♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD, AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.

THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION, AND BY -- JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER, JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY, JUDY AND JOSH WESTON, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

NEXT WEEK, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL IS EXPECTED TO TAKE OVER AS GOVERNOR UNDER EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.

ON TUESDAY SHE'LL BE SWORN IN AS THE FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK AND REPLACE OUTGOING GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO, WHO CONTINUES TO DENY ANY WRONGDOING AFTER RESIGNING.

NOW IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO CAN RELATE TO WHAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS THINKING AND POSSIBLY FEELING RIGHT NOW, IT'S OUR NEXT GUEST.

BACK IN 2008, GOVERNOR DAVID PATERSON INHERITED A STATE IN CRISIS AFTER GOVERNOR ELIOT SPITZER SUDDENLY RESIGNED BECAUSE OF A PROSTITUTION SCANDAL.

JUST LAST YEAR WE SPOKE WITH GOVERNOR PATERSON ABOUT HIS REMARKABLE TIME IN STATE HISTORY WHICH HE REVISITS IN HIS BOOK "BLACK, LINED, IN CHARGE: A STORY OF LEADERSHIP AND OVERCOMING ADVERSITY."

TONIGHT HE'S BACK TO SHARE HIS THOUGHTS ON WHAT'S MOST LIKELY OR POSSIBLY HAPPENING IN ALBANY, FROM CUOMO'S DEMISE TO HOCHUL'S RISE AND WHAT'S NEXT FOR NEW YORK.

WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WELCOME BACK TO "METROFOCUS," GOVERNOR PATERSON.

>> IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK ON "METROFOCUS."

>> WE'RE REALLY PLEASED TO HAVE YOU.

FIRST I WANT TO START WITH I GUESS WHAT SEEMS THE MOST OBVIOUS QUESTION, AND THAT IS, WHAT WAS -- WERE YOU SHOCKED, AT LEAST, ABOUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GOVERNOR'S RESIGNATION?

THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS EVEN AMONGST THE ALBANY PRESS CORPS AS TO WILL HE OR WON'T HE, THEN OF COURSE THERE WAS THAT WEIRD TWO-WEEK RESIGNATION PART OF IT.

>> WELL, I WAS SURPRISED THAT HE RESIGNED ON THAT DAY, BECAUSE OVER THE WEEKEND, HIS COUNCIL WAS REALLY MAKING THE CASE TO THE PUBLIC AND MAKING AN ATTEMPT TO UNDO SOME OF THE DAMAGE THAT HAD BEEN DONE BY THE TESTIMONY THAT WAS EVOKED FROM THE REPORT ITSELF.

BUT IT REALLY HAD -- IT WAS HIS ONLY WAY OUT.

36 DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE WHO WOULD HAVE VOTED ON THE IMPEACHMENT ALREADY SAID IT.

THEY HADN'T EVEN TALKED TO REPUBLICANS.

I'M SURE ALL OF THEM WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR IMPEACHMENT.

THAT'S 58 OUT OF 63 VOTES.

AND THAT'S AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY.

AND THE ASSEMBLY MADE IT CLEAR THEY WERE GOING TO FOLLOW THE YEARS, THAT THEY WERE GOING TO IMPEACH HIM BASED ON THE REPORT.

SO RESIGNING WAS ABOUT THE ONLY WAY OUT OTHER THAN A SORT OF HUMILIATING AND LONGER PROCESS TO REMOVE HIM.

AND SO I THINK THAT HE HELPED THE STATE AND THE GOVERNMENT BY DOING THAT.

THE 14 DAYS -- YOU KNOW, I SAID IT WAS SUSPICIOUS.

WHAT I REALLY MEANT WAS THAT WHEN YOU WANT 14 MORE DAYS AND THE PUBLIC AND THE LEGISLATURE WANT YOU OUT, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO WITH THOSE 14 DAYS THAT YOU COULDN'T DO WITH THE NEW GOVERNOR?

