February 7, 2025 • 26 mins
This week, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation meant to protect New Yorker physicians prescribing abortion medication via telehealth. We sit down with State Sen. Samra Brouk (D-Rochester) to unpack the telehealth legislation and maternal health. Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay joins us to discuss affordability in the state and priorities of the conference this year.
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(00:00):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:18):
WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION
OF NEW YORK NOW.
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL
SIGNED LEGISLATION MEANT TO
PROTECT THE IDENTITY OF
PHYSICIANS PRESCRIBING
MEDICATIONS USED TO PERFORM
ABORTIONS.
UNDER THE LAW, PHYSICIANS WILL
NOW BE ABLE TO REQUEST THAT THE
NAMES OF THEIR PRACTICE IS
(00:38):
LISTED ON DRUG LABELS INSTEAD OF
THEIR NAMES.
THE MOVE COMES AS A NEW YORK
PHYSICIAN WAS RECENTLY INDICTED
FOR PRESCRIBING ABORTION
MEDICINE THROUGH TELEHEATH TO A
PATIENT IN LOUISIANA.
MANY STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
ARE LIMITING ACCESS TO ABORTIONS
FOLLOWING THE SUPREME COURT
(00:58):
DOBBS DECISION IN 2022.
AND SINCE THEN, THE GOVERNOR AND
DEMOCRATIC LED LEGISLATURE HAVE
MADE PROTECTING REPRODUCTIVE
FREEDOMS A TOP PRIORITY.
TO UNPACK THE NEWLY SIGNED
LEGISLATION AND MATERNAL HEALTH
PRIORITIES, WE SAT DOWN WITH
STATE SENATOR SAMRA BROUK.
(01:19):
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US TODAY, SENATOR.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, HAPPY
TO BE HERE.
>> I WANNA START BY GETTING YOUR
REACTION TO THE NEW LAW THAT WAS
JUST SIGNED TO PROTECT NEW YORK
DOCTORS WHO PRESCRIBE ABORTION
MEDICATION VIA TELEHEALTH.
WHAT KIND OF IMPACT WILL THIS
HAVE ON REPRODUCTIVE AND
MATERNAL HEALTH CARE?
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'M SO
GRATEFUL TO THE GOVERNOR FOR
(01:39):
ACTING SWIFTLY.
GRATEFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR
HAVING REALLY THOUGHTFUL
LEGISLATION MEANT AT REALLY
GETTING AT EACH OF THESE
CHALLENGES AS THEY ARE POPPING
UP.
IT CAN SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE WHACK
A MOLE, WHERE THESE CHANGES ARE
HAPPENING AT A FEDERAL LEVEL IN
EACH INDIVIDUAL STATE.
AND HERE IN NEW YORK, WE'VE
(02:00):
STOOD VERY CLEAR IN OUR STANCE
ON SUPPORTING REPRODUCTIVE
FREEDOM SUPPORTING REPRODUCTIVE
RIGHTS AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE
CAN BE SAFE IN ADMINISTERING
THAT CARE, BUT ALSO RECEIVING
THAT CARE.
AND SO, UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T
KNOW WHAT THIS LEGISLATION WILL
DO FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY
BEEN TARGETED, BUT CERTAINLY IT
(02:20):
IS A MESSAGE TO OTHER STATES
THAT WE ARE GONNA PROTECT OUR
PROVIDERS AND ALSO A MESSAGE TO
THOSE PROVIDERS HERE IN NEW YORK
STATE THAT THEY WILL BE SAFER
JUST, YOU KNOW, DOING THEIR
DUTIES AS AS PHYSICIANS.
>> THE MATERNAL MORTALITY CRISIS
IS IMPACTING STATES AROUND THE
COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR DUE TO STRUCTURAL
(02:41):
RACISM AND OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS
LIMITED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE IMPACTS
WE'RE SEEING HERE IN NEW YORK
AND WHAT YOUR BIGGEST CONCERNS
ARE?
>> YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW, I'VE
TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE FACT THAT
THE MATERNAL MORTALITY CRISIS IS
SERIOUS, EVEN HERE IN NEW YORK,
WHEN WE HAVE PRETTY DECENT
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, RIGHT?
WHEN YOU LOOK HERE IN NEW YORK
(03:02):
STATE, BLACK WOMEN, FOR EXAMPLE,
ARE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO
DIE IN CHILDBIRTH.
WHEN YOU LOOK NATIONWIDE, IT'S
THREE TO FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY
TO DIE.
WHAT CONCERNS ME THE MOST IS
THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THOSE
STATISTICS GET EVEN WORSE
NATIONWIDE.
AND WHEN WE'RE SITTING HERE IN
NEW YORK, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT
(03:23):
WE HAVE A STATE LEGISLATURE
THAT'S COMMITTED TO SAVING
MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES AND
MAKING IT SAFE TO BE PREGNANT
AND THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A GOVERNOR THAT
HAS REALLY BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT
OF PUTTING MATERNAL HEALTH AT
THE TOP OF HER AGENDA, ALMOST
EVERY STATE OF THE STATE SINCE
SHE GOT INTO OFFICE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO
KEEP LOOKING AT THOSE THINGS.
(03:44):
YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE
TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO
HERE IN NEW YORK THAT EVEN OTHER
STATES MIGHT BE ABLE TO ALSO DO
AND REPLICATE, I THINK OF THINGS
LIKE OUR DOULA CARE INITIATIVES,
RIGHT?
HERE IN NEW YORK, WE PASSED
MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR DOULA
CARE.
THAT WAS HUGE BECAUSE WHAT THAT
DID WAS IT GOT NEARLY 100,000
(04:06):
PREGNANT FOLKS ABLE TO GET THAT
CARE REIMBURSED, BECAUSE WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT THE MEDICAID BIRTHS
IN NEW YORK STATE, IT'S NEARLY
100,000.
SO ABOUT ALMOST 50% OF BIRTHS IN
NEW YORK STATE FALL UNDER
MEDICAID.
AND SO I THINK THAT WAS A
TREMENDOUS STEP.
AND YOU SEE OTHER STATES WHO ARE
ALSO FOLLOWING SUIT.
AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS, EVEN
IN SOME STATES WHERE THEY ARE
(04:27):
HELL BENT ON ROLLING BACK
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOMS AND
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO FIND SOME TRACTION WITH
GETTING DOULA CARE INITIATED.
SOME INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATORS WHO
CAN THEN GO ON TO FIGHT FOR
THAT.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING WITH
ANY STATE THAT IS LOOKING FOR
THE PATH.
WE'VE TALKED TO OTHER STATES
(04:47):
LIKE ILLINOIS, OTHER STATES LIKE
CALIFORNIA, RHODE ISLAND HAVE
WORKED ON THIS ALREADY.
IN MICHIGAN, OF COURSE.
AND SO NEW YORK WAS THE 13TH
STATE TO DO THIS.
I DON'T THINK WE'LL BE THE LAST.
MY HOPE IS THAT OTHERS WILL SEE
THAT IT'S A KEY PIECE OF THE
PUZZLE WHEN IT COMES TO FIGHTING
THE MATERNAL MORTALITY CRISIS.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, RIGHT
NOW, IT IS GOING TO GET MORE AND
MORE DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE TO GET
(05:09):
PREGNANT, FOR PEOPLE TO BE
PREGNANT, AND FOR PEOPLE TO GIVE
BIRTH TO THEIR CHILD.
IT'S GOING TO BECOME MORE
DANGEROUS IN THIS COUNTRY, AND
THE GOAL WILL BE FOR NEW YORK
STATE TO BE WORKING IN THE
OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND ACTUALLY
CONTINUE TO MAKE IT SAFER.
>> AND THE STATE HAS TRIED TO
REDUCE MORTALITY RATES THROUGH
MEASURES LIKE INCENTIVIZING
PAYMENTS TO HOSPITALS AND
COMMUNITY BASED PROVIDERS TO
(05:30):
IMPROVE THEIR MATERNAL CARE AND
OUTCOMES.
ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE STATE'S
EFFORTS SO FAR?
AND COULD WE BE DOING MORE?
>> WELL, I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
I WON'T BE FULLY HAPPY OR
SATISFIED, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR
MATERNAL HEALTH OUTCOMES UNTIL
NOT ONE PREGNANT PERSON OR
MOTHER IS DYING, YOU KNOW, WHILE
TRYING TO GIVE BIRTH.
AND UNTIL EVERYONE FEELS SAFE
(05:51):
AND SUPPORTED AND HAS THE TOOLS
THAT THEY NEED, THE PEOPLE THAT
THEY NEED TO HAVE THE JOYFUL
EXPERIENCE THAT EVERYONE
DESERVES.
AND SO I THINK WE'VE TAKEN
TREMENDOUS STEPS FORWARD, RIGHT?
WE'VE TAKEN SO MANY STEPS.
AGAIN, NOT JUST LOOKING AT
REIMBURSING DOULAS THROUGH
MEDICAID, BUT WE'VE INTRODUCED
LEGISLATION AROUND MAKING SURE
THAT HOSPITALS ARE HOSPITABLE TO
(06:14):
HAVING DOULAS.
AND SO THERE'S ACTUALLY A BILL
WE HAVE THAT WOULD DESIGNATE A
DOULA FRIENDLY WORKPLACE.
AND SO ANYONE LOOKING TO GIVE
BIRTH CAN CHOOSE A HOSPITAL THAT
WILL ALLOW THEIR DOULA TO COME
THROUGH AND NOT HAVE TO FACE
EXTRA BARRIERS.
I'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF HOSPITALS,
PARTICULARLY IN MONROE COUNTY,
HIRING ON THEIR OWN DOULAS,
PATIENT ADVOCATES TO BE ABLE TO
(06:35):
SUPPORT PEOPLE THROUGH THAT
PROCESS.
AND OF COURSE, WE'VE ALSO SEEN
CHANGES WITH THINGS LIKE TAKING
TIME OFF FOR PRENATAL CARE,
RIGHT, THAT THE GOVERNOR
PRIORITIZED LAST YEAR AND THAT
WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT
NEED TO HAPPEN IF WE'RE REALLY
GONNA TACKLE THIS CRISIS.
