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

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

STARTING THIS MONTH, NEW YORKERS MAKING UNDER A CERTAIN AMOUNT WILL RECEIVE A ONE-TIME INFLATION REFUND CHECK.

THE CHECKS WILL BE MAILED TO OVER EIGHT MILLION HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS THE STATE THROUGH NOVEMBER.

THE AMOUNT RECEIVED WILL BE $200 OR $400, DEPENDING ON THE HOUSEHOLD SALARY, AND IT IS BASED ON THE 2023 TAX FILING.

ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL, THE MOVE TO SEND THE CHECKS, WHICH WAS PASSED IN THE MOST RECENT STATE BUDGET IS PART OF THE LARGER EFFORT TO HELP MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF THE RISING COST OF INFLATION.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE REFUND CHECKS, WE SPOKE WITH STATE BUDGET DIRECTOR BLAKE WASHINGTON.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY,DIRECTOR WASHINGTON.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> NOW, CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE INFLATION REFUND CHECKS THAT NEW YORKERS ARE SET TO START RECEIVING AS EARLY AS THIS MONTH?

>> SURE.

SO THE INFLATION REBATE CHECK THAT WE HAVE WAS ENACTED IN THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.

IT WAS ONE OF MANY ITEMS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT FORWARD TO PROMOTE AFFORDABILITY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

THE AFFORDABILITY REBATE CHECK-- INFLATION REBATE CHECK, FORGIVE ME, WILL BE IN AN AMOUNT OF UP TO $400, DEPENDING ON TAXPAYER FILING STATUS, AND IT'S COMING SOON TO A MAILBOX NEAR YOU.

THIS INTERVENTION IS ONE THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S PUT FORWARD IN RECOGNITION THAT PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK NEED A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF.

EVERYWHERE THAT SHE TRAVELS, PEOPLE ARE RELATING TO HER ABOUT THE HIGH COST OF GROCERIES OR GASOLINE OR UTILITIES, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, THERE'S AN URGENCY OF NOW TO GET MONEY INTO PEOPLE'S POCKETS, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S DOING WITH THIS INITIATIVE.

WE HAVE A REBATE CHECK.

WE ALSO HAVE A CHILD TAX CREDIT THAT'S GOING TO TRIPLE IN THE CURRENT YEAR.

WE HAVE AN EXPANSION OF A MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT WHICH WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO AND FINALLY, WE HAVE UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEALS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WHICH KICKED IN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THOSE THINGS COMBINED PROVIDE FOR $5,000 BACK IN NEW YORKERS' POCKETS AT A TIME THEY NEED IT MOST.

>> CAN YOU GIVE US SOME INSIGHT INTO WHAT IT TOOK FOR BOTH THE EXECUTIVE CHAMBER AND THE LEGISLATURE 0 WORK TOGETHER TO GET THESE DIFFERENT POLICY ITEMS IN THE FINAL ENACTED BUDGET EARLIER THIS YEAR?

>> WELL, I THINK THE INSIGHT TO BEGIN, THE COLONEL WAS WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SHE TASKED THE ENTIRE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

LET'S COME UP WITH IDEAS THAT ARE CREATIVE TO GET MONEY BACK IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS.

I WANT NEAR-TERM INTERVENTIONS AND I WANT ONES THAT WILL BE SORT OF ROLLED OUT OVER TIME AND SUSTAINABLE FISCALLY OVER THE LONG TERM.

SO IT WAS HER CHARGE BACK IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR WHEN WE FIRST GOT INTO THIS IN CRAFTING THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET.

THIS IS THE MARKER SHE LAID DOWN WAS AFFORDABILITY, AFFORDABILITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND WE CARRIED THAT FORWARD.

TO THEIR CREDIT, WE WORKED WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

THEY SAW, TOO, THE WISDOM OF ALL THESE POLICY CHANGES AND THEY ADOPTED THEM.

THERE WERE SOME SMALL TWEAKS TO THE PROGRAMS, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, THEY SAW THE VALUE AND THEY ACTED ACCORDINGLY, TO THEIR CREDIT, AND NOW NEW YORKERS HAVE MUCH TO BE PROUD OF.

>> AND HOW MUCH IS IT COSTING THE STATE TO SEND THESE REBATE CHECKS TO NEW YORKERS, AND WHAT IS FUNDING THIS POLICY?

