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

I'M DAN CLARK, REMOTE IN QUARANTINE THIS WEEK.

WE HAVE BEEN TELLING YOU ABOUT THIS MONTH'S PRIMARY ELECTIONS FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND NOW THEY ARE FINALLY HERE.

REGISTERED DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE THE CHANCE THIS COMING TUESDAY, JUNE 28th, TO PICK THEIR PARTIES' NOMINEES FOR GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, CANDIDATES FOR ASSEMBLY, STATE JUDGESHIPS AND PARTY POSITIONS MAY ALSO BE ON YOUR BALLOT.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY LONG CAMPAIGN LEADING UP TO THIS MOMENT.

A YEAR AGO, ANDREW CUOMO WAS SEEKING A FOURTH TERM IN OFFICE.

AT THE SAME TIME, REPUBLICANS WERE ALREADY LAYING THE GROUNDWORK ON HOW TO CHALLENGE HIM, BUT THAT ALL CHANGED WHEN CUOMO WAS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND RESIGNED FROM OFFICE LAST AUGUST.

THAT SET OFF A SCRAMBLE AMONG DEMOCRATS, IN PARTICULAR, TO BUILD A STRONG TICKET FOR THIS YEAR'S RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

AND IT'S TURNED INTO THE MOST COMPETITIVE PRIMARY WE'VE SEEN IN NEW YORK IN MORE THAN A DECADE ON BOTH SIDES, AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE REPUBLICANS THINK THIS IS THE BEST SHOT THEY HAVE AT WINNING THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR IN 20 YEARS.

A QUICK PREVIEW OF THE BIG DAY.

2 [ THEME MUSIC ] A CROWDED FIELD IN THIS YEAR'S PRIMARIES FOR GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, A FIRST, THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

THERE ARE THREE DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR THEIR PARTY'S NOMINATION.

THOSE ARE GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL, CONGRESSMAN TOM SUOZZI AND NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE WILLIAMS.

HOCHUL HAS SUPPORT FROM PARTY LEADERS AND IS SELLING NEW YORKERS HER EXPERIENCE IN OFFICE.

SHE WAS LG FOR SEVEN YEARS BEFORE SHE WAS GOVERNOR, SERVED IN CONGRESS FOR A TERM AND WAS COUNTY CLERK IN ERIE COUNTY.

>> I HAVE BEEN A PUBLIC OFFICIAL FOR 30 YEARS.

I HAVE ALWAYS ACTED AND VOTED IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF MY DISTRICT.

>> SUOZZI, A MODERATE, HAS BEEN IN CONGRESS SINCE 2017.

HE WAS PREVIOUSLY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IN NASSAU AND MAYOR OF HIS HOMETOWN.

HE FOCUSED HIS CAM PAIN ON THE STATE'S RISE IN CRIME.

SAYING HOCHUL HASN'T DONE ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM.

>> PEOPLE ARE NOT SAFER.

UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION, THEY ARE NOT SAFER.

THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE.

AND THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT MADE CRIME A PRIORITY.

>> WILLIAMS, A PROGRESSIVE, HAS BEEN THE NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC ADVOCATE SINCE 2019 AND SERVED ON THE NEW YORK 3 CITY COUNCIL.

HIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN ABOUT REDIRECTING STATE SPENDING TOWARD RESOURCES FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.

>> WHAT I WANT NEW YORKERS TO PAY ATTENTION TO, THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING WHEN THE STATE IS FLUSH WITH MONEY AND THESE DECISIONS TO HARM NEW YORKERS ARE BAD.

>> IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR THERE ARE FOUR CANDIDATES.

THOSE ARE CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN, BUSINESSMAN HARRY WILSON, FORMER WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE ROB ASTORINO AND ANDREW GIULIANI.

ZELDIN, WHO HAS SUPPORT FROM TOP PARTY OFFICIALS, HAS ALSO MADE CRIME A KEY FOCUS OF HIS CAMPAIGN CALLING FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE CHANGES AT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR LIVES, THEIR LIVELIHOODS.

THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE ON THEIR STREETS.

THIS ISN'T A REDDISH SHOE.

THIS ISN'T A PURPLE ISSUE OR A BLUE ISSUE.

>> ANDREW GIULIANI IS THE SON OF FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR, RUDY GIULIANI, AND WORKED IN THE WHITE HOUSE UNDER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND A BIG PART OF HIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN OPPOSITION TO COVID MANDATES, LIKE THE VACCINE RULE FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

>> ON DAY ONE, I WILL END THESE UNCONSTITUTIONAL COVID MANDATES AND GIVE EVERYBODY 4 THEIR JOB BACK WHO HAS LOST THEM WITH BACK PAY.

