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♪♪ >>> IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO YEARS TO THE DAY SINCE THE FIRST CONFIRMED CASE OF COVID-19 IN NEW JERSEY, BUT SIGNS EVERYWHERE POINT TO IF NOT THE END, THEN MAYBE THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

HI, EVERYBODY, WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

DOES IT FEEL TO YOU LIKE COVID IS OVER?

I HAVE A COWORKER WHO INSISTS HE'S STOPPED THINKING ABOUT IT ENTIRELY.

SO IF COVID IS OVER, IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT WHAT'S LEFT ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

WHAT HAS COVID MEANT TO OUR ECONOMY AND TO THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND WHAT ABOUT THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO NOW FIND THEMSELVES KNOWN AS EXCLUDED WORKERS.

WE'RE GOING TO CHAT ABOUT ALL OF THAT IN A MINUTE, BUT LET'S GET TO THE NITTY-GRITTY OF THE PANDEMIC RIGHT NOW WITH THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, SHARIF.

DOC, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WELCOME BACK TO "CHAT BOX."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME, DAVID.

>> SO, IS THERE SOME IRRATIONAL EXUBERANCE GOING ON OUT THERE OR HAVE WE GOTTEN THE UPPER HAND ON COVID?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S IRRATIONAL TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE NOW THAN WE WERE EVEN TWO MONTHS AGO WHEN OMICRON WAS REALLY RAVAGING THE REGION.

RIGHT NOW, TODAY, WE MARKED THE FIRST DAY IN A LONG TIME THAT WE HAD ZERO PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE COVID-19 DISEASE IN OUR HOSPITAL BEDS.

THAT'S A HUGE MILESTONE.

WE WILL NEVER ELIMINATE COVID, BUT WITH THE CASE LOAD WE HAVE NOW AND CERTAINLY WITH THE HOSPITALIZATION LEVEL BEING MUCH LOWER, THERE IS CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE AT LEAST A PERIOD OF TIME FOR A BREAK IF AND WHEN THE NEXT WAVE COMES AGAIN.

>> YOU GOT THAT TREMENDOUS NEWS COMING OUT OF YOUR FACILITY THIS WEEK.

DOES THAT MATCH WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE STATE?

>> I THINK THERE ARE SIMILAR REASONS FOR ENTHUSIASM ACROSS THE STATE, YES.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE MUCH LOWER NOW.

THE WAY THAT HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE COUNTED AND REPORTED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH INCIDENTAL COVID AND I THINK WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE THAT BECAUSE ASYMPTOMATIC COVID, ESPECIALLY IN THE AGE OF OMICRON, IS QUITE COMMON.

BUT PEOPLE WITH ACTIVE COVID-19 DISEASE, THE COVID PNEUMONIA, THE CLASSIC RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS, WE'RE SEEING MUCH LESS OF THAT NOW.

>> WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT DATA DETERMINING DATES AND ALL OF THAT.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN JERSEY NOW IN TERMS OF THE DATA?

NEW INFECTIONS, HOSPITALIZATIONS, FATALITIES, HOW ARE THEY COMPARED TO, SAY, THIS TIME LAST YEAR?

>> CERTAINLY MUCH BETTER THAN THIS TIME LAST YEAR, AND AGAIN, MUCH BETTER THAN EVEN JUST TWO MONTHS AGO.

CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS, AND DEATHS ARE MUCH LOWER, AND I THINK THAT'S CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE ENDEMIC PHASE, WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS IS MANAGING SOME BASELINE LOW LEVEL OF CIRCULATION OF ANY DISEASE AND DEALING WITH ITS CONSEQUENCES, INCLUDING MAKING SURE THAT IMMUNOCOMPROMISED AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE ARE AS PROTECTED AS POSSIBLE WITH HIGH-QUALITY MASKS, AS MANY BOOSTERS AS THEY NEED, AS THE EVIDENCE REQUIRES FOR VACCINATION, BUT ALSO THE EASY AVAILABILITY OF THE ORAL THERAPEUTICS, THE PILLS THAT ARE TREMENDOUSLY GOOD AT KEEPING YOU OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND PREVENTING SEVERE DISEASE.

