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

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

THIS WEEK, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP MOVED TO REJECT APPROVAL OF THE CONGESTION PRICING PROGRAM IN NEW YORK CITY.

IN A STATEMENT, FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY SEAN DUFFY CALLED THE PROGRAM, QUOTE, A SLAP IN THE FACE TO WORKING CLASS AMERICANS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

IN RESPONSE, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SHOWED FORCE AT A PRESS CONFERENCE.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT NEW YORK WOULD LEGALLY CHALLENGE THE DECISION IN COURT.

AND THAT WAS NOT THE ONLY EVENT ON THE GOVERNOR'S DOCKET THIS WEEK.

NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS IS FACING GROWING CALLS FOR HIM TO EITHER RESIGN OR BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE BY THE GOVERNOR.

THIS ALL COMES AFTER A FEDERAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP SENT A LETTER TO PROSECUTORS URGING THEM TO DROP THE CRIMINAL CORRUPTION CHARGES AGAINST THE MAYOR.

THERE HAS BEEN MUCH SPECULATION ABOUT THE POLITICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADAMS AND TRUMP.

SINCE THEN, FOUR DEPUTY MAYORS UNDER ADAMS HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR RESIGNATION.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SPENT THE WEEK WEIGHING THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF THE MAYOR AND MET WITH SEVERAL LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS IN NEW YORK CITY.

BY THE END OF THE WEEK, HOCHUL DECIDED TO IMPOSE INCREASED OVERSIGHT OVER THE MAYOR'S OFFICE INSTEAD OF FULLY REMOVING HIM AT THIS TIME.

TO UNPACK THE LATEST NEWS AROUND ADAMS AND THE COMPLEX POLITICAL POSITIONING OF THE GOVERNOR, HERE'S OUR ELISE KLINE WITH A REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE.

SHE'S JOINED BY JON CAMPBELL OF WNYC AND GOTHAMIST AND MICHAEL GORMLEY OF NEWS DAY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THERE'S A LOT TO GET INTO WITH ERIC ADAMS AND HIS HANDLE ON THE CITY.

I WANT TO START BY TALKING ABOUT THE CRIMINAL CORRUPTION CHARGES THAT STARTED IT ALL AND THE MANY STAFF RESIGNATIONS THAT HAVE FOLLOWED SINCE.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF EVERYTHING WHEN IT STARTED TO UNFOLD?

WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE ON ALL THAT?

>> WELL, I MEAN, THIS UNFOLDED-- STARTED TO UNFOLD BACK IN SEPTEMBER.

THAT'S WHEN FEDERAL PROSECUTORS CHARGE ERIC ADAM WITH BRIBERY AND FRAUD AND ACCUSED HIM OF ACCEPTING LAVISH TRAVEL PERKS FROM THE TURKISH NATIONALS IN EXCHANGE FOR GOVERNMENTAL FAVORS, AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, KEPT ON UNTIL-- UNTIL RECENTLY WHERE IT'S REALLY, REALLY EXPLODED IN THE PUBLIC VIEW WHEN DONALD TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION PUSHED PROSECUTORS TO DROP THE CASE, ORDERED THEM TO DROP THE CASE.

THAT'S GOING ON NOW IN FEDERAL COURT.

JUDGE DALE HO HAS TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO DISMISS THE CASE.

HIS HANDS ARE KIND OF TIED.

HE PRETTY MUCH HAS TO.

THAT REALLY SPURRED ALL THESE RESIGNATIONS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.

NOT JUST IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, FOUR DEPUTY MAYORS HAVE RESIGNED BUT ALSO WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, A HANDFUL OF PROSECUTORS HAVE STEPPED DOWN IN PROTEST OF THIS, ACCUSING THE MAYOR OF TRADING HIS COOPERATION WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN FOR THE DISMISSAL OF THIS CASE.

IT'S CREATED A MAJOR FIRE STORM BOTH IN NEW YORK CITY AND ALBANY BECAUSE KATHY HOCHUL, THE GOVERNOR, HAS THE ABILITY UNDER STATE AND CITY LAW TO REMOVE THE MAYOR.

