COMING UP TONIGHT WE HEAD BACK TO THE PORT OF OSWEGO TO LEARN ABOUT THE PORT OF MARINA THAT CAN HELP CARRY THE LOAD ON DOCK WORKER STRIKES AND A LOOK AT THE PROMISING FUTURE OF THE EAST ADAMS PROJECT AND ITS MISSION TO REVITALIZE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND FOR OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES, J. DANIEL PLUFF SITS DOWN WE CANS PERTS TO UNCOVER THE HUME HUMAN AND TOLL OF FENTANYL IN OUR AREA.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ON THE OTHER THAN, WCNY'S FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - THINK OF IT AS YOUR LOCAL FINANCIAL NEWS PROGRAM FEATURING SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE, BUSINESSES AND HAPPENINGS FROM EVERY CORNER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

I'M YOUR HOST, LAIZA SEMIDEY.

DURING OUR SEASON WE'LL SEE WHERE MONEY IS BEING MADE, SPENT AND SOMETIMES LOST AND FOCUS ON PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES AFFECTING US LOCALLY.

OUR FIRST REPORT TAKES US TO OSWEGO.

LAST YEAR WE VISITED THE PORT OF OSWEGO TO EXPLORE THERE TWO POINT ONE MILLION DOLLAR DEEP WATER MARINA.

WE SAT DOWN WITH THE PORT'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILLIAM SCRIBER, TO TALK ABOUT THE FACILITIES SHIPPING CAPABILITIES.

IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT DOCK WORKERS STRIKE WE WANTED TO REVISIT THIS PIECE.

AS THE PORT OF OSWEGO WAS ABLE TO REMAIN OPEN WHILE MAJOR PORTS ALONG THE EAST COAST CAME TO A HALT.

THE REASON THE PORT WAS ABLE TO KEEP ITS DOCKS OPEN IS DUE TO THEIR WORKERS BEING UNDER DIFFERENT CONTRACTS THAT WON'T EXPIRE FOR FOUR MORE YEARS.

ALTHOUGH THIS LOCAL PORT WAS UNABLE TO FILL THE GAP FOR CONSUMER GOODS TRANSPORTED ON CONTAINER SHIPS.

THEY COULD MEET THE NEEDS OF INDUSTRIAL AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, THAT ARE SHIPPED IN CRATES OR ON OPEN VESSELS.

>> WELL, IT HAS BEEN FANTASTICALLY SUCCESSFUL.

WE HAVE AROUND 100 LOCAL FARMERS WITHIN THE FOUR COUNTY AREA USING THE FACILITY.

WE HAVE THE VERY FIRST SHIP OUT OF THE GREAT LAKES FOR GRAIN LAST YEAR.

AND WE HAD A RECORD 684 CORN CARS BROUGHT AS FAR AS TRANSPORTED OUT OF THE PORT LAST YEAR.

SO THIS IS GIVING PARMERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET AT THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET THAT WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR CENTRAL NEW YORK FARMERS IN I OTHER WAY.

ONE OF THE GOALS I HAD WHEN I FIRST BECAME DIRECTOR WAS DIVERSIFY REVENUE AND THAT WAS NOT RELYING ON ONE CUSTOMER OR ONE LINE OF PRODUCT.

THE GRAIN HAS BEEN NOW BROUGHT IN, WHICH HAS CONTRIBUTED TO OUR RECORD YEAR LAST YEAR AS FAR AS OUR REVENUE.

OUR OTHER MARINA HERE IN OSWEGO ON THE EAST SIDE IS VERY UNIQUE ON THE LAKE BECAUSE WE HAVE A DEEP WATER DRAFT MARINA WHICH MEANS SAILBOATS AND LARGER PLEASURE CRAFT CAN EASILY GET INTO OUR FACILITIES AND DOCK.

THIS ONE WE WANTED TO DO THE SAME MODEL.

ORIGINALLY WE WERE AWARDED $1.8 MILLION TO DO THAT.

DURING COVID WE RAN OUT OF MONEY.

COSTS WERE VERY ESCALATED.

SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE REDESIGNED DOCKS.

SO WE WENT BACK TO THE STATE.

THE STATE WAS VERY COOPERATIVE WITH US.

WE HAD OTHER MONEY OUT THERE FOR DOCK IMPROVEMENTS.

WE TRANSFERRED MONEY TO THE MARINA, WHICH BROUGHT IT UP TO 2.1 MILLION.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS SUPPLY CHAIN, GIVING ME THE MATERIALS I NEED TO FINISH PROJECTS AND LABOR.

EVEN THOUGH WE USE LOCAL LABOR, THERE ARE A LOT OF PROJECTS OUT THERE THAT WE COMPETE WITH LABOR FOR.

BUT MY TEAM HERE AT THE PORT, I HAVE A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE, ALL THE WAY FROM THE DOCK WORKERS TO THE OFFICE STAFF, WE ARE ALL DEDICATED AND FOCUSED ON MAKING THIS PRODUCTIVE CARVING OUT A NICHE FOR LOGISTICS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

THE MARINA IS BASICALLY A COMMUNITY BENEFIT MARINA.

THERE WOULD BE A BIG INFLUX OF PEOPLE AND BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION, WHICH IS BASICALLY IN DOWNTOWN OSWEGO, A SHORT WALK TO ALL THE RESTAURANTS AND OTHER LITTLE SHOPS, I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE VERY TOURISTY AND WILL BE BRINGING IN THOSE PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES BECAUSE WE RECEIVE A LOT OF CANADIAN VISITORS.

SO THIS MARINA WILL BASICALLY BE A POSITIVE FOR THE CANAL TRAFFIC THAT IS TRANSITING FROM CANADA AND OTHER COUNTRIES THROUGH THE CANAL SYSTEM.

EACH CHARTER BOAT CAPTAIN BROUGHT IN AROUND $50,000 OF REVENUE A YEAR INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

WE ARE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM DOLLARS IN THE COMMUNITY PER YEAR THROUGH OUR DOCKAGE OF OUR CAPTAINS THAT ARE RUNNING SPORT FISHERIES OUT OF OSWEGO.

WE WOULD NEXT YEAR DOUBLE THAT WITH THE REVENUE THAT WILL BE COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A LOT OF POSITIVE ITEMS THAT MICRON COULD USE, NOT ONLY IN THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, THEY'RE CARRYING ON THEIR BUSINESS PHASE.

ONE OF THE MAIN SELLING POINTS OF COMING TO THE AREA WAS A PORT.

MANY OF THE STRUCTURAL STEEL LARGER ITEMS LIKE THE NEW PLANT LITHIUM RECYCLING PLANT OUT OF ROCHESTER AND NOVELLUS UT LUZ THE PORT FOR THE ITEMS THAT CAN'T BE BROUGHT IN ANY OTHER WAY.

WE ARE SUPPLYING, I BELIEVE, A CRITICAL LINK IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN THAT MAYBE WAS NOT FULLY UTILIZED BEFORE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

>> JOINING US TONIGHT FOR OUR COMMON CENTS SEGMENT IS GEORGE LYNCH REAL ESTATE AGENT AT PHYLLIP MARTIN REAL ESTATE AND PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER AT GEORGE J. LYNCH EXCELSIOR GROUP, LLC >> THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE TO TALK ABOUT REAL ESTATE.

TELL ME ABOUT THE MARKET RIGHT NOW.

>> THE SYRACUSE MARKET IS ACTUALLY, I THINK A GREAT MARKET AND THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE SOMETIMES FOCUS ON THE NATIONAL MARKET.

ONE MESSAGE I REALLY WANT TO DONE HAVE A TODAY IS TO SEPARATE THE TWO WITH ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND GREAT THINGS HAPPENING HERE, YOU WANT ALMOST TO LOOK AT IT DIFFERENTLY.

