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

I'M ELISE KLINE.

BENEFITS FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR SNAP, HAVE FACED A SLEW OF FEDERAL CHALLENGES OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS.

THE CONTROVERSIES BEGAN IN EARLY NOVEMBER WHEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION STATED SNAP BENEFITS WOULDN'T BE FULLY AVAILABLE DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, WHICH MARKED THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THESE BENEFITS WERE WITHHELD DUE TO A SHUTDOWN.

A FEDERAL JUDGE THEN ORDERED FULLY PROVIDING THESE BENEFITS TO THE PUBLIC.

THE CONTROVERSY THEN CONTINUED THROUGH SEVERAL FEDERAL COURTS AND WENT ALL THE WAY UP TO THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH RULED IN FAVOR OF THE WHITE HOUSE'S ACTIONS.

THE CHALLENGES CONTINUE THROUGH FEDERAL COURTS TODAY, WHERE SOME STATES LIKE NEW YORK FACE NOT RECEIVING SNAP FUNDS BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH AN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH SNAP RECIPIENTS' DATA, INCLUDING THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.

SNAP BENEFIT CHALLENGES ALSO COME FROM TRUMP'S BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, WHICH NARROWS ELIGIBILITY, ESPECIALLY FOR NON CITIZEN GROUPS SUCH AS REFUGEES AND ASYLUM RECIPIENTS.

NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES, ALONG WITH A COALITION OF OTHER STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL, HAS RESPONDED, ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ON THIS ISSUE AND SUED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR UNLAWFULLY CUTTING OFF SNAP BENEFITS.

WE SAT DOWN WITH ANGIE PENDER FOX, THE ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE FOOD PANTRIES FOR THE CAPTIAL DISTRICT, TO TALK ABOUT THESE CHALLENGES TO SNAP BENEFITS, HOW THE STATE IS REACTING, AND WHAT FOOD INSECURITY LOOKS LIKE IN THE STATE.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY, ANGIE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO WHY DON'T WE START BY JUST TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE SNAP BENEFITS?

THE SNAP IS THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW.

JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF IMPACT IT HAS ON FAMILIES AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT MEANS TO THEM?

>> SURE.

WELL, SNAP IS CRITICAL TO FAMILIES WHO ARE IN NEED.

IT REALLY IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO PURCHASE FOOD AND HAVE DIGNITY AND CHOICE IN DOING SO.

AND SO IT'S A CRITICAL PART OF SUPPORTING FAMILIES WHO ARE IN NEED.

>> DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY NEW YORKERS ARE ON THESE KINDS OF BENEFITS HERE, OR ROUGHLY?

>> YEAH, I BELIEVE THERE ARE ABOUT 3 MILLION NEW YORKERS WHO RELY ON SNAP.

>> OKAY, SO QUITE A LOT THEN?

>> QUITE, QUITE A LOT, YEAH.

AND IT REALLY IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THEM IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING THEIR FAMILIES.

SO ANY CHANGES, RESTRICTIONS, IT JUST TRULY AFFECTS PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> SO LET'S GET INTO, WHAT DOES THE ISSUE OF HUNGER LOOK LIKE HERE IN THE STATE?

AND, YOU KNOW, HOW HAVE SOME OF THE RECENT CHALLENGES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ACTIONS ON THAT LEVEL, YOU KNOW, BEEN IMPACTING HUNGER HERE?

>> HUNGER HAS BEEN INCREASING STEADILY THROUGHOUT THE STATE OVER THE YEARS.

YOU KNOW, DURING COVID, THERE WERE PROGRAMS IN PLACE TO HELP FOLKS.

SO THERE WERE INCREASES IN SNAP.

THERE WAS THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

WE SAW OVER THAT TIME THAT PEOPLE WERE KIND OF CLIMBING OUT OF POVERTY.

AND NOW, AFTER COVID AND NUMBERS AT PANTRIES WERE ACTUALLY GOING DOWN SLIGHTLY.

WE SAW THIS IN OUR COALITION.

AND THEN AFTER COVID, WHEN THOSE PROGRAMS WERE NO LONGER THERE, WE STARTED TO SEE HUNGER CLIMB AGAIN, AND INCREASINGLY SO.

SO WE HAVE INCREASE IN SERVICE LEVELS.

PEOPLE ARE IN NEED, COMING TO FOOD PANTRIES, AND THEN WE HAVE THESE NEW RESTRICTIONS ON SNAP.

SO IT ONLY MEANS THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING TO FOOD PANTRIES.

SO IT MAKES IT QUITE, QUITE CHALLENGING FOR OUR PANTRY PEOPLE, OUR MEMBERS WHO ARE SERVING THE PUBLIC.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE IS INFLATION.

