>>> WELCOME TO SPECIAL LIVE COVERAGE OF GOVERNOREN DREW CUOMO'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

I'M DAN CLARKE, HOST OF NEW YORK NOW ON PBS.

WE WELCOME OUR VIEWERS AND LISTENERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

HE DELIVERS HIS 10th STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

WE'RE EXPECTING THIS YEAR'S SPEECH TO FOCUS ON THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND HOW HE PLANS TO UPDATE THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

THERE HAS BEEN LOST TAX REVENUE DURING THE PANDEMIC AND HOW MUCH THE STATE SPENT RESPONDING TO THE VIRUS.

WITH ME TO PROVIDE ANALYSIS AND DISCUSS THE GOVERNOR SPEECH, DAVID LOMBARDO AND LIZ BENJAMIN, MANAGING DIRECTOR AT MARATHON STRATEGIES.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> ANY TIME.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT BECAUSE THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING WE HAVE EXPERIENCED.

WE DON'T KNOW THE FORMAT.

WE KNOW HE WILL HAVE FOUR SPEECHES THIS WEEK.

MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY.

WE ARE ONLY TAKING THIS ONE LIVE BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAVE NOT ADVISED THE OTHER THREE YET.

WE'LL SEE.

DAVE, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

IT'S A STRANGE YEAR.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

>> I GUESS TWO THINGS.

ONE IS A BIG QUESTION.

ONE IS A WILD CARD.

HOW IS HE GOING TO ADDRESS THE STATE'S FINANCES?

YOU MENTIONED AT THE TOP THE HUGE DEFICIT.

THE NUMBERS VARY, AS WELL AS PROJECTED DEFICITS.

THE WIPED CARD.

HE LIKES TO THROW A CURVEBALL.

LAST YEAR IT WAS CHANGING THE STATE'S SEAL.

WILL IT BE SOMETHING FUN LIKE THAT, SOMETHING WILD WE DON'T SEE?

THAT'S WHY IT IS A WILD CARD, A FUN ONE TO WATCH >> LIZ?

>> YOU SAID 10.

JUST AMAZING.

>> ISN'T IT.

>> I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW HE'S BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

BUT 10 IS A REALLY BIG NUMBER.

I'LL TAKE DAVE'S CUE, THE FIRST ONE ISSERS IS.

OBVIOUSLY WE'RE FACING AN EYE NORMALOUS CHALLENGE.

THE GOVERNOR HAS COME UNDER CRITICISM FOR THE VACCINE ROLLOUT, FOR EXAMPLE.

CONNECTICUT SEEMS TO BE DOING PRETTY WELL.

NEW YORK, NOT SO MUCH.

HE HAS BEEN FIGHTING WITH THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY.

PEOPLE WILL BE LOOKING TO THAT, AND THE MONEY AND THE RESPONSE.

THE MONEY SITUATION IS BETTER THAN WE THOUGHT IT WAS.

NOW HE HAS TO REWRITE THE WHOLE SPEECH THANKS TO THE TWIN WINS AND THE RUNOFFS IN GEORGIA AND THE BIDEN HARRIS ADMINISTRATION IN D.C.

HE HAS A REAL INTEREST IN PROTECTING NEW YORK.

THAT'S THE WILD CARD.

WE KNOW HE IS A HUGE POWERPOINT FAN.

HE HAS BEEN USING POWERPOINT AND TRADITIONALLY USED IT IN THE STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH TO ILLUMINATE, ET CETERA.

ONE OF THE THINGS HE ALWAYS DID HISTORICALLY WAS HAVE THESE FUNNY PHOTO SHOPS.

>> THREE AMIGOS.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

REMEMBER THAT YEAR?

I THINK THAT WAS THE SAME YEAR BOTH OF THEM GOT ARRESTED TOO.

>> IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE YEAR AFTER.

>> HAPPIER TIMES.

>> IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME, A WHOLE DIFFERENT TIME.

THERE WAS A SHIFT WITH THE LEADERS AND THE SHIFT WITH THE STATE.

>> THE SHIFT OF THE STATE.

>> WILL THERE BE A POSTER?

A PANDEMIC POSTER.

I GUESS HOW IS HE GOING TO -- THE TONE.

I'M SORT OF EXTRAPOLATING ON WHAT YOU WERE JUST SAYING.

THE TONE IN THE PAST HAS BEEN LIGHT HEARTEDNESS AND SOME SERIOUSNESS.

IT IS A SERIOUS TIME.

WHAT WE SAW JANUARY 6th ON THE U.S. CAPITOL I'M SURE THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO REFERENCE THAT.

>> I HAVE TO ASSUME.

I THINK THE SPEECH WILL BE FRAMED AROUND THAT.

HE SAID A LOT ABOUT THAT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

HE HASN'T COME OUT AS MUCH AS I THOUGHT HE WOULD.

THIS IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR USUALLY TAKES HOLD OF AND MAKES A MULTIWEEK SERIES ABOUT IT.

>> OKAY.

TRADITIONALLY THIS WAS TRUMP'S HOME STATE UNTIL HE DECIDED TO CAMP FOR FLORIDA.

WILL HE WEIGH ON THE 25th AMENDMENT, THE INAUGURATION, WILL HE GO TO THE INAUGURATION?

HE DIDN'T GO TO THE BILLS GAME BECAUSE HE HAD TO REWRITE THE SPEECH.

BUT MAYBE HE'S CHANGED.

ALSO AS WE ARE WAITING FOR THE SETUP AND I BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR IS ABOUT TO START.

>> IS THAT THE GOVERNOR?

I CAN'T SEE HIM.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL GO RIGHT TO THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

>> THOMAS DOUGH NAPOLI, AND LEADER ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS, THE SPEAKER, ROBERT ORR AND WILLIAM BARKLEY ARE ALL JOINING US ELECTRONICALLY IN THIS SPECIAL YEAR.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.

I BELIEVE IT IS WITH MERE UNIVERSAL RELIEF THAT 2020 HAS COME TO AN END.

AND I SAY AMEN.

WE TURN TOWARDS 2021 WITH A SPIRIT OF OPTIMISM GROUND INDEED EXPERIENCE.

TODAY I ADDRESS YOU FROM THE WAR ROOM OF THE STATE CAPITOL.

THE WAR ROOM IS FITTING BECAUSE WE ARE AT WAR.

A WAR THAT BEGAN EARLY LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE AMBUSHED BY THE COVID VIRUS AND THE WAR THAT CONTINUES TODAY.

THE ARTWORK IN THIS ROOM REMINDS US THAT WE HAVE BEEN AT WAR BEFORE.

IT MEMORIALIZES EPIC BATTLES, REVOLUTION, SIEVE EUFL WAR, WORLD WAR I. REMINDING US OF OUR LOST FRONT LINE HEROES.

AND OUR OUR FORE BARRIERS BEFORE US, WE WILL WIN THIS WAR AND BE THE STRONGER FOR IT.

TODAY I'M CALLED ON TO ANSWER WHAT IS IN MOST YEARS A STRAIGHTFORWARD QUESTION.

BUT AT THIS TIME IS ANYTHING BUT.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF OUR STATE?

IN SOME WAYS IT IS LIKE THE STATE OF THE NATION AND THE STATE OF THE WORLD.

WE ARE HURT.

WE ARE FRUSTRATED.

WE ARE IN MOURNING.

WE ARE ANXIOUS.

WE ARE SHOCKED THAT AN INVISIBLE ENEMY WOULD WREAK SUCH DEATH AND DESTRUCTION, SUCH AS THIS, THE WEALTHIEST AND MOST POWERFUL NATION ON EARTH.

