1 [ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," NEW SCRUTINY FOR RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK AND MORE NEWS FROM THE WEEK.

THEN, NEW YORK'S INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS SOME WORK, ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT.

WE'LL HAVE DETAILS AND LATER, AN UPDATE ON NEW YORK'S OVERDOSE CRISIS.

PLUS, A NEW EDITION OF ON THE BILL.

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.

AN INVESTIGATION FROM THE "NEW YORK TIMES" HAS SPARKED A NEW DEBATE OVER EDUCATION POLICY IN NEW YORK.

THE "TIME"S LOOKED INTO A SET OF PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS RUN BY NEW YORK'S HASIDIC JEWISH COMMUNITIES IN BROOKLYN AND THE LOWER HUDSON VALLEY.

THOSE ARE RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS AND THEY RECEIVE SOME STATE FUNDING IN EACH BUDGET CYCLE.

REPORTERS FOUND THAT IN MANY SOME OF THOSE SCHOOLS CHILDREN ARE NOT BEING TAUGHT BASIC MATH AND ENGLISH AND DON'T GET A LOT OF SCIENCE EITHER.

ON ONE OCCASION, A SCHOOL AGREED TO GIVE STATE STANDARDIZED TESTS IN READING AND MATH TO MORE THAN A THOUSAND OF THEIR STUDENTS AND ALL OF THEM FAILED, ACCORDING TO THE "TIME"S. THIS WAS THE RESPONSE FROM NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS.

2 >> I WANT A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.

I WANT AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW AND THAT'S WHAT THE CITY HAS TO DO.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT.

THE CHANCELLOR HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE EVERY CHILD RECEIVES A QUALITY EDUCATION IN THIS CITY.

>> HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND OTHER NEWS FROM THE WEEK IS DAVID LOMBARDO FROM THE CAPITOL PRESS ROOM.

THANK YOU, AS ALWAYS, FOR COMING, DAVE.

>> MY PLEASURE, DAN.

>> SO WHAT IS THE GOVERNOR SAYING ABOUT THIS SITUATION THAT THE "NEW YORK TIMES" HAS KIND OF EXPOSED HERE?

>> THE GOVERNOR IS BASICALLY SAYING ME, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL?

YOU WANT ME TO WEIGH IN THIS?

I DON'T THINK SO.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH EDUCATION POLICY IN NEW YORK.

THAT'S WELL ESTABLISHED IN THE DOMAIN OF THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, WHICH TO BE FAIR HAS A BOARD OF REGENTS THAT'S APPOINTED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND IS MUCH MORE SEPARATE FROM OTHER STATE AGENCIES THAT SHE OVERSEES, BUT IT IS UNIQUE TO SEE HER SAY THAT SHE IS REALLY NOT INVOLVED WITH THIS AND REALLY HASN'T TAKEN A POSITION ON EITHER THE NARRATIVE OF THE "NEW YORK TIMES" STORY OR THE EQUIVALENCY OF REGULATIONS 3 THAT THE BOARD HAS COME DOWN WITH THIS WEEK.

WHEREAS, HER REPUBLICAN OPPONENT IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS HAS BASICALLY SAID THE BOARD OF REGENTS HAS OVERSTEPPED ITS AUTHORITY, AND THESE REGULATIONS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY GOING TO NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INCLUDING HASIDIC JEWS, ARE GOING TOO FAR.

>> IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO ME WHEN OUR ELECTEDS TELL US THEY DON'T HAVE POWER OVER SOMETHING THAT THEY VERY CLEARLY HAVE POWER OVER.

IN THIS CASE, THE GOVERNOR COULD PROPOSE A BILL.

THE LEGISLATURE COULD PROPOSE A BILL.

THEY COULD PASS LEGISLATION.

>> THERE ARE BILLS.

THERE ARE BILLS THAT ARE KICKING AROUND RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE TO DO WITH STRENGTHENING THE LAWS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS WITH REGARD TO THE SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCY REQUIREMENT IN STATE LAW.

THIS IS 160-YEAR LAW THAT BASICALLY SAYS ALL KIDS, IN MATTER WHETHER YOU ARE GOING TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL OR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL, ARE GUARANTEED A RIGHT TO A SOUND, BASIC EDUCATION.

BASICALLY, THAT YOU EMERGE FROM YOUR SCHOOLING EXPERIENCE WITH MINIMUM CRITERIA AND SO YEAH.

THE GOVERNOR COULD CHAMPION SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

INSTEAD WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A REAL ABDICATION OF OVERSIGHT.

THAT'S REALLY ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT EMERGED FROM THIS "NEW YORK 4 TIMES" STORY.

