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

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL DECLARED VICTORY AND ANNOUNCED A, QUOTE, GENERAL AGREEMENT FOR THE STATE'S BUDGET TOTALING $268 BILLION.

>> WE'RE DELIVERING ON AFFORDABILITY, ON SAFETY, ON CHILD CARE, ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND ON HOUSING.

THIS BUDGET IS THE CULMINATION OF AN AMBITIOUS AGENDA I LAID OUT IN JANUARY.

>> HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE TOLD REPORTERS THERE ACTUALLY WAS NO DEAL AT ALL.

>> WE'RE CLOSE.

LIKE NO ONE SHOULD BE USING SAYING GETTING IT DONE AGREEMENT.

JUST IT'S JUST NOT THERE.

>> THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ALSO SAID HE WOULD BE SENDING MEMBERS HOME FOR THE WEEKEND AND THE BODY WOULD NOT BE CONFERENCING TO DISCUSS BUDGET MATTERS.

AS IT'S UNCLEAR WHEN BUDGET BILLS WILL BE INTRODUCED AND VOTED ON BY THE LEGISLATURE, THE STATE'S BUDGET IS STILL NOT OFFICIALLY DONE.

TO UNDERSTAND, THE DEVELOPMENTS AROUND BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS THIS WEEK, WE ARE JOINED BY KESHIA CLUKEY, OF NEWSDAY, AND ALEX GAULT OF THE WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

>> IT WAS QUITE THE CHAOTIC WEEK AT THE CAPITOL.

WE SAW GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL COME OUT AND SAY THERE WAS A GENERAL AGREEMENT FOR THE STATE BUDGET.

BUT SHORTLY AFTER THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE SAID THEY WERE CLOSE, BUT THERE WAS NO DEAL.

SO WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE CHAMBER AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS?

>> THIS HAPPENS MORE OR LESS EVERY YEAR WITH THE GOVERNOR.

IT'S BEEN GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S MO TO ANNOUNCE A DEAL.

A LITTLE BIT BEFORE EVERYTHING'S NAILED DOWN, SHE REALLY LIKES TO GET OUT AHEAD AND AND DETAIL THE THINGS THAT SHE'S SECURED IN THE BUDGET.

THIS YEAR, I THINK, IS EVER SO SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT BECAUSE I THINK SPEAKER HEASTIE IS A LOT MORE SICK OF IT AND NOT WILLING TO NECESSARILY PLAY THIS GAME THE WAY IT'S BEEN PLAYED SO FAR.

HE SEEMS TO BE OF THE POSITION THAT THE MONEY ISSUES, WHICH ARE THE BULK OF THE BUDGET, HAVEN'T BEEN NAILED DOWN YET, THAT THE NUMBER THAT THE GOVERNOR GAVE US IS NOT QUITE THE NUMBER THAT WE MIGHT END UP SEEING AT THE END OF ALL OF THIS.

AND FRANKLY, THAT THERE ARE STILL THINGS ON THE TABLE.

I THINK YESTERDAY HE SAID THAT THE CLCPA CLIMATE LAW NEGOTIATIONS ARE NOT ENTIRELY NAILED DOWN.

AND THE GOVERNOR, TO HER TO HER CREDIT, ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THINGS WILL BE NEGOTIATED THROUGH CONFERENCES, LAWMAKERS START TALKING ABOUT IT.

SPEAKER HEASTIE CAME OUT AND SAID THAT HE WON'T BE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET ISSUES OR POLICY ISSUES UNTIL MONEY ISSUES ARE SETTLED.

SO WHO KNOWS WHERE THAT LEAVES US AT THIS POINT.

>> AND I THINK THIS YEAR'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF SOME OF JUST SOME OF THE GOINGS ON.

FIRST OF ALL, IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR, SO THE GOVERNOR WHO'S FACING FACING BRUCE BLAKEMAN, WHO'S A REPUBLICAN FROM NASSAU COUNTY, IS RUNNING AGAINST HER.

AND SO SHE WANTS TO GO OUT.

SHE WANTS TO SHOW THAT SHE'S WINNING POLICY.

BRUCE BLAKEMAN HAS BEEN AT THE CAPITOL A LOT THIS WEEK TALKING ABOUT HOW SHE'S HOLDING UP THE BUDGET.

THIS IS ONE OF THE LATEST BUDGETS IN HER TENURE.

NOW SHE'S ALWAYS SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A DATE AND SHE'D RATHER HAVE A GOOD BUDGET THAN AN ON TIME BUDGET PER SE, WHICH APRIL 1ST IS THE START OF THE STATE'S FISCAL YEAR.

