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

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO STOP NEW AI DATA CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE.

NOW THIS WAS THE FIRST STATEWIDE MORATORIUM AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S CENTRAL TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COMPANIES.

WHILE THE PAUSE IS IN PLACE FOR A YEAR, THE QUESTION HAS BEEN, HOW WILL THIS IMPACT THE AI INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE, AND WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF AI AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LOOK LIKE?

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, DAVID LOMBARDO OF WCNY'S THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM, SAT DOWN WITH RAGA JUSTIN OF BLOOMBERG LAW NEWS TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF HOCHUL'S ORDER AND NEW YORK'S PLACE IN THE BOOMING AI INDUSTRY.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELL, RAGA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE TIME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> OF COURSE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AS PART OF GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S ONE-YEAR MORATORIUM ON THE PERMITTING OF ANY NEW DATA CENTER PROJECTS, SHE'S ALSO LAID OUT SOME HOOPS THAT FUTURE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE JUMP THROUGH TO BE REALIZED AFTER THIS MORATORIUM EXPIRES.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS OR MAYBE WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT DATA CENTERS THAT THE HOCHUL ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING TO MITIGATE?

>> THESE ARE ENERGY-INTENSIVE FACILITIES, RIGHT.

SO THE NUMBER ONE THING WE'VE HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER GOVERNORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS WE DO NOT WANT RATE PAYERS TO BE SHOULDERING THE COST OF THESE FACILITIES COMING ON AND HOOKING UP TO OUR GRID.

SO THE ULTIMATUM THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS PROPOSED IS, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE YOUR OWN POWER OR BE PREPARED TO PAY SO THAT EVERYONE ELSE'S UTILITY BILLS CAN GO DOWN.

AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS A YEAR IN WHICH GAS PRICES ARE UP, UTILITY BILLS HAVE BEEN SKYROCKETING.

SHE'S TRYING TO CONNECT THIS BACK TO HER WHOLE CAMPAIGN PITCH AND HER WHOLE AGENDA DURING HER TENURE IN OFFICE THAT SHE'S TRYING TO MAKE LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE.

THESE FACILITIES CERTAINLY AREN'T, YOU KNOW, SETTING THEMSELVES OUT TO DO THAT AND THERE IS A REAL BIG CONCERN THAT THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THEM JOINING THE GRID AND COMING TO NEW YORK THAT EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THAT PRICE WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR UTILITIES.

>> AND THE GOVERNOR'S NOT LEAVING A LOT TO CHANCE HERE.

THROUGH HER REGULATORY POWERS, SHE'S TRYING TO SPELL OUT EXACTLY YOU USE X AMOUNT OF MEGA THE WHATS OF POWER, YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND X MILLIONS OF DOLLARS REINVESTING INTO THE COMMUNITY.

THERE'S NOT THIS SORT OF AMBIGUITY ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE EXPECTED OR THIS IDEA THAT EACH MUNICIPALITY IS GOING TO NEGOTIATE THEIR OWN POTENTIAL DEALS ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND I WONDER IF THAT'S MAYBE PATRONIZING TO A CERTAIN DEGREE.

ARE YOU HEARING FROM MUNICIPAL LEADERS, STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT THE STATE WITH ITS MORATORIUM AND THIS IDEA THAT THEY NEED TO KEEP COMMUNITIES FROM BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IS A LITTLE HEAVY-HANDED BY THE STATE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I THINK, FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S REALLY BROAD OPPOSITION TO THIS, AND I DO THINK THAT POLITICAL LEADERS ARE SMART TO PICK UP ON THAT, INCLUDING GOVERNOR HOCHUL.

BUT IN NEW YORK, HOME RULE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MANY MUNICIPALITIES.

WE SEE PLACES WHERE THERE ARE BIG PROJECTS THAT THE-- THE STAMP PROJECT OR THE STREAM DATA CENTER PROJECT IN GENNESSEE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE STAMP SORT OF INDUSTRIAL PARK, LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOP OFFICIALS THERE HAVE SORT OF UNILATERALLY SAID WE DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF THIS MORATORIUM.

