September 26, 2025 • 26 mins
State Sen. Samra Brouk (D-Rochester) discusses her efforts to address suicide prevention and Daniel’s Law, legislation aimed at creating crisis response alternatives. Later, the NYCLU unpacks book bans in New York, and Sen. Rachel May (D-Syracuse) talks about her school library standards bill.
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(00:00):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:19):
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M ELISE KLINE.
THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER
REPRESENTS A DEDICATED TIME FOR
SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS.
IN NEW YORK, STATE LAWMAKERS SAY
THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
DATA ON INCREASING SUICIDE RATES
FOR BLACK YOUTH, STRESSING THAT
SUICIDE PREVENTION AND CONTINUUM
OF CARE FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
IS NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
(00:41):
AHEAD OF THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE
SESSION STARTING, LAWMAKERS ARE
ADVOCATING FOR LEGISLATION
AROUND THIS ISSUE.
IN THE MOST PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION, A BILL CALLED DANIEL'S
LAW, NAMED AFTER DEN YELL PRUDE,
WHO DIED AFTER BEING RESTRAINED
BY POLICE OFFICERS WHILE
SUFFERING A MENTAL HEALTH
EPISODE, TO PASS.
THE BILL WOULD ESTABLISH A
STATEWIDE EMERGENCY IN CRISIS
(01:01):
RESPONSE COUNCIL.
WE SAT DOWN WITH STATE SENATOR
SAMRA BROUK TO DISCUSS THE
STATE'S SUICIDE PREVENTION
EFFORTS AND MENTAL HEALTH
PRIORITIES.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US TODAY, SENATOR.
>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.
SEPTEMBER REPRESENTS NATIONAL
SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.
CAN YOU START BY TELLING US WHAT
THIS MONTH MEANS TO YOU AND WHAT
(01:22):
THE PUBLIC SHOULD UNDERSTAND
ABOUT THIS DEDICATED TIME OF
AWARENESS?
>> ABSOLUTELY, AND I'M SO, YOU
KNOW, GRATEFUL THAT THERE'S
CONTINUED COVERAGE ON THIS TOPIC
AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE
MAIN PRIORITIES OF HAVING THESE
MONTHS FOR AWARENESS IS TO DO
JUST THAT.
TO BRING AWARENESS TO TOPICS
THAT OFTENTIMES EITHER GET SWEPT
(01:42):
UNDER THE RUG, OR HONESTLY, CAN
BE REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT TO
TALK ABOUT.
I'LL SHARE JUST TODAY, I HEARD,
YOU KNOW, A TRAGIC STORY OF
SOMEONE WHO DID END UP
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING SUICIDE,
AND IT JUST SEND RIPPLE EFFECTS
THROUGH COMMUNITIES, THROUGH
FRIENDSHIP, THROUGH FAMILIES,
OFTENTIMES LEFT WITH UNANSWERED
QUESTIONS, WONDERING WHAT THEY
(02:03):
COULD DO TO HELP AND SO WHEN YOU
THINK OF SOMETHING LIKE SUICIDE
PREVENTION MONTH, THE IDEA IS WE
WANT TO DESTIGMATIZE, RIGHT,
TALKING ABOUT THIS.
RIGHT? WE WANT TO MAKE IT OKAY
THAT PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT NOT
BEING OKAY, AND I THINK THE LAST
PIECE OF IT IS IN ADDITION TO
BUILDING AWARENESS,
DESTIGMATIZING CONVERSATIONS
(02:25):
AROUND MENTAL ILLNESS IS ALSO
DRIVING TO ACTION, RIGHT.
IT'S HARD TO TAKE PREVENTATIVE
ACTION WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE
TOPIC AND SO THE HOPE IS, YOU
KNOW, EVERY DAY THESE ARE THINGS
I TRY TO DO ESPECIALLY AS THE
CHAIR OF THE MENTAL HEALTH
COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE, BUT THE
HOPE IS, YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE
THESE MONTHS, IT REALLY KIND OF
BRINGS IT TO THE FOREFRONT FOR
(02:46):
THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS WELL.
>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE
STATE'S EFFORTS TO ADDRESS
SUICIDE PREVENTION?
IS THERE ANYTHING THE STATE
COULD BE DOING BETTER TO IMPROVE
THEIR EFFORTS?
>> I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM
FOR IMPROVEMENT, RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT
SUICIDE RATES AND I THINK
PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE
THINKING ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE, WE
ACTUALLY SEE THAT WE HAVE SEEN
(03:06):
SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN SOME OF
THOSE NUMBERS IN TERMS OF THEM
GOING DOWN, DECREASING OF IT.
BUT WHAT WE ALSO SEE
SIMULTANEOUSLY IS THAT
PARTICULAR GROUPS, SUBSET GROUPS
WITHIN YOUTH, ARE ACTUALLY
INCREASING, AND SO IN
PARTICULAR, YOU LOOK AT, FOR
EXAMPLE, BLACK YOUTH.
WHILE OVERALL YOUTH SUICIDE
RATES HAVE BEEN DECREASING WITH
(03:27):
A LOT OF INTERVENTIONS AND ADDED
RESOURCES THAT NEW YORK STATE
HAS BEEN PROVIDING, YOU'RE
ACTUALLY SEEING INCREASES IN
BLACK YOUTH SUICIDE RATES, BLACK
YOUTH SUICIDE IDEATION.
SO WHAT DOES THAT TELL US AS
POLICYMAKERS AND LEADERS?
IT TELLS THAT CLEARLY SUICIDE
PREVENTION, RIGHT, CLEARLY
INVESTMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES, IS NOT ONE SIZE FITS
(03:48):
ALL.
RIGHT? WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
BUILD AN ENTIRE SPECTRUM, AN
ENTIRE CONTINUUM OF CARE OF HOW
WE TREAT MENTAL ILLNESS AND ALSO
HOW WE DO MORE OF THOSE
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES.
I THINK ONE GREAT EXAMPLE THAT I
ALWAYS USE BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A
GROUND-UP EXAMPLE, CAME DIRECTLY
FROM-- DIRECTLY FROM STUDENTS
(04:11):
SHARE SOME OF THEIR CHALLENGES.
IS THE STUDENT LIFE LINE ACT.
THE STUDENT LIFE LINE ACT IS A
WILL THAT WE PASSED IN A
PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSION BUT
IT WENT INTO EFFECT THIS SUMMER,
RIGHT BEFORE COLLEGES WENT BACK
TO SCHOOL, AND WHAT IT DOES IS
IT PUTS THE 988 CRISIS LIFE LINE
RIGHT ON THE BACK OF ALL COLLEGE
STUDENT I.D. CARDS IN NEW YORK
STATE.
(04:32):
WHY DID WE START THERE?
WE DID THAT BECAUSE LISTENING TO
COLLEGE STUDENTS, IN PARTICULAR,
AND SOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS,
WHAT WE HEARD IS THAT THEY
DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO.
SOME OF THEM AREN'T COMFORTABLE
GOING TO THE CLINIC ON CAMPUS.
SOME FEEL VERY SEPARATED FROM
THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR FRIENDS,
YOU KNOW, BACK HOME WHEN THEY'RE
AWAY AT COLLEGE.
(04:53):
AND SO A WAY TO GET THAT
INFORMATION TO THEM AT THEIR
FINGERTIPS, RIGHT, YOU THINK USE
YOUR I.D. TO SWIPE INTO
BUILDINGS.
YOU USE YOUR I.D. TO BUY SNACKS
AT THE SNACK BAR TO EAT DINNER.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE
CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT AND THE
IDEA BEING WE WANT IT TO BE AS
SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE.
THINGS LIKE THAT, RIGHT,
THINKING CREATIVELY AROUND HOW
(05:13):
DO WE REACH DIFFERENT
POPULATIONS IN DIFFERENT WAYS IS
SOMETHING WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
BUILD ON.
>> SO HOW DO YOU FEEL SUICIDE
PREVENTION AND OTHER MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES ARE DEALT WITHIN
THE STATE CAPITAL?
IN THE TIME AS MENTAL HEALTH
CHAIR, DO YOU SEE PROGRESS IN
BREAKING BARRIERS?
>> WE'VE SEEN INCREDIBLE
PROGRESS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
(05:33):
I THINK THE BIGGEST PROGRESS
STARTED WHEN I JOINED IN JANUARY
2021, RIGHT.
I WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY START
THE DEDICATED MENTAL HEALTH
COMMITTEE IN THE STATE SENATE
WHICH WE DID NOT HAVE
PREVIOUSLY.
AND YOU KNOW, MORE THAN HAVING A
COMMITTEE IN NAME, WHAT IT MEANT
WAS IS WE HAD AS A MENTAL HEALTH
SECTOR, WE HAD A BIGGER VOICE AT
(05:55):
BUDGET HEARINGS, RIGHT.
WE HAVE A BIGGER VOICE AT BUDGET
NEGOTIATIONS.
WE HAVE A BIGGER VOICE WHEN IT
COMES TO PASSING LEGISLATIVE
PROPEL AS.
WE HAVE PASSED MORE, YOU KNOW,
MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION,
MEANINGFUL MENTAL HEALTH
LEGISLATION IN THE PAST FOUR
YEARS THAN IN DECADES.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN TASKED WITH
REVERSING A LOT OF THE NEGATIVE
(06:15):
IMPACTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED OVER
THE LAST DECADE PRIOR TO 2021.
YOU KNOW, MOST NOTABLY IS THE
MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE.
SO WHEN I STARTED IN JANUARY
2021, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I
LEARNED WAS THAT THIS WAS A
SECTOR THAT HAD NOT HAD A COST
OF LIVING INCREASE, RIGHT.
JUST TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION
IN OVER A DECADE.
AND IN THAT FIRST YEAR, WE WERE
(06:37):
ABLE TO BRING THEM THEIR FIRST
INCREASE IN A DECADE.
AND BUILDING ON THAT PROGRESS, A
YEAR HAS NOT GONE BY THAT WE
HAVEN'T IMPROVED AND CONTINUED
TO ADD TO THOSE COSTS OF LIVING
INCREASES, AND SO WHAT THAT DOES
IS IT IS STABILIZING OUR MENTAL
HEALTH WORKFORCE.
