[ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," NEW YORK IS LOSING A SEAT IN CONGRESS BY A RAZOR THIN MARGIN.

WE'LL HAVE DETAILS.

GOVERNOR CUOMO MEANWHILE HITS THE ROAD FOR A HANDFUL OF IN-PERSON PRESS EVENTS.

WE'LL HEAR MORE FROM BERNADETTE HOGAN FROM THE "NEW YORK POST" AND KATE LISA FROM JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS.

THEN DUCHESS COUNTY EXECUTIVE MARK MOLINARO IS MAKING ANOTHER RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

HE JOINS ME TO DISCUSS THAT AND MORE.

AND LATER, REPUBLICANS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE ARE SPLIT ON A NEW CLIMATE BILL MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

I'M DAN CLARK AND THIS IS "NEW YORK NOW."

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF NEW YORK N.O.W.

I'M DAN CLARK.

NEW YORK IS LOSING A SEAT IN CONGRESS FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT DECADE.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU THIS WEEK AND THE REASON IS SO, SO DISAPPOINTING.

IT TURNS OUT THAT IF 89 MORE PEOPLE HAD BEEN COUNTED ON THE CENSUS IN NEW YORK LAST YEAR, WE WOULDN'T BE LOSING THAT SEAT.

LISTEN TO THIS FROM MONDAY.

>> WHAT WE HAVE IS THAT IF NEW YORK HAD 89 MORE PEOPLE THEY WOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE MORE SEAT INSTEAD OF THE LAST STATE THAT RECEIVED THEIR LAST SEAT AND IF YOU DO THE ALGEBRA EQUATION THAT DETERMINES HOW MANY THEY WOULD HAVE NEEDED, IT'S 89 PEOPLE.

>> PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO POINT FINGERS OVER WHY THIS HAPPENED.

I MEAN, 89 PEOPLE IS A VERY SMALL NUMBER COMPARED TO THE STATE'S POPULATION.

ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS, WE NOW HAVE MORE THAN 20 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN NEW YORK.

THAT'S MORE THAN TEN YEARS AGO BUT WE'RE NOT GROWING AT THE SAME RATE AS OTHER STATES.

AND 89 PEOPLE, THAT COULD BE PEOPLE WHO JUST MOVED OUT OF NEW YORK OR PEOPLE WHO DIED FROM COVID OR JUST PEOPLE WHO CHOSE NOT TO FILL OUT THE CENSUS, AND BECAUSE THAT NUMBER IS SO SMALL, GOVERNOR CUOMO SAID THIS WEEK THAT THE STATE MAY TAKE LEGAL ACTION.

>> DO I THINK IT WAS ACCURATE TO WITHIN 89?

NO.

WE'RE LOOKING AT LEGAL OPTIONS BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT 89, I MEAN, THAT COULD BE A MINOR MISTAKE IN COUNTING, RIGHT?

>> AND SPEAKING OF CUOMO, HE HELD HIS FIRST OPEN PRESS EVENTS OF THE YEAR THIS WEEK IN AREAS ACROSS NEW YORK AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL MONTHS, REPORTERS WERE ABLE TO ASK HIM QUESTIONS IN PERSON.

ONE OF THOSE REPORTERS IS WITH ME NOW IN STUDIO.

THAT'S BERNADETTE HOGAN FROM THE "NEW YORK POST", AND WE ALSO HAVE KATE LISA FROM JOHNSON NEWS PAPERS HERE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS >> THANK YOU.

BERNADETTE, I WANT TO START WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU WENT TO THE GOVERNOR WHEN HE WAS IN SYRACUSE, JOHNSON CITY AND THE BINGING HAMPTON AREA.

WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE?

IT'S SO WEIRD THAT I HAVE TO ASK THAT QUESTION BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SEEN HIM IN FOUR MONTHS >> I KNOW.

EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN'T SEEN HIM IN PERSON IN FOUR MONTHS, IT'S BEEN LIKE HE'S OMNI PRESENT.

IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE FOR REPORTERS TO ATTEND IN PERSON SINCE THE END OF NOVEMBER, BEGINNING OF DECEMBER.

SO HE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE IN SYRACUSE AT THE STATE FAIR, AND HONESTLY, IT WAS NORMAL.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAD CHAIRS SET UP FOR THE PRESS TO SIT AT AND A BUNCH OF CAMERAS IN THE BACK AND YOU WERE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS.

