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

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

THIS WEEK, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARRESTED AND CHARGED A FORMER NEW YORK STATE OFFICIAL WITH ALLEGEDLY ACTING AS A CHINESE GOVERNMENT AGENT, ACCORDING TO THE INDICTMENT, LINDA SUN, WHO ONCE WORKED UNDER THEN-GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO AND LATER GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL IS ACCUSED OF USING HER POSITION IN STATE GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE THE AGENDAS OF CHINA AS WELL AS THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY.

SUN'S HUSBAND, CHRIS HU WAS ALSO ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ALLEGATIONS AND HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH MONEY LAUNDERING AND CONSPIRACY.

BOTH PLEADED NOT GUILTY IN COURT.

WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE CHARGES AT AN UNRELATED PRESS EVENT, HOCHUL SAID SHE WAS FURIOUS AND OUTRAGED BY THE ACTIONS OF SUN.

THESE ACTIONS TAKEN BY LINDA SUN WERE AN ABSOLUTE BETRAYAL OF THE TRUST OF TWO ADMINISTRATIONS IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

LYING AND MISLEADING TO THESE ADMINISTRATIONS, BREAKING OUR ETHICS RULES, AND EVEN FORGING MY SIGNATURE ON DOCUMENTS.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN THAT, THAT THIS IS A BETRAYAL OF NEW YORKERS AND OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

AND ALONG WITH GETTING QUESTIONED ABOUT HER FORMER AIDE, THE GOVERNOR IS FACING CALLS TO SIGN A BILL THAT WOULD INCREASE TRANSPARENCY OF STATE EMERGENCY CONTRACTS.

STATE DEPARTMENTS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO BYPASS CONTRACT APPROVAL FROM THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE DURING TIMES OF EMERGENCY, SUCH AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

A BILL THAT HAS BEEN PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR WOULD ALLOW FOR CERTAIN DETAILS OF THOSE CONTRACTS TO BE PUBLISHED.

TO UNPACK THE CALLS BY GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS, FOR HOCHUL TO SIGN THE BILL, WE SPOKE WITH PATRICK ORECKI OF THE CITIZENS BUDGET COMMISSION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON THE SHOW AGAIN, PATRICK.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

NOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ENERGY AROUND A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE STATE AGENCIES AND AUTHORITIES TO PUBLISH INFORMATION ON EMERGENCY CONTRACTS THAT HAVEN'T RECEIVED THAT PRIOR APPROVAL FROM THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.

WE KNOW THIS IS A BILL THAT PASSED IN THE LEGISLATURE BUT NEEDS THE SIGNATURE OF THE GOVERNOR BEFORE IT'S ENACTED INTO LAW.

CAN YOU UNPACK THE COMMISSION'S POSITION ON THE BILL AS IT STANDS?

YEAH.

WELL, WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS BILL.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT ON THE TRANSPARENCY FRONT.

YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT YOU HAVE SUBSETS OF CONTRACTS, BOTH EMERGENCY CONTRACTS, THINGS THAT ARE ISSUED UNDER AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION, AND OTHER CONTRACTS THAT ARE EXCLUDED JUST BY LAW FROM THE COMPTROLLER'S PRE-AUDIT REVIEW.

SO THE CONCERN THERE IS WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WASTE OR FRAUD AND CORRUPTION, WHICH ARE VERY REAL CONCERNS.

SO YOU KNOW, THIS BILL DEALS WITH THE TRANSPARENCY PART OF THE EQUATION.

IT DOESN'T DEAL WITH CHANGING THE CONTRACTING PROCESS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT REALLY JUST FOCUSES ON PROVIDING BASIC TRANSPARENCY ON THESE TYPES OF CONTRACTS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL SAY THAT INCREASED TRANSPARENCY WOULD LEAD TO MORE ACCOUNTABILITY.

SO CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW THE TWO ARE INTERRELATED?

YEAH.

YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, WHEN YOU HAVE THESE CONTRACTS, THEY'RE OFTEN ISSUED REALLY QUICKLY BECAUSE IT'S AN EMERGENCY.

THEY MIGHT ALSO SKIP THE COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

SO PROVIDING THIS TYPE OF TRANSPARENCY, IT GIVES THE PUBLIC THAT ACCOUNTABILITY TO SAY, OKAY, OKAY, YOU EXECUTED THESE CONTRACTS.

WHO DID THEY GO TO?

FOR WHAT SCOPE OF WORK?

HOW MUCH MONEY AND FOR HOW LONG?

