New Jersey’s chief law enforcement officer, the top federal prosecutor for the state, the mayor of hard-hit Teaneck, and the governor’s chief counsel discussed the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the many decisions and concerns they have confronted over the last few months in “Leadership in the Law in Times of Crisis” at New Jersey State Bar Association’s annual meeting on Wednesday.
NJSBA President-Elect Kimberly Yonta moderated the panel, which included Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito, Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin and Chief Counsel Matt Platkin.
“We’re talking about a crisis that...is unprecedented in our lifetime,” Carpenito said.
The panelists all emphasized the role collaboration between agencies has taken in the crisis response, and the role that daily law enforcement and other calls have played in planning and policymaking. Carpenito talked about how his agency has been working with the Attorney General’s office to track down “bad actors” during the crisis, such as people who have hoarded personal protection equipment and gouged prices.
Grewal spoke about the need, as a leader, to make sure his employees had what they needed and also that their mental health needs were taken into account.
“Our productivity is higher than normal days,” he noted. “There’s just no down time right now and everyone is working full tilt.”
Asked about the investigation with long term care facilities, Grewal said his agency was working to get the bottom of what had happened. But even if there are no criminal charges filed, he said, the investigation will help “provide a path forward. How can we be better prepared for the next pandemic?”
Teaneck Mayor Hameeduddin talked about coming challenges -- shortfalls in revenue and budget concerns that communities will be dealing with. Tax increases are not palatable given the unemployment rate, he noted. He called on the federal government to “open up the spigots” with more aid, and stressed the need to take care of Main Street.
Platkin noted that despite criticism for taking too long to re-open the state, and the people who are choosing not to abide by social distancing rules and executive orders, most people were doing the right thing.
“When you have 9 million people overwhelmingly abiding by these orders... that’s inspiring,” Platkin said.