Joint Legislative Public Hearing on 2024 Executive Budget Proposal: Economic Development/Arts

>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. HI. IT'S ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER GROUP OF HEARINGS. TODAY WE ARE STARTING OFF-- HI, I'M SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER CHAIR OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, JOINED BY MY SPECIAL GUEST CO-CHAIR GARY PRETLOW BECAUSE HELENE WEINSTEIN IS STILL OUT ON MEDICAL LEAVE BUT HOPEFULLY WILL BE BACK WITH US SOON. SO, AGAIN, TODAY IS THE BUDGET HEARING ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE BUDGET. IT'S JANUARY 30. HOPEFULLY THIS HEARING WILL LAST UNTIL AROUND 2:00 AND THEN WE WILL BE STARTING A SECOND HEAR

ING. WE DO THESE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. THEY NEVER WORK OUT TIME WISE, JUST LETTING YOU ALL KNOW FOR ANYONE WATCHING WHO THINKS THEY'RE STARTING AT 2:00, KEEP YOUR EYE ON WHO, WHAT, WHERE BECAUSE YOU ARE PROBABLY NOT STARTING AT 2:00. LET'S BE OPTIMISTIC. THIS IS A JOINT FISCAL COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND MEANS AND THE ASSEMBLY, SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE RELATING TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR STATE FISCAL YEAR 24-25. THESE HEARINGS ARE CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THE NEW YORK STATE CONSTITUTION AND L

EGISLATIVE LAW TODAY THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE WILL HEAR TESTIMONY CONCERNING THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE NEW YORK STATE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES, THE NEW YORK STATE COUNSEL ON THE ARTS. COUNCIL ON THE ARTS. FOLLOWING EACH TESTIMONY THERE WILL BE TIME FOR QUESTIONS FROM THE CHAIRS OF THE RELEVANT COMMITTEES AND THE LEGISLATORS FROM THOSE COMMITTEES AS WELL. I WILL NOW INTRODUCE MEMB

ERS OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER PRETLOW WILL FOLLOW UP WITH MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY. AND I WILL START OUT INTRODUCING MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES AND TURN IT OVER TO TOM O'MARA, THE RAKER FOR THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, TO INTRODUCE HIS MEMBERS. SO LET'S JUST PULL OUT MY LIST OF WHO IS HERE ALREADY. AND ADDITIONAL SENATORS AND ASSEMBLYMEMBERS WILL COME IN AND LEAVE DURING THE DAY. WE WILL TRY TO MAKE SURE TO INTRODUCE EACH OF THEM AS THEY ARRIVE. WE HAVE SENATOR CHU, SENATOR RAMOS, SENATOR S

EAN RYAN, OUR CHAIR, AND SENATOR JOHN LIU. AND TOM O'MARA, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE? >> GOOD MORNING. WE HAVE WITH US SENATORS PAM HEMMING, DEAN MURRAY, GEORGE BORELLO AND JIM TEDISCO. >> ASSEMBLY GL. THANK YOU, SENATOR. GOOD MORNING. I'M GARY PRETLOW, CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY RACING AND WAGERING COMMITTEE AND CO-CHAIR OF TODAY'S HEARING WITH MY GOOD FRIEND LIZ KRUEGER. I'M FILLING IN FOR HELENE WEINSTEIN WHO IS STILL RECOVERYING. HOPEFULLY SHE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK. I JUST WANT TO INTRODUC

E THE ASSEMBLYMEMBERS THAT ARE HERE. WE HAVE OUR CHAIR OF SMALL BUSINESS ASSEMBLYWOMAN WOERNER, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CHAIR STEVE OTIS AND NEWLY MINTED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHAIR, AL STIRPE. WE ALSO HAVE OUR ASSEMBLYWOMAN PAT FAHY, ASSEMBLYMAN BRONSTEIN, ASSEMBLYWOMAN JACKSON, ASSEMBLYWOMAN LUNSFORD, ASSEMBLYWOMAN BUTTENSCHON, ASSEMBLYWOMAN TAPPIA, AND DARLING. AND ED RA WILL INTRODUCE THE MEMBERS OF HIS CONFERENCE. >> THANK YOU, Mr. PLET LOW-- Mr. PRETLOW. JOINED BY ASSEMBLYMAN MAHER, GRAY, GA

NDOLFO AND LEMONDES. AND ASSEMBLYMAN FRIEND, OUR RANKER ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. >> WE HAVE ALSO BEEN JOINED BY SENATOR-- SORRY, WEB AND SENATOR SERRANO AND-- THAT'S ALL SO FAR. SENATOR ADDABBO, SOMEBODY REFERENCED HE IS HERE. BEFORE WE START WITH OUR PRESENTERS, I HAVE SOME BASIC RULES OF THIS ROOM. IT WAS REDONE THIS YEAR AND BY AND LARGE ALL RADICALLY BETTER THAN IT HAS BEEN FOR MANY YEARS FOR US. THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH THE MICROPHONES LAST WEEK ON OUR FIRST TEST WEEK, BUT, IN FACT, THEY

WERE FIXED THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT AND INTO EARLY MORNING. SO WE THINK THEY ARE ALL GOING TO WORK BETTER FOR YOU, TO BE ABLE TO BE HEARING EACH OTHER AND YOU IN THE AUDIENCE, BE HEARING. PLEASE NOTE THE MICROPHONES IN FRONT OF YOU HAVE TO BE PRESSED TO GREEN WHEN YOU ARE TALKING AND PRESSED TO RED WHEN YOU ARE NOT TALKING BECAUSE THEY'RE BRAND NEW SOME OF THEM ARE PRETTY STIFF AND HAVE YOU TO PUSH REALLY HARD. SO YOU WILL THINK WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME? IT'S NOT YOU. IT'S THAT THESE ARE BRANDER NEW AN

D THEY WILL SOFTEN UP SUPPOSEDLY THE MORE THEY'RE PRESSED ON AND OFF. BUT IT'S HELPFUL FOR REMEMBERING THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SAYING THINGS ON THE MICROPHONE WHEN YOU DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY THEM ON MICROPHONE BECAUSE THE WHOLE STATE OF NEW YORK IS LISTENING. WE ALSO HAVE NEW VISUALS HERE AND HERE. WE ARE THINKING OF TRYING TO PUT LIKE REALLY PRETTY SCENES OF THE OUTDOORS IN THE BACK TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE HERE AND NOT OUTSIDE. WE ALSO HAVE THE LANGUAGE ACCESS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN READ ALONG WIT

H ANYTHING THAT IS SAID. WHICH IS ACTUALLY EXTREMELY HELPFUL TO PEOPLE, BOTH HERE IN OUR EVENT AND ALSO THOSE WATCHING THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW YORK BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THIS IS LIVE STREAMED TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE ON THE SENATE WEBSITE AND ASSEMBLY WEBSITE. WE ALSO IMPROVED THE WIFI. SOME OF YOU WHO HAVE SPENT TOO MUCH OF YOUR LIVES, LIKE ME, IN THIS ROOM, IT'S AMAZING HOW MUCH BETTER TECHNOLOGY IS WORKING BECAUSE OF THE NEW, IMPROVED SYSTEM DOWN HERE. ALSO FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW HIVE AND

THIS IS MORE FOR THE LEGISLATORS, IF YOU ARE A RELEVANT CHAIR FOR WHATEVER PANEL WE ARE ON, YOU GET 10 MINUTES TO ASK QUESTIONS. IF YOU ARE A RANKER, YOU GET FIVE MINUTES. IF YOU ARE JUST A MEMBER, NOT A CHAIR OR RANKER, OR EVEN A CHAIR BUT NOT RELEVANT TO THAT PANEL, YOU GET THREE MINUTES. WHEN WE FINISH THE GOVERNMENT PANEL AND GO ON TO THE PUBLIC PANELS, EVERYONE JUST GETS THREE MINUTES. THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING THE MINUTES AND YOU HAVE CLOCKS HERE AND THEY HAVE GREEN LIGHT, RED LIGHT

AND YELLOW LIGHT AND THERE IS BEEPING IF YOU GET TO RED. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINUTES IS BOTH FOR THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER. SO LEGISLATORS, IF YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, IF YOU SPEND TWO MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS ASKING YOUR QUESTION, THE CHANCES OF YOUR ACTUALLY GETTING AN ANSWER, NO FAULT OF THE PANELIST, IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. SO FOR TESTIFIERS, IF YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY GET THROUGH THE FULL ANSWER TO THE QUESTIONS OR EVEN YOU HAVE A STUMP YOU QUESTION AND YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER R

IGHT AWAY, YOU CAN ALWAYS SEND US IN WRITING THE ANSWERS AND IT'S ACTUALLY VERY HELPFUL AND YOU SEND IT TO SENATE FINANCE AND ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS AND WE MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR ANSWERS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL THE MEMBERS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE THE ONE TO ASK THE QUESTION. I THINK THAT'S THE BASIC RULES OF TODAY. SO NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE -- >> CAN I INTERRUPT ONE SECOND, SENATOR. WE HAVE A FEW MEMBERS HAVE COME IN SINCE I LAST ANNOUNCED THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY THAT WERE HERE. A F

EW MORE HAVE COME IN SO I'LL READ OFF THEIR NAMES. WE HAVE ASSEMBLY PEOPLE BORES, SANTOS, CUNNINGHAM, TAYLOR, VANEL, JONES, RIFF RIVERA. >> AND WE ALSO HAVE BEEN JOINED BY SENATOR BAILEY. >> AND GREAT PHARMACIST SENATOR McDONALD. AND JUST ALSO, BECAUSE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT ASSEMBLYMEMBER PRETLOW UNDERSTANDS THAT ASSEMBLYMEMBERS WHO WANT TO BE PUT ON THE LIST TO ASK QUESTIONS SHOULD EITHER GET HIS ATTENTION OR GET THE ATTENTION OF THE STAFF RIGHT BEHIND HIM. I SEE MANY HANDS BEING RAISED. AND T

HE SAME FOR THE SENATE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HOT LIST FOR QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD GET MY ATTENTION. AND I THINK YOU ALL HAVE MY TEXT SO YOU JUST TEXT ME USUALLY. SO WITH THAT, SORRY. AND SO ALSO ONE MORE THING, I'M SORRY BEFORE WE START. BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY LEGISLATORS HERE, SOME ARE SITTING IN THIS ROW BEHIND THE TABLE. WHEN THEIR NAMES ARE CALLED TO ASK YOU QUESTIONS, IF THE PEOPLE EITHER ON THE FAR RIGHT CHAIR OR THE FAR LEFT CHAIR WOULD GIVE UP THEIR CHAIR, LET THE PERSON COME FORWARD AN

D ASK THEIR QUESTIONS WITH THE MICROPHONE AT THE TABLE AND THEN TRADE BACK AFTERWARDS. I THINK WE ARE READY TO GO. GREAT. SO I WANT TO INTRODUCE HOPE KNIGHT COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. JENNETTE MOY, COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES AND ERIKA MALLIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS. EACH OF YOU WILL HAVE 10 MINUTES TO SUBMIT READ YOUR TESTIMONY OR BETTE

R STILL, HIGHLIGHT THE BULLET POINTS FROM YOUR TESTIMONY IF YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE LONGER THAN 10 MINUTES. AND THEN AFTER ALL THREE HAVE TESTIFIED, WE WILL THEN OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. SO WE'LL START WITH YOU. GOOD MORNING, HOPE. >> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, CHAIRWOMAN KRUEGER, CHAIRMAN STIRPE AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ASSEMBLYMEMBERS STIRPE AND WOERNER AS THE NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS CHAIRS. I LOOK FORWARD TO

WORKING WITH YOU BOTH. CONGRATULATIONS TO ASSEMBLYMEMBER BRONSON, TOO, ON HIS NEW ROLE AS LABOR CHAIR; I'M CONFIDENT WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER. SENATOR RYAN, I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIP THIS YEAR. MY NAME IS HOPE KNIGHT, AND I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT, AND AS COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I'M JOINED TODAY BY ESD'S CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND EXECUTIVE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KEVIN YOUNIS. THANK YOU FO

R THE INVITATION TO DISCUSS GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET. THIS HAS BEEN A YEAR OF GREAT MOMENTUM FOR ESD. OUR DEDICATION TO SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES IS STRONGER THAN EVER, INCLUDING OUR COMMITMENT TO MINORITY- AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES. THANKS TO THE ADDED INVESTMENTS FROM THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE, WE HAVE ELIMINATED THE LONGSTANDING MWBE CERTIFICATION BACKLOG. THE STATE HAS ALSO EXCEEDED ITS MWBE UTILIZATION GOAL FOR STATE CONTRACTS, ACHIEVING MORE THAN 32 PERCENT DURING THE L

AST FISCAL YEAR -- THE HIGHEST UTILIZATION RATE IN THE COUNTRY FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR. IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS PROPOSING TO EXTEND THE MWBE PROGRAM ANOTHER FIVE YEARS, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THESE ACHIEVEMENTS. THIS YEAR'S BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES A FUNDING INCREASE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP ASSISTANCE CENTERS--THE FIRST FUNDING INCREASE IN 15 YEARS. THESE CENTERS DO INCREDIBLE WORK SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS THE STATE, OFFERING SERVICES LIKE BUSINESS TRAINING, INDIVID

UAL COUNSELING, AND ACCESS TO CAPITAL. THE MAJORITY OF THEIR CLIENTS ARE MINORITIES, AND MORE THAN HALF OF PARTICIPANTS DO NOT HAVE A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE. THESE CENTERS ARE TYPICALLY LOCATED IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, AND ARE A VITAL RESOURCE FOR THOSE WISHING TO PURSUE THEIR DREAM OF RUNNING A BUSINESS. INVESTMENTS IN DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS ARE CRITICAL TO PROMOTING SHARED ECONOMIC GROWTH ACROSS THE STATE. IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, OVER 60% OF ESD'S AWARDS HAVE BEEN TO SMALL BUSINESSES, AND M

ORE THAN HALF OF OUR PROJECTS ARE IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. UNDER GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S LEADERSHIP, WE ARE MAKING HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN NEW YORK'S MOST VALUABLE ASSET - ITS PEOPLE. ESD'S OFFICE OF STRATEGIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 2 FOCUSES ON EXPANDING TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR QUALITY JOBS IN HIGH GROWTH INDUSTRIES, ENSURING THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE TARGETED TO HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. TO DATE, THE OFFICE HAS SUPPORTED TRAINING FOR OVER 11,000 WORKERS WITH MORE THAN 400 BUSINESS PARTN

ERS. EVERY AWARD FROM OUR OFFICE IS SERVING DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS AND OFFERING WRAPAROUND SERVICES, SUCH AS CHILDCARE SUPPORT AND TRANSPORTATION VOUCHERS. THIS YEAR'S BUDGET CONTAINS AN EXCITING NEW WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL - ON-RAMP - OR ONE NETWORK FOR REGIONAL ADVANCED MANUFACTURING PARTNERSHIPS. THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, REGIONAL CENTERS WILL PROVIDE TRAINING TO DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS TO CREATE AN "ON-RAMP" TO PROMISING CAREERS IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING. THESE CENTERS WILL OFFER

WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND WILL LEVERAGE LOCAL PARTNERS AND EMPLOYERS FOR DIRECT JOB PLACEMENT IN THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SECTOR. OUR TARGETED INVESTMENTS INTO CREATING THE WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW SERVES AS A VALUABLE BUSINESS ATTRACTION TOOL AND IS ONE OF MANY REASONS NEW YORK IS LEADING THE COUNTRY IN RESHORING MANUFACTURING. HOWEVER, OUR SUCCESSES HAVE SHOVEL-READY SITES FOR INCOMING BUSINESSES. TO ADDRESS THIS DIRECTLY, GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS PROPOSED $100 MILLION DOLLARS FOR A NEW ROUND OF FAST

NY - THE STATE'S PREMIER PROGRAM TO CREATE SHOVEL-READY SITES. THIS INVESTMENT WILL FURTHER THE STATE'S BUSINESS ATTRACTION EFFORTS AND CONTINUE NEW YORK'S MOMENTUM IN GROWING THE GREEN ECONOMY AND SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY. SITE PREPARATION WAS CRITICAL FOR ATTRACTING LARGE COMPANIES LIKE GLOBALFOUNDRIES AND MICRON, WHICH HELPED SOLIDIFY NEW YORK'S POSITION AS A LEADER IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING. TO PROMOTE CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE SEMICONDUCTOR INVESTMENTS IN NEW YORK, THE GOVERNOR RECENTLY ANNOUNC

ED THE STATE'S SUPPORT FOR A NEW EUV LITHOGRAPHY TOOL AND RELATED CENTER AT THE ALBANY NANOTECH COMPLEX. THIS GROUNDBREAKING PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WILL PUT NEW YORK AT THE FOREFRONT OF SEMICONDUCTOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, ENSURING THAT THE NEXT GENERATION OF CHIPS ARE DEVELOPED HERE IN NEW YORK. THESE CHIPS WILL ALSO BE CRITICAL FOR ADVANCEMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, WHICH WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES OF OUR LIFETIME. THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S EMPIRE AI INI

TIATIVE, NEW YORK WILL EMPOWER ITS WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS TO PURSUE ETHICAL ADVANCEMENTS IN AI TO CREATE NEW JOBS AND ATTRACT INVESTMENTS TO OUR STATE. TESLA'S RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF A $500 MILLION SUPER COMPUTER IN BUFFALO ALSO SHOWS NEW YORK'S BOUNDLESS POTENTIAL FOR AI AND AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE DEVELOPMENTS. AS PART OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE SUPPORT GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S COMMITMENT TO GROWING THE STATE'S HOUSING STOCK. THIS IS VITAL, BECAUSE COMPANIES HAVE

TOLD ME THAT THEY CANNOT CONSIDER LOCATING TO A STATE THAT DOES NOT OFFER AMPLE HOUSING. TO ADDRESS THIS, THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET COMMITS $500 MILLION TO SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES AT STATE-OWNED PROPERTIES, WHICH WILL ACCOMMODATE THOUSANDS OF UNITS OF HOUSING AND ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF THE STATE'S WORKFORCE. THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR WORK, WE REMAIN DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLES OF TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND DATA-DRIVEN DECISION MAKING. WE CONTINUE TO WORK DILIGENTLY TO MAKE THE AGEN

CY MORE ACCESSIBLE AND TRANSPARENT. LAST YEAR WE LAUNCHED A NEW, USER-FRIENDLY DATABASE OF ECONOMIC INCENTIVES, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO STRATEGIZE WAYS WE CAN CONTINUE EVOLVING THIS IMPORTANT RESOURCE. I AM PROUD OF ALL ESD HAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE PAST YEAR, AND I AM EXCITED BY WHAT THESE NEW INITIATIVES WILL ACHIEVE FOR THE STATE. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK CLOSELY WITH ALL OF YOU TO DELIVER RESULTS FOR ALL NEW YORKERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY

TO SPEAK THIS MORNING, AND I AM HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS OUR NEXT TESTIFIER IS JANET MOYE GOOD MORNING DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE. MY NAME IS JENNETTE MOY AM THE COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES (OGS). THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED SINCE I LAST TESTIFIED BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE AND DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET ON THIS AGENCY. GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROPOSES $1.38

BILLION FOR OGS, WHICH WILL ENABLE OUR AGENCY TO CONTINUE TO ADVANCE HER COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND SERVICES FOR ALL NEW YORKERS. THE PROPOSED BUDGET ALLOCATION ENABLES OGS AND OUR 1,900 EMPLOYEES TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OPERATIONAL AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR STATE AGENCIES SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON DELIVERING THEIR CORE MISSIONS EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY. OUR SERVICES ARE VAST. WE MANAGE 20 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF THE STATE'S REAL PROPERTY AND 468 LEASES COMPRISING ANOTHER 12

MILLION SQUARE FEET. WE PROVIDE SHARED SERVICES-PROCESSING TRANSACTIONS FOR 44,000 STATE EMPLOYEES, MANAGING $660 MILLION IN ANNUAL BUDGET AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES FOR OUR CLIENTS AND DIRECTLY MANAGE HUMAN RESOURCES FOR ANOTHER 63 STATE WORKERS. WE ALSO ADMINISTER 1,500 CENTRALIZED CONTRACTS WITH AWARD VALUES UP TO $30 BILLION. UNDER GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S LEADERSHIP, WE LAUNCHED OUR FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN LAST YEAR, OUTLINING HOW OGS WILL INCORPORATE TRANSPARENCY, CUSTOMER SERVICE, SUSTAINABILITY

AND EQUITY ACROSS OUR OPERATIONS. THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET WILL ALLOW OGS TO MAKE DEMONSTRABLE PROGRESS IN OUR AGENCY'S PLAN, AS WELL AS OUR SHARED GOALS OF MAKING GOVERNMENT WORK BETTER FOR ALL NEW YORKERS. OGS'S ROLE AS A SUPPORT AGENCY IS TO ENSURE THAT STATE GOVERNMENT RUNS EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY. WE DO THIS BY UTILIZING DATA TO HELP THE STATE MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND BY INSTITUTING POLICIES, PROCESSES AND SYSTEM CHANGES THAT ALLOW OUR PARTNER AGENCIES TO FUNCTION. LAST YEAR, WE BUILT OU

T A PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE TO THESE FUNCTIONS TOGETHER WILL SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR'S AMBITIOUS AGENDA FOR MORE DATA DRIVEN STATE GOVERNMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, ENHANCING THE STATE'S REAL PROPERTY DATABASE AND ENSURING THE STATE IS ABLE TO USE THESE PROPERTIES FOR MORE STRATEGIC AND BENEFICIAL PURPOSES SUCH AS MEETING THE GOVERNOR'S GOALS OF DEVELOPING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. OUR REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO INCLUDES OVER 150 STATE-OWNED BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES, TOTALING MORE THAN $7 BILLION IN AS ITS. WE

SERVE APPROXIMATELY 30,000 TENANTS AND THOUSANDS OF VISITORS AND MOST OF THE STATE OFFICE BUILDINGS WERE BUILT BETWEEN 1965 AND 1975, WITH THEIR CRITICAL SYSTEMS REACHING THE END OF THEIR USEFUL LIFE. WE ARE MAKING PRUDENT INVESTMENTS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE STATE EATS MIEF-- HIVE THE STATE'S WORKFORCE. WE HAVE LAUNCHED A PILOT FOR I.T.S. AND OGS EMPLOYEES TO BEST LEARN HOW TO ADAPT OUR EXISTING SPACES. THE PROPOSED CAPITAL BUDGET WILL WILL ALLOW TO US CONTINUE THIS WORK ALONG WITH THE LONG AWA

ITED CAPITAL EASTERN APPROACH RESTORATION PROJECT AND COMPLETING WORK ON THE PASSAGE AND CAPITAL COURTYARD. THESE PROJECTS WILL IMPROVE OUR STATE'S CAPITOL PROMINENT HISTORICAL PLACES IN ADDITION TO THE SIGNIFICANT WORK ON OGS FACILITIES, OUR AGENCY PROVIDES DESIGN CONSTRUCTION AND PROJECT PERMITTING SERVICES TO OVER 50 STATE AGENCIES INCLUDING 1.4 BILLION IN ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND ANOTHER $2 BILLION IN DESIGN DEVELOPMENT, THIS YEAR'S SUCCESSES INCLUDE COMPLETION OF THE WEDGE WIRE SCRE

EN SYSTEM AT THE OGS HUDSON RIVER PUMPING STATION IN ALBANY. INSTALLATION OF THE RUTH BADER GINSBURG PORTRAIT IN THE CAPITOL'S GREAT WESTERN STAIRCASE, CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST SEG SEGMENT OF THE ADIRONDACK TRAIL AND MAKING SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS ON THE MODERNIZATION EFFORTS FROM THE DESIGNS FOR THE LEXINGTON AVENUE ARMORY TO THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THEIR FIELD MAINTENANCE SHOP IN TROY. ACROSS THIS SIGNIFICANT FOOTPRINT, WE HAVE BEEN LAYING THE FOUNDATION THAT WILL HELP THE STATE MEET GOVERNOR HOCH

UL'S CLIMATE GOALS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NYSERDA AND NYPA, WE'RE MANAGING A STATEWIDE PROGRAM TO CONVERT THE LIGHT-DUTY FLEET TO ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLES BY 2035. WE ARE ACTIVELY PLANNING OVER 138 POINTS AT 39 STATE FACILITIES REPRESENTING 10 AGENCIES. THE FIRST ONE APPROXIMATELY 1400 CHARGES ACROSS STATE. OGS ALSO BEGAN IMPLEMENTING TELEMATICS IN OUR SCREKS TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE SAFETY AND PROVIDING GREATER INSIGHTS INTO VEHICLE OPERATIONS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY FACILITATE OUR TRANSITION TO A CARBO

N NEUTRAL FLEET. WE HELD THE FIRST EV CAR SHOWS AND CRAFT THEIR TRANSITION PLANS. FINALLY, OGS WAS INTEGRAL TO IMPLEMENTING FIRST IN THE NATION CLEAN CONCRETE GUIDELINES TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN STATE CONSTRUCTION. OGS WILL ALSO ADVANCE THE GOVERNOR'S CALL FOR THE STATE TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE AS A MEMBER OF HER DECARBONATION LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. IN PARTNERSHIP, WE ARE DEVELOPING PLANS TO CARBONIZE RIGHT HERE AT THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA. THAT PLAN WILL LAY OUT STEPS TO ACCOMPLISH APPROXIMAT

ELY 50% REDUCTION IN CARBON EMISSIONS AT THE PLAZA DOM PLEX IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS AND WILL EXAMINE OPPORTUNITIES TO ACHIEVE FULL DECARBONIZATION LONG-TERM THIS WILL RESULT IN MEANINGFUL CARBON REDUCTIONS RIGHT HERE IN ALBANY. IMPROVING AIR QUALITY AND HEALTH FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS. THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET INCLUDES $50 MILLION FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND EMISSIONS REDUCTION PROJECTS IN SUPPORT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 22 AND WE HOPE TO USE A PORTION OF THAT FUNDING TO JUMP START

THIS IMPORTANT WORK. AS WE RESTORE OUR FACILITIES AND ASSETS, WE'VE ALSO REINVIGORATED OUR PROGRAMMATIC OFFERINGS, FOCUSED ON AGENCY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND ADAPTED OUR EVENTS AND EXHIBITS TO BE MORE REFLECTIVE OF THE DIVERSITY OF OUR STATE. WE'VE EXPANDED OUR ANNUAL IN-PERSON TRIBUTE TO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND PARTNERED WITH OTHER STATE AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE ANTI-HATE & BIAS CAMPAIGN FROM THE NYS DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, TO CURATE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PROGRAMMING INCLUDING

THE CHIEF DISABILITY OFFICE, THE OFFICE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE OFFICE OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AMONG SO MANY OTHERS. THESE ARE STEPS TO MAKE THE STATE MORE EQUITABLE, BY HONORING AND CELEBRATING THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES ALONG WITH OUR PARTNER AGENCIES, WE ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE THE CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE FOR ALL NEW YORKERS. THIS YEAR WE BEGAN THE FIRST PHASE OF OUR EPROCUREMENT INITIATIVE FOR OUR CENTRALIZED CONTRACTS, AND LAUNCHED BID EXPRESS FOR WE HOSTED OUR FIRST GOVBUY

U, A FULLY ONLINE PROCUREMENT CONFERENCE FOR STATE AGENCIES, AUTHORITIES, MUNICIPALITIES, AND NON-PROFITS. THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET WILL ENABLE OGS TO CONTINUE TO MAKE IT EASIER TO WORK AND DO BUSINESS WITH THE STATE. WORKING WITH CHAMBER AND ITS, WE WILL HELP TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OUR AGENCY PARTNERS. WE WILL BUILD ON THE RECENT EXPANSION OF OUR DIGITAL AND MEDIA SERVICES CENTER, ENSURING THAT AGENCIES HAVE ACCESS TO USER-FRIENDLY DIGITAL PRODUCTS AND SERVI

CES THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO BETTER CONNECT WITH NEW YORK BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS. THIS YEAR, OUR OFFICE OF LANGUAGE ACCESS CELEBRATED ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY, LAUNCHED A STATEWIDE LISTENING TOUR, AND "KNOW YOUR RIGHTS CAMPAIGN" FOR LIMITED ENGLISH-PROFICIENT COMMUNITIES. THE PROPOSED EXECUTIVE BUDGET WILL HELP ESTABLISH A STATE EMPLOYEE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS FOR ORAL AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE SKILLS. IN CLOSING, THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET WILL ALLOW OGS TO BEGIN ADDRESSING OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, MODERN

IZE AND INNOVATE OUR OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT THE STATE RESPONSE TO COMPLEX CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACING THE STATE TODAY. I'M PROUD OF OUR PROGRESS MAKING NEW YORK HEALTHIER, STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT AND MORE EQUITABLE STATE AND WE APPLAUD THE GOVERNOR'S INVESTMENTS AND PRIORITIES IN THIS YEAR'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK CLOSELY WITH MANY OF YOU AS WE DELIVER FOR ALL NEW YORKERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LETTING US SPEAK THIS MORNING AND I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO A

NSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BEFORE WE INTRODUCE OUR NEXT TESTIFIER, WE HAVE ALSO BEEN JOINED BY SENATOR HINCHEY AND SENATOR CLAIRE AND I THINK SENATOR TEDISCO. DO YOU HAVE ANY ASSEMBLYMEMBERS TO INTRODUCE? >> I DO. ASSEMBLYMEMBER ZACCARO AND McDONALD HAVE JOINED US. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT TESTIFIER IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ERIKA MALLIN NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS. GOOD MORNING. >> >> CHAIRS KRUEGER AND PRETLOW, CHAIR OF OUR COMMITTEE SENATOR SERRANO, THANK YOU FOR THE I

NVITATION TO ADDRESS YOU. I'M ERIKA MALLIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS. MY FIRST DAY WAS JANUARY 18, EXACTLY 12 DAYS AGO AND I'M HONORED BY THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHAMPION THE GREATEST AND MOST INNOVATIVE ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR IN THE WORLD. IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE, AND I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND ARTISTS, THAT NYSCA SUPPORT HAS BEEN THE STAMP OF APPROVAL. IT SPURS GROWTH, LEVERAGES ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND HAS ALWAYS EMBRACED THE CREATION OF

NEW WORK AND PROGRAMS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES AROUND THE WORLD. ON BEHALF OF OUR CHAIR, KATHARINE NICHOLS, COUNCIL MEMBER STAFF AND THE VAST CULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF NEW YORK, WE ARE IMMENSELY GRATEFUL TO THE GOVERNOR, AND TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR YOUR VITAL INVESTMENTS IN THE ARTS IN FY'24. THE STATE OF OUR SECTOR IS THAT OF ACTIVE AND ONGOING RECOVERY. AND THIS IS TRUE FOR OUR STATE AND THE NATION. BUT IS THE FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE THAT HAS BE

EN INSTRUMENTAL TO SUSTAINING THE WORK OF ARTISTS, ORGANIZATIONS AND SUPPORTING NEW WAYS OF WORKING IN THESE PIVOTAL TIMES. NYSCA'S GRANT MAKING WHOLLY SUPPORTS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR STATE CULTURALLY AND GEOGRAPHICALLY. WE SERVE RURAL AREAS, SMALL TOWNS AND A MAJOR GLOBAL CITY. WE SEED AND GROW ORGANIZATIONS AND SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS TO CULTIVATE THEIR HIGHEST CREATIVE POWERS AND PARTNER WITH OTHERS TO INCREASE IMPACT AND PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN ALL 10 REGIONS. AND WE OVERW

HELMINGLY SUPPORT SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED ORGANIZATIONS. THESE TEND TO BE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE LESS ACCESS TO CONSISTENT FUNDING. FOR FY'24, 50% OF OUR GRANTEES HAVE BUDGETS UNDER 500,000 VERSUS 7% HAVING BUDGETS OVER 10 MILLION. AND RELEVANT TO THIS TIME OF RECOVERY, WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION IN THE NUMBER OF ARTISTS APPLICATIONS AND FIRST-TIME GRANTEES. THIS IS TRULY INSPIRING AT THIS MOMENT AS MANY OF THESE GRANTEES MAKE UP THE NEXT GENERATION OF CREATIVE THINKERS, ATTAR MAKERS A

ND GLOBAL INFLUENCERS. AND THIS INVESTMENT RETURNS REAL AND SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS CONTRIBUTING OVER $144 BILLION BACK TO OUR STATE, EMPLOYING OVER 450,000 WORKERS, CONSTITUTING ALMOST 8% OF OUR STATE'S ECONOMY, DRIVING TOURISM, BOOSTING REVENUE FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND SERVICES. ANNUALLY NYSCA SERVES OVER 3,000 ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH THE 10 REGIONS WITH PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS AND GRANTS. FOR FY'TO DATE, NYSCA HAS AWARDED 2040 GRANTS TOTALING 281 MILLION. WHAT DOES OUR FUNDING LOOK LI

KE? ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WAYS THAT NYSCA SUPPORTS THE FIELD IS THROUGH GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT, FUNDING THE EVERYDAY, TURNING ON THE LIGHTS, OPENING THE DOORS, AND PRODUCING WORLD CLASS ART. AND OFTEN NYSCA IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF THIS KIND OF SUPPORT. SECONDLY, WE SUPPORT NEW YORK STATE ARTISTS. MORE OF THEM RN EVER BEFORE. WHO ARE LEADERS IN THEIR CRAFT AND CATALYSTS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. SOME OF THE GRANTEES INCLUDE BUFFALO STRING WORKS WHICH PROVIDES MUSIC INSTRUCTION FOR MARGINALIZED YO

UTH. OR THE BRONX DOCUMENTARY CENTER IN NEW YORK CITY WHOSE MISSION IT IS TO SHARE DOCUMENTARY MEDIA TO THOUSANDS OF SOUTH BRONX RESIDENTS. OR FILM MAKERS, MICHELLE STEVENSON AND JOE BREWSTERS, WHOSE DOCUMENTARY GOING TO MARS, THE NIKKI GIAVINNI PROJECT WAS SHORT LISTED A WEEK AGO FOR AN ACADEMY AWARD. OR ITS CATS SKILL VISUAL BASED ARTIST JORDAN WHO WAS SELECTED AS A MacARTHUR FELLOW ONE OF THE HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENTS ONE CAN RECEIVE. OVER ART HISTORY, WE HAVE HELPED GROW ICONIC ORGANIZATIONS LIKE

ALVIN AILLEY IN NEW YORK, THE MUSEUM IN SYRACUSE, THE AKG MUSEUM IN BUFFALO, THE EASTMAN MUSEUM IN ROCHESTER AND THE SARATOGA PERFORMING ARTS TO NAME A FEW. AND OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND GRANTS ALSO EXPAND OUR REACH LIKE ARTS IN CORRECTIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, ARTS ON CANALS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY AND ART NEW YORK, THEIR CREATIVE OPPORTUNITY FUND WHICH FUNDS SMALL THEATERS. OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE ALSO CRIECIAL TO SUPPORTING NEW CON

STRUCTION AND FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS RANGING FROM NEW HVAC SYSTEMS TO NEW GROUND UP BUILDINGS. WE ARE IMMENSELY GRATEFUL FOR THE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN CAPITAL FUNDING THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE HAVE MADE FOR ARTS FACILITIES. AND SINCE 2018, NYSCA HAS AWARDED 182 MILLION IN CAPITAL FUNDING, SUPPORTING 283 PROJECTS ACROSS ALL 10 REGIONS. WITH 67% OF THESE GRANTS GOING TO ORGANIZATIONS WITH BUDGETS UNDER $5 MILLION. OUR FY'24 CAPITAL PROJECT OPPORTUNITY JUST CLOSED THIS MONTH WITH OVER 260 AP

PLICATIONS. THOSE AWARDS WILL BE ANNOUNCED THIS SPRING. BUT SOME OF OUR RECENT PROJECTS INCLUDE ART SPACE UTICA LOFTS, TO SUPPORT NEWLY CONSTRUCTED OF 40,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING WITH SPACE FOR LOW INCOME ARTISTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO LIVE, WORK, EXHIBIT AND PERFORM IN DOWNTOWN UTICA. AND LAKE PLACID ART CENTER IN NORTH COUNTRY WHICH WILL BE A NEW MODERN CERTIFIED ARTS COMPLEX GREATLY EXPANDING ACCESS TO OUR TOP TIER ARTS PROGRAM AS THE ONLY YEAR ROUND ARTS FACILITY IN A 45-MILE RADIUS. AS NYSCA

'S REACH EXPANDS, SO DO THE MEASURABLE BENEFITS OF THE ARTS. AS I SAID BEFORE, OUR ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR DELIVER AN ASTONISHING RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT RETURNING 144 BILLION BACK TO OUR STATE AND EMPLOYS OVER 450,000 PEOPLE. BUT TO ZOOM IN ON A LOCAL LEVEL, HERE ARE SOME RECENT STUDIES. THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR IN WESTERN NEW YORK, GENERATED $380 MILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY INCLUDING $189 MILLION IN AUDIENCE SPENDING AND SUPPORTING OVER 8,000 JOBS. WHEN WCHT COUNTY THE NON-PROFIT ART SECTOR GEN

ERATED 182 MILLION SUPPORTING OVER 1500 JOBS. WITH A 10-- ATTENDEES SPENDING ADDITIONAL SPENDING PER PERSON IN THAT COMMUNITY AND IN LONG ISLAND WHERE THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR GENERATED $330 MILLION SUPPORTING 5,000 JOBS AND WITH ATTENDEES SPENDING AN ADDITIONAL $37 IN THAT LOCAL COMMUNITY. AND IN A RECENT STUDY ON THE MOST ART VIBRANT CITIES AND COUNTIES IN THE NATION, EVERY CITY, EVERY COUNTY, MEASURING STATE, PUBLIC, STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING, VISITOR BUREAU AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND THE NUMBER

OF ARTS WORKERS, BOTH ONEONTA AND ITHACA IN ADDITION TO NEW YORK CITY MADE THE TOP 40 LIST. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN OUR ARTS AND OUR CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS AND HER FORWARD THINKING INITIATIVES THAT CHAMPION ACCESS TO THE ARCE FOR ALL-- ARTS FOR ALL, THE WORK OF ARTISTS AND CRITICAL ROLE THEY PLAY IN OUR SOCIETY. THESE INITIATIVES INCLUDE A FOCUS ON PUBLIC ART, WHICH IS ALWAYS THE FIRST POINT OF ACCESS FOR EVERYONE, AND ARTIST FELLOWSHIPS IN STATE AGENCIES

TO BRING CREATIVE AND HUMANIST APPROACH TO HOW WE SERVE COMMUNITIES AND THE STATE. WE KNOW THAT NYSCA CAN LEAD THE CHARGE TO INNOVATE IN THIS FIELD, DEVELOP BEST PRACTICES AND BECOME A BANK OF IDEAS TO BEST SERVE NEW YORK AND BEYOND. WE WANT TO LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN SUPPORT NEW LEADERS IN OUR VAST WORKFORCE, CREATE HIGH PROFILE MEETINGS THAT SHOWCASE OUR GRANTEES, ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AND CULTIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS OUR FIELD AND IN THE COMMUNITIES. FINALLY, I BELIEVE ARTISTS AND CULTURAL L

EADERS ARE SOME OF OUR GREATEST INFLUENCERS AND FUTURISTS. AND I BELIEVE THAT NYSCA IS UNIQUELY POISED TO INFLUENCE THE FIELD AND WITH OUR CORE PROGRAMMING AND NEW INITIATIVES, INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ART MAKERS AND CULTURAL LEADERS. AGAIN, I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CHAMPION ARTS AND CULTURE IN OUR GREAT STATE. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAIVERING SUPPORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE COMING MONTHS. AND I WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, EVERYONE. WE

ARE NOW GOING TO START OUR QUESTIONING. SENATOR SEAN RYAN WHO IS THE CHAIR-- WHAT ARE YOU THE CHAIR OF, SEAN? YOU ARE THE CHAIR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND COMMERCE. >> THERE WE GO. >> 10 MINUTES FOR SEAN. >> THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY, TO THE NYSCA DIRECTOR, WELCOME. REALLY HAPPY WITH THE THINGS YOU ARE DOING ALL AROUND THE STATE. HAPPY TO HEAR, YOU KNOW, SHOUT OUT FOR BUFFALO STRING WORKS, VERY SMALL NON-PROFIT WHO, FOR YEARS, DID THEIR THING, HAD NO IDEA WHAT ANY NYSCA EVEN WAS BUT YOU ARE ALL

MARRIED TOGETHER NOW IN ADDITION TO LOCAL FUNDING, STATE FUNDING IS COMING FOR THAT. WE APPRECIATE THAT. COMMISSIONER MOYE, LAST YEAR WE SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ESCALATORS THAT WERE NO LONGER USED IN THIS BUILDING AND WE SEE YOU ARE MAKING AN EFFORT TO BOX IN THOSE REDUNDANT ESCALATORS. MUCH BETTER FOR THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR THAT. COMMISSIONER KNIGHT, GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN. LAST YEAR WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DATABASE OF DEALS AND I KNOW THAT'S ADVANCING QUICKL

Y. WE APPRECIATE THAT. I IMAGINE IT'S NOT THE FINAL ITERATION. LAST YEAR WHEN WE SPOKE, WE SPOKE OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT ON THAT DATABASE, IF AN I.D.A. SUBSIDY WAS LAYERED IN, IT WOULD BE APPARENT IN THE DATABASE. THAT AREA OF THE DATABASE IS STILL SOMEWHAT I THINK INCOMPLETE WHERE IT REFERENCES IF THIS INCLUDES THE I.D.A. SUBSIDIES, WHICH WOULD GIVE YOU THE INFERENCE IN THE ANSWER IS NO THERE ARE NO I.D.A. SUBSIDIES BUT I NOTICE SEVERAL PROJECTS WITH I.D.A. SUBSIDIES SAID IT DOESN'T INCLUDE

IT BUT IT DOESN'T LET THE TAXPAYER KNOW THAT ANOTHER SOURCE OF TAXPAYER MONEY WAS LAYERED IN. SO IF WE CAN CONTINUE WORKING ON THAT PART, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT. SO MOST OF THE QUESTIONS WE ALL HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS, YOU KNOW, IT WORKING? SO IN THE 2022-23 BUDGET, WE CALLED FOR AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF ALL THE PROGRAMS. SO HAPPY THAT AUDIT WILL BE COMPLETED ACTUALLY FORTUITOUSLY IT IS BEING RELEASED TOMORROW. SO WE CAN LOOK AT THAT AND EXPECT TO HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT. WHAT

WE ENDEAVOR TO FIND OUT IS WHAT PROGRAMS WORK AND WHICH ONES DON'T THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WE HAVE A BIG CAPITAL INVESTMENT GOING INTO THE SUNY ALBANY, A CONTINUATION OF MONEY THERE. I THINK IT'S NEARLY A BILLION DOLLARS AND A TWO-STEP PROGRAM AND WE ALSO SEE MONEY GOING INTO THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CONSORTIUM. HOW DO WE MEASURE SUCCESS OF THESE STATE INVESTMENTS? I CAN EITHER TALK ABOUT CALENDAR THIS I THINK WILL HAVE SHY OF A BILLION DOLLARS. THE VERBIAGE SAID WE HOPE TO ATTRACT $500 MILLION O