THOSE BASIC DETAILS ABOUT THE CONTRACT WILL ALLOW US TO LOOK, AT LEAST RETROSPECTIVELY, WAS THERE A WASTE OF MONEY HERE OR AN ABUSE OF THE SYSTEM AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THEM CLOSER.

WOULD YOU SAY THE DETAILS INCLUDED WILL BE EXPANSIVE ENOUGH?

OR, DO YOU THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO GO BACK, ACCESS THE CONTRACT AND HAVE MORE DETAILED PUBLISHES?

I THINK IT'S A REALLY STRONG BILL.

IT'S THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW THAT SOME VERSION OF IT HAD PASSED.

ONE THING THAT'S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR IS IT REMOVES THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE ACTUAL CONTRACTS THEMSELVES TO BE POSTED.

IT DID TAKE OUT THAT REQUIREMENT IN THIS YEAR'S VERSION OF IT.

I THINK WHAT'S IN THERE IS REALLY A BASE LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY.

IT'S GREAT.

IT'S PRETTY STRONG AND COMPREHENSIVE.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, A NEW BILL.

IT DID PASS THE LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR DID VETO IT IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF THE YEAR AND THE COMMISSION, ALONG WITH OTHER GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS, DID PUBLISH A LETTER BEFORE SHE VETOED IT URGING HER TO SIGN THE BILL, AND I KNOW THIS YEAR FROM WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING AT THE TIME THAT WE'RE FILMING THIS, THE COMMISSION HAS PUBLISHED A NEW LETTER THIS YEAR URGING THE GOVERNOR TO DO THE SAME.

SO CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS CHANGED THIS YEAR VERSUS LAST YEAR IN TERMS OF THE EFFORTS TO PUSH THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN THAT BILL?

YEAH.

IT'S REALLY A CONTINUATION OF WHAT WE ARGUED LAST YEAR SO EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE PUT OUT A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR WITH OURSELVES AND MANY OTHER GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS SUGGESTING THAT THE GOVERNOR SIGN IT, RECOMMENDING STRONGLY THAT THE GOVERNOR SIGN IT.

SO WE HOPE THAT THIS YEAR, IT WILL GET KIND OF A RENEWED LOOK IN ITS SECOND YEAR AND THE FACT THAT IT HAS ONE REQUIREMENT FEWER, AGAIN, ON PUBLISHING THE ACTUAL CONTRACTS, ITSELF, HOPEFULLY IT'S MORE AMENABLE TO THE EXECUTIVE'S POSITION.

AT THE TIME LAST YEAR, IT WAS VETOED PRIMARILY ON THE GROUNDS IT'S A NEW ACTIVITY FOR STATE AGENCIES AND AUTHORITIES TO HAVE TO DO.

SO SOME ADDITIONAL WORK THAT THEY'D HAVE TO BUILD INTO THEIR STAFFING AND BUDGETING.

SO WE THINK THAT THE BILL NOW IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ACCOMMODATED WITHIN EXISTING RESOURCES AND EXISTING WORK OF THE AGENCIES.

AND THE STATE COMPTROLLER HAS BEEN PRETTY VOCAL ABOUT WANTING THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN THE BILL.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF HIS OFFICE'S EFFORTS TO GARNER SUPPORT OF THE BILL AND PUT PRESSURE ON THE GOVERNOR?

YEAH, WE CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THE COMPTROLLER WHOLE-HEARTEDLY.

THIS BILL DEALS WITH THE TRANSPARENCY SIDE OF THINGS, BUT THE BIGGER PICTURE IS THIS CONTRACTING OVERSIGHT POWER IN GENERAL.

SO WE DON'T THINK THAT EMERGENCY IN EXCLUDED CONTRACTS SHOULD BE USED AS OFTEN AS THEY ARE.

THIS BILL DOESN'T DEAL WITH THAT PART OF IT, BUT IT DOES PROVIDE SOME BASIC TRANSPARENCY, AND THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN PLAYING OUT OVER MANY YEARS.

THE COMPTROLLER LOST THE POWER ON A LOT OF THESE CONTRACTS FOR A LONG TIME.

IT ONLY GOT RESTORED A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

SO PROVIDING BASIC TRANSPARENCY ON THE EMERGENCY AND EXCLUDED CONTRACTS IS A GOOD THING.

AND WOULD YOU SAY THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO PROVIDE THE EXECUTIVE TEAM WITH DATA OR RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT THIS BILL WOULD HAVE?

YEAH.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, WHEN WE HAVE THIS TRANSPARENCY, YOU KNOW, IF IT BECOMES LAW, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE BETTER WHAT THE UNIVERSE OF THESE CONTRACTS ARE.

