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

I'M DAN CLARK.

BY NOW, YOU PROBABLY KNOW THAT NEW YORK HAS A NEW GOVERNOR, KATHY HOCHUL WAS SWORN IN THIS WEEK AT THE STATE CAPITOL IN ALBANY.

BUT WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW IS THAT THAT WAS NEVER PART OF THE PLAN.

WHEN SHE WAS A KID, KATHY HOCHUL WANTED TO BE A LAWYER.

MORE SPECIFICALLY, SHE WANTED TO WORK IN WASHINGTON FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE.

THAT HAPPENED.

HOCHUL STARTED HER CAREER WORKING FOR NEW YORK SENATOR DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN BOUNCING HER TIME BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND BUFFALO.

DURING THAT TIME, SHE SAID SHE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING NEW YORK'S FEMALE GOVERNOR OR GOVERNOR AT ALL.

HER GOAL, SHE SAYS, WAS TO HELP PEOPLE.

THAT'S IT.

SHE EVENTUALLY GOT INTO POLITICS.

SHE WAS ELECTED TO THE HAMBURG TOWN BOARD IN EERIE COUNTY AND WENT ON TO BE ELECTED COUNTY CLERK AND SERVED A TERM IN CONGRESS.

THEN SEVEN YEARS AGO, SHE WAS ELECTED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ALL OF THAT LED TO THIS WEEK, THIS MOMENT IN WHICH SHE NOW HOLDS MORE POWER THAN ANYONE ELSE IN NEW YORK AND IN HER FIRST DAYS IN OFFICE, SHE'S ALREADY MADE HER MARK.

TAKE A LOOK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] UNTIL HIS LAST MINUTE IN OFFICE, ANDREW CUOMO LEFT AS ANDREW CUOMO WAS, HEADSTRONG AND DETERMINED TO MAKE A POINT AND ON MONDAY, THAT POINT WAS CLEAR.

IN HIS FINAL WORDS TO NEW YORKERS, CUOMO CLAIMED AGAIN, WITHOUT EVIDENCE, THAT HE WAS FORCED OUT BY HIS POLITICAL ENEMIES AND THAT HE'S BEEN SMEARED BY FALSE CLAIMS.

THIS TIME, HE TOOK ANOTHER SHOT AT THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, WHICH FOUND SEVERAL CLAIMS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT MADE AGAINST HIM TO BE CREDIBLE THIS MONTH.

>> A FIRECRACKER CAN START A STAMPEDE.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REPORT WAS DESIGNED TO BE A POLITICAL FIRECRACKER ON AN EXPLOSIVE TOPIC AND IT WORKED.

>> BUT NOW, NEW YORK TURNS TO A NEW CHAPTER WITH NOW-GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL.

NEW YORK'S 57th GOVERNOR AND THE FIRST WOMAN TO SERVE IN THE ROLE WAS SWORN IN TUESDAY AND IMMEDIATELY SOUGHT TO STRIKE A DIFFERENT TONE THAN CUOMO.

WHEN ASKED WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO WITH HER TIME IN OFFICE, HOCHUL SAID PUBLIC TRUST WOULD COME FIRST.

>> I WANT PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN THE GOVERNOR AGAIN.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT PEOPLE HAVE FAITH.

OUR STRENGTH COMES FROM THE FAITH AND THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE WHO PUT US IN THESE OFFICES AND I TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.

>> BUT IN THE SHORT TERM, HOCHUL SAID SHE WOULD ADDRESS TOP ISSUES FACING NEW YORKERS HEAD ON, STARTING WITH THE CORONAVIRUS, THE DELTA VARIANT HAS BUMPED NEW YORK'S COVID-19 POSITIVITY RATE TO LEVELS NOT SEEN SINCE APRIL AND WITH NO SIGN OF THAT STOPPING, HOCHUL SAID LATER TUESDAY, THAT SHE WOULD FOCUS ON VACCINATION RATES AND HOW TO PUSH THEM HIGHER.

>> NONE OF US WANT A RERUN OF LAST YEAR'S HORRORS WITH COVID-19.

THEREFORE, WE WILL TAKE PROACTIVE STEPS TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING.

>> HOCHUL SAID SHE'D ALSO BREAK THE LOG JAM OF FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDS LIKE MONEY PROMISED TO TENANTS AND FAMILIES IN NEED.

ASIDE FROM THE PANDEMIC, HOCHUL'S FIRST DAY IN OFFICE WAS SPENT BOOSTING STATE POLICIES ON ETHICS AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN A CALLBACK TO CUOMO'S DOWNFALL.

