AFTER WEEKS OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, THE FINAL FISCAL YEAR 25 STATE BUDGET HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN PASSED.

THE BUDGET AGREEMENT COMES THREE WEEKS AFTER THE ORIGINAL APRIL 1ST DEADLINE.

AND THE STICKING POINTS OF NEGOTIATIONS THIS YEAR WERE LARGELY CENTERED AROUND HOUSING, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND CRIME.

THE TOTAL BUDGET CAME IT AT $237 BILLION.

LET'S GO THROUGH SOME OF THE BIG HIGHLIGHTS: LEADERS CAME TOGETHER ON A HOUSING PROPOSAL THAT FOCUSED ON BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEW YORK CITY AND INCLUDED A SCALED DOWN VERSION OF THE GOOD CAUSE EVICTION LEGISLATION.

ON EDUCATION, THE ROCKEFELLER INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT AND STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL EXAMINE THE FOUNDATION AID FORMULA AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THERE WERE ALSO INVESTMENTS MADE TO MATERNAL AND MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS SAVINGS FOR MEDICAID.

AND ON CRIME, THE BUDGET TACKLED RETAIL THEFT AND ENFORCEMENT ON ILLEGAL CANNABIS SHOPS.

TO HELP UNPACK THE FINAL STATE BUDGET AND THE OVERALL BUDGET PROCESS, WE'RE JOINED IN STUDIO BY ZACH WILLIAMS OF BLOOMBERG LAW, VAUGHN GOLDEN OF THE NEW YORK POST, AND ALEX GAULT OF THE WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES AND NORTHERN NEW YORK NEWSPAPERS.

I WANTED TO START ON HOUSING.

I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THIS YEAR THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS KNEW THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING ON HOUSING COMING OUT OF LAST YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR MADE IT CLEAR THAT SHE WANTED TO FOCUS ON SUPPLY WHILE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SAID THERE WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY NO HOUSING DEAL WITHOUT TENANT PROTECTION.

AS A RESULT, IN THE FINAL BUDGET, THEY PUT TOGETHER A HOUSING PROPOSAL THAT REALLY FOCUSED ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEW YORK CITY BUT ALSO INCLUDED A SCALED BACK VERSION OF GOOD CAUSE EVICTION.

SO HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT?

I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH WITHIN THE NEGOTIATIONS THERE.

EARLY ON, THE GOVERNOR PUT FORWARD HER VERSION OF GOOD CAUSE, WHICH AS YOU MENTIONED, I GUESS WE CAN CALL A LITTLE BIT OF A WATERED DOWN VERSION OF SENATOR SALAZAR'S BILL, WHICH WAS KIND OF THE HALLMARK MODEL FOR GOOD CAUSE.

FROM THERE, YOU ALSO HAD, AS FAR AS A 421 A, THE TAX INCENTIVE TO BUILD AFFORDABLE UNITS, THE RENEWAL OF THAT PROGRAM -- OR EXTENSION OF THAT PROGRAM AND THE NEW ITERATION OF THAT, WAS COMBINED WITH A WAGE DEAL WITH THE BUILDING TRADES.

SO THAT EVENTUALLY FOUND A PLACE.

AFTER SOME BACK AND FORTH, THERE WAS A WIDELY PUBLICIZED AGREEMENT WITHIN THE BUILDING TRADES AND THEIR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE REAL ESTATE BOARD OF NEW YORK, BUT GIVEN A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE DEADLINE, THINGS STARTED TO FALL INTO PLACE.

THERE WAS CERTAINLY A LOT OF FURY FROM ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SIDES.

FOR SURE.

CHIMING IN ON THAT.

BUT I THINK, AS ZACH AND A NUMBER OF OTHER FOLKS OPINED, THE AMOUNT OF UNHAPPINESS THAT PEOPLE WERE EXPRESSING WAS ALMOST A SIGN THAT THINGS WERE COMING TOGETHER.

ULTIMATELY BY THE END, THEY WERE ABLE TO SETTLE ON SOMETHING.

YOU REALLY CAN'T DISCOUNT THE INTERSECTION OF POLITICAL INCENTIVES HERE.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL HAD WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL A SERIES OF POLITICAL DISASTERS IN 2023, WHICH INCLUDED PUSHING A HOUSING PROPOSAL WHILE PRAISED PERHAPS AS A GOOD POLICY IDEA, JUST WAS NOT POLITICALLY REALISTIC.

