IMMIGRATION AND UNREST IN LOS ANGELES•WHY DID THE PRESIDENT SEND IN THE TROOPS?

ASSISTED SUICIDE CAN END SUFFERING FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL•BUT IS IT THE RIGHT THING TO DO?

AND PLASTIC, PLASTIC EVERYWHERE.

A NEW YORK BILL AIMS TO REDUCE THAT MOUNTAIN OF TRASH.

BUT AT WHAT COST?

STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED THIS WEEK BY CHAD SPARBER FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, JENIFER STROMER-GALLEY FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, TARA ROSS FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND LUKE PERRY FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

THE ANTI-ICE UNREST THAT BEGAN LAST WEEKEND IN LOS ANGELES HAS NOW SPREAD TO OTHER CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

PRESIDENT TRUMP PROMISED MASS DEPORTATIONS LAST YEAR ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

NOW IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT IS AMPING UP EFFORTS TO DO JUST THAT.

AT THE FIRST SIGN OF RESISTANCE, TRUMP FEDERALIZED THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD AND SENT THE MARINES.

THERE ARE TWO RELATED ISSUES HERE-THE MORE AGGRESSIVE ATTEMPTS BY ICE TO ROUND UP UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, AND THE PRESIDENT'S USE OF THE MILITARY ON AMERICAN SOIL.

IMMIGRATION IS THE PRESIDENT'S STRONGEST ISSUE, BUT SHOULD HE HAVE CALLED OUT THE TROOPS?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT GOOD GOVERNANCE, IT'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE A PROBLEM, MAKING SURE WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS LEGAL AND TRYING TO BE COST EFFICIENT SO DEPLOYING THE MILITARY ON PREDOMINANTLY PEACEFUL PROTESTORS IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM; HOWEVER WE IDENTIFY IT.

I THINK THAT THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A LEGAL QUESTION NOW.

THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA DID NOT ASK FOR THIS SUPPORT.

THERE IS A LAWSUIT THAT IS UNFOLDING.

PRESIDENT TRUMP DID NOT INVOKE THE INSURRECTION ACT WHICH WOULD BIFF HIM ADDITIONAL LEGAL AUTHORITY TO PERHAPS TAKE THESE ACTIONS SO IT DOESN'T PASS THAT TEST.

AND $134 MILLION IS NOT THE MOST COST EFFICIENT WAY TO TRY TO ADDRESS WHAT IS GOING ON IN LOS ANGELES.

>> YOU SAID PREDOMINANTLY PEACEFUL PROTEST AND THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD CHALLENGE THAT'S.

>> THAT IS A FACT.

YES THERE WERE ISOLATED INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AND TO THE ADMINISTRATION'S CONCERNS, ICE AGENTEDS SHOULD BE SAFE.

THEY SHOULD NOT BE IN DANGER DOING THEIR JOB BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE OVERALL.

>> IN THIS-- THE AUTHORITY THAT HE IS USED IN THIS CASE, JENNY, REQUIRES ACTUAL OR THREATENED REBELLION AGAINST THE UNITED STATES,.

>> SO I THINK THIS COUNTS A TREND WE'VE SEEN FROM THE PRESIDENT WHERE HE INVOKES THESE THE ALIEN ENEMY ACT AND NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT POTENTIAL INSURRECTION ACTS AS WAYS FOR HIM TO DECLARE THAT HE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO FEDERALIZE AND INTERVENE, IF YOU WILL, IN WAYS THAT HISTORICALLY WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTERVENE.

AND IT'S A WAY FOR HIM, ALSO, TO VERY MUCH TAKE POWER AND THIS IS ALSO WHAT LEADS PEOPLE TO START RAISING FLAGS ABOUT AUTHORITARIANISM, WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH A STRONG PRESIDENCY THAT IS WORKING SINGLE HANDEDLY WITHOUT CONGRESS AND BEYOND THE COURTS.

THAT'S A PROBLEM.

>> WELL, I MEAN IS THIS REALLY A STEP TOWARD AUTHORITARIANISM, CHAD?

I MEAN HE DOES-- WHAT INITIATED ALL THIS WAS GOING AFTER UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN THE WORKPLACE, RIGHT?

