COMING UP: THE BIG RE-BUILD.

AFTER MONTHS OF WRANGLING, CONGRESS PASSED A BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

TENS OF BILLIONS OF FEDERAL DOLLARS COMING TO NEW YORK TO UPGRADE ROADS, BRIDGES AND MORE.

WHERE SHOULD THE MONEY GO KEEP NEW YORK RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

AND SHOULD SOCIAL SERVICES BE PART OF AN EVEN BIGGER BILL TO COME?

WE'LL TAKE UP THOSE QUESTIONS NEXT, ON CONNECT NEW YORK.

WELCOME TO CONNECT, NEW YORK.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA COLLEGE.

THE AMERICAN ECONOMY RESTS ON A VAST NETWORK OF ROADS, BRIDGES, RAIL, PORTS AND OTHER PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

BUT MUCH OF IT IS OLD AND OVERSTRETCHED, BUILT FOR A COUNTRY WITH HALF THE POPULATION WE HAVE TODAY.

LAST MONTH PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED A BIPARTISAN BILL THAT WILL SPEND $1.2 TRILLION DOLLARS TO UPGRADE AND BUILD NEW INFRASTRUCTURE.

A BIG CHUNK OF THAT MONEY IS COMING HERE TO NEW YORK.

BIDEN'S ALSO PUSHING FOR ROUGHLY $2 TRILLION MORE TO SPEND ON OTHER PROJECTS INCLUDING WHAT HE CALLS "HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE."

WHAT PROJECTS ARE PRIORITIES FOR NEW YORKERS?

SHOULD CHILD CARE AND HEALTH CARE GET THE SAME ATTENTION AS LARGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS?

IS TURNING ON THE FEDERAL SPIGOT THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS OUR LOCAL NEEDS?

WE'LL TAKE UP THOSE QUESTIONS AND MORE WITH OUR GUESTS STATE ASSEMBLYMAN BILL MAGNARELLI, CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION.

MIKE ELMENDORF, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF NEW YORK; JESSICA OTNEY MAHAR, NEW YORK POLICY AND STRATEGY DIRECTOR FOR THE NATURE CONSERVANCY; AND LORETTA A. ZOLKOWSKI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HUMAN SERVICES LEADERSHIP COUNCIL OF CNY.

MARK, THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS OF THE GETTING THE BIPARTISAN DEAL-THE FIRST INFRASTRUCTURE BILL-- THROUGH CONGRESS AND SIGNED INTO LAW, WE'VE HEARD A LOT THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE U.S IS CRUMBLING.

IT CERTAINLY IS AGING.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE SAY "INFRASTRUCTURE," AND HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE STATE OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN NY AND THE US IN GENERAL?

>> NOT GOOD.

THE SHORT ANSWER.

DESPITE THE FACT THAT FRANKLY WE'VE MADE SOME REAL PROGRESS IN NEW YORK IN RECENT YEARS, IN THE LAST TWO BUDGET CYCLES, IN NO SMALL PART DUE TO THE EFFORTS OF LEADER MAGNARELLI AND SENATOR KENNEDY FROM BUFFALO, WE HAVE ADDED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO INVEST IN ROADS AND BRIDGES IN NEW YORK STATE.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

AND DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.

THE CONDITIONS TELL THE TRUTH.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE NEW HOCHUL ADMINISTRATION IN ALBANY IS A LOT MORE TRANSPARENCY ABOUT THE CONDITION OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT WAS HARD TO GET THAT DATA UNDER THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION.

HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW.

THE BIGGEST DECLINES IN PAVEMENT CONDITIONS WE HAVE SEEN UNPRECEDENTED DECLINES IN PAVEMENT CONDITIONS HERE IN THE SYRACUSE AREA YOU HAVE THE SECOND WORST PAVEMENT CONDITIONS IN THE STATE LIKE 47% OF OUR ROADS ACROSS NEW YORK ARE IN NEED OF REPAIR.

>> THAT'S NOT JUST THE THRU-WAY AND THE INTERSTATE BUT LOCAL ROADS, TOO?

>> LOCAL ROADS, THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

THRU-WAY IS A DIFFERENT STORY.

REAL PROBLEMS THERE AS WELL.

INTERESTINGLY ON BRIDGES.

THEY CHANGED THE WAY THEY RATE BRIDGES.

YOU HAVE BRIDGES WHERE THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING DONE TO THEM BUT THE CONDITIONS HAVE IMPROVED.

IT WOULD BE BAD FOR MY MEMBERS IF THEY DID BUT THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.

BRIDGES ACROSS NEW YORK NEED REPAIR.

IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS PUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES INTO THE STATE SYSTEM, HISTORIC INCREASE FOR LOCAL ROADS AND BRIDGES THROUGH THE CHIPS PROGRAM, CREATION OF A NEW STATE TOURING PROGRAM.

NOT ENOUGH.

NEW YORK D.O.T.

HAS BEEN IN PRESERVATION MODE.

I CALL IT BAND-AID AND SCOTCH TAPE MODE.

THE PRESERVATION IS FOR IT NOT TO GET WORSE.

THAT'S NOT EXCITING.

IT'S NOT IN GREAT SHAPE TO BEGIN WITH SO YOU ARE JUST TRYING TO STOP IT FROM GETTING WORSE.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN SHIFT GEARS WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND DO THE REBUILD THAT WE NEED.

>> WHEN YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE DATA BEFORE INTERESTED THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, IN ALBANY, HOW-- WHAT IS THE DATA?

I MEAN THE DATA TO ME IS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I'M, YOU KNOW, BUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

WHAT KIND OF DATA ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>> YOU DON'T NEED TO BE AN ENGINEER TO KNOW THAT THE CONDITION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT GOOD.

YOU FEEL IT, YOU SEE IT.

BUT OBVIOUSLY D.O.T.

AND OTHER AGENCIES TRACK IN DETAIL WHAT THE CONDITIONS OF THE SYSTEM ARE.

THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION, DESPITE CLAIMS TO THE CONTRARY, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WAS NOT THE MOST TRANSPARENT ADMINISTRATION IN HISTORY.

IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO GET THAT INFORMATION AND FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO GET IT.

CHAIRMAN MAGNARELLI, CHAIRMAN KENNEDY ASKED FOR IT WHAT DID YOU GET?

USUALLY NOT WHAT YOU ASKED FOR, RIGHT?

NOW WE HAVE IT AND IT MAKES IT MUCH EASIER FOR US TO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE NEEDS AND MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO KNOW, ARE WE SPENDING ENOUGH MONEY AND ARE WE SPENDING IT IN THE RIGHT WAYS ON THE RIGHT SORTS OF PROJECTS?

>> LET'S TURN TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRANSPARENCY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, ASSEMBLYMEMBER MAGNARELLI.

IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT NEW YORK AND I GUESS THE U.S.

IN GENERAL HAS AN INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIT.

HOW DID WE GET THIS WAY?

IT'S MORE THAN JUST OKAY, WE HAVEN'T BEEN TRANSPARENT IN TERMS OF GETTING THE DATA OUT.

WHAT HAPPENED?

IT USED TO BE, IF YOU WERE A PERSON OF A CERTAIN AGE AND I'M OF THAT AGE, THAT WE HAD THE BEST INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE WORLD.

AND SOMETHING CHANGED.

WHAT CHANGED?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I GUESS IT'S JUST PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES HAVE CHANGED.

I MEAN I REMEMBER-- I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU HOW OLD I AM, BUT AS A YOUNG BOY, WATCHING SOME OF THESE INTERSTATES BEING BUILT BRAND NEW, YOU KNOW, IN THE 50s AND THE 60s.

AND IT WAS A SENSE OF PRIDE BUILDING THESE INTERSTATES AND BUILDING THE ROADS AND BRIDGES THAT REALLY, I THINK, LINKED ALL OF AMERICA.

AND I THINK THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

PEOPLE DON'T LOOK AT IT THE SAME WAY I THINK PEOPLE ARE CALLING INTO QUESTION THE DIFFERENT MODES OF TRANSPORTATION THAT WE ARE USING AND THAT ARE BEING PUT IN PLACE.

THE WILLINGNESS TO SPEND MONEY ON ALL OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.

THESE-- THEY'RE INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE, NOT ONLY TO BUILD BUT TO MAINTAIN.