SO NOT ONLY DOES THAT AFFECT THE PEOPLE WE SERVE, BUT IT ALSO AFFECTS OUR FOOD PANTRIES BECAUSE THEY DO PURCHASE FOOD AS WELL.

>> SO THE PANTRIES THEN, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THEY'RE FACING AT THE KIND OF JUST BASIC LEVEL FOR GETTING FOOD OUT TO PEOPLE?

>> SO REALLY IT IS HAVING THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT FOOD.

IT'S ALSO SEEING AN INCREASE IN NEED, SO MORE AND MORE PEOPLE COMING TO THE PANTRIES.

WHEN SNAP WAS DISRUPTED DURING THE LAST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, WE HAD PANTRIES SAY THAT THERE WERE LINES OUT THE DOOR TO SERVE PEOPLE.

WHEN SERVICE WAS UP, SHELVES WERE BARE.

AND THEY WERE VERY, VERY CONCERNED THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THAT LEVEL OF NEED.

>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOUR REACTION WITH ALL OF THE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, FEDERAL COURTS AND THE SUPREME COURT ON JUST RELEASING FUNDING FOR SNAP?

WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO ALL OF THAT GOING ON?

>> WELL, IT'S JUST VERY, VERY FRIGHTENING.

HONESTLY, IT'S FRIGHTENING FOR ALL OF US AND ESPECIALLY FRIGHTENING FOR THOSE THAT WE SERVE AND FRIGHTENING FOR OUR MEMBER PANTRIES.

IT'S JUST THE UNCERTAINTY OF EVERYTHING AND REALLY NOT KNOWING, YOU KNOW, THE NO CONTROL, NOT KNOWING, AND NOT BEING SURE OF, WILL WE BE ABLE TO EITHER HAVE FOOD FOR OUR FAMILIES OR HAVE THE FUNDING AND THE FOOD THAT WE NEED TO SERVE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES?

>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IMMIGRATION STATUS AND SNAP BENEFITS?

I KNOW THAT THE UNITED STATES AGRICULTURAL SECRETARY HAD RECENTLY SAID THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS CONSIDERING WITHHOLDING FUNDING FROM STATES LIKE NEW YORK AND OTHER BLUE STATES THAT ARE BASICALLY NOT GIVING THEM DATA ON PEOPLE'S IMMIGRATION STATUS.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP AND WHAT YOUR CONCERNS MIGHT BE?

>> YEAH.

IT FEELS A BIT LIKE THE WEAPONIZATION OF FOOD.

IT IS CREATING A REAL FEAR AND ANXIETY, I FEEL.

AND AGAIN, THIS UNCERTAINTY.

SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

AND THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM.

IT'S A REAL PROBLEM FOR PANTRIES.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A REAL PROBLEM FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.

THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN GO TO THE PANTRY THAT THEY'RE EVEN WITH SNAP, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION.

AND IT'S VERY, VERY FRIGHTENING HOW FOOD IS NORMALLY THOUGHT OF AS COMFORT AND SUSTAINING, AND THIS IS REALLY THE DIRECT OPPOSITE.

IT'S CREATING FEAR AND ANXIETY.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK THE STATE HAS RESPONDED TO ALL OF THESE ACTIONS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AROUND SNAP?

I KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS ACTED ON RELEASING SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO HELP PROVIDE FOR SNAP BENEFITS AND STATE LEADERS LIKE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAVE REACTED JUST IN FRUSTRATION WITH HOW THINGS ARE GOING RIGHT NOW WITH TRYING TO RESTRICT SNAP.

>> I THINK THAT THE SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNOR IS JUST SO VERY IMPORTANT AND WORKING TOGETHER.

THIS IS OUR TAG LINE, WE CAN DO MORE THAN ANY ONE OF US CAN DO ALONE.

BUT THERE ARE PROGRAMS.

SO THERE IS HPNAP AND NOURISHED NEW YORK, AND THESE PROGRAMS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO FOOD PANTRIES AND EMERGENCY FOOD PROVIDERS.

LAST YEAR IN THE BUDGET, THOSE BUDGET LINES WERE KIND OF FLAT LINED, GIVEN THE SAME AMOUNT.

WE REALLY DO NEED MORE FOR THOSE TWO PROGRAMS, IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE IF WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE COME TO THE PANTRIES, THEN THOSE PANTRIES AND FOOD PROVIDERS NEED MORE FUNDING TO PROVIDE MORE.

AGAIN, IT COMES BACK TO BEING ASKED TO PROVIDE MORE WITH LESS, AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT NOW.

AGAIN, I MENTIONED EARLIER INFLATION AS WELL.

SO WE HAVE TO BE REALLY THOUGHTFUL OF THAT.