I THINK ONCE WE GET WIDE DISTRIBUTION OF THAT, ESPECIALLY, AND IF WE MAINTAIN LOW CASE AND HOSPITALIZATION LEVELS, WE ARE CLOSER TO ENDEMIC THAN EVER.

>> THE PRESIDENT AT THE STATE OF THE UNION DISCUSSED TEST TO TREAT AS AN OPTION.

YOU SUGGESTED GETTING TESTED MAYBE AT A PHARMACY FOR COVID AND IF YOU'RE POSITIVE, YOU GET, LIKE, A KIND OF A ZPAC KIND OF PACKAGE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, Z-PAC IS AN ANTIBIOTIC BUT WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THESE ORAL PILLS IS THAT THERE ARE VERY, VERY GOOD AT PREVENTING SEVERE DISEASE, AND SO THE PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE STATE OF THE UNION OF AN OPTION FOR PEOPLE TO SHOW UP TO A PHARMACY, GET THEIR TEST RESULT, AND THEN AT THAT SAME VISIT, BE ABLE TO GET A PRESCRIPTION FREE OF CHARGE FOR THESE ORAL THERAPEUTICS IS A GAME CHANGER.

THAT IS ONE WAY TO PROTECT VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND TO PROTECT ALL OF US ONCE THE SUPPLY OF THESE PILLS GOES UP AGAINST REALLY DEALING WITH THE BAD CONSEQUENCES OF COVID-19.

>> IT SEEMED HARD ENOUGH TO GET PEOPLE TO TEST, VACCINATE, AND MASK DURING THE HEIGHT OF THIS PANDEMIC.

DO WE STILL NEED TO SEND THAT MESSAGE OUT RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING VIGILANT AROUND SYMPTOMS AND GETTING TESTED IF YOU NEED TO IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT, AND RIGHT NOW, AS SOON AS THE PRESIDENT'S POLICY IS IMPLEMENTED ON LITERALLY GETTING YOUR TREATMENT IMMEDIATELY AFTER A POSITIVE TEST, I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE A DIVISIVE ISSUE AT ALL.

THIS IS AN ISSUE WE DEAL WITH, WITH THE FLU AND MANY OTHER CONDITIONS.

WE MANAGE THE BAD CONSEQUENCES OF DISEASE THAT SPREAD, BUT IMPORTANTLY, PROVIDE THE PROTECTION AND OPTIONS FOR TREATMENT IF YOU DO END UP GETTING COVID.

>> YOU KNOW, I'M BEING A LITTLE REFLECTIVE OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, I REMEMBER THE PRESIDENT PREVIOUS TO THIS ONE SAYING IT'S -- IT COULD DISAPPEAR JUST LIKE THAT.

THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT HAS IT JUST WEAKENED, AND WHY DID IT WEAKEN?

>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE, NUMBER ONE, WE'RE A HIGHLY VACCINATED STATE AND COMPARED TO THE WORLD, A HIGHLY VACCINATED COUNTRY.

THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT REASON WHY WE'VE DUBBED OMICRON AS MORE MILD, A HUGE PART OF THAT IS ACTUALLY WE'RE JUST MORE PROTECTED AS A POPULATION BECAUSE OF THESE VACCINES.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT, YES, THE OMICRON VARIANT DID INFECT A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING VACCINATED PEOPLE, AND THAT DOES ADD AN EXTRA LAYER OF IMMUNITY AND PROTECTION AS WELL.

SO, BECAUSE WE JUST GOT THROUGH A WAVE, THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE WIDE POPULATION LEVEL IMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.

HOW LONG THAT LASTS AND IN THE FACE OF ANY OTHER FUTURE VARIANT, THOSE ARE OPEN QUESTIONS.

>> I'VE BEEN -- I'VE GOTTEN THREE SHOTS NOW.

IS THERE GOING TO COME TO TIME, NEXT YEAR, WHENEVER, WHEN I'LL PROBABLY NEED A BOOSTER?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE MANY THINGS WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT COVID-19 IS THAT IMMUNITY, WHETHER FROM NATURAL INFECTION OR VACCINES, DOES NOT LAST FOREVER.

THERE'S REASON TO BELIEVE THAT FOR YOUNGER, HEALTHIER PEOPLE, THREE SHOTS MAY LAST A LONG TIME.

