♪ >> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ" IS PROVIDED BY -- NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.

RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

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 ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS, ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM.

♪ >>> THEY SAY CRIME DOESN'T PAY, BUT SOME ARE HOPING IT PAYS POLITICAL DIVIDENDS.

HI, EVERYBODY.

IT'S "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

MY PANEL IS COMING AND GOING.

SENIOR REPORTER FOR NEW JERSEY MONITOR, EDUCATION REPORTER FOR POLITICO NJ, AND SENIOR WRITER AND PROJECTS EDITOR FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

WE LOOK AT THE LEGISLATIVE ACTION IN TRENTON INTENDED TO SEND A TOUGH ON CRIME MESSAGE.

LAWMAKERS SAY THERE'S AN UPTICK IN CRIME, INCLUDING AUTO THEFTS THAT REQUIRE A RESPONSE.

CRITICS SAY IT'S GOOD POLITICS BUT GOOD POLICY, NOT SO MUCH.

POLICY COUNSEL FOR THE ACLU OF NEW JERSEY, HE TESTIFIED THIS WEEK AND JOINS US NOW.

WELCOME TO "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."

>> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY.

>> YOU TOLD LAWMAKERS THAT THESE BILLS LACKED EVIDENCE OF EFFICACY.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM?

>> THE BILLS WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT MONDAY IN THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WAS A BILL AROUND BURGLARY OF A RESIDENCE.

IT WOULD GREATLY INCREASE THE CRIMINAL PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH BURGLARY OF A RESIDENCE.

ALL THE DATA WE'VE LOOKED AT SHOWS A CONSISTENT DROP IN BURGLARIES DATING FROM 2016.

THIS WAS INTRODUCED IN 2017.

WE WANTED TO LOOK AND SAY A BILL INTRODUCED IN 2017, IS IT RESPONSIVE TO THE CURRENT CRIME DATA, AND IT WAS NOT.

WE DON'T WANT ANY BILLS THAT FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY OF TOUGH ON CRIME POLICIES THAT ARE NOT AT ALL ROOTED IN THE DATA OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BILLS FLOATING AROUND, YOU ALLUDED TO AUTO THEFT AS WELL, ANOTHER MAJOR ISSUE.

THERE IS SOME DATA TO BACK UP INCREASES IN AUTO THEFTS, BUT OUR CONCERNS IS PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE SOLUTIONS THE LAWMAKERS ARE PUTTING FORTH ARE JUST OVERCRIMINALIZING AND INCREASING THE CRIMINAL PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THESE CRIMES AND WE DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO LEAD TO DECREASES IN THE CRIME RATES.

WE WANT THE LAWMAKERS TO MAKE A MORE DELIBERATE PROCESS AND MAKE SURE WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS HOW TO GET TO THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIMES.

>> LOOKING AT VIDEO NOW, THE LAWMAKERS TALKING TO EACH OTHER, NOT THE PUBLIC.

WE'LL DEAL WITH THAT LATER.

TOUGH ON CRIME IS THE HIT SONG THIS SEASON.

IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE?

WE KEEP HEARING THAT THERE WAS AN UPTICK IN BURGLARIES AND AUTO THEFTS, BUT IN RECENT MONTHS WE'VE SEEN A DECREASE IN THAT.

WHAT IS THE REALITY?

>> RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS LOOK AT THE TIME LINE OF WHAT THE STATE HAS DONE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE THE LAST DECADE.

WE HAVE 100-PLUS-YEAR HISTORY OF BEING TOUGH ON KRIECHLCRIME.

THAT'S THE DEFAULT RESPONSE THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY REALLY.

BUT WE TURNED AWAY AND MOVED TO DEKARSRATION AS OPPOSED TO MORE INCARCERATION.

BASED ON THE POLICY CHANGES MADE, CRIME RATES HAVE GONE DOWN, PRISON AND JAIL POPULATIONS ALSO HAVE GONE DOWN.

NONE OF THAT WAS TRUE WITH A TOUGH ON CRIME STANCE.

WE WERE PUTTING MORE PEOPLE IN PRISON AND JAILS, SEPARATING THEM FROM THEIR FAMILIES, AND IT WASN'T HAVING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE CRIME RATES AT ALL.

SO IT SEEMS AS IF WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS.

