August 8, 2025 • 26 mins
The New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy unpacks the decarbonization efforts for the Empire State Plaza, emission goals, and climate objectives in the state. State lawmakers have been pushing for a bill that would ban toxic chemicals in beauty products. We dive into the bill's history, regulations at the federal level, and the impact of toxic chemicals on consumers.
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(00:00):
[ Theme Music ]
(00:19):
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.
I'M ELISE KLINE.
THIS YEAR'S FISCAL YEAR 2026
STATE BUDGET INCLUDED $136
MILLION IN FUNDING FOR A
DECARBONIZATION PROJECT FOR THE
EMPIRE STATE PLAZA.
THE PROJECT AIMS TO REDUCE
EMISSIONS THROUGH INSTALLED
ELECTRIC AND HEAT RECOVERY
CHILLERS TO POWER THE EMPIRE
STATE PLAZA.
(00:40):
IT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH
FOUR PHASES.
THE FIRST PHASE, WHICH WAS FULLY
FUNDED THIS YEAR, WILL TAKE
ABOUT FIVE YEARS.
WE SAT DOWN WITH THE
COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK
STATE OFFICE OF GENERAL
SERVICES, JEANETTE MOY, TO
DISCUSS THE PROJECT'S EMISSION
GOALS, THE IMPLEMENTATION
PROCESS, AND THE STATE'S CLIMATE
OBJECTIVES.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
(01:01):
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US TODAY, COMMISSIONER.
>> OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
HAVING ME HERE, ELISE.
>> SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE ADVOCACY FOR PUSHING FOR
THIS PROJECT.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN
ADVOCATING FOR IT?
AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF LED
UP TO THIS FINAL FUNDING PHASE,
AND HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW THAT
PHASE 1 HAS BEEN FUNDED?
>> I'M REALLY EXCITED.
SO I'VE BEEN COMMISSIONER NOW
COMING UP ON FOUR YEARS, AND
(01:21):
THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
PROJECTS THAT WE TOOK ON.
GOVERNOR HOCHUL WAS VERY FOCUSED
ON DECARBONIZATION, AND
OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE'RE THINKING
ABOUT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS,
THERE ARE TWO MAIN CONTRIBUTORS,
RIGHT?
IT'S BUILDINGS, AND IT'S
TRANSPORTATION.
AND SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE WERE LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR
PROJECTS AND PORTFOLIOS AT
LARGE.
SO THIS PROJECT, THIS WORK
AROUND THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA,
(01:43):
ORIGINATED AS AN ENERGY STUDY.
SO THE NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY
AND THE OFFICE OF GENERAL
SERVICES HAD BEEN FOCUSED ON HOW
DO WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE
REDUCTIONS IN ENERGY USAGE AT
THE PLAZA?
AND WE SLOWLY, AS WE STARTED TO
DIVE INTO THIS WORK WHEN I FIRST
ARRIVED, WE STARTED FOCUSING
MORE ON DECARBONIZATION, IS IT
POSSIBLE?
AND ESPECIALLY AS DL 15, A
(02:04):
DECARBONIZATION LEADERSHIP
COUNCIL, HAD BEEN CREATED
UNDERNEATH THE GOVERNOR, WE
STARTED REALLY FOCUSING ON THAT
OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS.
NOW THIS PROJECT, THIS FIRST
PHASE, WHICH WILL HELP US TO GET
TO 21% REDUCTIONS IN THE ALBANY
REGION, IS NOW FULLY FUNDED.
AND SO HUGE EXCITEMENT WITHIN
OUR AGENCY.
(02:24):
LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNOR HAD
ANNOUNCED $100 MILLION USING
ENVIRONMENTAL BONDS ACT ON
FUNDING.
WE ALSO GOT $5 MILLION ALSO THAT
WAS SET ASIDE THROUGH THE PUBLIC
FACILITIES SUSTAINABILITY FUNDS
AS WELL.
SO THIS LAST TRANCHE OF MONEY IS
GOING TO ALLOW US TO FULLY
DECARBONIZE ABOUT 21% HERE IN
THE DOWNTOWN REGION.
(02:45):
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
>> SO TELL ME WHY THE EMPIRE
STATE PLAZA, WHAT WAS THE
INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS PROJECT?
>> THIS IS 98 ACRES OF SPACE IN
THE DOWNTOWN ALBANY REGION,
RIGHT?
THIS IS ABOUT ALMOST 20 MILLION
SQUARE FEET OF IMPROVED
COMMERCIAL SPACE.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A COMPLICATED
INFRASTRUCTURE.
(03:06):
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THERE'S
BEEN ADVOCACY WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE
COMPLEX INFRASTRUCTURE IN
DOWNTOWN ALBANY FOR QUITE SOME
TIME.
WHETHER YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO
LIVES IN SHERIDAN HOLLOW AND IN
THE ARBOR HILL AREAS, FOLKS HAVE
BEEN THINKING ABOUT PARTICULARLY
THAT SHERIDAN AVENUE STEAM
PLANT.
IT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 1900S.
IT STARTED OFF BURNING COAL.
(03:26):
IT BECAME A COGENERATION PLANT
AS THE PLAZA WAS CREATED.
AND THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
LOOK AT REDUCTIONS OF GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS, AGAIN, RIGHT HERE
IN DOWNTOWN ALBANY.
SO IT'S A WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S A WIN IN TERMS OF OUR
AGENCY AND ENSURING THAT OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE IS BEST
STRUCTURED AND BEST SUPPORTED.
SO IT'S GREAT FOR EVERYONE, AND
(03:47):
I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE GOVERNOR
AND OUR ADMINISTRATION FOR
MOVING THIS FORWARD.
>> AND WHAT IS THE
IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS GOING TO
LOOK LIKE?
HOW MANY BUILDINGS WILL BE
IMPACTED?
HOW LONG WILL THIS TAKE?
YOU KNOW, WALK ME THROUGH WHAT
THIS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN
TERMS OF ACTUALLY ACHIEVING IT?
>> SO THERE ARE FOUR PHASES THAT
ARE A PART OF THE FULL
DECARBONIZATION, RIGHT?
SO OUR FIRST PHASE OF WORK,
(04:08):
WHICH BRINGS US TO 21%
REDUCTION, INCLUDES LOOKING AT
ELECTRIC CHILLERS FOR THE
SHERIDAN AVENUE AREA, RIGHT?
SO WE HAVE AN AIR CONDITIONING
PLANT THAT EXISTS UNDERNEATH THE
CONCOURSE, AND WE'LL BE LOOKING
AT ADDITIONAL CHILLERS.
THOSE ARE IN DESIGN RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL ALSO BE LOOKING AT HEAT
RECOVERY CHILLERS.
(04:28):
SO THERE'S HEAT THAT'S GENERATED
WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS
SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'RE GOING TO REPURPOSE THAT
HEAT, BRING IT RIGHT INTO THE
PLAZA.
THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE THAT WE
LOOK AT SOME OF THE AIR HANDLING
UNITS, IT REQUIRES THAT WE START
BREAKING INTO WALLS, AND THAT
WILL ALLOW US TO REALLY AGAIN
REDUCE OUR EMISSIONS BY 21%.
THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE WITHIN
THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, RIGHT?
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
(04:49):
THAT FIRST PHASE OF WORK.
AS WE LOOK TOWARDS THE SECOND
PHASE, THAT IS LOOKING AT THE
MOVEMENT OF THE BIGGS LABORATORY
OUT TO THE HARRIMAN CAMPUS.
THAT RESULTS IN A 52% REDUCTION
IN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS,
RIGHT?
AND SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THAT
LABORATORY, IT'S BUILT RIGHT IN
THE BASE OF CORNING TOWER.
IT'S REALLY INEFFICIENT.
SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IT
WAS INTENDED FOR, THAT OFFICE
(05:09):
SPACE, AS OPPOSED TO THE
LABORATORY THAT WAS CREATED, IT
REQUIRES NEGATIVE AIR PRESSURE,
IT'S A SIGNIFICANT DRAIN.
SO AS IT GOES TO MODERN, MORE
PURPOSE BUILT SPACE OUT AT
HARRIMAN CAMPUS, IT ALLOWS US TO
REDUCE THOSE EMISSIONS, IT'LL
HAPPEN WITHIN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
AS WE LOOK TO THE THIRD PHASE OF
WORK, 92% REDUCTION.
THAT REQUIRES THAT WE'RE LOOKING
(05:30):
AT EITHER SOME COMBINATION OF
GEOTHERMAL, AND THAT'S A
CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE NEW
YORK POWER AUTHORITY AND THE
CITY OF ALBANY.
WE'RE LOOKING ALSO AT
POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT
REPURPOSING SOME OF THE EXCESS
HEAT FROM WASTEWATER TREATMENT
PLANTS.
THAT'S A CONVERSATION WITH THE
COUNTY.
AND SO RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE
ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE
(05:51):
NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY AND
THOSE TWO MUNICIPAL ENTITIES TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE RIGHT
SINGLE SOURCE OR LIKE MORE
LIKELY COMBINATION OF SOURCES IN
ORDER TO SUPPORT THE LOAD AND
NEED OF THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT FEEDBACK IS
GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR.
SO YOU KNOW.
ALL THIS IS GOING TO BE PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TAKING PLACE
IN ALBANY AND WE'RE LOOKING
FORWARD TO GETTING STARTED.
(06:13):
>> AND WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF
THIS PROJECT OVERALL?
I KNOW YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT
JUST PHASE 1 WILL ACHIEVE ABOUT
21% OF REDUCING THE CAPITAL
REGION'S EMISSION REDUCTION.
>> SO IT'S THE GREENHOUSE GAS
REDUCTIONS FOR THE EMPIRE STATE
PLAZA.
AND SO THIS ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE
TO, AS WE THINK ABOUT CLEAN
(06:33):
ENERGY GRID, AS WE THINK ABOUT
SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE
TAKING PLACE, THIS IS ALL ABOUT
REDUCING THE GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS THAT ARE PRODUCED BY
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE ITSELF.
NOW THROUGH THE DECARBONIZATION
LEADERSHIP EFFORTS, THE DL 15
EFFORTS, THERE ARE 15 CAMPUSES
IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK THAT
HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST
EMITTING CAMPUSES IN TERMS OF
(06:54):
THEIR USAGE OF GREENHOUSE GASES
AND WITH UNFORTUNATELY, OGS
OVERSEES TWO OF THEM, RIGHT?
