[ THEME MUSIC ] ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE ON THE STATE'S MIGRANT PRICES, HOUSING AND MORE.

LATER, WE'LL EXPLORE THE ENVIRONMENT IN A NEW INSTALLMENT OF NEW YORK AND.

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.

NEW YORK GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL IS NOW PLAYING OFFENSE ON NEW YORK'S INFLUX OF ASYLUM SEEKERS.

UP UNTIL THIS WEEK, HOCHUL'S STRATEGY ON THE CRISIS HAD MOSTLY BEEN REACTIVE, TRYING TO RESPOND AS PROBLEMS POPPED UP.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OF THEM SINCE THIS ALL STARTED.

IT WAS JUST ONE YEAR AGO THIS MONTH THAT REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS STARTED BUSING MIGRANTS SEEKING ASYLUM FROM THEIR STATES UP TO NEW YORK CITY AND BEFORE THEY ARRIVED, CITY AND STATE OFFICIALS HAD NO IDEA THEY WERE COMING.

SO WHEN THEY STARTED TO SHOW UP, NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS AND CITY OFFICIALS QUICKLY SCRAMBLED TO FIND THEM HOUSING, FOOD, AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS BUT ONE YEAR LATER, THE SITUATION HAS EXPLODED.

SINCE THAT FIRST BUS LOAD, MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE SEEKING ASYLUM HAVE ARRIVED IN NEW YORK, AND THE STATE HAS ASKED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR HELP, WHICH HAS NOT HAPPENED.

SO THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL SENT A LETTER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN BASICALLY SAYING HIS ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO STEP UP AND HELP THE STATE WITH THIS SITUATION.

TO LEVEL WITH NEW YORKERS, THERE ARE MUCH-NEEDED CHANGES AT THE BORDER, THERE DOES NOT BE A SOLUTION TO THIS FEDERAL PROBLEM ANYTIME SOON.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I NEED TO TALK TO YOU TODAY.

THIS CRISIS ORIGINATED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND IT MUST BE RESOLVED THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

NOW SINCE THIS CRISIS STARTED, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PRETTY MUCH STAYED OUT OF IT, BOTH THE GOVERN PERT MAYOR HAVE BEEN TO WASHINGTON TO PUSH THE ISSUE WITH LITTLE SUCCESS.

AND SO HAS ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE, A DEMOCRAT FROM THE BRONX.

WE SPOKE THIS WEEK ABOUT THE ASYLUM SEEKERS, THE STATE'S HOUSING CRISIS AND MORE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] SPEAKER HEASTIE, THANKS FOR COMING INTO THE STUDIO.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

MY PLEASURE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

SO YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN UPSTATE TOUR.

DO YOU THIS EVERY YEAR.

WANT TO ASK YOU HOW IT'S GOING?

FIRST, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

IT'S AMAZING.

AS IT'S BEEN EVERY YEAR-- WE'VE DONE IT EVERY YEAR EXCEPT FOR 2020 AND THE YEAR OF COVID.

RIGHT.

SO I'VE BEEN IN LONG ISLAND.

I'VE BEEN IN HUDSON VALLEY AND I'M STARTING THE UPSTATE-- THE UPSTATE PART OF IT THIS WEEK, AND I WAS IN BUFFALO LAST WEEK AS WELL.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PART OF THIS TOUR EVERY YEAR?

I KNOW IT'S LIKE PICKING YOUR FAVORITE CHILDREN.

I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOU SAY THE BRONX.

LISTEN, NEW YORK IS A BEAUTIFUL STATE AND IT JUST HAS-- IT SEEMS LIKE EACH PART OF THE STATE HAS ITS OWN, LIKE, I'D SAY BEAUTY, BUT IF YOU ASK ME, LIKE WHAT WAS THE PART OF THE STATE THAT STRUCK ME THE MOST WAS PROBABLY ITHACA WITH THE GORGEOUS-- THE GORGEOUS, GORGEOUS WAS THE PLACE THAT STRUCK ME, IT WAS THE MOST STUNNING PART.

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL STATE.

YEAH.

I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT.

