[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

NEW YORK STATE LAWMAKERS WERE BRIEFLY AT THE CAPITAL THIS WEEK TO PASS A SECOND BUDGET EXTENDER GOING THROUGH THE TUESDAY APRIL 14TH.

LAWMAKERS WERE SCHEDULED TO HAVE A TWO-WEEK BREAK, BUT THE UNSETTLED NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE STATE'S BUDGET RESULTED IN AN UNSCHEDULED SESSION DAY.

WHEN ASKED ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS ON THE SENATE FLOOR, STATE SENATE DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER, MICHAEL GIANARIS, CONFIRMED THAT NEGOTIATIONS WERE ONGOING BUT THERE WERE NO ESTIMATES ON WHEN THE BUDGET BILLS WOULD BE INTRODUCED.

AND APART FROM THE DELAYED BUDGET, GIANARIS IS ALSO GEARING UP TO OFFICIALLY END HIS CHAPTER IN THE LEGISLATURE AFTER THREE DECADES.

WE SAT DOWN WITH THE LEADER TO UNPACK HIS DECISION TO NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION AND HIS LEGACY IN THE UPPER CHAMBER.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH JOINING US BACK ON THE SHOW TODAY, SENATOR >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, SHANTEL.

>> OF COURSE.

NOW AFTER MORE THAN THREE DECADES, WORKING AND SERVING IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, YOU MADE THE DECISION NOT TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.

OF COURSE, YOU BEING THE DEPUTY STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER-- THIS MOVE REPRESENTS SUCH A MAJOR SHIFT IN THE FABRIC OF BOTH THE DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE AS WELL AS THE CHAMBER.

SO BEFORE WE GET INTO YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU CAME TO THIS DECISION TO STEP AWAY FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE?

>> SURE.

MY LIFE HAS CHAINED A GREAT DEAL THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

ESPECIALLY I HAVE A BABY AT HOME, A TODDLER, I GUESS, NOW.

SHE'S TWO.

I HAVE AN 11-YEAR-OLD AT HOME.

MY MOM IS 92.

SHE LIVES ACROSS THE STREET BY HERSELF AND SO THE SANDWICH GENERATION IS A REAL THING.

I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUNG ONES.

I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF AN ELDERLY PERSON AND BEING HERE EVERY WEEK IS JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH FOR THAT, AND SO IT'S TIME TO GET BACK HOME, START SAVING FOR COLLEGE FOR THESE KIDS AND BE AROUND FOR THEM AND WATCH THEM GROW UP.

>> AND, OF COURSE, YOU HAVE BEEN SO INFLUENTIAL IN GETTING THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES OF THE CHAMBER OVER THE FINISH LINE AND YOU WERE NATURALLY SEEN AS A TOP CONTENDER TO LEAD THE CONFERENCE AFTER ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS.

LOOKING BACK ON YOUR LEGACY, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

>> I THINK THE THINGS THAT I LOOK BACK ON-- WE'VE DONE SO MANY THINGS IN ALL THESE YEARS BUT THE ONE THAT HAS HAD THE MOST PROFOUND IMPACT WAS GETTING THE MAJORITY FOR THE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE AND GETTING A MAJORITY THAT IS, HOPEFULLY, GOING TO BE LONG-LASTING AND AS PERMANENT AS YOU CAN BE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

BEFORE 2018 WHEN WE SUCCEEDED, THE SENATE WAS IN REPUBLICAN HANDS FOR JUST ABOUT A CENTURY.

IT WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS HERE AND THERE WHERE DEMOCRATS TOOK OFFICE AND TOOK THE MAJORITY AND THEN LOST IT.

FOR A HUNDRED YEARS, THERE WAS NEVER A SUSTAINED DEMOCRAT MAKE JOTTER AND NOW WE'RE GOING ON OUR EIGHTH YEAR IN THE MAJORITY.

OUR SIZE IS THE LARGEST-- ONE OF THE LARGEST MAJORITIES THAT'S EVER BEEN.

IT'S ONLY BEEN SURPASSED BY OURSELVES A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND SO I THINK THAT MISSION WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND NOW, IT'S THE RIGHT TIME TO HAND IT OFF TO THE NEXT GENERATION AND LET THEM HAVE A GO AT IT, BUT I THINK WHAT WE'VE BUILT AND THE FOUNDATION WE'VE BUILT HERE IN THE SENATE WILL OUTLIVE ALL OF US.

>> YOU WERE SO INFLUENTIAL WHEN IT CAME TO RECRUITING INSURGENT CANDIDATES TO CHALLENGE THOSE INCUMBENT IDC MEMBERS.

