ON THIS MONTH'S EDITION OF CONNECT NEW YORK, WE ARE HIGHLIGHT ITSELF CHILD POVERTY, WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO REVERSE THESE CONDITIONS.

DON'T GO ANYWHERE.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO CONNECT-NEW YORK, I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - HOST OF WCNY'S THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM, A DAILY PUBLIC RADIO SHOW, BROADCASTING FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.

ON TODAY'S SHOW, WE'RE GOING TO DIVE INTO CHILD POVERTY - A NAGGING ISSUE FOR THE EMPIRE STATE, IMPACTING ABOUT ONE IN FIVE KIDS, ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF HARDSHIP IN THE COUNTRY.

LATER IN THE SHOW WE'LL HIGHLIGHT HOW ONE UPSTATE COMMUNITY IS ADDRESSING THE ISSUE, BUT FIRST WE'RE GOING TO CHECK IN WITH OUR PANEL OF POLICY EXPERTS, AND JOINING US IN THE STUDIO IS SHARON OWENS, DEPUTY MAYOR FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE, AND PETE NABOZNY, DIRECTOR OF POLICY FOR THE CHILDRENS AGENDA, AND PIPING IN REMOTELY IS ALLISON LAKE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WESTCHESTER CHILDREN'S ASSOCIATION.

I SHOULD NOTE THAT PETE AND ALLISON ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF THE STATE'S CHILD POVERTY REDUCTION ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHICH WAS FORMED BY STATE POLICYMAKERS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO ACHIEVE A STATUTORILY MANDATED GOAL OF CUTTING CHILD POVERTY RATES IN HALF BY 2032.

SO, PETE, IF WE ARE GOING TO GET TO THAT GOAL IN 2032, I THINK IT HELPS TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE NOW.

WHAT DOES THE PICTURE OF CHILD POVERTY LOOK LIKE IN NEW YORK AS WE SPEAK IN THE SUMMER OF 2024?

>> THE CENSUS BUREAU PUTS OUT ANNUAL ESTIMATES OF POVERTY, AMONG MANY THINGS EACH YEAR, AND CURRENTLY IN NEW YORK STATE, ABOUT 18% OF CHILDREN ARE IN EXPERIENCING POVERTY.

THEY LIVE IN A HOUSEHOLD THAT MAKES BELOW A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY.

THAT'S HOW WE MEASURE POVERTY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, IT'S A LITTLE OVER $31,000 A YEAR.

AND SO THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AS YOU SAID, ABOUT ONE IN FIVE CHILDREN ARE LIVING IN A HOUSEHOLD THAT HAS INCOME BELOW THAT LEVEL.

ACROSS THE STATE, POVERTY, IT VARIES, CONSIDERABLY.

AND THE HIGHEST RATES, IF YOU LOOK AT A COUNTY LEVEL, THE HIGHEST RATES OF CHILD POVERTY ARE IN RURAL COUNTIES.

IT'S IN THE PARTS OF THE SOUTHERN TIER, OSWEGO COUNTY ACTUALLY HAS ONE OF THE HIGHER POVERTY RATES.

CHILD POVERTY RATES IN THE CHAIT.

BUT THEN IF YOU ZOOM IN CLOSER, YOU SEE THAT THE CHILD POVERTY RATES IN UPSTATE CITIES, IN LARGE UPSTATE CITIES, BUFFALO, SYRACUSE, ROCHESTER, IS REALLY HIGH.

IT'S NORTH OF 40% IN SOME OF THE UPSTATE CITIES.

AND THAT CONTRASTS REALLY HEAVILY WITH THE POVERTY RATE IN THE SURROUNDING SUBURBS.

SO HERE IN ONONDAGA COUNTY, ABOUT 45% OF CHILDREN IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE ARE LIVING IN POVERTY AND THE RATE IN THE REST OF THE COUNTY, IF YOU JUST SUBTRACT THE CITY FROM IT, IS ABOUT 10%.

AND THAT'S A PRETTY CONSISTENT PATTERN ACROSS THESE UPSTATE COMMUNITIES.

>> ALLISON, I THINK WINDCHILL COUNTY IS AN INTERESTING EXAMPLE OF THE ISSUE WE HAVE WITH REGARDS TO THE STARK RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVIDES WHEN IT COMES TO WHO IS EXPERIENCING CHILD POVERTY.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT RATES THAT WE SEE BASED ON RACE AND ETHNICITY?

>> SURE, AND I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, PETE'S SORT OF OVER VIEW BECAUSE ABSOLUTELY IT CAN LOOK FOR DIFFERENT HERE IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY IN NEIGHBORHOODS JUST RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD.

AND SO YOU KNOW, NEW YORK AND WESTCHESTER COUNTY ALSO HAVE LARGE CITIES LIKE YONKERS AND MOUNT VERNON AND NEW ROCHELLE, ET CETERA.

AND CERTAINLY THERE IS MORE CONCENTRATED POVERTY THAN ELSEWHERE.

BUT AS YOU SAID, DAVID, IT REALLY IS ALSO A NECESSARY FOR US TO LOOK AT THE RACIAL AND ETHNIC SORT OF BREAKDOWN OF WHICH CHILDREN ARE LIVING IN POVERTY.

AND FOR WESTCHESTER COUNTY, OF THOSE CHILDREN THAT ARE DESIGNATED AS LIVING IN POVERTY, AS PETE SAID BY THE CENSUS.

TENT% OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN, AND ONE OF THE ADDITIONAL CHARGES TO THE GROUP IN ADDITION TO REDUCING OVERALL POVERTY IS REALLY FOR TO US PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES THAT EXIST AS WELL.

>> SHARON, PETE MENTIONED THE CHALLENGE THAT SYRACUSE FACES WITH CHILD POVERTY.

GAVE US SOME OF THE NUMBERS.

AND HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

>> IT MEANS THE EFFECT ON EVERYDAY LIFE.

THE ABILITY OF CHILDREN TO TO FUNCTION AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL WHEN THEY GO TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY.

IT AFFECTS THE ABILITY OF THE FAMILY TO AFFORD SAFE, CLEAN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IT AFFECTS THEIR ACCESS TO THE BEST FOOD AVAILABLE TO THEM.

AND I ALWAYS SAY THAT POVERTY IS ALSO-- IT IS A LIVING ORGANISM.

IT BEGINS TO CHIP AWAY AT THE VERY FABRIC OF WHO YOU ARE AS A HUMAN BEING, BEING ABLE TO REALLY SURVIVE IN A SITUATION WHERE A FAMILY OF FOUR INCOME IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD IS JUST OVER $30,000 A YEAR.

AND TO BE ABLE TO JUST FUNCTION IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT FROM THE PRESSURE THAT THAT HAS ON FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY FAMILIES PREDOMINANTLY WHO ARE SINGLE MOTHERS RAISING THESE CHILDREN.

AND THE ABILITY OF THOSE CHILDREN JUST TO OPERATE, AS THE NUMBERS WOULD REFLECT, WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE COUNTY COMMUNITIES.

>> AND WE BROUGHT UP.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO JUMP IN AS WELL.

WE DID SOME FOCUS GROUPS HERE IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY, FAMILIES, LOW INCOME, LIVING IN POVERTY.

AND THE OTHER PIECE IS JUST THE MENTAL HEALTH TOLL THAT IT TAKES ON PARENTS AND, AS YOU SAID, SHARON CERTAINLY SINGLE MOMS AND THAT TRANSLATES DOWN TO THE KIDS AS WELL, AND SO THAT STRESS OF THE UNCERTAINTY, OF, YOU KNOW, MAYBE HOUSING OR NEXT MEAL, ET CETERA, REALLY WEIGHS HEAVY ON FAMILIES IN TERMS OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

>> SO, PETE, WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM COSTS THEN ASSOCIATED WITH CHILD POVERTY BECAUSE THERE IS OBVIOUSLY THE CHALLENGES THAT SOMEONE WILL EXPERIENCE IN THE HERE AND NOW BUT THESE HAVE RAMIFICATIONS DOWN THE ROAD.

