>> JUST AHEAD ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM.

EMPLOYMENT STAKES ARE RAISED ON THE CHOICE TO VACCINATE, A PARTISAN CLASH ON RAISING THE DEBT CEILING, AND HOW NORTH CAROLINA RANKS HIGH AS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE BUT THE WORSE PLACE TO WORK... STAY WITH US.

♪ WELCOME TO BLACK ISSUES FORUM, I'M DEBORAH HOLT NOEL.

FDA APPROVAL OF PFIZER'S COVID VACCINE IS PROVING TO BE A GAME CHANGER, EMBOLDENING PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TO RAISE THE STAKES ON THE CHOICE TO VACCINATE AND EXTEND VACCINE REQUIREMENTS TO PRIVATE INDUSTRY: >> THE LABOR DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON EMERGENCY RULE TO REQUIRE ALL EMPLOYERS WITH 100 OR MORE WORKERS TO INSURE THEIR WORKERS ARE FULLY VACCINATED AND REGULARLY TESTED.

THIS HARDER LINE AND EFFORT TO IMPOSE ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS BEING FELT RIGHT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, AS NOW THE TECHNOLOGY COMPANY SAS INSTITUTE HAS ANNOUNCED ALL EMPLOYEES MUST BE VACCINATED, OR THEY WILL NOT BE WORKING FOR SAS.

IN ADDITION TO THE FDA-APPROVED VACCINE, LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT WHY THE PRESIDENT IS RUNNING OUT OF PATIENCE IN TERMS OF COVID'S RESURGING SPREAD AND PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT.

I WANT TO WELCOME DR. DELON CANTERBURY OF GERIATRIX AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COVID TASK FORCE PLUS, LA'MESHIA WHITTINGTON OF ADVANCE CAROLINA, AND GREG HEDGEPETH OF SUBSTANTIAL MEDIA.

SO GLAD TO HAVE ALL THREE OF YOU HERE WITH US.

>> DOCTOR CANTERBURY CAN YOU PROVIDE US AN UPDATE ON THE NUMBER OF COVID DEATHS AND HOW WE'RE DOING HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY SO AS OF TODAY WE HAVE ABOUT A 1,000,000.3 CASES OF COVID IN NORTH CAROLINA, I'M LOOKING AT ABOUT 15,000 DEATHS A LITTLE BIT OVER THAT.

WE WERE LOOKING AT ABOUT HALF THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AROUND JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, AS WELL AS ALMOST HALF THE CASES, SO OVERALL, THE HONESTY IS DELTA HAS BEEN A GAME CHANGER.

SO THIS HAS REALLY LED TO EXPONENTIAL GROWTH IN COVID CASES, ESPECIALLY AMONG ARE UNVACCINATED COMMUNITIES AND AS WELL AS CHILDREN.

>> I THINK THAT UNVACCINATED POPULATION IS KEY BECAUSE WE HEAR ABOUT THE RISING NUMBERS OF CASES AND WHAT THIS MIGHT MEAN FOR THAT'S AN AIDING AND PERHAPS THAT'S THE MOTIVATION FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYING LISTEN WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

>> IT MAY BE AN APPROACH BUT TRYING TO MANDATE AND ENFORCE SOMETHING ON PEOPLE CAN NEVER REALLY GO AS WELL AS IT LOOKS ON PAPER, AND SO THAT'S GOING TO LEAD TO SOME PUSH BACK POLITICALLY, IT'S GOING TO LEAD TO SOME PUSHBACK AMONG THOSE WHO STILL MAY BE MISINFORMED FROM THEIR ANECDOTES OR SOCIAL MEDIA, AND SO ALTHOUGH WE HE'S ATTEMPTED QUOTE UNQUOTE THE CARROT AND STICK APPROACH.

I THINK THAT MANDATING MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LATE IN THE GAME TO BE FRANK, NOT TO MENTION THAT HONESTLY.

WE'VE HAD BEEN DOING THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE RIGHT AND WE'RE SEEING CASES GO UP SO I UNDERSTAND THAT FRANKLY THE COMMUNICATION JUST HASN'T BEEN THERE WE HAVEN'T PUT THE RESOURCES INTO REALLY GETTING THE WORD OUT AND EDUCATING PEOPLE AND ATTACKING THEM THIS INFORMATION WHERE IT STARTS AND SO THE SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO MAY BE AND I'VE ACTS ARE LEADING THE POLITICAL CHARGE THAT'S CAUSING SWAYED VIEWS AND IS UNFORTUNATELY, CAUSING HARM.

