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[ THEME MUSIC ]

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ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW,", SUNY CHANCELLOR JOHN

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KING JOINS US TO DISCUSS HIS

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STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, STUDENT PROTESTS AND HIS VISION

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FOR THE UNIVERSITY, COMPLETE WITH FOUR KEY PILLARS, AND THEN

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AFTER MORE THAN THREE DECADES REPORTING ON THE STATE CAPITOL,

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KAREN DEWITT JOINS TO US DISCUSS HER RETIREMENT, LEGACY AND THE

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BIGGEST MOMENTS OF HER CAREER. I'M SHANTEL DESTRA AND THIS IS

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"NEW YORK NOW." [ THEME MUSIC ]

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WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

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I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

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THIS WEEK, A SIENA COLLEGE RESEARCH POLL SHOWED GOVERNOR

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KATHIE HOCHUL HAD HER LOWEST FAVORABILITY RATING EVER AT 38%

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AND LOWEST JOB APPROVAL RATING AT 44%.

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THE POLL COMES JUST WEEKS AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S CONTROVERSIAL

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DECISION TO PUT CONGESTION PRICING ON HOLD IN NEW YORK CITY

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AND ACCORDING TO THE POLL, 45%

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OF VOTERS ACROSS PARTY LINES

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SUPPORT THAT DECISION. IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP STYLE,

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36% OF NEW YORKERS POLLED

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BELIEVE THAT HOCHUL DEMONSTRATES DECISIVE LEADERSHIP AND 44% OF

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NEW YORKERS SAID THAT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE HOCHUL CARES ABOUT

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PEOPLE LIKE THEM. AS WE KNOW, THINGS ARE ALWAYS

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SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN POLLING, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE TIMES WE'RE

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IN WITH THE LEGISLATURE OUT OF

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SESSION AND THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS RAMPING UP.

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WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE POLLS AS THEY COME UP, AND BRING

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YOU UPDATES. NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER TOPIC.

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SUNY CHANCELLOR JOHN KING HAS A VISION FOR THE UNIVERSITY

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CENTERED AROUND FOUR PIVOTAL

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PILLARS. WE RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH THE

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CHANCELLOR TO UNPACK WHAT THOSE ARE AND HIS GOALS FOR THE

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UNIVERSITY MOVING FORWARD.

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HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION. [ THEME MUSIC ]

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>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY, CHANCELLOR. >> THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

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>> OF COURSE. NATURALLY, I WANTED TO GET INTO

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YOUR STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY ADDRESS.

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THIS YEAR, YOUR SPEECH FOCUSED LARGELY ON FOUR PILLARS.

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ONE OF THEM BEING STUDENT SUCCESS AND THEN RESEARCH AND

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SCHOLARSHIP, DEI, AND ECONOMIC

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DEVELOPMENT AND UPWARD MOBILITY. SO WHY WERE THESE SPECIFIC

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PILLARS IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR OVERALL VISION FOR SUNY?

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>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I JOINED IN JANUARY '23, I LAID OUT THOSE

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PILLARS WITH OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES AS THE PATH TO ENSURING

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THAT SUNY IS THE BEST HIGHER PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE

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COUNTRY, AND I REALLY WANTED THE SPEECH TO EXPLAIN ALL THE

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PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING. WE HAVE ENROLLMENT UP FROM THE

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FIRST TIME THIS PAST SEPTEMBER

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IN A DECADE. THAT WAS FANTASTIC.

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WE ARE REPLICATING THE ASAP

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PROGRAM WHICH HELPS STUDENTS TO NOT JUST START BUT FINISH

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COLLEGE ON 25 OF OUR CAMPUSES.

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WE'VE GOT HUGE MOMENTUM IN THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY, AROUND

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AI RESEARCH. WE CONTINUE TO DIVERSIFY OUR

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STUDENT POPULATION AND OUR FACULTY AND WE KNOW THAT OUR

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DIVERSITY MAKES US STRONGER AND

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SUNY'S PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN EVERY

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REGION OF THE STATE. I WANT TO TELL THAT STORY SO

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FOLKS WOULD UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH MOMENTUM WE HAVE AND ALSO HOW

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APPRECIATIVE WE ARE OF GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND THE LEGISLATURE

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REALLY INVESTING IN SUNY. >> ABSOLUTELY.

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AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING WAS YOU

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REALLY UNDERSCORED GETTING STUDENTS TO FILL OUT THAT FREE

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APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID BEING ONE OF THE MAIN

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CHALLENGES THAT SUNY FACED OVER

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THE PAST YEAR. SO WHAT WOULD BE YOUR STRATEGY

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TO CONTINUE TO EMPOWER AND EDUCATE STUDENTS TO FILL OUT

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THAT APPLICATION? >> YEAH. THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

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YOU KNOW, THAT APPLICATION IS THE GATEWAY TO FEDERAL FINANCIAL

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AID, STATE FINANCIAL AID, AND

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BECAUSE OF CHANGES THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS MAKING TO

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THE FORM, THE FORM IS DELAYED

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THIS YEAR. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF TECHNICAL

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GLITCHES AND SO AS A COUNTRY, WE'RE ACTUALLY BEHIND ON FAFSA

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COMPLETION. ABOUT 16, 15% BEHIND IN NEW

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YORK. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN NEW YORK TO MAKE SURE EVERY

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STUDENT KNOWS ABOUT IT. FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE GREAT

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PARTNERSHIPS WITH K-12, WITH

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OTHER HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS, AND WE'RE DOING A LOT TO GET THE

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WORD OUT, OFFERING INFORMATION SESSIONS.

