[ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," THE REMAINS OF HURRICANE IDA ROCK DOWNSTATE NEW YORK AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL CALLS FOR ACTION.

>> I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> AND LAWMAKERS MAKE A SPECIAL TRIP TO ALBANY TO ACT ON EVICTIONS AND MORE.

KESHIA CLUKEY FROM BLOOMBERG AND RYAN TARANELLI FROM THE NEW YORK LAW JOURNAL JOIN US FOR THIS WEEK'S PANEL.

THEN TUESDAY WAS OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY.

WE WILL SPEAK WITH SENATE ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE USE CHAIR PETE HARKHAM ABOUT THE OPIOID CRISIS.

LATER, PRESUMPTIVE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR, LEE ZELDIN, IS CRISS-CROSSING THE STATE AGAIN.

DARRELL CAMP HAS MORE.

I'M DAN CLARK AND THIS IS NEW YORK NOW.

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

I'M DAN CLARK.

NEW YORK IS NO STRANGER TO EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER SEVEN YEARS AGO WHEN BUFFALO WAS COVERED WITH SEVEN FEET OF SNOW, AND WE JUST PASSED THE TEN-YEAR MARK OF IRENE AND LEE, WHICH RAVAGED LONG ISLAND AND PARTS OF UPSTATE AS WELL.

SO WHEN REMNANTS OF HURRICANE IDA WERE HEADED TOWARD NEW YORK THIS WEEK, IT FELT LIKE ANOTHER STORM THAT WE COULD HANDLE, BUT IT TURNS OUT, WE COULD NOT.

AFTER AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF RAINFALL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, FLOODING OVERWHELMED HOMES, CITY STREETS, AND THE SUBWAYS WHICH DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE.

AND THAT'S BROUGHT UP A LOT OF QUESTIONS LIKE, WHY WASN'T THE CITY PREPARED FOR THIS KIND OF FLOODING?

THE ANSWER IS, WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

THE CITY HAS TAKEN STEPS IN THE PAST TO ADDRESS SITUATIONS LIKE THESE, BUT YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE STILL SEE VIDEOS OF FLOODING IN THE SUBWAYS AND IN THE STREETS OF NEW YORK CITY, BUT GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SAID THIS WEEK, IT'S TIME FOR THAT TO STOP.

>> WHAT I WANT TO DO FIRST IS ASSESS WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

BUT MY NEXT QUESTION IS, WHERE ARE WE GOING NEXT?

HOW DO WE PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING?

HOW DO WE GET MONEY AND RESOURCES TO THE PLACE WHERE WE CAN BUILD UP THE RESILIENCY IN STREETS?

BEFORE WE WORRIED ABOUT THE COASTAL AREAS; NOW IT'S ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE STREETS.

>> HOCHUL SAID SHE WILL BE RELEASING REPORTS ON HOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY SAY.

MORE ABOUT THE STATE STORM RESPONSE IN A BIT.

FIRST, THE STATE LEGISLATURE MADE A SPECIAL TRIP BACK TO ALBANY THIS WEEK TO EXTEND A PAUSE ON EVICTIONS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.

LIKE ANYTHING IN ALBANY, IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS IT SOUNDS.

TAKE A LOOK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] UNTIL LATE TUESDAY, TENANTS AND LANDLORDS IN NEW YORK WERE IN LIMBO.

THE STATE'S EVICTION MORATORIUM WAS SET TO EXPIRE AT MIDNIGHT, LEAVING THOUSANDS OF TENANTS AT RISK OF EVICTION.

BUT ABOUT SIX HOURS BEFORE THAT DEADLINE, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SAID THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN.

>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO-- WHO THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, LOST INCOME, NOT ABLE TO PAY, AND FACING EVICTION.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN HERE IN THE GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK.

>> THE NEXT DAY, LAWMAKERS RETURNED TO ALBANY TO EXTEND THE PAUSE ON EVICTIONS.

THAT'S NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY 15TH OF NEXT YEAR.

IT DOESN'T COVER ALL TENANTS.

JUST THOSE WHO CAN SHOW THEY CAN'T AFFORD RENT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> MANY OF THEM LOST JOBS, LOST THE ABILITY TO MAKE THEIR BILLS, AND NOW THE DEBT HAS BEEN MOUNTING, AND THE FACT IS THAT WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE PANDEMIC YET AS MUCH AS WE HAD HOPED.

>> BUT THE TERMS WILL NOW BE DIFFERENT.

