1
00:00:00,033 --> 00:00:03,470
Announcer: Major funding for

2
00:00:03,470 --> 00:00:04,971
"Reporters Roundtable" is

3
00:00:04,971 --> 00:00:06,539
provided by RWJ Barnabas Health.

4
00:00:06,539 --> 00:00:11,978
Let's be healthy together.

5
00:00:11,978 --> 00:00:26,793
♪

6
00:00:26,793 --> 00:00:31,631
David: And Paterson, has the

7
00:00:31,631 --> 00:00:32,365
state already overstayed its

8
00:00:32,365 --> 00:00:32,599
welcome.

9
00:00:32,599 --> 00:00:34,000
It is "Reporters Roundtable."

10
00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:35,101
I am David Cruz.

11
00:00:35,101 --> 00:00:37,604
Welcome back.

12
00:00:37,604 --> 00:00:39,406
We hope you had a nice summer.

13
00:00:39,406 --> 00:00:41,141
Or sun-kissed panel of

14
00:00:41,141 --> 00:00:42,575
journalists includes Colleen

15
00:00:42,575 --> 00:00:46,046
O'Dea, Senior writer and project

16
00:00:46,046 --> 00:00:46,613
editor at NJ Spotlight News.

17
00:00:46,613 --> 00:00:50,316
Charlie style, communist --

18
00:00:50,316 --> 00:00:51,684
colonist.

19
00:00:51,684 --> 00:00:56,122
-- columnist.

20
00:00:56,122 --> 00:01:01,061
We will say -- we will say

21
00:01:01,061 --> 00:01:01,694
hello to them formally in a few

22
00:01:01,694 --> 00:01:01,928
minutes.

23
00:01:01,928 --> 00:01:04,898
We are asking the question, is

24
00:01:04,898 --> 00:01:05,532
it already time for them to get

25
00:01:05,532 --> 00:01:07,267
out?

26
00:01:07,267 --> 00:01:08,168
We will pose that question to

27
00:01:08,168 --> 00:01:08,535
our next guest.

28
00:01:08,535 --> 00:01:11,738
He is the mayor of Paterson.

29
00:01:11,738 --> 00:01:14,207
It is a pleasure to welcome back

30
00:01:14,207 --> 00:01:14,474
the mayor.

31
00:01:14,474 --> 00:01:14,707
Welcome.

32
00:01:14,707 --> 00:01:17,610
>> Thank you, David.

33
00:01:17,610 --> 00:01:18,078
I'm glad to be back.

34
00:01:18,078 --> 00:01:20,447
David: Good to see you.

35
00:01:20,447 --> 00:01:21,781
It has been almost a year and a

36
00:01:21,781 --> 00:01:23,750
half now, just after the death

37
00:01:23,750 --> 00:01:24,784
of Najee Seabrooks.

38
00:01:24,784 --> 00:01:29,222
A real low point in police

39
00:01:29,222 --> 00:01:29,789
community relations in your

40
00:01:29,789 --> 00:01:29,989
city.

41
00:01:29,989 --> 00:01:35,195
When it happened, the takeover,

42
00:01:35,195 --> 00:01:36,129
you were kind of muted in your

43
00:01:36,129 --> 00:01:37,497
response.

44
00:01:37,497 --> 00:01:40,100
Can you first start by telling

45
00:01:40,100 --> 00:01:42,635
us how all that happens?

46
00:01:42,635 --> 00:01:43,970
How much advance notice do you

47
00:01:43,970 --> 00:01:44,537
get when something like that

48
00:01:44,537 --> 00:01:44,771
occurs?

49
00:01:44,771 --> 00:01:48,708
>> Actually, it was March 27,

50
00:01:48,708 --> 00:01:50,076
2023, and I received a

51
00:01:50,076 --> 00:01:54,881
conversation -- a phone call

52
00:01:54,881 --> 00:01:55,915
around 8:00 in the morning,

53
00:01:55,915 --> 00:01:58,418
telling me he was in my Police

54
00:01:58,418 --> 00:01:58,985
Department and taking over.

55
00:01:58,985 --> 00:02:02,155
At that point, I am saying to

56
00:02:02,155 --> 00:02:03,056
myself, I did not get advance

57
00:02:03,056 --> 00:02:07,760
notice and this is something as

58
00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:09,162
far as police relations with the

59
00:02:09,162 --> 00:02:11,564
public is concerned something we

60
00:02:11,564 --> 00:02:11,931
were working on.

61
00:02:11,931 --> 00:02:13,333
If you would have given me the

62
00:02:13,333 --> 00:02:14,033
courtesy of a meeting or a phone

63
00:02:14,033 --> 00:02:16,636
call weeks prior to this

64
00:02:16,636 --> 00:02:18,505
stunning phone call, which I

65
00:02:18,505 --> 00:02:20,974
thought was entirely

66
00:02:20,974 --> 00:02:21,541
inappropriate and

67
00:02:21,541 --> 00:02:22,408
unprofessional, I would have

68
00:02:22,408 --> 00:02:23,143
been able to let him know what

69
00:02:23,143 --> 00:02:23,576
we were working on.

70
00:02:23,576 --> 00:02:27,213
We were engaged in serious

71
00:02:27,213 --> 00:02:28,548
conversation with the Rucker

72
00:02:28,548 --> 00:02:29,916
Center on policing and I had

73
00:02:29,916 --> 00:02:30,517
already scheduled a trip to

74
00:02:30,517 --> 00:02:33,686
Omaha to learn more about Omaha

75
00:02:33,686 --> 00:02:36,122
360, a proven program to help

76
00:02:36,122 --> 00:02:37,257
improve not only the

77
00:02:37,257 --> 00:02:39,225
relationship between the police

78
00:02:39,225 --> 00:02:40,527
and the public, but to reduce

79
00:02:40,527 --> 00:02:41,461
crime in urban centers like

80
00:02:41,461 --> 00:02:41,728
Paterson.

81
00:02:41,728 --> 00:02:44,531
David: We will get to more of

82
00:02:44,531 --> 00:02:46,733
that in a couple seconds, but

83
00:02:46,733 --> 00:02:47,767
are you telling me you got a

84
00:02:47,767 --> 00:02:50,870
call on the day that these guys

85
00:02:50,870 --> 00:02:52,605
showed up in your Police

86
00:02:52,605 --> 00:02:52,906
Department?

87
00:02:52,906 --> 00:02:55,775
>> Yes.

88
00:02:55,775 --> 00:02:57,110
I received a phone call

89
00:02:57,110 --> 00:02:59,312
informing me he was taking over

90
00:02:59,312 --> 00:02:59,812
my Police Department.

91
00:02:59,812 --> 00:03:00,647
The way we have been able to

92
00:03:00,647 --> 00:03:03,249
position Paterson for progress

93
00:03:03,249 --> 00:03:04,250
is their partnerships.

94
00:03:04,250 --> 00:03:06,786
I believe in collaboration.

95
00:03:06,786 --> 00:03:08,655
But he had no interest in being

96
00:03:08,655 --> 00:03:11,891
a partner, no interest in

97
00:03:11,891 --> 00:03:12,692
collaboration.