I MEAN, WE ARE HAVING VERY HEAVY DEBATES AROUND THIS PROPOSED DATA CENTER PROJECT.

WE'RE HEARING FROM RESIDENTS.

WE'RE HOLDING TOWN MEETINGS.

WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED THE STATE COMING IN AND TELLING US WHAT TO DO ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

NOW, THE GOVERNOR HAS SORT OF TRIED TO THREAD THAT NEEDLE AND SHE HAS TRIED TO SAY, WE ARE JUST IMPLEMENTING A BLANKET ONE-YEAR BAN.

I MEAN, THE MORATORIUM IS ONE-YEAR BAN ON NEW DATA CENTER PERMITTING.

HOWEVER, THAT GIVES LOCAL OFFICIALS TIME TO SORT OF FIGURE OUT WHERE EXACTLY THEY DO STAND MAYBE ON SOME OF THESE DATA CENTERS COMING TO THEIR BACKYARD.

BUT YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THE INTERPRETATION ON THE GROUND IS THE STATE IS TRYING TO TELL US WHAT TO DO.

>> WELL, LET'S TALK THEN ABOUT THE CAPACITY OF SOME OF THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

YOU'VE EXAMINED THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN MUNICIPALITIES AND SOME OF THESE DATA CENTERS WHO ARE COMING INTO THESE COMMUNITIES WITH A LOT OF RESOURCES, A LOT OF LAWYERS.

WHAT SORT OF MAYBE CHALLENGES IS THAT PRESENTING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS THEY TRY TO EITHER NEGOTIATE OR MAYBE FEND OFF DATA CENTER PROJECTS?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO TALK TO LOCAL LAWMAKERS ON THE GROUND IN SOME OF THESE TOWNS WHERE DATA CENTER COMPANIES ARE COMING IN.

THERE IS A SENSE THAT THIS IS A DAVID AND GOLIATH SITUATION AND THAT LARGE TECH COMPANIES OFTEN HAVE AN ARMY, AS YOU SAID, LAWYERS, OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SORT OF, YOU KNOW, LOBBYING ON THE GROUND, FOLKS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES OR THE TIME, FRANKLY.

I MEAN, MANY OF THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SOME OF THEM ARE PART TIME.

NOT A LOT OF THEM ARE ATTORNEYS AND EVEN IF THEY ARE, IT CAN FEEL AS THOUGH IT'S FIVE PEOPLE ON A TOWN BOARD WHO ARE SORT OF TRYING TO TAKE IN THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT THE AMAZONS AND MICROSOFTS AND YOU KNOW, METAS OF THIS WORLD MIGHT BE DUMPING ON THEM AS THEY TRY TO BRING A DATA CENTER TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

I'VE HEARD OF EXAMPLES WHERE WE'RE SEEING FOIL REQUESTS COMING IN FROM THESE BIG COMPANIES INTO LOCAL TOWNS.

AS YOU AND I KNOW, REQUESTING A FOIL FROM A STATE AGENCY TAKES YOU LONG ENOUGH.

IMAGINE IF YOU'RE A SMALL TOWN AND YOU'RE GETTING THOUSANDS OF FOIL REQUESTS FROM A DATA CENTER DEVELOPER.

>> WHAT ARE THEY ASKING FOR?

WHAT TYPES OF RECORDS MIGHT THEY BE ASKING FOR?

>> THIS GETS DICEY DEPENDING ON WHO YOU TALK TO.

STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE SORT OF POINTED TO THE FACT THAT IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT'S SORT OF CORPORATE BEHAVIOR.

IT'S LIKE CORPORATE-- >> ARE THEY GETTING THEM MIRED IN PAPERWORK ESSENTIALLY?

>> YES.

I THINK THAT'S THE IDEA THAT THESE COMPANIES ARE REQUESTING INFORMATION THAT MIGHT NOT BE AS RELEVANT TO THE ACTUAL PROJECT AND MORE SO AS A WAY-- AS A STRATEGY TO SAY, LOOK, WE HAVE RESOURCES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY AND WE HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD, REALLY.

I MEAN, THESE PROJECTS TAKE YEARS TO BUILD OUT, RIGHT.