HE PARDONED ABOUT TEN PEOPLE YESTERDAY, SO THAT'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT HE MIGHT HAVE WANTED TO DO.

I ASKED SPITZER FOR FIVE DAYS.

AND I REALLY ONLY ASKED HIM FOR THE FIVE DAYS BECAUSE I NEEDED TO GET THE LEGISLATURE BACK INTO ALBANY.

I DID NOT WANT TO BE SWORN IN BY MYSELF OR JUST AROUND MY FAMILY.

WE NOT ONLY HAD A LEADERSHIP CRISIS IN NEW YORK AT THE TIME, WE HAD AN ECONOMIC CRISIS.

I THOUGHT I NEEDED TO EXPLAIN IT TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK AND TO THE LEGISLATURE.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HOCHUL DOESN'T HAVE THAT SITUATION.

SHE MAY NOT SEE THE LEGISLATURE UNTIL JANUARY OF 2022.

I WOULD THINK, THOUGH, THAT SHE MIGHT WANT TO BRING THE LEGISLATURE BACK TO THE SPECIAL SESSION, PROBABLY SOME ISSUES THEY COULD ADDRESS IN A SPECIAL SESSION IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER.

BUT MOST OF ALL, IT WOULD GIVE HER A CHANCE TO GO AROUND AND TALK TO SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, EVEN SOME OF THE TOP STAFF FOR THEM, NOT JUST THE MAJORITIES IN THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY BUT THE MINORITY PARTIES AS WELL.

THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK SENT THEM ALL TO ALBANY, AND THEY DESERVE I THINK MORE RESPECT THAN THEY'VE BEEN GETTING.

>> REALLY, MORE RESPECT THAN THEY'VE BEEN GETTING?

CAN YOU EXPAND ON WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> WELL, I JUST GOT THE IMPRESSION, AND COVID ENHANCED IT, THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS PUT IN A POSITION, AS I THINK GOVERNORS SHOULD BE PUT IN, WHERE THEY ARE BASICALLY GOVERNING BY FIAT.

GOVERNING BY EXECUTIVE ORDER.

AND THAT THE LEGISLATURE ISN'T GETTING TOO MUCH INVOLVED IN IT.

REMEMBER, THE GOVERNOR WAS GIVEN EXTRAORDINARY POWERS BY THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY WHEN THE COVID CRISIS HIT.

BUT THEY TOOK IT AWAY FROM HIM BACK IN MARCH WHEN THE ALLEGATIONS STRUCK AS WELL.

>> OF COURSE, OF COURSE.

WELL, AS THE ONE PERSON I GUESS WE CAN ALL SAY AT LEAST THE LIVING PERSON WHO HAS EXPERIENCE WITH WHAT HOCHUL IS DOING OR MOST LIKELY DOING RIGHT NOW, HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH HER?

HAS SHE REACHED OUT TO YOU?

IT'S A VERY UNIQUE POSITION THAT SHE IS IN AND YOU HAVE BEEN IN.

>> I SPOKE WITH HER A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AND I HAVEN'T TRIED TO TELL HER WHAT I THOUGHT SHE SHOULD BE DOING.

I'VE JUST TRIED TO GO OVER WITH HER SOME IDEAS THAT SHE HAS JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE FEEDBACK.

ONE THING THAT I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE, WHEN I WAS SWORN IN AS GOVERNOR AND I WENT TO GOVERNOR KERRY'S INAUGURATION IN 1978, 30 YEARS LATER WHEN I'M SWORN IN, I NEVER HEARD MORE UPROARIOUS APPLAUSE.

I WOULD LOVE TO TELL YOU IT'S BECAUSE OF MY FABULOUS PERSONALITY AND HOW WONDERFUL I AM TO PEOPLE.

BUT HALF OF IT WAS GOVERNOR SPITZER WAS LEAVING.

SO THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, AN ISSUE.

