1 [ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," GOVERNOR HOCHUL GAVE HERSELF 45 DAYS TO TRANSITION INTO OFFICE AND THAT ENDS THIS WEEKEND.

WE'LL SEE WHAT SHE'S DONE AND WHAT'S AHEAD.

JIMMY VIELKIND FROM "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" AND MARINA VILLENUEVE FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS JOIN ME ON THAT AND THE OTHER NEWS OF THE WEEK.

THEN DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERS WANT OTHER DEMOCRATS TO STAY OUT OF THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR BUT A PRIMARY IS ALREADY BREWING.

NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE WILLIAMS JOINS ME TO DISCUSS HIS OWN POTENTIAL CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR.

LATER, THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS STILL DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET.

DARRELL CAMP REPORTS ON WHY AND WHAT CAN BE DONE.

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.

WE ARE NOW AT THE END OF GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL'S SELF-IMPOSED TRANSITION PERIOD, WHEN SHE WAS SWORN IN, HOCHUL SAID SHE WOULD TAKE 45 DAYS TO GET SETTLED AND THEN RUN WITH IT.

AND IT HAS BEEN A BUSY PAST 45 DAYS.

HOCHUL'S HAD TO DEAL WITH A MASS TRANSIT CRISIS IN NEW 2 YORK CITY, HISTORIC FLOODING THAT KILLED MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE, THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR AND OF COURSE, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND DURING ALL OF THAT, SHE'S HIRED NEW STAFF, SHOOK UP HER CABINET AND STARTED TO PLAN HER AGENDA FOR NEXT YEAR.

HOCHUL ALSO HAS A TOUGH FEW MONTHS AHEAD IN WHAT WILL BE ANOTHER TEST OF HER ABILITY TO GOVERN.

FOUR HUNDERED BILLS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE ARE WAITING TO BE SIGNED.

SHE HAS THREE MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT THE STATE'S $200 BILLION BUDGET AND SHE ALSO HAS A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA TO BUILD FOR NEXT YEAR.

AND THAT COULD GET PRETTY MESSY IF THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR CONTINUES TO HEAT UP.

WE ALREADY GOT A HANDFUL OF DEMOCRATS WHO MIGHT JUMP IN AND WHILE BEHIND THE SCENES NEXT YEAR'S RACE IS PROBABLY ON HER MIND, SHEEP NOT GETTING INTO THAT PUBLICLY JUST YET.

>> PEOPLE WANT TO START CHATTER AND CONVERSATION AND ALL KINDS OF DISTRACTIONS EARLY ON BEFORE WE GET CLOSER TO AN ELECTION, I WILL NOT BE DISTRACTED.

THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK IF I'M OUT THERE RUNNING DOWN AND TRYING TO RESPOND TO IT.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING IN THAT SPACE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT RELEVANT TO PROTECTING THE SAFETY OF NEW YORKERS.

3 >> SO LET'S GET A SENSE OF THE GOVERNOR'S FIRST 45 DAYS AND WHAT'S TO COME WITH JIMMY VIELKIND FROM "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" AND MARINA VILLENUEVE FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO IT FEELS WEIRD TO ME THAT IT'S ONLY BEEN 45 DAYS BECAUSE A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN THAT 45 DAYS AND OF COURSE, BEFORE THE 45 DAY, WE HAD GOVERNOR CUOMO.

I GUESS THE PAST TWO MONTHS TO ME FEELS LIKE IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE 45 DAYS OF GOVERNOR HOCHUL.

JIMMY, WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU ABOUT HER SO FAR IN TERMS OF WHAT SHE'S DONE, MAYBE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HER AND HER PREDECESSOR?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT SHE VERY CLEARLY AND CONSERVATIVELY WANTED TO SET A DIFFERENT TONE THAN THE LAST GUY.

I THINK SHE'S TALKED A LOT ABOUT AND WE'VE SEEN DEMONSTRATED COLLABORATION WITH LEGISLATURES, WITH LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AS SHE'S MOVED THROUGH POLICY.

SHE HAS ENGAGED STAKEHOLDERS BEFORE SORT OF ANNOUNCING BIG CHANGES AND I THINK THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING SHE'S 4 DONE ARE MASK MANDATE FOR SCHOOLS.

>> UH-HUH.

>> WHICH TOOK EFFECT WHEN CLASSROOMS OPENED IN EARLY SEPTEMBER.

AS WELL AS HOLDING FIRM ON THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED MANDATE FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO BE VACCINATED AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS THAT IS SOMETHING FOR WHICH SHE FACED LOTS OF PRESSURE.

