ON THIS MONTH'S EDITION OF CONNECT-NEW YORK, WE CONSIDER THE INFLUX OF ASYLUM SEEKERS TO NEW YORK AND DISCUSS HOW GOVERNMENT POLICYMAKERS SHOULD RESPONSE.

DON'T GO ANYWHERE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ 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 WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE INCREASE OF MIGRANTS THAT HAVE ARRIVED - AND CONTINUE TO ARRIVE - IN NEW YORK, OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.

WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER WHAT OUR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OWE THESE NEW ARRIVALS, HIGHLIGHT WHAT A SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN OUR UPSTATE COMMUNITIES, AND EXAMINE WHAT COMES NEXT.

TO DO ALL THAT - AND MORE - WE'RE JOINED IN THE STUDIO BY STATE SENATOR RACHEL MAY, A SYRACUSE DEMOCRAT, ONEIDA COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANTHONY PICCENTE JR., OVER ZOOM, AND A REPUBLICAN.

AND THEN IN OUR STUDIO, MURAD AWAWDEH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK IMMIGRATION COALITION, AND JUSTIN WILCOX, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UPSTATE UNITED, WHICH REPRESENTS UPSTATE BUSINESS INTERESTS.

SO SINCE THE SPRING OF 2022, MORE THAN 150,000 MIKE RESISTANTS HAVE ARRIVED IN NEW YORK MORE THAN 150 MIGRANT HAVE HADS ARRIVED IN NEW YORK.

GENERALLY SPEAKING WHAT DO WE KNOW WHO ABOUT WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE, HOW THEY GOT HERE AND WHY THEY CAME.

>> I WANT TO SAY THAT MIGRATION TO NEW YORK IS NOT A NEW THING.

IT HAPPENS EVERY YOUR, AND WE HAVE SEEN FOR CENTURIES, WHAT HAS BUILT NEW YORK HAS BEEN EVERY WAVE OF IMMIGRATION TO OUR GREAT STATE.

SO THE ONLY UNIQUENESS IN THIS MOMENT IS THAT ABOUT HALF THE POPULATION WHO HAS ARRIVED HAS BEEN IN NEED OF SOME SHELTER.

AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN NEW YORK CITY IS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE SINGLES WHO COMING AND IN NEED OF SHELTER ARE GETTING OUT WITHIN 30 TO 45 DAYS.

IF THAT TELLS YOU ANYTHING AND IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT UNHOUSED POPULATIONS, THIS IS A VERY RESILIENT COMMUNITY THAT IS ACTUALLY DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO GET ON THEIR FEET AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND BECOME SELF SUFFICIENT AND CONTRIBUTING PARTS OF SOCIETY.

SO I THINK FOR THE BIGGER PIECE HERE IS, WHILE THE NUMBERS MAY SOUND SCARY, YOU KNOW, IF WE GO BACK TO 1907, ELLIS ISLAND PROCESSED ON A DAY 12,000 PEOPLE IN NEW YORK'S HARBOR, TO LET FOLKS INTO NEW YORK CITY THAT WAS OVER 100 YEARS AGO AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT THEN AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT WITHIN THE SPACE OF THREE FOOTBALL FIELDS, SO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY.

WE HAVE COMPUTERS NOW.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO NEW YORK ARE COMING FROM THE SOUTHERN BORDER WITH, I WOULD SAY, THE MAJORITY OF THEM BEING TRANSPORTED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS TO THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

AND IN THAT, IN THE BEGINNING WHEN THE BUSING WAS BEGINNING, TO COME TO NEW YORK, WHAT WE WERE SEEING IS THAT ABOUT 30 TO 40% OF THE PEOPLE ON THOSE BUSES DIDN'T WANT TO COME TO NEW YORK CITY AND THEN IT TOOK ORGANIZATIONS AND CITY CITY OF NEW YORK TO HELP BUS PEOPLE TO THE PLACES THEY WANT TO GO TO, WHICH WAS, FOR THE MOST PART, NOT NEW YORK CITY.

AND THEN SORTLY THEREAFTER, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO WERE COMING HERE WANTED TO BE HERE.

AND PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING ARE SEEKING THEIR LEGAL RIGHT TO APPLY FOR ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO DO THAT AT A PORT OF ENTRY AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

>> YOU HIGHLIGHTED THAT IMMIGRATION IS NOT A NEW ISSUE IN OUR COUNTRY AND IN THE STATE SPECIFICALLY.

BUT THERE IS OBVIOUSLY NUANCE WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRATION AND THE WAY IMMIGRATION AND IMMIGRANTS ARE DISCUSSED CAN VARY ON A PERSON'S PERSPECTIVE BUT THERE ARE ACTUAL DEFINITIONS IN TERMS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CERTAIN IMMIGRATION ISSUES LIKE ASYLUM SEEKERS, MIGRANTS, UNDOCUMENTED NEW YORKERS AND THERE CAN BE OVERLAP IN THE TERMS BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ASIGH WILL YOU PLEASE SEEKERS SPECIFICALLY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND IS THAT HOW WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION?

>> I THINK THAT FOR THE MOST PART, WHEN WE ARE-- YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT ON DEFINITIONS.

EVERY WORD HAS A DIFFERENT MEANING WHICH IS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO LEAN INTO THEM.

FOLKS SEEKING ASYLUM ARE FLEEING PERSECUTION, VIOLENCE, GOVERNMENT COLLAPSE, BEING TARGETED.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THE IMPACTS OF SOME OF OUR OWN FOREIGN POLICY AND SOME OF THE HOME COUNTRIES, RIGHT?

IF WE PLOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED-- WE LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN VENEZUELA WITH THE SANCTIONS THAT HAPPENED A FEW YEARS AGO, WE ARE SEEING THE GOVERNMENT COLLAPSE SIGNIFICANTLY.

THE VIOLENCE THAT IS HAPPENING IN COLOMBIA, THE VIOLENCE HAPPENING IN SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA, LIKE THAT IS ALL LEADING UP TO PEOPLE FLEEING THEIR HOMES.

NO ONE WANTS TO LEAVE THEIR HOME IF THEY FEEL SAFE, RIGHT?

NO ONE LEAVES BECAUSE THEY ARE SAFE.

THEY LEAVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.

AND WHAT WE ARE ALSO SEEING IS THAT MIGRATION ON A WHOLE, ACROSS THE WORLD, IS INCREASING RAPIDLY.

JUST IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE WE HAVE 20 MILLION DISPLACED PEOPLE IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE PEOPLE COMING TO THE UNITED STATES.

THAT'S PEOPLE THAT ARE IN SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA.

AND FOR MOST PART WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THESE PATTERNS, WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT ACTUALLY LEAVING.

THEY'RE TRYING TO STAY AS CLOSE TO THEIR HOME COUNTRY AS POSSIBLE.

SEVEN MILLION VENEZUELANS HAVE LEFT.

SIX MILLION HAVE STAYED WITHIN SURROUNDING COUNTRIES, SOME HAVE MADE THE TREK UP NORTH.

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS MOMENT IS THAT PEOPLE-- THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE THAT'S HAPPENING HERE ONLY IN THE U.S.

IT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE WORLD.

IN EUROPE, IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA, AND ASIA AND IT'S BEEN TRICKLING UP, I BELIEVE, AS WE SEE MORE CLIMATE DISASTERS, WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE PEOPLE MIGRATING.

>> SENATOR MAY, IMMIGRATION IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A FEDERAL ISSUE.

WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE RESPONSE TO THE CURRENT ISSUE, IT'S ALWAYS FRAMED IN THE NEED FOR MORE FEDERAL RESOURCES OR DEPENDING ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD OR SHOULD DO ALONG THE BORDERS.

BUT THOSE ARE ALL LONG-TERM ISSUES THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED IN THE NEAR TERM.

SO WE HAVE THIS ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

WHAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE?

AND WHAT CAN THE STATE DO?

WHAT HAS THE STATE DONE?

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> SO, OBVIOUSLY THE STATE PLAYS A LARGE ROLE AND NEW YORK HAS ALWAYS PLAYED A ROLE IN WELCOME WELCOMING IMMIGRANTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

THAT'S IN OUR DNA.