SHE'S CHOSEN NOT TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST REALLY BEEN A MAJOR, MAJOR FIRE STORM IN ALBANY AND NEW YORK CITY.

>> I WOULD AGREE.

IT'S CREATED QUITE A LOT OF CHAOS, JUST HOW IT'S UNFOLDING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THIS COULD BE A HISTORIC MOMENT IN THE STATE.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION OF ERIC ADAMS BEGAN UNDER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, A DEMOCRAT, AND THEN WHEN TRUMP CAME IN, THE REPUBLICAN, THAT'S WHEN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DECIDED THEY DIDN'T WANT TO PURSUE THIS.

THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SUSPENSION.

IMPORTANTLY, THOUGH, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR TO SUSPEND THE CHARGES BUT NOT ELIMINATE THEM SO THEY COULD COME BACK AT SOME POINT, AND THAT'S PART OF WHERE DEMOCRATS ARE CONCERNED THAT ERIC ADAMS HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.

THEIR ACCUSATIONS ARE THAT HE'S BEING COERCED BY TRUMP TO DO TRUMP'S BIDDING ON IMMIGRATION AND PROBABLY OTHER ISSUES AND KATHY HOCHUL ON THURSDAY CAME OUT WITH A PROPOSAL THAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE JUST LIKE BY EVERYONE, WHICH IN POLITICS AS YOU KNOW, PROBABLY MEANS IT'S PRETTY GOOD.

SHE WANTS TO PUT GUARDRAILS ON WHAT ERIC ADAMS CAN AND CAN'T DO.

KATHY HOCHUL'S PROPOSAL INCLUDES BRINGING MORE STATE OVERSIGHT INTO HOW THE CITY OVERRUNS AND ALSO ALLOWING THE CONTROL-- CITY COMPTROLLER, THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE AND THE COUNCIL SPEAKER TO SUE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IF ERIC ADAMS DOESN'T.

THAT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT POWER.

NORMALLY NOW THE MAYOR WOULD DIRECT THAT SORT OF THING.

SO THERE'S A LOT MORE OVERSIGHT AND THERE'S MORE CONTROLS UNDER KATHY HOCHUL'S PROPOSAL.

>> IT'S INTERESTING TO ALSO SEE-- TAKE A LOOK AT HOW ADAMS HAS BEEN HANDLING ALL OF THIS AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE DOJ MEMO CAME OUT.

ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT THE-- THEY WANT TO SUSPEND THE CHARGES BECAUSE IT WOULD IMPEDE THE MAYOR'S ABILITY TO WORK WITH TRUMP ON IMMIGRATION.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF, I GUESS, THE TIMING OF ALL OF THIS WITH THE MEMO COMING OUT AND HOW ADAMS HAS RESPONDED WITH HIS FRAMING OF IT?

HE'S KIND OF USED IT IT SEEMS IN AN EXAMPLE, IN A SENSE IN A WAY?

>> THE MEMO YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WAS FROM AN ACTING DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL, EMIL BOVE, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, IT PRETTY EXPLICITLY TIE THOSE TWO ISSUES TOGETHER.

ESSENTIALLY SAYING THE CHARGES AGAINST THE MAYOR WERE DISTRACTING FROM HIS ABILITY TO COOPERATE WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS AND RIGHT AFTER THAT, YOU SAW THE MAYOR GO ON FOX AND FRIENDS, FOX NEWS PROGRAM, WITH TOM HOLDMAN, THE PRESIDENT'S BORDER CZAR, JOINT APPEARANCE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO ALLOW ICE ONTO RIKER'S ISLAND, THE MASSIVE JAIL COMPLEX IN NEW YORK CITY, WHICH ANGERED A LOT OF MAYOR ADAMS' FELLOW DEMOCRATS.