LOCAL OFFICIALS IN NEW YORK CITY AND IN THE LOWER HUDSON VALLEY, AS WELL AS STATE OFFICIALS HAD BASICALLY SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO GET TOO INVOLVED IN WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THESE HASIDIC YESHIVAS, THESE SCHOOLS THAT TAILORED TO A SECT OF THE ORTHODOX JEWISH COMMUNITY.

BEST EXAMPLE OF THAT IS AN INVESTIGATION THIS WAS LAUNCHED IN 2015 BY THE de BLASIO ADMINISTRATION OF NEW YORK CITY THAT WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR A CONCLUSION TO BECAUSE PEOPLE FIND THIS TO BE A VERY SENSITIVE TOPIC AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH POLITICS AND VOTING BLOCKS AND YOU KNOW, WE CAN GET INTO THAT.

YOU KNOW, FOR SOME PEOPLE, THIS IS A VERY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE.

>> IT IS.

AND I CAN SEE-- SO FROM THE HASIDIC COMMUNITY, THEIR ARGUMENT IS BASICALLY THEY DON'T WANT TO ABIDE BY THESE EQUIVALENCY STANDARDS.

THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY IN THESE SCHOOLS PREPARING CHILDREN FOR THE LIFE THAT THEY ARE LIVING WHICH IS A MORE TRADITIONAL LIFE, WHICH IT IS MORE RELIGIOUS-FOCUSED.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, PEOPLE ARE QUESTIONING, WELL, IS IT SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT IN THAT WAY AS WELL?

>> SO THEY ARGUE IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT THIS SCHOOLING IS VERY SPECIFIC IN NATURE AND AS A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION, THEY HAVE THE RIGHTS TO FOCUS ON THEIR 5 RELIGION AND THEIR TRADITION AND THE JEWISH LAW THAT THEY WANT TO FOCUS ON, BUT THEY ALSO WILL ARGUE, OFTEN WITHOUT A LOT OF BROAD EVIDENCE, THAT KIDS WHO GO THROUGH THE SYSTEM ARE EMERGING WELL-SCHOOLED IN MATH, SCIENCE AND ENGLISH, BUT WHAT THE "NEW YORK TIMES" STORY REALLY HIGHLIGHTS IS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SORT OF NATIONAL STANDARDIZED TESTS BACK IN 2019 THAT INDICATED HOW POORLY THESE KIDS WERE DOING, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO THEIR PEERS, AND THIS REPORTING HIGHLIGHTED HOW THERE'S A REAL GENDER GAP, TOO, AMONGST THE BOYS AND GIRLS IN THE HASIDIC COMMUNITY WITH BOYS ALL DEMONSTRATING NO PROFICIENCY IN THE MATH AND READING THAT THEY WERE TESTED ON IN 2019.

SO YEAH.

THERE'S A REAL BIG PROBLEM AND WHAT WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE EMERGED IN THE HASIDIC COMMUNITY AND TRIED TO LIVE A LIFE OUTSIDE OF IT IS THAT THEY DON'T FEEL PREPARED FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN LIFE WITHIN THE HASIDIC COMMUNITY.

>> TURNING TO OTHER NEWS FROM THE WEEK, IT WAS ACTUALLY A STRANGE WEEK FOR FORMER GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO, WHOSE NAME WE DON'T HEAR QUITE A LOT THE IN NEWS.

LET'S START WITH HIS COMPLAINT AGAINST THE NEW YORK A.G.

SO WHAT IS HE SAYING HERE, DAVE?

WELL, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I THINK HE'S SAYING.

HE'S BASICALLY SAYING THAT TISH JAMES, THE NEW YORK A.

GOOD, 6 POLITICALLY-- PUT HERSELF POLITICALLY INTO THIS INVESTIGATION INSERTING HERSELF.

AM I MISSING ANYTHING?

>> NO.

I THINK YOU'RE NAILING IT EXACTLY.

HE'S ARGUING THAT THERE WAS BASICALLY MALICIOUS INTENT ON HER PART TO STEER THE INVESTIGATION THAT SHE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR IN 2021 AND WHAT'S FUNNY FOR ME IS, AS A REPORTER WHO WAS WATCHING THIS UNFOLD WAS THAT I THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO STEER THIS AWAY FROM ANDREW CUOMO.

>> I THINK WE ALL DID AT THE TIME.

>> YEAH.

>> BECAUSE SHE WAS A CUOMO ALLY.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND HE-- IN HER DEFENSE, HE ASSIGNED THIS INVESTIGATION TO HER.

SHE DIDN'T TAKE IT ON-- >> IT WASN'T SOMEONE-- HE DIDN'T WANT HER TO END UP WITH IT.

