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

I'M DAN CLARK.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT BAIL REFORM ON THIS SHOW MANY, MANY TIMES.

IT WAS ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO NOW THAT THE STATE'S NEW LAWS ON CASH BAIL TOOK AFFECT.

THEY LARGELY DROPPED THE OPTION OF CASH BAIL FOR MOST LOWER LEVEL AND NON-VIOLENT CHARGES, AND SINCE THEN, THE ISSUE HAS BECOME POLITICAL.

OPPONENTS OF THE LAW, MOSTLY REPUBLICANS BUT SOME DEMOCRATS, HAVE BLAMED IT FOR NEW YORK'S RISE IN CRIME DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THERE'S NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT CLAIM BUT THERE'S ALSO NO RESEARCH TO REFUTE IT.

NOW IT'S EXPECTED TO, AGAIN, BE A TOP ISSUE IN ALBANY NEXT YEAR.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SAID THIS WEEK THAT SHE'D CONSIDER CHANGES TO THE LAW IF THE LEGISLATURE IS OPEN TO THE IDEA, AND THE CONTEXT OF THAT IS IMPORTANT.

LATER IN THE WEEK, SHE SAID SHE'D WORK ON THE CRIME ISSUE WITH INCOMING NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS WHO ALREADY SAID HE WANTS CHANGES TO THE NEW BAIL LAWS.

>> I'LL TELL YOU, MY FRIENDS, NEW YORK CITY HAS FACED CRIME BEFORE.

WE'VE OVERCOME IT AND THE FACT THAT THIS WAS NOT A LONG SLUMP IN CRIME, IT'S A SHORT SPIKE DOWNWARD WHICH MEANS THAT WE CAN POP UP QUICKLY.

WORKING WITH THE CITY OF NEW 2 YORK, THE NEW MAYOR, THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE.

>> FOR THIS ISSUE, POLITICS COULD BE KEY.

LET'S GET INTO THAT AND MORE WITH ZACH WILLIAMS FROM CITY & STATE AND MARINA VILLENEUVE FROM THE AP.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO THIS IS THE ISSUE THAT WON'T GO AWAY, BAIL REFORM.

AND FOR GOOD REASON.

I MEAN, WE HAVE THE SPIKE IN CRIME STATEWIDE AND PARTICULARLY IN NEW YORK CITY, AND I THINK EVERYBODY WANTS TO BLAME SOMETHING FOR THAT SPIKE IN CRIME AND I THINK THE NATURAL SOLUTION FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IS BAIL REFORM BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT HAS REALLY CHANGED AT THE LEGAL LEVEL, STATE LEVEL STATUTE-WISE.

I'M INTERESTED IN HOW THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT POLITICALLY.

I WANT TO GO TO YOU FIRST, ZACH.

DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE, IT'S A SLOW THING, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A WEDGE BETWEEN THEM, BETWEEN THE LEFT AND THE MODERATE ONES, AND I'M WONDERING IF THIS ISSUE PARTICULARLY IS GOING TO WIDEN THAT WEDGE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR?

>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOMETHING VERY 3 SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

IN EARLY 2020, RIGHT WHEN THESE NEW LAWS ON CASH BAIL, DISCOVERIES, TRIALS WERE GETTING IMPLEMENTED, WE SAW A HUGE BACKLASH, EVEN BEFORE WE SAW THE CONSEQUENCES FROM THEM BOTH FROM REPUBLICANS AND ALSO VERY ANXIOUS MODERATE LAWMAKERS IN SWING DISTRICTS IN THE CITY STUB BUSHES AND ON LONG ISLAND.

AND FAST FORWARD PAST EVERYTHING IN THE PANDEMIC AND HERE WE ARE IN 2021, THE D.A.

RACE IN MA NASA COUNTY WITH STATE SENATOR TODD KAMINSKY.

A HUGE ADVOCATE OF KIND OF ROLLING BACK THE INITIAL REFORMS WHICH DEFEATED SO DEFINITIVELY BY THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE WHO JUST RAN A CAMPAIGN SOLELY FOCUSED ON BAIL REFORM AND THAT JUST REALLY BROUGHT BACK ALL THOSE SAME CONCERNS FROM EARLY 2020 THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE GONE TOO FAR LEFT IN ALBANY WITH ONE-PARTY RULE AND NOW THE REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS ON THAT AHEAD OF THE ALL-IMPORTANT MID-TERM ELECTIONS ON THAT ISSUE.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE GONNA SEE IS, ONCE AGAIN, MODERATE DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE SENATE AND IN THE ASSEMBLY BANDING TOGETHER PUSHING FOR SOME TYPE OF CHANGES.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS ALREADY SAID THAT SHE'S WILLING TO AT LEAST TALK ABOUT IT AND OF COURSE, WHENEVER YOU HAVE THE GOVERNOR AND MODERATE LAWMAKERS GANGING UP TOGETHER ON ONE ISSUE OR ANOTHER, YOU GOT TO TAKE A 4 LOOK AT WHERE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE IS.

