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

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

IT'S ABOUT A WEEK UNTIL THE STATE BUDGET DEADLINE AND NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDERWAY.

LEGISLATIVE LEADER OFFICIALLY KICKED THINGS OFF BY CONVENING THE FIRST GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEETING ALSO KNOWN TO ALBANY POLITICOS AS THE MOTHERSHIP.

THE MEETING CAME AFTER THE CHAMBER'S VOTING RESPECT ONE-HOUSE BUDGET PROPOSALS WHICH WERE ABOUT $13 BILLION MORE THAN WHAT THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED.

LET'S UNPACK SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.

THE TWO CHAMBERS, FOR THE MOST PART, WERE ALIGN ON ADDRESSING HOUSING WITH INCLUSION OF SOME FORM OF TENANT PROTECTIONS.

THE CHAMBERS ALSO INCLUDED INCREASED TAXES ON WEALTHY NEW YORKERS, WHILE THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID THAT THIS IS A NON-STARTER FOR NEGOTIATIONS.

AND THE LEGISLATURE ALSO VEERED AWAY FROM THE CONTROVERSIAL EDUCATION PLAN HOCHUL PROPOSED.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, REPUBLICANS SLAMMED DEMOCRATS FOR WHAT THEY DESCRIBE AS A BUDGET THAT DOES NOT ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY.

BUT ONE THING IS CLEAR, THERE IS A LOT FOR THE LEADERS TO TRY TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON BEFORE APRIL 1ST.

IN THE MEANTIME, DAVID LOMBARDO OF THE CAPITOL PRESS ROOM SAT DOWN WITH SENATE FINANCE CHAIR, LIZ KRUEGER, TO UNPACK THE CHAMBER'S POSITION ON SOME OF THE MOST-WATCHED BUDGET ITEMS.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] WELL, WELCOME TO THE SHOW, SENATOR.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE TIME.

CERTAINLY, GLAD YOU'RE HERE WITH ME.

IN THE ONE-HOUSE BUDGETS PROPOSED BY THE DEMOCRATS AND IN THE SENATE ASSEMBLY, THE SPENDING THEY ENVISION IS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE GOVERNOR CALLED FOR IN HER EXECUTIVE BUDGET.

IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THAT, DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE ADVANCED HIGHER TAXES ON WEALTHY NEW YORKERS.

IN THE SENATE PARTICULAR, THERE'S AN INCREASED INCOME TAX ON NEW YORKER MAKING MORE THAN $5 MILLION AND ABOVE AND INCREASE ON CORPORATIONS MAKING $5 MILLION ANNUALLY.

WHY IS THAT THE RIGHT BALANCE TO STRIKE FOR THE SENATE DEMS IN PARTICULAR, THE INCREASED SPENDING AND THE INCREASED TAXES?

WELL, TO START, NOBODY EVER WANTS TO INCREASE TAXES, BUT YOU NEED TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES AND THE PROGRAMS THAT THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK NEED.

WE BELIEVE THAT WE MADE VERY MODEST, PROPOSED INCREASES IN THE NUMBER DIFFERENT SORES OF REVENUE.

YOU MENTIONED, TOO, ONE IS AN INCREASE IN TAXES FOR PEOPLE MAKING OVER $5 MILLION A YEAR AND THEN A BUMP IF YOU MAKE MORE THAN 25 MILLION.

WELL, JUST TO START, THIS IS YOUR TAXABLE INCOME, WHICH ANYONE WHO HAS $5 MILLION OR $25 MILLION OF TAXABLE INCOME HAS DRAMATICALLY MORE ACTUAL INCOME BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY WAYS TO SHELTER INCOME AND TO NOT TAKE INCOME AS QUOTE, UNQUOTE CASH WHEN YOU HAVE THAT LEVEL OF WEALTH.

SO THE CHANGES WE MADE WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY ZERO IMPACT ON THE LIFESTYLE OR THE SPENDING ABILITY OF ANYONE IN THESE CATEGORIES.

THESE PEOPLE HAVE-- YOU KNOW, THEY ARE THE% OF THE 1% AND THEY ACTUALLY DON'T SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY, AND THEY'RE EARNING IT AT A MUCH FASTER AND HIGHER LEVEL THAN ACTUALLY THEY WILL PROBABLY EVER SPEND.

