July 11, 2025 • 26 mins
The state budget provided $400 million in funding to invest in New York's capital city. State Sen. Pat Fahy (D - 46th State Senate District) joins us to discuss the importance and impact of this investment. The newly-confirmed commissioner of the state Division of Human Rights Denise Miranda unpacks her plans for the agency and the 80th anniversary of the division.
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(00:00):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:19):
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET
PROVIDED OVER $400 MILLION TO
INVEST IN THE CITY OF ALBANY.
THE MONEY WILL BE SPLIT BETWEEN
SEVERAL CAPITAL PROJECTS,
INCLUDING RENOVATIONS FOR THE
STATE MUSEUM, REVITALIZING THE
DOWNTOWN AREA, AND RECONNECTING
(00:40):
COMMUNITIES.
SUPPORTERS SAY THAT IT WAS
IMPORTANT FOR BOTH THE GOVERNOR
AND THE LEGISLATURE TO FINALLY
INVEST IN THE CITY BECAUSE IT IS
THE STATE'S CAPITOL.
LAWMAKERS WHO REPRESENT ALBANY
HAVE POSITIONED THIS AS A
ONCE-IN-GENERATION INVESTMENT
THAT COULD MAKE THE CITY
UNRECOGNIZABLE.
(01:00):
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE'LL HEAR
FROM STATE SENATOR PATRICIA
FAHY, WHO REPRESENTS THE AREA,
TO UNDERSTAND THE FUNDING AND
ITS IMPACT.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US, SENATOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> OF COURSE NOW, THE STATE
BUDGET PROVIDED OVER $400
(01:20):
MILLION IN FUNDING TO INVEST IN
THE CITY OF ALBANY.
CAN YOU GIVE US A BREAKDOWN OF
HOW THAT MONEY WILL BE SPENT AND
WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO INVEST
IN THE CITY THIS YEAR?
>> FIRST OF ALL, THIS WAS A
JAW-DROPPING, ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
AMOUNT OF MONEY.
VERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO THE
GOVERNOR FOR THIS INVESTMENT.
(01:41):
I MEAN, THIS-- BACK IN JANUARY
IN THE STATE OF THE STATE, WE
KNEW WE WERE MAKING SOME HEADWAY
ON THE MUSEUM.
WE SPENT MANY YEARS ADVOCATING
TO REDO THE MUSEUM.
WE KNEW WE WERE PUSHING FOR
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION.
SO I KIND OF THOUGHT WE WERE
GETTING SOME BIG NUMBERS.
I HAD NO IDEA IT WOULD BE 400
MILLION.
SO OF THAT 400 MILLION, 200
(02:03):
MILLION, HALF OF IT, IS GOING
TOWARD DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION
EFFORTS, ALL WITHIN ONE MILE OF
THE CAPITOL.
THE SECOND PART IS 150 MILLION
FOR THE STATE MUSEUM TO REALLY
BUILD A WORLD CLASS MUSEUM.
MANY PEOPLE KNOW-- I THINK IT'S
NINE YEARS NOW-- THAT I'VE BEEN
(02:24):
ADVOCATING FOR A CHILDREN'S
SCIENCE MUSEUM AND
REVITALIZATION OF WHAT HAS BEEN
A VERY STALE MUSEUM.
SO THIS IS A GAME-CHANGER IN
TERMS OF MUSEUMS AS WELL AND
REALLY OVERDO.
NOT JUST THE STATE MUSEUM BUT
I'M REALLY HOPING FOR A VIBRANT
CHILDREN'S PART OF THAT'S
(02:45):
PERSONALLY ON THE 4TH FLOOR OF
WHERE THE STATE MUSEUM IS NOW.
SO THAT'S TWO.
THIRD PART IS 787, SO PLEASED
PARTICULARLY ON THIS ONE WITH
THE GOVERNOR.
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LONELY.
A HALF DOZEN YEARS AGO WHEN I
STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS AND
GOT LAUGHED AT BY A FEW PEOPLE
(03:06):
BECAUSE IN THE END, WE WILL NEED
MULTIPLE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHEN
YOU REALLY START REMOVING PARTS
OF A HIGHWAY.
BUT YOU EITHER SPEND HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS ON UPKEEP, OR YOU BEGIN
TO TAKE SOME OF IT DOWN,
REPURPOSE, REIMAGINE SOME OF IT.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE 35 MILLION
(03:27):
FOR THE NEXT PHASE TO BEGIN TO
BUILD THOSE FEASIBILITY STUDIES,
REALLY DO THE THOROUGH UTILITY
ANALYSIS OF WHAT'S OBTAINABLE,
WHAT'S DOABLE, AND LIKE I SAID,
I WANT TO SEE WHERE WE GO OVER
IT IN PARTS, GO OVER IT WITH THE
PARK LAND AND GO UNDER IT WITH
CANALS.
(03:47):
REMEMBER WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL
LOCK, ONE OF THE ERIE CANAL
RIGHT HERE.
MANY PROPOSALS AS WELL TO GO
RIGHT IN FRONT OF SUNY CENTRAL
AT THE BOTTOM OF STATE STREET
THERE.
SO LOTS OF GREAT THING, AGAIN TO
GO OVER IT WITH PARK LAND, UNDER
IT WITH A CANAL, AND THEN TAKE
DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
(04:08):
THAT'S 35 MILLION.
THEN, AGAIN, DUE TO THE
GOVERNOR'S GENEROSITY, WE WERE
ABLE TO SECURE CAPITAL FUNDING
FOR THE CITY OF ALBANY.
THOSE ARE OPERATING DOLLARS.
THIS YEAR, WE'RE ABLE TO
INCREASE THAT TO 20 MILLION.
THERE'S A MILLION IN THERE FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE THAT
MATTERS ON ANYTHING WE DO.
(04:28):
SO IN ROUGH NUMBERS, WE'RE
ACTUALLY A LITTLE OVER $400
MILLION AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A
WHILE WITH THAT DOWNTOWN
REVITALIZATION, BUT IT'S NOTHING
SHORT OF EXTRAORDINARY AND
AGAIN, A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION
OPPORTUNITY.
>> AND AS THE STATE SENATOR
REPRESENTING THIS AREA, WHAT WAS
THE REACTION FROM SOME OF YOUR
(04:49):
CONSTITUENTS WHEN THEY HEARD
ABOUT THIS FUNDING IN THE
BUDGET?
>> WE'VE BEEN BUILDING THIS,
RIGHT, FOR YEARS, WE'VE BEEN
ADVOCATING ON REVITALIZING
ALBANY.
A HUGE SHOUTOUT TO MAYOR SHEEHAN
FOR WORKS ON WHETHER WE DO A
SOCCER STADIUM ON WHAT IS
CONSIDERED THE DOWNTOWN PARKING
LOT DISTRICT, WHICH WOULD HAVE--
(05:10):
WAS FOR YEARS PROPOSED TO BE A
CONVENTION CENTER.
THAT CONVENTION CENTER MOVED UP
OFF EAGLE STREET, THE CONVENTION
CENTER WE HAVE NOW, MUCH SMALLER
SCALE, SO WE STILL HAVE THIS
PARKING LOT DISTRICT WHICH IS A
COMPLETE EYESORE.
SO THE GOVERNOR, I THINK, REALLY
RECOGNIZED DOWNTOWN WAS HURTING
(05:31):
PARTICULARLY SINCE COVID WHEN
STATE WORKERS, WHICH HAD BEEN
OUR PRIMARY INDUSTRY HERE WAS
THE STATE WORKFORCE, THEY ARE
LARGELY WORKING FROM HOME, AND
IT'S REALLY HURT.
SO YOU HAD THIS EYESORE OF,
AGAIN, WHAT'S CALLED A PARKING
LOT DISTRICT, EIGHT ACRES THERE,
SITTING EMPTY, LOTS OF NEEDS
(05:52):
WITH STATE OFFICE BUILDINGS THAT
ARE IN SOME CASES HALF EMPTY,
AND IT'S FUELED SOME OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS THAT WE
ALL TAKE VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY
AND WE HAVE STRUGGLED TO
ADDRESS.
SO THE OF REALLY INVESTING,
CONVERTING SOME OF THESE OFFICE
(06:13):
BUILDINGS TO APARTMENTS, CONDOS,
AND MORE AND ALL OF THIS CAN
REALLY MOVE TOWARD
REVITALIZATION EFFORTS,
INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF A
SOCCER STADIUM, WHICH IS A VERY
SERIOUS PROPOSAL.
NOW WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL
ON THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT IF WE
ARE MOVING FORWARD ON THIS
(06:34):
INVESTMENT, IT'S GOING TO WORK
FOR ALBANY.
NOT JUST TOMORROW BUT FOR YEARS
TO COME.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITING
PROPOSALS OUT THERE.
YOU START TO COMBINE THAT WITH,
LET'S SAY, A SOCCER STADIUM WITH
TAKING DOWN PARTS OF 787,
RECLAIMING OUR WATERFRONT.
