1 [ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL DELIVERS HER FIRST STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

WE'LL HAVE DETAILS AND REPORTER DARRELL CAMP, HIS REACTION FROM TOP LAWMAKERS.

THEN, SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER ROB ORTT JOIN US WITH HIS TAKE AND LATER, THIS WEEK'S PANEL HAS ANALYSIS AND MORE NEWS FROM THE WEEK.

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

[ THEME MUSIC ] Welcome to this week's edition of New York NOW, I'm Dan Clark.

What is the state of our state?

That was the question this week for Governor Kathy Hochul when she delivered her first State of the State address in Albany.

It was an historic moment for the state of New York.

After 200 years of men serving as governor and 100 years of those men delivering the state of the state in Albany, Kathy Hochul became the first woman to deliver the address in New York history.

The speech was about 34 minutes and touched on some top issues facing New Yorkers today.

Crime, cost of living housing, and a lot more.

Take a look >> IT'S BEEN 11 YEARS SINCE A SITTING GOVERNOR DELIVERED THEIR STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS IN THE TRADITIONAL HOUSE OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL BROKE THAT TREND THIS YEAR SIGNALING A NEW WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH HAD A TENSE RELATIONSHIP AT TIMES WITH HER PREDECESSOR.

>> TO MY COLLEAGUES AND PARTNERS IN GOVERNMENT, FOR TOO LONG, ALBANY'S EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES WERE FIGHTING EACH OTHER IN THAT ARENA.

NO MORE.

THAT ENDS NOW.

>> IT WAS A TEST OF HOCHUL'S 2 ABILITY TO LEAD THE STATE IN TURBULENT TIMES.

THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE, CRIME IS UP, AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FEELS NEVER-ENDING, BUT HOCHUL SAID NEW YORK HAS REACHED A TURNING POINT.

>> LET US SEIZE THIS MOMENT WITH GREAT CONFIDENCE AND OPTIMISM AND CREATE A LEGACY OF ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT WILL ENDURE THROUGH THE AGES, A NEW ERA FOR NEW YORK.

>> ON CRIME, HOCHUL HANDED A WIN TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES THROWING HER SUPPORT BEHIND THE SO-CALL CLEAN SLATE BILL.

THAT WOULD CLEAR THE CRIMINAL RECORDS OF THOSE WHO SERVED THEIR SENTENCE AFTER A WAITING PERIOD.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE PLEDGED TO BOOST FUNDING AND RESOURCES FOR MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND GUN CRIME.

>> MEANWHILE, WE'LL TRIPLE RESOURCES FOR BOTH OUR GUN TRACING EFFORTS AWE AS FOR SUCCESSFUL, COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS.

>> HOCHUL ALSO PROPOSED NEW TAX RELIEF FOR MIDDLE INCOME NEW YORKERS AND THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

100 MILLION WOULD GO TO SMALL BUSINESSES WHILE A $1 BILLION PROPERTY TAX REBATE WOULD HELP HOMEOWNERS.

SHE WANTS THE STATE TO SPEED 3 UP TAX CUTS FROM MIDDLE INCOME EARNERS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO BE FULLY IMPLEMENTED IN 20 THAT 25.

>> THAT MEANS MORE THAN SIX MILLION MIDDLE CLASS TAXPAYERS WILL GET MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS SOONER AT A TIME WHEN INFLATION IS ROBBING THEM OF ANY GAINS IN INCOME.

>> SHE ALSO MADE MAJOR COMMITMENTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HOUSING.

SHE SAID NEW YORK SHOULD MOVE TOWARD MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY POWERING BUILDINGS AND INVEST IN CLIMATE-RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE.

PLUS, A NEW $500 MILLION INVESTMENT IN OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY TO COMBAT THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

>> THIS IS A THREAT TO OUR WAY OF LIFE, HERE AND NOW.

THAT'S WHY WE MUST AND WE WILL IMPLEMENT AN AMBITIOUS AGENDA TO MEET THIS MOMENT.

>> ON HOUSING, HOCHUL WANTS A FIVE-YEAR PLAN TO INVEST $25 BILLION IN AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE HOUSING.

THAT WOULD BE TARGETED AT PROVIDING MORE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR LOW INCOME NEW YORKERS AND THE HOMELESS.

>> WE NEED TO FOCUS ON ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS, UNMET MENTAL 4 HEALTH NEEDS, POVERTY, ADDICTION, AND HOUSING AND SECURITY.

EVERY NEW YORKER DESERVES ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WHETHER THEY'RE AT THE RISK OF HOMELESSNESS OR SIMPLY STRUGGLE TO PAY THE RENT ON TIME EACH MONTH.

>> AND ON ETHICS, HOCHUL RELEASED A NEW PLAN AIMED AT RESTORING TRUST IN GOVERNMENT.