HE HAS BEEN KIND OF THE-- THE MOST SOLID OF THE BIG THREE IN ALBANY ON HOLDING THE LINE ON BAIL REFORM, BUT LAST TIME HE WASN'T ABLE TO HOLD IT ALL THE WAY.

HE ACCEPTED SOME CHANGES BUT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THAT WAY.

>> IN A LOT OF WAYS THIS IS SPEAKER HEASTIE'S LEGACY.

HE SAID WHEN HE ASSUMED THE SPEAKERSHIP, HE WANTED CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM TO BE HIS TOP ISSUE.

HE WANTED THAT TO BE HIS FOOTPRINT IN HISTORY IN NEW YORK STATE.

I CAN SEE THE RESISTANCE THERE.

I THINK IN THE ASSEMBLY, TOO, THE MORE MODERATE DEMOCRATS STILL WANT TO KEEP THAT BAIL REFORM WE HAVE ASSEMBLYWOMAN LA TREES WALKER FROM DOWN IN THE CITY WHO REALLY DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE IT A SITUATION WHERE JUDGES HAVE MORE DISCRETION.

I WANT TO TURN TO YOU, MARIE, IN A SECOND.

I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT TODD KAMINSKY.

IN 2019 WHEN THESE LAWS WERE BEING NEGOTIATED, I WAS COVERING THEM QUITE CLOSELY AND BEHIND THE SCENES, TODD KAMINSKY DID NOT WANT TO PASS THIS BILL REFORM LAW.

HE DID NOT WANT IT TO GO THROUGH, AND HE WAS TRYING TO CONVINCE HIS LONG ISLAND COLLEAGUES TO ALSO TRY TO BLOCK IT.

AND THEN HE SUPPORTED THE ROLLBACKS.

SO IT'S JUST SO INTERESTING TO ME POLITICALLY HOW HE CAN 5 HAVE THOSE OPINIONS OVER TWO YEARS AND STILL HAVE REPUBLICANS SUCCESSFULLY FRAME HIM AS SOMEBODY WHO IS A BIG BAIL REFORM SUPPORTER.

MARINA, I WANT TO GO TO YOU AND ZACH ALLUDED TO THIS A LITTLE BIT.

HOW DOES THIS PLAY IN NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS?

IS THIS A LEG UP FOR REPUBLICANS IN TERMS OF BAIL REFORM?

DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOOD AMMUNITION FOR THEM HEADING INTO THE GENERAL?

>> WELL, I THINK REPUBLICANS ARE POINTING TO SOME POLLING TO SUGGEST THAT CRIME IS A BIG ISSUE THAT'S WEIGHING ON NEW YORK VOTERS' MINDS, FROM THE SUBURBS TO COMMUNITIES BEING HIT BY THIS VIOLENCE SO WE ARE ALSO SEEING A NATIONAL RISE IN HOMICIDES AS WELL, SO I THINK THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING ON FOR SURE.

AND AS, YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED THE SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM GROUPS ARE POINT OUT THAT THERE'S NO REFERENCE RIGHT NOW SUGGESTING THAT THERE'S ANY LINK BETWEEN NEW YORK'S BAIL LAW AND ANY SORT OF INCREASE IN CRIME.

SO, AT THIS POINT, IT SORT OF REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

DEMOCRATS ARE ALSO TRYING TO TAKE STEPS TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE.

WE HAVE NEW YORK AND SURROUNDING STATES WHO ARE SHARING GUN VIOLENCE DATA GOVERNOR CUOMO-- THEN-GOVERNOR CUOMO, HE ANNOUNCED THAT THE STATE WAS GOING TO BE SPENDING MILLIONS ON GUN VIOLENCE 6 THIS SUMMER.

THE TIMES UNION RECENTLY REPORTED OUT OF THAT INITIATIVE OF SPENDING MILLIONS, JUST 25 JOBS WERE CREATED AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO CREATE LIKE SEVERAL THOUSAND JOBS.

>> AND THERE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SUMMER JOBS IS THE THING.

WHEN GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCED THIS WHOLE THING, HE WAS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE SUMMER JOBS BECAUSE IF THEY HAVE SUMMER JOBS, THEN THEY WON'T TURN TO CRIME AND PRESUMABLY HOPEFULLY.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

I THINK WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ELECTIONS, I THINK THERE ARE TWO BIG THINGS THAT VOTERS CARE ABOUT RIGHT NOW AT LEAST IN NEW YORK.