AND WITH NOT ONLY THE VIRUS ITSELF THAT SHOWED OUR VULNERABILITIES.

IT'S THAT COVID CREATED LOW TIDE IN AMERICA.

AND THE UGLIEST THAT LURKED BELOW THE SURFACE BECAME EXPOSED FOR ALL TO SEE.

THE RACIAL TENSIONS, HEALTH CARE DISPARITIES, SOCIAL INJUSTICE.

AND THE DANGER OF HATEFUL LEADERSHIP.

NEW YORK IS OF COURSE NOT IMMUNE TO THOSE CURRENTS.

IN NEW YORK, WE EXPERIENCE ALL OF IT.

BUT IN OTHER WAYS, NEW YORK STATE OF THE STATE IS DIFFERENT.

BECAUSE NEW YORK IS DIFFERENT.

OUR DNA IS DIFFERENT.

OUR CHARACTER IS DIFFERENT.

WHAT COVID DID TO US IS DIFFERENT.

AND HOW WE RESPONDED TO COVID IS DIFFERENT.

WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS BORN FROM ACCOMPLISHMENT.

WE KNOW WHAT WE MUST DO.

AND WE WILL DO IT.

WE WILL WIN THE COVID WAR.

AND WE WILL LEARN AND GROW FROM THE EXPERIENCE.

WE ARE SMART, UNITED, DISCIPLINED AND LOVING.

WE ARE AS WE SAY NEW YORK TOUGH.

THERE ARE MOMENTS IN LIFE THAT CAN CHANGE A PERSONAL FUNDAMENTALLY.

SOMETIMES FOR THE BETTER, SOMETIMES FOR THE WORSE.

LIKEWISE, THERE ARE EPISODES IN HISTORY THAT TRANSFORM SOCIETY.

AND COVID IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS.

NEW YORK SEIZED THE MOMENT FOR THE CRISIS IT IS BUT ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY IT PRESENTS.

WE UNDERSTAND THE INTERNATIONAL TRAUMA AND DISRUPTION THAT IT IS CAUSING.

WE GENERATED NEW FUNDAMENTAL DYNAMICS.

EVEN AS PRESENTATION TODAY IS DIFFERENT.

NORMALLY IT IS GIVEN IN THE OPENING CONVENTION CENTER WITH THOUSANDS OF PEEP.

TODAY I'M SPEAKING IN PERSON WITH A SMALL GROUP.

BUT BROADCASTING ZOOM AND STREAMING.

AND IN THIS NEW AND DIFFERENT WORLD, THE AUDIENCE IS ACTUALLY LARGER, NOT SMALLER.

TECHNOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY-BASED RELATIONSHIPS, WORK FROM HOME.

THESE ARE NEW REALITIES THAT WILL HAVE DRAMATIC CONSEQUENCES.

THIS NEXT YEAR WE WILL SEE ECONOMIES REALIGN AND RESET AROUND THE WORLD.

WE SEE THE RISK AND THE PERIL BUT WE ALSO SEE THE PROMISE AND THE POTENTIAL.

THE QUESTION TO BE ANSWERED IS WHAT WILL WE MAKE OF THIS MOMENT?

IS IT POSITIVE OR IS IT NEGATIVE?

DO WE MOVE FORWARD OR DO WE MOVE BACKWARD?

IS AMERICA, IS NEW YORK STRONGER OR WEAKER IN THE "POST" COVID WORLD.

THOSE, MY FRIENDS, ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT WE ALONE WILL ANSWER IN 2021 BECAUSE THE FUTURE IS IN OUR HANDS.

WE BUILT THE GREATEST STATE OF THE COUNTRY ONCE BEFORE.

AND WE WILL DO IT AGAIN.

IN NORMAL TIMES, A STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS IS ON ONE DAY, ONE PRESENTATION.

BUT THESE ARE NO ORDINARY TIMES.

AND OUR PLAN IS MORE COMPLEX AND DETAILED.

I WILL GIVE AN OVERVIEW TODAY.

AND THEN THREE ADDITIONAL PRESENTATIONS OF SPECIFIC ACTION PLANS IN THE COMING DAYS.

ALLOW ME TO OUTLINE THE SCOPE OF OUR SEVEN-POINT PLAN.

FIRST, WE MUST DEFEAT COVID AND BEAT BACK THE ASSAULT AS THE VIRUS RAGES IN THESE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

IT WILL NOT BE EASY.

A HIGH-PERFORMING HOSPITAL SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THE DILIGENCE OF NEW YORKERS ARE THE KEYS TO STOP THE SPREAD.

SECOND, THE VACCINE WILL END THE COVID CRISIS.

WE MUST VACCINATE 70% TO 90% OF OUR NEW YORKERS.

WE MUST DO IT SAFELY, QUICKLY, FAIRLY.

WE MUST LEARN THE GLARING AND COSTLY LESSONS OF AMERICA'S FAILED PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.

SO WE ARE BETTER PREPARED FOR THE NEXT TIME.

AND AS WE ALL NOW SHOULD REALIZE, THERE WILL BE A NEXT TIME.

THIRD, WE MUST DEAL WITH THE SHORT-TERM ECONOMIC CRISIS.

A RECORD $15 BILLION STATE DEFICIT THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.

FOURTH, WE MUST PLAN OUR ECONOMIC RESURGENCE.

WE SIMPLY CANNOT STAY CLOSED UNTIL THE VACCINE HITS CRITICAL HAS.

THE COST IS TOO HIGH.

WE WILL HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO REOPEN.

WE MUST REOPEN THE ECONOMY BUT WE MUST DO IT SMARTLY AND SAFELY.

ALSO, WE MUST ENERGIZE OUR LAGGING PRIVATE SECTOR AND REBUILD OUR ECONOMIC PLATFORM.

OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF GROWTH.

FIFTH, WE MUST SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE NEW YORK THE GLOBAL LEADER IN THE LONG OVERDUE SHIFT TO GREEN ENERGY.

THIS IS THAT IS THE SMART THING TO DO.

THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND IT WILL CREATE THOUSANDS OF GOOD, SECURE, JOBS.

SIXTH, WE MUST BE THE FIRST TO ANTICIPATE HOW COVID WILL TRANSFORM OUR ECONOMY AND SOCIETY.

WE MUST CAPITALIZE ON THOSE COMING CHANGES.

SEVENTH, WE MUST ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC INJUSTICES EXPOSED DURING THIS LOW TIDE IN AMERICA, THE IN EQUITY, THE RACISM, AND THE SOCIAL ABUSE.

AND, MY FRIENDS, IF THAT WASN'T AMBITIOUS ENOUGH, ALL OF THESE PLANS MUST MOVE FORWARD SIMULTANEOUSLY.

IT WILL BE HARD.

IT WILL BE THE LATEST TEST SINCE WE MOBILIZED TO FIGHT WORLD WAR II.

IT WILL BE THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVANCEMENT SINCE POST WORLD WAR II.

MOST IMMEDIATELY, UNTIL WE REACH CRITICAL MASS, WE MUST IMPLORE NEW YORKERS TO BE DILIGENT.

COVID FATIGUE IS NOT AN OPTION UNTIL COVID ITSELF IS FATIGUED.

WE MUST DEFEAT THE ENEMY.

IF WE TIRE BEFORE THE ENEMY TIRES, WE LOSE THE WAR.

IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

WE MUST SLOW THE SPREAD TO KEEP OUR COVID NUMBERS DOWN.

IN THE INTERIM, WE MUST MANAGE HOSPITALIZATIONS SO THE SYSTEM IS NOT OVERWHELMED.

