>>> THEY ADMIT YOURE AN EMPTY
VESSEL AND I ACTUALLY DONT
THINK YOURE AN EMPTY VESSEL.
I THINK YOURE A REPUBLICAN.
>> YOU LEFT A CITY DURING A VERY
DIFFICULT TIME.
YOU CANT RUN FROM THE CITY,
ANDREW.
IF YOU WANT TO RUN THE CITY.
>> ERIC, WE ALL KNOW THAT YOUVE
BEEN INVESTIGATED FOR CORRUPTION
EVERYWHERE YOUVE GONE.
CITY, STATE, EVEN BARACK OBAMAS
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
INVESTIGATED YOU.
YOUVE ACHIEVED THE RARE
TRIFECTA OF CORRUPTION
INVESTIGATIONS.
THATS WHY SO MANY PEOPLE ON
THIS STAGE DONT WANT YOU TO BE
MAYOR.
>> SO MANY PEOPLE ON THE STAGE?
I GUESS THEY WANT YOU TO BE
MAYOR?
WHAT AM I MISSING HERE?
>> I THINK YOURE BOTH RIGHT.
YOU BOTH SHOULDNT BE MAYOR.
>> WOW.
>> WELCOME TO NEW YORK.
OKAY.
>> I THOUGHT THAT DEMOCRATIC
PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES WERE TOUGH.
>> THAT WAS LIKE --
>> NEW YORK, REV, ITS TOUGH.
>> NEW YORK POLITICS IS BACK.
YOU COULD SEE THAT LAST NIGHT.
IT WAS A KNOCKOUT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOUGH,
THEY HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE
THEY HAVE TO SEE WHO CAN BRING
NEW YORK IN THIS POST PANDEMIC
ERA BACK TO SOME LEVEL OF WHERE
WE CAN GET TO WHAT WAS CALLED
NORMALCY.
AND I THINK THEY DID AN OLD
FASHIONED DEBATE LAST NIGHT, BUT
WERE IN A DIFFERENT TIME.
PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR WHO CAN
REALLY BRING US BACK.
>> NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL
CANDIDATE ANDREW YANG, FENDED
OFF ATTACKS FROM HIS OPPONENTS
IN LAST NIGHTS DEMOCRATIC
PRIMARY DEBATE.
ONE RECENT POLL SHOWS THE RACE
HAS TIGHTENED SIGNIFICANTLY
AHEAD OF THE JUNE 22nd ELECTION.
AND ANDREW YANG JOINS US NOW.
AS YOU SEE, REV RENTAL SHARPTON,
SUSAN DEL PERCIO AND MIKE
BARNACLE ALL BACK AT THE TABLE,
AS WELL.
>> AND BY THE WAY, YOU LOOK AT
THOSE NUMBERS, ANDREW, YOU LOOK
AT THE NUMBERS FROM THE WBIX
POLL AND OTHER POLLS, GREAT.
THEYRE A GREAT INDICATOR OF
WHAT THE FIRST CHOICE IS BUT,
MAN, ITS RANKED VOTING THIS
YEAR.
HOW ARE YOU -- HOW WERE YOU
STRATEGIZING FOR THIS VERY NEW
APPROACH TO ELECTING A MAYOR OF
NEW YORK?
>>EL WITH, I AGREE WITH THE REV
RENT.
WE HAVE TO BRING PEOPLE
TOGETHER.
RANK CHOICE VOTING, REWARDS
CANDIDATES WHO HAVE BROUGHT
APPEAL.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SECOND OR
THIRD CHOICES AND OUR NUMBERS
SHOW THAT WE HAVE A TON OF
MOMENTUM GOING INTO THE HOME
STRETCH.
EARLY VOTING STARTS ON JUNE
12th.
SO WE FEEL VERY, VERY CONFIDENT
GOING INTO THIS HOME STRETCH.
>> SO THE KNOCK LAST NIGHT WAS
YOURE NOT READY TO BE MAYOR OF
NEW YORK CITY.
WHAT DO YOUR OPPONENTS HAVE
WRONG?
>> HE ALL LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY
AND YOU KNOW THAT WE NEED
CHANGE.
WHEREVER I GO IN NEW YORK,
PEOPLE SAY ITS NOT BEEN
WORKING.
WEVE BEEN RUN INTO THE GROUND
PROGRESSIVELY OVER THIS LAST
NUMBER OF YEARS.
AND A LOT OF THE CANDIDATES ON
THE STAGE LAST NIGHT HAVE BEEN
PART OF A CITY GOVERNMENT THAT
HAS FAILED FAR TOO MANY NEW
YORKERS FOR FAR TOO LONG.
SO THIS IS WHAT I HEAR
EVERYWHERE I GO.
WE NEED TO TURN THE PAGE.
WE NEED A FRESH START.
WE KNEW NEW LEADERSHIP, WE NEED
NEW IDEAS.
>> ANDREW, ITS WILLIE GEIST.
THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.
YOU HAD A BIG LEAD, YOU WERE UP
30% IN THIS THIS WPIX POLL.
THATS BEEN CUT IN HALF AS WE GO
INTO MAY.
