New York NOW

Pride Edition, LGBTQ Issues, Cuomo's Quarantine

On this week's edition of New York NOW: June is Pride Month. The LGBTQIA community has celebrated some major victories in New York over the last decade, but they say there's still more to do.
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, New York's only openly gay federal lawmaker, explains what's happened at the federal level for LGBTQIA individuals, and what he'd like to see done, including the Equality Act.
State Sen. Brad Hoylman, the only openly gay member of the State Senate, talks about what he would like to see changed at the state level for LGBTQIA people living in New York.
Kiara St. James, executive director of the New York Transgender Advocacy Group, shares her perspective on issues that directly affect transgender people of color, a community often left behind.
And Karen DeWitt from New York State Public Radio breaks down the news of the week.
Learn More: nynow.org

COVID-19 & Nursing Homes, Assembly GOP Leader Will Barclay, County Crisis

On this week's edition of New York NOW: About a quarter of the state's more than 24,000 deaths from COVID-19 have been linked to nursing homes and everyone's looking for someone to blame.
Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay is calling for an independent investigation into what happened at nursing homes, including the state's handling of those facilities.
Stephen Hanse from the New York State Health Facilities Association, a group that represents nursing homes, offers his perspective on how the disease spread in those facilities.
Counties are running out of options without funding from the federal government, and some are preparing for tough choices in the year ahead. Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone joins us to discuss.
And Karen DeWitt from New York State Public Radio breaks down the news of the week.
 
Learn more at nynow.org

Police Reform Package Comes to Albany

On this week's edition of New York NOW: The state Legislature returns to Albany to approve a package of police reform bills in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. We'll have details.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, joins us to discuss the long-sought legislation and provide an update on the state's finances amid the COVID-19 crisis.
State Sen. Fred Akshar, R-Broome, is one of a handful of state lawmakers who served as a member of law enforcement before his election. He joins us with his perspective.
State Sen. Jamaal Bailey, D-Bronx, chairs the Senate Codes Committee and sponsored legislation to provide public access to police disciplinary records. He'll explain the bill, and what's ahead.
And Darrell Camp from TALK 1300 breaks down the news of the week.
 
Learn more at nynow.org

Protest Response, Potential Reforms, COVID-19 & the Environment

On this week's edition of New York NOW: The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has sparked protests in cities across New York state — and the country.
The state Legislature is now planning a trip back to Albany to pass a package of bills in response, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo makes the protests a feature of daily briefings.
Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, joins us to discuss the protests, and what lawmakers could do to ease tensions between police and communities of color.
Josefa Velasquez from THE CITY has details on what the Legislature could take up next week, and Massarah Mikati from the Times Union has perspective from inside the protests.
New York’s battle with COVID-19 continues, and that could impact the state’s environmental goals.
State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, joins us with his perspective, and Jess Ottney Mahar from The Nature Conservancy speaks about the future of the $3 billion Restore Mother Nature Bond Act.
 
Learn More: nynow.org

Education Amid COVID-19, Sen. Shelley Mayer, Legislature Returns

On this week's edition of New York NOW, the education system in New York state was turned upside down from the COVID-19 crisis, and it’s anyone’s guess when (or if) things will return to normal.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he wants to “reimagine education,” and has tapped Bill Gates to head that effort.
State Sen. Shelley Mayer, D-Westchester, chairs the Senate Education Committee. She joins us with an update.
The state Board of Regents oversees the state’s schools. Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa joins us with her perspective.
The state Legislature made a surprise trip back to Albany to pass a package of COVID-related bills, while Cuomo met with Trump in Washington, D.C. We’ll have details with Joseph Spector from the USA Today Network.
And Rachel Silberstein from the Albany Times Union speaks with an internationally recognized education expert.

Comptroller DiNapoli, State Spending Cuts, Economic Outlook

On this week's edition of New York NOW, New York state is facing economic devastation not seen since the Great Depression. That's what State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a new report. He joins us to explain.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo says local governments, schools, and hospitals can expect major cuts in the coming weeks without help from the federal government. But we don't know if that help is coming.
E.J. McMahon from the Empire Center for Public Policy joins us with analysis of the state's finances, and Cuomo's strategy to avoid a projected $61 billion budget deficit.
Casey Seiler from the Times Union is back. He joins us to talk about how the COVID-19 crisis has affected Albany's bottom line.
And Keshia Clukey from Bloomberg Law breaks down the news of the week, including new questions about nursing homes.
Learn more at nynow.org

Access to Justice, COVID-19 & the Courts, Lawsuit Limbo

On this week's edition of New York NOW, how has COVID-19 affected access to justice in New York? We'll have answers on this week's show.
Crime was down in every county of the state in March and April, but was that just because people stayed home? Albany County DA David Soares, Orange County DA David Hoovler, Erie County DA John Flynn, and Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy join with their perspective.
A flood of lawsuits could be born from the COVID-19 pandemic, and some need legal help now. The New York State Bar Association's Hank Greenberg joins with his perspective.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature have placed new limits on COVID-related lawsuits in certain instances, but some want them to go further. Tom Stebbins from the Lawsuit Reform Alliance explains.
And Jon Campbell from the USA Today Network breaks down the rest.
 
Learn More at nynow.org

Back to Business, COVID-19 & Counties, Two Neighborhoods

On this week's edition of New York NOW, Gov. Andrew Cuomo says each region of the state will have to meet a new set of standards to start reopening its economy. We'll have details, and reaction.
Counties are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, and they'll be integral in the state's continued response to the disease. But they're also facing some tough challenges along the way.
Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro joins us to talk about what counties need right now, and how residents could be impacted without help from the federal government.
Some businesses could reopen in a matter of days, but it'll be a long road for others. Heather Briccetti from The Business Council of New York State explains what the future holds for businesses in New York.
And two neighborhoods in Queens have had very different experiences with COVID-19. Reporter Josefa Velasquez from THE CITY has that story, and more on the news of the week.

Cuomo vs. McConnell, Assm. Donna Lupardo, Agriculture Anxiety

On this week's edition of New York NOW, Gov. Andrew Cuomo goes after U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on federal COVID-19 funding, warning that spending cuts are coming without it.
And if you like food, this episode's for you.
Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, D-Broome, chairs the Assembly Agriculture Committee. She joins us to talk about how farmers are coping through COVID-19, and what can be done to help sustain the state's agriculture industry.
Some farms have been able to adapt to the crisis. We check in with Edible Uprising Farm in Rensselaer County about how they've changed their way of doing business during the pandemic.
The New York Farm Bureau says farmers are struggling, even with help from the state and local government. President David Fisher, a dairy farmer from St. Lawrence County, talks to us about milk dumping, the meat supply, and more.
And Karen DeWitt joins us with the news of the week.

COVID-19 Economy, Sen. Pat Gallivan, Small Business Scramble

State Sen. Patrick Gallivan discusses New York healthcare network readiness. Amanda Fries from the Albany Times Union joins us with reporting and analysis on COVID-19 testing disparities in areas of upstate New York. Small businesses received a new lifeline this week from the federal government. Greg Biryla from the Federation of Independent Business breaks that down.
Learn More: nynow.org