[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

THIS WEEK MARKS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 11TH TERRORIST ATTACKS.

THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF THAT DAY CANNOT BE FORGOT.

IN FACT, SO MANY AMERICANS HAVE FEELINGS OF COLLECTIVE TRAUMA, GRIEF, AND ANXIETY REGARDING 9/11 SO MANY YEARS LATER.

IN NEW YORK, STATE LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE COMMEMORATED THE ANNIVERSARY WITH COMMUNITY TRIBUTES, AS WELL AS VOWS TO NEVER FORGET THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF THAT DAY.

HERE'S GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL AT AN APPEARANCE EARLIER THIS WEEK HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF REFLECTION DURING THIS TIME.

>> COME HERE AND REFLECT AND KNOW THAT AFTER 25 YEARS, PEOPLE WHO PROTECT US, SUCCESSFULLY PROTECT US FROM ANOTHER ATTACK ON THE HOMELAND FOR A QUARTER CENTURY.

DO NOT TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED.

BE GRATEFUL BECAUSE I KNOW AS I AM THE GOVERNOR OF 20 MILLION PEOPLE WHO CAN SLEEP BETTER EVERY NIGHT KNOWING WE ARE SAFER, PORT AUTHORITY POLICE KEEPS US SAFE AND WE'RE MAKING THIS CITY RUN IN SUCH A SPECTACULAR WAY.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU MY GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU HERE TODAY AND LOVE AND COMPASSION TO ALL THE FAMILIES WHO KEEP SHOWING UP EVERY SINGLE SERVICE, WHO NEVER FORGET THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR FAMILIARRIES ARE LOOKING DOWN ON THEM WITH A SMILE SAYING THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS REMEMBERING ME.

>> THIS MILESTONE IS ALSO A TIME IN WHICH AMERICANS ARE CALLING FOR INCREASED SUPPORT FOR 9/11 SURVIVORS THE FEDERAL 9/11 WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM PROVIDES MEDICAL SERVICES, TREATMENT, AND SUPPORT FOR CERTIFIED 9/11-RELATED HEALTH CONDITIONS, BUT PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM SAY THERE ISN'T A SHORTAGE OF ISSUES.

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, OUR ELISE KLINE, SPOKE WITH SEVERAL ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM TO UNDERSTAND THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH SERVICES AS WELL AS HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN PROVIDE BETTER SUPPORT.

HERE'S THAT STORY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO, AN ATTACK ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER KILLED NEARLY 3,000 PEOPLE AND INJURED THOUSANDS MORE.

THE DEADLY IMPACT OF THE ATTACKS CAN STILL BE FELT TO THIS DAY.

SINCE 2001, MORE THAN 9,000 PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM CANCERS AND ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO A DANGEROUS MIXTURE OF THOUSANDS OF TOXIC CONTAMINANTS FROM SMOKE, DEBRIS, AND DUST, ACCORDING TO A RECENT 9/11 COMPENSATION FUND REPORT.

CERTIFIED 9/11 RELATED CANCERS HAVE SURGED IN THE PAST DECADE CLIMBING FROM 3,204 IN 2014 TO 57,044 TODAY.

WHILE CANCERS ARE SURGING IN THE 9/11 COMMUNITY, THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM REMAINS SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERSTAFFED AFTER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CUT ABOUT 25% OF THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES LAST YEAR.

THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH, PART OF THE U.S.

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, OR THE CDC.

THE PROGRAM, FULLY STAFFED, REQUIRES 120 WORKERS TO MANAGE THE MORE THAN 15,000 ENROLLEES AND THOUSANDS MORE IN APPLICATIONS.

WHEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REDUCED THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STAFFING, THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM WENT TO FEWER THAN 83 WORKERS, LEAVING ABOUT 37 VACANCIES.

MANY NEW YORKERS IN THE 9/11 COMMUNITY FEEL FEDERAL LEADERS ARE FAILING THEM.

>> AMERICA MADE A COMMITMENT TO US WAY BACK WHEN, YOU KNOW, NEVER FORGET.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT HOLDING UP ITS END OF THE BARGAIN.