SHE PROPOSED NEW TERM LIMITS FOR STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE GOVERNOR, LG, STATE CONTROLLER AND STATE A.G. AND ALSO A NEW PLAN FOR JCOPE, THE STATE'S ETHIC AGENCY.

GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS SAY JCOPE TRULY ISN'T INDEPENDENT BECAUSE THE AGENCY'S MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED BY LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR.

HOCHUL SAID SHE WOULD REPLACE IT WITH A NEW PANEL.

MADE UP OF DEANS FROM THE STATE'S LAW SCHOOLS.

>> I WILL INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO REPLACE THAT COMMISSION WITH A NEW ETHICS ENFORCEMENT WATCH DOG.

ONE WITH REAL TEETH, ONE THAT ANSWERS TO NEW YORKERS AND NOT POLITICIANS.

>> BUT FOR CRITICS OF HOCHUL'S SPEECH, IT'S NOT WHAT SHE SAID.

IT'S WHAT SHE LEFT OUT.

CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN, A REPUBLICAN WHO IS CONSIDERED 5 THE PARTY'S PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR, SAID SHE DIDN'T COME OUT STRONG ENOUGH IN SUPPORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> WHILE LISTENING TO KATHY HOCHUL'S STATE OF THE STATE, YOU WERE PROBABLY WONDERING, WHERE WAS HER PLAN TO TRUE TACKLE RISING CRIME IN NEW YORK?

WHERE WAS HER WORKABLE PLAN TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE?

AMIDST RISING CRIME NUMBERS IN NEW YORK CITY, ROCHESTER AND ELSEWHERE, WHERE WAS HER UNEQUIVOCAL SUPPORT FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN BLUE?

>> STATE REPUBLICAN CHAIR, NICK LANGWORTHY, MEANWHILE, SAID HOAGELE'S ADDRESS FAILED TO PROVIDE A CLEAR STRATEGY TO IMPROVE THE STATE AS A WHOLE AND STOP NEW YORKERS FROM MOVING OUT.

DATA RECENTLY RELEASED FROM THE U.S.

CURRENCIES BUREAU SHOWS THAT NEW YORK CURRENTLY LEADS THE NATION AND POPULATION DECLINE.

>> THERE IS NO VISION IN THIS STATE.

TO FIX NEW YORK, WE NEED A FRESH START.

WE NEED TO TAKE A BOTTLE OF BLEACH TO THE HALLS OF ALBANY AND CLEAN HOUSE.

>> HOCHUL WILL NOW NEGOTIATE HER PRIORITIES WITH STATE LAWMAKERS THROUGHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THAT ENDS IN JUNE.

6 [ THEME MUSIC ] >> WE'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS ABOUT HOCHUL'S AGENDA IN THE FEW WEEKS WHEN SHE RELEASES HER FIRST STATE'S BUDGET PROM PROPOSAL.

IN THE MEANTIME, MIXED REACTION FROM LAWMAKERS ON HOCHUL'S STATE OF THE STATE.

REPORTER DARRELL CAMP JOINS ME NOW WITH MORE.

DARRELL, YOU WERE DOWN AT THE CAPITOL DURING THE STATE OF THE STATE.

YOU WEREN'T ALLOWED IN THE CHAMBER BECAUSE OF COVID.

BUT TOP LAWMAKERS SPOKE TO YOU AFTER.

WHAT DID THEY SAY IN >> THAT IS CORRECT.

WELL, THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS, HAD AN OPTIMISTIC TONE FOLLOWING THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS BUT SHE DID ADMIT THAT THE LEGISLATURE STILL NEEDS TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS INVOLVED WITH SEVERAL OF HOCHUL'S PROPOSALS.

ONE OF THOSE ISSUE ETHICS REFORM AND SPECIFICALLY THE JOINT COMMISSION ON PUBLIC ETHICS.

>> AS YOU KNOW, SENATOR KRUEGER, AMONG OTHERS, HAS HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT VARIATIONS ON CHANGING JCOPE SO IT ACTUALLY IS AN AGENCY WITH TEETH.

IT'S ACTUALLY AN AGENCY THAT IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE AND SO I AM CERTAINLY LOOKING AT WHAT THE 7 GOVERNOR'S PUTTING FORWARD AS WELL AS WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE JCOPE MAKE SENSE.

>> ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN LEADER WILL BARCLAY HAD A LESS FLATTERING POSITION ON THAT SPEECH.

HE SAID HE WAS DISAPPOINTED BY HOCHUL'S ADDRESS AND SAW IT AS THE GOVERNOR PLAYING IT SAME SAFE.

>> I REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS A LOW ENERGY SPEECH.

WE'VE GOT HUGE ISSUES IN THIS STATE.

