Jan 24, 2025 - New York State Budget Director Blake Washington discusses Gov. Kathy Hochul's budget proposal, including the subsidies for film productions, the pace of spending on Medicaid, and the evolving education aid philosophy.WCNY

Jan. 24, 2025 - We unpack consumer protection measures being advanced by Gov. Kathy Hochul, including overdraft fee regulations and subscription cancellation standards. Our guest is Chuck Bell, financial policy advocate for Consumer Reports.WCNY

Jan. 22, 2025 - Gov. Kathy Hochul has unveiled a $252 billion spending plan for the coming fiscal year, so we unpack the proposal with Patrick Orecki, director of state studies for the Citizens Budget Commission. We explore what is driving costs, consider the impact of changes in the federal government, and much more.…

Jan. 21, 2025 - The 2026 Winter Olympics are scheduled for Italy in about a year, but sliding events could end up being held at facilities in Lake Placid if the Italian organizers can't get their bobsled track ready. Ashley Walden, president and CEO of the state's Olympic Regional Development Authority, discusses upstate New York's potential role i…

Jan. 21, 2025 - The Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission has a new home, new mandate and new leader. We explored all these moving parts with Zeryai Hagos, the group's recently tapped executive director, who explained regulations for transmission siting that came out in December.…

Jan. 21, 2025 - Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, a Queens Democrat, makes the case for the state to subsidize school meals in New York, including at the expense of more target anti-hunger initiatives.WCNY

Jan. 21, 2025 - State education officials want to increase educational opportunities for students around New York and promote operational efficiencies among school districts, so they're promoting deeper levels of regional partnerships among school districts. We discuss this effort and its rollout with Jeff Matteson, senior deputy commissioner for t…

Jan. 17, 2024 - State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, a Brooklyn Democrat and the chamber's new Codes Committee chair, discusses New York's discovery laws, including his proposal to overhaul how evidence is accessed by prosecutors and changes being pushed by Gov. Kathy Hochul.WCNY

Jan. 16, 2025 - In 2019, the state enacted a boating safety training requirement for operators of motorized watercraft, which took full effect this year. Lexi Howland, director of the marine services and recreational vehicles division for the State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, discusses the implementation of this law and …

Jan. 16, 2025 - Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins responds to the governor's State of the State address and considers what might happen as part of budget negotiations this year. Additionally, in light of the Westchester County Democrat becoming the longest serving Democratic majority leader in the chamber, we reflect on her legacy and f…

Jan. 15, 2024 - Assemblymember Robert Carroll, a Brooklyn Democrat, discusses the needs of kids with dyslexia and related disorders and how a new report addresses some of these challenges.WCNY

Jan. 15, 2025 - In more than three decades of conservation advocacy in the Adirondacks, Peter Bauer has seen the forest preserve grow, won battles at New York's top court, and shaped laws governing the Adirondack Park. In light of him stepping down as head of Protect the Adirondacks in 2024, he joined the show for an exit interview to reflect on hi…

Jan, 14, 2024 - Pete Nabozny, director of policy for The Children's Agenda and a member of the state's Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council, weighs in on Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposed expansion of the state's child tax credit and new funding for child care facility construction.WCNY

Jan. 14, 2024 - We break down a report from the Daniel's Law Task Force with the help of Luke Sikinyi, director of public policy and public engagement at The Alliance for Rights and Recovery, and Harvey Rosenthal, the group's CEO. We talk about standardizing the emergency response to New Yorkers suffering from mental health crisis and consider the …

Jan. 14, 2024 - Correctional Association of New York Executive Director Jennifer Scaife addresses prison administration changes proposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul and outlines reforms identified by her group.WCNY

Jan, 14, 2024 - We get to know Bea Hanson, who took over as director of the state Office of Victim Services last spring, and discuss funding being made available to services for crime victims in New York.WCNY