F PRIVATE INVESTMENT. SO HOW DO WE MEASURE SUCCESS ON THAT PROGRAM? >> SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. THIS EV TOOL IS GOING TO BE A CUTTING EDGE PIECE OF VIMENT THAT CONTINUES EQUIPMENT THAT HELPS US SOLIDIFY OUR PLACE IN THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY. KEVIN YOUNIS HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROGRAM WITH PARTNERS AND I'LL HAVE HIM TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIPS AND HOW WE SEE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT WITH THIS TOOL. >> THANKS, SENATOR. KEVIN YOUNIS. SO WITH THE HIGH U, IT IS AN INCREDIBLE

INVESTMENT AND THE FUTURE OF SNURKT SEMICONDUCTORS WHICH I THINK AS YOU KNOW, IS REALLY INTEGRAL TO THE FUTURE OF OUR ECONOMY, OF ALL ECONOMIES REALLY. THE PROJECT SPECIFICALLY THOUGH LEVERAGES $9 BILLION IN PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENTS SO OUR $1 BILLION WILL BE MET WITH $9 BILLION DIRECT COMMITMENTS BY THE PARTNERS. >> THAT WAS PARTNERS HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED CONTRACTUALLY FOR THIS MONEY? >> YEAH, THEY-- WE ARE STILL FINALIZING CONTRACTS BUT WE HAVE TERMS THAT WE WILL USE WITH ALL OF THEM WHERE THEY

COMMEND TO THEIR SPEND TO LISTEN-- COMMIT TO THEIR SPEND TO LEVERAGE MUCH AND THERE IS THE CHIPS ACT INCLUDING THE NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY CENTER WHICH IS ALMOST $12 BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE EXPECT TO SEE A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THAT GET INVESTED HERE AND THE TOOL REALLY POSITIONS US IN A WAY THAT NO OTHER STATE OR ORGANIZATION IN THE NATION, IF NOT THE WORLD. >> PLAY THAT OUT. IF THE $9 BILLION COMES IN, HOW DOES IT RIPPLE OUT INTO THE GREATER ECONOMY? SO WITH THIS INDUSTR

Y, WE SEE ROUGHLY $16 OF LEVERAGE SPEND AGAINST EACH DOLLAR SPENT IN THE INDUSTRY. SO TOOLS ARE PURCHASED, PEOPLE COME AND WORK IN THESE COMMUNITIES, BUY HOMES IN THESE COMMUNITIES. THERE WILL BE TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS DIRECT AND INDIRECT INVESTMENT AS A RESULT OF THIS $1 BILLION OF STATE INVESTMENT. >> YOU MENTION PEOPLE. DOES THAT MEAN THERE ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE WORKING JOBS? >> YEAH, SO DIRECTLY THERE ARE 700 JOBS COMMITTED BY THE PARTNERS. AND, AGAIN, THE MULTIPLIERS ASSOCIATED WITH T

HIS INDUSTRY ROUGHLY FIVE JOBS INDIRECT FOR EACH DIRECT JOB. A VERY HIGH MULTIPLIER. WE EXPECT WITH-- AND REALLY THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING. THE NSDC WILL BRING HUNDREDS OF JOBS AS WELL. >> WITH THE 700 JOBS, WHEN DO YOU THINK WE WILL GET THOSE AND DO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY PAY? >> THOSE WILL BE LARGELY REALIZED OVER THE FIRST THREE OR FOUR YEARS AND MAINTAINED FOR THE DURATION AND THEY PAY VERY WELL. I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS BUT THESE ARE LARGELY Ph.D. RESEARCHERS. VERY HIGHLY PAID. >> AND

WILL YOU REPORT OUT THE NUMBER OF JOBS THAT OCCUR BASED ON THE STATE INVESTMENT? >> YES. >> EXCELLENT. AND THEN WHAT ABOUT THE A.I. CONSORTIUM? IS THAT BENCH RESEARCH? COMMERCIALIZATION? WHAT ARE WE DOING THERE? >> SO WE HAVE CONVENED SEVEN PARTNERS TO BE INVOLVED IN THEM PIRE A.I. CONSORTIUM. THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID THAT WHOEVER DOMINATES THE A.I. INDUSTRY WILL DOMINATE THE NEXT ERA OF HUMAN HISTORY AND RIGHT NOW PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES ARE DOMINATING RND & I AND THIS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY F

OR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS TO BE INVOLVED IN CUTTING EDGE A.I.R & D. >> WHAT DO THEY DO. THIS IS JUST PURE BENCH RESEARCH? ARE WE TRYING TO COMMERCIALIZE THIS, PATENTS COME OUT OF THIS? WHAT IS THE END GAME? >> WE ARE FOCUSED ON ETHICAL OUTPUT-FOR-A.I. AS I SAID, PRIVATE SECTOR FIRMS DO HAVE THESE SUPER COMPUTERS INVOLVED IN R & D RIGHT NOW, PUBLIC SECTOR INTEREST DOES NOT AND WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE A PUBLIC UTILITY TO BE ABLE TO INFLUENCE PRODUCTIVE USES OF A.I. >> OKAY. HAPPY TO CONTI

NUE TO OBSERVE THAT AS IT UNFOALZ. -- AS IT UNFOLDS. THE NEW YORK REDEVELOPMENT OF UNDER UTILIZED SITE FOR HOUSING WHICH SMELLS NEW YORK RUSH. I NOTICE THAT MOST OF YOUR PROGRAMS ACTUALLY SPELL A WORD. I THINK THAT'S REMARKABLE. YOU PROBABLY HAVE PEOPLE ON STAFF WHO ARE GRAMMARIANS. SO HOUSING, ON STATE-OWNED FACILITIES, HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK AND ARE YOU FOLK IS-- ARE YOU FOLKS GOING TO BE DOING HOUSING PROGRAM? ARE YOU GOING TO STOP DOING DIGITAL STUFF AND START FRAMING HOUSES? WHAT IS HAPP

ENING? >> NEW YORK RUSH IS TO SUPPORT THE INCREASE IN HOUSING SUPPLY. >> OKAY. >> AND SO MANY OF OUR UNDERUTILIZED UNUSED STATE SITES NEED TREMENDOUS INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT. AND WE IMAGINE THAT THIS FUNDING WOULD PROVIDE THE SUPPORT TO DEAL WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE. >> SO YOU HAVE A 10-ACRE SITE IN STONY BROOK. IS THE STATE GOING TO COME IN AND BE THE SUBDIVISION DEVELOPER LAY STREETS, PUTTING CURBS AND SEWERS? >> IT DEPENDS ON EACH SITE. YOU KNOW, I CAN GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE IN EASTERN QUEENS, CRE

EDMOOR, A STATE OWNED SITE, WILL NEED STREETS, WILL NEED UTILITIES UPGRADES. I CAN IMAGINE A SITED LIKE THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS FUNDING FROM THE NEW YORK RUSH PROGRAM. >> DO YOU PLAN ON KEEPING THAT MONEY OR IS THAT GOING TO GET PUSHED OUT TO HCR OR ANOTHER AGENCY? >> THIS FUNDING WILL BE SHARED ACROSS A NUMBER OF AGENCIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN REDEVELOPING STATE-OWNED LAND. >> SO WHEN THAT MONEY GOES OUT, IT ALWAYS BECOMES A CHALLENGE ABOUT WHO REPORTS ON THAT MONEY AND WHAT ARE THE OUTCOME

S OF THE MONEY. SO WHEN THE MONEY LEAVES AND GOES SOMEWHERES ELSE, ESD SAYS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AND HCR SENDS IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. WE JUST ASK TO YOU KEEP IN MIND THAT WE REALLY ARE LOOKING FOR TRANSPARENCY. BUT ALSO WE OUGHT TO GO BACK TO OUR TAXPAYERS AND SAY THIS IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM. IT YIELDED BENEFITS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. BUT OFTEN IT'S REALLY HARD TO FIGURE THAT OUT, ESPECIALLY AS THE MONEY GOES FROM AGENCY TO AGENCY. >> WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE TRACK THE FUNDING. >> EXCELLENT. ALWAY

S A CHALLENGE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT TESTIFIER IS FROM THE ASSEMBLY. >> THANK YOU, SENATOR. I THINK ASSEMBLYMEMBER STIRPE OR CHAIR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS A QUESTION. YOU HAVE 10 MINUTES. >> THANK YOU. LET'S STAY ON THE RUSH PROGRAM. HOW MANY ADDITIONAL HOUSING UNITS, YOU KNOW, CAN REALLY BE EXPECTED FROM THIS PROGRAM? ANY IDEA? >> SO HARD TO SAY RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR IS CALLING FOR 15,000 UNITS OF HOUSING ACROSS THESE STATE-OWNED SITES THAT WE HAV

E IDENTIFIED. >> ARE THERE ANY REGIONS IN THE STATE WITH PARTICULARLY HIGH AMOUNTS OF UNDERUTILIZED STATE PROPERTY? >> I THINK IT'S ALL ACROSS THE STATE. >> WELL, WOULD THIS PROGRAM PRIORITIZE THE CREATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING? >> WELL, WE ALWAYS WANT TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN IT'S POSSIBLE. SO WE WOULD WORK WITH HCR TO DO THAT. >> I'LL GO BACK TO MY NORMAL COMPLAINT EVERY YEAR, CENTER OF EXCELLENCE. AND AS WE RECOGNIZE THAT THEIR RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN THOSE PROGRAMS IS VERY HIGH, PRO

BABLY HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER PROGRAM WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, 24-1. WHY IS IT EVERY YEAR WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS DANCE WHERE YOU DON'T JUST MAINTAIN WHAT-- LAST YEAR YOU ACTUALLY CUT BACK ALL THE LEGISLATIVE ADS AND THEN WE HAVE TO FIGHT TO GET THAT BACK TO GROUND ZERO. WHY HAVEN'T WE EVER ATTEMPTED TO ACTUALLY INCREASE THE FUNDING BECAUSE I KNOW IF I WERE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND I HAD SOMETHING THAT WAS WILDLY SUCCESSFUL, I PROBABLY WOULD INCREASE THE FUNDING IN THAT AREA, DOUBLE IT OR TRIPLE IT

SINCE THESE AMOUNTS ARE SO SMALL ACTUALLY COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE BUDGET. SO WHAT IS THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND DOING THIS EVERY YEAR? >> WELL, I THINK THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. WE ARE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THE OUTPUT THAT COMES FROM THOSE CENTERS CENTERS FOR OTHER AREAS OF INNOVATION IN OUR ECONOMY. BUT WE HAVE PROVIDED FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE THE RIGHT LEVEL OF FUNDING. WE DID NOT CUT THE BUDGET FROM LAST YEAR, AS YOU SAID. WE HAVE JUST INTRODUCED THE SAME AMOUNT THAT WE PROPOS

ED IN THE LAST BUDGET. >> OKAY. YOU KNOW THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, THERE IS 45 MILLION IN THERE FOR DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS OPEN FOR BUSINESS PROGRAM, GLOBAL NEW YORK, THOSE PROGRAMS. I MEAN HOW MUCH MONEY WAS SPENT ON EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS LAST YEAR? ANY IDEA? >> VIRTUALLY ALL OF IT, BUT I WILL COME BACK TO YOU WE CANS ACT NUMBERS-- WE CANS ACT NUMBERS. WITH EXACT NUMBERS. >> DO YOU THINK THE FUNDING IS ENOUGH TO REALIZE THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM? >> WE THINK IT'S SUFFICIENT TO REALLIES THE

GOALS OF THE PROGRAM. >> ALL RIGHT. LET'S TALK ABOUT FAST NEW YORK. HAS THE ENTIRE FIRST ROUND OF FUNDING BEEN DISBURSED ALREADY. >> ALMOST ALL OF THE FIRST ROUND OF FUNDING HAS BEEN SPENT $249 MILLION OF IT. >> HOW MANY SITES WERE FUNDED? >> I HAVE TO COME BACK WITH THE NUMBER OF SITES. >> ANY IDEA HOW SUCCESSFUL THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN ATTRACTING LARGE EMPLOYERS TO THE STATE? >> IT'S BEEN VERY IMPORTANT IN ATTRACTING LARGE PROJECTS TO THE STATE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS. WE HAVE A PROJECT

IN WEBSTER NEW YORK, THE FAIR LIFE PROJECT, WHICH IS GOING TO INVEST $650 MILLION TO CREATE A PLANT THERE. WE HAVE-- WE CONTINUE WORK ON OUR LARGE SITES LIKE STAMP. >> OKAY. GOOD. LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ON-RAMP PROGRAM. SO THERE IS $200 MILLION IN THE BUDGET FOR THAT. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I GET ASKED IN MY CONFERENCE IS IS THIS $200 MILLION GOING TO BE SPENT TO BUILD NEW CENTERS? WHY AREN'T WE UTILIZING COMMUNITY COLLEGES THAT ALREADY RUN A LOT OF THESE TYPES OF WORKFORCE TRAINING PR

OGRAMS? >> SO THE ON-RAMP PROGRAM IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ADVANCING THE PIPELINE OF WORKERS FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING. AND SYRACUSE WILL BE THE FLAGSHIP CENTER WHERE A FACILITY WILL HAVE TO BE BUILT. BUT WE ENVISION THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS FUNDING BECAUSE THEY'RE A CRITICAL PART OF PROVIDING THE TRAINING FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING. >> HOW ARE WE DOING, YOU KNOW, WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. I MEAN WHAT ARE THE RESULTS IN AREAS

LIKE NURSING, NEW TEACHERS WHERE WE HAVE HAD A TEACHER SHORTAGE AND ALL OF THAT? I MEAN ARE WE MAKING A LOT OF PROGRESS? IS IT TOO EARLY TO TELL OR WHAT? >> SO, WITH RESPECT TO AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE INNOVATION SECTORS, I WOULD HAVE TO CONNECT WITH MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE INVOLVED IN FUNDING TRAINING FOR NURSES AND TEACHERS, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ESD IS INVOLVED IN. >> NOW WE ADDED A PROGRAM LAST YEAR WHERE WE SORT OF PIGGY BACKED ON THE BACK OF A COUPLE OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS. THE SBIR PR

OGRAM AND THE STTR PROGRAM AND OUR THOUGHTS WERE, YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS GONE THROUGH ALL THE DUE DILIGENCE ON THESE COMPANIES AND FELT THAT THE TECHNOLOGIES THEY'RE TRYING TO DEVELOP ARE REALLY WORTHWHILE. BUT WE INTO YOU THAT, ALONG THE WAY, A LOT OF TIMES THESE COMPANIES SORT OF FALL INTO THE VALLEY OF DEATH AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH FUNDING THERE. SO WE THOUGHT FOR THOSE PARTICULAR COMPANIES, WE WOULD PROVIDE STATE FUNDING. HAVE WE GOT ANY RESULTS FROM THAT? DO WE

KNOW HOW MANY COMPANIES WE HAVE HELPED? >> SO, WE ARE LAUNCHING THIS PROGRAM JUST THIS QUARTER. AND WE WILL BE PROVIDING MATCHING GRANTS FOR BUSINESSES THAT HAVE GOTTEN FEDERAL FUNDING. AND WE HAVE CRAFTED THE GUIDELINES TO FOCUS ON COMPANIES THAT ARE LOOKING AT SUSTAINABLE AND THE GREEN ECONOMY AS WELL AS DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. SO WE CAN COME BACK TO YOU ONCE WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT ROUND TO GIVE YOU SOME UPDATES. >> LETH TALK ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION INITIATIVES, THE DRI AND NE

W YORK FORWARD PROGRAM. HAS ALL THE MONEY FROM LAST YEAR , HOWEVER MANY YEARS WE HAVE HAD THE PROGRAM, BEEN PUT OUT ALREADY? >> THERE IS SOME FUNDING WAITING TO BE DRAWN DOWN FOR PROJECTS THAT HAVE NOT ADVANCED YET. BUT I CAN COME BACK TO YOU WITH THAT INFORMATION. >> THE INNOVATION VENTURE COMPETITION IN 22-23, WE ALLOCATED $75 MILLION TO BE DISBURSED OVER FIVE YEARS. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE STATUS OF THIS FUNDING IS? >> WE HAVE BEEN IN DIALOGUE WITH SEVEN COMPETITIONS THAT EXIST IN THE STATE AND

HAVE BEEN CREATING NEW AGREEMENTS FOR A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT SO THAT THOSE COMPETITIONS CAN CONTINUE TO EXIST. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT KIND OF RETURN ON INVESTMENT WE HAVE HAD FROM ANY OF THESE? >> WE DO HAVE REPORTING ON THAT AND I CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION. >> CONNECT ALL INITIATIVE, WE PROVIDED $1.45 BILLION IN 22-23, AND JUST WONDERING HOW MUCH OF THIS FUNDING HAS BEEN SPENT. >> WITH RESPECT TO THE CONNECT ALL INITIATIVE, MOST OF THE FUNDING THAT YOU REFERENCE ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS I

S FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND WE HAVE LARGELY NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRAW DOWN ON THAT FUNDING. WE ARE IN DIALOGUE AND WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE THE PLANNING DOCUMENTS THAT GIVE US THE ABILITY TO DRAW DOWN THE FUNDING. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DRAW DOWN THAT FUNDING IN 25. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT QUESTIONER IS SENATOR SERRANO, CHAIR OF THE ARTS AND TOURISM COMMITTEE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR, SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER, ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE AN

D THE ASSEMBLY. MY PARTNER IN THE ASSEMBLY, ASSEMBLYMEMBER DANNY O'DONNELL, APPRECIATE ALL THE TESTIMONY HERE TODAY. MY STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS WILL FOCUS ON ON THE ARTS AT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY: I ENJOYED LISTENING TO YOUR REMARKS. ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARTS AND FURTHER DIVERSIFYING HOW WE FUND THE ARTS AND REACHING EVERY CORNER OF NEW YORK STATE. I ENJOYED OUR CONVERSATION THE OTHER DAY WHERE WE-- AND LISTENING TO YOUR IMPRESSIVE BACKGROUND MANY YEARS

IN THE ARTS AND THE AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE THAT YOU BRING TO THIS ROLE. I HAVE MENTIONED MANY TIMES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARTS AS SOMETHING THAT IS FOUNDATIONAL, I BELIEVE, TO OUR STATE GOVERNMENT AND IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, I THINK NOW MORE THAN EVER, THAT WE SUPPORT THE ARTS IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE IS ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT FUNDING FOR GRANTS OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COVID YEARS WHERE THERE WAS ADDITIONAL FEDERAL DOLLAR

S WHICH GAVE US A BUMP UP, WHICH WAS WONDERFUL. BUT YOU KNOW, SORT OF REMAINING AROUND 40 TO $42 MILLION FOR GRANTS EVERY SINGLE YEAR FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. DESPITE THE FACT THAT COSTS HAVE INCREASED, OPERATING HAS INCREASED, AND IT JUST MAKES IT HARDER AND HARDER, I THINK, TO REALLY SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS IN WAYS THAT ALLOW THEM TO PLAN, TO GROW, TO THINK ABOUT THEIR NEXT SEASON. BUT AGAIN, NYSCA HAS DONE A GOOD JOB IN TRYING TO REACH ALL CORNERS AND FIND NEW INNOVATIVE WAYS YEAR AFTER YEAR

TO GET FUNDING TO THESE GROUPS. IN THIS YIESH'S-- IN THIS YEAR'S NEW BUDGET, I SEE-- PROPERTY POSED EXECUTIVE BUDGET, ADDITIONAL CAPITAL FUNDS, WHICH I THINK IS OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT FOR ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT NEED TO BUILD THEIR SPACE, MODERNIZE THEIR SPACE, BE ABLE TO BRING IN MORE PATRONS FOR THE ARTS. AND I THINK THAT IS A WONDERFUL STEP AND I THINK IT'S INDICATIVE OF THE REAL UNDERSTANDING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE ARTS PROVIDE SO MUCH TO OUR STATE, SO MUCH TO OUR ECONOMY. THEY'RE A PR

OVEN ECONOMIC ENGINE. THEY'RE THAN INVESTMENT IN THE ARTS PROVIDES A HUGE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR OUR ECONOMY. WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY DIFFERENT EXAMPLES OF ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION IN TOWNS AND COMMUNITIES THAT WERE ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED, BUT THE PARTS, PROVIDING AN ANCHOR AND FOUNDATION TO BUILD UPON ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR MANY, MANY DIFFERENT SECTORS. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE-- AND ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE ARTS OVER THE YEARS. BUT THEN WE SORT

OF MAKE THE CASE THAT, IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE SOCIETAL BENEFITS THAT THE ARTS BRINGS, HOW IT IS TRANSFORMATIONAL IN OUR LIVES, PROVIDES A VEHICLE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, FOR DISCUSSIONS ON EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY AND IT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER IN WAYS THAT VERY FEW OTHER THINGS CAN DO THAT. OFTEN TIMES WE FIND OURSELVES STRATIFIED, PUSHED INTO OUR RESPECTIVE CORNERS, BUT THE ARTS BRING US TOGETHER, EVEN ON THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES. WITH ALL THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL FUNDING ALLOWS FOR THIS

WONDERFUL THING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. SO, AGAIN, VERY HAPPY TO SEE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THAT OPERATING GRANT FUNDING HAS INCREASED. THIS YEAR THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET HAS GONE BACK DOWN TO PRE-PANDEMIC-- AND MY QUESTION, MY CONCERN IS WITH THIS REDUCTION, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES NYSCA PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS REDUCED FUNDING CAPABILITY IN PLANNING, IN HELPING TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF THESE GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS CAN PLAN FOR THEIR NEXT SEASON. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, SENATOR, FOR YOUR WELCO

ME AND FOR FEELING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARTS AS SO MANY OF US DO. I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE WILL BE AS STRATEGIC AND AS EFFICIENT AS WE CAN AND REACH AS MANY ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND REGRANTING ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, WHATEVER BUDGET IS ENACTED HERE. I DO THINK WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF OUR IMPACT IS THE REGRANTS WHICH ALLOW OUR SPREAD, YOU KNOW, OUR IMPACT TO DOUBLE AND TRIPLE, BUT ALSO I THINK WHEN WE DO INVEST IN THINGS LIKE PUBLIC ART, OR WE DO INVEST IN THINGS W

HERE WE HAVE ARTISTS EMBEDDED IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS AND WHEN WE DO CHAMPION ARTISTS AS THOUGHT LEADERS, PROBLEM SOLVERS AND CONVENE WITH THEM, BOTH AS AN INDUSTRY TO HELP SOLVE ISSUES IN THE INDUSTRY, BUT ALSO TO, AS YOU ALLUDED TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW THE ARTS AND, SAY CRIMINAL JUSTICE OR TECHNOLOGY AND A.I., YOU KNOW, CAN WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND IN TURN, GIVE BACK ECONOMICALLY BUT ALSO TRANSFORM US INDIVIDUALLY OR AS A COMMUNITY. SO I THINK IT'S REALLY A TI

ME WHERE NYSCA CAN REALLY BE A LEADER IN THE FIELD. 1 BECAUSE WE NEED HOPE AND UNDERSTANDING AND EMPATHY. THAT'S THE SOFT POWER OF THE ARTS. BUT I ALSO THINK LEADERSHIP, IN TERMS OF OUR STATE PROFILE, OUR NATIONAL PROFILE AND OUR GLOBAL PROFILE, WE HAVE THE STANDING AND THE FOUNDATION TO DO THAT. WE REPRESENT RURAL COMMUNITIES, MID SIZED CITIES, A GLOBAL CITY WITH, YOU KNOW, CREDIBLY DIVERSE CULTURALLY WHICH PUTS OUT ARTWORK AND ALL SORTS OF INNOVATIVE FIRST-TIME GROUNDBREAKING WORK NO MATTER WH

ERE YOU LIVE IN THE STATE, THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO CAMPAIGN FOR, ACHIEVE, YOU KNOW, ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR ACHIEVEMENT. AND SPEAK THEIR NAMES, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT STATE AND THROUGHOUT THE THE NATION. WHAT WE DO HERE CAN BE A MODEL. RIGHT NOW THERE IS A CONSCIENCE BEING HELD IN-- A CONFERENCE BEING HELD IN D.C. WITH OTHER FUNDERS ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE. WE NEED TO BE PART OF THOSE BIGGERS CONVERSATIONS AND I THINK GIVEN THE CORE PROGRAMS THAT WE DO HAVE, AS WELL AS OUR NEW INITIATIVES, WE CAN DO

IT. >> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND AGAIN I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME I. FOE WE HAVE A LOT-- I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT TO DO HERE TODAY. AGAIN, THE FUNDING THAT WE DID LAND LAST YEAR, MY HOPE WAS THAT THAT WOULD BE THE NEW FLOOR AND THAT WE KEEP BUILDING FROM THERE. BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN FUNDING-- FUNDING HAS BEEN PRETTY STAGNANT FOR SO MANY YEARS. BUT AGAIN IT'S GREAT TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS AND YOUR EXCITEMENT FOR THIS LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND WITH THE GOVERNOR AND WITH A

LL OF MY COLLEAGUES. AND WITH THAT, I'LL YIELD BACK ANY REMAINING TIME, MADAM CHAIR, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SENATOR SERRANO. ASSEMBLYMEMBER. >> NEXT ON OUR LIST IS ASSEMBLYMEMBER STEVE OTIS, CHAIR OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGIES. >> THANK YOU, Mr. CHAIR. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. I THINK I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH HOPE KNIGHT AND EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT. ON EMPIRE A.I., I THINK THERE IS AN INTEREST ON EVERYONE IN THE LEGISLATURE TO GET A LITTLE MORE -- GET MORE SPECIFICS IN TERMS OF WHAT THIS IS

GOING TO LOOK LIKE. WE UNDERSTAND IT'S A COLLABORATION BETWEEN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITY IN THE STATE. I THINK THAT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS ARE WE GOING TO BE RELYING AT ALL AND MAYBE THE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE ALREADY DONE THIS, ON SOME OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR PLAYERS THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE A.I. BUSINESS OR ARE WE STARTING FROM SCRATCH IN TERMS OF THE CONSORTIUM AND THIS MAY BE A TOPIC FOR FURTHER DISCUSSIONS POST THIS HEARING, BUT I THINK THERE IS A DESIRE TO GET A PICTURE OF WHAT THIS LO

OKS LIKE. >> SO THIS INITIATIVE IS VERY IMPORTANT, AS I MENTIONED, TO THE EVOLUTION OF A.I. THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE CONVENED FOR THIS INITIATIVE ARE ALREADY DOING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN A.I. THEY DON'T HAVE THIS KIND OF EQUIPMENT THAT WE SEEK TO PURCHASE, BUT WE WILL USE AND LEVERAGE THEIR EXPERTISE SKILLS TO DEVELOP A FRAMEWORK AROUND WHAT WE FOCUS ON GOING FORWARD. THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE EARLY IN THIS PROCESS. THERE IS MUCH TO BE DETERMINED AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WI

TH YOU AND THE LEGISLATURE AROUND THE PROGRESS. >> MY SENSE IS THAT WE HAVE HAD GREAT SUCCESS IN THE SEMICONDUCTOR WORLD, MICRON, I.B.M., OTHER INITIATIVES HAVE BEEN A SUCCESS SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE TRYING TO MODEL THAT SUCCESS AND GROW THIS INTO THE A.I. WORLD. IS THAT A GOOD ASIGNALING. >> I THINK IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF A.I. AND HOW DOES IT HELP THE PUBLIC PURPOSE AND INTEREST. AND WE TALK ABOUT ETHICAL A.I. SOMETIMES THERE IS NO MENTIO

N OF IT AT ALL. THAT'S GOOD THAT IT IS PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS WE HEARD THAT FROM THE GOVERNOR IN OTHER STATE OF THE STATE MESSAGE. LET ME MOVE TO ANOTHER TOPIC, WHICH IS CONNECT ALL. AND YOU SPOKE ABOUT WE ARE WAITING FOR SOME FEDERAL MONEY, BUT SOME MONEY IS FLOWING NOW. THE CONNECT ALL OFFICE RELEASED AN RFP FOR BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE JUST A WEEK AGO. AND THAT'S A POSITIVE STEP. THE PIECE THAT A LOT OF FOLKS THAT I WORK WITH AROUND THE STATE IN THE DIGITAL EQUITY DIGITAL INCLUSION SPACE ARE

WONDERING WHEN THE MONEY IS GOING TO START TO FLOW TO HELP FUND THOSE LOCAL PROGRAMS THAT DEAL WITH THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. AND SOME OF THIS IS WRAPPED UP IN THE FEDERAL FUNDING. WE ARE FOLLOWING THAT PROCESS CLOSELY. BUT IF COULD YOU SHARE ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT THE INTENTIONS ARE OF THE CONNECT ALL OFFICE. THEIR PLAN HAS BEEN RELEASED AND SUBMITTED TO THE FEDS AND SPEAKS ABOUT THE WORKFORCE PROGRAMS, THE LOCAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, BUT THERE DOESN'T SEAL TO BE A ROAD MAP OF WHAT THE PLAN IS TO GET MON

EY TO THOSE GROUPS SO THEY CAN REALLY DELIVER DIGITAL INCLUSION PROGRAMS. >> SO, AS YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST YEAR, THE CONNECT ALL OFFICE HAS BEEN ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS ALL ACROSS THE STATE REGARDING INPUT INTO THE DIGITAL EQUITY PROGRAM. AND WE HAVE ALLOCATED $10 MILLION OF STATE FUNDING TOWARDS SOME DIGITAL EQUITY ACTIVITIES AND WILL BE PROVIDING THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING AS SOON AS WE GET THAT RELEASED FROM THE STATE. SO WE DO-- FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE DO HAVE SOME PROGRAMS THAT

ARE FOCUSED ON HOW DO WE CREATE MORE DIGITAL LITERACY, ACCESS TO DEVICES FROM A DIGITAL EQUITY PERSPECTIVE BUT ARE WAITING, AS YOU SAY, MORE FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ROLL OUT THE ENTIRE PROGRAM. >> SO THAT SOUNDS GREAT AND IT'S PROBABLY THE MONEY THAT WAS IN THE 2021 STATE BUDGET. >> YES. >> AND SO IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE CAN-- THAT'S OLD FEDERAL MONEY THAT WE HAVE. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD GET THAT MONEY MOVING EARLIER THAN THE NEW FEDERAL MONEY THAT'S COMING. THAT MONEY WOUL

D GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS GETTING THOSE PROGRAMS ON THE GROUND AND THE PRACTITIONERS ARE OUT THERE VERY EAGER TO PUT PEOPLE IN THE SEATS, GIVE THEM COMPUTERS, GIVE THEM THE TRAINING AND SO THAT'S GREAT. MY THIRD TOPIC IS BACK TO MICROCHIPS AND THE GREAT STRIDES NEW YORK HAS MADE ALREADY. ARE THERE OTHER-- IS THERE OTHER GROWTH IN THE AREA THAT IS FORECAST BEYOND THE AGREEMENTS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE FOR ADDITIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING? NEW YORK? >> SO WE CONTINUE TO TALK TO COMPANIES WHO ARE

INTERESTED IN LOCATING NEW YORK REGARDING SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTION. WE EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF SUPPLY CHAIN COMPANIES THAT WILL FOLLOW ON AS MICRON GETS UP AND GOING INTO PRODUCTION SO THAT IS THE EXPECTATION THAT WE HAVE. >> THAT IS GREAT. COMMISSIONER MOY, A QUESTION FOR YOU ABOUT OGS AND EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH YOU TALKED ABOUT SOMEWHAT IN YOUR TESTIMONY, VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF OGS'S ROLE IN STATE FACILITIES. WONDERING, ARE ANY OF THE EV CHARGING INFRAST

RUCTURE THAT YOU ARE DOING FOR STATE AGENCIES, IS ANY OF THAT PUBLIC FACING OR IS IT REALLY MORE FOR STATE AGENCY FLEETS? >> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. OUR PRIORITY RIGHT NOW IS ENSURING THAT WE HAVE ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CAN BE USED BY THE STATE FLEET. CERTAINLY VISITORS AND EMPLOYEES HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT TECHNOLOGY. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SOME YOU ARE THAT WE ARE PRIORITIZING THE INSTALLATIONS AND LOCATIONS WHERE WE KNOW THE GREATEST NUMBER OF STATE VEHICLES ARE GOING T

O BE LEVERAGING AT. THAT IS OGS'S PARTICULAR ROLE. THERE ARE OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE ALSO FOCUSED ON EV STRUCTURE RELATIVE TO THE PUBLIC. WHEREVER POSSIBLE AND PERMISSIBLE, SO LONG AS IT DOESN'T IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO MAKE SURE THE FLEET FUNCTIONS WE WOULD LOVE TO MAKE SURE OTHERS HAVE ACCESS TO IT BUT THE TOP PRIORITY IS THE FLEET. >> THAT'S GREAT. I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING WITH NYSERDA ON THAT AS WELL AND IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEAR FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS IS THE NEED FOR EX

PERTISE IN HOW TO GROW THAT. AND I THINK BOTH NYSERDA AND OGS, THERE IS A WAY FOR YOU TO PROVIDE SOME OF YOUR LEARNED EXPERTISE TO SAVE THE LOCAL ENTITIES AS THEY TRY AND MAKE THE TRANSITION AS WELL. SO APPRECIATE YOUR HELP ON THAT AND CERTAINLY EXCITING SPACE TO BE IN. OGS IS MOVING IN A LOT OF AREAS THAT YOU DISCUSSED VERY WELL IN YOUR TESTIMONY IN TERMS OF THE ENERGY TRANSITION. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK AND I AM GOING TO YIELD BACK THE REST OF MY TIME, Mr. CHAIR. THANK YOU. BOTH. >> TH

ANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE YIELDING THE EXTRA TIME. NO ONE ELSE GETS TO CLAIM IT, JUST FOR THE RECORD. SENATOR GONZALES, THE CHAIR OF TECHNOLOGY AND INTERNET-- INTERNET AND TECHNOLOGY, CHAIR. I THINK SHE IS GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE-- SHE HAS ONE? THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, FOLKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIRWOMAN AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR JOINING THE PANEL THIS MORNING. IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY INFORMATIVE AND APPRECIATE THE DEEP THOUGHT AND RESPONSES TO YOUR QUESTIONS. COMMISSIONER, I

APOLOGIZE FOR KEEPING YOU IN THE HOT SEAT BUT A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS ARE, OF COURSE, DIRECTED TOWARDS YOU BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF YOUR WORK WITH EMPIRE A.I. AND THE WORK THAT THIS COMMITTEE IS DOING. SO, YOU KNOW, I SAW THAT YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, EMPIRE A.I. IN YOUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY. YOU MENTIONED THE $275 MILLION PUBLIC DOLLAR INVESTMENT. YOU ALSO MENTIONED $125 MILLION COMING FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR. BUT, OF COURSE, CONSIDERING THE INVESTMENT OF OUR PUBLIC DOLLARS AND THE SCALE OF THIS, WH

EN WE TALK ABOUT ETHICAL USE OF A.I. OR THE USING THIS INVESTMENT FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD, YOU KNOW, WHILE I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE ADDED SOME CLARITY HERE, I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT EXACTLY THAT MEANS OR WHAT YOU IMAGINE THE OUTPUTS BEING SO THAT WE CAN GET-- WE CAN GO TO NEW YORKERS AND SAY THIS IS THE OUTCOME WE ARE INVESTING IN AND I WOULD LOVE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW-- YOU MENTIONED THERE WOULD BE FRAMEWORK PUT TOGETHER. WHO WILL BE A PART OF CREATING THAT FRAMEWORK? WHO ARE THE STAK

EHOLDERS AND THEN HOW WELL YOU ENSURE THAT YOU ARE FOLLOWING THAT FRAMEWORK SO WHATEVER IS BEING DEVELOPED IS BEING DONE SO IN AN ETHICAL WAY AND WHATEVER IS DEPLOYED IS ALSO BEING DEPLOYED IN AN ETHICAL WAY. >> SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE THESE SEVEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS CONSORTIUM. THOSE ARE THE ENTITIES THAT WILL HELP STAND UP THIS FRAMEWORK THAT WE WILL 3406 FORWARD IN LOOKING AT HOW WE CREATE ETHICAL AP

PLICATIONS TO A.I. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ETHICAL APPLICATIONS, IT'S REALLY ABOUT HOW ARE THESE APPLICATIONS BENEFITING THE PUBLIC GOOD, THE PUBLIC INTEREST. YOU KNOW, IT'S DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THOSE THINGS MAY BE SPECIFICALLY, BECAUSE A LOT OF THIS WORK IS HAPPENING AS WE SPEAK. A LOT OF A.I. INNOVATION IS HAPPENING ON A DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY BASIS. AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY. BUT WE KNOW THAT THESE APPLICATIONS WILL BE A PART OF OUR DAILY LIFE. AND WE WANT TO

MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS PROTECTED AND THERE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS AN INTEREST IN DEVELOPING THIS RESEARCH FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD. >> GOT IT. RIGHT. AND WOULD I AGREE THAT IT'S SOMETIMES HARD TO BE VERY SPECIFIC. BUT KNOWING WHAT THE SPECIFIC USE CASES THAT WE ARE DRIVING TOWARDS ARE IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WHEN TALKING ABOUT NEW TECHNOLOGIES LIKE GENERATIVE A.I. BECAUSE THEY CAN MEAN SO MANY THINGS AND, YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK, WE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH, YOU KNOW, DREW FROM C.I.O. OF THE STATE A

ND HE MENTIONED THAT GENERATIVE A.I. RIGHT NOW IS AN IMPERFECT SYSTEM, A SYSTEM THAT INCORPORATES A LOT OF BIAS. WHILE WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF INVESTING AND INVESTIGATING, YOU KNOW, HOW WE CAN MITIGATE THAT BIAS AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC. IF IT MEANS DEPLOYING NEW TOOLS THAT ARE PUBLIC SECTOR FUNDED OR THAT WE WILL ALSO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR AS A STATE GOVERNMENT, WITHOUT A REAL SOLUTION THERE, IT'S ACTUALLY COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS FOR THE STATE TO BEGIN DEPLOYING THOSE GENERATIVE A.I. BASED TOOLS OR FO

R US TO, YOU KNOW, DEFINE WHAT IT MEANS IF IT IS INHERENTLY IMPERFECT. I HAVE CONCERNS THERE. I'M ALSO AWARE THAT THE FEDERAL, NATIONAL A.I. RESOURCE PROGRAM WAS RECENTLY CREATED. IT TOOK FOURS YEARS-- FOUR YEARS OF PLANNING $2.6 BILLION INVESTMENT, SIX TIMES THE INVESTMENT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE AND NOTABLY IT WILL HAPPEN IN THE CLOUD, BIG TECH STANDS TO PROFIT FROM THE PROGRAM BUT THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FEDERAL PROGRAM, WHICH MIRRORS WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH EMPIRE A.I. IS THAT

ASIDE FROM FUNDING AND PLANNING THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS, WHICH I DON'T REALLY SEE HAPPENING HERE WITH EMPIRE A.I. OR BEING AT THAT POINT YET, THAT THERE ARE CLEAR PARTIES OF ETHICS AND THEY HAVE AN ETHICS ADVISORY BOARD TO PUSH USERS TOWARDS RESPONSIBLE USES. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US IF WE ARE GOING TO MIRROR A PROGRAM LIKE THAT, DO THAT AND ALSO PERHAPS INSTEAD OF DUPLICATING EFFORTS, WORK WITH THE FEDERAL PROGRAM BECAUSE IN ORDER TO CREATE A TOOL OF THAT SCALE WE NEED MORE THAN SEVEN PARTNERS, R

IGHTED? WE WILL NEED A LARGER BASE OF UNIVERSITIES, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CHT SO I WANTED TO CALL THAT OUT AS WELL. BUT SPEAKING OF THOSE UNIVERSITIES, YOU TALKED ABOUT PIPELINE BUILDING AND MONIES GOING TO OUR SPECIFIC PARTNERS. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THAT BREAKDOWN IS GOING TO BE DETERMINED? IN THE CURRENT SET OF PARTNERS, HOW MUCH IS GOING TO EACH UNIVERSITY AND THEN HOW YOU ARE LOOKING AT BUILDING A PIPELINE... >> WITH RESPECT TO THE FUNDING, WE ARE LOOKING AT $250 MILLION COMING FROM THE

STATE AND $125 MILLION COMING FROM THE PARTNERS. SO THE ALLOCATION OF THE FUNDING WILL BE TOWARDS THE MACHINE AND EQUIPMENT. AND THERE WILL BE SOME SORT OF ACCESS AGREEMENT AS PART OF THE FRAMEWORK. >> GOT IT. >> IT'S MORE FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND LESS DIRECTLY TO THE UNIVERSITIES. >> RIGHT. >> THAT'S HELPFUL. AND YOU ALSO MENTION THAT THIS MIGHT CREATE NEW JOBS. AS AN OFFICE, WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND HOW TO SHIFT TO MORE DIGITAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES, RIGHT, TO HELP W

ITH OUR GOVERNMENT EXPEDIENCE OF USE OF OUR SERVICES BUT WITHOUT CLOSING THE DIVIDE, HOW DO YOU SEE THAT DIVIDE GROWING IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE INVESTING IN NEW TECHNOLOGIES BUT ALSO NOT ADDRESS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE ON THE GROUND? >> WELL, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOOKING AT ADDRESSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE THROUGH OUR DIGITAL EQUITY PROGRAM, THE CONNECT CALL-- THE CONNECT ALL. WE ARE FOCUSED ON ENGAGING DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN ALL OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE INVEST IN; PARTICULARLY ON THE

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SIDE. >> AND SO THAT'S A PERFECT SEGUE TO THE NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS, WHICH YOU HAVE ALSO SPOKEN TO TODAY, WHICH IS THE CONNECT ALL PROGRAM. SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE EXISTING CHALLENGES WITH CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND CAN YOU PROVIDE JUST SOME CLEAR METRICS AROUND HOW WE ARE YOU MENTIONED THE DIGITAL EQUITY PROGRAM. HOW WE ARE MEASURING SUCCESS OF THAT PROGRAM? WE ARE LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO FOCUS ON THE DIGITAL DIVIDEMENT AS I SAID, DIGITAL LITERAC

Y PROVIDING TRAINING, UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE BASELINE IS IN USERS AND BEING ABLE TO ASSESS THE INCREASE IN SKILLS. UNDERSTANDING THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES, DEVICES, KNOWING WHERE THE GAPS ARE AND THEN BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE DEVICES TO SECURE THOSE GAPS AND SO WE WILL BE LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF METRICS TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE CAME FROM AND WHAT WE GET TO, WITH RESPECT TO PROVIDING THESE RESOURCES. >> RIGHT, I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE IDEA OF CREATING MORE DIGITAL LITERACY EDUCATION AND LOOKING AT H

ARDWARE. THE FOLKS HAVE ACTUAL ACCESS TO DEVICES. I'M CURIOUS, HAVE YOU SEEN THAT, THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR LIGHT, FOR EXAMPLE, OR HAVE ACCESS TO LIGHT IN A HOME HAS BEEN A BARRIER. IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP IN MY OWN DISTRICT AND DURING THE PANDEMIC, I CREATED A DIGITAL MUTUAL AID FUND AND SO MANY OF THE FOLKS WHO DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET OR DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO HARDWARE, SO PHONE, COMPUTER, TO EVEN ACCESS THE INTERNET, IF THEY HAD IT, ALSO WERE THE SAME FOLKS AND PARTICULARLY TH

E MOST VULNERABLE FOLKS, WHO WERE HAVING TROUBLE, YOU KNOW, KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON. >> SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND APPRECIATE THAT PERSPECTIVE. WE HAVE LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAMS. SO IN THE STATE, APPROXIMATELY 1.6 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE FEDERAL AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM, WHICH IS ABOUT $50 MILLION IN SUBSIDIES PER MONTH IN SUPPORTING THAT DIGITAL DIVIDE THAT YOU TALK ABOUT. >> GOT IT. >> AND I DID HEAR THAT ONE OF THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS

IS ACTUALLY GOING TO RUN OUT OF MONEY. >> THAT'S THE ONE. >> THAT'S THE SAME. THE INITIAL-- IS THE STATE INVESTMENT LOOKING TO CLOSE THAT GAP IF THAT HAPPENS, OR DO WE HAVE A PLAN TO MITIGATE... >> SO WE ARE MONITORING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH RESPECT TO THIS PROGRAM. AS I MENTIONED, THAT $50 MILLION A MONTH IS A VERY, YOU KNOW, HIGH NUMBER WITH RESPECT TO PROVIDING SUBSIDY. AND SO WE ARE EXPLORING WAYS TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THAT PROGRAM. WE DON'T

HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE SO WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT OTHER WAYS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT. >> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO WORK TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT PLANNING FOR THAT IF AND WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. I CAN YIELD THE REMAINING 10 SECONDS OF MY TIME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY. >> YES, NEXT WE HAVE ASSEMBLYWOMAN WOERNER, CHAIR OF SMALL BUSINESS. >> THANK YOU, Mr. CHAIRMAN. AND THANK YOU TO THE PANEL. IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE ALL OF YOU IN PERSON. I WANT TO START, HOPE, WITH

A QUESTION ABOUT THE GLOBAL ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM. SO MY UNDERSTANDING JUST BRIEFLY IS THAT THIS IS A PROGRAM TO DIRECTED AT STUDENTS WHO-- INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WHO HAVE STUDIED IN OUR UNIVERSITIES THAT ARE HERE ON A VISA PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE THEM, IF THEY WANT TO SET UP A SMALL BUSINESS BASED ON THEIR RESEARCH, TO DO THAT HERE IN NEW YORK STATE. IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> AND THIS IS A $4 MILLION NEW PROGRAM THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT? >> YES. >> SO I ASKED THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR F

OR SOME DATA ON THE GROWTH OR DECLINE OF SMALL BUSINESSES OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. AND THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT SUCCESS IN GROWING INFORMATION-BASED BUSINESSES. I THINK THANKS IN LARGE PART TO THE INVESTMENTS WE'VE MADE IN ALL. AND I NOTICE THAT WE HAVE ACTUALLY LOST 5% OF OUR SMALL MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES. AND SO I AM THINKING ABOUT WHAT, IN THE BUDGET, IS DIRECTED AT TRYING TO ADDRESS THE CAUSE OF THE DECLINE IN OUR SMALL MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES? DO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ROOT

CAUSES ARE AND WHILE WE ARE SETTING ASIDE MONEY TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES, ARE WE ALSO SPENDING MONEY ON TRYING TO SHORE UP OUR EXISTING MANUFACTURING SECTOR? >> SO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION AND WE DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE LOST IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF RESOURCES AROUND THE STATE, THE MEPs,THE MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIPS THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT, TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE FOR MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES AND LOOK TO DEPLOY THOSE MORE DIRECT

LY FOR BUSINESSES THAT MAY BE AT THE BRINK OF, YOU KNOW, SOME DIFFICULTY. WE ALSO HAVE OUR SSBCI $500 MILLION FUND THAT PROVIDES FOR ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, RELATED TO MAYBE REPLACING EQUIPMENT, UPGRADES, TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES IN TRANSITION. SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF RESOURCES THAT WE CAN POINT TO TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES, PARTICULARLY MANUFACTURERS, WHEN THEY ARE AT TRANSITION POINTS. >> ARE WE DOING ANYTHING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR EXISTING BUSINESS

ES FACE LIKE NATION LEADING ENERGY COSTS, IN PARTICULARLY IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTORS WE HAVE A LOT OF HIGH INS TENSE AT THIS ENERGY USERS AND THE COST OF ENERGY IN NEW YORK STATE IS NOT A COMPETITIVE PRICE POINT. >> TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, YOU KNOW, WE DO WORK WITH NYPA TO TRY TO PROVIDE LOW COST POWER WHEN THAT IS POSSIBLE. >> RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> SO MWBE, I'M GOING TO TURN MY ATTENTION THERE. I WAS DELIGHTED TO HEAR THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE GOTTEN TO THROUGH THE BACKLOG. CONGRATULATIONS.

