IN HONOR IN HONOR OF MARCH BEING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE NEXT HOUR HIGHLIGHTING AND CONSIDERING ISSUES FACING WOMEN IN THE EMPIRE STATE.

ALL THAT, COMING UP RIGHT HERE, ON CONNECT NEW YORK.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME TO CONNECT-NEW YORK, I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - HOST OF WCNY'S THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM, A DAILY PUBLIC RADIO SHOW, BROADCASTING FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.

ON TODAY'S SHOW, AS PART OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, WE'RE FOCUSING OUR ATTENTION ON SOME OF THE ISSUES FACING WOMEN IN THE EMPIRE STATE.

AND BEFORE WE TURN TO THIS MONTH'S PANEL, WE'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE STATE'S EFFORT TO PROMOTE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS.

CONNECT NEW YORK PRODUCER, ALEC AMBRUSO, HAS THAT STORY.

GLTD >> THE MWBE PROGRAM EXISTS IN DIFFERENT LEVELS BUT SOME THIS STATE IT'S A CONCERTED EFFORT TO MAKE SURE OUR STATE'S SPENDING IS SPENT WITH FIRMS OWNED BY MWBE'S WHICH ARE MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES ENTERPRISES.

THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE MONEY THAT WE ARE GOING TO SPEND AS A STATE ALREADY AND BUNDLE IT INTO THE BUSINESSES WE KNOW ARE ROOTED IN COMMUNITY AND CAN HELP IMPROVE THE BOTTOM LINE FOR SO MANY OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE CARE ABOUT AND REPRESENT.

>> FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM BUSINESSES, THE PROGRAM IS A GREAT PROGRAM ONCE YOU ARE IN IT.

IT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND INTO NEW MARKETS OR NEW TYPES OF PROJECTS.

THERE IS A HUGE FINANCIAL BENEFIT.

I'VE TALKED TO BUSINESSES WHO HAVE DOUBLED THEIR BUSINESSES AFTER GETTING CERTIFICATION.

THE STATE HAS GIVEN $29 BILLION IN CONTRACTS TO MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES IN LAST 10 YEARS.

IN A LOT OF CASES, YOU HAVE TO GIVE BANK INFORMATION, YOU HAVE TO GIVE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW LONG YOU HAVE OWNED YOUR BUSINESS.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SHOWING HOW MUCH MONEY THAT YOU'VE MADE THROUGH YOUR BUSINESS AND TO PROVE THAT YOU ARE THE OWNER OF YOUR BUSINESS.

AND A LOT OF THESE SITUATIONS WE ARE FINDING THAT BUSINESSES NEED TO HIRE ATTORNEYS IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH THE PROCESS.

>> I KNOW THAT IT CAN BE FRUSTRATING FOR FOLKS, BUT I KNOW THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT ULTIMATELY, THIS IS AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ISN'T CORRUPTION THAT IS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS IS STRINGENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY IS GETTING WHERE IT'S INTENDED.

>> GOVERNOR HOCHUL ELIMINATED THE BACKLOG OF APPLICATIONS LATE LAST YEAR.

THAT HAS CERTAINLY MADE AN IMPACT ON SOME BUSINESSES WHO HAD BEEN WAITING TWO, THREE PLUS YEARS TO HEAR WHETHER THEY WERE CERTIFIED OR NOT.

I'VE HEARD RECENTLY FROM SOME BUSINESSES THAT HAD BEEN WAITING FOR QUITE A WHILE THAT THEY HAVE RECENTLY BEEN CERTIFIED.

SO I THINK THAT THAT IS A HUGE IMPROVEMENT THAT'S BEEN REALLY BENEFICIAL.

>> BEING CERTIFIED AS AN MWBE HELPS OPEN THE DOOR TO OPPORTUNITIES, AGAIN, TO CONTRACT, TO PROVIDE SERVICES, IN WAYS THAT ARE JUST NOT AVAILABLE WHEN YOU ARE NOT CERTIFIED BECAUSE THE WAY IT HAPPENS IS THE STATE MAINTAINS A LIST OF VENDORS THAT ARE CERTIFIED AS MWBEs.

SO WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING TO DIVERSIFY THEIR SPENDING, THEY GO TO THIS LIST AND THEY SAY OKAY, I'M LOOKING FOR A BAKER.

AND THEY CAN PULL UP ALL OF THE BAKERS IN AN AREA WHO HAVE CERTIFIED.

AND SO IT REALLY JUST OPENS A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY THAT ISN'T THERE BEFORE.

>> THE STATE HAS DIFFERENT EXPOS EACH YEAR THAT I TALK TO A LOT OF WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES WHO GO TO THESE AND THEY'RE REALLY HELPFUL FOR BOTH UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS OF HOW TO GET STATE CONTRACTS AS WELL AS JUST NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE SO MUCH OF BUSINESS IS THROUGH NETWORKING.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT POCKETS THROUGHOUT E.S.D.

EMPIRE STATE WHICH IS OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENGINE WHICH ARE WOMEN OWNED MUIRS SPECIFICALLY.

>> I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT YESTERDAY.

I CAME TO THE WORKSHOP AND I AM GOING TO START THE PROCESS AS SOON AS I'M ABLE TO.

>> SO I DEFINITELY WANT TO.

HAVE I TO WAIT BECAUSE I'M NEW.

MY BUSINESS IS NEW.

MY L.L.C.

DIDN'T START UNTIL NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR SO I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEN TO START ALL MY STUFF BUT I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO DO IT.

I LOVE SUPPORTING EVERYBODY THAT I POSSIBLY CAN, ESPECIALLY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS BECAUSE THIS IS MY BUSINESS AND I'M A WOMAN.

SO IF I CAN SUPPORT ANYONE I POSSIBLY CAN, I WANT TO BECAUSE I HAVE HAD SO MUCH SUPPORT SINCE I STARTED.

>> BEING A WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR, I KNOW THAT IT'S SOMETIMES TOUGH, AND IT SEEMS LIKE A GREAT RESOURCE FOR WOMEN AND ANYTHING THAT IS A GOOD RESOURCE FOR WOMEN MINORITIES, ANY GROUP THAT HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED, IS SOMETHING I WANT TO BE A PART OF.

>> I THINK WOMEN PRUSHES ENTREPRENEURS IN NEW YORK SHOULD BE HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS ALWAYS BEING THOUGHT ABOUT, TALKED ABOUT, LEGISLATED ON, TWEAKED FROM A PROGRAMMATIC PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE GAPS STILL EXIST AND WE NEED TO KEEP PUSHING TO CLOSE THE GAP AND WE ARE NOT CLOSE.

SO WE WILL KEEP THINKING ABOUT HOW TO CENTER WOMEN IN THESE MWBE CONVERSATIONS.

I THINK IN THIS MOMENT WHERE WE HAVE A WOMAN GOVERNOR WHO IS RUNNING THE STATE, IT IS A PLACE WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONVINCE ANYONE OF THE INEQUITIES AS IT RELATES TO BEING A WOMAN IN BUSINESS.

>> AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO OPEN THINGS UP TO OUR PANEL FOR THIS MONTH'S SHOW AND WE ARE JOINED IN THE STUDIO BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER JEN LUNSFORD, A ROCHESTER-AREA DEMOCRAT, CAITLYN COPFER, DIRECTOR OF GIRLS INC. AT THE YWCA SYRACUSE AND ONONDAGA COUNTY, AND NESSA VERCILLO, FOUNDER OF THE NON-PROFIT JUST FOR BABIES.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER, I WANT TO START WITH YOU, AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL, THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT TWICE APPROVED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND ADDRESSES DISCRIMINATION BASED ON ETHNICITY, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, SEX AND A VARIETY OF OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE REALLY CAN'T CHANGE ABOUT THEMSELVES AS WELL AS A PERSON'S REPRODUCTIVE AUTONOMY OR ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE.

YOUR SENATE COLLEAGUE LIZ KRUEGER IS QUOTED AS SAYING WOMEN HAVE WAITED FAR TOO LONG TO BE INCLUDED IN OUR STATE CONSTITUTION.

WHY IS THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN?

>> SO WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES IS IT CODIFIES OUR EXISTING HUMAN RIGHTS LAW IN OUR CONSTITUTION AND IT ADDS EXPRESS LANGUAGE, AS YOU SAID, FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, PREGNANCY OUTCOMES, FOR GENDER, TO ASSURE THAT NO MATTER WHO IS THE GOVERNOR, NO MATTER WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE LEGISLATURE, OUR CONSTITUTION ENSURES THAT NEW YORKERS CAN NEVER BE DISCRIMINATED FOR ANY OF THOSE REASONS.

AND THAT'S REALLY ESSENTIAL WITH WHAT WE ARE SEEING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH THE TAX FROM THE JUDICIARY, A TAX FROM CONGRESS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE RIGHTS OF NEW YORKERS ARE PROTECTED WELL INTO THE FUTURE.

