[ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," A NEW STEP IN THE CUOMO IMPEACHMENT PROBE.

WE'LL HAVE DETAILS AND CHAT LATER WITH POLITICO'S BILL MAHONEY.

THEN RESTAURANTS WANT LAWMAKERS TO COME BACK TO ALBANY AFTER A CRUCIAL LIFELINE WAS SCRAPPED LAST WEEK BY THE STATE.

JOIN US FOR A DEEP DIVE.

AND REPUBLICANS NOW HAVE A PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE IN NEXT YEAR'S RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

DARRELL CAMP HAS DETAILS AND WE'LL SIT DOWN WITH STATE REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN NICK LANGWORTHY ON THEIR STRATEGY HEADING INTO NEXT YEAR.

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 IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION INTO GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO TOOK A NEW TURN THIS WEEK WITH LAWMAKERS SAYING THEY'LL NOW ISSUE SUBPOENAS AS PART OF THE INQUIRY.

IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR, A SUBPOENA IS ISSUED WHEN SOMEONE DOESN'T PROVIDE INFORMATION VOLUNTARILY.

SO IF SOMEONE DOESN'T HAND OVER A DOCUMENT WHEN THEY'RE ASKED OR REFUSE TO SIT FOR AN INTERVIEW, THEY CAN BE FORCED TO BY A SUBPOENA.

AND WE DON'T KNOW WHO THE ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WILL SUBPOENA AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION OR WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THE IMPEACHMENT PROBE IS NOT CLOSE TO WRAPPING UP.

ASSEMBLY TOM ABINANTI IS A MEMBER THAT COMMITTEE AND SAID THIS AFTER THEY MET THIS WEEK BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

WE'RE NOT CLOSE TO GETTING TO THE END YET.

>> OH, NO.

NOT YET.

NO, THIS IS-- LOOK, LET'S FACE IT.

WE'VE GIVEN THEM A HUGE TASK.

THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUE FORCE THEM TO LOOK AT.

THEY REV ALREADY RECEIVED TO THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF DOCUMENTS.

THIS HE SPOKE TO NUMEROUS WITNESSES.

THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF SORTING THROUGH ALL OF THIS.

>> WE DON'T REALLY KNOW MUCH MORE ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION AT THIS POINT AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT LATER ON THE SHOW WITH POLITICO'S BILL MAHONEY.

FIRST, IT'S NO SECRET THAT RESTAURANTS STRUGGLED TO STAY OPEN THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

AND MANY CLOSED ALTOGETHER.

THOSE THAT STAYED OPEN STILL HAVE A LOT OF GROUND TO MAKE UP AS THINGS GET BACK TO NORMAL.

AND THEY WERE DEALT A MAJOR SETBACK LAST WEEK WHEN THE STATE ENDED A CRUCIAL LIFELINE FOR THE INDUSTRY WITH JUST 24 HOURS NOTICE.

NOW THEY'RE CALLING ON LAWMAKERS TO RETURN TO ALBANY AND BRING IT BACK.

TAKE A LOOK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] [ APPLAUSE ] >> WHEN GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO SAID LAST WEEK THAT THE COVID EMERGENCY WAS OVER IN NEW YORK, MANY SAW IT AS A RENAISSANCE FOR THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF HARDSHIP.

>> LIFE IS NOT ABOUT GOING BACK.

LIFE IS ABOUT GOING FORWARD AND WE'VE LEARNED A LOT SINCE LAST YEAR.

WE'VE LEARNED THE MANY LESSONS DURING COVID.

SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO JUST REBUILD.

WE'RE GOING TO REIMAGINE NEW YORK.

>> BUT THAT WASN'T GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE.

WITH JUST 24 HOURS' NOTICE, A SERIES OF REGULATIONS THAT HELPED BUSINESSES SURVIVE THE PANDEMIC WERE SET TO EXPIRE.

ONE OF THEM WAS THE END OF ALCOHOL TO GO, WHICH RESTAURANT OWNERS AND DISTILLERS SAY WAS A BIG BLOW.

MELISSA FLEISCHUT IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE RESTAURANT OCEAN ASSOCIATION.

>> SO I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE TAKEN ABACK AND HAD PURCHASED THEIR SUPPLIES TO KEEP PROVIDING ALCOHOL TO GO.

IT DEFINITELY CAUSED SHOCK WAVES IN THE INDUSTRY WHEN IT DISAPPEARED WITHIN, I GUESS, 24-HOUR NOTICE.

>> WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED, RESTAURANTS WERE FORCED TO SHUT DOWN EXCEPT FOR TAKEOUT AND DELIVERY AND ALCOHOL TO GO WAS A HUGE HAIL MARY FOR THOSE BUSINESSES.

