1 [ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," AN UPDATE IN THE PRIMARY RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER'S REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER JOINS US.

WE'LL DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF ALCOHOL TO GO AND HOCHUL TARGETS CYBERSECURITY AMID THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE CRISIS.

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

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

I'M DAN CLARK.

THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR GOT A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED THIS WEEK ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE WITH THE LATE ENTRY OF BUSINESSMAN HARRY WILSON.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER WILSON FROM 2010 WHEN HE RAN AGAINST STATE CONTROLLER TOM DINAPOLI.

HE CAME CLOSER TO WINNING STATEWIDE OFFICE THAT YEAR THAN ANY OTHER REPUBLICAN HAS IN THE LAST FOUR ELECTION CYCLES.

AND SINCE THEN, REPUBLICANS IN NEW YORK HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET HIM TO RUN AGAIN BUT FOR GOVERNOR.

SO IMAGINE THEIR SURPRISE WHEN WILSON ANNOUNCED HIS CAMPAIGN THIS WEEK, EIGHT MONTHS AFTER THE PARTY ALREADY PICKED ITS PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE, CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN.

2 BUT ZELDIN HAD HIS OWN BIG ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK.

HE PICKED NYPD COMMANDING OFFICER ALISON ESPOSITO AS HIS RUNNINGMATE.

SHE'LL NOW SEEK THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND SHE'S ALREADY TAKING AIM AT ALBANY BLAMING DEMOCRATS FOR THE STATE'S PROBLEMS.

>> ONE PARTY RULE IN ALBANY HAS DRIVEN OUR STATE TO THE BRINK OF NO RETURN AND IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE ELECT REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP TO EXECUTIVE BRANCH BUT ALSO TO BREAK A SUPERMAJORITY IN THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY.

>> BUT ZELDIN AND ESPOSITO HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD IF THEY'RE GOING TO BEAT HOKE UNTIL NOVEMBER.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A NEW POLL FROM SIENNA COLE THIS WEEK.

LET'S GET INTO IT WITH JON CAMPBELL FROM NYC AND GOTHAMIST JON.

THANK YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, DAN.

>> A FUN TIME POLLS ARE WHEN WE GET AN UPDATE FOR THESE RACES FOR GOVERNOR.

FIRST, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT KATHY HOCHUL AND HER PRIMARY.

SO LIKE PAST ELECTIONS, SHE'S FACING A PRIMARY.

THIS TIME, SHE'S FACING A 3 PRIMARY AS WE'VE TOLD OUR AUDIENCE MANY TIMES FROM NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE WILLIAMS AND CONGRESSMAN TOM SUOZZI.

SHE HAS A VERY WIDE LEAD AHEAD IN THAT RACE.

CAN JUMAANE OR SUOZZI MAKE UP THAT GROUND GOING INTO THE JUNE PRIMARY, DO YOU THINK, BASED ON PAST ELECTIONS?

>> WELL, LISTEN, WE'RE A LITTLE LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS AWAY.

A LOT CAN HAPPEN.

SURE.

BUT THIS IS A BIG LEAD.

IT'S 46% FOR KATHY HOCHUL.

17 FOR JUMAANE WILLIAMS ON HER LEFT AND 9% FOR TOM SUOZZI ON HER RIGHT, AND SHE IS TRYING TO OCCUPY THAT MORE MODERATE LANE AMONG DEMOCRATS AND IT'S-- IT'S, YOU KNOW, SO FAR, SHE HAS POSITIONED HERSELF AS THE FRONTRUNNER.

SHE'S RAISED MORE THAN $20 MILLION.

THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY.

THAT IS A RECORD-BREAKING AMOUNT OF MONEY.

>> IT'S SO MUCH MONEY.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SHE'S MADE THAT MUCH MONEY IN THAT SHORT TIME.

>> AND MONEY DOESN'T NECESSARILY TRANSLATE TO VOTES, BUT IT IS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE IT ALLOWS YOU TO AIR ADVERTISEMENTS.

IT ALLOWS YOU TO REACH CONSTITUENCIES THAT YOU 4 MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE UNABLE TO REACH.

AND SHE HAS THE POWER OF INCUMBENCY, TOO.

>> UH-HUH.

>> SHE'S MORE WELL KNOWN BY HER OPPONENTS BY THE VERY VIRTUE OF HER BEING IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE RIGHT NOW AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HELP HER AGAINST HER DEMOCRATIC OPPONENTS AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT CERTAINLY WILL HELP HER AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN OPPONENTS.

>> SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY POLLING ON KATHY HOCHUL VERSUS A REPUBLICAN BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE HASN'T BEEN OFFICIALLY CHOSEN.

THEY'LL CHOOSE IT AT THE NOMINATING CONVENTION NEXT WEEK.

BUT WE DO HAVE SOME POLLING HERE IN THE SIENNA POLL ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES IN THE PRIMARY AND THEIR FAVORABILITY AND THEIR NAME RECOGNITION AND THE THING THAT JUMPS OUT AT ME AND THIS JUMPED OUT IN THE LAST SIENNA POLL AS WELL.