>> IF I CAN GET A LITTLE FREE LEGAL ADVICE FROM YOU.

ARE WE CONCERNED AT ALL BY SPECIFICALLY OUTLINING WHAT PROTECTIONS THERE ARE, THAT OTHERS WILL THEN BE CONCLUDED THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE RIGHTS; THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT PROTECTED?

>> WELL, BECAUSE WE HAVE A PRETTY ROBUST SET OF DISCRIMINATION LAWS IN THE STATE, THE CONSTITUTION IS A FLOOR.

I THINK WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND BETWEEN THE DIFFERENCE OF A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT VERSUS A LAW, THE CONSTITUTION LIMITS WHAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO TO PEOPLE.

IT PREVENTS US FROM PASSING LAWS IN THE FUTURE WHICH VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE.

WE CAN CHANGE LAWS PRETTY EASILY.

WE CAN PASS THEM EVERY YEAR, WE CAN GET THEM APPROVED OR REPEALED.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ARE MUCH, MUCH HARDER.

WHAT WE DO THERE IS SET A FLOOR BELOW WHICH THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT GO AND WE CAN ALWAYS ADD ABOVE THAT.

SO IF WE DO FIND COURTS ARE INTERPRETING THIS PROVISION TO EXCLOO YOU HAD PEOPLE WE WANT EXPRESSLY INCLUDED, WE CAN PASS LAWS TO PLUG THOSE HOLES.

>> IN THE INTERIM, ASSUMING NO CHANGES TO NEW YORK STATE LAWS, DOES THIS HAVE ANY IMPACT ON WOMEN IN NEW YORK?

>> RIGHT NOW I THINK WOMEN AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE PROTECTED BY THIS LAW BECAUSE IT INCLUDES AGE, NATIONALITY, IT INCLUDES IDENTIFIERS THAT BRIDGE GENDER, THAT OUR LAWS ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS PROVISION.

AGAIN, THIS IS REALLY FORWARD LOOKING.

AND TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE WELL PLACED TO MAKE SURE IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TRIES TO COME IN AND MAKE CHANGES THAT COULD AFFECT NEW YORKERS THAT WE DON'T AGREE.

>> NESSA, BEYOND THE ISRAEL RAMIFICATIONS OF SOMETHING LIKE AN EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE NARRATIVE IMPORTANCE OF ADOPTING AN EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION?

DOES LANGUAGE MATTER, AS YOU THINK ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY LANGUAGE MATTERS.

AND I THINK, UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE OF A TIME THAT LANGUAGE IS OFTEN ADJUDICATED BECAUSE OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.

AND I THINK THAT THAT HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY THAN NOT.

AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THE TIME AND THE EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT LANGUAGE IS ALL ENCOMPASSING AND THAT WE ARE NOT HAVING ANY FAILURES IN WHAT WE ARE LOOKING TO ACTUALLY DO WITH THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

SO I THINK WORDS ARE IMPORTANT.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO GET DOWN INTO THE WEEDS ON CERTAIN THINGS, BUT I DO ABSOLUTELY THINK THAT WORDS ARE IMPORTANT.

>> SO I WANT TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT AND DISCUSS SOME THINGS THAT ARE ALSO BEING KICKED AROUND ALBANY AND THIS YEAR GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS REALLY PRIORITIZED, AS PART OF HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS AND NOW HER BUDGET, ADDRESSING SOME WAYS THAT THINGS THAT IMPACT WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT AND THEIR ABILITY TO STAY IN THE WORKFORCE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN IS THIS IDEA OF MEDICAL LEAVE BENEFITS AND MAKING THEM MORE RELEVANT FOR THE 21st CENTURY.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER, THERE IS A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE WHAT WAS, I BELIEVE, $170 PER WEEK BENEFIT TO ABOUT 67% OF THE STATE'S AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE FOR WOMEN OR REALLY ANYONE WHO GOES ON MEDICAL LEAVE.

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT PARTICULARLY FOR WOMEN?

>> SO THAT TEMPORARY BENEFIT HAS NOT BEEN INCREASED IN DECADES.

IT IS SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN EVERY OTHER WAGE REPLACEMENT WE HAVE AT THE STATE LEVEL, WHETHER IT'S WORKER'S COMPENSATION OR PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

SO WE NEED TO MODERNIZE THAT NUMBER TO MAKE IT MEANINGFUL FOR PEOPLE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T QUALIFY FOR SHORT-TERM DISABILITY BECAUSE THEIR EMPLOYER IS NOT LARGE ENOUGH OR THEY HAVEN'T WORKED THERE LONG ENOUGH OR THEIR LEAVE HAS TO LEAVE BEFORE BIRTH BECAUSE OF PRENATAL ISSUES.

I HAD TO START WORKING FROM HOME.

I DON'T GET TO STOP WORKING, BUT I HAD TO WORK FROM HOME FOR A FEW WEEKS AT THE END DUE TO SOME PHYSICAL ISSUES.

THIS WOULD PROVIDE A FAR MORE MEANINGFUL BENEFIT TO PEOPLE WHO NEED TO LEAVE WORK AND IT IS BRINGING THAT VALUE INTO 20 FIRST CENTURY DOLLARS, REALLY ESSENTIAL.

I WAS INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED WHEN I SAW THIS IN THE STATE OF THE STATE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WOMEN FACE IN ACTUALLY STAYING IN AN OFFICE SETTING AND DOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEGIN TO MAKE A DENT IN THOSE CHALLENGES THAT ARE UNIQUE TO WOMEN?

>> WELL, I THINK MY QUESTION WOULD BE DOES THIS EXTEND TO QLUTH WHO ARE PARENTING?

YOUTH WHO ARE PREGNANT AND HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR JOBS AND THEN POTENTIALLY STRUGGLE TO REGAIN EMPLOYMENT AFTER THEIR CHILD'S BIRTH?

THAT'S A QUESTION THAT I HAVE BECAUSE I WORK WITH YOUTH AGES 5-18 AND WE SEE PREGNANT AND PARENTING TEENS ALL THE TIME AND THEY STRUGGLE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE WORKING ONCE THEY FIND THEMSELVES AT A POINT OF HAVING TO STOP WORK.

>> AND YOU RAISE AN IMPORTANT ISSUE HERE, WHICH IS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WOMEN'S ISSUE, WE ARE THINKING ABOUT ADULTS, BUT YOU REALLY HAVE THE PERSPECTIVE OF YOUNGER WOMEN.

AND I HAVE TO IMAGINE THAT THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY FACE ON A DAY-TO-DAY CAN BE DIFFERENT, BUT NOT NECESSARILY LESS SIGNIFICANT.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES THAT YOU SEE THAT MAYBE OLDER WOMEN DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH EITHER BECAUSE THEY'RE PASSED THAT AGE OR BECAUSE THE CHALLENGES OF 2024 ARE DIFFERENT THAN 20, 30 YEARS AGO?

>> I THINK THAT YOUNG GIRLS ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND THEIR PLACE SOMETIMES WITHIN THE WORKFORCE.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS HELP DIRECT THEM TO PLACES THAT THEY CAN GO TO GET THE SKILLS, TO GIVE THEM THE SKILLS TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE.

BUT THEY ARE FACING SO MUCH, WHETHER IT BE DIFFICULTY WITH TRANSPORTATION, DIFFICULTIES WITH, AS I SAID, FINDING THEMSELVES PREGNANT OR PARENTING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE WORKING OR FIND A JOB AND CHILD CARE AFTER THE FACT.

>> YOU BRING UP CHILD CARE, WHICH, DISPROPORTIONATELY SEEMS TO IMPACT THE ABILITY OF WOMEN TO STAY IN THE WORKFORCE.

NESSA, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT HAVING AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY CHILD CARE IS TO LETTING WOMEN STAY IN THE WORKFORCE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I CAN TALK ABOUT IT BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.

AND I LOOK AT THE WOMEN TODAY, WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST THEM TO GET, FIRST OF ALL, AVAILABLE CHILD CARE.

AND THE AVAILABILITY IN A STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT IS BECOMING LESS AND LESS.

NOW, MY DAUGHTER, WHO IS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE ME, I TOOK CARE OF MY TWO GRAND DAUGHTERS BECAUSE I HAD RETIRED.

BUT IF I'M LOOKING AT MY DAUGHTER WORKING, WHO ALSO WORKS-- SHE WORKS FOR PEACE INCORPORATED.

SHE WORKS HAVE A VERY AT RISK COMMUNITY AT WELL.

AND A LOT OF THOSE PARENTS WHO COME IN THERE DON'T HAVE DAYCARE.

THEY DON'T HAVE EVEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR DAYCARE BECAUSE THE LIST IS SO-- IT'S JUST DIMINISHED.

SO IF YOU CAN'T GO TO WORK, YOU CAN'T EARN A LIVING WAGE, YOU ARE ALREADY BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL.

