>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY -- NJM INSURANCE GROUP.

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

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

INSIDER NJ IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS POLITICAL PLAYERS AND INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION AND INSIGHT.

ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.COM.

♪♪ >>> THIS PROGRAM CONTAINS LANGUAGE ABOUT BUDGETS AND BUDGETING.

VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

HI, EVERYBODY.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

THIS IS "CHAT BOX."

WHEN WE DO TALK ABOUT BUDGETS, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT YOUR CITY'S BUDGET, YOUR COUNTY'S BUDGET AND YOUR STATE'S BUDGET, THE BUDGETS THAT PAY FOR POLICE, FIRE, SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, MOTOR VEHICLES OFFICES, EMPLOYEE PENSIONS AND ALL THAT, THAT IS FUNDED BY YOU.

INCOME, REAL ESTATE SALES, ALL THE TAXES ARE ON YOU.

SO IT SHOULD BEHOOVE GOVERNMENT TO BE FRUGAL WITH YOUR PESITOS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR FIRST GUEST HAS BEEN INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH AS A SENATE PRESIDENT FOR TWO DECADES.

HE'S AN INTELLECTUAL NOW, DON'T YOU KNOW, AS CHAIR OF THE ADVISORY BOARD OF THE STEVE SWEENEY CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY AT ROWAN UNIVERSITY.

A PLEASURE TO WELCOME BACK TO "CHAT BOX" STEVE SWEENEY.

SENATOR, GREAT TO SEE YOU, MAN.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU TOO, AND I EVEN WORE A TIE FOR YOU TODAY.

>> I SEE THAT.

AND BY VIRTUE OF MENTIONING THAT YOU HAVE A TIE ON, YOU'RE REMINDING EVERYONE THAT I DON'T HAVE A TIE ON.

SO THANKS ABOUT THAT.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> SO YOU ARE CONSIDERED A BUDGET HAWK IN YOUR DAYS IN THE SENATE.

YOU WERE A BUDGET HAWK.

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO BREAK THIS BUDGET CYCLE OF BOOM AND BUST BUDGETS, INVESTMENT BUDGETS VERSUS AUSTERITY BUDGETS?

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO GET OUT OF THAT?

>> WELL, IT'S BECAUSE YOU'LL HEAR PEOPLE, THIS IS HOW WE'VE DONE IT, WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT, THERE'S NO REASON TO CHANGE, IT'S WORKED FOREVER.

BUT THE REALITY IS IT'S NOT THE BEST WAY TO DO THINGS.

YOU KNOW, DAVE, IT'S ACTUALLY -- YEAR TO YEAR BUDGETING'S PROBABLY THE WORST WAY TO BUNT, PERIOD, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PROJECT AND PREDICT AND SEE INTO THE FUTURE AT ALL.

COUNTY GOVERNMENT WHERE I CAME FROM, WE DID FIVE-YEAR BUDGETING.

WE DID SIX-YEAR CAPITAL PLANS.

AND IT GIVES YOU A BETTER ABILITY TO ADJUST WHEN YOU NEED TO ADJUST.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THIS HUGE SURPLUS.

BUT WHEN WE PUT THIS POLICY THINK TANK TOGETHER WE GOT REALLY THE BRIGHTEST PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY TOGETHER TO LOOK AT OUR FUTURE.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR FUTURE, IT'S KIND OF SCARY RIGHT NOW.

>> SO ALL RIGHT.

SO THE SWEENEY CENTER JUST ISSUED A REPORT ON BUDGETS AND BUDGETING.

IT'S CALLED NEW JERSEY'S FISCAL FUTURE.

SO LET'S GET INTO SOME OF WHAT'S IN THAT REPORT AND TALK ABOUT RECOMMENDATIONS.

WHAT ARE ALL OF THE BIG BRAINS?

WHO ARE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS?

IT'S A PRETTY IMPRESSIVE GROUP.

>> LOOK, YOU'VE GOT CHARLIE SENDEL WHO'S AN ECONOMIST.

