[ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," WE'LL UNPACK THE PLANS TO DEMOLISH THE CENTRAL WAREHOUSE IN ALBANY WITH COUNTY EXECUTIVE DAN MCCOY.

THEN WE'LL DIVE INTO THE CALLS FROM PROGRESSIVE LAWMAKERS FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO HOLD A SPECIAL SESSION BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR TO ADDRESS CUTS COMING FROM WASHINGTON.

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA AND THIS IS "NEW YORK NOW."

: 10 [ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

IN AUGUST, GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL ANNOUNCED THE OFFICIAL START OF THE DEMOLITION OF THE CENTRAL WAREHOUSE IN ALBANY.

THIS IS A BUILDING WITH A DEEP HISTORY OF DILAPIDATION IN THE STATE'S CAPITAL CITY.

FOR YEARS, ALBANY RESIDENTS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT ITS CONDITION AND HAVE CALLED AMONG THE STATE AND THE COUNTY TO TAKE ACTION.

ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THE STATE WILL CONTRIBUTE ABOUT $11 MILLION FOR THE PROJECT IN AN EFFORT TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.

NOW THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE $400 MILLION ALREADY GOING TO ALBANY FROM THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET.

AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, THE GOVERNOR UNDERSCORED WHAT THE DEMOLITION WILL MEAN TO THE CAPITAL REGION COMMUNITY.

>> WE HAVE THE MAJESTIC HUDSON RIVER FLOWING HERE SO AT NIGHT, YOU SEE THE LIGHTS SPARKLING OFF IT.

IT'S QUITE A STUNNING VIEW WHEN YOU COME INTO THIS FABULOUS CITY.

AND OF COURSE, BASK IN ALL THIS BEAUTY AND YOU COME TO THIS AREA AND YOU GO, LOOK WHAT ELSE WE HAVE HERE.

(LAUGHTER) THIS BUILDING WAS BUILT ALMOST EXACTLY 100 YEARS AGO HAS DETERIORATE AND DECLINED AND BEEN A MOCKING STRUCTURE TO THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY SINCE 1990.

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS THIS COMMUNITY HAD TO ENDURE THIS EYESORE.

I'M SURE ACTUALLY SOMEONE WHO WAS A BABY BACK THEN WOULD BE HEADING TOWARD MIDDLE AGE AND REALIZING THIS WILL PROBABLY BE HERE UNTIL I DIE.

WELL, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE HERE MUCH LONGER.

[ APPLAUSE ] BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS DONE.

>> BUT THE CHANGES SURELY WON'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

THERE WILL BE SEVERAL PHASES OF THE DEMOLITION PROCESS TO ADDRESS ISSUES WITH ASBESTOS AND AVOID INTERRUPTIONS TO THE AMTRAK TRAIN SERVICE.

ASIDE FROM ALBANY, SUPPORTERS OF THE PROJECT SAY THAT THE PROJECT ALSO SPEAKS TO THE SAFE COMMITMENT TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ADDRESSING ISSUES WITH WORN DOWN INFRASTRUCTURE.

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE'LL SIT DOWN WITH ALBANY COUNTY EXECUTIVE DAN MCCOY TO UNDERSTAND THE LOGISTICS AND THE HISTORY OF THIS PROJECT.

HERE'S THAT INTERVIEW.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THE SHOW, COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CENTRAL WAREHOUSE.

>> CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE CENTRAL WAREHOUSE IN ALBANY?

WHY IS IT BEING DEMOLISHED?

>> SO IT WAS BUILT IN 1927.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S 98 YEARS.

I THINK IN THE MID-- EARLY '90S WHEN IT GOT REPURPOSED, IT WENT VACANT.

MORE LIKE THE '80S, BUT WHAT IT WAS BUILT FOR WAS ESSENTIAL WAREHOUSE FOR ALL THE GROCERY STORES IN THE AREA.

SO THERE'S TRAIN TRACKS THAT GO INSIDE THE BUILDING RIGHT OFF AMTRAK.

THEY WOULD BACK IN AND THAT'S WHERE YOUR FOOD WOULD GO INTO THE FREEZERS AND RECENTLY THAT WOULD GO OUT TO THE GROCERY STORES BECAUSE GROCERY STORES BACK THEN WEREN'T THE SIZE THEY ARE TODAY.

SO THAT BUILDING WAS BUILT LIKE A BUNKER HOUSE.

SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY IT'S HARD TO TEAR DOWN.

IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM PROJECT, BUT WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE IN '97, CHRIS FOLEY PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.

IN 2001, EVERYONE HAD THESE GREAT IDEAS AND THEY END UP SELLING THE BUILDING TO THE PINE TREE DEVELOPMENT.

THEN GO TO 2002, THE PINE TREE SELLS IT TO JOSHUA AND IN 2007, CW MONTGOMERY PURCHASED THE BUILDING.

YOU CAN SEE IT CONTINUE, AND THEN IN 2010, THERE WAS A FIRE THERE, SO FIRE BROKE OUT AND YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF CHANGED THINGS.

2017, A NEW DEVELOPER TAKES OVER, AND YOU KNOW WHERE THAT WENT AND THEN 2022, YOU KNOW, THE SOUTHERN WELL COLLAPSED ON THE TRAIN FACILITY ON THE AMTRAK SIDE.

THIS PROJECT, I GOT TO SAY, HAS BEEN LIKE A CURSE.

IT'S LIKE THE BUILDING THAT DOESN'T WANT TO BE TORN DOWN.

YOU KNOW, FROM THE COURT ACTIONS WE'VE GONE THROUGH.

AMTRAK IS RIGHT ON THE SIDE AND THAT TRACK SERVICES OUT WEST, ALL THROUGH BUFFALO AND ALL THROUGH THE WEST CORRIDOR.

SO IT CAN'T BE SHUT DOWN.

WE HAD TO WORK WITH AMTRAK.

SENATOR SCHUMER WAS AWESOME.

SENATOR GILLIBRAND BECAUSE AMTRAK CONTROLLED OUR TIMEFRAME WHICH WE HAD TO WORK AROUND THEIR HOURS.

WE HAD TO PUT SENSORS ON THE TRACKS.

WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NETTING THERE AND OBVIOUSLY FOR THE SAFETY OF AMTRAK AND I COMMEND THEM FOR ALL THAT, BUT THEY'VE BEEN A GOOD PARTNER.

AS YOU KNOW, WITH OUR GOVERNOR, GREAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL, WE GOT TO DO A RIBBON CUTTING AND A LITTLE BIT DEMOLISH OF AN OLD DOOR THAT HAD NO ASBESTOS IN IT TO KICK IT OFF.

THE STATE, WE'RE USING THREE MILLION FROM ARPA FUNDS.

THE COUNTY'S PUTTING UP FUNDS ON TOP OF THAT BECAUSE THE PROJECT'S GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE, AND THEN THE STATE PUT UP 10 MILLION.

YOU KNOW, THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS, FOUR, FIVE MONTHS YOU'RE NOT REALLY GOING TO SEE MUCH.

IT'S GOING TO BE REMOVING OF THE ASBESTOS AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE GET INTO DEMOLITION AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE TIMETABLE IN COURT AND HOLD-UP, WE'RE LOOKING PROBABLY INTO 2027.

PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WELL, WHY?

IT'S THE LIKE THE LAST EYESORE.

YOU HAD TOBIN'S FIRST PRIZE OFF I-90 THAT WAS AN EYESORE FOR YEARS.

WE HELPED TAKE THAT DOWN.

NOW YOU'VE GOT TEN CENTRAL WAREHOUSE AND I JOKE WITH MY PARTNER OVER HERE, STEVE MCLAUGHLIN OVER HERE, YOU HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF DOWNTOWN, THE CITY OF ALBANY AND THE COUNTY AND THEN CENTRAL WAREHOUSE.

SO THIS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TEAR DOWN, HAVE A BLANK CANVASS, LOOK INTO THE COMMUNITY AND SAY WHAT CAN WE DO FOR DEVELOPMENT?

DO YOU JUST MAKE NIGHT A PARK?

DO YOU MAKE IT INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MIXED USE?

YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS CANAL GROUP THAT'S BEEN MEETING FOR 50 YEARS.

THEY WROTE A BOOK AND IT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING, YOU KNOW, ABOUT BRINGING THE HUDSON RIVER IN, LIKE PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, DID GOING AROUND THE STATE, EDUCATION BUILDING AND DOWN ON BROADWAY, I DON'T THINK WOULD EVER HAPPEN, BUT A SMALLER VERSION YOU COULD DO AND BRING THE HUDSON IN A LITTLE BIT, WHICH WOULD BE EXPENSIVE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S THE END RESULT.