IT'S SOMETHING FOR WHICH WE HAVE SEEN SOME DISRUPTIONS IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, BUT HOCHUL HAS HELD FIRM AND I BELIEVE IT'S NOW A POLICY THAT SHE'S GOING TO OWN AND I EXPECT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT SHE WILL SEE AS PROBABLY HER FIRST BIG MARK AS GOVERNOR.

>> AND SHE'S ALREADY SAID THAT NOT TOO MANY HOSPITALS HAVE REACHED OUT TO GET STATE ASSISTANCE IN TERMS OF STAFFING.

SHE SENT OUT AN EXECUTIVE ORDER SAYING STUDENTS CAN JUMP IN AND HELP OUT RETIRED PHYSICIANS AND OUT OF STATE AND NATIONAL GUARD AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I'M SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN MORE.

WE'LL SEE.

THIS IS THE FIRST WAVE, AS WE CALL IT, OF THIS KIND OF MANDATE.

MARINA, WHAT ABOUT YOU?

WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU IN THE FIRST 45 DAYS 5 >> I THINK WE HAVE SEEN A CONCERTED PUSH TO GET OUT THE COVID RENT RELIEF AND RELIEF FOR UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS AS WELL.

THE GOVERNOR SAID YESTERDAY THAT PRETTY SOON LIKE 800 MILLION OF RENT RELIEF MONEY WILL HAVE GONE OUT, AND THAT'S OUT OF 2 BILLION.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF BIG ISSUES WITH THE PROGRAM ITSELF.

I HAVE SPOKEN TO A LOT OF TENANTS AND LANDLORDS WHO SAY ONE BIG ISSUE IS THAT IT'S REALLY HARD FOR SOME REASON FOR THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO CONTACT LANDLORDS TO ASK THEM TO FILL OUT MORE INFO AND THE LANDLORDS I HAVE SPOKEN TO SAY THAT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT'S PRETTY EASY.

THEY'RE REALLY HOPING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT, TO GET MORE MONEY OUT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT'S COMMITTED BUT NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN HER TALK A LOT ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND SPEEDING UP THE PROCESS FOR GETTING PUBLIC RECORDS TO THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE REQUESTED THEM.

I PERSONALLY HAVE GOTTEN SOME FORMAL REQUESTS THAT HAVE BEEN OUT THERE WELL OVER A YEAR SOME OF THEM.

[LAUGHTER] BUT A LOT OF OTHERS ARE STILL SORT OF BEING EXTENDED AND I'M NOT GETTING RESPONSES ON.

SO IT SEEMS TO BE A MIXED BAG BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHE'S REALLY STRESSING.

6 >> YES.

I HAVE FILED BY FIRST FOIL CAN.

I FILED IT-- I DON'T KNOW.

I SAID IT ON THE SHOW WHENEVER I FILED IT.

I GUESS I'LL LOOK BACK AT THE EPISODES.

I HAVEN'T GOT MY ANSWERS.

IT WAS A VERY SIMPLE ONE.

WE'LL SEE.

JIMMY, THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION TO POSE TO YOU.

YOU COVERED ANDREW CUOMO DURING HIS ENTIRE TEN YEARS AS GOVERNOR.

IT'S ONLY BEEN 45 DAYS FOR KATHY HOCHUL BUT HOW DO WE SEE THE GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY PART PLAYING OUT?

BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THAT HAS TO BE A BIG PART OF HER ADMINISTRATION IF SHE'S GOING TO REALLY CONTRAST WITH CUOMO AND HIS NUMBERS ON THE NURSING HOMES.

>> WE HAVE SEEN MORE DATA BEING MADE PUBLIC.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS MADE EXPLICIT A MORE FULLER DEATH TOLL, THE NUMBERS THAT ARE BEING REPORTED BY THE STATE TO THE CDC WHICH INCLUDE GREATER FIGURES AND MARINA DID A LOT OF GREAT REPORTING ON THAT OVER THE SUMMER.

>> YEAH.

>> WE'VE ALSO SEEN NEW DATA ON BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS BEING PUBLISHED.

7 I THINK THAT ANY GUBERNATORIAL ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND SAY IT VALUES TRANSPARENCY, AND THEN YOU KNOW, STILL HAVE SOME LEVEL OF TACTICAL POSITIONING TO ENSURE ITS OWN BENEFIT.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE EVER GOING TO SEE A LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY THAT PERHAPS YOU GET SOMETIMES YOU GET AT A SMALLER LOCAL LEVEL OR WE AS REPORTERS WOULD PERHAPS LIKE TO SEE.

