[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

DURING THE MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, STATE LAWMAKERS VOTED TO PASS OVER 800 BILLS.

WHILE GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL HAS ACTED ON MAJORITY OF THOSE BILLS BY EITHER SIGNING OR CHOOSING TO VETO THEM, A GOOD PORTION OF THOSE BILLS ARE STILL AWAITING REVIEW.

WITH JUST A FEW WEEKS LEFT IN THE YEAR, HOCHUL HAS UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST TO MAKE A DECISION.

MANY OF THE POLICY ISSUES ON THE DOCKET ARE EXTREMELY CONTROVERSIAL.

INCLUDING THE MEDICAL AID IN DYING BILL, THE CRIMINAL JUST OMNIBUS PACKAGE, PART OF THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LEGISLATION.

FOR MORE ON ALL OF THE CONTROVERSIAL BILLS LEFT TO BE REVIEWED BY THE GOVERNOR, HERE'S OUR ELISE KLINE WITH A DEEP DIVE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> DURING THE MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, NEW YORK STATE LAWMAKERS PASSED 856 BILLS IN BOTH HOUSES.

BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, THE GOVERNOR MUST REVIEW THOSE BILLS.

SO FAR, SHE'S SIGNED INTO LAW MORE THAN HALF WITH MORE THAN 200 BILLS LEFT.

SHE HAS VETOED 29 BILLS SO FAR NOT INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL BUDGET LINE ITEMS, ACCORDING TO DATA FROM NEW YORK STATEWATCH.

ONE OF BILLS VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR WOULD'VE ALLOWED FOR SOME INSURANCE COMPANIES TO INCLUDE COVERAGE FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY PHARMACISTS RELATED TO CONTRACEPTIVES.

THE BILL AIMS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PHARMACISTS OFFERING CONTRACEPTION IN A NON-PATIENT SPECIFIC STANDING ORDER AND INCREASE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR PHARMACISTS DISPENSING CONTRACEPTIVES.

STATE SENATOR JAMES SCOAF IF IS, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF ORANGE COUNTY AND A LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL IN THE SENATE, SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT NEW YORK MUST REMAIN A BULWARK AGAINST ATTEMPTS TO ROLL BACK ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOHN MCDONALD, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE CAPITAL REGION AND A LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL IN THE ASSEMBLY, ECHOS A SIMILAR REACTION.

>> MY BIG CONCERN IN HEALTH CARE IN GENERAL AND SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE, IS THAT THERE ARE BARRIERS BEING PUT UP FOR WOMEN, PARTICULARLY IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS, AND I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO CARE THAT'S APPROPRIATE.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE STATES THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE HEALTH INSURERS TO UPDATE THEIR MEDICAL BILLING SYSTEMS AND ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN COSTS AND INCREASED COST FROM PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS OR PBMS.

THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THAT SHE SIGNED THE BIRTH CONTROL ACCESS ACT IN 2023, WHICH ALLOWS PHARMACISTS TO DISPENSE SELF-ADMINISTERED HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES WITHOUT PATIENT ORDERS FROM A PHYSICIAN.

SOME STATE LAWMAKERS WHO VOTED AGAINST THE BILL, LIKE STATE SENATOR GEORGE BORRELLO, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE FINGER LAKES, AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S VETO CONCERNED ABOUT PBMS.

>> ANYTHING THAT PUTS MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS, QUITE FRANKLY, I'M OPPOSED TO.

>> MCDONALD SAYS WHILE HE UNDERSTANDS WHERE THE GOVERNOR'S CONCERNS ARE, HE ARGUES AGAINST THE SCALE, DISPUTING THAT THIS LEGISLATION WOULD'VE DRAMATICALLY INCREASED COSTS.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS AS MONUMENTAL TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THAT BEING SAID, I ALSO KNOW ENOUGH THAT YOU LIVE FOR ANOTHER DAY, AND YOU WORK ON IMPROVING THINGS.

I'M WORKING WITH THE ADVOCATES TO SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME LAW.

>> THIS VETOED BILL MAY HAVE STIRRED SOME CONTROVERSY, BUT MORE CONTROVERSY MIGHT BE HEADED THE GOVERNOR'S WAY AFTER SHE REVIEWS OTHER CONTROVERSIAL BILLS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

[ELISE] THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF BILLS THE GOVERNOR HAS YET TO ACT ON AROUND HEATED ISSUES, SUCH AS END OF LIFE, TRANSITIONING AWAY FROM GAS HEAT, WRONGFUL DEATH, AND MORE.

ONE OF THE BILLS THAT AWAITS THE GOVERNOR'S APPROVAL WOULD LEGALIZE MEDICAL AID IN DYING-AN ISSUE MANY LAWMAKERS ARE SPLIT ON.

IF SIGNED, THE LEGISLATION WOULD ALLOW NEW YORKERS WITH A TERMINAL DIAGNOSIS OF 6 MONTHS OR LESS TO LIVE TO REQUEST AN ORAL MEDICATION TO END THEIR LIFE.

