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

I'M ELISE KLINE.

THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER REPRESENTS A DEDICATED TIME FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS.

IN NEW YORK, STATE LAWMAKERS SAY THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DATA ON INCREASING SUICIDE RATES FOR BLACK YOUTH, STRESSING THAT SUICIDE PREVENTION AND CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IS NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL.

AHEAD OF THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTING, LAWMAKERS ARE ADVOCATING FOR LEGISLATION AROUND THIS ISSUE.

IN THE MOST PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, A BILL CALLED DANIEL'S LAW, NAMED AFTER DEN YELL PRUDE, WHO DIED AFTER BEING RESTRAINED BY POLICE OFFICERS WHILE SUFFERING A MENTAL HEALTH EPISODE, TO PASS.

THE BILL WOULD ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE EMERGENCY IN CRISIS RESPONSE COUNCIL.

WE SAT DOWN WITH STATE SENATOR SAMRA BROUK TO DISCUSS THE STATE'S SUICIDE PREVENTION EFFORTS AND MENTAL HEALTH PRIORITIES.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY, SENATOR.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

SEPTEMBER REPRESENTS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.

CAN YOU START BY TELLING US WHAT THIS MONTH MEANS TO YOU AND WHAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS DEDICATED TIME OF AWARENESS?

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND I'M SO, YOU KNOW, GRATEFUL THAT THERE'S CONTINUED COVERAGE ON THIS TOPIC AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE MAIN PRIORITIES OF HAVING THESE MONTHS FOR AWARENESS IS TO DO JUST THAT.

TO BRING AWARENESS TO TOPICS THAT OFTENTIMES EITHER GET SWEPT UNDER THE RUG, OR HONESTLY, CAN BE REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT.

I'LL SHARE JUST TODAY, I HEARD, YOU KNOW, A TRAGIC STORY OF SOMEONE WHO DID END UP SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING SUICIDE, AND IT JUST SEND RIPPLE EFFECTS THROUGH COMMUNITIES, THROUGH FRIENDSHIP, THROUGH FAMILIES, OFTENTIMES LEFT WITH UNANSWERED QUESTIONS, WONDERING WHAT THEY COULD DO TO HELP AND SO WHEN YOU THINK OF SOMETHING LIKE SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH, THE IDEA IS WE WANT TO DESTIGMATIZE, RIGHT, TALKING ABOUT THIS.

RIGHT?

WE WANT TO MAKE IT OKAY THAT PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT NOT BEING OKAY, AND I THINK THE LAST PIECE OF IT IS IN ADDITION TO BUILDING AWARENESS, DESTIGMATIZING CONVERSATIONS AROUND MENTAL ILLNESS IS ALSO DRIVING TO ACTION, RIGHT.

IT'S HARD TO TAKE PREVENTATIVE ACTION WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE TOPIC AND SO THE HOPE IS, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY THESE ARE THINGS I TRY TO DO ESPECIALLY AS THE CHAIR OF THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE, BUT THE HOPE IS, YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE THESE MONTHS, IT REALLY KIND OF BRINGS IT TO THE FOREFRONT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS WELL.

>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE STATE'S EFFORTS TO ADDRESS SUICIDE PREVENTION?

IS THERE ANYTHING THE STATE COULD BE DOING BETTER TO IMPROVE THEIR EFFORTS?

>> I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT SUICIDE RATES AND I THINK PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE, WE ACTUALLY SEE THAT WE HAVE SEEN SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS IN TERMS OF THEM GOING DOWN, DECREASING OF IT.

BUT WHAT WE ALSO SEE SIMULTANEOUSLY IS THAT PARTICULAR GROUPS, SUBSET GROUPS WITHIN YOUTH, ARE ACTUALLY INCREASING, AND SO IN PARTICULAR, YOU LOOK AT, FOR EXAMPLE, BLACK YOUTH.

WHILE OVERALL YOUTH SUICIDE RATES HAVE BEEN DECREASING WITH A LOT OF INTERVENTIONS AND ADDED RESOURCES THAT NEW YORK STATE HAS BEEN PROVIDING, YOU'RE ACTUALLY SEEING INCREASES IN BLACK YOUTH SUICIDE RATES, BLACK YOUTH SUICIDE IDEATION.

SO WHAT DOES THAT TELL US AS POLICYMAKERS AND LEADERS?

IT TELLS THAT CLEARLY SUICIDE PREVENTION, RIGHT, CLEARLY INVESTMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, IS NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL.