AS YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT, I'M STILL HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE CAUGHT IN A LOOP, WHERE IT'S TAKING TOO LONG. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO DELVE INTO IS OUR INCUBATORS AND HOT SPOTS. A SUCCESSFUL MODEL FOR HELPING TO MATURE BUSINESSES FROM, YOU KNOW, EARLY STAGE TO A SUCCESSFUL GROWTH ACROSS ALL SECTORS. AND I'M WONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY OF OUR INCUBATOR OR HOT SPOTS THAT ARE REALLY TARGETED AT MINE OR THE AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES WHETHER THEY'RE CERTIFIED MWBE OR NOT, BUT M

INE OR THE AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM GET THOSE THAT HAVE THAT KIND OF GROWTH POTENTIAL TO GO FROM BEING, YOU KNOW, IN THE GARAGE KIND OF BUSINESS TO ONE THAT IS FUNDABLE BY INSTITUTIONAL FUNDING. >> SO OUR INCUBATORS AND HOT SPOTS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT ALL BUSINESSES. NOT NECESSARILY MWBES SPECIFICALLY. BUT ALL BUSINESSES. AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COMPETITIONS THAT SUPPORT EMERGING OR, YOU KNOW, MWBE BUSINESSES. AND WE HAVE OUR ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESS CENTERS THAT ARE GENERALLY

IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORT MWBE BUSINESSES. WE ALSO HAVE OUR VENTURE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE FUNDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT MWBE >> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF VENTURE MONEY THAT GOES TO WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES AND HELPP BUSINESSES TO ACCESS INSTITUTIONAL FUNDING, IS THERE ANY INTENT WITHIN ESD TO REPLICATE THOSE KINDS OF SPECIFIC FOCUSED VENTURE PROGRAMS THROUGH THE BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITIONS TO ENABLE WOMEN AND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES TO ACCESS EQUITY CAPITAL BUT T

HEY MAY NOT BE OTHERWISE ABLE TO ACCESS? >> VIRTDLY ALL OF OUR VENTURE FUNDING IS TO SUPPORT UNDERFUNDED POPULATIONS WOMEN AND MINORITIES. SO WE HAVE A COMMUNITY EMERGING MANAGERS PROGRAM WHICH IS A FUND TO FUNDS THAT SUPPORTS WOMEN AND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES. WE DO DIRECT INVESTMENTS IN WOMEN AND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES. WE KNOW THE DATA VERY WELL THAT SO LITTLE PRIVATE VENTURE GOES TO THOSE KIND OF COMPANIES AND THAT IS WHY WE'RE SUPPORTING VENTURE TO MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.

>> BACK TO MY ORIGINAL QUESTION ABOUT THE GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURS FUND, WOULD THE MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING TO CREATE THIS NEW FUND TO SUPPORT A WHOLE NEW POPULATION OF PEOPLE COMING TO NEW YORK STATE, WOULD THAT MONEY PERHAPS BE BETTER INVESTED IN PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING, BUT GROWING THEM TO SUPPORT MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, SAY, OR ADDITIONAL MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES THAT NEED SOME ADDITIONAL SHORING UP? >> WELL, WE KNOW THAT SO MANY FOREIGN BORN STUDENTS HAVE BUSINESS INNOVA

TION IDEAS THAT THEY WANT TO GROW INTO BUSINESSES. AND THOSE BUSINESSES CAN YOU KNOW BE ROOTED HERE IN NEW YORK STATE AND EMPLOY MANY MORE PEOPLE. SO I THINK IT'S AN AUGMENTATION TO THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND THE ABILITY TO CREATE JOBS IN A NEW WAY. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE CONNECT ALL PROGRAM. SO I NOTICED THAT ESD RECENTLY THROUGH THE CONNECT ALL OFFICE DID ISSUED AN RFP FOR 228 MILLION IN GRANTS TO MUNICIPALITIES FOR PUBLICLY OWNED BROADBAND NETWORKS. MY UNDERSTANDIN

G AND I REPRESENT RURAL COMMUNITIES AND ONE OF OUR I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE UP HERE THAT ARE SIMILARLY SITUATED. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS FUNDING CAN BE USED BY MUNICIPALITIES THAT ALREADY ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF HIGH SPEED BROADBAND AS OPPOSED TO BEING FOCUSED STRICTLY ON UNDERSERVED OR UNSERVED REGIONS LIKE THE RURAL COMMUNITIES OF UPSTATE NEW YORK. AND SO I JUST GIVEN THAT THIS IS A LIMITED POOL OF MONEY, MY QUESTION IS SHOULDN'T WE BE FUNDING SHOULDN'T THIS BE FUNDED GIVEN FUNDING P

RIORITY TO THE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED AREAS THAT STILL EXIST IN THE STATE AS OPPOSED TO DIRECTING THIS MONEY TO AREAS WHERE THERE IS ALREADY THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS SERVICE? >> SO A COUPLE THINGS ABOUT THAT, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. WE WILL BE CERTAINLY DEPLOYING THE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR UNSERVED LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THE GOAL OF THE MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE BROADBAND PROGRAM IS TO GIVE MUNICIPALITIES THAT DO PROVIDE POTENTIALLY PROVIDE UTILITIES TO THEIR RESIDENTS TO LEVERAGE TH

AT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PROVIDING COMPETITION WITH RESPECT TO BROADBAND SERVICE PROVIDERS. ALSO, IN PROVIDING GREATER ACCESS TO PUBLIC ACCESS NETWORKS, WE CAN LEVERAGE THAT TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE MORE MOBILE COVERAGE. BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO GET THE MOBILE COVERAGE PROVIDERS TO EXPAND THEIR NETWORKS AND BY OFFERING THIS INFRASTRUCTURE, WE CAN INDUCE THEM TO DO SO. >> THANK YOU. I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT PRIORITY BE GIVEN TO THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE SERVICE. THERE'S VALUE IN COMPETITION THERE IS N

O QUESTION ABOUT THAT BUT WE HAVE A FAIR NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES STILL UNSERVED. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT IS SENATOR RAMOS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR KRUEGER. GOOD MORNING MY QUESTION IS FOR MS. KNIGHT. I'M WONDERING WITH REGARD TO CONTRACT BIDS WHEN ASSESSING BIDS WHAT IS DONE TO ENSURE YOU AREN'T GRANTING CONTRACTS TO BIDDERS WITH HEALTH AND SAFETY VIOLATIONS OR ONGOING HARASSMENT OF BLACK EMPLOYEES LIKE TESLA? DO YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE DOL DEPARTMENT LIST AND DO YOU CONSULT IT IN YOU

R PROCUREMENT PROCESS. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, I APPRECIATE THAT. WE MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE CONTRACTORS THAT WE GO INTO CONTRACT WITH ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS. WE DO THE SEARCHES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE. >> DO YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE DOL DEPARTMENT LIST OR NOT? DO YOU CONSULT IT IN YOUR PROCUREMENT PROCESS? >> I BELIEVE SO BUT I WILL GET BACK TO YOU TO BE CERTAIN. >> OKAY. HOW MANY CONTRACTS PER YEAR WERE GRANTED TO MWBE'S AND WHO TOOLS AND SERVICES

DO YOU PROVIDE TO ENSURE THAT THOSE MWBES ARE NOT DISADVANTAGED BY THEIR LACK OF ACCESS TO CAPITAL IN THE BIDDING PROCESS? I ALSO WOULD WANT TO KNOW IF WE ARE UPDATING THE DESIGNATION OF MWBE'S TO INCLUDE AMERICANS AND NORTH AFRICANS WHO ARE TRADITIONALLY LEFT OUT? >> SO WITH RESPECT TO THE NUMBER OF CONTRACTS THAT MWBE'S WERE RECEIVED LAST YEAR, I WILL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. BUT WE DO IDENTIFY RACE AS PART OF THE MWBE PROCESS. WHEN THEY ARE CERTIFIED. >> IS IT GOING TO BE UPDATED TO

INCLUDE OUR AMERICANS? >> WE ARE GOING THROUGH A DISPARITY STUDY RIGHT NOW. AND IT IS DUE IN AUGUST. AND THAT WILL BE DETERMINED IN THE DISPARITY STUDY. >> ALL RIGHT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY? >> YES, WE HAVE CHAIR KANEL O'DONNELL CHAIR OF OUR TOURISM, PARKS AND ARTS AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. >> GOOD MORNING. LET ME BEGIN WITH A PRECLUDE AS STATE SENATOR. THIS IS MY 22nd ARTS BUDGET HEARINGS AND FINAL ARTS BUDGET HEARING. AND I DO WANT TO SHARE A BIT OF MY

PERSPECTIVE, WHICH IS THAT REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PARTY OR POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY, EVERY YEAR WE COME HERE AND WHOEVER IS RUNNING THE STATE SAYS I LOVE ARTS MORE THAN ANYTHING AND THEY ZERO OUT THE FUNDING AND THEN THEY WONDER WHY WE'RE PISSED OFF. I WELCOME YOU TO THE JOB. AND I KNOW IT'S ONLY BEEN TWO WEEKS SO I CAN'T BLAME YOU FOR ANYTHING OR WHO I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR BUT IT DOES SUGGEST A PROBLEM. COGNITIVE DISTENSE I BELIEVE IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL TERM. YOU KNOW WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE DI

STENSE COMES FROM? DO YOU NEED AN EXAMPLE HOW ARTS PROVIDES THAT FUNDING FOR THE STATE? I'LL TELL YOU WHERE TO GO. GO TO GLENS FALLS NEW YORK, I WAS THERE ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND YOU SEE THE LOVELY WEAR OF READING GLASSES I ROLLED OVER ON MINE IN BED AND I BOUGHT THEM. BENNY'S WHERE WAS I? THE RESTAURANT CALLED PHARMACY. REALLY ELEVATED FOOD. I DIDN'T GET HERE BY LOOKING AT FOOD LET'S BE CLEAR. REALLY, REALLY GOOD FOOD. NONE OF THAT EXITED IN GLENS FALLS. NONE OF IT EXISTED. WHERE DID IT COME FROM

? TWO YOUNG PEOPLE FROM NEW YORK CITY MY SISTER AND BROTHER-IN-LAW FOUNDED THE ADIRONDACK THEATER FESTIVAL THEN THEY BOUGHT THE WOOLWORTH'S AND CONVERTED IT TO A YEAR-ROUND THEATER THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TO DOWNTOWN GLENS FALLS YEAR-ROUND. SATURDAY NIGHT THE JOINT WAS JUMPING. NONE OF THAT EXISTED. BUT FOR THE ARTS. SO I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY EVERY GOVERNOR SAYS I LOVE THE ARTS BUT THEN CUTS AND CUTS AND CUTS. SO I WANT TO MAKE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. ONE, HAS TO DO WITH THE ARTS STABILIZATION MON

EY THE ADIRONDACK THEATER FESTIVAL USED THAT MONEY IT IS LIKE A CREDIT CARD FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN ART BUSINESS THAT HAVE A SEASON. SO IF THERE IS SUMMER STOCK OR A TIME WHEN THEY HAVE ALL THIS MONEY COMING IN AND IN THE MONTHS WHEN NO MONEY IS COMING IN HOW DO THEY PAY THEIR ELECTRIC BILL? I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT I CREATED IT. I DIDN'T. I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT I FORCED THEM TO PUT IT BACK IN THE BUDGET LAST YEAR, WHICH I DID. IN ORDER TO HELP THOSE STRUGGLING NOT YEAR-ROUND COMPANIES AND WH

O IS IN YOUR -- WHAT IS IN YOUR CURRENT PROPOSAL IS ZEROING THAT OUT. CAN YOU BRING THAT BACK FOR US, ERICA? >> I WANT TO THANK YOU ASSEMBLYMAN O'DONNELL AND RECOGNIZE YOUR CO-CHAIRSHIP OF THIS COMMITTEE AND YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORTS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE FIELD. IT'S -- I DON'T KNOW THE EXACTNESS OF THE ART STATIONIZATION PROGRAM. I KNOW IT'S DOING EXACTLY THAT. AND BUT I DO THINK IN THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE WILL BE ENACTED THE FUNDING THAT WE DO HAVE IS SOME OF THE MOST COVETED FUNDING THAT CA

N HELP COMPANIES YEAR-ROUND WHICH IS GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. RIGHT NOW THERE DOES SEEM TO BE A DRIFT WHETHER IT'S PHILANTHROPY OR CORPORATE SUPPORT AWAY FROM THAT KIND OF SUPPORT. BUT THIS IS THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF ALL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT THEY CAN PUT TO PLACES WHERE THEY NEED THE MOST. ADDITIONALLY WE HAVE CAPITAL FUNDING WHICH, AGAIN, I KNOW FROM HAVING LED AN INSTITUTION, THIS IS ALSO VERY KEY TO WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN PRODUCTION AND YOU ARE NOT DOING THINGS THE TIME THAT YOU TAKE TO REB

UILD YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AGING INFRASTRUCTURE IS AN EXTRAORDINARILY HUGE DRAIN ON COMPANIES AS SMALL OR BIG. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. AND I THINK THIS KIND OF FUNDING IS KEY TO THE INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW. >> EDITORIALIZING THOSE NUMBERS IN YOUR BUDGET ARE WOEFULLY INADEQUATE FOR THIS YEAR AND THE 1980s IT'S ALMOST AN EMBARRASSMENT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN THOSE TWO AREAS. ONE OF MY FRUSTRATIONS IS NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE GETTED SCREWED ARTS FUND

ING WISE. IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE THEY COME TO SEE ME ON A REGULAR BASIS. AND WHAT'S HARD, IS THAT ANYBODY CAN GO FOUND MY HOMETOWN ARTS ORGANIZATION AND THEN PLOP THEMSELVES IN HERE AND SAY WE DON'T GET ENOUGH. YOU HAVE TO GIVE US MORE. EVEN PLACES WHERE THEY HAVE MORE THAN ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO DO THAT WITHOUT GOVERNMENT FUNDING. SO COULD YOU JUST HELP EDUCATE US BRIEFLY ON HOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS TO VET THE PEOPLE WHO GET THE FUNDING THROUGH THIS VERSUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAY HAVE NO VETTING A

T ALL? >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ALL OF OUR GRANTEES OR POTENTIAL GRANTEES ARE VETTED THROUGH A VERY RIGOROUS PROCESS. FIRST BY STAFF AND THEN BY A PEER REVIEW ON VARIOUS PANELS AND THEN THROUGH FINALLY THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ARTS COUNCIL. SO THAT'S VERY STRINGENT AND I WOULD ALSO SAY IN TERMS OF OUTREACH AND REACHING ALL COMMUNITIES, FIRST ON THE OUTREACH PART, I THINK, NYSCA MADE A HUGE LEAP FORWARD IN REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE WHO YOU KNOW WE HADN'T BEFORE YOU KNOW WE HAVE OVER 4,000 PEOPL

E IN DIRECT CONVERSATIONS WITH NYSCA, AS WELL AS JUST MORE AND MORE MATERIAL ON THE GUIDELINES SO THAT SMALL ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE COULD HAVE ACCESS. THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING FOR US. TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE AND THAT YOU CAN ACCESS OUR FUNDS. AND THEN FINALLY, WE ARE SERVING, I THINK, MORE THAN 95% OF OUR STATE THE REMAINING PERCENTAGES ARE THROUGH LOCAL ARTS COUNCILS. SO I THINK WE ARE CONTINUALLY TRYING TO SERVE AND BE STRATEGIC AND EFFICIENT IN OUR GRANT MA

KING. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION. I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH MS. MHANYS BECAUSE A LOT OF THE SILOS THAT EXISTED WITHIN NYSCA DIDN'T REFLECT CURRENT DAY ART. SO SOMETHING THAT WAS A VIDEO DANCE, COMBINATION WERE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR DANCE MONEY OR VIDEO MONEY BECAUSE THEY HAD SOMETHING ELSE IN IT. AND SO THAT LED TO A LOT OF DISGRUNTLEMENT AMONG CERTAIN COMMUNITIES WHO FELT THEIR EMERGING HART HAD NO PLACE BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T IN THE SILO WORLD YOU HAD FROM WHEN, KITTY CARLISLE HART RAN THE

THING. COULD YOU JUST ADDRESS THAT IN TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT LEAVING CERTAIN ETHNIC GROUPS OR CERTAIN MINORITY GROUPS BEHIND? >> YES. I THINK ONE IS, WE HAVE INCREASED OR MADE CATEGORIES LIKE MULTIDISCIPLINARY ART THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THAT AS A PARTICULAR APPLICATION THAT YOU WILL HAVE A PANEL OF YOUR PEERS REVIEW IN THAT AREA. AND I THINK YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR EAR TO THE GROUND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REVIEWING AND ENCOURAGING ARTS THAT WE MAY NOT FIT DIREC

TLY INTO THE CURRENT CATEGORIES. I MEAN THERE COULD BE ANOTHER CATEGORY GOING FORWARD. AGAIN WITH TECHNOLOGY AND AI AND THERE IS A LOT OF ARTISTS FOCUSING ON THAT THING. I TAKE THAT POINT AND YOU KNOW, ABSOLUTELY INCORPORATE IT IN WHAT WE DO FOR OUR GRANT MAKING. AND WHAT WAS THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION? YOU DID FINE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I WELCOME YOU. I HAVE 11 MONTHS LEFT AND YOU WILL HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT TO MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER AND TO GET YOU THE BUDG

ET THAT THE STATE ACTUALLY DESERVES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY 15 SECONDS ARE YOURS, SENATOR KRUEGER. >> I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING YET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH ASSEMBLYMEMBER. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IT WILL BE YOUR LAST HEARING AS THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN LOYAL TO THIS FOREVER. WITH THAT SENATOR TEDISCO, THE RANKER FOR FIVE MINUTES ON CULTURAL AFFAIRS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY. I'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO COMMISSIONER KNIGHT THA

NK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND BACK TO THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING WITH CONNECT ALL. WHICH IS AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE STATED A MUNICIPAL PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. OVER A BILLION DOLLARS, IT IS A LOT OF MONEY, A BILLION-AND-A-HALF DOLLARS THAT WILL BE ALLOCATED THROUGH THAT PROGRAM BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO COVER THE OVER 100,000 HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE NOT CONNECTED RIGHT NOW BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TO TAKE TO UTILIZE THAT MONEY. AND AS I LOOK AT THIS AND I H

EAR THE DISCUSSION, I HEAR THE POSITION, THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT A PREFERENCE, A PREFERENCE FOR UNDER AND UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS. IT'S LIKE THE BASKETBALL PLAYERS. GREAT BASKETBALL PLAYER, AND HE NEVER SHOWED UP FOR PRACTICE IN THE NBA AND WHEN HE GOT TO THE GAMES HE WAS FANTASTIC AND THEY ASK HIM WHY DON'T YOU SHOW UP FOR PRACTICE? ALL HE COULD SAY IS PRACTICE? PRACTICE? PRACTICE? WHY SHOULD I SHOW UP FOR THE PRACTICE? I SCORE 35 POINTS A GAME WHEN I SHOW UP. I THINK MY CONSTITUENTS ARE SAYING

PREFERENCES? PREFERENCES? YOU KNOW WHAT THAT TELLS THEM? THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY SERVED AND IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT AND SAID BUT I WANT TO REINFORCE THAT ARE GOING TO RECEIVE SOME OF THIS MONEY. COMMISSIONER THEY SHOULDN'T RECEIVE ONE CENT OF THIS MONEY. THEY ARE ALREADY BEING SERVED. I WILL ASK YOU THE QUESTION POINT-BLANK. IT SHOULDN'T BE A PREFERENCE. 100% OF THIS MONEY SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNDER AND UNDERSERVED. CAN YOU GUARANTEE US TODAY THAT 100% OF THAT MON

EY WILL NOT GO TO ANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SERVICE BUT TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE UNDERSERVED. CAN YOU GUARANTEE THAT GOING TO HAPPEN? BECAUSE THAT IS A REAL CONCERN RIGHT NOW? >> THANK YOU, SENATOR FOR THAT QUESTION. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS IN THE CONNECT ALL INITIATIVE. AND THIS MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM IS JUST BUT ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT IS SUPPORTING UNDERSERVED LOCATIONS, LOCATIONS THAT ARE DEEMED NOT TO BE RECEIVING HIGH SPEED INTERNET SERVICE. BY LEVERAGING EXISTING MUNIC

IPAL INFRASTRUCTURE. THE LION'S SHARE OF THE CONNECT ALL FUNDING IS GOING TO GO TO THOSE LOCATIONS THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO BROADBAND. AND THAT MONEY WILL BE RELEASED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND AS SOON AS IT IS RELEASED WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THOSE UNDERSERVED REGIONS -- THOSE UNSERVED REGIONS TO DELIVER BROADBAND TO THOSE LOCATIONS. >> IS THAT A YES OR NO TO MY QUESTION? WILL 100% GO TO UNDERSERVED WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVICE GET SOME OF THAT? I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT LEVERAGE, BUT -- >

> WE WILL BE SUPPORTING LOCATIONS THAT ARE UNDERSERVED. >> NOT 100%? >> WE WILL BE LEVERAGING THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THOSE REGIONS TO DELIVER SERVICE. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ASSEMBLY? >> YES, WE HAVE RANKER HE HAD RA FROM THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. COMMISSIONER KNIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION LAST WEEK ABOUT A NUMBER OF ISSUES. BUT I WANTED TO ASK A LITTLE BIT REGARDING THE PROPOSED MWBE EXTENSION IN THE BUDGET. I KNO

W IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION EARLIER YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS VERY BRIEFLY BUT CAN YOU GIVE US MORE INFORMATION WE HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR A FIVE-YEAR EXTENSION BUT THERE'S NOT A DISPARITY STUDY DONE YET. WHAT IS THE REASON MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT THAT? AND I THINK YOU SAID YOU BELIEVE ONE IS GOING TO BE DUE IN AUGUST? >> THAT IS CORRECT. THE DISPARITY STUDY WILL BE DUE IN AUGUST. AS I SAID, THE MWBE PROGRAM IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE STATE. WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES THANKS TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLA

TURE IN MAKING OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS AND WE WANT TO SEE THAT CONTINUE THAT SUCCESS CONTINUE. THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROGRAM CONTINUES WHICH IS WHY SHE IS ASKING FOR SIMPLE EXTENSION WITH NO MODIFICATIONS SO THIS PROGRAM CAN CONTINUE TO GROW. >> IS THERE A TIME PERIOD THAT THE DISPARITY STUDY THAT IS ONGOING COVERS? >> THE LAST FOUR YEARS. IT'S OVER THE FOUR YEARS, BUT HAVING A FORWARD LOOK FOR THIS FIVE-YEAR PERIOD. >> THANK YOU. ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES, I THINK WE'VE HEARD A

LOT ABOUT, IS CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT BACKLOG IN CERTIFICATIONS HAS BEEN CLEARED UP AT THIS POINT, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THE BACKLOG HAS BEEN CLEARED. >> I KNOW I'VE READ ABOUT LAST SUMMER A PARTICULAR BUSINESS THAT TOOK THREE YEARS TO GET THEIR CERTIFICATION BACK. WHAT IS BEING DONE TO TRY TO MAKE THAT PROCESS WORK A LITTLE MORE QUICKLY WHEN SOMEBODY HAS TO APPEAL A CERTIFICATION? >> SO THANKS TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR, WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE RESOURCE

S TO BOLSTER OUR APPEALS UNIT SO WE HAVE HIRED A NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES TO SUPPORT THE APPEAL PROCESS. SO THAT'S MOVING MUCH FASTER NOW. >> ANY IDEA WHAT THE TIME-FRAME LOOKS LIKE NOW GOING FORWARD WITH THE CHANGES MADE? >> WELL, WE HAVE BECAUSE WE HAVE GONE THROUGH SO MANY CERTIFICATION APPLICATIONS, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME DENIALS SO THERE IS A GREATER THREW PUT IN THAT PROCESS. BUT IT'S MOVING MUCH MORE SMOOTHLY THAN IT HAD BEEN IN THE PAST. >> OKAY. AND ESD AS YOU ARE DEALING W

ITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS, HOW CAN AND HOW IS ESD IN PARTICULAR SPECIFICALLY TRYING TO HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDING? >> SO ESD HAS GOTTEN A $500 MILLION FUND THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. AND THAT PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE LEVERAGED 10 TIMES OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS FOR A $5 BILLION PROGRAM. SO WE HAVE CREATED OVER 20 PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES. A NUMBER OF ACCESS TO CAPITAL PROGRAMS IN DIFFERENT PRO

DUCTS, CONTRACT TO FINANCING, EQUITY PRODUCTS, VENTURE PRODUCTS AND LENDING PRODUCTS. >> AND THEN LASTLY, I KNOW WE'VE RECENTLY HAD AND THERE WAS A LOT OF REPORTS ABOUT THIS, WE'VE HAD OTHER EXAMPLES OVER THE YEARS BUT THE MICROCHIP FACTORY THAT DIDN'T WORKOUT. WHAT ARE WE DOING AS I SAID THERE'S BEEN OTHER INSTANCES LIKE THIS WHERE WE SPENT LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR PRIVATE BUSINESS AND IT JUST HAS NOT WORKED OUT. WHAT ARE WE DOING AND MAYBE WHAT CAN THE LEGISLATURE DO AS WELL TO STOP THESE TY

PE OF CIRCUMSTANCES FROM HAPPENING? BECAUSE I THINK THESE ARE THE TYPES OF INSTANCES THAT GIVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN THE STATE A BAD NAME. >> I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE NEXT GEN PROJECT NEAR SYRACUSE. SO WE ARE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH NEXT GEN. WE WILL PURSUE ANY OF THE CLAW BACKS IN THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH RESPECT TO FUNDING THAT WE PROVIDED FOR THAT PROJECT. IN GENERAL, THE PROJECTS THAT WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR ARE PAY FOR PERFORMANCE. I CAN GET BACK TO YOU WITH MORE.

>> THANK YOU. GET BACK TO US ALL IN WRITING. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS SENATOR JOHN LIU. >> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. SPEAKING OF CLAW BACKS, HAS THE STATE CLAWED BACK EVERYTHING FROM TESLA FOR THAT WESTERN PROJECT? >> WE HAVE NOT CLAWED BACK FUNDING FROM TESLA AS WE WERE NOT. THE CONTRACT WAS ACTUALLY NOT WITH ESD. IT WAS WITH A SUNY POLY FORMER SUNY POLY AFFILIATED ENTITY. >> BUT ESD WAS CERTAINLY INVOLVED? >> WE WERE INVOLVED AND -- >> IS THERE A

NY INTENT TO CLAW BACK? >> WELL, BASED ON THE CONTRACTS THEY HAVE MET ALL THE COMMITMENTS. >> THEY HAVE MET ALL THE COMMITMENTS. >> THEY HAVE MET ALL THE COMMITMENTS. >> THAT'S MAYBE WE CAN HELP FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT. WHAT ABOUT THE MICRON? IS EVERYTHING ON TRACK WITH MICRON? >> EVERYTHING IS ON TRACK WITH MICRON. >> AND HOW MUCH IS NEW YORK STATE'S SUBSIDY FOR THAT PROJECT? >> WE ARE PROVIDING GREEN CHIP TAX CREDITS FOR THAT PROJECT AND IT IS PAY FOR PERFORMANCE. >> OKAY. ROUGHLY HOW MU

CH IS THE SUBSIDY? >> ABOUT $5 BILLION. >> $5 BILLION. AND HOW MUCH IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT KICKING IN OR THEY STILL HAVE NOT DECIDED? >> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER IS. >> THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME IDEA, RIGHT? THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE HUGE INVESTMENT MICRON WAS TO LEVERAGE ALL FEDERAL SUPPORT. >> SO WE KNOW THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE 25% INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUT THEY ARE CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON THE GRANT SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THA

T IS. WE KNOW IT WILL BE SOMETHING. >> IS IT GOING TO BE AT LEAST AS LARGE AS NEW YORK STATE'S INVESTMENT? >> WE DON'T -- IT IS NOT OUR PROGRAM. WE DON'T KNOW. >> IN THE ANALYSIS, ESD I'M SURE DID SOME KIND OF PROJECTION AS TO WHAT THE FEDERAL GRANT MIGHT BE. OR THAT WAS COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT TO NEW YORK STATE'S DECISION? >> WE KNOW THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MINIMUM OF $3 BILLION BUT THEIR HOPE TO TO RECEIVE MORE THAN THAT. BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT. >> AT LEAST THREE BILLION AND HOPEFULLY A LOT MORE.

>> HOPEFULLY A LOT MORE. >> I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED BECAUSE WHEN EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT AND THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED IT IT WAS TALKED ABOUT HOW WE WERE LEVERAGING OFF FEDERAL SUPPORT. I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THERE WOULD BE AT LEAST SOME GUESSTIMATE AS TO HOW MUCH THAT WOULD BE. LET ME MOVE ON TO SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE I DON'T GET A LOT OF TIME HERE. YESTERDAY WE HAD A HEARING OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, CONVENED BY SENATOR KENNEDY. AND IT APPEARS THAT STATE DOT IS FAR BEHIND IN THEIR PLAN TO UPG

RADE RAILS. HAS EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT BEEN PART OF ANY OF THAT THE RAIL SYSTEM? >> NO. >> OKAY. I WILL SAY QUICKLY THAT THE TRAIN SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE PART OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK. SO MAYBE YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH DATE DOT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY? >> MEMBER BUTTENSCHON. >> I THINK SHE IS AT A COMMITTEE MEETING. >> THE NEXT I HAVE MEMBER MCDONNELL. >> HE IS GONE. >> MEMBER TAPIA. MEMBER LUNSFORD. >> I'M HERE, I WIN. MY QUESTION IS FOR THE ESD COMMI

SSIONER. WE ARE SEEING 100 MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN SHOVEL READY PROJECTS AND YOU BROUGHT UP THE SUCCESS WE SAW PARTICULARLY IN MY AREA WITH FAIR LIFE, WITH STAMP AND I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH OF THIS $100 MILLION ARE WE GOING TO EXPECT TO SEE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK WHERE THE DEBITOR OF SHOVEL READY SITES WE ARE LOSING BUSINESSES TO OTHER REGIONS AND TO NEIGHBORING STATES WHO HAVE MORE ROBUST INVESTMENT IN SHOVEL READY SITES. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH OF THE MONEY

DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK? >> CORRECT. >> TRADITIONALLY, A VAST MAJORITY OF THE FUNDING GOES TO UPSTATE SITES BECAUSE THOSE ARE WHERE THE BIG SITES ARE FOR PROMISINGS OF THE TYPE THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. >> IS THERE A PARTICULAR PERCENTAGE EARMARKED PER REGION? OR IS THIS A LARGE STATE-WIDE? >> IT IS A LARGE STATE-WIDE POT. REGIONS COMPETE FOR THE FUNDING. >> I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO ADVOCATE MAYBE THERE BEING AN EARMARK FOR A PARTICULAR UPSTATE SECTION GIVEN THAT MUCH O

F OUR DEVELOPMENT REQUIRES BRINGING IN POWER. WE'RE DEVELOPING LARGE SWATHS OF UNDEVELOPED LAND AS OPPOSED TO DOWN STATE REVITALIZING PROPERTIES THAT HAVE OTHER USES IN THE PAST. I'D LIKE TO ASK ABOUT NEW YORK RUSH. UNDERUSED STATE SITES. PRESUMABLY THERE'S GOING TO BE AN RFP FOR THIS, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THERE WILL BE SOME SOLICITATION PROCESS. >> YOU WILL UTILIZE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS TO BUILD HOUSING WE ARE NOT DOING IT AS A STATE, CORRECT? >> RIGHT. >> WHO IS GOING TO BE ISSUING THAT RFP AND MA

KING THE CHOICES AND WHO WILL HAVE OVERSIGHT OF THOSE PROJECTS? >> I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE SITES ARE. ESD HAS A NUMBER OF SITES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. SOME OF THEM ARE FORMER CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, FORMER STATE FACILITIES. THERE ARE OTHER AGENCIES THAT MAYBE LOOKING AT OTHER SITES AND I THINK WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THIS GIANTLY FROM A SELECTION PROCESS. >> SO IF THERE IS, SAY, A CORRECTIONAL SITE VERSUS A TRANSPORTATION SITE, THE RFP'S WILL BE ISSUED FROM DIFFERENT AGENCIES IS THAT WHAT

YOU ARE SAYING? >> NO, THE RFP'S FOR THE SITES FOR DEVELOPMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY DIFFERENT AGENCIES. THE FUNDING FOR THE RUSH WILL BE LOOKED AT TOGETHER IN AN INNER AGENCY WAY. >> AND THEN ONCE THOSE SITES ARE DEVELOPED, WHO WILL BE OVERSEEING WHO WILL HAVE OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY ON WHERE THE FUNDING FOR THAT IS COMING BACK TO US? >> SO LET ME TRY TO UNPACK THAT. I THINK I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. FOR ESD. >> WE ARE OUT OF TIME. >> I CAN COME BACK TO YOU. >> THANK YOU. SENATOR MURRAY RANKER. >> THAN

K YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. COMMISSIONER KNIGHT, I WAS LISTENING TO YOUR TESTIMONY AND I WANT TO TOUCH ON AN ISSUE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE AND THAT IS CHILDCARE. IN THE TESTIMONY IN THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT YOU MENTIONED WRAP AROUND SERVICES IN REGARD TO CHILDCARE. COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT PROGRAMS OR SERVICES ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN REGARD TO CHILDCARE? >> SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT CHILDCARE WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC WORKFORCE DE

VELOPMENT, THOSE WRAP AROUND SERVICES ARE PART OF EVERY PROJECT THAT WE FUND. SO IN SOME CASES, IT'S CHILDCARE PROVIDED BY OTHER PROVIDERS RELATED TO THE PROGRAM. AND SOME CASES THE PROGRAM ACTUALLY PROVIDES CHILDCARE. SO THERE ARE A RANGE OF CONFIGURATIONS THAT EXIST FOR CHILDCARE IN THOSE TRAINING PROGRAMS. >> WHAT IS THE COLLABORATION RIGHT NOW WITH COMPANIES, YOU AND I HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WE TALKED LAST YEAR AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE MADE PROGRESS. I GIVE THE GOVERNOR A LOT OF CREDIT. SHE

HAS BEEN PROACTIVE AND BEEN TRYING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS IT'S NOT A SIMPLE ANSWER. WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY AND TALKING ABOUT THE CHILDCARE WORKFORCE. IT'S HARD TO KEEP CHILDCARE WORKERS WITH THE SALARIES THAT THEY MAKE. SO IN MY DISTRICT WE HAVE A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WE HAVE ALL THE PRINCIPALS THERE, WE HAD CHILDCARE PROVIDERS THE COUNCIL OF SUFFOLK WE HAD PARENTS, WE HAD TEACHERS, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, CHAMBERS OF COMME

RCE, HR DIRECTORS ALL OF THEM FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE I WILL E-MAIL YOU THE LINK TO THAT. AT THE END WE CAME UP WITH A COUPLE OF CREATIVE IDEAS BUT IT WILL TAKE COLLABORATION. IT WILL TAKE WORKING TOGETHER. WOULD THAT BE THROUGH THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT? IS THAT HOW YOU RECOMMEND WE GO ABOUT THIS? >> I WOULD SAY WITH RESPECT TO TRAINING, THAT WOULD BE WITH THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. WE ALSO HAVE THROUGH OUR REDC PROCESS THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE FUNDING

FOR CHILDCARE IN THE REDC'S MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IN FUNDING CHILDCARE PROJECTS AROUND THE STATE. >> SO IN THINGS LIKE AND I WILL BE QUICK BECAUSE, AGAIN, WHEN I TALK ABOUT COLLABORATION WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK FOR WIN-WIN. WE'RE TRYING TO GET PARENTS BACK IN THE WORKFORCE AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE SITTING DOWN AND DOING THE NUMBERS AND IT WILL COST THEM TO GO BACK TO WORK BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST. SO WE CAME UP WITH AN IDEA SIMILAR TO WHERE YOU HAVE HEALTHCARE SAVINGS PLANS MAYBE A PRETAX HEALT

HCARE SAVINGS PLAN THROUGH YOUR PAYROLL AT WORK AND MAYBE A MATCHING FUND SIMILAR TO A 401K WHERE YOUR EMPLOYER MATCHES. MAYBE WE COME UP WITH AN IDEA WHERE THERE IS A CHILDCARE SAVINGS PLAN, THE EMPLOYER CAN ALSO MATCH WHAT THE EMPLOYEE GETS IN. THE GOVERNMENT THEN COMES IN AND SAYS WE'LL GIVE THAT EMPLOYEE A BIT OF A TAX CREDIT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS. THIS GETS MORE PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE. IT HELPS WITH THE HIRING PROBLEMS THAT COMPANIES ARE HAVING AND THE INCENTIVE TO THE COMPANY TO DO IT BY

OFFERING THE BENEFITS YOU WILL GET GOOD EMPLOYEES AND PROBABLY SAVE ON RETENTION. AND IT WILL ALSO GET PEOPLE BACK IN THE WORKFORCE THE GOVERNMENT GETS TAXES INCOME TAX, THERE'S REVENUE THEY SPEND AND GETS MORE SALES TAX IT IS A WIN-WIN. WE NEED SOMEWHERE, SOMEONE TO BE AT THE CENTRAL HUB THAT WE CAN WORK THROUGH. AND I THINK ESD WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START CONSIDERING WHO YOU WORK FOR. AGAIN, LITTLE GLANCE WHERE SHOULD WE GO WITH THIS? HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER ON THIS? >> LOOK FORWARD TO GE

TTING THE INFORMATION THAT YOU WILL SEND AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER. >> OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT. ONE LAST THING. BEING A SENATOR FROM LONG ISLAND I'M LOOKING THROUGH THE LINE ITEMS HERE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND I COME ACROSS ONE THAT SAYS RETENTION OF FOOTBALL IN WESTERN NEW YORK. AND THERE ARE TWO ACTUALLY ITEMS HERE. 5-AND-A-HALF MILLION UNDER AID TO LOCALITIES AND THEN TWO-AND-A-HALF MILLION UNDER CAPITAL FUNDING. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THAT IS? IS THAT WITH THE BUFFALO BILLS

? AND HOW DOES THAT APPLY? >> I HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. IT IS FOR THE BUFFALO BILLS. >> SPENDING ALMOST 8 MILLION IS THIS FOR WHAT, THOUGH? >> SO THE CURRENT IT IS A PREVIOUSLY EXISTING AGREEMENT PROBABLY 2013 SO THEIR EXISTING STADIUM THEY UTILIZE THE BUILDING AND THE NEW STADIUM IT'S IN SUPPORT OF THAT. >> MIGHT I SUGGEST IF WE WANT TO KEEP THE BILLS PLAYING LONGER MAYBE WE CANCEL ALL FLIGHTS TO AND FROM KANSAS CITY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY? >> MEMBER DARLING.

