[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

ALL EYES WERE ON NEW YORK CITY THIS WEEK FOR THE COMPETITIVE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY RACE FOR MAYOR.

IN A POLITICAL UPSET, ASSEMBLY MEMBER ZOHRAN MAMDANI SECURED A VICTORY IN THAT RACE OVER FORMER GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO.

ZOHRAN MAMDANI WHO REPRESENTS QUEENS IN THE LEGISLATURE IS A DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST WHO RAN A GRASS ROOTS CAMPAIGN.

MEANWHILE, FORMER GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO RAN A MORE CENTRIST CAMPAIGN AND WAS LOOKING TO MAKE A POLITICAL COMEBACK.

AS YOU MAY RECALL, CUOMO LED THE STATE FOR 10 YEARS BEFORE RESIGNING IN 2021 AMID SEVERAL SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS.

MANY POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAW THIS RACE AS A BELLWEATHER ON THE FUTURE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NATIONALLY.

MAMDANI WILL NOW FACE OFF AGAINST NEW YORK CITY MAYOR, ERIC ADAMS, WHO IS RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDENT AS WELL AS REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE CURTIS SLIWA IN NOVEMBER.

FOR MORE ON THE RESULTS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY RACE AND LOOKS AHEAD, WE ARE JOINED BY OUR ELISE KLINE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US BACK IN THE STUDIO, ELISE.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> OF COURSE.

THIS WEEK, YOU SAW ASSEMBLY MEMBER ZOHRAN MAMDANI SECURE THE VICTORY OVER FORMER GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY RACE FOR NEW YORK CITY MAYOR.

HOW MUCH OF A POLITICAL UPSET WAS THIS ONE?

>> WELL, IT DEFINITELY WAS REALLY SIGNIFICANT IN THAT MAMDANI WASN'T REALLY-- NO ONE REALLY KNEW THAT MUCH ABOUT HIM AND CUOMO HAS A LONG POLITICAL HISTORY SERVING AS A FORMER GOVERNOR.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS IN THE POLLS FOR A WHILE PROJECTED TO WIN.

SO HE REALLY WAS KIND OF LIKE THE UNDERDOG IN THIS RACE.

>> YEAH.

AND WE KNOW THAT MAMDAN CAMPAIGN WAS PRETTY GRASS ROOTS.

IT WAS ROOTED IN PRETTY AGGRESSIVE IDEALS BUT WHAT WAS IT ULTIMATELY THAT DROVE VOTERS TO THE POLLS?

>> I THINK HIS REALLY DOWN-TO-EARTH, LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, GRASS ROOTS CAMPAIGN REALLY DID WELL-- HE DID VERY WELL AMONG YOUNG VOTERS, AMONG WORKING CLASS VOTERS.

HE DID REALLY WELL IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, AMONG JEWISH VOTERS, A LARGE AMOUNT OF NEW VOTERS AS WELL BUT HIS CAMPAIGN WAS REALLY KIND OF SIMPLE, GRASS ROOTS, YOU KNOW, KNOCKING ON DOORS, CANVASSING, REALLY COLORFUL MARKETING, GOING TO SOCIAL MEDIA, TALKING TO VOTERS.

HE HAD WALKED BEFORE THE PRIMARY LIKE 13 MILES ACROSS THE CITY TO DO JUST THAT, CANVASSING AND TALKING TO VOTERS AND I THINK THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH VOTERS ESPECIALLY BECAUSE HE'S A REALLY GOOD PUBLIC SPEAKER AND HE REALLY SEEMS TO CONNECT WITH VOTERS IN A GENUINE WAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND AS YOU MENTIONED, I THINK THE CAMPAIGN THAT THEY SECURED OVER 50,000 VOLUNTEERS AND THEY KNOCKED ON OVER, YOU KNOW, ONE MILLION DOORS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE CAMPAIGN.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THE POLLS LEADING UP TO ELECTION DAY SHOWED THE FORMER GOVERNOR SECURING THE WIN AND THEN ULTIMATELY AS WE APPROACH ELECTION DAY, WE SAW THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER GAINING GROUND ON THE FORMER GOVERNOR.

YOU KNOW, WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE-- CUOMO'S CAMPAIGN DIDN'T TAKE THE POLLS SERIOUSLY?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO SAY.

