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

"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

THE NEW YORK CITY CONTROLLER HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE CITY'S CHIEF ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICER.

A BUDGET WATCHDOG THAT OFTEN FUNCTIONS AS A CHECK ON MAYORAL POWER.

THE FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CO-FOUNDED THE COUNCIL'S PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS.

HE TAKES OVER AS CONTROLLER AT A TIME OF GREAT FISCAL AND SOCIAL UNCERTAINTY FOR THE CITY.

STEMMING FROM THE TWIN CHALLENGES OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND A STRING OF VIOLENT INCIDENTS THAT HAVE ROCKED THE CITY.

TONIGHT, WE WELCOME BACK MR. LANDER WHO JOINS US FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS NEW JOB AS NEW YORK CITY CONTROLLER TO TELL BUS HIS PRIORITIES AND WHAT HE EXPECTS FROM MAYOR ERIC ADAMS.

WELCOME, CONTROLLER LANDER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, JENNA.

IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH YOU ON "METROFOCUS."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LET'S ACTUALLY START IN WITH THAT LAST POINT THAT I MADE.

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU IN YOUR OFFICE ARE EXPECTING FROM ALSO NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR ERIC ADAMS?

>> YEAH.

LOOK, THIS IS A REALLY CONSEQUENTIAL TIME IN THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY.

WE ARE TRYING TO ESCAPE FROM THE PANDEMIC JUST AS WE HAVE A TRANSITION IN OUR OFFICE.

NEW YORKERS ARE HUNGRY FOR SOMETHING BETTER.

YOU KNOW, DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE SAW ALL THE WAY FLZS IN WHIC PREVIOUSLY EXIST ED CAME UP.

WE SAW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN GOVERNMENT IS NOT PREPARED TO RESPOND TO A CRISIS.

WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING IS MAKING NEW YORK CITY GOVERNMENT WORK AS EFFECTIVELY AS IT POSSIBLY CAN TO BE READY TO HELP US THROUGH CRISES, TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORTS WE NEED TO HAVE THRIVING NEIGHBORHOODS AND TO BE MORE READY FOR FUTURE CRISES THAN WE WERE FOR THAT ONE.

THAT MEANS MAKING SURE WE ARE USING OUR BUDGET WISELY AND MAKING SURE OUR AGENCIES ARE WORKING WELL.

THAT'S WHAT I KNOW MAYOR ADAMS WILL FOCUS ON.

FROM OUR OFFICE, THAT'S WHAT WE WILL WORK TO HOLD HIM TO.

>> LET'S DRILL DOWN FURTHER.

WHILE EVERYTHING YOU SAID SOUNDED GREAT, IT DOES SOUND A LITTLE STUMP SPEECHY.

LET'S GET INTO SPECIFICS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PRIORITIES THAT AT LEAST YOUR OFFICE WANTS TO SEE THE CITY PUT MONEY INTO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU FOR PUSHING ME PAST MY STUMP SPEECH.

WE'RE ALL GETTING TO WORK.

LOOK, FIRST AND FOREMOST RIGHT NOW IS GETTING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND TO A GENUINELY INCLUSIVE RECOVERY.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE THANKFULLY LARGELY COMING DOWN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OMICRON SPIKE.

BUT WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT TO DO TO MAKE SURE NEW YORKERS FEEL SAFE IN THEIR SCHOOLS, SAFE ON THE SUBWAYS, SAFE GOING BACK TO WORK.

WE HAVE COME BACK TO THE CONTROLLERS OFFICE IN PERSON THIS WEEK.

WE ARE BACK THREE DAYS A WEEK IN THE CONTROLLERS OFFICE.

WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE EMPLOYEES BOTH FEEL SAFE AND ARE SAFE AS THEY ARE HERE.

HOW DO WE GET OUR ECONOMY REALLY GOING AND OPEN AGAIN?

THAT MEANS IN ALL THE PLACES GOVERNMENT CONTROLS, LIKE OUR SCHOOLS ESPECIALLY, MAKING SURE WE RAMP UP COVID TESTING.

