Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Appears Live On The Brian Lehrer Show

March 29, 2019

Brian Lehrer: It’s the Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC. Good morning, everyone. And we begin as usual on Friday’s with our weekly Ask the Mayor segment, my questions and yours for Mayor Bill de Blasio. Our lines are open at 2-1-2-4-3-3-WNYC, 2-1-2-4-3-3-9-6-9-2, or you can tweet a question, just use the hashtag #AskTheMayor. And we come to our Ask the Mayor segment with the drama going into the weekend with Monday’s New York State budget deadline coming and the suspense over whether there will be congestion pricing, a pied-à-terre tax, bail reform, marijuana legalization, public financing of campaigns, an almost complete ban on plastic bags and grocery stores and more, so it’s going to be a busy weekend in Albany and good morning, Mr. Mayor. Welcome back to WNYC.

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Good morning, Brian, and this shows you elections do matter. Having a Democratic-led State Senate has led to a host of long-standing issues being addressed – election reform and reproductive rights and so many thing that have been acted on that never moved before and I think congestion pricing is going to be on that list but we need people to weigh in today. This is a decisive day in Albany.

Lehrer: Controversial, on the congestion pricing, is the guarantees for commuter rail funding to bring in legislators from the suburbs to vote yes, but draining a lot of money, therefore, from the subways which are in crisis in a way the LIRR and Metro North aren’t, and with those rides getting much bigger taxpayer subsidies as it is. So how do you see the math and what political trade-offs are you willing to accept?

Mayor: Okay. First of all, I think this is democracy in action, as everyone is trying to get something that everyone can believe in and live with. I want to remind everyone up front: this is not over, this is literally a decisive day today, the final wording is being worked on. Again, urging all your listeners who believe in congestion pricing and want to see the subways fixed, text the word “DELAY”, D-E-L-A-Y, to 5-2-8-8-6, that’s 5-2-8-8-6, and you’ll be connected to your State Assembly member, your State Senator. If you need more information go on to the website RidersNY.org, that’s the Riders Alliance, the main straphanger advocacy group. I’m working with them to pass the plan the governor and I put forward.

To your question, Brian, I think right now, in a world where it’s important to get buy in from a majority of both the Assembly and the Senate, I think it’s perfectly fair to say how do we make this a plan that everyone can believe in? But the X factor here, and this is not getting enough attention in my opinion, is not only are we on the verge of the first ever coherent plan to fund and fix the subways. Not only are we, for the first time ever, going to have congestion pricing, and a much better and more fair congestion pricing plan than we’ve ever seen before, but on top of all that, additional revenue got added to the equation since the Governor and I put forward our proposal. We included three pieces, congestion pricing, internet sales tax, and marijuana tax. Marijuana issue is obviously going to play out a little bit longer. Into the mix has come something, in some ways, bigger, stronger, than we had originally, which is real-estate taxes – to go at an area where there is a real opportunity to bring in big revenue for the MTA and in a progressive fashion, because obviously the vast majority of that money comes from the high-end real estate purchasers, and there’s a lot of them in this city and state. So I think this has actually ended up being a stronger plan, over the last few weeks, a plan that will have more sustainability and more money attached, and that makes it easier to accept some of the give-and-take that the suburban members have asked for because we have more revenue, more options on the table.

Lehrer: Is the real-estate revenue the so-called “pied-à-terre” tax on very high-end second homes in the city, I heard that was having more political trouble in Albany than congestion pricing – is it that or is it something else?

Mayor: There’s been a variety of options. Pied-à-terre tax, a mortgage recording tax, the transfer tax for real estate – all of these are being looked at, mix-matched. Obviously, I respect the decision that the legislators have to make, that’s their job, but what’s I’ve said is we support the notion of go – turning to whatever appropriate combination of those real estate taxes gets us the resources we need to fix the subways and, again, all of them follow a straight forward pattern. They disproportionately – the money disproportionately comes from the wealthy who are making those high-end real estate purchases in this city, and we’ve seen, you know, lately, you remember of course the single condominium for over $200 million – there’s a lot of money flowing around, it’s not being taxed at a high-enough level. You know, I originally wanted a millionaires’ tax as the way to address the subway crises, but, in a funny way Brian, this is a version of that, it’s another version of going after the fact that there’s such ridiculous income inequality, and that government policies have helped the wealthy to get wealthier. You know, I’ve been saying, there’s plenty of money, it’s just in the wrong hands. Well here’s an opportunity to take some of that money from folks who have benefitted disproportionately from government policies, and put it back in the hands of working people by fixing the subways.

