[ Theme Music ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.

I'M ELISE KLINE.

THIS YEAR'S FISCAL YEAR 2026 STATE BUDGET INCLUDED $136 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR A DECARBONIZATION PROJECT FOR THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA.

THE PROJECT AIMS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS THROUGH INSTALLED ELECTRIC AND HEAT RECOVERY CHILLERS TO POWER THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA.

IT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH FOUR PHASES.

THE FIRST PHASE, WHICH WAS FULLY FUNDED THIS YEAR, WILL TAKE ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

WE SAT DOWN WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES, JEANETTE MOY, TO DISCUSS THE PROJECT'S EMISSION GOALS, THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS, AND THE STATE'S CLIMATE OBJECTIVES.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY, COMMISSIONER.

>> OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE, ELISE.

>> SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ADVOCACY FOR PUSHING FOR THIS PROJECT.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ADVOCATING FOR IT?

AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF LED UP TO THIS FINAL FUNDING PHASE, AND HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW THAT PHASE 1 HAS BEEN FUNDED?

>> I'M REALLY EXCITED.

SO I'VE BEEN COMMISSIONER NOW COMING UP ON FOUR YEARS, AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PROJECTS THAT WE TOOK ON.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL WAS VERY FOCUSED ON DECARBONIZATION, AND OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, THERE ARE TWO MAIN CONTRIBUTORS, RIGHT?

IT'S BUILDINGS, AND IT'S TRANSPORTATION.

AND SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR PROJECTS AND PORTFOLIOS AT LARGE.

SO THIS PROJECT, THIS WORK AROUND THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA, ORIGINATED AS AN ENERGY STUDY.

SO THE NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY AND THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES HAD BEEN FOCUSED ON HOW DO WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE REDUCTIONS IN ENERGY USAGE AT THE PLAZA?

AND WE SLOWLY, AS WE STARTED TO DIVE INTO THIS WORK WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED, WE STARTED FOCUSING MORE ON DECARBONIZATION, IS IT POSSIBLE?

AND ESPECIALLY AS DL 15, A DECARBONIZATION LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, HAD BEEN CREATED UNDERNEATH THE GOVERNOR, WE STARTED REALLY FOCUSING ON THAT OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

NOW THIS PROJECT, THIS FIRST PHASE, WHICH WILL HELP US TO GET TO 21% REDUCTIONS IN THE ALBANY REGION, IS NOW FULLY FUNDED.

AND SO HUGE EXCITEMENT WITHIN OUR AGENCY.

LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNOR HAD ANNOUNCED $100 MILLION USING ENVIRONMENTAL BONDS ACT ON FUNDING.

WE ALSO GOT $5 MILLION ALSO THAT WAS SET ASIDE THROUGH THE PUBLIC FACILITIES SUSTAINABILITY FUNDS AS WELL.

SO THIS LAST TRANCHE OF MONEY IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO FULLY DECARBONIZE ABOUT 21% HERE IN THE DOWNTOWN REGION.

SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> SO TELL ME WHY THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA, WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS PROJECT?

>> THIS IS 98 ACRES OF SPACE IN THE DOWNTOWN ALBANY REGION, RIGHT?

THIS IS ABOUT ALMOST 20 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF IMPROVED COMMERCIAL SPACE.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A COMPLICATED INFRASTRUCTURE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THERE'S BEEN ADVOCACY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE COMPLEX INFRASTRUCTURE IN DOWNTOWN ALBANY FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

WHETHER YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN SHERIDAN HOLLOW AND IN THE ARBOR HILL AREAS, FOLKS HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT PARTICULARLY THAT SHERIDAN AVENUE STEAM PLANT.

IT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 1900S.

IT STARTED OFF BURNING COAL.

IT BECAME A COGENERATION PLANT AS THE PLAZA WAS CREATED.

AND THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LOOK AT REDUCTIONS OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, AGAIN, RIGHT HERE IN DOWNTOWN ALBANY.

SO IT'S A WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S A WIN IN TERMS OF OUR AGENCY AND ENSURING THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS BEST STRUCTURED AND BEST SUPPORTED.

SO IT'S GREAT FOR EVERYONE, AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE GOVERNOR AND OUR ADMINISTRATION FOR MOVING THIS FORWARD.

>> AND WHAT IS THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

HOW MANY BUILDINGS WILL BE IMPACTED?

HOW LONG WILL THIS TAKE?