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WE'VE GOT A FAFSA COMPLETION CORPS, WHICH IS PART OF THE

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AMERICORPS PROGRAM WHERE OUR SUNY STUDENTS ARE TRAINED TO

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HELP FAMILIES COMPLETE THAT

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FAFSA. WE ARE DOING EVENTS WITH SCHOOL

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DISTRICTS TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE

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DOING ALL THEY CAN TO HELP STUDENTS GET THROUGH THE FAFSA

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AND WE'RE DOING TONS OF REMINDING BECAUSE FOLKS NEED TO

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REMEMBER, THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS FORM.

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YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR IN NEW YORK BECAUSE OF STUDENTS NOT

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COMPLETING THE FORM, WE LEFT

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MORE THAN $220 MILLION ON THE

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TABLE IN FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID THAT STUDENTS COULD HAVE USED TO

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GO TO COLLEGE. IT'S A HUGE AND IMPORTANT ISSUE.

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WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO

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COMPLETE THIS FINANCIAL AID CYCLE AND THEN THE GOVERNOR AND

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THE LEGISLATURE ADOPTED A REALLY IMPORTANT CHANGE THAT STARTED

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NEXT YEAR FAFSA COMPLETION IN

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NEW YORK WILL BE UNIVERSAL. K-12 WILL WORK WITH HIGHER ED TO

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MAKE SURE THAT EVERY STUDENT COMPLETES THE FAFSA FORM.

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>> ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE STATE BUDGET THIS YEAR HAD TO DEAL

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WITH, OF COURSE, FUNDING FOR SUNY DOWNSTATE.

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YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER OR

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NOT FUND WILLING BE INCLUDED TO

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SAVE THE HOSPITAL. SO WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO HOW

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THINGS EVENTUALLY OR YOU KNOW, ARE NETTED OUT?

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>> WE'RE REALLY PLEASED THAT THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE ARE

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TAKING THIS CHALLENGE ON ALONG WITH US.

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WE LAID OUT THE CHALLENGES OF

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DOWNSTATE. $100 MILLION A YEAR DEFICIT,

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OPERATING DEFICIT, THE RISK OF

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CLOSURE THIS SUMMER IF WE DIDN'T

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GET ADDITIONAL HELP FROM THE STATE.

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AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL

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CHALLENGES AND BUILDING THAT'S REALLY IN DISREPAIR AND THAT

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RISK OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. WE LAID THAT OUT.

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THE GOVERNOR STEPPED UP WITH A PLAN ON HOW TO ADDRESS IT IN

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WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE. ADOPTED ESSENTIALLY THE PLAN

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THAT THE GOVERNOR INITIALLY LAID OUT. $100 MILLION TO COVER THIS

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YEAR'S DEFICIT. $100 MILLION TO COVER NEXT

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YEAR'S DEFICIT. $300 MILLION IN CAPITAL

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INVESTMENT AND WORKING WITH THE

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LEGISLATURE AND STAKEHOLDERS, THE GOVERNOR ALSO AND THE

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LEGISLATURE SET UP AN ADVISORY BOARD, COMMUNITY FOLKS WHO WILL

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WORK WITH US AT THE STATE LEVEL TO THINK THROUGH THE FUTURE OF

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DOWNSTATE, TO THINK ABOUT THE BEST INVESTMENT OF THAT $300

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MILLION IN CAPITAL FUNDS AND IMPORTANTLY, THE BUDGET ALLOWS

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FOR THE ADVISORY BOARD TO CONSIDER UP TO $750 MILLION IN

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CAPITAL INVESTMENT, SO THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK IN THE

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NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND GET SOME ADDITIONAL CAPITAL

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INVESTMENT. THAT'S HELPFUL AS WE THINK ABOUT

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HOW DO WE ENSURE THE STRENGTH OF THE HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY

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AND CONTINUED IMPROVED HEALTH CARE IN THE COMMUNITY.

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>> IN THIS PAST YEAR, THERE WAS

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A LOT OF UNREST ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES ACROSS NEW YORK STATE,

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INCLUDING SUNY BROOK UNIVERSITY

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AND SUNY NEW POLL REGARDING THE

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ONGOING WAR IN GAZA. WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THE

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WAYS THESE INDIVIDUALS SCHOOLS RESPONDED TO THE UNREST?

