Latest Talks Podcast - Ep #29 | Guest: Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein

FBI counterterrorism I am crying with you can't afford itpp I Am Naturally a shy [Music] person this is being recorded too or no of course oh okay no problem no no no you're on the air by the way should we pause for a second that it's actually being recorded being recorded camera the the camera the computer [Music] you go on you fight succeeding with that said Lakewood and the surrounding areas construction development The Club at Jackson 21 they the project it's a 465 Hazard town houses and duplexes the sty and $470,000 a host and actually he wants to be part of this WOW lak with hos.com is a website of the podcast episode 27 also luxy.com haard Arizona South Carolina Florida Florida Lakewood New York Upstate New York in sh to the episode okay introdu the headone okay in I guess was um the [Music] stud is born and raised in B Park and just like everyone else um was you know growing interest in politics and you know super local level Clinton president towards the end of his presidency action yeah yeah and impeachment proceeding by the way but you know I followed politics and something was you know for the rest of my life uh Albert I was following in uh man introduction to public service by the way politics Public Service politician okay I consider myself a public servant the political side listen it's part of the job you know in English you have to play that game but that's not the the Z that I really enjoy okay in fact I hate it I hate the politics the campaign Seasons schmit and everyone is at each other's throats and I enjoy the public service part so company a factory in um in Westchester County in got got issues with the local County bazan baz on Factory but the business Westchester County and white PLS is community nit and the bottom line is and I got in touch with a uh County legislator a local County legislator legisl representation so this the state level they is the county legislator um uh state senator an assembly member there's in five positions at the state level the two houses of the legislator a city council uh in park Senator Felder is the state senator this is the Upper House in the State Assembly the lower house in of the federal level president two houses of Congress New York Governor versus the executive and two houses of the legislator the law Miss passing by theard signed into law by the governor on the city level the local level city council not two houses of the legislator one the city council and the mayor is the executive so the legisl job uh a legislator is exactly what exactly what they call the legisl to legislate say pass bills the state legislator okay which is comprised of legislators and and the budget has to pass the budget has to pass the legislator legislator votes on the budget and obviously the governor signs into into law so y the law versus a state law had to pass the legislature and signed into law by the governor in order for it to become law so basically a legisl inition for government was the power evolved in law making a legislator is a lawmaker okay a problem with the Gaz component and uh so I got in touch with this County legislator in Westchester in important person administrators the villages in Westchester pres Marty Mar of course mar mar in the secretary the message is on the phone is on the phone the phone pH the phone and wait who is this s Oh I thought it was Sim the only reason why I came to the phone is I thought on the phone so he was stuck with me so [Music] you know the Hope in the village administrator of the village the county executive office County Executive Office appointment count EX I can't carry that conversation lawyer fast forward corrective action plan and whatever whatever to shut down someone's business was government government is here for the people not not to get in the way of people so in the world of in the world of politics of government [Music] you know that was but it's get feeling and that's really the first time the and I developed relationships through that and with their local politics born in Brooklyn the Brooklyn politicians Westchester got to know some people in the Bronx and this is what I'm gonna [Music] do and I just really did it you know I got to know people this is a business of relationship ship building relationships and people try to cancel people right away an elected official that you don't agree with on housing issues education issues atan Ally or the elected official you don't agree on whatever issue you don't agree with everyone 100% of the time particular in our state New York state but the art is to areas where you could agree agree on legislators despite the fact as of under you're not on the same page and you build those relationships my interview uh recently in uh in one of these uh these magazines and and the report of what was the one thing that you weren't prepared for you did not know like and you know went to speak up went to say something but is equally as important when not to speak up M but mention based which by the way often times turns out and so anyway um but I just got into it and um I guess it was it was gradual to me how you know mention get involved in politics uh or public service or government for different reasons and uh with me is a goal to get into this is what I want to do the people that get into it I want to run for office one day but um a goal in fact after in the line I was always a behind the scenes person breaking point I was in it but it was never really but in order to right record it oh okay so so am I gonna do this as a Freer professional way a consulting firm consulting firm we did some campaigns and campaigns is where you get to work with people and you build those relationships Senators the distri the recent distric [Music] mention in this in the country in UMC okay uh and accordingly to Tilman the representation New York SE the population in New York population in States but in general people change the the amount of people the residents of the state of New York Down the What okay no it goes up and down yeah so do 435 members of Congress there 435 members of Congress and in New York y the member of Congress represents something like 800 something, people so it's based on it's based on the population but on the state level the assembly member represents 138,000 people G the state senator represent 333,000 people so is a ro in in in in population under assembly assembly members the district lines uh based on the [Music] population