SO YOU KNOW, THIS IS-- IT IS A DIFFICULT SPOT FOR A LOT OF DEMOCRATS, A LOT OF THEM ARE JUST ANGERED BY THAT MEMO AND BY WHAT THEY SEE AS MAYOR ADAMS UNDER THE THUMB OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

NOW, I'VE HEARD SOME OF THE PUSHBACK TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S PROPOSALS SAYING, WELL, KATHY HOCHUL IS DOING THE SAME THING TO ERIC ADAMS.

SHE WANTS TO PUT HIM UNDER HER THUMB.

SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE HERE.

THAT'S SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT WE'LL GET PLAYED OUT OVER THE COMING DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS MAYBE.

>> GOVERNOR HOCHUL MAY HAVE SYNTHESIZED THE ARGUMENT VERY WELL YESTERDAY.

SHE SAID THERE'S A FINE LINE BETWEEN COOPERATION AND COERCION AND THAT'S THE ISSUE.

>> AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS COME OUT PUBLICLY KIND OF OPPOSING HOCHUL, VERY DIFFERENT STANCE ON HE'S CALLED ON HIM TO RESIGN, SAYING PUBLICLY ON TWITTER THAT THE CITY DESERVES A MAYOR WHO IS BEHOLDEN TO THE PEOPLE NOT THE PRESIDENT.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THEIR KIND OF SPLIT ON THIS?

>> WELL, I GUESS I WOULD JUST SAY GENERALLY, IT'S A LOT EASIER TO SAY YOU WANT SOME ACTION, LIKE SOMEONE TO RESIGN, WHEN IT'S NOT YOUR POWER TO MAKE THEM RESIGN.

SO IT'S MORE DIFFICULT POSITION FOR GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND MUCH EASIER FOR PEOPLE ON THE SIDE LINES TO SAY.

IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ISN'T SINCERE ABOUT THIS.

USUALLY RIGHT, BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT BALL GAME WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN ALBANY WHO ARE SAYING EITHER REMOVE THE MAYOR OR MAKE HIM RESIGN AND HOCHUL HAS TO MAKE THE DECISION.

SO SHE CAN'T MAKE THIS LIGHTLY AT ALL.

>> THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY IS IT DOES FURTHER HIGHLIGHT THE DIVIDE BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

THE GOVERNOR DID PUT ANTONIO DELGADO INTO THAT POSITION.

SHE APPOINTED HIM INTO THAT ROLE.

THEY WERE ELECTED AFTER THAT TOGETHER.

BUT ANTONIO DELGADO TOLD REPORTERS I SERVE WITH THE GOVERNOR.

I DO NOT SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE GOVERNOR.

HE'S MADE SOME NOISE ABOUT POTENTIALLY RUNNING FOR HIGHER OFFICE SOME DAY.

>> RIGHT.

I WAS KIND OF CURIOUS ABOUT THAT, IF HE WAS SEPARATING HIMSELF IN A WAY BECAUSE MAYBE HE'S TRYING TO BUILD A PLATFORM IN A WAY OF POTENTIALLY RUNNING FOR HIGHER OFFICE.

>> CERTAINLY COULD BE THE CASE.

HE DIDN'T-- WHEN HE SPOKE TO REPORTERS AND OUR FRIENDS AT THE CAPITOL PRESS ROOM, HE VERY MUCH DID NOT WADE INTO POLITICS MUCH, BUT THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, HE'S A POLITICIAN AND THAT'S-- THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

THEY BUILD THEIR PLATFORM AND THEY TRY TO BUILD THEIR PROFILE AND THIS IS CERTAINLY PART OF IT.

>> WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE MEETINGS THE GOVERNOR HAD FROM YOUR REPORTING EARLIER THIS WEEK WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS WHEN SHE WAS WEIGHING THE DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO REMOVE HIM?

AS WE TALKED ABOUT, SHE SAID AT THIS TIME, SHE'S NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

COULD THAT COME UP AGAIN?

WILL SHE MAKE THAT DECISION DOWN THE LINE?

