[MUSIC] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.

CUOMO'S BOOK DEAL IS REVEALED AND LAWMAKERS GEAR UP FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS OF SESSION.

BERNADETTE HOGAN FROM THE NEW YORK POST AND RYAN TARANELLI FROM THE NEW YORK LAW JOURNAL ARE HERE WITH THAT AND MORE.

THEN DEMOCRATS ARE PUSHING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CLEAR THE CRIMINAL HISTORY OF PAST OFFENDERS IN NEW YORK.

WE'LL TELL YOU WHY AND WHY SOME OPPOSE IT.

AND LATER REPUBLICAN ROB ASTORINO SAYS HE CAN BEAT CUOMO AT THE POLLS NEXT YEAR AND HE'S IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL.

HE JOINS US TO MAKE HIS CASE.

I'M DAN CLARK AND THIS IS NEW YORK NOW.

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

I'M DAN CLARK.

SO SOMETHING IS HAPPENING IN NEW YORK RIGHT NOW THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.

TWO MEN FROM QUEENS YOU MIGHT BE FAMILIAR COULD FIND THEMSELVES IN A BIT OF LEGAL TROUBLE SOMETIME SOON.

WE FOUND OUT THIS WEEK THAT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS NOW UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BY THE NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WHICH IS WORKING WITH THE MANHATTAN DA'S OFFICE.

THAT'S OVER CLAIMS THAT TRUMP'S COMPANY MISLED LENDERS ABOUT THE VALUE OF ITS ASSETS TO GET NEW FINANCING.

SO THE FORMER PRESIDENT COULD NOW BE OPEN TO CRIMINAL CHARGES.

AND BACK IN ALBANY WE NOW KNOW THAT FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR PROBE INTO GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT BOTH A PRESIDENT AND A GOVERNOR FROM NEW YORK HAVE BEEN UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AT THE SAME TIME.

FOR CUOMO HE'S UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR HIS HANDLING OF NURSING HOMES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND IT TURNS OUT THE BOOK HE PUBLISHED LAST YEAR, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER IT, MIGHT ACTUALLY BE PART OF THAT INVESTIGATION.

CUOMO'S CRITICS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT HE KEPT THE TRUE NUMBER OF NURSING HOME DEATHS UNDER WRAPS BECAUSE THAT WOULD AFFECT HIS BOOK SALES.

CUOMO HAS SAID THAT'S NOT THE CASE BUT SOME AREN'T BUYING IT.

AND WE FOUND OUT THIS WEEK THAT CUOMO'S CONTRACT FOR THE BOOK WAS WORTH MORE THAN FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.

SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER ROB ORTT.

"AND I HAVE LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE FOLKS AT THE DOJ OR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE PARTICULARLY THE DOJ BECAUSE OF THE FOCUS OF THEIR INVESTIGATION WOULD TAKE GREAT INTEREST IN HOW THAT DEAL WAS CONSTRUCTED, WHEN THAT DEAL WAS CONSTRUCTED, WHO WORKED ON THE BOOK ALL THOSE THINGS BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MONEY GOING INTO THE GOVERNOR'S POCKET. "

>> LET'S BREAK IT DOWN WITH THIS WEEK'S PANEL.

BERNADETTE HOGAN IS FROM THE NEW YORK POST AND RYAN TARANELLI IS FROM THE NEW YORK LAW JOURNAL.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE HAVE THIS REALLY UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION WITH THE GOVERNOR BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE FEDERAL PROSECUTORS OVER A NUMBER OF THINGS.

WE LEARNED THIS WEEK, BERNADETTE, GOING TO YOU FIRST, WE LEARNED THAT FEDS ARE NOW ASKING LAWMAKERS ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S BOOK DEAL IN SOME SENSES AND ALSO INVESTIGATING THE PREFERENTIAL COVID TESTING THAT HIS FAMILY REPORTEDLY RECEIVED IN THE EARLY PART OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND WE ALSO LEARNED THAT THEY'RE STILL DOING IT.

BUT GO AHEAD.

SORRY.

>> THAT'S FINE, WE HAD A TON OF NEWS THIS WEEK, ESPECIALLY AFTER, OF COURSE, THE TAX RETURNS WERE RELEASED.

WE LEARNED THAT THE GOVERNOR MADE A TOTAL OF $5.

1 MILLION OR HE WILL OVER AT LEAST THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

BUT ANYWAY, SO THE FEDS, AS YOU SAID, ARE INVESTIGATING NURSING HOME DATA, THE GOVERNOR'S BOOK DEAL AND PRIORITY TESTING FOR FAMILY MEMBERS AND THOSE CLOSE TO HIS AIDES.