SO THEY ALWAYS TRY TO MEET THAT DEADLINE.

DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN.

AND ALSO THIS YEAR FELT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WITH HER AGREEMENT OF A DEAL THAT SHE SAID BECAUSE THERE WAS, LIKE YOU SAID, THERE WASN'T A LOT PINNED DOWN.

AND NORMALLY SHE HAS AT LEAST SOME OF THE DOLLARS TO SAY WE DO HAVE A HANDSHAKE ON THIS.

AND THIS TIME SHE REALLY CAME OUT WITH THE FOUR TOP FISCAL POLICY OR TOP POLICIES THAT WERE BEING DISCUSSED AS OPPOSED TO FISCAL, WHICH INCLUDED THE CLIMATE LAW ON PROTECTIONS FOR IMMIGRANTS, FROM ICE AND CAR INSURANCE, TRYING TO REDUCE CAR INSURANCE BY ELIMINATING FRAUD AND A FEW OF THOSE ISSUES.

BUT SO IT JUST FELT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AND IT DID FEEL A LITTLE BIT PREMATURE AS AS SPEAKER HEASTIE SAID, ESPECIALLY AS THE PRESS WERE ASKING QUESTIONS AND WE DIDN'T REALLY GET A LOT OF ANSWERS ON OUR QUESTIONS.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND IT WAS INTERESTING FOR ME TO HEAR THE SPEAKER SAY THAT HE WOULD BE SENDING MEMBERS HOME FOR THE WEEKEND AND WE COULDN'T GET A DEFINITIVE ANSWER FROM THE STATE BUDGET DIRECTOR ABOUT WHEN BUDGET BILLS WOULD ACTUALLY BE INTRODUCED.

SO I WAS CURIOUS IF YOU HAD ANY INKLING FROM YOUR SOURCING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THINGS WILL SORT OF MOVE FORWARD.

>> I KNOW THAT SENIOR STAFF ARE MEETING OVER THE WEEKEND AND WILL CONTINUE TO NAIL DOWN, ESPECIALLY THE MONEY ISSUES.

THAT'S REALLY THE BULK OF WHAT NEEDS TO GET NAILED DOWN.

BUT THEY CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH BEFORE THEY HEAR FROM THE LAWMAKERS WHO HAVE TO AGREE TO THIS.

SO WE'RE IN A BIT OF A, NOT NECESSARILY A HOLDING PATTERN BECAUSE PROGRESS IS STILL BEING MADE, BUT I'VE HEARD THAT PROGRESS IS EXPECTED NEXT WEEK, BUT I THINK THAT IS SOMEWHAT UP IN THE AIR AND WE COULD POTENTIALLY SEE ANOTHER COUPLE OF EXTENDERS BEFORE EVERYTHING IS NAILED DOWN, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SPEAKER SAYING, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT POLICY UNTIL WE GET THE MONEY HANDLED.

>> YEAH.

THERE'S SORT OF OLD LORE AMONGST JOURNALISTS AT THE CAPITOL THAT THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS BLOW UP THREE TIMES BEFORE THE FINAL BUDGET IS PASSED.

AND WE'VE SEEN IN PAST YEARS WHERE THE GOVERNOR MAKES THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OF A DEAL, AND THEN IT'S MAYBE UP TO 10 DAYS BEFORE WE ACTUALLY SEE BILL LANGUAGE, AND THAT'S SOMETHING TO NOTE.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY WRITTEN LANGUAGE, AND I DON'T THINK LAWMAKERS HAVE EITHER ON A LOT OF THESE TOPICS, EVEN THE ONES THAT ARE SO CALLED DONE.

AND SO THEY'RE VOTING ON THIS LEGISLATION AND THEY HAVEN'T EVEN READ WHAT'S IN THERE.

SO I THINK WE'RE WAITING FOR THE BILLS TO COME OUT.

I WOULDN'T BET IF I WERE A BETTING PERSON I WOULDN'T BET ON NEXT WEEK, I'D PROBABLY SAY THE FOLLOWING WEEK IN TERMS OF BILLS COMING OUT.

THEY MIGHT DO THE LOW HANGING FRUIT FIRST AND THEN THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL BILLS TYPICALLY COME OUT AT THE END.

>> AND HONING IN ON THE GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT, WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR BIG TAKEAWAYS ON WHAT THE GOVERNOR REVEALED?

I KNOW WE'RE STILL WAITING ON SOME FINAL DETAILS, BUT WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT STRUCK YOU ABOUT WHAT SHE SHARED WITH US ON THURSDAY?

