ASSEMBLYMAN, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER AND CONGRESSMAN ALBIO SIRES, THANKS FOR COMING ON, GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

>> IT'S A PLEASURE ALWAYS TALKING TO YOU, DAVID, THANK YOU.

>>> ALL RIGHT, PANEL DAN, BRENT, BREANNA, HAPPY TO SEE YOU ALL.

SIRES SUCCEEDED BOB, AND SUCCEEDED BY ROB.

THAT'S PRETTY HUDSON COUNTY.

WHY WOULD YOU GO FROM CONGRESS TO CITY HALL?

>> I MEAN, CHRIS CHRISTIE USED TO SAY THAT YOU DON'T ALWAYS KNOW ALL YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE STATE BUT EVERYBODY KNOWS THE GOVERNOR AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THE MAYOR.

AND ESPECIALLY IN MUD SON COUNTY YOU CAN HOLD A LOT OF POWER DOING SOME THINGS AS MAYOR.

IT DOESN'T SHOCK ME.

AND AGAIN, A VERY JERSEY MOVE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE MENENDEZ' BOOKENDING IT.

>> THINGS ARE A LITTLE TOPSY TURVY RIGHT NOW IN HUDSON COUNTY AS FAR AS THE DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION GOES.

>> YEAH.

EVERYBODY -- HUDSON COUNTY ALWAYS IS AT THE CENTER OF NEW JERSEY POLITICS, AND ESPECIALLY NOW.

YOU KNOW, HE'LL DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO BE SOMEONE WE PAY ATTENTION TO ONCE HE'S THERE.

>> THAT ELECTION IS IN MAY.

SO WE'LL WATCH AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

>>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS STATE OF THE STATE, PHIL MURPHY, LIVE AND IN PERSON FROM THE STATE HOUSE, PRO CLAIMING FOR THE WORLD TO HEAR, JERSEY IS COOL.

LET'S HEAR A MINUTE FROM THIS.

>> AND WE KNOW THIS JERSEY PRIDE IS BUBBLING UP ONCE AGAIN, ALL THROUGHOUT OUR STATE.

NOW WE'VE ALWAYS HAD SWAGGER.

IN PAST TIMES IT WAS OUR LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST ANY NUMBER OF SLIGHTS.

AND JOKES.

BUT NOT ANYMORE.

IT IS OKAY TO ADMIT IT, IT IS COOL TO BE FROM NEW JERSEY AGAIN.

>> I HAVE TO LAUGH.

IT JUST FEELS SO STUBBORNLY AUTHENTIC.

BREANNA, I GUESS IT'S NICE TO BE BACK LIVE.

YOU WERE AT THE ANCHOR DESK, I WAS AT MY PERCH OUT THERE TRYING TO HECKLE THE GOVERNOR.

WHAT WERE YOUR TAKEAWAYS FROM THAT, STARTING WITH JUST BEING LIVE TOGETHER?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, IT WAS CERTAINLY THE PHIL MURPHY THAT WE'VE KNOWN, WHO LOVES TO BE IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE, AND GIVE THE SHOUTOUTS, AND SORT OF HOLD COURT IN THAT WAY.

THE ENERGY WAS THERE.

IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS I THINK THE SPEECHES FELL A LITTLE BIT FLAT JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE NATURAL APPLAUSE LINES, AND THE SHOUTOUTS TO THE DIGNITARIES IN THE ROOM.

SO THAT DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, IT FELT LIKE OLD TIMES, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU WERE THERE IN THE HALLWAY.

WORKING TO GET THE GOVERNOR.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY PHIL MURPHY.

BUT AGAIN, THERE WAS A LOT OF CRITICISM THAT CAME AFTER THE FACT BECAUSE HIS POLICY PROPOSALS WERE NOT GRANDIOSE IN NATURE.

HE'S A LAME DUCK GOVERNOR.

AND SO ONE MIGHT THINK HE WOULD THROW, YOU KNOW, SWING FOR THE FENCES.

