1 00:00:03,165 --> 00:00:07,265 Hey Marian over here Hi Jenna. So I hear you're running for 2 00:00:07,265 --> 00:00:11,505 Congress. I am well then are you ready for some questions? I 3 00:00:11,505 --> 00:00:14,385 think I'm ready. Yeah. Okay. So what makes you wanna run for 4 00:00:14,385 --> 00:00:18,385 Congress? Well, I was kind of a nerd about early America and 5 00:00:18,385 --> 00:00:21,505 the founding fathers and as I get older, I just think we're 6 00:00:21,505 --> 00:00:25,025 we're not doing it right. so I wanna go up there. Okay, 7 00:00:25,025 --> 00:00:29,025 Republican or Democrat neither probably mostly libertarian. 8 00:00:29,025 --> 00:00:33,665 but really I'm not a party person. I'm just saying what 9 00:00:33,665 --> 00:00:37,185 is. About people who say that independent candidates are just 10 00:00:37,185 --> 00:00:40,705 stealing votes well, there's no such thing as stealing votes. 11 00:00:40,705 --> 00:00:43,905 Everybody gets their one vote to cast and they should cast it 12 00:00:43,905 --> 00:00:48,065 for the person that they believe the most in so a lot of 13 00:00:48,065 --> 00:00:50,945 people don't identify with any of the major parties and so 14 00:00:50,945 --> 00:00:53,665 they deserve to have an independent candidates. So you 15 00:00:53,665 --> 00:00:57,185 think you have a real chance. I think so I think 2020 is 16 00:00:57,185 --> 00:01:00,385 probably the best shot for an independent in our district. 17 00:01:00,385 --> 00:01:03,425 Jeff Andrews switched parties, which means he might be losing 18 00:01:03,425 --> 00:01:08,645 his incumbent uh the other. They're not any more experience 19 00:01:08,645 --> 00:01:12,565 than I am and with mail vote by mail and everyone getting their 20 00:01:12,565 --> 00:01:16,245 ballot. There's 3 weeks that people have to look in to every 21 00:01:16,245 --> 00:01:19,125 possible candidate. So yeah, this is probably my best 22 00:01:19,125 --> 00:01:23,045 chances ever um. hey you feel like I'm inside. maybe 23 00:01:23,045 --> 00:01:26,645 absolutely let's go. Alright. 24 00:01:27,805 --> 00:01:33,905 Kids are home today and they're watching Hamilton again. Uh 25 00:01:33,905 --> 00:01:37,825 these are my two oldest girls. that's Kaitlyn and Kimberly. uh 26 00:01:37,825 --> 00:01:42,065 they're two of our four. So we also have Maddie and Lola. Wow 27 00:01:42,065 --> 00:01:49,025 great photos. So what happened here? Oh what happened to this. 28 00:01:51,705 --> 00:01:56,925 Yup, that's Lola our baby uh we should probably take this in 29 00:01:56,925 --> 00:01:59,325 the kitchen. 30 00:02:01,385 --> 00:02:05,965 So what is it like raising daughters in these days? I 31 00:02:05,965 --> 00:02:08,605 think these are probably the best days to be raising up 32 00:02:08,605 --> 00:02:12,285 young women. They have a lot of opportunities. How is remote 33 00:02:12,285 --> 00:02:15,405 learning going uh it's challenging it can be 34 00:02:15,405 --> 00:02:20,285 frustrating but uh it's been a fun experience. How do you 35 00:02:20,285 --> 00:02:23,645 think schools are responding to OVI think we're doing really 36 00:02:23,645 --> 00:02:26,765 well considering we put a lot of pressure on schools to 37 00:02:26,765 --> 00:02:30,685 provide everything that our kids need and now they need 38 00:02:30,685 --> 00:02:35,065 back up What can Congress do? I think we could definitely send 39 00:02:35,065 --> 00:02:38,025 some more funds down to help with additional staffing help. 40 00:02:38,025 --> 00:02:42,025 parents with child care to get tutoring. A lot of kids could 41 