[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

IT'S BEEN QUITE THE EVENTFUL YEAR IN NEW YORK STATE POLITICS.

THIS WEEK ON THE SHOW, WE'LL BE DIVING INTO THE POLITICAL NEWS THAT MADE HEADLINES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING THE CONSEQUENTIAL MAYORAL RACE IN NEW YORK CITY, THE POLICY ITEMS THAT MADE IT THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AND THE COMPLEX BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN LEADERS.

THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL ALSO MADE HEADLINES BY SAYING THAT SHE WOULD BE MOVING FORWARD WITH SIGNING THE MEDICAL AID IN DYING BILL AFTER AMENDMENTS.

THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY CONTROVERSIAL BILLS THAT WAS LEFT TO BE REVIEWED BY THE GOVERNOR BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEW YORK POLITICAL NEWS OF THE YEAR AND WHAT TO EXPECT HEADING INTO 2026, WE ARE JOINED IN THE STUDIO BY KAITLYN CORDERO OF POLITICO, RAGA JUSTIN OF BLOOMBERG AND JIMMY VIELKIND KIND OF WNYC, GOTHAMIST, AND THE NEW YORK PUBLIC NEWS NETWORK.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WE'RE SO EXCITED TO RECAP THE YEAR IN NEW YORK STATE POLITICS.

>> THANK YOU.

HAPPY TO SEE YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> WE KNOW IT'S BEEN QUITE A BUSY YEAR IN NEW YORK STATE POLITICS BUT NATURALLY, I WANTED TO START THINGS OFF WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT STARTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS AND MOMENTS FROM REPORTING AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS YEAR?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME THAT, ONCE AGAIN, GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS SHOWN HER TACTIC AND HER APPROACH TO THE SESSION IS TO JUST LET THE BUDGET GO LATE TO PUT ALL THE ITEMS THAT SHE WISHES TO ADDRESS INTO THE STATE BUDGET, WHICH THIS YEAR ROSE TO MORE THAN A QUARTER TRILLION DOLLARS, TRILLION WITH A "T" DOLLARS OF SPENDING AND TO ESSENTIALLY HOLD THAT OVER LAWMAKERS, DEMOCRATS, PEOPLE IN HER OWN PARTY WHO CONTROL BOTH THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND THE STATE SENATE, UNTIL SHE GETS WHAT SHE WANTS.

SO THIS YEAR, THE BUDGET WAS NOT ADOPTED UNTIL EARLY MAY.

IT WAS MORE THAN A FULL 30 DAYS PAST THAT MARCH 31 DEADLINE AND HOCHUL SEEMS TO BE VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THIS TACTIC, VERY COMFORTABLE WITH USING IT AND I THINK PART OF THE EFFECT OF THAT IS TO FREEZE OUT OTHER ACTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

NORMALLY, THERE'S SORT OF TWO PEAKS IN A LEGISLATIVE SESSION, ONE AROUND THE BUDGET AND THAT MARCH, LATE MARCH TIME, AND ONE TOWARD THE END OF JUNE, IN JUNE WHEN THE SESSION ENDS AND BY KIND OF EXTENDING BUDGET SEASON OVER TIME, HOCHUL KEPT HERSELF IN A FIRM DRIVER'S SEAT IN THE PROCESS AND REALLY, I THINK, CHOKED OUT OTHER BILLS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE POPPED FORWARD.

>> I THINK THE SESSION WAS ALSO OVERSHADOWED BY THE THREAT OF FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS.

THE RIGHT?

THERE WAS A BIG FUNDING SHOWDOWN BETWEEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND NEW YORK, AS A BLUE STATE, BORE THE BRUNT OF THAT IN A LOT OF WAYS.

SO YOU SAW A LOT OF ANGST FROM THE GOVERNOR AND FROM, YOU KNOW, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE IT SENATE LEADER ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS, AROUND THESE PROJECTED LOSSES AND SO THEY'RE TRYING TO POSITION THEMSELVES, I THINK, THIS PAST YEAR AS A BULWARK AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AROUND HOW ARE WE GOING TO BACKFILL THESE LOSSES THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT NEW YORKERS AND EVERYTHING FROM HEALTH CARE TO FOOD STAMPS.

