Ask The Mayor: January 2025

New York bill would make ‘masked harassment’ a crime

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship

Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave

New Jersey leads effort to challenge President Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship

Trump temporarily halts leasing and permitting for wind energy projects

brooklyn

News 12 Staff

BXBK1217pppart2

Welcome back to power and politics here on News 12, everyone. And joining us this week is New York City public advocate Jamani Williams. I wanna jump back into our conversation with something that, you know, we've talked about a lot on Ask your advocate here on News 12 and that is congestion pricing. It is now a go $15 for drivers to enter the central business district during peak hours. You've been a long time supporter of congestion pricing, but now we're really seeing the actual numbers. So, are you still supporting it very shortly? Yes. Uh I do have some concerns and I'm not sure what that means if those concerns aren't addressed. So I do believe congestion pricing is something that we have to push forward in. What has been presented does give me some concerns. Uh The first is I think we have to lean in a little bit more on Uber and Lyft drivers, but not necessarily the yellow taxi drivers, they've been hit quite hard for some time. And, and if we're honest, the influx of Uber and Lyft have created more traffic in the city than the yellow taxis. I haven't seen much, uh, to try to deal with the impact of increased traffic in some of the neighborhoods, uh around the congestion price area. Places like the Bronx, that air quality is bad and I haven't seen any mitigation claims. And lastly, uh, we definitely need to make sure our low income residents who do have to drive in regularly, uh, get a much bigger discounted rate than what's presented now. And those two things are really important to me if they, if they're not addressed, I will have to think about, um, how hard I can support the program. But congestion pricing is something that we really do need. So my hope is that those things can be addressed. We also got some other numbers uh recently that have people talking and it was that recent poll by Quinnipiac University which showed just 28% of registered city voters approve of the job mayor Eric Adams has done. I wanna show that poll and some of the results to people at home right now who may not have seen it. That poll the mayor's office has called incorrect. However, that same poll showed that 43% approve of the job you're doing. Only Governor Hoel was higher. So let me ask you, was this poll incorrect? Well, I sent out an email that said, um, that polls is about as reliable as the C train. Um, unless it makes you look good, then of course it's correct. Um, So, uh, when it comes to poll, it's very much, uh, about whether you like the results or you don't. So I always try to take it with a, you know, kind of grain of salt, but at the same time, it is a part of what we look at, uh, just to try to get a glimpse of what's happening. So, over, over reliance on any one poll is a problem and, and sometimes it depends how the, the pollster asked the question, but, you know, we're all human beings. So we like it when it says something good and we don't, it says something bad, of course. All right. Well, I want to get through a couple of things real quickly with you because there's been a lot going on. Tell me about the street reform, uh vendor, street vendor reform package and you've introduced legislation as part of that and why is this so important to people? You know, I'm thankful that the City Council is actually taking this up and I wanna um uh give a shout out to them uh for actually make sure this is happening. We have a, a labyrinth, uh probably the biggest labyrinth in connective tissue of small business owners across this city. In our street vendors. I don't think anyone who is a New Yorker and is here can picture in New York City without street vendors. Uh But we've created a system where we kind of want the products that's selling, we want the labor and um the talents, but we won't, we don't want to give them um the, the proper due and their