Rachel Silberstein is reporting for the Times Union Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo this past weekend restated his intention to withhold state aid for localities that fail to enact policing reform measures by next year. Cuomo said that mayors and municipal leaders must engage with activists and community leaders to understand their demands. The nine-month ultimatum, with an April 1 deadline, forces politicians to the table to facilitate conversations with law enforcement officials, Cuomo said. "The politicians won't want to have the conversation, because it's going to be a heated conversation," Cuomo said. "You have to have the conversation — that's what the state says. Whatever plan the municipality comes up with is fine by me ... it's the local taxpayer that is paying for the police." Cuomo said the State Police are "going through their own process" for changing and reviewing its policies. Read the full story in the Times Union.