January 17, 2025 • 26 mins
Governor Kathy Hochul kicks off the 2025 legislative year with her State of the State address, prioritizing affordability, housing, education, and childcare. She outlines plans for free community college, tax cuts, and expanded childcare access.
State Senator Shelley Mayer discusses the Democratic push to safeguard reproductive rights as a second Trump administration prepares to take office. This episode explores critical issues shaping New York’s future in 2025.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:19):
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M ELISE KLINE.
IT'S BEEN MORE THAN 50 YEARS
SINCE ROE V. WADE LEGALIZED
ABORTION IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE REACHED THAT ANNIVERSARY THIS
MONTH.
AFTER IT WAS OVERTURNED IN 2022,
LAWMAKERS HERE IN NEW YORK HAVE
TRIED TO EXPAND PROTECTIONS BY
ENSHRINING ABORTION IN THE STATE
CONSTITUTION AND PUTTING FUNDING
(00:39):
INTO THE STATE BUDGET FOR
ABORTION CARE PROVIDERS.
THEY HAVE ALSO TRIED TO HELP
RESIDENTS BEYOND THE BORDERS OF
NEW YORK.
IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, STATE
LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR
SECURED FUNDING IN THE STATE
BUDGET TO SUPPORT ABORTION
PROVIDERS AND PASSED A LAW
ALLOWING PROVIDERS TO PRESCRIBE
ABORTION MEDICATION VIA
TELEHEALTH AND OUT-OF-STATE
RESIDENTS WHERE THERE ARE
(01:00):
ABORTION BANS.
WE SAT DOWN WITH STATE SENATOR
SHELLEY MAYER TO TALK MORE ABOUT
HOW THESE MEASURES WILL HELP
ADDRESS THE ISSUE NOW AND WHAT
THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES WILL
BE THIS YEAR AT A TIME WHEN
ANOTHER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
HEADS TO THE WHITE HOUSE.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US TODAY, SENATOR.
>> IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
>> SO THIS MONTH MARKS THE
(01:21):
ANNIVERSARY OR WHAT WOULD HAVE
BEEN MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF ROE
V. WADE SINCE IT WAS OVERTURNED
IN 2022.
CONSEQUENTIALLY MANY INDIVIDUALS
AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE FEELING
NERVOUS, SCARED AND SOME EVEN
HOPELESS.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY TO NEW
YORKERS WHO MIGHT NOT BE FEELING
SO OPTIMISTIC?
HOW ARE YOU FEELING AROUND THIS
ANNIVERSARY MONTH?
>> IN THE FIRST PLACE, I DON'T
(01:42):
THINK WE SHOULD DIMINISH HOW IT
FELT TO HAVE A RIGHT THAT WE
BELIEVED WAS CONSTITUTIONALLY
OURS AS WOMEN TAKEN AWAY AFTER
50 YEARS.
IT WAS REALLY LIKE STRIKING IN
THE HEART.
SOME WOMEN CRIED.
SOME WOMEN GOT ANGRY.
MOST WOMEN SAID, WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
AND FOR ME, THINKING ABOUT THE
(02:02):
WOMEN THAT I KNOW THAT ARE NOT
INVOLVED IN POLITICS, NOT
INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT, BUT ARE
FEARFUL THAT THEY CAN'T HANDLE A
PREGNANCY, THAT THEY CAN'T
SUPPORT A NEW BABY.
YET THEIR LIFE IS TUMULTUOUS IS
ALREADY AND THEY MAY HAVE OTHER
YOUNG CHILDREN, THAT THEY AND
THEIR SPOUSE OR PARTNER WANT TO
HAVE A REASONABLE CONVERSATION
(02:23):
EARLY ON IN PREGNANCY TO THINK
THAT THAT IS NOT A CHOICE THAT
THOSE WOMEN HAVE PARTICULARLY
THOSE WHO DON'T LIVE IN STATES
LIKE NEW YORK, THAT'S A PROBLEM.
A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
I'M GLAD THAT WE IN NEW YORK
HAVE TAKEN REALLY STRONG STEPS
TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO ABORTION
HERE AS IT WAS DEFINED IN ROE V.
WADE.
WE DID THAT RIGHT AWAY AFTER THE
(02:45):
DECISION CAME OUT AND WE'VE DONE
OTHER THINGS AND SO I'M
CONFIDENT AND I FEEL GOOD THAT
WE LIVE IN NEW YORK, BUT IT
SHOULD NOT BE SIMPLY WHERE YOU
LIVE OR WHERE YOU'RE BORN THAT
DETERMINES WHAT YOUR RIGHTS ARE.
>> AS YOU WERE SAYING, I HEAR
FROM DEMOCRATS A LOT THAT NEW
YORK IS A LEADING STATE ON THIS
FRONT, BUT WITH A NEW TRUMP
(03:05):
ADMINISTRATION HEADING INTO THE
WHITE HOUSE, CONSEQUENTIALLY
MAKING A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS
AROUND THE COUNTRY NERVOUS, WHAT
DOES NEW YORK HAVE TO LOOK OUT
FOR, AND WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES
GOING TO BE HERE IN ALBANY FOR
THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION?
>> FIRST IS THE VERY GOOD NEWS
THAT WE BASSED THE STATE'S EQUAL
RIGHTS AMENDMENT, WHICH PUTS IN
THE NEW YORK STATE CONSTITUTION,
NOT JUST IN NEW YORK LAW, THE
(03:26):
PROTECTED RIGHT TO REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH INCLUDING ABORTION AS
DEFINED IN ROE.
THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING.
PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND ONCE
SOMETHING IS IN A LAW, IF THE
LEGISLATURE CHANGES IT, IT CAN
BE CHANGED.
THE GOVERNOR CHANGES, THEY CAN
CHANGE IT BY EXECUTIVE ORDER.
LOTS OF THINGS CAN HAPPEN.
ONCE IT'S IN THE CONSTITUTION,
IT'S SO MUCH HARDER TO CHANGE.
(03:47):
SO THAT'S WHY IT WAS SO
IMPORTANT THIS YEAR TO PASS THIS
EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT AND WE
FACED ALL THIS BLOWBACK WHICH
WAS REALLY LARGELY, IN MY
OPINION, INACCURATE AND
MISLEADING AND FULL OF POLITICAL
INNUENDO AND IT HAD VERY LITTLE
TO DO WITH THE REAL CHOICES THAT
WOMEN MAKE AND NEED TO HAVE THE
ABILITY TO MAKE.
SO WE PASSED THAT.
(04:08):
OVERWHELMINGLY THROUGHOUT THE
STATE, AND THAT WILL PROTECT IN
THE NEW YORK STATE CONSTITUTION
THE RIGHT TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
CARE HERE IN NEW YORK.
NOT ONLY FOR NEW YORKERS BUT FOR
THOSE WHO PHYSICALLY COME HERE
AND THEN WE'VE DONE SOME OTHER
THINGS, AS YOU KNOW, THROUGH
TELEHEALTH TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT
WOMEN IN OTHER STATES HAVE THESE
RIGHTS AS WELL.
(04:29):
>> AND SO WHAT WILL THE
PRIORITIES BE THIS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION?
DO YOU HAVE ANY BILLS ON YOUR
MIND OF FURTHER PROTECTING
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOMS OR BIRTH
CONTROL ACCESS?
>> I ALREADY INTRODUCED ONE BILL
THAT DEALS WITH AMENDING OR
BUILDING ON MY TELEHEALTH BILL,
AND THAT BILL THAT WE PASSED AND
THE GOVERNOR SIGNED ALLOWS
LICENSED NEW YORK DOCTORS AND
(04:50):
PROVIDERS TO PRESCRIBE
MEDICATION ABORTION, WHICH IS
MORE THAN 50% OF ABORTIONS
NATIONALLY TO WOMEN IN OTHER
STATES, PARTICULARLY IN THESE
RED STATES WHERE LITERALLY EVEN
EARLY, EARLY IN YOUR PREGNANCY,
YOU'RE PROHIBITED IN SOME STATES
FROM HAVING AN ABORTION, FROM
ANY OF THE ACCESS TO
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE.
WE ALREADY HAVE THAT.
(05:11):
BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED ALREADY,
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS HAS
SUED A DOCTOR IN NEW YORK FOR
SENDING THESE PILLS TO TEXAS,
AND SO MY NEW BILL WOULD CHANGE
THE LABELING ON THOSE
PRESCRIPTIONS THAT ARE SENT TO
NOT NECESSARILY HAVE THE
DOCTOR'S NAME BUT THE PRACTICE
NAME.
(05:31):
SO THAT WE ARE GUARANTEEING THE
SAFETY AND SECURITY OF LICENSED
NEW YORK DOCTORS, WHO ARE DOING
WHAT THEY ARE AUTHORIZED TO DO
UNDER NEW YORK LAW FROM BEING
SUED, PROSECUTED, OR CRIMINALLY
PROSECUTED BY OTHER STATE
ATTORNEY GENERALS.
>> AND SO DO YOU THINK THAT WILL
HELP POTENTIALLY PREVENT MORE
LAWSUITS?
AS YOU KNOW, LAWSUITS HAVE COME
(05:52):
IN FROM THE TELEHEALTH BILL.
I GUESS, WILL THIS HELP
PROVIDERS AND PROTECT THEM A
LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE YOU WERE
SAYING?
>> I THINK IT'S LIKELY THE CASE
BY THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL
WILL WIND ITS WAY UP TO A HIGHER
COURT.
WE KNEW THAT WHEN WE PASSED THIS
BILL, WHICH OTHER STATES HAVE
NOW DONE VERY SIMILARLY AND
THEY'VE DONE THIS PRESCRIPTION
(06:13):
PROTECTION ACT THAT I'M TALKING
ABOUT NOW, OTHER STATES HAVE
DONE AS WELL.