WHERE WE WERE REALLY HARMED IN
(06:56):
THE 1960S IS BY CUTTING OFF
ALBANY FROM OUR GREATEST NATURAL
RESOURCE, AND THAT'S THE MIGHTY
HUDSON RIVER.
SO YOU HAD AN OVERBUILT HIGHWAY,
EVEN IN THE 1960S IT WAS
OVERBUILT.
EVEN MORE OVERBUILT NOW.
HIGHLY UNDERUTILIZED SO WE TAKE
DOWN PART OF THAT.
MAYBE BRING IN A STADIUM.
(07:18):
REPURPOSE SOME OF THESE OFFICE
BUILDINGS.
YOU HAVE A NEW MUSEUM, MORE PARK
LAND GOING OVER 787 WITH PARK
LAND CANALS AND MORE, AND I'M
HOPING WE CAN BARELY RECOGNIZE
ALBANY THE WAY IT IS NOW IN TEN
YEARS BECAUSE IT WILL BE A
(07:39):
TOTALLY DIFFERENT CITY.
I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC AND AGAIN,
DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO THE GOVERNOR.
THIS IS-- WE'VE SEEN THIS
GOVERNOR AND PREVIOUS GOVERNORS
INVEST WITH THE BUFFALO BILLION
AND MORE INTO BUFFALO.
WE'VE SEEN ROCHESTER INVESTMENTS
WITH ROCK CITY OR ROCK RIVER,
(08:01):
SORRY.
SEEING BIG INVESTMENT IN
SYRACUSE WITH TAKING DOWN PARTS
OF I-81 THERE.
SO IF YOU KEEP COMING EAST, IT
WAS ALBANY'S TURN.
>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED $150
MILLION OF THAT FUNDING WILL GO
TOWARDS RENOVATING AND
MODERNIZING THE STATE MUSEUM.
IT WAS ALSO REPORTED THAT
(08:22):
GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL MADE A
VISIT TO THE STATE MUSEUM WITH
HER GRANDDAUGHTER.
THAT WAS A BIT LACKLUSTER AND
THAT WAS SORT OF THE IMPETUS OF
HER PUSHING TO GET RENOVATIONS
ON THE STATE MUSEUM.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT BEING
THE CATALYST FOR THIS IDEA?
>> I THINK IT REALLY HELPED AND
BY THE WAY, I'VE HEARD THIS FROM
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS FOR YEARS.
(08:42):
I'VE BEEN BACK TO THE STATE
MUSEUM WITH A COUPLE OF CHILDREN
I'M ENTER AND IT HASN'T CHANGED
MUCH SINCE MY CHILDREN HAD BEEN
THERE 20 YEARS AGO.
THAT'S WHY,-I KNOW I OFFENDED A
COUPLE PEOPLE.
BUT THERE'S NO OFFENSE INTENDED.
IT'S STALE.
IT'S OLD, AND IT NEEDS REAL
(09:04):
REVITALIZATION.
WE KNOW THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IN
INDIANAPOLIS IS THE SINGLE
LARGEST TOURIST ATTRACTION IN
THE ENTIRE STATE OF INDIANA
OTHER THAN THEIR SPORTS VENUES
SO WE KNOW WHEN YOU INVEST, WHEN
YOU MAKE SOMETHING VIBRANT,
CREATIVE IT CAN REALLY BE A
(09:24):
DESTINATION POINT.
WE ARE THE UPSTATE-- WE'RE NEW
YORK, RIGHT.
WE ARE JUST TWO AND A HALF HOURS
UPSTATE FROM THE CULTURAL
CAPITAL OF THE UNIVERSE, RIGHT,
NEW YORK CITY.
BY MOST ACCOUNTS, IT'S REALLY
THE CULTURAL CAPITAL OF THE
UNIVERSE.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T
(09:45):
CELEBRATE OUR EXTRAORDINARY
HISTORY AND YOU DO THAT WITH OUR
CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, IN THIS
CASE, THE STATE MUSEUM.
SO YES, IF IT TOOK THE
GOVERNOR'S GRANDDAUGHTER TO HELP
PUSH THE IMPETUS FOR THIS, I'M
GRATEFUL NOT JUST TO THE
GOVERNOR BUT TO HER
GRANDDAUGHTER.
(LAUGHING)
>> AND WE KNOW THERE'S ALSO
(10:05):
ABOUT $200 MILLION OF FUNDING
GOING TO DOWNTOWN
REVITALIZATION.
THERE ARE A LOT OF EMPTY
STOREFRONTS ALONG NORTH PEARL
AND BROADWAY.
HOW WILL THE FUNDING HELP TO
ADDRESS THAT AND ALSO
INCENTIVIZED NEW BUSINESS OWNERS
TO MAKE ALBANY THEIR HOME?
>> WELL, THE 200 MILLION, WE--
THERE'S GOING TO BE GROUPS
(10:27):
INVOLVED IN THIS, WORKING
GROUPS.
I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE MANY
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
COMMUNITY GROUPS ARE INVOLVED IN
THESE CONVERSATIONS.
SO IT'S NOT JUST THAT DOWNTOWN
CORRIDOR ALONG BROADWAY AND
PEARL.
IT'S ALSO FURTHER OUT, SUCH THAT
WE ADDRESS THE ONE MILE INCLUDES
DOWNTOWN CENTRAL AVENUE, THE
(10:48):
CENTRAL AVENUE BID, WHICH IS
ALSO TIRED, WORN, LOTS OF
PROBLEMS THERE FROM WHEN WE HAD
THE METHADONE CLINIC THERE,
WHICH WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN
MOVING JUST IN THIS LAST YEAR.
WE ALSO HAVE LINCOLN TOWERS,
RIGHT OFF MARTIN AVENUE.
SO WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A LITTLE
BIT OF A PLAN HERE.
NOT JUST FOR CONVERTING THESE
(11:08):
DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDINGS.
WE STILL NEED STATE WORKERS
BACK.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO INVEST IN
THESE BUSINESSES.
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE REALLY THE
LIFE BLOOD OF OUR UPSTATE
ECONOMY.
IN SOME WAYS, THEY'RE THE LIFE
BLOOD OF OUR ECONOMY, PERIOD,
RIGHT.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE INVESTING IN THOSE
(11:29):
BUSINESSES.
I WAS JUST AT A RIBBON CUTTING
ON SIGNAGE.
SIGNAGE MATTERS, INVESTING IN
THEM, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY,
PARKING ISSUES AND MORE.
THE BIKE LANES, THE PEDESTRIAN
WALK-- SAFE WALKING PATHS, ALL
OF THAT WILL FEED IN, BUT THE
SOCCER STADIUM IS ONE WE'RE
GOING TO BE LOOKING AT VERY
(11:50):
SERIOUSLY.
THERE'S SOME VERY FASCINATING
PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN DRAWN UP ON
THAT, AND OBVIOUSLY, IT CAN'T
JUST BE ABOUT SOCCER.
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A VERY
MULTIUSE STADIUM.
THE PART I'M MOST INTERESTED IN
IS THE HOUSING TIED TO THAT.
(12:11):
SO I TELL PEOPLE A LOT, I MAY
NOT KNOW A LOT ABOUT SOCCER, BUT
I KNOW A LOT ABOUT HOUSING AND
IF IT COMES WITH A THOUSAND
HOUSING UNITS, APARTMENTS,
CONDOS, TOWNHOUSES AND MORE,
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO DO THE
VIBRANCY.
SOCCER IS GREAT, BUT YOU NEED--
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S
GOING TO BE A HUNDRED NIGHTS
(12:31):
BOOKED THERE.
SO IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING WHERE
IT'S 14 GAMES OF THE SEASON.
WE NEED A MULTIPURPOSE, MULTIUSE
STADIUM IF THAT'S WHAT IT'S
GOING TO TAKE TO DRIVE, LET'S
SAY, AN ADDITIONAL THOUSAND
HOUSING UNITS.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE
DONE HERE.
ALL OF THESE HAVE TREMENDOUS
POTENTIAL.
(12:52):
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY FIT
TOGETHER AND THAT WE'RE-- WHILE
WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE CORE OF
DOWNTOWN, WE'RE NOT IGNORING
MARTIN AVENUE WITH A PLAN-- AT
LEAST A PLAN FOR THE LINCOLN TOW
A PLAN FOR THE DOWNTOWN CENTRAL
AVENUE.
SO WE'VE-- I THINK WE CAN WALK
(13:13):
AND CHEW GUM AND REALLY, EVEN IF
THE FUNDING STRETCHES ONLY SO
FAR, IT CAN INCLUDE A PLAN OF
HOW WE MAKE ONE PIECE OF THIS
BUILD UPON ANOTHER.
>> AND WHAT WILL BE YOUR ROLE IN
ENSURING THAT THE MONEY IS
IMPLEMENTED CORRECTLY AND NOT
WASTED WITH ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT PROJECTS?