THIS IS A BILL THAT ADVOCATES, AND SOME LAWMAKERS HAVE TRIED TO PASS FOR NEARLY A DECADE.

IT JUST PASSED BOTH HOUSES FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR.

CASSANDRA JOHNSTON, A CANCER PATIENT AND ADVOCATE, SAYS IF THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THIS BILL, IT WOULD MEAN SHE'S THE GOVERNOR WHO THEY THOUGHT SHE WAS AND WHO THEY VOTED FOR.

>> I'VE BEEN VERY PROUD TO WATCH HER OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND I JUST HOPE SHE MAKES NOT JUST THE RIGHT DECISION BUT THE COMPASSIONATE DECISION AND THE ONE THAT NEW YORKERS WANT.

>> [ELISE] ACCORDING TO A 2025 SIENA POLL, 54 PERCENT OF VOTERS SUPPORT MEDICAL AID IN DYING.

[ELISE] JOHNSTON SAYS THEY WOULD BE DEVASTATED IF THIS BILL IS VETOED-ADDING EVEN THOUGH THE ADVOCATE IS DOING WELL NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T WANT THE CHOICE SHOULD THEY GET WORSE.

[ELISE] ASSEMBLY MEMBER AMY PAULIN, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY AND A LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL FOR MANY YEARS, SAYS THE SIGNING OF THIS BILL WOULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.

SOT [PAULIN] "IT'LL JUST ALLEVIATE SO MUCH PAIN AND SUFFERING FOR NEW YORKERS.

IT'S IMMEASURABLE."

>> THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER ADDS THEY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND SHE'S HOPEFUL.

BUT SOME ADVOCATES AND STATE LAWMAKERS ARE ROOTING FOR A VETO.

JESSICA RODGERS, COALITIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE PATIENTS' RIGHTS ACTION FUND, SAYS THEY'RE HOPING THE GOVERNOR WILL VETO THE LEGISLATION THAT THEY FEEL IS DANGEROUS.

>> THIS IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION, IT'S VERY POORLY WRITTEN.

IT DOES NOT PROTECT PATIENTS.

THE SAFEGUARDS-SUPPOSED SAFEGUARDS ARE REALLY JUST SMOKESCREENS THAT PROTECT THE PHYSICIANS WHO PARTICIPATE, AND THEY DON'T PROTECT THE PATIENTS WHO NEED TRUE COMPASSION AND SUPPORT.

RODGERS SAYS SHE WORRIES ABOUT PATIENTS WITH LARGE FINANCIAL STRESS OR MEDICAL BILLS TAKING THE MEDICAL AID IN DYING CHOICE IF GIVEN THE OPTION.

SENATOR BORRELLO, WHO VOTED AGAINST THE BILL, SAYS HE OPPOSES THE BILL BECAUSE HE VIEWS IT AS ASSISTED SUICIDE AND FEELS THE BILL GOES TOO FAR, COMPARED TO OTHER BILLS ON THIS TOPIC IN OTHER STATES.

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT FOR A MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION.

YOU KNOW THESE LIFE-ENDING DRUGS CAN BE PRESCRIBED BY TELEMEDICINE; THERE'S NO CHAIN OF CUSTODY FOR THE DRUGS THEMSELVES.

>> THE LEGISLATION INCLUDES SAFEGUARDS, SUCH AS REQUIRING A TERMINAL DIAGNOSIS, NEEDING TWO DOCTORS TO SIGN OFF, HAVING TWO WITNESSES AT THE TIME OF REQUEST, AND HAVING THE MEDICATION BE SELF-ADMINISTERED.

THE LEGISLATION ALSO REQUIRES SET RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE PHYSICIAN, INCLUDING: OFFERING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PATIENT TO CHANGE THEIR MIND AND OR RESCIND THEIR REQUEST BEFORE PRESCRIBING THE LETHAL MEDICATION, AND IF NEEDED, REFERRING THE PATIENT TO A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL FOR DETERMINATION OF THEIR MENTAL CAPACITY.

ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION DEALING WITH DEATH AWAITING THE GOVERNOR'S REVIEW-THE GRIEVING FAMILIES ACT-WOULD GIVE FAMILIES THE ABILITY TO SUE FOR WRONGFUL DEATH DAMAGES BASED ON EMOTIONAL ANGUISH, SUFFERING, AND GRIEF.

CURRENTLY, THE STATE ONLY ALLOWS WRONGFUL DEATH SUITS TO HAND OUT DAMAGES BASED ON ECONOMIC OR PECUNIARY LOSS.

NEW YORK IS ONE OF ONLY TWO STATES IN THE COUNTRY WITH THIS KIND OF LEGAL STATUTE.

THIS IS A BILL THE GOVERNOR HAS VETOED THREE TIMES BEFORE-WITH THE CONCERN ABOUT THE HEALTH INDUSTRY AND INCREASED INSURANCE PREMIUMS.