BECAUSE THAT'S THE ISSUE, FRANKLY, IS THAT IT'S SO OPAQUE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SCOPE OF EMERGENCY CONTRACTS IS IN REALTIME, WHICH THIS BILL WOULD START TO CORRECT.

OSC REVIEW OF CONTRACTS WHEN THEY'RE BEING INITIATED IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT BY ANY MEANS.

IT IS A CHANCE FOR OSC TO IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE MONEY IS BEING WASTED, WHERE THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR FRAUD OR ABUSE AND MAKING SURE THAT CONTRACTS ARE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE COMPTROLLER HAVE THAT POWER AND RETAIN THAT POWER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

FRANKLY, OSC DOES IT VERY QUICKLY.

THAT'S ONE OF THE PUSHBACK FROM THE EXECUTIVE AGAINST THIS AUTHORITY IS THAT IT SLOWS DOWN THE CONTRACTING PROCESS, BUT ALMOST ALL CONTRACTS GET REVIEWED BY THE COMPTROLLER IN LESS THAN A WEEK.

THE AVERAGE IS FIVE TO SIX DAYS EVERY YEAR AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THEM REVIEWING ABOUT 26,000 CONTRACTS LAST YEAR ALONE.

SO IT'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT THEY DO REALLY QUICKLY AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO IN THE EVENT THAT THE BILL IS VETOED AGAIN THIS YEAR BY THE GOVERNOR, WHAT WILL BE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT MOVE?

YEAH.

I THINK AT THAT POINT, WE WOULD RE-UP THE ASK AGAIN AND BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SORT OF THE PUSHBACK HAS BEEN PARTLY ON FISCAL GROUNDS, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD ENCOURAGE THE LEGISLATURE TO PURSUE IN BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS, TOO, SO THAT IT CAN BE ACCOMMODATED WITHIN AN AGENCY'S AND AUTHORITY'S WORK TO ACTUALLY PUBLISH THIS INFORMATION.

SO IF THAT IS THE BIG HANGUP, THEN WE WOULD WANT TO SEE IT IN THE BUDGET, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'LL KEEP CONTINUING TO PUSH FOR THIS NO MATTER WHAT, BECAUSE IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT, BASIC TRANSPARENCY ISSUE.

FROM YOUR PURVIEW, DO YOU THINK NEW YORKERS UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AT STAKE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS BILL, OR DO YOU THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMISSION OR THE BILL'S SPONSORS OR EVEN THE STATE COMPTROLLER TO PUSH TO INCREASE THAT AWARENESS WHEN IT COMES TO NEW YORKERS?

YEAH.

I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE SO HAPPY TO SEE THE COMPTROLLER TALKING ABOUT IT QUITE A BIT.

IT'S WHY WE PUT OUR LETTER AND PUT OUT OTHER PIECES PREVIOUSLY, OTHER GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS PUT OUT MEMOS IN SUPPORT, TOO.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE IT CLEAR TO NEW YORKERS HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS, AND IT REALLY IS A MATTER OF THEIR DOLLARS BEING SPENT IN MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE BEING SPENT IN AN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE WAY IN LINE WITH THE LAW AND ROOTING OUT FRAUD WHEREVER WE CAN.

AND LASTLY, IN THE EVENT THAT THE BILL, YOU KNOW, IS VETOED AT THE END OF THE YEAR, LOOKING AHEAD AT THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THE WORK THAT'S AHEAD, BUT ARE YOU CONSIDERING ANY CHANGES IN THE STRATEGY TO, YOU KNOW, GARNER MORE SUPPORT FOR THE BILL AND URGE THE GOVERNOR, ONCE AGAIN, TO SIGN IT?

BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, JUST SO THAT THERE'S NOT THIS ISSUE YEAR AFTER YEAR AND THIS BILL CONTINUES TO BE VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR.

YEAH, IT'S PASSED BOTH YEARS WITH REALLY STRONG SUPPORT.

SO WE KNOW THAT THE LEGISLATURE SUPPORTS IT AND IT SEEMS LIKE ONE OF THE STUMBLING BLOCKS IS THE COST AND THE ACTUAL WORK THAT AGENCIES WOULD HAVE TO UNDERTAKE TO PUBLISH THE INFORMATION.

SO GETTING OVER THAT HURDLE AND WHATEVER ELSE THE EXECUTIVE SEES IN IT WOULD BE OUR NEXT STEPS, BUT WE THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO NO MATTER WHAT, WE'LL KEEP SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION.

