Chat Box with David Cruz | State of Latino New Jersey | Season 2022

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WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX."

THIS IS THE END OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, WHICH WHY IS STRETCHED OVER TWO MONTHS HAS BEEN A MYSTERY TO ME.

BUT WE MOVE ON WITH OUR REGULAR LOOK AT THE STATE OF LATINO NEW JERSEY, WHICH IS ALWAYS OPEN TO INTERPRETATION.

WE HAVE AN INTERESTING PANEL TO LOOK AT THIS BROADER QUESTION, WHICH COVERS IMMIGRATION, THE ECONOMY AT LARGE, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT AND MUCH MORE.

MARIA RODRIGUEZ GREG IS A FORMER REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLYWOMAN, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY, PATRICIA MARINA AND JOSE ARONGO.

DISCLAIMER UP FRONT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF LATINO POWER AND PROGRESS TODAY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ASSESS WHERE WE ARE.

PANEL, WELCOME.

PATRICIA, YOU LAUNCHED A GROUP THIS WEEK, LATINAS BUILDING THE BENCH.

GIVE US A SYNOPSIS OF THE MISSION.

>> IT'S A PROGRAM OF OUR ORGANIZATION, LATINA CIVIC ACTION.

TALKING AND BUILDING ON THE STRATEGY TO GET LATINAS TO RUN FOR OFFICE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

WE WANT TO BE THE ONES, LATINA WOMEN TALKING TO ALL THE LATINA WOMEN, ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO DECIDE TO RUN FOR CITY COUNSEL, FOR SCHOOL BOARD, FOR MAYOR.

BECAUSE WE NEED TO BUILD A BENCH SO WHEN WE HAVE OPENINGS AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL, THEY CAN NO LONGER BE AN EXCUSE THERE'S NO LATINAS QUALIFIED TO TAKE THE POSITIONS.

EVENTUALLY, WE WILL TAKE LATINA TO CONGRESS.

IT'S ABOUT TIME A LATINA REPRESENTS US IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.

THAT'S THE MISSION OF LATINAS ON THE BENCH.

IT'S A PROGRAM OF LATINA CIVIL ACTION.

>> YOU ARE ORGANIZING FROM THE LEFT.

I ASSUME NO SUCH EFFORT IS UNDERWAY AMONGST REPUBLICANS?

I SHOULD ASK, DO YOU STILL IDENTIFY AS REPUBLICAN?

>> YES.

I AM STILL A REPUBLICAN.

THAT HAS NEVER CHANGED.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE ARE NO INDEFSH E IN -- IT'S MORE BROAD-BASED.

HAVE THEY PROMOTED LATINOS?

THERE WAS.

DENISE GONZALEZ WAS RUNNING IN SOUTH JERSEY.

WE CAN DO MORE TO GROW THAT.

I HAVE BEEN OUTSPOKEN IN HOW TO DO THAT.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE PARTY TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE CONSIDERING WE ARE THE MAJORITY OF MINORITIES IN NEW JERSEY.

>> HOW DOES THE PARTY BEGIN TO DIVERSIFY, DO YOU THINK?

>> HOW DOES IT BEGIN TO DIVERSIFY?

HONESTLY, IT'S BASIC OUTREACH.

AT SOME POINT THEY HAVE TO STEP OUTSIDE THEIR CURRENT SAFE ZONE AND DO A BETTER JOB OF CONSISTENT OUTREACH.

I BELIEVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS IN THE PAST DONE SIGNIFICANT OUTREACH.

THERE HAS TO BE CONSISTENCY WITHIN THE PARTY.

THAT'S KIND OF WHAT'S LACKING ON BOTH SIDES, HONESTLY.

WHEN WE LOOK AT VOETER OUTREACH IT'S AROUND ELECTION TIME YOU SEE THAT PUSH FOR LATINO SUPPORT.

I THINK THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A CONSISTENT GAME PLAN AND STRATEGY, THAT'S WHEN YOU START TO SEE LONG-TERM RESULTS.

AND A DIFFERENCE IN THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF LEADERS IN NEW JERSEY.

>> CHAIRMAN?

GO AHEAD, PATRICIA.

LET ME GET JOSE IN HERE.

THEN WE WILL OPEN IT UP.

CHAIRMAN, YOU ARE THE CHAIRMAN OF ALL THE COUNTY CHAIRS.

ANY LATINOS, LATINAS CHAIRING ANY COUNTY COMMITTEES?

HOW DO YOU -- >> WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS BENCH.

