October 17, 2025 • 25 mins
State Budget Director Blake Washington joins us to discuss inflation refund checks and New York’s fiscal priorities as planning begins for next year’s budget. Plus, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month—Kelli Owens, executive director of NY’s Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, explains why awareness and prevention efforts matter.
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(00:00):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:19):
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
STARTING THIS MONTH, NEW YORKERS
MAKING UNDER A CERTAIN AMOUNT
WILL RECEIVE A ONE-TIME
INFLATION REFUND CHECK.
THE CHECKS WILL BE MAILED TO
OVER EIGHT MILLION HOUSEHOLDS
ACROSS THE STATE THROUGH
NOVEMBER.
THE AMOUNT RECEIVED WILL BE $200
(00:39):
OR $400, DEPENDING ON THE
HOUSEHOLD SALARY, AND IT IS
BASED ON THE 2023 TAX FILING.
ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR KATHIE
HOCHUL, THE MOVE TO SEND THE
CHECKS, WHICH WAS PASSED IN THE
MOST RECENT STATE BUDGET IS PART
OF THE LARGER EFFORT TO HELP
MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF THE
RISING COST OF INFLATION.
(01:01):
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IMPACT
OF THE REFUND CHECKS, WE SPOKE
WITH STATE BUDGET DIRECTOR BLAKE
WASHINGTON.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US HERE TODAY,DIRECTOR
WASHINGTON.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> NOW, CAN YOU HELP US
UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE
INFLATION REFUND CHECKS THAT NEW
(01:21):
YORKERS ARE SET TO START
RECEIVING AS EARLY AS THIS
MONTH?
>> SURE. SO THE INFLATION REBATE
CHECK THAT WE HAVE WAS ENACTED
IN THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.
IT WAS ONE OF MANY ITEMS THAT
THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT FORWARD TO
PROMOTE AFFORDABILITY IN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.
THE AFFORDABILITY REBATE CHECK--
(01:42):
INFLATION REBATE CHECK, FORGIVE
ME, WILL BE IN AN AMOUNT OF UP
TO $400, DEPENDING ON TAXPAYER
FILING STATUS, AND IT'S COMING
SOON TO A MAILBOX NEAR YOU.
THIS INTERVENTION IS ONE THAT
GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S PUT FORWARD IN
RECOGNITION THAT PEOPLE IN THE
(02:02):
STATE OF NEW YORK NEED A LITTLE
BIT OF RELIEF.
EVERYWHERE THAT SHE TRAVELS,
PEOPLE ARE RELATING TO HER ABOUT
THE HIGH COST OF GROCERIES OR
GASOLINE OR UTILITIES, WHATEVER
THE CASE MAY BE, THERE'S AN
URGENCY OF NOW TO GET MONEY INTO
PEOPLE'S POCKETS, AND THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S
DOING WITH THIS INITIATIVE.
WE HAVE A REBATE CHECK.
(02:24):
WE ALSO HAVE A CHILD TAX CREDIT
THAT'S GOING TO TRIPLE IN THE
CURRENT YEAR.
WE HAVE AN EXPANSION OF A MIDDLE
CLASS TAX CUT WHICH WE'RE ALSO
LOOKING FORWARD TO AND FINALLY,
WE HAVE UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL
MEALS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW
YORK, WHICH KICKED IN AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THOSE THINGS COMBINED PROVIDE
(02:45):
FOR $5,000 BACK IN NEW YORKERS'
POCKETS AT A TIME THEY NEED IT
MOST.
>> CAN YOU GIVE US SOME INSIGHT
INTO WHAT IT TOOK FOR BOTH THE
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER AND THE
LEGISLATURE 0 WORK TOGETHER TO
GET THESE DIFFERENT POLICY ITEMS
IN THE FINAL ENACTED BUDGET
EARLIER THIS YEAR?
>> WELL, I THINK THE INSIGHT TO
BEGIN, THE COLONEL WAS WORKING
(03:05):
WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SHE TASKED
THE ENTIRE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
LET'S COME UP WITH IDEAS THAT
ARE CREATIVE TO GET MONEY BACK
IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS.
I WANT NEAR-TERM INTERVENTIONS
AND I WANT ONES THAT WILL BE
SORT OF ROLLED OUT OVER TIME AND
SUSTAINABLE FISCALLY OVER THE
LONG TERM.
SO IT WAS HER CHARGE BACK IN
(03:26):
NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR WHEN WE
FIRST GOT INTO THIS IN CRAFTING
THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET.
THIS IS THE MARKER SHE LAID DOWN
WAS AFFORDABILITY,
AFFORDABILITY, AFFORDABILITY,
AND WE CARRIED THAT FORWARD.
TO THEIR CREDIT, WE WORKED WITH
THE LEGISLATURE.
THEY SAW, TOO, THE WISDOM OF ALL
THESE POLICY CHANGES AND THEY
(03:46):
ADOPTED THEM.
THERE WERE SOME SMALL TWEAKS TO
THE PROGRAMS, BUT GENERALLY
SPEAKING, THEY SAW THE VALUE AND
THEY ACTED ACCORDINGLY, TO THEIR
CREDIT, AND NOW NEW YORKERS HAVE
MUCH TO BE PROUD OF.
>> AND HOW MUCH IS IT COSTING
THE STATE TO SEND THESE REBATE
CHECKS TO NEW YORKERS, AND WHAT
IS FUNDING THIS POLICY?
>> WELL, THE AMOUNT-- THE REBATE
(04:07):
CHECKS, THEMSELVES, WILL COST
ROUGHLY $2 BILLION ON A ONE-TIME
BASIS, AND BEYOND THAT, IT COST
THE STATE POSTAGE TO SEND TO NEW
YORKERS.
IT WILL BE A ONE-TIME CHECK.
THIS IS ONE THAT OBVIOUSLY $2
BILLION EACH AND EVERY YEAR FOR
THIS PURPOSE WOULD BE
UNSUSTAINABLE, BUT IT'S ONE THAT
WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THE STATE
(04:29):
HAS COLLECTED DURING AN ERA OF
HEIGHTENED-- HEIGHTENED
INFLATION, THIS WAS ONE WAY OF
TAKING THOSE RESOURCES AND
PLEDGING THEM BACK TO NEW
YORKERS ON A ONE-TIME BASIS.
SO THE COST IS $2 BILLION AND
IT'S A BRILLIANT INVESTMENT.
>> AND WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING
THE WORD OUT THERE TO NEW
YORKERS AND YOU KNOW, MAKING
SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT
(04:49):
THESE CHECKS WILL BE COMING TO
THEIR MAILBOXES, HOW IS THE
STATE GOING TO BE APPROACHING
THAT IN ENSURING THAT EVERYONE
IS IN THE KNOW?
>> WELL WE HAVE THE STATE'S
NUMBER ONE SALESPERSON AND THAT
BEING GOVERNOR HOCHUL HERSELF.
SHE'S BEEN IN EVERY CORNER OF
THE STATE ANNOUNCING THIS
INITIATIVE.
IT'S ON THE TAX DEPARTMENT'S
WEBSITE.
(05:09):
THERE'S BEEN SOCIAL MEDIA
ENGAGEMENT.
THERE'S ENGAGEMENT SUCH AS THIS
AS WELL, WHICH WILL ALSO HELP
NEW YORKERS THINK-- TO BE
REMINDED ABOUT THIS.
IT WILL TAKE ABOUT EIGHT WEEKS
TO GET-- START TO FINISH TO GET
THE CHECKS OUT TO NEW YORKERS,
BUT WHEN THAT'S ALL SAID AND
DONE, REAL RESULTS TO REAL
PEOPLE.
>> AND IF A NEW YORKER DOESN'T
RECEIVE A CHECK IN THE MAIL
(05:30):
SHOULD THEY REACH OUT TO YOUR
OFFICE, OR WHAT OTHER STATE
AGENCY TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT
THE CHECKS?
>> WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST,
GIVE IT A COUPLE OF WEEK.
YOUR NEIGHBOR MAY GET A CHECK
BEFORE YOU.
IT'S DEPENDENT UPON YOUR FILING
DATE.
PERHAPS IF YOU FILED SOONER THAN
YOUR NEIGHBOR, YOU WOULD GET IT
SOONER OR VICE VERSA.
I THINK THAT ONCE-- IF YOU FILED
YOUR CHECK-- EXCUSE ME, IF YOU
(05:50):
FILED TAXES ON TIME IN 2023,
THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL WORK FOR
YOU TO DO.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION
AND FINANCE WILL SEND YOU A
CHECK.
SO THERE SHOULD BE SEAMLESS.
IF THAT DOES NOT COME, I THINK
THERE'S AN 800 NUMBER ON THE TAX
DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE, BUT LET'S
GIVE IT SOME TIME BEFORE CALLING
BECAUSE I THINK WE PUT-- PUT THE
WHOLE STATE GOVERNMENT BEHIND
(06:11):
THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER
THE RESULT.
>> ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC AREAS
OR INDUSTRIES THAT YOU'RE HOPING
NEW YORKERS WILL USE THE MONEY
FROM THE CHECKS TO INVEST IN TO
BEST SUPPORT THE STATE'S
ECONOMY?
