[ THEME MUSIC ] ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," MURDERS ARE DOWN AND GUN SEIZURES ARE UP IN NEW YORK.

WE'LL HAVE DETAILS.

THEN THE STATE ASSEMBLY RETURNS TO ALBANY FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED.

LATER, A BILL TO STUDY THE POSSIBLE TIFF REPARATIONS IN NEW YORK HAS PASSED.

WE'LL SPEAK WITH THE BILL'S SPONSOR.

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.

WE TALK A LOT ABOUT CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY ON THIS SHOW, AND USUALLY, IT'S BAD NEWS, LIKE A BIG FINANCIAL CRIME OR A MASS SHOOTING.

THIS WEEK, WE HAVE SOME NEWS THAT'S GOOD.

NEW CRIME DATA SHOWS THAT THE NUMBER OF MURDERS IN NEW YORK WENT DOWN LAST YEAR.

THERE WERE 790 MURDERS LAST YEAR COMPARED TO 885 THE YEAR BEFORE, ACCORDING TO THE STATE.

AND THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT DROP BUT STILL A LOT HIGHER THAN PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

AT THE SAME TIME, GUN SEIZURES BY POLICE WERE UP.

POLICE IN NEW YORK SEIZED MORE THAN 10,000 GUNS LAST YEAR, AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 15% COMPARED TO 2021, STATE DATA SHOWS, AND 4,300 MORE THAN IN 2020.

AND EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS ARE UP TWO.

THAT'S WHEN A JUDGE DECIDES THAT SOMEONE'S GUNS SHOULD BE TAKEN AWAY BECAUSE THEY'RE EITHER A RISK TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS.

IT'S MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE RED FLAG GUN LAW AND IN MAY, THE NUMBER OF EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS WAS 927 IN NEW YORK.

THAT'S COMPARED TO ONE YEAR EARLIER, WHEN THERE WERE JUST 118 OF THOSE ORDERS.

SO THE TAKE-AWAY HERE IS THAT MURDERS ARE DOWN, AND THERE ARE FEWER GUNS ON THE STREETS.

AND FRANKLY, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW IF THE TWO ARE CONNECTED, BUT GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL SAID THIS WEEK THAT STRATEGY AGAINST CRIME WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.

SHOOTINGS ARE DOWN.

BACK DOWN TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS AND SHOOTINGS ARE DOWN 26% IN NEW YORK CITY.

SO THESE ARE GOOD NUMBERS, MY FRIENDS, BECAUSE IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO WE WERE SITTING HERE WATCHING THESE NUMBERS CREEP UP AND UP AND UP, AND WE NEVER KNEW, ARE WE HEADING INTO THAT 1990S WORLD, WHICH IS SO TERRIFYING FOR PEOPLE LIVING, PARTICULARLY IN OUR URBAN AREAS.

WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT DATA TO SEE IF THOSE TRENDS CHANGE.

LET'S GET INTO MORE NEWS FROM THE WEEK NOW, INCLUDING A SURPRISE SESSION AT THE CAPITOL WITH THIS WEEK'S PANEL.

ASHLEY HUPFL IS FROM THE DAILY GAZETTE.

ELISE KLINE IS FROM LILY BROADCASTING.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

I WANT TO START WITH SOMETHING THAT DID NOT HAPPEN IN THE ASSEMBLY THIS WEEK.

IT'S THE SENECA GAMING COMPACT.

WE ACTUALLY COVERED IT ON THE SHOW ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL FOR THE SENECAS AND I THINK WESTERN NEW YORK, IN PARTICULAR.

ELISE, I WANT TO GO TO YOU ON THIS BECAUSE YOU COVERED IT A LOT, AND I KNOW SOME OF THE STATIONS THAT YOU AIR ON ARE RIGHT IN THAT AREA, TOO.

SO WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE WITH THE SENECA GAMING COMPACT?

WELL, SOME LAWMAKERS HAVE SAID THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW CASINO IN ROCHESTER IS PRESENTING SOME CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF LAWMAKERS WANTING A FAIR COMPACT FOR THE SENECAS, AND I THINK THAT POSED A LOT OF CHALLENGES FOR SENATE MEMBERS GETTING ONBOARD.

I MEAN, THE SENATE ALREADY SIGNED IT OVER A WEEK AGO, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE THEY WILL HAVE TO COME BACK FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

YEAH.

IT'S AN INTERESTING THING.

THE SENECA GAMING COMPACT, AS I WAS READING ON IT TO PREPARE FOR A SEGMENT FROM A COUPLE WEEKS BACK THAT I JUST MENTIONED, THIS WAS FIRST OR THE MOST RECENT ONE WAS 20 YEARS AGO.