RIGHT?

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BUILD AN ENTIRE SPECTRUM, AN ENTIRE CONTINUUM OF CARE OF HOW WE TREAT MENTAL ILLNESS AND ALSO HOW WE DO MORE OF THOSE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES.

I THINK ONE GREAT EXAMPLE THAT I ALWAYS USE BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A GROUND-UP EXAMPLE, CAME DIRECTLY FROM-- DIRECTLY FROM STUDENTS SHARE SOME OF THEIR CHALLENGES.

IS THE STUDENT LIFE LINE ACT.

THE STUDENT LIFE LINE ACT IS A WILL THAT WE PASSED IN A PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSION BUT IT WENT INTO EFFECT THIS SUMMER, RIGHT BEFORE COLLEGES WENT BACK TO SCHOOL, AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT PUTS THE 988 CRISIS LIFE LINE RIGHT ON THE BACK OF ALL COLLEGE STUDENT I.D.

CARDS IN NEW YORK STATE.

WHY DID WE START THERE?

WE DID THAT BECAUSE LISTENING TO COLLEGE STUDENTS, IN PARTICULAR, AND SOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, WHAT WE HEARD IS THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO.

SOME OF THEM AREN'T COMFORTABLE GOING TO THE CLINIC ON CAMPUS.

SOME FEEL VERY SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR FRIENDS, YOU KNOW, BACK HOME WHEN THEY'RE AWAY AT COLLEGE.

AND SO A WAY TO GET THAT INFORMATION TO THEM AT THEIR FINGERTIPS, RIGHT, YOU THINK USE YOUR I.D.

TO SWIPE INTO BUILDINGS.

YOU USE YOUR I.D.

TO BUY SNACKS AT THE SNACK BAR TO EAT DINNER.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT AND THE IDEA BEING WE WANT IT TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE.

THINGS LIKE THAT, RIGHT, THINKING CREATIVELY AROUND HOW DO WE REACH DIFFERENT POPULATIONS IN DIFFERENT WAYS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON.

>> SO HOW DO YOU FEEL SUICIDE PREVENTION AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE DEALT WITHIN THE STATE CAPITAL?

IN THE TIME AS MENTAL HEALTH CHAIR, DO YOU SEE PROGRESS IN BREAKING BARRIERS?

>> WE'VE SEEN INCREDIBLE PROGRESS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

I THINK THE BIGGEST PROGRESS STARTED WHEN I JOINED IN JANUARY 2021, RIGHT.

I WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY START THE DEDICATED MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE IN THE STATE SENATE WHICH WE DID NOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY.

AND YOU KNOW, MORE THAN HAVING A COMMITTEE IN NAME, WHAT IT MEANT WAS IS WE HAD AS A MENTAL HEALTH SECTOR, WE HAD A BIGGER VOICE AT BUDGET HEARINGS, RIGHT.

WE HAVE A BIGGER VOICE AT BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.

WE HAVE A BIGGER VOICE WHEN IT COMES TO PASSING LEGISLATIVE PROPEL AS.

WE HAVE PASSED MORE, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION, MEANINGFUL MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS THAN IN DECADES.

WE'VE ALSO BEEN TASKED WITH REVERSING A LOT OF THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE LAST DECADE PRIOR TO 2021.

YOU KNOW, MOST NOTABLY IS THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE.

SO WHEN I STARTED IN JANUARY 2021, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I LEARNED WAS THAT THIS WAS A SECTOR THAT HAD NOT HAD A COST OF LIVING INCREASE, RIGHT.

JUST TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION IN OVER A DECADE.

AND IN THAT FIRST YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING THEM THEIR FIRST INCREASE IN A DECADE.

AND BUILDING ON THAT PROGRESS, A YEAR HAS NOT GONE BY THAT WE HAVEN'T IMPROVED AND CONTINUED TO ADD TO THOSE COSTS OF LIVING INCREASES, AND SO WHAT THAT DOES IS IT IS STABILIZING OUR MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE.

IT'S TELLING INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK IN THIS FIELD, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING YOUR FAMILY, RIGHT.

YOU DON'T NEED TO LEAVE THIS FIELD TO GO BE ABLE TO PUT GAS IN YOUR CAR AND PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

IN FACT, WE NEED YOU IN THIS FIELD.

