[ THEME MUSIC ] ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," WE EXAMINE GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL'S 2025 EXECUTIVE BUDGET AND UNPACK THE GOVERNOR'S APPROACH TO HOUSING AND THE ONGOING MIGRANT CRISIS.

THEN WE DISCUSS WHAT GOES INTO RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS.

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

AND THIS IS "NEW YORK NOW."

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

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

THIS WEEK WOULD HAVE MARKED THE 51ST ANNIVERSARY OF ROE VERSUS WADE, WHICH ESTABLISHED FEDERAL PROTECTIONS FOR ABORTIONS.

AFTER THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED THE LANDMARK DECISION IN 2022, NEW YORK CODIFIED ABORTION RIGHTS AND DEMOCRATS HAVE CONTINUED TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUE IN THE YEARS SINCE, AND THIS YEAR IS NO DIFFERENT.

WE'RE HERE TODAY TO STAND RESOLUTE IN PROTECTING THE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.

IT'S OUR DUTY TO ENSURE THAT NEW YORK REMAINS A SAFE HAVEN FOR INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES ABOUT THEIR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.

AS TRIGGER BANS AND SWEEPING RESTRICTIONS ARE PASSED ACROSS THE NATION IN THE WAKE OF THE DECISION, WE KNEW THAT STATE LEGISLATURES WOULD BE ON THE FRONTLINE OF DEFENSE IN THIS FIGHT.

THIS WEEK, THE DEMOCRATIC-LED SENATE MAJORITY PASSED A SLEW OF BILLS MEANT TO SUPPORT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, INCLUDING MEASURES THAT WOULD ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM TO INCREASE ACCESS TO ABORTION CARE, EXPAND ACCESS TO DOULA CARE AND OTHER MEASURES.

THE BILLS ARE EXPECTED TO BE PASSED IN THE ASSEMBLY SOON.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL ALSO GAVE REMARKS AT THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD DAY OF ACTION, WHERE SHE UNDERSCORED THE STATE'S COMMITMENT TO ABORTION ACCESS IN THE YEARS TO COME.

AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE GOVERNOR GAVE HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS EARLIER THIS MONTH.

SHE THEN FOLLOWED UP ON THE DETAILS OF HOW TO IMPLEMENT THOSE PROPOSALS IN HER EXECUTIVE BUDGET.

NATURALLY, THE BUDGET FOCUSED ON THE POLICY ISSUES OF THE ADDRESS, INCLUDING CRIME, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND AFFORDABILITY.

IT ALSO OFFERED INSIGHT INTO HOW THE GOVERNOR PLANS TO ADDRESS TWO OF THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES THE STATE IS BATTLING.

THOSE ISSUES ARE THE STATE'S HOUSING CRISIS AND THE INFLUX OF MIGRANTS TO NEW YORK CITY.

OUR TEAM WAS ON THE GROUND AT THE STATE CAPITOL TO CAPTURE IT ALL.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AFTER DELIVERING HER VISION FOR THE YEAR IN THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS EARLIER THIS MONTH, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL FOLLOWED UP WITH THE FRAMEWORK IN HER FISCAL YEAR '25 EXECUTIVE BUDGET UNVEILING.

AND TODAY, NEW YORK WILL LEARN ABOUT HOW WE'RE PRESENTING A SOLID, BALANCED BUDGET WITHOUT CUTS OR ADDED BURDENS.

THE $233 BILLION BUDGET WOULD BE THE LARGEST BUDGET IN THE STATE'S HISTORY AND ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR, IT WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT RAISING INCOME TAXES.

NOW THERE IS GROWTH.

STATE SPENDING IS UP NEARLY $6 BILLION OVER LAST YEAR.

THAT'S A 4.5% INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR AND ACROSS OUR MAJOR SPENDING CATEGORIES.

THIS BUDGET PROVES THAT YOU CAN HAVE FISCAL DISCIPLINE AND THAT CAN COEXIST WITH PEOPLE-DRIVEN PROGRESSIVE POLICIES.

WE DID IT WITH A LASER FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF EVERYDAY NEW YORKERS.

NOW IN THE COMING YEAR WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE LEGISLATURE, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ON SOME OF THE STUBBORN ISSUES.