A LITTLE MORE-- A LOT MORE AGGRESSIVE ATTEMPT AT DEPORTATION.

>> ... >> HE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT.

>> MY THOUGHTS ON THIS TOPIC ARE COMPLICATED AND EVOLVING.

SO WHEN YOU WERE SPEAKING, I WAS ACTUALLY THINKING ABOUT THE TIPS FOR THE LEFT ON HOW TO WIN THE IDEOLOGICAL BATTLE THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

NUMBER ONE I THINK THE LEFT NEEDS TO CONTEM THE PROTESTS.

THAT'S WHAT JOHN FEDDERMAN'S MESSAGE HAS BEEN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LOSES THE MORAL HIGH GROUND WHEN THEY'RE LATE TO CONDEMN SETTING CARS ON FIRE, DESTROYING PUBLIC PROPERTY, ASSAULTING LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT SORT OF THING.

THE SECOND IS TO AVOID HYPERBOLE.

NEWSOME WAS RIGHT WHEN HE SAID TRUMP'S ACTIONS WOULD ESCALATE THE VIOLENCE, BUT HE SOUNDS LIKE A LOSING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHEN HE STARTS TO SAY THAT DEMOCRACY IS AT RISK OR A THREAT AND AUTHORITARIANISM AND ALL THAT STUFF.

THE THIRD IS THAT THE PROTESTORS NEED TO DROP THE MEXICAN FLAG.

THERE IS A COLUMNIST, PHIL BOWS WHO WROTE FOUR MONTHS AGO, IT MIGHT FEEL GOOD TO WAVE THE MEXICAN FLAG IN MAGA'S FACE BUT YOU ARE NOT APPRECIATING WHAT A TURNOFF THAT IS TO SO MANY AMERICANS THAT ARE NOT MAGA AND THAT IS PLAYING RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO CLAIM THAT THIS IS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS A FORM OF INSURGENCY AND REALLY IF THESE PROTESTORS WERE TO EMBRACE THE U.S.

FLAG INSTEAD, TO REFUSE TO LET THE RIGHT MONOPOLIZE THE DEFINITION OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE PATRIOTIC OR WHAT AMERICAN VALUES ARE, LEFT WOULD BE IN FAR BETTER SHAPE THAN IT IS SO THAT'S MY ADVICE.

>> SO TARA, WHAT ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE IN TERMS OF AS I MENTIONED TO CHAD, IN TERMS OF THE WORKPLACE.

SHOULD WE PURSUE-- IT'S SORT THEY ARRESTED PEOPLE WHO WERE AT THE COURTHOUSE FOR HEARINGS THAT THEY WERE TOLD THEY HAD TO BE AT THE COURTHOUSE TO ATTEND.

AND THERE SEEMS TO BE CONCERN THAT SOME OF THESE IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE THERE ARE FOR HEARINGS FOR STATUS RECEIVED SOME SORT OF MESSAGE, POSSIBLY A.I.

GENERATED AND THERE HASN'T BEEN AN INVESTIGATION BUT THEY RECEIVED A MESSAGE THAT THEY HAD TO BE AT THE COURTHOUSE EARLIER THAN THEY ACTUAL APPOINTMENT SO OF COURSE IF I DON'T SHOW UP, THEN OF COURSE I'M GOING TO BE DEPORTED.

I SHOW UP EARLY, I GET ARRESTED.

PART OF THIS UNREST IS BECAUSE OF ALL OF THIS TOGETHER NOT ONLY ARE THEY ARRESTING PEOPLE AT THEIR WORKPLACES WHICH THEY ARE, BUT ALL THE OTHER PLACES THEY ARE ARRESTING PEOPLE.

THAT'S PART OF WHAT HAS DRAWN THIS HEAVY DUTY PROTEST AND THE CONCERN.

>> NOW LUKE, WERE YOU ABOUT TO MAKE A POINT?

>> I THINK IT'S ALWAYS WORTH RECOGNIZING AMERICA IS DIVIDED ABOUT WHAT CONSTITUTES CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN THIS REGARD.