AND I THINK THE EXPECTATIONS-- AND IT IS A FAMILY THING.

IT'S NOT JUST A GENDER THING.

BUT FOR WOMEN WHO ARE PRESUMED TO HAVE THE PREDOMINANT ROLE IN THE UPBRINGING OF THE CHILDREN, THAT THEN BECOMES SOMETHING THAT GOES DOWN THE ROAD.

AND IT'S GOT TRICKLE DOWN.

WE DO NOT-- ALTHOUGH WE HAVE CHILD CARE SOLUTIONS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY GOOD ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE, WE HAVE A LOT OF WOMEN WHO ARE NOW STAYING HOME, GETTING CERTIFIED TO BE DAYCARE PROVIDERS.

AND I'M SURE THAT YOU PROBABLY SEE THAT A LOT MORE THAN I DO.

AND WITH THESE YOUNG WOMEN AND THE POINT BEING THAT WE FORGET ABOUT THE AGE, BECAUSE A WOMAN, A YOUNG GIRL, HAS FAR MORE RESPONSIBILITIES ABOUT HER PHYSICALITY THAN A YOUNG MAN DOES, LET'S JUST FACE IT.

SO WE CAN LOOK AT A WOMAN, LET'S SAY, A YOUNG GIRL OF AVERAGE AGE OF 12, WHO CAN GET PREGNANT PHYSICALLY CAN GET PREGNANT.

NOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT 12-YEAR-OLD?

SO THE SOCIOECONOMIC THINGS THAT ARE FACING THOSE 12 YEAR OLDS ARE CRAZY.

AND CHILD CARE IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

>> ASSEMBLYMEMBER, THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASED FOCUS ON CHILD CARE IN NEW YORK, REALLY SINCE THE ARRIVAL OF COVID-19 AND AT VEILBILITY OF FEDERAL AS DOLLARS TO LET NEW YORK TRY NEW THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTMENT IN THE WORKFORCE AND SUBSIDIES.

WHEN YOU THIS I ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN THAT SPACE, ANYTHING STAND OUT TO YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO WHILE COVID DID GIVE US AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE REALLY SYSTEMIC INVESTMENTS IN CHANGING THE WAY WE ADDRESS CHILD CARE, I ALSO WANT TO CREDIT MY CLASS THAT CAME IN IN THE ASSEMBLY.

WE HAD THE LARGEST INCOMING CLASS IN OVER 30 YEARS WHEN I CAME IN IN 2020 AND A HUGELY DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF US WERE MOMS.

WE CALL OURSELVES THE MOM SQUAD.

THERE WERE FOUR BABIES BORN THAT YEAR AND WE HAVE A BABY CAUCUS.

WE HAVE MADE CHILD CARE THE CROWN JEWEL OF THE LAST THREE BUDGETS WE'VE DONE.

SINCE I TOOK OFFICE AND ALL OF THE MOMS AND MANY FATHERS AS WELL, CAME IN WITH US, WE HAVE INCREASED ACCESS TO CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES TO FAMILIES OF FOUR EARNING UP TO $90,000 A YEAR.

THAT'S AN ENORMOUS SWATH OF MIDDLE INCOME PEOPLE AS WELL.

WE HAVE A LOT OF CIVILIANSES OFTEN FOR LOWER INCOME PEOPLE.

BUT WHEN YOU ARE JUST ABOVE THAT, WHEN YOU ARE NOT PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK BUT YOU ARE TWO OR THREE PAYCHECKS FROM DISASTER, YOU FALL OFF THE BENEFITS CLIFF AND HAVE ACCESS TO NOTHING BUT A FAMILY EARNING $90,000 A YEAR GETS AN ENORMOUS SUBSIDY TO PAY FOR CHILD CARE.

I TELL THIS STORY A LOT BUT MY OWN HAIR DRESSER HAD A BABY.

WE HAD SIMILARLY AGED CHILDREN WHO WERE IN DAYCARE TOGETHER.

SHE SAID SHE WAS GOING BACK.

I SAID TO HER, YOU KNOW, YOU QUALIFY FOR OUR NEW CHILD CARE SUBSIDY.

SHE LOOKED INTO IT.

SHE SAID IT TOOK HER $2,000 A MONTH CHILD CARE BILL AND MADE IT $200 A MONTH.

THAT'S REAL DEMONSTRABLE BENEFITS TO FAMILIES IN THE STATE AND ALLOWS WOMEN TO RETURN TO WORK, ALLOWS CHILDREN TO GET QUALITY CARE BUT ACCESS IS THE PROBLEM.

AND WE HAVE HAD WAGE SUBSIDIES FOR CHILD CARE WORKERS IN THE BUDGET THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WE ARE PUSHING RIGHT NOW FOR A HALF BILLION-DOLLAR INCREASE IN THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE ONE HOUSES THIS YEAR AND WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS A WAY TO TIE A PERMANENT FUNDING SOURCE TO THAT BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET HAVING THIS FIGHT EVERY YEAR.

WE NEED TO INVEST IN THE SECTOR, TO INCREASE ACCESS TO SLOTS BECAUSE BETWEEN SYRACUSE AND ROCHESTER, WE HAVE THE MOST CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY, THE MOST CHILDREN LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY AND AN ENORMOUS CHILD CARE DESERT.

>> AND YOU MENTION THE IDEA OF PERMANENT FUNDING IN THE WORKFORCE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE CAPITOL GRAVITATE TOWARD ONE-TIME BONUSES AND THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO PROVIDE THE SAME STABILITY LONG-TERM THAT A PERMANENT INVESTMENT WOULD MAKE, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

AND MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO PLAN, PARTICULARLY OUR IN-HOME OPERATORS WHO MAYBE HAVE ONE EMPLOYEE, ONE ASSISTANT, IT'S VERY HARD TO GUARANTEE SLOTS MOVING FORWARD IF YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAINTAIN THE SLAF.

>> THE GOVERNOR, FOR HER PART, IN TERMS OF TRYING TO BE CREATIVE IN THIS AREA, HAS IDENTIFIED THIS PILOT PROGRAM WHERE COSTS FOR CHILD CARE WOULD BE SPLIT A THIRD TO THE EMPLOYER, A THIRD TO THE PARENTS A THIRD TO THE STATE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT TYPE OF INVESTMENT STRATEGY AS OPPOSED TO THE STATE GOING ALL IN ON SHOULDERING THE COST ITSELF?

>> THE COST OF CHILD CARE IS VERY, VERY HIGH AND I THINK WE FEED TO BE CREATIVE AND FINDING MORE WAYS TO PARTNER WITH PRIVATE BUSINESSES, AND TO ENCOURAGE PRIVATE BUSINESSES TO EITHER SUBSIDIZE OR PROVIDE CHILD CARE, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY EMPLOY PEOPLE IN NON-TRADITIONAL HOURS.

THE DIRTH OF CHILD CARE SPOTS FOR LATE HOURS OR 24-HOUR SHIFTS IS NON-EXISTENT.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY AN ENORMOUS NEED IN THOSE SECTORS.

AND I THINK PARTNERING WITH PRIVATE BUSINESSES MIGHT BE THE ONLY WAY TO FILL THAT NEED.

YOU JUST CAN'T FIND WOMEN WHO WILL TAKE OVERNIGHT SHIFTS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T.

ONE THING THAT ACTUALLY I WAS ABLE TO DO-- I CARRIED THIS BILL TO ALLOW WOMEN TO ACCESS CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES WHEN THEY NEEDED CHILD CARE TO SLEEP.

BECAUSE BEFORE YOU, YOU COULDN'T ACCESS THOSE OFFICES IF YOU WEREN'T ACTIVELY AT WORK.

SO WE HAVE BEEN FINDING WAYS TO KIND OF LOOSEN THAT UP.

BUT WE DO NEED TO BE CREATIVE UNLESS WE ARE GOING TO BASICALLY TIE A PAYROLL TAX TO IT WHICH I'M NOT ENTIRELY OPPOSED BUT WOULD NEED TO SEE IT FIRST.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE CARE FOR OUR CHILDREN, THEY'RE GETTING PAID RIDICULOUSLY LOW RATES.

THEY'RE STARTING, MANY TIMES IN A MINIMUM WAGE.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE CARING FOR OUR CHILDREN, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN OUR LIVES.

AND OUR FUTURE ARE OUR KIDS BUT WE ARE WILLING TO ONLY PAY $15 TO $18 AN HOUR TO TART THEM?

AND THEN THOSE ARE ALSO WOMEN WHO ARE IN THE WORKFORCE AND ALSO ARE GOING TO NEED DAYCARE AND CHILD CARE.

AND YET, A PARENT CAN PAY ANYWHERE FROM 600 TO ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS A WEEK FOR DAYCARE.