ALL WHILE ADVOCATES AND PROGRESSIVE LAWMAKERS HAVE CALL ON HOCHUL TO INCREASE TAXES ON WEALTHY NEW YORKERS.

THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL EMPHASIZED CRIME, PUBLIC HEALTH, AFFORDABILITY, HEALTH CARE AND HELPING THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

THE TRUTH IS, WE CAN'T SPEND LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW BECAUSE TOMORROW ALWAYS COMES.

AFTER GLOSSING OVER THE TOPIC IN HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, ALL EYES WERE ON THE GOVERNOR TO GIVE MORE DETAIL ON HOW SHE PLANNED TO HELP ADDRESS THE MIGRANT CRISIS THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR, THE STATE PROVIDED $1.9 BILLION IN FUNDING TO HELP WITH THE INFLUX OF MIGRANTS.

THIS YEAR, THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED $2.4 BILLION TO HELP WITH THE CRISIS.

$500 MILLION OF WHICH WILL COME FROM THE STATE'S RESERVES, WHICH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAID IS INTENDED FOR USE DURING ONE-TIME EMERGENCIES.

WE'RE DOING THIS NOT JUST BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THE MIGRANTS AND FORTH CITY OF NEW YORK, WE ALSO KNOW THAT COMPANIES WON'T DO BUSINESS IN NEW YORK.

THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE STREETS WHERE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS DRAMATICALLY IMPACTED BECAUSE THE CITY IS FORCED TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

WE MUST SUPPORT THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN THIS MOMENT TO AVOID THESE DISASTROUS EFFECTS AND TO PROTECT OUR ECONOMY AND STATE REVENUES FOR THE SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM AS WELL.

WHEN ASKED BY REPORTERS ABOUT USING THE STATE'S RESERVES TO HELP FUND THE MIGRANT CRISIS, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE MAINTAINED THAT RESERVES SHOULD BE USED IN TIMES OF NEED.

RESERVE FUNDS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FOR DIFFICULT TIMES, AND I THINK THIS IS A DIFFICULT TIME.

SO USING RESERVES FOR THIS FITS THE PRESS DEPENDENT.

MEANWHILE, ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN MINORITY LEADER WILLIAM BARCLAY PLACED BLAME ON DEMOCRATS FOR NOT ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE ISSUES.

WELL, HERE WE GO.

HOW COME WE'RE IN THIS SITUATION?

WELL, BECAUSE WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON THAT HASN'T ADDRESSED THE BORDER CRISIS, HAS NOT SECURED THE BORDER, AND SHE SAID SHE WILL GO BACK DOWN TO WASHINGTON I THINK SHE SAID.

SHE'S GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR A MORE SECURE BOARDER AND LOOK FOR FEDERAL MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

I'M NOT THRILLED TO SPEND ANY MONEY ON THE MIGRANT RICE IS AS.

I DON'T THINK USING THE RAINY DAY FUND IS A GREAT IDEA.

I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PICK UP THE TAB.

THE MINORITY LEADER SAID HE WAS PLEASED THAT THE GOVERNOR ADDRESSED ISSUES THAT THE CONFERENCE HAS PRIORITIZED, INCLUDING OUTMIGRATION, CRIME, AND AFFORDABILITY.

STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS SAID, THERE IS MORE TO COME WITH UPCOMING BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.

OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE CHITTED TO CONTINUE TO FINANCIALLY UPHOLD NEW YORK CITY.

THIS IS HER APPROACH.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HER APPROACHES TO A LOT OF THINGS IN THE BUDGET.

I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE AN EXCITING SEASON.

WE CAN'T WAIT.

ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET THAT GAINED TRACTION WAS HOUSING.

FOLLOWING THE FIGHT OVER HOUSING BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROVIDED THE DETAILS OF A MORE MODEST HOUSING PLAN.

WHEN I PRESENTED A TRANSFORMATIVE HOUSING PLAN LAST YEAR, A LOT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE SAID THEY WOULDN'T SUPPORT IT.

OTHERS SAID THEY WANTED LOCAL CONTROL FOR HOUSING DECISIONS.

OKAY.

LET'S PUT THAT TO THE TEST.

NEW YORK CITY, A LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SHOULD GET TO CONTROL, THE LOCAL CONTROL THEY'VE BEEN ASKING FOR.