NOBODY KNOWS WHO THESE REPUBLICAN COMMANDS ARE.

SO WHAT'S THEIR PATH TO EVEN CHALLENGING HOCHUL WHEN SHE HAS THE BULLY PULPIT OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THESE REPUBLICANS ARE UNRECOGNIZABLE?

5 >> SHE HAS THE BULLY PULPIT OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND SHE ALSO HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF 2:1 DEMOCRATIC STATE-- MORE THAN 2:1 DEMOCRATIC STATE.

>> RIGHT.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF TIME FOR REPUBLICANS TO-- TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO THE ELECTORATE.

YOU HAVE A HANDFUL OF REPUBLICANS RIGHT NOW.

YOU HAVE LEE ZELDIN, THE CONGRESSMAN FROM LONG ISLAND, AH, YOU'VE GOT ROB ASTORINO WHO RAN FOR GOVERNOR BEFORE.

YOU'VE GOT ANDREW GIULIANI WHO SEEMS TO BE THE MOST WELL KNOWN OF ANY OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES BASED ON POLLING, BUT THAT COULD BE A FUNCTION OF HIS FAMOUS FATHER, RUDY GIULIANI, AND THIS WEEK, YOU DID HAVE AN INTERESTING TWIST HERE, WITH I IS A GUY BY THE NAME OF HARRY WILSON WHO IS A BUSINESS CONSULTANT, A FORMER HEDGE FUND MANAGER, A WEALTHY INDIVIDUAL WHO PREVIOUSLY RAN FOR OFFICE IN 2010 AND HAS SHOWN SOME LEVEL OF WILLINGNESS TO PUT HIS OWN MONEY INTO THE RACE AND MONEY CAN BE AN EQUALIZER.

SO HARRY WILSON JOIN THE RACE THIS WEEK.

HE IS GOING TO BE AT THE CONVENTION OR AT LEAST HIS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE AT THE CONVENTION.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE'LL MAKE THE BALLOT THAT WAY BUT 6 CERTAINLY, HE CAN TRY TO PETITION HIS WAY ON AFTER.

HE COULD BE A PLAYER HERE.

HE COULD BE.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT ANYBODY ELSE GETS ON THE BALLOT AT THE CONVENTION?

WE'RE JUST LOOKING TO OUR CRYSTAL BALL HERE.

WE DON'T KNOW.

WE HAVE NO IDEA.

>> SO TO GET ON THE BALLOT, YOU NEED AT LEAST 25% OF THE WEIGHTED VOTE OF THE REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE AND SO FAR, LEE ZELDIN SEEMS TO BE CLEANING UP AMONG LEADERS.

HE'S GOT ENDORSEMENTS FROM 60 OF 62 COUNTY REPUBLICAN LEADERS.

THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVEN'T ENDORSED HIM ARE WESTCHESTERER WHO IS BACKING ROB ASTORINO, THEIR HOMETOWN CANDIDATE, AND LEWIS COUNTY WHICH IS BACKING THEIR LOCAL SHERIFF, WHO IS RUNNING A LONG SHOT BID.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT NOBODY ELSE WILL MAKE THAT 25% MARK, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOLLOW THEIR COUNTY LEADERS AND IF LEE ZELDIN HAS 60 OF 62 COUNTIES THAT MEANS HE'S WELL ON HIS WAY TO BEING THE ONLY ONE ON THE BALLOT.

>> YOU KNOW, SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT THIS POLL THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE WE GOT ON THE AIR IS THIS STRIKING STATISTIC THAT I DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT 7 91% OF VOTERS SAY THAT CRIME IS A PRIORITY FOR THEM.

I THINK-- >> CRIME IS EITHER A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE OR A SOMEWHAT SERIOUS ISSUE.

>> YEAH.

SO HOW DO YOU THINK THAT AFFECTS THIS YEAR IN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE ELECTIONS?

I IMAGINE IT MUST MEAN THAT THE LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING CRIME-RELATED.

WHETHER THAT LOOKS LIKE TWEAKS TO BAIL REFORM, PROBABLY NOT, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE THEY GO WITH IT.

>> ON THE LEGISLATURE SIDE, YOU SEE THE LEGISLATURE, THE DEMOCRATIC-LED LEGISLATURE FACING PRESSURE OF THE DEMOCRATIC MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY TO CHANGE THE BAIL LAWS THAT THEY JUST CHANGED A FEW YEARS AGO.

AND THEY'VE-- THE LEADERSHIP IS SIGNALING THAT THEY DON'T INTEND ON DOING THAT.

SO WHETHER OR NOT SOMETHING HAPPENS THERE, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT KIND OF PRESSURE THEY FACE FROM THE PUBLIC, WHAT KIND OF PRESSURE THEY FACE AT THE BALLOT BOX.

THAT SAID, IT IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE IN THE GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO MAKE IT AN ISSUE.

