What Happens When Kids Can't Use Phones at School?

We dive into the implementation process of the bell-to-bell cell phone ban in school districts across the state. POLITICO's Bill Mahoney joins us to discuss the current daily work of Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado after announcing his plans to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul next year.

 

Explore More: nynow.org

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
[THEME MUSIC]

(00:19):
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
SCHOOLS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE
HAVE IMPLEMENTED WHAT IS KNOWN
AS A BELL TO BELL CELL PHONE
BAN.
THE STATE POLICY WHICH WAS FIRST
INTRODUCED BY GOVERNOR KATHY
HOCHUL AND PASSED IN THE MOST
RECENT STATE BUDGET PROHIBITS
KIDS FROM USING THEIR CELL
PHONES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL

(00:39):
DAY.
SUPPORTERS OF THE POLICY SAY
THAT THE BAN HELPS STUDENTS TO
FOCUS WHILE IN CLASS AND LIMITS
DISTRACTIONS.
WHILE THERE HAS BEEN AN
ADJUSTMENT PERIOD, THE OVERALL
RESPONSE TO THE BAN FROM
PARENTS, STUDENTS AND SCHOOL
OFFICIALS HAS BEEN POSITIVE.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, OUR ELISE

(01:00):
KLINE TOOK A LOOK AT THE WORK TO
IMPLEMENT THE CELL BAN IN SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.
HERE'S THAT STORY.
>> IT'S BEEN A LITTLE OVER A
MONTH SINCE THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR
STARTED WITH A NEW STATE LAW
RESTRICTING CELL PHONE USAGE BY
KIDS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE
SCHOOL DAY.
GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SAID AT A
RECENT PRESS CONFERENCE, WHILE

(01:21):
TALKING TO STUDENTS, SHE'S
EXCITED TO SEE THE REGULATION
COME TO LIFE.
>> YOU ARE GOING TO BE SMARTER
BECAUSE YOU'LL BE PAYING
ATTENTION MORE IN SCHOOL.
YOUR TEACHERS WILL HAVE A BETTER
EXPERIENCE TEACHING YOU AND
MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH YOU.
AND ULTIMATELY, YOU'RE GOING TO
BE BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE.
>> THE BELL TO BELL BAN WAS
SIGNED INTO LAW IN THE 2026
FISCAL YEAR STATE BUDGET.

(01:43):
SINCE THEN, THE GOVERNOR HAS
BEEN TRAVELING AROUND THE STATE
TALKING TO SCHOOL LEADERS TO
PREPARE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION
PROCESS, WHICH INCLUDES A UNIQUE
ELEMENT, MASCOT FRANKIE FOCUS.
>> HE DOESN'T SAY A LOT, HE'S
KIND OF QUIET.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ALL
RIGHT.
BUT HE IS VERY FOCUSED ON
LEARNING IN SCHOOL, FOCUSED ON
THE TEACHERS, FOCUSED ON MAKING

(02:05):
FRIENDS.
>> WHILE HOCHUL CALLS FRANKIE
HER BEST FRIEND, THE FURRY
POLICY ADVOCATE SEEMS TO GET
MIXED REVIEWS FROM STUDENTS,
LAWMAKERS, AND ADVOCATES.
MELINDA PERSON, PRESIDENT OF NEW
YORK STATE UNITED TEACHERS, SAYS
FRANKIE IS POPULAR AMONG THE
YOUNGER CROWD OF KIDS, BUT THE
OLDER KIDS FIND HIM STRANGE.
>> THE ELEMENTARY KIDS LOVE HIM;
HE'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE

(02:26):
MONSTERS INC.
GUYS. AND MY OWN MIDDLE SCHOOL
CHILDREN WERE LIKE, 'OH, MOM, HE
IS SO CRINGE.'
>> WHETHER STUDENTS ARE LAUGHING
WITH OR AT FRANKIE FOCUS, PERSON
SAYS THEIR ATTENTION SEEMS TO BE
SHIFTING AWAY FROM THEIR PHONES.
>> THERE ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE
TALKING TO EACH OTHER AGAIN,
ENGAGING IN THE HALLWAY, IN THE

(02:47):
CAFETERIA.
STUDENTS ARE PAYING ATTENTION IN
CLASS IN WAYS THAT THEY WEREN'T
LAST YEAR.
>> ROSE PASTORE, A SENIOR AT
BETHLEHEM CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL,
SAYS AT HER SCHOOL A SIMILAR
LOCAL RESTRICTION ON CELL PHONES
HAD ALREADY BEEN IN PLACE, SO
THE NEW STATEWIDE POLICY DIDN'T
HAVE TOO MUCH OF AN INITIAL
IMPACT.
HOWEVER, SHE SAYS WHEN CELL
PHONE RESTRICTIONS FIRST CAME TO
HER SCHOOL ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO,

(03:07):
STUDENTS WERE NOT HAPPY.
>> THE FIRST YEAR, EVERYONE WAS
VERY MAD ABOUT IT, LIKE PEOPLE
WERE NOT HAPPY.
BUT I THINK HONESTLY IT'S REALLY
WORKED ITSELF INTO THE CHARACTER
OF OUR SCHOOL, AND PEOPLE DON'T
MISS IT AS MUCH AS THEY THOUGHT
THEY WOULD.
>> PASTORE ADDS THAT STUDENTS
STARTED TO ENGAGE MORE WITH EACH
OTHER RATHER THAN THEIR DEVICES.
>> IT'S REALLY NICE TO WALK