SO IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS.

IF THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN, IF THE ASSEMBLY DOESN'T COME BACK, THEN THE COMPACT EXPIRES.

IS THAT WHAT HAPPENS?

YES, IT EXPIRES THIS COMING DECEMBER.

AND SO YOU KNOW, THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY COME BACK FOR THE ORIGINAL-- THEIR NEXT SESSION IN JANUARY.

I GUESS IT'S POSSIBLE THAT MAYBE-- SINCE IT'S DECEMBER 31ST, THEY COULD KICK IT TO THE LAST DAY OF SESSION, BUT IT'S PROBABLY MORE LIKELY THEY WILL COME BACK FOR A SPECIAL SESSION SINCE IT DOES EXPIRE IN DECEMBER.

SOME LAWMAKERS HAVE SAID THEY WILL BE CONFERENCING AND TALKING ABOUT IT IN THE OFF-SESSION SEASON.

DO WE KNOW WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN DECEMBER OR EARLY JANUARY?

NOT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THE CONSEQUENCES, BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK IT COULD DEFINITELY POSE A LOT OF CHALLENGES AND MORE, YOU KNOW, JUST PUSHBACK WITH THE SENECA AND STRAINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SENECA AND THE STATE, WHICH IS ALREADY A CHALLENGE-- YEAH.

-- FOR-- IT'S ALREADY DIFFICULT FOR THEM AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE-- IT WOULD KIND OF FURTHER STRAIN THEIR RELATIONSHIP SHOULD THAT NOT GO THROUGH BEFORE DECEMBER 31ST.

RIGHT.

WHEN THEY CAME TO THE CAPITOL ABOUT A MONTH AGO, YOU COULD REALLY FEEL THE URGENCY OF THIS CONVERSATION WITH THEM.

THEY REALLY WERE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT AND REALLY MADE IT CLEAR IF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN, IT WOULD BE REALLY DEVASTATING FOR SOME PARTS OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO WATCH.

I MEAN, IF IT WERE UP TO ME, THE LAWMAKERS WOULD STAY AWAY AS LONG AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE-- [LAUGHTER] I JUST WANT A BREAK FROM SESSION RIGHT NOW.

BUT I IMAGINE IT THEY WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS AT SOME POINT BECAUSE LETTING IT EXPIRE WOULD NOT BE A GOOD ONE FOR THEM, I DON'T THINK.

WHO KNOWS?

THE NEXT ONE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, WHICH WASN'T AS MUCH OF A SURPRISE FOR ME IS THIS COVERAGE FOR ALL.

IT'S HEALTH COVERAGE FOR UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE UNDER THE STATE'S ESSENTIAL PLAN.

IT IS NECESSARILY LEGAL.

IT'S REALLY UP TO THE STATES.

SOME LAWMAKERS SAY A WAIVER FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE FEDS COULD PAY FOR IT.

BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

THE ASSEMBLY DIDN'T PASS IT.

ASHLEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPEN THERE'D?

I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

WE HEARD TUESDAY FROM THE GOVERNOR, SHE WAS IN ALBANY, SOMEONE HAD ASKED ABOUT THIS AND SHE WAS PRETTY DEFINITE IN HER ANSWER OF LIKE, NO, THE FEDS SAID WE CAN'T DO THIS PARTICULAR THING WITH THIS POT OF MONEY AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT, AND I THINK THERE JUST WASN'T MUCH APPETITE TO GET IT DONE.

SOMETHING SO COMPLICATED AND CONTROVERSIAL.

AT THE END OF SESSION, THAT IS KIND OF PUSHBACK TO NEXT YEAR.

RIGHT.

IT IS CONTROVERSIAL.

I REMEMBER-- I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS FIRST INTRODUCED, EITHER LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE, SOMEWHERE DURING COVID, IT WAS A DIG DEAL.

I THINK THAT THERE WAS MORE MOMENTUM IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAN I SAW THIS YEAR.

THIS YEAR DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE AS MUCH OF AN URGENCY A TAD WITH IT WITH THE ADVOCATES AS LAST YEAR.

THEY HAVE A FEW TIMES THIS YEAR.

BUT LAST YEAR, I FEEL THAT THE ENERGY WAS THERE FOR IT.

HAVE YOU SEEN POLITICS GETTING IN THE WAY OF THAT?

I MEAN, IMMIGRATION IS AN ISSUE THAT'S USUALLY ADDRESSED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

WE HAVE SOME POWER OVER IT HERE, BUT WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IMMIGRANTS, SOMETIMES THAT GETS A LITTLE POLITICAL.