>> IT'S ROUND TWO FOR ROB ASTORINO.

AFTER HE WAS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE AGAINST ANDREW CUOMO IN 2014.

HE WAS WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR TWO TERMS AND HELD THE LINE ON SPENDING AND PROPERTY TAXES.

HE SAYS HE COULD DO THE SAME AT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> I WILL BE A FORCE OF NATURE TO FORCE THE CHANGES THAT WE NEED IN NEW YORK BECAUSE WE'RE ON THE WRONG TRACK AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT.

>> WILSON WAS A LATE-COMER TO THE RACE, JUMPING IN JUST FOUR MONTHS AGO.

HE RAN FOR STATE CONTROLLER IN 2010 AND ALMOST WON.

HIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN ABOUT REVIVING THE STATE'S ECONOMY THROUGH TAX AND REGULATORY RELIEF FOR NEW YORKERS.

>> I THINK WE HAVE THE MOST FAILED INSTITUTION IN AMERICA IN NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT AND I THINK THAT SKILL SET THAT WE NEED TO FIX THE STATE IS WHAT WILL BENEFIT ALL 20 MILLION NEW YORKERS.

>> THERE IS NO REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BUT THREE DEMOCRATS ARE COMPETING FOR THEIR PARTY'S NOMINATION IN THAT RACE.

THOSE ARE NEWLY APPOINTED LG ANTONIO DELGADO, PROGRESSIVE ADVOCATE ANA MARIA ARCHILA, AND FORMER NEW YORK CITY 5 COUNCIL MEMBER DIANA REYNA.

DELGADO JUST JOINED THE RACE LAST MONTH AFTER SERVING IN CONGRESS FOR THREE YEARS.

HE SEES THE ROLE OF LG AS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SAYS HE WANTS TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION.

>> BEING ABLE TO LEVERAGE MY EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE, UTILIZING FEDERAL DOLLARS AND GETTING THOSE TO THE STATE AND TO LOCAL LEVELS AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAXIMIZE THE VALUE POINT FORCE EACH OF THOSE PROJECTS IS GOING TO BE A REAL FOCUS OF MINE.

>> ANA MARIA ARCHILA SPENT DECADES ADVOCATING FOR PROGRESSIVE CAUSES LIKE STRONGER TENANT PROTECTIONS AND IMMIGRANT RIGHTS, AND SHE SAYS SHE WOULD SPEAK UP IF SHE DISAGREED WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SET HER OWN AGENDA FOR THE OFFICE OF LG.

>> THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHOULD NOT BE STANDING QUIETLY IN THE BACKGROUND.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHOULD BE FIGHTING FOR YOU EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THAT'S WHAT I HAVE DONE FOR 20 YEARS.

THAT'S WHAT I WILL CONTINUE TO DO.

>> DIANA REYNA SERVED ON THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL FOR 12 YEARS AND WAS A DEPUTY BOROUGH PRESIDENT IN BROOKLYN UNDER ERIC ADAMS.

SHE SAID HER APPROACH TO GOVERNING WOULD BE TO HEAR FROM ALL SIDES OF AN ISSUE AND THEN ACT.

6 >> LEAVE THE POLITICS AT THE DOOR.

CHECK IN WHAT IS YOUR LEFTIST AND RIGHT PARTISAN IDEALS.

>> POLLS OPEN AT 6:00 A.M. ON TUESDAY, AND IT WILL CLOSE AT 9:00 P.M. [ THEME MUSIC ] AND IF YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING OUR WAY DOWN THE BALLOT BRINGING YOU INTERVIEWS WITH CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AHEAD OF TUESDAY'S PRIMARY.

THIS WEEK, WE SPEAK WITH OUR FINAL CANDIDATE, NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE WILLIAMS.

HE'S ONE OF TWO DEMOCRATS CHALLENGING GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL FOR THE PARTY'S NOMINATION IN THIS YEAR'S RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

WE SPOKE THIS WEEK FOR A FINAL LOOK AT HIS CAMPAIGN AND MORE ON HIS VISION FOR THE STATE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] JUMAANE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING BACK.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> ANYTIME.

SO WE HAVEN'T TALKED IN A FEW MONTHS.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM FOLKS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN THESE FINAL DAYS?

I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE TELLING YOU AS YOU ARE OUT AND ABOUT.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN CRISS-CROSSING ACROSS THE STATE FROM BROOKLYN TO 7 BUFFALO.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ALWAYS UNIQUE ECO SYSTEMS AND CULTURES IN HOW PEOPLE LIVE THAT HAVE TO BE HONORED AND RESPECTED.

