Albany's Mysterious Central Warehouse is Being Torn Down

We sit down with Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy to discuss the demolition of the Central Warehouse and the history of the project. State Sen. Jabari Brisport (D-Bedford Stuyvesant) unpacks the calls from progressive lawmakers for a special legislative session to address federal cuts.

 

EXPLORE MORE: nynow.org

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
[ THEME MUSIC ]

(00:04):
>> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF
"NEW YORK NOW," WE'LL UNPACK THE
PLANS TO DEMOLISH THE CENTRAL
WAREHOUSE IN ALBANY WITH COUNTY
EXECUTIVE DAN MCCOY.
THEN WE'LL DIVE INTO THE CALLS
FROM PROGRESSIVE LAWMAKERS FOR
THE LEGISLATURE TO HOLD A
SPECIAL SESSION BEFORE THE END
OF THE YEAR TO ADDRESS CUTS
COMING FROM WASHINGTON.

(00:26):
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA AND THIS IS
"NEW YORK NOW."
10
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

(00:46):
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
IN AUGUST, GOVERNOR KATHIE
HOCHUL ANNOUNCED THE OFFICIAL
START OF THE DEMOLITION OF THE
CENTRAL WAREHOUSE IN ALBANY.
THIS IS A BUILDING WITH A DEEP
HISTORY OF DILAPIDATION IN THE
STATE'S CAPITAL CITY.
FOR YEARS, ALBANY RESIDENTS HAVE
COMPLAINED ABOUT ITS CONDITION
AND HAVE CALLED AMONG THE STATE

(01:08):
AND THE COUNTY TO TAKE ACTION.
ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE, THE STATE WILL
CONTRIBUTE ABOUT $11 MILLION FOR
THE PROJECT IN AN EFFORT TO HELP
THE COMMUNITY.
NOW THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE
$400 MILLION ALREADY GOING TO
ALBANY FROM THIS YEAR'S STATE
BUDGET.
AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, THE

(01:30):
GOVERNOR UNDERSCORED WHAT THE
DEMOLITION WILL MEAN TO THE
CAPITAL REGION COMMUNITY.
>> WE HAVE THE MAJESTIC HUDSON
RIVER FLOWING HERE SO AT NIGHT,
YOU SEE THE LIGHTS SPARKLING OFF
IT.
IT'S QUITE A STUNNING VIEW WHEN
YOU COME INTO THIS FABULOUS
CITY.
AND OF COURSE, BASK IN ALL THIS
BEAUTY AND YOU COME TO THIS AREA

(01:52):
AND YOU GO, LOOK WHAT ELSE WE
HAVE HERE.
(LAUGHTER) THIS BUILDING WAS
BUILT ALMOST EXACTLY 100 YEARS
AGO HAS DETERIORATE AND DECLINED
AND BEEN A MOCKING STRUCTURE TO
THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY SINCE
1990.
THIRTY-FIVE YEARS THIS COMMUNITY

(02:12):
HAD TO ENDURE THIS EYESORE.
I'M SURE ACTUALLY SOMEONE WHO
WAS A BABY BACK THEN WOULD BE
HEADING TOWARD MIDDLE AGE AND
REALIZING THIS WILL PROBABLY BE
HERE UNTIL I DIE.
WELL, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE HERE
MUCH LONGER.
[ APPLAUSE ]
BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS
DONE.
>> BUT THE CHANGES SURELY WON'T

(02:33):
HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
THERE WILL BE SEVERAL PHASES OF
THE DEMOLITION PROCESS TO
ADDRESS ISSUES WITH ASBESTOS AND
AVOID INTERRUPTIONS TO THE
AMTRAK TRAIN SERVICE.
ASIDE FROM ALBANY, SUPPORTERS OF
THE PROJECT SAY THAT THE PROJECT
ALSO SPEAKS TO THE SAFE
COMMITMENT TO ECONOMIC GROWTH

(02:53):
AND ADDRESSING ISSUES WITH WORN
DOWN INFRASTRUCTURE.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE'LL SIT
DOWN WITH ALBANY COUNTY
EXECUTIVE DAN MCCOY TO
UNDERSTAND THE LOGISTICS AND THE
HISTORY OF THIS PROJECT.
HERE'S THAT INTERVIEW.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON
THE SHOW, COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

(03:14):
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY
HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CENTRAL
WAREHOUSE.
>> CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE
CENTRAL WAREHOUSE IN ALBANY?
WHY IS IT BEING DEMOLISHED?
>> SO IT WAS BUILT IN 1927.
OBVIOUSLY IT'S 98 YEARS.
I THINK IN THE MID-- EARLY '90S
WHEN IT GOT REPURPOSED, IT WENT

(03:35):
VACANT.
MORE LIKE THE '80S, BUT WHAT IT
WAS BUILT FOR WAS ESSENTIAL
WAREHOUSE FOR ALL THE GROCERY
STORES IN THE AREA.
SO THERE'S TRAIN TRACKS THAT GO
INSIDE THE BUILDING RIGHT OFF
AMTRAK.
THEY WOULD BACK IN AND THAT'S
WHERE YOUR FOOD WOULD GO INTO
THE FREEZERS AND RECENTLY THAT
WOULD GO OUT TO THE GROCERY
STORES BECAUSE GROCERY STORES
BACK THEN WEREN'T THE SIZE THEY