I THINK OVERARCHING OVER ALL OF THIS IS THE MIGRANT CRISIS-- THE SO-CALLED MIGRANT CRISIS.

I THINK IF THAT WASN'T GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME, IF NEW YORK STATE WASN'T DEALING WITH THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY UNDOCUMENTED, BECAUSE THEY ARE.

THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT THEY'RE DISPLACED.

THERE'S A LOT OF -- WE SAW A LOT OF CONFLICT BETWEEN UPSTATE AND NEW YORK CITY ABOUT WHERE TO HOUSE THESE PEOPLE AND THERE'S A LOT OF-- THERE'S A LOT OF CONFLICT GOING ON RIGHT THERE, AND I THINK THIS JUST KIND OF WAS MORE GASOLINE ON THE FIRE.

YEAH.

AND THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE, TOO, THAT HAS EXTREME URGENCY TO IT IN THE STATE, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE WAS MUCH CONVERSATION AT THE CAPITOL ABOUT IT IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS OF SESSION.

IT SEEMS THERE WAS A LOT IN TERMS OF FROM THE GOVERNOR IN THE CONVERSATION BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE LEGISLATURE WAS ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING INTERESTING MOVING FORWARD.

WE SAW HOW IN THE STATE BUDGET HOW THEY KIND OF PROVIDE SOME AID FOR NEW YORK CITY.

I THINK IT WAS A BILLION DOLLARS.

IT WASN'T A SMALL POT OF MONEY, OF COURSE.

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHERE THAT GOES NEXT YEAR IN TERMS OF BUDGETING AND HOW THEY LOOK AT THIS, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO HOUSE THESE PEOPLE?

BECAUSE IN THEORY, THESE AREN'T PEOPLE GO WHO ARE GOING TO BE RETURNING TO THEIR COUNTRIES.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE STAYING IN NEW YORK.

INTERESTINGLY ON TOP OF THAT, WE DIDN'T HAVE HOUSING PASS THIS YEAR.

DO YOU THINK THAT GIVES HOUSING MORE URGENCY NEXT YEAR?

UM, I'M NOT SURE.

YEAH.

I THINK THE HOUSING ISSUE IN NEW YORK CITY IS PRETTY URGENT ALREADY.

YEAH.

[LAUGHTER] I WOULD SAY REALLY ANY URBAN CENTER AND RURAL AREAS, TOO.

WE COVERED ON THE SHOW A FEW YEARS AGO, LAKE PLACID HAD THIS REALLY BIG PROBLEM WITH AIRBNBS, ESSENTIALLY DISPLACING WHERE PEOPLE COULD LIVE.

THEY PUT A MORATORIUM ON IT.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW.

I'M WONDERING IF THAT COMES INTO THE CONVERSATION.

BUT I WANT TO MOVE ON TO THE THIRD THING, A BILL THAT ACTUALLY DID PASS, CHALLENGING WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS ACT.

THIS IS A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW DEFENDANTS OR PEOPLE CONVICTED OF A CRIME WHEN NEW NON-DNA EVIDENCE COMES UP, THEY COULD BRING IT UP TO THE JUDGE AND TRY TO GET THEIR CONVICTION OVERTURNED.

I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, ELISE, I DID NOT SEE THIS ONE PASSING.

I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE TOO CONTROVERSIAL.

YOU KNOW, ONE QUESTION THAT PEOPLE HAVE IS BOTH MAJORITIES IN THE LEGISLATURE SUPPORT IT, OBVIOUSLY, THEY PASSED IT.

THE BIGGER QUESTION NOW IS, WILL THE GOVERNOR SIGN IT?

DO WE HAVE ANY INDICATION?

I THINK SHE WILL SIGN IT.

I MEAN, SHE'S BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICIES IN THE PAST.

THEY PASSED CLEAN SLATE THIS YEAR WHICH WAS BIG.

I THINK THIS POLICY'S A LITTLE SIMILAR TO THAT.

I WOULDN'T-- I WOULD BE SURPRISED HONESTLY, IF SHE DOESN'T SIGN IT.

I THINK WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF SHE DOESN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS BILL, WHAT THE GOVERNOR DOES OFTEN WHEN THEY'RE DECIDING ON BILLS IS THEY DO SOMETHING CALLED THE CHAPTER AMENDMENT, WHICH FOR OUR AUDIENCE IS SOMETHING WHERE BASICALLY THEY SIGN THE BILL AND THEY AGREE TO CHANGE IT AT A LATER DATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THERE'S NOTHING REALLY FORMAL ABOUT IT.

