[ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," INCOMING GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL TAKES OFFICE NEXT WEEK.

WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HER NEW ADMINISTRATION.

THEN, THE STATE LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS NEW PROTECTIONS FOR TENANTS BUT NOT EVERYONE'S ONBOARD.

DARRELL CAMP HAS THAT STORY.

AND LATER, FEDERAL ELECTION REFORM STALLS AS THE U. S. SENATE HEADS HOME.

WE'LL DISCUSS WHAT COULD BE NEXT.

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.

CHANGE IN ALBANY IS JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY.

THIS WAS THE LAST FULL WEEK THAT ANDREW CUOMO SPENT IN OFFICE SINCE HE ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION LAST WEEK.

HIS LAST DAY IS MONDAY.

MEANING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL WILL FORMALLY TAKE OFFICE TUESDAY AND IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THAT, WE SHOULD LEARN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT HER INCOMING ADMINISTRATION.

BUT FOR NOW, THE BIG QUESTION IS, WHO WILL GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL PICK AS HER LG?

WE DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH BUT IT LOOKS LIKE SHE'S AT LEAST NARROWED IT DOWN.

HERE'S WHAT SHE SAID LAST WEEKEND.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED.

I WILL SAY THERE'S A LOT OF ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT.

I'VE NARROWED IT DOWN IN TERMS OF THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF THE STATE TO NEW YORK CITY BECAUSE I AM AN UPSTATER.

EVEN THOUGH I SPENT THOUSANDS OF HOURS IN NEW YORK CITY.

I'M WELL FAMILIAR WITH THE CHALLENGES BUT I WANT SOMEONE WHO LIVES THERE.

I WANT SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE CHALLENGES FIRSTHAND.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT AND THE OTHER NEWS OF THE WEEK WITH ANNA GRONEWOLD FROM POLITICO AND YANCEY ROY FROM NEWSDAY.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ANNA, LET'S CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT KATHY HOCHUL'S LG.

WHAT DO WE KNOW?

WHO WILL BE THE LG?

>> WELL, WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

[LAUGHTER] WE DO KNOW SHE SAID SHE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE SOMEONE FROM NEW YORK CITY AND I KNOW THAT' SHE'S REALLY EMPHASIZED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE WOMEN AND MORE DIVERSITY IN HER-- WELL, WHAT WILL PROBABLY EVENTUALLY BE HER TICKET NEXT FALL WHEN SHE RUNS AGAIN.

>> SURE.

>> I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF GUESSES ABOUT WHO THAT MIGHT BE.

SOME PROMINENT CITY NEW YORK POLITICIANS, A NAME THAT'S BEEN QUITE UP OFTEN IS STATE SENATOR BRIAN BENJAMIN.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE CURIOUS ABOUT JAMAAL BAILEY.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME OTHER YOUNGER LEGISLATORS WHO ALSO SAID THEY'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HER BUT AS FAR AS WHAT THOSE HAVE ENTAILED, WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE YET AND I THINK SHE HAS INDICATED THAT SOMETIME NEXT WEEK, WE MIGHT FIND OUT.

>> BRIAN BENJAMIN IS AN INTERESTING CHOICE BECAUSE WE ALREADY SEE HIM AT THE LECTERN IN THE SENATE ANYWAY AND THAT'S KIND OF PART OF THE LG'S DUTY.

HE KNOWS HOW TO DO THAT.

HE'S GOT A LEG UP THERE.

YANCEY, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ON THE LG TICKET?

>> FOLKS ARE HEARING THE SAME NAMES.

ONE THAT'S BEEN OUT THERE IS JOHN LIU, STATE SENATOR FROM QUEENS.

HE WAS A FORMER CITY COMPTROLLER AND HE HAS A CITY BASE, AN ELECTORAL BASE IN THE CITY.

HE WOULD DIVERSIFY THE TICKET.

HE SAID HE'S NOT ENTERTAINING THOUSANDS ABOUT BEING LG WHICH GIVES HIM A LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM.

HE SAID THERE'S MORE TO DO IN THE STATE SENATE.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS TO MAKE A POINT ABOUT HERE FOR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PICK IS IT'S GOING TO BE MORE ABOUT THE TICKET FOR KATHY HOCHUL IN '22 RATHER THAN THE DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WHICH IS TO PRESIDE OVER THE SENATE AND BE THERE IN CASE ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THE GOVERNOR AND BASICALLY TRAVEL THE STATE.