AND MY HOPE IS THAT WHEN WE LOOK
BACK IN FIVE YEARS, WHEN WE LOOK
(06:56):
BACK AT TODAY AND ALL OF THE
DATA LEADING UP TO IT, WE ARE
GOING TO SEE THAT WE ACTUALLY
HAVE MADE SIZABLE IMPROVEMENTS
IN OUR MATERNAL HEALTH OUTCOMES
BECAUSE, UNFORTUNATELY, UNTIL
NOW, WE'VE REALLY BEEN MISSING
THE MARK.
>> AND HOW SHOULD THE
LEGISLATURE GO ABOUT ADDRESSING
BARRIERS LIKE THE ONE YOU WERE
JUST TALKING ABOUT RELATED TO
THIS ISSUE?
WHAT ARE THE LEGISLATIVE
PRIORITIES FOR MATERNAL HEALTH
(07:16):
THIS YEAR?
>>THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
AND I LOVE TALKING ABOUT
MATERNAL HEALTH AND MATERNAL
MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
WE'RE LITERALLY SAVING BABIES
AND MOTHERS' LIVES.
AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE
IMPORTANT THAN THAT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, ONE THAT WE'VE
NOTICED, I'LL GO BACK TO THE
DOULA CARE AND THE MEDICAID
REIMBURSEMENT FOR THAT.
ONE THING THAT WE'RE HEARING IS
(07:37):
THAT WHILE WE HAVE TREMENDOUSLY
GROWN THE WORKFORCE WHEN IT
COMES TO DOULAS SERVING THE
MEDICAID POPULATION, WE'RE STILL
FALLING SHORT.
YOU KNOW, I TALK ABOUT THE FACT
THAT WE ARE EXPECTING NEARLY
100,000 BIRTHS UNDER MEDICAID
THIS YEAR, RIGHT?
AND WE DON'T HAVE NEARLY THE
NUMBER OF DOULAS THAT ARE
ACCEPTING MEDICAID RIGHT NOW TO
HANDLE ALL THOSE BIRTHS.
(07:58):
ONE THING THAT WOULD REALLY
CHANGE THAT IS IF WE ACTUALLY
GIVE AN EQUITABLE REIMBURSEMENT
RATE.
WE FELL SHORT OF THAT RATE,
WHICH WAS 1930 PER BIRTH.
THAT'S WEEKS AND WEEKS OF WORK.
THAT'S SIX TIMES THE NUMBER OF
HOURS THAT YOU'RE WITH YOUR
PROVIDER.
YOU'RE ACTUALLY WITH YOUR DOULA.
SO IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH.
I'D PAY MY DOULA ANYTHING I
COULD IF I COULD.
(08:20):
AND SO I THINK THAT INCREASING
THAT REIMBURSEMENT RATE IS GOING
TO BE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT,
MAKING SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN THE
COMMUNITY DOULA DIRECTORY ONLINE
SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE THAT
INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE.
AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT
HOW WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT FOLKS
WITH MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH
CONDITIONS.
SO I'M REALLY GLAD THE GOVERNOR
(08:41):
SIGNED OUR LEGISLATION LAST YEAR
THAT WOULD ACTUALLY CREATE RULES
FOR THESE DEPRESSION SCREENINGS
TO BE CONDUCTED AT PEDIATRIC
APPOINTMENTS, NOT JUST AT OB
APPOINTMENTS, BECAUSE I KNOW
THAT I HAD FAR MORE PEDIATRIC
APPOINTMENTS THOSE FIRST FEW
WEEKS THAN I EVER HAD OB
APPOINTMENTS.
SO THINGS LIKE THAT, I THINK,
ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT SO
(09:01):
THAT WE CAN KEEP LOOKING AT THE
REAL ROOTS OF HOW WE GOT IN THIS
CRISIS.
>> AND SPEAKING OF TOOLS TO
SCREEN FOR POSTPARTUM
DEPRESSION, WE'RE IN THE
BEGINNING STAGES OF THE BUDGET
PROCESS RIGHT NOW AND THE
GOVERNOR PUT IN A MEASURE TO
SUPPORT NEW MOTHERS WHICH
INTENDS TO DISTRIBUTE NEWBORN
SUPPLIES TO NEW YORK MOMS.
IT INCLUDES SCREENING TOOLS FOR
(09:21):
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND
ANXIETY, MENTAL HEALTH
INFORMATION, SELF CARE PRODUCTS,
DIAPERS, BLANKETS AND SWADDLES.
I'M WONDERING WHAT DO YOU THINK
ABOUT THIS MEASURE?
DO YOU THINK IT'LL BE HELPFUL
AND ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE
NUMBER THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED?
IT WAS ABOUT 9.5 MILLION FOR
THESE POSTPARTUM BOXES AND
DIAPERS.
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT
OF FOLKS UNDERESTIMATE THE
LITERAL COSTS ASSOCIATED, NOT
(09:44):
JUST WITH HAVING THE BIRTH IN
THIS COUNTRY, BUT ALSO THE
IMMEDIATE COSTS AFTERWARD.
AND SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO
SUPPORT, AGAIN, MOTHER AND BABY
IN THOSE INITIAL MONTHS UP TO
THAT FIRST YEAR, YOU KNOW, IT'S
THE SAME REASON WE EXPANDED
MEDICAID COVERAGE UP TO A YEAR
POST PARTUM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I
THINK NEW YORK LAWMAKERS
UNDERSTAND THE VERY UNIQUE NEEDS
(10:05):
THAT ARE HAPPENING DURING THAT
TIME.
SO I THINK ANYTHING TO SUPPORT
MOTHERS OR, YOU KNOW, PARENTS
DURING THAT CRITICAL TIME IS
IMPORTANT.
I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT
THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS
AFTER THAT, RIGHT?
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD
LEGISLATION THAT, YOU KNOW, HAS
THESE PAYMENTS GOING TO NEW
PARENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE ABLE TO COVER SOME OF
THESE COSTS.
AND IT KIND OF TAPERS IT DOWN SO
(10:26):
THAT IT'S NOT KIND OF THIS BIG
CLIFF THAT YOU GET AFTER ALL THE
SUPPORT IS GONE.
HASN'T EVERYONE FELT THAT EVEN
IF IT'S NOT MONETARY, WHEN
EVERYONE'S THERE TO HELP YOU AND
THEN A FEW MONTHS IN,
EVERYBODY'S GONE AND IT'S JUST
YOU, RIGHT?
AND SO IT'S THE SAME WAY WITH A
LOT OF THESE SUPPORTS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M CERTAINLY
LOOKING FOR THINGS THAT CAN BE
SUSTAINABLE, BUT THEN ALSO HOW
ARE WE CONTINUING TO INVEST IN
THAT FAMILY, RIGHT?
(10:46):
BECAUSE ONCE YOU'RE OUT OF
DIAPERS AND, YOU KNOW, NO LONGER
NEEDING FORMULA, NOW YOU'RE
PAYING FOR CHILDCARE.
AND WE KNOW WHAT A STRESSOR THAT
IS ON FAMILIES.
I'VE STRUGGLED WITH IT MYSELF AS
WELL.
AND SO WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW,
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
FAMILIES THAT CAN'T AFFORD
STABLE QUALITY CHILDCARE.
AND SO WE'VE GOT TO GET TO
UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE FOR THAT.
(11:07):
AND WE ALSO NEED TO INVEST IN
THE WORKFORCE.
BECAUSE WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE
PERSON WHO'S WITH MY CHILD SIX
TO EIGHT HOURS A DAY WHILE I'M
DOING THIS WORK, AGAIN, I WANT
TO GIVE THEM THE WORLD.
I WANT THEM TO HAVE WHAT THEY
NEED TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES
SO THEY CAN SHOW UP WHEN THEY'RE
TAKING CARE OF OUR CHILDREN.
>> AND YOU TALKED ABOUT DOULA
CARE, AND THIS HAS BEEN AN
(11:28):
EFFORT FOR YOU TO EXPAND ACCESS
TO DOULA CARE.
ARE YOU CONCERNED AT ALL ABOUT
POTENTIAL CHANGES IN FEDERAL
CUTS AT THE LEVEL IN DC
POTENTIALLY IMPACTING, FOR
EXAMPLE, REIMBURSEMENT RATES OF
DOULAS AND OTHER PROVIDERS?
>> I THINK WE'RE ALL RIGHT TO BE
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT
AFFECTS ANY ACTIONS BY THE
(11:49):
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MIGHT CAUSE
HERE IN NEW YORK.
WHAT I KNOW IS THAT OUR
COMMITMENT TO THESE ISSUES ISN'T
GOING TO CHANGE.
AND JUST BECAUSE THERE'S A NEW
PRESIDENT DOES NOT MEAN WE'RE
GOING TO STOP SERVING NEW
YORKERS AND STOP DOING WHAT WE
NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE NOT DYING IN CHILDBIRTH.
SO I AM CERTAINLY NOT WILLING TO
GO BACKWARDS WHEN IT COMES TO
WHAT WE'VE ACHIEVED OVER THE
LAST FEW YEARS.
(12:11):
THESE ARE ATTACKS ON HUMAN LIFE
THAT WE ARE SEEING, ESPECIALLY
WITH THE WHOLE KERFUFFLE WITH
MEDICAID PAUSING OF THAT
SPENDING AS WELL.
AS POLICYMAKERS IN NEW YORK,
WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT, AND WE
ARE MAKING THE DECISIONS THAT WE
HAVE TO MAKE HERE IN NEW YORK TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LOSE OUT
ON CREATING AND DELIVERING THESE
(12:32):
LIFE SAVING SERVICES TO
INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT PREGNANT FOLKS AND
NEWBORN BABIES.
>> WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH
US, SENATOR.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
WE WERE SPEAKING WITH STATE
SENATOR SAMRA BROUK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> AND FOR MORE MATERNAL HEALTH,
YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.
(12:53):
THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE SAT
DOWN WITH ASSEMBLY MINORITY
LEADER WILL BARCLAY TO DISCUSS
AFFORDABILITY IN THE STATE AND
LEARN HOW REPUBLICANS PLAN TO
HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD WHILE
SERVING IN THE MINORITY OF THE
LEGISLATURE.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
(13:15):
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
ME TODAY, LEADER.
>> SHANTEL, GREAT TO BE HERE.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
OUR CONVERSATION.
AND NATURALLY I WANTED TO START
WITH THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE
BUDGET PROPOSAL.
