>> DAVID LOMBARDO: ON THIS MONTH'S EDITION OF" "CONNECT NEW YORK," WE ARE EXPLORING FOOD INSECURITY IN THE EMPIRE STATE AND THE EFFORTS TO COMBAT HUNGER.

ALL THAT, AND MORE, ON CONNECT NEW YORK.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO "CONNECT-NEW YORK."

I'M DAVID LOMBARDO.

LATER IN THE EPISODE, WE WILL BRING YOU A DISPATCH FROM THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM IN ALBANY, WHERE WE REFLECTED ON THE YEAR IN STATE GOVERNMENT WITH POLITICO NEW YORK REPORTER BILL MAHONEY, BUT FIRST WE'RE DIVING INTO THIS MONTH'S TOPIC: FOOD INSECURITY IN THE EMPIRE STATE.

AND OUR GUESTS IN THE STUDIO ARE NATASHA PERNICKA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ALLIANCE FOR A HUNGER FREE NEW YORK COLLEEN HEFLIN, PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY AND MAURA ACKERMAN, CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SYRACUSE-ONONDAGA FOOD SYSTEMS ALLIANCE.

AND JOINING US REMOTELY IS KRISTA HESDORFER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR HUNGER SOLUTIONS NEW YORK.

SO, FOR START ERST, WHAT EXACTLY CONSTITUTES FOOD INSECURITY?

AND IS THIS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS DEFINED OR LIKE PORNOGRAPHY, WHERE WE KNOW IT WHEN WE SEE IT?

>> THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HAS COME UP WITH A MEASURE AND DEFINED FOOD INSECURITY SINCE 1996.

THE MEASURE IS FORMALLY DEFINED AS ACCESS BY ALL HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS AT ALL TIMES TO ENOUGH FOOD FOR A HEALTHY AND SAFE LIFESTYLE.

IT'S MEASURED WITH-- BY AN 18-ITEM SERIES OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE FIELDED IN THE CURRENT POPULATION SURVEY.

THIS IS THE SAME SURVEY THAT WE GET THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, THE POVERTY RATE FROM.

AND HAS BEEN MEASURED BY THE U.S.

CENSUS BUREAU, FROM 1996 UNTIL LAST YEAR.

>> YEAH AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DEFINITELY GET INTO.

MAURA, WITH BOOTS ON THE GROUND EXPERIENCE, WHAT DOES THE POPULATION THAT IS LOOKING FOR HELP FEEDING THEMSELVES OR THEIR FAMILIES, LOOK LIKE AND IS IT WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT SIMPLY PEOPLE ON THE LOW END OF THE INCOME THRESHOLD?

OR IS IT MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT.

>> I THINK IT'S FAR MORE COMPLICATED THAN ANY OF US REALIZE AND TRUTHFULLY FOR ALMOST ALL OF US, AASIDE FROM THE VERY, VERY FEW, MANY, MANY FOLKS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE ONE CAR ACCIDENT, HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY AWAY FROM NEEDING TO RELY ON THE EMERGENCY FOOD SYSTEM OR OTHER SUPPORTS TO FEED OUR FAMILIAR.

>> IS HOW HAS DEMAND, I GUESS RISEN OR FALLEN IN RECENT YEARS BECAUSE WE HEARD A LOT.

AND WE SAW A LOT ABOUT THE DEMAND FOR FOOD SUPPORT WITH THE PANDEMIC IN 2020.

>> YEAH, I MEAN DURING THE PANDEMIC, OBVIOUSLY THERE WERE MASSIVE SHIFTS IN THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN AS WELL AS INCREASED RELIANCE ON FOOD PANTRIES AS EL ELWELL AS OTHER THINGS.

BUT WE ALSO CAME TOGETHER AS A NATION AND PROVIDED SUPPORTS TO FOLKS AT ALL LEVELS THAT REALLY REDUCED THE IMPACTS OF HUNGER AND WE SAW THAT IN THE NUMBERS COLLEEN JUST REFERENCED.

AND WHEN THE SUPPORTS ENDED, INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR THINGS LIKE RENT AND OTHER SUPPORTS, THAT DEMAND HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE AND HAS ONLY SURPASSED WHERE WE WERE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

NATASHA CAN SPEAK TO THAT A LOT.

>> I'VE SEEN SOME FIGURES OUT OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, I THINK FROM A 2024-2023 REPORT THAT SAID ONE IN FOUR NEW YORK ADULTS ARE LIVING IN SOME SORT OF LEVELS OF FOOD INSECURITY.

WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THAT ISSUE STATE WIDE?

AND HOW DO WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT PROBLEM LOOKS LIKE?

>> THE SURVEY THAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO IS A PULSE SURVEY.

SO THERE HAS BEEN SOME QUESTION ABOUT, IS IT ONE IN FOUR OR ARE WE MORE AROUND ONE IN EIGHT OR ONE IN 10.

THOSE NUMBERS KIND OF GO UP AND DOWN STATEWIDE.

WE DO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, FOOD INSECURITY IS ONE LEVEL.

WE CAN ALSO TALK ABOUT NUTRITION SECURITY.

SO NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO EAT, IS THE FOOD YOU ARE EATING NUTRITIOUS.

IT CAN BE THE SAME BUT YOU CAN TAKE IT AT LEVELS THAT WHAT WE ARE SEEING FROM THE FOOD PANTRY PART OF OUR FOOD SYSTEM IS THAT WE HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED OVERALL 70% INCREASE IN DISTRIBUTION FROM 2019 TO 2024.

AND LAST YEAR IN NEW YORK'S CAPITAL REGION WAS OUR HIGHEST SERVICE LEVEL INCREASE WE HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED WITH A COALITION OF 75 FOOD PANTRIES IN THE CAPITAL REGION.

WE HAD MORE THAN 40% INCREASE IN THE UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS TURNING TO FOOD PANTRIES.

AND THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.

THE FOOD PANTRIES FOR THE CAPITAL DISTRICT IS A COMPANY LITIONZ THAT HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1979 AND THIS YEAR IT'S 5% HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT WHAT DOES FOOD INSECURITY LOOK LIKE AND WHO ARE THE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS, WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE THAT HADN'T, IN THE PAST, HAVE TO TURN TO FOOD PANTRIES PEOPLE WHO ARE RETIRED LIVING ON EXTREMELY FIXED INCOMES.

ONE PANTRY WAS SAYING THERE WAS AN OLDER GENTLEMAN WHO SAID I'M RETIRED.

I ONLY GET $26 A MONTH IN SNAP, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

SO THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE ARE FINDING THEMSELVES AT FOOD PANTRIES.

THE OTHER THING, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED A LOT IN THE PAST, COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE SEEKING FOOD ASSISTANCE.

AND THE OTHER AREA IS REALLY WORKING FAMILIES.

I WAS GIVING A PRESENTATION RECENTLY AT A CORPORATE ORGANIZATION AND AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING-- ALL THE WORK YOU DO IN THE PRESENTATION.

SHE SAID MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH WORK, BUT IF WE DIDN'T TURN TO A FOOD PANTRY EACH MONTH, WE WOULD NOT BE MAKING ENDS MEET.

SO I REALLY THINK WITH WAGES NOT KEEPING UP WITH COST OF LIVING, SNAP NOT GOING AS FAR AS IT USED TO WITH FOOD INFLATION, I WOULD CALL THIS A CRISIS.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, TOO, THAT WHILE POVERTY IS A REALLY SIGNIFICANT RISK FACTOR FOR FOOD INSECURITY, THERE IS MORE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE, ACTUALLY, WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE.

IT IS THE WORKING POOR.

IT'S PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY EARN TOO MUCH TO POTENTIALLY QUALIFY FOR SNAP.

AND SO THERE IS THIS, YOU KNOW, A DOUGHNUT HOLE, WHERE THEY ARE MAKING TOO MUCH TO QUALIFY FOR SOME OF THE PROGRAMS BUT NOT ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY BECOME FOOD SECURE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT WITH THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND THE HIGHER COSTS, BOTH HOUSING AS WELL AS FOOD AND TRANSPORTATION, UTILITIES.

>> AND I THINK A LOT OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SOUNDS LIKE A FOREIGN WORLD TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY.

AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, YOU GET SOME MYTHS OR MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE POPULATION THAT IS IN NEED OF HELP AND THAT IS GETTING SERVICE AND KRISTA, I WANT TO TURN TO YOU, GIVEN THE FACT THAT YOU WORK IN THE WORLD OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS IN THIS SPACE.