IF YOU LOOK AT KING STREET IN OLDTOWN ALEXANDRIA, THEY THOUGHT OUTSIDE THE BOX AFTER THE CENTRAL WAREHOUSE AND ALL THAT WENT AWAY.

IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT SOMETHING SIMILAR NOT POUND FOR POUND, TO CHANGE IT.

WE HAVE A BLANK CANVASS.

MAYBE BRING THE WATER IN.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SHOPS, BEAUTIFUL PARK IN THE MIDDLE, ARENA, YOU KNOW, THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO DO AND YOU CAN REALLY MAKE THAT A DESTINATION.

>> WOW.

SO WHY WAS DEMOLITION THE ANSWER IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THE ISSUES WITH THE BUILDING INSTEAD OF REPAIRING IT?

>> SO IT WAS LIKE EVERY DEVELOPER WE WENT TO THAT I TALKED ABOUT WENT IN THERE AND JUST THE EXPENSE, RIGHT, THEY WENT FROM ONE TO THE OTHER.

RAY BURN, WE DID THE RIBBON CUTTING ON IT, RIGHT.

THE MAYOR DID A RIBBON CUTTING BEFORE RAY BURN WITH THE OLD PERSON THAT WAS GOING TO TURN IT INTO AN ART STUDIO OR CANVASS AREA, THAT NEVER MATERIALIZED AND THEN RAY BURN.

HE HAD A GREAT VISION, JEFF BUELL, GREAT VISION TO TURN AROUND.

HE'S TURNED AROUND SOME DIFFICULT PROPERTIES IN DOWNTOWN ALBANY HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB.

I WAS LIKE, ALL RIGHT, THIS WILL WORK.

I REMEMBER GOING I WOULD REALLY JUST USE THE MONEY TO KNOCK IT DOWN AND HAVE A BLANK CANVASS.

THE PLAN WAS SOLID.

UNFORTUNATELY, AS THEY GOT INTO THE BUILDING, HOW MUCH MONEY IT WAS GOING TO COST, HOW TO TURN IT OVER, IT JUST BECAME NOT EFFECTIVE TO DO THIS SO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STAGE OF ITS LIFE TO TEAR IT DOWN.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE ERIE CANAL.

IT'S UNDER MODERN PRESS.

WE TRIED TO PURCHASE THAT BUILDING THROUGH THE COUNTY.

WE'RE STILL TRYING TO WORK ON THAT PROPERTY.

YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE DID TO OPEN UP THAT CANAL AND HAVE A DESTINATION WITH THE CANAL WITH A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY AND MORPH IT ALL INTO ONE.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS BLANK CANVASS OF WHAT IT CAN BE AND IT'S HARD.

HOW DO YOU SIT THERE AND SAY, I'M GOING TO INVEST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, BUT YOU NEED TO INVEST TO GET MONEY BACK.

I'LL GIVE A SCENARIO ON THE MVP ARENA.

WHEN WE PAID IT OFF AND THE STATE WAS DOING THE CAPITAL CENTER AND ALL THAT AND THE WALKWAY, I WAS LIKE I JUST MADE MY LAST PAYMENT.

THAT WAS GOING TO BE A PRESS CONFERENCE.

MADE THE LAST CHECK ON IT.

WE'RE GOOD.

WE TURN AROUND AND REINVEST THE 30 MILLION TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE STATE FACILITY, AND IT HAS BEEN A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FROM NCAA TO THE WRESTLEING TO THIS TO THAT CONCERTS, YOU KNOW, SO HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLEING.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, WE JUST HAD, YOU KNOW, THE GAMES HERE THAT WERE HERE FOR THREE DAYS.

IT'S A WIN-WIN.

SO THIS INVESTMENT WITH THE BLANK CANVASS, WORKING ON THE ONE HAND LEGISLATORS THAT LIVES AND REPRESENTS THAT DISTRICT.

SHE'S DEPUTY CHAIR OF THE LEGISLATURE WHO IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS, WE CAN HAVE A MIXED USE THAT'S GOING TO BE A GEM FOR PEOPLE AS THEY'RE DRIVING BY AND GO, HEY, I WANT TO GO CHECK THAT PLACE OUT.

THAT LOOKS PRETTY COOL.