JOE NAROFF.

MARK PFEIFFER.

RICHARD KEEVEY.

AND I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON.

BUT THEY ARE THE VERY BEST THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.

AND THIS IS A BIPARTISAN THINK TANK.

IT'S NOT REPUBLICAN.

IT'S NOT DEMOCRAT.

IT HAS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRAT SXPTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE WORKING TOGETHER WITH US SO LOOK AT THESE PROJECTIONS.

WHAT I CAN TELL YOU, DAVID, IS NO ONE WANTS TO HAVE A BUDGET WHERE YOU FUND THINGS THIS YEAR AND THEN CUT THINGS NEXT YEAR.

AND RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, NEW JERSEY COULD NEVER PREDICT THE WINDFALL IN REVENUE THAT THEY HAVE.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE HEADWINDS THAT ARE COMING TO THIS COUNTRY IN A POSSIBLE RECEPTION -- RECESSION, YOU'RE LOOKING AT WHERE WE HAVE AGAIN THIS HUGE SURPLUS BUT NEXT YEAR WE COULD BE A BILLION AND A HALF, TWO BILLION IN THE HOLE.

AND THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE SAME.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO SAY DON'T SPEND IT -- LOOK, SPEND BUT REALIZE IF YOU SPEND IT ALL TODAY YOU MAY BE CUTTING IT ALL TOMORROW.

>> YEAH.

I GUESS A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW, I DIDN'T LEARN THIS UNTIL LIKE MY SECOND STATE BUDGET HEARING, IF I'M TELLING THE TRUTH HERE.

BUT THE GOVERNOR SAYS WHAT THE STATE'S REVENUE ARE EVERY YEAR, RIGHT?

>> THE GOVERNOR GIVES US HIS PROJECTIONS.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES THAT WILL GIVE US THEIRS.

NO DISRESPECT TO THIS ADMINISTRATION.

I CAN TELL YOU EVERY ADMINISTRATION I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH FROM WHEN I GOT HERE IN 2001, O.O.S.

WAS ALWAYS MORE ACCURATE THAN THE ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE WHEN YOU PROJECT -- WHEN YOU ADD THE ABILITY TO PROJECT REVENUE GROWTH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER, ONE YEAR SOMEONE PROJECTED 7%.

NOW, THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

BUT IT MAKES YOUR BUDGET WORK.

AND THEN AS YOU GO DURING THE YEAR YOU REALIZE OH MY GOD, I DON'T HAVE THE GROWTH.

SO NOW YOU'RE EITHER CUTTING FUNDING OR FREEZING FUNDING.

AND PROGRAMS YOU BLEEB IN THAT YOU THOUGHT GOT FUNDED THROUGH A BUDGET ARE NOW NOT FUNDED.

>> BUT AM I RIGHT THAT THE CERTIFICATION OF THE NUMBER COMES FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, YEAH?

>> YES.

BECAUSE THE 1947 CONSTITUTION THERE WAS NO O.O.S.

ONLY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAD A TREASURER'S OFFICE.

SO THAT'S HOW IT HAPPENED.

NOW, NO GOVERNOR IS GOING TO WANT TO GIVE THAT UP BECAUSE THIS IS POLITICS.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL WITH THE POLITICS SO WE CAN PLAN OUR FUTURE BETTER.

TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, ALL THIS SURPLUS RIGHT NOW AND EVERY DAY I CLICK UP AN ARTICLE WHERE SOMEONE WANTS TO SPEND ALL OF IT.

WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THIS, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THAT.

IT'S JUST A WORD OF WARNING, OF CAUTION.

I REALLY BELIEVE THE LEGISLATURE, IF THEY KNEW WHAT THE TRUE OUTLOOK IS, THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE.

THE LEGISLATURE -- LEGISLATORS I'VE DEALT WITH ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HAVE BEEN.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE THIS INFORMATION IN FRONT OF US.

WE DON'T HAVE THESE PROJECTIONS.