HE HAD ALREADY COME UP WITH HIS OWN DREAM TEAM PANEL OF INVESTIGATORS >> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> EVENTUALLY, HE DID AUTHORIZE HER TO FOLLOW THIS.

IT'S A QUESTION OF DID SHE JUST FOLLOW THIS STORY WHERE IT LED HER?

DID SHE LEAD WITNESSES IN A CERTAIN WAY?

DID HE SHOE TRY TO AVOID CERTAIN 7 WITNESSES?

AND THAT'S ALL BEEN VERY TOUGH TO PROVE FOR THE STATE ETHICS GRIEVANCE PANEL BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME SORT OF PAPER TRAIL THAT ANDREW CUOMO WOULD HAVE TO FIND, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A REAL TOUGH THING TO UNCOVER IF IT EVEN EXISTS.

>> THIS IS A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE.

>> YES.

>> SO THE RESULT WOULD POTENTIALLY-- LET'S SAY EVERYTHING WENT HIS WAY, THE RESULT WOULD BE THAT SHE WOULD POTENTIALLY BE DISBARRED OR DISCIPLINED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> WE HAVE LESSEN THIS A MINUTE LEFT.

ONE OF THE WOMEN WHO ACCUSED THE GOVERNOR OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, CHARLOTTE BENNETT, HAS ALSO NOW SUED HIM IN FEDERAL COURT.

GIVE ME A CLIFF NOTES VERSION.

>> ESSENTIALLY, SHE'S ARGUING THAT HIS CONDUCT AND THE SUBSEQUENT HANDLING OF HER COMPLAINT VIOLATED HER RIGHTS AND HER WORKPLACE RIGHTS, THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT CONCERNS, AND WHAT'S REALLY BEEN INTERESTING HERE TO WATCH IS THE FACT THAT IN FEDERAL COURT THERE'S A CHANCE THAT LEADING UP TO ALL THIS, THERE COULD BE A DEPOSITION OF THE GOVERNOR AND WE COULD 8 LEARN EVEN MORE THAN WE DID FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REPORT ABOUT HIS CONDUCT BEHIND THE SCENES SO IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT'S INTERESTING BUT COULD TAKE SOME TIME TO PLAY OUT.

>> SO WHAT ELSE DO YOU THINK COULD HAPPEN WITH THIS CASE?

>> WELL, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT POTENTIALLY COULD INVOLVE OTHER WOMEN WHO ARE ALLEGED VICTIMS OF THE GOVERNOR, THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOME OF THOSE WOMEN COULD JUMP ONTO THIS LAWSUIT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MOST NOTABLY A STATE TROOPER WHO HAD HER OWN CONCERNS ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S CONDUCT AND WHAT THAT'S MEANT FOR HER CAREER.

THERE'S A FORMER AIDE TO THE GOVERNOR WHO ALLEGES A GROPING INCIDENT IN THE EXECUTIVE MANSION, AND THEN THERE'S THE FACT THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST TARGETS ANDREW CUOMO.

IT TARGETS SOME OF HIS TOP AIDES.

SPECIFICALLY IN HOW THEY HANDLED THE COMPLAINT THAT CHARLOTTE BENNETT, THE PERSON WHO BROUGHT THIS LAWSUIT, HOW THEY HANDLED HER CONCERNS WHEN SHE VOICED THEM ABOUT ANDREW CUOMO AND HIS CONDUCT.

BASICALLY ARGUING NOW THAT THEY DIDN'T APPROPRIATELY GO THROUGH AND EXAMINE HER CONCERNS AND BASICALLY JUST SORT OF PUSHED HER OFF.

BASICALLY MADE HER CHANGE HER CAREER TRAJECTORY.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER THEY HAVE TO ANSWER FOR THEIR CONDUCT IN 9 A MORE SUBSTANTIAL WAY THAN THEY DID IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REPORT.

>> WE SHOULD MENTION THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS STILL DENIED THAT HE SEXUALLY HARASSED ANYONE AND HIS TEAM SEEMS PRETTY CONFIDENT IN THEIR LEGAL STRATEGY.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG HAUL HERE.

DAVE LOMBARDO FROM THE CAPITAL PRESS ROOM, THANK YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> THANK YOU, DAN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TURNING NOW TO THE STATE CAPITOL WITH A NEW EDITION OF "ON THE BILL," WHERE WE TELL YOU ABOUT A BILL OUT OF ALBANY THAT YOU MIGHT NOT HEAR ABOUT OTHERWISE.

THIS WEEK, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A-9715, ALSO CALLED THE 9/11 NOTICE ACT.