Lehrer: By the way, the guy who bought that $250 million condo, he’s from Chicago, I think, I don’t remember his name, and he said nope, I’m not going to move to New York after all because New York is obviously now hostile to people like me and because of the Amazon deal. Any response to him?

Mayor: I think that’s – I mean I can’t speak for any individuals values, but I can tell you this—

Lehrer: And I should say, I’m sorry I want to correct myself – he’s not going to move his company here which is – has more economic implications for the city.

Mayor: Yeah, I’ve heard a lot of people, bluntly, wealthy people, private-sector people, trying to stir this pot, and the facts say otherwise. Right in the middle of some of the Amazon controversy, Google decided to double its workforce in New York City. I think you’re going to see a lot of other tech companies increasing their workforce because this has become now a true international tech hub, we’re very proud of that fact; we’re going to keep building that reality. You’re going to see a lot of movement going forward in our economy in other ways. 4.5 million jobs in New York City, the most we’ve ever had.

So, you know, I just find that to be an attempt by some, ideologically, to obviously undermine progressive policies because in this city we believe in things like progressive taxation, we believe in helping working people, we believe in creating in affordable housing, and protecting rent-regulated housing, and some people who are wealthy and more conservative don’t agree in those ideas, but if you’re talking about how the broader business community is acting? They’re investing more and more in New York City. Anyone with eyes to see can see that right away.

Lehrer: And just for the record, my producer Mary looked it up, the Chicago hedge-fund billionaire in question is Kenneth Griffin. Also on transportation, as we were talking about congestion pricing, on your ferry system – very popular with those who use it, but expensive for the taxpayers – the Citizen’s Budget Commission think tank finds that the ferries receive taxpayer subsidies that are 10 times higher per rider than New York City transit received despite serving a ridership that is “highly seasonal and leisure-oriented.” Gothamist says that translates as tourist heavy, and Gothamist says that pro-rider subsidy worked out to $10.73 in fiscal year 2018, citing the CBC report, and is expected to balloon to more than $24 per trip on a planned Coney Island route announced earlier this year or 2,257 percent more than what’s allocated to the average subway or bus rider. Your reactions?

Mayor: Yeah, I disagree with the analysis to begin with because I think it’s a very short sighted analysis. I appreciate the Citizens Budget Commissioner, I think they’ve done some important work over the years, but I think they have a fatal flaw. They often misunderstand the value of government investment for the long hull and this is a government investment for the long hull. Let me sober everyone right here, Brian, 8.6 million people today. We’ve added half a million people over the last 15-20 years. We’re going to add another half million people over the next 15 to 20 years ahead. Anyone who thinks our existing transit system can handle all of that is someone who thinks marijuana is already been legalized in New York State and is smoking some. The fact is it is impossible to do what we have to do with the city if we don’t expand mass transit options.

So we have had a four pronged attack. More bike options, more select bus service, which is those faster dedicated bus routes. More light rail, that’s going to be the BQX, Brooklyn and Queens. And for the first time ever, a citywide ferry system. Never existed before – it hasn’t existed I should say more so for a hundred years in reality. It’s necessary, one of the great coastal cities in the world and we haven’t had a coherent ferry system in generations. We’re investing in the future.

Now, Brian, the x-factor here is, I believe in the next couple years we will come to an agreement with the MTA. That a single swipe will get you from ferry, to bus, to subway, or whatever combination, and I think that is going to lead to a lot more ferry usage all year round. But what we have to understand is, if we don’t open up options, if we don’t use the one – there’s one road that is never full, it’s the water ways, you know, there’s not traffic jams. If we don’t start turning to that while we’re on the pathway add a half million people, we’re going to really wonder in a decade or two what the hell we were doing. So this is an investment in the future, it’s very popular now. Go to the Rockaways, go to Soundview in the Bronx, ask people what it’s done for their lives, but this is also about preparing for the New York City for the future.