I MEAN, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT JOB, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK THE MORE EMPHASIS IS GOING TO BE WHO CAN DIVERSIFY HER TICKET.

SHE'S GOING TO BE AN UPSTATE WOMAN RUNNING WHICH WILL BE, YOU KNOW, TOP OF THE TICKET.

THAT WILL BE NEW-- WELL, THERE'S CYNTHIA NIXON.

IT WILL BE TOP OF THE TICKET.

SHE WILL BE NEW IN THAT SENSE.

SHE WANTS TO DIVERSIFY BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT TISH JAMES AS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE.

THERE ARE OTHER DOWNSTATE CANDIDATES THAT MIGHT BE OUT THERE.

I THINK SHE WANTS A DOWNSTATE PERSON TO SORT OF BALANCE OUT ELECTORALLY AND ALSO BE ABLE TO TAP INTO A DONOR BASE WHICH IN NEW YORK STATE IS CENTERED DOWNSTATE.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THAT SHE SAID-- I KNOW THAT SHE SAID SHE WANTS A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP WITH HER LG THAN SHE HAD WITH GOVERNOR CUOMO.

IN THE SENSE THAT SHE DESCRIBED IT AS KIND OF A JOE BIDEN/KAMALA HARRIS SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE REALLY PARTNERING AND WORKING TOGETHER AS NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO RATHER THAN NUMBER ONE HERE AND TWO IS JUST IRRELEVANT TRAVELING AROUND THE STATE AND NOT CLOSE WITH THE GOVERNOR.

I THINK THAT'S INTERESTING.

ANNA, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD CHANGE THE DYNAMIC OF THE STATE CAPITAL?

WOULD THINGS CHANGE?

>> I THINK IT WOULD OBVIOUSLY PUT A LOT MORE EMPHASIS ON THE ROLE AND THAT'S SOMETHING KATHY HOCHUL HERSELF HAS DONE ENTIRELY OF HER OWN ACCORD IT SEEMS.

SHE KEPT HERSELF EXTREMELY BUSY WHEN CUOMO SENT HER PLACES ACROSS THE STATE TO BE THE FACE OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

SHE WOULD HAVE HER OWN EVENT.

SHE WOULD TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE.

SHE HAS REALLY CHANGED THE ROLE, I THINK, AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF, LIKE YANCEY SAID, IT WILL BE ENTIRELY FOCUSED ON BALANCING THE TICKET OR IF IT WILL BE SOMEBODY THAT SHE REALLY WILL UTILIZE AND CONSULT IN A WAY THAT MAYBE SHE WAS NEVER USED AS.

>> I KEEP HEARING FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WITH KATHY HOCHUL AT EVENTS, REPORTERS, OTHERWISE, SHE GOES TO THE SMALL TOWNS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT GONE TO AND PARTS OF THE STATE HE HAS NOT GONE TO.

I THINK HE'S GONE THERE BUT LIKE CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY THAT DOESN'T GET THE ATTENTION.

WE HAVE ONE, MAYBE SORT OF LG PICK, JUMAANE WILLIAMS, HE'S A NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC ADVOCATE.

IT SEEMS LIKE HE MAY NOT MAKE IT.

HE HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF TRAVELING UPSTATE ON CERTAIN ISSUES WHICH MAY MEAN HE'S LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR A CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR.

YANCEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT JUMAANE?

>> HE'S A NAME THAT'S OUT THERE.

I MEAN, HE'S GOT A CITY OFFICE AS A CITY ADVOCATE.

THAT IMMEDIATELY MAKES HIM A CANDIDATE FOR A LOT OF OTHER PLACES.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT OFFICE LAUNCH OTHER CAREERS.

TISH JAMES, MOST NOTABLY, WHO IS NOW ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND ABOUT TRAVELING, I THINK ALSO TO BE WATCHING FOR KATHY HOCHUL'S GOING TO BE SWORN IN PRETTY SOON BUT IN TERMS OF ELECTORAL POLITICS, I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LONG, LONG HONEYMOON FOR HER BEFORE OTHER FOLKS DECIDE TO START GOING OUT AND MAKING THEIR NAME KNOWN.

I THINK THAT STRATEGICALLY THEY CAN'T LET HER GET THAT BIG OF A JUMP.

I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PEOPLE WAIT, FOR EXAMPLE, UNTIL DECEMBER TO START DOING THINGS IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING GOVERNOR.

