Best WCNY Podcasts (2024)

1
Expanding New York's tuition assistance for veterans 13:59

6h ago13:59

13:59

August 7, 2024 - Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon, a Mohawk Valley Democrat, and Vince Scalise, a combat veteran and executive director of the Utica Center for Development, make the case for expanding a tuition assistance program for combat veterans to all veterans.By WCNY

1
Preserving call center jobs in New York 9:49

2h ago9:49

9:49

August 7, 2024 - Assembly Labor Committee Chair Harry Bronson, a Rochester-area Democrat, discusses an effort to prevent the displacement of call center workers when there is a change in government contracts.By WCNY

1
Strict protections proposed for horseshoe crabs 13:59

2h ago13:59

13:59

August 7, 2024 - Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito discusses legislation imposing broad restrictions on the harvesting of horseshoe crabs, which are a threatened species, but useful for biomedical development.By WCNY

1
New York progressing in campaign against hepatitis C 12:29

6h ago12:29

12:29

August 6, 2024 - Dr. Andrew Talal, a professor at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo and a member of the state's Hepatitis C Elimination Task Force, discusses the ongoing efforts to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat in New York by 2030.By WCNY

1
Promoting a sense of urgency for state's 'public renewables' 20:34

6h ago20:34

20:34

August 6, 2024 - State energy officials are exploring how to develop and manage their own new renewable energy projects, but advocates for publicly controlled green energy generation think they could do more. We discuss the New York Power Authority increasing transparency and moving faster with Lindsay Griffin, regulatory director of the Northeast …

1
Transportation projects in jeopardy from inflation 12:20

6h ago12:20

12:20

August 6, 2024 - State transportation officials are in the process of implementing a $33 billion, five-year capital plan, but observers worry inflationary pressures may prevent the Hochul administration to completing its planned projects. We discuss this issue with NY Construction Materials Association President & CEO Ron Epstein and Associated Gen…

1
Clarifying joint bank account responsibilities 13:59

6h ago13:59

13:59

August 6, 2024 - Assemblymember Monica Wallace, a Buffalo-area Democrat, wants to update New York's banking laws to prevent future disputes that arise from a lack of clarity with the establishment of jointly controlled bank accounts.By WCNY

1
Safeguards against digital replicas of performers 14:18

1d ago14:18

14:18

August 7, 2024 - Jeffrey Bennett, general counsel for the union representing actors, singers, and voice performers, talks about legislation designed to ensure New Yorkers have control of their voice and likeness.By WCNY

1
Subsidizing new manufactured homes for low-income New Yorkers 13:59

5h ago13:59

13:59

August 5, 2024 - The state's program subsidizing the replacement of manufactured homes for low-income New Yorkers could be getting codified and boosting the available grants for recipients, so we examine this initiative with Neil Bendel, owner and manager of Interstate Homes in the Southern Tier.By WCNY

1
Improving New York's demographic data collection 13:59

12h ago13:59

13:59

August 8, 2024 - Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, a Queens Democrat, discusses a bill designed to more accurately collect data about New Yorkers of Middle Eastern and North African descent, who are currently lumped in with "white" people for demographic purposes by the state.By WCNY

1
New York's evolving public campaign finance system 19:09

12h ago19:09

19:09

August 2, 2024 - State Board of Elections spokesperson Kathleen McGrath provides an update on the state's public campaign finance program, including changes to the system based on the experience with the primariesBy WCNY

1
Opioid settlement board prepares for next chapter 13:59

12h ago13:59

13:59

August 2, 2024 - Debra Pantin, chair of the state's Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board, provides an update on the panel's work, including how they're preparing for diminishing resources to commit to the opioid epidemic.By WCNY

1
Reducing storm recovery costs for energy utilities 9:49

12h ago9:49

9:49

August 2, 2024 - State lawmakers are looking to make it cheaper for energy utilities to pay for storm recovery costs, but the state's former top utility regulator, John Howard, has some words of warning about the idea.By WCNY