SO ONE OF THEM IS THE EMPIRE
STATE PLAZA, THE OTHER ONE BEING
HARRIMAN.
WE ARE THE FIRST ONES OUT OF THE
GATES TO HAVE A DECARBONIZATION
PLAN.
WE'RE THE FIRST ONES OUT OF THE
GATES TO REALLY PUSH SOME OF
THESE EFFORTS.
WE ARE SHOWING THAT IT IS
POSSIBLE TO DO GREAT AND BIG
(07:15):
THINGS, WHILE ALSO RESTORING A
CAPITAL CITY FOR THE ALBANY
REGION, WHICH INCREDIBLY PROUD
OF THOSE ACTIVITIES.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF
CONSTRUCTION THAT'S HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW IN THE PLAZA.
IF YOU DRIVE THROUGH IT, I'M
SURE YOU'VE SEEN IT YOURSELF.
WHETHER IT IS THE WORK THAT
WE'RE DOING AROUND THE EASTERN
APPROACH AND RESTORING THOSE
STAIRS OR IT'S THE ACTIVITIES
HAPPENING ON THE ARTERIAL TO
ENSURE THAT THEIR ROADWAYS ARE
(07:36):
MAINTAINED AND SAFE AND
AVAILABLE.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT OGS IS
FOCUSED ON AND I THINK IS A REAL
INVESTMENT, AGAIN, BACK TO OUR
CAPITAL REGION.
>> AND HOW DOES THIS PROJECT FIT
INTO THE STATE'S OVERALL CLIMATE
REDUCTION OR EMISSION REDUCTION
GOALS?
WILL THIS HELP US CATCH UP TO
THE GOALS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY A
(07:56):
LITTLE BIT BEHIND ON?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND SO I THINK NUMBER ONE, THIS
IS REAL DEMONSTRABLE PROGRESS,
RIGHT?
AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE A GREAT
PLAN FOR THAT FIRST PHASE.
THIS IS WHEN WE'RE THINKING
ABOUT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS,
THERE ARE TWO MAJOR AREAS IT'S
TRANSPORTATION, AND IT'S
BUILDINGS.
AND BUILDINGS ARE COMPLICATED,
PARTICULARLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING
(08:17):
ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE
SIZE AND SCALE THAT'S HERE IN
THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA.
THIS ALSO PARTNERS WITH THE WORK
THAT WE'RE DOING AROUND
CONVERTING THE STATE'S VEHICLES,
RIGHT?
SO THE OTHER PART OF OGS IS ALSO
LOOKING AT THE CONVERSION OF THE
STATE FLEET TO LIGHT DUTY
VEHICLES BY 2035, ALL MEDIUM AND
HEAVY BY 2040.
AND SO AGAIN, WE LOOKED INTO THE
(08:38):
DATA, WE CREATED A PLAN THAT
MADE SENSE.
WE'VE PUBLICLY PROVIDED
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT
TRANSITION, AND WE'RE CONTINUING
TO ADVANCE THAT ON BEHALF OF THE
GOVERNOR AND THE STATE.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT STEPS LOOK
LIKE IN TERMS OF GETTING PHASE 2
FUNDED?
I KNOW THAT PHASE 1 IS GOING TO
BE ABOUT, YOU SAID ABOUT FIVE
YEARS, BUT SOMETIMES IT TAKES
MULTIPLE YEARS TO GET SOMETHING
IN A FINAL STATE BUDGET.
(08:58):
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
AND SO THE SECOND PHASE DOES
REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF
WADSWORTH LABORATORIES OUT IN
HARRIMAN.
SO WE'LL BE PAYING ATTENTION TO
THAT CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE.
WE'LL START PLANNING FOR THE
RETROFIT OF THE SPACE AS IT
STARTS TO EXIT.
THAT THIRD PHASE OF WORK, WHICH
IS PROBABLY THE LION'S SHARE OF
ACTIVITIES, DOES REQUIRE THAT WE
ARE LOOKING AT, AGAIN,
(09:19):
GEOTHERMAL OPPORTUNITIES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WASTEWATER
TREATMENT SITE.
AND SO ONCE WE START TO DIG INTO
THOSE ACTIVITIES, WE'LL KNOW A
LITTLE BIT MORE AROUND WHAT
THOSE COSTS MIGHT LOOK LIKE,
WHAT THAT SCHEDULE MIGHT LOOK
LIKE.
SO NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE A
VERY BIG ONE FOR US.
WE ARE, OF COURSE, HAVING
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DIVISION
OF BUDGET, WITH THE EXECUTIVE
CHANGER, WITH OUR GREAT
(09:39):
COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATURE.
>> AND DO YOU THINK THE CUTS AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL WILL HAVE ANY
SORT OF IMPACT ON YOUR ABILITY
TO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR
THE SECONDARY PHASES?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
AND SO, LOOK, THESE ARE, IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT THIS WORK IS
TAKING PLACE FOR A VARIETY OF
REASONS.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
THIS FIRST SET OF WORK, THERE'S
(10:00):
A LOT THAT HAS TO HAPPEN RIGHT
NOW.
WE ARE FULLY FUNDED, ALLOWS US
TO ALSO CONTINUE WITH THE DESIGN
WORK AS WE THINK THROUGH THE
NEXT SETS OF ACTIVITIES.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS A
COMMITMENT THAT THE GOVERNOR
HAS.
THESE ARE ALSO CAPITAL DOLLARS.
THESE ARE LONG TERM INVESTMENT
DOLLARS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT
HERE IN THE REGION THAT DOES
NEED TO TRANSFORM.
THERE'S A LOT OF NEW RESIDENTS
(10:22):
THAT ARE COMING INTO THE REGION,
I'M ONE OF THEM, YOU KNOW, MOVED
INTO THE AREA WITHIN THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS WITH MY FAMILY.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE NOT JUST ENSURING THAT THE
SPACE IS APPROPRIATE AND
ADEQUATE OF A PUBLIC SPACE FOR
ALL THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE,
BUT ALSO THAT AS NEW INDUSTRY
BUILDS UP, THAT WE'RE RETAINING
THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE
FAMILIES.
SO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT LONG
(10:42):
TERM INVESTMENT.
THE FEDERAL FUNDING IS OBVIOUSLY
VERY COMPLICATED.
AND I THINK THESE ARE
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE ALL HAVE
TO HAVE AROUND THE FUTURE OF
THIS FUNDING.
YOU KNOW, CLIMATE CLIMATE CHANGE
IS REAL.
THESE CHALLENGES THAT WE NEED TO
ADAPT TO ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
AND FOCUSING ON THIS ELEMENT,
DECARBONIZATION, WHEN IT COMES
TO BUILDINGS AND TRANSPORTATION,
AND PARTICULARLY THESE LARGE
(11:03):
COMPLEXES, WE CAN'T STEP BACK
FROM IT.
I THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN
VERY MUCH COMMITTED TO THIS WORK
AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE
FORWARD UNDERNEATH THIS
ADMINISTRATION.
>> AND ANOTHER LOOMING CHANGE
HERE IS EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP.
THERE IS A GUBERNATORIAL RACE
COMING UP, AND SO IF THERE IS
POTENTIALLY A CHANGE IN THE
GOVERNOR AND WHO'S LEADING THE
STATE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR
(11:23):
THIS PROJECT AND HOW IMPORTANT
IS IT TO HAVE EXECUTIVE
LEADERSHIP ON YOUR SIDE HERE?
I THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN
VERY CLEAR ABOUT LEADING BY
EXAMPLE, AND I THINK THAT ONE OF
THE THINGS I'VE APPRECIATED
ABOUT THIS WORK AND YOU KNOW
I'VE BEEN IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW IS THAT
THIS IS IMPORTANT SELF EVIDENCE
WORK, RIGHT?
WE ARE CREATING AN
INFRASTRUCTURE AND A SET OF
(11:43):
PROJECTS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL,
THEY RELATE BACK TO OUR
COMMUNITIES, AND WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT LIVABILITY, THESE
ARE PROJECTS THAT REALLY NEED TO
HAPPEN, THEY'RE IMPORTANT FOR
THE ALBANY COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
AND YOU KNOW, UNDER INVESTMENT
IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE JUST
RESULTS IN DETERIORATION, AND
THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE'VE
BEEN VERY BLESSED FROM MY
(12:05):
PERSPECTIVE TO HAVE A GOVERNOR
WHO'S BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF US
ADDRESSING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE,
ENSURING THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON
THESE AREAS.
I WOULD EXPECT THAT THIS
CONTINUES ON, AND I THINK
GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS BEEN A
REALLY GREAT PARTNER FOR OUR
AGENCY, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO THAT CONTINUING FOR THE NEXT
FEW YEARS.
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S
ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING
(12:25):
THE TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH US
TODAY, COMMISSIONER.
>> OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK, AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD
TO MAYBE GIVING YOU A TOUR
SOMETIME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> WE WERE SPEAKING WITH NEW
YORK STATE OFFICE OF GENERAL
SERVICES COMMISSIONER JEANETTE
MOY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DURING THE MOST RECENT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, STATE
LAWMAKERS PUSHED FOR A BILL
CALLED "THE BEAUTY JUSTICE ACT"
(12:46):
THAT INTENDS TO BAN CERTAIN
TOXIC CHEMICALS IN COSMETIC
PRODUCTS.
IF ENACTED, THE LEGISLATION
WOULD PROHIBIT MANUFACTURERS
FROM THE DISTRIBUTION OR SALE OF
ANY COSMETIC PRODUCTS CONTAINING
RESTRICTED SUBSTANCES, DEFINED
BY THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION,
AS AN INTENTIONALLY ADDED
INGREDIENT.
THE TYPES OF TOXIC CHEMICALS
(13:06):
RESTRICTED WOULD BE ASBESTOS,
FORMALDEHYDE, BENZENE, PARABENS,
AND MORE.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE DIVE
INTO THE BILL'S HISTORY IN THE
CAPITOL, THE REGULATIONS AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL, AND THE IMPACT OF
TOXIC CHEMICALS ON CONSUMERS.
HERE'S THAT STORY.
>> CURRENTLY IN THE UNITED
STATES, THERE ARE NO LAWS
REQUIRING THE FEDERAL DRUG
(13:27):
ADMINISTRATION TO APPROVE
COSMETIC PRODUCTS AND
INGREDIENTS BEFORE THEY GO ON
THE MARKET.
ONLY ABOUT A DOZEN STATES IN THE
NATION HAVE BANS ON HARMFUL
CHEMICALS IN COSMETIC PRODUCTS.