WE, THE 9/11 COMMUNITY, WE NEVER FORGET, AND WE'RE FEELING FORGOTTEN ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

>> ALLES, A BATTALION CHIEF FOR THE NEW YORK CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT DURING 9/11, HAS BATTLED SKIN CANCER TWICE AND PROSTATE CANCER.

ALLES SAYS THE PROGRAM HELPED HIM SIGNIFICANTLY.

>> THEY TREAT YOU LIKE YOU HAVE A FAMILY HISTORY OF EVERYTHING DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE EXPOSURE.

SO VERY PROACTIVE ON THE RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES AND THE TESTS THEY PROVIDE THERE, AND THEN THE CANCER SCREENING THAT'S PROVIDED BECAUSE ONE BIG PROBLEM IS SOME OF THE CANCERS IN THE 9/11 COMMUNITY ARE SO INSIDIOUS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT REALLY SYMPTOMATIC UNTIL IT'S LATER IN THE GAME.

>> MARK MCGUIRE, A TIMES UNION COLUMNIST ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT AT THE TIME, WENT TO GROUND ZERO FOR ONE WEEK TO GATHER STORIES.

TWENTY-TWO YEARS LATER, HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE FOUR METASTATIC LUNG CANCER.

MCGUIRE WAS GIVEN 11 MONTHS TO LIVE AT THE TIME OF HIS DIAGNOSIS.

HE'S STILL FIGHTING TODAY AND GETS TREATMENTS EVERY FEW WEEKS.

MCGUIRE SAYS THE PROGRAM HAS HELPED HIM NOT ONLY NAVIGATE HIS TREATMENT BUT ALSO HELPED HIM FINANCIALLY BECAUSE THE PROGRAM COVERS 100% OF MEDICAL COSTS FOR MEMBERS.

>> THE BIGGEST THING IT'S DONE FOR ME.

IT'S COVERED MY HEALTH EXPENSES, WE WOULD BE BANKRUPT RIGHT NOW.

NO ONE THOUGHT I'D BE IN MY FOURTH YEAR OF TREATMENT.

I WOULD BE FEELING GUILTY HAVING SURVIVED THIS LONG.

I WOULD BE ACTUALLY IN KNOTS.

THIS WOULD BE ACTUALLY AN ODDLY HORRIFIC THING FOR ME TO PUT MY WIFE AND FAMILY THROUGH THIS KNOWING THAT I'D BE LEAVING THEM FINANCIALLY DESTITUTE.

>> DR.

KATE MCGINLY, A UROLOGIC ONCOLOGIST AT GURTHIE CLINIC, SAYS THE LATENCY PERIOD IN WHICH CANCERS DEVELOP VARIES, BUT TYPICALLY WHEN SYMPTOMS SHOW UP, IT'S ALREADY FURTHER ALONG.

MCGINNY ADDS EARLY DETECTION MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE, HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF SCREENING, WHICH IS OFFERED AND ENCOURAGED IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM.

>> WHEN WE CAN IDENTIFY CANCER AT AN EARLIER STAGE, OUR LIKELIHOOD OF BEING ABLE TO CURE IT IS SO MUCH HIGHER.

THE CHALLENGE WHEN WE DON'T HAVE SCREENING IS THAT WHEN CANCERS BECOME SYMPTOMMIC, MANY TIMES, WE HAVE MISSED OUR WINDOW FOR CURATIVE TREATMENT.

>> THERE ARE ALSO OTHER CONDITIONS IN THE TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM INCLUDING RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS, ASTHMA, CHRONIC RHINOSINUSITIS, GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISORDER, OR GERD, AND MORE.

FOLLOWING THE TOWERS' FALL, GROUND ZERO BECAME A HUB FOR THOUSANDS OF DANGEROUS CARCINOGENS, GLASS FIBERS, HEAVY METALS LIKE LEAD, AND MORE.

ROSEANN PURDY, WHO WAS WORKING IN AN OFFICE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AT THE TIME, WENT BACK TO WORK ONE WEEK AFTER THE DEADLY ATTACK.

>> AMIDST ALL THE DEVASTATION AND DESTRUCTION, WE HAD TO GO BACK TO WORK BECAUSE WE WORK ON A TRADING FLOOR.

WE TRADED GOLD, SILVER, CRUDE OIL, YOU KNOW, KEEP THE ECONOMY GOING.