(03:55):
ARE TODAY.
SO THAT BUILDING WAS BUILT LIKE
A BUNKER HOUSE.
SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY IT'S HARD TO
TEAR DOWN.
IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM
PROJECT, BUT WE HAD TO DO
SOMETHING BECAUSE IN '97, CHRIS
FOLEY PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.
IN 2001, EVERYONE HAD THESE
GREAT IDEAS AND THEY END UP

(04:17):
SELLING THE BUILDING TO THE PINE
TREE DEVELOPMENT.
THEN GO TO 2002, THE PINE TREE
SELLS IT TO JOSHUA AND IN 2007,
CW MONTGOMERY PURCHASED THE
BUILDING.
YOU CAN SEE IT CONTINUE, AND
THEN IN 2010, THERE WAS A FIRE
THERE, SO FIRE BROKE OUT AND YOU
KNOW, THAT KIND OF CHANGED

(04:37):
THINGS.
2017, A NEW DEVELOPER TAKES
OVER, AND YOU KNOW WHERE THAT
WENT AND THEN 2022, YOU KNOW,
THE SOUTHERN WELL COLLAPSED ON
THE TRAIN FACILITY ON THE AMTRAK
SIDE.
THIS PROJECT, I GOT TO SAY, HAS
BEEN LIKE A CURSE.
IT'S LIKE THE BUILDING THAT
DOESN'T WANT TO BE TORN DOWN.
YOU KNOW, FROM THE COURT ACTIONS

(04:58):
WE'VE GONE THROUGH.
AMTRAK IS RIGHT ON THE SIDE AND
THAT TRACK SERVICES OUT WEST,
ALL THROUGH BUFFALO AND ALL
THROUGH THE WEST CORRIDOR.
SO IT CAN'T BE SHUT DOWN.
WE HAD TO WORK WITH AMTRAK.
SENATOR SCHUMER WAS AWESOME.
SENATOR GILLIBRAND BECAUSE
AMTRAK CONTROLLED OUR TIMEFRAME
WHICH WE HAD TO WORK AROUND

(05:18):
THEIR HOURS.
WE HAD TO PUT SENSORS ON THE
TRACKS.
WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THERE'S
NETTING THERE AND OBVIOUSLY FOR
THE SAFETY OF AMTRAK AND I
COMMEND THEM FOR ALL THAT, BUT
THEY'VE BEEN A GOOD PARTNER.
AS YOU KNOW, WITH OUR GOVERNOR,
GREAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL, WE GOT TO
DO A RIBBON CUTTING AND A LITTLE
BIT DEMOLISH OF AN OLD DOOR THAT
HAD NO ASBESTOS IN IT TO KICK IT

(05:40):
OFF.
THE STATE, WE'RE USING THREE
MILLION FROM ARPA FUNDS.
THE COUNTY'S PUTTING UP FUNDS ON
TOP OF THAT BECAUSE THE
PROJECT'S GETTING MORE
EXPENSIVE, AND THEN THE STATE
PUT UP 10 MILLION.
YOU KNOW, THE NEXT COUPLE
MONTHS, FOUR, FIVE MONTHS YOU'RE
NOT REALLY GOING TO SEE MUCH.
IT'S GOING TO BE REMOVING OF THE
ASBESTOS AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE
GET INTO DEMOLITION AND

(06:01):
UNFORTUNATELY, THE TIMETABLE IN
COURT AND HOLD-UP, WE'RE LOOKING
PROBABLY INTO 2027.
PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WELL, WHY?
IT'S THE LIKE THE LAST EYESORE.
YOU HAD TOBIN'S FIRST PRIZE OFF
I-90 THAT WAS AN EYESORE FOR
YEARS.
WE HELPED TAKE THAT DOWN.
NOW YOU'VE GOT TEN CENTRAL
WAREHOUSE AND I JOKE WITH MY
PARTNER OVER HERE, STEVE

(06:21):
MCLAUGHLIN OVER HERE, YOU HAVE
THIS BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF DOWNTOWN,
THE CITY OF ALBANY AND THE
COUNTY AND THEN CENTRAL
WAREHOUSE.
SO THIS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT
WE CAN TEAR DOWN, HAVE A BLANK
CANVASS, LOOK INTO THE COMMUNITY
AND SAY WHAT CAN WE DO FOR
DEVELOPMENT?
DO YOU JUST MAKE NIGHT A PARK?
DO YOU MAKE IT INTO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, MIXED USE?

