>> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," NEW YORK'S NEW GUN LAWS TAKE EFFECT.

WE'LL HAVE DETAILS.

THEN WE TAKE YOU ON THE TRIP TO THE STATE FAIR IN SYRACUSE.

LATER, A CONVERSATION WITH STATE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER DR. BETTY ROSA.

PLUS, A NEW EDITION OF "ON THE BILL."

I'M DAN CLARK AND THIS IS "NEW YORK NOW" [ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M DAN CLARK.

LIKE MANY OTHERS, IT WAS A CONTROVERSIAL WEEK IN NEW YORK AS THE STATE'S NEW GUN LAWS TOOK EFFECT.

YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT IN JUNE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN THE STATE'S LAWS ON CONCEALED CARRY.

THE COURT BASICALLY SAID THE STATE'S WAY OF GIVING OUT THOSE LICENSES WAS TOO SUBJECTIVE, AND BACK IN NEW YORK, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE RESPONDED BY PASSING A NEW CONCEALED CARRY LAW.

IT DESIGNATED CERTAIN SENSITIVE LOCATIONS WHERE GUNS ARE NOT ALLOWED AND SET STRICTER STANDARDS FOR CONCEALED CARRY LIKE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS AND A LOOK AT THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA.

THOSE LAWS TOOK EFFECT ON THURSDAY.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL.

>> WE DON'T NEED GUNS ON OUR STREETS.

WE DON'T NEED PEOPLE CARRYING GUNS ON OUR 2 SUBWAYS.

WE DON'T NEED PEOPLE CARRYING GUNS IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WE DON'T NEED PEOPLE CARRYING GUNS IN OUR PLACES OF WORSHIP.

WE DON'T NEED THEM CARRYING GUNS INTO BARS OR RESTAURANTS BECAUSE THAT WILL ONLY MAKE PEOPLE LESS SAFE.

>> BUT THE FUTURE OF THOSE LAWS IS UNCLEAR.

AFTER A FEDERAL JUDGE SAID THIS WEEK THEY MIGHT BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

KESHIA CLUKEY FROM BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT JOINS ME WITH HERE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO A 78-PAGE DECISION IS A LOT TO DIGEST.

THE BIG HEADLINE OUT OF IT WAS-- WELL, YOU TELL ME.

>> YEAH.

SO BASICALLY, IN THIS LAWSUIT, THE JUDGE DECIDED TO DISMISS THE CASE BUT WITHOUT PREJUDICE WHICH MEANS-- HE BASICALLY-- AND IN THE DECISION-- HE BASICALLY SAYS YOU CAN REFILE AND SHOULD REFILE.

HE ALMOST LAYS OUT IN THAT 78 PAGES A BLUEPRINT FOR REFILING.

SO BASICALLY SAYING, LIKE, YOUR-- SOME OF THE ISSUES HE BROUGHT UP WAS THE LIST OF SENSITIVE PLACES, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY EVERYWHERE BUT AS KATHY HOCHUL SAID, SOME STREETS.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF SENSITIVE PLACES, AND HE BASICALLY SAID THAT THE-- THE LAW NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE FIRST BEFORE THEY CAN BRING IT UP IN COURT.

3 >> OH, I SEE.

OKAY.

SO IT TOOK-- THE DECISION HAPPENED THE DAY BEFORE THE LAW TOOK EFFECT.

>> YES.

>> SO HE WAS SAYING-- IF I'M HEARING YOU CORRECTLY, THAT NOW THEY COULD POSSIBLY REFILE.

THIS IS INTERESTING TO ME.

BECAUSE-- SO THE CASE NOT DEAD AT THIS POINT.

SO WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO DO?

DO THEY LITERALLY HAVE TO REFILE THE LAWSUIT?

>> SO THEY CAN REFILE THE LAWSUIT AND ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES IS THEY NEED TO SHOW HARDSHIP AND SHOW THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PERSON IS AT RISK OF BEING ARRESTED FOR HOLDING THE GUN OR CARRYING THE GUN WITHOUT A PERMIT, THAT THERE'S OTHER ISSUES WITH IT.

THE GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA NEW YORK GROUP ALSO NEEDS TO SHOW THAT IT'S HAVING SOME HARDSHIP WITH ITS MEMBERS IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

THEY CAN EITHER APPEAL THE DECISION OR THEY CAN REFILE THE DECISION.