WE NEED THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE FROM OUR HOSPITALS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

IF THE CASELOAD THREATENS TO OVERWHELM THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM WE WILL NEED TO CLOSE THAT REGION AGAIN.

THAT IS THE IS THE WORST CASE OPTION.

EVEN MORE BROADLY, WE MUST REALIZE IT IS TIME FOR AN ENTIRELY NEW WAY OF THINKING ABOUT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.

OUR NATION'S PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM WAS JUST NOT PREPARED FOR THIS.

DESPITE SARS 17 YEARS AGO, MRSA AND EBOLA, SEVERAL DENGUE OUTBREAKS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THIS COUNTRY COULDN'T EVEN PRODUCE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS ENOUGH NASAL SWABS.

OUR LAP STORIES WERE UNPREPARED.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DID NOT EVEN SCREEN VISITORS AT THE NATION'S GATEWAYS HERE IN NEW YORK.

AND IT STILL DOESN'T.

OUR NURSES AND DOCTORS WERE HEROIC, BUT OUR COUNTRY COULDN'T PROVIDE THEM WITH ENOUGH MASKS AND GOWNS.

IT WAS LIKE SENDING SOLDIERS INTO BATTLE WITHOUT BULLETS.

WE HAVE HAD 100 YEARS OF MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS SINCE THE LAST PANDEMIC IN 1918 YET WE WERE DECIMATED BY THIS VIRUS.

THAT CAN NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

COVID REVEALED A GRAVE VULNERABILITY IN OUR MEDICAL SUPPLY CHAIN.

TOO MANY ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS ARE MADE IN CHINA.

WE MUST HAVE THE CAPACITY IN THE UNITED STATES AND EVEN HERE IN NEW YORK.

WE ARE ALREADY ACTING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

WE ORDERED MORE THAN $20 MILLION TO 36 NEW YORK BENEFITS TO MAKE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT HERE AT HOME.

GOING FORWARD, I PROPOSE THE STATE PASS THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES ACT TO INCENTIVIZE NEW YORK COMES TO MANUFACTURE MEDICAL SUPPLIES.

AND NEW YORK WILL THEN PURCHASE FROM THAT SUPPLY FIRST.

THIS NATION CAN BE BE CAUGHT FLAT-FOOTED AGAIN.

IT ALSO FOSTERED INNOVATIONS.

TELEMEDICINE WAS IN VALUABLE KEEPING PEOPLE REMOTE WHILE PROVIDING CARE.

PUBLIC ACCESS WAS UNEVEN AND IN EQUITABLE.

AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE REIMAGINE NEW YORK COMMISSION, I AM INTRODUCING THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE TELEHEALTH BILL IN THE NATION TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY TO ALL NEW YORKERS.

MOST PRESSING FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, WE MUST VACCINATE ALL NEW YORKERS.

IT IS A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING AND MUCH GREATER THAN ANYTHING THIS NATION HAS DONE TO DATE.

WE ARE EXPANDING TODAY OUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM TO INCLUDE THOUSANDS OF OUTLETS.

BUT THE FEDERAL VACCINE SUPPLY MUST INCREASE.

TODAY WE HAVE ABOUT 1 MILLION DOSES IN NEW YORK STATE FOR OVER 4 MILLION ELIGIBLE PEOPLE.

WE ONLY RECEIVE 300,000 DOSES PER WEEK FROM THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT.

AT THIS RATE, IT WILL TAKE US 14 WEEKS JUST TO RECEIVE ENOUGH DOSAGES FOR THOSE CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE.

NOW, WE WILL SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS FOR VACCINES WEEKS INTO THE FUTURE.

WE WOULD RATHER HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP AND AWAITING THE VACCINE THAN HAVING THE VACCINE AWAITING PEOPLE.

I UNDERSTAND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WANT THE VACCINE TODAY.

BUT WE MUST BE PATIENT EVEN THOUGH IT IS AN IMPATIENT TIME.

I BELIEVE THE NEW FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION WILL SEE THE VACCINE SUPPLY INCREASE, AND WE WILL BE READY FOR THAT INCREASE.

WE WILL ALSO BRING SOCIAL AND RACIAL JUSTICE TO THE VACCINATION EFFORT BY MAKING VACCINES AVAILABLE TO ALL NEW YORKERS AND SUPPLEMENT TO REACH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, PRIMARILY BLACK, LATINO, ASIAN AND POOR COMMUNITIES.

WE WILL NOT ALLOW POLITICS OR WEALTH TO DICTATE THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LIFE-SAVING VACCINE.

TODAY WE'RE ANNOUNCING THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH CORPS.

IT WILL BE A JOINTEST WITH CORNELL AND NORTHWELL HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

WE WILL HIRE 1,000 HEALTH CORPS FELLOWS WHO AGREE TO SERVE FOR ONE YEAR.

THEY WILL BE TRAINED TO FACILITATE A STATEWIDE VACCINATION OPERATION AND DO IT SAFELY AND QUICKLY IN EVERY PART OF THE STATE.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH CORPS WILL ALSO HELP NEW YORK LEARN FROM THIS EXPERIENCE AND ESTABLISH A BEST IN THE NATION EMERGENCY RESPONSE CAPACITY THAT LASTS BEYOND COVID.

SO WE ARE BETTER PREPARED FOR FUTURE CRISES.

WE WILL ALSO EMPOWER AND EDUCATE NEW YORK'S CITIZENS TO BE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

TOO MANY NEW YORKERS FELT ANXIOUS BECAUSE THEY WERE UNINFORMED AND UNTRAINED TO HANDLE THIS NEW URGENCY.

WE WILL DEVELOP A CITIZEN PUBLIC HEALTH TRAINING PROGRAM DESIGNED BY CORNELL.

IT WILL BE OFFERED ONLINE.

AND IT WILL BE FREE TO EDUCATE AND CERTIFY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CITIZENS ALL ACROSS THE STATE WHO WILL THEN BE BETTER PREPARED TO HELP THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR COWORKERS AND WILL BE TRAINED AND READY TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITY IN THE NEXT PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

OUR GOAL IS TO TRAIN AND CERTIFY 100,000 NEW YORK HEALTH EMERGENCY VOLUNTEERS.

RAPID TESTING NOT ONLY SAVES LIVES BUT IT IS A KEY TO OUR ECONOMIC REOPENING PLAN.

WE WILL OPEN A NETWORK OF NEW RAPID TESTING SITES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

WHILE WE ARE CONTINUE TO GO BATTLE COVID AND EXPEDITE THE VACCINE, WE MUST ALSO DEAL WITH THE COST OF COVID.

COVID HAS BEEN COSTLY IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.

THE GREATEST COST OF COVID IS THE LIVES LOST.

AND FOR THAT, WE PRAY EVERY DAY FOR GOD'S GRACE AND PEACE.

BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN LOST.

LIFETIME SAVINGS HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED.

PERSONAL DEBT HAS MOUNTED.

AND OUR STATE GOVERNMENT FACES A $15 BILLION DEFICIT.

THE LARGEST IN HISTORY.

WHILE THIS IS LARGER THAN EVER, THE DYNAMICS ARE NOT NEW.

IN THE 1970s, NEW YORK CITY WAS ON THE VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY.

A BANKRUPTCY THAT THREATENED THE WHOLE STATE.

IN FACT, THE WHOLE NATION.

AT THAT TIME WASHINGTON FAMOUSLY TOLD US TO, QUOTE, END QUOTE, DROP DEAD.

WELL, IN RECENT YEARS, WASHINGTON NOT ONLY TOLD US TO DROP DEAD, THEY DUG A GRAVE AND TRIED TO PUSH US IN.

