[ THEME MUSIC ] ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS COULD BE IN LEGAL TROUBLE.

WE'LL EXPLAIN WITH JON CAMPBELL FROM WNYC.

THEN AN UPDATE ON GRADUATION STANDARDS IN NEW YORK SCHOOLS AND LATER, NEW YORK CITY HOUSING VOUCHERS CAN NOW BE USED OUTSIDE THE FIVE BURROWS.

WE'LL DISCUSSION.

PLUS, RESOURCES FOR CAREGIVERS.

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.

FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS, SOMETHING'S BEEN HAPPENING IN NEW YORK CITY.

IT STARTED TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN THE FBI RAIDED THE HOME OF BRIANNA SUGGS WHO RAN FUND-RAISING FOR NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR THAT OFFICE IN 20216789 AT THE TIME, THE MAYOR WAS IN D.C.

TRYING TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THE CITY'S MIGRANT CRISIS, BUT AFTER THE NEWS BROKE ABOUT THE FBI AND HIS CHIEF FUND-RAISER, ADAMS CANCELED HIS MEETINGS FLEW BACK HOME.

A FEW DAYS LATER, THE FBI APPROACHED ADAMS IN PUBLIC AND SEIZED HIS ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND SO FAR, ADAMS, HIMSELF, HAS NOT BEEN ACCUSED OF ANY WRONGDOING AND HAS DEFENDED HIS CAMPAIGN IN NEWS REPORTS.

THAT HASN'T STOPPED POLITICAL INSIDERS FROM CHATTING ABOUT HIS FUTURE AND THE NEXT ELECTION FOR NEW YORK CITY MAYOR.

FOR NOW, GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL SAID THIS WEEK SHE'S STICKING BY HIM.

I WILL NOT BE ADDRESSING ANY PROSPECTS OF A PRIMARY IN NEW YORK CITY.

I'M WORKING WITH THE MAYOR.

I'M WORKING ON ISSUES THAT ARE COMMON INTERESTS.

I ALSO REPRESENT THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WE'RE WORKING ON, PARTICULARLY PUBLIC SAFETY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT WHICH HAS BEEN UNIQUELY CHALLENGING.

SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING TOGETHER.

LET'S BREAK IT DOWN WITH JON CAMPBELL FROM WNYC AND GOTHAMIST.

JON, THANK YOU FOR COMING AS ALWAYS THANKS FOR HAVING ME, DAN.

SO WHAT IS THE FBI LOOKING INTO HERE?

IT FEELS LIKE-- I'VE BEEN READING A LOT OVER THE PAST WEEK ABOUT MAYOR ADAMS AND THE COUNTRY OF TURKEY.

SO WHAT IS THE FBI LOOKING INTO, I GUESS?

WHAT WE KNOW BROADLY IS THEY'RE LOOKING INTO THE MAYOR AND HIS ADMINISTRATION AND HIS CAMPAIGNS' TIES TO THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY, AND WE KNOW THAT, IN PART, BECAUSE THE "NEW YORK TIMES" OBTAINED PART OF THE SEARCH WARRANT AND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR BUT WE ALSO KNOW BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING AT KSK, WHICH IS A TURKISH, IMMIGRANT-OWNED CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

WE KNOW THAT THE MAYOR HAS TAKEN SEVERAL TRIPS TO TURKEY.

WE KNOW THAT HE'S TAKEN THOSE ON TURKISH AIRLINES.

WE KNOW THAT HE'S TAKEN THOSE PARTIALLY PAID FOR BY THE TURKISH CONSULATE.

THERE'S A LOT OF TIES THERE THAT THE MAYOR SAYS IT'S SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE'S A LARGE TURKISH POPULATION IN NEW YORK CITY.

HE OFTEN CALLS NEW YORK CITY THE ISTANBUL OF AMERICA.

OKAY.

I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT THAT MEANS BUT HE SAYS IT OFTEN, AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF-- OF SMOKE THERE AND WHAT THE MAYOR SAID AT ONE POINT IS WHERE THERE'S SMOKE THERE'S NOT ALWAYS FIRE, BUT THAT'S WHY THE FBI'S LOOKING INTO IT AND THAT'S WHY A LOT OF THE PRESS CORPS IS LOOKING INTO IT NOW.

YEAH.

THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF COMING OUT ABOUT PEOPLE IN HIS ADMINISTRATION THAT HAVE KIND OF LIKE BEEN ON THE OUTSKIRTS BUT HAVE BEEN VERY PUBLIC THAT MAYBE HAVE DONE SOME THINGS THAT WEREN'T QUITE AS ETHICAL BUT KIND OF UNRELATED TO TURKEY.