I'M CURIOUS, ARE THERE ANY MISPERCEPTIONS OR MYTHS THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO TRY TO COMPAT-- COMBAT OR HEAR FREQUENTLY AND GO THAT'S JUST WRONG?

>> THERE ARE DEFINITELY MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT WHO EXPERIENCES FOOD INSECURITY AND ALSO TO PARTICIPATES IN FEDERAL ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAMS LIKE SNAP.

THE TRUTH IS THAT NEARLY THREE MILLION NEW YORKERS RELY ON SNAP BENEFITS.

THAT'S ABOUT ONE IN SEVEN OF OUR NEIGHBORS.

AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE FOLKS ARE CHILDREN, SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

THAT'S NOT OFTEN THE PICTURE THAT IS PAINTED IN THE MEDIA, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW.

THERE IS A LOT OF RHETORIC AROUND FRAUD AND ABUSE IN THE PROGRAM.

THAT'S NOT REFLECTING IN THE REALITY OF WHO IS RECEIVING FOOD BENEFITS.

AND IT DOESN'T ALSO AFFECT OR ACCOUNT FOR THE FACT THAT FOOD INSECURITY DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED HOUSEHOLDS THAT CHIRP, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY INEQUITIES IN DECADES.

>> YOU HAVE MADE SOME WONDERFUL POINTS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS REALLY TRY TO LISTEN TO FOLKS AND REALLY HEAR THEIR STORIES AND ELEVATE THOSE STORIES DIRECTLY TO ELECTED OFFICIALS.

SO JUST THIS LAST FRIDAY, WE ACTUALLY CONVENED A CONVERSATION WITH OVER 50 FOLKS, INCLUDING TENNEY LECTED OFFICIALS.

-- 10Y ECT WILLED OFFICIALS WHO JOINED US TO LISTEN TO FOOD IMPACTED AND FOOD OPERATORS ABOUT THE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD BENEFITS AND WE HEARD SUCH COMPELLING STORIES FROM THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT REALLY DO HELP TO DISPEL SOME OF THESE MYTHS ABOUT WHO FOLKS ARE AND THAT THEY'RE TAKING AND HOARDING FROM THE SYSTEM.

THESE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE SHARING, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER EXTRA I HAD, I WAS LOOKING TO MY NEIGHBORS TO SHARE IT.

AND WE COULD ALL LEARN FROM THAT KIND OF IMPULSE, TO BE ABLE TO SHARE MUCH MORE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

>> YEAH I WANT TO COME BACK TO SOMETHING THAT COLLEEN REFERRED TO EARLY ON AND THAT HAS DO WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HALTING THE RECURRING HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY REPORT.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ENDING THIS YEARLY DATA COLLECTION EFFORT WHICH I THINK HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR LIKE THREE DECADES NOW?

>> THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR MANY COMMUNITIES.

SO THIS REPORT IS USED TO IDENTIFY, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE AGAPS IN FOOD NEEDS ARE.

SO BOTH DEMOGRAPHICALLY, THE DATA HAVE TOLD US THAT OLDER ADULT FOOD INSECURITY HAS BEEN GROWING SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.

WE WOULDN'T KNOW THAT WITHOUT THIS REPORT.

AND THAT HELPS FOOD SYSTEMS THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE TARGET OLDER ADULTS THAT HAVE MOBILITY CHALLENGES AND TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES?

MAYBE IN GOING AND CARRIEING THE FEED THEY WOULD GET FROM A FOOD PANTRY BECAUSE WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THIS NEED.

NATIONWIDE, IT HELPS LARGE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MEALS ON WHEELS, AND FEEDING AMERICA; THINK ABOUT WHICH GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS, WHICH STATES HAVE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF NEED SO THAT THEY CAN DIRECT THEIR PHILANTHROPIC RESOURCES TO THOSE REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY.

SO DURING THIS PERIOD WHERE WE HAVE ECONOMIC AND POLICY CONDITIONS CHANGING, BOTH IN WAYS THAT ARE LIKELY TO MAKE FOOD INSECURITY INCREASE, WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THIS REALLY IMPORTANT BAROMETER TO TELL US WHO IT IS INCREASING FOR AND WHERE THE INCREASES ARE OCCURRING SO THAT WE CAN MORE OFFICIALLY TARGET OUR RESOURCES TO THOSE IN GREATEST LEVELS OF NEED.

>> I MEAN THAT REALLY IMPACTS OUR ABILITY TO ADVOCATE AS WELL BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE THE DATA.

AND THIS IS WHERE FOOD PANTRY DATA IS GOING TO BE MORE CRITICAL BECAUSE WE WILL AT LEAST BE ABLE TO COLLECT STATISTICS FROM A COMMUNITY LEVEL, BUT YOU MAKE REALLY GOOD POINTS.

IT'S VERY DEVASTATING FOR US IN THE ANTI-HUNGER WORLD.

>> SO WE CAN'T JUST ASSUME EVERYONE IS BEING FED NOW THAT THE REPORT HAS GOOP AWAY?

PINPOINT IT SHOULD THAT DATA BE COLLECTED AGAIN IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE ARE GOING MISS SOME REALLY CRITICAL TRENDS WITHOUT THAT DATA.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE THOSE STORIES REAL AND TO HUMANIZE THOSE DIRECT EXPERIENCES OF WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS TO HAVE-- TO BE MAKING A CHOICE BETWEEN FEEDING YOURSELF AND FEEDING YOUR CHILDREN WHICH IS VERY FREQUENTLY WHAT WE HEAR ABOUT FROM FAMILIES, RIGHT?

IS THAT THE ADULTS GO HUNGRY SO THAT THE CHILDREN DON'T.

AND THE CHILDREN ARE INSULATED FROM HUNGER WITHIN THE FAMILY.

AND SO WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO ELEVATE THOSE STORIES AND NOT AS ANECDOTES BUT AS REAL HUMANIZING EXPERIENCES SO THAT WE CAN CONNECT TO ONE ANOTHER ON A TRUE LEVEL AND BRING THOSE NUMBERS AND THE STORIES TOGETHER TO TELL A COMPLETE PICTURE OF WHAT THIS IS ACTUALLY LOOKING LIKE ON THE GROUND AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY.

>> WELL, I WANT TO PIVOT AND TALK NOW ABOUT WHAT IS ACTUALLY OUT THERE TO HELP PEOPLE AND KRISTA, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK IS PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE THAT IS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW IN FEEDING PEOPLE IN NEW YORK?

>> SO SNAP IS, BY FAR, OUR LARGEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAM.

I MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT THREE MILLION NEW YORKERS RELY ON SNAP BENEFITS TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

CERTAINLY THERE IS ROOM FOR GROWTH, BENEFIT AMOUNTS ARE MODEST, AND IN MANY CASES INADEQUATE TO COVER A FULL MONTH'S FOOD BENEFIT COST.

>> CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT?

BECAUSE I THINK SOME PEOPLE THINK OF HEY, SNAP, THESE PEOPLE ARE FINE.

BUT YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY REFLECT WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO SPEND TO FEED THEIR FAMILY.

>> RIGHT.

SO THE AVERAGE SNAP BENEFIT IS ABOUT $6.89 PER PERSON PER DAY.

IN NEW YORK STATE, THAT COVERS LESS THAN TWO MEALS PER DAY BASED ON OUR AVERAGE MEAL COSTS.

AND FOR SOME HOUSEHOLDS, ABOUT 80,000 NEW YORKERS, THEY RECEIVE THE FEDERAL MINIMUM SNAP BENEFIT, WHICH IS JUST BORROW $24 PER MONTH.

THAT CERTAINLY IS NOT GOING TO GET YOU THROUGH A MONTH OR EVEN A WEEK'S WORTH OF GROCERY COSTS.

SO WE AND MANY OF OUR PARTNERS ARE ADVOCATING FOR NEW YORK TO STEP IN AND PROVIDE A GUARANTEED $100 MINIMUM BENEFIT TO HELP SUPPLEMENT TO MAKE THOSE BENEFITS MORE ADEQUATE FOR FAMILIAR.

>> IS THAT'S LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN KICKING AROUND THE CAPITOL FOR A WHILE NOW.

ANY SENSE OF THES IF FISCAL NOTE WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

ARE WE TALKING PLLS OF DOLLARS, OR BREAK OUT THE B WORD, BILLIONS.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO FILL THE GAP, OR TO BEGIN THE FILL THE GAP.