Jan. 13, 2025 - New York Civil Liberties Union Senior Staff Attorney Beth Haroules responds to proposals that might make it easier to involuntarily commit mentally ill New Yorkers.WCNY

Jan. 13, 2025 - New York Homes & Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas explains the governor's proposal to keep hedge funds from buying up homes and shares an update on the implementation of pro-growth policies.WCNY

Jan. 13, 2025 - New regulations took effect in New York, dramatically expanding the state's map of protected wetlands. We explore the ramifications of the updated rules with Jessica Ottney Mahar, policy and strategy director in New York for The Nature Conservancy, and Roger Downs, conservation director of the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter.…

Jan. 13, 2025 - The minimum wage in New York increased 50 cents an hour in January and is scheduled to increase 50 cents an hour in 2026, before being tied to inflation in the future. We discuss the significance of this landscape with Ian Greer, director of the Ithaca co-lab at Cornell's School of Industrial & Labor Relations.…

Jan. 10, 2025 - Efforts to fight child poverty in New York are getting attention right now, so we're checking in with Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara Guinn to discuss recommendations on lifting kids out of poverty and the governor's proposed child tax credit expansion.…

Jan. 10, 2025 - Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs, a Harlem Democrat, makes the case for overhauling New York's prisons, including closing a central New York facility and reforming the oversight of strip searches.WCNY

Jan. 10, 2025 - In an effort to mitigate the public health risk of lead paint in homes across aging upstate cities, the state is implementing a process for inspecting properties and remedying the danger. We get an update on this effort, which is supposed to start before the end of 2025, from Gary Ginsberg, head of the state health department's Cent…

Jan. 10, 2025 - The Legal Aid Society's Ellen McCormick breaks down a new law intended to drastically expand the use of e-filing in New York's courts.WCNY

Jan. 9, 2025 - Solidarity Society Founding Director Ivy Valentine and Get Free Executive Director Nicole Carty talk about the work of a state commission on reparations studying the legacy of slavery and racial discrimination and making recommendations on remedies for black New Yorkers.WCNY

Jan. 9, 2025 - Are you reading the terms of service you get served up on your smartphone apps? Those agreements can include important updates on your rights, including whether you're agreeing to arbitration in the future, which was the subject of a case before the state's top court that we break down with Lily Kim and Jeremy Cohen, attorneys with B…

Jan. 9, 2025 - Supermarkets have rekindled their legislative effort to update the state's alcohol laws so they can sell wine. We talk with Northeast Grocery's Mona Golub about this campaign and whether they would support liquor stores selling beer as part of a larger legislative reform.WCNY

Jan. 9, 2025 - Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance President John DiNuzzo explains a bipartisan effort to change the land classification for a battlefield in Lake George in order to preserve its historic nature for future generations.WCNY

Jan. 8, 2025 - We get to know Assemblyman Patrick Carroll, a Rockland County Democrat embarking on his first term in Planet Albany. We talk about some of his priorities and balancing life at the Capitol with four kids.WCNY

Jan. 8, 2025 - We are joined in the studio by Domenick Napoletano, president of the New York State Bar Association, who discusses the group's priorities for 2025, including increasing the right to counsel and Medical Aid in Dying. He also weighs in on the budget for the court system and increasing access to guardians.…

Jan. 8, 2025 - New York Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon discusses the implementation of the state's paid, prenatal leave policy and provides an update on efforts to combat wage theft and upgrade their technological capacity at the department.WCNY

Jan. 8, 2025 - Firefighters Association of the State of New York Secretary John D'Alessandro makes the case for requiring one- and two-family homes to be built with fire suppression systems.WCNY

Jan. 7, 2025 - Assembly Energy Committee Chair Didi Barrett, a Hudson Valley Democrat, discusses the potential of new nuclear projects, the merits of the NY HEAT Act, and her priorities in 2025.WCNY