I LOVE GOING TO THE ADIRONDACKS MYSELF.

WHEREVER THERE'S WATER, I LOVE TO BE THERE SO I CAN SEE WHY ITHACA WOULD BE GREAT.

SO WHEN YOU'RE OUT TALKING TO PEOPLE, WHAT DO PEOPLE TELL YOU?

BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER IS VISITING THEIR AREA, YOU'RE PRIMARILY, I THINK, MEETING WITH THE ELECTEDS AND SOME LEADERS FROM THOSE AREAS, BUT WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ON THIS TOUR?

IT'S ALWAYS LIKE I'D SAY DEALER'S CHOICE.

THE MEMBER DECIDES WHAT THEY LIKE ME TO SEE, MAYBE WHAT WE COULD BE HELPFUL WITH, INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CHILDREN.

WE WERE IN BUFFALO LAST WEEK TRYING TO ASSIST WITH BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF AMERICA.

SO IT'S LIKE BREAD AND BUTTER TO CORE ISSUES THAT FAMILIES ARE GOING THROUGH.

THE IDEA OF THIS TOUR IS TO KIND OF TAKE ALL THIS AND KIND OF PUT IT INTO ACTION IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE ACTION IS WHAT I'M ASSUMING.

I'D SAY TWO THINGS.

ONE-- BECAUSE SOMETIMES THERE'S LOCAL ISSUES THAT MAYBE THE ASSEMBLY-- THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER HAS SAID WE MAY NEED SOME OF THE MEDIA TO HELP BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO DO LONG-TERM PLANNING ON THINGS THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, AND I REMEMBER WHEN THE FIRST YEAR I DID THE TOUR, I WAS IN-- IT WAS THEN IT WAS ROBIN SHERMAN'S DISTRICT, SO IT'S ASSEMBLYMAN CONRAD NOW.

HE HAD POINTED TO THESE TWO LARGE SMOKE STACKS THAT WERE FROM A PLANT THAT WAS NO LONGER IN SERVICE AND THEN WHEN HE BROUGHT IT UP IN CONFERENCE, I HAD A VISUAL TO REMEMBER TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO TO HELP COMMUNITIES WHO HAD LOST, YOU KNOW, BIG TIME PROPERTY TAX IN THESE BUSINESSES.

SO IT DOES GIVE ME A VISUAL THAT I NOW KNOW WHAT THE MEMBER IS REFERENCING.

I THINK THE BIG ISSUE IN THE NEWS CYCLE RIGHT NOW IS THE INFLUX OF ASYLUM SEEKERS INTO THE STATE.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR MEMBERS ON THIS TOUR ABOUT THAT?

IS EVERYBODY PRETTY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT?

ARE THERE OTHER CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING ABOUT MOVING PARTS THERE?

I THINK, AS ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, IMMIGRATION, ASYLUM SEEKERS, THE MIGRANT CRISIS IS A FEDERAL ISSUE, BUT I THINK PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE GOT HERE.

YOU KNOW, I DO BELIEVE IT WAS A COORDINATED EFFORT FROM REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS TO OVERWHELM DEMOCRATIC CITIES AND DEMOCRATIC STATES, AND NOW WITH A REPUBLICAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IT'S GOING TO VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE HELPFUL BECAUSE I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS HAPPY TO HAVE THIS AS AN ELECTION ISSUE.

THE SAME WAY THEY ARE WITH WHEN WE TRIED TO STOP THE ILLEGAL FLOW OF GUNS, SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CRIME ISSUE, BUT WE SHOULDN'T BE PLAYING POLITICS.

YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ASYLUM SEEKERS AND AT SOME POINT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE THE DETERMINATION OF THEIR STATUS.

I THINK IN THE MEANTIME, THIS SHOULD NOT BE USED, YOU KNOW, FOR POLITICS.

DO YOU THINK THERE'S A WAY TO FLIP IT ON ITS HEAD?

WHEREAS, THE REPUBLICANS WILL USE TO KNOCK YOUR MEMBERS IN RE-ELECTION, IS THERE A WAY TO TURN IT TO SAY WE ARE THE PARTY HELPING THEM AND MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT?