>> YEAH.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE RESPONSE THAT YOU RECEIVED FROM ALBANY RESIDENT MISTERMS OF, YOU KNOW, THEIR REACTION TO THIS PROJECT?

?

ARE THEY EXCITED?

ARE THEY OVERWHELMED?

HOW ARE THEY FEELING?

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FEEL BETTER ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

THERE'S A BIG FOLLOWING ON DIFFERENT SITES, WHICH AMAZED ME, WATCH PARTIES.

THERE'S A WHOLE GENERATION OF PEOPLE SAYING TEAR THIS THING DOWN AND BE DONE WITH IT.

THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE SAYING, I'LL BELIEVE IT WHEN IT HAPPENS BECAUSE IT KEEPS GETTING DELAYED AND PUSHED BACK.

THAT'S WHY I SAID THIS PROJECT IS CURSED.

IN CERTAIN WAYS, I THINK I WISH I NEVER TOOK THIS ON.

SOMEONE HAD TO.

I'M LIKE WE HAVE TO CHANGE THIS-- WHAT OUR LANDSCAPE LOOKS LIKE FROM ACROSS RIVER BUT ALSO AS PEOPLE DRIVE BY AND WANT TO STOP.

WITH THIS EYESORE GOING, BLANK CANVASS, PEOPLE ARE SO EXCITED AND I THINK AS WE GO ON WITH TIME AND WE GET TO THE DEMOLITION PART, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE EVEN MORE EXCITED.

>> YEAH.

SO WHAT IS THAT TIME LINE?

WHEN WILL THE DEMOLITION START?

>> IT STARTED THE DAY THE GOVERNOR AND I DID THE RIBBON CUTTING ON THIS BUILDING.

THE ABATEMENT'S ALREADY GOING ON AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S GOING TO TAKE ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AND THEN HOPEFULLY LESS THAN FIVE.

HOPEFULLY, WE DON'T GET TO SIX.

THEN YOU'LL SEE US-- THEN YOU'LL SEE MORE STUFF GOING IN THERE.

THEY'LL START PREPPING IT TO TEAR IT DOWN.

IT'S GOING TO BE DONE IN STAGES.

SO WE CAN'T BLOW IT UP.

WE CAN'T KNOCK IT DOWN BECAUSE OF THE TRACK.

YOU'LL SEE EQUIPMENT COME IN.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A FUN WAY OF SEEING IT.

YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING, A LOT OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT THERE AND WE'LL BE GETTING IT DONE.

>> YEAH.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS PROJECT SAYS ABOUT THE OVERALL APPETITE BY THE STATE TO ADDRESS INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES IN AND AROUND ALBANY COUNTY?

>> I'VE BEEN COUNTY EXECUTIVE 14 YEARS AND I'LL BE GOING INTO MY 15TH YEAR.

I NEVER WORKED WITH A GOVERNOR THAT HAS BEEN SO LASER-FOCUSED ON HELPING COMMUNITIES.

YOU KNOW THIS IS JUST ONE PRIME EXAMPLE.

THE $400 MILLION INVESTMENT AND YOU KNOW, WE HAD CONVERSATIONS.

I HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HER STAFF.

I STOOD AT THIS PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE CENTRAL WAREHOUSE AND I SAID, I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS GOING TO PUT THAT MUCH MONEY INTO IT.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE 5 OR 10 MILLION, A MILLION AND SAY, HEY, WE DID SOMETHING.

HER COMMITMENT TO NOT JUST THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT TO THE CAPITAL BUT ESPECIALLY ALBANY COUNTY, BEING THE CAPITAL OF NEW YORK STATE, SHOWS THE 400 MILLION, SHE'S INVESTED $4 BILLION IN THE CAPITAL DISTRICT SINCE BEING GOVERNOR.

THINK ABOUT THAT, 4 BILLION, IMPROVING IT.

IT'S NOT JUST HERE.

IT'S ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

I WAS PRESIDENT OF NYSAC, NEW YORK ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.

THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO FROM THE COUNTY MANAGERS TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, WHAT SHE IS DOING IS EFFECTIVELY GOING INTO COMMUNITIES SAYING, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO PUT OUR MONEY INTO IT, BUT I WANT TANGIBLE RESULTS THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AND NOT WASTE AND BRINGING THAT FIRM IN FROM NEW YORK CITY TO LOOK AT HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY.