WE HAVE CHRIS BORENKO IN MORRIS COUNTY.

HE BECAME AN SASSEMBLYMAN LAST YEAR.

WE HAVE A DOMINICAN RUNNING.

WE ARE LUCKY A DOMINICAN COMMUNITY IS COMING OVER TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THE CHANGE OF POLICY.

THEY SEE US MORE PRO-BUSINESS, LOWERING TAXES.

WE ARE GETTING A DIFFERENT FEELING.

THE REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE, ONE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE STATE, THEY ARE WORKING IN CAMDEN COUNTY TO INCLUDE MORE LATINOS INTO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WE WORK -- WE ARE DOING MUCH BETTER THAN WE DID PROBABLY FOUR YEARS AGO.

WE ARE TRYING TO INCLUDE AS MANY WOMEN, MINORITY, FOR ASSEMBLED, WE HAVE THE HEAD OF THE WOMEN REPUBLICAN ASSOCIATION RIGHT NOW IS CAMI HARRIS FROM HAITI.

WE BRING IN MINORITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE THING IS LOWER.

BUT WHEN YOU COMPARE THE CONTROL THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS IN NEW JERSEY AND WASHINGTON AND YOU SEE THE LATINOS ARE NOT REALLY HAPPY WITH EITHER PARTY, THAT TELLS YOU THAT IT'S A PROBLEM HERE, NOT ONLY IN ONE PARTY, BUT I THINK AS LATINOS WE SHOULD WORK A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO BE -- TO PUT PRESSURE TO THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE.

>> PATRICIA, YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING.

>> I WANTED TO CLARIFY THE LATINA CIVIC ACTION.

WE ARE BASED ON THE PRINCIPAL OF WE SUPPORT WOMEN WHO ARE PRO CHOICE.

IT'S A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT FOR EVERY WOMAN TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.

IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT MA MAJORITIES WHO RUN ARE RUNNING IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

WITH THAT SAID, WE ARE OPEN TO REPUBLICAN WOMEN AND DEMOCRATIC WOMEN.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP THEM FIGURE OUT HOW TO RAISE THEIR OWN MONEY, HOW TO GET THE SKILLS TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND HOW TO RUN.

ONE THING THAT I AGREE WITH MARIA AND JOSE FOR A LONG TIME -- I AM A PROUD DEMOCRAT.

BUT I ALSO AM A PROUD LATINA.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM IN CRITICIZING MY OWN PARTY WHEN THEY FAIL TO DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, WHICH IS ENCOURAGING LATINOS TO GET ENGAGED, TO VOTE.

THAT REQUIRES RESOURCES.

IT REQUIRES MONEY AND IT REQUIRES INVESTMENT TO TALK TO VOTERS.

ONE THING ABOUT LATINO VOTE, WE ARE KNOWN MONOLITHIC.

WE HAVE DIFFERENCES WHERE WE COME FROM, WHETHER YOU ARE FROM CUBA OR CENTRAL AMERICA.

YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT NUANCE IN THE VOTE.

DEMOCRATS IN NEW JERSEY ARE THE WORSE BECAUSE THEY ARE -- THEY HAVE DECIDED THAT BECAUSE NEW JERSEY IS BLUE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPEND MONEY IN THE LATINO VOTE.

THAT IS WHY WE AT LATINA CIVIC -- THEY WANT TO SPEND MONEY IN THE NUANCE OF COMMUNICATING WITH LATINO VOTERS.

THAT MEANS, NOT JUST MALE AND NOT JUST BEFORE ELECTION TIME.

IT MEANS TO INVEST YEAR AROUND, CANVASSING, TALKING TO VOTERS, ORGANIZING.

THEY NEED TO MAKE IT A PERMANENT PART OF THE BUDGET FOR SPENDING.

THEY DO NOT.

THEY TAKE THE LATINO VOTE FOR GRANTED.

>> LET ME GET AT ASSEMBLYWOMAN IN HERE.

DOES THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NEED TO ADJUST THE WAY IT LOOKS AT CERTAIN ISSUES, POLICIES, IN ORDER TO ATTRACT MORE LATINAS?

I'M THINKING PARTICULARLY OF IMMIGRATION.

>> NOT NECESSARILY.

NOT NECESSARILY.

I THINK THAT YOUR VALUES ARE YOUR VALUES.

I THINK THE PARTY ITSELF IS IN A MOMENT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE CONSISTENT IN WHAT THEIR VALUES ARE.