so in in 2010 is created based on the 2010 census actually effective 2012 the super Jewish seat in the state this is the Senate seates Park flat Bush um far is isy under the districts in the Senators Senator Kevin Parker so he got District was [Music] so that was my first government job after that in 2010 uh Ben appointed by the state controller Tom denap appointed Alan senior advisers this been actually to be honest with you control at that time for for on the campaign in 2010 as well uh after the [Music] campaign we should go out for dinner one night and sure no problem and for dinner with with the controller of Lexington and the high 30s that's some something campaign what went right what went wrong would you consider coming working for me and um that's that's really when when it happened I wasn't ready for for it [Music] you the legislative so that was my first the exposure to the legislative process internal connections BS changes the contr amongst other stuff the responsibilities bills and explained by the houses of the legislator you know they should consider these bills uh which is a get you get to work with all legislators so you build these relationships M um I did that for four years 2014 for the City of New York for the mayor switched offices G I left the controller's office and uh I had it happen at that time the mayor M I would consider it's funny they actually reached out to me earlier in I don't believe it's right the controller was up for re-election in 2014 I don't think it's right to leave my boss before his reelection after the election we'll we we'll have a conversation they followed up again in July uh de aah in 2014 AA competitive election was like he's going to win it's it's not competitive like you know with in let's wait till after the election uh and after control the naoli won reelection in November City Hall in uh in December 2014 uh I joined the mayor's office inas May deasio is um a lot of the responsibility mentioned Vice but the May the city of New York a office in Albany and uh it's not office office just a handful of people in but office this structure government is is the federal level the state level the local level at the end of the day a local municipality is still subject to the state and whenever the local municipality wants to do something often times State authorization no oh this is besides the point of sometimes can push Al they could force Al's hand the the for following historically in New York Governors and mayor govern Governors and Mayors never got along uh and by the way juliani and [ __ ] deasio and Cuomo they were at each other's throats no but part of the problem because it's structurally built that way yeah we what's the saying being mayor of the city of New York is the next best position after the president and hold on a second can uh you know speed cameras without Alan authorization can red light cameras without is the the the I think on New York City roads about Den fight about mayoral control was up for Renewal the only reason why the mayor of the city of New York has control over the school system New York City doe is Val alany get the mayor control of the education department by the way it's just it just may controls just chain on the Bloomberg a board the mayor control over if Albany doesn't renew uh mayoral control then it goes back to the old system size the bill sunsets so do in the bill is do uh uh you know quote unquote expiration Dat New York City was required to shut down all speed cameras in the city of New York while is I think it was in 2018 2018 and theas by the way [Laughter] uh but uh but New York City was required to shut off all all cameras Val Al hut hut renew the the bill at the time delay fight the bill the bottom line is it wasn't pass and and uh these things happen so the mayor's office had the within the mayor's office is the office of State legislative affairs and z uh Zen responsible for was the city Duff in the state legislatively laws budgetary say the city became from the state in the [Music] budget sh on the city or the whatever whatever may be and Regulatory y City agency H state agency above that so Nal Department of Health the health department at the state level could issue regulations Morgan and New York City Department of Health is now required to following the state guidance while the city is iic into the state the state is iic into the feds caner Jean you can't be you have to be compliance with the law above you New York City do under regulations in New York City from the state so New Jersey is a separate state so the the city laws in its own boundaries but contradictory to the state can undo something I don't want to city in the city state you can make your own City LIC is for City for City Li in the state canit in the C while the city had extra rules on top that the city has added rules in in the city in the city can car depending on local municipality has his own rules okay so back to where we were exactly what you were working for the mayor so the mayor's office uh been this office of State legislative affairs MH and we were doing a lot of the Albany uh stuff that City Hall needed from Albany legislatively budgetary uh and Regulatory so the Leon the middleman between city government and state government obviously do higher level mayor and Governor talking directly but um May agency has requests the state whether the City Department of Transportation approvals or the uh whatever it is as the State Department of Transportation so throughout the G city city government of this office that handled the state relations for for the city and until 2018 wow there a long introduction but anyway 2018 uh my predecessor do do represented do B Park in flat Bush for 36 years uh in in 2018 announced election [Music] it's not easy from January through June you know you're away from a family um and this is the rules remote in my case tuna fish and rice cakes is a favorite every night for supper [Laughter] rakes can't change between and op if I if I gain weight then we I go back to the water or something I I'll mix it up but uh this you have to be there in order to vote you have to be present in the ches from 9: in the morning till 6 p.m. committee meetings the floor session pass the bills y the bill in order to get to the floor there's a process right has to go through committees so generally in the morning hours of committee meetings and then we go to the floor latera grpp what WhatsApp so WhatsApp group wouldn't work for me I'm I'm by the way um WhatsApp I don't know I don't know