WE'RE HOPING ONCE THIS IS TORN DOWN CAUSE BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID THEY COMMIT TO 10 MILLION, THEY ADDED A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE PRICE OF COSTS OF STUFF HAS GONE UP AND WE HAVE TO.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN THIS IS A BLANK CANVASS, I THINK SHE'LL HAVE MORE MONEY TO SIT THERE AND SAY, HEY, LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO GET BEHIND THIS IN NEW YORK STATE.

THIS GOVERNOR IS UNBELIEVABLE TO WORK WITH, HARD TO KEEP UP WITH BECAUSE I REMEMBER GOING IN AND TALKING TO HER ABOUT THIS AND WE'RE HAVING BREAKFAST AND TALKING ABOUT CENTRAL WAREHOUSE AND ST. ROSE.

I'M GOING IN WITH MY LAUNDRY LIST, AND STEVE WAS IN THERE AND HE GOES, DAN, WHAT HAPPENED?

I GO, WHAT HAPPENED?

SHE BEAT THE HECK OUT OF ME.

SHE WANTED TO KNOW IF I WOULD DO THIS AND THIS, THIS AND THIS, AND YOU SHOULD GET THIS DONE, COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

I'M LIKE I HAD MARCHING ORDERS BEFORE I LEFT.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

BUT THIS RIGHT HERE WILL HIGHLIGHT THE GOOD THAT YOU CAN DO IN GOVERNMENT, WORKING IN PARTNERSHIPS, NOT JUST WITH THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THIS GREAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL, BUT WORKING WITH THE ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND GETTING SOMETHING LIKE THIS DONE THAT IS A GAME-CHANGEER FOR A COMMUNITY.

WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING.

WE TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT INITIATIVES, BUT WE NEED TO STOP TALKING ABOUT IT AND WE NEED TO DO IT AND IT CAN'T BE SIX MONTHS FROM NOW.

IT NEEDS TO BE DONE TODAY.

>> AND WHAT WILL BE THE ROLE OF YOUR OFFICE IN ENSURING THAT THE PROJECT GOES UNDERWAY SMOOTHLY AND THERE AREN'T ANY HICCUPS ALONG THE WAY?

>> SO WE'RE REALLY INVOLVED AND YOU KNOW HOW WE STARTED TO CAPITALIZE ALBANY.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE COUNTY, ME THE INDEPENDENT TO TAKE THE POLITICS OUT OF IT, TO LET THEM GO OUT AND HELP US ATTRACT THINGS.

KEVIN O'CONNELL AND HIS TEAM HAVE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN THIS IS ONE OF MANY LIKE FROM PLUG POWER TO THIS AND COLLEGE OF ST. ROSE, I CAN GO ON AND ON, THE PROJECTS WE'VE DONE IN THE TOWN OF COLONIE, THROUGHOUT THE VILLAGE OF COLONIE, THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, I CAN JUST CONTINUE.

WE'VE ONLY BEEN AROUND FOUR YEARS AND LOOK WHAT GOOD ACTION WE'RE DOING ALREADY, BY TRYING TO MAKE IT INDEPENDENT, KEEP IT AWAY FROM US AND LETTING THEM.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE WE COMPLETELY OWN IT.

IT WAS COMPLETELY TURNED OVER TO US SO WE HAVE OUR OWN CODES OF VISION AND EVERYTHING.

WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE COMMON COUNCIL.

WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CITY FOR APPROVALS.

THIS IS ALL BASED ON THE COUNTY APPROVALS AND OUR VISION AND OUR GREAT CHAIRWOMAN, JOANNE CUNNINGHAM, THE MAJORITY LEADER, THE GREAT LEGISLATORS THERE TO SIT THERE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS ARE GOING TO BE.

IT'S GOING TO GREAT.

WE'RE DOING THAT NOW BECAUSE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE CUTBACKS AND WHAT'S GOING TO HIT US WITH SNAP IN 2027, THERE'S A RUSH AND THAT WAS THE SAME THING WE SAID ABOUT THE COLISEUM.

WE DON'T WANT TO RUSH THINGS THROUGH, BUT THERE IS A RUSH BECAUSE EVENTUALLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THINGS LIKE THIS.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE DIFFICULT DECISIONS BECAUSE WE NEED TO HELP PEOPLE FIND JOBS, TANGIBLE JOBS, FAIR WAGE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, PAY THEIR RENT, HELP THEM PAY THEIR RENT AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND WE'RE UNFORTUNATELY WITH THE CUTS THAT ARE COMING TO NEW YORK STATE, IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH DECISIONS FOR THE GOVERNOR.

IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH DECISIONS FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

TOUGHER DECISIONS FOR US BECAUSE THEY WILL KICK THE CAN DOWN TO THE COUNTY SO WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO PROJECTS LIKE THIS SO YES.

IT'S IMPERATIVE WE GET THIS DONE.

GET IT DONE QUICK, SAFELY AND COME UP WITH A PLAN WITH A COMMUNITY ON WHAT THIS CAN LOOK LIKE.

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY, COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE, AND I APPRECIATE THIS.

TO YOUR VIEWERS, IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE OR ANY SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE, GO TO THE ALLIANCE, GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK.

>> AWESOME.

WE WERE SPEAKING WITH ALBANY COUNTY EXECUTIVE DAN MCCOY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND FOR MORE ON THE PLANS FOR THE CENTRAL WAREHOUSE, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOPIC.

FOR MONTHS, PROGRESSIVE STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLING ON LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE EXECUTIVE CHAMBER TO HOLD A SPECIAL SESSION TO ADDRESS FEDERAL CUTS.

NOW AT THE END OF THE SUMMER, THAT DOES NOT SEEM LIKELY TO COME TO PASS, BUT LAWMAKERS ARE STILL URGING NEW YORKERS TO CALL THEIR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES AND URGE THEM TO MAKE THEIR WAY BACK TO THE STATE CAPITAL.

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE'LL HEAR FROM STATE SENATOR JABARI BRISPORT ON THOSE CALLS, COMMUNICATION WITH LEADERS AND THE PLANS TO ADDRESS THE CUTS NEXT SESSION.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY, SENATOR.

>> OH, OF COURSE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> NOW AT THE TIME THAT WE'RE FILMING THIS, SUMMER IS JUST ABOUT WRAPPING UP AND AT THIS POINT, IT DOESN'T APPEAR LIKELY THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE RETURNING TO THE CAPITOL FOR A SPECIAL SESSION TO ADDRESS FEDERAL CUTS.

SO WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS MATTER?

>> I THINK WE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD COME BACK FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

I THINK IT IS POLITICALLY WEAK-WILLED NOT TO DO SO.

I THINK NOT ONLY ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT TO BE HURT IN NEW YORK BY THE TRUMP TAX CUTS BUT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR DEMOCRATS TO SHOW MORE TEETH AND MORE SPINE AGAINST TRUMP, AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP TO ACTUALLY RECONVENE AND PUSH BACK AGAINST WHAT HE IS DOING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> CAN YOU TELL US HOW THE FEDERAL CUTS TO MEDICAID AND THE SNAP PROGRAM HAVE IMPACTED YOUR OWN CONSTITUENTS AND THE WAYS THAT YOU'VE BEEN APPROACHING YOUR ROLES SINCE THOSE CUTS?

>> WE HAVE ALREADY HEARD FROM HEALTH PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PROGRAMS THAT DO ADDICTION RECOVERY PROGRAMS, THEY'RE EXPECTING MAJOR LOSSES IN THE CUTS AND THESE HAVE REALLY BAD RIPPLE AND DOMINO EFFECTS.

YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU STOP DOING ADDICTION RECOVERY, PEOPLE TAKE WHAT THEY NEED AND IT RIPPLE EFFECTS INTO THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S JUST ONE CASE.

WE HAVE HOSPITALS THAT ARE SCARED OF WHAT THE CUTS CAN MEAN.

IT IS OUR DUTY TO MAKE SURE THESE DON'T GET AS BAD AS THEY CAN GET.

>> AND WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO NEW YORKERS WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE FEDERAL CUTS IN THIS MOMENT?

WHAT SHOULD THEY BE DOING TO SORT OF MITIGATE THE CHALLENGES THAT THESE CUTS ARE BRINGING?

>> ALL NEW YORKERS SHOULD BE CALLING ON THEIR STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO RECONVENE FOR A SPECIAL SESSION TO RAISE TAXES ON THE RICH IN ORDER TO OFFSET THE CUTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> AND WE KNOW THAT PROGRESSIVE LAWMAKERS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN LARGELY PUSHING FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO COME BACK FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

SO CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE COMMUNICATION THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED FROM LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS ABOUT THIS ISSUE?