NOW WE SAW IN THE GOVERNOR'S
ADDRESS WHEN SHE UNVEILED THAT
PROPOSAL, IT FOCUSED LARGELY ON
AFFORDABILITY, AND IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT YOUR
(13:35):
CONFERENCE IS EXCITED ABOUT IT
FOCUSING ON AFFORDABILITY,
SPECIFICALLY AROUND THINGS LIKE
THE MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUTS AND
PUTTING MONEY IN THE STATE'S
RESERVES.
SO CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND
MORE ABOUT YOUR CONFERENCE'S
POSITIONING WHEN IT COMES TO THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL?
>> YEAH, WE'RE REALLY VERY HAPPY
AS SHE'S TALKING ABOUT
AFFORDABILITY.
ALTHOUGH SHE'S TALKING ABOUT A
(13:55):
$252 BILLION BUDGET.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S GOTTA BE
PAID FOR SOMEHOW.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, IN NEW YORK,
WE TAX AND SPEND A LOT OF MONEY.
BUT WE ARE HAPPY.
WE LIKE THE MIDDLE CLASS TAX
CUT.
WE LIKE THE CHILD TAX CUT OR TAX
CREDIT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
PROPOSED IN OUR CONFERENCE LAST
YEAR.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE MAJORITY
STOPPED THAT BILL, SO I'M HOPING
(14:16):
THEY LOOK AT IT IN BETTER LIGHT
AND MAYBE PASS THAT GOING
FORWARD.
BUT WE'RE HEARING THIS ALL
ACROSS NEW YORK.
NEW YORKERS ARE STRUGGLING.
THE COST OF LIVING IN NEW YORK
IS TOO HIGH, SO ANYTHING WE CAN
DO TO TAKE STEPS TO LOWER THAT
COST AND HELP ALL NEW YORKERS, I
THINK, IS VERY POSITIVE.
>> AND HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO
WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR AND
DEMOCRATS TO MAKE NEW YORK
AFFORDABLE THIS YEAR?
(14:38):
>> WELL, FIRST WE SUPPORT SOME
OF THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL.
WE'RE WORKING IN A BIPARTISAN
WAY TO DO THAT.
I THINK, AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS
A BIG BUDGET, SO IT'S GOING TO
BE A CHALLENGE.
ALWAYS WHEN WE COME WITH
BUDGETS, YOU HAVE TO SET
PRIORITIES.
I THINK IN THE PAST, A LOT OF
THE PRIORITIES THE GOVERNOR'S
SET AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SET
HAVEN'T BEEN REALLY GOOD
PRIORITIES FOR NEW YORKERS.
(14:58):
SO WHAT WE OFTEN DO IS TRY TO
MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD.
I THINK WE DID WITH THE
AFFORDABILITY AND WE TRY TO PUT
SOME PRESSURE ON THE MAJORITY TO
MAKE SURE THEY DON'T GO TOO
CRAZY.
I'D MENTION AGAIN, THIS BUDGET
IS BIG AND USUALLY WHEN WE START
A BUDGET PROCESS THE GOVERNOR
TAKES THE FIRST STEP AND THEN
THE LEGISLATURE ADDS MORE TO IT.
SO I THINK LAST YEAR THE FINAL
BUDGET WAS LIKE 234 BILLION.
WE'RE INCREASING IT TO 252.
(15:20):
YOU CAN IMAGINE THE LEGISLATURE
WILL WANT TO PUT EVEN MORE MONEY
IN AND, SHANTEL, I'LL TELL YOU
IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE
BUDGET'S INCREASED BY $60
BILLION DOLLARS, INCREASED BY $60
BILLION.
THAT'S MORE THAN SOMETHING LIKE
TWO THIRDS OF ALL THE OTHER
STATES' TOTAL BUDGETS.
SO AGAIN, I THINK IF THERE'S A
PROBLEM ALTHOUGH WE'RE HAPPY
WITH SOME OF THE POLICIES I
MENTIONED IF THERE'S AN ISSUE
HERE, IT'S JUST WE'RE SPENDING
(15:41):
WAY, WAY TOO MUCH MONEY IN NEW
YORK.
>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE ON THE
GOVERNOR'S TIMING ON FOCUSING ON
AFFORDABILITY?
AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS IS A
PRIORITY OF YOUR CONFERENCE THAT
HAS BEEN THE FOCUS FOR SOME
TIME.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK IS
INFORMING HER DECISION WHEN IT
COMES TO AFFORDABILITY?
>> WELL, WE'RE ALL ELECTED
OFFICIALS.
WE ALL CAN READ POLLS AND WE ALL
SEE ELECTION RESULTS.
SO I THINK TRUMP WHO ALSO RAN ON
(16:01):
AFFORDABILITY WON, I THINK ON
THE BASIS OF AFFORDABILITY, THE
GOVERNOR'S NOT NAIVE TO THAT AND
SHE CAN READ POLLS.
AND WHEN YOU ASK NEW YORKERS,
THEY ALL SAY, NEW YORK IS TOO
EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN, THE COST
OF LIVING HERE IS TOO HIGH.
SO I THINK SHE RECOGNIZES THAT
AND IS TRYING TO ANSWER THOSE
CONCERNS IN HER WAY.
>> AND GOING BEYOND
AFFORDABILITY, ARE THERE ANY
(16:22):
OTHER POLICY ITEMS OR AGENDA
ITEMS WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE
BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT HAS YOUR
CONFERENCE EXCITED?
>> YEAH, WELL, AGAIN, IN HER
STATE OF STATE, SHE TALKED ABOUT
CRIME.
WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY WHEN THERE'S
A RECOGNITION THAT THERE'S AN
ISSUE OF CRIME IN NEW YORK.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN
HAMMERING ON FOR THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS, I THINK, THE
PUBLIC TOO.
WHEN YOU POLL THEM,
AFFORDABILITY MIGHT BE NUMBER
(16:43):
ONE.
CRIMES ARE CLOSE SECOND TO THAT.
SO SHE DID RAISE UP CRIME.
SHE RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEMS ON
THE SUBWAY IN NEW YORK CITY.
SHE RECOGNIZED THE DISCOVERY
PROCESS THAT WE REFORMED, OR SO
CALLED REFORM A FEW YEARS AGO,
NEEDS TO MAYBE BE BROUGHT BACK A
LITTLE BIT.
IT'S GONE TOO FAR AND IT'S
CAUSING TOUGH TO DO SPEEDY
TRIALS FOR PROSECUTIONS.
(17:03):
WE'D LIKE TO SEE HER GO EVEN
FARTHER.
WE HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH THE SO
CALLED RAISE THE AGE REFORM.
OBVIOUSLY, BAIL, WE'VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT NONSTOP FOR A LONG
TIME, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE HER
EVEN GO FARTHER THAN MAYBE SOME
OF THE PROPOSALS SHE MADE IN HER
BUDGET AND STATE OF THE STATE TO
REALLY ADDRESS RECIDIVISM OF
CRIME IN NEW YORK STATE.
>> AND WHAT WILL BE YOUR
STRATEGY TO PUSH FOR THE
(17:24):
GOVERNOR AND THE DEMOCRATS TO
FOCUS ON CRIME AND GET THEM TO
WHERE YOU SEE THE STATE SHOULD
BE?
>> WELL, FIRST, WE'VE HAD
SUCCESS WITH THAT.
I MEAN, WE'VE NOW REFORMED BAIL
REFORM MULTIPLE TIMES, AND I
LIKE TO THINK WE PLAYED A ROLE,
THE ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS PLAYED
A ROLE IN THAT, 'CAUSE WE USE A
BULLY PULPIT.
OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T HAVE THE
VOTES TO CHANGE THE LAW.
WE NEED THE MAJORITY TO CHANGE
(17:46):
IT.
SO WE GET ON THE BULLY PULPIT.
WE TRY TO GET VICTIMS OF THESE
CRIMES COME IN TO TELL THEIR
STORY, AND WE ALSO TRY TO GET
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS
TO TELL YOU KNOW THE PROBLEMS
THAT WE HAVE WITH THE SYSTEM.
I WOULD SAY FOR INSTANCE WITH
BAIL THE PROBLEM WHEN WE
INSTITUTED THE FIRST BAIL REFORM
WE DIDN'T GET ANY INPUT FROM THE
PROSECUTORS WE DIDN'T GET INPUT
(18:06):
FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THEY'RE THE ONES ON THE FRONT
LINES, KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE
WITH THESE LAWS AND THE BEST CAN
ADVISE US ON HOW TO CHANGE THEM
TO MAKE ALL NEW YORKERS SAFER.
>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED
DEMOCRATS HOLD A SUPERMAJORITY
IN BOTH THE STATE SENATE AND THE
ASSEMBLY, SO HOW ARE YOU HOPING
TO COMPROMISE WITH DEMOCRATS AND
HAVE YOUR VOICES HEARD?
(18:26):
I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, IT'S OUT
OF YOUR HANDS BECAUSE THEY HAVE
ALL THE CONTROL, BUT WHAT ARE
YOU HOPING THOSE CONVERSATIONS
LOOK LIKE THIS SESSION?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD
SAY I'VE ALWAYS WORKED IN I HAD
TO ALWAYS WORKED IN A BIPARTISAN
MANNER.
I TRY TO FOCUS ON POLICY AND NOT
PERSONALITY, SO I DON'T TRY TO,
YOU KNOW, CRITICIZE ANYBODY FOR
WHERE THEY COME FROM.
I TRY TO CRITICIZE ON MAYBE WHAT
THEY ARE PUSHING LEGISLATIVELY.
(18:47):
AND THAT SEEMS TO WORK.
BUT WHERE I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT
IN WHY I THINK WE CAN GET
SOMETHING DONE ON THESE ISSUES
IN ALBANY THIS YEAR IS, AGAIN,
THE PUBLIC IS WITH US.
ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
EVERYBODY CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENED
ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL WITH TRUMP
AND THE REPUBLICANS ON THE
NATIONAL LEVEL.
SO I THINK THAT ADDS SOME
UNDERSTANDING THAT THINGS CANNOT
CONTINUE ON IN NEW YORK AS THEY
(19:08):
ARE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES TO
MAKE THE CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO
IN NEW YORK.
>> AND SPEAKING ON THINGS ON THE
NATIONAL LEVEL, WE SAW
REPUBLICANS, YOU KNOW, GAIN
CONTROL OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND
THEY NOW HAVE CONTROL OVER THE
TWO CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS, WHICH
IS A COMPLETE 180 FROM HOW
THINGS ARE DONE HERE IN ALBANY
WHERE REPUBLICANS ARE THE
MINORITY.