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AND WHAT WILL BE SUNY'S POSITION

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ON STUDENT PROTESTS HEADING INTO THE NEXT YEAR?

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>> LOOK, THE TOP PRIORITY FOR US

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IS STUDENT SAFETY, RIGHT? WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR

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STUDENTS ARE SAFE AND IN A

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SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. WE, OF COURSE, VALUE FREE SPEECH

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AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND THE ROBUST EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.

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BUT THAT'S NOT LIMITLESS.

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THAT CAN NEVER TURN INTO DISCRIMINATION OR HARASSMENT.

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IT CAN NEVER TURN INTO VIOLENCE

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OR VANDALISM AND CAN NEVER TURNED INTO DISRUPTING THE

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EDUCATION OF ONE'S CLASSMATES,

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AND SO YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY CLEAR.

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WE HAVE CONTENT-NEUTRAL TIME,

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PLACE AND MANNER RESTRICTIONS. YOU CAN'T BLOCK THE ENTRANCE TO

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A BUILDING, FOR EXAMPLE TO PREVENT YOUR CLASSMATES FROM

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GOING TO CLASS, AND SO THERE ARE RULES AROUND HOW FREE EXPRESSION

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IS EXERCISED AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR

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CAMPUSES ARE SAFE ENVIRONMENTS IF THEN THE HARD THING IN THIS

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MOMENT IS AND WE CONTINUE TO

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CONDEMN THE HORRIFIC TERRORIST

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ATTACK ON OCTOBER 7TH.

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WE CONTINUE TO STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AGAINST

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TERRORISM, AND AT THE SAME TIME,

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WE'RE ALL HEARTBROKEN SEEING THE LOSS OF CIVILIAN LIVES IN GAZA.

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PART OF WHAT'S HARD IN THIS MOMENT IS PEOPLE HAVE TO HOLD

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BOTH THINGS IN MIND THAT WE CAN

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CONDEMN HAMAS. WE CAN WISH FOR THE SAFE RETURN

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OF THE HOSTAGES AND AT THE SAME

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TIME, WE CAN HAVE TREMENDOUS SYMPATHY FOR THE INNOCENT LIVES

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LOST IN GAZA AND I HOPE THAT AS

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WE GO INTO THE FALL, WE CAN HAVE

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A THOUGHTFUL, ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PATH FORWARD, THE

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RIGHT POLICY SOLUTIONS, BUT DO

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SO IN A WAY THAT IS RESPECTFUL AND THEN AS I FOCUS ON THE

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UNIVERSITY SPEECH WAS ON THE NEED FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND

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CIVIL DISCOURSE, FOR TO US PRACTICE IN OUR CLASSES AND

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EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND IN OUR DORMS, HOW DO WE DISAGREE

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AGREEABLY? HOW DO WE HAVE A QUESTION WHERE

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WE QUESTION NOT JUST THE ASSUMPTIONS OF THE PERSON WE

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DISAGREE WITH, BUT OUR OWN ASSUMPTIONS?

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HOW DO WE HAVE A SPIRIT OF

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LEARNING ABOUT OUR CIVIL DISCOURSE, AND I HOPE THAT'S

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WHAT WE'LL SEE GOING FORWARD. >> GOING BACK TO YOUR STATE OF

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THE UNIVERSITY ADDRESS, THIS WAS, OF COURSE, YOUR SECOND TIME

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GIVING THAT ADDRESS. WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST

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LEARNINGS FROM YOUR FIRST YEAR COMPARED TO YOUR SECOND YEAR?

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WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT SORT OF SURPRISED YOU?

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>> HMM, HMM. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WHEN I STARTED WAS I VISITED ALL

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64 CAMPUSES. >> RIGHT.

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>> AND HAD THE CHANCE TO TALK WITH STUDENTS, FACULTY,

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ADMINISTRATORS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT EACH OF OUR

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CAMPUSES. TWO THINGS STRUCK ME.

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ONE IS THERE'S SUCH EXTRAORDINARY DIVERSITY OF

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OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS SUNY.

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SUNY MARITIME, IF YOU WANT TO TRAIN FOR THE COMMERCIAL

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SHIPPING INDUSTRY AND MAKE SIX FIGURES, COULD MANY TO SUNY

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MARITIME. IF YOU ARE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, WE'VE GOT

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OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE COLLEGE IN SYRACUSE, AMAZING

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PROGRAMS. WE'VE GOT TREMENDOUS ARTS

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PROGRAM AT PURCHASE AND FREDONIA

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AND TREMENDOUS MUSIC PROGRAM,

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WHATEVER YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT.

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YOU WANT TO BE AN ENGINEER, WE HAVE GREAT PROGRAMS AT BINGHAMTON, STONEYBROOK, UB, AT

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SUNY POLY. SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES.

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IF YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AI,

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SO MANY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

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AT UB, U ALBANY. THE RANGE OF OPTIONS, I THINK IS

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REALLY EXCITING AND I HOPE WE CAN HELP EVERY NEW YORKER

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UNDERSTAND WHAT GREAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE AT

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SUNY. THE SECOND THING THAT STRUCK ME

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IS SO MANY CHALLENGES THAT

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IMPACT STUDENT SUCCESS.