I THINK THAT ONE OF THE REALLY WEAKNESSES IN HIS CAMPAIGN WAS ALSO THAT HE JUST DIDN'T GET OUT IN FRONT OF VOTERS THE WAY THAT MAMDANI DID.

HE DIDN'T DO THE LEVEL OF CANVASSING, SPEAKING TO VOTERS, EVEN JUST PRESS CONFERENCES.

HE DIDN'T HAVE THAT MANY APPEARANCES BEFORE THE ELECTION.

I THINK MAYBE THEIR MISTAKE WAS RELYING TOO HEAVILY ON JUST HIS NAME AND MAYBE HIS HISTORY AS A GOVERNOR TO CARRY HIM THROUGH THIS RACE.

AND THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED.

>> YEAH.

DO YOU THINK HIS CAMPAIGN REALLY HONED IN ON THEIR MESSAGING ON WHAT THE FORMER GOVERNOR WAS HOPING TO DO AS MAYOR?

>> I THINK THAT HIS MESSAGING WAS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY STANDARD, I GUESS.

I THINK IT WAS-- HE HAD SOME GOOD POINTS, BUT I THINK MAMDANI-- AND A LOT OF POLITICAL COMMENTATORS HAVE SAID-- HIS CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE AN EXAMPLE TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN TERMS OF MAYBE A BLUEPRINT OF WHERE THEY COULD GO.

IT'S GAINED A LOT OF ATTENTION IN THAT SENSE, AND THAT HE REALLY FOCUSED ON AFFORDABILITY, FREEZING THE RENT, NO COST CHILD CARE, FREE BUSES, CITY-OWNED GROCERY STORES, THOSE THINGS REALLY RESONATED WITH LIKE THE TOP ISSUES THAT ARE OF MIND FOR NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS, AND I THINK THAT DID REALLY WELL FOR HIM.

I DON'T THINK CUOMO DID THE LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY THAT MAMDANI DID.

>> AND WHAT'S NEXT FOR CUOMO?

DID THE FORMER GOVERNOR PROVIDE US WITH ANY PERSPECTIVE ON WHETHER OR NOT HE WILL BE RUNNING IN THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER?

>> HE'S KIND OF ALLUDED TO THAT HE HAS LIKE AN INDEPENDENT LINE ON THE BALLOT FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION.

HE IS STILL KIND OF WEIGHING WHETHER OR NOT HE'S GOING TO KEEP THAT OR TAKE IT OFF.

HE HASN'T CONCRETELY SAID IF HE'S GOING TO KEEP THAT OR NOT, BUT HE DOESN'T SEEM, FROM MY PURVIEW, I GUESS, HE DOESN'T SEEM LIKE HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW, HE SEEMED KIND OF DEFEATED IN HIS CONCESSION SPEECH IN MY OPINION.

>> AND OF COURSE, WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE INCUMBENT MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY, ERIC ADAMS.

WHAT DOES THIS WIN MEAN FOR ERIC ADAMS HEADING INTO NOVEMBER?

>> I THINK ERIC ADAMS IS GOING TO HAVE A STRONG CHALLENGER.

HE'S THE INCUMBENT, SURE, BUT HE'S RUNNING ON THE INDEPENDENT LINE AND HE'S CONTINUED TO EMPHASIZE THAT HE'S HAD A SUCCESSFUL THREE YEARS BUT HE HAS A LOW APPROVAL RATING OF LIKE 22% IS ONE OF THE MOST RECENT POLLS.

A LOT OF NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL MAYBE THE WAY THAT HE DOES IN TERMS OF HIS SUCCESS OF HIS TERM.

>> YEAH.

AND I SAW THAT HE HAD A CAMPAIGN RE-ELECTION ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE MESSAGING THAT HE WAS HOPING TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE TO VOTERS IN THAT EVENT?

>> SO HE REALLY STRESSED A LOT OF THINGS THAT HE'S TRIED TO DO THROUGH HIS TERM, LIKE GETTING GUNS OFF THE STREETS, INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TRYING TO BRING DOWN PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT HE DIDN'T TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO IN A SECOND TERM.

AND I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE A WEAK POINT FOR HIM.

THAT HE DIDN'T REALLY LAY THAT OUT.

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

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR AWESOME REPORTING, ELISE.

>> OF COURSE, [ THEME MUSIC ] >> AMID DONALD TRUMP'S TRAVEL BAN AND THE INCREASED PRESENCE OF ICE IN DEMOCRATIC STATES, IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR THE PASSAGE OF NEW YORK FOR ALL.