THERE IS A DIVISION WITH THE PARTY THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH LATINA VOTERS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE TO GET ON SAME PAGE WITH THEMSELVES AS A PARTY.

I WAS ATTRACTED TO THE PARTY FOR A DIFFERENT REASON.

IT HAD TO DO LOCALLY -- IT WAS DIVERSE.

THEY TALKED ABOUT ISSUES THAT I CARE ABOUT.

AT THE TIME, I WAS A SINGLE PARENT.

THEY TALKED ABOUT ECONOMIC ISSUES.

THEY TALKED ABOUT COMMUNITY ISSUES.

THEY WERE FOCUSED ON SPECIFICALLY IN BURLINGTON THE REPUBLICAN PARTYING OR WAS FOCUSED ON THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING MY AREA A BETTER PLACE.

THEY TALKED ABOUT ISSUES THAT I CARED ABOUT.

THEY TOOK THE TIME TO TALK TO ME AND OTHER MINORITY VOTERS.

THEY HAD DIVERSE LEADERSHIP.

I THINK IN MANY WAYS, WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THAT PLACE.

I DO THINK THOUGH IN TERMS OF IMMIGRATION -- I'M SURE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S ON EVERYBODY'S MIND, ESPECIALLY WITH THE DACA RULING.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A MORE FORWARD POLICY FOCUS VALUES OR STRATEGY THAT MAKES SENSE.

WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT BOOSTING THE ECONOMY, SUPPORTING HARD WORKERS, SUPPORTING PEOPLE AND THEN BE AGAINST PROGRAMS THAT ARE DOING EXACTLY THAT.

I PERSONALLY -- I REMEMBER BACK IN THE LEGISLATURE WHEN THERE WERE RESOLUTIONS, MY COUNTERPART, CHRIS BROWN, WE BOTH SUPPORTED DACA IN NEW JERSEY.

I CONTINUE TO JUST BECAUSE I NOT JUST QUANTITATIVELY -- A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE POPULATION, HUGE CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR ECONOMY AND OUR COMMUNITY AND LEADERS.

QUALITATIVE -- I HAVE PERSONAL FRIENDS THAT HAVE COME HERE AS CHILDREN.

THEY HAD NO CHOICE.

NOW THIS IS THEIR HOME.

THEY HAVE MADE IT THEIR HOME.

THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND COUNTRY THAT -- I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO HAVE A BETTER, MORE EMPATHETIC UNDERSTANDING POINT OF VIEW ON CERTAIN ISSUES.

BUT I DON'T NECESSARILY BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE WHAT THE PARTY IS.

>> I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DONALD TRUMP HERE.

THE FACT THAT HE GOT NOT INSIGNIFICANT LATINO SUPPORT.

THERE ARE CONSERVATIVE ELEMENTS IN LATINO CULTURE, OBVIOUSLY.

DO YOU SEE THAT GROWING, CHAIRMAN?

>> WHAT YOU SEE IN DONALD TRUMP, I DON'T SEE IN LATINO OR NOBODY IN THE UNITED STATES LIKE THE COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF DONALD TRUMP.

I BELIEVE THE LATINO COMMUNITY, LIKE MANY PEOPLE IN AMERICA, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN BUSINESS, THOSE HOMEOWNERS, THOSE THAT CARE ABOUT THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN, THEY BELIEVE ON 60% TO 70% OF THE POLICIES THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAD TOWARD AMERICA AND THE ADVANCE OF THE ECONOMY, ET CETERA.

DONALD TRUMP IS A PERSON THAT POLARIZED EVERYTHING.

IT'S LIKE THE GUY WHO GIVES ME THE MILK AND THEN THROW IT ALL OVER THE PLACE.

YOU KNOW?

WE HAVE TO TURN THAT PAGE.

WHILE WE'RE GOING TO SEE IN THE UNITED STATES IN BOTH PARTIES IS THAT WE NEED TO REFRESH THE LEADERSHIP.

WE CAN'T HAVE AN 80-YEAR-OLD IN THE WHITE HOUSE RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE ANOTHER 70-YEAR-OLD GUY THAT REALLY, THEY DON'T HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE LIKE MY GRANDFATHER.

WHATEVER I SAY IS WHAT I SAY.

I THINK THE ISSUE WITH DONALD TRUMP AND THE SUPPORT THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS IS NOT DONALD TRUMP.

IT'S THE POLICIES OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT IS PRO BUSINESS, LOWER TAXES, LOWER -- LAW AND ORDER, SCHOOL CHOICE.