THE LAURAS STILL IT WAS QUITE LENGTHILY.

LIKE YOU SAID, 78 PAGES, SO THE LAURAS STILL GOING THROUGH IT.

BUT ONE OF THE INTERESTING REPERCUSSIONS OF THIS IS THERE'S ACTUALLY ANOTHER LAWSUIT IN THE STATE FILED BY CARL PALADINO IN THE BUFFALO AREA ABOUT THE CONCEAL CARRY ISSUE.

SO THE QUESTION IS WILL THE LAWSUITS TAKE THESE LESSONS LEARNED AND THEN PUT THEM INTO EFFECT IN THEIR 4 LAWSUITS.

THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND CONSERVATIVE PARTIES HAVE ALSO SAID THEY'RE GOING TO SUE.

THEY HAVE NOT SUED YET, BUT PERHAPS THEY'LL TAKE SOME THESE LESSONS LEARNED AS WELL.

>> SO DID THE JUDGE SAY IN THE DECISION WHY HE THOUGHT THE LAWS WERE UNCONSTITUTIONAL?

THAT'S AN INTERESTING PART OF IT TO ME BECAUSE PRESUMABLY, IF THEY REFILE AND TAKE THE RIGHT STEPS AND IF IT GOES TO THIS SAME JUDGE, THEN THESE LAWS WERE STRUCK DOWN.

WHAT DID HE SAY?

>> SO I THINK THERE WERE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH IT.

ONE, HE TOOK ISSUE WITH A LOT OF THE GRAMMAR OF THE LAW.

WHICH IS KIND OF INTERESTING.

>> OKAY.

>> A WORD MISSING HERE, A COMMA MISSING HERE BUT HE ALSO HAD GONE INTO, LIKE I SAID, THE LIST OF SENSITIVE PLACES WAS NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT FALLS UNDER THE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND THE RIGHT TO DEFENSE AND FOR EXAMPLE, LARGE PUBLIC GATHERING PLACES, NOT ALL OF THE PLACES LISTED ARE PUBLIC GATHERING PLACES.

SO THAT WAS IN QUESTION.

THERE WAS JUST A HOST OF ISSUES THAT HE BROUGHT UP THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE STATE HAD THIS-- HAS TO BE IN GOOD STANDING AND THE PERSON-- YOU KNOW, IS REASONABLY NOT GOING TO HURT SOMEONE AND SOME OF THE LANGUAGE HE SAID 5 WAS A BIT WISHY WASHY AND THEY DIDN'T PUT THE RIGHT STRONGER LANGUAGE IN TO HAVE THIS LAW STAND AS-IS.

I THINK LAWMAKERS WERE UNSURE WHEN THEY PASSED THE PACKAGE, THEY WERE KIND OF LIKE WE'RE GOING OFF WHAT WE THINK IS OKAY BASED ON THE SUPREME COURT RULING AND, YOU KNOW, SHUTTING DOWN THE ORIGINAL LAW AND SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE.

WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO GET CHALLENGED.

LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

SO THERE COULD BE SOME CHANGES NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN THE LAW AS WELL.

>> AND IT WAS A VERY QUICK TURNAROUND FOR THEM.

THE DECISION CAME OUT AND I THINK IT WAS WITHIN A WEEK THAT THEY PASSED THE LAW.

WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

WE HAVE ABOUT 45 SECONDS LEFT.

YOU HAD A STORY THIS WEEK ON UNEMPLOYMENT DEBT THE STATE IS NOT PAYING BACK, AND NOW IT IS A BURDEN ON SMALL BUSINESSES.

CAN YOU TELL ME HOW IT'S AFFECTING THEM?

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

SO NEW YORK STATE OWES $7.7 BILLION IN AN UNEMPLOYMENT LOAN FROM THE GOVERNMENT FROM COVID WHICH ALL STATES BASICALLY HAD, BUT MANY OF THEM USED THEIR COVID RELIEF FUNDING TO PAY THAT OFF SO THAT THE BUSINESSES DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THAT BURDEN.