(06:42):
YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS CANAL
GROUP THAT'S BEEN MEETING FOR 50
YEARS.
THEY WROTE A BOOK AND IT WAS
KIND OF INTERESTING, YOU KNOW,
ABOUT BRINGING THE HUDSON RIVER
IN, LIKE PROVIDENCE, RHODE
ISLAND, DID GOING AROUND THE
STATE, EDUCATION BUILDING AND
DOWN ON BROADWAY, I DON'T THINK
WOULD EVER HAPPEN, BUT A SMALLER
VERSION YOU COULD DO AND BRING
THE HUDSON IN A LITTLE BIT,
WHICH WOULD BE EXPENSIVE, BUT AT

(07:04):
THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S THE END
RESULT.
IF YOU LOOK AT KING STREET IN
OLDTOWN ALEXANDRIA, THEY THOUGHT
OUTSIDE THE BOX AFTER THE
CENTRAL WAREHOUSE AND ALL THAT
WENT AWAY.
IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT SOMETHING
SIMILAR NOT POUND FOR POUND, TO
CHANGE IT.
WE HAVE A BLANK CANVASS.
MAYBE BRING THE WATER IN.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SHOPS,
BEAUTIFUL PARK IN THE MIDDLE,

(07:25):
ARENA, YOU KNOW, THINGS FOR
PEOPLE TO DO AND YOU CAN REALLY
MAKE THAT A DESTINATION.
>> WOW. SO WHY WAS DEMOLITION
THE ANSWER IN TERMS OF
ADDRESSING THE ISSUES WITH THE
BUILDING INSTEAD OF REPAIRING
IT?
>> SO IT WAS LIKE EVERY
DEVELOPER WE WENT TO THAT I
TALKED ABOUT WENT IN THERE AND
JUST THE EXPENSE, RIGHT, THEY
WENT FROM ONE TO THE OTHER.

(07:46):
RAY BURN, WE DID THE RIBBON
CUTTING ON IT, RIGHT.
THE MAYOR DID A RIBBON CUTTING
BEFORE RAY BURN WITH THE OLD
PERSON THAT WAS GOING TO TURN IT
INTO AN ART STUDIO OR CANVASS
AREA, THAT NEVER MATERIALIZED
AND THEN RAY BURN.
HE HAD A GREAT VISION, JEFF
BUELL, GREAT VISION TO TURN
AROUND.
HE'S TURNED AROUND SOME

(08:06):
DIFFICULT PROPERTIES IN DOWNTOWN
ALBANY HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB.
I WAS LIKE, ALL RIGHT, THIS WILL
WORK.
I REMEMBER GOING I WOULD REALLY
JUST USE THE MONEY TO KNOCK IT
DOWN AND HAVE A BLANK CANVASS.
THE PLAN WAS SOLID.
UNFORTUNATELY, AS THEY GOT INTO
THE BUILDING, HOW MUCH MONEY IT
WAS GOING TO COST, HOW TO TURN
IT OVER, IT JUST BECAME NOT

(08:26):
EFFECTIVE TO DO THIS SO MOVE ON
TO THE NEXT STAGE OF ITS LIFE TO
TEAR IT DOWN.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE ERIE
CANAL.
IT'S UNDER MODERN PRESS.
WE TRIED TO PURCHASE THAT
BUILDING THROUGH THE COUNTY.
WE'RE STILL TRYING TO WORK ON
THAT PROPERTY.
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE
DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE DID TO OPEN UP
THAT CANAL AND HAVE A
DESTINATION WITH THE CANAL WITH

(08:47):
A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY
AND MORPH IT ALL INTO ONE.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS BLANK
CANVASS OF WHAT IT CAN BE AND
IT'S HARD.
HOW DO YOU SIT THERE AND SAY,
I'M GOING TO INVEST MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS, BUT YOU NEED TO INVEST
TO GET MONEY BACK.
I'LL GIVE A SCENARIO ON THE MVP
ARENA.
WHEN WE PAID IT OFF AND THE
STATE WAS DOING THE CAPITAL

(09:08):
CENTER AND ALL THAT AND THE
WALKWAY, I WAS LIKE I JUST MADE
MY LAST PAYMENT.
THAT WAS GOING TO BE A PRESS
CONFERENCE.
MADE THE LAST CHECK ON IT.
WE'RE GOOD.
WE TURN AROUND AND REINVEST THE
30 MILLION TO GIVE IT BACK TO
THE STATE FACILITY, AND IT HAS
BEEN A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR AN
ECONOMIC DRIVER FROM NCAA TO THE
WRESTLEING TO THIS TO THAT

(09:29):
CONCERTS, YOU KNOW, SO HIGH
SCHOOL WRESTLEING.
YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, WE JUST
HAD, YOU KNOW, THE GAMES HERE
THAT WERE HERE FOR THREE DAYS.
IT'S A WIN-WIN.
SO THIS INVESTMENT WITH THE
BLANK CANVASS, WORKING ON THE
ONE HAND LEGISLATORS THAT LIVES
AND REPRESENTS THAT DISTRICT.
SHE'S DEPUTY CHAIR OF THE
LEGISLATURE WHO IS VERY

(09:49):
PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS, WE CAN
HAVE A MIXED USE THAT'S GOING TO
BE A GEM FOR PEOPLE AS THEY'RE
DRIVING BY AND GO, HEY, I WANT
TO GO CHECK THAT PLACE OUT.
THAT LOOKS PRETTY COOL.
>> YEAH. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT
SOME OF THE RESPONSE THAT YOU
RECEIVED FROM ALBANY RESIDENT
MISTERMS OF, YOU KNOW, THEIR
REACTION TO THIS PROJECT?
? ARE THEY EXCITED?
ARE THEY OVERWHELMED?
HOW ARE THEY FEELING?