SOME NEW YORK STATE LAWMAKERS
FEEL IT'S TIME FOR NEW YORK TO
TAKE ACTION THROUGH LEGISLATION.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER DEBORAH GLICK, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
MANHATTAN, AN ELITE SPONSOR OF
THE BEAUTY JUSTICE ACT, STRESSES
(13:48):
THAT LIMITING THE USE OF HARMFUL
CHEMICALS HAS SIGNIFICANT
BENEFITS.
>> THERE ARE SO MANY CHEMICALS
IN OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND WE THINK
OF THAT AS BEING OUT THERE AND
NOT RIGHT IN HERE IN OUR HOMES,
AND YET MANY OF THESE FOREVER
CHEMICALS ARE IN PRODUCTS THAT
WE USE EVERY DAY FOR PERSONAL
(14:11):
CARE, COSMETICS, ET CETERA.
>> THE BEAUTY JUSTICE ACT WOULD
BAN AND RESTRICT THE SALE OF
PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS
CONTAINING CHEMICALS, SUCH AS
HEAVY METALS LIKE LEAD,
PARABENS, PFOS OR FOREVER
CHEMICALS, FORMALDEHYDE,
BENZENE, ASBESTOS AND MORE.
SOME ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES SAY
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD GO A LONG
WAY IN GETTING THESE CHEMICALS
OUT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND
(14:31):
BETTER SAFEGUARDING PUBLIC
HEALTH.
ROB HAYES, THE CLEAN WATER
DIRECTOR WITH ENVIRONMENTAL
ADVOCATES NEW YORK, HIGHLIGHTS
THAT MANY OTHER STATES AND
COUNTRIES ALREADY BAN THESE
KINDS OF CHEMICALS FOR GOOD
REASON.
>> EVERY TOXIC CHEMICAL BANNED
THROUGH THE BEAUTY JUSTICE ACT
HAS ALREADY BEEN BANNED IN
ANOTHER POLITICAL JURISDICTION.
THE EUROPEAN UNION, CALIFORNIA,
WASHINGTON, THEY ARE WAY AHEAD
(14:52):
OF US WHEN IT COMES TO
PROTECTING PEOPLE FROM REALLY
DANGEROUS EXPOSURE.
>> ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS STUDIES
FROM THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF
MEDICINE, HARMFUL CARCINOGENIC
CHEMICALS LIKE ASBESTOS AND
BENZENE ARE SHOWN TO INCREASE
THE RISK OF CANCERS, RESPIRATORY
CONDITIONS, NEUROLOGICAL
DISORDERS, AND ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTIONS.
STEVE XU, MEDICAL PROFESSOR AT
NORTHWESTERN AND A
DERMATOLOGIST, SAYS SOME
(15:13):
COSMETIC PRODUCTS CAN ALSO CAUSE
SERIOUS HARMS TO CONSUMERS'
SKIN.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF SKIN
LIGHTENING CREAMS WITH VERY,
VERY POWERFUL CORTICOSTEROIDS
THAT ARE NOT SORT OF TRAPPED IN
THERE.
THAT CAN LEAD TO SKIN ATROPHY,
SKIN BLEACHING, AND THAT'S A
KIND OF SERIOUS THING.
>> AND PRODUCT CONSUMERS AREN'T
THE ONLY INDIVIDUALS WHO COULD
BE HURT BY TOXIC CHEMICALS IN
PRODUCTS.
HAIR STYLISTS WHO HAVE EXTENDED
EXPOSURE TO PRODUCTS CAN ALSO BE
(15:35):
IN HARM'S WAY.
KELLY BRUNINA, OWNER OF
BOMBSHELL HAIR SALON IN DOWNTOWN
ALBANY SAYS SHE ONLY USES CLEAN
PRODUCTS IN HER STUDIO BECAUSE
OF EXTENDED EXPOSURE CONCERNS.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT
EVERYBODY'S COMFORTABLE, THAT
WE'RE USING PRODUCTS THAT'S
SUPER, SUPER CLEAN.
>> BERNINA GETS A VARIETY OF
CLEAN BRANDS, INCLUDING SOME
FROM EUROPE, WHICH IS MUCH MORE
HEAVILY REGULATED IN COSMETIC
(15:56):
SAFETY.
BOBBI WILDING, THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF CLEAN AND HEALTHY,
SAYS THE DATA AROUND EXPOSURE
EFFECTS IS UNFORTUNATELY
UNSURPRISING.
>> COMPANIES DON'T GET THE
SPOTLIGHT SHOWN ON THEM.
AND HAIR COMPANIES, I THINK,
HAVE AVOIDED THE SPOTLIGHT FOR A
LONG TIME.
THEY DO WHATEVER THEY WANT.
THEY DO WHATEVER IS STILL LEGAL.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT
TO PASS LAWS LIKE THIS, BECAUSE
(16:17):
IT'S SHAMEFUL THAT THIS IS
REQUIRED TO CHANGE THE
MARKETPLACE, BUT IT'S REALLY THE
ONLY THING THAT EVER REALLY HAS.
>> WILDING STRESSES THAT MOST
CONSUMERS ARE COMPLETELY UNAWARE
THESE KINDS OF INGREDIENTS ARE
IN THEIR EVERYDAY COSMETIC
PRODUCTS AND THAT THEY CAN BE
HARMFUL TO THEIR HEALTH.
>> I MEAN, FRANKLY, IT'S
SICKENING TO ME, RIGHT?
LIKE IT MAKES ME FEEL STICK TO
MY STOMACH TO THINK ABOUT THESE
(16:39):
PRODUCTS THAT PEOPLE THINK OF AS
BENIGN AND, IN FACT, BENEFICIAL
TO THEM THAT THEY'RE USING EVERY
DAY.
>> DAWN DOTSON, A REGULAR
CONSUMER OF BEAUTY PRODUCTS,
SAYS IT'S UNSURPRISING MOST
CONSUMERS ARE UNAWARE OF THE
CHEMICALS IN THEIR EVERYDAY
BEAUTY PRODUCTS.
>> IT'S NOT SURPRISING BECAUSE I
THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE
THEMSELVES ON IT OR THE FUNDS TO
OFTEN BE EDUCATED ABOUT IT OR
(17:02):
THE AVAILABILITY.
SO I DO THINK IT SHOULD BE MORE
ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.
>> SHE SAYS FOR HER, SHE THINKS
ABOUT THE SAFETY OF PRODUCTS A
LOT AND SHOPPING OFTEN CAUSES
HER ANXIETY.
XU ALSO SAYS, WHILE THE DATA OUT
THERE DEMONSTRATES LINKS TO
SERIOUS HEALTH CONCERNS, THERE
IS MORE DATA NEEDED TO GET A
FULL PICTURE OF THE HARMS FROM
CHEMICALS IN COSMETICS.
>> IT'S HARD BECAUSE THERE'S NO
(17:22):
SMOKING GUN IN COSMETICS, RIGHT?
IMAGINE THESE PRODUCTS ARE BEING
USED BY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE,
BILLIONS OF TIMES A YEAR, SMALL,
RARE THINGS THAT CAN BE CAUSED
BY OTHERS, AND IT JUST BECOMES A
LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFICULT KIND
OF MESS.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE LIKE
INVESTING IN REGULATORY SCIENCE,
GREAT DATABASES, RIGHT, YOU
KNOW, FORCING MANUFACTURERS TO
REPORT ADVERSE EVENTS, ASKING
(17:43):
FOR HIGHER LEVELS OF QUALITY OF
MANUFACTURING, IMPROVING THE WAY
WE DO INSPECTIONS.
>> ACCORDING TO A STUDY XU CO
AUTHORED ON THE NATIONAL LIBRARY
OF MEDICINE, REPORTING ADVERSE
EVENTS FROM COSMETICS HAS
INCREASED SINCE 2004.
HOWEVER, INVESTIGATIONS ARE
SLOW, AND THE LEVEL OF REPORTING
IS LACKING.
ADVOCATES FOR THE BILL ADD THAT
ANOTHER ISSUE WITH SOME OF THESE
CHEMICALS IN BEAUTY PRODUCTS IS
(18:03):
THE DISPROPORTIONATE EFFECTS FOR
WOMEN AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER MICHAELLE
SOLAGES, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING
PARTS OF NASSAU COUNTY AND THE
CHAIR OF THE BLACK, PUERTO
RICAN, HISPANIC AND ASIAN
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS, SAYS THIS
BILL COULD MAKE AN IMPORTANT
STEP TO ADDRESS THIS INJUSTICE.
>> WE BELIEVE THAT LEGISLATION
IS GOING TO CREATE A LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD FOR COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR LIKE OURS WHO ARE GETTING
(18:26):
THE BRUNT END OF THESE CHEMICALS
PUT INTO OUR BODIES.
>> IN A RECENT STUDY, CONSUMER
REPORTS SCIENTISTS TESTED 10
POPULAR SYNTHETIC HAIR BRAIDING
PRODUCTS AND THE RESULTS SHOWED
THAT 100 PERCENT OF THE PRODUCTS
HAD CANCER CAUSING CARCINOGENS.
THE RESULTS ALSO SHOWED DETECTED
LEAD IN 9 OUT OF THE 10 TESTED
PRODUCTS.
SOLAGES SAYS HAIR BRAIDING IS A
PROTECTED STYLE FOR INDIVIDUALS
(18:47):
AND IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF
BLACK CULTURE.
SHE SAYS IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT
COSMETIC COMPANIES IN
MANUFACTURERS ARE USING THESE
TOXIC CHEMICALS.
>> THESE COMPANIES ARE PURPOSELY
POISONING US FOR THE ALMIGHTY
DOLLAR, AND IT'S DISHEARTENING
TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT TAKING
STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THESE
CHEMICALS ARE NOT PUT INTO OUR
(19:08):
BEAUTY PRODUCTS.
AND SO IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO
DO IT, THEN WE AS A LEGISLATURE
HAVE TO CENTER THE HEALTH OF OUR
COMMUNITIES.
>> ALEXANDRA GROSE, SENIOR
POLICY COUNSEL FOR CONSUMER
REPORTS, STRESSES THE EFFECTS
FROM THESE PRODUCTS ON WOMEN AND
YOUNG GIRLS ARE SIGNIFICANT.
>> BRAIDING HAIR IS APPLIED FOR
ONE OR MORE MONTHS AT A TIME.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
(19:30):
PROLONGED EXPOSURE FOR WOMEN AND
GIRLS.