THESE ARE, OF COURSE, MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WHO ARE VOTING AND WORKING WITH REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

WHEN YOU MENTIONED DEMOCRATS SECURING THE MAJORITY IN 2019 AND THE WORK THAT YOU DID LEADING UP TO THAT, DO YOU THINK THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT YOU WERE DOING AT THAT TIME, OR IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN LOOK BACK ON IN HINDSIGHT AND RECOGNIZE THE WORK?

>> I THINK WE UNDERSTOOD IT, BUT WE DIDN'T FEEL IT IN A REAL WAY.

2018 WAS A YEAR FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

WE NOT ONLY DEFEATED SIX INCUMBENTS WHO WERE DEMOCRATS IN NAME ONLY BUT WERE ESSENTIALLY HANDING THE MAJORITY TO THE REPUBLICANS, WE THEN WENT OUT AND BEAT EIGHT REPUBLICANS IN NOVEMBER.

SO A SHIFT OF 15, BECAUSE THERE'S ALSO A PRIMARY THAT OCCURRED WHEN SENATOR SALAZAR WON HER RACE.

FIFTEEN NEW MEMBERS OF THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE AT ONCE HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.

IT'S 25% OF THE ENTIRE BODY CHANGING AND GAVE US A SIZABLE MAJORITY WE NEEDED TO GOVERN AND DEFEATING THE IDC IN THOSE PRIMARIES WAS CRITICAL.

A MAJORITY WITH THEM OBSTRUCTING AND CREATING PROBLEMS WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY HARD TO GOVERN WITH.

THE FACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE NOT JUST A MAJORITY BUT A MAJORITY THAT WAS UNIFIED AND PULLING IN THE SAME DIRECTION MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

THAT 2019 SESSION IS ONE THAT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

WE ENACTED SO MANY IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE LAW, CODIFYING ROE V. WADE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT EVEN OVERTURNED IT.

WE MADE SURE WOMEN IN NEW YORK WOULD HAVE THAT CONTINUING PROTECTION, PROTECTIONS FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND IMMIGRANTS WHICH IS NOW, AGAIN, AN IMPRESSION MOVE THAT WE MADE GIVING THEM ADDITIONAL SUPPORT HERE IN NEW YORK.

THE HOUSING LOSS IN 2019, CHANGES TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAWS.

WE TURNED THIS STATE AROUND COMPLETELY IN THAT ONE YEAR AND HAVE BEEN CONTINUING THAT WORK EVER SINCE.

>> HOW ARE YOU HOPING THAT THE DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE CONTINUES TO BUILD ON THE FOUNDATION THAT YOU HELPED TO BUILD?

>> WELL, HOPEFULLY, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF THIS INSTITUTION, LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO ELECT THEM AND DO THE RIGHT THING.

WE'RE AT A CRITICAL MOMENT IN THE COUNTRY.

THE STATES ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THERE ARE SOME STATES THAT NEED TO BE A BULWARK AGAINST THE OPPRESSION THAT IS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

NEW YORK HAS BEEN ONE OF THEM.

AND HOPEFULLY, WE'LL CONTINUE TO PUSH THE AGENDA BECAUSE I THINK THE SENATE, WE HAVE GOOD ALLIES IN THE ASSEMBLY AND THE GOVERNOR SEEMS TO BE PUSHING THE SAME DIRECTION ALSO, BUT THE SENATE'S REALLY BEEN DRIVING THE AGENDA FOR THIS STATE IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE WE MAINTAIN OUR PROGRESSIVE VALUES AND STAND UP AGAINST THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT WE DON'T LIKE OUT OF WASHINGTON.

>> AND ANOTHER PIVOTAL MOMENT WAS WHEN YOU HELPED TO LEAD THE OPPOSITION TO AMAZON BUILDING ITS HEADQUARTERS IN YOUR DISTRICT.

SO WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE WORK AND THE STRATEGY THAT YOU HAD TO END THAT DEAL?

>> WELL, THERE WAS A CLASSIC CASE OF INSIDE-OUTSIDE COLLABORATION.

THERE'S A TREMENDOUS GRASS ROOTS EFFORT THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT FROM THESE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE OPPOSED TO THIS PROJECT BECAUSE THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HOUSING COSTS THAT WOULD SKYROCKET, THE STRESS TO THE SCHOOLS, THE STRESS ON MASS TRANSIT, THAT THE PLAN, OTHER THAN HANDING AMAZON A BUNCH OF MONEY, DIDN'T REALLY CONSIDER OR FACTOR IN.

