de Blasio Press Q&A: The United Nations Edition (Updated x 2)

Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke with the press this morning, following his speech at the United Nations Climate Change Summit.

State Senate:

In May Governor Andrew Cuomo pledged to support Democratic control of the state senate.  Cuomo made that pledge as part of his receiving the Working Families Party ballot line, with Mayor de Blasio’s support vital to his success.

Cuomo has generally done minimal campaigning for others, and is following that pattern in 2014.  Combined with a belief by many that he actually prefers Republican control, or the current Republican/IDC control, of the state senate, many Democrats and WFP members are skeptical that Governor Cuomo will meaningfully satisfy his pledge.  I asked Mayor de Blasio whether he believes that Governor Cuomo has done enough so far to fulfill his pledge and what Mayor de Blasio expects the governor to do from now until election day regarding his pledge.

Update – Full Q&A:

On topic question topics included whether other municipal leaders around the world are following New York City’s efforts on climate change, whether/how the City may mandate private sector actions, the grassroots nature of the movement urging action on climate change and the protests that closed Broadway and other streets in lower Manhattan yesterday.  Off topic questions included his speech tomorrow to Britain’s Labour Party, Chirlane McCray’s attendance at  an NYPD CompStat meeting, whether ISIS and the recent U.S. military strikes will cause a ramped-up security/counter-terrorism effort by the City, Governor Cuomo’s efforts at supporting a Democratic state senate, Congressional approval of military strikes ordered by President Obama, the City school system’s policy on student cell phones and continuing problems at Rikers Island.

Update #2 – Protests:

Mayor de Blasio accepted the notion of protestors blocking City streets.  He was asked about a protest on September 22nd in which approximately 100 protestors sat in the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway for several hours and left only when they were arrested and removed by the NYPD.

Cuomo Astorino Debate

Yes.  Really.  We exclusively have the first Cuomo/Astorino debate.

Created through the magic of editing, we have a virtual debate between Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican challenger Rob Astorino.  In our first-in-the-state debate the candidates lay out their respective presentations on some serious issues; among them New York’s overall financial and economic condition, property taxes, Start Up NY and fracking.

We’ve primarily used video from their appearances at the Business Council of New York State last Thursday and Friday, although we’ve also incorporated other recent press conferences.

Handshakes, Chapter 2 (Updated)

Rob Astorino and Andrew Cuomo shook hands this morning.  It was a different outcome than Zephyr Teachout’s infamous attempt to shake hands with the governor, involving an actual handshake, albeit quick with a very brief back and forth.

Astorino spoke to the New York State Business Council Thursday night, giving some pointed critiques of the business community’s support of Governor Cuomo.  His remarks are a sign of the challenges Astorino faces, as traditional supporters of Republican candidates embrace his Democratic opponent.  Astorino has struggled for attention as well as support, with a modest amount of money and many potential supporters convinced from the start that he will lose.  Cuomo has mostly publicly ignored Astorino, further limiting his exposure.

Astorino stayed overnight at the conference, held at the Sagamore Hotel on Lake George, and came to the morning conference session just before Governor Cuomo’s scheduled speech.  He worked the room, greeting all present and talking with reporters before moving toward the stage entrance.  Here’s what happened as Cuomo entered the conference room:

Update – Gaggles:

Astorino and Cuomo separately spoke with the press this morning, Astorino before Cuomo’s speech and Cuomo afterwards.

Astorino:

Astorino was asked why he was present, (it’s a good place to be), kiddingly responding “he’s coming here this morning?” when asked if he intended to say hello to the governor.  Other question topics included reports that the governor’s staff tried to have him bumped from the conference schedule, whether he expected or sought an endorsement from the Council and the federal indictment of Sam Zherka, who is a plaintiff suing Astorino.

Cuomo:

A frequently bemused, even goofy, Cuomo covered a wider range of topics, although he was asked about his handshake with Astorino and his thoughts on Astorino appearing this morning (“I hope he enjoyed it.”)  He was extensively asked about the state senate, including business community concerns about how a Democratic senate could affect state policies and whether he plans to assist Republican Senator Mark Grisanti.  Other topics included plans for spending the billions of dollars recently received by the state from penalties and settlements with large financial institutions, debating Astorino (“we will have, uh … we will debate), local government consolidations whether he will commit to serving a full four year term if re-elected (“what if I die?”) and the recent court decision removing the word “independent” from the ballot issue description of a proposed constitutional amendment changing the redistricting process.

