1 [ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," PRESIDENT BIDEN TRAVELS TO POUGHKEEPSIE.

ALEXIS YOUNG REPORTS.

THEN STATE CONTROLLER TOM DINAPOLI JOINS US WITH AN UPDATE ON THE STATE'S FINANCES AND THEN A MAJOR CHIP MANUFACTURER IS LAYING DOWN ROOTS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK WITH HELP FROM THE STATE.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE WITH THIS WEEK'S PANEL.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE WITH THIS WEEK'S PANEL.

I'M DAN CLARK AND THIS IS, "NEW YORK NOW."

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

I'M DAN CLARK.

THE LARGEST-EVER SINGLE INVESTMENT FROM A PRIVATE COMPANY IN UPSTATE NEW YORK IS NOW MOVING FORWARD.

MY CROHN, A COMPANY THAT CREATES AND MANUFACTURERS HIGH-TECH SMART CHIPS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT IT WOULD SET UP SHOP JUST OUTSIDE SYRACUSE THAT'S EXPECTED TO BRING 9,000 JOBS TO THE AREA OVER THE NEXT TWO DECADES, ACCORDING TO THE STATE, AND IT'S NOT COMING CHEAP.

MICRON SAYS IT WILL INVEST $100 BILLION INTO THE FACILITY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

THE STATE IS ALSO OFFERING $5.5 BILLION IN TAX CREDITS TO MICRON OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS, BUT THE COMPANY WILL HAVE TO HIT 2 CERTAIN JOBS TARGETS TO GET THEM, AND THE COMPANY COULD ALSO GET SOME HELP FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

U.S. SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER AT THIS WEEK'S ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> THIS IS OUR EAR ERIE CANAL MOMENT.

JUST AS THE ERIE CANAL FUELED EXPLOSIVE PROSPERITY AND JOBS IN THE 19th CENTURY, SO WILL THESE INVESTMENTS FUEL EXPLOSIVE JOBS AND PROSPERITY IN THE 21st CENTURY.

>> AND JUST A NOTE THAT SCHUMER IS UP FOR RE-ELECTION THIS YEAR AGAINST REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER, JOE PINION.

BUT THE MICRON ANNOUNCEMENT WAS FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER BIG BIT OF TECH NEWS OUT OF NEW YORK THIS WEEK FROM PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

REPORTER ALEXIS YOUNG IS HERE WITH MORE.

ALEXIS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, DAN.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WAS IN POUGHKEEPSIE THURSDAY TO TOUR IBM AND GIVE A SPEECH ON JOBS IN THE HUDSON VALLEY.

IBM HAS ITS HEADQUARTERS IN WESTCHESTER BUT THE FACILITY IN POUGHKEEPSIE IS WHERE THE COMPANY DEVELOPS AND CREATES NEW COMPUTER MAIN FRAMES AND OTHER TECH PRODUCTS.

THE COMPANY IS EXPECTED TO BENEFIT FROM FEDERAL LEGISLATION PASSED OVER THE LAST YEAR GEARED TOWARD TECH COMPANIES, LIKE THE CHIP SECT.

THE LAW, PASSED IN JULY, CREATED NEW INCENTIVES 3 AND FUNDING STREAMS FOR TECH COMPANIES TO BOOST PRODUCTION IN THE STATE'S SEMICONDUCTOR AND SMART CHIP INDUSTRIES.

BIDEN SAID THURSDAY THAT WILL HELP JUMPSTART THE COUNTRY'S CHIP MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.

>> FOLKS, THE FUTURE OF CHIPS INDUSTRY IS GOING TO BE MADE IN AMERICA.

THAT'S NOT HYPERBOLE.

THAT'S A FACT.

IT'S GONNA BE MADE IN AMERICA, AND MAKING THESE CHIPS IN AMERICA IS GOING TO CREATE NEW BUSINESSES FOR COUNTLESS SMALL MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS INTO THE SUPPLY CHAIN THAT'S GONNA THRIVE ALL BECAUSE OF THIS LAW.

>> IBM HAS ITS OWN HISTORY IN NEW YORK.

ENDICOTT IN BROOME COUNTY IS KNOWN AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF IBM.

THE COMPANY ISN'T THERE ANYMORE BUT NOW PLANS TO INCREASE ITS PRESENCE IN NEW YORK.

IBM'S CEO ARVIND KRISHNA SAID THE COMPANY WOULD INVEST $20 BILLION ACROSS THE REGION OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

>> THIS INVESTMENT INCLUDES BREAKTHROUGHS IN SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY, MAINFRAME COMPUTERS, QUANTUM COMPUTERS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

ALL OF THIS WILL BOOST ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND CREATE JOBS.