HOWEVER, THAT BEING SAID, UNFORTUNATELY, NATIONALLY, AND HERE LOCALLY, WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF INVENTORY.

>> YEP.

>> THAT'S OUR ONLY LIKE DOWNFALL BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT WITH ALL THE PROJECTED GROWTH, THIS IS AN AWESOME MARKET TO BE IN.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I NEED TO GET OVER IS THE FACT THAT PRICES ARE CHANGING.

A HOUSE THAT WAS $200,000 IS NOW $350,000 AND I NEED TO STOP SAYING, THAT HOUSE IS NOT WORTH $350,000 BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS CHANGING FOR THE BETTER.

SO FOR FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING FOR FOR A HOPE, WHAT SHOULD THEY EXPECT.

WHAT SHOULD THEY LOOK FOR?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

FIRST THING I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS YOU KNOW, FIRST HOME IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE YOUR FOREVER HOME.

STATISTICALLY THE PERSON BUYS THREE HOMES IN THEIR LIFETIME SO IT'S GOOD TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THAT FIRST PROPERTY AND THAT FIRST HOUSE FOR WHAT IT CAN BE AND NOT WHAT IT IS.

THAT'S THE KEY.

ESPECIALLY FOR A FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER BECAUSE IN THIS MARKET, IT'S A LITTLE COMPETITIVE.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN-- AND YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TURN IT INTO WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE INSTEAD OF WHAT IT ALREADY IS, I THINK THAT'S HUGE MUCH AND THAT WILL HELP YOU BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN LEARN TO LOVE OVER TIME.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO FALL IN LOVE WITH IT RIGHT AWAY.

IT'S LIKE YOUR FIRST CAR.

WE ALL MAYBE GET A BEATER AND YOU GRADUATE TO THAT NICER CAR.

>> I THINK I LOVE THAT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE OFTEN TIMES WE WANT TO BUY A PERFECT HOME.

AND WE WANT TO FIX EVERYTHING RIGHT AWAY AND IN REALITY, IT DOES TAKE SOME YEARS OF REALLY MAKING A HOUSE YOUR TRUE HOME.

>> CORRECT.

>> SO WE BOUGHT A HOUSE HYPOTHETICALLY, RIGHT?

WHAT CAN HOMEOWNERS EXPECT IN CLOSING COSTS, ANY HIDDEN FEES THAT THEY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

>> RIGHT, GREAT QUESTION.

SO A NUMBER OF HIDDEN FEES IS LIKE YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT LIKE INSURANCE, HAVE YOU TO THINK ABOUT YOUR MORTGAGE PAYMENT, YOUR CREDIT SCORE IS GOING TO INFLUENCE THAT.

YOU ALSO WANT TO THINK ABOUT YOUR TAXES.

THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT GEOGRAPHICALLY DEPENDING WHERE YOU ARE.

IF YOU ARE IN THE CITY SIMILAR TO SYRACUSE, TAXES MAY BE LOWER.

BUT AS YOU GET INTO MORE GUSH SUBURBAN AND RURAL AREA, TAXES ARE GOING TO BE HIGHER.

HOWEVER, YOU LOOK AT IT HOW YOU LOOK AT CAR INSURANCE, YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF YOU CAN PAY THOSE INCREMENTAL PAYMENTS, BUT THEN OR YOU CAN PAY IT UP FRONT AT ONCE WHICH IS A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE.

BUT IT'S CHEAPER IN THE LONG RUN.

SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS YOU WANT TO FACTOR IN.

THEY'RE CALLED HARD COSTS AND SOFT COSTS WHEN PURCHASING A HOME.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS LIKE, OKAY, THAT'S GOING TO BE THERE NO MATTER WHAT.

TAXES, INSURANCE, MORTGAGE PAYMENT.

CLOSING COSTS.

AND THEN THE NUMBER FOR THAT WILL VARY DEPENDING ON THE PRICE OF THE HOUSE.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THAT.

>> SO A LOT OF THE OFFERS OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE BECAUSE IT IS A COMPETITIVE MARKET.

MY QUESTION TO YOU WITH SO MANY OFFERS NOT PUTTING AN INSPECTION THROUGH.

WE'LL WAIVE THE INSPECTION, FORGET ABOUT IT.

WE REALLY WANT THIS HOUSE.

>> RIGHT.

>> IF I'M WALKING THROUGH THE HOUSE, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT I NEED TO LOOK FOR THAT MIGHT BE RED FLAGS AND COULD COST ME LATER OR DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS OR TRICKS WITH THAT?

>> TIPS, ANY EXPERT WOULD TELL YOU THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO FOUNDATIONAL ISSUES WITH THE HOUSE.

FOUNDATIONAL ISSUES CAN BE VERY, VERY COSTLY AS WELL AS ELECTRICAL.

ELECTRICAL STUFF CAN BE VERY COSTLY.

AND THEN ANY PEST ISSUES, AND PLUMBING.

THOSE ARE THINGS WHERE IT'S LIKE, THOSE CAN BE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE WHEN CONSIDERING THAT.

HOWEVER, THOUGH, SOMETHING I WANT TO ADD IS A FRIEND OF MINE MADE THIS UP, HE SAID IT TO ME AND I WILL NEVER FORGET IT.

A LOT OF BUYERS HAVE KOOL-AID MONEY AND CHAMPAGNE TASTE.

>> I'M ONE OF THEM.

SO.

>> YOU WANT TO BE REALISTIC WITH YOURSELF BECAUSE BUYING A HOUSE EMPOWERS YOU TO NOW GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR OPINION FINANCES.

WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE AS A BUYER, THE GOAL IS TO BE REALISTIC.

LOOK AT THE HOUSE.

UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE FINANCIALLY AND THEN TRY TO MAKE YOUR DECISION BASED ON THAT FINANCIAL SITUATION AND NOT BUY OUTSIDE OF WHAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD OR TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES.

>> REALLY QUICK, HOW CAN YOU MAKE AN OFFER MORE APPEALING IN THIS MARKET IN SYRACUSE RIGHT NOW?

>> A NUMBER OF WAYS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WAIVING INSPECTION BUT STRATEGICALLY WHAT YOU CAN DO IS YOU CAN HAVE AN INSPECTION BUT IT NOT BE CONTRACTUALLY HOW YOU WRITE IT UP, THAT REALTOR WOULD WANT TO WRITE IT IN THE WAY WHERE IT IS, YOU ARE DOING AN INSPECTION BUT IT IS NOT-- THE OFFER IS NOT CONTINGENT ON THE INSPECTION.

IT HAS TO BE SATISFACTORY.

HOWEVER, ANOTHER THING YOU CAN DO IS HIGHER DOWN PAYMENT.

YOU KNOW, DEPOSIT, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND THEN ALSO YOU MAY TRY TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE BUYER, TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT BUYER WANTS TO NET, MEANING AFTER EVERYONE HAS BEEN PAID, LIKE THE ATTORNEY FEES, THE REALTOR COMMISSIONS, WHICH NOW NEW YORK STATE HAS JUST CHANGED SO THAT'S A WHOLE BIG TOPIC BUT I'LL SAVE THAT FOR ANOTHER DAY.

THE KEY TO MAKING A GOOD OFFER IS TO 1: BUY IN YOUR PRICE RANGE SO HAVE YOU WIGGLE ROOM TO OFFER MORE.

TRY TO MAYBE GO CASH IF YOU CAN.

IF NOT, JUST PUT MORE DOWN.

THAT WOULD BE THE BEST THING TO DO.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, GEORGE.

AGAIN, THIS IS ANOTHER TOPIC, LIKE THE PREVIOUS EPISODE THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT ALL DAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> IN A MAJOR PUSH TO REBUILD ONE OF SYRACUSE'S MOST HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS, THE EAST ADAMS PROJECT PLAN IS SET TO BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO THE FORMER 15TH WARD.

