Power & Politics

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy joins Power & Politics this week, discussing some of the biggest issues facing Albany County, and discussing his future as County Executive. The wide-ranging conversation covered a variety of topics, including:

-Reaction as a former first responder to the tragic plane crash in D.C.

-What "Sanctuary Status" means in Albany County

-If he will run for Mayor of Albany in 2025

-Where he's hoping the $200 million in proposed State funding to the City of Albany will go

-The future of the College of St. Rose Campus

-State mandates, federal administration changes, and more

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-Recovery continues after a helicopter and passenger jet collided in Washington D.C., falling into the Potomac River, killing 67 people on board. Reaction pouring in after Donald Trump said Diversity-Equity-Inclusion to blame, Air Traffic Controllers saying hiring process is rigorous

-How would potential federal funding cuts impact non-profit organizations, and how did Democrats respond?

-Confirmation hearings continued this week, with New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan making a passionate statement against RFK Jr.'s claims regarding vaccines and autism

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Corey Ellis, Albany Common Council President, discussed his third run for Mayor of Albany on Power & Politics this week, outlining his vision, plans and proposals for the city's future.

The conversation with Ellis continues CBS6's coverage of the Albany Mayoral race, already interviewing two candidates, Dorcey Applyrs and Carolyn McLaughlin, with plans to speak with the rest of the candidates leading up to the June 24 primary.

"I'm running because of the same reason why I ran before," Ellis, who ran, but lost, in 2009 and 2013, says. "I believe that our city has a great potential, and we need to make sure we have a vision and the will to fulfill that potential. We can no longer be a city that's just surviving. We have to thrive. And I believe my vision and the things I've talked about in the past, if we had done those things right now, we might be in a different situation, but we're not. So we want to make sure that we continue to push forward, continue to grow and make it the city that it should be. So many people come to our city, they say Albany has all this potential, and now it's time for us to fulfill that potential. And I believe, with my energy, my experience, that we can fulfill that potential."

The conversation included:

-Ellis' desire to change Albany's perception as a "political town"

-revitalizing downtown, and the importance of the State's $200 million proposal for the City

-Ellis' thoughts on Interim Police Chief Brendan Cox, and if he'd ask Cox to stay if elected

-community policing and social workers on the department, along with staffing shortages

-Ellis' proposal to create a Business Council

-Albany's Sanctuary City status

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-Donald Trump's immediate Executive Orders stretch across industry and issues in the United States, including January 6th pardons

-NY Governor Kathy Hochul proposed her FY2026 Budget this week, and says the State won't backfill any cuts of funding or services by the federal government

-Tik Tok gives credit to Donald Trump for its return

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Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her State of the State address this week, promising an agenda of affordability, which includes tax cuts to the middle class, universal free school meals and tripling the child care tax credit

Trump's Cabinet picks questioned at the Capitol by lawmakers, including Pete Hegseth and Lee Zeldin

Israel and Hamas appear to be on the verge of a ceasefire, but when will it be finalized?

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Barclay reacted to the Governor's speech, saying that Hochul echoed initiatives the Republican party has been pushing for the last few years in the State legislature, mostly the Child Tax Credit. (The Governor proposed to triple the Child Tax Credit, to $1000)

"Welcome to the party, Governor, because these are issues that she talked about in her State of the State that Republican Assembly members have been talking about for some time, the two biggest things, affordability and crime," Barclay said. "She talked about a middle class tax cut, great. She talked about the inflation rebate, which, I'm not against that, because it does give money back to the taxpayers, but it seems a little inefficient to tax people and then give their money back to them, and it's only a one-shot deal."

Barclay said he also agrees with the Governor's push to expand involuntary commitment, and enhance Kendra's Law. But, was disappointed on the absence of discussion regarding criminal justice reform.

"You know, one thing she didn't mention, because she's partly responsible for these policies getting put in place, is bail reform, is raise the age, is the parole reform that she's talking about, or that she signed bills to let more people out on parole. So I think those issues need to be addressed alongside with a whole host of issues on criminal justice," he says.

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Albany — Michael Gianaris, the NYS Senate Deputy Majority Leader from Queens, joined Power & Politics this week as lawmakers returned to the State Capital for the 2025 legislative session.

The conversation ranged over a myriad of topics, including: affordability priorities, universal childcare, MTA funding gap, taxing the rich, Marcy Correctional, Trump-proofing policies, immigration legislation, universal school lunches and more.

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-California wildfires continue to devastate Los Angeles communities, how is Governor Gavin Newsom reacting to the criticism thrown his way?

-New York State's legislature is back for its 2025 session, are lawmakers looking to pass "Trump-proof" policies?

-Why is Donald Trump pitching to rename the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America?

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CBS6's Lara Bryn speaks with NYS Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon to discuss New York's first-in-the-nation prenatal leave policy

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