THE GOVERNOR, AGAIN, AS WE'VE SEEN WITH THE ZOOM PRESS CONFERENCES, HE WAS JOINED BY LOCAL OFFICIALS AND OTHER PEOPLE FROM THE AREA AND AFTERWARDS HE TOOK QUESTIONS FROM REPORTERS.

BUT WHAT WAS DIFFERENT WAS THAT HE'S NOW BEING ASKED QUESTIONS THAT HE HAS NOT REALLY BEEN GETTING OVER THESE REMOTE PRESS CONFERENCES, AND THE THE WAY THAT FORMAT HAS BEEN.

THAT WAS INTERESTING.

THEN HE ENDED UP HAVING ANOTHER DAY.

HE HAD BINGHAMTON ON TUESDAY WHICH I ALSO DID END UP GOING TO AND SAME SETUP.

HE WAS AT A VACCINATION SITE.

HE WAS MAKING SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS AND AGAIN, HE TOOK QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS.

AND THIS-- I MEAN, AGAIN, HE HAS NOT HELD THESE IN-PERSON PRESSERS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BUT HE WAS KIND OF LIKE GETTING HIMSELF BACK OUT THERE WHICH I MEAN, TO HIS CREDIT, HE'S HELD NOW, WHAT, THREE PRESS CONFERENCES IN PERSON WITH REPORTERS THIS WEEK AND WHO KNOWS WHAT HE DOES TODAY, BUT HE IS GETTING QUESTIONS ON THINGS THAT HE HAS NOT ANSWERED ON HIS OWN AS OPPOSED TO HAVING AIDES RESPOND TO REPORTERS VIA EMAIL, PHONE, ET CETERA.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S GREAT TO BE THERE IN PERSON AND TO BE ABLE TO ASK YOUR OWN QUESTIONS AND NOT HAVE TO RELY ON WHAT OTHER REPORTER DOES OR WHAT HE ENDS UP WANTING TO SAY OF HIS OWN VOLITION.

>> I SHOULD MENTION THAT WE'RE TAPING ON FRIDAY MORNING, THAT'S WHEN WE TAPE THE ROUNDTABLE AND OTHER PARTS OF THE SHOW.

KATE, HE MAY BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

HOW DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING FOR THE GOVERNOR SO FAR IN HIS FIRST JUMP BACK INTO THE PUBLIC EYE, THE REPORTER KIND OF PERSONA HE'S PUTTING OUT?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING START, I GUESS TO GET GOING ESPECIALLY THE WAY AS BERNADETTE MENTIONED THAT WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED IN THE OMNI PRESS CORPS IN TIME TO MAKE IT.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW THAT A LOT, RIGHT, THAT WE GET THE SCHEDULE SOMETIMES AN HOUR WITH SOME CHANGE IN MINUTES.

>> RIGHT, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO THESE PLACES.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENED THIS WEEK.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HISTORICALLY BEEN IN THE CUOMO ASSOCIATION.

THEY WILL GIVE REPORTERS NOT ENOUGH TIME OR JUST ENOUGH TIME TO SAY YOU COULD HAVE MADE IT, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GET IN THE CAR AND DRIVE TO UTICA WITH FIVE MINUTES NOTICE.

MAYBE I'M BAD AT MY JOB.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> NO.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

RIGHT.

IT'S BEEN A TREND AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT TIME THAT WE'RE IN AND I THINK-- I DO GIVE THE GOVERNOR CREDIT FOR STARTING THEM THIS WEEK LIKE HE SAID HE WOULD.

I AM HOPING THEY WILL CONTINUE AND IT WAS REALLY GREAT TOO, BECAUSE YOU GOT TO HEAR THE DISCOURSE THAT WE'VE BEEN MISSING FROM THESE-- I SAY BRIEFINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN KIND OF LIKE A RALLY SPEECH.

>> YES.

>> BUT THIS-- THE DISCOURSE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON FROM THE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE GOVERNOR TO WE STILL HAVE A PANDEMIC GOING ON, THE VACCINES TO THE BUDGET JUST HAD WRAPPED UP SO TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE DIFFERENT ISSUES ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR NEW YORKERS TO HEAR ABOUT AND I WAS SO GLAD THAT FINALLY THIS CONVERSATION IS HAPPENING AGAIN SO THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT TO BUILD THAT TRUST OR IF WE TALK ABOUT THAT, IF THEY-- IF THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TALK ABOUT THAT WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS THIS IS THE WAY TO DO THAT.

THIS IS THE WAY TO START THAT.

