♪ >>> 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 THE METROFOCUS FIRST PAGE FORECAST.

THIS IS THE WEEK WE LOOK AT LOCAL AND NATIONAL HEADLINES AND THEIR POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE TRI-STATE AREA.

TONIGHT IS A SPECIAL TWO-PART FORECAST BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY HEADLINES TO GET TO THIS WEEK.

SO, FIRST, WE'LL START WITH THE BREAKING NEWS ON GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO.

IN THE LAST 24 HOURS A SERIES OF BOMBSHELL DEVELOPMENTS HAS TURNED UP THE PRESSURE ON THE GOFF NOR.

FIRST WAS THE RESIGNATION OF THE GOVERNOR'S TOP AID.

THEN A FORMER ASSISTANT WHO HAS ACCUSED HIM OF PRGROPING HER IS GOING PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THIS MORNING A MEETING IS COMING TOGETHER TO DISCUSS THE NEXT STEPS TOWARDS A POSSIBLE IMPEACHMENT.

AND THROUGH IT ALL, THE GOVERNOR AND HIS ATTORNEYS ARE REMAINING DEFIANT, ACCUSING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RAL AND HER REPORT OF BIAS AND IGNORING THE CALLS TO RESIGN FROM MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES, INCLUDING PRESIDENT BIDEN.

JOINING US NOW TO DISCUSS ALL OF THIS IS A PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY AND SENIOR SCHOLAR AT THE SCHOOL'S EAGLETON INSTITUTE OF POLITICS.

ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY JC POLANCO, A POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, ATTORNEY, COLLEGE PROFESSOR AND FORMER COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE TONIGHT.

>> AND WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF THE INVESTIGATIVE OUTLET CITY LIMITS.

JEAN MARIE, WELCOME.

>> I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU AND GET YOU TO GIVE US YOUR TAKE ON THIS -- A LOT OF BOMBSHELL INFORMATION.

I'M ALMOST STAMMERING WE HAVE SO MUCH INFORMATION COMING OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S INNER CIRCLE IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

>> AS YOU SAID IT'S BEEN A WHIRLWIND WEEK AND A WHIRLWIND 24 DAYS.

THE LONG-TIME TOP AID TO GOVERNOR CUOMO, THE HIGHEST RANKING ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE EXECUTIVE -- NOT ELECTED OFFICIAL, BUT HIGHEST RANKING STAFF MEMBER.

SHE SAID THAT THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY MENTALLY AND PERSONALLY TRYING FOR HER.

SO THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY IN ADDITION TO THIS MORNING THE ACCUSER WHO SAID THAT THE GOVERNOR DWGROPED HER TWICE LAS YEAR CAME FORWARD PUBLICALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THIS IS ONE OF THE COME PLAY NANTS WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN IDENTIFIEDS A EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT NUMBER ONE.

SHE CAME FORWARD AND GAVE HER FIRST-TIME PUBLIC RECOUNTING OF THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN A PRETTY DAMNING AGAIN AND DETAILED TESTIMONY.

AND THEN THIS MORNING, WE HAD THE STATE ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CONVENE ANOTHER PRESS CONFERENCE TO GIVE THE PUBLIC AN UPDATE ON THEIR OWN IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION THAT'S BEEN GOING ON.

THEY DIDN'T SAY A TON.

THEY WERE VERY CLEAR THAT THEY ARE KEEPING THE INVESTIGATION ITSELF CONFIDENTIAL.

BUT THEY DID SAY THEY ARE COMING VERY, VERY CLOSE TO THAT CONCLUSION AND THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT THOSE FINDINGS TO BE MADE PUBLIC POSSIBLY AS EARLY AS LATER THIS MONTH AND DEFINITELY IN THE COMING WEEKS POTENTIALLY INTO SEPTEMBER.

SO THAT WILL BE WRAPPING UP SOON.

>> OF COURSE.

THERE IS SO MUCH THAT SEEMS TO HAVE HAPPENED.

I WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR READING OF THE TEA LOVES OF THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY IS THE PRESSURE GETTING TURNED UP WITH SO MANY LAWMAKERS CALLING FOR THE GOVERNOR TO RESIGN BUT ALL OF THIS LATE BREAKING NEWS THAT WE SUDDENLY GOT.

>> I THINK IT IS A BIG PILE-ON OF INFORMATION, AND IT SHOULD MAKE THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION TO RESIGN PRETTY EASY AT THIS POINT.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE THREE THINGS WE REALLY NEED TO REMEMBER.

FIRST IS TISH JAMES' REPORT.

THEY HAVE PUT OUT A REPORT THAT THE GOVERNOR LAUNCHED A DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN BY TELLING US THERE WERE ONLY X AMOUNTS OF DEBTS DUE TO HIS DECISIONS ON THE COVID ISSUES.

THERE WERE THOUSANDS MORE THAN REPORTED.

THERE WERE 11 WOMEN, AND SHE BELIEVES THEM AFTER THIS REPORT WAS DONE.

I THINK THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

SECOND, I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE FROM BOTH PARTIES DEMANDING YOUR RESIGNATION AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ASKING YOU TO LEAVE, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO TRY TO COME IN FAVOR WITH THEM FROM RAISING TAXES ON THE RICH TO EXPANDING ROE V. WADE IN NEW YORK TO ALL THE THINGS HE'S GIVEN LIBERALS IN NEW YORK.

RAISE THE AGE, ENDING BAIL, HOPING THAT IF THIS EVER HAPPENED HE'D GET SOME SUPPORT.

HE HAS NONE RIGHT NOW.

AND LASTLY IT TOOK THIS TO BE THE DOWN FALL.

IT WASN'T THE ISSUES OF BRIBERY WITH HIS STAFF.

IT WASN'T THE DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN THAT TISH JAMES DISCOVERED JUST THIS LAST YEAR ALONE.

AND IT WASN'T THE -- THE COMMISSION.

NONE OF THOSE THINGS BROUGHT HIM DOWN.

IT WAS ULTIMATELY THIS.

BUT IN THE END, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER HE HAS A PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE.

SO WE HAVE TO AT LEAST LET ALL OF THE INFORMATION COME OUT AND ULTIMATELY WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A DECISION AS THE PUBLIC.

>> OF COURSE.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS GIVEN THE GOVERNOR'S ATTORNEY UNTIL THE END OF THIS WEEK.

BUT PROFESSOR, AS JC WAS POINTING OUT, THIS IS NOT A GOVERNOR, NOT JUST AN ADMINISTRATION BUT A GOVERNOR WHO IS UNFAMILIAR WITH HAVING SCANDALS.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION THAT IS MAKING THE DIFFERENCE, THAT SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT BEFORE WOULD HAVE TURN ADD DEAF EAR AND A BLIND EYE TO NOW SAYING, NO, HE NEEDS TO GO?

>> WELL, I THINK FUNDAMENTALLY WE'VE HAD, AND I THINK RIGHTFULLY SO, A CULTURE SHIFT IN THE UNITED STATES AND IT'S GROWING AROUND THE WORLD.

AND THAT IS SIMPLY THIS, THAT MEN AT WORK, PLACES OF BUSINESS, SCHOOLS, INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, CANNOT AND OUGHT NOT TO BE ABLE TO SEXUALLY HARASS, CERTAINLY NOT ASSAULT WOMEN, FULL STOP.

THAT THE MADMEN ERA OF THE 1960s AND '70s AND '80s AND INTO THE '90s THAT SO MANY OF YOUR PARENTS, MAYBE EVEN SOME OF US DEPENDING ON OUR AGE GREW UP WITH, THAT THAT ERA HAS COME TO AN END MUCH IN THE SAME WAY THAT THE RIGHT TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST LATIN AMERICANS OR AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAS COME TO ITS END, THAT THE CULTURE SHIFT HAS RISEN TO A LEVEL WHERE WE'RE NOT COMFORTABLE ANY LONGER, SAD THAT WE WERE, BUT IT IS TRUE.