TYPICALLY IN NEW YORK STATE WHEN THERE'S UNEMPLOYMENT DEBT, IT'S ACTUALLY ON THE BUSINESSES AS PART OF THE 6 SYSTEM TO PAY THAT BACK.

NOW BECAUSE THE STATE HASN'T PAID IT BACK, THE INTEREST IS COMING DUE NEXT MONTH.

THAT'S ABOUT $27.60 PER EMPLOYEE THAT BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY ON TOP OF ALL OF THE OTHER ADDITIONAL COSTS.

>> OH, GOODNESS.

IT'S A LOT, YOU KNOW, FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WITH MULTIPLE EMPLOYEES.

THEY'RE NOT DOING WELL NOW ANYWAY.

>> UH-HUH.

>> WE'LL LINK TO THAT STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

KESHIA CLUKEY FROM BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME >> ALRIGHT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK FROM POLITICS, SORT OF, AND HEAD OUT TO SYRACUSE.

WE'RE NOW IN THE HOMESTRETCH FOR THIS YEAR'S NEW YORK STATE FAIR HOSTED IN THE SMALL TOWN OF GEDDES, JUST OUTSIDE SYRACUSE, AND IT'S BEEN A REALLY STRANGE FEW YEARS FOR THE FAIR.

IN 2020, THERE WAS NO FAIR AT ALL BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, AND THE FAIR CAME BACK LAST YEAR BUT ATTENDANCE WAS PRETTY LOW COMPARED TO YEARS PAST.

SO THIS YEAR, WE JUMPED IN THE CAR AND TOOK A TRIP OUT TO THE FAIRGROUNDS AND WE'RE GOING TO BRING YOU ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

TAKE A LOOK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] [ UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING ] IT'S NOT EVEN 10:00 A.M.

IN GEDDES, NEW YORK, JUST OUTSIDE OF SYRACUSE, AND 7 ALREADY HUNDREDS OF NEW YORKERS AND THOSE FROM BEYOND HAVE FILED IN HERE FOR A GREAT DAY AT THE NEW YORK STATE FAIR.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU ALONG WITH US FOR A DAY HERE AT THE FAIR.

LET'S GO.

FIRST STOP IS THE DAIRY BUILDING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IT, BUT NEW YORK IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CARE DAIRY PRODUCERS IN THE COUNTRY AND THAT MILK IS USED FOR EVERYTHING, FROM CHEESE TO ICE CREAM AND OF COURSE, BUTTER.

THE BUTTER SCULPTURE THAT YOU SEE BEHIND ME IS ALWAYS A MAJOR ATTRACTION AT THE FAIR EVERY YEAR.

AN ARTIST TAKES POUNDS AND POUNDS OF BUTTER AND MOLDS INTO SOMETHING JUST BEAUTIFUL.

THIS YEAR, YOU CAN SEE THE SCULPTURE IS DEDICATED TO TITLE IX WHICH EXPANDED OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SPORTS.

TAKE A LOOK.

SUE BAKER COMES TO THE STATE FAIR EVERY YEAR JUST FOR THE BUTTER SCULPTURE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHE SAYS TAKES HER BACK TO HER ROOTS.

>> I WAS RAISED ON A DAIRY FORM AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS TO ME IS NUMBER ONE.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF BUTTER SCULPTURES OVER THE YEARS, BUT HER FAVORITE-- >> OH, IT'S SO HARD TO CHOOSE, BUT I DO LOVE THE ONE THERE WAS A FARM SCENE AND IT HAD THE BARN AND ALL OF THAT STUFF, YEAH.

THAT WAS ONE.

IT HAD THE 8 COUNTRYSIDE, WHERE COWS COME FROM.

>> AND THAT'S JUST ONE PART OF THE STATE'S AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY SHOWCASED AT THE FAIR.

YOU'LL ALSO SEE BUILDINGS FULL OF SLEEPY PIGS, CURIOUS GOATS AND A LOT MORE.

SOME ARE HERE FOR COMPETITION.

OTHERS JUST FOR FUN, AND HERE, WE FIND ROWS AND ROWS OF HENS, DUCK, AND ROOSTERS.

[ ROOSTER CROWS ] WE COULD HAVE SPENT ALL DAY WITH THOSE ANIMAL, BUT FOR NOW, WE HEAD TO A NEW EXHIBIT ON ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

THAT'S WHERE VISITORS CAN LEARN ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY AND EFFORTS TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE IN NEW YORK.