WE FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE SAYING WE NEED ADDITIONAL FUND FOR IMPORTANT PROGRAMS IN NEW YORK STATE.

WE'RE ASKING YOU TO, YES, MAKE THE SACRIFICE OF PAYING A LITTLE BIT MORE IN YOUR TAXES BUT WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT THAT WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES.

NOW ON THE CORPORATE TAX, IT'S ALSO ONLY IF THE CORPORATION NETS MORE THAN $5 MILLION A YEAR.

SO THESE ARE QUITE LARGE CORPORATIONS AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM AREN'T EVEN ACTUALLY HERE IN NEW YORK.

THEY'RE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES THAT SELL TO US IN NEW YORK AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SELL TO US IN NEW YORK, BUT IT'S NOT EVEN A STORYLINE OF, WELL, WILL THEY PICK UP AND LEAVE IF WE HAVE A HIGHER TAX RATE ON THEM?

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SMALL OR MEDIUM OR COMMUNITY OR LOCAL-BASED BUSINESSES.

SO AGAIN, WE BELIEVE THAT IS AN APPROPRIATE DECISION AND IN FACT, OUR CORPORATE TAXES ON HIGH-EARNING, LARGE CORPORATIONS IS LOWER THAN QUITE A FEW STATES.

AND THOSE TAXES ARE GOING TO GENERATE POTENTIALLY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THE SENATE DEMOCRATS, IN PARTICULAR, WANT TO SPEND THOSE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS ON?

SURE.

SO WE THINK THOSE TWO TAX-- COMBINED TAX PROPOSALS WILL BRING US IN ABOUT $2.2 BILLION A YEAR COMBINED, AND WE HAVE A FULL AND ROBUST PACKAGE OF CHANGES TO THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.

I'D SAY ONE OF THE BIGGEST DISCUSSIONS HAS BEEN AROUND NOT ALLOWING CUTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING.

THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED FAIRLY DRAMATIC CUTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING THAT WOULD IMPACT 50% OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE.

NOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS FUNCTION UNDER KNOWING WHAT THEIR BUDGETS ARE YEAR AFTER YEAR, BEING ABLE TO HIRE OR KEEP THE STAFF THEY HAVE, AND THE CONCEPT THAT IN ONE YEAR YOU WOULD CUT 50% OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WOULD LITERALLY LEAVE THEM IN A CRISIS AT THIS MOMENT BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY MADE THEIR DECISIONS AND THEIR PLANS FOR WHAT NEXT SCHOOL YEAR STARTING SEPTEMBER 1 LOOKS LIKE.

SO FOR 50% OF THE DISTRICTS TO FACE REDUCTIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY'RE GETTING IN STATE AID WOULD TRULY BE DAMAGING AND IMPACT, YOU KNOW, HALF OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SO WE PUT THAT MONEY BACK.

LAST YEAR, WE, IN AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNOR, ADJUSTED THE FUNDING TO FINALLY MEET OUR LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO FULLY FUND THE FORMULA-BASED AID TO EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE.

WE SPENT DECADES FIGHTING IN COURT AROUND THIS ISSUE.

WE MADE COMMITMENTS THAT THEN GOT PULLED BACK BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND THEN THE PANDEMIC.

LAST YEAR, WE FINALLY MADE THE COMMITMENT TO DELIVER FULL FUNDING AID AS COMMITTED TO, IN PREVIOUS YEARS, TO EVERY ONE OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

IT'S A YEAR LATER AND THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED REDUCING THAT COMMITMENT.

WE JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS WRONG AND WOULD HARM SCHOOLCHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES SO WE'RE PUTTING THAT MONEY BACK.

THAT'S ONE THE BIGGEST CHANGES WE'RE MAKING IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.

WE ALSO, IN COORDINATION WITH THE ASSEMBLY, ACTUALLY FOUND AN OPPORTUNITY TO DRAW DOWN $4 BILLION MORE FROM FEDERAL MEDICAID FUNDS.

SO IT'S NOT NEW TAXES ON THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK STATE.

IT'S NEW FEDERAL MONEY COMING TO US.