>> YEAH, I MEAN THE COSTS ARE ENORMOUS.

THERE ARE VARIOUS ESTIMATES THAT ARE OUT THERE IN TERMS OF COST TO SOCIETY.

BUT YOU SEE IT IN ALL SYSTEMS, RIGHT?

YOU SEE IT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN TERMS OF CHILDREN WHO ARE EXPERIENCING POVERTY, PARTICULARLY IN THEIR EARLY YEARS.

THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES IN SCHOOL, WHICH ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE.

THAT'S NECESSARY FOR THOSE KIDS TO BE ABLE TO LEARN, BUT THERE IS A COST THERE.

YOU SEE IT IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, BOTH AS CHILDREN AND THEN AS ADULTS, KIDS WHO GREW UP IN POVERTY ARE MUCH MORE HIKELY TO EXPERIENCE LIFE LONG HEALTH ISSUES, MUCH MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AS THEY GROW OLDER.

MUCH MORE LIKELY TO END UP IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHICH HAS ENORMOUS COSTS TO IT.

MUCH MORE LIKELY TO END UP IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM WHICH HAS COSTS TO IT.

SO CHILDREN WHO GROW UP IN POVERTY ARE LESS LIKELY TO THRIVE ECONOMICALLY AS ADULTS.

SO THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO BE EXPERIENCING POVERTY AS ADULTS, AND THEREFORE, ALSO, THERE ARE COSTS TO GOVERNMENT AND TO ALL OF SOCIETY WHEN SOMEONE HAS STRUGGLED THROUGHOUT THEIR CHILDHOOD.

IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO MAINTAIN WORK AND TO BE AN ECONOMICALLY SECURE ADULT.

THERE IS HUGE COSTS TO SOCIETY TO TAXPAYERS, TO ALL OF US BY ALLOWING THE CHILD POVERTY LEVELS TO STAY AS HIGH AS THEY ARE ACROSS NEW YORK, IN PARTICULARLY AGAIN IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE.

>> IF I CAN ALSO ADD, SOCIETY HAS TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK, A GOOD LOOK AND KNOW WHAT POVERTY IS AND WHO IT AFFECTS AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

THE STEREOTYPE OF POVERTY MEANING THE WELFARE MOM, WELL, THERE ARE WORKING PEOPLE CATEGORIZED AS ALICE, ASSET LIMITED INCOME EMPLOYS INDIVIDUALS.

THAT'S A LONG ACRONYM FOR THE WORKING POOR.

THOSE FOLKS WHO WORK TWO, MAYBE THREE JOBS, TO STILL MAYBE LIVE IN POVERTY.

AND SO POVERTY IS NO LONGER THE OLD 80S OR 70s WELFARE MOM SITTING AROUND COLLECTING A PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CHECK.

>> IF THAT WAS EVEN A THING.

>> IF THAT WAS EVEN REAL.

>> IT WAS A NARRATIVE.

>> IT WAS A STEREOTYPE.

AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.

THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE TO WORK MULTIPLE JOBS TO AFFORD A HOUSE, TO AFFORD JUST THE BASIC NECESSITIES THAT THEIR CHILDREN NEED.

>> YEAH, I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, IT BACKS EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE SAYING, UP.

THERE ARE-- MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE IN POVERTY ARE IN THE WORKFORCE IN SOME WAY OR THE OTHER, RIGHT, AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS BARRIERS THAT GET IN THE WAY FOR THEM SORT OF MAINTAINING FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT CONSISTENTLY OVER A COURSE OF MANY YEARS.

BUT THESE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING.

THEY MAY BE WORKING SEASONALLY SOMETIMES OR WORKING PART TIME.

THEIR HOURS MAY FLUCTUATE.

THEY MAY EXPERIENCE UNEMPLOYMENT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THAT CAUSES THEM TO-- THEIR INCOME FOR THE YEAR TO FALL BELOW A LEVEL.

BUT THE DATA SHOWS WHAT I THINK PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING WITH A LOT OF FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING POVERTY CAN TELL YOU THAT PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO GET BY ON A DAY-TO-DAY LEVEL AND THERE ARE BARRIERS THAT EXIST BOTH, YOU KNOW IN COMMUNITIES AND FROM POLICIES FROM GOVERNMENT POLICIES RIGHT NOW THAT KEEP PEOPLE IN THAT STATE OF UNCERTAINTY OF ECONOMIC INSECURITY.

AND THAT'S REALLY THE STORY OF POVERTY.

AND THEN THAT PLAYS ITSELF OUT FOR CHILDREN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CHILD POVERTY.

IT'S ABOUT FAMILY POVERTY THAT, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN ARE A PART OF.

>> SO ALLISON, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT THRESHOLD FOR POVERTY THAT 31,000 DOLLARS FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.

I HAVE TO IMAGINE A FAMILY OF FOUR MAKING $35,000 DOESN'T EXACTLY CONSIDER THEMSELVES UPPER MIDDLE-CLASS SO ARE WE EVEN BEGINNING TO CAPTURE THE CHILD POVERTY RATES IN A MEANINGFUL WAY?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I JUST SAID THAT THOSE NUMBERS AND PARTICULARLY IN A COUNTY THAT THE COST OF LIVING IS SO HIGH, LIKE WESTCHESTER COUNTY AND OTHER PARTS OF NEW YORK STATE, IT DOESN'T BEGIN TO GET YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO REALLY MAKE ENDS MEET AS A FAMILY.

WE OFTEN, IN WESTCHESTER, EVEN GO ABOVE TO SORT OF LOW INCOME THRESHOLD WHICH A FAMILY OF FOUR FOR $55,000 A YEAR AND WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO, WHEN, AS SHARON MENTIONED THAT SORT OF FAMILY SURVIVAL RATE OF THE ALICE INDICATOR SAYS IT'S $75,000 IN A PLACE LIKE WESTCHESTER.

SO WE ARE ONLY BEGINNING TO REALLY SCRATCH THE SURFACE WHEN WE ARE FOCUSED ON SORT OF THAT, YOU KNOW, CENSUS DEFINITION OF POVERTY.

IT REALLY GOES BEYOND THAT AND I THINK ALL OF US WOULD AGREE THAT THE HOUSING, WHICHING IS FOR MOST FAMILIES, THE LARGEST PIECE OF THEIR MONTHLY BUDGET, IS JUST OFF THE CHARTS IN TERMS OF WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SPEND FOR SHELTER IN NEW YORK STATE.

AGAIN, IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY, WE KNOW THAT 53% OF OUR HOUSEHOLDS ARE RENT BURDENED MEANING THEY'RE SPENDING MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOR HOUSING AND SHELTER.

AND SO THAT DOESN'T LEAVE MUCH FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR THE GROCERIES, FOR THE GAS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ARE CONTINUING TO GO UP AS WELL.

SO FOR MANY OF OUR FAMILIES, IT'S A STRUGGLE.

AND IT'S A POLITICAL CHOICE BECAUSE WE DO KNOW WHAT WORKS.

WE DO KNOW WHAT HELPS TO LIFT FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY.

WE SAW IT WITH SOME OF THE PANDEMIC RELIEF THAT CAME TO FAMILIES.

>> AND I WOULD ADD THAT 30% OVER 30 PERCY KUWAITING TO HOUSING BURDEN IS NOT ALWAYS QUALITY, MOST TIMES, FOR PEOPLE IN POVERTY, NOT QUALITY HOUSING AT ALL.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> I KNOW HOUSING IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE HERE IN SYRACUSE WHERE YOU ARE TRYING TO GET A LITTLE MORE CREATIVE WITH HOUSE YOU RESPOND TO THESE ISSUES, AT LEAST ON THE LOCAL LEVEL.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THOSE EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ZONING?

>> OUR EFFORTS FOR ZONING, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR, WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

WE COMPLETELY REVAMPED OUR ENTIRE ZONING LAW AND IN SYRACUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST 100 YEARS.

AND WE ARE-- THERE ARE OTHER SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES STARTING TO LOOK AT THAT NOW.

WE REQUIRE FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT OF 10% SET ASIDE FOR AFFORDABLE UNITS.