>> THAT WAS EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE GOVERNOR HELD A SERIES OF ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS IN HER MANHATTAN OFFICE WITH NEW YORK CITY GOVERNMENT LEADERS, CIVIC LEADERS, PEOPLE LIKE THE REVEREND AL SHARPTON AND PEOPLE LIKE GREGORY MEEKS, THE QUEENS CONGRESSMEN, PEOPLE LIKE DONOVAN RICHARDS, THE QUEENS BURROUGH PRESIDENT, ADRIENNE ADAMS, THE CITY COUNCIL LEADER, JUST TRYING TO GAUGE THEIR OPINION ON WHAT SHE SHOULD DO WITH MAYOR ADAMS.

SHE CAME OUT OF THAT MEETING SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE REVEREND SHARPTON IS SAYING, HEY, WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE JUDGE DOES WITH THIS CASE.

WAIT TO SEE WHETHER HE DISMISSES.

THE NEXT DAY, SHE DID COME OUT WITH THAT PROPOSAL, WHERE SHE SAID SHE'S NOT GOING TO REMOVE THE MAYOR BUT DOES WANT TO INSTALL THESE GUARDRAILS AND THAT'S WHAT CAME OF THOSE MEETINGS AND THAT BROUGHT US TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.

>> AND A LIST OF PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED THAT MEETING I WOULD PUT REVEREND AL SHARPTON AT THE TOP.

NEW YORK POLITICS, RACE RUNS THROUGH ALMOST EVERY ISSUE, AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES.

WE SHOULD BE WATCHING WHAT REVEREND SHARPTON HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

IF HE CHANGES HIS MIND ON THIS AND ASKS ERIC ADAM TO RESIGN, HE PROBABLY WILL RESIGN OR BE REMOVED.

>> AND I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT SHE HAD ALSO HIGHLIGHTED IT WOULD BE DISRUPTIVE FOR NEW YORKERS TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE MAYOR IN ONE YEAR, HAVING SOMEONE TO STEP IN IF ADAMS WERE TO BE REMOVED AND HAVING THE ELECTION HAPPEN.

I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING THAT SHE HAD MENTIONED THAT.

>> YEAH.

THERE'S ALSO THIS UNDERCURRENT OF BUBBLING UNDERNEATH OF ANDREW CUOMO.

ANDREW CUOMO, WHEN HE RESIGNED AND ELEVATED KATHY HOCHUL TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, IS FLIRTING WITH A RUN FOR NEW YORK CITY MAYOR RIGHT NOW, AND I MEAN, FLIRTING MIGHT BE PUTTING IT LIGHTLY.

HE IS MAKING MOVES BEHIND THE SCENES, HIM AND HIS ALLIES, ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

NOW IT'S NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL HE SAYS IT'S OFFICIAL.

SO YOU KNOW, IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET.

IT IS LOOKING MORE AND LIKE HE WILL JUMP INTO THE RACE, BUT IT'S NOT DONE UNTIL IT'S DONE.

BUT THAT IS A MAJOR, MAJOR THING HERE BECAUSE HE-- HE DID NOT GET ALONG WELL WITH KATHY HOCHUL AND THE NEW YORK CITY MAYOR AND THE GOVERNOR CONSISTENTLY HAVE NOT GOTTEN ALONG WELL OVER THE YEARS AND ANDREW CUOMO SHOULD KNOW THAT BECAUSE HE VERY FAMOUSLY BATTLED WITH BILL DI BLASIO WHEN HE WAS NEW YORK CITY MAYOR.

>> WHAT'S VERY INTERESTING ABOUT THIS IS GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS THESE PROPOSALS FOR MORE CONTROL AND OVERSIGHT OF THE CITY THAT WOULD CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR BUT COULD BE CONTINUED.

THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE FOR FORMER GOVERNOR CUOMO, IF HE BECAME MAYOR.

>> THERE ARE CERTAINLY MANY OTHER CHALLENGES THAT ARE GOING TO COME UP AND WE COULD EVEN POTENTIALLY SEE ADAMS GET PRIMARIED OUT IF HE DOESN'T END UP BEING THE PERSON CHOSEN FOR THE PRIMARY IN JUNE.

I GUESS WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

>> YEAH.

