1 [ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," AMID ESCALATING EVICTIONS AND HOUSING COSTS, WE'LL LOOK AT THE OVERTURNING OF ALBANY'S GOOD CAUSE EVICTION LAW AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR NEW YORK STATE.

AND DAVID LOMBARDO FROM THE CAPITOL PRESS ROOM TALKS WITH OASIS COMMISSIONER CHINAZO CUNNINGHAM ABOUT STATE FUNDING AND PRIORITIES FOR TREATING ADDICTION.

PLUS, WE'LL BREAK DOWN THIS WEEK'S NEWS WITH KEISHA CLUKEY AT BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT AND YANCEY ROY OF NEWSDAY.

I'M CASEY SEILER AND THIS IS "NEW YORK NOW."

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

I'M CASEY SEILER, EDITOR THE OF TIMES UNION IN FOR DAN CLARK.

LAST SUMMER, ALBANY BECAME THE FIRST CITY IN NEW YORK TO PASS GOOD CAUSE EVICTION LEGISLATION.

A YEAR LATER, THAT LAW HAS BEEN OVERTURNED.

NOW LEGISLATORS IN ALBANY ARE PLANNING TO APPEAL THE STATE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION.

WITH GOOD CAUSE EVICTION LEGISLATION FACING AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE, TENANT AND LANDLORD ADVOCACY GROUPS ARE WONDERING WHAT'S NEXT.

"NEW YORK NOW" PARTNERED WITH TIMES UNION REPORTER STEVE HUGHS FOR THIS REPORT ON THE STATE OF GOOD CAUSE EVICTION 2 LEGISLATION IN NEW YORK.

TAKE A LOOK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> IN JULY 2021, ALBANY BECAME THE FIRST CITY IN NEW YORK TO PASS GOOD CAUSE EVICTION LEGISLATION.

THE LAW CAME AT A TIME WHEN A FEDERAL MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WAS SET TO LAPSE.

>> THE BILL THAT WE PASSED LAST JULY TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION TENANT CONCERNS, AS WELL AS LANDLORD CONCERNS, AND WE REALLY DRAFTED A BILL THAT WAS FAIR TO PROTECT GOOD LANDLORDS AS WELL AS GOOD TENANTS.

I THINK THE EVICTION MORATORIUM WAS AN EMERGENCY ACTION BY THE STATE AND BY THE COUNTRY, BUT GOOD CAUSE EVICTION IS BEYOND THAT.

IT GOES BEYOND THE PANDEMIC.

IT GOES TO THE CONSTANT, YOU KNOW, DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITY.

IT GOES TO THE CONSTANT YEAR-AFTER-YEAR PROTECTION OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROTECTION OF OUR RESIDENTS.

>> ALBANY'S GOOD CAUSE EVICTION LAW WASN'T INTENDED TO BE A MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS.

IT STATED THAT LANDLORDS NEEDED A GOOD REASON TO EVICT TENANTS.

SOME JUSTIFICATIONS FOR EVICTION INCLUDED NON-PAYMENT OF RENT, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, OR SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE PROPERTY.

THE LEGISLATION ALSO SET A 5% CAP ON RENT 3 INCREASES.

ANY INCREASES GREATER THAN 5% WOULD REQUIRE JUSTIFICATION THE LEGISLATION WAS A WIN FOR TENANT RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE UNITED TENANTS.

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE 49 YEARS THAT UNITED TENANTS HAS EXISTED, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE WERE ABLE TO TELL TENANTS YOU CAN'T BE EVICTED FOR NO REASON.

THERE HAS TO BE A REASON THAT YOU'RE BEING EVICTED.

THERE HAS TO BE A REASON THAT YOUR RENT IS GETTING HIKED.

>> ADVOCATES FOR THE BILL ARGUED THAT LANDLORDS BENEFIT WHEN TENANTS ARE ABLE TO STAY IN AN APARTMENT LONG TERM.

THEY SUGGESTED LONG-TERM TENANTS HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE MAINTENANCE OF A PROPERTY, WHICH RAISES PROPERTY VALUES OVER TIME, BENEFITING THE OWNERS.

>> IF THIS LAW WAS ABLE TO SUSTAIN ITSELF, IT WOULD GIVE FAMILIES THE RIGHT TO STAY SOMEWHERE.