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

WE'RE TRYING TO HANDLE A DIFFICULT SITUATION, BUT AS I'VE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN WRITE BIG CHECKS.

THE STATE CAN WRITE SMALL CHECKS.

SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE CAN, BUT WE DO NEED HELP FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

YOU KNOW, IF THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE, THEY DON'T WANT TO SEND HELP BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KEEP THIS ALIVE AS A POLITICAL ISSUE.

HOW PRESENT DOES THIS FEEL TO YOU RIGHT NOW SEEING THAT YOU'RE OUTSIDE OF THE LEGISLATION SESSION?

THERE'S NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO AS A LEGISLATURE UNLESS YOU WERE TO GAVEL INTO SESSION AND DO SOMETHING, BUT I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO DO TO KIND OF COORDINATE THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

.

DO YOU SEE ANY OPTIONS THERE?

THE ISSUES AT HAND IS WHERE CAN WE HOUSE THE ASYLUM SEEKERS?

I THINK THAT ISSUE, AND ALSO THE OTHER ISSUE THAT WE'RE STILL HOPING, RECENTLY MY LAST CONVERSATION WITH CHUCK SCHUMER, TRYING TO ALLOW THE ASYLUM SEEKERS TO WORK.

BUSINESSES ALL ACROSS THIS STATE ARE ASKING-- ARE ASKING FOR IT.

THEY NEED THE EMPLOYEES.

I THINK THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, HELP THE SITUATION.

SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN YOU'RE NOT IN SESSION, YOU STILL HAVE THE BULLY PULPIT OF ADVOCACY TO THOSE, THE SAME WAY I DID WHEN I WAS DOWN IN WASHINGTON MEETING WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, ASKING TO LET THE ASYLUM SEEKERS BE ABLE TO WORK.

SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO THAT, BUT WE DO NEED SPACES AND PLACES AND RESOURCES.

THE GOVERNOR IN THE PAST MONTH HAS SAID THAT THIS WILL CAUSE A FINANCIAL STRAIN ON THE STATE.

IT'S ALREADY STRAINING THE CITY.

HOW DIFFICULT DO YOU THINK THAT MAKES NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS?

IT'S OBVIOUSLY A LONG WAY OFF.

I'M ASSUMING THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PARTED OF IT.

DO YOU SEE THAT REALLY COMPLICATING THINGS?

IT'S LIKE WE HAD TO PUT RESOURCES INTO THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.

LIKE I SAID BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A COORDINATED EFFORT BY REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS TO MAKE THIS A FINANCIAL PROBLEM FOR DEMOCRATIC STATES.

THEY HAVE SUCCEEDED.

I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT IT'S IN THE EVEN A BELIEF.

I WOULD SAY THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY INTENTIONALLY SENT THESE MIGRANTS TO NEW YORK CITY BECAUSE THEY ESSENTIALLY WANT THE CITY TO BE OVERWHELMED LIKE THIS FOR POLITICAL REASONS.

THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK UNDERSTAND THAT AND THE FACT THAT THEY-- THE CITY HAS BEEN OVERWHELMED AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO ASSIST-- TO ASSIST THE CITY AND SO YES, THERE WILL BE A FINANCIAL STRAIN AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE TO THIS COUNTRY SEEKING HELP WHILE THEIR DETERMINATION OF THEIR STATUS WILL BE FIGURED OUT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN AND NOT-- AND WORK WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND MAKE SURE THAT THE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHO-- LIKE THOSE WHO HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THIS.

SO LIKE I SAID, I BELIEVE WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN.

WE'RE NEW YORKERS.

WE ALWAYS DO THAT.

BUT WE STILL NEED HELP FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, WE MAY NOT GET THAT HELP UNTIL THE POLITICS OF WASHINGTON CHANGES.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S IN ANY INTEREST OF THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE TO ASSIST ANY OF THE DEMOCRATIC STATES IN THE HANDLING THE FINANCIAL CRISIS OF ASYLUM SEEKERS.

RIGHT.