IT WAS 21 YEARS AGO NOW THAT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER WAS ATTACKED, KILLING THOUSANDS AND SHOCKING THE NATION.

BUT IN THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED, WE STARTED TO LEARN ABOUT A NEW DANGER.

FIRST RESPONDERS AND PEOPLE WHO LIVED AND WORKED NEAR THE SITE OF THE ATTACK WERE GETTING SICK AND DEVELOPING CANCER, AND WE WOULD FIND OUT THAT PARTICLES THAT LINGERED IN THE AIR ON THE DAY OF THE ATTACK AND FOR MONTHS AFTER WERE THE CAUSE.

SO CONGRESS APPROVED NEW FUNDING IN 2010 TO HELP THOSE AFFECTED PAY FOR TREATMENT.

THAT SET UP THE SEPTEMBER 11th, VICTIM 10 COMPENSATION FUND.

TO THIS DAY, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORKED IN THE AREA AND MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN SICK HAVE NOT FILED A CLAIM.

THAT BRINGS US TO THE 9/11 NOTICE ACT.

IT'S A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE BUSINESSES WITH 50 OR MORE EMPLOYEES TO TELL PAST AND PRESENT WORKERS THEY COULD QUALIFY FOR THE FUND.

MICHAEL BARASCH IS A MANAGING PARTNER WITH BARASCH & MCGARRY.

HE'S REPRESENTED 9/11 VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR THE PAST TWO DECADES.

>> EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE RESPONDERS HAVE ENROLLED IN THIS FREE WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM.

LESS THAN TEN PERCENT OF THE CIVILIANS ARE ENROLLED IN THE HEALTH PROGRAM.

WE WERE ALL BREATHING THE SAME DUST.

WE'RE ALL GETTING THE SAME ILLNESSES AND CANCERS.

WE'RE DYING FROM THESE ILLNESSES.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU DID IF YOU WERE EXPOSED.

>> THAT BILL IS CURRENTLY IN COMMITTEE AND BOTH THE STATE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY.

BUT HEADING OUT NOW ON NEW YORK'S ROADS AND A LOT MORE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, WE USUALLY THINK ABOUT ROADS AND BRIDGES, BUT IT'S A LOT MORE THAN THAT.

NEW YORK'S INFRASTRUCTURE RANGES FROM ROADS TO DRINKING WATER TO THINGS LIKE MASS TRANSIT AND WASTE REMOVAL AND ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT, THOSE THINGS NEED A LOT OF WORK.

THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF 11 CIVIL ENGINEERS GIVES NEW YORK'S INFRASTRUCTURE AN OVERALL GRADE OF "C." SO FOR MORE ON THAT AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT, YOU SPOKE WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER ANGELO SANTABARBARA, A DEMOCRAT WHO IS ACTUALLY AN ENGINEER BY TRADE HIMSELF.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> SENATOR SANTABARBARA, THANK YOU SO MUCH, AS ALWAYS.

>> IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON YOUR SHOW.

>> OF COURSE.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS AN ISSUE THAT I WOULD DESCRIBE AS NOT SO SEXY OF AN ISSUE BUT I SWEAR EVERY TIME I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I HIT A POTHOLE, THE IMMEDIATE THING THAT COMES TO MY MIND IS, WHY IS INFRASTRUCTURE SO BAD IN NEW YORK?

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS REPORT FROM THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS ABOUT NEW YORK'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE GET A "C" THIS YEAR OUT OF "A" THROUGH "F," THE TRADITIONAL GRADING SYSTEM.

CAN YOU GIVE US KIND OF AN OVERVIEW.

HOW DOES OUR INFRASTRUCTURE LOOK IN NEW YORK OVERALL?

>> OVERALL WE DID GET A "C" GRADE, WHICH MEANS IT'S AN AVERAGE GRADE, BUT THERE'S STILL IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED ACROSS THE BOARD, ANYWHERE FROM TRANSIT TO PORTS TO RAIL, ROADS YOU 12 JUST MENTIONED.

>> YEAH.

>> THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS IS A PERIODIC REPORT AND LAST TIME IT WAS DONE WAS IN 2015, WHICH WE HAD A C-MINUS IN AS A GRADE.

SINCE THEN, I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT THROUGH THE STATE BUDGET TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE SAW, NEEDS THAT WE SAW IN 2015 FROM THIS REPORT CARD, BUT EVEN WITH THAT TREMENDOUS INVESTMENT, EVEN THIS YEAR WE SAW A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CHPS MONEY, MONEY THROUGH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FUNDS TO ADDRESS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.

YOU CAN SEE IT ONLY MOVES THE NEEDLE JUST SLIGHTLY.