I HAVE NOTICED AN INCREASE IN RESPONSIVENESS IN MY REPORTING OVER THE LAST 45 DAYS COMPARED TO, YOU KNOW, THE LAST ADMINISTRATION, BUT I THINK IT'S STILL A LITTLE BIT TOO EARLY TO TELL.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT THE SIGNS HAVE BEEN TRENDING POSITIVE FROM WHERE I SIT.

>> SO MARINA, WE HAVE A VERY BUSY SCHEDULE AHEAD FOR THE GOVERNOR.

SHE HAS TO PLAN HER AGENDA FOR NEXT YEAR.

SHE HAS TO PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET.

WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING FOR IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS IN TERMS OF THE HOCHUL ADMINISTRATION?

FOR YOUR REPORTING OBVIOUSLY, BUT WHAT ARE THE INTERESTING THINGS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT?

>> DEFINITELY WE KNOW THAT 8 THE BUDGET PROCESS IS ALREADY UNDERWAY WITH STATE AGENCIES READYING THEIR PROPOSALS AND THEIR SPENDING PLANS.

I'M DEFINITELY LOOKING TO SEE HOW MUCH MORE MONEY THAT OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MIGHT BE SENDING IN COVID RELIEF.

WE KNOW THAT THE UNDOCUMENTED WORKER FUND-- THE EXCLUDED WORKERS FUND THAT IS PROVIDING COVID ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN-- IS SET TO RUN OUT OF MONEY BY THE END OF OCTOBER AND ORIGINALLY, ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR AS MUCH AS 3.5 BILLION AND LAWMAKERS END UP PASSING 2 BILLION.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF NEED OUT THERE AND A LOT MORE PEOPLE ARE QUALIFIED,-QUALIFYING FOR LIKE THE TOP LEVEL OF AID, THE $15,000 FIGURE, WHICH METROPOLITAN THAT FEWER PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE ASSISTANCE THAN ORIGINALLY ESTIMATED AND THE GOVERNOR'S ALSO REQUESTED MORE FUNDING FROM THE FEDS FOR RENT RELIEF.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER-- HOW THAT WORKS OUT.

IF YOU LOOK AT HOW MUCH MONEY NEW YORK HAS SET ASIDE AND SPENT ON RENT RELIEF, NEW YORK IS THE TOP IN THE NATION BUT WHEN IT COMES TO HOW MUCH NEW YORK HAS ACTUALLY SPENT, IT'S STILL LIKE IN THE TOP 10 BUT IT'S-- SO IT'S SORT OF UP IN 9 THE AIR WHETHER NEW YORK IS GOING TO GET EXTRA MONEY.

>> RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

I THINK THAT SHE'S HOPING FOR THE RENT RELIEF PART THAT OTHER STATES HAVEN'T SPENT IT SO THAT MAYBE WE CAN COLLECT SOME OF THEIR UNSPENT FUNDS WHICH WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTING TO ME.

JIMMY, LAST QUESTION TO YOU.

IN ABOUT A MINUTE, YOU FOLLOW THESE NUMBERS VERY CLOSELY IN TERMS OF THE STATE'S FINANCES.

GOING INTO THE NEXT BUDGET-- WELL, NOT THE BUDGET YEAR, BUT GOING INTO THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR WHEN SHE PUTS TOGETHER HER EXECUTIVE BUDGET, WHAT KINDS OF CHALLENGES IS KATHY HOCHUL FACING?

>> SHE'S IN THE MONEY.

THE STATE IS ACTUALLY SWIMMING IN CASH.

>> WE'RE FLUSH.

>> YES.

>> WHICH IS VERY, VERY GOOD PLACE TO BE IF YOU'RE AN OFFICIAL WHO IS UP FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2022.

IT'S ALWAYS EASIER TO SPEND MONEY THAN HAVE TO CUT THINGS BACK.

SO I'LL BE WATCHING TO SEE HOW THE GOVERNOR APPROACHES THIS BUDGET CYCLE AND APPROACHES THIS UPCOMING 10 LEGISLATIVE SEASON FOR WHAT WILL HER INITIATIVES BE?

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THUS FAR IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE LAST GUY'S INITIATIVES, CHANGES OVER TIME, RESPONSES TO NATURAL DISASTERS AND TO THE ONGOING PANDEMIC.