>> I WANT TO PLAY THIS SOUND FROM SENATOR TESTA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE IN THE ROOM FOR THIS PART OF THE COMMITTEE HEARING.

THERE WAS DISCUSSION RAISING PENALTIES FOR FENTANYL AND HEROIN POSSESSION AND DISTRIBUTION.

ONE COLLEAGUE WAS SUGGESTING DRUG TREATMENT IS A BETTER OPTION BECAUSE MOST NONVIOLENT CRIMES, INCLUDING BURGLARY, WERE COMMITTED BY PEOPLE WITH ADDICTION DISORDERS.

>> THE PREMISE YOU'RE TESTIFYING ABOUT THAT WE'RE SENDING DRUG ADDICTED INDIVIDUALS SOLELY FOR DRUG ADDICTION TO PRISON, IT'S FALSE.

IF SOMEONE IS COMMITTING HOME INVASION, A CARJACKING OR A LONG LIST OF OFFENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR DRUG USE THEY'VE COMMITTED A VIOLENT OR POTENTIALLY VIOLENT ACT OF COMING INTO SOMEONE'S HOME.

HOME INVASIONS ARE VERY COMMON AND COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH SOMEONE WHO IS ADDICTED TO DRUGS, COMMITTING THEFT.

>> THAT SEEMED SO CIRCULAR.

AM I MISHEARING HIM?

SOUNDED LIKE THEY WEREN'T PUTTING ADDICTS IN JAIL BUT MOST OF THE CRIMES HE DESCRIBED WERE PROBABLY COMMITTED BY ADDICTS.

>> I THINK THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A LAWMAKER POTENTIALLY SPEAKING FOR A LITTLE BIT TOO LONG AND ATTACKING THEIR OWN POINT FOR US.

IT'S QUITE CLEAR THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO DEAL WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE OFTEN END UP IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THE SENATOR WALKED US THROUGH MANY WAYS THAT COULD HAPPEN IN HIS COMMENTS.

S AS IT RELATES TO THAT BISHLL, T SPONSORS WANT TO ADDRESS AND GET TO THE KINGPINS PUTTING FENTANYL IN THE DRUG MARKET.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THE ONLY PEOPLE ARRESTED BY INCREASING CRIMINAL PENALTIES ARE THE LOW LEVEL PEOPLE IN THE STREETS USING THE DRUGS THEMSELVES.

IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO SEPARATE THE LOW LEVEL DEALERS WITH USERS BECAUSE MANY ARE SELLING TO FUND THAT ADDICTION.

SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT TRUE THAT WE ARE NOT PUTTING DRUG USERS IN PRISON.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF -- THERE'S A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE DEALING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE GOING THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND DRUG RECOVERY IS A MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE ROUTE THAN THROWING THEM INTO PRISONS.

>> CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SWAY THAT THE POLICE UNIONS HAVE OVER THE LEGISLATURE?

>> YEAH.

MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> I ONLY HAVE A MINUTE LEFT.

>> THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF SWAY.

IN 2020 WHEN WE SAW THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, ALL THE LAWMAKERS WERE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO DO A BUNCH OF POLICE REFORM.

THREE YEARS LATER, PRACTICALLY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.

THERE'S A BILL OF LICENSURE LAST MONTH, WE'VE BEEN LIFTING UP CCRBs, POLICE TRANSPARENCY, WE'RE SO FAR BEHIND EVEN STATES LIKE FLORIDA HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY THAN WE DO.

WE NEED TO STOP THE NARRATIVE OF TOUGH ON CRIME AND MOVE TOWARDS PROGRESS, NOT BACKWARDS.

>> DOES THE ACLU HAVE THE GOVERNOR'S EAR OR THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SENATE OR ASSEMBLY OR ARE THEY KEEPING YOU AT ARM'S LENGTH?

>> WE'RE CONSTANTLY IN CONVERSATION WITH LEADERSHIP, LEGISLATURE OR FRONT OFFICE.

WE'RE WORKING TO SLOW DOWN THE TOUGH ON CRIME PROPOSALS AND COME UP WITH NEW SOLUTIONS.

WE'RE IN CONSTANT CONVERSATION WITH THE LAWMAKERS AND GOVERNOR MURPHY ON THIS.

>> JOE JOHNSON, COUNSELOR, GOOD TO SIGH, THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> COLLEEN, DANA, CARLY, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

START WITH THE TOUGH ON CRIME BUSINESS.