THIS IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS THE TIME WHERE YOU REALLY HAVE TO GET IN THIS RACE TO GET THE DONORS ON YOUR SIDE BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO SUPPORT KATHY HOCHUL IF YOU WANT A CHANCE AT THE PRIMARY.

SPEAKING OF PRIMARIES, OR I GUESS PEOPLE LEAVING OFFICE, GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO IS LEAVING OFFICE OBVIOUSLY.

WE SAW HE'S MOVING OUT ON FRIDAY WITH U-HAULS AT THE EXECUTIVE MANSION.

DON'T KNOW WHEN HE'S GOING TO BE OUT.

THIS LEAVES THE QUESTION MARK OF WHAT COMES AFTER ANDREW CUOMO?

WHAT DOES ANDREW CUOMO DO AFTER THIS?

ANNA, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH FROM HIM OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS AND I THINK YOU CAN LOOK TO ANY SORT OF-- YOU CAN LOOK TO HIS PREDECESSORS.

YOU CAN LOOK TO ELIOT SPITZER WHO EVENTUALLY DID RE-ENTER THE WORLD OF POLITICS AFTER SOME TIME.

I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A WAITING PERIOD, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANDREW CUOMO OR EVEN HIS SUPPORTERS THINK THAT HE WILL BE, YOU KNOW, FLYING OFF TO ARUBA AND NEVER SEEN AGAIN.

IT SOUNDS LIKE HE STILL WILL HAVE SOME THINGS THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SAY IN THE POLITICAL REALM AND I DON'T WANT TO BE CYNICAL.

BUT I THINK THAT PEOPLE'S MEMORIES ARE PRETTY SHORT WHEN IT COMES TO THESE SORTS OF THINGS AND LEAVING OFFICE FOR WHATEVER REASON CAN SOMETIMES BE FORGOTTEN PRETTY EASILY IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> THAT BRINGS UP THE QUESTION, YANCEY, DO YOU THINK ANDREW CUOMO WILL BE RELEVANT IN STATE POLITICS AFTER THIS?

LIKE HOW WE SEE DONALD TRUMP STILL RELEVANT IN NATIONAL POLITICS.

>> IT'S GONNA BE-- IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE BUT IT'S GONNA BE DIFFICULT.

I AGREE WITH WHAT ANNA SAID.

AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S A COUPLE OF LOOSE ENDS OUT TO PLAY HERE, WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENS WITH ALL OF THE EVIDENCE THAT THE ASSEMBLY GATHERED IN ITS IMPEACHMENT PROCESS?

WHAT'S IN THERE?

HOW DAMAGING IS THAT?

WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN ALBANY COUNTY?

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FOUR OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE LOOKING AT SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS?

IT MIGHT ALL JUST DISAPPEAR NOW THAT HE LEAVES OFFICE AND RIGHT NOW, YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THOSE QUESTIONS AND THOSE COULD HAVE A LASTING EFFECT ON WHAT HE DOES NEXT AND WHEN.

>> YEAH.

THE IMPEACHMENT REPORT IS NOW UNDERWAY.

WE LEARNED LAST FRIDAY THAT THEY WERE DROPPING THE IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION, THAT NOW THERE'S VIRTUALLY NO CHANCE THAT CUOMO WILL GET IMPEACHED BECAUSE OF LEGAL REASONS, I GUESS.

ANNA, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN TERMS OF NOW?

THEY SAY THAT THEY'RE MOVING THE INVESTIGATION FORWARD.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO IMPEACH HIM.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE STILL GATHERING EVIDENCE AND TRYING TO PUT THAT ALL IN ONE PLACE FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS THEY WERE LOOKING AT AND AS YANCEY WAS TALKING, I REMEMBERED THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT BEGAN THE BACKLASH AND THAT WAS HOW HE HANDLED THE NURSING HOMES DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THAT'S BEING INVESTIGATED ON A FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL.

SO THERE IS-- THERE'S STILL MORE BAD NEWS POTENTIALLY AND THAT COULD COME OUT FROM THE ASSEMBLY.

>> YANCEY, WE HAVE JUST ONE MINUTE LEFT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CONSEQUENCES ARE OF THIS REPORT?

DO YOU THINK THE CONSEQUENCES ARE STRICTLY ON ANDREW CUOMO, OR DO YOU THINK THIS WILL CREATE A MUCH BIGGER CONVERSATION AROUND MISCONDUCT IN STATE GOVERNMENT?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE STRICTLY ON CUOMO.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO CENTER ON WHAT THEY DID.