AS LONG AS SOMEONE WAS BUYING FOOD, THEY COULD TAKE A DRINK WITH THEM, OR HAVE IT DELIVERED.

THAT GAVE SOME PAD FOR RESTAURANTS WHEN SALES WERE SLOW.

DOMINIC PURNOMO OWNS YONO'S, A RESTAURANT IN ALBANY.

>> CERTAINLY HAVING THAT LIFE LINE AND ADDITIONAL REVENUE STREAM WAS INSTRUMENTAL TO NOT ONLY OUR RESTAURANT BUT MANY OTHERS.

THERE'S SOME RESTAURANTS THAT STRICTLY EXISTED ON TAKEOUT.

FOR THEM, IT WAS AN EVEN BIGGER ASSET.

>> FOR MANY RESTAURANTS, LIKE YONO'S, THE END OF THE COVID EMERGENCY DOESN'T SIGNAL A RETURN TO NORMAL.

OWNERS SAY PEOPLE AREN'T COMING OUT TO EAT LIKE THEY DID BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

SO THEIR NUMBERS ARE DOWN AND NOW RESTAURANTS ARE FACING NEW CHALLENGES AS THEY TRY TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

HERE'S FLASH SHOOT AGAIN.

>> THE OTHER THING THEY'RE FACING IS A HUGE INCREASE IN COSTS.

A LOT OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN IS-- IT'S NOT BROKEN.

IT'S JUST BENT AT THIS POINT.

YOU KNOW, WAITING FOR THOSE SUPPLIES TO COME BACK ONLINE IS DRIVING PRICE UP.

>> SO EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS AND FOR SOME BUSINESSES THAT SELL BOOZE, ALCOHOL TO GO BARELY MADE A DENT, BUT FOR OTHERS, IT'S BEEN A LIFE LINE.

YANKEE DISTILLERS OWNER MATTHEW JAGGER SAYS ALCOHOL TO GO MADE UP ABOUT 30% OF HIS REVENUE.

>> YOU KNOW, WE WANT THE BEST THING FOR ALL THE BUSINESSES THAT MIGHT BE AFFECTED.

WE WANT THE BEST THING FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS IN NEW YORK STATE.

WE WANT THIS TO BE OVER, BUT THIS IS A THING THAT IT'S TAKEN OUR LEGS OUT FROM UNDER US RIGHT NOW.

IT'S-- IT'S-- IT'S DISHEARTENING TO SAY THE LEAST.

>> IT'S ALSO NOT ENTIRELY CUOMO'S FAULT.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE WAS CONSIDERING A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE EXTENDED ALCOHOL TO GO FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR.

LAWMAKERS KNEW IT WOULD EXPIRE IF THEY DIDN'T PASS THE BILL.

BUT DEMOCRATS LEFT ALBANY IN JUNE WITHOUT ACTING ON THE LEGISLATION AND WITHOUT SAYING WHY.

THAT DIDN'T SIT WELL WITH RESTAURANT OWNERS LIKE VICK CHRISTOPHER WHO OWNS A FEW RESTAURANTS IN THE CAPITAL REGION.

I IMAGINE PEOPLE WOULD SAY YOU DIDN'T HAVE THIS OPTION BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND THINGS WERE GOING OKAY, MAYBE.

DEPENDS ON THE RESTAURANT.

SO POST-PANDEMIC, WHY SHOULD IT BE DIFFERENT?

WHY SHOULD YOU HAVE THESE ADDITIONAL OPTIONS?

>> BECAUSE PEOPLE DISCOVERED OUTDOOR DINING IN URBAN AREAS FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST SUMMER BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AN EMPTY RESTAURANTS AND EVERYBODY'S OUTSIDE ON BROAD HE WHAT BECAUSE THE CULTURE HAS CHANGED AND THE WAY THAT THIS LEGISLATION DID NOT ADVANCE COINCIDING WITH THE END OF THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE CAUSED FOR A VERY ABRUPT STOP WITH ABOUT 24 HOURS NOTICE IN WHICH THAT RESTAURANTS HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR BUSINESS MODELS IMMEDIATELY OVERNIGHT.

>> WHILE WE'RE ELATED THAT THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IS OVER, MY BIGGEST FRUSTRATION LIES WITH THE INEPTITUDE OF THE LEADERSHIP IN THE LEGISLATURE.

IT MAKES SENSE.

IT MAKES TOO MUCH SENSE WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY THEY WERE TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS WORKING GREAT FOR 16 MONTHS SO NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN WHY BRING AN END TO IT.

>> LAWMAKERS AREN'T SCHEDULED TO COME BACK TO ALBANY UNTIL JANUARY LEAVING SIX MONTHS BEFORE ALCOHOL TO GO IS EVEN CONSIDERED.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER JOHN MCDONALD WAS ONE OF THE BILL'S SUPPORTERS.