>> WE'VE GOTTEN NO COMMUNICATION FROM LEADERSHIP ABOUT THIS.

IT'S BEEN FALLING ON DEAF EARS, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE LEADERSHIP AND THE GOVERNOR RECONVENE US.

>> HAVE YOU HAD ANY COMMUNICATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE CHAMBER ABOUT THIS?

AND DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN RECEPTIVE TO THE CALLS FROM PROGRESSIVE LAWMAKERS?

>> NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE BUT EVEN IN THE PRESS, I'M SEEING THAT OUR BUDGET DIRECTOR IS SAYING THAT WE CAN'T BACKFILL THESE CUTS.

THE NUMBER IS TOO LARGE.

THAT IS NOT TRUE.

NEW YORK IS AN EXTREMELY WEALTHY STATE WITH AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF MULTIMILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES AND WE CAN GO FURTHER INCREASING SOCIAL PROGRAMS BY TAXING NEW YORK'S WEALTHIEST.

>> WE KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR DOES HAVE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY TO ADDRESS FEDERAL CUTS.

IN THE SUMMER, SHE ACTUALLY DIRECTED STATE AGENCIES TO FIND SAVINGS WHERE THEY COULD, SO DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO MITIGATE THE CHALLENGES BROUGHT ON BY THE FEDERAL CUTS, OR SHOULD SHE BE DOING MORE?

>> THERE IS NO WAY OUT OF THIS WITHOUT TAXING THE RICH AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE RICH IN NEW YORK GOT AN EVEN LARGER TAX BREAK THAN THEY'VE HAD BEFORE.

THEY HAD EXISTING TAX BREAKS THAT THEY WERE USING TO INCREASE INEQUALITY.

THEY GOT ANOTHER TAX BREAK AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

WE SHOULD RAID THOSE TAX BREAKS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND EXPAND SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> I KNOW THAT TAXING THE RICH HAS CERTAINLY BEEN, YOU KNOW, VERY PERTINENT ISSUE AT THE STATE CAPITOL FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

SO WHY DO YOU THINK THAT LEADERS HAVE NOT BEEN RECEPTIVE TO THE CALLS TO, YOU KNOW, INCREASE TAXES ON WEALTHY NEW YORKERS?

>> I WOULD SAY LEADERS IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE HAVE BEEN RECEPTIVE.

EVERY YEAR WE BRING IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN NEW REVENUE.

WE CAN GO A LOT FURTHER.

I WOULD SAY THE LEADERS AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL IS RECEPTIVE.

THE GOVERNOR HAS LOTS OF BILLIONAIRE DONORS WHO PICK UP THE PHONE AND YELL AT HER IF SHE MIGHT BE RAISING THEIR TAXES AND SHE IS FUNDAMENTALLY OPPOSED TO RAISING TAXES ON THE RICH BECAUSE OF WHO HER DONORS.

THAT'S AN ISSUE.

>> AND DO YOU THINK THE STATE BUDGET PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR DID ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE POSSIBILITY OF FEDERAL CUTS AT THAT TIME?

>> NO.

NO.

WE NEED IT TO HAVE GONE FURTHER.

>> IN WHAT WAY COULD YOU HAVE GONE FURTHER?

>> I WOULD SAY WITH CHILD CARE.

JUST SAY WITH CHILD CARE, WE SHOULD HAVE PUSHED A LOT MORE FOR FUNDING FOR VOUCHER AND ALSO FOR WORKFORCE.

WE COULD HAVE DONE A LOT MORE TO FUND THE MTA AND TRANSPORTATION AS OPPOSED TO THE GOVERNOR PUSHING FOR THE MTA TO FIGURE OUT SAVINGS IN ITS PROGRAM, AND GENERALLY, SCHOOLS, OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ARE LOOKING FOR CONVERSIONS TO BECOME (INAUDIBLE) SCHOOLS BUT WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH BUDGET TO DO THAT.

>> CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS TO BRING AWARENESS TO THESE ISSUES AND HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, THESE PRIORITIES THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED?

>> WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO CONSTITUENTS AT EVENTS ALL THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT WHETHER THEY'RE AT BLOCK PARTIES OR OTHER COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AND WE'LL BE SENDING OUT A MAILER SHORTLY.

