[ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER HOWARD ZUCKER SAYS HE'S STEPPING DOWN.

AS GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL MARKS A MONTH IN OFFICE AND NEW YORK IS TAKING NEW STEPS TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE.

POLITICO'S MARIE FRENCH AND BERN HOGAN IF THE "NEW YORK POST" JOIN ME.

THEN, WE'RE A FEW WEEKS INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR AND COVID IS STILL RUNNING THE SHOW.

DARRELL CAMP HAS THAT STORY.

AND LATER, NEW YORK IS BASICALLY IN AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS AND THERE'S NO EASY FIX.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.

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.

WHEN FORMER GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO HELD HIS DAILY BRIEFINGS ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC LAST YEAR, YOU PROBABLY NOTICED THE GUY BESIDE HIM.

THAT WAS DR. HOWARD ZUCKER, THE HEAD OF THE STATE HEALTH DEPART MANY.

BUT NOT FOR MUCH LONGER.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SAID THURSDAY THAT ZUCKER WOULD BE STEPPING DOWN FROM HIS JOB AND LEAVING STATE GOVERNMENT.

AND THAT'S NOT A HUGE SURPRISE.

WHEN SHE TOOK OFFICE, HOCHUL SAID SHE WAS GOING TO SHAKE UP STATE GOVERNMENT AND THERE WAS PRESSURE ON DAY ONE FOR HER TO FIRE ZUCKER.

THAT'S BECAUSE HE WAS INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE STATE'S MOST CONTROVERSIAL DECISIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

LIKE HOW NURSING HOMES WERE FORCED TO ADMIT COVID-POSITIVE PATIENTS AT ONE TIME.

ZUCKER WAS PART OF THE STATE'S DECISION TO LEAVE OUT THOUSANDS OF DEATHS OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS FROM THE TOTAL DEATH TOLL AT THOSE FACILITIES.

SO HE'S BEEN A TARGET OF A LOT OF CRITICISM AND GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SAID IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO GO.

>> DR. ZUCKER HAS SUBMITTED HIS RESIGNATION, OUR COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.

I AGREE WITH HIS DECISION.

I THINK I MADE IT VERY CLEAR ON MY FIRST DAY OF OFFICE THAT I WILL BE LOOKING TO BUILD A NEW TEAM.

I AM BUILDING THAT TEAM.

I'M TAKING SOME TIME TO BUILD THAT TEAM, BUT THERE WILL BE OTHER CHANGES FORTHCOMING.

>> AND WHILE ZUCKER STOLE THE SHOW THIS WEEK, THERE WAS HUGE NEWS ON NEW YORK'S STRATEGY TOWARD CLIMATE CHANGE.

LET'S GET INTO IT WITH BERN HOGAN FROM THE "NEW YORK POST" AND MARIE FRENCH FROM POLITICO.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

BERN, I WANT TO GO TO YOU FIRST.

LET'S TALK ABOUT ZUCKER A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT'S THE REACTION TO HIM BEEN TO SUBMITTING HIS RESIGNATION?

I WANT TO CLARIFY.

HE'S NOT OUT AS OF TODAY.

HE'S ON UNTIL HOCHUL FINDS A REPLACEMENT.

>> IT WAS A IS YOUR PRAISING ANNOUNCEMENT COMING YESTERDAY.

HOWEVER, NOT ENTIRELY SURPRISING GIVEN THIS 45-DAY WINDOW THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL SAID SHE WILL GIVE HER ADMINISTRATION TO FILL SOME SLOTS, ESPECIALLY MAJOR POSITIONS THAT EITHER WERE CONTROVERSIAL UNDER THE FORMER GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO OR THAT SHE WANTED TO MAKE HER OWN CHANGE-UP IN REGARD TO THOSE POSITIONS.

BUT SOME OF THE REACTION, I MEAN, A LOT OF HIT TO DO WITH ZUCKER'S TIES TO THE NURSING HOME POLICY UNDER THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION.