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THE NEED FOR MORE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ON CAMPUS.

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STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH FOOD INSECURITY AND HOUSING

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INSECURITY. STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY IN OUR

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COMMUNITY COLLEGES WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH TRANSPORTATION,

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JUST GETTING TO CAMPUS.

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STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH

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HOW TO NAVIGATE HAVING A DISABILITY AND MAKING IT THROUGH

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SCHOOL. THE GOOD THING IS BECAUSE OF THE

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GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND THE LEGISLATURE,

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WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DEDICATE RESOURCES TO EACH OF THOSE

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AREAS, $10 MILLION TO EXPAND

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MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, $10 MILLION TO EXPAND SUPPORTS WITH

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STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LAUNCH AN

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EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN OUR FOOD PANTRIES ACROSS OUR CAMPUSES AND

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ALSO TO WORK WITH STUDENTS TO COMPLETE THE SNAP APPLICATION SO

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THEY CAN GET FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY.

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WE'RE WORKING HARD TO GET RID OF THOSE OBSTACLES FOR STUDENTS

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BECAUSE WE WANT STUDENTS NOT JUST TO COME TO COLLEGE, BUT TO

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GRADUATE AND HAVE ACCESS TO SUCCESS IN OUR ECONOMY.

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>> AND AS YOU HEAD INTO THE SUMMER AND INTO YOUR THIRD

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SCHOOL YEAR LEADING THE UNIVERSITY, WHAT WOULD A

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SUCCESSFUL SEMESTER OR SCHOOL

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YEAR LOOK LIKE FOR YOU? >> WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE

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PROGRESS IN EACH OF THOSE AREAS

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IN STUDENT SUCCESS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE

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CONTINUE TO GROW AS A SYSTEM AND

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THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING AT EVEN HIGHER RATES.

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WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LEADING THE WAY ON RESEARCH AND

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SCHOLARSHIP. THE GOVERNOR LAUNCHED A

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PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT WOULD BRING $400 MILLION TO NEW

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YORK TO INVEST IN ARTIFICIAL

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INTELLIGENCE, INVEST IN OUR LEADERSHIP, IN ARTIFICIAL

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INTELLIGENCE, FUNDING FROM THE STATE AS WELL AS PHILANTHROPY

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AND PRIVATE DOLLARS. THAT IS GOING TO LEAD TO A SUPER

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COMPUTING SITE AT UB, WHICH WILL

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MAKE US A NATIONAL LEADER IN

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THAT SECTOR WE WANT TO CONTINUE

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TO GROW OUR WORK AND OUR LEADERSHIP AND RESEARCH AND

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SCHOLARSHIP. WE WANT TO BE A VOICE NATIONALLY

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FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.

12:56

PUSH BACK ON THESE STATES THAT ARE BANNING THE TEACHING OF THE

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TRUTH ABOUT OUR HISTORY AND THINGS LIKE DENYING THE HISTORY

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OF SLAVERY. WE WANT TO PUSH BACK ON THAT AND

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SAY, NO, NO, AT SUNY, IN NEW YORK STATE, WE'RE GOING TO TELL

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THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR HISTORY. WE'RE GOING TO PREPARE STUDENTS

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TO LIVE IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY AND

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WORK IN DIVERSE EMPLOYMENT

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SETTINGS. AND THEN ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE SO MANY

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OPPORTUNITIES TO LEAD, TO LEAD IN THE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE WE

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NEED, ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF

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THE GROWTH OF THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY IN NEW YORK AS MICRON

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COMES TO CENTRAL NEW YORK. THEY WILL NEED LOTS OF FOLKS TO

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WORK THERE. WE WANT TO PREPARE THEM.

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GLOBAL FOUNDRIES AND THERE'S LOTS OF FOLKS WHO WORK THERE. WE WANT TO PREPARE THEM.

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THE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN CUTTING-EDGE AREAS LIKE QUANTUM

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PHYSICS WHERE REALLY GREAT WORK IS HAPPENING AT STONYBROOK OR

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BATTERY TECHNOLOGY, WHERE REALLY GREAT WORK IS HAPPENING AT

13:48

BINGHAMTON. KEEPING THAT MOMENTUM GOING IN

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THE NEXT YEAR IS CRITICAL. >> ABSOLUTELY.

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WELL, CERTAINLY A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO. UNFORTUNATELY, WE WILL HAVE TO

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LEAVE IT HERE FOR NOW. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING

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US. >> THANKS SO MUCH. >> WE WERE SPEAKING WITH THE

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CHANCELLOR OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, JOHN

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KING. [ THEME MUSIC ]

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AND FOR MORE ON THE CHANCELLOR'S VISION FOR SUNY, YOU CAN VISIT

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OUR WEBSITE. THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

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NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOPIC.