IF ENACTED, THIS LEGISLATION WOULD STOP LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FROM COLLUDING WITH ICE.

WE SAT DOWN WITH MURAD AWAWDEH, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NEW YORK IMMIGRATION COALITION, TO UNPACK THIS BILL AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO GET IT PASSED.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY, MURAD.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> OF COURSE.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING A TRAVEL BAN ON AT LEAST 36 COUNTRIES FROM ENTERING THE UNITED STATES.

WHAT IS THE COALITION'S POSITION ON THIS MOVE BY THE PRESIDENT?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S INCREDIBLY UNFORTUNATE THAT WE SAW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUT TOGETHER AND ANNOUNCE THE MUSLIM AFRICAN TRAVEL BAN THAT WE SAW HAPPEN IN HIS FIRST TERM HAPPEN AGAIN.

IN TOTAL, HE'S TARGETING ABOUT 20 COUNTRIES WITH ABOUT 12 OF THEM WITH COMPLETE BAN ON ENTERING THE UNITED STATES.

AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT THAT HAVE SEVERE RESTRICTIONS TO COME INTO THE UNITED STATES.

WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO IT'S GOING TO HARM NEW YORKERS.

IT'S GOING TO HARM PEOPLE WHO WANT TO RECONNECT WITH THEIR FAMILIES, AND WE KNOW THAT THIS POLICY IS ROOTED IN BIGOTRY AND XENOPHOBIA AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO WAGE WAR AGAINST IMMIGRANTS IN THIS MOMENT.

AND DONALD TRUMP AND HIS ENABLERS ARE ATTACKING THE VERY CONCEPT OF WHAT AMERICA IS ITSELF.

THIS IS THE REALLY HARMFUL MOMENT THAT WE ARE WITNESSING WHERE INDIVIDUALS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THEIR LOVED ONES.

PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO MISS SPECIAL OCCASIONS, WEDDINGS, AND THEN INDIVIDUALS WON'T BE ABLE TO COME AND SEE THEIR DYING LOVED ONES OR WISH THEM FAREWELL AT THEIR FUNERALS.

>> AND WE KNEW IN RECENT WEEKS, THE PRESIDENT HAS ALSO MOVED TO DIRECT FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO PRIORITIZE DEPORTATIONS IN NEW YORK AND OTHER DEMOCRATIC STATES.

WAS THIS AT ALL SURPRISING TO THE COALITION?

>> YOU KNOW, SINCE DAY ONE OF THIS ADMINISTRATION, WE'VE SEEN THE ADMINISTRATION CONTINUE TO ATTACK IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

EVEN HERE IMMEDIATELY AFTER INAUGURATION, WE SAW THEM START DOING RAIDS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK ON TARGETING DAIRY FARMS AND HATCHERIES.

SO WHEN WE SEE THIS ESCALATION OF ENFORCEMENT EVERY SINGLE DAY HERE ACROSS NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK STATE, IT'S NOT-- UNFORTUNATELY IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

SO IT'S NOT BEING UNIQUE JUST TO NEW YORK, BUT IT IS HAPPENING IN MORE INCREASED NUMBERS HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SO THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT BACK.

THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR ACCESS TO REPRESENTATION TO ENSURE WHEN PEOPLE GO TO IMMIGRATION COURT, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY TO PRESENT AND IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD ONE, ONE WILL BE AFFORDED TO THEM.

THEY DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW IN IMMIGRATION COURT.

ADDITIONALLY, WE WANT OUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND STATE AGENCIES TO NOT COLLUDE WITH IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

BECAUSE WE SEE THEM DOING THAT RIGHT NOW AND WE DON'T WANT THEM TO, YOU KNOW, SIDE STEP THEIR OWN RESPONSIBILITIES.

IT IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LOCAL POLICE OR STATE POLICE TO BE DOING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

THAT IS NOT THEIR JOB AND THAT'S NOT HOW WE SHOULD BE USING OUR STATE RESOURCES IN THIS MOMENT.

>> AND GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL DID TESTIFY IN FRONT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ABOUT THE STATE'S IMMIGRATION AND SANCTUARY POLICIES.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THE TESTIMONY GIVEN BY THE GOVERNOR JUST A FEW WEEK AGO?

>> YOU KNOW, WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE THE GOVERNOR STAND UP FOR IMMIGRANT NEW YORK.

WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE HER REALLY ENSURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD WHO WE ARE AS A STATE.

EVERY WAVE OF IMMIGRATION THAT HAS COME TO THIS COUNTRY AND TO THIS STATE HAS BUILT OUR ROADS, OUR BRIDGES, OUR LOCAL ECONOMIES AND CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE AND POWER OUR ECONOMIES FORWARD.

SO IT WAS REALLY HEARTENING TO SEE GOVERNOR HOCHUL, YOU KNOW, STEP UP IN CONGRESS AND REALLY MAKE SURE PEOPLE WEREN'T TRYING-- YOU KNOW, GET CHEAP SHOTS AT OUR STATE OR OUR POLICIES BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR SANCTUARY POLICIES ARE ACTUALLY PUBLIC SAFETY POLICIES, AND THEY SAY THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL FREE TO CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT IF THEY FEEL THREATENED OR IF THEY'RE A VICTIM OF A CRIME OR WITNESS A CRIME, IF THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY SHOULD IF THEY'RE SICK, AND THE DOCTOR AND THE NURSE WON'T TURN THEM OVER TO IMMIGRATION, OF COURSE.

THAT'S ALL SANCTUARY POLICY IS.

IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE CIRCUMVENT FEDERAL LAW.

IT SAYS THAT WE ARE GOING TO ENSURE WE PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS OF OUR STATE, AND THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE MESSAGE THAT SHE HAD DELIVERED THERE.

>> AND THIS YEAR, WE ALSO SAW INCREASED SUPPORT FOR THE NEW YORK FOR ALL ACT AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

NOW THIS IS A BILL THAT WOULD AIM TO LIMIT COOPERATION BETWEEN STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES AND FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES.

THE BILL ULTIMATELY DID NOT MAKE IT OVER THE LEGISLATIVE FINISH LINE THIS YEAR, BUT HOW WERE YOU HOPING TO RAMP UP SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND IN PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> WELL, IT'S INCREDIBLY DISHEARTENING TO SEE THE BILL NOT GET A VOTE ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE OR THE ASSEMBLY.

WE KNOW WE HAVE THE SUPPORTMENT WE HAVE THE VOTES.

WE HAVE THE NUMBERS ON OUR SIDE AND WE HAVE NEW YORKERS ON OUR SIDE.

NEW YORKERS SUPPORT THE NEW YORK FOR ALL ACT.

IT IS NOT THE STATE'S BUSINESS TO DO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

IT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S.

SO WE SHOULD LET THEM DO THEIR JOB, BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE PART OF THAT.

SO IT WAS REALLY DISHEARTENING TO SEE THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY NOT TAKE UP THE BILL AND BRING IT TO THE FLOOR.

WE DO HEAR THAT THERE MIGHT BE A SPECIAL SESSION COMING UP AND WE WANT THEM TO TAKE UP IN THIS SPECIAL SESSION SO WE CAN PROTECT AS MANY NEW YORKERS AS POSSIBLE.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING WITH US TODAY, MURAD.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH MURAD AWAWDEH, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NEW YORK IMMIGRATION COALITION.

DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, STATE LAWMAKERS PASSED THE BILL NICKNAMED THE HEART ACT.

IF ENACTED, THE BILL WOULD REPEAL AN ALMOST 40-YEAR-OLD STATUTE THAT PROHIBITS THE PRACTICE OF MULTILISTING AT ORGAN DONATION TRANSPLANT CENTERS.

WHILE THE BILL PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS, IT NEEDS TO BE DELIVERED TO AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR BEFORE IT CAN OFFICIALLY BE ENACTED.

OUR ELISE KLINE DOVE INTO THE SUPPORT AROUND THE BILL AND THE PUSH FOR OTHER ORGAN DONATION PRIORITIES IN THE STATE.

HERE'S THAT STORY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> UNDER NEW YORK STATE LAW, THE PRACTICE OF MULTILISTING ON ORGAN DONATION TRANSPLANT CENTERS IS BANNED.

DURING THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION, STATE LAWMAKERS VOTED AND PASSED A BRAND NEW BILL NICKNAMED THE HEART ACT THAT WOULD REPEAL THIS NEARLY 40-YEAR-OLD STATUTE.

THE REPEAL WOULD ALLOW NEW YORKERS ON MEDICAID, WHO ARE IN NEED OF AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT, TO REGISTER AT MULTIPLE CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE.

ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER CRYSTAL PEOPLES-STOKES, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF ERIE COUNTY AND THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL, SAYS THIS BILL WILL MAKE AN ESSENTIAL CHANGE TO THE LAW.

>> WHY IT WAS SET UP YEARS AGO AND I HAVE NO IDEA THEY CAME ONE THAT IDEA.

I KNOW IT DOESN'T FIT 2025, SO WE HAVE TO CHANGE.

>> THE MAJORITY LEADER NOTED THAT THE 1990 STATUTE IS LIMITING NEW YORKERS TO SOMETIMES GO TO OTHER STATES IF THEY CAN AFFORD IT FOR ORGAN TRANSPLANTS.

PEOPLES-STOKES SAYS IF THE STATE IS GOING TO ENCOURAGE NEW YORKERS TO DONATE ORGANS, THEN THE STATE SHOULD MAKE THE PROCESS ACCESSIBLE.

>> YOU'RE LIMITING PEOPLE, AND WE SHOULD NOT WANT TO DO THAT.

>> STATE SENATOR APRIL BASKIN, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF BUFFALO AND A LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL IN THE SENATE, SAID IN A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT NEW YORK IS FAILING COMPARED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ON THIS ISSUE.

>> WE ARE THE STATE THAT GETS IN FRONT OF THINGS.

WE GET THINGS DONE, AND USUALLY THE OTHER STATES ARE FOLLOWING BEHIND US.

BUT ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, NEW YORK IS BEHIND.

THIS BAN THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE IN 1990 IS ARCHAIC.

>> PEOPLE-STOKES ADDS THE BILL, IF ENACTED, WOULD ELIMINATE THE DISPARITY BETWEEN MEDICAID PATIENTS AND PATIENTS WHO CAN AFFORD PRIVATE INSURANCE.

ACCORDING TO 2025 DATA FROM THE ORGAN PROCUREMENT TRANSPLANTATION NETWORK, MEDICAID PATIENTS REPRESENT 27% OF ORGAN TRANSPLANT WAIT LIST CANDIDATES BUT ONLY 15% OF RECIPIENTS.

THE 2025 DATA SHOWS IN COMPARISON THAT PATIENTS WITH PRIVATE INSURANCE CONSTITUTE 35% OF WAIT LIST CANDIDATES AND ACCOUNT FOR 37% OF PERFORMED TRANSPLANTS.

>> PEOPLE WHO ARE ON MEDICAID DON'T HAVE THE OPTION OF, SAY, GO APPLY IN BUFFALO AND APPLY AT A HOSPITAL IN NEW YORK CITY OR APPLY THE AT THE HOSPITAL IN ROCHESTER.

THEY CAN'T MULTIPLY APPLY.

YOU CAN ONLY APPLY AT ONE PLACE, AND THAT IS ULTIMATELY, IN MY MIND, A DISPARITY.

>> LIISE KAYLER, THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPLANTATION AT ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER, SAYS PATIENTS' ABILITY TO GET ON MORE THAN ONE TRANSPLANT WAITING LIST CAN IMPROVE THEIR CHANCES OF GETTING ONE.

>> PEOPLE THAT MULTILIST, IS WHAT THE NAME IS FOR IT, IF THEY MULTILIST, GETTING ON MORE THAN ONE TRANSPLANT CENTER, EITHER IN THE STATE OR OUT OF STATE, ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO GET A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, TWICE AS LIKELY TO GET A LIVER TRANSPLANT AND WILL GET THAT TRANSPLANT FASTER, SOMETIMES DOUBLE AS FAST.

>> KAYLER ADDS THE TRANSPLANT CENTERS HAVE VARYING WAIT TIMES AND OFTEN PATIENTS NEEDING TRANSPLANTATION DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO WAIT.

>> THERE'S A LARGE AMOUNT OF PATIENTS THAT DIE OR BECOME TOO SICK WHILE WAITING AND NEVER GET A TRANSPLANT.

THAT'S A VERY UNFORTUNATE PART OF TRANSPLANTATION AND BY BEING ABLE TO GET ON MORE THAN ONE LIST, THAT MITIGATES THAT PROBLEM.

>> ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD PAYTON ARCHIE FROM THE CAPITOL REGION HAS HAD TWO HEART TRANSPLANTS IN HER LIFE.