TOM SUOZZI IS TRYING TO MAKE IT AN ISSUE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AND IT IS, YOU KNOW, THAT POLL NUMBER IS REALLY TELLING 8 BECAUSE WE KNOW HISTORICALLY CRIME RATES ARE BELOW WHERE THEY WERE DECADES AGO.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT IF PEOPLE FEEL LIKE CRIME IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE OR A SOMEWHAT SERIOUS ISSUE, THAT'S REALLY ALL THAT THE MATTERS IN TERMS OF ELECTORAL POLITICS.

SO YOU SEE CANDIDATES TRYING TO EXPLOIT THAT.

YOU SEE CANDIDATES TRYING TO MAKE THAT THEIR ISSUE.

THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY LEE ZELDIN PICKED AIL SON ESPOSITO, A DECADE-LONG MEMBER OF NYPD AS HIS RUNNING MATE.

THEY'RE TRYING TO BE LAW AND ORDER CANDIDATES AND MAKE THAT THE MAJOR ISSUE OF THE CAMPAIGN.

>> WHICH I'M WONDERING, IT WAS CERTAINLY EFFECTIVE IN LAST YEAR'S ELECTIONS.

I MEAN, WE CAN'T SAY ONE REASON OR ANOTHER DEFINITIVELY WHY SOMEBODY WINS AN ELECTION OR WHY SOMEBODY LOSES AN ELECTION, BUT WE CERTAINLY SAW REPUBLICANS CLEAN HOUSE ON LONG ISLAND FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SEAT AND THE DISTRICT SEAT.

>> THE ATTORNEY.

>> YEAH.

WE'LL SEE IF THEIR MESSAGE IS STILL EFFECTIVE.

9 WE'LL SEE IF IT CONTINUES TO BE EFFECTIVE THIS YEAR.

BUT WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE.

JON CAMPBELL FROM WNYC AND GOTHAMIST, THANK YOU.

>> YOU NO.

>> I STAKING WITH POLITICS NOW.

AS WE JUST TOLD YOU, REPUBLICANS WILL GATHER IN NASSAU COUNTY NEXT WEEK FOR THEIR STATE NOMINATING CONVENTION.

THAT'S WHERE THEY PICK THEIR PREFERRED NOMINEES FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE LIKE GOVERNOR.

BUT THAT ALSO INCLUDES THE PARTY'S NOMINATION FOR U.S. SENATE HERE IN NEW YORK.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER IS UP FOR RE-ELECTION THIS YEAR AND HE'S GETTING A CHALLENGE FROM A FEW REPUBLICANS.

INCLUDING POLITICAL NEWCOMER JOE PINION PINION IS BEST KNOWN AS A POLITICAL COMMENTATOR 0 ON TV BUT ALSO HAS EXPERIENCE IN HEALTHCARE AND ENERGY ADVOCACY AND HE SAYS SCHUMER COULD BE VULNERABLE TO AN UPSET.

WE SPOKE THIS WEEK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> JOE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

10 THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> OF COURSE.

ANYTIME.

SO YOU'RE RUNNING FOR U.S. SENATE AGAINST SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER HERE IN NEW YORK.

FIRST, I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR VIEWERS HERE.

SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO JOE PINION IS.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE BEFORE THAT LED YOU TO THIS MOMENT?

>> CERTAINLY.

I'M A LIFELONG NEW YORKER, BORN AND RAISED IN YONKERS, NEW YORK.

I ATTENDED HORACE MANN HIGH SCHOOL IN RIVERDALE IN THE BRONX.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

PLAYED FOOTBALL THERE.

GO GATES!

FROM MY POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE, I'VE BEEN IN THE POLITICAL SPACE FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

I WAS THE OUTREACH DIRECTOR FOR POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN NEW YORK FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

I WAS THE NATIONAL RAPID RESPONSE DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF YOUNG REPUBLICANS FOR A WHILE AND THESE PUBLICLY FACING OPPORTUNITIES ALLOWED ME TO BE ABLE TO INTERFACE WITH THE MEDIA, WHICH LED TO OPPORTUNITIES TO BE A POLITICAL COMMENTATOR AND MY DECISION TO GET INTO THIS RACES WAS NOT BECAUSE OF SOME LIFELONG AMBITION BUT CERTAINLY LOOKING AT THE 11 PAIN THAT THE PEOPLE IN NEW YORK WERE EXPERIENCING.

IT CAME TO ME THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO GET INTO A RACE WHEN THE PERSON WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING THE INTEREST OF ALL NEW YORKERS EFFECTIVELY HAS PLACED THEIR HEAD IN THE SAND TO CHOOSING TO HOLD ONTO POWER FOR HIMSELF INSTEAD OF USING THAT POWER TO EMPOWER THE CITIZENS OF THIS STATE.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

SO CHUCK SCHUMER IS THE U.S. SENATE MAJORITY LEADER RIGHT NOW.