>> SO THAT GETS INTO A LITTLE BIT OF MY NEXT QUESTION.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE STATE HAS ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS?

AND WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO SEE IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET?

>> SO WE'RE HOPING TO SEE IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, HPNAP AND NOURISHED NEW YORK BEING INCREASED.

OUR ASK IS 75/75.

HONESTLY, PROBABLY COULD AND SHOULD BE MORE.

BUT IF WE COULD START 75/75, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING.

WE ALL WANT TO SEE THE MOST VULNERABLE, YOU KNOW, BEING FED AND WORK TOGETHER, AND I'M SURE WE CAN GET THERE.

>> AND DO YOU THINK GIVEN ALL OF THE ACTIONS AROUND SNAP THAT THERE COULD BE A GREATER URGENCY FOR THE STATE LAWMAKERS AND FOR THE GOVERNOR TO PROVIDE THAT ASK THERE FOR THOSE PROGRAMS?

>>ABSOLUTELY.

YOU'RE SEEING WITH SNAP THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE FURTHER RESTRICTIONS.

WE HAVE FOLKS WHO WERE ONCE EXEMPT FROM SNAP.

NOW THEY WILL NO LONGER BE EXEMPT, LIKE VETERANS.

SO THIS IS A REAL ISSUE THAT WE DO HAVE TO ADDRESS.

IT WILL BE REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT FOR THE STATE BECAUSE IT WILL MEAN THAT THERE WILL BE SOME COST SHIFTS FOR THE STATE AS WELL.

I BELIEVE IN OCTOBER OF 2026 ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, WHICH MAY BE AS MUCH AS $200 MILLION, WILL FALL TO THE STATE.

SO IT REALLY IS THINKING ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO.

YOU CAN'T ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL.

SO, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE MAKE IT ALL WORK?

HOW DO WE BALANCE IT ALL OUT?

AND THAT WILL BE VERY CHALLENGING.

>> CAN YOU SHED A LITTLE MORE LIGHT ON WHAT HPNAP AND THOSE OTHER STATE PROGRAMS DO AND HOW THEY COULD KIND OF PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE FOOD SECURITY IN SORT OF FILLING IN A LITTLE BIT, I GUESS, FOR SNAP, WHICH IS CURRENTLY FACING SOME CHALLENGES.

>> YEAH, SO THE HUNGER PREVENTION PROGRAM HPNAP IS STATE FUNDED AS IS NOURISHED NEW YORK AND IT PROVIDES FUNDING TO EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAMS SUCH AS FOOD PANTRIES SO THEY CAN PURCHASE NUTRITIOUS, HEALTHY FOODS TO FEED, AND THE MORE MONEY AND FUNDING THAT THOSE FEEDING PROGRAMS HAVE, THE BETTER IT IS SO THEY CAN PROVDE MORE, HOPEFULLY, TO THOSE THAT THEY SERVE.

>> HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THOSE PROGRAMS BENEFIT THE PANTRIES THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION OVERLOOKS?

>> IT HELPS THEM BE STOCKED, RIGHT?

WE WANT THEM TO HAVE FULL SHELVES.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN AND PROVIDE WITH DIGNITY.

AND THESE PROGRAMS ARE VITAL TO OUR FEEDING PROGRAMS.

>> AND HOW DO YOU THINK THE STATE'S ROLE FITS INTO THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS HERE IN TERMS OF FACING THE FEDERAL CHALLENGES AND TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

LIKE, WHERE DOES THE STATE PLAY A ROLE?

IS IT JUST TRYING TO ADD MORE FUNDING INTO THE STATE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE?

IS IT CONTINUING TO FIGHT FOR, YOU KNOW, THE RELEASE OF FUNDS FOR SNAP?

>> I THINK IT'S BOTH, HONESTLY.

I THINK IT REALLY IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR MOST VULNERABLE ARE TAKEN CARE, THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS FED, AND IT'S A BALANCE, AND I DO THINK IT'S BOTH.

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

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

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH ANGIE PENDER FOX.

THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR THE FOOD PANTRIES FOR THE CAPITAL DISTRICT THANK YOU.

THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS ALMOST FULLY UNDERWAY AND THE STATE HAS A VARIETY OF WAYS TO CELEBRATE FROM HOLIDAY DISPLAYS INSIDE THE STATE CAPITAL TO TREE LIGHTINGS, MUSICAL PERFORMANCES, ICE SKATING, AND MORE.

WE DIVE INTO THE STATE'S WINTER HOLIDAY TRADITIONS, INCLUDING THE WORLD FAMOUS ROCKEFELLER CHRISTMAS TREE, WHICH THIS YEAR COMES FROM TROY, NEW YORK.