WHEN SHE WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD AND IN NEED OF HER SECOND HEART TRANSPLANT, SHE SUFFERED SEVERAL HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES WHILE WAITING FOR A TRANSPLANT.

HER GRANDMOTHER, OR GLAM-MA DELISA ARCHIE, SAID IT WAS SCARY TO NEARLY LOSE HER GRANDCHILD.

>> FEBRUARY 13, SHE HAD HER FIRST HEART ATTACK.

IT WAS EIGHT MINUTES LONG AND I JUST REMEMBER ALMOST FEELING LIKE A CLICHE IN A MOVIE.

LIKE I WAS SCREAMING EVERYTHING TO HER, LIKE DON'T LEAVE ME, COME BACK, DON'T GO TO THE LIGHT.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SCREAM BUT I WAS OUTSIDE HER DOOR JUST SCREAMING COME BACK TO ME, PAYTON.

DON'T LEAVE US.

>> DELISA STRESSES THAT ENACTING THE HEART ACT WOULD GIVE MANY PEOPLE IN NEED OF AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT A BETTER CHANCE AT GETTING THE LIFESAVING CARE SHE'S THANKFUL PAYTON WAS ABLE TO GET.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE TIME IS NOT ON THEIR SIDE.

WHILE PAYTON WAS WAITING, SHE HAD TWO HEART ATTACKS.

ONE WAS 90 MINUTES LONG, AND THE FACT THAT SHE'S WALKING, TALKING IS AMAZING.

KUDOS TO THE NURSES.

AND THEN SHE HAD FOUR STROKES.

IT'S A WAITING GAME.

>> PAYTON SAYS IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE.

>> IT WAS SCARY AT THAT TIME.

I DIDN'T KNOW I NEEDED A TRANSPLANT, A HEART TRANSPLANT.

>> PAYTON ADDS SHE'S HAPPY SHE GOT ANOTHER HEART TO HELP HER DO THE THINGS SHE LOVES, LIKE DANCING AND PLAYING WITH HER FRIENDS.

IT'S VERY COOL THAT I HAD ANOTHER HEART TRANSPLANT.

>> DELISA SAYS THE HEART TRANSPLANT SHE'S RECEIVED SAVED HER LIFE.

>> SHE DANCES.

SHE GOES TO SCHOOL.

SHE HAS FRIENDS, AND TWO FAMILIES MADE THAT POSSIBLE, AND IF THEY HAD SAID NO, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE EVER HAD PAYTON.

>> THE ARCHIE FAMILY ADVOCATED IN ALBANY EARLIER THIS YEAR ALONG WITH OTHER DONATE FOR LIFE ADVOCATES.

DELISA SAYS SHE HOPES THE HEART ACT IS SIGNED INTO LAW.

IN ADDITION TO ADVOCATES, FOR SOME LAWMAKERS, THIS ISSUE IS PERSONAL.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER PHILPHYL' PALMESANO, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF STEUBEN, CHEMUNG, AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, DONATED HIS KIDNEY TO HIS SISTER IN 2006.

>> SHE WAS A JUVENILE DIABETIC AND BECAUSE OF IT, IT IMPACTED HER WHOLE BODY AND SHE ULTIMATELY NEEDED A KIDNEY.

SO IN 2000, SHE HAD HER FIRST TRANSPLANT, ONCE FROM THE KINDNESS OF A STRANGER AND THEN IN 2006 AFTER THE KIDNEY FAILED, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO DONATE A KIDNEY TO MY SISTER, PROBABLY THE MOST REWARDING THING I'VE EVER DONE.

>> PALMESANO ADDS HIS SISTER WAS FORTUNATE TO GET TWO TRANSPLANTS, SOME PEOPLE NEVER GET ONE.

HE SAYS HE DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BAD THE DONATION RATE WAS IN NEW YORK UNTIL HE FIRST CAME TO THE ASSEMBLY IN 2011.

PALMESANO HIGHLIGHTS THE STATE HAS MADE SOME PROGRESS IN IMPROVING ORGAN DONATION REGISTRATION RATES FROM ABOUT 23% IN 2011 TO A LITTLE MORE THAN 50% TODAY.

>> WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO SO, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK STILL TO DO.

WE CAN AND WE MUST DO BETTER.

>> ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, NEARLY 8,000 NEW YORKERS REMAIN ON THE NATIONAL TRANSPLANT WAITLIST FOR ORGAN DONATION.