>> I THINK THE PIED À TERRE TAX, TAX ON LUXURY SECOND HOMES IN NEW YORK CITY, THERE STILL REMAINS TO BE SEEN DETAILS ON THE ACTUAL RATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THERE, BUT IT DOES SEEM LIKE THAT GOT THE GREEN LIGHT, SO TO SPEAK.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE HER CLCPA CHANGES, THE CLIMATE LAW CHANGES THAT SHE'S BEEN PUSHING FOR, MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT PARED BACK FROM WHAT IT WAS THAT SHE HAD SPECIFICALLY LAID OUT IN THAT THAT OP ED IN THE EMPIRE REPORT BECAUSE THE DETAILS THAT SHE GAVE YESTERDAY SAID WE'RE MOVING SOME TARGETS.

TO ME, I FEEL LIKE SHE WOULD HAVE SAID MORE ABOUT WHAT THOSE TARGETS WERE IF THEY WERE CLOSER TO HER GOALS.

BY EXPLAINING THAT WE'RE MOVING SOME GOALS, BUT WE'RE NOT TELLING YOU WHERE THEY'RE BEING MOVED, THAT GIVES HER A LITTLE BIT OF A GRACE AREA FOR THE FINAL PRODUCT TO ACTUALLY COME OUT WITH WHAT I SUSPECT WILL BE, LIKE I SAID, SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT PARED BACK FROM WHAT IT WAS THAT SHE PROPOSED IN THAT OP ED.

>> AND I THINK THERE WERE A NUMBER OF WINS FOR KATHY HOCHUL IN THIS BUDGET.

I MEAN, SHE GOT HER CHILD CARE PACKAGE, IT SEEMS.

I MEAN, AGAIN, THE INK IS NOT DRY.

WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS.

BUT SHE DID EXPAND PRE KINDERGARTEN STATEWIDE.

SO FOUR YEAR OLDS WOULD HAVE THAT IN EVERY DISTRICT, HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO TO PRE K. NEW YORK CITY, IT EXPANDS 2K AND 3K.

SO THOSE ARE SORT OF CHILD CARE PROGRAMS.

THAT WAS A LARGE PROPOSAL FOR HER.

THERE ALSO WAS A BILLION DOLLAR UTILITY REBATE WHICH WAS PROPOSED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND ENDED UP MAKING THROUGH THERE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT BOILS DOWN TO IN TERMS OF LIKE WHAT PEOPLE WILL SEE IN THEIR IN THEIR MAILBOXES, I'M ASSUMING CLOSE TO THE ELECTION, BUT THEY WILL GET SOME SORT OF REBATE CHECK.

THERE WAS ALSO $40 BILLION FOR SCHOOL AID.

AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS OF WHERE THAT'S GOING, BUT IT EQUATES TO ABOUT A 2% INCREASE, AT LEAST FOR ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS STATEWIDE.

AND THEN ALSO MORE POLITICAL WINS.

THE IMMIGRATION PROTECTION FROM ICE, WHICH SHE HAS BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS BORDER CZAR ON.

AND SO I THINK IT MAYBE DIDN'T GO AS FAR AS THE LEGISLATURE HAD WANTED.

THEY WANTED A NUMBER MORE PROTECTIONS.

BUT THEY DID BASICALLY SAY THAT THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN'T WORK WITH ICE UNLESS THERE'S LIKE A CRIMINAL, A LARGE CRIMINAL CAUSE FOR IT.

>> AND ONE THING THAT I NOTED WAS THAT THE GOVERNOR TOOK THE TIME TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT NEGOTIATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN EASY.

SHE ALSO MENTIONED THE SPECIAL INTERESTS THAT HAVE HAD A SORT OF IMPACT ON THE WAY NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING.

SHE ALSO STATED THAT THEY WERE DOING NEGOTIATIONS AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS.

SO WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE GOVERNOR SORT OF CHARACTERIZING THE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS AND THE PROCESS THIS WAY?

>> I THINK IT SEEMS TO ME THAT AT THE VERY LEAST, BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND THE SPEAKER ARE A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATED WITH THE WAY THAT THIS PROCESS WORKS.

THE GOVERNOR'S FRUSTRATIONS ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE SPEAKER'S FOR SURE.

THE GOVERNOR'S POSITION IS THAT THE LOBBYING EFFORTS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO STYMIE HER GOALS AND BEEN TRYING TO KEEP SPECIAL INTERESTS WELL REPRESENTED IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND IN THE BUDGET, THE FINAL PRODUCT.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE SPEAKER'S POSITION IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WHERE HE'S FRUSTRATED, SEEMS LIKE SPECIFICALLY WITH THE WAY THAT THE GOVERNOR MAKES THIS PROCESS WORK.