THIS REGION IN PARTICULAR, SYRACUSE, UTICA, ROCHESTER, ARE PLACES WHERE REFUGEES IN PARTICULAR STEND TEND TO SETTLE.

AND THEY HAVE TRANSFORMED OUR COMMUNITIES FOR THE BETTER FOR DECADES.

SO I THINK MAKING SURE THAT THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS ARE IN PLACE IS A BIG PART OF WHAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DO.

WE WERE TALKING BEFORE THE SHOW ABOUT LEGAL SERVICES.

WE ALSO KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING FROM TRAUMA, AND THEY'VE GOT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT, THEY NEED SUPPORT FOR OR DEALING WITH THE TRAUMAS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING.

SO I THINK AT THE STATE LEVEL WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR MORE LEGAL SUPPORT, BUT ALSO MORE SOCIAL SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING HERE.

WE KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T TAKE VERY LONG FOR IMMIGRANTS, WHETHER THEY'RE REFUGEES OR HOWEVER THEY COME HERE, TO BE VERY PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WE WANT TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THAT INITIAL PERIOD WHERE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A LOT OF STRUGGLES BECAUSE WE KNOW THE LIKELIHOOD IS THEY'RE GOING TO BE REALLY VALUABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

>> I THINK SOME STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT WITHIN SEVEN YEARS, I BELIEVE, IMMIGRANTS BEGIN CONTRIBUTING TO THE ECONOMY AND AFTER 13 YEARS THEY MAKE UP THE INITIAL COST OF THEIR ARRIVAL.

BUT I WANT TO COME BACK TO THE STATE RESPONSIBILITY AND WHAT THE STATE HAS DONE TO THIS POINT BECAUSE IT SEEMS, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, LIKE THERE HAS BEEN A BIT OF A VACUUM IN BETWEEN SAY NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, HAS GOVERNOR HOCHUL LED ENOUGH ON THIS ISSUE, FOR EXAMPLE, SHE TALKS ABOUT THE $1 BILLION IN THE CURRENT YEAR'S BUDGET BUT IS THAT ENOUGH WHEN NEW YORK CITY SAYS THEY NEED MULTIPLE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN AID THAT'S NOT COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND A LOT OF COUNTY LEADERS AND MUNICIPAL LEADERS ARE LEFT TO COME UP WITH THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

SHOULD THE STATE BE PLAYING A LARGER ROLE JUST IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID THE RIGHT THINGS, BUT WE NEED TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A PROCESS.

THAT INVOLVES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR AND IT INVOLVES TRADE-OFFS.

AND SO REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE DO THAT IS-- YOU CAN'T DO IT OVERNIGHT.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH ADVOCATES, BOTH FROM NEW YORK CITY AND ALL ACROSS THE STATE, WHO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THE INCOMING POPULATION IS TO OUR COMMUNITIES THAT I THINK THERE WILL BE THE POLITICAL WILL TO PUT RESOURCES-- THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH RESOURCES IN ANY AREA, BUT YOU KNOW, MORE RESOURCES.

I HAVE ADVOCATED VERY HARD FOR REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT MONEY UP HERE BECAUSE IT WAS WOEFULLY UNDERFUNDED A FEW YEARS AGO.

>> WELL, TRICKLING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE TO THE COUNTY LEVEL, EXECUTIVE ANTHONY PICENTE, WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, SO TO SPEAK.

SINCE MAY, YOU HAVE HAD AN EXECUTIVE ORDER IN PLACE THAT HAS MADE IT REALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR NEW YORK CITY TO BRING MIGRANTS UP TO ONEIDA COUNTY AND CONTRACT WITH HOMELESS SHELTERS OR MOTELS SO THAT THEY CAN BE HOUSED HERE AND THAT THEIR FAMILIES CAN BEGIN TO SET UP LIVES HERE.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE ORDER YOU PUT IN PLACE AND WHY YOU HAVE ROUTINELY RENEWED IT?

>> SURE, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME WITH EVERYONE HERE ON THE PANEL TODAY.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, FIRST I'LL GO WITH WHAT SENATOR MAY HAD TO SAY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MY COMMUNITY OF ONEIDA COUNTY IN PARTICULAR CERTAINLY THE CITY OF UTICA, WHICH IS THE COUNTY SEAT AND THE LARGEST AREA.

I MEAN WE HAVE HAD A HISTORY AND ONEIDA COUNTY HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT ON IMMIGRATION AND ON REFUGEE POPULATIONS FOREVER.

AND FROM, YOU KNOW, THE TURN OF THE 20th CENTURY, AND SINCE THEN.

AND THE REFUGEE CENTER, OR THE CENTER AS IT IS NOW KNOWN, PROCESSES HUNDREDS ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, COOPERATION FROM THE COUNTY, OF REFUGEES FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES THAT ARE SEEKING, YOU KNOW, A NEW LIFE.

AND AGAIN, AS THE CENTER SAID, VALUABLE CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THE DIFFERENCE HERE WAS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A DIFFERENT SCENARIO OF THE MIGRANT POPULATION COMING IN THAT DID NOT GO THROUGH WHAT THE REFUGEE POPULATION GOES THROUGH IN TERMS OF OUR CENTER AND IN TERMS OF OUR PROCESS.

BUT THEN THE CITY OF NEW YORK TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO ASH ARBITRARILY TRY TO MOVE AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE ALL FACING, YOU KNOW, WE JUST GOT THROUGH WITH TWO YEARS PLUS OF COVID.

A LOT OF STRAIN ON THE SOCIAL SERVICES SYSTEM.

A LOT OF STRAIN ON THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM.

A LOT OF STRAIN ON THE HOMELESS POPULATION, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ALL STRUGGLING WITH IN EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY.

AND AS A COMMUNITY-- AND AS A COUNTY OF 235,000 PLUS GIVE OR TAKE, I FEEL AND WE HAVE FELT THAT, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE BURDEN WE HAVE HAD PLACED ON US, OF OUR OWN HOMELESS AND OUR POPULATIONS THAT ARE IN NEED OF SHELTER, THAT WE JUST COULD NOT HANDLE, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE SMALLEST AMOUNT.

AND BACK TO THE ISSUES THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.

I THINK THE STATE NEEDED TO PLAY A LARGER ROLE AND INCLUDE US.

AND WHILE WITH ALL RESPECT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR, THESE COME DOWN TO LOCAL ISSUES IN TERMS OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES SYSTEM OF WHICH WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IN WHICH WE PROVIDE BETWEEN SOCIAL SERVICES, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, MENTAL HEALTH, ALL OF THOSE AREAS.

SO THE ORDER WAS THAT WE DID NOT AND WOULD NOT ACCEPT IN OUR SHELTERS, HOTELS, ANYTHING, ANY OF THE UNDOCUMENTED PIECES FROM THAT WERE JUST SHIPPED UP FROM NEW YORK CITY WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, THE COMPLETE PACKAGE, IF YOU WILL, OF SERVICES, WHICH WE ARE OVERBURDENED.

I KNOW THAT MAYOR ADAMS AND WE THIS DISCUSSION WITH HIM AND HIS STAFF AND OTHERS AND EVEN WITH THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE AT CAPACITY.

SO ARE WE.

AND THAT'S-- IT'S NOT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TURNING AWAY IMMIGRANTS.

WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT HAS LOVED THEM.

THERE ARE STORIES ALL THE TIME AND HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW RECENTLY PRINTED ABOUT ONEIDA ONEIDA COUNTY AND UTICA, THE TOWN THAT LFS LOVES IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES.

IT'S NOT ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT WE ARE AT CAPACITY ISSUE, TOO.

YOU CANNOT COMPARE 240,000, YOU KNOW,SIZE COUNTY TO THE EIGHT TO 9 MILLION PLUS IN NEW YORK CITY THAT ARE OR DEALING WITH THIS.

SO YOU KNOW, THE LOST IN TRANSLATION IS NOT YOU KNOW, WHAT IS HAPPENING, BUT ABOUT PROCESS.