I THINK IT'S THE ECONOMY AND I THINK IT'S CRIME BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO BE SAFE AND THEY WANT TO HAVE MONEY, TOO, OBVIOUSLY.

THEY WANT TO HAVE A LIVING.

SO I'M REALLY INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

>> ONE THING ON BAIL REFORM THAT IS A SILVER LINING, IF YOU WILL,-- NO MATTER WHERE YOU STAND ON IT-- IS HOW IT'S CLARIFIED WHAT NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR ERIC ADAMS WANTS FROM THE GOVERNOR.

HE MADE A BIG SPLASH DOWN IN PUERTO RICO AT THE SOMOS CONFERENCE SAYING THAT HE VIEWED CHANGES TO BAIL REFORM AS A TOP PRIORITY AND NOW WE REALLY KIND OF KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS IN TERMS OF WHAT HE WANTS FROM GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL, WHICH, IN TERMS KIND OF CLARIFIES MAYBE A CARL HEASTIE IS 7 WATCHING THIS AND WELL, I GIVE A LITTLE BIT ON BAIL REFORM, MAYBE I GET SOMETHING ON TAXES.

YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS A LEVER.

WHEN YOU MOVE ONE THING DOWN, IT MOVES SOMETHING UP.

IN TERMS OF BAIL REFORM, I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY CLARIFYING JUST THAT NOW WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT ERIC ADAMS WANTS TO DO WITH THE SO-CALLED MANDATE HE HAS FROM NEW YORK CITY VOTERS.

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A REAL UGLY BIG UGLY IN MARCH.

>> GOVERNOR HOCHUL, TOO, SAID THIS WEEK THAT BAIL REFORM IS A PRIORITY FOR HER AS WELL AND WITH ERIC ADAMS' COMMENTS ABOUT WANTING TO KEEP DANGEROUS PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS, IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION FOR SURE ABOUT HOW YOU JUDGE IF SOMEONE IS DANGEROUS OR NOT AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT.

>> MARINA, STICKING WITH YOU, WE HAVE 45 SECONDS LEFT.

THE ASSEMBLY IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY REPORT, THE INVESTIGATION REPORT THAT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, HAPPENING FOREVER IT FEELS LIKE, IS GOING TO PRESUMABLY BE RELEASED SOMETIME NEXT WEEK OR OVER THE WEEKEND.

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT IT?

DO WE KNOW ANYTHING?

>> RIGHT.

I SPOKE WITH ASSEMBLY CHITTY MEMBER MIKE MONTESANO WHO IS A REPUBLICAN YESTERDAY.

HE SAID THE REPORT'S ABOUT 45 8 PAGES LONG.

THE LAW FIRM GOT ABOUT $5 MILLION TO WRITE IT.

HE SAYS THAT IT FINDS THAT CUOMO CREATED A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT.

IT FINDS THAT THE ALLEGATIONS MADE BY THE FEMALE STRAIGHT TROOPER AND BRITTANY TODAY MISS SEW, FORMER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT OF CUOMO, FOUND THOSE ALLEGATIONS WERE CREDIBLE AND FOUND THAT CUOMO DID USE STATE RESOURCES AND STAFF FOR HIS BOOK DEAL IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE EXPECT TO SEE IT EARLY NEXT WEEK.

WHETHER IT'S GOING TO RESULT IN ANY FINES OR PENALTIES TO CUOMO REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION.

I GUESS WE'LL SEE.

MARINA VILLENUEVE FROM THE AP.

ZACH WILLIAMS FROM CITY & STATE, THANK YOU BOTH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MOVING ALONG NOW, ELECTIONS IN NEW YORK AREN'T ALWAYS PERFECT.

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN SOME LOCAL BOARDS OF ELECTIONS FUMBLE RESULTS AND AT TIMES MAKE IT HARDER TO VOTE.

IN A LOT OF CASES, THAT'S NOT ON PURPOSE.

ELECTIONS CAN BE TOUGH AND SOME BOARDS JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES.

BUT NOW, THERE'S A NEW EFFORT TO FIX THOSE PROBLEMS WHILE EXPANDING VOTER ACCESS STATEWIDE.

SENATE ELECTION CHAIR ZELLNOR MYRIE RELEASED A REPORT THIS WEEK WITH SOME NEW PROPOSALS TO REFORM THE 9 STATE'S ELECTION SYSTEM INTEREST BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO THE VOTER EXPERIENCE.

WE SAT DOWN THIS WEEK TO GO OVER THOSE PROPOSALS AND HOW THEY COULD CHANGE ELECTIONS IN NEW YORK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] SENATE ELECTIONS CHAIR ZELLNOR MYRIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> SO YOU HAVE THIS NEW REPORT OUT ABOUT THE ELECTION SYSTEM IN NEW YORK.