>> NOT NECESSARILY.
I THINK WHEN THE GOVERNOR HAS
BEEN DOING HER PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENTS, SHE SEES IT JUST AS
A-- SHE'S THE FIRST MOM GOVERNOR
(06:31):
AND SHE SEES IT AS A FUNDAMENTAL
ABILITY TO GIVE PEOPLE A LITTLE
BIT OF WIGGLE ROOM, WHETHER IT
BE THIS WEEK'S CHECKS, THIS
MONTH'S CHECKS, MAYBE IT TAKES
OFF A LITTLE BIT FOR THE UTILITY
CHECK.
MAYBE IT GIVES MOM AND DAD A
NIGHT OUT OR BUY NEW SCHOOL
SUPPLIES, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY
BE, WE'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE
(06:53):
BENEFIT.
IT WILL GIVE SOME NEW YORKERS
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BREATHING
ROOM AND THAT'S THE INTENT.
SO THERE'S NO EXPRESS OR
PREFERRED WAY IN WHICH PEOPLE
CAN SPEND THE DOLLARS.
>> HOW DO YOU SEE THE GOVERNOR
AND THE LEGISLATURE BUILDING ON
THESE EFFORTS IN THE YEARS TO
COME?
FOR EXAMPLE, IN NEXT YEAR'S
BUDGET.
>> WELL, I MEAN, WE HAVE-- FIRST
(07:14):
AND FOREMOST, WORK WITHIN A
FISCAL FRAMEWORK THAT MAKES
SENSE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE STRESS COMING
INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
WE HAVE CURRENT YEAR INVESTMENTS
THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO
PROMOTE.
WE HAVE OUTYEAR DEFICITS THAT WE
HAVE TO ADDRESS, BUT AS THE
GOVERNOR TELLS EVERY NEW YORKER
WHEREVER SHE IS, WE'RE NOT DONE
YET.
(07:34):
MAYBE WE CAN'T DO ANOTHER $2
BILLION ONE-TIME REBATE CHECK,
BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE NEW
YORKERS' LIVES A LITTLE BIT
EASIER?
THE CHILD TAX CREDIT WILL PHASE
OVER TIME.
FIRST YEAR, WE'LL TRIPLE THE
AMOUNT FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE
AGE OF FOUR.
THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WE'RE GOING
TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF
CHILDREN OVER THE AGE OF FOUR.
WE HAVE A MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT
THAT WILL PHASE IN OVER TWO
(07:56):
YEARS.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT ANY NUMBER
OF ITEMS FROM OUR STATE AGENCY.
WE SOLICITED THE SAME TO GET AT
THE HEART OF THE AFFORDABILITY
CRISIS THAT WE FACE TODAY, AND
ALL OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE AND
I THINK THAT AS LONG AS THEY'RE
FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE IF THERE
ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY
DELIVER, WE'RE CERTAINLY ALL
(08:18):
EARS.
>> WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE
FROM NEW YORKERS WHEN IT COMES
TO THESE DIFFERENT POLICY
INITIATIVES THAT YOU ARE GOING
TO-- THAT YOU'VE ALREADY STARTED
ROLLING OUT BUT ALSO CONTINUING
TO ROLL OUT?
>> THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN
FAVORABLE.
I THINK THAT NEW YORKERS SEE
THAT NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT
IS PAYING ATTENTION TO THEM, AND
YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN THEY SEE
THE WHOLE OF THIS PROPOSAL, WHEN
(08:39):
THEY SEE THESE ACTIONS WHEN THEY
SEE IT'S UP TO $5,000 IN NEW
YORKERS' POCKETS, THEY SEE THAT
NEW YORK GOVERNMENT IS TRYING
AND THEY SEE NEW YORK GOVERNMENT
IS RESPONSIVE AND PAYING
ATTENTION TO THEM AND THAT'S THE
GOAL AND TO MAKE IT A LITTLE
EASIER AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE KEEP THAT MOMENTUM.
LET'S GET RID OF THE RED TAPE.
(08:59):
LET'S GET RID OF THE PROBLEMS
THAT NEW YORKERS FACE AND
INTERACTING STATE GOVERNMENT AS
WELL.
LET'S WORK WITH ON ANY FRONT TO
REDUCE THE BURDENS THAT NEW
YORKERS HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY
NUMBER OF THINGS IN THEIR LIFE.
HOWEVER WE CAN HELP ON THIS-- WE
CAN'T DO IT ALL, BUT HOWEVER WE
CAN HELP, WE'RE HAPPY TO DO IT.
>> WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING FROM
(09:20):
WASHINGTON AND THREATS TO
FUNDING, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES YOUR
OFFICE SEE THAT PLAYING OUT
HEADING INTO NEXT YEAR?
WHAT WILL YOUR COMMUNICATION BE
LIKE WITH FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO
ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS ON THE
SAME PAGE WHEN IT COMES TO
FUNDING FOR THE STATE?
>> WELL, THE STATE OF NEW YORK
RELIES UPON THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FOR A SUBSTANTIAL
AMOUNT OF RESOURCES.
$93 BILLION IN A GIVEN YEAR, AND
(09:42):
IT'S FOR ANY NUMBER OF SERVICES.
CHIEF AMONG THEM IS MEDICAID, OF
COURSE.
I THINK, IN GENERAL, THERE'S A
POLICY SHIFT IN WASHINGTON THAT
WILL ENDURE.
THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE A
CHANGING RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE
STATES, THE RELATIONSHIP OF WHAT
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL FUND
AND THE STATES EVERYWHERE WILL
(10:04):
HAVE TO ADAPT.
IT DOESN'T MATTER THE POLITICAL
PERSUASION.
THE DYNAMIC IS CHANGING, AND WE
IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAVE TO
SORT OF ADAPT TO THAT.
BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT
COME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
THAT ARE JUST SORT OF
INDEFENSIBLE, AND YOU KNOW, THE
GOVERNOR LAST WEEK SHOUTED FROM
(10:25):
THE ROOFTOPS ABOUT A CUT THAT
CAME TO THE STATE-- PROPOSED FOR
THE STATE OF NEW YORK FOR
HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING.
$187 MILLION WAS LOST, BUT THE
GOVERNOR ALSO KEPT HER COOL, AND
SHE COLLABORATED.
SHE MADE CONTACT WITH THE WHITE
HOUSE.
SHE MADE THE PUBLIC CASE ABOUT
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT.
(10:45):
THE STATE OF NEW YORK BEING THE
EPICENTER OF THE 9/1 TAX AND
BEING THE TARGET OF
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
PREVIOUSLY AND THESE FUNDS WERE
ONES THAT WERE NON-NEGOTIABLE.
WE NEEDED THEM BACK.
WE WERE REALLY, REALLY DELIGHTED
TO HAVE THAT COLLABORATION.
THE GOVERNOR WORKING WITH THE
PRESIDENT TO RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS
BACK TO THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(11:06):
THE GOVERNOR WILL FIGHT WHERE
SHE NEEDS TO, PARTICULARLY WHEN
IT RELATES TO PROTECTING NEW
YORKERS.
AND THEN I THINK WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO REVISIT ALL THE OTHER
ACTIONS THAT COME THROUGH HR1.
THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF FUNDING
RETRENCHMENT THAT'S COMING OUR
WAY, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO BE
DEALING WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET AND BUDGETS TO COME.
(11:26):
AND THERE'S A LOT OF RULE-MAKING
THAT IS GOING TO COME OUR WAY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
THE UPSIDE IS WE HAVE A REALLY
TALENTED GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE
DIVISION OF BUDGET THAT WILL
HELP US TO DRAG IT ACROSS THE
FINISH LINE.
THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE GOOD
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
GOVERNOR.
WE'LL TAKE IT FROM THERE.
>> YOU KNOW, YOU'LL BE GOING
INTO YOUR THIRD BUDGET SEASON
NEXT YEAR.
(11:46):
ANY BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM THE YEARS
PRIOR THAT YOU ARE HOPING TO
IMPLEMENT INTO NEXT YEAR'S
BUDGET?
>> WELL, I THINK THE TAKEAWAYS
ARE CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE,
EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE-- EVEN
WHEN YOU HAVE-- WHEN IT SEEMS
THAT SOMETIMES THINGS ARE
STALLED OUT OR GETTING A LITTLE
UNEASY, THE GOVERNOR'S
INSTRUCTIONS TO US ARE LET'S
(12:07):
JUST KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING.
LET'S KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING
WITH THE ADVOCACY WORLD.
LET'S KEEP TALKING TO THE
LEGISLATURE.
LET'S RYE TO GET TO A DEAL WHERE
EVERYBODY WALKS AWAY HAPPY OR
HAPPY-ISH, AS THE CASE MAY BE.
BUT LET'S NOT HAVE OUR POSTURE
BE ONE WHERE WE'RE CLOSED OFF TO
THE WORLD.
LET'S FIGURE OUT.
(12:28):
LET'S BE SOLUTIONS ORIENTED.
