The budget "mothership" has landed! State lawmakers convened for the General Budget Conference Committee meeting this week ahead of the April 1st budget deadline. Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn (D - East Flatbush) joins us to discuss state support for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses. The New York Public News Network is looking at the 5-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. We examine the impact of the science that led to the creation of the vaccines.
EXPLORE MORE: nynow.org
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
(00:22):
THIS WEEK AT THE CAPITOL, STATE
LAWMAKERS CONVENED FOR THE
GENERAL BUDGET CONFERENCE
COMMITTEE MEETING.
THE MEETING, WHICH IS MORE OF A
BUDGET FORMALITY, IS MEANT TO
PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY OF THE
BUDGET PROCESS FOR NEW YORKERS.
>> I AM REALLY, REALLY HAPPY
THAT YOU WERE JOINING US TODAY
FOR THIS YEAR'S GENERAL
(00:43):
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, OR AS WE
AFFECTIONATELY CALL IT, THE
MOTHERSHIP.
>> WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE BUDGET
CONVERSATIONS WITH LEGISLATIVE
LEADERS, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL
INDICATED THAT THE CONVERSATIONS
WERE HEADED IN A PRODUCTIVE
DIRECTION.
>> IT IS VERY RESPECTFUL.
THERE'S A LOT OF LISTENING AND
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I'VE
(01:04):
SENT OUT TO LEADERS SINCE LAST
YEAR.
WE'VE BEEN HAVING ONGOING
DIALOGUES.
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SHARE MY
PRIORITIES.
MY BUDGET IS THE BLUEPRINT.
I LAID OUT MY HIGHEST PRIORITIES
AND WHAT I WANT TO GET
ACCOMPLISHED.
THEY KNOW THAT.
THE ONE-HOUSES GIVE THEM OPTIONS
TO PUT FORTH THEIR IDEAS AND
PRIORITIES.
THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS.
BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING TO
(01:25):
HAVE A VERY PRODUCTIVE SESSION.
>> LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE
GOVERNOR HAVE ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO
COME TO AN AGREEMENT FOR THE
FINAL STATE BUDGET.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO BRING YOU
UPDATES ON THEIR PROGRESS RIGHT
HERE ON THIS SHOW.
NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT
TOPIC.
ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE, THE NUMBER OF MINORITY
(01:45):
AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS
ENTERPRISES IN NEW YORK HAVE
BEEN CONSISTENTLY GROWING FOR
THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE SAT
DOWN WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER
RODNEYSE BICHOTTE HERMELYN TO
DISCUSS THE WAYS THAT THE STATE
CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT
FOR THOSE BUSINESSES.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(02:05):
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US TODAY, ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> NOW I'M SUPER EXCITED TO
SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT MINORITY
AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS
ENTERPRISES.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN A HUGE
CHAMPION OF THESE BUSINESSES AND
EVEN CHAIRING THAT COMMITTEE IN
THE ASSEMBLY.
SO CAN YOU TELL ME SOME OF THE
WORK THAT YOUR CONFERENCE IS
DOING THIS YEAR TO SUPPORT THOSE
(02:26):
BUSINESSES?
>> SO FOR ONE, I WOULD SAY THAT
WE MADE GREAT PROGRESS LAST YEAR
AND BECAUSE OF THOSE PROGRESSES,
WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE MORE
UPGRADES AND CHANGES.
LAST YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO DO A
NUMBER OF THINGS.
IT WAS RECORD-BREAKING.
WE INCREASED THE THRESHOLD TO
(02:46):
1.5 MILLION IN THE CITY AND
750,000 IN THE STATE.
SO THIS YEAR, WHAT WE WANT TO DO
IS WE'RE GOING TO BRING THE
STATE UP TO 1.5 MILLION, VERY
SIMILAR TO THE CITY.
WE WERE ABLE TO ALSO EXPAND A
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM ACROSS THE
CITY OF NEW YORK WHERE MINORITY
AND WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
(03:06):
CAN WORK WITH THESE AGENCIES, GO
THROUGH A PROGRAM AND AFTER THEY
GRADUATE, THEY WILL BE LISTED AS
A PRIORITY LIST, PRIORITY
BUSINESS TO WORK WITH THE
AGENCY.
ALMOST KIND OF GUARANTEEING THEM
LIKE 1.5 TO $2 MILLION IN
CONTRACT.
SO THAT'S A BIG START.
WE ALSO DID OSFC, WHICH IS AN
(03:29):
INSURANCE OWNERS' INSURANCE,
WHERE IN THE MBES, THEY CAN WORK
WITH THE AGENCIES, GENERAL
CONTRACTORS IN GETTING WHOLESALE
AT A DISCOUNTED RATE, WHOLESALE
INSURANCE.
SO THAT WAS A BARRIER FOR MANY
OF THE BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY
COULD NOT AFFORD THE INSURANCES
(03:52):
AND NOW, WE HAVE A PLATFORM.
WE HAVE RESOURCES ALONG WITH
CAPITAL THAT CAN HELP THEM GET
INTO THE FIELD OF BIDDING AND
PROVIDING SUBCONTRACTING
BUSINESSES WITH THE AGENCIES.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT
THAT.
NOW THIS YEAR, WE'RE TAKING
(04:12):
THOSE PROGRESSES AND WE WANT TO
DO MORE.
HEY, WE WANT TO DO MORE IN TERMS
OF NOT ONLY INCREASING THE
THRESHOLD BUT WE ALSO WANT TO
EXPAND OUR MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
ACROSS THE STATE NOT JUST THE
CITY.
SO THAT THESE BIG AGENCIES LIKE
DASNI, DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, THE STATE
(04:33):
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW,
ANY TYPE OF BIG CONSTRUCTION
WORK THAT'S HAPPENING WHETHER
IT'S LOCAL ROADS, WHETHER IT'S
HIGHWAYS AND SO FORTH, WE WANT
THESE BUSINESSES TO WORK WITH
THOSE AGENCIES, LEARN HOW TO DO
BUSINESS, LEARN HOW TO LAY THE
GROUNDWORK.
(04:53):
LEARN HOW TO BID, LEARN HOW TO
ESTIMATE, SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE
PART OF THE NEW YORK STATE MWBE
PROGRAM.
BOTH THE CITY AND THE STATE
PROCURES BILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
OVER 23 BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF
CONTRACTS TO VENDORS AND
(05:14):
CERTAINLY WITH THE POPULATION OF
WOMEN AND MINORITIES BEING THE
MAJORITY, WE FEEL THAT, YOU
KNOW, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
THEM TO PARTICIPATE AT A HIGHER
RATE.
5% FOR A VERY LONG TIME WAS THE
UTILIZATION RATE, WHICH IS THE
RATE OF CONTRACTS AWARDED, THAT
(05:36):
WAS, YOU KNOW, THE TREND FOR A
LOT OF THESE MINORITY AND
WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES, BUT OVER
THE COURSE OF THE YEARS, IT HAS
GROWN.
THE CITY HAS REACHED A 30% AS
WELL AS THE STATE.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT
AND WE JUST WANT TO CONTINUE
THAT TRAJECTORY.
>> YEAH. AND ALONG WITH THOSE
MEASURES, YOU ALSO SPONSOR A
(05:56):
BILL THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY
REQUIRE CONTRACTING AGENCIES TO
CONTACT THOSE BUSINESSES WHEN
THEY'RE LISTED ON UTILIZATION
PLANS AND WHEN A CONTRACT IS
AWARDED.
I'M CURIOUS, WHAT WERE YOU
HEARING FROM THOSE BUSINESS
OWNERS OF WHAT THEY WERE DEALING
WITH THAT PROMPTED TO YOU
INTRODUCE THIS LEGISLATION?
>> SO THIS BILL ESSENTIALLY WILL
(06:17):
PRETTY MUCH GUIDE THE
CONTRACTORS ON HOW TO UTILIZE
THE SUBCONTRACTORS.
SO FIRST OF ALL, NOTIFICATION.
LIKE, HEY, WE HAVE-- YOU'VE BEEN
AWARDED.
YOU'VE BEEN ENLISTED IT
PARTICIPATE IN THIS PARTICULAR
BID AND THESE ARE THE STEPS TO
MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE
SUCCESSFUL.
