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[Theme Music]

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>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.

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I'M SHANTEL DESTRA. AFTER WEEKS OF NEGOTIATIONS

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BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, THE FINAL

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FISCAL YEAR 25 STATE BUDGET HAS

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OFFICIALLY BEEN PASSED. THE BUDGET AGREEMENT COMES THREE

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WEEKS AFTER THE ORIGINAL APRIL 1ST DEADLINE.

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AND THE STICKING POINTS OF NEGOTIATIONS THIS YEAR WERE

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LARGELY CENTERED AROUND HOUSING,

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EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND CRIME.

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THE TOTAL BUDGET CAME IT AT $237

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BILLION. LET'S GO THROUGH SOME OF THE BIG

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HIGHLIGHTS: LEADERS CAME TOGETHER ON A HOUSING PROPOSAL

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THAT FOCUSED ON BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEW YORK

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CITY AND INCLUDED A SCALED DOWN

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VERSION OF THE GOOD CAUSE EVICTION LEGISLATION.

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ON EDUCATION, THE ROCKEFELLER

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INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT AND STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL

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EXAMINE THE FOUNDATION AID FORMULA AND PROVIDE

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RECOMMENDATIONS. THERE WERE ALSO INVESTMENTS MADE

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TO MATERNAL AND MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS SAVINGS

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FOR MEDICAID. AND ON CRIME, THE BUDGET TACKLED

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RETAIL THEFT AND ENFORCEMENT ON

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ILLEGAL CANNABIS SHOPS. TO HELP UNPACK THE FINAL STATE

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BUDGET AND THE OVERALL BUDGET

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PROCESS, WE'RE JOINED IN STUDIO

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BY ZACH WILLIAMS OF BLOOMBERG LAW, VAUGHN GOLDEN OF THE NEW

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YORK POST, AND ALEX GAULT OF THE

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WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES AND NORTHERN NEW YORK NEWSPAPERS.

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I WANTED TO START ON HOUSING.

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I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THIS YEAR THE GOVERNOR AND

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LEGISLATIVE LEADERS KNEW THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING ON HOUSING

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COMING OUT OF LAST YEAR. THE GOVERNOR MADE IT CLEAR THAT

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SHE WANTED TO FOCUS ON SUPPLY

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WHILE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SAID THERE WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY NO

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HOUSING DEAL WITHOUT TENANT PROTECTION.

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AS A RESULT, IN THE FINAL

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BUDGET, THEY PUT TOGETHER A

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HOUSING PROPOSAL THAT REALLY FOCUSED ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN

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NEW YORK CITY BUT ALSO INCLUDED

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A SCALED BACK VERSION OF GOOD CAUSE EVICTION.

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SO HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT?

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>> I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH WITHIN THE

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NEGOTIATIONS THERE.

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EARLY ON, THE GOVERNOR PUT FORWARD HER VERSION OF GOOD

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CAUSE, WHICH AS YOU MENTIONED, I

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GUESS WE CAN CALL A LITTLE BIT OF A WATERED DOWN VERSION OF

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SENATOR SALAZAR'S BILL, WHICH WAS KIND OF THE HALLMARK MODEL

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FOR GOOD CAUSE. FROM THERE, YOU ALSO HAD, AS FAR

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AS A 421 A, THE TAX INCENTIVE TO

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BUILD AFFORDABLE UNITS, THE

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RENEWAL OF THAT PROGRAM -- OR EXTENSION OF THAT PROGRAM AND

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THE NEW ITERATION OF THAT, WAS

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COMBINED WITH A WAGE DEAL WITH THE BUILDING TRADES.

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SO THAT EVENTUALLY FOUND A

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PLACE. AFTER SOME BACK AND FORTH, THERE

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WAS A WIDELY PUBLICIZED AGREEMENT WITHIN THE BUILDING

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TRADES AND THEIR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE REAL ESTATE BOARD OF

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NEW YORK, BUT GIVEN A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE DEADLINE, THINGS

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STARTED TO FALL INTO PLACE. THERE WAS CERTAINLY A LOT OF

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FURY FROM ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SIDES.

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>> FOR SURE. >> CHIMING IN ON THAT. BUT I THINK, AS ZACH AND A

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NUMBER OF OTHER FOLKS OPINED,

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THE AMOUNT OF UNHAPPINESS THAT

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PEOPLE WERE EXPRESSING WAS ALMOST A SIGN THAT THINGS WERE

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COMING TOGETHER. ULTIMATELY BY THE END, THEY WERE

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ABLE TO SETTLE ON SOMETHING. >> YOU REALLY CAN'T DISCOUNT THE

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INTERSECTION OF POLITICAL INCENTIVES HERE.

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GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL HAD WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL A SERIES OF

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POLITICAL DISASTERS IN 2023, WHICH INCLUDED PUSHING A HOUSING

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PROPOSAL WHILE PRAISED PERHAPS

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AS A GOOD POLICY IDEA, JUST WAS

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NOT POLITICALLY REALISTIC.

