[Theme Music] WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

AFTER WEEKS OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, THE FINAL FISCAL YEAR 25 STATE BUDGET HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN PASSED.

THE BUDGET AGREEMENT COMES THREE WEEKS AFTER THE ORIGINAL APRIL 1ST DEADLINE.

AND THE STICKING POINTS OF NEGOTIATIONS THIS YEAR WERE LARGELY CENTERED AROUND HOUSING, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND CRIME.

THE TOTAL BUDGET CAME IT AT $237 BILLION.

LET'S GO THROUGH SOME OF THE BIG HIGHLIGHTS: LEADERS CAME TOGETHER ON A HOUSING PROPOSAL THAT FOCUSED ON BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEW YORK CITY AND INCLUDED A SCALED DOWN VERSION OF THE GOOD CAUSE EVICTION LEGISLATION.

ON EDUCATION, THE ROCKEFELLER INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT AND STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL EXAMINE THE FOUNDATION AID FORMULA AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THERE WERE ALSO INVESTMENTS MADE TO MATERNAL AND MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS SAVINGS FOR MEDICAID.

AND ON CRIME, THE BUDGET TACKLED RETAIL THEFT AND ENFORCEMENT ON ILLEGAL CANNABIS SHOPS.

TO HELP UNPACK THE FINAL STATE BUDGET AND THE OVERALL BUDGET PROCESS, WE'RE JOINED IN STUDIO BY ZACH WILLIAMS OF BLOOMBERG LAW, VAUGHN GOLDEN OF THE NEW YORK POST, AND ALEX GAULT OF THE WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES AND NORTHERN NEW YORK NEWSPAPERS.

I WANTED TO START ON HOUSING.

I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THIS YEAR THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS KNEW THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING ON HOUSING COMING OUT OF LAST YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR MADE IT CLEAR THAT SHE WANTED TO FOCUS ON SUPPLY WHILE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SAID THERE WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY NO HOUSING DEAL WITHOUT TENANT PROTECTION.

AS A RESULT, IN THE FINAL BUDGET, THEY PUT TOGETHER A HOUSING PROPOSAL THAT REALLY FOCUSED ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEW YORK CITY BUT ALSO INCLUDED A SCALED BACK VERSION OF GOOD CAUSE EVICTION.

SO HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT?

I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH WITHIN THE NEGOTIATIONS THERE.

EARLY ON, THE GOVERNOR PUT FORWARD HER VERSION OF GOOD CAUSE, WHICH AS YOU MENTIONED, I GUESS WE CAN CALL A LITTLE BIT OF A WATERED DOWN VERSION OF SENATOR SALAZAR'S BILL, WHICH WAS KIND OF THE HALLMARK MODEL FOR GOOD CAUSE.

FROM THERE, YOU ALSO HAD, AS FAR AS A 421 A, THE TAX INCENTIVE TO BUILD AFFORDABLE UNITS, THE RENEWAL OF THAT PROGRAM -- OR EXTENSION OF THAT PROGRAM AND THE NEW ITERATION OF THAT, WAS COMBINED WITH A WAGE DEAL WITH THE BUILDING TRADES.

SO THAT EVENTUALLY FOUND A PLACE.

AFTER SOME BACK AND FORTH, THERE WAS A WIDELY PUBLICIZED AGREEMENT WITHIN THE BUILDING TRADES AND THEIR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE REAL ESTATE BOARD OF NEW YORK, BUT GIVEN A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE DEADLINE, THINGS STARTED TO FALL INTO PLACE.

THERE WAS CERTAINLY A LOT OF FURY FROM ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SIDES.

FOR SURE.

CHIMING IN ON THAT.

BUT I THINK, AS ZACH AND A NUMBER OF OTHER FOLKS OPINED, THE AMOUNT OF UNHAPPINESS THAT PEOPLE WERE EXPRESSING WAS ALMOST A SIGN THAT THINGS WERE COMING TOGETHER.

ULTIMATELY BY THE END, THEY WERE ABLE TO SETTLE ON SOMETHING.

YOU REALLY CAN'T DISCOUNT THE INTERSECTION OF POLITICAL INCENTIVES HERE.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL HAD WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL A SERIES OF POLITICAL DISASTERS IN 2023, WHICH INCLUDED PUSHING A HOUSING PROPOSAL WHILE PRAISED PERHAPS AS A GOOD POLICY IDEA, JUST WAS NOT POLITICALLY REALISTIC.