IT'S ACTUALLY KIND OF STRANGE SOMETIMES TO WATCH.

SO WE'LL SEE IF THAT COMES UP.

THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THESE CRIMINAL JUSTICE MEASURES CENTERS AROUND POLITICS FOR ME IN SUCH BIG WAYS.

THIS IS A BILL THAT REPUBLICANS DID NOT SUPPORT BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN VERY AGAINST ALL THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM MEASURES THAT DEMOCRATS PASSED IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.

SO NEXT YEAR, IF THIS COMES UP AGAIN, EITHER IN AN AMENDED FORM, IF THE GOVERNOR VETOES IT OR THERE'S OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE MEASURES, I COULD SEE THAT KIND OF DYNAMIC PLAYING IN INTEREST AS WELL.

ASHLEY WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT IN AN ELECTION YEAR?

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR?

THAT'S THE FIRST THING I WAS GONNA BRING UP.

ONE IMPORTANT THING ON THESE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES IS LAWMAKERS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT ELECTION, AND WE SAW-- I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST TIME I WAS HERE.

WE SAW HOCHUL GET HAMMERED FROM HER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE ON THESE ISSUES, ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND I CAN SEE HER BEING VERY SENSITIVE TO THIS KIND OF BILL, KNOWING THAT SHE CAN GET FLANKED BECAUSE OF IT AND YOU KNOW, IT'S-- IT IS A VERY BROAD BILL.

THERE IS SOME, I THINK, FAIR CRITICISM ABOUT IT OR CONCERNS-- SURE.

-- ABOUT IT.

FROM PROSECUTORS WHO SAY, IF YOU DO THIS, NO VERDICT IS EVER GOING TO BE DEFINITE EVER AGAIN.

RIGHT.

THERE'S AN ARGUMENT ABOUT WHETHER THAT SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT BE.

BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW SHE HANDLES THIS.

I THINK IT COULD PASS THIS YEAR OR BE SIGNED THIS YEAR ONLY BECAUSE MAYBE SHE WANTS TO GET IT OUT OF THE WAY.

YEAH.

THAT'S ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD POINT.

SHE COULD SIGN IT THIS YEAR.

LET THE KIND OF ROUGH NEWS CYCLE AROUND HER GO AND ESCAPE IT BY NEXT YEAR.

I MEAN, SHE HAS THE ADVANTAGE NEXT YEAR THAT SHE'S ACTUALLY NOT UP FOR RE-ELECTION AS GOVERNOR, BUT THE LEGISLATURE IS.

THIS COULD BE THE YEAR THAT KATHIE HOCHUL REALLY TRIES TO PUT IT TO 'EM, YOU KNOW.

[LAUGHTER] AND TRY TO PUT SOME PRESSURE ON BECAUSE FOR HER, THERE AREN'T REALLY ANY POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES FOR THAT NEXT YEAR.

ELISE, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF NEXT YEAR LOOKING AT THE CAPITOL?

I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST FULL LEGISLATIVE SESSION YOU COVERED HERE, RIGHT?

YES.

SO NEXT YEAR COULD BE MORE FUN OR LESS FUN.

[LAUGHTER] NEXT YEAR WILL DEFINITELY BE DIFFERENT IN THAT BECAUSE LAWMAKERS ARE UP FOR RE-ELECTION, THAT THEIR OPINIONS AND YOU KNOW, DECISIONS ON POLICIES MIGHT CHANGE AND THEIR EFFORTS TO PUSH FORBE SOME OF THOSE POLICIES MIGHT BE DIFFERENT, SO CONVERSATIONS IN THAT CONSEQUENCE MIGHT BE DIFFERENT WITH THE GOVERNOR.

THERE MIGHT BE MAYBE MORE HEATED CONVERSATIONS, MAYBE IT WILL GO A LITTLE EASIER.

I GUESS IT'S HARD TO SAY.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE GOVERNOR, SHE'S NOT UP FOR RE-ELECTION AND SHE DOESN'T HAVE THAT PRESSURE.

YEAH.

THE POLITICS OF NEXT YEAR, I THINK, ARE GOING TO BE FASCINATING BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN KATHIE HOCHUL AND THE LEGISLATURE CLASH BEFORE.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WHERE THEY MAY BE ABLE TO CLASH IN A WAY THEY HAVEN'T BEFORE.

SO WE WILL SEE, BUT WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

ASHLEY HUPFL FROM THE DAILY GAZETTE.