(13:33):
>> WELL, IT IS MONEY THAT WE
HAVE ALLOCATED IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
SO WE WILL BE VERY MINDFUL.
I'VE PUSHED SOME OF THESE ISSUES
AS I SAID A MUSEUM FOR TEN
YEARS, FOR REIMAGINING 787 FOR
AT LEAST 6 YEARS.
I'M NOT LETTING GO.
I HOPE TO BE INTIMATELY
INVOLVED, BUT I ALSO WANT TO
(13:55):
BRING THE COMMUNITY GROUPS.
WE HAVE A NEW MAYOR THAT WILL BE
INCOMING, VERY EXCITING, THE NEW
MAYOR HERE IN ALBANY.
WE WANT TO INCLUDE ALL OF THOSE
GROUPS.
LOTS OF GREAT THINGS HAPPENING
AT ST. ROSE WHERE I DID THE
LEGISLATION ON THAT WORKING WITH
THE COUNTY.
SO THE COUNTY EXEC IS ALSO
MAKING CRITICAL INVESTMENTS
(14:16):
THERE.
SO WE'VE-- WE'VE GOT TO-- NONE
OF THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT CRITICAL
PARTNERSHIPS.
I'VE ALREADY SAT DOWN WITH ESD,
THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION THAT IS AT THE LEAD
IN ALL OF THIS.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE HIRING THE
CONSULTANTS AND DOING THE
FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND CREATING
(14:37):
THE MASTER PLAN ON THIS.
MYSELF AND MY ASSEMBLY
COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY SAT DOWN
AND WE'RE GOING TO-- WE'RE JUST
BEGINNING THAT NEXT LEVEL OF
CONVERSATION, BUT AGAIN, WE NEED
THE COMMUNITY GROUPS ESPECIALLY
THOSE GROUPS THAT HAVE
HISTORICALLY BEEN DISADVANTAGED,
(14:59):
RIGHT.
SO THERE'S-- THERE IS A SOCIAL
JUSTICE PIECE OF THIS AS WELL.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE SOUTH END.
SO I'M THERE TO ALSO MAKE SURE
THAT WE MAKE THIS A BROAD PLAN
EVEN IF IT'S MULTIYEARS.
SO THE MONEY WILL ONLY GO SO
FAR, BUT IF IT'S A MULTIYEAR
PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
(15:19):
REACHING THAT OUR COMMUNITIES
THAT HAVE ALSO PAID THE PRICE,
FOR INSTANCE, FROM BEING CUT OFF
FROM OUR GREATEST NATURAL
RESOURCE.
THE SOUTH END, IN PARTICULAR,
AND I DO MEET WITH THEM
REGULARLY.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US HERE TODAY, SENATOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
SUCH AN EXCITING TOPIC.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
(15:40):
STATE SENATOR PATRICIA FAHY.
>>> NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER
IMPORTANT TOPIC.
THE STATE DIVISION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF NEW
YORKERS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION
AND JUSTICE AND PROMOTING EQUAL
ACCESS.
WE SAT DOWN WITH THE NEWLY
APPOINTED COMMISSIONER, DENISE
(16:02):
MIRANDA, TO UNDERSTAND HER
VISION FOR THE OFFICE AND THEIR
WORK.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US HERE TODAY, COMMISSIONER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME TODAY.
>> OF COURSE.
NOW, AS THE NEWLY CONFIRMED
COMMISSIONER OF THE STATE
DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, CAN
YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR
(16:23):
PLANS FOR THE OFFICE AND YOUR
APPROACH TO THE WORK?
>> SURE. SO AS YOU MAY KNOW, I
WAS APPOINTED IN MARCH OF 2024
BY GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL WITH
THE EXPECTATION OF MODERNIZING
AND REVITALIZING ON THE DIVISION
OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
CELEBRATED OUR 80TH ANNIVERSARY
THIS YEAR.
WE ARE A NATION-LEADING AGENCY
(16:45):
AND NEW YORK WAS ACTUALLY THE
FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO
ENACT A HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL
RIGHTS LAW.
SO IT'S A VERY PROUD MOMENT FOR
ME TO SERVE AS A COMMISSIONER
HERE OF NEW YORK STATE.
SINCE ARRIVING, WE HAVE TAKEN
THAT MANDATE VERY SERIOUSLY TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
REVITALIZING THE AGENCY AND WE
HAVE REALLY TAKEN A WHOLESALE
APPROACH IN EVALUATING ALL
(17:06):
ELEMENTS OF OUR OPERATIONS AND
CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE FOR
NEW YORKERS.
>> AND CAN YOU BREAK DOWN THE
JURISDICTION OF YOUR DEPARTMENT?
>> SURE. SO WE FOCUS ON FOUR
DIFFERENT AREAS OF LIFE HERE IN
NEW YORK.
THAT WOULD BE EDUCATION,
EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING AND PUBLIC
ACCOMMODATION, AND THERE ARE 19
PROTECTED CLASSES HERE IN NEW
(17:28):
YORK WHICH INCLUDE NATIONAL
ORIGIN, RACE, ETHNICITY, GENDER,
SEXUAL EXPRESSION AND
ORIENTATION.
SO NEW YORK HAS A VERY RICH
HISTORY HERE OF BEING A STATE
THAT IS PROGRESSIVE IN ITS
VALUES IN OFFERING PROTECTIONS
AGAINST DISCRIMINATION.
>> ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC TYPES
OF DISCRIMINATION CASES THAT MAY
(17:50):
FALL OUTSIDE OF YOUR
JURISDICTION THAT YOU'RE HOPING
TO START WORKING ON?
>> THE DIVISION IS CONSTANTLY
LOOKING AT TRENDS, RIGHT, IN THE
SPACE OF NEW YORKERS AND
IDENTIFYING AREAS WHERE PERHAPS
WE MAY LOOK TO EXPAND OUR
JURISDICTION.
JUST THIS PAST YEAR, THERE HAVE
BEEN DISCUSSIONS AND LEGISLATION
REGARDING APPRAISAL
(18:10):
DISCRIMINATION, FOR EXAMPLE.
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A HISTORY
OF APPRAISAL DISCRIMINATION
WHERE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE
DISPARATELY IMPACTED BY THE FACT
THAT THEIR PROPERTIES ARE OFTEN
UNDERVALUED, AND SO THE DIVISION
IS VERY PROUD TO, AGAIN, MAKE
THAT PART OF OUR PORTFOLIO OF
WORK.
>> AND WHAT ARE THE AGENCY'S
CURRENT METHODS FOR ENFORCING
(18:31):
HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS IN THE STATE?
>> SURE. SO AS YOU MAY KNOW, WE
PROSECUTE, AJUDICATE CASES HERE
AND OF COURSE, INVESTIGATE THOSE
CASES.
WE RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY 7 TO
8,000 CASES EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
WE HAVE 18 INVESTIGATORS I'M
VERY PROUD TO SHARE THAT THIS
PAST YEAR, WE'VE ADDED 15
INVESTIGATORS TO OUR TEAM.
(18:52):
WHEN I ARRIVED HERE AT THE
AGENCY, OUR STAFFING WAS
APPROXIMATELY 165.
BY THE END OF THE YEAR, WE'LL
PROBABLY BE CLOSER TO 280 STAFF
MEMBERS.
SO THERE HAVE BEEN VERY ROBUST
INVESTMENTS MADE HERE WHICH
ALLOWED US TO REALLY MAKE SOME
CHANGES THAT I THINK ARE REALLY
GOING TO FURTHER THE MISSION AND
SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS HERE AND
(19:12):
PROVIDE FOR A BETTER EXPERIENCE
FOR NEW YORKERS.
>> AND FOR OUR VIEWERS WHO MAY
NOT BE FAMILIAR, WHAT IS THE
PROCESS FOR FILING A COMPLAINT
WITH THE DIVISION?
>> SO I'M EXCITED FOR THAT
PARTICULAR QUESTION BECAUSE WE
ARE ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF
LAUNCHING A NEW INTAKE MODEL.
SO PREVIOUSLY, WHEN I ARRIVED
HERE AT THE AGENCY, THERE WERE A
(19:33):
HOST AND MYRIAD OF WAYS IN WHICH
A COMPLAINT COULD GET FILED.
WE COUNTED OVER 13 DIFFERENT
WAYS IN WHICH ONE COULD FILE A
COMPLAINT OF DISCRIMINATION HERE
AT THE DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
WE REALIZED THAT IS NOT
EFFICIENT AND IT LEAVES US OPEN
FOR MISUNDERSTANDING AND LACK OF
INFORMATION AND TRANSPARENCY
WITH RESPECT TO THE PROCESS.
(19:54):
SO WE HAVE REVAMPED OUR INTAKE
PROCESS, AND WE NOW HAVE A
CENTRALIZED INTAKE UNIT THAT
WILL TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE
CASES COMING IN.