BUT FLASH FORWARD TO THIS YEAR, SHE STILL WANTS A POLITICAL VICTORY ON HOUSING TO TURN THINGS AROUND, BUT WE ALSO HAVE LEGISLATORS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

YOU SEE A LOT OF MODERATE DEMOCRATS WHO AREN'T NECESSARILY THE MOST TENANT FRIENDLY HISTORICALLY ALL OF A SUDDEN GETTING BEHIND THIS IDEA OF INCREASING TENANT PROTECTIONS JUST AS THESE LEFT WING PRIMARY CHALLENGES ARE LOOMING.

I THINK THAT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH GETTING BOTH SIDES TO THE TABLE THIS TIME.

SO WOULD YOU ALL CATEGORIZE THIS AS AN OVERALL WIN FOR DEMOCRATS HEADING INTO ELECTION SEASON?

I MEAN, THEY KNEW THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING, RIGHT?

SO THEY DID.

IS IT AN OVERALL WIN?

POLITICALLY, IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO GET SOMETHING DONE BECAUSE THEN YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT.

NOW, WHETHER THIS IS GOOD POLICY, IT'S GOING TO TAKE MONTHS, IF NOT A YEAR OR TWO, TO REALLY FIGURE OUT, AND THE JURY IS REALLY OUT ON THAT.

BUT THE FACT THAT IT WASN'T A REPEAT OF 2023 WHEN NOTHING GOT DONE AT ALL, I MEAN, PEOPLE NEED HOUSING, ESPECIALLY IN NEW YORK CITY AND EVEN UPSTATE.

THERE'S A REAL SHORTAGE OF UNITS.

PRICES ARE GOING UP.

THE FACT THAT THEY CAN SAY THEY DID SOMETHING ABOUT THAT REALLY GIVES THEM SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT NOT ONLY IN THEIR PRIMARIES, BUT IN THE GENERAL ELECTION WHEN THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO COME FORWARD WITH THEIR OWN MESSAGING.

I THINK IT'S KEEN TO POINT OUT THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT, BUT THE ACTUAL ECONOMIC FORCES OF BUILDING MORE UNITS AND INCENTIVIZING MORE UNITS, THOSE UNITS ARE NOT GOING TO COME ONLINE UNDER THE NEW 425A, 45-X, AFFORDABLE NEIGHBORHOODS NEW YORK PROGRAM, I THINK WE'RE CALLING IT, THOSE UNITS AREN'T GOING TO COME ON FOR YEARS.

SO ACTUALLY SEEING THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF ADDING SUPPLY TO THE HOUSING MARKET AREN'T GOING TO HAPPEN UNTIL MAYBE EVEN GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS OUT OF OFFICE.

CALL THAT A POLITICAL SHIELD, RIGHT?

IF YOU CAN'T QUITE DECIDE WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD, YOU CAN KEEP TALKING ABOUT HOW IT'S GREAT IF YOU'RE DEMOCRATS.

AND IT'S CLEAR THERE WERE SO MANY COMPETING INTERESTS WHEN IT CAME TO HOUSING.

THERE WAS TENANT INTERESTS, REAL ESTATE INTERESTS, LABOR INTERESTS.

DID ANYONE COME OUT AS A WINNER, OR DID EVERYONE SORT OF GET THE SHORT END OF THE STICK IN THE HOUSING DEAL?

I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THE BUILDING TRADES GOT A WIN WITH THEIR WAGE FLOOR DEAL.

IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED WAGE DEAL, GEOGRAPHICALLY SPEAKING, DIFFERENT PROGRESSIVE SLIDING SCALE OVER THE YEARS, BUT I THINK THEY SECURED A WIN.

ALTHOUGH THE FOLKS IN HOUSING JUSTICE FOR ALL AND THE TENANT PROTECTIONS ARE DEFINITELY NOT FRAMING THIS AS A WIN, THE FACT THAT THEY GOT AS SIZABLE OF A PORTION OF THIS IN THEIR -- THAT WAS PART OF THE FINAL PLAN IS PROBABLY PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CONSIDERING HOW MANY VOTES THEY ACTUALLY HAD IN THE LEGISLATURE.

YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THEY WERE PUTTING OUT, THEY WERE PRETTY MUCH PUTTING OUT THEIR WHIP COUNT ON TWITTER AS THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE ONGOING, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE VOTES TO HOLD THIS UP, HOLD UP A PACKAGE OVER THIS.

RIGHT.

SO THE FACT THAT THEY BROKERED SOMETHING OUT OF THIS DEAL IS PROBABLY A WIN FOR THEM EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT SAYING IT.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, I KNOW LAST YEAR BILL REFORM TOOK UP A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE WAY THAT DEMOCRATS WERE LOOKING AT CRIME THIS YEAR, THEY DIDN'T REALLY SEEM TO FOCUS ON BILL REFORM.

THEY WERE MORE SO FOCUSING ON RETAIL THEFT AND CRACKING DOWN ON ILLEGAL CANNABIS THEFTS.