IT WOULD GIVE KIDS THE RIGHT TO GO TO THE SAME SCHOOL THE WHOLE TIME.

IT FIGHTS CRIME BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT IMPOVERISHING FAMILIES.

FAMILIES AREN'T DESTITUTE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT PLACE TO MAKE A BUCK.

YEAH.

IT MADE A BIG IMPACT.

>> BUT ALBANY'S GOOD CAUSE EVICTION LAW WAS OVERTURNED IN JUNE 2022 BY STATE SUPREME COURT JUDGE 4 CHRISTINA REBA.

JUDGE REBA'S DECISION FOUND THAT THE CITY'S LAW WAS IN CONFLICT WITH A PREEXISTING STATE LAW.

>> THE IMPACT OF IT BEING PUSHED BACK AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IN THE STATE IS THAT IT-- IT PUTS A PAUSE OR A FREEZE ON THE EXPANSION OF IT FOR THE PARTIES.

IT ALSO PUTS ADVERSITY ON PARTIES WHO ALREADY PASSED IT.

THAT'S WHERE THE EMPHASIS IS TO HAVE THE STATE ACT AND THE STATE TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THIS.

BECAUSE WE'VE DONE THE HARD WORK AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

WE'RE NOT PASSING THE BUCK.

WE DID THE WORK.

WE DID WHAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO AND NOW THE COURTS HAVE SAID, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE STATE.

SO NOW WE HAVE TO ASK OUR STATE PARTNERS TO WORK WITH US.

>> THOSE PARTNERS INCLUDE LANDLORDS WHO OPPOSED THE ORIGINAL GOOD CAUSE EVICTION LAW.

OPPONENTS ARGUE THAT GOOD CAUSE EVICTION LEGISLATION NEGATIVELY IMPACTS DEVELOPMENT AND UNDULY LIMITS THE RIGHTS OF LANDLORDS TO MANAGE THEIR PROPERTY.

>> BASICALLY, THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN IF GOOD CAUSE PASSES AS IT SITS TODAY.

THE ONE THING IT WILL DO IS IT WILL STOP LANDLORDS FROM BEING ABLE TO INCREASE RENTS PAST A CERTAIN POINT WHEN THEY DESPERATELY NEED TO MAKE UPGRADES TO THEIR PROPERTIES SO THEY WON'T MAKE THE 5 UPGRADES AND TWO, IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO INHIBIT A RESIDENT FROM MOVING BECAUSE IF THEY ARE NOT-- HOW DO I EXPLAIN THIS?

A RESIDENT IS NOT GOING TO MOVE IF THEY THINK THEIR RENT IS GOING TO GO THROUGH THE ROOF.

THEY'RE GOING TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE AND IT WILL CREATE LESS INVENTORY, WHICH IS NEVER GOOD.

>> THE FUTURE OF ALBANY'S GOOD CAUSE EVICTION LEGISLATION CONTINUES TO BE IN LIMBO.

THE CITY OF ALBANY IS APPEALING THE STATE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION WHICH LEAVES TENANTS IN THE CAPITAL REGION NOT KNOWING WHAT'S NEXT.

>> SO YEAH, A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE CONCERNED AFTER THEY BEGAN ORGANIZING ON THE BACK OF GOOD CAUSE AND ESSENTIALLY TRYING TO ENFORCE GOOD CAUSE OUTSIDE OF THE COURTS THROUGH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, NOW THEY'RE SAYING, WELL, WAIT.

ARE WE PROTECTED STILL?

LIKE, IS THIS WORTH IT?

I WOULD SAY IT'S EVEN MORE WORTH IT.

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE STILL ORGANIZING AND TRYING TO ENFORCE IT, EVEN THOUGH THE COURTS HAVE SAID, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT RIGHT NOW.

>> WE WANT TO LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS THAT KEEP PEOPLE IN HOMES AND WE WANT TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE FOLLOWING ALL THE RULES AND PAYING THEIR RENT ON TIME AND NOT BEING DISRUPTIVE.

SO IN TURN, WE HOPE THAT HELPS 6 BUILD VIBRANT COMMUNITIES AND A PLACE WHERE OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE AND ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE TO NEW YORK.

>> THE SOCIAL BENEFIT JUST NEVER GETS TALKED ABOUT.

BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS LIKE, THIS IS WHAT THE BILL IS AND THIS IS HOW THE LANDLORDS FEEL ABOUT IT AND RARELY DO WE GET TENANT VOICES.