98
00:03:12,692 --> 00:03:14,827
Many believe he was looking to

99
00:03:14,827 --> 00:03:15,862
further his own political

100
00:03:15,862 --> 00:03:16,129
ambitions.

101
00:03:16,129 --> 00:03:19,132
Our city is not a steppingstone.

102
00:03:19,132 --> 00:03:23,870
David: I did not know that is

103
00:03:23,870 --> 00:03:24,270
how that happened.

104
00:03:24,270 --> 00:03:28,841
In the beginning, your response

105
00:03:28,841 --> 00:03:31,578
was kind of muted, and

106
00:03:31,578 --> 00:03:32,212
immediately they started saying

107
00:03:32,212 --> 00:03:33,913
how great a job was going on

108
00:03:33,913 --> 00:03:34,113
there.

109
00:03:34,113 --> 00:03:37,083
What were you doing while all

110
00:03:37,083 --> 00:03:37,517
that was happening?

111
00:03:37,517 --> 00:03:39,852
You really could not have a

112
00:03:39,852 --> 00:03:40,053
role.

113
00:03:40,053 --> 00:03:43,556
>> As you know, being a mayor is

114
00:03:43,556 --> 00:03:44,991
multifaceted, so there were

115
00:03:44,991 --> 00:03:45,525
other items like economic

116
00:03:45,525 --> 00:03:48,394
development, a whole host of

117
00:03:48,394 --> 00:03:49,762
projects, improving our parks

118
00:03:49,762 --> 00:03:50,396
and focusing on recreation for

119
00:03:50,396 --> 00:03:50,697
our youth.

120
00:03:50,697 --> 00:03:53,499
You keep alluding to the muted

121
00:03:53,499 --> 00:03:53,833
response.

122
00:03:53,833 --> 00:03:55,902
I did not know what to make of

123
00:03:55,902 --> 00:03:56,069
it.

124
00:03:56,069 --> 00:03:57,770
The Attorney General gives you a

125
00:03:57,770 --> 00:03:59,205
call and tells you he is taking

126
00:03:59,205 --> 00:04:01,474
over your department, this is

127
00:04:01,474 --> 00:04:01,941
almost unprecedented.

128
00:04:01,941 --> 00:04:04,310
That is why we are challenging

129
00:04:04,310 --> 00:04:04,510
this.

130
00:04:04,510 --> 00:04:08,181
We believe what he did was

131
00:04:08,181 --> 00:04:11,284
illegal, that it goes against

132
00:04:11,284 --> 00:04:12,685
Home rule come potentially

133
00:04:12,685 --> 00:04:15,955
violates the Faulkner act.

134
00:04:15,955 --> 00:04:18,558
We believe what he did was

135
00:04:18,558 --> 00:04:18,891
undemocratic.

136
00:04:18,891 --> 00:04:20,393
Let me elaborate on that one.

137
00:04:20,393 --> 00:04:21,361
I have been duly elected by the

138
00:04:21,361 --> 00:04:25,498
voters of Paterson twice, by

139
00:04:25,498 --> 00:04:25,832
large margins.

140
00:04:25,832 --> 00:04:27,967
And who better than the mayor to

141
00:04:27,967 --> 00:04:28,901
know the needs and wants of the

142
00:04:28,901 --> 00:04:29,168
residents?

143
00:04:29,168 --> 00:04:32,105
Quite frankly, that flies in the

144
00:04:32,105 --> 00:04:32,438
face of that.

145
00:04:32,438 --> 00:04:35,942
And our case has been solidified

146
00:04:35,942 --> 00:04:39,045
by the municipalities.

147
00:04:39,045 --> 00:04:39,479
They joined us.

148
00:04:39,479 --> 00:04:42,649
Now you're talking about all 564

149
00:04:42,649 --> 00:04:44,217
towns and cities saying we don't

150
00:04:44,217 --> 00:04:47,020
agree with what Matt Platkin has

151
00:04:47,020 --> 00:04:47,220
done.

152
00:04:47,220 --> 00:04:50,857
David: They released a statement

153
00:04:50,857 --> 00:04:51,457
to that effect.

154
00:04:51,457 --> 00:04:52,258
But the department just had a

155
00:04:52,258 --> 00:04:54,694
bunch of promotions, they talked

156
00:04:54,694 --> 00:05:00,099
about major improvements to the

157
00:05:00,099 --> 00:05:01,334
relations with the community.

158
00:05:01,334 --> 00:05:02,001
Is that not happening?

159
00:05:02,001 --> 00:05:05,938
>> I am a resident of Paterson,

160
00:05:05,938 --> 00:05:07,940
so I will tell you, speaking

161
00:05:07,940 --> 00:05:08,675
from the perspective of someone

162
00:05:08,675 --> 00:05:11,744
who has lived in Paterson his

163
00:05:11,744 --> 00:05:12,845
entire life, what we noticed

164
00:05:12,845 --> 00:05:18,318
early on when they came in, in

165
00:05:18,318 --> 00:05:18,951
those first three months of that

166
00:05:18,951 --> 00:05:21,954
year, we saw a sharp reduction

167
00:05:21,954 --> 00:05:22,322
in shootings.

168
00:05:22,322 --> 00:05:22,989
66% decline.

169
00:05:22,989 --> 00:05:28,027
And 30% reduction in homicides.

170
00:05:28,027 --> 00:05:30,863
I am not sure how they are

171
00:05:30,863 --> 00:05:32,031
measuring their trust factor.

172
00:05:32,031 --> 00:05:34,934
I still feel there is an element

173
00:05:34,934 --> 00:05:36,202
of trust that does not exist

174
00:05:36,202 --> 00:05:37,570
between the police and public,

175
00:05:37,570 --> 00:05:39,639
and that is why I want to allude

176
00:05:39,639 --> 00:05:41,407
to the Omaha 360 initiative and

177
00:05:41,407 --> 00:05:43,943
the partnership I was looking to

178
00:05:43,943 --> 00:05:44,577
forge with the Rucker center on

179
00:05:44,577 --> 00:05:46,045
policing.

180
00:05:46,045 --> 00:05:47,480
Then I think you would see some

181
00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:47,914
measurable results.

182
00:05:47,914 --> 00:05:50,950
David: Let me get a question in

183
00:05:50,950 --> 00:05:51,150
here.

184
00:05:51,150 --> 00:05:53,886
Ken, you had a question?

185
00:05:53,886 --> 00:05:55,288
>> I did.

186
00:05:55,288 --> 00:05:58,024
Hello, Mayor.

187
00:05:58,024 --> 00:06:00,026
One of the things I'm going to

188
00:06:00,026 --> 00:06:02,595
name, I have perfect familiarity

189
00:06:02,595 --> 00:06:02,862
with it.

190
00:06:02,862 --> 00:06:05,531
Baltimore, Ferguson, Missouri,

191
00:06:05,531 --> 00:06:07,467
Rankin County, Mississippi, and

192
00:06:07,467 --> 00:06:10,103
within the last year, Trenton,

193
00:06:10,103 --> 00:06:10,403
New Jersey.