SO PEOPLE TOOK TO THE STREETS TO EXPRESS THAT OPPOSITION.

THAT WAS KIND OF THE SUPPORT THAT I HAD THAT HELPED ME TO DO THE WORK UP HERE ON THE INSIDE.

IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THE LEVERS OF GOVERNMENT THAT HELPED BECAUSE THERE'S THIS OBSCURE BOARD CALLED THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES CONTROL BOARD, WHICH WOULD HAVE TO GIVE FINAL APPROVAL TO THIS PROJECT AND AS WE TOOK THE MAJORITY, THE LEADER WAS KIND MUFF TO NOMINATE ME TO SERVE ON THAT BOARD, WHICH WOULD HAVE PUT A SIGNIFICANT SEAT AT THE TABLE TO THE CONCERNS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAD ABOUT THAT PROJECT.

THE MERE FACT THAT I WAS NOMINATED BY AMAZON TO LEAVE, AND I THINK LOOKING BACK ON IT WAS SOMETHING I AM REALLY PROUD OF.

YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN VIRGINIA WHICH WAS THE OTHER LOCATION THAT WON THIS CONTEST, THEY HAVE CEASED CONSTRUCTION THERE.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO COMPLETE THEIR PROMISES IN TERMS OF JOB CREATION DOWN THERE, AND THEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN NEW YORK.

THEY HAVE CREATED THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN NEW YORK ALREADY JUST NOT AT A HEADQUARTER SITE IN NEW YORK CITY.

THEY REMOVED JOBS IN THE CITY AND THE TAX BASE IS GROWING BECAUSE OF EXECUTIVES AND THEY'RE IN VARIOUS OFFICES IN MANHATTAN THE WAY MOST OTHER CORPORATIONS IN NEW YORK OPERATE.

AND THEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT-- THE PIVOT OF THAT INDUSTRY AND AMAZON, IN PARTICULAR, GOING THROUGH THERE FIRING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF EXECUTIVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WE SPEAK, AND SO HAD THIS BEEN BUILT, HAD THEY FILLED IT WITH THE JOBS THEY PROMISED THAT THEY'RE NOT CREATING IN VIRGINIA, THERE'S A GOOD LIKELIHOOD THAT THOSE PEOPLE WOULD NOW BE GETTING FIRED.

THE FACT THAT WE STOOD UP FOR THIS-- THIS COMMUNITY STOOD UP FOR NEW YORK, REFUSED TO GIVE OUR VALUABLE AND PRECIOUS PUBLIC RESOURCES TO A COMPANY THAT DOESN'T NEED IT TO BE HERE AND YET WE'RE GETTING THE JOBS ANYWAY.

WE'RE AVOIDING SOME OF THE PITFALLS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN VIRGINIA AND OTHER PLACES, AND WE'RE DODGING THE FACT THAT WE COULD HAVE HAD THIS ENORMOUS INFRASTRUCTURE BUILT THAT WOULD BE SITTING LARGELY EMPTY RIGHT NOW.

>> WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEGISLATORS AS THEY COME TO THE CAPITAL AND APPROACH THE WORK AND POTENTIALLY LEADERSHIP?

>> THE BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE IS DON'T GET COMPLACENT AND DON'T BE PASSIVE ABOUT THIS JOB.

IT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF POWER.

IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE.

USE IT TO MAKE CHANGE.

I THINK TOO OFTEN PEOPLE GET IN THESE JOBS AND THEY'RE VERY STRESSFUL AND THEY'RE VERY BUSY AND TIME MOVES QUICKLY, AND THEY DON'T MOVE FAST ENOUGH TO ENACT THE CHANGES THAT WOULD REALLY MOVE THE BALL FORWARD.

WE DID-- 2019 WOULD BE THE MODEL IN A SENSE OF DRAMATIC CHANGE IN THIS STATE AND ADVANCEMENTS, THE LIKES OF WHICH WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE OR SINCE, BUT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE NOW, DON'T JUST THINK YOU HAVE A 9:00 TO 5:00 JOB AND YOU'RE GOING TO SIT THERE AND GO TO YOUR EVENTS, GET PAT ON THE BACK AND GO HOME.

TRY TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN WITH THE POWER THAT YOU HAVE.

BECAUSE IT'S RARE TO HAVE IT AND IT'S A PRIVILEGE.

>> NATURALLY, YOU BEING THE DEPUTY LEADER, YOU, OF COURSE, HAVE A VERY CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAJORITY LEADER, ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS, AND I'M SURE SHE, OF COURSE, TRUSTS YOUR OPINION A THOUSAND PERCENT.