YOU KNOW, WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THIS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY ACHIEVING IT?

>> SO THERE ARE FOUR PHASES THAT ARE A PART OF THE FULL DECARBONIZATION, RIGHT?

SO OUR FIRST PHASE OF WORK, WHICH BRINGS US TO 21% REDUCTION, INCLUDES LOOKING AT ELECTRIC CHILLERS FOR THE SHERIDAN AVENUE AREA, RIGHT?

SO WE HAVE AN AIR CONDITIONING PLANT THAT EXISTS UNDERNEATH THE CONCOURSE, AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL CHILLERS.

THOSE ARE IN DESIGN RIGHT NOW.

WE'LL ALSO BE LOOKING AT HEAT RECOVERY CHILLERS.

SO THERE'S HEAT THAT'S GENERATED WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE'RE GOING TO REPURPOSE THAT HEAT, BRING IT RIGHT INTO THE PLAZA.

THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE THAT WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE AIR HANDLING UNITS, IT REQUIRES THAT WE START BREAKING INTO WALLS, AND THAT WILL ALLOW US TO REALLY AGAIN REDUCE OUR EMISSIONS BY 21%.

THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, RIGHT?

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT FIRST PHASE OF WORK.

AS WE LOOK TOWARDS THE SECOND PHASE, THAT IS LOOKING AT THE MOVEMENT OF THE BIGGS LABORATORY OUT TO THE HARRIMAN CAMPUS.

THAT RESULTS IN A 52% REDUCTION IN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, RIGHT?

AND SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THAT LABORATORY, IT'S BUILT RIGHT IN THE BASE OF CORNING TOWER.

IT'S REALLY INEFFICIENT.

SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IT WAS INTENDED FOR, THAT OFFICE SPACE, AS OPPOSED TO THE LABORATORY THAT WAS CREATED, IT REQUIRES NEGATIVE AIR PRESSURE, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT DRAIN.

SO AS IT GOES TO MODERN, MORE PURPOSE BUILT SPACE OUT AT HARRIMAN CAMPUS, IT ALLOWS US TO REDUCE THOSE EMISSIONS, IT'LL HAPPEN WITHIN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

AS WE LOOK TO THE THIRD PHASE OF WORK, 92% REDUCTION.

THAT REQUIRES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT EITHER SOME COMBINATION OF GEOTHERMAL, AND THAT'S A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY AND THE CITY OF ALBANY.

WE'RE LOOKING ALSO AT POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT REPURPOSING SOME OF THE EXCESS HEAT FROM WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS.

THAT'S A CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY.

AND SO RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY AND THOSE TWO MUNICIPAL ENTITIES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE RIGHT SINGLE SOURCE OR LIKE MORE LIKELY COMBINATION OF SOURCES IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE LOAD AND NEED OF THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA.

WE ANTICIPATE THAT FEEDBACK IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR.

SO YOU KNOW.

ALL THIS IS GOING TO BE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TAKING PLACE IN ALBANY AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING STARTED.

>> AND WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT OVERALL?

I KNOW YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT JUST PHASE 1 WILL ACHIEVE ABOUT 21% OF REDUCING THE CAPITAL REGION'S EMISSION REDUCTION.

>> SO IT'S THE GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTIONS FOR THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA.

AND SO THIS ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO, AS WE THINK ABOUT CLEAN ENERGY GRID, AS WE THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE, THIS IS ALL ABOUT REDUCING THE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS THAT ARE PRODUCED BY OUR INFRASTRUCTURE ITSELF.

NOW THROUGH THE DECARBONIZATION LEADERSHIP EFFORTS, THE DL 15 EFFORTS, THERE ARE 15 CAMPUSES IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK THAT HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST EMITTING CAMPUSES IN TERMS OF THEIR USAGE OF GREENHOUSE GASES AND WITH UNFORTUNATELY, OGS OVERSEES TWO OF THEM, RIGHT?

SO ONE OF THEM IS THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA, THE OTHER ONE BEING HARRIMAN.

WE ARE THE FIRST ONES OUT OF THE GATES TO HAVE A DECARBONIZATION PLAN.

WE'RE THE FIRST ONES OUT OF THE GATES TO REALLY PUSH SOME OF THESE EFFORTS.

WE ARE SHOWING THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO GREAT AND BIG THINGS, WHILE ALSO RESTORING A CAPITAL CITY FOR THE ALBANY REGION, WHICH INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THOSE ACTIVITIES.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN THE PLAZA.