WE HAVE MODERNIZED AND UPDATED
OUR ONLINE FORM AND THE MOST
IMPORTANT AND EXCITING PIECE OF
NEWS THAT I WANT TO SHARE TODAY
IS THE CALL CENTER WHICH WILL
LAUNCH APPROXIMATELY IN THE NEXT
TEN DAYS AND THAT WILL BE A
(20:15):
DEDICATED CALL CENTER THAT WILL
ALLOW FOR NEW YORKERS TO CALL
AND SPEAK WITH A HUMAN BEING WHO
WILL BE ABLE TO GUIDE THEM IN
THE PROCESS AND PROVIDE THEM
WITH THE GUIDANCE OF WHAT THEY
NEED IN ORDER TO FILE A COMPLETE
CASE HERE AT THE DIVISION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS.
SO AS WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
EASING THE PROCESS FOR NEW
YORKERS, RIGHT, WHO ARE REACHING
(20:36):
OUT TO US IN A TIME OF NEED
BECAUSE THEY HAVE PERHAPS
EXPERIENCED AN ALLEGATION OF
DISCRIMINATION, MAKING SURE THAT
THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONNECT
WITH A HUMAN BEING WHO CAN WALK
THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS, WHO
CAN EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT
PAPERWORK NEEDS TO BE SUBMITTED
IS REALLY ESSENTIAL IN ENSURING
THAT NEW YORKERS ARE BEING MET
EFFECTIVELY AND PROVIDING THEM
WITH GOOD SERVICE.
(20:57):
>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED A LITTLE
EARLIER, THE DEPARTMENT, OF
COURSE, IS CELEBRATE 80 YEARS
SINCE IT WAS FIRST FOUNDED.
SO CAN YOU UNPACK THE IMPACT OF
THAT ANNIVERSARY?
WHAT PLACE DOES IT HAVE IN NEW
YORK STATE'S HISTORY?
>> I THINK GIVEN THE POLITICAL
MOVEMENT AND THE I HAVE TRIAL
COMING FROM THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION, THAT ANNIVERSARY
(21:17):
HAS MORE SIGNIFICANCE THAN EVER.
IT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY THE
ABILITY TO MODERNIZE AND
REVITALIZE THE AGENCY AS WELL AS
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE DOING
OUTREACH TO NEW YORKERS IS
PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK WE REALIZE THAT THE
POLITICAL CLIMATE RIGHT NOW DOES
NOT FOSTER INCLUSIVITY OR
EQUITY.
SO THE ROLE OF THE DIVISION IS
(21:38):
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE THE
GUARDRAILS TO SAFEGUARD THOSE
VERY IMPORTANT VALUES THAT WE
ALL SHARE HERE IN NEW YORK.
>> YEAH. AS YOU MENTIONED, OF
COURSE, IN RECENT YEARS, THERE'S
DEFINITELY BEEN INCREASED
CONVERSATION AROUND EXTRA
POLITICAL RHETORIC.
HOW DOES THAT REALLY IMPACT THE
WORK THAT YOUR OFFICE IS DOING?
>> WE HAVE A HATE AND BIAS
PREVENTION UNIT, WHICH WAS
(22:01):
HOUSED HERE, WHICH IS HOUSED
HERE AT THE DIVISION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS SINCE 2022, CREATED BY
THIS GOVERNOR.
THE WORK THERE IS FOCUSED ON
ENSURING THAT NEW YORKERS WHO
EXPERIENCE AN INCIDENT OF HATE
OR BIAS HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY
CAN MAKE THOSE REPORTS.
SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT THE
DISCOURSE, RIGHT, WHICH IS OFTEN
FUELED WITH RHETORIC THAT CAN
TAKE HATE AND BIAS AND RACIST IN
(22:24):
NATURE, THERE'S A PLACE WHERE
PEOPLE CAN COME HERE IN THE
DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND
FILE A COMPLAINT.
WE LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN EARLIER
THIS YEAR THAT WAS ON THE MTA AS
WELL AS THE SUBWAYS OF METRO
NORTH AND LIRR, ASKING NEW
YORKERS TO REPORT INCIDENTS OF
HATE AND BIAS TO US.
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT
INFORMS OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS AS
(22:45):
WELL AS OUR POLICY
DETERMINATIONS.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR NEW YORKERS
TO KNOW THAT HATE AND BIAS
INCIDENTS WILL NOT TOLERATED
HERE IN NEW YORK.
>> AND IS THAT CAMPAIGN THE NO
HATE NEW YORK STATE CAMPAIGN AND
IF SO, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
GOALS THAT YOU'RE HOPING TO
ACHIEVE WITH THIS INITIATIVE AND
WHAT IS SOME OF THE PROGRESS
THAT'S BEEN MADE SO FAR ON THAT
(23:06):
FRONT?
>> THAT IS PART OF THE NO HATE
NEW YORK.
OUR WORK HERE WHICH IS PART OF
THE DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE
THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO NEW
YORKERS WITH PREVENTION,
EDUCATION, AS WELL AS RESOLUTION
MODELS WHEN WE ARE SEEING AN
UPTICK.
WE REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE
HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK IN INCIDENTS
OF HATE AND BIAS.
(23:26):
ANTI-SEMITISM IS ON THE RISE AS
WELL AS ISLAMAPHOBIA.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN
SEND OUR TEAM OUT TO THOSE
COMMUNITIES AND ABLE TO OFFER
CONFLICT RESOLUTION OR
CONCILIATION OR EVEN WORK WITH
EDUCATORS IN THAT COMMUNITY.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT,
AGAIN, WE CAN CONTRIBUTE, RIGHT,
(23:47):
TO THE FABRIC OF NEW YORKERS SO
THEY CAN LIVE A LIFE WITHOUT
HATE AND BIAS IN THEIR DAILY
LIVES.
CAN YOU UNPACK SOME OF THE
SPECIFIC CHALLENGES WITH HUMAN
RIGHTS WORK AND HOW DOES YOUR
OFFICE MITIGATE THESE
CHALLENGES?
>> I THINK THE MESSAGE THAT'S
COMING FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.
CREATES A LOT OF CONFUSION AND
ANXIETY FOR PEOPLE.
RIGHT. WE'RE SEEING THAT
(24:08):
EXECUTIVE ORDERS ARE BEING
SIGNED BY THIS FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION AND THEY SUGGEST
SWEEPING CHANGES.
RIGHT. I THINK WE'RE CONSTANTLY
WORKING TO ENSURE THAT, NEW
YORKERS KNOW THAT DESPITE THESE
EXECUTIVE ORDERS THE PROTECTIONS
THAT EXIST IN NEW YORK ARE SOUND
AND IN PLACE AND HAVE NOT
CHANGED.
SO OUR OUTREACH IN EDUCATION
(24:28):
WORK IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT
AND IT'S AN ERA WHERE WE MAKE
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN TERMS
OF STAFFING AS WELL AS COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT.
>> AND IN TERMS OF RESOURCES,
WHAT TYPE OF STATE FUNDING IS
NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF
YOUR OFFICE?
>> SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE
FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR MADE
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT AT THE
(24:49):
DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND
SINCE SHE HAS TAKEN OFFICE, OUR
BUDGET HAS NEARLY DOUBLED.
LAST YEAR, WE SAW A 40% INCREASE
IN OUR FUNDING, WHICH BRINGS US
CLOSE TO NEARLY $40 MILLION
WHICH IS UNPRECEDENTED FOR US
HERE AT THE DIVISION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS.
WITH THAT INVESTMENT, WE'RE ABLE
0 REALLY IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE
INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE AND
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS AS
(25:10):
WELL AS STAFFING AND OF COURSE,
THE ENGAGEMENT, WHICH I SPOKE
ABOUT EARLIER.
>> AND LASTLY, HOW WOULD YOU SAY
NEW YORK STACKS UP AGAINST OTHER
STATES IN PRIORITIZING HUMAN
RIGHTS WORK, AND HOW WOULD YOU
LIKE TO SEE THE STATE GROW IN
THE YEARS TO COME?
>> WELL, I THINK THE INVESTMENT
BY THE GOVERNOR SPEAKS VOLUMES
AS TO THE PRIORITY THAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION HAS IN PRESERVING
(25:30):
CIVIL RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
LAWS HERE AND I WOULD LIKE TO
BELIEVE THAT NEW YORK IS A
LEADER IN THAT CONVERSATION.
WE'RE WELL POISED AS THE FIRST
STATE IN THE NATION TO ACTUALLY
HAVE A CIVIL RIGHTS AND TO BE A
LEADER IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND
WE OFTEN COLLABORATE AND PARTNER
WITH OTHER STATES WHEN WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT POLICY CHANGES AND
IMPACT OF FEDERAL LAWS.
(25:50):
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR TIME TODAY, COMMISSIONER.