AND IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY THE ADDITIONAL MONIES AND TAXES OR FEES OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, THEN THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN WHERE THE INFRASTRUCTURE STARTS TO FALL APART.

THAT'S WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING.

EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT KEEPING TAXES DOWN AND KEEPING TAXES DOWN.

AND THEREFORE YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE.

OR, MAYBE WE ARE SPENDING IT ON THINGS WE SHOULDN'T BE SPENDING IT ON OR MAYBE WE ARE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON CERTAIN THINGS AND WE COULD BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT.

I THINK ALL OF THAT COMES INTO PLAY, ALL OF IT COMES INTO PLAY.

>> WE HAVEN'T BEEN INVESTING.

YOU MENTIONED REMEMBERING THE INTERSTATE BEING BUILT.

OFTEN WE HEAR THAT THIS CURRENT BILL, LAW NOW, IS THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE SINCE THEN.

SO THIS IS A GAME CHANGER.

>> IT IS.

>> LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> WELL IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE MONEY TO SPEND, RIGHT?

>> I DON'T LIKE THE WAY YOU SAID THAT, OKAY?

I MEAN I HOPE WE ARE GOING TO SPEND IT WELL.

AND AS MIKE SAID, IF THERE IS TRANSPARENCY AND IF WE CAN TALK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND REALLY GET A PLAN THAT WE KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING AND WE SEE WHERE IT'S GOING AND HOW IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE, THEN I THINK IT'S MONEY WELL SPENT AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> AND I DO WANT TO DIG IN A LITTLE BIT LATER INTO JUST HOW WE MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AS TO WHERE THAT MONEY AND HOW THAT MONEY GETS SPEND.

>> JESSICA, WE HAVE HAD A BIG INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGES IN THE PAST, MAYBE NOT THIS BIG BUT SIGNIFICANT BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT IN ONE MAJOR REGARD INCLUDES WHAT WE MIGHT THINK OF AS GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO WHAT IS GREEN IN THIS BILL AND WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION IT'S ACKNOWLEDGING WE HAVE NATURAL SYSTEMS AROUND OUR STATE THAT CAN BUFFER US FROM STORM IMPACTS, IT'S USING NATURE TO GET BENEFITS FOR COMMUNITIES.

WE ARE THINKING A LOT ABOUT FLOODING.

WE HAVE CLIMATE CHANGE UPON US NOW, MORE EXTREME WEATHER.

WE RECENTLY HAD HURRICANE IDA COME THROUGH NEW YORK AND WE SAW NEW YORKERS LOSE THEIR LIVES THERE AND WE HAVE SEEN THIS DOWNSTATE WITH CROAFL STORMS AND UPSTATE WHERE WE SEE IMPACTS FROM THE ADIRONDACKS TO WESTERN NEW YORK.

AND HERE WE EVEN SEE SNOW BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT IMPACT.

BUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IS WE ARE SEEING MORE FREQUENT 100 OR 500 YEAR STORMS THAT ARE COMING EVERY YEAR OR FIVE YEARS OR 10 YEARS AND WHAT WE ARE REALIZING IS TWO THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THE ASSEMBLYMAN AND MIKE WERE TALKING ABOUT HAVE TO BE BUILT TO WITH STAND MORE EXTREME WEATHER.

SO OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES NEED TO BE ENGINEERED DIFFERENTLY AND WEIGH ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE RESTORING THE NATURAL SYSTEMS AND THE NATURE THAT CAN PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES FROM FLOODING AND STORM IMPACT.

>> AND IS THERE SPECIFIC MONEY IN THIS BILL TO ACTUALLY DO THAT WITH A SPECIFIC PLAN.

>> YES, THERE IS MONEY TO DO EXACTLY THAT.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE IS ALSO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVEN'T SPOKEN ABOUT YET.

THE STUFF UNDER THE ROADS AND UNDERGROUND ARE WATER PIPES AND WATER SYSTEMS FOR DRINKING WATER AND WASTE WATER WHICH, IN NEW YORK STATE, NEED $80 BILLION IN REPAIRS AND UPGRADES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND THAT OUR POLLUTED WATER CAN BE TREATED EFFECTIVELY AND THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR THAT.

AND ALSO BOTH IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND HOPEFULLY IN A NEW RECONCILIATION BILL, BUILD BACK BETTER, WE ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO UPDATE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT JUST TO FIX THE POT HOLES, WHICH WE NEED TO DO, AND MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR ROADS ARE MODERN.

BUT ALSO THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS POSITIONS TO TAKE US INTO WHAT OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND THE WORLD THEY WILL BE LIVING IN, WHICH IS OR DEALING WITH WHOLE NEW MODES OF TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> WE'LL DIG INTO THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.

I WANT TO BRING LORETTA IN ON THIS CONVERSATION.

ANOTHER WAY INFRASTRUCTURE IS BIRVET OF DIFFERENT THIS IS BUILD BACK BETTER PROGRAM, THE SO CALLED RECONCILIATION BILL, I THINK WE ALL LIKE BUILD BACK BETTER.

IT'S PART TWO, IF YOU WILL, OF THE BIG INFRASTRUCTURE PUSH.

DEVOTING ROUGHLY 2 TRILLION DOLLARS TO ADDITIONAL PHYSICAL PROJECTS, BUT ALSO WHAT'S COME TO BE CALLED "HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE."

LORETTA, THAT PART OF THE PROGRAM SEEMS TO BE ON HOLD AT THE MOMENT, BUT WHAT SPECIFICALLY IS THAT HUMAN INFRASTRUTURE?

WHAT ARE WE TAKING ABOUT?

>> SURE.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO PREFACE THAT AS BEING HERE REPRESENTING HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES, THAT SUPPORT SOCIAL SERVICES AND DELIVER SOCIAL SERVICES, THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL.

IT'S PART OF A THRIVING ECONOMY.

AND WE DO HAVE TO MAKE THE CHANGES NECESSARY FOR CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, THE ROADS, THE BRIDGES, ET CETERA, THE LEAD PIPES, THE WATER QUALITY, ET CETERA.

BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT IN MY VIEW, IS THE HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND THAT IS THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN PLACE GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE, SOCIAL THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN PLACE TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THRIVE AS PART OF SOCIETY AND THEREFORE CONTRIBUTE TO A GROWING ECONOMY, TO A THRIVING ECONOMIC SYSTEM.

SO AMONG THOSE ARE HEALTHCARE, CHILD CARE, EDUCATION, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT ENABLE INDIVIDUALS AND ESPECIALLY FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ON THOSE 21st CENTURY JOBS, BE PART OF THE SOLUTIONS OF OUR 21 CENTURY CHALLENGES, SO THAT HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE, LIKE I SAID, ARE PRIMARILY, WE THINK OF THEM AS EDUCATION, JOB SUPPORT.

BUT IT'S ALSO AFFORDABLE AND SAFE HOUSING, THRIVING COMMUNITIES.

SO THOSE ARE THE PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS OF THE HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HELPS PEOPLE REALLY LEAD PRODUCTIVE AND THRIVING LIVES.

>> SO PUTTING THOSE SOCIAL SERVICES UNDER THE SAME UMBRELLA THAT THAT LABEL OF INFRASTRUCTURE, HAS CREATED SOME PUSHBACK IN THE HALLS OF GOVERNMENT, LET'S SAY.

AND ON CABLE TV SHOWS.

IS THAT AN APPROPRIATE LABEL FOR IT?

I MEAN IS IT JUST MARKETING TO TRY TO GET EVERYTHING UNDER ONE BILL SO WE CAN GET EVERYTHING THROUGH AT ONE POINT BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE PRETTY DIFFERENT.

OBVIOUSLY AS YOU JUST POINTED OUT, ONE HELPS THE OTHER.

BUT ARE THEY THE SAME THING?

>> THEY'RE NOT THE SAME THING.

BUT THEY ARE INTERDEPENDENT.

THEY'RE INTEGRATED.

THEY'RE PART OF AN INTEGRAL SOLUTION TO HAVING A THRIVING ECONOMY, YOU KNOW, FOR AMERICA TO BE A LEADER IN THE 21st CENTURY AND BEYOND, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE INVEST IN EARLY EDUCATION; THAT WE INVEST IN 21st CENTURY JOB CREATION AND THE EDUCATION THAT SUPPORTS THAT.