SO I THINK THAT-- AGAIN, THAT KIND OF SHADOWED IT FELT LIKE, TO ME, A LOT OF THE POLICIES THAT WERE COMING OUT.

IT SORT OF TEMPERED OTHERWISE STRONG POLICIES AND MAYBE SOMETIMES IT SPURRED MORE PROGRESSIVE LAWMAKERS TO SAY AT LEAST EVEN IF NOTHING ENDED UP HAPPENING, WE GOT TO TAKE A STRONGER STANCE AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HERE.

>> AND I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE BUDGET, JIMMY.

I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO ME.

I THINK AT THE START OF THE YEAR, IT SEEMED LIKE THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SAID, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ALL ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION WHEN IT CAME TO ADJUSTING AFFORDABILITY, BUT OF COURSE, THINGS TOOK A DRAMATIC TURN OVER SOME POLICY ITEMS, AS YOU MENTIONED, DISCOVERY REFORM, INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT, CELL PHONE BANS IN SCHOOL, AND MASS BANS ACROSS THE STATE.

IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY THAT YOU THINK THESE ITEMS MIGHT COME BACK NEXT YEAR?

>> WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST FEW YEARS FROM GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS A DESIRE TO TAKE ACTIONS THAT SHE BELIEVES WILL INCREASE EITHER THE PERCEPTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY OR THAT WILL SORT OF ROLL BACK SOME OF THE CHANGES TO THE STATE'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAWS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCEDURES THAT WERE ENACTED IN THE FIRST FLASH OF DEMOCRAT MAKE JOTTERS IN 2019, 2020, AND TO SOME EXTENT, INTO 2021.

SO THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE CHANGES TO THE STATE'S BAIL LAWS, YOU KNOW, REDUCTIONS AND LIMITING REALLY THE INSTANCES IN WHICH MONEY CAN BE USED TO KEEP A PERSON BEHIND BARS BEFORE THEIR TRIALS.

THERE'S ALSO NOW SOME TALK ABOUT AN OLDER CRIMINAL JUSTICE CHANGE, WHICH IS THE AGE OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY AT WHICH JUVENILES ARE TREATED AS ADULTS.

SO HOCHUL HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT HER TWIN PILLARS ARE AFFORDABILITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY, AND HER PUBLIC SAFETY FIGHTS HAVE COME IN THE BUDGET BECAUSE SHE HAS LEVERAGE AND THEY HAVE BASICALLY HELD EVERYTHING UP, AS YOU POINTED OUT, SHANTEL, THIS YEAR IT WAS WITH REGARD TO DISCOVERY, WHICH IS THE EXCHANGE OF EVIDENCE BEFORE A CRIMINAL TRIAL, AND SO I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE WE'LL SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AGAIN.

I'M ALSO COGNIZANT THIS IS A DIFFERENT YEAR BECAUSE IT'S A RE-ELECTION YEAR.

WE DO KNOW THAT DEMOCRATS ARE IN CONTROL OF BOTH HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE.

HOCHUL IS, OF COURSE, ALSO A DEMOCRAT, AND THE DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE TEND TO HAVE A MORE PROGRESSIVE BENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM HOCHUL WHO IS REALLY A MODERATE GOVERNOR.

SO TO THE EXTENT-- WE WILL HAVE TO SEE THE EXTENT TO WHICH SHE WANTS TO HAVE CONFLICT AND TO HAVE ANOTHER FIGHT ON THESE ISSUES IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

>> AND KATELYN, I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF AWESOME REPORTING AROUND MEDICAL AID IN DYING.

WE KNOW THIS IS A VERY CONTROVERSIAL POLICY INITIATIVE THAT ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET PASSED AND YOU KNOW, PUT OVER THE FINISH LINE FOR OVER A DECADE.

IT WAS A VERY HISTORIC MOMENT WHEN IT PASSED THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR AND WE SAW GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL SAY THIS WEEK SAY THAT SHE INTENDED TO SIGN THE LEGISLATION, SO WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND HOW THINGS SORT OF PROGRESSED THROUGH THE SESSION?

