>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ" IS PROVIDED BY -- THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

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 AN INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION, AND INSIGHT.

ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.COM.

♪ >>> HI, EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

WELL, IT WAS A HIT AND RUN SEEN ROUND THE WORLD.

JERSEY CITY COUNCILWOMAN STRIKING CYCLIST BLACK AS THEY CROSSED AN INTERSECTION IN JULY OF LAST YEAR.

THE RESULTING CCTV VIDEO CAUSED AN UPROAR AND HAD SOME CALLING FOR THE COUNCILWOMAN TO RESIGN.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> START AT THE BEGINNING, JULY 19th, CLOSE TO 8:00 IN THE MORNING, YOU'RE HEADING EAST ON FOREST, YOU COME TO INTERSECTION OF MLK DRIVE, WHAT HAPPENED?

>> HIT A BAD BUMP, OR THAT'S WHAT IT FELT LIKE.

AT THAT TIME OF THE DAY, THE SUN IS GLARING INTO THE WINDSHIELD.

FELT LIKE I HAD A CLEAR VISION BUT A LITTLE BIT OF SUN, I HAD SUNGLASSES ON, HIT WHAT FELT LIKE A BAD BUMP.

UNFORTUNATELY INSTEAD OF PULLING OVER TO ASSESS THE FULL SITUATION MY MIND DEFAULTED TO WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE MOST REASONABLE THING THAT JUST HAPPENED, HIT A POTHOLE, A BAD POTHOLE.

I CONTINUED ON AND WENT TO WORK.

>> DID YOU KNOW YOU HIT SOMEONE?

>> NO.

>> I WANT TO PLAY THIS PIECE OF TAPE FROM THE COURT PROCEEDING IN JANUARY, THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT IT.

>> SURE.

>> GOING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, DID YOU LEARN IN FACT THAT YOU HAD STRUCK A BICYCLE?

>> YES.

>> OKAY.

NOW, AND AT THE TIME YOU STRUCK THE BICYCLE, DID YOU AT ALL STOP AT THAT LOCATION, FOREST OR MARTIN LUTHER KING DRIVE OR CLOSE THERETO TO REPORT THE ACCIDENT -- >> NO.

>> -- OR RENDER ASSISTANCE, SEE IF THERE WAS AN INJURED PARTY?

>> NO.

>> INSTEAD YOU LEFT THE SCENE, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> IS THERE A TIME YOU CAME BACK TO ONE OF THE JERSEY CITY PRECINCTS SEVERAL HOURS LATER?

>> YES.

>> YOU FAILED TO STOP AT THE SCENE AND SEE WHETHER OR NOT TO RENDER ASSISTANCE, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT ACCOUNTING THAN YOU JUST SAID HERE.

>> I DID IN FACT HIT SOMEONE, JUST IF YOU PARK NEAR A HYDRANT AND DIDN'T SEE IT, GET A TICKET, DOESN'T MEAN YOU DIDN'T SEE IT, IT ISN'T TRUE, I SHOULD HAVE PULLED OVER, BUT I DIDN'T HIT SOMEONE AND KEEP GOING.

>> IN COURT YOU SAID IT HAPPENED.

>> BECAUSE I HIT SOMEONE AND DIDN'T RENDER AID TO THEM.

BECAUSE I DIDN'T TAKE IN THE ENTIRE SITUATION, PAUSE AND SAY WHAT COULD THAT HAVE BEEN BESIDES A HORRIBLE BUMP.

>> BUT WHEN YOU SAY IN COURT THAT YOU -- YOU HIT A CYCLIST.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW THEN BUT YOU LEARNED LATER THAT YOU HIT A CYCLIST?

>> YES.

YEAH.

>> SO IN COURT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE SAYING YOU KNEW YOU HIT A CYCLIST.

>> IN COURT I'M SAYING I HIT SOMEONE AND DID NOT STOP OR RENDER AID.

BUT AGAIN, THAT WASN'T WHAT I SET OUT TO DO THAT DAY AS A DELIBERATE MISSION.

>> SO AN EARLY REPORT SAID YOU HIT YOUR HEAD AND CAME TO LATER THAT.

WAS NOT FROM YOU AND NOT TRUE.