IF YOU DRIVE THROUGH IT, I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN IT YOURSELF.

WHETHER IT IS THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AROUND THE EASTERN APPROACH AND RESTORING THOSE STAIRS OR IT'S THE ACTIVITIES HAPPENING ON THE ARTERIAL TO ENSURE THAT THEIR ROADWAYS ARE MAINTAINED AND SAFE AND AVAILABLE.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT OGS IS FOCUSED ON AND I THINK IS A REAL INVESTMENT, AGAIN, BACK TO OUR CAPITAL REGION.

>> AND HOW DOES THIS PROJECT FIT INTO THE STATE'S OVERALL CLIMATE REDUCTION OR EMISSION REDUCTION GOALS?

WILL THIS HELP US CATCH UP TO THE GOALS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY A LITTLE BIT BEHIND ON?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND SO I THINK NUMBER ONE, THIS IS REAL DEMONSTRABLE PROGRESS, RIGHT?

AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE A GREAT PLAN FOR THAT FIRST PHASE.

THIS IS WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, THERE ARE TWO MAJOR AREAS IT'S TRANSPORTATION, AND IT'S BUILDINGS.

AND BUILDINGS ARE COMPLICATED, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE SIZE AND SCALE THAT'S HERE IN THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA.

THIS ALSO PARTNERS WITH THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AROUND CONVERTING THE STATE'S VEHICLES, RIGHT?

SO THE OTHER PART OF OGS IS ALSO LOOKING AT THE CONVERSION OF THE STATE FLEET TO LIGHT DUTY VEHICLES BY 2035, ALL MEDIUM AND HEAVY BY 2040.

AND SO AGAIN, WE LOOKED INTO THE DATA, WE CREATED A PLAN THAT MADE SENSE.

WE'VE PUBLICLY PROVIDED INFORMATION ABOUT THAT TRANSITION, AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO ADVANCE THAT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE STATE.

>> CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT STEPS LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF GETTING PHASE 2 FUNDED?

I KNOW THAT PHASE 1 IS GOING TO BE ABOUT, YOU SAID ABOUT FIVE YEARS, BUT SOMETIMES IT TAKES MULTIPLE YEARS TO GET SOMETHING IN A FINAL STATE BUDGET.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND SO THE SECOND PHASE DOES REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF WADSWORTH LABORATORIES OUT IN HARRIMAN.

SO WE'LL BE PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE.

WE'LL START PLANNING FOR THE RETROFIT OF THE SPACE AS IT STARTS TO EXIT.

THAT THIRD PHASE OF WORK, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE LION'S SHARE OF ACTIVITIES, DOES REQUIRE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, AGAIN, GEOTHERMAL OPPORTUNITIES.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SITE.

AND SO ONCE WE START TO DIG INTO THOSE ACTIVITIES, WE'LL KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE AROUND WHAT THOSE COSTS MIGHT LOOK LIKE, WHAT THAT SCHEDULE MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

SO NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE A VERY BIG ONE FOR US.

WE ARE, OF COURSE, HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DIVISION OF BUDGET, WITH THE EXECUTIVE CHANGER, WITH OUR GREAT COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> AND DO YOU THINK THE CUTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WILL HAVE ANY SORT OF IMPACT ON YOUR ABILITY TO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE SECONDARY PHASES?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND SO, LOOK, THESE ARE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS WORK IS TAKING PLACE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THIS FIRST SET OF WORK, THERE'S A LOT THAT HAS TO HAPPEN RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE FULLY FUNDED, ALLOWS US TO ALSO CONTINUE WITH THE DESIGN WORK AS WE THINK THROUGH THE NEXT SETS OF ACTIVITIES.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS A COMMITMENT THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS.

THESE ARE ALSO CAPITAL DOLLARS.

THESE ARE LONG TERM INVESTMENT DOLLARS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN THE REGION THAT DOES NEED TO TRANSFORM.

THERE'S A LOT OF NEW RESIDENTS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE REGION, I'M ONE OF THEM, YOU KNOW, MOVED INTO THE AREA WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH MY FAMILY.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT JUST ENSURING THAT THE SPACE IS APPROPRIATE AND ADEQUATE OF A PUBLIC SPACE FOR ALL THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE, BUT ALSO THAT AS NEW INDUSTRY BUILDS UP, THAT WE'RE RETAINING THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE FAMILIES.