HERE'S THAT STORY.

>> NEW YORK IS FULL OF HOLIDAY TRADITIONS, FROM HOLIDAY ICE SKATING TO HOLIDAY TREES AND HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES.

TODAY WE'RE GOING TO WALK THROUGH ALL OF THIS YEAR'S WINTER HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES, AND WE'RE STARTING WITH A TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY TO SEE THE ROCKEFELLER CHRISTMAS TREE!

>> IN 1931, CONSTRUCTION WORKERS BUILDING THE ROCKEFELLER CENTER PUT UP A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR THE FIRST TIME, DECORATED WITH HANDMADE CRANBERRY AND PAPER GARLAND.

THE ROCKEFELLER TREE SINCE THEN HAS BECOME AN ANNUAL TRADITION, ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS CHRISTMAS TREES IN THE WORLD, AND AN ICONIC HOLIDAY LANDMARK FOR THE STATE.

THIS YEAR, THE ROCKEFELLER TREE COMES FROM TROY, NEW YORK.

WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TREES OVER THE YEARS FROM THE STATE, THIS YEAR IT'S BEEN CHOSEN FROM THE CAPITAL REGION'S VERY OWN BACKYARD.

THE TREE WAS DONATED BY THE RUSS FAMILY.

JUDY RUSS SAYS THE HOUSE WHERE THE TREE GREW TO 75 FEET TALL AND 95 FEET WIDE OVER THE YEARS HAS BEEN IN HER LATE HUSBAND'S FAMILY SINCE THE 1920S.

RUSS SAYS OVER THE YEARS THE TREE HAS BROUGHT THEIR FAMILY MANY SPECIAL MEMORIES AND THEY'RE EXCITED TO SHARE THE TREE'S MAGIC WITH THE WORLD.

>> MY SON IS NOW THE FIFTH GENERATION TO NOW LIVE IN THE HOUSE, SO EACH GENERATION HAS THEIR OWN MEMORIES OF ACTUALLY DECORATING IT, TO US NOW JUST ENJOYING THE GRANDEUR OF THE TREE.

SO IT'S SPECIAL TO US, IT'S BEEN AROUND FOREVER, AND THIS PROPERTY MEANS A LOT TO US, SO IT'S REALLY SPECIAL.

>> THE TREE WAS PLANTED SOME TIME AROUND 1950.

BEFORE THE TREE GREW TO ITS INCREDIBLE HEIGHT AND WIDTH, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE TREE WAS ONLY A FEW FEET TALL, JUST CLEARING THE HEADS OF MATTIE MAY AND EDWARD DORAN, WHO PLANTED THE TREE 75 YEARS AGO.

BUT THE MORE THE TREE GREW, THE MORE CHALLENGES COME WITH DECORATING.

RUSS SAYS HER FAMILY HAS CONSIDERED RENTING A CRANE TO DECORATE IT.

>> THAT JUST WAS OPENING MY EYES TO HOW BIG THIS TREE IS AND HOW WE HAVE SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL.

>> RUSS ADDS DONATING THE TREE THIS YEAR IS EXTRA SPECIAL FOR HER, BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES THE TREE PROVIDE A CONNECTION TO HER LATE HUSBAND'S FAMILY, BUT HER SIDE OF THE FAMILY HAS A HOLIDAY TRADITION OF VISITING THE ROCKEFELLER TREE EVERY YEAR.

>> I GREW UP IN QUEENS, SO MY FAMILY AND I WENT TO THE CHRISTMAS TREE AT ROCK CENTER EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

IT WAS PART OF OUR FAMILY TRADITION.

AS WE GOT OLDER, EVERY SATURDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS, WE WOULD MEET UP.

I BROUGHT FRIENDS FROM COLLEGE DOWN TO SEE THE TREE.

AS I SAID, LAST YEAR MY SON AND I WENT DOWN WITH HIS FRIENDS FROM SCHOOL.

SO, THIS IS JUST THE PERFECT FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FOR ME.

>> PEGGY MCELHINNEY, RUSS'S AUNT, SAYS AS SOON AS THEY HEARD THE TREE WAS SELECTED, THEY WERE ECSTATIC.

>> WE WERE JUST SO EXCITED FOR HER; IT'S A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE.

>> JIM MCELHINNEY SAYS THE FAMILY IS ALSO EXCITED ABOUT THE TREE BEING DONATED AFTER THE HOLIDAY, PER ROCKEFELLER CENTER TRADITION, TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, WHERE IT WILL BE MILLED INTO LUMBER.

>> THE TREE MEANS A LOT TO OUR FAMILY.

IT'S BEEN HERE PROBABLY 60, 70 YEARS; OBVIOUSLY, I WASN'T AROUND FOR THAT.