BEFORE TUESDAY, LANDLORDS WEREN'T ALLOWED TO QUESTION THEIR TENANT'S CLAIMS OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.

THEN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT SAID THAT PART OF THE LAW WAS ILLEGAL.

NOW LANDLORDS CAN CHALLENGE THEIR TENANTS IN COURT BEFORE THEY'RE PROTECTED FROM EVICTION.

SENATOR KEVIN THOMAS IS A DEMOCRAT FROM LONG ISLAND.

>> AND WE HAVE, IN THIS NEW VERSION, PUT IN, YOU KNOW, SOME PROVISIONS THAT BASICALLY SAY, HEY, NOW THE LANDLORD GETS TO HAVE A HEARING.

I THINK THAT GOES A LONG WAY AND THE LANDLORD HAS A SAY IN COURT NOW.

>> LANDLORDS WILL ALSO BE ALLOWED TO EVICT TENANTS OVER INTENTIONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE OR CAUSING A NUISANCE REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.

IN THE MEANTIME, MORE TENANTS CAN NOW APPLY TO THE STATE FOR RENT RELIEF.

TENANTS IN LOCALITIES THAT OPTED OUT OF THE STATE PROGRAM WILL NOW BE ELIGIBLE AS WELL.

THAT PAYS UP TO 12 MONTHS OF BACK RENT WITH A POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER THREE MONTHS.

THAT FUNDING GOES STRAIGHT TO A TENANT'S LANDLORD.

IF THEY'RE APPROVED, TENANTS ARE ALSO SAFE FROM EVICTION FOR UP TO A YEAR.

SENATE HOUSING CHAIR, BRIAN KAVANAUGH.

>> WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS NOT PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM COLLECTING RENT.

THE RENT IS BECOMING DUE, AND AGAIN, WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ADEQUATE TO PAY THAT RENT SO THAT LANDLORDS HAVE THEIR EXPENSES COVERED.

>> BUT LANDLORDS SAY THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

THE EVICTION MORATORIUM HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND LANDLORDS SAY THAT'S BEEN A HUGE HIT.

AND NOW THAT THERE'S RENT RELIEF, THEY SAY IT'S TIME FOR THE MORATORIUM TO END.

LISA DAMIANI LEADS A COALITION OF PROPERTY OWNER INS WESTERN NEW YORK.

>> EVERY STEP ALONG THE WAY, THE LANDLORDS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO JUST WAIT.

JUST WAIT UNTIL.

WAIT UNTIL, YOU KNOW, THE CARES ACT MONEY COMES THROUGH.

WAIT UNTIL WE GET THE PROGRAM OPEN.

NOW WE'RE WAITING UNTIL, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST-- THEY'RE THE ONLY GROUP THAT HAS BEEN WAITING PERENNIALLY AND NOTHING HAS COME THROUGH.

>> REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE TOOK THE SIDE OF LANDLORDS SAYING THE MORATORIUM SHOULD END.

INSTEAD OF EXTENDING THE SAFETY NET FOR TENANTS, THEY SAID THE STATE SHOULD SPEED UP PAYOUTS OF RENT RELIEF WHICH HAVE LED FOR MONTHS.

SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER ROB ORTT.

>> MY ARGUMENT IS IF WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE THE CRISIS, WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO DO IT.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM WITH OVER A BILLION DOLLARS THAT WE CAN GET OUT THE DOOR INTO PEOPLE'S HANDS.

STILL AND TODAY, WE'RE DOING NOTHING TO SOLVE THAT ACTUAL ISSUE.

AND THAT IS A REAL SHAME FOR BOTH TENANTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS.

>> THE EXTENSION WAS APPROVED LARGELY ALONG PARTY LINES WITH DEMOCRATS IN FAVOR AND REPUBLICANS OPPOSED.

LAWMAKERS ALSO PASSED CHANGES TO THE STATE'S OPEN MEETINGS LAW, ALLOWING VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETINGS TO CONTINUE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL UNTIL JANUARY.

AND THE SENATE CONFIRMED TWO NOMINEES FROM GOVERNOR HOCHUL TO LEAD THE STATE'S MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION ROLLOUT.

THOSE WERE FORMER ASSEMBLY MEMBER TREMAINE WRIGHT AND CHRIS ALEXANDER, AN ADVOCATE WHO WORKED IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY AND THOSE NOMINEES ARE A FEW MONTHS LATE WHICH MAY PUSH RETAIL CANNABIS SALES FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD IN NEW YORK.

MELISSA MOORE IS FROM THE DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE WHICH SUPPORTS LEGALIZATION.

