FOOD INSECURITY CONTINUES TO BE A REAL PROBLEM IMPACTING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK STATE.

LAST YEAR, ABOUT THREE MILLION HOUSEHOLDS IN NEW YORK WERE ENROLLED IN THE SNAP BENEFIT PROGRAM.

BUFFALO, ROCHESTER AND SYRACUSE ALSO HAVE SOME OF THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVING SNAP BENEFITS IN THE COUNTRY.

DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, SNAP BENEFITS WERE INCREASED TO HELP WITH THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC, BUT THOSE ADDED BENEFITS HAVE EXPIRED AND ARE NOT SLATED TO BE RENEWED AT THIS TIME.

THAT REALITY, MIXED WITH RISING INFLATION, HAS RESULTED IN CALLS FOR STATE ACTION.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOW THE STATE CAN HELP, I SPOKE WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER JESSICA GONZALES-ROJAS.

[ THEME MUSIC ] THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY, ASSEMBLY MEMBER.

>> THANK YOU, SHANTEL, FOR HAVING ME.

>> OF COURSE, ABSOLUTELY.

YOUR BILL, IF PASSED, WOULD IMPLEMENT A STATE SNAP BENEFIT PROGRAM THAT WOULD PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL BENEFITS THAT WOULD RUN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FEDERAL SNAP PROGRAM AND REALLY BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FEDERAL DOLLARS AND $95.

YOU KNOW, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE LOGISTICS OF IMPLEMENTING SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM ON THE STATE LEVEL?

>> FIRST OFF, THANKS FOR TALKING ABOUT THIS SUBJECT.

WE JUST CAME OUT OF A HUNGER ACTION MONTH IN SEPTEMBER.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS HUNGER INSECURITY IN THIS STATE AND THIS COUNTRY.

SO RECENTLY, THE COMPTROLLER CAME OUT WITH A REPORT THAT SAID THAT HUNGER WAS ON THE RISE.

ABOUT 1 IN 10 FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH HUNGER AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES.

IT IS REALLY CRITICAL TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO BE CREATIVE AND TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE SUPPLEMENTING PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

RIGHT NOW, THE FEDERAL SNAP BENEFIT MINIMUM IS $23.

YOU CAN DO VERY LITTLE WITH $23 IN THIS DAY AND AGE.

A DOZEN EGGS COST ABOUT $6 RIGHT NOW.

IT IS REALLY CRITICAL THAT WE ENSURE THAT THE SNAP PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY MEETING THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO THRIVE IN THIS STATE.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A MORE LIVABLE, AFFORDABLE, AND SAFER STATE AND THIS CONTRIBUTES TO-- ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY CONTRIBUTES TO THAT.

>> AND HOW MUCH WOULD THIS PROGRAM COST THE STATE?

>> SO WHAT THE PROGRAM WOULD DO IS LOOK AT THE MINIMUM FEDERAL BENEFIT, WHICH, AGAIN, THE VERY MINIMUM IS $23 AND WOULD ENSURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING AT LEAST $95.

I ACTUALLY WILL BE AMENDING THE BILL TO MAKE IT ABOUT $100 EVEN.

BECAUSE NEW JERSEY JUST PASSED THIS BILL AND CURRENTLY HAS IT AT $95.

SO WE HAVE TO BE BETTER THAN NEW JERSEY.

WE WOULD CREATE A PROGRAM THAT'S FUNDED BY THE STATE TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE, WHATEVER THAT DIFFERENCE IS, SO THAT EVERY PERSON AND EVERY HOUSEHOLD IS AT LEAST GETTING $100 A MONTH IN FEDERAL SNAP BENEFITS.

THE COSTS ARE YET TO BE DETERMINED.

IN NEW JERSEY, IT'S ABOUT 38 MILLION, BUT CERTAINLY WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PEOPLE ENROLLED IN OUR STATE.