THERE'S A WIDE PRIMARY FIELD RIGHT NOW AND ERIC ADAMS' NUMBERS ARE NOT LOOKING GOOD IN THE POLLS RIGHT NOW.

>> AND HE'S GOT SO MUCH MORE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION IS NOTHING TO DROP ESPECIALLY IF IT COULD COME BACK AT HIM.

HE'S GOT A CONCERN THERE.

PROBABLY MORE THAN PRIMARY AT THIS POINT.

>> WELL, CERTAINLY A LOT TO PAY ATTENTION TO AND A LOT OF THINGS.

PROBABLY LIKELY TO HAPPEN AT THE CAPITOL THAT WE'LL BE SEEING LAWMAKERS CONTINUE TO REACT ON THIS, BUT THAT'S UNFORTUNATELY ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR SITTING DOWN TO SPEAK WITH US.

WE WERE SPEAKING WITH MIKE GORMLEY FROM NEWS DAY AND JON CAMPBELL FROM GOTHAMIST AND WNYC.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND FOR MORE ERIC ADAMS' NEWS, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOPIC.

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE SAT DOWN WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER MICHAELLE SOLAGES TO UNPACK PRIORITIES FOR THE BLACK, PUERTO RICAN, HISPANIC, AND ASIAN LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS THIS YEAR.

THE CAUCUS IS ABOUT 80 MEMBERS STRONG AND HAS RELEASED WHAT THEY CALL THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET FRAMEWORK FOCUSED ON AGENCY AND ACTION.

HERE'S THAT INTERVIEW.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME HERE TODAY, ASSEMBLY MEMBER.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AS CHAIR OF THE BLACK, PUERTO RICAN, BLACK AND ASIAN CAUCUS, I WANTED TO GET YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOUR PRIORITIES ARE FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THIS YEAR.

>> WE'RE IN AN IMPORTANT TIME AND SPACE RIGHT NOW WHEN IT COMES TO NEW YORK HISTORY AND EVEN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY.

OUR COMMUNITIES ARE UNDER ATTACK, WHETHER IT'S BLACK, HISPANIC, PUERTO RICAN OR ASIAN, WE ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITY IN THIS STATE.

SO THIS YEAR, WE HAVE COME OUT WITH BUDGET PRIORITIES.

WE CALL THEM OUR-- OUR FUN TAGLINE IS THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET FRAMEWORK AND THE TAGLINE UNDER THAT IS AGENCY IN ACTION.

BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO UPLIFT THEMSELVES AND SO OUR PRIORITIES ARE FROM THE LIST OF MANY THINGS, INCLUDING AND JUST TALKING BIG PICTURE, ENSURING THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH REVENUE TO FUND PROGRAMS, ENSURING THAT PEOPLE HAVE HOUSING, ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, CHILD CARE, THE LIST GOES ON.

IT'S A QUITE A BIG DOCUMENT, BUT WE HAVE MANY TOP PRIORITIES THAT WE FEEL WE CAN GET DONE IN THIS SESSION.

>> YEAH.

AND I DID GET A CHANCE TO LOOK LIEU THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET AND I SAW A FOCUS ON AFFORDABILITY, WHICH, OF COURSE, IS A MAIN FOCUS THIS YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR HAS HIGHLIGHTED AFFORDABILITY BEING ONE OF HER PRIORITIES IN HER EXECUTIVE BUDGET AND STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE STRATEGY WILL BE TO GET THE GOVERNOR TO WHERE YOUR CAUCUS IS IN TERMS OF ADDING AFFORDABILITY IN THE STATE.

>> I THINK AFFORDABILITY IS ONE OF TOP PRIORITIES FOR ALL NEW YORKERS AND WE SAW IN THIS LAST ELECTION, PEOPLE WENT TO THE BALLOT BOX.

YOU KNOW, CALLING FOR AFFORDABILITY.

AND SO WE ARE ALIGNED WITH-- SOME OF INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE PRESENTED IN THE NEXT EXECUTIVE BUDGET, BUT WITH OUR PEOPLES BUDGET, WE CALL FOR INCREASED FUNDING FOR CHILD CARE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FOUNDATION AID FORMULA AND TARGETING IT TOWARDS COMMUNITIES OF NEED, ESPECIALLY IN, YOU KNOW, LOW WEALTH COMMUNITIES.