>> SOME REPUBLICANS, BUT NOT ALL, HAVE ARGUED AGAINST FEDERAL INCENTIVES FOR BIG TECH COMPANIES SAYING THE U.S.

SHOULDN'T BE SPENDING 4 MORE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THAT INDUSTRY.

BUT BIDEN SAID THAT MISSING THOSE INVESTMENTS NOW COULD PUT THE U.S. AT A DISADVANTAGE DOWN THE ROAD.

>> MORE IS GOING TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS THAN HAPPENED IN THE LAST 40 YEARS.

WE'RE AT AN INFLECTION POINT IN WORLD HISTORY.

WHERE THE CHANGES ARE GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN THE NEXT TEN ARE GOING TO FUNDAMENTALLY ALTER THE WAY IN WHICH WE LOOK AT THE WORLD AND OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD, AND THAT'S NOT HYPERBOLE.

IT'S REAL.

>> THE STATE ALSO HAS INCENTIVES FOR TECH COMPANIES SO WE'LL SEE IF THE INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO GROW HERE IN NEW YORK.

DAN?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, ALEXIS.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO CIRCLE BACK TO THE WEEK'S NEWS IN A LITTLE BIT, BUT FIRST, IT'S NOW BEEN SIX MONTHS SINCE THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET AND THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW IT'S HOLDING UP.

IN AN ECONOMY THAT'S STILL VERY MUCH IN RECOVERY.

AND VERY FEW PEOPLE KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT THAN STATE CONTROLLER TOM DINAPOLI, WHO IS UP FOR RE-ELECTION NEXT MONTH.

HE'S ESSENTIALLY THE STATE'S MONEY MANAGER AND IS OFFICE HAS A CLOSE EYE ON THE STATE'S FINANCES YEAR ROUND.

WE SPOKE THIS WEEK ABOUT THE BUDGET, HIS ROLE AS A CHECK ON STATE SPENDING 5 AND NEXT MONTH'S ELECTION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] STATE CONTROLLER TOM DINAPOLI, THANK YOU SO MUCH AS ALWAYS.

>> DAN, GREAT TO BE WITH YOU IN PERSON.

>> IN PERSON, I LOVE BEING IN PERSON.

IT MAKES EVERYTHING EASIER AND BETTER.

SO WE ARE ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER THE STATE BUDGET WAS PASSED IN APRIL.

YOU ARE THE STATE'S MONEY MANAGER O' IN THAT TIME.

WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR OF THE STATE.

HOW WE DOING RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF FINANCES?

>>THE BUDGET IS HOLDING TOGETHER AND KEEP IN MIND, DIVISION OF BUDGET LOWERED THE PROJECTIONS AS TO WHAT REVENUE WOULD BE, BUT IN LAST MONTH'S CASH REPORT, WE'RE STILL UP BY ABOUT $157 MILLION.

IT'S STILL A BIT HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED, BUT I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS IT'S A VERY UNCERTAIN TIME.

YOU SEE HOW POOR THE STOCK MARKET HAS BEEN PERFORMING, YOU KNOW IN RECENT WEEKS.

SO I THINK FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS.

I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES AS FAR AS SPENDING AND CERTAINLY FOR THE STATE AS WELL.

BE MINDFUL THAT AS SECURE AS IT SEEMS RIGHT NOW, IT MIGHT BE VERY DIFFERENT SIX MONTHS FROM NOW.

ALREADY WE'RE PREDICTING A BUDGET GAP, YOU KNOW, NEXT YEAR AT AROUND $310 MILLION.

IT'S POSSIBLE THOSE NUMBERS WILL GROW, 6 AGAIN, DEPENDING ON HOW IT LOOKS A MONTH OR TWO FROM NOW AS WE GET INTO THE FALL.

>> YEAH.

I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE BUDGET GAPS.

$310 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE STATE BUDGET, IT'S NOT THAT MUCH MONEY.

THE STATE BUDGET IS $220 BILLION.

THAT BEING SAID, ARE WE PREPARED TO HANDLE CLOSING THAT GAP RIGHT NOW FINANCIALLY?

>> WELL, FIRST, WE'RE IN BETTER SHAPE BECAUSE WE'RE FINALLY BUILDING UP THE RESERVES.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, I WHICH I THINK YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE IN PAST.