THAT'S 52,000 A YEAR.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THAT PROVIDER WITHIN THE DAYCARE CENTER OR THE HOME PROVIDER IS CLEARLY NOT MAKING EVEN HALF OF WHAT THAT AMOUNT IS.

>> AND THE DEBATE IN ALBANY IS ABOUT TREATING THESE PROFESSIONALS LIKE EDUCATORS AND PAYING THEM LIKE THAT AS WELL.

>> APPROPRIATELY.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CHILD CARE, WHAT COMES TO MIND?

WHAT ARE THE PRESSING ISSUES IN TERMS OF THE PARENTS THAT UTILIZE YOUR SERVICES OR JUST THE SERVICES THAT THE YWCA PROVIDES IN THE CENTRAL NEW YORK REGION?

HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT CHILD CARE?

>> WE ARE NOT A CHILD CARE PROVIDER.

WE OFFER OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL-ABLED CHILDREN, BUT THAT IS A PROBLEM IN ITSELF BECAUSE THE SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, OFTEN THEY'RE GOING HOME AFTER SCHOOL WITH NO CARE AT HOME, OUT OF SCHOOL TIME MEANING SCHOOL BREAKS, SUMMER, THE WINTER AND SPRING BREAKS-- THE ABILITY FOR STAFFING FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ENRICHMENT BASED OR EDUCATION-BASED THAT HAVE QUALIFIED CERTIFIED STAFF PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES TO THE YOUTH BECAUSE IT'S BEYOND JUST THE 0-4.

IT'S THE 5-AND UP THAT NEED THAT CARE.

>> THIS IS A FASCINATING CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD.

MOO I DISTRICT IS PRETTY WELL RESOURCED.

I REPRESENT THE EAST SIDE OF ROCHESTER.

YOU GO 10 MINUTES INTO THE CITY AND AT VEILBILITY OF WRAP AROUND CARE, BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE IS GREATLY DIMINISHED AND AND EVERY SCHOOL IN MY DISTRICT HAS A YMCA AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.

MY SON IS INVOLVED IN ONE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THESE TO ALL SCHOOLS AND THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THIS, BUT WHEN WE WERE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HOCHUL WHO IS NOW OUR GOVERNOR.

SHE CAME TO ROCHESTER TO TALK ABOUT YOUTH CRIME AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TEEN EMPLOYMENT AND ONE OF THE TEEN EMPLOYMENT SERVICES WITHIN CHILD CARE FACILITIES SO WE COULD FREE TEENS UP TO HAVE JOBS OR TO PARTICIPANT IN SPORTS AND OTHER ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS.

IT'S A FAR MORE COMPLEX ISSUE WHEN YOU ARE OR DEALING WITH IMPOVERISHED TEENS WHO DON'T LIVE IN RESOURCE AREAS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE STRUGGLED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, ESPECIALLY TO ENGAGE TEENS IN OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.

THEY ENGAGE IN SCHOOLS.

THEY THERE.

WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

MOTHERS BABYSITTING YOUNGER SIBLINGS, CEEKING EMPLOYMENT SO THEY CAN HELP WITH WHATEVER IS GOING ON AT HOME OR MEET THEIR OWN NEEDS AND WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO.

SO IT'S QUEER A SITE FOR THEM AND THAT HAS HELPED BUT IT IS DISPROPORTIONATE TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

>> NESSA, I HAVE TO IMAGINE THAT THE EMPHASIS ON WOMEN IN THE CARE GIVING OF CHILDREN STEMS FROM THE FACT THAT TRADITIONALLY THEY WERE NOT IN THE WORKFORCE.

NOW THOUGH, MOST FAMILIES OUT OF ECONOMIC NECESSITY OR BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE HAVING CAREERS, BOTH PARENTS ARE WORKING.

IT STILL OFTEN FALLS ON THE WOMEN TO BE SCHEDULING THE CHILD CARE, TO LEAVE THEIR OFFICE TO GO PICK KIDS UP FROM SCHOOL.

HOW DO WE CHANGE THAT FOCUS OR IS IT IMPORTANT TO CHANGE THAT FOCUS?

SHOULD THE MEN BE TAKING UP A LARGER ROLE IN HETERONORMATIVE COUPLES LIKE THAT?

>> I HAVE SEEN SUCH A CHANGE IN MY OWN FAMILY.

I COME FROM A TRADITIONAL ITALIAN AMERICAN FAMILY, SO THE WOMAN, SHE GOT TO STAY IN THE HOUSE, AND SHE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THE BABIES.

>> AND MAKE SAUCE.

>> AND MAKE THE SAUCE.

BUT I LOOK AT THE NEXT GENERATION.

I LOOK AT MY CHILDREN, I LOOK AT MY DAUGHTER ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I HAVE THREE SONS AND A DAUGHTER, BUT MY DAUGHTER AND I HAVE TO SAY, MY SON-IN-LAW HAS BEEN WONDERFUL IN THE CARE AND PROVISION FOR THE KIDS.

YESTERDAY ONE OF MIAMI GRAND CHIRP WERE SICK.

MY SON-IN-LAW STAYED HOME.

MY DAUGHTER HAD TO TEACH AND SHE HAD TO BE AT SCHOOL.

I'VE SEEN WONDERFULLY THE CHANGING ROLES AND I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US AS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS TO NOT ONLY LOOK AT THOSE ROLES AND SEE THEM CHANGING, BUT ALSO ENCOURAGE THEM, BECAUSE I CAN TELL FROM YOU GENERATIONS EVEN WITH MY DAD, WHEN I GOT MARRIED, I DIDN'T CHANGE MY LAST NAME.

MY FATHER-IN-LAW DIDN'T GET AS MAD AS MY FATHER DID.

SO WHEN YOU GO FORWARD, I CAN SEE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS CHANGING GLEEFULLY CHANGING.

AND I THINK THAT WE, AS THE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, HAVE TO ENCOURAGE THIS GOING FORWARD, TO SAY ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS CO-PARENTING.

THIS ISN'T SINGLE PARENTING IF YOU ARE IN THAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP.

IT'S CO-PARENTING.

AND I THINK TO MY, YOU KNOW, JOY, IT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE THE NORM THAN THE EXCLUSION.

>> ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WOMEN FACE IN THE WORKFORCE IF THEY HAVE KIDS, IS THE ABILITY TO HAVE TIME TO PUMP OR FEED IN THE WORKPLACE AND THERE HAS BEEN CHANGES IN NEW YORK LAW TO ENSURE THAT WOMEN HAVE THAT CAPACITY AND THIS YEAR ASSEMBLYMEMBER, THE GOVERNOR IS LOOKING TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS GETTING PAID BREAKS FOR PUMPING AND FEEDING UNDER 20 MINUTES.

IS THAT A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN WORKPLACE PRACTICES?

>> IT IS.

I THINK A LOT OF OFFICE ENVIRONMENTS HAVE ADJUSTED, YOU KNOW, IN THE L.O.B., WE HAVE BREAST FEEDING AREAS ON EVERY FLOOR.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ACCOMMODATIONS.

I KNOW OFFICES I'VE WORKED IN HAVE BEEN ACCOMMODATING BUT AS A LAWYER, I HAD A LITTLE MORE CONTROL OF MY TIME.

WHEN YOU ARE A WAITRESS, IT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION.

WHEN YOUR JOB IS TO BE PRESENT, WHEN YOUR JOB IS CUSTOMER FACING, IT IS VERY, VERY CHALLENGING TO BREAK AWAY, PARTICULARLY IN SMALLER BUSINESSES WHERE YOU MIGHT BE THE ONLY EMPLOYEE ON, AND THE THING WITH BREAST FEEDING AS SOMEONE WHO BREAST FED ON THE JOB, SOMETIMES THAT ITSELF NOT ENTIRELY WITHIN YOUR CONTROL WHEN THAT HAS TO HAPPEN.

AND SO IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE HAVE BREAKS FOR OTHER SORTS OF BODILY NEEDS, WE SHOULD HAVE BREAKS TO ALLOW WOMEN TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEED OF THEIR CHILD AND OF THEMSELVES.

PEOPLE DON'T THINK OF PUMPING AND FEEDING AS I NEED OF THE WOMAN.

THEY THINK OF IT AS THE NEED OF THE BABY.

BUT I WILL ASSURE YOU AS SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD TO FLEE A DEPOSITION IN A COURTHOUSE TO SELF EXPRESS IN A CAR, THIS IS A VERY IMMEDIATE PROBLEM THAT WOMEN HAVE.

AND TO HAVE THEM HAVE TO TAKE UNPAID BREAKS FROM WORK AND THAT ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY THEIR EMPLOYER IS UNSUSTAINABLE.

>> I ALSO THINK THAT, FOR A LOT OF EMPLOYERS TODAY, AND WORKING IN THE AREAS THAT I'VE WORKED IN IN THE PAST, I THINK A LOT OF IT IS THAT THE EMPLOYERS DON'T SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF IT.

