[ THEME MUSIC ] ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," WE'LL BRING YOU THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON THE STATE BUDGET.

NEXT, WE'LL SPEAK WITH THE FORMER DEC COMMISSIONER BASIL SEGGOS GOES ABOUT HIS WORK, TENURE AND LEGACY AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, AND THEN WE'LL EXAMINE THE IMPACT OF AIR POLLUTION AND DISCUSS HOW IT'S BEING ADDRESSED IN NEW YORK STATE.

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.

IT WAS A BUSY WEEK AT THE STATE CAPITOL WITH MAJOR BUDGET PROGRESS.

AT THE TOP OF THE WEEK, GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL ANNOUNCED THE FRAMEWORK FOR A CONCEPTUAL AGREEMENT FOR A $237 BILLION STATE BUDGET.

EACH OF US CAME TO THE TABLE WITH REALLY STRONGLY HELD BELIEFS.

IN THE INTEREST OF OUR STATE, WE PULLED IT TOGETHER TO DELIVER IN A REALLY COLLABORATIVE WAY.

I WILL SAY YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE THAT HERE.

THE GOVERNOR PROVIDED BROAD STROKES OF A BUDGET THAT ADDRESSED SOME OF THE MOST-WATCHED ITEMS INCLUDING HOUSING, EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE.

ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE TOLD REPORTERS THAT THE PENCILS WEREN'T DOWN JUST YET WHEN THE GOVERNOR MADE THE CONCEPTUAL AGREEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT.

MEANWHILE, THE PUBLIC AND LAWMAKERS CLAIM DEMOCRATS WERE ENGAGING IN A BROKEN BUDGET PROCESS.

WE THINK WE HAVE A SPENDING PLAN THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE SOUTH OF $240 BILLION, $240 BILLION.

WE THINK THERE'S A HOUSING PROPOSAL THERE.

WE THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING ON CRIME.

WE THINK THERE MAY BE SOMETHING ON CANNABIS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW.

WE HAVE 211 LEGISLATORS WAITING AROUND TO SEE WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO BE $240 BILLION.

SO I ASK YOU, IS THIS A GOOD WAY TO MAKE PUBLIC POLICY?

IS THIS A GOOD WAY TO DO A BUDGET?

CLEARLY NOT.

BY THE END OF THE WEEK, BOTH CHAMBERS VOTED ON THREE BUDGET BILLS AND LAWMAKERS ALSO VOTED ON THE DEBT SERVICE BILL WHICH ALLOWS THE STATE TO PAY ITS DEBT AT THE END OF MARCH.

SO AS OF THIS MORNING, THAT LEAVES NINE BILLS TO GO.

WHEN SPEAKING WITH REPORTERS, STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS SAID THAT THEY WERE WRAPPING UP ON THE LAST FEW BUDGET ITEMS AND EXPECTED LAWMAKERS TO PASS THE REMAINING BILLS IN THE COMING DAYS.

WE ARE PRETTY MUCH AT THE END OF WHAT HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY EVENTFUL BUDGET CYCLE.

WE'LL BRING YOU AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE FINAL ENACTED BUDGET IN A LATER SHOW.

NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER TOPIC.

FOR MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS, BASIL SEGGOS LED THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION WHICH IS THE LONGEST TENURE OF ANY DEC COMMISSIONER.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH SEGGOS DURING HIS LAST DAYS WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO UNPACK HIS WORK AND LEGACY.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH US, COMMISSIONER.

GREAT TO BE WITH YOU, SHANTEL.

THANKS FOR COMING IN.

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR DECISION TO TAKE A STEP BACK FROM THE DEPARTMENT.

I IMAGINE AFTER OVER EIGHT YEARS, IT WAS A DIFFICULT DECISION.

SO WHAT WAS THAT DECISION-MAKING PROCESS LIKE?

YEAH.

THIS PLACE IS LIKE A SECOND HOME IN A WAY.

I MEAN, THE NUMBER OF DAYS I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 2015.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S BEEN A LONG RUN.

I THINK IT WAS WHEN MY STAFF BROUGHT IN THE PLAQUE LAST YEAR, NOTING THAT I HAD BEEN THE LONGEST SERVING COMMISSIONER.

