June 20, 2025 • 26 mins
SUNY Chancellor John King joins us to unpack the threats of federal funding cuts impacting New York's public universities investments from the Fiscal Year 26 state budget. We dive into the end of year traditions at the state capitol - from sneaker day to senate snow cones. The Assembly officially wrapped up session this week. We dive into the last-minute priorities of the lower chamber.
📰 More at: nynow.org
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(00:00):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
(00:21):
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
THIS YEAR, THE STATE BUDGET
PROVIDED FUNDING FOR THE STATE
PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, ALSO
KNOWN AS SUNY, TO SUPPORT A SLEW
OF INITIATIVES.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE STATE
WILL BE PROVIDING FREE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE FOR ADULTS BETWEEN THE
AGES 25 AND 55, A PROGRAM KNOWN
(00:41):
AS SUNY RECONNECT.
THE BUDGET ALSO PROVIDED $114
MILLION IN INCREASED OPERATE
BEING AID FOR CAMPUSES, BUT
APART FROM THAT STATE FUNDING,
THE THREAT OF CUTS COMING FROM
THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS STILL
LOOMING.
AT THE MOST RECENT STATE OF THE
UNIVERSITY ADDRESS, CHANCELLOR
JOHN KING TOOK THE TIME TO SOUND
(01:04):
THE ALARM ON CUTS THAT COULD
IMPACT DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND
INCLUSION AS WELL AS RESEARCH AT
THE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES.
WE SAT DOWN WITH SUNY CHANCELLOR
JOHN KING TO UNPACK THE STATE
FUNDING FOR SUNY AND THE IMPACT
OF FEDERAL CUTS.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(01:25):
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
ME HERE TODAY, CHANCELLOR.
>> THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> OF COURSE.
NOW A FEW WEEKS AGO, YOU
DELIVERED YOUR STATE OF THE
UNIVERSITY ADDRESS.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOUR SPEECH AND YOUR
OVERALL VISION FOR SUNY THIS
YEAR?
>> YEAH. WELL, THERE'S LOTS OF
GREAT NEWS TO REPORT AROUND
SUNY'S PROGRESS.
SO THE CORE MESSAGE WAS SUNY IS
ON THE MOVE.
(01:46):
WE HAD ENROLLMENT INCREASES THIS
PAST FALL FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN
A ROW.
THAT WAS GREAT TO SEE.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE HAD
BACK-TO-BACK YEARS OF ENROLLMENT
GROWTH ACROSS ALL SECTORS IN
YEARS.
WE'VE GOTTEN TREMENDOUS SUPPORT
FROM THE STATE, WHICH HAS
ALLOWED TO US MAKE A LOT OF
PROGRESS TOWARDS OUR GOAL OF
DOUBLING RESEARCH ACROSS THE
(02:08):
SUNY SYSTEM.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT OUR STUDENT
SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO LAUNCH, SUPPORTS FOR
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES,
STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES,
OUR ASAP AND ACE WRAP-AROUND
SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR LOW INCOME
STUDENTS THAT ARE TWO- AND
FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS AND LOTS
OF REQUEST GOOD NEWS TO REPORT.
SO OF COURSE THERE WAS LOTS TO
(02:28):
HIGHLIGHT ON THE FEDERAL
LANDSCAPE.
OUR WORRY THAT THE CUTS THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE
WILL AFFECT SUNY.
>> CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU'RE
HOPING TO NAVIGATE THOSE CUTS
WHEN IT COMES TO, FOR EXAMPLE,
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND
INCLUSION, ON THAT FRONT?
>> LOOK, SOME THINGS ARE JUST
(02:49):
CORE VALUES OF SUNY.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO STUDENT
SUCCESS.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO RESEARCH AND
SCHOLARSHIP, AND WE'RE COMMITTED
TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND
INCLUSION.
THOSE ARE CORE VALUES FOR NEW
YORK STATE.
THOSE IDEALS WERE EMBEDDED IN
OUR FOUNDING STATUTE.
SO DEI IS IN OUR DNA AT SUNY.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK
TO MAKE SURE WE SERVE NEW
YORKERS FROM EVERY PART OF THE
(03:10):
STATE.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK
TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE
A SENSE OF BELONGING ON OUR
CAMPUSES, NO MATTER THEIR
BACKGROUND.
THAT SAID, WE ARE WATCHING VERY
CAREFULLY WHAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS DOING AROUND
RESEARCH.
WE DO ABOUT $700 MILLION A YEAR
IN SPONSORED RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
AT SUNY THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE
(03:31):
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THAT.
THAT $700 MILLION IS DRIVING
RESEARCH ON ALZHEIMER'S, CANCER,
THE TREATMENT OF 9/11 FIRST
RESPONDERS.
RENEWABLE ENERGY, TECHNOLOGY
THAT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY.
SO WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT IT.
WE'VE SEEN OF THAT $700 MILLION
(03:51):
OF FEDERAL SUPPORT, WE HAVE SEEN
50 MILLION CUT ALREADY.
CUTS CUT ARBITRARILY WITH VERY
LITTLE EXPLANATION.
WE'RE WORRIED THAT COULD BE
LARGER IF SOMETHING OF THE
THINGS BEING DISCUSSED IN
CONGRESS WERE TO HAPPEN.
WE'RE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE
ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS, MEMBERS
OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
(04:12):
STAND UP FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS
AND TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT
THESE RESEARCH DOLLARS ARE TO
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TO THE
HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF NEW
YORKERS.
>> AND BESIDES HIGHLIGHTING IN
YOUR SPEECH, HOW ARE YOU
PLANNING TO SOUND THE ALARM TO
THESE CUTS?
HAVE YOU HAD ANY COMMUNICATION
WITH FEDERAL OFFICIALS OR
MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ABOUT
THE THREATS?
>> YES. AND WE'RE SPENDING A LOT
(04:33):
OF TIME REACHING OUT TO OUR
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, BOTH SIDES
OF THE AISLE.
I PERSONALLY HAD CONVERSATIONS
WITH MANY OF THE MEMBERS, TO
TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
RESEARCH.
REALLY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO NOT
ONLY REJECT THE TRUMP CUTS BUT
WE SHOULD BE DULLING DOWN.
WE SHOULD BE INVESTING MORE TO
GET TO CURES FOR DISEASES.
WE SHOULD BE INVESTING MORE TO
(04:56):
ADDRESS OUR ECONOMIC
COMPETITIVENESS WITH CHINA, FOR
EXAMPLE, AND INDUSTRIES LIKE
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OR
QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY.
I'VE ALSO BEEN TALKING WITH THEM
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID SYSTEM.
YOU KNOW, THE PELL GRANT
PROGRAM, WHICH HELPS LOW INCOME
STUDENTS ATTEND COLLEGE,S THEY
CRUCIAL FOR US.
NEARLY HALF OF OUR ENTERING
(05:17):
STUDENTS AT SUNY USE THE PELL
GRANT PROGRAM.
AND MANY LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME
NEW YORKERS RELY ON THE FEDERAL
STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM TO ACCESS
HIGHER EDUCATION.
SO WE NEED TO PROTECT THOSE.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS
PROPOSED CUTS TO THE FEDERAL
PELL GRANT.
THAT WOULD BE A DISASTER.
NOT JUST FOR SUNY BUT FOR NEW
YORK STATE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY
FOR THE COUNTRY.
(05:38):
WE NEED MORE NURSES.
WE NEED MORE FOLKS WHO ARE
TRAINED FOR THE SEMICONDUCTOR
INDUSTRY.
NOT LESS. AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR OUR MEMBERS OF OUR
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO
STAND UP.
>> HOW DO THESE THREATS IMPACT
THE WAY THAT YOU ARE HOPING THAT
THE STATE WILL PROVIDE FUNDING
FOR SUNY?
DO YOU THINK THERE SHOULD BE,
FOR EXAMPLE, A PERCENTAGE
(05:59):
INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR?
>> LOOK, THE SAD REALITY AND
THIS IS TRUE IN EDUCATION AND
IT'S ALSO TRUE IN HEALTH CARE.
THE STATES ARE NOT GOING TO BE
ABLE TO MAKE UP FOR FEDERAL CUTS
AT THE SCALE OF WHAT'S BEING
TALKED BY THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION OR BY CONGRESS.
SO THE BEST THING WOULD BE FOR
CONGRESS IN A BIPARTISAN WAY TO
(06:19):
REJECT THOSE CUTS AND ACTUALLY
INVEST IN EDUCATION AND HEALTH
CARE.
IF THEY DON'T, THAT'S GOING TO
BE A CHALLENGE FOR OUR
INSTITUTIONS AND INSTITUTIONS
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND THE
LEGISLATURE HAVE DONE A GREAT
JOB, THOUGH, OVER THE LAST THREE
BUDGETS THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED
WITH INVESTING IN SUNY.
(06:40):
WE'VE SEEN THE LARGEST INCREASE
IN STATE SUPPORT IN DECADES.
WE'VE SEEN, FOR EXAMPLE, THE
FIRST BACK-TO-BACK INCREASES IN
OPERATING SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY
COLLEGES IN DECADES, AND THIS
YEAR, IMPORTANTLY, THE GOVERNOR
AND LEGISLATURE COMMITTED TO
SOMETHING CALLED SUNY RECONNECT,
WHICH WILL MAKE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE FREE FOR ADULTS 25 TO 55
(07:02):
IN HIGH DEMAND WORKFORCE AREAS,
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING,
CYBERSECURITY AND I.T., HEALTH
CARE, JOBS LIKE NURSING, WHERE
WE HAVE A DESPERATE NEED.
AS WELL AS GREEN JOBS AND
RENEWABLE ENERGY.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT SUNY
RECONNECT.
ACTUALLY WAS AT ONE OF OUR
COMMUNITY COLLEGES, DUCHESS
COMMUNITY COLLEGE JUST TODAY
(07:23):
CELEBRATING WHAT SUNY RECONNECT
TO MEAN.