>> BUT I THINK THEY'RE ALSO REALLY CLEAR ABOUT MOVING IN SUCH A WAY WHERE THEY WOULD BE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP AND IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LEGISLATURE WITH THE EXECUTIVE AND THAT EVERYBODY HAS THE GOAL OF BEING ABLE TO MOVE SWIFTLY AND BE ABLE TO GET THE PROGRAM ENACTED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT ALSO DOING SO IN A WAY THAT IS, AGAIN, GOING TO REALLY HOLD TRUE TO THE VALUES AND THE PRINCIPLES THAT WERE IN THE BILL TO BEGIN WITH.

>> RETAIL SALES ARE EXPECTED SOMETIME LATER NEXT YEAR UNLESS THE LEGISLATURE GIVES THE INDUSTRY A BOOST.

THAT'S NOT EXPECTED UNTIL JANUARY AT THE EARLIEST WHEN LAWMAKERS RETURN TO ALBANY FOR THE START OF NEXT YEAR'S SESSION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] SO IT WAS A LONG WEEK.

LET'S GET INTO IT WITH THIS WEEK'S PANEL.

KESHIA CLUKEY IS FROM BLOOMBERG LAW AND RYAN TARANELLI IS FROM THE NEW YORK LAW JOURNAL.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE STORM FIRST BECAUSE I FELL LIKE ON FRIDAY MORNING WHEN WE'RE TAPING, THAT'S STILL THE BIG STORY.

THERE'S A LOT TO RECOVER.

LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST.

SOME HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF THE HOCHUL ADMINISTRATION AND THE DI BLASIO ADMINISTRATION OF THEIR RESPONSE TO THIS STORM.

RYAN, WHAT DO WE KNOW THAT HAPPENED HERE IN TERMS OF THE FLOODING, THE DEATHS?

NEW YORK CITY HAS SEEN HIGH RAINFALL EVENTS BEFORE, BUT THIS SEEMED LIKE ONE THAT STOOD OUT.

>> YEAH.

IT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, FROM A LOT OF REPORTING IT TOOK EVERYBODY BY SURPRISE.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES, DOZENS OF DEATHS, MANY IN NEW YORK CITY WERE LOST IN BASEMENT UNITS AND I REALLY THINK YOU'RE GOING TO START TO SEE A LOT OF FOCUS ON HOW THE GOVERNMENT REGULATES THOSE.

IT CERTAINLY SPARKED MORE DEBATE AND DISCUSSION AROUND THAT, YOU KNOW, HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING AT THOSE UNITS, REGULATING THEM AND WHATNOT.

I THINK YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE DEBATE ABOUT HOW THE CITY PREPARES FOR THESE FLASH FLOODING EVENTS GOING FORWARD WITH THE SPECTOR OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

I THINK THAT THOSE ARE THE MAIN DISCUSSIONS HERE.

BUT YOU KNOW, TO YOUR POINT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD THESE REALLY TRAGIC VIDEOS, THESE REALLY DRAMATIC VIDEOS AS SLINGSHOTTING ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA OF JUST FLOODS, ROADS FLOODED, STORM FLOODS RUSHING INTO SUBWAY CORRIDORS.

SO I THINK THOSE IMAGES REALLY, I THINK, SHOCKED THE NATION BUT ALSO IS A REALLY HIGHLIGHTING THIS ISSUE FOR LAWMAKERS.

>> I DON'T WANT TO BE GRAPHIC ABOUT THIS, BUT THE BASEMENT APARTMENTS ISSUE IS A REAL THING BECAUSE I LIVED IN A BASEMENT APARTMENT BEFORE, AND I COULD NOT IMAGINE BEING IN ONE AS IT FLOODED AND ANOTHER POINT ABOUT IT IS, AS THIS RAIN WATER GETS HIGHER AND HEIGHTER, IT'S LIKE YOU ARE TRAP TRAPPED IN A CAR UNDERWATER AND YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS ARE SEALED SHUT AT THAT POINT.

IT'S NOT AS EASY THE WATER IS UP TO HERE AND YOU WALK TO YOUR DOOR AND WALK OUT TO SAFETY.

ALSO, YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT IF YOU DID GET TO YOUR DOOR AND YOU OPEN IT UP, YOU WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY SUBMERGED BY A WAVE OF WATER.

IT'S TERRIBLE.

I HOPE THEY BECOME SAFER IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.

KESHIA, JUST ON THE STORM FOR A SECOND.