WE WERE.

WE'RE NO LONGER COMFORTABLE TOLERATING SEXUAL HARASSMENT ANYMORE.

AND I THINK PART OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE IS NOT ONLY HIS OWN WRONGDOING, BUT THE VERY NATURE AND POWER OF THIS MOVEMENT AND THIS MOMENT.

AND I THINK IT IS -- IT REFLECTS POORLY ON HIS POLITICAL JUDGMENT TO BE SURE, BUT MORE THAN THAT, IT REFLECTS POORLY ON HIS UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A PROPER LEGACY OUGHT TO BE.

I WROTE ABOUT THIS IN A PIECE I WROTE FOR THE SUNDAY DAILY NEWS.

YOU KNOW, YOUR FAMILY NAME, LEAVE POLITICS ASIDE, MATTERS A GREAT DEAL.

YOU COME FROM A PLACE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PROUD OF, NAMELY THE CUOMO FAMILY LEGACY THAT BEGAN WITH YOUR FATHER, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS NEVER REALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE LITANY OF CONTROVERSIES THAT JC OUTLINED.

I THINK IF THE GOVERNOR IS TO HAVE ANY SENSE OF SELF-PRESERVATION IN THE DEEPEST SENSE, IN THE SENSE OF HAVING A SOUL, THEN HE OUGHT TO STEP BACK, LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND ASK HIMSELF IS THIS HOW HE WISHES TO BE REMEMBERED, FOR BEING IGNORANT OF A CULTURAL MOVEMENT, OF HIS OWN MISBEHAVIOR THAT WAS IDENTIFIED AND CHRONICLED AND SUPPORTED BY AN INVESTIGATION THAT HE HIMSELF INITIALLY BACKED AND SAID HE SUPPORTED AND WAS IN FAVOR OF.

AND, SO, I THINK THERE IS SO MANY THINGS AT PLAY.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE ALSO DEALING WITH A HUMAN BEING, A FAMILY MEMBER, A PERSON WHO HAS A HISTORY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK GOING BACK WHEN HIS FATHER RAN FOR MAYOR BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE STATE AS GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL.

IS THIS HOW YOU WANT YOUR LEGACY TO END, REALLY FRANKLY MORE CONNECTED TO SOMEONE LIKE DONALD TRUMP THAN YOUR FATHER?

AND THAT I THINK IS SOMETHING ONLY THE GOVERNOR CAN ANSWER HIMSELF.

>> YOU KNOW, JC, I DO WANT TO GO BACK TO YOU AND JUST GET YOUR IDEA ON WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE GAINED FROM THE GOVERNOR'S FIGHT?

HE SEEMS TO DEFINITELY BE DIGGING IN HIS HEELS.

SEVERAL COMMENTATORS OVER THE WEEKEND HAVE ALL SAID THAT THERE IS NO WAY THAT HE WOULD EVER RESIGN.

SO WHAT COULD HE POSSIBLY GAIN FROM CONTINUING TO FIGHT WITH SO MUCH PRESSURE MOUNTING AGAINST HIM?

>> I THINK IT'S TOUGH.

WE GOT TO THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A SECOND.

TO BE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK IS TO BE KING OF NEW YORK.

IT REALLY IS.

WE SAW THIS DURING THIS PANDEMIC WHEN THE LEGISLATURE GAVE HIM ABSOLUTE RULE OVER OUR DAILY LIVES.

IT IS AN INCREDIBLE POWER SOURCE FROM APPOINTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF CONTRACTS AND HAVING THIS KIND OF MOWER IN STATE GOVERNMENT IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

IT IS VERY HARD TO WALK AWAY FROM.

I THINK HE SEES OTHER GOVERNORS AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO COULD WITHSTAND SCANDAL.

HE MAY HAVE SEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

THEY HAD THEIR SCANDALS AND THEY HELD IT DOWN.