NOW THE NEW YORK TIMES DROPPED THIS STORY A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO THAT PRIORITY SPECIAL TESTING WAS GIVEN TO THE GOVERNOR'S DAUGHTER AND HER BOYFRIEND AS RECENT AS THIS PAST APRIL, WHEN SHE WAS COMING HOME.

IT WAS MARIAH KENNEDY CUOMO, ONE OF HIS DAUGHTERS, COMING HOME FOR EASTER TO VISIT HER FATHER IN ALBANY, THE GOVERNOR.

AND WE ALSO LEARNED MELISSA DEROSA, GOVERNOR'S TOP AIDE, HER FATHER, GEORGIO DEROSA TOP LOBBYIST FOR BOLTON ST. JOHNS, WAS ALSO PRIVY TO THESE PRIORITY TESTING SCHEDULES THAT NOW THE FEDS ARE LOOKING INTO THAT.

AND AGAIN AS YOU SAID THEY'RE ALSO INVESTIGATING -- AND BRINGING IN LAWMAKERS, TOP LAWMAKERS CHAIRING KEY COMMITTEES HEALTH COMMITTEE, INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE, ET CETERA, IN THE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE ASKING WHAT DID YOU GUYS KNOW AND WHEN DID YOU KNOW IT ABOUT COVID-19 IN NURSING HOMES AND WHAT KIND OF DATA THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WAS SHARING WITH YOU GUYS BECAUSE OF COURSE THIS HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR NOW OF CONTROVERSY, QUESTIONS, LACK OF INFORMATION, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE FEDS ARE NOW TAKING INTEREST IN.

>> AND I THINK WHAT'S KIND OF INTERESTING AND BERNADETTE'S DONE SOME GREAT REPORTING ON THIS IS SHOWING HOW THIS IS PROGRESSING, ESSENTIALLY ASKING LAWMAKERS IF YOU TALK TO FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTORS THEY SAY THAT FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS USUALLY CAST A REALLY WIDE NET.

THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THAT, THAT SOMETIMES AN INVESTIGATION WILL START OUT AS TOPIC A AND B AND WIND UP AS C, D AND E, WHEN THEY START NARROWING IN ON SPECIFIC, ANY POTENTIAL CRIMINAL CHARGES OR ANY SORT OF CIVIL FINES OF SOME SORT.

OF COURSE, IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT THIS IS A CRIMINAL PROBE FROM WHAT WE'VE REPORTED MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE.

SO I THINK THIS IS KIND OF IN LINE WITH WHAT A LOT OF FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SEE AS A TRADITIONAL WAY, A WIDE NET, LOTS OF DIFFERENT TOPICS, FINDING AND TRYING TO TRACK DOWN WHERE ANY CRIMINAL ELEMENT MIGHT BE.

>> NOW IN TERMS OF THE CRIMINAL PROBE, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT AND DO WE KNOW, I GUESS IS THE QUESTION, DO WE KNOW IF THEY'RE LOOKING AT CRIMINAL CHARGES POTENTIALLY AGAINST THE GOVERNOR?

IS IT HIS TOP AIDES OR IS THAT SOMETHING WE DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT?

>> IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN AT THIS POINT.

IT WOULD SEEM TO SUGGEST AT THIS POINT THEY'RE INTERVIEWING SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO YOU WOULD USUALLY THINK TO TALK FIRST PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD PUBLIC COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE GOVERNOR, HAD COMPLAINTS ABOUT HIS CONDUCT.

AND SO IT MAY POSSIBLY IN A FEW WEEKS DO WE GET A CLEARER SENSE OF WHO THEY'RE NARROWING IN ON OR WHATEVER TIMELINE MIGHT BE OUT THERE.

BUT SHORT ANSWER IS WE DON'T KNOW YET.

>> ALSO THIS WEEK YOU HAD THIS GREAT STORY.

WE MENTIONED IT A LITTLE BIT BUT THE FEDS ARE CALLING AROUND TO AT LEAST ONE OR TWO LAWMAKERS ASKING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S BOOK DEAL IN RELATION TO THE NURSING HOMES PROBES.

SO WHAT ARE THEY ASKING THEM DO WE KNOW.

>> RIGHT RYAN JUST SAID AND HE MADE A GREAT POINT THEY'RE CASTING SUCH A WIDE NET.