IT'S TELLING INDIVIDUALS WHO
WORK IN THIS FIELD, YOU'LL BE
ABLE TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING YOUR
(06:57):
FAMILY, RIGHT.
YOU DON'T NEED TO LEAVE THIS
FIELD TO GO BE ABLE TO PUT GAS
IN YOUR CAR AND PUT FOOD ON THE
TABLE.
IN FACT, WE NEED YOU IN THIS
FIELD.
WE VALUE YOUR WORK IN THIS FIELD
AND IN FACT, THERE ARE, YOU
KNOW, WAIT LISTS MONTHS LONG FOR
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR
THAT MENTAL HEALTH HELP.
THAT'S ONE, YOU KNOW, REALLY
INTEGRAL WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO SUPPORT THE MENTAL
(07:18):
HEALTH SECTOR, AND THEN, OF
COURSE, THERE'S BEEN REFORMS,
RIGHT?
WE JUST BROUGHT THE LARGEST
MULTIMILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT
IN DANIEL'S LAW.
$8 MILLION IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET
TO CREATE A BEHAVIOR HEALTH
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER.
NOW THAT IS GOING TO HELP ANY
MUNICIPALITY ACROSS NEW YORK
STATE WHO WISHES TO CREATE
(07:40):
DANIEL'S HEALTH LAW RESPONSE
SYSTEM IN THEIR OWN
MUNICIPALITY, EVEN BEFORE WE
PASSED DANIEL'S LAW IF THEY'RE
INTERESTED, THEY HAVE THIS
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER,
WHICH WILL BE KEY TO MAKING SURE
THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE ACTUALLY
PUT UP CORRECTLY AND THAT IT'S
SAFE FOR THE RESPONDER AND THE
INDIVIDUAL IN CRISIS, AND THEN,
OF COURSE, THE $6 MILLION THAT
WERE PASSED FOR PILOT PROGRAMS,
(08:01):
EITHER NEW OR EXISTING,
THROUGHOUT THE STATE AS WELL.
>> SO YOU TOUCHED ON A COUPLE
DIFFERENT THINGS.
STATE LAWMAKERS CAN INTRODUCE
BILLS, BUT SOMETIMES MEASURES
DON'T ALWAYS MAKE IT ACROSS THE
FINISH LINE, AS YOU KNOW, LIKE
DANIEL'S LAW, A MENTAL HEALTH
BILL YOU SPONSOR TO CREATE A
STATEWIDE CRISIS RESPONSE
COUNCIL.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY THIS BILL
DEPART PASS THE MOST PREVIOUS
SESSION?
AND WHAT CHALLENGES ARE IN THE
(08:22):
LEGISLATURE TO MENTAL HEALTH
BILLS LIKE THIS?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY
THINK MENTAL HEALTH IS ONE OF
THE TOPICS THAT REALLY, TRULY
HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
YOU KNOW, I AM VERY FORTUNATE TO
HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH
SOME OF THE SENATORS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE AND MOST
OF THAT IS BASED ON OUR TALKS
AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, AROUND THE
(08:42):
UNDERSTANDING THAT MENTAL
ILLNESS DOESN'T CARE.
IT'S NOT PARTISAN.
IT DOESN'T CARE IF YOU'RE RED,
BLUE OR SOMETHING ELSE.
WE HAVE ALL SOMEHOW BEEN TOUCHED
BY MENTAL ILLNESS WHETHER
THROUGH OURSELVES, FRIENDS,
FAMILY OR IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO I THINK BECAUSE IT'S GOT
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD MOVING
MOUNTAINS IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT
(09:05):
OF TIME.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
INTRODUCTION OF DANIEL'S LAW, A
REVOLUTIONARY TRANSFORMATIONAL
PIECE OF LEGISLATION, RIGHT?
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING AN
ENTIRE NEW CRISIS RESPONSE
SYSTEM.
WE'RE USED TO FIRE, POLICE,
RIGHT, COMING, AMBULANCE COMING
WHEN YOU DIAL 911.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING
MENTAL HEALTH RESPONDERS.
(09:26):
THAT IS A MASSIVE SHIFT IN STATE
POLICY.
AND IN JUST FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE
PASSED THAT BILL THROUGH THE
MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE IN
CONSECUTIVE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS
WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
AND WE HAVE MADE MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT IN GETTING
US CLOSER TO STATEWIDE
IMPLEMENTATION, RIGHT.
(09:46):
THAT STARTED WITH THE DANIEL'S
LAW TASK FORCE THAT WENT ALL
ACROSS THE STATE.
IT GATHERED INFORMATION FROM
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE FOUND
THEMSELVES IN CRISIS,
INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK AS
RESPONDERS.
THERE'S A LOT OF PILOT PROGRAMS
RIGHT NOW IN NEW YORK STATE.
BUT IT ALSO TALKED-- NATIONWIDE,
EVEN UP TO TORONTO
INTERNATIONALLY AROUND HOW THESE
PROGRAMS ARE WORKING.
(10:08):
SO THAT TASK FORCE COMING
TOGETHER AND SHARING THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS HELPED INFORM
THE NEW VERSION OF THE DANIEL'S
LAW BILL, WHICH ALSO HELPED US
GET THIS $8 MILLION INVESTMENT
IN PHASE 1.
ONE OF THE KEY THINGS I WANT TO
SHARE THAT CAME OUT OF THE
DANIEL'S LAW TASK FORCE REPORT
WAS THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT
A PHASE-IN APPROACH.
I THINK THAT'S SMART, RIGHT?
(10:29):
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVERHAULING
YOUR RESPONSE SYSTEM, BUILDING,
IN SOME CASES, FROM THE GROUND
UP, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE
DO IT RIGHT.
THESE ARE PEOPLE LIVES AT STAKE.
SO DOING A PHASE-IN APPROACH
ALLOWS YOU TO FUND, YOU KNOW,
GROUPS OF PROGRAMS WHEN CITIES
ARE READY, WHEN MUNICIPALITIES
ARE READY AT A TIME.
SO PHASE ONE BEING THE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE CENTER AND ALSO THE
(10:51):
$6 MILLION IN PILOTS IS A
TREMENDOUS, I WOULD CALL IT A
LEAP FORWARD THAT HAPPENED IN
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
BUT NOW THE GOAL WILL BE WE NEED
TO SUSTAIN THAT FUNDING
ESPECIALLY GOING INTO A YEAR OF
FEDERAL CUTS AND WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO GROW IT.
WE CAN'T JUST STOP AT A FEW
PROGRAMS IN NEW YORK STATE
BECAUSE THAT DOES NOTHING TO
SOLVE THE FACT THAT WE DON'T
HAVE A STATEWIDE SOLUTION RIGHT
(11:12):
NOW.
>> AND YOU TOUCHED ON THE BUDGET
A FEW TIMES.
I WANT TO GET INTO THAT.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET
ALLOCATED $6 MILLION IN FUNDING
TO ESTABLISH PILOT PROGRAMS
ACROSS THE STATE THAT USE
PEER-LED CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THOSE
PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN DOING?
>> YES. SO TODAY TO DATE, THAT
MONEY HAS NOT BEEN DISPERSED TO
(11:32):
ORGANIZATIONS ACCORDING TO LMH.
ALL OF THAT WILL BE DONE THROUGH
OMH.
SO OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE KEEPING
CLOSE TIES ON HOW THOSE DOLLARS
ARE GETTING OUT.
I THINK AT THIS POINT, THE MOST
CRUCIAL PIECE IS TO ENSURE THAT
MUNICIPALITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
ACROSS NEW YORK STATE KNOW THAT
THIS MONEY EXISTS AND ENSURE
THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO APPLY FOR
THIS FUNDING WHEN IT IS ABLE TO
(11:55):
BE ALLOCATED, AND WE'VE GOT TO
MAKE SURE WE GET IT INTO THEIR
HANDS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO
THEY CAN GET THESE PROGRAMS
STARTED.
AGAIN, SO WE CAN START TO SEE
WHAT THESE PROGRAMS LOOK LIKE
ACROSS THE STATE.
>> WHAT WILL THE MAIN PRIORITIES
AND STRATEGIES BE FOR THOSE
PROGRAMS HEADING INTO NEXT
SESSION?
>> HEADING INTO NEXT SESSION AND
HONEST WILL I STARTING RIGHT
NOW, THE PROCESS TO GET THESE
DOLLARS THAT WE FOUGHT SO HARD
(12:16):
FOR AS A STATEWIDE COALITION
INTO THE HANDS OF PHYSICIANS AND
MUNICIPALITIES WHO NEED THEM,
UNFORTUNATELY, WE FIND OURSELVES
IN A TIME, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY
WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH A LOT
OF THE FEDERAL RHETORIC THAT
MENTAL ILLNESS IS ON THE RISE.
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS ARE ON THE
RISE.
MORE AND MORE INDIVIDUALS ARE
UNFORTUNATELY FINDING THEMSELVES
IN THE MIDST OF MENTAL HEALTH
(12:37):
CRISIS, SO THERE IS NO TIME LIKE
THE PRESENT THAN TO GET THOSE
DOLLARS IN THE HANDS OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING TO
HELP OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE
RIGHT RESPONDERS SHOWING UP WHEN
THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN THAT
CRISIS.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
SITTING DOWN WITH US TODAY,
SENATOR.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
(12:57):
STATE SENATOR SAMRA BROUK, CHAIR
OF THE SENATE MENTAL HEALTH
COMMITTEE.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER
IMPORTANT TOPIC.
NEW YORK IS TRYING TO TAKE
ACTION AGAINST INCREASED
CHALLENGES TO BOOKS IN SCHOOL
DISTRICTS.
STATE LAWMAKERS ARE ADVOCATING
FOR THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN A BILL
CALLED THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT
THAT WOULD EMPOWER SCHOOL
LIBRARIES WITH IMPROVED POLICIES
(13:18):
TO PROTECT AGAINST ISSUES OF
BOOK BANS AND THE RESTRICTION
ATTEMPTS.
