>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTORS.

THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJ REALTOR.COM.

RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

MJM INSURANCE GROUP.

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

ROWAN UNIVERSITY EDUCATING NEW JERSEY LEADERS.

PARTNERING WITH NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES.

TRANSFORMING NEW JERSEY'S FUTURE.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT 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 ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM.

♪ ♪ ♪ >>> HIT THE ROAD, JACK, BECAUSE THE TRAIN IS PROBABLY DELAYED.

HI, EVERYBODY.

IT'S "REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

OUR PANEL INCLUDES CARLY SITRAN.

CHARLES STYLE WITH THE RECORD AND NORTH JERSEY.COM.

>> Andy: FRED SIFLAK.

WE BEGIN TODAY WITH A LOOK AT HOW WE'RE GETTING AROUND OR NOT GETTING AROUND IN NEW JERSEY.

THAT MEANS RAILS AND ROADS AND BRIDGES AND TUNNELS.

COLLEEN WILSON IS THE TRANSPORTATION REPORTER FROM "THE RECORD" AND IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORY ON NJ TRANSIT, THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY ABOUT IT.

WE GOT A CHANCE TO TALK WITH HER ABOUT IT EARLIER.

COLLEEN, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> IT'S CALLED THE NEW JERSEY TRANSIT REFORM REPORT CARD.

ANY REFORMS LANDING ANYWHERE?

>> SOME MORE THAN OTHERS.

NOW THERE DEFINITELY HAVE BEEN BOXES THAT HAVE BEEN CHECKED BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME THINGS THAT REMAIN TO BE DONE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK PROBABLY THE MOST -- THE BIGGEST REVELATION FROM THE SERIES SO FAR, WHICH STILL HAS TWO MORE INSTALLMENTS, BY THE WAY, IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, BUT PROBABLY THE BIGGEST REVELATION WAS THAT THE CHIEF ETHICS OFFICER, WHOSE ROLE IS SUPPOSED TO BE INDEPENDENT, MUCH LIKE THE CUSTOMER ADVOCATE, WAS DESIGNED TO BE ANSWERS TO THE BOARD.

THE PERSON WHO'S CURRENTLY FILLING THAT IS ALSO THE CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER AND ESSENTIALLY WORKS WITHIN THE AGENCY.

SO THE HEADLINE FOR THAT STORY WAS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF, YOU KNOW, TWO JOBS AND TWO MASTERS SO I THINK THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT UP FRONT AND THAT WAS THE FIRST SERIES, THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF THE SERIES.

>> WE'VE BEEN -- AND LAST TIME I SAW YOU WE WERE AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING ANOTHER BIG REAL ESTATE PROJECT THAT INVOLVED NEW JERSEY TRANSIT AND SOME PRIVATE DEVELOPERS, WHICH MAY BE GOOD FOR DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING THAT COMMUTERS GET OUT OF THAT?

>> THIS IS THE HOBOKEN TERMINAL PROJECT?

>> YEAH, THE HOBOKEN TERMINAL.

THERE WAS ONE IN MIDDLESEX THE WEEK AFTER THAT.

>> SURE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I I THIS ANY KIND OF INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE, NEW JERSEY TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE IS A GOOD THING.

THE HOBOKEN PRESS CONFERENCE WAS ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, BIG DEVELOPMENT GOING ON THERE AND THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE TO THE STATION BUT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT OF OTHER ONGOING PROJECTS THAT AREN'T AS FLASHY, YOU KNOW?

THEY'RE TRYING TO WORK THE ELECTRICAL, TRYING TO MAKE IT MORE RESILIENT.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON THAT -- EVEN IF COMMUTERS MIGHT NOT SEE THOSE KIND OF IMPROVEMENTS, YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THE ELECTRICAL IMPROVEMENTS BUT IF YOUR TRAIN IS RUNNING THERE, GETTING THERE ON TIME, THAT'S A GOOD THING.

SO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, COMMUTERS WILL UNDERSTAND THAT AND SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME GOOD THINGS GOING ON THERE.

>> SO THE GOVERNOR IS FAMOUS FOR SAYING WE'RE GOING TO FIX NJ TRANSIT IF IT KILLS ME.

HE'S STILL ALIVE.

ARE THERE IMPROVEMENTS THAT PEOPLE CAN POINT TO AND SAY, YES, WE GIVE HIM A REPRIEVE?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I'D SAY IT'S A REPRIEVE BUT I DO THINK THERE ARE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU JUST MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THE CONSTRUCTION.