NEW YORK HAS DONE A VERY POOR JOB OF THAT HISTORICALLY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE RECOMMENDED IN ALL OF OUR BUDGET REPORTS AND CERTAINLY THE VOICE OF THE CONTROLLER HAS ALWAYS BEEN WE'RE NOT WELL PREPARED FOR AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.

SO I'M VERY PLEASED THAT THIS GOVERNOR AND THIS LEGISLATURE DID MAKE A COMMITMENT TO SIGNIFICANTLY BOOST OUR RESERVE, SO WE HAVE THAT CUSHION.

I WOULD ALSO SAY ON THE SCALE, AS YOU POINT OUT, DAN, ON THE SIZE OF OUR STATE BUDGET, A $310 MILLION GAP CAN BE MANAGED EVEN WITHOUT GOING TO RESERVES.

THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT SPENDING.

THE CHALLENGE IS GOING TO BE IF THAT NUMBER 7 GROWS, NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL THAT THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT'S HELPED US TREMENDOUSLY, THANKS TO SENATOR SCHUMER AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, THAT MONEY WILL BE WINDING DOWN AND IF THE ECONOMY IS NOT PICKING UP, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MANY PROGRAMS THAT PEOPLE SUPPORT, BELIEVE.

THERE WERE BIG BETS MADE THIS YEAR-- INVESTMENTS I SHOULD SAY IN EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, CHILD CARE.

I DON'T THINK FOLKS ARE GOING TO WANT TO SEE THAT SPENDING CURTAILED BECAUSE MUCH OF THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE THE RECOVERY, TO GET MORE PEOPLE BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.

SO I THINK THE CHALLENGE OF NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IS GOING TO BE WHATEVER THE SIZE OF THE GAP IS, AND WE HOPE IT WILL BE A MODEST ONE, HOW DO WE MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT SPENDING THAT WILL KEEP US ON A SUSTAINABLE PATH OF BUDGET BALANCE IN THE CONTEXT OF A PROBLEMATIC ECONOMY AND FEDERAL SUPPORT THAT OBVIOUSLY IS INDIANA WOOING DOWN.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGING BUDGET DEBATE NEXT YEAR AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE ELECTIONS.

SO DEPENDING ON WHO THE PLAYERS ARE, WILL THERE BE ANY CHANGES?

MIGHT THAT IMPACT THAT WHOLE PROCESS.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING YEAR NEXT YEAR IN ALBANY.

>> NOW SPEAKING OF THE 8 BUDGET, HISTORICALLY THIS PREVIOUS GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO, HAD USED THE BUDGET TO KIND OF CURTAIL SOME OF YOUR OVERSIGHT POWERS EARLY IN HIS ADMINISTRATION.

NOW THERE IS LEGISLATION THAT IS BEFORE THIS GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL, THAT WOULD CODIFY THAT OVERSIGHT BACK INTO LAW.

THERE WAS AGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO BRING IT BACK BUT NOW THIS IS, YOU KNOW, PUTTING IT IN STONE.

SHE IS DECIDING TO SIGN THAT BILL IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

IF SHE DOESN'T SIGN THE BILL, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT ARE?

>> WELL, IN TERMS OF THE MEDIA CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THAT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.

YOU KNOW, JUST IN TERMS OF CONTEXT, YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE PREVIOUS GOVERNOR, THIS WAS A PRIORITY FOR HIM ALL UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF INCREASING EFFICIENCY, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY VERY EFFICIENT IN TURNING AROUND CONTRACTS.

IT COMPROMISED INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO THE INTEGRITY OF A PROCUREMENT PROCESS, A CONTRACTING PROCESS, IMPORTANT TO ENSURE BEST VALUE FOR TAXPAYERS.

AND IT WAS DONE NOT UNILATERALLY.

THE LEGISLATURE APPROVED IT.

WE THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE.

NOT-- IT'S NOT ABOUT ME.

IT'S ABOUT CONTROLLERS FOREVER-- [LAUGHTER] TO RESTORE THIS, WE'VE SEEN 9 TOO MANY PROBLEMS OF PERHAPS SOME DECISIONS THAT WEREN'T THE BEST ONES.

WE'VE SEEN SOME CASES OF CORRUPTION, AND WHILE NO SYSTEM IS PERFECT, HAVING ADDITIONAL SET OF EYES TO LOOK AT THESE KINDS OF TRANSACTIONS, I THINK, IS VERY IMPORTANT.

SO I THINK IT'S KEY FOR THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN IT.

I HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED NOT ONLY WITH THE LEGISLATURE OVERWHELMINGLY.

I VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT BUT WE'RE SEEING JUST THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, EDITORIALS ARE COMING OUT VERY STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THIS.

I'M HOPEFUL.

I KNOW GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS MADE A COMMITMENT TO DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND HAVE A DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE.

I THINK THIS LEGISLATION, SIGNING IT WOULD BE THE STRONGEST SIGNAL THAT THE GOVERNOR COULD PUT OUT THERE THAT, IN FACT, THE PAGE HAS BEEN TURNED AND THIS IS AN ADMINISTRATION THAT'S DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND IS OPEN TO THE KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT IS HERE TO SERVE THE TAXPAYERS.

>> WE HAD A SIMILAR SITUATION DURING THE PANDEMIC WHERE SOME OF YOUR OVERSIGHT POWERS WERE SUSPENDED.

AT THE TIME, GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO SAID IT WAS BECAUSE WE HAD TO RESPOND TO THE PANDEMIC QUICKLY.

WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GO THROUGH THE CONTROLLER'S OVERSIGHT PROCESS, WHICH YOU SAID WAS VERY FAST.

DO YOU THINK NOW THAT WAS A MISTAKE?

THERE ARE NOW CLAIMS THAT THAT 10 GOVERNOR AND THIS GOVERNOR MAY HAVE MADE DECISIONS THAT WERE TIED TO CAMPAIGN DONORS, WHEN INTENTIONALLY OR NOT.

DO YOU THINK THERE WAS A MISTAKE TO SUSPEND THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A FAIR QUESTION TO HOW LONG SHOULD THE EMERGENCY PERIOD HAVE BEEN IN PLACE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS EASY TO LOOK BACKWARDS.

YOU KNOW WHEN COVID FIRST HIT, IT REALLY WAS A CRISIS, DESPERATE FOR VENTILATORS AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.

I MEAN, I WOULD STILL ARGUE BECAUSE THERE WERE ALWAYS SOME SITUATIONS WHERE WE STILL HAVE CONTRACT OVERSIGHT.

WHEN IT'S AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE AGENCY THAT'S PUTTING THE CONTRACT FORWARD TO TURN AROUND SOMETIMES WITHIN A DAY.

I THINK EVEN AT THE PEAK OF THE EMERGENCY, WE COULD HAVE ADDED VALUE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, BY HAVING THAT AUTHORITY THERE.

KNOW, SOME QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT CERTAIN CONTRACTS AND VENDORS WHO GOT A CONTRACT APPROVAL, THAT GAVE MONEY, POLITICAL MONEY.

YOU KNOW, A COUPLE THOUGHTS ON THAT.

FIRST OF ALL, IN NEW YORK STATE, IT IS NOT ILLEGAL FOR A CONTRACTOR OR VENDOR TO MAKE A POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION.

IT JUST ISN'T.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO THE-- YOU LOOK AT ANY NUMBER OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, 11 A LOT OF FOCUS RIGHT NOW ON THE GOVERNOR, BUT YOU COULD GO ACROSS THE STATE AND LOOK AT MAYORS, COUNTY EXECUTIVES, A LOT OF FOLKS AND I'M SURE YOU'LL FIND MANY PEOPLE DOING DONATIONS THAT INVOLVE PROCUREMENTS AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.

I THINK-- UNLESS YOU HAVE A CLEAR WE GOT THIS CONTRACT OR THIS PAYMENT BECAUSE OF THE CONTRIBUTION, WHICH IS VERY HARD TO PROVE.

>> CLEAR QUID PRO QUO.

>> CLEAR QUESTIONED PRO-CO, AS I SAID, AND THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF COURT RULINGS ON THAT, WHAT I REALLY THINK THE ANSWER IS, I THINK IT'S A VALID CONCERN.

THE APPEARANCE IS AS IMPORTANT AS ANYTHING ELSE.

RIGHT?

THERE IS LEGISLATION PENDING, REFORM LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SAY THAT DURING A PROCUREMENT PERIOD, IF YOU'RE PARTICIPATING IN THAT PROCUREMENT OR THAT BID, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION.

AND IF YOU RECEIVE THAT-- IF YOU WIN THE AWARD AND YOU GET THE CONTRACT SIX MONTHS AFTER THAT YOU CAN'T GIVE.

AND WE COULD ARGUE ABOUT WHAT THE RIGHT TIMEFRAME IS.

BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL, WHETHER IT'S 90 DAYS, 6 MONTHS, WHATEVER WHERE YOU'RE PRECLUDED FROM MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS, I THINK IT WOULD BE A MORE CREDIBLE WAY OF DOING ALL THIS.