THAT'S WHY I'M SO CONFUSED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE TURKEY HAS COME UP AND THEN OTHER PEOPLE COME UP THAT AREN'T RELATED TO TURKEY.

FROM WHAT WE KNOW, HOW DOES THIS MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FBI AND THE MAYOR?

ARE THEY GOING TO KEEP ON LOOKING AND SEE IF THEY FIND ANYTHING, I GUESS?

IT'S KIND OF A WAITING GAME AT THIS POINT.

WE KNOW THAT THE MAYOR HAS TURNED OVER HIS DEVICES, HIS CELL PHONES AND IPAD.

A LOT LEARNED FROM THE "NEW YORK TIMES" WHICH HAS KIND OF LED THE WAY ON THIS REPORTING, BUT WE KNOW THAT-- THAT THEY HAVE DEVICES.

THEY HAVE PAPERWORK.

THEY HAVE INTERVIEWED SOME FOLKS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE CAMPAIGN.

BRIANNA SUGGS WAS THE FIRST PERSON WE LEARNED ABOUT, THE MAYOR'S FUND-RAISER, WHO HAD HER HOME SEARCHED BY THE FBI, AND THAT'S WHAT LED TO ALL OF THIS WHILE THE MAYOR-- EXCUSE ME-- WAS ON THE WAY TO WASHINGTON, D.C., HE LEARNED ABOUT THIS RAID ON ONE OF HIS TOP CAMPAIGN STAFFERS' HOMES AND TURNED AROUND.

CAME BACK.

SO THE MAYOR IS OBVIOUSLY TAKING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S GAINING QUITE A BIT OF ATTENTION.

WHAT HAS HE SAID, THE MAYOR?

I'VE READ A FEW THINGS THAT HE SAID.

IT SEEMS LIKE HE'S SAYING NOTHING TO SEE HERE, THAT KIND OF THING.

YOU TELL ME, HAS HE SAID ANYTHING SUBSTANTIAL ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION?

WELL, TWO THINGS I WOULD POINT TO.

ONE, THE MAYOR HAS SAID OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT HE TELLS CAMPAIGN FOLLOW THE LAW, FOLLOW THE LAW, AND IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW, TOO, THAT THE MAYOR HAS NOT BEEN ACCUSED OF ANY WRONGDOING AT THIS POINT.

RIGHT.

THE OTHER PART OF THIS AS WELL IS HE SAID THAT IF THERE WAS SOMEBODY THAT ACTED, YOU KNOW, INCORRECTLY OR FRAUDULENTLY, WHATEVER, THAT HE'D BE VERY DISAPPOINTED.

HE'S ALLOWING THAT IF, THAT IF THERE'S SOMEBODY WITHIN HIS CAMPAIGN, HE'S ALLOWING FOR THAT POSSIBILITY.

THAT IS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO CLOSELY WATCH.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT KIND OF RAISES EYEBROWS.

YEAH.

AND NOW IT'S KIND OF THE WAITING GAME TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING HAPPEN OR SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE MAYOR POLITICALLY?

HE'S UP FOR RE-ELECTION 2025, A FEW YEARS AWAY, FORTUNATELY FOR US AND THOSE OF US COVERING IT.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT HIS CHANCES IN THAT RACE, DO YOU THINK?

WOULD WE SEE MORE CHALLENGES COME THAN MAYBE WE WERE EXPECTING?

I MEAN, LISTEN, IT'S NOT GOOD POLITICALLY WHEN YOU'RE UNDER INVESTIGATION, BUT PREVIOUS MAYORS HAVE SURVIVED INVESTIGATIONS BECAUSE, IN PART, THOSE INVESTIGATIONS NEVER RESULTED IN CHARGES AGAINST THE MAYOR.

RIGHT.

BUT YOU HAVE HEARD CHATTER ABOUT PEOPLE KIND OF TESTING THE WATERS TO SEE IF MAYBE THEY'LL CHALLENGE THE MAYOR IN A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

WE'RE HERE IN ALBANY AND TWO STATE SENATORS ARE TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE FREQUENTLY MENTIONED THAT THERE'S POSSIBILITIES.

ZELLNOR MYRIE, HE'S A BROOKLYN DEMOCRAT, AND JESSICA RAMOS, WHO'S A QUEENS DEMOCRAT.