>> NOT TRUE.

I NEVER SAID THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT STEMMED BEFORE EITHER.

I DIDN'T OFFER COMMENTS EARLY ON.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SIX HOURS THAT HAS EVERYBODY PERPLEXED.

DURING THAT PERIOD, DID THE JERSEY CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT PR REACH OUT TO YOU.

>> NO, THEY DID NOT.

>> HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO GO TO THE PRECINCT?

>> I WAS AT WORK, THERE WAS A JOLT -- >> THERE WAS A JOLT?

>> IN THE CAR, YOU KNOW.

I'M AT WORK, FEELING THAT.

CAME OUT MAYBE AROUND LUNCHTIME TO GO FOR A WALK.

I WORK IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, AND LOOKING AT MY CAR, SAYING I THINK I HIT A PIECE OF PROPERTY, SOMETHING.

OBVIOUSLY THAT WASN'T FROM A SPEED BUMP AND IMMEDIATELY BECAME CONCERNED AND DISTRAUGHT AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THAT MOMENT, WHO TO CALL.

AND JUST TOOK A STEP BACK AND MY FIANCE, A FIREFIGHTER AND ALSO AN ATTORNEY, SOMEONE I SEEK COUNSEL FROM, MY COMFORT AND MY PERSON, ALSO KNOWING HE WOULD KNOW WHAT TO DO, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED HIM.

KIND OF SAID LET'S TAKE A MINUTE, DID ANYONE CALL YOU.

I WAS UPSET, JUST WANTED HIM TO COME TO ME.

HE WAS WORKING AT THE TIME OUTSIDE OF JERSEY CITY.

HE SAID WAIT FOR ME.

WE'LL GO TOGETHER.

WE DIDN'T NEED TO STAY UPSET.

DECIDED TO GO TO THE POLICE.

>> SO AT WHAT POINT DID YOU THINK YOU HIT SOMEBODY?

YOU'RE SAYING NOW -- BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG YOU DIDN'T SEE ANDREW BLACK IN THE INTERSECTION.

>> NO.

>> AT WHAT POINT AT WORK DID YOU THINK IT WAS MAYBE A PERSON YOU HIT?

>> DIDN'T AUTOMATICALLY THINK PERSON.

COULD HAVE PIECE OF PROPERTY.

>> BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE TO YOUR CAR?

>> YES.

COULD HAVE BEEN A PIECE OF PROPERTY.

DAMAGE ON THE BUMPER.

IT ALARMED ME.

THE FEELING OF KNOWING I HAD FELT THAT JOLT, THAT BUMP, MADE ME REALLY NERVOUS AND ANXIOUS.

KNOWING MY MIND COULDN'T PROCESS WHAT DID HAPPEN, WHEN DID IT HAPPEN, WHERE WAS IT EXACTLY, WHAT WAS GOING ON, JUST MADE ME MORE AND MORE ANXIOUS.

>> SIX HOURS, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY WHAT THE HELL IS THAT ABOUT.

>> YES.

>> WERE YOU DRUNK OR HIGH?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

>> SO YOU DECIDE TO COME IN.

YOUR FIANCE COMES WITH YOU.

WAS HE FUNCTIONING AS YOUR ATTORNEY AT THAT MINUTE?

>> NO, WE WERE WALKING IN TOGETHER.

DIDN'T KNOW IF HE NEEDED ONE, DIDN'T UNDERSTAND OR KNOW WHAT HAD OCCURRED.

WE WALKED IN AND WERE HANDED TICKETS, THAT WAS IT.

>> BECAUSE THE POLICE HAD SEEN YOUR LICENSE PLATE AND KNEW IT WAS YOU GOING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION.

AND POLICE SAY THEY DECIDED THAT THE STANDARD PROCEDURE THERE IS FOR YOU TO GIVE A SUMMONS.

THEY WERE GOING TO MAIL ONE TO YOU.

>> THAT'S WHAT I CAME TO LEARN, IF I HAD NOT COME IN, THEY WOULD HAVE JUST MAILED OUT THE TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.

I WAS TOLD BY SOMEONE THAT WAS NOT THE ONLY TICKET OF THAT SORT SENT OUT THAT DAY.