AND THERE WAS NO PROCESS IN PLACE HERE.

>> YOU MENTIONED THAT ISSUE OF CAPACITY, COUNTY EXECUTIVE PICENTE AND COPPING BACK TO THE CENTER-- COMING BACK TO THE CENTER WHICH YOU REFERENCED, THEIR LEADER SHELLY CALLAHAN HAS REFERENCED IT WOULD BE HARD TO FIND HOUSING BUT SHE SAID COUNTIES DO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TAKE ON ADDITIONAL PEOPLE AND SAID THAT HER ORGANIZATION WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP IF ASKED.

SO IS THERE SOME SORT OF WIGGLE ROOM HERE?

I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS ASKING ONEIDA COUNTY TO TAKE ON 100,000 MIGRANTS BUT COULD FOUR PEOPLE SETTLE IN HERE AND NOT BE A RISK TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF ONEIDA COUNTY RESIDENTS, WHICH IS KIND OF THE STANDARD THAT YOU SET FOR THE EXECUTIVE ORDER HAVE YOU IN PLACE RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, BUT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT SHELLY AND I AND THE CENTER AND THIS GOVERNMENT HAS HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND I'VE KNOWN SHELLY AND WORKED WITH HER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS DISCUSSIONS ON THIS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE ARE SAYING.

WHAT WE ARE SAYING HERE THOUGH IS THAT IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE WITH THAT, AND THE WAY IN WHICH THE SHIFTING OF THAT POPULATION HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN WITHOUT ANY OF THE REGULATIONS OR GUIDELINES OR , YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANT ALOWRNTIONS THAT-- ALLOWANCES THAT COME ALONG WITH IT.

THERE IS A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL THAT WE HAVE TO PLACE IN A SHELTER.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT CAPACITY, WE ARE PLACING IN ONEIDA COUNTY, 100 TO 150 PEOPLE PER NIGHT ONGOING BECAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS AND BECAUSE OF HIJACK AND BECAUSE OF MENTAL HEALTH-- OF EMERGENCY AND MENTAL HEALTH.

THAT'S A CONTINUING REVOLVING DOOR IN THAT SENSE.

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT, THIS DOESN'T COME DOWN TO ONE OR TWO PEOPLE.

WE DO THAT I MEAN THE CENTER PROCESSES HUNDREDS, AS I SAID, A YEAR, THAT COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE PREPARED FOR, THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE SYSTEM OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, IS BEING DEVELOPED.

THE ARGUMENT ON THE ORDER OR NOT THE ARGUMENT, THE STANDARD OF THE ORDER IS YOU ARE JUST PLACING THESE PEOPLE AND YOU ARE WALKING AWAY FROM THEM WITHOUT THE PROPER FINANCIAL, SOCIAL AND OVERALL ECONOMIC, YOU KNOW, PROVISOS THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR US TO ACCOMMODATE THEM AND THAT'S THE ARGUMENT THAT WE HAVE THE STATE GOVERNMENT THAT IS NOT , YOU KNOW, BEING RESPONSIVE.

YOU CAN'T JUST KEEP THROWING MONEY INTO NEW YORK CITY IN TERMS OF SHELTERS THAT ARE GETTING OVERBURDENED IF WE ARE NOT OR DEALING WITH THE CAPACITY AND NUMBERS THAT WE CAN DO.

>> I WANT TO GIVE YOU A SECOND AND JUSTIN WE ARE GOING TO GET TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN A SECOND.

BUT SENATOR MAY, PLEASE FEEL FREE.

>> SO COUNTY EXECUTIVE, I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY THAT THE ISSUE WAS RESOURCES.

DID YOU OFFER OR MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNOR ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE THE RESOURCES THAT WERE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO BRING PEOPLE IN OR HAVE YOU JUST MADE A BLANKET PROHIBITION ON BRINGING ANY ASYLEES IN?

>> I GUESS TWO THINGS TO THAT.

THE EASY TEENS THAT IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD KNOW AND THE HER PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IS NECESSARY IN PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO EVEN ONE INDIVIDUAL RATHER THAN 30 OR 40 OR 100 OR EVEN MORE THAN THAT.

I MEAN THAT IS THE NECESSARY.

MY ISSUE ON CAPACITY IS THE LONG-TERM PIECE OF THIS AND WHETHER WE SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THE SHELTERS, YOU KNOW, THE WAY THAT WE DO SHELTERING NOW, AGAIN, IN THE 100 OR SO THAT I DEAL WITH A DAY, IS, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING SERVICES BEYOND THAT, AND MOVING THEM INTO SUSTAINABILITY.

THERE WAS NO PLAN ON THESE ON THE MIGRANT SITUATION, WHO ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, DOCUMENTED AND DID NOT HAVE YOU KNOW, THE PROPER PIECES THAT THE REFUGEE POPULATION WOULD HAVE IN TERMS OF DOING THAT AND WHILE WE DO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THERE IS A WAY OF DOING THIS, BUT NOBODY WANTS TO LISTEN ON THE LOCAL LEVEL AND JUST WANTED TO MOVE AND MY OTHER COLLEAGUES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE WERE JUST, PEOPLE WERE PLACED IN THOSE HOTELS WITHOUT THE RESOURCES NECESSARY, OTHER THAN THE SHELTER AND THE SHELTER IS NOT THE ONLY ANSWER BECAUSE IT HAS TO COME WITH FOOD, IT HAS TO COME WITH MEDICAL, IT HAS TO COME WITH EDUCATION.

IT HAS TO COME WITH ANY OTHER SERVICES THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR THOSE PEOPLE.

AND NOBODY HAS OUTLINED A SPECIFIC PLAN ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, TO THIS DAY, AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT.

>> DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING?

>> YEAH, I JUST WANT TO JUMP IN REAL QUICK I HEAR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND HIS CONCERNS AROUND COORDINATION AND GETTING SUPPORT.

ONE THING I DO WANT TO NOTE IN THIS MOMENT THOUGH IS THAT, YES, NEW YORK CITY SHOULD ALWAYS COORDINATE WITH LOCALITIES.

THAT SHOULD BE THE BARE MINIMUM.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE HAS JUST BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF MISINFORMATION, I WOULD SAY, ABOUT THIS ENTIRE EXERCISE THAT THE CITY HAS TAKEN AND USING SPACES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY CONFINES.

THAT'S ACTUALLY AS PER ODTA, THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY DISABILITY.

THEY REISSUED AN RERELEASED THEIR GUIDANCE, THERE ARE QUESTIONS LIKE CAN NEW YORK CITY DO THIS?

AND ABSOLUTELY NEW YORK CITY CAN DO THIS WHEN THEIR SHELTER SYSTEM IS AT CAPACITY BUT THEY HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF CARE, THE SAME LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY'RE MOVING OUTSIDE OF THEIR LOCALITY, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING.

IF YOU LOOK IN NEWBERG AND POUGHKEEPSIE, THE CITY IS STILL PROVIDING THE SHELTER, THE CARE, AND STATE IS NOW STEPPING IN TO ALSO PROVIDE MORE SERVICES TO THE POPULATION.

SO I THINK THAT THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION REALLY IS, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A THING I'M OF NOT HEARING EACH OTHER OR LISTENING, NOT ACTIVELY LISTENING OR HEARING PAST EACH OTHER, BUT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO BURDEN ON THE COUNTY AND THERE WOULD NOT BE A BURDEN WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OTHER INCIDENTALS RIGHT?

MAYBE SANITATION COSTS INCREASE AND THAT'S SOMETHING THE STATE WOULD STEP IN AND COVER; LIKE THEY HAVE WITH EDUCATION COSTS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAD AN INCREASE IN CHILDREN COMING TO THEM.

IN UTICA, IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IN THE STATE, SECOND TO SYRACUSE WHERE WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW, BUT A FOURTH OF ITS POPULATION-- AND UTICA STORY IS THE STORY THAT, YOU KNOW, HAS BUILT THIS WELCOMING NETWORK ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW YORK, RIGHT?