BUT FLASH FORWARD TO THIS YEAR, SHE STILL WANTS A POLITICAL VICTORY ON HOUSING TO TURN THINGS AROUND, BUT WE ALSO HAVE LEGISLATORS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

YOU SEE A LOT OF MODERATE DEMOCRATS WHO AREN'T NECESSARILY THE MOST TENANT FRIENDLY HISTORICALLY ALL OF A SUDDEN GETTING BEHIND THIS IDEA OF INCREASING TENANT PROTECTIONS JUST AS THESE LEFT WING PRIMARY CHALLENGES ARE LOOMING.

I THINK THAT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH GETTING BOTH SIDES TO THE TABLE THIS TIME.

SO WOULD YOU ALL CATEGORIZE THIS AS AN OVERALL WIN FOR DEMOCRATS HEADING INTO ELECTION SEASON?

I MEAN, THEY KNEW THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING, RIGHT?

SO THEY DID.

IS IT AN OVERALL WIN?

POLITICALLY, IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO GET SOMETHING DONE BECAUSE THEN YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT.

NOW, WHETHER THIS IS GOOD POLICY, IT'S GOING TO TAKE MONTHS, IF NOT A YEAR OR TWO, TO REALLY FIGURE OUT, AND THE JURY IS REALLY OUT ON THAT.

BUT THE FACT THAT IT WASN'T A REPEAT OF 2023 WHEN NOTHING GOT DONE AT ALL, I MEAN, PEOPLE NEED HOUSING, ESPECIALLY IN NEW YORK CITY AND EVEN UPSTATE.

THERE'S A REAL SHORTAGE OF UNITS.

PRICES ARE GOING UP.

THE FACT THAT THEY CAN SAY THEY DID SOMETHING ABOUT THAT REALLY GIVES THEM SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT NOT ONLY IN THEIR PRIMARIES, BUT IN THE GENERAL ELECTION WHEN THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO COME FORWARD WITH THEIR OWN MESSAGING.

I THINK IT'S KEEN TO POINT OUT THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT, BUT THE ACTUAL ECONOMIC FORCES OF BUILDING MORE UNITS AND INCENTIVIZING MORE UNITS, THOSE UNITS ARE NOT GOING TO COME ONLINE UNDER THE NEW 425A, 45-X, AFFORDABLE NEIGHBORHOODS NEW YORK PROGRAM, I THINK WE'RE CALLING IT, THOSE UNITS AREN'T GOING TO COME ON FOR YEARS.

SO ACTUALLY SEEING THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF ADDING SUPPLY TO THE HOUSING MARKET AREN'T GOING TO HAPPEN UNTIL MAYBE EVEN GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS OUT OF OFFICE.

CALL THAT A POLITICAL SHIELD, RIGHT?

IF YOU CAN'T QUITE DECIDE WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD, YOU CAN KEEP TALKING ABOUT HOW IT'S GREAT IF YOU'RE DEMOCRATS.

AND IT'S CLEAR THERE WERE SO MANY COMPETING INTERESTS WHEN IT CAME TO HOUSING.

THERE WAS TENANT INTERESTS, REAL ESTATE INTERESTS, LABOR INTERESTS.

DID ANYONE COME OUT AS A WINNER, OR DID EVERYONE SORT OF GET THE SHORT END OF THE STICK IN THE HOUSING DEAL?

I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THE BUILDING TRADES GOT A WIN WITH THEIR WAGE FLOOR DEAL.

IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED WAGE DEAL, GEOGRAPHICALLY SPEAKING, DIFFERENT PROGRESSIVE SLIDING SCALE OVER THE YEARS, BUT I THINK THEY SECURED A WIN.

ALTHOUGH THE FOLKS IN HOUSING JUSTICE FOR ALL AND THE TENANT PROTECTIONS ARE DEFINITELY NOT FRAMING THIS AS A WIN, THE FACT THAT THEY GOT AS SIZABLE OF A PORTION OF THIS IN THEIR -- THAT WAS PART OF THE FINAL PLAN IS PROBABLY PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CONSIDERING HOW MANY VOTES THEY ACTUALLY HAD IN THE LEGISLATURE.

YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THEY WERE PUTTING OUT, THEY WERE PRETTY MUCH PUTTING OUT THEIR WHIP COUNT ON TWITTER AS THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE ONGOING, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE VOTES TO HOLD THIS UP, HOLD UP A PACKAGE OVER THIS.

RIGHT.