SOME PEOPLE UNDERSTAND CRIMES AS COMMITTING MISDEMEANORS OR FELONIES JUST LIKE ANYBODY IN AMERICAN SOCIETY WOULD.

AND OTHER PEOPLE LOOK AT THE SHEER FACT THAT UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE ARE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AS BEING CRIMINAL.

AND I THINK UNTIL WE HAVE SOME MORE AGREEMENT ON THAT, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE DIVISIONS.

NOW IT'S ALSO WORTH POINTING OUT THAT MOST AMERICANS, PER PUBLIC OPINION, DON'T THINK THAT UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT COMMITTING MISDEMEANORS OR FELONIES SHOULD BE DEPORTED BUT THERE IS A SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION WHO THINK THEY'RE DOING ILLEGAL ACTIVITY BY BEING HERE.

THAT LAW NEEDS TO BE ENFORCED AND TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CREDIT, HE CAMPAIGNED ON THIS AND UNIFIED THE GOVERNMENT AND USED VARIOUS AGENCIES SUCH AS THE STATE DEPARTMENT WORKING WITH ICE, TO GREAT EFFECT TO IDENTIFY THESE PEOPLE AND THAT'S UPSETTING PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT HAS BEEN NORMAL.

>> THAT'S PART OF THE CONFLICT THAT I'M GOING THROUGH LIKE ALL OF MY OWN RESEARCH IS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW IMMIGRANTS AFFECT THE AMERICAN ECONOMY AND I THINK THEY'RE GATE FOR THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.

I'M PRODLY PRO-IMMIGRATION.

AND I THINK EVERYBODY WHO HAS EVER BEEN ON THIS PANEL AGREES THAT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY.

IT'S NOT LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR STATE GOVERNMENT.

IT'S A FEDERAL JOB.

SO HERE WE'VE GOT CASE WHERE, YOU KNOW, 11 MILLION PEOPLE ARE IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY AND SO YOU KNOW, IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT-- WHAT ARE THE PROTESTORS ASKING?

THAT WE DON'T ENFORCE FEDERAL LAW?

THAT'S A LITTLE BIT STRANGE.

I MEAN IF IT'S ABOUT CHANGING A LAW, THAT'S EASIER TO UNDERSTAND.

BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENFORCE THIS LAW.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD, AND THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM IS YOU HAD THIS WIDE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WHO SAID WE HAVE AN IMMIGRATION PROBLEM.

WE NEED TO DEAL WITH IT.

WE HAVE HAD THIS MASSIVE INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS IN LARGE NUMBERS WITHIN THE LAST, LET'S SAY EIGHT YEARS.

BUT WHAT WE DIDN'T DISCUSS WAS, OKAY, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO IF WE START REALLY ENFORCING OUR IMMIGRATION-- JUST THE IMMIGRATION LAWS WE ALREADY HAVE.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT?

WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS.

AND WHEN THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO COME UP WITH A GOOD PROCESS, THAT WAS STYMIED BY THE PRESIDENT: AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS OF THE DEMOCRATS IS THEIR FAILURE TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, HEY, FOLKS, WE CAME UP WITH A GOOD PROCESS THAT WE THINK WOULD HAVE WORKED.

OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT PREVENTED THAT.

>> AND WHEN YOU SAY A GOOD PROCESS, YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE BILL THAT HAD BEEN PASSED IN THE SENATE AND IT WAS REALLY THE STRONGEST BILL ON IMMIGRATION IN DECADES.

>> YES.

>> AND DID NOT HAVE SOME THINGS THE DEMOCRATS REALLY WANTED AND THEM TRUMP PRESSURED TO TURN THAT DOWN, TO NOT PASS IT IN THE HOUSE.

>> THE NEW YORK SENATE FOLLOWED THE ASSEMBLY THIS WEEK AND PASSED THE MEDICAL AID IN DYING ACT.

UNDER THE BILL, TERMINALLY ILL PEOPLE GIVEN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS TO LIVE CAN LEGALLY GET DRUGS TO END THEIR LIVES.

THE DIAGNOSIS MUST BE CONFIRMED BY TWO DOCTORS.