THOSE ARE UNITS THAT NEED TO LOOK EXACTLY LIKE EVERY OTHER UNIT.

IF YOU ARE OVER 75 UNITS IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, WE ARE LOOKING AT 12%.

IT'S WAS TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT PLACE TO APPLY THESE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

WE ARE WORKING ON AND JUST FINISHED OUR EXTENSIVE HOUSING STRATEGY TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT WE WERE DOING IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH ALL THE PUBLIC SERVICES BUT REALLY LOOKING TO STABILIZE SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MAY BE DIPPING INTO SOME DESPAIR.

AND TO MAKE REPAIRS AND THAT TYPE OF THING AND WE ARE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE REALLY UNDER THE RADAR POPULATION OF THE HOUSING VULNERABLE AND THE HOMELESS POPULATION.

IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT REALLY IS TO ALLISON TALKING ABOUT NOT EVEN SCRATCHING THE SURFACE, REALLY UNDER THE RADAR WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING VULNERABLE.

AND THEY'RE LIVING IN HOTELS BECAUSE THEY'RE IN SEARCH OF PROPERTIES THAT CAN MEET THEIR NEEDS OF THREE AND FOUR BEDROOMS IN SYRACUSE.

>> PETE, FROM STATEWIDE PERSPECTIVE, WE HAD A BUDGET ADOPTED IN LATE APRIL THAT INCLUDED SOME EFFORTS BY THE STATE TO EXPAND THE HOUSING POPULATION IN NEW YORK WITH THE IDEA THAT A GREATER SUPPLY IS GOING TO POTENTIALLY LEAD TO LOWER COSTS AS WELL AS TENANT PROTECTIONS.

DOES THAT ENCOURAGE YOU ABOUT WHAT EFFORTS TO ADDRESS, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, ONE OF THE MADAME MAYOR COSTS FOR FAMILIES.

>> WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOUSING CHALLENGES, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A LOT THAT GOES INTO ALL OF THAT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DISTINGUISH THERE IS A BIG AND GROWING, YOU KNOW, HOUSING UNAFFORDABILITY CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE IN NEW YORK THAT THE COST OF HOUSING HAS GONE UP EVERYWHERE.

THERE IS LESS HOUSING, YOU KNOW, ON THE MARKET.

IT'S HARDER FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE LOOKING FOR WHETHER IT'S A PLACE TO RENT, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY I THINK FAMILY HOUSING.

AND IT'S CHALLENGING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO BE FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS.

THAT CROSSES INCOME LEVELS AND WHAT THE MARKET IS FEELING RIGHT NOW.

AND THEN THERE IS A PARTICULAR CHALLENGE, I THINK, THAT'S SOCIAL ARE ASSOCIATED WITH FOLKS WHO IS INCOME IS SO LOW THAT THEY REALLY STRUGGLE TO ACCESS HOUSING ON THAT MARKET.

AS THE MARKET KIND OF GETS MORE EXPENSIVE, THEY'RE FURTHER FROM THE MARKET BUT THEY'RE ALWAYS REALLY STRUGGLING TO AFFORD THE COST OF HOUSING.

AND THAT'S WHY I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A STRATEGY THAT BOTH INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING THAT WE HAVE THAT ALLOWS FOR SOME OF THE ZONING CHANGES THAT ALLOWS FOR MORE HOUSING TO BE CONSTRUCTED AND UPDATE OUR HOUSING STOCK.

THEN WE NEED SPECIFIC HELP FOR THOSE FAMILIES THAT ARE, THE ONES THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE, CHILDREN GROWING UP IN POVERTY.

THINGS LIKE HOUSING ACCESS VOUCHER PROGRAM, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AT THE STATE LEVEL BUT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET.

I THINK WE NEED THINGS LIKE THAT TO REALLY HELP THOSE FAMILIES WHOSE INCOME JUST ISN'T ENOUGH TO GET THEM INTO THE HOUSING THAT THEY NEED, THE QUALITY THAT THEY NEED AND THEIR KIDS DESERVE.

SO THERE HAVE BEEN SOME THINGS AT THE STATE LEVEL WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND HAVE PUT FORWARD BY THE GOVERNOR OR THE LEGISLATURE BUT I DON'T THINK-- WE HAVEN'T GOT ERIN THEIR YET AND I DON'T THINK WHAT WAS AGREED TO IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR IS GOING TO REALLY SIGNIFICANTLY MOVE THE NEEDLE THE WAY WE NEED IT TO FOR THE FAMILIES WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THIS DISCUSSION HERE.

>> AND CERTAINLY WE KNOW THAT FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN CONTINUE TO FACE DISCRIMINATION.

WE HEARD THAT DIRECTLY FROM THE MOMS AND PARENTS THAT ARE IN OUR FOCUS GROUP.

SO WE NEED TO ALSO HOLD LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE THAT SORT OF DISCRIMINATION, I DON'T RESISTANT, I DON'T WANT-- I DON'T RANT.

I DON'T WANT... >> OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSING POLICIES EMANATING FROM ALBANY THIS YEAR, WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE IN THE BUDGET OR ACCOMPLISHED AS STAND ALONE LEGISLATION THAT MADE YOU THINK THE STATE POLICYMAKERS IN ALBANY DID A GREAT JOB ADDRESSING CHILD POVERTY AND THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN THERE WERE SOME WINS.

AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DECREASE POVERTY BY 50% IN THIS 10-YEAR MARK.

BUT I THINK THE PIECE AROUND CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE AND MEDICAID AND CHIP AND ALLOWING CHILDREN UNDER SIX TO STAY CONTINUALLY ENROLLED AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TO DO ANNUAL RENEWALS, YOU KNOW, A PIECE OF THE DISCUSSION ALSO IS ABOUT KIND OF ADMINISTRATIVE FIXES THAT CAN MAKE IT EASIER FOR FAMILIES TO APPLY FOR SERVICES, STREAMLINE AND SO THEY'RE NOT DOING APPLICATIONS OVER AND OVER TELLING THE SAME STORY OVER AND OVER.

IF CHILDREN QUALIFY FOR SCHOOL LUNCH AND THEY QUALIFIED FOR MEDICAID, WE GET IT.

THAT'S A FAMILY UNIT AND IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE, YOU KNOW, DRASTICALLY IN A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.

SO I THINK THAT'S A WIN THAT WE CAN ALL, YOU KNOW, BE PROUD ABOUT BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT THE HEALTH INFLUENCE OF LIVING IN POVERTY AND SO TO KNOW THAT CHILDREN HAVE THIS CONTINUOUS CARE GOING FORWARD IS IMPORTANT AND IS A WIN AS WELL.

CONTINUING TO TRY TO PUSH FOR THE EMPIRE CHILD TAX CREDIT, THERE WAS SORT OF ONE-TIME SUPPLEMENTS THAT SOME FAMILIES WILL GET OUT OF THIS BUDGET AND AGAIN, A GOOD THING.

ANY TIME WE CAN PUT MONEY IN THE FAMILIES OF POCKETS IS A GOOD THING BUT WE ALSO NEED A LARGER SYSTEMIC POLICIES THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT LARGER GROUPS OF FAMILIES TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE POVERTY RATE.

>> YEAH, I WOULD ALWAYS-- SHE COVERED A LOT OF THAT.

I WOULD JUST ADD TO HER POINT AROUND THE CONTINUOUS COVERAGE OF MEDICAID.

WHEN THAT GOES INTO EFFECT, IT IS GOING TO HAVE A REALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON FAMILIES LIVES AND CHILDREN'S LIVES.

THE IDEA THAT WHEN A CHILD IS BORN, THAT THEY WILL HAVE CONTINUOUS HEALTH INSURANCE, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN 50% OF KIDS ARE COVERED UNDER MEDICAID OR CHILD HEALTH PLUS, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY AS BABIES.

THAT THEY-- THAT THOSE FAMILIES WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DID I RENEW MY CHILD'S MEDICAID BEFORE THEY TAKE THAT CHILD TO THE DOCTOR OR IF THERE IS A HEALTH EMERGENCY, NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT THE COVERAGE OF THAT CHILD.