I'LL BE INTERESTED IT SEE WHERE KATHY HOCHUL WANTS TO PUT HER STAMP AND COME UP WITH AN IDEA AND I'M SURE THAT EXPENDITURES AND POLICY WE'LL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT IN DECEMBER.

>> I'M EXCITED TO SEE IT.

JIMMY VIELKIND FROM "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL."

MARINA VILLENUEVE FROM THE AP.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

SO IT HAS CERTAINLY BEEN A BIG WEEK FOR POLITICS IN NEW YORK.

WE KNOW A HANDFUL OF DEMOCRATS ARE THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR NEXT YEAR CHALLENGING GOVERNOR HOCHUL FOR THE TOP SPOT ON THE TICKET.

AND WHILE THE PRIMARY WON'T BE HELD UNTIL JUNE, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS ALREADY TRYING TO SHORE UP SUPPORT FOR HOCHUL.

STATE DEMOCRATIC CHAIR JAY JACOBS SAID THIS WEEK THAT HE DOESN'T WANT OTHER DEMOCRATS TO ENTER THE RACE AND SPLIT THE PARTY AHEAD OF NEXT YEAR.

AND APOLOGIES FOR THE QUALITY.

THIS WAS OVER ZOOM.

>> AND I BELIEVE THAT A PARTY TORN APART BY MULTIPLE 11 CANDIDATES IN MULTIPLE PRIMARIES FOR MULTIPLE OFFICES WILL EXHAUST PRECIOUS RESOURCES, DIVIDE US AND MAKE US WEAKER IN A YEAR THAT WE NEED TO BE AT OUR STRONGEST.

>> THAT DIDN'T SIT WELL WITH SOME DEMOCRATS, INCLUDING THOSE CONSIDERING THEIR OWN RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

ONE OF THOSE DEMOCRATS IS JUMAANE WILLIAMS, WHO IS OPENLY EXPLORING A BID FOR GOVERNOR HIMSELF HE'S THE ELECTED PUBLIC ADVOCATE IN NEW YORK CITY AND HE WAS ALSO THE FIRST PERSON IN THE COUNTRY WITH TOURETTE SYNDROME TO BE ELECTED.

IF HIS NAME SOUNDS FAMILIAR, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT HE RAN FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN 2018 AND ALMOST BEAT HOCHUL IN THAT RACE.

WE SPOKE THIS WEEK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE WILLIAMS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> OF COURSE.

ANYTIME.

SO THIS WEEK, STATE DEMOCRATIC CHAIR JAY JACOBS SAID HE DID NOT WANT A PRIMARY IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR NEXT YEAR CHALLENGING KATHY HOCHUL FOR THE TICKET.

12 YOU WERE CONSIDERING A RUN YOURSELF.

TELL ME WHAT'S GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND?

WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE FINAL DECIDER WHETHER YOU RUN OR YOU DON'T RUN?

>> I BELIEVE THAT WE'VE GIVEN A PRETTY GOOD INDICATION BY EVEN OPENING THE EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE WE DID THE SAME IN 2018 WHEN HE RAN FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND WE ULTIMATELY RAN, BUT I BELIEVE IT DOES MAKE SENSE TO OPEN UP AN EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE, SHARE THE VISION THAT WE HAVE AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE RECEPTIVE.

SO FAR, THEY REALLY ARE AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT MOVING FORWARD.

>> SO YOU HAVE BEEN GOING TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL HAS AN ADVANTAGE IN THAT AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHE HAD TO TRAVEL THAT WHOLE STATE FOR THAT JOB.

FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING THE SHOW WHO DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT, GIVE ME AN ELEVATOR PITCH.

WHY SHOULD YOU BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK?

>> YOU KNOW, REALLY I BELIEVE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE DIRE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN AND QUITE FRANKLY, MOST PEOPLE WOULD TELL YOU THEY'RE NOT BETTER OFF THAN THEY WERE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, AND THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT.

13 AND AS WE TRY TO RECOVER AND RENEW NEW YORK STATE, WE REALLY CAN'T DO IT WITH THE SAME INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WAS THERE BEFORE THAT HELPED US GET HERE, THAT HELPED US BECOME THE EPICENTER OF THE EPICENTER, TO HELP US GET IT ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE NOW.

WE CAN'T START RESHUFFLING AGAIN AND GO OFF THE ELEVATOR PITCH.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAID WHEN WE JUMPED IN IS JUST REMOVING SOMEONE LIKE ANDREW CUOMO DOESN'T CHANGE THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF ALBANY.