SO I THINK ULTIMATELY, WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO PUT OUR FAITH
IN THE COURTS AND THAT'S A
DIFFICULT THING TO DO GIVEN THIS
SUPREME COURT.
BUT WE BELIEVE WE PASSED A
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW WHEN WE
ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN.
THIS IS IN NEW YORK.
IT IS NEW YORK DOCTORS AND ALL
(06:36):
THEY'RE DOING IS SENDING YOU A
PILL TO GET TO YOUR HOME IN
WHATEVER STATE, BUT FOR ME, I
THINK ABOUT THE WOMAN IN
KENTUCKY, THE WOMAN IN ALABAMA,
THE WOMAN IN TENNESSEE, WHO
REALLY HAS NO CHOICES.
IS NOT GOING TO PHYSICALLY BE
ABLE TO COME TO NEW YORK, WE ARE
DOING OUR BEST IN A LEGITIMATE
(06:57):
CONSTITUTIONAL WAY TO ENSURE
THOSE WOMEN HAVE ACCESS, BY
USING THESE NEW YORK DOCTORS,
AND WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO PROTECT THESE NEW YORK
DOCTORS WHO ARE DOING WHAT THEY
BELIEVE IS NOT ONLY THEIR
OBLIGATION BUT THEIR RIGHTS
UNDER NEW YORK LAW.
>> AND WHY DO YOU THINK THIS
ISSUE SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE A
PRIORITY?
I OFTEN HEAR FROM DIFFERENT
LAWMAKERS THAT WE'VE DONE ENOUGH
(07:18):
ON THIS FRONT AND THAT WE DON'T
REALLY NEED TO DO ANYTHING ELSE,
THAT THERE'S ENOUGH REPRODUCTIVE
FREEDOMS IN NEW YORK, BUT WHAT
DO YOU HAVE TO SAY TO THAT
ARGUMENT?
WHY DO YOU THINK THIS SHOULD
CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY?
>> IF THE FIRST PLACE, THAT
ARGUMENT WAS USED FOR YEARS WE
DON'T NEED THE REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH ACT.
I REMEMBER.
I WAS HERE AS A STAFFER.
WE DON'T NEED IT BECAUSE ROE
WILL NEVER BE OVERTURNED.
(07:39):
DON'T BOTHER AMENDING THE PENAL
LAW WHICH IS ORIGINALLY WHERE
THE PROVISIONS OF ABORTION WERE,
AND PUTTING KNIT THE PUBLIC
HEALTH LAW.
FINALLY WE GOT THAT PASSED.
THEN ONCE ROE WAS OVERTURNED,
WELL, IT'S NEVER GOING TO BOTHER
NEW YORK AND WE FOUGHT FOR THE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
THESE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS.
THE FACT THAT PEOPLE SAY AREN'T
(07:59):
GOING TO HAPPEN, WE'VE BEEN
PROVEN ON THAT.
IT DID HAPPEN.
WE LOST A RIGHT THAT WOMEN
THOUGHT WAS THEIRS.
AGAIN, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT
WOMEN WHO IDENTIFY AS DEMOCRATS
OR LIBERALS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT REGULAR PEOPLE
WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN A
DIFFICULT SITUATION AND WANT TO
HAVE CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN
DESTINY.
THAT WAS TAKEN AWAY AND SO NEW
(08:22):
YORK HAS TO DO WHAT IT MUST DO
TO BE A LEADER IN THIS AREA.
>> FOR NEW YORKERS WHO MAY NOT
KNOW, HOW WILL THE EQUAL RIGHTS
AMENDMENT PROTECT THEM IN THE
CONSTITUTION?
SHOULD WE SEE POTENTIAL FEDERAL
THREATS ON REPRODUCTIVE
FREEDOMS?
>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT
HAPPENS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
SOME FEDERAL LAWS OBVIOUSLY ARE
PREEMPTIVE OF STATE LAWS AND
(08:43):
WE'RE MINDFUL OF THAT.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT CONGRESS
COULD DO THAT WOULD MAKE IT VERY
HARD FOR US TO USE THIS STATE
CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION, BUT
SHORT OF THAT, IF THERE'S
EFFORTS BY ANY STATE AGENCY OR
OUTSIDE AGENCY OF GOVERNMENT TO
DO THINGS THAT LIMIT THE RIGHT
OF ACCESS OR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION AND
(09:04):
MISCARRIAGE CARE AND ALL THE
OTHER PARTS, LET'S NOT FORGET
THAT, OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
CARE, WE HAVE A REMEDY.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE RIGHT
ON TOP OF OUR TOES TO SEE WHAT
HAPPENS FEDERALLY AND RESPOND
PROMPTLY AND TO BE IN THE LEAD,
WHICH I'M CONFIDENT NEW YORK,
WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND CERTAINLY
(09:24):
WITH THE MAJORITY LEADER
STEWART-COUSINS AND I'M SURE THE
GOVERNOR AND SPEAKER HEASTIE AND
MY OTHER COLLEAGUES, WE'RE GOING
TO BE IN THE FRONT OF THE LINE
OF DOING WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
THIS IS NOT A MINUSCULE ISSUE.
THIS IS AN ISSUE OF THE DEEPEST
PERSONAL PART FOR A WOMAN.
I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THAT.
(09:44):
THIS IS NOT LIKE SOME ABSTRACT
THING.
THIS IS PERSONAL.
THIS IS LIKE-- I'VE MET OVER THE
YEARS MANY PEOPLE WHO WOULD
NEVER DEFINE THEMSELVES AS
PRO-CHOICE WHO THOUGHT THEY HAD
THIS RIGHT AND THEIR
GRANDDAUGHTERS HAD THIS RIGHT
AND NOW THEY DON'T UNDER FEDERAL
LAW.
WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING TO
PROTECT THOSE WOMEN.
(10:05):
>> AND WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF ALL
THE CONTROVERSY AROUND THE
BALLOT LANGUAGE WHEN IT CAME TO
THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT?
HOW DO YOU THINK THAT IMPACTED
VOTERS AS THEY HEADED INTO THE
POLLS IN NOVEMBER?
>> I WAS IN A DISTRICT WHERE
THOSE WHO WERE ANTI-PROPOSITION
1 USED ALL THESE ISSUES OF THE
LANGUAGE, GIRLS SPORTS, HAVING
(10:26):
MEDICAL PROCEDURES WITHOUT
PARENTAL CONSENT, AND I HAD TO
ABSOLUTELY CONFRONT EACH OF
THESE ARGUMENTS AS BEING
INACCURATE UNDER THE LAW, AND I
DID, AND ALSO THERE WAS A WHOLE
ACTIVIST GROUP OF WOMEN WHO WENT
AND EDUCATED PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T
KNOW ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT TO
PUSH BACK AGAINST THIS SORT OF
(10:47):
BARRAGE OF INACCURATE
INFORMATION.
I'M VERY, VERY PLEASED AT HOW
WELL WE DID, BUT IT WASN'T JUST
BY NATURE.
IT WAS BY ORGANIZING, BY
ADVOCATING AND BY EDUCATING
PEOPLE THAT THIS MISINFORMATION
WAS, IN FACT, INACCURATE.
YOU'RE GOING TO RETAIN THE
RIGHTS YOU HAD AND MANY OF THESE
RIGHTS ALREADY EXIST UNDER NEW
(11:08):
YORK ALREADY AND WE'RE PUTTING
THEM IN THE CONSTITUTION NOW TO
MAKE SURE THEY'RE GOOD.
>> AS YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS HAVE
FILED LAWSUITS AGAINST THE EQUAL
RIGHTS AMENDMENT WHEN BEFORE IT
HAD GONE TO-- OR EVEN DURING THE
PROCESS OF GETTING IT ON THE
BALLOT, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT
CONTROVERSY?
DO YOU THINK THAT WILL CONTINUE
EVEN AFTER IT'S BEEN OFFICIALLY
(11:29):
APPROVED BY VOTERS?
>> WELL, IT WAS APPROVE AND IT'S
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
PEOPLE CAN SUE.
YOU KNOW, I WAS IN THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE.
THE STATE OF NEW YORK GETS SUED
EVERY DAY.
THE WORLD DOESN'T END BECAUSE
SOMEONE THREATENS A SUIT OR
BRINGS A SUIT.
WE RELY ON COURTS TO MAKE
REASONABLE JUDGMENTS BASED ON
THE LAW AND PRECEDENT.
AND NEW YORK LAW IS STRONG ON
(11:51):
THESE ISSUES OF CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHTS AND WE HAVE NOW MADE IT
EVEN STRONGER.
SO I'M CONFIDENT IN THE NEW YORK
PLACE THAT WE'LL BE OKAY.
BUT IT IS THIS POSSIBILITY OF
FEDERAL ACTION THAT WE HAVE TO
BE ON OUR TOES.
>> AND HOW MUCH OF THAT WILL
PLAY INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION,
THE LOOKING OUT FOR FEDERAL
(12:11):
ACTION, HOW PREPARED ARE YOU, I
GUESS, AND HAVE YOU HAD
DISCUSSIONS LIKE OFF-SESSION
ABOUT THAT?
>> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING--
TALKING TO THE ADVOCATES.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING
IN WASHINGTON WATCHING EVERY DAY
WHAT HAPPENS AND PARTICULARLY
ONCE, YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT-ELECT
TRUMP BECOMES THE PRESIDENT,
WHATEVER ACTIONS HE TAKES BY
EXECUTIVE ORDER, THROUGH THE
(12:32):
AGENCIES, AROUND CONGRESS, THAT
IS FOR ME THE GREATEST FEAR.
CONGRESS IS A LONG, CUMBERSOME
PROCESS.
YES, REPUBLICANS HAVE THE
MAJORITY BUT NOT ALL MEMBERS OF
THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE
SENATE OR THE HOUSE ARE IN A
RUSH TO MAKE ABORTION THE
CENTERPIECE OF THEIR WORK.
