1 [ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," CONGRESSMAN TOM SUOZZI IS ONE OF TWO DEMOCRATS CHALLENGING GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL FOR THE PARTY'S NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR THIS YEAR.

HE JOINS US TO DISCUSS TOP ISSUES FACING VOTERS AND HIS STRATEGY HEADING INTO THE JUNE PRIMARY.

THEN, NEW YORK'S TOP COURT THROWS OUT THE NEW DISTRICT LINES FOR CONGRESS AND THE STATE SENATE.

WE'LL HAVE DETAILS WITH TEISHA CLUCKY WITH BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT.

PLUS, THE LATEST ON EFFORTS TO GET BRIAN BENJAMIN OFF THE JUNE PRIMARY BALLOT.

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.

SOME HUGE NEWS OUT OF ALBANY THIS WEEK.

THAT'S ROCKED THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS IN NEW YORK.

THE STATE'S HIGHEST COURT HAS NOW THROWN OUT THE NEWLY DRAWN DISTRICT LINES FOR CONGRESS AND STATE SENATE THAT WERE APPROVED BY DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO.

IN A SPLIT DECISION, THE COURT SAID THE LINES WERE DRAWN WITH, QUOTE, AN IMPERMISSIBLE PARTISAN PURPOSE, AND TO QUOTE, DISCOURAGE COMPETITION N A 2 NUTSHELL, THE COURT UPHELD CLAIMS THAT THE MAPS WERE JERRYMANDERED AND THAT HAS REPUBLICANS NOW TAKING A VICTORY LAP.

STATE REPUBLICAN CHAIR NICK LANGWORTHY THIS WEEK.

>> THE LAW WAS SO CLEARLY ON OUR SIDE IN THIS CASE AND DEMOCRATS' ACTIONS WERE SO BRAZENLY ILLEGAL THAT EVEN THESE PARTISAN-APPOINTED JUDGES COULD NOT STOMACH THIS FILTHY JERRYMANDERING.

>> DEMOCRATS, OF COURSE, DISAGREE BUT THEY'RE NOW OUT OF LEGAL OPTIONS.

SO NOW A SPECIAL MASTER WILL DRAW A NEW SET OF MAPS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

WE'LL CIRCLE BACK TO THAT DECISION A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE SHOW.

BUT FIRST, STAYING WITH POLITICS NOW, A NEW POLL OUT THIS WEEK COULD SPELL TROUBLE FOR INCUMBENTS IN THIS YEAR;S ELECTIONS FOR NEW YORK.

ACCORDING TO THE POLL FROM SIENNA COLLEGE, MORE THAN HALF OF VOTERS SAY THE STATE IS HEADED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

THAT'S 52% OF VOTERS, TO BE EXACT, AND IT'S THE WORST THAT NUMBER'S BEEN SINCE 2010 WHEN DAVID PATERSON WAS GOVERNOR THAT COULD BE BAD FOR GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL IN HER OWN BID FOR A FULL TERM, BUT IT'S ALSO NOT GREAT NEWS FOR CANDIDATES UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT.

SIENNA POLLSTER, STEVE GREENBERG.

>> BE WARY, BE WARY OF THE VOTERS.

THE VOTERS DON'T THINK THINGS ARE GROWING RIGHT NOW.

3 THERE'S A VERY DIFFERENT MOOD IN THIS STATE IN TERMS OF HOW VOTERS FEEL ABOUT THE STATE THAN HAS EXISTED OVER THE LAST DECADE.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE CAVEAT I WOULD PUT OUT THAT AFFECTS ALL CANDIDATES.

>> AND THAT COULD BE A BENEFIT FOR CANDIDATES RUNNING AGAINST AN INCUMBENT.

THAT INCLUDES CONGRESSMAN TOM SUOZZI, ONE OF TWO DEMOCRATS CHALLENGING GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL FOR THE PARTY'S NOMINATION IN THIS YEAR'S RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

SUOZZI JOINED US THIS WEEK WITH AN UPDATE ON HIS CAMPAIGN AND WHERE HE STANDS ON TOP ISSUES FOR NEW YORK VOTERS.

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

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> HEY, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

I APPRECIATE YOU.

>> OF COURSE.

ANYTIME.

SO LET'S START WITH THE SIENNA COLLEGE POLL THAT WAS OUT THIS WEEK.

WHEN ASKED BY SIENNA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, ABOUT 40% OF VOTERS SAID THAT THEY WOULD VOTE FOR GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL IF SHE WAS THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR IN NOVEMBER, BUT ABOUT 45% OF VOTERS SAID THEY WOULD PREFER SOMEONE ELSE, AND YOU WANT TO BE THAT SOMEONE ELSE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN YOURSELF AND GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AS WE HEAD INTO THE PRIMARY?