>> SPEAKING OF POLITICAL SEASON, YOU ARE RUNNING FOR 12 ANOTHER TERM OF STATE CONTROLLER, IT WOULD BE ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

I WONDER IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING WOULDN'T TO DO IN THOSE NEXT FOUR YEARS?

ANY BIG GOALS?

I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ONTY VESTING THE PENSION FUND, GETTING CARBON ZERO BY 2040.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE ON YOUR PLATE?

>> WELL, I MEAN, IMPLEMENTING-- FULLY IMPLEMENTING OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN WITH THE PENSION FUND IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

I THINK I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT-- THAT THE RECOVERY IS NOT COMPLETE HERE IN NEW YORK.

SO CONTINUING TO MONITOR TRENDS, GIVING INFORMATION TO PEOPLE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY THE STATE BUT EACH REGION ABOUT HOW WE'RE PERFORMING, WHAT SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY ARE DOING BETTER, I THINK THAT'S AN AREA WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON.

I THINK ALSO THERE ARE STILL MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY HURTING DURING THIS TIME AND I THINK DOING MORE REPORTS AND AUDITS TO LOOK AT ISSUES LIKE FOOD INSECURITY, THAT'S A BIG ISSUE OUT THERE.

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, WE'VE DONE REPORTS, PERHAPS WE'LL DO MORE ON BROADBAND ACCESS, INTERNET ACCESS ACROSS THE STATE.

I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE MORE THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION ABOUT ALL THESE ISSUES.

THEY'RE COMPLEX AND IT NEEDS TO BE PRESENTED IN A WAY THAT'S NOT POLITICIZED.

SO I WOULD REALLY HOPE TO POSITION OUR 13 OFFICE EVEN MORE FORCEFULLY OR MORE CREDIBLY THAN WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST AS A SOURCE OF HELPFUL INFORMATION TO GUIDE US THROUGH THIS CHALLENGING TIME.

SO I GUESS, DAN, IT'S MORE OF THE SAME BUT TAILORING IT TO THE TIMES WE'RE GOING THROUGH.

>> YOU KNOW, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE-- I KNOW YOU SAY YOU'RE NOT A POLICY SHOP, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LEGISLATURE DO TO EXPAND THE POWERS OF YOUR OFFICE?

YOUR OPPONENT'S MAIN CRITICISM OF YOU IS YOU HAVEN'T DONE ENOUGH TO COMBAT CORRUPTION, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE LIMITED THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO THERE.

DO YOU WANT MORE POWER?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY, FIRST OF ALL, ON THE CORRUPTION FRONT, WE HAVE ELEVATED THE ROLE OF OUR INVESTIGATIVE UNIT.

WE WORK WITH THE A.G.'S OFFICE AND D.A.s AND U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND YOU KNOW, OVER THE PAST-- I GUESS OVER THE DECADE NOW, WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH CASES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN OVER 200 ARRESTS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, APPOINTED OFFICIALS, HEADS OF NONPROFIT MANAGING PUBLIC MONEY, AND WE'VE GOTTEN BACK OVER $82 MILLION IN RESTITUTION.

ACTUALLY VERY INVOLVED IN THE CORRUPTION ISSUE.

AND SOMETIMES OUR AUDITS UNCOVER THAT.

WHAT I LIKE TO SEE SOME OF OUR 14 AUDITS WHEN WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BE-- THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ACTUALLY BE ENFORCED OR FOLLOWED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT RIGHT NOW.

WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AND THE ENTITY THAT WE AUDIT, A STATE AGENCY OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEY CAN SAY, GREAT.

WE'LL IMPLEMENT IT OR THEY CAN SAY,-- >> NO THANKS.

>> NO THANKS.

WE'RE NOT DOIN' THAT.

AND WE HAVE NO ABILITY OTHER THAN-- OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, SHINING A LIGHT AND HOPING THAT CITIZENS AND THE PRESS, YOU KNOW, BACK UP WHAT WE'RE SAYING AND CALL THESE ENTITIES ACCOUNTABLE TO DEAL WITH WHAT WE RECOMMEND.

NOW SHOULD THERE PERHAPS BE A BIT MORE TEETH WHERE THEY MIGHT BE COMPELLED TO RESPOND TO OUR AUDITS IN A WAY THAT IS NOT DISMISSIVE?