IT'S LIFE-CHANGING FOR SOMEONE
WHO MAYBE IS RIGHT NOW THEY'RE
DRIVING FOR UBER.
THEY CAN BARELY MAKE ENDS MEET.
THEY CAN BARELY COVER THEIR
COSTS OF HOUSING AND FOOD.
THEY CAN COME TO ONE OF OUR
COMMUNITY COLLEGES, GET TUITION,
FEES, BOOKS AND SUPPLIES COVERED
AND COMPLETE A NURSING PROGRAM
(07:44):
AND END UP MAKING 70, 80 GRAND A
YEAR, TRANSFORMATIVE FOR THEM
AND THEIR FAMILIES.
>> I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE
AWARENESS WILL LOOK LIKE TO MAKE
SURE NEW YORKERS ARE IN THE KNOW
ABOUT THIS NEW POLICY.
IT IS, AS YOU MENTIONED, A
PRETTY HUGE INVESTMENT.
>> WE'RE REACHING OUT IN EVERY
WAY WE CAN THINK OF.
WE'RE REACHING OUT ONLINE.
WE'RE REACHING OUT THROUGH THE
(08:05):
BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WHICH IS
VERY EXCITED ABOUT SUNY
RECONNECT.
I'M GONNA USE TIME THIS SUMMER
TO VISIT OUR CAMPUSES TO
HIGHLIGHT AND DRAW ATTENTION TO
THIS PROGRAM.
IT'S A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY.
AND WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO MISS
OUT.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY MORE THAN 4
MILLION NEW YORKERS IN THE
WORKFORCE WHO DO NOT HAVE A
(08:25):
COLLEGE DEGREE.
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR
THEM.
WE WANT THEM TO KNOW ABOUT THIS
PROGRAM.
>> CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT
THE INCREASE IN OPERATING AID
PROVIDED FROM THE STATE BUDGET?
WHAT WILL THAT LOOK LIKE AND
FEEL LIKE FOR STUDENTS ON
CAMPUS?
>> SO IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST THREE
YEARS, THE STATE HAS INVESTED
MORE THAN $400 MILLION IN
(08:46):
ADDITIONAL OPERATING AID FOR OUR
SUNY STATE-OPERATED CAMPUSES.
THESE ARE OUR FOUR-YEAR
INSTITUTIONS.
IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT
INVESTMENT.
PRIMARILY WHAT IT WILL HELP US
DO THIS YEAR IS COVER THE COST
OF RAISES FOR OUR FACULTY AND
STAFF, BUT THE IMPORTANT THING,
IF THE STATE DIDN'T STEP FORWARD
WITH THOSE RESOURCES, WE GOT 114
(09:07):
MILLION IN INCREASED OPERATING
THIS YEAR.
IF THEY DIDN'T STEP FORWARD WITH
THOSE DOLLARS, IT ACTUALLY WOULD
FEEL LIKE A CUT ON CAMPUSES.
SO THOSE DOLLARS ARE HUGELY
IMPORTANT TO COVER WELL-DESERVED
RAISES FOR FACULTY AND STAFF,
BUT OVER THE THREE YEARS, WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO USE THAT $400
MILLION INVESTMENT NOT ONLY TO
COVER FACULTY AND STAFF RAISES,
BUT ALSO TO INVEST IN SUPPORTS
(09:29):
FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES, SUPPORTS FOR
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES,
EXPANDING RESEARCH ACROSS OUR
CAMPUSES, FUNDING INTERNSHIPS.
WE HAVE A GOAL THAT WE WANT
EVERY SUNY UNDERGRADUATE TO HAVE
AN INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE, SO
IMPORTANT FOR THEIR SUCCESS IN
CAREERS AFTER THEY GRADUATE.
(09:49):
SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR
GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S DEEP BELIEF IN
SUNY'S ROLE IN THE FUTURE OF THE
STATE.
>> AND WHEN IT COMES TO
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, HOW
WILL SUNY SORT OF PRIORITIZE ITS
BENEFITS WHILE ALSO REGULATING
SOME OF THE THREATS THAT COME
WITH AI?
>> YEAH. WE HAVE A FANTASTIC
PROJECT AT UNIVERSITY OF BUFFALO
(10:09):
CALLED EMPIRE AI.
REALLY AN INCREDIBLE VISION FROM
THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE A
SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT IN
DEVELOPING SUPER COMPUTING
CAPACITY AT UNIVERSITY AT
BUFFALO THAT CAN THEN BE
LEVERAGED BY FACULTY MEMBERS AT
OUR FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY CENTERS
AS WELL AS PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES,
COLUMBIA, CORNELL, RPI.
(10:32):
THEY'RE ALL ABLE TO ACCESS THIS
COMPUTING POWER SO THAT THE
RESEARCHERS CAN TACKLE QUESTIONS
FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.
HOW DO WE USE AI TO IMPROVE THE
DIAGNOSIS OF DISEASE?
HOW DO WE USE AI TO ANALYZE
WEATHER PATTERNS TO BETTER
PREDICT EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS
THAT MIGHT CAUSE FLOODING OR
OTHER DAMAGE.
(10:52):
SO VERY EXCITING WORK HAPPENING
AT UB, THANKS TO THE GOVERNOR'S
INVESTMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE A CENTER AT UB
FOCUSED ON SOME OF THE RISKS
THAT AI MAY POSE.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO BE
CAREFUL WITH AI THAT WE DON'T
HAVE DEEP FAKES, FOR EXAMPLE,
(11:13):
DISTORTING OUR DEMOCRACY.
WE'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL THE AI
IS NOT REINFORCING BIASES THAT
ALREADY EXIST IN SOCIETY.
SO WE'VE GOT RESEARCHERS
THINKING HARD ABOUT THOSE
QUESTIONS AND DOING IMPORTANT
WORK IN THAT SPACE AS WELL.
AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO GROWING
(11:34):
THIS EFFORT.
THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET
INCLUDES AN ADDITIONAL $90
MILLION TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION
OF EMPIRE AI.
SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GROWING
THAT WORK.
WE ALSO HOPE IT WILL MAKE US A
NATIONAL LEADER IN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT TIED TO ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE.
THERE ARE SOME GREAT IDEAS THAT
COULD DRIVE AMAZING COMPANIES
THAT COULD PRODUCE TREMENDOUS
(11:55):
VALUE AND EMPLOYMENT FOR NEW
YORKERS, SO WE ARE ALSO EXCITED
ABOUT THAT POSSIBILITY.
>> AND LASTLY, WHAT ARE SOME OF
YOUR LONG-TERM GOALS FOR, YOU
KNOW, THE SUNY SYSTEM IN THE
NEXT 10 YEARS?
WHAT DO YOU WANT SUNY TO LOOK
LIKE?
>> YEAH. TWO THINGS THAT ARE
MAYBE MOST IMPORTANT.
ONE IS, THERE'S A PLACE FOR
(12:15):
EVERY NEW YORKER AT SUNY.
WHETHER SOMEONE NEEDS A
SHORT-TERM MICRO CREDENTIAL TO
ADVANCE IN THE WORKPLACE, OR IS
GOING TO GET A ONE-YEAR
CERTIFICATE THAT IS GOING TO
ALLOW THEM TO GO WORK AT MICRON
WHICH IS BUILDING A NEW CHIP FAB
AND SYRACUSE WILL TRANSLATE IT
TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN
THE SYRACUSE AREA, OR THEY'RE
COMING FOR AN ASSOCIATE'S
(12:35):
DEGREE, BACHELOR DEGREE OR
GRADUATE DEGREE, WE OFFER
EVERYTHING IN EVERY DISCIPLINE
ACROSS OUR 64 CAMPUSES.
SO WANT NEW YORKERS TO KNOW
THAT.
SO WE WANT TO GROW ENROLLMENT
AND MAKE SURE THOSE STUDENTS WHO
COME FINISH AND LEAVE WITH A
MEANINGFUL DEGREE OR CREDENTIAL
THAT ALLOWS THEM TO ACCESS
OPPORTUNITY AND THE ECONOMY.
THE OTHER THING WE WANT TO HELP
(12:55):
DRIVE NEW YORK'S ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, WHETHER WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT HEALTH CARE OR THE
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING
RENAISSANCE WE'RE EXPERIENCING
OR GROWING OFFSHORE WIND OR
GEOTHERMAL.
WE AT SUNY CAN BE A KEY DRIVER
OF OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS
AND FOR COMMUNITIES.
(13:16):
YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING INCREDIBLE
WORK ON QUANTUM AT STONEY BROOK,
ON BATTERY TECHNOLOGY AT
BINGHAMTON.
THESE CAN BE MAJOR ECONOMIC
DRIVERS ON LONG ISLAND AND THE
SOUTHERN TIER.
WE WANT TO ACCELERATE OUR WORK
ON RESEARCH.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE NEED
OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO INVEST
(13:36):
IN THE RESEARCH, THE PARTNERSHIP
BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AND HIGHER EDUCATION THAT OVER
THE LAST 75 YEARS HAS DRIVEN SO
MUCH ADVANCEMENT IN TECHNOLOGY.
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S
ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY,
CHANCELLOR.
>> THANKS SO MUCH.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
SUNY CHANCELLOR JOHN KING.
(13:59):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
FUNDING FOR SUNY, YOU CAN VISIT
OUR WEBSITE.
THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT
TOPIC.
AS WE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK ON THE
SHOW, THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE
SESSION HAS OFFICIALLY COME TO A
CLOSE.
EVERY YEAR, THE LEGISLATURE
COMMEMORATES THE END OF SESSION
(14:21):
WITH THE FEW TRADITIONS TO KEEP
THE SPIRITS OF LAWMAKERS UP.
THOSE TRADITIONS INCLUDE SNEAKER
DAY AND THE SENATE INDULGING IN
COOL TREATS AS THEY FINISH
DEBATING ON THE LAST FEW BILLS.