SO IT SHOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS.

THE INVESTMENT IS NEEDED.

SO THE REPORT CARD IS GOOD BECAUSE IT SHOWS US WHERE WE NED TO FOCUS THESE DOLLARS BUT IT ALSO SHOWS THAT IN THE CASE OF ROADS, WE'RE BATTLING A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR BECAUSE WE LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST.

A LOT OF WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND, YOU KNOW, WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES.

THEY WERE BUILT BEFORE MODERN ENGINEERING DESIGN AND NOW THAT WE HAVE NEWER MATERIALS, WE HAVE NEWER DESIGN.

WE HAD BETTER MATERIALS, BETTER PRODUCTS.

WE JUST GOT TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT AND THESE THINGS WILL LAST A LOT LONGER AND PAVEMENTS WILL LAST A LOT LONGER IF WE CAN GET TO THE 13 POINT WHERE WE CAN REPLACE THEM WITH THESE NEWER MATERIALS.

>> GOODNESS.

I HOPE SO.

[LAUGHTER] SO LET'S GO THROUGH-- I JUST WANT TO VERY QUICKLY GO THROUGH WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUSTED RIGHTS AND BRIDGES.

>> RIGHT.

>> WE'RE TALKING ROADS, BRIDGES, AVIATION, DRINKING WATER, RAIL, WASTE WATER, SOLID WASTE, A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF.

SO I KNOW WE HAVE THE GRADE OF A "C." WHERE ARE WE DOING KIND OF OKAY?

>> THERE WAS A COUPLE OF GRADES WHERE SOLID WASTE SEEMS TO BE A GOOD AREA.

I THINK THERE'S 16 TO 25 YEARS OF CAPACITY LEFT WHICH IS GOOD BY THE ASE STANDARDS.

YOU KNOW, ROADS WERE ON THE LOWER END, AND I THINK THAT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE, BUT RAIL, YOU KNOW, RAIL IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE SOME INVESTMENT.

DRINKING WATER, ONE OF THE BEST GRADES I THINK WAS PUBLIC PARKS WHERE WE GOT A "B," BUT THINGS LIKE WASTE WATER, TRANSIT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ON THE LOWER END.

THEY'RE IN THE "D" CATEGORY.

THAT SHOWS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE MORE INVESTMENTS THERE.

WE NEED TO REPLACE A LOT OF THE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS.

I KNOW IN MY DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF AMSTERDAM, THERE'S A LOT OF 14 AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE PIPES-- A LOT OF THE PIPES ARE CLAY, WHICH IS NOT A VERY GOOD MATERIAL TO USE COMPARED TO THE PLASTICS THEY'RE USING NOW.

THEY VIRTUALLY LAST VIRTUALLY A LIFE-- FOREVER.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FOREVER, BUT IT WILL LAST A VERY LONG TIME.

BUT IT SHOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE STATE CAN PUT THESE DOLLARS IN BUT REALLY WE NEED HELP FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS REPORT CARD IS INTENDED TO BE.

IT'S INTENDED TO BE A TOOL FOR US TO ADDRESS INFRASTRUCTURE CONCERNS HOLISTICALLY, BUT IT ALSO TO GO BACK.

EVERY STATE DOES THIS REPORT CARD AND EVERY STATE IS IN A LITTLE DIFFICULT CATEGORY, DIFFERENT POSITION.

THEY CAN GO BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND SAY, HEY, A LOT OF THESE THINGS WERE BUILT BY FEDERAL DOLLARS.

WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP UP HERE.

WE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED ANOTHER INVESTMENT.

THIS SHOWS THAT WE NEED ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN FEDERAL DOLLARS.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S A GOOD POINT TO BRING UP.

BECAUSE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS REALLY FUNDED ON ALMOST THREE-TIER BASIS.

WE FUND THEM LOCALLY.

WE FUND THEM THROUGH STATE DOLLARS, AND THEN WE FUND THEM THROUGH FEDERAL DOLLARS.

DO YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE LIKE AN EQUAL SHARE BETWEEN ALL OF THEM, OR DO YOU SEE THIS 15 MORE OF AS A FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITY WHERE THEY SHOULD COME IN AND DO THE MAJORITY OF IT AND WE KIND OF CLEAN UP AFTER?

>> WELL, I THINK AS IS WITH MOST THINGS, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE A PARTNERSHIP.

YOU KNOW, THE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT INFRASTRUCTURE, A LOT OF IT WAS BUILT WITH FEDERAL DOLLARS WAY BACK.