SO THERE HAS BEEN CHATTER OF A PRIMARY, BUT NOBODY HAS QUITE TAKEN THAT LEAP YET.

YEAH.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY TOO EARLY, RIGHT?

IF YOU START A CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR TOO EARLY, THAT'S BEFORE THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ARE EVEN GETTING GOING IN AN ELECTION.

LISTEN, 2024 IS THE NEXT BIG ELECTION AND THAT IS THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF THE OXYGEN OUT OF THE ROOM.

BUT YOU KNOW, NEW YORK CITY 2025, THAT'S GOING TO THE BIG DEAL, AND THEY'LL BE PLENTY OF OXYGEN LEFT.

YEAH.

I'M CURIOUS BECAUSE IN 2021, THAT'S WHEN THEY FIRST HAD RANK CHOICE VOTING AND THAT PLAYED INTO ADAMS WINNING.

I'M CURIOUS IN 2025 IF HE CAN USE THAT SYSTEM AGAIN TO TRY TO BEAT OUT THE COMPETITION, I GUESS.

YOU SEE ALLIANCES FORM BETWEEN CANDIDATES SAYING, HEY, RANK ME FIRST BUT MAYBE RANK THIS CANDIDATE SECOND.

YEAH.

ANOTHER PERSON WE SHOULD MENTION, TOO, KATHRYN GARCIA IS A TOP AIDE TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL.

SHE WAS VERY CLOSE TO WINNING THAT DEMOCRATIC MAYORAL PRIMARY BACK IN 2021 WILL SHE GET IN THE RACE?

THAT'S ANOTHER KIND OF OUTSTANDING QUESTION.

ALTHOUGH, WE HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD MUCH SMOKE THERE.

RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

SO WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

JON CAMPBELL FROM WNYC, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

MOVING ON NOW TO EDUCATION IN NEW YORK.

A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE TOLD YOU HOW THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WAS CONSIDERING NEW GRADUATION STANDARDS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUPIDS, AND THIS WEEK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE NEW STANDARDS WERE UNVEILED BY A SPECIAL COMMISSION.

SHANTEL DESTRA REPORTS.

THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK OF THIS BOARD IS TO GET TO GET THE GRADUATION MEASURES CORRECT.

WE HAVE TO GET IT RIGHT.

WE STARTED THIS WORK PRE-PANDEMIC AND NOW WE ARE HERE.

[ APPLAUSE ] MEMBERS OF THE KELLEY BLUE BOOK RIBBON COMMISSION WERE TASKED WITH COMING UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GRADUATION MEASURES IN NEW YORK STATE.

AFTER YEARS OF HEAVY RESEARCH AND MITIGATING CHALLENGES BROUGHT ON BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE TIME HAD FINALLY COME FOR ITS MEMBERS TO PRESENT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.

AFTER HEARING FROM STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS.

I AM BEYOND EXCITED AND PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY TO SHARE THE BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON FUTURE GRADUATION MEASURES IN NEW YORK STATE.

THE COMMISSION SHARED A REFINED PORTION OF A GRAD WHAT THE IN NEW YORK STATE, ALONG WITH 12 RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS.

THE BIGGEST CHANGE WOULD DO AWAY WITH THE CURRENT DIPLOMA SYSTEM THAT PLACES AN EMPHASIS ON REGENTS EXAMS AND INSTEAD HAS ONE DIPLOMA WITH THE OPTION OF ADDING SEALS AND ENDORSEMENTS.

THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDED CHANGING THE DIPLOMA ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS SO THAT THEY'RE NOT SO CENTERED ON REGENTS BUT ALLOW STUDENTS TO DEMONSTRATE ABILITIES IN OTHER WAYS.

WHILE THE COMMISSION RECOGNIZED THE VALUE OF REGENTS EXAMS AS VALID, RELIABLE, AND EFFICIENT ASSESSMENT FOR DETERMINED STUDENTS COULD DEMONSTRATE CONTENT KNOWLEDGE IN A WAY THAT BEST SUITS THEIR INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS AND TALENTS.

SOME OTHER CHANGES INCLUDED REVISING CREDIT REQUIREMENTS, PROVIDING ACCESS TO CAREER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND REQUIRING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS.

WHILE THE COMMISSION HAS PUT FORTH RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE WORK DOES NOT END THERE.

THE REGENTS ACT IS HOW THE CHANGES WILL BE PUT IN PLACE, BUT THAT IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED AND WILL REQUIRE INPUT FROM THE DEPARTMENT, ITSELF.