LETTING PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE NEED TO RECONVENE AT THE STATE LEVEL TO OFFSET THE CUTS.

>> WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING?

>> PEOPLE ARE DISGUSTED BY THE ACTIONS AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CUT SOCIAL PROGRAMS IN FAVOR OF THE RICH AND EXTREMELY RECEPTIVE TO TAX THE RICH IN ORDER TO OFFSET THE CUTS.

>> AND HEADING INTO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN JUST A FEW MONTHS HERE AT THE STATE CAPITOL, HOW ARE YOU HOPING TO ADDRESS THE FEDERAL CUTS AND OTHER PERTINENT ISSUES?

>> WE'RE GOING TO START A BIG TAX THE RICH CAMPAIGN SIMILAR TO 2021 WHERE WE RACED ABOUT 45 BILLION.

THAT WAS TAXES ON THE RICH.

WE NEED TO SWING HARDER AND GET A LARGER NUMBER TO OFFSET THESE CUTS.

THE PUSH WILL BE TO RAISE TAXES ON WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS, WEALTHY CORPORATIONS IN ORDER TO RAISE REVENUE FOR NEW YORK STATE TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T LOSE OUR SOCIAL SAFETY NET AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING DIFFERENTLY NEXT YEAR THAT YOU HAVEN'T TRIED BEFORE TO SORT OF GARNER MORE SUPPORT FOR THE TAX THE RICH CAMPAIGN?

>> YEAH.

WE HAVE NEW LEGISLATORS AND THE COMPOSITION IS DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS IN 2021.

SO MAKING SURE THAT SOME OF THE NEWER MEMBERS ARE ONBOARD.

WE'LL BE LOOKING TO EXPAND THE LABOR SUPPORTS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF LABOR UNIONS WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE.

MY OWN TEAM WAS A HEAVY HITTER IN FIGHTING TO TAX THE RICH AND I EXPECT THEM TO KEEP DOING SO IN THE UPCOMING COMMUNITY AND WE OBVIOUSLY WILL WORK WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ADVOCACY GROUPS TO EXPAND BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND THE BASE BUILDING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE LARGER NUMBERS TO PUSH FOR A LARGER WIN.

>> AND HAVE YOU STARTED COMMUNICATION WITH THOSE NEW LEGISLATORS THAT WILL BE COMING UP TO THE CAPITOL THIS COMING JANUARY?

WHAT HAS THAT LOOKED LIKE, IF SO?

>> THERE'S LOTS OF NEW PROGRESSIVE MEMBERS THAT HAVE COME IN SO FAR.

YOU KNOW, IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHO FILLS THE SENATOR SEGAL SEAT NOW THAT HE'S GOING TO BE THE (INAUDIBLE) PRESIDENT.

CONVERSATIONS ARE ABOUT TO BE STARTED.

>> AND FROM YOUR PURVIEW, WHAT SHOULD BE THE STRATEGY FOR DEMOCRATS AS YOU APPROACH THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE?

DO YOU THINK CANDIDATES SHOULD FOCUS ON THE IMPACT OF FEDERAL CUTS TO SORT OF ENERGIZE VOTERS TO THE POLLS, OR SHOULD THEY BE FOCUSING ON SOMETHING ELSE?

>> I WOULD SAY IT'S A POINT OF DISAGREEMENT IN THE CONFERENCE.

SOME PEOPLE WANT THE PAIN TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IT WILL HELP DEMOCRATS IN THE MIDTERMS.

THEY WANT THE PAIN OF THE CUTS TO HAPPEN SO THEY CAN POINT AT THE REPUBLICANS AND SAY DON'T VOTE FOR THEM.

VOTE FOR US.

I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE DO GOOD THINGS FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THEY VOTE FOR US BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AS OPPOSED TO VOTING AGAINST SOMEONE BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

SO I THINK THE STRATEGY SHOULD BE TO AGREE AGGRESSIVELY REFOCUS THE CONVERSATION ON HOW THE RICH STOLEN OUR DEMOCRACY FROM US, THAT THEY NEED TO BE TAXED HEAVILY AND THAT MONEY REINVESTED INTO THE WEALTH OF NEW YORK, INTO COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BUILT THE WEALTH OF NEW YORK.

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY, SENATOR.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH STATE SENATOR JABARI BRISPORT.

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