I THINK AN ISSUE LIKE THIS IS LIKE A WHOLE TICKET ISSUE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT ANY MEMBER OF YOUR PARTY CAN KIND OF GET AWAY FROM IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

THAT BEING SAID, IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR NEXT YEAR OBVIOUSLY.

YOU'LL HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

YOU EITHER SEE TWO SCENARIOS IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

EITHER IT'S A REALLY BORING SESSION OR IT'S A REALLY EXCITING SESSION BECAUSE YOU WANT TO PUMP THINGS UP AND HAVE THINGS TO CAMPAIGN ON.

DO YOU SEE THAT AS NEXT YEAR BEING A MORE BORING OR EXCITING?

I THINK WITH BETWEEN HOUSING AND THE INFLUX OF ASYLUM SEEKERS, YOU HAVE PLENTY TO DO.

IS THERE ANY WAY YOU WANT TO PLAY IT TO GIVE YOU YOUR MEMBERS THE BEST ADVANTAGE?

WHEN WE DO THE BUDGET, WE ALWAYS TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE POLITICS.

THERE'S A TIME FOR CAMPAIGNS AND A TIME FOR POLITICS, BUT THE HOUSING CRISIS IS A-- IT IS A CRISIS, BUT I THINK THAT EVERYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN AN OUTCOME, I THINK THERE HAS TO BE COMPROMISE.

NOWHERE IN GOVERNMENT DOES ANYONE GET EVERYTHING THEY WANT, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY WANT IT, AND I THINK THAT BOTH SIDES WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY BECAUSE IF PEOPLE ARE STANDING IN THEIR NEUTRAL CORNERS, THIS CRISIS WILL CONTINUE SO I DO THINK WE NEED TO DO ALL WE CAN TO BUILD MORE HOUSING, INCLUDING ENCOURAGING HOME OWNERSHIP, SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE GENERATIONAL WEALTH, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE TO PROTECT TENANTS AS WELL.

PEOPLE ARE LEAVING NEW YORK BECAUSE IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE TO BE HERE.

EVEN THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN THAT WANTED TO BUILD 800,000 UNITS OF HOUSING OVER 10 YEARS, THAT DOESN'T HELP THE TENANT RIGHT NOW WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING TO AFFORD THE HIGH COST, YOU KNOW, OF RENT.

THE NUMBER OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS THAT HAVE LEFT ARE ALARMING BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY THESE HIGH RENTS FOR SUCH A SMALL SQUARE FOOTAGE OF PLACEMENT.

OTHER STATES ARE WELCOMING THEM WITH OPEN ARMS.

IT REMINDS ME OF THE STORY IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES" ABOUT THE FAMILY WHO TURNED THEIR LIVING ROOM INTO A BEDROOM FOR THEIR THREE CHILDREN, AND THEY MOVED OUT, I BELIEVE TO ATLANTA, AND THEY HAVE A HUGE SPACE AND A YARD FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

SO IF WE DON'T START TO ARREST THIS PROBLEM, IT'S ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO EXACERBATE.

YEAH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW ANYBODY AFFORDS RENT IN NEW YORK CITY.

UP HERE, MY RENT IS CHALLENGING, TOO.

MY LANDLORD, GOOD GUY, HASN'T RAISED IT IN FIVE YEARS.

THANK GOODNESS.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN NEW YORK CITY.

YOU SEE PEOPLE HAVING THEIR RENTS RAISED BY $700.

HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO PAY THAT?

YOU HAVE TO GET ANOTHER JOB.

IT'S UNSUSTAINABLE.

ON THE HOUSING CONVERSATION, HAVE YOU MADE ANY PROGRESS THERE BETWEEN THE SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR?

DID YOU HAVE ANY CONVERSATIONS IN SESSION?

I'D SAY WE HAVE LIKE MACRO DISCUSSIONS.

WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY DISCUSSIONS I WOULD SAY ON THE MINUTIA.

IF YOU ASKED ME, WHAT ARE THE TWO BIG LINCHPINS THAT HAS TO HAPPEN IS I THINK THERE HAS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT WE DO HAVE TO HAVE A, YOU KNOW, SOME FORM OF AN INCENTIVE-BASED HOUSING PROGRAM BUT IT ALSO HAS TO BE COUPLED WITH TENANT PROTECTS.