HE SAYS THAT SOME LAWMAKERS WERE WARY OF EASING ACCESS TO ALCOHOL.

DO YOU HAVE ANY INDICATION AS TO WHY SOMEONE WOULD BE OPPOSE TO IT IN THE LEGISLATURE?

>> THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A CORE GROUP.

I NOTICED THIS IN THE ASSEMBLY.

THERE'S A CORE GROUP THEY WOULD RATHER NOT DEAL WITH ANYTHING THAT IS PERCEIVED AS EXPANDING ALCOHOL USE.

THE INTERESTING PART IS THAT THIS EFFORT REALLY, NUMBER ONE, PRETTY MUCH SAVED A LOT OF RESTAURANTS.

NUMBER TWO WAS IMMENSELY POPULAR AND NUMBER THREE, QUITE FRANKLY, I MAKE THE ARGUMENT, IT'S MUCH MORE RESPONSIBLE TO BRING A DRINK AT HOME VERSUS HAVING IT WITH A MEAL AND GETTING IN THE CAR AND DRIVING HOME.

I THINK PEOPLE SAW THE LOGIC BEHIND IT AND SAID, JEEZ, WHY DIDN'T WE DO THIS BEFORE?

>> ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE IS THE LIQUOR STORE LOBBY WHICH RESTAURANT OWNERS AND DISTILLERS BLAME FOR THE BILL'S BREAKDOWN.

STATE LAKER STORE ASSOCIATION DECLINED TO COMMENT FOR THIS STORY BUT SAID EXTENDING ALCOHOL TO GO WOULD BLUNT THEIR BUSINESS.

SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL AREN'T BUYING IT.

HERE'S CHRISTOPHER AGAIN.

>> I THINK AT THIS POINT IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT NEW YORK STATE ECONOMICS AS A WHOLE, YOU'RE NOT REALLY FEELING BAD FOR THE LIQUOR STORES RIGHT NOW.

THEY HAD A PHENOMENAL YEAR.

LET'S GET TOGETHER AND TAKE CARE OF THE INDEPENDENT RESTAURANTS.

>> FLEISCHUT FROM THE STATE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.

>> FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND, THEY WERE UP 20 TO 30% LAST YEAR WHILE WE HAD TAKEOUT-- ALCOHOL TO GO FOR TAKEOUT AND DELIVERY.

SO THIS IS A WIN-WIN-WIN FOR THE CONSUMER AND FOR THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT A LOSS FOR THE LIQUOR STORES.

SO WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO PASS IT.

>> IN THE MEANTIME, RESTAURANT OWNERS ARE DOING WHATEVER THEY CAN TO STAY IN THE BLACK.

BUT THAT'S EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

PURNOMO FROM YONO'S SAID FOR MANY RESTAURANT OWNERS THERE'S A LOT OF GROUND TO MAKE UP AS THE PANDEMIC COMES TO A CLOSE.

>> THE REALITY IS WE DID 50% OF THE REVENUE OF 2019 AND 2020.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A SIX-FIGURE DEFICIT THAT WE NEED TO DIG OUT OF.

IT IS GOING TO TAKE EVERYTHING WE CAN GET AS FAR AS REVENUE STREAMS TO COME IN.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND REPUBLICANS ARE NOW ALSO CALLING ON DEMOCRATS TO COME BACK TO ALBANY AND REINSTATE ALCOHOL TO GO, BUT SO FAR, THERE'S BEEN NO SIGN OF A PLAN TO RETURN.

AND SPEAKING OF REPUBLICANS, PARTY LEADERS WERE IN ALBANY THIS WEEK TO HEAR FROM POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR IN NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION.

DARRELL CAMP IS HERE WITH MORE.

DARRELL?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

REPUBLICAN COUNTY CHAIRSMEN MET ON MONDAY WHERE THEY HEARD FROM CANDIDATES FOR A NUMBER OF SEATS BUT MOST FOCUS WAS ON THE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES.

THEY HELD A STRAW POLL AFTER THE CANDIDATES SPOKE WITH INNED WITH CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN GETTING 85% OF THE WEIGHTED VOTE.

ZELDIN SAID THAT THE GOVERNOR IS A VULNERABLE POSITION GOING INTO 2022.

HERE IS A LOOK AT HIS FRAME OF MIND MOVING FORWARD.

>> ANDREW CUOMO IS BEING STUBBORN AND SAYING THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO RESIGN.

HE'S HOLDING A FUND-RAISER AND HE AT THIS POINT IS OUR OPPONENT FOR NEXT YEAR AND WE ARE RUNNING AGAINST ANDREW CUOMO.

WE ARE RUNNING AGAINST THE FAILED LIBERAL POLICIES OF ONE PARTY DEMOCRAT RULE.