AND I THINK THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS GOING TO GET THAT SAME SORT OF APPEALING REACTION FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

I THINK THERE WAS REALLY, IN MANY WAYS, TIME FOR A CHANGE.

I SEE MORE PARTICIPATION OF THE CITY CHAIRS IN THE LEGISLATURE, MORE PARTICIPATION BY THE MINORITIES IN BOTH HOUSES, EVEN THOUGH THE DEMOCRATS CONTROL BOTH MAJORITIES RIGHT NOW.

MORE PARTICIPATION BY THE AGENCY HEADS.

THERE WAS A TIME IN THIS STATE WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION WOULD CLEAN UP A PARK.

BUT NOW THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT PUTTING THE GOVERNOR'S NAME ON IT.

THE STATE HOSPITAL, I'M SURPRISED IT DOESN'T HAVE THE GOV GOVERNOR'S NAME ON THE BEDSHEETS.

IT'S TOO MUCH ADVERTISING, NOT ENOUGH GOVERNING.

I THINK THAT THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GOVERNOR HOCHUL, WHO IS MORE OF A CONVENER.

SHE'S MORE OF ONE WHO SAMPLES ALL THE THOUGHTS IN THE ROOM BEFORE SHE MAKES A DECISION.

VERY DELIBERATE BUT VERY STRONG AND VERY DYNAMIC.

>> OKAY.

WELL, I DO WANT TO DRAW ON YOUR EXPERIENCE.

AND AGAIN, SERVING WITH TWO DIFFERENT GOVERNORS, TWO DIFFERENT TIMES.

BUT THE FACT THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS IN HER FIRST FEW SPEECHES, AT LEAST, ATTEMPTED TO DISTANCE HERSELF FROM GOVERNOR CUOMO AND HAS INDICATED THAT SHE WAS UNAWARE, AS SHE'S SAYING, ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN ALLEGED AS THE TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT FROM THE EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE.

IS THAT REALLY POSSIBLE, AT LEAST FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHEN YOU ARE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THAT YOU COULD NOT REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S INNER CIRCLE?

>> WELL, I WAS CLOSE TO GOVERNOR SPITZER'S INNER CIRCLE.

AND SO I KNEW PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON.

BUT AS I'M TRANSITIONING TO INNER GOVERNMENT, AND I KNOW I HAVE MY OWN FAULTS AS WELL, I WASN'T GOING TO MAKE A BIG ISSUE OF HOW I WOULD DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR AND THE OFFICE WERE HELPING ME CONSIDERABLY.

A LOT OF THE STAFF WERE STAYING ON BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO HAVE A PROPER PERIOD OF TIME TO PICK A STAFF.

I THINK GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS DOING THE SAME THING.

I DON'T THINK SHE WANTS TO GET INTO THE CONVERSATION OF WHAT THE ATMOSPHERE WAS THERE, BUT I ASSURE YOU WHEN SHE GETS IN, SHE WILL KNOW EVERYTHING AT THAT POINT, AND I WILL BE VERY SURPRISED IF HER WORDS IN HER FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE DON'T COME TO FRUITION.

THERE WILL NOT BE A TOXIC WORK ATMOSPHERE UNDER GOVERNOR HOCHUL.

>> OKAY.

WELL, SPEAKING OF PICK A STAFF, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT BECAME A REALLY BIG ISSUE WHEN YOU WERE GOVERNOR, AND THAT WAS, OF COURSE, YOUR CHOICE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

I GUESS WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE, THE DOs AND MORE IMPORTANTLY DON'Ts, THAT YOU WOULD HAVE FOR SOON TO BE GOVERNOR HOCHUL?

>> SO I HAD A DIFFERENT PROBLEM THAN GOVERNOR HOCHUL WILL HAVE.

