NEWARK, NJ — Why was a state of emergency declared so quickly for the new coronavirus, but not for Newark's lead water crisis? This question was one of several posed during a recent conversation between Newark Water Coalition co-founder Anthony Díaz and Madelyn Hoffman, the New Jersey Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020.

Last week, Hoffman and her campaign outreach coordinator Matthew Skolar held a virtual dialogue with Díaz. During their conversation, the trio touched on several policy issues involving the ongoing coronavirus crisis, including the possibility that "over-policing" is taking place in the city. "I've received reports of police circling around neighborhoods… housing complexes," Díaz said. "It doesn't seem like a health issue, it seems like a military quarantine."

We demand emergency funding be allocated to provide shelter and food distribution sites. Government has a responsibility to enforce New Jersey's paid sick leave and paid family leave to protect all workers from a loss of income.

— NewarkWaterCoalition (@CleanWater4Nwk) March 13, 2020 Hoffman said that expanded Medicare for all – which she supports as part of her campaign platform – could have helped to create a "far wider and more inclusive social safety net" during the COVID-19 outbreak.

"The crisis is really showing some of the problems that need to be addressed in this country," she declared.

Hoffman also said that all candidates in the 2020 election should be allowed to collect petition signatures online, as bans on public and private gatherings are making it difficult to collect signatures in the usual way.

"The governor recently gave Republicans and Democrats the ability to do so to get on their respective primary ballots," Hoffman said. "Third-parties and independents should be granted the same abilities."