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BUT FLASH FORWARD TO THIS YEAR,

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SHE STILL WANTS A POLITICAL VICTORY ON HOUSING TO TURN

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THINGS AROUND, BUT WE ALSO HAVE LEGISLATORS RUNNING FOR

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RE-ELECTION. YOU SEE A LOT OF MODERATE

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DEMOCRATS WHO AREN'T NECESSARILY THE MOST TENANT FRIENDLY

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HISTORICALLY ALL OF A SUDDEN GETTING BEHIND THIS IDEA OF

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INCREASING TENANT PROTECTIONS JUST AS THESE LEFT WING PRIMARY

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CHALLENGES ARE LOOMING. I THINK THAT HAD A LOT TO DO

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WITH GETTING BOTH SIDES TO THE

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TABLE THIS TIME. >> SO WOULD YOU ALL CATEGORIZE

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THIS AS AN OVERALL WIN FOR DEMOCRATS HEADING INTO ELECTION

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SEASON? I MEAN, THEY KNEW THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING, RIGHT?

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SO THEY DID. IS IT AN OVERALL WIN?

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>> POLITICALLY, IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO GET SOMETHING DONE

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BECAUSE THEN YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT.

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NOW, WHETHER THIS IS GOOD POLICY, IT'S GOING TO TAKE

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MONTHS, IF NOT A YEAR OR TWO, TO REALLY FIGURE OUT, AND THE JURY

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IS REALLY OUT ON THAT. BUT THE FACT THAT IT WASN'T A

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REPEAT OF 2023 WHEN NOTHING GOT

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DONE AT ALL, I MEAN, PEOPLE NEED HOUSING, ESPECIALLY IN NEW YORK

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CITY AND EVEN UPSTATE. THERE'S A REAL SHORTAGE OF

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UNITS. PRICES ARE GOING UP. THE FACT THAT THEY CAN SAY THEY

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DID SOMETHING ABOUT THAT REALLY

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GIVES THEM SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT NOT ONLY IN THEIR

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PRIMARIES, BUT IN THE GENERAL ELECTION WHEN THE REPUBLICANS

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ARE GOING TO COME FORWARD WITH THEIR OWN MESSAGING. >> I THINK IT'S KEEN TO POINT

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OUT THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT, BUT THE ACTUAL

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ECONOMIC FORCES OF BUILDING MORE UNITS AND INCENTIVIZING MORE

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UNITS, THOSE UNITS ARE NOT GOING

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TO COME ONLINE UNDER THE NEW 425A, 45-X, AFFORDABLE

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NEIGHBORHOODS NEW YORK PROGRAM, I THINK WE'RE CALLING IT, THOSE

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UNITS AREN'T GOING TO COME ON FOR YEARS.

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SO ACTUALLY SEEING THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF ADDING SUPPLY TO THE

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HOUSING MARKET AREN'T GOING TO HAPPEN UNTIL MAYBE EVEN GOVERNOR

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HOCHUL IS OUT OF OFFICE. >> CALL THAT A POLITICAL SHIELD,

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RIGHT? IF YOU CAN'T QUITE DECIDE

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WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD, YOU CAN KEEP TALKING ABOUT HOW IT'S

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GREAT IF YOU'RE DEMOCRATS. >> AND IT'S CLEAR THERE WERE SO

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MANY COMPETING INTERESTS WHEN IT CAME TO HOUSING.

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THERE WAS TENANT INTERESTS, REAL ESTATE INTERESTS, LABOR

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INTERESTS. DID ANYONE COME OUT AS A WINNER,

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OR DID EVERYONE SORT OF GET THE SHORT END OF THE STICK IN THE

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HOUSING DEAL? >> I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THE

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BUILDING TRADES GOT A WIN WITH

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THEIR WAGE FLOOR DEAL. IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED WAGE

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DEAL, GEOGRAPHICALLY SPEAKING,

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DIFFERENT PROGRESSIVE SLIDING

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SCALE OVER THE YEARS, BUT I THINK THEY SECURED A WIN.

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ALTHOUGH THE FOLKS IN HOUSING

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JUSTICE FOR ALL AND THE TENANT PROTECTIONS ARE DEFINITELY NOT

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FRAMING THIS AS A WIN, THE FACT THAT THEY GOT AS SIZABLE OF A

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PORTION OF THIS IN THEIR -- THAT

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WAS PART OF THE FINAL PLAN IS

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PROBABLY PRETTY SIGNIFICANT

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CONSIDERING HOW MANY VOTES THEY ACTUALLY HAD IN THE LEGISLATURE.

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YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THEY WERE PUTTING OUT, THEY WERE

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PRETTY MUCH PUTTING OUT THEIR WHIP COUNT ON TWITTER AS THE

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NEGOTIATIONS WERE ONGOING, AND

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THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE VOTES TO HOLD THIS UP, HOLD UP A PACKAGE

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OVER THIS. >> RIGHT. >> SO THE FACT THAT THEY

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BROKERED SOMETHING OUT OF THIS DEAL IS PROBABLY A WIN FOR THEM

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EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT SAYING IT. >> WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS YEAR

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COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, I KNOW LAST YEAR BILL REFORM TOOK UP A

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LOT OF THE CONVERSATION. BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE WAY THAT

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DEMOCRATS WERE LOOKING AT CRIME

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THIS YEAR, THEY DIDN'T REALLY SEEM TO FOCUS ON BILL REFORM.

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THEY WERE MORE SO FOCUSING ON RETAIL THEFT AND CRACKING DOWN

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ON ILLEGAL CANNABIS THEFTS. WHY DO YOU THINK BILL REFORM

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WASN'T SO MUCH A PART OF THE CONVERSATION THIS YEAR?

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>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THE BILL REFORM CONVERSATION.