NOW, ALL STATE WORKERS WILL UNDERGO ETHICS TRAINING AND ANNUAL SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAININGS WILL BE DONE IN PERSON TO PREVENTS WORKERS FROM SKIPPING THROUGH IT ONLINE.

>> A NEW ERA OF TRANSPARENCY, ONE OF MY HALLMARKS OF MY ADMINISTRATION, TO ME, IT'S VERY SIMPLE, WILL FOCUS ON OPEN, ETHICAL GOVERNING THAT NEW YORKERS WILL TRUST.

>> SO FAR, LEADERS FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE ARE ONBOARD WITH THOSE PLANS.

HOCHUL MET PRIVATELY THIS WEEK WITH SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS AND ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE TAKING OFFICE.

BOTH HAD A TENSE RELATIONSHIP WITH CUOMO WHO WAS NOTORIOUS FOR BACKROOM DEALS AND HORSE TRADING IN ALBANY.

FOR THEM, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO START FRESH.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, STEWART-COUSINS.

>> IT FEELS GOOD.

IT'S A SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER HAS TO BE DONE, WE WILL DO IN ORDER TO MAKE THE LIVES OF NEW YORKERS BETTER AND THAT'S ALWAYS GOOD.

>> AND IN SOMETHING NEW TO ALBANY, WOMEN HOLD THE CARDS.

TOP ISSUES IN NEW YORK ARE USUALLY NEGOTIATED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR, THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER AND THE SPEAKER OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND UNTIL TWO YEARS AGO, THAT WAS ALWAYS THREE MEN.

ALSO KNOWN IN ALBANY SPEAK AS THREE MEN IN A ROOM.

NOW IT'S TWO WOMEN IN A ROOM WITH ONE MAN.

ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE, AND HE SAID FOR HIM, THAT'S A GOOD THING.

>> I'LL SAY THIS IS PROBABLY THE HAPPIEST TIME FOR ME TO BE IN THE MINORITY.

[LAUGHTER] AND I JUST THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.

I THINK ANYTIME THAT A GLASS CEILING HAS BEEN BROKEN I THINK IS GOOD FOR ALL OF US.

I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR US AS A COUNTRY, AS A STATE, AS A PEOPLE.

>> EVEN REPUBLICANS ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS NEW ERA IN ALBANY, BUT AREN'T SOLD JUST YET.

STATE SENATOR JIM TEDISCO WAS ELECTED MORE THAN THREE DECADES AGO, SO HE'S BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF GOVERNORS AND WHILE HE LIKES THIS ONE BETTER THAN THE LAST, HE SAYS REPUBLICANS WILL BE WATCHING HOCHUL TO SEE HOW SHE HANDLES THINGS LIKE THE ECONOMY AND THE RISING COST OF LIVING.

>> WE WANT HER TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

WE WANT TO HELP HER BE SUCCESSFUL BUT WE GOT TO CALL HER OUT IF SHE'S NOT DOING THE THINGS TO MAKE UPSTATE AND THE ENTIRE STATE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL AND STAY HERE.

>> THAT COULD ALL CHANGE AFTER A FEW MONTHS IN OFFICE.

THE BIG TEST WILL COME NEXT YEAR WHEN HOCHUL LAYS OUT HER PLAN FOR THE STATE BUDGET IN JANUARY.

UNDER GOVERNOR CUOMO, THE BUDGET PROCESS WAS ALWAYS A TENSE TIME.

HE WAS KNOWN TO STRONG ARM LAWMAKERS TO GET WHAT HE WANTED BUT GOVERNOR HOCHUL COULD PLAY THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND THAT MIGHT BE TO HER BENEFIT.

MARK AUSTIN IS A LONGTIME ALBANY LOBBYIST WHO SERVED IN THE PATAKI ADMINISTRATION.

>> ONE COULD ARGUE THAT MEANS SHE IS GOING TO ADVANCE AN EXECUTIVE BUDGET THAT IS MORE ATTRACTIVE TO SOME OF HER POTENTIAL POLITICAL ALLIES.

I THINK YOU CAN ARGUE EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.

IN FACT, SHE'S GOING TO COME IN LIKE EVERY OTHER GOVERNOR DID AND MAYBE WHEN IT COMES TIME TO FINALIZE THE BUDGET, YOU'LL SEE A LEVEL OF DEAL MAKING THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.