WE REALLY ENJOYED THIS
CONVERSATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
DENISE MIRANDA, COMMISSIONER OF
THE NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> AND FOR MORE FROM THE
DIVISION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, YOU
CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.
AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
(26:13):
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:42):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:19):
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET
PROVIDED OVER $400 MILLION TO
INVEST IN THE CITY OF ALBANY.
THE MONEY WILL BE SPLIT BETWEEN
SEVERAL CAPITAL PROJECTS,
INCLUDING RENOVATIONS FOR THE
STATE MUSEUM, REVITALIZING THE
DOWNTOWN AREA, AND RECONNECTING
(00:40):
COMMUNITIES.
SUPPORTERS SAY THAT IT WAS
IMPORTANT FOR BOTH THE GOVERNOR
AND THE LEGISLATURE TO FINALLY
INVEST IN THE CITY BECAUSE IT IS
THE STATE'S CAPITOL.
LAWMAKERS WHO REPRESENT ALBANY
HAVE POSITIONED THIS AS A
ONCE-IN-GENERATION INVESTMENT
THAT COULD MAKE THE CITY
UNRECOGNIZABLE.
(01:00):
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE'LL HEAR
FROM STATE SENATOR PATRICIA
FAHY, WHO REPRESENTS THE AREA,
TO UNDERSTAND THE FUNDING AND
ITS IMPACT.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US, SENATOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> OF COURSE NOW, THE STATE
BUDGET PROVIDED OVER $400
(01:20):
MILLION IN FUNDING TO INVEST IN
THE CITY OF ALBANY.
CAN YOU GIVE US A BREAKDOWN OF
HOW THAT MONEY WILL BE SPENT AND
WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO INVEST
IN THE CITY THIS YEAR?
>> FIRST OF ALL, THIS WAS A
JAW-DROPPING, ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
AMOUNT OF MONEY.
VERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO THE
GOVERNOR FOR THIS INVESTMENT.
(01:41):
I MEAN, THIS-- BACK IN JANUARY
IN THE STATE OF THE STATE, WE
KNEW WE WERE MAKING SOME HEADWAY
ON THE MUSEUM.
WE SPENT MANY YEARS ADVOCATING
TO REDO THE MUSEUM.
WE KNEW WE WERE PUSHING FOR
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION.
SO I KIND OF THOUGHT WE WERE
GETTING SOME BIG NUMBERS.
I HAD NO IDEA IT WOULD BE 400
MILLION.
SO OF THAT 400 MILLION, 200
(02:03):
MILLION, HALF OF IT, IS GOING
TOWARD DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION
EFFORTS, ALL WITHIN ONE MILE OF
THE CAPITOL.
THE SECOND PART IS 150 MILLION
FOR THE STATE MUSEUM TO REALLY
BUILD A WORLD CLASS MUSEUM.
MANY PEOPLE KNOW-- I THINK IT'S
NINE YEARS NOW-- THAT I'VE BEEN
(02:24):
ADVOCATING FOR A CHILDREN'S
SCIENCE MUSEUM AND
REVITALIZATION OF WHAT HAS BEEN
A VERY STALE MUSEUM.
SO THIS IS A GAME-CHANGER IN
TERMS OF MUSEUMS AS WELL AND
REALLY OVERDO.
NOT JUST THE STATE MUSEUM BUT
I'M REALLY HOPING FOR A VIBRANT
CHILDREN'S PART OF THAT'S
(02:45):
PERSONALLY ON THE 4TH FLOOR OF
WHERE THE STATE MUSEUM IS NOW.
SO THAT'S TWO.
THIRD PART IS 787, SO PLEASED
PARTICULARLY ON THIS ONE WITH
THE GOVERNOR.
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LONELY.
A HALF DOZEN YEARS AGO WHEN I
STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS AND
GOT LAUGHED AT BY A FEW PEOPLE
(03:06):
BECAUSE IN THE END, WE WILL NEED
MULTIPLE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHEN
YOU REALLY START REMOVING PARTS
OF A HIGHWAY.
BUT YOU EITHER SPEND HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS ON UPKEEP, OR YOU BEGIN
TO TAKE SOME OF IT DOWN,
REPURPOSE, REIMAGINE SOME OF IT.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE 35 MILLION
(03:27):
FOR THE NEXT PHASE TO BEGIN TO
BUILD THOSE FEASIBILITY STUDIES,
REALLY DO THE THOROUGH UTILITY
ANALYSIS OF WHAT'S OBTAINABLE,
WHAT'S DOABLE, AND LIKE I SAID,
I WANT TO SEE WHERE WE GO OVER
IT IN PARTS, GO OVER IT WITH THE
PARK LAND AND GO UNDER IT WITH
CANALS.
(03:47):
REMEMBER WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL
LOCK, ONE OF THE ERIE CANAL
RIGHT HERE.
MANY PROPOSALS AS WELL TO GO
RIGHT IN FRONT OF SUNY CENTRAL
AT THE BOTTOM OF STATE STREET
THERE.
SO LOTS OF GREAT THING, AGAIN TO
GO OVER IT WITH PARK LAND, UNDER
IT WITH A CANAL, AND THEN TAKE
DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
(04:08):
THAT'S 35 MILLION.
THEN, AGAIN, DUE TO THE
GOVERNOR'S GENEROSITY, WE WERE
ABLE TO SECURE CAPITAL FUNDING
FOR THE CITY OF ALBANY.
THOSE ARE OPERATING DOLLARS.
THIS YEAR, WE'RE ABLE TO
INCREASE THAT TO 20 MILLION.
THERE'S A MILLION IN THERE FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE THAT
MATTERS ON ANYTHING WE DO.
(04:28):
SO IN ROUGH NUMBERS, WE'RE
ACTUALLY A LITTLE OVER $400
MILLION AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A
WHILE WITH THAT DOWNTOWN
REVITALIZATION, BUT IT'S NOTHING
SHORT OF EXTRAORDINARY AND
AGAIN, A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION
OPPORTUNITY.
>> AND AS THE STATE SENATOR
REPRESENTING THIS AREA, WHAT WAS
THE REACTION FROM SOME OF YOUR
(04:49):
CONSTITUENTS WHEN THEY HEARD
ABOUT THIS FUNDING IN THE
BUDGET?
>> WE'VE BEEN BUILDING THIS,
RIGHT, FOR YEARS, WE'VE BEEN
ADVOCATING ON REVITALIZING
ALBANY.
A HUGE SHOUTOUT TO MAYOR SHEEHAN
FOR WORKS ON WHETHER WE DO A
SOCCER STADIUM ON WHAT IS
CONSIDERED THE DOWNTOWN PARKING
LOT DISTRICT, WHICH WOULD HAVE--
(05:10):
WAS FOR YEARS PROPOSED TO BE A
CONVENTION CENTER.
THAT CONVENTION CENTER MOVED UP
OFF EAGLE STREET, THE CONVENTION
CENTER WE HAVE NOW, MUCH SMALLER
SCALE, SO WE STILL HAVE THIS
PARKING LOT DISTRICT WHICH IS A
COMPLETE EYESORE.
SO THE GOVERNOR, I THINK, REALLY
RECOGNIZED DOWNTOWN WAS HURTING
(05:31):
PARTICULARLY SINCE COVID WHEN
STATE WORKERS, WHICH HAD BEEN
OUR PRIMARY INDUSTRY HERE WAS
THE STATE WORKFORCE, THEY ARE
LARGELY WORKING FROM HOME, AND
IT'S REALLY HURT.
SO YOU HAD THIS EYESORE OF,
AGAIN, WHAT'S CALLED A PARKING
LOT DISTRICT, EIGHT ACRES THERE,
SITTING EMPTY, LOTS OF NEEDS
(05:52):
WITH STATE OFFICE BUILDINGS THAT
ARE IN SOME CASES HALF EMPTY,
AND IT'S FUELED SOME OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS THAT WE
ALL TAKE VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY
AND WE HAVE STRUGGLED TO
ADDRESS.
SO THE OF REALLY INVESTING,
CONVERTING SOME OF THESE OFFICE
(06:13):
BUILDINGS TO APARTMENTS, CONDOS,
AND MORE AND ALL OF THIS CAN
REALLY MOVE TOWARD
REVITALIZATION EFFORTS,
INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF A
SOCCER STADIUM, WHICH IS A VERY
SERIOUS PROPOSAL.
NOW WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL
ON THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT IF WE
ARE MOVING FORWARD ON THIS
(06:34):
INVESTMENT, IT'S GOING TO WORK
FOR ALBANY.
NOT JUST TOMORROW BUT FOR YEARS
TO COME.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITING
PROPOSALS OUT THERE.
YOU START TO COMBINE THAT WITH,
LET'S SAY, A SOCCER STADIUM WITH
TAKING DOWN PARTS OF 787,
RECLAIMING OUR WATERFRONT.