FOLKS KNOW THEIR SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE SAFE.

THAT WE PAY ATTENTION ON THE SUBWAYS.

WE WILL COME BACK I KNOW TO ISSUES OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH YOU MENTIONED E ED EARLIER.

MAKING SURE NEW YORKERS FEEL SAFE.

THAT'S GOING TO MEAN PUTTING MORE RESOURCES TO SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, TO MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, TO THE CURE OF VIOLENCE, TO STREET SAFETY.

WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.

THEN WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE USING THE MONEY WE ARE GETTING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT -- HERE IS WHERE A CONTROLLER REALLY COMES IN.

WE HAVE GOTTEN OVER $14 BILLION IN MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND THE C.A.R.E.S.

ACT.

A NEW REPORT OUT FROM THE CITIZENS BUDGET COMMISSION SUGGESTS WE'RE NOT SPENDING IT WISELY.

WE DON'T KNOW THE OUTCOMES WE ARE GETTING.

IS THE PURPOSE TO PROVIDE TESTING?

IS THE PURPOSE TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS HAVE THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC SUPPORTS THEY NEED IN OUR SCHOOLS?

IS THE PURPOSE TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES REOPEN?

WE'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH OUTCOMES TRACKING OF THAT SPENDING.

WE'RE ALSO NOT PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO -- RIGHT NOW WE USE A LOT OF THAT ONE-TIME MONEY FOR RECURRING EXPENSES.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HIT A FISCAL CLIFF WHEN THAT MONEY ENDS.

WE WILL SPEND TIME THIS SPRING AS WE GET READY FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SPENDING THAT FEDERAL MONEY WISELY TO GET OUR CITY OPEN AGAIN AND TO DO IT IN AN INCLUSIVE WAY THAT REALLY ATTENDS TO THOSE RACIAL AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES THE PANDEMIC SHOWED US SO SEVERELY.

>> GETTING BACK TO THE ISSUE OF SAFETY -- BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S INCREDIBLY HIGH ON PEOPLE'S PRIORITY LIST RIGHT NOW.

ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT WHEN YOU WERE IN CITY COUNCIL, YOU DEFINITELY OPPOSED INCREASING THE CITY'S BUDGET SPENDING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HOWEVER, THE CITY FINDS ITSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CALLING FOR AT LEAST MORE POLICING OR BETTER POLICING.

I NOTICED WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WAYS TO HELP NEW YORKERS FEEL SAFER, YOU DIDN'T INCLUDE POLICE SPENDING IN THAT.

>> FIRST LET ME SAY BECAUSE WE'RE COMING OFF JUST SUCH A TRAGIC AND BRUTAL WEEK, THAT I JUST WANT TO START BY EXPRESSING MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF OFFICER RIVERA.

OUR HAEARTS ARE WITH OFFICER MORRIS.

THIS SHOCKS THE CITY.

I WAS UP YESTERDAY TALKING TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER AT THE 32 PRECINCT AND SOME OF THE COLLEAGUES.

THESE WERE YOUNG MEN WHO WERE EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT IN SERVICE TO OUR CITY.

THAT LETTER ABOUT WHY HE BECAME A POLICE OFFICER WAS HEARTBREAKING AND BEAUTIFUL.

THIS WAS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP UPTOWN WHO WANTED TO CONTRIBUTE TO STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY.

WHERE HE SAYS, EVEN IF I'M HELPING A TOURIST GET WHERE THEY ARE GOING OR HELPING A FAMILY WITH A DISPUTE, WHATEVER, I CRIED WHEN I READ IT.

I KNOW A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE MUST HAVE AS WELL.

LET'S START THERE.

THE HEARTS OF EVERY SINGLE NEW YORKER GO OUT BECAUSE THESE WERE FOLKS WHO WENT INTO A SITUATION TO TRY TO KEEP A FAMILY SAFE.

AND WE KNOW THERE'S POLICE OFFICERS DOING THAT TODAY EVEN WHILE WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.

THERE'S GOING TO BE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS.