SUPPORTERS SAY THIS IS A MATTER OF PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND ENDING SUFFERING.

OPPONENTS OF THE BILL SAY IT WILL ERODE RESPECT FOR LIFE AND PUT PRESSURE ON THE DISABLED TO END THEIRS.

ELEVEN OTHER STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HAVE LEGALIZED ASSISTED SUICIDE.

TARA, THIS BILL IS NOW GOING TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL.

SHOULD SHE SIGN IT?

>> NO.

SHE SHOULDN'T SIGN IT.

PARMLY BECAUSE-- PARTIALLY BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH CONSTRAINTS BUILT WITHIN IT.

ONE OF THE THINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT HAVE YOU TO HAVE TWO DOCTORS AGREE.

OKAY, THAT SOUNDS GREAT IF THESE ARE DOCTORS THAT HAVE KNOWN YOU AND TRULY KNOW YOUR CASE.

BUT THERE IS NO RESTRICTION ON A PERSON HAVING TO BE A RESIDENT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SO YOU FEASIBLY COULD HAVE SOMEONE COME FROM THE STATE OF INDIANA WHO WANTS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS MEDICALLY ASSISTED SUICIDE, COME INTO THE STATE, FIND TWO DOCTORS WHO ARE WILLING TO SIGN OFF AND SAY YES, THIS PERSON SHOULD HAVE MEDICALLY ASSISTED SUICIDE.

AND THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW THAT PERSON'S CASE.

THEY'RE JUST READING A FILE THAT THEY SAT DOWN AND READ HOPEFULLY LONGER THAN FIVE MINUTES AND WE WON'T EVEN GET INTO WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL HAVE READ IT FOR LONGER THAN THAT.

ANOTHER ISSUE OF CONCERN, IT SAYS THE TWO WITNESSES HAVE YOU TO HAVE CANNOT BE PEOPLE WHO INHERIT FROM YOU.

YOU VERY EASILY COULD HAVE A CASE WHERE OKAY, THERE IS NO WILL THAT SAYS THEY'RE INHERITING, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN YOUR CAREGIVER AND AS THEY HAVE BEEN CARING FOR YOU, YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM A FEW THINGS THAT WON'T SHOW UP IN THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A WILL AND THEY AREN'T SUPPOSED TO INHERIT.

>> I PUT THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF AN ARTICLE THAT "THE NEW YORK TIMES" WROTE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO ABOUT THE PRO-MORTALLIST MOVEMENT, SOMETHING THAT BEGAN IN 2006 WITH THE PUBLICATION OF A BOOK "BETTER NEVER TO HAVE BEEN" THE HARM OF COMING INTO EXISTENCE.

AT SOME LEVEL IT'S ABOUT MAKING DEATH HAPPEN SOONER RATHER THAN LATER IN LIFE.

THE TIMES CALLED IT FRINGE EXCEPT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE ELEMENTS OF THAT PHILOSOPHY IN PLACES LIKE THIS ACT, WHICH SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT SOME LIVES AREN'T WORTH LIVING.

I'M GOING TO STEAL AN IDEA FROM THE JOURNALIST MADELINE KEARNS WHO SAYS THAT THIS BILL IS NOT ABOUT INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.

AND SHE IS PRETTY FRANK AND SAYS THAT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO END THEIR LIVES ALREADY CAN DO SO, SO RATHER WHAT THIS BILL IS ABOUT, IT WOULD SIGNAL MEDICAL AND SOCIETAL APPROVAL FOR THAT CHOICE.

AND IN DOING SO, IT WILL HAVE ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS THAT REACH FAR BEYOND THE PATIENTS THAT IT IS DESIGNED FOR AND JUST KIND OF REINFORCE THIS IDEA THAT SOME LIVES ARE NOT WORTH LIVING.

>> PUSHING BACK ON MADELINE KEARNS A LITTLE BIT THERE.

THIS GIVES SOMEBODY A MORE PEACEFUL WAY TO DO IT THAN WOULD OTHERWISE BE THE CASE.

>> I FIND THE COUNTERARGUMENTS MORE CONVINCING.

>> JENNY.