BUT THEIR EFFORTS FAILED.

NEW YORKERS WOULD NOT GIVE UP.

FORTUNATELY THIS NATION REJECTED WASHINGTON'S HYPERPARTISAN POLITICS.

AND TODAY IS A NEW DAY IN AMERICA, AFTER A LONG, DARK NIGHT.

IN THE NEW FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THERE IS NO CREDIBLE ARGUMENT AGAINST THE FACT THAT NEW YORK'S DAMAGE FROM COVID IS CLEARLY, LEGALLY AND ETHICALLY WASHINGTON'S LIABILITY.

THIS CRISIS WAS CAUSED BY TWO FACTORS.

AND BOTH WERE CREATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

FIRST, ALLOWING COVID TO AMBUSH NEW YORK LAST SPRING WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OR NOTICE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS AN ACT OF GROSS NEGLIGENCE.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THOUGHT THE VIRUS WAS STILL IN CHINA, BUT THEY WERE WRONG.

COVID HAD ALREADY TRAVELED TO EUROPE AND 3 MILLION EUROPEANS HAD ALREADY TRAVELED TO NEW YORK BEFORE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EVER WARNED NEW YORK OR THE NATION OREN ACTED A TRAVEL BAN FOR THE CONTINENT.

NEW YORK, UNLIKE ANY OTHER STATE, HAD NO NOTICE AND NO TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE ATTACK.

AS SOON AS WE FOUND OUT, THE COVID ENEMY WAS ALREADY AMONGST US AND HAD BEEN COMING FOR MONTHS.

WE JUST SAW THE SAME FEDERAL NEGLIGENCE RE-ENACTED WHEN IT FAILED TO TEST TRAVELERS FROM THE UK WHERE A NEW STRAIN OF THE COVID VIRUS HAD BEEN DETECTED.

THE UNITED STATES DID NOTHING.

EVEN THOUGH 120 OTHER COUNTRIES HAD ALREADY ACTED.

NEW YORKERS WERE CALLED ON TO FLATTEN THE CURVE CREATED BY FEDERAL FAILURE.

NEW YORKERS CANNOT NOW BE ASKED TO PAY THE FINANCIAL BILL FOR FEDERAL INCOMPETENCE.

NEW YORKERS ALREADY PAID HIGHER HIGHER COSTS.

SECOND, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS A NATIONAL CRISIS.

THIS IS NOT A STATE CRISIS.

THEY DELEGATED RESPONSIBILITY FOR COVID TO THE GOVERNORS.

AND THEN FAILED TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES.

WASHINGTON, AS THEY SAY, PASSED THE BUCK WITHOUT PASSING THE BUCKS.

AND, AGAIN, IN DECEMBER, CONGRESS FAILED THIS NATION WHEN IT FAILED TO PASS STATE AND LOCAL FINANCING DURING THEIR LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THIS IS THE NATIONAL CHALLENGE.

IT IS A WAR.

AND LIKE EVERY WAR BEFORE, IT MUST BE FINANCED BY WASHINGTON.

IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS REVENUE, IT SHOULD RAISE INCOME TAXES ON THE WEIGHTY TO FINANCE THE STATE'S RESURGENCE FROM THIS NATIONAL DEVASTATION.

THAT IS BASIC ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC PRUDENCE.

LOOK WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

IN AMERICA, THE RICH HAVE GONE RICHER, THE POOR HAVE GONE PEER, AND THE MIDDLE CLASS HAS GONE SMALLER.

WASHINGTON SHOULD NOT FORCE ANY STATE TO BEAR THE COST ALONE.

ESPECIALLY NEW YORK STATE.

WASHINGTON HAS SAVAGED US FOR FOUR YEARS.

NO STATE IN THE NATION PAYS MORE TO WASHINGTON AND RECEIVES LESS IN RETURN.

AS THE LATE SENATOR DANIEL PATRICK MOYNAHAN POINTED OUT, THIS HAS BEEN TRUE FOR DECADES.

AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN REMEDIED.

IN FACT, IT HAS GONE WORSE.

OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, WASHINGTON TOOK EVEN MORE FUNDING FROM NEW YORKERS AS A SHEER EXERCISE OF POLITICAL EXTORTION.

TODAY NEW YORK SUBSIDIZES 42 OTHER STATES.

ON TOP OF THAT, THE NEW FEDERAL S.A.T.L.

PROVISION COST $30 BILLION MORE OVER THREE YEARS FOR NEW YORK.

IT INCREASED PROPERTY TAXES ON HARD-WORKING NEW YORKERS $2600 PER YEAR.

LOOK AT THE GROSS INJUSTICE.

WASHINGTON RAISED OUR TAXES TO BENEFIT OTHER STATES AND THOSE STATES THEN APPEALED TO OUR RESIDENTS TO RELOCATE TO THEIR LOWER TAX STATES.

THE INFURIATING IRONY IS THAT NEW YORK SUBSIDIZES THOSE STATES LOWER RATES.

BUT WASHINGTON DIDN'T STOP THERE.

THE ABUSE WAS UNRELENTING.

OUR MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATE IS THE LOWEST IN THE UNITED STATES.

THEY STARVED OUR INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING AND THEY ILLEGALLY IMPEDED OUR GLOBAL TRAVEL.

SO YOU ASK ME TODAY WHAT IS YOUR STATE OF THE STATE?

NEW YORK IS SUFFERING.

AND NEW YORKERS ARE TIRED OF BEING ABUSED AND DEMAND THAT WASHINGTON STOPS CAUSING DAMAGE AND STARTS RESOLVING THE DAMAGE THEY CAUSED.

WE EXPECT S.A.L.T.

TO BE REMOVED FROM OUR WOUNDS FULLY AND QUICKLY.

AND WE EXPECT TO BE COMPENSATED FOR OUR ECONOMIC LOSS.

WE EXPECT BASIC FAIRNESS FROM WASHINGTON.

FINALLY, WITH OUR NEW PRESIDENT, A NEW SENATE, AND THE HOUSE MEMBERS, I BELIEVE THEY WILL DO JUSTICE.

IF WASHINGTON DOES TELL NEW YORK TO EFFECTIVELY DROP DEAD ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD BE SHOCKED.

BUT NEW YORK WILL FIGHT BACK.

WE WILL DO WHAT WE DID IN THE '70s.

WE CAME TOGETHER, WE ORGANIZED, WE SACRIFICED, AND WE AVERTED FINANCIAL RUIN.

BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, MY FRIENDS, IT WOULD BE VERY PAINFUL.

TO CLOSE OUR $15 BILLION BUDGET GAP ON OUR OWN WOULD REQUIRE EXTRAORDINARY AND NEGATIVE MEASURES.

IMAGINE THIS, IF WE RAISED TAXES TO THE HIGHEST INCOME TAX RATE IN THE NATION ON ALL INCOME OVER $1 MILLION, BILLIONAIRES, MULTIMILLIONAIRES, WE WOULD ONLY RAISE $1.5 BILLION.

IF WE POSTPONED OUR IMPORTANT TAX CUT FOR OUR STRUGGLING MIDDLECLASS, WE WOULD SAVE $500 MILLION.

IF WE FROZE LABOR CONTRACTS ON OUR HARD-WORKING PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, WE WOULD SAVE $1 BILLION.

IF WE CUT EDUCATION FUNDING FOR OUR CHILDREN 20%, WE WOULD SAVE $5.2 BILLION.

EVEN AFTER ALL OF THAT PAIN, WE WOULD STILL NEED BILLIONS IN CUTS TO HEALTH CARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

AND WE WOULD NEED TO BORROW BILLIONS AT THE COST OF FUTURE GENERATIONS.

IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO ALL NEW YORKERS.

AFTER FOUR YEARS OF WASHINGTON'S ASSAULT ON NEW YORK, THEIR INACTION WOULD COMPOUND THEIR CRIME.

OUR FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES MUST DELIVER FAIRNESS FOR NEW YORK.

AND THEY MUST DO IT QUICKLY.

BECAUSE OUR BUDGET IS DUE APRIL 1.

NOW, NEW YORK WILL DO ITS PART.

WE WILL LEGALIZE CANNABIS, JOINING 15 OTHER STATES WHO HAVE ALREADY DONE SO.

THIS WILL RAISE REVENUE AND WILL END THE OVERCRIMINALIZATION OF THIS PRODUCT THAT HAS LEFT SO MANY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR OVERPLEASED AND OVERINCARCERATED.

WE PROPOSE STATE-SPONSORED MOBILE SPORTS BETTING TO RAISE ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

WE ARE A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE STATE.

WE ONLY ASK FOR AN EQUITABLE PARTNERSHIP FROM WASHINGTON.

THE COVID, AND THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR STATE.

BUT THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING FOR US.

AS THIS ROOM REMINDS US, AFTER THE WAR IS WHEN THE RECONSTRUCTION BEGINS.

AND IN THE RECONSTRUCTION IS WHEN PROJECT IS TRULY MADE.

WE MUST PLAN AND START OUR POST COVID WAR TO SEIZE THE ADVANTAGE.

AND I WILL BE OUTLINING INITIATIVES TO DO THAT IN THE COMING DAYS.

THE TRUTH IS WE CANNOT STAY CLOSED UNTIL EVERYONE IS VACCINATED.

THE ECONOMIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, EMOTIONAL COST WOULD BE INCREDIBLE.

WE MUST GUENIN INCREASING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND USING SCIENCE TO DO IT, MAKING COVID TESTING AND VACCINATIONS AVAILABLE SO THAT WE CAN REOPEN RESTAURANTS AND ART SPACES AND THEATERS AND COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES.

WE JUST TESTED THE CONCEPT WITH THE BUFFALO BILLS PLAYOFF GAME.

AND EARLY INDICATIONS ARE THAT IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS.

WE MUST ALSO AGGRESSIVELY PLAN FOR THE POST-COVID ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

HOW DO WE ADJUST TO THE NEW WORLD DYNAMICS?

OUR REIMAGINE COMMISSION HAS BEEN IDENTIFYING THOSE IN TELEMEDICINE, BROADBAND AND REFORCE TRAINING.

WE NEED ALSO NEED TO JUMP START THE ECONOMY NOW.

WE WILL COMMENCE THE MOST AGGRESSIVE CONSTRUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES.

OF AMERICA.

NEW AIR, ROAD, AND RAIL TO CREATE JOBS, JOBS, AND MORE JOBS.

FDR, OUR GREAT GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND PRESIDENT, SET THE PRECEDENT AND NEW YORK STATE KNOWS HOW TO GET THINGS DONE.

AND NEW YORK STATE KNOWS HOW TO BUILD.

WE'VE PROVED IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

AND NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT.

WE WILL ALSO EXPAND THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF TOMORROW.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF TOMORROW IS OUR BROADBAND SYSTEM.

TODAY BROADBAND DISCRIMINATES BY RACE AND INCOME.

WE HAVE INVESTED $500 MILLION TO SUCCESSFULLY EXPAND BROADBAND ACCESS.

AND 98% OF THE STATE NOW HAS ACCESS TO BROADBAND.

BUT NEW YORK WILL ALSO LEAD THE NATION NOW IN MAKING BROADBAND AFFORDABLE BECAUSE ACCESSIBILITY IS NOT ENOUGH IF IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE.

AND BECAUSE WITHOUT AFFORDABLE BROADBAND, PEOPLE ARE NOT JUST DISCONNECTED.

THEY ARE DISENFRANCHISED.

BROADBAND MUST BE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE EVERYWHERE.

AND IN NEW YORK, WE WILL MAKE SURE IT IS.

WE WILL THEN LAUNCH THE MOST AGGRESSIVE GREEN ECONOMY PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY.

COVID IS THE EXISTING THREAT.

BUFF CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE EXISTENTIAL THREAT.

NEW YORK WILL BE THE GREEN ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

WE WILL NOT ONLY CONSTRUCT RENEWABLE PROJECTS, WE WILL DEVELOP MANUFACTURING CAPACITY, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPERTISE, AND STATE-OF-THE-ART WORKER RETRAINING, ALL HERE IN NEW YORK.

AND WE WILL DO IT THIS YEAR.

WE WILL THEN SET OUR SIGHTS TO REPAIR OUR SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND THAT STARTS WITH OUR FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AS A SOCIETY AND AS A GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY.

LAST YEAR, EXPOSED THE CONTINUATIONS BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE MORE STARKLY THAN EVER BEFORE.

THIS IS A NATIONAL CRISIS.

FEELINGS ARE DEEP AND COMPLEX.

EMOTIONS RUN HIGH ON BOTH SIDES.

BUT DIVORCE IS NOT AN OPTION.

WE ALL NEED AN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SAFETY FUNCTION.

IT'S NOT JUST A QUESTION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE BUT ALSO SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND RACIAL JUSTICE.

WE HAVE A SCOURGE OF GUN VIOLENCE.

THE VICTIMS OF CRIME ARE PREDOMINANTLY POOR, BLACK, AND LATINO.

IN NEW YORK CITY, IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF 2020, THERE WERE OVER 1,200 SHOOTINGS, DOUBLE, DOUBLE FROM 2019.

OF THOSE SHOOTINGS, 94% INVOLVED BLACK OR LATINO VICTIMS.

AND WELL UNDER HALF HAVE BEEN SOLVED.

THERE CAN BE NO ECONOMIC REVIVAL WITHOUT EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SAFETY.

THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR OUR CITIES.

IF THE ATTRACTIONS OF A CITY ARE REDUCED AND CRIME IS INCREASED, URBAN DECLINE IS INEVITABLE.

THAT POINT HAS BEEN MADE OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN OUR CYCLES IN OUR CITY.

AND WE WILL NOT ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

PUBLIC SAFETY, LIKE SO MANY OTHER FUNCTIONS, MUST ADAPT TO THE TIMES.

THERE ARE MANY NEW QUESTIONS TO ANSWER.

DOES EVERY 911 CALL REQUIRE AN ARMED POLICE OFFICER TO RESPOND?

WHAT ROLE SHOULD MENTAL HEALTH AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROFESSIONALS PLAY IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

WHAT IS THE TRANSPARENCY AND DISCIPLINARY POLICY?

WHAT IS THE USE OF FORCE POLICY?

BUT SOME ELEMENTS ARE ABSOLUTE.

MUTUAL RESPECT IS ABSOLUTE.

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS ARE ABSOLUTE.

REJECTING BRUTALITY IS ABSOLUTE.

ALLOWING POLICE TO DO THEIR JOB AND DO IT SAFELY IS ABSOLUTE.

BUT FOR MOST ISSUES THERE IS NO TOP-DOWN SOLUTION, ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH.

WE HAVE 500 COMMUNITIES WITH POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN NEW YORK.

AND EACH ONE MUST DEVELOP AN APPROACH THAT WORKS FOR THEM.

NOW, I HAVE SAID EACH COMMUNITY MUST REDESIGN PUBLIC SAFETY IN A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.