SO I THINK WHEN THOSE TWO THINGS COME TOGETHER, I THINK YOU'LL START TO SEE I'D SAY MOVEMENT AND THEN I'D SAY IN THE SUBURBS, AS I'VE TOURED THE STATE AS WELL, MANY OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES HAVE JUST SAID THEY UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE TO DO THEIR SHARE.

THEY JUST WANT TO HAVE PARTICIPATION IN DEALING WITH HAVING THE HOUSING DONE, THAT'S WHEN I WAS IN WESTCHESTER.

IT'S A REALLY INTERESTING ISSUE.

HOUSING IS SOMETHING I HAVEN'T REALLY THOUGHT TOO MUCH ABOUT UNTIL LAST YEAR WHEN THE GOVERNOR MADE THE BILLING PUSH.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

THIS COULD BE THE BIGGEST HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE'S HISTORY.

IT COULD BE SOMETHING HUGE.

BUT A LOT OF MOVING PARTS THERE THAT WE WILL LOOK INTO NEXT YEAR.

ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANYTIME, DAN.

ALWAYS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

[ THEME MUSIC ] THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN NEW YORK WILL START IN JANUARY, BUT MOVING ON NOW TO THE ENVIRONMENT IN NEW YORK.

IT'S PROBABLY NO SURPRISE TO ANYONE WATCHING THAT NEW YORK STATE HAS AMONG THE HIGHEST CARBON EMISSIONS IN THE COUNTRY AND DATA FROM THE U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION BACKS THAT UP.

WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER STATES, NEW YORK RANKS NINTH HIGHEST IN CARBON EMISSIONS AS OF TWO YEARS AGO WHEN 156 MILLION METRIC TONS OF CO2 WERE EMITTED BY NEW YORKERS.

THAT WAS ABOUT 3% OF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY'S EMISSIONS, BUT THE NUMBERS CHANGE IN A GOOD WAY WHEN WE BREAK IT DOWN BY POPULATION.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT AVERAGE CARBON EMISSIONS PER PERSON IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK RANKS DEAD LAST.

MEANING WE'RE THE LOWEST EMITTERS PER CAPITA IN THE COUNTRY AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENVIRONMENT, IN NEW YORK, THERE'S A LOT TO THINK ABOUT.

SO THIS WEEK, WE'RE GOING TO BREAK DOWN THE STATE'S TOP ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AND MORE IN A NEW EDITION OF OUR CIVIC SERIES, NEW YORK AND.

[ THEME MUSIC ] WELCOME TO NEW YORK AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

I'M YOUR HOST, RAGA JUSTIN.

US NEW YORKERS ARE TRULY BLESSED TO LIVE IN SUCH A GEOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE STATE, FROM THE COASTLINES TO THE GREAT LAKES TO THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN RANGES OF THE ADIRONDACKS AND SCAT SKILLS, OUR STATE IS A HAVEN FOR FOLKS WHO ENJOY SPENDING TIMES OUTDOORS.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN OUTDOORSY PERSON TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR ENVIRONMENT.

YOU MIGHT LOOK AT STORIES ABOUT INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION, WILDFIRE SMOG AND FLOODING AND THINK TO YOURSELF, HUH?

THAT SEEMS BAD.

IN NEW YORK SPECIFICALLY, CLIMATE CHANGE COULD SPELL TROUBLE FOR THE FOLK WHO LIVE ALONG COASTLINES AND WATERWAYS OF WHICH THERE ARE PLENTY AND OUTSIDE OF CLIMATE ISSUES THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF STORIES ON THE DISCOVERY OF CONTAMINANTS ON OUR AIR AND WATER, LIKE PFAS.

THESE ARE MONUMENTAL AND EXISTENTIAL CHALLENGES WE FACE, BUT WE CAN RISE TO THE OCCASION AND TAKE THEM ON AND NEW YORK HAS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A ROLE MODEL FOR OTHER STATES' ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES N THIS EPISODE, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK OF HOW OUR STATE GOVERNMENT REGULATES FORCES THAT IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT.