IT HAS TO BE SPENT ON HEALTH CARE-RELATED ACTIVITIES FOR PEOPLE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID, BUT INTERESTINGLY, THAT WAS ANOTHER PLACE THE GOVERNOR WAS CALLING FOR SIGNIFICANT CUTS.

EVEN THOUGH THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, HOSPITALS, COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH CARE, NURSING HOMES, DOCTORS, NURSES WERE ALL EXPLICITLY TALKING TO US ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF HAVING SUCH LOW MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATES, OUR DIFFICULTIES OF FINDING PEOPLE TO WORK IN OUR HOSPITALS AND HOME CARE SERVICES.

WE KNOW WE HAVE A GROWING POPULATION THAT'S GETTING OLDER.

WE KNOW WE HAVE HIGHER HEALTH CARE COSTS.

I WISH WE DIDN'T, BUT WE KNOW FOR A FACT WE DO.

AND THIS 4 BILLION MORE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DRAW DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO GO A LONG WAY TO ADDRESSING THOSE CONCERNS, BUT THERE'S NO TAX INCREASE ON THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK.

I THINK THAT IS A COMPLETE WIN-WIN, AND I WOULD HOPE THE GOVERNOR WOULD GO, WHAT A GREAT IDEA THEY CAME UP WITH.

WELL, WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR LIZ KRUEGER.

SHE IS A MANHATTAN DEMOCRAT.

SENATOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE TIME.

THANK YOU.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AND FOR MORE BUDGET TALK WITH SENATE FINANCE CHAIR LIZ KRUEGER, INCLUDING A POSSIBLE GRAND BARGAIN ON HOUSING, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER BUDGET ISSUE.

THERE IS AN ONGOING PUSH TO SECURE A RAISE FOR NEW YORKERS WORKING AT NONPROFIT WHO HAVE BEEN CONTRACTED BY THE STATE TO PROVIDE A RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS, MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND MORE.

THIS YEAR, WORKER ARE ASKING FOR AN INCREASED COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT IN THE STATE BUDGET.

TO UNPACK IT ALL, WE SPOKE WITH MICHELLE JACKSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL.

[ THEME MUSIC ] WELL, WELCOME TO THE SHOW, MICHELLE.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

FOR STARTERS WHAT WE THINK ABOUT THE NONPROFIT, HUMAN SERVICES SECTOR IN NEW YORK, WHAT TYPE OF WORK IS THE STATE GOVERNMENT FARMING OUT TO YOUR MEMBERS?

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

HUMAN SERVICES ARE REALLY EMBEDDED IN EVERY COMMUNITY, RURAL, SUBURBAN AND METROPOLITAN ACROSS NEW YORK, AND THE HUMAN SERVICES SECTOR PROVIDES A REAL BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES EVERY DAY FROM CHILD CARE CENTERS AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, SENIOR SENATORS, HOME-DELIVERED MEALS ARE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

IT'S A REAL BROAD SPECTRUM OF SERVICES INCLUDING EMERGENCY SERVICES AND EVEN SPORTS IN THE LOCAL GYMS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, THOSE ARE USUALLY ALL TYPICALLY RUN BY NONPROFIT HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAS REALLY FARMED OUT MOST OF THOSE HUMAN SERVICES ON CONTRACT TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

AND IS THAT A RECENT PHENOMENON, OR HAS THIS DYNAMIC ALWAYS EXISTED?

SO, IT'S CERTAINLY NOT RECENT.

FOR THE LAST 20, 30, EVEN 40 YEARS, NON-PROFITS HAVE BEEN CONTRACTED WITH GOVERNMENT.

I WOULD SAY AT LEAST IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, IT'S ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY.

CERTAINLY THE STATE DOES RETAIN AND OTHER COUNTIES RETAIN SOME CONTRACTS THEMSELVES TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES BUT AT LEAST FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, IT'S BEEN THE MAJORITY OF THOSE CONTRACTS GO OUT TO NONPROFIT HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS.

SO GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S BUDGET PROPOSAL INCLUDES FUNDING FOR A 1.5% COST OF LIVING INCREASE TO WORKERS AT NONPROFIT IN THE HUMAN SERVICES SECTOR, WHICH COMES ON THE HEELS OF A 4% LAST YEAR AND ABOUT A 5.5% BUMP THE YEAR BEFORE THAT.