>> HI COMMISSIONER, TEAM THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK FOR NEW YORK STATE. NEW YORK STATE CURRENTLY HAS 96 AGENCIES AND WE ARE NOW IN A SPACE WHERE I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH AGENCIES EXPRESSING THEY ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING A WORKFORCE. AND I'VE HAD CONSTITUENTS EXPRESS THEY ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY SECURING. WHAT PLAN DO WE HAVE TO BETTER ADVERTISE AND IMPROVE FOR OUR WORKFORCE AND FILL THE OPEN POSITIONS? THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION AND WHAT MEASURES IS BEING TAKEN TO PROMOTE E

QUITABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACROSS DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES WITHIN NASSAU COUNTY INCLUDING THOSE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED? >> I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THE FIRST QUESTION AND PASS BACK THE SECOND. IN TERMS OF IDENTIFYING ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUALS TO COME INTO THE STATE WORKFORCE, THERE ARE TWO THINGS I WOULD NOTE. OUR COLLEAGUES WHO ARE NOT SITTING HERE COMMISSIONER TIM HOAGS AND COMMISSIONER RIORDAN HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT TO BRING MORE INDIVIDUALS INTO THE STATE SYSTEM. THERE IS A PROGRAM THAT IS A PAR

T OF THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET AROUND HELPS. LOOKING IN PARTICULAR FOR AREAS IN WHICH THERE ARE PROVISIONAL CHALLENGES WHERE THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN BRING FOLKS INTO THE TITLES WHICH WE HAVE CHALLENGES. MY AGENCY HAS ISSUES WITH RECRUITMENT. WE ARE BEING MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE AROUND GOING OUT INTO COMMUNITIES TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY PARTICULARLY FOR THE COMMUNITIES WHERE MAYBE THEY DO NOT HAVE A TRADITION OF BEING IN THE CIVIL SERVICE PROCESS AND THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO TAKE AN EXAM WHAT IT MEANS

TO HAVE RECRUITMENT AND PRIORITIZING THOSE TITLES IN WHICH WE HAVE THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF CHALLENGES. BOTH THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HAVE INCREASING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR OUTREACH RELATIVE TO THOSE TITLES OR CHALLENGES. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF OUTREACH PROGRAMS. AND MARKETING TO TRY TO GET MORE FOLKS INVOLVED. >> ASK IF WE CAN INCLUDE THE MEMBERS IN THIS WHATEVER CAMPAIGNS WE'RE DOING SO WE CAN POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARE. I JUST HA

TE THAT NEW YORK HAS SO MANY RESOURCES AND WE SOMETIMES MISS THAT BALL CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THE RESOURCES. >> I APPRECIATE THAT ASSEMBLYMEMBER. AND WE ALL ARE INCENTED TO TRY TO GET AS MANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE STATE WORKFORCE SO WE CAN MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR BUDGETS AND PRIORITIES. WE WILL FOLLOW-UP. >> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU. >> AND THANK YOU. WITH RESPECT TO YOUR QUESTION AROUND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROVIDERS, WE WORK WITH PROVIDERS THAT HAVE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION RELATIONSHIPS THAT

DO OUTREACH DIRECTLY TO COMMUNITY OF THOSE IMPACTED. FOR THE JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE UNDER ESD'S PURVIEW I HAVE OTHER COLLEAGUES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, COMMISSIONER THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH I CAN GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION LATER. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS JUST BRINGING US INTO THAT EQUATION. THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE THE SENATE NEXT. WE HAVE NOT DECIDED WHICH PARTIES REPRESENT OR WHICH ACTIVITY WE'RE DOING. SENATOR WEBB. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. MY FIRST QUESTION IS F

OR COMMISSIONER. WITH RESPECT TO THE IN MY DISTRICT I HAVE CONSTITUENTS AND MYSELF INCLUDED THAT ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTINUED MINING AND THE CONCERNS AROUND SALINIZATION AND SO I KNOW CARGILL IS CURRENTLY SEEKING TO SELL THE MINE TO A COMPANY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE IT. AND SO MY QUESTION IS DOES OGS HAVE TO PROVIDE CONSENT TO TRANSFER THE MINE AND WHAT TYPE OF REVIEW WOULD OGS PERFORM ON THE TRANSFER OF THE STATE LAND THAT HAS HAD SUCH AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT? >> THANK YOU FOR T

HAT QUESTION, SENATOR WEBB. THE LOCATION OF THE CAILLOU KA MINE IS A A LEASE THAT OGS OVERSEES. I WILL HAVE TO CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT WE REVIEW ANY ASPECT OF THE TRANSFER. I DON'T BELIEVE SO BUT I WILL CONFER AND GET BACK THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU. THE DEVELOP OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IS A REGULATORY ENTITY THEY WILL BE LOOKING INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OR HIGHER CONCERN RELATIVE TO SALINIZATION IS SOMETHING WE WILL BE SPEAKING WITH THEM ABOUT AND CERTAINLY IF THERE ARE CHALLENGES OR CH

ANGES THAT TAKE PLACE IN THE PERMIT STATUS WE WOULD BE ACTING UPON IT. OUR ROLE IS REALLY VERY MUCH LIMITED TO THE LEASING OF THE PROPERTY BUT WE'LL LOOK INTO THE SPECIFICS ABOUT THE TRANSFER AND GET BACK TO YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NEXT QUESTION IS FOR COMMISSIONER KNIGHT. SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO MWBES SO I HAVE MWBE'S IN MY DISTRICT THAT ARE IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD THAT HAVE SHARED CHALLENGES AROUND THE CURRENT PROCESS WITH RESPECT TO WAIVERS. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS B

EEN FLAGGED IS THAT LARGER GENERAL CONTRACTORS ESSENTIALLY ARE ABLE TO GO AROUND THE PROCESS AND NOT HAVE TO USE MWBE'S FOR JOBS. SO MY QUESTION IS WHAT IS ESD DOING TO MONITOR THE WAIVER PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT THE WAIVERS ARE LEGITIMATE? >> SO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION AND WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO MONITOR THE WAIVER PROCESS. BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OPERATIONALIZE SOME OF OUR SYSTEMS IN THE MWBE OFFICE, WE HAVE BEEN PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION AROUND WAIVERS TO MAKE SURE THAT GENERA

L CONTRACTORS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND AN MWBE TO DO THE WORK. AND SOP WE ARE SCRUTINIZING THAT VERY CAREFULLY TO MAKE SURE THAT MSH'S ARE GETTING THE WORK THAT THEY SHOULD. >> AND IN THAT SAME VAIN I WANT TO GO TO SMALLER CONTRACTORS. WHAT CAN WE -- >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY? MEMBER BUTTENSCHON. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND I THANK YOU FOR PERSONALLY COMING TO MY DISTRICT AS IT INCLUDES MANY HARD-WORKING, DEDICATED INDIVIDU

ALS AND YOU WERE ABLE TO WITNESS THAT FIRSTHAND. THEY HAVE MANY FORWARD ADVANCEMENT THINKING PROGRAMS AND YOU'VE BEEN A PART OF THAT. MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR COMMISSIONER KNIGHT FOLLOWING UP ON THE MWBE'S YOU KNOW THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACED. YOU TESTIFIED IN THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW YOU ARE MOVING FORWARD AND CLEARLY DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED TO CONTINUE WITH BRINGING THIS PROGRAM FORWARD AS HAS BEEN DESIGNED WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET AS WELL AS THE RECERTIFICATIONS THAT

ARE NECESSARY FOR MANY OF THE GREAT BUSINESSES? >> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION ASSEMBLYMEMBER. WE DO HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED, THANKS TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR FOR PROVIDING THOSE RESOURCES FOR THE BACKLOG IN THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS AS WELL AS THE APPEALS PROCESS. >> OKAY. AND AS YOU KNOW, WORKFORCE HOUSING IS SO IMPORTANT TO IT'S HAND IN HAND WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT THE WORKFORCE HOUSING THAT YOU ARE SEEING WITHIN THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND HOW IT'S GOING

? >> WELL, AS YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE IT AS HER MISSION TO INCREASE THE HOUSING SUPPLY AND HAS CHARGED ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO LOOK AT STATE OWNED PROPERTIES. SO MANY OF THE PROJECTS THAT ESD IS WORKING ON DOES HAVE A WORKFORCE HOUSING COMPONENT. I CAN MENTION ONE DOWN STATE WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT AN AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP PROJECT THAT IS A WORKFORCE HOUSING PROJECT. >> THANK YOU. AND THIS IS OPEN TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS. I JUST MET WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS IN MY DISTRICT. CAN YOU

HIGHLIGHT ANY OF THE PROGRAMS YOU ARE OFFERING FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS THAT TIE VERY WELL WITH THE ENTITIES THAT YOU OVERSEE? >> WELL, I CAN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE OFFERING. I THINK YOU WERE AT ONE OF THE GRADUATIONS OF SOMETHING CALLED THE REAL-LIFE ROSIES WHICH FOCUSES ON GETTING WOMEN INTO INDUSTRIAL MACHINING. AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGES FOCUSED ON ADVANCED MANUFACTURING PROGRAMS. >> ANY HIGH SCHOOL

PROGRAMS THAT ANYONE IS WORKING WITH? >> I DO NOT. HOWEVER I WOULD NOTE THAT ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES HAS BEEN TO PARTNER WITH SUNY SYSTEMS AS WELL AS WITH WITH SOME OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO TALK ABOUT PATHWAYS INTO STATE AGENCIES. WE HAVE CERTAINLY A NUMBER OF TRADES POSITIONS AND PATHWAYS THAT DON'T REQUIRE THAT YOU HAVE A COLLEGE EDUCATION WE'RE HAPPY TO GIVE MORE INFORMATION. >> FOLLOW-UP. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. SENATOR CLAIRE. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. I

'M JUST GOING TO BLURT OUT QUESTIONS AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN ANSWER THEM. COMMISSIONER KNIGHT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK, ESPECIALLY TRYING TO CREATE THE AFFORDABILITY HOMEOWNERSHIP PROJECT WHICH HAPPENS TO BE IN MY DISTRICT AND LOOKING FOR DEEPER AFFORDABILITY. AND EVEN THE USE OF VOUCHERS OR THE ACCEPTANCE OF VOUCHERS ON SOME OF THE PROJECTS. IN GENERAL I WANT TO KNOW WHAT ESD IS DOING TO INCREASE BLACK BUSINESSES PARTICIPATION IN ALL ASPECTS BUT ESPECIALLY AI WHERE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY

TO UPLIFT BLACK ENTREPRENEURS AND INDIVIDUALS IN THAT. NOT JUST WORKFORCE I'M TALKING ABOUT BUSINESS OWNERSHIP AND ENTREPRENEURS AND FOR OGS, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO INCREASE COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND INCLUSION TO EMPLOYMENT SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO ASSEMBLYMEMBER DARLING'S QUESTION. THE PROGRAMMING AND THE PARTICIPATION THE INCLUSION OF LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN WHAT OGS IS DOING AS WELL AS ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO CAN BOOST AND HELP WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. AND NYSCA, I WANT TO SAY I LOOK FORWAR

D TO WORKING WITH YOU. THE CUTS ARE GOING TO BE VERY DETRIMENTAL TO THE ARTS COMMUNITY. AND ESPECIALLY THE BLACK ARTS COMMUNITY. WHICH DOESN'T BENEFIT AS MUCH AS THE REST OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY IN THE FIRST PLACE HISTORICALLY. WE NEED TO INCREASE FUNDING OF THE ARTS AND AS SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS THE HISTORIC COMMUNITY OF HARLEM, BIRTHPLACE OF THE COMMON RENAISSANCE AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATIVE OF THE ARTS I WANT TO SEE HOW WE CAN INCREASE THAT FUNDING IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE ARTS IT'S ABOUT THE LEGAC

Y, ABOUT THE SOUL OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WE ARE VERY MUCH IN NEED OF THOSE DOLLARS. AT THIS TIME WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE JUST RECOVERING FROM COVID WHO HAVE NOT EVEN RECOVERED FROM THE PANDEMIC. AND I'M REALLY URGING OUR GOVERNOR OUR STATE TO INVEST IN THE ARTS ESPECIALLY IN HARLEM WHERE WE HAVE BROUGHT IN SO MUCH TOURISM TO THIS STATE. AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. >> SO I WILL START WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING TO HELP BLACK BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN THE INNOVATION SPACE. I DON'T

HAVE MUCH BUT I CAN TELL YOU WE HAVE A NUMBER OF VENTURE PROGRAMS WHERE WE ARE FUNDING BLACK BUSINESSES TO HAVE THEM PARTICIPATE IN THE INNOVATION SECTOR EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES ET CETERA. AND WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON PROVIDING SUPPORT TO MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES IN THAT AREA. >> FOR THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES, DEI HAS BEEN AT THE TOP OF OUR PRIORITIES RELATIVE TO HIRING FROM THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL DOWN TO THE STAFF LEVEL. WE'VE ALSO BEEN EXPANDING OUR PROGRAMMING. WE HAVE BROUGHT BACK T

HE -- >> I WILL GET YOU MORE INFORMATION LATER. >> MEMBER TAPIA. >> SORRY. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE STARTED IN THE MORNING. AND GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR TIME. I KNOW THIS IS A LONG DAY. I HAVE TO QUESTION FOR MS. KNIGHT. AND YOU KIND OF ANSWERED SOME OF THEM ALREADY WHEN I WAS HERE. BUT I MEAN, THE 250 MILLION IN CAPITAL FUNDING THAT THE STATE AGENCYIES PUT TO THE PURPOSE ASSIST STATE AGENCY PROPERTIES INTO HOUSING, I AM FROM THE BRONX. I REPRESENT THE BRONX

SO ONE OF THE BIGGEST DECISIONS IS EXACTLY THE HOUSING CRISIS THAT WE HAVE. ALL OVER THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT THE BRONX IS THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY SUFFERS THE MOST FROM IT. SO DO YOU HAVE SOME MORE DETAILS IN HOW CAN YOU PROVIDE ON THIS FUNDING? AND WHAT I MEAN SUCH AS HOW MANY UNITS WE'RE LOOKING TO BUILD ON THOSE PROPERTIES THAT ARE UNDERUSED UNDERUTILIZED, AND DO YOU HAVE AT LEAST A LIST OF PROPERTIES AND DO YOU KNOW IF WITH SUPPORT ANY HOUSING IN THE BRONX? >> OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> TH

AT'S ONE AND I HAVE ANOTHER ONE ABOUT THE 100 MILLION THAT YOU ALSO SAY ANSWER THAT QUESTION BUT I MEAN, ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN THE BRONX AND ESPECIALLY IN MY COMMUNITY, DURING THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE OF THE REMOTE SCHOOLING AND SCHOOLING THAT HAPPENED, MANY OF OUR CHILDREN ESPECIALLY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT FROM SCHOOLS. THEY DIDN'T PARTICIPATE IN REMOTE LEARNING. THEY DIDN'T HAVE MOST LIKELY DIDN'T HAVE A COMPUTER A LAPTOP, DIDN'T HAVE CONNECTION TO THE INTERNET.

IT WAS A PROGRAM THAT WAS DONE COMPLETELY IN ENGLISH AND THE MAJORITY OF THOSE PARENTS DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH SO THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO WORK THAT OUT. MANY WORKED OUT AND IT WAS LIKE 180,000 OF THEM IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK. AND MANY OF THEM WERE IN THE BRONX AND THE MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS CAME BACK. WHEN SCHOOLS RESTORED. BUT MANY IN HIGH SCHOOL STILL OUT THERE. THEY HAVE NOT COME BACK. AND WE HAVE TO WHAT I'M THINKING IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO LURE THEM? NOT TO COME BACK TO SCHOOL MAYBE,

BECAUSE THEY MIGHT NOT DO IT. BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET SOME TYPE OF TRAINING SOME TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT ACTUALLY WOULD HELP THEM TO THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE FAMILIES. >> THANK YOU, ASSEMBLYWOMAN. YOUR ANSWER WILL HAVE TO BE IN WRITING. BECAUSE YOU EXHAUSTED YOUR TIME I'M SORRY. NEXT WE HAVE SENATOR HELMING. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY. I APPRECIATE IT. COMMISSIONER KNIGHT, WHEN I SPEAK WITH BUSINESSES WHEN I MEET WITH THEM, I GO OUT AND

TOUR THEIR FACILITIES WHETHER IT'S MANUFACTURE, RETAIL, MAIN STREET BUSINESSES, HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, THE TWO CHALLENGES THAT THEY CONTINUALLY BRING UP ABOUT BEING A BUSINESS LOCATED IN NEW YORK STATE ARE TAXES AND OVER REGULATION. IT IS A CONSISTENT MESSAGE FROM EVERYONE. AND LISTENING TODAY ABOUT THE ALL THE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE. MICRON IS GETTING $5 BILLION IT RAISES THE QUESTION WHAT ARE WE DOING TO REDUCE THE TAX BURDEN ON OUR BUSINESSES AND WHAT ARE WE DOING TO REDUCE THE

REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS ON BUSINESSES? BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE SITTING IN THE LEGISLATURE, EVERYDAY WE'RE CREATING MORE REQUIREMENTS FOR BUSINESSES TO COMPLY WITH AND THESE SMALL BUSINESSES THEY DON'T HAVE A COMPLIANCE OFFICER. SO MY QUESTION IS WHAT ARE WE DOING TO MAKE NEW YORK STATE A MORE BUSINESS FRIENDLY STATE? >> SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, SENATOR. THANK YOU FOR THAT. UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS AROUND SMALL BUSINESSES AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY CONFRONT WITH RESPECT TO REGULATIONS, I THINK EVERYBODY A

GREES THAT BASIC REGULATIONS ARE NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. AND YOU KNOW, AS AN ENTITY LOOKING TO GROW THE ECONOMY, WE ARE ALWAYS TALKING TO BUSINESSES TO UNDERSTAND WHAT REGULATORY CHALLENGES THEY HAVE AND WHAT SOME REFORMS COULD POSSIBLY BE. SO WE'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT. >> I'D LOVE TO HAVE A RESPONSE TO THAT. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING AND WHAT ARE YOU CONSIDERING AS REGULATORY REFORMS? I WOULD LOVE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THAT. I WANTED TO REAL QUICK TALK ABOUT THE ONRAMP PR

OGRAM. I UNDERSTAND THAT ONE OF THE FORESIGHTS HAS BEEN DESIGNATED LOCATED IN SYRACUSE. AND I UNDERSTAND THE SELECTION OF THE REMAINING THREE WILL BE A HAD COMPETITIVE PROCESS. AND I KNOW THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED THAT THE FOCUS WILL BE ON PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS. WHEN WILL WE SEE THE EXACT OUTLINES FOR WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS WHEN WILL WE SEE AN APPLICATION PROCESS AND BECAUSE I HAVE A FEW SECONDS LEFT I WANT TO THROW THIS OUT THERE. I SUGGEST WHEN WE ARE TALKING AB

OUT DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS WE LOOK AT RURAL COMMUNITIES TOO AS AN AREA THAT IS DISADVANTAGED. WAYNE COUNTY, FINGER LAKES COMMUNITY COLLEGE LOCATED OFF THE THRUWAY, HEART OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING IS PROMINENT WE HAVE EMPLOYERS WHO NEED EMPLOYEES BUT WHO ARE CHALLENGED BY TRANSPORTATION, CHILDCARE ISSUES AND SO MUCH MORE. I WAS THANKFUL TO HEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGES WILL BE ELIGIBLE BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM. >> THANK YOU. YOU WILL HAVE TO GET BACK IN WRITING BECAUSE THERE'S

NO TIME FOR AN ANSWER. NEXT? >> JACKSON. >> ALL RIGHT TODAY'S SAID KNOW THE STATE OF YOUR FLOCK AND THAT IS ABOUT KNOWING YOUR MONIES, KNOWING WHERE YOUR STATE OF AFFAIRS ARE. GRATEFUL TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FINANCES HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. NOW, THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSING ENTREPRENEURS WITH 4 MILLION. WE ARE LOOKING TO 4 MILLION. AND 635,000 TOWARDS MWBE'S. HOW DO WE JUSTIFY HAVING 4 MILLION FOR GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURS AND 635,000 FOR MWBE'S? AND THE REMOVAL OF OVER 1 MILLION FRO

M MWBE'S? >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. WITH RESPECT TO WHAT YOU'RE REFERENCING TO MWBE, THAT'S ONE PROGRAM RELATED TO MWBE. I CAN GET YOU THE ENTIRE TOTAL OF THAT BUDGET AT A LATER DATE. BUT FOCUSED ON THE GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURS PROGRAM, REALLY TRYING TO ROOT FOREIGN BORN ENTREPRENEURS THAT ARE CREATING INNOVATION ENTERPRISES THAT'S WOULD HIRE EMPLOYEES HERE IN NEW YORK INSTEAD OF HAVING THEM TAKE THOSE BUSINESSES OUTSIDE OF THE STATE AND OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY. >> MAYBE I MISUNDERSTOOD THE PUR

POSE OF THE GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURS. HOW MANY FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME PEOPLE WORK FOR ESD? >> ABOUT 650. >> 650. AND DO WE FIND THAT TO BE A GOOD ENOUGH NUMBER TO EXECUTE THE DAY-TO-DAY? >> WE DO. >> OKAY. AND THEN I SEE THAT WE'RE IN OUR 8TH ROUND OF DRI, WHICH IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE. BUT I'M WONDERING WHERE WE ARE WITH THE FIRST FEW ROUNDS AND PARTICULAR I'M THINKING ABOUT THE BRONX WHERE I SERVE WHERE WE STARTED YEARS AGO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT NUMBER WE WERE IN THE DRI. BUT WHERE ARE THOSE PROGRAMS I

N COMPLETION? OF THEIR DRI? >> I HAVE TO COME BACK TO YOU WITH A REPORT ON THAT. THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE ADMINISTERS THE DRI PROGRAM BUT I DO HAVE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF AWARENESS WHERE SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS ARE. AND I KNOW THAT OF THE HUB WAS DESIGNATED HAD IN THE EARLY ROUNDS. AND A NUMBER OF THOSE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. >> SO THE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT DOWN? >> I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S ALL BEEN SPENT DOWN BUT DEFINITELY SOME OF IT. >> I WOULD KNOW WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT. I SEE WE HAVE 250 FOR

THE RUSH PROGRAM. ARE HOSPITALS A PART OF THAT STATE OF STOCK BEING CONSIDERED? STATE HOSPITALS? >> I WILL COME BACK TO YOU ON THAT. >> SORRY YOU WILL HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE ASSEMBLYWOMAN. NEXT IS SENATOR COMRIE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE. I HAVE A QUESTION TO EACH PERSON I WILL ASK A SERIES OF QUESTIONS. CAN YOU GET BACK TO US WITH YOUR NUMBERS ON MSH PARTICIPATION NOT IN CONTRACTING BUT PROCUREMENT AND SERVICES AND PURCHASING SUPPLIES HOW WELL IS YOUR AGENCY DOING WI

TH MAKING SURE THAT MWBE'S ESPECIALLY IN THE STATE AND ALSO NEW YORK BUSINESSES THAT ARE DOING WELL IN YOUR PROCUREMENT AND SERVICES AREA. NEXT QUESTION WOULD BE WHAT KIND OF STAFFING DO YOU HAVE THAT REFLECTS MWBE AS WELL? ESPECIALLY IN YOUR EXECUTIVE STAFF. AND ALSO FOR THE ARTS, THE ISSUE IS TO FIND OUT WHAT WE'RE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT LONG-TERM NONPROFITS IN THE AREA ESPECIALLY IN THE MINORITY ARE DOING WELL WITH THE AMOUNT OF DISBURSEMENT IN THE STATE BUDGET TO NONPROFITS AND CULTURAL PRO

GRAMS IN THE STATE. AND THEN TO ALSO THE ESD I WANTED TO GET AN UPDATE WHERE WE ARE WITH THE STABILIZATION ACT AND WHERE WE ARE WITH THE ELECTRIFICATION ACT BOTH OF WHICH HAVE GONE NOWHERE IN TWO YEARS. AND THEN JUST FOR THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES, I ONLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, HOW IS THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PHYSICAL PLANT IS OPERATING IN THE CAPITAL? THERE ARE STILL ELEVATORS THAT HAVE BEEN OUT SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE AND OTHER PHYSICAL ISSUES THAT ARE

HAPPENING IN AND AROUND THE CAPITOL AND HOW MANY MINORITY CONTRACTORS ARE WORK IN THIS AREA? THOSE ARE MY GENERAL QUESTIONS. YOU CAN TAKE WE HAVE A MINUTE IF ANYBODY WANTS TO ANSWER ANY OF THEM? >> I'LL START ON THE COMMUTER VAN STABILIZATION FUND. WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE THE COMMUTER VAN INDUSTRY I KNOW VERY WELL HOW IMPORTANT THE VAN SERVICE IS. AND WE HAVE HEARD YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE VENDOR AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE VENDOR AND WE'LL BE BACK TO YOU ABOUT HOW WE MOVE F

ORWARD. WE HAVE NOT SIGNED A CONTRACT. AND SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET BACK TO YOU IN THE NEXT COMING WEEKS AROUND THAT PROGRAM. >> THANK YOU. AND JUST ONE OTHER QUESTION. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ON CAPITAL INSURANCE FOR DOWN STATE NOT JUST FOR ALL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES THAT CAN'T AFFORD $60,000 A YEAR IN INSURANCE AND TRY TO MAINTAIN A VEHICLE. I HAVE A CAPITAL INSURANCE BILL THAT WORKS IT'S WORKED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE. THE GOVERNOR VOTED FOR BILLS ON CAPTIVE INSURANCE AND WE NEED TO COME TO

AN AGREEMENT AND GET THIS DONE. WE ARE PUTTING LIVES AT RISK. COMMERCIAL VEHICLES IN THE STATE ARE ILLEGAL. >> THANK YOU, SENATOR. YOU WILL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLYMEMBER? >> MEMBER SIMON? REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR THIS ROUND. IF YOUR QUESTION LASTS THREE MINUTES THERE IS NO TIME FOR AN ANSWER. IF THE QUESTION IS SHORT YOU MAY GET THE ANSWER YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. ANYWAY. MEMBER SIMON? >> I SEE THAT MY AUDIENCE KNOWS THAT THEY ARE MY AUDIENCE. SO THAN

K YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY ALL OF YOU. SO I HAVE A QUESTION DIRECTED AROUND ATLANTIC YARDS OUR FAVORITE PLACE. ABOUT HOW ESD PLANS TO COLLECT THE LIQUIDATED DAMAGES FROM GREENLAND'S FAILURE TO MEET THE 2025 AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEADLINE WHEN IT'S DEFAULTING ON ITS DEBT IT'S LOST CONTROL OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS WHERE THE HOUSE SOMETHING SUPPOSED TO BE BUILT AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO MAKEUP FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT HAS NOT BEEN DELIVERED? THAT IS ONE QUESTION. AND THE OTHER QUESTION IS THE

STOP CLIMATE LOOTERS HANDOUT ACT. THAT I SPONSOR IS ABOUT ELIMINATING THE SUBSIDIES THAT NEW YORK CURRENTLY GIVES TO THE MOST HARMFUL PARTS OF THE FOSSIL-FUEL INDUSTRY WITH NEW YORK FACING A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR STATE BUDGET DEFICIT ALONGSIDE THE INCREASING COSTS OF CLIMATE RELATED DAMAGES TO TAXPAYERS AND PROFITS IN THE FOSSIL-FUEL INDUSTRY WHICH IS THE CHIEF INSTIGATOR OF THE DAMAGES, ISN'T IT TIME TO CUT SOME OF THE 1.6 BILLION IN FOSSIL-FUEL SUBSIDIES THAT NEW YORK CURRENTLY OFFERS? >> SO GO

OD AFTERNOON. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> I TAKE YOUR ATLANTIC YARDS QUESTIONS FIRST. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPER OF AT LAND STICK YARDS AND ITS LENDER TO FIGURE OUT A WAY FORWARD. THERE IS A DEFAULT ON THE DEBT. AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE HELPEDDER TO -- LENDER TO FIGURE OUT WHO WILL STEP IN AS A DESIGNATED DEVELOPER. ESD HAS TO APPROVE THAT PERSON OR ENTITY AS A DESIGNATED DEVELOPER AND WE ARE WAITING TO HAVE THOSE FOLKS STEP FORWARD. WITH RESPECT TO LIQUIDATED DAMAGES, THAT D

EFAULT WOULD PROVISION WOULD KICK IN NEXT YEAR AND SO WE INTEND TO PURSUE LIQUIDATED DAMAGES IF THOSE UNITS ARE NOT PRODUCED AT THAT TIME. >> SO I GUESS A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION TO THAT IS THE PLATFORMS AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF THEM BEING BUILT AND HOW QUICKLY WE CAN REPLACE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT MAY NOT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE WITH A DEVELOPER THAT CAN'T PERFORM MAY NOT EVER BE BUILT. HOW DO WE REMEDY THAT? >> WELL, WE HAVE A LEASE UNTIL 2035. AND SO WE DO HAVE TO WORK WITH THE CURRENT DEVELOPER A

ND THE LENDER TO DETERMINE IF WE CAN GET A DEVELOPER THAT ESD APPROVES TO STEP IN. >> AND COULD YOU ADDRESS THE TAX -- >> I WILL GET BACK TO YOU. >> HAVE TO GET BACK TO US ON THAT. THANK YOU. >> SENATOR BORELLO. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. START WITH YOU COMMISSIONER KNIGHT. FIRST OF ALL I APPRECIATE WHAT ESD DOES I SPENT 10 YEARS IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND YOU PROVIDE US AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD WHEN COMPETING WITH OTHER STATES. THAT BEING SAID MY

CONCERN IS THAT WE TEND TO MEASURE SUCCESS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF JOBS WE CREATE AND THAT IS UNFORTUNATELY A PROBLEM STILL. THE REALITY IS THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF OPEN JOBS IN NEW YORK STATE. AND WE TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE AND ALSO THERE ARE INDUSTRIES THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM AN INFUSION OF CAPITAL AND SUPPORT TO HELP THEM ESSENTIALLY MODERNIZE AND OUGHT MADE THEIR INDUSTRY SO THEY ARE SCREAMING FOR WORKERS BUT THE FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY IN PARTICULAR. HOW DO WE SHIFT THIS CON

VERSATION FROM MEASURING EVERYTHING THAT ESD DOES IN SUCCESS BASED 0 AND THE NUMBER OF JOBS WHEN THE REALITY IS THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE. IN FACT, THOSE PEOPLE THAT GET INCENTIVES THAT COME TO NEW YORK STATE ARE POACHING EMPLOYEES FROM OUR EXISTING EMPLOYERS PAYING THE FULL BOAT WHEN IT COMES TO TAXES AND EVERYTHING ELSE. HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF HOW AN ENTITY MAY CREATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, THE AMOUNT OF TAXES INTO THE ECONOMY, WE LOOK AT A NUMBER OF DIM

ENSIONS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SUCCESS OF PROJECTS. BUT JOBS IS ONE MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR, BECAUSE THAT DEFINITELY CREATES THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THE TAX ROLLS, REVENUES TO THE TAX ROLLS AND PROVIDES FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE AND RAISE A FAMILY. >> YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT IS THE THEORY. BUT THE REALITY IS THERE ARE OPEN POSITIONS RIGHT NOW THAT CANNOT BE FILLED. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING THERE'S WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BRING TOGETHER THE IDEA WE NEED A WELL-TRAINED WORKFORCE AND PEOPLE THAT A

RE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE THOSE POSITIONS. AND THAT'S SAYING WE'LL BRING MICRON I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY IS EXCITED ABOUT THE CHIP MANUFACTURER BUT THEY WILL HAVE THOUSANDS OF OPEN POSITIONS AND MOST WILL NOT BE PEOPLE MOVING FROM NEW YORK STATE THEY WILL BE POACHING WORKERS FROM OTHER EMPLOYERS THAT ARE NOT GETTING THE TAX BENEFITS THAT THE MICRON IS GETTING. HOW DO WE SHIFT THAT DISCUSSION? >> I THINK THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS GOING A LONG WAY IN TRYING TO PROVIDE THE TRAINING

OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE DIRECT LINKAGES TO JOBS. BY GETTING FOLKS OFF THE SIDELINES THAT MAY HAVE HAD BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT WE CAN GET THOSE FOLKS INTO JOBS. >> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY? >> YES, MEMBER CARROLL. >> THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONER KNIGHT. I AM GOING TO PICK UP WHERE ASSEMBLYMEMBER SIMON LEFT OFF AROUND THE ATLANTIC YARDS PROJECT AND THE DEFAULT OF GREENLAND'S DEBT AND THE FORECLOSE THAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING. AS ASSEMBLYMEMBER SIMON WAS SAYING LIQU

IDATED DAMAGES SHOULD KICK IN IN 2025871 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE NOT BUILT. ZERO UNITS ARE BUILT TODAY. IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE THERE'S ANY POSSIBILITY THAT A SINGLE UNIT WILL BE BUILT BY 2025. WHAT IS EDC'S PLAN? HOW ARE WE GOING TO BUILD THIS HOUSING? HOW ARE WE GOING TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT? HOW ARE WE GOING TO PROVIDE THE OPEN SPACE THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS. 95% OF WHAT HASN'T BEEN BUILT IS IN MY DISTRICT. THERE IS A GIANT HOLE IN MY DISTRICT. THERE IS A PLATFORM THAT SUPPOSEDLY GOING

TO GET BUILT OVER THE MTA RAIL YARDS AND THERE'S 871 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT NEEDS TO BE BUILT. WHAT IS THE PLAN? DO WE HAVE A BUYER WHO IS GOING TO STEP. >> THE SHOES OF GREENLAND OR ARE WE GOING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY FOR GREENLAND TO CONTINUE ON? >> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. THERE IS AN AUCTION THAT IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT MONTH AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE A BUYER TO STEP IN TO GREENLAND'S PLACE. WITH RESPECT TO THE 870 UNITS, THOSE UNITS HAVE TO BE BUILT OR DELIVERED SO THERE

COULD BE A SITUATION WHERE GREENLAND IS ABLE TO DELIVER 870 AFFORDABLE UNITS WHICH IS WHY WE CAN'T GO ON THE BASIS OF AN ANTICIPATORY DEFAULT WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL 2025. AND SO OUR PLAN IS TO SEE THE OUTCOME OF THIS AUCTION. WE BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE A BUYER THAT STEPS FORWARD. AND BEGIN TO BUILD THE HOUSING THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS LOOKING TO SEE. >> AND DO YOU BELIEVE THAT EDC AND THE MTA ARE PREPARED TO MOVE ON THE PLATFORM THAT NEEDS TO BE BUILT OVER THOSE RAIL YARDS SO THIS PROJECT CAN C

ONTINUE? >> WELL, THERE IS AN OBLIGATION FOR THAT PLATFORM TO BE BUILT. >> DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE FOR THAT? >> WE WOULD WORK THROUGH A TIMELINE WITH. >> HUMOR ME LIKE DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG THAT WILL TAKE? DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN IF WE FIND A DEVELOPER WHO CAN ACTUALLY BUILD THIS PROJECT THAT WE'RE READY TO GO WITH THAT WITH THE PLATFORM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE? >> WE KNOW THERE ARE FOOTINGS IN THE GROUND FOR THE PLATFORM IT SHOULD TAKE A COUPLE YEARS TO C

OMPLETE THE PLATFORM. >> AND THEN, OF COURSE, BUILDINGS COULD START SO THERE WILL BE A DEFAULT THERE WILL BE LIQUIDATED DAMAGES BECAUSE IF IT TAKES A COUPLE YEARS WE ARE PAST THE DEADLINE IN 25. >> UNLESS GREENLAND DELIVERS 870 UNITS. >> CAN THEY DELIVER THOSE? >> THEY CAN CONVERT THE EXISTING MARKET. >> BUILT AT THE SITE. >> YES. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> THANK YOU. SENATOR BAILEY OR HINCHEY IN THE ROOM THEY HAD TO LEAVE FOR THINGS. I AM THE NEXT SENATOR THANK YOU. WE TALKED ABOUT AFFORDABLE HO

USING AND USING STATE LAND BEFORE. AND I BELIEVE THE QUESTION WAS ASKED THAT IS THERE ANY IDENTIFICATION OF WHERE THESE PROJECTS MIGHT GO. AND I THINK YOU SAID THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DECIDED BUT I THINK THE GOVERNOR DID TALK ABOUT THREE VERY SPECIFIC SITES. SO I'M TRYING TO CLARIFY. IS THERE ACTUALLY SITES FOR THE MONEY THAT IS IN THE $250 MILLION PER YEAR FOR TWO YEARS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON STATE LAND FOUR SPECIFIC SITES? >> THERE ARE SPECIFIC SITES BUT WE ARE WORKING THROUGH OTHER SITES TO UND

ERSTAND IF THOSE SITES HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE WORKED ON RIGHT AWAY. THE READINESS OF DELIVERING THE UNITS. >> AND SHE ALSO TALKED ABOUT 150,000 UNITS ON STATE LAND AND YOU REFERENCED THAT ALSO. SO IS THERE ANY MONEY FOR ALL OF THOSE OTHER UNITS? OR IS THERE JUST THAT 250 MILLION PER YEAR FOR TWO YEARS? >> THE 250 MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR FOR TWO YEARS IS FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE. WE WOULD WORK WITH PARTNERS LIKE HCR AND PRIVATE DEVELOPERS FOR DEVELOPING THOSE SPECIFIC PROJECTS. >> SO ONE-ON-ONE DE

ALS. >> YES. >> WITH THE STATE FRONTING THE LAND AND THE DEVELOPERS BEING ABLE TO USE THE LAND. IS THAT MY UNDERSTANDING? >> DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCE, YES. >> AND DO YOU KNOW WOULD IT BE A MODEL OF A 99-YEAR LEASE AS OPPOSED TO THE STATE GIVING THEM THE LAND? >> I THINK WE WOULD LOOK AT THE SITUATIONS ON A SITE BY SITE BASIS. >> AND I DON'T WANT TO RE-ASK BUT I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND YOU SAID WE ALL AGREE IT SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS THERE ANY MANDATE THAT IT HAS TO BE SOME FORM OF A

FFORDABLE HOUSING IF WE ARE GIVING THEM OR LEASING THEM THE STATE LAND? >> WE LOOK AT CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE WE CAN TO CREATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE SPECIFIC PROJECT. AND TRANSACTION. >> AND IT IT WOULD BE ESDC MAKING THAT DETERMINATION, THE HOUSING AGENCY, WHO? >> I THINK IT'S IN CONCERT AMONG A NUMBER OF PARTIES. IF IT'S AN ESD, RFP WE LOOK AT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE PARTICULAR PROJECT, WORK WITH HCR TO SEE IF WE CAN USE SOME OF THEIR TOOLS

TO CREATE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. >> AND IF IT'S ON STATE LAND, IS THE ASSUMPTION THAT YOU STILL HAVE TO FOLLOW LOCAL ZONING REQUIREMENTS? >> WELL, IN MANY CASES. >> OR SOME MUNICIPALITIES SOME COUNTY SOMEWHERE? >> IN MANY CASES WE USE OUR GPP AND YOU KNOW WORK WITH THE MUNICIPALITY AND THE COMMUNITY TO DETERMINE THE ZONING FOR THOSE PROJECTS. >> AND THE GOVERNOR HAS SEPARATELY AT SOME POINT SAID SHE IS INTERESTED IN HAVING IDA'S GET INVOLVED IN BUILDING HOUSING. MY READING OF THE LAW IS IDA'S C

ANNOT BUILD HOUSING. COULD YOU CLARIFY YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW? >> I BELIEVE THAT IDA'S CAN FINANCE HOUSING TO SOME DEGREE. IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A COMPLICATION IN THE LAW. SO WE CAN COME BACK TO YOU ON THAT. BUT THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING. >> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IN WRITING WHY YOU THINK THAT IS ALLOWED. LAWYERS I TALK TO SAYS THEY ARE NOT. SO THE ARTS COMMISSIONER ARE YOU COMMISSIONER NO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. SHE JUST GOT HERE. BUT I'VE BEEN DOING READING AROUND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VALU

E OF THE ARTS TO THE ECONOMY THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW YORK. AND IT IS A PRETTY DRAMATIC WIN WITHOUT QUOTING ALL THE DIFFERENT REPORTS PUT OUT BY YOUR AGENCY AND SOME BY OTHERS. BUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MULTIPLIER EFFECT FROM THE ARTS IS FOR WAGES, FOR TAXES FOR TOURISM, IS STARTINGLY GOOD. DOES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECOGNIZE ARTS PROGRAMS AS ELIGIBLE FOR ANY OF YOUR PROGRAMS? YES. >> YES. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN SOME ARTS PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED THROUGH OUR RETC PROCESS. SOMETIMES THROUGH THE DR

I PROCESS. MARKET NEW YORK. >> OKAY. YOU DON'T HAPPEN TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY FROM THAT PROGRAM ENDS UP GOING INTO THE ARTS? >> NO, BUT I CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION. >> APPRECIATE IT. WHICH IS AN ENTRY TO THE NEXT QUESTION. HOW ARE YOU EVALUATING THE DOLLAR VALUE OF RETURNS FROM EACH INDIVIDUAL DECISION THAT ESDC IS MAKING ON AWARDING GRANTS OR TAX EXEMPTIONS ET CETERA? AND HOLDING THEM UP AND COMPARING THEM AND SAYING WELL THE ARTS WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD INVESTMENT. THIS ONE NOT SO MUCH. HOW A

RE WE DOING THAT? I KNOW WE'VE IMPROVED THE DATABASE THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT AND WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO USING THAT AND ADDING TO THAT. BUT IS THERE A STANDARD FORM THAT YOU USE FOR ACTUALLY EVALUATING THE WINS AND THE LOSSES? >> SO, WE LOOK AT OUR PROJECTS INDIVIDUALLY TO SEE WHAT KIND OF ECONOMIC IMPACT THEY HAVE, THE OUTPUT, THE CONTRIBUTION TO TAXES. YOU KNOW BUILDING ON THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TAX AND FINANCE, MY OFFICE WE ARE ISSUING AN RFP TO EVALUA

TE NONTAX CREDIT PROGRAMS. SO WE CAN DO SOME OF THAT WORK AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THE INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS AND HOW THEY ARE PERFORMING RELATIVE TO OTHERS. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL LEFT ALONE. IN THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER 22, LEADING BY EXAMPLE, SHE IS CALLING FOR ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SUSTAINABILITY AND DECARBONIZATION THROUGH OUR ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS AND PROCUREMENT. TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 22 INVESTMENTS WILL BE MADE DIRECT

LY HELPING BOLSTER THE STATE FACILITIES, DECARBONIZATION EFFORTS AND PROVIDING THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO INITIATIVE PROCUREMENT PRACTICES THAT PRIORITIZE SUSTAINABLE AND CLIMATE RESILIENT DESIGN PRACTICES. WHILE REDUCING EMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH STATE OPERATIONS. I WANTED TO READ THE WHOLE THING. SO YOU AND I WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE IN MY OPINION OF DEFORESTATION IN OUR PROCUREMENT. TELL ME WHAT ELSE OGS IS DOING TO MEET EXECUTIVE ORDER 22s RESPONSETIES? >> SENATOR, I APPRECI

ATE THE QUESTION. THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A NUMBER OF STATE AGENCIES ARE PART OF THE GREEN NEW YORK COUNCIL. WE DO LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EO22 AND WE ARE PART OF SOME OF THE CRAFTING THE LANGUAGE AND IN SUPPORT OF IT. WE ARE LOOKING AT RELATIVE TO DECARBONIZING OUR FACILITIES MAKING SURE THE SUPPLY CHAIN OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST THAT WE FOCUS ON THEM. AS AN EXAMPLE THIS PAST YEAR WE WORKED THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES RELATIVE TO CLEAN CONCRET