THE EMPLOYERS DON'T WANT TO TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

THE PLAYERS ARE NOT ENCOURAGING THAT.

AND THEY FEEL LIKE THE WOMAN QUOTE UNQUOTE HAS MADE A CHOICE.

YEAH, WE DO HAVE A CHOICE JUST LIKE MEN HAVE CHOICES TO DO CERTAIN THINGS OR ANYBODY ELSE.

THIS IS A CHOICE THAT WE DO FOR OUR OWN WELL-BEING BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR OUR CHILDREN.

>> ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE PUSH THAT THE GOVERNOR IS MAKING THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF GETTING A BREAK FOR IMPORTANT MEDICAL SERVICES, HAS TO DO WITH 40 HOURS THAT THE GOVERNOR IS LOOKING FOR PAID LEAVE, I BELIEVE, FOR PRENATAL APPOINTMENTS.

IS THAT A BIG GAME CHANGER AS WELL, ASSEMBLYMEMBER.

>> THE AMOUNT OF TIMES HAVE YOU TO GO TO THE DOCTOR AT THE, ESPECIALLY AT THE END.

YOU ARE GETTING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE TAKEN EVERY TWO TO THREE DAYS AT THE END.

IT IS AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON SOMEONE'S ABILITY TO REGULARLY APPEAR AT WORK, TO BE ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE AND I THINK WE JUST NEED TO TAKE STEPS LEGISLATIVELY TO SAY TO EMPLOYERS, THIS IS A MEDICAL NEED AND SOMETHING YOU NEED TO ACCOMMODATE.

TO THE EXTENT THAT WE ARE PRIORITIZING THIS LEGISLATIVELY, WE ARE SETTING THE TONE FOR WHAT WE EXPECT FROM OUR EMPLOYERS AND THE RESPECT WE GIVE TO PREGNANT WOMEN.

>> I THINK IT HAS BEEN-- UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK PREGNANCY IN THE WORKPLACE HAS BEEN AN IMPOSITION.

THAT'S THE WAY IT HAS BEEN LOOKED AT.

AND RATHER THAN ENCOURAGING AND HELPING THE FAMILIES TO MOVE ALONG, AND TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, I THINK PREDOM FACTUALLY, IT'S BEEN LOOKING ADD AS AN IMPOSITION.

THANKFULLY NOW WHEN SOMEONE GOES TO APPLY FOR A JOB, IF THEY'RE PREGNANT, THEY DON'T HAVE TO REVEAL THAT THEY'RE PREGNANT, ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE, IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS.

BUT IT THEN BECOMES AN IMPOSITION.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF WHY ALL OF THESE CHANGES ARE BEING MADE OR NOT BEING MADE.

>> AND ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT AS WELL, WHILE IT CAN BE CHALLENGING FOR AN EMPLOYER TO ACCOMMODATE SOMEONE DURING PREGNANCY AND IN THE EARLY PART OF A BABY'S LIFE, MOMS ARE BETTER EMPLOYEES.

OVERTIME WE HAVE TONS OF STATISTICS THAT SHOW MOMS AND PARENTS GENERALLY, THEY'RE MORE RELIABLE.

THEY'RE GOOD AT PRIORITIZING, THE SOFT SKILLS A MOM BRINGS WITH HER TO THE OFFICE ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO INTERVIEW FOR.

I ALWAYS SAY TO PEOPLE, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN MULTITASK AND PRIORITIZE AND IS GOOD IN AN EMERGENCY, YOU HIRE A MOM.

SO I THINK THE DIVIDENDS IT PAY EMPLOYERS TO KEEP WOMEN IN THEIR EMPLOY AFTER THEY HAVE CHILDREN IS SOMETHING WE CAN'T OVERSTATE.

>> NESSA I WANT TO OPEN THIS UP FOR YOU TO TALK ABOUT MATERNAL HEALTH MORE BROADLY BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AND PARTICULAR IN NEW YORK.

SO WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT COME TO MIND?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THE DISPARITIES.

AND UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T LIKE TO START OUT WITH A NEGATIVE, BUT THAT IS WHERE WE ARE.

>> IT'S REALITY.

WE HAVE TO CONFRONT IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY IS THE REALITY.

AND IF WE LOOK AT THE MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE IN OUR AREA, THE AVERAGE RATE, YOU KNOW, CROSSING ALL ETHNIC, SOCIO... IS ABOUT 26 OUT OF EVERY 100,000 LIVE BIRTHS.

SO 26 WOMEN OUT OF 100,000 BIRTHS ARE DYING AS A RESULT OF MATERNAL MORTALITY AND THAT'S 42 DAYS BEFORE AND AFTER GIVING BIRTH.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE DISPARITY IS IF WE LOOK AT THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, THAT PERCENTAGE OR THAT NUMBER, NOT PERCENTAGE, GOES UP TO 70.

THAT'S MORE THAN TWO TIMES WHAT A YOUNG WHITE WOMAN CAN EXPERIENCE IN MORTALITY AT 26.

BUT A BLACK WOMAN CAN LOOK AT 70 WOMEN PER 100,000 LIVE BIRTHS THAT ARE DYING.

AND THE SADDEST PART OF ALL OF THIS IS THAT 80% OF THOSE DEATHS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED AND THAT'S BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH AND THE CDC.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I JUST PULLED OUT OF MY HEAD, WHICH SOMETIMES I DO.

BUT THAT ACTUALLY IS A NUMBER.

80% OF THOSE DEATHS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTIBLE.

WHY WERE THEY NOT PREVENTIBLE?

NUMBER 1, WE LOOK AT ONONDAGA COUNTY AND WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY GIVE OR TAKE 5,000 BIRTHS A YEAR, UNDER THAT 5,000, WE HAVE A THOUSAND THAT ARE EITHER SELF-PAY MEDICAID AND WE HAVE IN THAT COHORT, WE HAVE FOUR OB/GYNs TO DELIVER THOSE BABIES.

THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

BY AND LARGE OUR NUMBERS OF OB/GYN HAVE GONE DOWN BECAUSE OF MAL PRACTICE AND BLAH BLAH BLAH.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT INFANT MORTALITY AND MATERNAL MORTALITY IN THOSE COHORTS, IT ABSOLUTELY REPREHENSIBLE THAT I CAN SAY THAT 80% OF THOSE DEATHS WERE PREVENTIBLE.

THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

YOU LOOK BACK AND SAY HOW CAN FOUR OB/GYNs BE THE ONLY ONES DELIVERING THESE BABIES THAT ARE RACIALLY OR SOBER SOCIOECONOMICALLY DIMINISHED.

THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE.

THEY CAN'T EVEN GET INTO PRENATAL CARE FOR FOUR TO SIX MONTHS.

SO WE, I WAS LOOKING ENOUGH, I STARTED PRENATAL CARE MY FIRST TRIMESTER, SIX WEEKS AFTER FINDING OUT I WAS PREGNANT, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GO THROUGH.

THESE WOMEN CAN'T EVEN GET IN MUCH LESS WHEN THEIR DELIVERY TIME IS.

THEY'RE UNCERTAIN WHO WILL DELIVER THEIR BABIES AND A LOT OF TIMES IT'S A NURSE PRACTICAL I GOESER AND THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING, TOO BUT WE NEED MORE DOULAS AND PEOPLE WILLING TO COME BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY, TO LOOK AT THE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH BECAUSE WE ARE FAILING ASTRONOMICALLY IN NUMBERS.

>> AND FOR CONTEXT, NEW YORK IS AN OUTLIER WHEN IT COMES TO OTHER STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

OUR CHANCES OF DYING IN NEW YORK COMPARED TO CALIFORNIA IS TWICE AS HIGH.

CALIFORNIA HAS SOME OF THE LOWEST MATERNAL MORTALITY RATES IN THE COUNTRY THIS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THINKING OF DOULAS BRINGS UP YOUR NEIGHBOR IN ROCHESTER, STATE SENATOR BRUK.

WHAT IS THE STATE DOING ON THAT FRONT THAT IS THINK IS IMPORTANT ACCESSING DOULAS?

>> WE HAVE RECENTLY OPENED UP MEDICAID ACCESSIBILITY FOR DOULAS SO WOMEN WHO ARE MEDICAID ELIGIBLE CAN ACCESS DOULAS.

IN MY SHORT TIME IN THE ASSEMBLY WE EXTENDED POST NATAL CARE FOR A YEAR.

AS MUCH AS WE ONLY COUNT IT IN A TWO MONTH PERIOD, YOU CAN SUFFER CARDIAC ARREST DUE TO LABOR NINE MONTHS AFTER GIVING BIRTH.

THE AMOUNT OF COMPLICATIONS THAT CAN OCCUR OVER TIME BECAUSE WOMEN STOP GOING TO THE DOCTOR RESULT IN NOT EVEN NECESSARILY DEATH, BUT ALSO LIFE LONG DISABILITIES THAT IMPACT SOMEONE'S ABILITY TO CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN, THEIR LIFE EXPECTANCY AND EARNING CAPACITY SO WE HAVE DONE A LOT AROUND MEDICAID TO EXPAND THAT.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY TO CARE.