proper rights. We actually want to make it as difficult as possible and we just have to stop that. And so uh one of the bills that are, there is mine is creating an office uh within the small business services specifically for street vendors uh to deal with their unique uh issues and, and, and problems because right now there isn't, it's, it's really set up in a way that you can't, uh really fall within the confines of what's set up, uh because it makes it extremely difficult and people are trying to earn a living. Uh We want them to make sure they're earning it in a way that's productive to, to our society. Uh We're not giving them pathway to do that. So I'm excited for our city council to take this on. What about your How Many Stops Act? I know you've been pushing for this to go through. Where do we stand with that right now? Is that gonna become a reality? I, I really hope so. Um There's just a few more days and looking really good. And again, I thank the council. Uh I thank the speaker for her uh leadership on this and so many others and our advocates. Uh We're seeing once again if I can take people back, you know, a little over a decade ago when we were passing the community safe the act dealing with the abuses and stop question and frisk, we saw a lot of misinformation that came out there a lot uh to tell folks that uh basically the sky would fall. Um It didn't. As a matter of fact, after the bills were passed, we had a decade of, of record decline in crime. And what we're seeing again is kind of this uh lies about what the bill does. Uh really misinformation about cops and police officers are gonna have to do things for every single interaction, which just is not true. So what I was trying to do is make sure that we agree on what we disagree about and try to figure that part out and really negotiate and discuss that with the people who are making decisions and try to see if we can brush out some of the, the noise and the, the lies that are that are coming because it, it's not really helpful. It's a, it's actually not helpful for the community. It's not helpful for the police officer that gets confused when they hear things that don't make sense. Some of the things that I'm I'm hearing, I'm glad it's not our bill because it wouldn't be helpful. Public advocate real quick on the new doc commissioner that the mayor appointed this week. What are your thoughts on her? And what would you like to see from her as regards to Rikers. Uh And just on that last point again, I wanna make sure folks will understand. Um We actually have different levels of stops that officers make right now. We only have data on one which is commonly called the stop question frisk. We're trying to get data on the others. Uh Not including regular conversation that people have. Like, how are you, how's the weather, how's the neighborhood? Um You know, um uh, it's good that changes are being made, uh, when it comes to, uh, how people are going to respond to the doc. I don't know, the new commissioner. I'm looking very much forward to having a conversation with her. I am glad to hear her saying she's gonna, uh, push even more transparency and openness when it comes to the conversation. I'm glad that the judge and, uh, and, and I believe the monitor was saying at least their first conversations are going better than has been going in quite some time. So I'm looking forward to it. You know, there's a lot of folks who live, uh, on Rikers unfortunately, as they detained and there's a lot of people that work there. It's not a safe place to be. Um, and hopefully that is recognized so that attention and conversations don't have to be. Uh, and, uh, there's a lot of things happening for the modern to Receivership to some bills. Um And every time we're saying things are, are, are bad. Um, we keep, we keep getting pushed back about. It's not as bad as we're saying and everything else, everyone else besides the administration is saying what a lot of folks have known that. It's pretty rough on Rikers. All public advocate hang tight. We're gonna wrap things up in just a couple of minutes talking about school buses and we'll see what else comes up, more power in politics in just a couple of minutes.