IT'S VERY COMPREHENSIVE.

YOU HAD A HEARING ABOUT THIS.

YOU HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT THIS.

HOW DO WE FIX OUR ELECTION SYSTEM?

BUT I THINK THE QUESTION FOR A LOT OF NEW YORKERS MIGHT FACE WHEN THINKING ABOUT THAT IS, WHAT'S WRONG WITH OUR ELECTION SYSTEM?

CAN WE START THERE?

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE TOP PROBLEMS IN THE STATE'S ELECTION SYSTEM?

>> WE KNOW AFTER EVERY SINGLE ELECTION WE END UP IN THE HEADLINES FOR THE WRONG REASON.

MOST RECENTLY IN THE LAST IN THE NEW YORK 22nd, IT WAS THE LAST CONGRESSIONAL CALLED-- NOT IN THE STATE BUT IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

WE HAD COUNTIES LIKE RENSSELAER, SARATOGA WHERE EARLY VOTING SITES WERE NOT PLACED CORRECTLY, LED TO LITIGATION.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAD TO STEP IN AND OF COURSE, IN NEW YORK CITY WHERE WE'VE SEEN MISHAP AFTER MISHAP AFTER MISHAP.

SO THE ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS, IT'S THE 10 INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

HOW THEY ARE ADMINISTERED, HOW PEOPLE FEEL WHEN THEY GO TO THE VOTING BOOTH, HOW LONG THEY WAIT IN LINES, WHETHER OR NOT THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE RETURNED, A LOT OF THOSE PROBLEMS ARE STRUCTURAL.

WE HAVE A COMMISSIONER SYSTEM THAT REQUIRES BIPARTISANSHIP IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE THAT HAS LED TO STALEMATE.

IT HAS LED TO NO ACCOUNTABILITY.

THERE'S SOME OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS.

WE DON'T TRAIN OUR POLL WORKERS.

>> RIGHT.

>> WE DON'T HAVE A STANDARDIZATION ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A COMMISSIONER.

SOME COMMISSIONERS ARE FULL TIME.

OTHERS ARE PART TIME.

SO WE WENT ABOUT 46 PAGES IN THE REPORT.

A LOT OF DETAILS IN THERE BUT THE TOP LINE IS ELECTION ADMINISTRATION IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE ON DEMOCRACY.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THAT IN THE BEST WAY WE CAN.

>> AS YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS, IS THIS MORE OF A PROBLEM WITH THESE LOCAL BOARDS OF ELECTIONS, OR IS THIS MORE OF LIKE A STATE-LEVEL LAW PROBLEM?

BECAUSE I'M HEARING ABOUT THE 22nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHICH WAS A MESS.

THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS A MESS.

[LAUGHTER] SO WHERE DO YOU COME AT IT FROM?

11 >> SO I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH, DAN.

WE HAVE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS THAT REALLY DOES NOT SERVE AS AN OVERSIGHT BODY FOR OUR LOCAL BOARDS OF ELECTIONS.

SO YOU THINK ABOUT IN THE RACES WHERE THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG OR IF YOU ARE A VOTER IN A COUNTY WHERE THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG, WHO DO YOU COMPLAIN TO ABOUT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS?

IDEALLY YOU HAVE AN OVERSIGHT AGENCY TO SAY, HEY, THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR ACT TOGETHER.

HERE ARE THE PENALTIES FOR DOING SO.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

SO ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE MAKE IS THAT THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SERVE AS AN OVERSIGHT AGENCY AND IF NOT THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, SOME OTHER ENTITY SO THAT THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE PROCESS.

WE ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT MANY OF THE LOCAL BOARDS OF ELECTIONS, THEY HAVE A SMALL STAFF N NEW YORK CITY, IT'S A PRETTY BIG STAFF, BUT ABOUT 28 OF OUR BOARDS OF ELECTIONS, THEY HAVE SIX PEOPLE OR LESS TO RUN EVERYTHING, VOTER REGISTRATION, ABSENTEE REGISTRATION, ELECTION DATE, EARLY VOTING SO THEY NEED MORE RESOURCES.

THEY NEED TRAINING.

THEY NEED STANDARDIZATION AND THEY NEED SUPPORT FROM THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

>> I WAS READING A STORY LAST YEAR DURING LAST YEAR'S ELECTION AND I REMEMBER READING A STORY ABOUT THIS 12 ONE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, A LOCAL ONE, AN EMPLOYEE WHO WAS SAYING SHE WAS THE ONLY PERSON HANDLING THESE ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND SHE WAS GETTING HUNDREDS A DAY.