WELL, CERTAINLY A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH PATRICK ORECKI, DIRECTOR OF STATE STUDIES FOR THE CITIZENS BUDGET COMMISSION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE PUSH FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY ON STATE EMERGENCY CONTRACTS YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

NOW TURNING TO A FUN TOPIC.

EVERY YEAR, THE GREAT NEW YORK STATE FAIR WELCOMES VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO INDULGE IN GREAT ATTRACTIONS, WHOLESOME FUN AND TASTY FOOD.

THIS YEAR, "NEW YORK NOW" REPORTER ELISE KLINE TOOK A DAY TRIP TO THE FAIR FOR NOT ONLY THE ICONIC FAN FAVORITES BUT TO ALSO DISCOVER THE NEW ADDITIONS.

HERE'S THAT STORY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] IT'S A GREAT DAY HERE AT THE 2024 NEW YORK STATE FAIR.

PEOPLE ARE LINING UP.

THE SUN IS OUT.

THEY'RE READY TO GET THROUGH THE GATE AND HAVE SOME FUN.

THE STATE FAIR IS THE OLDEST STATE FAIR IN THE COUNTRY.

IT'S NEARLY 200 YEARS OLD.

IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE LARGEST STATE FAIRS IN THE COUNTRY, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPLORING TO DO.

WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE FAN FAVORITES, AS WELL AS SOME NEW ADDITIONS THIS YEAR YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT.

LET'S GO.

EVERY YEAR, THE STATE FAIR RUNS FOR 13 DAYS.

SOME OF THOSE DAYS HAVE THEMES.

TODAY'S THEME IS DAIRY DAY, SO A LOT OF ATTRACTIONS AND PARADES ARE FOCUSED ON DAIRY.

ON DAIRY DAY, THE NEW YORK STATE FAIR NAMED SEVERAL WINNERS IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES FOR THE BEST ICE CREAM, THE BEST CHEESE AND OF COURSE, THE BEST MILK.

FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, STEWART'S CLAIMED FIRST PRIZE FOR THEIR MILK.

MATT ST. ONGE, THE DAIRY MANAGER AT STEWART'S SHOPS SAYS TO PRODUCE THE BEST MILK, IT ALL STARTS WITH THEIR QUALITY FARMS.

YOU CAN'T HAVE THE STATE'S BEST MILK WITHOUT HAVING THE STATE'S BEST MILK SUPPLY, AND I THINK AT STEWART'S THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE.

ONGE SAYS THEY TAKE A LOT OF CARE IN PRODUCING MILK USING MILK INSPECTORS FOR THEIR FARMS TO KEEPING THE MILK AS COLD AS POSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS.

STEWART'S ALSO CLAIMED FIRST PRIZE FOR THEIR VANILLA ICE CREAM.

I LIKE OUR PHILLY VANILLA.

I THINK THAT'S THEIR BEST FLAVOR.

CHEPIGIN SAYS TO CREATE THEIR BEST ICE CREAM STARTS WITH THEIR BEST MILK AND THEN USING A PROCESS CALLED BATCH PASTURIZATION.

WE USE BATCH PASTEURIZATION WHICH IS A PROCESS THAT WE'VE BEEN USING AS PART OF OUR PROCESS FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

WE'VE NEVER STRAYED FROM THAT.

IT GIVES A REALLY GOOD COOKED FLAVOR TO THE ICE CREAM AND MAINTAINS THE FRESH ASPECTS OF IT AS WELL.

VANILLA WASN'T THE ONLY FLAVOR THAT CLAIMED FIRST PRIZE.

PAMELA ALLIE-MORRILL OWNER OF MOXIE'S ICE CREAM TOOK HOME FIRST FOR HER BLACK RASPBERRY ICE CREAM.

I THINK THIS IS GREAT.

PEOPLE HAVE TOLD US HOW GOOD OUR BLACK RASPBERRY ICE CREAM IS AND SO THAT'S THE ONE I WANTED TO PUT IN.

I THINK IT WILL BE A BIG PROMOTION FOR OUR FAMILY-RUN BUSINESS.

I AM SECOND GENERATION RUNNING IT, 56 YEARS.

ALLIE-MORRILL SAYS THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT CAN MAKE HER ICE CREAM TOP QUALITY, INCLUDING NATURAL FLAVORS, A REFRIGERANT MACHINE THAT HELPS FREEZE THE ICE CREAM FASTER AND OF COURSE, LOVE.

THE ICE CREAM CATEGORY WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH MULTIPLE WINNERS.

BEST CHEESE GAVE OUT SEVERAL PRICES.