STATE DATA SHOWS THAT EACH YEAR ABOUT 500 NEW YORKERS DIE WAITING FOR A TRANSPLANT.

LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES ARE HOPING THROUGH THE HEART ACT TO SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THE MORTALITY RATE BY GIVING ALL NEW YORKERS A FIGHTING CHANCE TO GET A TRANSPLANT.

AISHA TATOR, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DONATE LIFE NEW YORK STATE, SAYS THIS LEGISLATION COULD HELP REDUCE WAITLIST MORTALITY RATES BY 20%.

>> IT IS GOING TO HAVE A TREMENDOUS EFFECT BASED ON THE DATA.

IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, WHICH NEW YORKERS DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE, TO LIST MORE THAN ONE CENTER, THOSE ARE THE OUTCOMES THAT WE KNOW EXIST FOR PATIENTS WHO LIST AT MORE.

>> THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN BOTH HOUSES THIS SESSION.

NOW IT HEADS TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK CURRENTLY AWAITING A SIGNATURE OR VETO FROM THE GOVERNOR.

A SPOKESPERSON FROM GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL'S OFFICE TOLD WMHT THE GOVERNOR WILL REVIEW THE LEGISLATION.

MANY LAWMAKERS ARE URGING THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN THE BILL.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOHN MCDONALD, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE CAPITAL REGION, SAYS THE BILL IS JUST COMMON SENSE.

>> I THINK THE PASSAGE OF THIS LEGISLATION IS JUST ANOTHER EFFECTIVE TOOL TO HELP CONNECT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WILLING TO DONATE ORGANS TO ALSO THOSE WHO NEED THEM.

I REMEMBER WHEN THE BILL WAS FIRST CIRCULATED BY MEMBER PEOPLES-STOKES, OUR SPONSOR, AND I'M LOOKING AT THE BILL AND SAYING, WE'RE NOT DOING THIS ALREADY?

IT'S SUCH COMMON SENSE TO OPEN IT UP AND GIVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY.

>> OTHER LAWMAKERS AGREE, SAYING THIS IS A NON-PARTISAN ISSUE.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER ROBERT ARE SMULLEN, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING FULTON COUNTY, LOST HIS 14-YEAR-OLD SON LAST YEAR AFTER HE WAS HIT BY A CAR.

HIS SON DONATED HIS ORGANS AND HELPED SAVE A 30-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO NEEDED A HEART TRANSPLANT.

HE SAYS THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO SIGN THIS BILL INTO LAW.

YOU KNOW MY SON, A.J., WAS A DONOR.

WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT HIS RECIPIENT, STEPHANIE-- I'VE MET HER.

AND THIS PROGRAM SAVES LIVES, SO I URGE THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN THIS SO WE CAN HAVE MULTIPLE REGISTRIES WHERE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN NEED OF ORGANS CAN ACTUALLY GET THE RIGHT ORGANS AT THE RIGHT TIME TO SAVE THEIR LIVES.

IT'S ONLY COMMON SENSE.

>> LAWMAKERS ARE ALSO HOPING THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN A BILL THAT PASSED BOTH HOUSES TO PUT A QUESTION ON NEW YORKERS TAX FORMS ABOUT ORGAN DONATION.

>> MORE PEOPLE IN NEW YORK STATE DO THEIR TAXES THAN HAVE DRIVER'S LICENSES.

MORE PEOPLE IN NEW YORK STATE DO THEIR TAXES THAN SIGN UP FOR HUNTING LICENSES.

SO THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP TO GET THOSE DONATION RATES FROM 50% TO 60% OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, IN 2023 ALONE, ABOUT 10.8 MILLION PEOPLE FILED THEIR PERSONAL INCOME TAX RETURNS.

>> THE QUESTION BEING ASKED, IT JUST MAKES YOU PAUSE FOR THOUGHT.

>> PALMESANO SAYS THIS BILL, IF SIGNED, WILL HELP THE STATE MAKE MORE PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE.

>> NEW YORKERS ARE GOOD PEOPLE.

THEY'RE KIND AND GENEROUS, AND THEY WANT TO HELP EACH OTHER.

BUT WE HAVE TO GET THE QUESTION IN FRONT OF THEM.

THE MORE WE PUT THAT QUESTION, DO YOU WANT TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR IN FRONT OF THEM, THE MORE THEY'RE GOING TO SAY YES.