https://vod.prod.alticeustech.com/transcode/82aead08-94e8-4df7-bc8c-fb7381e15fa6/82aead08-94e8-4df7-bc8c-fb7381e15fa6.transcribe

BXBK1217pppart3_2023-12-17-12-28-18

Welcome back to power and politics right here on News 12. And I wanna wrap things up with our guest this week, New York City public advocate Jamani Williams. You may have seen him on our air a lot this week because he was very busy at all sorts of different events, including one involving clean school buses. Tell us a little bit about this because I know this is something that is gonna really pave the way for transportation and kids and schools going forward. This was a fantastic visit in the Bronx uh with a uh cooper of workers who own a bus depot. It was magnificent. The bus depot is uh the full 100% electric or hybrids and uh they're cooper, you can ask for anything more, anything better uh to be owner, owner, uh worker owned. And it was just first of all, when you walk in there and to breathe the air and think about what you're normally breathing in a usually usual bus depot and to just have fresh air without exhaust was fantastic. Um And you know what was interesting, one thing that they point out that I don't think we would have even thought about is um they said the kids are quiet on the bus because the bus makes no noise. And so the kids aren't trying to make noise over the bus uh which is uh unintended, pleasant uh uh consequence of that. Uh which I think is uh something that we can all say is a good thing. And I'm very much looking for this model of owner occupied of electric powered uh school buses to make its way across the city. I think it's the, it's the wave. It shouldn't be the way of the future, it should be the way of now. Actually, here's one of the latest of electric vehicles that we've been seeing introduced across the fleets of here in the city. So all good for the environment, all good for moving forward. Another thing I wanted to ask you about, we talked about it very briefly at the top of the show, but we got to mention these guys, the Knicks quite good this year, the ins season tournament made it to the uh knockout round. Things are going well, how are you feeling about the team right now as we get closer to the holidays? So I'm gonna be honest, I'm still trying to figure out what the in in season tournament is. Uh I know we lost but we got pretty close and lebron did this thing. Um I am excited about these Knicks, they, and I'm even excited when they lose because often they, they're, they're really fighting hard and they're losing the game that they could have won. Um, and I think they'll pick up some of those. Uh, so I'm very excited about what's happening. I'm really excited but our, uh, our guy Randall, hopefully he remains, uh, consistent, but all New Yorkers want to see is a fight and the Knicks are, are showing a fight. I will say I have to give uh credit to the Nets. They are surprisingly doing well. They have, they don't have much folks in that team. So I wanna give those folks some credit. One thing I don't understand is how the magic is doing what they're doing. And that's just amazing to watch like they, I don't know who's on that team and they're just playing phenomenally. Well, so it's a great season of the NBA. I know BP Reynosa would like you to talk a little bit more about the Nets. But what can you do? You got to root for the Knicks? All right. Well, public advocate before I let you go, as I mentioned, it is a holiday season and we are getting ready to wrap things up and the next time we see you will be in 2024 for ask your advocate. But I want you to give everybody at least get a chance to give your holiday message to all of New York and give everybody what you want for this time of year. But in all, we celebrate Chris Quan. So happy Chris Quan, uh Happy Three Kings Day. And as uh Senator Jamal Bailey says, make sure you to say thank you and Happy Boxing Day. But really, we've had a, I think we've had a really tough year and some of it is some, some dark days. And so we're telling folks uh just have some grace with yourself and please try to extend some grace for other folks and remember we can, we can always be the light in the darkness. Uh So let's aim to try to do that as we go into 2024 as we rebirth and have renewing renewal. I wanna wish you very happy holidays to you public advocate and to your family. And thank you so much for being here with us so often here on News 12. This year, we appreciate it. Thank you. Peace. All right, everybody that's all for this week right here on power and politics, here on News 12. I wanna wish all of you at home a very happy holidays as well. Thanks to our guest this week, public advocate Janti Williams and thank you for watching. I'm Kurt Semer. Have a great rest of your day.

https://vod.prod.alticeustech.com/transcode/3044bf66-e7d9-48a9-958a-3e8d304f542f/3044bf66-e7d9-48a9-958a-3e8d304f542f.transcribe

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams sat down with Kurt Semder to discuss the busy week and pressing issues in New York City. 

Power & Politics: Public Advocate Jumaane Williams on the city’s worst landlords, congestion pricing, violence in schools

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams sat down with Kurt Semder to discuss the busy week and pressing issues in New York City.

More Stories

Ask The Mayor: January 2025

New York bill would make ‘masked harassment’ a crime

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship

Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave

New Jersey leads effort to challenge President Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship

Trump temporarily halts leasing and permitting for wind energy projects

Ask The Mayor: January 2025

New York bill would make ‘masked harassment’ a crime

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship

Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave

New Jersey leads effort to challenge President Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship

Trump temporarily halts leasing and permitting for wind energy projects

More from News 12

Ask The Mayor: January 2025

Mayor Adams says his meeting with Trump covered jobs and ceasefire deal, but not his criminal case

New York City mayor to meet with Trump

Brooklyn real estate magnate pleads guilty to conspiring to funnel illegal donations to NYC mayor

Mayor Adams delivers 4th State of the City address as he seeks second term in office

NY's highest appeals court won't block Trump's sentencing in hush money case; Supreme Court has yet to rule

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Ad Choices