I MEAN, WE HAD ADVOCATES, FAMILY MEMBERS, LAWMAKERS WHO WERE SAYING THIS IS THE RIGHT STEP OR GOOD STEP IF THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR HOCHUL AS ESPECIALLY IF SHE WANTS TO MOVE TOWARD THAT-- SHE SAID SHE WANTS HER ADMINISTRATION TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND ZUCKER, YOU KNOW, HE WAS AT THE HELM OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND RIGHT NEXT TO GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT NURSING HOME DATA AND POLICY AND OF COURSE THIS IS THE SUBJECT OF STILL MULTIPLE ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS BY THE FBI, THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND OF COURSE, HOW THAT ALSO TIES SLIGHTLY THAT, YOU KNOW, REPORTS AND THE BOOK DEAL THAT THE GOVERNOR, OF COURSE, HAS-- AGAIN, IT'S ALL BEING LOOKED AT BY MULTIPLE AGENCIES OR ENTITIES, BUT YOU KNOW, ZUCKER, HE SAID THAT HE WOULD BE WILLING TO STAY ON FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER AND HOW LONG THAT IS REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

THERE'S A COUPLE NAMES THAT HAVE BEEN FLOATED WITHIN RECENT DAYS, POTENTIALLY I TALKED TO THE HEADS OF THE HEALTH COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY WHO SAID THEY'RE EYEING ONE OF THE FORMER NEW YORK CITY COMMISSIONERS, BUT AGAIN, ZUCKER IN HIS RESIGNATION LETTER, HE SAID IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE AND ALSO THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS THAT ARE STILL-- THAT WE STILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, LIKE BOOSTER SHOTS AND ALSO BOOSTING THE VACCINATION RATE AMONG YOUNGER PEOPLE AND IT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THE WAY HE WAS DESCRIBING IT WAS LIKE HE WENT OUT WITH SLIGHTLY ON HIS OWN TERMS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS KIND OF ALWAYS OBVIOUS THAT IT WAS LEADING IN THIS DIRECTION.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT IT SEEMED AS THOUGH GOVERNOR HOCHUL, SHE SAID SHE AGREED WITH HIS DECISION TO RESIGN.

HOWEVER, HOW MUCH SHE WAS MAYBE MUSCLING HIM TO MOVE OUT.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU.

DO WE KNOW WHY HE ACTUALLY RESIGNED?

IN HIS LETTER, HE MAKES A REASON.

THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT'S DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC AND WHAT'S DISCUSSED IN PRIVATE.

DO YOU THINK IT WAS A RESULT OF MAYBE SOME STRONG ARMING BY THE HOCHUL ADMINISTRATION?

THERE'S ALSO THE POSSIBILITY THAT MAYBE HE JUST DEPART WANT TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT ANYMORE, I GUESS.

>> RIGHT.

NUMBER ONE, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS, HOWEVER LONG IT'S BEEN FOR A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE IN STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE, THE COUNTRY, IT ET CETERA.

OF COURSE, YOU GUYS BROKE THAT HE HAD AN INTERNAL CALL WITH DOH STAFFERS SAYING GOOD-BYE.

HE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIS FAMILY.

HOW THERE'S FAMILIAL PRESSURES AND HE MISSED HIS KIDS.

HE HAS TWO LITTLE KIDS.

HOWEVER, THIS WAS A GUY, AGAIN, HE WAS AT THE-- IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

HE WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS AND HE STOOD BY DECISIONS THAT, AGAIN, ARE UNDER MULTIPLE INVESTIGATIONS STILL, AND WERE VERY CONTROVERSIAL.

HE STOOD BY THEM LIKE THE MARCH 25th ORDER.

HE SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA AND IT WAS LATER RESCINDED.

ALSO, HE DID NOT COME OUT AGAINST FORMER GOVERNOR CUOMO AND SAY WE SHOULD RELEASE THE ACCURATE NUMBER OF NURSING HOME DEATHS AND THAT'S A REALLY BIG THING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY WAS VERY CONTROVERSIAL AND HE WAS CRITICIZED AND HE STILL IS TO THIS DAY.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, HOCHUL MAY BE GETTING RID OF HIM AT THE BEGINNING OF HER COMING IN.

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO SHAKE THINGS UP AND MAKE IT POLITICAL.

HOWEVER, I MEAN, I THINK THE WRITING WAS ON THE WALL FOR HIM THAT HE PROBABLY WOULDN'T MAKE IT PAST THAT 45-DAY PERIOD.

HOWEVER, SHE DOES NEED TO PICK SOMEBODY TO LEAD THIS MASSIVE DEPARTMENT AND QUICK.

>> AND QUICK.

AND THEY HAVE TO BE GOOD.

