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Brian Lehrer: Brian Lehrer on WNYC. Guess who's talking about Russia and Ukraine who you might more expect to be talking about masks in schools or crime in the subways? Governor Kathy Hochul.

Governor Kathy Hochul: "Given the increasingly volatile geopolitical circumstances with Russia and Ukraine, and we just heard from President Biden moments ago on the advancing troops from Russia, we can no longer act independently. That has been the case where the state of New York has its plan, city of New York has a plan, our mayors, our local governments throughout the state of New York, and that is not sustainable in light of the threats that we're seeing."

Brian Lehrer: Not just Hochul. At a cybersecurity announcement in Brooklyn yesterday, Mayor Adams recalled a meeting that he had during the transition with Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Mayor Adams: "I'll never forget sitting down in Gracie Mansion, speaking with the former mayor, talking about the pandemic and other issues that were facing the city, and he was clear. He says, 'Eric, your real crisis is going to be cybersecurity. And if we don't get a handle on cybersecurity, what COVID did to our bodies, cybersecurity is going to disrupt the anatomy of our city and our state.'"

Brian Lehrer: With those two clips, we move from the national and international conversation we were just having to a local one. Depending on time we'll also touch on the pushback Mayor Adams is getting over appointing people with very anti-LGBTQ histories to positions in his administration, whether the Adams budget blueprint is keeping or breaking campaign promises, the early days rollout of Adams and Hochul's subway safety and remove homeless people plan that took effect on Monday, and the fact that unlike Cuomo and de Blasio, Adams and Hochul seem to be a team. And not just any team, the governor said--

Governor Kathy Hochul: "It is great to be together once again with the Dream Team of my partners in government. First of all, we have our great mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, who's joining us. You'll be hearing from him shortly. Mayor Spano from Yonkers has made the trip down, but not as far as our mayor from Albany who journeyed down, Kathy Sheehan."

Brian Lehrer: The Hochul-Adams Dream Team. Can you imagine Governor Cuomo having said that about de Blasio? With me now, WNYC and Gothamist People & Power editor, David Cruz, and Erin Durkin, who writes the morning Playbook newsletter for Politico New York. Good morning, David. Good morning, Erin.

Eric Durkin: Morning [crosstalk].

David Cruz: Morning, Brian. How are you doing?

Brian Lehrer: David, do Hochul and Adams have information about Russian cybersecurity threats on New York's infrastructure related to Russia and Ukraine? Did they get specific in any way?

David Cruz: No. I think this is sort of building on a conversation that Hochul had with President Joe Biden previously, where they essentially said that the state should be prepared for cybersecurity preparedness efforts. I think, given the fact that we are seeing this latest escalation happening in Ukraine, and the belief that Russia will be hacking into our systems, it made sense for Hochul and Adams to go ahead and hold this joint news conference. It does also point to what the state emergency management director had mentioned. That they are wanting to see a bigger ramp-up and even increasing cybersecurity threats, and that is going to be an ongoing problem.

Even then, I think the city was already aware that cybersecurity was top of mind. If you go on the New York City Emergency Management website, they already have a tab here for what happens if there is a cybersecurity attack. This breaks down what exactly New Yorkers can do if they feel that somehow their bank information was tapped into. I believe that this is definitely top of mind. I guess, yes, politically it does help that Hochul and Adams are staying on top of this as well.

Brian Lehrer: Erin, anything to add to that? Like, was this event yesterday pre-planned or was it scrambled together in response to Russia-Ukraine developments?

Eric Durkin: Yes. I think it was something that they said that they had been working on for a while, but that it is that much more urgent in light of the developments in Russia and Ukraine, which create a heightened threat. Although, as you mentioned, they did not reference any specific threat to New York City but it certainly creates heightened concern, but it is something that they have been working on already.

That the city has faced some issues with-- like, for instance, the Law Department last year was hacked. Someone stole an employee's email password. In response to that, the computer system went down and delayed court cases that caused a lot of problems. It's not just a theoretical threat. It is something that has actually taken place and affected the city in a negative way.

Brian Lehrer: Sure enough, as I mentioned just before the break, as this show was coming on at ten o'clock, the very last thing on the BBC News Hour that precedes us was that there are reports of a massive Russian cyberattack on government websites in Ukraine. That's not in New York, that's in Ukraine, but it's an indication that Russia is engaged in that kind of business. Are individual New Yorkers or other Americans supposed to do anything ourselves? Erin, did you hear anything like that in that news conference?