OFFICERS ARE GOING TO RUSH IN TO TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

OUR HEARTS ARE WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND WE WANT THEM TO BE SAFE.

SO WE ALL WANT THAT.

WE DO HAVE AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE BEST KEEP NEW YORKERS SAFE.

BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE ANXIOUS RIDING THE SUBWAY, ANXIOUS ON THE STREETS OF OUR CITY.

YOU SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHEN THOSE OFFICERS ARE KILLED AND SOMEONE IS PUSHED ON THE SUBWAY TRACKS LIKE MICHELLE WAS.

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WE DID A SURVEY A FEW WEEKS AGO.

WE ACTUALLY COMMISSIONED THE CUNY CENTER FOR URBAN RESEARCH.

WE ASKED PEOPLE IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS ALL DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS A SERIES OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE ABSOLUTELY ASKED, WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL PROMOTE SAFETY MANY YOUR COMMUNITY?

WHAT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL SAFER AS YOU ARE TRAVELING THROUGH THE CITY?

INTERESTINGLY, THE TOP TWO THINGS THAT PEOPLE SAID WERE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SO THAT HOMELESS FOLKS ARE NOT ON THE SUBWAYS AND ON THE STREETS OF OUR CITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MENTAL HEALTH THAT PEOPLE NEED FOR THEMSELVES BUT ALSO SO THAT THEY'RE NOT A DANGER TO OTHERS.

WHERE THE RESOURCES FOR THAT COME FROM, IT'S EXPENSIVE TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND PRO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

WE DON'T HAVE OUTREACH WORKERS IN THE SUBWAY TALKING TO PEOPLE HOMELESS OR APPEAR TO BE MENTALLY ILL. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO CONNECT THEM TO THE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE THAT THEY NEED.

THE REASON I VOTED AS I DID ON THE LAST TWO BUDGETS IS I WANT TO SEE MORE RESOURCES TO THE THINGS THAT WILL PROMOTE SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITIES EARLIER.

THAT MEANS PROVIDING THAT SUPPORTIVE HOUSE, PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH CARE, INVESTING MORE IN OUR CURE VIOLENCE GROUPS.

THOSE ARE NON-PROFIT GRASS-ROOTS GROUPS IN THE CITY.

PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS, OFTEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CAUGHT UP IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THEMSELVES, WE ARE SPENDING RIGHT NOW $44 MILLION ON THOSE GROUPS.

THAT'S IN CONTRAST TO $6 BILLION ON THE NYPD, $100 BILLION BUDGET IN TOTAL.

THERE WAS A RECENT STUDY THAT SHOWED A DRAMATIC DROP OF 30% WHEN WE INVESTED MONEY IN THOSE CURE VIOLENCE GROUPS, IN SHOOTINGS, IN GUN-RELATED CRIMES.

I WANT TO FIND THE RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE WE DO THAT, THAT WE COULD INVEST IN THE WAYS THAT COMMUNITIES CAN REALLY BE SAFER FOR PEOPLE SO WE DON'T HAVE TRAGEDIES LIKE THE ONES WE HAVE SEEN OVER LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> OF COURSE.

YOU ARE CERTAINLY NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO SUGGESTED THAT, INVESTING IN A WAY THAT PREVENTS CRIME FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE IS A BETTER WAY TO TALK.

HOW AS YOU WERE ELECTED AS THE CONTROLLER AS A PROGRESSIVE, MAYOR ADAMS WAS ELECTED AS A CENTRIST AND MORE IMPORTANTLY BECAUSE HE WAS GOING TO GET CRIME UNDER CONTROL.

HE WAS A FORMER POLICE OFFICER WHO COULD DO THAT.

IF HE PUTS FORWARD A BUDGET THAT INCLUDES AN INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR THE NYPD, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOUR OFFICE WOULD OPPOSE?

>> LOOK, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT HIS BUDGET WHEN IT COMES OUT NEXT MONTH.

THIS SAY THIS IS A QUESTION YOU LOOK AT IN TOTAL.

