[ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," A MAJOR REOPENING IS COMING TO NEW YORK THIS MONTH.

THAT'S FROM GOVERNOR CUOMO.

WE'LL HAVE DETAILS.

THEN, KAREN DEWITT FROM NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC RADIO AND MARINA VILLENEUVE FROM THE STATE AP HAVE ANALYSIS ON THIS WEEK'S NEWS.

LATER, SENATE MENTAL HEALTH CHAIR, SAMRA BROUK, JOINS US TO DISCUSS 988, A 911-STYLE NUMBER FOR MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES.

PLUS, REPORTER DARRELL CAMP TAKES US TO A PUBLIC HOUSING COMPLEX IN ALBANY LONG PLAGUED BY ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, AND WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT SOME WANT TO DO ABOUT IT.

I'M DAN CLARK AND THIS IS "NEW YORK NOW."

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

I'M DAN CLARK.

A MANAGER REOPENING OF NEW YORK STATE IS COMING LATE THEY'RE MONTH.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR CUOMO THIS WEEK.

STARTING MAY 19TH, THE STATE WILL LIFT CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS AT MOST BUSINESSES, LIKE STORES, GYMS, HAIR SALONS, AND OTHER PLACES.

BUT PEOPLE WILL STILL HAVE TO DISTANCE AT LEAST SIX FEET AT THOSE PLACES, SO IT'S NOT TOTALLY BACK TO NORMAL, AND ALL OF THIS IS A RESULT OF SOME PRETTY GOOD NEWS WHEN IT COMES TO COVID.

AT THE START OF THIS YEAR, NEW YORK HAD A COVID-19 POSITIVITY RATE OF MORE THAN 8%.

THAT'S NOW DOWN TO LESS THAN 2% ON MOST DAYS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE GONE FROM CLOSE TO 9,000 IN JANUARY TO LESS THAN 3,000 NOW.

AT THE SAME TIME, ABOUT HALF OF ALL NEW YORKERS HAVE NOW RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

SO THE NEWS IS GOOD AND GOVERNOR CUOMO SAID THIS WEEK THAT HE WANTS TO SEIZE ON THIS MOMENT AND CREATE A SORT OF NEW YORK RENAISSANCE.

>> WE THINK THERE'S A MOMENT OF OPPORTUNITY HERE AND WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A TOTALLY DIFFERENT NEW YORK.

WE'RE GOING TO REIMAGINE IT.

WE'RE GOING TO RENEW IT.

IT'S GOING TO BE A NEW YORK THAT NEVER EXISTED BEFORE, AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS MOMENT OF RESET INTERNATIONALLY, AND WE'RE GOING TO USE IT TO OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

>> OF COURSE, GOVERNOR CUOMO IS ALSO FACING MULTIPLE INVESTIGATIONS OVER SEXUAL HARASSMENT, THE STATE'S HANDLING OF NURSING HOMES AND A LOT MORE.

SO THINGS ARE VERY COMPLICATED AND WAY MORE COMPLICATED THAN THEY SOUND.

LET'S BREAK IT ALL DOWN WITH THIS WEEK'S PANEL.

KAREN DE DEWITT IS FROM NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC RADIO MARINA VILLENEUVE IS FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> WELCOME.

>> MARINA, I WANT TO START WITH YOU WITH THE REOPENING SCHEDULED FOR MAY 19TH.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CAPACITY LIFTING.

WHAT'S BEEN THE REACTION TO THAT?

>> THE GOVERNOR IN THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS HE'S BEEN ANNOUNCING THAT THE SUBWAY'S GOING TO BACK TO 24/7 OPERATION, AND HE'S ALSO SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THE YANKEES AND METS ARE GOING TO BE OFFERING FREE VACCINATIONS, IF YOU GO TO A GAME, FREE TICKETS IF YOU GET VACCINATED AT A GAME.

BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT SORT OF THE SUBSTANCE ABOUT A LOT OF THESE REOPENING PLANS.

HE'S SAID THAT IT COULD BE EASIER MAYBE FOR EVEN SOME BUSINESSES PERHAPS TO REOPEN IF THEY ONLY ALLOW VACCINATED PEOPLE IN, BUT-- >> IS THAT LEGAL?

I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT.

THAT'S THE QUESTION I HAVE ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH.