SO THE FACT THAT THEY BROKERED SOMETHING OUT OF THIS DEAL IS PROBABLY A WIN FOR THEM EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT SAYING IT.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, I KNOW LAST YEAR BILL REFORM TOOK UP A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE WAY THAT DEMOCRATS WERE LOOKING AT CRIME THIS YEAR, THEY DIDN'T REALLY SEEM TO FOCUS ON BILL REFORM.

THEY WERE MORE SO FOCUSING ON RETAIL THEFT AND CRACKING DOWN ON ILLEGAL CANNABIS THEFTS.

WHY DO YOU THINK BILL REFORM WASN'T SO MUCH A PART OF THE CONVERSATION THIS YEAR?

I THINK PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THE BILL REFORM CONVERSATION.

IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AT THIS POINT, AND THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH CHANGE.

IT'S BEEN INCREMENTAL IF THERE WAS ANY DISCUSSION AT ALL.

I THINK DEMOCRATS THIS YEAR REALLY WANTED TO ATTACK SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO CRIME THAT WAS VISIBLE.

THE LATEST SCRI POLL, SIENA COLLEGE POLL SAYS THAT, EVEN THOUGH A MAJORITY OF NEW YORKERS DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THE ILLEGAL MARIJUANA SHOPS ARE A HUGE PROBLEM, A VAST MAJORITY DO WANT TO SEE SOME ACTION ON IT.

SO I THINK THAT'S THEM RESPONDING TO VOTER SENTIMENT AT THAT POINT.

THE MEDIA, OF COURSE, ISN'T FOCUSING ON BILL REFORM SO MUCH THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR, TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WHETHER IT'S THE NEWSPAPERS, THE CABLE NEWS, SO MUCH TALK ABOUT AN OUT OF CONTROL NEW YORK CITY.

LEE ZELDIN HAD JUST RUN IN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE IN 2022.

THIS TIME AROUND WE'RE HEARING A LOT MORE TALK ABOUT MIGRANTS IS KIND OF THE DRUM THEY'RE BEATING, RETAIL THEFT, WHICH IS AN ISSUE THEY DID DEAL WITH IN THE BUDGET.

SO DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN VERY REACTIVE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE, ADDRESSING CRITICISMS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS, AND I THINK THE FACT THAT THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE OF THINGS HAVE LAID OFF IT A LITTLE BIT IN FAVOR OF MIGRANTS, RETAIL THEFT, AND OTHER ISSUES ALSO HAD A LOT TO DO WITH BAIL REFORM JUST NOT BEING DISCUSSED SO MUCH THIS TIME AROUND.

I THINK REALLY THE POWER OF MAYBE NOT ONE OF THE OTHER, BUT SPECIFICALLY ILLICIT CANNABIS SHOPS AND THE RETAIL THEFT ISSUE, WHERE THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE CALLING THEIR LOCAL LEGISLATORS ABOUT THAT ARE PEOPLE IN DISTRICT OFFICES ARE GETTING CALLS ABOUT, AND THAT LAWMAKERS SUBSTANTIVELY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING ON AND THEN GO AND HIT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ON IT NOW AND IN THE WEEKS TO COME.

SO I THINK THOSE WERE REALLY SOME OF THE MOTIVATING FACTORS IN THOSE PIECES OF THE BUDGET.

AND I WANTED TO GET INTO HEALTHCARE.

AS WE KNOW, MEDICAID IS A HUGE PORTION OF THE BUDGET, AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL MADE IT CLEAR AT THE TOP OF THE YEAR THAT SHE REALLY WANTED TO FIND WAYS TO SAVE.

SO IN THE FINAL ENACTED BUDGET, THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND WAYS TO SAVE.

ONE OF THEM INCLUDED CUTS TO THE CDPAP PROGRAM, WHICH WE KNOW THERE WERE A LOT OF ADVOCATES WHO CAME OUT IN OPPOSITION TO THAT PLAN IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.

ONE THING THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING ON THE FLOOR, SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE CHAIR GUSTAVO RIVERA, I CANNOT COUNT THE AMOUNT OF TIMES HE SAID, I WOULDN'T HAVE PUT FORTH THIS PLAN, IT ISN'T MY FAVORITE PLAN.

SO WHY DID IT APPEAR THAT THE SENATOR'S HANDS WERE SORT OF TIED WHEN IT CAME TO THIS COMPROMISE?

