Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

NYC Implemented Travel Ban To Help Clear Streets; Sanders Hopes To Inspire High Turnout In Iowa; Talking with Iowa Democratic Voters. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired January 25, 2016 - 07:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[07:30:30] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Chris, we will be back with you as well. But just how big was this weekend's blizzard and is it possible that another one is on its way? The dig out may be even bigger. A weather update is just ahead. Plus, we'll be speaking with New York City Mayor, Bill de Blasio about what's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: All right. Much of the East Coast digging out at this hour after a blizzard for the ages. Record-setting snowfall in several cities. Several of them trying to get back up and running this morning, and New York City is doing a good job of it. So joining us on the phone is New York City mayor, Bill de Blasio. Mr. Mayor, thanks so much for joining us.

BILL DE BLASIO, MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY (via telephone): You're welcome, Alisyn.

[07:34:59] CAMEROTA: OK, so it was called snowmageddon, the blizzard of 2016. This one lived up to the epic hype. What was it like in New York City on Saturday as the blizzard was hitting?

DE BLASIO: Well, we now know this blizzard came within 0.1 inch of being the biggest snowfall in the history of New York City. Out at Kennedy Airport, we actually got to 30.5 inches. In Central Park, almost 27 inches. And this is a storm that the day before looked a lot smaller; the National Weather Service was projecting 8 to 12 inches even on Friday. So it sped up, it got much more intense. At some points, we were getting snow as much as three inches in an hour. So this really was the big one. And I have to say, all of the New York City first responders and our sanitation workers did an extraordinary job, particularly sanitation cleared the roads. We have more work to do but the amazing ability to deal with well over two feet of snow, they did a great, great job.

CAMEROTA: On Saturday afternoon, the word went out that you were about to call for a travel ban. I mean that's almost unheard of in New York City, this teeming metropolis. Why did you decide to do that?

DE BLASIO: Well, we did it because we saw those numbers moving fast. We saw the overall accumulation projection going way up. We saw the possibility of two inches, even more, in an hour and that was going to go on for 10 hours or more. It became clear, people would just get stuck if they were on the road. If they got stuck, then emergency vehicles couldn't move, sanitation plows couldn't move. So we called for the ban, gave people a couple hours to get off the roads, and NYPD did a great job. They were out in force to let people know that it was serious, that we didn't want to arrest people but we would if they didn't honor the ban. And you saw by about 4:00, most of our roads were empty and the snowplows could do their job. That's why right now we're in pretty good shape in New York City. There's still work to be done but we're in pretty good shape because the snowplows got to do their job. We put out 2,500 snowplows at the peak.

CAMEROTA: Well let's talk about that. Because other cities have not gotten back up and running as well as New York has. Washington D.C., federal offices are closed today, as are schools. Baltimore, much of it is shut down. So do you think that that was sort of the deciding factor for success versus a harder time of it, the travel ban?

DE BLASIO: A couple things. I certainly think the travel ban helped immensely and it's important to use that tool when we have to. Look, we're in the age of extreme weather. I think we've all gotten the memo now that we're getting storms like we've never seen before. Literally, if this storm, again, had been 0.2 inches more, it would have been the largest snowfall in the history of New York City, so it's clear that we should get ready for bigger and bigger storms. Look what Boston went through last year. For those kind of storms, using a travel ban at the right moment to keep the streets clear is crucial. I tell you, the second thing is, New York City is used to snow. Obviously, massive apparatus we put into play. 2,500 snow plows. We get out there early. We know how to deal with it. Some other cities farther south are less used to it. I think it's harder for them for that reason. But we've been through a lot of snow. But this one, this was for the ages.

CAMEROTA: Mr. Mayor, yesterday you warned people not to shovel their cars and dump snow in the street. When can people start to dig out?

DE BLASIO: Well, we want people who do not absolutely need their cars to keep them where they are. So we've said for regular street parking in our residential streets for what we call alternate side parking, people can literally for the whole week, all the way through Saturday, leave their car. There will be no ticketing, no towing. It's going to be a relatively warm week for winter. It'll be pretty sunny. The sun and the warmth will take a lot of snow out naturally. But if people shovel and just put all that snow back in the middle of street, our sanitation workers have to go around again and again and it clogs up streets for emergency vehicles. We don't want that. So if you can leave your car in New York City at a place that has alternate side parking, just leave it. The same with our school zones up through today, tomorrow, people can leave their cars in front of school zones because we need those cars to stay where they are, not hinder the cleanup effort.