>> RIGHT.

>> IN THE STATE SPEECH.

BUT HE REALLY DIDN'T.

I MEAN, AFFORDABILITY WAS THE THEME.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT THIS WEEK ON THE NEWSCAST.

BUT THE BIG THING TO COME OUT OF IT WAS REVAMPING THE STATE EASTE 'S LIQUOR LICENSE LAW WHICH NO ONE WILL ARGUE IS CERTAINLY ARCHAIC BUT IT'S ALSO BEEN A THORN IN THE SIDE OF LEGISLATORS.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT DECISION WAS ABOUT GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE DEMOCRATIC-LED LEGISLATURE IS UP FOR ELECTION THIS YEAR.

SO IT'S PROBABLY NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO TACKLE.

>> YEAH.

BUT, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE HAD JACK CIATARELLI ON CHAT BOX, AND HE WAS MOCKING HIM FOR THAT THING, THAT'S THE HEADLINE OF YOUR STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH?

DAN, COVID, THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, NONE OF THAT MENTIONED, WHAT WAS YOUR TAKEAWAY FROM LISTENING TO THIS SPEECH?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THE STATE OF THE STATE IS A CELEBRATED SPEECH, A TIME FOR THE EXECUTIVE, THE GOVERNOR TO GIVE THEMSELVES A PAT ON THE BACK.

WHILE THE GOVERNOR GETS HIGH APPROVAL RATINGS FOR HIS HANDLING OF THE PANDEMIC THERE ARE STILL SORE SPOTS YOU JUST MENTIONED, THE DUST IN THE VETERAN ZONES, THE ONGOING INDEPENDENT REVIEW THAT'S HAPPENING.

IT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MISPLACED, I THINK, TO MENTION THAT DURING WHAT IS GENERALLY VERY CELEBRATED SPEECH.

I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO MENTION WHAT HE DID TALK ABOUT AS BREANNA MENTIONED THE REVAMPING TO THE LIQUOR LICENSE REFORM, PROVIDING FREE NALOXONE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS IT AT PHARMACIES AND THE BOARDWALK FUND TO REVAMP THE JERSEY SHORE.

>> BRENT, THOSE ARE REALLY KIND OF JERSEY THINGS.

WHAT WAS YOUR TAKEAWAY FROM THE SPEECH?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, HE'S JUGGLING TWO THINGS HERE, ONE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S TALK OF HIM RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, OR AT LEAST BEING A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE, IF BIDEN DOESN'T RUN FOR REELECTION.

THERE'S ALSO THE 120 SEATS UP IN THE LEGISLATURE IN NOVEMBER.

SO IT FELT LIKE A KIND OF IN BETWEEN SPEECH.

VERY JERSEY CENTRIC.

MORE JERSEY CENTRIC THAN PAST YEARS, LESS PROGRESSIVE, MORE TALK ABOUT CENTRIST TYPE TOPICS, LIKE BUSINESS AND CRIME.

IT WASN'T A SPEECH THAT WAS FILLED WITH NEW IDEAS, OR EVEN MUCH OF A HUGE FOCUS ON NEW AFFORDABILITY PROPOSALS THAT MAY COME IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH NEXT MONTH.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS DEFINITELY SEEING PHIL MURPHY SPEAK BOTH TO A JERSEY AUDIENCE AND A LITTLE BIT TO A NATIONAL AUDIENCE.

>> YOU KNOW, DAVID IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN BECAUSE I GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THE GOVERNOR THE FOLLOWING DAY, BUT PRIOR TO THAT, I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL MEMBERS OF REALLY PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATIONS, AND THEY WERE GENUINELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE SPEECH.

I MEAN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE BUDGET IS REALLY WHERE WE GET INTO THE NITTY-GRITTY.

AND THE -- YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR LAYS OUT SOME REAL FINER POINTS OF POLICIES TO TACKLE.