WHETHER IT'S ECONOMIC ISSUES, WHETHER IT'S RISING CRIME AND OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO FACE THE PANDEMIC, THIS IS A TIME WHERE, NEW YORKERS ARE LOOKING FOR TRUE LEADERSHIP AND FRANKLY, I DIDN'T HEAR IT FROM THIS GOVERNOR.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO SPECIFIC CRITICISM ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, A COMMON COMPLAINT IS THAT THERE WERE NO MENTION OF CHANGES TO BAIL REFORM IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF HER ADDRESS.

SENATOR TOM O'MARA IS THE TOP REPUBLICAN ON THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

>> BUT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO DETAIL ON WHAT SHE'S PROPOSING.

YOU KNOW, STILL SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF CODDLING OF 8 CRIMINALS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S VERY VAGUE AND SOFT LANGUAGE SHE'S USING.

WE'LL SEE WHAT COMES OUT IN HER BUDGET ADDRESS AND WHAT THOSE DETAILS ARE.

>> GOVERNOR HOCHUL ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT THE STATE WOULD CREATE A TAX CREDIT FOR OVERTIME PAID TO FARM WORKERS.

THAT COMES AS A REDUCTION OF THE OVERTIME THRESHOLD TO 40 HOURS FROM THE CURRENT 60 IS UNDER CONSIDERATION.

SENATOR MICHELLE HINCHEY, A DEMOCRAT WHO CHAIRS THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE, SAID THE GOVERNOR SEEMS TO HAVE PRIORITIZED SUPPORTING FOOD PRODUCTION GIVEN RISING PRICES AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

>> BECAUSE WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS REALLY SUPPORT FARMERS.

AND FARMERS CAN PAY PEOPLE 40 HOURS IN OVERTIME, THEY'D BE DOING THAT.

THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE NOT INVESTED IN THEM TO DATE.

NEW YORK STATE FARMERS ARE NOT THE ONES WHO ARE GETTING FEDERAL SUBSIDIES.

>> HOWEVER, BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS SEEM TO BE WAITING FOR THE DETAILS OF THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL BEFORE DRAWING CONCLUSIONS ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

9 THANK YOU, DARRELL.

THANK YOU FOR BEING DOWN THERE ON WEDNESDAY.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

SO THE STATE OF THE STATE IS USUALLY SEEN AS A BASELINE FOR THAT YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION, HOW IT'S GONNA GO AND IT GIVES LAWMAKERS A CHANCE TO SET THEIR OWN AGENDA ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

I SPOKE THIS WEEK WITH SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER ROB ORTT FOR HIS TAKE ON THE NEW SESSION AND HOCHUL'S STATE OF THE STATE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER ROB ORTT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DAN.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU.

>> GOOD TO SO YOU, TOO.

SO WE'RE TALKING A DAY AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH.

LET'S START THERE.

LET'S START BROAD.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SPEECH?

IT WAS ABOUT 40 MINUTES OR SO OF THE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES FOR THE YEAR.

I'M SURE YOU HAVE A FEW THAT STOOD OUT.

>> YEAH.

SO IT WAS-- OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, VERY DIFFERENT.

IT WAS IN THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER.

10 YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE SPEECHES, DAN, AS YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS NOT REALLY EVEN A CRITICISM BUT THEY'RE SORT OF HIGH ON PLATITUDES BUT THE SUBSTANCE ALWAYS KIND OF REMAINS TO BE SEEN, RIGHT?

THAT'S SORT OF THEIR BOLD VISIONS BUT NOT ALWAYS A LOT OF DETAILS AND OF COURSE, THAT'S WHERE-- THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD WHEN IT COMES TO THESE THINGS.

THERE WERE SOME THINGS SHE MENTIONED THAT I THOUGHT WERE-- IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR THEM EITHER RECOGNIZED OR AT LEAST GIVEN SOME KIND OF SHRIFT IN THE SPEECH.

SO SHE TALKED ABOUT THE EXODUS OF PEOPLE FROM NEW YORK.

I THINK THAT WAS IMPORTANT.

OUR CONFERENCE HAS TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR MANY YEARS BECAUSE WE SEE IT AS A SIGN THAT THE POLICIES WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD ARE NOT WORKING IF IT'S CHASING PEOPLE AWAY.

THERE WAS NOT A LOT IN THERE ABOUT HOW WE CORRECT IT, BUT AT LEAST SHE TOOK THE FIRST STEP IN ADMITTING-- IT IS ADMITTING YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, RIGHT?

SO SHE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

SHE TALKED ABOUT-- I DON'T REMEMBER IF SHE ADDRESSED IT, BUT IN HER BOOK, IN THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS THAT WE WERE PROVIDED, SHE DOES TALK ABOUT AN EXPANSION OF THE JOSEPH P. DWYER PROGRAM WHICH IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING OUR CONFERENCE HAS SUPPORTED.