SO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT LONG TERM INVESTMENT.

THE FEDERAL FUNDING IS OBVIOUSLY VERY COMPLICATED.

AND I THINK THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE ALL HAVE TO HAVE AROUND THE FUTURE OF THIS FUNDING.

YOU KNOW, CLIMATE CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL.

THESE CHALLENGES THAT WE NEED TO ADAPT TO ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

AND FOCUSING ON THIS ELEMENT, DECARBONIZATION, WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDINGS AND TRANSPORTATION, AND PARTICULARLY THESE LARGE COMPLEXES, WE CAN'T STEP BACK FROM IT.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN VERY MUCH COMMITTED TO THIS WORK AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD UNDERNEATH THIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> AND ANOTHER LOOMING CHANGE HERE IS EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP.

THERE IS A GUBERNATORIAL RACE COMING UP, AND SO IF THERE IS POTENTIALLY A CHANGE IN THE GOVERNOR AND WHO'S LEADING THE STATE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THIS PROJECT AND HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ON YOUR SIDE HERE?

I THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT LEADING BY EXAMPLE, AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE APPRECIATED ABOUT THIS WORK AND YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW IS THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT SELF EVIDENCE WORK, RIGHT?

WE ARE CREATING AN INFRASTRUCTURE AND A SET OF PROJECTS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL, THEY RELATE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES, AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT LIVABILITY, THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT REALLY NEED TO HAPPEN, THEY'RE IMPORTANT FOR THE ALBANY COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

AND YOU KNOW, UNDER INVESTMENT IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE JUST RESULTS IN DETERIORATION, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE'VE BEEN VERY BLESSED FROM MY PERSPECTIVE TO HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO'S BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF US ADDRESSING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, ENSURING THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON THESE AREAS.

I WOULD EXPECT THAT THIS CONTINUES ON, AND I THINK GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS BEEN A REALLY GREAT PARTNER FOR OUR AGENCY, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT CONTINUING FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH US TODAY, COMMISSIONER.

>> OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO MAYBE GIVING YOU A TOUR SOMETIME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> WE WERE SPEAKING WITH NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES COMMISSIONER JEANETTE MOY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> DURING THE MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, STATE LAWMAKERS PUSHED FOR A BILL CALLED "THE BEAUTY JUSTICE ACT" THAT INTENDS TO BAN CERTAIN TOXIC CHEMICALS IN COSMETIC PRODUCTS.

IF ENACTED, THE LEGISLATION WOULD PROHIBIT MANUFACTURERS FROM THE DISTRIBUTION OR SALE OF ANY COSMETIC PRODUCTS CONTAINING RESTRICTED SUBSTANCES, DEFINED BY THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, AS AN INTENTIONALLY ADDED INGREDIENT.

THE TYPES OF TOXIC CHEMICALS RESTRICTED WOULD BE ASBESTOS, FORMALDEHYDE, BENZENE, PARABENS, AND MORE.

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE DIVE INTO THE BILL'S HISTORY IN THE CAPITOL, THE REGULATIONS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND THE IMPACT OF TOXIC CHEMICALS ON CONSUMERS.

HERE'S THAT STORY.

>> CURRENTLY IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE ARE NO LAWS REQUIRING THE FEDERAL DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO APPROVE COSMETIC PRODUCTS AND INGREDIENTS BEFORE THEY GO ON THE MARKET.

ONLY ABOUT A DOZEN STATES IN THE NATION HAVE BANS ON HARMFUL CHEMICALS IN COSMETIC PRODUCTS.

SOME NEW YORK STATE LAWMAKERS FEEL IT'S TIME FOR NEW YORK TO TAKE ACTION THROUGH LEGISLATION.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER DEBORAH GLICK, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF MANHATTAN, AN ELITE SPONSOR OF THE BEAUTY JUSTICE ACT, STRESSES THAT LIMITING THE USE OF HARMFUL CHEMICALS HAS SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY CHEMICALS IN OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND WE THINK OF THAT AS BEING OUT THERE AND NOT RIGHT IN HERE IN OUR HOMES, AND YET MANY OF THESE FOREVER CHEMICALS ARE IN PRODUCTS THAT WE USE EVERY DAY FOR PERSONAL CARE, COSMETICS, ET CETERA.