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AFTER MORE THAN THREE DECADES COVERING STATE POLITICS,

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LONG-TIME CAPITOL REPORTER KAREN

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DEWITT IS RETIRING. KAREN'S WORK THROUGH THE YEARS

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HAS EMBODIED THOROUGH REPORTING,

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SAVVY POLITICAL INSIGHTS AND AN

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UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO BEING

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CLEAR. WE SAT DOWN WITH KAREN TO DISCUSS

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HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO NEW YORK POLITICS AND HER LEGACY.

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[ THEME MUSIC ]

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>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY, KAREN.

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>> I'M HAPPY TO DO IT. >> NOW YOU'VE HAD QUITE THE

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CAREER COVERING STATE POLITICS SPANNING OVER THREE DECADES.

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BEFORE WE GET INTO YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS THROUGH THE YEARS,

14:53

I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT INITIALLY GOT YOU INTERESTED IN

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COVERING STATE POLITICS AND WHAT

14:58

GOT YOU FOCUSED ON THE BEAT OVER

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THE LAST 30 YEARS? >> I THINK LIKE ANYTHING, I JUST

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KIND OF FELL INTO IT. I MOVED BACK TO THIS AREA AFTER

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COLLEGE AT SUNY GENESEO, AND I

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ACTUALLY HAD AN INTERNSHIP AT

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WXXI THAT GOT ME GOING I SHOULD MENTION.

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BECAUSE WXXI IS A BIG PART OF

15:18

OUR NETWORK, AND I JUST WORKED

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AT SOME LOCAL NEWS STATIONS.

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THERE WAS AN ALL-NEWS RADIO STATION.

15:26

IT WAS KIND OF PRE-CURSOR TO LIKE WHAT WE HAVE FOR SPECTRUM

15:29

NEWS RIGHT NOW. IT WAS JUST A GOOD TRAINING GROUND FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO RUN

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AROUND AND, YOU KNOW, COVER ALL KINDS OF NEWS AND DIFFERENT

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THINGS. BE LIVE ON THE AIR AND I FOUND THAT I ACTUALLY LIKE POLITICS

15:41

BETTER THAN, YOU KNOW, COVERING FIRES AND CRIMES AND ALL THE

15:44

OTHER THINGS THAT YOU DO. MARIO CUOMO WAS GOVERNOR THEN.

15:47

AND HE WAS A BIG NATIONAL

15:50

FIGURE. YOU HAD NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ED

15:52

KOCH WHO WOULD COME TO TOWN REGULARLY AND THERE WERE THESE

15:55

LARGER-THAN-LIFE CHARACTERS

15:58

GOING AROUND THE CAPITOL. I WAS VERY INTRIGUED BY THAT AND

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IT'S RIGHT HERE, RIGHT WHERE I

16:04

AM. I GOT THROUGH THE BACK DOOR. THERE WAS A STRINGER JOB FOR

16:06

1010 WINS, WHICH IS A BIG NEWS

16:11

STATION AND I GOT THE STRINGER

16:13

JOB AND THEN I JUST, YOU KNOW,

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MADE MY WAY WITH MAGAZINE ARTICLES FOR ADIRONDACK LIFE.

16:19

I WORKED FOR ALTERNATIVE NEWS

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WEEKLY METROLAND FOR A FEW YEARS AND I PATCHED IT ALL TOGETHER

16:24

FOR A FEW YEARS AND THEN THIS PUBLIC RADIO NETWORK JOB CAME

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ABOUT. IT WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND

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SOMEONE STARTED IT BEFORE ME. IT HAD FOUR STATION.

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I THOUGHT, OKAY, I THINK I HAVE LIKE HAD SKILLS AND I KNOW HOW

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TO BE ON THE AIR, BUT I ALSO KNOW THE JOURNALISM SKILLS YOU

16:40

GET FROM ALL THOSE MAGAZINE

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EDITORS, YOU KNOW, SAYING DO A LITTLE MORE HERE, DIG IN A

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LITTLE MORE THERE OR CHANGE THIS

16:47

AROUND. AND THEN I GOT THAT JOB IN 1990

16:51

AND IT SORT OF GREW FROM THERE

16:54

TO TEN STATIONS AND THEN ABOUT

16:57

SOMETIME IN THE MID-'90S ONE OF

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PEOPLE WHO WORKED HERE, ONE OF MY PREDECESSORS, MICHAEL

17:03

CARISSE, SAID WE'RE STARTING A

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WEEKLY REPORTERS' ROUNDTABLE AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON IT.

17:09

AT FIRST, I WAS LIKE, NO, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ON THAT.

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I DON'T WANT TO BE ON TV. [LAUGHTER] HE DRAGGED ME KICKING

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AND SCREAMING TO DO THAT.

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>> YEAH. ABSOLUTELY. HOW WOULD YOU SAY THE SHOW, "NEW

17:21

YORK NOW," IMPACTED YOUR CAREER?

17:24

>> WELL, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, SHANTEL, FOR BEING ON TV FOR

17:27

WHAT, A YEAR NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYTHING YOU SAY IS

17:30

MORE IMPORTANT. LIKE PEOPLE LISTEN TO YOU MORE.