IF WE CAN KEEP THAT GENERAL
CADENCE AS WE GO FORWARD, WE'LL
ALL WIN.
I THINK GOING INTO NEXT YEAR,
KNOWING THAT THERE'S ANY NUMBER
OF CHALLENGES COME OUR WAY,
LET'S KEEP OUR HEADS ON
STRAIGHT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FACTS
BEFORE US AND LET'S COLLABORATE
AND DELIVER A BUDGET FOR ALL NEW
YORKERS.
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S
(12:48):
ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY,
BUT WE THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH
FOR SITING DOWN WITH US.
>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
HAVING ME.
>> WE WERE SPEAKING WITH BLAKE
WASHINGTON, DIRECTOR FOR THE NEW
YORK STATE DIVISION OF THE
BUDGET.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> OCTOBER IS ALSO DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
THIS IS A TIME OF DEDICATED
(13:09):
AWARENESS FOR THE ISSUE AND TO
PROVIDE SUPPORT TO VICTIMS.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE SAT
DOWN WITH KELLI OWENS, WHO
SERVES AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOR THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE
FOR THE PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE TO UNPACK THE ISSUE AND
TO UNDERSTAND THE WORK THAT NEW
YORK IS DOING.
(13:29):
HERE'S THAT IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US TODAY, KELLI.
>> OH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO OCTOBER, AS YOU KNOW, IS
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS
MONTH.
CAN YOU TELL ME, YOU KNOW, WHAT
THIS MONTH MEANS TO YOU, AND
WHAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE AWAY
FROM THIS TIME OF DEDICATED
AWARENESS?
>> YEAH. FOR US AT OPDV,
(13:49):
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS
MONTH IS EVERY MONTH, BUT THIS
MONTH IS REALLY DEDICATED FOR
PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND AND BRING
AWARENESS TO THE ISSUE OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
EVERY YEAR, WE ACKNOWLEDGE IT.
EVERY YEAR.
AND THIS YEAR, WE'RE REALLY
FOCUSED ON THE VOICES OF
SURVIVORS AND WHAT THAT LOOKS
LIKE.
SO WE'RE REALLY LIFTING UP THOSE
VOICES THIS YEAR.
(14:09):
>> AND I KNOW THE CLOTHES LINE
PROJECT, I BELIEVE, IS
RETURNING.
THAT'S ONE OF THE METHODS OF
AWARENESS THAT THE STATE DOES.
CAN YOU TELL ME FOR PEOPLE WHO
MIGHT NOT KNOW, WHAT IS THE
CLOTHES LINE PROJECT, AND HOW
LONG HAS THE STATE BEEN DOING
IT?
>> THE CLOTHES LINE PROJECT IS A
VISUAL REPRESENTATION.
IT'S BEEN AROUND ABOUT 30 YEARS
AND IT'S A VISUAL REPRESENTATION
(14:30):
OF HOW PEOPLE BRING THEIR ABUSE
OUT IN A WAY, AND IT'S REALLY--
THEY TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE A T-SHIRT AND REALLY
PROMOTE AND HELP PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR FEELING
WAS AND WHAT THEIR FEELING IS
NOW AROUND THE ABUSE THEY MAY
(14:51):
HAVE SUFFERED.
IT'S REALLY A VERY MOVING
REPRESENTATION OF WHAT ABUSE
LOOKS LIKE.
WE DO IT IN THE CONCOURSE.
WE'RE ON OUR THIRD YEAR OF DOING
IT IN THE CONCOURSE.
IT IS A MOVING REPRESENTATION.
SOMETIMES IT'S TROUBLING FOR
PEOPLE.
THE FIRST YEAR WE WERE THERE,
PEOPLE WERE-- PEOPLE WERE
SHOCKED BY WHAT THEY SAW ON SOME
(15:11):
OF THOSE T-SHIRTS, AND YOU KNOW,
I HAVE A REAL PASSION FOR MAKING
SURE THAT WE DON'T EDIT
SURVIVORS' VOICES, SO WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE WHAT IS REALLY ON THAT
SHIRT IS WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO
SAY.
>> AND CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW
THIS PROJECT AND PROJECTS LIKE
(15:31):
IT HAVE RAISED AWARENESS FOR THE
ISSUE?
YOU KNOW, HOW YOU HAVE SEEN THAT
BE IMPACTFUL.
>> YEAH. I HAVE BEEN IN THIS
BUSINESS ABOUT 30 YEARS.
I STARTED AT A LOCAL.
AND I WILL SAY THAT I THOUGHT
THAT WE WERE MOVING ALONG IN HOW
PEOPLE VIEW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS
(15:52):
A SOCIETAL ISSUE THAT WE ALL HAD
TO DEAL WITH, AND WE WERE MOVING
ALONG REALLY WELL UNTIL A COUPLE
OF WEEKS AGO, AND THIS IS MEANT
TO BE POLITICAL.
IT IS JUST WHEN THE PRESIDENT
WAS TALKING ABOUT DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND HE TALKED ABOUT IT
IN A WAY THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IT
30 YEARS AGO ABOUT IT'S JUST A
(16:14):
FIGHT BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN
IN THEIR HOUSE AND THEN IT
BECOMES A CRIME.
IT IS A CRIME.
SO I'M TROUBLED A LITTLE BIT
WITH THAT NARRATIVE BEING OUT
THERE AGAIN.
SO IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE KEEP BEATING BACK THAT
NARRATIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE DOESN'T ONLY AFFECT
THOSE IN THE HOME.
(16:35):
IT IS A CRIME, BUT IT'S ALSO
SOMETHING THAT WE ALL NEED TO
ADDRESS AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT
WAYS TO ADDRESS THAT.
NOT EVERYBODY THINKS IT NEEDS TO
BE A CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE
TO IT.
SURVIVORS MAY NOT NEED THAT, BUT
IT'S GOT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY
AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT SLIDE
BACK.
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A BIT OF A
SLIDE.
>> ARE YOU WORRIED, GOING OFF
WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, ABOUT THAT
(16:55):
NARRATIVE IMPACTING NEW YORK AND
THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
>> I'M REALLY PROUD OF NEW YORK.
NEW YORK HAS AN OFFICE FOR THE
PROJECT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
WE'VE HAD IT FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
SO THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO NEW
YORK'S VALUES.
UNDER THIS GOVERNOR, THERE'S
BEEN INVESTMENT IN DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE.
THERE'S BEEN INVESTMENT IN MY
AGENCY AND WHAT WE DO AND
SERIOUSNESS OF THE WORK THAT WE
DO AND HOW WE INTERACT WITH OUR
SISTER STATE AGENCIES AND THE
(17:16):
COMMUNITY AND THE LEGISLATURE
AND HER.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT NEW YORK'S
LEGACY AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
REMAINS.
I AM CONCERNED FOR THE MESSAGE
THAT IT DOES SEND ACROSS COUNTRY
AND THE WILLINGNESS FOR PEOPLE
TO JUST ACCEPT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AGAIN, WHERE WE'VE COME SO FAR.
I DON'T WANT US TO BACKSLIDE.
(17:37):
>> AND CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT
THE STATE IS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE IN THE STATE HERE?
I KNOW FROM YOUR DATA-- FROM
YOUR AGENCY, THERE'S BEEN SOME
DATA ABOUT HOTLINE CALLS AND AN
INCREASE IN SEVERITY OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT
LOOKS LIKE?
>> YEAH. YEAH.
I'VE BEEN NOW WITH THE AGENCY
SIX YEARS AND WHEN I FIRST CAME,
(17:58):
WE WENT RIGHT INTO COVID, AND
WHEN WE WENT INTO COVID, THERE
WAS AN IMMEDIATE DECREASE IN
CALLS INTO BOTH THE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE HOTLINES AS WELL AS
POLICE, DRASTIC IN THE FIRST
MONTH OR SO.
THEN WE SAW IT GO STRAIGHT UP
INTO OUR HOTLINES.
SO PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR A
NON-CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE,
(18:21):
AND THERE WAS A SPIKE.
IT WENT UP CONSIDERABLY.
WE HAVE NOW, IN REGARDS TO
HOTLINE CALLS, SETTLED IN ABOUT
30% INCREASE OF WHERE WE WERE
PRIOR TO COVID, BUT WE ALL
STARTED SEEING DIFFERENT
DYNAMICS PLAYING OUT IN DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE.
I THINK IT SPEAKS A LOT TO THE
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT'S
(18:41):
GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE
SEVERITY OF WHICH THINGS
ESCALATE SO QUICKLY WHERE WE MAY
HAVE BEEN TALKING, SOMEBODY
THREW SAFETY PLANNING FOR A
LONG-TERM PLAN TO GET OUT, YOU
KNOW, THE SEVERITY HAS INCREASED
AND WE ARE DOING A BIT MORE
EMERGENCY PLANNING AND GETTING
(19:02):
PEOPLE OUT TO SAFETY A LOT
QUICKER.
SO I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT
GOING ON IN REGARDS TO THE
DYNAMICS PLAYING OUT A LITTLE
DIFFERENT,
TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED ABUSE IS
RAMPANT, ABOUT 97% OF DV CASES
INVOLVE SOME FORM OF
TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED ABUSE
NOW.