>> WELL, THE AMOUNT-- THE REBATE CHECKS, THEMSELVES, WILL COST ROUGHLY $2 BILLION ON A ONE-TIME BASIS, AND BEYOND THAT, IT COST THE STATE POSTAGE TO SEND TO NEW YORKERS.

IT WILL BE A ONE-TIME CHECK.

THIS IS ONE THAT OBVIOUSLY $2 BILLION EACH AND EVERY YEAR FOR THIS PURPOSE WOULD BE UNSUSTAINABLE, BUT IT'S ONE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THE STATE HAS COLLECTED DURING AN ERA OF HEIGHTENED-- HEIGHTENED INFLATION, THIS WAS ONE WAY OF TAKING THOSE RESOURCES AND PLEDGING THEM BACK TO NEW YORKERS ON A ONE-TIME BASIS.

SO THE COST IS $2 BILLION AND IT'S A BRILLIANT INVESTMENT.

>> AND WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING THE WORD OUT THERE TO NEW YORKERS AND YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THESE CHECKS WILL BE COMING TO THEIR MAILBOXES, HOW IS THE STATE GOING TO BE APPROACHING THAT IN ENSURING THAT EVERYONE IS IN THE KNOW?

>> WELL WE HAVE THE STATE'S NUMBER ONE SALESPERSON AND THAT BEING GOVERNOR HOCHUL HERSELF.

SHE'S BEEN IN EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE ANNOUNCING THIS INITIATIVE.

IT'S ON THE TAX DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

THERE'S BEEN SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT.

THERE'S ENGAGEMENT SUCH AS THIS AS WELL, WHICH WILL ALSO HELP NEW YORKERS THINK-- TO BE REMINDED ABOUT THIS.

IT WILL TAKE ABOUT EIGHT WEEKS TO GET-- START TO FINISH TO GET THE CHECKS OUT TO NEW YORKERS, BUT WHEN THAT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, REAL RESULTS TO REAL PEOPLE.

>> AND IF A NEW YORKER DOESN'T RECEIVE A CHECK IN THE MAIL SHOULD THEY REACH OUT TO YOUR OFFICE, OR WHAT OTHER STATE AGENCY TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHECKS?

>> WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, GIVE IT A COUPLE OF WEEK.

YOUR NEIGHBOR MAY GET A CHECK BEFORE YOU.

IT'S DEPENDENT UPON YOUR FILING DATE.

PERHAPS IF YOU FILED SOONER THAN YOUR NEIGHBOR, YOU WOULD GET IT SOONER OR VICE VERSA.

I THINK THAT ONCE-- IF YOU FILED YOUR CHECK-- EXCUSE ME, IF YOU FILED TAXES ON TIME IN 2023, THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL WORK FOR YOU TO DO.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE WILL SEND YOU A CHECK.

SO THERE SHOULD BE SEAMLESS.

IF THAT DOES NOT COME, I THINK THERE'S AN 800 NUMBER ON THE TAX DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE, BUT LET'S GIVE IT SOME TIME BEFORE CALLING BECAUSE I THINK WE PUT-- PUT THE WHOLE STATE GOVERNMENT BEHIND THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER THE RESULT.

>> ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC AREAS OR INDUSTRIES THAT YOU'RE HOPING NEW YORKERS WILL USE THE MONEY FROM THE CHECKS TO INVEST IN TO BEST SUPPORT THE STATE'S ECONOMY?

>> NOT NECESSARILY.

I THINK WHEN THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN DOING HER PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS, SHE SEES IT JUST AS A-- SHE'S THE FIRST MOM GOVERNOR AND SHE SEES IT AS A FUNDAMENTAL ABILITY TO GIVE PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT OF WIGGLE ROOM, WHETHER IT BE THIS WEEK'S CHECKS, THIS MONTH'S CHECKS, MAYBE IT TAKES OFF A LITTLE BIT FOR THE UTILITY CHECK.

MAYBE IT GIVES MOM AND DAD A NIGHT OUT OR BUY NEW SCHOOL SUPPLIES, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, WE'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE BENEFIT.

IT WILL GIVE SOME NEW YORKERS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BREATHING ROOM AND THAT'S THE INTENT.

SO THERE'S NO EXPRESS OR PREFERRED WAY IN WHICH PEOPLE CAN SPEND THE DOLLARS.

>> HOW DO YOU SEE THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE BUILDING ON THESE EFFORTS IN THE YEARS TO COME?