194
00:06:10,403 --> 00:06:14,307
These are cities that have had

195
00:06:14,307 --> 00:06:14,941
similar policing issues as far

196
00:06:14,941 --> 00:06:15,742
as police-community relations,

197
00:06:15,742 --> 00:06:19,078
only they had the federal

198
00:06:19,078 --> 00:06:20,046
Justice Department come in to

199
00:06:20,046 --> 00:06:20,713
investigate them for a pattern

200
00:06:20,713 --> 00:06:21,013
of practice.

201
00:06:21,013 --> 00:06:24,083
You admitted there are some

202
00:06:24,083 --> 00:06:24,517
issues in Paterson.

203
00:06:24,517 --> 00:06:26,519
My question is, what makes

204
00:06:26,519 --> 00:06:29,589
Paterson, New Jersey, different

205
00:06:29,589 --> 00:06:31,457
from any other state that has

206
00:06:31,457 --> 00:06:33,493
had police-community relations

207
00:06:33,493 --> 00:06:34,127
and somebody has had to step in

208
00:06:34,127 --> 00:06:34,527
to try to fix it?

209
00:06:34,527 --> 00:06:37,029
>> What makes us different is

210
00:06:37,029 --> 00:06:39,298
the fact that two things I did

211
00:06:39,298 --> 00:06:41,167
when I first got in, because I

212
00:06:41,167 --> 00:06:41,701
realize this predates me.

213
00:06:41,701 --> 00:06:44,837
You had corrupt cops, called the

214
00:06:44,837 --> 00:06:48,074
robbery squad, and it was our

215
00:06:48,074 --> 00:06:49,709
the -- it was our police to

216
00:06:49,709 --> 00:06:51,377
permit that turned them into the

217
00:06:51,377 --> 00:06:55,615
FBI and all of them were some --

218
00:06:55,615 --> 00:06:56,048
summarily arrested.

219
00:06:56,048 --> 00:06:58,251
I was elected, reelected, and

220
00:06:58,251 --> 00:06:59,519
one of the planks of my platform

221
00:06:59,519 --> 00:07:01,087
was to improve the relationship

222
00:07:01,087 --> 00:07:01,621
between the police and the

223
00:07:01,621 --> 00:07:03,523
public.

224
00:07:03,523 --> 00:07:06,092
As I stated before, I went to

225
00:07:06,092 --> 00:07:06,859
Omaha to learn about their

226
00:07:06,859 --> 00:07:09,695
program on how to improve or

227
00:07:09,695 --> 00:07:11,063
restore trust between the police

228
00:07:11,063 --> 00:07:13,933
and the public, and also reduce

229
00:07:13,933 --> 00:07:14,600
violent crime in the city.

230
00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:18,004
I was actively engaged in the

231
00:07:18,004 --> 00:07:20,139
conversations with John Farmer

232
00:07:20,139 --> 00:07:22,175
from the Rucker center on how we

233
00:07:22,175 --> 00:07:23,276
can form a partnership to

234
00:07:23,276 --> 00:07:26,579
address an area we needed to

235
00:07:26,579 --> 00:07:26,813
improve.

236
00:07:26,813 --> 00:07:31,918
If I could also point to in

237
00:07:31,918 --> 00:07:32,552
2019, I outlined my tools for

238
00:07:32,552 --> 00:07:32,785
trusts.

239
00:07:32,785 --> 00:07:35,855
One of them was having a

240
00:07:35,855 --> 00:07:38,591
conference of audit of my Police

241
00:07:38,591 --> 00:07:39,225
Department to find out where are

242
00:07:39,225 --> 00:07:40,159
these areas for improvement?

243
00:07:40,159 --> 00:07:43,262
And also, prior to taking

244
00:07:43,262 --> 00:07:43,830
office, not a single police

245
00:07:43,830 --> 00:07:46,165
officer in Paterson was wearing

246
00:07:46,165 --> 00:07:47,099
a body camera.

247
00:07:47,099 --> 00:07:47,733
No every single police officer

248
00:07:47,733 --> 00:07:50,203
in Paterson wears a body camera.

249
00:07:50,203 --> 00:07:51,971
So, we are determined to improve

250
00:07:51,971 --> 00:07:54,474
public safety and the way we

251
00:07:54,474 --> 00:07:55,107
protect and serve our residents

252
00:07:55,107 --> 00:07:55,575
in Paterson.

253
00:07:55,575 --> 00:08:00,146
David: Mayor, what is the plan

254
00:08:00,146 --> 00:08:03,950
now in terms of starting to get

255
00:08:03,950 --> 00:08:04,784
the state to extricate itself

256
00:08:04,784 --> 00:08:05,151
from your city?

257
00:08:05,151 --> 00:08:06,752
Are you going to file suit?

258
00:08:06,752 --> 00:08:10,990
>> We have filed suit, and

259
00:08:10,990 --> 00:08:12,058
Tuesday is the showdown.

260
00:08:12,058 --> 00:08:13,960
There will be oral arguments

261
00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:15,928
this Tuesday before the state

262
00:08:15,928 --> 00:08:16,796
appellate court and that is when

263
00:08:16,796 --> 00:08:17,930
we will have the opportunity to

264
00:08:17,930 --> 00:08:21,834
have our moment to point out

265
00:08:21,834 --> 00:08:22,468
that what we believe that Matt

266
00:08:22,468 --> 00:08:25,204
Platkin did was illegal and

267
00:08:25,204 --> 00:08:25,538
undemocratic.

268
00:08:25,538 --> 00:08:28,007
David: Paterson Mayor André

269
00:08:28,007 --> 00:08:31,277
Sayegh, thank you for taking a

270
00:08:31,277 --> 00:08:32,178
few minutes with us.

271
00:08:32,178 --> 00:08:32,545
Good to see you.

272
00:08:32,545 --> 00:08:34,146
>> Thank you, David.

273
00:08:34,146 --> 00:08:38,251
David: Alright, panel, welcome

274
00:08:38,251 --> 00:08:38,618
back.

275
00:08:38,618 --> 00:08:41,153
Charles, Kenneth, Colleen, we

276
00:08:41,153 --> 00:08:42,421
hope you enjoyed your summers.

277
00:08:42,421 --> 00:08:44,223
What is André Sayegh up to hear?

278
00:08:44,223 --> 00:08:48,160
Is he seriously trying to get

279
00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:49,262
his town back or positioning

280
00:08:49,262 --> 00:08:49,829
himself or something in the

281
00:08:49,829 --> 00:08:50,062
future?

282
00:08:50,062 --> 00:08:54,166
>> I take him at his word.

283
00:08:54,166 --> 00:08:59,505
Certainly he would not be in

284
00:08:59,505 --> 00:09:02,975
politics if he was not planning

285
00:09:02,975 --> 00:09:04,277
for a future in office.

286
00:09:04,277 --> 00:09:06,979
His name was thrown about as a

287
00:09:06,979 --> 00:09:11,217
possibility for a brief while

288
00:09:11,217 --> 00:09:13,653
for replacement of Bill

289
00:09:13,653 --> 00:09:16,889
Pascrell, or succeeding Bill

290
00:09:16,889 --> 00:09:17,156
Pascrell.

