The Albany impasse, as an AI-ssemblyman sees it

Daily Point

Lawmaker's Ra-Ra spirit gives a Swift twist to budget blues

The Point doesn’t use the artificial intelligence-powered ChatGPT to write its items. But Thursday, thanks to Assemb. Ed Ra, of Garden City South, we made an exception. Here’s our query, which we wrote, and the article that followed, which was written by ChatGPT.

Query from The Point:

I would like you to write a news story about a New York Assemblyman named Ed Ra, who, while trying to negotiate the state budget, which was supposed to be finished April 1, spent his time using ChatGPT to generate a Taylor Swift ballad about how the budget was late. This story should include the notion that the budget includes important funding measures about housing and schools, but that the New York State legislature is unable to come to an agreement. Ra, while waiting for an emergency extender measure, decided to play with ChatGPT instead. Among the song lines ChatGPT generated: “Oh, the budget's late, it's causing a stir/In the city that never sleeps, it's a blur.”

Article generated by ChatGPT:

Assemblyman Ed Ra Delights with Taylor Swift-style Ballad Amid Budget Deadlock

New York Assemblyman Ed Ra, facing the looming deadline for the state budget that was supposed to be finalized by April 1, found a creative outlet amidst the tense negotiations by collaborating with an AI language model to compose a Taylor Swift-inspired ballad lamenting the late budget.

Ra, representing the 19th Assembly District, found himself at the center of a legislative standstill as crucial funding measures for housing and schools remained unresolved due to the ongoing deadlock in Albany. With tensions running high and negotiations at a standstill, Ra turned to a unique source of inspiration to lighten the mood.

“While waiting for an emergency extender measure to keep essential services running, I thought, why not inject a bit of creativity into this stressful situation?” Ra quipped.

Using an AI platform called ChatGPT, Ra engaged in a playful exchange to craft a song that echoed the frustrations of New Yorkers waiting for a budget resolution. The assemblyman shared a snippet of the song lines generated by ChatGPT, which humorously highlighted the predicament:

“Oh, the budget's late, it's causing a stir,

In the city that never sleeps, it's a blur.”

The lines captured the essence of the impasse gripping the New York State Legislature as lawmakers struggled to reconcile differing priorities and reach consensus on critical spending measures. The proposed budget includes significant allocations for housing initiatives, educational programs, and infrastructure improvements, all of which hang in the balance.

Ra's creative diversion with ChatGPT provided a lighthearted moment amid the seriousness of the budget impasse, showcasing his ability to navigate the pressures of political negotiation with a touch of humor. As discussions continued into the night, Ra's Taylor Swift-inspired ballad served as a reminder of the resilience and adaptability required in the world of legislative decision-making.

The New York State Legislature remains under pressure to find common ground and pass a comprehensive budget that addresses the needs of its residents. In the meantime, Assemblyman Ed Ra's musical interlude offers a refreshing perspective on the challenges faced by lawmakers during this critical juncture.

(ChatGPT piece ends here)

'A bit of a Swiftie'

For the record, Ra didn’t say what ChatGPT quoted him as saying. Instead, as he was driving home from Albany Thursday afternoon, he had a real conversation with The Point.

“I am a bit of a Swiftie … and we were sitting on the floor this morning just waiting for committees to be called to do the budget extender bill, so I was just having a little fun,” he said. “I have a history of being a little creative and light on Twitter during budget time.”

Ra said he thought ChatGPT did a pretty good job with the song, but noted that he might’ve done it a bit differently.

“Maybe what I would’ve had in there if I wrote it myself was the school funding issue,” Ra said. “They’re really looking for some certainty as to where they stand.”

The Point quickly asked ChatGPT to write a verse in the style of Taylor Swift about school funding for Ra. The chorus it came up with:

“Oh, New York, can't you see?

Our schools need answers urgently.

We're waiting, hesitating, for the figures to come clear,

How much will we receive this year?”

— Randi F. Marshall randi.marshall@newsday.com (and ChatGPT)

Pencil Point

The big to-do

For more cartoons, visit www.newsday.com/nationalcartoons

Final Point

Red-light cam program renewal hits a speed bump

One of the small question marks in the State Legislature’s push in Albany to wrap up the slightly late annual budget plan involves extending authorizations for red-light camera programs in different jurisdictions.

Safety advocates have been raising alarms that if the state doesn’t act, the program would disappear. StreetsBlog NYC warned at the start of the legislative session in January: “If the legislature fails before the end of this legislation … the red light cameras will go dark on Dec. 1.”

By Thursday, it became clear that the red-light legislation won’t make the budget. But enacting those extensions is likely to be advanced in the session weeks that follow enactment of the $230 billion-plus spending plan, sources told The Point. The last authorization was in 2019, expiring this year; a five-year extension is expected to be approved again.

Nassau and Suffolk county officials are among those expecting to see such an extension. In contrast, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been calling and pushing in Albany not just for maintaining these automatic fine issuers but for dramatically expanding the number of camera locations.

Running red lights has seen a “deadly increase,” city transportation commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez says. He’s also been seeking legislation that would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend the vehicle registrations of motorists with five or more red-light camera violations.

“Three decades of data makes it clear: red light cameras reduce crashes and change driver behavior — but state law unfortunately limits their safety benefits to a tiny fraction of intersections,” Rodriguez said in February, shortly after the start of the legislative session.

Although on Long Island the program still generates scattered grumbling about a “money grab,” the Nassau County government website sets the rationale for the program: “Traffic studies show that red-light running is a problem at several intersections in Nassau County. The goal of the red-light camera program is to change driver behavior.”

“Studies across the country prove that red-light camera programs are successful at reducing the number of red-light runners and increasing compliance with traffic laws,” the county’s web posting adds, “thus making roadways safer for all drivers and pedestrians.”

— Dan Janison dan.janison@newsday.com

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