IT'S ALSO WHERE WE FIND INTERIM STATE FAIR DIRECTOR, SEAN HENNESSEY.

>> YEAH.

SO 2021 WAS A PARTIAL FAIR.

2020, THERE WAS NO FAIR.

SO THE FAIR IS BACK AND BIGGER BETTER THAN EVER.

>> SEAN SAYS THAT WHILE THE STATE FAIR HAS COUNTLESS ATTRACTIONS FOR VISITORS, HE ALSO SEES IT AS AN ESCAPE FROM A WORLD JUST RAVAGED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

>> YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CLOISTERED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS HERE.

WE WANT THEM TO COME TOGETHER AND FEEL THEY CAN BE SAFE AND ENJOY THEMSELVES AND COME BACK TO OUR COMMUNAL KIND OF LIVING THAT WE DID PRE-PANDEMIC.

>> OKAY, SO TELL ME WHAT 9 YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE FAIR IS BETWEEN THE FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT, THE RIDES, EVERYTHING.

>> I REALLY THINK THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE IS MY FAVORITE THINGS.

WE HAVE ABOUT 175 STATE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK AT THIS FACILITY.

THEY REALLY DO DESERVE A REAL PAT ON THE BACK FOR MAKING THIS THE HISTORIC EVENT THAT IT IS.

>> NATURALLY, WE WANTED TO SEE IF OTHERS AGREED.

SO WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE STATE FAIR?

[ ROOSTERS CROWING IN THE BACKGROUND ] IT WAS LUNCHTIME FOR THE CHICKENS BY THEN AND WE DECIDED IT WAS FOR US, TOO, AND THE FAIR DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

THERE'S EVERY FRIED FOOD YOU COULD IMAGINE HERE.

LIKE THESE FRIED OREOS.

SEE HOW THIS FAIR WORKER MAKES THEM IN A VAT OF HOT OIL AND SERVES THEM UP FRESH ALL DAY LONG, AND BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU, THEY WERE GOOD.

WOW.

IT'S DIFFERENT THAN I WOULD EXPECT.

IT'S SOFT AND NOT CRUNCHY, BUT IT'S GOOD.

BUT THAT WASN'T QUITE ENOUGH FOR LUNCH.

SO WE FOUND OURSELVES AT THE GIANELLI SAUSAGE BOOTH, A FAIR STAPLE WITH A HISTORY IN POLITICS.

OKAY, SO THE THING ABOUT A GIANELLI SAUSAGE-- IT'S SOME SORT OF MYTH OR SOMETHING-- IF YOU ARE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE STATE FAIR AND YOU HAVE TO EAT A GIANELLI'S SAUSAGE TO WIN YOUR RACE FOR 10 GOVERNOR.

SO I MEAN, BESIDES THAT-- IT IS REALLY GOOD!

PHOTOJOURNALIST THOMAS CONNOLLY OPTED FOR THE TURKEY LEG AND THEN WE WERE OFF FOR A PRESS CONFERENCE.

IT MIGHT SEEM UNUSUAL BUT ASIDE FROM ATTRACTING THOUSANDS OF VISITORS EACH YEAR, THE STATE FAIR IS A POPULAR DESTINATION FOR POLITICS.

AND MONDAY WAS LAW ENFORCEMENT DAY AT THE FAIR.

THAT BROUGHT OUT PEOPLE LIKE NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES, A DEMOCRAT.

[ BAGPIPES PLAY IN THE BACKGROUND ] >> WE HONOR ALL THAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR US EACH AND EVERY DAY.

WE PRAY THAT THOSE OFFICERS WHO PUT ON THE BADGE EACH AND EVERY MORNING AS THEY LEAVE THEIR FAMILIES THAT THEY COME HOME TO THEM AT NIGHT.

>> AND ALSO ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE, WHO JOINED A PILGRIMAGE OF LAWMAKERS TO THE FAIR ON MONDAY HOSTED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER BILL MAGNARELLI, A DEMOCRAT WHO REPRESENTS THIS AREA, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY GUESSED, THE FAIR IS A PRETTY WIG DEAL AROUND HERE AND SO MUCH MORE, SAYS MAGNARELLI.