00:02:42,025 --> 00:02:45,065 really use a one-on-one need right now to what's something 42 00:02:45,065 --> 00:02:51,545 you miss about the world before OVITI miss hugs handshakes. I 43 00:02:51,545 --> 00:02:54,905 really miss smiling at strangers. What's something you 44 00:02:54,905 --> 00:03:00,105 don't miss. I don't miss Close Talkers. What's your priorities 45 00:03:00,105 --> 00:03:04,065 be in Congress for returning to normal? I think we would make. 46 00:03:04,065 --> 00:03:07,265 Our health care system can handle another curve ball uh 47 00:03:07,265 --> 00:03:10,625 that our kids aren't slipping too far behind in education or 48 00:03:10,625 --> 00:03:13,985 their mental health and social needs. Um we need to make sure 49 00:03:13,985 --> 00:03:17,985 that employers are able to keep their employees active and 50 00:03:17,985 --> 00:03:22,625 working. What are you most proud of personally? I think 51 00:03:22,625 --> 00:03:26,625 I've made some steady upward progress in my life and I 52 00:03:26,625 --> 00:03:31,025 haven't given up yet. What would you change in your early 53 00:03:31,025 --> 00:03:34,565 adulthood and do it differently? Uh I would have. 54 00:03:34,565 --> 00:03:37,605 Better health habits and I would have learned how to save 55 00:03:37,605 --> 00:03:42,725 money sooner and there's a lot of plants in here. Do you have 56 00:03:42,725 --> 00:03:48,405 a favor? I do I do um so I really like this guy. I just 57 00:03:48,405 --> 00:03:50,645 picked him up. I don't even know what it's called but I 58 00:03:50,645 --> 00:03:54,485 look forward to breed together his little brother. um you 59 00:03:54,485 --> 00:03:58,325 wanna go outside. I have some more out there. absolutely. 60 00:04:03,145 --> 00:04:05,965 Nice 61 00:04:06,885 --> 00:04:12,185 So tell me about your childhood in South Jersey great uh so I 62 00:04:12,185 --> 00:04:14,905 grew up on Pearl Street in Bridgeton from earliest 63 00:04:14,905 --> 00:04:17,785 memories until I was about ten. so we just run around the 64 00:04:17,785 --> 00:04:21,145 neighborhood with other kids and watch that a whole 65 00:04:21,145 --> 00:04:25,465 neighborhood really turn a new leaf. Uh then we lived in Salem 66 00:04:25,465 --> 00:04:28,905 County for a while I would run around riding bikes in parks 67 00:04:28,905 --> 00:04:32,985 and playing in the woods. so I had a good diverse kind of 68 00:04:32,985 --> 00:04:36,505 exposure as a kid here. How would you describe South Jersey 69 00:04:36,505 --> 00:04:40,025 to an outsider? uh nothing like what you imagine when you think 70 00:04:40,025 --> 00:04:44,245 of New Jersey. What's the strength of? I think we have a 71 00:04:44,245 --> 00:04:48,245 lot of diversity in a lot of ways, so we've got a diverse 72 00:04:48,245 --> 00:04:52,325 population. Uh we have diverse types of neighborhoods, towns 73 00:04:52,325 --> 00:04:57,365 and cities, and our businesses are very diverse. We have great 74 00:04:57,365 --> 00:05:00,805 arts here. Agriculture. There's really nothing that you can't 75 00:05:00,805 --> 00:05:04,325 find in South jersey. is there any weaknesses that you see in 76 00:05:04,325 --> 00:05:08,805 South Jersey? Yeah. I don't know that we work together well 77 00:05:08,805 --> 00:05:11,765 enough across communities. There's a lot that are more 78 00:05:11,765 --> 00:05:15,445 affluent communities could do to keep our lower income 79 00:05:15,445 --> 00:05:20,705 communities um invested in. And growing, so you see 80 00:05:20,705 --> 00:05:23,905 opportunities in South Jersey's. What are they? I do? 81 00:05:23,905 --> 00:05:26,385 I think that that is an opportunity to learn from one 82 00:05:26,385 --> 00:05:29,985 another and collaborate more. I think also that as 83 00:05:29,985 --> 00:05:49,565 covid-nineteen. 