(06:37):
VERY OFTEN A LOT OF THESE SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE NOT EVEN NOTIFIED
THAT A BID IS AVAILABLE AND WHEN
IT IS AVAILABLE, THEY STILL NEED
SOME TYPE OF HAND-HOLDING IN A
SENSE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE
SUCCESSFUL.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE
BEEN HEARING FROM THE MWBES IS
THAT WHEN THEY DO GET INTO THESE
CONTRACTS, THEY'RE NOT GETTING
(06:58):
PAID ON TIME.
EVEN THOUGH THE GENERAL
CONTRACTORS ARE GETTING PAID BY
THE AGENCIES, THEY'RE STILL NOT
GETTING IT IN TIME.
THIS BILL IS A COMPREHENSIVE
BILL THAT WE'LL KIND OF WALK
THEM THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS
AND ENSURE THAT THEY GET PAID
FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
WE HAVE OTHER TYPES OF BILLS
THAT WE ARE ALSO INTRODUCING
(07:20):
LIKE A PROMPT PAYMENT BILL,
WHICH EXPANDS NOT ONLY TO MWBES
BUT TO ALL SMALL BUSINESSES AND
SUBCONTRACTORS WHO ARE ALSO
FACING THOSE CHALLENGES.
VERY OFTEN WHEN YOU GET INTO A
BID AND THEN YOU EXPEND COSTS
AND EXPENSES, PAYING YOUR
EMPLOYEES AND YOU'RE STILL NOT
(07:40):
GETTING PAID, IT TAKES THE
BUSINESSES OUT OF BUSINESS.
WE'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN OVER AND
OVER.
THAT'S NOT THE WHOLE POINT OF
THE PROGRAM.
THE WHOLE POINT OF THE PROGRAM
IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE
BUSINESSES SURVIVE AND BE
FRUITFUL AND GROW BECAUSE WHEN
YOU GROW, WE CREATE MORE JOBS,
(08:02):
AND IT'S BETTER FOR THE ECONOMY.
THERE'S AN ECONOMIC FLOW.
THIS BILL, WE HOPE IT WILL PASS
THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER MWBE
BILLS THAT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO
PUSH TO ENFORCE THE PROGRAM.
>> GIVEN THE TIME THAT WE'RE IN
WHERE WE'RE SEEING RECORD
INFLATION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF
(08:22):
TARIFFS ON MATERIALS COMING FROM
OTHER COUNTRIES, HOW ARE YOU
HOPING TO WORK WITH THE
LEGISLATURE TO HELP THESE
BUSINESSES COMBAT THESE
CHALLENGES?
>> WELL, THAT'S GOING TO BE A
PROBLEM.
CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, AS YOU
HEAR FROM OUR PRESIDENT, THERE
ARE TARIFFS THAT'S GOING TO BE
IMPOSED ON MAJOR COUNTRIES THAT
(08:44):
MANY OF OUR CONSTRUCTION BIDS
RELY ON AS FAR AS MATERIALS.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, STEEL.
STEEL, WE DEPEND ON CHINA FOR
STEEL.
STEEL IS GOING TO BE VERY
EXPENSIVE AND SO IT'S GOING TO
IMPACT WHO CAN WORK ON THE
PROJECT, IF THE PROJECT IS EVEN
AFFORDABLE.
IT WILL INCREASE, IF WE'RE
(09:06):
BUILDING HOMES AND HOUSES AND
APARTMENT COMPLEXES, THOSE COSTS
WOULD THEN BE TRANSFERRED TO THE
CONSUMER AND EVEN, THE PRIME
MINISTER OF CANADA, HE SAID, HE
SAID, HEY, THIS IS NOT A TARIFF
ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
(09:26):
IT'S THE GOVERNMENT, OUR
GOVERNMENT WHO IMPOSE A TARIFF
ON THEM AND AS A RESULT, THEY
ARE IMPOSING A TARIFF ON US.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG, BIG
IMPACT ON OUR OVERALL ECONOMY.
HOW WE'RE GOING TO AFFORD THIS.
SO WITH THAT SAID, WE'RE HOPING
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL
(09:47):
BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE
DIFFERENT STATES AND SUBSIDIZE
SOME OF THESE COSTS THAT ARE
BEING IMPOSED.
BECAUSE IF WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T
BUILD.
WE CAN'T IMPROVE OUR ROADS.
IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT AND WE
HAVE A LOT OF JOBS ON THE LINE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
AMERICA IS WORKING.
>> GIVEN THOSE CHALLENGES, WHAT
(10:08):
WOULD YOU SAY TO POTENTIAL
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO MAY BE WARY
ABOUT STARTING A BUSINESS GIVEN
THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY?
HOW WOULD YOU BRING AWARENESS TO
THE BENEFITS OF THE MINORITY AND
WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
AND HAVING THAT STATE
CERTIFICATE?
>> WELL, FOR ONE, WE DEFINITELY
WANT TO MAKE THESE SMALL
BUSINESSES AWARE, OKAY.
(10:31):
VERY OFTEN THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF
THE RESOURCES.
THEY'RE ALREADY AVAILABLE.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT, LET'S SAY,
THE SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES.
THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
WORKSHOPS THAT CAN TEACH THEM
HOW TO BID, HOW TO WORK WITH THE
GOVERNMENT.
THERE ARE RESOURCES.
THERE ARE CAPITAL DOLLARS AND
EVERYTHING WHERE INSTITUTION,
(10:54):
ALTERNATIVE FINANCE INSTITUTIONS
CAN LEND AT A VERY LOW INTEREST
RATE, OR AT A NO INTEREST RATE
COST, WHICH WOULD HELP THESE
SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF INVESTORS
WHO ARE WILLING IT INVEST IN
SOME OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES
THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW.
SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TO
(11:16):
BRING A LOT OF THESE RESOURCES
INTO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
VERY OFTEN, PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING
TO TRAVEL TO MANHATTAN OR TO A
PARTICULAR PLACE.
WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE
NONPROFITS TO HELP EXPLAIN, YOU
KNOW, HOLD THEIR HANDS IN TERMS
OF WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE
REQUIRED TO BE CERTIFIED.
BOOKKEEPING IS VERY CHALLENGING
(11:37):
FOR ARE A LOT OF SMALL
BUSINESSES.
YOU KNOW, KEEPING THEIR
PAPERWORK, THEIR TAXES, THEIR
EXPENSES, A LOT OF THEM MAY NOT
KNOW HOW TO DO AN ACCOUNTANT.
SO THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT CAN
HELP THESE SMALL BUSINESSES
ORGANIZE THEIR BOOKKEEPING SO
THAT THEY ARE IN A POSITION TO
NOT ONLY BE CERTIFIED BUT BE
(11:58):
QUALIFIED TO BID ON A PROJECT.
>> ARE THERE ANY MISCONCEPTIONS
ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT YOU'VE
HAD TO DEBUNK THROUGH THE YEARS
WHEN IT COMES TO THESE SMALL
BUSINESSES?
>> I THINK A LOT OF THE SMALL
BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN, THEY FELT
DISCOURAGED BECAUSE THEY FEEL
THAT THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING
THAT THEY NEED TO DO, BUT STILL
(12:19):
ARE NOT GETTING ANY CALLS AND
WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM IS
GET IN THE FACE OF THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE MAKING DECISIONS IN THE
AGENCIES, GO TO THE NETWORKING
EVENTS, MATCH UP WITH LARGER,
BIGGER COMPANIES WHO ARE LOOKING
FOR PARTNERSHIPS WITH
SUBCONTRACTORS, SO YOU KNOW, IT
(12:39):
TAKES A LOT TO ENGAGE AND
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT MANY OF THE SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE NOT DOING BECAUSE
THEY DON'T HAVE TIME.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP
THEIR BUSINESSES AFLOAT.
SO REALLY TRYING TO BE IN THE
FACE AND GET TO KNOW WHAT'S OUT
THERE, WHAT KIND OF BIDS THAT
THEY CAN PARTNER WITH.
>> ACCORDING TO THE STATE, THE
(13:00):
NUMBER OF SMALL BUSINESSES HAS
EXCEEDED FOR THE FOURTH
CONSECUTIVE YEAR.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK IS DRIVING
THAT GROWTH?