THE MAYOR AND GOVERNOR STOOD TO BELIEVE WITH A PLAN TO KEEP THE SUBWAY SAFE.

THEY TALKED ABOUT PUTTING NYPD OFFICERS IN THE SUBWAYS.

THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT INCREASING MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH.

I WILL TELL YOU, ALL I HAVE SEEN IN THE SUBWAY SINCE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT IS A FEW NYPD OFFICERS STANDING NEAR THE TURNSTYLES.

I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH WORKER.

I DON'T KNOW THERE'S ONE NEW AFFORDABLE APARTMENT OR ANY MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS, ESPECIALLY IN THIS SITUATION, IT'S LIKE, IF YOU DID -- THE OFFICERS STANDING NEAR THE TURNSTYLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO -- THEY'RE NOT ON THE -- SOMETIMES THEY'RE ON THE TRAINS.

IF THEY DID APPROACH SOMEONE WHO WAS ON THAT TRAIN WHO APPEARED TO BE HOMELESS OR MENTALLY ILL, IF THEY'RE NOT PRESENTING A THREAT TO ANYONE ELSE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET ARRESTED.

EVEN IF THEY WERE ARRESTED AND THEY WIND UP AT RIKERS -- WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT RIKERS AND THE CRISIS THERE.

THEY ARE LIKELY TO WIND UP BACK ON THE TRAIN A FEW DAYS LATER.

WHAT I WANT TO LOOK AT AND SEE IN THE BUDGET IS, WHERE ARE THE RESOURCES FOR THE OUTREACH TO THOSE FOLK S, FOR THE SUPPORTIV HOUSES, FOR TARGETED EVIDENCE-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS?

THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE WILL AUDIT.

THE CITY SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS THROUGH THRIVE THAT HAVEN'T PRODUCED RESULTS WE WANT.

THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET TO SEE.

IF WE WIND UP INCREASING THE POLICING BUDGET OUT OF TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE DISTRESS FOR INCREASED LEVELS OF VIOLENCE, BUT THEN WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING MORE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE, FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, FOR CURE VIOLENCE GROUPS, I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE A BUDGET THAT PRODUCES THE KIND OF SAFER COMMUNITIES THAT PEOPLE WANT.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON.

IT'S AN APPROPRIATE CONVERSATION.

I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THE MAYOR.

OF COURSE, HE IS THE ONE WHO IS HIRING THE POLICE COMMISSIONER, PROPOSING THE BUDGET.

THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT DIALOGUE.

SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GOTTEN SO POLARIZED THAT IT'S JUST NOT THAT PRODUCTIVE.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT ROLE FOR OUR NYPD OFFICERS ON THE STREETS OF OUR CITY KEEPING THEM SAFE, RESPONDING, OF COURSE, IN THESE CASES WHERE THERE IS A GUN CRIME, WHERE THERE IS A SHOOTING, A HOMICIDE.

WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT OUR OFFICERS ARE OUT THERE.

I DO WANT US TO SHIFT HOW WE THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

I THINK A LOT OF NEW YORKERS DO.

BUT WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO DO IT THAT'S A CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE.

BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS TO BE SAFE, EVERYONE IS HEARTBROKEN WHEN THAT SAFETY DOESN'T SHOW UP AND OFFICERS DON'T GET TO GO HOME OR SOMEONE WINDS UP KILLED.

WE ALL WANT TO BE SAFE ON THE STREETS OF OUR CITY.

WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW ISN'T WORKING.

SO WE WANT TO BRING SOME REAL EVIDENCE TO WHAT WILL WORK.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION THAT NEW YORKERS NEED TO HAVE.

>> OKAY.

ONE OF THE POINTS -- THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES, OBVIOUSLY, TO GET TO.

ONE OF THE POINTS THAT YOU MENTIONED JUST NOW IN YOUR ANSWER WAS ABOUT RESOURCES, RESOURCES, RESOURCES.

WHAT I ALSO WANT TO ASK YOU IS, AGAIN, ONLY A FEW WEEKS ON THE JOB, BUT WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHERE THE CORONAVIRUS HAS LEFT NEW YORK CITY'S FINANCES?