>> PEOPLE IN SYRACUSE LOOK FORWARD TO THE FAIR ON A YEARLY BASIS.

IT'S NOT ONLY THE ECONOMICS OF THE FAIR, WHICH ARE GREAT TO THE ENTIRE AREA.

IT'S GREAT FOR AGRICULTURE AND IT'S A 11 FANTASTIC OUTLET FOR LETTING A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT, GREAT FOOD, FUN ALL THE WAY AROUND.

>> HIS FAVORITE PART OF THE FAIR?

THE PIZZA FRITTES, MAGNARELLI SAYS.

AND FOR SENATOR JOHN MANNION, WHO ALSO HELICOPTER REPRESENTS THIS AREA, IT'S THE CHOCOLATE MILK, BUT HE ALSO HAS A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THE FAIR THAT HE'S HELD SINCE HE WAS A KID, AND THAT KEPT THE MAGIC ALIVE FOR HIM STILL TO THIS DAY.

>> IT'S A SENSE OF PRIDE FOR US.

I GREW UP JUST ABOUT A MILE FROM HERE AND STILL LIVE ABOUT A MILE FROM HERE.

SO WE LOVE TO JOKE ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE A LITTLE HOKEY OR WHATEVER, BUT EVERYBODY SHOULD COME AND SEE IT BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE'RE BACK AT IT.

THE GREAT NEW YORK STATE FAIR IS CERTAINLY GREAT THIS YEAR.

>> WITH THE SUN BEATING DOWN ON US, WE HEAD BACK INSIDE WHERE WE'RE GREETED BY SOMEWHERE FAMILIAR.

SO YOU MIGHT THINK BY LOOKING HERE THAT WE'RE AT THE STATE ASSEMBLY IN ALBANY, BUT IN ACTUALITY, WE'RE TWO HOURS AWAY AT THE STATE FAIR IN SYRACUSE.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS, LIKE THOSE IN THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE AND THE EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, TRY TO CONNECT WITH 12 PEOPLE WHILE THEY'RE HERE AT THE FAIR.

AND WHILE WE'RE, A LOT OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AT THE FAIR BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE PRIME FOCUS OF A LOT OF THIS WORK.

THE STATE ALSO DOES A LOT OF WORK PRESENTING STATE AGENCIES IN A WAY HERE THAT PEOPLE CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY DO.

OFTENTIMES WHEN WE THINK OF STATE GOVERNMENT, IT'S THIS GIANT BUREAUCRACY.

THIS IS A WAY FOR THE STATE TO REALLY REACH PEOPLE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

ALWAYS SENSING AN OPPORTUNITY, PHOTOJOURNALIST THOMAS TOOK A PIT STOP AT THIS POINT TO PICK UP AN EZ PASS.

HE'S PRETTY HAPPY ABOUT IT, BUT THERE'S PLENTY MORE TO DO HERE IF YOU WANT TO ESCAPE THE SUMMER HEAT.

FOR ONE, YOU CAN BUY A LOT OF DIFFERENT STUFF, IF THAT'S YOUR THING, OR YOU CAN JUST WALK AROUND AND LITERALLY SMELL THE FLOWERS, BUT IN A LOT OF WAYS, THE FAIR IS REALLY A LOVE LETTER TO NEW YORK, A STATE HOME TO COUNTLESS INDUSTRIES THAT YOU MIGHT NOT EXPECT LIKE HONEY, AND ACCORDING TO THIS GUY WORKING THE BOOTH AT THE EMPIRE STATE HONEY PRODUCER'S ASSOCIATION, THERE'S PLENTY OF BUZZ ABOUT IT.

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE-- WE HAVE TWO PRODUCERS RIGHT HERE.

ONE PRODUCER'S HONEY HAS 15,000 COLONIES HE RUNS.

>> BUT OUR SWEET TOOTHS ARE 13 SATISFIED FOR THE DAY, SO WE DECIDE TO MAKE OUR FINAL STOP BEFORE WE HEAD BACK TO ALBANY, THE CARNIVAL.

WITH MORE THAN FOUR DOZEN RIDES TO CHOOSE FROM, IT CAN BE OVERWHELMING.