OUR ON THE MONEY TEAM BRINGS YOU AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THIS AMBITIOUS PROJECT, WHICH AIMS TO CREATE A VIBRANT, DIVERSE COMMUNITY WHERE RESIDENTS OF ALL INCOMES CAN THRIVE.

WE SIT DOWN WITH KEY PLAYERS MAKING THIS TRANSFORMATION POSSIBLE: THE SYRACUSE HOUSING AUTHORITY, CITY OF SYRACUSE, AND THE SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT PAM ODOM.

THEY'LL SHARE THEIR VISION FOR RECONNECTING AND REVITALIZING THIS CRUCIAL PIECE OF OUR CITY'S FABRIC.

>> EAST ADAMS PROJECT IS A PROJECT THAT STARTED IN CONCEPTION OVER 10 YEARS AGO WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAD APPROACHED THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND WAS TALKING ABOUT REVITALIZING THE VIADUCT.

I-8 IS OVERPASS.

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WILL PROBABLY GO OVER 10 YEARS, APPROXIMATELY 10 PHASES THAT WE HAVE PLANNED OUT CURRENTLY AND ULTIMATELY WILL BE CLOSE TO A BILLION DOLLARS.

WE CAME OUT WITH THE OVERALL PLAN TO DEMOLISH THE EXISTING HOUSING OVER 11-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME.

THE PURPOSE OF DOING IT OVER 11-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME WAS TO HAVE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVED HERE MOVE ONCE AND AS OPPOSED TO HAVING ALL OF THEM MOVE TWICE BECAUSE OFTEN TIMES WHEN A PERSON HAS TO MOVE TWICE, YOU REALLY DON'T GET THE MAJORITY OF THEM COMING BACK AND WE WANTED TO REBUILD THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IN A WAY THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE EXISTING RESIDENTS COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE EVER IT.

OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A REAL HOUSING CRUNCH AND SO YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOOKING TO INCLUDE AND BE ABLE TO ACCESS SOME OF THE FAMILIES WHO MAY WANT TO BE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL.

AND THEN WE THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO ATTRACT SOME FAMILIES PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE SOME HIGH PERFORMING NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS, WHICH IS THE KEY FOR ANY MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES TO MOVE INTO NEIGHBORHOODS WITH STRONG SCHOOLS.

>> THE SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS INVOLVED IN THE REVITALIZATION PLAN BECAUSE WE HAVE MANY FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN 9 McKINNEY MANOR AND PIONEER HOMES NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS THE EAST ADAMS NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND WE FEEL THAT HAVING OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP OUR FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR US.

WE WOULD LIKE OUR FAMILIES TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE STABLE HOUSING AND THE MORE STABLE THE HOUSING FOR THE STUDENT, THE BETTER THEY CAN PERFORM IN SCHOOL.

WE ALSO HAVE THREE SCHOOLS IN THAT PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE HAVE Dr. KING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

WE HAVE I.T.C.

AND WE WILL HAVE THE NEW SYSTEM SCHOOL THAT WILL BE OPENING IN SEPTEMBER 2025.

SO WE FELT LIKE THIS WAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE NEEDED TO BE A PART OF AND WE NEEDED TO BE AT THE TABLE TO DISCUSS HOW WE ARE GOING TO HELP OUR STUDENTS TO PERFORM AND HELP THE FAMILIES, RIGHT, THAT TRUST US WITH HAVING THEIR STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS.

SO IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR US.

>> IN THE SYRACUSE CITY DISTRICT WE HAVE A PRETTY SOLID PLAN FOR BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AS THEY TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL.

SO WE WANT TO LEVERAGE SOME OF THE STRUCTURES THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE.

AS WE PREPARE FOR FAMILIES TO BE RELOCATED FROM EAST ADAMS NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE HAVE SOCIAL WORKERS IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE COUNSELORS IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS AND WE PARTNER WITH URBAN STRATEGIES INITIATIVES, TOO, AND THEY SUPPORT FAMILIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE RELOCATING FROM EAST ADAMS WITH CASE MANAGERS.

SO EVERY FAMILY IS ASSIGNED A CASE MANAGER TO FOLLOW THEM THROUGHOUT PROCESS AS THEY TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL.

AND TRANSITION BACK INTO HOMES IN THE EAST ADAMS NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE TIRCHT TO DO LONG TERM LAN PLANNING WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT THE EAST ADAMS.

THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PARTNER WITH BLUEPRINT 15 AND FOR PURPOSEFUL BUILT SCHOOLS AS WELL AS MICRON TO OFFER PROGRAMS AT SYSTEM AND Dr. KING AND NEW HIGH SCHOOL OPENING IN SEPTEMBER OF 2025.

THERE ARE PLANS TO CREATE CHILDREN'S RISING CENTER WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WILL OFFER EARLY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE YMCA FOR FAMILIES IN EAST ADAMS.

WE ALSO PARTNER WITH SUNY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER TO OFFER JOB TRAINING FOR ADULTS THAT LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO REALLY THINKING ABOUT THAT WHOLE CRADLE TO CAREER PIPELINE WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN PLANNING FOR SOMETIME.

WITH PARTNERSHIP, WITH MICRON, WE WILL BE ABLE TO OFFER SOME REALLY UNIQUE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AT BOTH SYSTEM, Dr. KING AND THE NEW SYSTEM HIGH SCHOOL AND THIS IS ALL POSITION THE US REALLY WELL TO APPLY FOR A PROMISE NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT THAT WE ARE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO ENHANCE EVEN MORE OPTIONS FOR OUR FAMILIES.

I THINK WE ARE JUST REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT FAMILIES THAT HAVE LIVED IN EAST ADAMS AND WE THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT COULD REALLY SPUR SOME INNOVATION ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY.

>> SO WE ARE IN THE PROCESS-- I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT PATHWAYS AND CT E-LEARNING FOR OUR STUDENTS.

WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE BUSINESSES, THE COLLEGES, THE UNIVERSITIES IN THE AREA TO DEFINITELY SEE WHAT ARE THE NEEDS IN THE AREA; FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE HIGH TECH MANUFACTURING COMING TO THIS AREA AND SO IN OUR SYSTEM SCHOOL WE ARE GOING-- STEAM SCHOOL WE ARE GOING TO BE OFFERING VISUAL PERFORM AGO AND PERFORMING ARTS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE OFFERING GAMING.

SOME OF THE THINGS ARE TAKING OFF IN OUR AREA AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE HELPING TO PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR THESE HIGH PAYING JOBS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING.

SO WE ARE DOING THAT IN THE STEAM HIGH SCHOOL.

WE ALSO HAVE PATHWAYS ACROSS THE REST OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO NOT ONLY GO TO COLLEGE, BUT ALSO OPPORTUNITIES PREPPING THEM FOR THE CAREER, FOR SPECIFIC CAREERS.

SO WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO OFFER THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR SCHOOLS.

SO KIDS CAN CHOOSE TO GO TO COLLEGE OR TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE, AND, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS BACK A LONG TIME AGO WHEN I WAS A STUDENT, RIGHT.

WE HAD, YOU KNOW, PORTIONS OF IT BUT NOW KIDS CAN GO AND GO TO THE SEMICONDUCTOR CLASS, LEARN BALL THAT AND APPLY FOR A JOB AT MICRON IN THE FUTURE.

SO THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO OFFERING IN THE DISTRICT IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THE FAMILIES AND OUR EAST ADAM NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILIES ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AS WELL.

>> OUR PARTNERS IN THIS PROJECT ARE THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL.