I STARTED TO THINK, WOW, MAYBE IT'S A SIGN, TIME TO MOVE ON.

IT IS A GREAT JOB.

I MEAN, EVERY SINGLE DAY IN THIS JOB IS A PRIVILEGE.

IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK, AND YOU JUST KNOW WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO.

I MEAN, THERE'S A REASON THAT COMMISSIONERS ARE SHORT-TIMERS GENERALLY.

THE CAREER STAFF ARE THE ONES THAT REALLY RUN THIS AGENCY FOR 20, 40, 50 YEARS IN SOME CASES THE COMMISSIONERS COME ALONG AND KIND OF PULL SOME LEVERS.

I THINK I HAVE DONE AS WELL AS I COULD TO PULL THOSE LEVERS OVER THE LAST EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS.

IT'S TIME TO TURN THE REIGNS OVER TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING RUN.

YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO STAY ON UNTIL THE STATE BUDGET WAS PASSED.

SO I WAS CURIOUS, WHAT TYPE OF FUNDING WERE YOU HOPING TO GET FOR THE DEPARTMENT IN THE FINAL STATE BUDGET?

WHAT ARE YOUR CONVERSATIONS LIKE WITH THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT.

?

LISTEN, WE'VE HAD NOTHING BUT AN AMAZING RUN OF SUPPORT FROM THIS GOVERNOR AND THIS LEGISLATURE AS WELL.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL REALLY PUT HER STAMP ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

EVERYONE TALK ABOUT THE BIG THINGS AND RIGHTLY SO.

LIKE THE BOND ACT, WHICH IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT.

I OFTEN LOOK AT THE BIG THINGS AS THE MORE MUNDANE ISSUES.

HOW MUCH IS OUR BUDGET INCREASED?

OUR ANNUAL BUDGET IN THIS AGENCY.

HOW MUCH HAS OUR STAFFING INCREASED?

UNDER THIS GOVERNOR, WE ARE WAY UP ON BOTH THOSE THINGS.

THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE AND THE DOLLARS THAT WE NEED TO SPEND WHO ARE CARRYING OUT THE REALLY IMPORTANT WORK THAT THE PUBLIC WANTS US TO DO.

WE JUST CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT RESOURCES.

THIS GOVERNOR HAS BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE ON THAT FRONT.

THIS BUDGET IS A STRONG ONE AS WELL.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S EXTRAORDINARY DEBATE ABOUT WHERE DOLLARS SHOULD BE SPENT AND HOW MUCH SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO VARIOUS PROGRAMS BUT ULTIMATELY, AND I LOOK BACK NOW.

I HAVE AN EIGHT AND A HALF YEAR LENS ON THIS.

I STARTED, WE WERE REALLY SCRAPING BY.

WE HAD LOW STAFFING NUMBERS.

WE HAD A VERY SMALL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FUND, $136 MILLION.

NOW IT'S $400 MILLION.

WE HAD ZERO OTHER CAPITAL DOLLARS AND NOW ALMOST $9.7 BILLION.

WE JUST LOOK AT THE CHANGE IN SUPPORT THAT WE'VE GOTTEN OVER THAT TIME FROM THIS GOVERNOR AND THIS LEGISLATURE.

IT REALLY IS EXTRAORDINARY, AND YOU KNOW, I WILL LEAVE IT TO THE NEXT COMMISSIONER TO COME IN HERE AND FIND A PLACE THAT'S REALLY WELL RUN, THAT HAS RESOURCES TO CARRY OUT THE MISSION AND READY FORTH HUGE CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE.

AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU HAVE A LONG RESUME OF ENVIRONMENTAL WORK, BUT WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT SURPRISED YOU WHEN YOU TOOK ON THE POSITION OF BEING AT THE HELM OF THE DEPARTMENT?

OH, MY GOD.

EVERY DAY.

I'M SURPRISED EVEN TODAY, I MEAN, SERIOUSLY, I THINK THAT'S WHAT I BROUGHT TO THE JOB IS JUST A BIG, OPEN MIND AND A QUEST FOR LEARNING ABOUT THE AGENCY AND ITS PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU TOLD ME THE DAY I STARTED THAT WE WOULD HAVE BECOME A PLUMBING COMPANY WITHIN TWO MONTHS, I NEVER WOULD HAVE BELIEVED IT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

WE HIT THE VILLAGE IN THE FALLS AND I TALKED ABOUT THAT, QUITE RECENTLY AND LOST ALL OF ITS WATER AND FORCED US INTO A CREATIVE POSTURE IN HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT.