WhatsApp so uh I have a I have a the number on regular text I'm old school uh Twitter when I decided to run for office social media that was the first tweet I I I uh I ever sent out and [Music] um I just just but even now that I do do Twitter um I I only go on to Twitter you could put something out there mention was the but I think I'm better off under a fake name it's good I came to terms with the fact when you represent a district of 138,000 people any decision you're going to make or position you're going to take I mention was home and people like to be very loud people like to be at times very I don't want to use the the word rude but you know particularly on the fake names it's okay I'm at peace communicate over easy is after all WhatsApp whatever it is communicates to mention the overall menot service the community the community WhatsApp so just a few days ago public it doesn't matter what the issue is surveillance camera emailed it worked out very well on the on the day to dat this is communication you know in office lot of communication St in the office computer I know how to turn on a computer I know how to use the email in groups nonstop by the way it's a full-time job just up to dat comment WhatsApp group in the the Blackberry BM Blackberry Blackberry I had to accept whatpp WhatApp is by the way phon the black bu oh the keypad was the best it was the best but anyway way especially exact um so why he decided not to war for re-election but it's not easy it's not easy so um so decided and it it wasn't involved in government for all those years he men you know you consider running I did my family was was was always supportive but says you're putting your family through it if I wanted to put myself through it um day since am I do I want to be that person do I want to be the face do I want to be I Am Naturally a shy person when when you work for others you're in the cour BLS when you're the elected official you have to put yourself out there all the time I show up to an event on the stage naturally I am a shy person do I wanna do I want say I'm telling you the truth no it's it's amazing no it was it was it's amazing to hear just the opposite what the minds is no but well it's an adjustment it is still an adjustment for me Allah is fun that it all started out it doesn't sound like you were shy then I wasn't shy you like amongst my friends shy on a grand scale you know the want to put myself out there correct by the way uh oh uh oh AIT State okay next next question guys's on a tough question he's going to get back at but anyway uh and listen to put your wife through iter threw it it's an adjustment for my kids mhm just look the pH call listen complain complain and we don't have to [Laughter] time the ones that really bother me yeah are something stupid Kinder that's those are the ones that really B if I pick up theone I can handle it I can handle it um think during Co you know dur and um and it was just as frustrated for me than than than for everyone else and in in position is the stores and you're trying to navigate through all of that and was it was it was bad we were fighting that you try to work from within and uh trying to make this interesting so make a little bit of a deeper dive the red zon the second the second uh lockdown office uh as schools m in V reopened no matter what this is not normal red zones were wrong by the way the transcripts and Department of Health Attorney General's office mentioned the health department were confused as to sh out by the way he went into the whole Red Zone while the the in the red zones schoolside the redone by the way the stores yeah the cut off of the Red Zone L is making it up 39th Street so the store on 40th Street has to be closed all you did is for of 42nd Street now walk to 38th Street it never made sense but anyway bus in the Red Zone in the report that's exactly my point this is a acidic bus that came from out of the Red Zone and coming into the redone while speaking with gastner within the Red Zone in Spring Valley a school bus rolls up we just saw a school bus yeah like here in the red zone so we saw a school boss in the red zone that has a school in the not Red Zone okay which which actually illustrates a little bit the clown show of the policy that the governor is is implementing so a child from the Red Zone can go to a local a non redone so um the governor's office and we were working with them on a a reopening plan for schools in the red zones in still I didn't attack the governor those few days while were're working on something something big something good um and I didn't want to you know my goal was to get it done we had a um a framework for what it will take to reopen the schools obviously they wanted sanitize whatever what masks whatever six feet fine Vang is a real structured framework that could work for all schools uh uh you know let's anyway the block to get away from the noise and I had a conversation with the secretary to the governor and we were like ready to go with an announcement like the governor's office we came up with a plan back and forth everyone seemed to be more less on board um let's move forward and um we'll just say it was a very bad call uh the call went uh South and person for examp you know we know all your schools are open the governor's executive order is the law the law is the law we need everyone to shut down in order for us to move forward and argument you're so fixated he so stuck on this closure reopening 24 hours a real reopening plan if there is going to be a real reopening plan and what the closure should look like basic and anyway the call went South and um I actually believe the conversation intention of not like the call went South uh released a a video uh Ken the governor I really went after him you know I went after [Music] naal instead the governor's rhetoric has become darker and his tactics more heavy-handed making matters worse the governor has decided to turn Corona virus into an Orthodox Jewish issue and it's funny when you see it from the other side you don't see the full picture yeah what's going on here but believe it or not that video as upset as they were with me and they were very very upset uh and they made it very clear to me uh this is actually gain what got us to turn the page because like for four days on a reopening plan for schools and you are then intentionally blowing it up so anyway no they didn't they mind anyway we were um but that's what got us uh uh to refocus on that plan announced by the press conference the the reopening plan for