BUT PROGRESSIVES REALLY ARE FEELING LEFT BEHIND RIGHT NOW.

WE COULD WEIGH THAT ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ANGLES, YOU COULD LOOK AT MURPHY'S RECORD AND CERTAINLY LIST OFF A LOT OF THE PROGRESSIVE ITEMS HE TALKED ABOUT TOO, WHICH WERE THE MINIMUM WAGE AND ABORTION ACCESS, THINGS LIKE THAT, CODIFYING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

BUT PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO ENVIRONMENT, WHEN IT COMES TO SOME SOCIAL JUSTICE, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES, THERE WAS A LOT OF STRIFE AFTER THIS SPEECH WITH A NUMBER OF THE PEOPLE I SPOKE WITH.

>> YEAH.

AND SO DOES THE FACT THAT THE PROGRESSIVES NOTICE HIS MOVE TO THE CENTER, DOES THAT SAY MORE ABOUT WHAT HIS PLANS ARE TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT, YOU THINK, BREE?

>> WELL, OF COURSE HE SAYS NO.

HE SAID NO AGAIN WHEN I ASKED HIM IN SEVEN DIFFERENT WAYS, IN SEVEN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES THIS WEEK.

BUT HE DID LEAVE -- MY INTERPRETATION, THOUGH, WAS THAT HE LEFT THE DOOR WIDE OPEN.

HE WOULD ONLY SPEAK TO THE FACT THAT HE'S 1,000% BEHIND JOE BIDEN.

SO THIS WEEK A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENED FOR JOE BIDEN WITH REGARD TO DOCUMENTS, CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS, OF COURSE, THAT WERE DISCOVERED AT AN OFFICE HE USED AS VICE PRESIDENT.

I DON'T KNOW.

WE'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.

>> YEAH.

>> BEFORE THAT COULD KNOCK HIM FROM HIS PERCH.

BUT CERTAINLY EVERYONE WHO HOLDS THE OFFICE OF NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR SEES THEMSELF AS A POTENTIAL HIGHER CANDIDATE.

WE KNOW THIS FROM YEARS PAST.

>> BRENT, LET'S ASSUME, YOU KNOW, THESE DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND, AND THE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SON AND THE ORIGINS OF COVID, AND ALL THESE INVESTIGATIONS, LEST SAY THEY PROVE TO BE ALL TOO MUCH FOR THE OCTOGENARIAN PRESIDENT WHO SAYS, LISTEN, I'M DONE, THAT CLEARS THE WAY FOR MURPHY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, CORY BOOKER'S ALREADY TRIED THIS AND HE'S GOT AN OPERATION STILL IN PLACE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD COME OF THAT IF THERE WERE A SPACE FOR SOMEONE FROM NEW JERSEY TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT, EXCLUDING CHRIS CHRISTIE, YOU'D THINK -- WHAT WOULD -- JUST GUESS WHAT MURPHY WOULD DO, AND BOOKER WOULD DO?

>> I MEAN, IT'S NOT IMPROBABLE, OR OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT THEY BOTH RUN.

I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN THE PAST FEW TERMS HAVE -- YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN 17, 18 CANDIDATES.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY.

AND MURPHY IS DEFINITELY, HE WILL SAY THAT HE'S 1,000% BEHIND BIDEN, THAT'S TRUE.

IF BIDEN RUNS YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE SOMEONE LIKE MURPHY CHALLENGE THE PRESIDENT.

BUT THE PEOPLE IN HIS CAMP BEHIND THE SCENES HAVE BEEN SETTING UP IN CASE THAT HAPPENS, IN CASE BIDEN DOES NOT RUN.

SO THAT'S DEFINITELY -- THE QUESTION IS WHETHER HE HAS A LANE, WHETHER THERE'S A CHANCE FOR HIM TO WIN, BUT THERE'S MacANIZATIONS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

>> THE DESIRE IS THERE FOR SURE.