(03:28):
AROUND THE SCHOOL AND SEE
PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE NOT ON THEIR
PHONES.
AND EVERYONE'S KIND OF TALKING
TO EACH OTHER, AND I REMEMBER
THAT'S DEFINITELY DIFFERENT FROM
MY FRESHMAN YEAR.
IF YOU LOOKED IN THE CAFETERIA,
WHEN WE STILL HAD PHONES,
EVERYONE WAS ON THEIR PHONES,
AND THEY WERE STILL TALKING TO
EACH OTHER, BUT THERE WAS THAT
ADDED DISTRACTION.
>> CLAIRE ALIGGAYU, ALSO A
SENIOR AT BETHLEHEM CENTRAL HIGH
SCHOOL, AGREES, SAYING THE

(03:50):
SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT HAS BECOME
MORE LIVELY.
>> I LOOK AT THE HALLS, AND
EVERYONE IS TALKING WITH
SOMEONE.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE MORE ENGAGED
IN THEIR COMMUNITY, AND I THINK
IT'S A GREAT IDEA THAT THERE WAS
A PHONE BAN.
>> SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE
ALSO REPORTED GREATER USE OF
THEIR SCHOOL LIBRARIES SINCE THE
NEW LAW WENT INTO EFFECT.
JOSEPH HOCHREITER,
SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CITY
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF ALBANY, SAYS

(04:11):
STUDENTS SEEM TO BE GETTING MORE
ENGAGED IN SCHOOL MATERIALS.
>> ONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL
LIBRARIANS REPORTED OVER 120
PERCENT INCREASE IN STUDENTS
TAKING OUT BOOKS AT THE LIBRARY,
SO THEY'RE ACCESSING RESOURCES
DIFFERENTLY THAN HAVING TO
ACCESS THEM ON THEIR PHONE,
WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN THE CASE IN
THE PAST.
>> PERSON SAYS SEEING STUDENTS

(04:32):
ENGAGE MORE WITH EACH OTHER AND
THEIR EDUCATION IS EXCITING.
>> WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE
IMPACT IN TERMS OF PROTECTING
STUDENTS' MENTAL HEALTH AND
THEIR LEARNING.
BUT I WOULD ADD THAT WE TRULY
BELIEVE THAT WE ARE GIVING OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE A BIT OF THEIR
CHILDHOOD BACK, AND I THINK
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ANY PARENT
WOULD BE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.
>> SOME MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS

(04:52):
SAY MUCH OF THE EXISTING
RESEARCH ON THE TOPIC GENERALLY
SHOWS NEGATIVE RESULTS BETWEEN
SOCIAL MEDIA AND PHONE USE AND
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
MELISSA DIMARTINO, AN ASSOCIATE
PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY AT THE
NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY, SAYS SOCIAL MEDIA IS
INCREASING LEVELS OF ANXIETY,
LONELINESS, LOW SELF ESTEEM, AND
RATES OF DEPRESSION.
>> WHEN YOU HAVE THE PHONE, YOU
GET A QUICK DOPAMINE RELEASE,
THAT SORT OF FEEL GOOD, HAPPY

(05:14):
HORMONE FROM THE BRAIN, BUT IT'S
NOT SATIATING THE HUMAN NEED FOR
CONNECTIVITY.
>> DIMARTINO RECENTLY CONDUCTED
HER OWN STUDY WHERE SHE HAD
STUDENTS PUT THEIR PHONES OUT OF
REACH IN HER COLLEGE CLASSROOM
ACCORDING TO HER FINDINGS, HER
STUDENTS' PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL
BEING IMPROVED AS A RESULT.
>> I SAW AN INITIAL ANXIOUSNESS;
STUDENTS WERE REALLY ANXIOUS,
AND I THOUGHT MY RESULTS WERE
GOING TO SAY THAT ANXIETY

(05:34):
INCREASED WITHOUT THE PHONE.
BUT THE THING IS THAT AFTER A
PERIOD OF TIME OF GETTING USED
TO HAVING THIS CLASS WHERE THEY
CAN JUST RELAX AND BE PART OF
THE CLASS, THEY GOT USED TO
PUTTING THEIR PHONES ON THE
WINDOWSILL.
SO AFTER THE SIX WEEKS, WHICH
WAS THE TIME PERIOD, THEY
ACTUALLY ENDED UP RELAXING, THEY
REALLY ENGAGED IN THE CLASS.
>> DIMARTINO SAYS SHE SAW
STUDENTS WHO, BEFORE THE STUDY,
WERE VERY QUIET, ENGAGE MORE,

(05:56):
AND COME TO LIFE.
>> CAROL VIDAL, AN ASSOCIATE
PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIORAL
SCIENCE AT THE JOHN HOPKINS
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, SAYS SOCIAL
MEDIA AND PHONE USE CAN ALSO
HAVE PARTICULARLY HARMFUL
EFFECTS ON SLEEP AND BODY IMAGE.
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL
LIBRARY OF MEDICINE, EATING
DISORDERS ARE ON THE RISE, AND A
NOTED LIKELY SIGNIFICANT
CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS MISUSE OF
SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

(06:17):
>> SO PEOPLE WITH A TENDENCY TO
HAVE AN EATING DISORDER WILL BE
ABLE TO GET ON AN ALGORITHM THAT
SUGGESTS WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT OR
EXERCISE EXCESSIVELY, WHICH
DOESN'T HELP IF YOU'RE TRYING TO
BASICALLY DECREASE THOSE
BEHAVIORS THAT CAN BE HARMFUL.
>> JULIE SCELFO, THE FOUNDER OF
MOTHERS AGAINST MEDIA ADDICTION,
SAYS SHE'S VERY WORRIED ABOUT
KIDS' ADDICTIONS TO THEIR PHONES
AND CONNECTIONS TO THE YOUTH

(06:38):
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
>> AND I'M A MOM OF THREE, AND
WATCHING YOUNG PEOPLE SPEND
NEARLY NINE HOURS A DAY ON THEIR
SCREENS EVERY DAY, IT'S VERY
CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT HEALTHY OR
SAFE FOR THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS.
>> ADVOCATES FROM THE NATIONAL
PARENTS' UNION ARGUE STUDENTS
NEED TO LEARN HOW TO HAVE A
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR
PHONES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.