(10:10):
>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
FEEL BETTER ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
THERE'S A BIG FOLLOWING ON
DIFFERENT SITES, WHICH AMAZED
ME, WATCH PARTIES.
THERE'S A WHOLE GENERATION OF
PEOPLE SAYING TEAR THIS THING
DOWN AND BE DONE WITH IT.
THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE SAYING,
I'LL BELIEVE IT WHEN IT HAPPENS
BECAUSE IT KEEPS GETTING DELAYED
AND PUSHED BACK.
THAT'S WHY I SAID THIS PROJECT

(10:31):
IS CURSED.
IN CERTAIN WAYS, I THINK I WISH
I NEVER TOOK THIS ON.
SOMEONE HAD TO.
I'M LIKE WE HAVE TO CHANGE
THIS-- WHAT OUR LANDSCAPE LOOKS
LIKE FROM ACROSS RIVER BUT ALSO
AS PEOPLE DRIVE BY AND WANT TO
STOP.
WITH THIS EYESORE GOING, BLANK
CANVASS, PEOPLE ARE SO EXCITED
AND I THINK AS WE GO ON WITH

(10:51):
TIME AND WE GET TO THE
DEMOLITION PART, PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO BE EVEN MORE EXCITED.
>> YEAH. SO WHAT IS THAT TIME
LINE?
WHEN WILL THE DEMOLITION START?
>> IT STARTED THE DAY THE
GOVERNOR AND I DID THE RIBBON
CUTTING ON THIS BUILDING.
THE ABATEMENT'S ALREADY GOING ON
AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S GOING TO
TAKE ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AND THEN
HOPEFULLY LESS THAN FIVE.

(11:11):
HOPEFULLY, WE DON'T GET TO SIX.
THEN YOU'LL SEE US-- THEN YOU'LL
SEE MORE STUFF GOING IN THERE.
THEY'LL START PREPPING IT TO
TEAR IT DOWN.
IT'S GOING TO BE DONE IN STAGES.
SO WE CAN'T BLOW IT UP.
WE CAN'T KNOCK IT DOWN BECAUSE
OF THE TRACK.
YOU'LL SEE EQUIPMENT COME IN.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A FUN WAY
OF SEEING IT.
YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
ARE WORKING, A LOT OF HEAVY
EQUIPMENT THERE AND WE'LL BE

(11:32):
GETTING IT DONE.
>> YEAH. WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS
PROJECT SAYS ABOUT THE OVERALL
APPETITE BY THE STATE TO ADDRESS
INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES IN AND
AROUND ALBANY COUNTY?
>> I'VE BEEN COUNTY EXECUTIVE 14
YEARS AND I'LL BE GOING INTO MY
15TH YEAR.
I NEVER WORKED WITH A GOVERNOR
THAT HAS BEEN SO LASER-FOCUSED
ON HELPING COMMUNITIES.

(11:52):
YOU KNOW THIS IS JUST ONE PRIME
EXAMPLE.
THE $400 MILLION INVESTMENT AND
YOU KNOW, WE HAD CONVERSATIONS.
I HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HER
STAFF.
I STOOD AT THIS PRESS CONFERENCE
AT THE CENTRAL WAREHOUSE AND I
SAID, I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE
GOVERNOR WAS GOING TO PUT THAT
MUCH MONEY INTO IT.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE 5 OR 10
MILLION, A MILLION AND SAY, HEY,
WE DID SOMETHING.

(12:12):
HER COMMITMENT TO NOT JUST THE
STATE OF NEW YORK BUT TO THE
CAPITAL BUT ESPECIALLY ALBANY
COUNTY, BEING THE CAPITAL OF NEW
YORK STATE, SHOWS THE 400
MILLION, SHE'S INVESTED $4
BILLION IN THE CAPITAL DISTRICT
SINCE BEING GOVERNOR.
THINK ABOUT THAT, 4 BILLION,
IMPROVING IT.
IT'S NOT JUST HERE.

(12:33):
IT'S ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
I WAS PRESIDENT OF NYSAC, NEW
YORK ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.
THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO FROM THE
COUNTY MANAGERS TO THE ELECTED
OFFICIALS IN DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES, WHAT SHE IS DOING
IS EFFECTIVELY GOING INTO
COMMUNITIES SAYING, OKAY, WE'RE
GOING TO PUT OUR MONEY INTO IT,
BUT I WANT TANGIBLE RESULTS THAT
ARE GOING TO BENEFIT THE

(12:53):
COMMUNITY AND NOT WASTE AND
BRINGING THAT FIRM IN FROM NEW
YORK CITY TO LOOK AT HOW TO
SPEND THAT MONEY.
WE'RE HOPING ONCE THIS IS TORN
DOWN CAUSE BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID
THEY COMMIT TO 10 MILLION, THEY
ADDED A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE,
AGAIN, THE PRICE OF COSTS OF
STUFF HAS GONE UP AND WE HAVE
TO.
AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN THIS
IS A BLANK CANVASS, I THINK