IT REALLY BROUGHT US 600 STAFF INTO A CRISIS INTERVENTION GOING HOUSE TO HOUSE INSTALLING PLUMBING IN PEOPLE'S HOUSES.

THAT WAS JUST A HUGE PARADIGM SHIFT IN MY MIND ABOUT WHAT THIS AGENCY CAN DO.

WE'VE DONE-- YOU KNOW, WE WERE REACTIVE IN COVID.

WE BUILT AND MANAGED THE DRIVE-THRU TESTING FACILITIES, THE VACCINE SITES.

WE DELIVERED FOOD TO PEOPLE WHO WERE HOMEBOUND AND HUNGRY.

WE ARE SO CREATIVE HERE.

IT'S NOT JUST A MISSION AND THE SORT OF, YOU KNOW, TRADITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL WORK THAT WE DO HERE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS AGENCY THAT DO INCREDIBLE STUFF THAT IS WAY BEYOND THEIR ABILITY AND I THINK WE HAVE A REAL TEAM APPROACH TO THINGS.

THAT ALWAYS SURPRISES ME.

JUST THE KINDS OF THINGS WE CAN DO.

THAT'S GOT TO MAKE PEOPLE, I THINK, FEEL LIKE THIS IS A GOOD GOVERNMENT, IT'S A WELL-RUN AGENCY, CALL UPON THEM TO DO LOTS OF REALLY IMPORTANT WORK, AND IT HELPS RESTORE FAITH IN GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, AS I THINK WE'RE AT A TIME RIGHT NOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TESTED, THEIR BELIEFS AND INSTITUTIONS FOR LOTS OF REASONS, AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE IN THESE POSITIONS TO RUN THIS PLACE WITH A SENSE OF INTEGRITY AND PROVE THAT GOVERNMENT CAN BE A FORCE FOR GOOD.

AND ARE THERE ANY ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OR THE TIME TO FOCUS ON THAT YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, DOVE INTO MORE?

GOD, THAT PROBABLY KEPT ME COMING BACK.

JUST KNOWING THAT THERE'S THE NEXT BIG THING TO WORK ON.

I MEAN, A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS LIKE TAKE CLIMATE CHANGE.

THIS IS A FIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE LAUNCHING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE 30 YEARS REALLY TO PLAY OUT.

I KNOW I CAN'T LAST THAT LONG, RIGHT?

RIGHT.

IN THIS JOB.

AND YOU TAKE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE THE SAME THING.

THE DISINVESTMENT OVER 30 YEARS AND NOW WE'RE REALLY HITTING IT, COMING ON HARD, JUST ANNOUNCED ANOTHER $150 MILLION OF INVESTMENT INTO WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT WILL NEVER END ALSO.

YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS THAT I THINK I HAVEN'T DONE AS MUCH AS I'D LIKE INVOLVE MORE OF THE AGENCY, ITSELF, THE STRUCTURE OF THE AGENCY, THE SORT OF MODERNIZATION OF THE AGENCY AND ITS CULTURE, ITS PEOPLE, DIVERSITY IN NUMBERS ARE STILL VERY LOW IN THIS AGENCY.

WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF FOUNDATIONAL WORK TO CHANGE THAT.

THE PIPE LINE'S INTO THE AGENCY, THE RETENTION ISSUES AND YET WE STILL HAVE, IT'S KIND OF TRADITIONAL MODEL OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, REALLY A THROWBACK.

YOU KNOW, FOR ME, PUTTING THE OFFICE OF DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND CIVIL RIGHTS, THAT WAS MY CHANCE, MY LAST CHANCE TO PUT IN PLACE SOMETHING DURABLE THAT WILL OUTLIVE ME.

THAT'S WHAT I AM MOST REGRETTING OF IS THAT I DIDN'T GET THAT DONE EARLIER.

IN TERMS OF REDUCING THE STATE'S CARBON FOOTPRINT, I WANTED TO TOUCH ON THE CLIMATE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT, WHICH WE KNOW HAS BENCHMARKS IN 2030, 2040, 2050, ONGOING BENCHMARKS.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE PROGRESS?