BUT THERE WILL LIKELY BE A RECOMMENDATION, ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER AND MORE VULNERABLE PEOPLE, FOR SOME REGULAR INTERVAL OF BOOSTERS, MAYBE ONCE A YEAR, MAYBE LESS FREQUENT.

THE SCIENCE AND THE DATA WILL TELL US THE ANSWER ON THAT, BUT THAT'S PRETTY LIKELY FOR FOLKS WHO ARE VULNERABLE TO COVID-19.

>> THINKING OF KIDS NOW, WE JUST SAW A REPORT THAT PFIZER SAID THAT ITS VACCINE IS NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS IT EXPECTED FOR KIDS BETWEEN 5 AND 11.

AND AM I RIGHT THAT WE STILL DON'T HAVE A VACCINE FOR KIDS UNDER 5?

>> TRUE ON BOTH FRONTS.

THE IMMUNITY FOR KIDS AGED 5 TO 11 DOES HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE, JUST AS IT DOES FOR ADULTS.

THERE WAS SOME HOPE THAT BECAUSE CHILDREN TEND TO HAVE A ROBUST IMMUNE RESPONSE TO CHILDHOOD VACCINATIONS, THAT THERE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT LONGER LASTING IMMUNITY.

ALL THAT MEANS IS THAT THERE MAY BE SOME REGULAR INTERVAL AS WELL, ESPECIALLY FOR VULNERABLE KIDS, TO COVID-19, KIDS WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS, WITH DISABILITY, IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, ET CETERA.

THE DATA WILL TELL US HOW TO TREAT THE VACCINATION CHALLENGE THERE.

AND IN TERMS OF KIDS UNDER 5, WE JUST NEED MORE ROBUST DATA ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VACCINES RELATIVE TO THE REST, AND I THINK THE FDA MADE A RESPONSIBLE MOVE TO SAY, LET'S PUT ON THE BRAKES, LET'S DO A LITTLE BIT MORE INVESTIGATING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BENEFIT TO COST RATIO IS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE FOR VACCINATION IN THAT AGE GROUP.

>> HAVE YOU TAKEN ANY TIME TO LOOK BACK AND REMEMBER HOW YOU JUST STARTED ON THIS JOB AT THIS HOSPITAL, DREAM JOB, AND THEN SUDDENLY, GLOBAL PANDEMIC?

>> WELL, THERE'S SO MUCH TO REFLECT ON, DAVID, BUT SOMETHING I NOTICED IMMEDIATELY WHEN I GOT HERE IS THAT THE TEAM HERE IS EXTRAORDINARY.

THEY RESPOND TO CRISES, IN MY VIEW, BETTER THAN ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION I'VE EVER WITNESSED.

AND THE SAME GOES FOR COVID-19.

WE WERE AMONG THE FIRST PLACES TO QUARANTINE SUSPECTED FOLKS TRAVELING FROM CHINA WITH SYMPTOMS.

THAT SEEMS LIKE AGES AGO RELATIVE TO WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED SINCE THEN.

BUT WE'VE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES PROUDLY, ASSISTING THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER AND THE GOVERNOR RESPOND TO THE PANDEMIC IN THE NORTHERN REGION.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

WE WILL REMAIN VIGILANT, WHATEVER COMES NEXT.

>> SO, I WANT TO GET YOU OUT ON A POSITIVE NOTE HERE.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN EARLY FORECAST FOR WHAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO THIS SPRING AND SUMMER?

>> I DO THINK WE'LL HAVE A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE COVID IS NOT THE FIRST THING PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT, GOD WILLING, FOR HOPEFULLY SOME TIME.

MAYBE A COUPLE MONTHS, MAYBE LONGER.

I THINK, AGAIN, THE POPULATION LEVEL IMMUNITY WE'RE SEEING NOW IS HELPFUL, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A RISK THAT THIS VIRUS WILL CONTINUE TO MUTATE, ESPECIALLY AS THE WORLD REMAINS UNVACCINATED, AND SO PRESIDENT BIDEN'S EFFORTS AND THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS'S EFFORTS TO REALLY TRY TO RAMP UP VACCINATION ABROAD WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> ALL RIGHT, DARING TO DREAM OF A POST-PANDEMIC SUMMER.