INCLUDE ALL STAKEHOLDERS, ALL OPINIONS, ALL VOICES.

HAVE THE CONVERSATION.

THEN THEY MUST PASS A LAW INSTITUTING A NEW PUBLIC SAFETY FUNCTION.

AND THEY MUST DO IT BY APRIL IN ORDER TO RECEIVE STATE FUNDING.

THIS IS IMPERATIVE FOR THE STATE AND EVERY COMMUNITY WITHIN THE STATE.

NOW, MANY COMMUNITIES HAVE SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITY AND ARE ALREADY MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

IN STEUBEN CITIZENS AND OFFICIALS ARE USING LISTENING SESSIONS AND SURVEYS TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION.

SYRACUSE LAUNCHED CITIZEN DASHBOARD FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH REFORM.

SCHENECTADY HAS A DIVERSE CITIZEN ADVISORY PANEL TO HELP EVALUATE NEW APPLICANTS FOR THE POLICE FORCE.

YONKERS IS DEVELOPING A NEW POLICY FOR DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED.

BINGHAMTON ENLISTED A PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTION TO HELP IN THEIR REDESIGN.

AND SOLE MANKA HAS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE FIRST LOCALITY AND COMPLETE AND PASS A NEW PLAN.

APRIL 1 IS JUST WEEKS AWAY.

ELECTED LEADERS MUST LEAD.

AND PEOPLE MUST ENGAGE NOW.

REFORMING PUBLIC SAFETY IS HARD.

BUT IN LIFE, WE WILL NEVER SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT WE REFUSE TO KNOWLEDGE OR FOR WHICH WE DENY REALITY AND RESPONSIBILITY.

PROBLEMS DON'T JUST GO AWAY.

THEY MOUNT.

THIS IS A NATIONAL CRISIS THAT NEW YORK WILL LEAD.

WE WILL ALSO SET THE BAR HIGHER FOR OUR POST COVID WAR RECONSTRUCTION.

THE DAMAGE TO RE-PEYER IS NOT JUST FROM COVID.

THE LOW TIDE IN AMERICA HAS EXPOSED FUNDAMENTAL SCHISMS AND FLAWS IN OUR SOCIETY.

NOW, WE HAVE SEEN THE RIP TIDES BUILDING IN OUR SOCIETY THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WE SAW THE RACISM IN THE KKK PARADING ON THE STREETS OF CHARLOTTESVILLE.

WE LIVED THROUGH THE ANTI-SEMITISM AT THE TREE OF LIFE SYNAGOGUE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE DISTRUST EXPLODING AFTER THE GEORGE FLOYD KILLING.

AND LAST WEEK WE ALL WATCHED IN HORROR, AN ATTEMPTED COUP AT THE CAPITOL.

THESE DEMONS MAY NOT BE NEW, BUT THEY'RE WORSE.

VISIONARIES THAT HAVE HAD THE ABILITY TO SEE BENEATH THE SURFACE OF AMERICA HAVE LONG WARNED OF THE UGLY REALITY BELOW.

GOOD MORNING MARIO CUOMO SPOKE OF THE DANGER OF TWO AMERICAS 40 YEARS AGO.

BUT THE LOW TIDE HAS EXPOSED THE UGLINESS FOR ALL TO SEE.

TODAY THERE IS NO DENYING THE INJUSTICE.

THE PUBLIC IS TIRED OF UNFILLED POLITICAL PROMISES.

RESULTS ARE THE SOLUTION.

DOING JUSTICE IS THE SOLUTION.

TRUE JUSTICE, RACIAL JUSTICE, SOCIAL JUSTICE, ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

AND THAT MUST BE NEW YORK'S BANNER TO CARRY IN AMERICA'S POST COVID RECONSTRUCTION.

LET'S TELL THE PLAIN TRUTH.

BLACKS DIED FROM COVID AT TWICE THE RATE OF WHITES.

THAT'S THE TRUTH.

LATINOS DIED AT 1.5 TIMES THE RATE OF WHITES.

THAT'S THE TRUTH.

EDUCATION DIVIDED BY RACE AND CLASS AS REMOTE LEARNING FURTHERED THE DIVIDE.

THAT'S THE TRUTH.

WE SAW THE LACK OF ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE FORCED PRIMARILY WOMEN BETWEEN PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE AND CARING FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

THAT'S THE TRUTH.

WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF TENANTS AND OWNER WHO LOST THEIR JOBS AND LIVE LIVE HOODS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.

AND WE WILL NOT LEAVE THEM BEHIND.

WE WILL PROVIDE THEM THE RESOURCES THEY NEED FOR REPRESENTATIVE AND MORTGAGE RELIEF TO KEEP NEW YORKERS IN THEIR HOMES.

AND THAT'S THE TRUTH.

AND NEW YORK MUST DO MORE TO PROTECT HOMEOWNERS AND TENANTS BY PROHIBITING PENALTIES AND LATE CHARGES ON PAST RENT.

MANY SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN DECIMATED BY COVID.

AND WE MUST PROTECT THEM FROM EVICTION AND HELP THEM REOPEN AND RESTART.

THE PANDEMIC HAS ILLUSTRATED ONCE AGAIN THAT HEALTH CARE MUST BE AFFORDABLE FOR ALL.

AND I PROPOSE THIS YEAR WE ELIMINATE PREMIUMS FOR 400,000 MORE LOW-INCOME NEW YORKERS.

OUR NEW AMERICANS HAVE SUFFERED MIGHTILY FROM INCREASED DISCRIMINATION OVER THESE PAST FEW YEARS.

WE MUST ENSURE ALL IMMIGRANTS ARE PROTECTED AND HAVE LEGAL COUNSEL BY FULLY FUNDING OUR LIBERTY DEFENSE PROJECT.

WE SAW FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE WITH NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE THESE UNDOCUMENTED NEW YORKERS WITH HARDSHIP FUNDING.

AND IF THEY DON'T, THEY SHOULD AT LEAST ALLOW NEW YORK STATE TO DO IT.

WE HAVE SEEN ELECTIONS DETERMINED WEEKS AFTER ELECTION DAY.

THIS FUELS DISTRUST IN OUR SYSTEM.

WE MUST PASS A LAW MANDATING BOARDS OF ELECTION PERFORM PROFESSIONAL, ACCURATE, TIMELY AND COMPLETE COUNTS.

THE HOUSING PROBLEM IN OUR CITIES HAS GONE WORSE.

BUT, BUT THE CRISIS OF GROWING VACANCIES IN OUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY.

WE SHOULD CONVERT VACANT COMMERCIAL SPACE TO SUPPORTIVE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND WE SHOULD DO IT NOW.

TAKE THE NEGATIVE AND MAKE IT A POSITIVE.

HOMELESS SHELTERS MUST BE AVAILABLE, SAFE, AND SECURE.

IT'S NOT JUST OUR MORAL OBLIGATION, IT IS OUR LEGAL OBLIGATION.

MY FRIENDS, REST ASSURED WE CAN SEE THE FUTURE, AND IT IS BRIGHT.

WE JUST HAVE TO GET FROM HERE TO THERE.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TOGETHER, TO DO TOGETHER.

THE OLD SAYING IS TRUE, FORTUNE FAVORS THE BOLD.

THIS IS NOT ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY.

AMERICA MUST SEIZE THIS MOMENT OF TRANSFORMATION.

SOME COUNTRIES WILL SUCCEED AND SOME WILL FAIL.

SOME REGIONS WILL RISE, AND SOME WILL FALL.

BUT THIS IS A MOMENT THAT IS MADE FOR NEW YORKERS.

THIS WILL BE A MOMENT TO REIMAGINE, REINVENT, AND RECREATE.