>> IT WOULD COST ABOUT $100 MILLION TO PROVIDE THAT GUARANTEED $100 PER MONTH SNAP BENEFIT FOR ALL OF THE HOUSEHOLDS IN NEW YORK THAT RECEIVE LESS THAN $100 RIGHT NOW.

I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WHEN YOU BUILD ON AND SUPPLEMENT FEDERAL PROGRAMS, MORE PEOPLE PARTICIPATE AND THAT DRAWS DOWN ADDITIONAL FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT THEN SUPPORT NEW YORK'S ECONOMY.

SO IT'S NOT JUST AN UP FRONT COST.

IT HELPS FAMILIES RIGHT NOW AND IT SUPPORTS OUR FISCAL FUTURE.

>> COLLEEN, THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM OR SNAP HAS BEEN GETTING ATTENTION FROM REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON D.C.

THIS YEAR.

WHAT CHANGES ARE PEOPLE ANTICIPATING IN THE FUTURE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS?

>> SO, AS PART OF THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL THAT WAS PASSED THIS SUMMER, THERE ARE SOME REALLY CONCERNING PROVISIONS THAT WILL LIMIT ACCESS AND TO SNAP AS WELL AS SWITCH COSTS.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE MUCH MORE BORN BY STATES AND COUNTIES.

SO WORK REQUIREMENTS WERE INCREASED FOR-- THERE IS TRADITIONALLY NOT BEEN WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE THAT WERE 55 TO 64 AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, THESE ARE GOING TO BE ROLLED OUT TO THIS AGE GROUP.

TRADITIONALLY 60 AND ABOVE HAVE SORT OF HAVE SPECIAL STATUS BECAUSE THEY'RE OLDER ADULTS AND PARTLY BECAUSE THEIR PARTICIPATION RATE IS SO LOW.

SO THERE HAS BEEN REALLY AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE NEED TO DO MORE TO INCREASE ACCESS.

SO THAT'S GOING TO GO IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FOR THAT GROUP.

WORK REQUIREMENTS WILL ALSO INCREASE FOR VETERANS, HOMELESS POPULATIONS, CHILDREN THAT AGE OUT OF FOSTER CARE AS WELL AS FOR THOSE WITH CHILDREN ABOVE AGE 14.

IN ADDITION, THE COSTS ARE SHIFTING AS I SAID.

AND SO ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, TRADITIONALLY HAVE BEEN BORN 50-50 BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

BUT STARTING NEXT OCTOBER, THOSE ARE GOING TO BE SHIFTED SO THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO HAVE TO COVER 75% OF THOSE COSTS.

AND THAT IS GOING TO MEAN THE STATE IS GOING TO HAVE TO COVER AN EXTRA $200 MILLION AND A LARGE PORTION OF THAT IS GOING TO BE SHIFTED DOWN TO THE COUNTIES.

A YEAR OUT FROM THAT, IN OCTOBEP BENEFITS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE BORN BY THE STATE.

THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN COVERED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

BUT AS THE NOW BECAUSE OF ERROR RATES AT THE STATE LEVEL, DIFFERENT STATES HAVE TO BEAR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THIS AND I'VE SEEN NUMBERS AS HIGH AS $1.2 BILLION PER YEAR ARE GOING TO BE SHIFTED DOWN TO THE STATES WHICH MAKES ME VERY PESSIMISTIC ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO INCREASE BENEFITS WHEN WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS REALLY TREMENDOUS INCREASES IN COSTS COMING DOWN THE LINE THAT ARE REALLY GOING TO JUST, I THINK CAUSE SOME REALLY HARD TRADE-OFFS IN THE STATE AS WELL AS COUNTY GOVERNMENTS GOING FORWARD.

>> AND THERE IS A LOT TO UNPACK THERE.

I WANT TO STICK WITH THE THEME OF MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS BECAUSE YOU HEAR SOMETHING LIKE WORK REQUIREMENTS AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING GREAT.

I WANT THIS PERSON TO HAVE TO WORK.

I'M WORKING AND IF THEY'RE ABLE BODIED, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

BUT IN A LOT OF THESE CASES MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE ISSUE IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN TO PROVE THAT YOU ARE GETTING THE X NUMBER OF HOURS AND IN SOME CASES THERE HAS BEEN CHALLENGES WITH ACTUALLY QUALIFYING.

SO IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT THESE ARE BURDENS THAT PEOPLE ARE PUTTING IN PLACE AND AREN'T NECESSARILY ABOUT ROOLTING OUT FRAUD AND ABUSE?

IS THAT A FAIR DESCRIPTION?

>> WHEN THE FEDERAL BUDGET WAS SCORED, IT WAS SCORED AS IF THERE WOULD BE FEWER PEOPLE ANTICIPATING IN SNAP SO I THINK THIS IS SORT OF A ROUND ABOUT WAY OF REDUCING SNAP COSTS BY KICKING PEOPLE OUT WITHOUT HAVING TO SAY IT DIRECTLY.

THERE HAS BEEN LOTS OF RESEARCH THAT HAS SHOWN, WHEN WORK REQUIREMENTS WERE PUT IN FOR PROGRAMS SUCH AS SNAP OR MEDICAID, IT DOESN'T INCREASE WORK.

IT MEANS FEWER PEOPLE ARE ON THE PROGRAM.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVED BASED ON THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS RIGHT NOW AND MIGHT BE IN JEOPARDY OF LOSING BENEFITS IN THE FUTURE?

BECAUSE I KNOW IF YOU ARE A FOOD PANTRY, YOU ARE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO BE CHECKING FOR CITIZENSHIP WHEN SOMEONE SHOWS UP WITH A HUNGRY FAMILY, BUT IS THIS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE?

ARE PEOPLE, BASED ON THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS, GOING TO POTENTIALLY LOSE SNAP BENEFITS?

>> YES, THANK YOU.

ONE OF THE OTHER PROVISIONS I DIDN'T MENTION IS THAT ALL NON-CITIZENS ARE GOING TO BE BARRED FROM SNAP.

AND THIS IS ALSO A HISTORIC CHANGE.

TRADITIONALLY THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE COUNTRY FOR FIVE YEARS OR MORE ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE BENEFITS.

AND SO, AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE HARDSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> WELL, MAURA, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS LOOK FOG SERVE PEOPLE IF ANOTHER AVENUE OF SERVING THEM IS CUT OFF?

I HAVE TO IMAGINE THIS MEANS MORE DEMAND FOR YOUR SERVICES?

>> WELL, SO WE DON'T PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO FOLKS.

WE DO A LOT OF ADVOCACY.

SO WE PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE HUNGER SOLUTIONS NEW YORK, AND LOTS AND LOTS OF OTHERS TO REALLY ADVOCATE FOR THE SOLUTIONS AT THE POLICY AND SYSTEMS LEVEL THAT CHANGE THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ENABLE A BETTER FOOD SYSTEM THAT SERVES EVERYONE IN SYRACUSE, ONONDAGA COUNTY AND ONONDAGA NATION BUT CERTAINLY ALL OF THESE POLICIES INCREASE STIGMA, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING AS AN ANTI-HUNGER COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO REDUCE THE STIGMA PEOPLE FACE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS OF JUST LIVING THEIR LIVES AND TRYING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND USING THE SUPPORTS IN WHICH THEY'RE ENTITLED IN OUR SOCIETY.

FOOD IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT.

WE SHOULD BE FEEDING OUR PEOPLE.

AND IN FACT, UNREST AND LOTS OF OTHER ILLS COME FROM NOT FEEDING PEOPLE AND WE CAN LOOK BACK IN HISTORY AND SEE THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

BUT WE NEED TO BE SORT OF REDUCING THESE MYTHS THAT THEN FURTHER STIGMATIZE PEOPLE AND MAKE THEIR EXPERIENCE OF THIS HARDSHIP EVEN WORSE.

>> KRISTA YOU WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING?

>> I WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK ON THE CHANGES TO I AM IMMIGRANT ELIGIBILITY FOR A MOMENT.

THERE ARE SOME NON-CITIZENS WHO WILL CONTINUE TO QUALIFY FOR SNAP IF THEY'RE LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS, CUBAN OR HAITIAN ENTRANTS.

BUT THE BIG SHIFT THERE IS THAT REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS WHO ARE PREVIOUSLY ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP BASED ON THAT STATUS IS NO LONGER GOING TO BE ENOUGH.

THAT'S ABOUT 41,000 REFUGEES AND ASYLEES IN NEW YORK STATE THAT COULD LOSE THEIR SNAP BENEFITS.

ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES FOR THE STATE THIS YEAR IS TO ESTABLISH A STATE FUNDED SFOOD BENEFIT THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EXCLUDED FROM SNAP DULY SOLE TO THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.

>> COLLEEN, DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING?

>> >> I'M SURE NAH TASH-- COLLEEN WOULD.

NATASHA?

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REDUCING THE SNAP PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE NATION'S GREATEST ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAM.

YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, THERE IS DIFFERENT RESEARCH SHOWING BETWEEN IF YOU SPEND A DOLLAR OF SNAP MONEY IN A COMMUNITY, THE REINVESTMENT IS 1.50 TO 1.80 DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.

AND THE BIG CONCERN THAT WE HAVE ON THE GROUND AT THE CHARITABLE LEVEL IS THAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH THE SNAP CRISIS IN NOVEMBER, WHEN THE BENEFITS WERE DELAYED.

AND HERE IN NEW YORK STATE, MONTHLY SNAP BENEFITS ARE AROUND $650 MILLION A MONTH.

SO IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE REDUCING SNAP BENEFITS GOING OUT TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE LAST RESORT IS GOING TO BE FOOD PANTRIES.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE KICKING A LOT OF PEOPLE OFF OF SNAP, PUSHING MORE PEOPLE ON TO FOOD PANTRIES AND WE ARE LUCKY IN NEW YORK STATE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL FUNDING STREAMS THAT ARE STATE FUNDING THAT HELPS FOOD PANTRIES AND FOOD BANKS STOCK MORE HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS FOODS AND LOCALLY GROWN FOODS THROUGH NOURISH NEW YORK AND HUNGER PREVENTION ASSISTANCE PREVENTION PROGRAM.

BUT ANNUALLY THOSE TWO PROGRAMS ARE LESS THAN $150,000-- EXCUSE ME, $150 MILLION A YEAR ANNUALLY.

SO YOU CAN'T-- WAS WE JUST EXPERIENCED IN NOVEMBER, YOU CANNOT MAKE UP FOR SNAP THROUGH THE CHARITABLE FOOD SYSTEM.

AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE AS WE ARE TRYING TO ANTICIPATE HOW DO WE NAVIGATE THIS REALLY VOLATILE AND HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT TOWARDS THE WORKING POOR AND OUR LOWER ECONOMIC COMMUNITY MEMBERS?

AND THIS IDEA THAT CHURCHES AND COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORT KIND OF HELPING YOUR NEIGHBOR, WHILE THE INTENTION IS GOOD, WE ARE ALREADY DOING THIS.

AND WE DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MAKE UP FOR THE LEVEL OF FEDERAL SUPPORT THAT IS NEEDED TO COVER THE GAPS.

AND SO FROM A STATE BUDGET PERSPECTIVE, NOT ONLY IS THE STATE GOING TO HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH HOW DO WE HANDLE, YOU KNOW, THE CHANGES IN SNAP, BUT THEN HOW IN THE HECK ARE WE GOING TO DEAL WITH THIS AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL BECAUSE WE ARE ALSO CONTINUING TO SEE A LOSS IN OUR MIDDLE-CLASS.

EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, IS HAVING TO BE REALLY CAREFUL WITH HOW THEY SPEND THEIR DOLLARS.

AND FOOD PANTRIES, WHILE WE DO HAVE SOME STATE FUNDING, IT IS VERY SUPPLEMENTAL.

MOST FOOD PANTRIES ARE LARGELY RUN BY INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, DONATING 10-DOLLAR CHECKS, $100 CHECKS, $1,000 CHECKS.

AND AS OUR GREATER POPULATION IS STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH THE INCREASES AND THE COST OF LIVING, THAT MEANS THERE IS GOING TO BE LESS CHARITABLE DOLLARS.

AND THERE IS ALSO CHANGES TO LAWS IN RELATION TO CHARITABLE DONATIONS, WHICH NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF THE DETAILS ON IT, BUT I KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO IMPACT SOME PEOPLE'S DONATION PREFERENCES AND DOLLAR AMOUNTS.

>> I WANT TO EXPAND ON THIS IN A SECOND.

AND BEFORE WE MOVE ON, WE'RE GOING TO SHARE A DISPATCH FROM THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM IN ALBANY, WHERE WE REFLECTED ON SOME OF THE 20225 HEADLINES IN STATE GOVERNMENT WITH POLITICO NEW YORK CAPITOL REPORTER BILL MAHONEY.

>> BEFORE WE STAY GOODBYE TO 2025, WE ARE GOING TO RECAP SOME OF THE HEADLINES IN NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS.

AND BILL, THIS WAS A YEAR WHERE WE HAD A VARIETY OF SUBSTANTIVE POLICY DEBATES AND IMPLEMENTATIONS AS WELL AS SOME POLITICAL NEWS.

AND STARTING WITH THE SUBSTANTIVE, WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY WHERE REPORTERS LIKE OURSELVES WANT TO SPEND OUR TIME, BUT WE HAD TO ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY PIVOTS BY THE GOVERNOR.

WE HAD A PRISON STRIKE THAT LASTED FOR WEEKS AND REALLY PUT THE SYSTEM INTO CHAOS.

I'M CURIOUS WHERE YOU THINK THE BIG POLICY OR SUBSTANTIVE ISSUE WAS IN 2025?

>> FOR ALBANY HONESTLY YOU MIGHT JUST WANT TO LOOK AT WASHINGTON D.C.

AND THE FEDERAL BUDGET CHANGES THAT WE SAW.

THEY HAVEN'T HAD TOO MUCH OF AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT HERE IN 2025.

BUT HEADING INTO 2026 AND THE LONG-TERM, SOME OF WHAT WE HAVE SEEN CAN REALLY FORCE THE STATE TO CHANGE THE WAY IT DOES ITS BUDGET.

WE ARE ALREADY LOOKING AT A BUDGET GAP OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, NOT QUITE AS MUCH AS IT ONCE WAS BUT STILL A VERY SIGNIFICANT ONE.

AND THAT'S CURRENTLY EXPECTED TO GROW IN THE YEARS AHEAD AS SOME OF THESE FEDERAL CUTS TAKE EFFECT MORE AND WHO KNOWS WHAT OTHER CUTS WE WILL SEE IN THE COMING THREE YEARS.

DELAY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RESTRICTIONS ON EMISSIONS BY LARGE POLLUTERS.

WE SAW HER GIVE NEW LIFE TO A PIPELINE PROJECT.

A GAS PIPELINE PROPOSAL THAT HAD BEEN VETOED NOT ONCE, NOT TWICE BUT THREE TIMES BY PREVIOUS STATE ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICIALS.

AND THEN THERE WAS THE EMBRACE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY.

AND THEN IN THE LATE FALL, THERE WAS THE DECISION TO PAUSE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SO CALLED ALL ELECTRIC BUILDINGS ACT WHICH BASICALLY HAD DO WITH MOST NEW CONSTRUCTION STARTING IN 2026.

I MEAN FOR ME, THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF THE BIG LEGACY LASTING ISSUES BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO SPILL INTO 2026.

THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE DEBATES ABOUT ENERGY AFFORDABILITY AND RELIABILITY, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, IT'S A TRICKY QUESTION.

AND IT'S A TRICKY THING FOR DEMOCRATS LIKE GOVERNOR HOCHUL RIGHT NOW, WHERE THEY HAVE SPENT YEARS, AT LEAST TALKING ABOUT HOW THE ENVIRONMENT IS ONE OF THEIR TOP PRIORITIES BUT IT'S CLEAR THE TOP ISSUE FOR VOTERS THESE DAYS ARE AFFORDABILITY AND THE COST OF EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN REITERATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN IN RECENT ELECTIONS, ESPECIALLY IN 2025.

AND ANYTHING THAT RISES THE COST OF UTILITIES WHICH ARE ONE OF THE FORMS OF INCREASED COSTS THAT PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE MOST IS GOING TO BE REAL BAGGAGE FOR BOTH RATE PAYERS, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO PAY THE BILLS AND THE POLITICIANS WHO SUPPORT THE CHANGES THAT MIGHT HAVE, YOU KNOW, HIKED YOUR GAS BILL EVEN IF IT WAS 10% OR 5%, IF YOU ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO PAY THAT AND YOUR OPPONENT CAN SAY YOU ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THIS EVEN HIGHER, THAT'S SORT OF BAGGAGE THAT CAN COME UP IN AN ELECTION.

AND A TRICKY ISSUE FOR ALL POLITICIANS RIGHT KNOW YOU BECAUSE IT'S THE TYPE OF THING THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAKE ANYBODY OR EVERYBODY HAPPY.

IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT SOMEBODY LIKE HOCHUL WILL GO AS FAR AS ENVIRONMENTALISTS WANT LIKE YOU SOLVED CLIMATE CHANGE JUST IN NEW YORK AND SHE COULD TAKE STEPS THAT WOULD MAKE THEM HAPPY BUT IT'S NOT LIKE A GOVERNOR CAN TAKE ALL THE ACTIONS THAT PEOPLE WOULD HOPE FOR ON AN ISSUE LIKE THIS.

AND ON THE OTHER HAND, ANYTHING SHE DOES THAT'S ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY IS ALSO GOING TO LEAD THIS TO THIS BACKLASH FROM THE RIGHT FOR RAISING COSTS, MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO RUN BUSINESSES IN NEW YORK AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE ANYBODY HAPPY IF YOU 346 IN THAT DIRECTION.

IT'S A VERY TRICKY STICKING POINT FOR MODERATE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS CERTAINLY.

>> ANOTHER TRICKY ISSUE FOR THIS GOVERNOR TO NAVIGATE WAS THE STATE'S PRISON SYSTEM, WHICH HAS BEEN A REAL PROBLEM FOR THE ADMINISTRATION FOR A YEAR NOW, SINCE THE MURDER OF ROBERT BROOKS AT THE HANDS OF PRISON GUARDS AND STAFF AT A CENTRAL NEW YORK FACILITY ABOUT A YEAR AGO, FOLLOWED A FEW MONTHS LATER BY THE ILLEGAL PRISON STRIKE THAT, WHILE IT WAS WRAPPED UP, THERE WERE STILL A LOT OF RESENTMENT AND HURT FEELINGS AMONGST THE PRISON STAFF.

ULTIMATELY THOUGH, WE NEVER SAW ANY SORT OF MAJOR POLICY RESPONSE TO ANY OF THAT.

THERE WAS AN INFORMAL COMMITTEE THAT WAS CONVENED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS.

THERE WAS AN OMNIBUS BILL THAT MADE IT THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE BUT EVEN THAT WAS WATERED DOWN COMPARED TO A CRIMINAL PROGRESSIVE ACTIVISTS HAD WANTED.

BUT ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT THERE WASN'T A BIG BIGGER, I GUESS RESPONSE, TO THIS BECAUSE WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT A CRISIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY.

BUT IF THAT WAS THE CASE, THEY LET THE OPPORTUNITY PASS.

>> WELL, THE ONE ISSUE THAT'S BURDENED DEMOCRATS IN NEW YORK THE MOST OVER THE PAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, HAS BEEN BAIL REFORM AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

SOME THOUGHT IT WOULD DECREASE CRIME IN NEW YORK AND IT WAS IMPLEMENTED RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC LED TO A NATIONWIDE INCREASE IN CRIME.

IT HAS NEVER BEEN POSSIBLE TO SAY IF IT DID INCREASE CRIME SIGNIFICANTLY.

YOU CAN POINT TO A COUPLE OF CASES HERE AND THERE, BUT YOU KNOW, CRIME WENT UP AT THE SAME TIME BAIL REFORM WAS IMPLEMENTED.

WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS SOMETHING TO BLAME IS SOMETHING DEMOCRATS HAVE HAD TO ANSWER FOR REPEATEDLY ON THE ELECTION TRAIL.

ANYTHING INVOLVING CRIME SINCE THEN HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE BEEN HESITANT TO GO AS FAR AS A LOT OF ACTIVISTS WANT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NERVOUS ABOUT ANY SORT OF BACKLASH.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE CHANGES TO SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN PRISONS FROM A FEW YEARS AGO AT THE ROOT OF A LOT OF ISSUES IN PRISONS.

I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD SAY THAT'S THE ONLY ISSUE BUT SOMETHING PRISON GUARDS AND THE LIKE HAVE SAID IT HAS MADE THEIR JOB MORE DIFFICULT.

YOU CAN'T PEBBLIZE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE MISBEHAVING WHEN THEY'RE ALREADY LOCKED UP OR SEPARATE THEM FROM THE POPULATION AS EASILY AS YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO A FEW YEARS AGO AND THAT'S JUST LED TO MORE VIOLENCE IN PRISONS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ACTIVISTS WILL SAY IT'S INHUMANE TO THROW SOMEBODY INTO A TINY CELL WITHOUT DAYLIGHT FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS ON END.

THAT MAKES IT HARD TO BE CHARACTERIZED AS SOFT ON CRIME.

WE ARE SEEING VERY SMALL STEPS FORWARD EVEN IN THE WAKE OF A CRISIS.

>> HARD TO IMAGINE IN 2026 THAT THERE IS ANYMORE APPETITE TO TAKE ON WHOLESALE CHANGE.

BUT I WANT TO PIVOT NOW TO POLITICS.

AND THIS WAS-- DESPITE BEING AN ODD YEAR-- IT WAS A BIG YEAR FOR POLITICAL ACTIVITY.

AND JUST THINKING ABOUT THE BIG ONES OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, YOU HAD THE CONSCIOUS DECOUPLING BETWEEN GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AND HER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ANTONIO DELGADO WHO IS NOW LOOKING TO WREST THE DEMOCRATIC'S PARTY GUBERNATORIAL NOMINATION AWAY FROM HER IN 2026.

YOU HAD THE INEVITABILITY OF A NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ANDREW CUOMO FOLLOWED VERY QUICKLY BY HIS COLLAPSE IN BOTH THE PRIMARY AND THE GENERAL AS WE SAW THE RISE OF ASSEMBLYMEMBER MAMDANI WHO IS NOW NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ELECT.

AND ON THE G.O.P.

SIDE OF THINGS, WE HAVE WHAT IS APPEARING TO BE A BREWING PRIMARY FOR THEIR REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL NOMINATION BETWEEN NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE BRUCE BLAKEMAN AND REPRESENTATIVE ELISE STEFANIK AND THAT DOES NOT EVEN BEGIN TO ADDRESS THE ACTUAL ELECTIONS WE HAD IN NOVEMBER, WHICH YOU REPORTED A LOT ON.

AND HIGHLIGHTED THE GAINS THAT DEMOCRATS MADE.

WHAT OF THOSE NARRATIVES DO YOU THINK WILL HAVE IMPACT BEYOND 2025?

>> WELL, WHAT WE SAW IN THIS YEAR'S NOVEMBER ELECTIONS AT LEAST WAS IT WAS A VERY BIG NIGHT FOR DEMOCRATS.

IT WAS ARGUABLY MORE WIDESPREAD IN TERMS OF THEIR GAINS THAN 2017 WHICH LAUNCHED OFF THE BLUE WAVE ELECTIONS WHERE THERE WERE MUCH BIGGER GAINS FOR PROMINENT OFFICES IN 2018.

BUT WE SAW SOME NUMBERS THAT WERE UNPRECEDENTED, AT LEAST IN RECENT HISTORY AND IN THE LOCAL ELECTIONS.

THE DEMOCRATIC MARGIN SWUNG 10 POINTS BECAUSEALLY THROUGHOUT THE STATE IF YOU LOOK AT EVERY ELECTION ON THE BALLOT BOTH THIS YEAR AND 2023 AND 2021.

IF YOU LOOK AT COUNTY LEGISLATIVE SEATS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THE LAST TIME I CHECKED THERE WERE STILL A FEW WHERE THERE WERE TWO VOTES SEPARATING THEM, HEADING TO COURT TO FINALIZE WHO THE WINNER WAS BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL WIND UP WITH 60 TIMES AS MANY DEMOCRATS FLIPPING COUNTY LEGISLATIVE SEATS IN NEW YORK AS THERE WERE REPUBLICANS.

SO BETWEEN LIKE 55 AND 65 THE LAST I SAW DEMOCRATS WERE IN A FLIP SEAT WHERE ONE REPUBLICAN IN THE ENTIRE STATE WHO DID THAT IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT.

AND THESE WERE IN RED PARTS OF THE STATE, TOO, LIKE WE DID SEE SOME GAINS IN PLACES LIKE THE HUDSON VALLEY, LIKE ULSTER COUNTY WHERE IT WAS AN ADDED MORE SEATS TO AN ALREADY COMFORTABLE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY BUT THAT HAPPENED IN RED TOWNS IN ULSTER COUNTY, AND WE SAW LIKE FIVE SEATS FLIP IN OSWEGO COUNTY IN PLACES LIKE ON THE SEEING OWE, OTSEGO WHERE THERE HAS BEEN NO GOOD NEWS SINCE DONALD TRUMP ROSE TO PROMINENCE.