KIDS GO TO THE DOCTOR A LOT WHEN THEY'RE VERY YOUNG AND THEY NEED TO GO TO THE DOCTOR WHEN THEY ARE VERY YOUNG.

SO THAT JUST REMOVES A STRESS FROM THESE FAMILIES AND ENSURES THAT WHEN KIDS HAVE SOME KIND OF HEALTH CONCERN, THEY CAN GET THE CARE THAT THEY NEED.

AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO MORE OF IN THIS STATE AND REALLY TRY TO WORK WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHEREVER WE CAN, TO ENSURE THAT FAMILIES AREN'T FACING ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT BURDENS OF ACCESS IN GETTING THE SERVICE THAT THEY NEED.

SO IF WE CAN DO IT WITH MEDICAID, WE CAN DO SOME THINGS WITH CHILD CARE, WE CAN ENSURE THAT ONCE A FAMILY IS AUTHORIZED FOR CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE, THAT IT CAN CONTINUE FOR LONGER THAN A YEAR, WHICH IS WHERE IT IS IN MOST OF NEW YORK RIGHT NOW.

WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO HELP FAMILIES ON WIC, YOU KNOW, THE SNAP PROGRAM, THINGS LIKE THAT TO NOT HAVE TO CONSTANTLY JUMP THROUGH HOOPS TO PROVE THAT THEY'RE ENTITLED TO THIS PROGRAM BUT INSTEAD REALIZE THAT FAMILIES NEED SOME SUPPORT AND THAT IT SHOULD BE ON THE GOVERNMENT TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR FAMILIES TO NAVIGATE THESE SYSTEMS AND GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.

>> IT'S ALSO VERY CRITICAL AROUND POLICY TO ENSURE THAT-- SO IN CENTRAL NEW YORK WE ARE GOING THROUGH A RENAISSANCE AROUND TECH AND MANUFACTURING WITH MICRON AND OTHER RESIDUAL.

WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD IN SYRACUSE TO MAKE YOU ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE EQUITABLE FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH MULTIPLE TRAINING PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO RECEIVE $75 MILLION ON ROCHESTER AND BUFFALO FOR THESE TECH MANUFACTURING WORKFORCE HUBS, TO REALLY BE ABLE TO PREPARE INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES, THESE JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

WHAT I WANT TO ENSURE IS THAT WHAT WE CALL THE CLIFF EFFECT, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

SO AS A PERSON'S INCOME BEGINS TO INCREASE, THERE ISN'T AN IMMEDIATE REDUCTION OF BENEFITS, SAFETY NET BENEFITS WHETHER IT BE CHILD CARE, WHETHER IT BE A HOUSING SUBS SUBSIDY.

WHETHER IT BE SNAP BENEFITS THAT ANY JOB THAT YOU GET INTO, YOU NEED A YEAR OR TWO-- REALLY THREE YEARS YOU KNOW YOUR JOB.

SO THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME OPPORTUNITY TO JUST MAINTAIN THOSE BENEFITS AND WEAN PEOPLE OFF OF THEM INSTEAD OF WHAT IS VERY WELL KNOWN AS THE CLIFF EFFECT.

>> WE HAVE TALKED WITH THE STATE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE COMMISSIONER BARBARA GWEN ABOUT THE ISSUE OF CLIFF AND SMOOTHING IT OUT AND SHE HAS ARGUED THEY HAVE TRIED TO DO SOME EFFORTS IN RECENT YEARS TO MAKE IT MORE OF A GRADUAL PROCESS.

HOW SUCCESSFUL DO YOU THINK THE STATE HAS BEEN IN THAT?

>> I THINK THERE IS A COUPLE CLIFFS.

AND THE STATE HAS DONE A LOT OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

TO ITS CREDIT, AT HELPING SOME OF THOSE FAMILIES ON TEMPORARY PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS NOT KIND OF FALL OFF THAT CLIFF SO QUICKLY.

SO SOME OF THE SORT OF INCOME DISREGARDS AND THE TIME IN WHICH THEY CONTINUE RECEIVING CERTAIN SUPPORTS HAS BEEN EXTENDED AND THAT'S BEEN REALLY HELPFUL FOR FAMILIES NOT HAVING TO, YOU KNOW, THE DAY YOU GET A JOB OR THE NEXT MONTH, YOU LOSE ALL THESE BENEFITS AND AGAIN, AS SHARON SAID, WHEN YOU START A JOB, THERE IS UNCERTAINTY.

YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW WELL IT'S GOING TO GO AND, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE SOMETIMES NEED MORE SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN THAT EMPLOYMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO ADDRESSING THOSE CLIFFS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THAT'S FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE BELOW THAT POVERTY THRESHOLD, RECEIVING THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOME WORK TO BE DONE THERE BUT I THINK THE ODTA OFFICE OF DISABILITY TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE IS MAKING BETTER FOR FAMILIES.

THERE IS ANOTHER CLIFF THAT EXISTS FOR FAMILIES JUST ABOVE THE POVERTY THRESHOLD AND THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO.

WE DON'T WANT TO GET TO A POINT WHERE THAT FAMILY OF FOUR WHO IS STRUGGLING MAKING $30,000 A YEAR IS LIVING TECHNICAL WILL I IN POVERTY THEY MAKE A COUPLE MORE THOUSAND DOLLARS NO LONGER MEASURED AS BEING IN MOFORT BUT STILL STRUGGLING ECONOMICALLY THEY MAY NOT FEEL ECONOMICALLY SECURE BECAUSE THEIR HOUSING BENEFITS HAVE GONE UP, SNAP ASSISTANCE HAS GONE DOWN.

EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT IS PHASING OUT AT THIS POINT A LOT OF FOLKS AT THE FULL TIME MINIMUM WAGE POSITION GET A RAISE AND DON'T FEEL IT.

WE NEED TO WORK ON A NUMBER OF POLICIES, TAX POLICIES, BUB-- PUBLIC BENEFIT POLICIES TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY THE FAMILIES ARE EARNING, ARE GOING TO THE FAMILY AND THAT THEIR KIDS ARE GROWING UP IN A MORE ECONOMICALLY SECURE HOUSEHOLD.

>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON, WE ARE GOING HIGHLIGHT AN EFFORT IN THE CITY OF ROCHESTER TO COMBAT CHILD POVERTY.

CONNECT NEW YORK PRODUCER, ALEC AMBRUSO, HAS THAT STORY.

WE'LL GET RIGHT BACK TO SHARING AFTER THAT.

>> THE ROCHESTER MONROE ANTIPOVERTY INITIATE IS A COLLECT LIVE IMPACT ENTITY THAT IS CONVENED AND GATHERED TO ADDRESS THE REALLY THORNY, STICKY PROBLEM OF OBJECT POVERTY IN ROCHESTER.

AND MONROE COUNTY.

ROCHESTER, WHEN RMAPI WAS FORMED IN 2015, WE WERE TALKED ABOUT AS BEING SOMEWHERE IN THE TOP 5 POOREST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY OF CITIES OUR SIZE OR CITIES OVER A CERTAIN SIZE.

AND THAT INCLUDED NOT JUST GENERAL POVERTY, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDED HIGHEST CHILD POVERTY RATES IN THE COUNTRY AND HIGHEST EXTREME POVERTY.

SO THOSE THAT FELL BELOW LIKE HALF THE FEDERAL POVERTY THRESHOLD.

>> WE HAVE POVERTY BECAUSE OF OUR LACK OF GOOD POLICIES.

WE HAVE POVERTY IN GENERATIONAL POVERTY BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT INSTITUTED THE MEANS TO SUPPORT THESE FAMILIES AND TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY NEED TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT AND ECONOMICALLY INDEPENDENT.

WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT POVERTY IN THE CITY OF ROCHESTER BECAUSE OF RACIAL SEGREGATION.

>> SO MY FAMILY, BEING FROM PUERTO RICO, WE COULDN'T LIVE THERE BECAUSE OF WHAT THE U.S. HAS DONE TO PUERTO RICO.