MOST OF THE LEGAL EAGLES WHO THINK THEY KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT STATE LAW TOLD ME THAT I COULDN'T APPOINT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

SO I DID NOT WANT THE COURT OF APPEALS, WHO I KNEW EVENTUALLY WOULD RULE ON THIS ISSUE, I DID NOT WANT THEM TO BE RULING ON MY CHOICE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

SO RATHER THAN TAKING SOME PEOPLE WHO I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, MIGHT HAVE SERVED ME BETTER UPSTATE AND THAT KIND OF THING, I WANTED TO TAKE SOMEBODY WHO I THOUGHT WOULD BE NONCONTROVERSIAL.

AND I TOOK RICHARD RABICH, A CIVIC LEADER, HAD RUN THE MTA, KNEW A ALTHOUGH THE ABOUT THE PORT AUTHORITY, KNEW A LOT ABOUT GOVERNMENT WORKING UNDER GOVERNOR TERRY.

EVEN THOSE WHO BROUGHT THE LAWSUIT AGAINST ME SAID, WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH HIS CHOICE.

I DIDN'T REALLY MAKE A POLITICAL CHOICE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, HAD I RUN FOR RE-ELECTION, RABICH WAS NOT GOING TO BE MY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

WE PICKED HIM TO HELP ME FILL THE TERM THAT ENDED IN 2010.

SO WITH GOVERNOR HOCHUL, BEING AN UPSTATER, BEING FROM WESTERN NEW YORK, THERE'S NO WAY SHE COULD POSSIBLY TRY TO LEARN EVERYTHING ABOUT NEW YORK CITY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

PICKING SOMEONE FROM NEW YORK CITY, WHICH SHE SAYS IS FAVORED IN HER DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, SHE WANTS TO FIND SOMEONE IN NEW YORK CITY -- WOULDN'T IT BE AMAZING IF SHE TOOK ANOTHER WOMAN?

THAT WOULD MAKE NEW YORK THE FIRST STATE TO HAVE A NUMBER ONE AND A NUMBER TWO LEADER IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AS WOMEN.

BUT JUST REMEMBER, THERE'S STILL SOME MEN THAT KNOW A LOT ABOUT NEW YORK CITY.

>> YEAH.

VOCALLY SO.

>> YEAH, THEY'RE VERY QUALIFIED.

AND I THINK SHE WILL PICK SOMEONE -- I WOULD SUGGEST THAT SHE PICK SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO RUN WITH HER AND THAT THAT PERSON WOULD PERHAPS BE A LITTLE MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS.

SHE'S BASICALLY A MIDDLE OF THE ROADER.

BUT REMEMBER, PRIMARY PARTIES ARE EXTREME.

REPUBLICAN PARTIES ARE EXTREME TO THE RIGHT, DEMOCRAT PARTIES ARE EXTREME TO THE LEFT.

AT THE SAME TIME, ERIC ADAMS, WHO MADE IT CLEAR THAT CRIME WAS MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IN NEW YORK CITY RIGHT NOW, THAT WAS KIND OF A MODERATE POSITION.

HE WON AS THE MAYOR.

AND I THINK GOVERNOR HOCHUL CAN BE RE-ELECTED AS WELL.

BUT I THINK THAT YOU DO WANT TO TRY TO REACH OUT TO THE AREAS IN THE PARTY WHERE THERE MAY BE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR PREVIOUS POSITIONS.

>> WELL, THAT ACTUALLY DOES LEAD ME TO WHAT SEEMS LIKE A REALLY ALSO OPEN-ENDED QUESTION RIGHT NOW FOR THE STATE.

WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY?

WE'VE HAD SOME GUESTS ON "METROFOCUS" WHO HAVE JUST SAID FLAT OUT THAT THIS COULD LEAVE AN OPENING FOR THE PROGRESSIVE WING OF NEW YORK STATE'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO STEP IN AND TAKE A BIGGER ROLE IN THE DIRECTION OF AT LEAST WHERE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY GOES.

DO YOU SEE THAT AS SOMETHING THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL WILL HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH AT ALL?

ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING SHE DOES PLAN ON RUNNING, SHE SAID, IN 2022.