>> I THINK IT'S SO INTERESTING THAT YOU SAY IT'S A BIT LATE IN THE GAME FOR ALL THIS, LET ME SHE, YOU KNOW ARE WE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT VACCINE EQUITY OR TO PICK UP THE PEOPLE HAD THEIR INFORMATION AND THEY'RE JUST MAKING THE CHOICE RIGHT NOW.

>> THERE'S DEFINITELY MIXED CONCERN WITH VACCINE EQUITY.

IT WAS EQUITY AND ISSUES LAST YEAR BEFORE THE VACCINE AND SO 52% OF OUR TOTAL POPULATION IN NC ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

AS OF LATE JULY, THE SHEER WHITE ADULTS ACCOUNTED FOR THE LARGEST SHARE OF UNVACCINATED ADULTS AT 57%.

BUT DESPITE THIS, BLACK AND LATINX PEOPLE REMAIN LESS LIKELY THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED A VACCINE.

SO THE CDC ELEVATED CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

WHY IS THIS?

SO IF YOU HAVE A LARGER SHARE OF THE WHITE POPULATION IS UNVACCINATED IN NC, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE HIGHER RATES OF COVID CONTRACTION IN BLACK COMMUNITIES WHY IS THAT DISPARITY THERE?

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A NEIGHBORHOOD AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS, THE FACT THERE'S HOUSELESSNESS, PANDEMIC OF THE ISSUES WE SPOKE ABOUT IN PANDEMIC, BUT COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN IN PANDEMIC WITH THESE ISSUES, GAPS IN HEALTH CARE ACCESS.

WE'VE LOST RURAL HOSPITALS LEADING INTO PANDEMIC.

THIS IS CREATING MEDICAL DESERTS, FOOD INSECURE AREAS WITHOUT LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS, FRUITS VEGGIES, TRANSPORTATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONDITIONS SO BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY TRAVEL TO VACCINATION SITES BEING ABLE TO GO AGAINST YOUR SECOND DOSE THOSE IMPEDIMENTS THAT HAVE CREATED VARIOUS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, JOB ACCESS AND WORKING CONDITIONS.

THE FACT THAT YOU CAN STILL GET THE VACCINE.

THEY GO TO YOUR YOUR EMPLOYER WASN'T ACTUALLY REQUIRED TO DO CERTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING AND NOW HERE'S REQUIREMENTS, BUT IT LED INTO MAKING A PANDEMIC MUCH WORSE, ON TOP OF ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS POLLUTION SITES ARE RIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHICH ACTUALLY THREATENS THE ACTUAL VIABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VACCINE.

SO IF YOU WANT OUR COMMUNITIES TO TAKE THE VACCINE, WHAT'S THE LONG-TERM EFFECT OF THAT VACCINE SURVIVING WHEN YOUR BODY IS ALREADY OVER CONTAMINATED AND POLLUTED AND THAT'S THE REAL FACTS.

>> WELL, THOSE ARE REAL FACTS AND THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS AND GREG, DOCTOR CANTERBURY MENTIONED IT'S A LITTLE LATE IN THE GAME, BUSINESSES ARE OPEN.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CONCERTS AND FOOTBALL GAMES.

IS IT A LITTLE BIT LATE IN THE PROCESS AND IF SO WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GET CONTROL OF THIS VIRUS.

>> I WOULDN'T AGREE THAT IT'S A LITTLE TOO LATE IN THE GAME BECAUSE SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE.

I DO NOT AND YOU'RE HORRIBLE LEAD TO DO SOMETHING HAVE A WELL THOUGHT OUT PLAN AND SOMEBODY IS GOING TO PROPOSE IT.

I'LL SHARE THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OUR NATION WAS AT A BREAKING POINT.

WE WERE AT A POINT WHERE AS WE TALK JOB LOSSES, WE TALK MENTAL HEALTH, INSTABILITY OF FAMILY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LEARNING LOSS K THROUGH 12 AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING AND THAT'S SOMETHING CAME IN THE FORM OF VACCINE AND AS YOU MENTIONED THE CARROT OR THE STICK.

ALWAYS DANGLE THE CARROT FIRST IN THAT CARROT WAS HEY, LET'S GET BACK TO NORMAL.

LET'S TAKE THIS VACCINE AND LET'S TRY TO GET BACK TO SEEING FAMILIES AND IN CONGREGATING IN PUBLIC SPACES AGAIN AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THE ADMINISTRATION THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AS OPPOSED AS IT CURRENTLY IS, AND SO THAT'S LED TO SOME CHALLENGES RIGHT.

BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT MANDATES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE AND AS LA'MESHIA MENTIONED SO ELEGANTLY JUST SOME OF THOSE SPACES AND PLACES WHERE WE NEED TO BE MORE PROACTIVE IN THE PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO GET ON TOP OF THIS THING AND TURN IT THE RIGHT WAY.

>> WELL GREG, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE COSTS, THE COST TO BUSINESSES.

CERTAINLY THE EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL COSTS OF COVID, BUT DO YOU THINK THAT THE NUMBERS PERHAPS HAVE NOT YET BEEN REVEALED, ABOUT WHAT THIS IS COSTING BUSINESSES WHAT THIS IS COSTING THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY.

>> LISTEN I'LL SHARE WITH YOU WE'RE STILL ANALYZING AND EVALUATING THE MICRO IMPACT OF THIS PANDEMIC, THIS ONGOING PANDEMIC, AND I READ SOMEWHERE LIKE 5.7 TRILLION DOLLARS AS RELATED TO THE COSTS A FOOT FOR TREATING PATIENTS WITH COVID WHETHER THEY'RE VACCINATED OR UNVACCINATED LET'S NOT GET TWISTED, YOU CAN BE VACCINATED AND STILL GET THIS VIRUS.

BUT AT LEAST YOU'VE GOT SOME TYPE OF ANTIBODY OR SOMETHING IN YOU DOCTOR, THAT WILL KIND OF HELP YOU FIGHT IT.

AND SO WHEN WE START TO REALLY THINK ABOUT JUST I THINK ABOUT MY OWN PERSONAL SPACE AND PEOPLE HAVING TO GO OUT BECAUSE OF EXPOSURE OR YOU KNOW HAVING SYMPTOMS OF COVID THOSE ARE ALL, YOU KNOW A DAY'S TIME.

DOLLARS LABOR THAT WE CAN'T GET BACK, AND THOSE ARE THOSE MICRO THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE SEEN ON PAPER AND IN CERTAIN CASES AGAIN AS LA'MESHIA SAID THINGS ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS THAT WE'RE NOT ASSESSING AND ANALYZING AND SO THERE ARE CERTAINLY COSTS.

>> CERTAINLY DOCTOR CANTERBURY YOU CAN WEIGH IN ON THIS AS WELL AS A BUSINESS PERSON AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

>> SO THE TRUTH IS OUR HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY IS BLEEDING.

THEY ARE ROILING RIGHT NOW.

THEY CANNOT PERFORM ELECTIVE SURGERIES, THEY CANNOT GENERATE REVENUE FROM GENERAL VISITS AND SO PEOPLE ARE SCARED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL AS MOST SHOULD BE.

AND IT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE AT CAPACITY WITH COVID PATIENTS, MAJORITY BEING UNVACCINATED.

SO NOT ONLY IS THERE AN INDIRECT COST LOSS WITH MAYBE ABSENTEEISM, LOSING WORK IF YOU'RE NOT IN BUILDING TO MAKE MONEY FOR YOUR FAMILY.

BUT IS THE ADDITIONAL STRESS ON THE ACTUAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, WHICH ALSO ADD TO THAT THERE IS CAREGIVER BURNOUT THERE'S PROVIDER BURNOUT AND SO WE'RE LOSING BILLIONS IF NOT TRILLIONS AS MENTIONED IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR ALONE, BECAUSE OF A LACK OF ONE, RESOURCES, A LACK OF CAPACITY, AND EXTREMELY FRAGMENTED SYSTEM THAT'S DEPENDENT UPON POLITICAL VIEWS OF YOUR STATE AND SO WE'RE NOT EVEN SEEING CERTAIN RESOURCES FOR MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES BEING LIMITED DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE IN THE COUNTRY AND SO WE'RE LITERALLY BLEEDING, WE'RE LITERALLY BLEEDING AS A COUNTRY THAT OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

AND SO I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO MAKE A STAUNCH POSITION TO TRY TO CURB THAT BUT HONESTLY IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND IT NEEDS TO BE A MULTI-FACTORED MULTI-LAYERED LEVEL REALLY STARTING FROM THE GROUND UP WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND TO FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND LIKE YOU SAID GREG, WE CAN'T GIVE UP.

AS WE ALL CONTINUE TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ECONOMIC TOLL OF COVID THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT MARCHES ON, BUT NOT WITHOUT FUNDING RIGHT NOW, ACCORDING TO DEMOCRATS THAT MEANS RAISING THE DEBT CEILING, BUT REPUBLICAN SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL DOES NOT PLAN TO COOPERATE.