WE VALUE YOUR WORK IN THIS FIELD AND IN FACT, THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, WAIT LISTS MONTHS LONG FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THAT MENTAL HEALTH HELP.

THAT'S ONE, YOU KNOW, REALLY INTEGRAL WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH SECTOR, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE'S BEEN REFORMS, RIGHT?

WE JUST BROUGHT THE LARGEST MULTIMILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN DANIEL'S LAW.

$8 MILLION IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET TO CREATE A BEHAVIOR HEALTH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER.

NOW THAT IS GOING TO HELP ANY MUNICIPALITY ACROSS NEW YORK STATE WHO WISHES TO CREATE DANIEL'S HEALTH LAW RESPONSE SYSTEM IN THEIR OWN MUNICIPALITY, EVEN BEFORE WE PASSED DANIEL'S LAW IF THEY'RE INTERESTED, THEY HAVE THIS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER, WHICH WILL BE KEY TO MAKING SURE THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE ACTUALLY PUT UP CORRECTLY AND THAT IT'S SAFE FOR THE RESPONDER AND THE INDIVIDUAL IN CRISIS, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE $6 MILLION THAT WERE PASSED FOR PILOT PROGRAMS, EITHER NEW OR EXISTING, THROUGHOUT THE STATE AS WELL.

>> SO YOU TOUCHED ON A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS.

STATE LAWMAKERS CAN INTRODUCE BILLS, BUT SOMETIMES MEASURES DON'T ALWAYS MAKE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, AS YOU KNOW, LIKE DANIEL'S LAW, A MENTAL HEALTH BILL YOU SPONSOR TO CREATE A STATEWIDE CRISIS RESPONSE COUNCIL.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY THIS BILL DEPART PASS THE MOST PREVIOUS SESSION?

AND WHAT CHALLENGES ARE IN THE LEGISLATURE TO MENTAL HEALTH BILLS LIKE THIS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY THINK MENTAL HEALTH IS ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT REALLY, TRULY HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

YOU KNOW, I AM VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH SOME OF THE SENATORS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE AND MOST OF THAT IS BASED ON OUR TALKS AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, AROUND THE UNDERSTANDING THAT MENTAL ILLNESS DOESN'T CARE.

IT'S NOT PARTISAN.

IT DOESN'T CARE IF YOU'RE RED, BLUE OR SOMETHING ELSE.

WE HAVE ALL SOMEHOW BEEN TOUCHED BY MENTAL ILLNESS WHETHER THROUGH OURSELVES, FRIENDS, FAMILY OR IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO I THINK BECAUSE IT'S GOT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD MOVING MOUNTAINS IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INTRODUCTION OF DANIEL'S LAW, A REVOLUTIONARY TRANSFORMATIONAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION, RIGHT?

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING AN ENTIRE NEW CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM.

WE'RE USED TO FIRE, POLICE, RIGHT, COMING, AMBULANCE COMING WHEN YOU DIAL 911.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING MENTAL HEALTH RESPONDERS.

THAT IS A MASSIVE SHIFT IN STATE POLICY.

AND IN JUST FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE PASSED THAT BILL THROUGH THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE IN CONSECUTIVE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

AND WE HAVE MADE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT IN GETTING US CLOSER TO STATEWIDE IMPLEMENTATION, RIGHT.

THAT STARTED WITH THE DANIEL'S LAW TASK FORCE THAT WENT ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

IT GATHERED INFORMATION FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES IN CRISIS, INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK AS RESPONDERS.

THERE'S A LOT OF PILOT PROGRAMS RIGHT NOW IN NEW YORK STATE.

BUT IT ALSO TALKED-- NATIONWIDE, EVEN UP TO TORONTO INTERNATIONALLY AROUND HOW THESE PROGRAMS ARE WORKING.

SO THAT TASK FORCE COMING TOGETHER AND SHARING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS HELPED INFORM THE NEW VERSION OF THE DANIEL'S LAW BILL, WHICH ALSO HELPED US GET THIS $8 MILLION INVESTMENT IN PHASE 1.

ONE OF THE KEY THINGS I WANT TO SHARE THAT CAME OUT OF THE DANIEL'S LAW TASK FORCE REPORT WAS THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT A PHASE-IN APPROACH.

I THINK THAT'S SMART, RIGHT?

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVERHAULING YOUR RESPONSE SYSTEM, BUILDING, IN SOME CASES, FROM THE GROUND UP, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT RIGHT.

THESE ARE PEOPLE LIVES AT STAKE.