SHE HAS BEEN OPEN ABOUT THIS.

SHE'S TALKED ABOUT IT IN YEARS PAST.

SHE LIKES TO PUSH THE BUDGET PAST ITS DEADLINE BECAUSE IT GIVES HER MORE LEVERAGE.

LAWMAKERS AREN'T GETTING PAID.

THERE'S MORE OF AN IMPETUS TO GET THE THING DONE NOW.

SHE DID IT AGAIN THIS YEAR, INTRODUCING THINGS AFTER THE DEADLINE.

THE PIED À TERRE TAX CAME UP VERY LATE IN CONVERSATIONS.

SO ALL OF THESE THINGS, TO ME, INDICATE THAT I THINK EVERYBODY'S A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATED WITH THE WAY THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE OPERATING IN THIS PROCESS.

>> AND IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THE GOVERNOR, JUST A GOVERNOR IN GENERAL, HAS MORE POWER IN THIS PROCESS.

THEY'RE THE ONES SETTING THE AGENDA, SETTING THE POLICY PROPOSAL WITH THEIR EXECUTIVE PROPOSAL ON THE BUDGET.

AND THEN THE LEGISLATURE CAN ADD OR CAN, YOU KNOW, KIND OF TWEAK THINGS AND MAYBE ADD STUFF IN THE THREE PEOPLE IN A ROOM DISCUSSIONS.

A LOT OF THIS IS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, SO WE'RE ONLY BEING TOLD WHAT THEY'RE WILLING TO TELL US, WHICH CAN BE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

AND SO IT IS HARD TO SAY WHAT'S GOING ON.

BUT I THINK GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT SHE THINKS THAT THIS STRATEGY IS BENEFITING HER.

AMONG THE KIND OF ALBANY INSIDERS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT STRANGE.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF LOBBYISTS THAT DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW THEY THINK THIS IS BENEFITING HER BECAUSE SHE ALREADY HAS THE UPPER HAND AND THEY THINK THAT MAYBE SHE SHOULD JUST USE THE UPPER HAND AND SET THAT DEADLINE AND GO FOR IT.

BUT SHE HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE OR MORE GENEROUSLY MORE COOPERATIVE WITH THE LEGISLATURE AS OPPOSED TO THE PRIOR GOVERNOR WHO REALLY WAS LIKE, THIS IS MY AGENDA, I WANT THIS AND I'M NOT MOVING FROM IT.

AND SHE'S BEEN WILLING TO NEGOTIATE, WHICH I THINK DOES ALLOW ROOM FOR THOSE INTEREST GROUPS.

>> AND IT'S BEEN INTERESTING FOR ME TO SEE THE GROWTH OF THE GOVERNOR FROM YEARS PRIOR.

LIKE, SHE DEFINITELY SEEMS SETTLED AND CONFIDENT IN THIS POSITION AS SOMEONE WHO'S DRIVING NEGOTIATIONS FORWARD.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE WAS SURE TO UNDERSCORE WAS FUNDING FOR NEW YORK CITY AND HIGHLIGHTING ALL OF THE FUNDING THAT THE STATE HAS GIVEN TO THE CITY, PROPOSALS THAT SHE'S TRYING TO IMPLEMENT TO HELP THE CITY, AND ALSO SAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S TIME FOR THE CITY TO BUCKLE UP AND FIND BETTER WAYS TO STEWARD MONEY.

AND THAT'S SORT OF INTERESTING TO SHOW THAT DYNAMIC BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI.

SO LOTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH ALEX GAULT OF THE WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES AND KESHIA CLUKEY OF NEWSDAY.

AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE'LL SIT DOWN WITH ASSEMBLYMEMBER LANDON DAIS WHO REPRESENTS THE BRONX IN THE LOWER CHAMBER.

THE ASSEMBLYMEMBER HAS BEEN PUSHING TO ESTABLISH A NEW YORK CENSUS OFFICE AND TO MOVE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTIONS IN THE STATE TO SUPER TUESDAY.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THE SHOW TODAY, ASSEMBLYMEMBER.

>> IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> NOW, YOU CO SPONSORED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ESTABLISH A NEW YORK STATE CENSUS OFFICE AHEAD OF THE 2030 CENSUS.

SO WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT BILL?

WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO COME ON AS A SPONSOR?

>> SURE.