WHY DO YOU THINK BILL REFORM WASN'T SO MUCH A PART OF THE CONVERSATION THIS YEAR?

I THINK PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THE BILL REFORM CONVERSATION.

IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AT THIS POINT, AND THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH CHANGE.

IT'S BEEN INCREMENTAL IF THERE WAS ANY DISCUSSION AT ALL.

I THINK DEMOCRATS THIS YEAR REALLY WANTED TO ATTACK SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO CRIME THAT WAS VISIBLE.

THE LATEST SCRI POLL, SIENA COLLEGE POLL SAYS THAT, EVEN THOUGH A MAJORITY OF NEW YORKERS DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THE ILLEGAL MARIJUANA SHOPS ARE A HUGE PROBLEM, A VAST MAJORITY DO WANT TO SEE SOME ACTION ON IT.

SO I THINK THAT'S THEM RESPONDING TO VOTER SENTIMENT AT THAT POINT.

THE MEDIA, OF COURSE, ISN'T FOCUSING ON BILL REFORM SO MUCH THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR, TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WHETHER IT'S THE NEWSPAPERS, THE CABLE NEWS, SO MUCH TALK ABOUT AN OUT OF CONTROL NEW YORK CITY.

LEE ZELDIN HAD JUST RUN IN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE IN 2022.

THIS TIME AROUND WE'RE HEARING A LOT MORE TALK ABOUT MIGRANTS IS KIND OF THE DRUM THEY'RE BEATING, RETAIL THEFT, WHICH IS AN ISSUE THEY DID DEAL WITH IN THE BUDGET.

SO DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN VERY REACTIVE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE, ADDRESSING CRITICISMS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS, AND I THINK THE FACT THAT THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE OF THINGS HAVE LAID OFF IT A LITTLE BIT IN FAVOR OF MIGRANTS, RETAIL THEFT, AND OTHER ISSUES ALSO HAD A LOT TO DO WITH BAIL REFORM JUST NOT BEING DISCUSSED SO MUCH THIS TIME AROUND.

I THINK REALLY THE POWER OF MAYBE NOT ONE OF THE OTHER, BUT SPECIFICALLY ILLICIT CANNABIS SHOPS AND THE RETAIL THEFT ISSUE, WHERE THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE CALLING THEIR LOCAL LEGISLATORS ABOUT THAT ARE PEOPLE IN DISTRICT OFFICES ARE GETTING CALLS ABOUT, AND THAT LAWMAKERS SUBSTANTIVELY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING ON AND THEN GO AND HIT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ON IT NOW AND IN THE WEEKS TO COME.

SO I THINK THOSE WERE REALLY SOME OF THE MOTIVATING FACTORS IN THOSE PIECES OF THE BUDGET.

AND I WANTED TO GET INTO HEALTHCARE.

AS WE KNOW, MEDICAID IS A HUGE PORTION OF THE BUDGET, AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL MADE IT CLEAR AT THE TOP OF THE YEAR THAT SHE REALLY WANTED TO FIND WAYS TO SAVE.

SO IN THE FINAL ENACTED BUDGET, THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND WAYS TO SAVE.

ONE OF THEM INCLUDED CUTS TO THE CDPAP PROGRAM, WHICH WE KNOW THERE WERE A LOT OF ADVOCATES WHO CAME OUT IN OPPOSITION TO THAT PLAN IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.

ONE THING THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING ON THE FLOOR, SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE CHAIR GUSTAVO RIVERA, I CANNOT COUNT THE AMOUNT OF TIMES HE SAID, I WOULDN'T HAVE PUT FORTH THIS PLAN, IT ISN'T MY FAVORITE PLAN.

SO WHY DID IT APPEAR THAT THE SENATOR'S HANDS WERE SORT OF TIED WHEN IT CAME TO THIS COMPROMISE?

I THINK THE CDPAP DEBATE WAS KIND OF LAYING LATENT IN THE BUDGET.

THE GOVERNOR RULED OUT SOME SUGGESTED CHANGES IN HER 30-DAY AMENDMENTS, NOT NECESSARILY IN HER INITIAL PROPOSAL, OUTSIDE OF CUTTING THE WAGE PARITY BOOST.

THIS IS REALLY DENSE POLICY-WISE.

BUT SHE HAD BEEN ADVOCATING FOR CHANGES TO THE CDPAP PROGRAM.

WHAT WAS UNEXPECTED IS THE LAST MINUTE CHANGE THAT BECAME PART OF NEGOTIATIONS I BELIEVE A WEEK OR TWO BEFORE -- OR A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE GOVERNOR CAME OUT AND ANNOUNCED HER -- I'LL JUST CALL IT A HANDSHAKE.