THEY RECOGNIZE THAT, AGAIN, EVEN
(12:53):
IN CONSERVATIVE DISTRICTS AND
WOMEN WHO ARE NOT POLITICAL,
THESE ARE PERSONAL ISSUES.
THEY NEED TO BE VERY, VERY
MINDFUL OF STICKING INTO..
SO WE'RE GOING TO WATCH THE
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS, THE
REGULATORY PROCESS, AND THE
CONGRESSIONAL PROCESS, AND BE
READY TO RESPOND PROMPTLY WHEN
THINGS HAPPEN.
(13:14):
>> AND DO YOU THINK WE'LL SEE
MORE EFFORTS IN A STATE BUDGET?
THE GOVERNOR LAST YEAR PUT THE
ABORTION PROVIDER SUPPORT FUND
INTO THE BUDGET, ESTABLISHED
THAT.
DO YOU THINK THIS YEAR WE COULD
SEE MORE MONEY PUT INTO THAT OR
BOLSTER THE PROVIDER FUND INTO
THAT?
>> I HOPE SO.
I HOPE THAT MONEY IS SPREAD
AMONG THOSE WHO-- EQUALLY AMONG
MANY WHO ARE PROVIDING CARE.
(13:35):
MANY OF THESE DOCTORS WHO ARE
PROVIDING PRESCRIPTION ABORTION
MEDICATION BY TELEMEDICINE ARE
NOT ABLE TO CHARGE THE CLIENTS,
THE PATIENTS THE AMOUNT IT COSTS
SIMPLY TO SEND THE PRESCRIPTION.
THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT, THESE
WOMEN.
SO THEY DO IT AT THEIR OWN COST.
THE DOCTORS ARE DOING IT OUT OF
THEIR POCKET.
(13:55):
THEY OUGHT TO BE COMPENSATED FOR
THE COST OF THESE MEDICATIONS
AND THE SENDING AND THE MAILING
SO THAT THEY ARE NOT LOSING AND
RIGHT NOW, THAT HAS NOT
OCCURRED.
WE NEED THE LAW TO BE MODIFIED
SO THEY GET SOME OF THIS MONEY
AND WE ADD MORE MONEY TO THAT
POT.
>> AND HOW DO YOU THINK THOSE
CONVERSATIONS MIGHT GO
THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET?
I KNOW THE BUDGET HAS A LOT OF
COMPETING PRIORITIES, BUT DO YOU
(14:17):
THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
WILL BE WIDELY SUPPORTED?
>> I THINK SO.
AGAIN, MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES
DEALING WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS,
RECOGNIZE THAT THEY WANT TO
SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS OF NEW
YORK TO BE IN THE LEAD AND I
THINK THE DEMOCRAT MAKE JOTTERS
IN BOTH HOUSES ARE VERY CLEAR ON
(14:37):
THAT AND THEY WANT FUNDS
AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE
OUT-OF-POCKET FOR DOING THE WORK
THAT NEW YORK AUTHORIZES.
>> DO YOU THINK THERE'S MORE THE
STATE CAN BE DOING TO ADDRESS
ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL?
IF SO, WILL THAT POTENTIALLY BE
A PRIORITY THIS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION?
>> I THINK ONE THING WE OUGHT TO
DO IN THAT AREA IS BE MINDFUL
THAT OTHER STATES ARE AHEAD OF
US.
(14:57):
OTHER STATES ARE DOING EVEN MORE
THAN WE ARE DOING TO MAKE ACCESS
TO BIRTH CONTROL,
OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION, AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN NEW YORK
STATE, WE SHOULD BE IN THE LEAD
ON THAT.
THERE'S BEEN A CONVERSATION
ABOUT SEX EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
(15:18):
WE HAVE NOT MOVED THAT BILL.
I THINK THERE MAY BE A TIME
WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
HAVE A BIGGER CONVERSATION ABOUT
HOW WE INFORM YOUNG PEOPLE IN
HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT THE RISKS
PARTICULARLY OF PREGNANCY.
SO I THINK THERE ARE THINGS WE
CAN DO AND THAT WE ARE A STEP
BEHIND SOME OTHER STATES AND WE
NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE TALKING,
AS I DO, WITH OUR OTHER STATE
(15:40):
PARTNERS AND LOOKING AT BEST
PRACTICES.
NEW YORK-- WE'RE NOT THE LEADER
IN EVERYTHING.
I HATE TO TELL PEOPLE THIS.
>> AND HOW MUCH OF A ROLE DO YOU
THINK THIS ISSUE WILL PLAY
DURING LEGISLATIVE SESSION?
I KNOW THERE'S MANY COMPETING
PRIORITIES, AS YOU KNOW.
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU THINK THIS
WILL TAKE?
AND HOW WILL YOU PREVENT IT FROM
IT GETTING LOST IN TRANSLATION?
>> IT'S NOT GOING TO GET LOST.
(16:01):
THIS ISSUE CANNOT GET LOST.
THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL, PERSONAL
RIGHT.
MY NUMBER ONE FIGHT IS TO GET
MONEY FOR EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO LOSE THAT.
AT THE SAME TIME, THIS IS A
PERSONAL RIGHT, A RIGHT OF YOUR
BODY, YOUR DECISION THAT WE HAD,
THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE THAT WE
DON'T HAVE A RIGHT THAT WE HAD
(16:22):
BEFORE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO GET LOST IN
THE SAUCE.
I CAN ASSURE YOU AND NOT JUST
WOMEN, THE MEN IN OUR CONFERENCE
AND I SUSPECT MANY OF OUR
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES AT THE END
OF THE DAY ARE NOT ANXIOUS TO GO
HOME AND EXPLAIN TO CONSTITUENTS
THEY REDUCED A RIGHT THAT HAS
BEEN ELIMINATED BY THE SUPREME
COURT.
SHAME ON THAT COURT FOR
(16:43):
MISLEADING THE MEMBERS OF THE
SENATE ABOUT THEIR POSITIONS ON
ROE.
THAT IS REALLY UNCONSCIONABLE TO
ME.
BUT THIS IS WHERE WE ARE AND WE
AS NEW YORK LEADERS IN THIS AREA
ARE GOING TO MAKE OUR VOICES
HEARD AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO
DROP IT.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
TAKING TIME TO SPEAK WITH US.
THAT'S UNFORTUNATELY ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
WE WERE SPEAKING WITH SENATOR
(17:04):
SHELLEY MAYER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> EARLIER THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR
KATHY HOCHUL UNVEILED HER
PRIORITIES FOR THIS YEAR IN THE
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.
SHE PLANS TO FOCUS ON A VARIETY
OF ISSUES INCLUDING
AFFORDABILITY, PUBLIC SAFETY,
MENTAL HEALTH AND CHILD CARE.
WHAT STUCK OUT MOST FOR STATE
LEADERS, LAWMAKERS, EXPERTS AND
(17:25):
ADVOCATES WAS HER OVERARCHING
THEME OF AFFORDABILITY.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE BREAK
DOWN THE MAIN TAKEAWAYS FROM
VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS.
>> HEADING INTO THE 2025
LEGISLATIVE YEAR, GOVERNOR KATHY
HOCHUL PLANS TO FOCUS ON A FEW
KEY AREAS INCLUDING
AFFORDABILITY, CHILD CARE,
SUBWAY SAFETY AND EDUCATION.
SHE STARTED HER ADDRESS BY
(17:46):
SAYING TWO THINGS WERE CLEAR TO
HER.
>> OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON THE
ABILITY OF EVERY FAMILY TO
AFFORD THE ESSENTIALS OF LIFE
AND OUR ABILITY TO PROTECT THE
SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR
RESIDENTS.
BUT WE WILL NOT ACHIEVE THESE
(18:06):
GOALS WITHOUT A FIGHT.
SO MY COMMITMENT TO EVERY NEW
YORKER IS THIS.
YOUR FAMILY IS MY FIGHT.
>> THROUGHOUT HER HOUR AND A
HALF LONG SPEECH, SHE REVIEWED
VARIOUS PROPOSALS FROM HER
NEARLY 200-PAGE 2025 STATE OF
STATE BOOK.
POLITICAL EXPERT JIM TWOMBLY
SAID WHILE HE THOUGHT HER SPEECH
WAS WELL-DELIVERED, HOCHUL
(18:27):
SEEMED TO FOCUS A LITTLE TOO
MUCH ON HER STORY COMPARED TO
THE STATE.
>> IT REMINDED ME A LITTLE BIT
MORE OF LIKE A CONVENTION SPEECH
ROLLOUT THAN A STATE OF THE
STATE.
BUT IT WAS DELIVERED WELL.
THE ONE EXCEPTION MIGHT HAVE
BEEN THAT INSTEAD OF BEING ABOUT
(18:47):
THE STATE, THERE WAS AN AWFUL
LOT OF REFERENCE TO HER EARLY
LIFE AND HER MIDDLE CLASS
UPBRINGING, SO FORTH.
IT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS A
CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT OF SOME
SORT.
>> OTHER POLITICAL EXPERTS SAY
THEY FELT THE GOVERNOR SPENDING
A LOT OF TIME ON HER HISTORY WAS
(19:07):
MEANT TO CONNECT WITH NEW
YORKERS ON THE ISSUES.
JERI POWELL, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
AT COLUMBIA, SAYS SHE ISN'T SURE
IF THE CAMPAIGN-LIKE NATURE WILL
BE PERCEIVED AS A NEGATIVE.
>> I CERTAINLY THOUGHT OF IT WAS
EFFECTIVE AS A SENSE OF
CONNECTING AND I THINK ANY
CAMPAIGN SPEECH, FIRST AND
FOREMOST, NEEDS TO CONNECT WITH
(19:28):
CONSTITUENTS.
I THINK ANY OPPORTUNITY TO
CONNECT WITH CONSTITUENTS IS A
POSITIVE.