Astorino At The Business Council

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino confronted a lost constituency Thursday night, politely, but pointedly, criticizing the business community for supporting Governor Andrew Cuomo.  Typical electoral expectations suggest that Republican Astorino would be supported by the business community broadly, and the Business Council specifically.  The Council, however, is expected to endorse Cuomo on Friday, and Cuomo has received enormous financial contributions from a wide range of the business community.  Astorino began his speech to the Council by saying that “your graciousness makes it a little harder to say what I came here to say.”  Here are selected excerpts from Astorino’s speech:

His post-speech discussion with press, with a focus on his speech, is here.

Faso on 2014

We spoke briefly with John Faso about the 2014 gubernatorial race and how it compares to Faso’s race as the Republican gubernatorial nominee in 2006.  Faso, then an Assembly Member from Columbia County, faced many of the same challenges that Rob Astorino faces this year; including limited name recognition, a widely known and popular opponent holding statewide office and a dramatic money gap.  Faso was unable to really ever get traction, and lost to Eliot Spitzer by more than 30 percentage points.

We spoke with Faso at the New York State Business Council conference, just before Astorino addressed the group.  I began by asking what he sees in terms of both similarities and differences between his 2006 race and Astorino’s current campaign.  Faso offered an interesting set of differences, while recognizing the steep odds facing Astorino.

From Gotham to George, Lake

Gubernatorial candidates campaigned Thursday, with Governor Andrew Cuomo holding a press conference in Gotham and Rob Astorino speaking with the press following a speech to the New York State Business Council at a conference on Lake George.

Cuomo:

Cuomo held a press conference to announce a “women’s equality pledge.”  Cuomo, and running mate Kathy Hochul have created a “Women’s Equality Party” ballot line for November, and they’re now pushing for all candidates for state office to sign a pledge in support of their “women’s equality agenda.” Among the other topics was Astorino’s recent ad labeling Cuomo a “unicorn killer.”  What  follows is the Q&A portion of their press conference in midtown Manhattan.  They were joined by former council speaker Christine Quinn.

Astorino:

Astorino addressed the New York State Business Council at it’s annual conference Thursday night, held in Bolton Landing on Lake George.  The Business Council should be friendly territory for Republican Astorino, but the group is poised to endorse Andrew Cuomo on Friday.  Astorino challenged the Council and the business community as complicit in New York’s economic shortcomings, and much of the questioning centers on his speech and the audience reaction.  Other topics included whether the Cuomo campaign has responded concerning candidate debates and Astorino’s take on Cuomo’s unicorn comments.

Teachout Looks Ahead (Updated)

Defeated Democratic gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout discussed the November elections, Governor Cuomo and the New York State Senate this afternoon, charging ahead in electoral politics despite the end of her own candidacy.  She spoke just before appearing at a rally near City Hall calling for continued net neutrality opposing the proposed merger of cable giants Comcast and Time Warner.

Update – Book Discussion:

Teachout also discussed her forthcoming book, Corruption In America:

Fans, Food & A Few Questions (Updated)

Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio ate their way up Mulberry Street this afternoon, marching in the annual San Gennaro Festival parade.  Held in Manhattan’s Little Italy, the parade moves through a narrow street lined with with food booths offering an array of treats.  Sandwiches, rice balls, cannoli and more fueled the governor and the mayor as they moved through a packed, friendly crowd.

Press Gaggle:

Governor Cuomo spoke briefly with the press after the parade.  (Mayor de Blasio did not.)  The session lasted barely two minutes, with two non-parade questions.  Cuomo gave a “yes”, but without any commitment on when/where etc., on whether he will debate Republican Rob Astorino, and a non-answer on whether he wants Zephyr Teachout’s endorsement and what he’ll do to get it.  He spoke at greater length about the parade, both today’s march and his family’s attachment to the parade.