A LITTLE BIT OF OTHER NEWS, DANIEL THIS WEEK THE COURTS STRUCK DOWN A GOOD PORTION, OR AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE GOVERNOR'S CONCEAL/CARRY BILL.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, WHAT'S OUT, AND WHAT'S STILL LEFT, AND WHAT THE POTENTIAL IS FOR THIS THING TO PASS MUSTER IN THE COURTS?

>> YEAH.

SO THE GUN LEGISLATION THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED LAST DECEMBER DID A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS OF IT WAS THAT IT BARRED GUNS FROM BEING CARRIED IN BROAD SWATHS OF THE STATE, AT LEAST 25 SO-CALLED SENSITIVE PLACES, WHERE YOU CANNOT CARRY A GUN.

THAT WENT INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

BUT THE COURTS OPINION, OR SHOULD I SAY THE JUDGE'S OPINION FROM EARLIER THIS WEEK ESSENTIALLY PUT HALT TO PART OF THE SENSITIVE PLACES WHERE GUNS ARE PROHIBITED FROM BEING CARRIED.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, PLACES WHERE ALCOHOL ARE SERVED, ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES, THOSE ARE PLACES THAT WERE INITIALLY WHERE YOU COULDN'T CARRY A WEAPON BUT NOW THE JUDGE SAID THAT CANNOT BE ENFORCED, SO NOW YOU CAN.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW MUCH OF THE LAW IS STILL IN PLACE, A LOT OF THE SENSITIVE PLACES ARE STILL IN EFFECT.

YOU CAN'T CARRY A GUN INTO A CANNABIS DISPENSARY, FOR EXAMPLE, OR GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, AND THERE'S STILL THE LIABILITY INSURANCE MANDATE THAT IS STILL IN EFFECT.

SO A LOT OF THE LAW IS STILL THERE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS THE FIRST STEP OF MANY AS THIS LITIGATION WINDS ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURTS.

>> MORE TO COME ON THAT.

GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO TALK ABOUT LEGISLATIVE RACES.

BREANNA, WE'RE ALREADY GOING TO HAVE A PLANNING MEETING, I'M SURE, FOR THE LIVE BROADCAST, FOR OUR -- FOR NOVEMBER.

NEW JERSEY SHOULD GEAR UP FOR A CRAZY YEAR.

NO?

>> I SUSPECT IT WILL BE, YEAH.

I MEAN, THE BIG NEWS THIS WEEK, OF COURSE, WAS GENE STANFIELD, WHO IS A LONG-TIME FIXTURE IN BURLINGTON COUNTY REPUBLICAN POLITICS, MY HOME COUNTY, IS RETIRING, BUT NOT JUST THAT, WE HEARD OF SENATOR CONNORS WHO WILL BE LEAVING THE LEGISLATURE, A NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO ARE PLANNING TO LEAVE, RETIRE, WHETHER THAT BE FOR, YOU KNOW, OTHER CAREER MOVES OR FAMILY, AND HEALTH REASONS AS GENE STANFIELD HAD SAID.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF JOCKEYING.

WE'RE ALREADY SEEING -- OH, MY GOSH, DOZENS OF NAMES BEING TOSSED AROUND FOR SOME OF THESE SEATS.

SO I THINK WE'RE IN FOR IT, YEAH.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I ALSO FEEL, YOU KNOW, TOSSING THEIR HAT IN FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF NEWCOMERS INTO POLITICS, WHICH IS REFRESHING.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A CROWDED FIELD.

I HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

>> BRENT, BREANNA SAYS WE'RE IN FOR IT.

WE'RE IN FOR IT IN 2023 #.

AREN'T WE?

>> YEAH, YOU'D THINK YOU WOULDN'T BE, BECAUSE HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN EVEN NAME THEIR STATE LEGISLATORS?

IT'S A BIG DEAL.

REPUBLICANS THINK THEY HAVE AN ACTUAL SHOT OF TAKING AT LEAST ONE CHAMBER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON THIS YEAR, THERE WILL BE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT.