FOR EXAMPLE, IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

>> WELL, I MEAN, WE HAVE-- FIRST AND FOREMOST, WORK WITHIN A FISCAL FRAMEWORK THAT MAKES SENSE.

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE STRESS COMING INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

WE HAVE CURRENT YEAR INVESTMENTS THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE.

WE HAVE OUTYEAR DEFICITS THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS, BUT AS THE GOVERNOR TELLS EVERY NEW YORKER WHEREVER SHE IS, WE'RE NOT DONE YET.

MAYBE WE CAN'T DO ANOTHER $2 BILLION ONE-TIME REBATE CHECK, BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE NEW YORKERS' LIVES A LITTLE BIT EASIER?

THE CHILD TAX CREDIT WILL PHASE OVER TIME.

FIRST YEAR, WE'LL TRIPLE THE AMOUNT FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FOUR.

THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN OVER THE AGE OF FOUR.

WE HAVE A MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT THAT WILL PHASE IN OVER TWO YEARS.

AND WE'RE LOOKING AT ANY NUMBER OF ITEMS FROM OUR STATE AGENCY.

WE SOLICITED THE SAME TO GET AT THE HEART OF THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS THAT WE FACE TODAY, AND ALL OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE AND I THINK THAT AS LONG AS THEY'RE FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DELIVER, WE'RE CERTAINLY ALL EARS.

>> WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE FROM NEW YORKERS WHEN IT COMES TO THESE DIFFERENT POLICY INITIATIVES THAT YOU ARE GOING TO-- THAT YOU'VE ALREADY STARTED ROLLING OUT BUT ALSO CONTINUING TO ROLL OUT?

>> THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN FAVORABLE.

I THINK THAT NEW YORKERS SEE THAT NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT IS PAYING ATTENTION TO THEM, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN THEY SEE THE WHOLE OF THIS PROPOSAL, WHEN THEY SEE THESE ACTIONS WHEN THEY SEE IT'S UP TO $5,000 IN NEW YORKERS' POCKETS, THEY SEE THAT NEW YORK GOVERNMENT IS TRYING AND THEY SEE NEW YORK GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIVE AND PAYING ATTENTION TO THEM AND THAT'S THE GOAL AND TO MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THAT MOMENTUM.

LET'S GET RID OF THE RED TAPE.

LET'S GET RID OF THE PROBLEMS THAT NEW YORKERS FACE AND INTERACTING STATE GOVERNMENT AS WELL.

LET'S WORK WITH ON ANY FRONT TO REDUCE THE BURDENS THAT NEW YORKERS HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY NUMBER OF THINGS IN THEIR LIFE.

HOWEVER WE CAN HELP ON THIS-- WE CAN'T DO IT ALL, BUT HOWEVER WE CAN HELP, WE'RE HAPPY TO DO IT.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING FROM WASHINGTON AND THREATS TO FUNDING, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES YOUR OFFICE SEE THAT PLAYING OUT HEADING INTO NEXT YEAR?

WHAT WILL YOUR COMMUNICATION BE LIKE WITH FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING FOR THE STATE?

>> WELL, THE STATE OF NEW YORK RELIES UPON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF RESOURCES.

$93 BILLION IN A GIVEN YEAR, AND IT'S FOR ANY NUMBER OF SERVICES.

CHIEF AMONG THEM IS MEDICAID, OF COURSE.

I THINK, IN GENERAL, THERE'S A POLICY SHIFT IN WASHINGTON THAT WILL ENDURE.

THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE A CHANGING RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATES, THE RELATIONSHIP OF WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL FUND AND THE STATES EVERYWHERE WILL HAVE TO ADAPT.

IT DOESN'T MATTER THE POLITICAL PERSUASION.

THE DYNAMIC IS CHANGING, AND WE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAVE TO SORT OF ADAPT TO THAT.

BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT COME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT ARE JUST SORT OF INDEFENSIBLE, AND YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR LAST WEEK SHOUTED FROM THE ROOFTOPS ABOUT A CUT THAT CAME TO THE STATE-- PROPOSED FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK FOR HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING.

$187 MILLION WAS LOST, BUT THE GOVERNOR ALSO KEPT HER COOL, AND SHE COLLABORATED.

SHE MADE CONTACT WITH THE WHITE HOUSE.

SHE MADE THE PUBLIC CASE ABOUT WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT.

