>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NJN INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

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♪ >>> WE ARE DEDICATING THE FULL SHOW TODAY TO A CHAT WITH SENATE PRESIDENT STEVE SWEENEY.

SENATOR, HELLO.

>> HOW HAVE YOU BEEN, DAVID?

>> I MUST ADMIT I REALLY MISS YOU GUYS.

YOU WERE IN JUDICIARY TODAY AND YOU KNOW, IN A LOT OF WAYS IT'S EASIER TO CONNECT THROUGH ZOOM AND THE OTHER METHODS.

BUT NOTHING BEATS TRYING TO DO AN INTERVIEW IN THE TUNNEL BETWEEN THE STATE HOUSE AND THE ANNE A ANNEX AND HAVING A WOMAN COME UP AND DEBATE YOU ON A VACCINE.

YOU AND NOT GET THAT IN A ZOOM.

>> NO, THERE'S A LOT TO NOT LIKE ABOUT THE ZOOM STUFF.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE HAPPY WE ARE BACK IN PERSON NOW.

AND -- >> WHEN IS THE STATE HOUSE GOING TO BE THE STATE HOUSE AGAIN?

>> I WOULD HOPE SOON.

WE HAVE BEEN -- THINGS WINDING DOWN, AND WE ARE COMING BACK IN PERSON.

WE ARE VOTING IN PERSON, MEETING IN PERSON.

IT'S TIME, DAVID, IT'S TIME.

>> YEAH, WHAT, WHAT WOULD YOU BE W WAITING FOR?

CDC GUIDELINES OR THE -- >> THEY HAVE TO VOTE TO OPEN IT BACK UP.

RIGHT NOW THE SENATE DEMOCRAT MAJORITY IS THE ONLY OFFICE FULL-TIME IN THE CAPITOL RIGHT NOW.

AND OTHERS ARE, ARE STARTING TO COME BACK.

SO, AGAIN, I THINK THAT, IN SHORT TIME, DAVID, ACTUALLY, WE JUST KEPT IT SHUT DOWN TO KEEP YOU OUT.

>> THIS IS NOT SURPRISING ME.

BUT GETTING BACKING TO GATHERING PEOPLE IN LARGER NUMBERS NOW THAT THE GOVERNOR IS LOOSENING RESTRICTIONS, RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND OTHER VENUES ARE GOING TO BE EXPANDING CAPACITY.

BUT HE HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF CRITICISM FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND LAWMAKERS FROM BOTH PARTIES.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE KBONCHER HAS DONE IN HANDLING THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON SMALL BUSINESSES?

>> YOU KNOW, SLOW?

>> TOO QUICK, OR JUST RIGHT?

>> HERE'S THE PROBLEM.

THERE'S NEVER A ROAD MAP FOR THIS.

YOU COULD SAY, HE IS TOO SLOW.

YOU COULD SAY, HE IS TOO FAST.

NOT BIG ENOUGH, NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE A GOOD JOB.

WE ARE IN A GOOD POSITION TO OPEN BACK UP AGAIN AND WE PLAN ON OPENING UP AND GETTING PEOPLE BACK.

I THINK WE SHOULD BE FOLLOWING CDC GUIDELINES AND AS THEY GIVE GUIDANCE, THAT WE TAKE IT AND WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

YOU KNOW.

IT'S, AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN A DISADVANTAGE TO OTHER STATES.

BUT, I THINK THE GOVERNOR, AGAIN, I THINK HE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB.

YOU CAN CRITICIZE HIM AND LOOK, I DO CRITICIZE HIM.

BUT, THE POINT IS, THERE WAS NO GAME PLAN FOR THIS.

YOU KNOW, THIS WAS SOMETHING NO ONE KNEW HOW TO HANDLE.

SO IT'S EASY TO CRITICIZE, BUT WHAT ARE THE ANSWERS.

YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE RIGHT ANSWERS?

>> SO, AGAIN, I THINK WE ARE IN A GOOD PLACE.

>> SO, A LOT OF PLACES.

I MEAN, A THIRD EXPSUPPOSEDLY O THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND THAT SORT OF THING ARE GONE FOR GOOD.

THE 2/3 OF THEM THAT ARE STILL FUNCTIONING, EXPECT TO BE AS WE SAID, INCREASING CAPACITY VERY SOON.

WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT A SUPPOSED EMPLOYEE SHORTAGE, SOME BUSINESS OWNERS SAYING THEY CANNOT GET WORKER BECAUSE THE EXTRA $300 A WEEK UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT FROM THE GOVERNMENT IS SO GENEROUS AND THE COUNTER ARGUMENT IS MAYBE YOU NEED TO BE PAYING BETTER, RIGHT?

>> THAT IS ONE.

AND DAVE, ONE THING THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAD SUCH IS A HARD TIME GETTING ON UNEMPLOYMENT.

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO RISK YOUR UNEMPLOYMENT TO TRY A NEW JOB AND IT NOT WORK OUT AND THEN TRY TO FIGHT TO GET BACK ON IT?

YOU KNOW, SO, THERE'S A COUPLE OF ANGLES ON IT.

ONE OF THEM IS LIKE I SAID, THERE'S AN EMPLOYEE SHORTAGE.

AND YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE CLOSED WILL COME BACK WITH, WHETHER IT'S SAME OR NEW OWNERS AS WE COME BACK.

REMEMBER BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

WE WERE DOING JUST FINE.

YOU KNOW, ONCE WE GET THIS LIFT WILLED AND THE STRESS OFF OF US.

AND LIKE, I TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT OWNED BUSINESSES DOWN THE SHORE.

YOU CANNOT RENT A PLACE DOWN THE SHORE IN THE SUMMER.

THEY ARE BOOKED SOLID.

ON SO, YOU KNOW, GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK WOULD BE HELPFUL.

>> 13 STATES MOSTLY LED BY REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS THIS WEEK, ARE ANNOUNCING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO START ENFORCING WHAT THEY CALL, IS LOOKING FOR REASONABLE EMPLOYMENT THESE EXTRA BENEFITS THAT THE STATE NEW JERSEY IS HANDING OUT.

$300 A WEEK.

THE GOVERN SAID HE IS NOT GOING TO ENFORCE ANY RESTRICTION THAT SAID IS, YOU ACTIVELY HAVE TO BE LOOKING FOR WORK.

AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE EMPLOYERS ARE SAYING, THAT THAT IS KEEPING PEOPLE FROM COMING AND GETTING JOBS OR WORSE SAYING THEY WILL TAKE THE JOB.

BUT THEY WANT TO WORK OFF THE BOBS SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THAT $300 A WEEK FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

SHOULD THE STATEN FORCE THE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR WORK REQUIREMENT FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS?

>> THEY ALWAYS DID BEFORE, DAVID, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, LOOK, AS A YOUNG IRON WORKER, I COLLECTED UNEMPLOYMENT.

I HAVE LIVED THROUGH THAT.

I REALLY THINK THE BIGGEST HURD HE LE IS PEOPLE'S BIGGEST FEAR OF TAKING THE JOB AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET BACK ON UNEMPLOYMENT.

EVERYONE WORKED HARD TO GET THERE.

BUT THAT WAS WITH THE TOUGH SPOTS, DAVID A WAS, YOU KNOW, I JUST HAD SOME PEOPLE THE OTHER DAY, CAME TO MY OFFICE.

20 WEEKS THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT, THEY ARE IN THE SYSTEM AND HADDED THE DEPARTMENTS COMMUNICATING WITH THEM.

IT'S NOT LIKE THEY ARE NOT HEARING.

IT'S JUST THAT THEY WERE NOT GETTING RESULTS.

SO, I THINK THAT THE BIGGER PROBLEM, IS PEOPLE AFRAID OF GETTING OFF OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

BECAUSE THEN YOU HAVE TO GET BACK ON IT IF THINGS DON'T WORK OUT.

>> YEAH, AND THAT HAS BEEN, AS PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN, HAS BEEN AN ISSUE.

HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH CONSULTATION WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE?

SOME BUSINESS LEADERS HAVE BEEN -- I WAS TALKING TO KIRKA FROM THE NJBIA, AND SHE SAID THAT YOU KNOW, THEY FIND OUT ABOUT STUFF THAT IS COMING WHEN THEY SEE IT ON NEWS OR READ IT IN THE PAPER SOMEWHERE.

HAVE YOU HAD A GOOD OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE?

>> IT HAS GOTTEN A LOT BETTER.

IT REALLY HAS IN SHARING OF INFORMATION AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS, IT HAS BEEN A LOT BETTER THAN WHEN WE STARTED, BUT I GO BACK TO, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL WE WERE DOING WHEN IT STARTED, THERE WAS NO RIGHT ANSWER.