4 >> YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS RACE THAT I'M VERY FOCUSED ON THE ISSUES THAT NEW YORKERS ARE REALLY CONCERNED, AND I BELIEVE THOSE ARE CRIME, AFFORDABILITY AND TAXES AND NOW CORRUPTION'S A BIG ISSUE.

WE'RE ALSO VERY DIFFERENT THAT I'M A PROVEN EXECUTIVE.

I'M TRAINED AS A CPA, AN ATTORNEY.

I WAS A MAYOR AND A COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

I RAN GOVERNMENTS.

I HAVE BEEN IN CONGRESS FOR THE PAST FIVE AND A HALF YEARS.

I KNOW HOW TO GET THINGS DONE, AND I'M A COMMON SENSE DEMOCRAT.

I'M NOT GOING TO PANDER TO THE LEFT.

I'M NOT GOING TO BACK DOWN TO THE RIGHT.

I'LL WORK WITH ANYBODY TO ACTUALLY SOLVE PROBLEMS TO TRY TO FIND TO HELP PEOPLE.

>> GOING TO THE PRIMARY, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE THINKING ABOUT IDEOLOGY IN TERMS OF DEMOCRATS.

YOU GET LUMPED TO THE RIGHT OF KATHY HOCHUL, WHICH I THINK-- I DON'T THINK IS TRUE ON SOME PARTS, BUT HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THOSE VOTERS THAT MAY BE THINKING, WELL, THEY DON'T WANT SOMEBODY TO THE RIGHT OF KATHY HOCHUL.

THEY WANT SOMEBODY THAT IS TO THE LEFT OF KATHY HOCHUL OR WHERE SHE IS IDEOLOGICAL THERE.

>> YOU KNOW, I'M A LIFELONG DEMOCRAT.

I WAS THE NEW YORK STATE ENVIRONMENTALIST OF THE YEAR FOR NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS.

I HAVE A HUNDRED 5 PERCENT RATING FROM THE LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS.

I HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT RATING FROM PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

A HUNDRED PERCENT RATING FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN.

I HAVE AN F RATING FROM THE NRA.

KATHY HOCHUL WAS ENDORSED BY THE NRA WHEN SHE WAS IN CONGRESS.

I'M THE CHAIR OF THE LABOR CAUCUS IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.

I'M THE FOUNDER OF THE LABOR CAUCUS.

I WAS THE PERSON OF THE YEAR FOR THE NEW YORK IMMIGRATION COALITION.

I'VE GOT A LIFELONG RECORD OF SERVING THE PEOPLE, USING MY DEMOCRATIC VALUES, BUT I'VE ALWAYS WORKED TOGETHER WITH ANYBODY.

I'LL WORK WITH DEMOCRATS.

I'LL WORK WITH REPUBLICANS.

I'LL WORK WITH PROGRESSIVES.

I'LL WORK WITH MODERATES.

I'LL WORK WITH ANYBODY TO TRY TO FIND COMMON GROUND TO ACTUALLY TRY AND HELP PEOPLE TO GET THINGS DONE.

THAT'S WHY WHEN PEOPLE SAY SUOZZI IS TALKING ABOUT CRIME AND TAXES, THOSE ARE REPUBLICAN ISSUES.

NO, THEY'RE NOT!

DEMOCRATS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CRIME AND TAXES AS WELL.

>> RIGHT, THEY'RE EVERYBODY ISSUES.

>> RIGHT.

I'M NOT LOOKING AT THESE ISSUES LIKE I'M ON FOX NEWS.

I'M TALKING ABOUT IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A DEMOCRAT, BUT I KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE CARE ABOUT AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

6 >> AND AS YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, CORRUPTION IS NOW A BIG ISSUE IN THIS CAMPAIGN GIVEN THE RESIGNATION OF FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BRIAN BENJAMIN NOW.

YOU HAVE A NEW ETHICS PLAN OUT THIS WEEK TO CLEAN UP CORRUPTION IN ALBANY.

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT?

>> WELL, LET ME FIRST START BY SAYING THAT NEW YORK STATE HAS BEEN DECLARED THE MOST CORRUPT STATE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY "THE WASHINGTON POST."

SO I'M LAYING OUT A PLAN TODAY WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PROPOSALS TO TRY AND ADDRESS SOME OF THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE PROBLEMS IN NEW YORK STATE.

NUMBER ONE, THE BUFFALO BILLS DEAL, AND THE OTHER HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS-- BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF DEALS PUT IN IN THE LAST MINUTE IN THE BUDGET TO TRY TO GET EVERYBODY'S VOTE.

I'M SAYING THAT ANY EXPENDITURE OVER $10 MILLION, THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET, THE SENATE'S BUDGET, OR THE ASSEMBLY'S BUDGET, ANYTHING ADDED AT THE LAST MINUTE HAS TO GO THROUGH A PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS.