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IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AT THIS POINT, AND THERE

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HASN'T BEEN MUCH CHANGE. IT'S BEEN INCREMENTAL IF THERE

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WAS ANY DISCUSSION AT ALL. I THINK DEMOCRATS THIS YEAR

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REALLY WANTED TO ATTACK SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO CRIME THAT

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WAS VISIBLE. THE LATEST SCRI POLL, SIENA

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COLLEGE POLL SAYS THAT, EVEN THOUGH A MAJORITY OF NEW YORKERS

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DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THE ILLEGAL MARIJUANA SHOPS ARE A

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HUGE PROBLEM, A VAST MAJORITY DO WANT TO SEE SOME ACTION ON IT.

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SO I THINK THAT'S THEM RESPONDING TO VOTER SENTIMENT AT

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THAT POINT. >> THE MEDIA, OF COURSE, ISN'T FOCUSING ON BILL REFORM SO MUCH

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THIS YEAR. LAST YEAR, TIME AND TIME AND

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TIME AGAIN, WHETHER IT'S THE NEWSPAPERS, THE CABLE NEWS, SO

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MUCH TALK ABOUT AN OUT OF CONTROL NEW YORK CITY.

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LEE ZELDIN HAD JUST RUN IN THE

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GUBERNATORIAL RACE IN 2022. THIS TIME AROUND WE'RE HEARING A

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LOT MORE TALK ABOUT MIGRANTS IS

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KIND OF THE DRUM THEY'RE BEATING, RETAIL THEFT, WHICH IS

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AN ISSUE THEY DID DEAL WITH IN THE BUDGET.

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SO DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN VERY REACTIVE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE,

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ADDRESSING CRITICISMS OF

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CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS, AND I THINK THE FACT THAT THE

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CONSERVATIVE SIDE OF THINGS HAVE LAID OFF IT A LITTLE BIT IN

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FAVOR OF MIGRANTS, RETAIL THEFT, AND OTHER ISSUES ALSO HAD A LOT

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TO DO WITH BAIL REFORM JUST NOT

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BEING DISCUSSED SO MUCH THIS TIME AROUND.

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>> I THINK REALLY THE POWER OF

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MAYBE NOT ONE OF THE OTHER, BUT

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SPECIFICALLY ILLICIT CANNABIS SHOPS AND THE RETAIL THEFT

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ISSUE, WHERE THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE CALLING THEIR

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LOCAL LEGISLATORS ABOUT THAT ARE

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PEOPLE IN DISTRICT OFFICES ARE GETTING CALLS ABOUT, AND THAT

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LAWMAKERS SUBSTANTIVELY HAVE AN

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OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING ON

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AND THEN GO AND HIT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ON IT NOW AND IN THE WEEKS

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TO COME. SO I THINK THOSE WERE REALLY

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SOME OF THE MOTIVATING FACTORS IN THOSE PIECES OF THE BUDGET.

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>> AND I WANTED TO GET INTO HEALTHCARE.

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AS WE KNOW, MEDICAID IS A HUGE

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PORTION OF THE BUDGET, AND

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GOVERNOR HOCHUL MADE IT CLEAR AT THE TOP OF THE YEAR THAT SHE

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REALLY WANTED TO FIND WAYS TO SAVE.

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SO IN THE FINAL ENACTED BUDGET, THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND WAYS TO

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SAVE. ONE OF THEM INCLUDED CUTS TO THE

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CDPAP PROGRAM, WHICH WE KNOW

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THERE WERE A LOT OF ADVOCATES WHO CAME OUT IN OPPOSITION TO

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THAT PLAN IN THE FINAL DAYS OF

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THE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS. ONE THING THAT I THOUGHT WAS

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INTERESTING ON THE FLOOR, SENATE

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HEALTH COMMITTEE CHAIR GUSTAVO

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RIVERA, I CANNOT COUNT THE AMOUNT OF TIMES HE SAID, I

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WOULDN'T HAVE PUT FORTH THIS PLAN, IT ISN'T MY FAVORITE PLAN.

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SO WHY DID IT APPEAR THAT THE

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SENATOR'S HANDS WERE SORT OF TIED WHEN IT CAME TO THIS

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COMPROMISE? >> I THINK THE CDPAP DEBATE WAS

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KIND OF LAYING LATENT IN THE BUDGET. THE GOVERNOR RULED OUT SOME

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SUGGESTED CHANGES IN HER 30-DAY AMENDMENTS, NOT NECESSARILY IN

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HER INITIAL PROPOSAL, OUTSIDE OF CUTTING THE WAGE PARITY BOOST.

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THIS IS REALLY DENSE POLICY-WISE.

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BUT SHE HAD BEEN ADVOCATING FOR

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CHANGES TO THE CDPAP PROGRAM.

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WHAT WAS UNEXPECTED IS THE LAST

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MINUTE CHANGE THAT BECAME PART OF NEGOTIATIONS I BELIEVE A WEEK

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OR TWO BEFORE -- OR A FEW DAYS

10:30

BEFORE THE GOVERNOR CAME OUT AND ANNOUNCED HER -- I'LL JUST CALL

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IT A HANDSHAKE. IT WAS KIND OF SURPRISING THAT

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CAME OUT AT THE LAST MINUTE. SO MOVING WHAT ARE HUNDREDS OF

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THESE FISCAL MIDDLEMEN IN THIS PROGRAM DOWN TO ONE SELECTED BY

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THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WAS KIND OF A SHOCK TO A LOT OF

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FOLKS, AND YOU SAW, AS YOU MENTIONED, A LOT OF THOSE

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ADVOCATES COMING OUT.