MANY GIRLS, YOU KNOW, 9, 10,
WEAR THESE FOR YEARS IN THEIR
HAIR.
IT TENDS TO ATTACH TO YOUR
SCALP.
SO THE EFFECTS OF THESE
CHEMICALS ARE SERIOUS.
>> STATE SENATOR LEA WEBB, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING BINGHAMTON
AND A LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL,
SAYS IT'S THE STATE'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT NEW
(19:51):
YORKERS FROM EXPOSURES TO PUBLIC
HEALTH HARMS.
>> WE HAVE TO PUT MORE
GUARDRAILS IN TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT
BEING EXPOSED TO THESE WELL
DOCUMENTED TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT
ARE CREATING LONG TERM EFFECTS.
>> THE LEGISLATION HAS GONE
THROUGH A NUMBER OF VERSIONS
SINCE ITS FIRST INTRODUCTION IN
2019.
HOWEVER, IT HAS FAILED TO PASS
(20:11):
BOTH CHAMBERS.
DURING THE MOST RECENT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION AT THE STATE
CAPITOL, THE BILL PASSED THE
SENATE BUT DIED IN THE ASSEMBLY.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER GLICK SAYS
ENVIRONMENTAL BILLS ALWAYS FACE
SOME RESISTANCE IN THE
LEGISLATURE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE
STATE BUDGET GOES INTO OVER
TIME.
THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET WAS
MORE THAN A MONTH LATE.
WHILE THE BILL HAS BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT, SOME LAWMAKERS OPPOSE
THE BILL BECAUSE OF CONCERNS
(20:32):
ABOUT COSTS FOR CONSUMERS AND
BUSINESSES.
STATE SENATOR GEORGE BORRELLO, A
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF
THE FINGER LAKES, VOTED NO ON
THE BILL.
THE SENATOR SAYS IT GOES AGAINST
FEDERAL ACTIONS.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO JUST DRIVE
PEOPLE OVER THE BORDER TO BUY
WHAT THEY WANT.
AND AGAIN, THESE ARE CONSUMER
ITEMS THAT ARE WIDELY USED
INTERNATIONALLY AND NATIONALLY
(20:52):
AND HAVE BEEN TESTED TIME AND
TIME AGAIN, PARTICULARLY BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO THE FACT THAT NEW YORK STATE
IS GOING TO CREATE SOME NEW
DRACONIAN STANDARD, IT'S GOING
TO JUST INCREASE COSTS, REDUCE
CHOICE, AND ULTIMATELY INCREASE
COST TO TAXPAYERS TO ENFORCE
THESE THINGS.
>> WHILE THERE ARE SOME
REGULATIONS AROUND INTERSTATE
COMMERCE, THE FDA IS CURRENTLY
NOT REQUIRED BY LAW TO APPROVE
(21:13):
COSMETIC PRODUCTS OR INGREDIENTS
WITHIN THOSE PRODUCTS OTHER THAN
COLOR ADDITIVES BEFORE THEY
ENTER THE MARKETPLACE.
XU SAYS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL,
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME STEPS SUCH
AS THE PASSING OF A FEDERAL LAW
IN 2023 REQUIRING COSMETIC
MANUFACTURERS TO DISCLOSE
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THEIR
PRODUCTS.
HOWEVER, XU SAYS COSMETICS HAVE
BEEN AND LARGELY CONTINUE TO BE
(21:33):
SELF REGULATED.
>> THE NATURE OF IT IS THAT WE
HAVE DONE A LITTLE BETTER.
IT'S STILL REALLY LARGELY A SELF
REGULATED INDUSTRY, AND WE ARE
LESS RIGOROUS IN EUROPE.
>> SOME STATE LAWMAKERS, LIKE
SENATOR ROXANNE PERSAUD, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
BROOKLYN, SAYS SHE DOESN'T
UNDERSTAND WHY SOME LAWMAKERS
VOTED NO, SAYING AT THE END OF
THE DAY, HEALTH IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN INDUSTRY
(21:54):
INTERESTS.
>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S
AFFECTING, ADVERSELY AFFECTING
THE HEALTH OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
I THINK YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT
IT.
IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT
ABOUT, OH, MY GOD, WE'RE HURTING
THE INDUSTRY.
NO, WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THE
HEALTH OUTCOMES OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND THAT'S THE MOST
IMPORTANT TO ME.
>> DOTSON SAYS FOR HER PAYING A
(22:15):
LITTLE MORE FOR A PRODUCT IS
WORTH IT IF IT'S SAFER.
>> I GUESS IT IS EXPENSIVE, BUT
I ALSO THINK THAT WE ONLY HAVE
ONE BODY.
SO WE REPLACE OUR CARS, WE
REPLACE OUR SHOES, BUT WE DON'T
GET TO REPLACE OUR BODY.
SO THE MORE WE TAKE CARE OF IT,
THE BETTER.
>> BRUNINA SAYS THE COST OF
CLEAN HAIR PRODUCTS IS NOT
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE, AND IT ALSO
GIVES THE CONSUMER MORE USE.
(22:35):
>> THEY WILL LAST YOU MUCH
LONGER BECAUSE THERE'S LESS
FILLER, THERE'S LESS PLASTICS,
LESS SILICONES.
SO YOU'RE USING LESS PRODUCT,
WHICH ACTUALLY EXTENDS THE LIFE
OF THE PRODUCT THAT YOU'RE
USING.
>> BRUNINA ADDS CLEANER HAIR
PRODUCTS PRODUCE BETTER RESULTS
AND HEALTHIER HAIR AND SKIN.
>> YOU ALSO WON'T FEEL THAT YOU
NEED TO WASH YOUR HAIR WITH A
CLARIFYING SHAMPOO OR IT STARTS
(22:58):
TO FEEL LIKE BUILD UP, AND THEN
YOU WASH YOUR HAIR WITH ANYTHING
AND IT FEELS BETTER AFTER THAT.
THERE'S NEVER THAT BUILD UP THAT
HAPPENS, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO
WASH IT AWAY TO GET RID OF THE
PLASTIC SILICONE.
THAT'S WHAT GIVES YOU THAT SILKY
FEELING, AND THEN EVENTUALLY YOU
FEEL LIKE YOUR HAIR IS NEVER
CLEAN, AND THAT IS BUILD UP.
>> THE BILL ALSO HAS OPPOSITION
FROM GROUPS LIKE THE PERSONAL
(23:19):
CARE PRODUCTS COUNCIL AND THE
BUSINESS COUNCIL OF NEW YORK
STATE.
KEN POKALSKY, THE VICE PRESIDENT
OF THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF NEW
YORK STATE, SAYS THEY FEEL THE
BILL COULD BE MORE CONSISTENT
WITH OTHER STATES' LEGISLATION
THAT ARE REGULATING THESE
CHEMICALS ALREADY, LIKE
CALIFORNIA.
>> WE'VE OPPOSED THE BILL AS
DRAFTED, BUT INDUSTRY HAS MADE
SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS HOW WE
THINK THE BILL COULD BE MADE
(23:40):
MORE CLEAR, MORE EFFECTIVE, MORE
WORKABLE, MORE CERTAIN FOR THE
REGULATED COMMUNITY.
>> POKALSKY SAYS THE
RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE
CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER
JURISDICTIONS AND MAKE THE
MANDATES MORE MANAGEABLE BY
TAKING OUT BANS ON TRACE
ELEMENTS.
SENATOR WEBB ARGUES THE
LEGISLATION IS MODELED ON OTHER
STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA,
WASHINGTON, AND ALSO THE
(24:00):
EUROPEAN UNION AND THAT THE BILL
BALANCES BUSINESSES' CONCERNS IN
ADDITION TO PRIORITIZING PUBLIC
HEALTH.
>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
ACTUAL INDUSTRY LEADERS IN THE
BEAUTY INDUSTRY ON THIS BILL
HAVING CONVERSATIONS TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT, OKAY, FROM THE
SCIENCE STANDPOINT, I'LL BE VERY
CLEAR, WHAT ARE THE LEVELS, WHAT
(24:23):
ARE THOSE CHEMICAL REACTIONS
THAT LEAD TO BYPRODUCTS THAT MAY
NOT HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL, HOW
DO WE, YOU KNOW, PUT IN
GUARDRAILS FOR THAT?
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE PART OF
THIS LEGISLATION.
>> THE BILL ALSO INCLUDES A
PROVISION TO ALLOW BUSINESSES A
TIMELINE TO ADJUST
MANUFACTURING.
THE LEGISLATION STATES THAT BY
JANUARY 1ST OF 2028, THE NEW
(24:44):
YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION WOULD
MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE INDUSTRY A
LIST OF SAFER ALTERNATIVES TO
RESTRICTED SUBSTANCES FOR
PRODUCT FORMULATION.
COMPANIES WOULD THEN HAVE A YEAR
TO ADJUST THEIR MANUFACTURING
BEFORE JANUARY 1ST, 2029, WHEN
THE BAN WOULD GO INTO EFFECT.
HELEN NWOSU, VICE PRESIDENT OF
SOCIAL IMPACT AT PROS, SAYS AS A
CLEAN BEAUTY BRAND, THEY WOULD
(25:05):
LIKE TO SEE THE INDUSTRY IMPROVE
THEIR STANDARDS.
SHE SAYS RETROFITTING PRODUCTS
TO SAFER MATERIALS MAY BE
CHALLENGING, BUT WORTH IT.
>> FOR ME, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE
COST.
IT'S ABOUT THE IMPACT, AND THE
IMPACT ON THE PLANET AND THE
PEOPLE, RIGHT?
AND I THINK COMPANIES SHOULD
THINK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT
COULD BE, YOU KNOW, BY CHANGING
THESE INGREDIENTS, WE'RE GOING
TO SEE DOWN THE LINE SOME
(25:25):
CHANGES IN HUMAN HEALTH.
>> THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
STARTS IN JANUARY.
THE BILL SPONSORS WEBB AND GLICK
SAY DURING THIS OFF SESSION
TIME, THEY'RE FOCUSED ON
EDUCATING THEIR COLLEAGUES AND
CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE BILL.
AT THIS POINT IT'S UNCLEAR IF
THE BILL WILL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL
NEXT YEAR, HOWEVER LAWMAKERS
SEEM DETERMINED TO KEEP
FIGHTING.
AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
(25:47):
THE STATE'S ACTIONS IN THE MOST
RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU
CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE, THAT'S AT
NYNOW.ORG.