I GOT TO TELL YOU THE BUCKETS OF OUR CAMPAIGN GENERALLY CROSS ALL ACROSS THE STATE THE SAME, PUBLIC SAFETY, HOUSING AND THE ECONOMY ARE ALL THINGS PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT AND WE'VE BEEN PRESENTING OUR PLAN AND VISION OF HOW TO TRULY ADDRESS IT.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST.

YOU MENTIONED A FEW TIMES AT THE DEBATES FOR GOVERNOR.

BUT I WANT TO EXPAND ON IT A LITTLE BIT.

>> SO YOU HAVE A PLAN TO TACKLE GUN VIOLENCE IN NEW YORK STATE.

YOU WANT TO INVEST $1 BILLION OF THE BUDGET TO DO THAT.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT THAT MONEY WOULD BE USED FOR AND YOUR PLAN FOR DOING THAT?

>> WE ARE,-I'M SO PROUD OF THE WORK I DID THROUGH 2012 TO 2018, 2019, PRE-PANDEMIC, WHERE WE SAID WE CAN ACTUALLY LOWER THIS GUN VIOLENCE IF WE INVEST IN PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITIES IN A WAY THAT HAVEN'T BEEN INVESTED BEFORE, AND IT WORKED.

WE SAW ONE OF BIGGEST DECLINES WE'D EVER SEEN.

WE WERE THE SAFEST WE HAD EVER BEEN.

NOW DATA MEANS NOTHING TO YOU IF YOU ARE A VICTIM OF CRIME, BUT WE DO WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING SO WE CAN SEE IF IT'S WORKING.

AND THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT AND THINGS HAVE ONLY GOTTEN WORSE.

WHAT FRUSTRATED ME THE MOST IS, 8 THE PACKAGES OF LEGISLATION THAT PEOPLE SEE THE COMMERCIALS NOW, THEY'RE GREAT.

ACTUALLY, I WOULD HAVE SIGNED IT.

BUT THEY DON'T ADDRESS THE STREET VIOLENCE THAT PEOPLE ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT.

JUST RECENTLY, THERE WAS A MASS SHOOTING OF A DIFFERENT TYPE IN HARLEM WHERE NINE PEOPLE WERE SHOT.

THE $1 BILLION INVESTMENT WILL MIMIC AND EXPAND ON THE WORK THAT WE DID HERE IN NEW YORK CITY THAT REALLY ADDRESSED THOSE PROBLEMS.

IT WAS WORKING WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT DO VIOLENCE INTERVENTION BEFORE IT HAPPENS.

WE KNOW OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS WE VERY TO WORK WITH THEM AND WE'RE GLAD THAT THEY'RE THERE TO ASSIST BUT THEY CAN'T DO IT ALONE.

WE FUNDED SOME OF THE YOUTH JOBS IN A WAY THAT THEY WERE NEVER FUNDED BEFORE.

WE FUNDED ANCILLARY SYSTEMS AROUND THE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES, LEGAL SERVICES, JOB TRAINING, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES SO WHAT WE DID IS THE SAME AREAS THAT WE NEED TO SEND OFFICERS AS A RESPONSE ARE THE SAME AREAS THAT WE NEED TO SEND OTHER INVESTMENTS, AND THAT'S NOT SO HARD TO CONCEPTUALIZE, BUT FOR SOME REASON, IT'S VERY HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPACTFUL IT WOULD BE AND THE TYPE OF FUNDING THAT WE NEED.

>> A LOT OF THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE CHOOSE ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER IN TERMS OF DIVERTING FUNDING TO THE POLICE OR DIVERTING FUNDING 9 TO SERVICES.

DO YOU THINK THAT WE CAN DO BOTH?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S INCREDIBLE.

WE WASTED A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY DURING THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS.

SO MANY PEOPLE ARE FOCUSED ON THE WORD "DEFUND."

I TELL EVERYBODY TRY TO FIND A VIDEO OF ME SAYING THAT AND YOU WON'T AND IT WAS BECAUSE I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WASN'T THE BEST PHRASING.

AT THE SAME TIME, OUR JOBS WERE NOT TO TELL PEOPLE IN PAIN HOW TO EXPRESS THEIR PAIN AND TRAUMA IN THE STREETS.