SO I GOT ELECTED IN A SPECIAL ELECTION AND IT WAS 2024 AND I STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE CENSUS.

AND PEOPLE ARE LIKE, LANDON, IT'S SIX YEARS AWAY.

AND I REALIZED FROM MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE HOW I FOUND WHO MY ANCESTORS WERE, BEEN HERE SINCE THE 1700S, WAS THROUGH THE CENSUS.

THE CENSUS IS IMPORTANT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERY NEW YORKER IS COUNTED BECAUSE LAST TIME WE LOST ONE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT BY 89 PEOPLE NOT BEING COUNTED.

THAT'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

THAT'S POLITICAL CAPITAL.

THAT'S SO MUCH NEW YORK LOSS JUST BECAUSE WE DIDN'T COUNT ONE DORM OF A COLLEGE, ONE APARTMENT BUILDING IN CROWN HEIGHTS OR IN MY DISTRICT.

AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERY NEW YORKER IS COUNTED.

SECOND, WE HAVE A HOSTILE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS CLEARLY TARGETING IMMIGRANTS.

AND THEY'RE TRYING TO PUT AN IMMIGRATION QUESTION ON THE CENSUS, WHICH SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.

IT'S NOT ABOUT IF YOU'RE A CITIZEN OR NOT.

IT'S ABOUT, ARE YOU HERE?

SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW WHEN CITY AND STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS ARE KNOCKING ON DOORS?

AND THEY NEED TO GET SOMEONE TO SAY, HEY, FILL OUT THE CENSUS.

BUT THEY'RE SCARED THAT THAT MIGHT BE AN ICE AGENT IN HIDING, RIGHT?

THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALSO PUSHING FOR NEW YORK FOR ALL IN THE NEW YORK BUDGET TO PROTECT THAT.

BUT THAT'S GOING TO CREATE A CHILLING EFFECT.

NEW YORK IS A STATE OF IMMIGRANTS.

IF YOU GO BACK TO THE EARLY 1800S, IT WAS ENGLAND AND IRELAND.

YOU GO TO THE EARLY 1900S, IT WAS EASTERN EUROPE AND ITALY AND GERMANY AND RUSSIA.

AND YOU GO INTO THE 1960S, IT WAS CARIBBEAN AND LATINO, AND EVEN BEFORE THAT.

NEW YORK HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MIX.

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR SKIN COLOR IS, MOST PEOPLE WHO CAME THROUGH ELLIS ISLAND, THROUGH SLAVES LIKE MY FAMILY, OR CAME FROM THE WEST COAST, FROM ASIA, NEW YORK HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE FOR IMMIGRANTS ALSO.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE EDUCATING PEOPLE.

THE BILL WILL CREATE AN OFFICE.

THE GOVERNOR DID MENTION IT IN HER STATE OF THE STATE.

AND BY DOING SO, WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN THE RESOURCES NOW, THE INFRASTRUCTURE NOW, TO HELP LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BE A PART OF CENSUS PROJECT.

AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING I WANT TO SPEAK TO.

THE APA VOICE, THESE OTHER SMALL ORGANIZATIONS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE FUNDED AND SUPPORTED BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE THE ONES ON THE GROUND WHO CAN DO THIS WORK TO PULL PEOPLE OUT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE COUNTED.

>> I KNOW A RECENT STUDY BY CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY PREDICTED THAT NEW YORK IS SET TO LOSE ABOUT TWO CONGRESSIONAL SEATS AFTER THE 2030 CENSUS.

SO HOW IS THAT FINDING DRIVING YOUR CONVERSATIONS AT THE CAPITOL AS YOU TRY TO RAMP UP SUPPORT FOR THAT BILL?

>> I'M AN UNABASHED, PROUD NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRAT.

I BELIEVE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM AND WHAT WE DO AS DEMOCRATS.

I WANT TO MAKE NEW YORK MORE AFFORDABLE.

I WANT TO CREATE HOUSING.

I WANT TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT.

I WANT TO CREATE GOOD PAYING JOBS.

AND I ALWAYS WILL SUPPORT UNIONS.

BUT IF NEW YORK LOSES TWO.

CALIFORNIA IS SCHEDULED TO LOSE THREE.

ILLINOIS LOSES ANOTHER TWO.

MICHIGAN MIGHT LOSE ONE.

SUDDENLY, THERE'S A CHANCE THAT IN THE 2030S, THERE WILL NOT BE ANOTHER DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT UNLESS WE WOULD HAVE TO WIN THE BLUE WALL, WHAT WE CALL THE NORMAL DEMOCRATIC STATES, AND WOULD ALWAYS HAVE TO WIN EITHER GEORGIA OR ARIZONA.