I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW YOU WOULD WORD IT, BUT I GUESS I WOULD SAY IF WE CAN STRENGTHEN THE IMPACT THAT OUR AUDITS CAN HAVE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

I THINK A CRITICISM THAT WE'RE NOT ON TOP OF ISSUE IS JUST WRONG, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S A LOT OF IT GOING ON AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE D.A.s IN 62 COUNTIES AND U.S.

ATTORNEYS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WE HAVE FBI.

WE HAVE STATE POLICE.

WE'RE NOT GONNA SUBSTITUTE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ROLE, BUT WE ARE GOING TO COMPLEMENT IT AND 15 WE'VE BEEN REALLY STEPPING UP FOR MANY YEARS NOW TO BE A PARTNER WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> RIGHT.

A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

A LOT OF INTERESTING STUFF.

CONTROLLER TOM DINAPOLI, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, DAN.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND WE'LL BE SPEAKING WITH DINAPOLI'S CHALLENGER, REPUBLICAN PALM PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ON NEXT WEEK'S SHOW.

BUT MOVING ON NOW TO SOME BIG NEWS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OVER THE PAST WEEK.

FIRST, THE MINIMUM WAGE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK WILL BE GOING UP AT THE START OF NEXT YEAR.

THE NEW MINIMUM WAGE NORTH OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY WILL BE $14.20, UP FROM $13.20 AND SECOND, WE GOT A DECISION ON THE QUESTION OF OVERTIME FOR FARM WORKERS.

THE STATE HAS ACCEPTED A RECOMMENDATION FROM A STATE WAGE BOARD THAT WILL REQUIRE OVERTIME PAY FOR FARM WORKERS AFTER 40 HOURS IN A WEEK.

THAT'S DOWN FROM THE CURRENT 60 HOURS AND IT WILL BE PHASED IN OVER 10 YEARS.

LEADERS FROM THE STATE'S FARMING INDUSTRY HAVE SAID THE CHANGE WILL FORCE MORE FARMS TO SCALE BACK OPERATIONS OR CLOSE.

THE STATE HAS DEFENDED THE DECISION SAYING NEW TAX CREDITS PASSED IN THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET WILL COVER THE ADDED COSTS.

HERE'S WHAT STATE LABOR 16 COMMISSIONER, ROBERTA REARDON, TOLD "NEW YORK NOW" THIS WEEK IN BUFFALO.

>> EVERYBODY ELSE GOT 40 HOURS AND THEN OVERTIME, AND WE JUST HAD TO FIND SOME WAY TO EQUALIZE THAT SYSTEM, BUT WE DO THINK THE LONG TIME LINE WILL GIVE THE FARMERS TIME TO ADJUST AND FIGURE OUT HOW THEY WANT TO STAFF AND OPERATE THEIR FARMS.

>> THE FIRST ROUND WILL LOWER THE OVERTIME THRESHOLD FOR FARM WORKERS TO 54 HOURS IN 2024.

LET'S CIRCLE BACK NOW TO THE NEWS OF THE WEEK WITH THAT WEEING'S PANEL.

IT'S KESHIA CLUKEY FROM BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, KESHIA.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> AS ALWAYS, HAPPY TO HAVE YOU.

SO A BIT OF NEWS THAT I WANT TO START ON IS ON THURSDAY, A FEDERAL JUDGE STRUCK DOWN PART OF NEW YORK'S NEW CONCEAL CARRY GUN LAW.

IT WILL TAKE EFFECT IN THREE DAYS AND MAY NOT EVEN TAKE EFFECT BECAUSE THE STATE SAYS THEY'RE GOING TO APPEAL IT, BUT I'LL LET YOU TALK ABOUT THAT.

BUT HE STRUCK DOWN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

MOST NOTABLY, PROBABLY SOME SENSITIVE LOCATION WHERE'S WE WERE BANNING GUNS, MUSEUMS, THEATERS, TIMES SQUARE, LIBRARIES, PLACES THAT SERVE ALCOHOL, PLACES THAT OFFER SERVICES TO CHILDREN.

THIS WAS REALLY A KEY CRUX, I THINK, TO THE GUN LAW BECAUSE WHAT 17 HAPPENED WITH THE SUPREME COURT, NOT TO TALK THROUGH THIS ENTIRE SEGMENT, WHAT HAPPENED IN THE SUPREME COURT, THEY THREW OUT NEW YORK'S GUN LAWS AND NOW NEW YORK TRIED TO CREATE THIS NEW MODEL AND NOW IT'S NOT WORKING OUT SO WELL.

SO WHAT'S NEXT?