BELGIOIOSO CHEESE WON BEST STRING CHEESE, BEST SMOKED MOZZARELLA AND BEST RICOTTA.

WE WON THESE CATEGORIES BECAUSE WE PUT A LOT OF CARE AND A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO THE PROCESS OF CHEESE-MAKING.

TORRES SAYS WINNING THE AWARD MEANS A LOT FOR THE EFFORT THEY PUT INTO MAKING THE CHEESE AND FOR THE COMPANY'S GROWTH.

ANOTHER CHEESE MAKER FROM OLD CHATHAM CREAMERY SAYS FOR THEM WINNING THE STATE FAIR'S DAIRY AWARD MEANS SUPPORTING LOCAL DAIRY AND CHEESE PRODUCERS.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND NEW YORK FOR US CHEESE MAKERS TO GET RECOGNITION.

AT THE NEW YORK STATE FAIR THERE ARE MANY FAN FAVORITES, INCLUDING THE FAMOUS BUTTER SCULPTURE, A TRADITION THAT THIS YEAR REACHES ITS 56TH ANNIVERSARY.

THE SCULPTURE THEME THIS YEAR, GOOD FOR YOU, GOOD FOR THE PLANET.

THE SCULPTURE HIGHLIGHTS MANY WAYS DAIRY FARMERS PRODUCE MILK WHILE PROTECTING THE PLANET.

MANY VISITORS WERE MESMERIZED BY THE SCULPTURE'S BEAUTY, INCLUDING 12-YEAR-OLD SKYLER CURTIS, WHO WAS VISITING THE FAIR FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I LIKE THE AMBIANCE OF THE BACKGROUND.

CURTIS CAME WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER CONNIE WHO HAS BEEN TO THE FAIR MANY TIMES.

SHE SAYS SHE VISITS EVERY THREE YEARS AND THE BUTTER SCULPTURE IS ALWAYS ON THE LIST OF HER THINGS TO SEE.

I THINK IT'S AMAZING WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THEY CARVE IT.

VISITORS TRAVEL TO THE FAIR TO SEE ATTRACTIONS LIKE THE BUTTER SCULPTURE, BUT THEY ALSO COME FOR FAIR GAMES, LIKE BASKETBALL, CATCHING PLASTIC SHARKS IN WATER, BALLOON DARTS AND TRADITIONAL FAIR FOOD.

FROM FRIED OREOS AND TURKEY LEGS TO THE FAMOUS GIANELLI SAUSAGE, THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM.

THE BACON WRAPPED CORNDOG WAS CALLING TO ME, SO THIS IS WHAT I CHOSE FOR LUNCH TODAY.

I'M GOING TO TRY IT OUT RIGHT NOW.

PRETTY GOOD.

YOU CAN FIND FOOD, GAMES AND FARM ANIMALS BUT YOU MIGHT ALSO FIND STATE LAWMAKERS AND STATE LEADERS.

ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF THE FAIR, GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL STOPPED IN TO TALK ABOUT TOURISM AND AGRICULTURAL MILESTONES.

I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM TO CELEBRATE OUR FARMERS, OUR GROWERS, OUR LIVESTOCK BREEDERS, THE CULTURE, THE DIVERSITY, THE FOOD, THIS FAIR AND OUR FARMS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO IT, THIS IS JUST SPECTACULAR.

HOCHUL ANNOUNCED THE FAIR IS BRINGING IN HISTORIC HIGHS FOR DIRECT VISITOR SPENDING AND TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THE STATE'S TOURISM INDUSTRY.

SHE HIGHLIGHTS THE FAIR LAST YEAR WELCOMED MORE THAN 300 MILLION VISITORS AND VISITORS OF THE FAIR CONTRIBUTING $88 BILLION IN DIRECT SPENDING.

HOCHUL ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE STATE'S AGENCIES AND AUTHORITIES INCREASING THE PERCENTAGE OF FOOD SOURCES FROM NEW YORK FARMERS AND PRODUCERS.

THE GOAL THE GOVERNOR SET LAST YEAR THROUGH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER WAS FOR STATE AGENCIES TO INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF FOOD SOURCES FROM NEW YORK FARMERS AND PRODUCERS TO 30% OF THEIR TOTAL PURCHASES WITHIN FIVE YEARS.

WE HAD A GOAL THE FIRST YEAR OF 5%.

WE ACTUALLY WENT UP TO 15.

I WANT TO GET TO 30.

I'M ALWAYS ABOUT RAISING THE BAR.