I THINK JUST BEYOND LIKE YOUR KIDS GETTING TO GO TO THE SAME SCHOOL AND BEING CLOSER FRIENDS WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOU GET IT ACTUALLY DEVELOP YOUR IMMEDIATE, LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THERE'S A SYMBIOSIS IN THE COMMUNITY AS A RESULT OF BEING ABLE TO STAY WHERE YOU LIVE.

>> WHEN WE SIT IN THE ROOM SOMETIMES TO TOGETHER, WE FIND OUT THERE'S MORE THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER THAN BRINGS US APART.

I THINK WE DID THAT IN THE CITY OF ALBANY.

I THINK NOBODY GOT EVERYTHING THAT THEY WANTED.

IRGOT ANGRY PHONE CALLS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE, BUT I THINK THIS SOMETHING THAT WAS FAIR AND WE DID SOMETHING THAT WAS GOOD FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR PROPERTY OWNERS.

I HOPE WE CAN GET THIS PROTECTION BACK FOR OUR RESIDENTS BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS FROM LAST YEAR FELT THAT THEY HAD ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE NOW AND EVICTION RATES ARE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF AND TO NOT HAVE THOSE PROTECTIONS FOR SO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS IS 7 VERY WORRISOME AND I'M HOPING WE CAN GET THAT BACK.

I HOPE THE STATE ACTS QUICKLY TO GET THOSE PROTECTIONS BACK FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND NOW TO THIS WEEK'S NEWS.

WE'RE AT THE REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WHERE I'M HAPPY TO BE JOINED BY YANCY ROY FROM NEWSDAY AND KEISHA CLUKEY FROM BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN.

SO WE ARE NOW TALKING ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THIS INCIDENT IN ROCHESTER WHERE GUBERNATORIAL COMMAND LEE ZELDIN WAS ACCOSTED BY A MAN WIELDING A SHARP IMPLEMENT, AND THAT INCIDENT HAS BEEN SUCKED INTO THE ONGOING DEBATE PRESSED BY REPUBLICANS STATEWIDE OVER BAIL REFORM AND OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE CHANGES.

SPECIFICALLY OVER THE CHARGE THAT THIS GENTLEMAN IS FACING.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, HE IS, CHAD WITH WHAT'S CONSIDERED, REALLY, A NON-VIOLENT FELONY.

ON STENSIVELY BECAUSE NO INJURIES OCCURRED, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND OTHER REPORTERS UNDERSTAND IT.

SO IF YOU'RE CHARGED WITH A NON-VIOLENT FELONY, THAT'S NOT SUBJECT TO BAIL, AND SO HE'S BEEN RELEASED, BUT HE'S BEEN CHARGED WITH FEDERAL CRIMES AS WE KNOW AND HE'S NOW UNDER DETENTION.

IT SORT OF GETS AT THE ISSUE OF JUDICIAL-- WHEN THE JUDGES 8 HAVE DISCRETION.

THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE DISCRETION UNDER A LOT OF CHARGES RIGHT NOW, UNDER A LOT OF CRIMES, BUT THE ISSUE IS REALLY WHETHER PEOPLE WHO ARE RELEASED GO ON TO COMMIT OTHER CRIMES AND AS WE REPORTED AND YOUR PAPER IS REPORTED THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN.

IN FACT, IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, THE REARREST RATE HAS KIND OF GONE DOWN FROM WHAT IT WAS THROUGH THE FIRST TWELVE MONTHS OF BAIL REFORM.

>> THIS ALSO IS AN ISSUE BECAUSE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN MONROE COUNTY, SANDRA DOORLEY, WAS AT LEAST BRIEFLY A COCHAIR OF ZELDIN'S CAMPAIGN.

>> YES.

AND I BELIEVE SHE TRIED TO RECUSE HERSELF FROM THIS AND THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION AND I THINK THE BIGGER PICTURE ON THIS IS, YOU KNOW, CRIME IS ALREADY A HUGE ISSUE WITH THE CAMPAIGN SEASON GOING ON.

IT'S GOING TO BE A MAJOR TOPIC IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND LEE ZELDIN NOW HAS THIS, YOU KNOW, REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE THAT HE IS TOUTING ON THIS, AND I THINK KATHY HOCHUL IS GOING TO HAVE TO FIND SOME WAY TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE ON IT OR AT LEAST ADDRESS IT IN TERMS OF VOTERS.