SO IS IT COMMON FOR THE SECTOR TO SEE REGULAR COST OF LIVING RAISES?

UNFORTUNATELY, NO.

IN 2008, THERE WAS A STATUTE THAT WAS PASSED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK TO PROVIDE A MANDATORY COLA EACH YEAR TO HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS WHO CONTRACT WITH THE STATE BASED ON THE CPI, THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.

SINCE THAT STATUTE WAS ENACTED, IT WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR.

SO GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS THE FIRST GOVERNOR SINCE THAT STATUTE PASSED A FULL COLA FOR THE HUMAN SERVICES SECTOR AND OF COURSE, WITH THE HELP OF THE LEGISLATURE.

UNFORTUNATELY WHAT THAT MEANS IS NONPROFIT HUMAN SERVICES WENT UPWARDS OF 15 YEARS WITHOUT A REAL INCREASE ON THEIR STATE CONTRACTS SO WHILE THESE INCREASES THAT HAVE HAPPENED THE LAST TWO YEARS AND WE'RE HOPING TO SEE THIS YEAR ARE GREAT, THEY ONLY CHIP AWAY AT WHAT THE WAGES REALLY SHOULD BE IN THE HUMAN SERVICES SECTOR.

AND TO BE CLEAR THEN, THE NONPROFIT PROVIDERS MIGHT LOVE TO PROVIDE HIGHER WAGES OR THESE COST OF LIVING INCREASES FOR THE YEARS WHEN NOTHING IS MADE AVAILABLE BUT IT'S THE STATE RESOURCES THAT DETERMINE WHAT THEY'RE CAPABLE OF DOING.

THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

A LOT OF THESE CONTRACTS LAST SEVEN TO TEN YEARS AND WITHOUT ANY KIND OF COLA, IT'S UP TO NONPROFITS TO REALLY FUND RAISE, TO FILL THE GAPS AND UNDERSTANDABLY THOSE ARE VERY LIMITED RESOURCES AND IF I LAND AND I WITH PRIVATE DONORS AND A LOT OF NEED AT THOSE NONPROFIT SO THEY TRY TO KEEP WAGES UP, ABOUT BUT THAT CREATED A REAL GROWING GAP RESULTED IN NONPROFIT HUMAN SERVICES WORKER BEING THE SECOND LOWEST PAID INDUSTRY BESIDE RESTAURANT WORKERS IN NEW YORK.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT MEANS A LOT OF WORKERS HAVE LEFT THE SECTOR AND WHILE NONPROFIT BOARDS AND EXECUTIVES ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO BRIDGE THE GAP AND PAY THEM EQUITABLE WAGES, WE REALLY NEED EQUITABLE WAGES COMING FROM GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.

SO THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET INCLUDES, I BELIEVE, A 1.5% BUMP FOR THE WORKFORCE.

WHAT SORT OF WAGE INCREASE SHOULD BE IN THE FINAL BUDGET THIS SPRING?

SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR A 3.2% COLA BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX WOULD BE THIS YEAR AND THAT'S FOLLOWING THE STATUTE OF WHAT IT WOULD BE.

SO WE APPRECIATE, FIRST, THAT THE GOVERNOR MADE INVESTMENTS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THE LEGISLATURE REALLY CAME THROUGH LAST YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COLA WAS AT 4%, WHICH, BY THE WAY, WAS ALSO NOT THE FULL RATE INFLATION BUT CERTAINLY WELCOME AND THIS YEAR, WE'RE WORKING WITH-- WE'LL BE UP IN ALBANY.

WE HAVE A BIG ALBANY LOBBY DAY WHERE 200 PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE STATE COMING TO RALLY TO ENSURE THAT WE GET THAT 3.2% COLA IN THE BUDGET, ALONG WITH MAKING SURE THE COLA GOES OUT TO ALL WORKERS IN HUMAN SERVICES SO WE'RE LOOKING AT STATUTORY CHANGES AND NEXT STEP, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WAGE BOARD TO REALLY LIFT UP.

THE COLA IS SO IMPORTANT BUT WE HAVE TO GET REAL EQUITABLE WAGES ACROSS THE SECTOR.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT HAPPENS PAST THE COLA.