THAT IS A BIG QUESTION, AND THE GOVERNOR KIND OF ANSWERED THAT THE YANKEES GAMES BECAUSE SOMEONE ASKED, WELL, IF YOU ARE UNVACCINATED, YOU HAVE TO SIT IN A SEAT WHERE YOU ARE SEPARATED FROM PEOPLE.

HE SAID THERE'S NO LAW THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO SIT NEXT TO SOMEBODY.

OFFICES, YOU CAN SEE THAT BECOMING A LEGAL CHALLENGE AT SOME POINT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL NAVIGATING.

I THINK WHAT'S SURPRISING, THOUGH,HOW QUICKLY THE GOVERNOR SEEMED TO CHANGE HIS MIND ON THIS.

>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, TOO.

I DIDN'T EXPECT HIM TO COME OUT ON MONDAY AND SAY, BY THE WAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MAJOR REOPENING IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS.

>> WELL, JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE THAT MAYOR BILL DI BLASIO MADE A BIG DEAL HOW NEW YORK CITY IS GOING TO OPEN JULY 1ST AND HE ANNOUNCED ON MSNBC, MORNING JOE, THE FAVORITE SHOW AMONG LIBERAL DEMOCRATS, AND GOVERNOR CUOMO SAID THAT'S IRRESPONSIBLE AND YOU CAN'T GET OVERCONFIDENT AND EVERY 0 THE WEEKEND SOMETHING CHANGED WHEN DECISIONS ARE MADE LIKE THIS, YOU HAVE TO WONDER HOW MUCH IS IT BASED ON SCIENCE HERE OR IN THE GOVERNOR'S CASE, HE REALLY NEEDS GOOD HEADLINES.

I REALIZE THIS WEEK, AND CROSSING MY FINGERS IT DOESN'T CHANGE.

WE'RE TAPING THIS FRIDAY MORNING, THE FACT THAT HE HAS NOT GOTTEN ANY NEGATIVE HEADLINES OR EVENTS SINCE LATE JANUARY.

BECAUSE EVERYONE IS STILL TALKING ABOUT IT'S GREAT, NEW YORK'S REOPENING.

>> YEAH.

JUST LIKE ONE POINT ON WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW BUSINESSES NO LONGER HAVE TO HAVE THESE CAPACITY TO RESTRICTIONS, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEW RULE, WHICH IS JUST GOING TO BE BASED ON IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH SPACE FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING AND IT'S KIND OF UNCLEAR IF IT'S GOING TO MAKE THAT BIG OF A DIFFERENCE.

>> FOR RESTAURANTS, THEY STILL HAVE TO HAVE TABLES SIX FEET APART AND ESPECIALLY NEW YORK CITY RESTAURANT, WHICH I REMEMBER IN THE BEFORE DAYS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH PEOPLE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO OPEN 100% CAPACITY IF THEY HAVE TO HAVE TABLES SIX FEET APART.

AND ALSO HOW DOES THE PUBLIC FEEL?

IF SOME PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED, DO THEY WANT TO GO TO A PLACE THAT AREN'T AND NEXT TO THEM?

THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

>> I THINK HE WAS INDICATING THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A PHASED REOPENING OF SOME SORT AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH CONNECTICUT AND NEW JERSEY, WHICH HE SAID WE DID THE CLOSE DOWN WHICH ISN'T TOTALLY TRUE.

WE WILL HAVE TO SAY AFTER MAY 19TH WHAT THE TIME LINE LOOKS LIKE AFTER THAT.

KAREN, I THINK YOU MAKE A GREAT POINT.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE SCIENCE BEHIND THIS AND I'M WONDERING IF DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT.

AS WE KNOW, THEY HAVE THE POWER NOW TO CHANGE HIS DIRECTIVES A LOT MORE FREELY THAN THEY DID BEFORE.

>> I GUESS.

I GUESS POLITICALLY NOBODY CAN GO BACKWARDS UNLESS THE RATE OF INSPECTION SPIKES.

WE HAVE TO MENTION IT IS COMING DOWN.

IT'S THE LOWEST IT HAS BEEN SINCE LATE OCTOBER, BEFORE THE HOLIDAY SURGE AND THE VACCINATION RATE IS SLOWING AND HENCE ALL THE INCENTIVES AND THERE'S ONE AT CROSSGATES MALL, STATE VACCINATION CENTER AND YOU GET FREE COUPONS TO GO SHOPPING AFTERWARDS.