WE'RE ONLY LOOKING AT WHAT THE BUDGET IS THEY PUT IN FRONT OF US.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE PUSHING SO HARD WITH THIS THINK TANK, THIS POLICY THINK TANK, TO ENSURE THAT LEGISLATORS ARE ARMED.

HEY, THEY CAN MAKE THE DECISION TO CONTINUE TO SPEND OR DO WHAT THEY WANT, BUT THEY CAN'T SAY THEY DIDN'T KNOW AT THAT POINT.

>> SO YOU WERE THE SENATE PRESIDENT FOR 20 YEARS.

SOMEONE WATCHING RIGHT NOW IS THINKING, WHY COULDN'T YOU IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE THINGS, GET SOME OF THESE THINGS DONE.

IS THE SENATE PRESIDENCY NOT AS POWERFUL AS PEOPLE THINK?

>> I WAS THE SENATE PRESIDENT FOR 12 YEARS.

AND I DID PASS A BILL IN 2015 AND THE GOVERNOR VETOED IT.

AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO OVERRIDE IT.

SO I MEAN, I REALLY BELIEVE YOU'RE -- DAVID, WE'RE DOING THE LEGISLATURE A HUGE FAVOR, PROVIDING MORE INFORMATION TO THEM SO THEY CAN MAKE EDUCATED DECISIONS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THEY WANT.

BUT AGAIN, WHEN YOU'RE SEEING THIS HUGE SURPLUS AND IT'S LIKE IT'S HERE TODAY BUT IT'S GOING TO BE GONE TOMORROW, BE CAREFUL.

SO DON'T ACT -- >> SO YOU'RE NOT SAYING THAT THE SURPLUS IS TOO BIG.

RIGHT?

YOU'RE SAYING BE CAREFUL WITH THE SURPLUS BECAUSE AS YOU SAID BEFORE STRONG HEADWINDS HEADED THIS WAY.

>> YEAH.

AND WHAT I'M LOOKING AT AGAIN, DAVID, IS RIGHT NOW IF WE PUT ALL THIS EXTRA MONEY IN SURPLUS IT WOULD BE A 22% SURPLUS.

THAT'S BIG.

YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M USED TO WORKING WITH BUDGETS THAT HAVE A COUPLE HUNDRED MILLION IN SURPLUS.

BUT IF YOU KNOW FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS THAT YOUR REVENUES ARE NOT GOING TO KEEP UP WITH YOUR EXPENDITURES, THAT SURPLUS IN FOUR YEARS WILL PROBABLY COME DOWN TO 6% TO 8%.

BUT AT LEAST YOU'LL STILL HAVE A SURPLUS AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU BELIEVE IN.

IF YOU SPEND IT ALL NOW -- AND BY THE WAY, THERE'S STILL OVER $4 BILLION OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO BE SPENT, YOU KNOW, THAT NEEDS TO BE SPENT.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE -- I'M NOT TELLING THE LEGISLATURE DON'T SPEND.

NOT BY ANY MEANS.

BECAUSE I'M AS GUILTY AS ANYBODY IN LIKING TO SPEND MONEY.

WE ALL WERE.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS JUST A WORD OF CAUTION.

WE'VE GOT HEADWINDS COMING AND THE GOOD DAYS OF TODAY ARE GOING TO BE GONE TOMORROW AND WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE FUNDING PROGRAMS AND THEN THE VERY NEXT YEAR CUTTING THEM BACK.

>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF BUDGET POTENTIAL PITFALLS THAT SEEM TO ALWAYS BE PENDING.

ONE OF THEM IS NEW JERSEY TRANSIT.

NO?

>> NEW JERSEY TRANSIT, BECAUSE WE DID LEGISLATION THAT IT WAS A BIGGER PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT FORCED NEW JERSEY TRANSIT TO DO A FOUR-YEAR BUDGET, WE'RE LOOKING AT LIKE HALF A BILLION-DOLLAR DEFICIT.

THE CLIFF IS COMING.