I MEAN, HOWARD ZUCKER WAS VERY, VERY QUALIFIED FOR THIS JOB WHEN HE WAS CHOSEN BY ANDREW CUOMO A LITTLE BIT OVER SEVEN YEARS AGO.

SO TO FIND SOMEBODY OF THAT CALIBER IS NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY THING.

I EXPECT THEY'LL HAVE A NATIONAL SEARCH, BUT MAYBE IT WILL BE THE FORMER NEW YORK CITY HEALTH COMMISSIONER.

WHO KNOWS.

>> WHO KNOWS.

WE HAVE A SHORT WINDOW.

WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC AND ALSO YOU HAVE THE DELTA VARIANT AND YOU ARE TRYING TO GET VACCINATION RATES UP.

HOW FAST CAN THAT SEARCH-- HOW MUCH TIME DOES NEW YORK STATE REALLY HAVE?

YOU CAN'T PULL UP A STAFFER WITHOUT THE RIGHT CREDENTIALS ESPECIALLY WITH A DECIMATED DEPARTMENT.

>> EXACTLY.

YOU KNOW, SPEAKING OF DECIMATION, THE STATE IS DOING A LITTLE BIT MORE ON CLIMATE CHANGE, MARIE.

>> THAT'S A PIVOT IF I EVER HEARD ONE.

[LAUGHTER] >> I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

I MISSED A LOT OF THE GOVERNOR'S CLIMATE ANNOUNCEMENT LAST WEEK BECAUSE SHE MADE SO MANY.

THE ONES I DID SEE WERE THE FIRST ONES WHERE SHE HAS A NEW SOLAR ENERGY GOAL FOR 2030.

10 GIGAWATTS AND I CAN'T COMPREHEND HOW TO QUANTIFY THAT.

WE HAVE IT ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT IT'S A BUNCH OF LIGHT BULBS.

[LAUGHTER] TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON.

IS THIS A STRONGER DIRECTION THAN ANDREW CUOMO WAS GOING IN?

>> I THINK A LOT OF HER ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS WEEK HAVE BEEN CONTINUATIONS OF THE EXISTING POLICY, THE MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT TRANSMISSION LINES COMING INTO NEW YORK CITY TO BRING RENEWABLE ENERGY AND CANADIAN HYDRO POWER, THAT WAS THE RESULT OF A PROCESS STARTED UNDER THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK YOU SAW HER TRY TO GO BIGGER IN A LOT OF WAYS.

YOU KNOW, SHE SAID, OH, A 3 BILLION BOND ACT.

I SEE THAT I'LL RAISE TO YOU FOUR.

SHE WANTS TO ACCELERATE INVESTMENTS INTO CLIMATE INFRASTRUCTURE.

SHE WANTS TO ACCELERATE INVESTMENTS INTO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

SHE SAID, OH, THEY WERE ONLY CONSIDERING ONE TRANSMISSION LINE.

I SAID WHY DON'T WE DO TWO AT ONCE.

SHE'S TAKEN PERSONAL CREDIT FOR MAKING THAT SUGGESTION OF DOING TWO.

>> WE'RE DOING A LOT ON CLIMATE.

I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT WE HAVE THE CLCPA PASSED.

WAS THAT LAST YEAR, OR WAS THAT 2019?

>> 2019.

>> IT'S A VERY BIG CLIMATE LAW.

CAN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IT COMPARING OTHER STATES?

DOES NEW YORK HAVE THE MOST PROGRESSIVE CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY RIGHT NOW, OR ARE WE BEHIND THE TIMES OF SOMEONE LIKE CALIFORNIA?

>> I THINK WE'RE STILL IN A FAIRLY LEADING POSITION IN TERMS OF HAVING THESE GOALS NOT BE GOALS ANYMORE.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY MANDATES.

THEY'RE ENSHRINED INTO THE STATE STATUTE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO IS GOVERNOR.

THE STATE HAS TO GET TO 70% RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY BY 2030.

THE STATE HAS TO GET TO 100% EMISSIONS FREE R-FREE POWER BY 2040, AND WE HAVE TO SLASH EMISSIONS TO ESSENTIALLY ALMOST NIL BY 2050.

>> HOW ARE WE DOING IT?

WE HAVE THE SOLAR ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK OBVIOUSLY.

THERE'S A LOT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES.

YOU KNOW, WINDMILLS THAT PEOPLE DON'T QUITE LIKE SOMETIMES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES FOR REASONS UNCLEAR TO ME, BUT HOW ARE WE REACHING THESE GOALS?