1
Senator Salazar discusses planned prison closings 15:17

1h ago15:17

15:17

August 1, 2024 - We discuss the governor's plan to close two upstate prisons, and potentially more this year, with Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee Chair Julia Salazar, a Brooklyn Democrat.By WCNY

1
State policymakers promote retail worker safety 17:09

1h ago17:09

17:09

August 1, 2024 - Assemblymember Karines Reyes, a Bronx Democrat, discusses retail worker safety, including tougher criminal penalties and workplace training to avoid violence.By WCNY

1
Transporting students at New York's private schools 9:49

3h ago9:49

9:49

July 31, 2024 - For decades public school districts have been required to transport students at private schools, but a recent court ruling imposes some new limits on when they're required, according to Jay Worona, deputy executive director and general counsel for the New York State School Boards Association.…

1
Does New York need a Climate Czar? 13:59

3h ago13:59

13:59

July 31, 2024 - New York League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe thinks the Hochul administration needs a Climate Czar to oversee the state's effort to realize the statutory goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in New York.By WCNY

1
Environmental challenge to NYC congestion pricing pause 26:28

1d ago26:28

26:28

August 1, 2024 - Dror Ladin, a senior attorney at Earthjustice, explains why a 2019 law intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and a recent update to the state constitution are at the root of his organization's lawsuit against the Hochul administration's indefinite pause on congestion pricing in Manhattan, which was supposed to take effect on …

1
New York AG tasked with protecting minority voting rights 13:59

1d ago13:59

13:59

July 30, 2024 - Starting this fall, certain election jurisdictions in New York that want to amend their election laws will need to get their changes pre-approved by the state attorney general's office or a state court. Jeff Wice, a senior fellow and adjunct professor with the New York Law School’s Census and Redistricting Institute, explains why th…

1
Should New York get into the flood insurance business? 9:49

8h ago9:49

9:49

July 30, 2024 - Without generous federal subsidies, flood insurance can be cost prohibitive for New Yorkers, so the state legislature wants to explore the cost of this coverage and how the state government could support an expanded flood insurance market. We discuss the possible future of flood insurance with Brad Lachut, director of government aff…

1
Remembering the late state Sen. Jim Seward 12:29

7d ago12:29

12:29

July 30, 2024 - In light of former state Sen. Jim Seward's recent death, we are replaying an excerpt of our 2020 interview with the central New York Republican, when we discussed his career at the Capitol.By WCNY

1
Personnel shakeup proposed at prison oversight commission 13:59

30m ago13:59

13:59

July 29, 2024 - A group of progressive criminal justice advocates and Democratic state lawmakers are hoping to reform the state Commission of Correction so that it has more members and more diverse backgrounds. Yonah Zeitz, director of advocacy with the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice, discusses how new personnel at the oversight agenc…

1
Looser marijuana advertising rules floated by state regulators 13:59

1d ago13:59

13:59

July 29, 2024 - Marijuana dispensaries may soon be freed from strict marketing and advertising rules that hindered their ability to reach customers and build brand loyalty. Damien Cornwell, operator of the Just Breathe marijuana dispensary and president of the Cannabis Association of New York, talks about what the changes being considered by state …

1
New York's body armor restrictions challenged in court 9:49

30m ago9:49

9:49

July 29, 2024 - Times Union Capitol reporter Dan Clark explains a legal challenge to New York's restrictions on who can purchase body armor, which may violate the 2nd Amendment.By WCNY

1
New leader takes of at The Great New York State Fair 12:29

30m ago12:29

12:29

July 29, 2024 - We get to know Julie LaFave, who was named director of The Great New York State Fair this summer. We discuss her relationship with the state fair, the balance of updating offerings, and much more.By WCNY