>> WHAT STOOD OUT TO MANY
LAWMAKERS AND STATE LEADERS WAS
HER PROPOSALS RELATED TO
AFFORDABILITY, FROM CUTTING
MIDDLE CLASS TAXES AND
FACILITATING INFLATION REBATE
CHECKS TO BUILDING MORE CHILD
CARE FACILITIES, EXPANDING THE
CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT AND
PROVIDING FREE SCHOOL MEALS.
(19:48):
THE TWOMBLY SAYS MONEY IS WHAT
WILL BE ON MOST NEW YORKERS'
MINDS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S PLANS
FOR THIS YEAR.
>> MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.
THE SALES TAX REBATE CHECKS AND
A CUT IN MIDDLE CLASS INCOME
TAXES, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO
RESONATE MOST.
WHETHER OR NOT THAT RESONATION
(20:09):
LASTS THROUGH NOVEMBER OF 2026
IS SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO SEE
IN TERMS OF HER ATTEMPTS TO RUN
FOR RE-ELECTION.
>> PATRICK ORECKI WITH THE
CITIZENS BUDGET COMMISSION, SAYS
THE GOVERNOR'S FOCUS ON
AFFORDABILITY IS A GREAT THING
BUT WHETHER OR NOT THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS HAPPEN ALL
DEPENDS ON WHERE THE STATE FINDS
THE FUNDS.
(20:29):
>> YEAH. I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE
SITUATION RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE
STATE HAS A LOT OF CASH IN THE
SHORT TERM.
SO THINGS LIKE THE INFLATION
REBATE CHECKS BECOME REALLY
POSSIBLE AND AN OPTION FOR HOW
TO SPEND THAT MONEY.
YOU KNOW, WE WOULD ENCOURAGE THE
STATE TO SET AN ASIDE.
WHEN YOU HAVE A BIG GLUT OF CASH
LIKE THAT, YOU CAN BUILD YOUR
RESERVES.
YOU CAN PLAN FOR THE FUTURE A
LITTLE BIT.
SO SOME CONCERNS ON THAT FRONT
WITH THE USE OF THE MONEY.
(20:50):
>> ORECKI ADDED LIKE REOCCURRING
ACTIONS LIKE MIDDLE CLASS TAX
CUTS AND EXPANDING THE CHILD TAX
CREDIT CAN BOOST AFFORDABILITY
BUT THEY'LL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE
OUT-YEAR BUDGET GAPS TO SEE HOW
THAT IMPACTS THE STATE'S
FINANCIAL PLAN.
THE GOVERNOR'S PLANS TO ADDRESS
AFFORDABILITY ALSO INCLUDED A
PROPOSAL TO MAKE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE FREE.
SUNY CHANCELLOR JOHN KING SAYS
HE'S VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT.
(21:11):
>> WHAT IT WILL MEAN IS FOLKS
WHO ARE 25 TO 55, THEY WILL BE
ABLE TO COME BACK TO COMMUNITY
COLLEGE FOR FREE.
THEY'LL GET HELP NOT JUST WITH
TUITION BUT ALSO BOOKS AND FEES,
AND THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO
PURSUE JOBS IN HIGH DEMAND
AREAS, LIKE THE SEMICONDUCTOR
INDUSTRY, ADVANCED
MANUFACTURING, I.T. AND
(21:33):
CYBERSECURITY, NURSING WHERE WE
HAVE A HUGE NEED ACROSS THE
STATE.
SO THIS IS ABOUT FOSTERING
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MAKING
EDUCATION AFFORDABLE FOR MORE
NEW YORKERS.
>> THIS PROPOSAL IN ADDITION TO
HER OTHER AFFORDABILITY PROPOSAL
TO PROVIDE FREE SCHOOL MEALS
SEEM TO BE ON EDUCATION
ADVOCATES' MINDS FOLLOWING HER
ADDRESS.
(21:54):
MELINDA PERSON, THE FORMER
PRESIDENT OF NEW YORK STATE
UNITED TEACHERS, SAYS FREE
SCHOOL MEALS IS A PROPOSAL
EDUCATION ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN
PUSHING FOR A LONG TIME.
>> OUR FAMILIES IN NEW YORK
STATE ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO
FEED THEIR CHILDREN.
1 IN 6 KIDS IS STRUGGLING WITH
FOOD INSECURITY.
SO THIS INITIATIVE IS A HUGE
STEP FORWARD IN ADDRESSING THIS
UNMET NEED.
>> PERSON ADDS STUDENTS WHO ARE
(22:15):
PROPERLY NOURISHED PERFORM
BETTER IN SCHOOL.
>> EDUCATORS KNOW THAT IF A KID
IS HUNGRY, THEY CAN'T LEARN.
THEY CAN'T CONCENTRATE.
THEY CAN'T PAY ATTENTION.
IT IMPACTS THEIR ABSENTEEISM.
IT IMPACTS THEIR TEST SCORES.
>> FOR SOME STATE LEADERS, THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS ON CHILD
CARE WERE TOP OF MIND.
THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF
CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, OR
OCFS, COMMISSIONER DAMIA
(22:36):
HARRIS-MADDEN, SAYS THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS TO BUILD
MORE CHILD CARE FACILITIES AND
IMPLEMENT A SUBSTITUTE POOL,
WILL SIGNIFICANTLY HELP
STRUGGLING FAMILIES IN THE
STATE.
>> THAT'S EXCITING BECAUSE SO
MANY OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS
STRUGGLE WITH CAPACITY, PHYSICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE ALSO ARE CELEBRATING THE FACT
THAT THERE'S A SUBSTITUTE POOL
THAT'S PROPOSED.
(22:57):
TOO OFTEN WE HAVE OUR CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING
WHEN THEIR STAFF BECOME SICK AND
NOW WE'LL BE ABLE TO DEVELOP A
POOL SO THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW,
THE CAPACITY TO CONTINUE THE
BUSINESS AND TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN.
>> AFFORDABILITY MAY HAVE BEEN
HOCHUL'S FOCUS BUT SHE ALSO
HIGHLIGHTED ISSUES OF PUBLIC
(23:17):
SAFETY, INCLUDING A PROPOSAL TO
EXPAND OUTREACH AND SECURITY ON
NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY LINES.
THIS ISSUE, IN PARTICULAR,
SEEMED TO BE ON THE MINDS OF
SOME POLITICAL LEADERS MORE SO
THAN AFFORDABILITY.
NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS,
FOLLOWING THE GOVERNOR'S
ADDRESS,S SAYS THE GOVERNOR
UNDERSTANDS THE CITY'S FOCUS ON
SUBWAY SAFETY AND BRINGING DOWN
CRIME AND HE LOOKS FORWARD TO
THEIR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP.
(23:39):
THIS ISSUE ALSO SEEMS TO BE TOP
OF MIND FOR SOME LAWMAKERS.
STATE SENATOR ANDREW LANZA, A
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING STATEN
ISLAND, SAYS HE IS ENCOURAGED BY
THE GOVERNOR'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ON THE ISSUE OF SUBWAY CRIME.
>> FOR YEARS, MYSELF AND
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN
POINTING OUT THAT WE HAVE A
CRIME PROBLEM ON THE SUBWAY.
THE SUBWAY IS FILTHY.
THE SUBWAY IS NOT RUNNING
(23:59):
EFFICIENTLY.
THE MTA IS DOING A TERRIBLE JOB.
AND FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS WE
WERE TOLD BY THE GOVERNOR AND
OTHERS FROM HER PARTY THAT IT
WAS JUST WE WERE IMAGINING ALL
OF THIS.
SO IT'S GOOD THAT SHE'S
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE'S A
PROBLEM AND I HOPE SHE DOES
SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND IF SHE
DOES, WE'LL BE THERE TO WORK
WITH HER TO MAKE SURE THAT
HAPPENS.
>> SOME DEMOCRATS SAY PUBLIC
SAFETY IS A TOP ISSUE FOR MANY
(24:20):
NEW YORKERS.
>> THE DETAILS ARE GOING TO BE
IMPORTANT HERE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR JOB OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND
MONTHS IN DETERMINING HOW WE
EXECUTE ON ACTUALLY KEEPING
PEOPLE SAFE.
>> WHILE THE GOVERNOR HIT ON A
LOT OF KEY ISSUES, SHE FAILED TO
MENTION THE MIGRANT CRISIS,
SOMETHING ON THE MINDS OF MANY
LAWMAKERS.
>> I'M DISAPPOINTED.
SHE DIDN'T REALLY FOCUS ON THE
MIGRANT CRISIS.
(24:41):
IT IS A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM HERE
IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
>> SOME POLITICAL EXPERTS SAY
THE GOVERNOR EXCLUDING THE
MIGRANT CRISIS FROM HER SPEECH
WAS LIKELY BECAUSE MUCH OF THIS
PARTICULAR ISSUE DEPENDS ON
FEDERAL ACTIONS.
>> BY NO MEANS DO I FEEL THAT
OMISSION MEANT THAT WON'T BE,
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT'S GOING
TO BE A PRIORITY THIS YEAR.
(25:02):
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE
EQUATION.
>> SOME DEMOCRATS ALSO STRESS
THE STATE OF THE STATE IS JUST
THE BEGINNING.
>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
BUDGET HEARINGS WHERE WE'RE
GOING TO GET SOME OF THESE
DETAILS OUT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
QUESTION SOME OF THE STATE
AGENCY REPS TO SEE EXACTLY HOW
THEY PLAN TO EXECUTE ON THIS
VISION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> WHETHER OR NOT THE GOVERNOR'S
(25:23):
VARIOUS PRIORITIES ACTUALLY COME
TO FRUITION ALL DEPENDS ON THE
NEXT STEPS IN THIS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION TERM.
AS LAWMAKERS MENTION THE NEXT
STEP HERE IS THE BUDGET.
THAT PROCESS WILL BEGIN NEXT
WEEK AND WILL TAKE MONTHS MOVING
FORWARD BEFORE IT IS COMPLETED
AND PASSED INTO LAW.
AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE
GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE
PROPOSALS, YOU CAN VISIT OUR
(25:43):
WEBSITE.
AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK
NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:35):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:19):
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M ELISE KLINE.
IT'S BEEN MORE THAN 50 YEARS
SINCE ROE V. WADE LEGALIZED
ABORTION IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE REACHED THAT ANNIVERSARY THIS
MONTH.
AFTER IT WAS OVERTURNED IN 2022,
LAWMAKERS HERE IN NEW YORK HAVE
TRIED TO EXPAND PROTECTIONS BY
ENSHRINING ABORTION IN THE STATE
CONSTITUTION AND PUTTING FUNDING
(00:39):
INTO THE STATE BUDGET FOR
ABORTION CARE PROVIDERS.
THEY HAVE ALSO TRIED TO HELP
RESIDENTS BEYOND THE BORDERS OF
NEW YORK.
IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, STATE
LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR
SECURED FUNDING IN THE STATE
BUDGET TO SUPPORT ABORTION
PROVIDERS AND PASSED A LAW
ALLOWING PROVIDERS TO PRESCRIBE
ABORTION MEDICATION VIA
TELEHEALTH AND OUT-OF-STATE
RESIDENTS WHERE THERE ARE
(01:00):
ABORTION BANS.
WE SAT DOWN WITH STATE SENATOR
SHELLEY MAYER TO TALK MORE ABOUT
HOW THESE MEASURES WILL HELP
ADDRESS THE ISSUE NOW AND WHAT
THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES WILL
BE THIS YEAR AT A TIME WHEN
ANOTHER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
HEADS TO THE WHITE HOUSE.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US TODAY, SENATOR.
>> IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
>> SO THIS MONTH MARKS THE
(01:21):
ANNIVERSARY OR WHAT WOULD HAVE
BEEN MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF ROE
V. WADE SINCE IT WAS OVERTURNED
IN 2022.
CONSEQUENTIALLY MANY INDIVIDUALS
AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE FEELING
NERVOUS, SCARED AND SOME EVEN
HOPELESS.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY TO NEW
YORKERS WHO MIGHT NOT BE FEELING
SO OPTIMISTIC?
HOW ARE YOU FEELING AROUND THIS
ANNIVERSARY MONTH?
>> IN THE FIRST PLACE, I DON'T
(01:42):
THINK WE SHOULD DIMINISH HOW IT
FELT TO HAVE A RIGHT THAT WE
BELIEVED WAS CONSTITUTIONALLY
OURS AS WOMEN TAKEN AWAY AFTER
50 YEARS.
IT WAS REALLY LIKE STRIKING IN
THE HEART.
SOME WOMEN CRIED.
SOME WOMEN GOT ANGRY.
MOST WOMEN SAID, WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
AND FOR ME, THINKING ABOUT THE
(02:02):
WOMEN THAT I KNOW THAT ARE NOT
INVOLVED IN POLITICS, NOT
INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT, BUT ARE
FEARFUL THAT THEY CAN'T HANDLE A
PREGNANCY, THAT THEY CAN'T
SUPPORT A NEW BABY.
YET THEIR LIFE IS TUMULTUOUS IS
ALREADY AND THEY MAY HAVE OTHER
YOUNG CHILDREN, THAT THEY AND
THEIR SPOUSE OR PARTNER WANT TO
HAVE A REASONABLE CONVERSATION
(02:23):
EARLY ON IN PREGNANCY TO THINK
THAT THAT IS NOT A CHOICE THAT
THOSE WOMEN HAVE PARTICULARLY
THOSE WHO DON'T LIVE IN STATES
LIKE NEW YORK, THAT'S A PROBLEM.
A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
I'M GLAD THAT WE IN NEW YORK
HAVE TAKEN REALLY STRONG STEPS
TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO ABORTION
HERE AS IT WAS DEFINED IN ROE V.
WADE.
WE DID THAT RIGHT AWAY AFTER THE
(02:45):
DECISION CAME OUT AND WE'VE DONE
OTHER THINGS AND SO I'M
CONFIDENT AND I FEEL GOOD THAT
WE LIVE IN NEW YORK, BUT IT
SHOULD NOT BE SIMPLY WHERE YOU
LIVE OR WHERE YOU'RE BORN THAT
DETERMINES WHAT YOUR RIGHTS ARE.
>> AS YOU WERE SAYING, I HEAR
FROM DEMOCRATS A LOT THAT NEW
YORK IS A LEADING STATE ON THIS
FRONT, BUT WITH A NEW TRUMP
(03:05):
ADMINISTRATION HEADING INTO THE
WHITE HOUSE, CONSEQUENTIALLY
MAKING A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS
AROUND THE COUNTRY NERVOUS, WHAT
DOES NEW YORK HAVE TO LOOK OUT
FOR, AND WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES
GOING TO BE HERE IN ALBANY FOR
THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION?
>> FIRST IS THE VERY GOOD NEWS
THAT WE BASSED THE STATE'S EQUAL
RIGHTS AMENDMENT, WHICH PUTS IN
THE NEW YORK STATE CONSTITUTION,
NOT JUST IN NEW YORK LAW, THE
(03:26):
PROTECTED RIGHT TO REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH INCLUDING ABORTION AS
DEFINED IN ROE.
THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING.
PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND ONCE
SOMETHING IS IN A LAW, IF THE
LEGISLATURE CHANGES IT, IT CAN
BE CHANGED.
THE GOVERNOR CHANGES, THEY CAN
CHANGE IT BY EXECUTIVE ORDER.
LOTS OF THINGS CAN HAPPEN.
ONCE IT'S IN THE CONSTITUTION,
IT'S SO MUCH HARDER TO CHANGE.
(03:47):
SO THAT'S WHY IT WAS SO
IMPORTANT THIS YEAR TO PASS THIS
EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT AND WE
FACED ALL THIS BLOWBACK WHICH
WAS REALLY LARGELY, IN MY
OPINION, INACCURATE AND
MISLEADING AND FULL OF POLITICAL
INNUENDO AND IT HAD VERY LITTLE
TO DO WITH THE REAL CHOICES THAT
WOMEN MAKE AND NEED TO HAVE THE
ABILITY TO MAKE.
SO WE PASSED THAT.
(04:08):
OVERWHELMINGLY THROUGHOUT THE
STATE, AND THAT WILL PROTECT IN
THE NEW YORK STATE CONSTITUTION
THE RIGHT TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
CARE HERE IN NEW YORK.
NOT ONLY FOR NEW YORKERS BUT FOR
THOSE WHO PHYSICALLY COME HERE
AND THEN WE'VE DONE SOME OTHER
THINGS, AS YOU KNOW, THROUGH
TELEHEALTH TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT
WOMEN IN OTHER STATES HAVE THESE
RIGHTS AS WELL.
(04:29):
>> AND SO WHAT WILL THE
PRIORITIES BE THIS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION?
DO YOU HAVE ANY BILLS ON YOUR
MIND OF FURTHER PROTECTING
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOMS OR BIRTH
CONTROL ACCESS?
>> I ALREADY INTRODUCED ONE BILL
THAT DEALS WITH AMENDING OR
BUILDING ON MY TELEHEALTH BILL,
AND THAT BILL THAT WE PASSED AND
THE GOVERNOR SIGNED ALLOWS
LICENSED NEW YORK DOCTORS AND
(04:50):
PROVIDERS TO PRESCRIBE
MEDICATION ABORTION, WHICH IS
MORE THAN 50% OF ABORTIONS
NATIONALLY TO WOMEN IN OTHER
STATES, PARTICULARLY IN THESE
RED STATES WHERE LITERALLY EVEN
EARLY, EARLY IN YOUR PREGNANCY,
YOU'RE PROHIBITED IN SOME STATES
FROM HAVING AN ABORTION, FROM
ANY OF THE ACCESS TO
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE.
WE ALREADY HAVE THAT.
(05:11):
BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED ALREADY,
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS HAS
SUED A DOCTOR IN NEW YORK FOR
SENDING THESE PILLS TO TEXAS,
AND SO MY NEW BILL WOULD CHANGE
THE LABELING ON THOSE
PRESCRIPTIONS THAT ARE SENT TO
NOT NECESSARILY HAVE THE
DOCTOR'S NAME BUT THE PRACTICE
NAME.
(05:31):
SO THAT WE ARE GUARANTEEING THE
SAFETY AND SECURITY OF LICENSED
NEW YORK DOCTORS, WHO ARE DOING
WHAT THEY ARE AUTHORIZED TO DO
UNDER NEW YORK LAW FROM BEING
SUED, PROSECUTED, OR CRIMINALLY
PROSECUTED BY OTHER STATE
ATTORNEY GENERALS.
>> AND SO DO YOU THINK THAT WILL
HELP POTENTIALLY PREVENT MORE
LAWSUITS?
AS YOU KNOW, LAWSUITS HAVE COME
(05:52):
IN FROM THE TELEHEALTH BILL.
I GUESS, WILL THIS HELP
PROVIDERS AND PROTECT THEM A
LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE YOU WERE
SAYING?
>> I THINK IT'S LIKELY THE CASE
BY THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL
WILL WIND ITS WAY UP TO A HIGHER
COURT.
WE KNEW THAT WHEN WE PASSED THIS
BILL, WHICH OTHER STATES HAVE
NOW DONE VERY SIMILARLY AND
THEY'VE DONE THIS PRESCRIPTION
(06:13):
PROTECTION ACT THAT I'M TALKING
ABOUT NOW, OTHER STATES HAVE
DONE AS WELL.
SO I THINK ULTIMATELY, WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO PUT OUR FAITH
IN THE COURTS AND THAT'S A
DIFFICULT THING TO DO GIVEN THIS
SUPREME COURT.
BUT WE BELIEVE WE PASSED A
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW WHEN WE
ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN.