>> WHY DIDN'T THAT HAPPEN WHEN I WAS GETTING MY VACCINATION?

>> I'M TRYING NOT TO GO THERE EITHER ABOUT THAT.

[LAUGHTER] WHY DID I GET ONE SO EARLY?

I COULD HAVE GOTTEN FREE BASEBALL TICKETS.

>> I KNOW.

SPEAKING OF POLITICS, WE HAVE A VERY BIG NATIONAL STORY OUT RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK WHICH IS NEVER A SURPRISE REALLY.

CONGRESSWOMAN ELISE STEFANIK IS A PLAY FOR THE CONFERENCE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE AND THE GOP.

SHE IS CHALLENGING LIZ CHENEY WHO IS NOT A FAVORITE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RIGHT NOW.

KAREN, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

THIS WAS OUT OF THE BLUE FOR ME.

I DIDN'T REALIZE SHE WAS MOVING TOWARD THIS.

I GUESS WE ALL, I THINK, KNOW THAT ELISE STEFANIK HAS HIGHER AMBITIONS.

>> RIGHT.

>> I DIDN'T QUITE THINK IT WOULD TAKE THIS PATH AND SO QUICKLY.

>> WELL, SHE'S PROBABLY GOING TO GET IT, TOO.

>> RIGHT.

>> BECAUSE LIZ CHENEY IS VERY UNPOPULAR BECAUSE SHE'S GOING AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP.

A LOT OF US, I THINK VIEWERS OF THIS SHOW AND MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT THE COUNTRY'S MOVED ON FROM TRUMP.

WE DON'T SEE HIM.

HE'S BANNED FROM SOCIAL MEDIA BUT WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, HE'S A POWERFUL FIGURE, AND YOU REALLY NEED TO SAY WHAT HE CURRENTLY BELIEVES IN ORDER TO GET AHEAD AND ELISE STEFANIK HAS REALLY SIGNED ON WITH TRUMP EVER SINCE THE IMPEACHMENT WHICH SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME AGO SINCE THE FIRST IMPEACHMENT WAY BACK IN THE FALL OF 2019.

SO SHE WAS SOMEBODY WHO SHE DIDN'T GO TO THE 2016 REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.

SHE WOULDN'T MENTION TRUMP'S NAME AND SOMETHING CHANGED FOR HER BY 2018-2019, WHEN SHE SAW TRUMP'S POWER, I GUESS, AND DECIDED I BETTER GET ONBOARD.

HE MAY BE A WAY FOR ME TO GET AHEAD.

WE'RE KIND OF SEEING THAT PLAY OUT NOW.

>> RIGHT.

IT'S REALLY INTERESTING WITH HER.

WHEN SHE WAS ELECTED, SHE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A MIDDLE OF THE ROAD MODERATE REPUBLICAN FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY.

THIS IS A DISTRICT THAT WAS ONCE REPRESENTED BY BILL OWENS, A DEMOCRAT, AND I THINK THAT EVERYBODY EXPECTED HER GIVEN HER AGE THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BE REALLY LIKE MORE OF A JOHN KATKO-STYLE POLITICIAN.

IN RECENT YEARS, AS YOU MENTIONED, THOUGH, SHE'S REALLY GOTTEN BEHIND THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND HIS SUPPORTERS, AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW THE REASON FOR THAT AND I'D BE CURIOUS KNOW WHERE THAT SHIFT HAPPENED BECAUSE POLITICO REPORTED EITHER YESTERDAY, SOMETIME THIS WEEK, KAREN, YOU SENT ME THE STORY THAT PART OF THE PRESIDENT'S-- THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S BASE ACTUALLY DOES NOT LIKE HER BECAUSE OF HOW MODERATE SHE WAS BEFORE.

>> YEP, AND HER TRACK RECORD IN CONGRESS IS-- ACCORDING TO THEM, WORSE THAN LIZ CHENEY'S EVEN.

SHE VOTED AGAINST THE PRESIDENT.

YEAH.

IT'S VERY INTERESTING AND WILL THIS POLITICAL IDEOLOGY LAST HER LIFETIME BEING A YOUNG PERSON.

FRANKLY, I CAN SEE OLDER PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN THE CERTAIN THINGS THAT TRUMP DOES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW HER FUTURE IS.

SHE'LL PROBABLY FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.

SHE'S BEEN PRETTY SMART NAVIGATING THAT.