I CAN DEFINITELY SEE THE STAFFING PROBLEM.

BUT YOU MENTIONED IN NEW YORK CITY THEY HAVE A LOT OF STA.

SO WHAT'S THE DEAL THERE?

WHY IS THIS SO MESSED UP THERE?

WHY DO WE KEEP ON SEEING THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS?

>> LET ME SAY THAT I KNOW MANY NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS EMPLOYEES WHO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY AND THEIR GOAL IS TO ADMINISTER OUR DEMOCRACY IS THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.

THEY DO SO IN A GOOD FAITH EFFORT, BUT THEY'RE OPERATING IN A SYSTEM WHERE WILL ALLOW FOR INCOMPETENCE TO FLOURISH AND THERE'S NO PENALTY FOR THAT INCOMPETENCE.

AND THE POLITICAL PARTIES ARE THE ONES DOING THE HIRING, ONLY IN NEW YORK CITY ARE THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTIES APPOINTING AUTHORITY AND THE THREAD THROUGH WHICH ACCOUNTABILITY FLOWS.

WE THINK THAT SHOULD CHANGE AND THAT'S REALLY THE BASIS OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HOPE TO PUT FORWARD IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> IN TERMS OF BEEFING THINGS UP, IN TERMS OF STAFFING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OR POSSIBLY NEW LAWS AND REGULATIONS, I CAN ALREADY HEAR THE COUNTY SAYING IT'S GOING TO COST TOO MUCH MONEY 13 AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT SO WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT THAT?

>> SO WE REFERENCE THIS IN THE REPORT.

THE NEED FOR RESOURCES IS NOT A NEW CLAIM.

THIS SOMETHING THAT I'VE HEARD SINCE ASSUMING THE CHAIR-- CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE.

EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR MORE MONEY FOR THE LOCAL BOARDS, AND WHAT I TELL MY COLLEAGUES IS IF YOU THINK IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE TO GIVE A LOCAL BOARD THE MONEY THAT THEY NEED, YOU TELL ME WHAT THE PRICE OF DEMOCRACY IS.

HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY FOR INTEGRITY AND CREDIBILITY IN OUR ELECTIONS PROCESS?

SO WE SAY YES, WE'RE HAPPY TO GIVE MORE RESOURCES AND TO FIGHT FOR THAT, BUT THERE ALSO HAS TO BE SOME RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU MAINTAIN THAT FUNDING SO ALL OF THESE STAFFING ISSUES THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING WON'T BE AS MUCH OF A PROBLEM.

>> YOU KNOW, ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX IS OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT.

AND WE SAW EARLIER THIS MONTH VOTERS REJECTED TWO AMENDMENTS, NO ABSENTEE VOTING AND SAME DAY VOTE TO REGISTRATION.

GIVEN THAT, IN YOUR REPORT, YOU HAVE MANY RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT WHAT ARE YOU SAYING SHOULD BE DONE TO INCREASE THAT VOTER ACCESS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THESE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS NOW?

>> THIS SHOULD BE A FIVE 14 ALARM FIRE TO ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT OUR DEMOCRACY.

THE FACT THAT WE HAD TWO PRO-VOTER PROPOSITIONS FAIL, IT'S AN OUTRAGE.

THE FACT THAT IT WAS DEFEATED SHOWS US THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT AND WE HAVE TO PUT OUR MARKERS DOWN AND SAY WE'RE GONNA PROTECT THE VOTERS' RIGHTS.

THAT'S GOING TO BE NUMBER ONE TO US.

THAT'S GOING TO BE WHAT ACCESS IS ABOUT.

IT'S JUST LIKE CUSTOMER SERVICE.

YOU GO TO A RESTAURANT.

YOU HAVE A BAD EXPERIENCE.

YOU'RE NOT GOING BACK.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ADMINISTERING OUR ELECTIONS, IF YOU HAVE A BAD EXPERIENCE VOTING, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE AGAIN.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO IN ORDER TO KEEP PEOPLE TO COME BACK TO SAY THIS IS YOUR DEMOCRACY, IT'S YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, WE HAVE TO MAKE THE PROCESS AS SEAMLESS AS POSSIBLE.

>> YOU KNOW, ACCESS TO VOTING HAS SOMEHOW BECOME A POLITICAL ISSUE WHERE PEOPLE THINK THAT REFORMS LIKE YOU'RE SUGGESTING MAY LEAD TO VOTER FRAUD.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ELECTION INTEGRITY.

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB, DAN.

WE SAW JUST LAST WEEK WITH THE PROPOSITIONS FAILING THAT MISINFORMATION IS POTENT, AND PLAYING ON PEOPLE'S EMOTIONS AND FEARS AS DISINGENUOUS AS IT MIGHT 15 BE, AS I BELIEVE UNSCRUPULOUS AS IT MIGHT BE, IT IS EFFECTIVE.