CAMEROTA: OK. Mayor Bill de Blasio, thanks so much for joining us on NEW DAY and for giving us all of this great information.

DE BLASIO: Take care, Alisyn. CAMEROTA: You too. All right. We want to go now back to Chris Cuomo who is standing by in Des Moines, Iowa, where, strangely, it is warmer and less snowy than here in New York and you're getting ready for the big democratic forum. Chris --

[07:40:06] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: That's right. It is nice here, Alisyn because the heat of the race is generating warmth for all. There's all this energy here, just a week from the all-important caucuses to set the tone of who is the true front-runner in the democratic race. So we're going to have all three of the candidates tonight taking questions directly from the voters. That's as real as it gets in politics. Real person, real concern, how does that candidate interact with them? What is going to be the strategy for the candidates tonight? We have the campaign manager for Senator Sanders live here on NEW DAY when we come back right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: All right. This is the big stretch. We are one week away for the caucuses here in Iowa. No need for hype. The reality is pressing and stressing enough. What will be the final pitch from each of the three democrats in Iowa to the voters tonight? You will find out during the presidential town hall right here on CNN 9:00 Eastern. Senator Bernard Sanders trying to build momentum with one week to the caucuses. How is he preparing for tonight's big event? What matters most to him for the people of Iowa? Jeff Weaver, Bernie Sanders' campaign manager, joins us right now. It's good to see you.

JEFF WEAVER, CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR BERNIE SANDERS: Good to see you, Chris.

CUOMO: So, the senator; what do you believe in the campaign is working best in Iowa right now?

WEAVER: Look, I think people are really upset about what they perceive as a rigged economy, that's held up by a corrupt political system and Bernie Sanders is the candidate to address that. He wants to make an economy that works for everybody, he wants to fix our corrupt campaign finance system. I mean he's said he's not going to have a super PAC, he doesn't have a super PAC, we're raising money for this campaign from small donations across the country, over a million individual campaign contributors, 2.5 million contributions. We're really transforming the way you do politics in America.

CUOMO: Is he then just Senator Barack Obama all over again?

[07:45:00] WEAVER: No. I think they're obviously very different people. But I think what we're seeing in Iowa, in terms of momentum in the race, we're seeing now compared to 2007, people who were here back then, I, obviously, was not -- but people who were here back then say that there's a lot of similarity. We were just up in Northeast Iowa last night. Big crowds. Enthusiastic crowds. And those folks are going to come out to caucus.

CUOMO: We keep hearing from the campaign, this is -- he really wants this opportunity tonight. He really likes this is a town hall. WEAVER: Yes, absolutely.

CUOMO: He's very anxious for this tonight. Why? Why does he feel that this is so important and that this format is so important?

WEAVER: Well, it's a great opportunity to talk right to voters, you're going to have voters' questions as opposed to pundits' questions, as you and I were discussing.

CUOMO: What'd you just call me? So he wants to get right to the voters.

WEAVER: Yes, absolutely. Because that's ultimately the decision makers, right? Is the voters. And so I think having a conversation with voters is always the best way --

CUOMO: Why does he see that as an advantage for him? I keep hearing that from you guys, that when he gets with real people and you get to see him versus the secretary and the governor, you'll see the difference.

WEAVER: Look, I think he really connects with people in a very personal way. He does this a lot. He is very much a sort of retail politician. If you go around to his events, even though they're big, there's often questions and answers from the audience. He takes all questions. There's no screening. Bring your question. If you ask it, he'll answer it on whatever topic. So he's very comfortable in that environment. He likes talking to go real people. No offense, Chris. He likes --

CUOMO: So President Obama just gave this interview to "Politico" where he talks bout the 2016 race a little bit more than we're used to hearing him go into detail. He makes the case that the Senator has an advantage and this is what he means by advantage. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Bernie came in with the luxury of being a complete long shot, right? And just letting loose. I think Hillary came in with the both privilege and burden of being perceived as the front-runner. You're always looking at the bright, shiny object that people don't -- haven't seen before. That's a disadvantage to her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: Do you accept that premise?

WEAVER: Well, look, it was clear from the beginning that Secretary Clinton was the favorite, was the front-runner. We started this race 55 points down in Iowa. So there's no doubt about it that Senator Sanders was the under dog. In some ways, he's still the under dog, right? He's not the establishment candidate. He doesn't have the establishment support. But there is this groundswell of people here in Iowa and as we talked about earlier, the money that he's been able to raise from small donors across the country has allowed him to be competitive. Usually these insurgent campaigns have a difficulty in that they can't raise the money. They don't have the resources to go toe to toe with an established candidate. He has that.