THERE WAS NO IN-CASE-OF-EMERGENCY FACILITY.

SO WE HAD TO GO BACK THERE.

AND THAT WAS AWFUL.

THE SMELL, THE ASH ON THE TREES WAS LIKE THREE INCHES DEEP BECAUSE WE WORKED RIGHT WHERE THEY DOCKED THE YACHTS, A BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE CITY.

BUT IT WAS JUSTDEVASTATED.

CHUNKS OF BUILDINGS WERE MISSING.

THE ATRIUM HAD A HUGE GAPING HOLE.

>> AFTER 9/11, PURDY STARTED EXPERIENCING FREQUENT PAINFUL HEADACHES AND CONSTANT CONGESTION.

SHE WAS EVENTUALLY DIAGNOSED WITH CHRONIC RHINOSITIS.

>> I WAS GETTING HEADACHES SO BAD, YOU KNOW, IT WAS MAKING ME WANT TO THROW UP.

I WAS LOSING DAYS, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST DAYS AT WORK BUT DAYS WITH FAMILY.

IF I HAD PLANS, IF I HAD ONE OF THOSE HEADACHES, THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT BECAUSE IT TOOK YEARS BEFORE I FINALLY FOUND A MEDICATION THAT HELPED THOSE HEADACHES.

>> PURDY WENT THROUGH DELAYS, SIMILAR TO WHAT MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING TODAY, TRYING TO GET INTO THE PROGRAM.

SHE SAYS IT WAS FRUSTRATING.

>> I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT I WAS GOING TO GET ANY KIND OF PAIN RELIEF.

I JUST THOUGHT THIS IS SOMETHING I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH.

BECAUSE I WAS TAKING OVER-THE-COUNTER PAIN MEDICATION FOR SINUS HEADACHES, AND THEY REALLY WEREN'T WORKING, AND THEY WERE MAKING ME SICK.

>> BRUCE GINSBERG, WHO ALSO WORKED DOWNTOWN AT THE TIME OF THE 9/11 ATTACK, STARTED EXPERIENCING RESPIRATORY HEALTH CONCERNS IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING THE ATTACK.

>> PEOPLE WEREN'T LOOKING FOR ILLNESSES OR DISEASES THAT WERE CAUSED BY EXPOSURE TO THE AIR.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT I STARTED TO DEAL WITH ONE OF THOSE PROBLEMS, AND THEN ANOTHER AILMENT MATERIALIZED AND THAT ONE THEY SUSPECTED MIGHT BE CAUSED BECAUSE THEY WERE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN DOWN THERE SPIKING IN THAT PARTICULAR AILMENT VERSUS A CONTROL GROUP OF THE GENERAL POPULATION WHO WERE NOT IN LOWER MANHATTAN AFTER 9/11.

SO IT TOOK ME SEVERAL YEARS TO PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER.

>> GINSBERG QUIT HIS JOB THE DAY AFTER 9/11 AND VOLUNTEERED WITH THE RED CROSS AT GROUND ZERO FOR THREE MONTHS.

HE WORE A MASK WHILE VOLUNTEERING AND SAYS HE FEELS IT ULTIMATELY SAVED HIS LIFE.

>> IT WAS TOXIC.

IT WOULD SMELL AWFUL, AND EVEN THOUGH THE EPA WAS TELLING US THAT THE AIR WAS SAFE, I KNEW THAT WASN'T TRUE, AND SO I WORE A MASK, AND I THINK THAT'S WHY I'M STILL ALIVE BECAUSE I WORE A MASK.

>> GINSBERG SAYS HE HAS EXPERIENCED SOME DELAYS AND/OR ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES WHILE GETTING TREATED THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

>> THE APPOINTMENTS, THEY GET CANCELED FOR NO REASON.

OCCASIONALLY, THEY'LL ALLOW ME A TELEHEALTH INSTEAD OF AN IN-PERSON BECAUSE THE THINGS I HAVE CAN'T BE SEEN BY LOOKING AT ME, BY EXAMINING ME.

SO THEY COULD DO IT BY TELEHEALTH.

I CAN'T TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF TIMES DOCTORS HAVE MISSED THOSE TELEHEALTH VISITS, AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR TIMES THAT THEY JUST DON'T SHOW UP.