>> YES.

SO THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

WE'VE SEEN THESE ADVOCATES.

THEY LINE THE HALLS IN THE CAPITOL, YOU KNOW, IMPLORING LAWMAKERS TO COME-- YOU KNOW, TO SIGN ONTO THE BILL AND TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT.

SO THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION WHERE YOU DIDN'T HAVE DEMOCRATS, YOU KNOW, ALL IN LINE AND IN STEP.

YEAH.

THERE WAS-- IT WAS AN EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL DEBATE OVER THIS LEGISLATION.

IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONAL THAT I'VE SEEN IN, YOU KNOW, IN RECENT YEARS.

YOU HAVE LAWMAKERS THAT WERE CRYING, TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THEY HAD TO CONTEND WITH THEIR PERSONAL MORAL BELIEFS AND THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND, YOU KNOW, WITH WHAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS WANT OR WHAT THEY THINK IS RIGHT.

SO IT WAS A VERY TOUGH DEBATE AND YESTERDAY, WE DID SEE OR, YOU KNOW THIS WEEK, WE SAW THE GOVERNOR TALKING ABOUT HOW SHE ALSO HAD TO OVERCOME HER RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING.

SHE'S A CATHOLIC AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS VEHEMENTLY AGAINST AND WE SAW THEIR COMMENTS CAME OUT, YOU KNOW, VERY STAUNCH OPPOSITION.

THEY'RE VERY UPSET WITH THE GOVERNOR NOW.

SO YOU KNOW, IT PUTS HER IN A TOUGH SITUATION WHERE SHE'S ALWAYS HAD VERY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH, YOU KNOW, RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN THE STATE AND THIS IS PUTTING HER AGAINST THEM ON AN ISSUE THAT THEY REALLY SEE AS, YOU KNOW, NOTHING SHORT OF A VETO WOULD BE ANYTHING BUT ACCEPTABLE TO THEM.

SO THEY NEGOTIATED AN AGREEMENT.

JIMMY, GOT SOME OF THOSE DETAILS OUT EARLIER THIS MONTH AND IT'S-- THEY FINALLY CAME TO SOME AMENDMENTS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, MAY NOT BE WHAT THE ADVOCATES WANTED AND SOME OF THESE AMENDMENTS, THEY PUSHED AGAINST DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHEN THEY WERE NEGOTIATING THE DETAILS, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE ADDED BACK IN, AND ALSO SOME OF THEM ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN OTHER STATES THAT HAVE THIS.

LIKE A VIDEO OR AUDIO REQUEST, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WAS A BIT OF A SURPRISE.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HEARD FROM LAWMAKERS WHEN THEY WERE HAVING NEGOTIATIONS AND TALKING ABOUT THE LEGISLATION.

SO THIS IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY-- IT'S GOT HIGHER SAFEGUARDS THAN WE'VE SEEN IN ANY OTHER STATE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE-- THEY HAVEN'T PASSED IT YET.

THERE IS STILL TIME.

THEY HAVE THE-- THE GOVERNOR IS PROMISING TO SIGN IT, BUT THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE HASN'T COME OUT YET.

THAT'S GOING TO BE INTRODUCED IN JANUARY, AND THEN THE LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE TO PASS THE CHAPTER AMENDMENTS, AND THEN IT WILL GO BACK TO HOCHUL TO SIGN.

>> YOU KNOW, KATELYN, YOU WERE SO RIGHT TO UNDERLINE SORT OF THE EMOTIONAL NATURE OF THIS DEBATE.

I THINK ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME ABOUT THIS TOPIC IS THAT SO OFTEN THE THINGS THAT ARE DISCUSSED AND DEBATED IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE ARE SO ABSTRACT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DISCOVERY REFORM ABOUT WHAT EVIDENCE BEFORE A TRIAL, YOU KNOW, IT TAKE 30S SECONDS TO EXPLAIN WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

THIS IS SO TANGIBLE FOR PEOPLE.

MOST PEOPLE HAVE-- UNFORTUNATELY, HAD TO GRAPPLE WITH THE END OF THE LIFE OF A PERSON THAT THEY LOVE AND THEY'VE SEEN THIS.