WHERE WE WERE REALLY HARMED IN
(06:56):
THE 1960S IS BY CUTTING OFF
ALBANY FROM OUR GREATEST NATURAL
RESOURCE, AND THAT'S THE MIGHTY
HUDSON RIVER.
SO YOU HAD AN OVERBUILT HIGHWAY,
EVEN IN THE 1960S IT WAS
OVERBUILT.
EVEN MORE OVERBUILT NOW.
HIGHLY UNDERUTILIZED SO WE TAKE
DOWN PART OF THAT.
MAYBE BRING IN A STADIUM.
(07:18):
REPURPOSE SOME OF THESE OFFICE
BUILDINGS.
YOU HAVE A NEW MUSEUM, MORE PARK
LAND GOING OVER 787 WITH PARK
LAND CANALS AND MORE, AND I'M
HOPING WE CAN BARELY RECOGNIZE
ALBANY THE WAY IT IS NOW IN TEN
YEARS BECAUSE IT WILL BE A
(07:39):
TOTALLY DIFFERENT CITY.
I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC AND AGAIN,
DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO THE GOVERNOR.
THIS IS-- WE'VE SEEN THIS
GOVERNOR AND PREVIOUS GOVERNORS
INVEST WITH THE BUFFALO BILLION
AND MORE INTO BUFFALO.
WE'VE SEEN ROCHESTER INVESTMENTS
WITH ROCK CITY OR ROCK RIVER,
(08:01):
SORRY.
SEEING BIG INVESTMENT IN
SYRACUSE WITH TAKING DOWN PARTS
OF I-81 THERE.
SO IF YOU KEEP COMING EAST, IT
WAS ALBANY'S TURN.
>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED $150
MILLION OF THAT FUNDING WILL GO
TOWARDS RENOVATING AND
MODERNIZING THE STATE MUSEUM.
IT WAS ALSO REPORTED THAT
(08:22):
GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL MADE A
VISIT TO THE STATE MUSEUM WITH
HER GRANDDAUGHTER.
THAT WAS A BIT LACKLUSTER AND
THAT WAS SORT OF THE IMPETUS OF
HER PUSHING TO GET RENOVATIONS
ON THE STATE MUSEUM.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT BEING
THE CATALYST FOR THIS IDEA?
>> I THINK IT REALLY HELPED AND
BY THE WAY, I'VE HEARD THIS FROM
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS FOR YEARS.
(08:42):
I'VE BEEN BACK TO THE STATE
MUSEUM WITH A COUPLE OF CHILDREN
I'M ENTER AND IT HASN'T CHANGED
MUCH SINCE MY CHILDREN HAD BEEN
THERE 20 YEARS AGO.
THAT'S WHY,-I KNOW I OFFENDED A
COUPLE PEOPLE.
BUT THERE'S NO OFFENSE INTENDED.
IT'S STALE.
IT'S OLD, AND IT NEEDS REAL
(09:04):
REVITALIZATION.
WE KNOW THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IN
INDIANAPOLIS IS THE SINGLE
LARGEST TOURIST ATTRACTION IN
THE ENTIRE STATE OF INDIANA
OTHER THAN THEIR SPORTS VENUES
SO WE KNOW WHEN YOU INVEST, WHEN
YOU MAKE SOMETHING VIBRANT,
CREATIVE IT CAN REALLY BE A
(09:24):
DESTINATION POINT.
WE ARE THE UPSTATE-- WE'RE NEW
YORK, RIGHT.
WE ARE JUST TWO AND A HALF HOURS
UPSTATE FROM THE CULTURAL
CAPITAL OF THE UNIVERSE, RIGHT,
NEW YORK CITY.
BY MOST ACCOUNTS, IT'S REALLY
THE CULTURAL CAPITAL OF THE
UNIVERSE.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T
(09:45):
CELEBRATE OUR EXTRAORDINARY
HISTORY AND YOU DO THAT WITH OUR
CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, IN THIS
CASE, THE STATE MUSEUM.
SO YES, IF IT TOOK THE
GOVERNOR'S GRANDDAUGHTER TO HELP
PUSH THE IMPETUS FOR THIS, I'M
GRATEFUL NOT JUST TO THE
GOVERNOR BUT TO HER
GRANDDAUGHTER.
(LAUGHING)
>> AND WE KNOW THERE'S ALSO
(10:05):
ABOUT $200 MILLION OF FUNDING
GOING TO DOWNTOWN
REVITALIZATION.
THERE ARE A LOT OF EMPTY
STOREFRONTS ALONG NORTH PEARL
AND BROADWAY.
HOW WILL THE FUNDING HELP TO
ADDRESS THAT AND ALSO
INCENTIVIZED NEW BUSINESS OWNERS
TO MAKE ALBANY THEIR HOME?
>> WELL, THE 200 MILLION, WE--
THERE'S GOING TO BE GROUPS
(10:27):
INVOLVED IN THIS, WORKING
GROUPS.
I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE MANY
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
COMMUNITY GROUPS ARE INVOLVED IN
THESE CONVERSATIONS.
SO IT'S NOT JUST THAT DOWNTOWN
CORRIDOR ALONG BROADWAY AND
PEARL.
IT'S ALSO FURTHER OUT, SUCH THAT
WE ADDRESS THE ONE MILE INCLUDES
DOWNTOWN CENTRAL AVENUE, THE
(10:48):
CENTRAL AVENUE BID, WHICH IS
ALSO TIRED, WORN, LOTS OF
PROBLEMS THERE FROM WHEN WE HAD
THE METHADONE CLINIC THERE,
WHICH WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN
MOVING JUST IN THIS LAST YEAR.
WE ALSO HAVE LINCOLN TOWERS,
RIGHT OFF MARTIN AVENUE.
SO WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A LITTLE
BIT OF A PLAN HERE.
NOT JUST FOR CONVERTING THESE
(11:08):
DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDINGS.
WE STILL NEED STATE WORKERS
BACK.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO INVEST IN
THESE BUSINESSES.
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE REALLY THE
LIFE BLOOD OF OUR UPSTATE
ECONOMY.
IN SOME WAYS, THEY'RE THE LIFE
BLOOD OF OUR ECONOMY, PERIOD,
RIGHT.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE INVESTING IN THOSE
(11:29):
BUSINESSES.
I WAS JUST AT A RIBBON CUTTING
ON SIGNAGE.
SIGNAGE MATTERS, INVESTING IN
THEM, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY,
PARKING ISSUES AND MORE.
THE BIKE LANES, THE PEDESTRIAN
WALK-- SAFE WALKING PATHS, ALL
OF THAT WILL FEED IN, BUT THE
SOCCER STADIUM IS ONE WE'RE
GOING TO BE LOOKING AT VERY
(11:50):
SERIOUSLY.
THERE'S SOME VERY FASCINATING
PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN DRAWN UP ON
THAT, AND OBVIOUSLY, IT CAN'T
JUST BE ABOUT SOCCER.
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A VERY
MULTIUSE STADIUM.
THE PART I'M MOST INTERESTED IN
IS THE HOUSING TIED TO THAT.
(12:11):
SO I TELL PEOPLE A LOT, I MAY
NOT KNOW A LOT ABOUT SOCCER, BUT
I KNOW A LOT ABOUT HOUSING AND
IF IT COMES WITH A THOUSAND
HOUSING UNITS, APARTMENTS,
CONDOS, TOWNHOUSES AND MORE,
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO DO THE
VIBRANCY.
SOCCER IS GREAT, BUT YOU NEED--
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S
GOING TO BE A HUNDRED NIGHTS
(12:31):
BOOKED THERE.
SO IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING WHERE
IT'S 14 GAMES OF THE SEASON.
WE NEED A MULTIPURPOSE, MULTIUSE
STADIUM IF THAT'S WHAT IT'S
GOING TO TAKE TO DRIVE, LET'S
SAY, AN ADDITIONAL THOUSAND
HOUSING UNITS.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE
DONE HERE.
ALL OF THESE HAVE TREMENDOUS
POTENTIAL.
(12:52):
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY FIT
TOGETHER AND THAT WE'RE-- WHILE
WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE CORE OF
DOWNTOWN, WE'RE NOT IGNORING
MARTIN AVENUE WITH A PLAN-- AT
LEAST A PLAN FOR THE LINCOLN TOW
A PLAN FOR THE DOWNTOWN CENTRAL
AVENUE.
SO WE'VE-- I THINK WE CAN WALK
(13:13):
AND CHEW GUM AND REALLY, EVEN IF
THE FUNDING STRETCHES ONLY SO
FAR, IT CAN INCLUDE A PLAN OF
HOW WE MAKE ONE PIECE OF THIS
BUILD UPON ANOTHER.
>> AND WHAT WILL BE YOUR ROLE IN
ENSURING THAT THE MONEY IS
IMPLEMENTED CORRECTLY AND NOT
WASTED WITH ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT PROJECTS?
(13:33):
>> WELL, IT IS MONEY THAT WE
HAVE ALLOCATED IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
SO WE WILL BE VERY MINDFUL.