>> I THINK THAT WE NEED TO REALLY CONSIDER ARGUMENT THAT PEOPLE DO HAVE A RIGHT TO BODILY AUTONOMY, AND IF THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THEY ARE FACING A TERMINAL ILLNESS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR PROLONGED PAIN AND SUFFERING, THAT THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE CHOICE TO END THAT PAIN AND SUFFERING ON TERMS OF THEIR MAKING, IS, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, SOMETHING WE REALLY SHOULD ENABLE AND CONSIDER.

I, MYSELF, AM ACTUALLY QUITE IN SUPPORT OF THE IDEA THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE IF WE ARE FACED WITH CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

THERE SHOULD BE GUARD RAILS.

100%.

THIS BILL LACKS ALSO ANY PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION.

SO IF SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN IMAGINE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE SOMEBODY IS DEEPLY DEPRESSED AFTER GETTING SUCH SAD NEWS AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT MAKING A HASTY DECISION.

BUT, WE ARE FACING AN INCREASINGLY AGING POPULATION.

I, MYSELF, POTENTIALLY HAVE LONGEVITY GENES AND ALSO ALZHEIMER'S IN MY OWN GENETICS AND SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY OWN POTENTIAL FUTURE DEATH, THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES I DON'T WANT TO EXPERIENCE.

>> I THINK THIS IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE, AS THE COMMENTS HAVE SHOWN.

I THINK THE BILL IS PRETTY NARROWLY TAILORED IN TERMS OF HOW IT WORKS, BEING CONFINED TO TERMINAL ILLNESS.

I THINK THE MULTIPLE DOCTORS IS A GOOD APPROACH.

I THINK THE DOCTOR LICENSED IN ANY STATE IS SUFFICIENT FOR ME.

I TRUST THEIR CREDENTIALS IN THAT REGARD.

TO CHAD'S POINT, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING ABOUT SOCIETAL CONCERNS, BUT I THINK WE'VE ALL, UNFORTUNATELY, ENCOUNTERED PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM CANCER AND OTHER HORRIBLE DISEASES AND THE IMPLICATION OF YOUR ARGUMENT IS THAT THEY SHOULD SHOOT THEMSELVES IN THE HEAD OR TAKE ENOUGH DRUGS TO KILL THEMSELVES RATHER THAN, AS DAVE ALLUDED TO, HAVE A MORE HUMANE WAY TO CHOOSE TO END THEIR LIFE.

SO I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEW YORK NEEDS TO DO.

MANY OTHER STATES HAVE AND INTERESTINGLY I'LL ADD IT'S NOT JUST SUFFERING.

THE STATE OF OREGON WAS THE FIRST TO INITIATE THIS TYPE OF LAW.

THEY DID A SURVEY LAST YEAR OF PEOPLE WHO WENT DOWN THIS ROAD AND LOSS OF BODILY CONTROL AND AUTONOMY AND DIGNITY WAS REALLY THE TOP REASON THAT PEOPLE DID THIS.

IF YOU CAN'T CONTROL YOUR BODILY FLUIDS, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE A BURDEN ON YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND YOU ARE SUFFERING, PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO LIVE.

AND I THINK LEGALLY THEY SHOULD HAVE THE RATE TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION UNDER REASONABLE CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> BUT TO TARA'S POINT, I THINK THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION BETWEEN SAY THE LAWS THAT WASHINGTON OR OREGON HAVE AND WHAT THIS PARTICULAR NEW YORK LAW IS DOING.

I MEAN THIS NEW YORK LAW DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME SAFEGUARDS THAT OTHER STATES HAVE.

INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THERE IS NO WAITING PERIOD BETWEEN REQUESTING AND RECEIVING THE DRUGS THAT WILL END YOUR LIFE.

WHEREAS EVERY OTHER STATE HAS AT LEAST TWO WEEKS.

THERE ARE ALSO CONCERNS-- I DON'T LIKE APPEALING TO SLIPPERY SLOPE ARGUMENTS.

>> SO THEN DON'T.

[LAUGHTER] >> BUT IT'S ONE THAT HAS BEEN FRONTED A LOT OF TIMES AND IT'S REAL.