84 00:05:49,565 --> 00:05:52,285 Their neighbors and that's a problem. A lot of the things 85 00:05:52,285 --> 00:05:55,725 that are happening nationally need to be conversations, but 86 00:05:55,725 --> 00:06:00,125 they don't need to divide us at home. I see what about as a 87 00:06:00,125 --> 00:06:03,565 nation. I think it's the same thing. I think we all need to 88 00:06:03,565 --> 00:06:07,405 connect closer to where we are and then come together to 89 00:06:07,405 --> 00:06:11,165 improve and do better. So how do you think Americans can come 90 00:06:11,165 --> 00:06:14,525 together? I think spending more time together. Look people in 91 00:06:14,525 --> 00:06:18,205 the eye. Listen to them. What would you do to address 92 00:06:18,205 --> 00:06:22,525 inequality? I think the biggest problem. We have now is that 93 00:06:22,525 --> 00:06:27,325 our poverty class seems to be growing um and what we could do 94 00:06:27,325 --> 00:06:30,765 is stabilize people at the lower end of the middle class 95 00:06:30,765 --> 00:06:34,285 and give people more opportunities to own things and 96 00:06:34,285 --> 00:06:37,165 invest in their futures looks like you have a lovely 97 00:06:37,165 --> 00:06:41,565 backyard. Can we uh take a look? Thank you? Yes. This is 98 00:06:41,565 --> 00:06:45,085 my pride and joy. 99 00:06:45,725 --> 00:06:50,145 So we've lived here for about 8 years. Jay's dad built the 100 00:06:50,145 --> 00:06:54,785 house. My roses have grown to be thirty feet tall. I just 101 00:06:54,785 --> 00:07:00,645 ruined them so they aren't as full as they normally are. And 102 00:07:00,645 --> 00:07:04,165 yeah, we have neighbor table where we sometimes have meals 103 00:07:04,165 --> 00:07:10,005 and do projects my neighbor and I dug this pond this summer and 104 00:07:10,005 --> 00:07:13,205 then from all of our fun junking adventures. we've put 105 00:07:13,205 --> 00:07:18,725 together a little play lands incredible incredible backyard. 106 00:07:18,725 --> 00:07:23,765 This is the she shed. So this is where I do all the work um 107 00:07:23,765 --> 00:07:28,005 got a whole decade of a career just filed in here. Speaking of 108 00:07:28,005 --> 00:07:33,025 a career tell me about your career path right so. I was 109 00:07:33,025 --> 00:07:36,065 actually a high school dropout at one point and so I had to 110 00:07:36,065 --> 00:07:38,945 work jobs that didn't require a high school diploma. So I 111 00:07:38,945 --> 00:07:44,385 waited tables, cleaned houses worked in a factory and then I 112 00:07:44,385 --> 00:07:49,345 got a job uh selling hardware and glass to builders and 113 00:07:49,345 --> 00:07:53,825 contractors. And at that time, I started going back to college 114 00:07:53,825 --> 00:07:58,945 and while in college transition my work in some more social 115 00:07:58,945 --> 00:08:03,485 services fields and I work. With families and children and 116 00:08:03,485 --> 00:08:06,365 then after getting my masters, I've helped nonprofits with 117 00:08:06,365 --> 00:08:10,125 program planning and evaluation things did you have a favorite 118 00:08:10,125 --> 00:08:15,805 job? I did my favorite job ever was newspaper delivery 3 hours 119 00:08:15,805 --> 00:08:22,045 of BBC World Service and NPR, and just solitude least 120 00:08:22,045 --> 00:08:26,845 favorite job. I had to promote liquor for a little