MAYBE I CAN DO THE SAME.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT, AS JUST DISCUSSED, THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE CULTURE SHIFT, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE LAST, I WOULD SAY, YEAR WHERE THERE IS A NO HOLDS BARRED RESPONSE.

AND WE SAW THAT IN THE SCOTT STRINGER CAMPAIGN, SOMEONE WHO WAS LEADING IN THE POLLS.

AND SOMEONE FROM 2000 SAID, I REMEMBER THE ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGN.

SOMETHING MAY HAVE HAPPENED THAT DESTROYED THE CITY'S CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR.

WE'RE WELLOOKING AT THE DIFFERE TIME.

I WOULD SAY THAT DIFFERENT TIME MAY HAVE BEEN IN 2020.

HE THINKS HE MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND AND WEATHER THE STORM.

BUT IF WE LEARNED ANYTHING THIS MORNING FROM THE RESIGNATION IS THAT TIME'S UP.

YOU HAVE TO GO AND YOU HAVE TO PROTECT YOUR LEGACY AS JUST DISCUSSED.

>> I WANT TO BRING YOU IN AND GET YOUR TAKE ON THE FACT THAT LAWMAKERS ARE MEETING, AND THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH IMPEACHMENT.

SO MUCH SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS TAKING MEETINGS ABOUT WOULD BE IN HER TRANSITION TEAM.

SO WHAT IS YOUR READING ON HOW FAST THIS STORY COULD MOVE?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE PROBABLY A COUPLE WEEKS AT LEAST.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT SHOULD BE -- I'M NOT SURE HOW FAST THAT IS IN LIKE THE GENERAL WORLD OF IMPEACHMENTS.

WE HAVEN'T HAD A GOVERNOR IMPEACHED IN NEW YORK STATE SINCE LIKE 1913 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I'M NOT 100% SURE THAT'S THE EXACT DATE BUT IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

BUT THEY HAVE BEEN INDICATING THAT THEY WILL BE MOVING VERY QUICKLY, AS SOON AS THEY WRAP UP THE INVESTIGATION THEY'RE DOING NOW.

THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER HAS INDICATED THAT HE DOES HAVE THE VOTES FOR IMPEACHMENT, BUT THERE ARE ENOUGH VOTES FOR FOLKS WHO WANT TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION.

SO I THINK WE WILL BE SEEING MOVEMENT VERY, VERY SOON.

DEFINITELY PROBABLY BY THE END OF THE MONTH OR POSSIBLY SEPTEMBER.

I THINK AS YOU SAID THERE IS A QUESTION OF, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH GOVERNING IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW WITH THE GOVERNOR CONSUMED BY ALL THIS AND KATHY HATCHEL WOULD BE THE NEXT IN LINE IF HE DOES GET IMPEACHED.

THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT HOW MUCH OF HIS TIME IS BEING CONSUMED BY THIS RIGHT NOW AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

>> BUT I ALSO WANT TO EXPAND A LITTLE BIT ON THE FACT THAT HE HASN'T HAD ANY DEFENDERS COME TO HIS DEFENSE.

IF IT DOES END UP WITH THE LEGISLATURE GOING FORWARD WITH THE IMPEACHMENT, THE NEXT STOP AFTER THE STATE ASSEMBLY OF COURSE AND SENATE WHERE THERE WOULD BE A PUBLIC TRIAL, THAT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE INCREDIBLY INVASIVE AND VULNERABLE, NOT JUST FOR THE GOVERNOR BUT FOR ALL OF US TO END UP VIEWING.

>> THAT'S WHAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE QUESTIONING OF WHY HE HASN'T TAKEN THE STEPS TO COME OUT AND RESIGN BEFORE THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE WE DO, AS WE SAID, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS THE DIRECTION THAT IT WILL BE GOING, THAT WE WILL HAVE THIS VOTE AND IT WILL MOVE TO THE SENATE FLOOR TRIAL, WHICH COULD BE AN ALL CONSUMING EVENT, OBVIOUSLY.