IN AN INTERVIEW HE SAID QUOTE "REPUBLICANS ARE UNITED IN OPPOSITION TO RAISING THE DEBT "CEILING, NOT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE DONE.." END QUOTE.

HE GOES ON TO SAY IF DEMOCRATS WANT TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING, THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT ALONE WITHOUT REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.

THUS THE HEADLINES ARE STARTING TO FILL WITH DOOM AND CONCERN OVER THE CRISIS THAT MIGHT OCCUR SHOULD CONGRESS FAIL TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING IN THE NEXT MONTH.

LET'S GET OUR PANEL'S THOUGHTS.

GREG, HOW MUCH OF THE DEBT CEILING CRISIS IS AN EFFORT BY MITCH MCCONNELL IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO FOIL BIDEN'S 3.5 TRILLION DOLLARS SPENDING PLAN.

>> WELL WHAT DOES THE NEXT 4 YEARS LOOK LIKE, AND I THINK WHAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO DO IS KIND OF BEGIN TO ANCHOR THEMSELVES IN A POSITION OR PLACE WHERE THEY'RE SAYING WE KNOW SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, BUT WE WON'T BE THE ONES TO DO IT, BECAUSE IF IT EVER BLOWS BACK, NOW WE CAN SAY, "THOSE GUYS DID IT, NOT US" BUT I'LL SHARE, I THINK THERE'S SOME VALID POINTS.

WHILE I LOOK AT THE 3.5 TRILLION DOLLAR PLAN PROPOSED BY OUR CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND I GO, WOW THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CERTAINLY NEED TO BE DOING, I THINK WE BEGIN TO START TO THINK ABOUT THERE IS A 89 TRILLION DOLLAR DEBT THAT WE HAVE 277% OF GDP.

SO AT SOME POINT WE'VE GOT A LOOK AT HOW AMERICA IS SPENDING ITS MONEY.

I THINK THE SECRETARY OF TREASURY SAID, 'LOOK I CAN'T KEEP SHUFFLING MONEY BETWEEN ACCOUNTS' LIKE WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING AT SOME POINT.

SOMEONE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE CALLED TO THE TABLE ON THIS DEBT.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT IT'S THE TRUTH.

AMERICA DOES NOT HAVE A BLANK CHECK.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TOGETHER WE ALL CAN KIND OF COME COME TOGETHER AND SIMPLY JUST SAY, 'HEY LOOK LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY INSTEAD OF JUST SIMPLY SPENDING MORE MONEY.'

>> WELL WE'VE BEEN SPENDING MONEY FOR FOR DECADES.

THIS IS HOW WE DO EVERY YEAR, EVERY TIME WE COME AROUND TO THIS POINT, THE DEBT CEILING GETS RAISES SORT OF PART OF THE PROCESS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A PARTISAN DECISION BUT NOW IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE APPARENTLY BECOMING A PARTISAN DECISIONS.

SO, LA I WANT TO BRING YOU IN BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW THIS COULD AFFECT BUSINESS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

FOR EXAMPLE REGARDING OUR EFFORTS AN INTEREST IN EXPANDING BROADBAND AND MANAGING THE ECONOMY AND LIGHT OF THE OF THE RECENT NATURAL DISASTERS.

>> SO REALLY TALK ABOUT THE DEBT CEILING, THE DEBT CEILING WAS IMPLEMENTED IN OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN TOP OF THE 1900, 1910 TO HELP WITH WORLD WAR AND THE WAR EFFORTS, BEING ABLE TO ALLOCATE FUNDING WHILE OUR NATION AT THE TIME WAS IN A DEPRESSION.

I'M GOING INTO A PANDEMIC TALKING ABOUT THE SPANISH FLU 100 YEAR CYCLE REPEATS ITSELF.

BUT HERE'S THE THING THE DEBT CEILING IS ACTUALLY VERY RARE AMONGST DEVELOPING NATIONS AND OTHER TOP POWERS.

BUT WE ARE ONE OF THE ONLY COUNTRIES THAT IMPLEMENTS A DEBT CEILING BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT WHEN YOUR PEOPLE ARE IN NEED, WHY IS THERE A CEILING OF THRESHOLD BY WHICH YOU HELP THOSE PEOPLE?

AND WE TALK ABOUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN BY DEBT WHICH GETS TO THE BUDGET MEANS 2 DIFFERENT THINGS AND THAT'S ALSO CONCERNING.

THE DEBT CEILING IS WHAT WE ALREADY OWE.