THEY'RE TALKING TO ALL THE KEY PLAYERS THAT WERE INVOLVED INTIMATELY OR EVEN TANGENTIALLY, MIGHT HAVE HAD AN IMPACT ON THIS ENTIRE SITUATION.

BUT LAWMAKERS HAVE AT LEAST THREE OF THEM HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWED BY THE FEDS, BY FBI AGENTS, AND PROSECUTORS IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT.

THEY'RE ASKING THEM WHAT WAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION?

AND ALSO JUST KIND OF LIKE TRYING TO BUILD A SORT OF I SUPPOSE LIKE NOT EVEN A CASE BUT JUST SOME SORT OF -- >> THROWING SPAGHETTI AT THE WALL SEEING IF IT STICKS.

>> THE BASICS OF WHERE THEY CAN GO FROM THERE TO TEST OUT THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN EVERYBODY.

>> YES, EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE REPORTED AND OTHER COLLEAGUES IN THE MEDIA HAVE REPORTED IS ALL OUT THERE.

BUT THEN I THINK THE FEDS ARE, WHOEVER IS LOOKING INTO THIS, ARE THEN GOING TO THESE PEOPLE THAT HAVE POPPED UP IN THESE INTERVIEWS THAT WE'VE WRITTEN ABOUT AND SAID, HEY, CAN YOU COME AND TALK TO US?

FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD, AT LEAST THESE THREE LAWMAKERS, SENATOR GUSTAVO RIVERA AND ASSEMBLYMAN JOHN MCDONALD AND ASSEMBLYMAN RON KIM, THEY'VE ALL COME IN TO TALK AS FAR AS I KNOW NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN SUBPOENAED FOR INFORMATION BUT THEY'VE SAID IF THEY ASK FOR INFORMATION WE'RE TOTALLY WILLING TO SHARE DOCUMENTS, ET CETERA.

BUT I MEAN AGAIN IT'S A LOT OF GRAY AREA.

AS RYAN SAID, I'VE TALKED TO DIFFERENT SOURCES WHO HAVE SAID, LOOK, EVEN WE DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK WITHIN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS WE WILL KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE AS TO WHERE THEY'RE GOING WITH THIS INVESTIGATION.

>> SPEAKING OF THE NEXT THREE WEEKS, THAT IS GOING TO BE THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON JUNE 10TH IS THE LAST SCHEDULED DAY OR THE 11TH, I CAN'T REMEMBER.

ONE BIG THING THAT'S GOING TO HOPEFULLY BE HAPPENING BY THEN IS NOMINATIONS TO THE COURT OF APPEALS.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT ON THE SHOW LAST WEEK.

SO I HOPE YOU REMEMBER THAT.

IT'S THE STATE'S HIGHEST COURT.

SO THERE ARE TWO NOMINATIONS THAT WE'RE EXPECTING BY THE END OF SESSION.

THERE ARE ONLY SEVEN JUDGES ON THIS COURT.

SO TWO JUDGES, IT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL.

RYAN, WHERE ARE WE AT IN THAT PROCESS?

>> EXACTLY AS YOU WERE MENTIONING, IT'S A HUGE DEAL.

IT'S A TIME OF TREMENDOUS TURNOVER AT THE COURT OF APPEALS A LOT OF DEEP UNCERTAINTY WHERE THE COURT GOES FROM HERE.

THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE A THIRD AND A NOMINATION COMING UP WITH THE FORCED AGE RETIREMENT OF EUGENE FAHEY.

THAT WILL BE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

BUT TO YOUR QUESTION, THERE ARE TWO OPEN SPOTS.

THE GOVERNOR HAS SINCE BLOWN A DEADLINE TO NOMINATE A REPLACEMENT FOR JUDGE LESLIE STEIN'S POSITION.

HE IS ALSO ABLE NOW TO APPOINT SOMEBODY TO JUDGE PAUL SIMON'S POSITION.

JUDGE PAUL SIMON RETIRED FROM THE COURT EARLIER THIS YEAR AND SHORTLY PASSED AWAY.

SO REALLY PEOPLE ARE WAITING.

THE WHOLE LEGAL COMMUNITY IS WAITING IN ANTICIPATION.

TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SAY WE'RE JUST ON OUR TOES, WE'RE WAITING.

WHICH NAMES ARE YOU HEARING?

WHICH NAMES ARE YOU HEARING?

BUT EVERYBODY IS JUST KIND OF IN ANTICIPATION FOR THESE TWO SEATS.