THAT IS PUTTING THAT'S MAKING THE BARRIER HIGHER FOR OUR DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, RIGHT?

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE FUNDING THAT WE WOULD LOSE BY BEING UNDERCOUNTED IMPACTS EVERYONE, REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, INDEPENDENT, AND ALL IN BETWEEN.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR ROADS MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ALWAYS SPEAK ABOUT HOW WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING FOR THE LOCAL ROADS.

THAT IS IMPACTED BY THE CENSUS, EDUCATION, FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS.

I DON'T CARE WHAT CITY, WHAT PARTY YOU'RE PART OF, WE ARE ALL BELIEVERS THAT A STRONGER AND BETTER PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN NEW YORK IS BETTER FOR ALL NEW YORKERS.

WHY WOULD WE UNDERFUND OUR OWN EDUCATION SYSTEM?

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A CENSUS RESPONSE RATE IN THE MID 60S.

THAT'S A F, D MINUS AT BEST.

WE JUST GET TO 75 TO 78.

I ACTUALLY THINK NOT ONLY WE WON'T LOSE A SEAT, I THINK WE COULD GAIN A SEAT.

AND THAT TAKES LEADERSHIP.

THAT TAKES US STANDING FORTH RIGHT NOW AND HAVING A LONG TERM PLAN.

AND DOING SO, IT WOULD HELP US FOR OUR BUDGET CRISIS RIGHT NOW, OUR FISCAL ISSUES, AND ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE PROPER REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS TO MAKE SURE NEW YORK VALUES ARE HEARD ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED THE GOVERNOR INDICATED SUPPORT FOR THIS MEASURE EARLIER THIS YEAR.

NOW THAT WE'RE ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AFTER THE APRIL 1ST BUDGET DEADLINE AT THE TIME THAT WE'RE FILMING THIS, AND THERE'S SO MANY PRIORITIES ON THE TABLE AS IT RELATES TO WHAT THE LEGISLATURE WANTS AND WHAT THE EXECUTIVE CHAMBER WANTS, ARE YOU AT ALL WORRIED THAT THIS POLICY WON'T MAKE IT IN THE FINAL ENACTED BUDGET?

>> I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNOR UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S AT STAKE AND UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS IS GOOD POLICY THAT MAKES SENSE.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REALLY RUN A STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN ON AS THE NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATS.

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF IT, RIGHT?

IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO ENGAGE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE REACHING SOME OF THESE HARD TO REACH COMMUNITIES, AND IN DOING SO, I THINK MAKES NEW YORK STRONGER.

I DO BELIEVE SHE'S COMMITTED TO THIS BECAUSE IT MAKES POLITICAL SENSE, IT MAKES POLICY SENSE, AND IT MAKES FISCAL SENSE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR GREAT STATE.

>> ANOTHER BILL THAT YOU SPONSOR WOULD MOVE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTIONS TO SUPER TUESDAY.

SO WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR A STATE LIKE NEW YORK?

>> SO MANY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES COME TO NEW YORK TO RAISE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, EVEN THE GREEN PARTY, YOU KNOW.

DOESN'T ONLY SHOWS UP EVERY FOUR YEARS, BUT EVEN SHE SHOWS UP IN NEW YORK.

SO WHY IS IT THAT OUR VOTE ISN'T HEARD UNTIL APRIL OR JUNE?

WHY IS IT THAT THEY TAKE US FOR GRANTED?

THEY WILL ASK US FOR MONEY, AND THEN THEY WILL GO ON TALK SHOWS AND TALK SMACK ABOUT NEW YORK.

BUT THEN THEY DON'T NEED TO TALK TO US BECAUSE THEY KNOW BY THE TIME THEIR PRIMARY IS SET, BY THE TIME WE VOTE AS NEW YORKERS, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

BECAUSE THE REALITY IS IF WE HAVE A PRIMARY ELECTION WHERE NEW YORK IS GOING TO DETERMINE THE OUTCOME, THAT MEANS WE HAVE A LOT OF DYSFUNCTION MOST LIKELY IN THE PRIMARY AT THAT POINT.

BUT TO ME, I THINK IF THEY'RE GOOD ENOUGH TO COME TO OUR STATE TO RAISE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, THEY'RE GOOD ENOUGH TO COME TO OUR STATE TO CAMPAIGN AND TALK TO NEW YORKERS.