THE BUDGET IS WHAT WE NEED TO PLACE MONEY TO WORK IN THE FUTURE.

REALISTICALLY WE TALK ABOUT BUDGET AT LEAST THE BASIC IN OUR HOUSEHOLD, YOU SHOULD LOOK AT WHAT MONEY DO YOU HAVE, WHAT MONEY DO YOU OWE, AND WHAT MONEY YOU HAVE COMING IN TO PAY WHAT YOU OWE, AND IF YOU'RE IN A PRIVILEGE SEAT, MAYBE YOU CAN SAVE SOMETHING.

OUR GOVERNMENT DOESN'T DO THAT.

THEY LITERALLY SEPARATE WHAT THEY OWE FROM WHAT THEIR BUDGETING.

HOW LUDICROUS!

THAT'S WHAT CONGRESS IS DOING.

AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DEBT AND THE IMPACT ON UTILITIES AND BROADBAND, WE CAN'T EVEN REALLY GET TO THAT DISCUSSION OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN BECAUSE THE DEBT CEILING MEANS THAT WHAT WILL BE IMPACTED IS PAYING OUR MILITARY.

OUR VETERANS, TAX REFUNDS, MEDICARE, WE'RE ALREADY IN A GAP.

SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS AND FEDERAL WORKERS.

SO IF CONGRESS DOESN'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT I BELIEVE THEY WILL, I DON'T THINK WE'LL GO INTO AN ECONOMIC DOWN SPIRAL JUST YET, BUT THAT DEBT CEILING CAN IMPACT PAYING OUR PEOPLE.

THAT'S THE DEBT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IN ORDER FOR US TO GET TO THE UTILITIES, AND I BELIEVE IT'S OVER 68 65 BILLION DOLLARS THAT'S MEANT TO GO TO BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT IN RURAL COMMUNITIES IF THE BUDGET IS PASSED THIS YEAR.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT POLLUTION CLEANUP 21 BILLION DOLLARS WILL GO TO CLEANING UP LEAD SUPERFUND SITES, THE MOST TOXIC AREAS.

THAT'S IN THE BUDGET THAT WE NEED THAT HAS BEEN THE ISSUE HAS BEEN EXACERBATING IN PANDEMIC.

WE DON'T PASS THE BUDGET AND ADDRESS THE DEBT CEILING.

OUR COMMUTES WILL CONTINUE TO BE LEFT BEHIND IN PARTISAN POLITICS BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE.

>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE HISTORY ON THAT.

DOCTOR CANTERBURY WHERE DO YOU SEE ANY INTEREST ON THIS FROM THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY SIDE?

>> ABSOLUTELY TONS OF INTEREST.

WE HAVE TONS OF POLITICAL MOTIVES WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICAL DEVICES IN THE FUTURE REALLY CURBING THIS PANDEMIC.

SO EVEN SIMPLY GETTING THAT COVID TEST KIT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IF THERE'S A FEDERAL FUND THAT'S BACKING IT, IT'S GOING TO BE IMPACTED, AND SO WE'RE ALREADY DEALING WITH THE ISSUES OF A LACK OF RESOURCES.

NOW SO IMAGINE A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A COVID PANDEMIC.

THAT'S 2 FOLD THE PROBLEMS AND 3 FOLD THE HEADACHE, AND TRUTHFULLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE COMMON PERSON, THIS GOING TO BE A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE, SO IMAGINE MORE HOSPITALS FEDERALLY FUNDED SHUTTING DOWN.

IMAGINED COLLEGE INSTITUTES, NOT GETTING THAT STIPEND TO DO THEIR JOB AND KEEP PEOPLE ENGAGED IN SCHOOLS.

THIS IS GOING TO HIT US ALL ON DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE GAMUT AND SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE ACTUAL HEALTH CARE AND ACTUAL DEFICIT, WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO PLAY POLITICS, WE'RE LITERALLY DEALING WITH PEOPLE DYING AND LITERALLY DEALING WITH SYSTEMS CRUMBLING AT ITS FINGERTIPS SO THIS DOESN'T NEED TO BE ANOTHER GAME FOR POLITICIANS BETWEEN RED AND BLUE, THIS NEEDS TO BE A UNIFIED DECISION TO GET TO THE REALLY THE FUTURE OF CURBING THIS THING ALTOGETHER.

>> WELL STATED, GREG, THERE ARE A NUMBER CHOICES.

I THINK THAT ARE BEFORE CONGRESS AND THERE'S RECONCILIATION AS AN OPTION, A SUPER MAJORITY TO OVERCOME A SENATE FILIBUSTER AND THEN THERE'S TYING THE NATURAL DISASTER AID TO THIS FUNDING WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CHOICES ARE OUT THERE AND WHAT WOULD WORK BEST?