THAT'S PROBABLY THEIR BIGGEST, YOU KNOW, INVESTMENTS RIGHT NOW ARE IN CAPITAL.

THEY HAVE $4 BILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS GOING ON WHICH HAS VASTLY INCREASED FROM THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION.

SO THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT'S GOOD.

YOU WON'T REALLY FEEL THOSE CHANGES FOR SOME YEARS WHILE THOSE PROJECTS GET FINISHED BUT, YOU KNOW, TRAIN CANCELLATIONS HAVE NOT CONSIDERABLY IMPROVED.

YOU KNOW, THE CHAIN -- THE REASON FOR THOSE CANCELLATIONS ARE -- HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.

SO WHILE IT'S KIND OF LIKE WHACK A MOLE.

IF YOU HIRE THE ENGINEERS BUT NOW ALL THE TRAINS ARE BREAKING DOWN BECAUSE THEY'RE OLD.

SO -- BUT THE LAG TIME ON ORDERING NEW TRAINS CAN BE -- IT TAKES YEARS FOR THOSE TO COME IN.

SO THERE'S -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S STILL STUFF THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND AS THE GOVERNOR FAMOUSLY OR INFAMOUSLY LIKES TO SAY, WE'RE NOT SPIKING ANY FOOTBALLS.

I BELIEVE THAT'S PROBABLY THE RIGHT, YOU KNOW, SENTIMENT.

>> YOU TOUCHED ON THIS COMMUTER ADVOCATE.

IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS, OVER TWO YEARS NOW THAT THAT POSITION HAS BEEN EMPTY.

WE TALKED TO NJ TRANSIT, WE TALKED TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

THEY SAY, NOBODY EVER ASKED ABOUT THAT BUT JUST BECAUSE NOBODY EVER ASKED ABOUT IT, DOES THAT MEAN IT'S NOT IMPORTANT?

>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT INFORMATION IS COMING FROM AS FAR AS WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S SAYING, BUT PEOPLE ARE ASKING ABOUT IT, CERTAINLY AT THE BOARD MEETINGS.

I HEAR IT EVERY MONTH WHEN I'M THERE SO WE'RE ALL HOPING, I THINK, TO GET AN UPDATE ON WHERE THAT STANDS, YOU KNOW, IN A WEEK WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR NEXT BOARD MEETING.

BUT, NO, PEOPLE CARE.

THIS POSITION HAS BEEN GIVEN MORE ATTENTION THAN ANY OTHER ELEMENT OF THAT REFORM LAW SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE.

I MEAN, THEY WANT TO BE HEARD.

THEY WANT TO HAVE SOMEONE TO GO TO WHO CAN, YOU KNOW, HELP MAKE CHANGES ON THE SYSTEM AND IT'S -- IT'S -- IT'S THE LAW.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT JUST BECAUSE MAYBE THE PERCEPTION IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T CARE, I THINK IF YOU'RE REALLY, YOU KNOW, ON THE GROUND IN THE FIELD, YOU KNOW, TALKING TO PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THAT POSITION.

THEY WANT IT TO BE FILLED AND DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT GOING BACK TO THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION IS N.J.

TRANSIT USING CAPITAL DOLLARS TO PAY FOR OPERATING COSTS.

THE GOVERNOR -- THIS CURRENT GOVERNOR SAID THEY WERE GOING TO STOP DOING THAT.

HAVE THEY STOPPED DOING THAT?

>> FAR FROM IT.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A 30-PLUS YEAR PRACTICE THAT THE AGENCY AND THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGETS HAVE PERPETUATED.

SO IT'S UNCLEAR WHY THAT HAS NOT BECOME MORE OF A PRIORITY.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TALK TO PRETTY MUCH ANYONE IN THE -- AT THOSE MEETINGS THOSE BOARD MEMBERS, PRETTY MUCH ANYONE IN THE FIELD WILL TELL YOU THAT THAT IS A BAD PRACTICE AND, FRANKLY, GIVEN THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, PARTICULARLY, AGAIN, FROM THE CAPITAL SIDE, IF YOU WANT TO SUSTAIN THOSE KINDS OF IMPROVEMENTS AND KEEP MAKING THE RIGHT THINGS HAPPEN, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT MONEY.

YOU CANNOT KEEP CANNIBALIZING YOUR CAPITAL FUND IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR.