E. AN AREA IN WHICH THE CREATION OF CONCRETE WHICH HAPPENS RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE THE EMISSIONS THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS AND INSTITUTE A TIMELINE THAT ALLOWS FOR THE INDUSTRY WITHIN NEW YORK TO BE ABLE TO ADAPT TO THOSE CHANGES. PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE THAT CREATE CONCRETE HERE IN NEW YORK. AND CERTAINLY SOMETHING WHERE IT WILL IMPACT BOTH PROJECTS THAT ARE TRANSPORTATION ORIENTED, THE HORIZONTAL CONSTRUCTION BUILD AS WELL AS VERTICAL

AS WE LOOK AT THE RETROFITS. WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH A NUMBER OF ENTITY TAXES TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS WAYS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. >> BACK TO YOU MS. KNIGHT. GIVEN THE DESCRIPTION OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER AND NOW WHAT OGS IS DOING, DO YOU THINK ANYTIME YOU GIVE OUT A GRANTOR TAX EXEMPTION YOU ALSO OUGHT TO BE EVALUATING THE PROPOSAL IN THE CONTEXT OF IT TARGETING AND MEETING OUR STATE COMMITMENTS TO DECARBONIZING AND IMPROVING PARTICULARLY WITH PROCUREM

ENT AND OTHER NEW INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING? >> WE'RE STARTING TO LOOK AT -- WHEN WE LOOK AT EVALUATING PROJECTS, WE'RE STARTING TO LOOK AT HOW THESE PROJECTS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO A SUSTAINABLE GREEN ECONOMY AND IN SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS WE'RE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL CREDIT FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE MEETING OR GROWING BEYOND THOSE STANDARDS. >> SO YOU HAVE ACTUALLY HAVE STANDARDS THAT YOU USE AND CAN REJECT A PROPOSAL BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MEET THE STANDARDS? >> YES. WE ARE LOOKING AT PROJECTS THAT ARE C

ONTRIBUTING TO THE GREEN ECONOMY OR HAVE SIGNIFICANT SUSTAINABILITY FACTORS. >> THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY? MEMBER BROKEN 17. BRONSTEIN. MY QUESTION IS FOR COMMISSIONER KNIGHT AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MY QUESTION IS GOING TO BE ABOUT THE RUSH PROGRAM. I REPRESENT THE CREED MORE CAMPUS IN EASTERN QUEENS AND THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR, ESDC HAS BEEN HAVING COMMUNITY FORUMS TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSAL AND ONE OF THE THINGS THE COMMUNITY ASKED WAS THEY WERE RECEPTIVE TO HOUSING BUT ONE OF T

HE THINGS THE COMMUNITY ASKED WAS THAT IT BE SOMEWHAT COMMENSURATE WITH THE DENSITY OF THE COMMUNITY THE COMMUNITY SUGGESTED FOUR STOREY BUILDINGS AND A THOUSAND UNITS IN EARLY DECEMBER ESDC WITHOUT INFORMING THE LOCAL LEGISLATORS I FOUND OUT ON TWITTER ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH 2800 UNITS, EIGHT STOREY BUILDINGS. MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE COMMUNITY WAS PROPOSING. AND I THOUGHT THE CAN THE WAS BEING REASONABLE. THIS IS A SINGLE FAMILY HOME NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS GARDEN APARTM

ENTS TWO STOREYS. 8 STOREY BUILDINGS IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. FIRST I WAS FRUSTRATED TO FIND OUT ON TWITTER THAT THIS WAS THE FINAL PROPOSAL. AND NOT JUST MYSELF BUT STATE SENATOR STAVISKY, COUNCILMEMBER LEE AND VANEL IS HERE. WE FOUND OUT ON TWITTER AND I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WITH THIS, IF THE ADMINISTRATION KNEW AT THE TIME THAT MONTHS LATER THEY WERE GOING TO PUT IN THE BUDGET THE FUNDING FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THIS PROJECT, WHY WOULDN'T YOU REACH OUT TO THE STATE

OFFICIALS AT THE TIME AND TRY TO REACH AN AGREEMENT THAT EVERYBODY'S COMFORTABLE WITH? AND THE OTHER QUESTION IS, MY COLLEAGUES BOTH RUSH FUNDING WITH UNSPECIFIED PROPERTIES, CAN THEY EXPECT .. TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS? OR IS THIS A SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM? >> SO THANK YOU ASSEMBLYMEMBER FOR YOUR WORK ON, YOU KNOW, THIS ENGAGEMENT PROCESS WITH THE COMMUNITY ON CEDE MORE. >> CREEDMOOR. >> DURING ALL OF THIS, YOU ARE IMAGINING 1,000 PERSON TENT SHELTER .. THAT THE AD

MINISTRATION HAS PUT THERE. SO WHILE WE ARE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, HANDLE THAT SITUATION SIMULTANEOUSLY WE ARE TOLD RIGHT AFTER THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE STARTING CONSTRUCTION OF 2,800 UNITS. I AM SORRY -- >> SO THE MEDIA MOWER PLANT WAS RELEASED IN DECEMBER WITH A GOAL TO MAXIMIZE THE NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS. GOING FORWARD WE WILL DEFINITELY BE WORKING WITH THE ELECTED AROUND THIS ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AS WE RELEASE THE GPP AND BEGIN THE ENVIRONMENTAL. WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. >> THAN

K YOU. >> THANK YOU. SENATOR O'MARA. FIVE MINUTE, RANKER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TESTIMONY, IT IS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE. COMMISSIONER MOY, ONE QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU. I SEE THERE IS AN ITEM IN THE LOCALITY FOR 1 $15 MILLION FOR E STATE TO PAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE RENT OF FLOYD BENNETT FIELD TO HOUSE MIGRANTS. WHY ARE WE MAKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO USE THEIR PROPERTY TO HOUSE MIGRANTS THAT THEY HAVE ALLOWED TO COME HERE? >> SENATOR, I APPRECIATE THE

QUESTION. IT IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT SOME PAYMENT IS MADE AND THAT WAS PART OF THE NEGOTIATION AND CONVERSATION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. >> SO ACTUALLY NEGOTIATED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STILL PAYING $15 MILLION? >> THERE ARE -- THERE ARE SERVICES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED. THERE IS ACCESS, BUT THESE ARE PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. I AM HAPPY TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SOME OF THE DETAILS OF IT TO YOU. >> OFF-LINE? >> NO. WE CA

N DO SO IN THE RECORD, RESPOND AND GIVE INFORMATION TO THE FULL LEGISLATURE. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER KNIGHT, A BIG CONCERN OF MINE IS MANUFACTURING FIRMS LEAVING NEW YORK STATE, A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT THE ARTICLE IN THE TIMES UNION JUST LAST WEEK ABOUT COMPANY LEAVING SARATOGA AND MENTIONING THAT THESE ARE MANUFACTURING FIRMS THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS. THEY HAVE OPERATIONS IN OTHER STATES AND WHEN THEY ARE DOWNSIZING AND CONSOLIDATING THEY ARE CHOOSING TO LEAVE THEIR NEW YOR

K OPERATIONS FOR OTHER STATES TYPICALLY THOSE THAT ARE MORE BUSINESS FRIENDLY FROM A COST PERSPECTIVE. QUAD GRAPHICS ALSO CLOSED A FACILITY IN ILLINOIS ANOTHER VERY HIGH TECH STATE, SO WE ARE SEEING THIS TREND, THE TIMES UNION ARTICLE MENTIONED -- BATH TISSUE, WHICH MOVED THEIR OPERATIONS TO ALABAMA, CLOSING IN NEW YORK, LEE HIGH CEMENT MOVING TO INDIANA. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THESE COMPANIES WHEN THEY ARE MAKING THESE DECISIONS TO LEAVE AND WHAT ARE WE DOING FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PER

SPECTIVE FROM NEW YORK STATE TO DO ALL WE CAN TO RETAIN MANUFACTURERS AND IN FACT GROW THEM? BECAUSE I THINK MANUFACTURING SHOULD BE THE BASE OF OUR ECONOMY AND A LOT OF OTHER INDUSTRIES WILL GROW OFF OF THAT. SO WHY ARE WE SEEING THIS VERY DISTURBING TREND OF COMPANIES WHEN THEY DOWNSIZE CHOOSING TO EXIT NEW YORK FOR LOWER TAX STATES? >> SO, SENATOR, I UNDERSTAND YOUR THE CONCERN ABOUT SOME COMPANIES LEAVING NEW YORK AND MOVING TO LOWER TAX STATES AND WE HAVE SEEN THOSE EXAMPLES THAT YOU POINT

OUT, BUT WE ALSO ARE HAVING MORE COMPANIES MOVE TO NEW YORK STATE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, REINSURE INSTITUTE NAMED NEW YORK THE NUMBER ONE STATE IN RESHORING AND SO BY PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, SHOVEL READY SITES AND ACCESS TO POWER AND UTILITIES AND THE THINGS THAT MANUFACTURERS NEED WE ARE SEEING MANY COMPANIES MOVE AND EXPAND IN NEW YORK STATE. >> WITH INCENTIVES? >> IN SOME CASE, INCENTIVES, PROVIDING TAX CREDITS THAT ARE PAID PERFORMANCE, YES. >> SO THOSE COMPANIES THAT ARE LEAVING ARE NOT

GETTING THE INCENTIVES SO THE CHOSEN ONES ARE ABLE TO MAKE IT IN NEW YORK BUT THOSE THAT AREN'T GETTING SIGNIFICANT BREAKS ARE EXITING NEW YORK? JUST TO MOVE ON TO THE AI CONSORTIUM, $250 MILLION, PLUS 125 COMING FROM SOME UNIVERSITY THAT IS GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DETAIL WHATSOEVER ON TIMELINE, A LOCATION, HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE SET UP. AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT DEFICITS, IN FACT LOOKING AT A $20 BILLION DEFICIT OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, IN LOOKING AT THESE U

NIVERSITIES, THE TOP TEN ENDOWMENTS OF NEW YORK UNIVERSITIES EXCEED $31 BILLION YET WE ARE CONTRIBUTING AS A STATE TWICE AS MUCH AS WE ARE ASKING THESE UNIVERSITIES TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARD THIS? WHY SHOULDN'T THAT BE REVERSED OR WHY SHOULDN'T THEY DO IT ON THEIR OWN OUT OF THEIR EXCESSIVE ENDOWMENTS? >> IF WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A CONSORTIUM OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THEIR EXPERTISE IN THE WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING SO THAT WE CAN, AS I MENTIONED, PROVIDE ETHICA

L APPLICATIONS TO AI. >> THANK YOU. I AM OUT OF TIME. >> THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY. >> I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE WERE JOINED EARLIER BY SENATOR PIROZZOLO AND JOINED BY ASSEMBLYWOMAN WALSH. >> AND THE NEXT QUESTIONER IS ASSEMBLYMEMBER SIMONE. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR COMMISSIONER KNIGHT. GOOD TO SEE YOU. MY FIRST IS, THE PENN STATE IS HEAVILY REQUIRING LESS RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT THAN EVEN THE ONGOING ZONING WOULD ALLOW FOR W THE COLLAPSE OF THE COMMERCIAL PLANTS FOR THE AREA WHY DOE

S THE STATE NOT UTILIZE THE GPB TO THE TACKLE THE HOUSING CRISIS? PARTICULARLY ON TWO CURRENT VACANT LOTS IN THE AREA OF THE JOY REID SITE? >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS, ASSEMBLYMEMBER. WE WILL LEAVE THE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE GPB TO CREATE COMMERCIAL OFFICE AS WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE A NEED FOR COMMERCIAL OFFICE SPACE, PARTICULARLY OVER THE SIGNIFICANT TRANSIT CENTER. WE ARE LOOKING AT HOUSING FOR THE PENN SITE AND CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THAT WITH THE OWNER, THE PROPERTY OWNER. >> LOOKING AT CL

OSELY HOW BADLY WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THAT AREA AND WE HAVE SO MANY EMPTY COMMERCIAL OFFICES. NOW MY SECOND QUESTION IS, I WAS GLAD TO SEE THE GOVERNOR PROPOSING $250 MILLION TO REPURPOSE STATE OWNED PROPERTY TOWARDS HOUSING FOR THE RUSH PROGRAM AS YOU KNOW MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED IN MY DISTRICT ON THE WEST SIDE OF MANHATTAN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY SUPPORTS A PLAN FOR MANY BLOCK ASSOCIATION LEADERS TO DEVELOP ALMOST 6,000 HOUSING UNITS ON STATE OWNED SITES. HOW WILL THESE FUNDS BE DISTR

IBUTED AND HOW MUCH CAN BE EXPECTED FROM THIS ALLOCATION? >> SO WE ARE LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF SITES ACROSS THE STATE AND WE ARE GOING TO USE CRITERIA SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT CAN BE REALIZED, THE READINESS OF THE SITES AS WELL AS HOW THE SITES WILL CONTRIBUTE TO COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION TO MAKE A MAINFRAME COMMUNITIES AND SO WE WILL USE THOSE KINDS OF GUIDELINES TO MAKE A DETERMINATION WHICH PROJECTS GET FUNDED. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OKAY. FOR THE SENATE. >> ACTUALLY, I

THINK IT IS OUR LAST SENATOR, UNLESS SOMEONE ELSE IS WAVING TO ME AND IT IS SENATE RYAN FOR A THREE MINUTE FOLLOW-UP. >> >> SO I HAVE TO SAY I AGREE WITH ASSEMBLYMEMBER WOERNER TO CONNECT ALL PROGRAM BEING PRIORITIZED FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY AND I HOPE YOU HAVE POLICIES THAT WOULD REFLECT THAT. SO WE ARE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON HIGH TECH COMMUNITY. EVERYONE IS TRYING TO CAPTURE SILICON VALLEY. IF YOU LOOK BACK IN THE EIGHTIES WE HAVE SILICON VALLEY AND THEN THE MASSACHUSETTS 128 CORRIDOR. I

T LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE BOTH NECK AND NECK ABOUT BEING BIG HIGH TECH CORRIDORS AND ONE ON THE EAST COAST, ONE ON THE WEST COAST AND THEY WOULD BECOME THE HUBS, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT FOR OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY. BUT YOU SAW OVER TIME SILICON VALLEY TOOK OFF MORE ELEVATION, MORE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND THE 128 CORRIDOR SORT OF STAGNATED AND SORT OF FIZZLED, , YOU REALY DON'T HEAR ABOUT IT MUCH. SO PEOPLE ARE LOOKING BACK AT THOSE AND SAYING WHY DID SILICON VALLEY TAKE OFF AND WHY DID THE 128 FIZZL

E AND THERE IS A SURPRISING CULPRIT. MASSACHUSETTS HAD VERY STRICT A AND VERY ENFORCEABLE NON-COMPETE LAWS, CALIFORNIA HAD NO NON-COMPETE LAWS, WHICH ALLOWED ENTREPRENEURS, INNOVATORS TO MOVE FROM A COMPANY TO COMPANY, SO IF YOU THOUGHT ABOUT, SO HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF NEW YORK NON-COMPETE LAWS ON THE HIGH TECH PUBLICLY FUNDED ECONOMY WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD? >> YOU KNOW, THAT IS AN INTERESTING WALK THROUGH HISTORY ABOUT SILICON VALLEY AND MASSACHUSETTS AND, YOU KNOW, SOME

OF THE FACTORS THAT LED TO MASSACHUSETTS NOT REACHING ITS MAXIMIZATION. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT NON-COMPETE LAWS AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS YET TO BE SEEN OF COURSE WHAT WILL BE THE RESULT OF THIS. IT IS TOO EARLY TO TELL OF COURSE BUT WE WILL BE TAKING A LOOK AT IT AS IT -- >> I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THE REPORTS OUT OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE FROM MINNESOTA. THEY LOOKED AT THIS ISSUE IN MINNESOTA, PUT IN A BAN ON NONCOMPETES. MINNESOTA SAID OUR INVESTMENT, OUR STATE INVESTMENT IN THE HIGH

TECH WILL BECOME FOR NAUGHT UNLESS WE MAKE IT SO EMPLOYEES CAN FREELY GO FROM HIGH TECH COMPANY TO HIGH TECH COMPANY AND RIGHT NOW IN NEW YORK I FEAR WE ARE GOING TO GO DOWN THE MASSACHUSETTS 128 ROUTE, WE ARE GOING INVEST A LOT OF MONEY AND IT IS NOT GOING TO TAKE OFF AND IT IS NOT GOING TO TAKE OFF BECAUSE OF RESTRICTIVE ABILITY OF EMPLOYEES TO GO FROM SECTOR TO SECTOR IN THE HIGH TECH FIELD AND IT REALLY STIFLES INNOVATION THAT WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP THINKING ABOU

T THAT AND WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT IN THE FUTURE. >> THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY. >> MEMBER FAHY. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THIRD TIME IS A CHARM. THANK YOU ALL. I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A LONG DAY. I WANT TO THANK YOUR TEAMS FOR THIS ON A HOST OF ISSUES. I HAVE THREE QUICK QUESTIONS I HOPE I CAN GET THROUGH. FIRST 1 F I APPRECIATE THE EMPHASIS ON HOUSING, PARTICULARLY WITH SUNY AND ALSO TALKED ABOUT -- I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE WORKING WITH BOTH OF YOU AS THE HIGHER ED CHAIR ON SUNY DEVELOPMEN

TS AND FIND ALL OF THAT PROMISING WITH REGARD TO ALL OF THE NEED FOR HOUSING. OGS COMMISSIONER, AT THIS APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONED THE CAPITAL OF -- AS WELL AS THE COURTYARD IN THE CAPITAL EFFORTS EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL TO THAT AS WELL AS THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE STATE FLEET, A FORMER BILL OF NINE AND SENATOR METZGER, AS WELL IT IS A DECARBONIZATION OF THE PLAZA, VERY MUCH APPRECI APPRECIATED. WITH REGARD TO ESD, IF YOU WOULD, CAN WE JUST GET A VERY BRIEF TIMELINE ON WHEN YOU EXPECT TO SEE NEW YORK CRE

ATE HAS COME UP A FEW FILES TODAY WITH THE BILLION DOLLARS INVESTMENT LAST MONTH. CAN YOU GIVE US A QUICK TIMELINE ON NEXT STEPS THERE ON AGAIN -- >> I WILL GIVE KEVIN -- >> GOOD AFTERNOON. SO THE GROUND BREAKING HAS STARTED ON THE INAUV CENTER WITH COMPLETION, PRIMARY, COMPLETION BY 10/25 AND DELIVERY OF THE TOOL AROUND THAT TIME. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO, WHILE I HAVE YOU, JUST PUT A QUICK PLUG IN FOR THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, THE CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE WHICH ARE SO CRITIC

AL AS YOU KNOW WE DID THE WEATHER ONE OR THE ATMOSPHERIC ONE IN NEW ALBANY A FEW YEARS AGO AND NOW SHOOTING TO DO RNA. I KNOW IT WASN'T IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET WHEN I GET THAT PLUG IN THERE. MY TWO OTHER QUESTIONS, ONE, AGAIN, FOR ESD IS BROADBAND, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE WE CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MANAGEMENT THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE BROADBAND ROLLOUT? >> WELL, IN THE CASES THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MANY OF THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE ALREADY DELIVERING UTILITIES

TO THEIR CUSTOMERS, RESIDENTS, SO WE ARE KIND OF CONFIDENT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MANAGE THAT TECHNOLOGY. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE. MY LAST QUESTION IS FOR THE ARTS I WANT TO ECHO SO MUCH OF WHAT ASSEMBLYMEMBER O'DONNELL MENTIONED, PARTICULARLY MULTIPLIER EFFECT WITH THE ARTS, WHICH IS REALLY ASTOUNDING, ESPECIALLY IN OUR URBAN THE COURSE AS WELL AS OUR SMALL TOWNS. MUSEUMS. WE HAVE THE SECOND OLDEST MUSEUM IN THE COUNTRY, THE ART AND HISTORY INSTITUTE AS WELL AS WE H

AVE A CHIRPS MUSEUM IN SCHENECTADY AT THIS, REALLY STRUGGLING .. IS THERE AN EFFORT TO SHOWCASE ANYTHING WE CAN DO WITH MUSEUMS IN THE SYSTEM? AND I KNOW WE NEED SOMETHING RIGHT ACROSS THE BOARD. >> OKAY. FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU, BUT MUSEUMS ARE IMPORTANT. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> HI. BECAUSE WE HAVE TAKEN SO LONG WE ARE GOING TO LET OUR PANELISTS AND ANYONE ELSE TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK FOR STRETCHING LEGS AND OTHER PURPOSES. AND THEN WE WILL COME RIGHT BACK . >> WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO MOVE ALONG QUI

CKLY NOW, WE DON'T NEED THREE MINUTE QUESTIONS. ANYWAY, MEMBER JONES, YOU ARE UP. >> WOW. >> GOOD MORNING. >> I AM READY, I AM READY. >> GOOD MORNING, ALL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND JOINING US. I FIRST WANT TO REITERATE WE DO NEED TO GET TO THE UNSERVED COMMUNITIES WITH OUR BROADBAND PROGRAM BEFORE WE THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GOING OTHER PLACES WITH THAT UNDERSERVED. I HAVE MANY OF THEM IN THE NORTH COUNTRY, THE LOVELY NORTH COUNTRY, THE ADIRONDACKS WHICH LEADS ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION. ANY OF TH

IS CONNECT ALL MONEY ELIGIBLE FOR CELLPHONE UPGRADING, CELLPHONE SERVICE? IS THAT ELIGIBLE? >> SO THE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CONNECT ALL IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR CELLPHONE SERVICE. SOME OF THIS WORK WE ARE DOING LIKE I TALKED ABOUT TO THE MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES FOR BEING ABLE TO LEVERAGE FIBER FOR CELLPHONE SERVICE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE BELIEVE THESE PROGRAMS ARE IMPORTANT. OKAY. SO WE ARE HAVING ISSUES PRACTICALLY ALL OVER UPSTATE AND PROBABLY IN THE -- WITH CELLP

HONE COVERAGE. CAN WE MARRY THAT OR USE SOME OF THAT MONEY TO MARRY THIS TECHNOLOGY TO GET IT ON WIFI, TO GET IT ON TOWERS, TO GET WIFI ON THESE TOWERS TO HELP THESE COMMUNITIES OUT? I REPRESENT A LARGE SWATH OF THE ADIRONDACKS IN THE NORTH COUNTRY AND THE ISSUE HAS BECOME MORE ABOUT CELLPHONE SERVICE THAN BROADBAND, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. SO CAN WE MARRY THOSE TECHNOLOGIES? CAN WE USE THIS MONEY TO DO THAT. >> THERE HAS BEEN A COALITION OF US UPSTATE THAT REALLY WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN. >> SO LIKE,

WE ARE USING THE MONEY TO LEVERAGE THE FIBER SO THAT WE CAN CREATE OPEN ACCESS NETWORKS SO THAT THESE COMMERCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS OF MOBILE COVERAGE WILL EXPAND THE SERVICE. >> SO WE ARE WORKING ON THAT? >> YES. >> THANK YOU. ALSO REGULATION WITHIN THE ADIRONDACKS, WE NEED HELP WITH THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE A TREE THAT IS 50 FEET OVER A CELLPHONE TOWER OR TREES AND EXPECT IT TO WORK. MY LAST QUESTION IS, MWVE, I HAVE BEEN ASKING THE SAME QUESTION FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS NOW, HOW IS THE PRO

GRAM WORKING? I KNOW IT WAS PUT IN PLACE FOR AN EXTENSION IN IT, I BELIEVE IN THE PROGRAM, BUT IF WE CANNOT GET OUR PEOPLE CERTIFIED, THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I MEAN I HAVE WIMED OWN BUSINESSED, MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES CALLING MY OFFICE TIME AFTER TIME SAY THEY CAN'T GET CERTIFIED, CAN'T GET CERTIFIED AND PEOPLE COME IN AND I ASK QUESTIONS EVERY TIME AND SAY WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED TO DO IN DO WE NEED TO GET A DIVORCE FROM, A MARRIAGE? DO WE NEED TO GIVE A BLOOD SAMPLE? WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? THIS PRO

GRAM NEEDS TO RUN MORE EFFECTIVELY AND SMOOTHLY SO WE CAN GET THESE WOMEN OWNED AND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES CERTIFIED. THANK YOU. >.>> >> HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. SO I HAVE A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS AND WILL TRY TO TALK REALLY, REALLY FAST. FIRST IS FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MALLIN. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF THE ARTS. WE HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS ON RHODE ISLAND THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN CERTAINLY BENEFIT FROM, YOU KNOW, FUNDING FROM YOU GUYS. ONE OF THOSE IN MY DISTRICT, ONE OF THIS MEMBERS

IN MY DISTRICT REACHED OUT THIS WEEK ACTUALLY AND SAID THAT NASSAU AND SUFFOLKS WERE SEEING ABOUT THREE AND A HALF PERCENT OF THE COUNCIL'S FUNDING ALTHOUGH IT NEIGHBORS UP ALMOST 15 PERCENT OF THE STATE'S POPULATION SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, DO THOSE NUMBERS SOUND ACCURATE TO YOU? IF YES, WHAT CAN WE DO TO DO BETTER FOR CAN LONG ISLAND AND GET MORE FUNDS IN? AND IF YOU HAVE A BREAKDOWN YOU DON'T HAVE TO, HAVE TO GIVE IT TO ME NOW, NASSAU AND SUFFOLK, WHICH EACH OF THEM GET. >> I DON'T HAVE THAT

NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD SO CAN WE -- >> ABSOLUTELY. >> -- GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT? >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS FOR COMMISSIONER MOY. VERY QUICK QUESTION. ARE THERE PLANS IN THE WORK, NOTHING TO DO WITH MY DISTRICT, FOR IMPROVED VENTILATION AT THE LB BUILDING. THE REASON I ASK IS LAST YEAR WITH THE CANADIAN WILD FIRES THE CAPITAL WAS PRETTY OKAY. WE WERE ABLE TO BREATHE ALL RIGHT BUT THEN YOU WALKED INTO THE -- AND IT WAS A PLUME OF SMOKE AND IT SAT THERE FOR DAYS AND, YOU KNO

W, WE MAKE THEM SIT ALL DAY LONG. I FOR ONE CHOSE NOT TO COME. SO AGAIN YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET BACK TO ME NOW BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR AND I MENTIONED IT TO THE LEADERSHIP AND SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE YOU GUYS TO THINK ABOUT GOING FORWARD. WE WITH SHOULD BE PROTECTING OUR PEOPLE. >> I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION, ASSEMBLYMEMBER. I WILL LOOK INTO SPECIFICS OF THE PROJECTS IN THE LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT ARE PLANNED AND I WILL LO

OK SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE VENTILATION AND GET BACK TO YOU. >> FANTASTIC. AND THEN LASTLY, COMMISSIONER KNIGHT, SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. LONG ISLAND FARMS, MY FAVORITE FARM. APPROXIMATELY HOW MUCH IS LEFT THAT YOU CAN TELL ME IN THAT AND I KNOW YOU PROBABLY CAN'T GET INTO THOSE PROJECTS BUT IF THERE ARE PROJECTS IN THE WORKS, WHAT IS LEFT AFTER THOSE? >> SO I CAN TELL YOU APPROXIMATELY $200 MILLION IS GOING TO BE USED TO LAUNCH A HOUSING FUND. >> AND WHAT IS LEFT? >> YES. >> AND IS THERE ANYTHING ELS

E AFTER THAT? >> WELL, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED, YOU KNOW, THE PROJECT -- >> EXACTLY. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S IT. >> MEMBER DE LOS SANTOS. >> MEMBER CUNNINGHAM. MEMBERS BORES. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY FIRST QUESTION IS MORE COMMISSIONER KNIGHT. I AM GLAD YOU MENTIONED ETHICAL AIS, THE INITIATIVE. THERE IS A INITIAL SET OF UNIVERSITIES INVOLVED. IS IT SAFE TO ASSUME OTHER UNIVERSITIES CAN BE ADDED IN THE FUTURE SO THIS CONSORTIUM CAN GROW? >> THAT'S A POSSIB

ILITY. >> IS THERE AN ANALYSIS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, THE GPUS, RUNNING THE CALCULATIONS TO PUT A BIG DEMAND ON THE GRID, HAVE WE DONE ANY PLANNING ON ADDING NEW RENEWABLE ENERGY ON THE EFFECT ON THE GRID OF THIS BUILDOUT? >> WE ARE CERTAINLY LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN MITIGATE THE -- >> I KNOW IT IS EARLY DAYS IN IT. >> YES. >> BUT WHENEVER THERE IS ANY PLAN AROUND THAT OR THOUGHTS HOW WE ARE ADDING I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT. >> THANK YOU. >> AND THEN COMMISSIONER MOY, YOU MENTIONED THE ENVIRON

MENTAL BOND ACT IN YOUR TESTIMONY AND I KNOW YOU HAVE A -- YOU RA NOT PRIMARILY DECIDING WHERE IT IS GOING, THERE ARE ALL OF THESE ENTITIES. THE FIRST QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS HAS GONE OUT AND NONE OF IT TO NEW YORK CITY PROJECTS. SO MY QUESTION IS FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, ARE THERE ANY CHALLENGES OR RESTRICTIONS IN NEW YORK CITY GETTING THIS MONEY FROM A CONTRACTING PERSPECTIVE, PROCUREMENT PERSPECTIVE, ANYTHING YOU ARE SEEING THAT WOULD BLOCK NEW YORK GETTING ACCESS? >> THANK YOU FOR THE QUE

STION. I WILL CLARIFY OUR RULE IN THE BOND ACT WAS TO SUPPORT THE ROLLOUT IN SOME OF THE LISTENING SESSIONS. THE DECISION ON THOSE FUNDS HOW THEY WILL BE ALLOCATED IS -- A. >> JUST FROM LIKE A CONTRACTING PROCUREMENT, ANY ISSUES THAT -- >> I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH ANY. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. AND THEN SECOND OF ALL SECRETARY MALLIN, YOU KNOW WE ARE THE LAST STATE TO GET AN E PROCUREMENT SYSTEM. IT TALKS ABOUT REVISING PROCESSES AS PART OF THE MODERN NATION WHICH IS KEY AND MORE FEEDBACK FROM USERS SO

REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING THERE AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU PROPS ON THAT. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT METRICS WILL YOU USE TO EVALUATE THAT NEW SYSTEM? WHAT SHOULD WE LOOK FOR CHANGING AS IT IS ROLLED OUT AND EXPANDED? >> AS THE GREAT QUESTION. WE ARE IN DESIGN SESSIONS AND ALREADY BEGUN IN OUR STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS HEARING BACK FROM VENDORS WHAT IS MOST PAINFUL FRANKLY ABOUT USING THE CURRENT SEASONAL. ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR USING DIGITAL SIGNATURE AS OPPOSED TO PAPER FORMS, WHERE THER

E IS REPETITION. CONTRACT MANAGERS WANT BETTER QUESTIONS THE LEGISLATURE ASKS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHICH CONTRACTS CONTRACTS ARE BEING USED AND THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH ANY VENDOR SO OUR HOPE IS WE ARE IMPROVING BUSINESSES AND IT IS CAN CUMBERSOME SO WE CAN MORE EASILY FIND SERVICES AND COMMODITIES. >> I THINK IT IS A GREAT GOAL, IF THERE ARE METRICS UNDERNEATH THAT, HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET A CONTRACT, HOW MANY BIDS, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE JUST TRACK THAT WILL BE VERY USEFUL. >> I AM VERY HAPPY TO

HEAR FEED BACK ON ON WHAT IS MOST HEAVENFUL. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. >> MEMBER FRIEND. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR PRETLOW, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND ASKING MY FRIENDS QUESTIONS. >> COMMISSIONER KNIGHT THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED OUTREACH TO MY OFFICE. I WANT TO START WITH A CONNECT ALL PROJECT THAT HAS COME UP MULTIPLE TIMES, SPECIFICALLY THE $228 MILLION FOR THE MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS, IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT TO LEVERAGE

POSSIBLY, BRING MORE BROADBAND TO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE UNSERVED; IS THAT CORRECT? >> TO LEVERAGE THAT TO BRING UNSERVED, UNDERSERVED AS WELL AS LEVERAGE THAT TO BRING CELLPHONE SERVICE TO INDUCE PROVIDERS THAT CAN EXPAND THEIR COVERAGE FOR CELLPHONE BECAUSE OF THE OPEN ACCESS THAT WE HOPED TO DELIVER. >> AND THAT IS GREAT NEWS. IN THE AREA I LIVE IN, IT IS RURAL BUT REALLY THE BIG PROBLEM IS JUST THE TOP I, TOPOGRAPHIES WE HAVE. THERE ARE NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE GREAT CELL SERVICE BUT THEY DON'T HA

VE BROADBAND AND THEIR CELLPHONE SERVICE IS NIL BECAUSE THEY ARE IN A SHADOW OF THAT HILL. SO I THINK THAT IS A REALLY WISE INVESTMENT GOING FORWARD AND DEFINITELY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE WORK ON THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO RUSH, NEW YORK, AND IS THIS -- I REALIZE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE INVESTING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT THE HOUSING THAT IS GOING TO GO IN, WHAT PERCENTAGE IS GOING TO BE LOW INCOME, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR MIXED HOUSING? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF THAT? >> I THINK THE PROJECTS ARE

GOING TO BE DETERMINED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS IN TERMS OF THE TYPE OF PROJECTS THAT THE PROJECTS WILL BE. >> OKAY. AND WILL THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER THE PROJECT COMES FORWARD OR HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK? >> WELL, IF ESD IS INVOLVED IN MOVING A RESIDENTIAL PROJECT FORWARD, WE ARE JEANL GOING TO DO A GENERAL PROJECT PLAN, WHICH THERE IS TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. >> OKAY. AND THEN I WOU WOULD LIKE TO MOO THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS AND THE

NEW GUIDELINE THAT THEY HAVE TO BE HOUSING CERTIFIED. SO IN THE SOUTHERN TIER, AGAIN, WE ARE A VERY MIXED COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE BINGHAMTON, VERY DENSE, GREAT PUBLIC TRANSPORT, BUT THEN YOU HAVE TIOGA COUNTY AND A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE CHANGED THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THEY NO LONG VERY ANY KIND OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. SO IF YOU WERE TO LOCATE AND TRY TO FORCE THEM TO PUT HOUSING SOMEWHERE OUT IN THAT COMMUNITY UP IN CANDOR OR RICH FORD IT COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THAT PERSON

TO GET TO A JOB OR TO SOCIAL SERVICES OR TO THE HOSPITAL, THE THINGS THEY MIGHT NEED SO WHO IS -- SO WHO IS GOING TO DECIDE, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO GET THAT HOUSING DESIGNATION? >> WELL, THE GOVERNOR PUT OUT AN EXECUTIVE ORDER LAST YEAR FOR AT THAT PRO HOUSING DESIGNATION WHICH WOULD BE DETERMINED THROUGH THE ACR. THE MUNICIPALITY WOULD HAVE TO APPLY, PROVIDE AN AUTHORIZED LETTER FROM AN OFFICIAL. THERE ARE ZONING CODES AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOUSING, HOUSING APPLICATION APPROVALS FOR THE LA

ST FIVE YEARS AND THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR THE PRO HOUSING DESIGNATION. >> OKAY. AND JUST KIND OF FOLLOWING UP ON THAT. IS THERE ANY THERE TO HELP SUPPORT THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM TO GET THAT ININDUSTRY RAID IN A SYSTEM LIKE TIOGA? >> I UNDERSTAND THAT IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE FOR THE COUNTY AND SO WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AT ANOTHER TIME. >> OKAY. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND COMMISSIONER MOY, WITH THE CHARGING STATIONS THAT ARE BEING INSTALLED IS THERE ANY COORDINATION, WHET

HER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, I MEAN, MORE THAN 600 SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE AND ESPECIALLY AGAIN IN THE RURAL UPSTATE PORTION OF OUR COMMUNITIES, THE ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUS INITIATIVE THAT IS GOING FORWARD STARTING IN 2027 IS GOING TO BE DEVASTATING. SO IF -- WHEN YOU ARE PUTTING THESE CHARGING STATIONS IN ARE YOU COORDINATING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SO THEY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THEM OR HAVE THEM ALONG THE ROUTES TO BE ABLE TO USE THEM? >> I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. IN TERMS OF THE EV TRANSITION O

UR PRIORITIES AROUND THE STATE JERKS 17,000 VEHICLES THAT ARE LIGHT DUTY THAT NEED TO BE TRANSITIONED ON TO ALL EV TO MEET THE GOVERNOR'S GOALS BY 2035, SO CERTAINLY HAPPY TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS AROUND WHERE WE COULD PARTNER. BUT OUR PRIORITIES ARE MAKING SURE AS WE BEGIN TO CONVERT THE FLEET VEHICLES FROM COMBUSTION ENGINES TO EV WE CAN SUPPORT THE STATE AGENCIES THAT LEVERAGE THEM. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. >> I WILL GIVE BACK MY SIX SECONDS. >> AND IF I CAN ALSO MENTIONED WE DO HAVE

A STATE CONTRACT WHERE WE DO SUPPORT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HELP THEM WITH THE NEGOTIATION AND SOME OF THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE APPLICATION. >> THANK YOU. >> MEMBER GANDOLFO. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY AND YOUR TIME. >> MY QUESTION IS DIRECTED TO THE NEW YORK RUSH PROGRAM. I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BETTER ABOUT HOW THE ZONING WOULD WORK IN A MUNICIPALITY, THE PROPERTY WOULD BE ZONED ONE WAY AND I AM REFERRING MOSTLY TO ONE OF THE PUBLICIZED PROPERTIES IN BABYLON VILLAGE W

HICH IS NEAR THE LONG ISLAND RAILROAD STATION. NOW HOW WOULD THE WORK, WOULD THEY WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MUNICIPALITY TO BUILD IN CONJUNCTION TO THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY? >> SO I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROJECT THAT YOU ARE SPEAKING ABOUT, BUT THE STATE WOULD WORK WITH THE MUNICIPALITY AND THE DEVELOPER TO FIGURE OUT WHICH INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BUILD A PROPERTY AND IN RUSH FUND WOULD PROBABLY LOOK AT IT ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS AROUND HOW MANY, YOU KNOW, UNITS CAN BE BUI

LT, HOW QUICKLY THEY CAN BE BUILT IN TERMS OF ALLOCATING FUNDING FOR THOSE PROJECTS. SO IT DEPENDS TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE PROJECT AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE PARTICULARS AT ANOTHER TIME. >> ALL RIGHT. SO JUST THEN, STATE OWNED PROPERTY IS LOCATION WITHIN A MUNICIPALITY WOULD THE STATE BE BEHOLDEN TO THAT MUNICIPALITY LOCAL ZONING RESTRICTIONS OR JUST -- >> THE STATE GENERALLY UNDERTAKES THE GPP PROCESS AND SO THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR ZONING OF THE PARTICULAR PROJECT. >> OKAY. NOW, THE PROPERTY

-- THE PROJECTS THAT THE STATE IS EYEING ON THE SUNY CAMPUSES FOR HOUSING, I ASSUME THOSE WILL BE TENANT OCCUPIED APARTMENT BUILDINGS OR IS IN ANY PLAN TO DO ANYTHING OWNER THE OCCUPIED WITH THIS FUND SOMETHING. >> THERE COULD BE SOME HOMEOWNER SHIP WITH THIS POT OF FUNDING. JUST LIKE I SAID IT DEPENDS, IT IS A PROJECT BY PROJECT BASIS. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. AND FINAL QUESTION, WELL NOT REALLY A QUESTION, MORE OF A STATE. I HOPE THE STATE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO INCLUDE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IF THEY

IDENTIFY THE STATE PROPERTIES. HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUE FROM QUEENS, THEY WERE UPSET THE PROPOSAL CAME OUT AND FOUND OUT VIA TWITTER AND HOPE THERE IS A PROCESS IN PLACE THAT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY CAN WEIGH IN AND THE COMMUNITY IS NOT BLI BLIND-SIDEY IT SO PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> MEMBER ZACCARO. >> NO? LEMONDES. >> LEMONDES. THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU PANELISTS FOR TESTIFYING TODAY. FIRST A STATE -- STATEMENT. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTINUED NEED FOR RURAL, BROA

DBAND ENHANCEMENTS. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SOME BUT I WANT DO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS COMMUNICATED FOR CENTRAL NEW YORK AS WELL. I WANT TO READ SOMETHING AND THEN I WILL ASK MY QUESTIONS AFTER. ACKNOWLEDGING THAT NEW YORK'S BUSINESS CLIENT IS IMPEDED BY THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF REGULATIONS, I WANT TO READ TO YOU THREE RANKINGS. >> NEW YORK STATE IS 94TH IN NEW YORK STATE TAX CLIMATE. RANKED 49TH, BEST AND WORST STATES FOR BUSINESS. NEW YORK STATE RECEIVED A GRADE OF F BY THE THUMBTACK SMALL BUSINESS

FRIENDLINESS SURVEY. RECOGNIZING WHERE WE ARE, GENERALLY ON THE BOTTOM .. OF THE 50 STATES WHEN IT COMES TO BUSINESS FRIENDLINESS. WHAT REGULATORY BURDENS AFFECTING SMALL BUSINESSES ARE YOUR TOP PRIORITY TO ELIMINATE? >> SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR LOOKING AT REGULATORY REFORM. RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NO REGULATORY FOCUS AREAS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT TRYING TO CREATE A HEALTHY AND RESILIENT ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESSES TO LOCATE AND OPERATE IN NEW YORK ST

ATE. THE RESHORE INSTITUTE DEEMED NEW YORK NUMBER ONE IN RESHORING, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING JOBS. AND SO MORE COMPANIES ARE COMING TO NEW YORK TO LOCATE FOR WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE SUPERIOR ACCESS TO UTILITIES AND POWER AND WATER AND THE INGREDIENTS THAT YOU NEED FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER. HOW DO YOU THINK NEW YORK STATE COMPARES TO OTHER STATES WHEN IT COMES TO OUR REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT? AND WAS CITED PREVIOUSLY LOTS OF BUSINESSES ARE LEAVING. LOTS OF JOBS BEING LEFT

BEHIND. LET'S JUST TAKE RIGHT AND CENTRAL NEW YORK, REMINGTON ARMS FACTORY, STARTED IN 1816, ICONIC NATIONAL COMPANY. THE LAST OF ITS 207 JOBS ARE GOING TO BE LEFT. SO I AM WONDERING WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO TO BRING MORE PEOPLE IN, TO BRING MORE BUSINESSES IN IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED. >> AND I KNOW YOU CAN'T ANSWER THAT RIGHT NOW. THAT'S A DEEP QUESTION. I WOULD ENCOURAGE CORRESPONDENCE AND ASK FOR THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> MEMBER DE LOS SANTOS. >> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK Y

OU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME HERE TODAY. AS YOU KNOW A LOT OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES MOM AND POPS HAVEN'T FULLY RECOVERED SINCE COVID, I AM CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT IS THE PLAN MOVING FORWARD TO ENSURE THAT A LOT OF THOSE BUSINESSES REMAIN IN AN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY AND RECEIVE THE ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT THEY NEED IN ADDITION TO THAT IN LOOKING AT THE 2019 ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES, THE PERCENTAGE OF THREE PERCENT, AND WHEN I LOOK AT THAT CAN YOU PLEASE PROVIDE INSIGHTS INTO THE

WAY TO CALCULATE THAT TO UNDERSTAND THE LIABILITY OF THE DATA? >> SO I WILL TALK FIRST ABOUT THE STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE THAT IS -- THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. WE KNOW SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE HAD A TOUGH TIME RECOVERING CAN FROM COVIDED AND ARE JUST MAKING THEIR WAY OUT. SO THIS FUND WHICH WILL BE LEVERAGED 10 TIMES WILL BE A $5 BILLION FUND TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO CAPITAL, TO SMALL BUSINESSES AROUND A NUMBER OF PRODUCTS, LOAN PRODUCTS, GUARAN