EDUCATION COMMISSIONER BETTY ROSA CLOSED OUT THE MEETING HIGHLIGHTING THE WORK AHEAD.

WE WILL GO INTO LOOKING AT EACH RECOMMENDATION AND IMPLICATIONS AND THE WORK THAT HAS TO BE ATTACHED TO IT.

SOME OF IT IS GOING TO HAVE REGULATORY, FINANCIAL, SO THE NEXT STEP WILL BE THE IMPLEMENTATION.

THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ THEME MUSIC ] WE WILL SEE THE CHANGES IN THE COMING WEEKS.

HEADING BACK NOW TO NEW YORK CITY WHERE THE CITY'S SHELTER SYSTEM HAS BEEN OVERWHELMED BECAUSE OF THE INFLUX OF ASYLUM SEEKERS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS AND TO HELP COMBAT THAT PROBLEM, THE CITY EXPANDED ITS RENTAL VOUCHER PROGRAM TO ALLOW PEOPLE WITHOUT HOMES TO USE THEM OUTSIDE THE FIVE BURROWS AND WE SHOULD NOTE THAT THE ASYLUM SEEKERS ARE ACTUALLY NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THESE VOUCHERS BUT SOME COUNTY EXECUTIVES UPSTATE HAVE SPOKEN AGAINST THE EXPANSION, SAYING THEY DON'T WANT THE VOUCHERS USED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

SO FOR MORE ON THAT, OUR SHANTEL DESTRA SPOKE WITH DAN MCCOY, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IN ALBANY AND PRESIDENT OF THE STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY, COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON YOUR SHOW.

I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.

SO YOU RECENTLY CAME OUT AND DENOUNCED NEW YORK CITY'S EXPANSION OF ITS RENTAL VOUCHER PROGRAM TO COUNTIES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.

SO CAN YOU GIVE US SOME INSIGHT INTO YOUR OPPOSITION?

IT WASN'T LIKE-- LISTEN, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'M HERE AS PRESIDENT OF NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AND I AM PART OF THE TEAM AND I HAVE BEEN REPRESENTING COUNTIES FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS NOW.

THERE'S 57 COUNTIES OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY.

YOU HAVE FIVE BURROWS DOWNSTATE.

AGAIN, WE'RE ALL FACING AN EPIDEMIC WITH HOMELESSNESS, SHELTERS, THAT WE NEED SHELTERS.

IN LIKE IN MY COUNTY WE HAD EIGHT SHELTERS AND NOW WE'RE DOWN TO SIX.

ONE IS SELLING AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DOWN TO FIVE.

WE'VE GOT A SHORTAGES OF BEDS AND THEN WE HAVE LIKE 37% OF OUR PEOPLE THAT WE GIVE VOUCHERS FOR HOUSING CAN'T EVEN USE THEM BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND HOUSING.

SO HOUSING IS AN ISSUE NOT JUST IN ALBANY COUNTY BUT THROUGHOUT THE CAPITAL DISTRICT AND UPSTATE NEW YORK.

YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE TALKING FROM CLINTON COUNTY, ERIE, MONROE, ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY DOWN IN WYOMING AND BACK TO THE CITY OF PUTNAM, ORANGE AND WESTCHESTER AND DUCHESS, IT'S CHALLENGING AND YOU KNOW, FOR US, AS NOT JUST COUNTY EXECUTIVES AND AS COUNTY MANAGERS AND EVERY COUNTY, IT'S NOT LIKE PEOPLE ARE SAYING WE'RE AGAINST THIS, YOU KNOW, BUT WE'RE HAVING ISSUES OF OUR OWN, AS GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS TRIED TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ONE THING I'VE LEARNED BEING PRESIDENT OF THIS ORGANIZATION AND PRESIDENT OF COUNTY EXECUTIVES OF AMERICA ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, AS I TRAVELED AND LOOK AT HOW PEOPLE ADDRESS IT, YOU CAN'T BUILD YOURSELF OUT OF THIS.

IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

YOU HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, LIKE TINY HOMES, TRAILERS, BUT IT'S THE SAME ISSUES WE'RE FACED WITH, SUPPLY AND DEMAND AFTER COVID.

IT'S HARD.

WHEN YOU GO TO BUILD A HOUSE AND SAY IT TOOK THREE MONTHS.

NOW IT'S TAKING ALMOST A YEAR BECAUSE YOU'RE WAITING ON SUPPLY.

YOU GO FROM 200 TO $400 A SQUARE FOOT OUTSIDE OF THE CITY AND THAT'S EVEN HIGHER NOW.