Update – Leave the Picture, Take the Cannoli:

Here’s a look at the governor and mayor’s culinary experience Saturday:

de Blasio Press Q&A: The Freestyle edition

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Friday afternoon visit to a middle school after school program included being serenaded, freestyle.  The mayor, joined by his wife Chirlane McCray and several City officials, visited Gramercy Park’s M.S. 255 to promote the lesser publicized part of his universal pre-K/middle school after school program initiative and urge parents and students to enroll.

Press Q&A:

Press questions were primarily “off topic,” with on topic questions covering the enrollment statistics and remaining available seats and whether legislative changes to the common core state standards will be an improvement for students, teachers and parents.  Off topic questions included city enforcement efforts around Airbnb and Airbnb’s hiring of de Blasio’s campaign manager, why a proposed ban on carriage horses has taken far longer than initially promised by the mayor, Tim Wu’s comments on the mayor’s central role on defeating Wu and Zephyr Teachout in Tuesday’s primary, revised statistics on NYPD chokehold incidents, charter school co-locations, the mayor’s lack of a federal security clearance and resulting inability to receive classified information, school bus drivers movement toward a strike, his relationship with Police Commissioner Bill Bratton and his efforts to help elect a Democratic majority in the state senate.

Cuomo Discusses Security & Port Authority Review (Updated)

Governor Andrew Cuomo plans to conduct, together with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a review of the Port Authority’s security procedures.  Cuomo announced his planned review this afternoon during a speech at the World Trade Center site, and then discussed it briefly afterwards.

Here’s what Cuomo had to say in a brief post-speech discussion.  The discussion began with a question (from Zack Fink of NY1) of what Cuomo expects to do in his joint effort with Christie:

Update – Speech:

After leading a 9/11 Memorial Motorcycle Ride from the West 43rd Street quarters of FDNY’s Rescue Company to the World Trade Center, Governor Cuomo spoke at a commemoration ceremony.  With the World Trade Center behind him, Cuomo spoke about the site itself and the accelerated construction there, as well as current security threats and dangers.  He also announced a planned review, with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, of the Port Authority’s security procedures.  Here is his full speech:

Update #2 – P.O. Huczko:

As Governor Cuomo mingled with the crowd, shaking hands and posing for pictures after his speech, he encountered newly graduated Port Authority Police Officer Liam Huczko.  Huczko, who just joined the department after graduating from the Port Authority police academy, is the son of Stephen Huczko, a Port Authority police officer lost on 9/11.  It was a memorable moment, with loss, hope and potential combined in a few seconds.

Teachout & Wu Conclude (Updated x 3)

Tuesday brought the Democratic primaries for governor and lieutenant governor to a close.  Zephyr Teachout and Tim Wu, defeated by Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul, hosted their supporters at an election night party in Hell’s Kitchen.

We spoke with each them after their speeches.

Teachout:

I began by asking Teachout whether she had spoken with Andrew Cuomo and whether she plans to endorse or support him in the general election.

Wu:

I began by asking Wu for any overriding or impression from the campaign, as well as any disappointments.  I also asked whether he had called Kathy Hochul to concede.

(Continue reading for full speeches by Zephyr Teachout, Tim Wu and Bertha Lewis.) Continue reading Teachout & Wu Conclude (Updated x 3)

Cuomo Campaign Concludes (Updated x 2)

Governor Andrew Cuomo brought his brief primary campaign to a close today, voting near his home in New Castle.  Together with Sandra Lee, he appeared at his designated polling place midmorning.  There were few other voters around, five anti-fracking protestors standing in the parking lot being the only noticeable activity.

Update #2 – Election Night Plans:

Governor Cuomo on his election night plans:

Update – Anti-fracking Protestors:

Anti-fracking protestors are a regular element of events for Governor Cuomo.  Here’s a look at how the Governor and the protestors did today.

Press Q&A:

After voting, Cuomo spoke with the press for just under ten minutes.  He began with a brief statement urging people to vote, saying that there are “a lot of important issues on the ballot” and asserting that “[t]his is a very difficult time.  Not just in this state … [but also] internationally.”  Question topics included where he will be tonight after the polls close, how the “passion” of Zephyr Teachout’s supporters may affect the outcome and what he said to the anti-fracking protestors outside as he arrived.  Here’s his full press availability:

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