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May 26, 2025 - The state budget included some money to begin overhauling the emergency response to New Yorkers suffering a behavioral crisis and it expanded the state's involuntary commitment powers. We touch on both proposals with Ruth Lowenkron, director of the Disability Justice Program at the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode...

May 26, 2025 - We discuss legislation that would cap the cost of outpatient services provided by hospitals with Misha Sharp, assistant director of policy for the 32BJ Health Fund. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=light&playlist=show&playlist-continuous=true&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=true&hide...

May 26, 2025 - National Grid is seeking approval by state regulators on a three-year rate increase for their residential customers in upstate New York. We explore what's driving their plan and how the proposal was reached with Phil Decicco, the company's general counsel for business in the Empire State. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=light&pl...

May 23, 2025 - The state budget includes a controversial codification of a new standard for involuntary commitments in New York, which was championed by Gov. Kathy Hochul and opposed by civil rights advocates. The New York Public News Network's J.T. Stone explores what this new language could mean, as he talks with state mental health officials, advocates and elected officials. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉h...

May 23, 2025 - We explore how the state budget affects New Yorkers with developmental disabilities and their caregivers with Mike Alvaro, president and CEO of the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State. He also outlines his agenda for the remainder of the session. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=light&playlist=show&playlist-continuo...

May 222, 2025 - We explore how the state budget impacts health care facilities, like hospitals and nursing homes, with Bea Grause, president of the Healthcare Association of New York State. We also chat about the bills she wants to push and kill during the remainder of the legislative session. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=light&playlist=sho...

May 23, 2025 - We explore how the state budget may transform access to mental health services in New York with Dr. Ann Sullivan, commissioner for the State Office of Mental Health. We also consider the possibility of federal cuts to Medicaid. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=light&playlist=show&playlist-continuous=true&chapters-image=tr...

Graduation season is here, and that means the melody of Edward Elgar's "Graduation March" is in the air. It also means WQXR is celebrating the Class of 2025 with a very special feature!  We're asking listeners to tell us about a recent or soon-to-be graduate you’re proud of by writing to us at grads@wqxr.org.  Then, starting from May 23 through the end of June, listen every weekday at 5 PM as we c...

May 22, 2025 - We explore the topline state budget numbers, including what's driving New York's spending to record heights, with Patrick Orecki, director of state studies for the Citizens Budget Commission. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=light&playlist=show&playlist-continuous=true&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&...

May 22, 2025 - Assemblywoman Sarah Clark, a Rochester-area Democrat, makes the case for legislation requiring law enforcement use an enhanced risk-assessment tool when responding to domestic incidents to determine if things might escalate. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=light&playlist=show&playlist-continuous=true&chapters-image=true&...

May 22, 2025 - NAACP New York State Conference President L. Joy Williams discusses her vision, advocacy work in the state budget, and agenda for the remainder of the legislative session in Albany. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=light&playlist=show&playlist-continuous=true&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-l...

May 21, 2025 - After a major overhaul in 2019, New York's laws governing evidence disclosure are getting tweaked again at the behest of county prosecutors. We discuss what the changes in the budget consist of and their impact with Kevin Stadelmaier, the first deputy defender for Erie County’s assigned counsel program’s criminal division. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode...

May 21, 2025 - Protect the Adirondacks Executive Director Claudia Braymer explains how the state budget impacts the Adirondack Park and discusses her legislative agenda for the rest of the session. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=light&playlist=show&playlist-continuous=true&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-...

May 21, 2025 - We explore agriculture loans, credits and grants in the state budget with Renée St. Jacques, acting director of public policy for the New York Farm Bureau, We also discuss what the group is hoping to pass and block during the remaining days of the session. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=light&playlist=show&playlist-continuo...

May 21, 2025 - In the aftermath of the state budget being adopted, we check in with the Siena College Research Institute's Steve Greenberg to discuss how New Yorkers feel about some of the more high profile items that were in this budget. We also get an update on the race to be the Republican nominee for governor. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=l...

May 20, 2025 - Stony Brook University Professor Robert Harrison, the interim executive director of the Empire AI, discusses the idea behind this consortium, explains the state funding going into the initiative, and highlights the ongoing research. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=light&playlist=show&playlist-continuous=true&chapters-ima...

May 20, 2025 - Earthjustice New York Policy Advocate Liz Moran responds to what was (and wasn't) in the state budget that impacted the environment, including a new $1 billion initiative and a dearth of aggressive policies. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=light&playlist=show&playlist-continuous=true&chapters-image=true&episode_image...

May 20, 2025 - Johanna Miller, director of the education policy center for the New York Civil Liberties Union, shares her concerns about the state's impending restrictions on smartphones in schools and makes the case for a more local approach. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=light&playlist=show&playlist-continuous=true&chapters-image=t...

May 19, 2025 - The state budget included an expansion of the child tax credit, money for child care vouchers, and a rebate check, but how will it impact child poverty? We consider these policies with Pete Nabozny, director of policy at The Children's Agenda, and Kate Breslin, president and CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, who are both members of the Child Poverty Reduction Adv...

May 19, 2025 - Schenectady County Public Health Director Keith Brown explains why local health officials want timely access to unnatural death information, like autopsies, so they can steer public health decisions. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=light&playlist=show&playlist-continuous=true&chapters-image=true&episode_image_positio...

May 19, 2025 - Assembly Tourism, Arts, Parks and Sports Development Committee Chair Ron Kim, a Queens Democrat, discusses a recent hearing on the live-event ticketing industry and how it might be regulated in the future. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=light&playlist=show&playlist-continuous=true&chapters-image=true&episode_image_p...

May 19, 2025 - Younger voters make up a small portion of the electorate in New York, but legislation promoting civic engagement on college campuses hopes to change this dynamic. We explore this effort to rock the vote with Brendan Cushing, managing director for Generation Vote. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=light&playlist=show&playlist-c...

May 16, 2025 - New York should have enough power to get through the demands of a normal summer, according to a report by the New York Independent System Operator. We review their findings and consider what needs to happen to boost the state's energy capacity with Kevin Lanahan, the organization's vice president of external affairs and corporate communications. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spre...

May 16, 2025 - We examine an effort to give law enforcement more tools to go after drivers who are impaired by drugs. Our guest is Maureen McCormick, co-chair of the vehicular crime subcommittee for the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=70730354&theme=light&playlist=show&playlist-continuous=true&...

May 16, 2025 - Assembly Labor Committee Chair Harry Bronson, a Rochester-area Democrat, makes the case for giving all New Yorkers the same rights and protections when considering whether to accept a severance package from their employer. We also discuss the ramifications of the state paying off its unemployment insurance debt. ESCUCHAR RADIO  👉https://widget.spreaker.com/player?episode_id=7073035...