IT'S THE IRS TIME THAT NEW YORK HAD THAT KIND OF POWER IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN DECADES.

WHY SHOULD VOTERS PICK YOU OVER CHUCK SCHUMER WHEN IF YOU COME INTO OFFICE, YOU WOULD NOT BE THE MAJORITY LEADER, SO YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PRO-VID THE SAME KIND OF FEDERAL AID AND RESOURCES TO NEW YORK THAT HE'S ABLE TO IN THAT POSITION?

>> I THINK THAT'S A LOT OF INSIDE BASEBALL THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO VOTERS UNTIL THEY ASK THEMSELVES THE QUESTION, WHAT HAS ALL OF THIS INFLUENCE, AS HE YIELDED FOR MY EVERYDAY LIFE?

CHUCK SCHUMER PRIDES HIMSELF ON GOING TO ALL 62 COUNTIES FOR THE 24 YEARS HE'S BEEN IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

HE SAYS HE BRINGS HOME THE BACON.

WHEN I TALK TO NEW YORKERS EVERY DAY, THEY FEEL AS IF 12 THEIR BELLY IS EMPTY.

WE LEAD THE NATION IN OUTWARD MIGRATION FOR A REASON.

ONE MILLION PEOPLE HAVE VOTED WITH THEIR FEET THAT A WORKING CLASS STATE FILLED WITH WORKING CLASS PEOPLE HAVE NOT NEARLY ENOUGH WORKING CLASS OPPORTUNITIES TO GO AROUND.

SO FOR ME, OUR THESIS FOR THIS CAMPAIGN IS CLEAR.

IF YOU ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE WORLD AS IT IS TODAY, YOU CANNOT CONTINUE TO VOTE FOR THE ARCHITECTS WHO BUILT IT.

THERE IS NO GREATER ARCHITECT IN AMERICAN POLITICS TODAY THAN CHUCK SCHUMER.

WE BELIEVE WE CAN BUILD A COMMON COALITION TO BE SUCCESSFUL NOT ONLY IN THIS ELECTION BUT PROVIDE THE TYPE OF ADVOCACY THAT THE PEOPLE PUTS THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK FIRST NOT THE POLITICS OF A POLITICAL PARTY.

>> SO LET'S TALK SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF THOSE PROBLEMS.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT NEW YORKERS THAT ARE MOVING OUT OF THE STATE AND NEW YORKERS THAT ARE STILL HERE, COST OF LIVING IS JUST INSURMOUNTABLE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WE HAVE OTHER ISSUES HERE AS WELL.

TELL ME WHAT YOU WOULD DO THE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO TURN THINGS AROUND.

SOME OF THIS IS IN THE STATE'S CONTROL IN TERMS OF PROPERTY TAXES FROM STATE FUNDING GOING TO LOCAL 13 GOVERNMENTS.

OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN PLAY A ROLE THERE AS WELL.

TELL ME WHAT YOU WOULD TRY TO DO TO TURN THINGS AROUND HERE IN NEW YORK.

>> WELL, I THINK AT THE CRUX OF ALL OF THIS IS THIS NOTION THAT GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN GIVEN CART BLANCHE TO ACT IN A MANNER THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR CANNOT.

THAT PERMEATES OUR LIVES IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

YOU CAN START WITH SOMETHING AS BASIC AS PUBLIC HOUSING.

THE LARGEST SLUM LORD IN AMERICA IS NOT A MILLIONAIRE OR A BILLIONAIRE.

IT IS NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC HOUSING.

THAT'S HOUSING OVER HALF A MILLION SOULS.

LARGER THAN THE POPULATION OF BUFFALO AND YONKERS, NEW YORK, MY HOMETOWN, COMBINED.

IF I WERE A BILLIONAIRE WHO OWNED ANITE (PH.)

AND THE CONDITIONS WERE AS THEY ARE TODAY, I WOULD BE IN PRISON.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IN THAT REGARD TO MAKE SURE THAT ACCOUNTABILITY IS IN PLACE SO THAT PEOPLE GET ACCESS TO THE AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY THEY DESERVE.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING AS BASIC AS EDUCATION.

THE INFLATION THAT WE SEE IN EDUCATION, IT'S THE ONE SECTOR IN THE WORLD WHERE THE ABILITY TO PAY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THE PRICE IS ACTUALLY BEING CHARGED.

TUITION RATES HAVE 14 SKYROCKETED NEARLY 300% SO YES, WE NEED TO HAVE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT CANCELING THE DEBT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT DRIVES THE COST THAT LEADS TO THE DEBT.

IT'S QUITE SIMPLE.

SAY YOU MUST TETHER YOUR TUITION COSTS TO THE ACTUAL EARNING POTENTIAL, TO THE INFLATION OR HOWEVER MUCH YOU ARE OVER THAT PERCENTAGE, YOU ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO LOSE THAT CORRELATING PERCENTAGE OF YOUR TAX-EXEMPT STATUS.

I THINK YOU WILL SEE QUITE CLEARLY TUITION RATES WOULD START TO FALL.