>> DO YOU THINK THE
TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED ABUSE IS
(19:23):
ONE THING CONTRIBUTING TO THE
RISING DANGER LEVELS IN DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE?
YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK
THOSE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS ARE?
WHY DO WE SEE AN INCREASE?
WHAT CAN THE STATE DO TO ADDRESS
THOSE THINGS?
>> I'M NOT SURE I CAN
SCIENTIFICALLY SAY WHY I THINK
THINGS ARE GETTING MORE SEVERE.
I THINK OUR REACTIONS ARE A BIT
(19:44):
MORE SEVERE THESE DAYS IN
REGARDS TO LOTS OF THINGS.
I THINK WE'RE-- WE'RE ALL KIND
OF ESCALATED THESE DAYS IN THE
WORLD THAT WE'RE LIVING IN AND
THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE STRESS
FACTORS IN A HOME.
OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS,
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN-- THE
GOVERNOR'S BEEN REALLY FOCUSED
(20:04):
ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE PUBLIC
SAFETY RESPONSE AND REALLY
INVESTING IN THAT.
WE HAVE NOW A STRIVE PROGRAM IN
PILOT COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE
THAT HAVE A HIGH INCIDENCE OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHERE WE'RE
ASKING COMMUNITIES TO COME
TOGETHER.
SO NOT JUST LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT
LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE PROVIDER
COMMUNITY, THE SCHOOLS, THE
(20:25):
COURTS AND COME TOGETHER AND
REALLY ASSESS HIGH RISQUES IN A
WAY THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING
BEFORE.
BECAUSE THERE IS AN
EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM THAT CAN
HELP US PREDICT LETHALITY IN
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN UP NOW
ABOUT A YEAR IN PILOT COUNTIES
ACROSS THE STATE TO REALLY
FIGURE OUT IF WE DO COORDINATE A
(20:45):
COMMUNITY RESPONSE, WHICH IS A
THING, AND HIGH RISK ASSESSMENT,
CAN WE REDUCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HOMICIDE AND SEVERITY?
>> DO YOU HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR
THE HIGH RISK ASSESSMENT PIECE
OF LEGISLATION?
YOU KNOW, WILL THAT POTENTIALLY
IMPACT DV CASES?
>> YEAH. I THINK-- YOU KNOW,
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN
DO LETHALITY NOT ONLY IN THE
(21:07):
PUBLIC SAFETY SECTOR, BUT HOW
CAN WE DO LETHALITY IN A HEALTH
CARE SETTING?
WHEN SOMEBODY SHOWS UP TO AN
EMERGENCY ROOM WHO MAY NOT BE
USING THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE
RESPONSE BUT THEY MAY BE USING
ANOTHER SYSTEM, SO WE'RE LOOKING
AT HOW CAN WE TAKE THOSE
LETHALITY INDICATORS AND REALLY
HAVE OTHER PRACTICES USE THOSE
(21:30):
TO FEED INFORMATION INTO A HIGH
RISK TEAM SO WE CAN REALLY BRING
THE RESOURCES TO THAT INDIVIDUAL
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP
THEM SAFE.
>> WHAT KIND OF TRENDS ARE YOU
SEE INNING TERMS OF THE NUMBER
OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
I KNOW THERE WAS A 2023 REPORT
FROM THE COMPTROLLER TALKING
ABOUT AN INCREASE FROM 2019 TO
2022 IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
(21:50):
VICTIMS.
WHAT TRENDS ARE WE SEEING TODAY?
>> YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS GET A
LITTLE RESONANT WHEN WE START TO
TALK ABOUT TRENDS.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT DOMESTIC
AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS ONE OF
THE MOST UNDERREPORTED THINGS,
WHETHER IT'S-- AND YOU GOT TO--
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT, TOO, IS
IMPORTANT.
ARE WE LOOKING AT DATA THAT IS
(22:11):
JUST LAW ENFORCEMENT DATA?
ARE WE LOOKING AT SHELTER DATA?
ARE WE LOOKING AT HEALTH CARE
DATA?
SO I GET A LITTLE RESONANT WHEN
WE START TO TALK AT WHAT TRENDS
LOOK LIKE.
WE DO HAVE A DASHBOARD.
WE TRACK THOSE THINGS, AND I
THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND REPORT IT
MORE THAN THEY DID 10, 15 YEARS
(22:32):
AGO, AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE MORE
AWARE OF DIFFERENT DYNAMICS WHEN
WE USED TO THINK, OKAY, DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE IS PHYSICAL VIOLENCE, I
THINK PEOPLE ARE NOW REALIZING
THAT IF SOMEBODY IS CONTROLLING
YOUR MONEY THAT'S ALSO VIOLENCE.
IF SOMEBODY IS STALKING YOU ON
YOUR CELL PHONE, THAT'S ALSO
VIOLENCE THAT NEEDS TO BE
(22:52):
REPORTED.
THAT MIGHT BE LEADING TO THE
NUMBERS, WHICH IS A GOOD THING,
RIGHT?
ONE OF THE THINGS I GOT ASKED
ALL DURING COVID, THE NUMBERS
ARE INCREASING.
WELL, THAT'S A GOOD THING THAT
MEANS THAT SOMEBODY IS REACH OUT
FOR HELP.
SO I ALWAYS GET A LITTLE-- WHEN
WE START TALKING ABOUT NUMBERS,
WE'RE ALWAYS JUST TAKING A
(23:14):
LITTLE BIT OF THE NUMBER.
>> DO YOU THINK THE LETHALITY
ASSESSMENT, GOING BACK TO THAT,
COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT
INCREASING AND MAKING PEOPLE
FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE TO REPORT
THINGS IF THEY'RE HAPPENING?
>> SO LETHALITY IS KIND OF A
DOWN-THE-ROAD KIND OF TOOL.
(23:36):
WHAT I DO THINK IS IF WE ARE
DOING BETTER TALKING ABOUT
LETHALITY AND FATALITY AND
SEVERE CASES OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO EDUCATE PEOPLE FOR WHERE DOES
IT START AND WHAT DOES IT START
TO LOOK LIKE?
SO PEOPLE CAN IDENTIFY QUICKER
BEFORE THEY GET TO THAT, AM I IN
(23:57):
A LETHAL SITUATION IN SO THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN
TRAIN THOSE HELPER AND PUBLIC
SERVANT AREAS WHERE SOMEBODY
GOES FOR HELP TO UNDERSTAND HOW
TO IDENTIFY IT QUICKER AND WHAT
ARE THE INTERVENTIONS THAT NEED
TO HAPPEN QUICKER BEFORE IT
REACHES THAT LEVEL OF LETHALITY.
>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE
TECHNOLOGY-BASED GENDER VIOLENCE
(24:19):
THAT WE WERE-- THAT YOU TOUCHED
ON A LITTLE BIT.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN FOR PEOPLE WHO
DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS
GENDER-BASED TECHNOLOGY VIOLENCE
AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THAT
LOOK LIKE CURRENTLY IN THE
STATE?
>> YEAH. SO
TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED ABUSE IS
SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR
ASKED AS OPDV TO TAKE ON A
COUPLE YEARS AGO AND FIGURE OUT.
(24:40):
IT IS A NEW DYNAMIC.
JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN AN
ABUSER CAN FIND A NEW WAY TO
CONTROL SOMEBODY THEY'RE GOING
TO USE IT, AND TECHNOLOGY HAS
BECOME A WONDERFUL WAY IN WHICH
YOU CONTROL SOMEBODY'S BEHAVIOR
AND YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW
WHERE THEY ARE.
IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM
SOMEBODY WANTING YOUR PASSWORDS
(25:02):
OR LOOKING AT YOUR PHONE OR
DEMANDING TO SEE YOUR PHONE AND
DEMANDING ALL THOSE THINGS, ALL
THE WAY TO SOMEBODY TAKING OVER
YOUR IDENTITY ONLINE AND USING
DEEP FAKES AND ALL OF THOSE
THINGS TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE IN
CONTROL OR THAT THEY'RE HARMING
YOU.
SO THERE IS A WIDE RANGE.
IT IS A NEW DYNAMIC OF WHICH WE
(25:23):
ALL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN ACROSS
DISCIPLINES BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING
TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED ABUSE
PLAY OUT AT A VERY, VERY YOUNG
AGE.
AND WE'RE ALL NOT AS EQUIPPED AS
WE SHOULD BE TO HANDLE IT.
THAT'S OUR JOB IS TO TRY TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE TOOLS THAT
PARENTS NEED?
WHAT ARE TOOLS THAT EDUCATORS
NEEDS?
WHAT ARE THE TOOLS LAW
ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO MAKE SURE
(25:43):
WE'RE ADDRESSING IT IN THE RIGHT
WAY AND MAKING SURE THAT
SURVIVORS ARE SUPPORTED?
>> UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH US AND
TALK ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC.
>> THANK YOU TO YOU FOR YOUR
COMMITMENT TO THIS ISSUE.