I WANT BALANCE IN ALBANY.

WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR BALANCE, POLITICAL BALANCE, GEOGRAPHICAL BALANCE, OUR STATE NEEDS IT.

IN ORDER TO SAVE OUR STATE,WAY NEED THAT BALANCE.

>> WE ALSO TALKED TO NICK LANGWORTHY AFTERWARDS HE SAID ZELDIN WILL BE LIKE A FRANCHISE QUARTERBACK TO USE THE ANALOGY AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS BUILDING A TICKET AROUND HIM AND HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE SUPERMAJORITY IN BOTH HOUSES AND HE'S LIKE, HEY, WE WANT TO AVOID A PRIMARY.

WE'RE ALL WE GOT.

IF WE'RE DIVIDED, THE RESOURCES WILL BE SPLIT AND WE WON'T BE ABLE TO CLAIM THE HOUSES BACK IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM HIM LATER ON IN THE SHOW.

I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT HE IS UNDERESTIMATING THE IMPORTANCE OF A PRIMARY.

>> SO DID ZELDIN SAY WHAT HIS STRATEGY IS FOR NEXT YEAR?

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S GOING TO BE AN UPHILL BATTLE.

>> UH-HUH.

IT'S AN UPHILL BATTLE BUT HE FEELS THE GOVERNOR IS IN SUCH A WEAK POSITION WHERE HE CAN BE TAKEN OUT SO EASILY WITH FACTS, LOGIC, REASON AND THE FACT HE HAS CROSSOVER APPEAL BECAUSE HE WON IN PURPLE DISTRICTS AND LEE ZELDIN FEELS WHEN HE COMPARES HIMSELF TO GIULIANI OR TO ROB ASTORINO HE ACTUALLY HAS MORE CROSSOVER APPEAL THAN THEM WHICH MAKES HIM THE STRONGEST CANDIDATE.

>> I AGREE WITH THE GIULIANI PART.

BUT NOT THE ASTORINO PART JUST BECAUSE LEE ALIGNED HIMSELF WITH THE PRESIDENT DURING THE LAST FOUR YEARS WHILE HE WAS IN CONGRESS.

WE'RE GOING TO TOSS TO NICK LANGWORTHY NOW BECAUSE WE TALKED WITH HIM ABOUT THIS.

I THINK IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

I SAT DOWN WITH CHAIRMAN LANGWORTHY WHILE HE WAS IN ALBANY.

I TALKED ABOUT THE PARTY'S STRATEGY HEADING INTO NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS.

TAKE A LOOK.

CHAIRMAN LANGWORTHY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> OH, THANKS FOR HAVING ME BACK, DAN.

>> OF COURSE.

THIS WEEK, CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN WAS NAMED THE PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE FOR NEXT YEAR FOR YOUR PARTY.

YOU MET WITH ALL THE COUNTY CHAIRS.

THEY HERD FROM THE PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM THE COUNTY CHAIRS ABOUT WHY THEY LIKED LEE ZELDIN?

WHY IS THE ONE HE'S GOING FOR?

>> I THINK THE INTEREST IN HIS CANDIDACY IS SPARKED BY THE ENTHUSIASM HE BRINGS TO THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, FIRST AND FOREMOST.

I MEAN, MOST PEOPLE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK OR YOU KNOW, THE CAPITAL REGION OR THE HUDSON VALLEY HAD NOT NECESSARILY KNOWN LEE ZELDIN AS-- THEY SEE THE ENERGY HE'S BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.

THEY SEE HIS BIOGRAPHY, YOU KNOW, AND WHO BROUGHT HIM TO THIS MOMENT.

HE WAS A SOLDIER SERVING OUR COUNTRY IN IRAQ.

HE'S REALLY THE FIRST PERSON OF THE GENERATION OF SERVICEMEMBERS THAT SERVED IN THE POST-9/11 ERA TO SEEK A STATEWIDE OFFICE.

I THINK THAT GIVES HIM A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.

THEN HE SERVED OUR STATE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

SO HE'S NOT SOMEONE THAT JUST HAS FEDERAL SERVICE NOW LOOKING TO NEW YORK.

HE'S SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE MESS THAT IS ALBANY, AND THEN WENT ON TO SERVE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THIS BRINGS US.

WE WANTED TO START THIS EARLY ON PURPOSE SO THAT WE CAN START TO AMASS THE RESOURCES, BUILD THE MOMENTUM AND PAVE THE ROAD TO VICTORY THAT COMES SO HARD FOR REPUBLICANS IN THIS STATE.

I THINK THIS TIME LINE WORKS MUCH BETTER FOR US.

DONORS, YOU KNOW HAVE, TOLD ME THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE MONEY SQUANDERED ON A PRIMARY.