SOME SAID IT DID TAKE THE ADMINISTRATION BY SURPRISE.

DO YOU THINK THIS IS MORE OF A LEARNING CURVE FOR KATHY HOCHUL?

BECAUSE SHE JUST TOOK OFFICE LAST WEEK.

AS WE KNOW, SHE WASN'T REALLY CLOSE WITH GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO WHEN HE WAS IN OFFICE.

SHE WASN'T TOO INVOLVED IN THAT STORM RESPONSE.

NOT THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH IT.

>> UH-HUH.

I THINK, LIKE YOU SAID, SHE JUST TOOK OFFICE LAST WEEK.

SHE'S GOT A LOT OF BALLS IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW.

SHE DID MENTION, YOU KNOW THIS THESE SORT OF 500-YEAR STORMS ARE NO LONGER 500 YEARS.

I THINK SHE RECOGNIZED THAT THE STATE NEEDS TO DO MORE TO PREPARE AND NOT ONLY PREPARE FOR WATER RISING UP BUT WATER COMING DOWN AND IN, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING-- THEY WERE MORE CONCERNED WITH THE SUBWAYS BEFORE AND I THINK THE BASEMENT ISSUE WASN'T THOUGHT ABOUT FOR SOME REASON.

I THINK SHE'S ALSO KIND OF JUXTAPOSED TO HER PREDECESSOR WHO, YOU KNOW, WAS THE GOVERNOR OF ACTION, ANDREW CUOMO WHO, YOU KNOW, HAD HIS WINDBREAKER ON AND WAS OUT DIGGING PEOPLE OUT OF THE SNOW AND DOING WHATEVER.

SO I THINK SHE KIND OF HAS THAT-- THAT SHE HAS TO OVERCOME AND I THINK WE HAVEN'T SEEN-- SHE'S BEEN TALKING TO A LOT OF FEDERAL OFFICIALS WHICH IS GREAT, BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE SOME MORE ACTION FROM HER MOVING FORWARD.

>> YEAH, I THINK SO TOO AND ESPECIALLY IN SITUATIONS LIKE THESE, YOU WONDER HOW THE ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO RESPOND IN THE LONG TERM.

THEY SAID THAT THE STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEMS WERE BLOCKED AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU HAVE A STORM COMING IN THAT COULD CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND AS THE CITY ADMINISTRATION, HOW DO YOU NOT CHECK THOSE STORM DRAINS AND MAKE SURE THINGS WILL DRAIN CORRECTLY?

MAYBE THAT'S NOT THEIR FAULT.

I HAVE NO IDEA.

I'M NOT THERE ON THE GROUND.

>> THE REAL QUESTION, TOO, BECOMES STORE FOR STATE POLITICIANS, WILL THIS STILL BE ON THE MINDS WHEN EVERYBODY COMES INTO SESSION IN JANUARY PRESUMABLY?

IS THIS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT STILL EXTENDS TO THAT?

IS THAT GOING TO BE ON PEOPLE'S MINDS?

WILL PEOPLE STILL BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS STORM, WHICH IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

>> SPEAKING OF SESSION, WE HAD A SPECIAL OR EXTRAORDINARY SESSION THIS WEEK.

LAWMAKERS MADE A FUN TRIP BACK TO ALBANY FOR ONE DAY.

IT FEELS LIKE IT LASTED ABOUT FIVE.

[LAUGHTER] KESHIA, I WANT TO GO TO YOU.

SO THEY PASSED THIS EXTENSION OF THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.

WE WENT OVER THE DETAILS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER IN THE SHOW.

HOW ARE PEOPLE REACTING TO THIS?

HOW IS THIS GOING TO CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES?

>> I THINK THAT TENANTS KIND OF BREATHED A SIGH OF RELIEF AND TENANT ADVOCATE GROUPS WERE OVER THE MOON THAT THEY CAME BACK AND DID THIS.

THEY WERE A LITTLE DISMAYED BY THE TIMING BECAUSE THE STATE'S MORATORIUM HAD ACTUALLY EXPIRED ON THE 31ST WHICH WAS TUESDAY.

SO IT KIND OF LEFT THIS TIME PERIOD OF LIMBO AND SO-- ALSO THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE BILL BECAUSE NO ONE GOT TO SEE THE BILL.

IT CAME OUT.

LAWMAKERS WERE SUPPOSED TO COME IN AT NOON.

THE BILL CAME OUT AT 2:00 AND THEN THEY WERE EXPECTED TO VOTE ON IT.

I THINK THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF HESITANCY THERE.