THIS IS IN NEW YORK.
IT IS NEW YORK DOCTORS AND ALL
(06:36):
THEY'RE DOING IS SENDING YOU A
PILL TO GET TO YOUR HOME IN
WHATEVER STATE, BUT FOR ME, I
THINK ABOUT THE WOMAN IN
KENTUCKY, THE WOMAN IN ALABAMA,
THE WOMAN IN TENNESSEE, WHO
REALLY HAS NO CHOICES.
IS NOT GOING TO PHYSICALLY BE
ABLE TO COME TO NEW YORK, WE ARE
DOING OUR BEST IN A LEGITIMATE
(06:57):
CONSTITUTIONAL WAY TO ENSURE
THOSE WOMEN HAVE ACCESS, BY
USING THESE NEW YORK DOCTORS,
AND WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO PROTECT THESE NEW YORK
DOCTORS WHO ARE DOING WHAT THEY
BELIEVE IS NOT ONLY THEIR
OBLIGATION BUT THEIR RIGHTS
UNDER NEW YORK LAW.
>> AND WHY DO YOU THINK THIS
ISSUE SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE A
PRIORITY?
I OFTEN HEAR FROM DIFFERENT
LAWMAKERS THAT WE'VE DONE ENOUGH
(07:18):
ON THIS FRONT AND THAT WE DON'T
REALLY NEED TO DO ANYTHING ELSE,
THAT THERE'S ENOUGH REPRODUCTIVE
FREEDOMS IN NEW YORK, BUT WHAT
DO YOU HAVE TO SAY TO THAT
ARGUMENT?
WHY DO YOU THINK THIS SHOULD
CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY?
>> IF THE FIRST PLACE, THAT
ARGUMENT WAS USED FOR YEARS WE
DON'T NEED THE REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH ACT.
I REMEMBER.
I WAS HERE AS A STAFFER.
WE DON'T NEED IT BECAUSE ROE
WILL NEVER BE OVERTURNED.
(07:39):
DON'T BOTHER AMENDING THE PENAL
LAW WHICH IS ORIGINALLY WHERE
THE PROVISIONS OF ABORTION WERE,
AND PUTTING KNIT THE PUBLIC
HEALTH LAW.
FINALLY WE GOT THAT PASSED.
THEN ONCE ROE WAS OVERTURNED,
WELL, IT'S NEVER GOING TO BOTHER
NEW YORK AND WE FOUGHT FOR THE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
THESE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS.
THE FACT THAT PEOPLE SAY AREN'T
(07:59):
GOING TO HAPPEN, WE'VE BEEN
PROVEN ON THAT.
IT DID HAPPEN.
WE LOST A RIGHT THAT WOMEN
THOUGHT WAS THEIRS.
AGAIN, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT
WOMEN WHO IDENTIFY AS DEMOCRATS
OR LIBERALS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT REGULAR PEOPLE
WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN A
DIFFICULT SITUATION AND WANT TO
HAVE CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN
DESTINY.
THAT WAS TAKEN AWAY AND SO NEW
(08:22):
YORK HAS TO DO WHAT IT MUST DO
TO BE A LEADER IN THIS AREA.
>> FOR NEW YORKERS WHO MAY NOT
KNOW, HOW WILL THE EQUAL RIGHTS
AMENDMENT PROTECT THEM IN THE
CONSTITUTION?
SHOULD WE SEE POTENTIAL FEDERAL
THREATS ON REPRODUCTIVE
FREEDOMS?
>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT
HAPPENS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
SOME FEDERAL LAWS OBVIOUSLY ARE
PREEMPTIVE OF STATE LAWS AND
(08:43):
WE'RE MINDFUL OF THAT.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT CONGRESS
COULD DO THAT WOULD MAKE IT VERY
HARD FOR US TO USE THIS STATE
CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION, BUT
SHORT OF THAT, IF THERE'S
EFFORTS BY ANY STATE AGENCY OR
OUTSIDE AGENCY OF GOVERNMENT TO
DO THINGS THAT LIMIT THE RIGHT
OF ACCESS OR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION AND
(09:04):
MISCARRIAGE CARE AND ALL THE
OTHER PARTS, LET'S NOT FORGET
THAT, OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
CARE, WE HAVE A REMEDY.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE RIGHT
ON TOP OF OUR TOES TO SEE WHAT
HAPPENS FEDERALLY AND RESPOND
PROMPTLY AND TO BE IN THE LEAD,
WHICH I'M CONFIDENT NEW YORK,
WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND CERTAINLY
(09:24):
WITH THE MAJORITY LEADER
STEWART-COUSINS AND I'M SURE THE
GOVERNOR AND SPEAKER HEASTIE AND
MY OTHER COLLEAGUES, WE'RE GOING
TO BE IN THE FRONT OF THE LINE
OF DOING WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
THIS IS NOT A MINUSCULE ISSUE.
THIS IS AN ISSUE OF THE DEEPEST
PERSONAL PART FOR A WOMAN.
I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THAT.
(09:44):
THIS IS NOT LIKE SOME ABSTRACT
THING.
THIS IS PERSONAL.
THIS IS LIKE-- I'VE MET OVER THE
YEARS MANY PEOPLE WHO WOULD
NEVER DEFINE THEMSELVES AS
PRO-CHOICE WHO THOUGHT THEY HAD
THIS RIGHT AND THEIR
GRANDDAUGHTERS HAD THIS RIGHT
AND NOW THEY DON'T UNDER FEDERAL
LAW.
WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING TO
PROTECT THOSE WOMEN.
(10:05):
>> AND WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF ALL
THE CONTROVERSY AROUND THE
BALLOT LANGUAGE WHEN IT CAME TO
THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT?
HOW DO YOU THINK THAT IMPACTED
VOTERS AS THEY HEADED INTO THE
POLLS IN NOVEMBER?
>> I WAS IN A DISTRICT WHERE
THOSE WHO WERE ANTI-PROPOSITION
1 USED ALL THESE ISSUES OF THE
LANGUAGE, GIRLS SPORTS, HAVING
(10:26):
MEDICAL PROCEDURES WITHOUT
PARENTAL CONSENT, AND I HAD TO
ABSOLUTELY CONFRONT EACH OF
THESE ARGUMENTS AS BEING
INACCURATE UNDER THE LAW, AND I
DID, AND ALSO THERE WAS A WHOLE
ACTIVIST GROUP OF WOMEN WHO WENT
AND EDUCATED PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T
KNOW ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT TO
PUSH BACK AGAINST THIS SORT OF
(10:47):
BARRAGE OF INACCURATE
INFORMATION.
I'M VERY, VERY PLEASED AT HOW
WELL WE DID, BUT IT WASN'T JUST
BY NATURE.
IT WAS BY ORGANIZING, BY
ADVOCATING AND BY EDUCATING
PEOPLE THAT THIS MISINFORMATION
WAS, IN FACT, INACCURATE.
YOU'RE GOING TO RETAIN THE
RIGHTS YOU HAD AND MANY OF THESE
RIGHTS ALREADY EXIST UNDER NEW
(11:08):
YORK ALREADY AND WE'RE PUTTING
THEM IN THE CONSTITUTION NOW TO
MAKE SURE THEY'RE GOOD.
>> AS YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS HAVE
FILED LAWSUITS AGAINST THE EQUAL
RIGHTS AMENDMENT WHEN BEFORE IT
HAD GONE TO-- OR EVEN DURING THE
PROCESS OF GETTING IT ON THE
BALLOT, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT
CONTROVERSY?
DO YOU THINK THAT WILL CONTINUE
EVEN AFTER IT'S BEEN OFFICIALLY
(11:29):
APPROVED BY VOTERS?
>> WELL, IT WAS APPROVE AND IT'S
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
PEOPLE CAN SUE.
YOU KNOW, I WAS IN THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE.
THE STATE OF NEW YORK GETS SUED
EVERY DAY.
THE WORLD DOESN'T END BECAUSE
SOMEONE THREATENS A SUIT OR
BRINGS A SUIT.
WE RELY ON COURTS TO MAKE
REASONABLE JUDGMENTS BASED ON
THE LAW AND PRECEDENT.
AND NEW YORK LAW IS STRONG ON
(11:51):
THESE ISSUES OF CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHTS AND WE HAVE NOW MADE IT
EVEN STRONGER.
SO I'M CONFIDENT IN THE NEW YORK
PLACE THAT WE'LL BE OKAY.
BUT IT IS THIS POSSIBILITY OF
FEDERAL ACTION THAT WE HAVE TO
BE ON OUR TOES.
>> AND HOW MUCH OF THAT WILL
PLAY INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION,
THE LOOKING OUT FOR FEDERAL
(12:11):
ACTION, HOW PREPARED ARE YOU, I
GUESS, AND HAVE YOU HAD
DISCUSSIONS LIKE OFF-SESSION
ABOUT THAT?
>> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING--
TALKING TO THE ADVOCATES.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING
IN WASHINGTON WATCHING EVERY DAY
WHAT HAPPENS AND PARTICULARLY
ONCE, YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT-ELECT
TRUMP BECOMES THE PRESIDENT,
WHATEVER ACTIONS HE TAKES BY
EXECUTIVE ORDER, THROUGH THE
(12:32):
AGENCIES, AROUND CONGRESS, THAT
IS FOR ME THE GREATEST FEAR.
CONGRESS IS A LONG, CUMBERSOME
PROCESS.
YES, REPUBLICANS HAVE THE
MAJORITY BUT NOT ALL MEMBERS OF
THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE
SENATE OR THE HOUSE ARE IN A
RUSH TO MAKE ABORTION THE
CENTERPIECE OF THEIR WORK.
THEY RECOGNIZE THAT, AGAIN, EVEN
(12:53):
IN CONSERVATIVE DISTRICTS AND
WOMEN WHO ARE NOT POLITICAL,
THESE ARE PERSONAL ISSUES.