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
WEEK'S EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ Theme Music ]
(26:42):
FUNDING FOR NEW YORK NOW IS
PROVIDED BY WNET.
[ Theme Music ]
(00:19):
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.
I'M ELISE KLINE.
THIS YEAR'S FISCAL YEAR 2026
STATE BUDGET INCLUDED $136
MILLION IN FUNDING FOR A
DECARBONIZATION PROJECT FOR THE
EMPIRE STATE PLAZA.
THE PROJECT AIMS TO REDUCE
EMISSIONS THROUGH INSTALLED
ELECTRIC AND HEAT RECOVERY
CHILLERS TO POWER THE EMPIRE
STATE PLAZA.
(00:40):
IT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH
FOUR PHASES.
THE FIRST PHASE, WHICH WAS FULLY
FUNDED THIS YEAR, WILL TAKE
ABOUT FIVE YEARS.
WE SAT DOWN WITH THE
COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK
STATE OFFICE OF GENERAL
SERVICES, JEANETTE MOY, TO
DISCUSS THE PROJECT'S EMISSION
GOALS, THE IMPLEMENTATION
PROCESS, AND THE STATE'S CLIMATE
OBJECTIVES.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
(01:01):
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US TODAY, COMMISSIONER.
>> OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
HAVING ME HERE, ELISE.
>> SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE ADVOCACY FOR PUSHING FOR
THIS PROJECT.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN
ADVOCATING FOR IT?
AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF LED
UP TO THIS FINAL FUNDING PHASE,
AND HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW THAT
PHASE 1 HAS BEEN FUNDED?
>> I'M REALLY EXCITED.
SO I'VE BEEN COMMISSIONER NOW
COMING UP ON FOUR YEARS, AND
(01:21):
THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
PROJECTS THAT WE TOOK ON.
GOVERNOR HOCHUL WAS VERY FOCUSED
ON DECARBONIZATION, AND
OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE'RE THINKING
ABOUT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS,
THERE ARE TWO MAIN CONTRIBUTORS,
RIGHT?
IT'S BUILDINGS, AND IT'S
TRANSPORTATION.
AND SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE WERE LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR
PROJECTS AND PORTFOLIOS AT
LARGE.
SO THIS PROJECT, THIS WORK
AROUND THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA,
(01:43):
ORIGINATED AS AN ENERGY STUDY.
SO THE NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY
AND THE OFFICE OF GENERAL
SERVICES HAD BEEN FOCUSED ON HOW
DO WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE
REDUCTIONS IN ENERGY USAGE AT
THE PLAZA?
AND WE SLOWLY, AS WE STARTED TO
DIVE INTO THIS WORK WHEN I FIRST
ARRIVED, WE STARTED FOCUSING
MORE ON DECARBONIZATION, IS IT
POSSIBLE?
AND ESPECIALLY AS DL 15, A
(02:04):
DECARBONIZATION LEADERSHIP
COUNCIL, HAD BEEN CREATED
UNDERNEATH THE GOVERNOR, WE
STARTED REALLY FOCUSING ON THAT
OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS.
NOW THIS PROJECT, THIS FIRST
PHASE, WHICH WILL HELP US TO GET
TO 21% REDUCTIONS IN THE ALBANY
REGION, IS NOW FULLY FUNDED.
AND SO HUGE EXCITEMENT WITHIN
OUR AGENCY.
(02:24):
LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNOR HAD
ANNOUNCED $100 MILLION USING
ENVIRONMENTAL BONDS ACT ON
FUNDING.
WE ALSO GOT $5 MILLION ALSO THAT
WAS SET ASIDE THROUGH THE PUBLIC
FACILITIES SUSTAINABILITY FUNDS
AS WELL.
SO THIS LAST TRANCHE OF MONEY IS
GOING TO ALLOW US TO FULLY
DECARBONIZE ABOUT 21% HERE IN
THE DOWNTOWN REGION.
(02:45):
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
>> SO TELL ME WHY THE EMPIRE
STATE PLAZA, WHAT WAS THE
INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS PROJECT?
>> THIS IS 98 ACRES OF SPACE IN
THE DOWNTOWN ALBANY REGION,
RIGHT?
THIS IS ABOUT ALMOST 20 MILLION
SQUARE FEET OF IMPROVED
COMMERCIAL SPACE.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A COMPLICATED
INFRASTRUCTURE.
(03:06):
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THERE'S
BEEN ADVOCACY WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE
COMPLEX INFRASTRUCTURE IN
DOWNTOWN ALBANY FOR QUITE SOME
TIME.
WHETHER YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO
LIVES IN SHERIDAN HOLLOW AND IN
THE ARBOR HILL AREAS, FOLKS HAVE
BEEN THINKING ABOUT PARTICULARLY
THAT SHERIDAN AVENUE STEAM
PLANT.
IT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 1900S.
IT STARTED OFF BURNING COAL.
(03:26):
IT BECAME A COGENERATION PLANT
AS THE PLAZA WAS CREATED.
AND THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
LOOK AT REDUCTIONS OF GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS, AGAIN, RIGHT HERE
IN DOWNTOWN ALBANY.
SO IT'S A WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S A WIN IN TERMS OF OUR
AGENCY AND ENSURING THAT OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE IS BEST
STRUCTURED AND BEST SUPPORTED.
SO IT'S GREAT FOR EVERYONE, AND
(03:47):
I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE GOVERNOR
AND OUR ADMINISTRATION FOR
MOVING THIS FORWARD.
>> AND WHAT IS THE
IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS GOING TO
LOOK LIKE?
HOW MANY BUILDINGS WILL BE
IMPACTED?
HOW LONG WILL THIS TAKE?
YOU KNOW, WALK ME THROUGH WHAT
THIS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN
TERMS OF ACTUALLY ACHIEVING IT?
>> SO THERE ARE FOUR PHASES THAT
ARE A PART OF THE FULL
DECARBONIZATION, RIGHT?
SO OUR FIRST PHASE OF WORK,
(04:08):
WHICH BRINGS US TO 21%
REDUCTION, INCLUDES LOOKING AT
ELECTRIC CHILLERS FOR THE
SHERIDAN AVENUE AREA, RIGHT?
SO WE HAVE AN AIR CONDITIONING
PLANT THAT EXISTS UNDERNEATH THE
CONCOURSE, AND WE'LL BE LOOKING
AT ADDITIONAL CHILLERS.
THOSE ARE IN DESIGN RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL ALSO BE LOOKING AT HEAT
RECOVERY CHILLERS.
(04:28):
SO THERE'S HEAT THAT'S GENERATED
WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS
SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'RE GOING TO REPURPOSE THAT
HEAT, BRING IT RIGHT INTO THE
PLAZA.
THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE THAT WE
LOOK AT SOME OF THE AIR HANDLING
UNITS, IT REQUIRES THAT WE START
BREAKING INTO WALLS, AND THAT
WILL ALLOW US TO REALLY AGAIN
REDUCE OUR EMISSIONS BY 21%.
THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE WITHIN
THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, RIGHT?
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
(04:49):
THAT FIRST PHASE OF WORK.
AS WE LOOK TOWARDS THE SECOND
PHASE, THAT IS LOOKING AT THE
MOVEMENT OF THE BIGGS LABORATORY
OUT TO THE HARRIMAN CAMPUS.
THAT RESULTS IN A 52% REDUCTION
IN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS,
RIGHT?
AND SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THAT
LABORATORY, IT'S BUILT RIGHT IN
THE BASE OF CORNING TOWER.
IT'S REALLY INEFFICIENT.
SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IT
WAS INTENDED FOR, THAT OFFICE
(05:09):
SPACE, AS OPPOSED TO THE
LABORATORY THAT WAS CREATED, IT
REQUIRES NEGATIVE AIR PRESSURE,
IT'S A SIGNIFICANT DRAIN.
SO AS IT GOES TO MODERN, MORE
PURPOSE BUILT SPACE OUT AT
HARRIMAN CAMPUS, IT ALLOWS US TO
REDUCE THOSE EMISSIONS, IT'LL
HAPPEN WITHIN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
AS WE LOOK TO THE THIRD PHASE OF
WORK, 92% REDUCTION.
THAT REQUIRES THAT WE'RE LOOKING
(05:30):
AT EITHER SOME COMBINATION OF
GEOTHERMAL, AND THAT'S A
CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE NEW
YORK POWER AUTHORITY AND THE
CITY OF ALBANY.
WE'RE LOOKING ALSO AT
POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT
REPURPOSING SOME OF THE EXCESS
HEAT FROM WASTEWATER TREATMENT
PLANTS.
THAT'S A CONVERSATION WITH THE
COUNTY.
AND SO RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE
ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE
(05:51):
NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY AND
THOSE TWO MUNICIPAL ENTITIES TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE RIGHT
SINGLE SOURCE OR LIKE MORE
LIKELY COMBINATION OF SOURCES IN
ORDER TO SUPPORT THE LOAD AND
NEED OF THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT FEEDBACK IS
GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR.
SO YOU KNOW.
ALL THIS IS GOING TO BE PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TAKING PLACE
IN ALBANY AND WE'RE LOOKING
FORWARD TO GETTING STARTED.
(06:13):
>> AND WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF
THIS PROJECT OVERALL?
I KNOW YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT
JUST PHASE 1 WILL ACHIEVE ABOUT
21% OF REDUCING THE CAPITAL
REGION'S EMISSION REDUCTION.
>> SO IT'S THE GREENHOUSE GAS
REDUCTIONS FOR THE EMPIRE STATE
PLAZA.
AND SO THIS ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE
TO, AS WE THINK ABOUT CLEAN
(06:33):
ENERGY GRID, AS WE THINK ABOUT
SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE
TAKING PLACE, THIS IS ALL ABOUT
REDUCING THE GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS THAT ARE PRODUCED BY
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE ITSELF.
NOW THROUGH THE DECARBONIZATION
LEADERSHIP EFFORTS, THE DL 15
EFFORTS, THERE ARE 15 CAMPUSES
IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK THAT
HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST
EMITTING CAMPUSES IN TERMS OF
(06:54):
THEIR USAGE OF GREENHOUSE GASES
AND WITH UNFORTUNATELY, OGS
OVERSEES TWO OF THEM, RIGHT?
SO ONE OF THEM IS THE EMPIRE
STATE PLAZA, THE OTHER ONE BEING
HARRIMAN.
WE ARE THE FIRST ONES OUT OF THE
GATES TO HAVE A DECARBONIZATION
PLAN.