BUT IT MEANS A LOT, IT'S GOING TO A GREAT CAUSE.

>> THE ROCKEFELLER CENTER, IN ADDITION TO DONATING THE LUMBER TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, REPLANTS A TREE FOR THE FAMILY.

ERIK PAUZE, WHO HAS BEEN THE HEAD GARDENER FOR THE ROCKEFELLER CENTER FOR 30 YEARS, SAYS THE RUSS FAMILY TREE WAS SELECTED BECAUSE IT HAS THE QUALITIES THEY LOOK FOR EACH YEAR.

>> THE KIND OF TREE YOU WOULD WANT IN YOUR LIVING ROOM BUT ON A GRANDER SCALE, IT HAD A BEAUTIFUL SHAPE, AND I GOTTA TELL YOU, THIS YEAR, WHEN I CAME UP, IT HAD A BEAUTIFUL GREEN TO IT, AND IT LOOKED REALLY GOOD.

>> AFTER THE TREE WAS CUT DOWN IN EARLY NOVEMBER, IT MADE ITS WAY DOWN TO THE CITY WHERE THE ROCKEFELLER TEAM HOISTED UP THE 11 TON TREE TO ITS GRAND HOLIDAY SPOT.

>> IT WAS THEN STRUNG WITH MORE 50,000 LED LIGHTS, WHICH EQUATES TO ABOUT 5 MILES OF WIRE AND TOPPED WITH A SWAROVSKI STAR THAT FEATURES 70 SPIKES, 3 MILLION CRYSTALS, AND WEIGHS 900 POUNDS.

IT WAS LIT FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER.

SOME NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS DIDN'T KNOW THE TREE WAS FROM NEW YORK STATE.

LEO FERNANDEZ, A MANHATTAN RESIDENT, SAYS HE THINKS IT'S PRETTY COOL THAT THE TREE CAME FROM TROY, AND HE THINKS THE TREE, WHILE NOT AS TALL AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, LOOKS GREAT.

>> I WAS WALKING TOWARD THE TREE, AND I ACTUALLY TOLD MY SISTER, I LIKE THE SHAPE OF THE TREE, IT'S NOT AS TALL AS IT USED TO BE, BUT IT LOOKS QUITE HEALTHY.

>> MANY PEOPLE EACH YEAR ALSO TRAVEL FROM ALL OVER TO SEE THE ROCKEFELLER TREE.

ALEJANDRA TAPIA AND KARINA MANCILLA TRAVELED FROM TEXAS TO NEW YORK CITY FOR THE FIRST TIME TO SEE ALL OF THE CITY'S HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES.

THEY SAY THE TRIP WAS WELL WORTH IT.

>> IT'S SO PRETTY.

IT'S SO BIG, IT'S BIGGER IN PERSON THAN WHAT IT SEEMS ON THE INTERNET FOR SURE, IT'S REALLY PRETTY.

>> IT WAS LITERALLY NOTHING WHAT I EXPECTED, I WAS KIND OF EXPECTING SOMETHING SMALLER AS WELL, BUT I LOVED IT, ALL THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT AND THE SONGS, IT'S JUST AMAZING.

>> FOR SANDY SANTOS AND ALBERTO RAMIREZ, WHO TRAVELED FROM CALIFORNIA TO SEE ALL THE NEW YORK CITY HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES: >> IT WAS WORTH THE TRIP, IT WAS A CHECK OFF OF OUR BUCKET LIST, SO IT'S VERY EXCITING, AND IT'S >> SO BEAUTIFUL.

>> AND ALL THE CHRISTMAS DECOR, WE LOVE IT.

>> FOR SIBLINGS AVA AND EVAN SNYDER, FROM BUFFALO, THE TRIP TO THE CITY TO SEE THE TREE WAS A HIGHLIGHT.

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL.

>> IT IS REALLY BRIGHT AND COLORFUL, AND IT'S REALLY TALL.

>> THIS TREE IS ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL.

THE WAY IT SPARKLES ILLUMINATES HOLIDAY CHEER.

AGAIN, NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS AND TRAVELERS SAY PICTURES JUST DON'T DO IT JUSTICE.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO HEAD TO THE CAPITAL REGION TO CHECK OUT A SLIGHTLY SMALLER HOLIDAY TREE'S DEBUT AT THE STATE CAPITOL FOR THE 49TH YEAR OF A HOLIDAY TRADITION.

THE NEW YORK STATE CAPITOL SINCE 1976 HAS HELD THE TRADITION OF LIGHTING UP A TREE ON THE EMPIRE PLAZA RIGHT OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL BUILDING.