>> SHANNON FINEGAN, FORMER REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITY, WENT TO GROUND ZERO A FEW DAYS PER WEEK TO HELP WITH RECOVERY EFFORTS, DELIVERING SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT.

A FEW YEARS LATER, FINEGAN STARTED GETTING SICK WITH BRONCHITIS AND PNEUMONIA.

SHE WAS LATER DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERAL RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS, SINUSITIS, RHINOSITIS, AND GERD.

THESE CONDITIONS IMPACT FINEGAN'S EVERYDAY LIFE.

>> MY LUNGS HAVE DEFINITELY GOTTEN WORSE, WHERE IT'S DEFINITELY IMPACTED BY POOR AIR QUALITY.

A NEIGHBOR BURNING GARBAGE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I CAN DEFINITELY FEEL THAT.

SO THAT'S KIND OF CHANGE HOW I CAN SPEND MY TIME OUTDOORS.

>> IN MARCH, CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES, UNITED STATES SENATORS AND STATE LEADERS CALLED ON THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO RESTORE THE STAFFING VACANCIES WITHIN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM.

>> FOLLOWING THE GROWING BIPARTISAN CRITICISM ON THE ISSUE AND MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER THE INITIAL CUTS, SECRETARY ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR., APPROVED REHIRING SOME LONG-VACANT POSITIONS FOR THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM IN APRIL.

HOWEVER, THE PROGRAM IS STILL EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT ADMINISTRATIVE DELAYS.

SOME ENROLLEES WAITING SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS FOR CERTIFICATIONS.

DR.

MARC WILKENFELD, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT THE NYU GROSSMAN LONG ISLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, WHO TREATS REFERRED THROUGH THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM, SAYS EVEN AFTER PATIENTS GET CERTIFIED, THEY CAN THEN STRUGGLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT FOR ADDITIONAL MONTHS, SOMETIMES UP TO SIX MONTHS.

>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO APPLY TO THE PROGRAM, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE THE BENEFITS FOR 14 MONTHS.

THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING.

SO WE'RE HOPING IT GETS BETTER.

THIS IS WHAT THE PATIENTS TELL ME.

>> LEE LONDON, A SENIOR PARTNER AT BARASCH AND MCGARRY LAW FIRM, SAYS THEY'RE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THE PROMISED POSITIONS TO BE REPLACED ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

LONDON SAYS HE CONTINUES TO HEAR FROM FEDERAL LEADERS THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON IT, BUT SO FAR THEY'RE NOT SEEING RESULTS.

>> THERE ARE 152,000 PEOPLE CURRENTLY IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM, BUT THE 9/11 COMMUNITY REALLY CONSISTS OF CLOSE TO 00,000, WITH 300,000 OFFICE WORKERS, 25,000 STUDENTS, AND 50,000 RESIDENTS.

WE REPRESENT MANY CLIENTS WITH 9/11 EXPOSURE AND GETTING THEM INTO THE PROGRAM IS SO IMPORTANT AND MAKING SURE THE PROGRAM STAYS FULLY STAFFED.

>> ACCORDING TO THE HHS ONLINE JOB HUB, THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO JOB POSTINGS FOR STAFF FOR THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM AS OF EARLY SEPTEMBER 2026.

WMHT REACHED OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL TO ASK ABOUT THE STAFFING ISSUES AND THE STATUS OF THE VACANT POSITIONS, BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND FOR COMMENT.

LONDON ADDS, WITHOUT ENOUGH STAFFING FOR THE PROGRAM, THE MORE DELAYS RESPONDERS AND SURVIVORS EXPERIENCE TO GET ENROLLED, GET THEIR CONDITION CERTIFIED AND ULTIMATELY GET THE CARE THEY NEED.

>> OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE ANYBODY SUFFERING FROM THESE CONDITIONS JOINS THE PROGRAM.

SO THEY HAVE THE THIS RESEARCH, AND THEY HAVE AN AVAILABILITY TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM, BECAUSE MANY TIMES THEIR PRIVATE DOCTORS CAN'T MAKE THE CONNECTION TO THEIR 9/11 EXPOSURE.