WE'RE THE FIRST ONES OUT OF THE
GATES TO REALLY PUSH SOME OF
THESE EFFORTS.
WE ARE SHOWING THAT IT IS
POSSIBLE TO DO GREAT AND BIG
(07:15):
THINGS, WHILE ALSO RESTORING A
CAPITAL CITY FOR THE ALBANY
REGION, WHICH INCREDIBLY PROUD
OF THOSE ACTIVITIES.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF
CONSTRUCTION THAT'S HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW IN THE PLAZA.
IF YOU DRIVE THROUGH IT, I'M
SURE YOU'VE SEEN IT YOURSELF.
WHETHER IT IS THE WORK THAT
WE'RE DOING AROUND THE EASTERN
APPROACH AND RESTORING THOSE
STAIRS OR IT'S THE ACTIVITIES
HAPPENING ON THE ARTERIAL TO
ENSURE THAT THEIR ROADWAYS ARE
(07:36):
MAINTAINED AND SAFE AND
AVAILABLE.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT OGS IS
FOCUSED ON AND I THINK IS A REAL
INVESTMENT, AGAIN, BACK TO OUR
CAPITAL REGION.
>> AND HOW DOES THIS PROJECT FIT
INTO THE STATE'S OVERALL CLIMATE
REDUCTION OR EMISSION REDUCTION
GOALS?
WILL THIS HELP US CATCH UP TO
THE GOALS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY A
(07:56):
LITTLE BIT BEHIND ON?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND SO I THINK NUMBER ONE, THIS
IS REAL DEMONSTRABLE PROGRESS,
RIGHT?
AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE A GREAT
PLAN FOR THAT FIRST PHASE.
THIS IS WHEN WE'RE THINKING
ABOUT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS,
THERE ARE TWO MAJOR AREAS IT'S
TRANSPORTATION, AND IT'S
BUILDINGS.
AND BUILDINGS ARE COMPLICATED,
PARTICULARLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING
(08:17):
ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE
SIZE AND SCALE THAT'S HERE IN
THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA.
THIS ALSO PARTNERS WITH THE WORK
THAT WE'RE DOING AROUND
CONVERTING THE STATE'S VEHICLES,
RIGHT?
SO THE OTHER PART OF OGS IS ALSO
LOOKING AT THE CONVERSION OF THE
STATE FLEET TO LIGHT DUTY
VEHICLES BY 2035, ALL MEDIUM AND
HEAVY BY 2040.
AND SO AGAIN, WE LOOKED INTO THE
(08:38):
DATA, WE CREATED A PLAN THAT
MADE SENSE.
WE'VE PUBLICLY PROVIDED
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT
TRANSITION, AND WE'RE CONTINUING
TO ADVANCE THAT ON BEHALF OF THE
GOVERNOR AND THE STATE.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT STEPS LOOK
LIKE IN TERMS OF GETTING PHASE 2
FUNDED?
I KNOW THAT PHASE 1 IS GOING TO
BE ABOUT, YOU SAID ABOUT FIVE
YEARS, BUT SOMETIMES IT TAKES
MULTIPLE YEARS TO GET SOMETHING
IN A FINAL STATE BUDGET.
(08:58):
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
AND SO THE SECOND PHASE DOES
REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF
WADSWORTH LABORATORIES OUT IN
HARRIMAN.
SO WE'LL BE PAYING ATTENTION TO
THAT CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE.
WE'LL START PLANNING FOR THE
RETROFIT OF THE SPACE AS IT
STARTS TO EXIT.
THAT THIRD PHASE OF WORK, WHICH
IS PROBABLY THE LION'S SHARE OF
ACTIVITIES, DOES REQUIRE THAT WE
ARE LOOKING AT, AGAIN,
(09:19):
GEOTHERMAL OPPORTUNITIES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WASTEWATER
TREATMENT SITE.
AND SO ONCE WE START TO DIG INTO
THOSE ACTIVITIES, WE'LL KNOW A
LITTLE BIT MORE AROUND WHAT
THOSE COSTS MIGHT LOOK LIKE,
WHAT THAT SCHEDULE MIGHT LOOK
LIKE.
SO NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE A
VERY BIG ONE FOR US.
WE ARE, OF COURSE, HAVING
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DIVISION
OF BUDGET, WITH THE EXECUTIVE
CHANGER, WITH OUR GREAT
(09:39):
COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATURE.
>> AND DO YOU THINK THE CUTS AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL WILL HAVE ANY
SORT OF IMPACT ON YOUR ABILITY
TO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR
THE SECONDARY PHASES?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
AND SO, LOOK, THESE ARE, IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT THIS WORK IS
TAKING PLACE FOR A VARIETY OF
REASONS.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
THIS FIRST SET OF WORK, THERE'S
(10:00):
A LOT THAT HAS TO HAPPEN RIGHT
NOW.
WE ARE FULLY FUNDED, ALLOWS US
TO ALSO CONTINUE WITH THE DESIGN
WORK AS WE THINK THROUGH THE
NEXT SETS OF ACTIVITIES.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS A
COMMITMENT THAT THE GOVERNOR
HAS.
THESE ARE ALSO CAPITAL DOLLARS.
THESE ARE LONG TERM INVESTMENT
DOLLARS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT
HERE IN THE REGION THAT DOES
NEED TO TRANSFORM.
THERE'S A LOT OF NEW RESIDENTS
(10:22):
THAT ARE COMING INTO THE REGION,
I'M ONE OF THEM, YOU KNOW, MOVED
INTO THE AREA WITHIN THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS WITH MY FAMILY.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE NOT JUST ENSURING THAT THE
SPACE IS APPROPRIATE AND
ADEQUATE OF A PUBLIC SPACE FOR
ALL THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE,
BUT ALSO THAT AS NEW INDUSTRY
BUILDS UP, THAT WE'RE RETAINING
THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE
FAMILIES.
SO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT LONG
(10:42):
TERM INVESTMENT.
THE FEDERAL FUNDING IS OBVIOUSLY
VERY COMPLICATED.
AND I THINK THESE ARE
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE ALL HAVE
TO HAVE AROUND THE FUTURE OF
THIS FUNDING.
YOU KNOW, CLIMATE CLIMATE CHANGE
IS REAL.
THESE CHALLENGES THAT WE NEED TO
ADAPT TO ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
AND FOCUSING ON THIS ELEMENT,
DECARBONIZATION, WHEN IT COMES
TO BUILDINGS AND TRANSPORTATION,
AND PARTICULARLY THESE LARGE
(11:03):
COMPLEXES, WE CAN'T STEP BACK
FROM IT.
I THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN
VERY MUCH COMMITTED TO THIS WORK
AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE
FORWARD UNDERNEATH THIS
ADMINISTRATION.
>> AND ANOTHER LOOMING CHANGE
HERE IS EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP.
THERE IS A GUBERNATORIAL RACE
COMING UP, AND SO IF THERE IS
POTENTIALLY A CHANGE IN THE
GOVERNOR AND WHO'S LEADING THE
STATE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR
(11:23):
THIS PROJECT AND HOW IMPORTANT
IS IT TO HAVE EXECUTIVE
LEADERSHIP ON YOUR SIDE HERE?
I THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN
VERY CLEAR ABOUT LEADING BY
EXAMPLE, AND I THINK THAT ONE OF
THE THINGS I'VE APPRECIATED
ABOUT THIS WORK AND YOU KNOW
I'VE BEEN IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW IS THAT
THIS IS IMPORTANT SELF EVIDENCE
WORK, RIGHT?
WE ARE CREATING AN
INFRASTRUCTURE AND A SET OF
(11:43):
PROJECTS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL,
THEY RELATE BACK TO OUR
COMMUNITIES, AND WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT LIVABILITY, THESE
ARE PROJECTS THAT REALLY NEED TO
HAPPEN, THEY'RE IMPORTANT FOR
THE ALBANY COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
AND YOU KNOW, UNDER INVESTMENT
IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE JUST
RESULTS IN DETERIORATION, AND
THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE'VE
BEEN VERY BLESSED FROM MY
(12:05):
PERSPECTIVE TO HAVE A GOVERNOR
WHO'S BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF US
ADDRESSING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE,
ENSURING THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON
THESE AREAS.
I WOULD EXPECT THAT THIS
CONTINUES ON, AND I THINK
GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS BEEN A
REALLY GREAT PARTNER FOR OUR
AGENCY, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO THAT CONTINUING FOR THE NEXT
FEW YEARS.
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S
ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING
(12:25):
THE TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH US
TODAY, COMMISSIONER.
>> OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK, AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD
TO MAYBE GIVING YOU A TOUR
SOMETIME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> WE WERE SPEAKING WITH NEW
YORK STATE OFFICE OF GENERAL
SERVICES COMMISSIONER JEANETTE
MOY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DURING THE MOST RECENT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, STATE
LAWMAKERS PUSHED FOR A BILL
CALLED "THE BEAUTY JUSTICE ACT"
(12:46):
THAT INTENDS TO BAN CERTAIN
TOXIC CHEMICALS IN COSMETIC
PRODUCTS.
IF ENACTED, THE LEGISLATION
WOULD PROHIBIT MANUFACTURERS
FROM THE DISTRIBUTION OR SALE OF
ANY COSMETIC PRODUCTS CONTAINING
RESTRICTED SUBSTANCES, DEFINED
BY THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION,
AS AN INTENTIONALLY ADDED
INGREDIENT.
THE TYPES OF TOXIC CHEMICALS
(13:06):
RESTRICTED WOULD BE ASBESTOS,
FORMALDEHYDE, BENZENE, PARABENS,
AND MORE.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE DIVE
INTO THE BILL'S HISTORY IN THE
CAPITOL, THE REGULATIONS AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL, AND THE IMPACT OF
TOXIC CHEMICALS ON CONSUMERS.
HERE'S THAT STORY.
>> CURRENTLY IN THE UNITED
STATES, THERE ARE NO LAWS
REQUIRING THE FEDERAL DRUG
(13:27):
ADMINISTRATION TO APPROVE
COSMETIC PRODUCTS AND
INGREDIENTS BEFORE THEY GO ON
THE MARKET.
ONLY ABOUT A DOZEN STATES IN THE
NATION HAVE BANS ON HARMFUL
CHEMICALS IN COSMETIC PRODUCTS.