I THINK IT WILL GET BETTER AND A LOT BETTER GOING FORWARD.

WE WILL FOCUS ON WHAT WE HAVE TO DO GOING FORWARD AND I THINK THINGS WILL CHANGE QUICKLY.

>>> YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE METRICS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE USES, CONFUSES PEOPLE SOMETIMES, WHEN HE SAID IS, BECAUSE THINGS ARE GOING TO WELL.

WE ARE GOING TO EXPAND, A, D, OR C, AND PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WHAT NUMBERS ARE YOU REFERRING TO.

THERE'S SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, THEY SEEM TO BE SHALL PROUDED IN SECRETSY AND THEY ARE GETTING COMPLAINTS AND PUSH BACK FROM JOURNALISTS, FRANKLY A LOT.

BECAUSE WE CANNOT SEEM TO GET SPECIFIC INFORMATION AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IF WE ASK FOR SOMETHING NOW, DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE, THEIR PERIOD OF ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS HAS BEEN EXTENDED, SOMETIMES INDEFINITELY BECAUSE OF THE EMERGENCY SITUATION.

THEY CAN PROBABLY USE A BIT MORE TRANSPARENCY OVER THERE.

NO?

>> WELL, LOOK, LISTEN, DAVID, I LOOK AT THIS WAY.

I WOULD GIVE YOU EVERYTHING.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

I WOULD SHARE EVERYTHING WITH YOU.

BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO REPORT ON WHY WE ARE DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING.

AGAIN, I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION HAS GOTTEN US TO A GOOD PLACE NOW, AND I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND INFORMATION IS ALWAYS GOOD TO SHARE.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S GOOD NEWS AND YOU KNOW, DAVID, THE LAST COUPLE OF MOSSES.

WE ARE R -- THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> I KNOW THERE WILL BE A REVIEW ON THE POST MORTUM ON HOW THE PANDEMIC WAS HANDLED.

ARE THERE THINGS OBVIOUS NOW A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER THAT OUR PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

>> DAVID, I LIKE TO USE POST-OP, NOT POST MORTUM.

>> OKAY.

>> AND I THINK THAT OF COURSE THERE'S GOING TO BE THING HAS THAT WE ARE GOING SAY WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS OR THAT.

THE NURSING HOME ISSUE WAS A BIG ISSUE.

EVERYONE KNOWS, I THINK WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

AND NO ONE IS HIDING IT.

COULD WE HAVE DONE IT BETTER?

AT THE TIME WE THOUGHT THAT WAS WHAT WAS THE BEST MOVE.

YOU KNOW, YOU WERE RELYING ON OPERATORS AND I HAVE FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE OF THIS DAVID, PEOPLE WERE TELLING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH THEY HAD PPE AND THEY DIDN'T.

AND I HAD FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE OF ONE OF THE COUNTYS WHERE I NOTIFIED THE DEPARTMENT AND SAID IS, HEY, LISTEN, THESE PEOPLE ARE MOVING COVID PATIENTS IN AND THEY DON'T HAVE PPE, AND THEY ARE LIKE, THEY SWORE THEY DID.

AND THEY DIDN'T.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, DAVID?

IT'S, AGAIN, WHAT WE NEED TO DO, IS FIND THE SOLUTION FORWARD AND LEARN FROM ALL THE MISTAKES.

BECAUSE THERE WERE MISTAKES, THERE WAS NO PERFECT OPERATION ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND YOU KNOW, SO, LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES, MAKE SURE AS YOU GO FORWARD, YOU DON'T REPEAT MISTAKES BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE CRIME IS.

THE CRIME IS, IF YOU REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKES.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

>> RIGHT.

SO, I MEAN, SOME OF THE CHECKS AND BALANCES, CLEARLY HAVE TO BE STRENGTHENED AND JUST IN TERMS OF REPORTING, YOU KNOW, AND THE QUESTION OF WHO EVEN OWNS A LOT OF THE LTC FACILITIES.

THERE HAVE TO BE, THAT WAS AN INDUSTRY THAT WAS QUITE UNREGULATED FOR LONG TIME, AND THIS PANDEMIC EXPOSED IT'S A GREAT WEAKNESS, NO?