ANTHROPIC WHICH ANNOUNCED A $50 BILLION INVESTMENT, INCLUDING IN NEW YORK BACK IN NOVEMBER, DOESN'T EVEN REALLY HAVE PLANS TO START BUILDING FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

THEY CAN AFFORD TO RIDE THIS PROCESS OUT.

THEY CAN AFFORD TO RIDE OUT THE OPPOSITION FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS.

AND THEY HAVE LAWYERS READY AND WILLING TO SAY, OH, THAT WAS AN INTERESTING THING YOU SAID AT THE LAST TOWN MEETING.

MAYBE LET'S FILE SOME FOILS AND SEE WHAT WE CAN UNCOVER BEHIND THAT.

TO THE POINT WHERE, YOU KNOW, LOCAL TOWNS ARE SPENDING BIG PERCENTAGES OF THEIR TOWN BUDGETS TRYING TO RESPOND AND KEEP UP WITH ALL THAT PAPERWORK WHICH THEY'RE REQUIRED TO DO BY LAW.

>> AND YOU'VE ALSO REPORTED ON THE DATA CENTER COMPANIES LOOKING TO ENTER INTO NDAS, NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS WITH MUNICIPAL LEADERS, WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS THAT THEY'RE NEGOTIATING WITH.

TO HER CREDIT, THE GOVERNOR HAS RYED TO OFFER SOME KIND OF GUIDANCE TO MUNICIPALITIES SAYING ABOUT WHAT TYPES OF THINGS MIGHT BE COVERED BY AN NDA AND OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT BE TOO BROAD.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT PEOPLE FROM THE ACTUAL APPLICATION VENUES?

>> THESE ARE STANDARD CORPORATE PRACTICE.

WHAT HAS BEEN REALLY INTERESTING-- I REPORTED A STORY ABOUT THIS AND A LOT OF THE LAWYERS I SPOKE TO SAID THIS IS NOTHING NEW.

I MEAN, PEOPLE ASK FOR NDAS SORT OF AS A STANDARD OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS BUT BECAUSE DATA CENTERS HAVE BECOME SO POLITICALLY CHARGED AND THE IDEA OF SECRECY AND TRANSPARENCY HAS REALLY LIT A FIRE UNDER PEOPLE WHO THINK THE DATA CENTERS AND THAT SORT OF BIG TECH IN GENERAL IS KEEPING SOMETHING FROM THEM, RIGHT, THAT NORMAL PEOPLE AREN'T BEING LET IN ON THE SECRET OF AI AND THAT SORT OF THE TIP OF THE SPEAR IS ARE THESE NDAS, THESE CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS THAT LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES ARE BEING ASKED TO SIGN.

GOING BACK TO WHAT WE SAID BEFORE, I MEAN THIS IS ALSO A RESOURCE ISSUE, RIGHT?

IF YOU ARE A COUNTY OR A TOWN AND YOU'VE GOT A BIG COMPANY COMING TO YOU WITH, AGAIN, THEIR SORT OF ARMY OF LAWYERS NOT THAT YOU ARE NOT ALWAYS UNDERRESOURCED BUT YOU MIGHT BE MORE LIKELY TO ENTER INTO AN NDA BECAUSE THEY'RE SAYING THAT'S HOW THEY DO BUSINESS.

IF YOU DON'T AGREE, THEY CAN PICK UP AND GO TO DATA CENTER ALLEY IN VIRGINIA AS A LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICIAL, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE THE PERSON ANSWERING FOR WHY YOU LOST THOSE 120 CONSTRUCTION JOBS OR THE TAX BENEFITS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY COME TO YOUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T WILLING TO SORT OF PLAY BALL IN THIS ACCEPTED STANDARD WAY.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS CHANGING.

THE TIDES ARE SHIFTING ON THAT THE GOVERNOR ACTUALLY HASN'T GONE-- SHE'S NOT THE GOVERNOR TO HAVE GONE THE FARTHEST ON NDAS.

OTHER GOVERNORS HAVE BANNED THEM ENTIRELY.