>> NO, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND I'LL BE COMPLETELY HONEST WITH YOU, AT THE END OF THE DAY I THINK AS LA'MESHIA SAID WE'RE GOING WE'RE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO PASS THE BUDGET.

THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AS YOU MENTIONED, EVEN DEBORAH HISTORY HAS SHOWED US RIGHT 2016 AND SO MANY OTHERS THAT WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR THAT DEBT CEILING TO BE RAISED IT WILL BE RAISED.

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS, IF THAT'S A DAY OR TWO, I THINK AT THE END OF IT ALL, IT'S THIS IDEA OF FORCING THE HAND OF ANOTHER.

AND WITH RIGHT NOW THAT'S KIND OF REALLY CONTROLLING A MAJORITY OF THE DECISION-MAKING POWER.

I THINK THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO LOOK AT RECONCILIATION.

BUT I WOULD ALMOST ARGUE THOUGH THAT THAT IS CONTRARY TO WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION INITIALLY SAID THEY WANTED TO DO IN THE FIRST PLACE WHICH WAS TO UNIFY.

SO WE'VE GOT TO FIND A UNIQUE WAY YOU ALL TO STOP PLAYING AS DOCTOR CANTERBURY SAID, REALLY ELEGANTLY, THIS IS NOT A RED OR WHITE ISSUE, IT'S AN AMERICAN PEOPLE ISSUE AND WE'VE GOT TO GET TO THE HEART AND ROOT OF WHY WE DO THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE AND SERVE, AND THAT IS TO SERVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> LA WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE DEMOCRATS POSITION IN POWER ON ALL OF THIS?

>> SO EARLIER IN THE YEAR THERE WERE ANALYSES THAT SAID THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE IN THE PRESIDENCY AND BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS THAT THEY SHOULD UNDERGO A BUDGET RECONCILIATION PROCESS.

THIS WAS RECOMMENDED AT THE TOP OF THE YEAR.

THE FACT THAT WE'RE HERE SAYS A LOT ABOUT OUR LEADERSHIP ON BOTH SIDES.

THIS PROCESS WHEN TALK OF RECONCILIATION ALLOWS THE SENATE'S 50 DEMOCRATS TO PASS LEGISLATION WITHOUT BEING BLOCKED BY REPUBLICAN FILIBUSTER OR ESSENTIALLY JUST REPUBLICANS BLOCKING IT.

SO THAT'S WHERE THE POWER IS OR AT LEAST THEIR POTENTIAL FOR POWER.

THIS COULD BE DONE SINCE DEMOCRATS TO THE UPPER HOUSE AND THE REASON WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT RECONCILIATION, AND WHY IT'S A PRACTICAL STEP, IS BECAUSE DEMOCRATS COULD ACTUALLY ABOLISHED THE DEBT CEILING BY RAISING THE DEBT LIMIT THROUGH A RECONCILIATION PROCESS SO THEY COULD RAISE THE DEBT LIMIT SO HIGH, THAT MEANS THEY NEED TO THINK 10 YEARS IN ADVANCE, NOT THE ELECTION.

THAT MEANS THEY NEED TO RAISE IT WHERE THERE WON'T BE A LINE - TRUMP ACTUALLY DID THAT, THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION DID THAT IN 2019 AND IT EXPIRED THIS YEAR, SO WHY AREN'T DEMOCRATS CONSIDERING THAT?

SO WE HAVE TO BE REALLY CLEAR WITH THE POWER IS THERE, BUT WE NEED TO STOP PLAYING THE CHARADE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO IT WHAT'S STOPPING YOU FROM DOING A RECONCILIATION AND A RECOMMENDATION THAT AS GREG SAID, TERM LIMITS, BUT YOU'VE BEEN THERE LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW TO DO RECONCILIATION.

>> 7 CITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA ARE ON THE LIST OF BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN AMERICA, ACCORDING TO US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, BUT THROUGH THE LENS AND RESEARCH OF OXFAM AMERICA, NORTH CAROLINA IS THE WORST PLACE TO WORK IN AMERICA RANKING NUMBER 52, AMONG ALL 50 STATES.

PLUS WASHINGTON DC AND PUERTO RICO.

THAT'S THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE LIST LOOKING AT THOSE TOP PLACES TO LIVE THOUGH THE 4 CITIES AMONG THE TOP 50 WERE WINSTON-SALEM AT 46, CHARLOTTE AT 20, RALEIGH AND DURHAM AT NUMBER 2.