AS YOU MENTIONED, RIGHT AFTER WE SAID THAT, WE SAW THE CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DO WHAT HE ALWAYS DOES AND REALLY TRY TO PUSH OFF A PRIMARY VOTE BEFORE WE EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO MAKE OUR DECISION, WHICH IS THE PROCEDURES OF OLD AND WE SAID BEFORE THAT THE PROCEDURES OF OLD CAN'T WORK AND INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON AN ELECTION COMING UP IN NOVEMBER, WHICH IS A GENERAL ELECTION WHERE THERE'S A DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE IN BUFFALO GOING INTO REPUBLICAN-BACKED OPPONENT WHERE NEITHER JAY JACOB NOR THE GOVERNOR WOULD ENDORSE, THEY'RE FOCUSING ON A PRIMARY IN 2022 WHERE HE SHOULD ACTUALLY BE IMPARTIAL.

>> SO TELL ME WHY NOT KATHY HOCHUL?

I THINK SHE'S RELATIVELY NEW TO A STATEWIDE AUDIENCE.

SHE SAID SHE'S TRIED TO DISTANCE HERSELF FROM FORMER 14 GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO, WHO SHE WAS HIS LG.

SO TELL ME, WHY NOT KATHY HOCHUL TO BE THE NEXT ELECTED GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK?

>> AT THE MOMENT, WE'RE TRYING TO PRESENT THE VISION THAT WE HAVE AND WE'RE TRYING TO RUN FOR SOMETHING NOT NECESSARILY AGAINST ANYONE SO WE'RE GOING IT TRY TO STAY FOCUSED IN HOW WE THINK THE STATE SHOULD BE RUN.

I WILL SAY THAT MOST OF WHAT I'M THINKING HASN'T REALLY CHANGED SINCE 2018.

IT'S EVOLVED, OF COURSE, BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED BUT WHEN I RAN IN 2018, WE SAID THAT ALBANY WASN'T WORKING THEN AND MOST PEOPLE AGREED, AND WE RAN AND SAID, WHAT IF WE HAVE A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR THAT WOULD HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND UP VOCALLY WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG.

I ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT WE HAD A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR THAT DID THAT FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE GOTTEN AS BAD AS WE DID AND IT'S NOT TO SAY, AGAIN, THAT IT'S ANY ONE PERSON BUT THE LACK OF SOMEONE REALLY STANDING UP WHEN SOMEONE IS TRYING TO CUT MEDICAID OR SOMEONE IS HAVING ETHICAL VIOLATIONS MUCH LESS THE TRAVESTY THAT ACTUALLY OCCURRED THAT BROUGHT GOVERNOR CUOMO DOWN, WE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN THIS SITUATION.

THINK FOLKS ARE TRYING TO PRESENT THEMSELVES AS BETTER FLAVORS OF A MENU ITEM.

15 I THINK PEOPLE ARE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE NEED AN ENTIRELY NEW MENU BECAUSE THE MENU HASN'T WORKED.

>> GIVE ME YOUR TOP, ONE, TWO, THREE ISSUES THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO FOCUS ON IF YOU WERE ELECTED GOVERNOR.

IS IT JUST THAT TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, OR ARE THERE OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU WOULD REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON COMING INTO OFFICE?

>> WELL WE VERY A VERY GOOD TRACK RECORD OF MAKING DECISIONS WHAT'S BEST FOR THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT VERSUS WHAT'S BEST POLITICALLY.

SO WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S GOING TO TAKE THE POLITICAL RISK AS LONG AS IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I WOULD SAY, AGAIN, WE'RE RENEWING AND RECOVERING.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DO THAT NOT FORGETTING ANYONE, THAT IS FROM THE FARMER IN THE NORTH COUNTRY OR THE BLACK TRANS WOMAN FROM BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.

BUT IF I HAVE HAD TO PICK A FEW, THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SO MANY YEARS FROM HOUSING INSECURITY, WHETHER TENANTS WHO CAN BE HOMELESS IN JUST A FEW WEEKS OR HOMEOWNERS, SMALL ONE, TWO FAMILY HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE FACING FORECLOSURE THEMSELVES.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS A HUGE ONE.

WE SEE GUN VIOLENCE BURGEONING IN CITIES ACROSS 16 THE STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND HEALTH IS TREMENDOUS, CLIMATE CHANGE, EDUCATION, AND TRANSPORTATION ARE HUGE ISSUES ALL ACROSS THE STATE, AND WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT MANY OF THESE ISSUES ARE VERY SIMILAR.

THEY'VE TRIED TO FORCE THIS UPSTATE-DOWNSTATE DIVIDE.