OUR JOBS WAS TO TAKE THAT PAIN AND TRAUMA AND TURN IT INTO WORKABLE SOLUTIONS, AND WE DIDN'T.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE-- UNFORTUNATELY, OUR LEADERSHIP ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE, HOW DO I KEEP MY BASE THAN ACTUALLY KEEPING NEW YORKERS SAFE.

THE GREATEST EXAMPLE I ALWAYS GIVE IS, YOU KNOW, MOST LAW ENFORCEMENT ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND CERTAINLY IN NEW YORK CITY, HAS UNABETTED ACCESS TO OVERTIME.

WHY DOESN'T THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES?

WHY DON'T THESE OTHER SERVICES HAVE THE SAME ACCESS TO RESOURCES AS ANOTHER AGENCY DOES?

THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO THINK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE SO MANY OF THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN STARVED OF RESOURCES DIRECTLY, BEEN STARVED OF AGENCIES REALLY PROVIDING THEM SERVICE THEY HAVE 10 NEEDED FOR SUCH A LONG TIME THAT IF WE JUST DID THAT, PUBLIC SAFETY LOOKS A LOT DIFFERENT, INSTEAD OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO COME IN EVERY DAY, RISK THEIR LIVES TAKING GUNS OFF THE STREET, AND WE KEEP ASKING THEM, THESE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO DO THE JOBS OF ALL THESE AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND THAT'S NOT FAIR TO THEM AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT FAIR TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> SO THIS GO BACK TO THE STATE BUDGET IN SOME WAYS IN TERMS OF SPENDING AND FUNDING.

SO THE STATE PASSED A $220 BILLION STATE BUDGET IN EARLY APRIL.

I KNOW YOU DISAGREED WITH THAT SPENDING PLAN.

WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF IT OBVIOUSLY.

CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME TOP LINES OF WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY IF YOU WERE IN OFFICE THIS YEAR AS PART OF BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS?

>> I THINK THE BEST QUESTION TO ASK AFTER ANY SESSION, AFTER ANY BUDGET IS, ARE THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE IT MOST IN HELP BETTER OFF?

AND THEY'RE NOT.

YOU HAVE A GOVERNOR THAT DECIDED THEY WANTED TO STOP THE BUDGET SO WE CAN GIVE A BILLION DOLLARS TO A BILLIONAIRE TO BUILD A STADIUM THAT'S OUTSIDE OF BUFFALO THAT NEEDED THE MOST HELP.

WHAT WE WOULD HAVE DONE AS GOVERNOR IS STOP THE BUDGET AND SAY HOLD ON.

PEOPLE ARE DYING IN THE STREETS.

WE HAVE TO GET A BILLION 11 DOLLARS FOR GUN PREVENTION AND YOUTH SERVICES AND VICTIM SERVICES.

THERE'S A FEW MORE LAWS THAT WE CAN DO, BUT THE STATE LAWS ARE NOT AS STRONG TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE GUN VIOLENCE THAT WE HAVE, SO WE HAVE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS.

WE DIDN'T GET ANY GOOD CAUSE EVICTION FOR TENANTS.

WE DIDN'T REALLY GET ANY ROBUST PROGRAM TO STOP FORECLOSURES.

WE DIDN'T GET MUCH-- WE GOT ZERO FOR HOUSING VOUCHERS.

SO WE BARELY TOUCHED THE SURFACE OF HOW TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING PAIN OF PEOPLE ARE FEELING, HOW TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WE DECIDED WE'RE NOT GOING TO RAISE ANY REVENUE FROM THE PEOPLE WHO DONATE THE LARGEST CHECKS.

THAT'S A PROBLEM.

THAT MEANS WE'RE MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

WE ALSO HAVEN'T SEEN ANY INVESTMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO REAL PREVENTION OF THE CLIMATE CHANGE THAT WE'RE SEEING.

THE ONLY THING WE DID WORSE THAN PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOUSING WAS CLIMATE CHANGE.

THERE WAS NO MONEY PUT IN FOR THE CLIMATE PROTECTION ACT THAT WAS PASSED A FEW YEARS AGO.

WE CAN'T GET A BAN CRYPTO MINING, WHICH IS THE WORST TYPE OF MINING.

WE HAVE A STALL NOW ON CONGESTION PRICING AND THERE'S SO MANY SPACES AND THERE'S A THROUGH LINE BETWEEN WHO'S DONATING AND THE BAD POLICIES COMING OUT.

THAT'S WHY WE MAKE A CHANGE TO A NEW DIRECTION FOR NEW YORK.

12 >> CAN WE EXPAND ON HOUSING A LITTLE BIT?

THIS SEEMS TO BE THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.