AS ANNA REFERENCED, THE NURSING HOME REPORT AND THE UNDERCOUNTING OF DEATHS THERE.

THE BOOK, THE BOOK CONTRACT HE WAS PAID $5 MILLION FOR A MEMOIR.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF REPORTS ABOUT HIM USING STATE PERSONNEL, POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF PUBLIC OFFICER'S LAW.

I THINK IT'S GONNA FOCUS ON HIM.

>> YEAH.

AND IT SHOULD BE SAY, JCOPE, THE STATE ETHICS AGENCY, HAS REALLY BEEN QUIET ON ALL THESE ISSUES SURROUNDING THE GOVERNOR AND THEY MAY BE DOING SOME SORT OF INVESTIGATION AT THIS POINT, BUT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW BECAUSE THEIR PROCESS IS VERY CLOSED DOORS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO BE ACCUSED PUBLICLY IF THEY'RE NOT FOUND TO BE-- TO HAVE DONE SOMETHING.

WE'LL WATCH OUT TO SEE IF JCOPE CHANGES, I GUESS.

WE DO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

YANCEY ROY FROM NEWSDAY AND ANNA GRONEWOLD FROM POLITICO, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

MOVING ON NOW TO NEWS FROM THE LEGISLATURE, HOUSING CONTINUES TO BE A KEY ISSUE IN NEW YORK AND STATE LAWMAKERS NOW WANT MORE PROTECTIONS FOR TENANTS FROM EVICTION.

DEMOCRATS ARE PUSHING SOMETHING CALLED GOOD CAUSE EVICTION, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT A LOT HARDER FOR LANDLORDS TO EVICT THEIR TENANTS AND NOW THERE'S NEW ENERGY FOR THAT IDEA STATEWIDE AFTER THE CITY OF ALBANY BECAME THE FIRST TO ENACT IT ON THE LOCAL LEVEL.

DARRELL CAMP REPORTS.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> FOR THE MORE THAN HALF OF NEW YORKERS WHO RENT THEIR RESIDENCE, ACCESS TO SECURE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A TOP ISSUE.

THAT'S WHY NEW YORK'S CAPITAL CITY OF ALBANY RECENTLY BECAME THE FIRST CITY IN THE STATE TO APPROVE WHAT'S CALLED GOOD CAUSE EVICTION.

THAT MAKES IT HARDER FOR LANDLORDS TO EVICT TENANTS WITHOUT A CLEAR REASON WHY.

IF THERE'S NOT A GOOD CAUSE FOR EVICTION, A TENANT COULD CHALLENGE THEIR LANDLORD IN COURT.

LAWMAKERS AT THE STATE LEVEL ARE CONSIDERING SIMILAR LEGISLATION FOR WHEN THEY RETURN TO ALBANY NEXT YEAR.

ALBANY COMMON COUNCILMAN ALFREDO BALLERMANN WHO SPONSORS THE MEASURE SAYS IT PROTECTS BOTH LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.

>> BECAUSE IF SOMEONE CALLS IN A COMPLAINT HOW IT CURRENTLY IS, A LANDLORD COULD HAVE REMOVED SOMEBODY WITHIN 30 OR 90 DAYS BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY LIVED ON THE PROPERTY, IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN EXISTING LEASE.

OR, THEY CAN REFUSE TO RENEW A LEASE BASED ON SOMEBODY'S COMPLAINT.

SO REALLY, THAT'S WHO THIS IS PROTECTING.

THIS IS NOT PROTECTING BAD TENANTS.

IF THE TENANT DOESN'T HAVE A LEASE, THAT'S A GOOD CAUSE FOR EVICTION.

IF A TENANT DOESN'T FILE A LEASE, THAT'S A GOOD CAUSE FOR EVICTION.

IF THE TENANT DOESN'T PAY THE RENT, THAT'S A GOOD CAUSE FOR EVICTION.

>> EVEN BEFORE THE LAW PASSED, THE CITY OF ALBANY ALREADY OPERATED UNDER GOOD CAUSE.

LANDLORDS HAD TO GET PERMISSION FROM A CITY COURT JUDGE TO REMOVE A TENANT AND COUNCILMEMBERS LIKE OWUSU ANANE SAY MAKING THAT PRACTICE PERMANENT BY PASSING IT INTO LAW IS IMPORTANT.