A FOURTH OF THE POPULATION IS IMMIGRANT AND HAS REALLY, AFTER DECADES LONG OF DEPOPULATION IN THAT AREA, WAS WHAT ACTUALLY BROUGHT IT BACK.

>> AND WE HAVE TO CHECK IN WITH JUSTIN WHO MADE THE TRIP FROM ROCHESTER TO JOIN US HERE.

WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE SO TO SPEAK.

YOU'VE GOT THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

WHAT CAN BUSINESSES BE DOING IN THIS SPACE TO HELP SMOOTH OUT THIS TRANSITION BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS MAJOR PROBLEM OF PEOPLE BEING ILLEGALLY ABLE TO WORK.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WANTS TO DO IS LEND ITS VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION, RIGHT?

SO MUCH OF THIS HAS BECOME SORT OF A, YOU KNOW, POLITICAL HOT BUTTON, RIGHT?

IT'S A POLITICAL FOOTBALL IF YOU WILL.

AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, ALONG WITH FAITH LEADERS, ALONG WITH LEADERS IN THE LABOR COMMUNITY, WE WANT FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY.

IF WE LOWER THE TEMPERATURE, TAKE A LOOK AT THE SITUATION, WE HAVE FOLKS COMING TO OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WANT TO BE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, RIGHT?

WE HAVE JUST LOST ANOTHER 100,000 PEOPLE IN NEW YORK STATE OVER THE PAST YEAR, WHICH PUTS OUR TOTAL FOR THREE YEARS OVER 600,000 PEOPLE THAT NEW YORK STATE HAS LOST, RIGHT, NOT JUST LOST TO OUTMIGRATION.

THIS IS A DECLINE IN POPULATION.

SO WE HAVE FOLKS COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WANT TO BE HERE, THAT HAVE, OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST COUPLE OF DECADES, REALLY CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF COMMUNITIES IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, RIGHT?

WE LOOK AT BUFFALO, WE LOOK AT UTICA, WE LOOK AT SYRACUSE, AND WE LOOK AT ROCHESTER.

AND OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE ALL BENEFITED ECONOMICALLY, CULTURALLY, FROM HAVING FOLKS, YOU KNOW, COME FROM OTHER AREAS OF THE WORLD AND SET UNTIL OUR UPSTATE NEW YORK COMMUNITIES.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS LENDING OUR VOICES TO THE CONVERSATION TO SAY HEY, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE.

YES, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE VAST MAJORITY CANNOT WORK RIGHT AWAY BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO WORK AND WE SHOULD MAKE SURE WE HAVE PROGRAMS IN PLACE TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS WILLING TO PARTNER AND BE PART OF THAT WHETHER YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OR WHETHER YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAMS.

SO WE WANT TO BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

>> ARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OR APPRENTICESHIPS, THINGS THAT CAN GET UNDER WAY PRIOR TO SOMEONE GETTING THEIR WORK AUTHORIZATION?

>> WE THINK SO AND THAT'S ONE AREA WE WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE STATE, A CONVERSATION WITH OUR LEGISLATORS AND WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SAY LOOK, THERE ARE RESOURCES YOU CAN BRING TO BEAR HERE THAT WE CAN USE IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY, EVEN BEFORE FOLKS ARE READY TO WORK.

WE CAN HAVE THESE FOLKS HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING, RIGHT?

THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT WE THINK ARE INCREDIBLY BENEFICIAL NOT JUST FOR THE FOLKS COMING HERE BUT ALSO TO EMPLOYERS.

>> DO YOU ENVISION EMPLOYERS POTENTIALLY HELPING TO SMOOTH OUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE HURDLES IN THIS BECAUSE ONE OF THE CHALLENGES TO GETTING THAT WORK AUTHORIZATION IS ALL OF THE LEGAL PAPERWORK AND TIMELINES AND DEADLINES THAT HAVE TO BE FILLED OUT.

THERE IS A ROLE THAT BUSINESSES SHOULD PLAY IN HELPING TO FACILITATE THAT, MAYBE PONY UP SOME CASH AND HELP WITH THE LEGAL FRONT?

>> I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR ALL THE BUSINESS... >> HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU BRING TODAY?

GIVE ME YOUR WALLET.

[LAUGHTER] >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE WILLING TO ADVOCATE ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS IS THAT WE DO NEED THOSE RESOURCES FROM THE STATE.

WE DO NEED FUNDING FOR THOSE PROGRAMS THAT WOULD BE INCREDIBLY BENEFICIAL.

WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT APPLICATIONS ARE BEING FILED TIMELY AND THAT DOES MAKING SURE THAT THE RIGHT RESOURCES GO TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HELP FOLKS MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE COMPLETING THE APPLICATIONS AND IN A PROPER FASHION.

WE WANT TO HELP BRING THOSE RESOURCES TO BEAR.

WE WANT TO HELP COORDINATE AND WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE LABOR COMMUNITY AND FAITH COMMUNITY AND LEGISLATORS AND AS WELL AS THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BRING THE RIGHT TRAINING SO THAT THE FOLKS CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AS SOON AS THEY'RE ABLE TO WORK.

THAT'S A CRITICAL PIECE, RIGHT, BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS PERIOD OF TIME WHERE FOLKS, THEY'RE FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION, THEY'RE NOT LEGALLY SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING BUT CAN WE BE GETTING THEM THE TRAINING THAT THEY NEED SO THAT WHEN IT'S TIME, THEY CAN ACTUALLY FILL THE OPEN POSITION AND WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OPEN POSITIONS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE, SO THIS IS REALLY A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR US.

>> SENATOR MAY, AT THIS POINT THE GOVERNOR HAS BALKED AT THE IDEA OF THE STATE CREATING ITS OWN WORK AUTHORIZATION PROCESS INSTEAD OF LEAVING IT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO OVERSEE THAT.

IS THERE A ROLE FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO POTENTIALLY DIRECT THE GOVERNOR TO COME UP WITH THEIR OWN WORK AUTHORIZATION PROCESS THROUGH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR?

I KNOW THERE ARE SOME BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE EARLY ON THE CALENDAR IN 2024?

>> I EXPECT IT WILL BE EARLY ON THE CALENDAR: I DON'T KNOW THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT.

>> THAT SHOULDN'T STOP THE LEGISLATURE?

IT HASN'T STOPPED THEM IN THE PAST.

>> OFTEN THERE IS FEDERAL LAW THAT, YOU KNOW, SUPERCEDES WHATEVER WE CAN DO AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT MURAD MIGHT KNOW BETTER THAN I DO HOW TO INTERVENE ON THAT.

>> DO YOU WANT TO GIVE SOME FREE LEGAL ADVICE ON TV?

>> WE HAVE ADVOCATED FOR MAKING SCHOLARSHIP MONEY TO SUNY AND CUNY AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT CITIZENS OR WHO ARE NOT DOCUMENTED NECESSARILY.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, I THINK, ARE APPROPRIATE BECAUSE THAT'S A WAY TO HELP PEOPLE GET THE TRAINING THEY NEED TO BE READY TO GO AS SOON AS THEY GET THE AUTHORIZATION TO WORK.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE LEGAL MANEUVERING AT THE STATE LEVEL?

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU ARE INTERESTED IN?

>> I THINK IT COMES FROM A LEGAL THEORY COMING OUT OF CALIFORNIA WHERE THIS THE STATE, THEIR SUNY, WHICH IS LIKE THEIR CAL STATE ENTITY, THEIR REGIONS CAME OUT WITH GUIDANCE OUT OF UCLA AND BERKELEY, WHERE IT SAID THAT IMMIGRATION LAW DOES NOT APPLY TO GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.

SO THEIR THEORY IS THAT ENTITIES LIKE WHAT WOULD BE OUR EQUIVALENT FOR SUN THERE, CAN EMPLOY PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED, AND THAT IS, THEY HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED IT.

NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.