(19:28):
SO HOW ARE YOU FEELING GIVEN,
YOU KNOW, THAT REALITY RIGHT
NOW?
ARE YOU FEELING INSPIRED BY THE
WAY THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN
WASHINGTON, DC?
>> RIGHT, WELL IT'S EARLY YET,
SO WE'LL SEE, BUT THE PRESIDENT
SO FAR HAS DONE EVERYTHING HE
SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO WHEN HE
WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND HE'S
MOVING VERY QUICKLY.
OBVIOUSLY HE'S STILL WORKING TO
PUT HIS CABINET TOGETHER.
(19:50):
THERE'S LONG TERM ISSUES THAT
ARE GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO
SOLVE, BUT I DO LIKE THE FACT
THAT HE'S TAKING ACTION ON A LOT
OF ISSUES.
ONE THING, THE THIRD NUMBER
THING, THE AFFORDABILITY CRIME
AND THE MIGRANT CRISIS ARE
PROBABLY THE TOP THREE ISSUES
THAT NEW YORKERS HAVE BEEN
CONCERNED AND ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT.
THE PRESIDENT'S GOING RIGHT
THERE AND HE'S LOOKING TO
DEPORT, YOU KNOW, MIGRANTS THAT
(20:11):
HAVE COMMITTED SERIOUS CRIMES
AND HE'S TAKING ACTION ON THAT.
SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE HIM TO
CONTINUE TO DO SO.
>> AND HOW WILL THE PRESIDENT'S
ACTIONS INFORM THE WAY THAT YOU
LEAD REPUBLICANS HERE ON THE
STATE LEVEL?
>> AGAIN, WE TAKE EVERYTHING ON
AN ISSUE BY ISSUE BASIS.
I THINK OUR CONFERENCE SUPPORTS
THIS PRESIDENT.
(20:32):
I WOULD NOTE THIS PRESIDENT IS
MORE POPULAR THAN THE CURRENT
GOVERNOR IN NEW YORK STATE, AND
WE'RE A VERY BLUE STATE, SO
WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH,
OBVIOUSLY, A PRESIDENT ANYWAY
THAT WE CAN TO IMPLEMENT THOSE
POLICIES THAT NEW YORKERS WANT
HERE IN NEW YORK.
>> AND I WANTED TO SWITCH GEARS
AND TALK ABOUT CONGESTION
PRICING.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN PRETTY
VOCAL ABOUT YOUR OPPOSITION TO
(20:54):
THAT PLAN THAT IS NOW ENACTED IN
NEW YORK CITY.
SO I WANTED TO GET AN
UNDERSTANDING ON HOW YOU'RE
HOPING TO HELP NEW YORKERS
MITIGATE THE CHALLENGES THAT
YOU'RE SAYING CONGESTION PRICING
IS BRINGING TO THEM.
>> WELL, CONGESTION PRICING
OBVIOUSLY IS A COST.
AS I MENTIONED THE OTHER DAY IN
A PRESS CONFERENCE, YOU CAN'T
TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND
THEN CHARGE PEOPLE $9 TO DRIVE
(21:15):
IN NEW YORK CITY.
I THINK IT IS THE WRONG
DIRECTION.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE MTA
THAT RUNS THE SUBWAYS AND
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS IN NEW
YORK CITY BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN
SPENDING MONEY LIKE CRAZY.
SO FIRST OF ALL, WE OUGHT TO GET
AN AUDIT OF THE MTA TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE
THERE AND WHERE THE MONEY IS
GOING.
I THINK BEFORE THEY START
CHARGING MORE TO THEIR RATE
(21:36):
PAYERS OR PEOPLE WHO'S DRIVING
NOW IN THE CITY, MAYBE THEY WANT
TO LOOK AT TRYING TO COLLECT THE
MONEY FROM THE FARE BEATERS AND
PEOPLE THAT JUMP THE TURNSTILE.
MAYBE THEY WANT TO LOOK AT OTHER
THINGS THAT THEY COULD DO TO RUN
A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT OPERATION
THAN WHAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY
DOING.
WE CAN'T JUST KEEP CHARGING
PEOPLE MORE AND MORE MONEY
BECAUSE THE PRICE IS GOING UP.
PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THAT
(21:56):
ANYMORE.
>> AND IN RESPONSE TO YOUR
OPPOSITION TO CONGESTION
PRICING, THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT
UPSTATE ELECTED OFFICIALS NEED
TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE RESIDENTS
OF NEW YORK CITY NEED HELP.
CONGESTION PRICING WILL BRING
HELP AND IT WOULD ALSO SUPPORT
REVENUE GOING TO THE MTA.
AND SHE ALSO INVITED YOU TO TAKE
(22:17):
A TRIP ON THE SUBWAY.
SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR RESPONSE
TO THAT POSITION BY THE GOVERNOR
AND UNDERSTAND IF YOU'VE HAD ANY
CONVERSATIONS WITH HER ABOUT
TAKING THAT TRIP ON THE SUBWAY.
>> I HAVEN'T BUT I'M WILLING TO
TAKE THAT TRIP WITH HER,
PROVIDED, PROVIDED SHE'S WILLING
TO TAKE A CAR TRIP WITH ME FROM
THE HARD WORKING FIREMEN
POLICEMEN THAT MIGHT LIVE
SLIGHTLY OUTSIDE THE CITY AND
HAVE TO COMMUTE INTO THE CITY OR
(22:38):
THE HARD WORKING NEW YORKERS
THAT LIVE MAYBE ON 61ST STREET
AND HAVE TO GO TO WORK DOWNTOWN
THAT'S GOING TO COST THEM NINE
DOLLARS EVERY TIME THEY TRY TO
CROSS THE BLOCK.
BUT I AM VERY HAPPY TO HAVE ANY
OF THAT CONVERSATION.
I MAY BE FROM, I KNOW CONGESTIVE
PRICING MIGHT NOT DIRECTLY
AFFECT ME, BUT I ALSO REPRESENT
A CONFERENCE OF 47 MEMBERS.
(22:58):
WE HAVE MEMBERS IN THE CITY.
WE HAVE MEMBERS IN ALL THE MTA
AREAS AROUND THE CITY AND THE
SUBURBS, AND THAT IS DIRECTLY
AFFECTING THEM.
AND THEY ARE THE ONES TELLING ME
THAT THEIR CONSTITUENCY CANNOT
AFFORD TO PAY THE $9.
>> AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
OTHER PRIORITIES OF YOUR
CONFERENCE BEYOND AFFORDABILITY,
BEYOND CRIME, AND THE MIGRANT
CRISIS AND CONGESTION PRICING?
(23:18):
WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO TO
FOCUS ON THIS SESSION.
>> WELL, THE THING THAT WE
ALWAYS FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT IS
THE OUT MIGRATION OF PEOPLE.
WE'VE LOST A COUPLE HUNDRED
THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS.
OVER 10 YEARS, WE'VE LOST MORE
THAN A MILLION PEOPLE IN NEW
YORK.
SO WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE LEAVING?
CERTAINLY THE AFFORDABILITY, I
THINK, IS A BIG PART.
THE GOVERNOR POINTS TO HOUSING
BEING A BIG ISSUE, WHICH WE
(23:40):
HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH.
WE MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH WHAT SHE
THINKS IS A SOLUTION, WHICH IS
MORE GOVERNMENT CONTROL INTO THE
HOUSING, MORE GOVERNMENT INPUT
INTO HOUSING.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS
GETTING GOVERNMENT OUT AND
GETTING DEVELOPERS TO START
BUILDING HOUSES SO THEY CAN DO
IT WITHOUT THE HUGE RISK IN
ORDER TO DO IT NOW BECAUSE OF
ALL THE GOVERNMENT MANDATES AND
WHATNOT PUT ON TO BUILDING
(24:02):
HOUSING, WE THINK WOULD BE
BETTER.
I DO AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR ON
THIS.
WE GOTTA INCREASE THE SHARE OF
HOUSING IN NEW YORK.
AND SO AS WE INCREASE THE
SUPPLY, THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE
TO LOWER THE DEMAND.
>> AND LASTLY, WHAT WOULD MAKE
FOR A SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATIVE
SESSION FOR REPUBLICANS WHEN
THINGS ARE ALL SETTLED IN JUNE?
(24:24):
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE DON'T
THINK THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE
BUDGET, AS I SAID.
HER PROPOSAL'S BIG.
VERY LIKELY LEGISLATURE COULD
PUT MORE MONEY IN.
WE'D LIKE TO SEE A MORE
REALISTIC BUDGET NUMBER THAT WE
CAN AFFORD GOING FORWARD.
WITH HER CURRENT PROPOSAL, WE
HAVE SOME HUGE OUT YEAR GAPS OR
BIG DEFICITS GOING FORWARD.
SO WE MAY GET AWAY WITH IT THIS
YEAR, THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE
(24:45):
YEAR AFTER THAT'S GOING TO
REALLY CAUSE US PROBLEMS.
SO WE'D LOVE TO SEE A MORE
SUSTAINABLE BUDGET.
TAXES CONTINUE TO BE A HUGE
ISSUE IN NEW YORK.
WE TAX EVERYTHING IN NEW YORK.
HEALTH INSURANCE.
WE TAX PROPERTY TAX AND SALES
TAX.
YOU NAME IT, WE TAX EVERYTHING.
WE HAVE TO GET MORE CONTROL OF
THAT.
I THINK THE MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT
IS A GOOD FIRST STEP.
(25:06):
I THINK THE CHILD TAX CREDIT IS
A GOOD FIRST STEP, BUT THERE'S A
LOT MORE THAT WE COULD DO IN
FISCAL POLICY, I THINK, TO MAKE
NEW YORK MORE AFFORDABLE.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S
CERTAINLY A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD
TO, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S
ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY,
LEADER.
>> THANK YOU.
AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
ASSEMBLY MINORITY LEADER WILL
(25:28):
BARCLAY.
AND FOR MORE ON THE REPUBLICAN
PRIORITIES THIS SESSION, YOU CAN
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT NYNOW.ORG.
NEXT WEEK, WE'LL BE SITTING DOWN
WITH STATE SENATE MAJORITY
LEADER ANDREA STEWART COUSINS
FOR A BROAD RANGING INTERVIEW.
YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS IT.
(25:49):
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> ANNOUNCER (26:35):
FUNDING FOR NEW
YORK NOW IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:18):
WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION
OF NEW YORK NOW.
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL
SIGNED LEGISLATION MEANT TO
PROTECT THE IDENTITY OF
PHYSICIANS PRESCRIBING
MEDICATIONS USED TO PERFORM
ABORTIONS.
UNDER THE LAW, PHYSICIANS WILL
NOW BE ABLE TO REQUEST THAT THE
NAMES OF THEIR PRACTICE IS
(00:38):
LISTED ON DRUG LABELS INSTEAD OF
THEIR NAMES.
THE MOVE COMES AS A NEW YORK
PHYSICIAN WAS RECENTLY INDICTED
FOR PRESCRIBING ABORTION
MEDICINE THROUGH TELEHEATH TO A
PATIENT IN LOUISIANA.
MANY STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
ARE LIMITING ACCESS TO ABORTIONS
FOLLOWING THE SUPREME COURT
(00:58):
DOBBS DECISION IN 2022.
AND SINCE THEN, THE GOVERNOR AND
DEMOCRATIC LED LEGISLATURE HAVE
MADE PROTECTING REPRODUCTIVE
FREEDOMS A TOP PRIORITY.
TO UNPACK THE NEWLY SIGNED
LEGISLATION AND MATERNAL HEALTH
PRIORITIES, WE SAT DOWN WITH
STATE SENATOR SAMRA BROUK.
(01:19):
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US TODAY, SENATOR.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, HAPPY
TO BE HERE.
>> I WANNA START BY GETTING YOUR
REACTION TO THE NEW LAW THAT WAS
JUST SIGNED TO PROTECT NEW YORK
DOCTORS WHO PRESCRIBE ABORTION
MEDICATION VIA TELEHEALTH.
WHAT KIND OF IMPACT WILL THIS
HAVE ON REPRODUCTIVE AND
MATERNAL HEALTH CARE?
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'M SO
GRATEFUL TO THE GOVERNOR FOR
(01:39):
ACTING SWIFTLY.
GRATEFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR
HAVING REALLY THOUGHTFUL
LEGISLATION MEANT AT REALLY
GETTING AT EACH OF THESE
CHALLENGES AS THEY ARE POPPING
UP.
IT CAN SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE WHACK
A MOLE, WHERE THESE CHANGES ARE
HAPPENING AT A FEDERAL LEVEL IN
EACH INDIVIDUAL STATE.
AND HERE IN NEW YORK, WE'VE
(02:00):
STOOD VERY CLEAR IN OUR STANCE
ON SUPPORTING REPRODUCTIVE
FREEDOM SUPPORTING REPRODUCTIVE
RIGHTS AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE
CAN BE SAFE IN ADMINISTERING
THAT CARE, BUT ALSO RECEIVING
THAT CARE.
AND SO, UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T
KNOW WHAT THIS LEGISLATION WILL
DO FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY
BEEN TARGETED, BUT CERTAINLY IT
(02:20):
IS A MESSAGE TO OTHER STATES
THAT WE ARE GONNA PROTECT OUR
PROVIDERS AND ALSO A MESSAGE TO
THOSE PROVIDERS HERE IN NEW YORK
STATE THAT THEY WILL BE SAFER
JUST, YOU KNOW, DOING THEIR
DUTIES AS AS PHYSICIANS.
>> THE MATERNAL MORTALITY CRISIS
IS IMPACTING STATES AROUND THE
COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR DUE TO STRUCTURAL
(02:41):
RACISM AND OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS
LIMITED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE IMPACTS
WE'RE SEEING HERE IN NEW YORK
AND WHAT YOUR BIGGEST CONCERNS
ARE?
>> YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW, I'VE
TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE FACT THAT
THE MATERNAL MORTALITY CRISIS IS
SERIOUS, EVEN HERE IN NEW YORK,
WHEN WE HAVE PRETTY DECENT
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, RIGHT?
WHEN YOU LOOK HERE IN NEW YORK
(03:02):
STATE, BLACK WOMEN, FOR EXAMPLE,
ARE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO
DIE IN CHILDBIRTH.
WHEN YOU LOOK NATIONWIDE, IT'S
THREE TO FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY
TO DIE.
WHAT CONCERNS ME THE MOST IS
THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THOSE
STATISTICS GET EVEN WORSE
NATIONWIDE.
AND WHEN WE'RE SITTING HERE IN
NEW YORK, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT
(03:23):
WE HAVE A STATE LEGISLATURE
THAT'S COMMITTED TO SAVING
MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES AND
MAKING IT SAFE TO BE PREGNANT
AND THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A GOVERNOR THAT
HAS REALLY BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT
OF PUTTING MATERNAL HEALTH AT
THE TOP OF HER AGENDA, ALMOST
EVERY STATE OF THE STATE SINCE
SHE GOT INTO OFFICE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO
KEEP LOOKING AT THOSE THINGS.
(03:44):
YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE
TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO
HERE IN NEW YORK THAT EVEN OTHER
STATES MIGHT BE ABLE TO ALSO DO
AND REPLICATE, I THINK OF THINGS
LIKE OUR DOULA CARE INITIATIVES,
RIGHT?
HERE IN NEW YORK, WE PASSED
MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR DOULA
CARE.
THAT WAS HUGE BECAUSE WHAT THAT
DID WAS IT GOT NEARLY 100,000
(04:06):
PREGNANT FOLKS ABLE TO GET THAT
CARE REIMBURSED, BECAUSE WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT THE MEDICAID BIRTHS
IN NEW YORK STATE, IT'S NEARLY
100,000.
SO ABOUT ALMOST 50% OF BIRTHS IN
NEW YORK STATE FALL UNDER
MEDICAID.
AND SO I THINK THAT WAS A
TREMENDOUS STEP.
AND YOU SEE OTHER STATES WHO ARE
ALSO FOLLOWING SUIT.
AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS, EVEN
IN SOME STATES WHERE THEY ARE
(04:27):
HELL BENT ON ROLLING BACK
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOMS AND
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO FIND SOME TRACTION WITH
GETTING DOULA CARE INITIATED.
SOME INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATORS WHO
CAN THEN GO ON TO FIGHT FOR
THAT.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING WITH
ANY STATE THAT IS LOOKING FOR
THE PATH.
WE'VE TALKED TO OTHER STATES
(04:47):
LIKE ILLINOIS, OTHER STATES LIKE
CALIFORNIA, RHODE ISLAND HAVE
WORKED ON THIS ALREADY.
IN MICHIGAN, OF COURSE.
AND SO NEW YORK WAS THE 13TH
STATE TO DO THIS.
I DON'T THINK WE'LL BE THE LAST.
MY HOPE IS THAT OTHERS WILL SEE
THAT IT'S A KEY PIECE OF THE
PUZZLE WHEN IT COMES TO FIGHTING
THE MATERNAL MORTALITY CRISIS.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, RIGHT
NOW, IT IS GOING TO GET MORE AND
MORE DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE TO GET
(05:09):
PREGNANT, FOR PEOPLE TO BE
PREGNANT, AND FOR PEOPLE TO GIVE
BIRTH TO THEIR CHILD.
IT'S GOING TO BECOME MORE
DANGEROUS IN THIS COUNTRY, AND
THE GOAL WILL BE FOR NEW YORK
STATE TO BE WORKING IN THE
OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND ACTUALLY
CONTINUE TO MAKE IT SAFER.
>> AND THE STATE HAS TRIED TO
REDUCE MORTALITY RATES THROUGH
MEASURES LIKE INCENTIVIZING
PAYMENTS TO HOSPITALS AND
COMMUNITY BASED PROVIDERS TO
(05:30):
IMPROVE THEIR MATERNAL CARE AND
OUTCOMES.
ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE STATE'S
EFFORTS SO FAR?
AND COULD WE BE DOING MORE?
>> WELL, I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
I WON'T BE FULLY HAPPY OR
SATISFIED, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR
MATERNAL HEALTH OUTCOMES UNTIL
NOT ONE PREGNANT PERSON OR
MOTHER IS DYING, YOU KNOW, WHILE
TRYING TO GIVE BIRTH.
AND UNTIL EVERYONE FEELS SAFE
(05:51):
AND SUPPORTED AND HAS THE TOOLS
THAT THEY NEED, THE PEOPLE THAT
THEY NEED TO HAVE THE JOYFUL
EXPERIENCE THAT EVERYONE
DESERVES.
AND SO I THINK WE'VE TAKEN
TREMENDOUS STEPS FORWARD, RIGHT?
WE'VE TAKEN SO MANY STEPS.
AGAIN, NOT JUST LOOKING AT
REIMBURSING DOULAS THROUGH
MEDICAID, BUT WE'VE INTRODUCED
LEGISLATION AROUND MAKING SURE
THAT HOSPITALS ARE HOSPITABLE TO
(06:14):
HAVING DOULAS.
AND SO THERE'S ACTUALLY A BILL
WE HAVE THAT WOULD DESIGNATE A
DOULA FRIENDLY WORKPLACE.
AND SO ANYONE LOOKING TO GIVE
BIRTH CAN CHOOSE A HOSPITAL THAT
WILL ALLOW THEIR DOULA TO COME
THROUGH AND NOT HAVE TO FACE
EXTRA BARRIERS.
I'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF HOSPITALS,
PARTICULARLY IN MONROE COUNTY,
HIRING ON THEIR OWN DOULAS,
PATIENT ADVOCATES TO BE ABLE TO
(06:35):
SUPPORT PEOPLE THROUGH THAT
PROCESS.
AND OF COURSE, WE'VE ALSO SEEN
CHANGES WITH THINGS LIKE TAKING
TIME OFF FOR PRENATAL CARE,
RIGHT, THAT THE GOVERNOR
PRIORITIZED LAST YEAR AND THAT
WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT
NEED TO HAPPEN IF WE'RE REALLY
GONNA TACKLE THIS CRISIS.
AND MY HOPE IS THAT WHEN WE LOOK
BACK IN FIVE YEARS, WHEN WE LOOK
(06:56):
BACK AT TODAY AND ALL OF THE
DATA LEADING UP TO IT, WE ARE
GOING TO SEE THAT WE ACTUALLY
HAVE MADE SIZABLE IMPROVEMENTS
IN OUR MATERNAL HEALTH OUTCOMES
BECAUSE, UNFORTUNATELY, UNTIL
NOW, WE'VE REALLY BEEN MISSING
THE MARK.