HOW CAN IT BE WE'RE DOING A $600 MILLION BAILOUT OF THE BUFFALO BILLS, THE MOST LUCRATIVE DEAL WITH TAXPAYER MONEY IN THE NFL, AND THERE'S NOT A SINGLE PUBLIC HEARING?

IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND THE PEOPLE'S MONEY, AT LEAST HAVE A PROCESS, AT LEAST 7 DISCUSS IT.

NUMBER TWO, I'M SAYING VERY CLEARLY THAT WE SHOULD LOWER THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU CAN GIVE A POLITICIAN, THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, ANYBODY, TO THE SAME AS IT IS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, $2,900 FOR THE PRIMARY.

$2,900 FOR THE GENERAL.

IT CAN ONLY BE INDIVIDUALS.

NO CORPORATIONS.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

WHY NOT MAKE IT AT THE STATE LEVEL?

IN NEW YORK STATE, YOU CAN GIVE THE GOVERNOR-- AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE DONE IT-- $67,000 BETWEEN THE PRIMARY AND THE GENERAL.

LET'S TAKE SOME OF THE MONEY OUT.

THAT'S WHAT LED TO BRIAN BENJAMIN'S PROBLEMS WITH CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

SO LET'S LOWER THE LIMITS.

LET'S HAVE QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES THE SAME THEY DO AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

THERE WAS A FILING IN JANUARY, AND WE WON'T SEE ANOTHER ONE UNTIL THE END OF MAY.

LET'S DO IT EVERY QUARTER.

THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS, TOO, BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.

>> YOU KNOW, IN THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET DEAL, LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR DID TWEAK KIND OF JCOPE, SO NOW THE RULES WILL BE ABLE TO VET PEOPLE IN TERMS OF THE MEMBERS, BUT THEY'RE STILL APPOINTING THE MEMBERS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE CHANGES?

AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FURTHER FOR CHANGES TO JCOPE OR WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO 8 CALL IT IN THE FUTURE?

>> THE GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS PANNED THAT IDEA AND SAID SHE MADE IT WORST NOT BETTER.

I'M ADOPTING WHAT THE GOOD GOVERNMENTS GROUP HAVE COME UP WITH.

THERE'S SEVEN GROUPS THAT CAME TOGETHER, LIKE COMMON CAUSE, NYPIRG, REINVENT ALBANY, AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER GROUPS, ALL CAME TOGETHER AND SAID, THIS IS WHAT WE THINK YOU SHOULD DO TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS WITH JCOPE.

LET'S HAVE AN INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMITTEE TO ARE REVIEW THE DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT ARE NOT DIRECTLY CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE, THE MAJORITY OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

LET'S MAKE IT A LITTLE BIPARTISAN AND LET'S GIVE A LOT OF SAY AND LET'S GET SOME EXPERTS INVOLVED.

I'M ADOPTING THEIR PROPOSAL, 100%.

LET'S DO FOR PEOPLE WHO DEVOTED THEIR LIVES TO THE PUBLIC GOOD IN ETHICS ARE SAYING AFTER A LONG STUDY IS THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS.

LET'S JUST DO WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

>> NOW AT THE SAME TIME A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE SAID IT IS CONTINUING AN INVESTIGATION INTO YOU OVER POSSIBLY FAILING TO DISCLOSE STOCK TRANSACTIONS THE PROPER WAY.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THAT INVESTIGATION.

I KNOW THERE IS SOME BEHIND-THE-SCENES INFORMATION ABOUT IT THAT 9 MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MADE PUBLIC DURING THAT RELEASE A FEW WEEKS AGO.

>> THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME.

EVERY SINGLE YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS, MY FIVE YEARS IN CONGRESS, I FILED AN ANNUAL DISCLOSURE WITH ALL OF MY STOCK TRANSACTION, AN ANNUAL DISCLOSURE, COMPLETE.

WE REVIEWED IT WITH THE ETHICS COMMITTEE BEFORE WE SUBMITTED THEM EVERY YEAR.

MY ACCOUNTANT WORKED ON IT WITH THEM AND WE DID IT EVERY YEAR.

RECENTLY, THE END OF LAST YEAR, THEY SAID, OH, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FILING PERIODIC DISCLOSURES AS WELL.

WE SAID, WELL, WE DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO DO THAT BECAUSE ALL OF MY ACCOUNTS ARE CONTROLLED BY A BROKER.

I HAVE NO DISCRETION OVER IT.

THERE'S NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OR INSIDER TRADING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WE'VE DONE THE ANNUAL DISCLOSURES.