THEY NEED TO BE VERY, VERY
MINDFUL OF STICKING INTO..
SO WE'RE GOING TO WATCH THE
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS, THE
REGULATORY PROCESS, AND THE
CONGRESSIONAL PROCESS, AND BE
READY TO RESPOND PROMPTLY WHEN
THINGS HAPPEN.
(13:14):
>> AND DO YOU THINK WE'LL SEE
MORE EFFORTS IN A STATE BUDGET?
THE GOVERNOR LAST YEAR PUT THE
ABORTION PROVIDER SUPPORT FUND
INTO THE BUDGET, ESTABLISHED
THAT.
DO YOU THINK THIS YEAR WE COULD
SEE MORE MONEY PUT INTO THAT OR
BOLSTER THE PROVIDER FUND INTO
THAT?
>> I HOPE SO.
I HOPE THAT MONEY IS SPREAD
AMONG THOSE WHO-- EQUALLY AMONG
MANY WHO ARE PROVIDING CARE.
(13:35):
MANY OF THESE DOCTORS WHO ARE
PROVIDING PRESCRIPTION ABORTION
MEDICATION BY TELEMEDICINE ARE
NOT ABLE TO CHARGE THE CLIENTS,
THE PATIENTS THE AMOUNT IT COSTS
SIMPLY TO SEND THE PRESCRIPTION.
THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT, THESE
WOMEN.
SO THEY DO IT AT THEIR OWN COST.
THE DOCTORS ARE DOING IT OUT OF
THEIR POCKET.
(13:55):
THEY OUGHT TO BE COMPENSATED FOR
THE COST OF THESE MEDICATIONS
AND THE SENDING AND THE MAILING
SO THAT THEY ARE NOT LOSING AND
RIGHT NOW, THAT HAS NOT
OCCURRED.
WE NEED THE LAW TO BE MODIFIED
SO THEY GET SOME OF THIS MONEY
AND WE ADD MORE MONEY TO THAT
POT.
>> AND HOW DO YOU THINK THOSE
CONVERSATIONS MIGHT GO
THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET?
I KNOW THE BUDGET HAS A LOT OF
COMPETING PRIORITIES, BUT DO YOU
(14:17):
THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
WILL BE WIDELY SUPPORTED?
>> I THINK SO.
AGAIN, MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES
DEALING WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS,
RECOGNIZE THAT THEY WANT TO
SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS OF NEW
YORK TO BE IN THE LEAD AND I
THINK THE DEMOCRAT MAKE JOTTERS
IN BOTH HOUSES ARE VERY CLEAR ON
(14:37):
THAT AND THEY WANT FUNDS
AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE
OUT-OF-POCKET FOR DOING THE WORK
THAT NEW YORK AUTHORIZES.
>> DO YOU THINK THERE'S MORE THE
STATE CAN BE DOING TO ADDRESS
ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL?
IF SO, WILL THAT POTENTIALLY BE
A PRIORITY THIS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION?
>> I THINK ONE THING WE OUGHT TO
DO IN THAT AREA IS BE MINDFUL
THAT OTHER STATES ARE AHEAD OF
US.
(14:57):
OTHER STATES ARE DOING EVEN MORE
THAN WE ARE DOING TO MAKE ACCESS
TO BIRTH CONTROL,
OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION, AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN NEW YORK
STATE, WE SHOULD BE IN THE LEAD
ON THAT.
THERE'S BEEN A CONVERSATION
ABOUT SEX EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
(15:18):
WE HAVE NOT MOVED THAT BILL.
I THINK THERE MAY BE A TIME
WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
HAVE A BIGGER CONVERSATION ABOUT
HOW WE INFORM YOUNG PEOPLE IN
HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT THE RISKS
PARTICULARLY OF PREGNANCY.
SO I THINK THERE ARE THINGS WE
CAN DO AND THAT WE ARE A STEP
BEHIND SOME OTHER STATES AND WE
NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE TALKING,
AS I DO, WITH OUR OTHER STATE
(15:40):
PARTNERS AND LOOKING AT BEST
PRACTICES.
NEW YORK-- WE'RE NOT THE LEADER
IN EVERYTHING.
I HATE TO TELL PEOPLE THIS.
>> AND HOW MUCH OF A ROLE DO YOU
THINK THIS ISSUE WILL PLAY
DURING LEGISLATIVE SESSION?
I KNOW THERE'S MANY COMPETING
PRIORITIES, AS YOU KNOW.
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU THINK THIS
WILL TAKE?
AND HOW WILL YOU PREVENT IT FROM
IT GETTING LOST IN TRANSLATION?
>> IT'S NOT GOING TO GET LOST.
(16:01):
THIS ISSUE CANNOT GET LOST.
THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL, PERSONAL
RIGHT.
MY NUMBER ONE FIGHT IS TO GET
MONEY FOR EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO LOSE THAT.
AT THE SAME TIME, THIS IS A
PERSONAL RIGHT, A RIGHT OF YOUR
BODY, YOUR DECISION THAT WE HAD,
THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE THAT WE
DON'T HAVE A RIGHT THAT WE HAD
(16:22):
BEFORE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO GET LOST IN
THE SAUCE.
I CAN ASSURE YOU AND NOT JUST
WOMEN, THE MEN IN OUR CONFERENCE
AND I SUSPECT MANY OF OUR
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES AT THE END
OF THE DAY ARE NOT ANXIOUS TO GO
HOME AND EXPLAIN TO CONSTITUENTS
THEY REDUCED A RIGHT THAT HAS
BEEN ELIMINATED BY THE SUPREME
COURT.
SHAME ON THAT COURT FOR
(16:43):
MISLEADING THE MEMBERS OF THE
SENATE ABOUT THEIR POSITIONS ON
ROE.
THAT IS REALLY UNCONSCIONABLE TO
ME.
BUT THIS IS WHERE WE ARE AND WE
AS NEW YORK LEADERS IN THIS AREA
ARE GOING TO MAKE OUR VOICES
HEARD AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO
DROP IT.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
TAKING TIME TO SPEAK WITH US.
THAT'S UNFORTUNATELY ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
WE WERE SPEAKING WITH SENATOR
(17:04):
SHELLEY MAYER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> EARLIER THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR
KATHY HOCHUL UNVEILED HER
PRIORITIES FOR THIS YEAR IN THE
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.
SHE PLANS TO FOCUS ON A VARIETY
OF ISSUES INCLUDING
AFFORDABILITY, PUBLIC SAFETY,
MENTAL HEALTH AND CHILD CARE.
WHAT STUCK OUT MOST FOR STATE
LEADERS, LAWMAKERS, EXPERTS AND
(17:25):
ADVOCATES WAS HER OVERARCHING
THEME OF AFFORDABILITY.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE BREAK
DOWN THE MAIN TAKEAWAYS FROM
VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS.
>> HEADING INTO THE 2025
LEGISLATIVE YEAR, GOVERNOR KATHY
HOCHUL PLANS TO FOCUS ON A FEW
KEY AREAS INCLUDING
AFFORDABILITY, CHILD CARE,
SUBWAY SAFETY AND EDUCATION.
SHE STARTED HER ADDRESS BY
(17:46):
SAYING TWO THINGS WERE CLEAR TO
HER.
>> OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON THE
ABILITY OF EVERY FAMILY TO
AFFORD THE ESSENTIALS OF LIFE
AND OUR ABILITY TO PROTECT THE
SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR
RESIDENTS.
BUT WE WILL NOT ACHIEVE THESE
(18:06):
GOALS WITHOUT A FIGHT.
SO MY COMMITMENT TO EVERY NEW
YORKER IS THIS.
YOUR FAMILY IS MY FIGHT.
>> THROUGHOUT HER HOUR AND A
HALF LONG SPEECH, SHE REVIEWED
VARIOUS PROPOSALS FROM HER
NEARLY 200-PAGE 2025 STATE OF
STATE BOOK.
POLITICAL EXPERT JIM TWOMBLY
SAID WHILE HE THOUGHT HER SPEECH
WAS WELL-DELIVERED, HOCHUL
(18:27):
SEEMED TO FOCUS A LITTLE TOO
MUCH ON HER STORY COMPARED TO
THE STATE.
>> IT REMINDED ME A LITTLE BIT
MORE OF LIKE A CONVENTION SPEECH
ROLLOUT THAN A STATE OF THE
STATE.
BUT IT WAS DELIVERED WELL.
THE ONE EXCEPTION MIGHT HAVE
BEEN THAT INSTEAD OF BEING ABOUT
(18:47):
THE STATE, THERE WAS AN AWFUL
LOT OF REFERENCE TO HER EARLY
LIFE AND HER MIDDLE CLASS
UPBRINGING, SO FORTH.
IT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS A
CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT OF SOME
SORT.
>> OTHER POLITICAL EXPERTS SAY
THEY FELT THE GOVERNOR SPENDING
A LOT OF TIME ON HER HISTORY WAS
(19:07):
MEANT TO CONNECT WITH NEW
YORKERS ON THE ISSUES.
JERI POWELL, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
AT COLUMBIA, SAYS SHE ISN'T SURE
IF THE CAMPAIGN-LIKE NATURE WILL
BE PERCEIVED AS A NEGATIVE.
>> I CERTAINLY THOUGHT OF IT WAS
EFFECTIVE AS A SENSE OF
CONNECTING AND I THINK ANY
CAMPAIGN SPEECH, FIRST AND
FOREMOST, NEEDS TO CONNECT WITH
(19:28):
CONSTITUENTS.
I THINK ANY OPPORTUNITY TO
CONNECT WITH CONSTITUENTS IS A
POSITIVE.
>> WHAT STOOD OUT TO MANY
LAWMAKERS AND STATE LEADERS WAS
HER PROPOSALS RELATED TO
AFFORDABILITY, FROM CUTTING
MIDDLE CLASS TAXES AND
FACILITATING INFLATION REBATE
CHECKS TO BUILDING MORE CHILD
CARE FACILITIES, EXPANDING THE
CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT AND
PROVIDING FREE SCHOOL MEALS.