IT WAS KIND OF SURPRISING THAT CAME OUT AT THE LAST MINUTE.

SO MOVING WHAT ARE HUNDREDS OF THESE FISCAL MIDDLEMEN IN THIS PROGRAM DOWN TO ONE SELECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WAS KIND OF A SHOCK TO A LOT OF FOLKS, AND YOU SAW, AS YOU MENTIONED, A LOT OF THOSE ADVOCATES COMING OUT.

WHAT TRANSPIRED ON THE FLOOR, OR PRECIPITATED ON THE FLOOR WAS KIND OF AN INTERESTING DEBATE TO WATCH BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A LOT OF NUANCE TO THAT DISCUSSION ACTUALLY.

I HAPPENED TO CATCH THE DEBATE YOU'RE REFERRING TO WITH SENATOR RIVERA AND SENATOR PAM HELMING AT THE TIME, AND NEITHER OF THEM COULD EVEN CALL IT ITS FULL NAME, THE CONSUMER DIRECTED PERSONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF NUANCE TO THAT, AND IT CAME KIND OF OUT OF THE BLUE AT THE LAST MINUTE, WHICH WAS A SURPRISING PROPOSAL.

NEITHER THE GOVERNOR -- NOBODY REALLY WAS FLOATING, AND STILL TRYING TO DIAGNOSE WHERE EXACTLY THAT PLAN MOVE TO A FISCAL INTERMEDIARY CAME FROM.

IT'S A MODEL THAT A LOT OF OTHER STATES HAVE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT ONE FIRM WILL BE PICKED TO SELECT A BUNCH OF REGIONAL FIRMS OFF OF THAT.

NOW, I MIGHT JUST POINT OUT THAT WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT MEDICAID, THERE'S ONE PARTY THAT MATTERS PROBABLY MORE THAN EVEN THE LEGISLATURE, AND THAT'S 1199 SEIU, THE MOST POWERFUL UNION IN THE STATE.

AS VAUGHN POINTED OUT, YOU HAD ALL THESE DIFFERENT PROVIDERS GO DOWN TO ONE.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, IT'S GOING TO BE A HECK OF A LOT EASIER TO ORGANIZE, TO UNIONIZE ONE PROVIDER VERSUS THIS CONSTELLATION OF OTHERS.

RIGHT.

AND THEN NOT TO PROTRACT THIS DISCUSSION, BUT ONE OF THE VERY INTERESTING THINGS, YOU HAD THIS GROUP -- I'M DRAWING A BLANK ON THE NAME OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD -- THAT STAYED IN THE WAR ROOM OVERNIGHT.

IT WAS A THURSDAY NIGHT INTO A FRIDAY RIGHT BEFORE THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED HER HANDSHAKE.

THEY REPRESENT INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS, WHICH REALLY STARTED THE CDPAP PROGRAM.

THEY SAT IN THE WAR ROOM OVERNIGHT ADVOCATING FOR THEIR ISSUE.

THE NEXT MORNING 1199 COMES OUT WITH A STATEMENT SUPPORTING CHANGES TO THE CDPAP PROGRAM, BUT SPECIFICALLY OUTLINING A CARVEOUT FOR THE INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS, PART OF THE DEAL THAT ULTIMATELY CAME TO FRUITION.

THERE IS A SPECIFIC PART OF THE BUDGET THAT DICTATES THERE MUST BE A CARVEOUT OR THERE MUST BE A SUBCONTRACTOR, FISCAL INTERMEDIARY, FOR THE INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS.

AND WHAT ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE FINAL ENACTED BUDGET, SUCH AS THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT AND THE CHILD PRIVACY LAWS, THAT I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING CLOSELY, ZACH?

IS THERE A PATH FORWARD FOR THESE BILLS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR?

IT'S ALWAYS EASIER TO GET THINGS DONE IN THE BUDGET.

THE GOVERNOR JUST CONSTITUTIONALLY HAS SO MUCH MORE LEVERAGE AND REALLY CAN DRIVE AN AGENDA, AND ALSO KIND OF DISTRACT WITH SOME ISSUES AND GET OTHER ISSUES IN.

SOMETHING THAT'S INTERESTING WITH THE GOVERNOR THIS TIME COMPARED TO LAST YEAR WAS HOW SHE KIND OF PICKED HER BATTLES MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY.

SHE QUICKLY DROPPED A PROPOSAL TO REALLY UPEND HOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED IN THE STATE, AND SHE WAS REALLY GOING TO FACE A VERY TOUGH LOBBYING CAMPAIGN FROM THE TECH INDUSTRY ON PROPOSED LEGISLATION ON DATA PRIVACY PROTECTIONS FOR CHILDREN, RESTRICTING ALGORITHMIC SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS FOR KIDS.