EACH YEAR, THE CAPITOL TREE IS DONATED BY A NEW YORK FAMILY WHO APPLIES TO BE SELECTED.

THIS YEAR, THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA TREE COMES FROM BALLSTON LAKE, FROM THE CHRISTOPHER FAMILY.

THE CHRISTOPHER FAMILY SAYS THEY FOUND OUT ABOUT THE STATE CAPITOL HOLIDAY TREE TRADITION BECAUSE TWO OF THEIR NEIGHBORS, IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, HAVE DONATED THEIR TREES.

>> THE TREE IS SIMILAR, AND SO WE GOT IN TOUCH WITH NEW YORK STATE, AND THEY LOVED IT AND HERE WE ARE.

>> CHARLENE'S HUSBAND, KEN, SAYS THE TREE WAS MUCH SMALLER WHEN THEY MOVED IN ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO, AND WHILE THEY LOVE THEIR TREE, IT'S GOTTEN TOO BIG TO DECORATE AND MAINTAIN.

>> IT WAS A LOT SMALLER.

THE FIRST YEAR WE WERE HERE, WE PROCEEDED TO DECORATE IT, MY GRANDSON AND I WAS STANDING ON TOP OF AN 8 FOOT LADDER, AND HE WENT IN AND GOT HIS GRANDMOTHER SAID, "PA'S GONNA FALL!"

SO WE REALLY ONLY DECORATED IT THE FIRST YEAR.

AND THEN IT JUST GOT TALLER AND TALLER.

>> AMY STANNARD, THE CHRISTOPHER'S DAUGHTER, SAYS THEY ARE EXCITED TO SEE THE TREE DECORATED ON THE STATE PLAZA.

>> IT IS SO TALL THAT IT'S HARD FOR US TO DECORATE.

BUT IT IS JUST SUCH A BEAUTIFUL TREE THAT IT'LL BE NICE FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY IT.

>> GINA MARTIN, ONE OF THE CHRISTOPHERS' NEIGHBORS, MOVED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO, AROUND THE SAME TIME THAT THE CHRISTOPHERS DID.

MARTIN SAYS SEVERAL TREES HAVE BEEN DONATED TO THE PLAZA IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH HAS BROUGHT A LOT OF NEIGHBORS TOGETHER, MUCH LIKE THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON.

>> IT'S BEEN VERY NICE BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THE NEIGHBORS TO COME OUT, AND THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD CAMARADERIE, AND PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT, AND THEY EVEN TALK ABOUT IT AFTER IT HAPPENED, SO IT IS, AND IT ALSO MAKES OTHER PEOPLE THINK ABOUT DONATING.

>> THE TREE WAS LIT UP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN EARLY DECEMBER.

THE STATE ALSO FEATURES A TREE INSIDE THE STATE CAPITOL, DECORATED WITH ORNAMENTS FROM ALL 62 COUNTIES AROUND THE STATE.

NEXT TO THE TREE IN THE CAPITOL ARE OTHER SYMBOLS OF HOLIDAY TRADITIONS.

ROBINSON HERNANDEZ, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR THE STATE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES, SAYS THESE TRADITIONS HELP THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, AND DIVERSITY OF THE STATE.

>> IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT.

WE ALSO HAVE A MENORAH, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE KWANZAA KINARA CANDLES IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS REFLECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> HERNANDEZ SAYS HIS FAVORITE ORNAMENT IS FROM QUEENS.

>> THE STATE HAS MORE THAN JUST THE TREES TO OFFER HOLIDAY SPIRIT.

EACH YEAR, AT THE STATE PLAZA, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF PERFORMANCES AND ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING ICE SKATING AND A TUBA ENSEMBLE.

LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT!

THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA BUILDS AN ICE RINK ON WHAT, DURING THE SUMMER, ARE REFLECTIVE POOLS, WHERE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN SKATE DURING THE WINTER SEASON.

FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, SKATERS FROM THE 75 YEAR OLD MOHAWK FIGURE SKATING CLUB HAVE PERFORMED BEFORE THE ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING.

9 YEAR OLD CAROLINE CANARY, WHO HAS BEEN SKATING SINCE SHE WAS 3 YEARS OLD, SAYS SHE LOVES PERFORMING ON THE PLAZA AND FEELING THE WIND ON HER FACE AND SEEING ALL THE PRETTY LIGHTS AROUND HER.

>> I LIKE ALL THE BUILDINGS THAT LIGHT UP AND THE FIREWORKS.

AND JUST EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PLACE, SKATING AT THE STATE'S CAPITOL, ALL THAT.

>> FOR 13 YEAR OLD KAITLYN LASCALLA, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE.

>> I LOVE THE ENERGY THE CROWD BRINGS AND JUST SEEING THE SMILES ON THEIR FACES WHILE I PERFORM.