1
Utility regulator responds to audit of green energy development 23:48

41m ago23:48

23:48

July 26, 2024 - Rory Christian, chair and CEO of the state Public Service Commission, explains how the state's energy utility regulator is helping advance New York's green energy goals and responds to an audit by the state comptroller's office that was critical of the PSC's planning practices.By WCNY

1
Brownfield program offers second life to contaminated sites 16:16

41m ago16:16

16:16

July 7, 2024 - We learn about the workings of the state's Brownfield Cleanup Program and highlight a completed brownfield remediation effort in Syracuse with the help of Patrick Foster, the deputy commissioner for environmental remediation and materials management at the State Department of Environmental Conservation.…

1
Debate over 'Equal Rights Amendment' ballot language 21:08

41m ago21:08

21:08

July 7, 2024 - State Sen. Liz Krueger, a Manhattan Democrat, makes the case for adding an "Equal Rights Amendment" to the state constitution and discusses how the proposal should appear on this year's ballot.By WCNY

1
Ensuring a student voice at local school boards 13:59

3h ago13:59

13:59

July 25, 2024 - Senate Education Committee Chair Shelley Mayer, a Westchester County Democrat, and Grace Evans, who previously served as a student representative on her local board of education, discuss legislation requiring school boards of education to have at least one non-voting student representative.…

1
State museum director reflects on time in Albany 36:26

3h ago36:26

36:26

July 25, 2024 - The recently departed head of the New York State Museum, Mark Schaming, discusses his career, including why he's leaving, developing an early 9/11 exhibit, repatriating Native American objects, and the challenges of major renovations.By WCNY

1
Son's autism diagnosis shapes lawmaker's career 12:29

3h ago12:29

12:29

July 25, 2024 - Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, a Capital Region Democrat, discusses how having a son with autism changed his life and informs much of his advocacy work.By WCNY

1
State looks to mitigate the risk of extreme heat 26:00

1d ago26:00

26:00

July 24, 2024 - After two years of work, the Hochul administration released a plan this summer for mitigating the health effects of extreme heat in New York. We discuss the interagency report with Leo Bachinger and Mark Lowery, the program manager and assistant director, respectively, of the state DEC's climate change office.…

1
Disrupting the prison manufacturing status quo 13:59

2h ago13:59

13:59

July 24, 2024 - State Sen. James Skoufis, an Orange County Democrat, explains why he wants to give government procurement officers more flexibility when purchasing office products and shares his reservations with the unique manufacturing business in the state's prison system.By WCNY

1
State advances broader wetland protections 12:29

1d ago12:29

12:29

July 24, 2024 - We get an update on the state's process of strengthening protections for New York's freshwater wetlands with Erin McGrath, policy director for Audubon New York, and Roger Downs, conservation director of the Sierra Club's Atlantic Chapter.By WCNY

1
Oyster restoration efforts key to cleaner NYC shores 15:29

1h ago15:29

15:29

July 22, 2024 - We highlight an effort to restore the oyster population in New York Harbor and potentially improve the conditions of this polluted water. Our guests are Pete Malinowski, executive director of the Billion Oyster Project, and Luis Melendez, a boat captain with Riverkeeper.By WCNY

1
Charter schools navigate NY politics and elections 13:59

1h ago13:59

13:59

July 22, 2024 - We discuss the pro-charter school agenda in Albany and how these interests are trying to influence legislative races, including the June primaries, with Crystal McQueen-Taylor, executive director of StudentsFirstNY.By WCNY

1
Nonprofits need timely state contract authorizations 13:59

10d ago13:59

13:59

July 22, 2024 - For decades, nonprofit organizations contracting with the state have had to deal with the slow authorization of contracts and delayed payments for services. Megan Allen, CEO of The New York Council of Nonprofits, explains the ramifications of this dynamic and highlights legislation that might speed up this timeline.…

1
Environmental officials protect resources with prescribed burns 9:49

1h ago9:49

9:49

July 19, 2024 - In order to mitigate the risk of wildfires and promote specific habitats and vegetation, state environmental officials carefully utilize prescribed fires, explains Scott Jackson, a captain with the state forest rangers.By WCNY