WE DO KNOW THERE HAD BEEN A PUSH FROM EVEN MAYOR ADAMS HIMSELF FOR EVERYONE TO COME BACK AND EVERYONE TO GO BACK TO WORK IN YOUR OFFICE IN THE CITY.

THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE CITY WE'RE GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD WITH.

>> THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS TO ASK.

WHAT IS THE ECONOMY GOING TO LOOK LIKE AS WE EMERGE FROM THE VIRUS?

WHAT'S THE ECONOMY GOING TO LOOK LIKE AS WE RECOVER?

IT'S GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT.

MORE NEW YORKERS ARE GOING TO BE WORKING REMOTELY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PANDEMIC THAN BEFORE IT.

WE KNOW THAT'S TRUE.

THERE WAS A REPORT OUT THIS WEEK THAT SHOWED MANY COMPANIES HIRING FOR REMOTE WORK.

I WILL GIVE OUR OFFICE AS AN EXAMPLE.

WE CURRENTLY -- THE NON-ESSENTIAL STAFF OF THE CONTROLLERS OFFICE HAVE COME BACK THREE DAYS A WEEK.

YOU ARE IN THE OFFICE THREE DAYS A WEEK.

WORK REMOTELY THE OTHER TWO.

WE ARE GETTING GREAT PRODUCTIVITY FROM THAT.

WE WANT TO SEE HOW THAT'S WORKING.

CAN THAT BE A PLOD LEMODEL FOR OTHER COMPANIES IF WE CAN MAKE THIS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL GOOD ABOUT HOW THEY ARE WORKING.

WORKERS ARE EXCITED ABOUT BEING PART OF IT.

THAT WILL BE A GREAT FUTURE FOR NEW YORK.

OBVIOUSLY, SOME THINGS HAVE TO BE IN PERSON.

WE WANT BROADWAY OPEN.

WE WANT OUR CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS BACK.

THERE ARE A HUGE NUMBER OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS, FOLKS IN OUR RESTAURANTS, IN OUR HEALTH CARE, INSTITUTIONS.

BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE ROOM FOR CREATING A FUTURE THAT HAS MORE HYBRID MODELS.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH MIDTOWN REAL ESTATE.

THAT'S IMPORTANT IN THE PROPERTY TAX ROLL.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY MOVED TO NEW YORK CITY BECAUSE THEY WERE THINKING, I'M EXCITED ABOUT COMMUTING TO MIDTOWN TO WORK IN A MIDTOWN OFFICE BUILDING.

THEY COME FOR THE CULTURE, VITALITY, NEIGHBORHOODS, CREATIVITY.

WE WILL BE CONVENING ROUNDTABLES WITH BUSINESS PEOPLE SMALL AND LARGE, WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF WORKERS AND FREELANCERS.

SO WE CAN THINK ABOUT AS WE EMERGE FROM THE PANDEMIC, HOW DO WE CREATE AN ECONOMY THAT HELPS MORE NEIGHBORHOODS FLOURISH?

BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE ARE WORKING FROM HOME, THERE'S MORE LIFE ON THE COMMERCIAL STREETS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, MORE PEOPLE ORDERING FOOD FROM -- GOING TO THE GYM.

HOW DO WE BUILD A POST-PANDEMIC ECONOMY THAT'S MORE EQUAL, THAT OFFERS -- THAT PROTECTS THE WORKERS WHO ARE MOST IN HARM'S WAY?

I WAS OUT OVER THE WEEKEND WITH DELIVERY WORKERS THAT DELIVER WHO ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE REALIZED THEY WERE UNPROTECTED.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE LIVING WAGE PAY.

COULDN'T USE THE BATHROOM.

WE PASSED SOME LAWS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN HAVE SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS.

I THINK IF WE CAN BUILD AN ECONOMY THAT CONTINUES TO BE CREATIVE BUT ALSO THINKS MORE ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO ARE VULNERABLE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE AN ECONOMY THAT REALLY WORKS FOR ALL NEW YORKERS.