17 YEAR OLD ALFRED SUN SAYS IT'S FESTIVE AND FUN TO SKATE AT THE PLAZA, BUT WHAT HE LOVES MOST ABOUT IT IS PERFORMING AND SKATING SOMETHING HE HAS LOVED DOING AS LONG AS HE CAN REMEMBER.

>> IT'S ABOUT THAT STROLL YOU GET THAT YOU DON'T HAVE WHEN YOU'RE ON LAND, YOU CAN'T GO AS FAST, YOU CAN'T JUMP AS HIGH.

IT'S ABOUT ENHANCING YOUR PERSONAL SKILLS AND MINDSET.

>> GLENN ZIEHNERT, SKATING DIRECTOR OF THE HUDSON MOHAWK FIGURE SKATING CLUB, SAYS AS A COACH, THIS PERFORMANCE IS LIKE THE START OF THEIR HOLIDAY SEASON, AND IT'S VERY REWARDING WATCHING HIS STUDENTS PERFORM.

>> AS A COACH MYSELF, I JUST LOVE ALL THE WORK THAT WE PUT IN, AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE, TO BE ABLE TO DO IT OUT WHEN IT COUNTS NOW, IT'S THE MOST JOYOUS FEELING FOR ME.

>> THE FIGURE SKATERS ARE NOT ALONE.

THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA ALSO HOSTS MUSICAL PERFORMERS, INCLUDING ERIN HARKES BAND AND TUBA CHRISTMAS.

ERIN HARKES, A LOCAL MUSICIAN, PLAYED FOR THE FIRST TIME OUTSIDE AT THE PLAZA DURING OPEN PUBLIC SKATING.

>> THIS IS SUCH A GREAT EVENT, AND I LOVE ALL THE EVENTS THAT ALBANY AND THE CAPITAL REGION ARE DOING, AND THE TREE LIGHTING IS ONE OF THE BEST EVENTS THAT WE HAVE IN ALBANY, SO I'M JUST EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT.

>> HARKES SAYS THEY SING A VARIETY OF SONGS FROM CLASSIC CAROLS TO TOP HITS.

HARKES SAYS HER FAVORITE HOLIDAY SONG IS HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS.

>> THAT'S MY FAVORITE ONE, IT'S JUST A REALLY SWEET, BEAUTIFUL, CLASSIC CHRISTMAS SONG.

>> TUBA CHRISTMAS, A 52 YEAR OLD WORLD WIDE TRADITION THAT STARTED IN NEW YORK CITY AT THE ROCKEFELLER CENTER, IS KEPT ALIVE EACH YEAR AT THE EMPIRE PLAZA'S WINTER FESTIVITIES.

THE TRADITION STARTED IN 1974 FROM HARVEY PHILLIPS, AS A TRIBUTE TO HIS TEACHER, WILLIAM BELL, WHO WAS BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

MICHAEL BLOSTEIN, A HIGH SCHOOL BAND TEACHER AND A LOCAL COORDINATOR FOR TUBA CHRISTMAS, SAYS THE TRADITION IS TRULY SPECIAL.

>> WHAT HE DID IS HE WANTED TO CREATE SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE THE TUBA AND HIS TEACHERS' CONTRIBUTIONS, AND AT THE TIME, HARVEY WAS A REALLY WELL KNOWN GIGGING MUSICIAN IN THE NEW YORK CITY AREA, AND SO HE HAD A LOT OF CLOUT AND WAS ABLE TO REALLY GET THIS THING JUMP STARTED, AND IT'S GROWN INTO THIS INTERNATIONAL EVENT.

>> BLOESTEIN ADDS, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE EVENT HAS GROWN EVEN MORE.

HE SAYS THIS YEAR, ALONG WITH SOME OTHER COORDINATORS, THEY TRIED SOMETHING DIFFERENT, TWEAKING THE ENSEMBLE, CALLING IT FESTIVE TUBAS AND TROMBONES.

>> WE'VE TAKEN THE CONCEPT OF TUBACHRISTMAS, AND WE'VE EXPANDED IT TO INCLUDE TROMBONES, WHICH IS ACTUALLY NOT A THING THAT TUBACHRISTMAS ALLOWS, BUT TO TRY AND ENCOURAGE MORE PLAYERS TO PARTICIPATE, WE'VE ENHANCED IT BY INCLUDING TROMBONES, OPHICLEIDES, SERPENTS, SUZAPHONES, ALL THAT KIND OF FUN STUFF.

>> BLOESTEIN SAYS THEY PLAY A VARIETY OF SONGS FROM WELL KNOWN CHRISTMAS CAROLS TO HANUKKAH MELODIES.