AND HOW MUCH WOULD THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED RAISE COST TO IMPLEMENT AND WHAT'S THE PRICE TAG OF THE INCREASE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE?

> A 3.2% COLA WOULD BE ABOUT 200 MILLION AND CHANGE.

SO 1.5% IS A LITTLE LESS THAN HALF OF THAT, SO ABOUT 90, 5 MILLION.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE FULL 3.2% TO BE IN THE FINAL BUDGET.

TO BE HONEST, 200 MILLION TO THE AVERAGE NEW YORKER-- AVERAGE PERSON SOUNDS LIKE A MONEY, BUT IN REGARDS TO THIS BUDGET IT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET AND IT ALSO IMPACTS UPWARDS OF 800,000 WORKERS ACROSS THE STATE WHICH I WOULD SAY IS A VERY GOOD INVESTMENT.

AND FOR CONTEXT AS PART OF THE REVENUE PROCESS THE STATE HAS BASICALLY FOUND AN ADDITIONAL $1.3 BILLION IN THE COUCH DISCUSSIONS THAT'S GOING TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

SO DO YOU ENVISION THAT MONEY OR JUST THE STATE MORE BROADLY IS IN A POSITION TO FOOT THE BILL FOR THIS ADDITIONAL COST OF LIVING RAISE?

YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

I LOVE THESE COUCH DISCUSSIONS (LAUGHING) DO YOU EVER CHECK THEM AT YOUR HOUSE?

EXACTLY.

I'M NOT FINDING 1.3 BILLION AND I'M LUCKY IF I FIND TWO QUARTERS TO RUB TOGETHER.

WE DEFINITELY THINK REVENUE PROTECTIONS DEMONSTRATE ALONE THAT THIS WOULD BE-- THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD HARM THE BUDGET AND I WOULD SAY IN A BUDGET WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT WHERE WE CAN SAVE, WE DO REAL DISSERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO OUR ECONOMY WHEN WE DON'T TAKE THE MONEY THAT WE DO HAVE AND INVEST IT IN WORKERS IN REAL COMMUNITY JOBS WHO LIFT UP THE ECONOMY OF NEW YORK.

SO IT'S GREAT THAT MONEY IS FOUND AND THAT CERTAINLY MEANS THAT THIS INVESTMENT SHOULD BE A MUCH EASIER LIFT FOR THE GOVERNOR LEGISLATURE, BUT REGARDLESS OF THE YEAR, INVESTING IN REAL JOBS, AGAIN, PREDOMINANTLY WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR SHOULD BE A PRIORITY IN NEW YORK.

WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH MICHELLE JACKSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE TIME, MICHELLE.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AND IN THE WAKE OF THAT CONVERSATION, THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITIES IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE CAME OUT IN SUPPORT OF A 3.2% COLA FOR THE HUMAN SERVICES SECTOR, BUT ATTACHED SPENDING STRINGS.

ADVOCATES ARE HOPING TO REMOVE THE PARAMETERS FROM THE FINAL STATE BUDGET.

WE'LL BE SURE TO LET YOU KNOW HOW THINGS TURN OUT ONCE THE FINAL BUDGET IS PASSED RIGHT HERE ON THE SHOW.

AND WHILE MARCH IS PRIME TIME FOR NEGOTIATIONS, IT IS ALSO DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH.

THIS YEAR'S THEME IS A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES.

THE STATE COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES HAS LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN COMPLETE WITH VIDEOS AND PAINTINGS FROM SELF-ADVOCATES TO HELP BRING AWARENESS AND HIGHLIGHT THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL.

WE SAT DOWN WITH THE NEWLY MINTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL, KRISTIN PROUD, AS WELL AS CAUCUS CHAIR, SHAMEKA ANDREWS, TO UNPACK THE INITIATIVE THIS MONTH AND THE WORK AHEAD.

[ THEME MUSIC ] WELL, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND I'M TOLD MARCH IS DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH AND THIS YEAR'S THEME IS A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES.

SO CAN YOU BOTH SPEAK TO THE BACKGROUND OF THIS THEME AND WHAT YOU'RE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH?

SURE.