NOW THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO REPLACE, UPDATE, MAINTAIN, SOME OF THAT SHOULD BE THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY, BUT WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO UPGRADE TREATMENT PLANTS ACROSS THE STATE, YOU KNOW, BILLIONS WITH A "B," THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE WITHOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO BE POSSIBLE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A VERY LONG TIME.

SO WE NEED THAT FEDERAL INVESTMENT TO LOOK AT THIS AS WAY BACK WHEN THEY FIRST BUILT THEM, THEY'RE KIND OF DOING THAT ALL OVER AGAIN, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, THESE NEWER MATERIALS, THIS NEW ENGINEERING DESIGN THAT THEY HAVE NOW, NEWER METHODS, THESE TREATMENT PLANTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO LAST A LOT LONGER.

>> DO YOU THINK-- THIS IS A CURIOUS THING FOR ME BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT HOW CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS THESE CONVERSATIONS.

WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT ARE INFLUENCED BY CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR THEM.

HOW MUCH 16 OF THIS INVESTMENT TO YOU THINK IS FOR OLDER INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT ARE NOW AGING OUT OF THE SYSTEM VERSUS HOW MUCH IS NEW INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT WE'RE ADAPTING TO, OR IS IT A MIX OF BOTH, I GUESS?

>> IF YOU GO THROUGH THE REPORT, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY SAY-- THEY MAKE A POINT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT THEY WE DO NEED TO REASSESS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.

YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE USING OUR RAIL?

OUR PORTS ARE SOME OF THE BUSIEST PORTS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

THAT HAS CHANGED OVER TIME.

WHERE-- YOU KNOW, HOW MANY MORE ROADS ARE WE GOING TO BUILD?

HOW MANY MORE DO WE NEED?

WHAT DOES THE POPULATION LOOK LIKE?

SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU LOOK AT THE CHANGING TECHNOLOGY, THE CHANGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOU KNOW, BROADBAND IS INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> YEAH.

>> THROUGH COVID, WE SAW HOW IMPORTANT THAT WAS WHEN YOU GO TO SOMETHING LIKE REMOTE LEARNING AND PARTS OF THE STATE DON'T HAVE RELIABLE BROADBAND, YOU JUST CAN'T DO IT.

SO THAT IS ANOTHER CATEGORY WHERE WE NEED TO REASSESS WHERE ARE WE INVESTING THESE DOLLARS.

WE NEED TO REASSESS HOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THESE DOLLARS.

THE REPORT CARD IS USEFUL BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY'S AN ENGINEER IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

I 17 HAPPENED TO BE.

I WAS INVOLVED WITH ASCE FOR A WHILE, BUT NOT EVERYBODY IS.

SO THIS MAKES IT CONVENIENT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL USED TO REPORT CARDS FROM SCHOOL.

THIS SHOWS, HEY, YOU'RE DOING GOOD HERE.

YOU'RE NOT DOING SO GOOD HERE.

SO WHEN IT'S TIME TO MAKE DECISIONS THROUGH BUDGET TIMES, TRYING TO MAKE CHOICES, I THINK THIS WILL BE VERY HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE AT THE STATE CAPITOL, FOR THE GOVERNOR TO LOOK AT, FOR EVERYONE TO KIND OF COME TOGETHER AND SAY, EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HAVE THE SAME REPORT CARD.

WE CAN ALL FOCUS ON WHERE WE NEED TO INVEST THE MOST DOLLARS.

>> IS THIS AN AREA, DO YOU THINK, WE NEED NEW FUNDING SCREAMS TO INVEST IN THESE KINDS OF THINGS, OR DO YOU THINK IT'S A MATTER OF INVESTING THE MONEY WE HAVE MAYBE IN A MORE TARGETED WAY TOWARDS THESE AREAS THAT MAY GET LOWER GRADES?

CAN WE PUT MORE HONEY INTO THIS THAN WE ARE?

>> THE STATE BUDGET, IT'S A BIG BUDGET.

>> YEAH.

>> I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS CHOICES TO BE MADE.

IT'S A QUESTION OF IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT OR IN THE TO INVEST IN SOME OF THE CATEGORIES HERE.

HOW MUCH OF A COMMITMENT ARE WE GOING TO MAKE?

I'M HOPING THAT WE WILL SEE MORE OF THE STATE BUDGET INVESTED IN OUR 18 INFRASTRUCTURE JUST AS WE SAW THE LAST FEW YEARS, I KNOW BROADBAND WAS A BIG PUSH AND WE MADE QUITE A BIT OF PROGRESS BECAUSE WE DID FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON BROADBAND.

WE SAW HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS ESPECIALLY IN SOME OF THE RURAL AREAS.