OUR ELISE KLINE HAS THAT STORY.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> EACH YEAR, LEADING UP TO THE
END OF LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR YEAR
(14:43):
THERE ARE MANY COMPETING
PRIORITIES AND SOMETIMES
HUNDREDS OF BILLS TO PASS IN A
SMALL WINDOW OF TIME.
MANY LAWMAKERS SAY THE
END-OF-SESSION CRUNCH TIME IS
BRUTAL TO GET THROUGH.
HOWEVER, A FEW UNIQUE TRADITIONS
THAT TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE
CAPITOL BRING SOME REPRIEVE FOR
LAWMAKERS.
SNEAKERS AND SNOWCONES.
THREE YEARS AGO, STATE SENATORS
ZELLNOR MYRIE AND JAMAAL BAILEY
(15:03):
CREATED SNEAKER DAY TO TRY TO
HELP LAWMAKERS COME TOGETHER ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND HAVE
A LITTLE FUN WITH FASHION.
>> IN OCTOBER, THERE IS THIS
SNEAKER DAY, BUT WE CREATED THE
NEXT DISCUSSION IN NEW YORK TO
MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING SOMETHING
HERE AT THE CAPITOL THAT'S FUN,
THAT'S ALL-ENCOMPASSING, THAT'S
BIPARTISAN, THAT BRINGS
EVERYBODY IN, AND SNEAKERS ARE A
(15:23):
WAY TO EXPRESS YOURSELF.
>> BAILEY SAYS THERE HAS BEEN
MORE PARTICIPATION EACH YEAR
FROM LAWMAKERS, STAFFERS,
LOBBYISTS AND EVEN REPORTERS.
THIS YEAR ON SNEAKER DAY, MANY
LAWMAKERS CAME IN SPORTING THEIR
CHOSEN STYLES.
STATE SENATOR NATHALIA
FERNANDEZ, A DEMOCRAT
REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE BRONX
AND WESTCHESTER, SAYS SNEAKER
DAY IS NOT ONLY GREAT FOR
END-OF-SESSION FUN BUT FOR
COMFORT.
(15:44):
>> AFTER ALL SESSION WALKING IN
HE'S HEELS, TODAY WAS SUCH A
RELIEF AND THE RELAXER THAT WE
ALL NEEDED ESPECIALLY ME AT
LEAST.
BUT YEAH. I LOVE IT.
AND IT'S SUCH A GREAT WAY FOR
MEMBERS TO SHOW, YOU KNOW, THEIR
STYLE PREFERENCE.
MAYBE SOME CREATIVITY, SOME
CLASSIC LOOKS.
I DID GO WITH THE CLASSIC NIKE
AIR MAX SO FEELING THE COMFORT
OF WALKING ON AIR, LITERALLY.
>> OTHER DEMOCRATS LIKE STATE
(16:05):
SENATOR COONEY, REPRESENTING
MONROE COUNTY, SAYS HE
PARTICIPATES IN THE TRADITION
EVERY YEAR.
HE SAYS IT'S ONE OF BEST
TRADITIONS IN THE LEGISLATURE.
>> WE HAVE TO WEAR SUITS AND
TIES ALL YEAR ROUND BUT FOR THIS
DAY, WE GET TO WALK ON THE
SENATE FLOOR AND GET TO WEAR OUR
NIKES OR OUR SNEAKERS, WHATEVER
WE CHOOSE.
>> WHILE NOT EVERY REPUBLICAN
MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATE
PARTICIPATED THIS YEAR, THOSE
THAT DID SAID THEY ENJOYED THE
(16:27):
COMFORT OF SNEAKERS ON THE HARD
CAPITOL FLOORS AND EXPLAINED HOW
THE TRADITION BRINGS LAWMAKERS
TOGETHER DURING TENSE TIMES.
STATE SENATOR JAMES TEDISCO, A
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING SARATOGA
COUNTY, SAYS HE THINKS THIS IS
END-OF-SESSION TRADITION HELPS
LAWMAKERS SEE THEMSELVES AS A
TEAM.
>> THIS KIND OF TURNS IT MORE
TOWARDS SOMETHING WE AGREE UPON
COLLECTIVELY.
(16:47):
IT'S FUN. WE COME HERE.
WE WEAR OUR SNEAKERS ON THAT
DAY, AND WE LET DOWN OUR
PARTISANSHIP FOR A WHILE.
IF ONE THING IT SHOULD BE A TEAM
WORKING IN THE BEST BIPARTISAN
WAY IT CAN, IT SHOULD BE THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
>> STATE SENATOR GEORGE
BORRELLO, A REPUBLICAN
REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE FINGER
LAKES, SAYS PARTICIPATING IN
SNEAKER DAY SENDS A POSITIVE
MESSAGE TO NEW YORKERS.
(17:08):
>> IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT
CAN SHOW THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK
THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE HERE TO
DEBATE OUR SERIOUS PHILOSOPHICAL
DIFFERENCES ON THESE BILLS, WE
CAN STILL DO A FEW THINGS THAT
BRING US ALTOGETHER.
>> ANOTHER TRADITION LAWMAKERS
ENJOY TOGETHER IN ALBANY IS THE
CELEBRATORY SNOWCONES TO
COMMEMORATE THE CLOSING OUT OF
THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AS THE FINAL HOURS OF SESSION IN
THE SENATE CHAMBERS WRAP UP, THE
(17:29):
SENATE SECRETARY HELPS
COORDINATE DELIVERING THE
CLASSIC SUMMER TREAT, SNOWCONES,
TO THE MEMBERS AND STAFFERS.
THE TRADITION DATING BACK TO THE
190S IS BELOVED BY MANY STATE
LAWMAKERS.
>> MY FAVORITE FLAVOR IS LEMON,
AND I KNOW THERE'S ALL DIFFERENT
TYPES OF FLAVORS, BUT I WAS
BROUGHT UP-- I WOULD REJOICE
WHEN MY DAD AND MY MOM WOULD
BRING MYSELF AND TWO BROTHERS TO
(17:50):
GET LEMON ICE IN SCHENECTADY.
>> STATE SENATOR KRISTEN
GONZALES, A DEMOCRAT
REPRESENTING PARTS OF BROOKLYN,
QUEENS AND MANHATTAN, SAYS THE
SNOWCONES ALSO KNOWN AS ITALIAN
ICE, ARE NOSTALGIC FOR HER AS
WELL.
>> WHENEVER I WENT TO THE PARK
WITH MY MOM, YOU KNOW, THERE
WOULD BE THE LITTLE CART WITH
THE ITALIAN ICEES AND I WAS
ALWAYS-- COCONUT'S MY FAVORITE
FLAVOR.
I KNOW IT CAN BE CONTROVERSIAL.
(18:12):
YOU CAN ADD ME IN THE DMS.
I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL,
COCONUT'S THE BEST FLAVOR, AND
THEY ALWAYS HAVE THAT.
SO I'M VERY HAPPY.
>> MANY LAWMAKERS' G- TO FLAVOR
IS LEMON.
>> I LIKE LEMON ICE.
YOU KNOW, I MIGHT BE A LITTLE
TRADITIONAL.
>> STATE SENATOR TOBY ANN
STAVISKY, A DEMOCRAT
REPRESENTING PARTS OF QUEENS,
SAYS FOR HER LEMON ICE IS MORE
THAN JUST A REFRESHING CHOICE.
>> IN QUEENS WE HAVE THE LEMON
(18:32):
ICE KING.
SO LEMON ICE TO ME, THAT'S A
GREAT TRADITION.
>> SOME LAWMAKERS, LIKE STATE
SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER, A DEMOCRAT
REPRESENTING THE UPPER EAST SIDE
OF MANHATTAN, SAYS SHE LIKES TO
EXPLORE ALL THE FLAVORS.
>> I TRY A LITTLE ONE OF A BUNCH
OF THEM BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY
DIFFERENT FLAVORS.
SO I WON'T TELL I HAVE A
FAVORITE.
(18:52):
ALTHOUGH I DO LIKE MANGO.
>> AND KRUEGER ISN'T ALONE.
OTHER LAWMAKERS LIKE TO TRY
MULTIPLE FLAVORS.
>> CHERRY'S MY FAVORITE AND THE
TRADITIONAL LEMON.
SOMETIMES I GO BACK FOR A SECOND
ONE, BUT DON'T TELL ANYBODY.
[LAUGHTER]
>> COONEY SAYS THE ICY SUMMER
TREAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE
A MUCH-NEEDED BREAK AND TALK TO
OTHER MEMBERS AND STAFFERS.
(19:13):
>> IT'S A CHANCE TO JUST SPEND A
COUPLE MOMENTS.
GET TO KNOW PEOPLE, BOTH SIDES
OF THE AISLE, AND HAVE
CONVERSATIONS AND TRY TO BE
POSITIVE ABOUT THE WORK THAT
WE'RE DOING ON BEHALF OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.
>> COONEY ADDS THE
END-OF-SESSION TRADITIONS ARE AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THE
LEGISLATIVE YEAR.
>> THEY'RE IMPORTANT.
TRADITIONS HELP US MARK THE
MOMENT.
IT'S A HEAVY TIME IN ALBANY.
WE'RE TRYING TO PASS REALLY
COMPLEX BILLS AND OFTENTIMES THE
(19:34):
MOST CONTROVERSIAL BILLS HAPPEN
THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
SO IT'S A MOMENT OF LEVITY WHERE
WE CAN COME TOGETHER.
>> SENATOR BORRELLO AGREES.
>> YEAH. THERE'S CERTAINLY THAT,
YOU KNOW, THAT ELEMENT TO THIS,
RIGHT, THAT THIS IS A STRESSFUL
JOB.
THE END OF THE SESSION IS VERY
STRESSFUL AND YOU KNOW, LITTLE
THINGS LIKE THAT, IT HELPS.