291
00:09:17,156 --> 00:09:22,295
I think he is definitely serious

292
00:09:22,295 --> 00:09:23,462
about it.

293
00:09:23,462 --> 00:09:26,299
I think the question really

294
00:09:26,299 --> 00:09:26,866
comes down to whether he is

295
00:09:26,866 --> 00:09:32,505
going to outside groups for

296
00:09:32,505 --> 00:09:34,307
reform ideas and concepts in

297
00:09:34,307 --> 00:09:40,279
Omaha and Rutgers and whether it

298
00:09:40,279 --> 00:09:43,883
will be sufficient enough to

299
00:09:43,883 --> 00:09:44,517
address the simmering problems

300
00:09:44,517 --> 00:09:44,750
there.

301
00:09:44,750 --> 00:09:52,291
That is a fair debate.

302
00:09:52,291 --> 00:09:53,693
I don't know.

303
00:09:53,693 --> 00:09:56,295
It seemed after the Najee

304
00:09:56,295 --> 00:09:57,863
Seabrooks case, and it was a

305
00:09:57,863 --> 00:09:58,698
tipping point and something

306
00:09:58,698 --> 00:09:59,765
dramatic had to be done.

307
00:09:59,765 --> 00:10:01,367
Whether it means showing up

308
00:10:01,367 --> 00:10:05,004
unannounced is the way to do it

309
00:10:05,004 --> 00:10:07,273
with the Army of the Attorney

310
00:10:07,273 --> 00:10:08,307
General's office is the way to

311
00:10:08,307 --> 00:10:12,144
do it -- but there was a sense

312
00:10:12,144 --> 00:10:12,712
of the time that things had

313
00:10:12,712 --> 00:10:13,245
careened out of control.

314
00:10:13,245 --> 00:10:16,282
David: It is not like Paterson

315
00:10:16,282 --> 00:10:17,550
was doing that great for the

316
00:10:17,550 --> 00:10:18,150
state got there, right?

317
00:10:18,150 --> 00:10:21,520
>> Yeah, and that is what I

318
00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:22,788
would like to point out, rightly

319
00:10:22,788 --> 00:10:27,994
or wrongly, in terms of the A.G.

320
00:10:27,994 --> 00:10:28,794
just showing up.

321
00:10:28,794 --> 00:10:31,831
It seems like there was a swift

322
00:10:31,831 --> 00:10:32,498
action that needed to be taken.

323
00:10:32,498 --> 00:10:37,036
The Najee Seabrooks case was

324
00:10:37,036 --> 00:10:38,537
similar to what we saw in Fort

325
00:10:38,537 --> 00:10:40,706
Lee earlier this year where

326
00:10:40,706 --> 00:10:41,273
there is someone in a mental

327
00:10:41,273 --> 00:10:47,046
health crisis, police are

328
00:10:47,046 --> 00:10:48,080
barging in when they are not

329
00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:53,019
wanted to barge in, and it is a

330
00:10:53,019 --> 00:10:53,853
terrible fatal consequence.

331
00:10:53,853 --> 00:10:54,754
I can tell you that the

332
00:10:54,754 --> 00:10:58,257
reporting we did showed that

333
00:10:58,257 --> 00:11:01,460
between 2019 and March of 2023,

334
00:11:01,460 --> 00:11:03,929
there had been eight deaths

335
00:11:03,929 --> 00:11:06,465
related to police actions, six

336
00:11:06,465 --> 00:11:07,099
of them were shooting in the

337
00:11:07,099 --> 00:11:07,500
city of Paterson.

338
00:11:07,500 --> 00:11:10,970
That was by far the most of any

339
00:11:10,970 --> 00:11:12,371
place in New Jersey.

340
00:11:12,371 --> 00:11:15,908
And the use of force by police

341
00:11:15,908 --> 00:11:16,442
was also disproportionate

342
00:11:16,442 --> 00:11:18,144
against black and Hispanic

343
00:11:18,144 --> 00:11:20,680
residents, again compared with

344
00:11:20,680 --> 00:11:22,381
the rest of the state.

345
00:11:22,381 --> 00:11:23,549
Clearly there were problems with

346
00:11:23,549 --> 00:11:24,050
the police in Paterson.

347
00:11:24,050 --> 00:11:28,921
David: Switching gears here now,

348
00:11:28,921 --> 00:11:31,223
a judge approved settlements on

349
00:11:31,223 --> 00:11:32,358
the partyline lawsuits with a

350
00:11:32,358 --> 00:11:34,360
few municipalities.

351
00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:35,194
Was there any doubt this was

352
00:11:35,194 --> 00:11:35,561
going to happen?

353
00:11:35,561 --> 00:11:39,465
>> Not in my mind, to be honest.

354
00:11:39,465 --> 00:11:40,900
When a federal judge says

355
00:11:40,900 --> 00:11:44,370
plaintiff's have a viable case

356
00:11:44,370 --> 00:11:45,404
that they will likely be

357
00:11:45,404 --> 00:11:47,373
successful at, you start making

358
00:11:47,373 --> 00:11:48,340
changes before it goes that far.

359
00:11:48,340 --> 00:11:53,179
I have a feeling that come 2025,

360
00:11:53,179 --> 00:11:53,746
I would be surprised if any

361
00:11:53,746 --> 00:11:57,149
County in New Jersey uses the

362
00:11:57,149 --> 00:11:57,583
county line ballots.

363
00:11:57,583 --> 00:12:00,152
David: Ding dong, the line is

364
00:12:00,152 --> 00:12:00,519
dead, right?

365
00:12:00,519 --> 00:12:03,255
>> One would hope.

366
00:12:03,255 --> 00:12:04,724
The fact that Middlesex County

367
00:12:04,724 --> 00:12:07,460
settled, and Middlesex County is

368
00:12:07,460 --> 00:12:09,395
a hugely powerful Democratic

369
00:12:09,395 --> 00:12:13,499
machine County I think is a big

370
00:12:13,499 --> 00:12:14,834
part of the deathknell.

371
00:12:14,834 --> 00:12:20,139
David: Any evidence that

372
00:12:20,139 --> 00:12:20,906
organizations are finding a way

373
00:12:20,906 --> 00:12:23,442
to get around blocked ballots

374
00:12:23,442 --> 00:12:24,410
and that sort of thing?

375
00:12:24,410 --> 00:12:26,212
Or is it too early, maybe?

376
00:12:26,212 --> 00:12:29,515
>> I think it is a little too

377
00:12:29,515 --> 00:12:29,715
early.

378
00:12:29,715 --> 00:12:34,453
Just as a footnote, I have heard

379
00:12:34,453 --> 00:12:37,523
complaints about foot dragging

380
00:12:37,523 --> 00:12:39,525
among the Mercer County

381
00:12:39,525 --> 00:12:40,159
Democratic committee, for some

382
00:12:40,159 --> 00:12:42,595
of the progressive wing, about

383
00:12:42,595 --> 00:12:43,729
moving into the new block ballot

384
00:12:43,729 --> 00:12:44,330
permanently.