>> HOCHUL WILL HAVE THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS TO PREPARE FOR THAT MOMENT AND WHEN IT COMES, THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE WATCHING.

[ THEME MUSIC ] ON THURSDAY, GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCED HER NEW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

THAT'S STATE SENATOR BRIAN BENJAMIN HE'S A HARLEM NATIVE WHO WENT TO HARVARD AND CAME BACK TO NEW YORK TO WORK IN THE BANKING INDUSTRY.

THAT WAS UNTIL HE DECIDE TO MOVE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EVENTUALLY RUN FOR STATE SENATE WHERE HE'S BEEN NOW FOR FOUR YEARS AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'LL DO JUST YET AS LG.

HE SAYS HE'LL PARTNER WITH HOCHUL ON TOP ISSUES FACING NEW YORKERS.

>> NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT HAS TO WORK AND GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL, I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO HELP YOU MAKE SURE THAT WE DELIVER FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT AND THE OTHER NEWS OF THE WEEK WITH THIS WEEK'S PANEL.

ZACH WILLIAMS IS FROM CITY AND STATE AND KATE LISA IS FROM JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> KATE, I WANT TO GO TO YOU FIRST.

WHAT WAS YOUR IMPRESSION OF KATHY HOCHULS FIRST DAYS?

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE HAD A NEW GOVERNOR.

ABOUT A DECADE NOW.

HOW DID SHE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING HERE?

>> UM, IT WAS, OF COURSE, TREMENDOUS FOR THE STATE.

I MEAN, NO MATTER WHAT SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU SIT ON, ANYTIME A GLASS CEILING IS SHATTERED, IT BENEFITS ALL OF US.

>> YES.

>> AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LARGE STATE, DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, AND YOU KNOW, SHE CAME OUT REALLY HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING WITH IDEAS, PROMISING CHANGE FOR THE CULTURE IN ALBANY AND I KNOW SHE'S GOT A LOT OF PRESSURE BECAUSE AS THE FIRST WOMAN GOVERNOR, EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE WATCHING HER AND SEEING IF SHE'S GOING TO PRACTICE WHAT SHE PREACHES AND I GUESS, YOU KNOW, THE PERCEPTION, HOW SHE WILL BE RECEIVED, SO I HOPE THAT THE CULTURE IN ALBANY, THE TRANSPARENCY, MORE COLLABORATION BETWEEN LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT DOES HAPPEN THE WAY THAT SHE'S SAYING AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT GOES.

>> I HOPE SO.

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL.

ALBANY IS DEFINITELY NOT KNOWN FOR BEING TRANSPARENT.

[LAUGHTER] HOPEFULLY THAT CHANGES WITH HER.

YOU MENTIONED DIVERSITY.

I WILL POINT OUT, JUST FOR OUR YOU VIEWERS, I FREQUENTLY WALK AROUND THE SECOND FLOOR WHICH IS THE GOVERNOR'S FLOOR IN THE STATE CAPITOL.

IMMEDIATELY SINCE SHE TOOK OFFICE AND THE TRANSITION BEGAN, I HAVE IMMEDIATELY SEEN MANY MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR ON THE SECOND FLOOR, WHICH IS SOMETHING I DIDN'T EXPECT TO HAPPEN SO FAST.

ZACH, WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT OUT OF HOCHUL'S FIRST DAYS IN OFFICE BEYOND THIS WEEK?

I'M TALKING ABOUT LIKE THE FIRST 45 DAYS, FIRST TWO MONTHS, WHAT IS SHE PLANNING?

>> WELL, HER NUMBER ONE TASK IS TO SHOW SHE'S NOT GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO.

THAT SHE'S THE FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR IN STATE HISTORY.

SHE'S GOING TO REINVENT THE PLACE, BATTLE SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND REALLY JUST SET A NEW TONE OF POLITICS IN STATE GOVERNMENT BUT SHE ALSO HAS SOME CHALLENGES RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO.

COVID-19, SHE SPOKE A LOT ABOUT ISSUING A MASK MANDATE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND OF COURSE, SUPPORTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH VACCINE MANDATES.

THERE'S RISING CRIME IS ALSO A HUGE CONCERN THAT WE SAW IN THE NEW YORK CITY MAYOR'S RACE.

SPECIFICALLY, REALLY SHE JUST HAS TO SHOW SHE'S IN COMMAND, THAT THERE IS CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT AND THAT PEOPLE CAN EXPECT A LESS TUMULTUOUS UPCOMING MONTHS COMPARED TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO.