schools it was a Friday 12:00 and and that's what got us to to reopening schools even in the red zones so is it's you know these things are are difficult but the men on the outside sometimes it was because a real plan and um it's my responsibility to Y men's responsibility no I'm sorry y men's frustration in a filler y men is upset they played me considered the job in beginning and and whatever whatpp let me say this and and we'll leave it at that um it's quite painful really yes wow so look mentions an upset upset but sometimes there's a bigger picture um and uh 51st Street on the corner by the post office made a flat push type yeah and oh you'rein yes I need to speak to you for a minute you know it wasn't the the best time if you can make it quick I mean I don't want to be rude if you can make it quick but no no no I have to ask you for no problem no listen to my story when I decided to run for office she read up on me she was very impressed guy you worked your way through government I read I was really I was a big fan of yours and I wrote positive I wrote positive stuff on social media about you then a few weeks before your election you rolled out an endorsement with shock Sher I couldn't understand what you did you lost my vote I can't understand it in I wrote negative things about you I did not vote for you okay fast forward and um they were going through the Green Card process process I don't know if you know the Green Card process but you're going through the process you can't leave the country having said that a waer by the way this was before this was before cobl so whatever it was The Sibling of [Music] my staff I didn't work on it one of my staff is in the office and we got them the waiver the how did they get it we're State office how did we get it we worked with Chuck Schumer's office to get them the waiver realize you were right and I was wrong you have to you you have to work with these people I get it the same setting I'll do it I'm joking I'm joking listen I understand but the reality is I also need to be the bigger person of f no matter what I do I'm gonna upset some people by the way Democrat Republican whatever I'm going to do I'm going to upset some people but why am I doing this can help mention can building those relationships with under officials on different branches of government can help Dimension the reality is amous position on on politics whether you like him or not his policies on the constituent Services front heal mention so um mention uh you know they reaction and they have a right to to to have that reaction despite that an effective legislator not a legislator I don't do this elected official I don't do this for fame I took a my previous positions an effective legislator in order to Be an Effective legislator you sometimes particularly in a state like New York in we're surrounded by mention Sometimes some sleep sometimes just don't agree with us sometimes I'll let you finish the sentence give me something well I'll share a few stories um life and death situation actually to the to the thepp whatpp got in trouble let alone whatspp this is actually the reason is mentioned [Music] in park please don't say don't is let's leave the names out of it WhatsApp group friends conversation back and forth doesn't matter the particulars [Music] but it wasn't it may sound bad Mas their message is yeah gu FBI counterterrorism NYPD Sig uh in shabas by the way something that they very they rarely do obviously questioning was nothing more than a prank but but or a joke on bad but V mention Min in whatsapps encrypted you know like be just be be careful anyway was involved wonderful organization wonderful medical referral organizations do in in B Park and the organizations medical uh wonderful organization Medical in I was busy with this esophagus in Connected very rare very rear medical specializes in surgery in Cleveland and Z baby transfer the baby gra in Colombia and they tried to get the baby transfer to Cleveland in Insurance Company B the RO elected official legisl assembly legislative role but there're also different constituent services us the he said aant also public servant not also primarily a public also a legislator but but D Hees government Hees a utility company Hees some bureaucratic whatever may be so colleagues the chairman of the health committee uh dried the chairman of the insurance Comm committee Uh Kevin kahill insurance company by the way back and forth the RO the the this is this is a real one this is life and death I'm I'm I'm busy and think the head from the Tri-State region for the for the insurance company listen no it's not necessary we should not approve this transfer FR yeah the k m the surgery M by the 13th day scheduled surgery due in colia and uh we had a jet ready to go everything was lined up of the bureaucracy at the insurance company in president for Empire Blue Cross s of the president's desk after this as a CEO from the companies insurance compan no that's the end of it is enough it's on the desk of the CEO of the insurance company it's from do from here on out H that was our deal call is um is call from cling the phone from Minnesota this is the this is the CEO from insurance company phone everyone says no nobody thinks this is a good idea why should I approve it conversation with him it wasn't easy in the beginning but then I got I got him to um I got him to approve it um Cleveland and we got it we got it approved and by the way just to bring by the conversation you know they see that side as well um the procedure is is my thank you calls so this so the chairman of the health committee the insurance committee under the health department thank you because I got approved I think the chair of the committee from how did it go honestly I don't know how do you operate to me it doesn't matter if the name is burtz Greenstein poen whateverand [Music] name the name doesn't matter to me so but it turns out this first time but uh but it turns out actually Z postponing the surgery they weren't prepared they had to postpone the surgery by a day but B the surgery went well and uh it was a long road to recovery Cleveland the other side of the job and I'm not complaining and to be able to represent this this community but in office made the baby a visit and it's it's just so fulfilling was the L the newspap recently a case was they were trying to get into a group home anyway the right word is Al in the very beginning [Music] like by the way situation and the state someone very high up and I'm committed I have to help this