FOR ALL THE TALK FROM THE GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES, IT WAS INTERESTING HOW QUIET THEY GOT IN THE FINAL WEEKS ABSENT ONE EVENT AT THE CAPITOL ON WHAT THEY SAID WAS MUST DO LEGISLATION THAT I DOUBT AT THIS POINT IS REALLY GOING TO GET ADDRESSED IN THE REMAINING WEEKS OF THE SESSION.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE COMING UP ON TIME, BUT I WANTED TO HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU.

DID ANYONE COME OUT AS A WINNER?

FROM MY PURVIEW, IT APPEARS THE GOVERNOR GOT A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT SHE WANTED IN THE BUDGET.

SHE WANTED RETAIL THEFT.

SHE WANTED CANNABIS ENFORCEMENT.

SHE WANTED HOUSING.

SO IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT HOCHUL IS THE OVERALL WINNER IN THIS BUDGET PROCESS?

I THINK SHE CERTAINLY WALKED AWAY WITH A LOT OF VICTORIES.

I THINK YOU CAN'T UNDERCUT THAT FOUNDATION AID CHANGE, THE SCHOOL FUNDING CHANGE.

SHE WAS REALLY GUNG HO ON THAT AND SAID THAT A STUDY WOULD BE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, SOMETHING SHE DIDN'T WANT TO DO.

THAT IS GOING TO BE UP FOR DEBATE AGAIN NEXT YEAR AFTER THE ROCKEFELLER INSTITUTE FINISHES THEIR STUDY.

SO THAT BECOMES A BATTLE FOR NEXT YEAR.

I THINK THE REAL WINNER OUT OF THIS BUDGET IS LABOR ACROSS THE BOARD.

UFT GOT PROVISIONS WITH AN EXTENSION OF MAYORAL CONTROL OF NEW YORK CITY SCHOOLS.

BUILDING TRADES GOT A WAGE FLOOR WITHIN THE HOUSING DEAL.

AND 1199 POSSIBLY GOT 250,000 NEW DUES PAYING MEMBERS OUT OF THE CDPAP PROGRAM.

HARD TO FOLLOW UP THESE GUYS, BUT I WOULD JUST POINT OUT TECH INDUSTRY, META, WHICH OWNS FACEBOOK, GOOGLE, THEY REALLY SCORED SOME BIG VICTORIES HERE.

IF NEW YORK HAD RESTRICTED SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS FOR KIDS, THAT COULD HAVE HAD NATIONAL RAMIFICATIONS.

THESE ARE COMPANIES THAT MAKE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM SUCKING DATA FROM CHILDREN, SELLING IT TO ADVERTISERS.

WHILE THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK FROM DEMOCRATS ABOUT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT, THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

BY THE WAY, TECH INDUSTRY GOT ABOUT NEARLY $300 MILLION THROWN FOR AN AI SUPER COMPUTER IN BUFFALO THAT MIGHT HELP THEM DEVELOP SOME TALENT FOR EMPLOYMENT LATER ON.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

WE WERE SPEAKING WITH ZACH WILLIAMS OF BLOOMBERG LAW, VAUGHN GOLDEN OF THE NEW YORK POST, AND ALEX GAULT OF THE WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES AND NORTHERN NEW YORK NEWSPAPERS.

AND NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT BUDGET TOPIC.

THROUGH THE YEARS, SUNY DOWNSTATE MEDICAL CENTER IN BROOKLYN HAS FACED A SLEW OF FINANCIAL ISSUES, WHICH WAS LARGELY IN PART DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

AT THE TOP OF THE YEAR, THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED CLOSING THE HOSPITAL AND DIVERTING SERVICES BY THE SUMMER, LEADING TO GREAT OPPOSITION FROM ADVOCATES AND LAWMAKERS, WHILE THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WERE ENGROSSED IN NEGOTIATIONS.

IN THE END, THE FINAL ENACTED BUDGET INCLUDED FUNDING TO KEEP THE HOSPITAL OPEN FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

WE SPOKE WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER BRIAN CUNNINGHAM, WHO REPRESENTS THE ASSEMBLY DISTRICT THAT THE HOSPITAL FALLS IN, ABOUT THE WORK TO KEEP IT OPEN AND HIS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, ASSEMBLY MEMBER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

OF COURSE I KNOW THAT THE STATE BUDGET HAS JUST RECENTLY BEEN PASSED AND LAWMAKERS WORKED THROUGH THE WEEKEND TO GET IT OVER THE LEGISLATIVE FINISH LINE.

SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE OVERALL BUDGET PROCESS THIS YEAR, AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE POLICY ITEMS THAT ULTIMATELY MADE IT IN THE FINAL ENACTED BUDGET?