SORRY, BUDDY, WE'RE RAISING THE BAR HIGH, AND THE FARMERS ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS.

IT'S $145 MILLION ANNUAL BENEFIT TO OUR FARMERS.

THAT'S EXTRAORDINARY.

APART FROM VISITS FROM STATE-ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE FAIR ATTRACTS FAMILIES WITH CLASSIC FAIR FAVORITES, THE RIDES, PLENTIFUL FRIED FOOD AND THE FUN GAMES.

BUT THIS YEAR, IT HAS SOME NEW ADDITIONS, A CHALK ARTIST AND A WORLD FAMOUS SWAY POLE SHOW.

ALLY WALKER, WHO HAS BEEN WORKING AS A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST SINCE SHE WAS 16 YEARS OLD, BROUGHT MURAL ART TO THE FAIR AND VISITORS GOT TO WATCH HER PROCESS.

I HAVE A SERIES OF FIVE INSTALLATIONS.

WE'RE DOING THEM ALL OVER THE FAIR.

THIS IS ONE OF THEM.

AND THEY'VE BEEN A LOT OF FUN.

WALKER CREATED THE COLORFUL FAIR MURALS WITH CHALK SPRAY, STREET STICKS AND CHALK PASTELS.

AS A NEW ATTRACTION TO THE FAIR, WALKER SAYS IT HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR HER.

IT'S AMAZING JUST TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE, BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, HAVE PEOPLE REALLY WALK BY AND JUST APPRECIATE THE ART, WATCH THE PROCESS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL COME IN, SEE WHAT I'M DOING FOR THE DAY AND COME BACK IN AND CHECK IN.

WHETHER THEY SAW THE PIECE CREATED FROM START TO FINISH OR JUST THE FINISHED PRODUCT, MANY VISITORS SEEM TO BE AMAZED BY WALKER'S TALENTS, INCLUDING SISTERS, ROBIN CLAFLIN AND THERESA TOLLS.

I THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT SHE'S DOING THESE ALL THROUGHOUT THE FAIR.

THERE IS ART ALL AROUND US HERE AT THE NEW YORK STATE FAIR AND VISITORS ARE LOVING IT.

WE'VE SEEN CHALK ART HERE ON THE PAVEMENT, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO CHECK OUT SOME PERFORMANCE ART ABOUT 80 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AT THE NERVOUS KNOX SWAY POLE SHOW.

THE WORLD FAMOUS SHOW DATES BACK TO 1840 AS SWITZERLAND'S FIRST CIRCUS.

IT DEBUTED IN THE UNITED STATES OVER 100 YEARS LATER IN 1954 AND SINCE THEN, THE CIRCUS ACT HAS BEEN SEEN AT AMERICA'S GOT TALENT, FAIRS, FESTIVALS AND CIRCUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE SWAY POLE CIRCUS ACT BECAME A TRADITION PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS.

MICHELANGELO NOCK, WHOSE FATHER WAS PART OF THE TEAM TO BRING THE CIRCUS ACT TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1954, STARTED TRAINING WITH SWAY POLES AT THE AGE OF 14.

NOW 58 YEARS OLD, NOCK HAS BEEN PERFORMING THE DARING ACT FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS.

SO I'M SEVENTH GENERATION.

SWITZERLAND'S FIRST CIRCUS.

MY MOTHER PERFORMED AT THE NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR.

MY FATHER, SO THEY TRAINED ME.

WE'RE A FINE-TUNED ATHLETES.

YOU KNOW, IN 1981 I WAS 14.

NOW I'M THE SEASONED VETERAN.

I'M LIKE JOE NAMATH NOCK HIGHLIGHTED FAMILY TRADITION AS A KEY ELEMENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE FAIR MAKING THIS PERFORMANCE PARTICULARLY FITTING.

MY DAUGHTER, MY SON, MY WIFE, MY COUSINS, IT'S WONDERFUL.

THERE'S ONLY A FEW OF US IN THE WORLD, YOU KNOW THAT DO THESE EXTREME STUNTS AND LITTLE BY LITTLE, I LOOK AT US LIKE FARMERS WHO OWN THE FARM FOR EIGHT, NINE GENERATIONS AND THEN WHAT IF THE NEXT GENERATION GOES TO COLLEGE AND THEN YOUR PARENTS HAVE TO SELL THE FARM?

SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THIS FARM GOING, THIS ENTERTAINMENT DYNASTY AS LONG AS WE CAN.

VISITORS AT THE FAIR WATCHED NOCK CLIMB THE SWAY POLE TO ABOUT 80 FEET IN THE AIR.