I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST IN.

THERE ARE A LOT OF EYES ON IT.

EVERYONE'S VERY EXCITED, BUT ALSO NERVOUS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MEET THOSE BENCHMARKS, BUT FROM YOUR PURVIEW, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE PROGRESS BEING MADE?

LISTEN, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE MY THOUGHT ON THE AGENCY'S DIVERSITY HERE.

WE ESTABLISHED THE FOUNDATION.

WE SET THE TARGETS, WHICH IS GOOD.

THAT WAS EASY.

IN FACT, IT WAS THE LEGISLATION THAT SET THE TARGETS AND NOW IT'S ON US AND HAS BEEN ON US FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS TO BUILD THE PLAN TO HIT THE TARGETS.

WE'RE NOW IN SORT OF YEAR ONE-ISH OF CRAFTING THESE LONG-TERM POLICIES THAT WILL THEN CARRY THAT OUT.

IT SOUNDS VERY BUREAUCRATIC AND SLOW.

PARTLY BY DESIGN.

I MEAN, IT WAS ENVISIONED BY THE LAW BUT ALSO THIS IS SUCH A DRAMATIC CHANGE THAT THE LAW ENVISIONS, THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS STEP-WISE IN NATURE AND INVOLVES THE PUBLIC AND PUT STAKEHOLDERS' CONCERNS AT EASE.

ULTIMATELY, WE SEE THE BENEFITS OF THE ACTION.

WE KNOW WHAT IT WILL DO FOR NEW YORK.

IT WILL BRING EXTRAORDINARY NUMBER OF NEW JOBS.

IT WILL GENERATE INCREDIBLE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

IT WILL REDUCE AIR POLLUTION LOCALLY.

IT WILL LITERALLY SAVE LIVES, YOU KNOW, UPWARDS OF 1,500 PEOPLE A YEAR OVER A NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE.

WE'LL SURVIVE BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WE DO.

SO IF YOU WANT TO HIT THOSE NUMBERS, YOU WANT TO HIT-- GET ALL THOSE BENEFITS LONG TERM, YOU'VE GOT TO CREATE A PATHWAY THAT DOESN'T SCARE EVERYONE OFF BECAUSE CHANGE IS SCARY.

AND THIS IS ECONOMYWIDE.

IT TOUCHES EVERY PART OF NEW YORK STATE AND EVERY PART OF THE ECONOMY.

WE HAVE TO DO IT IN A VERY DELIBERATIVE MANNER WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF PUBLIC MEETINGS THOUSANDS OF PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE HAVEN'T CRACKED THE SURFACE YET.

WE WILL BE AT THIS FOR YEARS TO COME AND RIGHTLY SO.

I THINK WE WILL, YOU KNOW, BE CHALLENGED TO HIT THE TARGETS.

THIS IS NOT AN EASY SLAM DUNK, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS GOVERNOR BEHIND US.

I MEAN, GOVERNOR HOCHUL SAID DO IT, COME UP WITH A PLAN, IMPLEMENT THE PLAN AND MAKE IT NATION LEADING.

SO LOTS OF WORK GOING ON IN ADDITION TO HITTING THOSE TARGETS.

WE HAVE ALL THE WORK AND WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY ON THE WAY IN THE STREET, SOLAR, HEAT PUMP INDUSTRY COMING ONBOARD, VEHICLES, AND ALL THAT IS UNDERWAY.

WE'RE NOT STARTING AT ZERO.

THE LONG-TERM PLAN WILL BE A REAL CHALLENGE.

WE'LL MEET IT.

YEARS FROM NOW WHEN HISTORIANS LOOK BACK AT YOUR TENURE YOU'RE, LEADING THE DEPARTMENT, WHAT LEGACY-- ONE HISTORIAN MAYBE.

ALL HISTORIANS, WHAT LEGACY ARE YOU HOPING TO HAVE HAD?

I THINK THAT I WOULD BE REMEMBERED AS BEING SOMEBODY WHO WAS AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME, WHO HAD THE RIGHT MINDSET TO BRING THIS AGENCY TO NEW LEVELS, NEW HEIGHTS, YOU KNOW.