I THINK THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK
STATE, AGAIN, I THINK THEY LIKE
TO SEE US AT LEAST AGREE ON SOME
THINGS.
(19:54):
>> STATE SENATOR MAJORITY
LEADER, ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS,
A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
WESTCHESTER, SAYS THE TRADITIONS
CONTEMPORARY AND OLD, ARE
IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE.
>> THE END OF SESSION CAN BE SO
TENSE AND SO-- SO ROUGH.
TO ADD SOME LIGHTNESS IS-- IS, I
THINK, GOOD FOR THE SPIRIT, GOOD
(20:15):
FOR MORALE.
>> SOME LAWMAKERS ADMIRE THE
FACT THAT A TRADITION LIKE
END-OF-SESSION SNOWCONES IN THE
SENATE HAS LASTED NEARLY 50
YEARS.
>> I LOVE THE IDEA OF TRADITION,
WHETHER IT BE A POLICY TRADITION
OR SOMETHING LIKE WEARING A
CRAZY JACKET OR SNEAKERS OR
WHATEVER
>> SENATOR BAILEY SAYS HE HOPES
SNEAKER DAY CONTINUES ON THE WAY
(20:36):
THE SNOWCONES HAVE.
>> I AM HOPEFUL THAT SNEAKER DAY
WILL LAST, YOU KNOW, PASS THE
TEST OF TIME THROUGHOUT
DIFFERENT ITERATIONS OF THE
SENATE AND WHOEVER-- I'M HOPEFUL
THIS WILL BE A TRADITION THAT
CONTINUES TO CARRY ON BECAUSE IT
IS A DAY THAT-- I DON'T WANT TO
CONTINUE TO REPEAT MYSELF, BUT
IT REALLY DOES DO SOMETHING
SPECIAL.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(20:57):
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US IN THE STUDIO TODAY, ELISE.
>> HAPPY TO BE AT THE DESK.
>> OF COURSE.
CAN YOU TELL US WHAT WAS IT LIKE
REPORTING AT THE STATE CAPITOL
ON THE END OF SESSION
TRADITIONS?
>> SO IT WAS QUITE CRAZY TOWARDS
THE END OF SESSION, AS YOU KNOW.
TENSIONS ARE BUILDING UP.
THE HOURS ARE COUNTING DOWN INTO
THE NIGHT, BUT YOU CAN REALLY
SENSE A SHIFT OF JUST ENERGY
(21:19):
WHEN THE SNOWCONES COME OUT AND
LAWMAKERS ARE WALKING AROUND AND
LAUGHING AND TALKING WITH THEIR
STAFFERS, SO IT WAS REALLY FUN
TO KIND OF SEE THE MOMENT COME
TO FRUITION, AND IT'S KIND OF
LIKE THE END OF SUMMER WHEN YOU
WERE IN SCHOOL.
THAT'S SORT OF LIKE THE VIBE
THAT IT FEELS LIKE.
>> YEAH AND WE KNOW THAT THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS
(21:39):
SCHEDULED TO END LAST WEEK BUT
THE ASSEMBLY HAD TO WRAP UP A
FEW THINGS THIS WEEK.
CAN YOU TELL US KNOW WHAT WERE
SOME OF THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR
THE LOWER CHAMBER?
>> SO TOWARDS THE LAST-- LAST
WEEK, LAST FEW DAYS IN THE
ASSEMBLY, THERE WERE LIKE A
COUPLE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES
THAT WERE REALLY LIKE AT THE
FOREFRONT OF WHAT THEY WANTED TO
FINISH BEFORE THE TIME RAN OUT
IN TERMS OF THEIR EXTENDED TIME
(22:00):
THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE
THERE.
SO THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT, OR A
PORTION OF IT, WAS REALLY WHAT--
I WOULD SAY WAS LIKE THE MAIN
PRIORITY FOR THE WEEK, AND
THAT'S ELIMINATING THE 100-FOOT
RULE, WHICH IS JUST A PORTION OF
NEW YORK HEAT.
IT'S NOT THE WHOLE POLICY.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE, SMALL LITTLE
PART OF IT, AND THEY DEBATED
THAT AND THAT DID PASS.
(22:22):
IT WAS PRETTY CLOSE.
IT WAS ABOUT, I THINK, 87-51, OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> YEAH. AND I KNOW YOU'VE DONE
SOME AWESOME REPORTING ON THE
NEW YORK HEAT ACT.
DID THIS COME AS A SURPRISE TO
YOU?
>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS A TOTAL
SURPRISE TO HAVE IT BE KIND OF
SEPARATED BECAUSE THERE'S SO
MANY THINGS IN THE NEW YORK HEAT
ACT AND THIS HAPPENS WITH OTHER
POLICIES.
SOMETIMES THINGS GET SEPARATED
(22:43):
OUT.
IT'S AN AMENDMENT.
IT'S JUST ONE LITTLE PIECE OF IT
IS A BILL ON ITS OWN.
THE REAL QUESTION IS, WHAT WILL
HAPPEN NEXT SESSION WITH THE
REST OF IT, REALLY.
BUT LAWMAKERS HAVE TOLD ME THAT
THEY FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT PART OF IT, 100-FOOT
RULE IN TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY.
THE 100-FOOT RULE IS CUSTOMERS
(23:03):
WHO EXIST-- EXCUSE ME, WHO LIVE
WITHIN 100 FEET OF AN EXISTING
GAS LINE, THEY GET THEIR GAS
HOOKUP FOR FREE, AND SO THAT
STATUTE HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE
LIKE THE '80S, AND THIS LITTLE
PIECE OF THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT
WOULD ELIMINATE THAT CUSTOMERS
WOULD HAVE TO ESSENTIALLY NOW
HAVE TO PAY IN ORDER TO HAVE
(23:25):
AFFORDABILITY IN THE END FOR NEW
YORKERS.
>> AND WE KNOW THAT AT THE END
OF SESSION, LAWMAKERS RETURN TO
THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS TO,
YOU KNOW, BE AROUND THEIR
CONSTITUENTS.
DID YOU HEAR ANYTHING ON HOW
LAWMAKERS ARE HOPING TO SORT OF
RAMP UP SUPPORT THROUGH THE
SUMMER LEADING INTO THE NEXT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION?
>> WELL, I KNOW THAT THERE'S
BEEN A LOT OF RALLIES ON THIS
(23:45):
THROUGHOUT SESSION AND
OFF-SESSION TIME.
MANY LAWMAKERS ARE DEDICATED TO
GETTING ALL OF THE LEGISLATION,
ALL THE PIECES OF IT INTO LAW.
I'M SURE THAT THEIR EFFORTS ARE
GOING TO BE LIKE REALLY PUSHED
IN THIS OFF-SESSION TIME IN
THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS,
DOING PRESS CONFERENCES AND
LOCAL RALLIES, AND SOMETHING WE
SEE A LOT WITH LAWMAKERS ON A
(24:06):
NUMBER OF POLICIES.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WILL
CONTINUE IN TERMS OF THE
OFF-SESSION.
>> AND WERE THERE ANY OTHER
PRIORITIES IN THE ASSEMBLY
CHAMBER THIS WEEK THAT TOOK UP
THE OXYGEN IN THE ROOM IN TERMS
OF DEBATES?
>> SO THERE WAS ANOTHER PIECE OF
LEGISLATION CALLED THE PACKAGING
REDUCTION ACT, AND THAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO END UP GETTING ON
(24:26):
THE DEBATE LIST AND IT WAS
GETTING REALLY CLOSE, VERY
SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR IS THAT IT
MADE IT THROUGH ALL THE
COMMITTEE IT NEEDED TO.
IT WAS READY TO GO TO THE FLOOR
AND IT WAS JUST LAID ASIDE AND
IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE IT.
IT WAS JUST BASICALLY THROWN OUT
AT THE LAST MINUTE AND THAT IS
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.
SO IT WAS KIND OF DEJA VU FOR
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION WHICH
(24:47):
IS ALSO AN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY.
SO ADVOCATES WERE REALLY
DISAPPOINTED THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN
WHEN THERE WAS SO MUCH BUILD-UP
TO IT AT THE LAST SECOND.
THEY WERE REALLY HOPING IT WOULD
MAKE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE
AND IT JUST DIDN'T.
>> YEAH. WHY WERE THEY SORT OF
OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS YEAR WOULD
BE THE YEAR THAT IT WOULD MAKE
IT OVER THE LEGISLATIVE FINISH
LINE?
>> YOU KNOW, IT MADE IT THROUGH
(25:07):
THE COMMITTEES THAT IT NEEDED
TO.
THEY FELT IT HAD ENOUGH SUPPORT
AND IT HAD THE SAME OF SUPPORT
LAST YEAR AND THEY FELT WHEN IT
GOT TO THE FLOOR THAT IT WAS
GONNA PASS, THAT IT WAS GONNA
HAVE ENOUGH VOTES.
SO IS SOMETIMES IT'S JUST WHEN
IT COMES DOWN TO THE WIRE AND
THERE'S SO LITTLE TIME,
LAWMAKERS FEEL LIKE THE DEBATE
WAS GOING TO TAKE TOO LONG, I
THINK MAYBE IT WAS A TIME ISSUE
(25:29):
AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST
YEAR.
>> DO YOU KNOW IF THEY'RE
CONSIDERING ANY AMENDMENTS TO
THE BILL TO SORT OF GET IT OVER
THE LEGISLATIVE FINISH LINE NEXT
YEAR?
>> I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY
SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS BUT I
WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF
SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENED AS
WE JUST SAW WITH THE NEW YORK
HEAT ACT.
THERE WAS JUST A LITTLE PIECE OF
IT THAT GOT OVER THE FINISH
LINE.
SOMETIMES WITH BIGGER POLICIES
(25:52):
THAT WOULD TAKE UP A TON OF
DEBATE, SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE
EASIER TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF
SECTION OF IT.
>> YEAH. THAT MAKES SENSE.
WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL
THE TIME WE HAVE FOR RIGHT NOW,
BUT THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR AWESOME REPORTING, ELISE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> OF COURSE.
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING AND SEE YOU
(26:14):
NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:36):
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.
THIS YEAR, THE STATE BUDGET
PROVIDED FUNDING FOR THE STATE
PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, ALSO
KNOWN AS SUNY, TO SUPPORT A SLEW
OF INITIATIVES.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE STATE
WILL BE PROVIDING FREE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE FOR ADULTS BETWEEN THE
AGES 25 AND 55, A PROGRAM KNOWN
(00:41):
AS SUNY RECONNECT.
THE BUDGET ALSO PROVIDED $114
MILLION IN INCREASED OPERATE
BEING AID FOR CAMPUSES, BUT
APART FROM THAT STATE FUNDING,
THE THREAT OF CUTS COMING FROM
THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS STILL
LOOMING.
AT THE MOST RECENT STATE OF THE
UNIVERSITY ADDRESS, CHANCELLOR
JOHN KING TOOK THE TIME TO SOUND
(01:04):
THE ALARM ON CUTS THAT COULD
IMPACT DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND
INCLUSION AS WELL AS RESEARCH AT
THE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES.
WE SAT DOWN WITH SUNY CHANCELLOR
JOHN KING TO UNPACK THE STATE
FUNDING FOR SUNY AND THE IMPACT
OF FEDERAL CUTS.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(01:25):
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
ME HERE TODAY, CHANCELLOR.
>> THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> OF COURSE.
NOW A FEW WEEKS AGO, YOU
DELIVERED YOUR STATE OF THE
UNIVERSITY ADDRESS.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOUR SPEECH AND YOUR
OVERALL VISION FOR SUNY THIS
YEAR?
>> YEAH. WELL, THERE'S LOTS OF
GREAT NEWS TO REPORT AROUND
SUNY'S PROGRESS.
SO THE CORE MESSAGE WAS SUNY IS
ON THE MOVE.
(01:46):
WE HAD ENROLLMENT INCREASES THIS
PAST FALL FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN
A ROW.
THAT WAS GREAT TO SEE.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE HAD
BACK-TO-BACK YEARS OF ENROLLMENT
GROWTH ACROSS ALL SECTORS IN
YEARS.
WE'VE GOTTEN TREMENDOUS SUPPORT
FROM THE STATE, WHICH HAS
ALLOWED TO US MAKE A LOT OF
PROGRESS TOWARDS OUR GOAL OF
DOUBLING RESEARCH ACROSS THE
(02:08):
SUNY SYSTEM.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT OUR STUDENT
SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO LAUNCH, SUPPORTS FOR
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES,
STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES,
OUR ASAP AND ACE WRAP-AROUND
SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR LOW INCOME
STUDENTS THAT ARE TWO- AND
FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS AND LOTS
OF REQUEST GOOD NEWS TO REPORT.
SO OF COURSE THERE WAS LOTS TO
(02:28):
HIGHLIGHT ON THE FEDERAL
LANDSCAPE.
OUR WORRY THAT THE CUTS THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE
WILL AFFECT SUNY.
>> CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU'RE
HOPING TO NAVIGATE THOSE CUTS
WHEN IT COMES TO, FOR EXAMPLE,
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND
INCLUSION, ON THAT FRONT?
>> LOOK, SOME THINGS ARE JUST
(02:49):
CORE VALUES OF SUNY.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO STUDENT
SUCCESS.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO RESEARCH AND
SCHOLARSHIP, AND WE'RE COMMITTED
TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND
INCLUSION.
THOSE ARE CORE VALUES FOR NEW
YORK STATE.
THOSE IDEALS WERE EMBEDDED IN
OUR FOUNDING STATUTE.
SO DEI IS IN OUR DNA AT SUNY.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK
TO MAKE SURE WE SERVE NEW
YORKERS FROM EVERY PART OF THE
(03:10):
STATE.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK
TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE
A SENSE OF BELONGING ON OUR
CAMPUSES, NO MATTER THEIR
BACKGROUND.
THAT SAID, WE ARE WATCHING VERY
CAREFULLY WHAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS DOING AROUND
RESEARCH.
WE DO ABOUT $700 MILLION A YEAR
IN SPONSORED RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
AT SUNY THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE
(03:31):
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THAT.
THAT $700 MILLION IS DRIVING
RESEARCH ON ALZHEIMER'S, CANCER,
THE TREATMENT OF 9/11 FIRST
RESPONDERS.
RENEWABLE ENERGY, TECHNOLOGY
THAT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY.
SO WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT IT.
WE'VE SEEN OF THAT $700 MILLION
(03:51):
OF FEDERAL SUPPORT, WE HAVE SEEN
50 MILLION CUT ALREADY.
CUTS CUT ARBITRARILY WITH VERY
LITTLE EXPLANATION.
WE'RE WORRIED THAT COULD BE
LARGER IF SOMETHING OF THE
THINGS BEING DISCUSSED IN
CONGRESS WERE TO HAPPEN.
WE'RE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE
ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS, MEMBERS
OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
(04:12):
STAND UP FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS
AND TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT
THESE RESEARCH DOLLARS ARE TO
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TO THE
HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF NEW
YORKERS.
>> AND BESIDES HIGHLIGHTING IN
YOUR SPEECH, HOW ARE YOU
PLANNING TO SOUND THE ALARM TO
THESE CUTS?
HAVE YOU HAD ANY COMMUNICATION
WITH FEDERAL OFFICIALS OR
MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ABOUT
THE THREATS?
>> YES. AND WE'RE SPENDING A LOT
(04:33):
OF TIME REACHING OUT TO OUR
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, BOTH SIDES
OF THE AISLE.
I PERSONALLY HAD CONVERSATIONS
WITH MANY OF THE MEMBERS, TO
TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
RESEARCH.
REALLY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO NOT
ONLY REJECT THE TRUMP CUTS BUT
WE SHOULD BE DULLING DOWN.
WE SHOULD BE INVESTING MORE TO
GET TO CURES FOR DISEASES.
WE SHOULD BE INVESTING MORE TO
(04:56):
ADDRESS OUR ECONOMIC
COMPETITIVENESS WITH CHINA, FOR
EXAMPLE, AND INDUSTRIES LIKE
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OR
QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY.
I'VE ALSO BEEN TALKING WITH THEM
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID SYSTEM.
YOU KNOW, THE PELL GRANT
PROGRAM, WHICH HELPS LOW INCOME
STUDENTS ATTEND COLLEGE,S THEY
CRUCIAL FOR US.
NEARLY HALF OF OUR ENTERING
(05:17):
STUDENTS AT SUNY USE THE PELL
GRANT PROGRAM.
AND MANY LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME
NEW YORKERS RELY ON THE FEDERAL
STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM TO ACCESS
HIGHER EDUCATION.
SO WE NEED TO PROTECT THOSE.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS
PROPOSED CUTS TO THE FEDERAL
PELL GRANT.
THAT WOULD BE A DISASTER.
NOT JUST FOR SUNY BUT FOR NEW
YORK STATE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY
FOR THE COUNTRY.
(05:38):
WE NEED MORE NURSES.
WE NEED MORE FOLKS WHO ARE
TRAINED FOR THE SEMICONDUCTOR
INDUSTRY.
NOT LESS. AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR OUR MEMBERS OF OUR
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO
STAND UP.
>> HOW DO THESE THREATS IMPACT
THE WAY THAT YOU ARE HOPING THAT
THE STATE WILL PROVIDE FUNDING
FOR SUNY?
DO YOU THINK THERE SHOULD BE,
FOR EXAMPLE, A PERCENTAGE
(05:59):
INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR?
>> LOOK, THE SAD REALITY AND
THIS IS TRUE IN EDUCATION AND
IT'S ALSO TRUE IN HEALTH CARE.
THE STATES ARE NOT GOING TO BE
ABLE TO MAKE UP FOR FEDERAL CUTS
AT THE SCALE OF WHAT'S BEING
TALKED BY THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION OR BY CONGRESS.
SO THE BEST THING WOULD BE FOR
CONGRESS IN A BIPARTISAN WAY TO
(06:19):
REJECT THOSE CUTS AND ACTUALLY
INVEST IN EDUCATION AND HEALTH
CARE.
IF THEY DON'T, THAT'S GOING TO
BE A CHALLENGE FOR OUR
INSTITUTIONS AND INSTITUTIONS
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND THE
LEGISLATURE HAVE DONE A GREAT
JOB, THOUGH, OVER THE LAST THREE
BUDGETS THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED
WITH INVESTING IN SUNY.
(06:40):
WE'VE SEEN THE LARGEST INCREASE
IN STATE SUPPORT IN DECADES.
WE'VE SEEN, FOR EXAMPLE, THE
FIRST BACK-TO-BACK INCREASES IN
OPERATING SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY
COLLEGES IN DECADES, AND THIS
YEAR, IMPORTANTLY, THE GOVERNOR
AND LEGISLATURE COMMITTED TO
SOMETHING CALLED SUNY RECONNECT,
WHICH WILL MAKE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE FREE FOR ADULTS 25 TO 55
(07:02):
IN HIGH DEMAND WORKFORCE AREAS,
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING,
CYBERSECURITY AND I.T., HEALTH
CARE, JOBS LIKE NURSING, WHERE
WE HAVE A DESPERATE NEED.
AS WELL AS GREEN JOBS AND
RENEWABLE ENERGY.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT SUNY
RECONNECT.
ACTUALLY WAS AT ONE OF OUR
COMMUNITY COLLEGES, DUCHESS
COMMUNITY COLLEGE JUST TODAY
(07:23):
CELEBRATING WHAT SUNY RECONNECT
TO MEAN.
IT'S LIFE-CHANGING FOR SOMEONE
WHO MAYBE IS RIGHT NOW THEY'RE
DRIVING FOR UBER.