woman deeper honestly like I hate to say this I don't know all the facts I just my emotion took over on the phone the state official I guess and I am crying with you with going to help this woman and the organization I but few days well the process takes on organization I think I think I'm there with the state number two person at the agency from the organization we're going to make this happen them in uh in uh we were able to get it done and you know generally voicemails three and maybe when we're off here voicemail was the lost in um of my phone like it's just when I'm depressed there are some very dark days over there family minion in the morning if you miss it two one meal a day yeah you look like that person no I drink coffee all day very unhealthy you look like that person but I drink coffee all day but so I so but simple person you bu yourself tough issues and navigating through all of this with your colleagues and you know know the position that you take but why you're taking that position andan perspective is the isue the issue during measles the vaccines yeah which turned out to be a very very controversial issue and magata bill on the floor to to um repeal the religious exemptions fin vaccine I voted no on that bill but on the bill on the floor I voted against repealing it but okay ISS the state legislator bill on the floor that legislates aam's religious beliefs m whether exemption within religion my my concern forget about vaccines forget about whether z a religious exemption a bill that was that was addressing that was addressing you know a bunch including exemptions all exemptions so again a bill on the floor that solely focused on religious exemption and the I want to explain my vote again regardless of where you are on the whether the exemption should exist or not my point was we shouldn't legislate someone's religious beliefs that is wrong whether I agree with the exemption I don't agree with the exemption so the position was dened says why are you taking this position where are you coming from and you know you have to be clear about that and in conference conference which is um the init members only M the speaker and the leadership and we go over is was the majority conference wants to wants to push through and what not but the time is on the floor voting for the most part the cake is baked already in conference that the heated conversation is V is is V and and to be honest with you that's also where you could have an impact so you know in this line of work you can't get what you want but you can move the needle you could and sometimes that means that you ultimately have to vote Yes because the bill could have been a lot wor a lot worse mentioned for when hold on a second vote Yes I voted yes well I don't like the bill I'm with you but the bill was going to pass so if I don't vote Yes I took myself off the table V guns I don't know if that was on the air of the air yeah New Yorker passed a gun law a few months ago after the United States Supreme Court ruled as the New York gun laws are unconstitutional the governor session what they call the extraordinary session to pass a gun package in you know in conference far in conference is when we you know amongst the members discussed V members V Zay New York had created what they call gunfree zones the signs Time Square houses of worship houses of the only exemptions military and law enforcement Personnel second exemption by the way B Park all over New York in fact private security outside exemption for private security and by the way Coles Z churches home private security it was something that I fought for and it was something was originally in in in their package and after I raised it and G members we agree it got added so whatever you think I should have done on that bill if I still should have been no the reality is you need to negotiate and get these things done from within the conference in Albany in New York it's a very liberal State despite the losses uh the the Democrats had uh in the State Assembly this year it's still going to be a 2: one majority it's 250 assembly members uh in the New York State at the New York State Assembly right now is Du 107 Democrats 43 Republicans so in order to get something done the majority conference has to be on board members from the 107 M on board if not they're not going to move the bill bill my first bill that I got passed in in 2019 actually dealt with this issue uh in my previous role when for the mayor uh HRA the Health and Human Services portfolio G given part of my portfolio and H was one of my agencies and mention Park and that benefit from the Summer Youth Employment Program syp youth this isburg vburg is the numbers are pretty high for youth yeah some Sumer Youth Employment Program is basically the summer months go we don't want our young adults on Z on of the G during the summer months so basically so on counselors and camps and so on and so forth toen to mention new park the numbers are but I don't want to throw out numbers but toen to toen to young adults B nits in their program in is uh you earn $2,100 if you're enrolled in this program see Elton some got public assistance and income the household income is threshold to qualify for public assistance so yet Kim the was is part of the household puts the puts the parents over the annual household income public assistance so instances we mention public assistance for the Kinder it's a great thing I wish you could do it but don't do it so I introduced the bill uh to exempt the income from Sy from someon youth employment from the annual household income as it relates to public assistance so it doesn't go against that count that annual household income for public assistance um government generally is very bureaucratic the bureaucrats to be pushed around bills particular what we call the domino effect right you're opening the they didn't want to move my bill to member the in some Youth Employment Program is a very popular program I every every elected official wants to fight for more funding for some youth employment and I won over members one by one in to co-sponsor the bill co-sponsor mind the sponsor of the bill it's my bill but you could co-sponsor endorsement endorsement I'm co-sponsoring I like it I want collected 78 co-sponsors wow8 Co sponsors majority of our conference wants to move the bill I basically forc the hand this is this this is this is through the budget process so this is legislation the biggest piece of legislation that we actually pass is the budget gusu New York state is required to