>> I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL MIGHT CONSIDER IN A PRIMARY THAT WOULD BE VERY APPEALING TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE A PROGRESSIVE POINT OF VIEW.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK THAT THERE ARE PROGRESSIVES, AND THEN THERE ARE PROGRESSIVES.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO FOR SOME REASON THINK THAT THERE IS A MONEY TREE IN ALBANY THAT YOU CAN KEEP SPENDING FROM.

WASHINGTON GAVE ALBANY $12.5 BILLION.

THAT BASICALLY WIPED OUT THE BUDGET DEFICIT FROM LAST YEAR.

AND THEN A TAX FOR THE MOST WEALTHIEST NEW YORKERS TO GET THE REST OF THE MONEY.

SO THEY DID VERY WELL LAST YEAR.

BUT NEXT YEAR'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH YEAR.

WASHINGTON'S NOT SENDING ANY MONEY.

YOU'VE ALREADY TAXED THE MOST WEALTHY NEW YORKERS.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND SOME REVENUE-GENERATING PROPOSALS THAT MIGHT NOT EVEN BE ALL THAT PROGRESSIVE BUT WOULD BRING RESOURCES INTO THE STATE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES, SUCH AS LOW AND MODERATE-INCOME HOUSING, PEOPLE WHO ARE ON SOCIAL SERVICES AND ARE STILL SLIDING DOWN, UNABLE TO FEED THEMSELVES, AND OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE OF CONCERN TO A LOT OF THE LEGISLATORS IN THE GOVERNMENT.

>> OF COURSE.

SO THEN, WITH ALL OF THAT, I MEAN, ALL OF THAT IS -- SEEMS TO BE SEC TIER, IF YOU WILL.

AS BIG AS THOSE ISSUES ARE, UNDER THE LOOMING ISSUE OF COVID, THE VIRUS STILL CONTINUES TO, RECENT REPORTS ARE SAYING, ALL BUT THREE OF NEW YORK STATE'S COUNTIES HAVE A TRANSMISSION RATE LOW ENOUGH WHERE YOU CAN BE MASKLESS.

LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ALL GOING BACK INTO A MASKED INDOORS, MASKED OUTDOORS, VACCINATED OR NOT, FALL AND WINTER.

>> THIS IS SUCH A PROBLEM FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN THE HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT TRY TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE.

AND FOR THOSE STUDENTS OF HISTORY WHO TRY TO COMPARE THIS TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL OF THEM.

AND I THINK THAT UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAS BEEN POLITICIZED TO AN EXTENT THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ARGUING POLITICS OVER WHETHER OR NOT TO WEAR MASKS.

BUT GOODNESS SAKES, I WATCHED A WOMAN THIS MORNING.

SHE WAS IN A -- OUTSIDE A HOSPITAL.

I THINK IT WAS LOUISIANA.

BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ROOM FOR BEDS INSIDE.

AND SHE SAID TO THE REPORTER, I WISH I HAD TAKEN THE VACCINE.

LET NONE OF US WHO ARE WATCHING THIS PROGRAM EVER BE IN THE POSITION WHERE WE ARE AS ILL AS THAT POOR WOMAN AND HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS, IT'S ABOUT TRYING TO DRIVE THIS VIRUS AT LEAST INTO A PLACE WHERE AN ANNUAL VACCINE WOULD ALLOW US TO AVOID IT.

>> OF COURSE, OF COURSE.

AND WE ARE ALSO AWAITING, I UNDERSTAND, THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS NOW SUGGESTING, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE DRUG-MAKING COMPANIES, THAT A BOOSTER SHOT MIGHT BE NECESSARY.

SO THIS CONTINUES, OF COURSE.

BUT I DO WANT TO SHIFT BACK TO OUTGOING GOVERNOR CUOMO.

BECAUSE THERE'S STILL ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS.

AND ONE THING I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON WAS SPEAKER HASTY.