I WILL ADD SHE WON HER STATE BACK IN 2020 IN A YEAR WHERE TRUMP OBVIOUSLY LOST NATIONALLY.

I GUESS SHE KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING IN TERMS OF HER DISTRICT.

>> I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHERE SHE WILL END UP.

I CAN SEE A HOUSE SPEAKER, ELISE STEFANIK AND SHE DID WORK WITH PAUL RYAN BEFORE SHE WAS IN CONGRESS.

ME SHE MAY HAVE THOSE AMBITIONS.

>> SHE KEEPS SAYING THAT NANCY PELOSI NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

>> I THINK SHE SAYS NANCY PELOSI NEEDS TO BE FIRED.

>> MAYBE SHE THINKS, I CAN TAKE THAT JOB.

>> SHE HAS BECOME OUTSPOKEN WHEN IT COMES TO NEW YORK'S HANDLING OF NURSING HOME OUTBREAKS AND SHE'S ALSO BEEN TRYING TO INCREASE FEMALE-- THE NUMBER OF FEMALE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE ELECTED AS WELL AND THAT'S BEEN A SORT OF A FOCUS FOR HER.

>> SHE'S COME OUT AS A NATIONAL LEADER AGAINST THE GOVERNOR, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> SHE SEEMS TO HAVE DROPPED OFF ON THAT RECENTLY, BUT SHE WAS JUST TROLLING HIM ON SOCIAL MEDIA HE'S THE WORST GOVERNOR IN AMERICA.

SHE DOES SEEM TO HAVE EASED OFF ON THAT BECAUSE SHE WAS MENTIONED AS A POTENTIAL COMMAND FOR GOVERNOR.

I'M THINKING SHE GETS THIS JOB NOT.

THIS IS A BETTER JOB.

[LAUGHTER] >> EXACTLY.

MARINA, WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT, ANYTHING INTERESTING COMING UP IN THE LEGISLATURE?

>> I THINK ONE BILL THAT'S GOING TO WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE IS A BILL TO TWEAK THIS LAW THAT PASSED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO VISIT LOVED ONES IN NURSING HOMES.

THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN FROM NURSING HOMES ABOUT THAT LAW CONFLICTING WITH FEDERAL LAW.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING-- IT LOOKS LIKE THAT LAW IS GOING TO BE RULED,-ROLLED BACK AND IF THERE'S ANOTHER PANDEMIC OR ANOTHER SURGE, THESE PERSONAL CAREGIVERS AREN'T NECESSARILY GOING TO BE ABLE TO GOATEES VISIT THEIR LOVED ONES IN NURSING HOMES >> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S A BILL WE WILL BE WATCHING.

MARINA VILLENEUVE FROM THE AP AND KAREN DEWITT FROM NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> MOVING ON TO A STORY ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

TAPES STORY WE HEAR ALL TOO OFTEN.

PEOPLE OF COLOR IN NEW YORK AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY OFTEN BEAR THE BRUNT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, LIKE POLLUTION AND NOISE, JUST BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY LIVE AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS AS EASY AS PICKING UP AND MOVING SOMEWHERE ELSE.

FOR MANY, THAT'S JUST NOT AN OPTION.

REPORTER DARRELL CAMP TAKES US TO A NEIGHBORHOOD IN ALBANY THAT'S BEEN PLAGUED BY POLLUTION AND WITH NO END IN SIGHT.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >>REPORTER: IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS IN NEW YORK STATE TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AND NEW YORK'S CAPITAL REGION IS NO EXCEPTION.

JUST BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE STATE CAPITOL IS THE PORT OF ALBANY, AN AREA KNOWN FOR ITS INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY WITH HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC, FREIGHT TRAINS AND NOISE.

AND RIGHT NEXT TO IT IS A SMALL PUBLIC HOUSING COMPLEX CALLED THE EZRA PRENTICE HOMES.

THE COMPLEX WAS BUILT MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ICONIC STATE PLAZA FORCED LOCATION OF MANY FAMILIES.

ENVIRONMENTALIST AARON MAIR, THE FORMER NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE SIERRA CLUB, SAYS IT WAS CLEAR AT THE TIME WHERE PEOPLE OF COLOR WOULD END UP COMPARED TO THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS.

>> SO WE GO BACK TO THE ENTIRE DISLOCATION OF THE COMMUNITY AROUND THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA.