(06:59):
KERI RODRIGUES, THE PRESIDENT OF
THE NATIONAL PARENTS UNION AND A
MOM OF FIVE, SAYS RESTRICTING
KIDS CELL PHONE USE IN SCHOOL
ISN'T A STRATEGY THAT WILL WORK
FOR CHILDRENHIGHLIGHTING JUST
SAY NO TO DRUG CAMPAIGNS THAT
WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.
>> WE CAN BAN THESE FROM THEIR
LIVES FOR SIX AND A HALF HOURS A
DAY, BUT AT 2:30 THAT'S WHEN THE
TIKTOK CHALLENGE HAPPENS, THAT
IS WHEN THE SNAPCHAT GROUP TEXTS

(07:20):
START FIRING UP, AND THAT'S
WHERE KIDS ARE LEFT BY
THEMSELVES TO NAVIGATE THESE
SPACES.
>> RODRIGUES ADDS SCHOOLS COULD
INSTEAD UTILIZE PHONE USE IN
SCHOOL AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
TRAIN KIDS HOW TO NAVIGATE THE
DIGITAL REALM THEY LIVE IN.
>> KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.
GIVING THEM INFORMATION, GIVING
THEM THE STRATEGIES THAT THEY
NEED SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE GOOD

(07:41):
DECISIONS AND THAT THEY'RE READY
FOR THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE
WAITING FOR THEM AFTER 2:30.
>> SOME STATE LAWMAKERS, LIKE
STATE SENATOR PATRICIA FAHY, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
THE CAPITAL REGION, SAY THEY
BELIEVE THIS NEW REGULATION WILL
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
>> I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE
MOST THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE
MOST EFFECTIVE CHANGES WE HAVE

(08:02):
MADE IN EDUCATION IN YEARS,
THAT'S HOW HIGH MY HOPES ARE.
>> SOME OTHER STATE LAWMAKERS,
LIKE STATE SENATOR GEORGE
BORRELLO, A REPUBLICAN
REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE FINGER
LAKES, HOPE THIS NEW LAW WILL
ALSO HELP IMPROVE STUDENTS' TEST
SCORES.
>> NEW YORK STATE SCHOOLS ARE
NOT PERFORMING WELL.
WE SPEND MORE PER PUPIL THAN ANY
OTHER STATE IN THE NATION, AND

(08:22):
YET OUR RESULTS FALL SOMEWHERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THE STATES.
SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS IS GOING
TO IMPROVE THOSE SCORES.
>> THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,
OVERSEEING THE NEW REGULATION,
SAYS THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS
HAS VARIED IN ITS RESPONSE.
>> AND IN SOME PLACES, WE'VE
BEEN HEARING IT'S WORKING WELL.
IN SOME PLACES, AS WE KIND OF
ANTICIPATED, THEY'RE STRUGGLING

(08:44):
BUT ARE MOVING AND PUTTING
ADDITIONAL THINGS IN PLACE TO
SUPPORT THE ENGAGEMENT AND THE
CONVERSATIONS.
>> HOCHREITER SAYS ONE OF THE
CHALLENGES WHEN IMPLEMENTING THE
LAW IN THEIR SCHOOLS IS
SCALABILITY.
>> WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST
HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE REGION.
AND WITH OVER 2700 STUDENTS

(09:04):
COMING THROUGH OUR DOORS EACH
DAY, WE HAD TO CREATE A METHOD
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD
SECURE CELL PHONES, MAKE SURE
THAT STUDENTS DIDN'T HAVE THEM
DURING THE DAY, BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY, DO IT IN AN
EFFICIENT WAY WHERE THE FLOW OF
STUDENTS IN AND OUT OF THE
BUILDING WAS SEAMLESS.
SO, WE'RE STILL WORKING OUT SOME

(09:27):
OF THOSE KINKS.
>> HOCHREITER SAYS THE SCHOOL,
AFTER A FEW WEEKS, HAS IMPROVED
AT GIVING KIDS THEIR PHONE
POUCHES IN THE MORNING AND
GETTING THEM TO THEIR FIRST
PERIOD ON TIME.
HOCHREITER SAYS THERE ARE ALSO
UNANTICIPATED CHALLENGES, SUCH
AS STUDENTS NEEDING INFORMATION
FROM THEIR PHONES, SUCH AS
FAMILY MEMBERS' PHONE NUMBERS
THAT THEY DON'T HAVE MEMORIZED.
MEANWHILE, REQUESTS FOR
TRANSLATION SERVICES HAVE GONE
UP.

(09:47):
>> WE HAVE STUDENTS FROM ABOUT
50 COUNTRIES AND SPEAK 40
DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, AND FOR A
LONG TIME, STUDENTS WERE THE
TRANSLATORS BETWEEN FAMILIES
THAT SPOKE A NATIVE LANGUAGE AND
FOLKS AT SCHOOL.
>> WHILE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE NEW LAW IS STILL IN ITS
EARLY STAGES AND WORKING OUT THE
KINKS, THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES
THAT EDUCATION ADVOCATES BELIEVE
WILL CONTINUE, SUCH AS PARENTS'
ACCESS TO THEIR KIDS.