>> SO -- I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DECIDED TO COME IN TO THE WEST PRECINCT WHERE YOU ENDED UP?

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT WAS THAT CONVERSATION LIKE WHEN YOU SAID LET'S GO AND REPORT THIS?

YOU WERE GOING TO SAY HEY, I THINK I HIT SOMEBODY?

>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO CALL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD EITHER, AND AGAIN NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT HAD OCCURRED, FEELING A LOT OF ANXIETY.

WE JUST DECIDED, GO INTO THE WEST DISTRICT AND TELL THEM THERE'S DAMAGE TO MY CAR, WAS THERE ANYTHING REPORTED.

AND SURE ENOUGH, YES, THERE WAS.

AT THAT TIME I BELIEVE THEY HAD SEEN THE VIDEO OR THE CCTV AND HAD RAN AND -- I GUESS WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WAS ME.

PREPARED THE TICKETS.

AND WE LEFT.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE AFTERMATH OF THIS.

START WITH THE CCTV VIDEO.

IT LOOKS TERRIBLE.

WE SHOULD SAY FOR THE RECORD THAT THE CYCLIST WAS GOING INTO THE INTERSECTION AGAINST THE LIGHT, HE HAD THE RED LIGHT.

BUT WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THAT AND YOU SEE -- YOU DIDN'T STOP, DIDN'T PUMP THE BRAKES AT ALL.

I HAVE TO SAY, COUNCILWOMAN, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE YOU DIDN'T SEE HIM BUT YOUR TESTIMONY IS THAT -- YOU'RE SAYING YOU DIDN'T SEE HIM.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, AND -- TELL ME WHAT YOU THOUGHT WHEN YOU SAW THAT VIDEO.

>> IT'S HARD TO WATCH, STILL VERY HARD TO WATCH.

IT'S TWO, THREE SECONDS, AND IT REALLY MAKES YOU QUESTION WHAT ELSE DO YOU NOT PROCESS CORRECTLY OR JUST MISS.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU MISS?

I STILL AM AFRAID DRIVING.

I'M OBVIOUSLY NOT DRIVING AT THIS TIME.

BUT DRIVING WAS VERY TRIGGERING FOR ME FOR A LONG TIME.

DON'T LIKE TO BE IN THE CAR, DON'T REALLY FIND MYSELF LOOKING OUTSIDE, DON'T LIKE THE BUMPS.

I THINK I WATCHED THE VIDEO ONCE, THEN WAS NOT ABLE TO DO IT AGAIN.

IT'S NOT EASY.

>> WHEN DID YOU FIRST SEE IT?

AND WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?

>> I FIRST SAW IT WHEN IT WAS POSTED ON ONE OF THE NEWS PROGRAMS, I BELIEVE MICHAEL SHERREN'S NEWS OUTLET.

THE NEWS OUTLET PUT IT OUT AND I SAW IT.

>> WITH YOUR FIANCE OR ALONE?

>> WITH MY FIANCE, YES, I THINK WITH MY DAD AS WELL.

>> WHAT DID YOU -- >> I WANTED TO THROW UP.

MY MIND GOING WAS THAT ME.

BUT IT DIDN'T SWERVE, DIDN'T GO TO BRAKE, A NATURAL THING.

YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD TO RECONSTRUCT THOSE MOMENTS.

GO BACK, WHAT DID YOU DO THIS MORNING, IT'S EASY TO WATCH SOMETHING AND PUT PIECES TOGETHER, BUT BACK IN YOUR MEMORIES OF THAT DAY, ANY DAY, SOMETIMES IT'S DIFFICULT TO PIECE IT TOGETHER.

MY MIND WAS PIECING THINGS TOGETHER, GOING HOW -- QUESTIONED THE SAME THING, HOW DID I NOT SEE THAT.

I AT THIS POINT, I REMEMBER THEY ASKED DID I HAVE THE GREEN LIGHT, AND I SAID I THINK I DID.

EVEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I'M GOING LIKE -- YOU DON'T SIT DOWN AND RECORD EVERY MOMENT, LOG EVERY MOMENT.

SEEING THAT, TOO, OKAY, I HAD THE GREEN LIGHT, I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, A NORMAL ROUTE THAT I WOULD TAKE, AND IT WAS HARD TO WATCH.

I REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO WATCH IT MORE.

>> SO YOU KNOW THAT PEOPLE SEE THAT AND THEY WERE OUTRAGED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH.

AND PEOPLE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS, RIGHTFULLY SO.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED, WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT WAS PUTTING ME UNDER THE INFLUENCE, QUESTIONS WHY THAT WAS MY PREFERRED ROUTE TO WORK THAT DAY.

>> CRITICS SAY WHY DID IT TAKE YOU SO LONG TO COME OUT AND JUST APOLOGIZE.

>> OBVIOUSLY NOT, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO BE IN THIS SITUATION, NEVER THINKING I WOULD BE, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GO FORWARD.

YOU'RE IMMEDIATELY APOLOGETIC, AND FEEL ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE, NOT JUST TO PEOPLE LIKE MR. BLACK AND THE COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLING ME INTO QUESTION, BUT TO MY LOVED ONES AS WELL.

PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT ME AND PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, HAVE ME IN THEIR LIFE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO.

AND THERE WASN'T AN IMMEDIATE BACKLASH OF NEGATIVE OR THREATENING MESSAGES, FELT LIKE ANYTHING I SAID OR DID WAS GOING TO EXACERBATE THAT.

I'M MORE ON THE PRIVATE THAN THE PUBLIC SIDE.

I KNOW I LEAD A VERY PUBLIC LIFE AND IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO WRAP THEIR HEADS AROUND, BUT I DON'T ENJOY ALL OF THAT.

I DON'T SEEK TO TAKE A PICTURE OF EVERYTHING AND MAKE SURE IT'S ON SOCIAL MEDIA, I DON'T SHOVE AND PUSH TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE.

SO A LOT OF THIS WAS ME WANTING TO DEAL WITH IT PRIVATELY AS A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE FOR MYSELF AND ANOTHER PERSON THAT I DIDN'T KNOW.

FOR MY FAMILY.

AND THEN EVERYTHING, THINKING OF STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO WATCH IT, MY COLLEAGUES, THE CONSTITUENTS, IT WAS HEAVY AND DRAINING AND I REALLY DID NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND EVALUATE HOW I WAS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD IN THIS SITUATION AND DID NOT WANT TO RUIN ANYTHING FOR MYSELF IN THE COMMUNITY, THE COURT PROCEEDINGS, AND STILL ONGOING CIVIL PROCEEDINGS.

>> SO YOUR FATHER'S COUNTY EXECUTIVE, YOU'RE A FORMER DEMOCRAT PARTY CHAIR.

CRITICS SAY THAT YOU HAVE THIS SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT.

I WANT TO PLAY THIS OTHER PIECE OF TAPE YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN AND HEARD ABOUT.

THIS IS YOU IN HOBOKEN IN 2022.

WE'LL COME BACK TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> CAN YOU JUST WAIT A SECOND?

I JUST CALLED JOHN ALLEN AND HE TOLD ME TO HANG TIGHT.

>> I'M SORRY?

I DON'T KNOW WHO JOHN ALLEN IS.

>> WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

>> OKAY.

>> HE JUST ASKED TO WAIT A MINUTE.

>> HE ASKED FOR WHO TO WAIT A MINUTE?

>> FOR ME TO WAIT A MINUTE.

>> YOU CAN WAIT ALL YOU WANT, MA'AM, WE HAVE TO TOW THE CAR.

THERE'S TRUCKS THAT ARE TRYING TO MAKE THE TURN THAT CANNOT.

>> YOU LOOK FLABBERGASTED THERE AND PEOPLE SAYING YOU'RE DROPPING THOSE NAMES BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE STILL THE COUNTY CHAIR -- >> YES.

>> COUNCILWOMAN AT THE TIME.

>> NO.

>> JUST ELECTED, NOT SWORN IN.

>> ELECTED.

>> WERE YOU TRYING TO WORK YOUR CONNECTIONS?

>> TRYING TO GET THE LARGEST TICKET I POSSIBLY COULD IN LIEU OF MY CAR GETTING TOWED.

I WAS DOING JOB SITES THAT DAY.