OBVIOUSLY THE SYRACUSE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

THE CITY OF SYRACUSE, ONONDAGA COUNTY, AND BLUEPRINT 15, WHICH IS A NEW NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS SORT OF FUNDED AND SENT PRIMARILY BY THE ALLEN FOUNDATION.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER SMALLER PARTNERS, WHETHER IT'S THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OR SOME OF OUR UPSTATE HOSPITAL AND A NUMBER OF OTHER SMALLER GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN PUTTING THIS PLAN TOGETHER AND PUTTING IN RESOURCES TO MAKE IT COME TO FRUITION.

THE STRONG NEED FOR HOUSING HAS REALLY DEVELOPED IN THIS COMMUNITY AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING HERE IS THAT WE ARE GOING FROM 675 UNITS OF LOW INCOME PUBLIC HOUSING TO A LITTLE OVER 1400 UNITS ON THIS FOOTPRINT AND SO WE ARE DOUBLING THE NUMBER OF UNITS.

AND MOST OF THOSE, HALF OF THOSE WILL BE MARKET RATE AND AFFORDABLE THROUGH THE NEW YORK STATE A.T.R.

REDEVELOPMENT, HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, SO, YEAH, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE PRETTY MUCH AN ADDITIONAL 600 UNITS.

WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE ALL TYPES OF AMENITIES INSIDE THERE.

THERE WILL BE PLAYGROUNDS AND GARDENS.

THERE WILL BE FITNESS CENTERS IN THE BUILDING.

EVERY APARTMENT WILL BE BRAND NEW DEVELOPED TO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND REHABILITATION STANDARDS AND MOST OF THE APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL ONLY BE FOUR STORIES HIGH.

SO WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO GET INTO HIGH RISE BUILDINGS OR MIXED INCOME.

IT REALLY WILL BE DESIGNED FOR FAMILIES AND FAMILY USE AND WE THINK THAT THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE A MAJOR ATTRACTION FOR STRONG MIXED INCOME COMMUNITY I THINK WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TO REALIZE IS THAT HERE IN SYRACUSE, LIKE MOST PUBLIC HOUSING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE VAST MAJORITY, AT LEAST APPROXIMATELY HALF OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE SENIORS AND DISABLED SO MANY OF THEM WANT SAFE COMMUNITIES WITH ACCESS TO HEALTHY RESOURCES AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES WHERE THEY CAN GET FOOD TO ELIMINATE SOME OF THE FOOD DESERTS AND BANKING.

THESE AMENITIES WILL BE INCLUDED IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR THOSE FAMILIES FOR OUR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WE WILL HAVE CHILDREN'S RISING CENTER WHICH IS AN EARLY LEARN CENTERING IN THIS COMMUNITY, THE YMCA WILL BE HERE.

WE WILL HAVE THESE NEIGHBORHOODS WILL BE BROKEN UP.

YOU WON'T HAVE THESE SUPER BLOCKS WHERE A LOT OF NEFARIOUS ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE.

THERE WILL BE MORE ENCOURAGEMENT OF BICYCLING AND SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS AND SAFER IN GENERAL.

AND SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE BIG AMENITIES THAT WE HEARD FROM OUR EXISTING FAMILIES THAT THEY WANTED TO SEE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WE ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING THOSE GOING FORWARD.

>> THIS WEEK FOR BY THE NUMBERS WE ARE BREAKING DOWN THE COST OF HOME RENOVATIONS.

IT'S A LONG ONE SO STICK WITH ME.

FIRST ONE WE ARE LOOKING AT IS ON AVERAGE, HIGH-END PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE DEMOLITION, NEW PLUMBING FIXTURES, AND OTHER EXPENSIVE ADD-ONS COST AROUND $41,600.

A HIGH RENOVATION COST IS UPWARDS OF $82,000 WITH THE LOWEST AT $1,200.

ANOTHER WAY TO BREAK DOWN HOW MUCH A RENOVATION COULD COST YOU IS BY SQUARE FOOT WHICH COULD RANGE BETWEEN $10 - $210 PER SQUARE FOOT.

NOW, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF HOME AND RENOVATION PROJECT THAT YOU ARE DOING, THE RANGE OF COSTS WILL BE FROM 1,000 UP TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

NOW THE LIST THAT I'M ABOUT TO GO THROUGH REQUIRES THAT YOU MOVE WALLS, ADD SOME NEW FLOOR PLANS, APPLIANCES AND MANY OTHERS.

CHECK IT OUT.

A GUT RENOVATION YOU ARE LOOKING AT 90,000 UP TO $210,000.

THE WHOLE HOUSE RENOVATION, MAYBE NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BUT A LOT OF ASPECTS OF IT DO, BETWEEN 14,000 TO 200,000 DOLLARS.

EVERYTHING INTERIOR, UP TO $41,000.

AND IF YOU WANT TO UPDATE YOUR SIDING, ROOF, EXTERIOR RENOVATION, 1200 TO $75,000.

AND IF YOU WANT TO ADD SQUARE FOOTAGE TO YOUR HOME, IT'S USUALLY $21,000 UP TO $73,000 OR MORE.

IF YOU ARE LIKE ME AND LIKE TO TAKE PROJECTS PER ROOM, DOWNING THAT.

OF COURSE IT HAS ITS OWN CHALLENGES AND COST RANGE BEING AGAIN FROM THOUSANDS TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

BUT CHECK IT OUT.

PER LOOM, PER ROOM, IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT A BEDROOM, 3600 AS AN OF COURSER COST.

LIVING ROOM AROUND 6900.

THE GARAGE, YOU WANT TO DECK THAT THING OUT.

YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT 11,000 FOR THAT.

A BATHROOM NOW WE ARE GETTING INTO SOME PLUMBING, SOME FLOOR PLANS.

THAT'S USUALLY ABOUT 16,000 DOLLARS MORE OR LESS.

BASEMENT, WOULD LOVE A FINISHED BASEMENT BUT THAT WILL COST US ABOUT $22,000 AND, OF COURSE, WE LOVE TO SPEND TIME IN THE KITCHEN AND THAT USUALLY IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE FIX IN A HOUSE AT ABOUT $27,000 OR MORE.

THERE ARE SOME OTHER COSTS TO CONSIDER AS WELL WHEN YOU ARE RENOVATING YOUR HOME.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU A FEW OF THEM.

SOME OF THOSE FACTORS ARE THE TYPE OF HOME THAT YOU HAVE.

THE AGE OF THE HOME.

IF YOU HAVE AN OLD HOME, WILL YOU REQUIRE SPECIALTY MATERIALS AND LABOR AS WELL AS LABOR OVERALL.

PERMITS.

IF YOU ARE DOING PLUMBING, HAVE YOU TO GET SOME PERMITS AND THOSE COST MONEY.

IF YOU ARE ADDING TO YOUR HOME, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY MORE TAXES ON THAT.

YOUR LOCATION OBVIOUSLY IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE COST BEING LESS OR MORE.

IF YOU UPGRADE YOUR ALIGNS PLIENSES-- IF YOU UPGRADE YOUR APPLIANCES THEY RANGE UP TO $10,000.

AND IF YOU HAVE A MAJOR RENOVATION, YOU MAY HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE AND STAY IN A HOTEL.

SO YOU ARE GOING HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.

AND WHEN WE START DIGGING INTO FLOOR PLAN CHANGES, FOUNDATION REPAIR, THAT CAN COST YOU A LOT OF MONEY.

AND, OF COURSE, IF YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES AN INTERIOR DESIGNER WOULD BE PHENOMENAL TO HELP YOU RENOVATE YOUR HOME.

DEFINITELY LOTS TO CONSIDER WHEN RENOVATING YOUR HOME.

I'M GOING THROUGH IT RIGHT NOW.

DON'T FORGET TO GET MULTIPLE BIDS FROM DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS, ASK FOR REFERENCES, AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE.