CANADA BEGAN ITS, YOU KNOW, DEATH WITH DIGNITY THINGS UNDER THE SAME GROUNDS THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, BUT IT HAS NOW LED TO A MOVE FROM JUST FOR TERMINAL CASES TO CHRONIC ONES.

AND NOW YOU HAVE 5% OF DEATHS IN CANADA ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND IN TWEIVE 2027 MENTAL ILLNESS GOINGS TO BE COVERED SO AGAIN INSTEAD OF TREATING PEOPLE FOR CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND MENTAL ILLNESS, WE ARE BASICALLY SAYING THAT LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING.

END IT.

AND THEN THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF OTHER PRESSURES HERE, LIKE I MEAN FUNDAMENTALLY WHAT I THINK HAPPENS HERE, THIS KIND OF LAW PREYS ON THE VULNERABLE.

AND PEOPLE CAN FALL VICTIM TO FAMILY MEMBERS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES WHO CAN STAND TO BENEFIT FROM THEIR DEATH EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.

>> IT'S ONLY SIX MONTHS.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING-- YOU BASICALLY HAVE TO HAVE A TERMINAL ILLNESS AND SIX MONTHS SO I DON'T SEE THE SLIPPERY SLOPE THERE.

>> AGAIN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE NARROW-- >> ALL RIGHT.

HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED HOW MANY SMALL PRODUCTS YOU BUY COME IN BOXES THAT ARE MUCH TOO BIG AND STUFFED WITH STYROFOAM?

OR AT THE SUPERMARKET, FOOD WRAPPED IN PLASTIC, OR PACKAGED PLASTIC CONTAINERS?

IN NEW YORK, THAT COULD CHANGE.

A BILL IN THE ASSEMBLY WOULD REQUIRE MANUFACTURERS TO MAKE ALL PACKAGING RECYCLABLE.

THE BILL'S SUPPORTERS SAY IT WILL SAVE MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS IN REDUCED LANDFILL COSTS OVER A DECADE.

THE DOWNSIDE: IT WILL ALSO RAISE GROCERY PRICES.

THE BUSINESS COUNCIL PREFERS A DIFFERENT BILL, THE AFFORDABLE WASTE REDUCTION ACT, THAT IS NOT AS STRINGENT.

SHOULD THE ASSEMBLY PASS EITHER OF THESE BILLS, OR NOTHING AT ALL?

>> I AM REALLY GLAD THAT NEW YORK IS LOOKING SERIOUSLY AT THIS ISSUE OF WASTE.

BOTH BILLS ARE ACTUALLY TAKING UP SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE FAILED TO REALLY RECOGNIZE IS A COST ON US, WHICH IS THE PACKAGING AS PART OF THAT CONSUMPTION PROCESS.

YOU KNOW, WE DRINK A LOT OF MILL INCOME MY HOUSEHOLD.

MY FAMILY ALSO ARE CANADIAN SO WE SPEND TIME IN CANADA.

AND IN CANADA, WHEN YOU GET PLASTIC-- WHEN YOU GET YOUR MILL INCOME A PLASTIC CONTAINER, IT IS A THIN LITTLE BAG THAT GOES INTO A CONTAINER AND YOU POUR YOUR MILK THAT WAY.

NO BIG PLASTIC JUGS, AS ONE LITTLE EXAMPLE.

PLASTIC IS POTENTIALLY UP TO 30% OF OUR LANDFILLS AND IT IS NOT RECYCLABLE-- IT'S REALLY NOT RECYCLABLE.

THE AFFORDABLE WASTE REDUCTION ACT THAT IS BEING PROPOSED BY THE BUSINESS COUNCILS IS REALLY FOCUSED MORE ON THE RECYCLING SIDE, BUT AGAIN THAT'S VERY LIMITED BECAUSE YOU CAN'T RECYCLE PLASTICS LIKE YOU CAN GLASS AND ALUMINUM.

WHEREAS THE OTHER BILL ACTUALLY FOCUSED MORE ON WAYS TO GET RID OF THE PLASTICS IN THE FIRST PLACE, FROM GETTING INTO LANDFILLS.

>> DOES RECYCLING WORK?