WE KNOW, DEPENDING ON YOUR ZIP CODE, YOU DON'T GET ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION, AND SO WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE FOUNDATION AID FORMULA IS TARGETING, YOU KNOW, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, THOSE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, AND GREAT NEEDS, HOMELESSNESS, FOSTER CARE YOUTH, THOSE ITEMS AND SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE CALLING FOR ADDITIONAL MONEYS FOR THAT.

>> AND YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF PRIORITIES THAT YOU OUTLINE.

SO I'M CURIOUS BECAUSE THE BODY IS PRETTY LARGE IN ITS NATURE.

IT'S ABOUT 80 MEMBERS.

SO HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS OF THE MEMBERS WITH THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE CAUCUS AT THE FOREFRONT OF YOUR WORK?

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT COLLABORATION.

I AM GRATEFUL TO BE WORKING WITH SO MANY MEMBERS WHO TRULY CARE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND OUR CAUCUS IS VERY DIVERSE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM BUFFALO ALL THE WAY TO MONTAUK.

WE EVEN HAVE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WORKING SIDE BY SIDE TOGETHER TO PUT FORTH AN INITIATIVE.

AND WE, AT TIMES, STRUGGLE TO COLLABORATE, BUT AT THE END OF DAY, WE REALIZE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT AND THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE NOT A MONOLITH.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE IN POVERTY AND THOSE WHO ARE WELL OFF, AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ADVANCE ALL OF US AND UPLIFT ALL OF US IS THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK TOGETHER.

IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

SO WE DO WORK TOGETHER.

IT'S DIFFICULT AT TIMES.

IT'S MESSY.

BUT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A COMMON GOAL OF UPLIFTING NEW YORKERS.

>> AND OF COURSE, AT THE TIME THAT WE'RE FILMING THIS, IT IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THE THEME THIS YEAR IN NEW YORK STATE WHICH IS BLACK HISTORY IS NEW YORK STATE HISTORY.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU PERSONALLY?

>> IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGING OUR PAST BUT MAKING PROGRESS FOR THE FUTURE.

WE DON'T WANT TO RELIVE THE PAST.

WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE GAINING ACCESS TO RESOURCES, SUPPORT, HELP, AND LEADING A FUTURE THAT WILL BE SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT.

WE KNOW THAT IN OUR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS, YOU KNOW, THE STATISTICS ARE AGAINST US AND NOT IN OUR FAVOR.

SO THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHERE WE ARE LOOKING AT POLICY AND CALLING FOR SYSTEMATIC CHANGES.

YOU CAN SEE JUST THE OTHER DAY, YOU KNOW, THE MURDER OF ROBERT BROOKS.

SOMEONE WHO IS INCARCERATED.

HE WAS MURDERED.

AND AS A CAUCUS, WE'RE CALLING FOR HIS-- HIS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CALLING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.

WE'RE CALLING FOR JUSTICE, AND IN THIS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, IT REMINDS US THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE MADE PROGRESS BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT WE HAVE TO DO FOR FOLKS ESPECIALLY THE MOST MARGINALIZED OF US.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND ALSO AT THE TIME THAT WE'RE FILMING THIS, YOU'RE GEARING UP FOR THE 2025 CONFERENCE OF THE NEW YORK STATE OF BLACK, PUERTO RICAN, HISPANIC AND ASIAN LEGISLATORS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE LEADING SOME WORKSHOPS IN THAT CONFERENCE.

SO CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> SO THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET DOCUMENT WHICH IS READILY AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE-- I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO READ IT-- IS A DOCUMENT THAT WE TAKE MONTHS AND MONTHS TO FORMULATE.

WHEN THE CAUCUS WEEKEND HAPPENS, THE LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR FINAL BUDGET DOCUMENT TO THE PUBLIC, AND SO WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ATTEND OUR WORKSHOP.