WE COULD LOOK BACK ON AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE LEARNED SOME OF THE LESSONS FROM THE PANDEMIC AND WE BUILT AN ECONOMY THAT HAD MORE ROOM FOR PEOPLE TO THRIVE.

>> OF COURSE.

AGAIN, IS THERE ANY CLEAR INDICATION OF WHERE THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC HAS LEFT CITY FINANCIALLY?

WITH SO MANY PEOPLE PERHAPS WHO HAVE RELOCATED TO -- KEPT THEIR JOBS IN THE CITY BUT RELOCATED TO OTHER COMMUNITIES.

SOME COMMUNITIES ARE SEEING MORE PEOPLE IN LOCAL BUSINESSES.

BUT SOME LOCAL BUSINESSES, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ONES THAT MIGHT RELY ON OFFICE WORKERS IN MIDTOWN GETTING LUNCH, ET CETERA, MIGHT NOT.

DO WE KNOW WHERE THIS IS LEAVING THE CITY FINANCIALLY?

>> YEAH.

WELL, BEFORE THE OMICRON WAVE, WE WERE ACTUALLY SEEING SOME ENCOURAGING SIGNS OF JOBS BEING CREATED, PEOPLE COMING BACK TO WORK.

THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT OMICRON PUT A REAL DAMPER ON THAT.

WE PUT OUT SOME RESEARCH LAST WEEK THAT SHOWED A SLOWING IN PEOPLE GETTING BACK ON THE SUBWAY.

OF COURSE, GOING TO SHOWS.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BE LOOKING OVER THE NEXT MONTH, I WOULD SAY, AS THE OMICRON NUMBER COMES DOWN.

OUR OFFICE PUTS OUT A MONTHLY ECONOMIC A NANALYSISANALYSIS.

MAYBE NOT EVERYONE KNOWS THE CONTROLLER HAS THIS.

BUT WE PUT OUT A BY THE NUMBERS ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE ECONOMY THE FIRST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH.

SIGN UP TO GET THAT.

THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO WATCH IN REAL TIME.

WE LOOK AT THINGS LIKE SUBWAY RIDERSHIP, LIKE RESTAURANT RESERVATIONS.

WE CAN REALLY GET A MORE REAL TIME PICTURE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ECONOMY.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS OUT THERE.

HOW MUCH DOES INFLATION CONTINUE TO RISE AND EAT INTO PEOPLE'S PAYCH PAYCHECKS?

DO WE GO BACK TO PEOPLE WILLING TO GO TO RESTAURANTS?

IS JOB CREATION GETTING STARTED AGAIN?

ON THE QUESTION OF THE CITY'S FISCAL SITUATION, WHICH YOU ASKED ABOUT, I WILL SAY SO FAR, THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN BETTER THAN WE CONSERVATIVELY EXPECTED.

WE ADJUSTED OUR EXPECTATIONS, OUR PREDICTIONS DOWNWARD PRETTY SUBSTANTIALLY FOR WHAT PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS WOULD BE AND TAX COLLECTIONS OVERALL WHEN THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED HER STATE OF THE STATE LAST WEEK.

THERE WERE BETTER NUMBERS IN IT THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPECTED.

THE PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS IN DECEMBER WERE MEANINGFULLY HIGHER THAN HAD BEEN PREDICTED.

WE HAVE A VERY CLUNKY PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM THAT NEEDS REFORM.

THAT MIGHT TAKE A WHOLE EPISODE.

>> THAT'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION.

>> IT REALLY DOES NEED TO BE FIXED.

HOMEOWNERS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER-TAXED RELATIVE TO OTHERS.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO FIX.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS AT THE MOMENT, THE FISCAL SITUATION IN THE NEAR TERM LOOKS PRETTY STABLE.