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL PRESIDENT AND CEO DR. SHEREEF ELNAHAL, THANKS, MAN.

SPRING IS JUST WEEKS AWAY, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT, THEN SUMMER RIGHT BEHIND IT.

IF YOU'RE A SMALL BUSINESS, YOU'RE ALREADY GETTING READY FOR THE SEASON.

THAT GOES FROM THE SHORE TO THE CITIES, EVERYONE FROM RESTAURANTS AND BARS TO EVERY ANCILLARY BUSINESS THEREOF IS HOPING FOR A RETURN TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS WHEN THE WEATHER WAS THE BIGGEST CONCERN THEY HAD.

MICHELLE IS BUSY YEAR ROUND, BUT I SUSPECT SUMMER IS HER FAVORITE SEASON.

SHE IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, AND SHE JOINS US NOW ON "CHAT BOX."

HEY, MICHELLE, WELCOME BACK.

>> GREAT TO BE BACK AND YOU KNOW ME TOO WELL.

SUMMER IS MY SEASON FOR SURE.

>> I KNEW THAT.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ATTITUDES AND HOW PEOPLE ARE FEELING OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, LIKE MAYBE COVID IS BEHIND US.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AND HEARING FROM YOUR MEMBERS ABOUT THEIR OUTLOOK RIGHT NOW?

>> CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM.

EVERYBODY CERTAINLY HAS A BOUNCE IN THEIR STEP.

LOOK, THE WARMER WEATHER IS COMING, WE'RE GETTING OUT.

PEOPLE ARE VERY BURNT OUT.

I MEAN, COVID HAS JUST REALLY TAKEN A WHACK, MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY, ALL ACROSS THE BOARD, SO PEOPLE HAVE A BOUNCE IN THEIR STEP.

HOWEVER, WE COME OUT ON ONE THING AND STEP RIGHT INTO ANOTHER.

WE HAVE ALL THOSE EXTERNALITIES THAT ARE JUST PUSHING DOWN ON BUSINESS RIGHT NOW.

AS WE THINK WE'RE JUST GETTING OUR HEAD ABOVE, NOW WE'VE GOT GEOPOLITICAL ISSUES RELATIVE TO THE UKRAINE.

WE'VE GOT AN INFLATION ISSUE THAT IS ABSOLUTELY REARING ITS HEAD MORE AND MORE EACH AND EVERY DAY.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT BRING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TREMENDOUS CONSTERNATION.

NOW, WE ARE HOPING THAT WITH THE WARM WEATHER AND OUR TOURISM SEASON THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE SUCCESS IN OUR TOURISM SEASON.

WE'RE WORKING HARD RIGHT NOW WITH OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION ON J-1 VISAS.

THERE ARE CERTAIN COUNTRIES WHERE THE EMBASSIES ARE WORKING ON OVERTIME TO PROCESS PAPERWORK SO THAT WE HAVE STUDENTS HERE THIS YEAR ON THE J-1 VISA PROGRAM.

WE'RE ALSO SEEKING CONTINUED RELIEF AND TEAM WORKER WAGE AND HOUR LOSS THAT WOULD FREE UP TEENAGERS TO FILL THOSE HOURS MORE SO HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A STRONGER WORKFORCE FOR OUR TOURISM SEASON THIS YEAR, WHICH WILL MEAN THAT EVERYONE WILL HAVE A BETTER EXPERIENCE AND AS WELL, EVEN MORE ECONOMIC DRIVING TO THE BOTTOM LINE.

>> IS IT TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY THAT'S FACING THE MOST CHALLENGES, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO JUST GETTING WORKERS?

>> OH, 100%.

IT'S FRONTLINE, IT'S RETAIL, TOURISM, HOSPITALITY.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK BACK.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE DECADES, NEW JERSEY HAS BECOME A SERVICE INDUSTRY STATE.

WE WERE NOT A SERVICE INDUSTRY STATE FOR DECADES UPON DECADES.

WE WERE A MANUFACTURING STATE.

WE MADE STUFF, AND WHEN WE WERE MAKING STUFF, OUR ECONOMY WAS STRONG.

IT'S TAKING US LONGER TO COME OUT OF THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY VULNERABLE JOBS AT A FRONT LINE AND THOSE ARE THE JOBS PEOPLE AREN'T COMING BACK TO.