>> I THINK THE PROGRAMS THAT WE
HAVE BEEN PROVIDING, FOR
EXAMPLE, LIKE THE 1.5 MILLION
THRESHOLD HAS INCREASED THE
NUMBER OF SMALL BUSINESSES, YOU
KNOW, 30, 40%.
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, IT'S
(13:22):
INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY JUST
BECAUSE THESE BUSINESSES HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GET SELECTED AND
TO DO WORK.
SO PROGRAMS LIKE THAT THAT ARE
LIFTING THE BARRIERS ARE
CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE
SUCCESSES OF THESE BUSINESSES
GROWING AND INCREASING.
(13:42):
>> AND WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR,
YOU KNOW, THE COMMITTEE AND FOR
THESE BUSINESSES IN THE NEXT 5
TO 10 YEARS?
LIKE WHAT ARE YOU HOPING THAT
EVERYTHING LANDS?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M HOPING
THAT WE-- THE BUSINESSES GET TO
A POINT WHERE IT'S FULLY
DIVERSIFIED IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
SO WE HAVE LIKE CONSTRUCTION,
(14:04):
CONSTRUCTION-RELATED,
SERVICE-RELATED.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MINORITY
AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES
CAPITALIZE AND EXCEED IN THEIR
GOALS IN EACH OF THOSE AREAS.
VERY OFTEN, THE
CONSTRUCTION-RELATED, YOU DON'T
SEE MANY OF THE MINORITY OR
WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES
SUCCEEDING BECAUSE IT'S AN AREA
(14:24):
THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF CAPITAL
MATERIALS, THINGS OF THAT
NATURE, WHICH IS VERY COSTLY AND
YOU NEED WORKING CAPITAL.
WHEREAS, YOU WOULD PROBABLY SEE
A LITTLE BIT MORE SUCCESS IN
LIKE A SERVICE AREA OR LIKE AN
EDUCATION, YOU KNOW, TYPE
INDUSTRY AND SO FORTH.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE, WE WANT TO
SEE MORE, UM, OF THE MINORITY
(14:48):
WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
EXCEEDING IN EACH OF THOSE
AREAS, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE
MORE WOMEN OF COLOR DOING VERY
WELL.
I MEAN, THEY REALLY AT THE
BOTTOM OF THE BARREL WHEN IT
COMES TO PERCENTAGE FOR MWBE.
>> SO HOW DO YOU BRIDGE THOSE
GAPS IN TERM OF BRINGING THOSE
BUSINESSES TO THOSE UNTAPPED
INDUSTRIES RIGHT NOW?
(15:09):
>> WELL, AGAIN, IT'S NETWORKING.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, DOING
LEGISLATION THAT WILL ADDRESS
UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY WOMEN
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, POLICY CHANGES.
IT'S, AGAIN, AWARENESS.
IT'S AWARENESS.
YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGING A LOT OF
THESE BUSINESSES THAT ARE NOT
(15:31):
TAPPED TO, YOU KNOW-- AND HAVING
SUCCESS STORIES.
>> AND LASTLY, IT'S NO SECRET
THAT AFFORDABILITY IS THE BIG
FOCUS THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SO WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES
YOUR VISION OF AFFORDABILITY
LOOK LIKE, AND HOW ARE YOU
HOPING TO HAVE THESE BUSINESSES
BE IN LINE WITH YOUR VISION FOR
AFFORDABILITY?
>> WELL, IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE
(15:52):
THING, RIGHT?
OKAY, SO FROM A HOUSING
STANDPOINT, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO
SUBSIDIZE PROJECTS THAT WILL
ALLOW REAL AFFORDABLE RATES FOR,
YOU KNOW, REGULAR PEOPLE TO
LIVE.
YOU KNOW, YOU FIRST NEED A
STABLE PLACE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT AND
WE'VE BEEN ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT
(16:12):
THE AREA INCOME NEEDS TO BE
MATCHED WITH THE LOCAL ZIP CODE
AND NOT ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.
SO, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT,
OKAY, WELL, WHAT DOES
AFFORDABILITY MEAN FOR THIS
PARTICULAR COMMUNITY?
AS IT RELATES TO WAGES, WE'RE
ALWAYS FIGHTING TO INCREASE
WAGES, YOU KNOW, WHICH SHOULD BE
(16:34):
PROBABLY MINIMUM WAGE SHOULD BE
25, $30 AN HOUR.
IT DOES IMPOSE A BURDEN ON MANY
OF THE VERY SMALL BUSINESSES,
BUT WE HAVE WAIVERS FOR SMALLER
BUSINESSES SO THAT THEY CAN
BUILD UP TO BE AT A POINT WHERE
THEY CAN PAY THOSE WAGES THAT
ARE DEFINITELY IN NEED, AND WHEN
(16:54):
YOU TALK ABOUT TAX CREDITS, I DO
HAVE A BILL THAT WE'RE GOING TO
BE INTRODUCING ON THE CITY
LEVEL, WHICH IS-- IT'S CALLED
ASK THE TAX, WHICH GIVES TAX
CREDIT TO MANY OF THE WORKING
FAMILIES AT A CERTAIN THRESHOLD.
THOSE WHO ARE MAKING A CERTAIN
(17:17):
INCOME AND THAT IS SUPPOSED TO
BRING LIKE $65 MILLION BACK IN
THE POCKETS OF WORKERS AND YOU
KNOW, THOSE LITTLE THINGS HELP
BECAUSE THAT'S A DIFFERENCE IN
BEING ABLE TO PAY A TUITION OR
BEING ABLE TO PAY RENT OR EVEN
BEING ABLE TO AFFORD TO BUY
THINGS THAT YOU NEED, YOU KNOW,
(17:37):
FOOD OR CLOTHES AND STUFF LIKE
THAT, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
IS ALSO BEING DONE ON THE STATE
THAT I'M A COSPONSOR OF, SO
ASKING THE TAX, AFFORDING THE
TAX CREDITS TO THE WORKING
FAMILY CLASS IS A BIG THING.
SO AFFORDABILITY IS ON A WIDE
SPECTRUM, WHETHER IT'S HOUSING,
(17:57):
WHETHER IT'S SMALL BUSINESSES,
CREATING JOBS OR WHETHER IT'S
WORKING FAMILIES BEING ABLE TO
GET MORE DOLLARS IN THEIR
POCKETS IN THEIR TAX RETURN, SO
IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US
TODAY, ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
(18:18):
WE REALLY ENJOYED THIS
CONVERSATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
RODNEYSE BICHOTTE HERMELYN .
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION AND
RESOURCES FROM MINORITY AND
WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.
THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
(18:39):
NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT
TOPIC.
THIS MONTH MARKS 5 YEARS SINCE
THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
DECLARED COVID-19 A PANDEMIC.
THE SHUTDOWNS HAVE LONG SINCE
ENDED, BUT THE IMPACTS ON
SOCIETY ARE STILL BEING
UNDERSTOOD.
BEYOND THE DEATHS AND THE
LONG-TERM ILLNESS, THE PANDEMIC
DISRUPTED HOW WE WORK, LEARN AND
(19:01):
EVEN EAT.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC NEWS NETWORK
IS MARKING THE ANNIVERSARY WITH
A SPECIAL SERIES.
HERE ON "NEW YORK NOW," WE'LL BE
DIVING INTO THE LONG-TERM IMPACT
OF THE COVID-19 VACCINES.
HERE'S THAT STORY.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> IT WAS JUST FIVE YEARS AGO
THAT THE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION OFFICIALLY DECLARED
(19:23):
A PANDEMIC FOR THE COVID-19
VIRUS, THE VIRUS THAT AFFECTED
SO MANY FAMILIES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AND HERE IN NEW YORK
STATE.
ROBERT SNYDER, WHO AUTHORED THE
BOOK, "WHEN THE CITY STOPPED:
STORIES FROM NEW YORK'S
ESSENTIAL WORKERS," DESCRIBED
THE CURRENT SENTIMENT AS SOCIETY
APPROACHES THIS GRIM
(19:44):
ANNIVERSARY.