THE VERY POOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY THAT LIVED IN THAT VERY HOOD, THIS IS WHY EZRA PRENTICE EXISTS.

THEY ACTUALLY BUILT THIS PLACE AS A RELOCATION TO BLACKS IN THE WAKE OF THE BUILDING OF THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA.

>>REPORTER: THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF LIVING IN AN INDUSTRIAL AREA IS NOT A NEW ISSUE.

FOR YEARS, RESIDENTS HAVE VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF A FREIGHT TRAIN DERAILMENT RIGHT NEXT TO THEIR HOMES.

ACCORDING TO AARON MAIR, THE PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITY SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN PLACED IN AN INDUSTRIAL PART OF THE CITY AND HE'S NOT ALONE ON THAT.

BASIL SEGGOS IS THE COMMISSIONER OF THE STATE DEPARTMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION.

>> THIS IS A LEGACY OF ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM, TEXTBOOK EXAMPLE OF IT.

WHERE YOU PUT HOUSING AUTHORITY-- HOUSING COMPLEX RIGHT NEXT TO AN INDUSTRIAL AREA.

CAN THEY COEXIST I THINK THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN >>REPORTER: THE D.C. LOST A STUDY THREE YEARS AGO AND A BASE WAS SET UP IN THE PARKING LOTS AND RESIDENTS WITH BACKPACKS WOULD GATHER DATA THE RESULTS SHOW THAT TRAINS THAT RUN FEET AWAY FROM THE HOMES ACTUALLY WERE NOT THE MAIN CONTRIBUTOR OF POLLUTION.

HERE'S SEGGOS AGAIN.

>> WAS THE STREET THAT LITERALLY WENT THROUGH RIGHT EZRA PRENTICE HOMES AND WAS SUBJECT TO AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TRUCK TRAFFIC, THAT EDGE ENABLED US TO USE SCIENCE TO FIX A POLICY PROBLEM.

>>REPORTER: A BIG CHANGE CAME FROM FORCING TRUCKS TO TAKE A DIFFERENT ROUTE AWAY FROM THE AREA.

BUT ON AN AVERAGE DAY, YOU CAN STILL FIND A NUMBER OF LARGE VEHICLES DRIVING THROUGH, EVEN IF IT IS LESS FREQUENT THAN IN PAST YEARS AND IT'S NOT JUST THE POLLUTION FROM THOSE VEHICLES THAT BOTHERS TENANTS.

RESIDENTS SAY THAT TRAFFIC CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE TO CROSS THE STREET TO GET TO A NEARBY PARK AND THAT SOMETIMES, IT FEELS LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AT EZRA PRENTICE ARE FORGOTTEN.

TERESA ALSTON IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE TENANTS ASSOCIATION AT THE DEVELOPMENT.

>> HEALTH EFFECTS-WISE WITH THE AIR POLLUTION AND TRUCKS TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH, I FEEL LIKE OVER TIME, HEALTH ISSUES AS FAR AS LIKE CANCER, ASTHMA, THINGS LIKE THAT THE NOISE ISSUE IS-- COULD CAUSE LIKE PSYCHOLOGICAL, YOU KNOW, ISSUES LIKE THAT I FEEL LIKE MORE CAN BE DONE AND I FEEL LIKE CHANGE IS REALISTIC.

>>REPORTER: WITH NO END IN SIGHT FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT FACE RESIDENTS THE EZRA PRENTICE, SOME WANT TO WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN AND START OVER.

ONE PROPOSAL WOULD MOVE THE COMPLEX AND ITS RESIDENTS TO A DIFFERENT PART OF THE STATE, BUT ALSTON SAYS EVEN IF MOVING COSTS WERE COVERED FOR THE TENANTS, RELOCATING THE DEVELOPMENT IS MORE COMPLICATED THAN IT SOUNDS.

>> IT'S MIXED REVIEWS FROM THE RESIDENTS.

DOWN HERE, IT'S FAIRLY PEACEFUL.

YOU HAVE HAD SOME ISSUES, BUT IT'S FAIRLY PEACEFUL.

IT'S VERY KID-FRIENDLY SO A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO MOVE FROM DOWN HERE BECAUSE OF THAT AND BECAUSE THE AMENITIES THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS COMPLEX PROVIDES.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE STRONGLY EXPRESSED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE.

>>REPORTER: WHETHER PEOPLE LIVE THERE OR NOT, SEGGOS, THE COMMISSIONER, SAYS THE AIR QUALITY IN THE AREA SHOULD STILL BE IMPROVED.