>> THE PROBLEM WITH NURSING HOMES IS THE LACK OF MEDICAID FUNDING.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS CUT BACK ON FUNDING.

WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS IS A HUGE CONSOLIDATION, SO, THEY'RE STILL TRYING PROVIDE SERVICE, BUT, WE ARE REALLY, WE HAVE TO FIX THIS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL BECAUSE WE ARE WAREHOUSING PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, YOU ARE PUTTING PEOPLE IN NURSING HOMES AND WHEN YOU HAVE A CNA, HAVING 20 PATIENTS, OR 20 PATIENTS, PRETTY HARD TO DO THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, WE STRETCH THESE PEOPLE TO THE MAX AND EVEN THE OPERATORS ARE SQUEEZING AS MUCH AS THEY CAN TO PROVIDE A SERVICE WITH LIMITED FUNDING.

SO, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BET AGAIN, AS WE TAKE A LOOK BACK, WE HAVE TO FIX AND GET OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS AND SAY, LISTEN , THERE'S AREAS THAT YOU CANNOT CUT, YOU HAVE TO START FUNDING.

AND WHAT, THAT IS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> YEAH.

>> AND A LOT OF WORKERS AT THE FACILITIES GETTING PAID LESS THAN $15 AN HOUR AND MANY CASES WHICH FORCES THEM TO DOUBLE UP, AND WORK AT ANOTHER FACILITY WHERE, YOU KNOW, TRANSMISSION IS BECOMING AN ISSUE BECAUSE THESE FOLKS ARE WORKING AT TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES WITH WHO KNOWS WHAT KIND OF PPE PROTECTION AND THAT SORT OF THING.

>> YEAH, AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, DAVID, YOU HAVE THE PEOPLE THE NURSING HOME PATIENTS DIDN'T LEAVE THE NURSING HOME.

THE DISEASE CAME IN TO THEM.

>> RIGHT.

>> THERE WAS ONLY ONE PLACE IT CAME IN, IT CAME IN THROUGH WORKERS.

WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE, AND YOU KNOW, DAVID, PEOPLE WORK IN NURSING HOMES, THAT IS BACK BREAKING, YOU ARE LIFTI ING PEOE AND CLEANING PEOPLE AND YOU ARE PAYING WAGES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE CARING FOR OUR LOVED ONES.

>> YEAH.

>> OUR PARENTS, OUR SIBLINGS.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

AND YOU ARE THINKING, THEY HAVE HAD TO WORK 2 OR 3 JOBS TO TAKE CARE OF FAMILIES WHILE THEY ARE TRYING TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILY.

SOMETHING IS WRONG, IT'S NOT RIGHT.

>> AND WE HAVE SEEN THOSE DISPARITIES UNMASKED BY THE PANDEMIC.

ACROSS THE BOARD.

I MEAN, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOLS, AND YOU KNOW, THE ABILITY FOR KIDS TO EVEN LEARN FROM HOME.

SO, THERE'S A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED ABOUT NOT ONLY HOW THESE THINGS WERE HANDLED, BUT WHAT KIND OF, WHAT IS THE STATUS OF OUR INSTITUTION IN TERMS OF THEIR ABILITY TO HANDLE ANOTHER CRISIS LIKE THIS?

BECAUSE, SURE, IT'S EASY TO BLAME THE, THE PERSON OR PERSON'S WHO ARE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

AND I'M ALL FOR THAT.

BUT, ALSO, I MEAN, THE INSTITUTION AND THE WAY THEY HAVE BEEN SET UP AND FUNCTIONED FOR DECADES.

RIGHT?

>> YEAH, AND DAVID, SOMETIMES THE BLAME WARRANTED, AND I WOULD SAY WHEN IT COMES TO ME AND YOU, YOU BLAME ME MORE THAN YOU SHOULD.

BUT ALL KIDDING ASIDE, YOU KNOW, DAVID, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT'S WARRANTED AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOT.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHO CARES ABOUT BLAME?

LET'S FIX THE PROBLEMS.

>> YEP.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

IT'S THE GOAL AT THE END OF THE DAY IS FINDING THE SOLUTION.

>> YEP.

>> SO, WE HAVE TO START LOOKING AT WHAT RECOVERY IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

THE STATE GOT A BUNCH OF FEDERAL MONEY TO HELP AND THIS WEEK, I THINK IT WAS TREASURY DEPARTMENT ISSUED GUIDANCE ON HOW THE MONEY COULD BE USED.