HAVING A PLACE TO LIVE AND BEING ABLE TO AFFORD TO KEEP THE PLACE THAT YOU'RE LIVING, BEING ABLE TO STAY THERE.

IF YOU WERE GOVERNOR, WHAT WOULD YOU DO ABOUT THAT?

I HEAR YOU MENTION HOUSING VOUCHERS AND A FEW OTHER THINGS.

BUT WHAT'S YOUR HOUSING PLAN?

HOW DO WE KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES AND BRING PEOPLE INTO HOMES THAT MAY NEED THEM?

>> I WAS AN ORGANIZER AROUND HOUSING EVEN BEFORE I GOT ELECTED TO COUNCIL A FEW YEARS AGO.

THIS IS AN ISSUE I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AND WE KNOW PEOPLE BOTH ARE SUFFERING TENANTS AND PARTICULARLY SMALL OWNERS WHO ARE FACING FORECLOSURES, WE DIDN'T GET MUCH RELIEF FOR ANY OF THEM.

THE GOVERNOR'S OWN PLAN RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW-- YOU LOOK IT UP -- IT'S 100,000 UNITS OF PRESERVED AND BUILT, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR ONE BOROUGH OF THE CITY MUCH LESS THE ENTIRETY OF STATE.

I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT.

WE HAVE A PLAN TO BUILD AND PRESERVE ONE MILLION UNITS OF AFFORDABILITY OVER TEN YEARS.

HOW DO WE DO THAT?

NO ONE PAYS MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME IN RENT.

IF YOU MAKE $100,000, YOU PAY 30%.

IF I MAKE $20,000, I PAY 30%.

AND THOSE PRICES 13 CAN HELP CROSS-SUBSIDIZED SO THE BUILDING CAN OPERATE.

IF IT CAN'T, THAT'S A GOOD USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND SUBSIDIES.

NOT FOR 21-A AND PEOPLE NEVER HEARD OF IT, BUT $2 BILLION OF SUBSIDY USED TO SUBSIDIZE MARKET RATE HOUSING.

WHAT YOU NEED IS A GOVERNOR WHO SAYS WE'RE NOT GOING TO RETURN TO NORMAL BECAUSE IT DIDN'T WORK FOR YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO NORMALIZE YOUR LIVES, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK BETTER THAN WHERE WE WERE AND THE STATUS QUO OF ALBANY IS HOW WE GOT HERE WHICH IS WHY OUR CAMPAIGN IS SO IMPORTANT AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME.

>> SOME OF THESE ARE POLICY CHANGES.

SOME OF THEM ARE SPENDING PRIORITIES.

I KNOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO RAISE TACKS ON THE ULTRA WEALTHY HERE IN NEW YORK ABOVE WHERE THEY ARE ALREADY.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME RELUCTANCE IN THE LEGISLATURE TO DO DURING THE PAST YEAR.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE GOVERNOR IN BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS AND YOU CAN'T GET THAT YES FROM THE LEGISLATURE ON THAT?

HOW DO YOU MOVE FORWARD ON THOSE HIGHER TAXES ON THE WEALTHY IF THE LEGISLATURE PREVENTS IT?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHO IS MORE, THE LEGISLATURE OR IF THE GOVERNOR PRIORITIZED WHAT SHE WANTED TO PRIORITIZE.

LAST YEAR SITTING IN A ROOMFUL OF WEALTHY BILLIONAIRES AND MILLIONAIRES, SHE SAID I'M NOT GOING TO RAISE ANY 14 TAXES.

BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO COME BACK.

I'M NOT GOING TO RAISE ANY TAXES.

I WANT YOU TO COME BACK TO NEW YORK.

ONE, THEY HAVEN'T LEFT.

WE KNOW ONE LEFT HE HAS ORANGE HAIR.

HE LIVES IN MAR-A-LARGO.

I BELIEVE HE CAN STAY THERE.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.

WHAT ALSO IS DECEPTIVE IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO RAISE TAXES IS A REPUBLICAN LINE THAT'S USED TO PROTECT WEALTHY DONORS AT THE EXPENSE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE, WHO CAN'T FIND BABY FORMULA, WHO CAN'T FIND FOOD FOR THEIR CHILDREN, WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR FOOD.

THIS IS THE EXPENSE THAT WE HAVE TO PAY IN NEW YORK IS THE SUFFERING RIGHT NOW.

WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS JUST STOP SAYING ABOUT NOT RAISING TAXES.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REVENUE RAISES OFF PEOPLE WHO MAKE-- THIS IS IT.

IF YOU MAKE LESS THAN A MILLION DOLLARS-- AND THIS IS AFTER YOU PAID EVERYTHING YOU HAVE PAID.