WE NEED TO SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND SAY, HOW DO WE GET OUR EYES BACK ON THE PRIZE AND LOOK AT MANUFACTURING, LOGISTICS, DISTRIBUTION?

THESE TYPES OF INDUSTRIES WHERE THERE'S A HIGHER SKILL LEVEL, WHICH PAYS A HIGHER WAGE, WHICH AFFORDS SOMEONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE, WORK, AND RAISE A FAMILY IN NEW JERSEY, AND HOW DO WE UPSKILL THOSE WORKERS INTO THESE HIGHER PAYING JOBS?

>> SPEAKING OF, YOU KNOW, THIS EMPLOYMENT OR LACK OF EMPLOYEES, THE STATE UNEMPLOYMENT SWEETENERS ARE ALL GONE NOW.

WHICH WE WERE TOLD WAS AN IMPEDIMENT TO PEOPLE WANTING TO GET BACK TO WORK.

WE'RE SEEING THIS WORKER SHORTAGE.

THERE SEEMS TO BE KIND OF AN IMPASSE BETWEEN WORKERS WHOSE IDEA OF WORK AND THE WORKPLACE HAVE CHANGED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND EMPLOYERS WHO SAY, LISTEN, ONE PLUS ONE IS STILL TWO.

JUST LIKE IT WAS BEFORE COVID.

AND NOW EVERYTHING COSTS MORE.

I MEAN, IS THAT ASSESSMENT OFF THE MARK?

>> NO, YOU'RE FAIR.

>> HOW DO YOU GET THESE TWO SIDES TOGETHER?

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE SLOW AND STEADY.

THIS IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.

THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE TOMORROW, WE FLIP A SWITCH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYBODY'S, YOU KNOW, RUNNING BACK TO WORK AND THE JOBS ARE OPENING UP.

WE STILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN UNEMPLOYMENT THAN WE HAVE JOBS AVAILABLE, OKAY?

SO, YOU TRY TO WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND THAT, ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO WORK SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET A JOB.

PEOPLE ARE HESITANT.

WE HAVE CHILD CARE ISSUES, LIMITED PLACEMENT FOR CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THE EFFECTS ON THAT WORKFORCE.

WE'RE WAITING FOR THE $700 MILLION RELIEF PACKAGE TO HIT THE STREET.

IT WAS ANNOUNCED LAST OCTOBER.

WE'RE IN MARCH.

WHERE'S THE MONEY?

LET'S GET IT THERE.

SO THAT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE, AND THE FEAR I DO HAVE, DAVID, AS I THINK PEOPLE ARE RUNNING OUT OF DISPOSABLE INCOME, BUT WHEN THE WARM WEATHER COMES, PEOPLE GO, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'LL JUST RIDE IT OUT THROUGH THIS SEASON AND I'LL GET MYSELF BACK IN ACTION IN THE FALL.

THAT DOES MAKE ME NERVOUS.

>> YEAH.

WHAT ROLE CAN OR SHOULD STATE GOVERNMENT PLAY IN ANY OF THIS?

>> CONTINUING TO LISTEN TO THE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY BUSINESS, AND ENABLING RESOURCES.

SO, WE'RE ENCOURAGING OUR BUSINESSES NOT JUST TO REOPEN BUT TO REINVENT.

WE'VE SAID THIS FOR TWO YEARS.

LOOK AT WHAT'S THE NEW BUSINESS MODEL FOR YOU TO DELIVER YOUR PRODUCT TO SERVICE, AND WHAT INVESTMENT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

AND SO, IN SOME REGARDS, THAT'S GOING TO BE AN INCREASE IN TECHNOLOGY AND A.I.

BECAUSE THE PEOPLE AREN'T COMING BACK.

THIS IS CHICKEN AND THE EGG.

WHICH IS IT?

ARE WE BUILDING A.I.

AND THEREFORE PUTTING PEOPLE OUT OF WORK?

NO, AT THIS POINT, PEOPLE AREN'T COMING BACK AND WE HAVE TO FILL IN WITH A.I.