CUOMO: You know, it's unusual to hear the left using the same buzzword as the right, establishment, as a new dirty word. Any risk coming for the Senator on that side, being on the Democratic ticket where technically the Democrats are the establishment right now, they're in power. You know, President Obama is in the White House, and that you need this system of government in a way to make any progress. Is there risk to this kind of radicalism?

WEAVER: No, look -- I wouldn't call it radicalism. I mean, go talk to people...

CUOMO: They're establishment, I'm not, I'm outside, I'm different, that's what I mean by radical.

WEAVER: I mean out -- you go out into the real world, Chris, and you talk to people, and there's a real disgust with sort of the way things are happening. You know, the power of Wall Street, the power of big money, the power of corporate America, and the influence they have on the political process in Washington. And that's something that Bernie Sanders is trying to deal with. That's a real structural problem that we have to get to deal with if we're going to deal with any of these other issues. Because on issue after issue, whether it's climate change, or healthcare, or jobs, or wages, you know, the big powerful special interests come into Washington. They spend lots of money, they have thousands of lobbyists and, until we deal with that reality, it's going to be difficult to deal with some of these other problems.

CUOMO: What can you say to give confidence that you can get these large numbers of young people...

WEAVER: Absolutely.

CUOMO: ...who are showing up for you at these rallies to go to these caucuses?

WEAVER: Look, people say that young people are apathetic, they don't care, they're not interested in politics. I'm going to tell you, I was just at an event last night, 1,500 people, out in northeast Iowa, really young crowd, very enthusiastic. And, as you know, when you go to a Bernie Sanders rally, it's not a 10 minute or 20 minute affair. I mean you're, you're in for an hour and a half of like wonky statistics and, and a presentation about economics. And these young people are enthused, they're excited. We're communicating with them, they're going to come out.

CUOMO: Where does your poll have you? Internal?

WEAVER: Oh, we don't, we don't discuss our internal polls.

CUOMO: (inaudible) what do I have you here...?

WEAVER: Let me say this, let me say this. Look, it is -- you've seen the public polls. It's a very tight race, right? Either person could win. I, I think it's going to go down to field game and people really getting their voters out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

I think we have the enthusiasm advantage, right? So hopefully that will bring people out. But it is, it is a tight race. It's anybody's race.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: Well, we are happy to give you this last best opportunity tonight here on CNN. We look forward to seeing you later.

WEAVER: Appreciate it.

CUOMO: Jeff, thank you, as always. All right. So tonight, again, this could be -- I keep saying -- the last best chance. Why?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

Because they're going to have your attention in a way that they won't have between now and the end of the caucuses. They'll get to deal with voters in a way that you'll get to see, in a way they may not get to do again until the caucuses happen. So tonight, 9:00 Eastern, only here on CNN.

So then we get to the question of well, what are the expectations? What do voters want to hear specifically from Senator Sanders, Secretary Clinton, Governor O'Malley in tonight's town hall? We're going to ask some of them coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: All right. We are here at the Student Center of Drake University. The Iowa caucus is just a week away. That's why we are doing the town hall tonight, to give voters a chance to have their concerns addressed directly by the candidates. So what do they want to hear? Let's bring in a panel of registered Democrats from Iowa. We have Cornelia Flora, we have Alexander Doser, and we have Zachary Rodgers. Thanks to all of you for getting up this morning. So let's start a little counterintuitively. I will assume that you have somewhat of a favor for Senator Sanders. Is that fair?

CORNELA FLORA, REGISTERED DEMOCRATIC VOTER: That is absolutely true.

CUOMO: Good, I like to be correct. So, tonight, what is your biggest positive expectation and your biggest concern?

FLORA: Well, my biggest positive expectation is that each candidate will discuss how they intend to meet their goals. I am thrilled that we have three great candidates, and I am interested to have them each compare their mechanisms for achieving a more just and more productive society.

CUOMO: Mmm. So, Alex, do you agree? Do you think there are three great candidates, or do you see that one is clearly above the others? ALEXANDER DOSER, REGISTERED DEMOCRATIC VOTER: I, I would definitely agree with you that there are three great candidates. I think, as a party, we should be very proud of what we're doing. In comparison when I look at the Republican Party and what they're putting out, we have a lot to take pride in I think for the most part.

CUOMO: Who do you have so far?

DOSER: I'm trying to keep an open mind. I'm definitely leaning toward Bernie Sanders at the moment.

CUOMO: Why?