THESE ARE YOUR NUMBERS FOR THIS WEEK.

WE CONTINUE NOW WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WITH J DANIEL PLUFF.

THE SERIES HIGHLIGHTS BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL IN OUR AREA.

IN THIS SPOTLIGHT WITH J. DANIEL PLUFF WE TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL AND HUMAN COST OF FENTANYL• FENTANYL IS A SYNTHETIC OPIOID THAT IS UP TO 50 TIMES STRONGER THAN HEROIN AND 100 TIMES STRONGER THAN MORPHINE.

IT IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO FATAL AND NONFATAL OVERDOSES IN THE U.S. 70% OF OVERDOSES ARE FENTANYL RELATED.

J. DANIEL PLUFF SITS DOWN WITH MARIAH SENECAL-REILLY, DIRECTOR OF OUR SUBSTANCE USE INITIATIVE, AND DR. TOLANI AJAGBE AT CROUSE CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY TREATMENT SERVICES, TO TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF FENTANYL ABUSE ON THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

WE ALSO SPEAK ONE ON ONE WITH JAMES ROBINSON, A FATHER WHO SHARES THE STORY OF HIS DAUGHTER NICHOLE, WHO SADLY PASSED AWAY FROM FENTANYL OVERDOSE, AND THE COST TO HIS FAMILY.

>> NICOLE WAS MY DAUGHTER.

I AFFECTIONATELY CALLED HER BABY GIRL.

BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL, BEAUTIFUL PERSON.

SHE PLAYED WITH DOLLS, JUST A GIRLY GIRL.

SHE DIDN'T PLAY SPORTS, WHICH I TRIED, YOU KNOW, TO KEEP HER BUSY AT ONE TIME.

SHE LIKED TO CHEER LEAD.

SHE WAS A CHEER LEADER WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG.

DID THE COMPETITIONS, BUT JUST A NORMAL LITTLE GIRL.

THE DRUGS STARTED RIGHT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE STARTED TO EXPERIMENT, YOU KNOW, WITH DIFFERENT DRUGS.

THE FIRST DRUG THAT SHE TRIED WAS MARIJUANA AND THEN SHE WENT INTO A DRUG THAT THEY DIP A CIGARETTE INTO ENBALMING FLUID ACTUALLY AND THAT'S WHERE IT ALL STARTED.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BAD IT WAS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOUTH, WE EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT YOU COULD TELL PRETTY QUICKLY IT WAS GETTING WORSE THAN WE WANTED IT TO.

YOU DON'T WANT KIDS TO DO DRUGS AT ALL BUT THEY EXPERIMENT AND DO DIFFERENT THINGS.

BABY GIRL HAD SOME CHILDREN, FOUR CHILDREN, ACTUALLY.

THERE WERE SOME TIMES THAT SHE COULD GO FOR A LONG TIME WITHOUT IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH THE CHILDREN.

WE TRIED A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS I LIKE TO SAY AND I WILL SAY THAT DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ARE FAMILY DISEASE, YOU KNOW.

I TOTALLY BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE I MYSELF STRUGGLED WITH ALCOHOLISM.

I GOT INTO A PROGRAM AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO BE SOBER OR IN RECOVERY FOR A WHILE.

BABY GIRL TRIED AND I KNOW SHE TRIED.

SHE WOULD HAVE THE CHILDREN FOR A WHILE WHEN SHE WAS DOING WELL.

AND THEN IT GOT PRETTY BAD AND THE CHILDREN WERE TAKEN FROM HER BECAUSE OF AN EPISODE THAT SHE HAD WHERE SHE HAD TO BE REVIVED WITH NARCAN.

AND SO THAT'S WHEN SHE LOST THE CHILDREN.

AND WE THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, THINGS WOULD GET BETTER BECAUSE SHE WOULD BE FIGHTING TO GET THOSE CHILDREN AND SHE WANTED TO GET BETTER.

I KNOW SHE WANTED HER CHILDREN.

SHE JUST COULDN'T, WOULDN'T LET IT GO.

NICOLE WENT TO A FEW PROGRAMS AND ONE OF THE PROGRAMS SHE MET ONE OF HER COUSINS.

AND THE COUSIN, WHO SHE HAD JUST MET AND THEY BECAME, YOU KNOW, THEY STAYED IN TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ANYWAY.

AND THAT COUSIN ACTUALLY DIED OF FENTANYL INTOXICATION.

I TOLD BABY GIRL ABOUT THAT AND I REALLY THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD SHAKE HER UP.

IT DIDN'T.

SHE DID GO TO A FACILITY, WHICH I REALLY THINK HELPED HER.

IT WAS CALLED HOVING HOME.

SHE DID REALLY GOOD THERE.

THE BEST I HAD EVER SEEN HER.

WE TRAVELED THERE AND TOOK THE CHILDREN THERE AND SHE SEEMED TO DO VERY WELL.

WHEN HER TIME WAS OVER THERE, SHE DID LEAVE THERE AND SHE WENT TO GEORGIA TO STAY WITH HER BROTHER WHO TRIED TO HELP HER AND HIS WIFE.

WITH THE CHILDREN.

AND THINGS WENT WELL FOR A FEW WEEKS AND THEN THINGS STARTED TO GO DOWNHILL.

SHE HAD SOME BAD TIMES THERE.

YOU KNOW, IT JUST GOT HER AGAIN.

SHE STARTED TO USE AGAIN.

WHEN I SAY USE, I MEAN SHE STARTED WITH THE DRINKING AND THEN FINALLY ENDED UP, YOU KNOW, DOING THE DRUGS THAT SHE REALLY WANTED TO DO.

SHE STAYED THERE FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF, TWO MONTHS AND SHE LEFT, SEEMING TO COME BACK TO SYRACUSE.

WE DIDN'T WANT HER TO COME BACK TO SYRACUSE.

SHE CAME BACK HERE AND IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE SHE WAS, YOU KNOW, REALLY INTO IT REALLY HARD SHE WAS HOMELESS AND SHE JUST COULDN'T STOP.

THE LAST CONVERSATION I HAD WITH HER, I LOOKED AT HER AND SAID BABY GIRL, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO STOP THIS AND SHE STARTED TO CRY.

AND SHE SAID I CAN'T TALK ANYMORE.

THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW HER.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT YOU TREAT FOR DIFFERENT ISSUES HERE.

YOU MENTIONED ALCOHOLISM AND ALL OF THAT.

IF WE TRY TO FOCUS A LITTLE MORE ON OPIOID FENTANYL IN PARTICULAR, CAN YOU TELL ME HOW AND WHY IS FENTANYL SO MUCH MORE POTENT, SO MUCH MORE DANGEROUS AND ADDICTIVE.

WHAT IS IN THAT THAT MAKES IT SO?

SO THIS FENTANYL, SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT FENTANYL, THE ASSUMPTION IS FENTANYL IS ADMINISTERED IN HOSPITAL, SOME FORM OF IT.

NO, IT'S NOT.

THERE ARE ANALOGUES OF THOSE TYPES OF FENTANYL.

THEY'RE STRUCTURALLY SIMILAR TO THE FENTANYL IN THE HOSPITAL.

THERE IS A CHEMICALS THAT WERE DEVELOPED MOST OF THE TIME OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY AND IMPORTED INTO THE COUNTRY.

>> CHEAPER TO PRODUCE?

>> CHEAPER TO PRODUCE, CHEAPER TO DISTRIBUTE AND CHEAPER TO USE AND MORE DEADLY.

SO HEROIN IS WHAT WEEM WERE USING ON THE STREET UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO.

HEROIN IS TWICE AS POWERFUL AS MORPHINE.

THE FENTANYL YOU SEE IN HOSPITALS LIKE 100 TIMES MORE POWERFUL THAN MORPHINE.