SO WE HAD TO COME HERE AND START AGAIN.

AND WITH HAVING SOME LANGUAGE BARRIERS, THAT STARTED THE WAY MY PARENTS STARTED OUR FAMILY, WE WERE WITH LIMITED MEANS WHEN WE LIVED WHERE WE WERE BORN, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE TOP 25 ZIP CODES IN NEW YORK.

AND THEN WE MOVED HERE TO HOPEFULLY HAVE SOME RELIEF FROM THAT AND THEN CAME INTO THE TOP 5 ZIP CODES OF POVERTY IN NEW YORK.

SO COMING INTO THE SPACE NOW AND WORKING AS AN ADVOCATE ON MY OWN FOR MY JOB AND AN ACTIVIST AS MUCH AS I CAN ON MY OWN TIME, IT WAS BORN OUT OF WANTING TO ESCAPE THAT AND KNOWING THAT I WANTED NOT ONLY ADEQUATE RESOURCES FOR MY CHILDREN BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY AROUND ME, THAT I REALLY FELT WAS PREYED ON BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE BENEFIT FROM THEIR POVERTY.

THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS PROTECTING BUSINESSES AND IS ALL IN THE BUSINESS OF PROFIT SEEKING SO MY FAITH NO, SIR WHERE IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

I AM OPTIMISTIC PERHAPS FOOLISHLY IN THE CITY AND THERE ARE SOME INITIATIVES IN THE COUNTY AS WELL THAT UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE LONG-TERM, IT DOESN'T BENEFIT ANYONE TO HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE LIVING BEYOND FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL FOR SO LONG.

>> DURING COVID, WHEN THEY EXPANDED THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, WE PUT MONEY IN FAMILIES HANDS SO THAT THEY COULD GET THE THINGS THAT THEY NEEDED.

THEY HAD THE ABILITY TO DECIDE WITH ADDITIONAL MONEY IN THEIR HANDS, HOW THEY COULD SPEND MONEY TO COVER THEIR BASIC NEEDS.

AND IT REDUCED CHILD POVERTY BY 50% ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

LIKE THAT ONE POLICY DECISION THAT WAS MADE DURING THE HEIGHT OF A CRISIS, A PANDEMIC, REDUCED POVERTY BY 50%.

AND WHEN IT WASN'T EXTENDED, POVERTY, CHILD POVERTY INCREASED BY MORE THAN 50%.

>> THROUGH RMAPI AND THE CHILDREN'S AGENDA HERE, I BECAME THE PRIME SPONSOR OF THE CHILD POVERTY REDUCTION ACT THAT WE PASSED IN 2021 WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING CHILD POVERTY BY 50% IN 10 YEARS, BY 231.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY ARE WORKING POOR.

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT WORKING.

THEY ARE WORKING.

THEY ARE EARNING MINIMUM WAGE YET HAVING, YOU KNOW, TWO OR THREE CHILDREN.

THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO GET CHILD CARE THAT ALLOWS THEM TO KEEP THEIR JOBS AND GET TO WORK ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

>> WE WERE ABLE TO, IN NEW YORK STATE LAST YEAR, EXPAND THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 AN HOUR WHEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY, OUR FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE IS STILL AT $7.

AND WE KNOW THAT $7 IN OUR COMMUNITY, LIKE NO ONE WOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE ON THAT.

AND $15 STARTS TO GET US CLOSER TO WHAT WE THINK A LIVING WAGE IS BUT NOT CLOSE ENOUGH.

BUT WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THOSE ARE SOME MECHANISMS THAT WE HAVE AT OUR STATE LEVEL TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS THE CAPACITY TO COMBAT CHILD POVERTY WE HAVE TO COMBAT CHILD POVERTY.

MORALLY WE NEED TO DO IT.

IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

NO CHILD SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND AND HAVE TO ENDURE THE TRAUMA OF POVERTY.

WITH $50 MILLION ANTIPOVERTY INITIATIVE, I THINK IS A VERY GOOD TOOL.

THAT $50 MILLION, WE ARE GETTING $25 MILLION IN SYRACUSE AND BUFFALO ARE GETTING 12.5 APIECE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A HUGE INVESTMENT.

THE INTENT IS TO TARGET IT TO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE THE DEEPEST POVERTY LEVELS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AGAIN WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR, HOW HE IS GOING TO START DOING THAT.

>> I WOULD JUST EDGER-- I WOULD JUST URGE LAWMAKERS AND LEGISLATORSES AT THE TABLE TO CONSIDER OTHER EXPERIENCES OUTSIDE OF THEIR OWN AND EVEN MY OWN AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE PROPPED UP TO SPEAK FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

I CANNOT SPEAK FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

I JUST KNOW THE DECISIONS LAWMAKERS AND EVERYBODY MAKES DOES IMPACT EVERYONE.

SO I GUESS I JUST WANT LAWMAKERS TO CAST A WIDER LENS WHEN THEY CONSIDER WHAT WE INVEST IN BECAUSE PROTECTING PROPERTY, PROTECTING BUSINESSES, BUILDING MORE JAILS FOR KIDS IS NOT IT.

WHAT WE NEED TO BE INVESTING IN IS PEOPLE SO THAT WE CAN LIVE WITH DIGNITY.

>> I THINK THAT UNTIL WE INVEST IN FAMILIES AND WE DON'T AT LEAST HAVE THAT AS A BASELINE, WE CANNOT BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE WHAT WE CAN BE AS INDIVIDUALS AND THE WORK WE REFERENCE FROM SOCIOLOGIST MATTHEW DESMOND, HE SAID SOMETHING THAT IS SO ASTOUNDING TO ME.

I KEEP IT RIGHT HERE.

HE SAID POVERTY REDUCES PEOPLE BORN FOR GREAT THINGS.

>> SO, AS I PROMISED, SHARON, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO ADD?

>> JUST THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT LAST POINT.

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

TECHNICALLY THEY'RE NOT CLASSIFIED BECAUSE OF THE INCOME THEY EARN AS IN POVERTY.

IT'S THAT SEESAW EFFECT THAT SO MANY FAMILIES FIND THEMSELVES IN AND OUT OF WHAT IS A DEFINED FINANCIAL STATE, EMOTIONALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY, IT IS A PERPETUAL HAMSTER WHEEL FOR FAMILIES THAT I SEE THE TRAJECTORY OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY MOVING UP.

WHEN SICKNESS OR A JOB DIDN'T GO THE WAY I THOUGHT AND I'M BACK DOWN TO WHERE I WAS BEFORE.

IT IS THE HAMSTER WHEEL THAT IS EMOTIONALLY DRAINING.

>> I WANT TO COME BACK TO SOMETHING YOU BROUGHT UP, WHICH IS THE IDEA OF ADDRESSING CHILD POVERTY OR POVERTY MORE BROADLY BEING A CHOICE.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, IS IT A CHOICE FOR FEDERAL OFFICIALS ONLY?

IS IT SOMETHING THAT STATE POLICYMAKERS HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ACT ON?

DOES IT TRICKLE ALL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE COUNTY AND CITY LEVEL?

WHO ARE THE POLICYMAKERS WITH THAT CHOICE?

>> YEAH, I THINK THERE IS ENOUGH TO GO AROUND, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY, FROM FEDERAL OFFICIALS, STATE AND COUNTY AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, OFTEN AT THE COUNTY OR LOCAL LEVEL, IT'S ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION.

THERE IS FLEXIBILITY FOR COUNTIES TO OFTEN GO ABOVE AND BEYOND.

I KNOW HERE IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY, WE HAVE PUSHED A LONG TIME IN TERMS OF CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES AND THE COUNTY REALLY GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT.

AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.

CERTAINLY AT THE STATE LEVEL, AS THE COUNCIL IS COMING UP WITH OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK FOR OUR STATE LEGISLATORS, OFFICIALS AND THE GOVERNOR, TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR NEW YORK STATE THAT THEY HAVE CONTROL OF, THAT REALLY IS GOING TO HELP ERADICATE CHILD POVERTY AND CERTAINLY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL.