THE REVIEW OF THIS BILL COMES AT
A TIME THAT RESEARCH EXPERTS ARE
CALLING AN UNPRECEDENTED
CAMPAIGN OF CENSORSHIP.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE DIVE
INTO THE LEGISLATION AND
LAWMAKERS' AND EXPERTS' CONCERNS
ABOUT INCREASED THREATS TO FREE
SPEECH AND INTELLECTUAL FREEDOMS
AND HOW THAT IS IMPACTING NEW
(13:38):
YORK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> ACROSS THE NATION, BOOK BANS
AND CENSORSHIP ATTEMPTS ARE
INCREASING, ACCORDING TO DATA
FROM RESEARCH EXPERTS.
DEBORAH CALDWELL-STONE, THE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR
INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AT THE
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION,
SAYS WE ARE IN A TIME OF AN
UNPRECEDENTED CENSORSHIP
CAMPAIGN.
>> IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S
JUST LIMITED TO JUST RED STATES.
(13:58):
WE HAVE BOOK BANNING HAPPENING
IN ALL THE STATES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY BECAUSE, FRANKLY,
LIBRARIES ARE COMMUNITY
INSTITUTIONS AND ARE RUN
LOCALLY, SO ANY COMMUNITY IS
VULNERABLE TO A CAMPAIGN TO
REMOVE BOOKS.
>> DATA FROM THE AMERICAN
LIBRARY ASSOCIATION SHOWS THAT
ATTEMPTS AND CHALLENGES TO BAN
BOOKS HAVE DRAMATICALLY GONE UP
(14:19):
SINCE 2020.
DATA FROM THE AMERICAN LIBRARY
ASSOCIATION'S OFFICE OF
INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM SHOWS THAT
IN 2020, THERE WERE 4 ATTEMPTS
AND 14 BOOK TITLES WERE
CHALLENGED IN NEW YORK IN 2022
AND 2023, THE NUMBER OF BOOK
CHALLENGES INCREASED TO AROUND
80.
>> I WOULD TELL YOU THAT ANY
BOOK BAN, EVEN ONE BOOK BAN, IS
ONE BOOK BAN TOO MANY.
BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
(14:40):
IS A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS TAKING
IT UPON THEMSELVES TO TELL
STUDENTS AND PARENTS WHAT THEY
CAN AND CANNOT READ.
THAT'S REALLY A FUNDAMENTAL
VIOLATION OF THEIR FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
>> 17-YEAR-OLD CLAIRE ALIGGAYU,
A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR, SAYS SHE
FEELS CENSORSHIP ATTEMPTS AND
CHALLENGES LIMIT STUDENTS' IDEAS
(15:02):
AND SELF-DISCOVERY.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
HAVE KIDS READ WHAT THEY WANT
AND CENSORING BOOKS REMOVES
THOSE THOUGHT PROCESSES THAT YOU
NEED WHEN YOU GROW UP AS AN
ADULT AND FLOURISH.
>> ALIGGAYU SAYS,"CATCHER IN THE
RYE," A BOOK THAT WAS NOTABLY
THE MOST CENSORED BOOK IN
(15:22):
SCHOOLS IN THE U.S. BETWEEN 1961
AND 1962, IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN
IMPACTFUL STORY THAT REALLY
RESONATES WITH STUDENTS.
SHE SAYS IT IS ONE OF HER
FAVORITE BOOKS SHE'S READ IN HER
TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL.
>> I REMEMBER HAVING REALLY GOOD
CLASS DISCUSSIONS ON, HOW CAN A
TEENAGER, HOW CAN THEY DEAL WITH
THESE CHALLENGES THAT THEY HAVE
(15:42):
AT HOME?
AND HOW CAN THEY DEAL WITH
SELF-DISCOVERY?
AND I REALLY ENJOYED THE BOOK.
I REMEMBERED TALKING TO MY
FRIENDS AND WE ALL ENJOYED IT.
>> ACCORDING TO DATA COLLECTED
BY PEN AMERICA, THERE ARE ABOUT
SIX CHALLENGES AGAINST BOOK
TITLES DURING THE 2023 TO 2024
SCHOOL YEAR IN THE STATE, MOST
CONCENTRATED ON THE
CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL SCHOOL
(16:03):
DISTRICT.
SABRINA BAETA, A SENIOR PROGRAM
MANAGER WITH THE FREEDOM TO READ
TEAM AT PEN AMERICA SAYS IT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE IS
A LOT OF DATA MISSING DUE TO
WIDESPREAD LACK OF REPORTING AND
THE ISSUE IS LIKELY MUCH BIGGER
THAN WHAT CURRENT NUMBERS
REFLECT.
>> WE RELY ON PUBLICLY AVAILABLE
INFORMATION, SO SOMETHING HAS TO
BE REPORTED FOR US TO BE AWARE
(16:25):
OF IT TO COUNT IT.
SO I ALWAYS SAY THAT WHAT WE
PRESENT IS ACTUALLY A SEVERE
UNDERCOUNT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
>> A MAJORITY OF THE BOOK BANS
LISTED IN THE CLYDE-SAVANNAH
CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM PEN
AMERICA'S DATA INDEX WERE
RECENTLY RESOLVED.
IN THE CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL
SCHOOL DISTRICT IN 2023, FIVE
BOOKS, "ALL BOYS AREN'T BLUE,"
"IT TENDS WITH US," "JESUS LAND:
A MEMOIR," "RED HOOD," AND
"PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE," WERE
(16:45):
CHALLENGED BY A CONSERVATIVE
POLITICAL GROUP CALLED MOMS FOR
LIBERTY.
THE CHALLENGED BOOKS ARE STORIES
WITH THEMES OF LGBTQ+, COMING OF
AGE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WHITE
SUPREMACY, GUN VIOLENCE AND
COPING WITH RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL
INTOLERANCE.
THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO
OVERRULE A LIBRARY REVIEW
COMMITTEE'S DECISION TO REMOVE
THE FIVE BOOKS.
THE SCHOOL BOARD LATER WENT BACK
ON THAT DECISION ACCORDING TO
(17:05):
THE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS.
THE ISSUE CONTINUED THROUGH THE
STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
COMMISSIONER AND ALBANY SUPREME
COURT AND WAS ULTIMATELY
RESOLVED, UPHOLDING THAT THE
BOOKS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO
SHELVES.
THE COMMISSIONER DENIED A
REQUEST BY THE MOMS FOR LIBERTY
GROUP FOR AN APPEAL STATING IT
WAS WITHOUT MERIT AND STRESSING
THE IMPORTANCE OF INTELLECTUAL
AND ACADEMIC FREEDOM.
AN ALBANY SUPREME COURT JUDGE
ALSO DISMISSED THE APPEAL CASE.
(17:26):
EMMA HULSE, EDUCATION COUNSEL AT
NEW YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION,
SAYS THIS CASE IS AN EXAMPLE OF
HOW PROBLEMATIC BOOK BANNING IS.
>> WHAT WE SEE IN THIS CASE IS
THE WAY THAT ORGANIZED GROUPS
ARE COMING IN AND PUSHING,
TARGETING BOOKS BY AND ABOUT
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LGBTQ FOLKS,
AND THEY'RE PUSHING FOR REMOVAL
(17:47):
OF THESE BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY,
CLEARLY IDEOLOGICALLY MOTIVATED.
AND WHAT IS REALLY NECESSARY IS
STRONG PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS
IN PLACE.
>> NEW YORK STATE UNITED
TEACHERS AND THE NYCLU FILED
AMICUS BRIEFS OPPOSING THE BOOK
BAN ATTEMPT ITS AT
CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
MELINDA PERSON, PRESIDENT OF NEW
YORK STATE UNITED TEACHERS, SAYS
IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR NYSUT TO
WEIGH IN EXPRESSING CONCERNS
(18:08):
ABOUT THE DANGER OF BOOK BANS
AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR ACADEMIC
FREEDOM.
>> WE STOOD UP ON BEHALF OF OUR
SCHOOL LIBRARIAN AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMUNITY TO SAY THERE'S NO
PLACE FOR CENSORSHIP IN OUR
SCHOOLS.
AND AS A PARENT, I UNDERSTAND
THE DESIRE FOR PARENTS TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE BOOKS THAT THEIR
(18:29):
OWN CHILDREN READ, THAT THEY GET
TO CHOOSE THOSE BOOKS, BUT OTHER
PARENTS DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO
DECIDE WHAT KINDS OF BOOKS MY
KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO IN SCHOOL.
>> WMHT REACHED OUT TO THE
CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL SCHOOL
DISTRICT MULTIPLE TIMES BUT THEY
DECLINED TO COMMENT.
MORE RECENTLY, THE NYCLU IS
QUESTIONING A DECISION IN THE
EASTPORT-SOUTH MANOR SCHOOL
DISTRICT IN SUFFOLK COUNTY TO
(18:49):
REMOVE HUNDREDS OF COPIES OF 14
BOOK TITLES, SEVERAL OF WHICH
HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO BOOK BANS
IN OTHER AREAS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
SO BOOK TITLES INCLUDE, "BLACK
BOY," "THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING
GOD," "FAHRENHEIT 451," "THE
BLUEST EYE," "THINGS FALL
APART," AND MORE.
THE BOOKS EXPLORE THEMES OF
RACIAL IDENTITY, RACISM, GENDER
ROLES AND COLONIALISM.
>> RECORDS FROM A SCHOOL BOARD
(19:10):
MEETING SHOW A VOTE TO DECLARE
THE 14 BOOKS OBSOLETE AS THEY
ARE, IN THEIR TERMS, OUTDATED OR
BROKEN.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS THEY
REMOVED THE BOOKS THAT WERE TOO
DAMAGED OR WORN, BUT THEY DID
NOT REMOVE THEM FROM THE
CIRCULATION ENTIRELY, ACCORDING
TO A STATEMENT SENT TO WMHT.
ACCORDING TO DOCUMENTS OBTAINED
BY THE NYCLU, OF THE 69 PURCHASE
ORDERS FROM THE PAST FOUR YEARS
AND MULTIPLE SYLLABI, ONLY ONE
(19:31):
BOOK, FAHRENHEIT, 451, WAS
ORDERED AND LISTED IN THE
SYLLABUS.
>> AFTER WE ISSUED OUR PUBLIC
LETTER AND THERE WAS MEDIA
COVERAGE, THEY ISSUED A PUBLIC
RESPONSE LISTING THE NUMBER OF
COPIES OF SOME OF THE BOOKS ON
THE LIST AND SAYING AGAIN THAT
THEY REMAINED IN THE CURRICULUM
WITHOUT ANY PROOF THAT IT
REMAINED IN THE CURRICULUM.