ON THE WORKFORCE SIDE, GOVERNMENT NEEDS AN ENCOURAGING MESSAGE, WE NEED OUR WORKFORCE BACK AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE SMALLEST OF BUSINESSES, THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN AND EARN, WHETHER IT'S SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME FOR SHORT-TERM BONUSES AND RETENTION AND STAY BONUSES AS WELL.

>> SO, WE'RE A WEEK AWAY FROM THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, A LITTLE LESS.

WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST HOPE, AND WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?

AS WE APPROACH THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS NEXT WEEK.

>> SO, MY BIGGEST HOPE IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR THE WORD "REFORM" SOMEWHERE.

RIGHT NOW, WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT RELIEF.

RELIEF IS GREAT, RELIEF IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

RELIEF IS A FIX IN A MOMENT IN TIME.

REFORM IS SUSTAINABLE.

SO, WE ARE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE HERE IN NEW JERSEY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE FLUSH WITH CASH.

NOW, WE'RE FLUSH WITH CASH FOR A REASON.

OUR CREDIT RATING WENT UP BUT MOODY'S WAS VERY CLEAR AND SAID, NEW JERSEY HAS OUTLIER LIABILITIES, DON'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE AT THE SWITCH, FOLKS.

THAT MEANS REFORM.

WHAT I'M FEARFUL OF IS THAT I'M GOING TO HEAR ABOUT PROGRAMS AND MONEY BEING SPENT IN AREAS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE A TAIL ON THEM THAT ONE OR TWO YEARS FROM NOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THIS FLUSH WITH CASH SITUATION IN ORDER TO PAY THE NEXT ROUND OF THAT FUNDING, AND WHO ARE THEY GOING TO COME TO?

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH.

IN YOUR DEALINGS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, HOW'S THAT?

DO THEY LOOK TO YOU AND FEEL TO YOU LIKE A TEAM THAT'S STILL FOCUSED ON NEW JERSEY AND NOT SOME PLACE ELSE?

>> WE DO HAVE ONE NEW PROGRAM WE'RE WORKING ON WITH THE FRONT OFFICE THAT IS ACTUALLY A POSITIVE, AND THERE'S A REGULATORY REFORM TASK FORCE BEING STOOD UP THAT MYSELF AND A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON WITH SOME FOLKS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S FRONT OFFICE.

WE HAVE SPOKEN FOR YEARS ABOUT THE NEED, AGAIN, FOR REGULATORY REFORM, SO THERE'S POLICY REFORM, THERE'S TAX REFORM.

REGULATORY REFORM IS IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE AREAS WHERE WE CAN HAVE SOME RELAXATION AND RELIEF WHEN IT COMES TO LICENSING AND PERMITTING AND MANDATING AND RULES THAT ARE CHOKING AND STIFLING OUR BUSINESSES.

SO, WE'RE HAPPY, HEY, I HAVE ABOUT A FOUR-PAGE MEMO READY TO GO FOR THE TASK FORCE FOR THINGS WE'VE ASKED FOR, FOR THE LAST I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS.

>> SO YOU'RE EXPECTING TO GET A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO SHARE THOSE THOUGHT, YEAH?

>> WE'VE BEEN INVITED TO THE TABLE.

AND WE ARE, AS YOU KNOW, BIA, WE'RE ALWAYS THREE STEPS AHEAD.

WE'VE BEEN PREPARED, SO WE'RE READY TO ROLL.

LET'S DO IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, HERE'S TO A SUCCESSFUL SUMMER FOR ALL OF US.

MICHELE SIEKERKA, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> DAVID, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CONTINUE TO BE WELL.

>> THIS WEEK MARKED THE END OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THOSE QUALIFYING FOR HELP FROM THE EXCLUDED WORKERS FUND.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

IT'S A FUND THAT WAS SET UP BY THE STATE TO HELP THOSE WHO WEREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT OR STIMULUS CHECKS.

MOST BECAUSE OF THE IMMIGRATION STATUS.

THE LAUNCH OF THE FUND WAS, SHALL WE SAY, NOT PERFECT.

THOUSANDS ENDED UP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR, AND THE FUNDS WERE SENT BACK TO THE GENERAL OPERATING FUND.

LISA IS THE SERVICE COORDINATOR FOR MAKE THE ROAD NEW JERSEY.

SHE'S BEEN WORKING TO GET PEOPLE CONNECTED WITH THE HELP THEY NEED.