THAT IS LIFE IN GENERAL, RIGHT?

YOU SORT OF ARE-- YOU CAN PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THESE KINDS OF JOBS.

YOU CAN STUDY.

YOU CAN LEARN, YOU CAN GET PROFESSIONAL DEGREES, BUT SUCCESS SOMETIMES IS A PRODUCT OF CIRCUMSTANCE.

I MEAN, I CAME IN DURING SORT OF A MODERN REBIRTH OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER, THOSE TWO THINGS.

PEOPLE BEGIN TO COME AROUND TO THAT.

IT HAPPENED TO BE DURING MY TENURE.

SO I THINK-- I THINK I COMPETENTLY MANAGED THIS AGENCY, BUT ALSO I WAS ABLE TO LEAD WITHIN THE STATE, LEAD ISSUES, LEAD INITIATIVES AND LEAD PEOPLE DURING THIS TIME AND I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BIG TEAM EFFORT.

SO AGAIN, I'M GOING TO BE HUMBLE ON THESE THINGS.

I WORK WITH A FEW THOUSAND PEOPLE HERE WHO REALLY ARE THE HEROES.

AWESOME.

WE WISH YOU THE ABSOLUTE BEST.

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

GOOD TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU.

THANK YOU.

WE WERE SPEAKING WITH COMMISSIONER BASIL SEGGOS GOES, OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] NOW THAT THE LONGTIME DEC COMMISSIONER HAS LEFT THE DEPARTMENT, IT'S UP TO THE GOVERNOR TO NOMINATE A NEW LEADER WHO WILL THEN BE CONFIRMED BY THE STATE SENATE.

IN THE MEANTIME, SEAN MAHAR, WHO WORKED AS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER UNDER SEGGOS, WILL BE LEADING THE DEPARTMENT AS INTERIM COMMISSIONER WE WILL BRING YOU UPDATES ON WHO WILL BE TAPPED AS THE PERMANENT LEADER OF THE DEPARTMENT IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

APART FROM GOING THROUGH LEADERSHIP CHANGES, THE DEC HAS BEEN LEADING THE COMMUNITY AIR MONITORING INITIATIVE, A STUDY LOOKING AT AIR POLLUTION IN DISADVANTAGED LOCATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

AS REPORTED BY THE EPA, INHALING CARBON HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING CANCER AND BIRTH DEFECTS.

PRODUCER DANA WRIGHT SPOKE WITH THE DEC AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS FOR A DEEP DIVE ON THE IMPACT OF AIR POLLUTION.

HERE'S THAT STORY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] [ UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING ] I WAS GOING FOR A JOG WITH JOSH MERLIS OF THE ALBANY RUNNING EXCHANGE.

WE WERE IN WATERVLIET, RIGHT NEXT TO I-787.

787 RUNS THROUGH A DENSELY POPULATED AREA OF THE CAPITOL REGION.

DUE TO ITS PROXIMITY TO THE HUDSON RIVER, IT ALSO RUNS BY SEVERAL PLACES WHERE PEOPLE LIKE TO GET FRESH AIR AND EXERCISE.

BUT WITH ALL THIS TRAFFIC, IS THE AIR REALLY THAT FRESH?

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU THINK WE'RE BREATHING IN RIGHT NOW FROM ALL THE CARS?

WELL, WHATEVER'S COMING OUT OF THEIR EXHAUST PIPES WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING I REALLY WANT TO BE BREATHING.

AFTER OUR RUN, DURING WHICH NO CAMERAMEN WERE INJURED, I KEPT THINKING ABOUT AIR QUALITY.

I, MYSELF, LIVE CLOSE TO THE HIGHWAY.

I WONDER WHAT THAT MEANS FOR ME AND MY NEIGHBORS.

I KNOW THOSE CARS WERE EMITTING SOMETHING THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR OUR HEALTH OR FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT.

SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

SO WITH THESE THOUGHTS IN MIND, I DECIDED TO HEAD OVER TO U ALBANY'S E-TECH BUILDING, WHERE I MET WITH DR. SARA LANCE, A RESEARCHER AT THE ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER.

WE HAD A QUICK TALK ABOUT BREAKFAST.

ARE YOU A KETCHUP WITH EGGS PERSON?

NO.

AND THEN GOT DOWN TO BUSINESS.