YOU KNOW, I THINK-- I'M GRATEFUL THAT SHE'S NOT 11 GOING TO USE VETERANS AND VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH AS A BARGAINING CHIP, AND SO IF IT'S NOT EXPANDED, THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE SENATE DEMOCRATS AND THE SENATE DEMOCRATS TO EXPLAIN WHY BECAUSE SHE INCLUDED IT IN THERE, WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD THING.

SHE PROPOSED A MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT.

I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.

THOSE WERE SOME OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR HER TALK ABOUT.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE WERE OTHER ASPECTS THAT WERE MORE CONCERNING, BUT I'M SURE WE'LL CHAT ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

>> YEAH.

LET'S GET RIGHT INTO THAT.

SO ONE THING THAT SHE DID NOT MENTION AT ALL DURING-- SHE DID MENTION THE SPIKE IN CRIME.

I SHOULD SAY THAT SHE DID MENTION THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT SHE DID NOT MENTION BAIL REFORM, WHICH SEEMS TO BE ON QUEUE RIGHT NOW FOR SOME CHANGES AGAIN THIS YEAR.

DEMOCRATS STILL CONTROL THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

SO IT'S UNLIKELY THEY'RE GOING TO REPEAL THE BAIL REFORM LAW.

TOGETHER, I KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT.

IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO REPEAL IT BUT THERE ARE GOING TO BE 12 CHANGES, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?

I THINK THAT YOUR CONFERENCE AND THE ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS AND THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAVE REALLY CHANGE THE NARRATIVE ON THIS TO SOMETHING FROM HAD WE HAD AS CASH BAIL BEFORE BUT NOW CHANGES WOULD HAPPEN TO THE NEW LAW.

IT'S REALLY CONFUSING.

THIS LAW IS CONFUSING TO BEGIN WITH.

WHERE SHOULD WE END UP AFTER ALL THIS IN YOUR OPINION?

>> SURE.

I APPRECIATE THE POINT THAT YOU MAKE.

IT'S CONFUSING.

I THINK IT'S CONFUSING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE, THEY'RE NOT CRIMINALS.

THEY'RE NOT POLICE OFFICERS.

THEY'RE NOT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.

RIGHT?

THEY'RE NOT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, SO I THINK FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, THIS WAS A FOREIGN CONCEPT.

THE FACT WAS THAT WE HAD A SYSTEM WHERE YOU HAD BAIL AND THE REAL IMPETUS BEHIND BAIL, AS YOU AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU IS THAT IT WAS REALLY DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY CAME BACK TO COURT.

SO THE DEMOCRATS MADE A WHOLESALE CHANGES BUT THEY YEAHS GOT RID OF WHAT WE CALL JUDICIAL DISCRETION.

IN OTHER WORDS, OTHER STATES ALSO HAD CASHLESS BAIL OR THEY HAVE CERTAIN CRIMES THAT ARE BAIL-ELIGIBLE.

BUT THEY LEAVE IT TO THE JUDGE TO DETERMINE THINGS LIKE IS THIS PERSON A THREAT 13 TO THEMSELVES?

ARE THEY A DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY?

IS THIS THE THIRD ARREST IN THE LAST FIVE DAYS OF THIS INDIVIDUAL?

BECAUSE IF IT IS, MAYBE THIS PERSON NEEDS TO BE HELD WITHOUT BAIL OR MAYBE THERE NEEDS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT BAIL PUT ON THEM BECAUSE THERE CLEARLY IS A LAGGER PROBLEM HERE.

THIS WASN'T A ONE-TIME SORT OF OFFENSE AND YESTERDAY, THE SAME DAY SHE'S DELIVERING THE STATE OF THE STATE, THE MANHATTAN D.A.

COME OUT WITH A MEMO, A SLEW OF CRIMES THAT HE'S EITHER NOT GOING TO PROSECUTOR NOT GONNA PROSECUTE VERY HARD AND AGAIN, IT SHOWS THAT THERE ARE THOSE, INCLUDING MY COLLEAGUE, MAJORITY LEADER STEWART-COUSINS, SHE SAID THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES FROM HER STANDPOINT, THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES, NO APPETITE FOR CHANGES TO THE CASHLESS BAIL.

AND I THINK THAT SHOWS YOU WHERE SOME ON THE FAR LEFT ARE, THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY CHANGES TO THIS, BUT AS YOU POINTED OUT, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS A MAJOR ISSUE.

IT'S A CONCERN FOR US.

I THINK IT'S A CONCERN FOR A LOT OF NEW YORKERS.

I THINK NEW YORKERS MAY BE EDUCATED.

THEY'RE SEEING AN UPTICK IN CRIME.

WE BELIEVE THIS IS A KEY COMPONENT AS TO WHY THAT'S HAPPENING.

