The Stakes for New York and the Need for Voter Turnout

0:00 Speaker 1 Sunday morning, two days before the election. Who’s the best to talk to us about it? Well, we got Governor George Pataki, who was the great governor of the state of New York for 12 years. And I saw his documentary, and he was really great. I mean, he brought everybody together on 9-11 and then made sure that downtown was

0:26 built again. Governor George Pataki, two days to the election. I know we’ve talked over dinner. We’ve talked over lunch. You’re very much concerned about New York State. You still love the place. Give us your where the heck are we?

0:42 Speaker 2 Well, John, you hit it right on the head. I love this state. I spent my whole life here, spent a lot of time doing my best to make it a better place. And I’m really concerned. I think we’re headed in the wrong direction. We’re losing too many good people to Florida and other states. Our taxes are too high.

1:01 We don’t deal with the mentally ill homeless on the streets who too often are engaged in violence. And I think we have a mayor in New York who just doesn’t understand the American way of life and is trying to impose his views on the people of New York.

1:16 So these aren’t the greatest of times. But, John, as you know, I’m an optimist by nature, so you keep fighting, you keep believing. You know, you look around today, you may have your doubts, but you look to the future and you have to have hope.

1:28 Speaker 1 This is New York. I agree with you. And, you know, we have Governor Hochul and we have County Executive Blakeman Some polls say that Governor Hochul is way ahead. Some polls say that it’s very, very close. And the truth is, I don’t believe in polls anymore. So whatever happens, happens.

1:54 Speaker 2 You know, the truth is, John, we just don’t know. I remember when I was running the first time, this is literally true, Sunday before the election, the same day as today, two days before the Daily News straw poll came out, and it had never been wrong, and it showed me losing by 17 points. This is literally true.

2:13 I was down 17 with two days to go, according to a poll that had never been wrong, and I ended up winning by four. They were off by 21 points. So if anybody knows to doubt the polls, it’s me, because I’ve seen how inaccurate they can be. But having said that. I am worried because too many Republicans, and

2:33 I think there are a lot of Democrats who understand we have to change Albany and Mondami is going to have too much power if things don’t change, not just in New York City, but in Albany. But I worry that Republicans are looking at Washington and saying, I don’t know if I’m going to vote. Maybe I’m going to

2:49 stay home. Maybe I’m not going to vote Republican this time. And that’s what scares me. And we just have to Try to convince people that, you know, this isn’t about Washington and New York. This is about Albany. And if we keep things the way they are, Mondemi, mark my words, is going to be basically telling the Albany politicians what

3:09 to do. And that will mean higher taxes and other policies that hurt New York.

3:14 Speaker 1 I agree with you. And there’s a mass exodus that I’m afraid of. But there’s also a lot of new people that come to New York every day. There’s so many colleges, hundreds of thousands of new kids come in every year. But under the pretense of hundreds of thousands of new kids coming every year, our census should be

3:38 much higher. But it’s not. So I would say hundreds of thousands move out every year, too. And I worry about New York.

3:47 Speaker 2 Well, I do too, John. And you’re absolutely right what you just said. You know, we’re still a great place that attracts people from all over the country and all over the world. But we also, I believe, have been the number one country in America in losing people. We’ve just seen too many evictions. our friends, too many of

4:04 our neighbors move to Florida, move someplace else, and it’s not because of the weather. It’s because they can’t afford.

4:10 Speaker 1 To live in New York.

4:11 Speaker 2 The taxes are too high. The property taxes are too high. The electric bills are too high. And there comes a point where you just say, I love this place, but it’s too much. And You know, as I said, I’m still an optimist. But if things don’t change in Albany, we’re going to see Mondemi. And he’s already saying we

4:30 need to raise taxes more. We need to spend more on programs that too often just waste all the money and put people into dependency. So I’ll tell you, Bruce Blinken, I think, has run an excellent campaign. He’s really worked extremely hard. He’s talked about cutting taxes, lowering the electric bill, getting the mentally homeless off the street. So he’s done

4:52 what he can. And now it’s up to the voters. And I just hope Republicans, uh, who are thinking of staying home or thinking, maybe I won’t vote Republican this year. This isn’t about Washington. This is about Albany and we need change in Albany.

5:06 Speaker 1 Governor George Pataki. Thank you for coming on this Sunday morning. uh, I hate to joke around on a time like this because this is a very important time. I was going to say let’s vote often. I mean, there’s horrible things happening in Alaska, horrible things happening in California. So I pray for common sense, and I pray that New York

5:33 survives because I love New York. Absolutely.

5:36 Speaker 2 Totally agree, John. Stay well. And that’s just all your listeners. Make sure you vote and get your friends and neighbors out to vote. That’s what matters now with two days to go.

5:48 Speaker 1 Thank you so much.

5:49 Speaker 2 Thank you, John.