SOME OF THE FLAL ON THE STREET, -- SOME OF THE FENTANYL ON THE STREET IS 10,000 TIMES MORE POWERFUL, CAR FENTANYL.

IT IS AN ANIMAL TRANQUILIZER NEVER MEANT TO BE USED BY HUMANS.

>> THAT'S AN ISSUE I HAVE FOR YOU RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

IF I'M A DRUG DEALER, WHY WOULD I WANT TO PUT FENTANYL IN A PRODUCT THAT IS LIKELY TO KILL THE CONSUMER IN THIS CASE?

IT MAKES NO STONES ME.

>> IT DOESN'T.

HIVE I AM NOT TRYING TO MAKE IT MAKE SENSE BUT IN A DRUG DEALER'S MIND, THEY'RE TRYING TO SELL THE HOTTEST, AND THE MOST POTENT THING BECAUSE THEY KNOW DRUG USERS ARE SEEKING A BETTER EUPHORIA OUT OF THE PRODUCT.

THEY WANT MORE OUT OF THE PRODUCT THEY BUY.

WE ARE ALMOST TO A POINT WHERE ALMOST EVERYWHERE YOU CAN THINK OF, CAR FENTANYL IS MIXED INTO THE DRUG.

PATIENTS KNOW THEY'RE USING THAT KIND OF SUBSTANCE BUT THE DANGEROUS PART IS NOW THEY'VE DEVELOPED TOLERANCE TO IT.

SO IT'S NOT KILLING THEM AS MUCH AS IT USED TO KILL THEM.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA FOR FENTANYL THIS YEAR, FENTANYL OVERDOSE HAS GONE DOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2023 FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2018.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE GETTING MORE TOLERANT.

>> I WOULD BE WILLING TO GUESS THERE MIGHT BE AN UPTICK IN THOSE FIRST-TIME USERS THAT, BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW MA THEY'VE GOT-- WHAT THEY'VE GOT.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> A LOT OF SENSE.

THINK ABOUT IT.

THE FIRST TIME USER, MOST OF THE TIME DOESN'T REALIZE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM.

SO IF THEY DON'T DIE, THEY DON'T SEEK HELP.

SO MOST PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE SEEKING HELP ARE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN RENDERED UNMANAGEABLE BECAUSE OF THE USE.

THEY HAVE BEEN USING FOR A WHILE.

SEEK CONSEQUENCES AND THEY NEED HELP.

>> HOW MUCH OF FENTANYL OR OPIOID IN GENERAL, HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED BEFORE IT TRIGGERS AN ADDICTION IN THE BODY?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL SO ADDICTION IS NOT-- THERE IS NO SPECIFIC METRICS TO MEASURE ADDICTION.

THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED DEPENDENCY ON A SUBSANS SUBSTANCE WHERE IF I STOP TAKING THIS SUBSTANCE I GO INTO BAD WITHDRAWAL.

I CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT TAKING THIS DRUG.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN ADDICTION.

ADDICTION IS ABOUT THE IMPACT.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND SO WHAT ABOUT THIS THOUGH.

I THINK AND WILL YOU HAVE TO HELP ME.

I DON'T HAVE A DEGREE IN CHEMISTRY.

AS I RECALL, THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED VIVITROL THAT IS USED FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM ALCOHOLISM.

>> YES.

>> DON'T WE HAVE SOMETHING, SOME TYPE OF DRUG THAT WOULD DISCOURAGE SOMEONE WHO IS REALLY DEPENDENT UPON AN OPIOID TO GET OFF THAT DRUG?

>> ALL THOSE-- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW ABOUT THE THREE MEDICATIONS, METHADONE, BUPRENORPHINE AND VIVITROL.

THE FIRST TWO, BUPRENORPHINE AND SUBOXONE, VIVITROL DOES NOT HELP SOMEBODY TO STOP WITHDRAWAL.

VIVITROL MAKES YOU NOT WANT TO USE BECAUSE IT BLOCKS THE HIGH.

IT BLOCKS THE U EUPHORIA PEOPLE GET WHEN THEY USE ALCOHOL OR DRUGS.

THE OTHER TWO AS WELL, METHADONE AND BUPRENORPHINE, WHEN PEOPLE ARE STABLE ON THEM, STABLE DOSES, IT BLOCKS THE HIGH FROM STREET OPIOIDS WHICH DISCOURAGES THEM FROM USING SO ALL THREE OF THEM ARE THINGS THAT DISCOURAGE THEM FROM USING.

IF THEY BUY DRUGS AND DON'T GET HIGH FROM IT.

>> DO YOU FIND PATIENTS ARE RECEPTIVE TREATMENT THOUGH?

DO HAVE YOU TO DO ARM TWISTING HERE AND SAY HEY, DANNY, YOU NEED HELP.

HOW RECEPTIVE ARE THEY?

>> PATIENTS ARE VERY, VERY RECEPTIVE.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE PAST DECADE, WE HAVE MADE A TRANSITION FROM WHAT WE CALL PROGRAM CENTERED CARE, WHERE WE SET THE RULES AND SAY, YOU JUST FIT INTO OUR RULES AND THAT'S HOW WE CAN TREAT YOU.

ABSTINENCE IS THE ONLY GOAL.

NOW WE HAVE TRANSITIONED TO WHAT WE CALL PATIENT CENTERED CARE WHERE WE MEET THE PATIENTS WHERE THEY ARE WITH PARTNER WITH THE PATIENTS, UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY SET THE GOALS.

OUR JOB IS TO FACILITATE THEIR RECOVERY, NOT TO SEND THE GOAL OF THEIR RECOVERY.

AND WE SEE THEM MORE RESPONSIVE TO THAT.

>> INTERESTING.

>> BECAUSE NOW WE CAN EDUCATE THEM AND KEEP PARTNERING WITH THEM.

THEY TRUST US.

THEY WILL LISTEN TO US.

>> I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD HAVE TO KNOW-- WOULD I HATE TO BE IN THAT STATE OF MIND, TO BE THAT DEPENDENT ON SOMETHING.

>> NOBODY WANTS IT.

THAT'S THE MYTH ABOUT ADDICTION OUT THERE.

PEOPLE ASSUME THAT WHAT GETS PEOPLE IN ADDICTION IS WHAT KEEPS THEM THERE.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

>> YOU KNOW, I HEAR ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO GET ADDICTED TO OPIOIDS BECAUSE THE SEVERE BACK PAIN.

HOW MUCH OF THAT DO YOU SEE?

>> THREE QUARTERS, 70%.

70% OF OUR PATIENTS WHO DEVELOP OPIOID ADDICTION WAS STARTED WHILE LEGITIMATELY PRESCRIBED OPIATES FOR PAIN BUT TOM PROBLEM IS THAT SOMETIMES THEY DON'T KNOW THEY ALREADY HAVE SOME PREEXISTING RISK LIKE GENETICS.

IT RUNS IN MY FAMILY.

ALL I NEED IS TO BE EXPOSED AND THINGS GET OUT OF HAND.

YOU CAN PRESCRIBE OPIATES FOR PAIN FOR FIVE PEOPLE AND TWO OF THEM BECOME DEPENDENT.

THE OTHER THREE TAKE IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEY'RE DONE WITH IT.

PEOPLE GET PRESCRIBED OPIATES FOR TOOTHACHE AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

THEY TAKE IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEY'RE DONE.

SOME CANNOT STOP.

>> YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO RECEIVE THE PHONE CALL IF IT DOESN'T STOP.

WHAT NEVER PREPARES YOU, EVER PREPARES YOU FOR THAT PHONE CALL.

THE NIGHT THAT WE FOUND OUT THAT BABY GIRL HAD PASSED AWAY, I HAD A PHONE CALL FROM MY SON, REGINALD, AND HE CALLED ME AND HE SAID, DAD, HE SAID, SOMEONE JUST CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT NICOLE IS DEAD.