SHE JOINS US NOW TO UPDATE.

ELIZABETH, HI.

>> HI, DAVID.

THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

>> THE FIRST GO ROUND WITH THIS WAS ALMOST A DISASTER.

SO MANY PEOPLE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD.

WHAT'S THE BIG DIFFERENCE NOW AS OPPOSED TO A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN FEW PEOPLE EVEN WERE ABLE TO SIGN UP?

>> WE HAD A BUMPY ROAD AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAD A DIFFICULT TIME LEARNING ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

I THINK NOW WHAT'S DIFFERENT IS THAT THE STATE PUT MORE EFFORT INTO CREATING A BIGGER OUTREACH PROGRAM IN OUR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN HELPING OUT.

PEOPLE FILL OUT THEIR APPLICATIONS.

ALSO THE APPLICATION BECAME SIMPLER AND MORE STREAMLINED AS WELL AS THE G APPLICATION OR THE PROCESSES REMOVED ONE OF THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, WHICH WAS PROOF OF COVID IMPACT.

I FEEL LIKE THOSE CHANGES HELPED, AND WE LET THE WORD OUT AND PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO APPLY NOW AND THE APPLICATION IS MUCH SIMPLER.

>> DID YOU FIND THAT DURING THE FIRST GO ROUND, THERE WAS A RELUCTANCE ON THE PART OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO SIGN UP?

WAS THE PROCESS TOO DIFFICULT FOR THEM?

OR DID NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT?

>> SO, I THINK IT'S A MIXTURE OF ALL OF THEM.

THE WORD WASN'T OUT AS WE WOULD HAVE HOPED FOR, AND ALSO, THE APPLICATION WAS A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LENGTHY AND YOU KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME, SOME OF THEM DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET, AND THE APPLICATION IS -- HAS TO BE FILLED OUT ONLINE ENTIRELY, AND UPLOADING DOCUMENTS WAS ALSO A HASSLE FOR MOST OF THEM.

>> WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE, IN THE CORPORATE OFFICE DOING THE CLEANING.

IT'S THOSE PEOPLE, RIGHT, WHAT WE USED TO CALL ESSENTIAL WORKERS?

>> EXACTLY.

THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BASICALLY SUPPORTING THE ECONOMY OF NEW JERSEY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THESE ARE OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, FRONTLINE WORKERS, WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE STIMULUS PAYMENTS.

THEY HAD NO ECONOMIC RELIEF DURING TWO YEARS.

IMAGINE YOURSELF HAVING TO GO TO WORK EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE RISKING YOUR LIFE, YOUR FAMILY'S LIVES, BECOMING SICK, AND HAVING TO GO TO WORK BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T GO TO WORK, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY TYPE OF INCOME TO SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY.

YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE HAD TO EXPERIENCE THIS AND WE HAVE SEEN THEM FIRSTHAND.

THEY HAVE HAD TO RELY ON FOOD BANKS, ON SPENDING ALL THEIR SAVINGS AND BECAUSE OTHERWISE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SURVIVE.

>> THERE WAS A CONCERN ABOUT OUTREACH LAST TIME.

HOW WAS THIS EFFORT ON OUTREACH DIFFERENT?

>> SO, WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTING LOCAL COMMUNITY, OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, BEING ON THE NEWS, AND, YOU KNOW, SHARING THE WORD, AND YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE LINING UP OUTSIDE OUR OFFICES AND YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THE NEED AND WE WISH THAT THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE WHEN THE PROGRAM OPENED BACK AT THE END OF OCTOBER.

PEOPLE ONLY STARTED LEARNING ABOUT THE PROGRAM IN FEBRUARY, MID-FEBRUARY, WHEN THE PROGRAM ENDED IN FEBRUARY 28, SO IT IS REALLY HARD AND FRUSTRATING AND OBVIOUSLY WE URGE THE GOVERNMENT AND THE LEGISLATURE TO REOPEN THE PROGRAM BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY, MANY STILL THAT ARE LEFT BEHIND FROM THIS RELIEF.

>> SO, HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO SIGN UP BEFORE THE DEADLINE OF THIS WEEK?

>> SO, WE HAVE SO FAR 36,000 APPLICATIONS.