while for 121 00:08:26,845 --> 00:08:30,845 extra cash, I would never do that again. Most rewarding job 122 00:08:30,845 --> 00:08:33,825 family advocate. I got to connect with families that were 123 00:08:33,825 --> 00:08:37,825 facing challenges and work with every member to try and 124 00:08:37,825 --> 00:08:40,585 overcome that sometimes I've worked with the family for 3 125 00:08:40,585 --> 00:08:45,265 months and for some of them, it was almost 3 years and to see 126 00:08:45,265 --> 00:08:48,545 someone's vision for their life and their family come together. 127 00:08:48,545 --> 00:08:52,145 There's nothing more rewarding. What would Jenna's dream job 128 00:08:52,145 --> 00:08:57,105 be? I would like to sell house plants. How would your 129 00:08:57,105 --> 00:09:00,625 colleagues describe you? I think they would say that I am 130 00:09:00,625 --> 00:09:06,905 passionate, I am. Driven over profits um and uh I like 131 00:09:06,905 --> 00:09:12,585 efficiencies and honesty your slogan is just as mercy 132 00:09:12,585 --> 00:09:17,305 humility. can you explain what that means to you? Yeah. So I 133 00:09:17,305 --> 00:09:21,705 totally borrowed that from the Hebrew Prophet Micah and this 134 00:09:21,705 --> 00:09:25,785 verse as I understand it is him speaking out in frustration to 135 00:09:25,785 --> 00:09:30,665 his people and saying the Lord has shown you what is good and 136 00:09:30,665 --> 00:09:35,125 he requires that you act justly love mercy and. Humbly with 137 00:09:35,125 --> 00:09:40,005 your God and as we go through this times, I think it's a 138 00:09:40,005 --> 00:09:45,445 great just boil it down simple concept If we prioritize 139 00:09:45,445 --> 00:09:49,285 justice if we get excited about second chances and if we stop 140 00:09:49,285 --> 00:09:52,405 acting like we're better or more worthy than anyone else, 141 00:09:52,405 --> 00:09:56,085 we could do a lot better. Let's get some to some congressional 142 00:09:56,085 --> 00:10:00,565 level questions. Okay, the constitution done deal or 143 00:10:00,565 --> 00:10:03,605 living document. It's a living document that could use a 144 00:10:03,605 --> 00:10:07,745 revival if you could hold. Our founders for dinner who would 145 00:10:07,745 --> 00:10:12,225 they be Benjamin Franklin for his innovative spirit. I'd like 146 00:10:12,225 --> 00:10:15,585 to get Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson together talk 147 00:10:15,585 --> 00:10:19,665 to them about how things have turned out and definitely Betsy 148 00:10:19,665 --> 00:10:23,745 Ross. She was a matriarch and widow who's still contributed 149 00:10:23,745 --> 00:10:27,505 to a revolution. now who do you feel should have more power 150 00:10:27,505 --> 00:10:30,385 state or federal government uh definitely states, but the 151 00:10:30,385 --> 00:10:32,705 federal government should be backing them up and holding 152 00:10:32,705 --> 00:10:36,525 them accountable. Do you think that? Is the greatest country 153 00:10:36,525 --> 00:10:42,125 in the world? Sadly no, but it should be and it could be how 154 00:10:42,125 --> 00:10:47,725 can we do better? I think that we could prioritize strength in 155 00:10:47,725 --> 00:10:52,125 caring for our own citizens and collaborating more with other 156 00:10:52,125 --> 00:10:56,045 nations. We don't need to be the toughest or the loudest. So 157 00:10:56,045 --> 00:11:01,125 how do you feel about our current president? Uh? I think 158 00:11:01,125 --> 00:11:05,605 that he's dangerous and I have concerns about his competency 159 00:11:05,605 --> 