>> DEFINITELY.

WELL, THEY CREATED THIS NEW MODEL WHICH HAD, LIKE YOU SAID, EXTENSIVE LIST OF PLACES WHICH BASICALLY SAID,-I THINK EVEN KATHY HOCHUL, HERSELF, SAID, IT WOULD APPLY TO EVERYWHERE EXCEPT MAYBE SOME SIDEWALKS.

THE JUDGE KIND OF TOOK ISSUE WITH THAT AND HE ALSO TOOK ISSUE WITH YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN IN-PERSON INTERVIEW TO GET A PERMIT, WHICH CAN CREATE A BACKLOG AND WOULD, THEREFORE, VIOLATE THE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS AND THEN HE ALSO ADDED A LINE IN SELF-DEFENSE.

SO WHEN THEY'RE CONSIDERING YOU FOR A PERMIT, THEY HAVE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WILL YOU CAUSE HARM WITH SAID GUN?

HE SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE DOING SELF-DEFENSE, YOU MAY CAUSE HARM.

SO HE ADDED THAT LINE IN, SELF-DEFENSE, BUT THE INTERESTING THING IS, HE KNEW THAT THE DEMOCRATS ESSENTIALLY AROUND THE STATE WERE GOING TO APPEAL THAT SO HE PUT IN THIS TEMPORARY RESTRICTION FOR THREE DAYS, ALLOWING THEM TO APPEAL IT AND KIND OF GET THE HIGHER COURTS, YOU KNOW, THOUGHTS ON THE MATTER THEN GO BACK 18 WITH IT.

SO WE'RE REALLY KIND OF IN LIMBO AT THIS POINT.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE HIGHER COURT SAYS AND THEN IT COULD GO BACK TO HIM AND THEY COULD HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THE LAW NEXT SESSION, WHICH I THINK A LOT OF THE DEMOCRATS ARE RUNNING ON THIS ISSUE IN NOVEMBER, AND SO THAT CAUSES A LITTLE BIT OF FRICTION THERE.

>> I WONDER WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS LAWSUIT IN THE LONG TERM.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITIES THAT THIS LAW ENDS UP AT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AGAIN AND THEN WHAT IF THEY STRIKE IT DOWN, THEN THE STATE IS BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD ESSENTIALLY.

>> DEFINITELY.

THAT'S KIND OF THE RISK THEY TOOK.

I THINK NO ONE REALLY KNEW HOW FAR YOU CAN GO WITH THE LAW BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT WOULD KNOCK IT DOWN AGAIN.

SO I THINK THEY REALLY TOOK A SHOT AND YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE I SPOKE TO SAID THEY WERE SPEAKING TO CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYERS AND TRYING TO GET THE BEST ADVICE ON THIS LEGALLY.

SO WE'LL REALLY HAVE TO SEE WHERE THE COURT GOES.

NOW IT ALSO DEPENDS ON THE COURT-- WHICH COURT.

THEY CAN PICK WHICH COURT THEY WANT TO GO TO AND THEY DID PICK A COURT IN A VERY CONSERVATIVE AREA.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE THEIR APPEAL WILL BE ELSEWHERE.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

>> I DID WANT TO TOUCH ON 19 THE MICRON ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT I THINK I WANT TO SKIP THAT ACTUALLY AND GO STRAIGHT TO THE COURT OF APPEALS.

YOU HAD A STORY THIS WEEK, KIND OF AN UPDATE ON WHERE THE SEARCH FOR THE NEW CHIEF JUDGE IS.

AND THIS IS JUST-- IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT.

BECAUSE THIS IS THE PERSON WHO IS THE HEAD OF THE STATE JUDICIARY, THEY CONTROL THE STATE'S COURTS.

THEY ALSO SIT AT THE TOP OF THE STATE COURT OF APPEALS, THE STATE'S HIGHEST COURT.

SO A LOT OF POWER.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT SEARCH?

>> DEFINITELY.

SO THE APPLICATION PROCESS CLOSED AT THE END OF AUGUST AND BECAUSE THE FORMER JUDGE, JANET DIFIORE, PUT IN HER RESIGNATION EARLY.

SO TYPICALLY YOU WOULD RETIRE EITHER THE YEAR YOU TURN 70 OR RIGHT BEFORE YOU TURN 70, DEPENDING ON THE TIMING, AND THE COMMISSION THAT'S CHARGED WITH LOOKING FOR YOUR REPLACEMENT WOULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO AT LEAST SOLICIT APPLICATIONS AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY GET THE BEST CREAM OF THE CROP APPLYING.