THEY SAID, NO, YOU'RE REQUIRED UNDER THE LAW TO DO THE PERIODIC DISCLOSURES AS WELL.

WE SAID, OKAY.

WE'VE GONE BACK.

WE FILED ALL PERIODIC DISCLOSURES AND IT'S JUST BEING REVIEWED BY THE ETHICS COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW.

SO IT'S REALLY NOT A MATTER THAT WE DIDN'T INTEND TO DISCLOSE EVERYTHING.

WE DID DISCLOSE EVERYTHING ANNUALLY.

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO IT EVERY 45 DAYS AFTER A STOCK TRANSACTION.

WE DIDN'T.

WE'RE DOING IT NOW.

10 >> AND ANY IDEA WHAT THOSE STOCK TRANSACTIONS ARE?

ARE THOSE JUST RETIREMENT STOCKS, OR IS THERE ANY MORE INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN GIVE PEOPLE ABOUT THAT?

>> THERE'S A RETIREMENT ACCOUNT.

YOU KNOW, LIKE AN IRA TYPE, 401(K) TYPE OF THING AND THERE'S AN INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT OF MONEY THAT I SAVED OVER THE YEARS-- THAT MY WIFE AND I SAVED OVER THE YEARS, THAT WE TRADE AS STOCK AS WELL.

AGAIN, I HAVE NO SAY OVER IT.

IT'S ALL DONE AT THE DISCRETION OF A BROKER.

>> OKAY, CIRCLING BACK, WE DID TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET A LITTLE BIT BEFORE, BUT I WANT US TO GO BACK TO NEGOTIATIONS DURING THE BUDGET.

IF YOU'RE ELECTED GOVERNOR, YOU'LL BE PRESENTING YOUR BUDGET ADDRESS NEXT JANUARY AND THEN NEGOTIATING A BUDGET SOMETIME NEXT MARCH, APRIL.

>> I'M VERY EXCITED.

>> YEAH.

THERE YOU GO.

HOW WOULD YOUR STRATEGY LOOK LIKE FOR THAT?

WE SAW THIS YEAR'S BUDGET KIND OF VERY MUCH BEHIND THE SCENES, CLOSED DOORS.

SOME OF THAT COVID.

SOME OF IT WAS PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TO REPORTERS AND THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS EVERYBODY'S PREROGATIVE.

BUT HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT THAT BUDGETING PROCESS?

>> YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING ALBANY FOR DECADES 11 BACK WHEN I WAS MAYOR, WHEN I WAS COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND NOW TODAY.

THERE'S A GUY NAMED BLAIR HORNER WHO WORKED IN ALBANY FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS.

HE'S THE HEAD OF NYPIRG.

HE SAID THIS IS THE MOST SECRETIVE BUDGET PROCESS HE'S SEEN THE ENTIRE TIME THAT HE'S BEEN UP IN ALBANY, AND YOU KNOW, SUNLIGHT IS THE BEST DISINFECTANT.

I BELIEVE THE WAY TO MOVE POLICY, THE WAY TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO COME ALONG WITH YOUR AGENDA IS TO BE VERY PUBLIC ABOUT IT.

TO BUILD A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND TO TRY AND BRING THE PEOPLE ALONG WITH YOU AND WHEN YOU BRING THE PEOPLE ALONG WITH YOU, YOU CAN BRING THE STATE LEGISLATORS ALONG WITH YOU.

I WOULD BE VERY PUBLIC BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE'S A BENEFIT TO BEING PUBLIC BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU BRING THE PUBLIC ALONG WITH YOU TO FIGHT SOMETIMES THE ACCOUNTS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

>> NOW ANOTHER ITEM THAT WAS SLIPPED IN THERE AT THE LAST MINUTE WAS CHANGES TO BAIL REFORM, WHICH I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN VOCAL ABOUT IN THE PAST.

THESE CHANGES BASICALLY MADE SOME REPEAT ARRESTEES MORE BAIL ELIGIBLE AND SOME GUN CRIMES AS WELL.

IT TARGETED HATE CRIMES TO SOME DEGREE AS WELL.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE FINAL RESULT OF THAT?

WOULD YOU HAVE MADE ANY MORE CHANGES BEYOND WHAT WAS MADE IN THE BUDGET?

12 >> I ABSOLUTELY WOULD HAVE MADE MORE CHANGES.

THE PROPOSAL BY KATHY HOCHUL IS COMPLETELY PHONY BALONEY, AND WHAT THEY ADOPTED WAS VERY MINUSCULE AND WILL HAVE VERY LITTLE EFFECT.

YOU HAVE TO GIVE JUDGES THE DISCRETION TO CONSIDER DANGEROUSNESS OF THE PEOPLE THAT COME BEFORE THEM.

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

THAT'S WHAT THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY IS SAYING.