WHEN WE RAN LAST TIME, WE REALIZED THAT ALL OF US COMBINED AND UNITED CAN REALLY ADDRESS ALL OF THESE CONCERNS IN A VERY GOOD WAY IF WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS ABOUT ERASING THAT DIVIDE AND REALLY USING ALBANY FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL NEW YORKERS.

>> SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CLEANING UP ALBANY, ARE WE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE AS WELL?

OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE SEEN PLENTY OF CORRUPTION THERE I'M WONDERING HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH ALBANY.

WHAT IT STEMS FROM IS THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE SEEN NATIONALLY, INCUMBENCY PROTECTION IS USUALLY THE MAIN THING THAT DRIVES DECISION MAKING IN POLITICS, AND WE HAVE TO ELECT PEOPLE THAT, ONE, UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR SEAT IS NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU DON'T 17 WANT TO GET RE-ELECTED.

IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO HIGHER OFFICES.

OF COURSE YOU DO.

THE MAIN GOAL CAN'T BE THAT.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN ALL ACROSS POLITICS, INCLUDING ALBANY, ARE DECISIONS BEING MADE OF HOW WE PROTECT A PERSON THAT'S IN THE SEAT ALREADY.

THAT IS THE SAME THING WE SAW WITH JAY JACOBS WHEN HE JUMPED OUT.

IT'S ABOUT THE INCUMBENCY PROTECTION.

NOT ABOUT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE.

THAT ALONE, GETTING SOMEONE WHO HAS SHOWN THAT THEY WILL TAKE THE RISKS, THAT THEY WILL STAND UP EVEN IF OTHER PEOPLE AREN'T BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS A CRITICAL FIRST STEP.

YOU WOULD THINK IT'S A SIMPLE THING BUT IT'S NOT.

WE'VE SEEN HOW IT'S PLAYED OUT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

NOT JUST WITH ANDREW CUOMO BUT BEFORE HIM.

PEOPLE WHO ARE, AS YOU MENTIONED IN OTHER ELECTED POSITIONS AND OF COURSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE TO ENRICH THEMSELVES.

I THINK WE CAN DO THAT BY STARTING FROM THE HEAD, STARTING AT THE TOP.

SOMEONE WHO HASN'T COME UP THROUGH THE SYSTEM THAT WAY, LEARNING THAT WAY BUT HAS ACTUALLY STUDIED THAT WE HAVE TO CALL OUT THE SYSTEM AND THAT IS BENEFICIAL TO SOMEONE LIKE ME POLITICALLY BUT MORE IMPORTANT, IT'S BENEFICIAL TO THE PEOPLE FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

18 >> ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL SEE HOW THIS ALL SHAKES OUT.

JUMAANE WILLIAMS, A POTENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR NEW YORK GOVERNOR NEXT YEAR AND THE NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC ADVOCATE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER DISCUSSION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND WE HAVE ASKED GOVERNOR HOCHUL TO COME ON THE SHOW BUT SO FAR, WE HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM HER CAMPAIGN, AND HER OFFICE HASN'T MADE HER AVAILABLE JUST YET.

BUT TURNING NOW TO AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS AND BECAME A LIFE LINE DURING THE PANDEMIC, HIGH SPEED INTERNET.

DARRELL CAMP IS HERE WITH MORE.

DARRELL?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, DAN.

ACCESS TO BROADBAND BECAME REALLY IMPORTANT LAST YEAR DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN PEOPLE HAD TO WORK REMOTELY AND KIDS HAD TO LOG ON TO GO TO SCHOOL.

AND WHILE THE STATE HAS TRIED TO CREATE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO BROADBAND, WE'RE NOT THERE YET AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I SPOKE WITH LAWMAKERS AND 19 EXPERTS FOR A CLOSER LOOK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] ELECTRICITY, WATER, GAS, THREE SERVICES THAT MANY NEW YORKERS WOULD FIND IT HARD TO LIVE WITHOUT.

OVER THE PAST 18 MONDAYS, THOSE SERVICES WERE PROTECTED FOR THOSE IN FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND FOR MANY WORKING AND LEARNING FROM HOME, THE PANDEMIC SHINED A LIGHT ON ANOTHER SERVICE THAT IS HARD TO LIVE WITHOUT, HIGH SPEED INTERNET OR BROADBAND.

EVEN PRE-PANDEMIC, ACCESS TO BROADBAND IN NEW YORK HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR YEARS.