SO AS YOU SAID, SHANTEL, THIS MONTH BEING DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH, WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND IT REALLY IS A CELEBRATION OF THE SUCCESSES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ALSO THE ABILITIES AND GOALS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES.

ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S DEFINITELY A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES IS A GREAT THEME BECAUSE I KNOW FOR ME AS AN ADVOCATE IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S WHAT EVERY PROGRAM THAT I'M INVOLVED IN IS ALL ABOUT IS HAVING THE OPPORTUNITIES AND GIVING THE OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, TO BE INVOLVED, TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

IT'S A GREAT THEME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE PLANNED.

SHAMEKA, YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR SOME TIME.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WORK AS A SELF-ADVOCATE AND YOUR WORK SPECIFICALLY AS CHAIR OF THE CAUCUS?

YES, DEFINITELY.

I'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS NOW.

I'VE BEEN A PART OF THE CAUCUS FOR MANY YEARS.

I'VE BEEN THE CAUCUS CHAIR FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW.

AND IT'S ONE OF MY-- I'M A PART OF MANY THINGS, BUT BEING A PART OF THE CAUCUS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS BECAUSE I CAN SAY THAT AFTER EVERY MEETING THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY TRULY MADE A DIFFERENCE AND ACCOMPLISHED THINGS AND LOOKING AT ALL THE GRANTS AND THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE DONE ARE REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE'S LIVES AND AS AN ADVOCATE, I CAN'T SAY THAT I ALWAYS CAN SAY THAT IN EVERYTHING THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY SAY THAT ANYTIME I COME TO A CAUCUS MEETING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GREAT CONVERSATIONS AND WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE END.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND GOING BACK TO WILLOWBROOK BRIEFLY, YOU KNOW, YOU SAID IT'S BEEN OVER 50 YEARS SINCE GERALDO RIVERA'S REPORTING ON THE WILLOWBROOK STATE SCHOOL AND THERE WAS A LOT OF OUTRAGE THAT CAME OUT BECAUSE OF THAT, BUT THEN THERE WAS SORT OF A POST-WILLOWBROOK CORRECTIVE ERA WHERE PEOPLE TRIED TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WERE TREATED PROPERLY AND WITH RESPECT AND SUPPORT.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CURRENT STATE OF DISABILITY WORK?

AYATOLLAH START AND THEN I'LL HAND IT OFF TO SHAMEKA.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE, AS I SAID EARLIER, COME A LONG WAY SINCE THE DAYS OF WILLOWBROOK.

YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY WILLOWBROOK IN THAT ERA WAS ABOUT ESSENTIALLY HIDING A SEGMENT OF OUR POPULATION, AND THAT IS CERTAINLY NOT THE CASE NOW AND THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR FULL INCLUSION IN THE COMMUNITY, FROM EDUCATION, HOUSING, ET CETERA, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S STILL, YOU KNOW, A GOOD DEAL MORE WORK TO DO.

I THINK HEALTH CARE IS ONE EXAMPLE.

I THINK WE ALL KNOW THE STRUGGLES THAT MANY PEOPLE FACE IN ACCESSING HEALTH CARE, BUT IN TERMS OF HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, BUT I THINK EQUALLY AS IMPORTANTLY, ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

CERTAINLY THE PANDEMIC TOOK ITS TOLL ON HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND UNDERSTANDABLY SO GIVEN THE STRESS AND THE DURATION OF THE PANDEMIC.

BUT I THINK THAT'S MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS TO ACCESS HEALTH CARE, YOU KNOW, APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE IN A TIMELY MANNER AND THAT IS CERTAINLY THE CASE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AS WELL.

AND SO I THINK THAT THERE IS MORE TO BE DONE EDUCATING THE HEALTH CARE SECTOR, ET CETERA, ABOUT THE NEEDS AND ALSO ABOUT HOW TO ENGAGE WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING APPROPRIATE AND TIMELY HEALTH CARE.

YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS THAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND EVOLVED SINCE THE DAYS OF WILLOWBROOK.

DEFINITELY.

I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE WORKING TOWARDS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE SUPPORTED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

WE NEED ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT.

WE NEED ACCESS TO RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING, WHICH IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS.