TEE PRODUCTS, A NUMBER OF PRODUCTS THAT SMALL BUSINESSES CAN ACCESS. >> HOW WILL THIS INFORMATION BE PROVIDED -- HOW ARE THEY, HOW WILL THEY ACCESS THIS INFORMATION? >> WE FOCUS ON ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON CAPITAL, SO CDI'S THE ACROSS THE STATE KNOW WE HAVE THIS FUNDING AND CAN PROVIDE ACCESS TO MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS. >> SO I AM TRYING TO GET ALSO A CLARITY ON THE METHOD THAT WAS USED AS IT RELATES TO THE -- THREE PERCENT. WHAT TOOK PLACE. HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE PERCENTAGE IN ORDER TO CREATE MO

RE ACCURACY AND MORE VIABILITY ON THE DATA THAT WAS PRESENTED ON THAT REPORT? I THINK IT IS THREE PERCENT AND THE OTHER SHOWS ON THE SUMMARY, THE SECOND SUMMARY SHOWS MINUS 3.6. >> AND THAT -- EXCUSE ME, THAT IS IN REFERENCE TO -- >> THE SMALL BUSINESS -- >> THE SMALL BUSINESS REPORT. >> RIGHT. >> AND WHAT DIMENSION? >> AS IT RELATES TO THE GROWTH AND ECONOMIC TRENDS TO SMALL BUSINESSES. I AM JUST TRYING TO GET THE CALCULATION. HOW DO YOU GET THERE? >> SO I NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT REPORT. IT

WAS DONE BEFORE I WAS IN THE SEAT AND I CAN GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. I HAVE THREE THINGS. I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE RUSH PROGRAM AT CREEDMOOR WHICH I SHARED THAT IN THAT DISTRICT AND TALK ABOUT THE BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM. FIRST, THE RUSH PROGRAM AT CREEDMOOR. I AM REALLY CONCERNED I ALSO FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PROGRAM ON SOCIAL MEDIA. WE ARE FROM A DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOME OWNERS, LO

W DENSITY, REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SCALE AND THE SCOPE OF THAT PROJECT AND REALLY CONCERNED THAT WE PARTICIPATE FULLY, THE LAWMAKERS, THE POLICYMAKERS AND THE COMMUNITY. CAN WE GET A COMMITMENT TO WORK TO FIGURE OUT THIS PROCESS? >> YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY GET A COMMITMENT OUR TEAM WILL BE WORKING WITH THE LOCAL ELECTED COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AS WE GO THROUGH THE GPP PROCESS. >> OKAY. SO NOW CONNECT ALL, THE BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM. WE WERE LOOKING AT THE ACP PROGRAM TO SEE HO

W IT WAS SPENT AND IF MONEY WAS SPENT, CONCERNED THAT IS MONEY IS RUNNING OUT. WHAT I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE QUALITY OF THE SERVICES, RIGHT? SO PEOPLE WERE GETTING NOT GOOD QUALITY SERVICES, RIGHT? SO THE MEGA BITS PER SECOND WERE AVERAGING, YOU KNOW, UNDER 50 MEGABYTES A SECOND WHICH IS REALLY SLOW QUALITY. OF COURSE WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY OF DATA PLANS SO EVEN FOR, YOU KNOW, AVERAGE, YOU KNOW, INCOME INDIVIDUALS, THE AVERAGE PRICE OF A DA

TA PLAN IS OVER $100. I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH AFFORDABILITY. SO, YES, IF YOU CAN ADDRESS THOSE THINGS. >> SO I WILL START WITH YOUR FIRST POINT WITH RESPECT TO -- >> PNCHES BEFORE MY TIME ENDS, EMPIRE A A I, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT EMPIRE AI, I KNOW IT IS BROAD OR WHAT HAVE YOU BUT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE BROADNESS, HOW BROAD IT SHOULD BE, SO CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE ALREADY WIDE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND KNOWLEDGE GAP, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN, YOU KNOW, THE TECHNOLO

GY LIKE AI IS COMING WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE INVEST IN TRAINING AND MAKING SURE WE CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE IS REGIONAL DIVERSITY SO PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE ARE EXPOSED TO THE TRAINING OF THESE, THE TRAINING IN THESE TECHNOLOGIES. ALSO CONCERNED THAT OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES AREN'T PARTICIPATING. SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE TRAINING AND ACCESS TO THESE TECHNOLOGIES TO WOMEN AND TO MINORITIES. >> SO I WILL GO BACK TO YOUR QUESTION AROUND CONNECT ALL. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT UNDE

RSERVED THE WAY WE DEFINE UNDERSERVED IS BEING ABLE TO GET, NOT BEING ABLE TO GET SERVICE OF 10 100 MEGABYTES PER SECOND SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE LOOKING AT -- I CAN TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT MOVING FORWARD. >> THANK YOU. MEMBER LUCAS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO FROM THE TIME THAT I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN IN OFFICE, I HAVE TALKED ABOUT WORKFORCE CREATING INCUBATORS, PILOTING PROGRAMS IN AREAS LIKE EAST NEW YORK, SPECIFICALLY EAST NEW YORK. SO I RECENTLY WATCHED THE GOVERNOR SPEAK

ABOUT THE WORKFORCE PROGRAMS FOR POTENTIAL INDUSTRIES THAT ARE COMING. I SPECIFICALLY SPOKE ABOUT ZIMMER, WHICH IS CONTINUING, INFECTIOUS, MICROBIAL REDUCTION, WHICH ADDRESSES THE KILLING OF MOLD AND INFECTIONS WITHOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS AN EMERGING TECHNOLOGY WHICH IS AVAILABLE NOW THAT IS BEING CONTRACTED THROUGH THE NATIONAL THE -- IT DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE IN ITS WORKFORCE AND IT ACTUALLY HAS JOBS THAT WILL JOURNEY WITH THE INDIVIDUALS. I SIMPLY ASK FOR FUNDING WHEN IT CAME TO DEVE

LOPING A TRAINING CENTER, NOT ONLY JUST TO TRAIN FOR THOSE SPECIFIC THINGS BUT THOSE PARTNERS. I KNOW ESD HAS WORKFORCE. I HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT HOMEOWNER SHIP OPPORTUNITIES. AND THIS WOULD BE A PERFECT MARRIAGE AS IT PERTAINS TO BUILDING A HEALTHY HOME AND DEVELOPING A STRONG WORKFORCE. SO MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE ACCESS SOME OF THESE WORKFORCE DOLLARS IN THESE PROGRAMS THE ROLL IT INTO TRAINING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR CONTRACTORS IN OUR DISTRICT. ADDITIONALLY, TO ADD TO THAT, I WOULD BE I

NTERESTED IN KNOWING IF THERE IS ANY DISCUSSION OF BRINGING BACK OR CREATING A NEW EMPIRE ZONE PROGRAM WHICH ACTUALLY BEGAN FIRST IN THE DESIGNATED ZONE OF EAST NEW YORK, SPRING CREEK, FAIRFIELD, AND THE EAST BROOKLYN BID. AND WHAT OVERALL ARE WE PLANNING TO DO TO ADDRESS UNDERRESOURCED COMMUNITIES DOWN STATE. THAT'S MY QUESTION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, ASSEMBLYWOMAN. I THINK WE HAD A PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION. >> YES. >> AND WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT DIALOGUE AROUND WORKFORCE DEVELOP

MENT TRAINING AND PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO THINK ABOUT HOW THIS TRAINING COULD BE DEPLOYED FOR MEMBERS IN YOUR DISTRICT. >> OKAY. BUT IT WILL DEFINITELY BE AN EXPANSION TO OTHER DISTRICTS BECAUSE THEY CAN JOIN WITH OTHER AREAS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MEMBER JOHN RIVERA. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. FIRST QUESTION IS FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MEDICAL LYNN -- MALLIN. IN YOUR STATE, IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR THREE80 MILLION, INCLUDING 189 IN SPENDING AND SUPPORT

ING OVER 8,000 JOBS. I AM HAPPY YOU ARE TOUTING WEST NEW YORK BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT IS MY NECK OF THE WOODS, BUT I OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, STATE SOMETHING THAT IS PRETTY GLARING AND THAT IS WE ARE TOUTING THE SUCCESSES OF ARTS FUNDING WHILE WE ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY PROPOSING FOR REDUCTION OF 10S OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN OUR FUNDING. SO ON ONE HAND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING BUT AT THE -- ON THE OTHER HAND IT IS ALMOST LIKE WE ARE PENALIZING COMPANIES FOR DOING GOOD WORK. SO I KNOW

IT IS NOT YOUR CALL TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH FUNDING IS IN THIS BUDGET, BUT WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE, LIKE YOU SID, SUPPORTING 8,000 JOBS AND FACING PRETTY SERIOUS CUTS? >> AS I SAID EARLIER, WE WILL, YOU KNOW, ABSOLUTELY BE STRATEGIC ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT FORTH AND ENACTED HERE. I THINK GOING BACK TO SENATOR KRUEGER'S POINT ABOUT THE THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT, UNDERSTANDING THAT MORE DIRECTLY AND I THINK THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT THE DOTS, YOU KNOW, WI

TH ESD AND OTHER AGENCIES TO, YOU KNOW, FOSTER THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF THESE RS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE HUGE AND WE KNOW THEY REVITALIZE. SO -- >> AND I DON'T WANT TO CUT YOU OFF BUT OBVIOUSLY I AM SHORT ON TIME HERE. IT IS A LITTLE CONFUSING OBVIOUSLY TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS SO MUCH ON THE RIPPLE EFFECT AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE ARE GOING TO DO WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS WE ARE LOOKING AT SO HOPEFUL SOMETHING LOOKS DIFFERENT SOON BUT I KNOW THAT THE

RE IS A LOT OF ENTITIES, PROBABLY ALL OVER THE STATE THAT ARE TREMENDOUSLY CONCERNED. NEXT QUESTION IS FOR COMMISSIONER MOY AND THAT IS, EARLIER THIS YEAR YOU VISITED LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL IN MY DISTRICT, ALSO SENATOR RYAN'S DISTRICT AND STARTED YOUR FEEDBACK SESSION TOUR AROUND LANGUAGE ACCESS WHICH IS AN INITIATIVE SUPER CLOSE DO MY HEART. HOW IS THAT GOING? >> THE OFFICE OF LANGUAGE ACCESS CELEBRATED ITS ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY. THE TEAM STAFFED UP AND START

ING TO WORK WITH AGENCIES TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR EXPANSION OF ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES BEYOND THOSE THAT ARE MANDATED. WE HAVE ALSO EXPANDED OUR WORKS ALSO CONSIDERED ASL WHICH IS BEYOND A LITTLE BIT OF THE SCOPE OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER. IT HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO THINK ABOUT THE WAYS THAT THE STATE CAN CHANGE THE WAY IT OFFERS SERVICES. AND PART OF THOSE PRIORITIES FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR WHICH THE GOVERNOR INCLUDED IS THE LANGUAGE ACCESS CERTIFICATION PROCESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE WILL SHARE MORE. >> THANK YOU. MEMBER GRAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THERE IS PATIENCE IS A VIRTUAL, LOOK AT ALL OF THE REAL ESTATE WE HAVE UP HERE SO PLENTY OF PLACES TO GET SEATS. A COUPLE OF THINGS WE WANT TO SAY, COMMISSIONER MOY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND COMMISSIONER KNIGHT BOTH, WE WERE HERE LAST YEAR AND TALKED ABOUT THE ST. LAWRENCE PSYCHIATRIC PROPERTY, A YEAR LATER WE HAVE, A ON THAT PROPERTY. NOW AFTER MANY, MUCH COMMUNICATION

, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR DILIGENCE IN THAT REGARD. ALSO FOR THE UTILIZATION OF THE STATE BUILDINGS, YOU KNOW, IN A LOT OF COMMUNITIES WE WILL STATE THOSE ARE THE CENTER OF ACTIVITIES FOR BOTH CULTURE AND FESTIVALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THE AFFORDABILITY IS IMPORTANT TO THAT. AND COMMISSIONER KNIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO CLARKSON. I KNOW YOU HAVE COME UP FOR THE ANNUAL EVENT WE HAVE UP AT LAKE PLACID LAST YEAR. SO IT IS IMPORTANT I THINK WE ARE GOING TO CONNECT CLARKSON, THE

R&D WITH CLARKSON AND -- YOU ARE, I HEAR THE GOVERNOR TALK ABOUT THE THRUWAY CORRIDOR, I THINK TO SAY IT IS THE ANCHORED BY CLARKSON RMD AND A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WE ARE JUST PUTTING IN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND DEVELOPING OTHER THAT WILL SUPPORT MICRON. SO I WANT TO CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE THE I-81 CORRIDOR. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE IS THE CONNECT ALL. IS THERE ANY -- IS THERE GOING TO BE ANY CONSIDERATION -- WE HAVE A LOT OF TOWERS THAT ARE OUT THERE CURRENTLY FOR, YO

U KNOW, EMERGENCY SERVICES AND A LOT OF THOSE TOWERS ARE UNDERUTILIZED AND WE HAVE VERTICAL SPACE AVAILABLE. IS THERE ANY CONSIDERATION FOR WIFI AND/OR CELLPHONE COVERAGE CAN ON SOME OF THE EMERGENCY TOWERS WE HAVE ALREADY COLOCATING ON SOME -- MANY OF THESE COUNTIES ARE UNDERGOING MILLION-DOLLAR INVESTMENTS IN THEIR EMERGENCY TOWER SYSTEMS. SO IS THERE ANY CONSIDERATION FOR THAT? >> SO I KNOW THAT THE >> I KNOW THE OFFICE IS LOOKING AT SITING GUIDELINES AND I'M SURE THAT WILL BE PART OF THE CON

SIDERATION. >> IT'S JUST, I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE WORK WITH THE COUNTIES TO TRY TO COLLOCATE THERE. TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT RUSH NEW YORK, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR NONPERFORMING ASSETS THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE STATE WHETHER THEY ARE ON SUNY CAMPUS, THE PSYCHIATRIC PROPERTY, THE PRISONS THAT ARE DECOMMISSIONED AND VACANT. WE HAVE A LOT OF UNDERPERFORMING OR NONPERFORMING ASSETS. SO I KNOW YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE COMMUNITIES, CAN YOU TA

LK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT? WHERE IS IT GOING TO BE AN ACTIVE APPROACH TO COMMUNITIES HAVE TO COME TO YOU FOLKS? DO YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE COMMUNITIES, HOW IS THAT GOING TO PLAY OUT? >> SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. AS YOU KNOW, WE WRAPPED UP THE WORK OF THE PRISON REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WHICH PROVIDED FOR SOME RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO CLOSURES. AND SO YOU KNOW, OUR OFFICE ESD IS REALLY FOCUSED ON THE POST CLOSURE PROCESS. AND WE WILL BE ENGAGED WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, ELECTED OFFIC

IALS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND HOW WE CAN BE SUPPORTIVE IN REPOSITIONING THE PROPERTY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT USE. >> OKAY AND I WANT TO TOUCH BASE A LITTLE BIT ON THE NEXUS FOR THE RUSH PROGRAM AND THE REQUIREMENT ON THE REDC TO BE PRO HOUSING COMMUNITIES. COMMUNITY HAS TO DEVELOP A PRO HOUSING APPROACH, RIGHT FOR IN FORWARD AS WELL AS THE DRI, RIGHT? BUT THEY ALSO HAVE STATE OWNED PROPERTY THAT COULD BE UTILIZED FOR HOUSING. SO THERE'S GOT TO BE A N

EXUS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THOSE TWO PROGRAMS. >> SO LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR TRADITIONALLY VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS LIKE REDC AND DRI PROGRAMS, THE GOVERNOR IS LOOKING FOR A PRO HOUSING CERTIFICATION THAT HCR WILL DELIVER TO THE MUNICIPALITY THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR AS A REQUIREMENT TO ACCESS SOME OF THAT FUNDING. CERTAINLY LOOK AT PRO HOUSING DESIGNATED COMMUNITIES AND SEPARATELY LOOK AT THE ASSETS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR REDEVELOPMENT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MEMBER WALSH? >> GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMIS

SIONER KNIGHT THESE QUESTIONS ARE FOR YOU AND THEY HAVE TO DO WITH UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CO-HOST PANDEMIC NEW YORK STATE BORROWED $10 BILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP PAY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS THROUGH UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TRUST FUND THAT UITF WHICH IS FUNDED BY UNEMPLOYMENT PAYROLL TAXES PAID FOR BY ALL FOR-PROFIT BUSINESSES IN THE STATE. NEW YORK STATE HAS A $7.3 BILLION OUTSTANDING BALANCE OWED TO THE FEDERAL UITF. ACCORDING TO THE CITIZENS BU

DGET COMMISSION, 31 OTHER STATES USED CARES ACT FUNDING AND ARPA FUNDS TO REPAY SOME OR ALL OF THAT DEBT. WHY DIDN'T NEW YORK STATE DO THAT? AND WOULDN'T THAT HAVE BEEN A PRUDENT THING TO DO? >> I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THE IMPACT THAT THIS IS HAVING ON BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE. BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS INTEREST IS BEING PAID DOWN. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. I AM IN TOUCH WITH THE COMMISSIONER AND SHE IS VERY AWARE OF THIS ITEM. >> WE'RE ALL

AWARE OF THIS ITEM THIS GOES INTO MY SECOND QUESTION. DUE TO THE UNPAID DEBT, THE STATE OWED WILL CONTINUE 0 OWE IN COMING YEARS IN INTEREST ASSESSMENT SURCHARGE AND IAS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IN 2022 THE STATE PASSED 160 MILLION ON TO EMPLOYERS. THESE BUSINESSES HAVE ALREADY HAD TO WEATHER THROUGH THE COVID PANDEMIC. AND ALL THE RESTRICTIONS THAT CAME WITH THAT. MANY OF WHOM NEVER REOPENED EVEN. AND NOW THEY ARE BEING CRUSHED BY THAT IAS SURCHARGE AND THE FUTA TAX. WHAT IS THE STATE'S PLAN

? IS IT TO CONTINUE TO LET NEW YORK STATE BUSINESSES SUFFER UNDER THESE TAXES? AND DOES THE STATE HAVE ANY PLAN TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE IAS FOR EMPLOYERS AS PROPOSED BY A BILL CARRIED BY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL RA, ASSEMBLY BILL 2982? >> ASSEMBLYWOMAN, I UNDERSTAND LIKE I SAID, THE CRITICAL NATURETER OF THIS ISSUE. I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUE THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOR IS GOING TO BE TESTIFYING THIS AFTERNOON AND I WOULD DEFER TO HER TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. >> I WOULD LOVE TO BE HERE TO ASK IT

AGAIN. BUT I WILL BE IN SESSION. SO YOU GOT THE QUESTION INSTEAD OF HOPEFULLY SOMEONE ELSE WILL ASK THAT OF THE COMMISSIONER BECAUSE YOU KNOW, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND OUR BUSINESSES ARE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR STATE AND AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED BY OUR COLLEAGUES WE HAVE BUSINESSES THAT ARE FINDING THE CLIMATE IN NEW YORK STATE NOT THE WEATHER CLIMATE BUT THE BUSINESS CLIMATE SO UNFAVORABLE THAT THEY ARE LEAVING. AND I THINK THIS TYPE OF DECISION MAKING AT THE STATE LEVEL HAS BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR

. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. CALL THE ABSENTEES MCDONNELL. CUNNINGHAM. THE ASSEMBLY IS DONE. THANK YOU. >> AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE SENATE HAD BEEN DONE. SO WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR MANY HOURS WITH US TODAY. I THINK EVERYBODY HAS SOME QUESTIONS TO RESPOND TO IN WRITING, AGAIN FORWARD THEM TO THE WAYS AND MEANS STAFF AND TO THE SENATE FINANCE STAFF AND WE'LL MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS THE ANSWERS. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY. THANK YOU. AND JUST FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO THOUGHT WE WOULD

NEVER FINISH PANEL A WE ARE INVITING PANEL B TO COME DOWN. SOME PEOPLE WHO MIGHT WANT TO GRAB PANEL A MEMBERS PLEASE DO IT IN THE HALLWAY SO WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT PANEL. THE DIA ART FOUNDATION, ARTS NEW YORK STATE AND ARTS WEST CHESTER. AND FOR LEGISLATORS AND PANEL WE NOW ARE AT THE STAGE OF THE HEARING WHERE EACH PANELIST HAS ONLY THREE MINUTES TO PRESENT THEIR TESTIMONY AND EACH LEGISLATOR HAS ONLY THREE MINUTES TO ASK AND GET ANSWERED THEIR QUESTIONS. WE REFER TO THESE AS THE LIGHTNING RO

UNDS. SO I SEE OUR PANEL B PEOPLE. GOOD AFTERNOON. >> HELLO. >> I MENTIONED IT MANY HOURS AGO BUT THESE MICROPHONES ARE A CHALLENGE TO PUSH. BUT YOU NEED TO PUSH THE BUTTON UNTIL THE GREEN LIGHT GOES ON. IN ORDER TO HAVE YOUR MIC ON. AND THEN YOU PUSH THAT BUTTON UNTIL YOU GET RED TO TURN THE MIC OFF. AND SOME OF US ARE LAUGHING BECAUSE SOME JUST DON'T WORK BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST. IT IS A TEST OF YOUR PHYSICAL STRENGTH OF YOUR INDEX FINGER. WITH THAT WHY DON'T WE START WITH HANNAH GOMPER

TZ. >> YES, THAT IS RIGHT. I'M HANNAH GOMPERTZ I AM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING AT DIA FOUNDATION AND I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE THIS TESTIMONIAL ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF THE ARTS AND CULTURAL RESOURCES HOW TO AND THAT POWERFUL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY CHANGE. DIA WAS FOUNDED IN 1974 TO HELP ACHIEVE PROJECTS THAT MIGHT NOT BE REALIZED BECAUSE OF SCALE OR SCOPE. TODAY DIA OPERATES IN NEW YORK CITY, LONG ISLAND AND THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. WE BROUGHT OUR INTERNATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT PROGRA

M TO THE HUDSON VALLEY WITH THE OPENING OF DIA BEACON IN 2003. IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITION SPACES IN THE COUNTRY. WHEN WE OPENED THE CITY OF BEACON WAS A SMALL COMMUNITY STRUGGLING TO OVERCOME THE LOSS OF LOCAL FACTORIES AND MANUFACTURING JOBS. TODAY IT IS A VIBRANT HUDSON VALLEY DESTINATION. THE MUSEUM HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN THE TRANSFORMATION AND THE AREAS ONGOING PANDEMIC RECOVERY OVER OF THE PAST THREE YEARS. IT'S BEEN ESTIMATED THAT THE DUTCHESS COUNTY CULTURAL SECTO

R HAS AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF $28.5 MILLION ANNUALLY AND CREATES MORE THAN A THOUSAND GROBS. DIA BEACON BRINGS IN $8 MILLION IN TOURISM PER YEAR AND INVESTS $6 MILLION IN THE OPERATION OF THE MUSEUM AND ITS PAYROLL OF 100 EMPLOYEES AND 25 TEACHING ARTISTS. BEYOND THIS REVENUE, DIA LIKE THE MAJORITY OF ARTS ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDES A RANGE OF CRITICAL SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE MUSEUM OFFERS SCHOOL GROUP TOURS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR LOCAL EDUCATORS A SUMMER ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, WORKS

HOPS FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEENS AND YOUNG PEOPLE AND A RANGE OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. OUR WORK WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF NEW YORK STATE. THE RELATIONSHIP WITH EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT HELP YOU HAD US TO COMPLETE THE VENERATION AND OPEN 20 YEARS AGO AND FUNDING FROM THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL OF THE ARTS SUPPORTS OUR OPERATIONS. RECENT GIFTS FUNDED PROJECTS LIKE A PHENOMENA SAID REPLACEMENT AND RESTROOM RENOVATIONS A

ND THE EXPANSION OF A DAILY FREE ADMISSION PROGRAM WHICH NOW SERVES RESIDENTS OF BOTH BEAK COULD BE AND NEWBURGH. BEGINNING THIS SUMMER STATE FUNDING WILL HELP REALIZE A MAJOR LANDSCAPING PROJECT. WE RELY ON OUR REGIONAL ELECTEDS TO UNDERSTAND THESE NEEDS AND FUNDING DISTRIBUTED THROUGH STATE AGENCIES IS CRITICAL IN HELPING US MAINTAIN OUR SITES AND CORPORATIONS WITHOUT COMPROMISING OUR PROGRAMMING OR COMMUNITY SERVICES. YOUR SUPPORT FUELS THE CREATIVE ECONOMY AND ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE EXPANDING

OUR IMPACT BEYOND OUR MUSEUM WALLS. THE SUCCESS OF DIA BEACON IS A TESTIMONIAL TO WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED WITH THESE INVESTMENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO TESTIFY TODAY. >> THANK YOU. >> NEXT UP WE HAVE ELIZABETH REISS ARTS NEW YORK STATE. >> HELLO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. ON BEHALF OF ARTS NEW YORK STATE, I ALSO WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE ART CENTER OF THE CAPITAL REGION IN TROY. SO I CAME A LONG WAY FOR THIS. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO SHARE OUR HOPE THAT THE NEW

YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS BUDGET WILL CONTINUE AT $100 MILLION. WITH AN ADDITIONAL $50 MILLION ALLOCATED FOR CAPITAL PROGRAMMING. WE REQUEST THAT 10 MILLION DOLLARS BE ALLOCATED TO REGIONAL ARTS COUNCILS. WE ALL HAVE HEARD THAT OUR COMMUNITY SPARK REVITALIZATION THAT THE ARTS HELP SPARK REVISITTIZATION. OUR REQUEST FOR 10 MILLION TO BE DIRECTED TO ARTS COUNCILS IS GROUNDED IN LOCAL DECISION MAKING APPROACH THAT ENABLES THE COUNCILS TO REACH DEEP INTO THEIR REGIONS TO SUPPORT GROUPS THAT DI

RECTLY SERVE AND STRENGTHEN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. IN 2023, SEVEN ARTS COUNCILS FUNDED 861 PROJECTS ACROSS 21 COUNTIES. 49.7% OF THOSE PROJECTS ENGAGED DIVERSE, HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED OR UNDER RESOURCED COMMUNITIES. 39% REACHED FIRST TIME GRANT APPLICANTS AND 22.8% SUPPORTED BRACK INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR INITIATIVES. GIVEN THE MODEL OF THIS INTRODUCE SUCCESS OF THIS MODEL WE ADVOCATE FOR ITS RENEWAL AND EXPANSION TO ALL 62 COUNTIES OF NEW YORK STATE. ESPECIALLY AS WE'VE SEEN UNPRECEDEN

TED GROWTH OF ARTIST POPULATION OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY. IN 2021 IN UPSTATE, THE ARTIST POPULATION INCREASED BY 26.5%. SIGNIFICANTLY OUTPACING TOTAL POPULATION GROWTH IN THOSE AREAS. HERE IN ALBANY, THE RESIDENT ARTIST POPULATION GROWTH SURGED BY 50% COMPARED TO 3% GROWTH OVERALL. IT'S CLEAR THAT FOCUSING IN ON OUR REGIONS IS THE NEXT STEP IN GROWTH FOR ART IN NEW YORK STATE. ECHOING THIS TESTIMONY, IS CLEAR THAT THE ARTS SECTOR IS A ROBUST ECONOMIC ENGINE. WE HEARD THAT WESTERN NEW YORK'S NONP

ROFIT ARTS SECTOR GENERATES $381 MILLION IN AUDIENCE AND ORGANIZATIONAL SPENDING AND IT SUPPORTS 8221 JOBS. IN THE GREATER SYRACUSE AREA, 47 ORGANIZATIONS REPORTED OVER $148 MILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND SUPPORTED ALMOST 6,000 JOBS. LONG ISLAND'S NOT-FOR-PROFIT SECTOR AND AUDIENCES CONTRIBUTED 330 MILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY SUPPORTING 4900 JOBS. IN ROCHESTER THE ARTS GENERATED 93 MILLION TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND SUPPORTED 3600 JOBS. LOCALLY HERE IN TROY, THE STATE FUNDING WAS USED TO CREATE

A PUBLIC ART PROGRAM THAT REVITALIZED AN ALLEY THAT WAS IN DISUSE AND DANGEROUS. AND NOW WE'RE SPARKING TOURISM BECAUSE WE WON "USA TODAY"'S BEST NEW FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR. AND SO WE CAN SEE DIRECTLY HOW THE ARTS HELP OUR COMMUNITY AND WE HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DEPEND ON THE SUPPORT OF NEW YORK STATE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> NEXT ARTS WEST CHESTER. SUSAN ABBOTT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M TSUNAMIS SUSPEND AND THE DIRECTOR IN WEST CHESTER COUNTY. ON BEHALF OF OUR STAFF, BOARD AND OUR C.E.O.

IT IS A PLEASURE AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE SPEAKING IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. ECHOING THE SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE SPOKEN TODAY I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE ARTS PARTICULARLY IN THE LOWER HUDSON VALLEY AND THE IMPACT THAT THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE HAS HAD IN SUPPORTING THE ARTS IN OUR AREA. ARTS WEST CHESTER IS ONE OF NINE LOCAL ARTS COUNCILS AROUND NEW YORK STATE THAT RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT IN SEVERAL RECENT BUDGET CYCLES. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND

TO MAJORITY LEADER STEWART COUSINS SUPPORT IN SECURING $10 MILLION APPROPRIATION IN THE STATE SENATE BUDGET REGIONAGE ARTS COUNCILS FUNDING FOR 2023 AND AGAIN FOR 2024. WITHIN THAT ALLOCATION SEVEN REGIONAL COUNCILS INCLUDING ARTS WEST CHESTER RECEIVED $1 MILLION AND TWO OTHERS RECEIVED 500,000. WITH THIS FUNDING IN THE 2023 GRANT YEAR ARTS WEST CHESTER AWARDED 550,000 IN GRANTS TO 100 ORGANIZATIONS AND 64 INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS BETWEEN WEST CHESTER AND ROCKLAND COUNTIES. THIS IS LIGHT YEARS AWAY F

ROM JUST FIVE YEARS AGO IN THE 2018 CYCLE WHEN WE AWARDED 105,000 ACROSS 45 ORGANIZATIONS AND JUST FIVE ARTISTS. WITHIN THOSE 164 GRANTEES ARE 65 WHO RECEIVED ARTS WEST CHESTER FUNDING FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE SUPPORT YOU ALLOCATED FOSTERED NEW RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS ALL DISCIPLINES. ARTISTS CREATED NEW WORK TO FURTHER THEIR CAREERS. STUDENTS OF ALL AGES EXPERIENCED ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS. AND AUDIENCES WERE DRAWN TO EVENTS THROUGHOUT WEST CHESTER AND ROCKLAND N A SURVEY OVER 80% OF RESPONDENTS SA

ID THAT THIS AWARDED FUNDING ENABLED THEM TO EXPAND THEIR AUDIENCES. LIKE MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES ARTS WEST CHART OF CHESTER PARTICIPATED IN THE AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS ECONOMIC IMPACT SURVEY AND THE RESULTS SHOWED THE ARTS GENERATED 182.2 MILLION IN DIRECT ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN WEST CHESTER. IT HAS BEEN SAID MANY TIMES TODAY, THE ARTS SUPPORT THE ECONOMY AND THIS FUND SOMETHING VITAL IN THE ONGOING CREATIVE AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF THE ARTS INDUSTRIES IN WEST CHESTER AND ROCKLAND. WITH THAT IN MIN

D, WE HAVE SUBMITTED OUR REQUEST FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE $10 MILLION APPROPRIATION TO THE 2025 BUDGET WHICH INCLUDES A $1 MILLION ALLOCATION FOR EACH OF SEVEN COUNCILS INCLUDING ARTS WEST CHESTER. ON BEHALF OF THE ARTISTS WE REPRESENT WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE ARTS WE WANT TO BUILT A RICH NEW YORK STATE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH ALL OF YOU. APPRECIATE IT. AND SEAN RYAN WILL BE OUR FIRST QUESTIONER. >> IT'S MORE OF A THANK YOU. SO THANKS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE ARTS. I THINK TH

ERE IS A GROWING ACCEPTANCE THAT THE ARTS BESIDES ENRICHING COMMUNITIES AND CHANGING LIVES ARE ALSO A GOOD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. I'VE SEEN IN BUFFALO THE COMBINATION OF ARTS AND HISTORIC TAX CREDIT IS REALLY MADE DOWNTOWN BUFFALO A DIFFERENT PARTS OF BUFFALO A DIFFERENT PLACE. SO WE SUPPORT THE ARTS WHETHER IT'S THEATER, OR BIG ARTS LIKE OUR ART GALLERY THAT RECENTLY UNDERWENT A MAJOR EXPANSION BRINGS PEOPLE IN. WE KNOW THAT OVER A 52-WEEK PERIOD MORE PEOPLE COME TO BUFFALO TO SEE THE AR

TS THAN THEY DO TO COME IN TO SEE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS. BUT WE DO FIND OURSELVES CONTINUALLY IN THIS BATTLE WHERE YOU HAVE TO TAKE A REAL LONG TIME TO EXPLAIN WHY THE ARTS IS IMPORTANT TO THE ECONOMY AND IT DOESN'T REALLY NECESSARILY MAKE SENSE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AT FIRST. SO I WILL ENDEAVOR IF I HAD A MAGIC WAND MORE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT FUNDS WOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE ARTS BECAUSE YOUR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS OFTEN SHOW A MUCH BETTER RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAN SOME OF THE OUT OF STATE CORPOR

ATE ENTITIES THAT WE FUND. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP UP YOUR GOOD WORK AND ALSO KEEP MAKING THE LINK BETWEEN HOW ARTS CAN HELP STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY. THANK YOU. >> ASSEMBLY? >> THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS FROM THIS SIDE BUT I ALSO WANT TO ECHO THE REMARKS THE ARTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND GIVE ME REGARDS TO JANET. JUST A QUICK NOTE. WHEN YOU ARE ASKING FOR SOMETHING DON'T SAY HOW MUCH YOU GOT THE LAST TIME. >> I ALSO JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR TESTIFYING AND REINFORCING WHAT I HAD SAID EARLIER IN FR

ONT OF THE PREVIOUS PANEL ABOUT THAT WE DON'T LOOK AT THE ARTS AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHEN ALL THE DATA SHOWS IT IS A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN SUPPORTING THE ARTS AND INVESTING IN ACTIVITIES THAT GENERATE ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. I REPRESENT MANHATTAN WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF THE ARTS GOING ON THERE. BUT WE KNOW THAT IT IS A HUGE DRAW FOR TOURISM FOR BUSINESS, FOR THE CORRELATED BUSINESSES TO LIVE PERFORMANCE OF ALL KINDS AND THE VISUAL ARTS. AND WE EVEN RECOGNIZE MANY OF

US THAT IT IS A MUCH BETTER USE OF OUR TIME AND MONEY TO INVEST IN THE ARTS THAN SAY CASINOS IN MANHATTAN JUST AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT IS NOT. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY OTHER SENATORS? SO WE'RE GOING TO THANK YOU AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PANEL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PANEL C NEW YORK FIRST FUND FOR INNOVATION AND RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC TALENT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IRVING MEDICAL CENTER LAKE ERIE COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE

AND THE FOOD INDUSTRY ALLIANCE OF NEW YORK STATE ALL RELATED TO HEALTH. AND WE HAVE ROSS FROMMER WE HAVE A REPLACEMENT FOR RICHARD TERRY, I BELIEVE JOHN WESTON. WE ARE LOOKING FOR A THIRD REPRESENTATIVE. JUST TWO? OOPS, SORRY ONE GOT MOVED OFF. SORRY ABOUT THAT. HELLO GENTLEMEN, HOW ARE YOU? >> GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. AND THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY. I'M ROSS FROMMER. VICE-PRESIDENT FOR GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IRVING MEDICAL CENTER. IT

IS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOLS OF NEW YORK. AMSNY REPRESENTS THE INTEREST OF 17 MEDICAL SCHOOLS U I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE NEW YORK FUND FOR INNOVATION IN RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS OR NEW YORK FIRST, SENATOR RYAN THAT SPELLS OUT A GOOD NICE WORD. AS IT IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO NEW YORK FIRST IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE RUN BY EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT WHICH PROVIDES FUNDS TO MEDICAL SCHOOLS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN TOP SCIENTIFIC TALENT. $6 BILLION THAT'S HO

W MUCH TEXAS HAS THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS SPENT ON SUPPORTING BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH OUT OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS IN TEXAS. 8.5 TO 9 BILLION DOLLARS IS HOW MUCH CALIFORNIA HAS SPENT. 2.5, MASSACHUSETTS. 1 BILLION, CONNECTICUT AND MANY OTHER STATES ALTHOUGH NUMBERS SMALLER IN TERMS OF POPULATION, EQUALLY AS HIGH. NEW YORK'S NUMBERS ARE NOWHERE NEAR THIS. WHY IS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH SO IMPORTANT? RESEARCH LEADS TO SAVING LIVES. BUT HAVING IT IN NEW YORK MEANS GREATER ACCESS TO CLINICAL TRIALS AND ALSO MEANS

JOBS. RESEARCH BRINGS IN MONEY AND CREATES GOOD JOBS WITH GOOD BENEFITS. ONE POINT I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE FROM MY TESTIMONY, IS THAT WHEN LOOKING AT BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND ESPECIALLY BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INVESTMENT FUNDING MONEY, JOBS, VENTURE CAPITAL FOLLOWS THE TALENT. IF YOU INCREASE SCIENTIFIC TALENT IN YOUR STATE YOU WILL GET MORE INVESTMENT IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. IF YOU LOSE SCIENTIFIC TALENT, YOU WILL GET LESS SO. THAT'S BECAUSE WITH NIH THE FUNDING FOLLOWS THE INVESTIGATOR. THAT IS WHAT N

EW YORK FIRST IS HELPING ADDRESS IT HELPS MEDICAL SCHOOLS RECRUIT AND RETAIN TOP SCIENTIFIC TALENT. IT IS A FAIRLY NEW PROGRAM, FAIRLY SMALL. SO FAR THE STATE HAS INVESTED ONLY $9 MILLION BUT THE RETURNS ARE QUITE ASTONISHING. OF THAT 9 MILLION DOLLARS, AND THREE YEARS THEY HAVE CREATED 183 NEW JOBS AT NEW YORK MEDICAL SCHOOLS GOOD-PAYING JOBS THAT CAN BUILD STRONG COMMUNITIES. THE MEDICAL SCHOOLS ARE REQUIRED TO PUT UP A TWO FOR ONE MATCH RIGHT NOW WE ARE RUNNING AT FOUR TO ONE MATCH THE RETURN

ON INVESTMENT IS TWICE WHAT WAS EXPECTED AND THAT IS VERY EARLY ON. I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME. I HAVE MORE IN MY TESTIMONY BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. >> THANK YOU. AND MY SECOND MIC IS WORKING AS BADLY AS MY FIRST MIC. AND I NOTICE WE HAVE LAKE ERIE COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE JOHN WESTON. >> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. Dr. TERRY IS SUPPOSED TO SPEAK SHE IS BETTER LOOKING AND MUCH BETTER I APOLOGIZE YOU ARE STUCK WITH ME. I'M A FAMILY PHYSICIAN AND PRACTI

CING MEDICINE FOR 23 YEARS. A REGIONAL DEAN AT LEE COMMON. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS FOR YOU TO APPRECIATE OUR MEDICAL STUDENTS AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. RIGHT NOW THERE'S 240 MEDICAL STUDENTS AND THEY ARE STUDYING THE BASIC SCIENCES TO BECOME PHYSICIANS. OUT OF THAT 24,0, 150 ARE NEW YORK STATE RESIDENTS. THAT IS OUR MISSION AND WE HAVE 500 MEDICAL STUDENTS THAT ARE OUT WITH YOUR PHYSICIANS TAKING CARE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS YOUR FRIENDS YOUR FAMILY THEY ARE OUT THERE HELPING THEM AND LEARNIN

G TO BECOME PHYSICIANS THEY ARE TAKING THE MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE THEY LEARNED AND TRANSLATING AND LEARNING THE ART OF MEDICINE. YOU HAVE 740 STUDENTS PRACTICING IN NEW YORK STATE. EACH OF THEM SPEND ABOUT $30,000 TO LIVE HERE. SO THAT TRANSLATES TO $22 MILLION THAT THEY ARE PUTTING INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMIES. AND 70% OF THEM ARE GOING TO THE PRIMARY CARE. WE HAVE A PRIMARY CARE SHORTAGE IN NEW YORK STATE AND THEY ARE HERE TO HELP US. WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB OF GIVING US NEW YORK MONEY AND ALSO HELPING

US WITH THE PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE. WE HAVE TRAINING SITES IN NIAGARA FALL, BUFFALO, ROCHESTER, WATERTOWN, BINGHAMTON, ELMIRA, THE MOHAWK VALLEY AND ST. JOHN'S RIVERSIDE IN YONKERS AND ST. JOHN'S IN ROCK AWAY. AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS TAKE WHAT WE ARE DOING AND MAKE IT BETTER. WE WANT TO FOCUS ON STUDENTS GO TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND MENTOR THOSE STUDENTS THAT MIGHT NOT THINK THEY CAN BE PHYSICIANS AND SAY I CAN DO THIS YOU CAN DO THIS WE WANT YOU TO BECOME PHYSICIANS AN

D WE WANT YOU TO PARTNER WITH US AND HELP US RECRUIT STUDENTS THAT WILL STAY AND BECOME PHYSICIANS IN NEW YORK STATE. THEN WE'D LIKE TO CREATE A CURRICULUM IN THE FIRST AND SECOND YEARS THAT REALLY FOCUSES ON UNDERSERVED REGIONS AND RURAL REGIONS AND FOCUSES DOING THE RESEARCH AND COMING UP WITH A CURRICULUM THAT FOCUSES ON RURAL AND UNDERSERVED REGIONS. AND HELP US AS WE GO ALONG SO WE WANT TO RECRUIT, WE WANT TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN THEM MORE RESIDENCIES OUR RESIDENCIES IN THOSE CLINICAL SITES AR

E ALL IN RURAL AND UNDERSERVED REGIONS. SO ALLOW US TO DO BETTER WE WANT TO PUT ONE IN DUNKIRK AND PLATSZBURG NEW YORK LET US EXPAND RURAL RESIDENCIES. LET US RECRUIT, LET US TRAIN AND EDUCATE AND THEN LET US THE PHYSICIANS WHEREVER THEY GET TRAINED THAT IS WHERE THEY WILL LIVE AND THEY WILL STAY HERE. RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOSING MORE PHYSICIANS IN NEW YORK STATE THAN WE'RE GETTING. LET US HELP WITH THAT. I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. I SAW WHAT YOU

DID THIS MORNING THIS IS A HARD JOB BUT YOU GUYS DO IT. >> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? DOES THE SENATE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. >> . >> I WORK IN THE MEDICAL SCHOOL I DO NOT HAVE A MEDICAL DEGREE. >> TELL ME ABOUT THE NEW YORK FIRST PROGRAM. $15 MILLION PROGRAM LAST YEAR? >> IT WAS PASSED I BELIEVE FIRST IN 2018. THERE'S BEEN FOUR ROUNDS OF FUNDING. THE FIFTH ROUND I BELIEVE THE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE IN MAY, I COULD HAVE OFF A LITTLE BIT. AFTER THAT THAT ADDITIONAL $15 MILLION INVE