AND THEN WE REALLY NEED ALL OF THOSE THREE LEVELS WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THE BEST FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND TO REALLY LIFT PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY.

AND THEY HAVE TO BE POLICIES THAT ARE LONG-TERM AND SUSTAINABLE.

I THINK I TOTALLY AGREE WITH SHARON, THE SORT OF, YOU ARE HERE TODAY, NEXT MONTH YOU ARE ONE SORT OF CAREY PAIR AWAY FROM-- CAR REPAIR AWAY FROM SLIPPING BACK N. WE ARE NOT DOING SERVICE TO ANYONE.

SO TAKING THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE POLICIES THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN AT ALL THOSE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT IS WHAT IS REALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUR FAMILIES AND OUR CHILDREN.

>> PETE, THE DARK HUMOR ANALYSIS OF SARATOGA COUNTY'S SOCIAL NET IS TO GIVE A BUS COUNTY TO SCHENECTADY COUNTY.

THERE IS VARIATION IN HOW COUNTIES APPROACH THIS ISSUE.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE REPORTS PUT OUT BY THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY DISABILITY ASSISTANCE EVERY YEAR, HOW COUNTIES IMPLEMENT SOCIAL SERVICES.

YOU SEE A PRETTY WIDE RANGE IN OUTCOMES FOR FAMILIES WHEN THEY APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE.

NOT GETTING INTO ALL THE TECHNICAL DETAILS BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT COUNTIES CAN OPERATE THESE PROGRAMS THAT THEY CAN CHOOSE TO SCRUTINIZE FAMILIES VERY CLOSELY.

THEY CAN CHOOSE TO ADD PAPERWORK FOR FAMILIES.

THEY CAN BE HARSHER IN TERMS OF SANCTIONING FAMILIES WHO ARE NOT COMPLYING WITH CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF THE PLAN THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AS A CONDITION FOR THEM GETTING ASSISTANCE.

THERE IS WAYS THAT FOR FAMILIES ON CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE.

THERE IS POLICY LEAVERS THAT COUNTIES CAN USE TO PUSH OR PULL OR NOT.

AND THOSE THINGS ALL HAVE AN EFFECT ON FAMILIES.

THEY HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE ABILITY OF PARENTS TO NAVIGATE THESE SYSTEMS AND RECEIVE SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT THEY NEED.

AND IT DOES VARY PRETTY WIDELY ACROSS THE STATE.

THERE ARE PARTS OF THE STATE THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, REALLY TRYING TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY CAN DO WITHIN THE LAW TO HELP THE FAMILIES THAT NEED HELP AND THERE SEEMS TO BE PARTS OF THE STATE THAT ARE FINDING WAYS TO SCRUTINIZE EVERY POTENTIAL APPLICANT IN A WAY THAT IS NOT AS HELPFUL AS THE FAMILIES NEED.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE SAW DURING COVID, WHEN THERE WAS A LOT OF WAIVERS THAT WERE OUT THERE IN THE, YOU KNOW, I WORK A LOT IN THE CHILD CARE ISSUE AREA, WE SAW VERY WIDE VARIETIES OF APPROACHES ACROSS COUNTIES IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING FAMILIES, IN TERMS OF WAVING CHILD CARE CO-PAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT SOME COUNTIES CHOSE TO DO AND THAT WAS SOMETHING OTHER COUNTIES DIDN'T.

AND THEY REQUIRED FAMILIES TO CONTINUE PAYING PRETTY HIGH CO-PAYS AT THE TIME TO RECEIVE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE.

AND SO I THINK A LOT OF WORK OF ADVOCATES AT THIS STATE LEVEL HAVE BEEN TRYING TO STANDARDIZE SOME OF THE THINGS ACROSS THE STATE TO ENSURE THAT FAMILIES AREN'T TREATED DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE THEY HAPPEN TO LIVE ON THIS SIDE OF A BORDER OR THAT SIDE OF THE BORDER BUT THERE IS CERTAINLY A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO BE DONE.

>> SHARON, AS A CITY OFFICIAL, DO YOU FEEL HAM STRUNG BY THE DECISIONS MADE AT THE COUNTY, STATE OR FEDERAL LEVEL LIKE YOUR HANDS ARE TIED TO A CERTAIN DEGREE?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY THE HANDS ARE TIED BUT THE REALITY OF THE MATTER IS THAT MOST CITIES, PARTICULARLY THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT UPSTATE, SYRACUSE, BUFFALO AND ROCHESTER, THE SAFETY NET PROGRAMS ARE NOT ADMINISTERED BY THOSE CITIES.

BUT THE I AM FACT OF POVERTY IS VERY MUCH FELT BY THE-- THE IMPACT IS VERY MUCH FELT BY THE MAYOR AND THOSE OF US WHO WORK IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

JUST AGAIN JUST GOING BACK TO YOUR POLICY AND INTENTIONALITY OF ADDRESSING POVERTY, AND I THINK NEW YORK STATE IS REALLY, THROUGH THE WORK THAT THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS ARE DOING, REALLY TAKING A SOLID LOOK AT THIS, THE COMPTROLLER JUST CAME OUT WITH A REPORT HIMSELF AROUND THIS.

IT REALLY HAS TO START BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT POLICY AND AGAIN I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THAT, DEBUNKING STEREOTYPES ABOUT WHO IS IN POVERTY AND WHO IS ACTUALLY SUFFERING FROM THE DISEASE OF POVERTY.

TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IT FROM THE, FIRST OF ALL, THE PERSPECTIVE OF HUMANITY, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL OF US AS NEW YORKERS, ADDRESSING POVERTY AND ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN POVERTY IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE.

AND SO IT IS IN OUR BEST INTEREST COLLECTIVELY TO BEGIN TO PROVIDE AND LOOK AT ALL OF THE, YOU KNOW, OPTIONS THAT THIS TASK FORCE WILL COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO MOVE US FORWARD SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO DEPEND ON SAFETY NET PROGRAMS.

OR NOT SURVIVE WITH SAFETY NET PROGRAMS.

>> ALLISON, IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING CHILD POVERTY, I KNOW THE COUNCIL IS GOING TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STATE POLICYMAKERS, BUT IS THIS AN ISSUE WHERE WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WORKS AND WE NEED TO STUDY IT OR DO WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT ACTUALLY REVERSES POVERTY?

>> I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION, TO BE FAIR.

YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT SOME OF THE RELIEF THAT FAMILIES RECEIVE DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, THAT WE KNOW HELPED TO, YOU KNOW, LIFT FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY NATIONALLY, THINGS LIKE THE CASH, RIGHT, IN HAND TO FAMILIES.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COUNCIL AND OTHER ADVOCATES ARE LOOKING AT IS THESE KIND OF PILOTS WHERE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE CASH TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND ALLOW THEM TO DECIDE.

GIVE THEM AGENCY TO DECIDE WHAT IT IS THAT THEY NEED TO DO.

PAY RENT, BUY GROCERIES, PAY A UTILITY BILL, ET CETERA.

THAT LIFTED, NATIONALLY, 45% OF FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY.

SO WE COULD START THERE.

AND THEN THE COUNCIL, I THINK, AS PETE MENTIONED EARLIER, WE ARE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE HOUSING VOUCHERS AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND INCREASING THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.

BUT ALSO LOOKING AT HOW THOSE, THE INTERPLAY, RIGHT, BETWEEN ANY DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE RESEARCHERS COME IN.

THE COUNCIL IS WORKING WITH URBAN INSTITUTE, WHO ARE RUNNING MODELS, SIMULATIONS TO SAY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU INCREASE THE CHILD TAX CREDIT AND YOU ALSO GIVE A HOUSING VOUCHER.

WHAT FAMILIES ARE IMPACTED, TO WHAT LEVEL IN WHAT ARE THE CLIFFS THAT MAY COME UP.

WE ARE WAITING FOR MORE OF THAT RESEARCH.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO NOTHING UNTIL WE GET THE RESEARCH, WHICH SOMETIMES HAPPENS IN GOVERNMENT.