Lehrer: Let’s take a phone call. Matt in Crown Heights, you’re WNYC with the Mayor, hi Matt.

Question: Hi, how are you doing this morning?

Lehrer: Good, thank you.

Question: I’m calling in regards to a recent rise in gang violence in Crown Heights, specifically related to a brand new renovated playground at P.S. 316 on Classon Ave. It’s been pretty disappointing because this playground had been under construction for a couple years, it just opened, it’s beautiful, it’s next to a great school in the neighborhood and within the first couple of weeks now that the weather is getting better there’s already been a couple gun related incident. There have been arrests but the school has had a couple sheltering drills and the entire community is feeling very uneasy about what’s going on. We had a meeting last night, Councilwomen Laurie Cumbo was there. She spoke a little bit about some action that they can take but considering, you know, we’ve waited for this playground for a couple years, not to mention its proximity to tourist destinations like the Gardens and the Brooklyn Museum, there is a lot of concern about what the NYPD can do in this instance specifically and the rise of gang violence in Brooklyn in general.

Mayor: Okay Matt, I really appreciate you calling this in. So – absolutely as a parent myself I can understand how entirely frustrating it would be to finally get a great playground and not feel it’s safe. We have to fix that. I’m going to ask the Precinct Commander to be directly in touch with you and your fellow parents. We’ll get that going today. This is a problem I think we can go ahead on by having a really clear, strong police presence by the playground to break that cycle you’re discussing. I don’t know – I’ll hasten to add Brian - I don’t know the details of the situation so I’m taking Matt’s word for it. But I want to say very clearly, we’re going to make sure there’s police presence to address that.

Also Matt, the NYPD has been really doing some extraordinary things in undermining gangs and really rolling up and arresting a lot of gang members, getting a lot of weapons in big, big actions. Dozens, dozens of gang members at a time, lots of weapons being taken off the street, more and more intensive prosecution is happening working with the DA’s and with federal prosecutors. So I would say to you that there’s a lot that you don’t see, but that if you look systematically major gang takedowns have been happening over the last two years. More are coming very soon. But we’ll make sure there’s special attention on that area, that neighborhood, and on P.S. 316.

Lehrer: Matt, hang on, we’re going to get your contact information. And Chris, in Brooklyn, you’re on WNYC with the Mayor. Hi, Chris.

Question: Good morning Brian and Mr. Mayor. I’m calling to ask the Mayor about the enforcement abilities of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection for air quality and pollution control measures within our five boroughs. I live on the south side of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the South Fifth Street Bloc Association, my family and I have a very, very bad problem with dense, acrid, coal smoke – a coal and wood smoke - emissions from a factory in our neighborhood that today still burns large amounts of coal and wood throughout most of the year. The smoke becomes so dense at times that it leaks into our homes and creates a visible throughout our neighborhood whether we’re walking to the supermarket or even standing on the Hewes Street subway platform, all again depending on which way the wind is blowing. I’m sure Mr. Mayor you’re well aware that this area south side of Williamsburg has one of the highest documented rates of adult and pediatric asthma in the city. This factory only contributes to the problem. To begin, nobody is trying to close the factory down but only to have them to comply with contemporary air quality control measures that work. This factory is located in Brooklyn at 427 Broadway between Hooper Street and Hewes Street –

Mayor: What’s it called? What’s the name of the company Chris?

Question: It’s a matzo factory that operates from early September to late April about eight months out of the year -

Mayor: Do you know the name? Do you know the name?

Question: The factory occupies several buildings, some off the street when the baking begins –

Mayor: Okay, we’ll find it, we’ll find it, we’ll find it.

Lehrer: Yeah, Chris. Go ahead Mr. Mayor.