>> THE BEAUTY JUSTICE ACT WOULD BAN AND RESTRICT THE SALE OF PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS CONTAINING CHEMICALS, SUCH AS HEAVY METALS LIKE LEAD, PARABENS, PFOS OR FOREVER CHEMICALS, FORMALDEHYDE, BENZENE, ASBESTOS AND MORE.

SOME ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES SAY THIS LEGISLATION WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN GETTING THESE CHEMICALS OUT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND BETTER SAFEGUARDING PUBLIC HEALTH.

ROB HAYES, THE CLEAN WATER DIRECTOR WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES NEW YORK, HIGHLIGHTS THAT MANY OTHER STATES AND COUNTRIES ALREADY BAN THESE KINDS OF CHEMICALS FOR GOOD REASON.

>> EVERY TOXIC CHEMICAL BANNED THROUGH THE BEAUTY JUSTICE ACT HAS ALREADY BEEN BANNED IN ANOTHER POLITICAL JURISDICTION.

THE EUROPEAN UNION, CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON, THEY ARE WAY AHEAD OF US WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING PEOPLE FROM REALLY DANGEROUS EXPOSURE.

>> ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS STUDIES FROM THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE, HARMFUL CARCINOGENIC CHEMICALS LIKE ASBESTOS AND BENZENE ARE SHOWN TO INCREASE THE RISK OF CANCERS, RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS, NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS, AND ENDOCRINE DISRUPTIONS.

STEVE XU, MEDICAL PROFESSOR AT NORTHWESTERN AND A DERMATOLOGIST, SAYS SOME COSMETIC PRODUCTS CAN ALSO CAUSE SERIOUS HARMS TO CONSUMERS' SKIN.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF SKIN LIGHTENING CREAMS WITH VERY, VERY POWERFUL CORTICOSTEROIDS THAT ARE NOT SORT OF TRAPPED IN THERE.

THAT CAN LEAD TO SKIN ATROPHY, SKIN BLEACHING, AND THAT'S A KIND OF SERIOUS THING.

>> AND PRODUCT CONSUMERS AREN'T THE ONLY INDIVIDUALS WHO COULD BE HURT BY TOXIC CHEMICALS IN PRODUCTS.

HAIR STYLISTS WHO HAVE EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO PRODUCTS CAN ALSO BE IN HARM'S WAY.

KELLY BRUNINA, OWNER OF BOMBSHELL HAIR SALON IN DOWNTOWN ALBANY SAYS SHE ONLY USES CLEAN PRODUCTS IN HER STUDIO BECAUSE OF EXTENDED EXPOSURE CONCERNS.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT EVERYBODY'S COMFORTABLE, THAT WE'RE USING PRODUCTS THAT'S SUPER, SUPER CLEAN.

>> BERNINA GETS A VARIETY OF CLEAN BRANDS, INCLUDING SOME FROM EUROPE, WHICH IS MUCH MORE HEAVILY REGULATED IN COSMETIC SAFETY.

BOBBI WILDING, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CLEAN AND HEALTHY, SAYS THE DATA AROUND EXPOSURE EFFECTS IS UNFORTUNATELY UNSURPRISING.

>> COMPANIES DON'T GET THE SPOTLIGHT SHOWN ON THEM.

AND HAIR COMPANIES, I THINK, HAVE AVOIDED THE SPOTLIGHT FOR A LONG TIME.

THEY DO WHATEVER THEY WANT.

THEY DO WHATEVER IS STILL LEGAL.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO PASS LAWS LIKE THIS, BECAUSE IT'S SHAMEFUL THAT THIS IS REQUIRED TO CHANGE THE MARKETPLACE, BUT IT'S REALLY THE ONLY THING THAT EVER REALLY HAS.

>> WILDING STRESSES THAT MOST CONSUMERS ARE COMPLETELY UNAWARE THESE KINDS OF INGREDIENTS ARE IN THEIR EVERYDAY COSMETIC PRODUCTS AND THAT THEY CAN BE HARMFUL TO THEIR HEALTH.

>> I MEAN, FRANKLY, IT'S SICKENING TO ME, RIGHT?

LIKE IT MAKES ME FEEL STICK TO MY STOMACH TO THINK ABOUT THESE PRODUCTS THAT PEOPLE THINK OF AS BENIGN AND, IN FACT, BENEFICIAL TO THEM THAT THEY'RE USING EVERY DAY.

>> DAWN DOTSON, A REGULAR CONSUMER OF BEAUTY PRODUCTS, SAYS IT'S UNSURPRISING MOST CONSUMERS ARE UNAWARE OF THE CHEMICALS IN THEIR EVERYDAY BEAUTY PRODUCTS.