OBVIOUSLY I THINK OUR LEADER CARL HEASTIE ALWAYS DOES A GOOD JOB AT MASTERFULLY NEGOTIATING A VERY TOUGH BUDGET PROCESS, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE REGIONS OF THE STATE, WITH REGARDS TO PRIORITIES OF THE STATE, AND TRYING TO COMPROMISE WITH THE GOVERNOR.

I THINK NO STATE BUDGET IS PERFECT, BUT DEFINITELY THE BUDGET REFLECTS THE VALUES OF THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY AND THE GOVERNOR.

I THINK WE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THINGS WITH HOUSING, AGAIN, NOT PERFECT, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO DO SOME REALLY AMAZING THINGS IN THIS BUDGET.

I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE DOWNSTATE, WHICH IS PROBABLY TOP OF MIND FOR ME THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT CAME OUT OF THE STATE BUDGET TO RETURN BACK HOME.

I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED SUNY DOWNSTATE.

YOU'VE BEEN PRETTY VOCAL ON YOUR OPPOSITION TO ANY PLANS TO CLOSE DOWN THE HOSPITAL.

IT'S NO SECRET THAT SUNY DOWNSTATE HAS FACED A LOT OF FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES THROUGH THE YEARS, BUT LUCKILY IN THE BUDGET, THE BUDGET INCLUDED CAPITAL FUNDING FOR THE HOSPITAL AND FUNDING TO HELP WITH THE OVERALL OPERATIONS OF THE HOSPITAL AND TO IMPLEMENT AN ADVISORY BOARD.

SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.

DO YOU THINK IT IS ENOUGH?

WELL, LET ME SAY THIS.

WHILE I'M HAPPY THAT MY BILL MADE IT INTO THE BUDGET AND WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE DOWNSTATE WITH, LIKE YOU SAID, THE MAKEUP OF A COMMISSION, A COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH IS GOING TO HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF DOWNSTATE, AND OBVIOUSLY THE FUNDING, WHICH IS SO CRITICAL, BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD IN JANUARY THAT THE HOSPITAL COULD CLOSE BY JULY OF THIS YEAR, OBVIOUSLY AN INVESTMENT OF $100 MILLION IN EXPENSE FOR THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR IS, I THINK, CRITICAL TO KEEPING THE HOSPITAL SERVICES OPEN.

OBVIOUSLY $50 MILLION YOU MENTIONED IS THE CAPITAL, BUT THAT'S THE FLOOR, NOT THE CEILING.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SECOND HALF OF THIS FIGHT, WHICH IS TWOFOLD.

ONE, WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS, AND HAVING THE CONGRESS BE READY IN TERMS OF FINDING FEDERAL FUNDS AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEW YEAR.

AND THE SECOND PIECE IS REALLY MAKING SURE WE COME BACK TO THE TABLE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE COMMISSION SAYS THE HOSPITAL NEEDS.

IF IT'S A WING, IT'S A WING.

IF IT'S A BRAND NEW HOSPITAL, STATE OF THE ART, THAT'S WHAT WE GET.

BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A PROCESS IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY CAN WEIGH IN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A PROCESS IN WHICH WE ACTUALLY LOOK BACK AND MAKING SURE THAT WE LOOK BACK AT HOW MUCH YEAR'S INVESTMENT WE DIDN'T HAVE IN THE HOSPITAL, AND WHAT WE NEED FOR FUTURE HEALTHCARE.

THE LAST PIECE THAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT IS THE FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT RATES, MAKING SURE WE WORK WITH FEDERAL PARTNERS TO CLOSE THAT WITH EVERY PROCEDURE DONE ON A MEDICARE AND MEDICAID PATIENT DONE AT DOWNSTATE, WE RECEIVE 30% LESS FOR THOSE FUNDS.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE GET ALL OF THAT RESOURCE AND MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE HOSPITAL SUSTAINABLE FOR THE FUTURE.

WHAT WERE YOUR CONVERSATIONS LIKE WITH ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE IN THE EXECUTIVE CHAMBER AS WELL AS SUNY CHANCELLOR JOHN KING ABOUT SAVING THE HOSPITAL THIS YEAR?

ONE, I DID MAKE THE COMMITMENT, BOTH PUBLICLY AND TO THE STAKEHOLDERS, THAT I WOULD VOTE NOW ON ANY BUDGET THAT CLOSED ANY SERVICES TO DOWNSTATE, AND I THINK THEY HEARD THAT VERY LOUD AND CLEAR.

THE SECOND PIECE IS WE HAVE TO INVEST IN DOWNSTATE.