THEY CAN PUT THEMSELVES IN THIS SITUATION.

SO WATCHING OUR LAWMAKERS WRESTLE WITH THAT IN REALTIME, I THOUGHT WAS QUITE POIGNANT.

I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.

AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING, AS YOU JUST POINTED OUT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN IN JANUARY WITH THE VOTE ON THESE AMENDMENTS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER CONTROVERSIAL BILLS THAT ARE ON THE DOCKET FOR THE GOVERNOR THAT YOU ALL ARE LOOKING OUT FOR?

>> I PERSONALLY AM LOOKING AT THE RAISE ACT.

THAT'S A PRETTY-- IT DOESN'T GET A TON OF ATTENTION BECAUSE IT IS QUITE DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN THE INTRICACIES OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

I MEAN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT HONESTLY AT ALL, AND YET WE STILL ARE SUPPOSED TO BE WRITING ABOUT THESE BILLS THAT ARE REALLY HIGHLY TECHNICAL AND DEAL WITH REALLY HIGHLY TECHNICAL INDUSTRIALS.

ITS STATED INTENT IS TO PLACE-- WE TALK ABOUT SAFEGUARDS, THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO PLACE THE NATION'S STRONGEST SAFEGUARDS ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DEVELOPERS AND TO BASICALLY HOLD THOSE COMPANIES, VERY LARGE COMPANIES, WHAT WE WOULD THINK OF AS BIG TECH, TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE POTENTIAL RISKS AND CONSEQUENCES THAT COULD COME FROM VERY LARGE AI MODELS.

AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE BILL SPONSOR ON THAT.

AS OF NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I MEAN, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE INVESTED IN THIS ISSUE.

AI SAFETY ADVOCATES AND ALSO BIG TECH REPRESENTATIVES THEMSELVES BECAUSE EVERYONE IS WATCHING THE GOVERNOR AND EVERYONE IS WATCHING NEW YORK ON THIS.

THERE'S A LOT OF FEDERAL INTERESTS IN STOPPING STATES FROM REGULATING AI, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THEORIES AS TO WHY THAT'S THE CASE.

I THINK SILICON VALLEY HAS BEEN SHOWING UP AND SHOWING OUT IN D.C., AND SO IF YOU'RE AN AI SAFETY ADVOCATE OR PROGRESSIVE, LET'S SAY, LAWMAKER, ALTHOUGH IT'S A BIPARTISAN ISSUE, A STATE LAWMAKER, YOU WANT YOUR OWN STATE TO BE PUTTING SOME SORT OF RESTRICTIONS IN THE ABSENCE OF FEDERAL POLICY ON THIS ISSUE.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA ALREADY HAS A VERSION OF THE RAISE ACT.

NEW YORK COULD FOLLOW AND IT COULD GO OUT IN FRONT OF CALIFORNIA AND SAY WE ARE GOING TO THE STRONGEST IN THE COUNTRY, OR IT COULD DECIDE TO BE ON PAR WITH CALIFORNIA, OR THIRD OPTION IS THAT THE GOVERNOR COULD CHOOSE TO VETO THE BILL ENTIRELY AND SORT OF LEAVE IT UP TO EITHER NEXT SESSION OR TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO SOMETHING HERE.

A LOT OF INTEREST IN THIS FROM THE TECH INDUSTRY AND I THINK PROBABLY JUST CONSUMER SAFETY, YOU KNOW, PROTECTION ADVOCATE AS WELL.

>> ONE BILL I'M LOOKING FOR IS AN OMNIBUS PRISON REFORM BILL WHICH WAS PASSED IN JUNE, AND REALLY, IT'S BEEN QUITE A YEAR FOR NEW YORK'S PRISON SYSTEM.

STARTING ACTUALLY IN 2024 WITH THE BEATING DEATH OF ROBERT BROOKS WHO IS A PERSON INCARCERATED AT THE MARCY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OUTSIDE OF UTICA.

TEN PRISON EMPLOYEES WERE CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH HIS DEATH.