WE HAVE TO BATTLE THAT MISINFORMATION WITH FACTS.

THE FACTS LAY BEAR THAT VOTER FRAUD IS NOT AN ISSUE IN OUR ELECTIONS THAT YOU HAVE A GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING FOR THERE TO BE AN INSTANCE OF VOTER FRAUD, BUT SOMEHOW THAT HAS BEEN ABLE TO FLOURISH IN OUR CURRENT CONVERSATION AROUND OUR DEMOCRACY.

WE LITERALLY HAD PEOPLE STORM OUR CAPITOL OVER ALLEGED VOTER FRAUD.

THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS.

AND SO WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PUT THE FACTS OUT, MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE AND REALLY MY GOAL HAS BEEN TO TAKE NEW YORK FROM WORST TO FIRST.

THAT JOURNEY CONTINUES.

IT'S ONE THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO PUSHING NEXT SESSION.

>> YEAH.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU COME UP WITH.

I DON'T THINK IT'S A DISCUSSION THAT'S GOING TO END ANYTIME SOON.

SO WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

>> I APPRECIATE IT.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

NEW YORK, WE FANCY OURSELVES THE PROGRESSIVE CAPITAL OF THE NATION.

WE CAN'T DO SO IF WE'RE NOT PROTECTING VOTERS' RIGHTS.

>> SENATOR ZELLNOR MYRIE, THANK YOU >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

[ THEME MUSIC ] 16 >> MYRIE SAYS HE'S COMING UP WITH A PACKAGE OF BILLS BASED ON THE REPORT FOR LAST YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IN THE MEANTIME, ANOTHER ISSUE EXPECTED TO COME UP THIS YEAR IS HOUSING.

DARRELL CAMP IS HERE WITH MORE.

DARRELL?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE 2022 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL ADDRESS MANY ISSUES THAT WENT UNRESOLVED IN THIS YEAR'S SESSION.

ONE OF THOSE ISSUES IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MORE SPECIFICALLY A PROPOSAL CALLED GOOD CAUSE, WHICH WOULD BAN EVICTIONS WITHOUT A GOOD CAUSE AND INSTITUTE A FORM OF RENT CONTROL.

ACTIVISTS WERE AT THE CAPITOL THIS WEEK TO GARNER MORE SUPPORT FOR THAT MEASURE.

TANNER MALAZO WITH THE GROUP VOCAL NEW YORK SAYS THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING FOR HIM PERSONALLY.

>> I'M SLEEPING ON MY FRIEND'S COUCH RIGHT NOW.

I HAVE A FULL-TIME JOB.

I CAME OUT HERE TO GET MY LIFE TOGETHER.

I'M DOING BETTER.

STILL CANNOT FIND A PLACE TO LIVE.

BECAUSE LANDLORDS BACKGROUND CHECK, CREDIT CHECK.

YOU NEED TO MAKE THREE OR FOUR TIMES THE RENT.

>> WHILE OPPONENTS SAY THE BILL WOULD ACTUALLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS, SENATOR JABARI BRISPORT SAYS MOST OPPOSITION IS ROOTED IN MISINFORMATION.

17 >> THEY PAINT THIS AS SAYING WE CAN NEVER EVICT ANYBODY EVER.

WHAT THE LEGISLATION DOES IS IN THE NAME.

IT'S GOOD CAUSE EVICTION.

IT STRICTLY LIMITS THE REASONS YOU CAN EVICT SOMEONE AND LIMITS RENTAL INCREASES.

>> THAT BILL IS PART OF A LARGER PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES SECTION 8 VOUCHERS AS WELL.

ALL OF THOSE MEASURES WILL BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT EARLY NEXT YEAR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, DARRELL.

SWITCHING GEARS NOW, 14 PEOPLE HAVE DIED THIS YEAR AT RIKERS ISLAND, NEW YORK CITY'S MASSIVE JAIL COMPLEX.

SOME HAVE DIED BY SUICIDE.

OTHERS ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION.

AND THAT'S PROMPTED A NEW CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CONDITIONS AT RIKERS.

THERE ARE 5,400 PEOPLE INCARCERATE THERE'D AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT MOST OF THEM HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME.

THEY'RE BEING HELD THERE BEFORE TRIAL.

THEY SPEND MORE THAN 300 DAYS THERE ON AVERAGE, ACCORDING TO CITY DATA.

THE CITY HAS A PLAN TO CLOSE RIKERS IN A FEW YEARS BUT A LOT COULD HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

THAT'S WHY FORMER CHIEF JUDGE, JONATHAN LIPPTMAN, POSTED AN OP ED IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES" CALLING FOR CHANGES AT THE FACILITY IN THE MEANTIME.