WE DON'T COME TO AMERICA TO PUT US IN A SAND BOX AND SAY, YOU HAVE A POLICY FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

NO, NO, NO.

WE WANT TO BE PART OF AMERICA.

I DIDN'T COME HERE BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO PUT ME IN A CORNER THERE AND SAY, THIS IS YOUR BOX WHERE YOU WILL PLAY.

NO.

I WANT TO BE MAIN STREET AMERICA.

THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS SENDING.

THE PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF TODAY IS NOT THE BILL CLINTON DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THEY MOSTLY LOST TOUCH WITH REALITY.

>> BEFORE I GET TO YOU -- I KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO JUMP ON THAT, PATRICIA.

ASSEMBLYWOMAN, DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A TRUMP WEREPUBLICAN ?

>> I DON'T.

I'M A REPUBLICAN BUT I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF A TRUMP REPUBLICAN.

I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF RHETORIC ABOUT THAT HE DID SIGNIFICANTLY WELL AMONGST LATINOS.

THE REALITY IS, BACK IN 2004, GEORGE W. BUSH GOT ABOUT 40%, SLYLY H SLIGHTLY HIGHER.

THEN IT DIPPED DOWN TO ABOUT 25%, 28% WITH REPUBLICANS.

DONALD TRUMP MAYBE GOT 30%.

HONESTLY, WE'RE STILL NOT AT THE NUMBERS THAT WE WERE AS REPUBLICANS WITH LATINOS THAT WE WERE UNDER GEORGE W. BUSH, REAGAN.

WE ARE STILL STRUGGLING.

WE HAVE ALIENATED, IN SOME WAYS, THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

RIGHT NOW -- YOU ARE CORRECT, WE'RE NOT A MONOLITH.

HE DID DO WELL IN CERTAIN AREAS.

THERE WAS VERY GOOD TARGETED CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES IN FLORIDA, IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE SOUTHWEST.

IT SHOWED.

IT SHOWED IN THOSE NUMBERS.

THERE WAS A SLIGHT UPTICK.

THERE WAS OVERALL HIGHER VOTER TURNOUT.

IT WASN'T STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT.

I DON'T THINK THAT THAT SHOULD SAY, WOW, WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE AS REPUBLICANS OR WITH TRUMP OR WHATEVER, WHEN IT COMES TO LATINOS.

WE ARE NOT.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTERMENT THERE'S MORE TO DO WITH LATINOS.

LATINOS, ALTHOUGH LIKE PATRICIA SAID, NOT A MONOLITH, BUT WE ARE STILL A VERY LARGE GROUP THAT IS STILL -- THAT STILL NEEDS THAT MOTIVATION TO GET OUT TO VOTE.

>> I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

I WANT TO GET FROM EACH OF YOU, ONE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON OR WATCHING THAT IS OR SHOULD BE IMPORTANT TO THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN ORDER FOR THEM TO PROGRESS IN INFLUENCE AND ACCESS, ET CETERA.

LET'S START WITH YOU, PATRICIA.

>> WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IS HOW LATINOS IN THIS SUBURBAN DISTRICT, SPECIFICALLY AROUND 7, 5, 11, ARE GOING TO VOTE.

ONE THING THAT WE AUTO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO IS THE LATINO VOTERS, NOT JUST URBAN VOTERS.

WE HAVE MOVED TO THE SUBURBS.

WE TALK ABOUT ANTIC APPROACH.

IT HAS TO BE TO LATINO VOTERS.

I WILL WATCH TO THAT.

JUST TO SAY THE REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE TO HAVE 40% OF THE LATINO VOTE TO MAKE INROADS IN KEY RACES.

THEY JUST HAVE TO MOVE UP, 2, 3, 5 POINTS.

THEN WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THAT'S WHAT -- OUTSIDE OF NEW JERSEY, 3, 5 POINTS OF MORE LATINOS GOING MATTER.

IT MATTERS WHEN 2% MOVE TO THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

OR 2% OF LATINO MOVE.

IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

I THINK WE NEED TO WATCH FOR THAT.

I HOPE THAT THOSE WHO ARE ACTIVISTS AND DEMOCRAT, NEED TO CONTINUE DEMANDING MORE FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WHEN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO DO MORE AND SPEND MORE RESOURCES ON ENGAGEMENT WITH THOSE VOTERS ALL YEAR ROUND.