>> SO THERE IS A PROPOSAL AND I THINK YOU TOUCHED ON 14 IT A LITTLE BIT FROM THE CHIEFS OF POLICE WHERE CASH BAIL WOULD BE ELIMINATED ALTOGETHER.

SO NO MORE CASH BAIL, NO MORE HAVING TO PAY MONEY TO COME BACK TO COURT, BUT THEY WOULD REPLACE WITH HIGH JUDICIAL DISCRETION.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT JUDGES WOULD BASE THAT DISCRETION ON, WHETHER THERE ARE CERTAIN FACTORS-- >> SURE.

>> OR WHATEVER ALONG THOSE LINES.

IS THAT A PROPOSAL YOU WOULD SUPPORT?

OR, DO YOU THINK THERE NEEDS TO REMAIN SOME LEVEL OF CASH BAIL THERE?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT IS CERTAINLY A CHANGE THAT I THINK WE-- I THINK ANYTHING THAT RETURNS JUDICIAL DISCRETION WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD INTEREST OUR CONFERENCE.

AGAIN, WE'RE SORT OF NEGOTIATING-- WE'RE SORT OF GOING BY THIS IN REVERSE.

THIS IS THE KIND OF DISCUSSION THAT REALLY, WE FELT, SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT THE OUTSET.

I CAN'T HELP BUT BELIEVE THE LARGEST REASON IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW THIS DISCUSSION, THE ELECTION RESULTS THAT YOU SAW PARTICULARLY ON LONG ISLAND AND OTHER PARTS OF NEW YORK AROUND THIS ISSUE.

I'M DOUBTING THE EFFICACY OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN HERE IN NEW YORK AND I THINK ONE OF THOSE AREAS CERTAINLY WOULD BE TO RETURN JUDICIAL 15 DISCRETION AND THAT REALLY, I THINK IS THE ISSUE BEHIND THIS.

IS WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC.

WE'RE NOT-- YOU KNOW, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A CONCERN FOR ANYBODY IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AND OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE RIGHTS.

THOSE RIGHTS CAN'T SUPERSEDE.

THEY HAVE TO BE AT LEAST EQUAL BUT THEY CANNOT SUPERSEDE THE RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC TO SAFETY, WHETHER IT'S A POLICE OFFICER, A PROSECUTOR OR A JUDGE THEY HAVE AN OBLIGATION.

WE AS ELECTED LEADERS HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PROTECT PEOPLE AND I DON'T BELIEVE THIS LAW IS DOING THAT.

I THINK IT'S DOING THE OPPOSITE.

>> YOU KNOW, BEFORE I LET YOU GO, WE TOUCHED ON IT A LITTLE BIT BUT THE MASS EX, DID YOUS OF NEW YORK, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST POPULATION DECLINE IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, YEAR OVER YEAR IN NEW YORK.

IT'S NOT A SURPRISE TO PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW GOVERNMENT, STATE POLITICS HERE IN NEW YORK.

IN YOUR OPINION, HOW COULD WE STOP THAT?

WE DO ARE SOME PROPOSALS LIKE THOSE TAX CUTS THAT THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED YESTERDAY.

THAT OBVIOUSLY HELPS BUT WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE JUST LEAVE IN DROVES AND WE HAVE SEEN TAX CUTS IN NEW YORK IN THE LAST FEW YEAR AND THAT 16 SEEM TO HAVE NOT REALLY SLOWED THE TREND.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO STOP THAT FROM YOUR VIEW?

>> YEAH.

SO OBVIOUSLY, OUR CONFERENCE SUPPORTED LESS TAXES BUT I THINK IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE JUST A LITTLE TAX CUT VERY OFTEN DOESN'T OFFSET THE SIGNIFICANTLY OTHER HIGH-- YOU KNOW, NEW YORK'S A HIGH COST STATE.

I MEAN, BY ALMOST ANY METRIC IN SOME CASES, IN LARGE CASES, DRIVEN BY POLICIES THAT COME OUT OF ALBANY AND SO WHILE THERE'S TAXES, THEN THERE'S SORT OF THOSE HIDDEN COSTS, AND THEN YOU FACTOR IN CRIME RIGHT NOW THAT'S GOING ON.

YOU FACTOR IN THE PANDEMIC.

NEW YORK CITY IS A DENSELY POPULATED PLACE.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE BETWEEN THE COST OF AN APARTMENT IN BROOKLYN, BETWEEN THE HIGH DENSITY THAT YOU'RE LIVING IN WITH COVID, BETWEEN THE CRIME, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO TAKE A LONG, HARD LOOK AND REALIZE PEOPLE ARE MOBILE TODAY AND PEOPLE ARE MORE MOBILE THAN EVER AND THEY'RE GOING TO GO WHERE STUDENT AND WHERE THEIR DOLLAR GOES FURTHER AND WHERE THEY HAVE MORE FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY TO FULFILL THEIR POTENTIAL AND RIGHT NOW AND FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT IS NOT IN NEW YORK AND THAT IS A REAL ISSUE THAT I THINK WE HAVE TO TACKLE GOING FORWARD AS ELECTED LEADERS.