THEY WANT TO SEE US ARTICULATE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WHAT OUR REPUBLICAN VISION IS FOR NEW YORK AND THE TERRIBLE PATH THAT ONE-PARTY DEMOCRAT RULE HAS TAKEN THIS STATE OUT AT THIS POINT.

>> SO THE OTHER CANDIDATES HAVE SAID THAT THEY WILL TAKE THIS TO A PRIMARY NEXT YEAR.

DO YOU THINK THAT THEY MIGHT REVERSE THAT?

WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF THAT?

DO YOU THINK YOU CAN CONVINCE THEM THAT NEXT YEAR IS THE TIME FOR YOUR PARTY TO JOIN TOGETHER AND REALLY BE UNIFIED RATHER THAN SPLIT SO EARLY ON IN THE PRIMARY BEFORE THE GENERAL?

>> I THINK THAT-- I NEVER BELIEVE THE DAY AFTER THE STRAW POLL PEOPLE WILL BE DROPPING OUT OF THE RACE.

I THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THEIR TIME THERE ARE OTHER METRICS THAT CAMPAIGNS ARE RUN ON AND JUDGED BY.

THE JULY 15TH FUND-RAISING FILINGS ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE OVERALL FINANCIAL HEALTH OF ALL THESE CANDIDACIES.

YOU KNOW, SOME CANDIDATES DID NOT ARTICULATE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO RAISE FUNDS, BUT IT IS-- IT'S A REALITY THAT CANDIDATES ARE JUDGED BY.

IT'S A 20 TO $30 MILLION PROPOSITION TO BE A SUCCESSFUL STATEWIDE CANDIDATE.

I KNOW THAT CONGRESSMAN ZELDIN HAS, YOU KNOW, BUILT THE APPARATUS AROUND HIS CANDIDACY.

I MEAN, HE'S THE CENTER OF THE TEAM, BUT HE'S BUILDING THAT TEAM AND BRINGING, YOU KNOW, NATIONAL-LEVEL TALENT IN TO NEW YORK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THIS AS I TRAVEL IN MY ROLE AT THE RNC AND OTHER PLACES, I'M GETTING AN AWFUL LOT OF INTRIGUED PHONE CALLS FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT NECESSARILY TAKEN NEW YORK STATEWIDE POLITICS SERIOUSLY IN A LONG TIME.

>> ASSUMING LEE IS THE NOMINEE OR I GUESS FOR ANY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IN THE STATE, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE STRATEGY IS GOING TO NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION CYCLE?

OBVIOUSLY, LAST ELECTION CYCLE WAS NOT SO GREAT FOR REPUBLICANS AND THE STATE SENATE.

SO I'M WONDERING WHAT ARE THE TOP ISSUES THAT YOU THINK CAN GET VOTERS TO SIGN UP FOR YOUR CANDIDATES?

>> WELL, I THINK, FIRST AND FOREMOST, LOOK TO THE NEW YORK CITY DEMOCRATIC MAYOR'S PRIMARY.

WHAT DID THAT BECOME?

LAW AND ORDER.

>> YEAH.

>> WE'VE BEEN SEEING THIS TO HIGH HEAVEN AS REPUBLICANS IN THIS STATE.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, DUE TO THE PANDEMIC LAST FALL, THE ISSUE GOT CONFUSED AND-- BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE IN EVERY CITY, EVERY TOWN AND VILLAGE ACROSS THIS STATE, PEOPLE ARE SEEING THE EFFECTS OF THE DISASTROUS BILL REFORM, CRIMINAL DISCOVERY REFORM THAT-- AND THEY CALL IT REFORM.

I MEAN, THEY REALLY DESTROYED OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THAT IS GOING TO BE A FIRST AND FOREMOST ISSUE FOR US AS WE PUT FORTH A COMMON SENSE AGENDA FOR NEW YORK IS HOW TO MAKE NEW YORKERS SAFE AGAIN.

NEW YORK CITY USED TO BE THE SAFEST CITY IN THE WORLD ARE AND NOW IT'S NOT.

IT'S THE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD AND RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT WHAT THE TAXPAYERS OF THAT CITY DESERVE.

SO CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS A-1.

A-2 IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, MAKING THE STATE AFFORDABLE AGAIN.

>> THAT'S THE HEART OF IT.

I THINK THAT'S THE THING ESPECIALLY PEOPLE UPSTATE.

I MEAN, DOWNSTATE, TOO.

YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO START A LIFE HERE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

ESPECIALLY PEOPLE JUST ENTERING THE JOB MARKET.

>> WE HAVE AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I COME ACROSS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OF MY PERSONAL LIFE THAT ARE LOOKING ELSEWHERE.

YOU KNOW, AND HAVE TAKEN THIS TIME DURING THE PAN DEMOCRATIC TO DO A LOT OF REFLECTION AS TO, YOU KNOW, WHY AM I HERE?