>> CHAIRMAN, WHAT'S A PRIORITY FOR YOU AS YOU GO FORWARD?

SOMETHING YOU WILL WATCH AND WORK ON.

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE POLICIES, ESPECIALLY TOM KANE WAS A GOVERNOR BECAUSE HE WAS IN THE CENTER OF THE PARTY.

I THINK NEW JERSEY IS A STATE THAT IS IN THE RIGHT OR LEFT.

IT'S IN THE CENTER.

I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS TO TALK MORE ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE, TALK MORE ABOUT LOWER TAXES, TALK MORE ABOUT SUPPORTING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY AND GIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO THE COMMUNITY TO BE WHAT THEY WANT.

THEY WANT TO BE PART OF AMERICA.

THEY WANT TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

THEY WANT TO BE PART OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

WE COME HERE TO WORK.

THE DACA SITUATION WE HAVE SEEN, LISTEN, WE ALL DACA HERE.

I WAS DACA.

EVERYBODY THAT COMES HERE -- MY PARENTS COME HERE WHEN I WAS 16 YEARS OLD, 17 YEARS OLD, BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING FOR A BETTER FUTURE.

WE HERE TO LOOK FOR A BETTER FUTURE.

IT'S A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WE CAN DEFER.

BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT WE DEFERRED.

IT'S ABOUT UNIT US AS LATINOS.

I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE POWER IN BOTH PARTIES, BECAUSE THE DAY THAT WE HAVE POWER IN BOTH PARTIES IS THE DAY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO COUNT IN NEW JERSEY AND THE UNITED STATES.

>> ASSEMBLYWOMAN, THE LAST WORD ON THIS.

SOMETHING YOU ARE WORKING ON, SOMETHING YOU WILL BE WATCHING.

>> WHAT I'M GOING TO BE WATCHING FOR IS CONSISTENCY.

WE KEEP SAYING THE SAME THINGS.

I THINK THAT IT'S GETTING REDUNDANT ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO TURN OUT THE VOTE AMONG LATINOS.

IT'S REALLY -- WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS CONSISTENCY, NOT JUST WHAT ARE THEY DOING COME ELECTION?

WE MAY SWING ONE WAY BECAUSE THERE WAS AN EFFORT.

IF THAT EFFORT GOES AWAY AND IT'S NOT CONSISTENT, WE MAY SWING ANOTHER WAY.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S ANYONE'S GAME.

THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR REPUBLICANS AND FOR DEMOCRATS.

IT'S GOING TO BE, WHO WAS THE MOST CONSISTENT BEFORE AND AFTER ELECTION TIME, NOT JUST DURING ELECTION.

ALSO, TO ALL OF THOSE -- WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WHETHER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OR DEMOCRATIC PARTY, TO GET REPUBLICANS OUT.

YOU KNOW WHAT, IF YOU CARE OR IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN, THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO JUST TAKE IT.

IT'S THAT OLD SAYING THAT IF YOU DON'T PULL UP -- YOU WANT A SEAT AT THE TABLE, PULL UP A CHAIR.

IF YOU ARE NOT AT THE TABLE, YOU ARE ON THE MENU.

THERE'S REASON TO RUN.

THERE ARE SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL HELP LATINOS, LATINAS GET OUT, UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND NOT JUST GET INTO ELECTED OFFICE BUT GET INTO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.

>> ARE WE GOING TO SEE YOU RUN FOR OFFICE AGAIN?

YOUR PARTY DID NOT TREAT YOU WELL, I HAVE TO SAY.

>> PROBABLY NOT.

I AM THOROUGHLY ENJOYING NOT BEING IN PUBLIC OFFICE.

I WAS NOMINATED TO BE A COMMISSIONER FOR THE BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT PROCESS.

>> I HOPE YOU HELP US RECRUIT A LITTLE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> I AM ALWAYS RECRUITING.

THAT'S ONE THING, I AM ALWAYS RECRUITING.

I'M STILL A REPUBLICAN.

I SUPPORT MANY REPUBLICANS.

JOSE WILL TELL YOU WILL SUPPORT MY PARTY AS MUCH AS I CAN.

BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, LATINOS ALL TOGETHER.

>> I'M GOING TO -- >> GO AHEAD, CHAIRMAN.

>> I'M GOING TO TELL YOU.

THIS SHOW TODAY SHOWS THAT THE LATINO COMMUNITY IS SO POWERFUL.

TWO LADIES THAT WE HAVE HERE CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS HERE.

THEY HAVE BEEN FIGHTING.