SOME NEW YORK STATE LAWMAKERS
FEEL IT'S TIME FOR NEW YORK TO
TAKE ACTION THROUGH LEGISLATION.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER DEBORAH GLICK, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
MANHATTAN, AN ELITE SPONSOR OF
THE BEAUTY JUSTICE ACT, STRESSES
(13:48):
THAT LIMITING THE USE OF HARMFUL
CHEMICALS HAS SIGNIFICANT
BENEFITS.
>> THERE ARE SO MANY CHEMICALS
IN OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND WE THINK
OF THAT AS BEING OUT THERE AND
NOT RIGHT IN HERE IN OUR HOMES,
AND YET MANY OF THESE FOREVER
CHEMICALS ARE IN PRODUCTS THAT
WE USE EVERY DAY FOR PERSONAL
(14:11):
CARE, COSMETICS, ET CETERA.
>> THE BEAUTY JUSTICE ACT WOULD
BAN AND RESTRICT THE SALE OF
PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS
CONTAINING CHEMICALS, SUCH AS
HEAVY METALS LIKE LEAD,
PARABENS, PFOS OR FOREVER
CHEMICALS, FORMALDEHYDE,
BENZENE, ASBESTOS AND MORE.
SOME ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES SAY
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD GO A LONG
WAY IN GETTING THESE CHEMICALS
OUT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND
(14:31):
BETTER SAFEGUARDING PUBLIC
HEALTH.
ROB HAYES, THE CLEAN WATER
DIRECTOR WITH ENVIRONMENTAL
ADVOCATES NEW YORK, HIGHLIGHTS
THAT MANY OTHER STATES AND
COUNTRIES ALREADY BAN THESE
KINDS OF CHEMICALS FOR GOOD
REASON.
>> EVERY TOXIC CHEMICAL BANNED
THROUGH THE BEAUTY JUSTICE ACT
HAS ALREADY BEEN BANNED IN
ANOTHER POLITICAL JURISDICTION.
THE EUROPEAN UNION, CALIFORNIA,
WASHINGTON, THEY ARE WAY AHEAD
(14:52):
OF US WHEN IT COMES TO
PROTECTING PEOPLE FROM REALLY
DANGEROUS EXPOSURE.
>> ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS STUDIES
FROM THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF
MEDICINE, HARMFUL CARCINOGENIC
CHEMICALS LIKE ASBESTOS AND
BENZENE ARE SHOWN TO INCREASE
THE RISK OF CANCERS, RESPIRATORY
CONDITIONS, NEUROLOGICAL
DISORDERS, AND ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTIONS.
STEVE XU, MEDICAL PROFESSOR AT
NORTHWESTERN AND A
DERMATOLOGIST, SAYS SOME
(15:13):
COSMETIC PRODUCTS CAN ALSO CAUSE
SERIOUS HARMS TO CONSUMERS'
SKIN.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF SKIN
LIGHTENING CREAMS WITH VERY,
VERY POWERFUL CORTICOSTEROIDS
THAT ARE NOT SORT OF TRAPPED IN
THERE.
THAT CAN LEAD TO SKIN ATROPHY,
SKIN BLEACHING, AND THAT'S A
KIND OF SERIOUS THING.
>> AND PRODUCT CONSUMERS AREN'T
THE ONLY INDIVIDUALS WHO COULD
BE HURT BY TOXIC CHEMICALS IN
PRODUCTS.
HAIR STYLISTS WHO HAVE EXTENDED
EXPOSURE TO PRODUCTS CAN ALSO BE
(15:35):
IN HARM'S WAY.
KELLY BRUNINA, OWNER OF
BOMBSHELL HAIR SALON IN DOWNTOWN
ALBANY SAYS SHE ONLY USES CLEAN
PRODUCTS IN HER STUDIO BECAUSE
OF EXTENDED EXPOSURE CONCERNS.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT
EVERYBODY'S COMFORTABLE, THAT
WE'RE USING PRODUCTS THAT'S
SUPER, SUPER CLEAN.
>> BERNINA GETS A VARIETY OF
CLEAN BRANDS, INCLUDING SOME
FROM EUROPE, WHICH IS MUCH MORE
HEAVILY REGULATED IN COSMETIC
(15:56):
SAFETY.
BOBBI WILDING, THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF CLEAN AND HEALTHY,
SAYS THE DATA AROUND EXPOSURE
EFFECTS IS UNFORTUNATELY
UNSURPRISING.
>> COMPANIES DON'T GET THE
SPOTLIGHT SHOWN ON THEM.
AND HAIR COMPANIES, I THINK,
HAVE AVOIDED THE SPOTLIGHT FOR A
LONG TIME.
THEY DO WHATEVER THEY WANT.
THEY DO WHATEVER IS STILL LEGAL.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT
TO PASS LAWS LIKE THIS, BECAUSE
(16:17):
IT'S SHAMEFUL THAT THIS IS
REQUIRED TO CHANGE THE
MARKETPLACE, BUT IT'S REALLY THE
ONLY THING THAT EVER REALLY HAS.
>> WILDING STRESSES THAT MOST
CONSUMERS ARE COMPLETELY UNAWARE
THESE KINDS OF INGREDIENTS ARE
IN THEIR EVERYDAY COSMETIC
PRODUCTS AND THAT THEY CAN BE
HARMFUL TO THEIR HEALTH.
>> I MEAN, FRANKLY, IT'S
SICKENING TO ME, RIGHT?
LIKE IT MAKES ME FEEL STICK TO
MY STOMACH TO THINK ABOUT THESE
(16:39):
PRODUCTS THAT PEOPLE THINK OF AS
BENIGN AND, IN FACT, BENEFICIAL
TO THEM THAT THEY'RE USING EVERY
DAY.
>> DAWN DOTSON, A REGULAR
CONSUMER OF BEAUTY PRODUCTS,
SAYS IT'S UNSURPRISING MOST
CONSUMERS ARE UNAWARE OF THE
CHEMICALS IN THEIR EVERYDAY
BEAUTY PRODUCTS.
>> IT'S NOT SURPRISING BECAUSE I
THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE
THEMSELVES ON IT OR THE FUNDS TO
OFTEN BE EDUCATED ABOUT IT OR
(17:02):
THE AVAILABILITY.
SO I DO THINK IT SHOULD BE MORE
ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.
>> SHE SAYS FOR HER, SHE THINKS
ABOUT THE SAFETY OF PRODUCTS A
LOT AND SHOPPING OFTEN CAUSES
HER ANXIETY.
XU ALSO SAYS, WHILE THE DATA OUT
THERE DEMONSTRATES LINKS TO
SERIOUS HEALTH CONCERNS, THERE
IS MORE DATA NEEDED TO GET A
FULL PICTURE OF THE HARMS FROM
CHEMICALS IN COSMETICS.
>> IT'S HARD BECAUSE THERE'S NO
(17:22):
SMOKING GUN IN COSMETICS, RIGHT?
IMAGINE THESE PRODUCTS ARE BEING
USED BY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE,
BILLIONS OF TIMES A YEAR, SMALL,
RARE THINGS THAT CAN BE CAUSED
BY OTHERS, AND IT JUST BECOMES A
LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFICULT KIND
OF MESS.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE LIKE
INVESTING IN REGULATORY SCIENCE,
GREAT DATABASES, RIGHT, YOU
KNOW, FORCING MANUFACTURERS TO
REPORT ADVERSE EVENTS, ASKING
(17:43):
FOR HIGHER LEVELS OF QUALITY OF
MANUFACTURING, IMPROVING THE WAY
WE DO INSPECTIONS.
>> ACCORDING TO A STUDY XU CO
AUTHORED ON THE NATIONAL LIBRARY
OF MEDICINE, REPORTING ADVERSE
EVENTS FROM COSMETICS HAS
INCREASED SINCE 2004.
HOWEVER, INVESTIGATIONS ARE
SLOW, AND THE LEVEL OF REPORTING
IS LACKING.
ADVOCATES FOR THE BILL ADD THAT
ANOTHER ISSUE WITH SOME OF THESE
CHEMICALS IN BEAUTY PRODUCTS IS
(18:03):
THE DISPROPORTIONATE EFFECTS FOR
WOMEN AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER MICHAELLE
SOLAGES, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING
PARTS OF NASSAU COUNTY AND THE
CHAIR OF THE BLACK, PUERTO
RICAN, HISPANIC AND ASIAN
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS, SAYS THIS
BILL COULD MAKE AN IMPORTANT
STEP TO ADDRESS THIS INJUSTICE.
>> WE BELIEVE THAT LEGISLATION
IS GOING TO CREATE A LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD FOR COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR LIKE OURS WHO ARE GETTING
(18:26):
THE BRUNT END OF THESE CHEMICALS
PUT INTO OUR BODIES.
>> IN A RECENT STUDY, CONSUMER
REPORTS SCIENTISTS TESTED 10
POPULAR SYNTHETIC HAIR BRAIDING
PRODUCTS AND THE RESULTS SHOWED
THAT 100 PERCENT OF THE PRODUCTS
HAD CANCER CAUSING CARCINOGENS.
THE RESULTS ALSO SHOWED DETECTED
LEAD IN 9 OUT OF THE 10 TESTED
PRODUCTS.
SOLAGES SAYS HAIR BRAIDING IS A
PROTECTED STYLE FOR INDIVIDUALS
(18:47):
AND IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF
BLACK CULTURE.
SHE SAYS IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT
COSMETIC COMPANIES IN
MANUFACTURERS ARE USING THESE
TOXIC CHEMICALS.
>> THESE COMPANIES ARE PURPOSELY
POISONING US FOR THE ALMIGHTY
DOLLAR, AND IT'S DISHEARTENING
TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT TAKING
STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THESE
CHEMICALS ARE NOT PUT INTO OUR
(19:08):
BEAUTY PRODUCTS.
AND SO IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO
DO IT, THEN WE AS A LEGISLATURE
HAVE TO CENTER THE HEALTH OF OUR
COMMUNITIES.
>> ALEXANDRA GROSE, SENIOR
POLICY COUNSEL FOR CONSUMER
REPORTS, STRESSES THE EFFECTS
FROM THESE PRODUCTS ON WOMEN AND
YOUNG GIRLS ARE SIGNIFICANT.
>> BRAIDING HAIR IS APPLIED FOR
ONE OR MORE MONTHS AT A TIME.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
(19:30):
PROLONGED EXPOSURE FOR WOMEN AND
GIRLS.
MANY GIRLS, YOU KNOW, 9, 10,
WEAR THESE FOR YEARS IN THEIR
HAIR.