SO I HOPE IT CONTINUES.

>> I HOPE SO, TOO.

IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS, THERE'S A STORY FROM THE "TIMES" THIS WEEK, ANOTHER STORY OF HOW THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION WITHHELD DATA ON NURSING HOMES FOR SEVERAL MONTHS FOR PRESUMABLY, IT LOOKS LIKE, POLITICAL REASONS OR MAYBE APPEARANCE REASONS.

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS.

BUT BERN, WHAT DID WE LEARN THIS WEEK?

>> RIGHT.

AS YOU SAID, THE "NEW YORK TIMES" PUBLISHED MORE EVIDENCE THAT THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION WERE DELIBERATELY WITHHOLDING INFORMATION PERTAINING TO COVID-19 DEATHS IN NURSING HOMES, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE KNOWN THAT THEY WERE DOING.

AGAIN, BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS REPORTS THAT THE STATE HAD DONE THEIR OWN, I SUPPOSE, REVIEW OF NURSING HOME DEATHS, ET CETERA, PUBLISHED A REPORT BACK IN JULY OF 2020, BUT THE "TIMES" PRODUCED MORE EVIDENCE THAT TOP OFFICIALS, THE GOVERNOR'S RIGHT-HAND PERSON, MELISSA DEROSA, AND THE PERSON SITTING NEXT TO HIM AT A MAJORITY OF THESE OR AS WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE MAJORITY OF THESE BRIEFINGS, ANYWAY, SHE WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN SAYING, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THIS DATA.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO, ET CETERA.

ALSO, THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS, INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS THAT THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION WAS REVIEWING THIS DATA AND GOING TO SEND LETTERS TO THE LEGISLATURE WHO HAD BEEN INQUIRING ABOUT NUMBERS THAT, AGAIN, HAD NOT BEEN PUBLIC AND OF COURSE, MORE EVIDENCE THAT THERE WAS A HIGHER NUMBER OF DEATHS IN NURSING HOMES THAN HAD BEEN PUBLISHED.

AT THE END OF MAY, THERE WAS SOMETHING ROUGHLY 5,000 DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO COVID-19 DEATHS IN NURSING HOMES BUT INTERNAL REPORTS SHOW THAT NUMBER WAS CLOSER TO 10,000.

SO IT, AGAIN, JUST SHOWS AND SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR HAS ALWAYS SAID IS FOLLOW THE SCIENCE, FOLLOW THE DATA.

>> FOLLOW THE ACTS.

>> FOLLOW THE FACTS.

YOU CAN HAVE YOUR OWN FACTS IT, DID OTHER WAY AROUND.

YOU CAN HAVE YOUR OWN OPINION BUT NOT YOUR OWN FACTS.

>> EXACTLY.

THIS REPORT SHOWS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION CONTINUING TO SAY THAT, THERE'S A DISCONNECT THERE AND THE GOVERNOR WAS ASKED ABOUT IT YESTERDAY AND HE TRIED TO EXPLAIN IT A BIT HE AND SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACCURACY OF THE NUMBERS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, OF COURSE, NO ONE WAS UNDER ANY IMPRESSION THAT THOSE NUMBERS WERE GOING TO STAY THE SAME.

I MEAN, PEOPLE, IF THEY'RE DYING EVERY DAY AND YOU ARE RECORDING THOSE FIGURES, OF COURSE, THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE BUT THE IMPORTANT PART IS THAT YOU DO RELEASE THOSE FIGURES SO YOU CAN TRACK THE CHANGE AND YOU KNOW, WHATEVER POLICY DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE BY THOSE IN CHARGE OR TO RECTIFY ISSUES THAT MIGHT HAVE COME UP THERE.

IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE DATA.

SO THAT REPORT WAS VERY INTERESTING AND AGAIN, IT'S JUST ANOTHER CHAPTER IN THIS SAGA THAT WE'VE SEEN.

THAT CONFIRMS IT.

>> THE CONFIRMS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S NUMBERS.

THAT'S ABOUT 50%.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

SO SORRY.

KATE LISA FROM JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS.

BERN HOGAN FROM THE "NEW YORK POST".

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE TOLD YOU ABOUT A FEW REPUBLICANS MAKING A RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN NEW YORK.

ONE OF THEM IS DUCHESS COUNTY EXECUTIVE MARK MOLINARO WHO YOU MIGHT REMEMBER RAN AGAINST CUOMO IN 2019.

IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR ANY REPUBLICAN TO WIN RACE FOR GOVERNOR IN NEW YORK.

THERE'S AS MANY TWICE ENROLLED DEMOCRATS AS THERE ARE REPUBLICANS.

MOLINARO SAID IT'S NOT OUT OF REACH.

WE SPOKE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

MARK MOLINARO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AS ALWAYS.

>> I'M GLAD TO BE BACK WITH YOU.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> OF COURSE.

THERE'S A LOT OF BUZZ IN RECENT WEEKS ABOUT THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

WE HAVE CONGRESSMAN WHO ALREADY HE DECLARED.

YOU'RE ONE OF SEVERAL PEOPLE CONSIDERING A RUN.

WHAT'S THE STATUS ON THAT?

ARE YOU GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR NEXT YEAR?

>> YEAH.

I'M FLATTERED CERTAINLY.

THERE ARE A GOOD NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO ASKED ME TO CONSIDER RUNNING AGAIN.

I SECURED MORE VOTES AND WON MORE COUNTIES IN 2018 THAN ANY CHALLENGER SINCE 1994.

I HAVE SAID THIS CONSISTENTLY AND I'M STICKING TO IT, WE ARE IN WHAT I HOPE ARE THE LAST WEEKS OF GRAPPLING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC AND MY RESPONSIBILITY AND MY ROLE AS COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS REALLY MY PRIORITY.

AS WE GET PAST THAT, I WILL BE EVALUATING WHAT COULD COME NEXT.

BUT I WILL SAY, AND I THINK YOU ALL KNOW THIS AND YOUR VIEWERS WHO AT LEAST REMEMBER ME KNOW THIS AS WELL, I TRULY BELIEVE IN THE EYE TEAL OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

I HAVE SEEN FAILURES IN ALBANY AND IN WASHINGTON THAT I THINK NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AND I DO THINK THAT THERE'S A ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESPONSIBLE, HONEST, EARNEST PEOPLE TO STEP FORWARD AND SERVE.

SO I'M CONSIDERING WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

BUT SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN NEXT.

IT'S JUST RIGHT NOW I'M FOCUSED ON GETTING SHOTS IN ARMS AND HELPING BUSINESSES GET BACK OPEN AND KIDS GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

THERE'S A HOST OF RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON RIGHT NOW.

>> SO YOU RAN IN 2018 AND I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT NEXT YEAR'S RACE FOR GOVERNOR IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THEN CONSIDERING EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE GOVERNOR.

WHAT DO YOU THINK REPUBLICANS NEED TO DO TO CONVINCE MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD VOTERS AND DEMOCRATS THAT MAY HAVE SUPPORTED THE GOVERNOR IN THE PAST TO COME TO YOUR SIDE OF THE AISLE AND SUPPORT A REPUBLICAN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR?

>> WELL, LISTEN, CLEARLY, ANY CANDIDATE RUNNING AS A REPUBLICAN NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO DEMOCRATS AND MODERATES AND THOSE WITH NO PARTY AFFILIATION IN A WAY THAT HAS THEM TRUSTING AND BELIEVING THAT WE CAN COMPETENTLY, FAIRLY, AND HONESTLY DO THE JOB IN A WAY THAT REPRESENTS THEM, TOO.

NO ELECTION IS ABOUT THE CANDIDATE.

IT RARELY IS.

IT'S ABOUT THE VOTERS.

IF YOU WANT TO WIN, YOU'VE GOT TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE SPEAKING TO HONEST, HARD-WORKING NEW YORKERS IN A WAY THAT HAS THEM TRUST THAT WE CAN DO THE JOB FOR THEM AND IF THEY DON'T BELIEVE IT, IN A STATE THAT IS OVERWHELMINGLY DEMOCRATIC, IF THEY DON'T BELIEVE IT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE US BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND THE OPPORTUNITY.

SO IF WE CAN SPEAK HONESTLY ABOUT HOW WE CAN SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS AND GET PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER TO CONFRONT THEM, WE HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN.

IF WE GIVE VOTERS AN EXCUSE TO NOT TRUST AND NOT BELIEVE IN US, IT'S GOING TO BE AN UPHILL CLIMB AND BELIEVE ME, I KNOW IT'S A STEEP ONE.

>> SO ON THAT THEME WE LEARNED THIS WEEK THAT NEW YORK IS LOSING A SEAT IN CONGRESS BECAUSE JUST 89 PEOPLE WEREN'T COUNTED ON THE CENSUS LAST YEAR AND SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE TALKED ABOUT FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND I THINK DEMOCRATS HAVE AS WELL.