THEY HAVE BEEN AGAINST ALL THE ODDS.

THIS IS WHY WE ARE HERE.

THIS IS WHAT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IS ALL ABOUT.

IT'S NOT REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

IT'S ABOUT US.

EVERYBODY HAS TO LEARN OUHOW TO RESPECT AND LISTEN TO WHAT WE WANT.

WE ARE -- WITHOUT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN TODAY'S UNITED STATES, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

NOTHING HAPPENS.

WE ARE THE WORKING FORCE.

WE ARE THE COMMUNITY THAT IS SPENDING MONEY.

WE ARE THE PEOPLE.

WE ARE THE FUTURE OF AMERICA.

WE ARE PROUD TO BE AMERICANS.

THESE TWO LADIES AND THE MESSAGE IS, WE ARE HERE, WE ARE PROUD AND WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE PROGRESS OF THIS COUNTRY.

>> ULTIMATELY, I GUESS -- THIS QUESTION IS FOR ALL OF YOU AS WELL.

ULTIMATELY, LATINOS HAVE TO BE LATINOS FIRST AND THEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, OR DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AND THEN LATINOS?

LET'S START WITH YOU, PATRICIA.

>> I THINK WE ARE AMERICANS.

WE JUST HAVE ETHIC -- IT COMES FROM LATIN AMERICA COUNTRY.

WE CARE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY.

WE CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE WANT TO VOTE FOR THOSE CANDIDATES WHO CARE AND HAVE SOLUTIONS FOR OUR PROBLEMS.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT BOTH PARTIES TO UNDERSTAND.

THEY CANNOT MAKE BIG ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT JUST WE CARE ABOUT -- WE CARE ABOUT BIG ISSUES.

WE CARE ABOUT BREAD AND BUTTER ISSUES, ABOUT WHETHER I CAN PAY FOR DAY CARE, WHETHER I HAVE A JOB, WHETHER I CAN PAY FOR RENT.

THERE'S CANDIDATES THAT CAN TALK ABOUT THAT, YOU WILL GET ATTENTION.

IT'S NOT JUST MAILINGS ON BIG ISSUES AGAINST TRUMP OR AGAINST ABORTION.

THAT IS A BIG ISSUE, YOU NEED TO START TALKING TO US LIKE WE LIVE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE CARE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES THAT YOU CARE ABOUT.

>> CHAIRMAN, AGREE, DISAGREE?

>> I TOTALLY AGREE 1,000%.

IT'S NOT ABOUT -- LISTEN, WE ARE AMERICANS.

WE ARE PROUD TO BE AMERICANS.

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.

THIS COUNTRY -- I BECAME AN AMERICAN CITIZEN IN 1982.

I WAS IN THE STATE LEGISLATION IN 1985.

WHAT COUNTRY GIVE YOU THAT OPPORTUNITY?

WE ARE PROUD AMERICANS THAT WE WANT TO BE LISTENED.

WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

I AGREE WITH PATRICIA 1,000%.

>> I AGREE.

I WOULD JUST ADD WE HAVE TO DELIVER ON THOSE ISSUES.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT BREAD AND BUTTER ISSUES.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY CARE ABOUT.

YES, PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY DO CARE ABOUT ABORTION.

THEY DO -- WE HAVE LATINOS, THEY ARE IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

THEY ARE PARENTS.

THEY ARE WORKERS.

IT'S A DIVERSE GROUP.

WE HAVE PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS.

WE CARE ABOUT ALL THESE ISSUES.

WE NEED PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES BUT ACTUALLY DELIVER.

RESPOND.

ACTUALLY DO WHAT THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO DO, NOT JUST TALK ABOUT IT DURING ELECTION TIME AND FORGET ABOUT IT.

I THINK THAT'S THE KEY POINT I KEEP TRYING TO MAKE.

PART OF THE REASON WHY YOU SEE A LOT OF VOTER APATHY IS BECAUSE WE ONLY TALK -- THOSE THAT ARE RUNNING ONLY TALK TO LATINOS WHEN IT'S ELECTION TIME.

THIS HAS TO BE A CONSISTENT THING.

THEY HAVE TO TREAT US LIKE ALL OTHER VOTERS.

>> LATINO ISSUES ARE AMERICAN ISSUES.

MARIA, PATRICIA, JOSE, GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AND FOR THIS DISCUSSION.

>> THANK U.

>> THANK YOU.

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

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>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX" IS PROVIDED BY -- >>> PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY --

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