>> WHAT IMPRESSES ME MOST FIVE
YEARS AFTER THE PANDEMIC STARTED
IS HOW EAGER PEOPLE ARE TO
FORGET ABOUT IT.
THEY WANT TO PUT IT BEHIND THEM.
THEY DON'T WANT TO REMEMBER IT.
IT WAS A PAINFUL, TRAUMATIC
TIME.
THEY WANT TO BURY THOSE
MEMORIES.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF
WE FORGOT EVERYTHING ABOUT THE
PANDEMIC.
THEN WE WON'T LEARN ANYTHING
FROM IT, AND I THINK THERE'S A
(20:05):
LOT TO LEARN.
>> TODAY, NEW YORKERS AND PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN
LOOKING BACK AT THE IMPACT OF
THE PANDEMIC WHICH CANNOT BE
DONE WITHOUT RECOUNTING THE
CREATION OF THE VACCINES FOR THE
VIRUS.
DR.TOMOKO UDO, AN ASSOCIATE
PROFESSOR AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
(20:25):
HEALTH POLICY, MANAGEMENT AND
BEHAVIOR AT SUNY ALBANY
UNDERSCORED HOW QUICKLY THE
VACCINE WAS CREATED AND THAT
BEING THE ROOTS OF SKEPTICISM
AROUND ITS EFFECTIVENESS.
>> COVID-19 VACCINE, AS
EVERYBODY KNOW, WAS VERY
DEVELOPED RAPIDLY SO TYPICALLY,
(20:46):
ANY VACCINATION AND THE APPROVAL
PROCESS COULD TAKE UP TO SEVERAL
YEARS.
THIS ONE WAS REALLY QUICK,
WITHIN A YEAR, YOU KNOW.
IT WAS APPROVED BY FDA AND
IMPLEMENTED TO THE WORLD.
SO THAT RAPID PACE WAS
DEFINITELY AMAZING.
>> AND ROBERT SNYDER ALSO
RECOUNTED THE SKEPTICISM AMONG
(21:07):
ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
>> THERE WERE ESSENTIAL WORKERS,
FRONTLINE WORKERS EVEN WHO WERE
RELUCTANT TO GET THE VACCINE.
THEY WERE WARY OF IT.
THEY WERE SKEPTICAL OF IT.
VACCINE SKEPTICISM HAS BEEN
BREWING FOR A LONG TIME IN
AMERICA.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE KIDS
WERE DYING FROM POLIO, WHICH WAS
SUCH A TREMENDOUS INCENTIVE FOR
PEOPLE TO GET VACCINE AGAINST
POLIO IN THE 1950S.
(21:29):
I THINK THAT STRAIN OF VACCINE
SKEPTICISM WAS THERE GOING INTO
THE PANDEMIC AND IN SOME WAYS
FOR SOME PEOPLE, THEIR
EXPERIENCE DURING THE PANDEMIC
REINFORCED THEIR SKEPTICISM
ABOUT VACCINES.
>> MEANWHILE, DR. STEVEN THOMAS,
WHO WAS APPOINTED THE LEAD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR FOR THE
WORLDWIDE PFIZER BIOTECH VACCINE
(21:50):
TRIAL SAID WHILE THERE MAY HAVE
BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT THE
VACCINE'S CREATION, IT'S
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE
SCIENCE THAT CREATED THE VACCINE
WAS NOT NEW.
>> THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO HAD
CONCERNS ABOUT THE VACCINE
BECAUSE THEY LOOKED AT IT AND
THEY SAID, WELL, WAIT A SECOND.
WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT THERE'S
THIS NEW HUMAN PATHOGEN AND 11
(22:11):
MONTHS, YOU HAVE A VACCINE AND
NORMALLY THAT PROCESS TAKES YOU
ABOUT 10 YEARS.
SO CLEARLY, YOU MUST HAVE
SKIPPED SOME STEPS AND CLEARLY,
THERE'S A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS
MESSENGER RNA STUFF THAT WE'VE
NEVER HEARD ABOUT.
I HAVE TO CORRECT THEM BECAUSE
THEY SAY, WELL, LISTEN, THEY'VE
BEEN WORKING ON MESSENGER RNA
(22:32):
FOR DECADES.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE STARTED FROM--
YOU KNOW, THEY STARTED FROM
GROUND ZERO.
THEY HAD YEARS AND YEARS OF
DEVELOPMENT TIME, YOU KNOW,
BEHIND IT.
>> BUT THROUGH ALL THE
SKEPTICISM AROUND THE VACCINE,
IT'S CLEAR THAT IT DID CHANGE
THE TRAJECTORY OF THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC.
(22:52):
>> THE VACCINES WERE A TRIUMPH
OF SCIENCE.
THEY BROKE THE BACK OF PANDEMIC.
IT'S THE VACCINES THAT BROUGHT
AN END TO THE DEADLIEST DAYS OF
THE PANDEMIC.
>> ONCE PEOPLE GOT VACCINATED,
THE NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM THE
VIRUS DECREASED DRAMATICALLY.
THE VACCINES ALSO HELPED PROTECT
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES FROM
(23:12):
SEVERE ILLNESS IF INFECTED AND
SLOWED THE OVERALL SPREAD OF THE
VIRUS.
>> AND BEFORE COVID-19 VACCINE
WAS DEVELOPED, ALL WE COULD DO
AGAINST THE VIRUS WAS WEARING
MASKS SO THAT WE CAN REDUCE THE
RISK FOR SPREADING THE VIRUS AND
CATCHING THE VIRUS, KEEPING THE
DISTANCE.
SO THOSE ARE THE ONLY
(23:33):
MEASUREMENTS THAT WE HAD TO
FIGHT AGAINST VIRUS, BUT ACTUAL
ONCE THE VACCINATION WAS
DEVELOPED, WE WERE ABLE TO, YOU
KNOW, START PREVENTING INITIALLY
PEOPLE GETTING A VIRUS.
EVENTUALLY NOW, IT IS EVOLVED TO
THE POINT WHERE IT PREVENTS
(23:56):
PEOPLE GETTING SEVERELY ILL FROM
THE VIRUS, SUCH AS E.R. VISIT,
URGENT CARE VISIT,
HOSPITALIZATION VISIT.
>> TODAY, MOST AMERICANS HAVE
BEEN VACCINATED AND THE NUMBER
OF CASES HAVE SUBDUED.
INDIVIDUALS WITH COMPROMISED
IMMUNE SYSTEMS ARE ENCOURAGE TO
RECEIVE REGULAR YEARLY BOOSTER
(24:16):
SHOTS TO HELP PROTECT AGAINST
THE VIRUS.
DR. THOMAS UNDERSCORED THAT THE
USES FOR THE SCIENCE THAT WAS
USED TO CREATE THE VACCINE ARE
ENDLESS.
>> THE VACCINE PLATFORM IS LIKE
THE CAR AND YOU CAN SWITCH OUT
THE PASSENGERS.
RIGHT? SO THEY HAVE DONE STUDIES
ON FLU AND RABIES AND HIV AND
(24:37):
CANCER.
NOW IT WAS TIME FOR COVID AND
BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION AND THE
PLANETS ALIGNING OF PANDEMIC,
LOTS OF RESOURCES, PEOPLE BEING
SINGULARLY FOCUSED ON TRYING TO
MAKE A VACCINE AND MITIGATE THAT
PUBLIC HEALTH BURDEN, THOSE
PLANETS ALIGN WHICH GAVE IT AN
OPPORTUNITY THAT-- THE
TECHNOLOGY AN OPPORTUNITY IT HAD
(24:59):
NEVER HAD BEFORE.
IT IS STILL VERY EARLY IN THAT
TECHNOLOGY'S STORY.
I THINK THERE ARE-- THERE ARE SO
MANY OTHER POTENTIAL
APPLICATIONS, AND WE'RE SEEING,
I MEAN, WE'RE SEEING THAT NOT
JUST IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES BUT
IN OTHER SPECIALTIES THAT I
(25:20):
REALLY THINK IT'S JUST THE
BEGINNING OF THE STORY FOR
MESSENGER RNA TECHNOLOGY.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
THE FIVE YEARS OF THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC, YOU CAN VISIT OUR
WEBSITE.
AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR
NEWSLETTER BY GOING TO
NEWSLETTER@NYNOW.ORG OR BY
(25:43):
SCANNING THE QR CODE ON YOUR
SCREEN.
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:35):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
(00:22):
THIS WEEK AT THE CAPITOL, STATE
LAWMAKERS CONVENED FOR THE
GENERAL BUDGET CONFERENCE
COMMITTEE MEETING.
THE MEETING, WHICH IS MORE OF A
BUDGET FORMALITY, IS MEANT TO
PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY OF THE
BUDGET PROCESS FOR NEW YORKERS.
>> I AM REALLY, REALLY HAPPY
THAT YOU WERE JOINING US TODAY
FOR THIS YEAR'S GENERAL
(00:43):
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, OR AS WE
AFFECTIONATELY CALL IT, THE
MOTHERSHIP.
>> WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE BUDGET
CONVERSATIONS WITH LEGISLATIVE
LEADERS, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL
INDICATED THAT THE CONVERSATIONS
WERE HEADED IN A PRODUCTIVE
DIRECTION.
>> IT IS VERY RESPECTFUL.
THERE'S A LOT OF LISTENING AND
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I'VE
(01:04):
SENT OUT TO LEADERS SINCE LAST
YEAR.
WE'VE BEEN HAVING ONGOING
DIALOGUES.
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SHARE MY
PRIORITIES.
MY BUDGET IS THE BLUEPRINT.
I LAID OUT MY HIGHEST PRIORITIES
AND WHAT I WANT TO GET
ACCOMPLISHED.
THEY KNOW THAT.
THE ONE-HOUSES GIVE THEM OPTIONS
TO PUT FORTH THEIR IDEAS AND
PRIORITIES.
THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS.
BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING TO
(01:25):
HAVE A VERY PRODUCTIVE SESSION.
>> LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE
GOVERNOR HAVE ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO
COME TO AN AGREEMENT FOR THE
FINAL STATE BUDGET.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO BRING YOU
UPDATES ON THEIR PROGRESS RIGHT
HERE ON THIS SHOW.
NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT
TOPIC.
ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE, THE NUMBER OF MINORITY
(01:45):
AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS
ENTERPRISES IN NEW YORK HAVE
BEEN CONSISTENTLY GROWING FOR
THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE SAT
DOWN WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER
RODNEYSE BICHOTTE HERMELYN TO
DISCUSS THE WAYS THAT THE STATE
CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT
FOR THOSE BUSINESSES.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(02:05):
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US TODAY, ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> NOW I'M SUPER EXCITED TO
SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT MINORITY
AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS
ENTERPRISES.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN A HUGE
CHAMPION OF THESE BUSINESSES AND
EVEN CHAIRING THAT COMMITTEE IN
THE ASSEMBLY.
SO CAN YOU TELL ME SOME OF THE
WORK THAT YOUR CONFERENCE IS
DOING THIS YEAR TO SUPPORT THOSE
(02:26):
BUSINESSES?
>> SO FOR ONE, I WOULD SAY THAT
WE MADE GREAT PROGRESS LAST YEAR
AND BECAUSE OF THOSE PROGRESSES,
WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE MORE
UPGRADES AND CHANGES.
LAST YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO DO A
NUMBER OF THINGS.
IT WAS RECORD-BREAKING.
WE INCREASED THE THRESHOLD TO
(02:46):
1.5 MILLION IN THE CITY AND
750,000 IN THE STATE.
SO THIS YEAR, WHAT WE WANT TO DO
IS WE'RE GOING TO BRING THE
STATE UP TO 1.5 MILLION, VERY
SIMILAR TO THE CITY.
WE WERE ABLE TO ALSO EXPAND A
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM ACROSS THE
CITY OF NEW YORK WHERE MINORITY
AND WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
(03:06):
CAN WORK WITH THESE AGENCIES, GO
THROUGH A PROGRAM AND AFTER THEY
GRADUATE, THEY WILL BE LISTED AS
A PRIORITY LIST, PRIORITY
BUSINESS TO WORK WITH THE
AGENCY.
ALMOST KIND OF GUARANTEEING THEM
LIKE 1.5 TO $2 MILLION IN
CONTRACT.
SO THAT'S A BIG START.
WE ALSO DID OSFC, WHICH IS AN
(03:29):
INSURANCE OWNERS' INSURANCE,
WHERE IN THE MBES, THEY CAN WORK
WITH THE AGENCIES, GENERAL
CONTRACTORS IN GETTING WHOLESALE
AT A DISCOUNTED RATE, WHOLESALE
INSURANCE.
SO THAT WAS A BARRIER FOR MANY
OF THE BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY
COULD NOT AFFORD THE INSURANCES
(03:52):
AND NOW, WE HAVE A PLATFORM.
WE HAVE RESOURCES ALONG WITH
CAPITAL THAT CAN HELP THEM GET
INTO THE FIELD OF BIDDING AND
PROVIDING SUBCONTRACTING
BUSINESSES WITH THE AGENCIES.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT
THAT.
NOW THIS YEAR, WE'RE TAKING
(04:12):
THOSE PROGRESSES AND WE WANT TO
DO MORE.
HEY, WE WANT TO DO MORE IN TERMS
OF NOT ONLY INCREASING THE
THRESHOLD BUT WE ALSO WANT TO
EXPAND OUR MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
ACROSS THE STATE NOT JUST THE
CITY.
SO THAT THESE BIG AGENCIES LIKE
DASNI, DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, THE STATE
(04:33):
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW,
ANY TYPE OF BIG CONSTRUCTION
WORK THAT'S HAPPENING WHETHER
IT'S LOCAL ROADS, WHETHER IT'S
HIGHWAYS AND SO FORTH, WE WANT
THESE BUSINESSES TO WORK WITH
THOSE AGENCIES, LEARN HOW TO DO
BUSINESS, LEARN HOW TO LAY THE
GROUNDWORK.
(04:53):
LEARN HOW TO BID, LEARN HOW TO
ESTIMATE, SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE
PART OF THE NEW YORK STATE MWBE
PROGRAM.
BOTH THE CITY AND THE STATE
PROCURES BILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
OVER 23 BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF
CONTRACTS TO VENDORS AND
(05:14):
CERTAINLY WITH THE POPULATION OF
WOMEN AND MINORITIES BEING THE
MAJORITY, WE FEEL THAT, YOU
KNOW, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
THEM TO PARTICIPATE AT A HIGHER
RATE.
5% FOR A VERY LONG TIME WAS THE
UTILIZATION RATE, WHICH IS THE
RATE OF CONTRACTS AWARDED, THAT
(05:36):
WAS, YOU KNOW, THE TREND FOR A
LOT OF THESE MINORITY AND
WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES, BUT OVER
THE COURSE OF THE YEARS, IT HAS
GROWN.
THE CITY HAS REACHED A 30% AS
WELL AS THE STATE.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT
AND WE JUST WANT TO CONTINUE
THAT TRAJECTORY.
>> YEAH. AND ALONG WITH THOSE
MEASURES, YOU ALSO SPONSOR A
(05:56):
BILL THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY
REQUIRE CONTRACTING AGENCIES TO
CONTACT THOSE BUSINESSES WHEN
THEY'RE LISTED ON UTILIZATION
PLANS AND WHEN A CONTRACT IS
AWARDED.
I'M CURIOUS, WHAT WERE YOU
HEARING FROM THOSE BUSINESS
OWNERS OF WHAT THEY WERE DEALING
WITH THAT PROMPTED TO YOU
INTRODUCE THIS LEGISLATION?
>> SO THIS BILL ESSENTIALLY WILL
(06:17):
PRETTY MUCH GUIDE THE
CONTRACTORS ON HOW TO UTILIZE
THE SUBCONTRACTORS.
SO FIRST OF ALL, NOTIFICATION.
LIKE, HEY, WE HAVE-- YOU'VE BEEN
AWARDED.
YOU'VE BEEN ENLISTED IT
PARTICIPATE IN THIS PARTICULAR
BID AND THESE ARE THE STEPS TO
MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE
SUCCESSFUL.