SO DOING A PHASE-IN APPROACH ALLOWS YOU TO FUND, YOU KNOW, GROUPS OF PROGRAMS WHEN CITIES ARE READY, WHEN MUNICIPALITIES ARE READY AT A TIME.

SO PHASE ONE BEING THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER AND ALSO THE $6 MILLION IN PILOTS IS A TREMENDOUS, I WOULD CALL IT A LEAP FORWARD THAT HAPPENED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

BUT NOW THE GOAL WILL BE WE NEED TO SUSTAIN THAT FUNDING ESPECIALLY GOING INTO A YEAR OF FEDERAL CUTS AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO GROW IT.

WE CAN'T JUST STOP AT A FEW PROGRAMS IN NEW YORK STATE BECAUSE THAT DOES NOTHING TO SOLVE THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A STATEWIDE SOLUTION RIGHT NOW.

>> AND YOU TOUCHED ON THE BUDGET A FEW TIMES.

I WANT TO GET INTO THAT.

THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET ALLOCATED $6 MILLION IN FUNDING TO ESTABLISH PILOT PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE THAT USE PEER-LED CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THOSE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN DOING?

>> YES.

SO TODAY TO DATE, THAT MONEY HAS NOT BEEN DISPERSED TO ORGANIZATIONS ACCORDING TO LMH.

ALL OF THAT WILL BE DONE THROUGH OMH.

SO OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE KEEPING CLOSE TIES ON HOW THOSE DOLLARS ARE GETTING OUT.

I THINK AT THIS POINT, THE MOST CRUCIAL PIECE IS TO ENSURE THAT MUNICIPALITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE KNOW THAT THIS MONEY EXISTS AND ENSURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THIS FUNDING WHEN IT IS ABLE TO BE ALLOCATED, AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT INTO THEIR HANDS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO THEY CAN GET THESE PROGRAMS STARTED.

AGAIN, SO WE CAN START TO SEE WHAT THESE PROGRAMS LOOK LIKE ACROSS THE STATE.

>> WHAT WILL THE MAIN PRIORITIES AND STRATEGIES BE FOR THOSE PROGRAMS HEADING INTO NEXT SESSION?

>> HEADING INTO NEXT SESSION AND HONEST WILL I STARTING RIGHT NOW, THE PROCESS TO GET THESE DOLLARS THAT WE FOUGHT SO HARD FOR AS A STATEWIDE COALITION INTO THE HANDS OF PHYSICIANS AND MUNICIPALITIES WHO NEED THEM, UNFORTUNATELY, WE FIND OURSELVES IN A TIME, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH A LOT OF THE FEDERAL RHETORIC THAT MENTAL ILLNESS IS ON THE RISE.

MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS ARE ON THE RISE.

MORE AND MORE INDIVIDUALS ARE UNFORTUNATELY FINDING THEMSELVES IN THE MIDST OF MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, SO THERE IS NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT THAN TO GET THOSE DOLLARS IN THE HANDS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT RESPONDERS SHOWING UP WHEN THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN THAT CRISIS.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SITTING DOWN WITH US TODAY, SENATOR.

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

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH STATE SENATOR SAMRA BROUK, CHAIR OF THE SENATE MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOPIC.

NEW YORK IS TRYING TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST INCREASED CHALLENGES TO BOOKS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

STATE LAWMAKERS ARE ADVOCATING FOR THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN A BILL CALLED THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT THAT WOULD EMPOWER SCHOOL LIBRARIES WITH IMPROVED POLICIES TO PROTECT AGAINST ISSUES OF BOOK BANS AND THE RESTRICTION ATTEMPTS.

THE REVIEW OF THIS BILL COMES AT A TIME THAT RESEARCH EXPERTS ARE CALLING AN UNPRECEDENTED CAMPAIGN OF CENSORSHIP.

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE DIVE INTO THE LEGISLATION AND LAWMAKERS' AND EXPERTS' CONCERNS ABOUT INCREASED THREATS TO FREE SPEECH AND INTELLECTUAL FREEDOMS AND HOW THAT IS IMPACTING NEW YORK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> ACROSS THE NATION, BOOK BANS AND CENSORSHIP ATTEMPTS ARE INCREASING, ACCORDING TO DATA FROM RESEARCH EXPERTS.

DEBORAH CALDWELL-STONE, THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AT THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, SAYS WE ARE IN A TIME OF AN UNPRECEDENTED CENSORSHIP CAMPAIGN.

>> IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST LIMITED TO JUST RED STATES.

WE HAVE BOOK BANNING HAPPENING IN ALL THE STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY BECAUSE, FRANKLY, LIBRARIES ARE COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS AND ARE RUN LOCALLY, SO ANY COMMUNITY IS VULNERABLE TO A CAMPAIGN TO REMOVE BOOKS.

>> DATA FROM THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION SHOWS THAT ATTEMPTS AND CHALLENGES TO BAN BOOKS HAVE DRAMATICALLY GONE UP SINCE 2020.

DATA FROM THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION'S OFFICE OF INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM SHOWS THAT IN 2020, THERE WERE 4 ATTEMPTS AND 14 BOOK TITLES WERE CHALLENGED IN NEW YORK IN 2022 AND 2023, THE NUMBER OF BOOK CHALLENGES INCREASED TO AROUND 80.

>> I WOULD TELL YOU THAT ANY BOOK BAN, EVEN ONE BOOK BAN, IS ONE BOOK BAN TOO MANY.

BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS TAKING IT UPON THEMSELVES TO TELL STUDENTS AND PARENTS WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT READ.

THAT'S REALLY A FUNDAMENTAL VIOLATION OF THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

>> 17-YEAR-OLD CLAIRE ALIGGAYU, A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR, SAYS SHE FEELS CENSORSHIP ATTEMPTS AND CHALLENGES LIMIT STUDENTS' IDEAS AND SELF-DISCOVERY.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE KIDS READ WHAT THEY WANT AND CENSORING BOOKS REMOVES THOSE THOUGHT PROCESSES THAT YOU NEED WHEN YOU GROW UP AS AN ADULT AND FLOURISH.

>> ALIGGAYU SAYS,"CATCHER IN THE RYE," A BOOK THAT WAS NOTABLY THE MOST CENSORED BOOK IN SCHOOLS IN THE U.S.

BETWEEN 1961 AND 1962, IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN IMPACTFUL STORY THAT REALLY RESONATES WITH STUDENTS.

SHE SAYS IT IS ONE OF HER FAVORITE BOOKS SHE'S READ IN HER TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL.

>> I REMEMBER HAVING REALLY GOOD CLASS DISCUSSIONS ON, HOW CAN A TEENAGER, HOW CAN THEY DEAL WITH THESE CHALLENGES THAT THEY HAVE AT HOME?

AND HOW CAN THEY DEAL WITH SELF-DISCOVERY?

AND I REALLY ENJOYED THE BOOK.

I REMEMBERED TALKING TO MY FRIENDS AND WE ALL ENJOYED IT.

>> ACCORDING TO DATA COLLECTED BY PEN AMERICA, THERE ARE ABOUT SIX CHALLENGES AGAINST BOOK TITLES DURING THE 2023 TO 2024 SCHOOL YEAR IN THE STATE, MOST CONCENTRATED ON THE CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SABRINA BAETA, A SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER WITH THE FREEDOM TO READ TEAM AT PEN AMERICA SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE IS A LOT OF DATA MISSING DUE TO WIDESPREAD LACK OF REPORTING AND THE ISSUE IS LIKELY MUCH BIGGER THAN WHAT CURRENT NUMBERS REFLECT.

>> WE RELY ON PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION, SO SOMETHING HAS TO BE REPORTED FOR US TO BE AWARE OF IT TO COUNT IT.

SO I ALWAYS SAY THAT WHAT WE PRESENT IS ACTUALLY A SEVERE UNDERCOUNT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> A MAJORITY OF THE BOOK BANS LISTED IN THE CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM PEN AMERICA'S DATA INDEX WERE RECENTLY RESOLVED.

IN THE CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IN 2023, FIVE BOOKS, "ALL BOYS AREN'T BLUE," "IT TENDS WITH US," "JESUS LAND: A MEMOIR," "RED HOOD," AND "PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE," WERE CHALLENGED BY A CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL GROUP CALLED MOMS FOR LIBERTY.

THE CHALLENGED BOOKS ARE STORIES WITH THEMES OF LGBTQ+, COMING OF AGE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WHITE SUPREMACY, GUN VIOLENCE AND COPING WITH RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL INTOLERANCE.

THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO OVERRULE A LIBRARY REVIEW COMMITTEE'S DECISION TO REMOVE THE FIVE BOOKS.