>> YES.

WE DEFINITELY WANT TO SEND A MESSAGE TO FUTURE MAYORS, FUTURE LEGISLATORS, FUTURE JUDGES THAT WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING, HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT, AND WE HAVE TO PROTECT TENANTS.

THERE ARE 60% OF RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF ALBANY ARE RENTERS, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING THEM.

>> BUT SOME INVOLVED IN THE ISSUE OF HOUSING THINK THE MEASURE WOULD DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD IF IMPLEMENTED AT THE STATE LEVEL.

ONE OF THEM IS JAY MARTIN, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY HOUSING AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, OR CHIP, WHICH REPRESENTS PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE NEW YORK CITY AREA.

>> WE HAVE SEEN WHEN THERE ARE STRONGER LAWS IN PREVENTING MORE INVESTMENT, WE SEE THAT THERE ARE LESS RENTAL HOUSING FOR FOLKS.

WE ACTUALLY NEED TO BE ENCOURAGING MORE HOUSING TO BE BUILT.

WE NEED MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE LIKE ITHACA, SCHENECTADY, UPSTATE ALBANY, ROCHESTER, ET CETERA.

WE ACTUALLY NEED TO BE PROMOTING POLICIES AND LEGISLATION THAT WILL ACTUALLY PROMOTE MORE RENTAL HOUSING INSTEAD OF LESS.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT JUST CAUSE WILL DO.

>> IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, JULIA SALAZAR, A DEMOCRAT FROM BROOKLYN, SPONSORS A SIMILAR BILL THAT WOULD ENACT STATE CAUSE STATEWIDE.

AND HER BILL WOULD ALSO PREVENT EVICTIONS STATEWIDE IF LANDLORDS DON'T GIVE A CLEAR REASON FOR A TENANT'S REMOVAL.

IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE LANDLORDS TO OFFER A RENEWAL LEASE TO TENANTS WHO ARE NOT EVICTED AND WHILE SOME THINK THAT WOULD REDUCE ACCESS TO HOUSING, SALAZAR SAYS THERE IS NO PROOF TO BACK THAT UP.

>> WHENEVER WE SEEK, IN THE LEGISLATURE, TO IMPLEMENT MORE PROTECTIONS FOR TENANTS OR SOME VERSION OF RENT CONTROL, THE OPPOSITION SAYS THAT THIS IS GOING TO DRIVE DOWN HOME VALUES AND PROPERTY VALUES.

THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN EXODUS OUT OF THE CITY AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WHEN WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED STRONG RENT REGULATION, IN SOME CASES, SUCH AS THE EXISTING REPRESENT REGULATION SYSTEM IN NEW YORK CITY, THAT HASN'T BEEN THE CASE.

>> SUPPORTERS LIKE SALAZAR SEE THE IDEA AS A WAY TO PROTECT TENANTS FROM LOSING HOUSING FROM EITHER EVICTION OR HEFTY RENT INCREASES.

SALAZAR'S BILL WOULD ALSO PREVENT LANDLORDS FROM EVICTING TENANTS IF THEY RAISE THE RENT TOO MUCH AT A TIME.

AND WHILE THAT MIGHT SEEM LIKE A GOOD DEAL FOR TENANTS, MARTIN FROM CHIP, SAYS THAT IT WOULD CAP REVENUE AT A LEVEL THAT MAY NOT BE SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM.

>> ALL THIS DOES IS ALLOW PROPERTY OWNERS AND LAWMAKERS TO BE PUT IN A POSITION WHERE THEY'RE SAYING, WELL, WE PASSED THIS LAW SO THEREFORE, THERE ARE MORE PROTECTIONS.

IN REALITY, IT'S VIRTUALLY GUARANTEEING RENT INCREASES BECAUSE IT'S BUILT INTO THE LAW THAT SAYS A PROPERTY OWNER HAS A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF RENT THAT THEY'LL HAVE TO APPLY FOR, THAT THEY'RE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO HAVE.

OWNERS WILL HAVE TO GO FOR THAT RENT INCREASE BECAUSE THEY'LL BE CONCERNED IF THEY EVER GO FOR AN INCREASE MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE THE COSTS TO OPERATE DEMANDS IT, THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO GET IT BECAUSE OF THAT NEW LAW.

>> THAT COULD CHANGE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TENANTS AND LANDLORDS ACROSS NEW YORK.