WE DO HAVE AN OUTMIGRATION PROBLEM IN NEW YORK STATE WHERE PEOPLE ARE LEAVING NEW YORK FOR OTHER STATES LIKE TEXAS AND FLORIDA.

HOW DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD ADDRESS THAT MOVING FORWARD?

I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OPTIONS AND EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT IDEAS.

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

>> CERTAINLY.

I APPRECIATE IT.

WE DIDN'T LOSE A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT BECAUSE 89 PEOPLE DIDN'T FILL OUT THEIR CENSUS FORM.

WE LOST A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT BECAUSE 1 5 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE DECIDED NOT TO LIVE IN NEW YORK OVER THE DECADE AND THE RESULT WAS CONFIRMED BY HAVING 89 PEOPLE NOT FILL OUT THE FORM.

WE KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE.

WE HAVE A STATE GOVERNMENT THAT IS TOO BLOATED, TOO BROKEN AND TOO ARROGANT.

JUST IS.

AND THE PUBLIC THAT'S LEAVING FEELS THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD-- THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO STAY HERE.

THERE AREN'T HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM.

THE EDUCATION SYSTEM ISN'T WHAT THEY WANT FOR THEIR CHILDREN, AND THERE ISN'T-- THERE AREN'T OPPORTUNITIES ENOUGH TO GROW AND BEFORE THE STATE.

WE CAN PROVIDE REALLY IMPORTANT SERVICES TO THOSE WHO ARE LIVING IN POVERTY.

WE CAN PROVIDE FOR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES THAT ARE LIVING IN FEAR BECAUSE OF VIOLENCE.

WE CAN MEET PEOPLE AND HELP THEM IN SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND THOSE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES.

WE CAN DO THAT EFFICIENTLY AND DO IT AFFORDABLY, TOO.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS IS THIS DOUBLING DOWN ON SPENDING MORE THAN WHAT WE SHOULD, TAXING MORE THAN WE CAN AFFORD AND BORROWING AGAINST OUR FUTURE.

THAT IS JUST NOT HEALTHY.

THE STATE IS GOING TO BE POLITICALLY AND SOCIALLY BANKRUPT IF WE DON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND TAKE REAL LEADERSHIP IN TRYING TO MAKE US AFFORDABLE, ACCOUNTABLE AND CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW YORKERS.

>> SPEAKING OF BEING SOCIALLY BANKRUPT, THERE'S A CONVERSATION HAPPENING IN ALBANY RIGHT NOW ABOUT ETHICS REFORM BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE GOVERNOR AND YOU HAVE SPOKEN IN THE PAST ABOUT ROOTING OUT CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT.

YOU WERE A MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY AT ONE POINT AND THIS JUST HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR DECADES.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE STATE SHOULD MOVE IN TERMS OF TRYING TO ROOT OUT THE CORRUPTION IN STATE GOVERNMENT THAT SEEMS TO JUST PERSISTENT AND PERSIST?

>> WELL, I ADDRESSED THIS IN '18 AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME BELIEF.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU YOU'VE GOT TO JEDISON JCOPE IN AN INDEPENDENT INCLUSION.

IT HAS TO HAVE JUDICIAL INVOLVEMENT.

IT HAS TO HAVE OFFICIALS NOT BEHOLDENED TO THE ADMINISTRATION AS JCOPE BASICALLY IS AND DON'T HAVE THE SAME TIES TO OTHER POLITICAL LEADERS.

IT HAS TO HAVE INDEPENDENCE.

I ALSO WOULD RE-ESTABLISH A DIFFERENT COMMISSION AND I WOULD PUT PEOPLE LIKE PREET BHARARA IN CHARGE AND YOU WILL FIND SOME OF THE MOST-- SOME OF THE MOST BRILLIANT MINDS, WHETHER THEY AGREE ON THINGS OR NOT, WHEN YOU ENGAGE IN A REAL UNEARTHING AND AN EXPOSURE OF THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION THAT HAS CONTINUED TO PARALYZE ALBANY, STEAL FROM TAXPAYERS AND BENEFIT ELECTED OFFICIALS AND YOU JUST-- YOU JUST PULL THE THE VAIL BACK LAYER BY LAYER, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO ROOT OUT, YOU'VE GOT TO EXPOSE IT AND SHED SOME LIGHT ON IT.