THAT'S WHAT THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IS SAGE.

THAT'S WHAT THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE IS SAGE.

THAT'S WHAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ARE SAYING.

THAT'S WHAT 49 OTHER STATES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAVE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

NEW YORK STATE'S THE ONLY STATE THAT DOESN'T GIVE JUDGES THE DISCRETION TO CONSIDER DANGEROUSNESS WHEN DEFENDANTS COME BEFORE THEM.

IT'S THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE, CRIME.

YOU LOOK AT THE POLLS.

AND I TALKED TO PEOPLE.

PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED.

PEOPLE ARE BEING ROBBED.

PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR BUSINESSES.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING BEAT UP.

PEOPLE ARE TRAUMATIZED FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

CRIME IS THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE PREREQUISITE TO PROSPERITY.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE PREREQUISITE TO ENJOYING LIFE.

IT'S NOT BEING ADDRESSED.

THIS SHOULD BE ALL HANDS ON DECK, COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.

LET'S FIX THIS PROBLEM DISCUSSED IN A VERY PUBLIC 13 WAY.

>> NOW, AS WE TALK ABOUT NEW YORK'S CRIME PROBLEM AND CRIME SEEMS TO BE ON THE MINDS OF VOTERS, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT AN END-OF-SESSION-ISSUE CALLED THE CLEAN SLATE ACT.

SO THIS WOULD WIPE CRIMINAL RECORDS CLEAN FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVED THEIR SENTENCE AND WAITED SOME TIME AFTER THAT.

THERE ARE VARIOUS PROPOSALS OUT THERE.

SOME SAY SEVEN-YEAR GAP FOR FELONIES.

THREE-YEAR GAP FOR MISDEMEANORS.

THERE ARE OTHER PROPOSALS AS WELL.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT PROPOSAL IN EARN ITS OF THE CLEAN SLATE ACT OVERALL, THE IDEA OF IT?

>> WELL, THE IDEA OF THE CLEAN SLATE ACT IS A GOOD IDEA IN THAT YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE-- ESPECIALLY WITH LOW-LEVEL MARIJUANA POSSESSION OFFENSES, FOR EXAMPLE, OR SOME OTHER LOW LEVEL CRIMES, FOR THAT TO HAUNT THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO SEEK A JOB, WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO GET BACK INTO WORKING IN SOCIETY AND BEING A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.

YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM A CLEAN SLATE AFTER YOU KNOW THAT THEY'VE KEPT THEIR NOSE CLEAN, SO TO SPEAK, TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS IN THE DETAILS ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE ISSUES.

IT CAN'T BE THAT SOMEONE COMMITTED MURDER IS GIVEN A CLEAN SLATE.

IT CAN'T BE THAT SOMEONE WHO COMMITTED 14 VIOLENT CRIMES AND ONLY A FEW YEARS HAS PASSED AND EVEN AND IT'S THREE YEARS AND SEVEN YEARS IS GIVEN A CLEAN SLATE.

ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE IN A JOB WHERE YOU ARE DEALING WITH CHILDREN.

ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE IN A JOB THAT IS IN SOME WAY SENSITIVE THAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOUR BACKGROUND WAS.

PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES IN LIFE, AND YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO-- ESPECIALLY BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN SYSTEMICALLY INCARCERATED OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN JUSTICES THAT EXIST IN THE SYSTEM.

THEY HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED.

BUT LET'S DO IT IN A WAY THAT'S NOT GOING TO EXACERBATE THE DYSFUNCTION WE HAVE IN OUR SOCIETY WITH CRIME TODAY.

>> IT'S ONE OF MANY ISSUES THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING INTO AS THE PRIMARY APPROACHES, OF COURSE, ON TUESDAY, JUNE 28th, CONGRESSMAN TOM SUOZZI, CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> DAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

PROVEN EXECUTIVE, COMMON SENSE DEMOCRAT, CRIME, TAXES, AFFORDABILITY AND GO AFTER THE CORRUPTION IN NEW YORK.

THANK YOU.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND JUST A REMINDER THAT SUOZZI WILL BE ONE OF THREE DEMOCRATS IN ON THE BALLOT IN THE JUNE PRIMARY.

THE OTHER TWO ARE GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AND NEW YORK CITY 15 PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE WILLIAMS.

WE'RE HOPING TO SPEAK WITH BOTH OF THEM BEFORE THE PRIMARY.

MORE ON THAT SOON.

IN THE MEANTIME, AN UPDATE IN THE RACE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

AS WE TOLD YOU, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL'S CAMPAIGN WAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN TWO WEEKS AGO AFTER HER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS INDICTED ON FEDERAL CORRUPTION CHARGES AND RESIGNED.