I'VE PUSHED SOME OF THESE ISSUES
AS I SAID A MUSEUM FOR TEN
YEARS, FOR REIMAGINING 787 FOR
AT LEAST 6 YEARS.
I'M NOT LETTING GO.
I HOPE TO BE INTIMATELY
INVOLVED, BUT I ALSO WANT TO
(13:55):
BRING THE COMMUNITY GROUPS.
WE HAVE A NEW MAYOR THAT WILL BE
INCOMING, VERY EXCITING, THE NEW
MAYOR HERE IN ALBANY.
WE WANT TO INCLUDE ALL OF THOSE
GROUPS.
LOTS OF GREAT THINGS HAPPENING
AT ST. ROSE WHERE I DID THE
LEGISLATION ON THAT WORKING WITH
THE COUNTY.
SO THE COUNTY EXEC IS ALSO
MAKING CRITICAL INVESTMENTS
(14:16):
THERE.
SO WE'VE-- WE'VE GOT TO-- NONE
OF THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT CRITICAL
PARTNERSHIPS.
I'VE ALREADY SAT DOWN WITH ESD,
THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION THAT IS AT THE LEAD
IN ALL OF THIS.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE HIRING THE
CONSULTANTS AND DOING THE
FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND CREATING
(14:37):
THE MASTER PLAN ON THIS.
MYSELF AND MY ASSEMBLY
COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY SAT DOWN
AND WE'RE GOING TO-- WE'RE JUST
BEGINNING THAT NEXT LEVEL OF
CONVERSATION, BUT AGAIN, WE NEED
THE COMMUNITY GROUPS ESPECIALLY
THOSE GROUPS THAT HAVE
HISTORICALLY BEEN DISADVANTAGED,
(14:59):
RIGHT.
SO THERE'S-- THERE IS A SOCIAL
JUSTICE PIECE OF THIS AS WELL.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE SOUTH END.
SO I'M THERE TO ALSO MAKE SURE
THAT WE MAKE THIS A BROAD PLAN
EVEN IF IT'S MULTIYEARS.
SO THE MONEY WILL ONLY GO SO
FAR, BUT IF IT'S A MULTIYEAR
PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
(15:19):
REACHING THAT OUR COMMUNITIES
THAT HAVE ALSO PAID THE PRICE,
FOR INSTANCE, FROM BEING CUT OFF
FROM OUR GREATEST NATURAL
RESOURCE.
THE SOUTH END, IN PARTICULAR,
AND I DO MEET WITH THEM
REGULARLY.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US HERE TODAY, SENATOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
SUCH AN EXCITING TOPIC.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
(15:40):
STATE SENATOR PATRICIA FAHY.
>>> NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER
IMPORTANT TOPIC.
THE STATE DIVISION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF NEW
YORKERS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION
AND JUSTICE AND PROMOTING EQUAL
ACCESS.
WE SAT DOWN WITH THE NEWLY
APPOINTED COMMISSIONER, DENISE
(16:02):
MIRANDA, TO UNDERSTAND HER
VISION FOR THE OFFICE AND THEIR
WORK.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US HERE TODAY, COMMISSIONER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME TODAY.
>> OF COURSE.
NOW, AS THE NEWLY CONFIRMED
COMMISSIONER OF THE STATE
DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, CAN
YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR
(16:23):
PLANS FOR THE OFFICE AND YOUR
APPROACH TO THE WORK?
>> SURE. SO AS YOU MAY KNOW, I
WAS APPOINTED IN MARCH OF 2024
BY GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL WITH
THE EXPECTATION OF MODERNIZING
AND REVITALIZING ON THE DIVISION
OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
CELEBRATED OUR 80TH ANNIVERSARY
THIS YEAR.
WE ARE A NATION-LEADING AGENCY
(16:45):
AND NEW YORK WAS ACTUALLY THE
FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO
ENACT A HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL
RIGHTS LAW.
SO IT'S A VERY PROUD MOMENT FOR
ME TO SERVE AS A COMMISSIONER
HERE OF NEW YORK STATE.
SINCE ARRIVING, WE HAVE TAKEN
THAT MANDATE VERY SERIOUSLY TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
REVITALIZING THE AGENCY AND WE
HAVE REALLY TAKEN A WHOLESALE
APPROACH IN EVALUATING ALL
(17:06):
ELEMENTS OF OUR OPERATIONS AND
CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE FOR
NEW YORKERS.
>> AND CAN YOU BREAK DOWN THE
JURISDICTION OF YOUR DEPARTMENT?
>> SURE. SO WE FOCUS ON FOUR
DIFFERENT AREAS OF LIFE HERE IN
NEW YORK.
THAT WOULD BE EDUCATION,
EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING AND PUBLIC
ACCOMMODATION, AND THERE ARE 19
PROTECTED CLASSES HERE IN NEW
(17:28):
YORK WHICH INCLUDE NATIONAL
ORIGIN, RACE, ETHNICITY, GENDER,
SEXUAL EXPRESSION AND
ORIENTATION.
SO NEW YORK HAS A VERY RICH
HISTORY HERE OF BEING A STATE
THAT IS PROGRESSIVE IN ITS
VALUES IN OFFERING PROTECTIONS
AGAINST DISCRIMINATION.
>> ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC TYPES
OF DISCRIMINATION CASES THAT MAY
(17:50):
FALL OUTSIDE OF YOUR
JURISDICTION THAT YOU'RE HOPING
TO START WORKING ON?
>> THE DIVISION IS CONSTANTLY
LOOKING AT TRENDS, RIGHT, IN THE
SPACE OF NEW YORKERS AND
IDENTIFYING AREAS WHERE PERHAPS
WE MAY LOOK TO EXPAND OUR
JURISDICTION.
JUST THIS PAST YEAR, THERE HAVE
BEEN DISCUSSIONS AND LEGISLATION
REGARDING APPRAISAL
(18:10):
DISCRIMINATION, FOR EXAMPLE.
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A HISTORY
OF APPRAISAL DISCRIMINATION
WHERE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE
DISPARATELY IMPACTED BY THE FACT
THAT THEIR PROPERTIES ARE OFTEN
UNDERVALUED, AND SO THE DIVISION
IS VERY PROUD TO, AGAIN, MAKE
THAT PART OF OUR PORTFOLIO OF
WORK.
>> AND WHAT ARE THE AGENCY'S
CURRENT METHODS FOR ENFORCING
(18:31):
HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS IN THE STATE?
>> SURE. SO AS YOU MAY KNOW, WE
PROSECUTE, AJUDICATE CASES HERE
AND OF COURSE, INVESTIGATE THOSE
CASES.
WE RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY 7 TO
8,000 CASES EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
WE HAVE 18 INVESTIGATORS I'M
VERY PROUD TO SHARE THAT THIS
PAST YEAR, WE'VE ADDED 15
INVESTIGATORS TO OUR TEAM.
(18:52):
WHEN I ARRIVED HERE AT THE
AGENCY, OUR STAFFING WAS
APPROXIMATELY 165.
BY THE END OF THE YEAR, WE'LL
PROBABLY BE CLOSER TO 280 STAFF
MEMBERS.
SO THERE HAVE BEEN VERY ROBUST
INVESTMENTS MADE HERE WHICH
ALLOWED US TO REALLY MAKE SOME
CHANGES THAT I THINK ARE REALLY
GOING TO FURTHER THE MISSION AND
SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS HERE AND
(19:12):
PROVIDE FOR A BETTER EXPERIENCE
FOR NEW YORKERS.
>> AND FOR OUR VIEWERS WHO MAY
NOT BE FAMILIAR, WHAT IS THE
PROCESS FOR FILING A COMPLAINT
WITH THE DIVISION?
>> SO I'M EXCITED FOR THAT
PARTICULAR QUESTION BECAUSE WE
ARE ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF
LAUNCHING A NEW INTAKE MODEL.
SO PREVIOUSLY, WHEN I ARRIVED
HERE AT THE AGENCY, THERE WERE A
(19:33):
HOST AND MYRIAD OF WAYS IN WHICH
A COMPLAINT COULD GET FILED.
WE COUNTED OVER 13 DIFFERENT
WAYS IN WHICH ONE COULD FILE A
COMPLAINT OF DISCRIMINATION HERE
AT THE DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
WE REALIZED THAT IS NOT
EFFICIENT AND IT LEAVES US OPEN
FOR MISUNDERSTANDING AND LACK OF
INFORMATION AND TRANSPARENCY
WITH RESPECT TO THE PROCESS.
(19:54):
SO WE HAVE REVAMPED OUR INTAKE
PROCESS, AND WE NOW HAVE A
CENTRALIZED INTAKE UNIT THAT
WILL TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE
CASES COMING IN.