>> SOME LAWMAKERS SAY WHILE THE STATE HAS MADE GREAT PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE, THERE ARE SOME NEW YORKERS BEING LEFT BEHIND.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER JESSICA GONZALES-ROJAS, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF QUEENS, SAYS IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES FACE GREATER BARRIERS WHEN IT COMES TO LIFE-SAVING ORGAN DONATION CARE.

THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER SPONSORS A BILL THAT FAILED TO MOVE THIS SESSION, THAT WOULD EXPAND STATE MEDICAID COVERAGE OF KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS FOR UNDOCUMENTED NEW YORKERS.

GONZALEZ-ROJAS SAID THE TENSIONS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AROUND IMMIGRATION REFORM MADE SOME STATE POLICIES RELATED TO IMMIGRATION REFORM TRICKY.

>> THE CHALLENGE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS A REAL ONE.

AT THIS POINT, WE WERE REALLY PUSHING FOR NEW YORK FOR ALL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD PROTECT EVERY NEW YORKER REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS.

SO SOME OF THE OTHER BILLS THAT WOULD HELP PROVIDE ADDITIONAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR THEM HAVEN'T QUITE MOVED AND AGAIN, WE'RE UP AGAINST A VERY HOSTILE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION THAT'S XENOPHOBIC AND RACIST AND LITERALLY AMBUSHING PEOPLE IN THE STREET.

>> IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES FOR THE BILL SAY THERE ARE MANY BARRIERS INCLUDING DISCRIMINATION AND BIAS FOR UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE TO GET TRANSPLANT CARE.

KARINA ALBISTEGUI ALDER WITH THE NEW YORK LAWYERS FOR PUBLIC INTEREST SAYS THIS POLICY COULD HELP ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

>> IT'S AN INCREDIBLY LONG-STANDING AND DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

SO ANY MOVE TOWARDS ALLEVIATING THESE BARRIERS, DIMINISHING, GETTING RID OF THEM, I THINK IS A POSITIVE MOVE.

>> ALBISTEGUI ALDER SAYS UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS MAKE UP A LARGE PORTION OF ORGAN TRANSPLANTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

>> I THINK IT REALLY PRESENTS AN ETHICAL AND MORAL CANUNDRUM FOR THE TRANSPLANT SYSTEM OF THIS COUNTRY AS A WHOLE.

THERE'S A LOT OF ORGANS, A LOT OF DONATION RELIES ON DECEASED ORGAN DONORS.

>> ACCORDING TO ONE RECENT STUDY FROM THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, ROUGHLY 3% OF DECEASED ORGAN DONATION, ORGAN DONATION AFTER A PATIENT HAS DIED, IS CONTRIBUTED BY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

THE STUDY ALSO NOTED THAT ONLY ABOUT .4% OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS RECEIVE ORGAN TRANSPLANTS.

>> WE KNOW THAT UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE DO MAKE UP A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF DECEASED ORGAN DONORS AND SO IT WOULD ONLY BE FAIR FOR UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE, NON-CITIZENS, IMMIGRANTS, FRANKLY, TO BE ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO TRANSPLANTS WHEN THEY NEED IT.

>> ALBISTEGUI ALDER SAYS SHE HOPES LAWMAKERS CAN GET A POLICY LIKE THIS PASSED.

GONZALEZ-ROJAS SAYS SHE INTENDS TO PUSH FOR THIS BILL NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> HEALTH IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND IT SHOULDN'T MATTER ANYONE'S STATUS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACCESSING ORGAN DONATIONS.

EVERY LIFE MATTERS AND SOME OF THIS CAN BE LIFE-SAVING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CONTRIBUTING TO OUR STATE AND OUR ECONOMY AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

THIS IS ABOUT EQUITY AND DIGNITY AND JUSTICE FOR EVERY NEW YORKER.

>> ALTHOUGH THE BILLS HAVE PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS, IT'S UNCLEAR WHEN THEY WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK AT THIS TIME.

ONCE THE HEART ACT AND THE TAX FORM BILLS ARE DELIVERED TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK, SHE WILL HAVE ABOUT 30 DAYS DURING THIS OFF-SESSION TIME TO REVIEW AND ACT ON THEM, EITHER SIGNING THEM INTO LAW OR VETOING THEM.

ELISE KLINE, "NEW YORK NOW."

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >>ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR "NEW YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.

[ THEME MUSIC ]