HE INITIALLY SAID THAT THE ASSEMBLY WAS GOING TO DROP ITS INVESTIGATION AND DEFINITELY DROP THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS.

BUT THEN OVER THE PAST WEEKEND THEN SAID, WELL, ACTUALLY, NO, WE'RE GOING TO AT LEAST STILL PRODUCE A REPORT ON WHAT WE BELIEVE HAPPENED AND SHOULD BE DONE.

>> WELL, HERE'S WHERE I SEE THE LEADERSHIP BEING SHOWN BY THOSE IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT WE AS NEW YORK CITIZENS NEED TO TAKE OUR HATS OFF TO THEM.

SPEAKER HASTY REALLY THOUGHT THIS OUT.

HE SUSPENDED THE INVESTIGATION.

HE DIDN'T SHUT IT DOWN.

HE SUSPENDED IT.

BUT LET'S SAY ANDREW CUOMO WAKES UP ONE MORNING, DECIDES THAT THE CHARGES WEREN'T THAT GREAT, HE WAS GOING TO RUN FOR OFFICE BEGIN, WINS THE PRIMARY, WINS THE GENERAL ELECTION.

WELL, THAT IMPEACHMENT MIGHT BE WAITING FOR HIM AT THE DOOR WHEN HE COMES BACK IN JANUARY.

SO THIS IS A WAY TO MAKE SURE THE GOVERNOR'S RESIGNATION IS FINAL.

THEN THE ROBERT ORT, WHO IS THE ASSEMBLY MINORITY LEADER, THE REPUBLICAN, CAME FORWARD AND SAID, LISTEN, IF YOU CONDUCTED THE INVESTIGATION AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FINISH IT, THE LEAST YOU COULD DO IS FINISH THE REPORT THAT WAS COMING BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE ON INVESTIGATION.

THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE SUGGESTION.

AND RATHER THAN FALL INTO PARTISANSHIP AND JUST REJECTING THE MINORITY LEADER'S ASSERTION, SPEAKER HASTY DECIDES THAT THEY WILL REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION TO GET THE REPORT WRITTEN SO THAT THE APPROPRIATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AROUND THE STATE, AND PARTICULARLY IN THE REGIONS WHERE SOME OF THESE ALLEGED OFFENSES OCCURRED, GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT IT AND REINSTATE THAT THEY WILL NOW WRITE THE REPORT.

BUT HERE YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ACTUALLY WORKING TOGETHER, SUGGESTING THINGS, LISTENING TO EACH OTHER.

AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD TAKE OUR HATS OFF TO ALL OF THEM.

AND DOWN IN WASHINGTON, THEY NEED TO WATCH THE NEWS IN NEW YORK TO LEARN HOW THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE RUN.

>> BUT I DO WONDER, THOUGH, IS THAT INDICATIVE SORT OF OF WHAT YOU SAID AT YOUR OWN SWEARING-IN CEREMONY ABOUT THE UPROARIOUS APPLAUSE?

IT WAS LESS ABOUT YOU AND MORE ABOUT WHO WAS LEAVING?

>> WHICHEVER WAY IT OCCURS.

>> OKAY.

>> IT'S GREAT.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, RATHER THAN HAVING A FIGHT OVER THIS, THEY ACTUALLY FOUND A WAY TO ADDRESS BOTH ISSUES.

ONE WAS THAT I THINK, JUST LIKE WITH PRESIDENT NIXON, THEY WENT TO PRESIDENT NIXON, LISTEN, WE'VE GOT THE VOTES TO CONVICT YOU ON AN IMPEACHMENT BECAUSE OF THE EVIDENCE THAT IN THIS CASE CAME FROM HIM TURNING OVER THE TAPES, THE WHITE HOUSE TAPES FROM THE OVAL OFFICE.

AND NIXON REALIZING THAT HE HAD NO SUPPORT, THEN RESIGNED THREE DAYS LATER.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I THINK THERE WERE -- AND THIS IS WHY THE 14 DAYS, WHERE THE 14 DAYS COMES IN, THAT THERE WAS SPECULATION THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON UNDER THE TABLE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I DON'T THINK THERE WAS.