I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE.

I WOULD GIVE THE COMMISSION ON OPEN GOVERNMENT SOME TEETH, TOO.

BECAUSE YOU NEED THE ABILITY TO USE MULTIPLE TOOLS TO HOLD ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE AND HAVING A TRULY INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION, HAVING A TRULY INDEPENDENT MORELAND COMMISSION TO ROOT IT OUT, IDENTIFY IT, BRING CHARGES AND HAVING OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY IS NECESSARY.

>> BEFORE I LET YOU GO, YOU ARE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE COUNTY EXECUTIVES ASSOCIATION.

WE ARE NOW MORE THAN A YEAR INTO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

COUNTIES HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONTLINES OF ADDRESSING THE CRISIS BOTH IN TERMS OF TESTING AND NOW VACCINES AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

TELL ME HOW COUNTIES ARE DOING RIGHT NOW.

WE JUST HAD THE STATE BUDGET PASS.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE TRYING TO ASSESS RIGHT NOW HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO LOOK MOVING FORWARD.

>> THANKS FOR NOTING IT.

LISTEN IN THIS STATE, COUNTY GOVERNMENTS ARE THE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE.

THE GOVERNOR CAN HAVE A BRIEFING ANYWHERE IN THE STATE, WITH OR WITHOUT YOU IN ATTENDANCE, PREFERABLY WITH YOU IN ATTENDANCE AND THE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS THAT HAVE TO EFFECT WAIT THE POLICY.

WE'RE FOCUSED ON GETTING KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL, GETTING BUSINESSES OPEN AND AGAIN AND TRYING TO REBUILD THE ECONOMY IN THE NEW WORLD THAT'S WHAT COUNTY GOVERNMENTS ARE FOCUSED ON.

I WOULD TELL YOU THAT WE'VE LONG PAST THE TIME OF THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCING THAT YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A BEER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE FOOD.

A RESTORATION OF LOCAL DECISION MAKING IS CRITICAL.

I WOULD END BY SAYING THAT.

WE'VE OFTEN TALKED ABOUT STATE MANDATING COUNTY GOVERNMENTS DO THING.

WE ARE MANDATED TO BE THE LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT THAT MAKES THOSE CHOICES.

THE STATE, FOR DECADES HAS SAID TO COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, BASED ON PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS YOU MAKE THESE DECISIONS THE STATE STRIPPED THAT FROM US AND THE GOVERNOR ASSUMED THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES.

IT'S LONG PAST TIME THE COUNTIES BEEN GIVEN THAT RESPONSIBILITY AGAIN SO WE CAN MAKE CHOICES THAT WORK WELL WITHIN OUR REGIONS AND CERTAINLY PROVIDE NOT ONLY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH BUT THE OVERALL COMMUNITY HEALTH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

DUCHESS COUNTY EXECUTIVE MARK MOLINARO, MAYBE A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.

WE'LL SEE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> MOVING ON NOW TO SOME ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS.

ADVOCATES ARE TRYING TO CONVINCE DEMOCRATS IN ALBANY TO PASS A BILL THIS YEAR THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY TAX FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES AND REINVEST THAT MONEY INTO COMMUNITIES HIT HARDEST BY POLLUTION.

BUT SOME REPUBLICANS HAVE CONCERNS.

OUR REPORTER DARRELL CAMP IS HERE WITH MORE.

HEY, DARRELL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, DAN.

NOT REPUBLICAN LEADER ROB ORTT WAS JOINED BY MEMBERS ON WEDNESDAY IN VOICING HIS OPPOSITION TO THE CLIMATE AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT ACT.

THAT MEASURE WOULD IMPOSE A FEE OF $55 PER TON OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS WHICH OR THE SAYS WILL HAVE AN EFFECT THAT ISN'T BEING TALKED >> CURRENTLY, NEW YORK'S GAS TAX IS THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION, 43.12 CENTS PER GALLON WITH CALIFORNIA CURRENTLY THE HIGHEST AT 62.47 CENTS PER GALLON.

THIS LEGISLATION WILL RAISE NEW YORK'S GAS TAX TO 98.12 CENTS PER GALLON.

>> HE SAYS THAT FEE WILL INEVITABLY BE PASSED DOWN TOEN COULD UM SEARS AND LEAD TO INCREASED COSTS FOR EVERYDAY SERVICE LIKE HEATING AND TRANSPORTATION, OR ITS DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE MEASURE WILL ACTUALLY HELP THE ENVIRONMENT BUT SENATOR PAM HELMING ACTUALLY TOOK IT ONE STEP FURTHER.