AND WE'RE GOING TO FALL OFF THE CLIFF.

SO KNOWING YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, DAVID, NOW YOU HAVE FOUR YEARS TO GET READY TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

>> WHAT'S WRONG WITH HOW THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THE LEGISLATURE IS FUNDING NJ TRANSIT'S BUDGET?

>> WHAT'S WRONG IS WE DON'T HAVE A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE.

AGAIN, YOU CAN'T BLAME THIS LEGISLATURE, THIS GOVERNOR.

THIS HAS BEEN THIS WAY UNFORTUNATELY FOR A COUPLE DECADES.

AND WE, AGAIN, LAST YEAR BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT I WAS ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE FOR NEW JERSEY TRANSIT.

IF WE WANT PEOPLE TO USE MASS TRANSIT, IT HAS TO BE VERY RELIABLE.

AND BECAUSE OF THE FUNDING SHORTAGES IT WASN'T RELIABLE AND PEOPLE STOPPED RIDING IT.

ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAD SOMEPLACE TO GO AND THEN YOU CAN'T GET THERE BECAUSE YOUR BUS OR YOUR TRAIN DIDN'T SHOW UP.

>> THE OTHER ONE IS SCHOOL FUNDING.

IT'S ANOTHER CRISIS IN THE MAKING OR HAS THERE BEEN SOME SUFFICIENT PROGRESS THERE?

>> I THINK WE'VE MADE SOME REALLY SOLID PROGRESS.

WE HAVE FURTHER TO GO.

AND AGAIN, WHAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IS WE HAVE A VERY HEALTHY INCREASE IN SCHOOL FUNDING THIS YEAR.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT GO BACKWARDS NEXT YEAR.

BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS THEN IS IT GOES BACK ON THE TAXPAYER'S BACK.

IF I CUT THEIR FUNDING AFTER THEY'VE HIRED TEACHERS THEY'RE EITHER GOING TO LAY THE TEACHERS OFF OR RAISE TAXES.

SO THIS IS JUST A BETTER WAY OF DOING BUDGETING.

I WISH I HAD THIS AVAILABLE TO ME AS THE SENATE PRESIDENT BECAUSE I WOULD SHARE IT TO MY MEMBERS OF MY CAUCUS.

AND MY MEMBERS WERE VERY RESPECTFUL OF THE PROCESS.

BOTH SIDES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO HOW DOES IT HAPPEN?

HOW DO YOU GO FROM WHAT THE CURRENT STATE IS TO A POLICY THAT SAYS HEY, WE'RE GOING TO DO BUDGETS FIVE YEARS OUT?

WHAT, IS THAT SOMETHING THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO PASS A BILL ON OR IS THAT A CHANGE THE GOVERNMENT COULD MAKE BY EXECUTIVE ORDER?

>> WELL, THE GOVERNOR COULD ON HIS OWN WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO DO REVENUE FORECASTING WITHOUT LEGISLATION, WITHOUT A STATUTE.

BUT MY FEELING IS WE SHOULD PUT IT IN THE STATUTE AND IT WOULD BE BEST SERVED FOR EVERYONE, MOST IMPORTANTLY THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS STATE, TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A BETTER BUNCH OF PROCESSES.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN DONE, DAVE.

LOOK, I WAS PART OF IT FOR 12 YEARS.

I NEVER LIKED IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A SOLID WAY OF DOING BUDGETING.

BUT THIS IS THE WAY WE DID IT.

NOW HAVING THIS POLICY GROUP AT ROWAN UNIVERSITY HAS GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING REALLY THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST IN THIS STATE TOGETHER.

AND I'M HONORED THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH ME.

THEY'RE NOT BEING COMPENSATED.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

BUT THEY'RE GIVING THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT NEW JERSEY TOO AND THEY KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER.

>> POLITICS FOR A QUICK MINUTE THAT I HAVE LEFT.

WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE RESULTS FROM THIS WEEK'S PRIMARIES?

>> IT WASN'T VERY EXCITING.