Eric Durkin: I think it was more focused on what the city and the state are doing, but there are some basic things that agencies do recommend like, for instance, two-factor authentication in your accounts. As a matter of fact, even the government has not always been great at doing that. They think the reason the Law Department got hacked is they did not enable two-factor authentication, which is something that can be a hassle but is a pretty simple step that can be taken, in addition to keeping your password secure and checking your accounts to be vigilant if there's any breach or any kind of unusual activity.

Brian Lehrer: By the way, David, that clip of Hochul saying Adams and she and some other mayors make up a Dream Team, Adams is getting his footing, Hochul is running for election. What kind of alliance and unity on issues, or not, do they have?

David Cruz: Well, I definitely feel like it's a very symbiotic relationship. Obviously, Hochul is really angling to secure the New York City vote that seems to be very key to her strategy in winning the governor's race. Yes, you've sort of seen them both at the hip in the last few weeks. I think you can also pivot to the subway safety plan as well. They also had a joint news conference as well. It signals to me that she too agrees that crime will be a factor, it will play a theme throughout the gubernatorial race.

Obviously, I think she sees it and ties crime to economic prosperity, and she feels in order for New York City to bounce back you need to tamp down crime. She's in lockstep with Adams' plan. As far as Adams goes, to be honest with you, I was just trying to figure that as well. There are no indications that Adams is eyeing another position in terms of running for another seat. I mean, he just got here. I think he just needs as many allies as he can, especially in the state level, to help carry out his agenda.

Brian Lehrer: Erin, let's touch on some other things. You wrote in your Playbook newsletter today about the pushback Mayor Adams is getting on certain appointees with anti-LGBTQ histories. For listeners who haven't gotten engaged in that story yet, who are these appointees and how anti-LGBTQ have they been?

Eric Durkin: He has appointed Fernando Cabrera, who is a former city council member, and Erick Salgado, who formally ran for mayor, both of whom are religious conservatives. Both of whom have been opposed to gay marriage and abortion rights. Cabrera, in particular, caused controversy because he actually traveled to Uganda in 2014. That was the time at which Uganda had implemented a law that made homosexuality a crime and that was harshly punishable. He spoke out in support of the country's government saying, "You guys are doing the godly thing. You guys aren't being pressured by America to allow gay marriage."

That caused particular controversy, and Adams has now tapped these two folks to work, in one case, in the Faith-Based office, in the other case as an assistant commissioner in the Immigrant Affairs office. There's been a lot of backlash from LGBT elected officials and advocacy groups, who say that these folks should not have these high ranking positions in the Adams administration given their history of opposition to gay rights.

Brian Lehrer: Cabrera is a pastor of all the faith leaders in New York City. Adams couldn't find somebody else to lead his Office of Faith-Based outreach than somebody who has that history? David, you used to run a newspaper that covered the Bronx. Cabrera was a city council member from the Bronx. Do you know Cabrera's history on that issue or how much he sincerely changed his views, which is what Adam says he has?

David Cruz: Well, I can tell you that having covered the Bronx extensively, there was very little that Cabrera ever mentioned regarding same-sex marriage. That is not the only time that we ever saw him just flat-out express his views on marriage. Although he has said, and repeatedly too, because this has come up several times when he ran for state Senate, and then he also ran for Bronx borough president, that he's repeatedly apologized for those comments that he made.

To your point, I think, Brian, the question of why he above all other probably clergy members who do not have this level of controversy just strikes me as interesting that he was not picked. Cabrera, he's apologized for it. I don't think he's ever made another comment that stirred up a lot of controversy afterwards. He has said he was sorry. Even the mayor has accepted his apology, and he says that he's probably the best person to help lead the organization. I will say that Adams is so far unfazed by the backlash, and is attempting to ride out the controversy. It's something he'll likely have to get comfortable with given the fact that he's already had a slew of controversial picks made that have drawn some criticism.

Brian Lehrer: I want to get both your eyes and ears on the subway safety program after yet another series of knifings over the weekend. Also maybe separately or related, different people see it differently, Adam's announcement that he's going to start enforcing subway rules, including no sleeping there despite the shelters, especially for single people being so inhospitable, are they doing anything differently yet? It's only Wednesday, so two and a half days into what's supposed to be a new regime in the subways. David, have you seen anything? Have you heard of anything?

David Cruz: So far no. Right now it seems to have gotten off to a slow start. There were reports out there that there were about 100 interactions made. However, it's unclear what came of those interactions. In the way of services, we do know that there are supposed to be teams coming along certain lines within the subway system where there will be just approaching the homeless and just telling them that they may have to go elsewhere. I think the idea is for, I guess, creating a presence of a safe environment within the subway system. At least that's the line that Adams has given.