I THINK THE CDPAP DEBATE WAS KIND OF LAYING LATENT IN THE BUDGET.

THE GOVERNOR RULED OUT SOME SUGGESTED CHANGES IN HER 30-DAY AMENDMENTS, NOT NECESSARILY IN HER INITIAL PROPOSAL, OUTSIDE OF CUTTING THE WAGE PARITY BOOST.

THIS IS REALLY DENSE POLICY-WISE.

BUT SHE HAD BEEN ADVOCATING FOR CHANGES TO THE CDPAP PROGRAM.

WHAT WAS UNEXPECTED IS THE LAST MINUTE CHANGE THAT BECAME PART OF NEGOTIATIONS I BELIEVE A WEEK OR TWO BEFORE -- OR A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE GOVERNOR CAME OUT AND ANNOUNCED HER -- I'LL JUST CALL IT A HANDSHAKE.

IT WAS KIND OF SURPRISING THAT CAME OUT AT THE LAST MINUTE.

SO MOVING WHAT ARE HUNDREDS OF THESE FISCAL MIDDLEMEN IN THIS PROGRAM DOWN TO ONE SELECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WAS KIND OF A SHOCK TO A LOT OF FOLKS, AND YOU SAW, AS YOU MENTIONED, A LOT OF THOSE ADVOCATES COMING OUT.

WHAT TRANSPIRED ON THE FLOOR, OR PRECIPITATED ON THE FLOOR WAS KIND OF AN INTERESTING DEBATE TO WATCH BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A LOT OF NUANCE TO THAT DISCUSSION ACTUALLY.

I HAPPENED TO CATCH THE DEBATE YOU'RE REFERRING TO WITH SENATOR RIVERA AND SENATOR PAM HELMING AT THE TIME, AND NEITHER OF THEM COULD EVEN CALL IT ITS FULL NAME, THE CONSUMER DIRECTED PERSONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF NUANCE TO THAT, AND IT CAME KIND OF OUT OF THE BLUE AT THE LAST MINUTE, WHICH WAS A SURPRISING PROPOSAL.

NEITHER THE GOVERNOR -- NOBODY REALLY WAS FLOATING, AND STILL TRYING TO DIAGNOSE WHERE EXACTLY THAT PLAN MOVE TO A FISCAL INTERMEDIARY CAME FROM.

IT'S A MODEL THAT A LOT OF OTHER STATES HAVE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT ONE FIRM WILL BE PICKED TO SELECT A BUNCH OF REGIONAL FIRMS OFF OF THAT.

NOW, I MIGHT JUST POINT OUT THAT WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT MEDICAID, THERE'S ONE PARTY THAT MATTERS PROBABLY MORE THAN EVEN THE LEGISLATURE, AND THAT'S 1199 SEIU, THE MOST POWERFUL UNION IN THE STATE.

AS VAUGHN POINTED OUT, YOU HAD ALL THESE DIFFERENT PROVIDERS GO DOWN TO ONE.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, IT'S GOING TO BE A HECK OF A LOT EASIER TO ORGANIZE, TO UNIONIZE ONE PROVIDER VERSUS THIS CONSTELLATION OF OTHERS.

RIGHT.

AND THEN NOT TO PROTRACT THIS DISCUSSION, BUT ONE OF THE VERY INTERESTING THINGS, YOU HAD THIS GROUP -- I'M DRAWING A BLANK ON THE NAME OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD -- THAT STAYED IN THE WAR ROOM OVERNIGHT.

IT WAS A THURSDAY NIGHT INTO A FRIDAY RIGHT BEFORE THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED HER HANDSHAKE.

THEY REPRESENT INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS, WHICH REALLY STARTED THE CDPAP PROGRAM.

THEY SAT IN THE WAR ROOM OVERNIGHT ADVOCATING FOR THEIR ISSUE.

THE NEXT MORNING 1199 COMES OUT WITH A STATEMENT SUPPORTING CHANGES TO THE CDPAP PROGRAM, BUT SPECIFICALLY OUTLINING A CARVEOUT FOR THE INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS, PART OF THE DEAL THAT ULTIMATELY CAME TO FRUITION.

THERE IS A SPECIFIC PART OF THE BUDGET THAT DICTATES THERE MUST BE A CARVEOUT OR THERE MUST BE A SUBCONTRACTOR, FISCAL INTERMEDIARY, FOR THE INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS.