SO NOW HOCHUL WANTS TO GET THEM OFF THE BALLOT IN THE JUNE PRIMARY, BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN EASILY.

SO SHE'S NOW ASKING THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO APPROVE A CHANGE IN STATE LAW THAT WOULD ALLOW HER TO GET HIM OFF THE BALLOT AND POSSIBLY PICK A REPLACEMENT, BUT THAT IDEA IS ALREADY BEING MET WITH RESISTANCE FROM LAWMAKERS.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW HOW I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR.

I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY DON'T LIKE TO CHANGE RULES IN THE MIDDLE A PROCESS AND CERTAINLY IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ELECTION.

>> NOW IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT COULD PUT HOCHUL IN A TOUGH SPOT.

IF SHE WINS THE PRIMARY, SHE'LL BE RUNNING IN THE GENERAL WITH ONE OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES FOR LG, BUT NEITHER OF THEM SUPPORT HER, SO THAT MAKES IT A BIT TRICKY.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

BUT STAYING WITH THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS, ANOTHER THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE IS 16 TRYING TO MAKE HIS WAY ON THE BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER.

HOWIE HAWKINS IS LAUNCHING A NEW CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR WITH THE GREEN PARTY IN NEW YORK.

IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME.

HAWKINS HAS RUN FOR GOVERNOR ON THE GREEN PARTY LINE EVERY ELECTION CYCLE SINCE 2010.

HE'S NOW TRYING TO GET ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO GET ON THIS YEAR'S BALLOT.

IF HE DOES, HE'S HOPING TO GET ENOUGH VOTES THIS WE'RE SO IT'S EASIER FOR THE GREEN PARTY TO GET ON THE BALLOT IN THE NEXT ROUND.

BASICALLY IF A THIRD PARTY GOES ENOUGH VOTES IN ONE ELECTION, IT'S EASIER FOR THEM TO GET ON THE BALLOT IN THE NEXT ONE AND HAWKINS SAYS THAT'S POSSIBLE THIS YEAR.

>> I THINK WE HAVE A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE A CENTRIST CORPORATE DEMOCRAT AND A FAR RIGHT REPUBLICAN IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, WHICH LEAVES A LOT OF SPACE ON THE POLITICAL LEFT, AND WE HOPE TO APPEAL TO THOSE PEOPLE AND GET WHAT WILL PROBABLY BE AT LEAST 150,000 VOTES TO SECURE A BALLOT LINE.

WE THINK THAT'S OUR PATH.

>> AND CIRCLING BACK NOW TO REDISTRICTING AND OTHER NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL THIS WEEK LET'S GET INTO IT WITH KESHIA CLUKEY FROM BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, KESHIA.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO REDISTRICTING.

I'M SO 17 GLAD THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT.

IT'S A MESS.

SO WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW ABOUT THE DECISION KIND OF VAGUELY, BUT LET'S START THERE WITH WHAT THE DECISION-- WELL, LET'S START FIRST WITH WHAT WERE THEY ARGUING IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SUING OVER THE MAPS?

WHAT WAS THEIR ARGUMENT?

>> UH-HUH, AND THERE'S SO MANY PLACES TO GO WITH THIS.

[LAUGHTER] >> YEAH.

>> THERE'S SO MANY ASPECTS OF THIS STORY.

SO BASICALLY THE REPUBLICANS WERE SUING BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THE MAPS WERE JERRYMANDERED AND GOING AGAINST THE STATE CONSTITUTION WHICH REQUIRES THEM TO BE NON-PARTISANLY CREATED.

AND THEY ACTUALLY WON THE CASE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE HIGHEST COURT, THE COURT OF APPEALS IN NEW YORK, AND THE COURT BASICALLY GOT IT ON ALMOST LIKE A TECHNICALITY.

SO THE WAY THAT THE PROCESS WAS IS THIS INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION, WHICH IS INDEPENDENT, BUS THERE'S ESSENTIALLY FIVE REPUBLICANS AND FIVE DEMOCRATS AT THE END OF THE DAY, HADN'T SUBMITTED A SET OF MAPS THAT SUBMITTED TWO SETS, A DEMOCRATIC SET AND A REPUBLICAN SET.

THE LEGISLATURE SAID WE DON'T LIKE EITHER OF THEM.

GO BACK AND TRY AGAIN.

THEY 18 SAID WE CAN'T.

[LAUGHTER] >> WHICH IS LIKE THE WHOLE-- THAT WAS THE THING.

ON THE SECOND ROUND WHEN THE LEGISLATURE WAS LIKE GO BACK AND TRY AGAIN AND THE IRS, THE INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION, WAS LITERALLY LIKE NO.

>> YEAH.