AND I THINK THAT IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE THE GOVERNOR COMING OUT OF THAT EVENT LOOKING BETTER OR HAVING ANY TYPE OF KIND OF LIKE GETTING ANY GAINS FROM THAT.

>> PROFESSOR, AS JC MENTIONED, WE HAVE SEEN OTHER GOVERNORS AND VERY RECENTLY THE LAST PRESIDENT WEATHER SOME INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT STORMS.

IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT GOVERNOR CUOMO COULD FIGHT THIS OUT, PERHAPS CUTTING A DEAL TO NOT RUN FOR FOURTH TERM OR SOMETHING?

IS ANYBODY BITING ON THAT?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK WE'RE PASSED THAT NOW.

LOOK, AS I SUGGESTED IN MY PIECE THE OTHER DAY, THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN TO ANDREW CUOMO IS THAT HE DOES WIN.

I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, TURN THIS AROUND A LITTLE BIT AND THINK ABOUT A CULTURE OF WINNING THAT HOLDS POWER, AS JC SAID, ABOVE ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.

WE STILL LIVE IN OSTENSIBLY.

LET ME GET SOME WOOD TO KNOCK.

A DEMOCRACY WHERE VIRTUE HAS TO MATTER.

THIS ISN'T RUSSIA OR NORTH KOREA.

IT IS SORT OF NO HOLDS BARRED, HAVE IT HOWEVER YOU WILL.

WE CAN'T LIVE IN A SOCIETY LIKE THAT.

EVEN IF HE WERE TO SURVIVE IMPEACHMENT AND REMOVAL FROM OFFICE AND STAY IN OFFICE, WHAT WOULD THAT PROVE?

IT WOULD DEMONSTRATE THAT, YOU KNOW, TRUMP-LIKE, HE HAD THE ABILITY TO, YOU KNOW SCRAPE HIS NAILS INTO WOOD AND CARVE HIMSELF A LEGACY OF DISUPON DENSY OF THOSE WOMEN THAT CAME FORWARD AND WOMEN THAT DESERVE BETTER.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET BACK TO THE IDEA OF A DUE PROCESS IN PROCEDURE.

THERE HAS BEEN AN INVESTIGATION.

MAYBE THERE WILL BE OTHERS, BUT THERE HAS BEEN AN INVESTIGATION THAT THE GOVERNOR IS SUPPORTING.

HE HAS HAD HIS MOMENT TO DEFEND HIMSELF, TO BE INTERVIEWED, AND THE EVIDENCE IS PRETTY DAMNING.

JUST TO READ THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ALONE IS A PRETTY DAMNING STATEMENT ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S BEHAVIOR OVER THE YEARS.

LOOK, THE OTHER SIDE OF IT IS THAT I SEE, AND I THINK NEW YORKERS SEE VERY LITTLE, IF ANY, CONTRITION ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNOR.

I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES AS WELL.

SO AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, WE HAVE TO ALSO CONSIDER MOVING AWAY FROM A POLITICAL CULTURE THAT SAYS, WELL, HE SURVIVED OR HE WON.

WON WHAT?

HE GETS TO MAINTAIN POWER, BUT WHERE IS THE DIGNITY IN THAT?

WHERE IS THE DIGNITY IN WINNING AT ALL COSTS?

THAT CAN'T BE WHAT WE CONTINUE TO STAND FOR IN THIS SOCIETY.

>> JC, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE SIMILAR QUESTION?

>> I MEAN, IS THERE ANYTHING TO BE GAINED FROM CONTINUING TO FIGHT?

>> NO.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS.

YOU MENTIONED THE DUE PROCESS.

IT IS TRUE.

THERE WAS A INVESTIGATION.

THERE WERE PRIVATE LAW FIRMS INVOLVED AND THEY STUDIED AND INTERVIEWED.

YES, AS FAR AS THAT GOES, THERE HAS BEEN DUE PROCESS.

BUT THERE ARE POTENTIAL MISDEMEANOR CHARGES OR FELONIOUS CHARGES THAT COULD BE COMING DOWN THE PIKE LATER.