IT SOUNDS GREAT TO SAY LOCK UP ALL THE BAD GUYS BUT DOESN'T TAKE AN EXPERT TO SEE WHAT IS DRIVING MOST CRIME, RIGHT?

DRUG ADDICTION.

>> IT SURE IS, WE KNOW THAT'S A REASON A LOT OF PEOPLE WIND UP IN PRISON AND DO THEY GET THE HELP THEY NEED IN THERE?

WE CERTAINLY DON'T KNOW THAT'S THE CASE.

I THINK THAT YOU MENTIONED AT THE OPENING THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE BEHIND THIS.

AND THAT'S AN ELECTION HAPPENING THIS YEAR.

ALL 120 SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE UP.

WE KNOW THAT BEING TOUGH ON CRIME HAS BEEN I GUESS, SUCCESSFUL, BUT CERTAINLY BEEN USED BY MOSTLY REPUBLICANS IN ELECTIONS IN THE PAST.

SO I THINK ESPECIALLY -- WE SAW IT IN LAST YEAR'S CONGRESSIONAL RACES, WHEN THERE WAS THIS UPTICK IN CAR THEFTS, THAT THAT BECAME AN ISSUE.

I REALLY THINK THAT'S BEHIND A LOT OF THIS.

I THINK THAT JOE MAKES A GOOD POINT IN CAUTIONING THE LEGISLATURE.

WHEN WE WERE TOUGH ON DRUGS, PRISON POPULATION WENT UP, WE TRIED TO DO THE OPPOSITE.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THE SAME THING, IF YOU'RE TOSSING A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN JAIL BECAUSE YOU'RE INCREASING CAR THEFT PENALTIES, AT SOME POINT YOU'RE GOING TO WIND UP REGRETTING THAT IN THE FUTURE.

>> YEAH.

DANA, IT WAS A CLOSE GOVERNORS RACE AND REPUBLICANS GAINED SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND SPOOKED THE DEMOCRATS.

WHAT WOULD THE POLICY DIFFERENCES LOOK LIKE.

YOU SEE A LOT OF BILLS PROPOSED THAT IF THEY PASS WILL BE A LOT DIFFERENT THAN EVEN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION.

JUST IN TERMS OF THE POLICE BACKED STANCE.

>> SURE.

IT'S A PROGRESSIVE STATE, AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN CONTROL AND BEEN ABLE TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS ON SOME POLICE REFORM MEASURES BUT NOT ENOUGH.

THERE'S DEFINITELY MEASURES THAT HAVE NOT GONE ANYWHERE.

THE STATE HAS BEEN TALKING A LONG TIME ABOUT CLOSING TWO JUVENILE PRISONS, HASN'T DONE THAT, IT'S BEEN NOTED THERE HAS BEEN NO PROGRESS ON TRANSPARENCY.

WE'RE WAITING FOR POLICE REPORTS ON MAJOR DISCIPLINE TO COME OUT AND THERE'S BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THOSE.

DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE ELECTION, THAT COULD GO EITHER WAY.

WITH THIS KIND OF RECENT TREND TOWARDS EVEN DEMOCRATS BEING TOUGH ON CRIME, DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PROGRESS WITHOUT SOMEBODY CHANGING.

>> THE CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARDS WOULD APPEAR AN EASY LIST BUT THERE ARE CONSERVATIVE ELEMENTS IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

ONE OF THE SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS WITH THAT IS THAT YOU WANT CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD WITH TEETH, RIGHT?

>> SUBPOENA POWER.

>> YES.

RIGHT.

AND SO THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH OPPOSITION TO IT FROM THE POLICE SIDE OF THINGS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T WANT THAT OVERSIGHT.

>> FOR SURE, YEAH.

>> THAT'S -- RIGHT THERE, THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE HEAVY LIFTS THERE.

>> I WANT TO SWITCH GEARS TO TALK ABOUT THE TERRIBLE STORY OUT OF BAYVILLE, A 14-YEAR-OLD DIED BY SUICIDE AFTER SHE WAS PUBLICLY BULLIED AND ATTACKED.

A LOT OF SCHOOLS ARE FALLING SHORT OF CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT SAFE FOR ALL KIDS.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN ON YOUR BEAT, KARLY?