>> GOODNESS, I HOPE SO.

YOU KNOW, WITH THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, JUST SPEAKING AS REPORTERS, SOMETIMES IT WAS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT STORIES, REALLY ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO GET DATA FROM THEM.

IT WAS A NIGHTMARE TO GET DATA FROM THEM SOMETIMES ESPECIALLY FROM THE AGENCIES.

THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE QUICK RESPONSE BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SECOND FLOOR, THROUGH THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION'S PRESS PEOPLE TO GET APPROVAL FOR EVERYTHING.

[LAUGHTER] KATE, HOW DO WE SEE HOCHUL HANDLING THAT WITH THE PRESS?

WE'RE ALL JOURNALISTS HERE?

DO WE SEE A CHANGE?

>> FIRST OFF, I MEAN, SHE DID MENTION THAT FOIL REQUESTS, FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LAW REQUESTS, WOULD BE EXPEDITED AT LEAST COMPARED TO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST.

WE'VE SEEN DELAYS, STALLS FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT REASONS, AND YOU KNOW, KIND OF WE WOULD BE STUCK IN LIMBO, LIKE NOT MUCH WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT SOMETIMES UNLESS THEY WANT TO WORK WITH US.

SO THAT'S ENLIGHTENING OR I GUESS ENCOURAGING.

I HOPE, I HOPE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.

THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE-- SHE SAID THAT ALL THE STATE AGENCIES WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT THEMSELVES AND THEIR TRANSPARENCY AND SHE'S SAYING THAT SHE WANTS THOSE, YOU KNOW, THE DEPARTMENTS TO ISSUE REPORTS MORE OFTEN OR, YOU KNOW, DETAILS REMAIN TO BE SEEN AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET THOSE IN THE COMING WEEKS HERE BUT YEAH, I HOPE THIS IS A NEW ERA.

I HOPE THAT THIS REALLY, I MEAN, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE CULTURE DID ALREADY FEEL A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

I MEAN, EVEN HOW PEOPLE WERE WALKING OR SPEAKING OR JUST INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL, YOU KNOW, TRANSLATE TO MORE TRANSPARENCY FOR US AND THEN FOR NEW YORKERS AS A WHOLE.

>> I HOPE SO TOO.

IT WAS VERY TENSE WITH THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION AT TIMES, BOTH FOR US AND BOTH FOR STAFFERS IN THE ADMINISTRATION.

I FILED MY FIRST FOIL REQUEST WITH THE HOCHUL ADMINISTRATION ON WEDNESDAY.

SO THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

[LAUGHTER] WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

ZACH, IS THIS JUST A HONEYMOON PERIOD?

IS THIS A TIME WHERE GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS COMING IN, MAKING A LOT OF BIG PROMISES, SAYING A LOT OF NICE THINGS AND THEN IN A FEW MONTHS, WE MIGHT SEE HER BECOME MORE LIKE PAST GOVERNORS?

MAYBE NOT LIKE GOVERNOR CUOMO BUT SOMEBODY WHO REALIZES THEY CAN'T GET EVERYTHING DONE THAT THEY WANT TO?

>> WE'RE UNDOUBTEDLY IN A HONEYMOON PERIOD.

IT'S VERY EXCITING, THE FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR IN NEW YORK STATE HISTORY.

WE CAN'T DISCOUNT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME, THOUGH, SHE'S REALLY BENEFITED FROM THE TIMING.

BACK WHEN THESE SCANDALS ERUPTED AGAINST THE GOVERNOR, BACK IN THE EARLY SPRING, WE WERE WONDERING, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A NEW GOVERNOR A WEEK BEFORE THE STATE BUDGET DEADLINE?

THAT'S NO TIME AT ALL TO TRANSITION TO OFFICE MUCH LESS MAKE REALLY BIG DECISIONS IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH LAWMAKERS.

NOW SHE HAS SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE THE GOING REALLY GETS TOUGH WITH THE NEW YEAR, STATE BUDGET AND THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I THINK SHE DOES HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SPACE.

WE HEARD FROM ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE AND STATE SENATE MAJORITY STEWART-COUSINS THAT THEY WOULD GIVE HER TIME TO GET HER TEAM TOGETHER.

THE NEW GOVERNOR, HERSELF, SAID SHE'S LOOKING AT A 45-DAY TRANSITION PERIOD.

FOR NOW, EVERYTHING IS SUNNY IN ALBANY.

IT'S SUMMERTIME.

EVERYONE'S HAPPY.