>> LONDON ADDS THERE ARE MANY CONDITIONS YET TO BE CERTIFIED BY THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM, SUCH AS AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES, WHICH ARE ALSO BEING IMPACTED BY THE STAFFING ISSUES.

>> THOSE CUTS HAVE LARGER, BIGGER, BROADER PICTURES THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, SLOWING DOWN ENROLLMENT.

IT'S THE OVERALL FUNCTIONALITY OF IT TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE KEEPING OUR BENEFITS, BUT WE'RE EXPANDING OUR BENEFITS BASED ON WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND THE PATTERNS OF THIS PROGRAM BEING UP AND RUNNING SINCE 2011.

>> OVER THE YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PETITIONS TO TRY AND ADD AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE TO THE HEALTH PROGRAM, ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN DENIED FOR, QUOTE, INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE, DESPITE PUBLISHED STUDIES ON THE ISSUE.

WILKENFELD SAYS THE DELAYS IN PETITIONS TO ADD CONDITIONS ARE VERY CONCERNS FOR THE OVERALL STABILITY OF THE PROGRAM.

>> THE LAST ONE I LOOKED AT TOOK ABOUT THREE YEARS, AND IT WAS TURNED DOWN.

WHAT IF IT WAS ACCEPTED AND PEOPLE, THOSE THREE YEARS, THEY'RE WAITING WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, AND THE REASON IT'S NOT DONE THAT QUICKLY IS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF STAFF.

THAT'S A NON-CARE PROGRAM, A NON-CARE PROBLEM WITH THE PROGRAM.

>> FINEGAN, IN ADDITION TO HER RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS, WAS ALSO DIAGNOSED WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, A PAINFUL AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE NOT COVERED IN THE HEALTH PROGRAM.

>> I'M FORTUNATE THAT I HAVE A FANTASTIC RHEUMATOLOGIST UP HERE, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF IT WAS RECOGNIZED THAT BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU WERE EXPOSED TO DOWN THERE, YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T JUST AFFECT LUNGS AND SIGH US INS AND BREATHING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES ARE POPPING UP, AND IT'S REAL.

>> MANY SURVIVORS AND RESPONDERS ALIKE OVERALL FEEL LEFT BEHIND AND SOME FEDERAL LAWMAKERS STRESS MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE.

>> WE HAVE TO MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT IT IS IMPROVED UPON AND IT'S IMPLEMENTED AS LEGISLATIVE INTENDED.

THESE FOLKS, THE SURVIVORS AND RESPONDERS, DESERVE EVERY BIT OF OUR ATTENTION AND RESPECT.

>> IN A STATEMENT SENT TO WMHT, U.S.

SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER SAID THE STAFFING SHORTAGES, INCREASED WAIT TIMES AND DELAYED CARE FOR SURVIVERS IN THE PROGRAM ARE DISGRACEFUL AND NEED TO BE REMEDIED.

WMHT REACHED OUT TO EVERY OTHER NEW YORK CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND U.S.

SENATOR KIRSTIN GILLIBRAND.

WE DID NOT GET ANY OTHER RESPONSES FOR THIS STORY.

SOME SURVIVORS STRESS, HOWEVER, ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS FROM FEDERAL POLICYMAKERS AND LEADERS.

>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO SAY NEVER FORGET, YOU KNOW, REMEMBER 9/11, WHAT ARE WE REMEMBERING IF WE'RE NOT REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS AND VOLUNTEERS, THOSE WHO GAVE OF THEMSELVES AND ARE NOW PAYING THE PRICE FOR THAT?

TO ME, NEVER FORGET MEANS YOU TAKE CARE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

YOU RESPECT THEIR SACRIFICE AND THEIR EFFORT, AND YOU HELP THEM.

YOU TAKE CARE OF THEM AND WE HAVE A CONGRESS AND AN ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON NOW THAT DOES NOT BELIEVE IN DOING THAT.

>> AGAIN, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WHAT FEDERAL LEADERS AND LAWMAKERS ARE PROMISING HERE, TO RESOLVE THE PROGRAM'S SLOWDOWNS IS KEY.

SECRETARY KENNEDY SAID BACK IN APRIL THAT THE STAFF WOULD BE REPLACED.

