Review of Recent Legislative Session

Each week at this time WNYC presents an in-depth interview with a prominent newsmaker whose opinions and decisions affect the lives of all New Yorkers. Our host on this series is Frederick S. Berman former New York state senator. More recently in New York City rent commissioner and now a partner in a Manhattan law firm.

His guest is Assemblyman Stanley Steingut. Steingut is a practicing attorney and was elected to the assembly from Kings County in 1969. He was also chosen minority leader of the Assembly. Joining Berman in the questioning Joel Harnett chairman of the Board of Trustees of the City Club of New York City's oldest nonpartisan civic organization.

The 1970s session of the legislature has just concluded. Steingut assesses the session. "Well there were too many disappointing features for me to delineate in the short period. There were very few matters that were passed that I think were salutary. We changed the thrust and I attribute this to the minority members of the legislature or the Democratic Party from the very serious problems that were caused by the section of the previous year --the cutbacks, the tremendous cutbacks, in education, social services and the thrust of the burden placed upon the localities throughout the state. This year I believe we've made some progress in that regard. It was a crawl instead of a run. I think at the next session of the legislature (hopefully it'll be a Democratic legislature with a Democratic governor) we can go much further and relieve the communities throughout the state of the many burdens that this Rockefeller administration has thrown upon us."

Was the revenue sharing program the breakthrough in that area was the most significant accomplishment of this session?

Steingut: Frankly it's one of the very few accomplishments, and it is a Democratic party program that was adopted by the Governor when the Mayors of the Big Six [cities] took the bull by the horn and traveled throughout the state and got the people behind them. We. Lost I think the Republican legislature and Governor Rockefeller to adopt this program.

Question: How much further can the revenue sharing with the states go?

Steingut: Well I think this is a matter of democratic philosophy and democratic program. I believe it can go much further. I believe that we have to eventually take over all costs of education all costs of welfare in the state. And I think that the localities must be relieved so that they can give much better services local services and at the same time relieve the taxpayer the local taxpayer of the burdensome nuisance taxes that is caused by the assumption the major assumption of these costs which we believe belongs on the state. Hopefully the state will be able to absorb this by a restructuring of the tax structure and by federal aid eventually.

Question: Do you think that some form of federal sharing revenue should not only be necessary for the state to contribute to the city to us.

Steingut: Absolutely. I think that's a necessary ingredient. And I don't think that we have to wait. I think we can start now. I think there are innovative programs that the Rockefeller administration failed to involve itself with that we can start immediately and the major one and I'm talking of is tax reform which you know isn't in any n is actual forced federal revenue sharing because the ultimate burden then is thrust upon the federal government by deductions of taxes by the look by the local taxpayers. This would produce approximately 330 million dollars.

Question: This is a state election year. What do you see as the major issues in the forthcoming state campaign regardless of who the Democratic candidates ultimately be?

Steingut: Well I as I pointed out I think the the basic major issues are the 12 years that have set the state backed up by the Republican administration of Governor Rockefeller. The major issues I believe are going to be in the areas of how can we help the localities through this state throughout the state. And I believe that the Democratic Party through the program and the legislature has delineated those those issues and those are the issues I believe have to be debated.

Question: Well what are some of the issues specifically if you were to be the speaker of the assembly what do you see as coming forth from a Democratic controlled legislature?

Steingut: Well I discussed the program with the major candidates for statewide office. I believe that the major thrust has to be as I said a few moments ago relief to the communities a restructuring of our entire tax structure and emphasis on giving the localities the opportunity to serve the people on basic services. This my opinion will not only retain business in the state but I think would bring business back to the state. We have to improve our educational system. We have to stop the waste and construction that Governor Rockefeller is so involved with and has been so involved with over the years in Albany

Question: You mean them all from the Greenberg report. Senator Greenberg the ranking member of finance in the Senate delineated the waste and construction where we're building buildings and not using them.

Steingut: You can go to Brooklyn to the downstate Medical Center. We have a beautiful complex there a wonderful hospital. Half of that is being utilized because the state hasn't produced enough money for it. In the Einstein College where we built a wonderful facility for mentally retarded children 25 percent of it is being used. You can go throughout the state and see the over construction that we've been involved in the mall of course is a standing edifice that tells the whole story. A billion dollars being poured into that and I believe that this is not the way to set priorities in this state. The issue I think basically is going to be what priorities are going to be met first are they going to be the priorities concerning people as against the priorities as I just pointed out or monuments and concrete as the rock of our administration has stood for.