BUT CERTAINLY THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH THE GOVERNOR CAUSED THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO HAVE THIS CONCERN.

T THEY KNEW THEY COULDN'T IMPEACH HIM, ALREADY OUT OF OFFICE, SO THEY SUSPENDED, WHICH IS A GOVERNMENT OPERATION THAT IS CERTAINLY FAIR.

THEN THE OTHER PARTY SUGGESTS, WHY DON'T YOU GET THE REPORT, BECAUSE THERE'S STILL CRIMINAL CASES WHERE A LOT OF THE REPORT COULD BE EVIDENCE.

AND THEY DECIDED TO DO THAT.

LISTEN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR MOTIVATION WAS.

BUT WE COULD HAVE OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS WORKING TOGETHER LIKE THAT IN THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION UNDER GOVERNOR HOCHUL?

WE WILL BE THE EXCELSIOR, WE WILL BE NEW YORK, THE GREAT STATE THAT WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN.

>> HERE'S TO HOPING.

YOU KNOW ALBANY BETTER THAN THE REST OF US.

I DO WANT TO ASK ALSO ABOUT, WHEN IT COMES TO THE GOVERNOR'S INNER CIRCLE, YOU WERE RECENTLY ON WNYC's "THE BRIAN LEHRER SHOW."

YOU SAID ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS THAT BASICALLY THE GOVERNOR HADN'T -- SPECIFICALLY GOVERNOR CUOMO -- HADN'T APPOINTED ANYONE, THERE WASN'T ANY AIDE WHO COULD STAND UP TO HIM AND SAY, THIS IS GOING TOO FAR, OR NO, OR YOU HAVE TO STOP, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

HOW CRITICAL DO YOU THINK IT IS WHEN YOU ARE AN EXECUTIVE AT ANY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT TO HAVE AN AIDE WHO CAN I GUESS CHECK YOU, FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION?

>> WELL, I HAD AIDES THAT COULD CHECK ME.

I'VE HAD MY AIDES CHECK ME TOO MUCH.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE GOVERNOR HAD AN AIDE THAT COULD CHECK HIM.

I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

WHAT I DO THINK IS THAT HE ATTRACTED PEOPLE WHO WERE DOMINATING IN THE SAME WAY THAT HE WAS.

SO THEY WOULD BE MORE LIKELY NOT TO CHECK HIM.

BECAUSE THEY ALL SEEM TO THINK THAT THEY COULD BULLY AND HOODWINK AND CAJOLE THEIR WAY AND MANIPULATE POWER TO THEIR OWN -- YOU KNOW, FOR THEIR OWN USE.

AND THAT THEY COULD LOOK IN A CAMERA AND TELL YOU ONE THING WHEN THEY KNEW SOMETHING ELSE WAS GOING ON.

AND THAT'S NOT MY OPINION, THAT'S THE OPINION OF MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED WITH THEM.

AND IT'S APPALLING.

I'M SHOCKED THAT AT THIS POINT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE IN NEW YORK CITY, JAMONNYI WILLIAMS AND OTHER PEOPLE, THESE CONVERSATIONS WERE GOING ON BEHIND PEOPLE'S BACKS BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID OF THE POWER OF THE OFFICE.

OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE NOT MONARCHS AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE THAT KIND OF GOVERNMENT.

ONE OF THE THINGS GOVERNOR HOCHUL COULD DO RIGHT AWAY IS SET UP A SITUATION WHERE A WOMAN CAN MAKE A SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINT WHERE IT DOESN'T WIND UP IN THE MEDIA.

UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS UNDOING SOME MAGNIFICENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

PASSING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, THAT THEY CAME IN AND BAILED ME OUT.

I COULDN'T GET IT DONE IN MY TERM.