SO ITS MORE SO OF THIS QUOTE UNQUOTE STATE OR GOVERNMENT BEING THE EMPLOYER AS OPPOSED TO BUSINESSES BECAUSE STATES WERE EXCLUDED FROM SOME OF THE IMMIGRATION LAWS THAT PROHIBITED BUSINESSES FROM HIRING UNAUTHORIZED INDIVIDUALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> SO WE COULD SEE A SITUATION POTENTIALLY, RIGHT, WHERE WE ARE PAYING PEOPLE TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND DOING APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS POTENTIALLY DEPENDING ON THE STRUCTURE.

I MEAN THAT'S POTENTIALLY AN OPTION, RIGHT, TO PAY PEOPLE WHILE THEY'RE GETTING THIS TRAINING; NOT JUST PAY FOR THE TRAINING BUT TO ACTUALLY PAY THEM TO GET THE TRAINING.

>> WELL, COUNTY EXECUTIVE, WE ARE JUST DAYS AWAY FROM THE GOVERNOR INTRODUCING HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS IN A FEW WEEKS, FROM GETTING HER BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR.

THERE IS ANYTHING THAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE PRIORITIZED FROM HER LEGISLATIVELY OR IN TERMS OF FISCAL ISSUES THAT YOU THINK COULD BE HELPFUL IN ADDRESSING THE MIGRANT ISSUE?

>> I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS, GOING BACK TO WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER ABOUT THE ISSUES OF NEW YORK CITY, YOU KNOW, COMPLYING WITH AND ASSUMING THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

THAT WAS NOT REALLY THE CASE.

THE THE CASE WAS-- AND WE HAD THAT EXPRESSED IN HOTELS, YOU KNOW, ON OUR END, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MOVEMENT OF MIGRANTS WAS BASED ON THEM, YOU KNOW, PAYING, YOU KNOW, ABOVE A MARKET RATE TO HOUSE THESE PEOPLE.

THAT'S NOT HOW THE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

AND THEN EVERY TIME YOU DO THAT, YOU TAKE ANOTHER ROOM AWAY FROM ME TO PLACE THOSE PEOPLE THAT I NEED IN MY COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S BEEN OUR ARGUMENT.

SO IT REALLY WASN'T A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WHITD CAME TO THAT WHEN YOU HAD HOTELS IN NEW YORK CITY SOLICITING HOTELS ON THE VAST MAJORITY OF ROOMS AT A DIFFERENT RATE OF PAY THAN WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO SO IF I WERE TO LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR'S IN TERMS OF THIS FISCAL PLAN OR HER BUDGET OR STATE OF THE STATE, IT WOULD BE TO REALLY, LET'S GET DOWN AND LET'S ADDRESS THIS FROM EVERY ASPECT OF IT FROM THE FINANCIAL TO THE SOCIAL AND DO IT THE RIGHT WAY AND BRING IN THE LOCAL LEADERS LIKE MYSELF AND OTHERS ACROSS THE STATE THAT CAN, THAT HAVE DONE THIS OVER TIME WITH EITHER THE REFUGEE CENTER, WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY BUT NOT JUST ARBITRARILY SENDING PEOPLE THAT CHANGES THE DYNAMICS.

THE VOUCHER SYSTEM, WHICH WAS PUT IN PLACE THAT NEW YORK CITY WAS MOVING OTHER PEOPLE UP AND ON A FIVE-YEAR, THEY'RE HOMELESS TO MAKE ROOM.

AGAIN, WAS DONE WITHOUT INPUT AND WITHOUT DISCUSSION.

WE REALLY NEED TO GET AROUND THE TABLE, LIKE WE ARE DOING TODAY, BUT REALLY WITH AND CERTAINLY YOU CAN'T GET 62 COUNTIES AROUND THE TABLE, BUT YOU CAN GET LEADERSHIP FROM THE VARIOUS POCKETS OF THE STATE AND THE REGIONS, LIKE THEY DO ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LIKE THEY DO ON EVERYTHING ELSE.

NOW IS THE TIME TO DO THAT ON SOCIAL SERVICES AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT ARE NECESSARY AND YOU CAN BE A LEADER IN THE COUNTRY IN SOLVING THIS.

THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO TAKE LEADERSHIP HERE SHE CAN'T ALLOW NEW YORK CITY OR ANY COUNTY FOR THAT MATTER TO ARBITRARILY SET DIFFERENT POLICIES THAT ARE NOT UNIFORM AND DO NOT FALL IN LINE WITH WHAT THIS GOVERNMENT AND EVERY GOVERNMENT HAS LOOKED AT OVER TIME.

SO I WOULD HOPE THAT MAYBE THAT'S A PART OF HER STATE OF THE STATE AND THEN CAN BE PART OF HER BUDGET.

>> I THINK THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

THIS IS A CRITICISM I HARE OFTEN FROM MY PARTNERS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

THERE IS NOT A CONVERSATION BEFORE A PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION OR REGULATIONS ENACTED.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY GET 62 COUNTIES BUT YOU CAN GET NYSAC SITTING AT THE TABLE.

>> NEW YORK STATE STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.

>> YOU CAN SIT DOWN WITH WHAT ARE THE NEEDS, THE ISSUES, THE BARRIERS, THE CHALLENGES YOU ARE FACING.

HOW CAN WE BE MORE HELPFUL.

THAT CONVERSATION WOULD GO A LONG WAY.

>> I THINK THE OTHER PIECE HERE THAT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT IS AFFORDABILITY CRISIS THAT OUR STATE HAS BEEN FACING FOR THE PAST FIVE, SEVEN YEARS AND THE HOUSING CRISIS: THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS.

WE HAVE ALL INDIRECTLY SPOKEN OF IT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE SOLUTIONS THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AND ABSOLUTELY TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S POINT OF HAVING THAT COMMUNICATION IS CRITICAL, RIGHT BUT I DO WANT TO JUST POINT OUT THAT THE THINGS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ARE HAPPENING WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE LAW SO IF FOLKS DO NOT LIKE WHAT IS THE LAW, I THINK THAT'S THE OTHER PIECE HERE CURRENT STATE LAW ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE TO BE SHELTERED.

WE HAVE IT IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

SO I THINK FOR US WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS, WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS GO TO THE ROOT ISSUES, RIGHT?

ONE OF THEM IS FEDERAL LEVEL WE'LL GET TO THAT SEPARATELY BUT AT THE STATE LEVEL, LET'S DEAL WITH SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

WE HAVE TO BUILD MORE HOUSING.

WE HAVE TO PROTECT TENANTS.

WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY SUPPORT PEOPLE IN STAY IN THEIR HOMES.

AND AIMENT AT THE SAME TIME MAKING SURE OUR NEWEST NEW YORKERS REGARDLESS IF THEY HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 50 DAYS OR 50 YEARS, HAVE THE SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED LIKE PASSING ACCESS TO REPRESENTATION IN THIS STATE SO WE ARE CODIFYING IMMIGRATION AND LEGAL SERVICES, THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY MOVING FORWARD COVERAGE FOR ALL SO THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SO THAT WE ARE NOT PLAYING OFF EACH OTHER IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC SAYING WE ARE ONLY AS HEALTHY AS OUR NEIGHBOR ONLY WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT.

WE ARE ACTUALLY PUTTING INTO PLACE POLICIES THAT MAKE SENSE AND ACTUALLY HELP THE STATE MOVE INTO THE FUTURE AS STRONG AS IT CAN BECAUSE I AGREE WITH JUSTIN, THIS IS LIKE AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STATE.

WE HAVE OVER 400,000 JOBS THAT ARE VACANT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK RIGHT NOW AND COMMUNITIES HAVE GENERATED JUST LAST YEAR OVER $160 BILLION IN SPENDING POWER IN THE STATE AND OVER $62 BILLION IN STATE TAXES.

YOU HAVE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHERE ARE WE MOVING AS A STATE AND HOW DO WE DO THIS IN A WAY THAT IS HELPING PAVE THE WAY TO THE FUTURE THAT'S GOING TO MAKE US ALL COME OUT STRONGER AT THE END.