IF I'M STANDING NEXT TO A HIGHWAY, WHAT ARE MANY SOFT THINGS THAT I'M LIKELY BREATHING IN IN THAT SITUATION?

NEXT TO A HIGHWAY, YOU'RE GOING TO GET DEFINITELY PARTICULATE MATTER, AEROSOLS IS ANOTHER WORD FOR IT.

THESE ARE PARTICLES THAT ARE SUSPENDED IN AIR.

EACH ONE IS TOO SMALL TO SEE WITH YOUR EYE, BUT THEY'RE ALWAYS AROUND US.

ACTUALLY IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW (HEAVY HEART BEATING NOISE IN BACKGROUND) AND EACH CENTIMETER CUBED OF VOLUME OF AIR COMING OUT OF YOUR TAIL PIPE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE.

THERE'S ALSO GASES LIKE CARBON MONOXIDE, WHICH ARE VERY HARMFUL TO HUMANS.

SO THESE LITTLE AEROSOL PARTICLES, WHAT ARE THEY MADE OF?

SO THE PARTICLES, ESPECIALLY THE ONES COMING OUT OF YOUR TAIL PIPE, MOSTLY, IT'S GOING TO BE CARBONACIOUS AEROSOLS, SO ORGANIC MATERIALS AND ALSO BLACK CARBON, WHICH IS LIKE SOOT.

THE EPA SAYS THAT BREATHING IN BLACK CARBON IS ASSOCIATED WITH CARDIOVASCULAR AND RESPIRATORY ISSUES, AND APPARENTLY THESE PARTICLES ARE SO TINY THAT THEY CAN EASILY ENTER DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR BODIES.

FRESHLY COMBUSTED PARTICLES ARE VERY SMALL.

THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

IT'S NOT JUST THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION THAT MIGHT MATTER.

IT'S ALSO THE SIZE.

THEY CAN GO ACTUALLY INTO YOUR CELLS.

THEY CAN PASS INTO YOUR BODY AND GET TRANSFERRED TO OTHER PARTS OF YOUR BODY AS WELL.

IF ANYBODY TRIES TO WORK TO REDUCE THAT, IT CAUSES INFLAMMATION, WHICH IS YOUR BODY'S RESPONSE TO THE POLLUTION.

AEROSOL PARTICLES ARE A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED AS FAR AS THEIR EFFECT ON CLIMATE.

BUT BLACK CARBON SPECIFICALLY IS BLACK.

IT ABSORBS LIGHT.

IT BECOMES WARMER.

THEY'RE TINY LITTLE PARTICLES ABOUT YOU THEY'RE DISTRIBUTED OVER A LARGE ENOUGH AREA, HE CAN HAVE QUITE A BIG WARMING EFFECT.

IF YOU HAVE ICE OR SNOW, WHICH USUALLY IS LIGHT.

IT'S VERY REFLECTIVE.

IT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF BLACK, RIGHT?

IF YOU GOOD IT THAT AEROSOL PARTICLE DEPOSITING ONTO THAT IT WILL MAKE IT DARKER.

THAT WILL MELT FAST PERMIT WILL HAVE A WARMING EFFECT ON THE AIR AROUND IT AS WELL.

THERE ARE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ABOUT BLACK CARBON THAT ENDS UP IN ARCTIC CLIMATES AND IN NEW YORK, THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT THE HEALTH OF FOLKS WHO ARE REGULARLY EXPOSED TO DIESEL TRUCKS, ONE OF THE MAJOR SOURCES OF BLACK CARBON.

ONCE I HAD A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF AEROSOL POLLUTION, I DECIDED TO FOCUS MY ATTENTION ON WHAT ACTIONS NEW YORK COULD BE TAKING TO ADDRESS IT.

THAT'S WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AIR MONITORING INITIATIVE, A DEC STUDY LOOKING AT AIR POLLUTION IN TEN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

I'M ABOUT TO HEAD OVER TO THE DEC BUILDING TO DISCUSS THIS INITIATIVE WITH MARGARET LAFARR, WHO IS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF AIR RESOURCES.

WAY UP THERE.

YEAH.

SO COMMUNITY AIR MONITORING INITIATIVE WAS ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CLIMATE ACT.