YOU CAN SEE WHEN IT BECOMES A PRIORITY, IT CAN BE DONE.

SO SAME THING WITH ANY ONE OF THESE CATEGORIES.

WHEN IT BECOMES A PRIORITY FOR EVERYONE AT THE STATE CAPITOL, YOU CAN SEE YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND IT CAN BE DONE.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU WERE A BIG PROPONENT IN THE SPRING OF SUSPENDING THE GAS TAX, WHICH OBVIOUSLY, HELPED NEW YORKERS AND PEOPLE AT THE PUMP.

IT TOOK 16 CENTS OFF PER GALLON THERE.

IT'S GOING TO END IN DECEMBER.

WE DIDN'T GET AS MUCH REVENUE BECAUSE WE SUSPENDED THAT TAX.

DO YOU THINK THAT PLAYS INTO THIS CONVERSATION IN NEXT YEAR'S STATE BUDGET AT ALL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK-- YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE SUSPENSION, GAS TAX SUSPENSION, THE IDEA IS TO REASSESS WHERE EVERYBODY IS.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ECONOMIC TIMES, WHERE ARE WE, HOW MUCH-- HOW MUCH RELIEF DO WE NEED TO-- HOW MUCH MORE RELIEF DO WE WANT TO PROVIDE TO PEOPLE?

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT BEFORE ENDING IT.

WE NEED TO DECIDE, IS THIS WORKING?

IS THIS GIVING PEOPLE RELIEF AT THE PUMP, HELPING PEOPLE 19 SAVE MONEY, PUTTING MONEY BACK INTO THEIR POCKETS?

THAT WAS THE IDEA BEHIND THE GAS TAX SUSPENSION.

AND WE HAD THE FEDERAL DOLLARS TO MAKE UP FOR IT.

SO ESSENTIALLY THE STATE HAS LOST NOTHING THROUGH THAT GAS TAX SUSPENSION.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

I WANTED IT FOR A YEAR.

I THINK WE GOT IT FOR SIX MONTHS.

>> RIGHT.

>> HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET TO THAT YEAR MARK BECAUSE I THINK RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE STILL NEED-- THEY NEED THAT RELIEF.

WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE GET THROUGH SOME CHALLENGING TIMES.

THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS, I THINK, ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THINGS WE DID.

>> SO YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT EXTENDED TO NEXT JUNE?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT EXTENDED TO MY ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, WHICH WAS AT LEAST A YEAR.

>> YES.

>> AND, YOU KNOW, YEAR TO YEAR, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET CHANGES SO MUCH, PRIORITIES CHANGE SO MUCH IN THE STATE.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO SEE ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS STILL COMING OUR WAY?

CAN WE CONTINUE THIS?

MAYBE THERE'S SOME OTHER AREAS OF RELIEF THAT WE CAN PROVIDE IN ADDITION TO THAT?

20 I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT RIGHT NOW.

OBVIOUSLY, THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE, THESE MOST CERTAINLY, DAN, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WILL BE QUESTIONS WILL HAVE TO BE DISCUSSED AND DECISIONS WILL HAVE TO BE MADE.

>> YES, WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT QUITE A BIT THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF THE NEXT YEAR.

UNTIL THEN, ASSEMBLYMEMBER ANGELO SANTABARBARA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GREAT TO BE HERE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND WE'LL GET A LOOK AT THE STATE SPENDING ON INFRASTRUCTURE IN JANUARY WHEN GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL PROPOSES HER EXECUTIVE BUDGET ARE TO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, BUT TURNING NOW TO THE STATE'S OVERDOSE CRISIS.

SEPTEMBER IS RECOVERY MONTH AND LOOKING AT WAYS THE STATE AND OTHERS THINK ABOUT ADDICTION.

REPORTER ALEXIS YOUNG IS HERE WITH MORE.

ALEXIS?

>> THANKS, DAN.

OVERDOSE DEATHS IN NEW YORK STATE HIT RECORD NUMBER IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE PANDEMIC.

IN AUGUST, STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER DR. MARY BASSETT ANNOUNCED A STANDING ORDER FOR THE OVERDOSE REVERSAL DRUG NALOXONE, OR NARCAN, IN NEW YORK STATE PHARMACIES.

THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE ON HOW THE STATE'S FOCUSING ON HARM REDUCTION 21 STRATEGIES TO CURVE THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC, SOMETHING THAT NONPROFITS AND ADVOCATES HAVE CHAMPIONED FOR YEARS.

DR. CHINAZO CUNNINGHAM IS THE COMMISSIONER OF THE STATE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, ALSO CALLED OASIS.