THIS YEAR, THE GOVERNOR CALLED FOR A NEW TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAM, OFFICE BUILDING CONVERSIONS AND THE LEGALIZATION OF BASEMENT APARTMENTS TO HELP THE HOUSING CRISIS IN NEW YORK CITY.

NOW AS GOVERNOR, I'LL CONTINUE TO TAKE EXECUTIVE ACTIONS ON HOUSING.

AND I HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM MY FRIENDS IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT THEY BELIEVE MORE IN CARROTS THAN STICKS.

LET'S DO THAT, TOO TO INCENTIVIZE HOUSING GROWTH IN THE SUBURBS AND FOR IN PARTICULAR, TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, WHICH MAKES ALL THE SENSE IN THE WORLD.

SO HOW WE'LL DO THAT?

WE'LL PUT THE CARROTS TO TEST AS WELL.

AND ON A STATEWIDE LEVEL, THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED DEVELOPING 15,000 HOUSING UNITS AS STATE-OWNED SITES AND REQUIRING LOCALITIES TO RECEIVE PRO-HOUSING CERTIFICATES TO ACCESS STATE FUNDING.

BUT PROGRESSIVE LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN PUSHING THE GOVERNOR TO FOCUS ON TENANT PROTECTIONS, AND ADVOCATES DOUBLED DOWN ON THEIR CALLS FOR THOSE PROTECTIONS IN THE DAYS AFTER THE UNVEILING OF THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET.

AT A RALLY, TRACY ADAMS, A LOCAL ORGANIZER WITH VOCAL NEW YORK CALLS ON HOCHUL TO INVEST IN THE HOUSING ACCESS VOUCHER PROGRAM AND ENACT A BUDGET THAT WOULD ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO HIV HOUSING ASSISTANCE.

YEAH.

I COVERED THE WHOLE STATE OF NEW YORK.

IN 2020, MY LANDLORD EVICTED ME.

THAT WAS DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING, IF WE HAD VESTED STATE HOUSING, I WOULDN'T LEAVE MY HOME AND GO TO ANOTHER CITY LOOKING FOR HOUSING.

ADD VOTE THE TODAYS WILL CONTINUE TO CALL ON THE GOVERNOR TO TAKE ACTION ON A SLEW OF OTHER HIGH PROFILE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, INCLUDING TAXES ON THE WEALTHY, SAFE INJECTION SITES AND SUPPORT HEALTH-BASED APPROACHES TO CRIME.

THE RELEASE OF THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET MEANS BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDERWAY.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS RELEASED A PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE.

OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, NEW YORKERS WILL GIVE THEIR INPUT ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE STATE'S BUDGETS, INCLUDING HEALTH, MENTAL HYGIENE, EDUCATION, PUBLIC PROTECTION AND MORE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS ARE OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY.

NOW THAT THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET HAS BEEN RELEASED, BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE WILL UNVEIL THEIR RESPECTIVE ONE-HOUSE BUDGETS IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS.

THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WILL ATTEMPT TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON A FINAL BUDGET TO MEET THE APRIL 1ST DEADLINE.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO BRING YOU UPDATES ON THE DEVELOPMENTS RIGHT HERE ON THE SHOW.

NOW SWITCHING GEARS TO ANOTHER TOPIC.

WHILE TRYING TO PRIORITIZE THEIR RESPECTIVE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY WILL ALSO NEED TO BALANCE THE CHALLENGES OF RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

TO EXAMINE THE PIVOTAL ELEMENTS OF RUNNING A CAMPAIGN AND TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS, WE'LL BE SHARING A NEW YORK AND RUNNING FOR OFFICE EPISODE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] WELCOME TO NEW YORK AND RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

I'M YOUR HOST, SHANTEL DESTRA.

IN PREVIOUS EPISODES, WE'VE GONE OVER WAYS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CIVIC PROCESS, LIKE VOTING AND ORGANIZING, BUT WHAT ABOUT ACTUALLY BEING A CANDIDATE YOURSELF?

RUNNING FOR OFFICE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN RUNNING FOR A HIGH-RANKING POSITION, LIKE GOVERNOR OR STATE SENATOR.

IT COULD BE SOMETHING HYPERLOCAL, LIKE A SPOT ON YOUR SCHOOL BOARD OR TOWN COUNCIL.