AND WHAT ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE FINAL ENACTED BUDGET, SUCH AS THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT AND THE CHILD PRIVACY LAWS, THAT I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING CLOSELY, ZACH?

IS THERE A PATH FORWARD FOR THESE BILLS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR?

IT'S ALWAYS EASIER TO GET THINGS DONE IN THE BUDGET.

THE GOVERNOR JUST CONSTITUTIONALLY HAS SO MUCH MORE LEVERAGE AND REALLY CAN DRIVE AN AGENDA, AND ALSO KIND OF DISTRACT WITH SOME ISSUES AND GET OTHER ISSUES IN.

SOMETHING THAT'S INTERESTING WITH THE GOVERNOR THIS TIME COMPARED TO LAST YEAR WAS HOW SHE KIND OF PICKED HER BATTLES MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY.

SHE QUICKLY DROPPED A PROPOSAL TO REALLY UPEND HOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED IN THE STATE, AND SHE WAS REALLY GOING TO FACE A VERY TOUGH LOBBYING CAMPAIGN FROM THE TECH INDUSTRY ON PROPOSED LEGISLATION ON DATA PRIVACY PROTECTIONS FOR CHILDREN, RESTRICTING ALGORITHMIC SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS FOR KIDS.

FOR ALL THE TALK FROM THE GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES, IT WAS INTERESTING HOW QUIET THEY GOT IN THE FINAL WEEKS ABSENT ONE EVENT AT THE CAPITOL ON WHAT THEY SAID WAS MUST DO LEGISLATION THAT I DOUBT AT THIS POINT IS REALLY GOING TO GET ADDRESSED IN THE REMAINING WEEKS OF THE SESSION.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE COMING UP ON TIME, BUT I WANTED TO HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU.

DID ANYONE COME OUT AS A WINNER?

FROM MY PURVIEW, IT APPEARS THE GOVERNOR GOT A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT SHE WANTED IN THE BUDGET.

SHE WANTED RETAIL THEFT.

SHE WANTED CANNABIS ENFORCEMENT.

SHE WANTED HOUSING.

SO IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT HOCHUL IS THE OVERALL WINNER IN THIS BUDGET PROCESS?

I THINK SHE CERTAINLY WALKED AWAY WITH A LOT OF VICTORIES.

I THINK YOU CAN'T UNDERCUT THAT FOUNDATION AID CHANGE, THE SCHOOL FUNDING CHANGE.

SHE WAS REALLY GUNG HO ON THAT AND SAID THAT A STUDY WOULD BE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, SOMETHING SHE DIDN'T WANT TO DO.

THAT IS GOING TO BE UP FOR DEBATE AGAIN NEXT YEAR AFTER THE ROCKEFELLER INSTITUTE FINISHES THEIR STUDY.

SO THAT BECOMES A BATTLE FOR NEXT YEAR.

I THINK THE REAL WINNER OUT OF THIS BUDGET IS LABOR ACROSS THE BOARD.

UFT GOT PROVISIONS WITH AN EXTENSION OF MAYORAL CONTROL OF NEW YORK CITY SCHOOLS.

BUILDING TRADES GOT A WAGE FLOOR WITHIN THE HOUSING DEAL.

AND 1199 POSSIBLY GOT 250,000 NEW DUES PAYING MEMBERS OUT OF THE CDPAP PROGRAM.

HARD TO FOLLOW UP THESE GUYS, BUT I WOULD JUST POINT OUT TECH INDUSTRY, META, WHICH OWNS FACEBOOK, GOOGLE, THEY REALLY SCORED SOME BIG VICTORIES HERE.

IF NEW YORK HAD RESTRICTED SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS FOR KIDS, THAT COULD HAVE HAD NATIONAL RAMIFICATIONS.

THESE ARE COMPANIES THAT MAKE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM SUCKING DATA FROM CHILDREN, SELLING IT TO ADVERTISERS.

WHILE THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK FROM DEMOCRATS ABOUT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT, THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

BY THE WAY, TECH INDUSTRY GOT ABOUT NEARLY $300 MILLION THROWN FOR AN AI SUPER COMPUTER IN BUFFALO THAT MIGHT HELP THEM DEVELOP SOME TALENT FOR EMPLOYMENT LATER ON.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

WE WERE SPEAKING WITH ZACH WILLIAMS OF BLOOMBERG LAW, VAUGHN GOLDEN OF THE NEW YORK POST, AND ALEX GAULT OF THE WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES AND NORTHERN NEW YORK NEWSPAPERS.