>> SO THE STATE IS, YOU KNOW, REALLY MOVING AHEAD WITH CONTRACTING OUT SUBSIDIES FOR THESE NEW RENEWABLES.

YOU KNOW, THE WIND TURBINES THAT FOLKS DON'T LIKE, A LOT OF THOSE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THE STATE TO SUBSIDIZE THEM ONCE THEY COME ONLINE AND UNDER CUOMO'S WATCH, THERE WERE PASSED NEW REGULATIONS TO ACCELERATE THE SITING AND SORT OF SOMEWHAT LIMIT SOME OF THE COMMUNITY OPPOSITION AND LOCAL RESISTANCE TO SITING THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS.

>> SO IN 30 SECONDS, ARE WE ON TRACK TO MEET THESE GOALS, I GUESS?

THAT'S THE THING.

THERE ARE THESE GOALS.

SOMETIMES WE WILL PASS THEM.

ARE WE ON TRACK TO GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE?

>> I THINK WE'LL KNOW MORE ONCE WE SEE THE RESULTS OF THE CLIMATE ACTION COUNCIL'S PLAN.

THEY STILL NEED TO COME UP WITH MORE INITIATIVES TO ACTUALLY ACHIEVE THE STATE'S GOALS.

THEY SAID, THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM OUR PANELS ARE NOT ENOUGH TO GET US THERE AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DO MORE FASTER.

>> IT'S FASCINATING THE WAY THAT WE'RE COMBATING CLIMATE IN NEW YORK.

I HOPE TO SEE PROGRESS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE.

MARIE FRENCH FROM POLITICO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHT AS ALWAYS.

BERN HOGAN FROM THE "NEW YORK POST", THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BACK UP IN ALBANY THIS WEEK, LAWMAKERS HELD A LONG-AWAITED HEARING ON ELECTION AND VOTING REFORM.

OBVIOUSLY, THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON THAT HAS BEEN MIXED THIS YEAR.

WITH SOME STATES TRYING TO TIGHTEN ACCESS TO VOTING AND OTHERS OPENING MORE WAYS TO THE BALLOT BOX.

AND WHILE NEW YORK HAS TRIED IN RECENT YEARS TO MAKE VOTING EASIER, LAWMAKERS SAY THERE'S STILL MORE TO DO.

THAT INCLUDES SENATOR ZELLNOR MYRIE WHO CHAIRS THE COMMITTEE.

>> IF DEMOCRACY IS THE FOUNDATION OF WHICH THE REST OF SOCIETY IS BUILT, IT IS INCUMBENT ON US, THOSE WHO WRITE THE LAWS AND INCUMBENT ON THOSE WHO ADMINISTRATE THE LAWS THAT FOUNDATION IS SOUND.

I THINK WE ARE ON A STRONG FOUNDATION.

>> SO PART OF THE HANGUP HERE IS MONEY.

BOARDS OF ELECTIONS IN NEW YORK SAY THEY NEED MORE FUNDING IF THE STATE IS GOING TO ASK THEM TO DO MORE.

THAT'S MONEY FOR STAFF, TECHNOLOGY, AND OTHER NEEDS TO MAKE EVERY ELECTION AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE.

SO WE'LL SEE IF THAT TRANSLATES INTO NEXT YEAR'S STATE BUDGET.

IN THE MEANTIME, FOR WE'RE A FEW WEEKS INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR AND THERE HAVE BEEN OBVIOUS HURDLES TO GETTING KIDS BACK INTO SCHOOLS WHILE KEEPING THEM AND TEACHERS SAFE.

AND TO MAKE IT WORSE, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHEN THINGS WILL CHANGE.

THAT ALL DEPENDS ON THE PANDEMIC.

DARRELL CAMP REPORTS ON HOW SCHOOLS ARE COPING AND WHAT COULD BE NEXT.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> IT'S SEPTEMBER IN NEW YORK AND THAT MEANS ONE THING.

THE SCHOOL YEAR HAS STARTED, AND THIS YEAR FEELS DIFFERENT BUT ALSO FAMILIAR.

IT'S THE THIRD SCHOOL YEAR WHERE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS THROWN A CURVE BALL FOR NEW YORK SCHOOLS AND WHILE VACCINES HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR ADULTS FOR MONTHS NOW, A LOT OF SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN STILL DON'T QUALIFY LEAVING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF IN-PERSON LEARNING, PLUS THE SPREAD OF THE DELTA VARIANT LED TO NEW GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE REQUIRING MASKS IN SCHOOL.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T SIT WELL WITH SOME PARENTS.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO KYLE BELOKOPITSKY, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE TEACHER ASSOCIATION.

>> AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, THERE WAS GREAT CONFUSION THE DEPARTMENT HEALTH SAID ON FRIDAY, ON MONDAY, WE'RE GOING TO GO MASK OPTIONAL.

THE CDC DENIED THAT REQUEST.

SO PARENTS FELT LIKE THEY HAD SOMETHING GIVEN TO THEM THAT WAS TAKEN AWAY.

I THINK THAT CREATED SOME BAD FEELINGS IN MANY CIRCLES.

MOVING FORWARD OVER THE SUMMER, SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE ALLOWED TO HAVE SOME MASK-OPTIONAL POLICIES FOR SUMMER SCHOOL BASED ON A NEW CDC RULING.

HOWEVER, NOW WE HAVE DELTA VARIANT.

>> THAT DECISION WAS BASED ON A RECOMMENDATION BY THE CDC THAT WAS ADOPTED BY THE STATE.

AND WHILE THAT CHOICE WAS CONTROVERSIAL, UNION LEADERS SAY IT WAS THE BEST WAY TO GET EVERYONE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

ANDY PALLOTTA IS THE PRESIDENT OF NYSUT, THE STATE'S LARGEST TEACHER UNION.

>> WE SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR AND HER POSITION ON UNIVERSAL MASKING.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE AT ALL TIMES.

WHILE THIS MAY BE SOMETHING THAT SOME PEOPLE WOULD TAKE A POSITION THAT THEY DON'T LIKE IT, AT THIS TIME, IT'S THE BEST PLACE FOR US TO BE.

MENT WEARING A MASK IS NOT THE BIGGEST SACRIFICE THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE.

>> PALOTTA SAYS TEACHERS OVERWHELMINGLY WANTED TO BE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM IN PERSON THIS YEAR.

AT LEAST PARK PARTIALLY DUE TO THE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED BY REMOTE LEARNING.

BELOKOPITSKY SAID ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS TECH EQUITY.

SOME HAD ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY AND OTHERS DID NOT.

THAT BECAME CLEAR AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC >> WE HAD ALMOST 200,000 STUDENTS WHO DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO DEVICE.

HOW COULD WE TEACH THEM?

WE HAD OVER 200,000 CHILDREN WHO DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO BROADBAND.

HOW COULD WE TEACH THEM?

WE HAVE TO SOLVE THAT AS A STATE >> WHILE SOME SCHOOLS ARE BACK IN PERSON, SOME DISTRICTS COULD BE FORCED INTO REMOTE LEARNING IF THERE'S AN OUTBREAK.

THAT MEANS THE NEED FOR VIRTUAL CONNECTIONS HAVE NOT GONE AWAY.

THE (INAUDIBLE) OF THE SUPERINTENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT OUTSIDE OF SCHENECTADY SAID IN ORDER TO BREACH THAT I DID DIVIDE, WE NEED THINK OF THE INTERNET IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

>> IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, YOU NEED TO THINK OF INTERNET ACCESS THE SAME WAY YOU THINK OF PLUMBING AND ELECTRICITY.

IT'S A UTILITY THAT IS NECESSARY FOR SERVICES THAT YOU MENTIONED BUT HEALTHCARE AS WELL IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE SURE EVERY CITIZEN AND EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE IN THE COUNTRY HAS EQUAL ACCESS TO THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AFFORDED TO THEM.

>> ANOTHER MAJOR CHALLENGE FACING SCHOOLS AS THE YEAR STARTS IS A WORKFORCE SHORTAGE.

ALBANY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT KAWEEDA ADAMS SAYS SCHOOLS NEED STAFF THAT MAY NOT BE AS VISIBLE AS TEACHERS BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT.

>> WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH BUS DRIVERS TO RUN OUR ROUTES, BUT IF A BUS DRIVER CALLS IN, THEREIN LIES THE CHALLENGE.

WHERE AS THE SUB DRIVER WHO CAN TAKE THE PLACE.

SO WE HAVE SEEN A LARGE CONCERN WITH OUR LABOR FORCE AND TRANSPORTATION, IN FOOD SERVICES AND IN MAINTENANCE.