So far it has gone off to a slow start. There has not been much in the way of just a real breakdown in terms of services that these folks have been receiving. We're just waiting until we actually get more information on that.

Brian Lehrer: Erin, anything else that you're reporting on Politico?

Eric Durkin: With regards to that, I think his assessment is right and there are a few interconnected issues here. There's crime, violence on the subways. There's just disorder and behaviors of people smoking, people yelling, people creating a scene and making others feel uncomfortable. Then there's homelessness and the fact that people just don't want to go to the shelters because they don't believe that they are safe.

Those issues are all interrelated, but they are also distinct in a sense. You have what is supposedly going to be more enforcement from the NYPD that could in the long term be the most significant change, where they're saying if you're a cop and you see someone smoking, you see someone sleeping, you are actually supposed to enforce. There have been some mixed messages on that and to what extent the NYPD should be enforcing this quality of life crimes.

At this point, the message from the mayor is they should take action in those situations. You could easily see something escalating and causing a controversy in terms of how they are approaching a homeless person or a person with a mental illness. Then the question becomes does Adams back them up and does he say "We're going to stay the course on this and we're going to keep enforcing because riders are concerned," or does he back off and say, "Wait, wait, wait. We might have to adjust." This is something that has gone back and forth and back and forth repeatedly over the course of the years.

Brian Lehrer: One more thing before you both go, Erin Durkin from Politico New York, and our David Cruz, we haven't talked much on this show about the New York State Democratic convention that was held last week. Brigid Bergin is going to be filling in for me tomorrow when I'm out on assignment, but Brigid is going to be talking about the Republican convention which is coming up, I think, primarily. Ahead of the June primary for governor, Hochul got the endorsement of the Democratic Party itself last week.

She's got a challenger from the left, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and one from the right, Queens and Long Island Congressman Tom Suozzi, who is also now reportedly trying to court Latino voters in particular. The Jumaane Williams campaign is clearly about something; his progressive politics and constituents, but what is Suozzi giving up his seat in Congress for a very likely failure of a primary campaign for, and one that seems a little all over the place? Erin, do you have a view on that?

Eric Durkin: To an extent, it is a little all over the place and it is definitely an underdog campaign. Hochul is at this point the clear front runner. I do think he does have a lane. Hochul has kind of been a moderate but she is trying to appeal broadly to liberal Democrats who might not be the furthest to the left but aren't the most moderate or further to the center or the right. Suozzi is coming in on the more moderate or further to the right lane in terms of-- He's gone in on issues like housing policy and single-family zoning, which she actually backed up her policies on because they were controversial.

He has been advocating a tougher stance on crime where she has defended the bail reforms that are in place that the legislative leaders don't want to roll back. He does have a distinct ideology that is separate from hers. Whether he is going to get anywhere with it or whether he is just going to give up his seat and lose, which is what the polls suggest is going to happen, that is a different question.

Brian Lehrer: David, one shocking thing from last week's convention. This was a New York State Democratic Party convention, but I read there were no Latino speakers. How did that happen?

David Cruz: There was initially no Latino speakers, and yes, it called attention to how much will the Democratic Party be leaning on the Latino vote this time out. They did change course and they did have a couple of Latino speakers at the podium shortly after the backlash. I think they obviously heeded the criticism and responded quickly. They did have Catalina Cruz, who spoke at the convention. She also spoke in Spanish as well, so she's clearly trying to make sure that Latino Democrats don't feel like they were being snubbed.

I think they clearly pivoted to making sure that Latino voices were heard. However, just like in any race, the Latino vote does matter in these races, especially [unintelligible 00:17:41], and Hochul will likely-- she obviously heeded the criticism and responded accordingly.

Brian Lehrer: One tweet, by the way, on our earlier topic. User Mark Assen writes, "As a gay faith leader, I am insulted not just by the mayor's appointment," meaning of Fernando Cabrera with his history of at least making that one anti-gay statement and trip to Uganda, "but also that he is saying he accepts the apology. It is not up to him to accept or not accept this apology," writes that gay faith leader.

There we end it for today with Erin Durkin, who writes the morning newsletter, Politico Playbook for Politico New York, and our People & Power editor David Cruz, here at WNYC and on Gothamist. Thanks both for coming on this morning.

Eric Durkin: Thanks a lot.

David Cruz: Thank you.

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