CHAD, YOU ARE THE ECONOMIST ON THE PANEL.

>> YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING LESS ABOUT THAT NARROW QUESTION AND MORE BROADLY ABOUT BANS AND BANS LEAD TO UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

AND SO I THINK A LOT ABOUT THE PLASTIC BAG BAN FROM GROCERY STORES AND IT'S FUN TO READ THE RESEARCH ON THAT AND THAT BAN LED TO INCREASED SALES OF PLASTIC BAGS AND REUSABLE PLASTIC BAGS THAT NEED TO USE BETWEEN FIVE AND 20 TIMES TO CANCEL OUT THE CARBON FOOTPRINT FROM ONE SINGLE-USE BAG AND PEOPLE OFTEN FALL SHORT OF THAT TARGET.

A LOT OF THE OBJECTIONS THAT YOU ARE SEEING TO THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL ARE ABOUT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, WHICH INCLUDE RISING CONSUMER PRICES, JOBS MOVING OUT OF STATE AND INCREASED FOOD SPOILAGE.

IT'S NOT JUST THE BUSINESS GROUPS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THIS ALTERNATIVE AWRA BILL.

ALSO DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATE MONICA MARTINEZ.

THAT ONE WOULD BE BETTER.

>> INACTION HAS CONSEQUENCES, TOO.

THE SENATE BILL WHICH I SUPPORT BANS 17 TUXESIC CHEMICALS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN OUR PLASTIC RIGHT NOW.

SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR ECONOMIC-RELATED POINTS, CHAD BUT WHY SHOULD OUR CHILDREN EAT FOOD THAT IS WRAPPED IN PACKAGING THAT HAS LEAD, MERCURY, FOREVER CHEMICALS DAMAGING TO THEIR PUBLIC HEALTH.

THERE IS A BETTER WAY AND THIS BILL IS A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> WOULD YOU GO FOR THE PACKAGING REDUCTION AND RECYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE BIG BILL BASICALLY.

THE MORE STRINGENT.

TARA?

>> I, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SUPPORT THE MORE STRING EBT BILL.

IN THE LONG RUN THAT IS THE BETTER BILL FOR US.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE WASTE REDUCTION ACT IS THAT IT DOES INVOLVE THE PRODUCERS MORE AND I THINK IF WE ARE REALLY GOING TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT RECYCLING AND REDUCING, YOU KNOW, PLASTICS, ET CETERA, CHEMICALS, ET CETERA, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO INVOLVE THEM IN SOME WAY.

BUT THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO BE MORE REALISTIC ABOUT WHAT THEIR ROLE SHOULD BE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE ROLE THEY'RE PROPOSING IS REAL MINIMUM.

>> THE COST THOUGH, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GETS OBFUSCATED IN THIS IS IT IS GOING TO INCREASE COSTS ON THE CONSUMER SIDE.

BUT THE REALITY IS THAT OUR SOLID WASTE STREAM IS REALLY STRETCHED, SO WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF LANDFILL SPACE.

WHERE ARE WE GOING TO KEEP PUTTING ALL OF THIS TRASH AND THAT HAS REAL COST.

>> OKAY.

LET'S GO TO OUR AS AND FS AND CHAD YOUR F. >> AFTER TWO-YEAR INVESTIGATION, ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES FINALLY ANNOUNCED THE ARREST OF A HAMILTON MAN FOR RUNNING A DECADES LONG PONZI SCHEME FACING 49-COUNT INDICTMENT THAT INCLUDE GRAND LARCENY, SECURITIES FRAUD AND SCHEME TO DEFRAUD.

IF CONVICTED HE COULD FACE TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON.

THE ACCUSED HAD LESS THAN $22 MILLION IN ASSETS BUT OWED $ OVER 90 MILLION INCLUDING OVER 50 MILLION IN PRINCIPAL.

MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY LOSTLY LIFE SAVING.

>> MY F GOES TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR BROAD DATA REQUEST OF COLORADO SECRETARY OF STATE TO TURN OVER ALL RECORDS PERTAINING TO THE 2024 ELECTION AND TO RETAIN RECORDS FROM 2020.