>> IT'S NOT SURPRISING BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ON IT OR THE FUNDS TO OFTEN BE EDUCATED ABOUT IT OR THE AVAILABILITY.

SO I DO THINK IT SHOULD BE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.

>> SHE SAYS FOR HER, SHE THINKS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF PRODUCTS A LOT AND SHOPPING OFTEN CAUSES HER ANXIETY.

XU ALSO SAYS, WHILE THE DATA OUT THERE DEMONSTRATES LINKS TO SERIOUS HEALTH CONCERNS, THERE IS MORE DATA NEEDED TO GET A FULL PICTURE OF THE HARMS FROM CHEMICALS IN COSMETICS.

>> IT'S HARD BECAUSE THERE'S NO SMOKING GUN IN COSMETICS, RIGHT?

IMAGINE THESE PRODUCTS ARE BEING USED BY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, BILLIONS OF TIMES A YEAR, SMALL, RARE THINGS THAT CAN BE CAUSED BY OTHERS, AND IT JUST BECOMES A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFICULT KIND OF MESS.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE LIKE INVESTING IN REGULATORY SCIENCE, GREAT DATABASES, RIGHT, YOU KNOW, FORCING MANUFACTURERS TO REPORT ADVERSE EVENTS, ASKING FOR HIGHER LEVELS OF QUALITY OF MANUFACTURING, IMPROVING THE WAY WE DO INSPECTIONS.

>> ACCORDING TO A STUDY XU CO AUTHORED ON THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE, REPORTING ADVERSE EVENTS FROM COSMETICS HAS INCREASED SINCE 2004.

HOWEVER, INVESTIGATIONS ARE SLOW, AND THE LEVEL OF REPORTING IS LACKING.

ADVOCATES FOR THE BILL ADD THAT ANOTHER ISSUE WITH SOME OF THESE CHEMICALS IN BEAUTY PRODUCTS IS THE DISPROPORTIONATE EFFECTS FOR WOMEN AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER MICHAELLE SOLAGES, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF NASSAU COUNTY AND THE CHAIR OF THE BLACK, PUERTO RICAN, HISPANIC AND ASIAN LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS, SAYS THIS BILL COULD MAKE AN IMPORTANT STEP TO ADDRESS THIS INJUSTICE.

>> WE BELIEVE THAT LEGISLATION IS GOING TO CREATE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR LIKE OURS WHO ARE GETTING THE BRUNT END OF THESE CHEMICALS PUT INTO OUR BODIES.

>> IN A RECENT STUDY, CONSUMER REPORTS SCIENTISTS TESTED 10 POPULAR SYNTHETIC HAIR BRAIDING PRODUCTS AND THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT 100 PERCENT OF THE PRODUCTS HAD CANCER CAUSING CARCINOGENS.

THE RESULTS ALSO SHOWED DETECTED LEAD IN 9 OUT OF THE 10 TESTED PRODUCTS.

SOLAGES SAYS HAIR BRAIDING IS A PROTECTED STYLE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF BLACK CULTURE.

SHE SAYS IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT COSMETIC COMPANIES IN MANUFACTURERS ARE USING THESE TOXIC CHEMICALS.

>> THESE COMPANIES ARE PURPOSELY POISONING US FOR THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR, AND IT'S DISHEARTENING TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT TAKING STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THESE CHEMICALS ARE NOT PUT INTO OUR BEAUTY PRODUCTS.

AND SO IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO DO IT, THEN WE AS A LEGISLATURE HAVE TO CENTER THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> ALEXANDRA GROSE, SENIOR POLICY COUNSEL FOR CONSUMER REPORTS, STRESSES THE EFFECTS FROM THESE PRODUCTS ON WOMEN AND YOUNG GIRLS ARE SIGNIFICANT.

>> BRAIDING HAIR IS APPLIED FOR ONE OR MORE MONTHS AT A TIME.

SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROLONGED EXPOSURE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.

MANY GIRLS, YOU KNOW, 9, 10, WEAR THESE FOR YEARS IN THEIR HAIR.

IT TENDS TO ATTACH TO YOUR SCALP.

SO THE EFFECTS OF THESE CHEMICALS ARE SERIOUS.