385
00:12:44,330 --> 00:12:49,235
I am not sure everybody is

386
00:12:49,235 --> 00:12:52,138
rushing to face the inevitable

387
00:12:52,138 --> 00:12:53,706
or surrender to the inevitable

388
00:12:53,706 --> 00:12:56,442
tide.

389
00:12:56,442 --> 00:12:58,010
I think what you will probably

390
00:12:58,010 --> 00:13:00,579
see are the county parties

391
00:13:00,579 --> 00:13:04,083
readjust and readapt and flex

392
00:13:04,083 --> 00:13:08,487
their muscle in other ways that

393
00:13:08,487 --> 00:13:10,489
we didn't see in the last

394
00:13:10,489 --> 00:13:10,723
primary.

395
00:13:10,723 --> 00:13:13,826
They have tremendous resources,

396
00:13:13,826 --> 00:13:16,929
they have personnel, and a lot

397
00:13:16,929 --> 00:13:19,031
of people tied to County jobs.

398
00:13:19,031 --> 00:13:24,737
So, I think they are just going

399
00:13:24,737 --> 00:13:29,008
to adapt to the situation with

400
00:13:29,008 --> 00:13:31,477
the resources and enormous

401
00:13:31,477 --> 00:13:31,944
advantages they have.

402
00:13:31,944 --> 00:13:32,645
I don't think you are going to

403
00:13:32,645 --> 00:13:36,916
see reform candidates right away

404
00:13:36,916 --> 00:13:40,653
topple machine candidates in the

405
00:13:40,653 --> 00:13:41,587
next couple cycles.

406
00:13:41,587 --> 00:13:42,755
It is going to take a long while

407
00:13:42,755 --> 00:13:45,591
for those candidates, those

408
00:13:45,591 --> 00:13:47,993
challengers, to reach parity.

409
00:13:47,993 --> 00:13:51,397
But at least now the doors open

410
00:13:51,397 --> 00:13:51,864
and they have access.

411
00:13:51,864 --> 00:13:55,568
David: Continuing on politics,

412
00:13:55,568 --> 00:13:57,837
as we head into the fall races

413
00:13:57,837 --> 00:14:03,609
we should watch, does Bashar

414
00:14:03,609 --> 00:14:04,043
really have a shot?

415
00:14:04,043 --> 00:14:06,879
>> Based on statistics, no.

416
00:14:06,879 --> 00:14:10,249
But I am a political science

417
00:14:10,249 --> 00:14:10,883
major and somebody told me a

418
00:14:10,883 --> 00:14:12,218
long time we are bad

419
00:14:12,218 --> 00:14:12,585
fortunetellers.

420
00:14:12,585 --> 00:14:15,154
It will be an exciting race.

421
00:14:15,154 --> 00:14:19,525
I am looking at the district

422
00:14:19,525 --> 00:14:26,098
with Sue Altman.

423
00:14:26,098 --> 00:14:26,866
That will be competitive for

424
00:14:26,866 --> 00:14:28,567
sure.

425
00:14:28,567 --> 00:14:31,637
For my purposes, it will be

426
00:14:31,637 --> 00:14:32,271
interesting to see what happens

427
00:14:32,271 --> 00:14:36,542
in district 2 between Joe

428
00:14:36,542 --> 00:14:37,977
Salerno and Jeff Van Drew.

429
00:14:37,977 --> 00:14:45,451
Jos Alanna -- Joe Salerno will

430
00:14:45,451 --> 00:14:46,619
be the first to get some kind of

431
00:14:46,619 --> 00:14:49,788
vengeance on Jeff Van Drew for

432
00:14:49,788 --> 00:14:50,189
flipping carnies.

433
00:14:50,189 --> 00:14:56,562
David: Elon Musk in CD 7.

434
00:14:56,562 --> 00:14:56,829
[laughter]

435
00:14:56,829 --> 00:15:04,270
>> Sue Altman maybe has a little

436
00:15:04,270 --> 00:15:04,870
bit of a disadvantage in her

437
00:15:04,870 --> 00:15:09,241
initial Sue Altman since the

438
00:15:09,241 --> 00:15:10,276
King campaign continues to put

439
00:15:10,276 --> 00:15:12,611
out emails saying Sue Altman

440
00:15:12,611 --> 00:15:12,912
loves taxes.

441
00:15:12,912 --> 00:15:16,282
All the homeowners do not like

442
00:15:16,282 --> 00:15:20,619
the cap.

443
00:15:20,619 --> 00:15:27,159
Other than the open Senate race,

444
00:15:27,159 --> 00:15:30,896
which makes it interesting, we

445
00:15:30,896 --> 00:15:33,098
still as of last night don't

446
00:15:33,098 --> 00:15:35,267
have a full throated endorsement

447
00:15:35,267 --> 00:15:35,901
from the governor of New Jersey

448
00:15:35,901 --> 00:15:38,938
saying a member of the party.

449
00:15:38,938 --> 00:15:40,606
I think that is interesting, but

450
00:15:40,606 --> 00:15:45,177
I could not imagine the

451
00:15:45,177 --> 00:15:47,313
Republican winning that seat.

452
00:15:47,313 --> 00:15:48,681
Then it is just the seventh.

453
00:15:48,681 --> 00:15:53,185
I have already got -- they are

454
00:15:53,185 --> 00:15:54,620
up here if you want to see them.

455
00:15:54,620 --> 00:15:56,622
Mailer after mailer.

456
00:15:56,622 --> 00:15:58,757
David: [laughter]

457
00:15:58,757 --> 00:16:00,826
She comes with props.

458
00:16:00,826 --> 00:16:05,197
>> The party is getting involved

459
00:16:05,197 --> 00:16:05,698
and helping him.

460
00:16:05,698 --> 00:16:07,066
I am not sure he needs financial

461
00:16:07,066 --> 00:16:07,433
help right now.

462
00:16:07,433 --> 00:16:11,337
Because the district does have

463
00:16:11,337 --> 00:16:13,505
more Republican voters or

464
00:16:13,505 --> 00:16:17,176
Republican registrants than

465
00:16:17,176 --> 00:16:18,043
Democratic registrants, and it

466
00:16:18,043 --> 00:16:18,944
is not the same district it was

467
00:16:18,944 --> 00:16:24,683
when Tom Malinowski flipped it

468
00:16:24,683 --> 00:16:24,917
in 2018.

469
00:16:24,917 --> 00:16:28,320
I think it is going to be a hard

470
00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:30,923
fight for Sue Altman, but it

471
00:16:30,923 --> 00:16:32,791
really is the only game in town

472
00:16:32,791 --> 00:16:34,493
on the house side.

473
00:16:34,493 --> 00:16:42,001
>> Recently, I asked on your

474
00:16:42,001 --> 00:16:42,634
local NPR station, the governor

475
00:16:42,634 --> 00:16:44,870
said Andy Kim did not ask him

476
00:16:44,870 --> 00:16:46,538
for an endorsement and he only

477
00:16:46,538 --> 00:16:47,172
does endorsements for people who

478
00:16:47,172 --> 00:16:50,175
ask him and checked in with a

479
00:16:50,175 --> 00:16:52,678
source close to the campaign.