SO CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR WORKING RELATIONSHIP HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS?

WHAT ROLE WILL YOU HAVE IN SORT OF, YOU KNOW, BEING-- SHARING YOUR PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF WHAT SHE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT PERSON TO FILL YOUR POSITION?

>> WELL, THE RELATIONSHIP IS UNIQUE.

WE'RE INCREDIBLY CLOSE.

WE HAVE SERVED AS A TEAM IN LEADERSHIP FOR ALMOST 15 YEARS SINCE WE'RE IN THE MINORITY.

IT WAS THE END OF 2012 WHEN SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS WAS SELECTED BY THE CONFERENCE TO BE OUR LEADER.

THAT'S WHEN WE WERE IN THE MINORITY.

I WAS HER DEPUTY FROM THAT MOMENT FORWARD.

SO WE-- WE'VE GROWN TOGETHER.

WE HAVE BUILT THIS MAJORITY, FOUGHT FOR IT AND THEN BUILT IT TOGETHER, AND WE AS A RESULT BECOME PERSONALLY CLOSE AND WE KNOW EACH OTHER'S THOUGHTS.

WE KNOW HOW EACH OTHER THINK AND OPERATE, AND THAT'S AN INCREDIBLY VALUABLE TRAIT IN A LEADER AND A DEPUTY.

BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO SPEND YOUR TIME THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE PERSON MEANS, IF YOU CAN ALREADY UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM, IT'S EASIER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AS A LEADER.

IT'S VERY HARD TO FIND THAT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WOULD EXIST ANYWHERE BUT OBVIOUSLY, SOMEONE SHE TRUSTS AND SOMEONE WHO IS CAPABLE AND HAS THE EXPERIENCE TO PUT THE SENATE BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE.

IN A SENSE, YOU KNOW, BEING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE LEGISLATURE IS MULTIPLE JOBS.

YOU'RE A LEGISLATOR FOR THE CONFERENCE.

YOU DO YOUR WORK IN ALBANY.

YOU'RE A REPRESENTATIVE FOR YOUR DISTRICT WHEN YOU GO BACK HOME, AND WHEN YOU'RE IN LEADERSHIP, YOU REALLY HAVE TO PUT THE CONFERENCE ABOVE ALL ELSE AND TRY TO FIND SOMEONE WHO DOES THAT.

BECAUSE THE MOMENT YOU HAVE CONFLICT BETWEEN WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE SENATE AND WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOUR OWN POLITICS, IT CAN CREATE A PROBLEM THAT IS DETRIMENTAL.

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY, SENATOR.

>> THANK YOU, SHANTEL.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH STATE SENATE DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER MICHAEL GIANARIS.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> RECENTLY, FUNDING CUTS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL HAVE LEFT MANY MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE IN A DIFFICULT FINANCIAL POSITION.

AS A RESULT, MANY STATE LAWMAKERS, ALONG WITH THE STATE COMPTROLLER, TOM DINAPOLI, ARE PUSHING LEGISLATION MEANT TO SUPPORT THESE BUSINESSES.

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, OUR ELISE KLINE DOVE INTO THE PROPOSED BILLS AND THE SUPPORT FOR THEM AT THE CAPITOL.

HERE'S THAT STORY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> IN ONE YEAR, NEW YORK STATE HAS EXPERIENCED MAJOR IMPACTS FROM FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS, STEMMING FROM TRUMP'S BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

ONE AREA THAT IS BEING HIT THE HARDEST IS MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE STATE, FROM STORE FRONTS TO COMMUNITY NONPROFIT.

FEDERAL FUNDING TO THE STATE HAS DECREASED BY ABOUT $16 BILLION FROM 2024 TO 2025, ACCORDING TO A RECENT CORNELL ANALYSIS REPORT.

THE DROP IN FEDERAL FUNDING INCLUDED $8.2 BILLION LESS IN CONTRACT SPENDING AND $7.6 BILLION LESS IN GRANTS AND ASSISTANCE FOR MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE, THE DISPROPORTIONAL IMPACT OF THESE CUTS MEAN HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REDUCTIONS.

FOR MANY BUSINESSES, THE REDUCTIONS IN FUNDING MEAN THEY ARE NOW STRUGGLING TO EFFECTIVELY SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> THAT DIRECTLY AFFECTS OUR PROGRAMMING.

THAT DIRECTLY AFFECTS HOW MANY PEOPLE WE CAN EMPLOY.