(06:37):
VERY OFTEN A LOT OF THESE SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE NOT EVEN NOTIFIED
THAT A BID IS AVAILABLE AND WHEN
IT IS AVAILABLE, THEY STILL NEED
SOME TYPE OF HAND-HOLDING IN A
SENSE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE
SUCCESSFUL.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE
BEEN HEARING FROM THE MWBES IS
THAT WHEN THEY DO GET INTO THESE
CONTRACTS, THEY'RE NOT GETTING
(06:58):
PAID ON TIME.
EVEN THOUGH THE GENERAL
CONTRACTORS ARE GETTING PAID BY
THE AGENCIES, THEY'RE STILL NOT
GETTING IT IN TIME.
THIS BILL IS A COMPREHENSIVE
BILL THAT WE'LL KIND OF WALK
THEM THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS
AND ENSURE THAT THEY GET PAID
FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
WE HAVE OTHER TYPES OF BILLS
THAT WE ARE ALSO INTRODUCING
(07:20):
LIKE A PROMPT PAYMENT BILL,
WHICH EXPANDS NOT ONLY TO MWBES
BUT TO ALL SMALL BUSINESSES AND
SUBCONTRACTORS WHO ARE ALSO
FACING THOSE CHALLENGES.
VERY OFTEN WHEN YOU GET INTO A
BID AND THEN YOU EXPEND COSTS
AND EXPENSES, PAYING YOUR
EMPLOYEES AND YOU'RE STILL NOT
(07:40):
GETTING PAID, IT TAKES THE
BUSINESSES OUT OF BUSINESS.
WE'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN OVER AND
OVER.
THAT'S NOT THE WHOLE POINT OF
THE PROGRAM.
THE WHOLE POINT OF THE PROGRAM
IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE
BUSINESSES SURVIVE AND BE
FRUITFUL AND GROW BECAUSE WHEN
YOU GROW, WE CREATE MORE JOBS,
(08:02):
AND IT'S BETTER FOR THE ECONOMY.
THERE'S AN ECONOMIC FLOW.
THIS BILL, WE HOPE IT WILL PASS
THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER MWBE
BILLS THAT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO
PUSH TO ENFORCE THE PROGRAM.
>> GIVEN THE TIME THAT WE'RE IN
WHERE WE'RE SEEING RECORD
INFLATION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF
(08:22):
TARIFFS ON MATERIALS COMING FROM
OTHER COUNTRIES, HOW ARE YOU
HOPING TO WORK WITH THE
LEGISLATURE TO HELP THESE
BUSINESSES COMBAT THESE
CHALLENGES?
>> WELL, THAT'S GOING TO BE A
PROBLEM.
CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, AS YOU
HEAR FROM OUR PRESIDENT, THERE
ARE TARIFFS THAT'S GOING TO BE
IMPOSED ON MAJOR COUNTRIES THAT
(08:44):
MANY OF OUR CONSTRUCTION BIDS
RELY ON AS FAR AS MATERIALS.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, STEEL.
STEEL, WE DEPEND ON CHINA FOR
STEEL.
STEEL IS GOING TO BE VERY
EXPENSIVE AND SO IT'S GOING TO
IMPACT WHO CAN WORK ON THE
PROJECT, IF THE PROJECT IS EVEN
AFFORDABLE.
IT WILL INCREASE, IF WE'RE
(09:06):
BUILDING HOMES AND HOUSES AND
APARTMENT COMPLEXES, THOSE COSTS
WOULD THEN BE TRANSFERRED TO THE
CONSUMER AND EVEN, THE PRIME
MINISTER OF CANADA, HE SAID, HE
SAID, HEY, THIS IS NOT A TARIFF
ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
(09:26):
IT'S THE GOVERNMENT, OUR
GOVERNMENT WHO IMPOSE A TARIFF
ON THEM AND AS A RESULT, THEY
ARE IMPOSING A TARIFF ON US.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG, BIG
IMPACT ON OUR OVERALL ECONOMY.
HOW WE'RE GOING TO AFFORD THIS.
SO WITH THAT SAID, WE'RE HOPING
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL
(09:47):
BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE
DIFFERENT STATES AND SUBSIDIZE
SOME OF THESE COSTS THAT ARE
BEING IMPOSED.
BECAUSE IF WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T
BUILD.
WE CAN'T IMPROVE OUR ROADS.
IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT AND WE
HAVE A LOT OF JOBS ON THE LINE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
AMERICA IS WORKING.
>> GIVEN THOSE CHALLENGES, WHAT
(10:08):
WOULD YOU SAY TO POTENTIAL
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO MAY BE WARY
ABOUT STARTING A BUSINESS GIVEN
THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY?
HOW WOULD YOU BRING AWARENESS TO
THE BENEFITS OF THE MINORITY AND
WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
AND HAVING THAT STATE
CERTIFICATE?
>> WELL, FOR ONE, WE DEFINITELY
WANT TO MAKE THESE SMALL
BUSINESSES AWARE, OKAY.
(10:31):
VERY OFTEN THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF
THE RESOURCES.
THEY'RE ALREADY AVAILABLE.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT, LET'S SAY,
THE SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES.
THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
WORKSHOPS THAT CAN TEACH THEM
HOW TO BID, HOW TO WORK WITH THE
GOVERNMENT.
THERE ARE RESOURCES.
THERE ARE CAPITAL DOLLARS AND
EVERYTHING WHERE INSTITUTION,
(10:54):
ALTERNATIVE FINANCE INSTITUTIONS
CAN LEND AT A VERY LOW INTEREST
RATE, OR AT A NO INTEREST RATE
COST, WHICH WOULD HELP THESE
SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF INVESTORS
WHO ARE WILLING IT INVEST IN
SOME OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES
THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW.
SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TO
(11:16):
BRING A LOT OF THESE RESOURCES
INTO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
VERY OFTEN, PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING
TO TRAVEL TO MANHATTAN OR TO A
PARTICULAR PLACE.
WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE
NONPROFITS TO HELP EXPLAIN, YOU
KNOW, HOLD THEIR HANDS IN TERMS
OF WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE
REQUIRED TO BE CERTIFIED.
BOOKKEEPING IS VERY CHALLENGING
(11:37):
FOR ARE A LOT OF SMALL
BUSINESSES.
YOU KNOW, KEEPING THEIR
PAPERWORK, THEIR TAXES, THEIR
EXPENSES, A LOT OF THEM MAY NOT
KNOW HOW TO DO AN ACCOUNTANT.
SO THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT CAN
HELP THESE SMALL BUSINESSES
ORGANIZE THEIR BOOKKEEPING SO
THAT THEY ARE IN A POSITION TO
NOT ONLY BE CERTIFIED BUT BE
(11:58):
QUALIFIED TO BID ON A PROJECT.
>> ARE THERE ANY MISCONCEPTIONS
ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT YOU'VE
HAD TO DEBUNK THROUGH THE YEARS
WHEN IT COMES TO THESE SMALL
BUSINESSES?
>> I THINK A LOT OF THE SMALL
BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN, THEY FELT
DISCOURAGED BECAUSE THEY FEEL
THAT THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING
THAT THEY NEED TO DO, BUT STILL
(12:19):
ARE NOT GETTING ANY CALLS AND
WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM IS
GET IN THE FACE OF THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE MAKING DECISIONS IN THE
AGENCIES, GO TO THE NETWORKING
EVENTS, MATCH UP WITH LARGER,
BIGGER COMPANIES WHO ARE LOOKING
FOR PARTNERSHIPS WITH
SUBCONTRACTORS, SO YOU KNOW, IT
(12:39):
TAKES A LOT TO ENGAGE AND
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT MANY OF THE SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE NOT DOING BECAUSE
THEY DON'T HAVE TIME.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP
THEIR BUSINESSES AFLOAT.
SO REALLY TRYING TO BE IN THE
FACE AND GET TO KNOW WHAT'S OUT
THERE, WHAT KIND OF BIDS THAT
THEY CAN PARTNER WITH.
>> ACCORDING TO THE STATE, THE
(13:00):
NUMBER OF SMALL BUSINESSES HAS
EXCEEDED FOR THE FOURTH
CONSECUTIVE YEAR.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK IS DRIVING
THAT GROWTH?