ONES THAT COULD DRAMATICALLY ALTER THE COURT'S TRAJECTORY WHEN IT COMES TO A VARIETY OF THINGS SUCH AS CIVIL CASES, HOW YOU DEAL WITH PRISONER RIGHTS, A WHOLE RANGE OF TOPICS.

SO HOPEFULLY I THINK WE'LL DEFINITELY SEE THESE IN THE NEXT COMING WEEKS.

THEY WANT TO GET IT RAPID UP BY THE END OF SESSION.

HOPEFULLY, I THINK IT WILL BE EXCITING TO SEE WHO WILL BE ON THE STATE'S HIGHEST COURT.

THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED ALL THE JUDGES.

HE'LL DO IT ONCE AGAIN.

THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

RYAN TARANELLI FROM THE NEW YORK LAW JOURNAL AND BERNADETTE HOGAN FROM THE NEW YORK POST.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

SO AS WE APPROACH THE END OF THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION ONE ISSUE KEEPS POPPING UP.

THAT'S PAROLE REFORM.

BUT WE'RE ALSO WATCHING ANOTHER BILL THAT WOULD GO EVEN FURTHER.

THE CLEAN SLATE BILL WOULD CLEAR SOMEONE'S CRIMINAL RECORD ONCE THEY'VE SERVED THEIR SENTENCE AND FINISHED PAROLE.

AND SUPPORTERS SAY THAT WOULD HELP PEOPLE GET ON WITH THEIR LIVES AFTER PRISON.

BUT THE BILL HAS ITS CRITICS AS WELL.

DARRELL CAMP HAS THAT STORY.

>> THE TRANSITION BACK TO SOCIETY AFTER SERVING PRISON TIME, CAN BE DIFFICULT.

STATE LAWMAKERS IN NEW YORK ARE CONSIDERING WAYS TO MAKE THE CHANGE EASIER.

THE PROPOSED "CLEAN SLATE BILL" WOULD AUTOMATICALLY EXPUNGE THE RECORDS OF CERTAIN OFFENDERS AFTER THEY'VE FINISHED PAROLE.

THAT'S SPONSORED BY STATE SENATOR ZELLNOR MYRIE, A DEMOCRAT FROM BROOKLYN.

"THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT POINT 2.

3 MILLION NEW YORKERS HAVE A CONVICTION RECORD.

THESE ARE YOUR FRIENDS, THESE ARE YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, THESE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS.

THESE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ALREADY.

PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT WHO WERE BEING DENIED A SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CONVICTION RECORD, WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH AUTOMATIC SEALING AND EXPUNGING IS GIVING THESE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT HAVE THE WORST THING THAT THEY'VE EVER DONE, DISALLOW THEM FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE ALREADY IN. "

WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN RECENT CHANGES TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, SOME ADVOCATES SAY THAT THE SYSTEM IS STILL BROKEN IN OTHER WAYS.

MARVIN MAYFIELD, AN ADVOCATE WITH THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES- SAYS HE EXPERIENCED THOSE BARRIERS IN HIS OWN LIFE- AND HAS SEEN THEM IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS AS WELL.

>> ONE OF OUR ORGANIZATION MEMBERS WAS FLORENCE.

FLORENCE IS A SINGLE MOTHER WHO WAS CONVICTED OF CREDIT CARD FRAUD.

I WON'T GET INTO ALL THE FACTORS THAT CAUSED THE DECISION.

SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT SHE HAD SOME UNMET NEEDS.

SO FLORENCE DID THREE AND A HALF YEARS IN PRISON.

AND AFTER HER RELEASE, SHE FIRST HAD TO FIGHT TO BE REUNITED WITH HER CHILD.

AND BECAUSE OF A CRIMINAL RECORD, SHE WAS DENIED SECTION EIGHT HOUSING.

SO FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, SHE WAS SHUFFLED FROM SHELTER TO SHELTER.

AND DURING THIS TIME FLORENCE TOOK MULTIPLE TRAINING PROGRAMS TO HELP HER BE PREPARED TO GET A JOB.

BUT JUST LIKE IN HOUSING, A BACKGROUND CHECK ELIMINATED HER FROM COMPETING IN THE JOB MARKET.

SHE WAS REPEATEDLY DENIED EMPLOYMENT FOR WHICH SHE WAS CAPABLE AND QUALIFIED.

AND SHE'S STILL UNEMPLOYED TO THIS DAY.

>> FLORENCE IS JUST ONE OF AN ESTIMATED 2 PLUS MILLION NEW YORKERS WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM THE "CLEAN SLATE" BILL.

BUT THE BILL IS NOT WITHOUT SOME CRITICS - FROM BOTH THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT.