ALL THESE CHALLENGES ARE PUT IN FRONT OF US AND WE UNDERSTAND.

MAYOR ERIC ADAMS, I HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

STEVE ACQUORIO TOOK A DELEGATION OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM NYSAP AND WE WENT DOWN AND TALKED TO THEM ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES AND WE SAID, LOOK, WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IT'S COMMUNICATIONS, RIGHT?

AND AT A TIME IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE.

WE NEED TO GET BACK TO COMMON SENSE POLITICS AND TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES THAT FACTOR INTO THIS COMING OUT OF COVID-19, RIGHT?

COMING OUT OF COVID, PEOPLE COMING OUT HAD RELAPSES, WHETHER IT WAS DRINKING OR DRUGS OR JUST MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE ON THE RISE AND WE NEVER DEALT WITH IT ON THIS LEVEL UNTIL AFTER COVID AND THEN THE HOMELESS EPIDEMIC.

I KNOW EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COME IN HERE TO START A NEW LIFE AND THEY WANT TO COME TO THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING PROSECUTED OR WANT TO LIVE THE WAY THEY WANT TO LIVE A LIFE AND MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY.

WE'RE DEALING WITH THAT, BUT COUNTY EXECUTIVES, COUNTY MANAGERS, WE HAVE SO MUCH OTHER STUFF GOING ON, TOO.

WE HAVE A HOMELESS SHELTER PROBLEM GOING ON.

IN ALBANY COUNTY, WE HAD HAVE OVER 372 PEOPLE HOMELESS EVERY NIGHT, YOU KNOW.

WHAT'S ALARMING TO ME IS WHEN WE LOOK AT-- YOU KNOW, I HAVE 139 WOMEN IN OUR SHELTERS RIGHT NOW.

I HAVE 172 KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 THAT ARE IN OUR SHELTERS THAT I'M TRYING TO GET PERMANENT HOUSING FOR AND LIKE I SAID FOR EARLIER, 37%.

EVEN THOUGH I GIVE THEM A VOUCHER, I CAN'T TAKE CARE OF IT.

IF NEW YORK CITY WANTS TO TAKE THIS VOUCHER SYSTEM AND SAY, HEY, GO ANYWHERE YOU WANT IN THE STATE WITHOUT COORDINATING WITH US, KIND OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE MIGRANT ISSUE WHEN THEY JUST GOT SHIPPED OUT OVERNIGHT IN THE CITY INTO OTHER COMMUNITIES, THERE HAS TO BE A GAME PLAN.

THERE HAS TO BE A PLAN OF ACTION, AND TALKING TO THE DIFFERENT COUNTIES BECAUSE AGAIN, IN THE CAPITAL REGION, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 1,100 PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS EVERY NIGHT BETWEEN US, SCHENECTADY, RENSSELAER, YOU KNOW, GLENS FALLS AND THE WHOLE AREA, THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE AND AGAIN, WE HAVE COMPASSION.

WE WANT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT, BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY FIRST AND WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS SHORTAGE OF HOUSING, SHORTAGE OF SHELTERS, MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES, YOU KNOW, AND THEN NOW, YOU KNOW, THE MIGRANT ISSUE GOING ON, SO THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED LEADERSHIP ON THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL.

WE NEED LEADERSHIP, AND WE WANT TO DO IT.

THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION, ACTUALLY.

SORRY.

NO, THAT'S OKAY.

I JUST MOVED HERE FROM NEW YORK CITY ACTUALLY ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, FROM NEW YORK CITY TO ALBANY COUNTY.

BEAUTIFUL UP HERE, RIGHT?

SO BEAUTIFUL.

SO BEAUTIFUL HERE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME WAS THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN NEW YORK CITY AND ALBANY COUNTY AS IT RELATES TO THE HOMELESS CRISIS AND THE HOMELESS POPULATION.

IT DEFINITELY IS A VERY BIG PROBLEM HERE, AS YOU UNDERSCORE.

SO IS THERE ANY FEAR THAT THE EXPANSION OF THE NEW YORK CITY RENTAL VOUCHER PROGRAM WILL, YOU KNOW, NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE HOMELESSNESS POPULATION HERE?

IS THERE ANYTHING ALBANY COUNTY DOING SPECIFICALLY OR OTHER COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE, AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED TINY HOMES, OR ARE DOING SOMETHING TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESS POPULATION THAT YOU WOULD EMPLOY THE NEW YORK COUNTIES TO DO AS WELL?