WE'LL ALSO GO OVER THE STATE'S NEW ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND HOW THEY WERE PIONEERED BY ADVOCATES AND VOTERS.

LET'S START WITH NEW YORK'S DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, WHICH IS THE MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY BODY IN THE STATE.

IT WAS FORMED BACK IN 1970, FOLLOWING THE BIG ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT OF THE '60S.

DURING WHICH THERE WAS A NATIONWIDE PUSH FOR STRONGER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.

IF YOU THINK BACK TO OUR EPISODE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, WE TALKED ABOUT STATE AGENCIES BEING PART OF NEW YORK'S EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

EACH DEPARTMENT HAS ITS OWN AREA OF FOCUS AND EXISTS TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE LAWS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.

THE DEC OVERSEES ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND ISSUES RELATED TO POLLUTION AND HUMAN HEALTH.

RIGHT NOW, THE DEC IS FOCUSED ON IMPLEMENTING NEW YORK'S LANDMARK ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, CLIMATE, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT THAT PASSED IN 2019.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY BROAD AND AMBITIOUS PLAN OF LAW WITH A LONG LIST OF GOALS, BUT HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST PROMINENT.

70% OF THE STATE'S ELECTRICITY IS TO BE POWERED BY RENEWABLE ENERGY BY 2030, WITH ZERO EMISSIONS FROM OUR ELECTRIC GRID BY 2040 AND AN OVERALL 85% REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 2050.

THE DEC IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH NYSERDA, ONE OF THE STATE'S ENERGY AGENCIES, ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE LAW IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS.

ONE OF THE MAJOR WAYS THEY PLAN TO ACHIEVE THEM IS THROUGH A CAP-AND-INVEST PROGRAM.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THERE WOULD BE A GRADUALLY DECREASING CAP ON THE PERMITTED AMOUNT OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN THE STATE AND DURING THIS TIME, COMPANIES WOULD PAY FOR THE EMISSIONS THEY CREATE.

THIS MONEY WOULD THEN BE USED TO FUND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES IN THE STATE WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, BUT THE CLIMATE LEADERSHIP ACT IS NOT THE ONLY THING ON THE DEC'S PLATE AND WE SPOKE WITH COMMISSIONER BASIL SEGGOS TO LEARN MORE.

WE'RE ALSO VERY BUSY PROTECTING THE STATE'S WATER RESOURCES.

OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE A WATER READY STATE AND ALL OF OUR CITIES AND TOWNS ARE BUILT ON THE WATERFRONT, FOR THE MOST PART.

OUR INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN IN DECAY FOR MANY DECADES AND REALLY SINCE 2017, WE'VE BEEN PUTTING AN EMPHASIS ON REBUILDING SEWER LINES, WATER LINES, YOU KNOW, PROTECTING WATERSHEDS AND ALL OF THAT IS ULTIMATELY TO PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH AND ALLOW THIS STATE TO PROSPER AND TO THRIVE FOR MANY DECADES TO COME AND THEN, OF COURSE, WHAT MANY NEW YORKERS FEEL AND CERTAINLY ARE AWARE OF IS OCCASIONALLY CONTAMINATION.

WE SPEND ABOUT $100 MILLION A YEAR REMEDIATING CONTAMINATION AROUND THE STATE.

WE ALSO HAVE A VERY ROBUST BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM WHICH ALLOWS FOR DEVELOPERS TO REDEVELOP PROPERTY FOR COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES, WHILE DOING A CLEANUP TO OUR STRINGENT STANDARDS, SO IT'S REALLY OUR EFFORT TO ADDRESS THE TOXIC LEGACY OF THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS.

UP NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT TWO MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL BALLOT INITIATIVES THAT WERE RECENTLY VOTED IN BY NEW YORKERS.

[ MUSIC ] THE GREEN AMENDMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOND ACT ARE TWO RECENTLY ESTABLISHED LAWS THAT COULD HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON NEW YORK'S ENVIRONMENT.

BOTH OF THESE LAWS WERE BALLOT INITIATIVES.