THERE WAS NO SURPRISES.

YOU KNOW, DAVID, I LOOKED IN -- NOVEMBER'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGING YEAR I THINK FOR DEMOCRATS UNLESS SOME THINGS TURN AROUND.

HERE IN THE STATE WE'VE DONE SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS WHERE IT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED, BUT WHEN PEOPLE ARE PAYING $6 A GALLON FOR GAS AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD GROCERIES I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR EITHER PARTY TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

BECAUSE IF YOU'RE SITTING IN OFFICE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY WITH YOU.

>> ONE TAKEAWAY FROM THIS WEEK WAS THAT THE LINE, THE PARTY LINE HELD FOR EVERYBODY.

THERE'S A SUIT GOING ON AGAINST THE CONCEPT OF THE PARTY LINE, THE LEGALITY OF THE PARTY LINE.

WOULD YOU SUPPORT ABOLISHING THE PARTY LINE?

>> NO, DAVID, FOR ONE REASON.

IN MY COUNTY A REPUBLICAN TICKET BEAT THE COUNTY REPUBLICAN TICKET IN MY COUNTY BECAUSE THEY WORKED HARD.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS YOU CAN HAVE THE LINE.

DAVID, IT'S NOT THAT HARD.

IN FACT, IN CAMDEN COMMUNITIY THE PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS HAD A COUNTY LINE.

RIGHT NEXT TO THE DEMOCRATIC COUNTY ORGANIZATION.

RIGHT NEXT TO THEM.

NOT INSIDE -- >> SORT OF LIKE THE MODERATES ARE DOING NOW?

>> YEAH.

MY POINT IS IT TAKES WORK TO GET A COUNTY LINE TOGETHER.

YOU'VE GOT TO RECRUIT CANDIDATES AND GET PETITIONS SIGNED.

THE COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS, THESE ARE ALL PEOPLE THAT PUT -- GOT PETITIONS SIGNED, RAN FOR OFFICE, GOT ELECTED AS LEADERS.

AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING THEY CAN'T VOTE HOW THEY WANT TO SUPPORT WHO THEY WANT?

NO ONE'S DENYING A COUNTY LINE TO AN OPPOSITION ORGANIZATION.

THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE MISS.

IN MY MIND THEY'RE LAZY.

BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO GO OUT AND GET THE CANDIDATES THEY NEED TO GET THE COUNTY LANE.

AND I'M TELLING YOU, IN CAMDEN COUNTY THE PROGRESSIVES HAD A LINE IN CAMDEN COUNTY RIGHT NEXT TO THE ORGANIZATION LINE.

THEY LOST 80-20.

>> SO HOW DO YOU LIKE BEING A CIVILIAN?

ARE YOU ITCHING TO GET BACK INTO POLITICS?

>> I AM SO EXCITED TO BE DOING WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW WITH THIS THINK TANK, THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DRIVING POLICY, BECAUSE ONE THING I KNOW YOU KNOW, DAVID.

I ALWAYS WAS IN THE WEEDS AND GETTING THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY WHATEVER THE ISSUE WAS, TO SAY I DON'T MISS IT WOULD BE DISHONEST.

SVG I MISS IT.

I'VE DONE IT FOR 20 -- I DID IT FOR 20 YEARS AND I ENJOYED DOING WHAT I DID.

BUT I THINK NOW THIS POLICY THINK TANK GIVES ME THE ABILITY TO NOT BE PARTISAN, TO BE BIPARTISAN, TO COME TRY TO OFFER SOLUTIONS, TO HELP MY COLLEAGUES THAT I SERVED WITH TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HE'S THE CHAIR OF THE ADVISORY BOARD OF THE STEVE SWEENEY CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY AT ROWAN UNIVERSITY.

STEVE SWEENEY, GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN, DAVID.

>> AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, OUR FAMILY LOST OUR BROTHER ANTHONY AT THE END OF MAY.