BUT, OF COURSE, IT IS BEING AIDED BY ALL THE FEDERAL REVENUE THAT I MENTIONED COMING IN FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

WHEN THE MAYOR PUTS OUT HIS PRELIMINARY PLAN IN FEBRUARY, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO LOOK AT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

THEN MY OFFICE WILL GO TO WORK DIGGING IN TO SAY, IT LOOKS GOOD FOR THE NEXT QUARTER.

BUT WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IF WE PROJECT OUT PAST THE TIME WHEN THE FEDERAL REVENUES ARE COMING IN?

THERE WILL BE SOME HARD CHOICES TO MAKE.

WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SPEND ON ALL THE THINGS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, LIMITED BY RESOURCES WE HAVE.

THAT'S WHY I WANT TO FOCUS ON THAT QUESTION OF, WHAT ARE THE ONE-TIME INVESTMENTS THAT WE CAN MAKE?

SOMETHING LIKE SCHOOL VENTILATION AND AIR QUALITY IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE.

THERE'S GOOD DATA SHOWING CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CLASSROOMS THAT GOT BETTER VENTILATION, LOWER COVID CASES.

ACTUALLY, OTHER INDICATORS OF STRONG HEALTH FOR OUR KIDS.

THAT'S A ONE-TIME EXPENDITURE.

YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THAT EVERY YEAR.

USE THE FEDERAL MONEY TO SPEND ON THE ONE-TIME THINGS THAT HAVE LONG-TERM VALUE SO WE CAN KEEP OUR BUDGET IN BALANCE FOR THE LONG TERM.

>> OF COURSE.

SPEAKING OF KEEPING THE BUDGET IN BALANCE, MAYOR ADAMS HAS FLOATED THE POSSIBILITY OF THE STATE ALLOWING NEW YORK CITY TO RAISE ITS BARORROWING POWER UP $19 BILLION.

DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A GOOD FISCAL IDEA TO YOU?

>> MY OFFICE RAISED THE ALARM BELL ABOUT THIS.

WE DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO SEEK TO INCREASE THE CITY'S DEBT CAPACITY BY $19 BILLION OR ROUGHLY 15% INCREASE OF OUR OVERALL DEBT CAPACITY.

LOOK, WE -- THERE'S A SET OF THINGS WE NEED TO BE BORROWING FOR.

WE BORROW TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS IN GOOD SHAPE, TO BUILD NEW ONES, TO REPAVE STREETS.

THERE WAS A WATER MAIN BREAK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD LAST WEEKEND.

IF WE CAN INVEST IN WATER -- IN OUR SEWER CAPACITY AND OUR WATER CAPACITY, WE DON'T HAVE WATER MAIN BREAKS THAT ARE DISRUPTIVE.

WE NEED TO BE INVESTING IN OUR PARKS, CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, LIBRARIES.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO WITH OUR DEBT.

THAT'S UNDERWRITTEN BY THE CONTROLLER AND THE MAYOR.

THE MAYOR'S TEAM CAME OUT WITH THIS PROJECTION THAT SAID THAT BY 2025, THEY ARE AFRAID IF TRENDS CONTINUE WE MIGHT HIT THAT LIMIT.

2025 IS THREE YEARS FROM NOW.

IT IS TOO SOON TO SAY WE WOULD LIKE THE AUTHORITY TO BORROW ANOTHER $19 BILLION FOR A PROBLEM THAT'S STILL THREE YEARS OFF IN FUTURE, IF IT HAPPENS AT ALL.

ONE OTHER THING IT DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR IS THE GREAT NEW FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT CONGRESS PASSED.

THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT WILL BE COMING INTO NEW YORK CITY FROM THAT INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

I WANT TO SEE FIRST, WHAT CAN WE GET TO DO STREET REPAVING?

WHAT CAN WE DO TO INVEST IN SEWER CAPACITY THAT HURRICANE IDA SHOWED WE NEED?

IF WE CAN DO IT WITH FEDERAL DOLLARS WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY BACK, THAT'S BETTER THAN BORROWING AGAINST THE CITY'S DEBT CAPACITY.

I AGREE THAT $19 BILLION IS PREMATURE.