THEY CAN BARELY MAKE ENDS MEET.
THEY CAN BARELY COVER THEIR
COSTS OF HOUSING AND FOOD.
THEY CAN COME TO ONE OF OUR
COMMUNITY COLLEGES, GET TUITION,
FEES, BOOKS AND SUPPLIES COVERED
AND COMPLETE A NURSING PROGRAM
(07:44):
AND END UP MAKING 70, 80 GRAND A
YEAR, TRANSFORMATIVE FOR THEM
AND THEIR FAMILIES.
>> I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE
AWARENESS WILL LOOK LIKE TO MAKE
SURE NEW YORKERS ARE IN THE KNOW
ABOUT THIS NEW POLICY.
IT IS, AS YOU MENTIONED, A
PRETTY HUGE INVESTMENT.
>> WE'RE REACHING OUT IN EVERY
WAY WE CAN THINK OF.
WE'RE REACHING OUT ONLINE.
WE'RE REACHING OUT THROUGH THE
(08:05):
BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WHICH IS
VERY EXCITED ABOUT SUNY
RECONNECT.
I'M GONNA USE TIME THIS SUMMER
TO VISIT OUR CAMPUSES TO
HIGHLIGHT AND DRAW ATTENTION TO
THIS PROGRAM.
IT'S A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY.
AND WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO MISS
OUT.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY MORE THAN 4
MILLION NEW YORKERS IN THE
WORKFORCE WHO DO NOT HAVE A
(08:25):
COLLEGE DEGREE.
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR
THEM.
WE WANT THEM TO KNOW ABOUT THIS
PROGRAM.
>> CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT
THE INCREASE IN OPERATING AID
PROVIDED FROM THE STATE BUDGET?
WHAT WILL THAT LOOK LIKE AND
FEEL LIKE FOR STUDENTS ON
CAMPUS?
>> SO IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST THREE
YEARS, THE STATE HAS INVESTED
MORE THAN $400 MILLION IN
(08:46):
ADDITIONAL OPERATING AID FOR OUR
SUNY STATE-OPERATED CAMPUSES.
THESE ARE OUR FOUR-YEAR
INSTITUTIONS.
IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT
INVESTMENT.
PRIMARILY WHAT IT WILL HELP US
DO THIS YEAR IS COVER THE COST
OF RAISES FOR OUR FACULTY AND
STAFF, BUT THE IMPORTANT THING,
IF THE STATE DIDN'T STEP FORWARD
WITH THOSE RESOURCES, WE GOT 114
(09:07):
MILLION IN INCREASED OPERATING
THIS YEAR.
IF THEY DIDN'T STEP FORWARD WITH
THOSE DOLLARS, IT ACTUALLY WOULD
FEEL LIKE A CUT ON CAMPUSES.
SO THOSE DOLLARS ARE HUGELY
IMPORTANT TO COVER WELL-DESERVED
RAISES FOR FACULTY AND STAFF,
BUT OVER THE THREE YEARS, WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO USE THAT $400
MILLION INVESTMENT NOT ONLY TO
COVER FACULTY AND STAFF RAISES,
BUT ALSO TO INVEST IN SUPPORTS
(09:29):
FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES, SUPPORTS FOR
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES,
EXPANDING RESEARCH ACROSS OUR
CAMPUSES, FUNDING INTERNSHIPS.
WE HAVE A GOAL THAT WE WANT
EVERY SUNY UNDERGRADUATE TO HAVE
AN INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE, SO
IMPORTANT FOR THEIR SUCCESS IN
CAREERS AFTER THEY GRADUATE.
(09:49):
SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR
GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S DEEP BELIEF IN
SUNY'S ROLE IN THE FUTURE OF THE
STATE.
>> AND WHEN IT COMES TO
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, HOW
WILL SUNY SORT OF PRIORITIZE ITS
BENEFITS WHILE ALSO REGULATING
SOME OF THE THREATS THAT COME
WITH AI?
>> YEAH. WE HAVE A FANTASTIC
PROJECT AT UNIVERSITY OF BUFFALO
(10:09):
CALLED EMPIRE AI.
REALLY AN INCREDIBLE VISION FROM
THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE A
SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT IN
DEVELOPING SUPER COMPUTING
CAPACITY AT UNIVERSITY AT
BUFFALO THAT CAN THEN BE
LEVERAGED BY FACULTY MEMBERS AT
OUR FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY CENTERS
AS WELL AS PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES,
COLUMBIA, CORNELL, RPI.
(10:32):
THEY'RE ALL ABLE TO ACCESS THIS
COMPUTING POWER SO THAT THE
RESEARCHERS CAN TACKLE QUESTIONS
FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.
HOW DO WE USE AI TO IMPROVE THE
DIAGNOSIS OF DISEASE?
HOW DO WE USE AI TO ANALYZE
WEATHER PATTERNS TO BETTER
PREDICT EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS
THAT MIGHT CAUSE FLOODING OR
OTHER DAMAGE.
(10:52):
SO VERY EXCITING WORK HAPPENING
AT UB, THANKS TO THE GOVERNOR'S
INVESTMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE A CENTER AT UB
FOCUSED ON SOME OF THE RISKS
THAT AI MAY POSE.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO BE
CAREFUL WITH AI THAT WE DON'T
HAVE DEEP FAKES, FOR EXAMPLE,
(11:13):
DISTORTING OUR DEMOCRACY.
WE'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL THE AI
IS NOT REINFORCING BIASES THAT
ALREADY EXIST IN SOCIETY.
SO WE'VE GOT RESEARCHERS
THINKING HARD ABOUT THOSE
QUESTIONS AND DOING IMPORTANT
WORK IN THAT SPACE AS WELL.
AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO GROWING
(11:34):
THIS EFFORT.
THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET
INCLUDES AN ADDITIONAL $90
MILLION TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION
OF EMPIRE AI.
SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GROWING
THAT WORK.
WE ALSO HOPE IT WILL MAKE US A
NATIONAL LEADER IN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT TIED TO ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE.
THERE ARE SOME GREAT IDEAS THAT
COULD DRIVE AMAZING COMPANIES
THAT COULD PRODUCE TREMENDOUS
(11:55):
VALUE AND EMPLOYMENT FOR NEW
YORKERS, SO WE ARE ALSO EXCITED
ABOUT THAT POSSIBILITY.
>> AND LASTLY, WHAT ARE SOME OF
YOUR LONG-TERM GOALS FOR, YOU
KNOW, THE SUNY SYSTEM IN THE
NEXT 10 YEARS?
WHAT DO YOU WANT SUNY TO LOOK
LIKE?
>> YEAH. TWO THINGS THAT ARE
MAYBE MOST IMPORTANT.
ONE IS, THERE'S A PLACE FOR
(12:15):
EVERY NEW YORKER AT SUNY.
WHETHER SOMEONE NEEDS A
SHORT-TERM MICRO CREDENTIAL TO
ADVANCE IN THE WORKPLACE, OR IS
GOING TO GET A ONE-YEAR
CERTIFICATE THAT IS GOING TO
ALLOW THEM TO GO WORK AT MICRON
WHICH IS BUILDING A NEW CHIP FAB
AND SYRACUSE WILL TRANSLATE IT
TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN
THE SYRACUSE AREA, OR THEY'RE
COMING FOR AN ASSOCIATE'S
(12:35):
DEGREE, BACHELOR DEGREE OR
GRADUATE DEGREE, WE OFFER
EVERYTHING IN EVERY DISCIPLINE
ACROSS OUR 64 CAMPUSES.
SO WANT NEW YORKERS TO KNOW
THAT.
SO WE WANT TO GROW ENROLLMENT
AND MAKE SURE THOSE STUDENTS WHO
COME FINISH AND LEAVE WITH A
MEANINGFUL DEGREE OR CREDENTIAL
THAT ALLOWS THEM TO ACCESS
OPPORTUNITY AND THE ECONOMY.
THE OTHER THING WE WANT TO HELP
(12:55):
DRIVE NEW YORK'S ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, WHETHER WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT HEALTH CARE OR THE
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING
RENAISSANCE WE'RE EXPERIENCING
OR GROWING OFFSHORE WIND OR
GEOTHERMAL.
WE AT SUNY CAN BE A KEY DRIVER
OF OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS
AND FOR COMMUNITIES.
(13:16):
YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING INCREDIBLE
WORK ON QUANTUM AT STONEY BROOK,
ON BATTERY TECHNOLOGY AT
BINGHAMTON.
THESE CAN BE MAJOR ECONOMIC
DRIVERS ON LONG ISLAND AND THE
SOUTHERN TIER.
WE WANT TO ACCELERATE OUR WORK
ON RESEARCH.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE NEED
OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO INVEST
(13:36):
IN THE RESEARCH, THE PARTNERSHIP
BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AND HIGHER EDUCATION THAT OVER
THE LAST 75 YEARS HAS DRIVEN SO
MUCH ADVANCEMENT IN TECHNOLOGY.
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S
ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY,
CHANCELLOR.
>> THANKS SO MUCH.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
SUNY CHANCELLOR JOHN KING.
(13:59):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
FUNDING FOR SUNY, YOU CAN VISIT
OUR WEBSITE.
THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT
TOPIC.
AS WE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK ON THE
SHOW, THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE
SESSION HAS OFFICIALLY COME TO A
CLOSE.
EVERY YEAR, THE LEGISLATURE
COMMEMORATES THE END OF SESSION
(14:21):
WITH THE FEW TRADITIONS TO KEEP
THE SPIRITS OF LAWMAKERS UP.
THOSE TRADITIONS INCLUDE SNEAKER
DAY AND THE SENATE INDULGING IN
COOL TREATS AS THEY FINISH
DEBATING ON THE LAST FEW BILLS.