>> STATE SENATOR LEA WEBB, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING BINGHAMTON AND A LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL, SAYS IT'S THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT NEW YORKERS FROM EXPOSURES TO PUBLIC HEALTH HARMS.

>> WE HAVE TO PUT MORE GUARDRAILS IN TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT BEING EXPOSED TO THESE WELL DOCUMENTED TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT ARE CREATING LONG TERM EFFECTS.

>> THE LEGISLATION HAS GONE THROUGH A NUMBER OF VERSIONS SINCE ITS FIRST INTRODUCTION IN 2019.

HOWEVER, IT HAS FAILED TO PASS BOTH CHAMBERS.

DURING THE MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AT THE STATE CAPITOL, THE BILL PASSED THE SENATE BUT DIED IN THE ASSEMBLY.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER GLICK SAYS ENVIRONMENTAL BILLS ALWAYS FACE SOME RESISTANCE IN THE LEGISLATURE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE STATE BUDGET GOES INTO OVER TIME.

THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET WAS MORE THAN A MONTH LATE.

WHILE THE BILL HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, SOME LAWMAKERS OPPOSE THE BILL BECAUSE OF CONCERNS ABOUT COSTS FOR CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES.

STATE SENATOR GEORGE BORRELLO, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE FINGER LAKES, VOTED NO ON THE BILL.

THE SENATOR SAYS IT GOES AGAINST FEDERAL ACTIONS.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO JUST DRIVE PEOPLE OVER THE BORDER TO BUY WHAT THEY WANT.

AND AGAIN, THESE ARE CONSUMER ITEMS THAT ARE WIDELY USED INTERNATIONALLY AND NATIONALLY AND HAVE BEEN TESTED TIME AND TIME AGAIN, PARTICULARLY BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO THE FACT THAT NEW YORK STATE IS GOING TO CREATE SOME NEW DRACONIAN STANDARD, IT'S GOING TO JUST INCREASE COSTS, REDUCE CHOICE, AND ULTIMATELY INCREASE COST TO TAXPAYERS TO ENFORCE THESE THINGS.

>> WHILE THERE ARE SOME REGULATIONS AROUND INTERSTATE COMMERCE, THE FDA IS CURRENTLY NOT REQUIRED BY LAW TO APPROVE COSMETIC PRODUCTS OR INGREDIENTS WITHIN THOSE PRODUCTS OTHER THAN COLOR ADDITIVES BEFORE THEY ENTER THE MARKETPLACE.

XU SAYS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME STEPS SUCH AS THE PASSING OF A FEDERAL LAW IN 2023 REQUIRING COSMETIC MANUFACTURERS TO DISCLOSE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THEIR PRODUCTS.

HOWEVER, XU SAYS COSMETICS HAVE BEEN AND LARGELY CONTINUE TO BE SELF REGULATED.

>> THE NATURE OF IT IS THAT WE HAVE DONE A LITTLE BETTER.

IT'S STILL REALLY LARGELY A SELF REGULATED INDUSTRY, AND WE ARE LESS RIGOROUS IN EUROPE.

>> SOME STATE LAWMAKERS, LIKE SENATOR ROXANNE PERSAUD, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF BROOKLYN, SAYS SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOME LAWMAKERS VOTED NO, SAYING AT THE END OF THE DAY, HEALTH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN INDUSTRY INTERESTS.

>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S AFFECTING, ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE HEALTH OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

I THINK YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT IT.

IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ABOUT, OH, MY GOD, WE'RE HURTING THE INDUSTRY.

NO, WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THE HEALTH OUTCOMES OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT TO ME.

>> DOTSON SAYS FOR HER PAYING A LITTLE MORE FOR A PRODUCT IS WORTH IT IF IT'S SAFER.

>> I GUESS IT IS EXPENSIVE, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WE ONLY HAVE ONE BODY.

SO WE REPLACE OUR CARS, WE REPLACE OUR SHOES, BUT WE DON'T GET TO REPLACE OUR BODY.

SO THE MORE WE TAKE CARE OF IT, THE BETTER.

>> BRUNINA SAYS THE COST OF CLEAN HAIR PRODUCTS IS NOT SIGNIFICANTLY MORE, AND IT ALSO GIVES THE CONSUMER MORE USE.

>> THEY WILL LAST YOU MUCH LONGER BECAUSE THERE'S LESS FILLER, THERE'S LESS PLASTICS, LESS SILICONES.

SO YOU'RE USING LESS PRODUCT, WHICH ACTUALLY EXTENDS THE LIFE OF THE PRODUCT THAT YOU'RE USING.