IT DIRECTLY AFFECTS HOW MUCH WE CAN DO AND OFFER TO THE PUBLIC.

>> THE REDBOOK SHELF IS A NONPROFIT THAT HELPS PROMOTE READING AND LEARNING IN THE ALBANY COMMUNITY THROUGH GIVING AWAY BOOKS, FACILITATING AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AND OTHER EDUCATION EVENTS.

COLLINS-HACKETT SAYS THEY HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN GRANTS THEY ARE APPROVED FOR AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

THE GRANTS THEY'VE BEEN DENIED TOTALED TO MORE THAN $00,000.

WHAT WE DO IS INVESTMENT.

IT'S INVESTMENT INTO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

IT'S INVESTMENT INTO OUR LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURES.

IT'S INVESTMENT INTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

IT'S INVESTMENT INTO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

BUT A LOT OF TIMES, WHEN THE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE AROUND TABLES WITHOUT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY PRESENT, IT FEELS MORE LIKE CHARITY AND, OH, WELL, THEY SHOULD BE HAPPY WITH WHATEVER WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE.

AND THAT IS INCREDIBLY PROBLEMATIC FOR US BECAUSE NOW THE RESOURCES THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE GET AND WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER TO THEM IS SEVERELY LIMITED.

>> BREA BARTHEL, AN ALBANY RESIDENT AND LONGTIME VOLUNTEER, SAYS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE RED BOOKSHELF HAVE AN IMPORTANT IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.

>> WITH THE LITTLE LIBRARIES AND WITH THE RED BOOKSHELF, IT REALLY IS A WONDERFUL WAY TO GET KIDS READING BOOKS AND LOVING BOOKS.

>> COLLINS-HACKETTE SAYS THE FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS HAVE IMPACTED THE WAY IN WHICH THE ORGANIZATION CAN MANAGE ITS HUMAN RESOURCES AND OUTREACH EFFORTS.

>> WE'VE HAD SITUATIONS WHERE WE RAN A SUMMER CAMP LAST YEAR AND I HAD TO RAISE MONEY FOR STAFF, AND I HAD TO WORK WITH PHILANTHROPISTS, AND I HAD TO DO BAKE SALES AND EVERYTHING ELSE UNDER THE SUN TO SUPPLEMENT BECAUSE FOR US, NOT PROVIDING FOR THE KIDS SIMPLY WASN'T AN OPTION.

>> EVA BASS, WHO RUNS TWO NONPROFIT THAT RUN COMMUNITY PROGRAMS RANGING FROM AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION TO HOSTING COMMUNITY MEETINGS ON VARYING ISSUES, BRIDGE THE GAP AND A VILLAGE, INC., SHARES SIMILAR FRUSTRATION.

BASS WAS APPROVE AND RECEIVED FEDERAL GRANT TOTALING $633,000 FOR THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, A VILLAGE INC., AT THE BEGINNING OF 2025.

THIS MEANT SHE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PAY HER STAFF FULL TIME, SOME OF WHOM WERE CONSEQUENTIALLY ABLE TO COME OFF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BECAUSE OF THEIR RAISES.

A FEW MONTHS LATER, SHE RECEIVED A NOTICE SAYING THEY WERE NOT COMPLIANT WITH THE GRANT STIPULATIONS.

BASS SAYS THIS GRANT WOULD HAVE HELPED SUSTAIN THE ORGANIZATION FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT THREE YEARS, AND SHE IS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE.

WE HELD ON FOR DEAR LIFE NOT TO HAVE TO DECREASE OUR STAFF, BUT WE HAD TO DECREASE OUR STAFF BACK TO PART TIME.

IMAGINE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

IT REALLY AFFECTS THE COMMUNITY.

IT AFFECTS THE WORK.

AND I REALLY BELIEVE IT'S A SYSTEMIC ATTACK AGAINST OUR COMMUNITY.

>> OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS ALSO FEEL THESE FISCAL CHANGES, IN ADDITION TO A RECENT EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RELATED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION POLICIES ARE A DIRECT ATTACK ON COMMUNITIES.

COFOUNDERS PAUL AND MARY LIZ STEWART OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD EDUCATION CENTER, A LOCAL HISTORY MUSEUM IN ALBANY, WHO LOST ABOUT $4 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING SAY THIS MONEY WOULD'VE EXPANDED PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND BLACK HISTORY.