AT LEAST ONE WAS CONVICTED OF MURDER AND AS THIS WAS UNFOLDING, IT REALLY BROUGHT TO THE FORE YEARS OF ABUSE AND YEARS OF MISTREATMENT OF INCARCERATED PEOPLE AT THE HANDS OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND GUARDS, AND THIS WAS REALLY, IN THE WAKE OF THIS HORRIFIC INCIDENT, WHICH WAS CAUGHT ON THE BODY CAMERA AND THE FOOTAGE WAS JUST REALLY JARRING TO SEE, THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE YEAR OF BIG REFORM FOR LEGISLATORS, BUT THAT SORT OF GOT DEFLATED A LITTLE BIT AND THE NARRATIVE SHIFTED IN FEBRUARY WHEN CORRECTIONS OFFICERS WENT ON A WILDCAT STRIKE AND SHUT DOWN THE PRISON SYSTEM, COMPLAINING ABOUT STAFFING AND COMPLAINING ABOUT POLICIES THAT THEY SAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO A RISE IN VIOLENCE.

CHIEF AMONG THEM THE HALT ACT WHICH RESTRICTS THE AMOUNT OF TIME AN INCARCERATED PERSON CAN BE PLACED IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.

SO PRISON ISSUES ARE NOT ALWAYS TOP OF MIND IN ALBANY BUT THEY REALLY WERE THIS SESSION.

IN THAT MIASMA EMERGED THIS PACKAGE OF REFORMS WHICH WAS DRAWN FROM A NUMBER OF BILLS THAT HAD BEEN PUT FORWARD BY ADVOCATES AND HAD REALLY BEEN IN THE PURVIEW OF STATE SENATOR JEWEL YEAHS SALAZAR, DEMOCRAT FROM BROOKLYN, WHO CHAIRS THE CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE IN HER CHAMBER.

THIS PACKAGE WOULD DO A NUMBER OF THINGS.

IT WOULD REQUIRE MORE FIXED CAMERAS WITHIN STATE PRISONS.

IT WOULD CHANGE THE OVERSIGHT BODY, THE STATE COMMISSION ON CORRECTION, WHICH IS TASKED WITH OVERSEEING CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, AND IT'S BEEN UP IN THE AIR AS TO WHAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS GOING TO DO.

AS RAGA SAID AND AS KATELYN PERFECTLY EXPLAINED EARLIER, RIGHT, THE GOVERNOR LIKES TO DO THESE CHAPTER AMENDMENTS WHERE A BILL PASSES AND THEN SHE KIND OF NEGOTIATES HER CHANGES AND THEN SAYS IF YOU DO THESE AMENDMENTS, YOU CAN WIN MY SIGNATURE.

WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT LAWMAKERS COMPLAIN ABOUT, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE LIVING THROUGH HERE.

AND SO IT'S AN OPEN QUESTION AS TO WHAT CHANGES GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS GOING TO SEEK ON THIS OMNIBUS PRISON OVERSIGHT BILL AND WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO SPONSOR.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT IS COMING TO A CONCLUSION IN THESE FINAL DAYS OF 2025 AND PERHAPS IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING MORE ABOUT IN 2026.

>> AND I WANT TO SWITCH GEARS A LITTLE BIT AND LOOK AT THE, OF COURSE, COMPETITIVE RACE FOR THE NEXT NEW YORK CITY MAYOR THAT TOOK PLACE THIS YEAR.

YOU KNOW, WE SAW SO MANY DIFFERENT CANDIDATES BUT ULTIMATELY ASSEMBLY MEMBERS ZOHRAN MAMDANI WAS VICTORIOUS IN THAT RACE AND HE IS THE MAYOR-ELECT.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT RACE?

WHY WAS IT SO COMPETITIVE?

WHAT WILL THE INROADS BE FOR THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER INTO ALBANY COME NEXT YEAR?

>> WELL, GOOD FROM ZOHRAN MAMDANI.

HE WENT FROM BEING A BACK BENCH ASSEMBLY MEMBER TO, YOU KNOW, LEADER OF EASILY THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD.

>> YEAH.

>> AND YOU KNOW, I'M OLDER THAN HIM SO IT MAKES MY MOTHER ASK WHY WHAT I'M DOING, WHY I'M NOT WE WILLING A WORLD-LEADING METROPOLIS.