IT DIRECTED US TO LOOK AT AIR QUALITY IN FOUR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.

THE GOVERNOR INCREASED THAT TO TEN AND WE CONTRACTED WITH A COMPANY CALLED ACCLIMA.

ACCLIMA HAS SENSORS INSTALLED IN THE BACK OF TOYOTA PRIUSES.

THEY DRIVE AROUND COMMUNITIES AND GATHER DATA CONTINUOUSLY.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS DATA COLLECTION WAS TO IDENTIFY SOURCES OF POLLUTION.

AND THEN RECOMMEND STRATEGIES TO REDUCE EMISSIONS OR AT LEAST REDUCE EXPOSURE.

ONE OF THE MAIN FINDINGS IS THAT AIR POLLUTION IS HIGHEST NEAR ROADWAYS.

NOT SURPRISING.

THE BEST WAY TO REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM ROADWAYS IS ELECTRIFICATION OF THE FLEETS.

BUT WE KNOW THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME.

THERE COULD BE WAYS TO PRIORITIZE WHERE SOME OF THE SPENDING GOES FOR ELECTRIC CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, ELECTRIC BUSES AT SCHOOLS, BUT ON THE EXPOSURE SIDE, WE COULD MAYBE RECOMMEND AIR FILTRATION SYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY AT SENSITIVE RECEPTORS.

I ALSO MET WITH THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR EQUITY AND JUSTICE, ANDRIANA ESPINOZA, TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE DEC IS WORKING WITH THE TEN COMMUNITIES FROM THE INITIATIVE.

MOVING FORWARD NOW FROM STUDY TO MITIGATION PHASE IN THIS PROGRAM AND HOW WE'LL WORK WITH THE COMMUNITIES IS TO EMPOWER THEM TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY PRIORITIES BASED ON WHAT THE DATA HAS SHOWN.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE SAY, HEY, IT SEEMS LIKE POLLUTION IN THIS AREA IS A LITTLE BIT HIGH.

YOU KNOW WHAT IF WE CHANGED THE TRUCK ROUTES SO THAT WE CAN MOVE SOME DIESEL TRUCKS OFF THIS AREA?

AND A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SOLUTION MIGHT BE TO LET US KNOW, HEY, THIS PROPOSED TRUCK ROUTE GOES THROUGH AN AREA WHERE WE HAVE DAYCARES AND SCHOOLS.

WE WOULD PREPARE NOT TO HAVE THIS.

HOW ABOUT, INSTEAD, WE CONSIDER VEGETATIVE SOLUTIONS AND WE TRY TO PUT IN BUSHES AND TREES AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT CAN CREATE PHYSICAL BARRIERS AND GREEN BARRIERS BETWEEN THE POLLUTION AND THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S NOT JUST NEW YORK STATE AND DEC SETTING THE MENU.

THE MENU IS DRIVEN BY, AGAIN, PEOPLE ON THE GROUND.

[ SOUND OF TRAFFIC ] WHAT MAKES AIR QUALITY AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUE?

SO AIR QUALITY HAS BEEN A CONCERN FOR LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, REALLY, FOR GENERATIONS AND IT'S IN LARGE PART DUE TO A LEGACY OF HISTORIC DISCRIMINATION AND PAST HARM IN ZONING AND LAND USE AND SITING DECISIONS THAT TEND TO CONCENTRATION FACILITIES MORE ASSOCIATED WITH AIR POLLUTION IN LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR NEW YORKERS, IN GENERAL, TO KNOW THIS IS NOT JUST A STUDY.

SOMETIMES WE FEEL A SENSE OF SORT OF STUDY FATIGUE OR ENGAGEMENT FATIGUE FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE'RE REQUIRED BY LAW TO TAKE BACK WHAT WE LEARNED AND DEVELOP STATEWIDE MITIGATION STRATEGIES.

WHEN LOOKING AT EMISSIONS, IN GENERAL, REMEMBER THAT A LOT OF POLLUTION IS INTERTWINED.

SO THINGS THAT ARE SOURCES OF GREENHOUSE GASES CAN ALSO BE SOURCES OF COPOLLUTANTS.