IT TENDS TO ATTACH TO YOUR
SCALP.
SO THE EFFECTS OF THESE
CHEMICALS ARE SERIOUS.
>> STATE SENATOR LEA WEBB, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING BINGHAMTON
AND A LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL,
SAYS IT'S THE STATE'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT NEW
(19:51):
YORKERS FROM EXPOSURES TO PUBLIC
HEALTH HARMS.
>> WE HAVE TO PUT MORE
GUARDRAILS IN TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT
BEING EXPOSED TO THESE WELL
DOCUMENTED TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT
ARE CREATING LONG TERM EFFECTS.
>> THE LEGISLATION HAS GONE
THROUGH A NUMBER OF VERSIONS
SINCE ITS FIRST INTRODUCTION IN
2019.
HOWEVER, IT HAS FAILED TO PASS
(20:11):
BOTH CHAMBERS.
DURING THE MOST RECENT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION AT THE STATE
CAPITOL, THE BILL PASSED THE
SENATE BUT DIED IN THE ASSEMBLY.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER GLICK SAYS
ENVIRONMENTAL BILLS ALWAYS FACE
SOME RESISTANCE IN THE
LEGISLATURE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE
STATE BUDGET GOES INTO OVER
TIME.
THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET WAS
MORE THAN A MONTH LATE.
WHILE THE BILL HAS BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT, SOME LAWMAKERS OPPOSE
THE BILL BECAUSE OF CONCERNS
(20:32):
ABOUT COSTS FOR CONSUMERS AND
BUSINESSES.
STATE SENATOR GEORGE BORRELLO, A
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF
THE FINGER LAKES, VOTED NO ON
THE BILL.
THE SENATOR SAYS IT GOES AGAINST
FEDERAL ACTIONS.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO JUST DRIVE
PEOPLE OVER THE BORDER TO BUY
WHAT THEY WANT.
AND AGAIN, THESE ARE CONSUMER
ITEMS THAT ARE WIDELY USED
INTERNATIONALLY AND NATIONALLY
(20:52):
AND HAVE BEEN TESTED TIME AND
TIME AGAIN, PARTICULARLY BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO THE FACT THAT NEW YORK STATE
IS GOING TO CREATE SOME NEW
DRACONIAN STANDARD, IT'S GOING
TO JUST INCREASE COSTS, REDUCE
CHOICE, AND ULTIMATELY INCREASE
COST TO TAXPAYERS TO ENFORCE
THESE THINGS.
>> WHILE THERE ARE SOME
REGULATIONS AROUND INTERSTATE
COMMERCE, THE FDA IS CURRENTLY
NOT REQUIRED BY LAW TO APPROVE
(21:13):
COSMETIC PRODUCTS OR INGREDIENTS
WITHIN THOSE PRODUCTS OTHER THAN
COLOR ADDITIVES BEFORE THEY
ENTER THE MARKETPLACE.
XU SAYS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL,
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME STEPS SUCH
AS THE PASSING OF A FEDERAL LAW
IN 2023 REQUIRING COSMETIC
MANUFACTURERS TO DISCLOSE
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THEIR
PRODUCTS.
HOWEVER, XU SAYS COSMETICS HAVE
BEEN AND LARGELY CONTINUE TO BE
(21:33):
SELF REGULATED.
>> THE NATURE OF IT IS THAT WE
HAVE DONE A LITTLE BETTER.
IT'S STILL REALLY LARGELY A SELF
REGULATED INDUSTRY, AND WE ARE
LESS RIGOROUS IN EUROPE.
>> SOME STATE LAWMAKERS, LIKE
SENATOR ROXANNE PERSAUD, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
BROOKLYN, SAYS SHE DOESN'T
UNDERSTAND WHY SOME LAWMAKERS
VOTED NO, SAYING AT THE END OF
THE DAY, HEALTH IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN INDUSTRY
(21:54):
INTERESTS.
>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S
AFFECTING, ADVERSELY AFFECTING
THE HEALTH OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
I THINK YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT
IT.
IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT
ABOUT, OH, MY GOD, WE'RE HURTING
THE INDUSTRY.
NO, WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THE
HEALTH OUTCOMES OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND THAT'S THE MOST
IMPORTANT TO ME.
>> DOTSON SAYS FOR HER PAYING A
(22:15):
LITTLE MORE FOR A PRODUCT IS
WORTH IT IF IT'S SAFER.
>> I GUESS IT IS EXPENSIVE, BUT
I ALSO THINK THAT WE ONLY HAVE
ONE BODY.
SO WE REPLACE OUR CARS, WE
REPLACE OUR SHOES, BUT WE DON'T
GET TO REPLACE OUR BODY.
SO THE MORE WE TAKE CARE OF IT,
THE BETTER.
>> BRUNINA SAYS THE COST OF
CLEAN HAIR PRODUCTS IS NOT
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE, AND IT ALSO
GIVES THE CONSUMER MORE USE.
(22:35):
>> THEY WILL LAST YOU MUCH
LONGER BECAUSE THERE'S LESS
FILLER, THERE'S LESS PLASTICS,
LESS SILICONES.
SO YOU'RE USING LESS PRODUCT,
WHICH ACTUALLY EXTENDS THE LIFE
OF THE PRODUCT THAT YOU'RE
USING.
>> BRUNINA ADDS CLEANER HAIR
PRODUCTS PRODUCE BETTER RESULTS
AND HEALTHIER HAIR AND SKIN.
>> YOU ALSO WON'T FEEL THAT YOU
NEED TO WASH YOUR HAIR WITH A
CLARIFYING SHAMPOO OR IT STARTS
(22:58):
TO FEEL LIKE BUILD UP, AND THEN
YOU WASH YOUR HAIR WITH ANYTHING
AND IT FEELS BETTER AFTER THAT.
THERE'S NEVER THAT BUILD UP THAT
HAPPENS, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO
WASH IT AWAY TO GET RID OF THE
PLASTIC SILICONE.
THAT'S WHAT GIVES YOU THAT SILKY
FEELING, AND THEN EVENTUALLY YOU
FEEL LIKE YOUR HAIR IS NEVER
CLEAN, AND THAT IS BUILD UP.
>> THE BILL ALSO HAS OPPOSITION
FROM GROUPS LIKE THE PERSONAL
(23:19):
CARE PRODUCTS COUNCIL AND THE
BUSINESS COUNCIL OF NEW YORK
STATE.
KEN POKALSKY, THE VICE PRESIDENT
OF THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF NEW
YORK STATE, SAYS THEY FEEL THE
BILL COULD BE MORE CONSISTENT
WITH OTHER STATES' LEGISLATION
THAT ARE REGULATING THESE
CHEMICALS ALREADY, LIKE
CALIFORNIA.
>> WE'VE OPPOSED THE BILL AS
DRAFTED, BUT INDUSTRY HAS MADE
SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS HOW WE
THINK THE BILL COULD BE MADE
(23:40):
MORE CLEAR, MORE EFFECTIVE, MORE
WORKABLE, MORE CERTAIN FOR THE
REGULATED COMMUNITY.
>> POKALSKY SAYS THE
RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE
CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER
JURISDICTIONS AND MAKE THE
MANDATES MORE MANAGEABLE BY
TAKING OUT BANS ON TRACE
ELEMENTS.
SENATOR WEBB ARGUES THE
LEGISLATION IS MODELED ON OTHER
STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA,
WASHINGTON, AND ALSO THE
(24:00):
EUROPEAN UNION AND THAT THE BILL
BALANCES BUSINESSES' CONCERNS IN
ADDITION TO PRIORITIZING PUBLIC
HEALTH.
>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
ACTUAL INDUSTRY LEADERS IN THE
BEAUTY INDUSTRY ON THIS BILL
HAVING CONVERSATIONS TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT, OKAY, FROM THE
SCIENCE STANDPOINT, I'LL BE VERY
CLEAR, WHAT ARE THE LEVELS, WHAT
(24:23):
ARE THOSE CHEMICAL REACTIONS
THAT LEAD TO BYPRODUCTS THAT MAY
NOT HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL, HOW
DO WE, YOU KNOW, PUT IN
GUARDRAILS FOR THAT?
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE PART OF
THIS LEGISLATION.
>> THE BILL ALSO INCLUDES A
PROVISION TO ALLOW BUSINESSES A
TIMELINE TO ADJUST
MANUFACTURING.
THE LEGISLATION STATES THAT BY
JANUARY 1ST OF 2028, THE NEW
(24:44):
YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION WOULD
MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE INDUSTRY A
LIST OF SAFER ALTERNATIVES TO
RESTRICTED SUBSTANCES FOR
PRODUCT FORMULATION.
COMPANIES WOULD THEN HAVE A YEAR
TO ADJUST THEIR MANUFACTURING
BEFORE JANUARY 1ST, 2029, WHEN
THE BAN WOULD GO INTO EFFECT.
HELEN NWOSU, VICE PRESIDENT OF
SOCIAL IMPACT AT PROS, SAYS AS A
CLEAN BEAUTY BRAND, THEY WOULD
(25:05):
LIKE TO SEE THE INDUSTRY IMPROVE
THEIR STANDARDS.
SHE SAYS RETROFITTING PRODUCTS
TO SAFER MATERIALS MAY BE
CHALLENGING, BUT WORTH IT.
>> FOR ME, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE
COST.
IT'S ABOUT THE IMPACT, AND THE
IMPACT ON THE PLANET AND THE
PEOPLE, RIGHT?
AND I THINK COMPANIES SHOULD
THINK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT
COULD BE, YOU KNOW, BY CHANGING
THESE INGREDIENTS, WE'RE GOING
TO SEE DOWN THE LINE SOME
(25:25):
CHANGES IN HUMAN HEALTH.
>> THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
STARTS IN JANUARY.
THE BILL SPONSORS WEBB AND GLICK
SAY DURING THIS OFF SESSION
TIME, THEY'RE FOCUSED ON
EDUCATING THEIR COLLEAGUES AND
CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE BILL.
AT THIS POINT IT'S UNCLEAR IF
THE BILL WILL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL
NEXT YEAR, HOWEVER LAWMAKERS
SEEM DETERMINED TO KEEP
FIGHTING.
AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
(25:47):
THE STATE'S ACTIONS IN THE MOST
RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU
CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE, THAT'S AT
NYNOW.ORG.
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
WEEK'S EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ Theme Music ]
(26:42):
FUNDING FOR NEW YORK NOW IS
PROVIDED BY WNET.
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