I THINK ONE BIG QUESTION FOR 2026 WILL BE WAS THIS BECAUSE THERE IS A NEW BLUE WAVE COMING AND VOTERS ARE READY JUST TO EMBRACE DEMOCRATS BECAUSE THEY'RE UNHAPPY WITH RISING COSTS.

AND WHAT THEY SEE AS NOT ENOUGH ACTION FROM WASHINGTON ON THIS?

OR IS IT JUST AN ANTI-INCUMBENT WAVE, WHICH I DON'T THINK YOU CAN COMPLETELY RULE OUT IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE RESULTS, WHERE PEOPLE ARE JUST LOOKING FOR FRESH INFLUENCE BLOOD AND SINCE REPUBLICANS WERE IN OFFICE IN A LOT OF THESE RACES, DEMOCRATS WERE ELECTED.

IF YOU LOOK AT NEW YORK CITY, THAT CERTAINLY PLAUSIBLE AS A BIG TAKEAWAY, YOU KNOW, SAY LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED AFFORDABILITY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HIGHLIGHT THE AFFORDABILITY AS THE BIG ISSUE IN NEW YORK CITY WHICH IS THE ISSUE THAT DEMOCRATS HOPE TO RUN ON IN 2026 NATIONWIDE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, JUST AS BIG A TAKE AWAY IS VOTERS THERE WANTED FRESH NEW IDEAS AND YOUNGBLOOD RATHER THAN THE ESTABLISHMENT THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AND IF THAT IS THE BIG DRIVING FACTOR, THAT COULD BE AN ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS LIKE HOCHUL IN 2026 CERTAINLY.

>> LET'S STICK WITH NEW YORK CITY AND GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL BECAUSE WE SAW THIS SUMMER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WHAT I WILL CALL AN UNEASY ALLIANCE BETWEEN GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND SO RAN MAMDANI PRIOR TO HIM WINNING THE ELECTION IN THE NEW YORK CITY MAYOR'S RACE.

HOW DOES THAT CARRY OVER INTO 607-733-3831?

IS THERE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO REMAIN ALLIED AND CONTINUING TO ROW IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ANDREA STEWART COUSINS OR DO YOU THINK THAT COULD BE TESTED EARLY ON AND FALTER EARLY ON?

>> WE WILL SEE NEXT MONTH, THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL WHICH WILL BE THE FIRST BIG CLUE ABOUT WHAT SHE IS DOING TO EMBRACE SOME OF THE POLICIES SUPPORTED BY THE MAYOR ELECT.

WE'LL FIND OUT THEN, NOT LONG AFTER HOW MUCH SHE IS WILLING TO PLAY BALL BECAUSE IT SEEMS UNLIKELY HE IS GOING TO GET EVERYTHING HE WANTS IN HIS FIRST YEAR.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, HE IS RELYING IN PART FROM HIS LEGISLATIVE ALLIES BUT WITH THE FEDERAL CUTS COMING, THERE WILL BE STATE LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED HIGHER TAXES IN THE PAST MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN SAYING WELL, A GOOD CHUNK OF THIS SHOULD GO TO COVER SHORTFALLS IN RURAL HOSPITALS AND THINGS IN MY DISTRICT AND NOT NECESSARILY FOR FREE BUSES AND BETTER CHILD CARES IN NEW YORK-- CHILD CARE IN NEW YORK CITY WHICH MOST LEGISLATORS ARE CONCEPTUALLY OPEN TO BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BUDGET SHORTFALL READY NEXT YEAR, IT IS GOING TRICKY TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY WITHOUT BIGGER TAXES THAT EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT AT THIS POINT.

>> I THINK ABOUT THE PRAGMATIC CAMPAIGN THAT ZOHRAN MAMDANI RAN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

THE VERY CONVENTIONAL THING OF PIVOTING TOWARD THE MIDDLE WHICH MAKES ME THINK HE IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A PRAGMATIC MAYOR WHEN HE IS FACING CHALLENGES THAT HE JUST CAN'T OVERCOME.

HE IS NOT GOING TO RUN INTO A WALL IF THE WALL IS THERE.

I THINK HE IS GOING TO TRY TO FIND A DOOR OR BUILD A LADDER AND MAYBE I WILL BE PROVENIONG IN 2026.

BUT I HAVE TO IMAGINE THAT PAST PERFORMANCE IS INDICATIVE OF FUTURE ACTIONS.

>> AT A CERTAIN POINT THERE WILL BE A QUESTION OF WILL HE START FEELING BACKLASH FROM HIS OWN BASE IF HE TAKES THAT APPROACH TOO MUCH BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY BREWING FOR GOVERNOR RIGHT NOW.

ANTONIO DELGADO HAS BEEN VISITING THE STATE.

AND IT HAS BEEN LARGELY A SIDE SHOW TO THE LARGER POLITICAL DRAMAS IN NEW YORK WHERE HE HAS HAD A LOT OFIY VEHICLES AND HAS HAD GOOD TURNOUT AT SOME OF THEM BUT HE HAS NOT MOVED IN THE POLLS.

IT'S NOT WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT USE THE STILL VERY EARLY.

WE ARE SIX MONTHS AWAY FROM THE PRIMARY ELECTION AT THIS POINT SO IT'S NOT UNEXPECTED THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF TRACTION YET.

THE BIG QUESTION WILL BE WHETHER HE CAN START GETTING TRACTION COME JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH AS PEOPLE START TUNING INTO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND WHETHER HE HAS DONE ENOUGH IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS TO SET THE STAGE FOR THE BALL TO START ROLLING.

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS CONVERSATION WITH BILL MAHONEY OF POLITICO NEW YORK.

BACK TO YOU, DAVE, IN THE STUDIO.

IS.

>> WE ARE BACK IN THE STUDIO IN SYRACUSE TO CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY AND MAURA, YOU WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING.

>> NAH TASH'S POINT IS REALLY WELL TAKEN AND I THINK THE PUBLIC DOESN'T NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND THAT THE CHARITABLE FOOD SYSTEM IS NOT ABLE TO ABSORB ALL OF THE NEED WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD A DONOR COME TO US RECENTLY AND SAY, WELL IF THERE ARE FOOD PANTRIES ON EVERY BLOCK, WHY IS THERE STILL HUNGER?

AND WE HAD TO-- WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT A WHOLE GROUP TOGETHER, PUT TOGETHER AN OP-ED AND SOME STORY LINES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CENTRAL NEW YORK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TO REALLY SHARE THAT LIKE ACTUALLY FOOD PANTRIES EXISTING ON EVERY BLOCK IS A SIGN OF HUNGER AND A SYMPTOM OF HUNGER, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND, RIGHT?

THE PERSISTENCE AND THE INCREASE, THE ONLY WAY WE KNOW THAT HUNGER IS DECREASING WITHOUT THE FOOD INSECURITY DATA, WHICH WE ARE LIKELY TO NOT HAVE, IS WHEN POUNDS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED AT FOOD PANTRIES START TO DECREASE AND THE NUMBER OF FOOD PANTRIES NEEDED TO SERVE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS FED STARTS TO DECREASE.

THAT'S NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN.

>> THE ONLY TIME WE HAVE SEEN DECREASES IN FOOD PANTRY ASSISTANCE WAS DURING COVID WHEN THERE WAS THE EMERGENCY SNAP PANDEMIC EBT.

AND THE CHILD TAX CREDITS IS THE ONLY TIME IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY WITH A SLIGHT DECREASE BUT THE ONLY TIME WE HAVE SEEN A DECREASE IN FOOD PANTRY SERVICE LEVELS SMS AND I THINK, TO YOUR POINT, OF THERE ARE MANY FOOD PANTRIES BUT IN NOVEMBER WE DID A PULSE SURVEY ACROSS THE STATE OF FOOD PANTRIES AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

PANTRIES WERE REPORTING TWO TO THREE TIMES SERVICE LEVEL INCREASES.

AS HIGH AS UP TO 500% INCREASE IS IN SERVICE LEVELS.

WE HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCES THIS.

WE HAD PANTRY COORDINATORS CALLING US CRYING.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

THEIR SHELFS WERE EMPTY.

THEY WERE HAVING TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS UNTIL THEY COULD RESTOCK THEIR SHELVES AGAIN.