>> THIS HAS BEEN AN INTENSE AND DIFFICULT WEEK FOR A LOT OF SCHOOL COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

I THINK SCHOOLS ARE TAKING A HARD LOOK AT THEIR POLICIES, AND KIND OF RE-EVALUATING WHAT IT IS TO CREATE A SAFE SPACE IN SCHOOL.

AT THE SAME TIME THIS IS COMING WITHIN A BROADER CONTEXT OF YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, AND CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACING YOUTH NATIONWIDE, NOT ISOLATED TO NEW JERSEY.

EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR WHAT THE SOLUTION IS GOING TO BE.

REPUBLICANS HAVE PUT FORTH A MEASURE THAT WOULD TIGHTEN REQUIREMENTS IF THERE'S ANY ASSAULT OR INCIDENT ON CAMPUS IT BE REPORTED IMMEDIATELY TO THE POLICE.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON SOME OF THE EDUCATION ADVOCACY SIDE, THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF SUPPORT STAFF FOR SCHOOLS.

THERE'S A RENEWED FOCUS, WHO ARE THE PEOPLE AND WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE STUDENTS FEEL SAFE AND PROTECTED IN THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.

I THINK WE'RE HAVING A BIT OF A RECKONING RIGHT NOW.

I THINK YOUR COLLEAGUE BRENDA WAS REPORTING FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WHERE STUDENTS WERE COMING FORWARD AND OPENING THE FLOODGATES, SAYING THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED EXPERIENCE.

WE'VE EXPERIENCED THE SAME.

>> MY BIGGEST SCARE WHEN MY KIDS WERE GROWING UP THEY WOULD BE BULLIED.

THIS HURTS TO READ AND COVER.

>> I HAVE TWO KIDS IN COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL, A SENIOR.

MY SON HAS HAD ISSUES IN SCHOOL, AND ONE OF THE SCHOOLS HANDLED IT GREAT, ONE DIDN'T IN ANOTHER SITUATION.

I THINK A LOT OF IT -- THERE'S RULES THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW, SOME SCHOOLS ARE GOOD, SOME AREN'T.

AS THIS CASE IN BAYVILLE SHOWED, A LOT HAS TO DO WITH THE SCHOOL LEVEL MANAGEMENT, WHO IS IN CHARGE.

BECAUSE A LOT OF THE RULES ARE THERE, LIKE CARLY WAS SAYING, IT'S JUST HOW DO SCHOOLS CARRY THEM OUT.

>> LOOKING AT THIS AS A PARENT AND A JOURNALIST.

>> I MEAN IT'S HEARTBREAKING.

I COULDN'T IMAGINE HAVING THIS KIND OF ABUSE HAPPENING TO MY CHILD AND THEN MY GOSH, THE CHILD FEELS SO LOST THAT THEY -- SHE TAKES HER OWN LIFE.

THE SCHOOL -- I'M NOT IN DEPTH, DON'T HAVE IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT HAPPENED HERE, BUT FROM EVERYTHING I'VE READ, FEELS LIKE THE SCHOOL HANDLED IT COMPLETELY THE WRONG WAY, THE BULLIES WERE NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE UNTIL AFTER THE FACT.

THE FACT THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT RESIGNED SAYS SOMETHING.

BUT IT'S CLEAR IT'S HARD FOR SCHOOLS TODAY, I THINK HARDER THAN WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP, BECAUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM.

BUT THERE HAVE TO BE -- JUST HAS TO BE A WAY TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

>> CARLY MAKES A GREAT POINT, IT APPEARS TO BE A RECKONING, IN THAT SENSE IT'S POSITIVE.

THE GOVERNOR WAS TRYING TO MAKE NEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY THIS WEEK.

DID HE?

>> HE DID.

THIS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY OF HIS SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE.

HE'S BEEN TRYING TO GET NEW JERSEY TO A WHOLLY GREEN ECONOMY.

ORIGINAL GOAL WAS 2050.

HE IS UPPING IT TO 2035, ADVANCING IT BY 15 YEARS.

HE MADE A BUNCH OF OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS, ONE OF THEM CARS AND TRUCKS ARE THE LARGEST SOURCE OF GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS IN THE STATE, SO SOME OF HIS ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS WEEK TARGET THOSE.

HE WANTS TO HAVE ALL CARS SOLD BY 2035 TO BE ELECTRIC.