ALBANY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY DAVID SOARES SAYS THE EXPUNGEMENT OF RECORDS SHOULD BE DONE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, AND NOT AUTOMATICALLY.

THAT'S BECAUSE SOME OFFENSES MAY NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE POTENTIAL DANGER SOMEONE COULD POSE TO THE PUBLIC.

ONE CATEGORY- IS SEX OFFENSES.

WHILE REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS DON'T QUALIFY FOR EXPUNGEMENT UNDER THE BILL, SOARES SAYS THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS TELL THE ENTIRE STORY.

"WE MAY OFFER A MISDEMEANOR PLEA WITH SEX OFFENDER CONDITIONS, IF WE -- IF WE DON'T WANT TO PUT A VICTIM THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THE TRAUMA OF HAVING TO TAKE THE STAND AND CONDUCT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE PROCEEDINGS.

IF WE DECIDED TO GO FROM A D FELONY OR AN E FELONY TO A MISDEMEANOR, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, IF THEY PASS THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, AS IS, THOSE WOULD BE THE CASES THAT WOULD BE EXPUNGED, AND WIPED AWAY FROM FROM, YOU KNOW, FROM EXISTENCE.

AND THAT INDIVIDUAL COULD BE EMPLOYED SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE WORKING, YOU KNOW, WITH YOUTH" >> SOME REPUBLICANS, MEANWHILE, SAID THEY'RE OPPOSED TO THE BILL ALTOGETHER.

SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER ROB ORTT SAYS NOT KNOWING THAT SOMEONE HAS A CRIMINAL RECORD COULD UNDERMINE SAFETY AND CAUSE PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD.

>> I'M THE MANAGER AT A BANK, I'M LOOKING TO HIRE SOMEBODY.

I CAN'T KNOW, IF THIS PERSON STOLE MONEY IN HIS PREVIOUS JOB, OR HER PREVIOUS JOB.

DON'T YOU THINK THAT'S A NECESSARY THING FOR ME TO KNOW BEFORE I EMPLOY THEM BACK IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR?

LET ALONE MURDER, OR OTHER MORE SERIOUS CRIMES, ARMED ROBBERY.

THERE ARE JUST SOME CRIMES THAT WE NEED TO KNOW.

DOESN'T MEAN THAT GETS HELD OVER THEIR HEAD FOREVER, BUT THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES, OBVIOUSLY".

>> THE BILL'S SUPPORTERS, HOWEVER, SAY THAT MAKING THE PROCESS AUTOMATIC IS NECESSARY, IF THE GOAL IS TO MAKE REAL, SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED.

"WE NOW KNOW THAT ONLY .5% OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS SEALING ACTUALLY DO IT.

AND IT MAKES SENSE, THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS HARD.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO DO IT, YOU HAVE TO RELIVE YOUR INTERACTIONS WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, YOU MAY NEED A LAWYER TO GET IT DONE.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE ELIGIBLE.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS PROCESS BE AUTOMATIC.

WHEN IT IS AUTOMATIC, THEN WE SEE A MUCH HIGHER UTILIZATION RATE.

>> SUPPORTERS SAY THE BILL WILL ACTUALLY IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY- BY PREVENTING SOMEONE WITH A CONVICTION FROM BEING TURNED AWAY FROM A JOB- HOUSING- OR EDUCATION- ALLOWING THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY, AND MAKE ENDS MEET.

..

LEGALLY.

THE MEASURE PASSED THE SENATE CODES COMMITTEE THIS WEEK, BUT IT REMAINS IN COMMITTEE IN THE ASSEMBLY.

SUPPORTERS ARE HOPING TO SEE IT PASSED BEFORE THE END OF SESSION IN JUNE.

>> IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THERE WAS ACTUALLY SOME MOVEMENT ON THAT BILL THIS WEEK IN THE SENATE SO THAT GIVES SUPPORTERS HOPE THAT IT'LL PASS BEFORE THE END OF SESSION IN JUNE.

>> SO AS I SAID, DARRELL, THERE ARE A FEW OTHER PAROLE REFORMS FLOATING AROUND THERE.

WE ONLY HAVE A FEW WEEKS IN SESSION.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN A FEW OF THEM.

>> MAJOR ONES ARE ELDER PAROLE; THE OTHER ONE IS TIMELY PAROLE.

MAJOR THING WITH THESE TWO IS DISCRETION.