MEANING THAT THEY HAD TO BE APPROVED BY VOTERS IN ORDER TO GO INTO EFFECT.

ANY AMENDMENTS MADE TO NEW YORK'S STATE CONSTITUTION HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE PEOPLE.

THE GREEN AMENDMENT WAS APPROVED BY VOTERS IN 2021.

THE LANGUAGE OF THE AMENDMENT IS SIMPLE.

IT DECLARES THAT EACH PERSON HAS A RIGHT TO CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER AND A HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT.

THAT'S IT.

JUST ONE SENTENCE LONG.

WE SPOKE WITH ELIZABETH MORAN OF EARTH JUSTICE ABOUT THE CREATION OF THIS AMENDMENT.

THE IDEA OF THIS WAS TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH A NEW TOOL TO PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITIES FROM POLLUTION.

A LOT OF THIS WAS INSPIRED BY THE DRINKING WATER CRISIS THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE SMALL COMMUNITY OF HOOSICK FALLS NEW YORK.

HOOSICK FALLS, FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR, IS A SMALL VILLAGE ABOUT AN HOUR OUTSIDE OF ALBANY, RIGHT BY THE BORDER OF VERMONT THAT FOUND EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH LEVELS OF THE TOXIC CHEMICALS, PFAS, IN THEIR DRINKING WATER AND THE REASON THAT PFAS GOT IN THEIR WATER WAS BECAUSE OF IMPROPER PRACTICES CONDUCTED BY THE COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN, THAT USE PFAS AND IMPROPERLY HANDLED IT.

THIS LEGAL TOOL CAN HELP NEW YORKERS FIGHT FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES AND, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY SAY, LIKE, WITH THE SITING OF A FACILITY, FOR EXAMPLE, DOES THIS INFRINGE UPON MY RIGHT TO CLEAN AIR AND WATER AND A HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT?

THE SIMPLICITY AND BREVITY OF THIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT MEANS THAT NEW YORK'S COURT SYSTEM WILL LIKELY TAKE SOME TIME TO INTERPRET ITS FULL BREADTH AND APPLICATION.

KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR THAT ANOTHER RECENTLY APPROVED BALLOT MEASURE IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOND ACT, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY VOTERS IN 2022.

THIS IS NOT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT LIKE THE GREEN AMENDMENT, BUT IS INSTEAD AN APPROVAL FOR THE STATE TO BORROW $4.2 BILLION TO SPEND ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS.

THESE PROJECTS WILL FOCUS ON IMPROVING CLIMATE RESILIENCY, MITIGATING POLLUTION, IMPROVING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND MORE.

THESE NEW ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS ARE SIGNIFICANT BEYOND JUST THEIR POTENTIAL IMPACT.

BECAUSE THEY PASSED AS BALLOT INITIATIVES WHOOSH HE CAN SEE THAT THE STRONG MAJORITY OF NEW YORKERS HAVE A DESIRE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.

POLITICIANS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES CONTRIBUTING TO ENVIRONMENTAL LAW.

VOTERS MADE THEIR MANDATE LOUD AND CLEAR.

IT ALSO TOOK THE WORK OF MANY ADVOCACY GROUPS TO GET LAWS LIKE THESE ON THE BOOKS.

WE SPOKE WITH ELIZABETH MORAN ABOUT WHAT HER ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY WORK ENTAILS.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO ADVOCACY.

I WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUE AT MY ORGANIZATION AND THEY ARE PRIMARILY LITIGATORS.

SO THEY ARE CONDUCTING ADVOCACY BY WORKING WITH CLIENTS IN COMMUNITIES BEING IMPACTED BY AN ENVIRONMENTAL HARM, AND FIGHTING FOR THEM IN THE COURTROOM.

I HAVE PARTNERS AT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS AND THEY ARE ALSO WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES OR WORKING ALONGSIDE PEOPLE WHO REALLY JUST WANT TO SAY STRONGER AND BETTER ACTION ON CLIMATE AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.

THE OTHER PIECE OF THE EQUATION IS PEOPLE WHO ARE POUNDING THE HALLS OF ALBANY, AND THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE WORK THAT I DO.