WE MAY BE TALKING ABOUT THAT TOMORROW.

AND THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET.

WHEN THEY SMOKE EARLIER ABOUT EVERYONE HAS A PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE, THAT'S REALLY WHERE I WAS HONING IN MY ATTENTION ON.

BUT SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO MENTION IS THERE IS NOT ONE ASSEMBLY MEMBER, NOT ONE STATE SENATOR THAT ISN'T THINKING ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

LAST YEAR ALONE, SEVEN DEMOCRATS LOST THEIR PRIMARY ELECTIONS TO NEW, MORE PROGRESSIVE UPSTARTS.

I WOULD REALLY BE VERY CONCERNED, IF I WERE A SENATE SENATOR AND WASN'T VOCAL ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW OR IF I SUPPORTED THE GOVERNOR OR IF I VOTED TO ACQUIT THE GOVERNOR AT IMPEACHMENT, YOU ARE D.O.A.

IN A JUNE PRIMARY BECAUSE YOU WILL BE PRIMARIED AND YOU WILL LOSE.

THERE IS JUST NO WAY THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTER WILL ALLOW FOR ONE OF ITS MEMBERS TO JUST SIT BACK AND SUPPORT WHAT PROFESSOR AMBAR WAS JUST DISCUSSING.

THAT ALONE IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY AN IMPEACHMENT IS SURE TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE NO ASSEMBLY MEMBER WANTS TO LOSE THEIR ROLE AND NO STATE SENATOR WANTS TO LOSE, ESPECIALLY NOT GO OUT ON SUPPORTING A GOVERNOR WHO IS ALREADY DONE.

>> OF COURSE.

JEAN MARIE, YOU SORT OF MENTIONED IN YOUR EARLIER STATEMENT ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER BUSINESS THAT WASN'T GETTING DONE BECAUSE OF ALL THIS.

I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD REMIND ALL OF US WHAT IS AT STAKE?

WHAT ELSE HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD?

BECAUSE THERE IS SOME PRETTY HEFTY ISSUES THAT DON'T SEEM TO HAVE THE GOVERNOR'S ATTENTION RIGHT NOW.

>> OBVIOUSLY, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BEING THE BIGGEST ONE WE ARE SEEING IN RECENT -- IN THE PAST MONTH INCREASING CASES, THE DELTA VARIANT GOING ON.

THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT -- AND IT IS AN INTERESTING THING BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN CUOMO'S BIG CENTERPIECE ISSUE.

HE'S BEEN AT THE HELM OF THAT FOR THE PAST MORE THAN A YEAR.

I THINK THERE IS, YEAH, A FEELING OF A SENSE OF SHOULD THE STATE BE CHANGING SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT IT'S MAKING AROUND HEALTH CARE POLICIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT RELATING TO THE PANDEMIC.

THERE IS OBVIOUSLY THE ONGOING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WE'RE FACING AS A STATE FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT GOING ON, AND HE -- YOU KNOW, EVEN SINCE MARCH, I THINK THAT THE TENURE HAS BEEN DIFFERENT FOR THE GOVERNOR, OBVIOUSLY.

HE'S BEEN VERY SELECTIVE ABOUT PRESS EVENTS THAT HE'S HAD SINCE THESE ALLEGATIONS FIRST CAME UP.

FOR A WHILE, THERE WAS THE STATEMENT THAT THEY WERE LIMITING ACCESS TO PRESS EVENTS IN PERSON AND QUESTIONS BECAUSE OF COVID PROTOCOLS, BUT HE HAD BEEN DOING THOSE PREVIOUSLY BEFORE THESE ALLEGATIONS CAME OUT.

SO I THINK THERE IS A REAL FEELING OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS HE SPENDING HIS TIME DOING AT THIS MOMENT?

AND IT IS KIND OF HARD TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

>> OF COURSE.

AND NONE OF US ARE WITH THE GOVERNOR RIGHT NOW.

JC, FOR YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE?

BECAUSE OF COURSE 2022 IS A GOVERNOR ELECTION YEAR.