>> WE'VE ALSO SEEN ERIC ADAMS, MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY, OF COURSE, WEIGHING IN THIS WEEK AND SAYING IT'S TIME FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO COME BACK FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION TO 9 FURTHER ADDRESS AS IT WERE ROLL BACK THE BASEMENT REFORM CHANGES.

THAT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE IN THE OFFING, CORRECT?

>> YEAH.

I BELIEVE THEY SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THEY'VE ALREADY COME BACK FOR A SPECIAL SESSION, AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO COME BACK.

A LOT OF THEM-- BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO PRIMARIES THIS YEAR, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ON THE ROAD WITH FURTHER CAM PAINS AND KATHY HOCHUL, HERSELF, IS CAMPAIGNING AND YEAH.

SO I DON'T THINK WE'LL SEE THEM COME BACK, BUT IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENS, I GUESS, AS WE SEE THE POLLING NUMBERS.

>> RIGHT.

>> YEAH, CARL HEASTIE, THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER, HAS FLAT OUT SAID NO AND HE EVEN SAID THAT SOME OF THE EXAMPLES THAT ERIC ADAMS IS CITING HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED IN SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT THEY MADE THROUGH BAIL LAW REFORM.

>> KEISHA, YOU HAD A FASCINATING STORY ABOUT CHANGES THAT THE STATE IS MAKING TO SORT OF TRAINING AND PROTOCOLS AROUND SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND OTHER FORMS OF ABUSE AND TOXIC WORKPLACE ATMOSPHERES.

KIND OF CUSTOMIZING IT AS IT WERE FOR THE AGE OF THE REMOTE WORKPLACE.

>> YES.

SO EVERY FOUR YEARS THIS SEXUAL HARASSMENT MODEL POLICY HAS TO BE REDONE AND YOU KNOW, PUT INTO THE 10 CURRENT TIMES.

SO WE SPOKE WITH EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEYS AND THE STATE BUSINESS COUNCIL ABOUT WHAT THIS NEW-- THESE NEW CHANGES TO THE POLICY COULD LOOK LIKE AND THE ISSUE IS THAT BUSINESSES WOULD THEORETICALLY HAVE TO UPDATE THEIR POLICIES TO MATCH THIS DATE.

ZOOM HAS CHANGED OUR LIVES DRAMATICALLY IN THE PAST FEW YEARS WITH THE CORONAVIRUS AND SO THOSE EXPERTS WERE SAYING THAT IT SHOULD BE UPDATED WITH ZOOM IN MIND BECAUSE YOU CAN STILL HAVE SEXUAL HARASSMENT OVER ZOOM.

THERE'S ALSO NEEDS TO BE SOME UPDATES TO ALIGN WITH SOME OF THE STATE LAWS THAT HAD BEEN PUT IN PLACE.

WE MADE IT EASIER FOR EMPLOYEES TO BRING UP SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIMS.

THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND ELABORATED ON A LITTLE BIT MORE.

WE'VE GOT A NEW SEXUAL HARASSMENT HOTLINE.

THAT SHOULD BE PUT INTO THE MODEL POLICY, AND THEN ALSO POTENTIALLY ADDING SOME OTHER PROTECTED CLASSES, LIKE, YOU KNOW, RACE AND AS WELL AS SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THEY'RE COLLECTING COMMENTS TILL SEPTEMBER 20th AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THAT NEW POLICY INCLUDES.

>> THE MORE PLATFORMS, THE MORE COMPLICATIONS POTENTIALLY FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE.

YANCY, MEANWHILE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THREE WEEKS AWAY FROM THE STATE SENATE AND CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARIES.

NOBODY COVERS LONG ISLAND 11 BETTER THAN NEWSDAY.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RACES THAT YOU AND YOURS ARE GOING TO BE WATCHING AS WE TICK DOWN TO EARLY VOTING BEGINNING?

>> YEAH.

IT'S SORT OF UNPRECEDENTED ON LONG ISLAND.

THERE ARE FOUR CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.

THREE OF THEM ARE WIDE OPEN.

NO INCUMBENT RUNNING FOR THEM.

THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND IN THE FOURTH SEAT, THERE IS AN INCUMBENT, A GUY WHO'S BEEN THERE ALL OF A YEAR AND A HALF RIGHT NOW, AND THE MAIN THINGS TO WATCH ARE DEMOCRATIC ACTIONS IN NASSAU.

YOU'VE GOT A THREE-WAY RACE TO FILL KATHLEEN RICE'S SEAT.

YOU'VE GOT A FIVE-WAY RACE TO FILL TOM SUOZZI'S SEAT.

THE REPUBLICAN ACTION MORE IN SUFFOLK WHERE THE GENERAL THEME IS PARTY-BACKED GUYS TRYING TO FEND OFF TRUMP SUPPORTERS IN PRIMARIES AND THEN THERE'S A FASCINATING STATE SENATE PRIMARY.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER UNDER REDISTRICTING, THE STATE CREATED A PLURALITY HISPANIC DISTRICT ON LONG ISLAND.

FIRST TIME THAT'S HAPPENED AND YOU'VE GOT TWO CANDIDATES, VETERAN CANDIDATES GOING THERE, MONICA MARTINEZ AND PHIL RAMOS, FOR THE DIRECTION OF THE PARTY THERE IN SUFFOLK COUNTY.

>> OF COURSE, LONG ISLAND USED TO BE IN THE STATE SENATE AS A BASTION FOR REPUBLICANS.

IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT THEY WILL 12 EXPERIENCE A RESURGENCE OF?

>> OH, I THINK THEY ARE DEFINITELY PREDICTING THAT.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S FIVE DEMOCRATS AND FOUR REPUBLICANS.

THE REPUBLICANS THINK THEY WILL GET BACK A MAJORITY OF THE BLOCK-- OF NINE LONG ISLAND SEATS, BUT THERE'S GONNA BE SOME RACES WHERE THEY'RE CLEARLY REPUBLICAN SEATS AND THERE'S AT LEAST TWO THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO WIN AND ALL THE REST ARE UP FOR GRABS.

>> MEANWHILE, SORT OF EXPANDING THE PICTURE A LITTLE BIT, THERE WAS THIS INTERESTING SORT OF SOCIAL MEDIA SCISSOR FIGHT BETWEEN ALEXANDRIA CASIO CORTES AND JESSICA RAMOS THIS WEEK WHERE THERE WAS SOME SNIPING SPECIFICALLY FROM RAMOS.

DO WE KNOW WHAT'S BEHIND THAT?

>> I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS GENERAL DISSATISFACTION MAYBE FROM SOME PEOPLE ON THE LEFT VOICING-- BASICALLY SAYING THAT THEY SAY CASIO CORTES WHILE BEING THE FACE OF THE LEFT IN NEW YORK, HASN'T BEEN AS EFFECTIVE AS SOME PEOPLE WOULD WANT.

>> YANCY, OF COURSE THIS IS LIKELY TO BE AN EXTREMELY NARROW BATTLE FOR CONTROL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

ARE THERE PROSPECTS FOR LONG ISLAND TO ESSENTIALLY BE THE DECIDER?

>> WELL, IT'S GOING TO FACTOR IN FOR SURE.

LONG ISLAND IS CONSIDERED ONE OF 13 THE MORE PURPLE AREAS OF THE STATE, WHERE IT KIND OF FLUCTUATES BETWEEN REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC CONTROL.

RIGHT NOW, REPUBLICANS HAVE TWO OF THE FOUR SEATS, DEMOCRATS HAVE THE OTHER TWO.

BUT REALLY ALL OF THEM ARE KIND OF UP FOR GRABS.

UNDER-- IN THE KATHLEEN RICE SEAT, PROBABLY THE LEADING DEMOCRAT RIGHT NOW IS LAURA GILLEN WHO IS THE HEMPSTEAD TOWN SUPERVISOR TRYING TO REVIVE HER CAREER AND THE REALLY INTERESTING ONE IS THE SUOZZI SEAT.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE ALL BEHIND GEORGE SANTOS AND THINK THAT THEY HAVE A SHOT TO WIN THAT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A SLIGHTLY DEMOCRATIC SEAT AND THE QUESTION IS AMONG THESE FIVE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE BATTLING, AFTER IT'S ALL OVER IN AUGUST, ARE THEY ALL GOING TO UNITE BEHIND THE PERSON?

>> RIGHT.