>> MURAD JUST LAID OUT A LIST OF PROGRESSIVE HITS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT GET DONE IN ALBANY ONE THAT CAUGHT MY EAR IS THE COVERAGE FOR ALL WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THE STATE TO TAP INTO SOME UNUSED FEDERAL HEALTHCARE DOLLARS.

DO YOU THINK THAT COULD GO A LONG WAY IN ADDRESSING SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM COUNTY EXECUTIVE PICENTE PROVIDING MEDICAL SAFETY NET FOR THE NEW POPULATION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK WE HAVE TO BE EXPLORING ALL OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND PART OF THE PROBLEM, I THINK, THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT WAS JUST THE DEGREE OF PANIC AND REACTION THAT WAS THAT ALL OF THIS HAPPENED THE CONTEXT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO AND INSTEAD, TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT CAN WE PUT IN PLACE THAT RECOGNIZES THE HUMANITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING HERE AND THE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

I AGREE THAT THE STATE COULD HAVE DONE A MUCH BETTER JOB OF COMMUNICATION WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HOUSING PIECE OF THIS, THE CONTEXT THE GOVERNOR WAS TRYING VERY HARD TO COME UP WITH WAYS TO ENGAGE LOCAL COMMUNITIES HOUSING AND THEY WERE ADAMANT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT SO IF YOU ARE SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO BUILD MORE HOUSING AND WE CAN'T TAKE MIGRANTS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING, IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING AT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> AND WITH OUR OWN WE HAVE OUR OWN UNHOUSED POPULATION.

>> RIGHT.

SO THESE ARE NOT SEPARATE CONVERSATIONS AS MURAD WAS POINTING OUT.

THESE ARE VERY CROWSLY LINKED CONVERSATIONS AND I THINK WE NEED TO REVIVE THEM IN A SPIRIT OF WE HAVE THIS BIG PROBLEM, WE NEED MORE WORKERS.

WE NEED MORE HOUSING FOR WORKERS AND FAMILIES AND WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TRY TO THINK MORE GLOBALLY ABOUT HOW WE ADDRESS THOSE.

>> WHEN THIS ALL BEGAN BACK EARLY IN THE YEAR AND OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T BEGIN JUST THIS YEAR.

THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF IMMIGRATION THAT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN AWARE OF FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW BUT WHEN THIS BEGAN, THE GOVERNOR HERSELF STATED WE ARE IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY WE HAVE A STATE OF CRISIS HERE SO YOU KNOW, SHE SET THE STAGE IN THAT BUT DIDN'T TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER TO EXPLAIN WHAT AND THE OTHER ANSWER TO IT IS I'M NOT SENDING ANYBODY TO OTHER COUNTIES.

NEW YORK CITY IS.

WELL THAT'S NOT A GOOD ANSWER EITHER AND THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE POINT AND THE POINT THOUGH, THAT I MEAN TO GET CRITICIZED ON THE LOCAL LEVEL THAT WE CAN'T USE THE ARGUMENT THAT WE ARE PROTECTING OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THOUGH AND HOME RULE IS, YOU KNOW, IS A PIECE HERE NOT IN TERMS OF BLOCKING OUR BORDERS BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

THIS WAS ABOUT ENACTING, YOU KNOW, A POLICY THAT NO ONE HAD THE INPUT OR DISCUSSION, AND I'LL GO BACK TO IT AGAIN, HOW DO WE ADDRESS AN ISSUE WITH OUR OWN CAPACITY ISSUES?

EVERY PERSON YOU WOULD SEND IN THIS INSTANCE, NOT IN THE GLOBAL INSTANCE OF PEOPLE BECAUSE PEOPLE COME IN AND OUT OF OUR COUNTIES ALL THE TIME, PEOPLE MOVE FROM ONE COUNTY TO ANOTHER ALL THE TIME REFUGEES COME IN AND OUT ALL THE TIME.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT JUST MOVING ARBITRARILY MOVING PEOPLE, WITH YOU THE THE DISCUSSION, WITHOUT THE PROCESS IN PLACE, AND THAT, IN ITSELF, IS DIFFERENT AND THAT REALLY CAN'T BE LOOKED AT-- I MEAN WE ARE NOT COLD HEARTED PEOPLE HERE EVEN MYSELF AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, BUT DO I HAVE TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES I HAVE ON A DAILY BASIS THAT NEED SHELTER, THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS PEOPLE THE NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH PEOPLE.

THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER ISSUE THAT THE STATE HAS NEGLECTED IN TERMS OF DEALING WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS BY NOT HAVING MORE BEDS.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING.

WE NEED MORE BEDS.

WE NEED MORE INPATIENT SERVICES THAT THE STATE HAS CUT OUT.

SO THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THIS.

IT'S NOT JUST AROUND THE ONE ISSUE OF MIGRANTS, BUT IT IS CLEARLY A CAPACITY ISSUE THAT WE ARE ALL DEALING WITH AND IF WE CAN'T ALL DEAL WITH IT ON THAT INDIVIDUAL BASIS, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME CLEAR DEFINITION, WE LOOK TO THE GOVERNOR, WHOEVER THE GOVERNOR IS, AS THE LEADER TO HELP US RESOLVE THIS BUT BRING US TOGETHER TO DO IT.

DON'T DIVIDE US BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WAS DONE HERE I.

WAS A DIVISION.

>> COUNTY EXECUTIVE, YOU MENTIONED THIS IDEA OF NEEDING TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS.

CAN YOU ELABORATE WHAT YOU NEED TO PROTECT ONEIDA COUNTY RESIDENTS FROM?

>> PROTECTING WHAT I'M SAYING IS-- WHEN I SAY PROTECTING, I NEED TO HANDLE MY EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, MY HOMELESS SITUATIONS, MY SITUATIONS OF PEOPLE THAT NEED SHELTER IN THAT INSTANCE.

SO IF I USE THE WORD PROTECT, I'M NOT SAYING-- IT'S NOT CONSTRUED AS WORRYING ABOUT WHAT THESE, WHAT ANYBODY ELSE COMING HERE WOULD DO.

>> BECAUSE THAT IS A THING WE'VE HEARD FROM 134 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SOME UPSTATE LEADERS.

THEY'VE ARGUED, I DON'T KNOW WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

UNFOUNDED COMPLAINTS ABOUT POTENTIAL THREAT TO THE MIGRANTS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?

>> NO AND THAT HAS NEVER BEEN OUT OF MY MOUTH AS THE LEADER OF THIS COUNTY OR EVEN IN TERMS OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

IT HAS SIMPLY BEEN A POINT OF PROCESS, BUT ALSO OF CAPACITY.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THOUGH THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS CAPACITY ISSUE THAT IT CAN ONLY APPLY TO NEW YORK CITY AND ALL THE RESPECT FOR ALL OF MY ELECTED OFFICIALS ACROSS THE STATE, AND ESPECIALLY NEW YORK CITY, UNDERSTANDING THAT CAN'T EVEN FATHOM WHAT MAYOR ADAMS OR ANY MAYOR HAS TO DO WITH TERMS OF CAPACITY ISSUES THERE.

BUT TO LOOK AT A COUNTY OF MY SIZE AND SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M BEING, YOU KNOW, I'M BEING-- AND OTHER ELECTS NOT AT THE TABLE SAYING WE WERE BEING IMMORAL.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WERE DOING.

THAT'S FURTHEST FROM THE TRUTH.

THAT'S WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOES EVERY SINGLE DAY IS HELP PEOPLE EVERY IN SO MANY AREAS.

AND TO LOOK AT FROM IT THAT POINT OF VIEW AND NOT SAY THAT WHY CAN'T I-- I KNOW WHAT MY CAPACITY IS.

AND I KNOW WHAT I DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS AND ALL I'M SAYING IS YOU WANT US TO DEAL WITH THIS, WE HAVE TO HAVE A BETTER PLAN IN PLACE AND A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THIS GOES AND THAT'S WHY, IN ESSENCE, AN EXECUTIVE ORDER WAS PUT IN PLACE.