>> I THINK THE PROGRAMS THAT WE
HAVE BEEN PROVIDING, FOR
EXAMPLE, LIKE THE 1.5 MILLION
THRESHOLD HAS INCREASED THE
NUMBER OF SMALL BUSINESSES, YOU
KNOW, 30, 40%.
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, IT'S
(13:22):
INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY JUST
BECAUSE THESE BUSINESSES HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GET SELECTED AND
TO DO WORK.
SO PROGRAMS LIKE THAT THAT ARE
LIFTING THE BARRIERS ARE
CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE
SUCCESSES OF THESE BUSINESSES
GROWING AND INCREASING.
(13:42):
>> AND WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR,
YOU KNOW, THE COMMITTEE AND FOR
THESE BUSINESSES IN THE NEXT 5
TO 10 YEARS?
LIKE WHAT ARE YOU HOPING THAT
EVERYTHING LANDS?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M HOPING
THAT WE-- THE BUSINESSES GET TO
A POINT WHERE IT'S FULLY
DIVERSIFIED IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
SO WE HAVE LIKE CONSTRUCTION,
(14:04):
CONSTRUCTION-RELATED,
SERVICE-RELATED.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MINORITY
AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES
CAPITALIZE AND EXCEED IN THEIR
GOALS IN EACH OF THOSE AREAS.
VERY OFTEN, THE
CONSTRUCTION-RELATED, YOU DON'T
SEE MANY OF THE MINORITY OR
WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES
SUCCEEDING BECAUSE IT'S AN AREA
(14:24):
THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF CAPITAL
MATERIALS, THINGS OF THAT
NATURE, WHICH IS VERY COSTLY AND
YOU NEED WORKING CAPITAL.
WHEREAS, YOU WOULD PROBABLY SEE
A LITTLE BIT MORE SUCCESS IN
LIKE A SERVICE AREA OR LIKE AN
EDUCATION, YOU KNOW, TYPE
INDUSTRY AND SO FORTH.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE, WE WANT TO
SEE MORE, UM, OF THE MINORITY
(14:48):
WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
EXCEEDING IN EACH OF THOSE
AREAS, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE
MORE WOMEN OF COLOR DOING VERY
WELL.
I MEAN, THEY REALLY AT THE
BOTTOM OF THE BARREL WHEN IT
COMES TO PERCENTAGE FOR MWBE.
>> SO HOW DO YOU BRIDGE THOSE
GAPS IN TERM OF BRINGING THOSE
BUSINESSES TO THOSE UNTAPPED
INDUSTRIES RIGHT NOW?
(15:09):
>> WELL, AGAIN, IT'S NETWORKING.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, DOING
LEGISLATION THAT WILL ADDRESS
UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY WOMEN
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, POLICY CHANGES.
IT'S, AGAIN, AWARENESS.
IT'S AWARENESS.
YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGING A LOT OF
THESE BUSINESSES THAT ARE NOT
(15:31):
TAPPED TO, YOU KNOW-- AND HAVING
SUCCESS STORIES.
>> AND LASTLY, IT'S NO SECRET
THAT AFFORDABILITY IS THE BIG
FOCUS THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SO WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES
YOUR VISION OF AFFORDABILITY
LOOK LIKE, AND HOW ARE YOU
HOPING TO HAVE THESE BUSINESSES
BE IN LINE WITH YOUR VISION FOR
AFFORDABILITY?
>> WELL, IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE
(15:52):
THING, RIGHT?
OKAY, SO FROM A HOUSING
STANDPOINT, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO
SUBSIDIZE PROJECTS THAT WILL
ALLOW REAL AFFORDABLE RATES FOR,
YOU KNOW, REGULAR PEOPLE TO
LIVE.
YOU KNOW, YOU FIRST NEED A
STABLE PLACE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT AND
WE'VE BEEN ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT
(16:12):
THE AREA INCOME NEEDS TO BE
MATCHED WITH THE LOCAL ZIP CODE
AND NOT ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.
SO, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT,
OKAY, WELL, WHAT DOES
AFFORDABILITY MEAN FOR THIS
PARTICULAR COMMUNITY?
AS IT RELATES TO WAGES, WE'RE
ALWAYS FIGHTING TO INCREASE
WAGES, YOU KNOW, WHICH SHOULD BE
(16:34):
PROBABLY MINIMUM WAGE SHOULD BE
25, $30 AN HOUR.
IT DOES IMPOSE A BURDEN ON MANY
OF THE VERY SMALL BUSINESSES,
BUT WE HAVE WAIVERS FOR SMALLER
BUSINESSES SO THAT THEY CAN
BUILD UP TO BE AT A POINT WHERE
THEY CAN PAY THOSE WAGES THAT
ARE DEFINITELY IN NEED, AND WHEN
(16:54):
YOU TALK ABOUT TAX CREDITS, I DO
HAVE A BILL THAT WE'RE GOING TO
BE INTRODUCING ON THE CITY
LEVEL, WHICH IS-- IT'S CALLED
ASK THE TAX, WHICH GIVES TAX
CREDIT TO MANY OF THE WORKING
FAMILIES AT A CERTAIN THRESHOLD.
THOSE WHO ARE MAKING A CERTAIN
(17:17):
INCOME AND THAT IS SUPPOSED TO
BRING LIKE $65 MILLION BACK IN
THE POCKETS OF WORKERS AND YOU
KNOW, THOSE LITTLE THINGS HELP
BECAUSE THAT'S A DIFFERENCE IN
BEING ABLE TO PAY A TUITION OR
BEING ABLE TO PAY RENT OR EVEN
BEING ABLE TO AFFORD TO BUY
THINGS THAT YOU NEED, YOU KNOW,
(17:37):
FOOD OR CLOTHES AND STUFF LIKE
THAT, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
IS ALSO BEING DONE ON THE STATE
THAT I'M A COSPONSOR OF, SO
ASKING THE TAX, AFFORDING THE
TAX CREDITS TO THE WORKING
FAMILY CLASS IS A BIG THING.
SO AFFORDABILITY IS ON A WIDE
SPECTRUM, WHETHER IT'S HOUSING,
(17:57):
WHETHER IT'S SMALL BUSINESSES,
CREATING JOBS OR WHETHER IT'S
WORKING FAMILIES BEING ABLE TO
GET MORE DOLLARS IN THEIR
POCKETS IN THEIR TAX RETURN, SO
IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US
TODAY, ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
(18:18):
WE REALLY ENJOYED THIS
CONVERSATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
RODNEYSE BICHOTTE HERMELYN .
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION AND
RESOURCES FROM MINORITY AND
WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.
THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
(18:39):
NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT
TOPIC.
THIS MONTH MARKS 5 YEARS SINCE
THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
DECLARED COVID-19 A PANDEMIC.
THE SHUTDOWNS HAVE LONG SINCE
ENDED, BUT THE IMPACTS ON
SOCIETY ARE STILL BEING
UNDERSTOOD.
BEYOND THE DEATHS AND THE
LONG-TERM ILLNESS, THE PANDEMIC
DISRUPTED HOW WE WORK, LEARN AND
(19:01):
EVEN EAT.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC NEWS NETWORK
IS MARKING THE ANNIVERSARY WITH
A SPECIAL SERIES.
HERE ON "NEW YORK NOW," WE'LL BE
DIVING INTO THE LONG-TERM IMPACT
OF THE COVID-19 VACCINES.
HERE'S THAT STORY.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> IT WAS JUST FIVE YEARS AGO
THAT THE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION OFFICIALLY DECLARED
(19:23):
A PANDEMIC FOR THE COVID-19
VIRUS, THE VIRUS THAT AFFECTED
SO MANY FAMILIES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AND HERE IN NEW YORK
STATE.
ROBERT SNYDER, WHO AUTHORED THE
BOOK, "WHEN THE CITY STOPPED:
STORIES FROM NEW YORK'S
ESSENTIAL WORKERS," DESCRIBED
THE CURRENT SENTIMENT AS SOCIETY
APPROACHES THIS GRIM
(19:44):
ANNIVERSARY.
>> WHAT IMPRESSES ME MOST FIVE
YEARS AFTER THE PANDEMIC STARTED
IS HOW EAGER PEOPLE ARE TO
FORGET ABOUT IT.