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>> EXACTLY. >> I'M SURE AS YOU GO AROUND THE CAPITOL, PEOPLE SAY, OH, I SEE

17:36

YOU FROM TV. EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE THE SAME

17:38

PERSON DOING THE SAME THINGS, IT'S JUST A BIGGER STAGE.

17:42

IT'S ALSO FROT WITH, YOU KNOW, ALL KINDS OF BEING NERVOUS ABOUT

17:46

IT. >> YEAH, EXACTLY. >> AND THE STAKES ARE HIGHER.

17:49

BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING AND I REALLY DO FEEL LIKE BEING

17:52

ON TV DID MAKE MY CAREER AND BEING ABLE TO BE ON A REPORTERS'

17:56

ROUNDTABLE AND GIVE MY TWO CENTS, WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT,

17:59

JUST REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE. >> YOU KNOW, AT THE TIME WHEN

18:02

YOU FIRST STARTED IN THE STATE

18:04

POLITICS, YOU WERE ONE OF VERY

18:06

FEW WOMEN REPORTERS IN THE LCA.

18:09

HOW DID THAT REALITY IMPACT YOUR CAREER THROUGH THE YEARS?

18:12

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, THERE WAS A GROUP OF OLDER WOMEN WHO WERE

18:15

THERE BEFORE ME. MAYBE TEN YEARS BEFORE ME AND

18:17

I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO THEM BECAUSE THEY KIND OF BROKE THE

18:20

ICE WITH, YOU KNOW, ALL-MALE

18:23

ENVIRONMENT. SO IT WAS A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR ME.

18:26

YEAH, THERE WERE A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THERE WERE TWO WOMEN

18:28

REPORTERS, AND THERE WERE MORE-- LIKE 40 MEN REPORTERS AND MAYBE

18:31

TWO WOMEN COMING IN AND OUT. I DON'T KNOW.

18:33

I COULDN'T FIND USE TO BEING IN

18:37

THE MAN'S WORLD AND THE REALITY THAT SOMETIMES IT WAS HARD IN A

18:40

BIG PRESS CONFERENCE, YOU KNOW,

18:42

WITH THE GOVERNOR SPEAKING IN A HIGH STAKES PRESS CONFERENCE TO

18:45

GET YOUR QUESTION IN. YOU WOULD HAVE TO REALLY FIGHT

18:47

BECAUSE THE MEN WOULD BE SHOUTING AND COMPETING WITH ONE

18:50

ANOTHER AND TRYING TO FIND THAT LITTLE ANGLE AND GET IN.

18:52

>> YES. >> IT WAS DIFFERENT, BUT I DON'T KNOW.

18:55

I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT I GREW UP WITH. I WAS MORE USED TO THE BOYS'

18:58

CULTURE, THE JOKES, THE CYNICISM, NEVER REVEALING

19:01

ANYTHING TOO PERSONAL ABOUT YOURSELF.

19:04

I THINK WOMEN WILL DO THAT MORE. THEY'LL LIKE SPILL THEIR GUTS,

19:08

WHICH IS FUN TOO, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE PROBABLY

19:11

FOR THE FIRST 20 YEARS I WAS THERE.

19:13

>> WOW. NOW A LOT OF REPORTERS IN THE LCA CAN SAY THEY COVERED

19:17

THE LIKES OF DAVID PATERSON, MARIO CUOMO, ANDREW CUOMO,

19:21

KATHIE HOCHUL, SO HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENCES IN

19:24

COVERING EACH GOVERNOR? >> I KNOW.

19:26

IT'S BEEN CRAZY THAT I HAVE DONE IT FOR THAT LONG.

19:28

>> WELL, MARIO CUOMO, HE WAS JUST A REALLY GREAT MAN AND

19:32

MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE I WAS YOUNGER

19:35

AND KNEW LESS. LIKE I THINK I LOOKED UP TO HIM.

19:39

HE ALSO TAUGHT A LOT.

19:41

HE HAD A LOT OF NEWS CONFERENCES. LIKE YOU CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.

19:45

HE SOMETIMES WOULD HAVE TWO A DAY, MAYBE AN HOUR LONG AND YOU

19:49

WOULD BE SITTING THIS LOOKING AT YOUR WATCH AND SAYING, JEEZ, I

19:51

GOT TO GET GOING WRITING MY NEWS STORIES.

19:54

IS THEY GOING TO END? NOW WE HAVE THE OPPOSITE

19:57

PROBLEM. >> AND A GAGGLE.

20:00

>> A LOT OF TIMES WOE HAVE US INTO HIS OFFICE AND WE WOULD

20:03

JUST SIT AROUND AND HE WAS REALLY GOOD ABOUT ANSWERING

20:06

PEOPLE'S QUESTIONS. BUT YEAH, THERE WOULD BE LOTS OF GAGGLES, LOTS OF ACCESS, BUT

20:10

THERE WASN'T THE INTERNET THEN. SO THEY NEEDED US MORE, I THINK.