Question: One of the real problems in the state legislature is this business of saving all the bills at the end of the session and putting them in I agree. If you are the Speaker what would you do to ameliorate that problem?

Steingut: I have made suggestions as minority leader. We need a complete overhaul of our rules in the legislature. I think that this can be stopped and it can be stopped very simply. I think both parties must get together and realistically appraise what has to be done to discontinue this kind of operation. And I think it does discredit not only the people of the state but to the legislature itself. There are many ways to do it. I've made suggestions over the years to have a split session. I made suggestions to cut off the introduction of bills long in advance of adjournment. I've made suggestions to prohibit the governor with his promiscuous use of messages of necessity and in that way put bills on members desks without an opportunity for them to study them and read them. I think that we almost have to come to the realization that a full time legislature is necessary with a full time salary and job status for some women.

Question: Let's change the subject for a moment and get into the area of politics. You are I believe a supporter of Arthur Goldberg are you not. Now assuming that Mr. Goldberg does not win the Democratic primary would you have any difficulty supporting either of the other two candidates, Mr. Samuels, Mr. Morgenthal.

Steingut: I am a Democrat. I will support the winner of the primary period.

Question: How do you feel realistically how do you see the chances this year of the Democratic candidate winning the governorship and to the chances of winning either one or both houses of the legislature?

Steingut: Well this observation I think would apply to all the candidates and that is that the Democratic Party has a real opportunity to win this coming gubernatorial election. And the only way we can destroy that opportunity is if the candidates themselves destroy themselves rather than talking to the issues that face the people of the state. I hope they don't find themselves in the public with personal issues and invective and this is one of the problems that we face with these primaries.

Question: What about the houses of the legislature. Do you see this a more difficult task? Do you think controlling the assembly might be easier or more difficult than controlling the Senate? What's your appraisal of that?

Steingut: I'm optimistic about carrying both houses. The research that's been done indicate that it will be a little more difficult to carry the Senate. But I'm optimistic that we can do it. We do believe that we have a great opportunity to carry the assembly.

Question: Why is it that men who are born and bred in New York State politics cannot rise to high public office in the state. Why do we have the Goldbergs and the Rockefellers who were candidates who really do not come out of New York City or the state and probably as they go into office anyway will have little understanding of the state's problems?

Steingut: That to me is not a great problem. I was a firm supporter of Bob Kennedy for the Senate and the same arguments were raised and I think he was probably one of the greatest senators we had in the state of New York. But getting back to the basic question that you asked me one of the greatest problems for the local officials who have the possibility and the opportunities are inhibited to a great extent for several reasons one is the media. Number two is the cost of running for high public office. And the third is I believe lack of leadership within both parties to build young people who are serving in the legislature or serving in the city council who are serving in various capacities of government to have the ability and the articulation necessary for high public office. I think it's a combination of many factors. It's a matter of fact I think one of the basic things that I think it should be an issue in this campaign is campaign expenditures and the control of campaign expenditures and the control of the media. We can almost see that television and newspaper coverage and use of these facilities are almost exclusively for those who can afford it.

Question: What do you think Mr. Steingut of the role of Mayor Lindsay in this year's campaign? There have been some talk, some speculation at least, that he might end up supporting the Democratic candidate for governor.

Steingut: Well I never read into anybody's mind yet I've never discussed this with Mayor Lindsay. I worked with him as I did with the mayors of the other cities throughout the state very arduously during the past session of the legislature. We did not at any time have any political discussion along these lines. All I know about this is what I read in the paper and some speculative rumors there's a question that the mayor will have to make a determination on...I think there's a place in the Democratic Party for all of these people.

Question: What do you think the mayor's support would be helpful to a Democratic candidate on a statewide basis even out of New York City?

Steingut: Oh I think that the mayor has achieved during the past legislative session at least a statewide role talking with the other mayors of the city for the best interests of the localities. And I think it's made an impression and I think he has an obligation to continue that fight on on behalf of the the people in all localities throughout the state.

Question: There was interesting speculation after this flurry of bills were passed in which New York got its tax breaks on the basis of the fact that the reason New York finally got a break was because Goldberg was running for governor and Rockefeller was running scared. What is the real relationship or attitude people like you and others with the Republican leaders in the legislature towards New York City?