>> THE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT THAT'S GOING INTO THE PORT, THE NEW RULES COMING INTO EFFECT THAT WE WILL PUT INTO PLACE HERE AT DEC AFTER THE CLIMATE ACT IS FULLY FULFILLED, THE WORK AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL UNDERWAY WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN, ALL OF THAT WILL RESULT IN LESS EMISSIONS FROM TRANSPORTATION AND FRANKLY, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO HIT OUR CLIMATE GOALS UNLESS WE REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM TRANSPORTATION.

THAT WILL HAVE AN IMMEDIATE BENEFIT FOR ANYONE THAT'S WORKING OR LIVING NEAR THESE TYPES OF FACILITIES.

>>REPORTER: ENVIRONMENTALIST AARON MAIR DOESN'T SEE ANOTHER OPTION FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF THE TENANTS THAN MOVING THEM TO AN AREA WHERE AIR POLLUTION AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY WON'T AFFECT THEIR LIVES IN SUCH A BIG WAY.

>> I JUDGE PEOPLE NOT SO MUCH BY THEIR HEROIC ACTIONS THAT THEY MAY DO IN AN INSTANT.

I JUDGE IT BY THE OUTCOME AND RESULTS.

IF AT THE END OF THE DAY THE END RESULT IS THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL STUCK HERE, AYOU'LL I CAN SAY IS THEY FAILED.

GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED THESE PEOPLE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WHILE DISCUSSIONS OF THE FUTURE OF EZRA PRENTICE CONTINUE, THE STATE ANNOUNCED THE NEW $300 MILLION PROJECT THIS YEAR TO BUILD AT THE PORT OF ALBANY WHICH COULD TRANSLATE FOR JOBS FOR AREA RESIDENTS.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE STATE IS FOCUSED ON MAKING CONDITIONS SAFER AND HEALTHIER FOR THOSE WHO LIVE THERE.

>> DARRELL, IS THERE ANY GUARANTEE THAT THOSE JOBS WILL ACTUALLY GO TO THE RESIDENTS AT EZRA PRENTICE?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

PROJECT IS A FUNCTION OF THE FACT THAT THE PORT OF ALBANY IS AN INDUSTRIAL PART OF THE CITY.

IT'S NOT ACTUALLY A RESULT OF THE DEMANDS OF THE RESIDENTS.

SO THEY'RE TRYING TO SORT OF RETROFIT THE PROJECT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE EXISTING COMMUNITY AND JOHN MCDONALD, THE ASSEMBLYMAN WHO REPRESENTS THAT AREA, DID ADDRESS THAT WHEN I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT IT.

>> THE IDEA IS IF YOU LOCATE THE APPRENTICESHIP WITHIN THE PROGRAM AND WE PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO REALLY GO OUT AND RECRUIT PEOPLE TO BE A PART OF IT, IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THERE'S NO GUARANTEE, AS YOU KNOW, WITH ANYTHING.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE HUMAN SPIRIT HAS TO BE MOTIVATED TO PARTICIPATE.

>> SO WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF THE STATE ACTUALLY FOLLOWS THROUGH ON THAT AND IF IT'S ACTUALLY SUCCESSFUL.

>> THANKS FOR THAT REPORT, DARRELL.

SO WE TALK A LOT ON THIS SHOW ABOUT ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN NEW YORK AND THERE'S A LOT TO THAT CONVERSATION.

LIKE HOW TO TREAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY OPTION FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IN CRISIS IS TO EITHER WAIT IT OUT OR GET A VISIT FROM THE POLICE AND SOMETIMES THAT CAN MAKE THINGS WORSE.

BUT THERE'S NOW A NEW IDEA IN THE WORKS TO SET UP A HOTLINE FOR MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES KIND OF LIKE FOR 911 BUT FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND THAT WOULD COME WITH A WHOLE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE THAT COULD TAKE LAW ENFORCEMENT OUT OF THE SITUATION TOGETHER.

FOR MORE ON THAT, I SPOKE WITH SENATE MENTAL HEALTH CHAIR SAMRA BROUK.

SENATOR SAMRA BROUK, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> OF COURSE.

YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING.

IT'S A UNIQUE IDEA.