IT WAS A TERRIBLE BLOW TO US, BUT AS WE TOLD THE STORY OF HIS LIFE WE FOUND COMFORT IN HIS IMPRESSIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS AN ACTIVIST AND PUBLIC OFFICIAL.

HIS FINAL ACT OF HEROISM IN MY BOOK WAS MAKING SURE THAT HE WAS AN ORGAN DONOR.

YOU CAN'T REALLY GRASP HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO TALK ABOUT ORGAN DONATION WHEN YOUR BROTHER IS LYING IN A COMA, BUT THAT'S THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THE PEOPLE FROM THE SHARING NETWORK FIND THEMSELVES IN ALMOST EVERY DAY.

IT IS NOT EASY, FOLKS, BUT IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN DO SOMETHING SO MAJOR FOR SOMEONE ELSE IS ALISSA DATIO.

SHE'S THE DIRECTOR OF HOSPITAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR NEW JERSEY SHARING NETWORK.

ALISSA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON WITH US TODAY.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US, SHARING THAT WORK, AND OUR CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

>> THANK YOU.

I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT ANTHONY IN A SECOND.

AND OF COURSE DETAILS ARE STILL PRIVATE RIGHT NOW ON RECIPIENTS, ET CETERA.

BUT CAN YOU JUST TALK ABOUT THE MISSION OF THE SHARING NETWORK A LITTLE BIT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE SHARING NETWORK'S CORE PURPOSE IS TO SAVE AND ENHANCE LIVES THROUGH ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION.

AND THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT THE GENEROSITY OF THE DONORS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

SO ONE OF OUR MAIN PURPOSES IS TO PROVIDE THE BEST SUPPORT WE CAN FOR FAMILIES SO THEN THEY CAN HAVE THEIR OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR LOVED ONE TO LIVE ON THROUGH ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION.

AND THROUGH THAT WE PROVIDE HOPE TO THE 4 YOU NO RESIDENTS IN NEW JERSEY ALONE THAT ARE WAITING FOR A LIFE-SAVING ORGAN TRANSPLANT.

AND NATIONWIDE THE 100,000 PEOPLE THAT ARE ALSO WAITING.

THE DONOR FAMILY'S GENEROSITY THEN TURNS TO HOPE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE WAITING.

AND THAT'S THE BEAUTIFUL GIFT OF LIFE.

>> YEAH, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THOSE NUMBERS.

I MEAN, HOW MANY PEOPLE DONATE ORGANS IN NEW JERSEY EVERY YEAR?

>> SO LAST YEAR WE ACTUALLY SAW MORE DONORS THAN EVER BEFORE.

AND THAT'S THE GENEROSITY OF NEW JERSEY.

WE REALLY TALK ABOUT THE GARDEN STATE BEING A VERY GENEROUS PLACE WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE SAYING YES TO ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION IN THEIR WORST HOUR.

LAST YEAR WITH THE MOST DONORS WAS 233 ORGAN DONORS THAT GAVE THE GIFT OF LIFE TO OTHER PEOPLE.

WHICH TRANSLATED IN 599 ORGAN TRANSPLANTS.

>> HMM.

THERE ARE OVER 100,000 PEOPLE WAITING FOR A TRANSPLANT.

17 PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY AWAITING TRANSPLANTS.

AM I RIGHT?

JUST ONE ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR CAN SAVE EIGHT LIVES?

>> YEAH.

ONE ORGAN DONOR CAN SAVE EIGHT LIVES.

AND TISSUE, UP TO 75 PEOPLE.

AND SOMETIMES WE EVEN SEE OVER.

AND THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT TISSUE DONATION IS IT'S THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.

TISSUE CAN BE USED UP TO FIVE YEARS AFTER THE DONATION OCCURS.

SO THOSE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GROW EVEN AFTER THE GIFT IS GIVEN.

>> YEAH.

AND I MEAN, I HATE TO SAY THAT WE ARE MACHINES.

BUT WE ARE, DIVINELY CREATED MACHINES.

AND THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, THE ORGANS, EVERYTHING FROM HEART VALVES TO CORNEAS.