THESE ARE ROLES THAT MAY SEEM SMALL IN SCALE, BUT CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE PLACE YOU LIVE.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE BASIC PROCESS OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS IN OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE.

WE'LL ALSO SPEAK WITH FOLKS IN ELECTED POSITIONS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES IN THE ELECTION PROCESS.

BEFORE WE GET INTO THE PROS SELFS RUNNING FOR OFFICE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS.

COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS CAN MAKE FOR A HEALTHIER DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS TO FEATURE CANDIDATES RUNNING UNOPPOSED, WHICH CAN RESULT IN LESS IDEAS BEING BROUGHT TO THE TABLE AND LOWER VOTER TURNOUT.

THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT RUNNING UNOPPOSED MAKES A CANDIDATE UNINSPIRED OR NOT TUNED INTO THEIR COMMUNITY BY ANY MEANS.

BUT CANDIDATES IN TIGHT, COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS WILL BE VYING FOR A GREATER SHARE OF VOTES, WHICH CAN LEAD THEM TO PAY CLOSER ATTENTION TO WHAT THEIR POTENTIAL CONSTITUENTS WANT.

THIS PROCESS CAN MAKE THE ELECTION MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NEEDS AND WANTS OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND THIS GETS TO THE CORE REASON OF WHY WE WANTED TO MAKE THIS EPISODE STATE POLITICS OBVIOUSLY HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON NEW YORKERS' LIVES, BUT LOCAL POLITICS CAN ALSO HAVE A GREATER IMPACT ON LIVES AND COMMUNITIES THAN ONE MIGHT THINK AND THAT IS WHY NEW YORKERS ACROSS THE STATE DESERVE HEALTHY, COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS IN THEIR TOWNS, CITIES AND COUNTIES.

THIS IS ALL TO SAY IF YOU HAVE A DEEP UNDERSTANDING AND A FINGER ON THE PULSE OF THE WANTS AND NEEDS OF YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU CAN BE PART OF IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF ELECTIONS IN YOUR AREA BY THROWING YOUR HAT IN THE RING.

BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU'RE READY TO MAKE THE JUMP?

WE SPOKE WITH STATE SENATOR JAKE ASHBY ABOUT WHAT DROVE HIM TO INITIALLY GET INVOLVED IN POLITICS AND HOW HE KNEW HE WAS READY TO RUN.

I FELT A CALLING FOR IT, TOWARDS IT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

I WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE RENSSELAER COUNTY LEGISLATURE IN 2017, BUT PRIOR TO THAT, I HAD DIPPED MY TOES IN IT A LITTLE BIT, JUST HELPING OUT WITH CAMPAIGNS AND LOCAL ISSUES AT THE VILLAGE LEVEL, AND THAT'S WHAT KIND OF PIQUED MY INTERESTS.

I REALLY LOOK AT IT AS AN EXTENSION OF PUBLIC SERVICE RELATED TO SERVING IN THE ARMY.

WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE ARMY, I MISSED THAT ELEMENT.

YOU KNOW, I WAS REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A GREAT CAREER TO FALL BACK ON AND EDUCATION TO PURSUE, BUT I MISSED THAT ELEMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE, AND THAT'S WHAT GOT ME INTO POLITICS.

[ MUSIC ] SO THE PROCESS OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE CAN VARY DEPENDING ON THE POSITION YOU ARE LOOKING TO FILL, WHERE YOU ARE RUNNING AND WHETHER YOU'RE RUNNING AS PART OF A POLITICAL PARTY OR AS AN INDEPENDENT.

OFTENTIMES TO GET YOUR NAME ON THE BALLOT, YOU WILL NEED TO COLLECT SIGNATURES FROM REGISTERED VOTERS ON FORMS, SUCH AS NOMINATING OR DESIGNATING PETITIONS.

THE TYPE OF FORMS YOU NEED TO FILL OUT CAN GET A LITTLE COMPLICATED BASED ON WHERE YOU'RE RUNNING AND FOR WHAT, BUT WE'VE INCLUDED HELPFUL STATE RESOURCES IN THE DESCRIPTION AND YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH OUT TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, BE IT STATE OR COUNTY WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

SO WE WENT OVER GETTING YOUR NAME ON THE BALLOT, BUT THERE'S STILL EVERYTHING ELSE RELATED TO RUNNING A CAMPAIGN.