BUT WE'LL SEE HOW THINGS LOOK IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> I WANT TO SAY WITH YOU, ZACH, FOR A SECOND.

LET'S TALK ABOUT BRIAN BENJAMIN, THE STATE'S SOON-TO-BE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN SHE SAID HE WOULD TAKE OFFICE.

IT MIGHT BE A TWO-WEEK TRANSITION.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT BENJAMIN, AS A POLITICIAN, AS HIMSELF?

HOW WILL HE FIT INTO THIS ROLE?

>> HE ADDS TO THE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S JUST THE SECOND BLACK PERSON TO BE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

CAN'T DISCOUNT THAT EITHER.

IT'S NOT EVERY DAY THAT YOU HAVE SO MUCH DIVERSITY IN ADMINISTRATION.

>> RIGHT.

>> HE'S BEEN IN THE STATE SENATE A FEW TERMS.

HE COMES FROM HARLEM, DEEP CONNECTIONS TO THE MANHATTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY, RAN FOR CITY COMPTROLLER.

CAME IN FOURTH.

SO I THINK YOU REALLY GOT TO TAKE HIM IN TWO WAYS.

ONE, HE MATCHES THE PERSONAL STYLE OF HOCHUL REALLY WELL.

HE'S SEEN AS THE NICE GUY IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AT THE SAME TIME, SHE NEEDS TO RUN FOR A FULL TERM IN OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.

THE PRIMARY'S IN JUNE.

SHE JUST HAS A FEW WEEKS, A FEW MONTHS TO REALLY SET THE TERMS OF THE COMING CAMPAIGN.

IT LOOKS LIKE SHE IS FOCUSING ON DOWNSTATE.

THOSE ARE THE VOTERS SHE'S GOING TO NEED TO BEAT LIKELY CHALLENGES LIKE ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES AND SELECT A PRESUMPTIVE RUNNING MATE SEEMS LIKE IT WILL GIVE HER INROADS TO BLACK VOTERS SPECIFICALLY.

SO YOU KNOW, ALL IN ALL, IT SEEMED TO BE A CHOICE THAT MADE A LOT OF SENSE FOR HER.

>> YEAH.

EXCUSE ME.

I THINK HE WILL BE GOOD IN A CITY FOR HER, BUT I KNOW TO WHEN THE GOVERNORSHIP, YOU NEED NEW YORK CITY.

THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN LOSE NEW YORK CITY AND WIN THE GOVERNORSHIP.

AS FAR AS THE UPSTATE, KATE, DO WE SEE BRIAN BENJAMIN APPEALING TO VOTERS UPSTATE?

HE'S VERY NEW YORK CITY CENTRIC.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE TRAVELED UPSTATE AT ALL OR IF HE'S BEEN OUTSIDE OF THE FIVE BURROWS EXCEPT FOR ALBANY, OF COURSE.

HOW DO WE SEE HIM APPEALING TO UPSTATE VOTERS NEXT YEAR IN THE ELECTION?

>> OF COURSE, THE REPUBLICANS ARE VERY QUICK 0 COME OUT AND HIGHLIGHT HIS HISTORY OF SOME SUPPORTING FAR LEFT POLICIES FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE, YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS THAT HE HAS CHAMPIONED LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> AND HE'S IN FAVOR OF THE DEFUND THE POLICE MOVEMENT.

I WILL SAY I DO NOT KNOW WHAT HIS POSITION IS ON THAT.

WE'LL TAKE THAT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.

>> ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL THAT WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF AND WATCHING AND SEEING IF ANY OF THOSE POSITIONS HAVE EVOLVED, HOW THEY HAVE AND YOU KNOW, I DO THINK IT WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR HIM IN THOSE UPSTATE COMMUNITIES.

THEY ARE TRADITIONAL REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLDS, RIGHT, AND CHANGE IS DIFFICULT FOR SOME OF THESE PEOPLE.

THIS IS A LOT OF CHANGE AT ONE TIME.

SO I GUESS, YOU KNOW, I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT KIND OF CHANGES WILL BE MADE THAT ARE KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE.

THERE ARE MANY THAT COULD BENEFIT ALL OF US LIKE THE TRANSPARENCY THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

THE SO PERHAPS THERE'S A CHANCE TO BRIDGE THAT DIVIDE OR THAT TENSION A LITTLE BIT.

BUT I'M HOPING THAT HAPPY DAY THAT WE HAVE IN ALBANY, THAT SUNSHINE, RIGHT, MAYBE IT CAN STAY A LITTLE WHILE.