IF YOU BRING HOME LESS THAN A MILLION DOLLARS, WE'RE NOT SPEAKING TO YOU AT ALL AND PRIMARILY A LOT OF HAYES TO DO WITH BILLIONAIRES.

PEOPLE MAY NOT EVEN KNOW 120 BILLIONAIRES IN THIS STATE MADE $220 BILLION, THE SIZE OF THE BUDGET, DURING THIS PANDEMIC, WHILE EVICTIONS ARE UP, FORECLOSURES ARE UP.

THE PEOPLE ARE BENEFITING OFF THE STRUGGLES OFF MOST NEW YORKERS.

WE SIMPLY CAN'T HAVE THAT.

IT'S ABOUT HAVING A CONVERSATION OF 15 CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE IT BECAUSE EVEN SOME OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE IN THE BUDGET, LIKE CHILD CARE, THEY EXPAND OVER FOUR TO SEVEN YEARS, AND THAT MEANS WHEN MONEY CAME OUT, THAT ONE-TIME MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS WHETHER WE LOSE THAT MONEY, IF WE DON'T RAISE THE REVENUE, WE'RE GOING TO CUT.

BY THEN, IT WILL BE TOO LATE BECAUSE THE ELECTION WILL BE OVER.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU TOUCHED ON IT BUT NEW YORKERS ARE STRUGGLING, IN SOME WAYS, MORE THAN EVER BECAUSE OF INFLATION, THE PRICE OF GASOLINE, ESPECIALLY IN UPSTATE NEW YORK THERE.

YOU KNOW, YOU TOUCHED ON SOME THINGS THAT YOU MAY DO ABOUT THAT.

CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH WHAT YOU DO IF YOU WERE GOVERNOR RIGHT NOW?

I KNOW THE STATE CUT THE GAS TAX TO SOME EXTENT, BUT THERE ISN'T A LOT OF RELIEF OUT THERE OTHER THAN THAT FOR PEOPLE IN NEW YORK RIGHT NOW.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE GOVERNOR?

>> AND IF YOU TALK TO PEOPLE WHO DRIVE AND ASK THEM IF THEY FELT THE IMPACT OF THE GAS TAX, THEY HAVE NOT.

>> THEY HAVE NOT.

I SURE HAVE NOT AND I DRIVE.

>> IT HASN'T EVEN CHANGED AND EVEN IF YOU DID, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IT WOULDN'T BE AS MUCH AS YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

IT IS REALLY ONE 16 OF THOSE POLITICAL PLOYS THAT ARE DONE CLOSE TO ELECTION TIME, LIKE SOME OF THE HOMEOWNER REBATES THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE GOTTEN WITH THE GOVERNOR'S NAME ON IT.

IT'S A PLOY AT ELECTION TIME TO PURCHASE VOTES.

BUT DOESN'T REALLY IMPACT NEW YORKERS AND WE WANT TO IMPACT NEW YORKERS.

WHAT WE SUGGEST AND RECOMMENDED IS THAT EVERYBODY'S DEALING WITH SOMETHING.

DRIVERS, PEOPLE TAKE MASS TRANSIT, HOMEOWNERS AND TENANTS, PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING.

THEY'RE PAYING.

WHY NOT GET A REBATE FOR ALL NEW YORKERS?

GIVE THEM SOME MONEY BACK SO THEY CAN HAVE IT IN THEIR POCKET?

BUT THAT IS SOMETHING YOU DO IF YOU ACTUALLY CARED ABOUT ALL NEW YORKERS, IF YOU FOCUS ON WHO BEST IS GOING TO FOCUS FOR ME AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, WHAT WE HAVE IS WHAT WE GET.

UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES THAT WORKS BUT WE'RE PRESENTING A DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE FOR THAT.

WE SAW PEOPLE LAST TIME JUST VOTE FOR SOMEONE WHO ALREADY IS IN OFFICE.

IT DIDN'T WORK OUT TOO WELL FOR US.

>> ALL RIGHT.

JUMAANE WILLIAMS, A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR IN THE JUNE 28th DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AND THE NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC ADVOCATE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> PEACE AND BLESSING.

THANK YOU.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AND WE NOW HAVE A SPECIAL PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE WHERE 17 YOU CAN WATCH ALL OF OUR INTERVIEWS WITH THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN THE TUESDAY PRIMARY.

THE ONLY CANDIDATES WHO DID NOT AGREE TO AN INTERVIEW WERE GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ANTONIO DELGADO DESPITE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS ON OUR END.