>> THIS IS A BILL THAT PASSED IN THE SENATE EARLIER THIS YEAR, BUT HASN'T MADE MUCH MOVEMENT IN THE ASSEMBLY.

SO WHAT ARE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU'RE HAVING WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES TO SORT OF RAMP UP SUPPORT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR?

>> GOTTA GIVE CREDIT TO WHERE CREDIT'S DUE.

SENATOR SKOUFIS PUSHED THIS THROUGH VERY QUICKLY, PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON ME.

I HAVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH CHAIRMAN JAY JACOBS, BECAUSE THERE'S INTERPOLITICAL THINGS THAT WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH ON THIS.

BUT I REALLY DO THINK THIS MAKES COMMON SENSE FOR NEW YORK.

I THINK NEW YORK NEEDS TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT.

OUR VOICES NEED TO BE HEARD.

I THINK WE'VE LEARNED IN THIS LAST ELECTION.

PICKING THE RIGHT NOMINEE IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE WE NEED TO ENSURE WE HAVE AN EFFICIENT, SMART, THOUGHTFUL, EMPATHETIC PERSON IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND I THINK THERE'S NO BETTER STATE TO LEAD THE WAY THAN NEW YORK ON THAT ISSUE.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA TO SUPPORT HOW THIS BILL MIGHT IMPACT VOTER TURNOUT?

>> SO WE DO BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT BECAUSE SUPER TUESDAY IS ALL ON THE NEWS.

SUPER TUESDAY, SUPER TUESDAY, SUPER TUESDAY.

PEOPLE GET ENGAGED DURING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

I THINK IT WAS IN THE 2020 PRIMARY, I'M SORRY, YES, THE 2020 PRIMARY, I WAS SHOCKED AT HOW LOW THE VOTER TURNOUT WAS FOR A MAJOR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY.

AND PART OF IT WAS, BY THEN, PRESIDENT BIDEN HAD IT SEWED UP.

AND SO AGAIN, DID NEW YORKERS' VOICES GET HEARD?

DID THOSE NOMINEES COME TO NEW YORK AND LISTEN TO NEW YORKERS?

NO, THEY GO TO NEW HAMPSHIRE, THEY GO TO IOWA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND THOSE STATES DESERVE THAT TOO.

BUT WHAT ABOUT NEW YORK?

WE ARE THE FINANCIAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, RIGHT?

HOW MANY BUSINESSES ARE HERE IN NEW YORK?

HOW MANY AMAZING UNIVERSITIES AND INSTITUTIONS ARE HERE IN NEW YORK?

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE HEARD.

I THINK THIS WILL HELP MAKE SURE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO FEDERAL AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, NEW YORK ISSUES AND NEW YORK VALUES WILL ALWAYS BE CONSIDERED.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERN THAT THIS BILL MIGHT NEGATIVELY IMPACT DOWN BALLOT RACES OR RACES THAT ARE NOT IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEARS?

>> I DON'T THINK SO, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW A LOT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES AREN'T SET ON THE SAME DATE AS THE PRIMARY, RIGHT?

THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY, I BELIEVE, WAS IN APRIL, RIGHT?

AND WE STILL HAD A JUNE PRIMARY, RIGHT?

AND SO THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT HAVING TOO MANY PRIMARIES AND YOU WANT TO SYNC THEM UP.

AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT POINT.

BUT I THINK CREATING A LITTLE BIT MORE SPACE BETWEEN THE JUNE PRIMARY AND THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET KIND OF LIKE, OKAY, WE JUST VOTED, IT GIVES A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO GET BACK INTO THE SWING OF IT AND THEN VOTE AGAIN IN JUNE.

BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET VOTER PARTICIPATION UP.

WE NEED TO GET MORE YOUNG PEOPLE VOTING.

JAMAAL BAILEY AND NILY ROZIC HAS A GREAT BILL WHERE IF YOU'RE THE AGE OF 17 BUT TURN 18 IN THE YEAR OF AN ELECTION, THAT YOU CAN VOTE.

I SUPPORT THAT.

THAT'S GOING TO MAKE SURE WE GET YOUNGER PEOPLE TO VOTE.

WE SAW WITH THE MAYORAL ELECTION, YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE RIGHT NOW ENGAGED.

SO I'M GOING TO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND I WANT TO TALK TO THEM.

EVEN IF WE MIGHT NOT AGREE ON MY POLICIES, I'M NOT A SUPER PROGRESSIVE.

I'M NOT DSA.