>> I WANT TO POINT OUT REALLY QUICK.

>> YES.

>> THIS WAS NOT A SURPRISE, BY THE WAY.

>> YES.

>> THEY EXTENDED THIS DEADLINE UNTIL AUGUST 3.

THEY EXTENDED IT IN MARCH OR APRIL.

ONE OF THE TWO.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS COMING.

WITH THE NUMBERS RISING, I WONDER WHY THEY DIDN'T THINK OF THIS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.

GO AHEAD.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE ISSUES FOR THAT WAS THE U.S. SUPREME COURT KNOCKED DOWN THE FEDERAL MORATORIUM WHICH WOULD HAVE HELPED SOME NEW YORKERS THROUGH OCTOBER.

I THINK LAWMAKERS THOUGHT THEY HAD MORE TIME.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS LIKE, OH, WAIT WE DON'T HAVE THAT PROTECTION.

I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT THE LANDLORD ASSOCIATION HAS ALREADY SAID NEXT WEEK, THEY'RE SUING.

THEY'RE NOT HAPPY WITH THIS AT ALL.

>> I'M SURPRISED.

GO AHEAD, RYAN.

>> TO THE POINT, TOO, WHILE THEY DID-- IT'S FASCINATING TOO.

WHILE THEY DID LENGTHEN THE EVICTION PROTECTIONS, THEY ALSO IN SOME AREAS LOOSENED THOSE PROTECTIONS FOR TENANTS.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, KESHIA, TO YOUR POINT, THERE WAS A SUPREME COURT RULING THAT BASICALLY SAID, HEY, YOU HAVE TO GIVE LANDLORDS THE ABILITY TO CHALLENGE A SELF-DECLARATION OF HARDSHIP IN COURT, SO THE LEGISLATURE THEN ADDRESSED THAT.

THEN, THE LEGISLATURE ALSO BASICALLY ARE ALLOWING LANDLORDS TO GO FORWARD WITH EVICTION PROTECTIONS OR EXCUSE ME TO GO FORWARD WITH AN EVICTION WHEN A TENANT IS EITHER FOUND TO BE A NUISANCE TO THE PROPERTY OR IS CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE COURT SYSTEMS REACT TO THAT.

HAS THAT BECOME A MAJOR THING?

DO MORE TENANTS START TO BE EVICTED BECAUSE OF THAT?

IT'S A WAIT-AND-SEE AT THIS POINT.

IT'S INTERESTING AT ONE POINT THEY LENGTHENED IT BUT ALSO IN CERTAIN AREAS, THERE ARE LESS PROTECTIONS.

>> I DO WANT TO POINT OUT, THE LOOP HOLES YOU TALKED ABOUT, THE PROPERTY DAMAGE AND THE NUISANCE THING, THAT DOESN'T MATTER WITH FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS.

SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, YOUR LANDLORD CAN STILL START EVICTION PROCEEDINGS ON THOSE TWO BASES SO FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW.

KESHIA, ANOTHER THING THAT HAPPENED WAS WE HAD THE FIRST TWO APPOINTMENTS TO START THE STATE'S MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION ROLLOUT.

WE HAD ASSEMBLY TREMAINE WRIGHT WHO IS GOING TO HEAD THE CANNABIS CONTROL BOARD AND CHRIS ALEXANDER, WHO IS GOING TO BE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT.

SO WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

DO WE SEE RETAIL SALES STARTING LATER?

HOW ARE PEOPLE REACTING TO THIS?

>> UH-HUH.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE THE APPOINTMENTS WERE KIND OF DELAYED.

GOVERNOR CUOMO SIGNED THE BILL IN MARCH OF OF THIS YEAR AND THE APPOINTMENTS HAD STILL NOT BEEN MADE AND THE BIG THING WITH THESE IS THAT THESE TWO APPOINTMENTS NEEDED TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE AND THE SESSION ENDED IN JUNE.

IF THEY WEREN'T COMING BACK, THESE APPOINTMENTS COULDN'T HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED BEFORE JANUARY, WHICH KIND OF WHEN YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THE GROWING SEASON OF THIS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NEEDING TO GET IT STARTED IN SPRING AND THE REGULATIONS STILL NEED TO BE MADE.

LICENSES NEED TO BE DISTRIBUTED.

THERE'S A LOT TO THIS.

I THINK A LOT OF THE BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS AND ESPECIALLY THE SOCIAL EQUITY ASPECT, TRYING TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, THE LITTLE MAN GETS HIS CHANCE TO OPEN THIS UP AND COMMUNITIES THAT WERE HARD HIT BY THE DRUG WAR HAD THE CHANCE TO HAVE BUSINESSES.

THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT NEED TO COME INTO PLAY.

SO WHEN I WAS TALKING TO BUSINESS GROUPS, THEY WERE OVERJOYED THAT THESE APPOINTMENTS WERE MADE.

THERE'S A FEW MORE THAT STILL NEED TO BE MADE.

THE LEGISLATURE, THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE BOTH HAVE ONE PICK.

KATHY HOCHUL HAS TWO MORE THAT DON'T NEED TO BE CONFIRMED AND THEY CAN START MAKING THESE REGULATIONS AND THEN WE'RE HEARING THE SALES COULD START AS LATE AS SUMMER, THE END OF SUMMER NEXT YEAR.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO WATCH.

WE DO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

RYAN TARANELLI FROM THE NEW YORK LAW JOURNAL AND KESHIA CLUKEY FROM BLOOMBERG, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH AS ALWAYS.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> THANKS.

>> MOVING ON NOW, TUESDAY WAS INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY.

AS WE TOLD YOU, NEW YORK'S OPIOID ADDICTION CRISIS GREW DURING THE PANDEMIC LAST YEAR AFTER A FEW YEARS OF PROGRESS.

ACCORDING TO STATE DATA, THERE WAS A 22% INCREASE IN OPIOID OVERDOSES LAST YEAR COMPARED TO 2019.

AND THAT HAS SOME CALLING FOR MORE ACTION FROM THE STATE.

PROTESTERS GATHERED OUTSIDE OF GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S OFFICE THIS WEEK TO PUSH FOR OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS.

THOSE ARE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE COULD USE DRUGS UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION WITHOUT BEING ARRESTED.

WINN PERIYASAMY IS FROM HOUSING WORKS A GROUP THAT SUPPORTS THOSE CENTERS.

>> THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, MORE FOLKS HAVE DIED FROM PREVENTIBLE OVERDOSE AND THIS IS A SOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN BOTH FROM EVIDENCE AS WELL AS FROM THE SITES AROUND THE WORLD THAT THIS IS A SOLUTION THAT CAN REALLY HELP SAVE LIVES, AND WE ARE ASKING NOT ONE MORE.

>> THOSE CENTERS ARE JUST ONE IDEA THAT LAWMAKERS SAY CAN CURB THE OPIOID AND HEROIN CRISIS.

NEW YORK IS EXPECTING A WINDFALL OF MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS FROM SETTLEMENTS WITH MAJOR OPIOID COMPANIES AND THERE'S A LOT THAT CAN BE DONE WITH THAT MONEY.

FOR MORE ON THAT, I TURN TO STATE SENATOR PETE HARCKHAM WHO CHAIRS THE ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE USE COMMITTEE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] SENATOR PETE HARKHAM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ANYTIME.

SO WE DID SEE OVERDOSES FROM OPIOIDS INCREASE IN 2020 COMPARED TO 2019.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT A GOOD SITUATION.

IT'S NOT A PLACE THAT WE WANT TO BE IN FOR A STATE THAT WAS REALLY MAKING SOME PROGRESS ON THOSE OVERDOSES.

DO YOU KNOW ANECDOTALLY WHY WE'RE SEEING THAT SPIKE IN OVERDOSE DEATHS IN NEW YORK?

I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SPOKE TON STAKEHOLDERS BOTH IN COMMUNITY AND OBVIOUSLY FROM STATE AGENCIES.

>> SURE.

THIS IS ALSO A NATIONAL TREND.

IT'S NOT JUST IN NEW YORK.

BUT ISOLATION IS REALLY DEVASTATING TO PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.

THE FINANCIAL DESPAIR, THE STRESS, THE ISOLATION, THE LONELINESS ARE ALL TRIGGERS FOR PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND OTHER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES WHERE THEY BEGIN TO SELF-MEDICATE.

>> SO ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS THE RESPONSE.

WE ARE GETTING AT LEAST $500 MILLION FROM SOME SETTLEMENTS AND OPIOID LAWSUITS INCLUDING JOHNSON&JOHNSON AND PURDUE PHARMA.

CAN YOU LAY OUT HOW THAT MONEY CAN BE USED?

IT'S A BIG AMOUNT AND CAN MAKE A REALLY BIG DENT.

HOW CAN WE SEE THAT MONEY DISBURSED TO REALLY HELP THE OPIOID CRISIS?