DOSER: Why? Because, you know, it's very rare. It's a once in a lifetime thing that you get a candidate on a major political platform who is speaking with this kind of authenticity, who is speaking about the political establishment, and about the ties of money to politics. And it's such a rare thing that it's hard not to get swept up in it.

CUOMO: Zach, you're nodding your head. Do you feel the same way? Are you also partial to Sanders or are you looking another way, undecided, what do you have?

ZACHARY RODGERS, REGISTERED DEMOCRATIC VOTER: I'm supporting Hillary Clinton. You know, I, I definitely agree with Cornelia, though, all three of our candidates on the Democratic side are definitely all fantastic choices. But I, I'm just leaning more towards Hillary.

CUOMO: Why?

RODGERS: I like all of her policies she proposed, you know, all of her vast experience, I think she's right for the job, I think she's just the best person to keep moving our country forward.

CUOMO: Biggest advantage over Sanders?

RODGERS: I think right now it would definitely be just more of her solid policy issues. I know, you know, Senator Sanders has proposed many great plans, as well. But I know somethings they're still waiting for specific details on things. I think Hillary is just very solid in what she's been proposing thus far.

CUOMO: Biggest advantage, Alex, over the Secretary Clinton for Sanders?

RODGERS: Energy and being able to mobilize voters. If you go to any of these rallies, the most excited fan base you're going to find is Bernie Sanders. And the man is speaking with a sense of truth that you just don't see in political candidates very often.

CUOMO: Governor O'Malley, Cornelia, where is he is in this?

FLORA: Well, he has growing support. I think people really like him in terms again of his authenticity and being fun to be around. And that he is not speaking ill of the other candidates, but speaking of his -- based on his record of what he has done. CUOMO: He's young, handsome, strong. Why isn't he the one capturing the enthusiasm of the young in this election, to this point?

FLORA: I think, oddly enough, it's odd that we have all these old people representing Bernie here today. But I think it's because Bernie really speaks the truth in a way that people really relate to. And, again, I think it was that Bernie is not against government. He's against government run just for the benefit of the few. And he's very concerned about what's happening to real people, particularly people who have been excluded in a variety of ways.

CUOMO: Biggest issue that must be addressed and compared and contrasted tonight?

FLORA: I think the biggest issue probably is going to be immigration.

CUOMO: Immigration, that's what you want to hear most on the ticket. You tonight?

DOSER: I want to see who can prove to us that they're an electable candidate.

CUOMO: What does that mean, electable?

DOSER: Well, you see Michael Bloomberg getting into the race and a lot of concern among Democrats, is he going to be (inaudible).

CUOMO: Is he electable to you?

DOSER: Michael Bloomberg? Is he electable? Probably not, but the real concern is he going to be taking Democratic voters in a general election, and who's going to (inaudible).

CUOMO: So you want to hear why he or she tonight says, not only can I beat these two, but I can also win in the general?

DOSER: I can maintain my Democratic voters and maintain that support in a general election.

CUOMO: You want to be (inaudible). And to you?

RODGERS: I think the biggest thing is just between Senator Sanders and Hillary tonight, you know, which one is going to be able to come out stronger and get their message across, you know, most clearly to Iowa voters. I think that's the biggest, I think that's the biggest concern.

CUOMO: Different tests tonight. Usually it's how do they do against each other. This is going to be how they do with real people asking them questions that many of, many of them will be living. It won't be just how do you feel about taxes. It will be this is what I think about my tax situation. Who do you think that favors, or not?

FLORA: Well, of course, I think it favors Bernie Sanders. And, by the way, I want to thank CNN for this format. It think it is so much better than a debate where we have canned questions that are, that are designated to pit candidates against each other, rather than having people say this is my policy and this is how I intend to implement it.

CUOMO: I will pass it along. Are you coming tonight, you guys?

DOSER: I don't think any of us are.

RODGERS: No.

CUOMO: Are you going to watch at home?

FLORA: But we're going to have a watch party.

CUOMO: Are you going to have a watch party? Very good, very good. Don't plan any drinking games off me though, Cornelia. I don't like that. You know, every time Cuomo's head shakes to the left... Gentlemen, thank you very much. Ma'am, I appreciate you being here. Please, let us know how you feel about tonight. I hope you get everything out of it that you're expecting. All right?

FLORA: Thank you.

RODGERS: Thank you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: So you can tune in tonight as well, have your own drinking, watching party. CNN Democratic Presidential town hall, live from Drake University, here in Des Moines. Nine Eastern only on CNN.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

This is a big story. We have the President weighing in on the race like he hasn't before. There are new polls, so let's get right to it.