to loudly challenging
the establishment in Congress and on a
national political stage. "The Point" starts right now. (orchestral music) (orchestral music continues) She's known as AOC
to most of America, a Congresswoman who is not
afraid to ignore the party line. She's here to talk about
the many big issues confronting Washington
and the nation. And the biggest issue
right now is immigration. - Mm-hm. - Nobody's happy. Everybody's unhappy,
everybody's worried. What should President
Biden be doing? - You know, I think it's not
just about President Biden but it's also about Congress. You know, our government, our government
and our governance it's the president, it's the
Senate, and it's the House. The first thing that we
need to do, I think, is actually be able to
provide the resources so that our system as it's
currently designed can function. Right now, because of a
Republican controlled House and so much of
what's been going on some of these basic systems
are not even being processed. We don't-
- [Marcia] Like what? - We don't have our judges to process these
visa applications. - Good point. - We don't have our actual
paperwork processing so that people can
get work permits, do the things that they need
to do to get on their feet and not have to
rely on our systems. Those haven't been funded,
so we need to do that. But then most importantly,
we actually need to actually provide a
true path to citizenship in this country that, and
return to a time which, 'cause we weren't always
like this, return to a time where path to
citizenship is accessible so that people can
actually work quickly, get on their feet, find a
job, and support their family. - But some people who
have already come here and have gone
through the long past of citizenship are
resentful of efforts to make it quicker
for newer arrivals. How do you deal with that? - I think it's a normal process. Like we see this with
student loans, too. Some people said I
paid my student loans, why should someone
else get forgiveness. But I don't think that
because things were disorderly in the past that that
should be a reason why we shouldn't fix
them moving forward. - But would you shorten
the path to citizenship? - I think we need to clarify it. We need to make it easier. We have millions of undocumented
people in this country a lot of people who, by the
way, started on a legal pathway and then became undocumented because our system is so
difficult to navigate. I think we would, I
think it's important to make it easier,
especially that first rung of just being able
to get a work permit so that you can
legally be employed. - So why do you think the
president has been so reticent to provide aid to New
York City, which has taken a huge number of the
migrants who've come here? - Yeah, you know, I
think in the conversation about immigration in this
country, it gets so dominated by the border, the
border, the border, and so there's so much momentum
to trying to provide tons of money, sometimes more
money than they can even spend in a given fiscal
year, at the border. And the idea of redirecting
those resources. So the people and
the communities are
actually absorbing these migrant
populations is more new but it is happening. You know, we secured over
$140 million to contribute to New York City's response. - But that's like a
drop in the bucket at what Mayor Adams
says he needs to spend. - Right, we
definitely need more. I also think that we need
to really open the books on New York City's
fiscal operation and what we're spending
and how we're spending it in terms of not just migrant
response but in general. You know, so I think there
are things we can do better as a city and I absolutely
believe that more resources, we've been fighting, we've
been getting more resources but definitely more
to New York City from the federal government. - So you're questioning the
way the mayor has spent money. You think he's not
spent it wisely? - Well, I think when we talk
about billions of dollars and these figures that
the mayor is using. - [Marcia] Twelve billion. - Right, these figures
that the mayor is citing and using, I think we need
to show our work for that, especially as elected
representatives, our job is to go get that money. And so we've been going
out to get that money, but we need to show
our work too when we go to the federal
government and say this is how this money's
being used, this is where it's going to, this is
what justifies that figure. - So you want a fiscal
accounting from Mayor Adams as to where the money is going and to see if it could be
spent more efficiently. - I think, you know,
I think there's that. I think, also,
when we're talking about this current
environment of budget cuts, we need to be really certain
that this is necessary and we need to really
show our work with that. And so, you know, I
know the Controller, the City Controller has been
doing a lot of oversight work and the Controller's numbers
sometimes are different from the mayor's numbers. And I think that's an
important discrepancy for us to reconcile. - Well it's kinds of cuts
that they mayor has called for that are most upsetting
people are the cuts to police officers. Are you afraid that
this could compromise public safety in New York City? - Well, you know, I think also that it's those
cuts, also the cuts to schools, libraries, parks. These, you know, the
moment we start talking about budget cuts,
I think, we need to take that very seriously because any extra dollar
above what is necessary to be cut is something
that's not going to investing in our city. And so that's why I
think it's important for us to assess these numbers when it comes to public safety. At the same time, we
also have record numbers. We've had budget
increases when it comes to the police department. And so, you know,
there's a balance there. I do think that some of the
areas that are seeing some of the most extreme cuts,
parks, schools, libraries, we really need to address
why that's justified and look at the
numbers behind that. - Do you think there was
a political consideration that the mayor made cuts that
would get people most upset in order to get more
money from Washington? - You know, I can't speak
to the mayor's calculus and what motivates what. I do think that
there're multiple ways
to balance a budget. One can be in budget
cuts and the other can be in figuring out how
we raise revenues. We have enormous amounts
of wealthy people in New York City and,
you know, the fact that these cuts were considered but revenue raising for