I THINK YOU COVERED IT ABOUT A YEAR AGO I BROUGHT COMMISSIONER HEASTIE TO THE DISTRICT, AND WE WALKED WITH DOWNSTATE HOSPITAL, AND THERE WAS A COMMITMENT THEN TO MAKE SURE THIS WOULD BE A PRIORITY IN THIS BUDGET.

OBVIOUSLY I WAS SHOCKED EARLIER THIS YEAR THERE WAS A BUDGET THAT CAME OUT AND THERE WAS A PLAN THAT DID NOT INCLUDE COMMUNITY VOICES.

I'M HAPPY THE CHANCELLOR AND I HAVE HAD A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP, THE GOVERNOR AND I HAVE A PHENOMENAL WORKING RELATIONSHIP, AND THE SPEAKER AND I HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP.

I THINK, BECAUSE OF THOSE THINGS AND BECAUSE OF COMMUNICATION AND BECAUSE OF THE NEEDS AND HOW IMPORTANT DOWNSTATE IS, NOT ONLY TO CENTRAL BROOKLYN BUT TO THE MEDICAL FIELD IN GENERAL, YOU THINK ABOUT IT DOWNSTATE GRADUATES ONE-THIRD DOCTORS OF COLOR NOT ONLY IN THE CITY OR THE STATE, BUT IN THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS A CRITICAL HOSPITAL, IT'S A TEACHING HOSPITAL, AND IT'S ALSO A RESEARCH CENTER WHERE THE MRI WAS CREATED.

I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY CONVERSATION WHERE DOWNSTATE WILL BE CLOSING.

JUST HAPPY THAT WE'RE BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND TRYING TO GET IT TO A PLACE WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE SUSTAINABLE FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS TO 100 YEARS.

AND ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY THAT YOU'VE HAD HAS BEEN FOCUSING ON CRACKING DOWN ON EBT THEFT.

CAN YOU TELL US WHY THIS HAS BEEN IMPORTANT TO YOU AND WHAT YOU'VE BEEN HEARING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT HOW EBT THEFT HAS IMPACTED NOT ONLY THEIR LIVES BUT ALSO THEIR POCKETS?

YEAH, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE HEAR IN OUR CONSTITUENT SERVICE TEAM IS THAT HOUSING IS OBVIOUSLY THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE WE FACE, BUT THE SECOND ONE WAS FOOD INSECURITY, AND THE THIRD ONE WAS EBT THEFT, WHICH WAS SURPRISING TO ME WHEN I STARTED LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR DATA.

EBT THEFT IS BECOMING A RAPID CRIME WHERE BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE EBT CARDS DON'T HAVE CHIP TECHNOLOGY AND BECAUSE THERE'S NO NOTIFICATION WHEN SOMEONE'S EBT CARD IS COMPROMISED, YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO LITERALLY ARE TRYING TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE ON THE REGISTER LINE AT THE GROCERY STORE, SWIPING THEIR CARDS, AND FIND OUT AT THAT MOMENT THAT THEIR FUNDING HAS BEEN STOLEN.

MYSELF AND SAM BIRD OF QUEENS HAVE TEAMED UP WITH A PACKAGE LEGISLATION REALLY FOCUSED ON CRACKING DOWN ON EBT THEFT.

ONE OF THOSE BILLS HAVE PASSED ALREADY, WHICH IS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE GET NOTIFICATION.

AND THE SECOND PIECE IS NOW REALLY HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

ANYONE WHO CAN STEAL FOOD FROM A FAMILY IS WORTHY OF POTENTIALLY FACING A COURT AND SEEING A JUDGE.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON THE SECOND PART OF THIS LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE THAT NO FAMILY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK GOES HUNGRY, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE BEING SUBSIDIZED BY THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH FOOD SUPPORT SERVICES.

AND AS YOU UNDERSCORED, HOUSING CONTINUES TO BE A VERY SERIOUS CRISIS BOTH IN NEW YORK STATE AND NEW YORK CITY, AND IT IS CERTAINLY AN ISSUE THAT TOOK UP A LOT OF THE OXYGEN WHEN I WAS SPEAKING TO LEADERS ABOUT THE BUDGET NEGOTIATION.

SO WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE HOUSING PROPOSAL THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE FINAL ENACTED BUDGET?

AGAIN, I THINK NO BUDGET IS PERFECT, AND I THINK THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS HOUSING PROTECTION IS THE HOUSING PLAN THAT WAS PASSED, IT HAD FOUR PARTS.

IT HAD SOME TENANT PROTECTIONS, WHICH, AGAIN, WE CAN NEVER GO TOO FAR IN TENANT PROTECTION.