ONE OF THE ISSUES IS THAT IT'S A COORDINATED EFFORT, RIGHT?

WE DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT IT.

AGAIN, I GIVE STEVE ACQUARIO AND HIS TEAM AT NYSAC BIG APPLAUSE.

AGAIN, WE HAVE TO REACT TO IT.

IT'S HARD WHEN YOU HAVE TO REACT AND YOUR PHONE IS RINGING AND DID YOU READ WHAT THEY PUT OUT ABOUT A VOUCHER SYSTEM AND THE GOVERNOR GOT BEHIND IT AND WE JUST HAD A MEETING THE GOVERNOR PRIOR TO THAT AND NOTHING WAS MENTIONED.

IT'S HARD, RIGHT?

SO IT'S BETTER.

WE SAY WE WANT TO BE GOOD PARTNERS.

WE WANT TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES, BUT COMMUNICATE WITH US.

COMMUNICATE WITH THE COUNTIES, STOP DICTATING TO US TO WHAT WE SHOULD DO AND CAN'T DID, AND WE CAN HELP YOU, YOU KNOW, AND TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THIS.

THERE'S NOT A COUNTY EXECUTIVE, COUNTY MANAGER OR COUNTY GOVERNMENT OR STATE GOVERNMENT OR CITY GOVERNMENT THAT WANTS TO SAY NO, BUT AGAIN, WHEN YOU'RE COMING OUT OF COVID, YOU'VE GOT ALL THIS OTHER EPIDEMIC HOMELESS CRISIS GOING ON, DRUG EPIDEMIC AND YOU'RE FACED WITH ALL THESE CHALLENGES AND ADDING MORE TO THE CHALLENGES IS TOUGH.

BUT HEY, WE'RE RESILIENT AND WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.

TALK TO US.

BRING US TO THE TABLE AND SIT DOWN AND SAY, WE MAY NOT BE HAPPY BUT IT'S BETTER FOR ME TO CONTROL IT COMING IN THAN JUST TO FIND OUT A BUS LOAD SHOWS UP WITH VOUCHERS FOR FIVE YEARS.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S A FIVE-YEAR VOUCHER THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PAY YOU FOR EVERYTHING, BUT AFTER 30 DAYS, THEY BECOME A RESIDENT OF OUR COUNTY SO MY SAFETY NET KICKS IN, WHICH THE PREVIOUS GOVERNOR NOW MAKES ME PAY 70% OF THROUGH DSS.

THERE'S ALL THIS MONEY THAT IS GOING TO BE PORTRAYED IN THAT.

AND WHAT DO I DO?

DO I PLAY A POLITICAL STUNT, WHICH I MAY AND TAKE ALL OF OUR HOMELESS SHELTERS AND PEOPLE, BUS THEM DOWN TO NEW YORK CITY, PUT THEM IN HOTELS-- WOULD DO YOU THAT?

PUT THEM IN HOTELS FOR 24 HOURS AND BRING THEM BACK AND NEW YORK CITY CAN PAY FOR MY HOME'S-- IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'RE CONSIDERING?

IF THERE ARE COMMUNICATIONS-- AND I DON'T WANT TO PLAY A POLITICAL STUNT, BUT-- AND THESE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVES.

I WANT TO MAKE THIS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN SHELTERS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT A CHESS MATCH TO ME.

ABSOLUTELY.

THIS AIN'T A REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, CONSERVATIVE WHERE WE CAN HAVE THE ISSUES, THESE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVES, AND WE KEEP FORGETTING THAT AND THE HUMANE OF IT.

THAT'S WHAT I SAID, I COULD.

I COULD, I COULD PLAY THE BIGGEST STUNT.

QUO DOWN THERE AND MAKE INTERNATIONAL NEWS BUT AGAIN, AT WHAT, THE EXPENSE OF MOVING PEOPLE DOWN THERE.

RIGHT.

AT THE POINT OF TRYING TO UNDERSCORE TO YOU AND NIP WATCHING THIS, IS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS CRISIS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO-- WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT ME?

DO I TRY TO PUT MY PEOPLE IN SHELTERS-- INTO HOUSING FOR FIVE YEARS?

LET'S GO BACK.

I HAVE 37% THAT CAN'T USE VOUCHERS BECAUSE I CAN'T FIND HOUSING FOR PEOPLE THAT WE DO HAVE A VOUCHER SYSTEM FOR.

SO NOW TO ADD THIS JUST MAKES IT TOUGHER ON ALL OF THIS, BUT COMMUNICATE AND TALK TO US.