>> OR, IS THE CANDIDATE GOING TO BE DAMAGED BY THE PRIMARIES?

IS THE PERSON GOING TO COME OUT AND BE TOO FAR LEFT, TOO FAR RIGHT FOR THE PARTY TO GET BEHIND?

>> WELL, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANKS VERY MUCH TO YANCEY ROY FROM NEWSDAY AND KEISHA CLUKEY FROM BLOOMBERG.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

[ THEME MUSIC ] 14 >> IN JUNE 2021 ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES ANNOUNCED THAT NEW YORK WOULD RECEIVE NEARLY $230 MILLION IN SETTLEMENT FUNDS FROM OPIOID MAKERS.

NOW PLANS ARE BEING MADE FOR HOW THOSE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO TREAT AND PREVENT ADDICTION ACROSS THE STATE.

COMMISSIONER CHINAZO CUNNINGHAM FROM NEW YORK'S OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS WILL HELP MANAGE THE DISTRIBUTION OF THOSE FUNDS THROUGH THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND ADVISORY BOARD.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TASK THAT LIES AHEAD, DAVID LOMBARDO OF THE CAPITOL PRESS ROOM SPOKE WITH OASIS COMMISSIONER CUNNINGHAM.

TAKE A LOOK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELL, WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW, COMMISSIONER.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE TIME FOR US AGAIN.

>> GREAT.

HAPPY TO BE BACK.

>> SO PRIOR TO THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND ADVISORY BOARD CONVENING ITS FIRST MEETING IN JUNE, STATE LAWMAKERS AND GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL IDENTIFIED MORE THAN $200 MILLION IN SETTLEMENT FUNDS THAT THEY WANTED TO SPEND IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.

WHAT SORT OF INPUT WILL THE BOARD HAVE IN FIGURING OUT HOW THAT MONEY ACTUALLY GETS SPENT?

>> THE ADVISORY BOARD 15 DEFINITELY WILL HAVE INPUT.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR THEM TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE WILL CONSIDER THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO SPEND, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY THAT EXISTS.

>> THE BOARD'S UNLIKELY TO MAKE ANY FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS UNTIL THIS FALL.

SO GIVEN THAT TIME LINE, IS THAT ENOUGH TIME FOR STATE OFFICIALS, LIKE YOURSELF, TO ACTUALLY DIGEST THE INFORMATION THAT THEY'RE GETTING FROM THE BOARD WHILE STILL SPENDING THIS MONEY, MORE THAN $200 MILLION, PRIOR TO THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS MARCH 31st OF 2023?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, CLEARLY, WE'RE IN THE WORST OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC WE'VE EVER EXPERIENCED IN THIS STATE AND IN THIS COUNTRY.

SO WE'RE VERY MINDFUL OF WANTING TO BE ABLE TO SPEND MONEY TO EXPAND SERVICES SO THAT WE CAN SAVE LIVES.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO BALANCE THAT WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD.

SO YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALREADY HAD FOUR MEETINGS WITH THE BOARD.

YOU KNOW, OUR HOPE IS TO REALLY SORT OF MOVE THINGS ALONG SO THAT WE CAN RECEIVE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS SO THAT WE CAN SPEND THE MONEY, YOU KNOW IN A TIMELY WAY.

WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO WAIT, BUT YET, YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THEM.

16 >> I BELIEVE UNDER STATUTE, A RECOMMENDATION IS DUE TO THE LEGISLATURE, I THINK IN NOVEMBER, SO THAT WOULD GIVE YOU, YOU KNOW, FOUR, FIVE MONTHS TO ACTUALLY SPEND THE MONEY.

IS THAT TIME LINE DOABLE, OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AN ACCELERATED PROCESS FROM THE BOARD?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ASKING OURSELVES THE SAME QUESTION AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, THAT A REPORT IS DUE ON NOVEMBER 1st TO THE LEGISLATURE AND TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THIS IS NEW.

THE BOARD, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE STILL SORT OF ALL FINDING OUR WAY IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT THE BOARD IS MAKING THOUGHTFUL RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO IT IS A BALANCE, YOU KNOW.

I THINK THERE'S A SENSE OF URGENCY, BUT THERE'S ALSO A SENSE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT-- THAT WE'RE BEING THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW THE MONEY IS BEING USED AND SO THAT THE MONEY CAN BE IMPACTFUL AND REALLY SAVING LIVES.