IT'S NOT JUST THE PROVIDERS ARE PAID BUT ACCESS TO THE PROVIDERS.

IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE OF ONE OF OUR CITIES, JUST LOOK AT THE I-90 CORRIDOR.

THERE IS NO BUS.

THERE IS NO ACCESS TO CLINICS.

SOME WOMEN ARE TRAVELING 50 TO 100 MOO ILLS.

THERE IS-- 100 MILES.

THERE IS A FASCINATING THING IN THE MENNONITE COMMUNITY, A MIDWIFE PROVIDING SERVICES AND WHEN WE CHANGED THE RULES THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE A DEGREE, THE ONLY SCHOOL IN NEW YORK STATE THAT PROVIDED THAT CERTIFICATE WAS IN BROOKLYN.

MENNONITE WOMAN THAT HAS DELIVERED HUNDREDS OF BABIES IS NOT GOING DO COVID AND WHILE-- IS NOT GOING DO BROOKLYN.

WHEN COVID WAS GOING ON, SHE WAS BROUGHT UP ON CHARGES WITHOUT A POOR OUTCOME BECAUSE SHE WAS OUT OF LINE WITH OUR RULES.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT RURAL ACCESS AND THE REALITIES OF HOW WOMEN ARE HAVING BABIES ACROSS THE STATE BECAUSE NOT ALL OF THEM CENTER STRONG HOSPITAL OR UPSTATE.

I LIVE JUST OUTSIDE OF ROCHESTER.

IT'S A MILE TO WALK TO A BUS FROM MY HOUSE.

YOU ARE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DEPENDENT, YOUR PREGNANCY OUTCOMES ARE LOWER.

>> I THINK THAT GOES ACROSS THE BOARD JUST FOR THE PREGNANCY ON THE MATERNAL SIDE OF IT BUT ALSO FOR WIC, WOMEN INFANT CHILDREN.

THOSE ARE SPECIFIC AREAS THAT THEY'RE DESIGNATEDDED SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THAT AS WELL.

ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE GEARED TOWARDS WOMEN ARE NOT ABLE TO DO WHAT WE NEED THEM TO DO.

IT'S JUST FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS.

AS WE TALKED ABOUT, THERE IS A FINE LINE WHERE WOMEN ARE ON MEDICAID AND THEY'RE NOT AND IT'S LITERALLY $10 THAT CHANGES THAT.

BUT THAT ALSO CHANGES THAT WOMAN'S OUTCOME OF PREGNANCY AND CHANGES THE OUTCOME OF HER HAVING A HEALTHSY DELIVER REAND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK CARE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> CAITLYN, ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO POOR MATERNAL HEALTH AND POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR WOMEN IS THE IDEA THAT DOCTORS, OFTEN MEN, ARE NOT LISTENING TO WOMEN WHEN THEY TELL THEM SOMETHING.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT THERE IS THAT CONNECTION?

>> SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

I MEAN AND PARTIST IS, TOO, YOUNG WOMEN NEED TO LEARN TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES, LEARN HOW TO SPEAK UP.

BUT THE THAT IS SO HARD WHEN THEY'RE FACED WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO LISTEN SOMETIMES OR WHO HAVEN'T, YOU KNOW, BEEN ABLE ON TO BRIDGE THE CAP ON UNDERSTANDING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, UNDERSTANDING LANGUAGE BARRIERS.

I SEE THAT CONSTANT LIP.

WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SO MANY NEW AMERICANS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO NEED ACCESS TO THAT CARE AS WELL, THAT STRUGGLE TO EVEN WANT TO GO ACCESS SERVICES BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROVIDERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE OR TRANSLATION SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE STILL LACK SOME OF THE CULTURAL SENSITIVITY, THAT CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH SPECIFICALLY.

AND, YOU KNOW, JUST AN UNCERTAINTY THAT THEY FACE IN ACCESSING THOSE HEALTHCARE SERVICES.

>> IT DOESN'T SEEM FAIR THAT THE ROLE OF ADVOCATE SHOULD FALL ON THE PATIENT WHO IS IN A VERY VULNERABLE POSITION.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE THE PERSON WHO IS IN THE POWERFUL AUTHORITATIVE ROLE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TORE BRIDGING THAT GAP.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I HAVE WORKED AS A CASE MANAGER IN THE PAST AND WORKED IN HOUSING AND GONE TO SOME OF THE APPOINTMENTS WITH PEOPLE AND IT SHOULDN'T TAKE A THIRD PARTY IN THE ROOM EITHER, TO KIND OF STRONG ARM A PROVIDER OR TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT PERSON.

THEY SHOULD HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING FROM THE PROVIDER THEMSELVES.

>> I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WOMEN IN GENERAL, BUT PARTICULARLY WOMEN OF A YOUNG AGE, I THINK THEY FEEL MINIMIZED.

I THINK THEY FEEL LIKE WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS NOT BEING HEARD.

AND I THINK THAT THEY DON'T KNOW , AS YOU SAID, HOW TO SAY IT; WHO TO SAY IT TO, HOW TO SAY IT.

WHAT ARE THEIR RIGHTS TO SAY WHAT THEY NEED TO SAY.

THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE-- AND THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE YOURS-- THEY'RE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE A VOICE.

AND I THINK THAT'S A HUGE THING IN ADVOCACY AND HEALTHCARE ACROSS THE BOARD, IS TO HAVE A VOICE AND A VOICE THAT'S HEARD.

>> I THINK WE TALK A LOT ABOUT WOMEN'S HEALTH IN TERMS OF PREGNANCY AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH BUT WOMEN ARE DISCOUNTED IN CARDIAC CARE.

WOMEN ARE DISCOUNTED-- I JUST HAD A MEETING THIS WEEK WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ADVOCATING FOR EDUCATION AROUND BLOOD DISORDERS.

AND THEY WERE SAYING HOW OFTEN WOMEN ARE DISCOUNTED BECAUSE THEIR PERIODS ARE TOO LONG OR THEY BRUISE EASILY WHERE MEN GET DIAGNOSED AND WOMEN ARE DISMISSED.

THEY LIVE THAT WAY.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE APEOPLIC ALL THE TIME.

IT'S A WOMAN'S ISSUE YOU BLEED ANY.

IT'S FINE.

THERE IS AN INTERESTING NEW COMPREHENSIVE CARE CENTER IN MY DISTRICT THAT JUST OPENED THROUGH ROCHESTER REGIONAL HEALTH THAT CO-LOCATED PRIMARY CARE SERVICES OB/GYN AND CARDIAC SERVICES BECAUSE CARDIAC CARE IS WOMEN'S CARE AND WE NEVER TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S HILARIOUS BUT IRONIC THAT WOMEN DEAL WITH A PERIOD ONCE A MONTH AND THE PAIN THAT COMES WITH THAT AND MEN ARE THE ONES WHO, YOU KNOW, FREAK OUT OVER LIKE A HEADACHE AND THEN YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES WHO THINK THEY COMPLAIN-- THEY'RE BUFFALOING THINGS OUT OF PROPORTION, THEY'RE HYSTERICAL AND I'M LIKE THIS HEADACHE HAS KNOCKED ME OUT.

>> WAY TOO MUCH.

>> MOTHER, COME HELP ME!

>> THAT'S WHO THEY CALL FIRST, THEIR MOTHER.

RIGHT?

JUST SAYING.

>> EXACTLY.

I KNOW IT'S SAD BUT UNFORTUNATELY TRUE.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER, IN TERMS OF THE ADVOCACY, I'M CURIOUS AS SOMEONE WHO IS ACTUALLY IN GOVERNMENT, YOUR CHAMBER IS LED BY A MAN.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE IS THE RESPONSIVENESS TO ISSUES RAISED BY WOMEN IN YOUR CHAMBER?

>> WE COULDN'T BE LUCKIER.

WHILE WE ARE LED BY CARL HEASTIE, HE IS INCREDIBLY RESPONSIVE, PROBABLY THE MOST RESPONSIVE COLLABORATIVE SPEAKERS IN MODERN HISTORY.

I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE SPEAKERS OF THE 1800s BUT I CAN SAY WE STILL SERVE TODAY WITH WOMEN WHO DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO A BATH ROOM IN THE CHAMBER.

HELENE WEINSTEIN WAS PART OF A COHORT OF WOMEN WHO FOUGHT TO GET A WOMEN'S BATHROOM INSIDE THE CONFINES OF THE CHAMBER BECAUSE THEY USED TO HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE AND THEY HAD A BUDDY SYSTEM SO WHEN A VOTE CAME, SOMEONE WOULD GO GET THEM.