00:11:11,685 and his character and his motivations so I will be 160 00:11:11,685 --> 00:11:15,845 relieved when he no longer holds any power. Okay, then how 161 00:11:15,845 --> 00:11:19,845 do you feel about our current Congress? I feel that our 162 00:11:19,845 --> 00:11:23,845 Congress has become distracted by party loyalty over what the 163 00:11:23,845 --> 00:11:28,005 people really need. and so I hope that anyone that is 164 00:11:28,005 --> 00:11:31,785 elected in this year really prioritize. Their people over 165 00:11:31,785 --> 00:11:36,425 their parties, I have some either or questions, okay, 166 00:11:36,425 --> 00:11:40,585 okay, environment or economy economy That doesn't feel the 167 00:11:40,585 --> 00:11:45,065 environment, pro life or pro choice pro abundant life um, 168 00:11:45,065 --> 00:11:48,345 but until every woman is rejoicing over being with 169 00:11:48,345 --> 00:11:52,105 child, we should have choice tax the rich or cut the 170 00:11:52,105 --> 00:11:56,265 spending uh cut any spending that only benefits the rich and 171 00:11:56,265 --> 00:12:00,025 then tax. the rich choice schools are public education 172 00:12:00,025 --> 00:12:05,165 more choices in public. Social security or private investment 173 00:12:05,165 --> 00:12:10,285 uh social security, but also encourage private investment 174 00:12:10,285 --> 00:12:14,125 Black Lives matter all lives matter black lives are included 175 00:12:14,125 --> 00:12:17,085 in our lives and they're the lives that have been 176 00:12:17,085 --> 00:12:21,245 historically undervalued and so we'll focus there. and then we 177 00:12:21,245 --> 00:12:25,565 can say all lives defund the police or back the blue. I 178 00:12:25,565 --> 00:12:28,685 think we can back the blue by moving some of their funding to 179 00:12:28,685 --> 00:12:31,565 the professionals that should be responding to calls. They're 180 00:12:31,565 --> 00:12:36,265 not mental health crisis. And so, in some cases, the police 181 00:12:36,265 --> 00:12:39,785 don't need to be there. Medicare for all our private 182 00:12:39,785 --> 00:12:42,745 insurance. I think that we should have a single payer for 183 00:12:42,745 --> 00:12:46,265 preventative and emergency care uh but I see a good role for 184 00:12:46,265 --> 00:12:53,705 private insurance, MSNBC or Fox News, No cable news NPR minimum 185 00:12:53,705 --> 00:12:58,825 wage of $15 or $7 Okay. I think that minimum wage should be 186 00:12:58,825 --> 00:13:02,745 based off of what the CEO and stockholders are making every 187 00:13:02,745 --> 00:13:07,865 year and so for Big Corp. Fifteen an hour but mom and pop 188 00:13:07,865 --> 00:13:10,585 shops are great economy. We can't set this high 189 00:13:10,585 --> 00:13:13,225 expectations. We'll have a lot of automation and a lot more 190 00:13:13,225 --> 00:13:18,185 internships. Okay. So I have some yes or no questions. Okay. 191 00:13:18,185 --> 00:13:23,865 Legalize cannabis marijuana. Yes. Fun. Planned Parenthood. 192 00:13:23,865 --> 00:13:29,865 Yes Free college for all no concealed carry for firearms. 