IT'S USUALLY IN THE MORNING BECAUSE WE WANT TO KICK OFF WITH PRIORITIES AND POLICIES AND WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE CAUCUS, FROM HOUSING, TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WE PRESENT THE BUDGET BOOK AND PEOPLE CAN TAKE IT HOME.

THEY CAN DIGEST IT ONLINE, BUT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TO US SPEAK TO OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR WORKSHOP.

WE ALSO HAVE OTHER ITEMS, RECEPTIONS THAT WE PARTICIPATE BUT THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET WORKSHOP IS OUR MAIN PRIORITY BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO HELP US PUSH THIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA RIGHT HERE IN THIS SESSION.

>> SOUNDS REALLY EXCITING.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU WERE ALSO THE ASSEMBLY SPONSOR OF THE BILL THAT FORMED THE STATE COMMISSION TO STUDY REPARATIONS.

NOW THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN HARD AT WORK AND HAVE BEEN HAVING THEIR FIRST FEW MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS.

I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON WHAT YOU ARE HOPING THE COMMISSION WILL ACHIEVE IN THE NEXT YEAR?

I KNOW THEY WILL BE COMING OUT WITH A REPORT SOON.

>> I'M JUST EXCITED.

REPARATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FOREIGN CONCEPT, BUT WE'VE MADE IT A REALITY HERE IN NEW YORK STATE AND THE COMMISSION, WHICH WE'LL BE PRESENTING ALSO DURING CAUCUS WEEKEND AND MANY TIMES AFTER, IS REALLY DOING A GOOD JOB AT ENGAGING FOLKS, NEW YORKERS, DOING OUTREACH, PUBLIC HEARINGS, YOU KNOW, NETWORKING.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DOING WHAT'S NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT WE COME UP WITH A DOCUMENT THAT REPRESENTS NEW YORKERS' FEELINGS ON REPARATIONS.

IT'S REALLY EXCITING.

I LOVE TO SEE THEM DO THEIR WORK.

I'M ACTUALLY WATCHING IT FROM AFAR BECAUSE WE WANT A TRULY INDEPENDENT COMMISSION.

WE WANT AN INDEPENDENT REPORT THAT WILL REFLECT NOT ONLY THE HISTORY THAT WE'VE LIVED, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO MOVE FORWARD TO BUILD A BETTER NEW YORK ESPECIALLY THROUGH BLACK AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN NEW YORK STATE.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S INTERESTING.

BECAUSE I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO ASK IF YOU HAD ANY INSIGHT INTO THEIR PROGRESS AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT IS COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT.

SO WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMISSION TO BE STRUCTURED IN A WAY THAT IT DOES HAVE ITS INDEPENDENCE IN >> IT'S NICE.

I WANT TO ENSURE, WHEN DRAFTING LEGISLATION, WHEN PUSHING THE LEGISLATION, THAT THIS WASN'T A POLITICAL CONVERSATION.

BECAUSE THE PLIGHTS OF BLACKS IS REAL AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO-- THE SYSTEMATIC INJUSTICE THAT WE EXPERIENCE, WE NEED TO DISMANTLE.

AND SO THIS COMMISSION IS GOING TO DO THAT.

I HOPE THAT THEY DO THAT.

I FEEL THAT THEY ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND THEY ARE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S A REPORT THAT'S INDEPENDENT, THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS AT THE POLICY AND ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED AND COME UP WITH CONCEPTS THAT REALLY CAN MOVE US FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS IMPORTANT ARE TO IT TO BE NOT-- I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY EVERYTHING IS POLITICAL, BUT NOT TO BE CONFINED BY THE POLITICAL CONSTRAINTS THAT MAYBE LIKE MYSELF OR OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS LIVE BY.

>> AND WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR OWN CONSTITUENTS AND NEW YORKERS ABOUT HOW THEY'RE FEELING ABOUT THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION?

>> THEY'RE EXCITED.

I MEAN, THE WORK IS SLOW.