Mayor: Yeah, Chris, thank you for the update. Look, the things you’re raising, anything that creates undo pollution and creates discomfort for neighbors, we have to go look at it. I am familiar with a lot of the challenges in Williamsburg health wise. I’ll hasten to add, you know, anything that’s part of some communities religious observance we also want to sensitive too, but we have to make sure people are healthy and we have to make sure people are safe. I’m going to ask our DEP Commissioner, Vinny Sapienza, to speak to you directly. Please give your information to WNYC and Brian I failed to say it, I almost always do with the previous caller, I failed to say that he should give his information, I hope he did on the P.S. 316 matter -

Lehrer: I believe we took it. I took that assumed and I did ask him to hang on so –

Mayor: Okay, you guys have been great on that and I just want to do a little note here that when I fail to say it, I hope your folks are still doing it because we always want to follow up on those individual and neighborhood matters. But – so we will have the DEP Commissioner talk to you Chris and we’ll get out there and take some readings and see what we got and what we can do about it.

Lehrer: Alright, he’s bringing up one environmental issue, here’s another. The plastic bag ban which might get through the State legislature this weekend we hear. Are you for it? And do you think it will be approved?

Mayor: I am adamantly in favor of it. I believe we need to ban plastic bags across the board. I believe we need to ban plastic straws across the board. We have banned Styrofoam products – which is something I actually worked on over a decade ago on the City Council. We’ve got to get away from petroleum based products and then ultimately we have to get away from petroleum across the board which is why the City of New York is divesting $5 billion from fossil fuel companies, and I led the way on that proudly because we just have to get those fossil fuel at that stranded in the ground ultimately. So this is part of it. Plastic bags, that’s a lot of petroleum goes into creating them, part of our throwaway culture that has to end. Now we have to make sure people have reusable bags, and for folks who need help with that financially that’s something we have to build in going forward. Ways for lower-income folks to have reusable bags that they can depend on. But, no question, we have to get rid of the plastic bags once and for all.

Lehrer: Now paper bags are almost as bad for the environment, environmentalist say, and the bill might get approved with a five cent paper bag fee but it also might wind up leaving it up to localities around the state whether to implement such a fee. Would you be in favor of doing that for New York City, locally, if it comes out that way?

Mayor: Yeah, first of all, we need the option to make that decision ourselves. Anytime Albany helps us and recognizes that we are 43 percent of the State’s population and the economic engine for the state and lets us actually figure out what works for us, it’s a good day. So yes, that’s a decision we need to make. I do believe that we have to do get away from paper bags too. So want to see the details of how it would be structured but as a broad notion, we need to get away from paper bags – if the fee is what allows us to do it, I can support that. But again, what we have to add to the equation is phasing these things out by helping people get the reusable bags. And I want to just make a real simple point to everyone – our ancestors, just a few generations ago, there was no plastic bag for them, paper bags were not used the way they are now and they weren’t available all over the place. Most people had to have a permanent bag, a reusable bag, that was just part of life, usually it was a cloth bag or something like that. We’ve got to go back to reusable items like reusable bags and get away from the notion that we use something once and throw it away. We have to change that about our culture.

Lehrer: We give away a reusable cloth bag as one of the thank you gifts in our membership drives and it’s one of the most popular things that people take all the time. So there’s some interest and if this law gets through then I hear the City is going to need to come up with ways to, at least on a one time basis, make them widely available to people. Do you have a plan for that by the way?

Mayor: We will create one, I mean this, you know, for the first time – you’ll remember a few years ago, the City Council to their credit was acting on this broader issue and then Albany intervened negatively and stopped it. This is the first time we have actually had the ability to move forward. So we’ll quickly, as part of the implementation process, figure out what we have to do to facilitate that for folks but the bottom line is we have got to change the culture, we have to help people by making it easier to do. But I think people will adapt quickly. I think, you know, the people – one thing about us humans, we are amazingly adaptable and as folks, like your listeners, have experienced reusable bags, they work fine and people get used to them.

Lehrer: Tiffani in Brooklyn, you’re on WNYC with Mayor de Blasio. Hi, Tiffani.