>> FIRST, WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TERRIFIC WORK OF AT ATTORNEY GENERAL, LETITIA JAMES, FOR LEADING THE NATION IN THESE SETTLEMENTS, AND THIS MONEY WILL GO INTO A LOCKBOX THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNED TO ONLY BE USED FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, PREVENTION, TREATMENT, RECOVERY AND HARM REDUCTION.

SO FIRST, WE NEED TO START WITH EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT AND THAT STARTS WITH THE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE BEEN UNDERPAYING THE PEOPLE IN THIS FIELD.

SO IT'S INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING FOR THEM TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN GOOD PEOPLE.

YOU CAN HAVE VACANT BEDS BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE PEOPLE TO STAFF THE BEDS, THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM.

THE OTHER IS MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT.

WE HAVE A WAIVER OF PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FOR MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT ON THE PRIVATE INSURANCE SIDE.

WE DON'T HAVE IT ON THE MEDICAID SIDE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT.

BECAUSE DOCTORS SPEND FOUR, FIVE HOURS ON THE PHONE TRYING TO GET AUTHORIZATION.

THAT'S WHEN WE LOSE PEOPLE.

THAT'S A DANGEROUS TIME.

ANOTHER THING THAT WE CAN BE DOING IS PUTTING MONEY TOWARD TREATMENT ON DEMAND IN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM AND MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT.

THE OVERDOSE DEATH RATE FOR PEOPLE COMING OUT OF OUR CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IS FAR HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE POPULATION, AND THE REASON IS THEY STILL HAVE THE DISEASE OF ADDICTION AND THEY'VE LOST THEIR TOLERANCE AND THEY COME OUT AND THEY USE AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY PERISH AT A VERY HIGH RATE.

WE NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR THAT POPULATION.

ANOTHER THING WE CAN DO IS ALSO ON THESE CRISIS INTERVENTION CENTERS, THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED 10 IN THE BUDGET, BUT THERE WEREN'T FUNDING ALLOCATIONS FOR THEM.

THESE ARE CRUCIAL.

ANYONE WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER ISSUES CAN GO 24 HOURS A DAY.

IT SAVES ON EMERGENCY ROOMS.

IT SAVES ON THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM.

PEOPLE CAN BE LINKED WITH TREATMENT RIGHT AWAY BUT WE'VE GOT TO FUND THOSE CENTERS, AND THEN ON THE HARM REDUCTION SIDE, THINGS LIKE NEEDLE EXCHANGE, A, KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE AND B, GIVE THEM A WINDOW TO GET INTO TREATMENT AS WELL AS MORE NALOXONE TRAININGS AND GETTING NARCAN OUT INTO THE POPULATION.

>> IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE AT THIS POINT IN THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC THAT WE'RE ALMOST PAST-- I FEEL LIKE AT THE START PEOPLE WERE RELYING ON NARCAN AS A WAY TO PREVENT THE OVERDOSES AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TREATMENT SIDE OF IT AND THE PREVENTION AND HOW TO GET PEOPLE TO CURB THEIR ADDICTION.

ONE OF THE IDEAS TO DO THAT IS THESE THINGS CALLED OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS.

THEY'RE VERY CONTROVERSIAL.

WE HAVE SEEN THEM IN OTHER STATES.

THEY ARE BASICALLY PEOPLE CAN GO TO USE DRUGS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF MEDICAL STAFF SO THEY DON'T OVERDOSE.

THEN THEY CAN BE REFERRED TO TREATMENT AND SERVICES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE?

DO YOU THINK THOSE WILL BE NECESSARY TO REALLY CURB THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC IN NEW YORK?

>> WELL, I THINK THEY'RE VITAL TO KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE, AND THAT'S THE FIRST GOAL.

NOT EVERYBODY IS READY FOR TREATMENT.

SO THE GOAL NEEDS TO BE TO KEEP THOSE FOLKS ALIVE.

I WENT UP WITH A FEW OTHER SENATORS AND VISITED SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION SITE IN TORONTO.

ALL THROUGHOUT CANADA, THERE HAVE BEEN NO FATALITIES AND IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE TRY TO KEEP FOLKS ALIVE.

SO AT THESE CENTERS, THERE'S ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THEY'RE IN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS WHERE, HAVE YOU HAD A HEPATITIS TEST?

HAVE YOU HAD A PHYSICAL EXAM?

YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT TREATMENT?

DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE READY?

SO THESE ARE A WAY TO GET PEOPLE INTO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND THEN WHEN THEY'RE READY TO GET THEM INTO TREATMENT.