WITH ELDER PAROLE, WHETHER IT'S AFTER SOMEONE IS 55 OR 15 YEARS AFTER THE START OF THEIR SENTENCE, WHICHEVER COMES LATER, THEY'LL THEN BE REVIEWED TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD ACTUALLY BE RELEASED AND WITH TIMELY PAROLE, AS SOON AS THEY SERVE THE MINIMUM SENTENCE THE BOARD GOES, HEY, ARE YOU A DANGER TO SOCIETY, YES OR NO.

THE INTERESTING PART HERE IS DISCRETION IS A FACTOR.

IT DOESN'T EXACTLY CORRELATE.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT CRITICS OF BAIL REFORM ACTUALLY WANTED FOR JUDGES; DISCRETION.

IS THIS PERSON DANGEROUS?

WHILE BAIL IS NOT TO BE PUNITIVE.

SOMETIMES IT DOES HAVE THAT FUNCTION.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS IN THEORY COULD GET BEHIND.

>> ALL RIGHT, INTERESTING STUFF, THANK YOU, DARRELL.

MOVING ON NOW IT WAS AN EXCITING WEEK IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR IN NEW YORK.

ANDREW GIULIANI, THE SON OF FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI, ENTERED THE RACE.

AND HE'S NOW THE FOURTH REPUBLICAN RUNNING FOR THE SEAT MAKING A PRIMARY FOR THE NOMINATION MORE AND MORE LIKELY.

BUT ONE CANDIDATE WHO'S RUNNING HAS ALREADY BEEN THROUGH ALL OF THIS BEFORE.

FORMER WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE ROB ASTORINO RAN AGAINST CUOMO IN 2014 AND CAME CLOSER TO BEATING HIM THAN ANYONE ELSE WHO'S RUN AGAINST HIM.

NOW HE WANTS A REMATCH AND HE SAYS HE'S THE BEST REPUBLICAN TO STAND A CHANCE.

WE SPOKE THIS WEEK.

>> ROB ASTORINO, CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> ANYTIME.

HOW ARE YOU DOING, ALL RIGHT?

>> I'M DOING WELL.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> GOOD.

WE JUST CAME OFF OUR AROUND THE STATE SWING.

PUT 1200 MILES IN THE CAR, SLEPT IN DIFFERENT BEDS IN DIFFERENT HOTELS AND MET A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

IT WAS A LONG HAUL.

SOMETIMES WE ALL WONDER WHY NEW YORK ISN'T THE SIZE OF RHODE ISLAND, IT WOULD BE A LOT EASIER TO GET AROUND.

BUT IT'S A BIG STATE A GREAT, DIVERSE STATE, CERTAINLY A BEAUTIFUL STATE.

>> I WANT TO GET RIGHT TO THE ISSUES BECAUSE YOU RAN IN 2014.

THAT WAS THE LAST TIME YOU RAN FOR GOVERNOR.

AND A LOT OF THE ISSUES HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE THEN.

I'M THINKING OF COST OF LIVING IN NEW YORK, OUTMIGRATION IN NEW YORK, LET'S START THERE.

IF YOU'RE ELECTED IN THE FIRST YEAR OF YOUR OFFICE WHAT ARE THE TOP ISSUES YOU'RE LOOKING AT TO GET ACCOMPLISHED?

>> ZEROING IN ON THE ECONOMY IS NUMBER ONE BECAUSE IT WILL AFFECT THE MOST PEOPLE.

THINK ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW WHY ARE SO MANY U-HAULS GOING DOWN TO FLORIDA OR HAVE ALREADY DELIVERED FURNITURE TO SET UP RESIDENCE DOWN THERE, OR WHY ARE SO MANY PEOPLE CONTACTING A REAL ESTATE AGENT IN THE SOUTH?

BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE ANYMORE.

ASIDE FROM THE LUNACY THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN PLACES LIKE NEW YORK CITY, RISING CRIME RATE, QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, WHEN YOU ADD IT ALL UP, BUSINESSES ARE SAYING: WHY STAY HERE?

IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY A PROBLEM HERE IN NEW YORK THAT TAXES AND REGULATIONS ARE SO BAD THAT PEOPLE ARE LITERALLY MOVING OR GOING TO JERSEY.

HOW CRAZY IS THAT?

JERSEY A HIGH TECH STATE IS BETTER THAN NEW YORK; IT'S RELIEF.

THAT'S WHEN YOU KNOW WE'VE PLATEAUED.

TOO MUCH.

TOO CRAZY.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> ONE ISSUE THAT YOU ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH IS PROPERTY TAXES WHEN YOU WERE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY, YOU REALLY HELD THE LINE ON PROPERTY TAXES.