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WHAT TRANSPIRED ON THE FLOOR, OR

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PRECIPITATED ON THE FLOOR WAS KIND OF AN INTERESTING DEBATE TO

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WATCH BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A LOT

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OF NUANCE TO THAT DISCUSSION ACTUALLY.

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I HAPPENED TO CATCH THE DEBATE YOU'RE REFERRING TO WITH SENATOR

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RIVERA AND SENATOR PAM HELMING AT THE TIME, AND NEITHER OF THEM

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COULD EVEN CALL IT ITS FULL NAME, THE CONSUMER DIRECTED

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PERSONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. SO THERE WAS A LOT OF NUANCE TO

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THAT, AND IT CAME KIND OF OUT OF THE BLUE AT THE LAST MINUTE,

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WHICH WAS A SURPRISING PROPOSAL.

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NEITHER THE GOVERNOR -- NOBODY REALLY WAS FLOATING, AND STILL

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TRYING TO DIAGNOSE WHERE EXACTLY THAT PLAN MOVE TO A FISCAL

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INTERMEDIARY CAME FROM. IT'S A MODEL THAT A LOT OF OTHER

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STATES HAVE, BUT THERE'S A LOT

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OF CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT ONE FIRM

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WILL BE PICKED TO SELECT A BUNCH

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OF REGIONAL FIRMS OFF OF THAT. >> NOW, I MIGHT JUST POINT OUT

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THAT WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT MEDICAID, THERE'S ONE PARTY THAT

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MATTERS PROBABLY MORE THAN EVEN THE LEGISLATURE, AND THAT'S 1199

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SEIU, THE MOST POWERFUL UNION IN

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THE STATE. AS VAUGHN POINTED OUT, YOU HAD ALL THESE DIFFERENT PROVIDERS GO

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DOWN TO ONE. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, IT'S GOING

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TO BE A HECK OF A LOT EASIER TO ORGANIZE, TO UNIONIZE ONE

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PROVIDER VERSUS THIS CONSTELLATION OF OTHERS.

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>> RIGHT. AND THEN NOT TO

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PROTRACT THIS DISCUSSION, BUT ONE OF THE VERY INTERESTING

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THINGS, YOU HAD THIS GROUP -- I'M DRAWING A BLANK ON THE NAME

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OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD -- THAT STAYED IN THE WAR ROOM

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OVERNIGHT. IT WAS A THURSDAY NIGHT INTO A FRIDAY RIGHT BEFORE THE GOVERNOR

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ANNOUNCED HER HANDSHAKE. THEY REPRESENT INDEPENDENT

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LIVING CENTERS, WHICH REALLY STARTED THE CDPAP PROGRAM.

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THEY SAT IN THE WAR ROOM OVERNIGHT ADVOCATING FOR THEIR ISSUE.

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THE NEXT MORNING 1199 COMES OUT WITH A STATEMENT SUPPORTING

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CHANGES TO THE CDPAP PROGRAM, BUT SPECIFICALLY OUTLINING A

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CARVEOUT FOR THE INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS, PART OF THE DEAL

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THAT ULTIMATELY CAME TO FRUITION.

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THERE IS A SPECIFIC PART OF THE

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BUDGET THAT DICTATES THERE MUST BE A CARVEOUT OR THERE MUST BE A

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SUBCONTRACTOR, FISCAL INTERMEDIARY, FOR THE

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INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS. >> AND WHAT ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT

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DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE FINAL ENACTED BUDGET, SUCH AS THE NEW

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YORK HEAT ACT AND THE CHILD PRIVACY LAWS, THAT I KNOW YOU

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HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING CLOSELY, ZACH?

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IS THERE A PATH FORWARD FOR THESE BILLS THROUGHOUT THE REST

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OF THE YEAR? >> IT'S ALWAYS EASIER TO GET

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THINGS DONE IN THE BUDGET. THE GOVERNOR JUST CONSTITUTIONALLY HAS SO MUCH

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MORE LEVERAGE AND REALLY CAN DRIVE AN AGENDA, AND ALSO KIND

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OF DISTRACT WITH SOME ISSUES AND

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GET OTHER ISSUES IN. SOMETHING THAT'S INTERESTING

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WITH THE GOVERNOR THIS TIME COMPARED TO LAST YEAR WAS HOW

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SHE KIND OF PICKED HER BATTLES MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY.

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SHE QUICKLY DROPPED A PROPOSAL

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TO REALLY UPEND HOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED IN THE STATE,

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AND SHE WAS REALLY GOING TO FACE

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A VERY TOUGH LOBBYING CAMPAIGN

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FROM THE TECH INDUSTRY ON PROPOSED LEGISLATION ON DATA

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PRIVACY PROTECTIONS FOR CHILDREN, RESTRICTING

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ALGORITHMIC SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS

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FOR KIDS. FOR ALL THE TALK FROM THE

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GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES, IT WAS

13:51

INTERESTING HOW QUIET THEY GOT IN THE FINAL WEEKS ABSENT ONE

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EVENT AT THE CAPITOL ON WHAT THEY SAID WAS MUST DO

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LEGISLATION THAT I DOUBT AT THIS

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POINT IS REALLY GOING TO GET ADDRESSED IN THE REMAINING WEEKS

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OF THE SESSION. >> UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE COMING

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UP ON TIME, BUT I WANTED TO HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU.

14:07

DID ANYONE COME OUT AS A WINNER?

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FROM MY PURVIEW, IT APPEARS THE

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GOVERNOR GOT A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT SHE WANTED IN THE BUDGET.

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SHE WANTED RETAIL THEFT. SHE WANTED CANNABIS ENFORCEMENT.