SO THANK YOU, ZOHRAN, WE APPRECIATE THAT.

I THINK THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY PERSISTENT GRIPES ABOUT NEW YORK CITY COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, THERE WERE REAL CHALLENGES OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THAT REALLY DEFINED THE 2021 MAYORAL ELECTION.

ERIC ADAMS, A FORMER POLICE OFFICER AND FORMER STATE SENATOR, HE ROSE TO THE FORE BY ESSENTIALLY BETTING THAT BEING-- DELIVERING ON A MESSAGE OF REDUCING CRIME, HELPING AND BOLSTERING THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY WOULD WIN HIM CITY HALL AND HE WAS CORRECT.

THIS TIME AROUND, YOU SAW MAMDANI FACE OFF A POLITICAL PSION, ANDREW CUOMO, THIS TITANIC FIGURE IN NEW YORK STATE AND CITY POLITICS, WHO HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN NEW YORK CITY POLITICS FOR LITERALLY 50 YEARS, FIVE DECADES.

SO THIS IDEA OF SORT OF A DAVID AND GOLIATH, A YOUNG VERSUS OLD, AND MAMDANI'S MESSAGE OF AFFORDABILITY, OF FOCUSING ON COST OF LIVING, ON PROPOSING THINGS THAT HE HOPES WILL HELP PEOPLE IN NEW YORK CITY TACKLE THAT RISING COST OF LIVING AND THAT DIFFICULTY OF LIVING IN THE FIVE BOROUGHS.

THAT'S WHY I THINK IT HAS SOME KIND OF DEEPER MEANING FOR DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WONDERING WHAT DIRECTION THE PARTY CAN TAKE, WHAT THE PARTY MESSAGE SHOULD BE AND WHAT CAN BOOST FORWARD-- CAN BOOST THEM FORWARD IN 2026 AND BEYOND.

>> I THINK HE, YOU KNOW, YOU SAW THAT HE WAS-- HE HAD A SENSE OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR WHEN HE WAS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES, AND THAT'S WHAT HE FOCUSED IN ON, AFFORDABILITY.

HE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW, YOU KNOW, LOOKING TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, DEESCALATION BY NOT INCLUDING POLICE IN SOME OF THESE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH, IF IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO BRING IN THE NYPD OR BRING IN A SOCIAL WORKER INSTEAD AND CREATING A NEW SYSTEM THERE.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF THESE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND HAVE BEEN FRONT OF MIND THAT I KNOW I HEAR FROM MY FAMILY AT THE KITCHEN TABLE, AND HE'S BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH THAT AND SHOW THAT, YOU KNOW-- APPEAL TO NEW YORKERS TO SAY THAT I'M GOING TO FIX THESE ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS AND SAYING THAT NEW YORK IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE IN NEW YORK ON A REASONABLE SALARY, AND TALKING ABOUT ADDRESSING THAT.

THAT'S WHAT MOST NEW YORKERS WANT AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR.

>> I THOUGHT THERE WAS A REALLY INTERESTING DYNAMIC HERE ALSO, I THINK, JIMMY, YOU SORT OF REFERENCED THIS, A NEW ENERGY.

THIS IDEA OF CLEANING OUT THE OLD AND BRINGING IN THE NEW.

I MEAN, HE'S YOUNG.

HE'S IN HIS EARLY 30S.

HE WAS UP AGAINST A MAN WHO WAS A COUPLE GENERATIONS OLDER THAN HIM.

PART OF, I THINK, WHAT HIS CAMPAIGN FOCUSED ON WAS THIS IDEA OF REVITALIZATION OF BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO AN ESTABLISHED POLITICAL MACHINE AND TAKING DOWN AN ESTABLISHED POLITICAL DYNASTY, AND YOU SAW YOUNG PEOPLE GET REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

ESPECIALLY IN NEW YORK CITY, I MEAN, EVEN UPSTATE, WHICH IS FUNNY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT I KNOW UPSTATE WHO ARE SORT OF MY AGE OR IN THAT-- MAMDANI'S GENERATION, THEY COULDN'T VOTE FOR HIM BUT THEY WERE TALK ABOUT IT LIKE IT MEANT SOMETHING FOR THE GENERATION THAT HE IS A PART OF AND PEOPLE YOUNGER THAN HIM AS WELL.