17 >> ALL RIGHT.

A REALLY EXCITING YEAR AHEAD IN ALBANY.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE.

SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER ROB ORTT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> DAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND WE'LL BE HAVING THE OTHER LEADERS FROM THE LEGISLATURE ON THE SHOW HERE AS SOON AS WE GET THEM SCHEDULED.

SO LET'S GET INTO IT NOW WITH THIS WEEK'S PANEL.

KAREN DeWITT IS FROM NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC RADIO.

JON CAMPBELL IS FROM GOTHAMIST AND WNYC!

I'M SO HAPPY TO SAY THAT.

[LAUGHTER] >> I KNOW.

WELCOME TO THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING WORLD.

WE'RE THRILLED.

>> ALL PUBLIC MEDIA ROUNDTABLE.

LOOK AT THIS.

>> ALL PUBLIC MEDIA SHOW THIS WEEK.

VERY FUN.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STATE OF THE STATE AND A FEW OTHER THINGS.

18 JON, WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO IT?

IT WAS KATHY HOCHUL'S FIRST STATE OF THE STATE AND MAYBE HER LAST STATE OF THE STATE.

>> YEAH.

WELL, SHE'S STILL THE FIRST FRONTRUNNER FOR ELECTION AT THIS POINT.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME AND OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS A THEME OF THE SPEECH.

SHE CALLED HER SPEECH A NEW ERA FOR NEW YORK AND THAT WAS A VERY CLEAR REFERENCE TO BREAKING FROM THE OLD ERA, THE ANDREW CUOMO ERA.

RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SPEECH MADE A POINT TO SAY THAT THE DAYS OF PETTY BEEFS WITH THE NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ARE OVER.

I DON'T THINK SHE USED THE WORD BEEF, BUT THAT'S MY WORD.

[LAUGHTER] AND THE DAYS OF FIGHTING FOR CREDIT WITH THE LEGISLATURE ARE OVER.

THAT WAS MEANT TO BE A VERY CLEAN BREAK FROM ANDREW CUOMO AND SHE NEVER EXPLICITLY MENTIONED HIS NAME, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE IMPLICIT MENTION WAS THERE BUT YOU KNOW, YOU ALSO-- THIS WAS VERY MUCH A KATHY HOCHUL SPEECH NOT WHAT WE'VE BEEN USED TO ARE TO THE LAST TEN YEARS.

I WAS PRETTY BRIEF.

IT WAS ABOUT 33 MINUTES OR SO AND THERE WEREN'T THESE LIKE BIG HEADLINE-GRABBING PROPOSALS THAT ANDREW CUOMO USED TO TRY TO DO.

19 I REMEMBER BACK TO A HUGE CONVENTION CENTER IN QUEENS THAT HE WANTED TO BUILD.

THAT WAS ONE OF HIS HEADLINE PROPOSALS THAT NEVER ENDED UP HAPPENING.

BUT YOU KNOW, THIS WAS A MORE REALISTIC, SMALLER AGENDA, I THINK, THAN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN YEARS PAST.

IT WAS, YOU KNOW, VERY KATHY HOCHUL.

SHE MADE IT HER OWN.

>> I DON'T BUY JUST YET THAT THE BEEF BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE MAYOR IS ALL FRESH AND NEW AND EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE GREAT.

ERIC ADAMS IS SUCH A STRONG PERSONALITY.

>> PROBABLY NOT, BUT I THINK WHAT SHE'S SAYING IS SHE'S NOT GOING TO DELIBERATELY FIGHT LIKE HER PREDECESSOR DID ALL.

>> RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

>> DID ALL THE TIME.

>> KAREN, WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THIS SPEECH.

>> WELL, I WAS THE POOL REPORTER IN THE CHAMBER.

JON AND I DREW LOTS.

I LOST.

20 [LAUGHTER] SO IT WAS SUPPOSED CAPPED AT 50 PEOPLE BUT REALLY IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS 10 PEOPLE IN THERE.

>> THAT'S WHAT IT FELT LIKE FROM WATCHING THE FEED.

>> IT WAS JUST STRANGE.

IT WAS SO SUBDUED AND YOU KNOW, SHE DIDN'T GET ANY CHEERS WHEN SHE CAME ON, NO APPLAUSE FOR ANY OF HER PROPOSALS, NO BOOS, NO HECKLERS AT LEAST.

SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO FACE THAT, WHICH ANDREW CUOMO HAD TO A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT IT WAS SHORT.