AND THEREFORE, I SEE THEM AS REALLY BEING COMPLEMENTARY AND INTEGRAL.

TO SEPARATE THE TWO AND TO SAY, WELL, YOU COULD HAVE ROADS AND BRIDGES, BUT PEOPLE STILL HAVE TO TRAVEL TO JOBS ON ROADS AND BRIDGES.

THEY HAVE TO DELIVER SERVICES AND GOODS AND ECONOMIC VALUE ON THOSE ROADS AND BRIDGES.

SO IT'S PART OF AN ENTIRE-- I THINK IT REQUIRES A HOLISTIC VIEW, A SYSTEMIC VIEW.

>> NOW LET'S DIG IN A BIT ON THE BIPARTISAN BILL.

THAT'S PART ONE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PUSH.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT IS ITS OFFICIAL NAME.

AS I SAID EARLIER, IT'S MORE THAN $1.2 TRILLION FOR PROJECTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

MIKE, HOW MUCH OF THAT IS GOING TO COME INTO NEW YORK?

>> HARD QUESTION TO ANSWER.

THE NUMBER FOR THE D.O.T.

IS CLEAR BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON A FORMULA.

THE BILL DELIVERS MORE THAN A 52% INCREASE IN THAT FUNDING TO NEW YORK STATE.

SO THAT'S A CERTAIN FIGURE.

I THINK ALL IN, IT'S LIKE $13.6 BILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE NEW ARE DISCRETIONARY PROGRAMS OR COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAMS.

SO THOSE NUMBERS ARE A LITTLE LESS CLEAR.

BUT LIKE THERE IS A BILLION DOLLARS FOR NEW YORK TORE AIRPORTS.

SYRACUSE IS GOING TO GET $27 MILLION FOR THEIR AIRPORT ALL ACROSS THE STATE THERE IS INVESTMENT IN AIRPORTS.

THERE IS, AS JESSICA SAID, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY HERE IN SYRACUSE.

I REMEMBER A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO COMING HERE WITH FORMER MAYOR MINER AND TOURING SINK HOLES, A STRANGE THING TO GO TO DO, BUT SYRACUSE AND LIKE MUCH OF THE STATE, HAS REALLY OLD STUFF UNDERGROUND THAT NEEDS, YOU KNOW, NEEDS IMPROVEMENT.

NEEDS MODERNIZATION.

>> BROKEN WATER MAINS I ASSUME YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

>> BROKE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE.

ALL OF THAT WILL GET NEW INVESTMENT.

THERE IS $120 MILLION FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

WORKING TOWARDS ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES.

MAYBE BAD NEWS FOR THE ROADS BECAUSE THEY'RE HEAVIER BUT WE NEED TO BUILD OUT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE SO THERE IS FUNDING THERE.

RAIL, THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR, AMTRAK, YOU NAME IT.

LOTS OF STUFF IN THE BILL THAT WILL DELIVER BILLIONS TO NEW YORK.

>> I GUESS WE ARE TALKING, IF YOU TOTAL IT ALL UP, WE ARE TALKING CERTAINLY 20 BILLION, 25 BILLION?

>> SENATOR SCHUMER'S OFFICE PUT OUT A GRAPHIC THAT I THINK, IF NEW YORK GOT EVERYTHING IT IS ELIGIBLE FOR, WHICH WE PROBABLY WON'T EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HAILING FROM NEW YORK, I THINK THE ALL IN NUMBER WAS $170 BILLION.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE QUITE THAT HIGH BUT IT WILL BE TENS AND TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

AN HISTORIC INVESTMENT.

>> REAL MONEY.

THE BIGGEST CHUNK IS FOR ROADS, BRIDGES AND TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS, I BELIEVE IS THE WAY IT IS WORDED.

SIR, AS THE CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS WE COULD EXPECT?

>> WELL, IN SYRACUSE I THINK THE TRANSPORTATION FORMATIONAL PROJECT IS I-81.

WHERE A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT OVER PROBABLY THE NEXT 10 YEARS IN TERMS OF THE ENTIRE PROJECT, NOT ONLY THE CORRIDOR DOWN IN DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS MAYBE A MILE, MILE AND A QUARTER, NOT EVEN.

BUT ALSO IN ALL OF THE ON AND OFF RAMPS THAT ARE GOING TO BE CHANGED AND THE WORK THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE ON 481 AND 690 AS WELL.

SO YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL IF ONLY FOR THE FACT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE SO MUCH THAT WILL BE DONE IN THE AREA.

AND OVER SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

THERE IS ONE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO SAY.

THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY COMING IN.

AND YOU KNOW, THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO DURING A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN, EVEN IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE THIS YEAR, THERE WAS MONIES THAT CAME IN FROM DIFFERENT WAYS AND THE CITY OF SYRACUSE SAW FIT TO DO ALL OF THE ROADS AT THE SAME TIME IN DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE UPSET ABOUT.

I WAS NOT.

FIRST OF ALL, GET IT DONE.

THEY'RE SO BAD IN SOME PLACES AND ALL I'VE HEARD SINCE THEN, LIKE BECAUSE THE CONSTRUCTION HAS STOPPED NOW, IS GOOD THINGS.

PEOPLE ARE HAPPY THAT THEY'RE NOT BUMPING DOWN THE ROAD AS YOU SAID BEFORE.

AND THE STREETS LOOK BEAUTIFUL.

AND EASIER TRANSPORTATION GETTING IN AND OUT AND GOING AROUND, SO PEOPLE HAVE TO KEEP A COUPLE THINGS IN MIND.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU CAN'T DO EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME.

SO THE I-81 PROJECT IS GOING TO TAKE TIME.

WE ARE GOING TO BE INCONVENIENCED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

WE HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH THAT.

BUT IN THE END, IT'S GOING TO BE HOPEFULLY BETTER.

THE SAME THING-- THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY IS THAT YES, WE ARE GETTING A BIG INFLUX OF MONEY.

BUT AS I THINK ALL OF US HAVE SAID, IT'S AN ONGOING THING.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT, WELL, ONCE WE PUT ALL THIS MONEY IN, WE ARE ALL DONE.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE WITH THESE THINGS, ESPECIALLY IN SYRACUSE.

WE ALL KNOW THE WEATHER IN SYRACUSE.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP THE ROADS CLEAN AND CLEAR.

IT TAKES A TOLL ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT TAKES A TOLL ON OUR BRIDGES.

IT TAKES A TOLL ON THE ROADS.

WE HAVE TO KEEP THIS UP.

IT'S NOT JUST MAINTENANCE.

IT'S MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR.

AND THESE ARE CAPITAL PROJECTS, MAYBE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT JESSICA WAS SAYING.

THOSE ARE ONGOING THINGS, SOCIAL SERVICES, THEY HAVE TO BE PAID FOR EVERY YEAR, EVERY YEAR, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, CHILD CARE, OVERAND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

SOME OF THESE THINGS THOUGH WE BUY FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.

THEY LAST, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE MONEY PUT INTO THEM.

SO A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BUT... THAT'S WHAT WOULD I CALL TRANSFORMATIONAL.

>> AND OF COURSE I-81 IS THE BIG ONE HERE AS YOU POINT OUT.

>> YEP.

>> BUT AROUND THE STATE, YOU KNOW, ALL THIS MONEY ISN'T ONLY GOING TO I-81.

THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS, OBVIOUSLY.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER ONES THAT WE MIGHT SEE UPSTATE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF-- AGAIN, THESE ARE NOT TRANSFORMATIONAL LIKE I DON'T KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT ALBANY AND DOING A LOT OF ROAD WORK IN ALBANY ON THE INTERSTATE.

THAT COULD BE TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR THAT CITY.

I KNOW THERE IS THE BRIDGE OVER THE HUDSON, WHICH, IF NOT TRANSFORMATIONAL, IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY BECAUSE-- >> THE RAIL BRIDGE?

>> THE RAIL BRIDGE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

IT HAS TO BE DONE AND IS GOING TO COST AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

BUT OTHERWISE WE ARE GOING TO LOSE OUR ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW, PASSENGER RAIL GOING FROM HERE TO NEW YORK CITY.

SO IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE THAT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS GET DONE.

>> AND DAVID, IF I COULD ON THAT POINT, A CAUTION.

YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT THE STATE HAS ADDED ON ITS OWN BEFORE THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL TO REBUILD THE ROADS AND BRIDGES BUT 60% OF THAT MONEY HAS GONE TO THE SIGNATURE PROJECTS.

THOSE ARE GREAT PROJECTS BUT IT'S BEEN AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CORE D.O.T.

CAPITAL PLAN, WHICH IS ALL THE OTHER ROADS AND BRIDGES AROUND THE STATE, WHICH IS WHERE YOU HAVE SEEN THOSE DECLINING CONDITIONS.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON DOING AND IT'S GOING TO BE BIG CONVERSATION IN THE COMING STATE BUDGET, IS D.O.T.

WILL NOW NEED TO PUT TOGETHER A MULTIYEAR CAPITAL PLAN.

THEY CAN DO IT BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT CERTAINTY FROM WASHINGTON, RIGHT, FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

BUT THE STATE NEEDS TO STEP UP NOW WITH ADDITIONAL STATE RESOURCES SO THAT PLAN GROWS AND GROWS INVESTMENT IN THE CORE.

NOT AS EXCITING AS SOME OF THE PROJECTS, BUT THEY'RE WHAT MAKES OUR SYSTEM WORK ACROSS THE STATE.

>> I'M SORRY, TO BUILD ON TO THAT.

WE HAVE THE SAME SITUATION WITH OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHERE I MEAN IT'S LITERALLY UNDERGROUND AND FORGOTTEN.

AND WAS WE ARE SEEING, YOU KNOW, YOU REMEMBERED WHEN THEY BUILT SOME OF THESE HIGHWAYS.

WE HAVEN'T DONE A LOT TO THEM SINCE THEN.

AND WULT OFFENDING-- WITHOUT OFFENDING YOU, IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

>> YOU ARE NOT OFFENDING ME.

>> AND IT'S A PROBLEM.

WITH THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE SEEING IS THESE BIG CAPITAL OUTLAYS BUT NO RECURRING FUNDING AT THE STATE LEVEL, LIKE A CHIPS TYPE PROGRAM FOR THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE.

IT'S VERY HARD FOR COMMUNITIES TO BE FOCUSING ON THIS WHEN THEY'RE VERY CONSTRAIPED BY THE TAX CAP.

SO OBVIOUSLY WANT TO KEEP OUR TAXES LOW BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THE OPERATIONS AND THE MAINTENANCE WORK AND WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT SO THAT THESE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS LAST AS LONG, IF NOT LONGER HOPEFULLY THAN THEIR PROJECTED LIFESPAN.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER BIG ISSUE WE ARE GOING TO BE THINKING ABOUT DURING THE STATE BUDGET THIS YEAR.

>> AND SOME OF THE-- YOU MENTIONED 60% GOES TO THE BIG PROJECTS, RIGHT?

AND SO 40% FOR THE BASIC MAINTENANCE, PAVING THE ROADS AND ALL.

WE ALSO HAVE THE UPSTATE-DOWNSTATE DIVIDE, RIGHT?

AND OF COURSE THIS PROGRAM GOES DOWNSTATE, TOO.

AND I GUESS THE BIG ONE THERE, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IS THE GATEWAY PROJECT, WHICH HAS BEEN LANGUISHING FOR SOMETIME.

SO WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT?

IS THAT GOING TO BE DONE?

>> THERE IS FUNDING IN THE BILL FOR THE GATEWAY PROJECT.

I MEAN WE ARE.

>> WE SHOULD DEFINE THE GATEWAY PROJECT.

TELL US WHAT IT IS.

>> THE MAJOR TUNNEL THAT COMES INTO NEW YORK CITY FROM NEW JERSEY FOR RAIL AND COMMUTERS AND IT'S IN DECREPIT CONDITION AND IT'S BEEN CAUGHT UP-- THE PROBLEM HAS NOT ONLY BEEN A LACK OF FUNDING BUT POLITICAL MACHINATION AS ROUND IT BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT IS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

I DON'T CARE IF YOU ARE FROM MANHATTAN, WATERTOWN OR SYRACUSE, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PROJECT.

IF THAT WERE TO BECOME INOPERABLE, IT WOULD BRING THE STATE'S ECONOMY TO ITS KNEES.

MUCH LIKE THE MTA, RIGHT?

THERE IS THIS DEBATE BETWEEN PARITY BETWEEN D.O.T.

AND THE MTA.

THERE SHOULD BE BUT THE MTA HAS STATEWIDE ECONOMIC IMPACT.

THEY'RE BUILDING RAIL CARS IN THE NORTH COUNTRY.

IT GENERATES 9 THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN NEW YORK CITY, SUPPORTS IT THAT THEN SUPPORTS THE WHOLE STATE.

I TRY NOT TO THINK OF IT REGIONALLY.

BUT YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO THINK OF IT REGIONALLY, 70% OF THE STATE'S ROADS, IF YOU INCLUDE UPSTATE ARE GETTING 30% OF THE D.O.T.

FUNDING.

SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO LOOK AT.

IT'S A PROCESS THAT CERTAINLY THE CHAIRMAN IS PART OF.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE INVESTING IN THE RIGHT THING.

WE ARE FOLLOWING NEEDS.

>> DOWNSTATE ROADS ARE GOING TO GET A LOT HEAVIER USE.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY.

YOU HAVE APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE POPULATION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IS DOWNSTATE.

SO EVEN THOUGH THE ROADS, I MEAN UP IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, YOU CAN DRIVE MILES AND MILES ON OUR ROADS, BUT THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE USING THOSE ROADS ALL THE TIME.

SO THERE HAS TO BE AN UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN BOTH SECTIONS, THE UPSTATE AND THE DOWNSTATE, OF WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.

AND IN TRYING TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THOSE NEEDS, THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT I LOOK AT ALL THE TIME IN MY COMMITTEE IS WHAT-- HOW DO I TAKE CARE OF THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK?

I DON'T CARE WHERE THEY LIVE.

IF THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF MANHATTAN, I'M WORRIED ABOUT THEM, JUST AS MUCH AS I'M WORRIED ABOUT SOMEBODY WALKING ON THE STREETS OF SYRACUSE.

SO WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN OUR RADS, ROADS, OUR TUNNELS, OUR SEWERS, OUR WATER, SO THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK ARE SAFE.

AND THAT'S MY MISSION.

>> NOW, SPEAKING OF THE CITY, DOES BRING US TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

AND THAT'S A BIG PART OF THIS BILL AS WELL WELL.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAID STATE WILL RECEIVE $10 BILLION FOR MASS TRANSIT.

WHEN I THINK OF MASS TRANSIT, I THINK OF THE NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY SYSTEM, AN ENGINEERING MARVEL BUT ALWAYS NEEDING MORE WORK.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC TRANSIT DOES PLAY INTO-- THERE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT TO THAT.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONEES?

WHAT SHOULD THE FOCUS BE ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSIT?

>> CITIES ARE NOT INHERENTLY EFFICIENT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT DRIVING THEIR OWN CARS.

PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN A SMALLER FOOTPRINT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW TO TACK THE CLIMATE CHANGE IN NEW YORK STATE, WE HAVE A LEG UP BECAUSE WE HAVE A CRITICAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN OUR CITY CONNECTED TO OUR SUBURBS LIKE THE LONG ISLAND RAILROAD AND METRO FORTH.

THERE IS BIG INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES OBVIOUSLY BUT MAKING SURE THAT THAT PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM IS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE IN NEW YORK AND IN THE SERVICE AREA IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE PLACES IN NEW YORK CITY WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO EFFICIENT BUS LINES OR HAVE TO TAKE TWO BUSES AND THREE TRAINS TO GET TO WORK SO INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM AND MAKING SURE WE DON'T HAVE TRANSIT DESERTS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKING PEOPLE.

>> EVERY CITY IN THE STATE.

THE PUBLIC BUS SYSTEMS-- >> NOT ALL THE CITY IN NEW YORK CITY IN NEW YORK STATE HAVE BUS SYSTEMS.

THEY DON'T.

THE MAJOR CITIES DO.

ROCHESTER, BUFFALO, SYRACUSE, ALBANY, BUT WE HAVE TRANSIT DESERTS IN RURAL NEW YORK STATE AND AS WELL.

WHICH IS EVEN WHICH IS EVEN MORE TROUBLING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET TO IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE HEALTHCARE.