BUT NONETHELESS, I THINK BY ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE, WE CAN GET THEM INVOLVED IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS, AND THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> IF YOUR BILL IS ENACTED, ARE THERE ANY COSTS THAT YOU'RE ESTIMATING EITHER FOR LOCAL TOWNS AND CITIES OR FOR THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS?

>> AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE COST WILL BE THE SAME BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO THE PRIMARY ANYWAY.

JUST BY MOVING UP TO FEBRUARY, WE DON'T SEE ANY FISCAL IMPACT.

BUT WITH THAT SAID, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR BOARD OF ELECTIONS ARE WELL FUNDED.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR SYSTEMS ARE UP TO DATE, THAT THEY'RE PROTECTED FROM CYBERSECURITY ATTACKS.

AND WE'RE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE U.S.

POSTAL SERVICE.

SO WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MAILING BALLOTS ARE OUT EARLY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR BALLOTS IN ON TIME.

>> AND WITH THE BUDGET BEING DELAYED, YOU KNOW, THAT GIVES YOU VERY LITTLE TIME TO FOCUS ON THINGS OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET ONCE IT'S FINALLY PASSED.

SO WHAT IS YOUR SORT OF STRATEGY GOING TO BE AFTER THE BUDGET IS PASSED TO RAMP UP SUPPORT AND HOPEFULLY GET IT OVER THE FINISH LINE BEFORE LAWMAKERS HEAD HOME FOR THE SUMMER?

>> FIRST I'M GOING TO PAY MY BILLS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GETTING PAID RIGHT NOW.

DEFINITELY GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT.

I HAVE TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND MAYBE HAVE A NICE DINNER WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAND IN WHAT'S CALLED OUR PRIORITY BILLS, RIGHT?

BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, AS THE BUDGET IS LATE, THAT ALSO MEANS OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS NOW GETTING COMPRESSED, RIGHT?

THERE'S ONLY SO MANY BILLS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT ON THE FLOOR.

SO I'M HOPING THAT MY DEVOCALIZATION BILL WILL GET ON THE FLOOR, WHICH WILL HELP PROTECT DOGS FROM NON MEDICAL DEVOCALIZATION OF THEIR VOCAL CORDS.

SO IMAGINE YOU'RE A BEAUTIFUL DOG OR CAT, LIKE SOME PEOPLE DO IT FOR NON MEDICAL REASONS, AND I THINK THAT'S JUST CRUEL.

DOGS, THAT'S HOW THEY COMMUNICATE, AND YOU'RE TAKING THAT ABILITY AWAY FROM THEM, RIGHT?

TWO, I'M MAKING A BIG PLAY ON FIXING THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN CANNABIS.

SO WORKING ON MAKE SURE, IN THE BUDGET, THERE'S FUNDING FOR WHAT'S CALLED THE RETAIL TAGS, BUT ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CANNABIS PROGRAM CAN REALLY REACH FULL POTENTIAL.

ANOTHER BILL THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IS DEED THEFT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PACKAGE OF DEED THEFT BILLS TO HELP STRENGTHEN THAT UP AND ALSO TALK TO THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE TAKING THE NECESSARY STEPS ON THEIR END TO STOP DEED THEFT AND WORKING WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LITITIA JAMES ON THIS ISSUE.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.

AND MY LAST BILL I'M A DAD OF TWO.

I HAVE A FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE BILL.

AND WHAT IT IS BASICALLY, IT'S NOT A MANUAL ON HOW TO BE A FATHER.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS BLESSED TO HAVE AN AMAZING FATHER AND AN OLDER BROTHER WHO REALLY GUIDED ME AS A YOUNG MAN.

BUT SOME YOUNG MEN DON'T HAVE THAT.

SO THE FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE, MYSELF AND SENATOR JAMAAL BAILEY, WHO'S ALSO A YOUNG FATHER, KEVIN RILEY, WHO'S A CITY COUNCILMAN IN THE BRONX, DOES HIS THING DID SOMETHING SIMILAR IN THE CITY.

AND THE FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE IS TO CREATE A RESOURCE CENTER, WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES WITH COMMISSIONER DR.

HARRIS TO ENSURE THAT THESE RESOURCES ARE PUT THERE FOR THESE YOUNG MEN.

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY, BUT WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CONNECT WITH US TODAY, ASSEMBLYMEMBER.

>> IT'S MY ABSOLUTE PLEASURE, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH ASSEMBLYMEMBER LANDON DAIS, REPRESENTING THE 77TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT IN THE BRONX.

AND FOR MORE ON THOSE BILLS, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

[MUSIC] >> FUNDING FOR NEW YORK NOW IS PROVIDED BY WNET.