>> WE'LL SEE.

WE'VE GOT TO LEAVE IT THERE.

KATE LISA FROM JOHNSON NEWSPAPER, ZACH WILLIAMS FROM CITY AND STATE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WHILE A LOT OF THIS WEEK'S NEWS FOCUSED ON THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, THERE'S ALSO A BIG DEADLINE COMING UP NEXT WEEK.

ON TUESDAY, THE STATE'S EVICTION MORATORIUM IS SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE.

THAT MEANS WITHOUT HELP, THOUSANDS OF TENANTS COULD BE EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES WITH NO MORE TO GO.

THAT HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE WORRIED AND CALLING ON THE STATE TO DO SOMETHING.

ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE IS CHRISTINE QUINN.

SHE'S THE FORMER SPEAK OF THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL WHO RUNS WIN, A HOMELESS SERVICES PROVIDER.

SHE SAYS THE STATE NEEDS TO ACT.

WE SPOKE THIS WEEK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] CHRISTINE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> SO THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IS EXPIRING IN NEW YORK NEXT TUESDAY.

IT'S A VERY BIG DEAL FOR A LOT OF TENANTS.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

NOW BEING WEDNESDAY WHEN I'M TAPING WITH YOU.

SO WHAT CAN WE EXPECT OUT OF THE END OF THE EVICTION MORATORIUM?

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES HERE FOR TENANTS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PAY THEIR RENT?

>> WELL, THERE ARE TWO ISSUES GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

ONE, THE POTENTIAL EXPIRATION OF THE EVICTION MORE TORE CRUMB AND TWO, A SUPREME COURT RULING AROUND THE MORATORIUM.

SO LET ME START WITH THE EXPIRATION.

IF THE MORATORIUM EXPIRES ON TUESDAY, WE WILL HAVE COUNTLESS, COUNTLESS, THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS WHO WILL HAVE A HUGE BILL COME DUE.

ALL OF THE RENT THAT THEY HAVE NOT PAID THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

MANY, MANY OF THOSE NEW YORKERS, PARTICULARLY THE WOMEN AND THE PEOPLE OF COLOR, WILL BE STILL UNEMPLOYED.

YOU KNOW, I RUN AN ORGANIZATION, WIN, FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES, WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

25% OF OUR MOMS LOST THEIR JOBS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

YOU ARE GOING TO END UP WITH PEOPLE WHO MAYBE HAVE NEVER BEEN ON THE VIRGE OF HOMELESSNESS BEFORE BEING ON THE VIRGE OF HOMELESSNESS.

UNLESS THERE IS AN INTERVENTION VERY QUICKLY, MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE, IF NOT MOST WILL END UP IN SHELTER, AND WE ALREADY HAVE SEEN THE TENSION AND THE STRESS AROUND MORE PEOPLE IN SHELTER AND MORE SINGLE PEOPLE IN SHELTER AS IT RELATES TO COVID, MOVING THEM TO HOTELS, ET CETERA.

>> SO BEFORE WE GET TO THE SUPREME COURT RULING THAT YOU ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, IF THIS HAPPENS, IF THE MORATORIUM EXPIRES, CAN LANDLORDS IMMEDIATELY EVICT THEIR TENANTS BASED ON NON-PAYMENT OF RENT IN CAN IT HAPPEN LITERALLY THE NEXT DAY?

>> NO.

A LANDLORD CAN NEVER KIND OF COME TO THE DOOR AND HAMMER A GET-OUT SIGN AND PUT IT ON THE DOOR.

THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM.

BUT THERE ISN'T NECESSARILY ANYTHING IN PLACE RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD PREVENT THE COURT FROM EVICTING SOMEONE.

THE TENANT WILL HAVE TIME.

THEY'LL HAVE THE WHOLE COURT PROCESS, BUT REMEMBER THERE IS A TENANT WHO DIDN'T, BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PAY THEIR RENT.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO HAVE A LAWYER, AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF LANDLORDS WILL HAVE A LAWYER.

SO THE LIKELIHOOD OF A TENANT PREVAILING IS NOT VERY GOOD.

THERE ARE LAWYERS OUT THERE FROM LEGAL AID AND LEGAL SERVICES AND THEY'RE FREE AND TERRIFIC, BUT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH OF THEM.

SO THERE'S TIME, HOPEFULLY TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE, BUT IT'S NOT A GOOD SITUATION.