REGGIE WAS BESIDE HIMSELF AND, OF COURSE, I JUST SAT THERE AND JUST LOOKED AT THE PHONE.

I LOOKED AT HIM AND THE WHOLE HOUSE WAS BESIDE THEMSELVES.

EVERYONE WAS JUST SCREAMING AND I HAD TO COMPOSE MYSELF.

I HAD TO TRY TO REALLY UNDERSTAND AND TRY TO TAKE IN WHAT HE HAD JUST SAID.

I TOLD HIM WOULD I CALL HIM BACK BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE SHE WAS.

SO I WENT AND I TOLD MY WIFE.

SHE'S GONE, BABY GIRL IS GONE SHOW DROPPED TO HER KNEES.

SO WE HAD TO FIND HER.

WE CALLED HOSPITALS AND ANYBODY WE DO TO SEE IF THEY THIS A JANE DOUGH OR JANE DOE.

IF ANYBODY KNEW WHERE SHE WAS.

I WENT TO UNIVERSITY, I SAW A GUARD.

HE DIDN'T SAY SHE HAD PASSED AWAY.

HE CAME BACK WITH A NUMBER AND SAID CALL THE EXAMINER'S OFFICE.

WE GOT IN THE CAR AND WE CALLED.

THEY ASKED ME A FEW QUESTIONS.

THEY ASKED ME IF SHE, YOU KNOW, IF SHE HAD PIERCINGS OR TATTOOS AND WE TOLD THEM ABOUT THE TATTOOS AND SHE SAID WE HAVE HER.

AND WHEN YOU HEAR THAT, "WE HAVE HER" YOU KNOW, THEIR POSSESSION OF MY BABY GIRL AND REALIZE REALLY SHE WAS GONE...

I WANTED TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY FOUND HER AND WHAT HAPPENED I'LL NEVER FORGET THE DETECTIVE THAT I SPOKE WITH FOR THE SECOND ENTITLEMENT I HAD CALLED HIM AND I SAID TO HIM, I SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M SO SORRY I CONTINUE TO BOTHER YOU ABOUT THIS AND HE SAID Mr. ROBINSON, HE SAID, YOU ARE NOT BOTHERING ME.

YOU JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR LITTLE GIRL.

AND SO THEY TOLD ME THERE WERE PACKETS I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE DRUG WAS.

BUT SHE DIED OF FENTANYL INTOXICATION.

WE HAD TO LET HER CHILDREN KNOW.

NICOLE HAD FOUR CHILDREN.

A 14-YEAR-OLD, 11-YEAR-OLD, A 9 AND 6-YEAR-OLD.

AND THAT WAS THE WORST THING I HAD EVER DONE IN MY LIFE WAS TO TELL MY GRANDCHILDREN.

THAT THEIR MOTHER HAD PASSED.

AND THEY FELL TO THEIR KNEES.

WE TALKED TO THE CHILDREN.

WE HAD TALKED WITH THEM ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY WANTED, TO SEE THEIR MOTHER, AND THEY DECIDED THAT THAT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT THEY WANTED TO DO, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A VERY MATURE DECISION TO MAKE.

THEY WANTED TO REMEMBER HER OF THE LIFE SHE DID HAVE THAT WASN'T FILLED WITH THE HURT AND PAIN OF ADDICTION.

>> YOU KNOW, I'M GUESSING THAT YOU SEE MORE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION, MORE REPEAT OFFENDERS, IS THAT THE CASE?

>> WE ENGAGE WITH FOLKS PURPOSEFULLY ON A REPEAT BASIS.

SO I DON'T THINK I CAN GAUGE THAT PERFECTLY.

WE-- THERE ARE A LOT OF REPEAT OVERDOSES.

THE TEAM DEFINITELY ENCOUNTERS.

>> BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY GETS ME IS, YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN CERTAINLY MORE THAN ONE CASE AND I'M SURE YOU CAN CITE SEVERAL, WHERE SOMEBODY MAYBE EXPERIMENTED WITH A DRUG, TRIED SOMETHING AND IT'S LACED WITH FENTANYL AND THEY'RE DONE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU COMBAT THAT.

>> THAT IS MOST TRAGIC PART ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW IS A LOT OF THE FATALITIES THAT WE SEE ARE FOLKS WHO THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE USING SOMETHING ELSE AND IT CONTAINED FENTANYL.

>> YOU HEAR ONE PILL CAN KILL.

IT'S NOT JUST A RHYME.

IT IS TRUE.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE ENCOURAGE IS IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO USE SUBSTANCES THAT THEY TEST THEM.

WE GIVE OUT-- >> HOW DO YOU DO THAT REALISTICALLY?

THAT'S TOUGH TO DO, NO?

>> IT IS NOT.

WE GIVE OUT FENTANYL TESTING STRIPS FOR FREE.

YOU CAN ACCESS THEM TOTALLY CONFIDENTIALLY.

YOU NEED THE SIZE OF A PENNY AMOUNT OF SUBSTANCE, MIX IT IN WATER AND THEN YOU USE A LITTLE STRIP AND DIP IT IN.

YOU GET THE RESULTS WITHIN SEVERAL MINUTES.

>> DOES YOUR TEAM-- I HEAR THIS NARCAN, WHICH IS THE WONDER DRUG, RIGHT?

DOES YOUR TEAM ADMINISTER NARCAN OR TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO ADMINISTER NARCAN?

>> THEY DO ALL OF THE ABOVE.

THE TEAM HAS DONE REVERSALS WHO PEOPLE-- >> LET'S BACK UP.

THIS IS A DRUG THAT IS GIVEN TO SOMEONE WHO APPEARS TO HAVE HAD AN OVERDOSE, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> IT REVERSES WHATEVER FENTANYL CAUSES?

>> YEAH, SO THE WAY THAT IT WORKS IS IT'S AN OPIOID BLOCKER, ATTACHES TO THE RECEPTORS IN SOMEONE'S BRAIN AND ESSENTIALLY STOPS THE OPIOID FROM AFFECTING THE PERSON.

IT IS HARMLESS IF IT IS GIVEN TO SOMEBODY WHO HAS NOT EXPERIENCED AN OVERDOSE.

SO WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, IF SOMEONE, IF THEY SEE SOMEONE THEY SUSPECT IS AN OVERDOSE, DO IT.

>> GIVE IT A TRY.

>> YOU ARE GOING TO COUGH.

>> I HAVE READ, THOUGH, STUDIES OR REPORTS THAT INDICATE THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, FENTANYL IS SO MUCH MORE POWERFUL, RIGHT, SO MUCH MORE DANGEROUS, THAT IT TAKES EXTRA NARCAN OR EXTRA DOSES OR WHAT HAVE YOU, ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES OUT THERE THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT?

I READ ABOUT OBVI, OTHER ALTERNATIVE DRUGS OR PRODUCTS THAT MIGHT WORK?

>> SO FROM A HARM REDUCTION STANDPOINT, WE ENCOURAGE THAT YOU USE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF NALOXONE NEEDED JUST BECAUSE-- >> NALOXONE IS NARCAN?

>> YES.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU ADMINISTER NARCAN TO SOMEONE, IT PUTS THEM IN IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL, WHICH IS AN ABSOLUTELY AWFUL STATE TO BE IN.

IT PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM SEEKING ASSISTANCE IN SITUATIONS WHERE THEY MIGHT BE USING.

SO WE TRY TO HAVE PEOPLE USE THE LEAST AMOUNT NECESSARY.

SO YOU START-- OBVIOUSLY YOU START WITH THE ONE DOSE.

EVERY KIT WE GIVE OUT HAS TWO DOSES IN IT.