>> BRUNINA ADDS CLEANER HAIR PRODUCTS PRODUCE BETTER RESULTS AND HEALTHIER HAIR AND SKIN.

>> YOU ALSO WON'T FEEL THAT YOU NEED TO WASH YOUR HAIR WITH A CLARIFYING SHAMPOO OR IT STARTS TO FEEL LIKE BUILD UP, AND THEN YOU WASH YOUR HAIR WITH ANYTHING AND IT FEELS BETTER AFTER THAT.

THERE'S NEVER THAT BUILD UP THAT HAPPENS, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WASH IT AWAY TO GET RID OF THE PLASTIC SILICONE.

THAT'S WHAT GIVES YOU THAT SILKY FEELING, AND THEN EVENTUALLY YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR HAIR IS NEVER CLEAN, AND THAT IS BUILD UP.

>> THE BILL ALSO HAS OPPOSITION FROM GROUPS LIKE THE PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS COUNCIL AND THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF NEW YORK STATE.

KEN POKALSKY, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF NEW YORK STATE, SAYS THEY FEEL THE BILL COULD BE MORE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER STATES' LEGISLATION THAT ARE REGULATING THESE CHEMICALS ALREADY, LIKE CALIFORNIA.

>> WE'VE OPPOSED THE BILL AS DRAFTED, BUT INDUSTRY HAS MADE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS HOW WE THINK THE BILL COULD BE MADE MORE CLEAR, MORE EFFECTIVE, MORE WORKABLE, MORE CERTAIN FOR THE REGULATED COMMUNITY.

>> POKALSKY SAYS THE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND MAKE THE MANDATES MORE MANAGEABLE BY TAKING OUT BANS ON TRACE ELEMENTS.

SENATOR WEBB ARGUES THE LEGISLATION IS MODELED ON OTHER STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON, AND ALSO THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THAT THE BILL BALANCES BUSINESSES' CONCERNS IN ADDITION TO PRIORITIZING PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ACTUAL INDUSTRY LEADERS IN THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY ON THIS BILL HAVING CONVERSATIONS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, OKAY, FROM THE SCIENCE STANDPOINT, I'LL BE VERY CLEAR, WHAT ARE THE LEVELS, WHAT ARE THOSE CHEMICAL REACTIONS THAT LEAD TO BYPRODUCTS THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL, HOW DO WE, YOU KNOW, PUT IN GUARDRAILS FOR THAT?

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE PART OF THIS LEGISLATION.

>> THE BILL ALSO INCLUDES A PROVISION TO ALLOW BUSINESSES A TIMELINE TO ADJUST MANUFACTURING.

THE LEGISLATION STATES THAT BY JANUARY 1ST OF 2028, THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION WOULD MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE INDUSTRY A LIST OF SAFER ALTERNATIVES TO RESTRICTED SUBSTANCES FOR PRODUCT FORMULATION.

COMPANIES WOULD THEN HAVE A YEAR TO ADJUST THEIR MANUFACTURING BEFORE JANUARY 1ST, 2029, WHEN THE BAN WOULD GO INTO EFFECT.

HELEN NWOSU, VICE PRESIDENT OF SOCIAL IMPACT AT PROS, SAYS AS A CLEAN BEAUTY BRAND, THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE INDUSTRY IMPROVE THEIR STANDARDS.

SHE SAYS RETROFITTING PRODUCTS TO SAFER MATERIALS MAY BE CHALLENGING, BUT WORTH IT.

>> FOR ME, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE COST.

IT'S ABOUT THE IMPACT, AND THE IMPACT ON THE PLANET AND THE PEOPLE, RIGHT?

AND I THINK COMPANIES SHOULD THINK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, BY CHANGING THESE INGREDIENTS, WE'RE GOING TO SEE DOWN THE LINE SOME CHANGES IN HUMAN HEALTH.

>> THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTS IN JANUARY.

THE BILL SPONSORS WEBB AND GLICK SAY DURING THIS OFF SESSION TIME, THEY'RE FOCUSED ON EDUCATING THEIR COLLEAGUES AND CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BILL.

AT THIS POINT IT'S UNCLEAR IF THE BILL WILL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL NEXT YEAR, HOWEVER LAWMAKERS SEEM DETERMINED TO KEEP FIGHTING.

AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATE'S ACTIONS IN THE MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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