New York NOW

NY vs. NRA, Sen. Luis Sepulveda, SUNY Status

On this week's edition of New York NOW: New York Attorney General Letitia James files a lawsuit seeking to dissolve the National Rifle Association. We'll have details with Jon Campbell from the USA Today Network.
Sen. Luis Sepulveda, D-Bronx, joins us to discuss the handling of COVID-19 in the state's prison system, and legislation he sponsored to limit legal protections for health care facilities.
SUNY campuses and universities are bringing students back to campus this month. Fred Kowal from United University Professions says more needs to be done to protect students and staff from the virus.
Eddie Taveras, New York immigration director at FWD.US, speaks with us about the immigrant experience during COVID-19, and the status of the census count.

COVID-19 Hearings, Cuomo vs. Congress, LUMA Reimagined

On this week's edition of New York NOW: the state Legislature begins its hearing on the state's handling of the COVID-19 crisis, while Gov. Cuomo renews his fight against Congress for more funding.
 
Next week, lawmakers will hold a hearing on the state's handling of nursing homes during the pandemic. Senate Health Chair Gustavo Rivera joins us to preview the event.
 
Lawmakers will also hold a hearing on how the virus impacted this year's primary elections. They also passed a series of voting reforms last week. Senate Elections Chair Zellnor Myrie has details.
 
An internationally recognized event in Binghamton was canceled this year, causing a significant economic loss to the city. But the festival's founders are producing a back-up plan that's never been done.
 
Plus, Jesse McKinley from the New York Times joins us with this week's news.
 
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Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Legislature Returns, Women and the Vote

On this week's edition of New York NOW: the state Legislature was back in Albany for a rare July session, while Gov. Andrew Cuomo took a trip to Georgia.
 
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins joins Karen DeWitt to recap the week, and discuss what’s ahead for state lawmakers, including hearings on the COVID-19 crisis.
 
It was only 100 years ago that women won the right to vote in the U.S., and a lot has happened since. We'll have the last part of a three-part series on women's suffrage in New York.
 
Plus, the state’s canal system is open for the summer and partnering with local businesses across upstate New York to offer free, safe day trip activities. We’ll have details.
 
Learn more: nynow.org

Schools Reopening, Legislature Returns, Women and the Vote

On this week's edition of New York NOW: Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Education Department release guidance to reopen schools in the fall. We'll discuss.
Jasmine Gripper from the Alliance for Quality Education shares her perspective on how schools can safely reopen in the fall, while providing students with a good education.
The Legislature is planning a return to Albany. Bernadette Hogan from the New York Post and Josefa Velasquez from THE CITY join us to talk about that, criticism of the state's handling of nursing homes, and more.
It was only 100 years ago that women won the right to vote in the U.S., and a lot has happened since. We'll have the second part of a three-part series on women's suffrage.
Plus, a look at community health in the context of COVID-19.
 
learn more at nynow.org

Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, Nursing Home Report, Women and the Vote

On this week's edition of New York NOW: New York state is out with a new report on what happened in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. We'll discuss.
New Senate Republican Leader Robert Ortt joins us to discuss his plans for the new role, and the future of the Republican party.
It was only 100 years ago that women won the right to vote in the U.S., and a lot happened in New York leading up to that moment. We'll have the first part of a three-part series on women's suffrage.
And Karen DeWitt from New York State Public Radio breaks down the news of the week. Plus, a look at paid sick leave in the context of COVID-19.
 
Learn More at nynow.org

Mental Health Crisis, Impact on Children, Cuomo's Power

On this week's edition of New York NOW: Experts are warning of a national mental health crisis in the wake of COVID-19, particularly in New York, where the disease has outpaced other states.
Is New York ready to address a widespread demand in mental health services? Stakeholders say no.
We'll speak with Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, the chair of the Assembly Mental Health Committee, and Glenn Liebman from the Mental Health Association in New York State about where the state stands, and what's expected in the coming months.
Andrea Smyth from the New York State Coalition for Children's Behavioral Health talks about how this is all affecting children, and how cuts from the state could affect mental health services for kids — both in schools and in the community.
And Amanda Fries from the Albany Times Union breaks down the news of the week.

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