>> WE WERE SPEAKING WITH KELLI
OWENS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOR THE STATE OFFICE FOR THE
(26:04):
PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:42):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:19):
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
STARTING THIS MONTH, NEW YORKERS
MAKING UNDER A CERTAIN AMOUNT
WILL RECEIVE A ONE-TIME
INFLATION REFUND CHECK.
THE CHECKS WILL BE MAILED TO
OVER EIGHT MILLION HOUSEHOLDS
ACROSS THE STATE THROUGH
NOVEMBER.
THE AMOUNT RECEIVED WILL BE $200
(00:39):
OR $400, DEPENDING ON THE
HOUSEHOLD SALARY, AND IT IS
BASED ON THE 2023 TAX FILING.
ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR KATHIE
HOCHUL, THE MOVE TO SEND THE
CHECKS, WHICH WAS PASSED IN THE
MOST RECENT STATE BUDGET IS PART
OF THE LARGER EFFORT TO HELP
MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF THE
RISING COST OF INFLATION.
(01:01):
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IMPACT
OF THE REFUND CHECKS, WE SPOKE
WITH STATE BUDGET DIRECTOR BLAKE
WASHINGTON.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US HERE TODAY,DIRECTOR
WASHINGTON.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> NOW, CAN YOU HELP US
UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE
INFLATION REFUND CHECKS THAT NEW
(01:21):
YORKERS ARE SET TO START
RECEIVING AS EARLY AS THIS
MONTH?
>> SURE. SO THE INFLATION REBATE
CHECK THAT WE HAVE WAS ENACTED
IN THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.
IT WAS ONE OF MANY ITEMS THAT
THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT FORWARD TO
PROMOTE AFFORDABILITY IN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.
THE AFFORDABILITY REBATE CHECK--
(01:42):
INFLATION REBATE CHECK, FORGIVE
ME, WILL BE IN AN AMOUNT OF UP
TO $400, DEPENDING ON TAXPAYER
FILING STATUS, AND IT'S COMING
SOON TO A MAILBOX NEAR YOU.
THIS INTERVENTION IS ONE THAT
GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S PUT FORWARD IN
RECOGNITION THAT PEOPLE IN THE
(02:02):
STATE OF NEW YORK NEED A LITTLE
BIT OF RELIEF.
EVERYWHERE THAT SHE TRAVELS,
PEOPLE ARE RELATING TO HER ABOUT
THE HIGH COST OF GROCERIES OR
GASOLINE OR UTILITIES, WHATEVER
THE CASE MAY BE, THERE'S AN
URGENCY OF NOW TO GET MONEY INTO
PEOPLE'S POCKETS, AND THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S
DOING WITH THIS INITIATIVE.
WE HAVE A REBATE CHECK.
(02:24):
WE ALSO HAVE A CHILD TAX CREDIT
THAT'S GOING TO TRIPLE IN THE
CURRENT YEAR.
WE HAVE AN EXPANSION OF A MIDDLE
CLASS TAX CUT WHICH WE'RE ALSO
LOOKING FORWARD TO AND FINALLY,
WE HAVE UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL
MEALS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW
YORK, WHICH KICKED IN AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THOSE THINGS COMBINED PROVIDE
(02:45):
FOR $5,000 BACK IN NEW YORKERS'
POCKETS AT A TIME THEY NEED IT
MOST.
>> CAN YOU GIVE US SOME INSIGHT
INTO WHAT IT TOOK FOR BOTH THE
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER AND THE
LEGISLATURE 0 WORK TOGETHER TO
GET THESE DIFFERENT POLICY ITEMS
IN THE FINAL ENACTED BUDGET
EARLIER THIS YEAR?
>> WELL, I THINK THE INSIGHT TO
BEGIN, THE COLONEL WAS WORKING
(03:05):
WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SHE TASKED
THE ENTIRE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
LET'S COME UP WITH IDEAS THAT
ARE CREATIVE TO GET MONEY BACK
IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS.
I WANT NEAR-TERM INTERVENTIONS
AND I WANT ONES THAT WILL BE
SORT OF ROLLED OUT OVER TIME AND
SUSTAINABLE FISCALLY OVER THE
LONG TERM.
SO IT WAS HER CHARGE BACK IN
(03:26):
NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR WHEN WE
FIRST GOT INTO THIS IN CRAFTING
THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET.
THIS IS THE MARKER SHE LAID DOWN
WAS AFFORDABILITY,
AFFORDABILITY, AFFORDABILITY,
AND WE CARRIED THAT FORWARD.
TO THEIR CREDIT, WE WORKED WITH
THE LEGISLATURE.
THEY SAW, TOO, THE WISDOM OF ALL
THESE POLICY CHANGES AND THEY
(03:46):
ADOPTED THEM.
THERE WERE SOME SMALL TWEAKS TO
THE PROGRAMS, BUT GENERALLY
SPEAKING, THEY SAW THE VALUE AND
THEY ACTED ACCORDINGLY, TO THEIR
CREDIT, AND NOW NEW YORKERS HAVE
MUCH TO BE PROUD OF.
>> AND HOW MUCH IS IT COSTING
THE STATE TO SEND THESE REBATE
CHECKS TO NEW YORKERS, AND WHAT
IS FUNDING THIS POLICY?
>> WELL, THE AMOUNT-- THE REBATE
(04:07):
CHECKS, THEMSELVES, WILL COST
ROUGHLY $2 BILLION ON A ONE-TIME
BASIS, AND BEYOND THAT, IT COST
THE STATE POSTAGE TO SEND TO NEW
YORKERS.
IT WILL BE A ONE-TIME CHECK.
THIS IS ONE THAT OBVIOUSLY $2
BILLION EACH AND EVERY YEAR FOR
THIS PURPOSE WOULD BE
UNSUSTAINABLE, BUT IT'S ONE THAT
WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THE STATE
(04:29):
HAS COLLECTED DURING AN ERA OF
HEIGHTENED-- HEIGHTENED
INFLATION, THIS WAS ONE WAY OF
TAKING THOSE RESOURCES AND
PLEDGING THEM BACK TO NEW
YORKERS ON A ONE-TIME BASIS.
SO THE COST IS $2 BILLION AND
IT'S A BRILLIANT INVESTMENT.
>> AND WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING
THE WORD OUT THERE TO NEW
YORKERS AND YOU KNOW, MAKING
SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT
(04:49):
THESE CHECKS WILL BE COMING TO
THEIR MAILBOXES, HOW IS THE
STATE GOING TO BE APPROACHING
THAT IN ENSURING THAT EVERYONE
IS IN THE KNOW?
>> WELL WE HAVE THE STATE'S
NUMBER ONE SALESPERSON AND THAT
BEING GOVERNOR HOCHUL HERSELF.
SHE'S BEEN IN EVERY CORNER OF
THE STATE ANNOUNCING THIS
INITIATIVE.
IT'S ON THE TAX DEPARTMENT'S
WEBSITE.
(05:09):
THERE'S BEEN SOCIAL MEDIA
ENGAGEMENT.
THERE'S ENGAGEMENT SUCH AS THIS
AS WELL, WHICH WILL ALSO HELP
NEW YORKERS THINK-- TO BE
REMINDED ABOUT THIS.
IT WILL TAKE ABOUT EIGHT WEEKS
TO GET-- START TO FINISH TO GET
THE CHECKS OUT TO NEW YORKERS,
BUT WHEN THAT'S ALL SAID AND
DONE, REAL RESULTS TO REAL
PEOPLE.
>> AND IF A NEW YORKER DOESN'T
RECEIVE A CHECK IN THE MAIL
(05:30):
SHOULD THEY REACH OUT TO YOUR
OFFICE, OR WHAT OTHER STATE
AGENCY TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT
THE CHECKS?
>> WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST,
GIVE IT A COUPLE OF WEEK.
YOUR NEIGHBOR MAY GET A CHECK
BEFORE YOU.
IT'S DEPENDENT UPON YOUR FILING
DATE.
PERHAPS IF YOU FILED SOONER THAN
YOUR NEIGHBOR, YOU WOULD GET IT
SOONER OR VICE VERSA.
I THINK THAT ONCE-- IF YOU FILED
YOUR CHECK-- EXCUSE ME, IF YOU
(05:50):
FILED TAXES ON TIME IN 2023,
THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL WORK FOR
YOU TO DO.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION
AND FINANCE WILL SEND YOU A
CHECK.
SO THERE SHOULD BE SEAMLESS.
IF THAT DOES NOT COME, I THINK
THERE'S AN 800 NUMBER ON THE TAX
DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE, BUT LET'S
GIVE IT SOME TIME BEFORE CALLING
BECAUSE I THINK WE PUT-- PUT THE
WHOLE STATE GOVERNMENT BEHIND
(06:11):
THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER
THE RESULT.
>> ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC AREAS
OR INDUSTRIES THAT YOU'RE HOPING
NEW YORKERS WILL USE THE MONEY
FROM THE CHECKS TO INVEST IN TO
BEST SUPPORT THE STATE'S
ECONOMY?
>> NOT NECESSARILY.