(13:14):
SHE'LL HAVE MORE MONEY TO SIT
THERE AND SAY, HEY, LOOK, WE'RE
GOING TO GET BEHIND THIS IN NEW
YORK STATE.
THIS GOVERNOR IS UNBELIEVABLE TO
WORK WITH, HARD TO KEEP UP WITH
BECAUSE I REMEMBER GOING IN AND
TALKING TO HER ABOUT THIS AND
WE'RE HAVING BREAKFAST AND
TALKING ABOUT CENTRAL WAREHOUSE
AND ST. ROSE.
I'M GOING IN WITH MY LAUNDRY
LIST, AND STEVE WAS IN THERE AND
HE GOES, DAN, WHAT HAPPENED?
I GO, WHAT HAPPENED?

(13:35):
SHE BEAT THE HECK OUT OF ME.
SHE WANTED TO KNOW IF I WOULD DO
THIS AND THIS, THIS AND THIS,
AND YOU SHOULD GET THIS DONE,
COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
I'M LIKE I HAD MARCHING ORDERS
BEFORE I LEFT.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE OTHER
WAY AROUND.
BUT THIS RIGHT HERE WILL
HIGHLIGHT THE GOOD THAT YOU CAN
DO IN GOVERNMENT, WORKING IN
PARTNERSHIPS, NOT JUST WITH THE
STATE OF NEW YORK, THIS GREAT

(13:55):
GOVERNOR HOCHUL, BUT WORKING
WITH THE ALL THE ELECTED
OFFICIALS AND GETTING SOMETHING
LIKE THIS DONE THAT IS A
GAME-CHANGEER FOR A COMMUNITY.
WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING.
WE TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT
INITIATIVES, BUT WE NEED TO STOP
TALKING ABOUT IT AND WE NEED TO
DO IT AND IT CAN'T BE SIX MONTHS
FROM NOW.
IT NEEDS TO BE DONE TODAY.
>> AND WHAT WILL BE THE ROLE OF
YOUR OFFICE IN ENSURING THAT THE

(14:16):
PROJECT GOES UNDERWAY SMOOTHLY
AND THERE AREN'T ANY HICCUPS
ALONG THE WAY?
>> SO WE'RE REALLY INVOLVED AND
YOU KNOW HOW WE STARTED TO
CAPITALIZE ALBANY.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE
COUNTY, ME THE INDEPENDENT TO
TAKE THE POLITICS OUT OF IT, TO
LET THEM GO OUT AND HELP US
ATTRACT THINGS.
KEVIN O'CONNELL AND HIS TEAM
HAVE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB.

(14:36):
YOU KNOW, AGAIN THIS IS ONE OF
MANY LIKE FROM PLUG POWER TO
THIS AND COLLEGE OF ST. ROSE, I
CAN GO ON AND ON, THE PROJECTS
WE'VE DONE IN THE TOWN OF
COLONIE, THROUGHOUT THE VILLAGE
OF COLONIE, THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE
COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, I CAN JUST
CONTINUE.
WE'VE ONLY BEEN AROUND FOUR
YEARS AND LOOK WHAT GOOD ACTION
WE'RE DOING ALREADY, BY TRYING

(14:57):
TO MAKE IT INDEPENDENT, KEEP IT
AWAY FROM US AND LETTING THEM.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS
PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE WE
COMPLETELY OWN IT.
IT WAS COMPLETELY TURNED OVER TO
US SO WE HAVE OUR OWN CODES OF
VISION AND EVERYTHING.
WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE
COMMON COUNCIL.
WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE
CITY FOR APPROVALS.
THIS IS ALL BASED ON THE COUNTY
APPROVALS AND OUR VISION AND OUR

(15:17):
GREAT CHAIRWOMAN, JOANNE
CUNNINGHAM, THE MAJORITY LEADER,
THE GREAT LEGISLATORS THERE TO
SIT THERE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT
OUR NEXT STEPS ARE GOING TO BE.
IT'S GOING TO GREAT.
WE'RE DOING THAT NOW BECAUSE
WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND
THE CUTBACKS AND WHAT'S GOING TO
HIT US WITH SNAP IN 2027,
THERE'S A RUSH AND THAT WAS THE
SAME THING WE SAID ABOUT THE

(15:38):
COLISEUM.
WE DON'T WANT TO RUSH THINGS
THROUGH, BUT THERE IS A RUSH
BECAUSE EVENTUALLY WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE THINGS LIKE THIS.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE DIFFICULT
DECISIONS BECAUSE WE NEED TO
HELP PEOPLE FIND JOBS, TANGIBLE
JOBS, FAIR WAGE AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY PUT FOOD ON THE
TABLE, PAY THEIR RENT, HELP THEM
PAY THEIR RENT AND EVERYTHING
ELSE AND WE'RE UNFORTUNATELY