NOW THEY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO DO THAT.

SO THEY JUST SOLICITED WHAT THEY COULD.

GOT THE APPLICATIONS.

MOVING FORWARD, THEY DO BACKGROUND CHECK.

THEY GIVE THEM, I THINK IT'S LIKE A NINE-PAGE QUESTIONNAIRE.

SO A MUCH LENGTHIER QUESTIONNAIRE, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BE JUDGE?

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN THE POSITION, THAT SORT OF THING, AND THEN THEY HAVE 20 UNTIL ACTUALLY THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING-- SO THAT WILL BE INTERESTING-- TO GIVE SEVEN NOMINEES TO THE GOVERNOR.

THE GOVERNOR HAS BETWEEN 15 AND 30 DAYS TO CHOOSE HER APPOINTEE, AND THEN THAT GOES TO THE STATE SENATE FOR EITHER CONFIRMATION OR THEY KICK IT BACK, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

SO WE CAN EXPECT A NEW JUDGE PROBABLY IN JANUARY OR SO.

BUT THE KIND OF SIDE PART OF THIS IS THAT THERE'S CALLS FOR A MORE DIVERSE JUDGE BECAUSE IT IS IN THAT TOP COURT.

WE'RE A VERY DIVERSE STATE.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE-- A LOT OF PROGRESSIVES ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A PROSECUTOR AND TYPICALLY, WE'VE SEEN THESE JUDGES COMING FROM, YOU KNOW, PROSECUTOR BACKGROUNDS, BIG LAW FIRMS, AND THEY WANT TO KIND OF CHANGE THAT AND HAVE THIS, YOU KNOW, MORE DIVERSE PERSON, BUT THERE'S A SHORTENED TIMEFRAME TO FIND THAT PERSON.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE FOR THE COURT.

THEY ALSO HAD TO PICK SEVERAL JUDGES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

IT'S BEEN A VERY TUMULTUOUS TIME JUST WITH THERE'S BEEN DEATHS.

THERE'S BEEN EARLY RETIREMENTS.

SO THIS COMMISSION'S KIND OF BEEN WORKING ON OVERTIME.

>> HOW CAN THIS PERSON CHANGE THE STATE COURT SYSTEM AND THE COURT OF APPEALS, KESHIA?

LIKE THIS PERSON HAS TREMENDOUS POWER.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, WHOEVER COMES IN IS GOING TO KIND OF SET 21 THE TONE FROM THE TOP DOWN.

>> DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY.

AND JANET DIFIORE WAS A VERY INTERESTING PERSON BECAUSE SHE WAS A REPUBLICAN, TURNED DEMOCRAT, ALMOST, YOU KNOW, RIGHT BEFORE SHE WAS PICKED FOR THIS BY GOVERNOR-- FORMER GOVERNOR CUOMO AND SO SHE HAD SORT OF A CONSERVATIVE AFFECT ON THE COURT.

SO I THINK PROGRESSIVES ARE HOPING FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS MORE OF A LIBERAL EFFECT ON THE COURT AND LAWMAKERS, TOO I SPOKE TO, HEAD OF THE SENATE, JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, SENATOR BRAD HOYLMAN, HE SAID, WHEN WE PASS THE LAWS, WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO STAND AND THAT'S WHAT THE COURT OF APPEALS IS THERE FOR.

THINGS LIKE THE GUN LAW WOULD GO UP-- THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR WENT TO FEDERAL COURT BUT SOMETIMES THEY CAN GO TO THE COURT OF APPEALS SO THEY'RE HAVING AN EFFECT ON STATE LAW, STATE POLICIES AND EVEN THINGS LIKE VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS.

AT THE SAME TIME, NOT ONLY ARE THEY IN CHARGE OF THE LEGAL DECISIONS BUT THEY'RE ALSO IN CHARGE OF A $3 BILLION COURT BUDGET.

THEY HAVE-- >> YEAH.

>> THEY HAVE, I THINK IT'S 1,300 JUDGES AND YOU KNOW, 15,000 EMPLOYEES SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A PRETTY WIDE RANGE.

SO SOME OF THE COMMISSION MEMBERS WE'RE SEEING THERE ALSO LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WITH ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS AS 22 WELL.

>> WELL, YOU KIND OF NEED IT.

I MEAN, YOU'RE RUNNING THAT BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU HAVE SOME SORT OF MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE.

>> DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY.

>> THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR.

KESHIA CLUKEY FROM BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT, THANK YOU AS ALWAYS.

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