I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHY THEY'RE BOTH TOGETHER.

LA HOW CAN NORTH CAROLINA BE A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, BUT NOT A GREAT PLACE TO WORK?

>> SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE, THAT INCLUDES LACK OF WORKERS RIGHTS NEW INDUSTRIES, BUT NO SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT FOR THE LABOR FORCE THAT EXISTS, GENTRIFICATION, HEALTH CARE OPTIONS, THE LACK THEREOF, GERRYMANDERING, HERE'S A LIST OF WHAT INTERNALLY IN NORTH CAROLINA WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH.

MANY OF THE BLUE COLLAR INDUSTRIES OF FOLKS THAT WORK IN COVID ALONE, THE HIGHEST PROPORTION OF DEATHS WAS AMONG BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS.

BLACK AND LATIN-X WORKERS MADE UP OF 87% OF PEOPLE DESCRIBE AS FOOD PRODUCTION WORKERS, FOOD SERVICE WORKERS, CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS WERE AMONGST THE TOP MOST IMPACTED AND MORTALITY RATES.

THOSE ARE FOLKS WHO WORK IN INDUSTRIES, THE INDUSTRIES CONTRIBUTED TO THE COVID-19 CONTRACTION AND DEATH.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE IT'S BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT HAS MADE THIS PLACE GREAT.

IS THE CULTURE.

IT'S THE ACTUAL MUTUAL AID THAT WE GIVE TO ONE ANOTHER WHEN OUR EMPLOYERS AREN'T MANDATING SOCIAL DISTANCING.

IT'S THE HEALTH CARE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED HISTORICALLY FOR EACH OTHER IN COMMUNITY.

WE KNOW THERE'S SOME HEALTH CARE OPTION.

WHEN HURRICANES COME THROUGH AND FEMA DOESN'T ACTUALLY GET US AID BECAUSE WERE NOT COUNTED IN THE CENSUS, WE GIVE EACH OTHER AID.

AND SO THE CULTURE OF NORTH CAROLINA IS WHAT MAKES IT RICH, BUT HOW OUR WORKERS, HOW OUR CONTRACT FOLKS HOW OUR FARMERS ARE TREATED LEAVES A LOT LESS TO BE DESIRED, AND NOW THAT NEW INDUSTRIES ARE COMING IN, NEW PEOPLE ARE COMING IN.

WE HAVE NEARLY 1 MILLION NEW FOLKS SINCE THE LAST CENSUS OF LAST YEAR.

THAT MEANS OUR EXISTING COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING OVERBURDENED DUE TO GENTRIFICATION AND OUR PEOPLE BEING PUSHED TO MORE RURAL COMMUNITIES.

BUT THOSE RURAL COMMUNITIES DON'T HAVE RESOURCES BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A STATE BUDGET PASSED IN NEARLY 3 YEARS.

WE'RE BEHIND BUT THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING A COMPLEX PICTURE OF NORTH CAROLINA THAT CAN'T JUST BE DESCRIBED AS A SNAPSHOT OF DATA AND STATISTICS, YOU NEED TO KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES AND THEY CAN TELL YOU THE REAL IMPACT.

>> I LOVE THAT WE ARE COMPLEX AND OUR CULTURE IS KIND OF OUR GOLD.

>> GREG THE RANKING IS OBVIOUSLY NOT AFFECTING THE INFLUX OF NEWCOMERS TO THE STATE SO DO YOU THINK THAT THIS REPORT WILL REGISTER WITH THOSE WHO ARE IN POSITION TO IMPROVE WORKER CONDITIONS AND SOME OF THESE OTHER ITEMS THAT MAKE IT A POOR PLACE TO WORK?

>> NO, I CERTAINLY HOPE SO AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE THEY'RE MAKING A RETURN THEY'RE MAKING AN INVESTMENT RIGHT AND THE HOPE IS THAT THERE'S A RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT AND IT'S ALWAYS REPORTS LIKE THIS THAT ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF THE MANY RIGHT AND THESE REPORTS HOPEFULLY BEGIN TO AS LA'MESHIA SAID SHOW A SMALL GLIMPSE OF A SNAPSHOT.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND PRIVILEGE TO GO TO 84 OF THE 100 COUNTIES ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA, BOTH RURAL AND URBAN TO SOME DEGREE AND YOU SEE IT IN ITS PEOPLE, AND THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID ABOUT RURAL NORTH CAROLINA AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS IN THOSE SPACES AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT THESE INFLUX OF NEW BIG BUSINESSES THAT ARE LOOKING TO SET UP ROOTS IN NORTH CAROLINA BEGIN TO INVEST IN THOSE PEOPLE TRY TO FIND UNIQUE WAYS TO INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE, TO INCREASE WORK EMPLOYER BENEFITS, TO INCREASE AND PUSH BACK ON THIS NOTION OF RIGHT TO WORK, AND ALLOW TO SOME DEGREE FOR SOME UNIONIZATION TO HAPPEN.