THE STATE OF NEW YORK BEING THE EPICENTER OF THE 9/1 TAX AND BEING THE TARGET OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM PREVIOUSLY AND THESE FUNDS WERE ONES THAT WERE NON-NEGOTIABLE.

WE NEEDED THEM BACK.

WE WERE REALLY, REALLY DELIGHTED TO HAVE THAT COLLABORATION.

THE GOVERNOR WORKING WITH THE PRESIDENT TO RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS BACK TO THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

THE GOVERNOR WILL FIGHT WHERE SHE NEEDS TO, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT RELATES TO PROTECTING NEW YORKERS.

AND THEN I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REVISIT ALL THE OTHER ACTIONS THAT COME THROUGH HR1.

THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF FUNDING RETRENCHMENT THAT'S COMING OUR WAY, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AND BUDGETS TO COME.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF RULE-MAKING THAT IS GOING TO COME OUR WAY.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

THE UPSIDE IS WE HAVE A REALLY TALENTED GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE DIVISION OF BUDGET THAT WILL HELP US TO DRAG IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE GOOD POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR.

WE'LL TAKE IT FROM THERE.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU'LL BE GOING INTO YOUR THIRD BUDGET SEASON NEXT YEAR.

ANY BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM THE YEARS PRIOR THAT YOU ARE HOPING TO IMPLEMENT INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET?

>> WELL, I THINK THE TAKEAWAYS ARE CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE, EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE-- EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE-- WHEN IT SEEMS THAT SOMETIMES THINGS ARE STALLED OUT OR GETTING A LITTLE UNEASY, THE GOVERNOR'S INSTRUCTIONS TO US ARE LET'S JUST KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING.

LET'S KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING WITH THE ADVOCACY WORLD.

LET'S KEEP TALKING TO THE LEGISLATURE.

LET'S RYE TO GET TO A DEAL WHERE EVERYBODY WALKS AWAY HAPPY OR HAPPY-ISH, AS THE CASE MAY BE.

BUT LET'S NOT HAVE OUR POSTURE BE ONE WHERE WE'RE CLOSED OFF TO THE WORLD.

LET'S FIGURE OUT.

LET'S BE SOLUTIONS ORIENTED.

IF WE CAN KEEP THAT GENERAL CADENCE AS WE GO FORWARD, WE'LL ALL WIN.

I THINK GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, KNOWING THAT THERE'S ANY NUMBER OF CHALLENGES COME OUR WAY, LET'S KEEP OUR HEADS ON STRAIGHT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FACTS BEFORE US AND LET'S COLLABORATE AND DELIVER A BUDGET FOR ALL NEW YORKERS.

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY, BUT WE THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR SITING DOWN WITH US.

>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE WERE SPEAKING WITH BLAKE WASHINGTON, DIRECTOR FOR THE NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF THE BUDGET.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> OCTOBER IS ALSO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.

THIS IS A TIME OF DEDICATED AWARENESS FOR THE ISSUE AND TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO VICTIMS.

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE SAT DOWN WITH KELLI OWENS, WHO SERVES AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE FOR THE PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO UNPACK THE ISSUE AND TO UNDERSTAND THE WORK THAT NEW YORK IS DOING.

HERE'S THAT IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.

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

>> OH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO OCTOBER, AS YOU KNOW, IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.

CAN YOU TELL ME, YOU KNOW, WHAT THIS MONTH MEANS TO YOU, AND WHAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE AWAY FROM THIS TIME OF DEDICATED AWARENESS?

>> YEAH.

FOR US AT OPDV, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IS EVERY MONTH, BUT THIS MONTH IS REALLY DEDICATED FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND AND BRING AWARENESS TO THE ISSUE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

EVERY YEAR, WE ACKNOWLEDGE IT.

EVERY YEAR.

AND THIS YEAR, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE VOICES OF SURVIVORS AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

SO WE'RE REALLY LIFTING UP THOSE VOICES THIS YEAR.

>> AND I KNOW THE CLOTHES LINE PROJECT, I BELIEVE, IS RETURNING.

THAT'S ONE OF THE METHODS OF AWARENESS THAT THE STATE DOES.

CAN YOU TELL ME FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT KNOW, WHAT IS THE CLOTHES LINE PROJECT, AND HOW LONG HAS THE STATE BEEN DOING IT?

>> THE CLOTHES LINE PROJECT IS A VISUAL REPRESENTATION.