SHE SAID SENATOR KEVIN PARKER, THE BILL'S SPONSOR, IS USING THIS TO GALVANIZE VOTES AS HE RUNS FOR A DIFFERENT OFFICE IN NEW YORK CITY.

>> DARRELL, WHAT OFFICE IS SENATOR PARKER RUNNING FOR?

>> HE'S ACTUALLY RUNNING FOR NEW YORK CITY CONTROLLER.

>> THANKS FOR THAT REPORT, DARRELL.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES SAY MEANWHILE THE CCIA WOULD BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR THE STATE'S CLIMATE JUSTICE STRATEGY AND THERE'S ALSO BEEN A LOT OF OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS THIS YEAR AS WELL THAT YOU JUST MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT.

FOR MORE ON THAT, I TURN TO THIS WEEK TO LIZ MORAN, ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY DIRECTOR AT NYPIRG.

LIZ MORAN FROM THE NEW YORK PUBLIC RESEARCH INTEREST GROUP.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

>> OF COURSE.

>> THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES.

WE'RE IN APRIL WHICH MEANS WE HAVE FOUR MONTHS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ALREADY.

THE STATE BUDGET JUST PASSED IN EARLY APRIL.

TELL ME WHAT YOU SAW IN THE STATE BUDGET FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE.

WHAT WERE YOU SATISFIED BY?

WAS ANYTHING LEFT OUT?

>> YEAH.

THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT YEAR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES IN NEW YORK STATE AS EVERYONE IS KEENLY AWARE, WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDST OF A PAN DEMOCRAT PICK THIS PANDEMIC HAS REALLY HIGHLIGHTED JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PRIORITIZE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS, TO FUND ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS.

ESPECIALLY AS PEOPLE ARE GOING OUTDOORS MORE, WE'VE BECOME KEENLY AWARE JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN AND SAFE WATER.

SO WE CAN WASH OUR HANDS AND PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THIS ILLNESS.

SO THIS WAS A REALLY KEEN MOMENT FOR THE BUDGET.

BECAUSE INVESTING IN THE ENVIRONMENT IS ALSO A REALLY CRUCIAL WAY TO PUT JOBS INTO OUR ECONOMY AND GET NEW YORKERS BACK TO WORK.

SO THERE WERE A COUPLE OF KEY THINGS IN THE BUDGET THAT SHOWED THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR NEW YORK.

FIRST THING, THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR PASSED A $3 BILLION ENVIRONMENTAL BOND ACT.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

THIS WILL GO TO VOTERS IN THE FALL OF 2022.

>> NEXT YEAR.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND IT WILL FUND A VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS AND WHAT'S CRIT SCHOOL ABOUT IT IS IT WILL FUND THE EFFORTS WE NEED TO FIGHT THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM WHAT WE'RE SEEING HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF CLIMATE CRISIS.

NEW YORKERS ARE NO STRANGER TO INCREASED FLOODING, MORE SEVERE WEATHER.

THIS BOND ACT IS DESIGNED TO FUND THOSE INITIATIVES, INCLUDING FOR THING LIKE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT.

IS IT STUFF LIKE NEWER INFRASTRUCTURE IN TERMS OF ROADS OR IS IT LIKE SUBSIDIES FOR CARMAKERS?

ASSUME THAT PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE IN THERE.

OR, IS IT JUST INVESTING IN PRODUCTION OF CLEANER, GREENER ENERGY?

>> IT WILL GO FOR A COMBINATION OF THINGS.

SOME WILL BE NEW PROGRAMS.

SOME WILL BE TOWARD EXISTING PROGRAMS.

ONE OF THE KEY PIECES OF THIS IS FUNDING TO PROTECTION OF LANDS, LANDS THAT-- WETLANDSS, FOR EXAMPLE.

WETLANDS ARE A NATURAL BARRIER TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY.

THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, THE CLEAN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE ACT.

THIS IS A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR PROGRAM TO FUND A WIDE VARIETY OF WATER NEEDS IN NEW YORK STATE WHICH ARE HUGE.

IT'S BEEN ESTIMATED OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS WE'LL NEED TO INVEST $80 BILLION IN DRINKING AND WASTE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE ALONE.

>> WOW.

>> YEAH.

WE'RE SEEING GREATER FLUCTUATIONS IN WEATHER.