THEY'VE SAID YOU CAN TRY TO BUILD IN A LOCAL COMMUNITY BUT YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT ENTER INTO AN NDA OTHER THAN WHAT IS ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED UNDER THE LAW TO PROTECT ACTUAL TRADE SECRET NOT JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE EXPLORING MOVING TOWARD OUR BACKYARD AND YOU DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO KNOW.

>> YOU MENTIONED TAX BENEFITS AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT COIN IS TAX BREAKS THAT SOME LOCALITIES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING TO OFFER SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS.

IS THERE A CONSENSUS ON WHETHER THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS ARE A NET BENEFIT WHEN IT COMES TO TAXES, ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE GOING TO BE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR TAX BREAKS FOR THESE DEVELOPERS?

>> THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO.

THE LONGER ANSWER IS IT'S EVOLVING.

I THINK THAT EVERY STATE IS MAKING THAT DECISION FOR THEMSELVES.

AS YOU NOTED, THE GOVERNOR HAS SORT OF PUBLICLY FLOATED THE IDEA THAT SHE WANTS TO INTRODUCE AND MOVE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BAN SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS.

OTHER STATES HAVE DONE VERY SIMILAR THINGS THERE IS REALLY AN OPEN QUESTION NOW OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT THE ULTIMATE PREMISE OF ALL OF THESE STATE LEADERS, WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY IS, IF YOU ARE GOING TO COME HERE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, AI IS A PART OF OUR LIVES AND THE FACILITIES THAT POWER THAT AI ARE DATA CENTERS.

I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SEE IS STATE LEADERS GRAPPLING WITH THAT.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO COME HERE, WE'RE GOING TO EXTRACT AS MUCH AS WE CAN FROM YOU SO THAT OUR RESIDENTS DON'T FEEL THAT BRUNT AND BURDEN THAT.

THE TAX EXEMPTION PIECE IS AN INTERESTING ONE BECAUSE THAT SPEAKS TO A BROADER ISSUE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK ESPECIALLY.

>> THINKING ABOUT THAT BENEFITS QUESTION MORE BROADLY, THE GOVERNOR AS PART OF THIS FRAMEWORK HAS TRIED TO LAY OUT A PLAN FOR LOCALITIES TO EXTRACT AS MUCH POSITIVE GOOD OUT OF THESE PROPOSALS AND TO ME, IT'S A LITTLE REMINISCENT OF SOME OF THE CASINO PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED AROUND THE STATE AND THERE'S THIS REQUIREMENT THAT YOU INVEST BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY, YOU SPONSOR A LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM, WHAT HAVE YOU.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS, THOUGH ARE NOT EXACTLY IN LOVE WITH THIS IDEA THAT YOU CAN DO ENOUGH POSITIVE THINGS TO OUTWEIGH MAYBE THE NEGATIVES OF A DATA CENTER.

IN FACT, ONE CALLED THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS EQUATED THEM TO BRIBE MONEY.

THIS TYPE OF ATTENTION IS TO BE EXPECTED, THOUGH.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF HOW IT MIGHT END UP PLAYING OUT?

DO YOU THINK ENVIRONMENTALISTS WILL ULTIMATELY WIN THE DAY HERE IN NEW YORK AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN NOT JUST THIS ONE-YEAR MORATORIUM BECAUSE THERE'S LEGISLATION ON THE TABLE IN NEW YORK THAT WILL MAYBE CODIFY A STRONGER MORATORIUM ON PERMITTING OF NEW DATA CENTERS.

SO WHERE DO WE SEE THIS PLAYING OUT?

I MEAN, IS THE GOVERNOR GOING TO BE THE FINAL SAY ON THIS, OR DO YOU THINK THE LEGISLATURE, WITH ITS CLOSE ALLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTALISTS MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENT PICTURE?

>> THE GOVERNOR ULTIMATELY DOES HAVE SO MUCH OF THE SAY IN MATTERS LIKE THIS >> ESPECIALLY SINCE THE LEGISLATURE DOES DEFER A LOT TO THE GOVERNOR.

IF THEY CAN'T GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER, WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THIS ONE, GOV?

>> TOTALLY.