FUND-RAISING, FOR EXAMPLE, CAN EFFECT THE SCALE OF YOUR CAMPAIGN AND YOUR ABILITY TO PROMOTE YOURSELF AS A CANDIDATE.

SOME CANDIDATES LIKE TO RUN GRASS ROOTS CAMPAIGNS, WHICH CONNECT WITH LOCAL, LIKE-MINDED ISSUE GROUPS AND THEN FURTHER DEVELOP A VOLUNTEER BASE BY CONNECTING WITH PASSIONATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

GRASS ROOTS CAMPAIGNS ALSO TEND TO FUND RAISE THROUGH FACILITATING A LARGE NUMBER OF SMALL DONATIONS FROM POTENTIAL CONSTITUENTS OR INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN.

DONATIONS HAVE TO BE REPORTED TO THE STATE OR TO THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION.

DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF ELECTION AND THE SIZE OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS, AS THERE ARE VARYING CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS AND CONTRIBUTION LIMITS IN PLAY.

AS WE SAID, THE WAY YOU RUN A CAMPAIGN CAN VARY BASED ON THE SCOPE AND SCALE OF THE ELECTION YOU'RE IN, AS WELL AS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES YOU WANT TO REPRESENT.

WE SPOKE WITH TABETHA WILSON ABOUT HER IF I LOSSTY ON RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND THE APPROACH SHE TOOK WHEN RUNNING FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

RUNNING FOR OFFICE IS PROBABLY TAKING ORGANIZING TO ITS NEXT LOGICAL END.

I THINK A LOT OF TIMES, REALLY, AT ITS FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL, RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE IS ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE, ABOUT SORT OF NAMING, IDENTIFYING THINGS THAT IS NOT WORKING FOR EVERYONE, AND THEN WORKING AT A POLICY LEVEL OR LEGISLATIVE LEVEL, CHANGING THINGS TO IMPROVE IT FOR THE COLLECTIVE.

I THINK 40% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE BLACK.

SO THUS, I FELT LIKE WHAT IS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SORT OF LIKE REPRESENT THE NEEDS, THE NOTIONS, THE IDEAS, THE VALUES, YOU KNOW, TO BE AN UNDERREPRESENTED GROUP TO PURSUE PUBLIC OFFICE, I THINK, IS SORT OF LIKE WRITING SOME HISTORICAL THING IN SOME WAYS AND ALSO LIKE OVERCOMING THAT MISSING VOICE THAT OFTEN PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT.

WE HAVE GROUPS AND YOU KNOW, SECTORS THAT ARE NOT SUPER ENGAGED IN VOTING AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE APATHY OR DEEP DISAPPOINTMENT, DEEP MISTRUST OF THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

I DID A LOT TO SHOW UP IN A WAY THAT I DON'T KNOW HAPPENED HISTORICALLY.

I DON'T KNOW IF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS HAD GONE TO ALL OF THESE OTHER GROUPS' MEETINGS, SUCH AS NAACP OR FOR EXAMPLE, THE URBAN LEAGUE, BUT I WENT TO ALL OF THE MEETINGS, ALL THE CONFERENCES.

NOT IN A SENSE OF, OH, I'M YOUR CANDIDATE.

I'M RUNNING FOR OFFICE, IN THE SENSE I WANT TO LEARN, YES, OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS ONE THING.

HOW DOES THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WORK TOGETHER?

STATE SENATOR JAKE ASHBY ALSO SPOKE WITH US ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE AND GAVE SOME ADVICE TO FOLKS THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN THE FUTURE.

I ENJOY GOING OUT INTO THE DISTRICT AND MEETING PEOPLE.

WE DID MOBILE OFFICE HOURS IN ALL OF THE TOWNS, AND THAT WAS-- THIS WAS REALLY INTERESTING.

SOMETIMES YOU ONLY HAD A COUPLE PEOPLE SHOW UP.

SOMETIMES WE HAD A WHOLE ROOMFUL.

IT GAVE ME A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT THE ISSUES WERE IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA, WHAT PEOPLE WILL BE VOCAL ABOUT.