I'M PERSONALLY INTERESTED TO SEE MAYBE HOW THAT TRANSLATES INTO THE NEXT CYCLE OF RACES.

I THINK THERE'S ALREADY A LOT OF INTEREST IN, YOU KNOW, LEFTIST CHALLENGES TO INCUMBENT DEMOCRATS, SPECIFICALLY IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND A LOT OF THEM TEND TO BE YOUNGER.

A LOT OF THEM TEND TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND THEY'RE USING THAT, THEY'RE USING THEIR AGE AND THEIR, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT CALL IT RELATIVE INEXPERIENCE AND OTHERS MAY CALL IT THE BREATH OF FRESH AIR APPROACH TO TRY TO MAKE THE CASE FOR WHY THERE NEEDS TO BE KIND OF A WHOLESALE CLEANOUT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> YEAH.

HE ALSO DID A GREAT JOB HARNESSING NEW MEDIA, HARNESSING SOCIAL MEDIA, SHORT VERTICAL FORM VIDEOS.

YOU KNOW, THE CANDIDATES WHO GET ON THESE CUTTING-EDGE TACTICS, BE IT JOHN F. KENNEDY ON THIS CRAZY THING CALLED TELEVISION IN THE 20TH CENTURY OR ZOHRAN MAMDANI ON THE TIKTOK IN 2025.

YOU HAVE THE ADVANTAGE.

ESPECIALLY OVER, AGAIN, A PERSON LIKE ANDREW CUOMO WHO IS NOT ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY.

>> YES.

>> THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS REALLY FASCINATING IS THAT MAMDANI WILL BE NEW YORK CITY'S FIRST MUSLIM MAYOR AND THE FIRST MAYOR OF SOUTH ASIAN DESCENT.

HE TAPPED INTO THIS SORT OF EVER-CHANGING DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF NEW YORK CITY.

IT WAS A BIG DEAL WHEN THERE WAS A FIRST ITALIAN MAYOR, AND THE FIRST IRISH MAYOR AND FIRST JEWISH MAYOR AND NOW WE'RE SEEING ANOTHER NEW DEMOGRAPHIC, NEW PEOPLE WHO MADE THEIR HOME IN NEW YORK CITY, SEEING SOMEONE WITH WHOM THEY CAN IDENTIFY, TAKE POWER IN CITY HALL, AND I THINK THE FACT THAT HE DID THAT AND SORT OF FRACTURED THESE OLD ETHNIC POLITICAL CALCULUSES-- I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO MAKE THAT PLURAL, BUT HE FRACTURED THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S NOTEWORTHY AND THAT IS GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE RETHINK WHAT IT MEANS TO RUN FOR OFFICE IN NEW YORK CITY AND IN NEW YORK STATE.

>> SO WELL SAID.

I THINK THE CAMPAIGN BY THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER WAS THE DEFINITION OF A GRASS ROOTS CAMPAIGN.

WE SAW PEOPLE COME OUT AND CANVASS FOR THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER.

I BELIEVE HE HAD OVER, YOU KNOW, A CRAZY AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WORKING ON THE GROUND, DOOR KNOCKING AND PUSHING HIS POLICIES FORWARD AND I'M INTERESTED TO SEE NEXT YEAR HOW THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE MAYOR ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WILL BE HER GUBERNATORIAL RE-ELECTION, SO LAST ELECTION CYCLE FOR THE GOVERNOR, WE SAW REPRESENTATIVE LEE ZELDIN COME WITHIN, I BELIEVE, SIX POINTS OF UNSEATING THE GOVERNOR AND IT'S LOOKING LIKE NEXT YEAR'S RACE IS GOING TO BE EQUALLY AS COMPETITIVE.