FOR SOME, THAT MIGHT NOT BE A BAD THING.

IN ALBANY, MAYOR KATHY SHEEHAN SAID SINCE THE CITY STARTED OPERATING UNDER THE GOOD CAUSE OF EVICTION STANDARD, IT PROVIDED PEACE OF MIND FOR BOTH TENANTS AND LANDLORDS.

>> CERTAINLY, IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THE RULES OF THE ROAD BEFORE THEY GO INTO COURT, AND IT SETS A VERY CLEAR SET OF CONSIDERATIONS THAT JUDGES IN THE CITY OF ALBANY HAVE TO GO THROUGH AS THEY, YOU KNOW, OVERSEE AN EVICTION PROCEEDING.

>> AS OF NOW, THE BILL REMAINS IN THE STATE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND THE ASSEMBLY HOUSING COMMITTEE WITH LEGISLATORS SET TO RETURN TO ALBANY IN JANUARY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AND AS I SAID, WE PROBABLY WON'T SEE LAWMAKERS CONSIDER GOOD CAUSE EVICTION UNTIL JANUARY WHEN THEY'RE SET TO RETURN TO ALBANY FOR THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> DARRELL, TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE CONVERSATION AROUND THIS?

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED FROM NEW YORK CITY, ACROSS THE STATE, A LOT OF LAWMAKERS ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING THIS HAPPEN.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

>>THE DYNAMIC IS DIFFERENT BETWEEN UPSTATE AND DOWNSTATE, AND THAT IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT JUMAANE WILLIAMS, THE NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC ADVOCATE, TALKED ABOUT WHEN HE WAS IN HUDSON ON THURSDAY.

>> AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN ARE PEOPLE EVICTED AND KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOME AT THE WHIMS OF OWNERS.

MANY OF THE OWNERS AS WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY DON'T EVEN LIVE HERE.

THEY'RE FROM A DISTANCE.

AND THE ONES WHO LIVE HERE, BEING ABLE TO JUST GHOST SOMEONE OUT OF THEIR HOME BECAUSE YOU THINK YOU SHOULD DO SO TODAY IS A PROBLEM.

WE'RE SEEING THE RESULTS OF IT.

>> WHY IS JUMAANE INVOLVED IN THIS CONVERSATION, DARRELL?

DO WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> MORE OR LESS, JUMAANE WILLIAMS IS A PERSON THAT PEOPLE LOOKED AT AS SOMEONE WHO COULD ASCEND TO HIGHER OFFICE AT SOME POINT BUT THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME, SEVERAL YEARS AND THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT WHEN YOU TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE LANDLORD WHO DOESN'T NECESSARILY LIVE IN THE LOCATION WHERE THE APARTMENT IS, WHERE ARE THEY AT WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING TO HAVE A COURT DATE.

THIS IS ABOUT A BROADER CONVERSATION WHEN IT COMES TO JUSTICE GENERALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT HAVE AS MUCH AS OTHERS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO IN, DARRELL.

LOOKING NOW TO CONGRESS.

THE U. S. SENATE IS TAKING A FEW WEEKS OFF UNTIL SEPTEMBER AND WHEN THEY COME BACK, DEMOCRATS ARE EXPECTED TO CONSIDER A NEW SLATE OF IDEAS, LIKE MAJOR ELECTION REFORMS.

VOTING RIGHTS CAME INTO THE SPOTLIGHT THIS YEAR AFTER SOME STATES CREATED NEW LAWS THAT APPEAR TO LIMIT ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX AND SOME OF THOSE LAWS WERE UPHELD BY THE SUPREME COURT.

IN RESPONSE, DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS HAVE BEEN PUSHING A BILL YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD OF.

IT'S CALLED THE FOR THE PEOPLE ACT.

IT PASSED THIS YEAR IN THE HOUSE BUT NOT THE SENATE AND SUPPORTERS ARE HOPING THAT CHANGES WHEN THE FULL CONGRESS COMES BACK NEXT MONTH.

ONE OF THOSE SUPPORTERS IS ROSEMARY RIVERA FROM CITIZEN ACTION.

WE SAT DOWN TO GO THROUGH THE BILL AND WHAT IT WOULD MEAN FOR NEW YORKERS.

[ THEME MUSIC ] ROSEMARY RIVERA FROM CITIZEN ACTION, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, DAN.

>> OF COURSE.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FOR THE PEOPLE ACT.