AND I THINK THAT EVERYBODY WHO LIKE TO SEE THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILL GO DOWN OR AT LEAST NOT GO UP AS MUCH AS IT CURRENTLY IS.

IF YOU'RE ELECTED HOW DO YOU THINK WE CAN DO THAT ON A STATEWIDE LEVEL AND HAVE PROPERTY TAXES STAY FLAT OR MAYBE EVEN GO DOWN FOR PEOPLE HERE WHO CAN'T AFFORD THEM?

>> PART OF IT IS YOU HAVE TO GIVE RELIEF TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND, OF COURSE, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE BEEN BEGGING, WHEN I WAS COUNTY EXECUTIVE, AND OTHERS, BEGGING FOR RELIEF FROM ALBANY.

THEY NOT ONLY DON'T HEAR THE BEGGING THEY MAKE IT WORSE ALL THE TIME.

SO THAT HAS TO BE MADE UP.

AND IT'S MADE UP LOCALLY.

NOW, WE PRIORITIZED.

I WENT ALL STRAIGHT YEARS WITH NO TAX INCREASE.

IN FACT, WE LOWERED THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY.

I WALKED IN.

IT WAS THE $1.

8 BILLION BUDGET FROM MY PREDECESSOR.

EIGHT YEARS LATER I WALKED OUT WITH A$1.

8 BILLION BUDGET.

FISCAL DISCIPLINE, MAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE SOMETIMES NOT EASY OR DIFFICULT, BUT THEY HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

BUT IN OUR CASE IT WAS POSITIVE BECAUSE WE WORKED WITH BUSINESSES BIG AND SMALL.

I HAD TO WORK WITH A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE THE ENTIRE TIME WE GOT THINGS DONE BECAUSE WE WORKED IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.

I USED MY VETO PEN WHEN I NEEDED TO WHEN THEY THREATENED CRAZY SPENDING INCREASES OR TAX INCREASES, I WAS THE STOP SIGN AND THE ADULT IN THE ROOM.

BUT YOU HAVE TO WORK IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.

AND I REALIZE THAT.

WHEN I'M GOING TO BE GOVERNOR I'LL HAVE A STATE LEGISLATURE LIKELY DEMOCRAT WHETHER IT'S A SUPERMAJORITY, I DOUBT IT.

OR A MAJORITY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

I GOT ELECTED IN WESTCHESTER WHICH IS POTENTIALLY THE DEEPEST BLUE COUNTY OUTSIDE OF ITHICA, AND YET I WON IT TWICE BY OVER 13 POINTS, BECAUSE MAINSTREAM DEMOCRATS, AFRICAN-AMERICANS, HISPANICS, ESPANOL, THEY ALL DECIDED TO GET BALANCE AND TO GO WITH US.

AND THEN THEY REELECTED ME.

SO WE WERE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

>> SO ANOTHER BIG ISSUE, AND YOU MENTIONED IT, IS PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME RATES.

AND IN THE PAST FEW YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ON TENSIONS BETWEEN POLICE AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

SOME AREAS IT'S GOTTEN BETTER AND SOME AREAS IT'S GOTTEN WORSE.

IF YOU'RE ELECTED TO GOVERNOR, HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THAT?

IT'S A BIG CONVERSATION IN CITIES LIKE ROCHESTER, ALBANY, NEW YORK CITY, HOW DO YOU BRING THOSE COMMUNITIES TOGETHER AND FIND A SOLUTION THERE WHERE WE'RE NOT SEEING THIS TENSION?

>> I DID THAT IN WESTCHESTER.

WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE POPULATION.

YONKERS IS THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY.

MOUNT VERNON, OVERWHELMINGLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CITY.

I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS YOU HAVE TO BUILD TRUST.

ONCE YOU'RE COMING AT IT LIKE THIS, YOU DON'T WANT THE CRISIS TO HIT BECAUSE THEN YOU DON'T HAVE A RESERVOIR OF GOODWILL TO DRAW FROM.

SO YOU BUILD THAT TRUST IN GOOD TIMES SO WHEN SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS, YOU CAN WORK TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY TO COOL TEMPERATURES, GET FACTS OUT AND EVERYBODY IS AROUND THE TABLE WORKING TOGETHER TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SO MUCH DIVISION RIGHT NOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, THERE ARE AGITATORS THAT WANT TO MAKE THINGS WORSE.

WE'VE SEEN THAT.

AND THEN THERE ARE LEGITIMATE VOICES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WANT SOME CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, WHICH I THINK IS NECESSARY.