OUR ELISE KLINE HAS THAT STORY.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> EACH YEAR, LEADING UP TO THE
END OF LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR YEAR
(14:43):
THERE ARE MANY COMPETING
PRIORITIES AND SOMETIMES
HUNDREDS OF BILLS TO PASS IN A
SMALL WINDOW OF TIME.
MANY LAWMAKERS SAY THE
END-OF-SESSION CRUNCH TIME IS
BRUTAL TO GET THROUGH.
HOWEVER, A FEW UNIQUE TRADITIONS
THAT TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE
CAPITOL BRING SOME REPRIEVE FOR
LAWMAKERS.
SNEAKERS AND SNOWCONES.
THREE YEARS AGO, STATE SENATORS
ZELLNOR MYRIE AND JAMAAL BAILEY
(15:03):
CREATED SNEAKER DAY TO TRY TO
HELP LAWMAKERS COME TOGETHER ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND HAVE
A LITTLE FUN WITH FASHION.
>> IN OCTOBER, THERE IS THIS
SNEAKER DAY, BUT WE CREATED THE
NEXT DISCUSSION IN NEW YORK TO
MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING SOMETHING
HERE AT THE CAPITOL THAT'S FUN,
THAT'S ALL-ENCOMPASSING, THAT'S
BIPARTISAN, THAT BRINGS
EVERYBODY IN, AND SNEAKERS ARE A
(15:23):
WAY TO EXPRESS YOURSELF.
>> BAILEY SAYS THERE HAS BEEN
MORE PARTICIPATION EACH YEAR
FROM LAWMAKERS, STAFFERS,
LOBBYISTS AND EVEN REPORTERS.
THIS YEAR ON SNEAKER DAY, MANY
LAWMAKERS CAME IN SPORTING THEIR
CHOSEN STYLES.
STATE SENATOR NATHALIA
FERNANDEZ, A DEMOCRAT
REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE BRONX
AND WESTCHESTER, SAYS SNEAKER
DAY IS NOT ONLY GREAT FOR
END-OF-SESSION FUN BUT FOR
COMFORT.
(15:44):
>> AFTER ALL SESSION WALKING IN
HE'S HEELS, TODAY WAS SUCH A
RELIEF AND THE RELAXER THAT WE
ALL NEEDED ESPECIALLY ME AT
LEAST.
BUT YEAH. I LOVE IT.
AND IT'S SUCH A GREAT WAY FOR
MEMBERS TO SHOW, YOU KNOW, THEIR
STYLE PREFERENCE.
MAYBE SOME CREATIVITY, SOME
CLASSIC LOOKS.
I DID GO WITH THE CLASSIC NIKE
AIR MAX SO FEELING THE COMFORT
OF WALKING ON AIR, LITERALLY.
>> OTHER DEMOCRATS LIKE STATE
(16:05):
SENATOR COONEY, REPRESENTING
MONROE COUNTY, SAYS HE
PARTICIPATES IN THE TRADITION
EVERY YEAR.
HE SAYS IT'S ONE OF BEST
TRADITIONS IN THE LEGISLATURE.
>> WE HAVE TO WEAR SUITS AND
TIES ALL YEAR ROUND BUT FOR THIS
DAY, WE GET TO WALK ON THE
SENATE FLOOR AND GET TO WEAR OUR
NIKES OR OUR SNEAKERS, WHATEVER
WE CHOOSE.
>> WHILE NOT EVERY REPUBLICAN
MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATE
PARTICIPATED THIS YEAR, THOSE
THAT DID SAID THEY ENJOYED THE
(16:27):
COMFORT OF SNEAKERS ON THE HARD
CAPITOL FLOORS AND EXPLAINED HOW
THE TRADITION BRINGS LAWMAKERS
TOGETHER DURING TENSE TIMES.
STATE SENATOR JAMES TEDISCO, A
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING SARATOGA
COUNTY, SAYS HE THINKS THIS IS
END-OF-SESSION TRADITION HELPS
LAWMAKERS SEE THEMSELVES AS A
TEAM.
>> THIS KIND OF TURNS IT MORE
TOWARDS SOMETHING WE AGREE UPON
COLLECTIVELY.
(16:47):
IT'S FUN. WE COME HERE.
WE WEAR OUR SNEAKERS ON THAT
DAY, AND WE LET DOWN OUR
PARTISANSHIP FOR A WHILE.
IF ONE THING IT SHOULD BE A TEAM
WORKING IN THE BEST BIPARTISAN
WAY IT CAN, IT SHOULD BE THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
>> STATE SENATOR GEORGE
BORRELLO, A REPUBLICAN
REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE FINGER
LAKES, SAYS PARTICIPATING IN
SNEAKER DAY SENDS A POSITIVE
MESSAGE TO NEW YORKERS.
(17:08):
>> IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT
CAN SHOW THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK
THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE HERE TO
DEBATE OUR SERIOUS PHILOSOPHICAL
DIFFERENCES ON THESE BILLS, WE
CAN STILL DO A FEW THINGS THAT
BRING US ALTOGETHER.
>> ANOTHER TRADITION LAWMAKERS
ENJOY TOGETHER IN ALBANY IS THE
CELEBRATORY SNOWCONES TO
COMMEMORATE THE CLOSING OUT OF
THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AS THE FINAL HOURS OF SESSION IN
THE SENATE CHAMBERS WRAP UP, THE
(17:29):
SENATE SECRETARY HELPS
COORDINATE DELIVERING THE
CLASSIC SUMMER TREAT, SNOWCONES,
TO THE MEMBERS AND STAFFERS.
THE TRADITION DATING BACK TO THE
190S IS BELOVED BY MANY STATE
LAWMAKERS.
>> MY FAVORITE FLAVOR IS LEMON,
AND I KNOW THERE'S ALL DIFFERENT
TYPES OF FLAVORS, BUT I WAS
BROUGHT UP-- I WOULD REJOICE
WHEN MY DAD AND MY MOM WOULD
BRING MYSELF AND TWO BROTHERS TO
(17:50):
GET LEMON ICE IN SCHENECTADY.
>> STATE SENATOR KRISTEN
GONZALES, A DEMOCRAT
REPRESENTING PARTS OF BROOKLYN,
QUEENS AND MANHATTAN, SAYS THE
SNOWCONES ALSO KNOWN AS ITALIAN
ICE, ARE NOSTALGIC FOR HER AS
WELL.
>> WHENEVER I WENT TO THE PARK
WITH MY MOM, YOU KNOW, THERE
WOULD BE THE LITTLE CART WITH
THE ITALIAN ICEES AND I WAS
ALWAYS-- COCONUT'S MY FAVORITE
FLAVOR.
I KNOW IT CAN BE CONTROVERSIAL.
(18:12):
YOU CAN ADD ME IN THE DMS.
I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL,
COCONUT'S THE BEST FLAVOR, AND
THEY ALWAYS HAVE THAT.
SO I'M VERY HAPPY.
>> MANY LAWMAKERS' G- TO FLAVOR
IS LEMON.
>> I LIKE LEMON ICE.
YOU KNOW, I MIGHT BE A LITTLE
TRADITIONAL.
>> STATE SENATOR TOBY ANN
STAVISKY, A DEMOCRAT
REPRESENTING PARTS OF QUEENS,
SAYS FOR HER LEMON ICE IS MORE
THAN JUST A REFRESHING CHOICE.
>> IN QUEENS WE HAVE THE LEMON
(18:32):
ICE KING.
SO LEMON ICE TO ME, THAT'S A
GREAT TRADITION.
>> SOME LAWMAKERS, LIKE STATE
SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER, A DEMOCRAT
REPRESENTING THE UPPER EAST SIDE
OF MANHATTAN, SAYS SHE LIKES TO
EXPLORE ALL THE FLAVORS.
>> I TRY A LITTLE ONE OF A BUNCH
OF THEM BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY
DIFFERENT FLAVORS.
SO I WON'T TELL I HAVE A
FAVORITE.
(18:52):
ALTHOUGH I DO LIKE MANGO.
>> AND KRUEGER ISN'T ALONE.
OTHER LAWMAKERS LIKE TO TRY
MULTIPLE FLAVORS.
>> CHERRY'S MY FAVORITE AND THE
TRADITIONAL LEMON.
SOMETIMES I GO BACK FOR A SECOND
ONE, BUT DON'T TELL ANYBODY.
[LAUGHTER]
>> COONEY SAYS THE ICY SUMMER
TREAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE
A MUCH-NEEDED BREAK AND TALK TO
OTHER MEMBERS AND STAFFERS.
(19:13):
>> IT'S A CHANCE TO JUST SPEND A
COUPLE MOMENTS.
GET TO KNOW PEOPLE, BOTH SIDES
OF THE AISLE, AND HAVE
CONVERSATIONS AND TRY TO BE
POSITIVE ABOUT THE WORK THAT
WE'RE DOING ON BEHALF OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.
>> COONEY ADDS THE
END-OF-SESSION TRADITIONS ARE AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THE
LEGISLATIVE YEAR.
>> THEY'RE IMPORTANT.
TRADITIONS HELP US MARK THE
MOMENT.
IT'S A HEAVY TIME IN ALBANY.
WE'RE TRYING TO PASS REALLY
COMPLEX BILLS AND OFTENTIMES THE
(19:34):
MOST CONTROVERSIAL BILLS HAPPEN
THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
SO IT'S A MOMENT OF LEVITY WHERE
WE CAN COME TOGETHER.
>> SENATOR BORRELLO AGREES.
>> YEAH. THERE'S CERTAINLY THAT,
YOU KNOW, THAT ELEMENT TO THIS,
RIGHT, THAT THIS IS A STRESSFUL
JOB.
THE END OF THE SESSION IS VERY
STRESSFUL AND YOU KNOW, LITTLE
THINGS LIKE THAT, IT HELPS.
I THINK THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK
STATE, AGAIN, I THINK THEY LIKE
TO SEE US AT LEAST AGREE ON SOME
THINGS.