>> HULSE NOTED THAT IT'S
POSSIBLE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD
(19:51):
ENOUGH BOOKS FOR REPLACEMENTS
AND THEY DIDN'T NEED TO BE
REORDERED.
HOWEVER, SHE STRESSES THEIR
CONCERNS ARE NOT FULLY
ADDRESSED.
HULSE ALSO SAYS WHILE FAHRENHEIT
451 WAS THE ONLY BOOK THAT
APPEARED IN THE DOCUMENTS THEY
REQUESTED, IT IS REASSURING TO
KNOW THAT THE DISTRICT IS
ENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC ON THE
ISSUE, TRYING TO CLARIFY ITS
DECISIONS ON SHOWING THE BOOKS
AVAILABLE.
THE EASTPORT-SOUTH MANOR CENTRAL
SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT
(20:12):
SAID IN A STATEMENT SENT TO WMHT
THAT COPIES OF THE BOOKS REMAIN
AVAILABLE IN THEIR INVENTORY
LIBRARY COLLECTION FOR STUDENTS
AND FOR TEACHER USE IN THE
CLASSROOM.
THE SUPERINTENDENT ALSO SAID THE
CONTENT OF THE BOOKS WAS NEVER
QUESTIONED.
HULSE SAYS THESE KINDS OF
INSTANCES OF BOOK CHALLENGES
UNDERSCORED THE NEED FOR NEW
STATE LAWS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE,
SUCH AS THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT.
THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT WOULD
(20:33):
REQUIRE THE COMMISSIONER OF
EDUCATION AND SCHOOL LIBRARY
SYSTEMS TO DEVELOP POLICIES TO
ENSURE THAT SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND
LIBRARY STAFF ARE EMPOWERED TO
CURATE COLLECTIONS THAT PROVIDE
STUDENTS WITH THE WIDEST ARRAY
OF MATERIALS.
>> I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS
THAT WHERE DISTRICTS HAVE REALLY
STRONG POLICIES AND STRONG
PROCESSES IN PLACE, THEY'RE ABLE
TO HAVE A RIGOROUS PROCESS IN
(20:54):
ASSESSING WHETHER OR NOT A BOOK
BELONGS IN THE LIBRARY AND
ENSURING THAT THE PROCESS ISN'T
TINGED WITH VIEWPOINT
DISCRIMINATION.
>> MAX PRIME, THE GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS DIRECTOR AT THE NEW
YORK LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, SAYS
THE BILL WILL HELP PRESERVE THE
PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO USE THEIR
PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY AND GET
INFORMATION THAT ISN'T LIMITED.
(21:16):
>> WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE
SURE THAT OUR LIBRARIES REMAIN A
PLACE WHERE THERE CAN BE A FREE
EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, WHERE WE
DEFEND INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM, AND
WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC
IS NOT LIMITED BY THE SUBJECTIVE
PERSONAL MORALITIES OF ONE SMALL
(21:37):
SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION.
>> MANY STATE LAWMAKERS STRESS
THIS LEGISLATION IS CRUCIAL FOR
UPHOLDING THESE FREEDOMS.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER TONY SIMON, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING CHELSEA
AND MIDTOWN MANHATTAN AND THE
LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL IN THE
ASSEMBLY, SAYS THIS LEGISLATION
WILL HELP ENSURE THERE'S NO FEAR
OF ISSUING A BOOK.
>> I MEAN, LOOK, I GREW UP A
CLOSETED GAY KID.
I WORKED IN A LIBRARY AND I
(21:57):
OFTEN FOUND MYSELF BEHIND THE
STACKS OF BOOKS, READING ABOUT
HARVEY MILK AND GAY CIVIL RIGHTS
HEROES AND OSCAR WILDE,
BIOGRAPHIES, HISTORIES, AND IT
MADE ME REALIZE THERE WERE
OTHERS LIKE ME.
AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ENSURE
IS THAT NO SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE
STATE HIDES THAT FROM OUR
STUDENTS.
(22:18):
>> STATE SENATOR BRAD
HOYLMAN-SIGAL, A DEMOCRAT
REPRESENTING PARTS OF MANHATTAN,
SAYS HE SUPPORTS THE BILL
BECAUSE LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS
NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM
DOCTRINAL CENSORSHIP.
>> THIS ENVIRONMENT OF FEAR IS
REALLY CAUSING A PROFOUND,
CHILLING EFFECT, WHICH IMPACTS
AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS' ABILITY
TO REACH READERS EVEN WHEN THEIR
(22:41):
BOOKS ARE NOT EVEN FACED WITH
STRAIGHTFORWARD CENSORSHIP.
>> THE BILL PASSED BOTH HOUSES
IN THE MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.
AND WHILE MANY LAWMAKERS
CELEBRATED THE PASSING OF THE
FREEDOM TO READ ACT, SOME
LAWMAKERS ACROSS THE AISLE WHO
VOTED AGAINST THE BILL WERE NOT
HAPPY.
STATE SENATOR GEORGE BORRELLO, A
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF
THE FINGER LAKES, SAYS HE VOTED
AGAINST THE BILL BECAUSE HE
FEELS IT'S VAGUE AND SHUTS OUT
(23:01):
PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY FROM
BOOK COLLECTION DECISIONS.
>> THIS DOES NOT EMPOWER KIDS TO
READ.
WHAT IT DOES IS IT PUTS A SELECT
GROUP OF PEOPLE, THE LIBRARIANS
AND THE STATE OF NEW YORK, IN
CHARGE WHILE SHUTTING OUT
PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FROM
BEING INVOLVED IN WHAT IS DEEMED
(23:24):
TO BE APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN
TO READ.
>> SOME OTHER STATE LAWMAKERS
WHO ALSO VOTED AGAINST THE BILL
AGREE.
STATE SENATOR DEAN MURRAY, A
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF
SUFFOLK COUNTY AND A RANKING
MEMBER OF THE LIBRARIES
COMMITTEE, SAYS HE WORRIES THE
LEGISLATION GIVES TOO MUCH
AUTHORITY TO LIBRARIANS.
>> IT ACTUALLY GIVES ALMOST ALL
OF THE POWER TO THE LIBRARIAN
AND WHILE I HAVE THE UTMOST
(23:44):
RESPECT FOR LIBRARIANS AND
LIBRARY DIRECTORS AND THINGS OF
THAT NATURE, I BELIEVE PARENTS
NEED TO SAY TOO.
>> COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARENTS
CONTINUE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO
RAISE CONCERNS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL
MEETINGS VIA PUBLIC MEETINGS
LAWS AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH
RIGHTS.
THE BILL LANGUAGE DOES NOT LIST
CHANGES TO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS'
INVOLVEMENT IN BOOK CHALLENGE
ISSUES.
STATE SENATOR RACHEL MAY, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING SYRACUSE
(24:05):
AND THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL
IN THE SENATE, ARGUES ALL THE
BILL DOES IS ALLOW FOR THE
CODIFICATION OF A STANDARDIZED
PROCESS AND CURATING BOOK
COLLECTIONS AND DEALING WITH
CHALLENGES FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIES
ACROSS THE STATE.
>> WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE DO IS SUPPORT
PROFESSIONAL LIBRARIANS WHO KNOW
WHAT IS APPROPRIATE,
(24:27):
AGE-APPROPRIATE READING MATERIAL
FOR THE KIDS IN THE SCHOOLS AND
NOT HAVING THESE OUTSIDE GROUPS
COMING IN AND TRYING TO
INFLUENCE WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN
THE LIBRARIES.
>> A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE NEW
YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION SAID IN A STATEMENT
SENT TO WMHT THAT THEY SUPPORT
THE SPIRIT OF THE LEGISLATION.
HOWEVER, THEY SAID IT DOESN'T
(24:48):
CREATE NEW OBLIGATIONS.
THE SPOKESPERSON ADDED THE
DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUED GUIDANCE
ON THIS ISSUE, INCLUDING
RECOMMENDED POLICIES AND SCHOOL
LIBRARIANS ALREADY HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO CURATE COLLECTIONS
THAT OFFER A WIDE ARRAY OF
MATERIALS.
SENATOR MAY ARGUES THAT WHILE
MANY SCHOOLS HAVE ADOPTED
RECOMMENDED POLICIES, NOT EVERY
SCHOOL HAS.
>> THERE IS A RECOMMENDED POLICY
(25:09):
THAT A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS
HAVE ADOPTED, BUT WE WANT IT TO
BE STATEWIDE SO THAT IT IS
CLEAR.
>> HULSE SAYS THE NYCLU BELIEVES
THE BILL, IF IT BECOMES LAW,
WOULD BE VALUABLE IN HELPING
CREATE A STRONGER LOCAL
POLICIES, WHERE CURRENTLY THEY
ARE SEEING DEFICIENCIES IN THE
STANDARDS THE DISTRICTS ALREADY
HAVE.
>> AFTER THERE'S A CHALLENGE,
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IS THERE
(25:30):
SHOULD BE A FULL PROCESS, WHERE
A REVIEW COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF
DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS MEETS,
ASSESSES THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE
OF THE MATERIAL, ITS ALIGNMENT
WITH THE DISTRICTS CURRICULUM
GOALS OR LIBRARY SELECTION
GUIDELINES AND THEN MAKES A
DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT
THE CHALLENGE HAS MERIT, BUT IN
MANY DISTRICTS, WHAT'S HAPPENING
IS AT THE FIRST SIGN OF
CONTROVERSY, LIBRARIANS ARE
(25:51):
BEING INSTRUCTED TO PULL BOOKS
FROM SHELVES, WHICH IS
EFFECTIVELY A BOOK BAN.
>> THE BILL HAS IN THE BEEN
DELIVERED TO THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE YET.
ONCE IT DOES REACH HER DESK, SHE
WILL HAVE ABOUT 30 DAYS TO SIGN
OR VETO IT.
SENATOR MAY SAYS WHILE SHE
HASN'T SPOKEN TO THE GOVERNOR
YET, SHE BELIEVES SHE WILL SIGN
IT.