(15:58):
WITH THE CUTS THAT ARE COMING TO
NEW YORK STATE, IT'S GOING TO BE
TOUGH DECISIONS FOR THE
GOVERNOR.
IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH DECISIONS
FOR THE LEGISLATURE.
TOUGHER DECISIONS FOR US BECAUSE
THEY WILL KICK THE CAN DOWN TO
THE COUNTY SO WE WON'T BE ABLE
TO DO PROJECTS LIKE THIS SO YES.
IT'S IMPERATIVE WE GET THIS
DONE.
GET IT DONE QUICK, SAFELY AND
COME UP WITH A PLAN WITH A
COMMUNITY ON WHAT THIS CAN LOOK

(16:19):
LIKE.
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S
ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY,
COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE,
AND I APPRECIATE THIS.
TO YOUR VIEWERS, IF YOU HAVE ANY
IDEAS WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE IT LOOK LIKE OR ANY
SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE, GO TO THE
ALLIANCE, GO TO OUR WEBSITE.
WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK.

(16:41):
>> AWESOME.
WE WERE SPEAKING WITH ALBANY
COUNTY EXECUTIVE DAN MCCOY.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> AND FOR MORE ON THE PLANS FOR
THE CENTRAL WAREHOUSE, YOU CAN
VISIT OUR WEBSITE.
AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT
TOPIC.
FOR MONTHS, PROGRESSIVE STATE

(17:01):
LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLING ON
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER TO HOLD A
SPECIAL SESSION TO ADDRESS
FEDERAL CUTS.
NOW AT THE END OF THE SUMMER,
THAT DOES NOT SEEM LIKELY TO
COME TO PASS, BUT LAWMAKERS ARE
STILL URGING NEW YORKERS TO CALL
THEIR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES AND

(17:22):
URGE THEM TO MAKE THEIR WAY BACK
TO THE STATE CAPITAL.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE'LL HEAR
FROM STATE SENATOR JABARI
BRISPORT ON THOSE CALLS,
COMMUNICATION WITH LEADERS AND
THE PLANS TO ADDRESS THE CUTS
NEXT SESSION.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US HERE TODAY, SENATOR.

(17:43):
>> OH, OF COURSE.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> NOW AT THE TIME THAT WE'RE
FILMING THIS, SUMMER IS JUST
ABOUT WRAPPING UP AND AT THIS
POINT, IT DOESN'T APPEAR LIKELY
THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE
RETURNING TO THE CAPITOL FOR A
SPECIAL SESSION TO ADDRESS
FEDERAL CUTS.
SO WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS
MATTER?
>> I THINK WE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD
COME BACK FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

(18:04):
I THINK IT IS POLITICALLY
WEAK-WILLED NOT TO DO SO.
I THINK NOT ONLY ARE A LOT OF
PEOPLE ABOUT TO BE HURT IN NEW
YORK BY THE TRUMP TAX CUTS BUT
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR DEMOCRATS
TO SHOW MORE TEETH AND MORE
SPINE AGAINST TRUMP, AND WHAT
WE'RE SEEING IS A FAILURE OF
LEADERSHIP TO ACTUALLY RECONVENE
AND PUSH BACK AGAINST WHAT HE IS
DOING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

(18:24):
>> CAN YOU TELL US HOW THE
FEDERAL CUTS TO MEDICAID AND THE
SNAP PROGRAM HAVE IMPACTED YOUR
OWN CONSTITUENTS AND THE WAYS
THAT YOU'VE BEEN APPROACHING
YOUR ROLES SINCE THOSE CUTS?
>> WE HAVE ALREADY HEARD FROM
HEALTH PROGRAMS, INCLUDING
PROGRAMS THAT DO ADDICTION
RECOVERY PROGRAMS, THEY'RE
EXPECTING MAJOR LOSSES IN THE

(18:46):
CUTS AND THESE HAVE REALLY BAD
RIPPLE AND DOMINO EFFECTS.
YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU STOP DOING
ADDICTION RECOVERY, PEOPLE TAKE
WHAT THEY NEED AND IT RIPPLE
EFFECTS INTO THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S JUST ONE CASE.
WE HAVE HOSPITALS THAT ARE
SCARED OF WHAT THE CUTS CAN
MEAN.
IT IS OUR DUTY TO MAKE SURE
THESE DON'T GET AS BAD AS THEY
CAN GET.

(19:07):
>> AND WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO NEW
YORKERS WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT
THE FEDERAL CUTS IN THIS MOMENT?
WHAT SHOULD THEY BE DOING TO
SORT OF MITIGATE THE CHALLENGES
THAT THESE CUTS ARE BRINGING?
>> ALL NEW YORKERS SHOULD BE
CALLING ON THEIR STATE
REPRESENTATIVES TO RECONVENE FOR
A SPECIAL SESSION TO RAISE TAXES
ON THE RICH IN ORDER TO OFFSET
THE CUTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
>> AND WE KNOW THAT PROGRESSIVE