ELISE KLINE FROM LILY BROADCASTING, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

AND YOU CAN FIND MORE FROM THE STATE CAPITOL AND BEYOND ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S ALSO WHERE YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER.

YOU'LL GET A QUICK LOOK AT THE WEEK'S NEWS AND A LINK TO THE SHOW ONLINE.

THAT AND MORE IS AT NYNOW.ORG, BUT STAYING NOW AT THE STATE CAPITOL, THIS MONDAY MARKED THE THIRD YEAR THAT JUNETEENTH WAS CELEBRATED AS A STATE HOLIDAY.

JUST FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, JUNETEENTH MARKS THE DAY IN 1865 WHEN THE LAST ENSLAVED PEOPLE IN THE U.S.

WERE FINALLY FREED IN TEXAS, BUT NEW YORK HAS ITS OWN HISTORY OF SLAVERY.

IT WASN'T UNTIL 1799 THAT NEW YORK EVEN STARTED TO PHASE OUT SLAVERY, WHICH WAS OFFICIALLY OUTLAWED HERE ALMOST 30 YEARS LATER, AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON FOR A NEW BILL PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE TO STUDY REPARATIONS IN NEW YORK, AND THAT'S DEFINED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE IDEA THAT BECAUSE OF SLAVERY AND THE JIM CROW ERA, DESCENDANTS OF PEOPLE ENSLAVED IN THE U.S. HAVEN'T HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AND GENERATIONAL WEALTH THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD.

SO REPARATIONS WOULD BE TO HELP MAKE UP FOR THAT, BUT JUST AS IMPORTANTLY TO ACKNOWLEDGE ONE OF THIS COUNTRY'S GREATEST SINS, AND THAT COULD COME IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT FORMS, FROM MONEY TO RESOURCES AND A LOT MORE.

THAT IS WHAT THE BILL WOULD LOOK INTO THROUGH A SPECIAL COMMISSION, BUT IT ALSO HAS TO WIN APPROVAL FROM GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL.

SO FOR MORE ON THAT, WE SPOKE WITH THE BILL'S SPONSOR AND THE CHAIR OF THE BLACK, PUERTO RICAN, HISPANIC AND ASIAN LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS, ASSEMBLY MEMBER MICHAELLE SOLAGES.

[ THEME MUSIC ] ASSEMBLY MEMBER SOLAGES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, I APPRECIATE IT.

MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

ANYTIME.

SO THIS IS A BILL THAT WOULD CREATE A COMMISSION TO STUDY REPARATIONS.

YES.

IT IS A BIG TOPIC, BUT LET'S START WITH WHAT THE COMMISSION WOULD ACTUALLY BE DOING TO DO THAT.

SO KIND OF TAKE ME THROUGH WHAT THE COMMISSION WOULD BE DOING.

YOU KNOW, AS CHAIR OF THE CAUCUS, I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND ACROSS THE STATE THE JOYS OF NEW YORK STATE BUT ALSO THE PITFALLS, AND SO YOU KNOW, GOING TO THE ADIRONDACKS AND LEARNING ABOUT TIMBUKTU, A BLACK COMMUNITY WHERE IT WAS-- PROPERTY WAS GIVEN TO BLACK MEMBERS SO THEY COULD VOTE IN ELECTIONS BECAUSE THAT WAS A LAW IN NEW YORK STATE.

YOU KNOW, WE DECIDE THERE'S SO MUCH HISTORY IN NEW YORK STATE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND SO WITH THIS COMMISSION, WE WANTED EXPERTS TO SIT AT A TABLE AND DISCUSS WHAT REPARATIONS WOULD LOOK LIKE IN NEW YORK STATE, HOW WE CAN ATONE AND HOW WE CAN FIX SOME OF THESE INEQUALITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN NEW YORK STATE.

SO THE COMMISSION WOULD BE CHARGED WITH LOOKING AT WHAT REPARATIONS WOULD BE LIKE IN NEW YORK STATE.

SO THIS IS JUST SPECIFIC TO NEW YORK.

DO WE HAVE A UNIQUE HISTORY IN TERMS OF SLAVERY AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT VERSUS OTHER STATES?

LIKE, WHY JUST LOOK AT NEW YORK?

NEW YORK STATE IS THE FINANCIAL CAPITAL AND IT WAS THE FINANCIAL CAPITAL.

IF YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, NEW YORK STATE HISTORY, WE DID ABOLISH SLAVERY EARLY ON, BUT THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS WERE GREAT.