RIGHT.

JUST DON'T THROW IT AT US AND EXPECT US TO SMILE AND GO, OKAY, YOU KNOW.

AGAIN, IT'S HUMAN LIVES.

WE'RE TALKING PEOPLE'S LIVES HERE.

IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY OF LAUNCHING A LEGAL CHALLENGE TO NEW YORK CITY'S EXPANSION OF ITS RENTAL VOUCHER PROGRAM?

IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL.

UH-HUH.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'M HOPING, YOU KNOW, WHAT IF EVERY COUNTY, 57 COUNTY DOES WHAT I DO AND WE SHIP ALL OF OUR HOMELESS PEOPLE DOWN TO THE CITY, PUT THEM UP IN HOTELS, AND THEN THE CITY HAS TO TURN AROUND AND GIVE THEM A FIVE-YEAR VOUCHER JUST TO COME BACK?

IS THAT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO?

PLAY CHESS?

AGAIN, THESE ARE HUMANS.

RIGHT.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF.

THEY'RE A FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WE WANT THEM TO STAY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE WANT THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR COMMUNITY AND GIVE THEM A FOUNDATION TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT TYPE OF GAME, BUT AGAIN, THEY CAN'T DO THE SAME THING, JUST SHIPPING PEOPLE OUT OF THE CITY.

I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE FAMILY IN A CERTAIN AREA, BUT COORDINATE WITH US AND AGAIN, I KNOW YOU GET THAT.

THEY MAKE A PHONE CALL AND THEY'RE LIKE, NO, NEW YORK NEW YORK NO.

BUT UNDERSTAND OUR ISSUES.

AT THE SAME TIME, YOU ARE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

I AM.

SO YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU SEE THIS PLAYING INTO THE MINDS OF VOTERS AS THEY HEAD TO THE POLLS?

YOU GOT TO EDUCATE THEM.

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, THE SCARY MESSAGE IS GETTING OUT THERE.

YOU HAVE SEEN THE SIENNA POLL OR ONE OF THE POLLS CAME OUT AND 67% OF NEW YORKERS SAY ENOUGH.

STOP.

THEY'RE UPSET BECAUSE A LOT OF RESOURCES ARE BEING ALLOCATED TO THEM AND LOOK, I FOLLOW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN CHICAGO AND THE CITY COUNCIL, THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY ARE UPSET.

THEY FELT LIKE, HEY, YOU'RE INVESTING $200 MILLION AND WHERE'S OUR SCHOOLS?

WHERE'S OUR INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY?

THAT'S THE BALANCING ACT, AND PEOPLE ARE SEEING IT.

YOU KNOW, THEN I HEAR, WELL, THEY'RE GETTING FREE DAY CARE, THEY'RE GETTING DOCTORS.

I CAN'T AFFORD DAY CARE.

THERE'S A LOT OF REAL ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO BALANCE BOTH SIDES OF THE HOUSE OUT AND MAKE SURE WE'RE TAKING CARE OF IT.

AGAIN, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT AND YOU NEED TO PUT THAT SPIN, SPIN THAT MESSAGE OUT THERE, AND WE'RE NOT SPINNING OUT THERE.

WE'RE LETTING THE BAD ACTORS SPIN IT OUT THERE WHERE THEY'RE PUTTING THE FEAR INTO PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S EASIER TO MAKE PEOPLE SCARED THAN IT IS TO MAKE PEOPLE SIT THERE AND GO, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE CAN DO THIS.

WE'RE BETTER THAN THIS.

THAT'S NOT-- YOU KNOW, THE WORLD'S NOT COMING TO AN END.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S NOT GOING TO BURN DOWN.

WE NEED LEADERSHIP TO OWN THIS TO COME WITH A MESSAGE, AND GO INTO A COMMUNITY.

THAT'S ALL I SAID.

LOOK, I WANT TO GO TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

I WANT TO GO TO THE NEIGHBORS.

I WANT TO GO TO COLLEGES AND GO TO THE SCHOOLS AND TALK TO THEM AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON.

THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING AND GUESS WHAT, IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.

IT'S GOING IT BE OKAY.

YES, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME BAD ACTORS IN THAT ELEMENT, OKAY, BUT THAT HAPPENS WITH ANY POPULATION AND EVEN THE CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY.

WELL, THERE'S A LOT HERE.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE IS SO MUCH STILL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

A LOT OF COMMUNICATION NEEDS TO BE HAD, IT SOUNDS LIKE.