SOME OF IT HAS BEEN DONE THE RIGHT WAY.

SOME OF IT HAS NOT.

BUT THIS WHOLE DEFUND THE POLICE MOVEMENT TO ME IS BIZARRE AT BEST AND VERY DANGEROUS AT WORST.

AND SO WE NEED TO GIVE ASSISTANCE TO THE POLICE BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN'T HAVE A DIALOGUE, AND WE SHOULD.

BUT TAKING AWAY QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, THE WAY THEY DID IT IS NOW GOING TO MAKE, IT'S GOING TO MAKE POLICING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SOME EXTENT, AND NO CASH BAIL, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO TREAT CRIMINALS LIKE VICTIMS AND VICTIMS LIKE CRIMINALS, SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE.

THAT'S WHERE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE -- I'VE HEARD IT -- INCLUDING FROM MANY MAINSTREAM DEMOCRATS AND OTHERS SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH I THINK WE'VE GONE A LITTLE TOO FAR HERE TIME TO BRING THINGS BACK.

>> I IMAGINE DEMOCRATS WILL MAKE THE SAME ARGUMENT AGAINST WHOEVER THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE IS SAYING THE PARTY HAS GONE TOO FAR TO THE RIGHT WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, AND THEY'LL TRY TO TIE WHOEVER THE NOMINEE IS TO HIM.

DO YOU THINK THAT A REPUBLICAN CAN WIN IN NEW YORK WHILE NOT DISTANCING THEMSELVES FROM THE PRESIDENT?

>> YOU KNOW, THE LAST FOUR YEARS WERE SO RED HOT POLITICALLY THAT WE'RE JUST NOW COMING OUT OF WHAT I CALL THE TRUMP FOG.

PRO AND CON.

PEOPLE COULDN'T THINK STRAIGHT.

I MEAN, LITERALLY YOU HAD THINGS HAPPENING, ESPECIALLY IN OUR CITIES OR NEW YORK CITY WHERE PEOPLE WERE WALKING OVER HOMELESS PEOPLE, WHERE YOU HAVE GRAFFITI.

YOU HAVE BOARDED-UP BUILDINGS.

AND NOBODY WAS PAYING ATTENTION.

BIG ISSUES.

NOBODY WAS PAYING ATTENTION BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SCREAM DONALD TRUMP YEA OR DONALD TRUMP NAY.

NOW THAT DONALD TRUMP IS NO LONGER PRESIDENT AND ONE PARTY CONTROLS EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE AND IS GOING SO FAR TO THE LEFT SO FAST, PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WHOA, WHOA, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

SO AT SOME POINT PEOPLE GET OVER RIGHT, WRONG OR INDIFFERENT THE GUY WHO'S NOT THERE ANYMORE AND YOU HAVE TO START FOCUSING ON WHO IS IN CHARGE.

SOME ARE GOING TO SCREAM DONALD TRUMP.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

I SPENT THREE YEARS ON CNN AS ONE OF THEIR VERY FEW REPUBLICANS.

AND YES, I DEFENDED HIM AT TIMES BUT I ALSO CRITICIZED HIM AT TIMES WHEN I THOUGHT IT WAS WARRANTED.

AND HE AND I WE MIGHT SHARE POLICIES, BUT OBVIOUSLY I THINK OUR STYLE IS VERY DIFFERENT.

I'M MORE -- I DON'T LIKE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE DID AS FAR AS HIS TWEETS AND SOMETIMES THE WAY HE HANDLED HIMSELF.

BUT I'M JUST VERY DIFFERENT.

AND I THINK PEOPLE AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIKE IN WESTCHESTER, THEY JUDGED ME NOT BECAUSE I WAS A REPUBLICAN BUT BECAUSE WHAT I WAS OFFERING AS A CAMPAIGN IN '09 AND THEN WHAT I ACTUALLY DID IN GOVERNMENT.

AND I WAS REELECTED BY A LARGE MARGIN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY LONG RACE.

YOU'VE DECLARED NOW.

LEE ZELDEN DECLARED A MONTH AGO AND THE ELECTION, AS A REMINDER TO THE VIEWERS, IS NOT UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

SO WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK SOMETIME SOON.

ROB ASTORINO, CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

DAN, THANKS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

>> AND MORE REPUBLICANS COULD BE ANNOUNCING A RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

IF THAT HAPPENS YOU CAN READ ABOUT IT ANYTIME ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.

ORG.

BUT WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK'S NEW YORK NOW.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.