September 19, 2025 • 25 mins
Six months after the unsanctioned correctional officer strike, NY prisons face deep staffing shortages, HALT Act debates, and slow recruitment. We explore the fallout and speak with Sen. Lea Webb on her legislation to create an Ebony Alert system for missing Black youth in New York.
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(00:00):
[THEME MUSIC]
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.
(00:21):
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
IN MARCH, THOUSANDS OF
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WORKING AT
PRISONS ACROSS NEW YORK WENT ON
AN UNSANCTIONED WORK STRIKE.
THE MAIN POINTS OF CONTENTION
FROM OFFICERS WAS THEIR
OPPOSITION TO THE HALT ACT AND
WHAT THEY ALLEGED WERE POOR
WORKING CONDITIONS.
WHILE THE STRIKE ENDED AFTER 22
(00:43):
DAYS, ABOUT 2,000 OFFICERS WERE
TERMINATED FOR REFUSING TO
RETURN TO WORK.
TODAY NEARLY SIX MONTHS SINCE
THE STRIKE STATE PRISONS ARE
STILL FEELING ITS EFFECTS.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE'LL DIVE
INTO THE PRISON STAFFING
CHALLENGES AND THE STATE'S
EFFORTS TO INCREASE RECRUITMENT.
(01:05):
HERE'S THAT STORY.
>> IT'S BEEN MONTHS SINCE
THOUSANDS OF CORRECTIONAL
OFFICERS AT PRISONS ACROSS NEW
YORK STATE WALKED OFF OF THEIR
JOB IN WHAT WAS KNOWN AS AN
UNSANCTIONED WILDCAT STRIKE.
JOSE SALDANA, WHO SERVES AS THE
DIRECTOR OF THE RELEASING AGING
(01:25):
PEOPLE IN PRISON CAMPAIGN, SAYS
THE IMPACT OF THE PRISON STRIKE
CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED.
AFTER SERVING 33 YEARS IN
PRISON, SALDANA SPOKE ABOUT HOW
THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER STRIKE
IMPACTED THOSE SERVING TIME
BEHIND BARS.
>> THEY JUST FINISHED GOING ON A
(01:46):
WILDCAT STRIKE.
THEY WALKED OUT THEIR POSTS
WITHOUT CARING, NOT A SINGLE
CARE FOR WHAT THEY WAS LEAVING
BEHIND.
>> WHILE MANY OFFICERS HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO RETURN TO THEIR POSTS,
MORE THAN 2,000 OFFICERS WERE
TERMINATED FOR REFUSING TO
(02:07):
RETURN TO WORK.
JENNIFER SCAIFE, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE CORRECTIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK, SAYS
WHILE THE ISSUES WITH STAFFING
LEVELS LONG EXISTED, THE MARCH
STRIKE WORKED TO EXACERBATE
THOSE PROBLEMS.
>> AS A RESULT OF TERMINATIONS
FOLLOWING THAT WORK STOPPAGE,
(02:27):
THE SYSTEM IS FACING EVEN DEEPER
HOLES IN TERMS OF VACANCIES
AMONG, IN PARTICULAR,
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND
SERGEANTS, WHO ARE KEY ROLES WHO
FILL KEY ROLES IN THE
DEPARTMENT.
>> ACCORDING TO AN AUGUST 2025
(02:48):
STAFFING REPORT FROM THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, THERE
IS CURRENTLY A VACANCY OF CLOSE
TO 5,000 POSITIONS ACROSS STATE
PRISONS.
SCAIFE SAYS SOME OF THOSE
VACANCIES ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF
THE STRIKE.
>> WELL, THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES
ROUGHLY DOUBLED AFTER THE END OF
THE STRIKE AMONG SECURITY STAFF
(03:09):
POSITIONS.
SO IT MADE THE PROBLEM TWICE AS
BAD IN SOME WAYS.
>> REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR
PATRICK GALLIVAN, WHO REPRESENTS
ERIE COUNTY IN THE LEGISLATURE,
AGREES WITH THAT SENTIMENT.
>> I MEAN, WE STILL HAVE
THOUSANDS OF NATIONAL GUARD
MEMBERS THAT ARE DEPLOYED.
(03:31):
KEEP IN MIND, BEFORE THE STRIKE,
THEY WERE SEVERELY SHORT
STAFFED.
>> ACCORDING TO SCAIFE, LOW
STAFFING NUMBERS AFFECT
INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS'
ABILITY TO HAVE RECREATIONAL AND
REHABILITATION PROGRAMS.
>> EVERY ASPECT OF THE FACILITY
(03:52):
HAS BEEN AFFECTED.
>> ALEX BURTON, AN ASSISTANT
PROFESSOR OF CRIMINOLOGY AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, SAYS WHEN
STAFFING SHORTAGES OCCUR, THE
FOCUS OF OFFICERS IS TO ENSURE
THE OVERALL SAFETY OF THE PRISON
COMMUNITY FIRST AND FOREMORST.
>> GENERALLY WHEN STAFF
(04:13):
SHORTAGES ARE PRESENT, OFFICERS
MUST SPEND MORE TIME AND MORE
RESOURCES ON SAFETY AND SECURITY
AND THEN BY EXTENSION LESS TIME
FOCUSING ON THINGS LIKE
REHABILITATIVE EFFORTS, QUALITY
PROGRAMING.
BASICALLY, THEY REALLY NEED TO
FOCUS ON JUST MAKING SURE THAT
THINGS ARE RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
(04:34):
AND SO THAT MIGHT LEAD TO MORE
INDIVIDUALS BEING STUCK IN THEIR
CELLS FOR LONGER PERIODS OF
TIME, LESS RECREATION, WHICH CAN
ULTIMATELY DECLINE THINGS LIKE
QUALITY OF LIFE.
>> ONE OF THE MOST PERTINENT
ISSUES FOR OFFICERS HAS BEEN THE
HALT ACT.
THIS IS A 2022 STATE LAW THAT
(04:54):
AIMED TO LIMIT THE USE OF
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN PRISONS.
DURING THE MARCH STRIKE,
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS EXPRESSED
ISSUES WITH THE LAW.
ACCORDING TO OFFICERS, THE HALT
ACT MADE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO
KEEP ORDER INSIDE PRISONS.
MEANWHILE, SALDANA SAYS THAT
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT DOES MORE
(05:16):
HARM THAN GOOD.
>> THEY ARE ACCUSTOMED TO
PUNISHING.
THEY DON'T SEE THAT THE HARM,
THE LASTING HARM NOT ONLY ON
THOSE THEY ARE PUT IN SOLITARY
CONFINEMENT FOR YEARS.
I HAVE A CODEFENDANT THAT SPENT
30 YEARS IN SOLITARY
CONFINEMENT.
SO THIS IS THIS ISSUE IS VERY
CLOSE TO ME.
(05:37):
30 YEARS IN SOLITARY
CONFINEMENT.
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT THAT
DOES TO A HUMAN BEING, AND THE
FAMILY.
>> BECAUSE OF THE GRIEVANCES BY
OFFICERS DURING THE STRIKE, THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
DID MOVE TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND
THE HALT ACT.
(05:57):
IN THE SUMMER, A JUDGE MOVED TO
REVERSE THAT SUSPENSION.
THE LEGAL CHALLENGE OVER THE
STATE'S ABILITY TO SUSPEND THE
LEGISLATION IS STILL ACTIVELY IN
THE COURTS.
>> THERE'S BEEN NO REAL
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE RULES.
THE HALT ACT STILL PRESENTS
PROBLEMS, LAWSUIT ASIDE, DEALING
(06:19):
WITH THE HALT ACT, IT STILL
PRESENTS PROBLEMS, STILL
PRESENTS CHALLENGES.
AND MY BELIEF IS THAT THE
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND
CORRECTIONS STAFF DO NOT HAVE
ENOUGH TOOLS.
>> IN DECEMBER 2024, THE BRUTAL
BEATING AND KILLING OF INMATE
ROBERT BROOKS BY CORRECTIONAL
STAFF AT MARCY CORRECTIONAL
(06:40):
FACILITY LED TO OUTCRY FROM
PRISON ADVOCATES AND ELECTED
OFFICIALS.
>> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THAT VIDEO, YOU SEE A HUMAN
BEING BEATEN TO DEATH.
THAT HUMAN BEING IS NOT A
CRIMINAL AT THAT VERY MOMENT.
(07:00):
HE'S JUST A HUMAN BEING BEATEN
TO DEATH BY CRIMINALS.
SO TO US, THIS IS A FARCE.
THE CRISIS IS CREATED BY THEM.
>> KEVIN KEMPF OF THE
CORRECTIONAL LEADERS ASSOCIATION
SAYS THAT THE INCIDENTS OF
INMATES BEING KILLED AT THE
(07:21):
HANDS OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS
IS INTOLERABLE AND MOST OF THE
TIMES CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS ARE
PERFORMING THEIR JOBS
PROFESSIONALLY.
>> CORRECTIONS IS A 24 7
BUSINESS.
I MEAN, IT NEVER STOPS.
IT'S GOING ON AS WE SPEAK.
IT'S GOING TO BE GOING ON AS WE
SPEAK AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING.
IT'S TAKING PLACE ACROSS EVERY
(07:41):
SINGLE PRISON IN THE UNITED
STATES.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE VAST MAJORITY
OF THE TIME IT'S BEING DONE
CORRECTLY.
RIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY
WITH HUMANITY, YOU KNOW,
PRACTICES INVOLVED.
BUT SADLY, GOOD HEAVENS, THERE
ARE THESE INCIDENTS LIKE THIS
(08:02):
ROBERT BROOKS INCIDENTS, JUST
STAINS ALL OF US.
>> WHEN ASKED BY WMHT ABOUT THE
STAFFING LEVELS AT PRISONS, A
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS CONFIRMED THAT
2,000 OFFICERS WERE TERMINATED
AS A RESULT OF THE STRIKE AND A
LITTLE OVER 700 HAVE RETURNED TO
(08:25):
WORK.
MEANWHILE, FOR SOME PUBLIC
POLICY EXPERTS, THE RATIO OF
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS TO
PRISONERS APPEARS FAVORABLE.
SHAWN BUSHWAY, PROFESSOR OF
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY
AT THE UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY,
POINTS TO THE DECLINE IN THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE CURRENTLY
(08:46):
BEHIND BARS IN RECENT YEARS.
>> THE AVERAGE RATIO OF TOTAL
SECURITY STAFF TO PRISONERS IN
STATE PRISONS IN THE U.S.,
ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE, IS 5 TO 1.
IN NEW YORK, IT'S 2 TO 1.
THIS RATIO, IN FACT, HAS GOTTEN
(09:08):
BIGGER OVER TIME BECAUSE THE
RATE AT WHICH WE HAVE SEEN A
DECLINE IN CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS
HAS NOT BEEN AS BIG AS THE
DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF
PRISONERS.
>> ASSEMBLY MEMBER MICHAELLE
SOLAGES, WHO SERVES AS CHAIR OF
THE BLACK, PUERTO RICAN,
(09:28):
HISPANIC AND ASIAN CAUCUSES
UNDERSCORED THE IMPACT OF THE
STRIKE ON STAFFING AND ASSERTS
IT IS UP TO THE STATE TO DO MORE
TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES.
>> WE'VE HEARD FROM SO MANY
DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL
AS DOCS, THAT THERE IS A
STAFFING CHALLENGE.
AND SO WE HAVE AN URGENT ISSUE
(09:52):
ON OUR HANDS AND WE NEED TO BE
CREATIVE IN ORDER TO BUILD UP
THE STAFFING LEVELS, BECAUSE I
THINK IT'S AT A CRITICAL POINT.
>> THE LATEST STATE BUDGET
INCLUDED EFFORTS TO HELP
RECRUITMENT EFFORTS FOR
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, INCLUDING
SIGN ON BONUSES, LOWERING THE
AGE REQUIREMENT FROM 21 TO 18,
(10:16):
AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT FOR
EXPERIENCED OFFICERS.
BUT THE ROAD TO FILLING UP
VACANCIES HAS BEEN LONG.
>> I CAN'T SAY WHEN IT'LL BE
DONE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET OUR
GRADUATING CLASSES UP TO SPEED
AND TRAINED AND THEN BRING IN
THE NEXT CLASS, AND IT'S A
PROCESS.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE IT'S NOT
OVERNIGHT.
IT'S NOT EVEN IN THE NEXT SIX
MONTHS.
(10:36):
IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET IT RIGHT.
I'M COMMITTED TO THAT.
>> ASSEMBLY MEMBER SOLAGES SAYS
THE RECRUITING EFFORTS SHOULD
ALSO FOCUS MORE ON DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSION.
>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY AND
JUSTICE, IT HAS TO BE A COHESIVE
CONVERSATION WHERE WE USE THE
(10:56):
COMMUNITIES THAT WERE MOST
HARMED IN ORDER TO BRING A LAYER
OF KNOWLEDGE AND JUSTICE ABOUT
HOW THEY COULD REALLY CHANGE OUR
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND THE
CULTURE FROM THE INSIDE.
AND SO WHAT I HOPE THAT DOCS
AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE
LEGISLATION, THE GOVERNOR ARE
(11:17):
LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE COULD
RECRUIT IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE MOST HARMED BY OUR CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM.
>> IN TERMS OF THE NEXT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, STATE
SENATOR GALLIVAN SAYS THAT IT IS
UP TO THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS
POLICY TO HELP WITH THE WORKING
CONDITIONS THAT CORRECTIONAL
(11:37):
OFFICERS DEAL WITH.
>> WE'VE GOT THESE DIFFERENT
THINGS ALL COMING TOGETHER.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO
DO THE JOB PROPERLY.
THEY DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT TOOLS
TO DO THE JOB PROPERLY.
AND IT'S A VICIOUS CIRCLE.
ONE FEEDS THE OTHER AND WE NEED
TO SOLVE BOTH OF THEM.
(11:58):
>> NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER
IMPORTANT TOPIC.
TOWARD THE END OF THE LAST
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, STATE
LAWMAKERS WERE HOPEFUL THAT A
BILL THAT WOULD CREATE AN EBONY
ALERT SYSTEM FOR MISSING BLACK
YOUTH WOULD MAKE IT OVER THE
LEGISLATIVE FINISH LINE.
IN NEW YORK, LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN
ACTIVELY SOUNDING THE ALARM ON
(12:19):
WHAT THEY CALL DISPARITIES IN
THE WAY CASES OF MISSING BLACK
WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE HANDLED
IN THE STATE.
WHILE THE EBONY ALERT BILL WAS
NOT PASSED THIS YEAR, LAWMAKERS
AND SUPPORTERS ARE STILL
ACTIVELY WORKING TO BUILD
SUPPORT THROUGH THE SUMMER.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, OUR ELISE
(12:39):
KLINE SPOKE WITH STATE SENATOR
LEAH WEBB, WHO SPONSORS THE BILL
IN THE UPPER CHAMBER ABOUT ITS
IMPACT AND THE EFFORTS TO GET IT
PASSED NEXT YEAR.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US TODAY, SENATOR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME, ELISE.
>> LET'S START AT THE BEGINNING.
(12:59):
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS
BILL WILL DO AND WHAT IT BROUGHT
YOU TO WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO
SPONSOR IT?
>> SO THE EBONY ALERT BILL THAT
I SPONSORED WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER
NOAH BURROUGHS IS DESIGNED TO
ADDRESS VERY WELL DOCUMENTED
DISPARITIES THAT EXIST WHEN
UNFORTUNATE TRAGEDIES OF BLACK
(13:20):
YOUTH GO MISSING.
IT IS DOCUMENTED THAT OVER
600,000 AMERICANS GO MISSING
EVERY YEAR.
OF THAT, 40% ARE BLACK
AMERICANS, AND BLACK YOUTH MAKE
UP 38% OF THAT STATISTIC.
AND SO THE EBONY ALERT SYSTEM IS
DESIGNED TO FILL A GAP BECAUSE
(13:43):
IT HAS ALSO DOCUMENTED
OFTENTIMES BLACK YOUTHS WHO GO
MISSING ARE OFTEN CATEGORIZED AS
RUNAWAYS AND MOST CERTAINLY
AREN'T GIVEN THE SAME AMOUNT OF
MEDIA ATTENTION WHEN THESE
TRAGEDIES HAPPEN.
AND SO THIS BILL IS TRULY
DESIGNED TO FILL THAT GAP AND
PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
(14:05):
INVOLVED WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
SYSTEM WITH THE TOOLS THAT THEY
NEED TO HELP LOCATE BLACK YOUTH
AND ALSO PROVIDE JUSTICE FOR THE
IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
>> THIS BILL THIS PREVIOUS
SESSION DIDN'T PASS.
THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR IT
HASN'T MADE IT ACROSS THE FINISH
(14:27):
LINE.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY IT HASN'T
PASSED AND WHAT THE OPPOSITION
HAS BEEN?
>> SO I CARRY THIS BILL.
IN THIS SESSION I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY GET AN
ASSEMBLY SPONSOR.
SO WE ACTUALLY RAN OUT OF TIME.
BUT THERE MOST CERTAINLY IS
INTEREST.
(14:47):
MOST RECENTLY, THE MOVIE HIGHEST
2 LOWEST DIRECTED BY SPIKE LEE
FEATURING DENZEL WASHINGTON AND
A STELLAR CAST ACTUALLY LIFTED
UP THIS BILL AND THEY LIFTED UP
THE FACT IT IS CURRENTLY A BILL
AND NOT A LAW IN NEW YORK STATE.
AND SO NEW YORK ALWAYS HAS BEEN
ON THE FOREFRONT OF TRYING TO
(15:09):
ADDRESS A NUMBER OF BIG POLICY
ISSUES.
AND THIS PARTICULAR AREA IS NO
EXCEPTION.
CALIFORNIA IS THE ONLY STATE
CURRENTLY IN THE COUNTRY THAT
HAS AN EBONY ALERT SYSTEM THAT
WENT INTO EFFECT IN 2023.
AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR A
STATE LIKE US TO HAVE THIS
RESOURCE AVAILABLE, AS I SAID,
(15:29):
FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE
IMPACTED AND THEIR FAMILIES.
>> AND IF THIS BILL PASSES NEXT
SESSION, WHAT IMPACT WILL THIS
HAVE FOR THIS ISSUE?
>> IT CERTAINLY WILL BE AN
IMPORTANT RESOURCE ADDED FOR OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS IN THEIR
EFFORTS TO BRING JUSTICE TO
(15:50):
IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
AS I'VE SAID IN PREVIOUS
CONVERSATIONS, WE HAVE TO DO ALL
THAT WE CAN TO RENDER JUSTICE
FOR FAMILIES.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN'T
IGNORE THE DISPARITIES THAT
HAPPEN WHEN TRYING TO ADDRESS
(16:10):
ISSUES AROUND WHEN PEOPLE GO
MISSING OR, IN SOME UNFORTUNATE
CASES, ARE MURDERED.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS ABOUT THE
EBONY ALERT SYSTEM IS THAT IT
ALSO HELPS TO FILL A GAP BECAUSE
THE AMBER ALERT SYSTEM, WHICH A
LOT OF FOLKS ARE MORE FAMILIAR
WITH, IS GEARED TOWARDS YOUTH
UNDER THE AGE OF 17 THAT ARE
(16:33):
PRESUMED TO BE KIDNAPPED.
THE EBONY ALERT SYSTEM IS FOR
YOUTH UP UNTIL THE AGE OF 25.
AND SO, IT'S REALLY DESIGNED TO
FILL GAPS IN RESPECT TO WHEN
PEOPLE GO MISSING.
WE ALSO HAVE THE SILVER ALERT
SYSTEM FOR SENIORS WHEN THEY GO
MISSING.
(16:54):
THIS IS ALSO ANOTHER IMPORTANT
ALERT SYSTEM THAT WE NEED TO
MOST CERTAINLY PASS THROUGH
LEGISLATION AND IMPLEMENT
THROUGH LAW WITH OUR RESPECTIVE
AGENCIES TO AGAIN ENSURE THAT
WHEN THESE SITUATIONS HAPPEN
THAT ALL THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE
AT OUR DISPOSAL TO ENSURE THAT
(17:16):
WE CAN LOCATE AND REUNITE THOSE
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IMPACTED
WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND THAT
THEY'RE BROUGHT HOME SAFELY.
>> AND WHAT DO EFFORTS LOOK LIKE
TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS BILL IN
THIS OFF SESSION TIME?
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO RESPOND TO
THE PUSHBACK YOU MAY HAVE
RECEIVED?
>> SO ONE, THE UNEXPECTED
(17:37):
INCLUSION OF THE BILL IN THE
MOVIE HIGHEST 2 LOWEST, I THINK
THAT IS ANOTHER GREAT ASSET.
ALSO, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.
THIS IS A STATEWIDE ISSUE THAT,
SINCE IT'S BEEN INTRODUCED, THE
BILL HAS BEEN INTRODUCED, HAVE
VOICED THEIR SUPPORT.
(17:58):
AND SO DURING THIS OFF SESSION,
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONNECTING
WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND
ALSO WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND
CONTINUING TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR
THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION
ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUE ASSEMBLY
MEMBER NOAH BURROUGHS, SO THAT
WE CAN NOT ONLY GET THIS BILL
PASSED BUT ULTIMATELY SIGNED
(18:20):
INTO LAW.
>> AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS A
LITTLE BIT IN OUR CONVERSATION.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE DATA
HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS BILL ON THE
DISPROPORTIONAL LACK OF
ATTENTION TOWARDS MISSING BLACK
GIRLS AND ADULTS?
>> YES, SO I HAVE ANOTHER BILL
THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW TO
ESTABLISH A BIPOC MISSING AND
MURDERED WOMEN AND GIRLS TASK
FORCE.
THIS IS YET ANOTHER TOOL TO
(18:41):
ADDRESS THIS VERY WELL
DOCUMENTED ISSUE OF WHEN BLACK
AND BROWN CHILDREN GO MISSING,
AS I SAID EARLIER, THEY ARE
OFTEN CATEGORIZED AS RUNAWAYS,
AND SO THEY'RE NOT GIVEN THE
SAME LEVEL OF ATTENTION.
AND SO THIS IS A NATIONALLY
DOCUMENTED ISSUE.
SO IT'S NOT JUST RELEGATED TO US
(19:02):
HERE IN NEW YORK.
AND SO FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS,
AND MORE, WE HAVE TO DO ALL THAT
WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT WHEN THESE
TRAGEDIES HAPPEN, THAT WE ARE
EMPLOYING EVERY RESOURCE IN OUR
DISPOSAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
RENDERING JUSTICE FOR THEM.
600,000 PEOPLE GO MISSING IN THE
U.S. EVERY YEAR.
40% OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT GO
(19:24):
MISSING ARE FOLKS WHO IDENTIFY
AS BLACK AMERICANS AND 38% OF
THAT STATISTIC ARE BLACK YOUTHS.
AND SO WE KNOW THE CHALLENGES
THAT PERSIST STILL WITH LACK OF
MEDIA ATTENTION WHEN THESE
INCIDENTS HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY TO
BIPOC YOUTH.
(19:44):
SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT AS A
COMMUNITY, AS A STATE, THAT WE
DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO RENDER
JUSTICE FOR THOSE WHO ARE
IMPACTED AND ULTIMATELY CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE SUPPORT ONCE THEY ARE
BROUGHT HOME TO ENSURE THAT THEY
CAN GO ON AND THRIVE MOST
(20:06):
CERTAINLY.
>> AND HOW WILL THE LEGISLATION
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE?
COULD IT HAVE AN IMPACT ON A
BIGGER SCALE, POSSIBLY INSPIRING
OTHER STATES?
>> IT IS MY HOPE THAT NEW YORK
WILL JOIN CALIFORNIA IN
ESTABLISHING THIS LAW.
AND ABSOLUTELY, IT IS SOMETHING
THAT I HOPE WILL MOST CERTAINLY
(20:28):
INSPIRE OTHER STATES TO ALSO
FOLLOW SUIT.
I THINK THAT OFTENTIMES, WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES, IT
OFTEN GETS KIND OF LUMPED INTO,
WELL, WE DO THESE THINGS
ALREADY, WHEN IN FACT WE DO,
YES, HAVE ALERT SYSTEMS;
HOWEVER, OUR SYSTEMS OVERALL
(20:51):
HAVE GAPS IN THEM THAT, AGAIN,
ARE VERY WELL DOCUMENTED WHEN IT
COMES TO BIPOC MISSING AND
MURDERED YOUTH.
AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I
AM HOPEFUL THAT WILL CONTINUE TO
GARNER ATTENTION.
AS I SAID, THE INCLUSION OF IT
IN THE SPIKE LEE MOVIE WITH
(21:12):
DENZEL WASHINGTON AND THE WHOLE
CAST REALLY, I THINK, WAS SUCH
AN IMPORTANT STEP TO LIFT UP THE
FACT THAT THERE IS INTEREST AND
THERE IS MOST CERTAINLY A NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS BILL GETS
SIGNED IN TO LAW.
>> YOU MENTIONED THE SPIKE LEE
MOVIE A COUPLE TIMES.
(21:32):
I WANTED TO TOUCH ON THAT.
THE DISPARITIES INVOLVING
MISSING PERSONS WAS UPLIFTED IN
THE SPIKE LEE FILM HIGHEST TO
LOWEST ABOUT A NEW YORK CITY
MUSIC MOGUL WHOSE SON IS
KIDNAPPED.
DO YOU THINK THIS COULD HELP
RAISE AWARENESS ON THIS BILL
BEFORE NEXT SESSION?
AND WILL THIS HELP THE BILL PASS
IN ANY WAY?
>> I THINK THAT ANY OPPORTUNITY
WE HAVE TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY
(21:55):
DIALOGUE AROUND THESE IMPORTANT
ISSUES WILL ALWAYS BE BENEFICIAL
IN THEIR ULTIMATE EFFICACY WITH
RESPECT TO GETTING BILLS PASSED.
THE FACT THAT IT WAS INCLUDED IN
THE FILM DEMONSTRATES THAT
PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO
OPPORTUNITIES TO RENDER JUSTICE
FOR THOSE WHO ARE OFTEN LEFT
(22:17):
BEHIND.
MOST CERTAINLY ITS INCLUSION,
BUT ALSO IN TANDEM WITH OTHER
EFFORTS THAT WE ARE ENGAGING IN
TO NOT ONLY RAISE AWARENESS
ABOUT THE BILL, BUT ALSO TO
GARNER MORE SUPPORT AND
ULTIMATELY HAVE THIS BILL SIGNED
INTO LAW FOR THE LARGER PURPOSE
(22:39):
OF ENSURING JUSTICE IS BEING
RENDERED FOR THOSE WHO ARE
IMPACTED BY THESE ISSUES IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
AND SO THE ARTS HAVE SUCH A
POWERFUL MECHANISM FOR NOT ONLY
RAISING AWARENESS AND RAISING
THE COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS,
BUT ALSO IMPLORING PEOPLE TO
TAKE ACTION.
(22:59):
IN THE FILM, THE FACT THAT THEY
SHARE THE BILL, THEY LITERALLY
BRING IT UP ON THE SCREEN, AND
THEY ALSO IN THE MOVIE TALK
ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT A
LAW YET IN NEW YORK, IT'S JUST A
BILL, WAS A WAY FOR THEM TO CALL
PEOPLE TO ACTION WITHOUT SAYING
(23:21):
NOW WE NEED YOU TO TAKE THIS
ACTION, RIGHT?
AND SO THE ARTS ARE POWERFUL IN
THAT WAY.
THEY HELP TO RAISE OUR
COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS.
THEY ALSO HELP US UNDERSTAND
WHAT MAY BE GOING ON AND HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO
COLLECTIVELY WORK TOGETHER TO
ENSURE THAT THESE ISSUES ARE
ADDRESSED.
SO I ALSO HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK
(23:43):
WITH NOT ONLY THE ADVOCATES WHO
HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING THIS BILL
SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION, BUT ALSO
NEW PARTNERS, WHETHER THAT'S
WITH MR. LEE OR MR. WASHINGTON
AND MOST CERTAINLY THE CAST FROM
THE FILM.
ANYONE THAT IS MOST CERTAINLY
COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT OUR
YOUTH ARE PROTECTED AND THAT
(24:04):
THEY ARE MOST CERTAINLY GIVEN
JUSTICE AND HEALING FOR THEM AND
THEIR FAMILIES.
>> AND YOU MENTIONED THE BIPOC
TASK FORCE.
WHAT ROLE WILL THE TASK FORCE
PLAY IN IMPLEMENTING THIS
LEGISLATION AND HOW WILL THE
RESULTS FROM IMPLEMENTATION HELP
FUEL THE TASK FORCE AND THEIR
ACTIONS?
>> I THINK THAT THE
(24:26):
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EBONY ALERT
SYSTEM WILL BE A GREAT ASSET TO
THE WORK THAT THE TASK FORCE
WILL DO, AND ALONGSIDE THE TASK
FORCE, ALL OF OUR LEADERS ACROSS
THE STATE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN
ADDRESSING THESE KINDS OF
ISSUES.
AWARENESS IS NUMBER ONE FOR ANY
ISSUE LIKE THIS AND OTHERS, BUT
(24:47):
ALSO WHAT TOOLS AND RESOURCES DO
WE HAVE?
SO PEOPLE KNOW WITH THE EBONY
ALERT SYSTEM AND MORE SO WITH
THE AMBER ALERT SYSTEM, YOU GET
A NOTIFICATION ON YOUR PHONE,
IT'S ON THE HIGHWAY.
IN THE CALIFORNIA, WHEN THEY
IMPLEMENTED IT, IT'S RIGHT NOW
ONLY THROUGH THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM.
(25:09):
AND SO IN NEW YORK, I WOULD LIKE
TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE GAPS IN
ITS IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH THIS
LEGISLATION SO THAT NOT ONLY
WOULD IT BE LISTED ON OUR
HIGHWAY SYSTEMS, BUT ALSO THAT
PEOPLE WOULD GET ALERTS ON THEIR
PHONE TO KNOW THAT A CHILD IS IN
DANGER AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
(25:30):
THAT AS A COMMUNITY WE WORK
TOGETHER TO PROTECT THEM.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
SITTING DOWN WITH US, SENATOR.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO
TALK ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
STATE SENATOR LEA WEBB.
>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
THE EBONY ALERT BILL, YOU CAN
(25:52):
VISIT OUR WEBSITE.
AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR
NEWSLETTER BY GOING TO
NEWSLETTER.NYNOW.ORG OR BY
SCANNING THE QR CODE ON YOUR
SCREEN.
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
(26:13):
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[THEME MUSIC]
(26:42):
>> FUNDING FOR NEW YORK NOW IS
PROVIDED BY WNET.
[THEME MUSIC]
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.
(00:21):
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
IN MARCH, THOUSANDS OF
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WORKING AT
PRISONS ACROSS NEW YORK WENT ON
AN UNSANCTIONED WORK STRIKE.
THE MAIN POINTS OF CONTENTION
FROM OFFICERS WAS THEIR
OPPOSITION TO THE HALT ACT AND
WHAT THEY ALLEGED WERE POOR
WORKING CONDITIONS.
WHILE THE STRIKE ENDED AFTER 22
(00:43):
DAYS, ABOUT 2,000 OFFICERS WERE
TERMINATED FOR REFUSING TO
RETURN TO WORK.
TODAY NEARLY SIX MONTHS SINCE
THE STRIKE STATE PRISONS ARE
STILL FEELING ITS EFFECTS.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE'LL DIVE
INTO THE PRISON STAFFING
CHALLENGES AND THE STATE'S
EFFORTS TO INCREASE RECRUITMENT.
(01:05):
HERE'S THAT STORY.
>> IT'S BEEN MONTHS SINCE
THOUSANDS OF CORRECTIONAL
OFFICERS AT PRISONS ACROSS NEW
YORK STATE WALKED OFF OF THEIR
JOB IN WHAT WAS KNOWN AS AN
UNSANCTIONED WILDCAT STRIKE.
JOSE SALDANA, WHO SERVES AS THE
DIRECTOR OF THE RELEASING AGING
(01:25):
PEOPLE IN PRISON CAMPAIGN, SAYS
THE IMPACT OF THE PRISON STRIKE
CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED.
AFTER SERVING 33 YEARS IN
PRISON, SALDANA SPOKE ABOUT HOW
THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER STRIKE
IMPACTED THOSE SERVING TIME
BEHIND BARS.
>> THEY JUST FINISHED GOING ON A
(01:46):
WILDCAT STRIKE.
THEY WALKED OUT THEIR POSTS
WITHOUT CARING, NOT A SINGLE
CARE FOR WHAT THEY WAS LEAVING
BEHIND.
>> WHILE MANY OFFICERS HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO RETURN TO THEIR POSTS,
MORE THAN 2,000 OFFICERS WERE
TERMINATED FOR REFUSING TO
(02:07):
RETURN TO WORK.
JENNIFER SCAIFE, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE CORRECTIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK, SAYS
WHILE THE ISSUES WITH STAFFING
LEVELS LONG EXISTED, THE MARCH
STRIKE WORKED TO EXACERBATE
THOSE PROBLEMS.
>> AS A RESULT OF TERMINATIONS
FOLLOWING THAT WORK STOPPAGE,
(02:27):
THE SYSTEM IS FACING EVEN DEEPER
HOLES IN TERMS OF VACANCIES
AMONG, IN PARTICULAR,
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND
SERGEANTS, WHO ARE KEY ROLES WHO
FILL KEY ROLES IN THE
DEPARTMENT.
>> ACCORDING TO AN AUGUST 2025
(02:48):
STAFFING REPORT FROM THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, THERE
IS CURRENTLY A VACANCY OF CLOSE
TO 5,000 POSITIONS ACROSS STATE
PRISONS.
SCAIFE SAYS SOME OF THOSE
VACANCIES ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF
THE STRIKE.
>> WELL, THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES
ROUGHLY DOUBLED AFTER THE END OF
THE STRIKE AMONG SECURITY STAFF
(03:09):
POSITIONS.
SO IT MADE THE PROBLEM TWICE AS
BAD IN SOME WAYS.
>> REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR
PATRICK GALLIVAN, WHO REPRESENTS
ERIE COUNTY IN THE LEGISLATURE,
AGREES WITH THAT SENTIMENT.
>> I MEAN, WE STILL HAVE
THOUSANDS OF NATIONAL GUARD
MEMBERS THAT ARE DEPLOYED.
(03:31):
KEEP IN MIND, BEFORE THE STRIKE,
THEY WERE SEVERELY SHORT
STAFFED.
>> ACCORDING TO SCAIFE, LOW
STAFFING NUMBERS AFFECT
INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS'
ABILITY TO HAVE RECREATIONAL AND
REHABILITATION PROGRAMS.
>> EVERY ASPECT OF THE FACILITY
(03:52):
HAS BEEN AFFECTED.
>> ALEX BURTON, AN ASSISTANT
PROFESSOR OF CRIMINOLOGY AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, SAYS WHEN
STAFFING SHORTAGES OCCUR, THE
FOCUS OF OFFICERS IS TO ENSURE
THE OVERALL SAFETY OF THE PRISON
COMMUNITY FIRST AND FOREMORST.
>> GENERALLY WHEN STAFF
(04:13):
SHORTAGES ARE PRESENT, OFFICERS
MUST SPEND MORE TIME AND MORE
RESOURCES ON SAFETY AND SECURITY
AND THEN BY EXTENSION LESS TIME
FOCUSING ON THINGS LIKE
REHABILITATIVE EFFORTS, QUALITY
PROGRAMING.
BASICALLY, THEY REALLY NEED TO
FOCUS ON JUST MAKING SURE THAT
THINGS ARE RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
(04:34):
AND SO THAT MIGHT LEAD TO MORE
INDIVIDUALS BEING STUCK IN THEIR
CELLS FOR LONGER PERIODS OF
TIME, LESS RECREATION, WHICH CAN
ULTIMATELY DECLINE THINGS LIKE
QUALITY OF LIFE.
>> ONE OF THE MOST PERTINENT
ISSUES FOR OFFICERS HAS BEEN THE
HALT ACT.
THIS IS A 2022 STATE LAW THAT
(04:54):
AIMED TO LIMIT THE USE OF
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN PRISONS.
DURING THE MARCH STRIKE,
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS EXPRESSED
ISSUES WITH THE LAW.
ACCORDING TO OFFICERS, THE HALT
ACT MADE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO
KEEP ORDER INSIDE PRISONS.
MEANWHILE, SALDANA SAYS THAT
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT DOES MORE
(05:16):
HARM THAN GOOD.
>> THEY ARE ACCUSTOMED TO
PUNISHING.
THEY DON'T SEE THAT THE HARM,
THE LASTING HARM NOT ONLY ON
THOSE THEY ARE PUT IN SOLITARY
CONFINEMENT FOR YEARS.
I HAVE A CODEFENDANT THAT SPENT
30 YEARS IN SOLITARY
CONFINEMENT.
SO THIS IS THIS ISSUE IS VERY
CLOSE TO ME.
(05:37):
30 YEARS IN SOLITARY
CONFINEMENT.
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT THAT
DOES TO A HUMAN BEING, AND THE
FAMILY.
>> BECAUSE OF THE GRIEVANCES BY
OFFICERS DURING THE STRIKE, THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
DID MOVE TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND
THE HALT ACT.
(05:57):
IN THE SUMMER, A JUDGE MOVED TO
REVERSE THAT SUSPENSION.
THE LEGAL CHALLENGE OVER THE
STATE'S ABILITY TO SUSPEND THE
LEGISLATION IS STILL ACTIVELY IN
THE COURTS.
>> THERE'S BEEN NO REAL
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE RULES.
THE HALT ACT STILL PRESENTS
PROBLEMS, LAWSUIT ASIDE, DEALING
(06:19):
WITH THE HALT ACT, IT STILL
PRESENTS PROBLEMS, STILL
PRESENTS CHALLENGES.
AND MY BELIEF IS THAT THE
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND
CORRECTIONS STAFF DO NOT HAVE
ENOUGH TOOLS.
>> IN DECEMBER 2024, THE BRUTAL
BEATING AND KILLING OF INMATE
ROBERT BROOKS BY CORRECTIONAL
STAFF AT MARCY CORRECTIONAL
(06:40):
FACILITY LED TO OUTCRY FROM
PRISON ADVOCATES AND ELECTED
OFFICIALS.
>> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THAT VIDEO, YOU SEE A HUMAN
BEING BEATEN TO DEATH.
THAT HUMAN BEING IS NOT A
CRIMINAL AT THAT VERY MOMENT.
(07:00):
HE'S JUST A HUMAN BEING BEATEN
TO DEATH BY CRIMINALS.
SO TO US, THIS IS A FARCE.
THE CRISIS IS CREATED BY THEM.
>> KEVIN KEMPF OF THE
CORRECTIONAL LEADERS ASSOCIATION
SAYS THAT THE INCIDENTS OF
INMATES BEING KILLED AT THE
(07:21):
HANDS OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS
IS INTOLERABLE AND MOST OF THE
TIMES CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS ARE
PERFORMING THEIR JOBS
PROFESSIONALLY.
>> CORRECTIONS IS A 24 7
BUSINESS.
I MEAN, IT NEVER STOPS.
IT'S GOING ON AS WE SPEAK.
IT'S GOING TO BE GOING ON AS WE
SPEAK AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING.
IT'S TAKING PLACE ACROSS EVERY
(07:41):
SINGLE PRISON IN THE UNITED
STATES.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE VAST MAJORITY
OF THE TIME IT'S BEING DONE
CORRECTLY.
RIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY
WITH HUMANITY, YOU KNOW,
PRACTICES INVOLVED.
BUT SADLY, GOOD HEAVENS, THERE
ARE THESE INCIDENTS LIKE THIS
(08:02):
ROBERT BROOKS INCIDENTS, JUST
STAINS ALL OF US.
>> WHEN ASKED BY WMHT ABOUT THE
STAFFING LEVELS AT PRISONS, A
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS CONFIRMED THAT
2,000 OFFICERS WERE TERMINATED
AS A RESULT OF THE STRIKE AND A
LITTLE OVER 700 HAVE RETURNED TO
(08:25):
WORK.
MEANWHILE, FOR SOME PUBLIC
POLICY EXPERTS, THE RATIO OF
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS TO
PRISONERS APPEARS FAVORABLE.
SHAWN BUSHWAY, PROFESSOR OF
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY
AT THE UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY,
POINTS TO THE DECLINE IN THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE CURRENTLY
(08:46):
BEHIND BARS IN RECENT YEARS.
>> THE AVERAGE RATIO OF TOTAL
SECURITY STAFF TO PRISONERS IN
STATE PRISONS IN THE U.S.,
ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE, IS 5 TO 1.
IN NEW YORK, IT'S 2 TO 1.
THIS RATIO, IN FACT, HAS GOTTEN
(09:08):
BIGGER OVER TIME BECAUSE THE
RATE AT WHICH WE HAVE SEEN A
DECLINE IN CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS
HAS NOT BEEN AS BIG AS THE
DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF
PRISONERS.
>> ASSEMBLY MEMBER MICHAELLE
SOLAGES, WHO SERVES AS CHAIR OF
THE BLACK, PUERTO RICAN,
(09:28):
HISPANIC AND ASIAN CAUCUSES
UNDERSCORED THE IMPACT OF THE
STRIKE ON STAFFING AND ASSERTS
IT IS UP TO THE STATE TO DO MORE
TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES.
>> WE'VE HEARD FROM SO MANY
DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL
AS DOCS, THAT THERE IS A
STAFFING CHALLENGE.
AND SO WE HAVE AN URGENT ISSUE
(09:52):
ON OUR HANDS AND WE NEED TO BE
CREATIVE IN ORDER TO BUILD UP
THE STAFFING LEVELS, BECAUSE I
THINK IT'S AT A CRITICAL POINT.
>> THE LATEST STATE BUDGET
INCLUDED EFFORTS TO HELP
RECRUITMENT EFFORTS FOR
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, INCLUDING
SIGN ON BONUSES, LOWERING THE
AGE REQUIREMENT FROM 21 TO 18,
(10:16):
AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT FOR
EXPERIENCED OFFICERS.
BUT THE ROAD TO FILLING UP
VACANCIES HAS BEEN LONG.
>> I CAN'T SAY WHEN IT'LL BE
DONE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET OUR
GRADUATING CLASSES UP TO SPEED
AND TRAINED AND THEN BRING IN
THE NEXT CLASS, AND IT'S A
PROCESS.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE IT'S NOT
OVERNIGHT.
IT'S NOT EVEN IN THE NEXT SIX
MONTHS.
(10:36):
IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET IT RIGHT.
I'M COMMITTED TO THAT.
>> ASSEMBLY MEMBER SOLAGES SAYS
THE RECRUITING EFFORTS SHOULD
ALSO FOCUS MORE ON DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSION.
>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY AND
JUSTICE, IT HAS TO BE A COHESIVE
CONVERSATION WHERE WE USE THE
(10:56):
COMMUNITIES THAT WERE MOST
HARMED IN ORDER TO BRING A LAYER
OF KNOWLEDGE AND JUSTICE ABOUT
HOW THEY COULD REALLY CHANGE OUR
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND THE
CULTURE FROM THE INSIDE.
AND SO WHAT I HOPE THAT DOCS
AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE
LEGISLATION, THE GOVERNOR ARE
(11:17):
LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE COULD
RECRUIT IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE MOST HARMED BY OUR CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM.
>> IN TERMS OF THE NEXT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, STATE
SENATOR GALLIVAN SAYS THAT IT IS
UP TO THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS
POLICY TO HELP WITH THE WORKING
CONDITIONS THAT CORRECTIONAL
(11:37):
OFFICERS DEAL WITH.
>> WE'VE GOT THESE DIFFERENT
THINGS ALL COMING TOGETHER.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO
DO THE JOB PROPERLY.
THEY DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT TOOLS
TO DO THE JOB PROPERLY.
AND IT'S A VICIOUS CIRCLE.
ONE FEEDS THE OTHER AND WE NEED
TO SOLVE BOTH OF THEM.
(11:58):
>> NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER
IMPORTANT TOPIC.
TOWARD THE END OF THE LAST
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, STATE
LAWMAKERS WERE HOPEFUL THAT A
BILL THAT WOULD CREATE AN EBONY
ALERT SYSTEM FOR MISSING BLACK
YOUTH WOULD MAKE IT OVER THE
LEGISLATIVE FINISH LINE.
IN NEW YORK, LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN
ACTIVELY SOUNDING THE ALARM ON
(12:19):
WHAT THEY CALL DISPARITIES IN
THE WAY CASES OF MISSING BLACK
WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE HANDLED
IN THE STATE.
WHILE THE EBONY ALERT BILL WAS
NOT PASSED THIS YEAR, LAWMAKERS
AND SUPPORTERS ARE STILL
ACTIVELY WORKING TO BUILD
SUPPORT THROUGH THE SUMMER.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, OUR ELISE
(12:39):
KLINE SPOKE WITH STATE SENATOR
LEAH WEBB, WHO SPONSORS THE BILL
IN THE UPPER CHAMBER ABOUT ITS
IMPACT AND THE EFFORTS TO GET IT
PASSED NEXT YEAR.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US TODAY, SENATOR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME, ELISE.
>> LET'S START AT THE BEGINNING.
(12:59):
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS
BILL WILL DO AND WHAT IT BROUGHT
YOU TO WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO
SPONSOR IT?
>> SO THE EBONY ALERT BILL THAT
I SPONSORED WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER
NOAH BURROUGHS IS DESIGNED TO
ADDRESS VERY WELL DOCUMENTED
DISPARITIES THAT EXIST WHEN
UNFORTUNATE TRAGEDIES OF BLACK
(13:20):
YOUTH GO MISSING.