(10:09):
DAVID ALBERT, CHIEF
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER AT THE
NEW YORK STATE SCHOOL BOARDS
ASSOCIATION, SAYS PARENTS ARE
HAVING TO ADJUST JUST LIKE
STUDENTS ARE.
>> PARENTS MAY BE THE WILDCARDS
IN THIS BECAUSE TYPICALLY
PARENTS ARE USED TO BEING ABLE
TO REACH THEIR STUDENT DURING
THE DAY IF THEY NEED TO THROUGH
A TEXT MESSAGE OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
THAT PROCESS IS GONE NOW, SO A

(10:30):
LOT OF PARENTS WILL HAVE TO GO
THROUGH EITHER AN EMAIL OR
THEY'LL HAVE TO REACH OUT TO THE
PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE.
>> BOB LOWRY, THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR FOR ADVOCACY, RESEARCH,
AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE NEW
YORK STATE COUNCIL OF
SUPERINTENDENTS, SAYS WHAT HE'S
HEARD SO FAR HAS BEEN MOSTLY
POSITIVE.
STILL, HE WONDERS WILL
CONTROVERSY GROW DURING THE
SCHOOL YEAR?
>> WE DO WONDER, IS THIS A

(10:51):
HONEYMOON PERIOD?
WILL MORE PROBLEMS EMERGE?
WILL MORE TENSIONS, PARTICULARLY
IF SOME EPISODE OCCURS WHERE
PARENTS REALLY FEEL 'I WANTED TO
BE ABLE TO CONTACT MY CHILDREN.'
SO, THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE
ANTICIPATING.
>> SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE REQUIRED
BY THE LAW TO ESTABLISH LINES OF
COMMUNICATION FOR HOW PARENTS
CAN REACH THEIR STUDENT IN AN

(11:11):
EMERGENCY AND VICE VERSA.
LOWRY SAYS ALMOST ALL SCHOOL
DISTRICTS IN THE STATE HAVE
COMPLIED BY THE AUGUST 1ST
DEADLINE THEY WERE GIVEN.
FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE END OF JULY,
THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF
ALBANY ESTABLISHED THAT EACH
SCHOOL BUILDING WILL PROVIDE A
LOCATION FOR STUDENTS TO MAKE
URGENT OR IMPORTANT PHONE CALLS
TO A PARENT OR GUARDIAN IN A
SUPERVISED MANNER.
THE SCHOOL POLICY ALSO OUTLINES
THAT THE SCHOOL WILL DESIGNATE

(11:32):
STAFF AND LOCATIONS FOR PARENTS
TO HAVE URGENT MESSAGES RELAYED
TO THEIR STUDENTS DURING THE
DAY, AS WELL AS OFFERING
TRANSLATION SERVICES WHEN
NEEDED.
HOCHREITER SAYS THIS PROCESS HAS
GONE RELATIVELY SMOOTHLY SO FAR
WITH SOME LOCKDOWNS AND OTHER
INCIDENTS COMING UP, NOT YET
HEARING FROM UPSET PARENTS NOT
BEING ABLE TO REACH THEIR KIDS
OR VICE VERSA.
>> WE KNOW THAT WE'LL HAVE SOME
ONE OFFS, WE KNOW THAT WE'LL

(11:53):
HAVE INSTANCES WHERE KIDS AREN'T
ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AS DIRECTLY
OR QUICKLY WITH FAMILIES OR VICE
VERSA, AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE
KINKS WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK
OUT.
>> KYLE BELOKOPITSKY, THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW
YORK STATE PARENT TEACHER
ASSOCIATION, SAYS AFTER SENDING
OUT A RECENT SURVEY AMONG THEIR
MEMBERS, THEY DID HEAR SOME
SAFETY CONCERNS.
SHE SAYS AS A MOTHER OF A HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENT HERSELF, SHE
UNDERSTANDS THE CONCERNS, BUT

(12:14):
SHE IS ALSO CONFIDENT IN THE
SCHOOL STAFF.
>> THE FIRST THING I WORRY ABOUT
IN THE MORNING WHEN I DROP MY
SON OFF AT SCHOOL IS, IS THERE
GOING TO BE A SITUATION AT
SCHOOL THAT INVOLVES LAW
ENFORCEMENT COMING TO SCHOOL FOR
SOME REASON?
I KNOW THAT OUR GREAT EDUCATORS
AND THEIR SCHOOL STAFF ARE GOING
TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO
KEEP JACKSON SAFE.
AND AS A PART OF THAT, THAT IS
ACTUALLY KEEPING THEM OFF CELL

(12:35):
PHONES DURING A LOCKDOWN DRILL
OR, GOD FORBID, A SCHOOL
SHOOTING.
>> BUT NOT ALL PARENTS FEEL
CONFIDENT IN THESE KINDS OF
POLICIES, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME
WHEN SCHOOLS ARE EXPERIENCING
DRAMATIC INCREASES IN SCHOOL
SHOOTINGS AND GUN VIOLENCE.
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR
PARENTS IS MAINTAINING THAT
LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION WITH
KIDS, NOT ONLY BECAUSE,
UNFORTUNATELY, IN THIS COUNTRY
WE HAVE DECIDED THAT WE LOVE

(12:56):
GUNS MORE THAN WE LOVE CHILDREN
AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE GUN
VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC IN OUR SCHOOLS
AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
>> KIM BLASIAK, A MOTHER OF FOUR
AND AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE PTA
IN GUILDERLAND, SAYS SHE ALSO
HEARS CONCERNS FROM PARENTS IN
HER PTA AND SHE UNDERSTANDS
THOSE WORRIES, BUT FOR HER,
WORRYING IS INEVITABLE.
>> I THINK WITH OR WITHOUT CELL

(13:16):
PHONES, I WOULD BE ANXIOUS ABOUT
AN EMERGENCY.
SO I THINK THE CELL PHONES ARE
JUST ONE OF THOSE TOOLS THAT, AS
A PARENT, YOU'RE LIKE "OKAY, I
CAN REACH MY KID OR I CAN FIND
MY PHONE AND SEE WHERE THEY
ARE."
>> MANY PARENTS ALSO EXPRESS
CONCERNS ABOUT REACHING THEIR
KIDS DURING THE DAY WHEN
SOMETHING IMPORTANT
ARISESFORGETTING ATHLETIC GEAR
OR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, NEEDING
TO CHANGE PICK UP TIMES, AND
MORE.