BUT BECAUSE OF CATHY NOLAN AND HE LEAN WEINSTEIN AND OTHERS, WE WERE ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR SOME BASIC EQUALITY.

BUT CARL HEASTIE IS AMAZING.

WE HAVE A DAYCARE CENTER SO THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY CAN BRING THEIR CHILDREN AND PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE NOW A VERY FLEXIBLE ZOOM POLICY.

I HAVE A COLLEAGUE JEAN, SILLITTI WHO JUST HAD A BABY, MIRACLE BABY, LITTLE WILLIAM, WE ARE VERY EXCITED.

HE IS EVERYONE'S BABY, WHO CAN APPEAR ON ZOOM.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER ROZIC APPEARS ON ZOOM SOMETIMES BECAUSE WE ARE ACCOMMODATING PEOPLE AND THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO CARL HEASTIE WHO HAS PUT THE NEEDS OF THE LEGISLATORS HE NEEDS AT THE FOREFRONT.

BUT WE ARE ALSO LED BY CRYSTAL PEOPLES-STOKES, AND SHE IS AN ENORMOUS VOICE IN THAT.

ABOUT HALF OF OUR CHAIRS ARE WOMEN NOW.

WE HAVE A WOMEN'S LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS AND WE HAVE 78 MEMBERS OF THE BIPARTISAN WOMEN'S CAUCUS NOW.

WE ARE REALLY PUSHING THE VOICES OF WOMEN FORWARD.

YOU HAVE THE SENATE THAT'S LED BY ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS.

IT IS A VERY COLLABORATIVE PLACE AND I THINK VERY DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS EVEN A DECADE AGO.

>> YOU SEE, WHEN WE TALK THOUGH, EVEN WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DAYCARE AND TALKING ABOUT HEALTHCARE, WE ARE ALWAYS PUTTING IT ON THE WOMEN'S BACK AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, AS YOU KNOW, DIRECTED EARLIER, TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH RESPONSIBILITY FOR CO-PARENTING.

BUT WE STILL HAVE THAT SAME ATTITUDE AND WE ARE ALL PROFESSIONAL WOMEN TALKING ABOUT WOMEN'S ISSUES AND CHALLENGES BUT YET OUR EXPECTATION AND MINE IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD, WHAT DOES MOM HAVE TO DO.

WHAT DOES SHE HAVE TO DO TO ACCLIMATE AND GO BACK TO WORK?

MOST OF THE TIME DAD CAN GO BACK TO WORK RIGHT AWAY BUT BECAUSE MOM IS THE PRIMARY PROVIDER, ESPECIALLY WITH BREAST FEEDING MOMS, IMMEDIATELY IT GOES TO MOM'S RESPONSIBILITY.

AND THAT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO LEARN TO CHANGE BUT ACCOMMODATE IS THE BETTER WORD, I THINK, TO ACCOMMODATE.

>> I'VE OFTEN SAID WE WON'T HAVE TRUE EQUALITY UNTIL IT'S AS ACCEPTABLE FOR A WOMAN TO GO TO WORK AS A MAN TO TAKE THEIR KID TO THE DOCTOR, TO TAKE A DAY OFF WORK TO BRING THEIR KID TO A SCHOOL ACTIVITY.

AND I THINK WE SEE THAT MORE.

I BROUGHT MY SON TO THE DOCTOR A FEW MONTHS AGO, MY MOTHER WAS IN TOWN.

SHE CAME WITH US.

AND I WAS THE ONLY MOM IN THE WAITING ROOM.

EVERYONE ELSE WAS A DAD AND MY MOM SAID SHE HAD NEVER SEEN THAT.

AND I THINK IT'S MORE COMMON NOW.

>> AS OUR DE FACTO YOUTH CORRESPOND FOR THIS CONVERSATION, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MESSAGING THAT YOUNG WOMEN ARE SEEING?

IS IT ABOUT THIS CO-EQUAL BRANCH OF PARENTING THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT WE ARE HOPING TO STRIVE FOR?

ARE THERE OTHER MESSAGING THAT IS ABOUT FEMALE EMPOWERMENT ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED TO SEE IN POP CULTURE AND ELSEWHERE 10, 20 YEARS AGO?

>> WELL, YEAH, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT MEDIA AND MESSAGING WITH THE GIRLS AND WHAT THEY'RE SEEING AND A LOT OF IT IS THOSE SAME IDEAS.

BUT IT'S ALSO CHANGING BECAUSE THEY'RE LEARNING TO MAKE THE MESSAGES THEMSELVES.

AND I THINK AS THIS YOUNG GENERATION GETS OLDER, WE WILL SEE THOSE CHANGES COMING THROUGH BUT-- AND THAT'S WHERE OUR PROGRAMS AND PROGRAMS LIKE GIRLS, INC.

BECOME SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY'RE TEACHING THE GIRLS TO MAKE THE MESSAGE THEMSELVES.

>> CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT THE EMPOWERMENT THAT A YOUNG WOMAN CAN WALK AWAY WITH THROUGH SOME OF YOUR PROGRAMS?

>> SURE.

OUR GIRLS WALK AWAY LEARNING HOW TO STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES, HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR OTHERS, HOW TO GO INTO THE WORLD AND ASK FOR THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED.

THEY ARE LEARNING TO BREAK BOUNDARIES AS FAR AS WHAT FIELDS THEY CAN GO INTO.

WE PUT HIGH EMPHASIS ON STEM ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS.

WE OFFER WORKSHOPS WITH LOCAL PROFESSIONALS AND AN EMPHASIS ON FEMALE PROFESSIONALS IN VARIOUS CAREER FIELDS.

WE BRING THEM INTO OUR CENTER TO BE WITH THE GIRLS.

AND THEN WE TAKE THE GIRLS TO THEM AS WELL SO THAT THEY CAN SEE WHAT THE FUTURE HAS IN STORE FOR THEM.

THEY LEARN HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES, A FOCUS ON MENTAL WELLNESS AND PHYSICAL WELLNESS.

SO WE JUST TRY TO PROVIDE WRAP AROUND SERVICES THAT PREPARE THEM TO BE INDEPENDENT, STRONG YOUNG WOMEN.

>> ON THE LAST QUESTION OF BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN GEN-Z AND YOUNGER, AGE APPROPRIATE SEXUAL EDUCATION.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT AS PART OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS MOVING FORWARD?

>> CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

ABSOLUTELY.

GIRLS, INC. HAS CURRICULUM FOR HEALTHY SEXUALITY STARTING AT AGE, I THINK 6.

AND SO IT'S AVAILABLE.

WE ENGAGE FAMILIES IN THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL.

AND AS THEY GET OLDER, THE GIRLS, YOU KNOW, HAVING COMFORT AROUND ANY SORT OF QUESTION IS CRITICAL FOR THEIR GROWTH AND FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

>> I HAVE TO IMAGINE THE CURRICULUM FOR A SIX-YEAR-OLD THROUGH A TEENAGER EVOLVES, RIGHT?

>> OF COURSE.

YES.

>> ASSEMBLYMEMBER LUNSFORD, THERE IS A DREAM BEAT.

IT'S QUIET IN THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT MANDATING AGE APPROPRIATE SEXUAL EDUCATION.

WHAT SEEMS TO BE HOLDING SOMETHING LIKE THAT BACK?

>> THERE HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTELY INSANE POLITICALIZATION OF THIS ISSUE BY A VERY LOUD MINORITY OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE LEGISLATURE SUGGESTING THAT AGE APPROPRIATE EDUCATION AROUND BODILY SAFETY AND AUTONOMY AND HEALTH IS SOMEHOW SEXUALIZING CHILDREN OR GROOMING CHILDREN.

IT IS A WILD MISUNDERSTANDING.

MY SON IS 7.

WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OUR BODIES AND GROWING AND WHO CAN TOUCH US AND WHO CAN SEE US NAKED AND WHAT SECRETS ARE AND WHO SAFE PEOPLE ARE AND PART OF COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION ON THESE ISSUES IS TO GIVE KIDS THE VOCABULARY TO KNOW WHEN SOMEBODY IS NOT TREATING THEM RIGHT.

TO KNOW WHEN THERE IS VIOLENCE IN THEIR HOME THAT THAT IS NOT NORMAL.

TO KNOW WHEN A GROWN-UP ISN'T TRUSTED OR WHEN SOMEONE IS TELLING THEM TO KEEP A SECRET FROM THEIR PATIENCE, THAT THAT IS NOT OKAY.

WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT KINDERGARTEN, YOU ARE ALSO TEACHING KIDS NOT TO BITE EACH OTHER AND TO KEEP THEIR HANDS OUT OF THEIR PANTS, WHICH I WILL TELL YOU IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE THAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH WITH CHILDREN.

AND I THINK THAT BY GIVING KIDS PARAMETER AS ROUND WHAT WORDS TO USE AND WHO THEY CAN TALK TO, YOU ARE KEEPING THEM SAFE.

IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE THE OFFICE OPPOSITE.

PEOPLE THINK THIS IS A DANGER FOR CHILDREN BUT THE IS WHAT KEEPING THEM SAFE AND THEY KNOW AS THEY GROW, THEIR TEACHERS AND THEIR PARENTS ARE SAFE PEOPLE TO ASK QUESTIONS TO.

WE ARE ALSO SEEING CHILDREN HITTING PUBERTY MUCH EARLIER THAN THEY HAVE IN THE PAST.

THERE ARE GIRLS HITTING PUBERTY AT 8 OR 9.

IF YOU ARE WAITING UNTIL FIFTH GRADE TO START TALKING TO THEM ABOUT BODILY CHANGES, THEY'RE IN FOR A RUDE AWAKENING ONE DAY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE AGE APPROPRIATE AND ALSO SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE CONVERSATIONS WITH KIDS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AS THEIR BODIES GROW AND ABOUT THE CHANGES THEY'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH.

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT'S.

>> SO YOU THEN ARE DISAPPOINTED GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS NOT MADE THIS PART OF HER AGENDA OR USED HER BULLY PULPIT TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS?

>> I'LL TELL YOU THAT THERE HAVE BEEN BILLS IN BOTH CHAMBERS AND I'M NOT SEEING THEM COME UP IN THE CHAMBERS EITHER AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE AN UNFORTUNATE GROUP OF PEOPLE IS LEVERAGING THIS ISSUE FOR A BULLY PULPIT PULL IT OF THEIR OWN TO BEAT A DRUM THAT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO ME AND THAT IT HAS BECOME CHALLENGING TO TALK ABOUT IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T GET BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION.

I DON'T NECESSARILY BLAME THE GOVERNMENT FOR THIS.

I BLAME PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT THIS BILL DOES OR DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS BECAUSE I'LL TELL YOU, NO ONE HAS COME TO ME TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ONE ON ONE.

MY CONSTITUENTS AREN'T ASKING ME QUESTIONS.

THEY'RE JUST YELLING AT ME AND CALLING ME A GROOMER.

>> NOW I THINK WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT HOW WORDS MATTER.

I THINK IF TOPICALLY THERE WERE SOME WORDS THAT WERE CHANGED, THAT WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT SEX EDUCATION, BECAUSE TRULY IT ISN'T ABOUT THAT.

IT'S ABOUT OVERALL HEALTH, OVERALL UNDERSTANDING YOUR OWN BODY AND WHAT GOES ON.

I HAVE TO TALK TO MY GRANDDAUGHTERS ABOUT, YOU KNOW,-- MY DAUGHTER ALREADY HAS BUT I HAVE TO ENCOURAGE IT AT HOME, YOU KNOW, THIS IS PRIVACY.

THIS IS NOT PRIVACY.

THE WORD SEX DOESN'T EVEN COME INTO THE CONVERSATION.

SO I THINK IF WE CHANGE THE NOMENCLATURE, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO USE THEIR OWN BULLY PULLPITS WOULD BACK DOWN.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE WORDS MATTER.

IT'S WHAT WE ARE NAMING IT THAT IS GETTING EVERYBODY'S HAIR ON THE BACK OF THEIR NECK STANDING UP.

>> NESSA, RELYING ON THE WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE ACCUMULATED OVER THE... >> YOU MEAN OLD?

>> I WAS GOING TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT BUT OKAY.

DO YOU FEEL, LOOKING AT A LONGER LENS OF HISTORY THAT WE ARE HEADING INTO A MEANINGFUL POSITIVE DIRECTION RIGHT NOW WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND WOMEN'S ISSUES OR ARE WE AT A CROSSROADS OF SORTS AND THINGS COULD GO VEER OFF IN A TERRIBLE DIRECTION?

>> I THINK UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY.

LET ME SAY THAT.

114, OR 124 YEARS AGO WE GOT RIGHT TO VOTE.

SO WHAT HAS IMPROVED SINCE THEN?

NOT MUCH.

WE ARE STILL CONSIDERED EMOTIONAL BECAUSE WE HAVE PERS AND NOT ALLOWED TO DO CERTAIN THINGS THAT TIME OF THE MONTH.

BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT I THINK WOMEN ARE BEING HEARD, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WE ARE ALSO STILL BEING ADJUDICATED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT WE LOOK AT HEALTHCARE PREDOMINANTLY.

WE LOOK AT IVF, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, OB/GYN AND ALL THE THINGS, BREAST CANCER, ALL THESE THINGS, WE HAVE HAD TO FIGHT WHAT SHOULD BE NORMAL AND ROUTINE.

SO I WAS JUST HAVING A CONVERSATION, THEY WERE JUST TALKING YESTERDAY ABOUT PUTTING THE DAY AFTER PILL ON THE PHARMACY SHELVES.

AND THAT IS NOW BEING ADJUDICATED.

WELL, I CAN TELL YOU IF IT WAS DIFFERENT THAT A MAN COULD TAKE THAT SAME PILL, IT WOULDN'T BE ADJUDICATED.

IT WOULD BE ON THE FRONT ROW FRONT SHELF AND ON SALE.

WHILE WE HAVE COME A LONG DISTANCE, WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

>> CAITLYN, AS SOMEONE WHO DEALS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, DO YOU FEEL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUT?

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY THINGS COULD GO?

WHAT ARE I DON'T ARE THOUGHTS?

>>-- WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> OF COURSE I'M CONCERNED.

THE GIRLS WE WORK WITH, THEY'RE SO CLOSE TO MY HEART AND I JUST WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO GROW UP IN A WORLD THAT'S A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

WE ALWAYS WANT A LITTLE BIT BETTER FOR THE NEXT GROUP.

I HOPE THINGS CAN IMPROVE AND THINGS CAN BE BETTER FOR THEM AND I TRY, I THINK ANY OF US TRY, TO SHOW THEM WHAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER COULD BE AS WELL SO THAT WHEN THEY'RE THE ONES MAKING THE DECISIONS, WHAT THEY'RE THE ONES SITTING AT THE TABLE, THEY'LL HAVE A VOICE AS WELL THAT'S GUIDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> SO ASSEMBLYMEMBER, SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE DID NOT GET TO TODAY INCLUDE C-SECTIONS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SHELTER ALLOWANCE, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND WE NEED MORE HOURS THAN THEY'VE GOT SLOTTED BECAUSE HAVE YOU TO WATCH AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN AT SOME POINT.

BUT HOW WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS IN THEIR OWN LIVES?

ARE THERE THINGS THAT PEOPLE JUST NEED TO BRING UP AND IS IMPORTANT THAT IT IS NOT JUST WOMEN TALKING TO OTHER WOMEN?

HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> SO I ALWAYS SAY THAT WE NEED EVERYONE ADVOCATING FOR EVERYONE BECAUSE WOMEN'S ISSUES AREN'T JUST ISSUES AROUND WOMEN'S BODIES.

POVERTY IS A WOMAN'S ISSUE.

JOBS IN THE ECONOMY ARE WOMEN'S ISSUES, ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE ARE WOMEN'S ISSUES, EVERYBODY'S ISSUE.

WHEN YOU DEAL WITH HALF THE POPULATION, IT IS GOING TO IMPACT THE OTHER HALF AS WELL.

BUT WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS TO STAY ENGAGED, YOU KNOW.

I HOLD FOUR TOWN HALLS A YEAR AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE.

WE MAKE THEM VERY, VERY PUBLIC, FOR PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND TELL ME WHAT THEIR ISSUES ARE.

ONE OF THE THE ONLY WAYS I KNOW AS AN ELECT OFFICIAL THAT WE NEED TO TAKE UP AN ISSUE IS BECAUSE MY CONSTITUENTS TELL ME.

THEY LET ME KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS IMPORTANT.

SO PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN GOVERNMENT REALLY DOES HELP SHAPE THE NARRATIVE AND HELP SHAPE THE LAWS.

I WISH MORE PEOPLE KNEW HOW POWERFUL THEY WERE AND COULD REACH OUT TO ELECTED OFFICIALS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE HEARING THE WAYS OUR LAWS IMPACT THEM AND THE WAY THE GAPS IN THE LAWS ARE PREVENTING THEM FROM ACHIEVING EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE HOPING TO ACHIEVE.

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO DO ANY OF THE OTHER STUFF I WAS HOPING FOR.

BUT THAT'S ON ME.

I LOVE TO TALK TO YOU GUYS IN THE FUTURE.

MY THANKS TO ASSEMBLYMEMBER JEN LUNSFORD, CAITLYN COPFER, AND NESSA VERCILLO FOR JOINING ME IN THE STUDIO.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO REVISIT THIS EPISODE - OR DIG INTO THE CONNECT NEW YORK ARCHIVES - VISIT WCNY.ORG/CONNECT.

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ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE TEAM AT WCNY - I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - THANKS FOR WATCHING.