>> BUT FOR SOME, THERE IS HOPE FOR CHANGE AS COVID TRANSMISSION RATES START TO COME DOWN.

BOB SH SCHNEIDER IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD'S ASSOCIATION.

HE SAYS THAT IF THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GO DOWN IN THE COMING MONTHS, SCHOOLS SHOULD HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE CHANGES.

>> IT DEPENDS.

IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU'RE FROM AND WHAT'S GOING ON.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DISTRICTS THAT HAVE VERY LOW TRANSMISSION RATES AND THEY'RE LIKE, WE DO NOT WANT MASKS AND THEY'RE ANTI-VACCINES BUT ONCE AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE A POSITION BUT WE DO ASK THE GOVERNOR AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, GIVE US LEEWAY WHEN WE GET THROUGH THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND THINGS ARE LOOKING BETTER >> THOSE ISSUES HAVE BECOME POLITICAL AS WELL.

CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN, THE REPUBLICAN FAVORITE FOR GOVERNOR, ALSO HAS CHILDREN IN SCHOOL.

HE SAYS THAT WHILE MASKS HAVE NOT BEEN AN ISSUE FOR THEM, HE'S AGAINST THE STATE REQUIRING THEM IN SCHOOLS.

HE SAYS IT CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR SOME KIDS, LIKE IN THIS VIDEO THAT WENT VIRAL.

>> YOU SEE THE KID STRUGGLING TO PUT THE MASK ON, TO KEEP THEIR MASK ON AND CONSTANTLY SNAPPING BACK IN THE TWO-YEAR-OLD KID'S FACE, CRYING AND SCREAMING.

THAT'S THE MOTHER TRYING TO GET THE KID TO WEAR THAT MASK.

WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN A STRANGER OR A TEACHER OR THIRD PARTY.

>> BUT OTHERS SAY THE MASK REQUIREMENT SHOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE.

SENATOR SHELLY MAYOR CHAIRS THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND SHE SAYS THAT PUSHING BACK AGAINST ANTIMASK ADVOCATES SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY.

>> I CAN APPRECIATE THERE'S A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ABOUT VACCINES, BUT MASKS SHOULD NOT BE AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE FOR PARENTS.

IN ALL DUE RESPECT, MASKS SHOULD NOT BE A DIVIDING LINE WHERE PEOPLE ARE SCREAMING AND YELLING AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS.

THIS IS A PROVEN METHOD TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF A DEADLY DISEASE FOR WHICH CHILDREN UNDER TWELVE CANNOT BE VACCINATED >> SO OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, STATE EDUCATION LEADERS SAY THAT COVID NUMBERS, INCLUDING VACCINES, WILL LIKELY DRIVE THE CONVERSATION MOVING FORWARD AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM.

FOR "NEW YORK NOW," I'M DARRELL CAMP.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY A FEW WEEKS INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON HOW THINGS SHAKE OUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

BUT MOVING ON NOW, ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE HOUSING CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM IN NEW YORK.

ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE NATIONAL LOW-INCOME HOUSING COALITION, NEW YORK WOULD NEED ANOTHER 600,000 AFFORDABLE RENTAL UNITS TO FILL THE GAP FOR LOW-INCOMES HE RESIDENTS.

IT'S NOT AS EASY AS BUILDING THOUSANDS OF UNITS FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN.

FOR ONE, THE MONEY'S NOT ALWAYS THERE TO DO THAT.

FOR TWO, IT'S NOT TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON WHAT THE STATE WANTS TO DO.

FOR MORE ON THAT, I TURNED TO JOLIE MILSTEIN WHO HEADS THE STATE ASSOCIATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHICH HELD ITS ANNUAL CONFERENCE THIS WEEK IN ALBANY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] JULIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> IT'S OUR PLEASURE.

>> SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF NEW YORKERS DON'T REALLY KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT BECAUSE A LOT OF NEW YORKERS DON'T HAVE TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR PUBLIC HOUSING.

SO LET'S START THERE.

WHAT WOULD YOU DESCRIBE AS THE STATE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEW YORK RIGHT NOW?

DO WE HAVE ENOUGH?

DO WE NEED MORE?

HOW ARE WE DOING?

>> WELL, LET'S AGREE ON WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT NEW YORK STATE'S ASSOCIATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OF WHICH I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT BUILDS HOUSING AND MAINTAINS ITS FOR LOW-INCOME AND VERY LOW-INCOME NEW YORKERS.