(19:48):
THE TWOMBLY SAYS MONEY IS WHAT
WILL BE ON MOST NEW YORKERS'
MINDS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S PLANS
FOR THIS YEAR.
>> MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.
THE SALES TAX REBATE CHECKS AND
A CUT IN MIDDLE CLASS INCOME
TAXES, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO
RESONATE MOST.
WHETHER OR NOT THAT RESONATION
(20:09):
LASTS THROUGH NOVEMBER OF 2026
IS SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO SEE
IN TERMS OF HER ATTEMPTS TO RUN
FOR RE-ELECTION.
>> PATRICK ORECKI WITH THE
CITIZENS BUDGET COMMISSION, SAYS
THE GOVERNOR'S FOCUS ON
AFFORDABILITY IS A GREAT THING
BUT WHETHER OR NOT THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS HAPPEN ALL
DEPENDS ON WHERE THE STATE FINDS
THE FUNDS.
(20:29):
>> YEAH. I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE
SITUATION RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE
STATE HAS A LOT OF CASH IN THE
SHORT TERM.
SO THINGS LIKE THE INFLATION
REBATE CHECKS BECOME REALLY
POSSIBLE AND AN OPTION FOR HOW
TO SPEND THAT MONEY.
YOU KNOW, WE WOULD ENCOURAGE THE
STATE TO SET AN ASIDE.
WHEN YOU HAVE A BIG GLUT OF CASH
LIKE THAT, YOU CAN BUILD YOUR
RESERVES.
YOU CAN PLAN FOR THE FUTURE A
LITTLE BIT.
SO SOME CONCERNS ON THAT FRONT
WITH THE USE OF THE MONEY.
(20:50):
>> ORECKI ADDED LIKE REOCCURRING
ACTIONS LIKE MIDDLE CLASS TAX
CUTS AND EXPANDING THE CHILD TAX
CREDIT CAN BOOST AFFORDABILITY
BUT THEY'LL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE
OUT-YEAR BUDGET GAPS TO SEE HOW
THAT IMPACTS THE STATE'S
FINANCIAL PLAN.
THE GOVERNOR'S PLANS TO ADDRESS
AFFORDABILITY ALSO INCLUDED A
PROPOSAL TO MAKE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE FREE.
SUNY CHANCELLOR JOHN KING SAYS
HE'S VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT.
(21:11):
>> WHAT IT WILL MEAN IS FOLKS
WHO ARE 25 TO 55, THEY WILL BE
ABLE TO COME BACK TO COMMUNITY
COLLEGE FOR FREE.
THEY'LL GET HELP NOT JUST WITH
TUITION BUT ALSO BOOKS AND FEES,
AND THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO
PURSUE JOBS IN HIGH DEMAND
AREAS, LIKE THE SEMICONDUCTOR
INDUSTRY, ADVANCED
MANUFACTURING, I.T. AND
(21:33):
CYBERSECURITY, NURSING WHERE WE
HAVE A HUGE NEED ACROSS THE
STATE.
SO THIS IS ABOUT FOSTERING
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MAKING
EDUCATION AFFORDABLE FOR MORE
NEW YORKERS.
>> THIS PROPOSAL IN ADDITION TO
HER OTHER AFFORDABILITY PROPOSAL
TO PROVIDE FREE SCHOOL MEALS
SEEM TO BE ON EDUCATION
ADVOCATES' MINDS FOLLOWING HER
ADDRESS.
(21:54):
MELINDA PERSON, THE FORMER
PRESIDENT OF NEW YORK STATE
UNITED TEACHERS, SAYS FREE
SCHOOL MEALS IS A PROPOSAL
EDUCATION ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN
PUSHING FOR A LONG TIME.
>> OUR FAMILIES IN NEW YORK
STATE ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO
FEED THEIR CHILDREN.
1 IN 6 KIDS IS STRUGGLING WITH
FOOD INSECURITY.
SO THIS INITIATIVE IS A HUGE
STEP FORWARD IN ADDRESSING THIS
UNMET NEED.
>> PERSON ADDS STUDENTS WHO ARE
(22:15):
PROPERLY NOURISHED PERFORM
BETTER IN SCHOOL.
>> EDUCATORS KNOW THAT IF A KID
IS HUNGRY, THEY CAN'T LEARN.
THEY CAN'T CONCENTRATE.
THEY CAN'T PAY ATTENTION.
IT IMPACTS THEIR ABSENTEEISM.
IT IMPACTS THEIR TEST SCORES.
>> FOR SOME STATE LEADERS, THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS ON CHILD
CARE WERE TOP OF MIND.
THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF
CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, OR
OCFS, COMMISSIONER DAMIA
(22:36):
HARRIS-MADDEN, SAYS THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS TO BUILD
MORE CHILD CARE FACILITIES AND
IMPLEMENT A SUBSTITUTE POOL,
WILL SIGNIFICANTLY HELP
STRUGGLING FAMILIES IN THE
STATE.
>> THAT'S EXCITING BECAUSE SO
MANY OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS
STRUGGLE WITH CAPACITY, PHYSICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE ALSO ARE CELEBRATING THE FACT
THAT THERE'S A SUBSTITUTE POOL
THAT'S PROPOSED.
(22:57):
TOO OFTEN WE HAVE OUR CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING
WHEN THEIR STAFF BECOME SICK AND
NOW WE'LL BE ABLE TO DEVELOP A
POOL SO THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW,
THE CAPACITY TO CONTINUE THE
BUSINESS AND TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN.
>> AFFORDABILITY MAY HAVE BEEN
HOCHUL'S FOCUS BUT SHE ALSO
HIGHLIGHTED ISSUES OF PUBLIC
(23:17):
SAFETY, INCLUDING A PROPOSAL TO
EXPAND OUTREACH AND SECURITY ON
NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY LINES.
THIS ISSUE, IN PARTICULAR,
SEEMED TO BE ON THE MINDS OF
SOME POLITICAL LEADERS MORE SO
THAN AFFORDABILITY.
NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS,
FOLLOWING THE GOVERNOR'S
ADDRESS,S SAYS THE GOVERNOR
UNDERSTANDS THE CITY'S FOCUS ON
SUBWAY SAFETY AND BRINGING DOWN
CRIME AND HE LOOKS FORWARD TO
THEIR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP.
(23:39):
THIS ISSUE ALSO SEEMS TO BE TOP
OF MIND FOR SOME LAWMAKERS.
STATE SENATOR ANDREW LANZA, A
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING STATEN
ISLAND, SAYS HE IS ENCOURAGED BY
THE GOVERNOR'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ON THE ISSUE OF SUBWAY CRIME.
>> FOR YEARS, MYSELF AND
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN
POINTING OUT THAT WE HAVE A
CRIME PROBLEM ON THE SUBWAY.
THE SUBWAY IS FILTHY.
THE SUBWAY IS NOT RUNNING
(23:59):
EFFICIENTLY.
THE MTA IS DOING A TERRIBLE JOB.
AND FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS WE
WERE TOLD BY THE GOVERNOR AND
OTHERS FROM HER PARTY THAT IT
WAS JUST WE WERE IMAGINING ALL
OF THIS.
SO IT'S GOOD THAT SHE'S
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE'S A
PROBLEM AND I HOPE SHE DOES
SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND IF SHE
DOES, WE'LL BE THERE TO WORK
WITH HER TO MAKE SURE THAT
HAPPENS.
>> SOME DEMOCRATS SAY PUBLIC
SAFETY IS A TOP ISSUE FOR MANY
(24:20):
NEW YORKERS.
>> THE DETAILS ARE GOING TO BE
IMPORTANT HERE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR JOB OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND
MONTHS IN DETERMINING HOW WE
EXECUTE ON ACTUALLY KEEPING
PEOPLE SAFE.
>> WHILE THE GOVERNOR HIT ON A
LOT OF KEY ISSUES, SHE FAILED TO
MENTION THE MIGRANT CRISIS,
SOMETHING ON THE MINDS OF MANY
LAWMAKERS.
>> I'M DISAPPOINTED.
SHE DIDN'T REALLY FOCUS ON THE
MIGRANT CRISIS.
(24:41):
IT IS A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM HERE
IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
>> SOME POLITICAL EXPERTS SAY
THE GOVERNOR EXCLUDING THE
MIGRANT CRISIS FROM HER SPEECH
WAS LIKELY BECAUSE MUCH OF THIS
PARTICULAR ISSUE DEPENDS ON
FEDERAL ACTIONS.
>> BY NO MEANS DO I FEEL THAT
OMISSION MEANT THAT WON'T BE,
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT'S GOING
TO BE A PRIORITY THIS YEAR.
(25:02):
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE
EQUATION.
>> SOME DEMOCRATS ALSO STRESS
THE STATE OF THE STATE IS JUST
THE BEGINNING.
>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
BUDGET HEARINGS WHERE WE'RE
GOING TO GET SOME OF THESE
DETAILS OUT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
QUESTION SOME OF THE STATE
AGENCY REPS TO SEE EXACTLY HOW
THEY PLAN TO EXECUTE ON THIS
VISION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> WHETHER OR NOT THE GOVERNOR'S
(25:23):
VARIOUS PRIORITIES ACTUALLY COME
TO FRUITION ALL DEPENDS ON THE
NEXT STEPS IN THIS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION TERM.
AS LAWMAKERS MENTION THE NEXT
STEP HERE IS THE BUDGET.
THAT PROCESS WILL BEGIN NEXT
WEEK AND WILL TAKE MONTHS MOVING
FORWARD BEFORE IT IS COMPLETED
AND PASSED INTO LAW.
AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE
GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE
PROPOSALS, YOU CAN VISIT OUR
(25:43):
WEBSITE.
AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK
NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:35):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
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