SO WITH ALL OF THIS HAPPENING AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING THAT THIS IS REALLY LEANING TOWARDS THE GOVERNOR NOT BEING -- DEFINITELY NOT RUNNING IN 2022 REGARDLESS OF THIS IMPEACHMENT.

WHERE DO YOU SEE US LEAVING THAT REALLY BIG IMPORTANT RACE WHICH IS, AGAIN, NEXT YEAR?

>> I THINK THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR WILL BE VERY INTERESTING, LIKE THE REPUBLICAN ONE IS.

BUT IF THERE IS AN OPENING IN THE GOVERNORSHIP, IT WILL BE THE THRILLER IN MANILLA, THE MOTHER OF ALL SUCCESSIONS.

I COULD SEE NEW YORK CITY JAMONI WILLIAMS OR TISH JAMES THROWING HER HAT IN THE RACE.

YOU HAVE POPULAR DEMOCRATS IN NEW YORK CITY MAKING A LOT OF INROADS IN ROCHESTER AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE THE SOCIALIST MAYOR OUT OF BUFFALO COMING IN IN JANUARY.

YOU COULD HAVE SOME PROGRESSIVE PERSON MAKING A BIG MOVE FOR THAT DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AND THE REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR OWN EXCITING PRIMARY LOOKING IN TO NEXT YEAR.

>> THAT IS REALLY COMPELLING.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHERE ALL OF THIS COULD POSSIBLY LEAVE US FOR NEXT YEAR'S GOVERNOR RUN?

>> WELL, I THINK JC IS CORRECT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WIDE OPEN, POTENTIALLY WIDE OPEN RACE IF ANDREW CUOMO DOES DECIDE TO STEP DOWN OR IF HE IS REMOVED FROM OFFICE.

LOOK, THE AMERICAN GOVERNORSHIP ISN'T WHAT IT WAS AT MID-CENTURY LAST YEAR -- I MEAN LAST CENTURY.

IT IS DEMOCRATIC POWER IN THE UNITED STATES.

SMALL D DEMOCRATIC POWER.

LOOK AT WHAT THE PANDEMIC HAS SHOWN US ABOUT THE POWER OF GOVERNORS TO BECOME NATIONAL FIGURES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHETHER IT IS FIGHTING FIRES OR FLOODS OR PANDEMIC.

I MEAN, WE SEE, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, THAT GOVERNORS HAVE RISEN TO THE FLOOR OF NATIONAL ATTENTION.

AND OF COURSE WE HAVE HAD A PERIOD OF GOVERNORSHIPS THAT HAVE LED TO PRESIDENCIES GOING BACK TO JIMMY CARTER, RONALD REAGAN, THE LIST GOES ON.

SO IT IS A POWERFUL SPOTLIGHT IN THE NEW YORK GOVERNORSHIP, BEING THE PREEMINENT GOVERNORSHIP IN TERMS OF POLITICAL POWER, NEW JERSEY, MASSACHUSETTS ARE AMONG THEM, YOU KNOW, SUGGEST THAT THERE WILL BE QUITE A FURIOUS RACE TO GET TO THAT SPOT.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S TO BE DETERMINED, OBVIOUSLY, BUT CERTAINLY ALL OF THIS MAKES THE POTENTIAL RUN IN 2022 ALL THE MORE INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD.

>> DO YOU AGREE WITH JC THAT THIS COULD -- THAT THE IMPACT THIS MIGHT HAVE ON THE NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS THAT IT CREATES THE OPENING FOR MORE PROGRESSIVES AND PERHAPS FOR THE PARTY TO SHIFT MORE TO THE LEFT?

>> I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY POSSIBLE.

AS MENTIONED, WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN SEEING THAT SHIFT HAPPENING ALREADY, EVEN, YOU KNOW, NOT AT THE STATE LEVEL.

WE HAD A CITY COUNCIL RACES THAT JUST HAPPENED IN THE JUNE PRIMARY.