I COULD GO ON FOR HOURS BECAUSE I'M A NERD WITH NO LIFE.

[LAUGHTER] THERE'S PLENTY OF WAYS THAT WE CAN GET THE GOVERNMENT TO WORK FOR WE THE PEOPLE AGAIN AND THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO DON'T SEEM TO RECOGNIZE THAT ARE THE PEOPLE WHOM WE HAVE ENTRUSTED TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE GOVERNMENT TO WORK FOR US IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> WHERE ARE YOU ON THAT STUDENT LOAN CANCELLATION?

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SENATOR SCHUMER HAS TRIED TO MAKE A PRIORITY OUT OF IN RECENT MONTHS, ASKING PRESIDENT BIDEN TO CANCEL AT LEAST $10,000 IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT FOR EVERYBODY THAT HAS THAT KIND OF DEBT.

WHERE ARE YOU ON THAT?

>> IT SHOULD BE CLEAR 15 SENATOR SCHUMER HAS NOT MADE IT A PRIORITY.

HE'S MADE IT A PRIME TALKING POINT.

IF HE WANTED TO IT TO BE A PRIORITY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PRIORITY.

YES, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO DID THE RIGHT THING, WHO MADE DECISIONS AND PAID OFF THAT DEBT ALSO GET SOME TYPE OF ACTUAL RECUPERATION OF THE FACT THAT THEY ALSO INCURRED DEBT AND SOMETIMES AT GREAT PERIL TO THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY AND THE ROOT CAUSE IN MANY WAYS ARE THE POLITICIANS WHO TAKE THE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE BANKS TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN'T GET RID OF THE DEBT AND THEN ONCE THEY'RE IN POWER, SAY THAT THEY HAVE THE POWER TO CANCEL THE DEBT AND USE IT AS A CUDGEL TO MAKE SURE THIS YOU CAN GET YOUR VOTE AND KEEP YOU BLIND FROM THE TRUTH, WHICH THEY, IN MANY WAYS, ARE THE SOURCE OF THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM.

>> AS WE TALK ABOUT COST OF LIVING THERE IS ONE ISSUE THAT NEW YORK DEMOCRATS LIKE TO BRING UP QUITE A BIT.

IN 2017, REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS PLACED A CAP ON THE DEDUCTIBILITY OF STATE AND LOCAL TAXES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

IT'S AN ISSUE THAT DOESN'T APPLY TO EVERYBODY IN NEW YORK.

USUALLY, IT APPLIES TO HIGH-INCOME PEOPLE.

I WONDER WHERE YOU ARE ON 16 THAT CAP?

DO YOU THINK IT SHOULD STAY AT THAT $10,000 LEVEL OR DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE RAISED OR ELIMINATED?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, LOOK, I THINK THE CAP CRIPPLES NEW YORKERS AND WE'RE NOT REALLY TALKING ABOUT RICH NEW YORKERS, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING IN NEW YORK.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WORKING FAMILIES JUST TRYING TO GET BY DEALING WITH RUN-AWAY, OUT-OF-CONTROL PROPERTY TAXES TO PAY FOR AN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM THAT IS NOT DELIVERING OUR STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY THEY DESERVE OR GIVING THEM THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES.

SO THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS BROKEN.

IT IS MORALLY BANKRUPT AND IT IS ALSO SYSTEMICALLY BROKEN.

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT COLLECTIVELY, HOLISTICALLY SO YES, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF RELIEF TO THOSE MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES BEFORE THE MIDDLE CLASS COMPLETELY BECOMES AN ENDANGERED SPECIES.

THOSE ARE OUR PRIORITIES.

THAT'S WHY WE GOT IN THIS RACE AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE DESPERATELY NEED TO DISCUSS IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

JOE PINION, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CAMPAIGN.

IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXCITING 17 ONE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US >> I APPRECIATE IT.

GOD BLESS.

HAVE A GOOD ONE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO SENATOR SCHUMER'S CAMPAIGN TO GET HIM ON THE SHOW BUT HAVEN'T HEARD BACK JUST YET.

SWITCHING GEARS NOW, THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE CRISIS HAS THE U.S. ON ALERT.

DARRELL CAMP IS HERE WITH MORE.

DARRELL.

>> THANKS, DAN.

NEW YORK'S OFFICIALS ARE WARNING ABOUT ONE OF THE UNSEEN THREATS FROM THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE CRISIS.

THAT IS THE POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD CYBER ATTACKS IN NEW YORK AND THE USA AS A WHOLE.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SAID THIS WEEK THAT THE STATE IS PREPARED TO HANDLE THAT.

DETAILING NEW PLANS FOR THE STATE'S JOINT SECURITY OPERATIONS CENTER.

THE CENTER, CALLED JSOC, WILL FOCUS ON CYBERSECURITY THREATS, SUCH AS RANSOMWARE ATTACKS.