LIFE IS ABOUT CHANGE AND GROWTH.

WILL WE RESTORE WHAT WE HAD?

NO.

BUT NEITHER SHOULD WE TRY.

LIFE IS ABOUT MOVING FORWARD.

AND ENLIGHTENED SOCIETY LEARNS FROM ITS CHALLENGES, MAKES ADJUSTMENTS AND FORGES AHEAD BETTER THAN BEFORE.

THAT IS THE NEW YORK STORY.

THAT IS OUR DESTINY.

AND I AM CONFIDENT AND OPTIMISTIC THAT WE CAN DO THIS.

AND MY CONFIDENCE IS NOT UNINFORMED OR WISHFUL OR BLIND OPTIMISM.

MY CONFIDENCE IS BORN FROM EXPERIENCE.

I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT OUR CHALLENGE IS GOING TO BE.

I KNOW THE HEIGHT OF THE MOUNTAIN.

I HEAR THE NAYSAYERS.

I HEAR THE HATE MONKERS.

IVE HEAR THE VOICES OF DOUBT AND INSECURITY.

I HEAR THOSE WITHOUT THE CONFIDENCE TO BUILD OR THE VISION TO DREAM.

BUT I KNOW WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE CAN DO.

AND I KNOW WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

DO YOU REMEMBER LAST SPRING?

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT NEW YORKERS DID IN THEIR DARKEST HOUR?

I HOPE SO.

BECAUSE I WILL NEVER FORGET IT.

WHEN COVID AMBUSHED NEW YORK AND WE WENT FROM ONE CASE TO HUNDREDS OF CASES IN A MATTER OF DAYS.

WHEN SIRENS FILLED THE NIGHT STILLNESS AND MASS GRAVES WERE DUG ON HARD ISLAND.

WHEN FEAR GRIPPED NEW YORKERS LIKE A VICE.

WHEN THE GLOBAL EXPERTS TOLD US THERE WAS NO WAY WE COULD SLOW THE SPREAD.

BUT NEW YORKERS SAID, YES, WE COULD.

AND, YES, WE WOULD.

AND THEY WOULDN'T GIVE UP.

AND NEW YORKERS UNITED AND THEY ROSE TO THE OCCASION.

THAT IS NEW YORK AT HER BEST.

THAT IS THE NEW YORK MEDAL.

WE CAN'T ENACT COMMON SENSE, GUN SAFETY, CAN'T PASS MARRIAGE EQUALITY, CAN'T FIX SUBWAY TUNNELS, CAN'T BUILD A NEW TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE.

WE CAN'T PROVIDE FREE COLLEGE TUITION FOR THE MIDDLECLASS, WE CAN'T CONSTRUCT A NEW PENN TRAIN HALL.

THEY WERE WRONG.

WE DID.

WE CAN'T ONLY IF WE BELIEVE WE CAN'T.

THAT IS WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY NEW YORK TOUGH.

THERE ARE MOMENTS THAT ACTUALLY LIBERATE OUR CAPACITY AND POTENTIAL.

THE LITTLE STRINGS THAT HOLD DOWN THE GIANT THAT IS NEW YORK ARE TORN AWAY.

WHEN IN COMPETENT GOVERNMENT IS OVERPOWERED BY THE COMPETENCE OF GOOD PEOPLE.

WHEN PETTY DIVISIONS GIVE WAY TO THE POWER OF UNITY, WHEN SELF-DOUBT IS OVERCOME BY SELF-CONFIDENCE.

WHEN THE VOICES OF OUR BETTER ANGELS WIN THE DAY.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS OVER THE PAST YEAR THAT ORDINARY NEW YORKERS, NURSES, DOCTORS, TRUCK DRIVERS, TEACHERS, CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, FOOD CLERKS ARE NOT ORDINARY IN ANY WAY.

BUT RATHER EXTRAORDINARY IN EVERY WAY.

OVER THE LAST YEAR, WHEN FORCES WERE TRYING TO CONVINCE THIS COUNTRY THAT THE STRONGEST FOUR-LETTER WORD IS HATE, NEW YORK SHOWED THAT THE STRONGEST FOUR-LETTER WORD IS LOVE.

AND THAT LOVE WINS EVERY TIME.

THERE IS AN IN DOMINATABLE POWER IN OUR NEW YORK CREDO.

THE STRENGTH OF ONE PEOPLE, BLACK, WHITE, BROWN, UPSTATE, DOWNSTATE, STRAIGHT, TKPAEU.

IT IS UNDENIABLE, JUST E PLURIBUS UNUM.

OUT OF MANY, ONE.

AND WE KNOW THE DIRECTION WE ARE ALL HEADED.

WE ARE ALL HEADED UP.

IT IS OUR STATE MOTTO, EXCELSIOR.

EVER UPWARDS.

NEW YORK STATE IS THE STATE OF ASPIRATION AND EXCELLENCE.

THAT IS NEW YORK'S LEGACY.

THAT'S WHAT MADE US THE PROGRESSIVE CAPITAL OF THE NATION.

WE HAVE MADE THIS THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

WE DID IT LAST YEAR WHEN TIMES WERE TOUGH.

AND WE WILL DO IT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

AND NEW YORK WILL LEAD THE WAY.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU.

>> WE JUST HEARD GOVERNOR ANDREW'S 10th STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

I'M DAN CLARKE, HOST OF NEW YORK NOW ON PBS.

WITH ME IN STUDIO FOR POST SPEECH TPHAL LIST IS DAVID LOMBARDO OF THE CAPITOL PRESS ROOM AND LIZ BENJAMIN, CAPITALS NIGHT AND MANAGING DIRECTOR A LOT MARATHON STRATEGIES.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE AGAIN.

SO IT WAS A SHORTER SPEECH THAN PREVIOUS YEARS.

IT CAME OUT TO ABOUT 45 MINUTES.

IT IS 12:18 RIGHT NOW.

LET'S START BROAD AND NARROW IN.

WHAT STUCK TIME-OUT?

>> START BROAD AND STAY BROAD.

THERE WAS NOT A LOT IN THE WAY OF DETAILS.

AS THE GOVERNOR SAID, HE IS GOING TO GET INTO DETAILS WHEN WE GET TO TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY.

THERE WERE A FEW NEW ELEMENTS.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LIKE THE GREATEST HITS IT SOUNDED LIKE TO ME.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE GOVERNOR AND ALL OF HIS PANDEMIC-RELATED PRESS CONFERENCES WHICH SORT OF WENT ON A HIATUS AND NOW ARE BACK, A LOT OF WHAT HE SAID HE SAID BEFORE.

I GUESS WHAT STOOD OUT TO ME, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM DAVE TOO, HE WAS VERY ANTI-FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

HE DID NOT MENTION DONALD TRUMP.

HE DID NOT MENTION JANUARY 6th WHICH IS NOW A DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN IN FAMY.

HE FELT THE NEED TO SPEAK ABOUT POLICE REFORM BUT ALSO TALK ABOUT SUPPORT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO SOME AGREE.

REIMAGINING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

BUT ALSO ENABLING POLICE TO DO THEIR JOBS, WHICH IS AN INTERESTING MESSAGE ON THE HEELS OF WHAT WE SAW ON THE U.S. CAPITOL.

HE STARTED WITH COVID.

HE HAD TO.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE IS THINKING ABOUT.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE THE DETAILS.

AND HE MADE A LOT OF STARK REMARKS THAT HE HAS MADE BEFORE IN TERMS OF FUNDING AND THE PAIN THAT NEW YORK COULD BE IN IF, IN FACT, IT DOES NOT GET SUFFICIENT RESPONSE IN TERMS OF FUNDING FROM D.C.