IT WAS TO THE POINT.

AS JON SAID, SHE LAID OUT THIS IS A NEW ERA.

I HAVE SOME PROPOSALS AND SHE IS TALKING ABOUT SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY, $10 BILLION ON HEALTHCARE, A $1 BILLION PROPERTY TAX RATE TAX BREAK.

THE STATE IS REALLY FLUSH WITH CASH.

BECAUSE TAX REVENUES CAME IN HIGHER THAN EXPECTED.

YOU HAVE ALL THIS FEDERAL AID PACKAGES THAT CAME IN SO SHE WAS ABLE TO GIVE A LOT OF GOOD NEWS.

OH, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS.

WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

SHE ACTUALLY HAS THE MONEY.

PREVIOUS GOVERNORS CAME IN AND THERE WAS $10 BILLION SPENDING GAP AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE AUSTERITY MEASURES, YOU KNOW, TAX INCREASES SO I THINK SHE GOT THE BENEFIT OF THAT.

21 BUT I THINK IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A SHAME THAT THIS IS THE FIRST WOMAN GOVERNOR, HER FIRST STATE OF THE STATE.

SHE DIDN'T GET ANY APPLAUSE.

SHE DIDN'T GET ANY CREDIT.

SHE HAD TO TALK TO THE CAMERA AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLED THE SPEECH LOW ENERGY, INCLUDING SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER WILL BARCLAY THAT WE HEARD ON THE SHOW FROM DARRELL'S REPORTING.

>> IT'S HARD WITHOUT AN AUDIENCE.

IT REALLY IS.

>> AS YOU AND I KNOW AS BROADCASTERS, WHEN YOU HAVE AN AUDIENCE, THERE'S A DIFFERENT ENERGY.

>> PLUS EVERYONE'S SICK WITH COVID.

THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER COULDN'T EVEN BE THERE BECAUSE YOU HAD TO TAKE A RAPID TEST BEFORE YOU GOT IN THE CHAMBER.

HE TESTED OUT.

HE TESTED POSITIVE.

>> RIGHT.

>> FOR COVID.

>> SOMETHING THAT WASN'T IN THE SPEECH THAT MADE NOT 22 REALLY HEADLINES BUT RUFFLED SOME FEATHERS WAS SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

WE HAD THIS BIG SCANDAL WITH THE GOVERNOR LAST YEAR WHERE HE WAS OUSTED OVER SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

HE RESIGNED.

HE WASN'T FIRED OBVIOUSLY.

WE HAD SEXUAL HARASSMENT ADVOCATES COME OUT AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT SHE DIDN'T MAKE THIS A HALLMARK OF THE SPEECH.

THAT TIES INTO ETHICS AND JCOPE, THE STATE'S ETHICS AGENCY AND WHAT GOES FROM THERE.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO REPLACE THAT IF WE REPLACE IT?

KAREN, WHERE DO YOU SEE THAT CONVERSATION GOING?

YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH MORE THAN ONE ETHICS PANEL IN THIS STATE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT.

AND IF JCOPE ENDS, I'M GOING TO HAVE SO MUCH MORE FREE TIME IN MY LIFE.

[LAUGHTER] I WON'T HAVE TO JCOPE STORIES AND EXPLAIN THEM TO PEOPLE.

SHE WANTS TO REPLACE THIS 12-MEMBER PANEL WITH 15 LAW SCHOOL DEANS WHICH SOUNDS KIND OF CRAZY, BUT SHE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, MAKING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CHANGE AND THE LAW SCHOOL DEANS COULD PICK PEOPLE AND BE ROTATING PANEL AND THAT WOULD GIVE SOME DISTANCE 23 FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE PANEL.

I MEAN, NOT AS MUCH.

THERE'S ALWAYS POLITICS THAT HAPPEN BUT IT WILL BE A LOT HARDER THAN THE SYSTEM NOW WHERE THE GOVERNOR DIRECTLY APPOINTS MOST OF THE PEOPLE AT JCOPE.

WE SAW THAT JCOPE WAS REALLY, FRANKLY, A TOOL OF THE FORMER GOVERNOR TO PROTECT HIM AGAINST ANY TROUBLES THAT HE HAD, AND HE HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE AT THE END.

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT KIND OF HIGHLIGHTS HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO FIGURE OUT WHO SHOULD BE ENFORCING ETHICS RULES IN NEW YORK STATE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN APPOINTEES BY POLITICAL, YOU KNOW, ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME.

SO THE IDEA IS LAW SCHOOL DEANS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE FIVE OUT OF A ROTATING CAST OF 15 AND THAT GIVES THEM SOME DISTANCE.

EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, I SAW BLAIR HORNER OF THE NEW YORK PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP TOLD KAREN, WELL, LAW SCHOOLS LOBBY.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, AND JCOPE IS IN CHARGE OF REGULATING LOBBYISTS.