IT'S A FEDERAL BILL TO EXPAND VOTING ELECTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND I FEEL LIKE WHAT GETS LOST IN THIS CONVERSATION ARE THE SPECIFICS OF THE BILL, BUT CAN YOU GIVE ME THE BROAD STROKES OF IT?

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF WHAT THIS WOULD CHANGE ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL?

>> WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY, I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE'RE STRENGTHENING OUR DEMOCRACY.

OUR DEMOCRACY HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY, WE SAW ON JANUARY 6th, THIS OUR DEMOCRACY IS QUITE FRAGILE.

AT THIS POINT, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPERATIVE FOR US TO STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY AND WE ARE SEEING THAT MORE AND MORE WITH THE SUPREME COURT PROPOSALS ACROSS-- THAT OPENED UP A VOLLEY OF INCREDIBLE PROPOSALS ACROSS STATES THAT WOULD STOP VOTING ACCESS TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S ONE.

THE FIRST ONE IS IT EXPANDS VOTER ACCESS.

THE SECOND ONE IS WE HAVE A SYSTEM OF REDISTRICTING THAT IS DONE BY PARTISAN LINES AND IN ESSENCE WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE ABLE TO CHOOSE THEIR VOTERS RATHER THAN VOTERS ACTUALLY CHOOSING THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES.

>> RIGHT.

WHAT PEOPLE KNOW IS JERRYMANDERING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE THIRD THING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME IS DARK MONEY IN POLITICS.

SO BIG MONEY IN POLITICS AS PEOPLE ARE THE GROUND ARE SUFFERING AND COMMON SENSE LEGISLATION COMES TO LEGISLATORS ON A DAILY BASIS, YOU WOULD ASSUME THAT THESE ARE THINGS THEY WOULD PASS BECAUSE IT'S FOR THE BETTERMENT AND ADDRESSES SOME SOCIETAL CHALLENGES.

YET YEAR AFTER YEAR THEY DON'T PASS BECAUSE OF BIG MONEY INFLUENCE.

FINALLY, ETHICS.

ETHICS IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> NEVER-ENDING ISSUE.

>> YES.

>> WE'RE OBVIOUSLY FAMILIAR IN NEW YORK LITERALLY.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

SO THIS WOULD ACTUALLY STRENGTHEN THINGS LIKE ENSURING THAT PRESIDENTIAL TAX RETURNS ARE OPEN, STRENGTHENS ETHICS AND CREATES CODES OF CONDUCTS FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICES, WHICH WE ABSOLUTELY NEED.

PARTICULARLY WHEN IT HITS MY HEART TO SAY THAT THEY MADE A DECISION THAT ACTUALLY IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE.

ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH JUST FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN OUR COUNTRY AND THE HISTORY OF THAT FROM THE SUFFRAGES TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, AND SO IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE THAT WE'RE GOING DOWN THAT SLOPE AND AFRAID OF DEMOCRACY RATHER THAN EMBRACING THE PEOPLE AT THIS POINT.

>> THIS IS A FEDERAL BILL.

IT'S IN CONGRESS.

IN NEW YORK, WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR ACCESS TO VOTING.

A LITTLE BIT HERE AND THERE.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY MORE TO DO F WOULD PASS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, HOW WOULD IT CHANGE THINGS IN NEW YORK?

WHAT DO WE NOT HAVE IN PLACE HERE THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE?

>> SO WE DO HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT LAWS IN NEW YORK IN TERMS OF VOTING ACCESS.

WE STILL NEED A COUPLE MORE AND WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST ELECTIONS THAT THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THE POSSIBILITY TO VOTE WAS-- WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN SOME OF OUR BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

WE RECENTLY JUST SAW THAT IN THIS PRIMARY, I MEAN THE VOTING IN NEW YORK CITY, WHAT A NIGHTMARE THAT WAS, WHERE WE DIDN'T-- [LAUGHTER] HOW TO MOVE, IT ET CETERA.

WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO STRENGTHEN IT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD THE HORROR STORIES AND WE'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED THEM EVEN IN NEW YORK STATE.

>> SO THERE'S ANOTHER PART OF THIS THAT I FIND REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE WE HAVE IT IN NEW YORK.

IT WOULD REQUIRE STATES TO SET UP THESE-- YOU WERE MENTIONING THE JERRYMANDERING.