WE'LL GO TO DIFFERENT RALLIES AND DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT ARE GOING ON, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S FAIRS OR DIFFERENT COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT ARE GOING ON IN DIFFERENT TOWNS AND CITIES.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT DURING THE CAMPAIGN, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO YEAR ROUND BECAUSE YOU REPRESENT THAT AREA AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO STAY CONNECTED.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO, I THINK, BALANCE OPPOSING IDEAS IN A WAY THAT IS PALATABLE AND YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO PEOPLE WHO MAY BE VERY OPPOSED AND TRYING TO FIND COMMON GROUND WITH THEM.

START LOCAL, WHETHER IT'S AT THE VILLAGE LEVEL, CITY LEVEL, AND I WOULD JUST START VOLUNTEERING.

IF THERE'S AN ISSUE THAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GET OUT THERE AND TRY TO ADVANCE IT.

AND THEN BUILD ON THAT.

YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT.

IT CAN BE FRUSTRATING AT TIMES, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THICK SKIN.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S PART OF THE JOB IS BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HANDLE CRITICISM AND TAKE CRITICISM AND KEEP GOING.

[ JAZZ-LIKE MUSIC ] THE QUALITY OF OUR LOCAL, COUNTY AND STATE GOVERNMENTS CAN ONLY BE AS GOOD AS THE PEOPLE WE ELECT TO RUN THEM.

ONE OF THE WAYS TO IMPROVE GOVERNANCE AND THE QUALITY OF ELECTIONS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT FRESH IDEAS ARE EXCHANGED AMONG QUALITY CANDIDATES.

MAYBE YOU CAN BE ONE OF THEM, BUT THAT'S ALL WE'LL GET TO TODAY.

BE WELL AND SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AND AS THE PIECE UNDERSCORED, IT MIGHT NOT BE OUTRAGEOUS TO CONSIDER RUNNING FOR OFFICE YOURSELF.

YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CAMPAIGNS AND HOW TO GET CIVICALLY INVOLVED IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

NEXT AS PART OF THE WMHT'S SERIES ON STORIES AND SOLUTIONS ON OPIOIDS IN NEW YORK, WE'LL BE SHARING AN EPISODE FOCUSED ON THE PEER ADVOCATE WORKING DONE AT A SCHENECTADY-BASED TREATMENT FACILITY.

HERE'S THAT EPISODE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] PEER RECOVERY ADVOCATES ARE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN IN RECOVERY THEMSELVES AND ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING OTHERS FIND A PATH TOWARD A DIFFERENT LIFE.

[ INTRIGUING MUSIC ] NEW CHOICES RECOVERY CENTER IS A SCHENECTADY-BASED SUBSTANCE DISORDER TREATMENT FACILITY.

OUR PEER ADVOCATES LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY SAVE LIVES.

PEER ADVOCATE BASICALLY IS SOMEONE WITH LIVED LIFE EXPERIENCE.

I'M LIKE A RESOURCE BROKER AND SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP A PERSON GET WHERE THEY WANT TO BE, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY BE CLIENT-CENTERED AND MEET THEM WHERE THEY'RE AT, UNDERSTANDING WHERE THEY'RE AT AND JUST BE THEIR CHEERLEADER.

I DO HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO DROP BY MY OFFICE AND THEY JUST NEED A MINUTE.

WE SIT AND WE CHOP IT UP.

BUT A LOT OF TIMES I SCHEDULE CERTAIN SESSIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT I'VE WORKED WITH PRIOR AND NOW WE'RE DOING THE MAINTENANCE WORK.

TALKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS THAT THEY'RE ENCOUNTERING WHETHER IT'S AT WORK OR AT HOME, CHALLENGES THAT THEY HAVE SO I THINK WE CONTINUE THIS JOURNEY BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOMETHING, IT'S NOT A ONE-TRICK PONY.

IT'S NOT YOU GET CLEAN AND SOBER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, EVERYTHING IS PEACHY KEEN.

IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT.

YOU CAN COME TO ME AND BE HONEST WITHOUT THE CHANCE OF PENALIZATION.

THIS IS THE SAFE SPACE RIGHT HERE.

WHAT WE SAY STAYS HERE.

IT'S BETWEEN YOU AND I. I'M NOT A PROBATION OFFICER.

I'M NOT A PAROLE OFFICER.

I'M NOT A CLINICIAN.