balance a budget unlike for example the federal government was run on continuous resolutions in pass budget says March 31st the last day of the fiscal year the fiscal year uh is n the calendar year uh daff New York state budget April 1st was a state in the budget okay andish the state controller can't process payment and this in the paper then you know State the state is on the verge of shutting down or the state shut down sometimes if we just lay two three days is first of all you don't really feel it after two days insurance company Max Insurance filed on January 2 agent of the when the payroll is payroll so like if the budget is is not passed L April 1st is is on a Monday yeah and it's not passed you're actually really affecting that first payroll versus L uh you know the payroll date is April seventh or whatever I just made that up anyway payment well the government so but point being the government generates Revenue tax correct in the states so do funding streams complicated match uh state and local municipality uh match for programs do Z from the federal government the controller's office is the office process the payment the accountants the payroll the you know obviously pension and retirement that's that's what they do for the state so the check is signed by the controller is of the Audits and all of that but uh the casa is generated from when we balance a budget it's actually far the budget division of budget from the controller projections the state guide next year the budget is formed accordingly so if next year for example G $210 billion uh Dem now the state budget cannot exceed $210 billion but back to your question so in the budget uh I was able to uh secure funding and something that uh but uh uh I was able to get money into the budget for the park Jewish Community Council in intag 18th Avenue we had 23 rides face painting petting zo stage shows Uncle Moi and think Simple Simon because he embarrassed me I got out on the second the second thing I got out only sh was he be [Laughter] shy but uh yeah yeah he didn't want to give me a pass he's good it was more fun was more fun other strike but anyway but but we had stage everything maybe next oh so because uh we do have some uh news to share breaking news of the presses announc do podcast do podcast came us announcing for the first time but I was uh successful and bug is in counil we were able to to secure money and plan for every year again every year it's a new fight so yes there is a goal year but it doesn't always happen that way allocate in in the budget because everything was reallocated to the things that make you feel good you know uh when you do these things towards the end over I was few blocks down over there on the side the sanitation logistic you know the logistics the cleaning the very endam and she was like pushing him like and I saw itome I can't afford this the neighbors g a fancy trips or the whatever pressure the can't afford it was free table set up cookies for dollar have a good time they enjoyed phrasing this way but I believe for so so yeah yeah so let's uh we're going to shift we're going to go back to something that everybody wants to hear [Music] education RED cameras yes [Music] um responders and mention um redas I wish I was um I personally voted against the the camera bill of the bill on the floor um 245 in the morning uh on this bill I am opposed to this bill uh to me this is all about Revenue so slowing down drivers says this is all about and um I'm I'm I'm I'm opposed to uh to to speed cameras um you live in the 20th Avenue area uh we had over there uh by the cemetery uh from 544 53rd 57 in the schools on 53rd but the the Street City for to install speed bumps it took years to install speeds uh ceras can generate Revenue overnight is it's up and running so um but no but the point being point being is the point is I'm sorry but if the issue is as areas is Du a speeding problem there are ways to address that I don't believe cameras is one of them I believe cameras is all about ref the the bill was aside from that they say so the laws given ambulances are exempt the problem is the personal vehicles are not this is not a situation you have to explain to your colleagues and build support colleagues what does it mean yeah ambulance is exemp no no ambulance immediately to the that Concept in the rest of the state outside of these these neighborhoods MERS but um we had to build support do the staff the transportation staff the way of mean staff and committees the build committees you know volunteer firefighters in other area so you have to you have to build support and B we were able to get uh to get that that build I don't think this should be controversial stuff members responding to an emergency vles ambulance a first responder responding to a medical emergency sure okay and yet of the buses cameras Lally expanded Vis A seik but uh and 24 hours I talk 24 that was the it was extend so it was up for Renewal bills how when they expire expire when they Sunset the state has to reauthorize it uh yet when the camera bill was sunset lik the 24 hours which Again by the way this program started as a school zone speed C program okay for schools in front of schools to protect kids to with either 100 or 200 feet within a school to a quarter of a mile I mean we live in New York CI do schools still within within the range of what they defined as school this is all about Revenue unfortunately is do mention in my conference was uh was are in favor of this whether the The Advocates well these uh safe Street Advocates kenaz on uh quite you know they'll show up at your doorsteps I don't care but like s members was Tru was inside communism or something there's no there's no doubt this is a big brother uh uh they s again this is I I believe this is all about the money I believe this is all about the money I don't care what they say stats V after they install cameras uh cars are slowing down a give a kick they're slowing down slowing down for two minutes for one minute and then once they pass the camera they they're speeding again it's it doesn't even make sense back to what we said before so this was [Music] whatever look I agree with you put up a fight unfortunately right now that number wasn't enough majority from the Democratic conference is yog in support um is it possible down the road as mcken became a mayor and may mention uh you know to to support to support it K on K on but you know opinion as time goes by opinion changes mention Z they see through it so um uh I this is I from these issues