I MEAN WE ARE-- THAT WAS HONESTLY A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE FOR US ON THE GROUND AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BECAUSE FOOD IS NOT A LUXURY.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD, YOU ARE GOING TO BE EXPERIENCING TOXIC STRESS AND TRAUMA IN RELATION TO THAT AND I WOULD CALL THIS EMOTIONAL ABUSE FROM THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AND PEOPLE WHO ARE RELYING ON CONSEQUENCES ALL OVER OTHER PARTS OF SOCIETY.

SO THERE IS REALLY GOOD EVIDENCE, BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD A GOOD FOOD SECURITY MEASURE, ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OVER THE WHOLE LIFESPAN.

SO STARTING AT MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH, WE SEE AMONG FOOD INSECURE MOTHERS, WE SEE HIGHER PRETERM BIRTHS, LOWER BIRTH WEIGHT BABIES, MORE LEVEL OF ANEMIA, GESTATIONAL DIABETES.

IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PERIOD WE SEE MORE PARENTAL STRESS ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER CHILD COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT, MORE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS.

ONCE YOU GET INTO THE SCHOOL-AGE PERIOD, YOU SEE HIGHER LEVELS OF ABSENTEEISM, LOWER TEST SCORES.

MORE PROBLEMS WITH BULLYING, LOWER READING LEVELS.

AND THEN IN PRIME AGE ADULTS THERE IS A REALLY STRONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FOOD INSECURITY AND NUTRITIONALLY SENSITIVE DISEASE CONDITIONS SUCH AS DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION AND OTHER CARDIO METABOLIC CONDITIONS.

AMONG OLDER ADULTS THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN ABOUT TRADE-OFFS IN PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

SO COSTS RELATED MEDICAL NON-ADHERENCE, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TAKING THEIR DAILY MEDICATIONS TO MAINTAIN THEIR HEALTH OR PURCHASING FOOD FOR THEMSELVES OR THEIR GRANDCHILDREN OR CHILDREN IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE THIS POP UP.

IT'S GOING TO SHOW UP IN OUR SCHOOLS.

IT'S GOING TO SHOW UP AT DOCTOR OFFINGS, IT IS GOING TO SHOW UP IN OTHER PARTS OF THE SOCIETY.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS SORT OF GOING TO GO UNNOTICED, EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE FORMAL MEASURES.

IT'S JUST GOING TO SHOW UP DIFFERENTLY.

>> TO CIRCLE BACK TO THE MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS THE IDEA THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PICK THEMSELVES UP BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS, WHEN YOU HAVE EXPOSURE TO FOOD INSECURITY AT ANY LIFE STAGE, IT MAKES IT ALL THE MORE DIFFICULT TO THEN BE CONTRIBUTING TO MEMBER OF SOCIETY IN WHATEVER ECONOMIC TERMS ONE MIGHT EXPECT, RIGHT?

THIS IDEA THAT OH YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIFT YOURSELF OUT OF POVERTY, BUT YOU HAVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES THAT ARE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY YOUR EXPOSURE TO FOOD INSECURITY AT ANY LIFE STAGE.

>> CHRIS-- KRISTA WHEN IT COMES TO COMBATING FOOD INSECURITY WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTS THE SERVICES OUT THERE, WHETHER IT'S PUTTING MONEY INTO PEOPLE'S POCKETS WITH THINGS LIKE SNAP OR UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS WHICH WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO.

NOURISH NEW YORK OR THE PROGRAM THAT NATASHA REFERRED TO EARLIER.

ARE YOU AGNOSTIC ABOUT THE BEST WAY FORWARD IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY ADDRESSING THAT ONE IN FOUR NEW YORK ADULTS WHO ARE STILL HUNGRY?

OR DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE ON THE BEST WAY FORWARD IN TERMS OF BANG FOR OUR BUCK OR EFFICIENCY IN FEEDING PEOPLE?

>> WELL, WOULD I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH NATASHA'S POINT THAT THE CHARITABLE FOOD SECTOR CANNOT MATCH THE SCALE OF FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS.

SO WE PRIORITIZE EXPANDING THE REACH AND EFFECTIVENESS OF PROGRAMS LIKE SNAP, BUT ALSO WIC BENEFITS THAT SUPPORT PREGNANT AND POST-PARTUM CHILDREN UP TO AGE FIVE.

UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPLEMENT AT THE STATE LEVEL.

THERE ARE SUMMER NUTRITION PROGRAMS, AFTER SCHOOL AND CHILD CARE PROGRAMS THAT ARE FEDERALLY FUNDED BUT NEW YORK STATE CAN PROVIDE SOME MODEST INVESTMENTS TO MAKE THE MOST OF THOSE PROGRAMS.

THAT'S REALLY WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT BANG FOR YOUR BUCK.

IT'S INVESTING IN THE FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY ELIGIBLE CAN PARTICIPATE AND THOSE BENEFITS CAN STRETCH AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.

>> PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS AS WELL I WOULD LIKE TO ADD IN THERE.

HERE I'M THINKING ABOUT HOME DELIVERED MEALS, MEALS ON WHEELS, CONGREGATE DINING SERVICES LIKE SENIOR CENTERS AND SENIOR HOUSING MUCH THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OLDER ADULTS AND THOSE WITH DISABILITIES AS WELL.

>> NATASHA, IS THERE A CHALLENGE IN GETTING PEOPLE TO ASK FOR HELP AS WELL BECAUSE I THINK ABOUT THE VETERAN COMMUNITY AND THEY OFTEN ARE CHALLENGED TO REACH ONE BECAUSE THEY DON'T IDENTIFY AS VETERANS, SO THEY DON'T FAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE-- THEY DON'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE THINGS OUT THERE AND STEREOTYPICALLY IT IS A PRIDEFUL GROUP.

DO YOU SEE THE SAME THING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE MORE BROADLY?

>> SURE.

THERE IS DEFINITELY PEOPLE, I THINK, IN OUR SOCIETY, THERE IS THIS ATTITUDE THAT IF YOU WORK HARD, YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

AND I THINK WE TRY TO DISPEL THAT MYTH FREQUENTLY WHEN WE ARE GIVING PRESENTATIONS AND TALKS BECAUSE THIS TRULY IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE, NOT ONLY IN NEW YORK STATE BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT JUST DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED AND ARE HAVING TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS.

AND PEOPLE FEEL A LOT OF SHAME ABOUT HAVING TO ASK FOR HELP.

I MEAN I WILL BE HONEST.

IT'S HARD FOR ME AS A PERSON ASKING FOR HELP IN GENERAL.

I THINK A LOT OF HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP TO WORK HARD AND, YOU KNOW, BE INDEPENDENT.

AND SO JUST FOR ANYONE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, SO I THINK JUST ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO REACH OUT FOR HELP.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE, I THINK DON'T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND WHAT IS A FOOD PANTRY.

THEY MIGHT THINK OF LIKE A SOUP KITCHEN AND YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE THAT I WANT TO GO TO A SOUP KITCHEN.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

AND FOOD PANTRIES ARE GROCERIES.

AND IN OUR STATE, WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF EFFORTS TO PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS FOOD.

PANTRIES DO THE BEST THEY CAN TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOOD AND CHOICE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE ALSO DON'T REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, FOOD PANTRIES ARE NOT JUST FOOD DRIVES.

LIKE FOOD DRIVES IS RANDOM FOOD.

SOMEONE IS CLEANING OUT THEIR CUPBOARD.

YOU GET ALL KINDS OF-- >> HOPE YOU LIKE PEAS.

>> OR MORE CANNED PUMPKIN.

>> BUT BECAUSE OF PROGRAMS LIKE SNAP FOOD BANKS SPEND A LOT OF DOLLARS TO FILL THEIR SHELVES APPROPRIATELY BASED ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE.

THE MORE RESOURCES FOOD PANTRIES DIRECTLY HAVE GIVES THEM, IN ACCOUNT FA, THE MOST ABILITY TO SPECIFICALLY TO HAVE BEEN THEIR COMMUNITY.

SO-- TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY.

SO TO THAT POINT THOUGH, FOOD PANTRIES WILL SERVE ANYONE BASED ON NEED.

MOST PANTRIES.

AND WE HAVE THE NEW YORK STATE FOOD CONNECT DATABASE AND MAP SO THAT IF SOMEONE IS IN NEED OF FOOD, YOU CAN GO TO ALLIANCE HUNGER FREE NEW YORK.ORG AND JUST CLICK A BUTTON THAT SAYS FIND FOOD NOW.

WE HAVE A LISTING OF FOOD PANTRIES, COMMUNITY MEAL SITES, SNAP AND WIC ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE OF NEW YORK.