480
00:16:52,678 --> 00:16:54,513
They said Andy Kim did not ask

481
00:16:54,513 --> 00:16:55,147
the governor for an endorsement.

482
00:16:55,147 --> 00:16:58,517
David: I asked the governor that

483
00:16:58,517 --> 00:16:59,151
very "Chat Box question on "Chat

484
00:16:59,151 --> 00:17:02,187
Box --I asked that very

485
00:17:02,187 --> 00:17:04,757
question on "Chat Box" this

486
00:17:04,757 --> 00:17:04,957
week.

487
00:17:04,957 --> 00:17:08,394
Let me ask you your favorite

488
00:17:08,394 --> 00:17:08,827
political question.

489
00:17:08,827 --> 00:17:09,862
It concerns the Senate race in

490
00:17:09,862 --> 00:17:10,162
New Jersey.

491
00:17:10,162 --> 00:17:12,765
Let me ask it this way.

492
00:17:12,765 --> 00:17:16,301
If Andy Kim asks for your

493
00:17:16,301 --> 00:17:16,935
endorsement, would you give it?

494
00:17:16,935 --> 00:17:20,239
>> I don't see why I wouldn't.

495
00:17:20,239 --> 00:17:21,607
It is no secret he was not my

496
00:17:21,607 --> 00:17:21,940
first choice.

497
00:17:21,940 --> 00:17:24,743
Having said that, this is so

498
00:17:24,743 --> 00:17:26,512
important to get the right

499
00:17:26,512 --> 00:17:29,715
person in there voting for the

500
00:17:29,715 --> 00:17:30,916
Senate Majority Leader, so there

501
00:17:30,916 --> 00:17:32,284
is no question where I am going

502
00:17:32,284 --> 00:17:32,518
to vote.

503
00:17:32,518 --> 00:17:34,887
He has said publicly he is not

504
00:17:34,887 --> 00:17:36,288
seeking endorsements from

505
00:17:36,288 --> 00:17:38,090
political leaders, including us.

506
00:17:38,090 --> 00:17:39,858
Completely his prerogative.

507
00:17:39,858 --> 00:17:40,692
I completely accept it.

508
00:17:40,692 --> 00:17:42,127
But the fact of the matter is,

509
00:17:42,127 --> 00:17:44,029
this is an incredibly important

510
00:17:44,029 --> 00:17:44,763
election and it matters who you

511
00:17:44,763 --> 00:17:45,030
vote for.

512
00:17:45,030 --> 00:17:46,965
David: He is the better

513
00:17:46,965 --> 00:17:47,466
candidate in your mind?

514
00:17:47,466 --> 00:17:50,069
>> He is.

515
00:17:50,069 --> 00:17:51,270
I know both guys as individuals.

516
00:17:51,270 --> 00:17:53,138
They are both really good guys,

517
00:17:53,138 --> 00:17:53,906
but I am a Democrat through and

518
00:17:53,906 --> 00:17:54,139
through.

519
00:17:54,139 --> 00:17:57,476
David: Democrats hate to hear

520
00:17:57,476 --> 00:17:58,377
your standardbearer say the

521
00:17:58,377 --> 00:17:58,877
other guy is a nice guy.

522
00:17:58,877 --> 00:18:02,014
>> He is a nice guy.

523
00:18:02,014 --> 00:18:02,748
I don't know what else to say.

524
00:18:02,748 --> 00:18:04,783
What I heard he was running for

525
00:18:04,783 --> 00:18:06,785
the Senate, I said to my guys

526
00:18:06,785 --> 00:18:07,920
back whenever Curtis announced,

527
00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:08,787
I thought he was a Democrat all

528
00:18:08,787 --> 00:18:09,121
these years.

529
00:18:09,121 --> 00:18:13,926
But listen, there is no question

530
00:18:13,926 --> 00:18:14,726
where I'm going to vote.

531
00:18:14,726 --> 00:18:15,861
There is too much at stake to

532
00:18:15,861 --> 00:18:17,329
make sure we get the majority

533
00:18:17,329 --> 00:18:18,330
leader in the Senate,

534
00:18:18,330 --> 00:18:20,099
particularly in a year where the

535
00:18:20,099 --> 00:18:21,400
Senate is in the balance here.

536
00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:22,835
We talk about the white house a

537
00:18:22,835 --> 00:18:23,001
lot.

538
00:18:23,001 --> 00:18:24,169
We don't talk as much about the

539
00:18:24,169 --> 00:18:24,803
Senate as we should.

540
00:18:24,803 --> 00:18:28,073
It is a tough map for Democrats

541
00:18:28,073 --> 00:18:31,176
this year, so let's take the

542
00:18:31,176 --> 00:18:31,710
ones we know we can get.

543
00:18:31,710 --> 00:18:35,147
David: Anything jumping out at

544
00:18:35,147 --> 00:18:36,815
you in terms of races to watch,

545
00:18:36,815 --> 00:18:37,683
or are we covered?

546
00:18:37,683 --> 00:18:42,354
>> I think CD 7 is the most

547
00:18:42,354 --> 00:18:43,455
interesting one.

548
00:18:43,455 --> 00:18:48,660
I think Colleen explained that

549
00:18:48,660 --> 00:18:48,961
really well.

550
00:18:48,961 --> 00:18:53,098
The challenges that Sue Altman

551
00:18:53,098 --> 00:18:55,467
is facing, also the fact that

552
00:18:55,467 --> 00:19:00,806
they, the Kim campaign, will use

553
00:19:00,806 --> 00:19:03,242
every opportunity they can to

554
00:19:03,242 --> 00:19:04,243
remind Sue Altman she was a

555
00:19:04,243 --> 00:19:05,377
leader of the New Jersey working

556
00:19:05,377 --> 00:19:09,348
families party, a progressive

557
00:19:09,348 --> 00:19:12,451
activist, and an aggressive

558
00:19:12,451 --> 00:19:13,018
progressive activist group.

559
00:19:13,018 --> 00:19:19,258
The one thing, and there is some

560
00:19:19,258 --> 00:19:20,893
anxiety I see manifested in that

561
00:19:20,893 --> 00:19:22,561
investment coming from outside

562
00:19:22,561 --> 00:19:28,734
groups, is the Harris factor and

563
00:19:28,734 --> 00:19:32,905
the enthusiasm factor, and among

564
00:19:32,905 --> 00:19:33,238
women voters.

565
00:19:33,238 --> 00:19:37,876
It is really sort of a big

566
00:19:37,876 --> 00:19:40,879
question mark whether there is

567
00:19:40,879 --> 00:19:44,583
this real quiet undetected

568
00:19:44,583 --> 00:19:45,217
revolt that is not being picked

569
00:19:45,217 --> 00:19:46,919
up on the radar.

570
00:19:46,919 --> 00:19:48,887
I think that is what they are

571
00:19:48,887 --> 00:19:49,621
trying to hedge against right

572
00:19:49,621 --> 00:19:49,855
now.

573
00:19:49,855 --> 00:19:52,925
>> If I can make just one other

574
00:19:52,925 --> 00:19:56,795
quick point.