YOU TALKED ABOUT SKIN GRAFTS AND BONE -- BONE MATTER.

IT'S HARD TO TALK TO PEOPLE IN THOSE TERMS, ISN'T IT?

I MEAN, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT -- I MEAN, WHEN SOMEBODY TOLD US ABOUT THE TIME TO HARVEST THE ORGANS, I MEAN, IT JUST -- YOU KNOW, THE TERMINOLOGY CAN BE JARRING.

>> YEAH.

AND THAT'S WHY WITH PEOPLE AND FAMILIES WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THE USES.

RIGHT?

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SKIN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GIVING A SECOND CHANCE TO BURN VICTIMS.

WE'RE GIVING ABOUT MASTECTOMY RECONSTRUCTION.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT REALLY IMPACT PEOPLE DAY TO DAY.

YOU KNOW, ACL REPAIR.

GIVING SOMEONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RUN AGAIN.

SO THESE -- YOU COULD SAY THAT TISSUE'S ENHANCING LIVES.

BUT FOR A RUNNER, FOR A WOMAN THAT WENT THROUGH A MASTECTOMY THIS IS GIVING THEM LIFE BACK.

SO TISSUE -- YES, IT CAN SEEM LIKE A TOUGH TOPIC.

BUT THAT'S WHY WE LIKE TO LEAD WITH THE USES.

AND YOU KNOW, THE BEAUTIFUL GIFTS THAT THESE DONATIONS GIVE.

>> AS A PERCENTAGE OF DEATHS HOW MANY PEOPLE MAKE ORGAN DONATIONS?

HOW MANY OUT OF EVERY 10 PEOPLE WHO DIE?

>> SO LESS THAN 1% OF ALL DEATHS ARE GOING TO TURN INTO ORGAN DONATION.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT MEDICAL ASPECTS THAT GO INTO THAT.

THAT WOULD TAKE A WHOLE SEGMENT.

BUT THE REAL BEAUTY IN IT IS THAT IT'S A UNIQUE AND RARE GIFT.

SO WHEN SOMEONE CAN BE AN ORGAN DONOR THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET THE YES AND GET THE FAMILY TO SEE THE BEAUTIFUL GIFT THAT CAN BE GIVEN.

BECAUSE THE WAITING LIST DOESN'T HAVE THAT MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO RECEIVE THAT GIFT.

AND FOR TISSUE WE TALK ABOUT 10% OF ALL DEATHS CAN TURN INTO TISSUE DONORS.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE ABOUT ANTHONY.

AND AGAIN, PRIVACY RULES PREVAIL HERE, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO DONATE TWO KIDNEYS, LIVER FOR RESEARCH, AND TISSUE SAMPLES POTENTIALLY AS YOU WERE MENTIONING FOR SKIN GRAFTS AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY.

WHICH TO ME IT BROUGHT ACTUAL JOY TO OUR FAMILY TO LEARN THAT.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOU APPROACH A FAMILY LIKE OURS?

ANTHONY HAD HAD A HEART ATTACK AND HE WAS IN A COMA.

SO HARD FOR ALL OF US.

BUT HOW HARD IS IT TO MAKE THAT FIRST APPROACH TO A FAMILY?

>> I WILL SAY WE'RE VERY LUCKY HERE AT THE SHARING NETWORK TO HAVE THE COMPASSIONATE STHAF THAT WE DO.

WHICH RANGES FROM SOCIAL WORKERS TO NURSES.

ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS REALLY.

BUT PEOPLE THAT WANT TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE.

AND THEY REALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE BEING WITH FAMILIES IN THEIR WORST HOUR.

AND OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO SUPPORT THAT FAMILY.

SO WE WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR LOVED ONE.

WE WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR FAMILY.

WE WANT TO GET TO KNOW THEM.

AND REALLY BECOME A PART OF THEIR PROCESS.

SO THERE BECOMES A TIME OF BUILDING RAPPORT AND IT REALLY IS GENUINE BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT PEOPLE IN THE END OF LIFE PROCESS.