WE HAVE TO CAUTERIZE THE WOUND.

WE HAVE TO STOP THE BLEEDING.

WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE HERE.

KEEP OUR FAMILIES TOGETHER AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK IS GOING TO PUT TOGETHER THE BEST TICKET WE'VE RUN SINCE 1994, THAT'S RUNNING ON A COMMON SENSE AGENDA THAT CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER OF ALL PARTY AFFILIATIONS.

WE KNOW THAT WE CAN'T RUN FOR-- WITH SOME RIGHT WING AGENDA THAT'S, YOU KNOW, HAS, YOU KNOW, ANY SORT OF EXTREME TENDENCIES.

THIS HAS TO BE ABOUT COMMON SENSE.

YOU KNOW, LET'S GET BACK TO A CENTRIST GOVERNMENT THAT CAN, YOU KNOW, LOWER THE COSTS, LOWER THE REGULATORY BURDENS AND KEEP PEOPLE HERE AND ACTUALLY ATTRACT TALENT, ATTRACT BUSINESSES, ATTRACT OPPORTUNITY.

I MEAN, THIS IS-- IT'S FAILURE AFTER FAILURE.

ANDREW CUOMO HAS LEFT A TRAIL OF ECONOMIC TEARS THAT WE ARE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE UNDERSTAND HOW BADLY HE HAS FAILED IN TERMS OF BUILDING THIS ECONOMY AND HE SQUANDERED SO MUCH OF THEIR MONEY IN THE PROCESS.

>> SO THE ISSUES OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE ISSUES OF COST OF LIVING, THEY'RE NOT NEW ISSUES THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

WE HAD THE SAME THING IN 2020, BUT WE DO SEE REPUBLICANS LOSE IN THE STATE SENATE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS DIFFERENT HERE THAT CAN GIVE YOUR CANDIDATES A LEG UP?

>> WE'RE IN FOR REDISTRICTING, FIRST AND FOREMOST.

>> YES.

>> THAT'S GOING TO BE BETWEEN US AND A NEW SET OF MAPS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHERE THAT IS.

BUT NO MATTER WHERE IT IS, WE'RE GOING TO BE FIGHTING FOR VOTES.

WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER CANDIDATES, HOPEFULLY, IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE SEATS.

WITH THE PANDEMIC COMING ON AS QUICK AND THE PETITION PROCESS TRUNCATED, YOU KNOW, OUR ELECTIONS WERE REALLY-- YOU KNOW, IN MANY CASES, INTERRUPTED.

OUR CANDIDACIES WERE INTERRUPTED.

AND YOU KNOW, WE WERE IN A MINORITY.

WE HAD GOTTEN BEATEN BACK IN 2018.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT LED ME TO RUN FOR THE STATE CHAIRMANSHIP BECAUSE I SAW A PARTY THAT AFTER IT GOT ABSOLUTELY SHAH LACKED AND LOST NINE SEATS IN THE STATE SENATE, WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO RESPOND.

WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO GET UP AND GO FIGHT AGAIN.

I THINK WE'VE RESTORED THE FIGHTING SPIRIT TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE STATE.

I THINK THE ZELDIN CANDIDACY HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT AND YOU KNOW, OUR CANDIDATES ARE TOUGHER.

THEY'RE WILLING TO, YOU KNOW, THROW THE PUNCHES AND CALL OUT THE HYPOCRISY THAT GOES ON, YOU KNOW, IN OUR STATE CAPITAL AND IN OUR STATE GOVERNMENT, AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR THE BEST, TALENTED FIELD THAT WE CAN PUT FORWARD IN THE RACES FOR ASSEMBLY, STATE SENATE, CONGRESS AND RIGHT UP THE TICKET.

BUILDING THAT TEAM, YOU KNOW, PUTTING A YOUTHFUL FACE FORWARD, I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US.

YOU KNOW, FINDING THAT NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS THAT CAN SAY, YOU KNOW THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE WAY THINGS WERE.

THIS IS ABOUT THE WAY THINGS NEED TO BE GOING FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR NEW YORK'S FUTURE.

WE HAVE TO FIGHT TO SAVE THIS STATE.

THIS IS REALLY, I BELIEVE IN MANY WAYS, THE LAST OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET IT DONE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IT'S ALL VERY INTERESTING.

WE DO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

STATE REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN NICK LANGWORTHY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

AND WE'RE ALSO SCHEDULED A CHAT WITH ANOTHER REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR CONTENDER NEXT WEEK, ANDREW GIULIANI.

I WANT TO CIRCLE BACK TO THE IMPEACHMENT NEWS FROM THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER NEWS OF THE WEEK WITH POLITCO'S BILL MAHONEY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, BILL.. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO THE ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MET THIS WEEK.