575
00:19:56,795 --> 00:19:57,396
We are not going to hear from

576
00:19:57,396 --> 00:20:01,967
Tom Kean because Tom Kean does

577
00:20:01,967 --> 00:20:03,368
not talk to the press and he

578
00:20:03,368 --> 00:20:05,571
does not talk to people unless

579
00:20:05,571 --> 00:20:07,372
he does it behind closed doors

580
00:20:07,372 --> 00:20:08,874
and the people were invited.

581
00:20:08,874 --> 00:20:11,043
I think there may be one debate

582
00:20:11,043 --> 00:20:13,779
by the globe, but I think that

583
00:20:13,779 --> 00:20:15,747
is a real disservice to the

584
00:20:15,747 --> 00:20:16,682
voters in the district.

585
00:20:16,682 --> 00:20:19,518
>> I totally agree.

586
00:20:19,518 --> 00:20:22,054
It is a disservice to the debate

587
00:20:22,054 --> 00:20:22,521
and politics.

588
00:20:22,521 --> 00:20:28,260
But from Kean's point of view,

589
00:20:28,260 --> 00:20:28,894
it has worked twice already, so

590
00:20:28,894 --> 00:20:29,194
I change it?

591
00:20:29,194 --> 00:20:31,530
David: As Michael Aron would

592
00:20:31,530 --> 00:20:32,898
say, let's move on.

593
00:20:32,898 --> 00:20:35,767
This is the first roundtable

594
00:20:35,767 --> 00:20:36,802
since the death of our founding

595
00:20:36,802 --> 00:20:40,606
editor and friend Michael Aron.

596
00:20:40,606 --> 00:20:42,407
While we are all saddened by the

597
00:20:42,407 --> 00:20:44,276
news of his passing, I have to

598
00:20:44,276 --> 00:20:47,179
admit that I was more moved to

599
00:20:47,179 --> 00:20:47,679
remember his incredible

600
00:20:47,679 --> 00:20:50,816
contributions to this network

601
00:20:50,816 --> 00:20:52,884
and to journalism in New Jersey.

602
00:20:52,884 --> 00:20:54,920
What a great run you had, my

603
00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:55,254
friend.

604
00:20:55,254 --> 00:20:56,888
Thanks for everything.

605
00:20:56,888 --> 00:20:57,923
Charlie, you want to add

606
00:20:57,923 --> 00:20:58,490
something to that?

607
00:20:58,490 --> 00:21:03,862
>> No, I have expressed myself

608
00:21:03,862 --> 00:21:04,830
on this show, and I just want to

609
00:21:04,830 --> 00:21:05,397
say I really just miss him.

610
00:21:05,397 --> 00:21:06,932
David: Colleen?

611
00:21:06,932 --> 00:21:09,301
>> Absolutely agreed.

612
00:21:09,301 --> 00:21:13,238
He just was so encouraging to

613
00:21:13,238 --> 00:21:15,440
me.

614
00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:16,942
He was the first person who got

615
00:21:16,942 --> 00:21:18,710
me to feel confident enough to

616
00:21:18,710 --> 00:21:19,111
come on this show.

617
00:21:19,111 --> 00:21:24,616
He was just the consummate

618
00:21:24,616 --> 00:21:25,117
professional journalist.

619
00:21:25,117 --> 00:21:26,785
Totally miss him.

620
00:21:26,785 --> 00:21:31,890
David: A nice tribute over your

621
00:21:31,890 --> 00:21:32,157
shoulder.

622
00:21:32,157 --> 00:21:33,091
Do you want to add something

623
00:21:33,091 --> 00:21:33,458
real quick?

624
00:21:33,458 --> 00:21:37,529
>> Everyone has said it for me,

625
00:21:37,529 --> 00:21:40,465
but I will just say, as someone

626
00:21:40,465 --> 00:21:41,099
who is from Maryland and watched

627
00:21:41,099 --> 00:21:44,436
his work from afar, it was

628
00:21:44,436 --> 00:21:45,537
inspiring work as a journalist,

629
00:21:45,537 --> 00:21:46,038
especially in politics.

630
00:21:46,038 --> 00:21:48,940
David: That was a great part

631
00:21:48,940 --> 00:21:49,241
right there.

632
00:21:49,241 --> 00:21:50,842
We were at the convention.

633
00:21:50,842 --> 00:21:51,943
He was talking about all the

634
00:21:51,943 --> 00:21:52,944
badges people get.

635
00:21:52,944 --> 00:21:55,580
Michael, we miss you, we love

636
00:21:55,580 --> 00:21:55,881
you, buddy.

637
00:21:55,881 --> 00:22:00,252
Time for our only in Jersey

638
00:22:00,252 --> 00:22:01,186
moments, headlines and notes

639
00:22:01,186 --> 00:22:01,853
that are quintessentially New

640
00:22:01,853 --> 00:22:02,087
Jersey.

641
00:22:02,087 --> 00:22:03,755
Colleen, you got one?

642
00:22:03,755 --> 00:22:07,159
>> I just got back from vacation

643
00:22:07,159 --> 00:22:11,063
and we flew out of terminal A in

644
00:22:11,063 --> 00:22:14,700
Newark, and this is something

645
00:22:14,700 --> 00:22:15,834
that at least half the

646
00:22:15,834 --> 00:22:17,035
population will never see

647
00:22:17,035 --> 00:22:17,803
because it was in the ladies

648
00:22:17,803 --> 00:22:20,772
room.

649
00:22:20,772 --> 00:22:21,773
They have really brought the

650
00:22:21,773 --> 00:22:22,441
whole Jersey thing to another

651
00:22:22,441 --> 00:22:25,711
level in the stalls in the

652
00:22:25,711 --> 00:22:28,613
ladies room, or at least on one

653
00:22:28,613 --> 00:22:32,117
level, painted a la Jersey

654
00:22:32,117 --> 00:22:32,751
shore.

655
00:22:32,751 --> 00:22:33,952
I think it helps with the whole

656
00:22:33,952 --> 00:22:36,355
process, given where you are, to

657
00:22:36,355 --> 00:22:37,589
see these little waves there.

658
00:22:37,589 --> 00:22:40,359
They are not moving, obviously.

659
00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:41,693
But I thought it quite

660
00:22:41,693 --> 00:22:42,327
interesting.

661
00:22:42,327 --> 00:22:44,062
I have not seen that in any

662
00:22:44,062 --> 00:22:45,030
other bathroom anywhere.

663
00:22:45,030 --> 00:22:47,966
I do want to say, I enjoy the

664
00:22:47,966 --> 00:22:52,771
large NJ as well, which we found

665
00:22:52,771 --> 00:22:54,539
as we were leaving and came back

666
00:22:54,539 --> 00:22:54,906
into the states.

667
00:22:54,906 --> 00:22:56,141
But I think there might have

668
00:22:56,141 --> 00:22:58,143
been a mistake in that everyone

669
00:22:58,143 --> 00:22:59,745
is taking selfies and there is

670
00:22:59,745 --> 00:23:01,246
no way you can see this giant

671
00:23:01,246 --> 00:23:03,615
NJ's.