SO THAT IS CERTAINLY A PROBLEM THAT'S GOING TO EXIST AS LONG AS THAT CONTINUES.

>> SO GETTING OFF THE RAILS AND GETTING ONTO THE ROADS.

IT SEEMS THAT ROAD WIDENING IS ALL THE RAGE THIS YEAR.

THERE ARE SOME PROJECTS IN SOUTH JERSEY AND ONE THAT'S CAUSED A LOT OF CONTROVERSY IS THE WIDENING OF THE TURNPIKE EXTENSION THROUGH JERSEY CITY.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING DOWN IN SOUTH JERSEY AND ALSO FOR THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN NORTH JERSEY AND IN JERSEY CITY, ABOUT THAT ROAD WIDENING THAT STARTED AT 5 BILLION AND IS NOW $10 BILLION?

>> RIGHT.

YEAH.

YEAH.

PEOPLE ARE PRETTY UPSET ABOUT THAT.

THEY'RE TYING THAT INCREASE TO INFLATION.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, ALTHOUGH I DON'T -- THAT'S NOT VERY CONVINCING TO ME, TO BE HONEST.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I -- PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHY WE'RE WIDENING WHEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT MEASURES TO REDUCE CONGESTION THROUGH THE TOLLING PROGRAM AND CONFLICTING ELEMENTS AND IT'S CONFLICTING FOR THE GOVERNOR WHO HAS BILLED HIMSELF AS AN ENVIRONMENTALIST AND WHO SAYS ELECTRIC CARS WILL HELP ELIMINATE, YOU KNOW, THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS WITH THE WIDENING, BUT PEOPLE AREN'T CONVINCED BY THAT.

>> THE BOTTOM LINE TO THAT IS THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE -- THEY'RE GOING TO WIDEN THE APPROACH BUT THERE'S STILL A FINITE NUMBER OF WAYS TO GET INTO MANHATTAN AND IT DEFIES LOGIC HOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET MORE CARS INTO THE SAME AMOUNT OF TUNNELS FASTER.

>> SURE.

AND WHAT THE TURNPIKE WILL TELL YOU IS THAT THEY THINK THAT THE MOST IMPACT FROM THAT PROJECT WILL BE TO RELIEVE CONGESTION GOING TOWARDS THE PORTS AND NOT SO MUCH -- IT'S NOT NECESSARILY DESIGNED OR INTENDED TO HELP RELIEVE CONGESTION INTO THE CITY OR THAT IT WILL BE USED IN THAT WAY.

SO THEY WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS GOING TO HELP AS FAR AS FREIGHT CARGO IN AND OUT OF THE PORT AREA.

>> ALL RIGHT.

COLLEEN WILSON, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>>> ALL RIGHT.

PANEL, CARLY, CHARLIE AND FRED.

SOUNDS LIKE A LAW FIRM.

CARLY, CHARLIE AND FRED.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

YOU KNOW, I HESITATE TO ASK YOU MOTO CENTRIC BEAT REPORTERS ANYTHING ABOUT TRANSIT, BUT FOR SOME REASON I THINK, CARLY, YOU WOULD BE THE MOST LIKELY WITH THIS PANEL TO HAVE MOST RECENTLY RIDDEN A NEW JERSEY TRANSIT TRAIN.

WHAT DO YOU HEAR ABOUT HOW IT'S GOING OVER THE NEW JERSEY TRANSIT?

>> I MEAN, I THINK WHAT WE HEARD FROM COLLEEN WAS PRETTY ACCURATE IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'RE HEARING ON THE GROUND VERSUS WHAT THE MESSAGE IS FROM THE STATE.

WE'RE HEARING FROM THE STATE THEY'RE WORKING ON IT.

THEY'RE MAKING STRIDES.

ISSUES PERSIST BUT IT'S TOP OF MIND.

BUT AS SOON AS YOU GET ON THE TRAIN OR TWITTER THE FIRST THING YOU SEE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT IS THE DELAYS AND HOW IT'S IMPACTED THEIR LIVES.

LATE TO WORK.

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I THINK IT'S VERY MUCH A -- YOU FEEL IT ON THE TRAINS.

>> I'M ONE OF THOSE GUYS WHO TWEETS ABOUT MY TERRIBLE NJ TRANSIT EXPERIENCES.

I PLEAD GUILTY FOR THAT.

THE FRED, IS THIS AN ISSUE THAT PEOPLE ARE -- IS IT AN ISSUE THAT IS RESONATING WITH PEOPLE OR DO MOST OF THE AREAS THAT YOU COVER, EVERYBODY DRIVE A CAR?