ONLY BECAUSE-- BECAUSE THE COMMISSION WAS INDEPENDENT, IT REQUIRED THE COMMISSION TO HIRE STAFF, WHICH IF ANYONE KNOWS STATE GOVERNMENT, IT'S SOMETIMES A LONG PROCESS TO HIRE STAFF, AND SINCE THE COMMISSION IS-- YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT LIKE REPARATIONS IS HAPPENING IN EVERY OTHER STATE.

THERE'S ONLY ONE STATE THAT ACTUALLY HAS COME UP WITH A REPARATIONS REPORT.

THIS IS NEW TERRITORY.

SO THE COMMISSION HAD TO HIRE STAFF.

THEY HAD TO FIGURE OUT THEMSELVES WHERE THEY STAND.

THEY HAD TO SCHEDULE MEETINGS.

THEY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, GO AND FIGURE OUT WHAT PART OF THE STATE THEY'RE GOING TO VISIT NEXT.

SO IT'S A LONG PROCESS.

SOMETIMES TEDIOUS PROCESS AND AGAIN, THIS IS-- THIS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE BUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP.

SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME.

I KNOW THAT WHEN WE ORIGINALLY PASSED THE LEGISLATION, WE PUT A TIME LINE IN IT BECAUSE OUR WORRY IS THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN AND WE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THIS INDEPENDENT COMMISSION WAS ABLE TO FORM AND COME TOGETHER QUICKLY.

AND COME UP WITH A REPORT QUICKLY BECAUSE WE CAN'T WAIT.

OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SUFFERING.

SO I FEEL THAT THE COMMISSION IS DOING A GOOD JOB WITH BUILDING UP (GIGGLES) FROM SCRATCH AND MOVING FORWARD TO COME UP OR TO CREATING A REPORT THAT COULD REALLY BE IMPACTFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> AND ONCE YOU HAVE THAT REPORT, HOW WERE YOU HOPING THAT IT WILL IMPACT THE WAY THAT YOU LEGISLATE HERE IN ALBANY?

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT REPORT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A DIRECT LINE TO WHAT NEW YORKERS WANTED AND SO NOW WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE TOOLS AND WEAPONS NEEDED TO BREAK DOWN SYSTEMATIC RACISM IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT REPORT AND POINT TO ACTIONABLE ITEMS.

>> AND LASTLY, WHAT ARE SOME YOUR LONG-TERM GOALS FOR THE CAUCUS?

WHERE ARE YOU HOPING TO SEE IT LAND IN THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS?

>> I HOPE THAT THE CAUCUS GROWS.

THE CAUCUS ORIGINALLY STARTED OFF WITH FOUR MEMBERS.

YOU KNOW THIS IS BACK 54 YEARS AGO.

SO NOW WE HAVE ALMOST 80 MEMBERS, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING, AND I HOPE THAT THE CAUCUS GROWS IN NUMBERS, WHICH IS GOING TO REFLECT THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE.

WITH REGARDS TO POLICY, I'M EXCITED THAT THE CAUCUS, WE HAVE A LOT OF CHAIRS.

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS LIKE THE GREAT SPEAKER HEASTIE AND OUR SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS, BUT I WANT TO SEE MORE CAUCUS MEMBERS IN LEADERSHIP, IN CHAIRMANSHIPS IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS, BOTH IN THE LEGISLATURE AND ALSO OUTSIDE THE LEGISLATURE.

THE CAUCUS IS VERY INVOLVED IN APPOINTMENTS, AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATIVES WITHIN STATE GOVERNMENT LIKE COMMISSIONS, LEADERS OF STATE AGENCIES ARE ALSO REFLECTIVE OF THE POPULATION, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, ALMOST MOSTLY MAJORITY-MINORITY.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OF COLOR GAIN POWER AND THEN MANIPULATE POWER TO THE BENEFIT OF ALL NEW YORKERS.

>> WELL, CERTAINLY A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY, ASSEMBLY MEMBER.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER MICHAELLE SOLAGES, CHAIR OF THE BLACK, PUERTO RICAN, HISPANIC, AND ASIAN LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS.

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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.

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