WE MIGHT JUST SEE THAT SAME DYNAMIC REPEATING ITSELF THIS NEXT SESSION, RIGHT.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THE CLAIMANT MOVEMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS AT LARGE HAVE THE WIND IN THEIR SAILS A BIT ON THIS ISSUE.

AGAIN, IT HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER PEOPLE ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF POLITICAL SPECTRUM UNITING THEM IN A CIRCLE.

EVERYONE HATES DATA CENTERS, WHETHER YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN, WHETHER YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT, AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, IT IS GOOD POLITICS TO SAY YOU DO NOT LIKE DATA CENTERS AND YOU WANT TO EXTRACT AS MUCH POSITIVE GOOD FROM THEM AS YOU SAID.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE GOVERNOR KNOWS THIS.

SHE'S READING THE TEA LEAVES ON THAT.

THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS OUT THERE NOW IS THAT REPUBLICANS VOTED ON, THE OMNIBUS DEVELOPMENT CENTER, RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT DATA CENTER ACT, HAS A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTALISTS' ASKS IN THERE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THEIR ONE-BULLET SOLUTION, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MOVING FORWARD.

IT GIVES PEOPLE WAY MORE PROTECTIONS.

IT GIVES THEM WAY MORE OF A RUNWAY TO PROTEST IF THEY THINK THAT THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL GRIEVANCES AREN'T BEING HEARD.

THERE ARE CERTAIN STANDARDS THERE FOR CLEAN AIR, FOR CLEAN WATER, FOR NOISE POLLUTION.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS HEARING ALL OF THAT.

SHE CERTAINLY HASN'T SHUT DOWN THE POSSIBILITY OF SIGNING THAT BILL ABOUT, RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK SHE'S TAKEN ON SORT OF HER OFFICE WANTS TO BE THE ONE TO CREATE THE GUARDRAILS BUT I THINK THAT THEY'RE DEFINITELY LISTENING TO THE LEGISLATURE MORE ON THIS BILL THAN MAYBE CERTAIN OTHER BIG PIECES OF CLIMATE LEGISLATION THAN PREVIOUS YEARS.

AS YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, ENVIRONMENTALISTS HAVE NOT BEEN ON A WINNING STREAK IN NEW YORK RECENTLY.

BUT I DO THINK THIS IS THE ISSUE WHERE THAT MIGHT CHANGE.

>> YEAH.

I THINK STRUCTURALLY THE GOVERNON-- ANY GOVERNOR BAWKS AT HAVING THEIR HANDS TIED BY A STATUTE.

WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, IT DOES IMMEDIATELY EVOKE WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION REVIEWING THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS FOR, WHICH ARE IMPACT ON WATER, GROUNDWATER, HUMAN HEALTH, DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES SO IT'S A RANGE OF THINGS THAT ULTIMATELY COULD ACCOMPLISH THE SAME TYPES OF VETO ON THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS EXAMINING BUT JUST BY RESERVING ALL OF THAT POWER FOR THE GOVERNOR.

A LOT MORE WE COULD PROBABLY UNPACK BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS CONVERSATION.

RAGA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE TIME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DATA CENTERS IN NEW YORK, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOPIC.

ELECTION DAY IS JUST ONE MONTH AWAY, AND WE WANTED TO BRING YOU A DEEP DIVE ON THE RACE FOR NEW YORK'S 20TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE.

WMHT, ALONG WITH THE UPSTATE DEBATE CONSORTIUM, WILL BE HOSTING A LIVE DEBATE WITH THE CANDIDATES, REPRESENTATIVE PAUL TONKO, AND CHALLENGER RALPH AMBROSIO, ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15TH AT 7:00 P.M.

IN PREPARATION FOR THE DEBATE, I SPOKE WITH A SLEW OF VOTERS, POLITICAL STRATEGISTS AND THE CANDIDATES, THEMSELVES, TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES OF THE DISTRICT AND WHAT'S AT STAKE IN THIS YEAR'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE'LL START WITH A DEEP DIVE ON REPRESENTATIVE PAUL TONKO'S CAMPAIGN AND THEN WE WILL UNPACK THE EFFORTS FROM HIS CHALLENGER, RALPH AMBROSIO.