SO FAR, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT HAS HAPPENED YET.

SOME ADVOCATES SAY THE PROCESS COULD BE SLOW, BUT THEIR PATIENCE IS WEARING THIN.

WE'LL BE FOLLOWING THE ISSUE AS IT CONTINUES TO DEVELOP.

ELISE KLINE, "NEW YORK NOW."

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> IN RECENT YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A PUSH FROM UTILITY COMPANIES ACROSS THE STATE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF POWER PLANTS.

NOW THIS WAS A POWER THAT THEY USED TO HOLD BUT IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE RESTORED, IT REQUIRES APPROVAL FROM THE STATE'S PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

DAVID LOMBARDO OF WCNY'S THE CAPITAL PRESS ROOM SAT DOWN WITH POLITICO'S MARIE FRENCH FOR A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON THIS VERY ISSUE ON THIS NEXT SEGMENT.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELL, MARIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE TIME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO JOIN YOU HERE, DAVE.

>> REWINDING BACK TO THE '90S, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN UTILITIES WERE IN THE POWER GENERATION GAME, BUT THEY WERE FORCED TO SELL OFF THEIR OPERATIONS EXCEPT NOW THEY WANT TO GET BACK INTO THE BUSINESS ARGUING THEY CAN HELP KEEP THE LIGHTS ON IN THE FUTURE.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER OPERATORS WHO ALSO WANT TO BE BUILDING NEW POWER HERE IN NEW YORK.

WHY SHOULD STATE REGULATORS CONSIDER THIS OPTION?

WHAT IS THE PITCH FROM UTILITIES?

>> YEAH.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, YOU KNOW, PUT THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE STATE CLIMATE GOALS, RIGHT?

NEW YORK IS STRUGGLING TO MEET MANY OF ITS GOALS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE GOVERNOR SORT OF PUSH BACK THE OVERALL EMISSIONS REDUCTION TARGETING, AND THE STATE IS NOT ON TRACK TO MEET ITS 70% RENEWABLE BY 2030 GOAL.

SOME ESTIMATES PUT IT THREE YEARS OUT.

SOME ARE GETTING LONGER AS MORE TIME PASSES AND AS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION GOES AFTER SOME RENEWABLES.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE BACKTRACK OF THIS.

WHERE UTILITIES ARE SAYING, HEY, YOU'RE NOT ON TRACK.

WE COULD HELP.

WE COULD, YOU KNOW, PUT OUR CAPITAL TO WORK AND BUILD SOME OF THESE RENEWABLES.

THEY'RE NOT SAYING THEY WANT THE ENTIRE MARKET, BUT THEY WANT TO GET BACK IN THIS GAME AND FOR THEM, OF COURSE, THE CAPITAL THEY INVEST, THEY EARN PROFITS ON.

>> WELL, IS THAT WHAT THEY BRING TO THE TABLE, THE CAPITAL?

THEY HAVE ACCESS TO FINANCING, OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT UTILITIES SAY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO BUILD FASTER, MORE EFFICIENTLY, OR IN AREAS THAT MAYBE OTHER DEVELOPERS DON'T WANT TO RIGHT NOW?

>> I DON'T THINK THEY'RE NECESSARILY MAKING THAT ARGUMENT.

ALTHOUGH I COULD SEE THEM SAYING, HEY, WE CONTROL SUBSTATIONS, TRANSMISSION LINES, LIKE MAYBE THESE ARE LOCATIONS THAT MAKE THINGS EASIER.

I THINK THAT THE CAPITAL LIKE MARKETS ACCESS IS ONE OF THEIR ARGUMENTS IS THAT THEY COULD GET A LOWER COST OF FINANCING.

THEY SAY THEN THE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE STILL-- THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THAT WOULD WORK.

YOU KNOW, RATE PAYERS WOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR THAT.

SO IF THEY HAD MAJOR COST OVERRUNS, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD SEE SOME BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THAT.

THERE'S ALSO THE ISSUE OF LIKE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS SAY THE REASON THEY SHOULD KEEP DOING THIS IS THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE RISK, RIGHT.

IN THIS CASE, THE UTILITY WOULD BE DEPENDING ON CUSTOMERS TO RECOVER THEIR COSTS.