MY HANDS ARE FULL, SEVERAL BAGS AND BRIEFCASES OF PAPERWORK, SCHOOLWORK AND MY PERSONAL ITEMS, TOO, AND JUST DID NOT WANT THE CAR TO GET TOWED, NOT KNOWING WHERE IT WAS GOING TO GO.

SOME CITIES TOW THEM OUT PRETTY FAR AND WAS WILLING TO PAY THE LARGEST TICKET, AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS ALSO ON CAMERA, TOO, NOT IN THE CLIP YOU CHOSE, BUT WAS WILLING TO PAY THE LARGEST TICKET POSSIBLE AND WANTED TO GO RIGHT TO THE COURTHOUSE IN HOBOKEN TO PAY IT.

WOULD HAVE LEFT THE CAR IN A CLOSE IMPOUND IF I COULD HAVE DONE THAT.

LUCKILY IT WAS NOT IMPOUNDED TOO FAR AND I STILL HAD TO GO THROUGH.

>> IN RETROSPECT, CONFIRMS YOU WERE TRYING TO GET SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE THE OPTION TO GET.

>> NO.

MANY PEOPLE -- I DON'T WANT TO ARGUE THIS, I WAS WRONG, ABSOLUTELY WRONG.

BUT THERE ARE TIMES YOU'RE GIVEN A TICKET INSTEAD OF A TOW.

PLACES YOU'RE GIVEN A BOOT.

I JUST, I KNEW A TICKET WAS AN ACCEPTABLE, YOU KNOW, LEGAL -- >> ALTERNATIVE?

>> YEAH.

I WASN'T ASKING FOR FAVORS, FOR HIM TO GO AGAINST THE LAW OR AGAINST THE WAY HE WOULD ENFORCE THE LAW.

BUT IF YOU WERE GIVEN OPTIONS, JUST A TICKET ONE OF THEM, GIVE ME THE TICKET.

BUT I WAS NOT RIGHT IN THAT SITUATION.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS NOT RIGHT FOR ME TO DO THAT.

I WAS THINKING MORE OF TIMING FOR WORK, GETTING BACK AND FOLLOWING MY SCHEDULE.

WHEN I REALLY SHOULD HAVE KEPT MY MOUTH SHUT AND SAID I'M REALLY SORRY FOR MY MISTAKE.

>> SO DO YOU FEEL OR DO YOU AGREE WITH THOSE WHO SAY THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BUT I THINK WE ALL SHOULD BE HELD TO A HIGH STANDARD, A HIGH CALIBER STANDARD.

WE SHOULD ALL HAVE A VOICE IN THOSE STANDARDS AND HOW THEY'RE SHAPED.

I DON'T BELIEVE BECAUSE YOU HAVE INFLUENCE, POWER OR YOU'RE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT YOU GET A FREE PASS OR A GET-OUT-OF-JAIL-FREE CARD.

>> YOU GOT A FINE AND A ONE-YEAR SUSPENSION OUT OF THIS.

DEPENDING ON WHO YOU TALK TO, A PRETTY STANDARD AND A LITTLE ON THE HIGH SIDE, SOME HAVE SUGGESTED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I DIDN'T REALLY LOOK AT THE DATA OF THE STANDARD PUNISHMENT IN COURT FOR THIS.

BUT -- I'VE HEARD THE SAME.

SOME SAY THAT'S NORMAL, OTHERS THOUGHT IT WAS A BIT STEEP.

I DO KNOW THAT COURT TOOK THE ENTIRE PROCESS EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY, THE PROSECUTOR AND JUDGE.

I FELT THEY HANDLED IT THE WAY THEY WOULD FOR ANYONE ELSE.

>> YOU GET WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM THOUGH WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT YOU TRYING TO FLEX YOUR POLITICAL MUSCLE?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE HAVE SEEN IT HAPPEN, WHETHER IN REAL LIFE OR THROUGH MEDIA.

SO THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE ARE THERE.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

>> AND YOU GOT A LOT OF, EVEN BY JERSEY CITY STANDARDS, SOME TOUGH STUFF SAID ABOUT YOU.

>> YES.

>> ONLINE, IN YOUR INBOX, EMAILS, VOICEMAILS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HIT HOME AND HURT YOU A LOT, HUH?