THE SCHOOL BOARD LATER WENT BACK ON THAT DECISION ACCORDING TO THE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS.

THE ISSUE CONTINUED THROUGH THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONER AND ALBANY SUPREME COURT AND WAS ULTIMATELY RESOLVED, UPHOLDING THAT THE BOOKS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO SHELVES.

THE COMMISSIONER DENIED A REQUEST BY THE MOMS FOR LIBERTY GROUP FOR AN APPEAL STATING IT WAS WITHOUT MERIT AND STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF INTELLECTUAL AND ACADEMIC FREEDOM.

AN ALBANY SUPREME COURT JUDGE ALSO DISMISSED THE APPEAL CASE.

EMMA HULSE, EDUCATION COUNSEL AT NEW YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, SAYS THIS CASE IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW PROBLEMATIC BOOK BANNING IS.

>> WHAT WE SEE IN THIS CASE IS THE WAY THAT ORGANIZED GROUPS ARE COMING IN AND PUSHING, TARGETING BOOKS BY AND ABOUT PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LGBTQ FOLKS, AND THEY'RE PUSHING FOR REMOVAL OF THESE BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY, CLEARLY IDEOLOGICALLY MOTIVATED.

AND WHAT IS REALLY NECESSARY IS STRONG PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS IN PLACE.

>> NEW YORK STATE UNITED TEACHERS AND THE NYCLU FILED AMICUS BRIEFS OPPOSING THE BOOK BAN ATTEMPT ITS AT CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.

MELINDA PERSON, PRESIDENT OF NEW YORK STATE UNITED TEACHERS, SAYS IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR NYSUT TO WEIGH IN EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT THE DANGER OF BOOK BANS AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM.

>> WE STOOD UP ON BEHALF OF OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO SAY THERE'S NO PLACE FOR CENSORSHIP IN OUR SCHOOLS.

AND AS A PARENT, I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE FOR PARENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BOOKS THAT THEIR OWN CHILDREN READ, THAT THEY GET TO CHOOSE THOSE BOOKS, BUT OTHER PARENTS DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO DECIDE WHAT KINDS OF BOOKS MY KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO IN SCHOOL.

>> WMHT REACHED OUT TO THE CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MULTIPLE TIMES BUT THEY DECLINED TO COMMENT.

MORE RECENTLY, THE NYCLU IS QUESTIONING A DECISION IN THE EASTPORT-SOUTH MANOR SCHOOL DISTRICT IN SUFFOLK COUNTY TO REMOVE HUNDREDS OF COPIES OF 14 BOOK TITLES, SEVERAL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO BOOK BANS IN OTHER AREAS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO BOOK TITLES INCLUDE, "BLACK BOY," "THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD," "FAHRENHEIT 451," "THE BLUEST EYE," "THINGS FALL APART," AND MORE.

THE BOOKS EXPLORE THEMES OF RACIAL IDENTITY, RACISM, GENDER ROLES AND COLONIALISM.

>> RECORDS FROM A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SHOW A VOTE TO DECLARE THE 14 BOOKS OBSOLETE AS THEY ARE, IN THEIR TERMS, OUTDATED OR BROKEN.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS THEY REMOVED THE BOOKS THAT WERE TOO DAMAGED OR WORN, BUT THEY DID NOT REMOVE THEM FROM THE CIRCULATION ENTIRELY, ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT SENT TO WMHT.

ACCORDING TO DOCUMENTS OBTAINED BY THE NYCLU, OF THE 69 PURCHASE ORDERS FROM THE PAST FOUR YEARS AND MULTIPLE SYLLABI, ONLY ONE BOOK, FAHRENHEIT, 451, WAS ORDERED AND LISTED IN THE SYLLABUS.

>> AFTER WE ISSUED OUR PUBLIC LETTER AND THERE WAS MEDIA COVERAGE, THEY ISSUED A PUBLIC RESPONSE LISTING THE NUMBER OF COPIES OF SOME OF THE BOOKS ON THE LIST AND SAYING AGAIN THAT THEY REMAINED IN THE CURRICULUM WITHOUT ANY PROOF THAT IT REMAINED IN THE CURRICULUM.

>> HULSE NOTED THAT IT'S POSSIBLE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD ENOUGH BOOKS FOR REPLACEMENTS AND THEY DIDN'T NEED TO BE REORDERED.

HOWEVER, SHE STRESSES THEIR CONCERNS ARE NOT FULLY ADDRESSED.