>> BANNED BOOK WEEK IS COMING
UP, AND I KNOW SHE FEELS
(26:12):
STRONGLY ABOUT THIS ISSUE OF
FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
SO I'M HOPEFUL.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> 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 (26:42):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:19):
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M ELISE KLINE.
THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER
REPRESENTS A DEDICATED TIME FOR
SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS.
IN NEW YORK, STATE LAWMAKERS SAY
THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
DATA ON INCREASING SUICIDE RATES
FOR BLACK YOUTH, STRESSING THAT
SUICIDE PREVENTION AND CONTINUUM
OF CARE FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
IS NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
(00:41):
AHEAD OF THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE
SESSION STARTING, LAWMAKERS ARE
ADVOCATING FOR LEGISLATION
AROUND THIS ISSUE.
IN THE MOST PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION, A BILL CALLED DANIEL'S
LAW, NAMED AFTER DEN YELL PRUDE,
WHO DIED AFTER BEING RESTRAINED
BY POLICE OFFICERS WHILE
SUFFERING A MENTAL HEALTH
EPISODE, TO PASS.
THE BILL WOULD ESTABLISH A
STATEWIDE EMERGENCY IN CRISIS
(01:01):
RESPONSE COUNCIL.
WE SAT DOWN WITH STATE SENATOR
SAMRA BROUK TO DISCUSS THE
STATE'S SUICIDE PREVENTION
EFFORTS AND MENTAL HEALTH
PRIORITIES.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US TODAY, SENATOR.
>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.
SEPTEMBER REPRESENTS NATIONAL
SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.
CAN YOU START BY TELLING US WHAT
THIS MONTH MEANS TO YOU AND WHAT
(01:22):
THE PUBLIC SHOULD UNDERSTAND
ABOUT THIS DEDICATED TIME OF
AWARENESS?
>> ABSOLUTELY, AND I'M SO, YOU
KNOW, GRATEFUL THAT THERE'S
CONTINUED COVERAGE ON THIS TOPIC
AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE
MAIN PRIORITIES OF HAVING THESE
MONTHS FOR AWARENESS IS TO DO
JUST THAT.
TO BRING AWARENESS TO TOPICS
THAT OFTENTIMES EITHER GET SWEPT
(01:42):
UNDER THE RUG, OR HONESTLY, CAN
BE REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT TO
TALK ABOUT.
I'LL SHARE JUST TODAY, I HEARD,
YOU KNOW, A TRAGIC STORY OF
SOMEONE WHO DID END UP
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING SUICIDE,
AND IT JUST SEND RIPPLE EFFECTS
THROUGH COMMUNITIES, THROUGH
FRIENDSHIP, THROUGH FAMILIES,
OFTENTIMES LEFT WITH UNANSWERED
QUESTIONS, WONDERING WHAT THEY
(02:03):
COULD DO TO HELP AND SO WHEN YOU
THINK OF SOMETHING LIKE SUICIDE
PREVENTION MONTH, THE IDEA IS WE
WANT TO DESTIGMATIZE, RIGHT,
TALKING ABOUT THIS.
RIGHT? WE WANT TO MAKE IT OKAY
THAT PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT NOT
BEING OKAY, AND I THINK THE LAST
PIECE OF IT IS IN ADDITION TO
BUILDING AWARENESS,
DESTIGMATIZING CONVERSATIONS
(02:25):
AROUND MENTAL ILLNESS IS ALSO
DRIVING TO ACTION, RIGHT.
IT'S HARD TO TAKE PREVENTATIVE
ACTION WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE
TOPIC AND SO THE HOPE IS, YOU
KNOW, EVERY DAY THESE ARE THINGS
I TRY TO DO ESPECIALLY AS THE
CHAIR OF THE MENTAL HEALTH
COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE, BUT THE
HOPE IS, YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE
THESE MONTHS, IT REALLY KIND OF
BRINGS IT TO THE FOREFRONT FOR
(02:46):
THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS WELL.
>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE
STATE'S EFFORTS TO ADDRESS
SUICIDE PREVENTION?
IS THERE ANYTHING THE STATE
COULD BE DOING BETTER TO IMPROVE
THEIR EFFORTS?
>> I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM
FOR IMPROVEMENT, RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT
SUICIDE RATES AND I THINK
PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE
THINKING ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE, WE
ACTUALLY SEE THAT WE HAVE SEEN
(03:06):
SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN SOME OF
THOSE NUMBERS IN TERMS OF THEM
GOING DOWN, DECREASING OF IT.
BUT WHAT WE ALSO SEE
SIMULTANEOUSLY IS THAT
PARTICULAR GROUPS, SUBSET GROUPS
WITHIN YOUTH, ARE ACTUALLY
INCREASING, AND SO IN
PARTICULAR, YOU LOOK AT, FOR
EXAMPLE, BLACK YOUTH.
WHILE OVERALL YOUTH SUICIDE
RATES HAVE BEEN DECREASING WITH
(03:27):
A LOT OF INTERVENTIONS AND ADDED
RESOURCES THAT NEW YORK STATE
HAS BEEN PROVIDING, YOU'RE
ACTUALLY SEEING INCREASES IN
BLACK YOUTH SUICIDE RATES, BLACK
YOUTH SUICIDE IDEATION.
SO WHAT DOES THAT TELL US AS
POLICYMAKERS AND LEADERS?
IT TELLS THAT CLEARLY SUICIDE
PREVENTION, RIGHT, CLEARLY
INVESTMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES, IS NOT ONE SIZE FITS
(03:48):
ALL.
RIGHT? WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
BUILD AN ENTIRE SPECTRUM, AN
ENTIRE CONTINUUM OF CARE OF HOW
WE TREAT MENTAL ILLNESS AND ALSO
HOW WE DO MORE OF THOSE
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES.
I THINK ONE GREAT EXAMPLE THAT I
ALWAYS USE BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A
GROUND-UP EXAMPLE, CAME DIRECTLY
FROM-- DIRECTLY FROM STUDENTS
(04:11):
SHARE SOME OF THEIR CHALLENGES.
IS THE STUDENT LIFE LINE ACT.
THE STUDENT LIFE LINE ACT IS A
WILL THAT WE PASSED IN A
PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSION BUT
IT WENT INTO EFFECT THIS SUMMER,
RIGHT BEFORE COLLEGES WENT BACK
TO SCHOOL, AND WHAT IT DOES IS
IT PUTS THE 988 CRISIS LIFE LINE
RIGHT ON THE BACK OF ALL COLLEGE
STUDENT I.D. CARDS IN NEW YORK
STATE.
(04:32):
WHY DID WE START THERE?
WE DID THAT BECAUSE LISTENING TO
COLLEGE STUDENTS, IN PARTICULAR,
AND SOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS,
WHAT WE HEARD IS THAT THEY
DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO.
SOME OF THEM AREN'T COMFORTABLE
GOING TO THE CLINIC ON CAMPUS.
SOME FEEL VERY SEPARATED FROM
THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR FRIENDS,
YOU KNOW, BACK HOME WHEN THEY'RE
AWAY AT COLLEGE.
(04:53):
AND SO A WAY TO GET THAT
INFORMATION TO THEM AT THEIR
FINGERTIPS, RIGHT, YOU THINK USE
YOUR I.D. TO SWIPE INTO
BUILDINGS.
YOU USE YOUR I.D. TO BUY SNACKS
AT THE SNACK BAR TO EAT DINNER.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE
CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT AND THE
IDEA BEING WE WANT IT TO BE AS
SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE.
THINGS LIKE THAT, RIGHT,
THINKING CREATIVELY AROUND HOW
(05:13):
DO WE REACH DIFFERENT
POPULATIONS IN DIFFERENT WAYS IS
SOMETHING WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
BUILD ON.
>> SO HOW DO YOU FEEL SUICIDE
PREVENTION AND OTHER MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES ARE DEALT WITHIN
THE STATE CAPITAL?
IN THE TIME AS MENTAL HEALTH
CHAIR, DO YOU SEE PROGRESS IN
BREAKING BARRIERS?
>> WE'VE SEEN INCREDIBLE
PROGRESS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
(05:33):
I THINK THE BIGGEST PROGRESS
STARTED WHEN I JOINED IN JANUARY
2021, RIGHT.
I WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY START
THE DEDICATED MENTAL HEALTH
COMMITTEE IN THE STATE SENATE
WHICH WE DID NOT HAVE
PREVIOUSLY.
AND YOU KNOW, MORE THAN HAVING A
COMMITTEE IN NAME, WHAT IT MEANT
WAS IS WE HAD AS A MENTAL HEALTH
SECTOR, WE HAD A BIGGER VOICE AT
(05:55):
BUDGET HEARINGS, RIGHT.
WE HAVE A BIGGER VOICE AT BUDGET
NEGOTIATIONS.
WE HAVE A BIGGER VOICE WHEN IT
COMES TO PASSING LEGISLATIVE
PROPEL AS.
WE HAVE PASSED MORE, YOU KNOW,
MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION,
MEANINGFUL MENTAL HEALTH
LEGISLATION IN THE PAST FOUR
YEARS THAN IN DECADES.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN TASKED WITH
REVERSING A LOT OF THE NEGATIVE
(06:15):
IMPACTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED OVER
THE LAST DECADE PRIOR TO 2021.
YOU KNOW, MOST NOTABLY IS THE
MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE.
SO WHEN I STARTED IN JANUARY
2021, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I
LEARNED WAS THAT THIS WAS A
SECTOR THAT HAD NOT HAD A COST
OF LIVING INCREASE, RIGHT.
JUST TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION
IN OVER A DECADE.
AND IN THAT FIRST YEAR, WE WERE
(06:37):
ABLE TO BRING THEM THEIR FIRST
INCREASE IN A DECADE.
AND BUILDING ON THAT PROGRESS, A
YEAR HAS NOT GONE BY THAT WE
HAVEN'T IMPROVED AND CONTINUED
TO ADD TO THOSE COSTS OF LIVING
INCREASES, AND SO WHAT THAT DOES
IS IT IS STABILIZING OUR MENTAL
HEALTH WORKFORCE.
IT'S TELLING INDIVIDUALS WHO
WORK IN THIS FIELD, YOU'LL BE
ABLE TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING YOUR
(06:57):
FAMILY, RIGHT.