14:17

SHE WANTED HOUSING. SO IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT HOCHUL

14:20

IS THE OVERALL WINNER IN THIS BUDGET PROCESS?

14:22

>> I THINK SHE CERTAINLY WALKED AWAY WITH A LOT OF VICTORIES.

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I THINK YOU CAN'T UNDERCUT THAT FOUNDATION AID CHANGE, THE

14:29

SCHOOL FUNDING CHANGE.

14:31

SHE WAS REALLY GUNG HO ON THAT

14:33

AND SAID THAT A STUDY WOULD BE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD,

14:36

SOMETHING SHE DIDN'T WANT TO DO. THAT IS GOING TO BE UP FOR

14:39

DEBATE AGAIN NEXT YEAR AFTER THE

14:41

ROCKEFELLER INSTITUTE FINISHES THEIR STUDY.

14:44

SO THAT BECOMES A BATTLE FOR NEXT YEAR.

14:46

>> I THINK THE REAL WINNER OUT OF THIS BUDGET IS LABOR ACROSS

14:49

THE BOARD. UFT GOT PROVISIONS WITH AN

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EXTENSION OF MAYORAL CONTROL OF NEW YORK CITY SCHOOLS.

14:55

BUILDING TRADES GOT A WAGE FLOOR

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WITHIN THE HOUSING DEAL. AND 1199 POSSIBLY GOT 250,000

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NEW DUES PAYING MEMBERS OUT OF THE CDPAP PROGRAM.

15:05

>> HARD TO FOLLOW UP THESE GUYS, BUT I WOULD JUST POINT OUT TECH

15:07

INDUSTRY, META, WHICH OWNS FACEBOOK, GOOGLE, THEY REALLY

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SCORED SOME BIG VICTORIES HERE. IF NEW YORK HAD RESTRICTED

15:15

SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS FOR KIDS, THAT COULD HAVE HAD NATIONAL

15:17

RAMIFICATIONS. THESE ARE COMPANIES THAT MAKE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM SUCKING

15:21

DATA FROM CHILDREN, SELLING IT

15:23

TO ADVERTISERS. WHILE THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK

15:26

FROM DEMOCRATS ABOUT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT, THEY DIDN'T

15:28

DO ANYTHING. BY THE WAY, TECH INDUSTRY GOT

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ABOUT NEARLY $300 MILLION THROWN

15:34

FOR AN AI SUPER COMPUTER IN

15:36

BUFFALO THAT MIGHT HELP THEM

15:38

DEVELOP SOME TALENT FOR EMPLOYMENT LATER ON.

15:41

>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US

15:43

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

15:46

WE WERE SPEAKING WITH ZACH WILLIAMS OF BLOOMBERG LAW,

15:49

VAUGHN GOLDEN OF THE NEW YORK POST, AND ALEX GAULT OF THE

15:52

WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES AND NORTHERN NEW YORK NEWSPAPERS.

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AND NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT BUDGET TOPIC.

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THROUGH THE YEARS, SUNY DOWNSTATE MEDICAL CENTER IN

16:04

BROOKLYN HAS FACED A SLEW OF

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FINANCIAL ISSUES, WHICH WAS LARGELY IN PART DUE TO THE

16:09

COVID-19 PANDEMIC. AT THE TOP OF THE YEAR, THE

16:12

GOVERNOR PROPOSED CLOSING THE HOSPITAL AND DIVERTING SERVICES

16:16

BY THE SUMMER, LEADING TO GREAT

16:18

OPPOSITION FROM ADVOCATES AND LAWMAKERS, WHILE THE GOVERNOR

16:21

AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WERE ENGROSSED IN NEGOTIATIONS.

16:25

IN THE END, THE FINAL ENACTED

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BUDGET INCLUDED FUNDING TO KEEP

16:30

THE HOSPITAL OPEN FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

16:32

WE SPOKE WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER BRIAN CUNNINGHAM, WHO REPRESENTS

16:36

THE ASSEMBLY DISTRICT THAT THE HOSPITAL FALLS IN, ABOUT THE

16:39

WORK TO KEEP IT OPEN AND HIS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE

16:43

REST OF THE YEAR. HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

16:47

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, ASSEMBLY MEMBER.

16:50

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

16:52

>> OF COURSE I KNOW THAT THE STATE BUDGET HAS JUST RECENTLY

16:55

BEEN PASSED AND LAWMAKERS WORKED THROUGH THE WEEKEND TO GET IT

16:58

OVER THE LEGISLATIVE FINISH LINE. SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR

17:01

PERSPECTIVE ON THE OVERALL BUDGET PROCESS THIS YEAR, AND

17:04

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE POLICY ITEMS THAT ULTIMATELY MADE IT IN

17:08

THE FINAL ENACTED BUDGET?