>> YEP.

>> HAVE YOU HAD TIME TO ASSESS WHAT THE GUIDELINES WILL MEAN FOR RESIDENTS, NFOR THE STATE BUDGET?

YOU CANNOT MAKE DEBT PAYMENTS?

>> YOU CANNOT PAY DEBTOR OR TAX RELIEF PROGRAMS.

DAVID, MORE IMPORTANTLY, AUGUST IS, LIKE THE DEADLINE FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR PEOPLE COMMENTING.

THE COMMENT PERIOD.

>> SO, IF WE CANNOT SPEND THE MONEY UNTIL AFTER AUGUST ANYWAY.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS BE THOUGHTFUL, AND MEASURED IN A WAY THAT WE DON'T SQUANDER AN OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT LONG-TERM ISSUES.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

WHICH, LOOK, WE HAVE PROBLEMS WE NEED TO BUILD SCHOOLS.

WE NEED, WE HAVE PROBLEMS WHERE, OUR FAMILIES AND NJ ARE NOT DRINKING SAFE CLEAN WATER.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LED ISSUES.

SO, IDENTIFYING HOW WE CAN UTILIZE THIS, WHERE YOU CAN CREATE JOBS AND FIX PROBLEMS LONG-TERM PROBLEMS.

THERE'S SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO, IF IT WAS NOT THROUGH THIS BUDGET.

REDUCE DEBT.

WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO DO THAT.

>> YOU WEIGHED IN ON CONGESTION PRICING THIS WEEK OR LAST.

>> YEP.

>> SEEMS LIKE A NORTH JERSEY PROBLEM, WHAT CAN THE STATE LEGISLATURE DO, WHICH IS I THINK WHERE YOU CAME IN ON THIS, TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST WHAT PEOPLE SAY IS A DOUBLE TOLL THAT HURTS JERSEY COMMUTERS?

>> WELL, JUST BECAUSE I LIVE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW JERSEY STATE SENATE.

>> YEP.

>> WHICH MEANS ALL OF NEW JERSEY.

AND MY COLLEAGUES IN THE NORTH HAVE A RIGHT TO FIGHT.

SENATORS LAGANA AND CONGRESSMAN GOTTH EIMER, THIS IS NOT MAYBE A DOUBLE TOLL, IT'S A DOUBLE TO.

-- IT'S A DOUBLE TOLL.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE STEPPED ON, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE A FLOOR MAMT, WE CAN FIND A SH SOLUTION, AND WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT LEGISLATION THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE CAN HAVE REVERSE ON THIS THING AND COLLECT A FEE FROM NEW YORKERS.

YOU KNOW, COMING IN TO NEW JERSEY.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, IS BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND SAY, LET'S BE FAIR.

LET'S BE FAIR TO THE NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS WHO SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESSES IN NEW YORK.

BECAUSE, REALIZE, THEY NEED US JUST AS MUCH AS WE NEED THEM.

IT'S A PARTNERSHIP.

>> IT'S A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP.

>> IT'S A GOOD POINT ON.

IT'S A GOOD ONE.

DON'T PUNISH NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS COMING OVER TO NEW YORK BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO THERE TO WORK.

>> NEW JERSEY TRANSIT WAS HIT HARD BY THE PANDEMIC.

AND NOW, BUSINESS GROUPS AND MOTORISTS ARE COMPLAINING THAT THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY IS SENDING LIKE A BILLION DOLLARS OVER TO NJ TRANSIT.

TO COVER SOME OF THE OPERATING EXPENSES.

AND THAT MONEY IS NOT GOING TO GO TO FIXING ROADS WHICH MOTORISTS WANT AND BUSINESS PEOPLE WANT.

THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WOULD FIX NEW JERSEY TRANSIT OR IT WOULD KILL HIM.

HE STILL IS STANDING, IS NEW JERSEY TRANSIT FIXED?

>> NO, NEW JERSEY TRANSIT IS NOT FIXED BUT IT'S NOT FOR LACK OF EFFORT.

AND NEW JERSEY WAS, NEW JERSEY TRANSIT, DAVID, WAS IN A BAD PLACE AND THIS GOES BACK TO WHITMAN ERA.

YOU CAN BLAME WHATEVER GOVERNOR YOU WANT.

WHAT ABOUT WHITMAN, OR YOU BLAME WHOEVER YOU WANT.