WE HAD, I THINK, MORE SOCIALIST AND PROGRESSIVE LEFT LEANING CANDIDATES THAN EVER BEFORE.

SO I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S SORT OF HAPPENING ON MANY LEVELS.

AND OBVIOUSLY I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT SORT OF LEFT OF CENTER PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WOULD VIEW CUOMO AS BEING THAT MODERATE VOICE AND MORE TOWARDS THE MIDDLE.

AND THIS COULD POTENTIALLY, YEAH, HELP MOVE THAT SHIFT ALONG OR SHIFT IT EVEN FURTHER.

>> OF COURSE.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE POTENTIAL, I GUESS, INTERIM NEXT GOVERNOR?

WE HAVE HAD A SITUATION WHERE WE HAD A GOVERNOR STEP DOWN AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR STEPPED UP, AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT GOVERNOR PATTERSON.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO EXPECT?

WOULD SHE JUST CONTINUE THE POLICIES OF GOVERNOR CUOMO OR MIGHT WE GET SOMETHING NEW BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION?

AND JEAN MARIE, I'LL START WITH YOU.

>> YOU KNOW, I -- FROM WHAT I KNOW OF, KATHY HAS BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON DOING A LOT OF CEREMONIAL POSTS AND ATTENDING EVENTS IN THE GOVERNOR'S NAME AND IN HIS STEAD.

SO I THINK IT IS REALLY A KIND OF LIKE WIDE OPEN WAY FOR HER TO POTENTIALLY MAKE A MARK AND SEE WHAT DIRECTION SHE WOULD WANT TO TAKE THAT IN.

IT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE A LIMITED TIME PERIOD.

BUT I THINK THERE IS A POWERFUL, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SYMBOLIC THING IN THAT SHE IS A WOMAN, RIGHT?

WE HAVE NOT HAD A WOMEN AT THE HELM OF NEW YORK STATE, SO AFTER THIS PARTICULARLY BRUISING REPORT THAT CAME OUT FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND THE INDICATION FOR THE WOMEN INVOLVED IN IT, I THINK THAT THAT ALONE IS A PRETTY STRIKING CONTRAST TO WHAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY, IF THAT IS INDEED WHAT HAPPENED.

IN TERMS OF SPECIFIC POLICY THINGS, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY SPECIFIC PROPOSALS FROM HER.

OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN KIND OF LIKE TAKING MEETINGS BUT OTHERWISE LAYING LOW FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

BUT I WILL LET THE OTHER PANELISTS LEAN IN ON THAT.

>> JC, I WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON POTENTIAL GOVERNOR?

>> SHE WOULD BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE GOVERNOR.

SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE POLITICAL MUSCLE.

I DON'T THINK SHE HAS A SHOT.

I THINK SHE WILL DEFINITELY BE A TEMPORARY ADMIN SISTRATIVE GOVERNOR MAKING SURE THE SHIFT KEEPS GOING AND WE HAVE CONTINUITY IN OUR CONSTITUTION.

>> AND PROFESSOR, THE LAST WORD.

>> LET ME PAY THE PANELISTS AND YOUR AUDIENCE A FLAVOR AND DO WHAT POLITICAL SCIENTISTS DO DO ENOUGH OF AND THAT IS TO ADMIT I HAVE NO IDEA.

>> OKAY.

I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE MOST HONEST THING WE'VE HEARD IN THIS ENTIRE DEBACLE.

SO THANK YOU.

I WANT TO THANK ALL THREE OF MY GUESTS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO DISCUSS WITH OUR GUEST.

AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM TOMORROW.

NOT ONLY TALKING MORE ABOUT ANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS PERHAPS WITH GOVERNOR CUOMO, BUT ALSO THE LATEST ON THE CITY'S FIGHT AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS BEING THE DELTA VARIANT AND ANY OTHER NEW VARIANTS THAT MIGHT BE ARISING.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING ALL OF YOU JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT AS WE CONTINUE OUR FRONT PAGE FORECAST IN THIS TWO-PART SPECIAL.

SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> "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.