where it seems mention mention yeah I agree with you I agree with you it's all about the money this is crazy uh but you know it is public right now it's the law I hope I hope we could one day be in the position some support to repeal it got it not to get into it but I also think there's some legal questions around this whole program but that's for another day the number one Z was mentioned yet is vegan education the New York Times article so this is obviously a very complex issue that has controversial I don't think it's controversial to be honest with you uh people that don't understand the issue think it's controversial but um there's a lot of layers to it so in 130 years ago uh in a time that Catholic schools were stealing teachers from the public school system New York state passed the law as in order to be a private school you need to provide a substantially equivalent education is the that complicated everything uh is the word substantially and the word equivalent is actually is actually contradictory in in itself uh and was never defined in law in 2014 is uh and uh complaint against Yas as uh as they are not meeting the standards of providing a substantially equivalent education um at the time that it started by the way D kimman is like immen disgruntled individual exhd left the community um never missed an opportunity to try to bash the community um the Educators by the city by the way um I was like on that side of I I I worked for the mayor's office when this started and um the Educators when they started to be honest with you didn't even think it's such a big deal um in uh you know we we could be proud of others should follow the education that we provide to our children to be honest with you uh we have longer school days our educational skills and critical thinking throughout the day KES in secular are a lot more rigorous and deeper than the public school system and from there on unfortunately this issue spiraled out of control to the extent as abys uh political football so to speak um in 2022 this issue became about everything but [Music] education you know like you're with us you're against usas by the way their first language is English English are also like part of this like yeshivas them the yeshivas and uh in de 2019 when the previous commissioner Ilia tried to roll out regulations uh was mention responded with comment and that was I mean like insane over the toop uh even people at the education department were saying that's not normal uh Z basically created a checklist and her model was that we have to do everything that they the public school does so if they do six hours and 20 minutes a day we have to do six hours and 20 minutes a day every subject that they do the law every subject that that was her so the law the laws the law is the law the interpretation of the law mind Dev substantial equivalent was never defined so the the New York State Department of Education which is a little not a little it's kind of independent they are not regulated by they're not under the governor's office Z Bo of regions the board of regions votes on regulation and so government is a very bureaucratic frustrating uh bureaucracy and the more complicated areas the government can't tackle or is afraid to tackle politicians don't want to don't want to touch independent authori of so for example if you look at government public transportation in New York is a disaster can we all agree m 40 something minutes service what's going on yeah I heard the call that anyway but so what does govern do it's a disaster the MTA you can't you know they don't want to be responsible elected officials don't want to be responsible for it created an authority besides the MTA they are controlled by a board now who appoints to the board Governor the mayor Senate confirms government but sin say says the authorities say says the board so in that's not corruption every time the MTA loopholes wants to raise the fair hikes the politicians home opinions take it back take it back take back the Authority for yourself MTA Public Service Commission in the state of New York they regulate all utility companies yeah Con Edison National politicians don't want to be in charge of raising rates or so there a Public Service Commission raising rates the politician to the Public Service Commission don't do it this is this is reckless and my constituents can't afford it but whatever but those members to the Public Service Commission are appointed by politicians I mentioned they sh the responsibility created that framework so in Department of Education they do the board of regions Board of regions is are the ones who vote on all their regulations on uh uh on the Department's regulations so yet uh the commissioner rolled out uh new regulations uh was clear as you know you roll out regulations you try to get input from the open Comon period and you really try to work together with stakeholders to whether we agree or disagree V legislation yeah whether you like the bill or not if you're going to do it clearly open perod one big sh they have to go through the process they weren't serious about about about engaging and quite frankly understanding in the schools by the bo the region members of various the board of regions throughout State Regent anointed Regent member in collectively mention in the state and they vote never Ste for is they're bureaucrats they're appointed bureaucrats and they're they're now deciding uh all of this so in the current regulations uh is create the state created five different Pathways in which a school could choose which pathway they want to go in's accreditation agency assessments the LSA which is the local school Authority but um but there's a real question whether government is interested in being what's government's motive over here what's the state's motive over here while the LSA the the the one of the pathways is LSA which is the local school Authority uh so if I work with my local school Authority so for example New York City will be Department of Education New York City Department of Education they come into my school and they deem me substantially equivalent I'm good the state is going to say your local school Authority is good with it I'm good with it but just a couple of weeks ago uh is Du a school in in Williamsburg for example was the New York Times did a whole follow-up story on this school the local school Authority with New York City Department of Education recommended to the state that they should be this school should be deemed substantially equivalent he G in the