WHAT IS YOUR CAMPAIGNS S
ASSESSMENT AS TO WHY THAT
EROSION HAS TAKEN PLACE?
>> OUR NUMBERS SHOW SOMETHING
DIFFERENT, WILLIE.
THE ONLY POP ANYONE SHOULD CARE
ABOUT IS THE EARLY VOTE ON JUNE
12th, JUNE 13th, JUNE 14th, AND
THE PRIMARY VOTE ON JUNE 22nd.
THAT WHERE OUR ATTENTION IS.
AND WE FEEL POSITIVE AND
CONFIDENT ABOUT PEOPLE COMING
OUT AND VOTING IN DROVES BECAUSE
THEY KNOW IT HAS NOT BEEN
WORKING AND WE NEED A DIFFERENT
FORM OF LEADERSHIP THAN WEVE
BEEN GETTING OVER THE LAST
NUMBER OF YEARS.
>> CRIME AND QUALITY OF LIFE ARE
THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR MOST
VOTERS.
IF YOU LOOK AT POLLING, YOU SAID
LAST NIGHT DURING THE DEBATE, WE
NEED TO STAFF UP.
YOURE SUGGESTING WE NEED MORE
COPS, NOT FEWER COPS.
COULD YOU LAY OUT THAT IDEA
BECAUSE THAT WILL BE
CONTROVERSIAL IN SOME WAYS.
>> THE CONVERSATION AROUND THIS
HAS TO BECOME MORE NUANCED AND
DETAILED.
THE PROBLEM IS WE DONT HAVE
ENOUGH DETECTIVES FOLLOWING UP
ON SHOOTING WHICH IS ONE REASON
WHY THE SOLVE RATES ARE SO LOW.
ANOTHER ONE HAPPENS TWO DAYS
AFTER THAT AND THE FIRST
SHOOTING NEVER GETS SOLVED.
SO WE NEED TO INCREASE THE
NUMBER OF DETECTIVES, BOTH IN
THE PRECINCTS AND IN THE GUN
VIOLENCE SUPPRESSION DIVISION
AND WE NEED TO GO ON A
RECRUITMENT DRIVE BECAUSE THE
REALITY IS THOUSANDS OF POLICE
OFFICERS HAVE FILED THEIR
RETIREMENT PAPERS.
AND SO WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO
RECRUIT THE 21st CENTURY POLICE
FORCE THAT REFLECTS THE
INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY OF OUR
CITY.
AND SO IF YOURE A NEW YORKER
WATCHING THIS AND YOU WANT TO
HELP MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY SAFER,
APPLY TO THE NYPD BECAUSE WE
NEED YOU.
BUT WERE GOING TO NEED PEOPLE
ACTUALLY SOLVING THE PROBLEMS ON
THE GROUND.
IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THREE
OUT OF FOUR SHOOTINGS IN
BROOKLYN HAVE GONE UNSOLVED FOR
THE LAX NUMBER OF MONTHS.
>> AND YOU LOOK AT THE WPIX
POLL, CRIME IS AT THE TOP OF THE
LIST OF WHAT VOTERS ARE MOST
CONCERNED ABOUT, HOUSING SECOND.
POLICE REFORM DOWN AT 10%.
BUT CRIME IS ON EVERYBODYS MIND
IN NEW YORK CITY.
AND, AGAIN, THIS IS A DEMOCRATIC
PRIMARY.
>> RIGHT.
AND A LOT OF THE CANDIDATES HAVE
MULTI FACETED APPROACHES TO
CRIME.
SUSAN DEL PERCIO, I KNOW YOU
HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE
CANDIDATE, BUT FIRST, EXPLAIN
THE RANK SYSTEM FOR THOSE WHO
DONT UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS.
>> SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
WERE GOING TO SEE A MAYORAL
CITY PRIMARY RANK CHOICE VOTING.
WHICH BASICALLY GIVES YOU FIVE
CHOICES.
YOU RANK THE PEOPLE IN ORDER.
THEN THEY DROP OUT THE PEOPLE
WHO DIDNT MAKE THE TOP FIVE.
AND THEY REAPPORTION THEIR VOTES
INTO ONE, TWO, THREE AND FOUR
AND FIVE.
AND ITS --
>> WHAT A NIGHTMARE.
>> AND BY THE WAY, BECAUSE A LOT
OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE LAST
PRESIDENTIAL, THEYRE NOT USING
COMPUTERS.
THE ALGORITHMS ARE NOT BEING
USED.
SO THIS IS ALL GOING ON BE DONE
WITH BALLOTS LITERALLY BEING PUT
IN BASKETS IN A WAREHOUSE.
AND YOU KNOW THE FIRST COUNT
ISNT GOING TO CUT IT.
SO THEYLL HAVE TO DO A RECOUNT.
>> THATS A NIGHTMARE.
>> IT IS A NIGHTMARE.
SOME PEOPLE ARE BIG FANS OF RANK
CHOICE VOTING BECAUSE IT GIVES
PEOPLE A CHANCE.
THE NUMBER TWO CAN BE ACTUALLY A
VERY IMPORTANT NUMBER FOR PEOPLE
IF ONE GETS BOUNCED OUT.