WE ARE WORKING WITH DEPARTMENT OF AGING TO ADD CONGREGATE MEAL SITES FOR OLDER ADULTS AND WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AG ON ADDING FARMERS MARKETS THAT ACCEPT SNAP.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT HAVING A ONE-STOP PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN FIND ALL OF THE FOOD ACCESS RESOURCES ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE OF NEW YORK.

AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE IF YOU OR SOMEONE AT HOME RIGHT NOW AND YOU ARE LOOKING AND YOU SAY I NEED TO PUT GAS IN THE CAR TO GET TO MY DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT OR MY JOB, OR I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN PAY THESE PARTICULAR BILLS.

KNOW THAT A FOOD PANTRY CAN HELP YOU GET BY.

AND NOT EVERYBODY GOES TO A FOOD PANTRY EVERY MONTH.

SOME PEOPLE JUST FOOD PANTRIES INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THEY HAVE A BIG EXPENSE THAT COMES UP.

OTHER PEOPLE RELY ON FOOD PANTRIES EVERY MONTH OR EVEN TWICE A MONTH.

AND ALSO WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PANTRIES STOCK DIFFERENT ITEMS.

SOME PANTRIES HAVE BETTER FREEZER SPACE SO THEY HAVE A BETTER MEAT SELECTION.

ANOTHER PANTRY MIGHT HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH A FARMER SO THEY HAVE BETTER PRODUCE.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE, LIKE I GO TO MULTIPLE GROCERY STORES TO GET MY FOOD NEEDS MET.

AND I THIS I WE'VE COME A LONG WAY FROM THIS IDEA OF PANTRY HOPPING.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, PEOPLE NEED FOOD SO PANTRIES WE WORK WITH ACROSS THE STATE REALLY ARE, IT'S LIKE IT'S FOOD.

IF YOU NEED TO GO TO MULTIPLE PANTRIES IN ORDER TO HAVE A BALANCED DIET, 3 WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN TO GET YOU THERE.

>> MAURA FLRKS TERMS OF 2026 AND BEYOND, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL BE FOCUSING ON THAT IS NEW TO THE FUTURE?

OR IS THE TUNE THE SAME AS IT EVER WAS?

>> IT'S DEFINITELY MUCH MORE DEFENSIVE THAN WE WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE.

WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR LIVES TO PROTECT AND DEFEND SNAP.

IN AN IDEAL WORLD, WE WOULD BE FIGHTING TO EXPAND SNAP AND MAKE SURE THAT EVEN MORE PEOPLE WERE COVERED AND THESE BENEFITS WOULD BE INCREASING AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE THAT FIGHT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE LONGER VISION.

AND SO LIKE KRISTA HAS SAID THE $100 SNAP MINIMUM IS DEFINITELY SUSPECTING WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR HEAVILY.

AS WELL AS SNAP FOR ALL.

AND I THINK THAT THOSE TWO ARE QUITE IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO BE THINKING HOLISTICALLY SO WE ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK LOCALLY TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE POVERTY REDUCTION MEASURES AT LARGE.

WHAT ARE THE WAYS THAT WE CAN BE WORKING CROSS SECTORS AROUND TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION AND ALL OF THE OTHER SUPPORTS THAT FOLKS NEED IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCE BE ONE THAT IS FULFILLING.

BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE UNDER ATTACK AT THE SAME TIME.

>> KRISTA THIS SCHOOL YEAR WE HAD THE ROLLOUT OF UNIVERSAL MEALS IN SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE STATE.

ANY SENSE OF WHAT THAT IS DOING AT THIS POINT TO COMBAT HUNGER AROUND NEW YORK?

>> IT'S BEEN REALLY EXTRAORDINARY.

SO THANKS TO THAT INVESTMENT 2.7 MILLION STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE ACCESS TO A FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AT SCHOOL EVERY SCHOOL DAY.

THEY DON'T NEED TO SUBMIT PAPERWORK OR IDENTIFY AS BEING LOW INCOME IN ANY WAY.

IT'S JUST A NORMAL PART OF THE SCHOOL DAY.

WHAT WE HAVE HEARD ANECDOTESALLY IS THAT THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL DURING THE SHUTDOWN WHEN THERE WAS A DISRUPTION IN SNAP BENEFITS.

FAMILIES AT LEAST KNEW THAT THEIR KIDS WOULD GET THOSE TWO MEALS EACH DAY.

WE ARE HEARING FROM FOOD SERVICE DIRECTORS IN SCHOOL, ADMINISTRATORS ACROSS THE STATE THAT THIS IS A CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR THEIR FAMILIES, PROVIDING STABILITY AT AN UNSTABLE AND UNCERTAIN TIME.

AND WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING SOME DATA COME IN AFTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR ON HOW MANY MORE MEALS WERE SERVED, HOW MANY MORE STUDENTS WERE SERVED AS A RESULT OF REDUCING THAT STIGMA AND TAKING AWAY THE PAPERWORK BARRIERS FROM THE PROGRAM.

>> AND IT'S NOT UNFATHOMABLE TO THINK THAT WE ARE GOING HAVE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

AND IS THERE A REASON TO EXPECT THE SAME ISSUE WITH SNAP BENEFITS THAT WE SAW IN NOVEMBER?

OR HAVE FEDERAL POLICYMAKERS DONE ANYTHING OR MADE ANY SORT OF GUARANTEES TO ENSURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN?

>> SO SNRAP SNAP FORTUNATELY IS FUNDED THROUGH THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR SEPTEMBER 30 OF 2026.

HOWEVER, AFTER THAT, THERE IS A QUESTION OF WE HAVE FOREVER SEEN SNAP DISRUPTED DURING A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THE WAY THAT IT WAS IN NOVEMBER.

AND THAT WAS A CHOICE.

USDA HAD CONTINGENCY FUNDS ON HAND THAT ARE INTENDED TO SUSTAIN SNAP IN AN EMERGENCY OR A SHUTDOWN.

THEY HAD AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER EVEN MORE RESOURCES INTO THE PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT FAMILIES WOULD GET THEIR FULL BENEFITS ON TIME AND THEY DECIDED NOT TO USE THOSE FUNDS AND THAT AUTHORITY.

SO WE ARE CERTAINLY PUSHING OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION TO DO ANYTHING THAT THEY CAN TO PROTECT SNAP FROM FUTURE DISRUPTIONS AND WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR STATE POLICYMAKERS TO EXPLORE EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW YORK TO BOLSTER THE PROGRAM AND BE NIMBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE THREATS AHEAD.

>> SO WE'VE GOT A MINUTE BEFORE WE HAVE TO GO AND I WANT TO USE THE TIME NATASHA TO DO A QUICK PLUG ON WHAT YOU THINK PEOPLE COULD OR SHOULD DO TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS AROUND NEW YORK STATE TO SUPPORT AND HELP FEED HUNGRY PEOPLE.

>> SURE, FROM A LOCAL LEVEL, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD PANT RIS.

THE DOLLARS GO FARTHER.

YOU CAN FIND THEM AT ALLIANCE HUNGER FREE NEW YORK.

FIND FOOD NOW.

FOOD PANTRIES ACROSS THE STATE IS ONE WAY TO MAKE A LOCAL DIFFERENCE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE ADVOCACY.

>> I IMAGINE YOU WON'T TURN DOWN HELP IF PEOPLE SHOW UP TO LEND A HAND AS WELL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

VOLUNTEER.

REACH OUT TO YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND ASK THEM WHAT THEY NEED.

DO THEY NEED DOLLARS, FOOD, VOLUNTEERING?

WE HAVE A SCARY YEAR AHEAD OF US AND WE ALL NEED TO BE CARING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOGETHER.

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

MY THANKS TO OUR PANELISTS NATASHA PERNICKA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ALLIANCE FOR A HUNGER FREE NEW YORK COLLEEN HEFLIN, A PROFESSOR AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY MAURA ACKERMAN, CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SYRACUSE-ONONDAGA FOOD SYSTEMS ALLIANCE AND KRISTA HESDORFER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR HUNGER SOLUTIONS NEW YORK.

AND IF YOU WANT MORE CONNECT NEW YORK CONTENT - VISIT WCNY.ORG/CONNECTNY, AND MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE WCNY YOUTUBE PAGE.

AND FOR MORE COVERAGE OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS IN NEW YORK, YOU CAN FIND MY DAILY CAPITOL PRESSROOM INTERVIEWS AT CAPITOL PRESSROOM.

ORG, OR WHERVER YOU DOWNLOAD PODCASTS.

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