IT WAS PLANNED BEFORE THE RECENT ESCALATION OF THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE CRISIS AND HOCHUL SAID THIS WEEK THAT IT'S MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER.

18 >> IT CERTAINLY WAS AN IMPORTANT CALL I HAD WITH THE WHITE HOUSE AND OTHERS ON FRIDAY THAT, YOU KNOW, REMINDED US OF THE VULNERABILITIES OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE WORLD AND THE IMPACT IT COULD HAVE RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY.

A CITY THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO TERRORISTS, A PLACE WHERE THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE ATTACKING A WAY OF LIFE.

THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE, IF YOU ATTACK NEW YORK CITY AND NEW YORK STATE.

>> JSOC WILL ALSO BE A RESOURCE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT FACING CYBER THREATS INCLUDING NEW YORK CITY.

NEW YORK CITY MAYOR NEW YORK ADAMS SAID EVEN THOUGH VIRTUAL THREATS MAY BE OUT OF SIGHT, CYBERSECURITY SHOULD NOT BE OUT OF MIND OR TAKEN GRANTED WHEN IT COMES TO RUSSIAN ACTIVITY.

>> THIS IS NOT HYPOTHETICAL.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT'S DISTANCE REMOVE.

THESE ATTACKS AND ATTEMPTED ATTACKS ARE HAPPENING EVERY DAY.

IT'S JUST THAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE THE RIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE TO CONSTANTLY FORTIFY HOW WE APPROACH THIS.

>> SOME REPUBLICANS AT BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS HAVE BEEN QUITE CRITICAL OF PRESIDENT BIDEN IN RECENT 19 DAYS, SAYING HE HAS NOT BEEN STRONG ENOUGH AGAINST RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN.

DEMOCRATS, MEANWHILE, APPEARED TO BE BEHIND BIDEN FOR THE MOST PART AS THE CRISIS CONTINUES.

THAT INCLUDES U.S. SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER.

HERE'S WHAT HE TOLD REPORTERS THIS WEEK IN ALBANY.

>> SO THE PRESIDENT HAS THE ABILITY TO IMPOSE SWIFT, STRONG, EFFECTIVE SANCTIONS AND I BELIEVE HE'S USING THEM APPROPRIATELY.

>> AND WE WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE HOW THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE CRISIS IMPACTS NEW YORK AS IT CONTINUES TO DEVELOP.

>> INTERESTING STUFF.

THANK YOU, DARRELL.

ALL RIGHT.

BRINGING US BACK NOW TO THE STATE CAPITOL, RESTAURANTS ARE HOPING FOR A LIFE LINE IN THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET AFTER THOUSANDS WERE FORCED TO CUT BACK AND CLOSE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

ONE OPTION ON THE TABLE IS ALCOHOL TO GO.

YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC, RESTAURANTS WERE ALLOWED TO SELL ALCOHOL WITH TAKEOUT ORDERS FOR EITHER PICKUP OR DELIVERY BUT THAT ENDED LAST JUNE WHEN THE STATE ENDED A SERIES OF EMERGENCY PANDEMIC 20 RULES.

SINCE THEN, RESTAURANTS HAVE ASKED FOR IT BACK SAYING IT WOULD BE A HUGE RELIEF IN A DIFFICULT TIME.

AND THAT HAS THE BACKING OF GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AS WELL.

BUT THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN HARDER TO CONVINCE.

FOR MORE ON THAT, I SPOKE EARLIER TODAY WITH MELISSA FLEISCHUT WITH THE NEW YORK STATE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] MELISSA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE >> I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> WE'RE TALKING ALCOHOL TO GO, WITH I IS THIS ISSUE YOU'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW SINCE LAST SUMMER WHEN IT EXPIRED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

RESTAURANTS WERE ALLOWED TO SEND ALCOHOL TO GO FOR PICKUP AND DELIVERY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT ALLOWED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

SO THERE'S THIS PUSH AT THE STATE LEVEL TO GET THIS PERMANENTLY FOR RESTAURANTS OR IN SOME CASE, I THINK A BILL HAS IT FOR TWO YEARS OR ONE YEAR.

YOUR GOAL IS TO HAVE IT PERMANENT.

SO FAR, THE LEGISLATURE SAID THEY WANT TO DO THIS.

IT HAS THE BACKING OF GOVERNOR HOCHUL.

WHY DO YOU THINK LAWMAKERS HAVEN'T COALESCED AROUND THIS?

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE OPPOSITION IS THERE?

21 >> THERE DID SEEM TO BE SOME BACK AND FORTH THERE NEAR THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE DID PUSH FOR IT LAST YEAR AS WELL AND DIDN'T GET THERE.

MOST OF THE CONCERNS WE HEARD CAME FROM CONCERNS OVER THE LIQUOR STORE INDUSTRY AND WHAT THEY WERE RAISING AS POSSIBLE CONCERNS THAT WE WOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF THING TIFF IMPACT ON THEIR BUSINESS, BUT THAT REALLY DIDN'T HAPPEN DURING THE 15 MONTHS THAT WE WERE ALLOWED TO HAVE ALCOHOL TO GO.