HE SAYS THERE ARE A VARIETY OF VOLUNTEERS WHO COME TO PLAY, RANGING FROM YOUNG MUSIC STUDENTS TO PROFESSIONALS AND MUSIC TEACHERS.

>> WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOR ONLY A COUPLE OF YEARS.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T TOUCHED THEIR INSTRUMENT IN 40 OR 50 YEARS WHO COME.

WE HAVE SOME GRANDPARENTS AND SOME GREAT GRANDPARENTS.

SOME FAMILIES COME BECAUSE MOM AND DAD PLAY, AND THEN THE CHILD PLAYS, SOMETIMES EVEN GRANDMA AND GRANDPA COME.

WE'VE GOT SOME PROFESSIONALS WHO SHOW UP.

BUT REALLY, THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN THE ENTIRE REGION WHO JUST WANT TO PLAY, AND THIS GIVES THEM A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND DO THAT.

>> ROBYN SHELDON, A RETIRED MUSIC TEACHER OF 36 YEARS WHO'S PARTICIPATED FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS IN TUBACHRISTMAS, SAYS THE EVENT IS FUN, FESTIVE, AND UNIQUE.

SHE SAYS SHE JOINED WHEN A FRIEND TOLD HER ABOUT IT.

>> MY FRIEND KEVIN SAID, COME DO IT, IT'S FUN.

AND IT'S THE MOST FESTIVE THING YOU CAN IMAGINE.

>> SHE ADDS THAT IT ALSO SHINES A LIGHT ON BRASS MUSICIANS.

>> TUBA PLAYERS DON'T GET A LOT OF RESPECT.

THE LOW BRASS PLAYERS, THEY'RE KIND OF IN THE BACKGROUND.

AND THIS IS A FUN EVENT BECAUSE WE GET TO PLAY THE MELODY, WE HAVE THE FESTIVE MUSIC, AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING WE DON'T GET VERY OFTEN.

>> BLOSTEIN SAYS ONE OF THE GOALS OF THIS TRADITION IS TO HELP PROMOTE ORCHESTRAL MUSIC AND SHOW THE PUBLIC IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT THEY MIGHT THINK.

>> AS A SCHOOL TEACHER, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY TRY AND DO IS GET AWAY FROM THE STEREOTYPES OF CLASSICAL MUSIC IS THIS OR BALLET IS THIS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND INSTEAD WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE WHO THEY ARE AND TRY AND EXPAND WHAT THE INSTRUMENT IS CAPABLE OF.

AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE REASONS WHY TUBACHRISTMAS BEGAN ALL THOSE YEARS AGO IS TO DEMONSTRATE HOW THE INSTRUMENT IS FAR MORE THAN JUST THE BOTTOM END OF AN ORCHESTRA.

>> THE STATE'S CAPITAL, MUCH LIKE THE NEW YORK CITY TOURING STAPLE, FEATURES HOLIDAY HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES.

AND TODAY WE'RE GOING TO CHECK IT OUT.

I CLIMBED ONTO THE CARRIAGE AND TOOK MY SEAT FOR THE 10 MINUTE RIDE.

THE HORSES PULLED THE CARRIAGE AROUND THE WEST PARK OF THE CAPITOL.

THE VIEW WAS INCREDIBLE, AND THE HORSES WERE SO CALM.

WITH THE SNOW ON THE GROUND AND THE COOL AIR, THE RIDE FELT VERY FESTIVE.

AND I WASN'T ALONE.

MANY PEOPLE WERE ATTRACTED TO THE CARRAIGE RIDES.

SADE GILES, A LOCAL ALBANY RESIDENT, SAYS SHE NEEDED A BREAK FROM THE WINTER FESTIVAL CROWDS, AND SHE LOVES ANIMALS SO SHE STROLLED DOWN TO THE CARRAIGE RIDES.

>> THEY'RE CLEAN, YOU CAN TELL THAT THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF.

IT WAS REALLY FUN, EASY, AND COMFORTABLE RIDE.

>> THERE'S STILL TWO WEEKS LEFT OF THE HOLIDAY TO ENJOY, ALONG WITH ALL THE STATE'S FESTIVITIES, THE TREES, THE SKATING, THE CARRAIGE RIDES, AND MORE.

THE ROCKEFELLER TREE WILL BE UP UNTIL MID JANUARY, THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA TREE WILL BE UP UNTIL ABOUT THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY, AND THE ICE SKATING HERE AT THE PLAZA WILL BE OPEN THROUGH THE WINTER SEASON UNTIL AROUND MARCH.

SO GO OUT AND ENJOY!

ELISE KLINE, NEW YORK NOW.

AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE STATE'S WINTER HOLIDAY TRADITIONS, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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