(13:37):
BELOKOPITSKY SAYS FOR HER, WHO
ADMITS SHE IS A HELICOPTER MOM,
IT'S BEEN AN ADJUSTMENT TO NOT
BE ABLE TO CONTACT HER SON
DURING THE SCHOOL DAY TO CHECK
IN AND SEE IF HE NEEDS ANYTHING.
>> AND I THINK WE HAVE TO DO OUR
PART AS PARENTS AND FAMILIES,
BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT HE WAS OKAY, I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT HE DIDN'T NEED ME
DURING THE DAY.
HE DOESN'T NEED ME DURING THE
DAY; HE'S 16 YEARS OLD, HE'S
WITH HIS FRIENDS, HE'S WITH HIS
GREAT TEACHERS, HE DOESN'T NEED

(13:58):
MOM DURING THOSE SCHOOL HOURS.
AND WE RAISE INDEPENDENT
CHILDREN, WE WANT INDEPENDENT
CHILDREN, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO
TAKE A STEP BACK TOO AND REALIZE
WE MAY BE PART OF THE PROBLEM IN
THIS CELL PHONE ISSUE.
>> A BIG PART OF THE NEW LAW IS
STATE FUNDING.
THE GOVERNOR ALLOCATED 13.5
MILLION IN STATE DOLLARS FOR
THIS MEASURE.
SOME SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION
GROUPS SAY THEY PLAN TO ADVOCATE

(14:18):
FOR MORE FUNDING IN THE NEXT
STATE BUDGET CYCLE FOR
IMPLEMENTATION COSTS, SUCH AS
INCREASE TRANSLATION SERVICES
AND PHONE POUCHES.
SOME STATE LAWMAKERS SAY, COME
BUDGET CYCLE, THEY ARE READY TO
FIGHT FOR WHAT SCHOOLS NEED AS
THIS PROCESS UNFOLDS.
ELISE KLINE, NEW YORK NOW.
>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
THE CELL PHONE BAN, YOU CAN

(14:39):
VISIT OUR WEBSITE.
THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT
TOPIC.
AS WE'VE REPORTED HERE ON THE
SHOW, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
ANTIONIO DELGADO ANNOUNCED HIS
CAMPAIGN TO CHALLENGE HIS
CURRENT BOSS, GOVERNOR KATHY
HOCHUL, BACK IN JUNE.

(14:59):
BUT EVEN BEFORE THAT CAMPAIGN
ANNOUCEMENT, THE PAIR SEEMED TO
NOT BE ON THE SAME PAGE FOR SOME
TIME.
WITH JUST A FEW MONTHS BEFORE
THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AND A
VERY PUBLIC SPLIT, MANY
POLITICAL OBSERVERS HAVE
WONDERED WHAT DOES THE DAY TO
DAY WORKLOAD FOR THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR LOOK LIKE.
FOR MORE ON THAT, WE'RE JOINED

(15:20):
BY BILL MAHONEY OF POLITICO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US
BACK IN THE STUDIO, BILL.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> NOW YOU'VE BEEN DOING SOME
REALLY INCREDIBLE REPORTING ON
THE CURRENT WORKLOAD OF
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ANTONIO
DELGADO.
WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND?
>> WELL, WE'VE DEFINITELY WOUND
UP IN A WEIRD SPACE IN NEW YORK
WITH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RUNNING

(15:41):
FOR GOVERNOR.
THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S JOB IS
A PRETTY NEBULOUS JOB
CONSTITUTIONALLY.
THERE ARE NOT REALLY MANY POWERS
ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
YOU TAKE OVER FOR THE GOVERNOR
IF THEY LEAVE OFFICE FOR SOME
REASON, AS WE HAVE SEEN HAPPEN
WITH A COUPLE OF OUR RECENT
GOVERNORS HERE IN NEW YORK.
AND YOU PRESIDE OVER THE SENATE.
BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.
SO IT'S NOT A LOT TO DO MOST OF

(16:02):
THE TIME, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE
ROLE OF PRESIDING OVER THE
SENATE HAS BECOME A BIT LESS
IMPORTANT THAN WHAT IT ONCE WAS.
IF PEOPLE HAVE WATCHED THE
UNITED STATES SENATE, THEY'VE
PROBABLY SEEN TIMES WHERE THE
VICE PRESIDENT ACTS AS LIKE THE
TIEBREAKER ON CERTAIN VOTES AND
HELPS THINGS GET DONE.
THE POWERS IN NEW YORK ARE
SOMEWHAT SIMILAR.
AND THAT DID COME UP A LOT FOR
MANY YEARS BECAUSE WE HAD A