>> IT WAS THE OPPOSITE.

THEY MADE RECORD PROFITS.

>> THAT CORRECT.

>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

AND IT'S INTERESTING TO ME, SO I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS A LOT AND LIQUOR STORES HAVE-- LIQUOR STORES ESSENTIALLY HAVE ALCOHOL TO GO THEMSELVES BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE APPS WHERE YOU CAN LITERALLY ORDER BOTTLES OF LIQUOR FROM LIQUOR STORES AND HAVE THEM DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME.

SO FROM THE RESTAURANT PERSPECTIVE, CAN YOU KIND OF GIVE SOME CONTEXT?

HOW DID THIS BENEFIT RESTAURANTS?

HOW BIG OF A HELP WAS IT DURING PANDEMIC?

>> SO DURING THE TIME THAT WE WERE ALLOWED TO DO 22 ALCOHOL TO GO, WE FOUND THAT THOSE THAT WERE ABLE TO OFFER IT AS PART OF THEIR TAKEOUT AND DELIVERY PACKAGE HAD ABOUT 20 TO 40% OF THEIR TAKEOUT SALES THAT WENT TO ALCOHOL TO GO.

DEPENDING ON HOW CREATIVE THEY GOT AND HOW IMAGINATIVE THEY WERE IN THEIR OFFERINGS.

>> THAT'S A LOT FOR JUST SOMEBODY'S GENERAL SALES.

I THINK IT'S UP TO 40%.

IT'S QUITE THE REVENUE BOOST.

>> YEP.

WE HEARD THAT THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, ABLE TO PAY FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBERS OR PAY UTILITY BILL AT THAT TIME FROM THE INCOME THEY GOT FROM THIS PROGRAM.

>> THAT'S ALWAYS GOOD.

>> YEAH.

>> SO MOVING FORWARD, IF YOU GET THIS BACK, LET'S LOOK AT RESTAURANT INDUSTRY NOW.

SO COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, FINGERS CROSSED, KNOCK ON WOOD, THAT WE'RE GOING TO COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC SOMETIME SOON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> HOW ARE RESTAURANTS RIGHT NOW IN NEW YORK?

WHAT DOES 23 THE LOSS LOOK LIKE FROM THE START OF THE PANDEMIC TO WHERE WE ARE NOW?

>> TOTAL LOSS IN SALES WOULD BE IN THE BILLIONS.

>> WOW.

>> WE SAW FROM THE RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND THAT PASSED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THEY WERE ABLE TO APPLY FOR FUNDING FOR THEIR 2020 LOSSES AND THE 2020 LOSSES OF THE 27,000 APPLICANTS THAT WE SAW APPLY HAD ASKED FOR MORE THAN 9.6 BILLION, AND THEY HAD TO SUBTRACT OUT ANY PAYROLL PROTECTION LOANS THAT THEY GOT AT THAT TIME AS WELL.

SO THEY'RE SIGNIFICANT JUST FROM THAT YEAR ALONE.

NOT COUNTING 2021 AND THEN WHAT WE SAW WITH THIS RECENT OMICRON WAVE HIT THEM HARD OVER THE HOLIDAYS AS WELL.

>> YEAH.

I CAN IMAGINE.

SO MOVING FORWARD, IF WE WERE TO PUT ALCOHOL TO GO BACK INTO PLACE, HOW MUCH WOULD THAT HELP RESTAURANTS IN TERMS OF THEIR RECOVERY?

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE A LIFE LINE FOR RESTAURANTS MOVING FORWARD RIGHT NOW, OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WOULD JUST KIND OF PROVIDE MORE OF A LITTLE BUMP FOR THEM?

I'M TRYING TO GAUGE AS WE COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC AND THINGS GET BACK TO NORMAL, HOW BIG OF A PART OF A 24 BUSINESS WOULD IT BE FOR THEM?

>> IT DEFINITELY DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF RESTAURANT AS TO HOW BIG THE OFFERING IS.

FOR SOME, IT WOULD BE A LIFE LINE.

THEY WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE ABLE TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, ADDITION SALES AND REVENUE OUT OF THIS THAT COULD SUSTAIN THEIR BUSINESSES.

FOR OTHERS, IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXTRA BUMP TO HELP THEM BUILD BACK AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO TAKE ALL THE PIECES THAT REALLY WORKED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THINGS LIKE OUTDOOR DINING AND ALCOHOL TO GO AND PUT THEM TOGETHER AND HELP REBUILD THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE WE REALLY FEEL IT'S GOING TAKE-- I'M HEARING YEARS TO BRING THE INDUSTRY BACK.

>> HE 0, I CAN IMAGINE.

I MEAN, TWO YEARS OF A PANDEMIC WHERE YOU WERE DEALING WITH HE LOOR SALES, LESS PEOPLE COMING INTO RESTAURANTS.