I THINK WHEN THE GOVERNOR HAS
BEEN DOING HER PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENTS, SHE SEES IT JUST AS
A-- SHE'S THE FIRST MOM GOVERNOR
(06:31):
AND SHE SEES IT AS A FUNDAMENTAL
ABILITY TO GIVE PEOPLE A LITTLE
BIT OF WIGGLE ROOM, WHETHER IT
BE THIS WEEK'S CHECKS, THIS
MONTH'S CHECKS, MAYBE IT TAKES
OFF A LITTLE BIT FOR THE UTILITY
CHECK.
MAYBE IT GIVES MOM AND DAD A
NIGHT OUT OR BUY NEW SCHOOL
SUPPLIES, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY
BE, WE'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE
(06:53):
BENEFIT.
IT WILL GIVE SOME NEW YORKERS
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BREATHING
ROOM AND THAT'S THE INTENT.
SO THERE'S NO EXPRESS OR
PREFERRED WAY IN WHICH PEOPLE
CAN SPEND THE DOLLARS.
>> HOW DO YOU SEE THE GOVERNOR
AND THE LEGISLATURE BUILDING ON
THESE EFFORTS IN THE YEARS TO
COME?
FOR EXAMPLE, IN NEXT YEAR'S
BUDGET.
>> WELL, I MEAN, WE HAVE-- FIRST
(07:14):
AND FOREMOST, WORK WITHIN A
FISCAL FRAMEWORK THAT MAKES
SENSE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE STRESS COMING
INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
WE HAVE CURRENT YEAR INVESTMENTS
THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO
PROMOTE.
WE HAVE OUTYEAR DEFICITS THAT WE
HAVE TO ADDRESS, BUT AS THE
GOVERNOR TELLS EVERY NEW YORKER
WHEREVER SHE IS, WE'RE NOT DONE
YET.
(07:34):
MAYBE WE CAN'T DO ANOTHER $2
BILLION ONE-TIME REBATE CHECK,
BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE NEW
YORKERS' LIVES A LITTLE BIT
EASIER?
THE CHILD TAX CREDIT WILL PHASE
OVER TIME.
FIRST YEAR, WE'LL TRIPLE THE
AMOUNT FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE
AGE OF FOUR.
THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WE'RE GOING
TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF
CHILDREN OVER THE AGE OF FOUR.
WE HAVE A MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT
THAT WILL PHASE IN OVER TWO
(07:56):
YEARS.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT ANY NUMBER
OF ITEMS FROM OUR STATE AGENCY.
WE SOLICITED THE SAME TO GET AT
THE HEART OF THE AFFORDABILITY
CRISIS THAT WE FACE TODAY, AND
ALL OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE AND
I THINK THAT AS LONG AS THEY'RE
FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE IF THERE
ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY
DELIVER, WE'RE CERTAINLY ALL
(08:18):
EARS.
>> WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE
FROM NEW YORKERS WHEN IT COMES
TO THESE DIFFERENT POLICY
INITIATIVES THAT YOU ARE GOING
TO-- THAT YOU'VE ALREADY STARTED
ROLLING OUT BUT ALSO CONTINUING
TO ROLL OUT?
>> THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN
FAVORABLE.
I THINK THAT NEW YORKERS SEE
THAT NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT
IS PAYING ATTENTION TO THEM, AND
YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN THEY SEE
THE WHOLE OF THIS PROPOSAL, WHEN
(08:39):
THEY SEE THESE ACTIONS WHEN THEY
SEE IT'S UP TO $5,000 IN NEW
YORKERS' POCKETS, THEY SEE THAT
NEW YORK GOVERNMENT IS TRYING
AND THEY SEE NEW YORK GOVERNMENT
IS RESPONSIVE AND PAYING
ATTENTION TO THEM AND THAT'S THE
GOAL AND TO MAKE IT A LITTLE
EASIER AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE KEEP THAT MOMENTUM.
LET'S GET RID OF THE RED TAPE.
(08:59):
LET'S GET RID OF THE PROBLEMS
THAT NEW YORKERS FACE AND
INTERACTING STATE GOVERNMENT AS
WELL.
LET'S WORK WITH ON ANY FRONT TO
REDUCE THE BURDENS THAT NEW
YORKERS HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY
NUMBER OF THINGS IN THEIR LIFE.
HOWEVER WE CAN HELP ON THIS-- WE
CAN'T DO IT ALL, BUT HOWEVER WE
CAN HELP, WE'RE HAPPY TO DO IT.
>> WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING FROM
(09:20):
WASHINGTON AND THREATS TO
FUNDING, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES YOUR
OFFICE SEE THAT PLAYING OUT
HEADING INTO NEXT YEAR?
WHAT WILL YOUR COMMUNICATION BE
LIKE WITH FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO
ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS ON THE
SAME PAGE WHEN IT COMES TO
FUNDING FOR THE STATE?
>> WELL, THE STATE OF NEW YORK
RELIES UPON THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FOR A SUBSTANTIAL
AMOUNT OF RESOURCES.
$93 BILLION IN A GIVEN YEAR, AND
(09:42):
IT'S FOR ANY NUMBER OF SERVICES.
CHIEF AMONG THEM IS MEDICAID, OF
COURSE.
I THINK, IN GENERAL, THERE'S A
POLICY SHIFT IN WASHINGTON THAT
WILL ENDURE.
THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE A
CHANGING RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE
STATES, THE RELATIONSHIP OF WHAT
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL FUND
AND THE STATES EVERYWHERE WILL
(10:04):
HAVE TO ADAPT.
IT DOESN'T MATTER THE POLITICAL
PERSUASION.
THE DYNAMIC IS CHANGING, AND WE
IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAVE TO
SORT OF ADAPT TO THAT.
BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT
COME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
THAT ARE JUST SORT OF
INDEFENSIBLE, AND YOU KNOW, THE
GOVERNOR LAST WEEK SHOUTED FROM
(10:25):
THE ROOFTOPS ABOUT A CUT THAT
CAME TO THE STATE-- PROPOSED FOR
THE STATE OF NEW YORK FOR
HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING.
$187 MILLION WAS LOST, BUT THE
GOVERNOR ALSO KEPT HER COOL, AND
SHE COLLABORATED.
SHE MADE CONTACT WITH THE WHITE
HOUSE.
SHE MADE THE PUBLIC CASE ABOUT
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT.
(10:45):
THE STATE OF NEW YORK BEING THE
EPICENTER OF THE 9/1 TAX AND
BEING THE TARGET OF
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
PREVIOUSLY AND THESE FUNDS WERE
ONES THAT WERE NON-NEGOTIABLE.
WE NEEDED THEM BACK.
WE WERE REALLY, REALLY DELIGHTED
TO HAVE THAT COLLABORATION.
THE GOVERNOR WORKING WITH THE
PRESIDENT TO RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS
BACK TO THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(11:06):
THE GOVERNOR WILL FIGHT WHERE
SHE NEEDS TO, PARTICULARLY WHEN
IT RELATES TO PROTECTING NEW
YORKERS.
AND THEN I THINK WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO REVISIT ALL THE OTHER
ACTIONS THAT COME THROUGH HR1.
THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF FUNDING
RETRENCHMENT THAT'S COMING OUR
WAY, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO BE
DEALING WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET AND BUDGETS TO COME.
(11:26):
AND THERE'S A LOT OF RULE-MAKING
THAT IS GOING TO COME OUR WAY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
THE UPSIDE IS WE HAVE A REALLY
TALENTED GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE
DIVISION OF BUDGET THAT WILL
HELP US TO DRAG IT ACROSS THE
FINISH LINE.
THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE GOOD
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
GOVERNOR.
WE'LL TAKE IT FROM THERE.
>> YOU KNOW, YOU'LL BE GOING
INTO YOUR THIRD BUDGET SEASON
NEXT YEAR.
(11:46):
ANY BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM THE YEARS
PRIOR THAT YOU ARE HOPING TO
IMPLEMENT INTO NEXT YEAR'S
BUDGET?
>> WELL, I THINK THE TAKEAWAYS
ARE CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE,
EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE-- EVEN
WHEN YOU HAVE-- WHEN IT SEEMS
THAT SOMETIMES THINGS ARE
STALLED OUT OR GETTING A LITTLE
UNEASY, THE GOVERNOR'S
INSTRUCTIONS TO US ARE LET'S
(12:07):
JUST KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING.
LET'S KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING
WITH THE ADVOCACY WORLD.
LET'S KEEP TALKING TO THE
LEGISLATURE.
LET'S RYE TO GET TO A DEAL WHERE
EVERYBODY WALKS AWAY HAPPY OR
HAPPY-ISH, AS THE CASE MAY BE.
BUT LET'S NOT HAVE OUR POSTURE
BE ONE WHERE WE'RE CLOSED OFF TO
THE WORLD.
LET'S FIGURE OUT.
(12:28):
LET'S BE SOLUTIONS ORIENTED.
IF WE CAN KEEP THAT GENERAL
CADENCE AS WE GO FORWARD, WE'LL
ALL WIN.