IT'S BEEN AROUND ABOUT 30 YEARS AND IT'S A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF HOW PEOPLE BRING THEIR ABUSE OUT IN A WAY, AND IT'S REALLY-- THEY TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A T-SHIRT AND REALLY PROMOTE AND HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR FEELING WAS AND WHAT THEIR FEELING IS NOW AROUND THE ABUSE THEY MAY HAVE SUFFERED.

IT'S REALLY A VERY MOVING REPRESENTATION OF WHAT ABUSE LOOKS LIKE.

WE DO IT IN THE CONCOURSE.

WE'RE ON OUR THIRD YEAR OF DOING IT IN THE CONCOURSE.

IT IS A MOVING REPRESENTATION.

SOMETIMES IT'S TROUBLING FOR PEOPLE.

THE FIRST YEAR WE WERE THERE, PEOPLE WERE-- PEOPLE WERE SHOCKED BY WHAT THEY SAW ON SOME OF THOSE T-SHIRTS, AND YOU KNOW, I HAVE A REAL PASSION FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T EDIT SURVIVORS' VOICES, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT IS REALLY ON THAT SHIRT IS WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO SAY.

>> AND CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THIS PROJECT AND PROJECTS LIKE IT HAVE RAISED AWARENESS FOR THE ISSUE?

YOU KNOW, HOW YOU HAVE SEEN THAT BE IMPACTFUL.

>> YEAH.

I HAVE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS ABOUT 30 YEARS.

I STARTED AT A LOCAL.

AND I WILL SAY THAT I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE MOVING ALONG IN HOW PEOPLE VIEW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS A SOCIETAL ISSUE THAT WE ALL HAD TO DEAL WITH, AND WE WERE MOVING ALONG REALLY WELL UNTIL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND THIS IS MEANT TO BE POLITICAL.

IT IS JUST WHEN THE PRESIDENT WAS TALKING ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HE TALKED ABOUT IT IN A WAY THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IT 30 YEARS AGO ABOUT IT'S JUST A FIGHT BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN IN THEIR HOUSE AND THEN IT BECOMES A CRIME.

IT IS A CRIME.

SO I'M TROUBLED A LITTLE BIT WITH THAT NARRATIVE BEING OUT THERE AGAIN.

SO IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP BEATING BACK THAT NARRATIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DOESN'T ONLY AFFECT THOSE IN THE HOME.

IT IS A CRIME, BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE ALL NEED TO ADDRESS AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO ADDRESS THAT.

NOT EVERYBODY THINKS IT NEEDS TO BE A CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE TO IT.

SURVIVORS MAY NOT NEED THAT, BUT IT'S GOT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT SLIDE BACK.

I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A BIT OF A SLIDE.

>> ARE YOU WORRIED, GOING OFF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, ABOUT THAT NARRATIVE IMPACTING NEW YORK AND THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

>> I'M REALLY PROUD OF NEW YORK.

NEW YORK HAS AN OFFICE FOR THE PROJECT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

WE'VE HAD IT FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

SO THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO NEW YORK'S VALUES.

UNDER THIS GOVERNOR, THERE'S BEEN INVESTMENT IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

THERE'S BEEN INVESTMENT IN MY AGENCY AND WHAT WE DO AND SERIOUSNESS OF THE WORK THAT WE DO AND HOW WE INTERACT WITH OUR SISTER STATE AGENCIES AND THE COMMUNITY AND THE LEGISLATURE AND HER.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT NEW YORK'S LEGACY AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REMAINS.

I AM CONCERNED FOR THE MESSAGE THAT IT DOES SEND ACROSS COUNTRY AND THE WILLINGNESS FOR PEOPLE TO JUST ACCEPT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAIN, WHERE WE'VE COME SO FAR.

I DON'T WANT US TO BACKSLIDE.

>> AND CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THE STATE IS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE STATE HERE?

I KNOW FROM YOUR DATA-- FROM YOUR AGENCY, THERE'S BEEN SOME DATA ABOUT HOTLINE CALLS AND AN INCREASE IN SEVERITY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE?

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

I'VE BEEN NOW WITH THE AGENCY SIX YEARS AND WHEN I FIRST CAME, WE WENT RIGHT INTO COVID, AND WHEN WE WENT INTO COVID, THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE DECREASE IN CALLS INTO BOTH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINES AS WELL AS POLICE, DRASTIC IN THE FIRST MONTH OR SO.

THEN WE SAW IT GO STRAIGHT UP INTO OUR HOTLINES.