FORMER GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO EVEN TRIED TO KICK ONE OF THE LARGEST INTERNET PROVIDERS, SPECTRUM, OUT OF THE STATE, WHEN THE COMPANY WAS SLOW TO EXPAND INTERNET ACCESS ACROSS NEW YORK.

THAT'S SOMETHING THE COMPANY AGREED TO DO WHEN IT BOUGHT TIMEWARNER CABLE A FEW YEARS BACK.

THAT'S GOTTEN BETTER BUT THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS STILL DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO BROADBAND AND WITH HOW VITAL IT'S BECOME TO EVERYDAY LIFE, SOME SAY IT SHOULD BE REGULATED AS A UTILITY, LIKE GAS AND ELECTRIC.

RICHARD BERKLEY LEADS THE PUBLIC UTILITY LAW PROJECT.

>> IN NEW YORK, WE NEED TWO KINDS OF AVAIL ABILITY OF BROADBAND.

FIRST IS ACTUAL RETAIL AVAILABILITY.

WE CALL THAT PHYSICAL ACCESS.

20 THE OTHER IS AFFORDABILITY, AND THAT'S SOCIAL ACCESS BUT THAT ALSO REQUIRES FOR THE FAIRLY LARGE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS IN NEW YORK THAT DON'T HAVE ANY KIND OF BROADBAND, THEY NEED TO HAVE THE DEVICES AND THEY NEED TO HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE.

>> FOR NEW YORK'S RURAL COMMUNITIES, ACCESS CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE BECAUSE THE INFRASTRUCTURE JUST ISN'T THERE AND THE COST TO BUILD OUT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE ISN'T CHEAP.

SENATOR PETER OBERACKER IS FROM OTSEGO COUNTY.

HE'S THE TOP REPUBLICAN ON THE INTERNET AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE.

HE'S SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW BUILDING BROADBAND CAN BE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE FOR THOSE WITHOUT ACCESS.

>> THE NINE COUNTIES THAT I REPRESENT IN THE 51st ARE VERY RURAL.

SO THE CHALLENGE IS, REALLY, TOPOGRAPHY.

IS THE DISTANCE BETWEEN HOMES.

HERE'S THE INTERESTING PART.

I DON'T HAVE IT AT MY HOUSE.

IT'S A MILE FROM MY HOUSE.

AND TO GET IT THERE, WE WERE INQUIRING ABOUT IT.

IT WAS-- IT WAS NORTH OF $50,000 TO GET IT TO COME TO MY HOUSE.

>> THE STATE HAS CLAIMED THAT 98% OF HOUSEHOLDS IN NEW YORK HAVE ACCESS TO BROADBAND BUT THAT NUMBER 21 CAN BE MISLEADING.

IT COMES FROM THE FCC WHICH MEASURES DATA BY CENSUS BLOCK AND BECAUSE OF HOW IT'S COLLECTED, THAT DATA DOESN'T REFLECT ACCESS TO BROADBAND ON A HOUSE-BY-HOUSE LEVEL.

ASSEMBLYMAN ANGLO SANTABARBARA IS A DEMOCRATIC FROM THE ALBANY AREA WHO CHAIRS THE COMMISSION ON RURAL RESOURCES.

>> OUR MAPPING IN NEW YORK STATE IS NOT GOOD.

IT GOES BY CENSUS BLOCK.

IT'S A VERY OLD WAY OF IDENTIFYING WHO HAS SERVICE AND WHO DOESN'T.

SO CENSUS BLOCKS ARE VERY, VERY LARGE.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, THAT'S VERY PROBLEMATIC.

ANYWHERE FROM 240 TO 1,200 HOMES IN A CENSUS BLOCK AND THE WAY THE METHODOLOGY IS, EVEN IF ONE HOME OUT OF THERE, ONE HOME IS SERVED, THEY CONSIDER THAT A CENSUS BLOCK TO HAVE SERVICE.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT TRUE.

>> AND ACCESS TO BROADBAND CAN BE EVEN WORSE FOR OLDER GENERATIONS.

THAT WAS THE CASE DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN A LOT OF EVERYDAY LIFE SHIFTED ONLINE.

BILL FERRIS FROM AARP SAYS THAT CREATED A DIGITAL GAP BETWEEN SENIORS AND THE SERVICES THEY NEED.

>> THERE ARE STUDIES OUT 22 THERE IN NEW YORK THAT SAY THAT 40% OF ALL NEW YORKERS 65 AND OLDER DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.