AND THEY CAN'T SEE THEIR LOVED ONES WHEN THEY WANT TO.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO MASS TRANSIT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M REALLY HAPPY WORKING ON THE FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE STATE.

WHETHER THEY LIVE IN MANHATTAN OR IN THE NORTH COUNTRY.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT MOBILITY.

AND I THINK THERE IS, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, BECAUSE OF TECHNOLOGY AND THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

I'M NOT SURE WE NEED A BUS ANYMORE, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE A VAN.

BUT WITH THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES OF BEING ABLE TO-- EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT UBER OR MOST PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT UBER, WHERE YOU CALL UP AND YOU DIAL SOMETHING UP.

ON A MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM, THERE ARE TECHNOLOGIES THAT CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN THAT WAY AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING HAVE TO LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE.

>> I THINK IT WAS MIKE, YOU MENTIONED BUGSES BEING-- BUSES BEING BUILT IN THE NORTH COUNTRY.

WE COULD HAVE A MULTIPLIER EFFECT HERE, RIGHT?

IF WE ARE SPENDING THIS MUCH MONEY TO BUILD US BUSES OR VANS?

>> I VISITED THE PLANT.

>> ORISKANY, TOO.

>> AND RAIL CARS BUILT IN THE NORTH COUNTRY.

ALL OF THIS IS AN ECONOMIC GENERATOR, ONE OF THE REASONS INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IS POPULAR BEYOND THE FACT THAT IT MEETS A NEED THAT IS APPARENT TO ANYBODY IN A CAR GOING ANYWHERE, IT CREATES LOTS OF JOBS AND WILL HELP DRIVE ECONOMIC RECOVERY WHICH IS WHY THIS WAS THE RIGHT TIME TO FINALLY GET THIS DONE?

>> LET'S THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL, THE GREEN COMPONENT.

WE HAVE CERTAINLY TOUCH UPON THIS.

YOU MENTIONED TRANSFORMING TRANSPORTATION AND I THINK IN YOUR FIRST STATEMENT, YOU MENTIONED CHARGERS, ELECTRICAL CHARGES.

SO THIS BILL DOESN'T HAVE AS MUCH MONEY INTO IT AS INITIALLY INTENDED FOR THAT PART OF THE PROGRAM, BUT WILL WE BE SEEING, YOU KNOW, E.V.

CHARGERS ALONG THE THRU-WAY AND IN OTHER PLACES AROUND THE STATE?

>> THE ANSWER IS YES.

YOU ALREADY ARE AND ON THE THRU-WAY IN PARTICULAR, THEY'RE REDEVELOPING THE REST AREAS, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

DOING THAT I WAS OBSERVING THE PROGRESS TODAY.

WE HAVE OUR A.G.C.

CONTRACTORS OUT THERE REBUILDING THOSE SITES.

AND PART OF THAT IS GOING TO BE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGES.

BUT YOU NEED A LOT MORE IF YOU ARE GOING TO MEET THE STATE'S GOALS OF 0 EMISSIONS IN NOT A LOT OF TIME.

YOU ARE GOING TO NEED A LOT MORE OF THAT AND A LOT MORE RAPID CHARGERS BECAUSE WHAT MAKES PEOPLE RELUCTANT IS THAT HAVE YOU TO STOP AND PLUG YOUR CAR IN FOR AN HOUR BEFORE YOU CAN MAKE THE TRIP BACK FROM ALBANY TO BUFFALO.

THAT TECHNOLOGY IS EVOLVING.

AND THE OTHER THING I ALLUDED TO IS YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD BECAUSE THEY'RE A LOT HEAVIER.

THOSE BATTERIES ARE HEAVY.

AND THEY WILL TAKE-- THEY WILL HAVE A BIGGER TOLL ON THE CONDITION OF PAVEMENTS THAN NOW.

>> ARE THE ROADS GOING TO BE BUILT TO WITH STAND THE WEIGHT OF A TESLA OR CARS LIKE THAT?

>> I THINK, YES IS THAT ANSWER.

BUT ALSO IN ADDITION TO JUST THE WEIGHT OF VEHICLES, OUR ROADS NEED TO BE BUILT TO WITH STAND THE WEATHER THAT'S COMING OUR WAY NOW AND WHETHER IT'S THE ROADS OR THE CULVERTS, WHICH ARE THE PIPES THAT RUN BENEATH THE ROADS WHERE THEY CROSS STREAMS OR THE BRIDGES, WE ARE THINKING MORE AND PRIORITIZING HOW TO UPGRADE THOSE SO WE GET MULTIPLE BENEFITS OPENING UP WILDLIFE HABITAT, REDUCING FLOODING AND SAVING THE ROAD FROM BEING BLOWN OUT IN A STORM.

AND ON THE ELECTRICAL VEHICLES, THE BILL INCLUDES BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO UPGRADE OUR ELECTRIC GRID.

AND YOU KNOW, NEW YORK STATE HAS SOME OF THE MOST AMBITIOUS GOALS IN THE COUNTRY TO REDUCE CLIMATE CHANGE EMISSIONS.

AND IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT, WE NEED MORE CLEAN ENERGY N. ADDITION TO E.V.

CHARGERS, THE BILL WILL ALLOW US TO DO THAT.

>> SO THE CLEAN ENERGY PLAN IS PART OF THE SECOND PART.

THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK THAT THIS WAS THE LAST BEST CHANCE IN SOME WAYS TO MEET OUR GOALS AND WITH THE CONCERN OVER CLIMATE, THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO BILLS.

NOW HALF OF THAT, IS MAYBE NOT THERE.

>> DON'T BE SO POSE MYSTIC.

>> IT'S NOT JUST PESSIMISTIC.

IT'S LIKE AN ALL OR NOTHING THING LATELY AND IT'S VERY, VERY FRUSTRATING TO LISTEN.

WE CAN DO THIS INCREMENTALLY.

IT DOES NOT HAVE TO PASS ALL AT ONCE.

IT DOES NOT.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WILL BE UPSET WITH WHAT WE ARE SAYING BUT WE NEED TO KEEP PUSHING THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD.

WE HAVE TO KEEP INVESTING IN THESE THINGS AND KEEP THE BALL RUNNING.

DOWN THE FIELD PEOPLE HAVE TO START COMING TOGETHER AND UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE FAIL, WE ALL FAIL AND IF WE ALL SUCCEED, WE ALL SUCCEED IT LIKE WE DID BACK IN THE DAY.

NOW WE HAVE TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE BACK UP, BUILDING NEW YORK STATE AND THE UNITED STATES BACK UP TO WHAT IS NEEDED BY THE PEOPLE TO LIVE PROPERLY?

AND THAT IS HOW EVERYBODY SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT IT, NOT LIKE WE HAVE TO GET THIS DONE TODAY.

OTHERWISE IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD?

IT IS NOT.

IT JUST MEANS WE HAVE TO TAKE ANOTHER STEP.

THAT'S ALL.

>> BUT IN TERMS OF CLIMATE, SOME OF THOSE STEPS HAVE TO BE TAKEN PRETTY QUICKLY.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE TAKEN TODAY.

SOME OF THEM SHOULD.

>> YOU SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD ALL THE TIME BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET IT ALL DONE AT ONCE.

THE BILL INITIALLY HAVE $15 BILLION IN IT FOR CHARGERS, NOW IT'S HALF OF THAT BUT IT'S THE SAME NUMBER OF CHARGES.

SO I DON'T THINK THESE CHARGERS ARE THE RAPID CHARGE THE YOU TALK ABOUT.

I THINK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING LESS THAN THAT.

>> NEW YORK STATE IS MAKE MAKING MASSIVE INVESTMENTS IN CLEAN ENERGY, CLEAN TRANSPARENCY AND WE HAVE A BOND ACT THAT IS GOING TO GO ON OUR BALLOT IN NOVEMBER 2022, IT'S VERY EXCITING.

THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING IT TO BE $4 BILLION FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL BOND ACT WHICH WE ARE WORKING ON BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT'S GOING TO ALO YOU US TO LEVERAGE THESE.

SO IF THERE ARE GAPS IN THE FEDERAL PIECE, NEW YORK STATE WILL BE SO WELL POSITIONED TO DRAW MORE OF THAT MONEY IN AND MAKE SURE IT'S AIMED AT REALLY ACHIEVING THE SOLUTIONS WE NEED TO ACHIEVE IN OUR STATE.