SO WAITING ON THE FISCAL, BUT WHAT'S PROMISING IS THAT ALSO THE COMPTROLLER CAME OUT WITH SOME ANTICIPATED REVENUES THAT WERE HIGHER THAN WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET PUT OUT.

SO THERE'S SOME PROMISING FEEDBACK IN TERMS OF REVENUE, BUT ESSENTIALLY WOULD COME OUT OF THE BUDGET WHICH IS A MORAL DOCUMENT, SO THIS IS CRITICAL.

>> IS THERE ANY WIGGLE ROOM TO HAVE THE BENEFIT EVEN HIGHER, MORE THAN $100?

LIKE, WHERE DID $100 COME FROM?

>> I THINK, AGAIN, WE WERE INSPIRED BY WHAT HAPPENED IN NEW JERSEY.

IT PASSED.

IT'S IN EFFECT, AND AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT $23 IS NOT ENOUGH TO HELP ANY FAMILY.

SO WE REALLY WANT TO GET TO OVER THE NEW JERSEY AMOUNT, BUT CERTAINLY, I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE WAY THAT SNAP IS ADMINISTERED.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THE FARM BILL.

RIGHT NOW, THE FARM BILL IS BEING NEGOTIATED SO THERE'S POTENTIAL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT THINGS MIGHT BE ADJUSTED BUT I'M NOT HOLDING OUT HOPE FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW, AND I FEEL LIKE IN NEW YORK, WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE FED.

IT'S GOOD FOR GETTING FOLKS OUT OF POVERTY AND GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, THE COMPTROLLER CAME OUT WITH A REPORT THAT REALLY UNDERSCORED HOW MUCH FOOD INSECURITY IS IMPACTING THE STATE.

YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE IT DEFINITELY ISN'T A NEW ISSUE, RIGHT, IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR SOME YEARS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND IN THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED.

SO WHY IS IT THAT THIS WOULD POTENTIALLY, WITH YOUR BILL, BE THE FIRST TIME THAT THE STATE IS IMPLEMENTING A PROGRAM TO THIS MAGNITUDE?

>> WE'VE LONG STRUGGLED WITH HUNGER IN THIS STATE, AND COVID-19 HIGHLIGHTED HOW -- HOW FOLKS WERE SUFFERING.

I REPRESENT A DISTRICT THAT INCLUDES THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF JACKSON HEIGHTS, EAST ELMHURST, CORONA, WOODSIDE, ASTORIA.

THE EPICENTER OF THE PANDEMIC, AND I VOLUNTEERED AT FOOD PANTRIES, AND I SAW THE LINES THAT WERE WRAPPED AROUND BLOCKS AND HOW IT DIRECTLY IMPACTED FAMILIES WHO WERE DESPERATELY IN NEED FOR FOOD.

SO AS AN ISSUE, IT'S SO CRITICAL FOR ME TO FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES ARE WELL FED.

NOW THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, THERE WERE A COUPLE PROGRAMS THAT SUPPLEMENTED SNAP AND SUPPLEMENTED CASH ASSISTANCE TO FAMILY.

THERE WAS THE PANDEMIC EBT PROGRAM.

THERE WAS SUPPLEMENTAL WIC AND ADDITIONAL FUNDS PUT INTO SNAP.

THOSE PROGRAMS HAVE GONE AWAY OR WILL GO AWAY.

THE WIC PROGRAM IS GOING AWAY THIS MONTH IN OCTOBER.

SO WE'RE SEEING HOW THAT ACTUALLY HELPED PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY, HELPED PEOPLE GET THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND NOW THAT THE FUNDING IS GOING AWAY, WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE AFLOAT AND BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT, AGAIN, FAMILIES ARE FED.

THERE'S SOME IMPORTANT STATISTICS REGARDING SNAP.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS POVERTY AND FOOD INSECURITY.

FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT SOMEONE SPENDS USING SNAP, THERE'S ABOUT 61 TO 81 ADDITIONAL CENTS THAT GO INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND FOR EVERY MEAL THAT'S PROVIDED BY FOOD PANTRY, YOU CAN BUY 12 MEALS THROUGH THE SNAP PROGRAM.

SO IT MAKES FISCAL SENSE TO PROVIDE THIS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE, AGAIN, FAMILIES ARE FED.

IT'S NOT JUST A HEALTH ISSUE.

IT'S ALSO AN ECONOMIC JUSTICE ISSUE AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY AND STATE TO HAVE FOLKS BE ABLE TO BUY THE NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES IN WAYS THAT ARE CULTURALLY COMPETENT AND IN WAYS THEY CAN MAKE THE CHOICE FOR THEMSELVES.

SO IT'S A REALLY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO IT.

AGAIN, WE'RE WAITING FOR THE DOLLAR AMOUNT AND THE NUMBERS, BUT I THINK THIS IS A SMART INVESTMENT BY THE STATE.

>> YEAH.

AND LOOKING AHEAD AT NEXT SESSION, WHAT IS YOUR STRATEGY OF GETTING THIS BILL OVER THE LEGISLATIVE FINISH LINE NEXT SESSION?

>> WELL, THIS IS A STATEWIDE ISSUE.

IT'S REALLY CRITICAL THAT WE ENSURE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND I'M SO THRILLED THAT SENATOR MAY, WHO IS THE CHAIR OF THE RURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, AN UPSTATE SENATOR, HAS TAKEN ON THE BILL IN THE STATE SENATE.

SHE'S A WONDERFUL PARTNER AND A WONDERFUL ADVOCATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY ISSUES.

SO I'M REAL EXCITED TO HAVE A PARTNER IN SENATOR MAY ON THIS ISSUE, AND YEAH.

WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING BOTH WITH ADVOCATES, WITH LEGISLATORS, WITH PEOPLE IN NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE RAISING THE VOICES AROUND THE NEED OF THIS ISSUE AND MAKING SURE THAT, AGAIN, WE CAN ADEQUATELY PROVIDE THE RESOURCES AND DOLLARS IN THE SNAP PROGRAM THAT ARE NECESSARY TO KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY.

SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF ADVOCACY, BUT I'M AN ADVOCATE SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO WORK ACROSS PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE AND THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK ON THE GROUND TO MAKE SURE OUR FAMILIES ARE FED.

>> YEAH.

IN TERMS OF SUPPORT OF THE BILL, WHAT ARE YOUR CONVERSATIONS LIKE WITH ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE AND YOU KNOW, THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ABOUT BRINGING THE BILL TO THE FLOOR?

>> WE'RE NOW OUT OF SESSION.

SO WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO START BUILDING COSPONSORS FOR THE BILL.

AGAIN, I'M REALLY THRILLED THAT WE HAVE A SENATE SPONSOR.

SO WE'RE IN THE EARLY STAGES BUT CERTAINLY, FOOD INSECURITY, HUNGER HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR OUR CONFERENCE.

WE JUST PASSED A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS.

NOT AS FULLY UNIVERSAL AS I HOPE.

WE HAVE EXPANDED UNIVERSAL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR CHILDREN, ABOUT 81% OF CHILDREN ACROSS THE STATE.

IT'S A HISTORIC INVESTMENT AND ONE SOLUTION TO ADDRESSING THE FOOD CRISIS HERE IN NEW YORK.

WE ALSO HAVE ABUNDANT FARMS AND THIS IS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR FARMERS AS WELL AND THERE'S A LOT OF PRIORITIES AND INVESTMENT IN THOSE-- IN THE FARMERS TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE CARE OF THE BREAD BASKET OF AMERICA, WHICH IS NEW YORK.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I LEARNED IN THIS ROLE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF WIN-WIN HERE IN A LOT OF AREAS THAT ARE A PRIORITY FOR OUR CONFERENCE.