193 00:13:29,865 --> 00:13:34,745 Yes high-powered rifles for regular citizens. Yes if they 194 00:13:34,745 --> 00:13:39,825 are registered in. Liability insurance can you tell us what 195 00:13:39,825 --> 00:13:44,385 would your approaches be to improving the economy? Well, I 196 00:13:44,385 --> 00:13:47,585 would make it possible for people to save money for 197 00:13:47,585 --> 00:13:52,705 emergencies or times like these before they pay any income tax. 198 00:13:52,705 --> 00:13:56,145 I would support small businesses. I would reduce 199 00:13:56,145 --> 00:14:02,305 corporate welfare um and I would allow people in the 200 00:14:02,305 --> 00:14:05,425 middle class to keep more of their money to invest in 201 00:14:05,425 --> 00:14:08,225 themselves. I'd also reduce the amount of money the federal 202 00:14:08,225 --> 00:14:13,585 government can make off of interest for things like FHA. 203 00:14:13,585 --> 00:14:18,545 Ways you would reform law enforcement and or corrections, 204 00:14:18,545 --> 00:14:21,105 so I think we need to see an immediate and to qualified 205 00:14:21,105 --> 00:14:25,825 immunity. I would like to see a focus go to restitution for 206 00:14:25,825 --> 00:14:29,985 nonviolent offenses. I would like to see our corrections 207 00:14:29,985 --> 00:14:34,545 systems be aimed to reduce recidivism above all else and I 208 00:14:34,545 --> 00:14:37,265 think that when it comes to juvenile justice, we need to 209 00:14:37,265 --> 00:14:42,385 avoid detention centers at any any means necessary. Can you 210 00:14:42,385 --> 00:14:47,065 tell us your? On changes to elections, I think we should 211 00:14:47,065 --> 00:14:50,345 get rid of the electoral college. I believe that vote by 212 00:14:50,345 --> 00:14:55,385 mail or even online should be the future that we go for and I 213 00:14:55,385 --> 00:14:58,585 think that we should have more representatives in the house. 214 00:14:58,585 --> 00:15:01,705 Can you give us just a few of the priority areas to cut 215 00:15:01,705 --> 00:15:06,105 federal spending? I would certainly cut defense spending 216 00:15:06,105 --> 00:15:09,225 by a lot. 217 00:15:10,065 --> 00:15:15,525 And a politician you'd like to offer a bill with uh I would 218 00:15:15,525 --> 00:15:18,725 like to sit down and write something up with Justin Amass. 219 00:15:18,725 --> 00:15:24,085 Unfortunately, he's planning to leave his seat. now just a few 220 00:15:24,085 --> 00:15:26,405 questions left. I'm not gonna hold you all day. I know you 221 00:15:26,405 --> 00:15:30,005 you have a meeting coming up. What would you hope to see 222 00:15:30,005 --> 00:15:34,485 happen in the next 5 years? I'd like to see Americans come 223 00:15:34,485 --> 00:15:38,325 together and have a shared pride that we can really take 224 00:15:38,325 --> 00:15:42,985 some pride in and what would you? Would make a good leader. 225 00:15:42,985 --> 00:15:46,665 I think humility and being the kind of person who's worth 226 00:15:46,665 --> 00:15:50,585 emulating. Do you think you'd do a good job in Congress? I 227 00:15:50,585 --> 00:15:54,185 think I could do you think people will vote for you. Some 228 00:15:54,185 --> 00:15:57,305 people will vote for me. What's the first thing you do. If you 229 00:15:57,305 --> 00:16:01,305 win, I would take a long walk and and what would you do If 230 00:16:01,305 --> 00:16:06,105 you didn't win? I would do my best to be a great second grade 231 00:16:06,105 --> 00:16:10,585 teacher so Lola um and possibly looking to the state Assembly 232 00:16:10,585 --> 00:16:16,265 in the next round. Hey, so I think that was seventy-two um 233 00:16:16,265 --> 00:16:20,585 can I ask you the 73rd question and that would be uh would you 234 00:16:20,585 --> 00:16:23,945 mind coming back for dinner in about an hour? I feel honored. 235 00:16:23,945 --> 00:16:26,345 Thank you. It was great. It was wonderful seeing you I'm gonna 236 00:16:26,345 --> 00:16:29,225 get on this meeting. real quick and we'll catch up. Absolutely. 237 00:16:29,225 --> 00:16:32,345 Alright. Thank you. Jenna.