PHOTOJOURNALIST THOMAS DECIDES HE'S GIVE IT A TRY.

>> I'M READY TO RIDE THE ROLLERCOASTER.

>> AFTER FRIED OREOS, A GIANELLI SAUSAGE AND A LOT OF LEMONADE, I WASN'T SO SURE.

>> LET'S JUST HOPE I DON'T THROW UP.

I'M ALL THE WAY AT THE FRONT.

WISH ME LUCK.

[ KLAKING OF THE COASTER TRACKS ] >> OH, MY GOD!

OH, MY GOD!

OH, MY GOD!

THE THINGS WE DO FOR JOURNALISM.

>> AND EYE EVAN CONQUERED MY FEAR OF HEIGHTS ON ONE OF THE PARK'S FERRIS WHEELS TO ROUND OUT OUR DAY AT THE GREAT NEW YORK STATE FAIR.

SO BETWEEN THE FOOD, THE FRIENDS, THE FUN, THE FAMILY, EVERYTHING HERE AT THE NEW YORK STATE FAIR, THERE IS JUST SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY HERE IN THE SMALL TOWN OF GEDDES RIGHT OUTSIDE OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND THE STATE FAIR RUNS THROUGH MONDAY IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THE TRIP OUT.

BUT TURNING BACK NOW TO THE STATE CAPITOL WITH A NEW 14 EDITION OF "ON THE BILL," WHERE WE TELL YOU ABOUT A BILL OUT OF ALBANY THAT YOU MIGHT NOT HEAR ABOUT OTHERWISE.

THIS WEEK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT S-7582 AND REFLECTING ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HURRICANE IDA.

IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO THIS WEEKEND THAT I'D DID HIT NEW YORK, KILLING MORE THAN THREE DOZEN PEOPLE IN THE TRISTATE AREA AND LEAVING ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS SUBMERGED.

IT WAS JUST A HORRIFIC EVENT.

PEOPLE DIED TRYING TO ESCAPE THEIR BASEMENT APARTMENTS IN QUEENS.

WHOLE ROADS WERE WASHED AWAY IN WESTCHESTER AND THOSE AREAS ARE STILL RECOVERING TODAY.

THAT BRINGS TO US S-7582.

IT'S A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE STATE BUILDING CODES COUNCIL TO LOOK AT HOW THE STATE'S BUILDING CODES TO BE CHANGED TO IMPROVE RESILIENCY AGAINST FLOODING AND SEA LEVEL RISE AS STORMS GET WORSE BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

IT WAS SPONSORED BY SENATOR SHELLEY MAYER WHOSE DISTRICT IN WESTCHESTER WAS HIT HARD BY IDA.

>> THIS WAS AN INCREDIBLY INTENSE HUMAN IMPACT, AND WHAT I TRIED TO DO IS USE THAT TO THINK STRUCTURALLY, HOW CAN WE IMPROVE THE WAY WE BUILD SO WE CAN MINIMIZE THE EFFECT OF FLOODING IN LAND AND ALONG THE COAST?

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BOTH THINGS.

>> AND THAT BILL ACTUALLY PASSED THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR WITH BIPARTISAN 15 SUPPORT.

LAWMAKERS ARE NOW WAITING TO SEE IF GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SIGNS IT, BUT MOVING ON NOW TO EDUCATION.

IT'S THE START OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR IN NEW YORK AND THIS ONE IS DIFFERENT.

YOU'LL REMEMBER IN 2020, SCHOOLS WENT REMOTE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, AND LAST YEAR, COVID WAS STILL VERY MUCH A THING IN SCHOOLS WITH STUDENTS MASKED AND DISTANCED WITH QUARANTINE RULES FOR EXPOSURE, BUT THIS YEAR, THAT'S ALL CHANGED.

NEW YORK HAS DROPPED MOST OF ITS COVID RULES IN SCHOOLS WHILE CASES REMAIN RELATIVELY LOW.

SO THIS WEEK, WE CHECKED IN WITH STATE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER DR. BETTY ROSA ON WHAT THAT ALL MEANS AND WHAT'S AHEAD.

[ THEME MUSIC ] COMMISSIONER ROSA, THANK YOU SO MUCH, AS ALWAYS, FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> OF COURSE.