JUST A DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE FOR RESTAURANTS AROUND THE STATE, I CAN IMAGINE IT'S GOING TO TAKE YEARS TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.

YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THIS, I KNOW ONE OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT ALCOHOL TO GO WAS-- IT WAS ADDRESSED IN THE RULES IS IF A RESTAURANT IS GIVING SOMEBODY ALCOHOL TO GO, ARE THEY GOING TO WALK DOWN STREET WITH A MARGARITA AND BE PUBLICLY DRINKING DOWN THE STREET?

WHAT KIND OF REGULATIONS CAN THE STATE 25 PUT IN PLACE TO ADDRESS THOSE TYPES OF CONCERNS OF THIS PUBLIC DRINKING OR, YOU KNOW, ANY OTHER SAFETY CONCERNS RELATED TO IT?

>> SO THE OPEN CONTAINER RULES ARE STILL THERE.

THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN THERE.

I THINK WHAT WE SAW A LOT DURING THE EARLY MONTHS OF ALCOHOL TO GO WAS THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO AND THERE WAS NOTHING OPEN.

SO THEY WERE COLLECTING AND GATHERING ON THE STREETS.

SOMETIMES MONTHS AFTER THEY HAD SEEN AFTER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD BEEN LOCKED AWAY FOR QUITE SOME TIME AT THAT POINT.

I DON'T THINK WE SAW IT AS MUCH IN 2021, AND I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT ALCOHOL TO GO AS A WHOLE OVER THE TIME PERIOD WE WERE ALLOWED TO DO IT, IT REALLY WASN'T A PROBLEM AFTER WE GOT THE INITIAL REOPENING UNDERWAY.

>> SO DO WE KNOW IN THE LEGISLATURE-- THIS IS THE PART OF THIS THAT IS KIND OF LIKE A HISTORY TO ME.

DO WE KNOW WHO IN THE LEGISLATURE IS OPPOSED TO THIS?

WHO IS HOLDING THIS UP?

IT HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNOR.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE'S NOT ANY CLEAR OPPOSITION FROM THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO IT.

DO WE KNOW ANYONE SPECIFIC THAT IS TRYING TO HOLD THIS UP?

>> WELL, WE'RE REALLY 26 HOPEFUL THAT IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE ASSEMBLY ONE HOUSE BILL.

WE'RE REALLY HOPEFUL THAT THERE ISN'T STRONG OPPOSITION AMONGST THE LEGISLATURE AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET IT INCLUDED IN THE ONE HOUSE BILLS AND INCLUDED IN THE FINAL PACKAGE WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE NEGOTIATIONS AS WE MOVE THROUGH MARCH.

>> I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE.

I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A BILL FROM ASSEMBLY MEMBER PAT FAHY AND I THINK HER BILL EXPANDED IT FOR A YEAR OR TWO YEARS.

YOU WANT THIS TO BE PERMANENT, RIGHT, NOT JUST THROUGH THIS KIND OF RECOVERY PERIOD?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SUPPORTING GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND HER EFFORTS AND THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET TO MAKE IT PERMANENT AND BRING BACK DRINKS TO GO.

SO WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT, YES.

>> WITH JUST 30, 45 SECONDS LEFT, TELL ME WHAT ELSE THE STATE CAN DO TO HELP RESTAURANTS MOVING FORWARD.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS WOULD HELP RESTAURANTS A LITTLE BIT.

I DON'T THINK THAT IT FILLS ALL THE GAPS.

WHAT CAN THE STATE DO?

>> IT DOESN'T FILL ALL THE GAPS.

THE FUNDING THAT WE WOULD NEED, AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, IN 27 THE BILLIONS IS STILL NEEDED.

SO FOR THOSE 17,000 THAT DIDN'T GET FUNDING FROM THE RRF, WE'RE CONTINUING TO ASK CONGRESS FOR THAT.

THAT'S ALMOST $6 BILLION ASK JUST FOR THOSE APPLICANTS THAT APPLIED AND DIDN'T GET FUNDED LAST YEAR.

SO WE EXPECT THAT TO HAVE TO COME FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT YOU KNOW, SMALL THINGS LIKE CONTINUING OUTDOOR DINING WITH EASED RESTRICTIONS FROM THE SLA HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO THE INDUSTRY.

WE'RE HOPING THAT THEY'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE WILL SEE WHERE IT GOES.

RESTAURANTS ARE VITAL TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

I IMAGINE THAT LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR WILL LOOK AT WAYS TO BOOST UP THAT INDUSTRY AS THEY ARE WITH OTHER INDUSTRIES LIKE HEALTHCARE.

WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES.

MELISSA FLY SHOE WITH THE NEW YORK RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> SO WE'LL SEE WHERE ALCOHOL TO GO ENDS UP EITHER IN THE STATE BUDGET OR OTHERWISE.

UNTIL THEN, THANKS FOR 28 WATCHING THIS WEEK'S "NEW YORK NOW."

HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

AND BE WELL.

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

[ SOUND OF DOORS LOCKING ]