SO IT'S REALLY A PARTNERSHIP.

THE MONEY TO BUILD THESE BUILDINGS IS A COMBINATION OF TAX CREDITS PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND PRIVATE DEBT AND IT'S A VARIETY OF SOURCES, BUT RESIDENTS ALL HAVE TO INCOME QUALIFY.

SO NOT ANYONE CAN LIVE IN A BUILDING THAT'S CONSIDERED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IN OUR WORLD, YOU HAVE TO INCOME QUALIFY AND NOT MAKE MORE THAN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ANNUAL INCOME TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THESE PARTNERSHIP BUILDINGS.

>> CAN I INTERRUPT YOU FOR JUST A SECOND?

IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING THE SAME THING AS PUBLIC HOUSING?

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

>> PUBLIC HOUSING IS DIFFERENT.

PUBLIC HOUSING IS BUILT EXCLUSIVELY WITH GOVERNMENT MONEY AND RUN BY GOVERNMENTS.

IN NEW YORK CITY, THAT THAT'S THE FORM OF NICHA AND AROUND NEW YORK STATE, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT ENTITIES THAT ARE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES THAT MANAGE-- OWN AND MANAGE THOSE PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS.

THOSE ARE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE CALL AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS PRIVATELY OWNED AND BUILT WITH GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.

>> OKAY.

SO IF SOMEBODY CAN'T GET INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE THERE MAY NOT BE ACCESS AND ISN'T IN PUBLIC HOUSING, WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE PEOPLE?

ARE WE DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO WILL THEN BECOME HOMELESS?

>> NOT NECESSARILY HOMELESS BUT WE CONSIDER THEM RENT-BURDENED.

AND OVER HALF OF NEW YORK STATE RENTERS, I THINK THE NUMBER IS OVER HALF, ARE RENT-BURDENED WHICH THE DEFINITION IS THAT THOSE RESIDENTS PAY MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME TOWARD HOUSING.

AND YOU CAN IMAGINE IN MOST NEIGHBORHOODS, CERTAINLY IN THE FIVE BURROWS AND ACROSS THE HIGH OPPORTUNITY OF NEW YORK STATE, MANY, MANY RESIDENTS ARE PAYING MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME TOWARD THEIR RENT.

>> WOW!

THAT'S QUITE A BIT OF INCOME TO PUT TOWARD RENT.

RENT PRICES CAN BE HIGH.

IT'S OUTRAGEOUS SOMETIMES.

>> SOMETIMES IT'S EXTREMELY HIGH AND GETTING HIGHER WITH THE SEVERE SHORTAGE THAT WE HAVE.

IT'S A SUPPLY AND DEMAND EQUATION AND THE SUPPLY IS SEVERELY LIMITED.

WE'RE REALLY IN A HOUSING CRISIS.

EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND WHAT HAPPENS IN ADDITION TO HOMELESSNESS IS PEOPLE DOUBLE UP.

THEY CAN'T AFFORD OTHER NECESSITIES LIKE TRANSPORTATION AND FOOD.

SO THERE ARE A WHOLE HOSTS OF BAD OUTCOMES WHEN THERE'S A HOUSING SHORTAGE AS WE HAVE NOW.

>> SO WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THAT?

IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOW DO WE GET MORE, I GUESS?

IS THIS JUST STRICTLY ON GOVERNMENT?

IS IT ON PRIVATE DEVELOPERS?

HOW DO WE BOOST ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

>> WELL, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LEVERS THAT WE CAN MOVE TO TRY AND INCREASE SUPPLY.

THAT'S REALLY OUR MAIN JOB AS A SUPPLY SIDE ORGANIZATION FOR THE INDUSTRY.

FIRST AND FOREMOST IS FINDING MORE FEDERAL RESOURCES.

MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEW YORK STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE BUILT WITH A FEDERAL TAX CREDIT, THE LOW INCOME TAX CREDIT ACCOUNTS FOR 85% OF MOST UNITS THAT ARE BUILT IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE IT'S PASSAGE DECADES AGO.

THERE'S CURRENT FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF THOSE RESOURCES BY 50%.

SO THERE'S CERTAINLY THE FINANCIAL PIECE WHICH HAS TO BE ADDRESSED.

THERE ARE ALSO BUREAUCRATIC ROAD BLOCKS.