BUT TAKING A BREAK FROM POLITICS NOW, WE'RE AT THE END OF JUNE AND THAT MEANS PRIDE MONTH IS ALMOST OVER.

IT WAS A BIG MONTH FOR NEW YORK'S TRANSGENDER AND GENDER-EXPANSIVE COMMUNITY.

BEFORE THEY LEFT ALBANY, STATE LAWMAKERS PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD CREATE A NEW TRANSGENDER WELLNESS AND EQUITY FUND HERE IN NEW YORK.

THAT BILL IS NOW WAIT FOG ARE A DECISION FROM GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL.

FOR MORE ON THAT, I SPOKE WITH ELISA CRESPO, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW PRIDE AGENDA AND LGBTQ ADVOCACY GROUP.

[ THEME MUSIC ] ELISA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

HAPPY PRIDE.

>> HAPPY PRIDE, DAN.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> OF COURSE, ANYTIME.

SO THE STATE HAS NOW CREATED SOMETHING CALLED AN EQUITY AND WELLNESS FUND FOR TRANSGENDER NEW YORKERS AND TRANSGENDER AMERICANS MAYBE COMING TO NEW YORK.

CAN YOU KIND OF LAY OUT WHAT THIS MONEY WILL BE USED FOR?

WE'VE GOT ONE MILLION DOLLARS IN THE STATE BUDGET.

18 SO WHAT WOULD THAT ONE MILLION DOLLARS GO TOWARDS?

>> SO RIGHT NOW, IT'S GOING TOWARDS NONPROFIT THAT ARE EITHER LED BY TRANS PEOPLE OR WHOSE MISSION IS TO SERVE TRANS PEOPLE OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE TARGETED TOWARD THE GENDER EXPANSIVE COMMUNITY AND IT'S BEING USED FOR ALL SORTS OF THINGS, FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, CAPACITY BUILDING, CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAINING.

IT'S GOING TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND EVENTUALLY WILL BECOME AN RFP PROCESS WHERE NONPROFIT WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY ON THEIR OWN AND HOPEFULLY RECEIVE GRANTS FOR THEIR PROGRAMS THAT TARGET THE GENDER-EXPANSIVE COMMUNITY.

>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE UNIQUE NEEDS THAT THE TRANS COMMUNITY FACES, IN NEW YORK AND BEYOND?

I THINK IN NEW YORK WE HAVE A LOT OF UNIQUE ISSUES THAT FACE OUR TRANS COMMUNITY THAT ARE OFTEN-- I DON'T WANT TO SAY OVERLOOKED NECESSARILY, BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH.

I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE.

>> YEAH.

SO I THINK THAT WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I THINK MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE LEARNING ABOUT THE DISPROPORTIONATE LEVELS OF HOUSING AND SECURITY, OF HOMELESSNESS, 19 OF INCARCERATION, OF, YOU KNOW, CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS.

JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF STATISTICS, 1 IN 3 TRANS WOMEN OF COLOR EXPERIENCES LIVING WITH HIV.

ALMOST OF ALL BLACK TRANS WOMEN IN AMERICA WILL EXPERIENCE INCARCERATION AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE AND THE AVERAGE ANNUAL INCOME OF A TRANS PERSON OF COLOR IS ABOUT $10,000 A YEAR.

SO WE HAVE THESE REALLY STRONG ANTIDISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS IN NEW YORK BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IF WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY PROVIDING THE NECESSARY FUNDING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF TRANS PEOPLE?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF WE'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH TO REALLY PROVIDE GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AND PERMANENT HOUSING FOR TRANS PEOPLE?

WE ALSO SAW DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT TRANS PEOPLE SUFFERED THE MOST WITH RESPECT TO FOOD INSECURITY.

SO THESE PROBLEMS ARE STILL ALIVE AND WELL IN 2022.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK THE TRANS COMMUNITY FACES THESE UNIQUE ISSUES TO THEM?

IS IT JUST SYSTEMIC EBBING TRANSPHOBIA?

IS IT A HISTORY OF DISINVESTMENT?

WHAT GOES INTO THIS THAT HAS CAUSED THESE OUTCOMES?

>> I THINK IT'S BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.

I THINK IT'S SYSTEMIC TRANSPHOBIA.

I THINK IT'S PEOPLE'S MISUNDERSTANDINGS SOMETIMES EVEN IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY AND I THINK THERE'S-- WE'RE ALSO SEEING ATTACKS 20 NATIONALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN CERTAIN STATES.

THINGS LIKE TEXAS, ALABAMA.