LET'S FIX IT.

YOU KNOW, THE PANDEMIC PUT US IN A BAD PLACE AND WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO GET TRANSIT UP AND RUNNING AND BE SAFE AGAIN.

AND THINK ABOUT IT, AS WE TALK SOCIAL DISTANCE AND MASKS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

I HAD TO GO TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

THE OTHER DAY.

I DROVE, I DID NOT TAKE THE TRAIN.

I WOULD NORMALLY TAKE THE TRAIN.

I WENT IN TO THE TRAIN STATION JUST TO SEE, EVERYTHING IS GONE.

THE RESTAURANTS AND THE UNION STATION, THE BIG RESTAURANT WHEN YOU WALK IN.

IT'S GONE.

ALL THE STORES ARE EMPTY.

YOU KNOW, IT BREAKS YOUR HEART.

TRANSIT IS SUFFERING AND HOPEFULLY UNDER PRESIDENT BIDEN WE ARE GOING TO GET A LOT MORE HELP, BECAUSE HE IS A BIG TRANSIT PERSON.

I KNOW THAT FROM THE GEOGRAPHICALLY FROM BEING CLOSE BY.

>> WHAT IS UP WITH THE BUDGET.

THAT IS ANOTHER THING I MISSED.

I WILL NEVER COMPLAIN AGAIN ABOUT THE SENATOR AND HIS LOOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH TIME, WHAT IS THE BIG EST CHALLENGE THAT WE ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET?

I FEEL LIKE I'M VERY DISCONNECTED, THANK GOODNESS WE HAVE JOHN RITEMEIER WHO WRITES FOR US TO EXPLAIN IT ALL TO ME.

BUT I WILL SAY, THAT I FEEL LIKE, THERE'S A WARNING IN MAYBE NOT IN THIS BUDGET, BUT IN FUTURE BUDGETS.

IS THERE A CLIFF IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

>> YOU KNOW, DAVID, THANKS FOR BRINGING IT UP.

WHAT IS GOING ON, WE HAVE NEVER DONE MULTIPLE YEAR BUDGETING.

WHAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON IS NOT CREATING CLIFFS.

GETTING MORE ACCURATE AND PROJECTING WHAT THINGS WILL LOOK LIKE NEXT YEAR.

IF I GIVE $700 MILLION TO SCHOOLS THIS YEAR.

I DON'T TAKE IT BACK NEXT YEAR.

AFTER THEY SPENT THE ADDITIONAL 700 MILLION.

>> RIGHT.

SO, WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO FOCUS ON, THIS AS A MULTIPLE YEAR BUDGET TO PREVENT FROM THE CLIFFS.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND HERE, DAVID, WHERE WE INCREASE FUNDING ONE YEAR AND DECREASE IT IN A HUGE WAY THE NEXT YEAR, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE SCHOOLS ARE SETTING THE PROGRAMS UP.

AND THEY CAN'T SHUT THEM DOWN.

PEOPLE LIKE THE PROGRAMS.

THAT'S WHY, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, YOU MOW, THE SCHOOLS, COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS GOT MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL RELIEF PACKAGE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T WASTE THE MONEY.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT THEY DON'T GO TO BUILDING 20 PARKS.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

AND EVERYONE'S DREAM PROJECT.

WHEN YOU DO THOSE THINGS, THEY HAVE COSTS THAT GO WITH THEM.

AND THAT GOES ON IN PURPITUITY, HEY, THIS IS NOT A LISTEN, HEY, WE HIT THE LOTTERY AND WE ARE GOING TO DO ALL THE THINGS WE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO.

THIS IS WHERE YOU HAVE TO SHOW SOME CONSTRAINT AND UNDERSTAND THE TRAUMA THAT WAS PUT ON THE WORD, IS HOPEFULLY GOING TO GO AWAY AND THIS FEDERAL MONEY COMING IS GOING TO BE PUT TO GOOD USE AND GET THE ECONOMY GOING AND NOT CREATE PROGRAMS THAT YOU CANNOT SUPPORT LATER.

WE ARE REALLY GOING TO BE LOOKING AT JUST NOT THE STATE FUNDING.

BUT HOW SCHOOLS, COUNTIES AND TOWNS ARE SPENDING THE MONEY TOO.

AND SEE HOW WE CAN PARTNER WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL DO IT IN A SMART WAY.