HERE'S THAT IMPORTANT STORY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> NEW YORK'S 20TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN THE CAPITAL REGION COVERS ALL OF ALBANY AND SCHENECTADY COUNTIES, AS WELL AS PARTS OF SARATOGA.

THIS YEAR'S ELECTION FOR THE DISTRICT'S CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE IS BETWEEN LONGTIME DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT, REPRESENTATIVE PAUL TONKO AND REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER RALPH AMBROSIO.

THIS IS A RACE THAT MANY POLITICAL AND ELECTION ANALYSTS HAVE CHARACTERIZED WITH TONKO AS THE SHORT FRONTRUNNER WITH MANY EARLY INDICATIONS THAT THE INCUMBENT WILL BE VICTORIOUS.

>> PREDICTION MARKETS HAVE POLLED TONKO WITH A 97% CHANCE OF WINNING SO I THINK THAT THE RACE IS LARGELY A FORGONE CONCLUSION.

>> IT'S LOOKING VERY LIKELY THAT PAUL TONKO IS GOING TO TAKE THIS CONTEST.

>> AND NEITHER ONE OF THESE CANDIDATES WERE CONTESTED IN THEIR PRIMARIES AND JOE BIDEN CARRIED THIS DISTRICT IN 2020.

SO I REALLY THINK, YOU KNOW, PAUL TONKO IS NOT GOING TO HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME WINNING THIS RACE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE TONKO, WHO HAS LED THE DISTRICT SINCE 2013 HAS A RECORD LARGELY CENTERED AROUND ENERGY POLICIES AND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY.

TONKO SAYS LEADING UP TO ELECTION DAY, HE'LL BE ABLE TO POINT TO HIS LEGISLATIVE RECORD AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS WHILE EMPHASIZING TO VOTERS THAT THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO BE DONE WITH HIM IN OFFICE.

>> ELECTION TIME, YOU'LL HEAR A LOT OF HERE'S WHAT I WILL DO WHEN I'M IN OFFICE.

I WILL EXPLAIN WHAT I'VE DONE, WHY AND HOW IT'S MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE DISTRICT.

SO I WILL CHAMPION OUR EFFORTS, OUR ENERGY, OUR INTELLECT INVESTED IN THIS DISTRICT AND SHARE THAT MESSAGE WITH FOLKS AND SAY THERE'S STILL UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND THIS IS WHAT ELSE I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> ANDREA FABOSSI, WHO LIVED IN NY-20 FOR OVER 40 YEARS, HER ENTIRE LIFE, SAYS THAT SHE PLANS TO VOTE FOR THE CONGRESSMAN BECAUSE OF HIS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

>> I WILL BE VOTING FOR PAUL TONKO BECAUSE HE WAS BORN IN MY HOMETOWN AND HE HAS ALWAYS LOOKED OUT FOR OUR DISTRICT, AND I FEEL LIKE HE PUTS THE PEOPLE FIRST.

>> IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, STATE SENATOR PATRICIA FAHY, WHO REPRESENTS THE 46TH STATE NY-20, SAID THAT TONKO HAS REMAINED A CHAMPION FOR THE DISTRICT ON CAPITOL HILL.

>> MY VIEW IS THERE SHOULD BE NO CONTEST HERE.

CONGRESSMAN PAUL TONKO IS ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING, SMARTEST PEOPLE WE COULD HOPE TO HAVE.

>> VOTERS IN THE DISTRICT EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOCUSING ON ISSUES DIRECTLY IMPACTING THEIR COMMUNITY, SUCH AS SOCIAL SERVICES.

>> WORK WITH US, HELP US, YOU KNOW, GIVE US MORE, GET US SOME MORE FUNDING FOR, YOU KNOW, WE NEED SOME HELP TO HELP THE COMMUNITY, HELP PEOPLE WHERE WE ARE.

HELP US WITH MORE JOBS, HOUSING, THINGS LIKE THAT.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S NEEDED HERE.

>> FRANCINE CALHOUNE, WHO IS A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER IN THE DISTRICT, SAYS THAT HER BUSINESS HAS BEEN FEELING THE BRUNT OF INFLATION.