(19:28):
LAWMAKERS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN
LARGELY PUSHING FOR THE
LEGISLATURE TO COME BACK FOR A
SPECIAL SESSION.
SO CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE
COMMUNICATION THAT YOU'VE
RECEIVED FROM LEADERSHIP
THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS
ABOUT THIS ISSUE?
>> WE'VE GOTTEN NO COMMUNICATION
FROM LEADERSHIP ABOUT THIS.
IT'S BEEN FALLING ON DEAF EARS,
WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE, BUT I

(19:48):
WOULD LOVE TO SEE LEADERSHIP AND
THE GOVERNOR RECONVENE US.
>> HAVE YOU HAD ANY
COMMUNICATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE
CHAMBER ABOUT THIS?
AND DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR
HAS BEEN RECEPTIVE TO THE CALLS
FROM PROGRESSIVE LAWMAKERS?
>> NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE BUT EVEN IN
THE PRESS, I'M SEEING THAT OUR
BUDGET DIRECTOR IS SAYING THAT
WE CAN'T BACKFILL THESE CUTS.

(20:09):
THE NUMBER IS TOO LARGE.
THAT IS NOT TRUE.
NEW YORK IS AN EXTREMELY WEALTHY
STATE WITH AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER
OF MULTIMILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES AND WE CAN GO
FURTHER INCREASING SOCIAL
PROGRAMS BY TAXING NEW YORK'S
WEALTHIEST.
>> WE KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR
DOES HAVE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY TO
ADDRESS FEDERAL CUTS.
IN THE SUMMER, SHE ACTUALLY
DIRECTED STATE AGENCIES TO FIND

(20:31):
SAVINGS WHERE THEY COULD, SO DO
YOU THINK THAT THIS IS AN
EFFECTIVE WAY TO MITIGATE THE
CHALLENGES BROUGHT ON BY THE
FEDERAL CUTS, OR SHOULD SHE BE
DOING MORE?
>> THERE IS NO WAY OUT OF THIS
WITHOUT TAXING THE RICH AND THE
FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE RICH
IN NEW YORK GOT AN EVEN LARGER
TAX BREAK THAN THEY'VE HAD
BEFORE.
THEY HAD EXISTING TAX BREAKS
THAT THEY WERE USING TO INCREASE

(20:52):
INEQUALITY.
THEY GOT ANOTHER TAX BREAK AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
WE SHOULD RAID THOSE TAX BREAKS
AT THE STATE LEVEL AND EXPAND
SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC
INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> I KNOW THAT TAXING THE RICH
HAS CERTAINLY BEEN, YOU KNOW,
VERY PERTINENT ISSUE AT THE
STATE CAPITOL FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
SO WHY DO YOU THINK THAT LEADERS
HAVE NOT BEEN RECEPTIVE TO THE

(21:14):
CALLS TO, YOU KNOW, INCREASE
TAXES ON WEALTHY NEW YORKERS?
>> I WOULD SAY LEADERS IN THE
HOUSE AND THE SENATE HAVE BEEN
RECEPTIVE.
EVERY YEAR WE BRING IN MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN NEW REVENUE.
WE CAN GO A LOT FURTHER.
I WOULD SAY THE LEADERS AT THE
LEGISLATIVE LEVEL IS RECEPTIVE.
THE GOVERNOR HAS LOTS OF
BILLIONAIRE DONORS WHO PICK UP

(21:34):
THE PHONE AND YELL AT HER IF SHE
MIGHT BE RAISING THEIR TAXES AND
SHE IS FUNDAMENTALLY OPPOSED TO
RAISING TAXES ON THE RICH
BECAUSE OF WHO HER DONORS.
THAT'S AN ISSUE.
>> AND DO YOU THINK THE STATE
BUDGET PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR
DID ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE
POSSIBILITY OF FEDERAL CUTS AT
THAT TIME?
>> NO. NO.

(21:54):
WE NEED IT TO HAVE GONE FURTHER.
>> IN WHAT WAY COULD YOU HAVE
GONE FURTHER?
>> I WOULD SAY WITH CHILD CARE.
JUST SAY WITH CHILD CARE, WE
SHOULD HAVE PUSHED A LOT MORE
FOR FUNDING FOR VOUCHER AND ALSO
FOR WORKFORCE.
WE COULD HAVE DONE A LOT MORE TO
FUND THE MTA AND TRANSPORTATION
AS OPPOSED TO THE GOVERNOR
PUSHING FOR THE MTA TO FIGURE
OUT SAVINGS IN ITS PROGRAM, AND
GENERALLY, SCHOOLS, OUR PUBLIC

(22:15):
SCHOOLS, ARE LOOKING FOR
CONVERSIONS TO BECOME
(INAUDIBLE) SCHOOLS BUT WE DO
NOT HAVE ENOUGH BUDGET TO DO
THAT.
>> CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE
WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING
THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS TO
BRING AWARENESS TO THESE ISSUES
AND HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, THESE
PRIORITIES THAT YOU JUST
MENTIONED?
>> WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO
CONSTITUENTS AT EVENTS ALL
THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT WHETHER
THEY'RE AT BLOCK PARTIES OR