STMENT IS VERY LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED. >> AND IT'S FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT YOU GET YOU HAVE TO SHOW TWO MILLION MATCH? >> THAT IS CORRECT. THE TWO MILLION MATCH AS MENTIONED SO FAR THE MEDICALS HAVE PUT UP WE'VE GENERATED $4 MILLION FOUR TO ONE MATCH. WE REQUIRE TWO TO ONE AND WE'VE DEMONSTRATED FOUR TO ONE. >> WHAT IS THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF THAT SPENDING? HOW DOES IT AFFECT OUR ECONOMY AND HEALTHCARE OUTCOMES. >> FIRST OF ALL, SCIENCE IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING NEW KNOWLEDGE THAT WILL HE

LP US PREVENT DISEASE, AND HUMAN CONDITION, BETTER TREATMENTS BETTER CURES. WE WILL CONDUCT MORE CLINICAL TRIALS IN NEW YORK. GREATER ACCESS TO THE RESIDENTS TO THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGY. VENTURE CAPITAL WILL COME TO OUR FACULTY ARE CREATING NEW KNOWLEDGE AND TURNING THAT KNOWLEDGE INTO PRODUCTS INTO DRUGS, INTO PREVENTION STRATEGIES. BUT EVEN IN THE SHORT-TERM, IT BRINGS IN MORE FEDERAL FUNDING. THE WAY NIH WORKS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH THE LARGEST FUNDER OF BIOMEDI

CAL SCIENCE IN THE WORLD WITH MINOR EXCEPTIONS THE GRANTS FOLLOW THE PRIMARY INVESTIGATOR. SO IF WE HAD A SCIENTIST FROM CALIFORNIA OR TEXAS WITH $3 MILLION IN NIH FUNDING IF WE BRING THAT PERSON TO NEW YORK, THEY BRING THEIR NIH FUNDING WITH THEM. ON DAY ONE, THEY ARE CREATING JOBS. THEY ARE BRINGING IN RESOURCES. THEY ARE AATTRACTING PHILANTHROPY ALL THE GOOD THINGS WE WANT OUR SCIENTISTS TO DO. >> WHAT STATE IS A LEADER IN TRYING TO MATCH FEDERAL MONEY WITH STATE MONEY? >> I MENTIONED TEXAS A

ND CALIFORNIA THE ONES WHO MADE THE GREATEST INVESTMENT IN NEW YORK HAS A SMALL MY STAR NOW ESD MATCHING GRANTS FUNDING. BUT I WILL SAY THE TEXAS PROGRAM OF THAT $6 BILLION, I THINK, CLOSE TO A BILLION DOLLARS IS SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TOWARDS RECRUITING OUT OF STATE SCIENTISTS TO COME TO TEXAS. ONE WAS RECRUITED TO TEXAS, CREATED A NEW CANCER PROGRAM THAT MD ANDERSON, NOT IN NEW YORK. HE WON THE NOBEL PRIZE. THEY STOLE ONE OF OUR NOBEL PRIZE. >> WE HAD HIM AND LET HIM GO. >> CORRECT. >> SHOULD

WE PUT MORE MONEY INTO THESE PROGRAMS? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> THANK YOU. >> ASSEMBLY? THANK YOU MAYBE THE GOVERNOR WILL PUT THEM ON A BUS AND SEND THEM TO NEW YORK. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M GOING TO PICK UP WHERE MY COLLEAGUE Mr. RYAN ENDED. AND ASK SO YOU'VE BEEN RECEIVING THE FIRST NEW YORK FUNDS FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW. >> YES. >> AND YOU MENTIONED THAT THE INTENT HERE IS THAT THAT RESEARCH WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN NEW PRODUCTS AND PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDING WILL COMMERCIALIZE THAT. >> HOPEFULLY, YES

. >> AND IT MIGHT BE IT'S TOO SOON TO HAVE THIS RESPONSE, BUT HAVE THERE BEEN PATENTS FILED OR OTHER SORTS OF MILESTONES HIT ON THE PATH TOWARDS DEVELOPING NEW PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIALIZE AND CREATING NEW BUSINESSES? >> YES, I CAN GIVE YOU COLUMBIA SPECIFIC NUMBERS. OUR FIRST NEW YORK FIRST RECIPIENT WAS Dr. JORDAN ORANGE A PEDIATRICIAN DOES A LOT OF WORK IN KILLER CELLS. HE HAS SUBMITTED THREE INVENTION REPORTS AND HOW MANY PATENTS? FILED THREE PATENTS ALREADY SINCE HE CAME TO NEW YORK IN 2019,

2018. AND IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING A START-UP COMPANY. OUR SECOND NEW YORK FIRST RECRUIT WAS Dr. SIMON JOHN, WHO IS A PH.D. AND DOES WORK IN EYE DISEASE. HE HAS FILED FIVE INVENTION REPORTS AND FOUR PATENT APPLICATIONS. ALSO SAY THAT Dr. ORANGE NOW HAS 33 NEW JOBS IN HIS LAB. AND Dr. JOHN HAS 15 NEW JOBS IN THE LAB. SMALL NUMBERS BUT BASED ON A SMALL INVESTMENT A HUGE RETURN. >> TERRIFIC. AND SO FIRST MILESTONE OBVIOUSLY IS FILING FOR A PATENT APPLICATION AND HOPEFULLY GETTING THAT DONE. HAVE

THERE BEEN ANY LICENSES AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO ON THE BASIS OF THOSE PAT AT THE PRESENT TIMES? >> I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY I HAVE TO CHECK ON THAT. I WILL SAY THERE IS ALTHOUGH NEW YORK FIRST IS A NEW PROGRAM THERE IS A PRECURSOR TO THIS PROGRAM SIMILAR WITH NEW YORK STATE HAD IN THE CALLED THE FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. AND THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD DATA AND I CAN FOLLOW-UP ABOUT RECIPIENTS OF THOSE GRANTS AGAIN TREMENDOUS RETURN ON INVESTMENT. WE HAVE ONE GENTLEMAN IN COLUMBIA AT 2002 HE WAS SET

TO GO TO BALTIMORE THE STATE GAVE US $750,000 GRANT IN ORDER TO KEEP HIM HERE. HE'S CREATED I THINK IT'S OVER 54 MILLION DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. 75 TO ONE RETURN ON INVESTMENT. >> AND MY LAST 14 SECONDS IS THERE ANY REQUIREMENT THAT ONCE THE TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN PATENTED AND LICENSED IS IN THE PROCESS OF COMMERCIALIZATION THAT IT MUST TAKE PLACE IN NEW YORK STATE? >> I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS A REQUIREMENT HOWEVER NEW YORK MEDICAL SCHOOLS WILL LOOK TO NEW YORK FIRST. >> GREAT. THANK YOU SO MU

CH. >> THANK YOU. SENATOR TOM O'MARA. >> THANK YOU. Dr. WESTON I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR FILLING IN FOR Dr. TERRY TODAY. I SPOKE WITH HIM LAST NIGHT FOR THE OTHER MEMBERS HE IS DOWN WITH COVID. HE IS NOT HERE. YOU DID A FINE JOB AND YOU KEPT IT TO THE THREE MINUTES WITH THIS ENTHUSIASM HE NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. LAKE ERIE COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE FOUNDED IN ERIE PENNSYLVANIA, AND YOU NOW HAVE STAND ALONE MEDICAL SCHOOL INIAL MEYER RA, NEW YORK. >> YES, SIR. AS WELL AS PITTSBU

RGH AND WE ALSO HAVE ONE IN BRADENTON, FLORIDA. >> AND YOUR FOCUS AND COMMITMENT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DESCRIBE MORE AND YOUR REQUEST IN THE BUDGET FOR FUNDING FOR A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR RURAL HEALTH. AND UNDERSERVED AREAS. COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOUR COMMITMENT IN THE COLLEGE'S PHILOSOPHY TOWARDS LOOKING TO RECRUIT STUDENTS FROM RURAL NEW YORK AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK AND THE EFFORTS TO WORKING TO GET TO KEEP THEM TO PRACTICE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES ONCE THEY GRADUATE.

>> YES, SIR. ONCE WE CAME TO ALMIRA IN 2012 AND OPENED THE MEDICAL SCHOOL IN 2020 WE ESTABLISHED RESIDENCY AND CENTERS OF TRAINING IN NIAGARA FALLS MEMORIAL AND ALSO SISTERS HOSPITAL IN BUFFALO, SAMARITAN MEDICAL CENTER IN WATERTOWN. OUR LADY OF LORDS IN BINGHAMTON. ALMIRA AND ONE IN YONKERS AND ROCK AWAY YENS. ALL THOSE AREAS ARE RURAL AREAS. AND THEY ARE ALSO AREAS OF NEED. AND SO WHAT WE'RE ENVISIONING WE WANT TO TRAIN STUDENTS AND GET STUDENTS FROM NEW YORK AND HOW DO WE DO THAT? A LOT OF P

EOPLE DON'T THINK THEY CAN BE DOCTORS THEY ARE NOT SMART ENOUGH. IF I'M SMART ENOUGH TO MAKE IT THROUGH YOU ARE SMART ENOUGH TO MAKE IT THROUGH. AND I USE MYSELF AS AN EXAMPLE. I COME FROM A WORKING CLASS TOWN AND I GOT LUCKY AND MADE IT TO MEDICAL SCHOOL IF WE MENTOR THE KIDS AND START IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL AND SAY YOU CAN DO THIS AND PARTNER THEM UP WITH THE MEDICAL STUDENTS IN THOSE SITES SO THEY SPEND TIME WITH THEM. WE CAN SHOW THEM WHAT WE DO AND SAY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU C

AN DO. WE ARE THE LARGEST MEDICAL SCHOOL WE GIVE OUT LARGE A LOT OF SCHOLARSHIPS. WE WANT TO DO MORE OF THAT. SO AND WE HAVE A VERY ONE OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE COLLEGES IN THE COUNTRY AS WELL. >> THE LAST 30 SECONDS. FOR THE CENTERS FOR EXCELLENCE FOR RURAL AND UNDERSERVED HEALTH WHAT IS YOUR ASK DOLLAR AMOUNT TO GET THIS? >> WE'RE HUMBLY ASKING FOR $250,000. >> TO RECRUIT DOCTORS. >> FOR SERVING AND UNDERSERVED AND RURAL PARTS OF NEW YORK STATE. >> YES, SIR, THANK YOU FOR THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT

. >> SEMI MORE? ASSEMBLYMAN RA. >> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE. YOU TALKED ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS WHEN THIS TYPE OF RESEARCH GOES ON IN NEW YORK AND OBVIOUSLY A SITUATION WHERE WE LOST SOMEBODY SO CAN YOU ELABORATE HOW THE NEW YORK FIRST PROGRAM HELPS INCREASE AND IMPROVE NEW YORK'S RESEARCH WORKFORCE? >> SURE. WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO RECRUIT SOMEBODY A ROCK STAR A SCIENTIST WITH A TREMENDOUS RECORD OF SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENT BUT ALSO FUNDRAISING, COMMERCIALIZATION ALL THE THINGS THAT THE NEW YORK F

IRST GRANT LOOKS FOR WE HAVE TO PUT TOGETHER A PACKAGE. WE HAVE TO CONVINCE THAT RECRUIT FROM TEXAS, CALIFORNIA THAT THEY WANT TO BRING HIS OR HER LAB TO NEW YORK. AND THAT COSTS MONEY. AND IT INVOLVES SOMETIMES PHYSICAL OR CAPITAL RENOVATIONS. IT INVOLVES STAFF. IT CAN INVOLVE EQUIPMENT. THE NEW YORK FIRST GRANT HELPS US PAUT THAT PACKAGE TOGETHER AND TO MAKE THAT PACKAGE MORE ENTICING INVITING AND GIVES US A LEG UP, IF YOU WILL ON WHATEVER THE COMPETITION MAYBE. AND LET ME TELL YOU SOME OF THE

FOLKS THERE'S COMPETITION FOR THEM. >> AND I KNOW NEW YORK HAS DONE A LOT IN RECENT YEARS TO SUPPORT THE LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRY. HOW WILL NEW YORK FIRST COMPLIMENT THAT WORK? AND HOW COULD IT ENHANCE THOSE PROGRAMS? >> ACTUALLY NEW YORK FIRST IS A SMALL PART OF THE LIFE SCIENCES INITIATIVE MOST TEND TO BE FOCUSED ON THE OUTPUT ON BUILDING THAT BIOTECH SECTOR ON THE NEW COMPANIES ON THE INDUSTRY THE THINGS THAT CAN BUILD LARGE SCALE MANUFACTURING. WE ARE THE INPUT. WE ARE THE SCIENCE WE ARE THE

KNOWLEDGE, WE ARE THE HARD WORK THAT GOES INTO CREATING THOSE DEVICES THOSE DRUGS THOSE PREVENTION STRATEGIES. OUTPUT IS GREAT. BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE OUTPUT WITHOUT THE INPUT. I SHOULD MENTION THAT OUR ASK IS $25 MILLION FOR NEW YORK FIRST. I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THAT. >> AND THAT INPUT THEN, I GUESS, TO SUM IT UP IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO RECRUIT BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH HERE BECAUSE THEY ARE THE INPUT. >> ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT INPUT IS GOOD SCIENCE, IT IS PROXIMITY TO CLINICAL TRIALS BUT THIS IS THE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IT ALSO IS JOBS, IT IS FUNDING, IT IS MENTORSHIP FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS FOR SCIENCE IT IS BUILDING A LONG-TERM BIOTECHNOLOGY BIOSCIENCE COMMUNITY. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER SENATORS? ANY OTHER ASSEMBLYMEMBERS? >> FRED? >> THANK YOU, CHAIRS. Dr. WESTON, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR UP COMING GRADUATION OF YOUR FIRST CLASS OF DO'S. THAT IS EXCITING FOR OUR AREA AND FOR YOUR COLLEGE. COULD YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE MORE ON THE IMPACT THAT THE

CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR RURAL HEALTH WOULD HAVE ON THE SOUTHERN TIER WESTERN NEW YORK, CENTRAL NEW YORK COMMUNITIES LIKE THAT HAVE HOSPITALS? >> SO WHAT WE'RE HOPE SOMETHING BY ATTRACTING STUDENTS FROM THESE DIFFERENT REGIONS TO COME TO ALMIRA AND RECRUITING THEM AFTER WE TRAIN THEM AND WE HAVE RESIDENCY SITES THEY CAN GO BACK TO THEIR HOME AND TRAIN THERE AND BECOME PHYSICIANS IN THAT REGION. RIGHT NOW, WE CONTRIBUTE ABOUT 26 MILLION TO NEW YORK STATE ECONOMY. AND I THINK AS WE CAN KEEP MORE

AND MORE PHYSICIANS IN NEW YORK STATE AND TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM WE HAVE A DIRETH OF PHYSICIANS THAT IS THE A HUGE BENEFIT. BEING IN ALMIRA BEFORE THE SCHOOL AND NOW WE HAVE APARTMENTS GOING UP. WE HAVE BUILDINGS THAT WERE DILAPIDATED AND WE HAVE COFFEE SHOPS ITS AMAZING LIKE THE LITTLE CENTERS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. EACH MEDICAL STUDENT THAT WE HAVE SPENDING $30,000 OVER FOUR YEARS AND DOING RESIDENCY IT'S PHENOMENAL. I KNOW YOU TALK ABOUT THE ARTS AND I LOVE GOING TO NEW YORK CITY. I'VE L

OVED GOING TO THE MET AND I LOVE DOING THAT STUFF. BUT EACH MEDICAL STUDENT IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT IS THEN WE DISPERSE THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND CREATE MORE OF THE RURAL RESIDENCIES AS YOU FUNDUS A LITTLE BIT WE CAN CREATE MORE AND COME UP WITH SPECIFIC EVIDENCE-BASED PLANS TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PEOPLE THAT NEED BETTER HEALTHCARE AND PEOPLE THAT DON'T BELIEVE THEY CAN BE DOCTORS. IF I CAN DO IT ANYONE CAN DO IT. THAT IS WHAT I TELL THE STUDENTS. THANK YOU, SIR. >> THANK YOU. >

> WE THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. WE APPRECIATE IT. AND WE WILL ASK THE NEXT PANEL TO COME UP AND JOIN US. AND THAT IS NEW YORK STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY, NEW YORKERS FOR PHYSICAL FAIRNESS AND REINVENT ALBANY. JOHN KAEHNY WILL NOT BE HERE TODAY. HE IS EMPOWERED ME TO TAKE HIS THREE MINUTES. SHALL WE START WITH IN THE ORDER THEY ARE LISTED WITH RYAN SILVA, NEW YORK STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. GOOD AFTERNOON. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK

YOU SENATOR KRUEGER, ASSEMBLYMEMBER PRETLOW, SENATOR RYAN, ASSEMBLYMEMBER STERNPY AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY HERE TODAY. THERE ARE ITEMS IN THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS, I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN GENERAL AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE WORK THAT WE DO. OUR 1000 MEMBERS REPRESENT COMMUNITIES FROM SUFFOLKER TORY COUNTY AND EVERY COMMUNITY IN-BETWEEN. URBAN, SUBURBAN AND RURAL AREAS. THEY REPRESENT A BROAD CROSS-SECTION

OF PUBLIC, PRIFTD, ACADEMIC AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONINGS. THEIR ULTIMATE MISSION IS TO INCREASE THE HEALTH, WEALTH AND PROSPERITIES OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. JOB CREATION AND JOB RETENTION IS AT THE CORE OF WHAT ALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS DO. OUR MEMBERS SUPPORT AND LEVERAGE PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENTS TOTALING MORE THAN $114 BILLION. THOSE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS HELP TO CREATE OR RETAIN HALF A MILLION JOBS ANNUALLY AND REPRESENT $7 BILLION IN ANNUAL PAYROLL ACCORDING TO NEW YORK STATE

COMPTROLLER DATA. THIS IS ONE COMPONENT OF WHAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS DO. BUT IT IS NOT ALL THAT WE DO. OUR MEMBERS ALSO PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN CORRIDORS, REMOVING BLIGHT, CREATING NEW HOUSING STARTS, ADAPTIVELY REUSING UNDERUTILIZED BUILDINGS SUPPORTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND GENERATING THOUSANDS OF MEGAWATTS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISN'T ABOUT CHASING SMOKESTACKS IT'S INCREASING THE QUALITIFUL LIFE. AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL NEW YORKE

RS. IT'S BUILDING A NURSING SCHOOL FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN CORNING. IT'S TURNING UNUSED LAND INTO RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION AND MILLIONS IN NEW TAX REVENUE TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NORTH COUNTRY. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS REVITALIZING MAIN STREET CORRIDORS IN SCHENECTADY AND OS WE GO AND CREATING HUBS IN OTHER PLACES IT'S CREATING ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAMS TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN BABYLON AND SUPPORTING GREAT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MINORITY MILLENNIUMS. IT'S INVESTING IN A MAKER SPAC

E FOR THE GENERATION OF MANUFACTURER IN TROY, NEW YORK. IT'S CREATING MUCH-NEEDED WORKFORCE HOUSING IN WEST CHESTER COUNTY AND LONG ISLAND. AND YES, IDA'S DO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SUPPORT COMMERCIAL HOUSING PROJECTS BASED ON AN OSC OPINION AND MULTIPLE COURT RULINGS IN THE NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT AUTHORIZING IDA'S TO SUPPORT COMMERCIAL HOUSING. FINALLY, IT'S BUILDING OUT OUR 21ST CENTURY INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT OUR STATE'S RENEWABLE ENERGY GOALS FROM PLATTSBURGH TO NEW YORK CITY. THESE AR

E PUT A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE WORK OUR MEMBERS ARE DOING AND WHY WE NEED TO UPDATE THE DATA WE COLLECT AND THE METRICS WE USE TO MEASURE ECONOMIC SUCCESS. THESE INITIATIVES COME TOGETHER FROM PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORT FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS CHARLES KHAN. CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY. >> HI PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU ALL TODAY. I JUST WANT IT 0 TAKE A SECOND TO TALK ABOUT HOW NEW YORK STATE DOES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT A

ND WHY WE SHOULD PUT A PAUSE HOW NEW YORK STATE DOES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. OUR ECONOMIC PROGRAM HAS GROWN TO $11 BILLION. NEW YORK STATE LEADS THE NATION IN MEGA DEALS OVER 50 MILLION. AND THOSE MEGA DEALS ARE BY FAR THE MOST RISKY AND MOST LIKELY TO FAIL. THERE'S BEEN NO SHORTAGE OF HEADLINES OVER FAILED DEALS AND LOST TAXPAYER MONEY ACROSS NEW YORK STATE. AND EVERY YEAR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE AND THE CHILDREN THAT THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SERVE LOSE 1.8 BILLION DOLLARS TO IDA TAX

ABATEMENTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEALS THAT ARE OFTEN HIDDEN BEHIND NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS SO THE PUBLIC HAS NO OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THEM. JUST ON THAT 1.8 BILLION, LOCALITIES ARE ONLY HAVE TWO OPTIONS. THEY CAN TRY AND DO MORE WITH LESS. OR THEY CAN RAISE PROPERTY TAXES. AND I KNOW THAT ANY HOMEOWNERS IN THIS STATE MYSELF BEING ONE OF THEM HAVE FELT THE CRISIS ON PROPERTY TAXES AND THAT IS LARGELY DRIVEN BY SCHOOL SPENDING THAT IS NECESSARY, BUT IS OFTEN THE PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED BY THE TA

X ABATEMENTS. I ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT NEW YORK HAS VERY LITTLE TO SHOW TO THE PUBLIC ON THESE DEALS. IN PART BECAUSE ACROSS OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THERE IS NO TRANSPARENT STANDARD ON WHAT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT SHOULD BE. ON WHAT COUNTS AS A JOB CREATED. THERE IS NO STANDARD METHODOLOGY ON ECONOMIC FORECASTING. THERE'S NO STANDARD OF METRICS OR EVALUATIONS. AND THAT IS PRECISELY THE PROBLEM AND WHY WE NEED TO PUT PAUSES ON THOSE DEALS. IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET THE GOVERNOR SAID TH

AT SHE WANTS TO PROTECT NEW YORKERS' HARD-EARNED MONEY. I THINK THAT IS ONLY POSSIBLE TO SAY THAT AND TO GO OUT INTO THE PUBLIC AND HAVE THEM BELIEVE THAT IF WE DO THAT. AND YEAR AFTER YEAR I THINK IT'S BEEN SHARED THAT THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM HERE IN NEW YORK STATE AND YEAR AFTER YEAR WE INCREASE THE FUNDING TO THAT PROGRAM WITHOUT PUTTING IN THE NECESSARY TRANSPARENCY OR GUARANTEES THAT THE NEW YORK TAXPAYERS' MONEY WILL BE WELL SPENT. AS I SAID, PLUG POWER, T

ESLA, NEXT GEN, CENTRAL NEW YORK FILM HUB, BELMONT, THE BUFFALO BILLS STADIUM THERE ARE LOTS OF EMBARRASSMENTS THAT ARE TO BE HAD. AND THE QUESTION IS SORT OF WHY DO THESE DEALS KEEP HAPPENING PARTICULARLY WITH THE MEGA DEALS. THIS IS WHY THEY HAPPEN. THE DEALS ARE NOT ACCOUNTABLE BUT THEY MAKE GOOD PRESS. BUFFALO BILLS, BELMONT. OVER AND OVER AGAIN WE'VE MADE THE SAME MISTAKE THIS IS THE YEAR THAT WE CAN FIX THAT MAKE A CHANGE AND SAVE NEW YORK TAXPAYERS MONEY. >> I HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF. THANK Y

OU YOUR FIRST WELCOME TO SUBMIT ADDITIONAL TESTIMONY. NEXT HELLO. HOW ARE YOU, RON? >> I'M WELL. >> GOOD. >> I'M RON DEUTSCH. I'M HERE TODAY AS THE DIRECTOR OF NEW YORKERS FOR FISCAL FAIRNESS AND A SENIOR POLICY FELLOW WITH REINVENT ALBANY. I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY HERE AGAIN TODAY. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING LIKE MY 27TH TIME BEFORE YOU. SO BEAR WITH ME I WILL BE QUICK, I ONLY HAVE 2 MINUTES. I AGREE WITH CHARLES AND WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT HITTING THE PAUSE BUTTON AS YOU ALL

KNOW WE'RE WAITING FOR A REPORT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE COMING OUT. IT IS AN INDEPENDENT REPORT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT TAX SUBSIDY AND ABATEMENT PROGRAMS AT THE DEPOSIT OF TAX OPERATES THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ISSUED THIS MONTH. SO WE ARE WAITING TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THAT BUT YET WE ARE FORGING AHEAD WITH A MYRIAD OF TAX SUBSIDY PROGRAMS, TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAMS WHEN WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE EVIDENCE TO SHOW WHETHER OR NOT WE GET A GOOD RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT. CLEARLY ALL THE

ACADEMIC RESEARCH POINTS TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT GETTING A GOOD RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. WE SEEM TO HAVE THIS ADDICTION TO GIVING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BILLIONAIRES. THAT JUST DEFIES LOGIC TO ME WHETHER IT'S ELON MUSK OR AMAZON OR THE BUFFALO BILLS, YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE YOUR PICK. WE'RE OBVIOUSLY SUBSIDIZING BILLIONAIRES TO THE TUNE OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO START TO REDEFINE WHAT WE THINK OF AS ECONOMIC DEVELO

PMENT. AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE. WHEN WE LOOK AT SUNY AND CUNY TO ME THAT'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THAT'S PREPARING A SKILLED WORKFORCE WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BUSINESSES WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING. A GOOD SKILLED WORKFORCE. WE ALSO NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHILDCARE IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO GO TO WORK AND THAT IS ESSENTIAL. AND IT ALSO IS HAS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTING ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITIES. AND FINALLY, WITH ALL DUE DEFERENCE AND RESPECT TO MY FRIEND

RYAN SILVA, I WOULD SAY IDA'S ARE UNACCOUNTABLE, THEY ARE UNELECTED, AND THEY REALLY NEED TO BE REINED IN. AND IN PARTICULAR, ONE OF THE THINGS I'M GOING TO BE DISCUSSING TOMORROW AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IS TO PROHIBIT IDA'S FROM GIVING AWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT TAX REVENUE. THIS HAPPENS ALL TOO OFTEN. AND TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR SCHOOLS, TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR COMMUNITIES, AND WE NEED GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO IDA'S. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. SENATOR RYAN? >> I H

AVE A QUESTION. SO LITTLE TIME SENATOR KRUEGER. SO LET'S TALK FOR A SECOND ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH IDA'S IN THE SCHOOL TAXES. COULD YOU WALK THROUGH THE LINKAGE OF THAT FOR ME AND WHY IT PRESENTS A PROBLEM? >> SURE. IN MY POINT OF VIEW, AND IN MY OPINION, WHAT WE'RE SEEING HAPPENING IS THESE LOCAL INDIVIDUAL IDA'S ARE BASICALLY GIVING SCHOOL DISTRICT REVENUE AWAY TO BUSINESSES. THEY ARE ABATING SCHOOL DISTRICT REVENUES. IN THE FORM OF PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES SUCH AS PILOTS, OR OTHER MEANS AND AS

A RESULT OF THAT, OUR STUDY THAT WAS DONE BY GOOD JOBS FIRST IS CLEARLY SHOWING A LOSS OF ABOUT 1..8 BILLION IN 2021 AS A RESULT OF THOSE ABATEMENTS. >> ALL ON THE LOCAL TAX BASE? >> YES. >> AND THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS COME HERE? >> AND THEN I MEAN WE'RE IN A SITUATION RIGHT NOW, OBVIOUSLY WHERE THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROPOSAL IS GOING TO BE CUTTING EDUCATION AID FOR HUNDREDS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE. AND AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE ALSO IN A POSITION WHERE IDA'S ARE BASICALLY TELLING B

USINESSES YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY SCHOOL TAXES OR ONLY HAVE TO PAY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE WHAT YOU NORMALLY HAVE TO PAY IN SCHOOL TAXES FOR A PERIOD OF 10 OR 20 YEARS OR WHAT HAVE YOU. THAT TO ME IS SIGNIFICANTLY PROBLEMATIC AND THEN ACTUALLY WHEN IDA'S DOLL OUT THE ABATEMENTS THEY ARE ALSO GETTING FEES. THEY ARE GENERATING INCOME FOR THE IDA. >> DOES THE FEE GO BACK TO THE LOCAL TAXPAYERS? >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT FEE GOES TO THE IDA TO SPEND AS THEY NEED TO SPEND. >> WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY? >>

IN MY OPINION, SURE. THESE ARE UNELECTED BODIES. >> CAN THEY TAKE THAT MONEY AND [INAUDIBLE]. >> YOU KNOW, PERHAPS THAT'S THE CASE, YES. CERTAINLY I THINK IT GOES TO THEIR ASSOCIATIONS. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY OPINION WHETHER IDA'S ARE AUTHORIZED TO DO HOUSING IN NEW YORK STATE? >> I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE, NO. >> IF THEY WERE ABLE TO DO HOUSING WHAT WOULD THAT EFFECT HAVE ON THE SCHOOL TAX BASE? >> THAT WOULD ALSO HAVE A DETRIMENTAL IMPACT. LOOK, I THINK WE CAN LOOK AT PROVIDING TAX CREDITS OF SOME

SORT FOR HOUSING OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT QUITE FRANKLY IDA'S ARE NOT THE MECHANISM TO BE ENGAGING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. >> RUNNING OUT OF TIME DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE I STANDS FOR IN IDA. >> INDUSTRIAL. >> NOT HOUSING? >> NO. >> NOT RETAIL. >> NO. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> ASSEMBLY? WE WERE JOINED BY ASSEMBLYMAN JACOBSEN EARLIER AND I HAVE A QUESTION FROM MS. WERNER. >> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. RYAN I WANTED TO DIRECT MY COMMENTS TO YOU. I KNOW IN YOUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY

THAT YOU REFLECTED ON ISSUES THAT MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES ARE EXPERIENCING IN THE STATE. AND THIS IS AN AREA OF GREAT INTEREST TO ME, BECAUSE I'M SEEING THE NUMBERS OF MANUFACTURERS IN NEW YORK STATE DECLINE EVEN AS WE MAKE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS AND TRYING TO ATTRACT NEW MANUFACTURING TO THE STATE. AND YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR TESTIMONY THAT THERE WERE BUSINESSES ARE ISSUING MORE NOTICES WHICH THE STEP THEY HAVE TO TAKE TO CLOSE-OUT THEIR BUSINESS. I HAVE HAD THREE IN MY DISTRICT IN THE LAST YE

AR. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS PERSONALLY IMPACTING MY AREA. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE CHALLENGES YOU ARE SEEING? >> SURE ASSEMBLYWOMAN, AND YOU KNOW, SARATOGA COUNTY IS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST BUSINESS FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES IN ALL OF NEW YORK STATE. SO TO SEE MANUFACTURERS EITHER CLOSING UP SHOP OR LAYING OFF SIGNIFICANT MEMBERS OF THEIR STAFF IS VERY CONCERNING. AS YOU KNOW, OUR MEMBERS ARE THE ONES DOING THE WORK ON THE GROUND. AND THE FEEDBACK WE HAVE GOTTEN IS THAT THE C

OST OF DOING BUSINESS IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER. THERE ARE REAL CONCERNS ABOUT ACCESS TO THE ENERGY NEEDED FOR MANUFACTURERS TO NOT ONLY MAINTAIN THEIR PRESENCE HERE BUT TO EXPAND THEIR PRESENCE HERE. I KNOW THE NEW YORK INDEPENDENT SYSTEM OPERATOR HAS DONE A NUMBER OF THE QUART # QUARTERLY REPORTS THAT RAISES CONCERN ABOUT THE STATE'S ABILITY AND CAPACITY .. TO HIT OUR RENEWABLE ENERGY GOALS AND DO THAT FROM A STANDPOINT OF CAPACITY. IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY OUR MEMBERS ARE DOING WHAT THEY CA

N IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS WHEN SOLAR, OFFSHORE, WIND TO TRY TO GET AS MUCH RENEWABLE ENERGY ON THE GRID SO THAT WE CAN MEET THOSE AGGRESSIVE TIMELINES BUT I THINK IS A REAL CONCERN ABOUT THE TIMELINE AS IT IS SET UP THAT WE ARE HEARING ABOUT IN THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE NOT ONLY HAVE AFFORDABLE UTILITIES, GAS, ELECTRICITY, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE CAPACITY, BECAUSE WE DO NOT NEED ROLLING BROWNOUTS IN THIS STATE ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE FUTURE. >> NEAR

FUTURE. >> THIS IS SORT OF A GIMME QUESTION. >> MANUFACTURING IS AN EMERGENCY INTENSIVE BUSINESS. >> CORRECT. >> REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU ARE MANUFACTURING YOU NEED POWER AND NATURAL GAS? >> THAT IS CORRECT. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE WAYS THAT THESE BUSINESSES ARE TRYING TO ADAPT BUT THE ECONOMIC REALITIES MAKE IT VERY CHALLENGING RIGHT NOW TO DO THAT. >> THANK YOU. >> OKAY. SENATOR MURRAY. >> THANK YOU. MR. SILVA, WE ARE TIME SENSITIVE HERE, SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PILOTS, WE TALK ABOUT THE IDAS AN

D BENEFITS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS LOSING MONEY, I DON'T BELIEVE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ACTUAL REAL NUMBERS HERE BECAUSE THE STARTING POINTS AREN'T EXACTLY CORRECT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE LOSSES, WHAT ARE WE COMPARING? ARE WE COMPARING REAL NUMBERS OR IN OTHER WORDS, IS IT WHAT IT WOULD BE AT FULL VALUE COMPARED TO WHAT IT IS WITH THE PILOT? BUT ISN'T THERE ANOTHER OPTION? >> THANK YOU, SENATOR. YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER THAT IS BEING QUOTED IN THE GOOD JOBS FIRST WHILE IT IS BEING ATTRIBUTED TO INDUSTR

IAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES I BELIEVE TAKES INTO ACCOUNT EVERY TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM THAT EXISTS IN NEW YORK STATE, SO FOR 21 A, 427 AA, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, NUMBER AND LETTER YOU WANT TO THROW IN FRONT OF IT THE DATA THAT WE RELY ON IS THE DATA THAT WE GET FROM THE NEW YORK STATE COMPTROLLER. AND THEIR DATA SHOWS THAT THE DOLLAR ABATED BY IDAS TOWARDS SCHOOLS IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THAT $1.8 BILLION NUMBER. SECONDLY, IT IS BASED UPON A BELIEF THAT ALL THESE PROJECTS ARE GOING TO OCCUR REGARDLES

S OF NONTHE IDA IS SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT. AND WE KNOW THE VAST MAJORITY OF PROJECTS THAT IDA SUPPORT NEED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE. SO IN ALMOST EVERY CASE WHEN AN IDA SUPPORTS A PROJECT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF NEW REVENUE GOING TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN IF NOTHING WAS OCCURRING AT THAT SITE TO BEGIN WITH. >> SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT, SO IF THE BUSINESS DOESN'T GET A BREAK AND THEY DECIDE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO LOCATE THERE, THEY ARE GOING TO LEAVE, HOW MUCH DO

ES THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GET IN TAX? >> I WOULD SAY WHATEVER THE PROPERTY WAS OR IS GENERATING BEFORE -- >> A VACANT LOT. >> IT PROBABLY WOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN IF THE PILOT OR THE PROJECT WERE OCCURRING -- >> SO YOU ARE SAYING -- >> HAVE YOU HAD ANY SUPERINTENDENTS REACH OUT TO YOU AND SAY THIS IS UNFAIR. >> NOT DIRECTLY TO ME. WE DO KNOW THAT ONE OF OUR MEMBERS AND BOARD MEMBERS HAS ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT. THEY HAPPEN TO SIT ON THE IDA

BOARD AND THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTING BRING ABOUT NET NEW REVENUE FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SO OUR ENCOURAGEMENT AND OUR HOPE IS THAT OUR MEMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE COMMUNICATION, WORK COLLABORATIVELY WHERE YOU CAN. >> LET ME JUST CLOSE -- >> YES. >> SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF. REAL QUICK, THE FALLACY IF -- THAT THE COMPANIES WOULD STAY ANYWAY AND WOULDN'T LEAVE, ACCORDING TO NEWS 10 ALBANY, 158 COMPANIES MANAGING ALMOST A TRILLION-DOLLAR IN

ASSETS HAVE LEFT WHEN THEY HAVEN'T WORKED OUT THESE DEALS. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT IS ASSEMBLY. >> IMPOSSI I DON'T BELIEVE SO. >> MEMBER STIRPE. >> THANK YOU. I THINK WE KIND OF LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD AND THINGS THAT -- I HAVE SAID -- SAT IN ON MEETINGS WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE IDEA THAT COMPANIES ASKED, WOULD WOULD YE HERE IF IT WASN'T FOR A PILOT AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN THE PILOT YET AND THEY ANSWERED YES. THAT MIGHT TAKE US A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO RAMP UP TO THE NUMBER OF JOB

S BUT WE WOULD STILL BE HERE. AND STILL SEE THE IDA GIVE THEM A PILOT. SO THAT'S A PROBLEM. BUT ON YOUR SIDE, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SEEN LOTS OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED AND THE ONLY REASON THEY DID HAPPEN IS BECAUSE THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS THAT WERE GIVEN TO THEM. THE OTHER THING I SEE THAT THINGS HAPPEN IN NEW YORK STATE, AND I WILL PICK MICRON FOR AN EXAMPLE, IS THE INVESTMENT THAT NEW YORK STATE HAS MADE OVER THE LAST PERHAPS 40 YEARS IN HIGHER EDUCATION BECAUSE ONE OF THE KEYS TO GETT

ING MICRON WAS THAT WITHIN A TWO-HOUR DRIVE FROM SYRACUSE THERE ARE 7,200 ENGINEERING STUDENTS THAT GRADUATE EVERY YEAR. SO I MEAN, THERE IS A LOT OF BLAME THAT CAN GO AROUND FOR WHAT WE THINK IS WASTE AND EVERYTHING, BUT I MEAN THE STATE IS ATTACKING THE PROBLEM AT MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS, NOT JUST AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. BUT YOU ARE RIGHT. SUNY, CUNY, THOSE ARE GREAT INVESTMENTS. THAT'S THE KIND OF STUFF WE NEED TO DO. BUT WE DO NEED TO DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND WE ALL HAVE TO SORT OF AC

KNOWLEDGE THAT. I AM JUST HOPING THAT WE CAN BE A LITTLE MORE CAREFUL. YOU KNOW,LY GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. IN ADDITION TO MICRON IN MY DISTRICT I HAVE AMAZON, THE SECOND LARGEST WAREHOUSE IN THE WORLD, AND THEY HAVE 3,600 PEOPLE WORKING THERE NOW WHEREAS IT WAS A GOLF COURSE BEFORE AND I THINK THE SCHOOL TAXES THAT WERE PAID WERE MAYBE 50 OR $60,000 A YEAR AND I KNOW IN THE PILOT THEY PAY A LOT MORE THAN THAT. SO, YOU KNOW, IS IT BETTER THAT WE GAVE THEM A BENEFIT LIKE THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE 3,600 J

OBS THAT STARTED, I DON'T KNOW, 20 OR $22 AN HOUR NOW. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS ALL THE REST OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE HURTING BECAUSE THE WORKERS WENT FOR HIGHER PAY AND INSTANT BENEFITS AND EVERYBODY WANTS THAT. SO IT IS NOT EASY AND IT IS GOING TO BE UNEVEN, BUT WE ARE COMPETING AGAINST REST OF THE WORLD. THAT'S IT. >> I WOULD JUST SAY WITH THE FEW SECONDS LEFT A THAT THE SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION, THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS AND THE NEW YORK STATE PTA WILL BE

COMING AGAINST IDAS AS GIVING AWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT MONEY AS WELL TOMORROW. >> THANK YOU. I GUESS I WILL JUMP IN NEXT WITH A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY STATES OUTLAW GIVING AWAY TAX MONEY OF SCHOOLS? >> YES. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STATES. WE ARE CURRENTLY BEHIND FLORIDA, LOUISIANA, AND ALABAMA IF THAT MAKES YOU FEEL ANY BETTER. >> THANK YOU. >> BRIAN, YOU REFERENCED, RYAN, YOU REFERENCED YOU HAVE USED IDA FOR COMMERCIAL HOUSING. I HAVE NEVER HEARD THE TERM COMMERCIAL HOUSING. WHAT D

OES THAT MEAN? >> WELL, I HAVE CERTAINLY NOT DONE THAT MYSELF. INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES SUPPORT COMMERCIAL HOUSING PROJECTS, WHICH ARE APARTMENTS, ADAPTIVE REUSE AND HAVE BEEN DOING SO PROBABLY SINCE THAT 1985 OSC EVENT. >> SO YOU USED THE TERM COMMERCIAL HOUSING THAT WE ALL CALL MULTIAPARTMENT HOUSING. >> IT IS DEFINED AS COMMERCIAL HOUSING. >> OKAY. THAT'S A TERM I AM REALLY NOT EVER HEARD BEFORE. I WAS THINKING YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HOTELS. AGAIN, I HAVE ASKED EDC FROM THE PREVIOUS PA

NEL TO ESDC, I AM SORRY, TO GIVE ME INFORMATION ABOUT WHY THEY THINK IT ACTUALLY IS LEGAL, BECAUSE I DON'T AGREE. I DON'T BELIEVE THE STATUTE DOES ALLOW FOR IT. AND DO YOU KNOW, SINCE WE ARE ON THIS TOPIC, IN THE COMMERCIAL HOUSING THAT IDAS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN, DO THEY FOLLOW ALL THE HOUSING LAWS? ARE THESE AFFORDABLE UNITS? DO THESE MEET HOUSING CODE? WHAT ARE THESE UNITS? >> WELL, THESE UNITS HAVE TO PASS ALL LOCAL PLANNING AND SOAPING LAWS THAT ARE REQUIRED OF THE COMMUNITY OF WHICH THEY A

RE BEING PLACED IN. SO WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT SPECIFIC DATA I WOULD SAY THEY HAVE TO, OTHERWISE THEY WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO COME TO MARKET. THE DATA THAT WE HAVE AND THE DATA THAT WE GENERATED FROM SURVEY ACTIVITY WHICH IS LIMITED, SHOWS ABOUT 27 PERCENT OF THE UNITS THAT ARE GENERATED OVER AT LEAST THE LAST FIVE YEARS ARE CONSIDERED AFFORDABLEE HOUSING UNITS. >> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ANY MATERIAL YOU HAVE ON THAT. >> I WOULD LIKE TO, HONESTLY -- >> YES. >> -- IF I MAY PUT IN A PLUG FOR UPD

ATING THE EXISTING PUBLIC AUTHORITIES INFORMATION REPORTING SYSTEM WHICH SOMETHING WE HAVE ASKED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS TO GENERATE THE TYPE OF DATA THAT WE NEED TO REALLY EXAMINE THE IDA'S ROLES IN A VARIETY OF GOALS THAT FRANKLY THE STATE HAS PUT FORTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AGAIN BEING ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE. ARE WE SEEING A DIFFERENCE? ARE WE MOVING THE NEEDLE, SO TO SPEAK? >> AND YOU RAISE ANOTHER ISSUE, THANK YOU. I ASKED THE CAN AGENCIES THAT WERE HERE BEFORE WHAT THEY WERE DOING TO EVALUATE MEET