17:10

>> OBVIOUSLY I THINK OUR LEADER CARL HEASTIE ALWAYS DOES A GOOD

17:12

JOB AT MASTERFULLY NEGOTIATING A

17:14

VERY TOUGH BUDGET PROCESS, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE REGIONS

17:18

OF THE STATE, WITH REGARDS TO

17:20

PRIORITIES OF THE STATE, AND TRYING TO COMPROMISE WITH THE

17:23

GOVERNOR. I THINK NO STATE BUDGET IS PERFECT, BUT DEFINITELY THE

17:26

BUDGET REFLECTS THE VALUES OF THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY AND THE

17:30

GOVERNOR. I THINK WE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THINGS

17:33

WITH HOUSING, AGAIN, NOT PERFECT, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO DO

17:36

SOME REALLY AMAZING THINGS IN

17:38

THIS BUDGET. I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY WE WERE

17:40

ABLE TO SAVE DOWNSTATE, WHICH IS PROBABLY TOP OF MIND FOR ME THE

17:43

MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT CAME OUT OF THE STATE BUDGET TO

17:46

RETURN BACK HOME. >> I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED SUNY

17:49

DOWNSTATE. YOU'VE BEEN PRETTY VOCAL ON YOUR

17:51

OPPOSITION TO ANY PLANS TO CLOSE

17:53

DOWN THE HOSPITAL. IT'S NO SECRET THAT SUNY

17:56

DOWNSTATE HAS FACED A LOT OF

17:58

FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES THROUGH THE YEARS, BUT LUCKILY IN THE

18:01

BUDGET, THE BUDGET INCLUDED

18:03

CAPITAL FUNDING FOR THE HOSPITAL

18:05

AND FUNDING TO HELP WITH THE OVERALL OPERATIONS OF THE

18:08

HOSPITAL AND TO IMPLEMENT AN ADVISORY BOARD.

18:11

SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT WAS INCLUDED

18:15

IN THE BUDGET. DO YOU THINK IT IS ENOUGH?

18:17

>> WELL, LET ME SAY THIS. WHILE I'M HAPPY THAT MY BILL

18:20

MADE IT INTO THE BUDGET AND WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE DOWNSTATE

18:23

WITH, LIKE YOU SAID, THE MAKEUP OF A COMMISSION, A COMMUNITY

18:26

ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH IS GOING TO HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF DOWNSTATE, AND OBVIOUSLY THE

18:29

FUNDING, WHICH IS SO CRITICAL, BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD IN JANUARY

18:32

THAT THE HOSPITAL COULD CLOSE BY

18:34

JULY OF THIS YEAR, OBVIOUSLY AN

18:36

INVESTMENT OF $100 MILLION IN

18:40

EXPENSE FOR THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR IS, I THINK, CRITICAL TO

18:42

KEEPING THE HOSPITAL SERVICES OPEN. OBVIOUSLY $50 MILLION YOU

18:46

MENTIONED IS THE CAPITAL, BUT THAT'S THE FLOOR, NOT THE

18:48

CEILING. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SECOND HALF OF THIS FIGHT, WHICH

18:51

IS TWOFOLD. ONE, WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS,

18:54

AND HAVING THE CONGRESS BE READY

18:56

IN TERMS OF FINDING FEDERAL FUNDS AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE

18:59

NEW YEAR. AND THE SECOND PIECE IS REALLY MAKING SURE WE COME BACK TO THE

19:03

TABLE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE COMMISSION SAYS THE HOSPITAL

19:06

NEEDS. IF IT'S A WING, IT'S A WING.

19:08

IF IT'S A BRAND NEW HOSPITAL, STATE OF THE ART, THAT'S WHAT WE

19:11

GET. BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A PROCESS IN WHICH THE

19:13

COMMUNITY CAN WEIGH IN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A PROCESS

19:16

IN WHICH WE ACTUALLY LOOK BACK AND MAKING SURE THAT WE LOOK

19:19

BACK AT HOW MUCH YEAR'S INVESTMENT WE DIDN'T HAVE IN THE

19:21

HOSPITAL, AND WHAT WE NEED FOR

19:24

FUTURE HEALTHCARE. THE LAST PIECE THAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT IS THE FEDERAL

19:27

REIMBURSEMENT RATES, MAKING SURE WE WORK WITH FEDERAL PARTNERS TO

19:30

CLOSE THAT WITH EVERY PROCEDURE DONE ON A MEDICARE AND MEDICAID

19:33

PATIENT DONE AT DOWNSTATE, WE

19:35

RECEIVE 30% LESS FOR THOSE

19:38

FUNDS. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE GET ALL

19:40

OF THAT RESOURCE AND MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE HOSPITAL SUSTAINABLE

19:43

FOR THE FUTURE. >> WHAT WERE YOUR CONVERSATIONS

19:45

LIKE WITH ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE IN THE EXECUTIVE CHAMBER

19:49

AS WELL AS SUNY CHANCELLOR JOHN

19:51

KING ABOUT SAVING THE HOSPITAL THIS YEAR?

19:54

>> ONE, I DID MAKE THE COMMITMENT, BOTH PUBLICLY AND TO

19:58

THE STAKEHOLDERS, THAT I WOULD VOTE NOW ON ANY BUDGET THAT

20:00

CLOSED ANY SERVICES TO DOWNSTATE, AND I THINK THEY

20:03

HEARD THAT VERY LOUD AND CLEAR. THE SECOND PIECE IS WE HAVE TO

20:06

INVEST IN DOWNSTATE. I THINK YOU COVERED IT ABOUT A

20:08

YEAR AGO I BROUGHT COMMISSIONER HEASTIE TO THE DISTRICT, AND WE

20:12

WALKED WITH DOWNSTATE HOSPITAL, AND THERE WAS A COMMITMENT THEN

20:14

TO MAKE SURE THIS WOULD BE A PRIORITY IN THIS BUDGET.

20:17

OBVIOUSLY I WAS SHOCKED EARLIER THIS YEAR THERE WAS A BUDGET

20:19

THAT CAME OUT AND THERE WAS A PLAN THAT DID NOT INCLUDE

20:23

COMMUNITY VOICES. I'M HAPPY THE CHANCELLOR AND I HAVE HAD A GOOD WORKING

20:26

RELATIONSHIP, THE GOVERNOR AND I HAVE A PHENOMENAL WORKING

20:28

RELATIONSHIP, AND THE SPEAKER AND I HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP.