SO PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR A NON-CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE, AND THERE WAS A SPIKE.

IT WENT UP CONSIDERABLY.

WE HAVE NOW, IN REGARDS TO HOTLINE CALLS, SETTLED IN ABOUT 30% INCREASE OF WHERE WE WERE PRIOR TO COVID, BUT WE ALL STARTED SEEING DIFFERENT DYNAMICS PLAYING OUT IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

I THINK IT SPEAKS A LOT TO THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT'S GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE SEVERITY OF WHICH THINGS ESCALATE SO QUICKLY WHERE WE MAY HAVE BEEN TALKING, SOMEBODY THREW SAFETY PLANNING FOR A LONG-TERM PLAN TO GET OUT, YOU KNOW, THE SEVERITY HAS INCREASED AND WE ARE DOING A BIT MORE EMERGENCY PLANNING AND GETTING PEOPLE OUT TO SAFETY A LOT QUICKER.

SO I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN REGARDS TO THE DYNAMICS PLAYING OUT A LITTLE DIFFERENT, TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED ABUSE IS RAMPANT, ABOUT 97% OF DV CASES INVOLVE SOME FORM OF TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED ABUSE NOW.

>> DO YOU THINK THE TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED ABUSE IS ONE THING CONTRIBUTING TO THE RISING DANGER LEVELS IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK THOSE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS ARE?

WHY DO WE SEE AN INCREASE?

WHAT CAN THE STATE DO TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS?

>> I'M NOT SURE I CAN SCIENTIFICALLY SAY WHY I THINK THINGS ARE GETTING MORE SEVERE.

I THINK OUR REACTIONS ARE A BIT MORE SEVERE THESE DAYS IN REGARDS TO LOTS OF THINGS.

I THINK WE'RE-- WE'RE ALL KIND OF ESCALATED THESE DAYS IN THE WORLD THAT WE'RE LIVING IN AND THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE STRESS FACTORS IN A HOME.

OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN-- THE GOVERNOR'S BEEN REALLY FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE AND REALLY INVESTING IN THAT.

WE HAVE NOW A STRIVE PROGRAM IN PILOT COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE THAT HAVE A HIGH INCIDENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHERE WE'RE ASKING COMMUNITIES TO COME TOGETHER.

SO NOT JUST LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE PROVIDER COMMUNITY, THE SCHOOLS, THE COURTS AND COME TOGETHER AND REALLY ASSESS HIGH RISQUES IN A WAY THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING BEFORE.

BECAUSE THERE IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM THAT CAN HELP US PREDICT LETHALITY IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

SO THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN UP NOW ABOUT A YEAR IN PILOT COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE TO REALLY FIGURE OUT IF WE DO COORDINATE A COMMUNITY RESPONSE, WHICH IS A THING, AND HIGH RISK ASSESSMENT, CAN WE REDUCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDE AND SEVERITY?

>> DO YOU HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR THE HIGH RISK ASSESSMENT PIECE OF LEGISLATION?

YOU KNOW, WILL THAT POTENTIALLY IMPACT DV CASES?

>> YEAH.

I THINK-- YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN DO LETHALITY NOT ONLY IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY SECTOR, BUT HOW CAN WE DO LETHALITY IN A HEALTH CARE SETTING?

WHEN SOMEBODY SHOWS UP TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM WHO MAY NOT BE USING THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE BUT THEY MAY BE USING ANOTHER SYSTEM, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE TAKE THOSE LETHALITY INDICATORS AND REALLY HAVE OTHER PRACTICES USE THOSE TO FEED INFORMATION INTO A HIGH RISK TEAM SO WE CAN REALLY BRING THE RESOURCES TO THAT INDIVIDUAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP THEM SAFE.

>> WHAT KIND OF TRENDS ARE YOU SEE INNING TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

I KNOW THERE WAS A 2023 REPORT FROM THE COMPTROLLER TALKING ABOUT AN INCREASE FROM 2019 TO 2022 IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS.

WHAT TRENDS ARE WE SEEING TODAY?

>> YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS GET A LITTLE RESONANT WHEN WE START TO TALK ABOUT TRENDS.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS ONE OF THE MOST UNDERREPORTED THINGS, WHETHER IT'S-- AND YOU GOT TO-- WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT, TOO, IS IMPORTANT.

ARE WE LOOKING AT DATA THAT IS JUST LAW ENFORCEMENT DATA?