WE HAVE MODERNIZED AND UPDATED
OUR ONLINE FORM AND THE MOST
IMPORTANT AND EXCITING PIECE OF
NEWS THAT I WANT TO SHARE TODAY
IS THE CALL CENTER WHICH WILL
LAUNCH APPROXIMATELY IN THE NEXT
TEN DAYS AND THAT WILL BE A
(20:15):
DEDICATED CALL CENTER THAT WILL
ALLOW FOR NEW YORKERS TO CALL
AND SPEAK WITH A HUMAN BEING WHO
WILL BE ABLE TO GUIDE THEM IN
THE PROCESS AND PROVIDE THEM
WITH THE GUIDANCE OF WHAT THEY
NEED IN ORDER TO FILE A COMPLETE
CASE HERE AT THE DIVISION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS.
SO AS WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
EASING THE PROCESS FOR NEW
YORKERS, RIGHT, WHO ARE REACHING
(20:36):
OUT TO US IN A TIME OF NEED
BECAUSE THEY HAVE PERHAPS
EXPERIENCED AN ALLEGATION OF
DISCRIMINATION, MAKING SURE THAT
THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONNECT
WITH A HUMAN BEING WHO CAN WALK
THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS, WHO
CAN EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT
PAPERWORK NEEDS TO BE SUBMITTED
IS REALLY ESSENTIAL IN ENSURING
THAT NEW YORKERS ARE BEING MET
EFFECTIVELY AND PROVIDING THEM
WITH GOOD SERVICE.
(20:57):
>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED A LITTLE
EARLIER, THE DEPARTMENT, OF
COURSE, IS CELEBRATE 80 YEARS
SINCE IT WAS FIRST FOUNDED.
SO CAN YOU UNPACK THE IMPACT OF
THAT ANNIVERSARY?
WHAT PLACE DOES IT HAVE IN NEW
YORK STATE'S HISTORY?
>> I THINK GIVEN THE POLITICAL
MOVEMENT AND THE I HAVE TRIAL
COMING FROM THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION, THAT ANNIVERSARY
(21:17):
HAS MORE SIGNIFICANCE THAN EVER.
IT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY THE
ABILITY TO MODERNIZE AND
REVITALIZE THE AGENCY AS WELL AS
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE DOING
OUTREACH TO NEW YORKERS IS
PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK WE REALIZE THAT THE
POLITICAL CLIMATE RIGHT NOW DOES
NOT FOSTER INCLUSIVITY OR
EQUITY.
SO THE ROLE OF THE DIVISION IS
(21:38):
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE THE
GUARDRAILS TO SAFEGUARD THOSE
VERY IMPORTANT VALUES THAT WE
ALL SHARE HERE IN NEW YORK.
>> YEAH. AS YOU MENTIONED, OF
COURSE, IN RECENT YEARS, THERE'S
DEFINITELY BEEN INCREASED
CONVERSATION AROUND EXTRA
POLITICAL RHETORIC.
HOW DOES THAT REALLY IMPACT THE
WORK THAT YOUR OFFICE IS DOING?
>> WE HAVE A HATE AND BIAS
PREVENTION UNIT, WHICH WAS
(22:01):
HOUSED HERE, WHICH IS HOUSED
HERE AT THE DIVISION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS SINCE 2022, CREATED BY
THIS GOVERNOR.
THE WORK THERE IS FOCUSED ON
ENSURING THAT NEW YORKERS WHO
EXPERIENCE AN INCIDENT OF HATE
OR BIAS HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY
CAN MAKE THOSE REPORTS.
SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT THE
DISCOURSE, RIGHT, WHICH IS OFTEN
FUELED WITH RHETORIC THAT CAN
TAKE HATE AND BIAS AND RACIST IN
(22:24):
NATURE, THERE'S A PLACE WHERE
PEOPLE CAN COME HERE IN THE
DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND
FILE A COMPLAINT.
WE LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN EARLIER
THIS YEAR THAT WAS ON THE MTA AS
WELL AS THE SUBWAYS OF METRO
NORTH AND LIRR, ASKING NEW
YORKERS TO REPORT INCIDENTS OF
HATE AND BIAS TO US.
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT
INFORMS OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS AS
(22:45):
WELL AS OUR POLICY
DETERMINATIONS.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR NEW YORKERS
TO KNOW THAT HATE AND BIAS
INCIDENTS WILL NOT TOLERATED
HERE IN NEW YORK.
>> AND IS THAT CAMPAIGN THE NO
HATE NEW YORK STATE CAMPAIGN AND
IF SO, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
GOALS THAT YOU'RE HOPING TO
ACHIEVE WITH THIS INITIATIVE AND
WHAT IS SOME OF THE PROGRESS
THAT'S BEEN MADE SO FAR ON THAT
(23:06):
FRONT?
>> THAT IS PART OF THE NO HATE
NEW YORK.
OUR WORK HERE WHICH IS PART OF
THE DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE
THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO NEW
YORKERS WITH PREVENTION,
EDUCATION, AS WELL AS RESOLUTION
MODELS WHEN WE ARE SEEING AN
UPTICK.
WE REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE
HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK IN INCIDENTS
OF HATE AND BIAS.
(23:26):
ANTI-SEMITISM IS ON THE RISE AS
WELL AS ISLAMAPHOBIA.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN
SEND OUR TEAM OUT TO THOSE
COMMUNITIES AND ABLE TO OFFER
CONFLICT RESOLUTION OR
CONCILIATION OR EVEN WORK WITH
EDUCATORS IN THAT COMMUNITY.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT,
AGAIN, WE CAN CONTRIBUTE, RIGHT,
(23:47):
TO THE FABRIC OF NEW YORKERS SO
THEY CAN LIVE A LIFE WITHOUT
HATE AND BIAS IN THEIR DAILY
LIVES.
CAN YOU UNPACK SOME OF THE
SPECIFIC CHALLENGES WITH HUMAN
RIGHTS WORK AND HOW DOES YOUR
OFFICE MITIGATE THESE
CHALLENGES?
>> I THINK THE MESSAGE THAT'S
COMING FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.
CREATES A LOT OF CONFUSION AND
ANXIETY FOR PEOPLE.
RIGHT. WE'RE SEEING THAT
(24:08):
EXECUTIVE ORDERS ARE BEING
SIGNED BY THIS FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION AND THEY SUGGEST
SWEEPING CHANGES.
RIGHT. I THINK WE'RE CONSTANTLY
WORKING TO ENSURE THAT, NEW
YORKERS KNOW THAT DESPITE THESE
EXECUTIVE ORDERS THE PROTECTIONS
THAT EXIST IN NEW YORK ARE SOUND
AND IN PLACE AND HAVE NOT
CHANGED.
SO OUR OUTREACH IN EDUCATION
(24:28):
WORK IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT
AND IT'S AN ERA WHERE WE MAKE
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN TERMS
OF STAFFING AS WELL AS COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT.
>> AND IN TERMS OF RESOURCES,
WHAT TYPE OF STATE FUNDING IS
NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF
YOUR OFFICE?
>> SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE
FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR MADE
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT AT THE
(24:49):
DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND
SINCE SHE HAS TAKEN OFFICE, OUR
BUDGET HAS NEARLY DOUBLED.
LAST YEAR, WE SAW A 40% INCREASE
IN OUR FUNDING, WHICH BRINGS US
CLOSE TO NEARLY $40 MILLION
WHICH IS UNPRECEDENTED FOR US
HERE AT THE DIVISION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS.
WITH THAT INVESTMENT, WE'RE ABLE
0 REALLY IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE
INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE AND
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS AS
(25:10):
WELL AS STAFFING AND OF COURSE,
THE ENGAGEMENT, WHICH I SPOKE
ABOUT EARLIER.
>> AND LASTLY, HOW WOULD YOU SAY
NEW YORK STACKS UP AGAINST OTHER
STATES IN PRIORITIZING HUMAN
RIGHTS WORK, AND HOW WOULD YOU
LIKE TO SEE THE STATE GROW IN
THE YEARS TO COME?
>> WELL, I THINK THE INVESTMENT
BY THE GOVERNOR SPEAKS VOLUMES
AS TO THE PRIORITY THAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION HAS IN PRESERVING
(25:30):
CIVIL RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
LAWS HERE AND I WOULD LIKE TO
BELIEVE THAT NEW YORK IS A
LEADER IN THAT CONVERSATION.
WE'RE WELL POISED AS THE FIRST
STATE IN THE NATION TO ACTUALLY
HAVE A CIVIL RIGHTS AND TO BE A
LEADER IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND
WE OFTEN COLLABORATE AND PARTNER
WITH OTHER STATES WHEN WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT POLICY CHANGES AND
IMPACT OF FEDERAL LAWS.
(25:50):
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR TIME TODAY, COMMISSIONER.
WE REALLY ENJOYED THIS
CONVERSATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
DENISE MIRANDA, COMMISSIONER OF
THE NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> AND FOR MORE FROM THE
DIVISION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, YOU
CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.
AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
(26:13):
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:42):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
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