THEY DID EXECUTIVE SESSION WHICH NOBODY IS ALLOWED IN IT FOR TWO HOURS.

THEY EMERGED TO SAY THAT THEY'RE ISSUING SUBPOENAS BUT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW MUCH MORE BEYOND THAT.

WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE-AWAY?

>> THEY'RE MOVING ALONG TOO SLOW FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE'S LIKING.

IF YOU LOOK AT A COUPLE OF THE PROS WE HAVE GOING ON ATTORNEY GENERAL TISH JAMES STARTED HERS RIGHT WHEN THIS STUFF STARTING EMERGED LATE FEBRUARY, EARLY MARCH AND SHE ISSUED SUBPOENAS BY MARCH.

THE ASSEMBLY LAUNCHED ITS PROBE IN EARLY MARCH.

THEY DECIDED A COUPLE DAY AGO THIS THEY WILL SEND SUBPOENAS.

THEY'RE NOT MOVING AT THE SAME PACE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S INVESTIGATION WHICH COULD CREATE FODDER FOR REPUBLICANS AND SKEPTICS WHO ARE SAYING MAYBE THEY'RE NOT RUSHING THIS THROUGH AND FOCUSING ON THIS AS MUCH AS THEY SHOULD.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE ABOUT THE ASSEMBLY DELAYING THE IMPEACHMENT MAYBE ON PURPOSE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S NECESSARILY TRUE.

I DO THINK IF THEY GET TO THE IMPEACHMENT STAGE IN THE ASSEMBLY, A LOT OF LAWMAKERS MAY HAVE LOST THEIR APPETITE TO IMMEDIATELY OVERTHROW THE GOVERNOR.

IT WAS VERY POPULAR IN MARCH OBVIOUSLY.

>> WE'RE HEARING A LOT LESS ABOUT IT THESE DAYS.

SOMETHING THAT MOST OF THE ALLEGATIONS ARE A FEW MONTHS OLD.

WE HAVE SEEN CONTINUAL POLLS SAYING THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT THE GOVERNOR TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY AND PEOPLE ARE FOCUSED ON OTHER STUFF.

I THINK THERE'S A BIT OF A BURNT-OUTNESS IN ALBANY AFTER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF WE'VE HAD WHERE IT WILL TAKE A LOT TO GET PEOPLE TO SPEND AUGUST IN THE SKALTERING STATE CAPITAL.

[LAUGHTER] ONCE YOU GET BEYOND THAT, WE'LL BE AT THE POINT WHERE HE WILL BE LEAVING SOON ENOUGH ANYWAY IF HE DOESN'T WIN A FOURTH TERM.

>> I WONDER IF THIS ENDS WITH THE ASSEMBLY DRAGGING ON THE IMPEACHMENT PROBE UNTIL LIKE DECEMBER, JANUARY, GOING THAT FAR.

I WONDER IF IT ENDS WITH THE GOVERNOR SAYING I'M NOT GOING TO RUN FOR A FOURTH TERM AND THAT SATISFIES LAWMAKERS TO NOT ACTUALLY IMPEACH HIM.

HE GETS TO KEEP SOME OF HIS LEGACY.

I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S HARDER TO KNOW WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS THINKING NOWADAYS.

>> KEEP IN MIND, WE MOVED THE PRIMARIES FORWARD A BIT SINCE THE LAST TIME WE HAD A GUBERNATORIAL RACE.

>> RIGHT.

>> ASSUMING HE WILL FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE PLANS AND A FOURTH TERM, THIS WILL BE DECIDE BY JANUARY, FEBRUARY WHO ACTUALLY IS RUNNING.

THERE'S A CHANCE THAT, YEAH, THIS WILL ALL GET PILED UP EARLY THIS YEAR AND I WILL NOT BE SURPRISED.

GRANTED, WE HAVE IN IDEA WHAT THEY WILL FIND.

IF THEY FIND TERRIBLY DAMNING THINGS THAT GO EVEN FURTHER BEYOND WHAT WE HEARD AND CONCRETE PROOF FOR SOME OF THE THING FOR THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE HEARD, THAT COULD PUT THE PRESSURE ON AND MAYBE STUFF COULD HAPPEN.

AND IT'S MORE LIKE CONFIRMING WHAT WE HAVE TO SOME DEGREE BUT WITHOUT REALLY ADDING ANYTHING NEW TO THE MIX, IT WOULD NOT BE TERRIBLY SUNNY IF LEGISLATORS WERE LIKE, YEAH, LET'S RIDE THIS OUT FOR A YEAR AND SEE WHO WINS TO SUCCEED HIM IN 2022.

>> EXACTLY.

>> OR, MAYBE HE'LL FIND SOME WAY TO KEEP CARRYING ON AND WITH THE CANDIDATE HIMSELF.

>> WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED.

YOU ASKED A REALLY INTERESTING QUESTION THIS WEEK, TOO.

THE JUDICIARY CHAIRMAN CHUCK LEVINE, HE DIDN'T ANSWER OBVIOUSLY.

YOU ASKED WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE TO CHUCK LEVINE WHICH IS GOING TO BE CRUCIAL IF AT THE ASSEMBLY TAKES UP.

I DON'T THINK IT'S DEFINED IN THE CONSTITUTION >> THE CONSTITUTION, EVERYBODY WHO PAID ATTENTION TO POLITICS THE NEXT FEW DECADES, KNOWS BY NOW IT HAS THE LANGUAGE ABOUT HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS.

YOU CAN DEBATE WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT THAT IS A DEFINITION.

IN NEW YORK, IF YOU GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION, THE IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE WAS MAL, M-A-L, NO REAL DEFINITION BUT THERE IS SOMETHING IN THERE, BUT THAT FELL OFF SINCE THE 1840S AND SINCE THEN, WHAT WE SAW WITH THE WILLIAM SALISBURY IMPEACHMENT, A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, THE ONLY IMPEACHMENT IN NEW YORK, IT'S WHATEVER THE IMPEACHABLE DEFENSE IS.

NO DEFINITION.

IF THEY DECIDE THERE'S MISDEEDS BY HIM, THERE'S NO SET DEFINITION FOR THEM TO WORK OFF OF.

THEY WILL HAVE TO DECIDE, TO ME PERSONALLY, EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE, IS WHAT HE DID FOR AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE?

AND THAT COULD WIND UP BECOMING THE QUESTION OF ALBANY A FEW MONTHS FROM NOW.

>> I THINK IT WILL.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT CRIMINAL INQUIRY, THERE IS A LINE THAT YOU CROSS WHEN YOU SAY I'M INVESTIGATING AND NOW I HAVE THE EVIDENCE TO CHARGE SOMEONE WITH THIS CRIME THAT IS DEFINED THIS WAY IN STATUTE.

I'M WONDERING IF MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY THAT HAVE TRIED TO BACK HIM IN RECENT MONTHS MAY POINT TO THE STUFF THAT COMES OUT OF THE INVESTIGATION AND SAY THAT DOESN'T RISE TO AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE FOR ME.

I THINK THEY'LL COVER BY SAYING, I THINK IT'S WRONG WHAT HE DID, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE HIM OUT OF OFFICE.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO END WITH THAT, THOUGH.

>> YEAH.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

AND THE OTHER POINT IS ANY IMPEACHMENT AND GRANTED DURING THE SUMMER, THEY'RE NOT DOING A WHOLE LOT ELSE IN THE CAPITAL BUT THIS GETS DRAGGED ON UNTIL JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, IT WILL DERAIL GOVERNMENT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

NOBODY WILL FOCUS ON PASSING ANY OF THEIR POLICY ITEMS.

EVERY LEGISLATURE WHO HAS 10, 12, 50 BILLS THAT THEY WANT TO GET PASSED NEXT YEAR, THOSE AREN'T HAPPENING IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING ALL DAY IN 12-HOUR SESSIONS HEARING WITNESSES ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNOR DID OR DIDN'T DO AND THAT'S GOING TO SUBSUME EVERYTHING.

I THINK THAT IS WEIGHING AGAINST THE LIKELIHOOD OF HIM BEING IMPEACHED.

THERE ARE LEGISLATORS WHO ARE LIKE I WANT HIM GONE.

WHAT HE'S ACCUSED OF IS HORRIFIC, BUT LET'S NOT JUST LET ALL POLICY PUSHED ASIDE FOR A YEAR AND THAT IS WEIGHING ON A LOT OF LEGISLATORS' MINDS.

THEY HAVE PROJECTS AND GOALS AND THINGS THEY DON'T WANT TO GET DISTRACTED FROM GETTING DONE.

>> DURING AN ELECTION YEAR, THERE'S NOT SO MUCH APPETITE FOR LAWMAKERS TO NOT PASS THE BILL THAT THEY CAN RUN ON LATER IN THE YEAR.

>> ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS A JUNE PRIMARY RATHER THAN TRADITIONAL SEPTEMBER ONE.

SESSIONS NEXT YEAR COULD TAKE UP THE ENTIRE TIME ON THEIR BILL.

THEY WILL HAVE NO TIME TO DO ANYTHING ELSE QUITE POSSIBLY DEPENDING ON WHEN THIS PROCESS GETS STARTED >> I LOVE THE UNCERTAINTY.

I LOVE HOW EVERYTHING IS UP IN THE AIR.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

BILL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I ALWAYS APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK'S "NEW YORK NOW."

HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

AND BE WELL.

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