ITS AN INTERESTING WAY OF
GOING.
BUT, ANDREW, I COME FROM A
BACKGROUND OF SIX YEARS IN NEW
YORK CITY GOVERNMENT BASICALLY
IN FINANCE, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, AND I DID BUDGET
FOR CITY AGENCY.
I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR YOU
TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET DEFICIT
FOR 2023.
THAT IS HUGE.
WE HAVE ONE -- A LOT OF ONE
SHOTS IN THIS YEARS BUDGET.
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS -- AND
PLEASE BE SPECIFIC -- HOW ARE
YOU GOING TO ADDRESS A $5
BILLION BUDGET WHEN WE KNOW
YOURE SO LIMITED IN WHAT
RESOURCES YOU HAVE?
SO YOURE EITHER GOING TO HAVE
TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES, FIND
PEOPLE MORE, OR CUT STAFF.
AND NEGOTIATE WITH UNIONS TO GET
THOSE REDUCTIONS IN PAY.
SO OF THOSE OPTIONS, WHICH MOST
APPEALS TO YOU AS A WAY OF
GOVERNANCE TO SHOW WHERE YOURE
HEADED?
>> I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE
CALLING ATTENTION TO THIS, AS
WELL.
BECAUSE I THINK ITS
IRRESPONSIBLE WHAT BILL DE
BLASIO IS DOING WITH OUR BUDGET.
HES SETTING US UP TO FAIL.
AS YOU SAID, A $5.3 BILLION
DEFICIT, ANY COMMON SENSE
MANAGER WOULD LOOK AT THIS
SITUATION AND SAY WE SHOULD BE
TRYING TO SMOOTH THAT OUT AND
REDUCE THAT DEFICIT IN 2023.
AND IF YOUVE BEEN PART OF CITY
GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW THAT
THEYRE HABITUALLY ASKED TO FIND
COST EFFICIENCIES AND SAVINGS.
WHERE YOU SAY, HEY, TRY AND FIND
ME 2% TO 3% OF SAVINGS PER YEAR
AND YOU CAN DO THAT WITHOUT
REDUCING HEAD COUNT.
BUT BILL DE BLASIO HASNT EVEN
DONE THE BASICS.
SO YOU KNOW AS SOON AS YOU GET
THERE, YOURE GOING TO FIND
INSANE LEVELS OF WASTE AND
INEFFICIENCY EVERYWHERE FROM
PROCUREMENT TO THE FACT THAT OUR
PAYROLL HAS GROWN BY ABOUT
30,000 EMPLOYEES OVER THE LAST
NUMBER OF YEARS, EVEN AS
ORGANIZATIONS IN OTHER PARTS OF
THE CITY HAVE TIGHTENED THEIR
BELTS.
SO IM SO GLAD THAT YOU HEARD
LAST NIGHT THAT WE SHOULD BE
RAISING THE ALARM.
WHO THE HECK WANTS TO INHERIT A
$5.3 BILLION DEFICIT 2 1/2 YEARS
FROM NOW AND I AM BLOWN AWAY
OTHER CANDIDATES ON THE STAGE
ARE NOT RAISING A STINK ABOUT
THIS, UNLESS THEY EITHER DONT
EXPECT TO BE MAYOR, DONT
UNDERSTAND THE NUMBERS OR OWE
BILL DE BLASIO SO MUCH IN THE
WAY OF FAVORS THAT THEY CANT
SAY AN ILL WORD ABOUT HIM.
>> BUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
WERE LOOKING AT CLOSER TO 6%,
7% DEFICIT.
IN THE BUDGET.
HOW DO YOU THINK THE BEST WAY TO
MEET THAT CHALLENGE IS
SPECIFICALLY?
HOW DO YOU GET THERE?
>> IS IT CUTS?
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT CUTS?
>> WELL, THATS 3%.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE UP THE
REST?
IT ONLY COMES TO HEAD COUNT AND
TAXES.
>> CUT 6%, CUT 7%?
>> IT WOULD BE 3% IF YOU HAVE
DONE IT HABITUALLY OVER THE LAST
NUMBER OF YEARS.
BUT AT THIS POINT, YOU ACTUALLY
CAN FIND, I BELIEVE, MORE THAN
3% BECAUSE BILL DE BLASIO,
AGAIN, HAS LET AGENCIES JUST RUN
AMUCK.
SO YOU START THERE AND THEN IF
YOU HAVE TO EXAMINE HEAD COUNT
IN THE WAY THAT THE RESOURCES OF
THE CITY ARE BEING SPENT, THEN
YOU HAVE TO DIG IN.
YOU KNOW, THE REALITY IS THAT
WERE GOING TO HAVE TO DO MORE
WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE.
WE CANT JUST RELY ON BUSINESS
AS USUAL.
SO IF YOU HAVE TO EVALUATE
CERTAIN AGENCIES AND SAY, LOOK,
YOU HAVE THIS MANY PEOPLE DOING
THIS, LIKE CAN WE MAKE A
DIFFERENT ALLOCATION, YOURE
GOING TO HAVE TO FIND THE FAT
FIRST AND THERES A LOT OF FAT