YOU KNOW, NEW YORK BANKS LOAN A LOT TO PLANTATIONS SO THEY CAN EXPAND THEIR SLAVERY, YOU KNOW, POPULATION, SECURITIES, YOU KNOW, IN THE SENSE THAT MANY INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE BASED IN NEW YORK STATE ACTUALLY INSURED SLAVES IN CASE THEY WERE LOST OR KILLED OR STOLEN SOME WE AS A STATE BENEFITED FROM SLAVERY, FROM CHATTEL SLAVERY, EXCUSE ME.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT THAT HISTORY AND WE SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO FIX THE INEQUALITIES TODAY.

SO HOW WOULD THE COMMISSION BE FORMED?

WHO GETS TO SIT ON IT, I GUESS?

WHO GETS TO PICK THE PEOPLE?

YOU KNOW, REPARATIONS IS SUCH A NUANCED CONVERSATION, I TELL PEOPLE.

PEOPLE ALWAYS THINK OF COMPENSATION, BUT IT'S MANY OTHER ELEMENTS, RESTITUTION, A COMMITMENT TO NOT DOING THESE ATROCITIES AGAIN, AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE I.T.

ISING ON THE COMMISSION ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT REPARATIONS AND SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SEEKING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE-- WHO HAVE FOUGHT AND HAVE AN INTEREST IN REPARATIONS AND WE HOPE THAT THESE EXPERTS WILL BE ABLE TO SIT ON THE COMMISSION.

AND THEY'RE APPOINTED BY THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER AND THE GOVERNOR.

WHY NOT THE MINORITY LEADERS?

I REALLY WANT US TO FOCUS ON THE TOPIC OF REPARATIONS.

IT'S SUCH A NUANCED CONVERSATION, AND SO WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT EXPERTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR POLITICAL AFFILIATION, ARE SITTING ON THE PANEL.

SO MY FOCUS WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EXPERTS AND NOT, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO IS APPOINTED.

IT REALLY MATTERS WHO IS SEATED AND LISTENING TO THE CONCERNS OF NEW YORKERS HEARING WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.

AS I SAID, THIS IS A VERY BIG TOPIC, A LOT TO EXPLORE.

WHAT'S THE TIMEFRAME THAT THE COMMISSION WILL BE WORKING WITH?

YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS AFTER THE BILL IS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, THE COMMISSION IS FORMED.

THEY HAVE TO PICK A CHAIRMAN AND A VICE CHAIRPERSON, AND THEY HAVE A YEAR TO COME UP WITH A REPORT.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO PUBLIC HEARINGS AND, YOU KNOW, LISTEN TO NEW YORKERS, AND WE ALSO PUT IN THE BILL PROVISIONS WHERE THEY COULD WORK WITH HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES HERE IN NEW YORK STATE AND ALSO RESEARCH CENTERS.

SO THAT THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, COME UP WITH A DOCUMENT THAT WILL LOOK AT REPARATIONS, ALL THE ELEMENTS OF REPARATIONS AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO BRIDGE THE GAP.

IS THAT ENOUGH TIME, YOU THINK, JUST A YEAR FROM START TO FINISH?

YOU KNOW, THE TOPIC OF REPARATIONS HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

SO WE KNOW A LOT OF THE ELEMENTS THAT WE NEED TO PUT INTO THAT REPORT, AND SO I BELIEVE A YEAR TO PRODUCE A DOCUMENT IS ENOUGH TIME AND ALSO WE CAN'T WAIT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SOLVING THESE INEQUALITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY, OH, YOU'RE JUST LOOKING AT CHATTEL SLAVERY.

YES, WE'RE LOOKING AT CHATTEL SLAVERY AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WHOLE TIME LINE, WHETHER IT'S JIM CROW, APARTHEID, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO HOUSING AND LENDING DISCRIMINATION, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THE WHOLE TIME LINE OF THIS IMPACT AND WE NEED TO TACKLE IT NOW.

YEAH.

JUST IN THE LAST FEW YEARS I THINK SOME MAJOR REPORTS CAME OUT ABOUT RED LINING IN BUFFALO AND LONG ISLAND.

EXACTLY, YEAH.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING OF THE DISTANT PAST.

NO, NO, AND I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE FIRST SEVER, YOU THINK ABOUT LONG ISLAND AND YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A HOUSING PROGRAM THAT WAS CREATED FOR WORLD WAR II VETERANS THAT HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED BLACK PEOPLE.

IT WAS IN THE COVENANTS OF LEVITTOWN, IT SAID PROPERTIES COULD NOT BE SOLD TO BLACK NEW YORKERS, BLACK INDIVIDUALS.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE MODERN ILLS OF CHATTEL SLAVERY, PEOPLE CAN'T JUST THINK ABOUT CHATTEL SLAVERY, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW IT MORPHED INTO THESE INEQUALITIES THAT WE LIVE WITH EVEN TODAY.