WE MIGHT SOMETIME BEFORE 2025 HAVE TO COME BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

LET'S GET OUR HOUSE IN ORDER FIRST, PRIORITIZE OUR PROJECTS, FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE FEDERAL MONEY AND IMPROVE HOW WE MANAGE THE PROJECTS.

ALL YOUR VIEWERS KNOW A LOT OF CITY PROJECTS GO OVER TIME AND OVER BUDGET.

MAYBE GET MANAGEMENT REFORM.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE WORKING ON WITH THE MAYOR.

I THINK WE SHOULD PUSH HARDER ON BEFORE WE SEEK TO INCREASE OUR BORROWING.

>> OKAY.

WE ARE COMING UP ON THE END OF OUR TIME TOGETHER.

WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF LEFT.

I WANT TO ASK YOU, GETTING THE HOUSE IN ORDER AND MAKING PRIORITIES, I THINK AMERICANS, NEW YORKERS, WE HAVE BECOME PAINFULLY AWARE THAT TWO DIFFERENT POLITICIANS CAN SEE THAT TWO VERY DIFFERENT WAYS.

IF YOU COULD SORT OF QUICKLY GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT IS IT THAT AT LEAST AS OF RIGHT NOW YOU SEE YOURSELF AND MAYOR ADAMS SEEING EYE TO EYE ON AND ARE THERE ANY PLACES WHERE LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE DEBT LIMIT, YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME DIFFERENCES?

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THE JOB IS TO WORK WITH THE MAYOR AS FAR AS WE POSSIBLY CAN TO MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK BETTER.

ALSO BE AN INDEPENDENT VOICE WHEN NECESSARY.

I'M PLEASED TO SAY WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER.

WE CO-CONVENIEED A TASK FORCE F GETTING FOLKS PAID ON TIME, THE FOLKS THAT BRING MEALS TO SENIORS, PROVIDE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

THEY ARE WAITING A YEAR TO GET PAID BY THE CITY FOR WHAT WE HAVE CONTRACTED WITH THEM TO DO THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS.

IT'S ABOUT A $20 BILLION CONTRACT BUDGET WE HAVE.

WE ARE GOING TO GET THAT SYSTEM FIXED.

IT'S BROKEN.

WE ARE WORKING HARD ON IT TOGETHER.

WE WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO RELEASE IN THE COMING DAYS, THE MAYOR AND I.

WE ACTUALLY RELEASED OUR FIRST AUDIT THIS WEEK ABOUT NYPD CIVILIANIZATION AND OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE CIVILIANS DO WORK, ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.

THE MAYOR ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO ME AFTER THAT AUDIT TO SAY, THIS IS EXACTLY THE PATH THAT CITY HALL WANTS TO BE GOING.

HE SAID IN THE PAST, HE WANTS ME TO AUDIT THE AGENCIES BUT WITH A SPIRIT AND I'M GOING TO DO IT WITH A SPIRIT OF HOW ARE WE MAKING GOVERNMENT WORK BETTER?

HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER ABOUT THE PATH TO END THE EMERGENCY AND THE CRISIS AT RIKERS.

WE WILL DO OVERSIGHT.

WE WILL DO IT IN A WAY THAT'S CONSTRUCTIVE THAT POINTS THINGS OUT THAT HAVE TO BE POINTED OUT BUT WITH AN EYE TO GETTING CHANGE THAT HELPS THE AGENCIES SOLVE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE.

SOMETIMES THERE WILL BE THINGS WE DISAGREE WITH.

WE TALKED ABOUT A FEW HERE.

SOMETIMES THERE WILL BE THINGS THAT WE THINK NEED TO BE A HIGHER PRIORITY.

WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THE CLIMATE PRYCRISIS.

WE HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.

>> OF COURSE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE CLIMATE CRISIS WE WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO.

WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME.

THE OFFICE IS THE NEW YORK CITY CONTROLLER AND THE NEWEST OFFICE HOLDER WHO WE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO, BRAD LANDER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND LETTING US KNOW WHAT YOUR PRIORITIES ARE GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, JENNA.

I APPRECIATE IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

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