SO I WORK WITH, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, WHERE WE STRATEGIZE TOGETHER TO INFLUENCE LAWMAKERS TO PASS-- TO PASS POLICIES WE NEED.

ALL THESE DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING ADVOCACY HIT DIFFERENT PRESSURE POINTS WITH IN GOVERNMENT.

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ARE NOT THE ONLY GROUPS LOOKING TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY LEGISLATION.

THERE ARE ALSO GROUPS LIKE TRADE ASSOCIATIONS.

HERE IN NEW YORK, WE HAVE IPPNY, INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS OF NEW YORK, WHICH REPRESENTS A LARGE PORTION OF THE STATE'S ENERGY PRODUCTION INDUSTRY.

WE SPOKE WITH IPPNY'S PRESIDENT AND CEO, GAVIN DONOHUE, ON THE KIND OF WORK THAT IPPNY DOES, AS WELL AS HIS RESERVATIONS AT THE SPEED OF WHICH NEW YORK LOOKS TO MOVE OFF OF NATURAL GAS.

WE REPRESENT OVER 75% OF ALL THE ELECTRICITY THAT'S GENERATED ON A DAILY BASIS IN THE STATE.

WE ARE LARGEST CLEAN ENERGY GENERATOR ASSOCIATION OF THE STATE, SO OVER 50% OF THE ELECTRICITY IN THE STATE IS CLEAN ENERGY AND WE REPRESENT THOSE FOLKS.

OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO PROMOTE COMPETITION IN THE WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY ARENA TO HAVE FAIR MARKET RULES PUT IN PLACE ON THE TREATY OF ELECTRICITIES WITH THE NEW YORK ISO, TO HAVE FAIR RULES THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, DEC, THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

MY MEMBERS SUPPORT THE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION, BUT WE HAVE TO TRANSITION IN A SMART WAY.

IF WE'RE GOING TO BAN NATURAL GAS IN THIS STATE FOR NEW CONSTRUCT TO ELECTRIFY THINGS WHAT IS THE FUEL THAT WILL REPLACE NATURAL GAS?

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IT'S MAGIC.

THERE IS NO FUEL TO REPLACE NATURAL GAS.

OVER 80% OF TODAY'S ELECTRICITY GENERATED IN NEW YORK CITY IS GENERATED ON OIL AND GAS.

SO WHAT IS GOING TO REPLACE THAT IN 16 SHORT YEARS?

IT'S SOMETHING THAT DOES KEEP ME UP AT NIGHT AND MAKES ME THINK ABOUT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT NEW YORK'S CLIMATE AND ENERGY GOALS?

WHATEVER YOUR THOUGHTS ARE, THERE ARE LIKELY ADVOCACY GROUPS, ASSOCIATIONS AND OFFICIALS WHO SHARE THE SAME THOUGHTS ON WHAT ACTIONS NEW YORK SHOULD TAKE.

ADDING YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION IS HOW REAL CHANGE IS MADE POSSIBLE.

THE LAWS ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT BODIES THAT WE COVERED IN THIS EPISODE WILL NOT SOLVE CLIMATE CHANGE ALONE.

WE ARE SIMPLY ONE STATE WITHIN A COUNTRY WITHIN A GLOBAL COMMUNITY, BUT THINK BACK TO WHAT CAUSED THE FORMATION OF THE DEC AND WHAT CAUSED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LAWS LIKE THE GREEN AMENDMENT.

THESE HAPPENED BECAUSE THERE WAS A MANDATE FROM THE PEOPLE.

IN THIS SENSE, YOU ARE THE ONES DRIVING NEW YORK TO TAKE ACTION.

THERE'S GOING TO BE HARD WORK AND TOUGH TIMES AHEAD, WITH YOU WE CAN LOOK AT THE STEPS WE'RE TAKING TOGETHER AS INSPIRATION THAT A BRIGHTER FUTURE IS, IN FACT, POSSIBLE.

THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY.

KEEP LEARNING AND I'LL SEE YOU ALL LATER.

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