THAT'S A PROBLEM ESPECIALLY WITH THE INCREASING OF THE USE OF TELEHEALTH THAT WE HAVE SEEN DURING THE PANDEMIC, BOTH FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND STATE HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS, ACCESS TO THE INTERNET IS ACTUALLY BECOMING ESSENTIAL HERE IN NEW YORK ESPECIALLY FOR THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT.

>> BUT ACCESS TO BROADBAND ISN'T JUST AN ISSUE IN NEW YORK'S RURAL COMMUNITIES.

IT'S ALSO A PROBLEM IN NEW YORK CITY'S.

STEWARD REID FROM THE HARLEM-BASED DIGITAL DIVIDE PARTNERS WORKS ON PROVIDING ACCESS TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING.

HE SAYS AVAILABILITY DOES NOT NECESSARILY EQUAL ACCESS.

>> OF THOSE HALF A MILLION PEOPLE, A FULL 50% DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS AT HOME.

AND THAT IS COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT 50% OF THE POPULATION IS UNEMPLOYED AND THE AVERAGE -- AVERAGE INCOME OF THIS GROUP IS AT THE POVERTY LEVEL JUST HOVERING ABOVE $25,000.

>> REED SAID IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY IF THERE WERE FREE, UNIVERSAL INTERNET ACCESS IN PUBLIC HOUSING BUT FOR RURAL NEW YORKERS, THERE'S MORE TO 23 CONSIDER.

LIKE THE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE AND THE COST FOR PROVIDERS.

SENATOR DAPHNE JORDAN REPRESENTS THE DISTRICT IN THE CAPITAL REGION THAT HAS URBAN, SUBURBAN AND RURAL AREAS.

AND SHE SAYS BROADBAND EXPANSION FACES SEVERAL HURDLES LIKE SOMETHING CALLED THE FIBER OPTIC TAX.

>> BECAUSE NOW UNDER NEW YORK STATE LAW, THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR THE RIGHT-OF-WAY ALONG THE ROADS FOR WHICH THEIR BROADBAND EXPANSION IS GOING TO RUN.

NO OTHER UTILITY HAS TO DO THAT.

JUST PLACE THAT ON BROADBAND PROVIDERS LIKE ONE OF THOSE CHEAP MONEY GRABS.

>> ONE SOLUTION, JORDAN SAYS, IS TO ISSUE TAX CREDITS TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WHO HAVE TO PAY PROVIDERS TO EXPAND SERVICE INTO THEIR AREA, BUT OBERACKER, THE SENATOR FROM OTSEGO SAYS THERE'S A DISCONNECT FOR SOME LAWMAKERS BETWEEN HOW ACCESS TO BROADBAND VARIES IN RURAL AREAS VERSUS CITIES.

HE SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO BRING OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SENATE TO HIS DISTRICT TO SHOW THEM WHY IT'S DIFFERENT.

>> THAT WOULD LEAD FOR US TO EDUCATE BRINGING IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY, BRINGING IN THE 24 ACTUAL SUPPLIERS AND THE SAME THING.

HAVING THAT DIALOGUE.

>> BUT THERE COULD ALSO BE A COMMON SOLUTION TO HELP BOTH RURAL AND URBAN AREAS WITH BROADBAND ACCESS AND THAT'S FUNDING.

HERE'S BERKELEY AGAIN.

>> NEW YORK BUILT THE ERIE CANAL, THE LARGEST PUBLIC-PRIVATE PROJECT OF ITS DAY, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ONE EVER BUILT.

ERIE CANAL WAS SO SUCCESSFUL AND IT WAS A COMBINATION OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC MONEY THAT BEFORE IT WAS FINISHED IT HAD TO BE BIGGER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE STATE AND NEW YORK OPENED THE WEST BECAUSE OF THE ERIE CANAL.

SO I THINK WE CAN DO THIS KIND OF THING RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S A SHAME THAT WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, TOSS PUBLIC MONEY INTO THIS.

IF WE DO THIS, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE WILL GET THE OUTCOME THAT WE NEED.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND IN SEPTEMBER, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL ANNOUNCED THE BROADBAND MAPPING CONSUMER SURVEY WITH THE GOAL OF GETTING A MORE ACCURATE PICTURE OF WHERE BROADBAND INTRANET IS AVAILABLE AND HOW ROBUST THE SERVICE IS.

A FINAL REPORT IS EXPECTED FROM THE STATE SOMETIME NEXT MAY 25 >> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, DARRELL.

MAYBE WE WILL SEE SOME MOVEMENT ON BROADBAND UNDER THE HOCHUL ADMINISTRATION.

BUT WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

[ THEME MUSIC ]