OH WE ARE GOING TO STUDY, WE ARE GOING TO STUDY.

WE DON'T HAVE TO STUDY TOO MUCH BECAUSE AS I SAID, WHEN WE INCREASE THE INCOME FOR FAMILIES, WHEN WE GAVE, YOU KNOW, FREE SCHOOL LUNCH TO ALL KIDS, THIS IMPACTED FAMILIES POSITIVELY.

SO WE COULD START THERE.

WE CAN START THERE WHILE WE ARE WAITING FOR SOME OF THE MORE INTENSIVE RESEARCH TO HAPPEN AS WELL.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO TO DO BOTH AND IS THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION.

>> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TIE THE IMPACT OF HOUSING POLICIES AND STRATEGIES TO POVERTY.

THAT IS WHY HOUSING HISTORIC HOUSING POLICIES IN SYRACUSE ARE WHY WE HAVE SUCH HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF POVERTY IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

BECAUSE, AGAIN, POVERTY IS A FINANCIAL DEFINITION BUT IT'S A PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL, TOO.

AND THE HEALTHIEST COMMUNITIES ARE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE A MIX OF ALL LEVELS OF INCOME IN THEM.

THOSE ARE THE STRONGEST COMMUNITIES AS FAR AS NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION IS CONCERNED.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE BLOCKS OF YOUR CITIES THAT EVERYONE WHO LIVES THERE IS UNDER THE POVERTY RATE, IT IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL BURDEN ON THE INDIVIDUALS IN THAT COMMUNITY.

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

SO I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE REALLY INTENSE CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN OUR CITIES AND OUR SUBURBS AND WITHIN OUR CITIES THAT'S A REALLY SIGNIFICANT, YOU KNOW, BURDEN ON THOSE FAMILIES WHO ARE LIVING IN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THERE ARE POLICY LEAVERS THAT WE CAN PUSH ON, PARTICULARLY AROUND HOUSING THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A REGIONAL APPROACH.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE STIFF SYRACUSE CAN DO ON ITS OWN, THE CITY OF ROCHESTER CAN DO ON ITS OWN.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT ONONDAGA COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE UP ONONDAGA COUNTY CAN WORK ON.

A COUPLE YEARS AGO I TOOK A LOOK AT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ROCHESTER AREA AND YOU DON'T SEE MUCH AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILT IN THE SUBURBS.

AND TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU DO SEE IT, IT'S MOSTLY FOR SENIORS, FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

IT'S NOT OFTEN HOUSING FOR FAMILIES IN OUR SUBURBS.

AND SO THAT'S LIMIT CAN THE ABILITY OF FAMILIES THAT DON'T HAVE A TON OF RESOURCES TO LIVE IN SOME OF THOSE SUBURBSAN COMMUNITIES AND THAT ADDS TO THE COLLECTIVE STRESSES THAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING IN SOME OF OUR LOWEST INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY OF ROCHESTER, FOR EXAMPLE.

>> AND I WOULD JUST ADD, I MEAN I THINK WHY WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, AS HE SAID, THE SORT OF SYSTEMIC POLICIES IS BECAUSE THERE WAS SYSTEMIC POLICIES OF THE PAST, RACIST POLICIES OF THE PAST, THAT REALLY LED TO THIS SORT OF CONCENTRATED POVERTY THAT BOTH SHARON AND PETE ARE SPEAKING OF IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND SO WE HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES AND FIND POLICIES TO YOUR HONOR-- TO UNDO THE HARM OF RACIST POLICIES IN THE PAST THAT MADE FOR LIMITED HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, LIMITED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, LIMITED EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS, HISPANIC, LATINO AND OTHER FAMILIES OF COLOR IN THIS STATE AND IN THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE.

>> SO I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A POLICY LEAVER THAT WOULD ADDRESS CHILD POVERTY AND POVERTY MORE BROADLY, THE SO CALLED WORKING FAMILIES TAX CREDIT THAT HAS BEEN KICKING AROUND IN ALBANY.

AN ADDITIONAL EARLY ANALYSIS OF THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM DONE BY THE CHILD POVERTY REDUCTION ADVISORY COUNCIL FOUND IF FULLY IMPLEMENTED IT COULD CUT CHILD POVERTY BY 45%, I THINK WAS THE NUMBER RIGHT AROUND THERE.

BUT THAT CAME WITH A PRICE TAG OF ABOUT $$7 BILLION AND THAT'S BILLION WITH A B FOR LISTENERS.

NOTES THAT'S NOT A ONE-TIME COST BUT A RECURRING COST IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO SEE THE BENEFIT.

SO WHEN LISTENERS OR VIEWERS HEAR $7 BILLION, HOW SHOULD THEY THINK ABOUT THAT TYPE OF INVESTMENT?

>> WELL, I THINK, FIRST OF ALL HAVE YOU TO LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY SPENDING OUR MONEY ON AND A WHOLE BUNCH, AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, THE EFFECTS OF CHILD POVERTY, THE COST TO SOCIETY OF CHILD POVERTY OVER THE LONG RUN, COMPARED TO THOSE THINGS, $7 BILLION, $5 BILLION, THINGS LIKE THAT, IS NOT ACTUALLY ALL THAT MUCH.

>> FOR CONTEXT IT'S A $230 BILLION STATE BUDGET.

>> THAT'S THE OTHER POINT.

THIS WOULD BE A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY RELATIVE TO THE ENTIRE STATE BUDGET.

THE WORKING FAMILY TAX CREDIT, THE CHILDREN'S AGENDA WE ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF IT, IT'S A BROAD CREDIT THAT WOULD GO TO, YOU KNOW, NEARLY EVERY FAMILY WITH CHILDREN IN NEW YORK STATE BUT WOULD TARGET RESOURCES IN A PARTICULAR WAY TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

BUT THEN ALSO, BY CONSOLIDATING SOME EXISTING CREDITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IT WOULD ADDRESS SOME OF THE CLIFF EFFECTS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER WHERE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE STATE'S EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT ON TOP OF THE FEDERAL EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT FAMILIES EXPERIENCE A DROP IN THEIR CREDIT AS THEIR INCOME GOES FROM 30 TO $50,000 RANGE.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

I HOPE SOME VERSION OF IT, YOU KNOW, MAKES IT TO NEXT YEAR'S STATE BUDGET.

I THINK IT WOULD HAVE A TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACT ON FAMILIES AND THEIR WELL-BEING.

BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE COULD SCALE UP OVER THE COURSE OF A NUMBER OF YEARS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO START WITH THAT BIG PRICE TAG.

YOU CAN START WITH WHAT THE STATE BUDGET FEELS, THE LAWMAKERS FEEL THEY CAN ACHIEVE IN A YEAR.

WHETHER THAT'S $600 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR OR A BILLION DOLLARS IN THE FIRST YEAR, I'M ALWAYS GOING TO PUSH FOR THE LARGEST NUMBER WE CAN FIND BUT IT IS THE KIND OF THING YOU CAN SCALE UP OVER TIME AND THE NEW VERSION OF THE LEGISLATION FORECASTS LIKE A FIVE-YEAR IMPLEMENTATION TO ALLOW US TO GET TO PRICE TAG WHICH I DON'T THINK IS QUITE $7 BILLION BUT IT IS LARGE.

>> ALLISON, WHEN IT COMES TO CHILD POVERTY REDUCTION ADVISORY COUNCIL, YOU HAVE BEEN MEETING FOR A WHILE NOW.

AND YOU GUYS ARE AN ADVISORY GROUP.

YOU ARE NOT A POLICY MAKING ENTITY.

SO HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF THAT WORK?

DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE YOU ARE SCREAMING INTO THE VOID?

>> NO, I MEAN I COULDN'T BE A CHILD ADVOCATE AND FEEL THAT WAY AND GET UP EVERY MORNING.