>> SO THE LEGISLATURE COULD EXTEND THE EVICTION MORATORIUM BETWEEN NOW AND TUESDAY, BUT THERE'S THIS TRICKY SITUATION THAT YOU BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT STRIKING DOWN PART OF THAT MORATORIUM THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS RIGHT NOW.

WHAT IS THAT ABOUT?

WHAT WOULD LAWMAKERS NEED TO DO TO FIX THAT TO MAKE IT TOTALLY VALID?

>> THE LEGISLATURE OR THE NEW GOVERNOR COULD ALL ACT AND EXTEND THE MORATORIUM.

THE SUPREME COURT-- LANDLORDS BROUGHT A CASE TO THE SUPREME COURT AROUND THE MORE TORE RUM.

THE SUPREME COURT BASICALLY SAID THE WAY THE PROCESS HAS BEEN SET UP, WHICH IS THAT A TEST ON A PIECE OF PAPER THAT I CAN'T PAY MY RENT, THERE'S NOWHERE IN THE PROCESS WHERE THE LANDLORD CAN SAY, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

I KNOW SHE HAS A JOB AND MAKES $300,000 A YEAR.

I KNOW SHE HAS A TRUST FUND.

I KNOW SHE HAS THIS.

I KNOW SHE HAS THAT, HAS DENIED LANDLORDS DUE PROCESS.

SO ALL THAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN IF THE LEGISLATURE WOULD HAVE TO INTRODUCE A PIECE OF LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD SAY THERE HAS TO BE A HEARING TO CONFIRM THAT THE SITUATION OR THE CONDITION THAT THE TENANT SAYS THEY'RE IN, THEY'RE REALLY IN.

I DON'T BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE LYING.

PEOPLE WOULDN'T PUT THEMSELVES IN THIS KIND OF FINANCIAL PERIL IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO.

SO IT'S JUST A BUREAUCRATIC STEP.

THERE'S NO REASON WHETHER YOU'RE PRO-TENANT OR ANTI-TENANT, YOU WOULDN'T VOTE FOR THAT LEGISLATION.

IT SHOULD BE EASY TO PASS AND THE LEGISLATORS WHO ARE WORKING ON IT ARE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF DRAFTING IT.

>> SO YOU MENTIONED GOVERNOR HOCHUL AS WELL, WHAT COULD SHE DO TO PROTECT TENANTS RIGHT NOW?

I DON'T KNOW-- YOU MAY KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHE CAN DO AN EVICTION MORATORIUM BY HERSELF.

WHAT ARE HER OPTIONS HERE?

>> BEFORE BEING SWORN IN AS GOVERNOR, KATHY HOCHUL SPOKE OUT SAYING SHE'S NOT GOING TO LET WHAT THE SUPREME COURT DID STAND AND SHE WON'T LET THE MORATORIUM EXPIRE.

SHE'S READY TO GO TO DO SOMETHING.

I BELIEVE SHE HAS SOME LEVEL OF POWER TO DO IT HERSELF, BUT IT'S ALWAYS BETTER IF YOU CAN DO IT WITH THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE THEN IT JUST HAS A FIRMER, TIGHTER LEGAL WRAP-AROUND IT IF YOU WILL.

I THINK SHE WANTS TO GET THAT DONE.

>> SO LET'S SAY THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE DON'T DO ANYTHING FOR WHATEVER REASON, WHETHER THEY HAVE LEGAL OBSTACLES, THEY CAN'T GET IT DONE IN TIME AND WE'RE SEEING THESE MASS EVICTIONS OF TENANTS, LIKE YOU SAID THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITHOUT A HOME.

YOUR ORGANIZATION SERVES PEOPLE IN NEW YORK CITY.

DOES NEW YORK CITY EVEN HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE SERVICES TO HELP THESE PEOPLE OUT IF THIS HAPPENS?

>> NO.

I MEAN, THE TRUTH IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, AND IF THEY, YOU KNOW IN A QUICK ROLLING BASIS GET EVICTED AND HAVE TO GO INTO SHELTER, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SHELTERS.

I MEAN, WE'RE BUILDING MORE SHELTERS.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THAT CAPACITY.

WE SEE BECAUSE OF THAT LACK OF CAPACITY THAT FOR FAMILIES, THE CITY RENTS OLD-TIME WELFARE HOTELS AND PUTS THEM IN THERE WHERE THERE ARE NO SERVICES AT ALL, AND ALTHOUGH THE FOLKS WHO ARE USING THE EVICTION MORATORIUM MAY NEVER HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, IN THE SYSTEM, SO TO SPEAK, THEY'RE NOW IN A POSITION WHERE THEY OWE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

THEY'VE BEEN EVICTED AND THEY MAY HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS AND THEY DO NEED SOCIAL SERVICE HELP.