SO COVID HAS HAD-- AND I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS, BUT COVID HAS HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON SCHOOLS FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.

THIS HE IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST SCHOOL YEAR IN A FEW YEARS WHERE WE ENDED A LOT OF THE COVID RESTRICTIONS.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT CHANGES THINGS IN SCHOOLS, BOTH IN TERMS OF OPERATION AND IN LEARNING FOR KIDS?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO-- AND JUST TO KIND OF REFLECT ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, WE REALLY HAD AN 16 INCREDIBLE CONVERSATION WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS, SUPERINTENDENTS, AND MANY OF OUR TEACHERS ABOUT LESSONS LEARNED, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO PUT IN PLACE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE TRANSITION BACK TO WHAT I WOULD CALL IN-PERSON FULL TIME, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE SPENT, I WOULD SAY, THE LAST YEAR LOOKING AT PUTTING IN PLACE AND ADDRESSING THE SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT ARE CRITICAL, THE ACADEMIC, THE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, THE ISSUE OF DEALING WITH TRAUMA, WHAT ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE DO TO CREATE THE HUMAN CONNECTION ONCE AGAIN, AND TO TRANSITION OUR STUDENTS BACK TO THE JOY OF OUR SCHOOL SETTINGS?

>> WERE THESE HARD DECISIONS TO MAKE?

I IMAGINE TRANSITIONING FROM FULL IN-PERSON LEARNING TO REMOTE LEARNING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC WAS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION, AND NOW WE'RE GOING BACK THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION HOPING TO GET ALL KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL AND THINGS AT LEAST TO SOME SENSE OF NORMAL.

WAS THAT A HARD DECISION TO MAKE, OR WAS IT PRETTY EASY?

>> OH, NO.

AS YOU KNOW, CHILDREN-- YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN ISOLATION-- ISOLATED, DISCONNECTED.

THOSE ARE NOT EASY DECISIONS TO-- NOT EVEN JUST DECISIONS.

ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME.

EVEN-- EVEN WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE MASK ISSUE, RIGHT, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE 17 SMILE ON OUR CHILDREN'S FACES BECAUSE OF WEARING THE MASKS.

SO ALL OF THOSE ARE TRANSITIONS THAT WE HAVE TO RECONNECT TO AND THAT OUR SCHOOLS, THE JOY OF WHEN KIDS SEE EACH OTHER, RUNNING UP TO EACH OTHER AND KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE THEIR OWN WAY OF GREETING EACH OTHER AND WELCOMING EACH OTHER.

SO ALL OF THAT HAS TO BECOME PART OF THE NEW FABRIC, WHICH WAS OBVIOUSLY ALL OF US KNOW, WAS PART OF THE EXISTING FABRIC.

>> SO THE STATE IS RELAXING THESE RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE OUR COVID NUMBERS ARE RELATIVELY LOW COMPARED TO WHERE THEY WERE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC AND EVEN JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO AND DURING THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, LEARNING CHANGED FOR STUDENTS, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, QUITE A BIT ESPECIALLY IN THESE LOWER GRADE SCHOOL LEVELS.

IT WAS REALLY CONFUSING FOR THEM TO LEARN IN A WAY THAT THEY WEREN'T USED TO AND SCHOOL IS ALREADY A NEW THING FOR THEM BEING AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT'S IMPACTED THIS GENERATION OF STUDENTS AND WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?

>> I THINK WE-- WE'RE REALLY ACTUALLY LOOKING AT WITHIN THOSE LESSONS, AS I SAID, WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT WERE SOME OF THE POSITIVES, RIGHT?

BECAUSE EVERYTHING-- SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HAVE TO PIVOT AND YOU HAVE TO MOVE TO A NEW WAY OF DOING NOT ONLY-- NOT ONLY DOING WORK, 18 BUT RESPONDING TO THE NECESSITIES OF THE MOMENT, THAT WE LEARN NEW WAYS OF DOING THINGS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE ARE THE LESSONS THAT WE HAVE LEARNED THAT HAVE-- THAT WE WANT TO RETAIN AND WE WANT TO HOLD ONTO AND WE WANT TO EXPAND, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT IN THE NEW WHAT I WOULD CALL THE NEW WAY, THE NEW PHASE OF EDUCATION, AND SO THE LITTLE ONES THINK IT'S TRYING TO LOOK AT THOSE TRANSITIONS FROM ELEMENTARY TO MIDDLE TO HIGH SCHOOL, AND CERTAINLY EVEN TO COLLEGE, SO WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE HAD TO PIVOT TO AS A TOOL TO EXPAND LEARNING AND TO EXPAND LEARNING IN WAYS THAT WE HAVE NOT UTILIZED PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

>> NOW AT THE SAME TIME, THE STATE IS FACING A TEACHER SHORTAGE.