>> YEAH.

STILL DO.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIKE TO CHECK THAT MUCH ANYMORE, I REALLY HAD TO AS THEY WERE COMING IN, ESPECIALLY WHEN STRANGE NUMBERS ARE COMING IN, VOICEMAILS LEFT LED US TO LOOK THROUGH SOME OF THE INBOXES YOU CAN EASILY DISREGARD, AND THERE WERE MESSAGES FROM YOU'RE A JERK, A HORRIBLE PERSON, AND PEOPLE ARE ANGRY, OUTRAGED.

PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY EXACTLY WHATEVER THEY WANT.

BUT THEN THERE WERE MESSAGES COMING IN THAT WERE THREATENING.

I WOULD COME HOME FROM WALKING MY DOG AND HAVE A MESSAGE THAT MADE ME FEEL LIKE SOMEONE JUST SAW ME WALKING MY DOG.

THINGS THAT WERE GRAPHIC, EXPLAINING HOW I WAS GOING TO DIE, HOW LOVED ONES WERE GOING TO DIE.

ONE OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS, I'M THE GODMOTHER TO HER CHILDREN, BABIES REALLY, SHE GOT A LETTER WITH MOVIE LIKE RANSOM LETTERS CUT OUT.

COPS THEN SAID WE HAVE TO LOOK THROUGH EVERYTHING.

PERSONAL EMAIL, WORK EMAIL, CITY EMAIL, TEXT MESSAGES.

THEN AT ONE POINT WE WERE GETTING SEVERAL HUNDRED A DAY.

>> THERE SEEMS TO BE A PERIOD IN YOUR LIFE THINGS WERE NOT GOING WELL FOR YOU.

SUSPENDED FROM YOUR JOB, WAGES GARNISHED BECAUSE OF UNPAID BILLS, PARKING TICKETS, FAILED TO REREGISTER YOUR CAR.

WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE?

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN OTHER THAN I WAS WRONG AND NOT COMPLETELY RESPONSIBLE.

AGAIN, PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES AND CAN LEARN FROM THEM.

BUT I HAVE NO EXCUSE NOR SHOULD I. I SHOULD NOT HAVE PUT MYSELF IN THOSE POSITIONS.

IN JERSEY CITY IT IS COMMON TO GET PARKING TICKETS.

SOMETIMES YOU'RE KIND OF STRETCHING YOURSELF THIN AND TRYING TO DO A LOT OF WORK, THINGS DO GET PUSHED OUT ON THE PROPERTY LIST AND THEY WERE THE WRONG THINGS.

YOU KNOW?

I THINK MY GENERATION, AUTOPAY, THINGS THINGS YOU CAN DO ONLINE AND DIDN'T HELP ME.

>> CAN YOU SAY WHY YOU WERE SUSPENDED FROM YOUR JOB?

>> THAT WAS A PERSONNEL AND UNION ISSUE, TOO, IT WAS A WHILE AGO.

I HAD VIOLATED A BYLAW AND THE BOARD ACTED.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLING FOR YOU TO RESIGN, DEMONSTRATIONS OUTSIDE OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.

YOU SAID YOU WON'T RESIGN.

>> NO.

>> WHY WON'T YOU JUST RESIGN?

AND SHUT EVERYBODY UP FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION.

>> OBVIOUSLY THE OUTCRY BROUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE TO ME.

WOULD BUMP INTO ME ON THE STREET OR EVEN REACH OUT WITH SENSIBLE CONVERSATION I COULD ENGAGE IN.

AFTER HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE WHO TOOK MAJOR ISSUE WITH WHAT HAPPENED AND NO LONGER WANTED TO TRUST ME OR SEE ME AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, AFTER ONE CONVERSATION I FELT LIKE I WAS ABLE TO ESTABLISH MYSELF AS SOMEONE WHO MADE A MISTAKE, CAN LEARN FROM IT.

IT WILL BE FOREVER INGRAINED IN ME.

BUT MY MISSION TO MAKE MY HOME BETTER IS NOT CHANGED.

IT'S NOT WAVERED, IT'S INTENSIFIED, GOTTEN STRONGER.