>> IT'S BEEN A LITTLE STRUGGLE.

YOU KNOW, PRICES HAVE GONE UP QUITE A BIT SINCE 2021.

>> RALPH ORTEGA, OF THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FIRM, O'DONNELL AND ASSOCIATES, EMPHASIZED THAT TONKO WOULD BE ABLE TO POINT TO HIS CONGRESSIONAL RECORD AND TOUT WINS WHILE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

ORTEGA ASSERTS THAT THE REPUBLICAN CHALLENGE WILL NEED TO LEAN ON SOME OF THE BIGGER ISSUES THAT REPUBLICANS NATIONALLY HAVE WIDELY CENTERED.

>> WELL, A REPUBLICAN IN THE DISTRICT CAN REALLY RALLY VOTERS AROUND TAXES, HIGH COSTS, CRIME, PUBLIC SAFETY, ALL PILLARS FOR REPUBLICAN RACES.

TYPICALLY IN THIS DAY AND IN THIS DAY AND AGE.

DISTRICTWIDE, YOU KNOW, VOTERS ARE STILL LOOKING FOR AFFORDABILITY, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION AND EVEN HEALTH CARE.

>> I'M RALPH AMBROSIO.

I'M RUNNING FOR THE 20TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THANKS FOR COMING.

>> REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER RALPH AMBROSIO IS RUNNING A CAMPAIGN CENTERED AROUND LOWERING THE COST OF LIVING, AFFORDABLE ENERGY, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND BORDER SECURITY.

>> I'VE BEEN IN THE SERVICE PRETTY MUCH ALL MY LIFE.

I'M A NAVY VETERAN.

I'VE BEEN IN THE STATE POLICE FOR 23 YEARS.

I WAS AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL.

I HAVE A LIFE OF SERVICE, AND THIS IS WHAT I DO.

AND ALSO I WANT TO BRING HOPE.

I WANT TODAY TO BE BETTER THAN IT WAS YESTERDAY.

I WANT TOMORROW TO BE BETTER THAN IT IS TODAY.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MY COMMUNITY THRIVES AND IT'S NOT THRIVING.

>> AMBROSIO'S CAMPAIGN HAVE EXCITED LOCAL REPUBLICAN PARTIES ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

PAUL BURGDORF, WHO SERVES AS CHAIR OF THE ALBANY COUNTY GOP, EMPHASIZED THAT AMBROSIO'S EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN PUBLIC SERVICE WILL ALLOW HIM TO REPRESENT THE 20TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT EFFECTIVELY.

>> RALPH, ON THE OTHER HAND, HAS BEEN A LIFELONG, DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT, BUT IN THE SERVICE SECTOR, HE HAS BEEN A NEW YORK STATE TROOPER.

HE WAS A NAVY VETERAN BEFORE THAT, AND AFTER THAT, HE BECAME A DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

BOTH IN COLUMBIA COUNTY AND AN ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

HE HAS A LIFETIME OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE AND PROTECTING OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE CAPITAL REGION.

>> BURGDORF IS CONFIDENT THAT, IF ELECTED, AMBROSIO'S PRIORITIES WILL BE ON PROVIDING ENERGY RELIEF WHILE CRITICIZING ACTIONS BY DEMOCRATS ON CAPITOL HILL.

>> HE WILL ABSOLUTELY ENCOURAGE REAL LIFE MEASURES TO REDUCE THE COST OF ENERGY.

HE WILL ROOT OUT FRAUD IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I MEAN, CAN YOU-- CAN YOU SEE IT NOW THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE VOTING AGAINST FINDING FRAUD IN GOVERNMENT?

>> ON TONKO SENIORITY AND BACKGROUND REPRESENTING THE DISSTRICT FOR NINE CONSECUTIVE TERMS IN CONGRESS, AMBROSIO QUESTIONED TONKO'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

>> FIRST OF ALL, HE HAS NO SECURITY, SENIORITY.

I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GIVING UP ANYTHING, AS A MATTER OF FACT, AND HE'S IN THE MINORITY, AND I EXPECT WHEN I'M ELECTED, I WILL BE IN THE MAJORITY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

AND I WILL HAVE MUCH MORE OF A SAY THAN HE IS OR EVER HAS.