THERE'S A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH ON THIS ISSUE.

I THINK IT'S BECOMING-- JUST BECAUSE OF WHERE THE STATE IS IN ACHIEVING ITS RENEWABLE GOALS, IT'S BECOMING MORE OF A CONVERSATION AT THIS TIME.

>> WELL, IF WE THINK ABOUT THE PAST EXPERIENCE OF UTILITIES OPERATING POWER PLANTS OR JUST THEIR TRACK RECORD OF DELIVERING POWER AS UTILITIES ONLY, IS THERE ANY REASON TO THINK THAT THEY WOULD DO A GOOD JOB?

IS THERE SOMETHING LOOKING INTO THE PAST THAT SAYS, YEAH, THESE ARE THE GUYS THAT WE THINK WOULD DO AN EXCELLENT JOB, THEY DO A BANG-UP JOB, UNDERBUDGET OR ON TIME OR SOMETHING?

>> I THINK CERTAINLY THEY WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN DO IT.

THEY THEN, YOU KNOW, OPERATING THE SYSTEM AND MAKE ALL THESE INVESTMENTS IN THE TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

>> SURE.

BUT NOBODY'S OUT HERE GIVING CONSUMER PERFORMANCE AWARDS TO THEIR LOCAL UTILITIES.

>> SOME ARE.

YOU KNOW, THEY DO WIN DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT SURVEYS THAT THEY ALWAYS BRAG ABOUT.

>> ALSO DEFINED BY THE STATE REGULATORS.

>> THEY GET FINED BUT THEY ALSO, YOU KNOW, SOME METRICS THEY MEET AND SOME THEY DON'T.

I THINK-- YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS, THE OPPONENTS OF ALLOWING UTILITIES TO DO THIS, HAVE POINTED TO SOME TRANSMISSION PROJECTS THAT HAVE HAD COST OVERRUNS.

I THINK THE UTILITIES WOULD ARGUE THEY'RE MANAGING THINGS AS BEST THEY CAN WITH RISING COSTS AND ALL OF THAT GOING ON.

SO THE CHALLENGE FOR, YOU KNOW, THE POLICYMAKERS HERE IS KIND OF CUTTING THROUGH ALL THIS NOISE AND DECIDING, YOU KNOW, IS THEY GOING TO BE A GOOD DEAL FOR OUR RATE PAYERS?

IS IT GOING TO HELP THE STATE MAKE ADVANCEMENTS TO ITS GOALS?

THAT'S THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH.

>> WELL, WHAT ABOUT WHAT THIS WOULD ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE, HAVING A PLAYER WHO NOT ONLY CONTROLS THE PIPES, BUT CONTROLS WHAT'S FLOWING THROUGH THEM, SO TO SPEAK?

WHAT SORT OF REGULATORY QUESTIONS WOULD THAT REQUIRE, SAY, THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO ENTERTAIN IN THE WAY THEY HAVEN'T HAD TO FOR A QUARTER OF CENTURY SINCE THEY HAD TO GIVE UP ALL THEIR POWER PLANTS?

>> YEAH.

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE DEREGULATION LIKE DECISION WAS MADE BECAUSE THINGS WERE EXPENSIVE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S COST OVERRUNS.

THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.

SO TO LOOK AT IT NOW, THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION DOES HAVE TO DECIDE, LIKE, DO WE WANT TO CHANGE THAT FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURE THAT WE HAD SET UP.

THE ISSUE OF LIKE THEM CONTROLLING THE POWER PLANTS, I THINK, GENERALLY THE DISPATCH WOULD STILL BE WITH THE NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT OPERATOR TO DECIDE WHAT'S THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE UNIT AT THIS TIME.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S ALSO A QUESTION FOR POLICYMAKERS TO WEIGH IN ON.

>> WELL, SOMEWHERE AS WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, A SOCIALIST IS SCREAMING AT THE TELEVISION AND SAYING, WHAT ABOUT JUST HAVING THE STATE BUILD UP MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY?

LET'S BE MORE AMBITIOUS AND FORGET ABOUT THESE PRIVATE PLAYERS.