>> IS ANYBODY THINKING RIGHT NOW, ABOUT THE REAL CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY?

I MEAN, A THIRD OF THE WORKFORCE COULD BE WORKING FROM HOME GOING FORWARD OR REMOTELY, ANYWAY.

AND THAT AFFECTS CORPORATE REAL ESTATE, DOWNTOWNS.

I MEAN, RETHINKING OF ECONOMIC INCENTIVE PROGRAMS.

IS ANYBODY THINKING OF THAT YET?

>> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT AND I WILL, THE NEW NORM IS NOT GOING TO BE THE NORM.

THE NEW NORM IS GOING TO BE MORE PEOPLE WORKING FROM HOME.

AND YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE PREFER WORKING FROM HOME.

I WAS TALKING TO SOMEONE AND HE WAS A FRIEND OF MINE, HE SAID IT WAS THE FIRST DAY HE PUT A SUIT AND TIE ON SINCE LAST YEAR AND HOW GOOD IT FELT.

WELL, I CAN TELL YOU, IT FELT GOOD TO WEAR SWEATS AND T SHIRTS FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, INSTEAD OF A SUIT AND TIE LIKE NOW.

THE NEW NORM WILL BE DIFFERENT.

YEAH, WE ABSOLUTELY ARE LOOKING AT THE FUTURE, DAVID.

BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A CLIFF AND WE HAVE TO PROJECT AND GUARD AGAINST THAT CLIFF.

SO, WE ARE DOING IT.

WHICH BRINGS ME WITH THE MINUTE OR SO I HAVE LEFT, YOUR PATH TO PRAG.

YOU HAVE BEEN PUSHING IT AND NOW, THE PANDEMIC HAS MUTED THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS.

BUT YOU MADE THIS A BIG ISSUE.

AND YOU TALKED ABOUT, HOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF THE STATE.

HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY TRANSACTION ON THAT?

AND WHERE IS THE ROAD TO THE PATH TO PROGRESS STARTING?

DAVID, HERE'S WHERE I'M EXCITED.

WE HAVE OVER 70 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY TALKING ABOUT CONSOLIDATION NOW.

YOU HAVE BRN AROUND A LONG TIME.

WHEN YOU HAVE YOU BEEN AROUND THAT BEFORE.

I HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS LOOKING TO CONSOLIDATE, AND I HAVE SOUND COUNTY THAT IS DOING THE STUDY FOR COUNTY WIDE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS.

NOW THEY WANT TO DO IT FOR A COUNTY WIDE MUNICIPAL COURT SYSTEM.

MY POINT IS, THE PANDEMIC SLOWED US DOWN.

IT REALLY DID.

WE HAVE MOMENTUM GOING.

BUT, IT'S NOT STOPPING US.

THE DISCUSSIONS HAVE CONTINUED AND PROGRESS IS BEING MADE AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL REPORT ON THIS FURTHER.

I'M DOING IT.

I'M GOING TO DO A ROUND TABLE WITH SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION.

YOU KNOW, DAVID, IF WE TALKED ABOUT SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION FIVE YEARS AGO.

WE WOULD GET OUR HEADS HANDED TO US.

WE HAVE SCHOOL LEADERS SAYING HOW DO YOU HELP US MAKE IT HAPPEN?

IF YOU HAVE HAD FIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO CONSOLIDATE AND 1 DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT.

THE 1 DID NOT GET TO VETO THE FOUR.

NOW, IT'S YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PART OIF IT, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE OTHER FOUR.

>> THANKS FOR TAKING A FEW MINUTES.

>> SORRY IT'S BEEN SO LONG.

I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO PUT A TIE ON.

>> THAT IS "CHATBOX" FOR TODAY.

THANKS TO STEVE SWEENEY.

JOIN US NEXT WEEK WHEN WE TALK TO AN EDUCATOR THAT CALLING FOR MORE BLACK MEN IN THE CLASSROOM.

WE HAVE OUR GREAT CONTENT.

I'M DAVID CRUZ FOR THE CREW OVER HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHATBOX," WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP.

SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND -- MAYBING SCHOOL GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

THE FUEL MERCHANT AS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY.

THE NATIONAL OIL/HEAT RESEARCH ALLIANCE AND BIO HEAT, THE EVOLUTION OF OIL HEAT.

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

ONLINE AT INSIDER NJ.COM.

♪