THERE WERE PART OF THEM WHO SAID WE WANT TO COME TO THE TABLE AND ANOTHER PART WHO SAID WE CAN'T, AND THEN THEY-- IT WAS JUST FINGER-POINTING, IT WAS A MESS.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY DIDN'T SUBMIT THE SECOND SET OF MAPS WHICH IS HOW IT'S PRESENTED IN THE CONSTITUTION.

SO THEN THE LEGISLATURE CREATED ITS OWN MAPS.

NOW THE LEGISLATURE HAD ITS OWN COMMITTEE WHO HAS DONE THIS FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND THEY JUST CREATED THEIR OWN MAPS.

WELL, THE LEGISLATURE, BOTH THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE, ARE LED BY SUPER MAJORITY DEMOCRATS.

SO THE REPUBLICANS VOTED AGAINST THE MAP SO IT WAS PASSED IN A PARTISAN MANNER.

>> UH-HUH.

>> AND BASICALLY THE COURT SAID, YOU KNOW, THE CONSTITUTION LAYS OUT THIS PROCESS AND YOU DIDN'T FOLLOW THE PROCESS.

AND THUS IN THE END, THE RESULT WAS THIS NON-PARTISAN JERRYMANDERED OR I'M SORRY, PARTISAN JERRYMANDERED MAP.

19 >>> WHICH IS SO INTERESTING.

THERE ARE TWO PARTS WHERE THE FIRST ONE WAS LITERALLY LIKE-- THE FIRST PART OF THE DECISION WAS LITERALLY LIKE YOU DIDN'T DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY, SO THESE MAPS ARE BAD ANYWAY.

THE SECOND PART WAS EVEN IF YOU HAD DONE THIS THE RIGHT WAY AND LET'S SAY THAT-- I DON'T KNOW, YOU VOTED DOWN THE MAPS AND YOU KNOW YOU HAD TO DRAW THEM, THE COURT ALSO SAID, WELL, YOU ALSO DREW THEM THE WRONG WAY, TOO, WHICH IS LIKE-- >> UH-HUH.

>> IT'S SO QUINTESSENTIAL ALBANY TO GET THIS WRONG.

THIS IS THE RESULT AS WE REMIND PEOPLE OF A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FROM A DECADE AGO THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO SET UP A TRULY INDEPENDENT PROCESS, BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THAT COMMISSION WAS THAT THE APPOINTEES WERE APPOINTED BY PARTISAN MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

SO IT ALMOST A GIVEN FROM THE START FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WAS GOING TO END IN A STALEMATE.

SO AS WE SAID EARLIER IN THE SHOW, THE DEMOCRATS ARE NOW OUT OF LEGAL OPTIONS IN TERMS OF THEY DON'T HAVE A HIGHER COURT TO GO TO FOR THIS, SO WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP?

>> OKAY, WELL, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS CASE EVENTUALLY ENDED UP JUST BEING ABOUT THE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS.

>> YES.

>> AND THE STATE SENATE 20 MAPS.

>> YES.

>> BUT THE ASSEMBLY MAPS, WHICH BY THE WAY, ARE CREATED BY THE SAME PROCESS ARE TOTALLY FIND.

NOW THE ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS COULD SUE AND THIS COULD SET A PRECEDENT FOR THEM TO SUE BUT THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH HAPPY WITH THE MAPS.

THE MAPS ARE NOT TOO BAD FOR ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS.

SO I DON'T THINK WE WILL SEE-- I MEAN, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN NEW YORK, BUT I THINK WE WON'T SEE A LAWSUIT ON THAT, BUT WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE WAY THAT IT'S SET UP NOW, THERE WILL BE TWO PRIMARIES.

THERE WILL BE ONE IN JUNE FOR THE STATEWIDE OFFICES, LIKE GOVERNOR, JUDGES, THINGS LIKE THAT AND THEN ALSO THE ASSEMBLY MAPS.

NOW AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WILL BE-- THE LOWER COURTS, THE SUPREME COURT HAS APPOINTED SOMEONE TO REDRAW THE MAPS FOR THE SENATE AND THE CONGRESSIONAL LINES, AND THOSE WILL THEORETICALLY BE IN AUGUST.

NOW, HERE'S THE FUN THING.

CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE IN NEW YORK.

[LAUGHTER] BECAUSE THERE WAS A 2012 FEDERAL COURT ORDER THAT REQUIRED NEW YORK STATE TO HAVE THE CONGRESSIONAL OR THE FEDERAL PRIMARIES IN JUNE TO GIVE ENOUGH TIME FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION TO SEND OUT THOSE OVERSEAS MILITARY BALLOTS, ABSENTEE BALLOTS AHEAD OF TIME.

NOW PREVIOUSLY, NEW YORK HAD THE PRIMARIES IN SEPTEMBER AND 21 THERE WAS ENOUGH TIME TO DO THAT AND THE COURT DEEMED IT SO.