>> NOW LORETTA, LET'S TURN BACK TO HUMAN SERVICES AT THE CENTER OF BUILD BACK CENTER.

I READ AN ARTICLE A WHILE BACK ABOUT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO STUDY SERVICES WERE ASKED, WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE IN THAT BILL.

AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO SAY CHILD CARE BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID UNIVERSAL PRE-K.

I'M WONDERING, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSING?

WE CAN'T GET IT ALL RATE?

AND HAVE YOU TO DO IT INCREMENTALLY, WHAT HAS THE MOST IMPACT ON THE HUMAN SERVICES SIDE OF THE EQUATION?

>> >> CERTAIN THEIR WILL HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF STUDIES DONE INDICATING THE IMPACT, LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM ON THE ECONOMY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

AND SO I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY, FOR SOME PEOPLE, AND CERTAIN STUDIES MAY SAY, IT IS UNIVERSAL PRE-K BECAUSE THE THREE-YEAR-OLDS, FOUR YEAR OLDS, REALLY DO NEED THAT LEG UP TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE READY FOR ELEMENTARY DAWS BECAUSE THAT SETS THE BASIS FOR THEIR SUCCESS GOING FORWARD AND MANY STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT.

SO FROM A STANDPOINT OF WHAT IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT FOR THE BIGGEST PICTURE, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING TO HELP THE AMERICAN FAMILY: CHILD CARE IS SIGNIFICANT.

WE HAVE UNDERINVESTED CHRONICALLY ON CHILD CARE.

THE PANDEMIC HAS DEVASTATED CHILD CARE.

AND CHILD CARE PROIRS ARE WOEFULLY UNDERPAID.

JUST HERE IN ONONDAGA COUNTY, THERE WAS A STUDY BY CHILD CARE SOLUTIONS, A MEMBER OF THE HHLC THAT INDICATED THAT A FULL TWO-THIRDS OF CHILD CARE PROVIDERS EARN MINIMUM WAGE OR JUST A LITTLE OVER.

SO PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO GET BACK IN BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT THEY ALSO CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE LOW PAYING JOBS THAT AREN'T-- THAT DON'T PAY A REALLY A WAGE THAT'S A LIVING WAGE.

>> AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE SAYING A LITTLE EARLIER.

THESE THINGS ARE LIKE ALL INTERMESHED, YOU KNOW?

IN ONE SITUATION, WHERE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT CHILD CARE, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT UNIVERSAL PRE-K, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION AND THE CHILD.

BUT THEY INTERACT.

AND THEY HAVE A BEARING ON EVERYBODY AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.

BUT THEY'RE TOUGH QUESTIONS.

AND PRIORITIZED, LIKE WHICH ONE IS MORE IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, MY HEAD EXPLODES.

THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT.

>> UNIVERSAL PRE-K, YOU TALK ABOUT THE INTERDEPENDENCY, UNIVERSAL PRE-K DOES FREE PEOPLE UP TO TAKE A PART-TIME JOB, LET'S SAY IN THE PART OF THE DAY WHEN THE CHILD WOULD BE-- >> IF YOU HAVE A TWO-YEAR-OLD AND A FOUR-YEAR-OLD, YOU STILL HAVE TO STAY HOME IF YOU DON'T HAVE CHILD CARE.

>> RIGHT.

>> EVEN IF HAVE YOU UNIVERSAL PRE-K.

SO THE PROBLEM IS HOW DO WE GET THE ECONOMY GOING, HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WORK BACK TO WORK.

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

AND THAT'S THE INTERACTION BETWEEN ALL OF THESE THINGS.

AND THE ANSWERS ARE NOT SIMPLE.

>> NOW YOUNG CHILDREN ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE TO LEAD POISONING.

YOU ARE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH THE WATER CRISIS IN FLINT, MICHIGAN BUT MANY CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY STRUGGLE TO PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER TO THEIR RESIDENTS.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL INCLUDES $55 BILLION TO REPLACE ALL OF THE NATION'S LEAD PIPES AND SERVICE LINES.

THAT'S THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN CLEAN DRINKING WATER IN DECADES.

>> THIS IS A LEAD GOOSE NECK, SPECIFICALLY THE PART OF A LEAD PIPE THAT WILL CONNECT TO THE WATER MAIN RUNNING UNDER A CITY STREET.

SO THIS VALVE RIGHT HERE WILL CONNECT TO THE WATER MAIN AND THIS PART OF THE PIPE RIGHT HERE IS WHAT STARTS THE SERVICE LINE THAT WILL THEN RUN ALL THE WAY INTO YOUR HOME RIGHT INTO YOUR BASEMENT WALL.

MY NAME IS ROB HAYES, DIRECTOR OF CLEAN WATER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES NEW YORK.

OUR GOAL IS TO PROTECT CLEAN DRINKING WATER FROM SOURCE TO TAP.

WE WORK ON A RANGE OF DIFFERENT WATER POLICY ISSUES FROM WETLANDS PROTECTIONS TO TOXIC CHEMICAL REGULATIONS, TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT OUR SEWER AND DRINKING WATER PIPES AREN'T CRUMBLING AND PUTTING PUBLIC HEALTH AT RISK.

LEAD PIPES ARE ONE OF THE GREATEST THREATS FACING NEW YORK'S DRINKING WATER.

THERE ARE CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATED 360,000 LEAD PIPES ACROSS THE STATE.

AND DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

THERE IS A LONG, LONG LIST OF HARMFUL HEALTH EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAD EXPOSURE.

CHILDREN EXPOSED TO LEAD CAN EXPERIENCE NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE, LONG LASTING DAMAGE TO EVERY PART OF THE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM.

AND IT'S NOT JUST CHILDREN AS WELL IMPORTANT TO NOTE.

EVEN ADULTS EXPOSED TO LEAD CAN DEVELOP PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BONES AND THEIR HEART.

SYRACUSE HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OF LEAD PIPES IN THE STATE, ESTIMATED NUMBER OF LEAD PIPES, I SHOULD SAY.

I BELIEVE SYRACUSE HAS 15,000 ESTIMATED LEAD PIPES CONNECTED TO RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND OFTEN TIMES THESE PIPES ARE LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED BY THE LEAD POISONING CRISIS.

SOME ZIP CODES IN SYRACUSE HAVE A MUCH HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF KIDS WITH ELEVATED BLOOD LEVELS THAN ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY AND IT'S IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO FIND LEAD PIPES AND LEAD PAINT AND ALL OF THE OTHER SOURCES OF LEAD EXPOSURE.

>> MY NAME IS JOSEPH.

I'M THE WATER COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

SYRACUSE WATER STRUCTURE HAS A LONG HISTORY.

IT STARTED IN THE 1840s, 1850S, A LOT OF THE DISTRIBUTION PIPES WITHIN THE CITY ARE STILL SOME OF THE ORIGINAL PIPES FROM 1872, 1892.

OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN SLOWING REPLACING THEM ALONG WITH OUR WATER SERVICES AS WE COME ACROSS THEM.

SO THE WAY THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS IN SYRACUSE, IS WE HAVE OUR PUBLICLY OWNED LINES THAT SERVE THE CITY.

AND THEN EVERYONE HAS A LINE THAT GOES FROM THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE TO THEIR HOMES AND WHOEVER OWNS THAT PROPERTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THAT.

AND MANY PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THAT LINE TO THE HOME TO THE CITY WATER HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED AND IT HAS LEAD IN IT IN MANY CASES AND TENDS TO BE IN THE CITY'S POOREST NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE PROPERTY VALUES ARE LOW WHERE THE PERCENTAGE OF COST, THE LANDLORDS FEEL IT IS NOT WORTH IT.

>> ON AVERAGE TO RELACE-- TO REPLACE LEAD PIPES IS 15,000 TO 20,000 WITH ALL THE RESTORATION INVOLVED AND THAT'S FROM THE WATER MAIN TO THE HOUSE F. WE LOOK AT WHAT THE TOTAL COST IS TO REPLACE ALL LEAD SURFACES IN THE CITY LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY $145 MILLION TO $210 MILLION.

>> WE KNOW IT'S UNSAFE.