ING THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER DECARBONIZING AND MEETING GREEN STANDARDS IN ANY PROJECTS WE ARE SUPPORTING WITH TAX MONEY. DO YOU THINK THAT IDAS SHOULD ALSO HAVE TO HOLD TO THAT SAME LEVEL OF REDECARBONIZATION IN YOUR PROJECTS? >> YOU MIGHT HAVE TO TELL ME IN WRITING AFTERWARDS BECAUSE MY TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. SENATOR BORRELLO. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. TO DIRECT THIS TOWARD YOU, BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT SCHOOL DISTRICTS LOSING MONEY, SO IF YOU HAVE A VACANT BUILDING AND THAT

BUILDING IS PAYING, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN REASSESSED AT LOWER BECAUSE IT IS VACANT AND NOW YOU BRING IN AN OFFERED PILOT ON THAT BUILDING AND A NEW DEVELOPMENT GOES IN THERE, DOES THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LOSE ANY MONEY? >> I DON'T BELIEVE THEY WOULD LOSE ANY REVENUE FROM WHAT THAT BUILDING WAS PAYING. >> RIGHT. BECAUSE THE BASE IS WHAT VACANT BUILDING WAS PAYING SNRIERKTS AND TYPICALLY IN A PILOT, YOU KNOW, OVER THE COURSE OF SAY A TEN YEAR PILOT THAT ESCALATES, RIGHT? >> IT DOES. >> OKAY. >> IT ESCAL

ATES AND EXPIRES EVENTUALLY. >> RIGHT. AND EVENTUALLY EXPIRES. SO HOW DOES A SCHOOL DISTRICT LOSE MONEY WHEN A VACANT BUILDING WHICH PROBABLY COULD BE FORECLOSED UPON AND REVALUED AGAIN TO AN EVEN LOWER AMOUNT WHICH WOULD ACTUALLY CAUSE REAL LOSS TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT, HOW COULD A NEW BUILDING OR STATE, SAY A MANUFACTURING FACILITY CAUSE A SCHOOL DISTRICT TO LOSE MONEY? >> THE BELIEF WOULD HAVE TO BE THAT PROJECT WOULD HAPPEN REGARDLESS OR NOT THE IDA SUPPORTED IT. THE REALITY IS THAT NEW YORK IS

A CHALLENGING PLACE TO DO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. >> AMEN. I LIVE ON THE BORDER OF PENNSYLVANIA AND, YOU KNOW, WE USE EVERY TOOL IN OUR ECONOMIC TOOL BUILDING BOX, ALL IT DOES IS LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD WHEN PENNSYLVANIA DOES NOTHING AND THAT'S A PROBLEM. I WANT TO ADDRESS MY REMAINING QUESTIONS TO THE TWO GENTLEMEN NEXT TO YOU. WE TALK ABOUT LOSS, BUILDINGS OF DOLLARS LOST FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. I AGREE WITH YOU. NEW YORK CITY REMAINS A SANCTUARY CITY, 2.$4 BILLION IN BUDGET THIS YEAR, 2.2 LA

ST YEAR, WOULD YOU SUPPORT NEW YORK TAKING AWAY THE SANCTUARY STATUS? >> I WOULDN'T SUPPORT THAT. AS WE SAID, NEW YORK STATE HAS A 230 BILLION, $33 BILLION BUDGET AND WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE NOW SPEND THAT MONEY, A BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT, WE SPEND ON THE THINGS WE BELIEVE AND THINK, I THINK PEOPLE THAT ARE SPEAKING ASYLUM, THEY ARE LEGALLY ABLE TO BE HERE AND -- >> 4.$4 BILLION JUST THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR, YOU DON'T THINK THAT COULD HELP OUR SCHOOLS IF WE TOOK AWAY THE WELCOME MATT IN, MAT IN

FRONT OF NEW YORK CITY? >> BEATING UP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHEN WE ARE SPENDING BUILDINGS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE NEW YORK CITY IS A SANCTUARY CITY. >> ABSOLUTELY. SO I MEAN THE GOAL OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE GOAL OF WHO GOVERNMENT IS TO HELP PEOPLE. I CAN SHOW YOU HERE THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS LOSING MONEY, RIGHT? WE SPENT $4 MILLION PER JOB ON PLUG HOUR, THAT WAS A WASTE OF PUBLIC MONEY. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT. >> LET ME JUST FINISH. >> WE SOLD THE TESLA FACTORY EQUIPMENT AT A LOSS, RIGHT? >>

-- >> MIGRANTS WERE ACTUALLY HELPING PEOPLE -- >> THANK YOU, SENATOR BORRELLO. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE -- OH, SENATOR MURRAY, YOU WERE ON THE LIST. >> THANK YOU. MR. SILVA, AS IT COMES TO HOUSING AND, DO EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS AT A PLANT THAT IS INCENTIVIZED TO BE THERE, AN INDUSTRY, DO THEY LIVE AT THE PLANT? >> I DON'T BELIEVE SO. >> I THINK THEY NEED HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY TO -- >> HOUSING IS WHERE JOBS GO AFTER 5:00 P.M. OR 6:00 P.M. OR 9:00 P.M. DEPENDING ON THE SHIFT YOU WORK. >

> NOW, WITH RESPECT TO THE, WITH RESPECT TO THE LOSS OF TAX DOLLARS, TAKING AWAY FROM -- IF THERE IS A DILAPIDATED OR VACANT INDUSTRIAL SITE AND IT IS PAYING $10,000 A YEAR IN PROPERTY TAXES AS IT IS VACANT, AND IT GETS DEVELOPED IN PART WITH INCENTIVIZING BY A PILOT AND IT ENDS UP PAYING $100,000 IN TAXES, EVEN UNDER A PILOT, THAT SEEMS TO ME TO BE A NET WE HAVE TO THE, NET BENEFIT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OTHER TAXING ENTITIES, NOT A LOSS OF TAX DOLLARS, I MEAN THAT'S THE WAY I LOOK AT THESE

. >> THAT'S THE WAY WE VIEW IT AS WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT THESE ARE NET NEW GAINS. I DO WANT TO ADDRESS ALABAMA AND FLORIDA BECAUSE THEY WERE BROUGHT UP. ALABAMA SPENDS $10,000 A YEAR PER STUDENT OR 7.6 BILLION ANNUALLY. THEY RANK 46TH IN THE COUNTRY IN EDUCATION. FLORIDA SPENDS 9,800 DOLLARS A YEAR PER STUDENT OR $28 BILLION ANNUALLY, FLORIDA RANKS 42 AND IN THE NATION FOR EDUCATION. NEW YORK STATE SPENDS $37,000 PER YEAR PER STUDENT AND RANKS SIXTH IN EDUCATION. I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO BE LIKE F

LORIDA AND ALABAMA WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION AND FRANKLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THEM NOT ABATING THOSE PROGRAMS, YOU CAN'T ABBATE WHEN YOU DON'T SPEND, AND THEY DON'T SPEND ON K-12 EDUCATION THE WAY NEW YORK STATE DOES. >> THANK YOU. JUST IN THE LAST MINUTE I WENT OVER WITH ESD COMMISSIONER KNIGHT ON THE SEEMING TREND IN LOSING MANUFACTURERS FROM NEW YORK STATE, TECHNICALLY MANUFACTURERS THAT HAVE OPERATIONS IN OTHER STATES WHEN THEY ARE MAKING DECISIONS TO DOWNSIZE, THEY ARE CLOSING NEW YORK AND G

OING TO LOWER COST STATES. WHAT DATA OR INFORMATION DO YOU HAVE ON THAT? AND IS ANYBODY DOING ACTUAL INTERVIEWS THESE COMPANIES? SEEMINGLY WE WAKE UP AND GET NOTICE THERE ARE 400 JOBS ARE LEAVING AND NOBODY KNEW ABOUT IT AND DID ANYTHING AND I DON'T SEE THE COMPANIES REALLY MAKING A STATEMENT ON THAT. SO WHO IS DOING THE EXIT INTERVIEWS ON THESE? >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL, ORGANIZATION OR ENTITY THAT IS APPOINTED TO DO THAT. YOU KNOW, ESD MAY CO

LLECT INFORMATION OR ASK COMPANIES ABOUT WHY THEY ARE LEAVING. I KNOW OUR MEMBERS TRY TO DO THAT AS WELL. SO THERE? WORK TO BE DONE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM GOING TO END THIS PANEL, THANK ALL THE GENTLEMEN FOR THEIR PRESENTATIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> WELCOME TO FOLLOW UP ON QUESTIONS IN WRITING TO US. BEFORE I CALL THE LAST PANEL OF THIS HEARING I WANT TO REMIND YOU WHAT THE LAST PANEL IS, SO WHEN THIS PANEL IS DONE WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A TEN-MINUTE BREAK, THEN WE ARE GOING TO COME BACK AS A B

RAND-NEW HEARING, SO ANYBODY OUT THERE LISTENING, IF YOU THINK YOU ARE COMING TO THE WORKFORCE HEARING THAT IN THEORY SHOULD START AT 2:00 BUT I WARN EVERYONE WE ARE NEVER ON TIME, WE ARE MORE LIKELY STARTING AT 3:00, SO HOPEFULLY THE PEOPLE ON THE FIRST PANEL OF WORKFORCE WILL BE HERE AND READY TO START W THAT, LAST, WITH THAT, LAST PANEL, STUDENT BORROWER PROTECTION CENTER, ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS LAW AND POLICY INSTITUTE, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS AND WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE

ASSOCIATION. ANY OF THESE FOLKS ARE STILL WITH US WAITING, I WANT YOU TO COME ON DOWN TO THE PANEL. .. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. SO LET'S START WITH THE STUDENT BORROWER PROTECTION CENTER. AND REMEMBER YOU HAVE TO PRESS HARD SO THE GREEN LIGHT IS ON. OKAY. HI. >> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRS. RANKING MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, MY NAME IS WIN WITH SON BERKMAN-BREEN, LEGAL DIRECTOR OF THE STUDENT BORROWER PROTECTION CENTER, FOCUSED ON ELIMINATING THE BURDEN OF STUDENT DEBT ACROSS AMERI

CA, INCLUDING OVER 2.5 MILLION WORKERS. I WORK WITH CONSUMER LAWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. PRIOR TO JOINING THIS, I WAS WITH THE MORNING DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES AND LEGAL SERVICES ATTORNEY BEFORE THAT. THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO TESTIFY ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, OF THE ARTICLE 7 BILL IN THE BUDGET. I SUBMITTED MORE DETAILED WRITTEN TESTIMONY SO I WILL USE MY TIME TODAY TO EMPHASIZE ONE POINT. NEW YORK'S BASIC CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW, NEW YORK BUSINESS LAW 349 LA

CKS FAR BEHIND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, FAILS TO PROTECT NEW YORK HOUSEHOLDS AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND WAS CALLED TOOTHLESS BY THE NATIONAL CONSUMER LAW CENTER. THE NATIONAL STANDARD FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION AT BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS ARE SO CALLED UDAP LAWS, BANS AGAINST UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE ACTS AND PRACTICES, THEY ARE WELL-DEFINED BY STATUTES AND COURTS AND APPLICABLE TO ALL PARTS OF THE ECONOMY AND APPLIED IN NEW YORK THROUGH FEDERAL LAW. NEW YORK OFTEN CONSIDERED A BASTION OF CONSUM

ER PROTECTION IS ONLY EIGHT STATES WITHOUT A TRUE UDAP. >> >> HAS SEVERAL OUTDATED PROVISIONS AND JUDICIALLY IMPOSED LIMITATIONS. THIS LEAVES NEW YORK OPEN TO ALL MANNER OF UNFAIR AND ABUSIVE CONDUCT WHICH IS UNLAWFUL ELSEWHERE AND PUTS COMPANIES AT A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE. THIS AFFECTS STUDENT LOANS AND OTHERS. THIS VACUUM ALLOWS BAD ARGUMENTS TO, ARGUMENT TORS TO EQUITIES TRACT MONEY FROM THOSE OF COLOR. AS PROPOSED IN HER INITIAL ARTICLE 7 BILL, GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT WO

ULD ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES, SUCH AS PROHIBITING UNFAIR PRACTICES ALONGSIDE DECEPTIVE CONDUCT. THESE ARE MEANINGFUL CHANGES BUT ADVOCATES WERE SEE THIS OMITS CRITICAL FIXES WHICH UNDERMINE ITS EFFECT TICHTS. SENATOR COMRIE AND WEINSTEIN WOULD BRING THE LAW INTO PARITY WITH THE REST OF THE CUB. THE CONSUMER AND SMALL BUSINESS PROTECTION ACT. THIS BILL IS SIMILAR TO THE GOVERNOR'S CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT BUT INCLUDES THE KEY PROVISIONS THAT ARE MISSING IN THE BUDGET LANGUAGE. MY WRITTEN TESTI

MONY COMPARES THE EXISTING LAW OF THE BUDGET LEGISLATION BUT THE COMRIE BILL AND WEINSTEIN BILL IS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION. FOR THIS REASON I TURNING LEGISLATURE TO ADOPT THE CONSUMER AND SMALL BUSINESS PROTECTION ACT IN THE ONE HOUSE BUDGET PROPOSALS AND TO ENGAGE WITH THE EXECUTIVE TO IMPROVE NEW YORK'S EXISTING LAW AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS. WITH A TRUE UH DAMN IN PLACE, UDAP IN PLACE CONSUMERS WILL AND A HALF FATE THE MARKETPLACE WITHOUT BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. THANK

YOU AND I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE NEXT IS HAVE NEW YORK ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS LAW AND POLICY INSTITUTE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY. MY NAME IS MICHAEL SANTORELLI, DIRECTOR OF THE ACLAP NEW YORK LAW SCHOOL AND TOUCHES ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES ON THE EFFORT'S CONNECT ALL OFFICE TO DISTRIBUTE MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN GRANTS TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL CAN TALL DIVIDE. I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON THE STATE'S RECENTLY AN MOUNDED INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM WHICH W

ILL ALLOCATE ABOUT $228 MILLION IN SUPPORT OF MUNICIPAL BROADBAND PROJECTS. IT IS EYE OPENING TO HEAR ESD EARLIER ADMIT THAT THE PROGRAM WILL IN FACT WASTE ONCE IN A LIFETIME FUNDING ON PROJECTS THAT WILL CREATE DUPLICATE BROADBAND NETWORKS IN SERVED AREAS. MAKE NO MISTAKE, CONNECT ALL IS POISED TO SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL BROADBAND NETWORKS AND UNDERSERVED AREAS WHEN THAT FUNDING COULD BE USED TO EXPAND SERVICES INTO A BRO BROADER ARE. WE HAVE WRITTEN EXTENSIVELY ON BROADBAND, IN ALMO

ST EVERY CASE THEY ARE BUILT IN FACTORS ALREADY SERVED PUTTING THEM IN DIRECT COMPETITION THAT ARE MUCH NIMBLER WHEN IT COMES TO RUNNING A BUSINESS. MANY PUBLIC NETWORKS FAIL TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES FINANCIALLY, OFTEN TIMES LOCALITIES MUST PROP UP THESE NETWORKS WITH PUBLIC FUNDS. IN DOZENS OF CASES NETWORKS HAVE FAILED AND SOLD TO PRIVATE ENTITIES AT A STEEP LOSS. RESPECTFULLY, CONTRARY TO WHAT COMMISSIONER STATED EARLIER, BROADBAND IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN ELECTRICITY OR WATER UTILITY SER

VICE. WATER AND ELECTRICITY ARE MONOPOLY SERVICES THAT DO NOT COMPETE WITH OTHERS. BROADBAND THE SERVICES, BROADBAND PROVIDERS ARE IN A COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE. GIVEN THESE FACTS WE HAVE ARGUED A THAT ALL AVAILABLE BROADBAND FUNDING SHOULD FOCUS FIRST AND FOREMOST ON SERVED AREAS. ONLY AFTER THAT, CRITICAL POLICY OBJECTIVE IS ACHIEVED THE STATE SHOULD CAN CAREFULLY STUDY WHETHER SUBSIDIZING MUNICIPAL BROADBAND OVER BUILDING MAKES SENSE. IF THE STATE CHOOSES TO SUBSIDIZE OVER BUILDING IT SHOULD D

O WITH WITH, SO WITH THE UNDERSTANDING IT WILL LEAD TO MANY RISKS BY A CITY OR TOWN ONCE IT ENTERS THE BROADBAND MARKET. IT DOES NOT APPEAR FROM PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION CONNECT ALL HAS TAKEN THESE REASONABLE STEPS. ALSO LEFT UNADDRESSED IS WHEN THESE NETWORKS STRUGGLES AND AND THERE WILL BE STRUGGLES. WILL THE STATE SUBSIDIZE STRUGGLING ENTITIES? WILL THEY ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL TAXPAYER FUNDS TO PROP UP THESE NETWORKS IN PERPETUITY. >> WE PUBLISHED A PROFILE OF BROADBAND IN NEW YORK AND WE

ANALYZED THE HISTORY OF BROAD WAND IN NEW YORK. I SUBMITTED A COPY OF THAT WITH MY TESTIMONY AND COMMEND IT TO THE COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW N CLOSING WE RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT ALL AVAILABLE FUNDING FOR BROADBAND SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FROM NFIB, ASHLEY RANSLOW. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO TESTIFY TODAY. AND NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS IS A MEMBER ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING OVER 11

,000 SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND MEMBERS ARE THE BUSINESSES WE ALL THINK ABOUT WHEN WE THINK OF SMALL BUSINESS. LOCAL HARDWARE STORES, INDEPENDENT RESTAURANTS, FLORISTS, BARBERS, TRIPLERS, DRY-CLEANERS, RETAIL STORES, THEY ARE NFIB, THEY HAVE EMPLOYEES IN NEW YORK. THIS SMALL BUSINESSES EMPLOY 40 PERCENT OF THE STATE'S PRIVATE SECTOR WORK FORCE, OVER 3 MILLION WORKERS AND THEIR PRODUCTION ACCOUNTS FOR NEARLY HALF OF THE STATE'S GDP. SUPPORTS LOCAL TAX BASES, GOVERNMENTS AND

SCHOOLS, 67 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND AT A SMALL BUSINESS IS RECIRCULATED IN A LOCAL ECONOMY. SMALL BUSINESSES ARE LOCAL JOB CREATORS AND THE BEDROCK OF OUR STATE AND LOCAL ECONOMIES BUT THEY CONTINUE TO FACE SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CHALLENGES FROM INFLATION TO ELEVATED GAS AND ENERGY PRICES, TO HIGHEST POSSIBLE STATE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TAXES AND THE EXODUS AND WORKERS FROM THE LABOR FORCE. POST-PANDEMIC FINANCIAL CHALLENGES HAVE MADE NEW YORK'S DIFFICULT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT HAVE TAKEN

A TOLL ON SMALL BUSINESSES. ACCORDING TO EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT SINCE 2018 NEW YORK LOST MORE THAN 17,000 SMALL BUSINESSES. SUPPORTING PRO SMALL BUSINESS PRIORITIES AS PROPOSED IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ADDRESSING THE STATE'S OUTSTANDING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DEBT AND OVERHAULING THE STATE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY ARE THE BEST WAY TO SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR STATE. THERE ARE FOUR PROVISIONS WHICH I LAY OUT IN MY TESTIMONY WE SUPPORT, FIRST AND FOREMOST SUNSETTING

THE STATE'S OUTDATED COVID-19 SICK LEAVE LAW AS PROPOSED IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, ALSO AN ALPHA PARK K WHICH MAKES APPLICATION THAT PREVENTS BUSINESSES FROM FURTHER HARM BY CLARIFYING THE LABOR LAW THAT IT DOES NOT ENTITLE A MANUAL WORKER TO RECEIVE LIQUIDATED DAMAGES IF THEY WERE PAID AT LEAST BIWEEKLY OR SEMI MONTHLY. SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF THESE LAWSUITS AND PUT BUSINESSES OUT OF BUSINESS OR IN VERY DIRE SITUATIONS. LASTLY, WE ENCOURAGING THE STATE TO TACKLE THE $7.3 BILLION U

NEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DEBT WHICH IS LEADING TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STATE UI TAXES, INTEREST, SURE CHALLENGES AND INCREASED TAXES AND LASTLY, THE STATE MUST RETHINK ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY THAT BENEFITS MAIN STREET AND BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR GENERATIONS AND YEAR AND YOOF, YEAR PAYING TAXES TO THE STATE OF NEW YORK. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE MONEY IS INVESTED AND HELPING INDEPENDENT SMALL BUSINESSES. WE THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND CREATE A GOOD ENVIRONMENT FOR SM

ALL BUSINESSES AND ALL NEW YORKERS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND OUR LAST TESTIFIER IS KARMEN RAJAMANI: >> OKAY. WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE ASSOCIATION. >> YES. A GOLD STAR FOR YOU, CHAIRWOMAN. >> I AM KARMEN, RAJAMANI, VP OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS WITH THE WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE ASSOCIATION AND THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION TO TESTIFY TODAY. WE ADVOCATE FOR THE WIDESPREAD RESPONSIBLE DEPLOYMENT OF WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE TO ENABLE CONNECT CAN 50 EVERYWHERE AND ULTIMATELY TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. MO

RE THAN 132,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK LACK BROADBAND ACCESS, A FACT THAT WE CANNOT ACCEPT IN 2024. DESPITE SUBSTANTIAL STATE AND FEDERAL INVESTMENT, THERE ARE BARRIERS TO UNIVERSAL CONNECTIVITY, ONE OF THESE IS THE SLUGGISH AND INCONSISTENT NATURE OF MUNICIPAL PERMIT REVIEW. IN A RECENT REPORT BY THE HUDSON VALLEY PATTER FOR, PATTERN FOR PROGRESS, HOW TO PREPARE FOR NEXT GENERATION WIRELESS, IT LOOKS AT THE PERMITTING PROCESSES ACROSS THE STATE. THESE VARIATIONS LED TO DELAYS AND

EVEN THE DERAILING OF CRITICAL PROJECTS, DESIGNED TO BRING THAT NEXT GENERATION WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY TO COMMUNITIES STATEWIDE. THE REPORT EMPHASIZED THAT IN PRACTICALITY OF THE CURRENT APPLICATION PROCESS FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED. THIS PIECEMEAL APPLICATION PROCESS IMPOSES A SUBSTANTIAL ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN ON MUNICIPAL STAFF AS WELL AS SERVICE PROVIDERS N THE END, IT IS CITIZEN WHOSE PAY THE PRICE AS THEY ARE DEPRIVED OF THE HIGH SPEED, RELIABLE ONLINE ACCESS THEY NEED. WHILE FEDERAL REG

ULATIONS AIMED TO TACKLE INEFFICIENCIES IN PERMITTING REVIEW IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT NEW YORK CAN MAINTAIN ITS STATUS AS A HOME RULE STATE WHILE IMPROVING ITS PROCESSES. LEGISLATION IS CRITICAL TO STREAMLINE THE PERMITTING REVIEW FOR WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLACINGS BRINGING PREDICTABILITY, PROPORTIONALITY, TRANSPARENCY TO THE PERMITTING PROCESS FOR COMMUNITIES AND SERVICE PROVIDERS RESULTING IN FASTER BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT. I URGE THE COMMITTEE TO PRIORITIZE THIS CRUCIAL ISSUE FOR THE B

ENEFIT OF ALL NEW YORKERS AND I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND SENATORS -- HELLO, SENATOR PUBUR.>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR. FIRST OF ALL, I WISH I COULD SAY SOMETHING FOR ALL OF YOU BUT I WILL HAVE TO FOCUS ON NFIB BECAUSE I AM A PROUD MEMBER AND I JUST WANT TO ASK A QUESTION. YOU BROUGHT UP UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE THAT IS VERY TEMPTING BECAUSE I GOT AN E-MAIL THIS MORNING FROM MY WIFE WHICH SHE FORWARDED FROM OUR PAYROLL COMPANY ABO

UT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY WILL IMPOUND FOR NEW YORK STATE, NEW YORK STATE'S FAILURE TO DO ANYTHING FOR THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DEBT AND LISTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OUR LITTLE COMPANIES ARE GOING TO PAY IN ORDER TO SATISFY THE PENALTIES AND INTEREST, ON TOP OF PAYING THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE RATES NOW EVERY BUSINESS IN NEW YORK STATE IS PAYING. CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN TO THE PANEL WHAT THIS IS DOING TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND WHAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY PAYING THE FOR BECAUSE OF NEW YORK ST

ATE FAILING TO APPLY ANY MONEY WHATSOEVER FROM THE FEDERAL CODE OF RELIEF MONEY. PLEASE EXPLAIN. >> SURE. THEY ARE REALLY BEING HIT ON MULTIPLE FRONTS SO WHEN THE SOLVENCY OF THE FUND HIT ZERO BECAUSE IT IS STILL IN DEBT IT TRIGGERS THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE TAX RATES SO YOU ARE IN THE HIGHEST SORT OF BUCKET SO THAT AVERAGES ABOUT AN, WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS NOW FOR A FEW YEARS. BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO PAY THE INTEREST ON THE STATE'S DEBT. SO IN EVERY SUMMER, BUSINESSES ARE HIT WITH WHAT WE CALL AN INTE

REST ASSESSMENT SURCHARGE WHICH IS 20 TO $25, IT DEPENDS ON THE INTEREST LEVEL PER EMPLOYEE. BUT ALSO, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A TOOL TO TRY TO GET STATE GOVERNMENTS TO PAY BACK THEIR DEBT BY OFFSETTING THE FEDERAL UI TAXINGS. SO NEW YORK BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN IN DEBT AFTER A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW, THIS OFFSET HAS BEEN -- SO WE ARE PAYING THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE TAXINGS PLUS THE ASSESSMENT SURCHARGE PLUS EXTRA UI TAXINGS. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT $300 PER EMPLOYEE WHICH BUSINESSES ARE PAYING PER YEAR A

ND AGAIN WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. SO THESE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THIS IS A LOT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. >> ABSOLUTELY. AND WE NEVER GOT AN ANSWER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AS TO HOW MUCH FRAUD WAS EXPERIENCED, BUT THE COMPTROLLER ESTIMATED ABOUT $11 BILLION WHICH IS ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY WE ARE IN DEBT SO ESSENTIALLY THE DEBT THAT EVERY SMALL BUSINESS, EVERY BUSINESS IN NEW YORK STATE IS PAYING OFF NOW IS A RESULT OF FRAUD, UNCHECKED FRAUD FR

OM THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SYSTEM, WOULDN'T YOU SAY? >> SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HAS ONE SET OF NUMBERS, THE COMPTROLLER OBVIOUSLY HAS ANOTHER SET OF NUMBERS. IT IS UNCLEAR SORT OF -- >> -- THEY DIDN'T GIVE US ANY NUMBERS AS TO WHAT FRAUD WAS EXPERIENCED. >> SO FRAUD WAS CERTAINLY, IT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AND NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED AND WASN'T ADDRESS AND LED TO A SMAPT FLOW OF DOLLARS OUT OF THE SYSTEM THAT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN BACK. >>

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> ASSEMBLY. >> MEMBER WOERNER. >> >> ACTUALLY I WANT TO START WITH YOU. >> IN THE LAST PANEL WHEN YOU WERE HERE I SAW THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ROLE OF IDAS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND THERE ARE SOME IDAS THAT HAVE THROUGH APPLICATION FEES THAT THEY HAVE COLLECTED THEY HAVE GENERATED RESERVES, CASH RESERVES THAT THEY REALLY CAN'T DO MUCH WITH. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT REFORMING OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROCESS COULD YOU IMAGINE A ROLE FOR THOSE ID

AS IN MAKING INVESTMENTS AND STABILIZING MAIN STREET BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY REPRESENT? >> ABSOLUTELY. I THINK WHETHER IDA OR, YOU KNOW, STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS CONGRESS THROUGH ESD THROUGH VARIOUS PROGRAMS. I THINK WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IF YOU LOOK AT THESE PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, GOOD OR BAD, THEY ARE HIGHLY SPECIFIC TO, YOU KNOW, INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY OR LIFE SCIENCES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, THAT IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL SMALL BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, THAT IS LINING YOUR MAIN STREET BU

T THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE YEAR AFTER YEAR WHO ARE PAYING TAXES TO THE STATE, WHO, YOU KNOW, ARE CREATING THE LOCAL JOBS, ET CETERA. I THINK MY TIME WE CAN LOOK AT A WAY TO SORT OF REDIRECT SOME OF THOSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS TO THOSE MAIN STREET BUSINESSES IS A WIN-WIN FOR NEW YORK STATE. WE CERTAINLY, I MEAN, SEVEN -- LOSING 17,000 SMALL BUSINESSES SINCE 2018 WE NEED TO REVERSE THAT TREND, RIGHT. >> SO WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A WAY OF USING OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOLLAR

S SO WE ARE NOT PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MS. RAJAMANI, SO I WANT TO JUST FOLLOW UP ON SOMETHING YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT HOW CHALLENGING IT IS TO GET THROUGH LOCAL REVIEW PROCESSES WHEN THE PROCESSES ARE DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT LENGTHS OF TIME. WIRELESS COMPANIES HAVE CHOICES AS TO WHERE THEY SPEND THEIR MONEY, WHERE THEY MAKE INVESTMENTS. >> YES. >> TO WHAT EXTENT HAVE YOU SEEN COMPANIES CHOOSING TO PUT THEIR MONEY IN OTHER STATES WITH, WHERE THE REVIEW PROCESS IS MORE S

TREAMLINED AND PREDICTABLE ACROSS LOCALITIES? >> YES. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, ASSEMBLYWOMAN. THAT WE DO SEE THAT, AS A TRADE ORGANIZATION WE HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF MEMBERS AND WE WORK WITH THEM ON THEIR CHALLENGES. BUT WE DO SEE THAT, THAT FROM A WIRELESS CARRIER THEY HAVE A DOLLAR TO SPEND, THAT DEPLOYMENT OF THE DOLLAR THEY WOULD ACTUALLY SPEND IN DEPLOYING THE STEEL, THE ANTENNAS TO MAKE THE CONNECTIVITY WORK, BRING IT INTO NEW AREAS OR PROVIDE COVERAGE OR PLUG GAPS. THEY WOULD RATHER SPEND

THE DOLLARS THERE, FRANKLY FROM A BUSINESS AND I THINK FROM YOUR COMMUNITY AND BUSINESSES THEY WOULD RATHER THEY DO THAT TOO BUT YES, IT GO TO OTHER STATES I CAN'T IT IS FASTER AND EASIER TO DEPLOY THOSE DOLLARS. >> THANK YOU. SENATOR SEAN RYAN. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ASHLEY, FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE AND WORK WITH YOU. MICHAEL, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE BROADBAND. SO WHERE I LIVE WE DON'T REALLY HAVE FREE MARKET. IT IS, THE CITY SIGNED A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH THE CABLE

COMPANY AND NO ONE ELSE COULD COME IN THE MARKET AND ANOTHER FIBER COMPANY TRYING TO COME IN. DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD USE THE RECONNECT MONEY OR THE CONNECT ALL MONEY TO ASSIST THAT SECOND COMPANY? >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. WELL, I MEAN, IT IS A FREE MARKET, ANYONE CAN ENTER THE MARKET IF THE FINANCES WORK FOR THE ISPS. >> WELL, YOU CAN'T. I MEAN, THE CITY SIGNED A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH THE CABLE PROVIDER. >> ANYONE ELSE CAN COME IN, YES, I MEAN. >> YOU CAN GET POOL A

CCESS -- >> YOU CAN GAUCHE, IF YOU NEGOTIATE AND COME TO AN AGREEMENT. >> WITH WITH THE CITY IN. >> RIGHT. >> BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SIGN MORE THAN ONE. >> WELL, THEY COULD. >> USUALLY THE AGREEMENTS SAY THEY CAN'T. >> RIGHT. >> IT IS SIX COLLUSIVE AT THIS. >> EX-THROUGH RECEIVE AT THIS. >> .. I WOULD ARGUMENT YOU COULD EXPLORE AND ENTER THE MARKET BUT YOUR MARKET IS ALREADY TECHNICALLY SERVED SO ARGUABLY AND WHAT WE THINK AND MANY OTHERS THINK IS BROADBAND SUBSIDIES SHOULD GO TO THE UNSERVED

FIRST. >> GO TO THE UNSERVED VERSUS UNDERSERVED. >> I SEE THE WHEEL -- >> RIGHT. >> BUT IT IS BETTER THAN THOSE A FEW MILES AWAY WITH NOTHING. >> RIGHT. >> LET'S GO BACK TO THE FACT WE DON'T REGULATE INTERNET LIKE WE DO OTHER UTILITIES OR GAS, YOU KNOW, WE ALLOWED VERIZON TO BUILD A STATEWIDE VIOS NETWORKS ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO AND WE GAVE THEM PERMISSION TO SKIP BUFFALO, ROCHESTER, SYRACUSE AND ALBANY. >> RIGHT. SO AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, BROADBAND IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE NATIONAL MONOPO

LY SERVICES OF ELECTRICITY AND WATER. AND REALLY SO BECAUSE IT CAN BE DELIVERED IN VARIOUS DIFFERENT WAYS, CABLE, FIBER, WIRELESS, FIXED WIRELESS, MOBILE WIRELESS, ELECTRICITY AND WATER YOU GET THROUGH ONE PIPE. AND REGULATORY SYSTEMS ARE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FOR THAT REASON ALONE. YOU DON'T WANT TO REGULATE A BROADBAND LIKE A MONOPOLY SERVICE AND CLOSE THE DOOR TO ALL OTHER PROVIDERS AND STOP INNOVATION IN THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES. >> DO YOU AT LEAST SEE INNOVATION? >> SURE. FIXED WIRELESS HA

S EXPLODED IN MANY YEARS IN MANY OF THESE RURAL AND UNDERSERVED AREAS THROUGH T-MOBILE, VERIZON. >> I HOPE THEY COME TO MY AREA SOON. >> SURE. LOCALITIES CAN PROBABLY WORK WITH -- >> A LONG TIME TO DOWNLOAD THE NETFLIX MOVIE. [LAUGHTER] >> FOR THOSE THAT HAVE IT -- >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. OOPS. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHERS? >> YES. >> SORRY. >> MEMBER OTIS. >> THANK YOU, CHAIRS. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. YOU ALL HAVE LITTLE DIFFERENT SILOS OF THIS, ALL VERY INT

ERESTING. VERY INTERESTING ON ALL OF YOUR PARTS. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. SAN REALLY AT THIS. >> SANTORELLI, I AM INTERESTED .. IN KNOWING MORE ABOUT YOUR INSTITUTE BUT CURIOUS WHETHER YOUR INSTITUTE HAS A POSITION AND DONE REPORTS ON LOCAL DIGITAL INCLUSION PROGRAMS. YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE FEDERAL MONEY AND A HT LOT OF THE STATE MONEY IS ON THE MACRO BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE NEED TO DO THAT, BUT THERE IS ALSO A NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SENDING A SHARE OF THE BIG FUNDING TO THESE LOCAL P

ROGRAMS THAT CLOSE THE DIGITAL CAN TALL DIVIDE, PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED, SO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WORK, IF ANY, IN THAT SILO. >> CERTAINLY. THAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN A PERSONAL PASSION OF MINE AND FOR MANY YEARS WE HAVE ALWAYS ARGUED THAT WHAT WE CALL THE DEMAND SIDE ISSUES, DIGITAL LITERACY, THE ADOPTION HAS BEEN COMPLETELY OVERLOOKED BY THE STATE. NOW IT IS BEING FORCED TO COME UP WITH A PLAN AS A RESULT OF RECEIVING I THINK 20 OR $30 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING, DIGITAL EQUITY FUNDING THEY HAVE

TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES ON A SITE WIDE LEVEL. >> STATEWIDE LEVEL. WE HAVE SEEN POCKETS OF NEW YORK BUT NEVER A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THESE ISSUES AND THAT HAS BEEN A TRUE FAILING OF THE STATE, FRANKLY, AND FRUSTRATION IN MIND, BECAUSE, AGAIN, REGARDLESS OF, YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCES WITH SERVICES NOTWITHSTANDING THE STATE IS INCREDIBLY WELL SERVED WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA AND ADOPTION TO RATES ARE PRETTY HIGH BUT STILL LAGS IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES, OLDER ADULTS AND SOME OTHER

S, AND THERE HAS BEEN VERY FEW STUDIES OR LOOKS AT DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS WHICH IS INCREASEEDLY IMPORTANT HOW IN THE, INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT, THERE ARE NO STANDARDS FOR DIGITAL LITERACY, SO IT IS A FAILING THAT HOPEFULLY STATE WILL COME AROUND AND WITH THE DIGITAL EQUITY PLAN FINALLY GET THE STATE ON THE RIGHT TRACK ON THESE ISSUES. >> AND CONNECT ALL HAVE DONE TWO REPORTS THEY SUBMITTED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. I THINK THE FOCUS AND MAYBE YOU WILL SHARE IN THE ADVOCACY OF THIS IS TO MAKE SUR

E WE ARE GETTING A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF MONEY TO USE LOCAL PRACTITIONERS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE BUT IF PEOPLE STILL DON'T HAVE THE DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS YOU ARE NOT PROVIDING THE ACCESS THAT WE DESIRE. SO THANK YOU AND I AM EAGER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR INSTITUTE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> >> CAN YOU, I GUESS THIS IS GENERAL IN TERMS OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL DAY TODAY. BUT FIRST A QUESTION AND I THINK I KNOW WHAT YOUR ANSWER IS AND IF YOU ELABORATE ON HOW WE C

AN DO BETTER BUT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT $11 BILLION IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THIS STATE, MANY PEOPLE, MYSELF INCLUDED, WOULD SAY THAT IT SPENDS TOO MUCH FOR WHAT RETURN WE GET. SO, A, ARE THESE PROGRAMS DESIGNED IN THE BEST WAY THEY CAN TO BENEFIT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IN NEW YORK STATE? >> NO. >> OKAY. AND HOW CAN WE MAKE THEM BETTER BENEFIT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES SO WE CAN REVERSE THAT LOSS OF 17,000 SMALL BUSINESSES SIPS 2018 THAT YOU SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER? >> I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW,

WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS FOR EXAMPLE THAT OFFER TAX CREDITS OR CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, TAX ADVANTAGEOUS BENEFITS TO CERTAIN TYPES OF COMPANIES OR PROGRAMS, ET CETERA, WE NEED TO LOOK AT OPENING THOSE UP, RIGHT? WE HAVE PUT -- SMALL BUSINESSES BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT AND I HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH SENATOR RYAN NOT LONG AGO. YOU KNOW, WE ARE GIVING OUT MONEY TO LARGER BUSINESSES OR BIGGER CORPORATIONS WHO ARGUABLY MIGHT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO X, Y OR Z. SMALL BUSINESSES DON'T NECESSARILY HA

VE THE ACCESS OR RESOURCES TO DO THE SAME THING. AND FOR EXAMPLE, WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT FOR AN INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE ON YOUR MAIN STREET TO BE ABLE TO USE A GRANT OR USE A TAX CREDIT PROGRAM TO INVEST IN ADDITIONAL POINT OF SALE SOFTWARE OR WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT SO THAT IT CAN SELL GOODS ONLINE, LIKE AMAZON CAN, RIGHT, OR WHOEVER. SO, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE LOOK AT THE WAY WE SPEND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS AND REIMAGINE THEM SO THAT SMALL BUSINESSES CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THESE TAX CREDIT A

ND DIFFERENT RELATED PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER TO OTHER TYPES OF BUSINESSES. >> THANK YOU. >> OTHER SENATORS? ASSEMBLYMEMBERS? >> MEMBER STIRPE. >> THANK YOU. AND AS CHAIR OF SMALL BUSINESS ONCE UPON A TIME I AM SURE ACTUALLY REMEMBER HOW MANY PRESS CONFERENCES WE DID TRYING TO GET SOME ASSISTANCE ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ISSUE. WHICH, WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW WE GOT VERY CLOSE, IN CONFERENCE. >> WE GOT TO THE POINT WE WOULD PAY ALL THE INTEREST AND WE WERE GOING TO REFINANCE A BUNCH OF IT AT A

LOWER INTEREST RATE, THEN LABOR CAME IN AND SAID, LOOK, WE ARE GIVING BUSINESS THAT, YOU HAVE TO GIVE US THIS AND THAT BLEW UP THE WHOLE DEAL. WE CAME CLOSE BUT NOT QUITE. >> ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO CLEAR UP, MAYBE A MISPERCEPTION. WE LOST 17,000 SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT THERE IS NOT A WEEK THAT GOES BY THAT I DON'T SEND OUT LETTERS NO 12 NEW SMALL BUSINESSES IN MY DISTRICT AND I THINK YOU CAN SPREAD THAT ACROSS THE STATE. MOST BUSINESSES FAIL WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS AND MOST OF THEM ARE SMA

LL BUSINESSES. SO THERE IS A LOT OF SWIRL BASICALLY AS FAR AS BUSINESSES STARTING AND BUSINESSES ENDING SO I DON'T THINK WE ARE QUITE AS BAD AS MAYBE SOME OF THE NUMBERS MIGHT MAKE US LOOK. AND MS. RAJAMANI, DO YOU HAVE A PROTOTYPE OF A PROCESS THAT WE COULD STANDARDIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO GO THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS? >> YES, ACTUALLY. >> YOU DO? >> AND WITH OUR ASSOCIATION THAT WE CHAMPION -- WHICH I FORGET, IS IT A NEW YEAR? BUT AT THE END OF LAST YEAR WE E WORKED WIT

H THE ADIRONDACK PARK AGENCY THAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH A CODE REWRITE IN THE RURAL AREA, THEY NEED CONNECT CAN 50. THEY HAVE BEEN VERY INNOVATIVE. WE TALKED ABOUT WHERE IS THE INNOVATION? THEY HAVE BEEN VERY INNOVATIVE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A PUSH-PULL ON THE AESTHETICS PERHAPS OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE NECESSITY FOR THEM. SO HOW DO WE GET IT WITH -- IN A WAY THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL ACCEPT. AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE AGENCY VERY SUCCESSFULLY, THAT

THEY CAME WITH A CODE REWRITE. IT WASN'T PERFECT, OF COURSE, FROM AN INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE, WE WOULD LIKE A LITTLE SOMETHING ELSE BUT WE LEFT THAT FOR ANOTHER DAY AND IT DOES A LOT TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY, AT THEY -- AESTHETIC CONCERNS, SITING, BUT IT WAS TECHNOLOGY AGNOSTIC, SO IT ALLOWS FOR THE DIFFERENT SORTS OF TECHNOLOGIES TO HELP CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. IT TOOK THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, IT IS PART OF THE PROCESS AT THE BEGINNING OF FRANKLY WHERE TO SITE IT, BUT AFTER THAT, IT IS A PERMIT. >

> WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SEND ME WHATEVER YOU HAVE -- >> ABSOLUTELY. >> THE PROTOTYPE? >> SURE. >> I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. >> THANK YOU. AND I WOULD LOVE IF YOU CAN HELP US UNDERSTAND, EVEN THOUGH WE TALKED ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF SMALL BUSINESSES CLOSING, BASED ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION, TO NFIB, WHAT IS THE NORMAL CHURN, SO TO SPEAK, OF GOING OUT OF BUSINESS OR STARTING UP? AND SINCE YOU ARE NATIONAL, DOES NEW YORK'S RATE, IN FACT, DRAMATICALLY -- IS IT DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT THAN OTHER STATES?

I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF BUSINESSES CLOSE BUT I ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE ARE OUT OF THE NORM AND OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT I GUESS PRECOVID, CURRENT PRECOVID, DURING COVID AND POST COVID BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT HAD AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY FOR EVERYONE SO I WOULD LOVE THAT FOLLOW-UP. >> SURE. >> THANK YOU. AND, IN FACT, I AM DOUBLE-CHECKING WE ARE GOING TO THANK THE LAST PANEL OF THIS HEARING. I AM GOI