NEW YORK CHANGED IT TO HAVE THE PRIMARIES IN JUNE.

WE ARE NOT A STRANGER TWO PRIMARIES.

IN 2018, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD THE STATE PRIMARIES IN AUGUST AND THE CONGRESSIONAL IN JUNE, JUST AS THE COURT ORDERED AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT FLIPPING IT.

HOWEVER, IT'S A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN ACTUALLY DO THAT LEGALLY SO WE COULD SEE YET ANOTHER COURT CASE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND IF THAT FEDERAL JUDGE HYPOTHETICALLY WERE TO RULE IN FAVOR OF HAVING THE JUNE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THE MAPS WOULD STAY AS IS IN WHICH CASE HERE'S YOU ASKING, WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT AT ALL.

>> NO, I'M ENTHRALLED RIGHT NOW.

>> I KNOW.

THERE'S SO MANY ASPECTS TO THIS STORY.

SO IF THEY AGREE WITH DEMOCRATS AND THE RACES GO ON AS CONTINUED ON-- IN JUNE, THAT MEANS THAT THE DEMOCRATS NATIONALLY COULD POTENTIALLY PICK UP ADDITIONAL SEATS IN NEW YORK, WHICH WOULD OFFSET SOME REPUBLICAN JERRYMANDERING AND OTHER STATES THAT WAS ALLOWED TO GO FORWARD SO HE COULD POTENTIALLY KEEP CONTROL OF THE HOUSE NATIONALLY.

NOW IN NEW YORK, IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD BE A BENEFIT FOR KATHY HOCHUL WHO HAS A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> YEAH.

22 [LAUGHTER] I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO THAT?

THE PROBLEM WITH THE GOVERNOR SHE DOESN'T HAVE A RUNNING MATE THAT SHE PREFERS.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT SHE DOESN'T LIKE THE TWO THAT SHE HAS AN OPTION RIGHT NOW BUT SHE'S TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO GET ANOTHER CANDIDATE ON THE BALLOT FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

SO IS IT A POSSIBILITY NOW THAT WE HAVE THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PRIMARY ALSO MOVED TO AUGUST WITH THAT AND THAT MIGHT GIVE HER AN OPENING?

>> SO IT DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENS.

AS ONE OF THE GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS SAID WE'RE IN THE FOGS OF WAR RIGHT NOW.

THE DUST HASN'T SETTLED AND PEOPLE HAVEN'T DECIDED WHAT THEY CAN DO.

BUT THE LEGISLATURE COULD DECIDE TO MOVE ALL OF THE JUNE RACES TO AUGUST.

AT WHICH POINT, WE WOULD HAVE ONE PRIMARY.

WE WOULD SAVE 40 TO $60 MILLION WHICH WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO TAXPAYERS AND IF ALLOWED-- SO THE QUESTION IS, THE PETITIONING HAS ALREADY HAPPENED FOR THE JUNE PRIMARY IN YOU'LL AFTER THE RACES, THE PETITIONING WILL NEED TO BE REDONE FOR THE SENATE AND CONGRESS.

IF THEY PASS LEGISLATION, THEY MAY MOVE IT AND CHANGE THAT PETITIONING PROCESS.

IN WHICH CASE, SHE CAN PICK HER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF CHOICE.

AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, SHE'S OUT OF LUCK.

23 >> IT'S SUCH AN INTERESTING THING TO WATCH ALL THE MOVING PARTS BECAUSE I CAN ALREADY SEE THE TALKING POINTS OF MOVING THE PRIMARIES FROM JUNE TO AUGUST.

RIGHT?

IT'S WHAT YOU SAID.

SAVING THE TAXPAYERS MONEY WHICH IS A HUGE BENEFIT, I MEAN, FOR EVERYBODY.

THE OTHER ONE IS GIVING EVERYBODY A LITTLE MORE BREATHING ROOM.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO RUSH A PROCESS.

AND THE THIRD THING IS REALLY THAT PRIMARIES ARE LOW TURNOUT ELECTIONS AS IT IS.

YOU HAVE AN ELECTION IN JUNE THAT WE'RE NOT EXPECTING A HUGE TURNOUT FOR AND THEN SUDDENLY LATE IN THE GAME, WE'RE NOW ADDING THIS AUGUST PRIMARY.

SO ARE VOTERS GOING TO ACTUALLY COME OUT HAD JUNE AND IN AUGUST AND NOVEMBER?

I THINK THAT'S THE QUESTION FOR EVERYBODY.

I'M JUST SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WITH THIS.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME UNFORTUNATELY.

KESHIA CLUKEY FROM BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE STATE CAPITOL ON OUR WEBSITE AT NYNOW.ORG.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

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