TO THE GOVERNOR'S OWN WORDS, WE ARE IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY HERE >> I WAS ALSO A COUNTY LEGISLATOR FOR A DECADE SO I REALLY DO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS SAYING AND WHAT OTHER COUNTY EXECUTIVES HAVE SAID AS WELL.

AND AGAIN WHAT I HEAR HIM SAYING IS REASONABLE, RIGHT?

LIKE LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE RESOURCES WE NEED.

I THINK THIS UPCOMING EXECUTIVE BUDGET IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GOVERNOR TO BE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AND MAKE SURE THE RESOURCES THAT THESE COUNTIES NEED, MAKE SURE THAT'S IN THE BUDGET BECAUSE WHAT I HEAR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAYING AND I'VE HEARD OTHERS REPEAT AS WELL IS THAT THIS IS BEING THROWN ON US.

WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES.

WE ALREADY HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES.

WE HAVE OTHER CHALLENGES WE ARE TRYING TO MEET WITH THOSE LIMITED RESOURCES.

I THINK IF-- AND I THINK YOU ASKED THE QUESTION EARLY ON, IS THE GOVERNOR DOING ENOUGH IN TERMS OF ALLOCATING RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE?

AND I WOULD SIMPLY SAY NO.

I THINK THE ANSWER HERE IS THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY GROW THE PIE.

AND PART OF THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IN NEW YORK IS THAT THE PIE SEEMS TO BE SHRINKING, RIGHT?

AND SO WE ARE SQUABBLING ABOUT THOSE LIMITED RESOURCES.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE WITH THE INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS TO REALLY GROW THE PIE.

WE KNOW IMMIGRANTS CREATES EIGHT JOBS.

WE KNOW IMMIGRANTS CREATE BUSINESSES.

THEY HELP THE ECONOMY.

THEY PURCHASE GOODS AND SERVICES FROM THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

WE HAVE, AGAIN, UNPRECEDENTED HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM THIS.

>> MURAD, I WANT TO COME BACK TO A LEGAL ISSUE AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ASYLUM SEEKERS.

BUT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THEIR STATUS AND TO MOVE THE BALL FORWARD TO REALLY SETTLE HERE IN AMERICA AND NEW YORK SPECIFICALLY, THEY NEED TO FILL OUT CERTAIN PAPERWORK AND IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE TO ACTUALLY DO THAT AND TO JUMP THROUGH ALL THESE BURDENSOME HOOPS.

AND IF THEY'RE NOT SUCCESSFUL, THEY CAN BECOME UNDOCUMENTED.

AND SO WHAT IS THE REALITY OF BECOMING AN UNDOCUMENTED CITIZEN IN NEW YORK AND DO WE, AS A SOCIETY, HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN ENSURING THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS AND BECOMING UNDOCUMENTED NEW YORKERS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, NEW YORK HAS BEEN HOME TO IMMIGRANTS, AS I SELD EARLIER, FOREVER.

AND THEY COME WITH A SLEW OF DIFFERENT STATUSES AND THERE IS SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND NEW YORKERS WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED.

AND OVER 50% OF THE CROP WORKERS ACROSS UPSTATE NEW YORK ARE UNDOCUMENTED NEW YORKERS.

AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THEY HAVE NO PATH TO A STATUS.

AND WE NEED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO FINALLY PASS COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION SYSTEMS SO WE HAVE A FAIR, HUMANE AND JUST SYSTEM.

>> DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH.

>> I AM GOING TO HOLD MY BREATH BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE HOPE THAT WE CAN GET THINGS DONE.

>> WE'VE GOT E.M.T.S STANDING BY FOR YOU.

>> EVEN WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S COMMENT ABOUT, WHAT I'M HEARING IS HE JUST WANTS TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS AND HELP SUGGEST SOME SOLUTIONS, RIGHT?

AND FOR ME, WHEN I HEAR HIM SAY THAT, I AGREE WITH HIM.

AND THE OTHER PIECE HERE IS SAYING WELL, IT CAN'T BE A PIECE MEAL SOLUTION EITHER.

WHAT HIS COUNTY IS IN NEED OF IS NOT UNIQUE TO THE REST OF THE STATE.

AND WE HAVE IMMIGRANTS IN HIS COUNTY AND WE HAVE IMMIGRANTS IN ABOUT 60 OTHER COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK WHO ALL COME FROM A VARY CAN BACKGROUNDS, RIGHT SOME OF THEM COME IN WITH REFUGEE STATUS.

SOME OF THEM COME IN WITH, YOU KNOW, TOURIST VISAS.

A LOT OF THE UNDOCUMENTED ARE OVERSTAYED TOURIST VISAS.

AND IT'S A VERY BROAD BENCH OF DIFFERENT STATUSES PEOPLE HAVE.

UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE DO FALL OUT OF STATUS AND THAT'S WHEN YOU NEED TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE A.

DON'T FALL OUT OF STATUS OR IF THEY HAVE AN ELIGIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR RELIEVE LEF, THAT THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO APPLY FOR IT AND SEE IT FROM A TO Z THROUGH SO THAT THEIR APPLICATION GOES THROUGH AND IS AS SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE.

, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED MORE LEGAL SERVICE FUNDING.

AND REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE MOVING THE PENDULUM FORWARD BECAUSE FOLKS ARE GOING TO WORK EITHER WAY.

IN THE FORMAL ECONOMY OR INFORMAL ECONOMY.

AND EITHER ECONOMY THAT THEY'RE WORKING IN, THEY'RE CAN'TING BUT THE WAY THAT YOU GET PEOPLE TO TO CONTRIBUTE MOST IS THROUGH THE FORMAL ECONOMY.

SO FOR US, IT'S REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING PEOPLE, EVERYONE WITH THE IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES THAT'S GOING TO HELP THEM ADJUST OR FIND, IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR RELIEF IN ANY FORM.

YOU KNOW, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I NEVER HOLD BACK MY CRITICISMS OF ANYONE.

AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE ROLE THAT I'M IN.

BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR FOR ACTUALLY DOING SOME REALLY BIG INVESTMENTS AND THEY SHOULD DEFINITELY GO FORWARD AND CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD IN BEING LIKE VERY FORWARD LOOKING IN THEIR SENSE, MAKING SURE THEY PUT A BILLION DOLLARS IN THE BUDGET TO SUPPORT OUR NEWLY ARRIVED.

THEY ALSO INCREASED IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES $63 MILLION.

SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, BUT ALSO NOT WHAT WE WERE ASKING FOR.

AND REALLY CREATED THIS PILOT PROGRAM TO HELP RELOCATE PEOPLE WITHIN THE STATE.

THAT THEY WILL SUPPORT THEM WITH HOUSING COSTS.

BUT WE HAVE TO GO FURTHER THAN THAT AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE RAMS THAT WE ARE PUSHING FORWARD ARE ACTUALLY MEETING THE MOMENT THAT THEY'RE BUILT FOR, SO WITH IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES, WE ARE GOING KEEP GOING AROUND THIS TABLE.

WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES AND WE NEED TO PASS THE ACCESS TO REPRESENTATION ACT.

AND FOR US FOR THIS COMING YEAR, WE HOPE THE GOVERNOR PUTS IN HER EXECUTIVE BUDGET $150 MILLION SO THAT WE ARE CLOSING THE GAP OF PEOPLE WHO NEED IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES AND GETTING AS MANY PEOPLE ON THE PATH TO SELF SUFFICIENCY ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHIN THEIR RIGHTFUL LEGAL STATUS.

>> NOT TO BE TOO MUCH OF A DOWNER THOUGH, SENATOR MAY, WE'VE GOT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHO IS A REPUBLICAN, YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT, BOTH TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR ACTION AT THE STATE LEVEL.

WHAT ARE THE REALITIES, THOUGH, IN ALBANY AND IS THAT LIKELY TO HAPPEN?

IS THERE A REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, CHECK INTO CONNECT NEW YORK BECAUSE WE HEAR SHE IS A BIG VIEWER AND BE LIKE WOW, I GUESS I SHOULD MOVE ON THIS ISSUE?