WE KNOW WE SHOULD BE DOING BETTER, BUT THE MUNICIPALITY AND THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTIES DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MAKE THE PIPES SAFE FOR THE RESIDENTS.

>> THE FAMILIES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY LEAD PIPES, YOU KNOW, IN LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR GROCERY BILL OR ELECTRICITY BILL, THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY $5,000 OR $10,000 TO DIG UP A PIPE THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN PUT IN THE GROUND.

>> THIS IS A CBS NEWS SPECIAL REPORT.

I'M MAJOR GARRETT IN WASHINGTON.

PRESIDENT BIDEN IS ABOUT TO SIGN INTO LAW, SWEEPING BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL $IS .2 TRILLION PACKAGE COVERS A LOT: ROADS, BRIDGES, RAILWAYS, BRIDGES, AIRPORT, BROADBAND INTERNET AND SO MUCH MORE.

>> THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL IS A GAME CHANGER FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

THIS IS THE MOST MONEY THAT NEW YORK WILL RECEIVE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN DECADES TO UPGRADE OUR AGING AND CRUMBLING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

NEW YORK IS CURRENTLY SET TO RECEIVE A LITTLE OVER $400 MILLION NEXT YEAR IN 2022 FROM THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

AND ABOUT $115 MILLION OF THAT FUNDING WILL BE USED SOLELY FOR LEAD PIPE REPLACEMENT.

>> IT WILL BE ALLOCATED INTO DIFFERENT TRANCHES.

PART OF IT WILL BE EARMARKED FOR REPLACING LEAD PIPES.

THE CITY AND THE WATER DEPARTMENT SPECIFICALLY WILL BE DETERMINING WHERE WE CAN USE THAT MONEY MOST EFFECTIVELY AND WHERE WE CAN REPLACE IN THE HOMES THAT WE THINK NEED IT THE MOST.

>> IF WE WERE TO GET ENOUGH MONEY TO REPLACE THEM ALL, WE WOULD PUT THAT PROJECT INTO EFFECT.

IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

IT WOULD BE A SEVERAL-YEAR PROGRAM TO DO THAT.

>> I DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING TO RECEIVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO REPLACE ALL THE LEAD PIPES IN SYRACUSE BUT IT WILL HELP REMOVE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THEM, WHICH WILL BE NICE.

>> WE KNOW THAT WE LIKELY NEED OVER A BILLION DOLLARS TO REPLACE EVERY SINGLE LEAD PIPE ACROSS NEW YORK STATE.

THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL GIVES US A GREAT START, BUT IT'S STILL JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET COMPARED TO THE TOTAL NEED.

WE HAVE TO SEE MORE INVESTMENT IN LEAD PIPE REPLACEMENT AND OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE MOVING FORWARD.

EVERY SINGLE PERSON SHOULD HAVE DRINKING WATER FREE FROM LEAD.

WE CANNOT JUST WAIT UNTIL A CRISIS ARISES IN OUR DRINKING WATER BEFORE TAKING ACTION TO REPLACE THESE DANGEROUS PIPES.

>> THE ACTION NOW SHIFTS FROM THE HALLS OF CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE TO THE FEDERAL AGENCIES AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

INFRASTRUCTURE IS OPERATED AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL.

OFFICIALS NOW HAVE TO IMPLEMENT THE LAW, OVERSEE THE SURGE IN FUNDING AND SET UP PROGRAMS TO DO SO WHAT DOES GOFT NEED DO TO MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENS QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY.

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON IT AND MAKE SURE THE AGENCIES IN CHARGE OF THIS START GETTING THE MONEY OUT.

WE NEED TO WORK WITH OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LIKE THE CITY OF SYRACUSE; WHO HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS PROBLEM FOR DECADES AND DECADES.

IT'S BEEN AROUND.

AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET SOME KIND OF PROPOSAL TO USE THE MONEY THE BEST WAY WE POSSIBLY CAN.

I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER EXACTLY HOW THAT IS GOING TO BE DONE BUT I KNOW IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT.

>> THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NEED TO COME UP WITH.

>> I THINK YOU'VE GOT TO GET IT ON TO THE GROUND.

I MEAN GETTING IT TO ALBANY DOESN'T GET IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.

AND SOMEHOW WE HAVE TO GET THAT OUT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

>> OKAY.

NOW WE HAVE ALL BEEN HEARING A LOT LATELY ABOUT A SUPPLY CHAIN SHORTAGE.

I'M WONDERING WITH ALL THIS MONEY AND ALL THESE PROJECTS, WILL THAT LEAD TO A DIFFERENT SORT OF SUPPLY CHAIN SHORTAGE OF STAFF, LABOR, MATERIALS?

>> IT'S AN INTERESTING TIME.

THE LAMENT ALWAYS WAS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY.

THERE IS STILL NOT ENOUGH MONEY BUT THERE IS A LOT MORE MONEY.

THE QUESTION IS NOW, IS THERE ENOUGH MATERIALS, SUPPLIES?

AND ARE THERE ENOUGH PEOPLE?

BECAUSE THAT'S THE OTHER PIECE.

WORKFORCE.

THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY HAD A WORKFORCE SHORTAGE PRE-COVID, NEVER REALLY REBOUNDED FROM THE LOSS OF PEOPLE FROM THE GREAT RECESSION THAT LEFT THE INDUSTRY.

WHEN THE ECONOMY CATCHES A COLD, THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY CATCHES PNEUMONIA BECAUSE THINGS GRIND TO A HALT IN MANY CASES.

THE TRICK NOW IS NOT ONLY FINDING RIGHT WAYS TO USE THAT MONEY, COMING UP WITH A GOOD D.O.T.

CAPITAL PLAN IN THE NEXT BUDGET TO PUT THE FEDERAL RESOURCES TO WORK, ALL THAT OTHER STUFF.

BUT GOING OUT AND MAKING SURE MY INDUSTRY, THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT DELIVER THESE PROJECTS, HAS THE WORKFORCE, A COGNIZANCE OF THE INCREASED COST OF MATERIALS TO BUILD THESE PROJECTS AND, IN MANY CASES, THE DELAY IN GETTING THEM AND INUNAVAILBILITY OF THESE THINGS AND A WORKFORCE.

THIS IS AN INDUSTRY THAT HAS GREAT OPPORTUNITIES, GREAT CAREERS.

YOU CAN MAKE A REALLY GOOD SIX FIGURE INCOME DOING INTERESTING THINGS WITHOUT NECESSARILY HAVING TO GO ON TO A TWO OR FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE PROGRAM.

WE HAVE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF CONNECTING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO THE PEOPLE WHO WANT THEM.

RIGHT HERE IN SYRACUSE YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THAT HAPPENING WITH WILL 1.

HUGE PROJECT.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO PILOT A LOCAL HIRE PROGRAM.

WE HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT LOCAL HIRE BECAUSE WALLS KEEP PEOPLE OUT AS MUCH AS IN.

WE THINK THE BETTER APPROACH IS TO TURN IT INTO A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT WILL EDUCATE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY NEED AN OPPORTUNITY TO THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE HERE.

THEY WILL BUILD THAT PROJECT HERE IN SYRACUSE.

THEN THEY WILL GO OUT AROUND THE STATE AND BUILD OTHER PROJECTS AND MAYBE OWN THEIR OWN COMPANY.

>> CAN SOME OF THIS MONEY BE USED FOR THE SKILLED TRADES, TO DEVELOP THE SKILLED TRADES BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED MORE PIPEFITTERS.

>> I HAVE A LITTLE PET PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THIS.

I HAVE BEEN IN GOVERNMENT FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF MONEY GO INTO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

AND THE BOTTOM LINE TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS A JOB.

UNLESS YOU CAN TIE IT TO A JOB AT THE END, WE ARE WASTING MONEY.

WE ARE WASTING MILLIONS.

YOU CAN TEACH AND YOU CAN PUT PEOPLE IN CLASSROOMS AND YOU CAN GET THEM TO SHOW UP, BUT AT THE END, IF, AFTER SIX WEEKS OR SIX MONTHS, THERE IS NO JOB, THAT FALLS OFF.

MY FEELING IS WE HAVE TO HIRE UP.

WHETHER IT'S LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, COUNTY GOVERNMENTS OR PRIVATE SECTOR, THE IDEA THAT YOU NEED MORE WORKERS, HIRE THEM.