IT'S A THREE-DIGIT NUMBER THAT PEOPLE CAN CALL WHEN THEY'RE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, KIND OF SIMILAR TO THINK OF 911 BUT THIS WOULD BE 988.

SO LET'S START WITH-- TELL ME WHAT KINDS OF CALLS WOULD GO INTO THIS NUMBER IF THIS HAPPENS?

ARE THESE STRICTLY MEANT AT HEALTH EMERGENCIES?

ARE THESE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR HELP?

WHO WOULD IT COVER?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, AND THE THINK 9 WAY YOU LAID IT OUT THERE IS CORRECT.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE REALLY OVERBURDENED THE 911 SYSTEM WITH ESSENTIALLY ANYTIME ANYONE HAS ANYTHING URGENT OR EMERGENCY SITUATION.

SO THE REAL IDEA BEHIND 988 IS WE WANT THE PARALLEL SYSTEM.

YOU'VE GOT YOUR 911 SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL OR FIRE OR POLICE EMERGENCIES AND WE WANT THAT SAME THING, 988, FOR ANY SORT OF MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE EMERGENCIES, AND SO WHAT I MIGHT LIKEN IT TO IS, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THIS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFE LINE WHERE IF SOMEONE IS FEELING SUICIDAL OR THEY'RE FEELING LIKE THEY'RE IN SOME SORT OF CRISIS, THEY CAN CALL IT, BUT IT'S THIS LONG 1-800 NUMBER, AND SO THE POINT OF 988, ESPECIALLY HERE IN NEW YORK STATE,THAT IT'S AN EASY-TO-REMEMBER NUMBER THAT IF YOU ARE HAVING THOSE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS OR PERHAPS YOU'RE FEELING JUST IN A MOMENT OF CRISIS AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU NEED HELP, THAT'S A NUMBER THAT YOU CAN CALL THAT YOU'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO GET PAIRED WITH, TRAINED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS AND PROVIDER TO HELP YOU GET WHAT WE WOULD CALL THIS KIND OF RED HOT MOMENT OF CRISIS TO A COOL MOMENT WHERE YOU ARE ABLE TO MOVE ON WITH YOUR DAY AND/OR GET THE SERVICES THAT YOU NEED TO GET BETTER.

>> SO IS IT JUST THE PEOPLE YOU WOULD BE CALLING ON THE LINE?

IS IT JUST THOSE TRAINED COUNSELORS?

OR, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS TO BECOME INVOLVED AS WELL?

>> DEFINITELY.

SO RIGHT NOW AND TO JUST MOVE BACKWARDS FOR A MOMENT, THIS IS ALL PART OF A FEDERAL ACT THAT WAS SIGNED INTO A LAW LAST OCTOBER, AND THE FEDERAL ACT SAID THAT EVERY STATE NEEDED TO ADOPT THIS 988 NUMBER AND THAT THE 988 NUMBER HAD TO GO TOWARD THIS SUICIDE PREVENTION LINE SO THAT IN EVERY STATE FOLKS HAD SOMETHING-- HAD SOMEONE TO CALL, SOMEWHERE TO CALL FOR A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE CRISIS.

SO NOT ONLY WILL THERE BE TRAINED COUNSELORS ANSWERING THESE CALLS AS THERE IS NOW WITH THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFE LINE, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN WHAT WE CALL MOBILE CRISIS TEAMS, WHICH DO BECOME THESE FIRST RESPONDERS TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER A CALL WHERE PERHAPS SOMEONE DOES NEED SOMEONE TO COME TO THEM AND HELP THEM WITH WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.

THE KEY IS RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NO EMERGENCY LINE STATEWIDE FOR SOMEONE TO CALL WHEN THEY'RE IN A CRISIS LIKE THAT SO THE FIRST STEP WOULD BE MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THIS 988 INFRASTRUCTURE SET UP AND THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE TO MANAGE AND ANSWER THESE CALLS.

>> SO SINCE IT'S PART OF THE FEDERAL PROGRAM, IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING IT, OR DOES THE STATE HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY?

I GUESS, HOW WOULD THIS BE FUNDED?

I KNOW THAT THE COUNTIES OFTEN HAVE CONCERNS WHAT THEY CALL UNFUNDED MANDATES FROM THE STATE WHERE THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE A SERVICE BY BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE FUNDING TO DO IT.

>> YEAH.