(22:37):
OTHER COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AND
WE'LL BE SENDING OUT A MAILER
SHORTLY.
LETTING PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE
NEED TO RECONVENE AT THE STATE
LEVEL TO OFFSET THE CUTS.
>> WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE
FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO THE
WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING?
>> PEOPLE ARE DISGUSTED BY THE
ACTIONS AT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO CUT SOCIAL
PROGRAMS IN FAVOR OF THE RICH

(22:58):
AND EXTREMELY RECEPTIVE TO TAX
THE RICH IN ORDER TO OFFSET THE
CUTS.
>> AND HEADING INTO THE NEXT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN JUST A
FEW MONTHS HERE AT THE STATE
CAPITOL, HOW ARE YOU HOPING TO
ADDRESS THE FEDERAL CUTS AND
OTHER PERTINENT ISSUES?
>> WE'RE GOING TO START A BIG
TAX THE RICH CAMPAIGN SIMILAR TO
2021 WHERE WE RACED ABOUT 45

(23:18):
BILLION.
THAT WAS TAXES ON THE RICH.
WE NEED TO SWING HARDER AND GET
A LARGER NUMBER TO OFFSET THESE
CUTS.
THE PUSH WILL BE TO RAISE TAXES
ON WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS, WEALTHY
CORPORATIONS IN ORDER TO RAISE
REVENUE FOR NEW YORK STATE TO
MAKE SURE WE DON'T LOSE OUR
SOCIAL SAFETY NET AND PUBLIC
INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE
GOING TO BE DOING DIFFERENTLY

(23:38):
NEXT YEAR THAT YOU HAVEN'T TRIED
BEFORE TO SORT OF GARNER MORE
SUPPORT FOR THE TAX THE RICH
CAMPAIGN?
>> YEAH. WE HAVE NEW LEGISLATORS
AND THE COMPOSITION IS DIFFERENT
THAN IT WAS IN 2021.
SO MAKING SURE THAT SOME OF THE
NEWER MEMBERS ARE ONBOARD.
WE'LL BE LOOKING TO EXPAND THE
LABOR SUPPORTS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF LABOR

(23:58):
UNIONS WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE.
MY OWN TEAM WAS A HEAVY HITTER
IN FIGHTING TO TAX THE RICH AND
I EXPECT THEM TO KEEP DOING SO
IN THE UPCOMING COMMUNITY AND WE
OBVIOUSLY WILL WORK WITH
COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ADVOCACY
GROUPS TO EXPAND BOOTS ON THE
GROUND AND THE BASE BUILDING TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE LARGER NUMBERS
TO PUSH FOR A LARGER WIN.
>> AND HAVE YOU STARTED

(24:19):
COMMUNICATION WITH THOSE NEW
LEGISLATORS THAT WILL BE COMING
UP TO THE CAPITOL THIS COMING
JANUARY?
WHAT HAS THAT LOOKED LIKE, IF
SO?
>> THERE'S LOTS OF NEW
PROGRESSIVE MEMBERS THAT HAVE
COME IN SO FAR.
YOU KNOW, IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN
WHO FILLS THE SENATOR SEGAL SEAT
NOW THAT HE'S GOING TO BE THE

(24:39):
(INAUDIBLE) PRESIDENT.
CONVERSATIONS ARE ABOUT TO BE
STARTED.
>> AND FROM YOUR PURVIEW, WHAT
SHOULD BE THE STRATEGY FOR
DEMOCRATS AS YOU APPROACH THE
NEXT ELECTION CYCLE?
DO YOU THINK CANDIDATES SHOULD
FOCUS ON THE IMPACT OF FEDERAL
CUTS TO SORT OF ENERGIZE VOTERS
TO THE POLLS, OR SHOULD THEY BE
FOCUSING ON SOMETHING ELSE?

(25:00):
>> I WOULD SAY IT'S A POINT OF
DISAGREEMENT IN THE CONFERENCE.
SOME PEOPLE WANT THE PAIN TO
HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IT
WILL HELP DEMOCRATS IN THE
MIDTERMS.
THEY WANT THE PAIN OF THE CUTS
TO HAPPEN SO THEY CAN POINT AT
THE REPUBLICANS AND SAY DON'T
VOTE FOR THEM.
VOTE FOR US.
I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAT
WE DO GOOD THINGS FOR OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND THEY VOTE FOR

(25:20):
US BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING
AS OPPOSED TO VOTING AGAINST
SOMEONE BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY'RE
DOING.
SO I THINK THE STRATEGY SHOULD
BE TO AGREE AGGRESSIVELY REFOCUS
THE CONVERSATION ON HOW THE RICH
STOLEN OUR DEMOCRACY FROM US,
THAT THEY NEED TO BE TAXED
HEAVILY AND THAT MONEY
REINVESTED INTO THE WEALTH OF
NEW YORK, INTO COMMUNITIES THAT
HAVE BUILT THE WEALTH OF NEW
YORK.
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS

(25:40):
ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY,
SENATOR.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
STATE SENATOR JABARI BRISPORT.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
THE CALLS FOR A SPECIAL SESSION,
YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.
AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

(26:02):
YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR
NEWSLETTER BY GOING TO
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 (26:42):
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