I THINK WE AUTOMOBILE NEED TO DO MORE TO PROTECT TENANTS, PARTICULARLY TENANTS WHO ARE PAYING THEIR RENTS AND BEING SOMETIMES ABUSED BY UNSCRUPULOUS LANDLORDS.

WE DID SOMETHING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THERE'S INCENTIVES TO DEVELOP, WITH SOME TAX ABATEMENTS.

WE KNOW THE COST OF DEVELOPMENT IS EXPENSIVE, PARTICULARLY IN NEW YORK STATE AND THE CITY SPECIFICALLY.

SO WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ON THE TAX PIECE.

AND THE LAST PIECE, WHERE WE DID SOMETHING WITH LABOR, REALLY WORKING TOWARDS WAGES THAT ALLOW THE PEOPLE WHO BUILD OUR COMMUNITIES TO STAY IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND HAVE THE KIND OF PROTECTION OF THE JOB WHERE THEY WON'T BE HURT.

I THINK BY DOING SOME OF THOSE THINGS, AGAIN, ANY TIME YOU LEAVE A NEGOTIATION TABLE THAT NOBODY IS COMPLETELY HAPPY, I THINK THAT MEANS WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD NEGOTIATION BECAUSE THERE WERE PIECES THAT PEOPLE HAD TO GIVE UP AT THE TABLE AND PIECES THAT GOT INCLUDED.

I THINK, AGAIN, THIS HOUSING PLAN THAT THE SPEAKER, THE GOVERNOR, AND THE LEADER OF THE SENATE PUT TOGETHER ALONG WITH US IS ONE THAT WE CAN BUILD ON.

AGAIN, MOST OF THESE THINGS ARE FIRST STEPS, THEY'RE NOT THE FINAL STEP.

THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE WORK TO DO, PARTICULARLY IN TENANT PROTECTIONS, PARTICULARLY ON MAKING SURE OUR MWBE COMMUNITIES ARE INCLUDED AND LOCAL DEVELOPERS ARE INCLUDED.

BUT I THINK IT'S THE FIRST STEP, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER TWO MONTHS TO WORK ON REALLY THOUGHTFUL POLICY PIECES THAT I THINK ENHANCE WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR.

AS WE HEAD INTO THE LAST TWO MONTHS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHAT IS YOUR MINDSET TO ENSURE IT IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL, AND ALSO WHAT IS YOUR MINDSET AS YOU GEAR UP FOR RE-ELECTION THIS YEAR?

ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF THIS SESSION, THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR IS OBVIOUSLY MAKING SURE WE HAVE A BUDGET THAT'S A WORKING DOCUMENT OF OUR VALUES, OUR COLLECTIVE VALUES, AND NOW WE WORK ON THE POLICY PIECE, SO THE SECOND HALF IS REALLY JUST ZONING IN ON POLICY FOR MY TEAM AND I, WE HAVE ALREADY MET TWICE THIS WEEK ALREADY THINKING ABOUT THE PIECES OF LEGISLATION WE WANT TO PRIORITIZE TOWARDS THE SEND OF THIS SESSION.

FOR ME AND MY STAFF, WHAT WE DO IS REALLY LOOK AT OUR CONSTITUENT SERVICE CASE THAT'S COME IN, AND WE TRY TO PARALLEL OR JUXTAPOSE THAT TO SOME OF THE ISSUES WE'RE SEEING AND SOME OF THE BILLS WE HAVE AND REALLY MAKING SURE WE GET THOSE ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

ALWAYS IN THAT LIST IS EDUCATION.

ALWAYS IN THAT LIST IS HOUSING.

ALWAYS IN THAT LIST IS ACCESS TO FOOD.

AND OBVIOUSLY I THINK THE STATE HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF MATERNAL HEALTH OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AS WELL, FIRST IN THE NATION TO PROVIDE PRENATAL MATERNAL HEALTH.

WITH SO MANY OF THE STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY CHIPPING AWAY WOMEN'S HEALTH AND AUTONOMY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN KEEP THE FIGHT OUT HERE IN NEW YORK.

SO I THINK THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF THINGS WE CAN DO THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT BEING REELECTED AND COMING BACK OVER TWO YEARS AND DOING SOME WORK IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

THERE'S SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE FOR NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, ASSEMBLY MEMBER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR NEXT CONVERSATION.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER BRIAN CUNNINGHAM.

AND AS THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER UNDERSCORED, WITH JUST A FEW WEEKS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE BUDGET FINALLY OUT OF THE WAY, LAWMAKERS WILL BE WORKING HARD TO GET THE REST OF THEIR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES OVER THE FINISH LINE.

AND WE'LL BRING YOU UPDATES ON THOSE POLICY ISSUES, RIGHT HERE ON THE SHOW AND ONLINE ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

WELL THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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