BUT NOT A LOT NEW THERE.

AGAIN, HE'S GOT A COUPLE DAYS TO GET TO THE NEW.

>> I FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT HE IS STILL VERY MUCH DEPENDING ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COME THROUGH WITH THE MONEY FOR THE STATE.

I MAYBE SELFISHLY WAS EXPECTING A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON WHAT THE STATE MIGHT PLAN TO DO IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE 50 DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE ALL GOING TO AGREE ON ONE BILL IMMEDIATELY WHEN JOE BIDEN TAKES OFFICE.

>> THERE IS NO CHANCE OF THAT.

>> IT IS DIFFICULT.

WE SEE IT HERE IN THE NEW YORK LEGISLATURE.

DAVE, LET'S GO TO YOU.

>> EVEN IF YOU ARE AN INFREQUENT VIEWER OF THE COVID ADDRESSES, THIS ALL SEEMS PRETTY FAMILIAR.

HE FOUND A WAY TO BRING UP THE REPEAL OF S.A.L.T.

ON A REGULAR BASIS.

THE NEED FOR FEDERAL AID, SOCIAL JUSTICE.

I MEAN, THIS WAS BASICALLY THE GREATEST HITS WE HAVE SEEN.

IT'S ABOUT EVERYTHING HE LEFT OUT.

THE GREEN NEW DEAL MADE ME THINK OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOND ACT HE BROUGHT UP LAST YEAR.

DOES THAT MEAN HE WILL BE ROLLING THAT OUT AGAIN THE COMING DAYS?

LIKE LIZ SAID, SO MUCH WAS LEFT OUT.

IT WAS SUCH A BIG BROAD LANDSCAPE THAT I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT ELSE.

HE REITERATING THE TWO REVENUES RAISES HE IS WILLING TO DO.

HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT INCOME TAX IN NEW YORK AND DOWNPLAYED THE POTENTIAL REVENUE.

HE TALKED ABOUT $1 BILLION.

IF YOU TALK TO THE PROGRESSIVE ACTIVISTS AND LAWMAKERS WHO WANT TO INCREASE INCOME TAXES IN NEW YORK, THEY ARE TALKING IN EXCESS OF $12 BILLION ANNUALLY.

>> FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS THE TRAILER.

HE NEEDED TO LEAVE -- >> NOT A TEASER TRAILER.

THIS WAS A FULL EXTENDED TRAILER.

>> HE NEEDED TO LEAVE THESE DETAILS SO WE WOULD COME BACK TOMORROW.

YET THERE IS A LOT LEFT UNSAID.

ALSO, CAN WE ADDRESS THE OPTICS OF WHAT HE DID HERE.

HE WAS IN THE WAR ROOM.

HE MENTIONED WAR.

I DON'T KNOW.

A DOZEN TIMES AT LEAST.

HE TALKED ABOUT THE VIRUS AS THE ENEMY.

THIS IS A REHASH OF WHAT HE HAS DONE IN THE PAST IN PANDEMIC PRESS CONFERENCES.

IT WAS VERY MUCH US AGAINST THE VIRUS.

WE'RE GOING TO DEFEAT THE VIRUS.

THE VIRUS IS AMONG US.

IT'S THE ENEMY.

THE WAR ROOM IS A VERY INTERESTING BACK DROP FOR US.

NOT EVERYONE LOVES THE CEILING IN THE WAR ROOM.

>> THERE IS A CONFEDERATE FLAG ON THE CEILING OF THE WAR ROOM.

>> I'M NOT SURE IF I WOULD HAVE GONE WITH THAT MYSELF.

AND IT WAS DARK IN THERE.

>> IT WAS DARK.

THERE ISN'T AN AUDIENCE.

HE AS A SPEAKER TAKES THE ENERGY FROM THE AUDIENCE.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

HE BUILDS AND BUILDS UNTIL THIS CRESCENDO AT THE END.

IN WASN'T THAT.

ALSO, VERY BRIEFLY, IT SEEMED LIKE WE ARE JOINED BY THESE PEOPLE VIRTUALLY, BUT IT WAS THEIR HEAD SHOTS.

>> YEAH.

>> IT WAS A STRANGE FEELING.

AND HE SAID THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, BUT WE DIDN'T SEE WHO THEY WERE.

>> HE STARTED OFF THE SPEECH BY SAYING WE ARE AT WAR.

THIS IS A THEME HE HAS THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

MAYBE IT WAS "THE TIMES".

THE GOVERNOR WAS ON A KICK OF READING LIKE OLD WAR BOOKS OR WATCHING OLD WAR DOCUMENTARIES.

SO THAT'S BEEN A THEME AT CERTAIN POINTS OF THIS YEAR THAT WE ARE AGAINST COVID AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE SOLDIERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SOMETIMES IT'S NOT TAKEN VERY WELL BY PEOPLE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE REALLY DYING FROM THESE THIS IS SUBSIDIZE.

BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING DAVE SAID ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PART THAT HE SAID.

HE SAID GREEN ENERGY PLAN.

AND WE ARE GOING TO CLOSE OUT AT THE HALF HOUR.

A GREEN ENERGY PLAN.

I'M WONDERING FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM IF WE ARE IN A DEFICIT.

>> BOND ACT WAS BORROW IT.

THAT WAS THE LAST THING HE WAS FLOATING.

EVERYTHING GOT DERAILED LEFT SESSION.

>> HE SAID WE CAN'T HAVE THE VOTERS TAKE A LOOK AT THIS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO RISK BORROWING MONEY.

IT WOULDN'T BE COST-EFFECTIVE AT THIS POINT.

>> RIGHT.

THERE'S THAT.

ALSO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF REPORTS WITH CHUCK SCHUMER AND WHAT HE WILL BE ABLE TO DELIVER IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION AID.

THE TUNNEL UNDER THE HUDSON.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS, THAT, ALL THESE THINGS.

CHUCK SCHUMER IS A FORMIDABLE PERSON.

HE DEFINITELY IS INTERESTED IN NEW YORK.

HE ALSO HAS A LOT OF FISH TO FRY AND IT'S A 50/50 SPLIT.

>> A LOT OF PIE IN THE SKY.

>> THERE IS A LOT GOING ON.

HE DIDN'T EXPLAIN, YOU HAVE TO BE A STUDENT OF THE BUDGET, WHICH MOST PEOPLE WATCHING ARE, MOST PEOPLE LISTENING TO THIS ARE.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHY HE SAID WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE HIDE OF HEALTH CARE.

THAT AND EDUCATION ARE THE BOHEMETH OF THE BUDGET.

WHY HEALTH CARE?

WHY NOT TAKE IT OUT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH HE DID NOT MENTION.

>> RIGHT.

MEDICAID, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE THIRD OF THE STATE BUDGET.

>> EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE ARE THE LION'S SHARE OF THE BUDGET.

>> IT'S VERY BIG.

THE GOVERNOR SAID WHEN WE HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET, IT'S ALMOST EASIER WHEN WE HAVE THESE BIG NUMBERS.

THEY CAN SAY WE SPEND THIS MUCH ON HEALTH CARE.

LET'S AXE OUT THIS MUCH.

THAT WILL BE AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION AMONG LAWMAKERS.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'M A CYNIC BUT I THINK THAT WHEN THE NEW CONGRESS IS IN, IT'S GOING TO BE MORE DIFFICULT.

WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING ON PBS.

AND LISTENING.

WE'LL SEE YOU THIS WEEKEND FOR NEW YORK NOW.

UNTIL THEN, BE WELL.