Question: Hi, good morning, Mr. Mayor. My name is Tiffani Torres and I attend school at Pace High School. And I have a question in regards to school segregation. So you recently had a meeting with educators in South Carolina to offer advice about their school system, however, New York City schools remain some of the most segregated and unequal in the nation. And we support and have been advocating for a top seven percent plan for specialized high schools even before you did, but we care more about integrating the other 500 high schools in the city that still remain deeply segregated and we have a plan to do so. Since you have time to meet with people in South Carolina, will you meet with us too?

Mayor: Tiffani, look, I want to be very clear. We have been moving on desegregation all over the city, District One in Manhattan, District Three in Manhattan, District 15 in Brooklyn, and we have plans to change how the admissions process for middle schools and high schools which we are working on now, and of course the specialized high schools, and that system is thoroughly broken because of the single test and the results that are not working. I think you need to be clearer, in my opinion, that the effort across the board is part of what we also have to do is bring up the quality of each and every one of our schools regardless of neighborhood. That’s the Equity and Excellence vision, and I think that is what’s being left out of this discussion. It’s not just the traditional question of how you diversify schools and classrooms, it’s how you make schools stronger across the board. We’ve have a plan for years that we have been implementing to do that. Not getting a lot of attention. I’m not saying this about you Tiffani, I would be happy to see your plan as well. But I’m telling you what is missing in this entire discussion is we’re in year four, year five now of a plan to bring up all schools and make them work for all communities which also will help with diversification. That’s not getting the discussion and attention it deserves publically I believe. So your plan, let’s get it forward, I will have my team meet with you and see what you got.

Question: We have met with everyone at the DOE including the Chancellor, and we actually have a meeting with members of your team on April 2nd so we just want to know if you specifically will meet us?

Mayor: Tiffani, I get a lot of people asking me for meetings and I always say the same thing, I’m going to make sure that the right people – you are meeting with the Chancellor, you are in the right place and I’ll ask him to update me, I’ll be talking to him, I think later today. I’ll ask him to update me on your vision, I think that’s the best way to handle it.

Lehrer: I think you might have the same plan. Did Tiffani – did you say your plan would be for the top seven percent from each school to qualify for the specialized high schools?

Question: Yes, we proposed that plan. But our Enrollment Equity plan is something that we are focused on right now for the other high schools in the city.

Lehrer: Do you want to describe it a little bit?

Question: Yes. So our first proposal is to increase transparency in the high school directory, and each school’s racial and socioeconomic break-down will be published along with college readiness rate and the average SAT score which is something that isn’t available as of right now. And our second proposal is to establish minimum academic diversity thresholds across all high schools to boost the number of students and academically representative schools, so by the Fall of 2020, to ensure that at least ten percent and no greater than 80 percent of each school’s incoming freshman class passes the seventh grade state English exam, math exam or both. And it also on our website and we’ve presented this in multiple occasions. We’ve met with people at the DOE and we’ve always been told that something will happen, nothing’s happened yet so we just want to make sure that we can have a meeting with the Mayor to ensure that, we are not just being told that something is going to happen and that you guys are listening, we want to make sure that you guys are actually going to do something about it.

Mayor: Tiffani you are talking to me right now. I can tell you something is going to happen. I like what you are describing. I’m not endorsing all the specific elements because I haven’t seen it. I will talk to the Chancellor. If you have talked Chancellor, you are in the right place. But Tiffani I want to compliment you. You are putting forward important ideas and you’re putting them forward I think very powerfully and obviously, you have a lot of leadership capacity and I commend you. What I want you to understand because I really care about this is we aren’t just saying we are going to do something and then we forget about it. We’ve been working very intensely and you can see the specific changes happening now. Again, on bringing up specific schools, things like advanced placement courses in every high school, and I think you’d agree with me Tiffani, that when we had the City talk about segregation where some schools had advanced placement courses for generations, others didn’t have a single one – now every high school has to have five advanced placement courses, every high school has to have algebra being taught at a high level to help students move up. We are going at the core of the problem at the beginning of kids’ educational careers with Pre-K, 3-K – these are all about equity and changing things. But we also are changing the admissions system. I think there has been a lot of things in the admissions system that needed changing so I really appreciate that you are putting forward these proposals and we will get you very specific answers because we are in the process of making big decisions to change the admissions process.