20:15

YOU KNOW, MODERN DAY, IT'S BEEN A LOT DIFFERENT.

20:18

>> YEAH. AND DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITE STORIES OR MOMENTS THAT

20:21

YOU WORKED ON DURING YOUR TIME AT NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO?

20:24

>> I THINK IT'S THE BIG ONES THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT,

20:27

RIGHT? YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO ELIOT

20:30

SPITZER HAVING TO RESIGN BECAUSE

20:33

HE WAS PATRONIZING PROSTITUTES,

20:35

WHICH WAS A SHOCKER TO EVERYONE.

20:37

THAT WAS A VERY SHOCKING DAY.

20:39

ALSO DAVID PATERSON BEING SWORN IN AS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN

20:43

GOVERNOR. THAT WAS JUST LIKE A VERY

20:45

CELEBRATORY DAY. PEOPLE WERE REALLY JUBILANT.

20:48

IT WAS REALLY FUN. PATERSON HAD A TERRIBLE TIME AS

20:52

GOVERNOR BECAUSE THE GREAT RECESSION HIT, AND IT JUST WAS

20:55

VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. AND THEN, OF COURSE, COVID, THE

20:59

LOCKDOWN, SUDDENLY BEING ON

21:01

GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO'S REALITY

21:03

TV SHOW EVERY DAY WITH THE

21:05

BRIEFINGS. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD A BIT PART

21:07

ON THIS NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL

21:10

REALITY TV SHOW. AT THE SAME TIME, LIKE AT THE

21:13

HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, 700

21:15

PEOPLE A DAY WOULD BE DYING.

21:18

SO IT WAS JUST REALLY AN INTENSE

21:21

TIME AND OF COURSE, JUST THE

21:23

NEXT YEAR, ANDREW CUOMO IMPLODING.

21:25

SO ALL OF THAT STUFF WAS JUST

21:27

REALLY BIG DRAMAS TO WITNESS AND

21:29

THAT'S ONLY A FEW OF THEM. I MEAN, THEN THERE'S ALL THE

21:31

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS THAT WENT TO JAIL OR GOT CONVICTED OF

21:35

CORRUPTION. WE HAD THE COUP.

21:37

WE CAN'T FORGET THE COUP WHEN DIFFERENT RIVAL SENATORS TOOK

21:40

OVER THE SENATE. WE HAD COMPETING SENATE SESSIONS

21:43

FOR A MONTH, SO JUST LOTS OF CRAZY DRAMA, AND YOU KNOW, IT

21:47

MADE IT EASY TO BE A REPORTER. YOU HAD THESE CHARACTERS TO TELL

21:50

YOUR NARRATIVE, TELL YOUR STORY. THEY CERTAINLY MADE IT EASY WITH

21:54

ALL THEIR ANTICS FOR US, RIGHT?

21:56

>> ARE THERE ANY REPORTING THREADS THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE

21:59

HAD THE TIME OR OPPORTUNITY TO DIVE INTO IN YOUR CAREER THAT

22:02

YOU WISH YOU WOULD HAVE? >> I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT.

22:05

SOME OF THEM CURRENTLY GOING ON IS THE OUT-MIGRATION IN NEW YORK

22:09

STATE. I NEVER SEEM TO GET TO THAT BIGGER PICTURE AND THAT'S SO

22:13

COMPLICATED FOR SO MANY REASONS. YOU WILL HAVE TO DO THAT STORY.

22:16

>> THAT'S WHAT I LOOK FORWARD TO.

22:18

>> AND ALSO INCOMING EQUALITY.

22:21

THAT'S JUST A BIG THING THAT OVERSHADOWS THINGS IN A WAY WE

22:24

DON'T ALWAYS MENTION OR UNDERSTAND AND IS CAUSING A LOT

22:27

OF THE DIVISIONS IN THIS SOCIETY RIGHT NOW.

22:30

SO THOSE ARE PROBABLY JUST THE ONES OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THAT

22:32

I CAN THINK OF. >> YEAH. YOU'RE OFTEN REVERED AS

22:36

THE DEAN OF THE LCA. WHAT DOES THAT TITLE AND

22:38

RECOGNITION MEAN TO YOU? >> WELL, UNTIL RECENTLY, I

22:42

REFUSED TO ACCEPT THAT TITLE. >> REALLY?

22:44

>> BECAUSE PEOPLE STARTING HINTING THAT I WAS THE ONE

22:47

AROUND THE LONGEST AND MAYBE THE

22:49

MOST OUTGOING PERSON.

22:51

I LIKE TO NOT MENTOR YOUNGER REPORTS BUT AT LEAST TALK TO

22:54

THEM AND BECOME FRIENDS AND SEE

22:56

WHERE THEY'RE AT AND EVERYTHING. AND FOR A WHILE THERE, I WOULD

23:00

SAY, I'M NOT THE DEAN. I DON'T WANT TO BE THE DEAN.