HE'S INVESTING I THINK 75 MILLION TO GET HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS TO BECOME ELECTRIC.

BUILDING ELECTIFICATION GOALS, 400,000 HOMES, 20,000 BUSINESSES TO BE RUN ON RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES RATHER THAN FOSSIL FUELS.

OUTLINED A BUNCH OF THINGS THIS WEEK HE WANTS TO -- WANTS THE STATE TO HIT TARGETS THE NEXT 10 TO 15 YEARS.

>> THE GOVERNOR WAS IN NEWARK, EXPANDING AFRICAN AMERICAN AP STUDIES.

BUT MAYOR BARAKA HAD THE QUIP OF THE WEEK >> I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM BEING WOKE BECAUSE THE OPPOSITE OF THAT IS BEING SLEEP.

IF THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE BEING WOKE POLITICAL DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

SAYING THINGS THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE WILL UNDERMINE THE DEMOCRACY IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> HOW OBVIOUS WAS THIS A DIG AT RON DeSANTIS FROM THE GOVERNOR?

>> BEYOND OBVIOUS, I THINK IT WAS PLANNED AND INTENDED THAT WAY.

GOVERNOR MURPHY CALLED OUT FLORIDA GOVERNOR DeSANTIS BY NAME IN TAKING HIS ACTION TO EXPAND ACTION TO ADVANCED PLACEMENT AP AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES COURSES IN THE STATE.

RIGHT NOW THAT COURSE IS KIND OF BEING PILOTED AND STILL FORMED A LITTLE BIT BY THE COLLEGE BOARD, THE BODY THAT OVERSEES IT.

BUT GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID 26 HIGH SCHOOLS WILL BE OFFERING THAT COURSE WITHIN THE 2023-2024 ACADEMIC YEAR.

I THINK ONE SCHOOL SO FAR IN NEW JERSEY HAS OFFERED IT.

I THINK THE MAYOR'S STATEMENT KIND OF SPEAKS FOR A LOT OF NEW JERSEY.

NEW JERSEY IS AN INCREDIBLY DIVERSE AND POPULOUS STATE.

IT WAS AMONG THE FIRST IN THE NATION TO REQUIRE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY BE TAUGHT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGH THE 2002 AMISTAD CURRICULUM.

BUT ADVOCATES ARE POINTING OUT IT'S WELL AND GOOD TO MAKE BROAD NATIONAL STATEMENTS AND PUT NEW JERSEY UP AS A MODEL FOR OTHER STATES TO FOLLOW, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE STATE.

2021, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE AMISTAD COMMISSION CAME TO THE LEGISLATURE AND SAID WE'RE OPERATING ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET AND CAN'T GET A MEETING WITH THE ACTING EDUCATION COMMISSIONER.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE WITH THE EXISTING PROGRAM AND NEW JERSEY HAS STILL SOME OF THE MOST SEGREGATED SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.

IT'S ONE THING TO PROMOTE THE ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSE, A GREAT THING FOR THE STATE TO PUT IT ON THE MAP WHERE OTHER STATES ARE GOING, BUT ADVOCATES SAY THERE'S MUCH MORE NEW JERSEY COULD BE DOING, MORE INTENTIONALLY THE STATE SHOULD BE KEEPING AN EYE ON.

>> COLLEEN, YOU WERE KEEPING AN EYE ON ELECTION STUFF.

SOMEBODY WHO GOT SEATED WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE VOTES TO BE SEATED, LAWSUITS COMING OR ALREADY FILED.

SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM OR IS THIS AN INDICATION OF THE SYSTEM WORKING?

>> I THINK PARTICULARLY IN THAT ONE CASE IN MONMOUTH COUNTY, THAT WAS A TERRIBLE PROBLEM, IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE ARE TOLD THAT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN, AND HOPEFULLY THAT THE INVESTIGATION THAT HAS BEEN DONE OR IS STILL UNDER WAY WILL INSURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> COUNT THEM ALL, COUNT THEM RIGHT.

ONLY IN JERSEY MOMENT.

DANA?

>> SURE.

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL COMES OUT WITH A LOT OF PRESS RELEASES OF INVESTIGATIONS THEY'RE DOING.

IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING FROM FATAL POLICE ENCOUNTERS, JUVENILE UFJUSTICE AND WEIGHTY STUFF.