SO WE KNOW-- WE'VE HAD FOUR MEETINGS JUST IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHICH IS A LOT AND WE HAVE ADDITIONAL MEETINGS THAT ARE PLANNED FOR THE COMING MONTHS AND SO WE WILL SEE, BUT WE CERTAINLY FEEL AN URGENCY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE DYING AT THE HIGHEST RATES WE'VE EVER SEEN AND WE WANT TO DO 17 EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SAVE LIVES.

>> WELL, YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT, IN PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS, YOUR DESIRE TO LISTEN TO THE BOARD AND REALLY CONSIDER THEIR INPUT.

IN PRACTICE, THOUGH, WHAT WILL THAT ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?

IS THERE GOING TO BE SOME SORT OF FORMALIZED PROCESS FOR REVIEWING WHATEVER THE BOARD PRODUCES, OR AS SOME CYNICAL PEOPLE MIGHT THINK, IS THIS MORE ABOUT GIVING THEM A PAT ON THE HEAD AND SENDING THEM ON THEIR WAY AND DOING WHATEVER YOU WANT?

>> SO I THINK THE BOARD IS REALLY WORKING ON A RUBRIC AND A FRAMEWORK IN ORDER TO REALLY GUIDE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE LAST FEW MEETINGS DISCUSSING.

ULTIMATELY THE RECOMMENDATIONS GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND THEN FROM THAT DECISIONS ARE MADE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY A PROCESS THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON THEIR END RIGHT NOW AND WE'LL SEE WHAT WE GET, BUT, YOU KNOW, THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS DO GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

>> IF THE BOARD ENDS UP RECOMMENDING THAT EVEN A TINY FRACTION OF SETTLEMENT MONEY IS FOR, SAY, MORE CONTROVERSIAL PURPOSES, LIKE HARM REDUCTION POLICIES, 18 SUCH AS OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS, WHERE PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS CAN BASICALLY CONSUME ILLEGAL DRUGS LEGALLY, IS THERE A SENSE THAT THE HOCHUL ADMINISTRATION WOULD ACTUALLY CONSIDER THOSE POLICIES AND IMPLEMENT THEM?

OR IS THAT KIND OF IDEA DEAD ON ARRIVAL?

>> UM, SO THE GOVERNOR-- GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS NOT, YOU KNOW, TAKEN A STANCE ON OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS AND WE AT THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, WE DON'T FUND AND WE DON'T REGULATE OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS.

HOWEVER, HARM REDUCTION IS A VERY MUCH A STRATEGY THAT IS EMBRACED BY MYSELF AND BY THE GOVERNOR AND YOU KNOW, HARM REDUCTION INCLUDES REALLY A RANGE OF SERVICES AND AN APPROACH.

SO THOSE KINDS OF SERVICES THAT HARM REDUCTION WOULD INCLUDE IS AN EXPANSION OF NALOXONE, RIGHT, THAT'S WHAT WE GIVE PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE OVERDOSING AND THAT SAVES LIVES.

IT ALSO INCLUDES MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY.

SO IF PEOPLE ARE NOT READY FOR TREATMENT, THERE ARE STILL SERVICES THAT CAN BE PROVIDED THAT CAN REDUCE THEIR RISK OF OVERDOSE.

THIS IS FENTANYL TEST STRIPS IS ONE OF THE OTHER KEY HARM REDUCTION STRATEGIES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO REALLY EXPAND AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, DOING OUTREACH, SO MEETING PEOPLE ON THE STREETS, GIVING THEM THE 19 EDUCATION AND THE MATERIALS THAT THEY NEED, LINKING THEM INTO TREATMENT AND PROVIDING TREATMENT IN A WAY THAT REALLY IS EASY AND ACCESSIBLE, SO YOU KNOW, IN INSTEAD OF WAITING TWO WEEKS FOR AN APPOINTMENT, BEING ABLE TO GET SERVICES ON DEMAND AT THE MOMENT THAT SOMEBODY'S READY FOR TREATMENT.

SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT REALLY, YOU KNOW, HARM REDUCTION PRINCIPLES AND HARM REDUCTION APPROACH, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING THOSE THINGS NOW AT OASIS, SO ONE EXAMPLE IS WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, AN INITIATIVE WHERE WE'RE BRINGING MOBILE MEDICATION UNITS OUT TO COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE METHADONE TREATMENT AVAILABLE.