AND OUT OF THOSE, ABOUT 4,300 HAVE BEEN ONLY APPROVED.

SO, THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE WORK TO DO.

AND CLEARLY, THIS FUND, THIS $40 MILLION WOULD HAVE COVERED ONLY ABOUT 10% OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE ECONOMIC RELIEF, SO THERE'S STILL A HUGE NEED AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WE WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT AND WE WANT TO URGE OUR LEGISLATURES TO REOPEN THE PROGRAM AND REALLOCATE MORE FUNDS FOR THESE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE OTHERWISE LEFT OUT A SECOND OR THIRD TIME.

>> SO, THOSE FOLKS NOW WHO ARE ABLE TO SIGN UP BEFORE THE DEADLINE, THE STATE SAID THAT IT WILL HONOR THE REQUEST, THE QUALIFYING REQUEST.

WILL THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THE PROGRAM THIS TIME AROUND AND FROM BEFORE AS WELL, WILL THEY EXCEED THAT $40 MILLION?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

LAST WEEK, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE $40 MILLION CAP WAS ALREADY REACHED, BUT THE GOVERNOR SAID PUBLICLY THAT HE WILL HONOR ALL THE REMAINDER APPLICATIONS UNTIL FEBRUARY 28th.

>> SO, WHAT IS THE CHANCE THAT THE FUND IS GOING TO BE SHUT DOWN OR EXTENDED?

I GUESS THAT'S WHAT YOU AND OTHERS ARE WORKING ON.

THE DOLLAR FIGURE, THOUGH, THAT YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE IS WHAT?

>> WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING SINCE THE BEGINNING FOR $1 BILLION, WHICH IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE CONSIDER THAT WILL COVER ALL THESE ALMOST HALF A MILLION UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE OR EXCLUDED WORKERS, FRONTLINE WORKERS THAT DID NOT GET ANY TYPE OF ECONOMIC RELIEF DURING THESE TWO YEARS OF THE PANDEMIC.

SO, $40 MILLION OR MAYBE EVEN MORE WILL ONLY COVER ABOUT 10%, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE REST OF THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, NEW JERSEYANS, EXCLUDED WORKERS?

>> WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN IN TERMS OF A LOT OF THESE FOLKS BEING ABLE TO GET BACK TO WORK?

>> SO, THEY BASICALLY -- PEOPLE HAD TO GO BACK TO WORK REGARDLESS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IF THEY LOST JOBS, THEY HAD TO GO OUT AND LOOK FOR ANOTHER ONE.

THEY HAD NO OPPORTUNITY TO STAY HOME AND JUST, YOU KNOW, WAIT TO GET A -- LIKE A CHECK.

SO, THEY HAD TO FIND THEIR WAYS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN CONTINUING TO WORK REGARDLESS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ELIZABETH CHABLA IS THE SERVICE COORDINATOR FOR MAKE THE ROAD NEW JERSEY.

ELIZABETH, THANKS FOR THE UPDATE AND THANKS FOR YOUR GOOD WORK.

>> YES, OF COURSE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG, TWO YEARS IS NOTHING.

BUT AS YOU GET TO A CERTAIN AGE, YOU REALIZE THAT THAT IS 730 DAYS, OVER 17,000 HOURS.

THAT'S A LOT.

IT'S GONE NOW.

AND IT'S NOT REFUNDABLE.

THAT'S "CHAT BOX" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS TO ALL OUR GUESTS TODAY.

A PROGRAM NOTE.

WE'LL HAVE LIVE COVERAGE OF THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS TUESDAY, LIVE AT 2:00 P.M. ON NJ PBS AND ALL OF OUR STREAMING PLATFORMS.

JOIN ME ALONG WITH THE DYNAMIC DUO OF RHONDA SCHAFFLER AND JOHN REITMEYER AND MORE GUESTS AS WE BREAK DOWN THE BUDGET AND TELL YOU WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU.

THAT'S TUESDAY AT 2:00 P.M. ON NJ PBS.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER, @DAVIDCRUZNJ.

I HOPE YOU'RE OKAY AND THAT YOUR FAMILY IS DOING WELL.

I'M GLAD YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO SPEND THESE PAST TWO YEARS WITH US.

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

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