SO WE'RE IN A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE A SHELTER SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ABSORB THIS ENORMOUS NUMBER OF PEOPLE NOR IS IT PREPARED SERVICE-WISE TO HELP THEM GET OUT OF SHELTER QUICKLY.

>> IT'S A SCARY SITUATION.

I COULDN'T IMAGINE BEING A TENANT RIGHT NOW THAT WASN'T ABLE TO PAY MY RENT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND NOW THIS DEADLINE IS COMING UP.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MY LIFE WAS GOING TO BE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT WEEK.

HOPEFULLY SOME SOLUTION COMES ABOUT THAT CAN PROTECT THESE TENANTS.

WE HAVE TO LIVE THERE.

CHRISTINE QUINN FROM WIN AND THE FORMER NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL SPEAKER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[ THEME MUSIC ] IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS AT RISK OF EVICTION, HEAD TO THE STATE'S WEBSITE TO APPLY FOR RELIEF.

THAT'S AT ODTADOTNY.

GOV YOU'LL BE SAFE FROM EVICTION FOR AT LEAST A YEAR IF YOU QUALIFY.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE DELTA VARIANT CONTINUES TO SPREAD HERE IN NEW YORK AFFECTING THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR AND MORE.

DARRELL CAMP IS HERE WITH DETAILS.

DARRELL?

>> THAT IS CORRECT, DAN.

AS SCHOOLS PREPARE TO REOPEN FOR THE FALL, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SAYS THAT MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED IN NEW YORK SCHOOLS.

THAT'S AT LEAST PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF THE SURGE IN CASES DUE TO THE DELTA VARIANT.

WE SPOKE WITH DR. ALAN SANDERS, INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AT ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER ABOUT THOSE CONCERNS.

HE SAYS THE VARIANT IS AFFECTING YOUNG PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY.

>> WE ARE GETTING ADMISSIONS TO THE HOSPITAL, PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED AND THEY'VE HAD BREAKTHROUGH, BUT WE'RE HAVING MANY MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN WHO ARE UNVACCINATED AND ARE YOUNGER.

BUT THE MORTALITY RATES PER SE AREN'T INCREASING BECAUSE THIS VIRUS HASN'T PROVEN YET TO BE MORE LETHAL THAN THE PREVIOUS VIRUSES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

>> CONCERNING THE CONCEPT OF HERD IMMUNITY, SANDERS SAYS THE DELTA VARIANT INCREASED THRESHOLD.

PREVIOUSLY EXPERTS SET A GOAL OF 70% VACCINATION BUT SANDERS BELIEVES IT'S NOW MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT.

>> SO THINGS THAT AREN'T AS TRANSMISSIBLE, LIKE INFLUENZA, COMPARED TO THIS VIRUS, YOU DON'T NEED 80% OF THE PEOPLE VACCINATED TO KEEP DOWN A PANDEMIC SITUATION.

SO WHEN THE VIRUS CHANGED AND MUTATED AND COULD MUTATE AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT OR KIND OF THE GOAL POST IS MOVING FOR HERD IMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TO GET TO 80, 85% VACCINE STATUS AND MAYBE 90% IN SOME PLACES TO REALLY REACH HERD IMMUNITY.

>> ULTIMATELY HE SAYS LONG TERM THIS WON'T BE THE LAST PUSH FOR VACCINATIONS.

>> AND IT'S NOT RESPECTING SEASONAL VARIATIONS AT ALL IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD.

IT KEEPS GOING.

I THINK, BY IN LARGE, THAT'S GIVEN US THE IDEA THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE HERE FOR A LONG TIME TO COME.

WE'LL PROBABLY NEED A SEASONAL VACCINE OR ANNUAL VACCINE AGAINST THIS VIRUS AND IT WILL PROBABLY BE A NEW ONE EVERY YEAR WHAT COMES BY.

IT WILL HAVE TO BE PREDICTED BY WHAT VARIANT IS OUT THERE.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE THE VIRUS MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO LIVE WITH EVERY YEAR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS SO MUCH, DARRELL.

AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK'S "NEW YORK NOW. "

DON'T FORGET TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE EVERY DAY FOR REAL-TIME UPDATES FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.

SEE YOU NEXT WEBBING.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.