I'M HERE TO BE LIKE, YO, IF YOU USE, IT'S OKAY, BUT LET'S TRY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

WHAT'S GOING TO HELP YOU NOT WANT TO USE?

[ BIRDS SINGING ] BECAUSE OF MY ADDICTION, I WAS HOMELESS RIGHT HERE IN THIS AREA, RIGHT, IN A FIVE-BLOCK RADIUS.

I HAVE SEEN SO MANY DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.

I'VE BEEN THROUGH SO IN.

AS A RESULT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN I SIT DOWN WITH PERSONS, A LOT OF TIMES I CAN IDENTIFY WITH WHERE THEY ARE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE MYSELF.

WE CAN IDENTIFY.

WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THE STRUGGLE.

WE KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE.

YOU KNOW, THE COMMON DENOMINATOR IS PAIN, FEELING ABANDONED, LOW SELF-ESTEEM, LOW SELF-WORTH AND HATRED AND RESENTMENTS I CARRY TOWARD MYSELF, RIGHT, SO THAT WAS THE KEY TO ME GETTING FREE, YOU KNOW, TALKING TO SOMEONE ABOUT THAT.

THE PEERS ARE THE ONES WHO HAD HELPED ME THE MOST IN MY JOURNEY AND THEY CAN GIVE YOU SOME HONEST ADVICE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH AND THEY JUST CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND YOU ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL.

THEY JUST MAKE YOU FEEL SO NOT JUDGED AND COMFORTABLE BECAUSE THERE CAN BE SUCH A, LIKE, NOT GREAT STIGMA AROUND ADDICTS.

IF I GO BACK TO THE PEOPLE I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH, STUFF LIKE THAT GREW UP WITH, JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN KIND OF IMPACTED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

THAT BEING SAID, I STILL FEEL LIKE A LOT OF IT'S KIND OF TALKED ABOUT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, RIGHT, WHERE PEOPLE AREN'T AS OPEN ABOUT A FAMILY MEMBER WHO STRUGGLED OR, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO HAS DIED.

OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF THE STIGMA HAS GONE THE OTHER WAY COMPARED TO WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, BUT IT'S-- LIKE IT STILL EXISTS.

WHEN PEOPLE COME TO US, THEY'RE NOT BEST PLACE IN LIFE, YOU KNOW.

YOU CAN'T CRITICIZE THEM MORE THAN THEY DO TO THEMSELVES.

THEY DON'T NECESSARILY GET LIKE, HEY, MAN, IT'S OKAY WHAT YOU DID AND WHAT'S GOING ON.

THIS CAN BE FIXED.

YOU'RE STILL WORTH SOMETHING.

PEOPLE STILL LOVE YOU.

YOU'RE WORTHY OF LOVE, AND YOU CAN DO THIS, MAN.

WHATEVER WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT I CAN SPEAK TO SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO DO BETTER, THAT WANTS TO GET WELL IS SOMETIMES THE ONLY ONE THEY MIGHT HEAR THAT DAY.

I AM FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU IN MY LIFE LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

WIFE DOING GOOD?

WE PLANT SEEDS AND I LOVE WATCHING THEM ROOT AND GROW.

AND SOMETIMES WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SEE THEM NOWER AND BLOOM.

I RAN INTO A GUY AT A MEETING THAT HAS TWO YEARS CLEAN THAT STILL HAS THE JOB THAT I WROTE THE REFERENCE LETTER FOR.

AND WHOA!

TO A NORMAL PERSON THAT WOULD BE LIKE, OH, COOL.

BUT TO, LIKE, ME, THAT'S WHY I DO IT.

IF I CAN HELP SOMEONE, RIGHT, MAYBE THEY GET 24 HOURS CLEAN, MAYBE THEY ARE CLEAN AND SOBER FOR A DAY, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, AND PRIOR TO THAT, THEY NEVER KNEW WHAT THAT FELT LIKE.

YOU KNOW, I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO BE FREE.

THAT'S WHY I DO WHAT I DO.

I WANT PERSONS TO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE FREEDOM.

[ THEME MUSIC ] FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE NEW CHOICES RECOVERY CENTER AND THE OPIOID CRISIS IN NEW YORK, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AGAIN, THAT'S NYNOW.ORG.

THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EPISODE 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.