the wealthiest people has not, did not seem to
be considered, I think it, we really need to make
an assessment about that. Because working people
are hurting right now. And to cut the resources that
everyday people already have I don't think is
the right direction if there's any way to avoid it. - So you're talking about
tax cuts for the 1%? - Mm-hm, mm-hm. Yeah, I mean, we have an
enormous, well, taxes on the 1%. We have a housing
crisis in the city. Huge areas of Manhattan
are essentially empty because people are having
second, third, fourth homes that are not being occupied, not contributing to
the city's economy. Meanwhile, everyday people
can't find a place to live because they can't find an
affordable place to live. And so I think it's
important for us to figure out, you know,
how do we move the city in the direction of
making it more livable for the people that
work here and live here. - So you're really talking about the targeted
real estate tax hikes for like, people who live
like on Billionaire's Row and those expensive apartments so that you wouldn't increase
real estate taxes on everybody just on those people who have
the very expensive homes. - Right, and that's
just one avenue, right? That's just one
avenue to look at. There're plenty of other
ways to, you know, explore how we find that solution. But the fact that
the immediate go-to and that the first thing
on the chopping block is kids' schools and our
parks, and the basic things that go to our function,
which all of those things go to public safety, right? Kids being able to have
a proper education, summer youth employment programs
so that teenagers aren't just hanging out
during the summertime. You know, all of these
things contribute to a safer city and it's not
just, you know, this is not just a discussion
about police cuts but cuts to our parks,
cuts to our schools, all of that
contributes or doesn't to a safe environment
in our city. - Do you think that the
immigration issue is gonna cost President
Biden his reelection? - I think that the immigration
issue is certainly important. But I think, as well,
that when it comes to the everyday average
person, when I wake up in the morning, when my cousins,
when my neighbors wake up in the morning, we think
about how are we gonna get to work, put food on
the table, pay our rent, and maybe see a
doctor, go on vacation. And, or save up if you can,
if you're lucky enough. And so I think that that's
the most important issue. Of course there are many others, immigration, climate,
you know, so many others. But I think that the president
has worked very hard, has had one of the
most productive
legislative presidencies in modern history, passed
the Inflation Reduction Act. Inflation, while it's still
a problem, it is going down. The rate is going down. And we have record job
levels that we've never had. And so it's not to say
that everything is roses but it's to say we're
making real progress here and that, you know,
immigration is absolutely something
for us to address. The way we address
it in my view is with a democratic
Congress and presidency that actually address
a path to citizenship. - Some Democrats don't
think he's the best person to run at the top of the ticket. How do you feel? - I mean, I think at this
juncture, the filing deadlines for states have passed. I think it's completely
healthy to have a conversation about candidates, et cetera. That conversation has happened. The time for that
conversation has happened. And listen, if you think
you can do a better job, you put your hat in the ring. And right now, we have the
candidates that we have and President Biden is
not only our candidate but his presidency
and his first term have been legislatively
productive and there're absolutely things that people can take issue with. It's normal to. But, you know, to say that,
you know, I don't think we should give short shrift
to what has been accomplished. - All right, well
it's time for a break but we'll be back with much more from Congresswoman
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. who represents
Queens and the Bronx. So, Israel has been a
very hot button topic. I wonder how you feel
about our aid package and whether the considerations,
the worries that you have mean that we might wanna cut
back our aid package to Israel. - I Think so, and I know
there's an enormous amount of... I wanna acknowledge that
this is such an active and sensitive conversation
in the world, in the country, especially in our city, but I think that what
we are seeing happen with so many innocent
people being killed in Gaza, and of course, the
horrific bloodshed that happened on
October 7th as well, I think a major concern that
we have right now is the lack of a plan from
Netanyahu's government, the excessive and
indiscriminate violence that we are seeing. - So you say cut the aid to
force him to do something. - I think that when we talk about additional
military assistance, this is not just about
what Israel's doing. This is really a
conversation about us and the United States, and I don't believe
that the United States should supplement military
assistance in places of grave human
rights violations. That's not just my belief. That's the current
law on the books, and that is what is happening, and it is currently the law that we cannot
provide military aid in those environments. And so, I think what is
in adherence with the law is to currently
add conditionality, and also if
Netanyahu's government is not going to slow down, we
cannot be complicit in that. - So, you've called
for a ceasefire. You've also said that
you support the creation of a Palestinian state, which
has put you in the crosshairs of a number of Jewish
groups who have vowed to spend millions and millions of dollars
to defeat members of the so-called Squad. I wonder how you
feel about that, because you're definitely
in their crosshairs. - Yeah, you know, I'm also
proud to have the support of Jewish organizations
that believe in human rights for all people and
understand that the path to a lasting peace is
in dignity for both Palestinian and
Israeli families, but particularly in
ending the injustices that Palestinians face. Now, when it comes to, you know, how I feel about this
challenge, it's no secret that standing up to
established powers puts a target on your back, and that's a big reason
why people don't do it. - But see, they're saying that you're fomenting