OR THERE IS REASON TO SUSPECT, BASED ON HER IDEOLOGY AND WHAT SHE HAS DONE IN THE PAST, THAT THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE ANY BIG SWING IN EITHER HER STATE OF THE STATE OR HER BUDGET PROPOSAL.

>> THAT'S PART OF THE ROLE OF THE LEGISLATURE TO PUSH, YOU KNOW, FOR THE CONVERSATION TO HAPPEN THAT WE ARE HEARING IS NOT HAPPENING.

I'M ALSO THRILLED TO HEAR JASON TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE MONEY.

WE'LL WORK WITH YOU ON REVENUE INCREASES, MAYBE YOU KNOW, A STOCK TRANSFER TAX OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO THAT WE HAVE MORE MONEY.

>> ANOTHER SHELL.

>> OR THESE KINDS OF PROGRAMS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO THAT, WE NEED MORE RESOURCES.

I GELS ONE THING I JUST WANT TO SAY, BY WAY OF CONTEXT, MY FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE, WE HAD A BILL CALLED GREEN LIGHT THAT WE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE IMMENSELY CONTROVERSIAL.

IT WAS ABOUT ALLOWING UNDOCUMENTED NEW YORKERS TO GET DRIVER'S LICENSES.

AND UP HERE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE CROP WORKERS TO GET TO THE GROCERY STORE OR THE DAYCARE OR THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, IT WAS REALLY AN IMPORTANT THING.

WE THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE MASSIVE OPPOSITION TO THAT, PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO THAT.

AND IN THE END, IT TURNED OUT TO BE COMPLETELY-- THERE WAS NOTHING.

>> THE GOVERNOR WAS YOUR BIGGEST PROBLEM.

>> YEAH, IT WAS POPULAR.

AND WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THAT IS THAT PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IMMIGRANTS ARE OF ALL, YOU KNOW, OF ALL STATUSES.

HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMIES TO OUR LOCAL CULTURE, TO OUR LOCAL REGION AND TO STAWR STATE.

SO I THINK THIS IS ONE IF WE CAN GET EVERYBODY TO THE TABLE, AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, WE REALLY CAN START MOBILIZING THE KIND OF PUBLIC ENERGY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT BRINGS THE GOVERNOR ALONG, TOO AND THE GOVERNOR RECOGNIZES THIS IS NOT AN UNPOPULAR POSITION THIS IS SOMETHING PEOPLE WANT TO SEE SOLVED.

>> JUSTIN, IN ORDER TO GREASE THE WHEELS SO TO SPEAK, DO YOU THINK THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SHOULD BE PLAYING A HIGHER PROFILE ROLE IN TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES CONSIDERING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY MIGHT BE ABLE TO SWAY THE MODERATE OR CONSERVATIVE LEANING POLITICIANS >> YOU ARE RIGHT.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE PART OF THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ACTUALLY DOES SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY I KNOW WE KNOW THERE ARE CHALLENGES, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY TAKE A LOOK AND SAY HEY, WAIT A MINUTE.

IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CONTEXT OF LOSING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND DECLINING POPULATION, WE HAVE FOLKS THAT TRADITIONALLY HAVE COME HERE AND ADDED REAL VALUE, ADDED ECONOMIC VIBRANCY TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO WE HAVE LIKE I SAID, AN UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY HERE AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR FRIENDS IN LABOR AND FAITH COMMUNITY, THAT WE SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE AND WE SAY THAT LOOK, THIS COULD BE A BOON TO UPSTATE NEW YORK.

>> WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT, COUNTY EXECUTIVE, BUT I'M CURIOUS, IF THERE ARE NOT ANY MAJOR CHANGES IN THE STATUS QUO AT THE STATE OR FEDERAL LEVEL, DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT YOU WILL BE RENEWING THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT IS IN PLACE FOR ONEIDA COUNTY FOR THE FORESEEABLE IF YOU THE?

>> I WILL.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, UNTIL WE CAN GET TO A BETTER, YOU KNOW, A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE AND LOOK, I THINK THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S INPUT IN THIS AND I KNOW MURAD SAID UTICA IS ONE OF HIS FAVORITE PLACES.

I HOPE HE VISITS WHEN HE IS HERE SO WE CAN HAVE A MORE IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION, BUT 46 LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN.

>> MY FAVORITE PLACE AFTER SYRACUSE.

>> 46 LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN IN UTICA AND IN ONEIDA COUNTY AND IN OUR SCHOOLS AND DIFFERENT PLACES.

I MEAN WE ARE A WELCOMING AND HAVE BEEN A WELCOMING COMMUNITY.

BUT WE ARE ALL FACING CHALLENGES AND EVERY TIME I HAVE A CENTER JUST UP THE STREET FROM THIS BUILDING.

LAST YEAR DURING THE WINTER, I OPENED UP THE COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING AND HOUSED PEOPLE OVERNIGHT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH SHELTER.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOMS.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PLACES FOR PEOPLE.

SO IT'S NOT ABOUT-- I MEAN NO OTHER GOVERNMENT DID THAT.

NO OTHER GOVERNMENT OPENED UP AN OFFICE BUILDING AND BROUGHT PEOPLE IN AND HAD STAFF HERE 24/7 TO DEEP PEOPLE WARM, TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT WHEN THEY COME AND I KNOW NEW YORK CITY IS SO MUCH BIGGER AND SO MUCH GRANDER AND BETWEEN THE MEDIA AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GETS PLAYED, A LOT OF STORIES GET TOLD.

BUT THEY SHOULD TELL THE STORIES WHAT HAVE WE ARE OR DEALING WITH, TOO, AND THAT'S WHY I LOOK AT THAT EMERGENCY ORDER IN THAT REGARD OF WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH AND WE ARE OR DEALING WITH THOSE REALITIES.

YOU KNOW, AND IF I HAVE TO OPEN IT UP AGAIN THIS YEAR, I WILL.

LUCKILY THE WEATHER HAS NOT BEEN AS HARSH BUT WHEN IT DOES GET HARSH THAT'S WHEN IT GETS WORSE, ESPECIALLY IN OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS AND DISPLACED.

UNTIL THE GOVERNOR SHOWS LEADERSHIP AND BRINGS THIS TO A BETTER SOLUTION, CONCLUSION OR EVEN JUST SOME KIND OF MOVEMENT, RATHER THAN KEEP TAKING MORE PEOPLE THAT WE CAN'T ADDRESS PROPERLY, AND THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM EVERYWHERE, BUT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH LOCALLY, THAT'S WHERE WE STAND.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 20 SECONDS.

I'M CURIOUS, IF THERE IS ANYTHING INDIVIDUALS CAN DO IF THEY WANT TO HELP WITH ASYLUM SEEKERS WHO ARE TRYING TO SET INTO THEIR COMMUNITY AROUND NEW YORK?

>> YEAH, THEY SHOULD VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.NYC.ORG.

WE HAVE REGIONAL OFFICES ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW YORK WHO ARE SUPPORTING PEOPLE ON THE GROUND EVERY DAY AND IF YOU FOLLOW OWS SOCIAL MEDIA, WILL YOU SEE THAT WE ARE COLLECTING DONATION DRIVES, HOLIDAY DRIVES AND PROMOTING THEM ON OUR FEEDS.

>> UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TODAY.

JOIN US NEXT TIME AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT MURAD'S THIRD AND FOURTH FAVORITE CITIES.

MY THANKS TO STATE SENATOR RACHEL MAY, ONEIDA COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANTHONY PICCENTE JR., THE NEW YORK IMMIGRATION COALITION'S MURAD AWAWDEH, AND UPSTATE UNITED'S JUSTIN WILCOX.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO REVISIT THIS EPISODE - OR DIG INTO THE CONNECT NEW YORK ARCHIVES - VISIT W-C-N-Y DOT ORG SLASH CONNECT NEW YORK.

AND FOR MORE STATE GOVERNMENT COVERAGE, CHECK OUT THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM AT CAPITOL PRESSROOM ORG OR WHEREVER YOU DOWNLOAD PODCASTS ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE TEAM AT WCNY - I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - THANKS FOR WATCHING.