Steingut: Well this has been a traditional problem that we've had over the years.
And I think the breakthrough came when the mayors of the big six and the conference of mayors throughout the state this year got together finally the problems of the people and the problems with the government of the city of New York are no different only in size than the cities and the problems that the people are having in Buffalo, Syracuse, and Rochester. New York is your ticket in Albany and all the other cities throughout the state for the first time I believe there has been a recognition that this is not a New York City against the state problem. It's a statewide problem. And I think we made a breakthrough there. Traditionally the Republican leadership has always made New York City the whipping boy in the treatment it received by the legislature. We did make a breakthrough. I don't think we made a great breakthrough. I'm not too happy with the entire picture of the legislative aid to the cities. It'll get us by. Philosophically I don't believe it's good. I believe what we need is a real expanded thorough reevaluation of the priorities of the state. We must rid the localities of the nuisances that the state has imposed upon the people. And when we do this you mean taxes in taxes and services and and other means and methods and permissions that must be granted by the state to the localities. They have not. The state has not assumed its responsibilities concerning these localities throughout the state.

Queston: Wouldn't you need a constitutional reform in order to achieve a level of independence?

Steingut: I think you need greater home rule throughout the state some in some areas you do need constitutional reform in many areas you don't. If we had a recognition in the legislature and in the executive branch of government of this you wouldn't need constitutional reform.

Question: Mr. Steingut getting back to the state races this year and these are I'm sure you would agree very significant ones because of the fact that among other things the question of reapportionment will come into being in the future the legislative seats for the next 10 years will be in effect so it's a crucial year has national implications.

Steingut: Yes it does. Sure. We have to reapportion the congressional seats. It might have an effect on the next Congress of the United States and for many Congresses thereafter.

Question: Well I was wondering in view of the importance of from your point of view certainly of getting Democrats elected there in this during this year's campaign is what do you see as the importance of the Liberal Party endorsement for the candidate running for governor. And to what extent do you think the the absence of that endorsement would be helpful to Governor Rockefeller and harmful to the Democratic candidate?

Steingut: Oh I think that the Liberal Party endorsement is a necessary ingredient. I think it can be done without that endorsement although I think it would be very difficult maybe impossible. But I do think it's it's necessary and I think it's a responsibility and an obligation that those in the Liberal Party have if they're talking about restructuring the state and being interested in electing progressive candidates. And if they're not that will show up too.

Question: Was there any indication whether or not Messrs Goldberg or Samuels or Morgenthau or any one of the three or all three could get the Liberal Party nomination even though they have technically nominated another candidate up to this point?

Steingut: I have no idea what's in the mind of Alex Rose and the Liberal Party leaders and I might point out that they are as political as any other leader of a party there.

Question: I'd like to change the subject and turn to the problem environmental pollution if I may. It's a very complex and difficult subject and one issue for example concerns Con Edison and the problems of nuclear power plants in this area the location of the power plants up the Hudson have been opposed primarily on the grounds of thermal pollution and possible radiation hazards. On the other hand New York City seems to be facing the possibilities of brownouts again this year and possibly blackouts because of the inability of Congress and to supply the power. How do you feel about this and what's going to be the answer ultimately for power needs for the city?

Steingut: Well I'm not an expert in this field and I take the advice of experts but I'm very happy that I will participate in the swearing in of a new environmental administrator which I think will make a big difference in this city and in the state. I think that has to be a real meeting of the minds between conservationists and between the utilities and local governments on this whole question the basic needs of people in communities throughout the state must be met we must avoid brownouts and blackouts that we've experienced. There has to be a realization that nuclear power is a thing of the future. We must provide the facilities. We must protect the people first and we must get to the greatest extent we can listen to the conservationists who represent many of the people in many communities throughout the state in accomplishing this and I have no real in-depth specialty in the field of nuclear power. But I do believe that we do have the brain power to work this out amongst people in Con-Ed the conservationists. And I know that Jerry Kretschmer will play a very important part in this also because there any mechanism in the state legislature that provides this kind of expertise for the legislators and others way they can get in get the information that will enable them to make a tell all we have available to us all the views of the experts we do have legislators who specialized in this field who we rely on to expand extent. There are many areas of information and sources of information that are available to the legislators and they're very important. And I'm talking to the utilities themselves the information that they can give to us. The lobbying groups for the utilities and for the conservationists and for groups such as yours who do produce much information for legislators as well as the the committees who specialize in this field joint legislative committees and standing committees of the legislature who do produce much information for us.

Question: To sum up then you predict, do you not, that there will be a Democratic governor and a Democratic legislature elected this year?

Steingut: And I have never made an election prediction. I think the Democratic Party and the people of the state of the city have a wonderful opportunity to change the thrust of government and the state by electing a Democratic governor and a Democratic legislature.

Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection

WNYC archives id: 151351
Municipal archives id: T7505