HE THEN PERFORMED VARIOUS STUNTS IN THE AIR INCLUDING A HEAD-FIRST FALL DOWN THE POLE FOR A DARING FINISH.

THE OLDER GUY SEEMED TO GO A LOT FASTER THAN THE YOUNGER ONE, UP AND DOWN.

I WAS IMPRESSED ABOUT THAT.

THEY WERE BOTH AMAZING.

COHEN SAID SHE WAS ALSO IMPRESSED BY THE OTHER AERIAL PERFORMER AT THE FAIR.

I THINK THE MOST AMAZING THING ABOUT HER IS SHE SMILED THROUGH ALL OF PAINFUL CONTORTIONS THAT SHE DID.

INSPIRED BY THE BRAVERY OF THE AERIAL PERFORMERS, I DECIDED TO DO A BRAVE ACT MYSELF, CORNERING MY FEAR OF BIRDS.

I TRAVELED TO THE HAWK CREEK WILDLIFE SECTION OF THE FAIR WHERE I HELD AN EGYPTIAN VULTURE NAMED CHLEO.

CHLEO IS OUR BEAUTIFUL EGYPTIAN VULTURE.

SHE IS ONE OF ONLY ABOUT 12 EGYPTIAN VULTURES IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.

SHE'S AN IMPORTANT AMBASSADOR FOR HER SPECIES BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, THESE GUYS ARE ENDANGERED THROUGHOUT THEIR RANGE IN AFRICA AND ASIA.

WHILE I HELD CHLEO AND LEARNED MORE ABOUT HER, I ALSO LEARNED ABOUT HER SPECIES IS IMPORTANT TO THE ECOSYSTEM.

ALL KINDS OF CARCASSES THAT CAN HAVE DISEASES LIKE ANTHRAX, BOTULISM, E. COLI AND RABIES, AND THEY DON'T GET SICK.

THEY INGEST IT, BREAK IT DOWN STOP THE SPREAD OF DISEASE TO WILDLIFE AND TO HUMANS SO THEY'RE REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE FOR THE WHOLE PLANET'S HEALTH.

AT THE FAIR, LOWE SAID THE HAWK CREEK WILDLIFE CENTER'S GOAL WAS TO GET PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT RAPTORS LIKE CHLEO AND TO TEACH THEM ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE IN THE ECOSYSTEM.

THIS YEAR'S STATE FAIR CERTAINLY HAD A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AND I HAVE TO SAY AS A FIRST-TIMER, I HAD A BLAST, ALONG WITH THE THOUSANDS OF OTHER VISITORS HERE TODAY.

ELISE KLINE, "NEW YORK NOW."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE TRIP TO THE STATE FAIR, ELISE.

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.

I HAD A BLAST.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WAS YOUR VERY FIRST.

OWE WAS CURIOUS, WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST TAKE-AWAYS?

DID ANYTHING SURPRISE YOU ABOUT THE STATE FAIR?

I THINK THE SIZE DEFINITELY SURPRISED ME.

I HAD HEARD IT WAS A LARGE FAIR, BUT IT WAS SO MUCH WALKING.

I DEFINITELY UNDERESTIMATED THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AND THE LEVEL OF WALKING THERE WOULD BE THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND I WAS ALSO REALLY IMPRESSED WITH JUST THE LEVEL OF DETAIL THERE WAS IN THE NUMBER OF THE ATTRACTIONS THROUGHOUT THE FAIR.

YOU COULD JUST REALLY TELL HOW MUCH DETAIL WAS PUT INTO IT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAD FUN.

AND DID YOU HAVE A FAVORITE EXHIBIT?

I THINK MY FAVORITE PERSONAL ATTRACTION WOULD HAVE TO BE THE BUTTER EXHIBIT.

I'M CURIOUS, DID YOU HAVE THAT SAME EXPERIENCE?

YEAH.

THERE WERE A LOT OF ATTRACTIONS THAT I LOVED.

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.

I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY MY FAVORITE EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT THE DAY WAS HOLDING CHLEO, THE EGYPTIAN VULTURE.

YOU KNOW, I'M AFRAID OF BIRDS AND IT WAS TERRIFYING BUT ALSO I WAS REALLY, YOU KNOW, PROUD THAT I DID IT BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE ABLE TO DO.

AND APART FROM HAVING FUN AT THE STATE FAIR, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN DOING A TON OF GREAT REPORTING AROUND WOMEN'S ISSUES AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

YOU HAVE BEEN CLOSELY FOLLOWING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MAKE PERIOD PRODUCTS FREE AND ACCESSIBLE ON SUNY AND CUNY CAMPUSES.