THIS WEEK THEY ANNOUNCED CRACKING DOWN ON A VENDOR WHO OVERINFLATED A BASKETBALL.

BOARDWALK VENDORS ARE OVERINFLATING BASKETBALLS THAT BOUNCE TOO MUCH AND YOU CAN'T WIN ANYTHING.

I THOUGHT YOU WOULDN'T WIN ANYTHING ANYWAY BUT THIS WOMAN GOT A TEN-YEAR BAN FROM THE BOARDWALK.

>> SHOCKER.

>> COLLEEN, TELL US ABOUT YOUR FANTASTIC NEW PROJECT.

>> WE LAUNCHED WATER'S EDGE THIS WEEK.

WE'VE GONE THREE DAYS, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FINISHING UP NEXT TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

I THINK THE WAY THIS KIND OF MESHES IN HERE IS IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THIS BEAUTIFUL FOOTAGE, YOU CAN -- I THINK MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MAYBE ELSEWHERE, WHO KNOW ABOUT NEW JERSEY WOULD BE SURPRISED TO SEE THIS IS NEW JERSEY.

WE'VE GOT THESE CLEAN STREAMS, WE'VE GOT BEAUTIFUL AREA THAT WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP CLEAN.

WHAT WE FOUND IN OUR PROJECT IS THAT IN FACT THERE ARE STILL ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS.

THE DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED WHICH WE FOCUSED ON, WATER FOR 15 MILLION PEOPLE, AND YOU KNOW, UP IN THE HIGHLANDS WHERE I LIVE, THE RIVER FEEDS INTO THE DELAWARE, HAS A BIG PROBLEM WITH OF ALL THINGS ROAD SALTS.

TOO MUCH ROAD SALT, NOBODY WANTS TO DRIVE ANYMORE, KNOWS HOW TO DRIVE IN THE SNOW, THERE'S CONSTANT ROAD SALTING, IT GETS IN THE WATER AND THE WATER IS MORE SALINE THAT IT WAS YEARS AGO.

EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS CLEAN, THERE ARE STILL PROBLEMS FOR AQUATIC LIFE, AND LEAKY SEPTICS ALSO ARE GOING IN.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

>> FIND OUT MORE ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND ONLINE ON THE NEWS CAST.

CARLY, GOT ONE?

>> I'M HERE ON THE SHOW TODAY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF CENTRAL JERSEY.

>> OH, NO.

>> THE ASSEMBLY PASSED A MEASURE TO CREATE A DESIGNATED TOURISM REGION THAT'S CENTRAL JERSEY.

I'M CENTRAL JERSEY BORN AND RAISED AND WHOLLY IN SUPPORT OF ITS RECOGNITION ON A STATEWIDE SCALE.

>> WHAT A HOMER.

MINE COMES FROM TINTEN FALLS, EVIDENTLY HIP RESTAURANT, HOUSE OF SPAGHETTI, TOOK THE ONLY IN JERSEY STEP OF BANNING KIDS UNDER 10 YEARS OF AGE STARTING NEXT MONTH.

TOO NOISY, NO SPACE FOR HIGHCHAIRS, CRAZY MESSES AND KIDS RUNNING AROUND ALL OVER THE PLACE.

I'LL PUT MY 8-YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER UP AGAINST ANY 10-YEAR-OLD FOR BRAINS AND MATURITY.

THAT'S DISCRIMINATION SHE TOLD ME WHEN I TOLD HER ABOUT IT, KIDS SHOULD ORGANIZE A PROTEST, SHE SAYS.

SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA AND SOMETHING WE WOULD COVER.

THAT'S "ROUNDTABLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

BUT BEFORE WE SAY GOODBYE, A FOND FAREWELL TO CARLY, LEAVING TO GO AND SCHOOL EVERYBODY ABOUT SCHOOL STUFF.

AS WE SAID FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS WHEN YOU LEFT NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS A FEW YEARS AGO, YOU'RE DEAD TO US NOW.

>> WE LOVE YOU.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

>> THAT'S "ROUNDTABLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

THANKS TO JOE JOHNSON.

YOU CAN FOLLOW THE SHOW ON TWITTER @ROUNDTABLENJ AND SEE 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 "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ" IS PROVIDED BY -- RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

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 ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS, ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM.

♪