>> YEAH, AND YOU KNOW WITH THE LATTER WITHIN THE LAST YEAR THERE'S BEEN MORE ATTENTION ESPECIALLY AFTER THE PROTESTS.

MORE ATTENTION ON DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND THE SOCIAL INTERESTS OF ORGANIZATIONS.

DOCTOR CANTERBURY ARE YOU SEEING THAT THAT MIGHT BE A REAL INTEREST THAT WOULD ACTUALLY HELP ELEVATE US FROM THAT NUMBER 52 SPOT?

>> WHEN YOU START SEEING PEOPLE COALESCE AND ACTUALLY GET ON THESE GOALS AND REALLY DRIVING SOME OF THE EQUITIES THAT HAVE BEEN LACKING PARTICULARLY IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.

YOU GOT TO REMEMBER NEARLY 90 OF OUR 100 COUNTIES ARE IN UNDERSERVED RURAL COMMUNITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE HAVE MEDICAL DESERTS, WE HAVE ISSUES WITH HEALTH CARE WE HAVE ISSUES WITH GETTING PROVIDERS TO MEET DEMANDS FOR PEOPLE WHICH UNFORTUNATELY LEADS TO LOWER QUALITY OF LIFE AND A LESSENING OF THOSE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THAT LEAD TO BETTER LIVELIHOODS AND WELLNESS.

SO WE START PUTTING PEOPLE IN PLACE HAVE THAT AT THE HEART OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING WE COULD CLEARLY GET OUT OF THIS HOLE.

BUT THE TRUTH IS WE HAVE HUGE INEQUITIES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.

COVID HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST MIRROR EVER IN SHOWING THAT AND REVEALING THAT TO OUR PEOPLE, BUT WE DO HAVE PEOPLE IN PLACE THAT ARE ACTING AGAINST THIS AND ARE TRYING TO GET THE MOVEMENT AND THE MOMENTUM TO REALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE.

>> THAT REALLY GOES BACK TO WHERE THE POWER AND TO THE VOTING RIGHTS AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN PLACE TO MAKE THESE LAWS.

LA, DO YOU THINK THAT HAVING A LABOR COMMISSION THAT IS REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED A GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT'S REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED AND HAVING THAT PARTISAN POLITICS PART OF THIS, IS THAT AFFECTING ALL OF THIS AND WHAT MIGHT BE THE WAY AROUND THAT?

>> IT ABSOLUTELY IS AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITIES.

RECENTLY 2 INDIVIDUALS DIED IN MEAT PROCESSING FACILITY.

AT LEAST 23 WORKERS HAVE DIED IN MEATPACKING PLANTS IN THE LAST YEAR DUE TO COVID, AND TO QUOTE SHARITA MCQUELLERS WHO IS A BUS DRIVER IN RALEIGH FOR THE PAST 27 YEARS.

SHE ESTIMATES THAT SHE GIVES RIDES TO 200 - 250 PEOPLE A DAY SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN IS JUST A SNAPSHOT.

SHE SAID SHE WAS WORRIED SHE WOULD CATCH THE VIRUS LIKE HER BROTHER, HER BROTHER WHO IS ON DIALYSIS NOW BECAUSE OF COVID AND JUST HER GRIEF AND TRAUMA BUT ALSO SAYING THAT SHE WOULD PRAY EVERY DAY AND CRY BEFORE SHE GOING TO WORK NOT TO CATCH COVID THIS IS THE LACK OF RESPONSE WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO AGAIN OUR LIFE SHOULDN'T BE PARTISAN.

THERE SHOULD BE NO SUCH THING AS A REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED LABOR COMMISSION, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, LIBERTARIAN, WHEN YOU GO TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY TO KEEP FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR YOUR PEOPLE >> ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

LA'MESHIA WHITTINGTON, DOCTOR DELON CANTERBURY, GREG HEDGEPETH THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE FOR YOUR INSIGHTS.

I WANT TO THANK TODAY'S GUESTS.

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FOR BLACK ISSUES FORUM, I'M DEBORAH HOLT NOEL.

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