THE THREE-STORY BRICK BUILDING AND FORMER HOME OF BLACK ABOLITIONISTS STEPHEN AND HARRIET MYERS, LOCATED IN ALBANY, WAS BUILT IN THE MID-1800S AND SERVED AS A STOP FOR THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

TODAY, THE MUSEUM OFFERS TOURS AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

PAUL AND MARY LIZ STRESS THE CENTER PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN COMMUNITY EDUCATION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND LOCAL ABOLITIONS LIKE STEPHEN AND HARRIET MYERS.

>> WE DON'T WANT THEM TO BECOME THE ICONS THAT HARRIET TUBMAN AND FREDERICK DOUGLAS HAVE BECOME, BUT RATHER WE WANT FOLKS TO SEE STEVEN AND HARRIET MYERS AND THEIR COLLEAGUES AS JUST REGULAR FOLKS WHO WORKED FOR JUSTICE, WHO STAYED THE COURSE, AND SO DOING REMIND US THAT JUST AS THEY WORKED FOR JUSTICE IN THEIR DAY, WE CAN DO THE SAME TODAY, AND SO THE HOPE IS THAT PEOPLE ARE INSPIRED WHEN THEY LEAVE HERE TO SEE THAT THEY HAVE A ROLE IN TRANSFORMING HISTORY AS WELL.

>> MANY LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WALK AWAY WITH A MEANINGFUL IMPACT, THE WALLS OF THE MUSEUM COVERED WITH NOTES LEFT BY VISITORS EXPRESSING THEIR INSPIRATION AND APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THEY LEARNED.

PAUL AND MARY LIZ WANT TO EXPAND THIS IMPACT BY BUILDING AN INTERPRETIVE CENTER NEXT TO THE MYERS HOUSE.

THE TOTAL PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO COST ABOUT $12 MILLION TO $14 MILLION.

PAUL AND MARY LIZ WERE APPROVED IN 2024 FOR TWO FEDERAL GRANTS, ONE TOTALING ABOUT $3.8 MILLION THROUGH THE U.S.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND THE OTHER TOTALING $T2 0,000 THROUGH THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES.

IN MAY OF LAST YEAR, THEY GOT A NOTIFICATION THAT SAID THE FUNDING WOULD BE WITHDRAWN.

THE DEH NOTIFICATION SPECIFICALLY DETAILED THAT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAL THAT DECISION.

AND AS A RESULT, PAUL AND MARY LIZ CONSEQUENTIALLY DECIDED TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE NEH.

>> IT'S PRETTY CLEAR TO US THAT THEY VIOLATED THEIR OWN RULES IN TERMS OF HOW THEY WITHDREW THE GRANT, SO WE'RE SUING THEM.

>> IN A STATEMENT SENT TO WMHT, A SPOKESPERSON FROM THE EPA SAID THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION FORCED A RADICAL AGENDA OF, QUOTE, WASTEFUL DEI PROGRAMS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PRIORITIES ON THE EPA'S CORE MISSION AND THOSE DAYS ARE OVER.

WMHT REACHED OUT TO DEH FOR COMMENT, BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND DESPITE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS.

WHILE THE LAWSUIT GOES THROUGH THE COURTS, THE NEARLY $4 MILLION FUNDING DEFICIT FOR PAUL AND MARY LIZ MEAN THEIR INTERPRETIVE CENTER PROJECTS IS STALLED.

IT ALSO MEANS THEY COULD LOSE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES AS WELL, PUTTING THEM EVEN FURTHER BEHIND.

>> TAKING THE MONEY OFF THE TABLE MEANT THAT WE WERE LESS CLOSE TO OUR GOAL OF 12 TO 14 AND SOME OF OTHER FUNDING SOURCES FELT THAT, WELL, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE NOT THAT CLOSE TO YOUR GOAL, WE'RE GONNA HOLD OFF.

SO THAT MEANT IN ESSENCE THAT THERE WAS POTENTIALLY ANOTHER $4 MILLION THAT WAS TAKEN OFF THE TABLE BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF THE $4 MILLION.

SO IT'S REALLY AN $8 MILLION IMPACT.

>> FINANCIAL PAINS AND CONCERNS COULD CONTINUE FOR SMALL MINORITY BUSINESS OWNERS.

RUSSELL WEAVER, DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH OF CORNELL'S BUFFALO COLAB, SAYS THEY ARE EXPECTING TO SEE FUNDING CONTINUE TO DECREASE DISPROPORTIONALLY FOR MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES.

WEAVER SAYS IN ADDITION TO FUNDING CHANGES FROM FISCAL YEAR 2024 TO 2025, TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDER RELATED TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ADDITIONAL OBSTACLES.