ARE WE LOOKING AT SHELTER DATA?

ARE WE LOOKING AT HEALTH CARE DATA?

SO I GET A LITTLE RESONANT WHEN WE START TO TALK AT WHAT TRENDS LOOK LIKE.

WE DO HAVE A DASHBOARD.

WE TRACK THOSE THINGS, AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND REPORT IT MORE THAN THEY DID 10, 15 YEARS AGO, AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE MORE AWARE OF DIFFERENT DYNAMICS WHEN WE USED TO THINK, OKAY, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS PHYSICAL VIOLENCE, I THINK PEOPLE ARE NOW REALIZING THAT IF SOMEBODY IS CONTROLLING YOUR MONEY THAT'S ALSO VIOLENCE.

IF SOMEBODY IS STALKING YOU ON YOUR CELL PHONE, THAT'S ALSO VIOLENCE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPORTED.

THAT MIGHT BE LEADING TO THE NUMBERS, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, RIGHT?

ONE OF THE THINGS I GOT ASKED ALL DURING COVID, THE NUMBERS ARE INCREASING.

WELL, THAT'S A GOOD THING THAT MEANS THAT SOMEBODY IS REACH OUT FOR HELP.

SO I ALWAYS GET A LITTLE-- WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT NUMBERS, WE'RE ALWAYS JUST TAKING A LITTLE BIT OF THE NUMBER.

>> DO YOU THINK THE LETHALITY ASSESSMENT, GOING BACK TO THAT, COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT INCREASING AND MAKING PEOPLE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE TO REPORT THINGS IF THEY'RE HAPPENING?

>> SO LETHALITY IS KIND OF A DOWN-THE-ROAD KIND OF TOOL.

WHAT I DO THINK IS IF WE ARE DOING BETTER TALKING ABOUT LETHALITY AND FATALITY AND SEVERE CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE PEOPLE FOR WHERE DOES IT START AND WHAT DOES IT START TO LOOK LIKE?

SO PEOPLE CAN IDENTIFY QUICKER BEFORE THEY GET TO THAT, AM I IN A LETHAL SITUATION IN SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN TRAIN THOSE HELPER AND PUBLIC SERVANT AREAS WHERE SOMEBODY GOES FOR HELP TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO IDENTIFY IT QUICKER AND WHAT ARE THE INTERVENTIONS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN QUICKER BEFORE IT REACHES THAT LEVEL OF LETHALITY.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE TECHNOLOGY-BASED GENDER VIOLENCE THAT WE WERE-- THAT YOU TOUCHED ON A LITTLE BIT.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS GENDER-BASED TECHNOLOGY VIOLENCE AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE CURRENTLY IN THE STATE?

>> YEAH.

SO TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED ABUSE IS SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR ASKED AS OPDV TO TAKE ON A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND FIGURE OUT.

IT IS A NEW DYNAMIC.

JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN AN ABUSER CAN FIND A NEW WAY TO CONTROL SOMEBODY THEY'RE GOING TO USE IT, AND TECHNOLOGY HAS BECOME A WONDERFUL WAY IN WHICH YOU CONTROL SOMEBODY'S BEHAVIOR AND YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM SOMEBODY WANTING YOUR PASSWORDS OR LOOKING AT YOUR PHONE OR DEMANDING TO SEE YOUR PHONE AND DEMANDING ALL THOSE THINGS, ALL THE WAY TO SOMEBODY TAKING OVER YOUR IDENTITY ONLINE AND USING DEEP FAKES AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE IN CONTROL OR THAT THEY'RE HARMING YOU.

SO THERE IS A WIDE RANGE.

IT IS A NEW DYNAMIC OF WHICH WE ALL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN ACROSS DISCIPLINES BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED ABUSE PLAY OUT AT A VERY, VERY YOUNG AGE.

AND WE'RE ALL NOT AS EQUIPPED AS WE SHOULD BE TO HANDLE IT.

THAT'S OUR JOB IS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE TOOLS THAT PARENTS NEED?

WHAT ARE TOOLS THAT EDUCATORS NEEDS?

WHAT ARE THE TOOLS LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING IT IN THE RIGHT WAY AND MAKING SURE THAT SURVIVORS ARE SUPPORTED?

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

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH US AND TALK ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC.

>> THANK YOU TO YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS ISSUE.

>> WE WERE SPEAKING WITH KELLI OWENS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE STATE OFFICE FOR THE PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

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

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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