ASIDE FROM HIS TENURE AS THE STATE'S TOP JUDGE, HE ALSO CHAIRS A COMMISSION ON CLOSING RIKERSS AND IMPROVING THE 18 CITY'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WE SPOKE THIS WEEK ABOUT THE CRISIS AT RIKERS, WHAT COULD BE DONE TO PREVENT MORE DEATHS.

[ THEME MUSIC ] FORMER CHIEF JUDGE, JONATHAN LIPPMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> MY PLEASURE, DAN.

>> THANK YOU.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIKERSS AND I JUST WANT TO START WITH MY THOUGHTS ON THIS SITUATION.

SOMETHING THAT'S ANNOYED ME ABOUT RIKERS IS THAT WE HAVE ALL THESE STATE LAWMAKERS AND FEDERAL LAWMAKERS VISITING RIKERS AND COMING OUT AND SAYING THESE CONDITIONS ARE AWFUL.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING AND THEN NOBODY DOES ANYTHING.

IT'S BEEN MONTHS WITH THAT.

SO LET'S START THERE.

WHO SHOULD BE THE ENTITY THAT SHOULD BE TRYING TO FIX THIS SITUATION AT RIKERS?

IS IT A TEAM EFFORT?

>> IT IS AN ENSEMBLE EFFORT, BUT CERTAINLY THE MAIN PLAYER IS THE CITY OF NEW YORK BUT OF COURSE, THE GOVERNOR ALWAYS PLAYS A ROLE IN THESE THINGS AND THE OTHER CITY COUNCIL PLAYED A STRONG ROLE IN GETTING THE APPROVAL OF CLOSING RIKERS.

SO WHILE IT'S AN ENSEMBLE CAST, IT IS BASICALLY THE CITY OF NEW YORK WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE WITH THE ASSISTANCE AND THE STATE COULD MAKE IT EASIER TO GET THINGS DONE AND AS YOU WILL NOTICE IN SO THINGS I PUT UP 19 PUBLICLY, I ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE AND THE GOVERNOR IN ADDITION TO THE CITY TAKING THE STEPS THAT THEY NEED TO TAKE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CITY FIRST.

SO AS YOU MENTIONED, RIKERS IS GOING TO CLOSE IN JUST A FEW YEARS, BUT I THINK EVERYONE CAN AGREE THAT WE DON'T WANT THE CONDITIONS AT RIKERSS TO BE AWFUL LEADING UP TO THAT POINT.

SO FROM THE CITY PERSPECTIVE, WHAT CAN BE DONE THERE TO TRY TO IMPROVE THIS SITUATION, WHETHER IT'S THE OVERCROWDING, WHETHER IT'S THE-- AS YOU WROTE IN YOUR OP ED IN THE "TIME"S, THE MOLD, THE DISGUSTING CONDITIONS THERE, WHAT CAN THE CITY DO?

>> WELL, I THINK THE BEST THING AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT THEY ALL CAN DO, PARTICULARLY THE CITY, IS TO BRING DOWN THE POPULATION OF RIKERS.

RIKERSS IS AN ANTIQUATED FACILITY.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STEPS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN TO DO THAT AND AMONG THEM AND JUST IN BROAD BASED AND WE CAN TALK IN DETAIL ABOUT ANYTHING YOU WANT, IS ONE, THE COURT'S HANDS ARE TIED BEHIND THEIR BACKS RIGHT NOW.

IF THEY NEED SIX FEET OF SEPARATION WHEN THEY TRY A CASE WHICH LITERALLY MAKES YOU USE THREE COURTROOMS TO TRY ONE CASE AND THAT IS CRAZY.

SO THAT'S-- THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE NEED COOPERATION FROM THE STATE AND THE CITY.

WE ALSO NEED TO-- THERE ARE THREE 20 PRISONS, TWO OF WHICH ARE UNOCCUPIED ALTOGETHER IN NEW YORK CITY THAT THE STATE OWNS THAT COULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY SO WE CAN PUT PEOPLE, WHETHER IT BE THE MENTALLY ILL WHO NEED A DIFFERENT KIND OF HELP OR WOMEN, PUT THEM THERE AND GET THEM OUT OF RIKERS.

SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE AND WHILE WE'RE DOING THAT, AS YOU SAY, WE NEED THE CITY ADMINISTRATION, THE de BLASIO FOLKS AND THE NEW ADMINISTRATION COMING IN, MAYOR ADAMS TO STEP UP THE PROCESS, GET THE SHOVELS IN THE GROUND AND START PHASING OUT RIKERS SO THAT BY THE CLOSING DATE OF AUGUST 2027, WE'RE READY TO ACTUALLY CLOSE IT DOWN.

BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT UNLESS THE REPLACEMENT FOR RIKERSS IS IN PLACE AND CAN HOUSE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN RIKERS.

>> I HOPE THAT WE SEE SOMETHING HAPPEN AT LEAST N PAST FEW MONTHS, IT'S JUST BABY STEPS TO ME.

WE HAVE DECREASED THE POPULATION A LITTLE BIT, NOT BY TOO MUCH, BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE'S KIND OF NOT AN APPETITE AT THE VERY LEVEL OF ACTUALLY DOING THINGS TO FIX RIKERS.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

>> THERE ISN'T, DAN.

IT'S AN INERTIA AND EVERYBODY POINTS THE FINGER AT EVERYBODY ELSE AND EVERYONE SAYS YES, WE MUST, WE MUST, WE MUST AND MEANWHILE, NOTHING HAPPENS.

I THINK 21 THAT THE NEW MAYOR WILL PUT SOME NEW ENERGY INTO THIS, MAYOR ADAMS, AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THE HOCHUL ADMINISTRATION IS ON TOP OF THIS AND TOGETHER, WE'VE GOT TO MOVE IT AND DAN, THE ISSUE IS YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIX RIKERS.

YOU CAN TAPER IT AROUND THE EDGES.

YOU CAN MAKE IT A LITTLE BETTER BUT THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW TO GET RID OF THIS DANGER TO LIFE AND PEOPLE ARE COMMITTING SUICIDE LEFT AND RIGHT OVER THERE IS TO GET THE POPULATION DOWN BECAUSE THE FACILITY, ITSELF, IS SO ANTIQUATED.

THAT'S WHY WE RECOMMEND SMALLER, SAFER, MORE HUMANE LOCAL JAILS TO REPLACE RIKERSS WITH A DIFFERENT CULTURE THERE.

YOU ALSO CAN'T PUT THE SAME RIKERS CULTURE AND PUT KNIT THE BURROWS.

YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT INCARCERATION.

WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF IT?

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

IT'S NOT TO PUNISH PEOPLE, THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> BEFORE I LET YOU GO, I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE COURT OF APPEALS.

IF PEOPLE AREN'T FAMILIAR, THE CHIEF JUDGE HEADS THE COURT OF APPEALS AS WELL AS THE STATE COURT SYSTEM.

WE DO HAVE A VACANCY ON THE COURT OF APPEALS RIGHT NOW THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS EXPECTED TO FILL SOMETIME SOON.

WHAT KIND OF PERSON DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE IN THAT POSITION?

GIVEN THE COMPOSITION OF THE COURT RIGHT NOW, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE COME IN?

22 WHAT KIND OF LAWYER OR JUDGE?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A GOOD QUESTION, DAN.

YOU KNOW, THEY DO HAVE SOME EXCELLENT CANDIDATES AMONG THE SEVEN PEOPLE WHO ARE NOMINATED.

I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE SOMEONE WHO ADDS TO THE DIVERSITY OF THE COURT.

BY THE DIVERSITY, I DON'T NECESSARILY MEAN RACIAL, GEOGRAPHIC.

IT COULD BE ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

IT COULD BE THE TYPE OF EXPERIENCE AS A LAWYER.

SO WITHOUT TELLING THE GOVERNOR WHAT TO DO, WHICH I DIDN'T DO WHEN I WAS A CHIEF JUDGE AND I WOULDN'T DO TODAY, THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION.

THAT IT BE PEOPLE WHO ADD TO THESE DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS AND DIFFERENT LIFE EXPERIENCES THAT GO INTO WHEN A PERSON GETS THE BLAME AND QUALIFIED TO SIT ON THE COURT OF APPEALS.

THEY KEEP ADDING THINGS TO THE COURT THAT, AGAIN, REFLECT THE WELL BEING OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN OUR STATE.

>> IT'S A REALLY INTERESTING TIME FOR THAT.

SO WE'LL BE WATCHING FOR IT, BUT WE DO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE, FORMER CHIEF JUDGE JONATHAN LIPPMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

>> THANK YOU, DAN.

MY DELIGHT PLEASURE TO TALK TO YOU.

[ THEME MUSIC ] SO WE'LL SEE WHAT THE CITY AND STATE DO TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS AT RIKERS AND JUST A 23 PROGRAMMING NOTE, WE WON'T HAVE A NEW SHOW NEXT WEEK, BUT TUNE IN FOR A SPECIAL EDITION.

SEE YOU THEN.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >>ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR "NEW YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.

AND BY THE DOMINIC FERRAIOLI FOUNDATION.