I THINK GOING INTO NEXT YEAR,
KNOWING THAT THERE'S ANY NUMBER
OF CHALLENGES COME OUR WAY,
LET'S KEEP OUR HEADS ON
STRAIGHT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FACTS
BEFORE US AND LET'S COLLABORATE
AND DELIVER A BUDGET FOR ALL NEW
YORKERS.
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S
(12:48):
ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY,
BUT WE THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH
FOR SITING DOWN WITH US.
>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
HAVING ME.
>> WE WERE SPEAKING WITH BLAKE
WASHINGTON, DIRECTOR FOR THE NEW
YORK STATE DIVISION OF THE
BUDGET.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> OCTOBER IS ALSO DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
THIS IS A TIME OF DEDICATED
(13:09):
AWARENESS FOR THE ISSUE AND TO
PROVIDE SUPPORT TO VICTIMS.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE SAT
DOWN WITH KELLI OWENS, WHO
SERVES AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOR THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE
FOR THE PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE TO UNPACK THE ISSUE AND
TO UNDERSTAND THE WORK THAT NEW
YORK IS DOING.
(13:29):
HERE'S THAT IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US TODAY, KELLI.
>> OH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO OCTOBER, AS YOU KNOW, IS
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS
MONTH.
CAN YOU TELL ME, YOU KNOW, WHAT
THIS MONTH MEANS TO YOU, AND
WHAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE AWAY
FROM THIS TIME OF DEDICATED
AWARENESS?
>> YEAH. FOR US AT OPDV,
(13:49):
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS
MONTH IS EVERY MONTH, BUT THIS
MONTH IS REALLY DEDICATED FOR
PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND AND BRING
AWARENESS TO THE ISSUE OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
EVERY YEAR, WE ACKNOWLEDGE IT.
EVERY YEAR.
AND THIS YEAR, WE'RE REALLY
FOCUSED ON THE VOICES OF
SURVIVORS AND WHAT THAT LOOKS
LIKE.
SO WE'RE REALLY LIFTING UP THOSE
VOICES THIS YEAR.
(14:09):
>> AND I KNOW THE CLOTHES LINE
PROJECT, I BELIEVE, IS
RETURNING.
THAT'S ONE OF THE METHODS OF
AWARENESS THAT THE STATE DOES.
CAN YOU TELL ME FOR PEOPLE WHO
MIGHT NOT KNOW, WHAT IS THE
CLOTHES LINE PROJECT, AND HOW
LONG HAS THE STATE BEEN DOING
IT?
>> THE CLOTHES LINE PROJECT IS A
VISUAL REPRESENTATION.
IT'S BEEN AROUND ABOUT 30 YEARS
AND IT'S A VISUAL REPRESENTATION
(14:30):
OF HOW PEOPLE BRING THEIR ABUSE
OUT IN A WAY, AND IT'S REALLY--
THEY TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE A T-SHIRT AND REALLY
PROMOTE AND HELP PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR FEELING
WAS AND WHAT THEIR FEELING IS
NOW AROUND THE ABUSE THEY MAY
(14:51):
HAVE SUFFERED.
IT'S REALLY A VERY MOVING
REPRESENTATION OF WHAT ABUSE
LOOKS LIKE.
WE DO IT IN THE CONCOURSE.
WE'RE ON OUR THIRD YEAR OF DOING
IT IN THE CONCOURSE.
IT IS A MOVING REPRESENTATION.
SOMETIMES IT'S TROUBLING FOR
PEOPLE.
THE FIRST YEAR WE WERE THERE,
PEOPLE WERE-- PEOPLE WERE
SHOCKED BY WHAT THEY SAW ON SOME
(15:11):
OF THOSE T-SHIRTS, AND YOU KNOW,
I HAVE A REAL PASSION FOR MAKING
SURE THAT WE DON'T EDIT
SURVIVORS' VOICES, SO WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE WHAT IS REALLY ON THAT
SHIRT IS WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO
SAY.
>> AND CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW
THIS PROJECT AND PROJECTS LIKE
(15:31):
IT HAVE RAISED AWARENESS FOR THE
ISSUE?
YOU KNOW, HOW YOU HAVE SEEN THAT
BE IMPACTFUL.
>> YEAH. I HAVE BEEN IN THIS
BUSINESS ABOUT 30 YEARS.
I STARTED AT A LOCAL.
AND I WILL SAY THAT I THOUGHT
THAT WE WERE MOVING ALONG IN HOW
PEOPLE VIEW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS
(15:52):
A SOCIETAL ISSUE THAT WE ALL HAD
TO DEAL WITH, AND WE WERE MOVING
ALONG REALLY WELL UNTIL A COUPLE
OF WEEKS AGO, AND THIS IS MEANT
TO BE POLITICAL.
IT IS JUST WHEN THE PRESIDENT
WAS TALKING ABOUT DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND HE TALKED ABOUT IT
IN A WAY THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IT
30 YEARS AGO ABOUT IT'S JUST A
(16:14):
FIGHT BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN
IN THEIR HOUSE AND THEN IT
BECOMES A CRIME.
IT IS A CRIME.
SO I'M TROUBLED A LITTLE BIT
WITH THAT NARRATIVE BEING OUT
THERE AGAIN.
SO IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE KEEP BEATING BACK THAT
NARRATIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE DOESN'T ONLY AFFECT
THOSE IN THE HOME.
(16:35):
IT IS A CRIME, BUT IT'S ALSO
SOMETHING THAT WE ALL NEED TO
ADDRESS AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT
WAYS TO ADDRESS THAT.
NOT EVERYBODY THINKS IT NEEDS TO
BE A CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE
TO IT.
SURVIVORS MAY NOT NEED THAT, BUT
IT'S GOT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY
AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT SLIDE
BACK.
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A BIT OF A
SLIDE.
>> ARE YOU WORRIED, GOING OFF
WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, ABOUT THAT
(16:55):
NARRATIVE IMPACTING NEW YORK AND
THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
>> I'M REALLY PROUD OF NEW YORK.
NEW YORK HAS AN OFFICE FOR THE
PROJECT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
WE'VE HAD IT FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
SO THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO NEW
YORK'S VALUES.
UNDER THIS GOVERNOR, THERE'S
BEEN INVESTMENT IN DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE.
THERE'S BEEN INVESTMENT IN MY
AGENCY AND WHAT WE DO AND
SERIOUSNESS OF THE WORK THAT WE
DO AND HOW WE INTERACT WITH OUR
SISTER STATE AGENCIES AND THE
(17:16):
COMMUNITY AND THE LEGISLATURE
AND HER.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT NEW YORK'S
LEGACY AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
REMAINS.
I AM CONCERNED FOR THE MESSAGE
THAT IT DOES SEND ACROSS COUNTRY
AND THE WILLINGNESS FOR PEOPLE
TO JUST ACCEPT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AGAIN, WHERE WE'VE COME SO FAR.
I DON'T WANT US TO BACKSLIDE.
(17:37):
>> AND CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT
THE STATE IS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE IN THE STATE HERE?
I KNOW FROM YOUR DATA-- FROM
YOUR AGENCY, THERE'S BEEN SOME
DATA ABOUT HOTLINE CALLS AND AN
INCREASE IN SEVERITY OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT
LOOKS LIKE?
>> YEAH. YEAH.
I'VE BEEN NOW WITH THE AGENCY
SIX YEARS AND WHEN I FIRST CAME,
(17:58):
WE WENT RIGHT INTO COVID, AND
WHEN WE WENT INTO COVID, THERE
WAS AN IMMEDIATE DECREASE IN
CALLS INTO BOTH THE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE HOTLINES AS WELL AS
POLICE, DRASTIC IN THE FIRST
MONTH OR SO.
THEN WE SAW IT GO STRAIGHT UP
INTO OUR HOTLINES.
SO PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR A
NON-CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE,
(18:21):
AND THERE WAS A SPIKE.
IT WENT UP CONSIDERABLY.
WE HAVE NOW, IN REGARDS TO
HOTLINE CALLS, SETTLED IN ABOUT
30% INCREASE OF WHERE WE WERE
PRIOR TO COVID, BUT WE ALL
STARTED SEEING DIFFERENT
DYNAMICS PLAYING OUT IN DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE.
I THINK IT SPEAKS A LOT TO THE
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT'S
(18:41):
GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE
SEVERITY OF WHICH THINGS
ESCALATE SO QUICKLY WHERE WE MAY
HAVE BEEN TALKING, SOMEBODY
THREW SAFETY PLANNING FOR A
LONG-TERM PLAN TO GET OUT, YOU
KNOW, THE SEVERITY HAS INCREASED
AND WE ARE DOING A BIT MORE
EMERGENCY PLANNING AND GETTING
(19:02):
PEOPLE OUT TO SAFETY A LOT
QUICKER.
SO I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT
GOING ON IN REGARDS TO THE
DYNAMICS PLAYING OUT A LITTLE
DIFFERENT,
TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED ABUSE IS
RAMPANT, ABOUT 97% OF DV CASES
INVOLVE SOME FORM OF
TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED ABUSE
NOW.