I DO FEEL THAT THE COUNCIL IS SET UP WITH SUBCOMMITTEES, WHERE THERE ARE EXPERTS ON DIFFERENT AREAS AND FEEDING INFORMATION BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

AND THOSE AROUND THE TABLE, I THINK, ARE COMING ALT IT WITH BEST INTEXTS-- BEST INTENTIONS TO GET SOMETHING DONE BUT IT IS OUR ROLE AS ADVOCATES TO MAKE THE NOISE, TO CONTINUE TO PUSH, TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO HOLD THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATORS REALLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR GOAL TO REDUCE CHILD POVERTY IN NEW YORK STATE.

>> IS THERE AN URGENCY TO THE WORK WHEN IT COMES TO REDUCING CHILD POVERTY?

I MENTION IT'S A 50% GOAL OF REDUCING CHILD POVERTY BY 2032.

SO DOES THAT MEAN WE HAVE TO HAVE ACTION OF A SUBSTANTIAL NATURE IN THE 2025 BUDGET NEXT YEAR OR IS THIS SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN WAIT UNTIL 231 AND INVEST THE WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM ALL AT ONCE?

>> NO, I THINK AS PETE SAID, WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS REAL ACTION FOR NEXT YEAR FOR 2025, NOT THAT EVERYTHING WILL HAPPEN IN ONE FISCAL YEAR BUT WE NEED TO GIVE OURSELVES THAT FIVE-YEAR ROAD TRACK TO SEE WHATTER WITH ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ON EACH OF THOSE YEARS AND NEED TO HAVE BIG ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

I DO FEEL FRUSTRATION THAT WE HAVE BEEN WHITD WILLING AROUND THE-- WHITTLING AROUND THE EDGES AND THERE IS URGENCY, AS YOU SAID, DAVID, TO REALLY HAVE SOME INVESTMENTS IN THESE UPCOMING BUDGETS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THAT REALLY CAN POINT TO LARGE PERCENTAGES OF DECREASE IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THAT 50% GOAL BY 2032.

>> YEAH, I MEAN WE CAN'T TREAT IT LIKE I OCCASIONALLY TREATED TERM PAPERS IN COLLEGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT BECAUSE THESE ISSUES ARE COMPLICATED, RIGHT?

WE CAN HAVE ALL THE MODELING FROM VARIOUS EXPERTS THAT WE CAN FIND, BUT THE REALITY IS WHATEVER WE PROPOSE IS GOING GO THROUGH A POLITICAL PROCESS AND HEIGHTS HOPEFULLY SOME VERSION OF IT WILL SURVIVE AND MAKE IT THROUGH, YOU KNOW, TOUGH BUDGET YEARS IN THE FUTURE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT I THINK WE WOULD BE PRETTY WRONG HEADED TO THINK THAT WHAT GETS PROPOSED AND PASSED AND IMPLEMENTED RIGHT AWAY WILL HAVE , YOU KNOW, WON'T HAVE ANY KINKS TO WORK OUT.

IT'S GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE PLANNED FOR IT TO DO.

AND THINGS TAKE TIME.

ANY CHANGE, PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN STATE POLICY, TAKES, YOU KNOW, SOME PERIOD OF TIME TO IMPLEMENT AND THEN I WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL TO BE THERE TO EVALUATE WHAT IS HAPPENING, HOW IS THIS ACTUALLY PLAYING OUT?

HOW CAN WE ADDRESS SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT LIKE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS WE CAN PROPOSE.

A HOUSING ACCESS VOUCHER PROGRAM THAT IS TOO HARD TO ACCESS TO ACTUALLY HELP ANY FAMILIES GET THE HOUSING THEY NEED.

WE NEED TO SEE THESE THINGS KIND OF COME TO LIFE AND THEN EVALUATE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW TO IMPROVE THEM IN ORDER TO HIT THAT TARGET.

AND HOPEFULLY EXCEED THAT TARGET.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD SETTLE FOR A 50% REDUCTION.

WE SHOULD BE AIMING TO CREATE A NEW YORK WHERE NO CHILD IS EXPERIENCING POVERTY AND THAT'S A TALL ORDER.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO ACHIEVE BUT THAT ULTIMATELY SHOULD BE OUR GOAL AS PEOPLE IN NEW YORK AND PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN IN THIS STATE.

>> WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT AND I'M CURIOUS, HOW OPTIMISTIC DO YOU FEEL ABOUT EFFORTS TO REDUCE CHILD POVERTY IN LIGHT OF WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AND WHAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED IN SYRACUSE?

>> EVEN IN SYRACUSE, WE HAVE BEEN ON THE TOP OF THE CHILDREN WITH MOST POVERTY IN THE NATION LIST MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT INCREMENTALLY WE HAVE BEEN CHIPPING AWAY AT THAT.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE IS THAT THE CHIPPING AWAY IS NOT HAPPENING FAST ENOUGH SO WE REALLY NEED TO BE FULL ON INTENTIONAL.

I'M HOPEFUL BECAUSE THIS IS THE GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK.

WE ARE NEW YORKERS.

WHEN WE PUT OUR MINDS AND OUR HEARTS TO SOMETHING, WE FIGURE OUT THE WAY AND WE FIND THE WAY, THE PATH TO DO IT.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR ANY COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S URBAN, RURAL, SUBURBAN, THAT ALMOST 50% OF ITS CHILDREN ARE LIVING IN POVERTY.

WE, AS A STATE, WE ARE AS NEW YORKERS, ARE BETTER THAN THAT.

AND WE SHOULD NEVER ACCEPT THAT.

>> ALLISON, WEAVE GOT ABOUT-- WE'VE GOT ABOUT A MINUTE.

YOU MENTIONED HAVING THE ADVOCACY SPIRIT.

DOES THAT MEAN YOU ARE AN OPTIMISTIC AS WELL OR ARE THERE DAYS WHERE YOU DEFINITELY DON'T SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?

>> THERE ARE SOME DAYS, TO BE HONEST.

BUT I REMAIN OPTIMISTIC.

I THINK AS SHARON STATED, THAT THERE ARE CERTAINLY DECISION MAKERS THAT HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THAT I KNOW ARE WORKING THEIR HARDEST TO GET THIS DONE.

AND THAT, WITH THE ADVOCATES, SORT OF PUSHING AND HOPING AND WORKING TOWARDS SORT OF, YOU KNOW, ERADICATING CHILD POVERTY ALL TOGETHER, THAT WILL LAND SOMEWHERE THAT CERTAINLY IS ABLE TO LIFT SOME FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY.

SO I REMAIN OPTIMISTIC.

IT'S A LONG ROAD AND IT'S A HARD ROAD AHEAD FOR SURE.

I DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE THAT.

BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO SORT OF, YOU KNOW, KEEP OUR EYE ON THE PRIZE, AS THEY SAID AND CONTINUE TO PUSH AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS AND SHARE WHAT WE ARE FINDING OUT WITH THE PUBLIC.

, SO THEY, TOO, CAN VOICE THEIR OPINIONS TO DECISION MAKERS THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR, AS WE SAID, HUMANITY, FOR THE CHILDREN IN THE FUTURE, BUT ALSO FOR THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF NEW YORK STATE MOVING FORWARD SO I REMAIN OPTIMISTIC.

>> WELL, ON THAT POSITIVE NOTE, I THINK WILL WE PROBABLY TRY TO WRAP THINGS UP BEFORE WE GET ANY NEGATIVE COMMENTS.

SO THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TODAY.

MY THANKS TO SYRACUSE DEPUTY MAYOR SHARON OWENS, THE CHILDRENS AGENDA'S PETE NABOZNY AND WESTCHESTER CHILDREN'S ASSOCIATION'S ALLISON LAKE.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO REVISIT THIS EPISODE - OR DIG INTO THE CONNECT NEW YORK ARCHIVES - VISIT WCNY.ORG/CONNECTNEWYORK.

AND FOR MORE STATE GOVERNMENT COVERAGE, INCLUDING MORE ABOUT ANTI-POVERTY EFFORTS, CHECK OUT THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM AT CAPITOL PRESSROOM DOT ORG, OR WHEREVER YOU DOWNLOAD PODCASTS.

ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE TEAM AT WCNY - I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - THANKS FOR WATCHING.