SO THE WHOLE POINT OF ACTUALLY HAVING THIS ACT WHERE THE STATES, THEMSELVES, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING UP 988 IS THAT WE REALLY ARE GOING TO RUN IT JUST LIKE THE 911 PROGRAM, AND I DO WANT TO DIG IN THAT FOR A MOMENT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUTLINE THAT WE HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY WITHHELD FUNDING, DECREASED FUNDING TO A LOT OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES IN THIS STATE, BUT ALSO ON A FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL.

WE ARE SIMPLY, YOU KNOW, MISSED THE MARK OF UNDERSTANDING THAT MENTAL HEALTH CARE IS HEALTH CARE.

THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS PHYSICAL HEALTH.

SO WHAT 988 DOES IS IT CREATES THAT ENTIRE INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE PLAN ON FUNDING IT SIMILAR TO HOW WE FUND 911.

WHERE IT'S A SMALL AMOUNT THAT MOST OF US PROBABLY DON'T NOTICE THAT PAYS FOR 9113 WILL USE A SIMILAR AMOUNT WITH FOLKS WITH WIRELESS FUNDS AND IT WILL BE LIKE 911, BUT IT WILL BE THE 988 TRUST FUND THAT GETS USED FOR MANAGING 988, BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE TO ANSWER THOSE CALLS HERE IN NEW YORK STATE.

>> SO IT SEEMS LIKE THIS REALLY COMPLEMENTS A PART OF THE STATE BUDGET WHICH SET UP WHAT IS CALLED CRISIS STABILIZATION CENTERS, WHICH ARE ESSENTIALLY THESE FACILITIES THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO IF THEY'RE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OR A SUBSTANCE USE CRISIS.

HOW DO YOU THINK THEY'LL WORK TOGETHER?

DO WE SEE THESE MOBILE RESPONSE TEAMS GOING TO PEOPLE AND BRINGING THEM TO THE STABILIZATION CENTERS?

ON THAT NOTE, DO WE SEE LAW ENFORCEMENT BEING REMOVED FROM THAT EQUATION?

>> YES.

THERE'S A LOT TO ANSWER THERE AND I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, IF WE STEP BACK A STEP AND WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS AND WE PASSED THE BUDGET TO DO IMPLEMENT THE MEANT AT HEALTH BUDGET THAT I OVERSAW AND WE REALLY STARTED TALKING ABOUT MORE HOW ARE WE GOING TO TACKLE THIS CHALLENGE, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS ALREADY, YOU KNOW, A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS HERE IN NEW YORK STATE.

COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE ISOLATION, THE ANXIETY, THE DEPRESSION THAT CAME WITH IT, REMOVAL OF YOUR NORMAL ROUTINES, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG FOLKS, HAS ALL EXACERBATED THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN THIS STATE.

THE CRISIS MOBILIZATION CENTERS ARE LIKE AN URGENT CARE BUT FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

THE NEW YORK STATE BUDGET DOES ALLOW FOR NOW THE STUDY OF CRISIS STABILIZATION CENTERS AND REALLY PUTTING TOGETHER A PLAN FOR WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE ACROSS THE STATE.

IT WILL LOOK DIFFERENT.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU LIVE IN BROOKLYN THAN IF YOU LIVE UP HERE IN ROCHESTER OR IN PERHAPS SOME OF THE RURAL AREAS OF NEW YORK STATE.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH OMH TO DO NOW IS REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT DOES THIS CRISIS STABILIZATION CENTER MODEL LOOK LIKE AND HOW CAN WE LEARN FROM CENTERS THAT EXIST TODAY.

FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S ONE IN DUCHESS COUNTY THAT OPERATES.

IT ALLOWS FOR DETOXIFICATION, IF NECESSARY.

IT ALLOWS FOR A PLACE FOR SOMEONE TO GO WHO MIGHT BE IN CRISIS AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT GIVES THEM CARE AS OPPOSED TO MEETING THEM WITH ANY SORT OF PUNITIVE AND VIOLENT MEASURES, WHICH AS WE'VE SEEN HAS HAPPENED TIME AND AGAIN WHEN SOMEONE IS IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND IS MET WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT VERSUS THE TYPE OF MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS THAT THEY NEED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

SENATE MENTAL HEALTH CHAIR SAMRA BROUK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW IS EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.

WE'LL PUT SOME INFORMATION UP ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

BUT UNTIL THEN, THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK'S "NEW YORK NOW."

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

[ THEME MUSIC ]