20:31

I THINK, BECAUSE OF THOSE THINGS AND BECAUSE OF COMMUNICATION AND

20:35

BECAUSE OF THE NEEDS AND HOW IMPORTANT DOWNSTATE IS, NOT ONLY

20:37

TO CENTRAL BROOKLYN BUT TO THE MEDICAL FIELD IN GENERAL, YOU

20:40

THINK ABOUT IT DOWNSTATE GRADUATES ONE-THIRD DOCTORS OF

20:43

COLOR NOT ONLY IN THE CITY OR

20:46

THE STATE, BUT IN THE COUNTRY. THIS IS A CRITICAL HOSPITAL,

20:49

IT'S A TEACHING HOSPITAL, AND IT'S ALSO A RESEARCH CENTER

20:52

WHERE THE MRI WAS CREATED. I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY CONVERSATION

20:56

WHERE DOWNSTATE WILL BE CLOSING.

20:58

JUST HAPPY THAT WE'RE BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND TRYING TO

21:01

GET IT TO A PLACE WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE SUSTAINABLE FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS TO 100 YEARS.

21:04

>> AND ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY THAT YOU'VE HAD HAS

21:07

BEEN FOCUSING ON CRACKING DOWN ON EBT THEFT.

21:10

CAN YOU TELL US WHY THIS HAS BEEN IMPORTANT TO YOU AND WHAT

21:14

YOU'VE BEEN HEARING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT HOW EBT THEFT

21:17

HAS IMPACTED NOT ONLY THEIR LIVES BUT ALSO THEIR POCKETS?

21:20

>> YEAH, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE HEAR IN OUR CONSTITUENT

21:24

SERVICE TEAM IS THAT HOUSING IS OBVIOUSLY THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE

21:26

WE FACE, BUT THE SECOND ONE WAS FOOD INSECURITY, AND THE THIRD

21:29

ONE WAS EBT THEFT, WHICH WAS SURPRISING TO ME WHEN I STARTED

21:32

LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR DATA.

21:35

EBT THEFT IS BECOMING A RAPID

21:37

CRIME WHERE BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE EBT CARDS DON'T HAVE CHIP

21:40

TECHNOLOGY AND BECAUSE THERE'S NO NOTIFICATION WHEN SOMEONE'S

21:44

EBT CARD IS COMPROMISED, YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO LITERALLY ARE

21:47

TRYING TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE ON THE REGISTER LINE AT

21:50

THE GROCERY STORE, SWIPING THEIR CARDS, AND FIND OUT AT THAT

21:53

MOMENT THAT THEIR FUNDING HAS

21:56

BEEN STOLEN. MYSELF AND SAM BIRD OF QUEENS

21:58

HAVE TEAMED UP WITH A PACKAGE LEGISLATION REALLY FOCUSED ON

22:01

CRACKING DOWN ON EBT THEFT. ONE OF THOSE BILLS HAVE PASSED

22:05

ALREADY, WHICH IS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE GET NOTIFICATION.

22:08

AND THE SECOND PIECE IS NOW REALLY HOLDING PEOPLE

22:10

ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. ANYONE WHO CAN STEAL FOOD FROM A

22:14

FAMILY IS WORTHY OF POTENTIALLY FACING A COURT AND SEEING A

22:18

JUDGE. SO WE'RE WORKING ON THE SECOND

22:20

PART OF THIS LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE THAT NO FAMILY IN THE STATE

22:22

OF NEW YORK GOES HUNGRY, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE BEING

22:25

SUBSIDIZED BY THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH FOOD

22:28

SUPPORT SERVICES. >> AND AS YOU UNDERSCORED,

22:31

HOUSING CONTINUES TO BE A VERY

22:33

SERIOUS CRISIS BOTH IN NEW YORK STATE AND NEW YORK CITY, AND IT

22:36

IS CERTAINLY AN ISSUE THAT TOOK UP A LOT OF THE OXYGEN WHEN I

22:40

WAS SPEAKING TO LEADERS ABOUT THE BUDGET NEGOTIATION.

22:43

SO WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE HOUSING PROPOSAL THAT WAS

22:46

INCLUDED IN THE FINAL ENACTED BUDGET?

22:49

>> AGAIN, I THINK NO BUDGET IS PERFECT, AND I THINK THE

22:51

INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS HOUSING PROTECTION IS THE

22:53

HOUSING PLAN THAT WAS PASSED, IT

22:55

HAD FOUR PARTS. IT HAD SOME TENANT PROTECTIONS,

22:58

WHICH, AGAIN, WE CAN NEVER GO TOO FAR IN TENANT PROTECTION.

23:02

I THINK WE AUTOMOBILE NEED TO DO MORE TO PROTECT TENANTS,

23:05

PARTICULARLY TENANTS WHO ARE PAYING THEIR RENTS AND BEING

23:07

SOMETIMES ABUSED BY UNSCRUPULOUS LANDLORDS.