SO, HERE WE GO AGAIN WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUSHING A FALSE NARRATIVE WHEN, IN TRUTH, OUR SECRETARIES OF STATE DO AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB ENSURING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

MORE THAN THAT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DEMANDING VOTER DATA WHICH CON-- CONTINUES A STRANGE AND WORRISOME PLAYBOOK OF AMASSING VAST DATA ABOUT THE PUBLIC BY A SMALL GROUP OF UNELECTED POLITICAL APPOINTEES ONE CLEAR MOTIVE.

I FEAR A NEW KIND OF SURVEILLANCE STATE THE HAPPENING IN THE UNITED STATES THAT COULD RIVAL THAT OF CHINA.

FOLKS, WHERE ARE WE HEADING?

>> TARA.

>> MY F GOES TO A SAD BUT NEW REALITY FOR ASIANS IN AMERICAN.

A RECENT STUDY IN THE JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY REPORTED FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HEALTH HAS BEEN STUDIED ABOUT RACE AND ETHNICITY, ASIANS 50 OR OLDER IN AMERICA NO LONGER HAVE THE LOWEST DISABILITY RATE IN AMERICA.

IN FACT ASIANS 50 AND OLDER HAVE THE HIGHEST DISABILITY RATE AND ONE OF THE MORE OR MOST CONCERNING THINGS ABOUT THIS IS THAT RESEARCHERS FOUND INCOME INEQUALITY AND ASSIMILATION INTO AMERICA MAY BE PART OF THE CAUSE.

>> AS.

CHAD.

>> MY A GOES TO THE HAMILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL-- >> I'M SORRY, I FORGOT LUKE'S F. >> I'M SORRY.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE PART OF THE SHOW BUT I WILL DO MY DUTY.

THANKS THOUGH.

MY F GOES TO HISTORICALLY HIGH ARCH SMOKE CONCENTRATIONS IN THE NORTHEAST THIS MONTH.

FLAIL LEVELS ARE 154% HIGHER THAN NORMAL.

THE CURRENT ROUND OF SMOKE IS PROJECTED TO REACH EUROPE AND EVEN RUSSIA BY NEXT WEEK.

>> CHAD.

>> I WAS SAYING, MY A GOES TO THIS HCS HAMILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL SOFTBALL TEAM WHICH WON THE CLASS D REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND PLAYS IN THE STATE SEMIFINAL FRIDAY.

THE TEAM AND COMMUNITY HAVE COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER THROUGH THE TRAGIC PASSING OF THEIR TEAMMATE, IZZIE ON MAY 28.

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

>> JENNY.

>> SO MY A GOES TO A PROPOSAL FOR A FIVE-YEAR MORATORIUM ON THE USE OF BIO SOLIDS AS FERTILIZER.

BIO SOLIDS IS A EUPHEMISM FOR MUNICIPAL SEPTIC AND INDUSTRIAL SEWAGE AND CONTAINS FOREVER CHEM CALSZ AND IS DUMPED ON OUR FARMLANDS AND ENTERING OUR FOOD SUPPLY.

THE NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, THE DEC DESCRIBES THE TOXICS AS NUTRIENT RICH MATERIALS BUT IT IS VERY NEGATIVE AND WE REALLY NEED THE BAN.

>> MY A GOES TO THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM RESEARCH FOR BLACK CULTURE IN NEW YORK CITY, CELEBRATING IT'S 100th ANNIVERSARY GETTING ITS START DURING THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE.

>> BRIAN WILSON DIED THIS WEEK, WHO FOUNDED THE BEACH BOYS AND ICONICALLY INFLUENCED POPULAR ROCK MUSIC.

KNOWN FOR UNIQUE MEDICAL MELODIES AND LAYERED HARMONIES, THEY HAVE ONE OF THE GREATEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME.

>> I FOUND MYSELF GOING DOWN A RABBIT HOLE YESTERDAY WITH BEACH BOYS.

AND OTHER MUSIC.

WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

FOR COMMENTS YOU CAN WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THE SHOW AGAIN YOU CAN VIEW IT ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FOR ALL OF US AT IVORY TOWER, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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