WE'LL LOOK TO CHECK IN WITH YOU IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A RESIDENT OF ALBANY COUNTY.

IT'S THE BEST COUNTY.

AND THAT WAS DAN MCCOY, ALBANY COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.

[ THEME MUSIC ] WE DO EXPECT HOUSING TO BE A BIG ISSUE IN NEXT YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SO WE'LL SEE HOW THE VOUCHER PROGRAM PLAYS INTO THAT AS STATE GOVERNMENT TRIES TO EXPAND HOUSING ACROSS THE STATE.

BUT TURNING NOW TO FAMILY IN NEW YORK.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TO UNEXPECTEDLY BECOME CAREGIVERS.

MANY GRANDPARENTS IN PARTICULAR, HAVE TO STEP IN AND HELP CARE FOR THEIR GRANDCHILDREN AND IN SOME CASES, THOSE GRANDPARENTS BECOME THE CHILD'S PERMANENT GUARDIAN WHEN THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY FALLS OUT OF THE PICTURE.

IN THIS PIECE, WE EXPLORE HOW KINSHIP CAREGIVERS CAN ASK FOR HELP AND MORE RESOURCES WHEN THEY NEED IT.

[ THEME MUSIC ] LIFE IS MUCH, MUCH DIFFERENT THAN EXPECTED IT TO BE MOVING INTO RETIREMENT.

I EXPECTED THAT WE WOULD BE TRAVELING AND SITTING AROUND ON THE BEACH AND INSTEAD, I'M GETTING UP AT 6:00 TO PUT A MIDDLE SCHOOLER ON THE BUS AND BEING THERE WHEN THE BUS GETS HOME, ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT PARENTS OF A YOUNG CHILD WOULD BE DOING.

I EXPECTED WHEN AUGUST CAME TO STAY WITH US THAT IT WOULD BE FOR A VERY BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME WHILE HER PARENTS WERE KIND OF GETTING THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND ABLE TO TAKE AUGUST AGAIN.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

WE ENDED UP WITH PERMANENT CUSTODY OF AUGUST.

I HAD TO USE THE KINSHIP NAVIGATOR PROGRAM A COUPLE OF TIMES.

THERE ARE SOME REALLY NICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

A LOT OF THE COMMON ISSUES THAT WE ARE SEEING OUR CAREGIVERS FACE IS THAT A LOT OF THEM ARE GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE BATTLING SOME OF THOSE HEALTH ISSUES AS WELL AS FINANCIAL ISSUES AND HOUSING ISSUES.

THE PROCESS IS KIND OF THAT PEOPLE REACH OUT AND THEY SAY, HEY, I'M A CAREGIVER.

THIS IS WHERE I'M LIVING.

THIS IS THE NEEDS THAT I HAVE AND THE KINSHIP NAVIGATOR WILL REACH OUT TO US AND LET US KNOW THAT THERE'S A NEED IN OUR AREA.

A LOT OF TIMES THESE ADULTS, THEY'RE TAKING ON THE CUSTODY THROUGH FAMILY COURT.

EVEN INFORMALLY, BUT NOBODY'S TOLD THEM ABOUT THEIR DSS SERVICES THAT THEY CAN GET.

IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING KINSHIP CARE, I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU'RE NOT ALONE.

I FIND MY GRANDCHILD REALLY JUST A DELIGHTFUL PERSON TO HAVE AROUND.

EVEN ON THEIR MOST DIFFICULT DAYS AND THERE ARE VERY MANY DIFFICULT DAYS.

THERE ARE ALSO REAL JOYS AND REWARDS TO TACKLING THIS AND IT'S TURNED INTO, YOU KNOW, MY FAVORITE RELATIONSHIP OF ALL TIME.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AND THE WEBSITE FOR THE KINSHIP NAVIGATOR PROGRAM FROM CATHOLIC CHARITIES IS, AGAIN, AT NYSNAVIGATOR.ORG.

BEFORE WE GO, A QUICK NOTE.

EARLY THIS YEAR, WE LAUNCHED OUR NEWSLETTER AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SIGN UP.

BUT IN AUGUST, WE STOPPED SENDING IT.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT UNTIL LAST WEEK AND I WANT TO DEEPLY APOLOGIZE FOR DROPPING THE BALL.

IT'S NOW BACK IN YOUR INBOXES.

AS OF LAST WEEK AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW IF THAT WILL CHANGE AGAIN.

WE'VE GOT TO LEAVE IT THERE FOR 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 AND BY THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.