I ACTUALLY THINK IT MIGHT BE A NATIONAL PROBLEM.

IT'S A REAL PROBLEM AS YOU'RE TRANSITIONING FROM, YOU KNOW, THE COVID RESTRICTIONS BACK TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.

DO YOU THINK THERE'S ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THAT?

WHAT'S THE ANSWER THERE?

IS IT SOMETHING FROM YOUR AGENCY, OR IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN DO?

HOW CAN WE BRING THESE TEACHERS IN?

>> I THINK THE-- EVEN PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, I THINK THE 19 PANDEMIC IN SOME WAYS, IT WAS QUITE EXHAUST TO MANY TEACHERS WHO WERE, YOU KNOW, AS WE KNOW, THEY WERE THE EDUCATIONAL FIRST RESPONDERS.

SO WE HAVE INVESTED IN PROGRAMS LIKE TEACHER OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS, RIGHT, TEACHERS OF TOMORROW, TRYING TO NOT ONLY DIVERSIFY OUR TEACHER PIPE LINE BUT AND ALSO TO ENSURE THAT WE CREATE A NARRATIVE AND WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY DIALOGUE ABOUT WHAT TEACHING INVOLVES AND WHAT AN INCREDIBLE PROFIT IS, AND YOU KNOW THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING WITH THE BOARD OF REGENTS TO CREATE A FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF HAVING INDIVIDUALS ENTER THE PROFESSION, BUT WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT INVESTING IN RECRUITING, RETAINING, AND RETOOLING.

SO THOSE HAVE BEEN PART OF OUR CONVERSATION TO ENSURE THAT WE SUPPORT TEACHERS BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT RECRUITING THEM.

IT'S REALLY ALSO ABOUT RETAINING THEM AND MAKING SURE THAT TEACHERS RECONNECT WITH THE KINDS OF LEARNING AND THE KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES AND TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO DO A HIGH QUALITY JOB.

>> NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INVESTMENTS.

DO YOU THINK MORE MONEY WOULD HELP THERE?

AS YOU KNOW, THE STATE IS INVESTING A HISTORIC AMOUNT IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE MONEY COME FROM THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE IN NEXT YEAR'S STATE BUDGET TO HELP 20 WITH THIS PROBLEM, OR JUST TO HELP STRUGGLING DISTRICTS OVERALL?

YOU KNOW WE ARE INVESTING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT IN EDUCATION AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN SOME SCHOOLS MAY STILL BE STRUGGLING?

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY, OUR PROFESSION IS SUCH THAT IT'S SO COMPLEX AND THERE'S SO MANY NEEDS SO THAT THE-- WHILE, YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MADE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT AND THOSE DOLLARS ARE BEING USED THAT, IN FACT, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, AND JUST TO MENTION ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS ASKED US TO DO IS ENGAGE IN CROSS-AGENCY WORK, RIGHT, WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT SOME OF THE SKILLS THAT OUR STUDENTS NEED TO GO BACK TO IN ORDER TO BE READY FOR BOTH COLLEGE AND CAREER, AND SO THOSE KINDS OF INVESTMENTS, MAKING SURE THAT OUR DOLLARS ARE NOT ISOLATED, BUT RATHER CREATING A CROSS-PURPOSEFUL KIND OF APPROACH TO EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

EDUCATION IS, IN A LOT OF WAYS, ABOUT INTERSECTIONALITY FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT POPULATIONS.

I CAN SEE HOW THAT WORK WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

STATE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER DR. BETTY ROSA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

21 >> THANK YOU.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS AS THE SCHOOL YEAR CONTINUES.

UNTIL THEN, THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK'S "NEW YORK NOW."

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

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