>> EFFECTIVELY PUT MORE STRINGS ATTACHED TO FUNDING, THAT COULDN'T BE GOING TO CONTRACTORS ON THE BASIS OF PROVIDING PRIORITY ON DISCRIMINATING BY SEX OR, IN SOME CASES, RACE AS WELL.

IT WAS ALSO THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT DENIED FEDERAL FUNDS TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT MIGHT BE USING DEI HIRING INITIATIVES OR SOMETHING OF THAT SORT.

>> WEAVER ADDS THIS COULD MEAN MORE DISPROPORTION NAL AFFECTS ON SMALL BUSINESSES.

>> WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THAT HAPPEN IN LARGE NUMBERS, AND SO THE WARNING SIGNS GOING OFF IS THAT THOSE NUMBERS MAY BE GOING EVEN LOWER IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

>> SOME OTHER BUSINESS EXPERTS STRESS THIS IMPACT WILL GO BEYOND THE SMALL BUSINESSES.

PAQUITA DAVIS-FRIDAY, DEAN OF THE MASSARY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT UALBANY SAYS THESE FUNDING CUTS WILL ULTIMATELY HURT COMMUNITIES.

>> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE CUT FUNDING FOR THESE TYPES OF BUSINESSES IS THAT WE'RE LOSING OUT ON OPPORTUNITIES, SERVICES, AND GOODS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, IN PARTICULAR, UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES SO WHILE THE BUSINESSES, THEMSELVES, ARE SUFFERING ALSO THE POPULATIONS THEY SERVE WILL SUFFER AND ULTIMATELY, OUR COMMUNITIES WILL SUFFER.

>> ON THE STATE LEVEL, SOME LAWMAKERS AND LEADERS ARE SEEKING TO TAKE STEPS TO IMPROVE FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES.

SOME STATE LAWMAKERS, ALONG WITH THE STATE COMPTROLLER, HAVE INTRODUCED TWO BILLS RELATED TO COMMUNITY BANKING.

ONE BILL WOULD INCREASE THE ALLOWABLE AMOUNT OF STATE DEPOSITS INTO THE COMMUNITY BANKING DEPOSIT PROGRAM FROM $20 MILLION TO $30 MILLION.

ANOTHER BILL WOULD HELP COMMUNITY BANKS AND MINORITY DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS BY REQUIRING CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO PROTECT STATE DEPOSITS.

STATE COMPTROLLER TOM DINAPOLI SAYS THE RECENT FEDERAL ACTIONS UNDERSCORE THE NEED FOR THESE PROPOSALS.

>> IT REALLY UNDERSCORES THE NEED TO RELEASE MORE CAP TAL FOR THE MINORITY BANKS SO THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, WHICH IS SERVE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

SO THESE TWO PROPOSALS WILL ENABLE US TO HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH THE FUNDING THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AVAILABLE, BUT TO GET THAT OUT THESE MINORITY BANKING INSTITUTIONS SO THAT THEY CAN ENSURE THAT THERE WILL BE ACCESS TO FINANCING FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

>> STATE SENATOR JAMES SANDERS, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF QUEENS AND A LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL, AGREES, SAYING ACTIONS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL COULD SEND THE COUNTRY INTO A RECESSION, WHICH MEANS THE STATE HAS TO BUILD PROTECTIONS.

>> WE NEED TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY BY ENSURING THAT MONEY IS MADE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO DESERVE IT.

>> ASSEMBLY MEMBER KHALEEL ANDERSON, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF QUEENS AND A SPONSOR OF THE BILL RELATED TO STATE DEPOSITS PROTECTION, ADDS HIS BILL ALSO HELPS RIGHT A WRONG DONE BY THE STATE.

>> THIS STATE DOES NOT INVEST A SINGLE DOLLAR INTO BLACK-OWNED BANKS AND MINORITY DEPOSIT INSTITUTIONS, AND THAT'S A CRIME IN MY SENSE, IN MY WAY OF SEEING THINGS BECAUSE THERE ARE BLACK AND BROWN MINORITY OWNED INSTITUTIONS THAT KNOW HOW TO LEND TO SMALL BUSINESSES, THAT KNOW HOW TO LEND TO COMMUNITY GROUP START-UPS AND HAVE ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS AND SUCH BUT IF THEY CAN'T BORROW AND COMPETE LIKE THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS OR OTHER MAINSTREAM COUNTERPARTS, THEN THAT PUTS THEM AT A DISADVANTAGE.