YOU KNOW, THAT RESONATES WITH PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THEY THEN BECOME EMBOLDENED AND EMPOWERED TO DISCRIMINATE OPENLY AGAINST TRANS PEOPLE, AND SO IT DOESN'T HELP THAT WE ARE SEEING THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN OTHER STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BUT THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOREVER AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE JUST MISUNDERSTAND THE STORIES AND THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF TRANS PEOPLE.

>> YEAH.

YOU MENTIONED THESE THINGS HAPPENING IN OTHER STATES.

FOR NEW YORK, WE DO HAVE REALLY STRONG ANTIDISCRIMINATION LAWS, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU THINK NEW YORK SHOULD BE DOING IN RESPONSE TO THESE OTHER STATES ENACTING ANTI-TRANS LAWS AND REGULATORY ACTION AND EXECUTIVE ACTION IN SOME STATES AS WELL?

>> WELL, I KNOW THERE ARE SOME BILLS OUT THERE THAT WOULD MAKE NEW YORK A REFUGE STATE FOR TRANS PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY'RE BEING TARGETED FOR TRANSYOUTH, THEY'RE BEING ATTACKED IN SPORTS OR HAVE BEEN BANNED FROM RECEIVING GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE.

SO THAT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I DON'T THINK THAT BILL WAS PASSED THIS MOST RECENT SESSION, BUT I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SEND A STRONG AND CLEAR 21 MESSAGE TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY THAT WE WELCOME TRANS PEOPLE HERE, THAT TRANS PEOPLE BELONG HERE IN NEW YORK STATE.

ALSO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THAT NEW YORK IS THE SECOND STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO HAVE A STATEWIDE TRANSGENDER AND NON-BINARY WELLNESS AND EQUITY FUND AND A MILLION DOLLARS IS A GREAT START BUT, AS YOU KNOW, DAN, IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

SO WE HOPE THAT NEXT YEAR DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE CAN GET TO THAT 15 OR GET AS CLOSE TO IT AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE PART OF WHAT THIS FUND IS SUPPOSED TO DO IS INVEST IN NEW AND EMERGING TRANS LEADERSHIP, AND THE REASON WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE TRANS PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES.

WE KNOW HOW TO SOLVE OUR OWN PROBLEMS.

WE DON'T NEED TO BE SAVED.

SO WHEN YOU INVEST IN THE TRANS COMMUNITY AND THE NONPROFITS THAT SERVE US, EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND WE HOPE THAT IT WILL LEAD TO HIGHER WAGES, TO GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AND PERMANENT HOUSING FOR TRANS PEOPLE.

>> SO WHAT ELSE IS ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT YEAR WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTS IN JANUARY?

OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE THE WELLNESS FUND.

YOUR PUSH TO PUT IT UP TO 15 MILLION.

WHAT ELSE IS ON THE AGENDA TO DO FOR LGBTQ NEW YORKERS IN ALBANY NEXT YEAR?

>> SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE 22 TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR.

ONE OF THEM IS TO PROTECT LGBTQ SENIORS WHO ARE LIVING IN LONG-TERM FACILITIES.

ANOTHER ONE IS TO MAKE NEW YORK THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO DECRIMINALIZE CONSENSUAL SEX WORK WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY ASSOCIATED WITH THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY TRANS WOMEN OF COLOR WHO ENGAGE IN SURVIVAL SEX WORK, AND WE ARE LOOKING TO PASS A BILL CALLED THE GENDER IDENTITY RESPECT DIGNITY AND SAFETY ACT, WHICH PROVIDES PROTECTIONS FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

MAKE SURE THEY GET PROPER COMMISSARY ITEMS THAT ALIGNED WITH THEIR IDENTITY, MAKE SURE THEY'RE ADDRESSED BY THE PROPER PRONOUNS, AND MAKING SURE THEY'RE HOUSED ACCORDINGLY.

THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WAS PASSED IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT WE'RE TRAILING BEHIND ON.

I THINK NEXT YEAR WILL BE THE YEAR THAT WE GET IT DONE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ELISA CRESPO FROM THE NEW PRIDE AGENDA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON.

I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DAN.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> SO AS YOU HEARD ELISA SAY, TRANS WELLNESS AND EQUITY FUND IS SET AT $1 MILLION RIGHT NOW BUT ADVOCATES ARE HOPING FOR MORE FUNDING NEXT YEAR.

BUT WE DO HAVE TO LEAVE IT 23 THERE.

DON'T FORGET THAT TUESDAY IS PRIMARY DAY.

UNTIL THEN, THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK'S "NEW YORK NOW."

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

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