Feb. 10, 2025 - The governor's budget proposal doesn't do enough to ensure New Yorkers with disabilities will have access to the staff they need, according to Mike Alvaro, head of the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State and president of New York Disability Advocates. We discuss a cost of living increase for staff and whether there should be stricter licensing rules.
Feb. 10, 2025 - We examine potential changes to the workers' compensation system designed to make it easier to access a medical provider and consider the impact of changes to short-term disability insurance benefits. We talk with Workers' Compensation Board Chair Clarissa Rodriguez, Executive Director Steven Scotti and Medical Director Dr. James Tacci.
Feb. 10, 2025 - Non-profit organizations looking to become land stewards in the Empire State have been slowed by the state policies governing title ownership We discuss a potential reform to this backlog with Erik Kulleseid, head of the Open Space Institute.
Feb. 10, 2025 - There has been a month of congestion pricing in Manhattan, so how is it going? We try to wrap our arms around this issue with Danny Pearlstein, director of policy and communications for Riders Alliance, which championed the toll that went into place in January.
Feb. 7, 2025 - The Home Energy Assistance Program makes federal dollars available to subsidize energy bills of low-income New Yorkers, but the program is facing an uncertain future this winter following a temporary halt to applications in January. We talk about this drama and what should come next with Laurie Wheelock, executive director of the Public Utility Law Project of New York.
Feb. 7, 2025 - New York State Office for the Aging Director Greg Olsen discusses funding to cut down on waitlists for senior services and other programs impacting older New Yorkers.
Feb. 7, 2025 - Human Services Council Executive Director Michelle Jackson explains why the state government's proposed 2.1 percent cost of living adjustment for non-profits that contract with the state won't cover their growing expenses.
Feb. 6, 2025 - Tom Clark, the Consul General of Canada in New York, discusses his recent visit to the Empire State's Capitol and the potential fallout of increased tariffs between the North American neighbors.
Feb. 6, 2025 - New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation Commissioner Pro Tem Randy Simons discusses a proposed capital investment intended to get kids off their smartphones and into pools, playgrounds and community centers
Feb. 6, 2025 - We examine efforts to reduce the transmission of hepatitis C in New York with Sarah Cushman, senior manager for Hep C and community prevention services at Trillium Health, and Zaida Aguilar, a Hep C peer advocate at Housing Works.
Feb. 6, 2025 - Open New York Executive Director Annemarie Gray says the state has taken some good first steps in promoting housing growth, but argues there are some basic proposals policymakers should embrace this year to increase the housing supply, such as making it easier for religious institutions to develop homes and superseding local zoning restrictions in certain situations.
Feb. 5, 2025 - A new survey of New Yorkers by the Siena College Research Institute examined the popularity of President Donald Trump and support for some of Gov. Kathy Hochul's priorities for 2025. We break down the results with Siena pollster Steve Greenberg.
Feb. 5, 2025 - Gov. Kathy Hochul is looking to overhaul the state's discovery laws, arguing they can be improved without jeopardizing access to a speedy trial, but defense attorneys say this isn't the case. Legal Aid Society Supervising Attorney Kalle Condliffe explains what the changes could mean and identifies updates to the discovery process that could improve the disclosure process.
Feb. 5, 2025 - New York State Committee on Open Government Executive Director Shoshanah Bewlay discusses transparency issues that arose in 2024 and identifies some of her group's 2025 priorities, included in their annual report.
Feb. 5, 2025 - Association of School Business Officials of New York Executive Director Brian Cechnicki talks about the governor's proposed allocation of state education aid and makes the case for school districts recouping money owed by the state.
Feb. 4, 2024 - Supportive Housing Network of New York Executive Director Pascale Leone and New Destiny Housing CEO Nicole Branca make the case for more capital funds and operating dollars to support supportive housing services, especially for older programs that get less money than newer programs.
Feb. 4, 2024 - Assemblymember Jeffery Dinowitz, a Bronx Democrat, gives us an update on his legislation seeking to ban the use of face coverings with the intent to intimidate and harass.
Feb. 4, 2025 - SUNY Chancellor John King discusses Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed investments in higher education, including free community college for adults pursuing degrees from in-demand career paths.
Feb. 4, 2025 - Senate Transportation Committee Chair Jeremy Cooney, a Rochester-area Democrat, discusses the transportation proposals in Gov. Kathy Hochul's budget proposal, including money to cover rising capital costs, work zone cameras, and catching impaired drivers.
Feb. 3, 2025 - Assembly Children and Families Committee Chair Andrew Hevesi, a Queens Democrat, makes the case for building on the governor's proposals addressing child poverty and child care access.
Feb. 3, 2025 - Scrutinize founder Oded Oren explains how judges have been undermining changes to pre-trial detention in New York, which were intended to make bail more affordable than tradition bondsmen services.
Feb. 3, 2025 - New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President & CEO Doreen Harris explains the status of New York's "cap-and-invest" program and the governor's proposed spending on clean energy. We also get an update on the state's development of new nuclear projects.
Feb. 3, 2025 - New York could do a better job reducing smoking levels, according to the American Lung Association. We break down the anti-smoking efforts in the state and identifying where policymakers are falling short with Michael Seilback, assistant vice president of nationwide advocacy of the ALA.
Jan. 31, 2025 - New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray talks about a media literacy toolkit being deployed to schools, efforts to boost volunteer firefighter numbers, and reflects on her work as acting director of policy for the governor.
Jan. 31, 2025 - New York Chief Information Officer Dru Rai, head of the state Office of Information Technology Services, discusses the governor's budget proposal and making the state's websites more user friendly.
Feb. 03, 2025 - Children's advocacy centers oversee a coordinated response for kids who have been abused and Gov. Kathy Hochul is proposing to double their state funding after years of stagnant support. We discuss this important work and impact of the budget with Theresa Roth, executive director of the New York State Children's Alliance.
Jan. 30, 2025 - Senate Mental Health Committee Chair Samra Brouk, a Rochester Democrat, addresses a proposed expansion of involuntary commitments, makes the case for implementing Daniel's Law, and calls for an investment in the mental health sector workforce.
Jan. 30, 2025 - New York State Catholic Conference Director of Government Relations Kristen Curran voices opposition to increased state funding for reproductive health care, backs Gov. Kathy Hochul's expansion of the child tax credit, and weighs in on expanded access to emergency contraception.
Jan. 30, 2025 - The state legislature may be on the cusp of implementing restrictions on single-use plastic packaging, but the industry is pushing back against mandates that could alter their business practices. We talked with Matt Seaholm, president and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association.
Jan. 30, 2025 - Jason Cone, chief public policy officer for the advocacy group Robin Hood, analyzes the governor's proposed anti-poverty initiatives and offers up some of his own ideas.