GOVERNOR CUOMO GOT IT DONE SIX MONTHS LATER.

THE $15 AN HOUR MINIMUM PAGE.

PAID SICK LEAVE.

THE GOVERNOR WAS THE MOST EFFECTIVE ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THIS COUNTRY, WHILE PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE FOG OF HIS OWN CONFUSION DURING THE COVID VIRUS.

BUT THIS WAY AND THE WAY THIS OFFICE WAS RUN FROM ALL REPORS JUST -- REALLY WAS AN INSULT TO THE WORKFORCE OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WHO I'M SURE CAME TO WORK EVERY DAY AND TRIED TO DO THEIR BEST.

>> OF COURSE.

AND WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME TOGETHER, GOVERNOR PATERSON.

BUT I DO WANT TO ASK, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE NEW YORKERS TEND TO, AT LEAST IN RECENT HISTORY, GRAVITATE TOWARDS THE KIND OF LEADER WHO SEEMS LIKE HE CAN BE A BULLY FOR ME.

AND WE'RE GOING INTO ANOTHER ELECTION CYCLE, AT LEAST A GUBERNATORIAL ONE.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR, IF YOU WANT ALBANY TO WORK FOR YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST PEOPLE LOOK FOR IN A CANDIDATE?

>> WELL, I THINK WE CAN ALL PLAY THAT ROLE, I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE, I GET IN POWER I'M GOING TO DO THIS, I'M GOING TO DO THAT.

IT SOUNDS GREAT WHEN YOU'RE WATCHING "NETWORK."

BUT IN THE REAL GOVERNMENT, YOU HAVE TO FIND WORKABLE AND SENSIBLE AND ACHIEVABLE WAYS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR YOUR STATE.

AND THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THROUGH COOPERATION.

THEY HAVE WHOLE SEMINARS IN MAJOR CORPORATIONS ABOUT HOW TO ENLIST THE ASSISTANCE OF THOSE WHO WORK UNDER YOU, HOW TO PUT THEM IN AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE THEY CAN BE MORE POSITIVE.

TOO MUCH ATTENTION IS PAID TO SOLVING PROBLEMS AND NOT ENOUGH ATTENTION IS PAID TO MANIFESTING GOOD IDEAS.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT, PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS.

AND WHAT YOU WIND UP IS A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE AN IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT RATHER THAN A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT.

AND THAT'S THE SMALL "D." AND I THINK THAT WAS WHERE THIS PROJECT WENT WRONG.

I MEAN, THEY ACCOMPLISHED A LOT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

I'M FRANKLY SHOCKED THAT THE WAY GOVERNOR CUOMO HAD TO LEAVE WAS THAT WAY.

I NEVER FOUND HIM TO BE ANYTHING BUT A GENTLEMAN, WHETHER IT WAS AROUND WOMEN OR JUST, YOU KNOW, TALKING AT DINNER ABOUT WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I ALMOST WONDER WHAT IT WAS THAT UNFORTUNATELY CHANGED HIS CONDUCT, BECAUSE HE WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST CAREFUL ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT I EVER MET.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE, UNFORTUNATELY.

GOVERNOR PATERSON -- >> WHY?

THIS IS PBS, NO XHESHLTDS -- >> WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME AGAIN.

>> OH, ALL RIGHT.

>> WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU BACK, YOU'RE A GREAT GUEST ON "METROFOCUS" AND A WONDERFUL WEALTH OF INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO HOW ALBANY WORKS OR DOESN'T WORK.

SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

YOU WEREN'T HERE TO PLUG YOUR BOOK, I'LL PLUG IT, "BLACK, BLIND, AND IN CHARGE: A STORY OF LEADERSHIP AND OVERCOMING ADVERSITY."

GOVERNOR DAVID PATERSON, IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU.

I'LL COME BACK WHENEVER YOU ASK ME.

>> ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.

THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION, AND BY -- JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER, JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY, JUDY AND JOSH WESTON, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.