>> WHEN ASKED WHEN IT WILL BE TIME FOR CHANGE, TONKO, HE'S FOCUSED ON HIS EFFORTS TO BRING POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE DISTRICT.

>> I THINK THAT AS LONG AS I FEEL PRODUCTIVE, AS LONG AS I AM ENGAGED IN A PROCESS OF BEING A VERY SOUND VOICE FOR THE GREATER CAPITAL REGION, THE 20TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THAT I AM COMPLYING WITH THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOB.

YOU KNOW, HAVING SENIOR STATUS ENABLES ME TO GET INTO COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS THAT OUR HAND IN GLOVE FIT WITH THE STRENGTHS AND THE NEEDS OF THIS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

>> RALPH AMBROSIO SAYS IF ELECTED, HE WOULD BE HEAVILY FOCUSED ON BRINGING DOLLARS BACK INTO THE POCKETS OF RESIDENTS.

>> THE THING THAT I WANT TO PUT ACROSS IS THAT I AM THE PERSON WHO WILL BRING HOPE TO THE 20TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

I KEEP SAYING THAT, BUT IT'S TRUE.

WE'VE HAD ENOUGH GRIEVANCE.

WE'VE HAD ENOUGH FINGER POINTING.

I WANT TO MAKE OUR LIVES BETTER.

I WANT MORE MONEY IN TAXPAYERS' POCKETS SO THAT THEY CAN GO TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND INVEST IN THEIR COMMUNITIES WITH THEIR MONEY ON A NOSE-TO-NOSE BASIS WHY DOES MONEY HAVE TO GO UP TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IN TAXES AND THEN GET FILTERED BACK DOWN.

>> AMBROSIO SERVED AS ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL UNDER THEN-AG DENNIS VACCO.

VACCO SAID THAT HE HAS FOND MEMORIES WORKING WITH AMBROSIO AND UNDERSTANDS HIS INTEREST IN SERVING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

>> MY MEMORIES OF RALPH GOING BACK ALL OF THOSE YEARS AGO IS HIS SOUND JUDGMENT THAT HE HAD, YOU KNOW, GOOD ANALYTICAL SKILLS.

HE HAD A GREAT DEMEANOR, PROBABLY HONED FROM HIS MILITARY EXPERIENCE.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I COULD RELY AND TRUST IN HIS JUDGMENT.

PUBLIC SERVICE IS IN HIS DNA.

>> VACCO TOLD WMHT THAT HE HADN'T SPOKEN TO RALPH SINCE HE ANNOUNCED HIS CAMPAIGN FOR CONGRESS, BUT WISHED HIM WELL HEADING INTO ELECTION DAY.

>> I THINK HE WOULD DO A GREAT JOB IN CONGRESS IF THE VOTERS OF THE 20TH DISTRICT DECIDE TO ELECT HIM.

>> VOTERS AGREE THAT WHOEVER WINS THE ELECTION COME NOVEMBER NEEDS TO BE VISIBLE ACROSS THE DISTRICT, BEYOND ELECTION DAY.

>> ANYONE THAT WANTS TO RUN DOWN IN THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE DOWN HERE MORE.

YOU KNOW, SPEND YOUR TIME DOWN HERE IF YOU WANT TO BE IN AND YOU WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITY, YOU NEED TO COME DOWN HERE AND BE ABOUT IT.

DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.

COME DOWN HERE AND HELP.

>> AND ON A LARGER SCALE, POLITICAL INSIDERS AGREE THAT THIS YEAR'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS WILL HAVE A WIDE-SCALE IMPACT ON THE DIRECTION OF FEDERAL POLICIES IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND YOU CAN CATCH THE LIVE DEBATE WITH THE NY-20 CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15TH, AT 7:00 P.M.

ON WMHT AND ONLINE AT WMHT.ORG YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE ELECTION COVERAGE AT NEWSLETTER.NYNOW.ORG, OR BY SCANNING THE QR CODE ON YOUR SCREEN.

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

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >>ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR "NEW YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.