>> TIME FOR OUR ONLY IN JERSEY SEGMENT, HEADLINES AND NOTES THAT ARE QUINTESSENTIALLY JERSEY.

BRENT, YOU GOT ONE?

>> I'M BORN AND BRED IN NEW JERSEY, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR SAYING IT'S OKAY TO BE COOL AGAIN IN NEW JERSEY, IT NEVER WAS NOT.

THIS IS THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN'S FIRST TWO ALBUMS, THAT'S WHEN NEW JERSEY REALLY BECAME -- IT WAS COOL TO BE FROM NEW JERSEY.

GO LISTEN TO THE FIRST TWO ALBUMS.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

>> GOOD POINT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS GOVERNOR NEVER RAN HEAD FIRST INTO A HURRICANE AND DISAPPEARED INTO A POINT.

BREANNA, YOU HAVE SOME VISUAL AIDS.

>> I, OF COURSE, BROUGHT SUPPORTING MATERIALS FOR THIS SEGMENT.

NO, MY ONLY IN JERSEY IS ONLY -- THE ONE AND ONLY CHRIS CHRISTIE, WHO JUST HAPPENED TO BE IN A BRIGHT YELLOW FLEECE AT THE TERMINAL "A" IN NEWARK AIRPORT, HAPPENED TO BE TRAVELING ON THE DAY OF THE LONG-DELAYED GRAND OPENING OF TERMINAL "A."

THE FORMER GOVERNOR WHO SAID YOU WOULD NOT SEE HIM SPEAKING TO CAMERAS AND JOURNALISTS ONCE HE WAS GONE DID, IN FACT, SPEAK TO JOURNALISTS, AND GET HIS FACE IN FRONT OF CAMERAS.

AND, OF COURSE, TOOK CREDIT FOR THE GRAND OPENING.

>> THIS IS A DEAL THAT GOVERNOR CUOMO AND I MADE SIX YEARS AGO, THAT WE AGREED TO THIS.

WITH LA GUARDIA BEING DONE AND REDOING TERMINAL "A" OVER HERE, IT'S GREAT TO SEE IT COME TO FRUITION AND THAT IT GOT BUILT IN FOUR YEARS, THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, GREAT WORK BY THE PORT AUTHORITY.

>> THE MAN CAN BARELY CONTAIN HIS SMUG SMILE.

MINE COMES FROM ATLANTIC CITY WHERE THE MAYOR MARTY SMALL WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT THAT HIS CITY IS ENTERING A TRANSFORMATIVE PHASE BY DRESSING UP AS A TRANSFORMER.

THAT'S HIM WITH THE BLINKING LIGHTS.

THE MAYOR SAYS GOOD DAYS ARE AHEAD FOR THE RESORT TOWN.

IT TOOK FOUR STAFFERS, BY THE WAY, TO HELP MAYOR OPTIMUS PRIME TO TRANSFER BACK TO MAYOR MARTY SMALL.

GIMMICKY, BUT AUDACIOUS, HIS TRANSFORMATION IS STILL IN THE HANDS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S ROUND TABLE FOR THIS WEEK, DANIEL, BRENT, BREANNA, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

AND THANKS ALSO TO ALBIO SIRES FOR JOINING US, FOLLOW THE SHOW ON TWITTER AT ROUND TABLENJ, AND FIRST LOOK AT CHAT BOX WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

THANKS FOR WATCHING EVERYBODY.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

♪ >> MAJOR FUNDING FOR REPORTERS ROUND TABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY MORE INFORMATION ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.

RJW BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

ROWAN UNIVERSITY, TRANSFORMING NEW JERSEY'S FUTURE.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY "NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE," THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, REPORTING TO EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

AND BY POLITICO'S NEW JERSEY PLAYBOOK, A TOPICAL NEWSLETTER ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS.

ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM.

♪ ♪