23:03

THEN I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WOMEN OFTEN REJECT TITLES

23:07

IN A WAY THAT MEN DON'T. I THOUGHT, NO.

23:10

I CAN BE THE DEAN. YOU KNOW, I'M SURE LIKE MANY MEN

23:13

BEFORE ME WERE FINE IF SOMEONE CALLED THEM THE DEAN, YEAH,

23:15

THAT'S WHAT I AM. I'M THE DEAN. I WAS LIKE, YEAH, OKAY.

23:18

I AM THE DEAN. I WILL TAKE IT.

23:20

I WILL ACCEPT THAT TITLE. >> AWESOME.

23:23

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF REPORTERS

23:27

COVERING STATE POLITICS? >> WELL, I THINK THAT YOU HAVE

23:30

TO WANT TO DO IT MORE THAN YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING ELSE IN YOUR

23:33

LIFE. OTHERWISE IT'S JUST GOING TO BE TOO HARD AND YOU ARE GOING TO

23:36

GET FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY OBSTACLES AND

23:38

FRUSTRATIONS. I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A

23:40

LOT OF DIFFERENT JOBS. YOU WON'T HAVE ONE JOB ARE FOR

23:42

30 YEARS LIKE I DID. I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING.

23:46

AND I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO OVER TO WHAT WE

23:49

CALLED THE DARK SIDE WHICH IS,

23:52

YOU KNOW, BEING IN PR OR, YOU

23:54

KNOW, BEING A SPOKESPERSON FOR A

23:56

POLITICIAN AND IT'S EASIER TO GO BACK AND FORTH.

23:59

MY ADVICE WOULD BE EVERY TIME YOU DO THAT, MAKE SURE YOU UP

24:02

YOUR SALARY. LIKE USE THAT AS A NEGOTIATION.

24:05

THESE ARE GENERALLY NOT PAID AS

24:08

WELL AS THE PEOPLE ARE WORTH.

24:10

BUT YEAH. IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH BUT LIKE, HOPEFULLY, JOURNALISM

24:13

IS GOING TO SURVIVE IN SOME CERTAIN CORE WAY.

24:17

THAT'S MY HOPE. >> AND WHAT LEGACY ARE YOU

24:19

HOPING TO HAVE IN THE LCA AND IN

24:22

THE LARGER NEW YORK STATE POLITICAL BEAT?

24:25

HOW ARE YOU HOPING YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED?

24:27

>> THAT IS SO HARD TO ANSWER. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I HAD A

24:30

LEGACY UNTIL THIS RETIREMENT

24:32

THING HAPPENED AND PEOPLE SAYING

24:34

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND I'M LIKE, REALLY, I JUST FEEL LIKE I

24:37

WENT TO WORK EVERY DAY.

24:39

CAME ON THIS SHOW EVERY WEEK AND TRIED TO DO MY BEST.

24:42

BUT I GUESS I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, BEING FAIR BECAUSE I TRIED

24:46

TO DEVELOP A REPUTATION FOR FAIRNESS AND PEOPLE WOULD SAY,

24:50

YEAH, YOU ARE REALLY A FAIR REPORTER.

24:52

THAT WOULD REINFORCE IT. I WOULD GO INTO AN INTERVIEW THINKING I DON'T REALLY LIKE

24:54

THIS PERSON. I FEEL THIS WAY ABOUT THIS

24:57

MEMBER AND REMEMBER, YOU'RE THE FAIR REPORTER. YOU HAVE TO BE FAIR.

25:00

I GUESS JUST TRY TO UPHOLD THE

25:03

VALUES OF JOURNALISM BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE REALLY

25:06

IMPORTANT FOR DEMOCRACY. >> WELL, WE AT "NEW YORK NOW"

25:09

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SHOW AND FOR YOUR

25:11

DEDICATION TO NEW YORK STATE POLITICS.

25:14

WE WISH YOU THE ABSOLUTE BEST IN YOUR WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT.

25:17

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CONNECT WITH US TODAY, KAREN.

25:20

>> THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE THE NEXT

25:23

GENERATION NOW TO TAKE THIS SHOW

25:26

AND YOU KNOW, FLY WITH IT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

25:29

AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH KAREN DEWITT, LONG-TIME CAPITOL BUREAU

25:33

CHIEF FOR THE NEW YORK PUBLIC NEWS NETWORK.

25:37

AS WE UNDERSCORED IN THAT CONVERSATION, KAREN'S

25:41

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE "NEW YORK NOW" SHOW HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE

25:44

THROUGH THE YEARS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE

25:47

CAREER AND LEGACY OF KAREN DEWITT, YOU CAN VISIT OUR

25:50

WEBSITE. AGAIN THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

25:54

YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER BY GOING TO

25:57

NEWSLETTER.NYNOW.ORG OR BY

26:01

SCANNING THE QR CODE ON YOUR SCREEN.

26:04

WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW".

26:07

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

26:10

[ THEME MUSIC ]

26:34

>>ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR "NEW YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET