June 27, 2025 • 26 mins
All eyes were on New York City for the competitive democratic primary for mayor this week. Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani bested former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the nomination in a political upset. We sit down with Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, to discuss President Donald Trump's travel ban and the future of the New York for All Act. During the legislative session, there was a push to update the state's 40-year old organ donation statute to allow for multi-listing on transplant lists and other organ donation priorities.
📰 More at: nynow.org
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(00:00):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:19):
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
ALL EYES WERE ON NEW YORK CITY
THIS WEEK FOR THE COMPETITIVE
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY RACE FOR
MAYOR.
IN A POLITICAL UPSET, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER ZOHRAN MAMDANI SECURED A
VICTORY IN THAT RACE OVER FORMER
GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO.
ZOHRAN MAMDANI WHO REPRESENTS
(00:39):
QUEENS IN THE LEGISLATURE IS A
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST WHO RAN A
GRASS ROOTS CAMPAIGN.
MEANWHILE, FORMER GOVERNOR
ANDREW CUOMO RAN A MORE CENTRIST
CAMPAIGN AND WAS LOOKING TO MAKE
A POLITICAL COMEBACK.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, CUOMO LED THE
STATE FOR 10 YEARS BEFORE
RESIGNING IN 2021 AMID SEVERAL
(01:01):
SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS.
MANY POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAW THIS
RACE AS A BELLWEATHER ON THE
FUTURE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
NATIONALLY.
MAMDANI WILL NOW FACE OFF
AGAINST NEW YORK CITY MAYOR,
ERIC ADAMS, WHO IS RUNNING AS AN
INDEPENDENT AS WELL AS
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE CURTIS
SLIWA IN NOVEMBER.
(01:22):
FOR MORE ON THE RESULTS OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY RACE AND
LOOKS AHEAD, WE ARE JOINED BY
OUR ELISE KLINE.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US BACK IN THE STUDIO, ELISE.
>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> OF COURSE.
THIS WEEK, YOU SAW ASSEMBLY
MEMBER ZOHRAN MAMDANI SECURE THE
VICTORY OVER FORMER GOVERNOR
(01:42):
ANDREW CUOMO FOR THE DEMOCRATIC
PRIMARY RACE FOR NEW YORK CITY
MAYOR.
HOW MUCH OF A POLITICAL UPSET
WAS THIS ONE?
>> WELL, IT DEFINITELY WAS
REALLY SIGNIFICANT IN THAT
MAMDANI WASN'T REALLY-- NO ONE
REALLY KNEW THAT MUCH ABOUT HIM
AND CUOMO HAS A LONG POLITICAL
HISTORY SERVING AS A FORMER
GOVERNOR.
YOU KNOW, HE WAS IN THE POLLS
(02:03):
FOR A WHILE PROJECTED TO WIN.
SO HE REALLY WAS KIND OF LIKE
THE UNDERDOG IN THIS RACE.
>> YEAH. AND WE KNOW THAT MAMDAN
CAMPAIGN WAS PRETTY GRASS ROOTS.
IT WAS ROOTED IN PRETTY
AGGRESSIVE IDEALS BUT WHAT WAS
IT ULTIMATELY THAT DROVE VOTERS
TO THE POLLS?
>> I THINK HIS REALLY
DOWN-TO-EARTH, LIKE YOU WERE
(02:23):
SAYING, GRASS ROOTS CAMPAIGN
REALLY DID WELL-- HE DID VERY
WELL AMONG YOUNG VOTERS, AMONG
WORKING CLASS VOTERS.
HE DID REALLY WELL IN THE
HISPANIC COMMUNITY, AMONG JEWISH
VOTERS, A LARGE AMOUNT OF NEW
VOTERS AS WELL BUT HIS CAMPAIGN
WAS REALLY KIND OF SIMPLE, GRASS
ROOTS, YOU KNOW, KNOCKING ON
DOORS, CANVASSING, REALLY
(02:45):
COLORFUL MARKETING, GOING TO
SOCIAL MEDIA, TALKING TO VOTERS.
HE HAD WALKED BEFORE THE PRIMARY
LIKE 13 MILES ACROSS THE CITY TO
DO JUST THAT, CANVASSING AND
TALKING TO VOTERS AND I THINK
THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH
VOTERS ESPECIALLY BECAUSE HE'S A
REALLY GOOD PUBLIC SPEAKER AND
HE REALLY SEEMS TO CONNECT WITH
VOTERS IN A GENUINE WAY.
>> ABSOLUTELY, AND AS YOU
MENTIONED, I THINK THE CAMPAIGN
(03:06):
THAT THEY SECURED OVER 50,000
VOLUNTEERS AND THEY KNOCKED ON
OVER, YOU KNOW, ONE MILLION
DOORS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF
THE CAMPAIGN.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THE POLLS
LEADING UP TO ELECTION DAY
SHOWED THE FORMER GOVERNOR
SECURING THE WIN AND THEN
ULTIMATELY AS WE APPROACH
ELECTION DAY, WE SAW THE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER GAINING GROUND
(03:27):
ON THE FORMER GOVERNOR.
YOU KNOW, WHY DO YOU THINK THAT
THE-- CUOMO'S CAMPAIGN DIDN'T
TAKE THE POLLS SERIOUSLY?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO SAY.
I THINK THAT ONE OF THE REALLY
WEAKNESSES IN HIS CAMPAIGN WAS
ALSO THAT HE JUST DIDN'T GET OUT
IN FRONT OF VOTERS THE WAY THAT
MAMDANI DID.
HE DIDN'T DO THE LEVEL OF
CANVASSING, SPEAKING TO VOTERS,
EVEN JUST PRESS CONFERENCES.
(03:48):
HE DIDN'T HAVE THAT MANY
APPEARANCES BEFORE THE ELECTION.
I THINK MAYBE THEIR MISTAKE WAS
RELYING TOO HEAVILY ON JUST HIS
NAME AND MAYBE HIS HISTORY AS A
GOVERNOR TO CARRY HIM THROUGH
THIS RACE.
AND THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED.
>> YEAH. DO YOU THINK HIS
CAMPAIGN REALLY HONED IN ON
THEIR MESSAGING ON WHAT THE
FORMER GOVERNOR WAS HOPING TO DO
AS MAYOR?
>> I THINK THAT HIS MESSAGING
(04:09):
WAS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY STANDARD,
I GUESS.
I THINK IT WAS-- HE HAD SOME
GOOD POINTS, BUT I THINK
MAMDANI-- AND A LOT OF POLITICAL
COMMENTATORS HAVE SAID-- HIS
CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE AN EXAMPLE TO
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN TERMS OF
MAYBE A BLUEPRINT OF WHERE THEY
COULD GO.
IT'S GAINED A LOT OF ATTENTION
IN THAT SENSE, AND THAT HE
REALLY FOCUSED ON AFFORDABILITY,
(04:30):
FREEZING THE RENT, NO COST CHILD
CARE, FREE BUSES, CITY-OWNED
GROCERY STORES, THOSE THINGS
REALLY RESONATED WITH LIKE THE
TOP ISSUES THAT ARE OF MIND FOR
NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS, AND I
THINK THAT DID REALLY WELL FOR
HIM.
I DON'T THINK CUOMO DID THE
LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY THAT
MAMDANI DID.
>> AND WHAT'S NEXT FOR CUOMO?
DID THE FORMER GOVERNOR PROVIDE
(04:51):
US WITH ANY PERSPECTIVE ON
WHETHER OR NOT HE WILL BE
RUNNING IN THE GENERAL ELECTION
IN NOVEMBER?
>> HE'S KIND OF ALLUDED TO THAT
HE HAS LIKE AN INDEPENDENT LINE
ON THE BALLOT FOR THE GENERAL
ELECTION.
HE IS STILL KIND OF WEIGHING
WHETHER OR NOT HE'S GOING TO
KEEP THAT OR TAKE IT OFF.
HE HASN'T CONCRETELY SAID IF
HE'S GOING TO KEEP THAT OR NOT,
BUT HE DOESN'T SEEM, FROM MY
(05:13):
PURVIEW, I GUESS, HE DOESN'T
SEEM LIKE HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE
WITH THAT.
YOU KNOW, HE SEEMED KIND OF
DEFEATED IN HIS CONCESSION
SPEECH IN MY OPINION.
>> AND OF COURSE, WE WOULD BE
REMISS IF WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT
THE INCUMBENT MAYOR OF NEW
YORK CITY, ERIC ADAMS.
WHAT DOES THIS WIN MEAN FOR ERIC
ADAMS HEADING INTO NOVEMBER?
>> I THINK ERIC ADAMS IS GOING
(05:34):
TO HAVE A STRONG CHALLENGER.
HE'S THE INCUMBENT, SURE, BUT
HE'S RUNNING ON THE INDEPENDENT
LINE AND HE'S CONTINUED TO
EMPHASIZE THAT HE'S HAD A
SUCCESSFUL THREE YEARS BUT HE
HAS A LOW APPROVAL RATING OF
LIKE 22% IS ONE OF THE MOST
RECENT POLLS.
A LOT OF NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS
DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL MAYBE THE
WAY THAT HE DOES IN TERMS OF HIS
(05:54):
SUCCESS OF HIS TERM.
>> YEAH. AND I SAW THAT HE HAD A
CAMPAIGN RE-ELECTION
ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY.
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE MESSAGING
THAT HE WAS HOPING TO, YOU KNOW,
GIVE TO VOTERS IN THAT EVENT?
>> SO HE REALLY STRESSED A LOT
OF THINGS THAT HE'S TRIED TO DO
THROUGH HIS TERM, LIKE GETTING
GUNS OFF THE STREETS, INCREASING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TRYING TO
BRING DOWN PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT HE
(06:17):
DIDN'T TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT WHAT
HE'S GOING TO DO IN A SECOND
TERM.
AND I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE
A WEAK POINT FOR HIM.
THAT HE DIDN'T REALLY LAY THAT
OUT.
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S
ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE FOR
TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
AWESOME REPORTING, ELISE.
>> OF COURSE,
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> AMID DONALD TRUMP'S TRAVEL
BAN AND THE INCREASED PRESENCE
OF ICE IN DEMOCRATIC STATES,
(06:39):
IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN
CALLING FOR THE PASSAGE OF NEW
YORK FOR ALL.
IF ENACTED, THIS LEGISLATION
WOULD STOP LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES FROM COLLUDING WITH
ICE.
WE SAT DOWN WITH MURAD AWAWDEH,
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NEW
YORK IMMIGRATION COALITION, TO
UNPACK THIS BILL AND THE
POSSIBILITY OF A SPECIAL
(07:00):
LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO GET IT
PASSED.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US HERE TODAY, MURAD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
>> OF COURSE.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S
ADMINISTRATION IS CURRENTLY
CONSIDERING A TRAVEL BAN ON AT
LEAST 36 COUNTRIES FROM ENTERING
(07:21):
THE UNITED STATES.
WHAT IS THE COALITION'S POSITION
ON THIS MOVE BY THE PRESIDENT?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S INCREDIBLY
UNFORTUNATE THAT WE SAW THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUT
TOGETHER AND ANNOUNCE THE MUSLIM
AFRICAN TRAVEL BAN THAT WE SAW
HAPPEN IN HIS FIRST TERM HAPPEN
(07:41):
AGAIN.
IN TOTAL, HE'S TARGETING ABOUT
20 COUNTRIES WITH ABOUT 12 OF
THEM WITH COMPLETE BAN ON
ENTERING THE UNITED STATES.
AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT THAT HAVE
SEVERE RESTRICTIONS TO COME INTO
THE UNITED STATES.
WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO IT'S
GOING TO HARM NEW YORKERS.
IT'S GOING TO HARM PEOPLE WHO
(08:03):
WANT TO RECONNECT WITH THEIR
FAMILIES, AND WE KNOW THAT THIS
POLICY IS ROOTED IN BIGOTRY AND
XENOPHOBIA AND THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO
CONTINUE TO WAGE WAR AGAINST
IMMIGRANTS IN THIS MOMENT.
AND DONALD TRUMP AND HIS
ENABLERS ARE ATTACKING THE VERY
CONCEPT OF WHAT AMERICA IS
(08:23):
ITSELF.
THIS IS THE REALLY HARMFUL
MOMENT THAT WE ARE WITNESSING
WHERE INDIVIDUALS WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THEIR LOVED
ONES.
PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO MISS SPECIAL
OCCASIONS, WEDDINGS, AND THEN
INDIVIDUALS WON'T BE ABLE TO
COME AND SEE THEIR DYING LOVED
ONES OR WISH THEM FAREWELL AT
(08:44):
THEIR FUNERALS.
>> AND WE KNEW IN RECENT WEEKS,
THE PRESIDENT HAS ALSO MOVED TO
DIRECT FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO
PRIORITIZE DEPORTATIONS IN NEW
YORK AND OTHER DEMOCRATIC
STATES.
WAS THIS AT ALL SURPRISING TO
THE COALITION?
>> YOU KNOW, SINCE DAY ONE OF
THIS ADMINISTRATION, WE'VE SEEN
THE ADMINISTRATION CONTINUE TO
(09:06):
ATTACK IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
EVEN HERE IMMEDIATELY AFTER
INAUGURATION, WE SAW THEM START
DOING RAIDS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK
ON TARGETING DAIRY FARMS AND
HATCHERIES.
SO WHEN WE SEE THIS ESCALATION
OF ENFORCEMENT EVERY SINGLE DAY
HERE ACROSS NEW YORK CITY, NEW
YORK STATE, IT'S NOT--
(09:27):
UNFORTUNATELY IT'S SOMETHING
WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY.
SO IT'S NOT BEING UNIQUE JUST TO
NEW YORK, BUT IT IS HAPPENING IN
MORE INCREASED NUMBERS HERE IN
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SO THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUE TO
FIGHT BACK.
THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT
FOR ACCESS TO REPRESENTATION TO
ENSURE WHEN PEOPLE GO TO
IMMIGRATION COURT, THEY HAVE THE
RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY TO PRESENT
(09:48):
AND IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD ONE,
ONE WILL BE AFFORDED TO THEM.
THEY DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW
IN IMMIGRATION COURT.
ADDITIONALLY, WE WANT OUR LOCAL
POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND STATE
AGENCIES TO NOT COLLUDE WITH
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
BECAUSE WE SEE THEM DOING THAT
RIGHT NOW AND WE DON'T WANT THEM
TO, YOU KNOW, SIDE STEP THEIR
OWN RESPONSIBILITIES.
IT IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
(10:09):
LOCAL POLICE OR STATE POLICE TO
BE DOING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT.
THAT IS NOT THEIR JOB AND THAT'S
NOT HOW WE SHOULD BE USING OUR
STATE RESOURCES IN THIS MOMENT.
>> AND GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL DID
TESTIFY IN FRONT OF THE
CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE ABOUT THE STATE'S
IMMIGRATION AND SANCTUARY
POLICIES.
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THE
TESTIMONY GIVEN BY THE GOVERNOR
(10:30):
JUST A FEW WEEK AGO?
>> YOU KNOW, WE WERE HAPPY TO
SEE THE GOVERNOR STAND UP FOR
IMMIGRANT NEW YORK.
WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE HER REALLY
ENSURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD
WHO WE ARE AS A STATE.
EVERY WAVE OF IMMIGRATION THAT
HAS COME TO THIS COUNTRY AND TO
THIS STATE HAS BUILT OUR ROADS,
OUR BRIDGES, OUR LOCAL ECONOMIES
AND CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE AND
(10:50):
POWER OUR ECONOMIES FORWARD.
SO IT WAS REALLY HEARTENING TO
SEE GOVERNOR HOCHUL, YOU KNOW,
STEP UP IN CONGRESS AND REALLY
MAKE SURE PEOPLE WEREN'T
TRYING-- YOU KNOW, GET CHEAP
SHOTS AT OUR STATE OR OUR
POLICIES BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
OUR SANCTUARY POLICIES ARE
ACTUALLY PUBLIC SAFETY POLICIES,
AND THEY SAY THAT AT THE END OF
(11:11):
THE DAY WE WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL
FREE TO CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT IF
THEY FEEL THREATENED OR IF
THEY'RE A VICTIM OF A CRIME OR
WITNESS A CRIME, IF THEY HAVE TO
GO TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY SHOULD
IF THEY'RE SICK, AND THE DOCTOR
AND THE NURSE WON'T TURN THEM
OVER TO IMMIGRATION, OF COURSE.
THAT'S ALL SANCTUARY POLICY IS.
IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE
CIRCUMVENT FEDERAL LAW.
IT SAYS THAT WE ARE GOING TO
ENSURE WE PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS
(11:33):
OF OUR STATE, AND THAT'S WHAT,
YOU KNOW, THE MESSAGE THAT SHE
HAD DELIVERED THERE.
>> AND THIS YEAR, WE ALSO SAW
INCREASED SUPPORT FOR THE NEW
YORK FOR ALL ACT AT THE STATE
CAPITOL.
NOW THIS IS A BILL THAT WOULD
AIM TO LIMIT COOPERATION BETWEEN
STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES AND
FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES.
(11:53):
THE BILL ULTIMATELY DID NOT MAKE
IT OVER THE LEGISLATIVE FINISH
LINE THIS YEAR, BUT HOW WERE YOU
HOPING TO RAMP UP SUPPORT
THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND IN
PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION?
>> WELL, IT'S INCREDIBLY
DISHEARTENING TO SEE THE BILL
NOT GET A VOTE ON THE FLOOR OF
THE SENATE OR THE ASSEMBLY.
WE KNOW WE HAVE THE SUPPORTMENT
WE HAVE THE VOTES.
WE HAVE THE NUMBERS ON OUR SIDE
(12:14):
AND WE HAVE NEW YORKERS ON OUR
SIDE.
NEW YORKERS SUPPORT THE NEW YORK
FOR ALL ACT.
IT IS NOT THE STATE'S BUSINESS
TO DO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
IT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S.
SO WE SHOULD LET THEM DO THEIR
JOB, BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE PART
OF THAT.
SO IT WAS REALLY DISHEARTENING
TO SEE THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
NOT TAKE UP THE BILL AND BRING
IT TO THE FLOOR.
(12:35):
WE DO HEAR THAT THERE MIGHT BE A
SPECIAL SESSION COMING UP AND WE
WANT THEM TO TAKE UP IN THIS
SPECIAL SESSION SO WE CAN
PROTECT AS MANY NEW YORKERS AS
POSSIBLE.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY, BUT
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING
WITH US TODAY, MURAD.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
MURAD AWAWDEH, PRESIDENT AND CEO
OF THE NEW YORK IMMIGRATION
(12:56):
COALITION.
DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION,
STATE LAWMAKERS PASSED THE BILL
NICKNAMED THE HEART ACT.
IF ENACTED, THE BILL WOULD
REPEAL AN ALMOST 40-YEAR-OLD
STATUTE THAT PROHIBITS THE
PRACTICE OF MULTILISTING AT
ORGAN DONATION TRANSPLANT
CENTERS.
WHILE THE BILL PASSED BOTH
CHAMBERS, IT NEEDS TO BE
DELIVERED TO AND SIGNED BY THE
(13:18):
GOVERNOR BEFORE IT CAN
OFFICIALLY BE ENACTED.
OUR ELISE KLINE DOVE INTO THE
SUPPORT AROUND THE BILL AND THE
PUSH FOR OTHER ORGAN DONATION
PRIORITIES IN THE STATE.
HERE'S THAT STORY.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> UNDER NEW YORK STATE LAW, THE
PRACTICE OF MULTILISTING ON
ORGAN DONATION TRANSPLANT
CENTERS IS BANNED.
(13:39):
DURING THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE
SESSION, STATE LAWMAKERS VOTED
AND PASSED A BRAND NEW BILL
NICKNAMED THE HEART ACT THAT
WOULD REPEAL THIS NEARLY
40-YEAR-OLD STATUTE.
THE REPEAL WOULD ALLOW NEW
YORKERS ON MEDICAID, WHO ARE IN
NEED OF AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT, TO
REGISTER AT MULTIPLE CENTERS
ACROSS THE STATE.
ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER CRYSTAL
PEOPLES-STOKES, A DEMOCRAT
REPRESENTING PARTS OF ERIE
COUNTY AND THE LEAD SPONSOR OF
(14:00):
THE BILL, SAYS THIS BILL WILL
MAKE AN ESSENTIAL CHANGE TO THE
LAW.
>> WHY IT WAS SET UP YEARS AGO
AND I HAVE NO IDEA THEY CAME ONE
THAT IDEA.
I KNOW IT DOESN'T FIT 2025, SO
WE HAVE TO CHANGE.
>> THE MAJORITY LEADER NOTED
THAT THE 1990 STATUTE IS
LIMITING NEW YORKERS TO
SOMETIMES GO TO OTHER STATES IF
THEY CAN AFFORD IT FOR ORGAN
TRANSPLANTS.
(14:20):
PEOPLES-STOKES SAYS IF THE STATE
IS GOING TO ENCOURAGE NEW
YORKERS TO DONATE ORGANS, THEN
THE STATE SHOULD MAKE THE
PROCESS ACCESSIBLE.
>> YOU'RE LIMITING PEOPLE, AND
WE SHOULD NOT WANT TO DO THAT.
>> STATE SENATOR APRIL BASKIN, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
BUFFALO AND A LEAD SPONSOR OF
THE BILL IN THE SENATE, SAID IN
A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT NEW YORK
IS FAILING COMPARED TO OTHER
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ON THIS
ISSUE.
>> WE ARE THE STATE THAT GETS IN
(14:41):
FRONT OF THINGS.
WE GET THINGS DONE, AND USUALLY
THE OTHER STATES ARE FOLLOWING
BEHIND US.
BUT ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE,
NEW YORK IS BEHIND.
THIS BAN THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE
IN 1990 IS ARCHAIC.
>> PEOPLE-STOKES ADDS THE BILL,
IF ENACTED, WOULD ELIMINATE THE
DISPARITY BETWEEN MEDICAID
PATIENTS AND PATIENTS WHO CAN
AFFORD PRIVATE INSURANCE.
(15:02):
ACCORDING TO 2025 DATA FROM THE
ORGAN PROCUREMENT
TRANSPLANTATION NETWORK,
MEDICAID PATIENTS REPRESENT 27%
OF ORGAN TRANSPLANT WAIT LIST
CANDIDATES BUT ONLY 15% OF
RECIPIENTS.
THE 2025 DATA SHOWS IN
COMPARISON THAT PATIENTS WITH
PRIVATE INSURANCE CONSTITUTE 35%
OF WAIT LIST CANDIDATES AND
ACCOUNT FOR 37% OF PERFORMED
(15:23):
TRANSPLANTS.
>> PEOPLE WHO ARE ON MEDICAID
DON'T HAVE THE OPTION OF, SAY,
GO APPLY IN BUFFALO AND APPLY AT
A HOSPITAL IN NEW YORK CITY OR
APPLY THE AT THE HOSPITAL IN
ROCHESTER.
THEY CAN'T MULTIPLY APPLY.
YOU CAN ONLY APPLY AT ONE PLACE,
AND THAT IS ULTIMATELY, IN MY
MIND, A DISPARITY.
>> LIISE KAYLER, THE DIRECTOR OF
TRANSPLANTATION AT ERIE COUNTY
(15:45):
MEDICAL CENTER, SAYS PATIENTS'
ABILITY TO GET ON MORE THAN ONE
TRANSPLANT WAITING LIST CAN
IMPROVE THEIR CHANCES OF GETTING
ONE.
>> PEOPLE THAT MULTILIST, IS
WHAT THE NAME IS FOR IT, IF THEY
MULTILIST, GETTING ON MORE THAN
ONE TRANSPLANT CENTER, EITHER IN
THE STATE OR OUT OF STATE, ARE
TWICE AS LIKELY TO GET A KIDNEY
TRANSPLANT, TWICE AS LIKELY TO
(16:05):
GET A LIVER TRANSPLANT AND WILL
GET THAT TRANSPLANT FASTER,
SOMETIMES DOUBLE AS FAST.
>> KAYLER ADDS THE TRANSPLANT
CENTERS HAVE VARYING WAIT TIMES
AND OFTEN PATIENTS NEEDING
TRANSPLANTATION DON'T HAVE A LOT
OF TIME TO WAIT.
>> THERE'S A LARGE AMOUNT OF
PATIENTS THAT DIE OR BECOME TOO
SICK WHILE WAITING AND NEVER GET
A TRANSPLANT.
(16:26):
THAT'S A VERY UNFORTUNATE PART
OF TRANSPLANTATION AND BY BEING
ABLE TO GET ON MORE THAN ONE
LIST, THAT MITIGATES THAT
PROBLEM.
>> ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD PAYTON ARCHIE
FROM THE CAPITOL REGION HAS HAD
TWO HEART TRANSPLANTS IN HER
LIFE.
WHEN SHE WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD AND
IN NEED OF HER SECOND HEART
TRANSPLANT, SHE SUFFERED SEVERAL
HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES WHILE
WAITING FOR A TRANSPLANT.
(16:48):
HER GRANDMOTHER, OR GLAM-MA
DELISA ARCHIE, SAID IT WAS SCARY
TO NEARLY LOSE HER GRANDCHILD.
>> FEBRUARY 13, SHE HAD HER
FIRST HEART ATTACK.
IT WAS EIGHT MINUTES LONG AND I
JUST REMEMBER ALMOST FEELING
LIKE A CLICHE IN A MOVIE.
LIKE I WAS SCREAMING EVERYTHING
TO HER, LIKE DON'T LEAVE ME,
(17:08):
COME BACK, DON'T GO TO THE
LIGHT.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SCREAM BUT
I WAS OUTSIDE HER DOOR JUST
SCREAMING COME BACK TO ME,
PAYTON.
DON'T LEAVE US.
>> DELISA STRESSES THAT ENACTING
THE HEART ACT WOULD GIVE MANY
PEOPLE IN NEED OF AN ORGAN
TRANSPLANT A BETTER CHANCE AT
GETTING THE LIFESAVING CARE
SHE'S THANKFUL PAYTON WAS ABLE
TO GET.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE TIME
(17:30):
IS NOT ON THEIR SIDE.
WHILE PAYTON WAS WAITING, SHE
HAD TWO HEART ATTACKS.
ONE WAS 90 MINUTES LONG, AND THE
FACT THAT SHE'S WALKING, TALKING
IS AMAZING.
KUDOS TO THE NURSES.
AND THEN SHE HAD FOUR STROKES.
IT'S A WAITING GAME.
(17:52):
>> PAYTON SAYS IT WAS A VERY
FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE.
>> IT WAS SCARY AT THAT TIME.
I DIDN'T KNOW I NEEDED A
TRANSPLANT, A HEART TRANSPLANT.
>> PAYTON ADDS SHE'S HAPPY SHE
GOT ANOTHER HEART TO HELP HER DO
THE THINGS SHE LOVES, LIKE
DANCING AND PLAYING WITH HER
FRIENDS.
IT'S VERY COOL THAT I HAD
ANOTHER HEART TRANSPLANT.
(18:12):
>> DELISA SAYS THE HEART
TRANSPLANT SHE'S RECEIVED SAVED
HER LIFE.
>> SHE DANCES.
SHE GOES TO SCHOOL.
SHE HAS FRIENDS, AND TWO
FAMILIES MADE THAT POSSIBLE, AND
IF THEY HAD SAID NO, WE MIGHT
NOT HAVE EVER HAD PAYTON.
>> THE ARCHIE FAMILY ADVOCATED
IN ALBANY EARLIER THIS YEAR
(18:33):
ALONG WITH OTHER DONATE FOR LIFE
ADVOCATES.
DELISA SAYS SHE HOPES THE HEART
ACT IS SIGNED INTO LAW.
IN ADDITION TO ADVOCATES, FOR
SOME LAWMAKERS, THIS ISSUE IS
PERSONAL.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER PHILPHYL'
PALMESANO, A REPUBLICAN
REPRESENTING PARTS OF STEUBEN,
CHEMUNG, AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES,
DONATED HIS KIDNEY TO HIS SISTER
IN 2006.
>> SHE WAS A JUVENILE DIABETIC
(18:54):
AND BECAUSE OF IT, IT IMPACTED
HER WHOLE BODY AND SHE
ULTIMATELY NEEDED A KIDNEY.
SO IN 2000, SHE HAD HER FIRST
TRANSPLANT, ONCE FROM THE
KINDNESS OF A STRANGER AND THEN
IN 2006 AFTER THE KIDNEY FAILED,
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO DONATE A
KIDNEY TO MY SISTER, PROBABLY
THE MOST REWARDING THING I'VE
EVER DONE.
>> PALMESANO ADDS HIS SISTER WAS
FORTUNATE TO GET TWO
(19:15):
TRANSPLANTS, SOME PEOPLE NEVER
GET ONE.
HE SAYS HE DIDN'T REALIZE HOW
BAD THE DONATION RATE WAS IN NEW
YORK UNTIL HE FIRST CAME TO THE
ASSEMBLY IN 2011.
PALMESANO HIGHLIGHTS THE STATE
HAS MADE SOME PROGRESS IN
IMPROVING ORGAN DONATION
REGISTRATION RATES FROM ABOUT
23% IN 2011 TO A LITTLE MORE
THAN 50% TODAY.
>> WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS
(19:35):
PROGRESS, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO
SO, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK
STILL TO DO.
WE CAN AND WE MUST DO BETTER.
>> ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK
STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,
NEARLY 8,000 NEW YORKERS REMAIN
ON THE NATIONAL TRANSPLANT
WAITLIST FOR ORGAN DONATION.
STATE DATA SHOWS THAT EACH YEAR
ABOUT 500 NEW YORKERS DIE
WAITING FOR A TRANSPLANT.
LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES ARE
HOPING THROUGH THE HEART ACT TO
(19:56):
SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THE
MORTALITY RATE BY GIVING ALL NEW
YORKERS A FIGHTING CHANCE TO GET
A TRANSPLANT.
AISHA TATOR, THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF DONATE LIFE NEW YORK
STATE, SAYS THIS LEGISLATION
COULD HELP REDUCE WAITLIST
MORTALITY RATES BY 20%.
>> IT IS GOING TO HAVE A
TREMENDOUS EFFECT BASED ON THE
DATA.
IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY,
(20:16):
WHICH NEW YORKERS DON'T
CURRENTLY HAVE, TO LIST MORE
THAN ONE CENTER, THOSE ARE THE
OUTCOMES THAT WE KNOW EXIST FOR
PATIENTS WHO LIST AT MORE.
>> THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED FOR
THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR AND
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN BOTH
HOUSES THIS SESSION.
NOW IT HEADS TO THE GOVERNOR'S
DESK CURRENTLY AWAITING A
SIGNATURE OR VETO FROM THE
GOVERNOR.
A SPOKESPERSON FROM GOVERNOR
KATHY HOCHUL'S OFFICE TOLD WMHT
(20:37):
THE GOVERNOR WILL REVIEW THE
LEGISLATION.
MANY LAWMAKERS ARE URGING THE
GOVERNOR TO SIGN THE BILL.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOHN MCDONALD, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
THE CAPITAL REGION, SAYS THE
BILL IS JUST COMMON SENSE.
>> I THINK THE PASSAGE OF THIS
LEGISLATION IS JUST ANOTHER
EFFECTIVE TOOL TO HELP CONNECT
THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
WILLING TO DONATE ORGANS TO ALSO
(20:58):
THOSE WHO NEED THEM.
I REMEMBER WHEN THE BILL WAS
FIRST CIRCULATED BY MEMBER
PEOPLES-STOKES, OUR SPONSOR, AND
I'M LOOKING AT THE BILL AND
SAYING, WE'RE NOT DOING THIS
ALREADY?
IT'S SUCH COMMON SENSE TO OPEN
IT UP AND GIVE EVERY
OPPORTUNITY.
>> OTHER LAWMAKERS AGREE, SAYING
THIS IS A NON-PARTISAN ISSUE.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ROBERT ARE
SMULLEN, A REPUBLICAN
REPRESENTING FULTON COUNTY, LOST
(21:19):
HIS 14-YEAR-OLD SON LAST YEAR
AFTER HE WAS HIT BY A CAR.
HIS SON DONATED HIS ORGANS AND
HELPED SAVE A 30-YEAR-OLD WOMAN
WHO NEEDED A HEART TRANSPLANT.
HE SAYS THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO
SIGN THIS BILL INTO LAW.
YOU KNOW MY SON, A.J., WAS A
DONOR.
WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT HIS
RECIPIENT, STEPHANIE-- I'VE MET
HER.
AND THIS PROGRAM SAVES LIVES, SO
(21:41):
I URGE THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN THIS
SO WE CAN HAVE MULTIPLE
REGISTRIES WHERE PEOPLE THAT ARE
IN NEED OF ORGANS CAN ACTUALLY
GET THE RIGHT ORGANS AT THE
RIGHT TIME TO SAVE THEIR LIVES.
IT'S ONLY COMMON SENSE.
>> LAWMAKERS ARE ALSO HOPING THE
GOVERNOR WILL SIGN A BILL THAT
PASSED BOTH HOUSES TO PUT A
QUESTION ON NEW YORKERS TAX
FORMS ABOUT ORGAN DONATION.
(22:01):
>> MORE PEOPLE IN NEW YORK STATE
DO THEIR TAXES THAN HAVE
DRIVER'S LICENSES.
MORE PEOPLE IN NEW YORK STATE DO
THEIR TAXES THAN SIGN UP FOR
HUNTING LICENSES.
SO THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP
TO GET THOSE DONATION RATES FROM
50% TO 60% OVER THE NEXT COUPLE
OF YEARS.
>> ACCORDING TO THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND
FINANCE, IN 2023 ALONE, ABOUT
(22:23):
10.8 MILLION PEOPLE FILED THEIR
PERSONAL INCOME TAX RETURNS.
>> THE QUESTION BEING ASKED, IT
JUST MAKES YOU PAUSE FOR
THOUGHT.
>> PALMESANO SAYS THIS BILL, IF
SIGNED, WILL HELP THE STATE MAKE
MORE PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE.
>> NEW YORKERS ARE GOOD PEOPLE.
THEY'RE KIND AND GENEROUS, AND
THEY WANT TO HELP EACH OTHER.
BUT WE HAVE TO GET THE QUESTION
IN FRONT OF THEM.
THE MORE WE PUT THAT QUESTION,
DO YOU WANT TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR
(22:44):
IN FRONT OF THEM, THE MORE
THEY'RE GOING TO SAY YES.
>> SOME LAWMAKERS SAY WHILE THE
STATE HAS MADE GREAT PROGRESS ON
THIS ISSUE, THERE ARE SOME NEW
YORKERS BEING LEFT BEHIND.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JESSICA
GONZALES-ROJAS, A DEMOCRAT
REPRESENTING PARTS OF QUEENS,
SAYS IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES FACE
GREATER BARRIERS WHEN IT COMES
TO LIFE-SAVING ORGAN DONATION
CARE.
THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER SPONSORS A
BILL THAT FAILED TO MOVE THIS
SESSION, THAT WOULD EXPAND STATE
(23:05):
MEDICAID COVERAGE OF KIDNEY
TRANSPLANTS FOR UNDOCUMENTED NEW
YORKERS.
GONZALEZ-ROJAS SAID THE TENSIONS
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AROUND
IMMIGRATION REFORM MADE SOME
STATE POLICIES RELATED TO
IMMIGRATION REFORM TRICKY.
>> THE CHALLENGE WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS A REAL
ONE.
AT THIS POINT, WE WERE REALLY
PUSHING FOR NEW YORK FOR ALL TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD PROTECT
EVERY NEW YORKER REGARDLESS OF
(23:26):
IMMIGRATION STATUS.
SO SOME OF THE OTHER BILLS THAT
WOULD HELP PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
HEALTH SUPPORT FOR THEM HAVEN'T
QUITE MOVED AND AGAIN, WE'RE UP
AGAINST A VERY HOSTILE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION THAT'S XENOPHOBIC
AND RACIST AND LITERALLY
AMBUSHING PEOPLE IN THE STREET.
>> IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES FOR THE
BILL SAY THERE ARE MANY BARRIERS
INCLUDING DISCRIMINATION AND
BIAS FOR UNDOCUMENTED
INDIVIDUALS EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE
(23:48):
HEALTH INSURANCE TO GET
TRANSPLANT CARE.
KARINA ALBISTEGUI ALDER WITH THE
NEW YORK LAWYERS FOR PUBLIC
INTEREST SAYS THIS POLICY COULD
HELP ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
>> IT'S AN INCREDIBLY
LONG-STANDING AND DIFFICULT
PROBLEM.
SO ANY MOVE TOWARDS ALLEVIATING
(24:09):
THESE BARRIERS, DIMINISHING,
GETTING RID OF THEM, I THINK IS
A POSITIVE MOVE.
>> ALBISTEGUI ALDER SAYS
UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS MAKE UP
A LARGE PORTION OF ORGAN
TRANSPLANTS ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES.
>> I THINK IT REALLY PRESENTS AN
ETHICAL AND MORAL CANUNDRUM FOR
THE TRANSPLANT SYSTEM OF THIS
(24:31):
COUNTRY AS A WHOLE.
THERE'S A LOT OF ORGANS, A LOT
OF DONATION RELIES ON DECEASED
ORGAN DONORS.
>> ACCORDING TO ONE RECENT STUDY
FROM THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF
SCIENCES, ROUGHLY 3% OF DECEASED
ORGAN DONATION, ORGAN DONATION
AFTER A PATIENT HAS DIED, IS
CONTRIBUTED BY UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS.
(24:51):
THE STUDY ALSO NOTED THAT ONLY
ABOUT .4% OF UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS RECEIVE ORGAN
TRANSPLANTS.
>> WE KNOW THAT UNDOCUMENTED
PEOPLE DO MAKE UP A SIGNIFICANT
PORTION OF DECEASED ORGAN DONORS
AND SO IT WOULD ONLY BE FAIR FOR
UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE,
NON-CITIZENS, IMMIGRANTS,
FRANKLY, TO BE ABLE TO GET
ACCESS TO TRANSPLANTS WHEN THEY
(25:13):
NEED IT.
>> ALBISTEGUI ALDER SAYS SHE
HOPES LAWMAKERS CAN GET A POLICY
LIKE THIS PASSED.
GONZALEZ-ROJAS SAYS SHE INTENDS
TO PUSH FOR THIS BILL NEXT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
>> HEALTH IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND
IT SHOULDN'T MATTER ANYONE'S
STATUS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
ACCESSING ORGAN DONATIONS.
EVERY LIFE MATTERS AND SOME OF
THIS CAN BE LIFE-SAVING FOR
(25:33):
PEOPLE WHO ARE CONTRIBUTING TO
OUR STATE AND OUR ECONOMY AND
OUR COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS ABOUT EQUITY AND DIGNITY
AND JUSTICE FOR EVERY NEW
YORKER.
>> ALTHOUGH THE BILLS HAVE
PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS, IT'S
UNCLEAR WHEN THEY WILL BE
DELIVERED TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK
AT THIS TIME.
ONCE THE HEART ACT AND THE TAX
FORM BILLS ARE DELIVERED TO THE
GOVERNOR'S DESK, SHE WILL HAVE
ABOUT 30 DAYS DURING THIS
(25:53):
OFF-SESSION TIME TO REVIEW AND
ACT ON THEM, EITHER SIGNING THEM
INTO LAW OR VETOING THEM.
ELISE KLINE, "NEW YORK NOW."
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:35):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:19):
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
ALL EYES WERE ON NEW YORK CITY
THIS WEEK FOR THE COMPETITIVE
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY RACE FOR
MAYOR.
IN A POLITICAL UPSET, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER ZOHRAN MAMDANI SECURED A
VICTORY IN THAT RACE OVER FORMER
GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO.
ZOHRAN MAMDANI WHO REPRESENTS
(00:39):
QUEENS IN THE LEGISLATURE IS A
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST WHO RAN A
GRASS ROOTS CAMPAIGN.
MEANWHILE, FORMER GOVERNOR
ANDREW CUOMO RAN A MORE CENTRIST
CAMPAIGN AND WAS LOOKING TO MAKE
A POLITICAL COMEBACK.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, CUOMO LED THE
STATE FOR 10 YEARS BEFORE
RESIGNING IN 2021 AMID SEVERAL
(01:01):
SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS.
MANY POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAW THIS
RACE AS A BELLWEATHER ON THE
FUTURE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
NATIONALLY.
MAMDANI WILL NOW FACE OFF
AGAINST NEW YORK CITY MAYOR,
ERIC ADAMS, WHO IS RUNNING AS AN
INDEPENDENT AS WELL AS
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE CURTIS
SLIWA IN NOVEMBER.
(01:22):
FOR MORE ON THE RESULTS OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY RACE AND
LOOKS AHEAD, WE ARE JOINED BY
OUR ELISE KLINE.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US BACK IN THE STUDIO, ELISE.
>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> OF COURSE.
THIS WEEK, YOU SAW ASSEMBLY
MEMBER ZOHRAN MAMDANI SECURE THE
VICTORY OVER FORMER GOVERNOR
(01:42):
ANDREW CUOMO FOR THE DEMOCRATIC
PRIMARY RACE FOR NEW YORK CITY
MAYOR.
HOW MUCH OF A POLITICAL UPSET
WAS THIS ONE?
>> WELL, IT DEFINITELY WAS
REALLY SIGNIFICANT IN THAT
MAMDANI WASN'T REALLY-- NO ONE
REALLY KNEW THAT MUCH ABOUT HIM
AND CUOMO HAS A LONG POLITICAL
HISTORY SERVING AS A FORMER
GOVERNOR.
YOU KNOW, HE WAS IN THE POLLS
(02:03):
FOR A WHILE PROJECTED TO WIN.
SO HE REALLY WAS KIND OF LIKE
THE UNDERDOG IN THIS RACE.
>> YEAH. AND WE KNOW THAT MAMDAN
CAMPAIGN WAS PRETTY GRASS ROOTS.
IT WAS ROOTED IN PRETTY
AGGRESSIVE IDEALS BUT WHAT WAS
IT ULTIMATELY THAT DROVE VOTERS
TO THE POLLS?
>> I THINK HIS REALLY
DOWN-TO-EARTH, LIKE YOU WERE
(02:23):
SAYING, GRASS ROOTS CAMPAIGN
REALLY DID WELL-- HE DID VERY
WELL AMONG YOUNG VOTERS, AMONG
WORKING CLASS VOTERS.
HE DID REALLY WELL IN THE
HISPANIC COMMUNITY, AMONG JEWISH
VOTERS, A LARGE AMOUNT OF NEW
VOTERS AS WELL BUT HIS CAMPAIGN
WAS REALLY KIND OF SIMPLE, GRASS
ROOTS, YOU KNOW, KNOCKING ON
DOORS, CANVASSING, REALLY
(02:45):
COLORFUL MARKETING, GOING TO
SOCIAL MEDIA, TALKING TO VOTERS.
HE HAD WALKED BEFORE THE PRIMARY
LIKE 13 MILES ACROSS THE CITY TO
DO JUST THAT, CANVASSING AND
TALKING TO VOTERS AND I THINK
THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH
VOTERS ESPECIALLY BECAUSE HE'S A
REALLY GOOD PUBLIC SPEAKER AND
HE REALLY SEEMS TO CONNECT WITH
VOTERS IN A GENUINE WAY.
>> ABSOLUTELY, AND AS YOU
MENTIONED, I THINK THE CAMPAIGN
(03:06):
THAT THEY SECURED OVER 50,000
VOLUNTEERS AND THEY KNOCKED ON
OVER, YOU KNOW, ONE MILLION
DOORS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF
THE CAMPAIGN.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THE POLLS
LEADING UP TO ELECTION DAY
SHOWED THE FORMER GOVERNOR
SECURING THE WIN AND THEN
ULTIMATELY AS WE APPROACH
ELECTION DAY, WE SAW THE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER GAINING GROUND
(03:27):
ON THE FORMER GOVERNOR.
YOU KNOW, WHY DO YOU THINK THAT
THE-- CUOMO'S CAMPAIGN DIDN'T
TAKE THE POLLS SERIOUSLY?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO SAY.
I THINK THAT ONE OF THE REALLY
WEAKNESSES IN HIS CAMPAIGN WAS
ALSO THAT HE JUST DIDN'T GET OUT
IN FRONT OF VOTERS THE WAY THAT
MAMDANI DID.
HE DIDN'T DO THE LEVEL OF
CANVASSING, SPEAKING TO VOTERS,
EVEN JUST PRESS CONFERENCES.
(03:48):
HE DIDN'T HAVE THAT MANY
APPEARANCES BEFORE THE ELECTION.
I THINK MAYBE THEIR MISTAKE WAS
RELYING TOO HEAVILY ON JUST HIS
NAME AND MAYBE HIS HISTORY AS A
GOVERNOR TO CARRY HIM THROUGH
THIS RACE.
AND THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED.
>> YEAH. DO YOU THINK HIS
CAMPAIGN REALLY HONED IN ON
THEIR MESSAGING ON WHAT THE
FORMER GOVERNOR WAS HOPING TO DO
AS MAYOR?
>> I THINK THAT HIS MESSAGING
(04:09):
WAS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY STANDARD,
I GUESS.
I THINK IT WAS-- HE HAD SOME
GOOD POINTS, BUT I THINK
MAMDANI-- AND A LOT OF POLITICAL
COMMENTATORS HAVE SAID-- HIS
CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE AN EXAMPLE TO
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN TERMS OF
MAYBE A BLUEPRINT OF WHERE THEY
COULD GO.
IT'S GAINED A LOT OF ATTENTION
IN THAT SENSE, AND THAT HE
REALLY FOCUSED ON AFFORDABILITY,
(04:30):
FREEZING THE RENT, NO COST CHILD
CARE, FREE BUSES, CITY-OWNED
GROCERY STORES, THOSE THINGS
REALLY RESONATED WITH LIKE THE
TOP ISSUES THAT ARE OF MIND FOR
NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS, AND I
THINK THAT DID REALLY WELL FOR
HIM.
I DON'T THINK CUOMO DID THE
LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY THAT
MAMDANI DID.
>> AND WHAT'S NEXT FOR CUOMO?
DID THE FORMER GOVERNOR PROVIDE
(04:51):
US WITH ANY PERSPECTIVE ON
WHETHER OR NOT HE WILL BE
RUNNING IN THE GENERAL ELECTION
IN NOVEMBER?
>> HE'S KIND OF ALLUDED TO THAT
HE HAS LIKE AN INDEPENDENT LINE
ON THE BALLOT FOR THE GENERAL
ELECTION.
HE IS STILL KIND OF WEIGHING
WHETHER OR NOT HE'S GOING TO
KEEP THAT OR TAKE IT OFF.
HE HASN'T CONCRETELY SAID IF
HE'S GOING TO KEEP THAT OR NOT,
BUT HE DOESN'T SEEM, FROM MY
(05:13):
PURVIEW, I GUESS, HE DOESN'T
SEEM LIKE HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE
WITH THAT.
YOU KNOW, HE SEEMED KIND OF
DEFEATED IN HIS CONCESSION
SPEECH IN MY OPINION.
>> AND OF COURSE, WE WOULD BE
REMISS IF WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT
THE INCUMBENT MAYOR OF NEW
YORK CITY, ERIC ADAMS.
WHAT DOES THIS WIN MEAN FOR ERIC
ADAMS HEADING INTO NOVEMBER?
>> I THINK ERIC ADAMS IS GOING
(05:34):
TO HAVE A STRONG CHALLENGER.
HE'S THE INCUMBENT, SURE, BUT
HE'S RUNNING ON THE INDEPENDENT
LINE AND HE'S CONTINUED TO
EMPHASIZE THAT HE'S HAD A
SUCCESSFUL THREE YEARS BUT HE
HAS A LOW APPROVAL RATING OF
LIKE 22% IS ONE OF THE MOST
RECENT POLLS.
A LOT OF NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS
DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL MAYBE THE
WAY THAT HE DOES IN TERMS OF HIS
(05:54):
SUCCESS OF HIS TERM.
>> YEAH. AND I SAW THAT HE HAD A
CAMPAIGN RE-ELECTION
ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY.
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE MESSAGING
THAT HE WAS HOPING TO, YOU KNOW,
GIVE TO VOTERS IN THAT EVENT?
>> SO HE REALLY STRESSED A LOT
OF THINGS THAT HE'S TRIED TO DO
THROUGH HIS TERM, LIKE GETTING
GUNS OFF THE STREETS, INCREASING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TRYING TO
BRING DOWN PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT HE
(06:17):
DIDN'T TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT WHAT
HE'S GOING TO DO IN A SECOND
TERM.
AND I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE
A WEAK POINT FOR HIM.
THAT HE DIDN'T REALLY LAY THAT
OUT.
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S
ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE FOR
TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
AWESOME REPORTING, ELISE.
>> OF COURSE,
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> AMID DONALD TRUMP'S TRAVEL
BAN AND THE INCREASED PRESENCE
OF ICE IN DEMOCRATIC STATES,
(06:39):
IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN
CALLING FOR THE PASSAGE OF NEW
YORK FOR ALL.
IF ENACTED, THIS LEGISLATION
WOULD STOP LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES FROM COLLUDING WITH
ICE.
WE SAT DOWN WITH MURAD AWAWDEH,
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NEW
YORK IMMIGRATION COALITION, TO
UNPACK THIS BILL AND THE
POSSIBILITY OF A SPECIAL
(07:00):
LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO GET IT
PASSED.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US HERE TODAY, MURAD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
>> OF COURSE.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S
ADMINISTRATION IS CURRENTLY
CONSIDERING A TRAVEL BAN ON AT
LEAST 36 COUNTRIES FROM ENTERING
(07:21):
THE UNITED STATES.
WHAT IS THE COALITION'S POSITION
ON THIS MOVE BY THE PRESIDENT?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S INCREDIBLY
UNFORTUNATE THAT WE SAW THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUT
TOGETHER AND ANNOUNCE THE MUSLIM
AFRICAN TRAVEL BAN THAT WE SAW
HAPPEN IN HIS FIRST TERM HAPPEN
(07:41):
AGAIN.
IN TOTAL, HE'S TARGETING ABOUT
20 COUNTRIES WITH ABOUT 12 OF
THEM WITH COMPLETE BAN ON
ENTERING THE UNITED STATES.
AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT THAT HAVE
SEVERE RESTRICTIONS TO COME INTO
THE UNITED STATES.
WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO IT'S
GOING TO HARM NEW YORKERS.
IT'S GOING TO HARM PEOPLE WHO
(08:03):
WANT TO RECONNECT WITH THEIR
FAMILIES, AND WE KNOW THAT THIS
POLICY IS ROOTED IN BIGOTRY AND
XENOPHOBIA AND THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO
CONTINUE TO WAGE WAR AGAINST
IMMIGRANTS IN THIS MOMENT.
AND DONALD TRUMP AND HIS
ENABLERS ARE ATTACKING THE VERY
CONCEPT OF WHAT AMERICA IS
(08:23):
ITSELF.
THIS IS THE REALLY HARMFUL
MOMENT THAT WE ARE WITNESSING
WHERE INDIVIDUALS WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THEIR LOVED
ONES.
PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO MISS SPECIAL
OCCASIONS, WEDDINGS, AND THEN
INDIVIDUALS WON'T BE ABLE TO
COME AND SEE THEIR DYING LOVED
ONES OR WISH THEM FAREWELL AT
(08:44):
THEIR FUNERALS.
>> AND WE KNEW IN RECENT WEEKS,
THE PRESIDENT HAS ALSO MOVED TO
DIRECT FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO
PRIORITIZE DEPORTATIONS IN NEW
YORK AND OTHER DEMOCRATIC
STATES.
WAS THIS AT ALL SURPRISING TO
THE COALITION?
>> YOU KNOW, SINCE DAY ONE OF
THIS ADMINISTRATION, WE'VE SEEN
THE ADMINISTRATION CONTINUE TO
(09:06):
ATTACK IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
EVEN HERE IMMEDIATELY AFTER
INAUGURATION, WE SAW THEM START
DOING RAIDS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK
ON TARGETING DAIRY FARMS AND
HATCHERIES.
SO WHEN WE SEE THIS ESCALATION
OF ENFORCEMENT EVERY SINGLE DAY
HERE ACROSS NEW YORK CITY, NEW
YORK STATE, IT'S NOT--
(09:27):
UNFORTUNATELY IT'S SOMETHING
WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY.
SO IT'S NOT BEING UNIQUE JUST TO
NEW YORK, BUT IT IS HAPPENING IN
MORE INCREASED NUMBERS HERE IN
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SO THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUE TO
FIGHT BACK.
THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT
FOR ACCESS TO REPRESENTATION TO
ENSURE WHEN PEOPLE GO TO
IMMIGRATION COURT, THEY HAVE THE
RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY TO PRESENT
(09:48):
AND IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD ONE,
ONE WILL BE AFFORDED TO THEM.
THEY DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW
IN IMMIGRATION COURT.
ADDITIONALLY, WE WANT OUR LOCAL
POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND STATE
AGENCIES TO NOT COLLUDE WITH
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
BECAUSE WE SEE THEM DOING THAT
RIGHT NOW AND WE DON'T WANT THEM
TO, YOU KNOW, SIDE STEP THEIR
OWN RESPONSIBILITIES.
IT IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
(10:09):
LOCAL POLICE OR STATE POLICE TO
BE DOING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT.
THAT IS NOT THEIR JOB AND THAT'S
NOT HOW WE SHOULD BE USING OUR
STATE RESOURCES IN THIS MOMENT.
>> AND GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL DID
TESTIFY IN FRONT OF THE
CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE ABOUT THE STATE'S
IMMIGRATION AND SANCTUARY
POLICIES.
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THE
TESTIMONY GIVEN BY THE GOVERNOR
(10:30):
JUST A FEW WEEK AGO?
>> YOU KNOW, WE WERE HAPPY TO
SEE THE GOVERNOR STAND UP FOR
IMMIGRANT NEW YORK.
WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE HER REALLY
ENSURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD
WHO WE ARE AS A STATE.
EVERY WAVE OF IMMIGRATION THAT
HAS COME TO THIS COUNTRY AND TO
THIS STATE HAS BUILT OUR ROADS,
OUR BRIDGES, OUR LOCAL ECONOMIES
AND CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE AND
(10:50):
POWER OUR ECONOMIES FORWARD.
SO IT WAS REALLY HEARTENING TO
SEE GOVERNOR HOCHUL, YOU KNOW,
STEP UP IN CONGRESS AND REALLY
MAKE SURE PEOPLE WEREN'T
TRYING-- YOU KNOW, GET CHEAP
SHOTS AT OUR STATE OR OUR
POLICIES BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
OUR SANCTUARY POLICIES ARE
ACTUALLY PUBLIC SAFETY POLICIES,
AND THEY SAY THAT AT THE END OF
(11:11):
THE DAY WE WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL
FREE TO CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT IF
THEY FEEL THREATENED OR IF
THEY'RE A VICTIM OF A CRIME OR
WITNESS A CRIME, IF THEY HAVE TO
GO TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY SHOULD
IF THEY'RE SICK, AND THE DOCTOR
AND THE NURSE WON'T TURN THEM
OVER TO IMMIGRATION, OF COURSE.
THAT'S ALL SANCTUARY POLICY IS.
IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE
CIRCUMVENT FEDERAL LAW.
IT SAYS THAT WE ARE GOING TO
ENSURE WE PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS
(11:33):
OF OUR STATE, AND THAT'S WHAT,
YOU KNOW, THE MESSAGE THAT SHE
HAD DELIVERED THERE.
>> AND THIS YEAR, WE ALSO SAW
INCREASED SUPPORT FOR THE NEW
YORK FOR ALL ACT AT THE STATE
CAPITOL.
NOW THIS IS A BILL THAT WOULD
AIM TO LIMIT COOPERATION BETWEEN
STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES AND
FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES.
(11:53):
THE BILL ULTIMATELY DID NOT MAKE
IT OVER THE LEGISLATIVE FINISH
LINE THIS YEAR, BUT HOW WERE YOU
HOPING TO RAMP UP SUPPORT
THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND IN
PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION?
>> WELL, IT'S INCREDIBLY
DISHEARTENING TO SEE THE BILL
NOT GET A VOTE ON THE FLOOR OF
THE SENATE OR THE ASSEMBLY.
WE KNOW WE HAVE THE SUPPORTMENT
WE HAVE THE VOTES.
WE HAVE THE NUMBERS ON OUR SIDE
(12:14):
AND WE HAVE NEW YORKERS ON OUR
SIDE.
NEW YORKERS SUPPORT THE NEW YORK
FOR ALL ACT.
IT IS NOT THE STATE'S BUSINESS
TO DO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
IT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S.
SO WE SHOULD LET THEM DO THEIR
JOB, BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE PART
OF THAT.
SO IT WAS REALLY DISHEARTENING
TO SEE THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
NOT TAKE UP THE BILL AND BRING
IT TO THE FLOOR.
(12:35):
WE DO HEAR THAT THERE MIGHT BE A
SPECIAL SESSION COMING UP AND WE
WANT THEM TO TAKE UP IN THIS
SPECIAL SESSION SO WE CAN
PROTECT AS MANY NEW YORKERS AS
POSSIBLE.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY, BUT
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING
WITH US TODAY, MURAD.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
MURAD AWAWDEH, PRESIDENT AND CEO
OF THE NEW YORK IMMIGRATION
(12:56):
COALITION.
DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION,
STATE LAWMAKERS PASSED THE BILL
NICKNAMED THE HEART ACT.
IF ENACTED, THE BILL WOULD
REPEAL AN ALMOST 40-YEAR-OLD
STATUTE THAT PROHIBITS THE
PRACTICE OF MULTILISTING AT
ORGAN DONATION TRANSPLANT
CENTERS.
WHILE THE BILL PASSED BOTH
CHAMBERS, IT NEEDS TO BE
DELIVERED TO AND SIGNED BY THE
(13:18):
GOVERNOR BEFORE IT CAN
OFFICIALLY BE ENACTED.
OUR ELISE KLINE DOVE INTO THE
SUPPORT AROUND THE BILL AND THE
PUSH FOR OTHER ORGAN DONATION
PRIORITIES IN THE STATE.
HERE'S THAT STORY.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> UNDER NEW YORK STATE LAW, THE
PRACTICE OF MULTILISTING ON
ORGAN DONATION TRANSPLANT
CENTERS IS BANNED.
(13:39):
DURING THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE
SESSION, STATE LAWMAKERS VOTED
AND PASSED A BRAND NEW BILL
NICKNAMED THE HEART ACT THAT
WOULD REPEAL THIS NEARLY
40-YEAR-OLD STATUTE.
THE REPEAL WOULD ALLOW NEW
YORKERS ON MEDICAID, WHO ARE IN
NEED OF AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT, TO
REGISTER AT MULTIPLE CENTERS
ACROSS THE STATE.
ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER CRYSTAL
PEOPLES-STOKES, A DEMOCRAT
REPRESENTING PARTS OF ERIE
COUNTY AND THE LEAD SPONSOR OF
(14:00):
THE BILL, SAYS THIS BILL WILL
MAKE AN ESSENTIAL CHANGE TO THE
LAW.
>> WHY IT WAS SET UP YEARS AGO
AND I HAVE NO IDEA THEY CAME ONE
THAT IDEA.
I KNOW IT DOESN'T FIT 2025, SO
WE HAVE TO CHANGE.
>> THE MAJORITY LEADER NOTED
THAT THE 1990 STATUTE IS
LIMITING NEW YORKERS TO
SOMETIMES GO TO OTHER STATES IF
THEY CAN AFFORD IT FOR ORGAN
TRANSPLANTS.
(14:20):
PEOPLES-STOKES SAYS IF THE STATE
IS GOING TO ENCOURAGE NEW
YORKERS TO DONATE ORGANS, THEN
THE STATE SHOULD MAKE THE
PROCESS ACCESSIBLE.
>> YOU'RE LIMITING PEOPLE, AND
WE SHOULD NOT WANT TO DO THAT.
>> STATE SENATOR APRIL BASKIN, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
BUFFALO AND A LEAD SPONSOR OF
THE BILL IN THE SENATE, SAID IN
A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT NEW YORK
IS FAILING COMPARED TO OTHER
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ON THIS
ISSUE.
>> WE ARE THE STATE THAT GETS IN
(14:41):
FRONT OF THINGS.
WE GET THINGS DONE, AND USUALLY
THE OTHER STATES ARE FOLLOWING
BEHIND US.
BUT ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE,
NEW YORK IS BEHIND.
THIS BAN THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE
IN 1990 IS ARCHAIC.
>> PEOPLE-STOKES ADDS THE BILL,
IF ENACTED, WOULD ELIMINATE THE
DISPARITY BETWEEN MEDICAID
PATIENTS AND PATIENTS WHO CAN
AFFORD PRIVATE INSURANCE.
(15:02):
ACCORDING TO 2025 DATA FROM THE
ORGAN PROCUREMENT
TRANSPLANTATION NETWORK,
MEDICAID PATIENTS REPRESENT 27%
OF ORGAN TRANSPLANT WAIT LIST
CANDIDATES BUT ONLY 15% OF
RECIPIENTS.
THE 2025 DATA SHOWS IN
COMPARISON THAT PATIENTS WITH
PRIVATE INSURANCE CONSTITUTE 35%
OF WAIT LIST CANDIDATES AND
ACCOUNT FOR 37% OF PERFORMED
(15:23):
TRANSPLANTS.
>> PEOPLE WHO ARE ON MEDICAID
DON'T HAVE THE OPTION OF, SAY,
GO APPLY IN BUFFALO AND APPLY AT
A HOSPITAL IN NEW YORK CITY OR
APPLY THE AT THE HOSPITAL IN
ROCHESTER.
THEY CAN'T MULTIPLY APPLY.
YOU CAN ONLY APPLY AT ONE PLACE,
AND THAT IS ULTIMATELY, IN MY
MIND, A DISPARITY.
>> LIISE KAYLER, THE DIRECTOR OF
TRANSPLANTATION AT ERIE COUNTY
(15:45):
MEDICAL CENTER, SAYS PATIENTS'
ABILITY TO GET ON MORE THAN ONE
TRANSPLANT WAITING LIST CAN
IMPROVE THEIR CHANCES OF GETTING
ONE.
>> PEOPLE THAT MULTILIST, IS
WHAT THE NAME IS FOR IT, IF THEY
MULTILIST, GETTING ON MORE THAN
ONE TRANSPLANT CENTER, EITHER IN
THE STATE OR OUT OF STATE, ARE
TWICE AS LIKELY TO GET A KIDNEY
TRANSPLANT, TWICE AS LIKELY TO
(16:05):
GET A LIVER TRANSPLANT AND WILL
GET THAT TRANSPLANT FASTER,
SOMETIMES DOUBLE AS FAST.
>> KAYLER ADDS THE TRANSPLANT
CENTERS HAVE VARYING WAIT TIMES
AND OFTEN PATIENTS NEEDING
TRANSPLANTATION DON'T HAVE A LOT
OF TIME TO WAIT.
>> THERE'S A LARGE AMOUNT OF
PATIENTS THAT DIE OR BECOME TOO
SICK WHILE WAITING AND NEVER GET
A TRANSPLANT.
(16:26):
THAT'S A VERY UNFORTUNATE PART
OF TRANSPLANTATION AND BY BEING
ABLE TO GET ON MORE THAN ONE
LIST, THAT MITIGATES THAT
PROBLEM.
>> ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD PAYTON ARCHIE
FROM THE CAPITOL REGION HAS HAD
TWO HEART TRANSPLANTS IN HER
LIFE.
WHEN SHE WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD AND
IN NEED OF HER SECOND HEART
TRANSPLANT, SHE SUFFERED SEVERAL
HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES WHILE
WAITING FOR A TRANSPLANT.
(16:48):
HER GRANDMOTHER, OR GLAM-MA
DELISA ARCHIE, SAID IT WAS SCARY
TO NEARLY LOSE HER GRANDCHILD.
>> FEBRUARY 13, SHE HAD HER
FIRST HEART ATTACK.
IT WAS EIGHT MINUTES LONG AND I
JUST REMEMBER ALMOST FEELING
LIKE A CLICHE IN A MOVIE.
LIKE I WAS SCREAMING EVERYTHING
TO HER, LIKE DON'T LEAVE ME,
(17:08):
COME BACK, DON'T GO TO THE
LIGHT.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SCREAM BUT
I WAS OUTSIDE HER DOOR JUST
SCREAMING COME BACK TO ME,
PAYTON.
DON'T LEAVE US.
>> DELISA STRESSES THAT ENACTING
THE HEART ACT WOULD GIVE MANY
PEOPLE IN NEED OF AN ORGAN
TRANSPLANT A BETTER CHANCE AT
GETTING THE LIFESAVING CARE
SHE'S THANKFUL PAYTON WAS ABLE
TO GET.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE TIME
(17:30):
IS NOT ON THEIR SIDE.
WHILE PAYTON WAS WAITING, SHE
HAD TWO HEART ATTACKS.
ONE WAS 90 MINUTES LONG, AND THE
FACT THAT SHE'S WALKING, TALKING
IS AMAZING.
KUDOS TO THE NURSES.
AND THEN SHE HAD FOUR STROKES.
IT'S A WAITING GAME.
(17:52):
>> PAYTON SAYS IT WAS A VERY
FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE.
>> IT WAS SCARY AT THAT TIME.
I DIDN'T KNOW I NEEDED A
TRANSPLANT, A HEART TRANSPLANT.
>> PAYTON ADDS SHE'S HAPPY SHE
GOT ANOTHER HEART TO HELP HER DO
THE THINGS SHE LOVES, LIKE
DANCING AND PLAYING WITH HER
FRIENDS.
IT'S VERY COOL THAT I HAD
ANOTHER HEART TRANSPLANT.
(18:12):
>> DELISA SAYS THE HEART
TRANSPLANT SHE'S RECEIVED SAVED
HER LIFE.
>> SHE DANCES.
SHE GOES TO SCHOOL.
SHE HAS FRIENDS, AND TWO
FAMILIES MADE THAT POSSIBLE, AND
IF THEY HAD SAID NO, WE MIGHT
NOT HAVE EVER HAD PAYTON.
>> THE ARCHIE FAMILY ADVOCATED
IN ALBANY EARLIER THIS YEAR
(18:33):
ALONG WITH OTHER DONATE FOR LIFE
ADVOCATES.
DELISA SAYS SHE HOPES THE HEART
ACT IS SIGNED INTO LAW.
IN ADDITION TO ADVOCATES, FOR
SOME LAWMAKERS, THIS ISSUE IS
PERSONAL.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER PHILPHYL'
PALMESANO, A REPUBLICAN
REPRESENTING PARTS OF STEUBEN,
CHEMUNG, AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES,
DONATED HIS KIDNEY TO HIS SISTER
IN 2006.
>> SHE WAS A JUVENILE DIABETIC
(18:54):
AND BECAUSE OF IT, IT IMPACTED
HER WHOLE BODY AND SHE
ULTIMATELY NEEDED A KIDNEY.
SO IN 2000, SHE HAD HER FIRST
TRANSPLANT, ONCE FROM THE
KINDNESS OF A STRANGER AND THEN
IN 2006 AFTER THE KIDNEY FAILED,
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO DONATE A
KIDNEY TO MY SISTER, PROBABLY
THE MOST REWARDING THING I'VE
EVER DONE.
>> PALMESANO ADDS HIS SISTER WAS
FORTUNATE TO GET TWO
(19:15):
TRANSPLANTS, SOME PEOPLE NEVER
GET ONE.
HE SAYS HE DIDN'T REALIZE HOW
BAD THE DONATION RATE WAS IN NEW
YORK UNTIL HE FIRST CAME TO THE
ASSEMBLY IN 2011.
PALMESANO HIGHLIGHTS THE STATE
HAS MADE SOME PROGRESS IN
IMPROVING ORGAN DONATION
REGISTRATION RATES FROM ABOUT
23% IN 2011 TO A LITTLE MORE
THAN 50% TODAY.
>> WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS
(19:35):
PROGRESS, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO
SO, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK
STILL TO DO.
WE CAN AND WE MUST DO BETTER.
>> ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK
STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,
NEARLY 8,000 NEW YORKERS REMAIN
ON THE NATIONAL TRANSPLANT
WAITLIST FOR ORGAN DONATION.
STATE DATA SHOWS THAT EACH YEAR
ABOUT 500 NEW YORKERS DIE
WAITING FOR A TRANSPLANT.
LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES ARE
HOPING THROUGH THE HEART ACT TO
(19:56):
SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THE
MORTALITY RATE BY GIVING ALL NEW
YORKERS A FIGHTING CHANCE TO GET
A TRANSPLANT.
AISHA TATOR, THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF DONATE LIFE NEW YORK
STATE, SAYS THIS LEGISLATION
COULD HELP REDUCE WAITLIST
MORTALITY RATES BY 20%.
>> IT IS GOING TO HAVE A
TREMENDOUS EFFECT BASED ON THE
DATA.
IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY,
(20:16):
WHICH NEW YORKERS DON'T
CURRENTLY HAVE, TO LIST MORE
THAN ONE CENTER, THOSE ARE THE
OUTCOMES THAT WE KNOW EXIST FOR
PATIENTS WHO LIST AT MORE.
>> THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED FOR
THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR AND
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN BOTH
HOUSES THIS SESSION.
NOW IT HEADS TO THE GOVERNOR'S
DESK CURRENTLY AWAITING A
SIGNATURE OR VETO FROM THE
GOVERNOR.
A SPOKESPERSON FROM GOVERNOR
KATHY HOCHUL'S OFFICE TOLD WMHT
(20:37):
THE GOVERNOR WILL REVIEW THE
LEGISLATION.
MANY LAWMAKERS ARE URGING THE
GOVERNOR TO SIGN THE BILL.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOHN MCDONALD, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
THE CAPITAL REGION, SAYS THE
BILL IS JUST COMMON SENSE.
>> I THINK THE PASSAGE OF THIS
LEGISLATION IS JUST ANOTHER
EFFECTIVE TOOL TO HELP CONNECT
THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
WILLING TO DONATE ORGANS TO ALSO
(20:58):
THOSE WHO NEED THEM.
I REMEMBER WHEN THE BILL WAS
FIRST CIRCULATED BY MEMBER
PEOPLES-STOKES, OUR SPONSOR, AND
I'M LOOKING AT THE BILL AND
SAYING, WE'RE NOT DOING THIS
ALREADY?
IT'S SUCH COMMON SENSE TO OPEN
IT UP AND GIVE EVERY
OPPORTUNITY.
>> OTHER LAWMAKERS AGREE, SAYING
THIS IS A NON-PARTISAN ISSUE.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ROBERT ARE
SMULLEN, A REPUBLICAN
REPRESENTING FULTON COUNTY, LOST
(21:19):
HIS 14-YEAR-OLD SON LAST YEAR
AFTER HE WAS HIT BY A CAR.
HIS SON DONATED HIS ORGANS AND
HELPED SAVE A 30-YEAR-OLD WOMAN
WHO NEEDED A HEART TRANSPLANT.
HE SAYS THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO
SIGN THIS BILL INTO LAW.
YOU KNOW MY SON, A.J., WAS A
DONOR.
WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT HIS
RECIPIENT, STEPHANIE-- I'VE MET
HER.
AND THIS PROGRAM SAVES LIVES, SO
(21:41):
I URGE THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN THIS
SO WE CAN HAVE MULTIPLE
REGISTRIES WHERE PEOPLE THAT ARE
IN NEED OF ORGANS CAN ACTUALLY
GET THE RIGHT ORGANS AT THE
RIGHT TIME TO SAVE THEIR LIVES.
IT'S ONLY COMMON SENSE.
>> LAWMAKERS ARE ALSO HOPING THE
GOVERNOR WILL SIGN A BILL THAT
PASSED BOTH HOUSES TO PUT A
QUESTION ON NEW YORKERS TAX
FORMS ABOUT ORGAN DONATION.
(22:01):
>> MORE PEOPLE IN NEW YORK STATE
DO THEIR TAXES THAN HAVE
DRIVER'S LICENSES.
MORE PEOPLE IN NEW YORK STATE DO
THEIR TAXES THAN SIGN UP FOR
HUNTING LICENSES.
SO THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP
TO GET THOSE DONATION RATES FROM
50% TO 60% OVER THE NEXT COUPLE
OF YEARS.
>> ACCORDING TO THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND
FINANCE, IN 2023 ALONE, ABOUT
(22:23):
10.8 MILLION PEOPLE FILED THEIR
PERSONAL INCOME TAX RETURNS.
>> THE QUESTION BEING ASKED, IT
JUST MAKES YOU PAUSE FOR
THOUGHT.
>> PALMESANO SAYS THIS BILL, IF
SIGNED, WILL HELP THE STATE MAKE
MORE PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE.
>> NEW YORKERS ARE GOOD PEOPLE.
THEY'RE KIND AND GENEROUS, AND
THEY WANT TO HELP EACH OTHER.
BUT WE HAVE TO GET THE QUESTION
IN FRONT OF THEM.
THE MORE WE PUT THAT QUESTION,
DO YOU WANT TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR
(22:44):
IN FRONT OF THEM, THE MORE
THEY'RE GOING TO SAY YES.
>> SOME LAWMAKERS SAY WHILE THE
STATE HAS MADE GREAT PROGRESS ON
THIS ISSUE, THERE ARE SOME NEW
YORKERS BEING LEFT BEHIND.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JESSICA
GONZALES-ROJAS, A DEMOCRAT
REPRESENTING PARTS OF QUEENS,
SAYS IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES FACE
GREATER BARRIERS WHEN IT COMES
TO LIFE-SAVING ORGAN DONATION
CARE.
THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER SPONSORS A
BILL THAT FAILED TO MOVE THIS
SESSION, THAT WOULD EXPAND STATE
(23:05):
MEDICAID COVERAGE OF KIDNEY
TRANSPLANTS FOR UNDOCUMENTED NEW
YORKERS.
GONZALEZ-ROJAS SAID THE TENSIONS
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AROUND
IMMIGRATION REFORM MADE SOME
STATE POLICIES RELATED TO
IMMIGRATION REFORM TRICKY.
>> THE CHALLENGE WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS A REAL
ONE.
AT THIS POINT, WE WERE REALLY
PUSHING FOR NEW YORK FOR ALL TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD PROTECT
EVERY NEW YORKER REGARDLESS OF
(23:26):
IMMIGRATION STATUS.
SO SOME OF THE OTHER BILLS THAT
WOULD HELP PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
HEALTH SUPPORT FOR THEM HAVEN'T
QUITE MOVED AND AGAIN, WE'RE UP
AGAINST A VERY HOSTILE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION THAT'S XENOPHOBIC
AND RACIST AND LITERALLY
AMBUSHING PEOPLE IN THE STREET.
>> IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES FOR THE
BILL SAY THERE ARE MANY BARRIERS
INCLUDING DISCRIMINATION AND
BIAS FOR UNDOCUMENTED
INDIVIDUALS EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE
(23:48):
HEALTH INSURANCE TO GET
TRANSPLANT CARE.
KARINA ALBISTEGUI ALDER WITH THE
NEW YORK LAWYERS FOR PUBLIC
INTEREST SAYS THIS POLICY COULD
HELP ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
>> IT'S AN INCREDIBLY
LONG-STANDING AND DIFFICULT
PROBLEM.
SO ANY MOVE TOWARDS ALLEVIATING
(24:09):
THESE BARRIERS, DIMINISHING,
GETTING RID OF THEM, I THINK IS
A POSITIVE MOVE.
>> ALBISTEGUI ALDER SAYS
UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS MAKE UP
A LARGE PORTION OF ORGAN
TRANSPLANTS ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES.
>> I THINK IT REALLY PRESENTS AN
ETHICAL AND MORAL CANUNDRUM FOR
THE TRANSPLANT SYSTEM OF THIS
(24:31):
COUNTRY AS A WHOLE.
THERE'S A LOT OF ORGANS, A LOT
OF DONATION RELIES ON DECEASED
ORGAN DONORS.
>> ACCORDING TO ONE RECENT STUDY
FROM THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF
SCIENCES, ROUGHLY 3% OF DECEASED
ORGAN DONATION, ORGAN DONATION
AFTER A PATIENT HAS DIED, IS
CONTRIBUTED BY UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS.
(24:51):
THE STUDY ALSO NOTED THAT ONLY
ABOUT .4% OF UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS RECEIVE ORGAN
TRANSPLANTS.
>> WE KNOW THAT UNDOCUMENTED
PEOPLE DO MAKE UP A SIGNIFICANT
PORTION OF DECEASED ORGAN DONORS
AND SO IT WOULD ONLY BE FAIR FOR
UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE,
NON-CITIZENS, IMMIGRANTS,
FRANKLY, TO BE ABLE TO GET
ACCESS TO TRANSPLANTS WHEN THEY
(25:13):
NEED IT.
>> ALBISTEGUI ALDER SAYS SHE
HOPES LAWMAKERS CAN GET A POLICY
LIKE THIS PASSED.
GONZALEZ-ROJAS SAYS SHE INTENDS
TO PUSH FOR THIS BILL NEXT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
>> HEALTH IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND
IT SHOULDN'T MATTER ANYONE'S
STATUS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
ACCESSING ORGAN DONATIONS.
EVERY LIFE MATTERS AND SOME OF
THIS CAN BE LIFE-SAVING FOR
(25:33):
PEOPLE WHO ARE CONTRIBUTING TO
OUR STATE AND OUR ECONOMY AND
OUR COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS ABOUT EQUITY AND DIGNITY
AND JUSTICE FOR EVERY NEW
YORKER.
>> ALTHOUGH THE BILLS HAVE
PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS, IT'S
UNCLEAR WHEN THEY WILL BE
DELIVERED TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK
AT THIS TIME.
ONCE THE HEART ACT AND THE TAX
FORM BILLS ARE DELIVERED TO THE
GOVERNOR'S DESK, SHE WILL HAVE
ABOUT 30 DAYS DURING THIS
(25:53):
OFF-SESSION TIME TO REVIEW AND
ACT ON THEM, EITHER SIGNING THEM
INTO LAW OR VETOING THEM.
ELISE KLINE, "NEW YORK NOW."
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:35):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
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