IT IS DOCUMENTED THAT OVER
600,000 AMERICANS GO MISSING
EVERY YEAR.
OF THAT, 40% ARE BLACK
AMERICANS, AND BLACK YOUTH MAKE
UP 38% OF THAT STATISTIC.
AND SO THE EBONY ALERT SYSTEM IS
DESIGNED TO FILL A GAP BECAUSE
(13:43):
IT HAS ALSO DOCUMENTED
OFTENTIMES BLACK YOUTHS WHO GO
MISSING ARE OFTEN CATEGORIZED AS
RUNAWAYS AND MOST CERTAINLY
AREN'T GIVEN THE SAME AMOUNT OF
MEDIA ATTENTION WHEN THESE
TRAGEDIES HAPPEN.
AND SO THIS BILL IS TRULY
DESIGNED TO FILL THAT GAP AND
PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
(14:05):
INVOLVED WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
SYSTEM WITH THE TOOLS THAT THEY
NEED TO HELP LOCATE BLACK YOUTH
AND ALSO PROVIDE JUSTICE FOR THE
IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
>> THIS BILL THIS PREVIOUS
SESSION DIDN'T PASS.
THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR IT
HASN'T MADE IT ACROSS THE FINISH
(14:27):
LINE.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY IT HASN'T
PASSED AND WHAT THE OPPOSITION
HAS BEEN?
>> SO I CARRY THIS BILL.
IN THIS SESSION I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY GET AN
ASSEMBLY SPONSOR.
SO WE ACTUALLY RAN OUT OF TIME.
BUT THERE MOST CERTAINLY IS
INTEREST.
(14:47):
MOST RECENTLY, THE MOVIE HIGHEST
2 LOWEST DIRECTED BY SPIKE LEE
FEATURING DENZEL WASHINGTON AND
A STELLAR CAST ACTUALLY LIFTED
UP THIS BILL AND THEY LIFTED UP
THE FACT IT IS CURRENTLY A BILL
AND NOT A LAW IN NEW YORK STATE.
AND SO NEW YORK ALWAYS HAS BEEN
ON THE FOREFRONT OF TRYING TO
(15:09):
ADDRESS A NUMBER OF BIG POLICY
ISSUES.
AND THIS PARTICULAR AREA IS NO
EXCEPTION.
CALIFORNIA IS THE ONLY STATE
CURRENTLY IN THE COUNTRY THAT
HAS AN EBONY ALERT SYSTEM THAT
WENT INTO EFFECT IN 2023.
AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR A
STATE LIKE US TO HAVE THIS
RESOURCE AVAILABLE, AS I SAID,
(15:29):
FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE
IMPACTED AND THEIR FAMILIES.
>> AND IF THIS BILL PASSES NEXT
SESSION, WHAT IMPACT WILL THIS
HAVE FOR THIS ISSUE?
>> IT CERTAINLY WILL BE AN
IMPORTANT RESOURCE ADDED FOR OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS IN THEIR
EFFORTS TO BRING JUSTICE TO
(15:50):
IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
AS I'VE SAID IN PREVIOUS
CONVERSATIONS, WE HAVE TO DO ALL
THAT WE CAN TO RENDER JUSTICE
FOR FAMILIES.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN'T
IGNORE THE DISPARITIES THAT
HAPPEN WHEN TRYING TO ADDRESS
(16:10):
ISSUES AROUND WHEN PEOPLE GO
MISSING OR, IN SOME UNFORTUNATE
CASES, ARE MURDERED.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS ABOUT THE
EBONY ALERT SYSTEM IS THAT IT
ALSO HELPS TO FILL A GAP BECAUSE
THE AMBER ALERT SYSTEM, WHICH A
LOT OF FOLKS ARE MORE FAMILIAR
WITH, IS GEARED TOWARDS YOUTH
UNDER THE AGE OF 17 THAT ARE
(16:33):
PRESUMED TO BE KIDNAPPED.
THE EBONY ALERT SYSTEM IS FOR
YOUTH UP UNTIL THE AGE OF 25.
AND SO, IT'S REALLY DESIGNED TO
FILL GAPS IN RESPECT TO WHEN
PEOPLE GO MISSING.
WE ALSO HAVE THE SILVER ALERT
SYSTEM FOR SENIORS WHEN THEY GO
MISSING.
(16:54):
THIS IS ALSO ANOTHER IMPORTANT
ALERT SYSTEM THAT WE NEED TO
MOST CERTAINLY PASS THROUGH
LEGISLATION AND IMPLEMENT
THROUGH LAW WITH OUR RESPECTIVE
AGENCIES TO AGAIN ENSURE THAT
WHEN THESE SITUATIONS HAPPEN
THAT ALL THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE
AT OUR DISPOSAL TO ENSURE THAT
(17:16):
WE CAN LOCATE AND REUNITE THOSE
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IMPACTED
WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND THAT
THEY'RE BROUGHT HOME SAFELY.
>> AND WHAT DO EFFORTS LOOK LIKE
TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS BILL IN
THIS OFF SESSION TIME?
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO RESPOND TO
THE PUSHBACK YOU MAY HAVE
RECEIVED?
>> SO ONE, THE UNEXPECTED
(17:37):
INCLUSION OF THE BILL IN THE
MOVIE HIGHEST 2 LOWEST, I THINK
THAT IS ANOTHER GREAT ASSET.
ALSO, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.
THIS IS A STATEWIDE ISSUE THAT,
SINCE IT'S BEEN INTRODUCED, THE
BILL HAS BEEN INTRODUCED, HAVE
VOICED THEIR SUPPORT.
(17:58):
AND SO DURING THIS OFF SESSION,
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONNECTING
WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND
ALSO WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND
CONTINUING TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR
THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION
ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUE ASSEMBLY
MEMBER NOAH BURROUGHS, SO THAT
WE CAN NOT ONLY GET THIS BILL
PASSED BUT ULTIMATELY SIGNED
(18:20):
INTO LAW.
>> AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS A
LITTLE BIT IN OUR CONVERSATION.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE DATA
HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS BILL ON THE
DISPROPORTIONAL LACK OF
ATTENTION TOWARDS MISSING BLACK
GIRLS AND ADULTS?
>> YES, SO I HAVE ANOTHER BILL
THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW TO
ESTABLISH A BIPOC MISSING AND
MURDERED WOMEN AND GIRLS TASK
FORCE.
THIS IS YET ANOTHER TOOL TO
(18:41):
ADDRESS THIS VERY WELL
DOCUMENTED ISSUE OF WHEN BLACK
AND BROWN CHILDREN GO MISSING,
AS I SAID EARLIER, THEY ARE
OFTEN CATEGORIZED AS RUNAWAYS,
AND SO THEY'RE NOT GIVEN THE
SAME LEVEL OF ATTENTION.
AND SO THIS IS A NATIONALLY
DOCUMENTED ISSUE.
SO IT'S NOT JUST RELEGATED TO US
(19:02):
HERE IN NEW YORK.
AND SO FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS,
AND MORE, WE HAVE TO DO ALL THAT
WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT WHEN THESE
TRAGEDIES HAPPEN, THAT WE ARE
EMPLOYING EVERY RESOURCE IN OUR
DISPOSAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
RENDERING JUSTICE FOR THEM.
600,000 PEOPLE GO MISSING IN THE
U.S. EVERY YEAR.
40% OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT GO
(19:24):
MISSING ARE FOLKS WHO IDENTIFY
AS BLACK AMERICANS AND 38% OF
THAT STATISTIC ARE BLACK YOUTHS.
AND SO WE KNOW THE CHALLENGES
THAT PERSIST STILL WITH LACK OF
MEDIA ATTENTION WHEN THESE
INCIDENTS HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY TO
BIPOC YOUTH.