SO AGAIN, IT'S REALLY ABOUT BUILDING UP THE CONVERSATION ON THIS ISSUE, BUILDING UP SUPPORT AND SPONSORSHIPS AND WORKING WITH THE ADVOCATES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE IN NEED CENTRAL IN THIS CONVERSATION AS WELL.

>> I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA TRY VERY HARD TO GET IT OVER THE LEGISLATIVE FINISH LINE, BUT CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE IMPACT ON, YOU KNOW, THE STATE'S ISSUE WITH FOOD INSECURITY IF THE BILL DOES NOT GET PASSED?

>> WELL, IF THE BILL DOES NOT GET PASSED, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING.

RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS IF THEY'RE GIVEN THE MINIMUM SNAP BENEFIT.

THAT IS VERY LITTLE TO SURVIVE IN A MONTH.

AGAIN, $23, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT AND PEOPLE HAVE MADE DO, BUT AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

AGAIN, IT GETS FOLKS OUT OF POVERTY.

IT MAY HELP THEM STAY IN THEIR HOMES, BE ABLE TO WORK AND EXCEL ACADEMICALLY.

SO FOOD IS SO CONNECTED TO THE OTHER PARTS OF OUR LIVES.

SO WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN AS A STATE TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO ENOUGH QUALITY FOOD AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO KEEP THEM ENGAGED IN THE WORKFORCE AND KEEP THEIR FAMILIES HERE IN NEW YORK.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING FIGHT AND I'M REALLY UP FOR IT.

>> YEAH.

IN TERMS OF NEGOTIATIONS ON THIS BILL, ARE THERE ANY CONCESSIONS THAT YOU'RE KIND OF KNEELING OVER THAT YOU MAY CONSIDER TO GET IT OVERPASSED?

>> WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING AT CONCESSIONS YET.

AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY A NEIGHBORING STATE, AND I THINK IT'S ALWAYS-- NEW YORK ALWAYS SHOULD BE LEADING.

SO WE WANT TO, AGAIN, BE A LEADER ON THIS ISSUE.

IT HAS BEEN OUR PRIORITY FOR ADMINISTRATION.

I HAVE MET WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE REGARDING FOOD SECURITY ISSUES AT LARGE SO THEY KNOW THIS IS A PRIORITY.

WE HAVE REALLY GREAT PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO INVEST IN LIKE NOURISH NEW YORK, THE GREAT EXPANSION OF FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR CHILDREN.

THIS WOULD BE A SUPPLEMENT TO ALL THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT, AGAIN, OUR FAMILIES ARE FED AND OUR ECONOMY'S GOING.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT FOOD PANTRIES AND FOOD BANKS?

IS THERE ANY ROOM FOR THE STATE TO OFFER EVEN MORE SUPPORT?

>> YEAH.

FOOD PANTRIES ARE SUCH A GREAT PARTNER IN THIS WORK.

BUT AGAIN, SNAP IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, FOR EVERY MEAL PROVIDED BY A FOOD PANTRY, YOU CAN GET 12 MEALS THROUGH SNAP.

BUT CERTAINLY, THE FOOD PANTRIES ARE AN IMPORTANT PARTNER IN THIS WORK.

THEY'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS BILL.

AND IT'S REALLY CRITICAL THAT WE WORK IN TANDEM TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING THE FULL SCOPE OF HUNGER IN NEW YORK STATE.

>> YEAH.

WELL, AS YOU MENTIONED, FOOD INSECURITY IS DEFINITELY A VERY REAL AND IMPORTANT PROBLEM AFFECTING THE STATE, AND WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK HERE IN ALBANY TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD AND POTENTIALLY HAVE THE BILL PASSED.

SO OF COURSE, WE WOULD LOVE TO WELCOME YOU BACK ON THE SHOW NEXT SESSION.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THAT WAS ASSEMBLY MEMBER JESSICA GONZALES-ROJAS.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND WE'LL GIVE YOU UPDATES ON THE PROGRESS OF THE BILL HERE ON THE SHOW AND ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.