(16:24):
DECADE, BASICALLY, WHERE THE
SENATE, WE WOULD SEE A 32, 31
SPLIT, 31, 31, THINGS LIKE THAT,
WHERE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
ACTUALLY COULD MAKE A
DIFFERENCE, IN THEORY, WITH A
CASTING VOTE TO BREAK THESE
TIES.
BUT WE'VE BEEN, SINCE 2018,
BASICALLY, IN A SITUATION WHERE
DEMOCRATS HAVE SO MANY SPARE
VOTES THAT THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR BEING THERE DOESN'T

(16:44):
REALLY DO A WHOLE LOT.
SO IN THE END, THAT MEANS THAT
THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S
OFFICIAL POWERS ARE BASICALLY
NOTHING AND IT'S EVOLVED
ESPECIALLY SINCE ANDREW CUOMO
TOOK OFFICE WHERE THEY ARE AS
FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BOB
DUFFY DESCRIBED IT THE
CHEERLEADER FOR THE GOVERNOR
WHERE MOST OF THEIR WORK HAS
BEEN TRAVELING THE STATE GOING
TO THOSE CORNERS OF THE STATE
THAT THE GOVERNOR WHO'S GOING TO

(17:05):
BE TRAPPED IN ALBANY OR
MANHATTAN FOR MEETINGS A LOT OF
THE TIME, WON'T NECESSARILY BE
ABLE TO HIT UP EVERY YEAR, AND
TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
ALBANY, KIND OF BE THAT
CONNECTION BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH AT THE STATE LEVEL AND
THE PEOPLE IN LIKE THE SOUTHERN
TIER OF THE NORTH COUNTRY WHO
MIGHT NOT MEET THE GOVERNOR ON A
WEEKLY BASIS, PROMOTING WHAT THE
GOVERNOR IS DOING, TOUTING THEIR

(17:26):
BUDGETS, ET CETERA.
BUT NOW THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
DELGADO IS RUNNING AGAINST
GOVERNOR HOCHUL, UNSURPRISINGLY,
HE'S NOT OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT
WHAT A GREAT JOB GOVERNOR HOCHUL
IS DOING.
HE'S NOT OUT THERE PROMOTING HER
AGENDA AND IT'S LED TO SOMEWHAT
OF A WEIRD SITUATION WHERE WHAT
IS A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
ACTUALLY DOING IF THEY'RE NOT
DOING THE ONE THING THAT
LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS HAVE DONE

(17:47):
FOR THE BETTER PART OF 15 YEARS
IN NEW YORK?
>> YEAH. AND YOU DID SOME
AWESOME REPORTING WHEN IT COMES
TO, YOU KNOW, FILING A FREEDOM
OF INFORMATION REQUESTS TO GET
THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S PUBLIC
SCHEDULE.
SO WHAT DID YOU FIND THROUGH
THAT PROCESS?
>> WELL, THE FUNNY THING ABOUT
ALL THIS IS THAT THIS HAS LED TO
A SITUATION IN THIS PRIMARY
WHERE IT'S AN ENTIRELY NEBULOUS

(18:09):
BLACK HOLE SITUATION WHERE
NOBODY CAN REALLY FIGURE OUT FOR
SURE WHAT IS GOING ON.
LIKE AS SOON AS THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THE
CHALLENGE, THE GOVERNOR
BASICALLY CRACKED DOWN, SAYING,
ALL RIGHT, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO
BE A TEAM PLAYER, YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO GET SUPPORT FROM THE
TEAM.
TOOK AWAY MOST OF HIS STAFF.
HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A STATE
CELL PHONE ANYMORE.
HE'S DOWN TO ONE STAFF WHO I
BELIEVE IS TECHNICALLY ON THE

(18:30):
SENATE PAYROLL.
AND HIS OFFICE SPACE IS
BASICALLY NOTHING LIKE ONE BIG
SUITE OF OFFICES IN THE CAPITAL
WAS TAKEN AWAY.
THERE IS EVEN SOME OFFICE SPACE
THAT HE HAD NEAR HIS HOME IN THE
KINGSTON RHINECLIFF AREA THAT
WAS BASICALLY SHARED SPACE WITH
THE PLOWS FOR THE BRIDGES IN
THAT REGION, JUST A DESK THAT HE
COULD WORK ON IF HE WANTED AN
OFFICIAL DESK CLOSE TO HOME, IF

(18:50):
SOMETHING HAPPENED ON A SATURDAY
AND HE WANTED TO GO INTO THE
OFFICE.
EVEN THAT WAS TAKEN AWAY, A DESK
THAT WAS BEING USED FOR NOTHING
ELSE.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S BEING USED
FOR ANYTHING THESE DAYS.
THE GOVERNOR TOOK ALL THAT STUFF
AWAY FROM HIM.
>> WOW.
>> SO PART OF THAT, THOUGH, TOO
MEANS THAT IN THEORY YOU CAN SEE
WHAT A PUBLIC OFFICIAL IS DOING
BY SUBMITTING A REQUEST TO SEE
THEIR SCHEDULES AND THINGS LIKE
THAT.