SO WHAT IS THE GOVERNOR'S POLITICAL POSITIONING HEADING INTO NEXT YEAR AS SHE IS GOING TO BE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, BUT ALSO HANDLING THE REGULAR BUSINESS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> I THINK THIS, YOU KNOW, YOU TYPICALLY SEE A PRETTY BORING BUDGET WHEN GOING INTO AN ELECTION YEAR TO NOT STIR THE POT TOO MUCH, BUT SHE DOES HAVE THE CHALLENGE OF FEDERAL CUTS THAT ARE COMING IN.

AND CUTS TO MEDICAID AND DIFFICULT DECISIONS REGARDING INSURANCE COVERAGE AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE BEING KICKED OFF THE STATE'S ESSENTIAL PLAN, WHICH IS A LOW-COST HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN.

SO SHE HAS-- SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE , BUT SOME OF THESE CUTS ARE YEARS DOWN THE LINE.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE-- THEY'RE GOING TO BE HARSHER FURTHER DOWN, SO SHE DOES HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME WHERE IF SHE WANTS TO PUSH SOME OF THESE HARD, HARD DECISIONS THAT CAN COME AFTER THE ELECTION AND WE MAY SEE SOME OF THAT, BUT IT IS A TOUGH YEAR WHERE YOU HAVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS TARGETING STATES LIKE NEW YORK, YOU KNOW, TO CUT BACK ON THE FEDERAL FUNDING BECAUSE THEIR POLITICS AND THE POLICIES ARE SO FAR AGAINST NEW YORK.

SO IT'S A TOUGH, YOU KNOW, SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH-- A TOUGH POSITION.

I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE IN HER POSITION.

I THINK ALSO I'M WONDERING IF THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME POLICIES OR SOME SORT OF PACKAGE AROUND IMMIGRATION PROTECTIONS.

YOU KNOW, WE MENTIONED POLITICS ENTERING THE CHAT WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

AND I THINK THE TOPIC OF IMMIGRATION IS A VERY DEEPLY POLITICAL ONE.

IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT I WOULD ASSUME THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY, I THINK HE'S SPOKEN ABOUT HIS OWN AFFILIATION WITH THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND HIS DESIRE TO PROTECT THEM FROM FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY SEEN HAPPENING.

NEW YORK CITY HAS BEEN A HOT BED OF ICE ACTIVITY OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND SO YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IS SORT OF A MINE FIELD WAITING TO HAPPEN.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO HAVE TO AT LEAST MENTION THAT SHE'S DOING SOMETHING ON IT.

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE SEE IT HAPPEN BEFORE NOVEMBER 2026.

I WOULD THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE A TOPIC OF CONCERN FOR SURE.

>> YEAH.

I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ON BOTH OF THOSE FRONTS, BOTH ON THE FISCAL SIDE AND POLICIES ESPECIALLY INCLUDING IMMIGRATION.

HOCHUL IS GOING TO FACE PRESSURE TO TACK TO THE LEFT.

SHE FACES A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW FROM LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ANTONIO DELGADO.

POLLS SHOW HE'S NOT GETTING A TON OF TRACTION, BUT HE, COUPLED WITH MAMDANI'S WIN AND THAT ENERGY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, I THINK IS GOING TO PULL HOCHUL TO DO AND ENACT SOME OF THESE PROGRESSIVE POLICIES THAT SHE MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE WANT TO.

I EXPECT THE TENSION IN THESE MONTHS COMING UP TO THE ELECTION WILL BE KIND OF HOW FAR TO THE LEFT DOES SHE GO?

AND HOW MUCH AMMUNITION DOES THAT GIVE TO A PROSPECTIVE REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER?

I THINK KATELYN AND RAGA WERE RIGHT, THESE ARE GOING TO BE THE AREAS TO WATCH.

>> YEAH.

SO MUCH TO WATCH HERE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR AWESOME REPORTING.

>> THANKS, SHANTEL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH KATELYN CORDERO OF POLITICO, RAGA JUSTIN OF BLOOMBERG AND JIMMY VIELKIND KIND OF WNYC, GOTHAMIST AND THE NEW YORK PUBLIC NEWS NETWORK.

AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE POLITICAL NEWS THAT MADE HEADLINES IN 2025, YOU CAN VISIT OUR ONCE, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT BY GOING TO NEWSLETTER.NYNOW.ORG.

THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >>ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR "NEW YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.