>> AND HOW SHOULD THE
LEGISLATURE GO ABOUT ADDRESSING
BARRIERS LIKE THE ONE YOU WERE
JUST TALKING ABOUT RELATED TO
THIS ISSUE?
WHAT ARE THE LEGISLATIVE
PRIORITIES FOR MATERNAL HEALTH
(07:16):
THIS YEAR?
>>THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
AND I LOVE TALKING ABOUT
MATERNAL HEALTH AND MATERNAL
MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
WE'RE LITERALLY SAVING BABIES
AND MOTHERS' LIVES.
AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE
IMPORTANT THAN THAT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, ONE THAT WE'VE
NOTICED, I'LL GO BACK TO THE
DOULA CARE AND THE MEDICAID
REIMBURSEMENT FOR THAT.
ONE THING THAT WE'RE HEARING IS
(07:37):
THAT WHILE WE HAVE TREMENDOUSLY
GROWN THE WORKFORCE WHEN IT
COMES TO DOULAS SERVING THE
MEDICAID POPULATION, WE'RE STILL
FALLING SHORT.
YOU KNOW, I TALK ABOUT THE FACT
THAT WE ARE EXPECTING NEARLY
100,000 BIRTHS UNDER MEDICAID
THIS YEAR, RIGHT?
AND WE DON'T HAVE NEARLY THE
NUMBER OF DOULAS THAT ARE
ACCEPTING MEDICAID RIGHT NOW TO
HANDLE ALL THOSE BIRTHS.
(07:58):
ONE THING THAT WOULD REALLY
CHANGE THAT IS IF WE ACTUALLY
GIVE AN EQUITABLE REIMBURSEMENT
RATE.
WE FELL SHORT OF THAT RATE,
WHICH WAS 1930 PER BIRTH.
THAT'S WEEKS AND WEEKS OF WORK.
THAT'S SIX TIMES THE NUMBER OF
HOURS THAT YOU'RE WITH YOUR
PROVIDER.
YOU'RE ACTUALLY WITH YOUR DOULA.
SO IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH.
I'D PAY MY DOULA ANYTHING I
COULD IF I COULD.
(08:20):
AND SO I THINK THAT INCREASING
THAT REIMBURSEMENT RATE IS GOING
TO BE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT,
MAKING SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN THE
COMMUNITY DOULA DIRECTORY ONLINE
SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE THAT
INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE.
AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT
HOW WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT FOLKS
WITH MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH
CONDITIONS.
SO I'M REALLY GLAD THE GOVERNOR
(08:41):
SIGNED OUR LEGISLATION LAST YEAR
THAT WOULD ACTUALLY CREATE RULES
FOR THESE DEPRESSION SCREENINGS
TO BE CONDUCTED AT PEDIATRIC
APPOINTMENTS, NOT JUST AT OB
APPOINTMENTS, BECAUSE I KNOW
THAT I HAD FAR MORE PEDIATRIC
APPOINTMENTS THOSE FIRST FEW
WEEKS THAN I EVER HAD OB
APPOINTMENTS.
SO THINGS LIKE THAT, I THINK,
ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT SO
(09:01):
THAT WE CAN KEEP LOOKING AT THE
REAL ROOTS OF HOW WE GOT IN THIS
CRISIS.
>> AND SPEAKING OF TOOLS TO
SCREEN FOR POSTPARTUM
DEPRESSION, WE'RE IN THE
BEGINNING STAGES OF THE BUDGET
PROCESS RIGHT NOW AND THE
GOVERNOR PUT IN A MEASURE TO
SUPPORT NEW MOTHERS WHICH
INTENDS TO DISTRIBUTE NEWBORN
SUPPLIES TO NEW YORK MOMS.
IT INCLUDES SCREENING TOOLS FOR
(09:21):
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND
ANXIETY, MENTAL HEALTH
INFORMATION, SELF CARE PRODUCTS,
DIAPERS, BLANKETS AND SWADDLES.
I'M WONDERING WHAT DO YOU THINK
ABOUT THIS MEASURE?
DO YOU THINK IT'LL BE HELPFUL
AND ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE
NUMBER THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED?
IT WAS ABOUT 9.5 MILLION FOR
THESE POSTPARTUM BOXES AND
DIAPERS.
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT
OF FOLKS UNDERESTIMATE THE
LITERAL COSTS ASSOCIATED, NOT
(09:44):
JUST WITH HAVING THE BIRTH IN
THIS COUNTRY, BUT ALSO THE
IMMEDIATE COSTS AFTERWARD.
AND SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO
SUPPORT, AGAIN, MOTHER AND BABY
IN THOSE INITIAL MONTHS UP TO
THAT FIRST YEAR, YOU KNOW, IT'S
THE SAME REASON WE EXPANDED
MEDICAID COVERAGE UP TO A YEAR
POST PARTUM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I
THINK NEW YORK LAWMAKERS
UNDERSTAND THE VERY UNIQUE NEEDS
(10:05):
THAT ARE HAPPENING DURING THAT
TIME.
SO I THINK ANYTHING TO SUPPORT
MOTHERS OR, YOU KNOW, PARENTS
DURING THAT CRITICAL TIME IS
IMPORTANT.
I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT
THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS
AFTER THAT, RIGHT?
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD
LEGISLATION THAT, YOU KNOW, HAS
THESE PAYMENTS GOING TO NEW
PARENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE ABLE TO COVER SOME OF
THESE COSTS.
AND IT KIND OF TAPERS IT DOWN SO
(10:26):
THAT IT'S NOT KIND OF THIS BIG
CLIFF THAT YOU GET AFTER ALL THE
SUPPORT IS GONE.
HASN'T EVERYONE FELT THAT EVEN
IF IT'S NOT MONETARY, WHEN
EVERYONE'S THERE TO HELP YOU AND
THEN A FEW MONTHS IN,
EVERYBODY'S GONE AND IT'S JUST
YOU, RIGHT?
AND SO IT'S THE SAME WAY WITH A
LOT OF THESE SUPPORTS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M CERTAINLY
LOOKING FOR THINGS THAT CAN BE
SUSTAINABLE, BUT THEN ALSO HOW
ARE WE CONTINUING TO INVEST IN
THAT FAMILY, RIGHT?
(10:46):
BECAUSE ONCE YOU'RE OUT OF
DIAPERS AND, YOU KNOW, NO LONGER
NEEDING FORMULA, NOW YOU'RE
PAYING FOR CHILDCARE.
AND WE KNOW WHAT A STRESSOR THAT
IS ON FAMILIES.
I'VE STRUGGLED WITH IT MYSELF AS
WELL.
AND SO WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW,
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
FAMILIES THAT CAN'T AFFORD
STABLE QUALITY CHILDCARE.
AND SO WE'VE GOT TO GET TO
UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE FOR THAT.
(11:07):
AND WE ALSO NEED TO INVEST IN
THE WORKFORCE.
BECAUSE WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE
PERSON WHO'S WITH MY CHILD SIX
TO EIGHT HOURS A DAY WHILE I'M
DOING THIS WORK, AGAIN, I WANT
TO GIVE THEM THE WORLD.
I WANT THEM TO HAVE WHAT THEY
NEED TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES
SO THEY CAN SHOW UP WHEN THEY'RE
TAKING CARE OF OUR CHILDREN.
>> AND YOU TALKED ABOUT DOULA
CARE, AND THIS HAS BEEN AN
(11:28):
EFFORT FOR YOU TO EXPAND ACCESS
TO DOULA CARE.
ARE YOU CONCERNED AT ALL ABOUT
POTENTIAL CHANGES IN FEDERAL
CUTS AT THE LEVEL IN DC
POTENTIALLY IMPACTING, FOR
EXAMPLE, REIMBURSEMENT RATES OF
DOULAS AND OTHER PROVIDERS?
>> I THINK WE'RE ALL RIGHT TO BE
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT
AFFECTS ANY ACTIONS BY THE
(11:49):
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MIGHT CAUSE
HERE IN NEW YORK.
WHAT I KNOW IS THAT OUR
COMMITMENT TO THESE ISSUES ISN'T
GOING TO CHANGE.
AND JUST BECAUSE THERE'S A NEW
PRESIDENT DOES NOT MEAN WE'RE
GOING TO STOP SERVING NEW
YORKERS AND STOP DOING WHAT WE
NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE NOT DYING IN CHILDBIRTH.
SO I AM CERTAINLY NOT WILLING TO
GO BACKWARDS WHEN IT COMES TO
WHAT WE'VE ACHIEVED OVER THE
LAST FEW YEARS.
(12:11):
THESE ARE ATTACKS ON HUMAN LIFE
THAT WE ARE SEEING, ESPECIALLY
WITH THE WHOLE KERFUFFLE WITH
MEDICAID PAUSING OF THAT
SPENDING AS WELL.
AS POLICYMAKERS IN NEW YORK,
WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT, AND WE
ARE MAKING THE DECISIONS THAT WE
HAVE TO MAKE HERE IN NEW YORK TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LOSE OUT
ON CREATING AND DELIVERING THESE
(12:32):
LIFE SAVING SERVICES TO
INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT PREGNANT FOLKS AND
NEWBORN BABIES.
>> WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH
US, SENATOR.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
WE WERE SPEAKING WITH STATE
SENATOR SAMRA BROUK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> AND FOR MORE MATERNAL HEALTH,
YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.
(12:53):
THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE SAT
DOWN WITH ASSEMBLY MINORITY
LEADER WILL BARCLAY TO DISCUSS
AFFORDABILITY IN THE STATE AND
LEARN HOW REPUBLICANS PLAN TO
HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD WHILE
SERVING IN THE MINORITY OF THE
LEGISLATURE.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
(13:15):
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
ME TODAY, LEADER.
>> SHANTEL, GREAT TO BE HERE.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
OUR CONVERSATION.
AND NATURALLY I WANTED TO START
WITH THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE
BUDGET PROPOSAL.
NOW WE SAW IN THE GOVERNOR'S
ADDRESS WHEN SHE UNVEILED THAT
PROPOSAL, IT FOCUSED LARGELY ON
AFFORDABILITY, AND IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT YOUR
(13:35):
CONFERENCE IS EXCITED ABOUT IT
FOCUSING ON AFFORDABILITY,
SPECIFICALLY AROUND THINGS LIKE
THE MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUTS AND
PUTTING MONEY IN THE STATE'S
RESERVES.