SO WE'RE BRINGING THE TREATMENT TO WHERE PEOPLE ARE, TRYING TO REDUCE BARRIERS AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS LIFE-SAVING TREATMENT.

SO ABSOLUTELY EMBRACING HARM REDUCTION, ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE AT THE WORST OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC EVER.

WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON SAVING LIVES AND HARM REDUCTION FOCUSES ON THAT.

IT'S REDUCING HARMS IN MANY WAYS AND REALLY MAKING IT EASY AND ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS SERVICES.

>> HAVE YOU, IN A PERSONAL CAPACITY OR AS A COMMISSIONER OF OASIS, HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT THE TWO OPERATING OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS IN NEW YORK CITY?

IF SO, WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THEM?

20 >> SO PRIOR TO BECOMING THE COMMISSIONER HERE AT OASIS, I WORKED IN THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE.

SO IT WAS DURING THAT TIME WHEN I WAS THERE IN WHICH THE OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS OPENED.

SO I DID WORK WITH THE CITY AND OTHER CITY AGENCIES DURING THAT TIME.

SO, YOU KNOW, I ALSO HAVE TO SAY, DAVID, SO I'M A PHYSICIAN.

AND I'VE WORKED IN THE FIELD AFTER DICTION FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

I WORKED IN THE SOUTH BRONX, WHICH HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING AN OPIOID EPIDEMIC FOR DECADES, AND I SAW FIRSTHAND HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS FOR PEOPLE TO GET TREATMENT 20 YEARS AGO, 15 YEARS AGO.

SO I DEVELOPED PROGRAMS WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH HARM REDUCTION ORGANIZATIONS IN NEW YORK CITY TO REALLY PROVIDE SERVICES IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE WOULD FEEL ACCEPTABLE, AND SO I PERSONALLY DID OUTREACH IN THE BROMPTION AND IN HARLEM, ON STREET CORNERS, IN HOTELS THAT ARE SINGLE-ROOM OCCUPANCY HOTELS WHERE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS, YOU KNOW, HAD TEMPORARY EMERGENCY SHELTER TO REALLY BRING SERVICES TO WHERE PEOPLE ARE AND TO MEET THOSE WHO ARE AT THE HIGHEST RISK AND THE MOST MARGINALIZED.

SO FOR DECADES, I HAVE BEEN REALLY PRACTICING HARM REDUCTION AND WORKING WITH HARM REDUCTION ORGANIZATIONS TO BE ABLE TO GET SERVICES TO THE MOST MARGINALIZED PEOPLE.

AND CERTAINLY NOW, 21 AS A COMMISSIONER, YOU KNOW, MY ROLE IN GOVERNMENT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO ARE MOST MARGINALIZED AND AT HIGHEST RISK HAVE SERVICES.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A NO-BRAINER TO EMBRACE HARM REDUCTION HERE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT-- YOU KNOW, IT'S BEING EMBRACED MORE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND, YOU KNOW, FOR SOME IT'S NEW BUT FOR OTHERS, IT'S REALLY BEEN WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR DECADES SO IT'S ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE ALONG SO THAT WE CAN REALLY FOCUS ON SAVING LIVES AND WE KNOW THAT HARM REDUCTION APPROACHES ARE EVIDENCE-BASED.

THERE'S DECADES OF RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THAT HARM REDUCTION APPROACHES WORK, SAVES LIVES, REDUCES COMPLICATIONS AND IMPROVES COMMUNITY OUTCOMES AS WELL.

>> WELL, WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH DR. CHIN CUNNINGHAM.

SHE IS THE COMMISSIONER THE STATE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS.

DR. CUNNINGHAM, AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE TIME AND GO WASHINGTON HUSKIES.

>> THANK YOU, DAVID.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT NEED SUPPORT TO OVERCOME ADDICTION, CALL THE NEW YORK HOPE LINE AT 1-877-8-HOPENY OR TEXT HOPE NY, THAT'S 467369.

PHONE LINES ARE OPERATED 24/7 AND 22 CALLS ARE, OF COURSE, CONFIDENTIAL.

THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR ON THIS EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

DAN CLARK WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

UNTIL THEN, HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >>Announcer: FUNDING FOR NEW YORK NOW IS PROVIDED BY WNET.