THIS NEW PANEL WOULD BE IN CHARGE OF THAT.

24 THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S NO PERFECT ANSWER.

I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO GET CLOSER TO A GOOD ANSWER.

>> GO AHEAD, KAREN.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THE BIGGER ISSUE IS CULTURE OF CORRUPTION THAT'S BEEN TOLERATED IN ALBANY FOR SO LONG THAT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SOME LAWMAKERS ASSUME I'M GOING TO GET AWAY WITH WHAT I CAN AND THEY HAVE.

I HAVE SEEN VERY MANY OF THEM THROUGH THE YEAR DOES THAT.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE THAT CULTURE, IT'S HARD TO POLICE THEM, TOO.

IF EVERYBODY KIND OF AGREED THAT, YEAH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ENGAGED IN ANYTHING UNETHICAL, IT WOULD BE A LOT EASIER.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT OTHER PLACES ARE PERFECT, BUT THERE ARE SOME STATES WHERE THEY DON'T GET MIRED IN CORRUPTION IN THE SAME WAY IT DOES HERE.

>> HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL.

>> RIGHT >> SPEAKING OF SCANDAL, IT IS FRIDAY MORNING.

WE'RE TAPING RIGHT NOW.

FORMER GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO IS EXPECTED TO BE IN COURT THIS AFTERNOON.

WE'RE EXPECTING THE CRIMINAL CHARGE AGAINST HIM TO BE DROPPED.

25 JON, I WANT TO GO TO YOU.

ARE WE EXPECTING ANYTHING SPECIFIC OR I GUESS, WHAT ARE WOO LOOKING FOR HERE?

>> WELL, THIS CRIMINAL COMPLAINT WHICH WAS FILED BY THE ALBANY COUNTY SHERIFF, CRAIG APPLE BACK IN OCTOBER, IT WAS DOOMED FROM THE START.

THERE WAS THIS RIFT BETWEEN THE SHERIFF AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, DAVID SOARES, WHERE DISTRICT ATTORNEY DIDN'T GIVE THE SHERIFF A HEADS UP.

THEY WERE BOTH KIND OF DOING INVESTIGATIONS AT THE SAME TIME.

THEY CLEARLY WEREN'T ON THE SAME PAGE.

THE DISTRICT WARNED THAT THE FILING WAS POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE IN NOVEMBER.

I MEAN, SO IT WAS-- IT REALLY SPELLED A BAD PATH FOR THIS CRIMINAL COMPLAINT, AND THAT CONCLUDED THIS WEEK, ON MONDAY-- OR TUESDAY OR EARLIER THIS WEEK WHEN DAVID SOARES REVEALED THAT HE DOESN'T INTEND TO PROSECUTE THE CASE.

>> THE ALBANY COUNTY D.A., DAVID SOARES.

>> SO THE CASE CENTERS AROUND BRITTANY COMMISSO, AN AIDE TO GOVERNOR CUOMO WHO SAID THAT THE GOVERNOR GROPED HER IN LATE 2020.

SHE'S VERY DISAPPOINTED.

SHE INTENDS TO PURSUE A CIVIL ACTION OR EXPLORE A CIVIL ACTION.

THAT MAY BE WHERE WE SEE 26 THIS CASE GO.

>> AND SOARES DID SAY HE FOUND HER ALLEGATIONS CREDIBLE, BUT HE DIDN'T THINK THERE WOULD BE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO GO TO TRIAL, WHICH HAS ALSO RAISED SOME QUESTIONS AND CERTAINLY, AGAIN, YOU MENTIONED THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT-- ANTISEXUAL HARASSMENT GROUPS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND YOU KNOW, CUOMO'S ALLEGED VICTIMS ARE SAYING, WHY?

OTHER CRIMES GET PROSECUTED WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE.

WHY ARE THEY PULLING BAG FROM THIS ONE?

>> EXACTLY.

IT'S GONNA BE AN INTERESTING CASE TO WATCH TODAY.

WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST UP ON OUR WEBSITE OBVIOUSLY WHEN THAT HAPPENS THIS AFTERNOON AND BY THE TIME THIS SHOW AIRS ACTUALLY.

WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE.

KAREN DeWITT FROM NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC RADIO, JON CAMPBELL FROM WNYC AND GOTHAMIST.

I'M NOT GONNA GET TIRED OF SAYING THAT.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

AND IF YOU MISSED THE STATE OF THE STATE THIS WEEK, WE HAVE THE FULL SPEECH UP ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

WE'LL LEAVE IT ON THE HOME PAGE FOR THE WEEKEND.

SO YOU CAN JUMP TO IT WHENEVER YOU WANT TO SEE IT.

IN THE MEANTIME, WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS 27 WEEK'S "NEW YORK NOW."

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

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