THIS MEANS THAT ADDRESSING THOSE SOURCES CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, BUT EVEN WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION AND PROGRAMS TAKING PLACE, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

AND THAT CAN BE FRUSTRATING.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO AIR QUALITY, MARGARET HAS A REASON FOR TO US BE HOPEFUL.

MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE MADE IN OUR AIR.

GROWING UP IN THE '70S, JUST THE SMELL AND THE COLORS OF THE SMOKE COMING OUT OF A SMOKE STACK WERE SO MUCH MORE PROMINENT THAN THEY ARE NOW.

NEW YORK CITY WAS HORRIBLE.

YOU KNOW, YOU COULDN'T SEE MORE THAN A BLOCK AWAY, AND WHILE WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO, WE HAVE MADE SOME HUGE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE AIR QUALITY.

WE ARE CAPABLE OF MAKING POSITIVE CHANGE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE AND WE CAN DO IT AGAIN, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO WITH THIS SERIES.

WHAT OTHER WORK IS HAPPENING IN NEW YORK TO IMPROVE OUR ENVIRONMENT?

YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT TIME TO FIND OUT.

UNTIL THEN, I'LL SEE YOU OUTSIDE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] FOR MORE NEW YORK AND CLIMATE EPISODES, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

AND AS WE ATTEMPT TO BE A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE SOCIETY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND SHED LIGHT ON SOME OF THE MOST HISTORIC ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES SO THAT THEY ARE NOT REPEATED.

ONE OF THEM IS KNOWN AS THE LOVE CANAL TRAGEDY.

IN THE LATE 1970S, IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE 15-ACRE NEIGHBORHOOD IN NIAGARA FALLS HAD BEEN BUILT ATOP DOZENS OF GALLONS OF TOXIC CHEMICALS.

RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BANNED TOGETHER TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE ISSUE AND PROMPT ACTION ON THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS.

ONE OF THOSE NEIGHBORS WAS LUELLA KENNY.

AT THE TIME, IT WAS SUSPECTED THAT HER SON, JOE KENNY, DEATH WAS LINKED TO THE TOXIC CHEMICAL ENVIRONMENT.

SO IT'S ABOUT YOU PEOPLE WOKE UP AND STOPPED FOOLING AROUND AROUND HERE AND DO SOMETHING, DO SOMETHING DECENT AND CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS CITY.

I WON'T STAY IN THIS CITY.

I DON'T WANT TO.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE AND ALWAYS STOOD UP FOR THIS CITY.

FORTY-TWO YEARS I'VE BEEN IN THIS CITY, AND NOW I DON'T GIVE A DARN ABOUT IT.

AND IT WASN'T JUST THE KENNY FAMILY.

AFTER THE OUTCRY FROM NEIGHBORS, HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES WERE RELOCATED OUT OF THE AREA AND THEN-PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER EVEN DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

THEN WE LEARNED THAT SEWER HAD A DIRECT CONNECTION TO LOVE CANAL.

AND THEN WE LEARNED THAT DIOXIN HAD BEEN FOUND IN THE SEDIMENTS OF BLACK CREEK.

IN FACT, THE LEVELS FOUND THERE WERE HIGHER THAN THE LEVELS FOUND AT ANY OTHER PLACE IN THE LOVE CANAL AREA.

DIOXIN, OR THE 2378 TETRA CHLORINE DIOXIN IS THERE.

IT'S IN THE SEDIMENTS PRESERVED AS A RESERVOIR.

IT'S PROBABLY IN THE WATER.

IT'S BEING BIOCONCENTRATED IN LIVING SPECIES.

THESE ARE TREMENDOUSLY HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF SUCH A TOXIC CHEMICAL.

WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS PERSON-- THIS FAMILY'S HOUSE IS RIGHT ON THE BANKS OF THAT STREAM?

IT'S FRIGHTENING THAT THEY WOULD BE SO CLOSE TO SUCH A RESERVOIR OF TOXIC CHEMICAL.

LOVE CANAL BECAME AN IMPORTANT STORY THAT CONTINUES TO BE EXAMINED AND REFERENCED TODAY.

YOU CAN WATCH THE "A LOVE CANAL FAMILY DOCUMENTARY" AND FIND INFORMATION ON THE EXPERIENCE FILM, "POISON GROUND, THE TRAGEDY AT THE LOVE CANAL" ON OUR WEBSITE.

AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

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

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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