(19:54):
>> STATE SENATOR MAJORITY
LEADER, ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS,
A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
WESTCHESTER, SAYS THE TRADITIONS
CONTEMPORARY AND OLD, ARE
IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE.
>> THE END OF SESSION CAN BE SO
TENSE AND SO-- SO ROUGH.
TO ADD SOME LIGHTNESS IS-- IS, I
THINK, GOOD FOR THE SPIRIT, GOOD
(20:15):
FOR MORALE.
>> SOME LAWMAKERS ADMIRE THE
FACT THAT A TRADITION LIKE
END-OF-SESSION SNOWCONES IN THE
SENATE HAS LASTED NEARLY 50
YEARS.
>> I LOVE THE IDEA OF TRADITION,
WHETHER IT BE A POLICY TRADITION
OR SOMETHING LIKE WEARING A
CRAZY JACKET OR SNEAKERS OR
WHATEVER
>> SENATOR BAILEY SAYS HE HOPES
SNEAKER DAY CONTINUES ON THE WAY
(20:36):
THE SNOWCONES HAVE.
>> I AM HOPEFUL THAT SNEAKER DAY
WILL LAST, YOU KNOW, PASS THE
TEST OF TIME THROUGHOUT
DIFFERENT ITERATIONS OF THE
SENATE AND WHOEVER-- I'M HOPEFUL
THIS WILL BE A TRADITION THAT
CONTINUES TO CARRY ON BECAUSE IT
IS A DAY THAT-- I DON'T WANT TO
CONTINUE TO REPEAT MYSELF, BUT
IT REALLY DOES DO SOMETHING
SPECIAL.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(20:57):
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US IN THE STUDIO TODAY, ELISE.
>> HAPPY TO BE AT THE DESK.
>> OF COURSE.
CAN YOU TELL US WHAT WAS IT LIKE
REPORTING AT THE STATE CAPITOL
ON THE END OF SESSION
TRADITIONS?
>> SO IT WAS QUITE CRAZY TOWARDS
THE END OF SESSION, AS YOU KNOW.
TENSIONS ARE BUILDING UP.
THE HOURS ARE COUNTING DOWN INTO
THE NIGHT, BUT YOU CAN REALLY
SENSE A SHIFT OF JUST ENERGY
(21:19):
WHEN THE SNOWCONES COME OUT AND
LAWMAKERS ARE WALKING AROUND AND
LAUGHING AND TALKING WITH THEIR
STAFFERS, SO IT WAS REALLY FUN
TO KIND OF SEE THE MOMENT COME
TO FRUITION, AND IT'S KIND OF
LIKE THE END OF SUMMER WHEN YOU
WERE IN SCHOOL.
THAT'S SORT OF LIKE THE VIBE
THAT IT FEELS LIKE.
>> YEAH AND WE KNOW THAT THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS
(21:39):
SCHEDULED TO END LAST WEEK BUT
THE ASSEMBLY HAD TO WRAP UP A
FEW THINGS THIS WEEK.
CAN YOU TELL US KNOW WHAT WERE
SOME OF THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR
THE LOWER CHAMBER?
>> SO TOWARDS THE LAST-- LAST
WEEK, LAST FEW DAYS IN THE
ASSEMBLY, THERE WERE LIKE A
COUPLE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES
THAT WERE REALLY LIKE AT THE
FOREFRONT OF WHAT THEY WANTED TO
FINISH BEFORE THE TIME RAN OUT
IN TERMS OF THEIR EXTENDED TIME
(22:00):
THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE
THERE.
SO THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT, OR A
PORTION OF IT, WAS REALLY WHAT--
I WOULD SAY WAS LIKE THE MAIN
PRIORITY FOR THE WEEK, AND
THAT'S ELIMINATING THE 100-FOOT
RULE, WHICH IS JUST A PORTION OF
NEW YORK HEAT.
IT'S NOT THE WHOLE POLICY.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE, SMALL LITTLE
PART OF IT, AND THEY DEBATED
THAT AND THAT DID PASS.
(22:22):
IT WAS PRETTY CLOSE.
IT WAS ABOUT, I THINK, 87-51, OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> YEAH. AND I KNOW YOU'VE DONE
SOME AWESOME REPORTING ON THE
NEW YORK HEAT ACT.
DID THIS COME AS A SURPRISE TO
YOU?
>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS A TOTAL
SURPRISE TO HAVE IT BE KIND OF
SEPARATED BECAUSE THERE'S SO
MANY THINGS IN THE NEW YORK HEAT
ACT AND THIS HAPPENS WITH OTHER
POLICIES.
SOMETIMES THINGS GET SEPARATED
(22:43):
OUT.
IT'S AN AMENDMENT.
IT'S JUST ONE LITTLE PIECE OF IT
IS A BILL ON ITS OWN.
THE REAL QUESTION IS, WHAT WILL
HAPPEN NEXT SESSION WITH THE
REST OF IT, REALLY.
BUT LAWMAKERS HAVE TOLD ME THAT
THEY FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT PART OF IT, 100-FOOT
RULE IN TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY.
THE 100-FOOT RULE IS CUSTOMERS
(23:03):
WHO EXIST-- EXCUSE ME, WHO LIVE
WITHIN 100 FEET OF AN EXISTING
GAS LINE, THEY GET THEIR GAS
HOOKUP FOR FREE, AND SO THAT
STATUTE HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE
LIKE THE '80S, AND THIS LITTLE
PIECE OF THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT
WOULD ELIMINATE THAT CUSTOMERS
WOULD HAVE TO ESSENTIALLY NOW
HAVE TO PAY IN ORDER TO HAVE
(23:25):
AFFORDABILITY IN THE END FOR NEW
YORKERS.
>> AND WE KNOW THAT AT THE END
OF SESSION, LAWMAKERS RETURN TO
THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS TO,
YOU KNOW, BE AROUND THEIR
CONSTITUENTS.
DID YOU HEAR ANYTHING ON HOW
LAWMAKERS ARE HOPING TO SORT OF
RAMP UP SUPPORT THROUGH THE
SUMMER LEADING INTO THE NEXT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION?
>> WELL, I KNOW THAT THERE'S
BEEN A LOT OF RALLIES ON THIS
(23:45):
THROUGHOUT SESSION AND
OFF-SESSION TIME.
MANY LAWMAKERS ARE DEDICATED TO
GETTING ALL OF THE LEGISLATION,
ALL THE PIECES OF IT INTO LAW.
I'M SURE THAT THEIR EFFORTS ARE
GOING TO BE LIKE REALLY PUSHED
IN THIS OFF-SESSION TIME IN
THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS,
DOING PRESS CONFERENCES AND
LOCAL RALLIES, AND SOMETHING WE
SEE A LOT WITH LAWMAKERS ON A
(24:06):
NUMBER OF POLICIES.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WILL
CONTINUE IN TERMS OF THE
OFF-SESSION.
>> AND WERE THERE ANY OTHER
PRIORITIES IN THE ASSEMBLY
CHAMBER THIS WEEK THAT TOOK UP
THE OXYGEN IN THE ROOM IN TERMS
OF DEBATES?
>> SO THERE WAS ANOTHER PIECE OF
LEGISLATION CALLED THE PACKAGING
REDUCTION ACT, AND THAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO END UP GETTING ON
(24:26):
THE DEBATE LIST AND IT WAS
GETTING REALLY CLOSE, VERY
SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR IS THAT IT
MADE IT THROUGH ALL THE
COMMITTEE IT NEEDED TO.
IT WAS READY TO GO TO THE FLOOR
AND IT WAS JUST LAID ASIDE AND
IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE IT.
IT WAS JUST BASICALLY THROWN OUT
AT THE LAST MINUTE AND THAT IS
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.
SO IT WAS KIND OF DEJA VU FOR
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION WHICH
(24:47):
IS ALSO AN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY.
SO ADVOCATES WERE REALLY
DISAPPOINTED THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN
WHEN THERE WAS SO MUCH BUILD-UP
TO IT AT THE LAST SECOND.
THEY WERE REALLY HOPING IT WOULD
MAKE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE
AND IT JUST DIDN'T.
>> YEAH. WHY WERE THEY SORT OF
OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS YEAR WOULD
BE THE YEAR THAT IT WOULD MAKE
IT OVER THE LEGISLATIVE FINISH
LINE?
>> YOU KNOW, IT MADE IT THROUGH
(25:07):
THE COMMITTEES THAT IT NEEDED
TO.
THEY FELT IT HAD ENOUGH SUPPORT
AND IT HAD THE SAME OF SUPPORT
LAST YEAR AND THEY FELT WHEN IT
GOT TO THE FLOOR THAT IT WAS
GONNA PASS, THAT IT WAS GONNA
HAVE ENOUGH VOTES.
SO IS SOMETIMES IT'S JUST WHEN
IT COMES DOWN TO THE WIRE AND
THERE'S SO LITTLE TIME,
LAWMAKERS FEEL LIKE THE DEBATE
WAS GOING TO TAKE TOO LONG, I
THINK MAYBE IT WAS A TIME ISSUE
(25:29):
AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST
YEAR.
>> DO YOU KNOW IF THEY'RE
CONSIDERING ANY AMENDMENTS TO
THE BILL TO SORT OF GET IT OVER
THE LEGISLATIVE FINISH LINE NEXT
YEAR?
>> I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY
SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS BUT I
WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF
SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENED AS
WE JUST SAW WITH THE NEW YORK
HEAT ACT.
THERE WAS JUST A LITTLE PIECE OF
IT THAT GOT OVER THE FINISH
LINE.
SOMETIMES WITH BIGGER POLICIES
(25:52):
THAT WOULD TAKE UP A TON OF
DEBATE, SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE
EASIER TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF
SECTION OF IT.
>> YEAH. THAT MAKES SENSE.
WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL
THE TIME WE HAVE FOR RIGHT NOW,
BUT THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR AWESOME REPORTING, ELISE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> OF COURSE.
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING AND SEE YOU
(26:14):
NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:36):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
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