AT THE SAME TIME, THEY KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE.

I THINK THEY'RE VERY NECESSARY.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE CRITICS WILL SAY THEY ENCOURAGE USE.

NO, THEY DON'T ENCOURAGE USE.

WHAT THEY DO IS PEOPLE WHO ARE USING ALREADY ARE ALLOWED TO USE SAFELY IN A SUPERVISED MANNER WITH MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE PEOPLE DYING IN THE RESTROOMS OF MCDONALD'S AND OUR COFFEE SHOPS.

>> SO DO WE KNOW WHY MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE MAY NOT BE ON BOARD WITH THIS?

ASSUME YOU TALKED TO YOUR COLLEAGUES ABOUT THE IDEA.

I KNOW THE SENATE HEALTH CHAIR IS SUPPORTIVE OF IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY LAND IN THE ASSEMBLY.

BUT WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES ON THIS?

>> WELL, I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT SOME OF THE STIGMA THAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS MAY FEEL.

YOU KNOW, AROUND THIS ENTIRE FIELD, WE NEED TO BREAK DOWN STIGMA.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

THIS IS NOT A MORAL ISSUE.

THIS IS NOT A CRIMINAL ISSUE.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, AND WE NEED TO TREAT IT AS SUCH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE.

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM THAT IS NOT GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON.

HOPEFULLY, WE CAN SEE MORE PROGRESS MADE AS WE GO ON.

BUT SENATE ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE USE CHAIR PETE HARKHAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW IS LIVING WITH AN ADDICTION, THERE ARE SOURCES AVAILABLE.

WE'LL PUT SOME UP ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

IN THE MEANTIME, A LITTLE POLITICS.

CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN, THE REPUBLICAN PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR, CRISS-CROSSED THE STATE AGAIN THIS WEEK.

DARRELL CAMP GOT CAUGHT UP WITH HIM IN ALBANY.

HE'S HERE WITH MORE.

>> THANKS, DAN.

AS WE APPROACH THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 11TH ATTACKS, THE WORLD IS WATCHING AFGHANISTAN WHERE 13 SERVICEMEMBERS DIED LAST MONTH AS U.S.

TROOPS WERE LEAVING THE COUNTRY.

THAT EXIT WAS PART OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION STRATEGY TO END TWO DECADES OF ONGOING MILITARY CONFLICT.

CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN, THE PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR IS AN ARMY RESERVIST WHO WAS DEPLOYED TO IRAQ IN 2006.

HE WAS IN ALBANY THIS WEEK WHERE HE SHARED HIS THOUGHTS ON HOW THE UNITED STATES LEFT THE LONGEST CONFLICT IN OUR RECENT HISTORY.

HE SAYS THINGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE DIFFERENTLY.

>> YOU DON'T EMPTY OUT THE PRISON THAT'S THERE AT THAT POINT WHERE THERE'S HARDENED AL-QUEADA, ISIS, TALIBAN FIGHTERS WHO ARE RE-ENTERING A-- WHAT IS A MILITARY CONFLICT.

WE SAW WITH THE LOSS OF LIFE AND THE SUICIDE BOMBER.

WHILE YOU STILL HAVE THIS MISSION TO EVACUATE.

>> ZELDIN ALSO SAYS THERE'S SOME UNCERTAINTY ABOUT HOW SUCCESSFUL OUR POST-9/11 MILITARY OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN.

>> IF YOU DEFINE VICTORY AS TAKING OUT OSAMA BIN LADEN, FIGHTING THE ENEMY OVER THERE AS OPPOSED TO OVER HERE, YOU ARE DISMANTLING THE COMMAND AND CONTROL NODES AND GAINING INTELLIGENCE AND OTHER INTELLIGENCE ADVANTAGES OF OPERATING, IF YOU DEFINE VICTORY BASED OFF OF SUCCESS IN THAT MISSION, THEN YOU'RE ABLE TO SAY WE ACHIEVED OUR OBJECTIVES AND NOW WE CAN GO.

>> ULTIMATELY, ZELDIN SAYS THE UPCOMING 20-YEAR ANNIVERSARY WILL BE A TIME FOR DEEP REFLECTION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, DARRELL.

AND JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR A SPECIAL EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW, REFLECTING ON 9/11.

WE'LL SPEAK WITH FORMER GOVERNOR GEORGE PATAKI, JOURNALISTS WHO COVERED THE ATTACKS AND MORE.

WE'LL SEE YOU THEN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK'S "NEW YORK NOW."

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.