AND DONATION IS A PART OF THAT END OF LIFE PROCESS.

SO WHEN WE BROACH DONATION AND WE BRING UP THAT TOPIC, THERE'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL RAPPORT AND CONNECTION ALREADY BUILT IT REALLY COMES NATURALLY.

WE TRY TO HELP THE FAMILY SEE HOW DONATION CANNOT ONLY HELP THE RECIPIENTS OR THE PATIENTS WAITING BUT THIS CAN HELP THE FAMILY.

THIS IS A WAY FOR THE FAMILY TO REMEMBER AND HONOR THEIR LOVED ONE, FOR THEIR LEGACY TO LIVE ON IN A BEAUTIFUL WAY.

AND FOR THEM TO BE A REAL-LIFE HERO AT THE END OF THEIR JOURNEY, THE END OF THEIR STORY.

SO REALLY BUILDING RAPPORT AND MAKING SURE WE'RE MEETING THE FAMILY'S NEEDS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO US.

>> YOU KNOW, WE CAN SAY THAT AND HEAR IT IN THE ABSTRACT, BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU FOLKS WHO ARE WATCHING THAT THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

I HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

IS IT RIGHT THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR LAG BEHIND THE REST OF THE POPULATION IN ORGAN DONATIONS?

>> YEAH.

SO ABOUT 66% OF OUR WAITING LIST HERE IN NEW JERSEY ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

SO WE REALLY FOCUS ON PURCHASE EDUCATION WITH OUR DONATION NEEDS DIVERSITY CAMPAIGN.

AND EVEN THOUGH RACES AND ETHNICITIES DON'T MATCH SPECIFICALLY TO PEOPLE ON THE WAITING LIST, IT OFTEN ENDS UP THAT IT MAY BE A BETTER MATCH.

SO WE REALLY HAVE MADE IT PERSONAL, HIT THE STREETS LOCALLY TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS, MISCONCEPTIONS AND CONCERNS BY THE MINORITY COMMUNITY ABOUT DONATION AND REALLY LISTENING TO WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE AND ADDRESSING THEM.

>> IS IT AS EASY AS JUST CHECKING ON YOUR LICENSE THAT YOU WANT TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR?

>> YEAH P. AND I WOULD SAY THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO PROBABLY VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU VISIT OUR WEBSITE, WWW.NJSHARINGNETWORK.ORG YOU REGISTER ONCE AND YOU'RE DONE.

AT THE MOTOR VEHICLES SOMETIMES WHEN YOU RENEW YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT'S ON THERE AGAIN.

SO IF YOU GO INTO THE NATIONAL DONATE LIFE REGISTRY WHICH IS ON OUR WEBSITE, YOU REGISTER ONCE AND YOUR WISHES ARE THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ALISSA DATIO IS DIRECTOR OF HOSPITAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR NEW JERSEY SHARING NETWORK.

I KNOW MY FAMILY THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION DURING A TOUGH TIME FOR US, BUT I'LL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN MYSELF.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND THANK YOU FOR COMING ON WITH US TODAY.

>> AND THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY.

AND OUR CONDOLENCES AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

THAT IS "CHAT BOX" FOR THIS WEEK.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO SENT E-MAIL AND TEXT MESSAGES AND TWEETED OUT ANTHONY'S NAME OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AND THOSE OF YOU WHO PAID YOUR RESPECTS DIRECTLY AT THE WAKE AND THE FUNERAL, PARTICULARLY MEMBERS OF MY NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM FAMILY.

I APPRECIATE IT ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE CRUZES, AND I WON'T FORGET IT.

I'M OFF NEXT WEEK.

WE'LL SEE YOU IN TWO WEEKS WITH OUR SPECIAL SEASON FINALE.

FOR ALL OF US HERE, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

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

INSIDER NJ IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS POLITICAL PLAYERS AN INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION AND INSIGHT.

ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.COM.

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