YOU DON'T NEED TO LEAVE THIS
FIELD TO GO BE ABLE TO PUT GAS
IN YOUR CAR AND PUT FOOD ON THE
TABLE.
IN FACT, WE NEED YOU IN THIS
FIELD.
WE VALUE YOUR WORK IN THIS FIELD
AND IN FACT, THERE ARE, YOU
KNOW, WAIT LISTS MONTHS LONG FOR
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR
THAT MENTAL HEALTH HELP.
THAT'S ONE, YOU KNOW, REALLY
INTEGRAL WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO SUPPORT THE MENTAL
(07:18):
HEALTH SECTOR, AND THEN, OF
COURSE, THERE'S BEEN REFORMS,
RIGHT?
WE JUST BROUGHT THE LARGEST
MULTIMILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT
IN DANIEL'S LAW.
$8 MILLION IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET
TO CREATE A BEHAVIOR HEALTH
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER.
NOW THAT IS GOING TO HELP ANY
MUNICIPALITY ACROSS NEW YORK
STATE WHO WISHES TO CREATE
(07:40):
DANIEL'S HEALTH LAW RESPONSE
SYSTEM IN THEIR OWN
MUNICIPALITY, EVEN BEFORE WE
PASSED DANIEL'S LAW IF THEY'RE
INTERESTED, THEY HAVE THIS
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER,
WHICH WILL BE KEY TO MAKING SURE
THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE ACTUALLY
PUT UP CORRECTLY AND THAT IT'S
SAFE FOR THE RESPONDER AND THE
INDIVIDUAL IN CRISIS, AND THEN,
OF COURSE, THE $6 MILLION THAT
WERE PASSED FOR PILOT PROGRAMS,
(08:01):
EITHER NEW OR EXISTING,
THROUGHOUT THE STATE AS WELL.
>> SO YOU TOUCHED ON A COUPLE
DIFFERENT THINGS.
STATE LAWMAKERS CAN INTRODUCE
BILLS, BUT SOMETIMES MEASURES
DON'T ALWAYS MAKE IT ACROSS THE
FINISH LINE, AS YOU KNOW, LIKE
DANIEL'S LAW, A MENTAL HEALTH
BILL YOU SPONSOR TO CREATE A
STATEWIDE CRISIS RESPONSE
COUNCIL.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY THIS BILL
DEPART PASS THE MOST PREVIOUS
SESSION?
AND WHAT CHALLENGES ARE IN THE
(08:22):
LEGISLATURE TO MENTAL HEALTH
BILLS LIKE THIS?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY
THINK MENTAL HEALTH IS ONE OF
THE TOPICS THAT REALLY, TRULY
HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
YOU KNOW, I AM VERY FORTUNATE TO
HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH
SOME OF THE SENATORS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE AND MOST
OF THAT IS BASED ON OUR TALKS
AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, AROUND THE
(08:42):
UNDERSTANDING THAT MENTAL
ILLNESS DOESN'T CARE.
IT'S NOT PARTISAN.
IT DOESN'T CARE IF YOU'RE RED,
BLUE OR SOMETHING ELSE.
WE HAVE ALL SOMEHOW BEEN TOUCHED
BY MENTAL ILLNESS WHETHER
THROUGH OURSELVES, FRIENDS,
FAMILY OR IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO I THINK BECAUSE IT'S GOT
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD MOVING
MOUNTAINS IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT
(09:05):
OF TIME.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
INTRODUCTION OF DANIEL'S LAW, A
REVOLUTIONARY TRANSFORMATIONAL
PIECE OF LEGISLATION, RIGHT?
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING AN
ENTIRE NEW CRISIS RESPONSE
SYSTEM.
WE'RE USED TO FIRE, POLICE,
RIGHT, COMING, AMBULANCE COMING
WHEN YOU DIAL 911.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING
MENTAL HEALTH RESPONDERS.
(09:26):
THAT IS A MASSIVE SHIFT IN STATE
POLICY.
AND IN JUST FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE
PASSED THAT BILL THROUGH THE
MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE IN
CONSECUTIVE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS
WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
AND WE HAVE MADE MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT IN GETTING
US CLOSER TO STATEWIDE
IMPLEMENTATION, RIGHT.
(09:46):
THAT STARTED WITH THE DANIEL'S
LAW TASK FORCE THAT WENT ALL
ACROSS THE STATE.
IT GATHERED INFORMATION FROM
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE FOUND
THEMSELVES IN CRISIS,
INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK AS
RESPONDERS.
THERE'S A LOT OF PILOT PROGRAMS
RIGHT NOW IN NEW YORK STATE.
BUT IT ALSO TALKED-- NATIONWIDE,
EVEN UP TO TORONTO
INTERNATIONALLY AROUND HOW THESE
PROGRAMS ARE WORKING.
(10:08):
SO THAT TASK FORCE COMING
TOGETHER AND SHARING THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS HELPED INFORM
THE NEW VERSION OF THE DANIEL'S
LAW BILL, WHICH ALSO HELPED US
GET THIS $8 MILLION INVESTMENT
IN PHASE 1.
ONE OF THE KEY THINGS I WANT TO
SHARE THAT CAME OUT OF THE
DANIEL'S LAW TASK FORCE REPORT
WAS THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT
A PHASE-IN APPROACH.
I THINK THAT'S SMART, RIGHT?
(10:29):
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVERHAULING
YOUR RESPONSE SYSTEM, BUILDING,
IN SOME CASES, FROM THE GROUND
UP, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE
DO IT RIGHT.
THESE ARE PEOPLE LIVES AT STAKE.
SO DOING A PHASE-IN APPROACH
ALLOWS YOU TO FUND, YOU KNOW,
GROUPS OF PROGRAMS WHEN CITIES
ARE READY, WHEN MUNICIPALITIES
ARE READY AT A TIME.
SO PHASE ONE BEING THE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE CENTER AND ALSO THE
(10:51):
$6 MILLION IN PILOTS IS A
TREMENDOUS, I WOULD CALL IT A
LEAP FORWARD THAT HAPPENED IN
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
BUT NOW THE GOAL WILL BE WE NEED
TO SUSTAIN THAT FUNDING
ESPECIALLY GOING INTO A YEAR OF
FEDERAL CUTS AND WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO GROW IT.
WE CAN'T JUST STOP AT A FEW
PROGRAMS IN NEW YORK STATE
BECAUSE THAT DOES NOTHING TO
SOLVE THE FACT THAT WE DON'T
HAVE A STATEWIDE SOLUTION RIGHT
(11:12):
NOW.
>> AND YOU TOUCHED ON THE BUDGET
A FEW TIMES.
I WANT TO GET INTO THAT.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET
ALLOCATED $6 MILLION IN FUNDING
TO ESTABLISH PILOT PROGRAMS
ACROSS THE STATE THAT USE
PEER-LED CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THOSE
PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN DOING?
>> YES. SO TODAY TO DATE, THAT
MONEY HAS NOT BEEN DISPERSED TO
(11:32):
ORGANIZATIONS ACCORDING TO LMH.
ALL OF THAT WILL BE DONE THROUGH
OMH.
SO OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE KEEPING
CLOSE TIES ON HOW THOSE DOLLARS
ARE GETTING OUT.
I THINK AT THIS POINT, THE MOST
CRUCIAL PIECE IS TO ENSURE THAT
MUNICIPALITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
ACROSS NEW YORK STATE KNOW THAT
THIS MONEY EXISTS AND ENSURE
THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO APPLY FOR
THIS FUNDING WHEN IT IS ABLE TO
(11:55):
BE ALLOCATED, AND WE'VE GOT TO
MAKE SURE WE GET IT INTO THEIR
HANDS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO
THEY CAN GET THESE PROGRAMS
STARTED.
AGAIN, SO WE CAN START TO SEE
WHAT THESE PROGRAMS LOOK LIKE
ACROSS THE STATE.
>> WHAT WILL THE MAIN PRIORITIES
AND STRATEGIES BE FOR THOSE
PROGRAMS HEADING INTO NEXT
SESSION?
>> HEADING INTO NEXT SESSION AND
HONEST WILL I STARTING RIGHT
NOW, THE PROCESS TO GET THESE
DOLLARS THAT WE FOUGHT SO HARD
(12:16):
FOR AS A STATEWIDE COALITION
INTO THE HANDS OF PHYSICIANS AND
MUNICIPALITIES WHO NEED THEM,
UNFORTUNATELY, WE FIND OURSELVES
IN A TIME, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY
WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH A LOT
OF THE FEDERAL RHETORIC THAT
MENTAL ILLNESS IS ON THE RISE.
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS ARE ON THE
RISE.
MORE AND MORE INDIVIDUALS ARE
UNFORTUNATELY FINDING THEMSELVES
IN THE MIDST OF MENTAL HEALTH
(12:37):
CRISIS, SO THERE IS NO TIME LIKE
THE PRESENT THAN TO GET THOSE
DOLLARS IN THE HANDS OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING TO
HELP OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE
RIGHT RESPONDERS SHOWING UP WHEN
THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN THAT
CRISIS.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
SITTING DOWN WITH US TODAY,
SENATOR.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
(12:57):
STATE SENATOR SAMRA BROUK, CHAIR
OF THE SENATE MENTAL HEALTH
COMMITTEE.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER
IMPORTANT TOPIC.
NEW YORK IS TRYING TO TAKE
ACTION AGAINST INCREASED
CHALLENGES TO BOOKS IN SCHOOL
DISTRICTS.
STATE LAWMAKERS ARE ADVOCATING
FOR THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN A BILL
CALLED THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT
THAT WOULD EMPOWER SCHOOL
LIBRARIES WITH IMPROVED POLICIES
(13:18):
TO PROTECT AGAINST ISSUES OF
BOOK BANS AND THE RESTRICTION
ATTEMPTS.
THE REVIEW OF THIS BILL COMES AT
A TIME THAT RESEARCH EXPERTS ARE
CALLING AN UNPRECEDENTED
CAMPAIGN OF CENSORSHIP.
IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE DIVE
INTO THE LEGISLATION AND
LAWMAKERS' AND EXPERTS' CONCERNS
ABOUT INCREASED THREATS TO FREE
SPEECH AND INTELLECTUAL FREEDOMS
AND HOW THAT IS IMPACTING NEW
(13:38):
YORK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> ACROSS THE NATION, BOOK BANS
AND CENSORSHIP ATTEMPTS ARE
INCREASING, ACCORDING TO DATA
FROM RESEARCH EXPERTS.
DEBORAH CALDWELL-STONE, THE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR
INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AT THE
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION,
SAYS WE ARE IN A TIME OF AN
UNPRECEDENTED CENSORSHIP
CAMPAIGN.
>> IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S
JUST LIMITED TO JUST RED STATES.
(13:58):
WE HAVE BOOK BANNING HAPPENING
IN ALL THE STATES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY BECAUSE, FRANKLY,
LIBRARIES ARE COMMUNITY
INSTITUTIONS AND ARE RUN
LOCALLY, SO ANY COMMUNITY IS
VULNERABLE TO A CAMPAIGN TO
REMOVE BOOKS.
>> DATA FROM THE AMERICAN
LIBRARY ASSOCIATION SHOWS THAT
ATTEMPTS AND CHALLENGES TO BAN
BOOKS HAVE DRAMATICALLY GONE UP
(14:19):
SINCE 2020.
DATA FROM THE AMERICAN LIBRARY
ASSOCIATION'S OFFICE OF
INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM SHOWS THAT
IN 2020, THERE WERE 4 ATTEMPTS
AND 14 BOOK TITLES WERE
CHALLENGED IN NEW YORK IN 2022
AND 2023, THE NUMBER OF BOOK
CHALLENGES INCREASED TO AROUND
80.
>> I WOULD TELL YOU THAT ANY
BOOK BAN, EVEN ONE BOOK BAN, IS
ONE BOOK BAN TOO MANY.
BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
(14:40):
IS A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS TAKING
IT UPON THEMSELVES TO TELL
STUDENTS AND PARENTS WHAT THEY
CAN AND CANNOT READ.
THAT'S REALLY A FUNDAMENTAL
VIOLATION OF THEIR FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
>> 17-YEAR-OLD CLAIRE ALIGGAYU,
A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR, SAYS SHE
FEELS CENSORSHIP ATTEMPTS AND
CHALLENGES LIMIT STUDENTS' IDEAS
(15:02):
AND SELF-DISCOVERY.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
HAVE KIDS READ WHAT THEY WANT
AND CENSORING BOOKS REMOVES
THOSE THOUGHT PROCESSES THAT YOU
NEED WHEN YOU GROW UP AS AN
ADULT AND FLOURISH.
>> ALIGGAYU SAYS,"CATCHER IN THE
RYE," A BOOK THAT WAS NOTABLY
THE MOST CENSORED BOOK IN
(15:22):
SCHOOLS IN THE U.S. BETWEEN 1961
AND 1962, IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN
IMPACTFUL STORY THAT REALLY
RESONATES WITH STUDENTS.
SHE SAYS IT IS ONE OF HER
FAVORITE BOOKS SHE'S READ IN HER
TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL.
>> I REMEMBER HAVING REALLY GOOD
CLASS DISCUSSIONS ON, HOW CAN A
TEENAGER, HOW CAN THEY DEAL WITH
THESE CHALLENGES THAT THEY HAVE
(15:42):
AT HOME?
AND HOW CAN THEY DEAL WITH
SELF-DISCOVERY?
AND I REALLY ENJOYED THE BOOK.
I REMEMBERED TALKING TO MY
FRIENDS AND WE ALL ENJOYED IT.
>> ACCORDING TO DATA COLLECTED
BY PEN AMERICA, THERE ARE ABOUT
SIX CHALLENGES AGAINST BOOK
TITLES DURING THE 2023 TO 2024
SCHOOL YEAR IN THE STATE, MOST
CONCENTRATED ON THE
CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL SCHOOL
(16:03):
DISTRICT.
SABRINA BAETA, A SENIOR PROGRAM
MANAGER WITH THE FREEDOM TO READ
TEAM AT PEN AMERICA SAYS IT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE IS
A LOT OF DATA MISSING DUE TO
WIDESPREAD LACK OF REPORTING AND
THE ISSUE IS LIKELY MUCH BIGGER
THAN WHAT CURRENT NUMBERS
REFLECT.
>> WE RELY ON PUBLICLY AVAILABLE
INFORMATION, SO SOMETHING HAS TO
BE REPORTED FOR US TO BE AWARE
(16:25):
OF IT TO COUNT IT.
SO I ALWAYS SAY THAT WHAT WE
PRESENT IS ACTUALLY A SEVERE
UNDERCOUNT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
>> A MAJORITY OF THE BOOK BANS
LISTED IN THE CLYDE-SAVANNAH
CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM PEN
AMERICA'S DATA INDEX WERE
RECENTLY RESOLVED.
IN THE CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL
SCHOOL DISTRICT IN 2023, FIVE
BOOKS, "ALL BOYS AREN'T BLUE,"
"IT TENDS WITH US," "JESUS LAND:
A MEMOIR," "RED HOOD," AND
"PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE," WERE
(16:45):
CHALLENGED BY A CONSERVATIVE
POLITICAL GROUP CALLED MOMS FOR
LIBERTY.
THE CHALLENGED BOOKS ARE STORIES
WITH THEMES OF LGBTQ+, COMING OF
AGE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WHITE
SUPREMACY, GUN VIOLENCE AND
COPING WITH RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL
INTOLERANCE.
THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO
OVERRULE A LIBRARY REVIEW
COMMITTEE'S DECISION TO REMOVE
THE FIVE BOOKS.
THE SCHOOL BOARD LATER WENT BACK
ON THAT DECISION ACCORDING TO
(17:05):
THE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS.
THE ISSUE CONTINUED THROUGH THE
STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
COMMISSIONER AND ALBANY SUPREME
COURT AND WAS ULTIMATELY
RESOLVED, UPHOLDING THAT THE
BOOKS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO
SHELVES.
THE COMMISSIONER DENIED A
REQUEST BY THE MOMS FOR LIBERTY
GROUP FOR AN APPEAL STATING IT
WAS WITHOUT MERIT AND STRESSING
THE IMPORTANCE OF INTELLECTUAL
AND ACADEMIC FREEDOM.
AN ALBANY SUPREME COURT JUDGE
ALSO DISMISSED THE APPEAL CASE.
(17:26):
EMMA HULSE, EDUCATION COUNSEL AT
NEW YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION,
SAYS THIS CASE IS AN EXAMPLE OF
HOW PROBLEMATIC BOOK BANNING IS.
>> WHAT WE SEE IN THIS CASE IS
THE WAY THAT ORGANIZED GROUPS
ARE COMING IN AND PUSHING,
TARGETING BOOKS BY AND ABOUT
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LGBTQ FOLKS,
AND THEY'RE PUSHING FOR REMOVAL
(17:47):
OF THESE BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY,
CLEARLY IDEOLOGICALLY MOTIVATED.
AND WHAT IS REALLY NECESSARY IS
STRONG PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS
IN PLACE.
>> NEW YORK STATE UNITED
TEACHERS AND THE NYCLU FILED
AMICUS BRIEFS OPPOSING THE BOOK
BAN ATTEMPT ITS AT
CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
MELINDA PERSON, PRESIDENT OF NEW
YORK STATE UNITED TEACHERS, SAYS
IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR NYSUT TO
WEIGH IN EXPRESSING CONCERNS
(18:08):
ABOUT THE DANGER OF BOOK BANS
AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR ACADEMIC
FREEDOM.
>> WE STOOD UP ON BEHALF OF OUR
SCHOOL LIBRARIAN AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMUNITY TO SAY THERE'S NO
PLACE FOR CENSORSHIP IN OUR
SCHOOLS.
AND AS A PARENT, I UNDERSTAND
THE DESIRE FOR PARENTS TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE BOOKS THAT THEIR
(18:29):
OWN CHILDREN READ, THAT THEY GET
TO CHOOSE THOSE BOOKS, BUT OTHER
PARENTS DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO
DECIDE WHAT KINDS OF BOOKS MY
KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO IN SCHOOL.
>> WMHT REACHED OUT TO THE
CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL SCHOOL
DISTRICT MULTIPLE TIMES BUT THEY
DECLINED TO COMMENT.
MORE RECENTLY, THE NYCLU IS
QUESTIONING A DECISION IN THE
EASTPORT-SOUTH MANOR SCHOOL
DISTRICT IN SUFFOLK COUNTY TO
(18:49):
REMOVE HUNDREDS OF COPIES OF 14
BOOK TITLES, SEVERAL OF WHICH
HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO BOOK BANS
IN OTHER AREAS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
SO BOOK TITLES INCLUDE, "BLACK
BOY," "THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING
GOD," "FAHRENHEIT 451," "THE
BLUEST EYE," "THINGS FALL
APART," AND MORE.
THE BOOKS EXPLORE THEMES OF
RACIAL IDENTITY, RACISM, GENDER
ROLES AND COLONIALISM.
>> RECORDS FROM A SCHOOL BOARD
(19:10):
MEETING SHOW A VOTE TO DECLARE
THE 14 BOOKS OBSOLETE AS THEY
ARE, IN THEIR TERMS, OUTDATED OR
BROKEN.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS THEY
REMOVED THE BOOKS THAT WERE TOO
DAMAGED OR WORN, BUT THEY DID
NOT REMOVE THEM FROM THE
CIRCULATION ENTIRELY, ACCORDING
TO A STATEMENT SENT TO WMHT.
ACCORDING TO DOCUMENTS OBTAINED
BY THE NYCLU, OF THE 69 PURCHASE
ORDERS FROM THE PAST FOUR YEARS
AND MULTIPLE SYLLABI, ONLY ONE
(19:31):
BOOK, FAHRENHEIT, 451, WAS
ORDERED AND LISTED IN THE
SYLLABUS.
>> AFTER WE ISSUED OUR PUBLIC
LETTER AND THERE WAS MEDIA
COVERAGE, THEY ISSUED A PUBLIC
RESPONSE LISTING THE NUMBER OF
COPIES OF SOME OF THE BOOKS ON
THE LIST AND SAYING AGAIN THAT
THEY REMAINED IN THE CURRICULUM
WITHOUT ANY PROOF THAT IT
REMAINED IN THE CURRICULUM.
>> HULSE NOTED THAT IT'S
POSSIBLE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD
(19:51):
ENOUGH BOOKS FOR REPLACEMENTS
AND THEY DIDN'T NEED TO BE
REORDERED.
HOWEVER, SHE STRESSES THEIR
CONCERNS ARE NOT FULLY
ADDRESSED.
HULSE ALSO SAYS WHILE FAHRENHEIT
451 WAS THE ONLY BOOK THAT
APPEARED IN THE DOCUMENTS THEY
REQUESTED, IT IS REASSURING TO
KNOW THAT THE DISTRICT IS
ENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC ON THE
ISSUE, TRYING TO CLARIFY ITS
DECISIONS ON SHOWING THE BOOKS
AVAILABLE.
THE EASTPORT-SOUTH MANOR CENTRAL
SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT
(20:12):
SAID IN A STATEMENT SENT TO WMHT
THAT COPIES OF THE BOOKS REMAIN
AVAILABLE IN THEIR INVENTORY
LIBRARY COLLECTION FOR STUDENTS
AND FOR TEACHER USE IN THE
CLASSROOM.
THE SUPERINTENDENT ALSO SAID THE
CONTENT OF THE BOOKS WAS NEVER
QUESTIONED.
HULSE SAYS THESE KINDS OF
INSTANCES OF BOOK CHALLENGES
UNDERSCORED THE NEED FOR NEW
STATE LAWS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE,
SUCH AS THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT.
THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT WOULD
(20:33):
REQUIRE THE COMMISSIONER OF
EDUCATION AND SCHOOL LIBRARY
SYSTEMS TO DEVELOP POLICIES TO
ENSURE THAT SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND
LIBRARY STAFF ARE EMPOWERED TO
CURATE COLLECTIONS THAT PROVIDE
STUDENTS WITH THE WIDEST ARRAY
OF MATERIALS.
>> I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS
THAT WHERE DISTRICTS HAVE REALLY
STRONG POLICIES AND STRONG
PROCESSES IN PLACE, THEY'RE ABLE
TO HAVE A RIGOROUS PROCESS IN
(20:54):
ASSESSING WHETHER OR NOT A BOOK
BELONGS IN THE LIBRARY AND
ENSURING THAT THE PROCESS ISN'T
TINGED WITH VIEWPOINT
DISCRIMINATION.
>> MAX PRIME, THE GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS DIRECTOR AT THE NEW
YORK LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, SAYS
THE BILL WILL HELP PRESERVE THE
PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO USE THEIR
PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY AND GET
INFORMATION THAT ISN'T LIMITED.
(21:16):
>> WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE
SURE THAT OUR LIBRARIES REMAIN A
PLACE WHERE THERE CAN BE A FREE
EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, WHERE WE
DEFEND INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM, AND
WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC
IS NOT LIMITED BY THE SUBJECTIVE
PERSONAL MORALITIES OF ONE SMALL
(21:37):
SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION.
>> MANY STATE LAWMAKERS STRESS
THIS LEGISLATION IS CRUCIAL FOR
UPHOLDING THESE FREEDOMS.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER TONY SIMON, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING CHELSEA
AND MIDTOWN MANHATTAN AND THE
LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL IN THE
ASSEMBLY, SAYS THIS LEGISLATION
WILL HELP ENSURE THERE'S NO FEAR
OF ISSUING A BOOK.
>> I MEAN, LOOK, I GREW UP A
CLOSETED GAY KID.
I WORKED IN A LIBRARY AND I
(21:57):
OFTEN FOUND MYSELF BEHIND THE
STACKS OF BOOKS, READING ABOUT
HARVEY MILK AND GAY CIVIL RIGHTS
HEROES AND OSCAR WILDE,
BIOGRAPHIES, HISTORIES, AND IT
MADE ME REALIZE THERE WERE
OTHERS LIKE ME.
AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ENSURE
IS THAT NO SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE
STATE HIDES THAT FROM OUR
STUDENTS.
(22:18):
>> STATE SENATOR BRAD
HOYLMAN-SIGAL, A DEMOCRAT
REPRESENTING PARTS OF MANHATTAN,
SAYS HE SUPPORTS THE BILL
BECAUSE LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS
NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM
DOCTRINAL CENSORSHIP.
>> THIS ENVIRONMENT OF FEAR IS
REALLY CAUSING A PROFOUND,
CHILLING EFFECT, WHICH IMPACTS
AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS' ABILITY
TO REACH READERS EVEN WHEN THEIR
(22:41):
BOOKS ARE NOT EVEN FACED WITH
STRAIGHTFORWARD CENSORSHIP.
>> THE BILL PASSED BOTH HOUSES
IN THE MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.
AND WHILE MANY LAWMAKERS
CELEBRATED THE PASSING OF THE
FREEDOM TO READ ACT, SOME
LAWMAKERS ACROSS THE AISLE WHO
VOTED AGAINST THE BILL WERE NOT
HAPPY.
STATE SENATOR GEORGE BORRELLO, A
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF
THE FINGER LAKES, SAYS HE VOTED
AGAINST THE BILL BECAUSE HE
FEELS IT'S VAGUE AND SHUTS OUT
(23:01):
PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY FROM
BOOK COLLECTION DECISIONS.
>> THIS DOES NOT EMPOWER KIDS TO
READ.
WHAT IT DOES IS IT PUTS A SELECT
GROUP OF PEOPLE, THE LIBRARIANS
AND THE STATE OF NEW YORK, IN
CHARGE WHILE SHUTTING OUT
PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FROM
BEING INVOLVED IN WHAT IS DEEMED
(23:24):
TO BE APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN
TO READ.
>> SOME OTHER STATE LAWMAKERS
WHO ALSO VOTED AGAINST THE BILL
AGREE.
STATE SENATOR DEAN MURRAY, A
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF
SUFFOLK COUNTY AND A RANKING
MEMBER OF THE LIBRARIES
COMMITTEE, SAYS HE WORRIES THE
LEGISLATION GIVES TOO MUCH
AUTHORITY TO LIBRARIANS.
>> IT ACTUALLY GIVES ALMOST ALL
OF THE POWER TO THE LIBRARIAN
AND WHILE I HAVE THE UTMOST
(23:44):
RESPECT FOR LIBRARIANS AND
LIBRARY DIRECTORS AND THINGS OF
THAT NATURE, I BELIEVE PARENTS
NEED TO SAY TOO.
>> COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARENTS
CONTINUE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO
RAISE CONCERNS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL
MEETINGS VIA PUBLIC MEETINGS
LAWS AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH
RIGHTS.
THE BILL LANGUAGE DOES NOT LIST
CHANGES TO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS'
INVOLVEMENT IN BOOK CHALLENGE
ISSUES.
STATE SENATOR RACHEL MAY, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING SYRACUSE
(24:05):
AND THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL
IN THE SENATE, ARGUES ALL THE
BILL DOES IS ALLOW FOR THE
CODIFICATION OF A STANDARDIZED
PROCESS AND CURATING BOOK
COLLECTIONS AND DEALING WITH
CHALLENGES FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIES
ACROSS THE STATE.
>> WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE DO IS SUPPORT
PROFESSIONAL LIBRARIANS WHO KNOW
WHAT IS APPROPRIATE,
(24:27):
AGE-APPROPRIATE READING MATERIAL
FOR THE KIDS IN THE SCHOOLS AND
NOT HAVING THESE OUTSIDE GROUPS
COMING IN AND TRYING TO
INFLUENCE WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN
THE LIBRARIES.
>> A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE NEW
YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION SAID IN A STATEMENT
SENT TO WMHT THAT THEY SUPPORT
THE SPIRIT OF THE LEGISLATION.
HOWEVER, THEY SAID IT DOESN'T
(24:48):
CREATE NEW OBLIGATIONS.
THE SPOKESPERSON ADDED THE
DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUED GUIDANCE
ON THIS ISSUE, INCLUDING
RECOMMENDED POLICIES AND SCHOOL
LIBRARIANS ALREADY HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO CURATE COLLECTIONS
THAT OFFER A WIDE ARRAY OF
MATERIALS.
SENATOR MAY ARGUES THAT WHILE
MANY SCHOOLS HAVE ADOPTED
RECOMMENDED POLICIES, NOT EVERY
SCHOOL HAS.
>> THERE IS A RECOMMENDED POLICY
(25:09):
THAT A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS
HAVE ADOPTED, BUT WE WANT IT TO
BE STATEWIDE SO THAT IT IS
CLEAR.
>> HULSE SAYS THE NYCLU BELIEVES
THE BILL, IF IT BECOMES LAW,
WOULD BE VALUABLE IN HELPING
CREATE A STRONGER LOCAL
POLICIES, WHERE CURRENTLY THEY
ARE SEEING DEFICIENCIES IN THE
STANDARDS THE DISTRICTS ALREADY
HAVE.
>> AFTER THERE'S A CHALLENGE,
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IS THERE
(25:30):
SHOULD BE A FULL PROCESS, WHERE
A REVIEW COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF
DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS MEETS,
ASSESSES THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE
OF THE MATERIAL, ITS ALIGNMENT
WITH THE DISTRICTS CURRICULUM
GOALS OR LIBRARY SELECTION
GUIDELINES AND THEN MAKES A
DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT
THE CHALLENGE HAS MERIT, BUT IN
MANY DISTRICTS, WHAT'S HAPPENING
IS AT THE FIRST SIGN OF
CONTROVERSY, LIBRARIANS ARE
(25:51):
BEING INSTRUCTED TO PULL BOOKS
FROM SHELVES, WHICH IS
EFFECTIVELY A BOOK BAN.
>> THE BILL HAS IN THE BEEN
DELIVERED TO THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE YET.
ONCE IT DOES REACH HER DESK, SHE
WILL HAVE ABOUT 30 DAYS TO SIGN
OR VETO IT.
SENATOR MAY SAYS WHILE SHE
HASN'T SPOKEN TO THE GOVERNOR
YET, SHE BELIEVES SHE WILL SIGN
IT.
>> BANNED BOOK WEEK IS COMING
UP, AND I KNOW SHE FEELS
(26:12):
STRONGLY ABOUT THIS ISSUE OF
FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
SO I'M HOPEFUL.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> 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 (26:42):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
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