>> DO YOU THINK THE
TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED ABUSE IS
(19:23):
ONE THING CONTRIBUTING TO THE
RISING DANGER LEVELS IN DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE?
YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK
THOSE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS ARE?
WHY DO WE SEE AN INCREASE?
WHAT CAN THE STATE DO TO ADDRESS
THOSE THINGS?
>> I'M NOT SURE I CAN
SCIENTIFICALLY SAY WHY I THINK
THINGS ARE GETTING MORE SEVERE.
I THINK OUR REACTIONS ARE A BIT
(19:44):
MORE SEVERE THESE DAYS IN
REGARDS TO LOTS OF THINGS.
I THINK WE'RE-- WE'RE ALL KIND
OF ESCALATED THESE DAYS IN THE
WORLD THAT WE'RE LIVING IN AND
THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE STRESS
FACTORS IN A HOME.
OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS,
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN-- THE
GOVERNOR'S BEEN REALLY FOCUSED
(20:04):
ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE PUBLIC
SAFETY RESPONSE AND REALLY
INVESTING IN THAT.
WE HAVE NOW A STRIVE PROGRAM IN
PILOT COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE
THAT HAVE A HIGH INCIDENCE OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHERE WE'RE
ASKING COMMUNITIES TO COME
TOGETHER.
SO NOT JUST LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT
LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE PROVIDER
COMMUNITY, THE SCHOOLS, THE
(20:25):
COURTS AND COME TOGETHER AND
REALLY ASSESS HIGH RISQUES IN A
WAY THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING
BEFORE.
BECAUSE THERE IS AN
EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM THAT CAN
HELP US PREDICT LETHALITY IN
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN UP NOW
ABOUT A YEAR IN PILOT COUNTIES
ACROSS THE STATE TO REALLY
FIGURE OUT IF WE DO COORDINATE A
(20:45):
COMMUNITY RESPONSE, WHICH IS A
THING, AND HIGH RISK ASSESSMENT,
CAN WE REDUCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HOMICIDE AND SEVERITY?
>> DO YOU HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR
THE HIGH RISK ASSESSMENT PIECE
OF LEGISLATION?
YOU KNOW, WILL THAT POTENTIALLY
IMPACT DV CASES?
>> YEAH. I THINK-- YOU KNOW,
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN
DO LETHALITY NOT ONLY IN THE
(21:07):
PUBLIC SAFETY SECTOR, BUT HOW
CAN WE DO LETHALITY IN A HEALTH
CARE SETTING?
WHEN SOMEBODY SHOWS UP TO AN
EMERGENCY ROOM WHO MAY NOT BE
USING THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE
RESPONSE BUT THEY MAY BE USING
ANOTHER SYSTEM, SO WE'RE LOOKING
AT HOW CAN WE TAKE THOSE
LETHALITY INDICATORS AND REALLY
HAVE OTHER PRACTICES USE THOSE
(21:30):
TO FEED INFORMATION INTO A HIGH
RISK TEAM SO WE CAN REALLY BRING
THE RESOURCES TO THAT INDIVIDUAL
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP
THEM SAFE.
>> WHAT KIND OF TRENDS ARE YOU
SEE INNING TERMS OF THE NUMBER
OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
I KNOW THERE WAS A 2023 REPORT
FROM THE COMPTROLLER TALKING
ABOUT AN INCREASE FROM 2019 TO
2022 IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
(21:50):
VICTIMS.
WHAT TRENDS ARE WE SEEING TODAY?
>> YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS GET A
LITTLE RESONANT WHEN WE START TO
TALK ABOUT TRENDS.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT DOMESTIC
AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS ONE OF
THE MOST UNDERREPORTED THINGS,
WHETHER IT'S-- AND YOU GOT TO--
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT, TOO, IS
IMPORTANT.
ARE WE LOOKING AT DATA THAT IS
(22:11):
JUST LAW ENFORCEMENT DATA?
ARE WE LOOKING AT SHELTER DATA?
ARE WE LOOKING AT HEALTH CARE
DATA?
SO I GET A LITTLE RESONANT WHEN
WE START TO TALK AT WHAT TRENDS
LOOK LIKE.
WE DO HAVE A DASHBOARD.
WE TRACK THOSE THINGS, AND I
THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND REPORT IT
MORE THAN THEY DID 10, 15 YEARS
(22:32):
AGO, AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE MORE
AWARE OF DIFFERENT DYNAMICS WHEN
WE USED TO THINK, OKAY, DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE IS PHYSICAL VIOLENCE, I
THINK PEOPLE ARE NOW REALIZING
THAT IF SOMEBODY IS CONTROLLING
YOUR MONEY THAT'S ALSO VIOLENCE.
IF SOMEBODY IS STALKING YOU ON
YOUR CELL PHONE, THAT'S ALSO
VIOLENCE THAT NEEDS TO BE
(22:52):
REPORTED.
THAT MIGHT BE LEADING TO THE
NUMBERS, WHICH IS A GOOD THING,
RIGHT?
ONE OF THE THINGS I GOT ASKED
ALL DURING COVID, THE NUMBERS
ARE INCREASING.
WELL, THAT'S A GOOD THING THAT
MEANS THAT SOMEBODY IS REACH OUT
FOR HELP.
SO I ALWAYS GET A LITTLE-- WHEN
WE START TALKING ABOUT NUMBERS,
WE'RE ALWAYS JUST TAKING A
(23:14):
LITTLE BIT OF THE NUMBER.
>> DO YOU THINK THE LETHALITY
ASSESSMENT, GOING BACK TO THAT,
COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT
INCREASING AND MAKING PEOPLE
FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE TO REPORT
THINGS IF THEY'RE HAPPENING?
>> SO LETHALITY IS KIND OF A
DOWN-THE-ROAD KIND OF TOOL.
(23:36):
WHAT I DO THINK IS IF WE ARE
DOING BETTER TALKING ABOUT
LETHALITY AND FATALITY AND
SEVERE CASES OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO EDUCATE PEOPLE FOR WHERE DOES
IT START AND WHAT DOES IT START
TO LOOK LIKE?
SO PEOPLE CAN IDENTIFY QUICKER
BEFORE THEY GET TO THAT, AM I IN
(23:57):
A LETHAL SITUATION IN SO THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN
TRAIN THOSE HELPER AND PUBLIC
SERVANT AREAS WHERE SOMEBODY
GOES FOR HELP TO UNDERSTAND HOW
TO IDENTIFY IT QUICKER AND WHAT
ARE THE INTERVENTIONS THAT NEED
TO HAPPEN QUICKER BEFORE IT
REACHES THAT LEVEL OF LETHALITY.
>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE
TECHNOLOGY-BASED GENDER VIOLENCE
(24:19):
THAT WE WERE-- THAT YOU TOUCHED
ON A LITTLE BIT.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN FOR PEOPLE WHO
DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS
GENDER-BASED TECHNOLOGY VIOLENCE
AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THAT
LOOK LIKE CURRENTLY IN THE
STATE?
>> YEAH. SO
TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED ABUSE IS
SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR
ASKED AS OPDV TO TAKE ON A
COUPLE YEARS AGO AND FIGURE OUT.
(24:40):
IT IS A NEW DYNAMIC.
JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN AN
ABUSER CAN FIND A NEW WAY TO
CONTROL SOMEBODY THEY'RE GOING
TO USE IT, AND TECHNOLOGY HAS
BECOME A WONDERFUL WAY IN WHICH
YOU CONTROL SOMEBODY'S BEHAVIOR
AND YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW
WHERE THEY ARE.
IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM
SOMEBODY WANTING YOUR PASSWORDS
(25:02):
OR LOOKING AT YOUR PHONE OR
DEMANDING TO SEE YOUR PHONE AND
DEMANDING ALL THOSE THINGS, ALL
THE WAY TO SOMEBODY TAKING OVER
YOUR IDENTITY ONLINE AND USING
DEEP FAKES AND ALL OF THOSE
THINGS TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE IN
CONTROL OR THAT THEY'RE HARMING
YOU.
SO THERE IS A WIDE RANGE.
IT IS A NEW DYNAMIC OF WHICH WE
(25:23):
ALL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN ACROSS
DISCIPLINES BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING
TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED ABUSE
PLAY OUT AT A VERY, VERY YOUNG
AGE.
AND WE'RE ALL NOT AS EQUIPPED AS
WE SHOULD BE TO HANDLE IT.
THAT'S OUR JOB IS TO TRY TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE TOOLS THAT
PARENTS NEED?
WHAT ARE TOOLS THAT EDUCATORS
NEEDS?
WHAT ARE THE TOOLS LAW
ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO MAKE SURE
(25:43):
WE'RE ADDRESSING IT IN THE RIGHT
WAY AND MAKING SURE THAT
SURVIVORS ARE SUPPORTED?
>> UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH US AND
TALK ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC.
>> THANK YOU TO YOU FOR YOUR
COMMITMENT TO THIS ISSUE.
>> WE WERE SPEAKING WITH KELLI
OWENS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOR THE STATE OFFICE FOR THE
(26:04):
PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:42):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
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