TEACH THEM IN THE PAST, WE DIDN'T RELY ON OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR GOVERNMENTS TO DO ALL OF THE EDUCATION.

WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE TO WORK.

AND AS THEY WORK, THEY LEARN AND LIKE YOU SAID, THEY'LL START THEIR OWN COMPANIES.

THE BIGGEST DEVELOPERS I KNOW IN THE CENTRAL NEW YORK AREA STARTED AS SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE, FAMILIES, AND THEY GREW INTO THE BIGGEST DEVELOPERS WE HAVE THAT'S A STORY.

>> WE'LL GET MIKE'S MEMBERS TO HIRE SOME OF THESE PEOPLE AND THEY'LL-- >> AND ALONG WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, TOO.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS PARED DOWN A LOT OF ITS WORKFORCE.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO KEEP THIS WORKFORCE, I THINK, FOREVER.

I THINK THEY JUST GOT TO GET THEM OVER THE HUMP, GET THEM READY TO JOIN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.

>> STATE GOVERNMENT, TOO.

>> AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT, TOO.

THAT'S RIGHT.

>> A BIG EXODUS OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF RETIREMENTS, A LOT OF PEOPLE, SAME VINTAGE CAME AT THE SAME TIME, LEFT AT THE SAME TIME.

A D.O.T., DELIVERY OF THIS YEAR'S CAPITAL PROGRAMMING PROGRAM, A RECORD CAPITAL PROGRAM HAS BEEN SLOW.

ONE OF THE REASONS IT HAS BEEN SLOW IS LACK OF PEOPLE.

THERE WAS A HIRING FREEZE IN PLACE UNTIL THE FIRST WEEKS OF THE HOCHUL ADMINISTRATION WHEN GOVERNOR HOCHUL LIFTED IT.

I CAN TELL YOU THEY'RE OUT THERE AGGRESSIVELY TRYING TO HIRE.

OTHER AGENCIES ARE, AS THEY'RE LOOKING TO BIGGER CAPITAL SPENDS BUT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WE DO, FINDING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE AND THAT WANT TO DO THE WORK.

>> IN TERMS OF BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, PIPE FITTER EARLIER BUT I SUPPOSE YOU NEED A BUDGET AN LIFT AND H.R.

PEOPLE TO HIRE THEM ALL.

-- ANALYSTS AND H.R.

PEOPLE TO HIRE THEM ALL.

>> AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR A LOT OF THE SMALLER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IS CRITICAL TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE MAXIMIZING THE USE OF THESE FUNDS.

AND WE REALLY DID SEE A DISINVESTMENT IN THE STATE WORKFORCE AT OUR STATE AGENCIES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND IT'S HUGE PRI PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE YOU KNOW, REINVESTING IN STATE AGENCIES IS SOMETHING I'M HOPEFUL THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL WILL CONTINUE TO BE EXCITED ABOUT.

THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE DELIVERING THESE PROGRAMS INTO COMMUNITIES AND PUSHING THIS FUNDING OUT THE DOOR INTO COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE.

AND SO WE NEED TO REINVEST IN OUR PEOPLE IN IN NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT SO WE CAN ACHIEVE ALL OF THESE GOALS THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR SOCIETY.

>> THAT WAS THE NEXT QUESTION ON MY LIST WAS WHO STEERS THIS PROCESS?

I MEAN THIS IS SUCH A BIG DEAL.

WHO MAKES THAT DECISION ABOUT WHAT PROJECTS ARE GOING TO GET FUNDED AND HOW THAT MONEY GOES OUT THE DOOR?

BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU SAID EARLIER, YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT OF MONEY GET WASTED OVER THE YEARS.

SEEMS LIKE THIS WOULD BE-- >> YOU KNOW, YOU DO THE BEST YOU CAN.

I MEAN NOT EVERYTHING IS PERFECT ALL THE TIME.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE IS THE PLACE WHERE THIS LANDS THE HARD HARDEST.

IT'S NOT THAT THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T HAVE A SAY AND BUDGET WISE OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S BIG, AS FAR AS LEGISLATURE IS CONCERNED.

THE EXECUTIVE CAN ONLY DO AS MUCH AS SHE HAS THE WHEREWITH ALL TO DO.

BUT ONCE THE MONEY IS THERE, LIKE THE FEDERAL MONEY OR WHATEVER STATE MONIES ARE IN THE BUDGET, HOW THAT GETS OUT IS HOW IT'S MANAGED BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

IT'S NOT THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.

IT'S THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

AND AS YOU WERE SAYING EARLIER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO DO IT PROPERLY AND TO GET IT OUT, AGAIN, TO THE COUNTIES, TO THE CITIES, TO THE VILLAGES, SO THAT IT GETS TO THE PEOPLE AND WHERE IT'S NEEDED.

>> WE HAD SOME REALLY EXCITING WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE ALREADY THAT WE CAN HARNESS AND BUILD ON.

MIKE TALKED ABOUT THE D.O.T.

CAPITAL PLAN.

NEW YORK STATE CLIMATE ACTION COUNCIL IS IN THE PROCESS OF RELEASING A PLAN TO THINK ABOUT HOW THE STATE IS GOING TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICH TOUCHES ON SO MANY OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES.

THERE IS A LOT OF DOCUMENTATION ABOUT WHERE ALL OF THOSE LEAD PIPES ARE THAT WE SAW HIGHLIGHTED, WHERE OUR SEWERS, OUR WATER MAINS NEED REPLACING.

AND SOME PLACES THEY'RE STILL WOOD.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF PLANNING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE.

NOW THE CHALLENGE-- AND I THINK IT THE ASSEMBLYMAN IS RIGHT-- IS FOR THE GOVERNOR AND THE AGENCIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE STATE TO SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY AND PUT THE PLANS INTO ACTION QUICKLY.

>> OKAY.

YOU KNOW ONE THING THAT STRUCK ME, WE HAVE BEEN SAYING ALL THROUGH THE PROGRAM, THE BIPARTISAN BILL, THE BIPARTISAN BILL.

AND OF COURSE IN THE SENATE IT WAS QUITE BIPARTISAN.

IN THE HOUSE, THERE WERE ONLY 11 REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED FOR IT BUT FOUR OF THEM WERE FRO NEW YORK WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU, MIKE SOME.

>> THAT WE HAVE FOUR REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FROM NEW YORK WHO HAVE COURAGE AND PRINCIPLES AND KNEW IT WAS THEIR JOB TO GO TO WASHINGTON AND FIGHT FOR THEIR COUNTRY AND NOT ENGAGE IN POLITICAL WARFARE.

YOU CAN'T IGNORE JOHN KATKO.

HE IS THE CHAIR OF THE WORKING GROUP FOR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS, A GROUP OF REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WHO, AGAIN, THINK THEY'RE HERE TO GOVERN, NOT TO JUST FIGHT WITH EACH OTHER ENDLESSLY AND IT WAS THEIR PLAN THAT THE SENATE COOK, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE, AGAIN A NOVEL CONCEPT, NOT THAT IT SHOULD BE, WORKING TOGETHER, CRAFTING IT INTO THIS BILL.

AND I TALKED TO ALL THESE FOLKS, THE FOUR NEW YORK REPUBLICANS THAT I THINK EXCEPT FOR TOM REED, AND THE AMOUNT OF ABUSE THEY'VE TAKEN, THE THREATS, THE DEATH THREATS IN SOME CASES, IT'S COMPLETELY INSANE.

IT'S A GOOD BILL.

IT'S A BILL THAT DONALD TRUMP WOULD HAVE SIGNED WITH FANFARE IF HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET IT DONE WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT.

>> WHILE WE ARE GOING HAVE-- I HATE TO LEAVE IT WITH THE IDEA OF DEATH THREATS AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM.

LET'S TAKE A LITTLE MORE OPTIMISTIC.

IT WAS A BIPARTISAN BILL AND A LOT OF MONEY IS COMING AND GOOD THINGS ARE COMING FROM THAT.

I WANT TO THANK OUR PANELISTS FOR JOINING US.

IF YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THE PROGRAM, YOU CAN WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN AND FOLLOW US WITH FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WCNY.ORG/CONNECT NEW YORK.

ON BEHALF OF THE TEAM HERE AT CONNECT NEW YORK, I'M DAVID CHANATRY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.