THEY WANT TO PUT IT BEHIND THEM.
THEY DON'T WANT TO REMEMBER IT.
IT WAS A PAINFUL, TRAUMATIC
TIME.
THEY WANT TO BURY THOSE
MEMORIES.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF
WE FORGOT EVERYTHING ABOUT THE
PANDEMIC.
THEN WE WON'T LEARN ANYTHING
FROM IT, AND I THINK THERE'S A
(20:05):
LOT TO LEARN.
>> TODAY, NEW YORKERS AND PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN
LOOKING BACK AT THE IMPACT OF
THE PANDEMIC WHICH CANNOT BE
DONE WITHOUT RECOUNTING THE
CREATION OF THE VACCINES FOR THE
VIRUS.
DR.TOMOKO UDO, AN ASSOCIATE
PROFESSOR AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
(20:25):
HEALTH POLICY, MANAGEMENT AND
BEHAVIOR AT SUNY ALBANY
UNDERSCORED HOW QUICKLY THE
VACCINE WAS CREATED AND THAT
BEING THE ROOTS OF SKEPTICISM
AROUND ITS EFFECTIVENESS.
>> COVID-19 VACCINE, AS
EVERYBODY KNOW, WAS VERY
DEVELOPED RAPIDLY SO TYPICALLY,
(20:46):
ANY VACCINATION AND THE APPROVAL
PROCESS COULD TAKE UP TO SEVERAL
YEARS.
THIS ONE WAS REALLY QUICK,
WITHIN A YEAR, YOU KNOW.
IT WAS APPROVED BY FDA AND
IMPLEMENTED TO THE WORLD.
SO THAT RAPID PACE WAS
DEFINITELY AMAZING.
>> AND ROBERT SNYDER ALSO
RECOUNTED THE SKEPTICISM AMONG
(21:07):
ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
>> THERE WERE ESSENTIAL WORKERS,
FRONTLINE WORKERS EVEN WHO WERE
RELUCTANT TO GET THE VACCINE.
THEY WERE WARY OF IT.
THEY WERE SKEPTICAL OF IT.
VACCINE SKEPTICISM HAS BEEN
BREWING FOR A LONG TIME IN
AMERICA.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE KIDS
WERE DYING FROM POLIO, WHICH WAS
SUCH A TREMENDOUS INCENTIVE FOR
PEOPLE TO GET VACCINE AGAINST
POLIO IN THE 1950S.
(21:29):
I THINK THAT STRAIN OF VACCINE
SKEPTICISM WAS THERE GOING INTO
THE PANDEMIC AND IN SOME WAYS
FOR SOME PEOPLE, THEIR
EXPERIENCE DURING THE PANDEMIC
REINFORCED THEIR SKEPTICISM
ABOUT VACCINES.
>> MEANWHILE, DR. STEVEN THOMAS,
WHO WAS APPOINTED THE LEAD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR FOR THE
WORLDWIDE PFIZER BIOTECH VACCINE
(21:50):
TRIAL SAID WHILE THERE MAY HAVE
BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT THE
VACCINE'S CREATION, IT'S
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE
SCIENCE THAT CREATED THE VACCINE
WAS NOT NEW.
>> THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO HAD
CONCERNS ABOUT THE VACCINE
BECAUSE THEY LOOKED AT IT AND
THEY SAID, WELL, WAIT A SECOND.
WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT THERE'S
THIS NEW HUMAN PATHOGEN AND 11
(22:11):
MONTHS, YOU HAVE A VACCINE AND
NORMALLY THAT PROCESS TAKES YOU
ABOUT 10 YEARS.
SO CLEARLY, YOU MUST HAVE
SKIPPED SOME STEPS AND CLEARLY,
THERE'S A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS
MESSENGER RNA STUFF THAT WE'VE
NEVER HEARD ABOUT.
I HAVE TO CORRECT THEM BECAUSE
THEY SAY, WELL, LISTEN, THEY'VE
BEEN WORKING ON MESSENGER RNA
(22:32):
FOR DECADES.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE STARTED FROM--
YOU KNOW, THEY STARTED FROM
GROUND ZERO.
THEY HAD YEARS AND YEARS OF
DEVELOPMENT TIME, YOU KNOW,
BEHIND IT.
>> BUT THROUGH ALL THE
SKEPTICISM AROUND THE VACCINE,
IT'S CLEAR THAT IT DID CHANGE
THE TRAJECTORY OF THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC.
(22:52):
>> THE VACCINES WERE A TRIUMPH
OF SCIENCE.
THEY BROKE THE BACK OF PANDEMIC.
IT'S THE VACCINES THAT BROUGHT
AN END TO THE DEADLIEST DAYS OF
THE PANDEMIC.
>> ONCE PEOPLE GOT VACCINATED,
THE NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM THE
VIRUS DECREASED DRAMATICALLY.
THE VACCINES ALSO HELPED PROTECT
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES FROM
(23:12):
SEVERE ILLNESS IF INFECTED AND
SLOWED THE OVERALL SPREAD OF THE
VIRUS.
>> AND BEFORE COVID-19 VACCINE
WAS DEVELOPED, ALL WE COULD DO
AGAINST THE VIRUS WAS WEARING
MASKS SO THAT WE CAN REDUCE THE
RISK FOR SPREADING THE VIRUS AND
CATCHING THE VIRUS, KEEPING THE
DISTANCE.
SO THOSE ARE THE ONLY
(23:33):
MEASUREMENTS THAT WE HAD TO
FIGHT AGAINST VIRUS, BUT ACTUAL
ONCE THE VACCINATION WAS
DEVELOPED, WE WERE ABLE TO, YOU
KNOW, START PREVENTING INITIALLY
PEOPLE GETTING A VIRUS.
EVENTUALLY NOW, IT IS EVOLVED TO
THE POINT WHERE IT PREVENTS
(23:56):
PEOPLE GETTING SEVERELY ILL FROM
THE VIRUS, SUCH AS E.R. VISIT,
URGENT CARE VISIT,
HOSPITALIZATION VISIT.
>> TODAY, MOST AMERICANS HAVE
BEEN VACCINATED AND THE NUMBER
OF CASES HAVE SUBDUED.
INDIVIDUALS WITH COMPROMISED
IMMUNE SYSTEMS ARE ENCOURAGE TO
RECEIVE REGULAR YEARLY BOOSTER
(24:16):
SHOTS TO HELP PROTECT AGAINST
THE VIRUS.
DR. THOMAS UNDERSCORED THAT THE
USES FOR THE SCIENCE THAT WAS
USED TO CREATE THE VACCINE ARE
ENDLESS.
>> THE VACCINE PLATFORM IS LIKE
THE CAR AND YOU CAN SWITCH OUT
THE PASSENGERS.
RIGHT? SO THEY HAVE DONE STUDIES
ON FLU AND RABIES AND HIV AND
(24:37):
CANCER.
NOW IT WAS TIME FOR COVID AND
BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION AND THE
PLANETS ALIGNING OF PANDEMIC,
LOTS OF RESOURCES, PEOPLE BEING
SINGULARLY FOCUSED ON TRYING TO
MAKE A VACCINE AND MITIGATE THAT
PUBLIC HEALTH BURDEN, THOSE
PLANETS ALIGN WHICH GAVE IT AN
OPPORTUNITY THAT-- THE
TECHNOLOGY AN OPPORTUNITY IT HAD
(24:59):
NEVER HAD BEFORE.
IT IS STILL VERY EARLY IN THAT
TECHNOLOGY'S STORY.
I THINK THERE ARE-- THERE ARE SO
MANY OTHER POTENTIAL
APPLICATIONS, AND WE'RE SEEING,
I MEAN, WE'RE SEEING THAT NOT
JUST IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES BUT
IN OTHER SPECIALTIES THAT I
(25:20):
REALLY THINK IT'S JUST THE
BEGINNING OF THE STORY FOR
MESSENGER RNA TECHNOLOGY.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
THE FIVE YEARS OF THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC, YOU CAN VISIT OUR
WEBSITE.
AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR
NEWSLETTER BY GOING TO
NEWSLETTER@NYNOW.ORG OR BY
(25:43):
SCANNING THE QR CODE ON YOUR
SCREEN.
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:35):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
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