ZBLR WELL, MOST PEOPLE DO DRIVE CARS BUT, I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKE THE TRAIN.

IF THEY DON'T TAKE THE TRAIN FOR EMPLOYMENT PURPOSES, THEY MAY TAKE THE TRAIN FOR GOING INTO THE CITY, FOR ENTERTAINMENT.

NO, I DEFINITELY RESONATE WITH PEOPLE.

THE WAY -- THAT'S HOW PEOPLE, THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH GOVERNMENT.

THEY MAY NOT CONSIDER TRAINS AS ACTUALLY PART OF GOVERNMENT, BUT IN A WAY IT IS.

THE NEW JERSEY TRAIN SYSTEM SCREWS UP, PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BLAME THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

DEFINITELY IT'S SOMETHING THAT RESONATES WITH THE PUBLIC.

>> YES.

>> SOMEONE HAS SPOKEN ABOUT TRAINS, BUT THAT'S THE SAME.

>> SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S RESONATING WITH FOLKS IS THIS BEAR HUNT THAT SEEMS TO HAPPEN ANNUALLY, BUT THIS ONE WENT TO COURT AND EVERYTHING.

IT WAS OFF, THEN IT WAS ON AGAIN.

CHARLIE, I'M HE ALWAYS ON THE SIDE OF THE BEARS ON THIS.

WHAT IS THE LATEST ON THE BEAR HUNT?

IS IT BACK ON?

IT IS, RIGHT?

>> IT IS BACK ON AND IT'S BEING CHAMPIONED BY THE ONCE ANTI-BEAR HUNT PHIL MURPHY IS NOW LEADING THE PACK.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO SEE HIM OUT THERE WITH A -- YOU KNOW, A BEAR HUNTING HAT ON AND, YOU KNOW, WITH A CREW WITH MUSKETS THE WAY HE SEEMS TO BE DOUBLING DOWN ON THIS.

HIS ARGUMENT IS THAT THE -- FROM HIS EXPERTS AT D.E.P., THAT THERE'S BEEN ALMOST A 240% INCREASE IN BEAR SIGHTINGS.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS, IS THAT BEARS TURNING OVER GARBAGE CANS OR JUST PEOPLE SEEING THEM -- A GLIMPSE OF THEM SCURRYING IN THE WOODS?

IT'S REALLY UNCLEAR.

BUT THIS KIND OF HARD DECISION THAT ARE MURPHY IS TAKING IS KIND OF SURPRISING.

AND IT ALSO SHOWS I GUESS HE'S -- YOU KNOW, THIS IS SORT OF A SECOND TERM DECISION WHERE HE'S NOT REALLY WORRIED ABOUT FALLOUT FROM THE ELECTORATE.

>> FRED, A LOT OF BEAR HUNTERS IN YOUR BEAT?

>> OH, YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

A LOT OF BEARS, TOO,S BUT I MEAN LIKE CHARLIE AND I, I SIDE WITH THE ANIMALS AS WELL.

WHAT IS THE NEGATIVE THING.

IF I GO HIKING OR JOGGING, I SEE BEARS AND THAT'S A BEAR SIGHTING BUT FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, THEY'RE GENERALLY SPEAKING, DOCILE COMMUTERS.

TO SEE IF THEY'RE THERE, THE PEOPLE WANT TO SHOOT AT THEM.

I DON'T REALLY FOLLOW THAT LOGIC.

>> WE SHOULD NOTE, THEY WERE PROBABLY HERE BEFORE WE WERE SO -- LET ME MOVE ONTO THE OTHER BIG NEWS OF THE WEEK.

THESE TEST SCORES THAT FINALLY CAME OUT AFTER BEING LONG ANTICIPATED FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ED.

CARLY, WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM THE LITTLE TRICKLE OF INFORMATION THAT CAME OUT IN FRONT OF THESE TEST SCORES.

NEW JERSEY IS ONE OF THE LAST STATES TO RELEASE THEM.

WE'VE SEEN BECAUSE OF LOCK JOURNGS ENCLOSURES, SCORES ARE DOWN.

IN NEW JERSEY A MAJORITY OF STUDENTS ARE NOT NEEDING EXPECTATIONS AND WE SAW HUGE DECLINES FROM PREPANDEMIC.

THOSE GAPS ARE WIDENING.