A LOT OF ADVANCES HAVE BEEN MADE IN THOSE AREAS, BUT AS WE SAID, THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL COMES IN.

THAT'S WHERE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERS COME IN AS WELL TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE STRIDES TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO HAVE THE POSSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR LIVES AND TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK OF THAT SO MANY ADVOCATES STARTED OUT SO MANY YEARS AGO.

LIKE, YOU KNOW, JUDY HEUMANN, WHO WE'RE ACTUALLY CELEBRATING HER-- THE PASSING OF JUDY.

IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN AND WE MAKE ROOM FOR THE PEOPLE THAT COME AFTER US AND TO CONTINUE THAT WORK.

AND YOU MENTIONED THIS BEFORE.

YOU RECENTLY CAME ON AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TAKING OVER FROM VICKI HAIFA, WHO WE'VE HAD ON THE SHOW BEFORE.

CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE TRANSITION OF STEPPING INTO THAT ROLE AND WHAT KIND OF LEGACY YOU'RE HOPING TO HAVE?

SURE, SO I'VE BEEN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SINCE NOVEMBER.

I CAME FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

SO SOME OVERLAP THERE IN TERMS OF THE WORK AND I THINK THE TRANSITION HAS BEEN VERY SMOOTH.

I'M EXCITED TO BE WORKING WITH PEOPLE LIKE SHAMEKA, OUR CHAIRPERSON, DAVE DUHL, WHO IS THE PARENT OF AN INDIVIDUAL WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

SHAMEKA-- WE WERE CHATTING EARLIER-- WE HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER THE ENTIRE 20 YEARS THAT SHAMEKA'S BEEN AN ADVOCATE.

THAT'S ABOUT THE TIME WE MET, AND I CAN CERTAINLY ATTEST TO THE FIRSTHAND TO THE POWER OF SHAMEKA'S VOICE AS AN ADVOCATE AND SO I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE BACK AND NOW WORKING WITH SHAMEKA AND OUR OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND REALLY DEDICATED A SMALL, BUT A VERY DEDICATED STAFF OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE VERY FORWARD-THINKING AND WANT TO USE THE COUNCIL'S GRANT MONEY IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE TO HELP PILE IT, PROJECTS THAT CAN SHOWCASE IDEAS TO IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES.

WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE THROUGH OUR GRANTS RELATED TO HOUSING, RELATED TO EMPLOYMENT.

WE HAVE A REALLY EXCITING MULTICULTURAL INITIATIVE, TRYING TO INCREASE ACCESS FOR IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES OR HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WITH DD, TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

MANY PEOPLE WHO IMMIGRATE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES COME FROM PLACES WHERE THERE'S STILL A GREAT DEAL OF SOCIETAL STIGMA AROUND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WHEN THEY COME HERE AND CERTAINLY TO NEW YORK, BEING THE WELCOMING STATE THAT WE ARE, THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AVAILABLE HERE AND THEY NOT BE FEARFUL OF ACCESSING THOSE SERVICES.

ABSOLUTELY.

SHAMEKA, WHAT KIND OF LEGACY ARE YOU HOPING TO HAVE AS CHAIR OF THE CAUCUS?

I, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, TO HELP PEOPLE SEE WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES, WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES AND TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF THOSE WHO CAME NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE ME TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE TO HAVE THE LIVES OF THEIR DREAMS, WHATEVER THOSE DREAMS ARE.

AND BECAUSE WE CAN, EVEN THOUGH THERE MAY BE LOTS OF WORK TO DO, THERE IS SO MANY GREAT THINGS, YOU KNOW, THAT THE COUNCIL IS DOING AND SO MANY OF OUR PARTNERS AS WELL WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP PEOPLE SEE WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY OUT THERE TO BE SEEN.

ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, IT'S CLEAR THAT YOU BOTH HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF IMPORTANT AND IMPACTFUL WORK AND THERE'S EVEN MORE WORK TO BE DONE IN THE FUTURE, BUT THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

OF COURSE.

AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH KRISTIN PROUD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND SHAMEKA ANDREWS, SELF-ADVOCATE AND CAUCUS CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AND TO FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THE STATE COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND TO FIND THE PATH FORWARD REMEMBERING WILLOWBROOK DOCUMENTARY, 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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