state I don't like how the city did it why they don't like it is like they didn't build sewing the Weeds on like aside from showing uh grade by grade they want to see the how it integrates from grade to grade each year the the pr it's like just crazy crazy stuff found a way what is the equivalent to for the Willi school required from the school no and as as e Zen school is not providing substantial equivalent education so it's actually by order of the Court was New York City work with the school inspect to see if they are to to make a recommendation if they're substantially equivalent point being the point that I'm trying to raise is as the school works with the with the New York City Department of Education the work through the process the city the Educators the politicians the DI menion at the Educators at the Department of Education are satisfied with what they see they recommend the school should be deemed substantially equivalent gu the commissioner in Albany an appointed political hack in zook I don't like the way the city did it I don't like the way the city did it and I do not deem them substantially equivalent Kim the New York Times headline oh first time in history is not substantially equivalent by the way that's not what the commissioner said the commissioner said she doesn't like the way the city did it therefore she can't say that substantially equivalent So she recommends should continue no they should continue working with the with the school with the local with the LSA with the local school authority to continue with the pathways has just released regulations you just past I should say past regulations as if you work with a local school Authority and the local school Authority is good with with with the school then you're so commission by the way story landed up in in the times but we deal with the commissioner coordinated the time story the the the the quote unquote investigation on yeshivas the commissioner was colluding with the New York Times that that article should pop a few days before they voting on the regulation regulations is written up weeks if not months in advance Z by the way they they don't meet in the summer month so Z pink as this is going to be on the agenda in September and she she was she colluded with the times then the article featured we know that for a fact B basically media it fit her narrative and she's passing regulations and and you know no questions asked because look what the New York Times just wrote wow but that's the situation it's very unfortunate while opinion and says you try to talk to people and it's become all about oh yes's funding it's not about education mention was hello sh so the uh how do the light of yeah uh I I become comfortable an hour we in don't get me wrong uh so at the white at that event at the White House either Philadelphia or Baltimore somewhere there Maryland she's so concerned about what's happening in she's so concerned and I say that as a Jew I say that as a Jew so was te wants to enhance their curriculum bring a professional upgrade books they want to do it they should be able to have the tools opinions the issue I don't support religion separation Church of State all of a sudden none of these people are interested in helping our schools this issum on this I care so much about them I care so much there was a there was a the BDS movement de in [Laughter] BDS sanction okay fine fine so basically so uh so do uh the movement to boycott Israel by the way Israel is the only country was hota movement Kai boyot sanction divest anyway so um in Albany it's giving me a hard time about about BDS and as not everyone that supports BDF is an anti-semite everyone is anti-semite slowly baby steps and he gives him a hard time as the a a whatever I don't know whatever but the fact remains can't argue with you whether every person who supports BDS is anti the fact remains every anti-semite supports towards Orthodox Jewish [Music] educ know some schools need to do more the time do schools do as little as 90 90 minutes a day and only four days a week y can I pause you for a minute do you remember six years ago you were the one saying as teaching English was the the the the children after they graduate from these schools can't even sign their name in English 90 days 90 minutes the the four course four days a week English it's not about education anymore it came about the the Orthodox Jews New York Times uh reporter get tweet New York Times the investigative reporter for the AL bureau if you have if you have any info or want to talk about your education at Orthodox Jewish schools [Music] particular attack these people are obsessed attack it's a sickness secular studies we cover so many of these core subjects and by the way this is one of the biggest arguments that we have with government government this is education it's critical thinking it's real skill education nurse nurse that's gu to medical school that's complex stuff a lot of people that go to Ivy League schools but they can't do medical school education mind I'm giving you the tools skills the concept correct as when El you could take these tools and law school by the way Yesa graduates excel in law school that's a fact they do very well say let's do this episode um at the end of the episode the guest mhm so gave my message forri but it's a 60c message that you should give them an inspirational message mention the viewers besides all the information that they have so please look seconds on the clock floor is the camera thank you seconds on the clock on the on the clock so first of all uh I'm coming off reelection right now so I want to thank y obviously forens on the ticket as well it's important we as a community vote we come out and vote and we make our voices heard as uh we as a community in Z under attack uh by the Press by mention within government it's VI as z z that we respond to that and we respond to that by voting y the politician is viced their vote in their vot and and they are ultimately hired by the people through your votes the honor to represent a neighborhood v b Park Kensington and Midwood and we get a lot of requests but member in the legislative body local organizations for help the requests that I get to government we could actually still mention on standby within the community whether it be in the world in the world of medical whether it be in the legal help whatever it is so I'm here to help this is why I do it so use us as a as a resource I'm here to help and again thank you for your support and it's an honor to represent you all