I THINK IT KIND OF HAS BEEN A CALL TO ACTION TO FOLKS TO START FOCUSING ON REMEDIATION EFFORTS TO TRY TO HELP STUDENTS AS BEST WE CAN.

>> I KNOW IN THE PIECE YOU WROTE ON THIS YOU TALKED TO SENATOR WILL YOU ITS.

HE USED TO BE THE CHAIRPERSON.

NOW SHE'S THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.

THIS IS PART OF HER PORTFOLIO.

STILL GOING FORWARD.

WHAT WAS YOUR SENSE OF WHAT YOU HEARD FROM HER THIS WEEKEND?

>> I THINK SHE'S BEEN CALLING FOR THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

SHE SAYS WE NEED TO SEE THE DATA AND THE SCORES FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AND SHE CAN ADJUST IT AND THEY HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED IN THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY COMING FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

WE HAVE NO RAW DATA.

SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WOULD HE WEAR THE KIND OF SUPPORTS NEEDED MOST, IN WHICH AREAS OF THE STATE AND WHICH SCHOOLS?

THERE'S A LOT THAT'S KIND OF STILL UP IN THE AIR.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN REALLY FAILING TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY OR EFFICIENTLY TO POSTS.

I THINK I NEED TO BE MORE INVOLVED.

YOU CAN'T MEASURE WHAT THE GAPS ARE IF YOU DON'T KNOW.

YOU CAN'T MEASURE IT BY SAYING 46% OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE BECAUSE THAT MEANS NOTHING, RIGHT?

ARE.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, TO BE FAIR, TO THROW A BONE TO THE DEPARTMENT HERE A LITTLE BIT.

THEY'RE SEE VEERL LIVE UNDER STAFFED.

I'M HE SURE THE PEOPLE THERE ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN WITH THE FOLKS THAT THEY HAVE.

THE DATA WAS SENT TO DISTRICTS THEMSELVES.

YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION AND THE POINT THAT SENATOR RUIZ IS MAKING, IT SHOULD BE THE DEPARTMENT'S JOB TO LEAD THE DATA AND SO MAYBE THEY SHOULD GET STACKED UP IF THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.

THE.

>> FRED, A LOT OF THE TALK DURING THE MID-TERMS AS FAR AS EDUCATION WAS CONCERNED HAD TO DO WITH CURRICULUM, GROOMING OUR CHILDREN, ET CETERA.

IS THERE ANY TALK OUT THERE IN -- WHILE YOU'RE OUT WORKING ABOUT ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND STUFF OR IS IT STILL CURRICULUM?

>> NO, A POLITICAL POINT OF VIEW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CURRICULUM.

HER THEY LOOK AT TEST SCORES, WELL, TEST SCORES ARE NOT GOOD BECAUSE SCHOOLS THESE DAYS ARE TEACHING ABOUT GENDER RIGHTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY TEST SCORES ARE NOT GOOD, IT ONLY HAS A POLITICAL COMPONENT.

IT COMES BACK TO THE GENERAL ARGUMENT?

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET ME GET TO SOME MURPHY NEWS HERE.

NAMED PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION AGAIN BUT THEN HE HAD A MEDICAL PROCEDURE THIS WEEK.

CHARLIE, I REACHED OUT TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

THEY SAY THE GOVERNOR IS FINE BUT WE'VE WATCHED THIS GOVERNOR OVER THE YEARS.

HE LOOKS A LITTLE FRAIL MAYBE?

FRAGILE?

>> WELL, THAT PRESS CONFERENCE YOU'RE SHOCK THERE AT WASHINGTON CROSSING, I DIDN'T THINK HE LOOKED GOT IN THAT FRANKLY.

HE HAD A VERY FLUSH FACE.

MAYBE IT'S JUST REACTION TO A MEDICATION -- I DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE.

>> YEAH.

>> RIGHT.

>> THEY SAY HE'S FINE.

>> I DON'T SEE WHAT THE BIG HORROR IS ABOUT TELLING US WHAT HE'S ENDURING.

WHEN KIRS CITY WHITMAN HAD AN ARTICLE, I VERY MY PAPER HAD A GRAPHIC OF IT ON THE PAGE.

YOU DID KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

LIFE WENT ON.

IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS.

PEOPLE WERE SHOCKED AND THEY MOVED ON.

CHRIS CHRISTIE RAN OFF AND HAD LAP BAND SURGERY AND IT WAS ONLY THROUGH "THE NEW YORK POST" WE LEARNED ABOUT IT.