>> ANDERSON SAYS SIMPLY THIS BILL WILL MEAN MORE MONEY FOR MINORITY OWNED AND COMMUNITY BANKS, WHICH MEANS MORE MONEY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

SOME LOCAL ALBANY BUSINESSES SAY MORE STATE SUPPORT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.

LOCAL FLOWER SHOP OWNER MARIE CAMPBELL, WHO IS CURRENTLY TRYING TO EXPAND HER BUSINESS AND OPEN A BIGGER SHOP, SAYS SHE IS WORRIED ABOUT GETTING FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND STATE AID WOULD MEAN A LOT.

>> THERE IS NOT MANY GRANTS OUT THERE AT THIS TIME, AND WE ARE OBVIOUSLY RUNNING OUT OF SPACE HERE.

I'VE TRIED TO JUST MAINTAIN THE SMALL SPACE AND DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH IT.

BUT WHAT WE'RE FINDING, WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF CONTRACT WORK THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF SPACE, SPREADING OUT THINGS.

WE'RE RENTING COOLER TRUCKS, WHICH ARE REALLY CUTTING INTO THE PROFIT.

LAST NIGHT WE DID THE CHAMBERS DINNER WHICH WAS OVER 1,300 PEOPLE.

IT WOULD HELP.

>> BOTH BILLS HAVE PASSED THE SENATE NEARLY UNANIMOUSLY AND ARE CURRENTLY IN ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES.

LAWMAKERS WHO SUPPORT THE BILL SAY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE TO TAKE STEPS TO ADDRESS INEQUITIES.

>> BUSINESSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHETHER IT'S DOWNSTATE OR UPSTATE NEW YORK, PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT ACCESS TO CAPITAL BEING THE THING, AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING, PARTICULARLY FOR MWBES, IS A LACK OF ACCESS TO CAPITAL.

>> AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING, BANKING OVER THE LAST 80 YEARS IN THAT COMMUNITY, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN INEQUITY, REDLINES IS VERY WELL DOCUMENTED.

>> SOME OTHER LAWMAKERS SAY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE TO TAKE ACTION AT A TIME WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CAUSING ADDITIONAL STRAINS.

>> ANY INITIATIVE THAT WE TAKE IN NEW YORK STATE TO BUILD A FIREWALL BETWEEN US AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOOD.

>> BOTH BILLS ALSO SEEM TO BE BIPARTISAN BILLS WITH NEAR UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM LAWMAKERS ACROSS THE AISLE.

>> WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT CAN OUR STATE DO TO HELP THESE SMALL BUSINESSES MOVE ALONG, HELP THEM KEEP THEIR DOOR OPEN AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE WE TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM FINANCIAL LITERACY TO PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO SAVE MONEY, YOU KNOW, BUILD SOMETHING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY TO PASS DOWN.

IT STARTS WITH GOOD FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S WHAT THESE BILLS WILL DO.

>> WHILE THE BILLS HAVE NOT YET PASSED THE ASSEMBLY, SOME OF THE ASSEMBLY SPONSORS SAY THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE BEFORE THE END OF THE SESSION.

>> I'VE NAMED THIS AS A PRIORITY BILL THROUGH OUR INTERNAL PROCESS WITH THE ASSEMBLY.

I HAVE A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHAIR.

HAVING SERVED AS THE CHAIR OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE, I'VE WORKED TOGETHER WITH THE ASSEMBLY CHAIR FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT APPEARS ON AN AGENDA AND IT GETS A FAIR DEBATE.

>> ASSEMBLY MEMBER ANDERSON ADDS LAWMAKERS HAVE PUT FORTH PLANS TO TRY AND TACKLE THIS ISSUE IN THE BUDGET, BUT IT'S NOT THEIR ONLY STRATEGY.

>> IF WE DON'T WANT THAT FIGHT, WE WANT TO PASS IT LEGISLATIVELY AND CONTINUE IN THAT SENSE.

WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP ANY CHIPS.

WE WANT TO PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE.

>> LAWMAKERS HAVE ABOUT TWO MORE MONTHS TO PASS THEIR PRIORITY BILLS ON THIS ISSUE AND EVEN LESS TIME TO PASS BUDGETARY MEASURES, AS THE APRIL 1 DEADLINE HAS ALREADY PASSED FOR THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS.

WHETHER LAWMAKERS TACK THESE BILLS INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET, THERE DEFINITELY SEEMS TO BE A DETERMINATION TO GET IT DONE THIS YEAR.

WE'LL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS PROCESS AS IT UNFOLDS.

ELISE KLINE, "NEW YORK NOW."

WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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