HULSE ALSO SAYS WHILE FAHRENHEIT 451 WAS THE ONLY BOOK THAT APPEARED IN THE DOCUMENTS THEY REQUESTED, IT IS REASSURING TO KNOW THAT THE DISTRICT IS ENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC ON THE ISSUE, TRYING TO CLARIFY ITS DECISIONS ON SHOWING THE BOOKS AVAILABLE.

THE EASTPORT-SOUTH MANOR CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT SAID IN A STATEMENT SENT TO WMHT THAT COPIES OF THE BOOKS REMAIN AVAILABLE IN THEIR INVENTORY LIBRARY COLLECTION FOR STUDENTS AND FOR TEACHER USE IN THE CLASSROOM.

THE SUPERINTENDENT ALSO SAID THE CONTENT OF THE BOOKS WAS NEVER QUESTIONED.

HULSE SAYS THESE KINDS OF INSTANCES OF BOOK CHALLENGES UNDERSCORED THE NEED FOR NEW STATE LAWS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, SUCH AS THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT.

THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT WOULD REQUIRE THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION AND SCHOOL LIBRARY SYSTEMS TO DEVELOP POLICIES TO ENSURE THAT SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND LIBRARY STAFF ARE EMPOWERED TO CURATE COLLECTIONS THAT PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE WIDEST ARRAY OF MATERIALS.

>> I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT WHERE DISTRICTS HAVE REALLY STRONG POLICIES AND STRONG PROCESSES IN PLACE, THEY'RE ABLE TO HAVE A RIGOROUS PROCESS IN ASSESSING WHETHER OR NOT A BOOK BELONGS IN THE LIBRARY AND ENSURING THAT THE PROCESS ISN'T TINGED WITH VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION.

>> MAX PRIME, THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR AT THE NEW YORK LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, SAYS THE BILL WILL HELP PRESERVE THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO USE THEIR PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY AND GET INFORMATION THAT ISN'T LIMITED.

>> WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT OUR LIBRARIES REMAIN A PLACE WHERE THERE CAN BE A FREE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, WHERE WE DEFEND INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM, AND WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC IS NOT LIMITED BY THE SUBJECTIVE PERSONAL MORALITIES OF ONE SMALL SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION.

>> MANY STATE LAWMAKERS STRESS THIS LEGISLATION IS CRUCIAL FOR UPHOLDING THESE FREEDOMS.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER TONY SIMON, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING CHELSEA AND MIDTOWN MANHATTAN AND THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL IN THE ASSEMBLY, SAYS THIS LEGISLATION WILL HELP ENSURE THERE'S NO FEAR OF ISSUING A BOOK.

>> I MEAN, LOOK, I GREW UP A CLOSETED GAY KID.

I WORKED IN A LIBRARY AND I OFTEN FOUND MYSELF BEHIND THE STACKS OF BOOKS, READING ABOUT HARVEY MILK AND GAY CIVIL RIGHTS HEROES AND OSCAR WILDE, BIOGRAPHIES, HISTORIES, AND IT MADE ME REALIZE THERE WERE OTHERS LIKE ME.

AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ENSURE IS THAT NO SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE STATE HIDES THAT FROM OUR STUDENTS.

>> STATE SENATOR BRAD HOYLMAN-SIGAL, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF MANHATTAN, SAYS HE SUPPORTS THE BILL BECAUSE LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM DOCTRINAL CENSORSHIP.

>> THIS ENVIRONMENT OF FEAR IS REALLY CAUSING A PROFOUND, CHILLING EFFECT, WHICH IMPACTS AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS' ABILITY TO REACH READERS EVEN WHEN THEIR BOOKS ARE NOT EVEN FACED WITH STRAIGHTFORWARD CENSORSHIP.

>> THE BILL PASSED BOTH HOUSES IN THE MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AND WHILE MANY LAWMAKERS CELEBRATED THE PASSING OF THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT, SOME LAWMAKERS ACROSS THE AISLE WHO VOTED AGAINST THE BILL WERE NOT HAPPY.

STATE SENATOR GEORGE BORRELLO, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE FINGER LAKES, SAYS HE VOTED AGAINST THE BILL BECAUSE HE FEELS IT'S VAGUE AND SHUTS OUT PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY FROM BOOK COLLECTION DECISIONS.

>> THIS DOES NOT EMPOWER KIDS TO READ.