1
Incentivizing the harvesting of sap on state land 13:59

1h ago13:59

13:59

July 19, 2024 - State lawmakers are hoping to entice more maple product producers into using state land by expanding the length of leases that are available. We discuss this proposal and the industry more broadly with Nate Williams, president of Dutch Hill Maple.By WCNY

1
Paramedics eyed as avenue for opioid addiction treatment 13:59

2h ago13:59

13:59

July 17, 2024 - Paramedics have the tools to revive someone from an opioid overdose, but they are limited in what additional treatments they're able to provide. Dr. Michael Dailey, chief of pre-hospital medicine at Albany Medical Center, explains why emergency medical responders should also be authorized to administer buprenorphine.…

1
Expanding the footprint of accessible public transit 15:33

2h ago15:33

15:33

July 17, 2024 - New Yorkers with disabilities have a limited ability to access specialized public transit upstate, so there is an effort to expand the geographic area of these services, explains Denise DiNoto, the executive director of the New York State Independent Living Council and Todd Vaarwerk, chief policy officer of Western New York Independ…

1
Mask restrictions proposed for protests in New York 12:29

15d ago12:29

12:29

July 17, 2024 - Assemblymember Jeffery Dinowitz, a Bronx Democrat, discusses his attempt to revive New York's statutory ban on face coverings at political protests, which have been allowed since the arrival of COVID-19.By WCNY

1
SUNY leader discusses service internship opportunities 13:59

2d ago13:59

13:59

July 18, 2024 - SUNY Chancellor John King talks about recruiting 500 students at New York's public colleges and universities to take on paid, civic and community internship opportunities in the fall.By WCNY

1
Tenant protections begin to expand upstate 13:59

22d ago13:59

13:59

July 18, 2024 - With a handful of municipalities around New York opting in to tenant protections authorized in the state budget, we check in with Genevieve Rand, statewide housing lead at Citizen Action of New York, to learn about the scope of the new measures and how to ensure they'll be effective.By WCNY

1
Serving the shelter needs of domestic abuse survivors 12:29

10d ago12:29

12:29

July 16, 2024 - We discuss access to emergency shelter for single, adult survivors of domestic violence and consider the ramifications of a SCOTUS ruling on gun rights of domestic abusers with Joan Gerhardt, director of policy and advocacy for the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.By WCNY

1
State Liquor Authority reinvigorated under new leader 24:35

3d ago24:35

24:35

July 18, 2024 - New York State Liquor Authority Chair Lily Fan discusses reorganization efforts, bumping up against the state's archaic alcohol laws, and operational improvements made over the last year.By WCNY

1
New York's unique path to speedy lawsuit resolution 16:11

2d ago16:11

16:11

July 16, 2024 - We explore the time it takes to resolve lawsuits in New York and highlight a procedural maneuver in state law that can speed things up with Matt Smith and Brian Rich, attorneys with Barclay Damon.By WCNY

1
Lawmakers to face outside income restrictions in 2025 13:59

2d ago13:59

13:59

July 7, 2024 - Politico New York Capitol reporter Bill Mahoney talks about a court ruling on outside income restrictions for state lawmakers and highlights how some members earn money on the side.By WCNY

1
Legislating 101: A Senate Democrat’s freshman experience 27:36

22h ago27:36

27:36

State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, a Queens Democrat, reflects on his first two legislative sessions in Albany. We discuss the process of moving bills at the Capitol, living out of a suitcase for half the year, and taking over a newly carved up district.

1
The roadmap to New York's energy storage goals 13:59

20d ago13:59

13:59

July 12, 2024 - The state's utility regulator has updated its plans for obtaining six gigawatts of energy storage in New York by 2030, so we explore the road ahead with David Solimeno and Ari Goldberg, attorneys with Barclay Damon.By WCNY

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