WE'RE SEEING FREQUENT WATER MAIN BREAKS.

THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE SEWAGE OVERFLOWS.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE INVEST IN THIS INFRASTRUCTURE 0 MAKE SURE THE QUALITY OF OUR WATER STAYS CLEAN AND THAT WE AREN'T DISCHARGING SO MUCH SEWAGE INTO OUR WATERWAYS.

>> SPEAKING OF OUR FUTURE, WE HAVE A FEW MONTHS LEFT IN THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I THINK THAT THE LIST OF ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES IS ENDLESS UNTIL WE HAVE CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, HOPEFULLY OUR KIDS CAN GROW UP HEALTHY.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE LAWMAKERS DO BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR'S SESSION?

>> WE HAVE TO FUND THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

I MENTIONED THE BOND ACT.

THAT IS ONE WAY TO DO IT.

WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE EVERYDAY NEW YORKERS THAT HAVE TO PAY TO FIGHT THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

THERE ARE WELL-ENDOWED FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRIES THAT SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE COURSE OF DECADES LYING ABOUT THEIR ROLE IN CAUSING THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND FRANKLY, THEY'RE THE REASON WE ARE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

WE BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE THE ONES TO PAY UP.

THERE ARE A COUPLE POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED, THAT WE FEEL SHOULD PASS THAT WOULD HOLD THOSE POLLUTERS ACCOUNTABLE RATHER THAN EVERYDAY TAXPAYERS.

THAT INCLUDES THE CLIMATE AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT ACT, THE CCIA, WHICH WOULD CREATE POLLUTER PENALTIES AND THEN THE OTHER WAY TO DO THIS IS BY ENDING FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDIES.

NEW YORK STATE GIVES APPROXIMATELY 1.6 BILLION AWAY EVERY YEAR IN TAX SUBSIDIES TO THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY.

WE REALLY NEED TO START CHIPPING AWAY AT THOSE TAX SUBSIDIES BECAUSE WHY ARE WE INVESTING IN AN INDUSTRY THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE AWAY FROM.

>> SO THE CCIA, THE FIRST ONE YOU THAT MENTIONED THAT YOU WANT THEM TO DO BEFORE THE END OF SESSION, IT WOULD CREATE POLLUTER PENALTIES.

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

IS IT BASED ON HOW MUCH THEY EMIT, THE SIZE OF THE COMPANY?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SO IT WOULD BE BASED ON THEIR POLLUTION.

IT WOULD BE GROWTH GREENHOUSE GASES AND CO-POLLUTANTS WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE INDUSTRIES HAVE DISPROPORTIONATELY POLLUTED IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AND WHAT WE CALL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES AND THIS HAS LED TO FAR WORSE CLIMATE IMPACTS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, FAR WORSE AIR QUALITY IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

SO IT WOULD ESTABLISH A FEE IN THAT POLLUTION, $55 PER TON.

THEN A GOOD PORTION OF THAT FUNDING WOULD GO BACK INTO THOSE SAME COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A JUST TRANSITION.

SO THOSE FOLKS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE EMPLOYED IN THE NEW GREEN ECONOMY AND THAT JUSTICE IS ULTIMATELY SERVED TO THESE COMMUNITIES.

>> ASSUME THAT MONEY WOULD BE USED LIKE WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ABOUT WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND AREAS LIKE THAT WHERE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES HAVE REALLY BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

IT WOULD GO TOWARDS THINGS LIKE JOBS PROGRAMS, TO EMPLOY PEOPLE FROM THESE COMMUNITIES IN SOLAR INSTALLATION, FOR EXAMPLE.

WE WORK WITH A NUMBER OF PARTNERS IN NEW YORK CITY, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GROUPS THAT HAVE SET UP PROGRAMS LIKE THAT.

SO IT WOULD GO TOWARD CREATION OF MORE PROGRAMS LIKE THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL WE WILL BE WATCHING THAT.

LIZ MORAN, SHE'S THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY DIRECTOR AT NYPIRG.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS, DAN.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> SO IN THE WEEKS AHEAD, WE'LL BE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON THE ENVIRONMENT IN ALBANY BUT WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE FOR THIS WEEK.

DON'T FORGET TO VISIT US ONLINE HE ANY TIME AT NYNOW.ORG AND FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM.

UNTIL THEN, THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK'S "NEW YORK NOW."

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

[ THEME MUSIC ]