antisemitism. Do you accept that, reject that? How do you feel? - I reject it wholeheartedly because I believe that
the idea that standing up for human rights is anti-Semitic
is an appalling allegation, and in fact, some of the people that are some of the
most righteous human
rights supporters that I know are Jewish brothers
and sisters and neighbors, and so the idea that to
stand for Palestinian dignity has anything to do with the criticism
of Jewish identity. I think, and I think
we all know that. I think our Jewish community, our Palestinian community, we
know to separate individuals and identity from governments, and Palestinians are not Hamas and Jewish people
and Israeli citizens are not the
Netanyahu government. - But do you think
that these activists and their multimillion-dollar
campaign will be successful in defeating some
members of the Squad, Jamaal Bowman, for example? - You know, it poses a
real threat, you know? Politics and big money in
politics is a big thing, and this is what we do when
we stand up to Big Oil, this is what we do when
we stand up to Big Pharma, and this is what we do a
lot of times when it comes to standing up to a
military industrial complex, and it does put a target
on your back politically. I think that this year, you
know, is a time for New Yorkers to say, do I want big money
to decide my representation, or do I wanna decide
my representation? And with individuals
like Jamaal Bowman, who's one of the most
fantastic representatives that we have seen in this state
in years, you know, we want to make sure that it's New
Yorkers deciding who they send to Congress, and not
special interests. - But people would say that Jamaal Bowman's Democratic
opponent, George Latimer, is also a good candidate. - Mm-hm. And that's what
campaigns are for, right? And I'm looking forward to
supporting Jamaal Bowman. I'm looking forward to visiting some of my own stomping
grounds in Westchester and talking to neighbors
and communities and having people excited
about supporting him again, as well as many others. - I wanted to ask you
to go back a little bit and talk about
presidential politics. You only have a
couple minutes left, but I wondered about this move by former Senator Joe Lieberman to support something
called the No Labels Party, and he's trying to get
people on the ballot in all 50 states, and it
would be a bipartisan slate, a Democrat and a Republican. Do you think that's gonna hurt? Who's that gonna hurt? - Well, I think we
have to be realistic about our current process, and listen, I stand up to
my own party quite often. I disagree with my
own party quite often. And I think in a lot of context,
third parties are great. I mean, you know,
in New York City. - Will the third party
candidate this time hurt the Democrats
or the Republicans? - Well, I think a third party on a presidential
ballot is unproductive and, you know, it could hurt a Democrat. It could also hurt a Republican. But at the end of
the day, I think what is most important
is that if we want to actually take on the
structure of a two-party system, we have to start
from the bottom up, and, you know, in New York City, we have the Working Families
Party, we have other parties, but in other states,
you know, I don't think that it starts with the
presidential election. I think it starts with
our own communities and having that conversation. - And just really
quickly, so do you think that they're gonna
actually succeed? You've got about 10 seconds. - Mm-hm. I mean, we're gonna work so
that they don't, so no. (laughs) - And on that note, we're
gonna leave it there for now, but our conversation continues right after the show on
our streaming channel, CBS News New York. Conservative,
progressive, liberal. What does it all mean
and does it matter? New Yorkers are weighing
in on "Your Point." What does it mean to
be a conservative? - Oh, gosh. - I wouldn't really be
able to tell you that 'cause I'm not one. - Conservatives used to
represent ideas of, like, Reagan around small government,
around efficient taxation, things of that nature. - Tight with the
money, strong defense. - Well, to continue with
more traditions, probably. - The one that supports
things as they are and doesn't want to develop
society towards a better end. - They don't wanna pay
for public programs or they don't want a lot
of money to go towards it. But I also feel
like there's, like, a lot of sort of
performative morality. - Doesn't allow anybody else
to have their own thoughts, freedoms. - It means to be extremist. - I think conservative
is really conflated with MAGA right now because we have such
a polarized climate. - Is that the same thing
as being a Republican? - It's almost worse because they think
they're allowing freedoms, but they're just as bad. - The Republican party is
now a party of Donald Trump. It's a cult and it has nothing
to do with conservatism. - I think of it, on the surface, all as kind of one big
blanket of something that I don't associate with. - Is it the same as
being a Republican? - Pretty much, pretty much. - Oh, definitely not. - I think that many
Republicans are conservative, but I also think that many
Democrats are also conservative. It's not a political
party thing. - Republican is just a party, so they can change what
they want whenever. - What does it mean
to be a progressive? - Progressive means
you still believe that we have a collective
obligation toward each other. - Progressive, I
think more Democrat. - You wanna move things
in a forward position rather than go back to
some regressive time. - What does it mean
to be a progressive? - Giving away everybody's money. - That we should pay taxes
to support a government that helps all of us, whether
it's schools, roads, subways. - Progressive is the
opposite of conservative. You want change, you
want things to change. - Do political parties
matter anymore? - Absolutely. - Well, they sure do. - Participation of people in
political parties are important because are the
base of democracy. - We don't have a
direct electorate with a proportional
representation system, such that a political
party will highly influence your ability to be elected. - You need to be united
in a lot of ways. Otherwise, your power
is limited, you know? It's like being in a union. - I think if you're not
in a political party, it's really hard to get elected. - I think they matter
to most people, but for me, it
depends who's running. - And you just vote the
person you think is best, no matter what the party? - Absolutely, 100%. (upbeat music)