SO WE TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLES OUTCOME OF THE COMMISSION?

WHAT COULD THEY RECOMMEND FOR IN TERMS OF REPARATIONS?

AS I READ ONLINE, THAT COULD MEAN A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

YEAH.

AS I SAID BEFORE, THERE ARE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF REPARATIONS.

I HOPE THAT THE REPORT COMES OUT WITH SYSTEMATIC CHANGE BECAUSE WE NEED CHANGE IN OUR SOCIETY.

IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE STATISTICS, BLACK NEW YORKERS ARE LEFT BEHIND, WHETHER IT'S HEALTH CARE, HOUSING, EDUCATION, YOU KNOW, SEGREGATION.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT PARAMETERS THAT SHOW YOU THAT BLACK NEW YORKERS ARE LEFT BEHIND AND SO I HOPE THE REPORT, YOU KNOW, COMES OUT WITH INFORMATION THAT CAN CHARGE THE LEGISLATURE WITH ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, POLITICAL WILL AND ENERGY TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM THAT WE LIVE IN TODAY.

YOU KNOW, WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF OUR ANCESTORS, AND WE HOPE THAT WE CAN PUT WHOLE THE PEOPLE WHO CAN-- YOU KNOW, TRACE THEIR LINEAGE AND ALSO CHANGE THE SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE NOW AND TODAY.

DO YOU THINK THAT SHOULD INCLUDE AN APOLOGY?

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT REPARATIONS NEED TO INCLUDE A VERY PUBLIC APOLOGY ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OR THE COUNTRY BY THE GOVERNOR OR THE PRESIDENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I DEFINITELY THINK SO.

IN OUR SOCIETY, WE NEVER LOOKED RACISM AND INEQUALITY IN THE EYES AND ATONED FOR, YOU KNOW, THE ILLS OF CHATTEL SLAVERY AND THEN WE ALSO NEVER REALLY APOLOGIZED TO THOSE PEOPLE IN MODERN HISTORY.

IF YOU LOOK AT SENECA VILLAGE, WHICH WAS THE MODERN DAY CENTRAL PARK, THAT WAS A THRIVING BLACK COMMUNITY THAT WAS DECIMATED.

IT WAS CALLED BLIGHTED.

IT WAS, YOU KNOW, DEEMED INEFFICIENT AND THOSE PEOPLE'S PROPERTIES WERE TAKEN AWAY AND WE'VE NEVER SAID SORRY.

WE NEVER MADE AMENDS TO THEM.

ALL WE DID WAS JUST PUT A PLACARD AND SAY THAT WAS SUFFICIENT ENOUGH.

DEFINITELY AN APOLOGY FOR CHATTEL SLAVERY AND ALL THE ILLS IS DEFINITELY NEEDED.

AND THEN IN TERMS OF WHAT REPARATIONS WOULD LOOK LIKE IN A MORE TANGIBLE WAY, DO YOU THINK THAT LOOKS LIKE-- AND I KNOW THE COMMISSION WILL OBVIOUSLY DECIDE THROUGH RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE-- DO YOU THINK THAT LOOKS LIKE THINGS LIKE STRONGER SERVICES FOR PEOPLE, OR DOES IT LOOK LIKE JUST DIRECT MONEY PAYMENTS TO PEOPLE?

YOU KNOW, COMPENSATION IS A COMPONENT OF IT, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO CAN TRACE THEIR HERITAGE-- THEIR LINEAGE BACK TO CHATTEL SLAVERY, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM, AND SO YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE COMMISSION WILL DO A GOOD JOB AT PRODUCING A REPORT AND I HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND REALLY CHANGE THE SYSTEM WHETHER IT'S FOSTER CARE, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS GO BACK TO HOUSING BECAUSE THAT'S THE MOST GLARING DISCRIMINATION.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, YEAH.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT THAT WE CAN DO.

YOU KNOW, I'M HOPEFUL THE COMMISSION CAN PRODUCE SOMETHING THAT WILL IMPACT AND CHANGE OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO FOR THE COMMISSION, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE COMMISSION IS GOING TO RESEARCHING THIS, DOING ALL THE MEETINGS AND HEARINGS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO COME OUT WITH A REPORT BUT THEIR REPORT ISN'T BINDING, RIGHT?

YES.

IT'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO CONSIDER.

CORRECT.

DO YOU SEE POLITICS GETTING IN THE WAY OF THAT WHEN THAT HAPPENS?