Lehrer: And Tiffani great job with stick-to-itiveness and follow up questions in this phone call. Thank you very much. We also looked up the name of your group online and we’ll tell everybody if they want more information –

Mayor: What’s the name of the group Brian, I’d like to know?

Lehrer: Teens Take Charge at teenstakecharge.com, we’ve just discovered. Mr. Mayor, let me ask you about the controversy over the tweet by Brooklyn City Councilman Kalman Yeger that “Palestine doesn’t exist.” He apparently has a record of saying things like this including calling the people there so-called Palestinians. Obviously he is getting blow back for what many take as racist, dehumanizing, hate speech but you are getting blow back too for not reacting more forcefully or as forcefully as you did to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s comments about US-Israeli politics. What’s your response?

Mayor: I think it’s clear I reacted clearly and sharply in both cases, but let me add. The fact is that these are dehumanizing comments, and they’re absolutely unacceptable. And Councilman Yeger should apologize right away. It’s just not acceptable. Look, it’s also illogical. We have a large Palestinian-American community here in this city, and all over this nation. I have been in the parts of Palestine. I have seen them with my own eyes. Come on, it’s just ridiculous. There has to be a two-state solution. And it’s time for people to be straight forward, respecting both sides of the equation. So I respect our communities here, our Jewish communities, our Muslim communities, our Israeli community, our Palestinian community. We need people to start working on getting people together. And I have to tell you, I met over the weekend with some of the progressive leaders in Israel who are working very hard at forging new bonds between the Jewish community, and the Muslim community – Arabs and Israelis in Israel, in Palestine finding a way to get people in dialogue to move forward. Unfortunately, Councilman Yeger is doing the exact opposite. So it’s time for an apology.

Lehrer: The reason people thought that your initial tweet didn’t go far enough was that what you tweeted was “A two-state solution is the best hope for peace. I challenge anyone who thinks the State of Israel shouldn’t exist. But the same goes for anyone who would deny Palestinians a home.” And I think people wanted more than that. Because this idea that there is no such thing as a Palestinian – I think it comes, you know, very conservative Israeli block that says because it was part of Jordan, the West Bank was part of Jordan when it was ceased by Israel in 1960’s that Palestinian nationalism is made up, just as a way to discredit Israel. That Palestinian nationalism isn’t a real thing that people from there feel and they wanted to hear that you get that.

Mayor: Brian, respectfully, when you say people were – didn’t feel or people felt this. I think that is a very narrow way of looking at things. There is 8.6 million people in this city who have entirely different opinions on everything, person by person. I don’t think there is one –

Lehrer: Well, a few community leaders who spoke out to be fair.

Mayor: A few community leaders and I’m saying I made very clear – because I don’t, I don’t take a poll before what I say, I say what I believe. I made very clear that the Councilman was wrong. I made very clear that there has to be a Palestinian homeland, and I’m happily expanding on that and saying, because I’ve seen his second comments. You know, I originally talked about his first tweet, and then he made further comments. I think the further comments were even worse. So, right now, what he is doing is destructive and divisive. He should apologize. Look, people in public life should be about unifying people and finding ways to work together. What he is doing is the opposite, he should stop.

Lehrer: He is clearly not going to apologize, and based on his follow-ups –

Mayor: You know what? People change. You’d be amazed, you’d be amazed. Because some people said that about other folks and then days later they did apologize.

Lehrer: Last thing on this. Should Speaker Corey Johnson remove Councilman Yeger from the Immigration Committee on the basis that he can’t take all immigrants as full human beings?

Mayor: I am not going to tell Speaker Johnson how to do his job. I have great respect for Corey Johnson, I think he is running the City Council very well, and doing good work for the city. If you’re asking my personal opinion, yes I think someone who has the ability to say that about Palestinian people by definition should not be on the immigration committee. Now, if comes out and he apologizes, and says look I was wrong and I realize what I did was hurtful and I’ve got to change, different discussion. But if he’s not going to apologize, he shouldn’t be on that committee.