Jan. 7, 2025 - Winter conditions create new risks in the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks for explorers and the state first responders tasked with rescue missions. We explore this issue, including the precautions people should take, with State Forest Ranger Lt. Chris DiCintio and State Forest Ranger Rob Praczkajlo.…

Jan. 7, 2025 - Assemblymember Karines Reyes, a Bronx Democrat, makes the case for codifying restrictions on how and when state and local law enforcement will comply with federal immigration officials.WCNY

Jan. 6, 2025 - Protect the Adirondacks Executive Director Claudia Braymer explains her opposition to the state's plan to chop down trees at viewpoints along a mountain in the Adirondacks, which she argues would violate the state constitution.WCNY

Jan. 6, 2025 - Assemblymember Harry Bronson, a Rochester-area Democrat, talks about recommendations from the New York State Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council and how they might begin to get implemented in 2025.WCNY

Jan. 6, 2025 - New York has laws governing interest rates for loans, but these regulations aren't capturing some of the latest evolutions of lending. We examine legislation looking to close these loopholes with the help of Andy Morrison, associate director of the New Economy Project.WCNY

Jan. 6, 2025 - An end of the year veto by Gov. Kathy Hochul of legislation addressing the financing of school-based health centers has put a renewed spotlight on these services, and how they're funded, heading into the 2025 legislative session. Sally Dreslin, executive director of the Step Two Policy Project, explains why these services are importa…

Jan. 3, 2025 - A recent audit from the state comptroller's office highlighted the waiting lists for pre-k special education services, so we decided to look at what's causing the delays and how schools are addressing the problem. Our guest is Clarkstown Central School District Superintendent Marc Baiocco, who discusses a program set up to provide sp…

Jan. 2, 2024 - After years of groundwork, New York is finally at the precipice of standing up state-facilitated retirement program for New Yorkers without an employer-sponsored option. We consider what is taking shape in the Empire State with the help of Angela Antonelli, executive director of the Center for Retirement Initiatives at Georgetown Uni…

Dec. 30, 2024 - The state's top court found that municipalities can be liable for unaddressed potholes that are reported through an online service. We explore what this means for local government, including in Albany, with Barbara Van Epps, executive director of the New York Conference of Mayors.WCNY

Dec. 30, 2024 - Buffalo News climate and environment reporter Mackenzie Shuman explains the holes in air pollution monitoring by state environmental regulators, who have let a majority of permits for major polluters lapse.WCNY

Dec 26, 2024 - After more than four decades in Planet Albany's orbit, LeadingAge New York President & CEO Jim Clyne is retiring. Jim discusses his time working in and around state government, including crafting bills in the Assembly and life during the pandemic.WCNY

Dec. 30, 2024 - Assemblymember Patrick Burke, a Buffalo-area Democrat, wants President Biden to use his clemency powers for a Western New York man serving a 25-year prison sentence for his role in an international marijuana trafficking network.WCNY

Dec. 27, 2024 - State policy makers are betting big on the life sciences industry, investing millions in subsidies to promote and grow these businesses. We discuss a state report on the industry and its future with Winthrop Thurlow, executive director of the trade organization Life Sciences NY.WCNY

Dec. 24, 2024 - State Health Commissioner Jim McDonald discusses the state's prenatal leave policy starting in 2025 and addresses other policies to improve maternal health outcomes.WCNY

Dec. 24, 2024 - Is it time to change the library system structure? We consider these regional entities with the help of Max Prime, director of government relations and advocacy for the New York Library Association, and Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, executive director of the Mid-Hudson Library System.WCNY

Dec. 24, 2024 - Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, a Long Island Democrat and chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian legislative Caucus, discusses her policy goals for the 2025 legislative session in New York and addresses whether her agenda is shaped by last year's election results.WCNY

Dec. 23, 2024 - Environmental Advocates NY Deputy Executive Director Katie McNamara makes the case for state regulations requiring a phase out of chemical commonly found in commercial and residential cooling technology, which is a major greenhouse gas emitter.WCNY