23:10

WE DID SOMETHING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IN TERMS

23:12

OF MAKING SURE THERE'S INCENTIVES TO DEVELOP, WITH SOME

23:15

TAX ABATEMENTS. WE KNOW THE COST OF DEVELOPMENT

23:17

IS EXPENSIVE, PARTICULARLY IN NEW YORK STATE AND THE CITY

23:20

SPECIFICALLY. SO WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ON

23:22

THE TAX PIECE. AND THE LAST PIECE, WHERE WE DID

23:24

SOMETHING WITH LABOR, REALLY WORKING TOWARDS WAGES THAT ALLOW

23:28

THE PEOPLE WHO BUILD OUR COMMUNITIES TO STAY IN OUR

23:30

COMMUNITIES AND HAVE THE KIND OF PROTECTION OF THE JOB WHERE THEY

23:33

WON'T BE HURT. I THINK BY DOING SOME OF THOSE

23:35

THINGS, AGAIN, ANY TIME YOU LEAVE A NEGOTIATION TABLE THAT

23:38

NOBODY IS COMPLETELY HAPPY, I THINK THAT MEANS WE HAVE A

23:41

REALLY GOOD NEGOTIATION BECAUSE THERE WERE PIECES THAT PEOPLE

23:44

HAD TO GIVE UP AT THE TABLE AND PIECES THAT GOT INCLUDED.

23:46

I THINK, AGAIN, THIS HOUSING PLAN THAT THE SPEAKER, THE

23:49

GOVERNOR, AND THE LEADER OF THE SENATE PUT TOGETHER ALONG WITH

23:52

US IS ONE THAT WE CAN BUILD ON.

23:54

AGAIN, MOST OF THESE THINGS ARE FIRST STEPS, THEY'RE NOT THE

23:56

FINAL STEP. THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE WORK TO

23:58

DO, PARTICULARLY IN TENANT PROTECTIONS, PARTICULARLY ON

24:01

MAKING SURE OUR MWBE COMMUNITIES ARE INCLUDED AND LOCAL

24:05

DEVELOPERS ARE INCLUDED. BUT I THINK IT'S THE FIRST STEP,

24:08

AND WE HAVE ANOTHER TWO MONTHS TO WORK ON REALLY THOUGHTFUL

24:10

POLICY PIECES THAT I THINK ENHANCE WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR.

24:14

>> AS WE HEAD INTO THE LAST TWO MONTHS OF THE LEGISLATIVE

24:16

SESSION, WHAT IS YOUR MINDSET TO ENSURE IT IS THE MOST

24:20

SUCCESSFUL, AND ALSO WHAT IS YOUR MINDSET AS YOU GEAR UP FOR

24:23

RE-ELECTION THIS YEAR?

24:25

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF THIS

24:28

SESSION, THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR IS OBVIOUSLY MAKING SURE WE

24:31

HAVE A BUDGET THAT'S A WORKING DOCUMENT OF OUR VALUES, OUR

24:34

COLLECTIVE VALUES, AND NOW WE WORK ON THE POLICY PIECE, SO THE

24:36

SECOND HALF IS REALLY JUST ZONING IN ON POLICY FOR MY TEAM

24:40

AND I, WE HAVE ALREADY MET TWICE THIS WEEK ALREADY THINKING ABOUT

24:43

THE PIECES OF LEGISLATION WE WANT TO PRIORITIZE TOWARDS THE

24:45

SEND OF THIS SESSION. FOR ME AND MY STAFF, WHAT WE DO

24:48

IS REALLY LOOK AT OUR CONSTITUENT SERVICE CASE THAT'S

24:52

COME IN, AND WE TRY TO PARALLEL OR JUXTAPOSE THAT TO SOME OF THE

24:56

ISSUES WE'RE SEEING AND SOME OF THE BILLS WE HAVE AND REALLY

24:58

MAKING SURE WE GET THOSE ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

25:00

ALWAYS IN THAT LIST IS EDUCATION. ALWAYS IN THAT LIST IS HOUSING.

25:03

ALWAYS IN THAT LIST IS ACCESS TO FOOD.

25:06

AND OBVIOUSLY I THINK THE STATE

25:08

HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF MATERNAL HEALTH OVER THE LAST

25:11

COUPLE OF MONTHS AS WELL, FIRST IN THE NATION TO PROVIDE

25:14

PRENATAL MATERNAL HEALTH. WITH SO MANY OF THE STATES

25:18

AROUND THE COUNTRY CHIPPING AWAY WOMEN'S HEALTH AND AUTONOMY, WE

25:22

WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN KEEP THE FIGHT OUT HERE IN NEW YORK.

25:25

SO I THINK THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF THINGS WE CAN DO THE NEXT TWO

25:27

MONTHS. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT BEING REELECTED

25:31

AND COMING BACK OVER TWO YEARS AND DOING SOME WORK IN THE NEXT

25:33

FEW YEARS. >> THERE'S SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE'LL

25:38

HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE FOR NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING

25:40

US, ASSEMBLY MEMBER. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

25:43

LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR NEXT CONVERSATION. >> ABSOLUTELY.

25:45

AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER BRIAN

25:47

CUNNINGHAM. >> AND AS THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER

25:52

UNDERSCORED, WITH JUST A FEW WEEKS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE

25:55

SESSION AND THE BUDGET FINALLY

25:57

OUT OF THE WAY, LAWMAKERS WILL BE WORKING HARD TO GET THE REST

26:01

OF THEIR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

26:03

OVER THE FINISH LINE. AND WE'LL BRING YOU UPDATES ON

26:06

THOSE POLICY ISSUES, RIGHT HERE

26:08

ON THE SHOW AND ONLINE ON OUR

26:10

WEBSITE. THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

26:14

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

26:17

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK. >> FUNDING FOR NEW YORK NOW IS

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26:34

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