THAT GENERALLY IS ENOUGH.

>> I UNDERSTAND IT MARIAH, YOU DON'T ADMINISTER THE NARCAN BUT YOU TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO USE IT AND YOU PROVIDE THE NARCAN, CORRECT?

>> YES.

>> SO WE GIVE OUT MASS AMOUNTS OF NARCAN TO THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S FREE OF COST TO THEM.

>> WHO PAYS FOR IT?

IS IT COMING OUT OF YOUR POCKET?

>> IT ISN'T.

WE GET IT FOR FREE THROUGH NEW YORK STATE.

>> TRAISHES ARE NOT PAYING FOR THIS?

THIS IS COMING FROM THE STATE SO IT'S ULTIMATELY TAXPAYER MONEY BUT NOT LOCALLY.

>> NOT LOCALLY.

WE GET IT FOR FREE AND WE GIVE OUT QUITE A BIT AND WE HAVE LOCKERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACCESS IT WITHOUT INTERACTING WITH A HUMAN IF THEY'RE CONCERNED IN ANY WAY AROUND STIGMA.

>> HUGELY BEN IF ICIAL THAT THAT IS SO READILY AVAILABLE THEN, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO, FOR A MINUTE, YOU KNOW, DIMINISH THE HUMAN ASPECT TO ALL OF THIS BUT I HAVE TO THINK ALSO THAT THIS HAS AN ECONOMIC HIT, RIGHT WE ARE SPENDING MONEY TO TREAT THESE FOLKS.

THESE FOLKS MAYBE ARE NOT AS PRODUCTIVE.

CAN YOU QUANTIFY THAT TO ANY DEGREE, THE ECONOMIC COST TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE OF... >> SO WE HAVE RECEIVED-- MY PROGRAM ITSELF, HAS RECEIVED LIKE $2.6 MILLION OVER THE LAST, FROM 2017, 2016 ON.

>> I CAN'T DO THE MATH QUICK BUT THAT'S NOT A LOT PER YEAR.

>> INITIALLY IT WAS NOT.

WE REALLY ACTIVELY STARTED PURSUING GRANT FUNDING IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND MUCH OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IS GRANT FUNDED AND NOW OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDED, WHICH NEITHER OF THOSE THINGS ARE LOCAL DOLLARS.

BUT, LIKE WHAT YOU SAID, THERE ARE ASTRONOMICAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATIONS, WITH SOMEONE PASSING AWAY, THE LOSS OF PRODUCTIVITY THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFESPAN.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO CRITICS WHO MIGHT SAY, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL OF THAT THAT YOU ARE DOING, YOU ARE NOT REALLY FIXING THE PROBLEM.

YOU ARE ENABLING THE PROBLEM.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT WE ARE KEEPING PEOPLE ALIVE.

AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOVER AND THEY CAN'T DO THAT IF THEY HAVE OVERDOSED.

>> I HATE TO END ON A NEGATIVE NOTE, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET AROUND THIS ANY OTHER WAY.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE NUMBERS ARE WORKING AGAINST US HERE.

AND MY QUESTION IS HOW DO WE FIX THIS?

IS THERE A SOLUTION?

>> AT A BASE LEVEL, THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING AS A COMMUNITY ARE DEVELOPING RESILIENCE IN FIRST CHILDREN, SO THEY'RE ABLE TO SELF REGULATE WHEN THINGS HAPPEN.

IF WE BUILD THOSE IN PEOPLE FROM A YOUNG AGE, THOSE PEOPLE, WHEN THEY'RE AT AN AGE WHERE THEY MIGHT BE TRYING SOMETHING OR THEY ARE EXPERIENCING HARD THINGS LATER IN THEIR LIFE, THEY WILL HAVE THE ADEQUATE TOOLS.

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT-- NOT TO BE CLICHE ABOUT THIS, BUT PREVENT CAN IT WAY BEFORE IT OCCURS.

THAT'S YOUR SOLUTION, YOU THINK?

>> THAT'S THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION.

IN THE MEANTIME, OUR FOCUS IS, AS A PROGRAM, IS ON HARM REDUCTION AND WE THINK THAT IS THE ANSWER.

>> KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE WHO ARE USING IS ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING IT, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, AND ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT THAT IS THAT YOU ARE SEEING SOMEONE WHO MAY HAVE NOT BEEN SEEN FOR SOMETIME.

THEY FEEL-- PEOPLE TELL US ALL THE TIME, I FELT LIKE I WAS INVISIBLE UNTIL I WAS TALKING TO YOU.

SO IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND THAT CAN CHANGE SOMETHING IN THEM.

>> WHEN YOU LOSE A CHILD OR A PERSON TO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN, IT AFFECTS YOU IN A WAY THAT NO OTHER CAN.

A PIECE OF ME IS GONE NOW.

THE ONLY SOLACE THAT I CAN GET FROM LOSING MY BABY GIRL IS THAT SHE IS NO LONGER IN PAIN.

BUT I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN HAD SHE RECEIVED THE HELP THAT WAS THERE FOR HER IS.

SO NOW COMES THE TASK OF PLANNING A FUNERAL, MEMORIAL SERVICE.

SO WHAT I DECIDED TO DO WAS TO HAVE A WAKE WHERE HER BODY WOULD BE THERE AND A MEMORIAL SERVICE THE NEXT DAY.

THE REASON I CHOSE TO HAVE HER BODY AT THE WAKE WAS BECAUSE I WANTED HER FRIENDS, HER ASSOCIATES TO SEE WHERE THIS DRUG ADDICTION AND WHERE THESE THINGS LEAD.

IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN COME OUT OF THIS TRAGEDY IN OUR LIVES.

I STARTED MYSELF WITH HOPE FOR THE BEREAVED AND I STARTED MY GRANDCHILDREN GOING TO HOPE FOR THE BEREAVED FOR THE HEALING PROCESS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL GO ON FOREVER IN WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WILL NEVER GET OVER WITH WHAT HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER.

BUT HOPEFULLY IT WILL HELP SOMEBODY, WHOEVER IT MAY BE, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS.

THIS IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT AN ADDICT HAS TO WANT TO STOP, TO SEEK HELP.

I KNOW THAT I TRIED TO HELP MY DAUGHTER, HER BROTHER, HER SISTER, HER SISTER-IN-LAW, AUNTS, UNCLES, COUNSELORS, BUT SHE HAD TO DO THE WORK.

AND IF YOU DON'T DO THE WORK, WE END UP LIKE THIS.

THE MESSAGE THAT I REALLY WANTED TO RELAY IS THAT YOU CAN BE AN ADDICT AND DO IT A THOUSAND TIMES.

OR DO IT JUST ONCE.

FENTANYL DOESN'T CARE.

IT WILL KILL YOU.

>> WE WANT TO EXTEND OUR THANKS TO THE TEAM AT CROUSE AND THE ONONDAGA DRUG TASK FORCE, AS WELL AS JAMES ROBINSON FOR SHARING HIS DAUGHTER'S STORY WITH US ALL.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT - AND OUR SEASON.

WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND WE HOPE WE'VE BROUGHT TO LIGHT SOME AMAZING PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, AND OTHER HAPPENINGS THAT CONTINUE TO SHAPE THE CENTRAL NEW YORK ECONOMY.

EVEN THOUGH OUR SEASON IS OVER, IT'S IMPORTANT WE STILL HEAR FROM YOU - IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A BUSINESS, PERSON OR JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENING IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, LET US KNOW - CONTACT US BY EMAILING NEWS AT WCNY.ORG.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WCNY.ORG/ONTHEMONEY.

YOU CAN ALSO VIEW OUR PREVIOUS EPISODES THERE TOO.. AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, AS WELL.

I'M LAIZA SEMIDEY, THANKS AGAIN FOR WATCHING.