(19:10):
THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE ANYBODY
LEFT WHO CAN FULFILL A FOIL
REQUEST TO LET YOU SEE WHAT
THEY'RE DOING, AND THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ISN'T IN
COMMUNICATION WITH HIM SO THEY
CAN'T REALLY FULFILL THAT.
SO IT MEANS THAT THERE'S NO WAY
LEFT OF KNOWING WHAT EXACTLY ONE
OF THE FOUR TOP OFFICIALS IN NEW
YORK STATE IS ACTUALLY DOING
WITH THEIR TIME.
>> YEAH. AND THE WAY YOU SEE IT,
IS THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SORT
OF VICTIM OF HIS POLITICAL

(19:31):
CIRCUMSTANCE OR IS HE SIMPLY
MIA?
WHAT IS YOUR READ ON THINGS?
>> WELL, IT'S TOUGH FOR SOMEBODY
LIKE HIM TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT
THE SUPPORT OF A GOVERNOR.
LIKE HE DOESN'T SET THE BUDGET,
THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT GOING TO
GO TO WAR FOR HIM AND TRY TO GET
MORE STAFFERS FOR HIM OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO THERE'S NOT A TON HE CAN
REALLY DO.
THE GOVERNOR'S NOT GOING TO

(19:52):
DELEGATE HIM TO BE HER PERSON
WHO PARTICIPATES IN, YOU KNOW,
SOME BUSINESS NEGOTIATIONS OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO ALL THOSE POWERS ARE TAKEN
AWAY AND HE'S KIND OF LEFT WITH
JUST, YOU KNOW, IF HE WANTS TO
SHOW UP TO THE STATE HE CAN DO
THAT.
BUT WITH ONE STAFFER THAT'S
TOUGH.
WE DO KNOW THAT HE HASN'T DONE
TOO MUCH OF THAT.
I KNOW THAT WHEN HE ANNOUNCED IN

(20:12):
LATE FEBRUARY THAT HE WAS
RUNNING, UP UNTIL THE SUMMER HE
ONLY HAD SIX OFFICIAL PUBLIC
EVENTS THAT HE HAD ANNOUNCED IN
ADVANCE, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, NOT
MUCH MORE THAN ONCE PER MONTH IN
TERMS OF LIKE OFFICIAL PUBLIC
APPEARANCES, COMPARED TO SEVERAL
MORE CAMPAIGN EVENTS, CERTAINLY,
AND HE'S KEPT BUSY WITH THOSE.
>> YEAH, AND HOW DID WE GET TO
THIS POINT IN WHICH WE'RE SEEING

(20:34):
A VERY PUBLIC SPLIT BETWEEN THE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND GOVERNOR
KATHY HOCHUL?
OBVIOUSLY, THEY RAN TOGETHER ON
THE SAME TICKET, AND NOW THEY'RE
DEFINITELY BREAKING AWAY FROM
ONE ANOTHER.
WHAT CAUSED THAT DIVISION
BETWEEN THE TWO?
>> WELL, THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR'S JOB IS A TOUGH JOB
FOR AN AMBITIOUS POLITICIAN.
YOU'RE BASICALLY OUT THERE

(20:54):
PROMOTING WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS
DOING.
YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY THE FACE
OF THE ADMINISTRATION OR
DECIDING WHAT GETS DONE BECAUSE
YOU'RE A SUPPORTING ROLE.
THAT'S WHAT THE JOB HAS BECOME,
FOR THE MOST PART.
I KNOW THAT THEY'VE HAD SOME
SPLITS INTERNALLY OVER THINGS
LIKE THE GOVERNOR'S CHOICE FOR A
TOP JUDGE IN THE STATE A COUPLE

(21:15):
YEARS AGO, AND THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR FELT HE WAS NOT
LISTENED TO ON THAT AND THAT
HELPED DRIVE THE DRIVE THE
DIVISIONS.
BUT, CERTAINLY, WE'VE SEEN THESE
TENSIONS IN THE PAST, NOT TO
THIS DEGREE SINCE THE 1990S,
CERTAINLY, BUT WHERE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNORS HAVE BEEN UNHAPPY,
BECAUSE THEY TO BECOME A
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, TO WIN AN
ELECTION AT THE STATEWIDE LEVEL,
YOU NEED TO BE A PRETTY TALENTED

(21:36):
ELECTED OFFICIAL, A PRETTY
TALENTED POLITICIAN.
BUT ONCE YOU'RE IN OFFICE, YOU
DON'T REALLY ACTUALLY GET TO DO
ANYTHING OF YOUR OWN WITH THAT.
AND IT'S NOT TOO TOUGH FOR THAT
TO LEAD TO THESE SPLITS.
>> RIGHT. AND ONE OF THE MOST
REVELATORY POINTS IN THIS FOR ME
WAS WHEN WE SAW THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR SORT OF BREAK AWAY FROM
GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AND
CALLING ON PRESIDENT BIDEN OR

(21:57):
THEN PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DROP OUT
OF THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE LAST
YEAR.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS SUCH A
BIG MOMENT.
AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING THE
TRICKLE DOWN EFFECTS OF THAT.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE
CAMPAIGN OF THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF
HIS STRATEGY?
IS HE RESONATING WITH NEW
YORKERS?
>> IT'S EARLY TO SAY RIGHT NOW.
HE HAS NOT REALLY DONE A LOT SO

(22:19):
FAR.
HE ANNOUNCED IN FEBRUARY THAT HE
WAS NOT GOING TO BE RERUNNING
FOR ELECTION AND EVERYBODY KIND
OF KNEW AT THAT POINT HE'D BE
RUNNING AGAINST HER.
AND HE OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED THEN
MUCH LATER IN THE SPRING THAT HE
WOULD BE RUNNING.
SO WE'VE HAD A FEW MONTHS OF A
CAMPAIGN AND WE'RE GETTING CLOSE
TO A YEAR IN WHICH EVERYBODY
KNEW THIS WAS HAPPENING.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY SURGE IN THE
POLLS.
HIS FUNDRAISING'S BEEN FINE, BUT

(22:39):
IT HASN'T BEEN EYE POPPING OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, IT'S VERY
EARLY.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE RIGHT NOW
WHO ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE
NEWS AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION TO
A GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY IN NEW
YORK THAT'S NEXT JUNE.
THEY'RE PROBABLY JUST LASER
FOCUSSED ON WASHINGTON FOR THE
MOST PART.
AND IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW

(22:59):
WELL HE CAN GET SOME MOMENTUM
ONCE PEOPLE START PAYING
ATTENTION, MAYBE FEBRUARY,
MARCH, APRIL OF NEXT YEAR.
HE'S CERTAINLY BEEN GOING AROUND
THE STATE AND TALKING TO GROUPS
THAT MIGHT BE SUPPORTIVE OF HIM
AND CAN HELP GET THE WORD OUT,
BUT WE WON'T REALLY KNOW FOR
SURE WHETHER THAT WILL LEAD TO A
JUMP IN HIS POLLS OR ANYTHING
LIKE THAT UNTIL WE HIT THE POINT
WHERE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY
THINKING PRIMARILY ABOUT THE

(23:21):
GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION WHEN THEY
THINK OF POLITICS.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IT'S ALL
TRUMP ALL THE TIME.
IT'S TOUGH FOR CANDIDATES TO
RESONATE AND MAKE THEIR
CANDIDACIES KNOWN FOR 90% OF THE
STATE.
>> YEAH. AND AS YOU MADE IT
CLEAR TO US, THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR CURRENTLY DOESN'T HAVE
A VERY HEAVY WORKLOAD.
SO DO YOU THINK THAT THAT WILL

(23:41):
HELP OR HINDER HIM WHEN IT COMES
TO CAMPAIGNING AND SHOWING NEW
YORKERS THAT HE'S READY TO LEAD
THE STATE?
>> WELL, IT'S TOUGH TO SAY,
BECAUSE ONE THING THAT HAS
HELPED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS
WHEN KATHY HOCHUL WENT FROM
BEING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO
GOVERNOR, EVERYBODY IN THE STATE
HAD SOME STORY OF THE TIME.
SHE WAS SHOWING UP TO THEIR
LOCAL VETERANS CLUB OR MARCHING

(24:02):
IN THE LOCAL PARADE.
I THINK SHE PROBABLY HAD TAKEN
SELFIES WITH A MEASURABLE
PERCENTAGE OF THE STATE AT SOME
POINT IN THE PRIOR EIGHT YEARS
BEFORE SHE IS ELEVATED.
AND HE DOESN'T REALLY HAVE THAT
IF HE'S NOT OUT THERE TRAVELING
THE STATE ON BEHALF OF THE
GOVERNOR.
THAT'S TAKING AWAY ONE OF HIS
GREATEST STRENGTHS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THAT GIVES
HIM MORE TIME TO CAMPAIGN,
CERTAINLY.
IF HE WAS BUSY WITH STATE

(24:23):
BUSINESS, HE COULD NOT
NECESSARILY BE OUT THERE FOCUSED
ON FUNDRAISING OR SHOWING UP TO
RALLIES AS OFTEN AS HE MIGHT
NOW.
BUT IT'S CERTAINLY CLEAR THAT
THE GOVERNOR SUPPORTERS ARE
GOING TO USE THIS TO ATTACK HIM
AS LAZY, NOT REALLY FOCUSED ON
THE JOB AND JUST BEING AMBITIOUS
AND NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN
WHAT HE SHOULD BE DOING FOR HIS
DAY JOB, WHAT HE'S GETTING PAID
BY TAXPAYERS TO DO RIGHT NOW.

(24:45):
WE'LL SEE IF MOST VOTERS
ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT ATTACKS THAT
THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS NOT
FOCUSED ON BEING LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR, IF THEY EVEN KNOW WHAT
A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHOULD BE
DOING, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT
THE HOCHUL TEAM WILL BE TRYING
TO USE.
>> AND LASTLY, YOU KNOW, IN THE
TIME, IN THE SHORT TIME WE HAVE
LEFT, DO YOU SEE THERE BEING A
WAY FOR THE TWO TO SORT OF
REPAIR THEIR RELATIONSHIP BEFORE

(25:06):
THE JUNE PRIMARY?
>> I DON'T ANTICIPATE THEM
REALLY GETTING ALONG ANYTIME
SOON.
WHEN HOCHUL WAS LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR HERSELF, SHE HAD ALWAYS
DESCRIBED THE JOB AS BEING JOE
BIDEN TO BARACK OBAMA.
THE JOB IS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE
WHERE YOU'RE THERE TO BE THEIR
FRIEND, TO OFFER THEM WISDOM, TO
SUPPORT THEM, TO HELP BOOST
THEIR AGENDA, AND SHE WAS VERY

(25:27):
AGAINST, IN HER OWN PRIMARIES
WHEN SHE RAN FOR LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR IN 2014 AND 2018, SHE
WAS VERY OPPOSED TO THIS IDEA
THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WOULD
BE ANYTHING BUT A LOYAL ALLY OF
THE GOVERNOR.
SOME OF HER OPPONENTS SAID IT
SHOULD BE AN INDEPENDENT OFFICE.
AND SHE SAID, NO, IT'S A
SUPPORTING JOB.
AND I THINK HER SECOND PICK FOR
THIS JOB, SPLITTING WITH HER THE
WAY THAT HE DID, IS REALLY GOING

(25:48):
TO RUB HER THE WRONG WAY AND
IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO
IMAGINE A SCENARIO WHERE THEY
ARE FRIENDS BEFORE NEXT JUNE.
>> RIGHT. WELL, UNFORTUNATELY,
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR
TODAY.
BUT WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR AWESOME REPORTING, THOUGH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
BILL MAHONEY OF POLITICO.

(26:08):
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]

(26:42):
>> FUNDING FOR NEW YORK NOW IS
PROVIDED BY WNET.