I DON'T REALLY SEE THIS NECESSARILY AS A POLITICAL ISSUE.

YES.

BUT REPUBLICANS VOTED ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY AGAINST IT IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

SO I CAN SEE A SITUATION WHERE WE KIND OF HAVE A POLITICAL SITUATION AND CERTAIN PRESSURES.

DO YOU THINK THAT GETS IN THE WAY?

I'M HOPEFUL.

THE BILL DID GAIN BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE INFORMATION FROM THE REPORT AND BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM THAT EXISTS TODAY, VERY HOPEFUL.

SO YOU KNOW, WE WILL SEE.

BUT YOU KNOW, REPARATIONS IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE AND HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, WE CAN REALLY FLUSH OUT AND HAVE A DIALOGUE THAT TALKS TO THE ISSUES AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL WE CAN HOPE FOR AS A SOCIETY.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, SINCE THE INCIDENT WITH GEORGE FLOYD, OUR CORPORATIONS, BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENT, INDIVIDUALS ARE NOW LOOKING TO MAKE A MENDS, AND WE'RE ALL LOOKING TO WORK TOGETHER FOR EQUALITY.

I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONTINUE THAT WORK.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL SAY, DESPITE WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, THAT SLAVERY WAS SUCH A LONG TIME AGO AND THEY'RE ALIVE TODAY.

AND IN THEORY, ANY NEW SERVICES OR ANY DIRECT PAYMENTS WOULD COME FROM PUBLIC MONEY.

UH-HUH.

AND THEY'LL SAY WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR THAT, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THAT?

WE ALL BENEFITED FROM CHATTEL SLAVERY.

AS WE SAID BEFORE, NEW YORK STATE, EVEN THE COUNTRY WAS BUILT ON THE LABOR OF BLACK PEOPLE, AND WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT LABOR WAS UNPAID AND ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE GENERATIONAL TRAUMA OF NOT ONLY FROM CHATTEL SLAVERY BUT ITS DIFFERENT LEGACIES.

AS WE SAID BEFORE, BLACK CROW, JIM CROW, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL SEGREGATION, THESE POLICIES WE LIVE WITH TODAY AND TO SAY THAT IT DOESN'T IMPACT YOU, IT IMPACTS YOU EVERY DAY.

THE ROADS THAT YOU DRIVE ON, THE SCHOOL THAT YOU GO TO, YOU KNOW, THE BANKS THAT YOU BANK AT, ALL BENEFITED FROM CHATTEL SLAVERY, AND SO YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL NEW YORKERS ARE UPLIFTED IN THIS PROCESS.

SO WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT.

THE LAST STEP FOR THIS BILL BEFORE IT BECOMES A LAW, HEADS TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

SHE HAS TO MAKE THE DECISION TO SIGN IT OR NOT.

UH-HUH.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS WITH HER OFFICE ABOUT WHETHER THAT LOOKS LIKELY OR UNLIKELY?

SO WE'VE TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THE BILL.

I'M JUST HOPEFUL, YOU KNOW, THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T GET STUCK INTO THE PETTY POLITICS OF THIS CONVERSATION AND REALLY LOOK AT IT AS A WAY TO REALLY TALK ABOUT POLICIES AND SYSTEM CHANGES FOR NEW YORK.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, ALL THE PARAMETERS POINT TO THE HUGE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC GAPS WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK NEW YORKERS, AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES AND WAYS THAT WE CAN UPLIFT ALL COMMUNITIES AT THE END OF THE DAY.

ALL RIGHT.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER MICHAELLE SOLAGES, CHAIR OF THE BLACK, PUERTO RICAN, HISPANIC AND ASIAN LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THIS.

THANK YOU.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AND AS WE SAID, THAT BILL HAS PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

THAT MEANS IT NOW HEADS TO GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL FOR A SIGNATURE, BUT SO FAR, SHE HASN'T TAKEN A POSITION ON THE LEGISLATION.

BUT AS WE SAID, REPUBLICANS HAVE.

THEY WERE LARGELY AGAINST THE BILL.

IN A STATEMENT SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER ROB ORTT SAID, QUOTE, AS MILLIONS OF NEW YORKERS CONTINUE TO LEAVE THE STATE, ALBANY DEMOCRATS PRIORITIZED AN UNWORKABLE AND DIVISIVE COMMISSION TO MAKE REPARATION RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE SURE TO BE UNREALISTIC, UNATTAINABLE AND OUTRAGEOUSLY EXPENSIVE.

WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN GOVERNOR HOCHUL MAKES A DECISION.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME THIS WEEK.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >>ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR "NEW YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.