IT WOULD REQUIRE STATES TO SET UP THESE INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONS TO REDRAW LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS.

I THINK IT WOULD BE ONLY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS BECAUSE IT ONLY AFFECTS THAT.

BUT PRESUMABLY, THEY MIGHT ALSO DO STATE DISTRICTS.

WE HAVE ONE IN NEW YORK.

WOULD IT LOOK LIKE WHAT WE HAVE IN NEW YORK?

WOULD THAT BE IN EVERY STATE?

>> I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS ON HOW IT WOULD ROLL OUT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IN TERMS OF WHAT THE COMMISSION WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT'S ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE NEED IS TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE 'NON-PARTISAN BODY THAT ALLOWS YOU TOES DRAW DISTRICT LINES IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE PARTISAN POLITICS.

OUR COUNTRY IS DEFINITELY VERY DIVIDED AT THIS POINT.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND THIS LEGISLATION INCLUDES A LOT OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS ABOUT VOTING.

WE HAVE AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION, A WHOLE LIST OF THINGS AND I KNOW THE REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS HAVE COME BACK AT THAT AND SAID, WELL, WHAT IF OUR STATES DON'T WANT TO DO THAT?

AND THEY SAID, IS THIS A FEDERAL OVERREACH AND SHOULDN'T STATES-- SHOULDN'T IT BE UP TO STATES AS TO HOW WE DO THIS?

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> WELL, IT'S DEFINITELY NOT AN OVERREACH.

WHAT IS AN OVERREACH AT THIS POINT, I THINK THE QUESTION SHOULD REALLY BE IS, WHAT IS AN OVERREACH WHEN YOU TRY TO SUPPRESS THE VOTE OF OTHER PEOPLE?

I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN BOTH HISTORICALLY AND WE'RE SEEING IT HAPPEN MORE AND MORE TODAY.

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

ARE WE GOING BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN YOU HAVE TO GUESS HOW MANY JELLY BEANS ARE IN A JAR BEFORE YOU CAN VOTE?

WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE ABOUT NEW YORK IS THAT CHUCK SCHUMER IS HERE.

>> YES.

>> THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING.

THIS IS A REAL TEST ON HIS LEADERSHIP.

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HOLD MY ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE AND I'M SURE YOU DO, TOO.

SO THIS FOR THE PEOPLE BILL -- FOR THE PEOPLE ACT, IT'S A BILL FOR EVERYONE FOR YOU AND FOR ME.

>> WE SHOULD MENTION THE REASON SENATOR SCHUMER SAYS HE CAN'T BRING IT UP IS BECAUSE OF THE FILIBUSTER IN THE SENATE.

>> YES >> IT DOES HAVE DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT BUT OBVIOUSLY REPUBLICANS CAN USE THE FILL BUSTER TO BLOCK IT.

GIVEN THAT, HOW DO YOU SEE A PATH TO THIS?

>> HOW DO I SEE A PATH WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY ALLOWING RULES TO UNDERMINE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR COUNTRY, DEMOCRACY?

LIKE, HOW DO YOU STOP DEMOCRACY FROM HAPPENING BECAUSE OF SOME REALLY SOME RULES?

IF IT TAKES-- LOOK, MITCH McCONNELL WAS ABLE TO DO IT WITH 51 VOTES TO GET THREE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES INTO OFFICE.

WHY ARE WE NOT ALLOWED TO PASS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO MOVE AND STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY?

REMEMBER WHEN WE STARTED, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW FRAGILE OUR DEMOCRACY IS.

IF WE DON'T DO THIS NOW, WE'RE HEADED DOWN A SLOPE THAT I AM NOT SURE WHAT THIS COUNTRY WILL LOOK LIKE AFTER.

>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE'LL BE WATCHING I THINK IN NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS AS PEOPLE ARE ELECTED TO CONGRESS AND AGAIN IN 2024 FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE ELECTIONS IN THE MEANTIME, BUT THOSE ARE THE ELECTIONS THAT PEOPLE REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO AND WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN.

BUT WE DO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

>> NOT A PROBLEM.

>> ROSEMARY RIVERA FROM CITIZEN ACTION IN NEW YORK, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> THE SENATE IS SET TO COME BACK TO WASHINGTON IN SEPTEMBER SO WE'LL SEE IF THAT LEGISLATION MOVES.

IN THE MEANTIME, LET US KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD BE COVERING HERE ON "NEW YORK NOW. "

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