672
00:23:03,615 --> 00:23:04,850
So you might want to think about

673
00:23:04,850 --> 00:23:05,317
that, Port Authority.

674
00:23:05,317 --> 00:23:07,919
David: Good point.

675
00:23:07,919 --> 00:23:08,420
Kenny, do you got one?

676
00:23:08,420 --> 00:23:11,556
>> I caught up with CJ Griffin

677
00:23:11,556 --> 00:23:12,991
the other day.

678
00:23:12,991 --> 00:23:13,558
Two weeks into the new bill

679
00:23:13,558 --> 00:23:16,795
being in effect, agencies are

680
00:23:16,795 --> 00:23:17,729
denying requests for emails left

681
00:23:17,729 --> 00:23:20,599
and right because of the

682
00:23:20,599 --> 00:23:21,466
specific subject standard we now

683
00:23:21,466 --> 00:23:21,666
have.

684
00:23:21,666 --> 00:23:25,404
The state has not fully

685
00:23:25,404 --> 00:23:26,338
implemented their online portal

686
00:23:26,338 --> 00:23:26,872
with the new requirements.

687
00:23:26,872 --> 00:23:29,808
Keep in mind, when it comes to

688
00:23:29,808 --> 00:23:31,276
putting things online in New

689
00:23:31,276 --> 00:23:33,078
Jersey, the New Jersey State

690
00:23:33,078 --> 00:23:34,579
police have not updated their

691
00:23:34,579 --> 00:23:36,581
crime stats in more than 1200

692
00:23:36,581 --> 00:23:36,782
days.

693
00:23:36,782 --> 00:23:39,418
Only in New Jersey where the

694
00:23:39,418 --> 00:23:40,786
street -- the state treats

695
00:23:40,786 --> 00:23:41,420
public information for me, not

696
00:23:41,420 --> 00:23:43,288
for thee.

697
00:23:43,288 --> 00:23:47,058
David: I hear a lot about that

698
00:23:47,058 --> 00:23:48,160
from a lot of towns.

699
00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:48,693
Charlie, you wanted to say

700
00:23:48,693 --> 00:23:49,027
something?

701
00:23:49,027 --> 00:23:53,165
>> Awesome point made by

702
00:23:53,165 --> 00:23:55,267
Kennedy.

703
00:23:55,267 --> 00:23:57,102
-- awesome point made by Kenny.

704
00:23:57,102 --> 00:23:59,871
I want to add it is time to end

705
00:23:59,871 --> 00:24:04,810
that Wow New Jersey tourism

706
00:24:04,810 --> 00:24:05,076
campaign.

707
00:24:05,076 --> 00:24:05,677
It's a frankly awful.

708
00:24:05,677 --> 00:24:08,246
[laughter]

709
00:24:08,246 --> 00:24:09,147
It is juvenile.

710
00:24:09,147 --> 00:24:09,781
I don't understand what it is

711
00:24:09,781 --> 00:24:09,981
about.

712
00:24:09,981 --> 00:24:12,884
David: Small state, big fun,

713
00:24:12,884 --> 00:24:13,218
right?

714
00:24:13,218 --> 00:24:16,021
Did you ever think of New Jersey

715
00:24:16,021 --> 00:24:16,421
as a small state?

716
00:24:16,421 --> 00:24:20,892
>> Just that wow voice going off

717
00:24:20,892 --> 00:24:21,293
in the background.

718
00:24:21,293 --> 00:24:23,195
I don't know what that guy did

719
00:24:23,195 --> 00:24:23,628
before he started.

720
00:24:23,628 --> 00:24:26,498
David: Certainly not perfect

721
00:24:26,498 --> 00:24:26,832
together.

722
00:24:26,832 --> 00:24:31,536
>> We need to start recognizing

723
00:24:31,536 --> 00:24:32,003
my part of the state.

724
00:24:32,003 --> 00:24:33,371
David: Yeah.

725
00:24:33,371 --> 00:24:36,074
>> I have said my piece.

726
00:24:36,074 --> 00:24:36,341
[laughter]

727
00:24:36,341 --> 00:24:41,146
David: Mine comes from my

728
00:24:41,146 --> 00:24:42,447
hometown, where I was honored to

729
00:24:42,447 --> 00:24:43,048
be asked to serve as the main

730
00:24:43,048 --> 00:24:46,651
stage emcee for the inaugural

731
00:24:46,651 --> 00:24:47,285
Jersey City Latin Jazz Festival.

732
00:24:47,285 --> 00:24:50,455
It is no secret how much I love

733
00:24:50,455 --> 00:24:52,023
this music and how much I love

734
00:24:52,023 --> 00:24:54,359
this city, but organizers did a

735
00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:57,829
tremendous job of curating some

736
00:24:57,829 --> 00:25:01,166
amazing talent and fostering a

737
00:25:01,166 --> 00:25:04,169
vibe that was so fantastical it

738
00:25:04,169 --> 00:25:04,803
actually got some people high.

739
00:25:04,803 --> 00:25:05,303
♪

740
00:25:05,303 --> 00:25:12,644
David: Only in Jersey.

741
00:25:12,644 --> 00:25:14,179
Latin Jazz Festival to kick off

742
00:25:14,179 --> 00:25:14,679
Hispanic heritage month.

743
00:25:14,679 --> 00:25:18,083
Thanks to everyone at Riverview

744
00:25:18,083 --> 00:25:18,283
Jazz.

745
00:25:18,283 --> 00:25:20,185
>> Was that you dancing?

746
00:25:20,185 --> 00:25:23,355
David: No, that was not me.

747
00:25:23,355 --> 00:25:23,622
[laughter]

748
00:25:23,622 --> 00:25:29,427
That is "Reporters Roundtable"

749
00:25:29,427 --> 00:25:30,996
for this week.

750
00:25:30,996 --> 00:25:33,198
Thanks to Paterson Mayor André

751
00:25:33,198 --> 00:25:33,532
Sayegh.

752
00:25:33,532 --> 00:25:39,704
Follow us on X.

753
00:25:39,704 --> 00:25:41,673
If you like this content, share

754
00:25:41,673 --> 00:25:42,774
it and subscribe to our YouTube

755
00:25:42,774 --> 00:25:44,209
channel to find the work of

756
00:25:44,209 --> 00:25:45,810
other great journalists here.

757
00:25:45,810 --> 00:25:47,679
For all the crew here at Gateway

758
00:25:47,679 --> 00:25:49,047
Center in downtown Newark,

759
00:25:49,047 --> 00:25:51,149
thanks for watching.

760
00:25:51,149 --> 00:25:51,883
We will see you next week.

761
00:25:51,883 --> 00:25:53,218
Announcer: Major funding for

762
00:25:53,218 --> 00:25:53,852
"Reporters Roundtable with David

763
00:25:53,852 --> 00:25:55,887
Cruz" is provided by RWJ

764
00:25:55,887 --> 00:25:56,955
Barnabas Health.

765
00:25:56,955 --> 00:26:00,191
Let's be healthy together.

766
00:26:00,191 --> 00:26:00,659
♪