CAN YOU UNPACK THAT LEGISLATION AND WHERE WE'RE AT AT THIS POINT?

YEAH, THE LAW THAT WAS SIGNED WOULD MAKE PERIOD PRODUCTS FREE ON ALL SUNY AND CUNY CAMPUSES IN THEIR RESTROOMS AND THIS IS LEGISLATION THAT LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIME.

IT GOES ALONG WITH THEIR MISSION ON OTHER POLICIES.

THEY'VE IMPLEMENTED FREE PERIOD PRODUCTS IN HOMELESS SHELTERS AND K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS AND THIS GOES IN LINE WITH THAT MISSION.

IT WAS DEFINITELY AN ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT THEY SAID IT WAS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THEM, AND IT ALSO CAME WITH A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES.

I WOULD SAY A LOT OF LAWMAKERS HAVE TOLD ME THAT BREAKING DOWN THE STIGMA HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS AROUND THIS ISSUE, AND SO THEY'RE TRYING TO COULD DO THAT NOT ONLY THROUGH POLICIES LIKE THIS ONE BUT ALSO JUST THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE CHAMBER AND EDUCATING THEIR COLLEAGUES ABOUT THE ISSUE, JUST TALKING ABOUT PERIODS AND PERIOD PRODUCTS.

AND ANOTHER HUGE ASPECT WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN'S ISSUES HAS TO DO WITH REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, WHICH I KNOW A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS HAVE MADE THAT ONE OF THEIR TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING THE OVERTURNING OF ROE VERSUS WADE.

HOW DO YOU SEE THAT TURNING OUT IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

I THINK REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, AS YOU WERE SAYING, HAS DEFINITELY BEEN A STICKING POINT FOR LAWMAKERS THROUGH LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, ESPECIALLY IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.

I WOULD SAY THAT IT SEEMED THERE HAS BEEN A BUILD-UP FROM PUBLIC POLICY FROM LAWMAKERS TO ADDRESS ACCESS TO DOULA CARE AND ADDRESSING IMPROVING MATERNAL HEALTH.

I CAN DEFINITELY SEE THAT CONTINUING FOR LAWMAKERS IN THEIR EFFORTS ON LEGISLATION AND ADDRESSING THAT ISSUE.

AND WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR SOURCES, WHETHER IT BE LAWMAKERS OR ADVOCATES ABOUT HOW THEY'RE PREPARING TO GEAR UP FOR NEXT SESSION WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES INVOLVING WOMEN'S ISSUES?

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF POLICY AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT ON DOULA CARE AND IMPROVING MATERNAL HEALTH AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, I THINK, AND THERE'S THE BALLOT MEASURE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT, WHICH WILL ENSURE ABORTIONS IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION COMING UP.

IN THE NEXT ELECTION THAT'S BEEN A BIG FOCUS FOR THEM.

I CAN DEFINITELY SEE SOURCES-- EXCUSE ME.

I CAN DEFINITELY SEE A LOT OF LAWMAKERS JUST IMPROVING ON THAT BUILD-UP THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO REINTRODUCING SOME BILLS THAT PROBABLY DIDN'T PASS LAST SESSION AND ALSO MAYBE INTRODUCING NEW BILLS THAT WE ARE YET TO DISCOVER.

AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BILLS THAT YOU'RE HOPING TO FOCUS ON IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN THE YEARS TO COME?

YEAH.

THERE'S A COUPLE BILLS ON MY MUST-WATCH LIST GOING INTO THE NEXT SESSION.

ONE OF THEM WOULD IMPLEMENT FREE PERIOD PRODUCTS IN ALL PUBLIC STATE-OWNED BUILDINGS, WHICH FOR LAWMAKERS, IT WOULD BE A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THEM TO PASS THAT.

IT WOULD CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THEIR MISSION AS I WAS SAYING, TO REALLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF PERIOD POVERTY, WHICH IS THE LACK OF ACCESS TO PERIOD PRODUCTS, AND SO THAT WOULD GO ALONG WITH THEIR MISSION THERE, AND I'M ALSO GOING TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO A BILL THAT WOULD ADDRESS WHAT IS IN PERIOD PRODUCTS AND TIGHTEN SOME OF THOSE REGULATIONS ABOUT WHAT IS SAFE TO AND HEALTHY TO USE AND TO HAVE IN PERIOD PRODUCTS.

THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE SOME OF THOSE BILLS GO.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF YOUR REPORTING ON THAT.

WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US ABOUT YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT SESSION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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