ZONING ISSUES OFTEN COME UP, NOT IN MY BACKYARD, NIMBY ISSUES KEEP PROJECTS FROM GOING FORWARD.

MOST RECENTLY DURING THIS PANDEMIC THERE WERE SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS, LUMBER PRICES QUADRUPLED FOR A WHILE.

WE COULDN'T GET REFRIGERATORS AND OTHER APPLIANCES FOR NEW UNITS.

SO I'D SAY FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT'S A FINANCING GAP, BUT THERE ARE ALSO OTHER THINGS THAT GET IN THE WAY OF BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS SEVERE NEED.

>> NOW, CAN WE FILL THAT GAP WITH PUBLIC HOUSING?

I GUESS I'M JUST LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS.

BECAUSE IF WE HAVE THESE ROAD BLOCKS THAT GOVERNMENT CAN'T NECESSARILY GET PASSED, HOW DO WE DO IT?

IS IT JUST A SENSE OF TRYING TO MAKE THE CASE TO THE STATE THAT THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN, OR IS THIS ABOUT ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THIS IN THESE PLACES?

>> WELL, IT'S ALL OF THE ABOVE.

WE CAN'T BUILD MORE PUBLIC HOUSING AT THE MOMENT.

THERE'S A NATIONAL LAW THAT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR CONSTRUCTION TO MORE PUBLIC HOUSING BECAUSE THE WAY IT WAS ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED BUILT BY GOVERNMENT AND MAINTAINED BY GOVERNMENT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY HASN'T KEPT UP THE MAINTENANCE OF MANY OF THOSE PROJECTS.

THAT'S WHY I THINK THERE'S A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR FUNDING NEED&IN THE CASE OF NICHA.

WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST TO SHORE UP THE EXISTING PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS BUT WE'RE NOT BUILDING MORE PUBLIC HOUSING AT THIS TIME, WHICH MEANS THAT THESE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS HAVE TO STEP UP AND FILL THE NEED.

WE'RE DOING THAT WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND WITH THE CURRENT LAST YEAR OF A FIVE-YEAR HOUSING PLAN.

WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT NICHA TO ADVOCATE FOR ANOTHER MULTIYEAR PLAN.

THAT'S ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES IS TO GET THE STATE TO AUTHORIZE.

IN FACT, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A FIVE-YEAR PLANNING BILL.

WE REALLY NEED AN INSTITUTIONALIZED MULTIYEAR HOUSING SITE PLANNING CYCLE.

SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE GAPS IN THE FUNDING AND IN THE PROCESS OF AWARDING THOSE RESOURCES TO DEVELOPERS.

>> SO IF WE GET EVERYBODY ON BOARD, THE DEVELOPERS, THE GOVERNMENT, THAT PARTNERSHIP, I WONDER HOW INFRASTRUCTURE PLAYS INTO THIS.

DO WE HAVE THE SPACE, THE PLACES, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH THAT WE CAN CREATE THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO HOPEFULLY FILL THOSE GAPS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW?

>> FINDING SITES IS A HUGE CHALLENGE, BUT I THINK AN EVEN BIGGER CHALLENGE IS BUILDING THESE UNITS SUSTAINABLY.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, WE REALLY NEED TO MOVE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S CLIMATE LAW, CLCPA AND NEW YORK NEW YORK CITY'S LOCAL 997, WE'RE LOOKING AT MUCH MORE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

WE CAN'T BUILD THE WAY WE HAVE AND PART OF THAT IS THE ENERGY GRID THAT SUPPORTS ALL OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS, SO WE HAVE TO WORK HAND IN HAND WITH MUNICIPALITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE EXISTS ON THE GROUND TO BUILD ENOUGH UNITS, AND WE HAVE TO FIND THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO BUILD GREEN AND BUILD SUSTAINABLY.

>> YEAH.

LIKE I SAID AT THE START THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT BECAUSE THEY NEVER HAD TO RELY ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I'M GLAD THAT WE GOT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NOT JUST A NEW YORK CITY PROBLEM.

IT'S A PROBLEM ALL AROUND THE STATE.

YOU SEE IT IN EVERY CITY.

BUT WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE.

JOLIE MILSTEIN FROM THE ASSOCIATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> OH, IT'S MY PLEASURE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> SO I GUESS WE'LL SEE IF THE STATE PLANS TO DO ANYTHING TO EXPAND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS PART OF NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

BUT UNTIL THEN, THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK'S NEW YORK NOW.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.