Lehrer: Dr. Gary in Washington Heights, you’re on WNYC with the Mayor, hello Dr. Gary.

Question: Yes, hello Mayor de Blasio, thank you for taking my call. I am the executive director and founder of Growth and Development services, www.excelgds.org. We’re a licensee of the City, and the New York City Port Washington Armory, and we’re being wrongfully evicted from our program. We offer mental health counseling. I actually was a recipient, I was a finalist for the Child Mind Award, and I met Chirlane there and I know Dr. Kaplowitz. We’re trying to get a meeting with Commissioner Banks, who is ignoring our calls and evicting us from the Fort Washington Armory in Washington Heights, which is a privatization of a public space. Your office began an investigation in 2014 from the Community Affairs Unit, I am in touch with Remy Salas, and he’s not willing to help me and us, and the community is outraged by our program which is most needed and we’re being evicted. Can you please help us? This has been really a horrible battle. We’re offering most needed services with elders with dementia, and music, and the youth. We work with the Summer Youth Employment Program. We’ve been maltreated and harassed, and we have been threatened to be evicted three different times, because we’re speaking up on the social injustice in this two acre empty building.

Mayor: Okay, Doctor, I don’t know the details. So I am going to be very careful to not suggest I have a specific view, and I don’t know the facts. I want to get the facts. I am going to ask the Office of our Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Dr. Herminia Palacio. I am going to ask her team to follow up with you today and see what’s going on. I would hasten to add I am not sure I agree with your assessment of the overall use of the armory. I’ve seen a lot of things happening there. But, meaning good uses happening there. But I do hear your concern, I certainly want us to get down to the bottom of it and look at it objectively. We certainly value anyone who is providing mental health services, they are desperately needed. So, Dr. Palacio’s team will be in touch with you later today to assess the situation. And give your information to WNYC, please.

Lehrer: So Gary, Dr. Gary hang on, and we’ll take that information. And as we run out of time Mr. Mayor, anything else that you want to add with respect to the very consequential budget negotiations in Albany this weekend. We talked about congestion pricing, anything else you want to weigh in on or advocate for?

Mayor: Yes, look, this is a – it’s literally a historic moment. And I want to just – ten seconds of framing this, that you know, we have to understand how much has changed in Albany. It’s breath taking. For the Democratic State Senate things are moving now at a rapid pace that are really going to improve life in this city and I want to remind people really big issues up ahead, including how we strengthen rent regulation, one of the biggest coming up. And we need people to be really involved with that. I would hasten to add again, the congestion pricing issue, the subway issue is not yet done. So again, if you want to get involved, text the word DELAY to 5-2-8-8-6 and get in this today. Let your Assembly member, let your Senator know. On other fronts the thing that I am looking at very carefully, making sure that budget cuts that the Governor proposed for the city are restored, practically in the area of education. We’ve seen some real progress so far from the Assembly and Senate. But a lot of details are still being nailed down. So we hope we can get a lot of that money back in the budget. And the other piece of course, mayoral accountability, mayoral control, whatever words you like – allowing us to continue making progress, highest graduation rate we’ve ever had. For example, that’s a direct result of mayoral accountability. We need to continue that and get a three year renewal. But we’re also, we’ve had great conversations with parent leaders. Chancellor Carranza and I have had town hall meetings in all five boroughs, and we’ve met with community education council leaders, PTA leaders. And a lot of great ideas have come up of how to strengthen the role of parents, how to empower parents. Great meetings I’ve had with State Senate members and State Assembly members on specific reforms we can make, and which I believe in. and so I think we have the prospect here of renewing mayoral accountability in a really productive way that also empowers parents but protects the integrity of what works about mayoral accountability or mayoral control system. That’s a very, very promising development and that also, you know, the final details being worked on. We’ve got to finish that strong.

Lehrer: Mr. Mayor, thanks as always, talk to you next week.

Mayor: Thank you, Brian.