IS THAT A CREDIBLE OPTION AT THIS POINT GIVEN HOW THE STATE HAS ALREADY TAKEN ON SOME EFFORTS TO BUILD UP ITS OWN POWER GENERATION?

I MEAN, COULD THE STATE BE DOING MORE IN THIS SECTOR?

>> YES.

THAT SCREAMING AT THE TV AT MY INBOX EVERY DAY.

(LAUGHING) YEAH.

LIKE THAT'S DEFINITELY A QUESTION.

I MEAN NYPA IS MOVING FORWARD WITH A LOT OF PROPOSALS TO BUILD GENERATION.

>> THAT'S THE NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY.

>> NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY, EXCUSE ME, YES.

THEY'VE BEEN UNABLE TO DO THAT.

THEY'RE WORKING ON IT.

THEY'RE NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH TO SATISFY MANY-- MANY PARTIES WHO PUSH FOR THEM TO HAVE THAT AUTHORITY.

I THINK THAT WILL ALSO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION AS THEY LOOK AT THIS BECAUSE NYPA, TECHNICALLY, DOES OPERATE SOME HIGH BULK TRANSMISSION.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TEA LEAVES ON THIS ISSUE, DOES THE FACT THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IS EVALUATING THIS SUGGEST THAT, YEAH, THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE SOME SORT OF CHANGE IN THE LANDSCAPE BECAUSE THEY COULD HAVE JUST PUNTED ON THIS, OR THEY COULD HAVE JUST NOT TAKEN IT UP ALTOGETHER.

DOES THE FACT THAT THEY ARE SAYING, YEAH, LET'S ENTERTAIN THIS SUGGEST THAT THEY ARE FIGURING OUT A WAY TO FOLD THIS IN MAYBE AS PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S ALL OF THE ABOVE BRANDING ON ENERGY?

>> WELL, DAVE, WHEN YOU'VE BEEN HERE AS LONG AS I HAVE COVERING ENERGY IN NEW YORK, YOU KNOW THAT THIS ISSUE HAS COME UP MULTIPLE TIMES.

THIS LATEST ITERATION DOES SEEM A LITTLE MORE ADVANCED THAN IN PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS, RIGHT?

LIKE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ISN'T ASKING, IF WE DID THIS HOW.

THEY'RE KIND OF ASKING IF WE DID THIS, HOW WOULD WE DO IT?

THEY'RE LEANING MORE IN THIS DIRECTION AT THIS POINT.

THAT DOES, I THINK, AND FUNDAMENTALLY THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, ALSO RECONSIDERING THIS IDEA OF HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THE STATE'S GOALS?

LIKE CLEARLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS NOT WORKING BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SEEING THE PROGRESS THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE ON THE GOALS.

THAT'S HOW THIS CAME UP AS PART OF THE REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARD THAT GOAL.

>> WELL, PUTTING ASIDE THE RENEWABLE ASPECTS, WHAT ABOUT JUST HAVING ENOUGH POWER OF ANY KIND TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF NEW YORK?

IS THAT PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, OR IS THIS MORE OF A CONVERSATION SOLELY ABOUT ENOUGH GREEN ENERGY, AND WE'VE GOT ENOUGH POWER AT LARGE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT UTILITIES ARE SEEKING RIGHT NOW IS FOCUSED ON THE RENEWABLE ENERGY FRONT, BUT THERE IS A REAL QUESTION IN FRONT OF EVERYONE, REALLY, IN THIS STATE ABOUT HOW TO ENSURE RELIABILITY AND WHETHER, YOU KNOW, HAVING LIKE MORE DIRECT CONTRACTING AND MORE INVOLVEMENT OF UTILITIES IN THE PLANNING AND YOU KNOW, THE PLANNING PROCESS TO MEET ENERGY DEMAND IS NEEDED.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE CON ED ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH A PROCESS.

IT WOULD BE MORE LIKE AN RFP OF LIKE STORAGE AND OTHER OPTIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE FOCUSED ON CLEANER OPTIONS, BUT I THINK THERE IS A REAL RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING FROM THE HOCHUL ADMINISTRATION, THEIR VIEW IS THAT MORE GAS POWER IS GOING TO BE NEEDED >> MARIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE TIME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND FOR MORE ON POWER PLANTS IN THE STATE, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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