SO CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND
MORE ABOUT YOUR CONFERENCE'S
POSITIONING WHEN IT COMES TO THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL?
>> YEAH, WE'RE REALLY VERY HAPPY
AS SHE'S TALKING ABOUT
AFFORDABILITY.
ALTHOUGH SHE'S TALKING ABOUT A
(13:55):
$252 BILLION BUDGET.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S GOTTA BE
PAID FOR SOMEHOW.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, IN NEW YORK,
WE TAX AND SPEND A LOT OF MONEY.
BUT WE ARE HAPPY.
WE LIKE THE MIDDLE CLASS TAX
CUT.
WE LIKE THE CHILD TAX CUT OR TAX
CREDIT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
PROPOSED IN OUR CONFERENCE LAST
YEAR.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE MAJORITY
STOPPED THAT BILL, SO I'M HOPING
(14:16):
THEY LOOK AT IT IN BETTER LIGHT
AND MAYBE PASS THAT GOING
FORWARD.
BUT WE'RE HEARING THIS ALL
ACROSS NEW YORK.
NEW YORKERS ARE STRUGGLING.
THE COST OF LIVING IN NEW YORK
IS TOO HIGH, SO ANYTHING WE CAN
DO TO TAKE STEPS TO LOWER THAT
COST AND HELP ALL NEW YORKERS, I
THINK, IS VERY POSITIVE.
>> AND HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO
WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR AND
DEMOCRATS TO MAKE NEW YORK
AFFORDABLE THIS YEAR?
(14:38):
>> WELL, FIRST WE SUPPORT SOME
OF THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL.
WE'RE WORKING IN A BIPARTISAN
WAY TO DO THAT.
I THINK, AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS
A BIG BUDGET, SO IT'S GOING TO
BE A CHALLENGE.
ALWAYS WHEN WE COME WITH
BUDGETS, YOU HAVE TO SET
PRIORITIES.
I THINK IN THE PAST, A LOT OF
THE PRIORITIES THE GOVERNOR'S
SET AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SET
HAVEN'T BEEN REALLY GOOD
PRIORITIES FOR NEW YORKERS.
(14:58):
SO WHAT WE OFTEN DO IS TRY TO
MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD.
I THINK WE DID WITH THE
AFFORDABILITY AND WE TRY TO PUT
SOME PRESSURE ON THE MAJORITY TO
MAKE SURE THEY DON'T GO TOO
CRAZY.
I'D MENTION AGAIN, THIS BUDGET
IS BIG AND USUALLY WHEN WE START
A BUDGET PROCESS THE GOVERNOR
TAKES THE FIRST STEP AND THEN
THE LEGISLATURE ADDS MORE TO IT.
SO I THINK LAST YEAR THE FINAL
BUDGET WAS LIKE 234 BILLION.
WE'RE INCREASING IT TO 252.
(15:20):
YOU CAN IMAGINE THE LEGISLATURE
WILL WANT TO PUT EVEN MORE MONEY
IN AND, SHANTEL, I'LL TELL YOU
IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE
BUDGET'S INCREASED BY $60
BILLION DOLLARS, INCREASED BY $60
BILLION.
THAT'S MORE THAN SOMETHING LIKE
TWO THIRDS OF ALL THE OTHER
STATES' TOTAL BUDGETS.
SO AGAIN, I THINK IF THERE'S A
PROBLEM ALTHOUGH WE'RE HAPPY
WITH SOME OF THE POLICIES I
MENTIONED IF THERE'S AN ISSUE
HERE, IT'S JUST WE'RE SPENDING
(15:41):
WAY, WAY TOO MUCH MONEY IN NEW
YORK.
>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE ON THE
GOVERNOR'S TIMING ON FOCUSING ON
AFFORDABILITY?
AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS IS A
PRIORITY OF YOUR CONFERENCE THAT
HAS BEEN THE FOCUS FOR SOME
TIME.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK IS
INFORMING HER DECISION WHEN IT
COMES TO AFFORDABILITY?
>> WELL, WE'RE ALL ELECTED
OFFICIALS.
WE ALL CAN READ POLLS AND WE ALL
SEE ELECTION RESULTS.
SO I THINK TRUMP WHO ALSO RAN ON
(16:01):
AFFORDABILITY WON, I THINK ON
THE BASIS OF AFFORDABILITY, THE
GOVERNOR'S NOT NAIVE TO THAT AND
SHE CAN READ POLLS.
AND WHEN YOU ASK NEW YORKERS,
THEY ALL SAY, NEW YORK IS TOO
EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN, THE COST
OF LIVING HERE IS TOO HIGH.
SO I THINK SHE RECOGNIZES THAT
AND IS TRYING TO ANSWER THOSE
CONCERNS IN HER WAY.
>> AND GOING BEYOND
AFFORDABILITY, ARE THERE ANY
(16:22):
OTHER POLICY ITEMS OR AGENDA
ITEMS WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE
BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT HAS YOUR
CONFERENCE EXCITED?
>> YEAH, WELL, AGAIN, IN HER
STATE OF STATE, SHE TALKED ABOUT
CRIME.
WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY WHEN THERE'S
A RECOGNITION THAT THERE'S AN
ISSUE OF CRIME IN NEW YORK.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN
HAMMERING ON FOR THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS, I THINK, THE
PUBLIC TOO.
WHEN YOU POLL THEM,
AFFORDABILITY MIGHT BE NUMBER
(16:43):
ONE.
CRIMES ARE CLOSE SECOND TO THAT.
SO SHE DID RAISE UP CRIME.
SHE RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEMS ON
THE SUBWAY IN NEW YORK CITY.
SHE RECOGNIZED THE DISCOVERY
PROCESS THAT WE REFORMED, OR SO
CALLED REFORM A FEW YEARS AGO,
NEEDS TO MAYBE BE BROUGHT BACK A
LITTLE BIT.
IT'S GONE TOO FAR AND IT'S
CAUSING TOUGH TO DO SPEEDY
TRIALS FOR PROSECUTIONS.
(17:03):
WE'D LIKE TO SEE HER GO EVEN
FARTHER.
WE HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH THE SO
CALLED RAISE THE AGE REFORM.
OBVIOUSLY, BAIL, WE'VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT NONSTOP FOR A LONG
TIME, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE HER
EVEN GO FARTHER THAN MAYBE SOME
OF THE PROPOSALS SHE MADE IN HER
BUDGET AND STATE OF THE STATE TO
REALLY ADDRESS RECIDIVISM OF
CRIME IN NEW YORK STATE.
>> AND WHAT WILL BE YOUR
STRATEGY TO PUSH FOR THE
(17:24):
GOVERNOR AND THE DEMOCRATS TO
FOCUS ON CRIME AND GET THEM TO
WHERE YOU SEE THE STATE SHOULD
BE?
>> WELL, FIRST, WE'VE HAD
SUCCESS WITH THAT.
I MEAN, WE'VE NOW REFORMED BAIL
REFORM MULTIPLE TIMES, AND I
LIKE TO THINK WE PLAYED A ROLE,
THE ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS PLAYED
A ROLE IN THAT, 'CAUSE WE USE A
BULLY PULPIT.
OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T HAVE THE
VOTES TO CHANGE THE LAW.
WE NEED THE MAJORITY TO CHANGE
(17:46):
IT.
SO WE GET ON THE BULLY PULPIT.
WE TRY TO GET VICTIMS OF THESE
CRIMES COME IN TO TELL THEIR
STORY, AND WE ALSO TRY TO GET
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS
TO TELL YOU KNOW THE PROBLEMS
THAT WE HAVE WITH THE SYSTEM.
I WOULD SAY FOR INSTANCE WITH
BAIL THE PROBLEM WHEN WE
INSTITUTED THE FIRST BAIL REFORM
WE DIDN'T GET ANY INPUT FROM THE
PROSECUTORS WE DIDN'T GET INPUT
(18:06):
FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THEY'RE THE ONES ON THE FRONT
LINES, KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE
WITH THESE LAWS AND THE BEST CAN
ADVISE US ON HOW TO CHANGE THEM
TO MAKE ALL NEW YORKERS SAFER.
>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED
DEMOCRATS HOLD A SUPERMAJORITY
IN BOTH THE STATE SENATE AND THE
ASSEMBLY, SO HOW ARE YOU HOPING
TO COMPROMISE WITH DEMOCRATS AND
HAVE YOUR VOICES HEARD?
(18:26):
I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, IT'S OUT
OF YOUR HANDS BECAUSE THEY HAVE
ALL THE CONTROL, BUT WHAT ARE
YOU HOPING THOSE CONVERSATIONS
LOOK LIKE THIS SESSION?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD
SAY I'VE ALWAYS WORKED IN I HAD
TO ALWAYS WORKED IN A BIPARTISAN
MANNER.
I TRY TO FOCUS ON POLICY AND NOT
PERSONALITY, SO I DON'T TRY TO,
YOU KNOW, CRITICIZE ANYBODY FOR
WHERE THEY COME FROM.
I TRY TO CRITICIZE ON MAYBE WHAT
THEY ARE PUSHING LEGISLATIVELY.
(18:47):
AND THAT SEEMS TO WORK.
BUT WHERE I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT
IN WHY I THINK WE CAN GET
SOMETHING DONE ON THESE ISSUES
IN ALBANY THIS YEAR IS, AGAIN,
THE PUBLIC IS WITH US.
ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
EVERYBODY CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENED
ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL WITH TRUMP
AND THE REPUBLICANS ON THE
NATIONAL LEVEL.
SO I THINK THAT ADDS SOME
UNDERSTANDING THAT THINGS CANNOT
CONTINUE ON IN NEW YORK AS THEY
(19:08):
ARE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES TO
MAKE THE CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO
IN NEW YORK.
>> AND SPEAKING ON THINGS ON THE
NATIONAL LEVEL, WE SAW
REPUBLICANS, YOU KNOW, GAIN
CONTROL OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND
THEY NOW HAVE CONTROL OVER THE
TWO CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS, WHICH
IS A COMPLETE 180 FROM HOW
THINGS ARE DONE HERE IN ALBANY
WHERE REPUBLICANS ARE THE
MINORITY.