(19:44):
SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT AS A
COMMUNITY, AS A STATE, THAT WE
DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO RENDER
JUSTICE FOR THOSE WHO ARE
IMPACTED AND ULTIMATELY CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE SUPPORT ONCE THEY ARE
BROUGHT HOME TO ENSURE THAT THEY
CAN GO ON AND THRIVE MOST
(20:06):
CERTAINLY.
>> AND HOW WILL THE LEGISLATION
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE?
COULD IT HAVE AN IMPACT ON A
BIGGER SCALE, POSSIBLY INSPIRING
OTHER STATES?
>> IT IS MY HOPE THAT NEW YORK
WILL JOIN CALIFORNIA IN
ESTABLISHING THIS LAW.
AND ABSOLUTELY, IT IS SOMETHING
THAT I HOPE WILL MOST CERTAINLY
(20:28):
INSPIRE OTHER STATES TO ALSO
FOLLOW SUIT.
I THINK THAT OFTENTIMES, WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES, IT
OFTEN GETS KIND OF LUMPED INTO,
WELL, WE DO THESE THINGS
ALREADY, WHEN IN FACT WE DO,
YES, HAVE ALERT SYSTEMS;
HOWEVER, OUR SYSTEMS OVERALL
(20:51):
HAVE GAPS IN THEM THAT, AGAIN,
ARE VERY WELL DOCUMENTED WHEN IT
COMES TO BIPOC MISSING AND
MURDERED YOUTH.
AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I
AM HOPEFUL THAT WILL CONTINUE TO
GARNER ATTENTION.
AS I SAID, THE INCLUSION OF IT
IN THE SPIKE LEE MOVIE WITH
(21:12):
DENZEL WASHINGTON AND THE WHOLE
CAST REALLY, I THINK, WAS SUCH
AN IMPORTANT STEP TO LIFT UP THE
FACT THAT THERE IS INTEREST AND
THERE IS MOST CERTAINLY A NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS BILL GETS
SIGNED IN TO LAW.
>> YOU MENTIONED THE SPIKE LEE
MOVIE A COUPLE TIMES.
(21:32):
I WANTED TO TOUCH ON THAT.
THE DISPARITIES INVOLVING
MISSING PERSONS WAS UPLIFTED IN
THE SPIKE LEE FILM HIGHEST TO
LOWEST ABOUT A NEW YORK CITY
MUSIC MOGUL WHOSE SON IS
KIDNAPPED.
DO YOU THINK THIS COULD HELP
RAISE AWARENESS ON THIS BILL
BEFORE NEXT SESSION?
AND WILL THIS HELP THE BILL PASS
IN ANY WAY?
>> I THINK THAT ANY OPPORTUNITY
WE HAVE TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY
(21:55):
DIALOGUE AROUND THESE IMPORTANT
ISSUES WILL ALWAYS BE BENEFICIAL
IN THEIR ULTIMATE EFFICACY WITH
RESPECT TO GETTING BILLS PASSED.
THE FACT THAT IT WAS INCLUDED IN
THE FILM DEMONSTRATES THAT
PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO
OPPORTUNITIES TO RENDER JUSTICE
FOR THOSE WHO ARE OFTEN LEFT
(22:17):
BEHIND.
MOST CERTAINLY ITS INCLUSION,
BUT ALSO IN TANDEM WITH OTHER
EFFORTS THAT WE ARE ENGAGING IN
TO NOT ONLY RAISE AWARENESS
ABOUT THE BILL, BUT ALSO TO
GARNER MORE SUPPORT AND
ULTIMATELY HAVE THIS BILL SIGNED
INTO LAW FOR THE LARGER PURPOSE
(22:39):
OF ENSURING JUSTICE IS BEING
RENDERED FOR THOSE WHO ARE
IMPACTED BY THESE ISSUES IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
AND SO THE ARTS HAVE SUCH A
POWERFUL MECHANISM FOR NOT ONLY
RAISING AWARENESS AND RAISING
THE COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS,
BUT ALSO IMPLORING PEOPLE TO
TAKE ACTION.
(22:59):
IN THE FILM, THE FACT THAT THEY
SHARE THE BILL, THEY LITERALLY
BRING IT UP ON THE SCREEN, AND
THEY ALSO IN THE MOVIE TALK
ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT A
LAW YET IN NEW YORK, IT'S JUST A
BILL, WAS A WAY FOR THEM TO CALL
PEOPLE TO ACTION WITHOUT SAYING
(23:21):
NOW WE NEED YOU TO TAKE THIS
ACTION, RIGHT?
AND SO THE ARTS ARE POWERFUL IN
THAT WAY.
THEY HELP TO RAISE OUR
COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS.
THEY ALSO HELP US UNDERSTAND
WHAT MAY BE GOING ON AND HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO
COLLECTIVELY WORK TOGETHER TO
ENSURE THAT THESE ISSUES ARE
ADDRESSED.
SO I ALSO HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK
(23:43):
WITH NOT ONLY THE ADVOCATES WHO
HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING THIS BILL
SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION, BUT ALSO
NEW PARTNERS, WHETHER THAT'S
WITH MR. LEE OR MR. WASHINGTON
AND MOST CERTAINLY THE CAST FROM
THE FILM.
ANYONE THAT IS MOST CERTAINLY
COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT OUR
YOUTH ARE PROTECTED AND THAT
(24:04):
THEY ARE MOST CERTAINLY GIVEN
JUSTICE AND HEALING FOR THEM AND
THEIR FAMILIES.
>> AND YOU MENTIONED THE BIPOC
TASK FORCE.
WHAT ROLE WILL THE TASK FORCE
PLAY IN IMPLEMENTING THIS
LEGISLATION AND HOW WILL THE
RESULTS FROM IMPLEMENTATION HELP
FUEL THE TASK FORCE AND THEIR
ACTIONS?
>> I THINK THAT THE
(24:26):
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EBONY ALERT
SYSTEM WILL BE A GREAT ASSET TO
THE WORK THAT THE TASK FORCE
WILL DO, AND ALONGSIDE THE TASK
FORCE, ALL OF OUR LEADERS ACROSS
THE STATE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN
ADDRESSING THESE KINDS OF
ISSUES.
AWARENESS IS NUMBER ONE FOR ANY
ISSUE LIKE THIS AND OTHERS, BUT
(24:47):
ALSO WHAT TOOLS AND RESOURCES DO
WE HAVE?
SO PEOPLE KNOW WITH THE EBONY
ALERT SYSTEM AND MORE SO WITH
THE AMBER ALERT SYSTEM, YOU GET
A NOTIFICATION ON YOUR PHONE,
IT'S ON THE HIGHWAY.
IN THE CALIFORNIA, WHEN THEY
IMPLEMENTED IT, IT'S RIGHT NOW
ONLY THROUGH THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM.
(25:09):
AND SO IN NEW YORK, I WOULD LIKE
TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE GAPS IN
ITS IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH THIS
LEGISLATION SO THAT NOT ONLY
WOULD IT BE LISTED ON OUR
HIGHWAY SYSTEMS, BUT ALSO THAT
PEOPLE WOULD GET ALERTS ON THEIR
PHONE TO KNOW THAT A CHILD IS IN
DANGER AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
(25:30):
THAT AS A COMMUNITY WE WORK
TOGETHER TO PROTECT THEM.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
SITTING DOWN WITH US, SENATOR.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO
TALK ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
STATE SENATOR LEA WEBB.
>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
THE EBONY ALERT BILL, YOU CAN
(25:52):
VISIT OUR WEBSITE.
AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR
NEWSLETTER BY GOING TO
NEWSLETTER.NYNOW.ORG OR BY
SCANNING THE QR CODE ON YOUR
SCREEN.
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
(26:13):
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[THEME MUSIC]
(26:42):
>> FUNDING FOR NEW YORK NOW IS
PROVIDED BY WNET.
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