THOSE WHO CHOSE NOT TO SIT DOWN WITH ME, DESPITE BEING INVITED, THOSE WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO MAINTAIN THEIR POSITION OUT OF A ANGER, I THINK IS AT TIMES POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

NOT BECAUSE THEY FEEL I'M A BAD PERSON, THEY DIDN'T LIKE ME TO BEGIN WITH AND NEVER WILL.

THE PEOPLE I WANT TO WORK WITH ARE THE PEOPLE WHO SIT DOWN AND SAY I WON'T VOTE FOR YOU BUT I DO BELIEVE YOU WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE AND I THINK WE CAN BUILD ON SOMETHING.

THAT'S KEPT ME MOTIVATED AND POWERING THROUGH.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE EXPECTATIONS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE PUSHED DOWN BECAUSE THEY'VE MADE A HORRIBLE ERROR.

IF THEY'RE SORRY AND WILLING TO MAKE AMENDS AND MAKE THINGS BETTER, DOESN'T CHANGE WHAT'S IN THEIR HEARTS.

>> DO YOU FEEL RESENTFUL TOWARDS THOSE PEOPLE?

>> NOT AT ALL.

>> HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THE PEOPLE DEMONSTRATING FOR YOU TO RESIGN?

>> IT'S THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES THEY'RE SPENDING.

IT'S COMPLETELY UP TO THEM.

IN MY OPINION I FEEL LIKE THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES COULD BE ALSO USED IN CONJUNCTION OR COLLABORATIVELY WITH ME.

THERE ARE MORE PROBLEMS IN JERSEY CITY OR HUDSON COUNTY WE COULD ADDRESS BESIDES ME.

I HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE, I'M KNOWN AS A PERSON WHO MAKES CONNECTIONS BETWEEN COMMUNITY GROUPS, IT'S A NICE AVENUE TO GET WHAT YOU WANT DONE, TO PUSH YOUR INITIATIVE, INSTEAD OF PROTESTING, LET'S PLAN, LET'S SOLVE.

>> HAVE YOU HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH ANDREW BLACK?

>> I HAVE NOT, NO.

THAT IS -- ON HIS SIDE AS WELL, WE HAD THE COURT PROCEEDINGS IN ESSEX COUNTY AND WE HAVE AN ONGOING CIVIL MATTER.

HE'S NOT ENGAGED IN ANYTHING I FELT WAS NEGATIVE OR VOLATILE, NOR HAVE I.

HOPE WE GET TO TALK SOON.

>> IF HE'S WATCHING, WHAT CAN YOU SAY TO HIM RIGHT NOW?

>> I'M VERY SORRY, VERY SORRY.

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT YOU'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH WITH ALL THIS.

I THANK YOU FOR MAINTAINING YOUR PRIVACY AS I DID MINE, AND I HOPE YOU KNOW I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SPEAKING WITH YOU ONE DAY.

>> HOW HAS THIS CHANGED YOU?

CHANGED YOUR PERSPECTIVE, PRIORITIES?

>> STREET SAFETY CLIMBS UP THE LIST TO THE TOP, YOU KNOW.

BECAUSE IN JERSEY CITY, HUDSON COUNTY IN GENERAL, YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE RIDING IN CARS, RIDING BIKES, WALKING.

FOR A LONG TIME THE CONVERSATION HAS DRAWN LINES, YOU'RE WITH THIS GROUP OR THAT GROUP.

IT'S NOT BEEN A COLLABORATIVE SPACE.

AS A UNION MEMBER, WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT A GOOD NEGOTIATION, NO SIDE FEELS LIKE THEY'VE WON.

YOU HAVE TO ENGAGE IN LONG ROAD KIND OF TALKS.

AND IT'S JUST INGRAINED IN ME YOU CAN'T SOLVE THINGS OVERNIGHT, THAT YOU HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

BUT STREET SAFETY IS UP THERE ON THE LIST.

>> COUNCILWOMAN, THANKS FOR COMING ON.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> AND THAT'S "CHAT BOX" FOR THIS WEEK.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @DAVIDCRUZ AND GET FRESH CONTENT EVERY DAY WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FROM ALL THE CREW, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ" IS PROVIDED BY -- THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

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 AN INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION, AND INSIGHT.

ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.COM.

♪