(19:28):
SO HOW ARE YOU FEELING GIVEN,
YOU KNOW, THAT REALITY RIGHT
NOW?
ARE YOU FEELING INSPIRED BY THE
WAY THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN
WASHINGTON, DC?
>> RIGHT, WELL IT'S EARLY YET,
SO WE'LL SEE, BUT THE PRESIDENT
SO FAR HAS DONE EVERYTHING HE
SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO WHEN HE
WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND HE'S
MOVING VERY QUICKLY.
OBVIOUSLY HE'S STILL WORKING TO
PUT HIS CABINET TOGETHER.
(19:50):
THERE'S LONG TERM ISSUES THAT
ARE GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO
SOLVE, BUT I DO LIKE THE FACT
THAT HE'S TAKING ACTION ON A LOT
OF ISSUES.
ONE THING, THE THIRD NUMBER
THING, THE AFFORDABILITY CRIME
AND THE MIGRANT CRISIS ARE
PROBABLY THE TOP THREE ISSUES
THAT NEW YORKERS HAVE BEEN
CONCERNED AND ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT.
THE PRESIDENT'S GOING RIGHT
THERE AND HE'S LOOKING TO
DEPORT, YOU KNOW, MIGRANTS THAT
(20:11):
HAVE COMMITTED SERIOUS CRIMES
AND HE'S TAKING ACTION ON THAT.
SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE HIM TO
CONTINUE TO DO SO.
>> AND HOW WILL THE PRESIDENT'S
ACTIONS INFORM THE WAY THAT YOU
LEAD REPUBLICANS HERE ON THE
STATE LEVEL?
>> AGAIN, WE TAKE EVERYTHING ON
AN ISSUE BY ISSUE BASIS.
I THINK OUR CONFERENCE SUPPORTS
THIS PRESIDENT.
(20:32):
I WOULD NOTE THIS PRESIDENT IS
MORE POPULAR THAN THE CURRENT
GOVERNOR IN NEW YORK STATE, AND
WE'RE A VERY BLUE STATE, SO
WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH,
OBVIOUSLY, A PRESIDENT ANYWAY
THAT WE CAN TO IMPLEMENT THOSE
POLICIES THAT NEW YORKERS WANT
HERE IN NEW YORK.
>> AND I WANTED TO SWITCH GEARS
AND TALK ABOUT CONGESTION
PRICING.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN PRETTY
VOCAL ABOUT YOUR OPPOSITION TO
(20:54):
THAT PLAN THAT IS NOW ENACTED IN
NEW YORK CITY.
SO I WANTED TO GET AN
UNDERSTANDING ON HOW YOU'RE
HOPING TO HELP NEW YORKERS
MITIGATE THE CHALLENGES THAT
YOU'RE SAYING CONGESTION PRICING
IS BRINGING TO THEM.
>> WELL, CONGESTION PRICING
OBVIOUSLY IS A COST.
AS I MENTIONED THE OTHER DAY IN
A PRESS CONFERENCE, YOU CAN'T
TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND
THEN CHARGE PEOPLE $9 TO DRIVE
(21:15):
IN NEW YORK CITY.
I THINK IT IS THE WRONG
DIRECTION.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE MTA
THAT RUNS THE SUBWAYS AND
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS IN NEW
YORK CITY BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN
SPENDING MONEY LIKE CRAZY.
SO FIRST OF ALL, WE OUGHT TO GET
AN AUDIT OF THE MTA TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE
THERE AND WHERE THE MONEY IS
GOING.
I THINK BEFORE THEY START
CHARGING MORE TO THEIR RATE
(21:36):
PAYERS OR PEOPLE WHO'S DRIVING
NOW IN THE CITY, MAYBE THEY WANT
TO LOOK AT TRYING TO COLLECT THE
MONEY FROM THE FARE BEATERS AND
PEOPLE THAT JUMP THE TURNSTILE.
MAYBE THEY WANT TO LOOK AT OTHER
THINGS THAT THEY COULD DO TO RUN
A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT OPERATION
THAN WHAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY
DOING.
WE CAN'T JUST KEEP CHARGING
PEOPLE MORE AND MORE MONEY
BECAUSE THE PRICE IS GOING UP.
PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THAT
(21:56):
ANYMORE.
>> AND IN RESPONSE TO YOUR
OPPOSITION TO CONGESTION
PRICING, THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT
UPSTATE ELECTED OFFICIALS NEED
TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE RESIDENTS
OF NEW YORK CITY NEED HELP.
CONGESTION PRICING WILL BRING
HELP AND IT WOULD ALSO SUPPORT
REVENUE GOING TO THE MTA.
AND SHE ALSO INVITED YOU TO TAKE
(22:17):
A TRIP ON THE SUBWAY.
SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR RESPONSE
TO THAT POSITION BY THE GOVERNOR
AND UNDERSTAND IF YOU'VE HAD ANY
CONVERSATIONS WITH HER ABOUT
TAKING THAT TRIP ON THE SUBWAY.
>> I HAVEN'T BUT I'M WILLING TO
TAKE THAT TRIP WITH HER,
PROVIDED, PROVIDED SHE'S WILLING
TO TAKE A CAR TRIP WITH ME FROM
THE HARD WORKING FIREMEN
POLICEMEN THAT MIGHT LIVE
SLIGHTLY OUTSIDE THE CITY AND
HAVE TO COMMUTE INTO THE CITY OR
(22:38):
THE HARD WORKING NEW YORKERS
THAT LIVE MAYBE ON 61ST STREET
AND HAVE TO GO TO WORK DOWNTOWN
THAT'S GOING TO COST THEM NINE
DOLLARS EVERY TIME THEY TRY TO
CROSS THE BLOCK.
BUT I AM VERY HAPPY TO HAVE ANY
OF THAT CONVERSATION.
I MAY BE FROM, I KNOW CONGESTIVE
PRICING MIGHT NOT DIRECTLY
AFFECT ME, BUT I ALSO REPRESENT
A CONFERENCE OF 47 MEMBERS.
(22:58):
WE HAVE MEMBERS IN THE CITY.
WE HAVE MEMBERS IN ALL THE MTA
AREAS AROUND THE CITY AND THE
SUBURBS, AND THAT IS DIRECTLY
AFFECTING THEM.
AND THEY ARE THE ONES TELLING ME
THAT THEIR CONSTITUENCY CANNOT
AFFORD TO PAY THE $9.
>> AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
OTHER PRIORITIES OF YOUR
CONFERENCE BEYOND AFFORDABILITY,
BEYOND CRIME, AND THE MIGRANT
CRISIS AND CONGESTION PRICING?
(23:18):
WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO TO
FOCUS ON THIS SESSION.
>> WELL, THE THING THAT WE
ALWAYS FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT IS
THE OUT MIGRATION OF PEOPLE.
WE'VE LOST A COUPLE HUNDRED
THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS.
OVER 10 YEARS, WE'VE LOST MORE
THAN A MILLION PEOPLE IN NEW
YORK.
SO WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE LEAVING?
CERTAINLY THE AFFORDABILITY, I
THINK, IS A BIG PART.
THE GOVERNOR POINTS TO HOUSING
BEING A BIG ISSUE, WHICH WE
(23:40):
HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH.
WE MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH WHAT SHE
THINKS IS A SOLUTION, WHICH IS
MORE GOVERNMENT CONTROL INTO THE
HOUSING, MORE GOVERNMENT INPUT
INTO HOUSING.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS
GETTING GOVERNMENT OUT AND
GETTING DEVELOPERS TO START
BUILDING HOUSES SO THEY CAN DO
IT WITHOUT THE HUGE RISK IN
ORDER TO DO IT NOW BECAUSE OF
ALL THE GOVERNMENT MANDATES AND
WHATNOT PUT ON TO BUILDING
(24:02):
HOUSING, WE THINK WOULD BE
BETTER.
I DO AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR ON
THIS.
WE GOTTA INCREASE THE SHARE OF
HOUSING IN NEW YORK.
AND SO AS WE INCREASE THE
SUPPLY, THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE
TO LOWER THE DEMAND.
>> AND LASTLY, WHAT WOULD MAKE
FOR A SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATIVE
SESSION FOR REPUBLICANS WHEN
THINGS ARE ALL SETTLED IN JUNE?
(24:24):
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE DON'T
THINK THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE
BUDGET, AS I SAID.
HER PROPOSAL'S BIG.
VERY LIKELY LEGISLATURE COULD
PUT MORE MONEY IN.
WE'D LIKE TO SEE A MORE
REALISTIC BUDGET NUMBER THAT WE
CAN AFFORD GOING FORWARD.
WITH HER CURRENT PROPOSAL, WE
HAVE SOME HUGE OUT YEAR GAPS OR
BIG DEFICITS GOING FORWARD.
SO WE MAY GET AWAY WITH IT THIS
YEAR, THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE
(24:45):
YEAR AFTER THAT'S GOING TO
REALLY CAUSE US PROBLEMS.
SO WE'D LOVE TO SEE A MORE
SUSTAINABLE BUDGET.
TAXES CONTINUE TO BE A HUGE
ISSUE IN NEW YORK.
WE TAX EVERYTHING IN NEW YORK.
HEALTH INSURANCE.
WE TAX PROPERTY TAX AND SALES
TAX.
YOU NAME IT, WE TAX EVERYTHING.
WE HAVE TO GET MORE CONTROL OF
THAT.
I THINK THE MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT
IS A GOOD FIRST STEP.
(25:06):
I THINK THE CHILD TAX CREDIT IS
A GOOD FIRST STEP, BUT THERE'S A
LOT MORE THAT WE COULD DO IN
FISCAL POLICY, I THINK, TO MAKE
NEW YORK MORE AFFORDABLE.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S
CERTAINLY A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD
TO, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S
ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY,
LEADER.
>> THANK YOU.
AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
ASSEMBLY MINORITY LEADER WILL
(25:28):
BARCLAY.
AND FOR MORE ON THE REPUBLICAN
PRIORITIES THIS SESSION, YOU CAN
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT NYNOW.ORG.
NEXT WEEK, WE'LL BE SITTING DOWN
WITH STATE SENATE MAJORITY
LEADER ANDREA STEWART COUSINS
FOR A BROAD RANGING INTERVIEW.
YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS IT.
(25:49):
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> ANNOUNCER (26:35):
FUNDING FOR NEW
YORK NOW IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
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