WHAT IT DOES IS IT PUTS A SELECT GROUP OF PEOPLE, THE LIBRARIANS AND THE STATE OF NEW YORK, IN CHARGE WHILE SHUTTING OUT PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FROM BEING INVOLVED IN WHAT IS DEEMED TO BE APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN TO READ.

>> SOME OTHER STATE LAWMAKERS WHO ALSO VOTED AGAINST THE BILL AGREE.

STATE SENATOR DEAN MURRAY, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF SUFFOLK COUNTY AND A RANKING MEMBER OF THE LIBRARIES COMMITTEE, SAYS HE WORRIES THE LEGISLATION GIVES TOO MUCH AUTHORITY TO LIBRARIANS.

>> IT ACTUALLY GIVES ALMOST ALL OF THE POWER TO THE LIBRARIAN AND WHILE I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR LIBRARIANS AND LIBRARY DIRECTORS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, I BELIEVE PARENTS NEED TO SAY TOO.

>> COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARENTS CONTINUE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO RAISE CONCERNS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL MEETINGS VIA PUBLIC MEETINGS LAWS AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH RIGHTS.

THE BILL LANGUAGE DOES NOT LIST CHANGES TO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS' INVOLVEMENT IN BOOK CHALLENGE ISSUES.

STATE SENATOR RACHEL MAY, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING SYRACUSE AND THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL IN THE SENATE, ARGUES ALL THE BILL DOES IS ALLOW FOR THE CODIFICATION OF A STANDARDIZED PROCESS AND CURATING BOOK COLLECTIONS AND DEALING WITH CHALLENGES FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIES ACROSS THE STATE.

>> WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IS SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL LIBRARIANS WHO KNOW WHAT IS APPROPRIATE, AGE-APPROPRIATE READING MATERIAL FOR THE KIDS IN THE SCHOOLS AND NOT HAVING THESE OUTSIDE GROUPS COMING IN AND TRYING TO INFLUENCE WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARIES.

>> A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAID IN A STATEMENT SENT TO WMHT THAT THEY SUPPORT THE SPIRIT OF THE LEGISLATION.

HOWEVER, THEY SAID IT DOESN'T CREATE NEW OBLIGATIONS.

THE SPOKESPERSON ADDED THE DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUED GUIDANCE ON THIS ISSUE, INCLUDING RECOMMENDED POLICIES AND SCHOOL LIBRARIANS ALREADY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CURATE COLLECTIONS THAT OFFER A WIDE ARRAY OF MATERIALS.

SENATOR MAY ARGUES THAT WHILE MANY SCHOOLS HAVE ADOPTED RECOMMENDED POLICIES, NOT EVERY SCHOOL HAS.

>> THERE IS A RECOMMENDED POLICY THAT A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE ADOPTED, BUT WE WANT IT TO BE STATEWIDE SO THAT IT IS CLEAR.

>> HULSE SAYS THE NYCLU BELIEVES THE BILL, IF IT BECOMES LAW, WOULD BE VALUABLE IN HELPING CREATE A STRONGER LOCAL POLICIES, WHERE CURRENTLY THEY ARE SEEING DEFICIENCIES IN THE STANDARDS THE DISTRICTS ALREADY HAVE.

>> AFTER THERE'S A CHALLENGE, WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IS THERE SHOULD BE A FULL PROCESS, WHERE A REVIEW COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS MEETS, ASSESSES THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF THE MATERIAL, ITS ALIGNMENT WITH THE DISTRICTS CURRICULUM GOALS OR LIBRARY SELECTION GUIDELINES AND THEN MAKES A DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE CHALLENGE HAS MERIT, BUT IN MANY DISTRICTS, WHAT'S HAPPENING IS AT THE FIRST SIGN OF CONTROVERSY, LIBRARIANS ARE BEING INSTRUCTED TO PULL BOOKS FROM SHELVES, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A BOOK BAN.

>> THE BILL HAS IN THE BEEN DELIVERED TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE YET.

ONCE IT DOES REACH HER DESK, SHE WILL HAVE ABOUT 30 DAYS TO SIGN OR VETO IT.

SENATOR MAY SAYS WHILE SHE HASN'T SPOKEN TO THE GOVERNOR YET, SHE BELIEVES SHE WILL SIGN IT.

>> BANNED BOOK WEEK IS COMING UP, AND I KNOW SHE FEELS STRONGLY ABOUT THIS ISSUE OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

SO I'M HOPEFUL.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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