HE -- AND THAT WAS DISCLOSED.

THAT WAS -- YOU KNOW, I WENT UNDER THE KNIFE HAVING IT.

THIS NEW SECRECY DOESN'T HELP THE VOTERS.

>> FRED, IS IT ANY OF OUR BUSINESS?

>> NO.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY THE PUBLIC'S BUSINESS.

TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND NOT TALKING ABOUT THE AVERAGE GUY ON THE STREET.

THE DEFINITION IS IF YOU ARE GOVERNOR, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO -- WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, YOU ACTUALLY GIVE UP SOME.

PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THEIR GOVERNORS.

>> CARLY, LET ME GET YOU IN HERE ABOUT THIS RUTGERS UNIVERSITY FACULTY NEGOTIATIONS?

WHERE ARE THEY?

TELL ME QUICK.

>> YEAH.

THINGS ARE HEATING UP.

WE'RE IN A NATIONAL LANDSCAPE WHERE HAVING A HIGHER HE HAD SRNL DIFFERENT AND FOLLOWING THAT SAME KIND OF PATH WE HAD SEEN OUT IN CALIFORNIA.

RUTGERS UNION FOLKS HAVE SAID THEY'RE GIVING THE ADMINISTRATION SIX WEEKS AND OTHERWISE THEY'RE PREPARED TO START TALKING ABOUT A STRIKE.

>> HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT CALIFORNIA STRIKE FOR THINGS TO BE AN INDICATOR OF WHAT'S TO COME?

>> ORGANIZERS HAVE SAID THIS IS THE BIGGEST STRIKE IN HISTORY.

THIS IS DEFINITELY A SIGN OF HOW HIGHER EDUCATION AND FOLKS IN UNIV UNIVERSITY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IT'S TIME FOR OUR ONLY IN JERSEY MOMENT, HEADLINES AND NOTES THAT ARE QUINTESSENTIALLY JERSEY.

CARDI, YOU GOT SOMETHING?

>> YEAH, I WAS LOOKING TO EVERYONE'S RESPONSES TO THE HUCK SPOT MARKET.

WORK IN -- I LIKE TO SEE EVERYONE'S DEFENSES FOR THE POSITION.

>> THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

CHARLIE, YOU HAVE ONE?

>> YEAH.

I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE SICKNICK FAMILY AND THEIR SNUB OF MITCH McCONNELL AND KEVIN McCARTHY DURING THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL CEREMONY THIS WEEK.

I REALLY FELT THAT THAT -- YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY WERE SPOT ON WITH THEIR CRITICISM.

THEY WANT TO SALUTE THE VALOR OF SIC ANYKNICK AND THEN SHUFFLE D TO MAR-A-LAGO AND KISS THE BRASS RING.

THE PERSON WHO INSTITUTED IT.

I THINK THEY SPOKE FOR A LOT OF US WHEN THEY DID THAT.

>> GOOD POINT.

MINE IS FROM NEWARK.

CARMELO GARCIA IS REMAKING HIMSELF AS COACH G, A SORT OF LIFE COACH APPEARING ON ANY LIVE STREAM THAT WILL HAVE HIM DISPENSING PEARLS OF INSCRUTABLE WISDOM LIKE THIS.

ZBLRS BASICALLY IF YOU HAD 80% OF YOUR, WHAT, ENERGY INVESTED IN JUST 20% OF THE CORE OF WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO GET DONE, IT IS AMAZING IN RECIPROCITY.

>> I JUST WANT TO PAUSE FOR A MINUTE TO FIND OUT WHAT THAT IS.

TRUTH IS GARCIA COULD TEACH A COARSE.

HE'S MANAGED TO GET HIS CORRUPTION TRIAL DELAYED FIVE TIMES.

NOW THAT IS A SKILL.

THAT'S "ROUNDTABLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

CHARLIE, CARLY.

>> Fred:, ESQUIRE.

YOU CAN GET FIRST LOOKS AT ROUNDTABLE AND CHAT BOX WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOU T. COME TO 2 GATEWAY CENTER IN DOWNTOWN NEWARK.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTORS.

THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE IS ONLINE.

RJW FWHARN BUS HEALTH.

GROWING UNIVERSITY EDUCATING NEW JERSEY LEADERS PARTNERING WITH NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES.

TRANSFORMING NEW JERSEY'S FUTURE.

THE MAGAZINE AND REPORTING TO EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATORS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES SINCE THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

ONLINE AT POLITICO.KCOM.