>> WE'RE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING A NEW DIVISION OF HARM REDUCTION CARE AT OASIS, BUT REALLY RECOGNIZING THAT AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE DYING OF OVERDOSE DEATHS, WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON KEEPING PEOPLE ALIVE, PERIOD.

>> AND THERE'S SOME HISTORICAL CONTEXT FOR THAT, TOO.

COMMISSIONER CUNNINGHAM SAYS THE STATE IS LOOKING AT IT THROUGH THE LENS OF THE SO-CALL WAR ON DRUGS, WHICH HAD DISPROPORTIONATE OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE WITH COLOR.

>> WE KNOW THERE'S A HISTORY OF RACISM, PARTICULARLY AROUND DRUG POLICIES IN THIS COUNTRY, AND THE WAR ON DRUGS IS ONE VERY SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF REALLY RACIST POLICIES.

WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

WE HAVE TO SAY THOSE WORDS OUTLOUD, AND WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO RIGHT THOSE WRONGS.

SO THINKING ABOUT WHO IS AT HIGHEST RISK IN MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE EQUITABLE SERVICES AND REALLY FOCUSING ON EQUITABLE TREATMENT OUTCOMES IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.

22 >> COMMUNITY PROVIDERS THINK OF THIS IN A SIMILAR WAY.

PROJECT SAFE POINT IN THE CAPITOL REGION OFFERS HARM REDUCTION SERVICES AT NO COST.

THING LIKE A CLEAN SYRINGE EXCHANGE AND OVERDOSE PREVENTION TRAINING.

CANDACE ELLIS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAID THAT'S TO MEET PEOPLE'S NEEDS AT THEIR OWN PACE AND ON A BROADER SPECTRUM.

>> SUBSTANCE USE IS SOMETHING THAT MANY PEOPLE DO.

SOME, YOU KNOW, A GLASS OF WINE AT NIGHT OR SOMEONE SMOKING CRACK.

IT'S A CONTINUUM AS TO LIKE WHAT THAT LEVEL MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

SO WHETHER IT'S A SUBSTANCE THAT IS LEGAL OR A SUBSTANCE THAT IS ILLEGAL, IT'S VERY COMMON FOR SOMEONE TO USE A SUBSTANCE FOR A PARTICULAR WAY.

SO WE JUST NORMALIZE THAT HERE AT PROJECT SAFE POINT, THAT USE IS SOMETHING THAT WE SEE IS SOMETHING ON A REGULAR BASIS SOMETIMES IT'S MORE PROBLEMATIC THAN OTHERS.

>>> IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE ARE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE, PLEASE BE SAFE, AND WE'LL PUT SOME RESOURCES UP ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

DAN?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, ALEXIS.

ALL RIGHT.

BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, A LOOK AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK.

YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD ABOUT EFFORTS IN RECENT YEARS FROM WORKERS AT AMAZON WAREHOUSES TO UNIONIZE AND THE FIRST BIG WIN THIS THAT FIGHT HAPPENED 23 RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK THIS SPRING.

THAT'S WHEN AMAZON WORKERS ON STATEN ISLAND VOTED IN FAVOR OF FORMING THE FIRST WORKER-LED UNION AT THE COMPANY, CITING UNSAFE WORKING CONDITIONS AT THE FACILITY, AND NOW THERE'S NEW MOMENTUM FOR OTHER WORKERS.

A SIMILAR UNION EFFORT HAS POPPED UP IN THE ALBANY AREA WHERE WORKERS SAY THEY WANT A SAFER WORKPLACE AND BETTER PAY.

WORKER HEATHER GOODALL IS LEADING THAT EFFORT.

>> WHAT IT MEANS FOR ME PERSONALLY IS TO OFFER PROTECTION TO THESE EMPLOYEES, WHO FEEL UNSAFE GOING TO WORK.

>> STATE SENATOR JESSICA RAMOS, A DEMOCRAT WHO CHAIRS THE LABOR COMMITTEE, HAS ALSO HAD AN EYE ON CONDITIONS FOR WORKERS AT THESE WAREHOUSES.

>> MY MESSAGE TO THE WORKERS AT EVERY AMAZON WAREHOUSE IS TO KEEP ORGANIZING, TO KEEP EDUCATING THEMSELVES TO KEEP AGITATING AGAINST A BAD BOSS, AND TO CERTAINLY HELP OUR EFFORTS TO CALL ON GOVERNOR HOCHUL TO SIGN THE WAREHOUSE WORKER PROTECTION ACT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> MORE ON THAT NEXT WEEK.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

[ THEME MUSIC ] 24 >>Announcer: FUNDING FOR "NEW YORK NOW" IS FUNDED BY WNET.