FOR BRUCE MCINTYRE, CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT, THIS LEGISLATION MEANS FAMILIES LIKE HIS COULD AT LEAST SEE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR LOSS.

>> IT WOULD ALLOW MY FAMILY TO SUE FOR GRIEF AND ANGUISH.

IT'LL ALLOW FAMILIES LIKE MINE TO BE SEEN.

>> MCINTYRE'S 26-YEAR-OLD PARTNER AMBER ROSE ISSAC DIED IN 2020 FROM A RARE AND LIFE-THREATENING PREGNANCY COMPLICATION AND HEALTH CONDITION CALLED HELLP SYNDROME.

HELLP SYNDROME CAN CAUSE BLOOD AND LIVER PROBLEMS IF LEFT UNTREATED.

MCINTYRE SAYS THEY FELT IGNORED BY THEIR PHYSICIANS.

MCINTYRE SAYS HE LOST HIS PARTNER AND THE MOTHER OF HIS CHILD.

HE CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE WITH GRIEF YEARS LATER.

HE SAYS HE'S FRUSTRATED AND CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BILL BEING VETOED AGAIN.

>> MY GRIEF ISN'T SEEN BY THE SYSTEM-BY THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND THAT HURTS.

THAT REALLY STINGS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WAKE UP WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS, I'M STILL HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING IN A ROOM ME AND AMBER ONCE SHARED.

I HAVE TO CRASH ON THE COUCH SOMETIMES BECAUSE I CAN'T EVEN SLEEP IN MY ROOM.

>> MCINTYRE ADDS HIS PAIN ISN'T THE ONLY PAIN BEING IGNORED.

HIS FIVE YEAR OLD SON, ELIAS, ALSO SUFFERS.

>> MY SON IS ALWAYS CONSTANTLY ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS MOM.

AND IT'S REALLY SAD TO HEAR HIM TALK ABOUT HOW HIS MOTHER PASSED AWAY WHEN OTHER KIDS ARE ASKING ABOUT HIS MOM.

>> THE LEGISLATION HAS BI-PARTISAN SUPPORT, INCLUDING CO-SPONSORS FROM ACROSS THE AISLE.

LAWMAKERS WHO SUPPORT THE BILL SAY NEW YORK FAMILIES DESERVE MORE SUPPORT FROM THE STATE.

STATE SENATOR DEAN MURRAY, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF SUFFOLK COUNTY AND CO-SPONSOR OF THE BILL, SAYS THE GOVERNOR'S VETOES OVER THE YEARS ON THIS BILL SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE.

>> THE MESSAGE SHE IS SENDING TO CRIME VICTIMS IN NEW YORK IS, SHE DOESN'T CARE.

>> STATE SENATOR BRAD HOLYMAN-SIGAL, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF MANHATTAN AND A LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL, SAYS THE NEARLY 200-YEAR-OLD LEGAL STATUTE CONTINUES TO CAUSE FAMILIES ADDITIONAL PAIN.

>> IT DISCRIMINATES AGAINST CHILDREN, SENIORS, WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND THOSE WHO ARE TRADITIONALLY UNDERVALUED IN OUR SOCIETY.

SO IT'S TIME WE UPDATE THAT LAW AND STEP WITH 48 OTHER STATES.

>> SOME OPPONENTS OF THE BILL WORRY THE LANGUAGE IS TOO GENERAL AND COULD INCREASE COSTS-SIMILAR TO THE GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE LAST YEAR.

>> I THINK FOR IT TO BE A BILL THAT I COULD SUPPORT, THE LANGUAGE WOULD HAVE TO BE TIGHTENED UP SUBSTANTIALLY MORE SO THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW.

>> HOYLMAN-SIGAL ARGUES OTHER STATES THAT HAVE UPDATED THEIR STATUTES HAVE NOT FACED INCREASED COSTS ON INSURANCE PREMIUMS.

MANY ADVOCATES AND LAWMAKERS ARE ALSO HOPING THE GOVERNOR SIGNS A PRISON REFORM OMNIBUS BILL THAT AIMS TO ACHIEVE MORE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CORRECTIONAL SERVICES.

THE OMNIBUS BILL HAS SEVERAL PARTS, THAT IF SIGNED WOULD ENACT REQUIRING CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES TO ADHERE TO CERTAIN CAMERA FOOTAGE, RECORDING, AND INVESTIGATION STANDARDS, NOTICE OF DEATHS IN FACILITY CUSTODY, COMPREHENSIVE STUDIES ON DEATHS IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, EXPANDING MEMBERSHIP OF THE STATE COMMISSION OF CORRECTIONS, VISITS BY THE CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK, AND MORE.

THE BILL HAS COMPONENTS OF OTHER BILLS THAT FAILED TO MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE LAST YEAR.

THE BILL PASSING THIS YEAR CAME AFTER THE VIOLENT AND TRAGIC DEATH OF ROBERT BROOKS, AN INMATE AT MARCY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN ONEIDA COUNTY.

STATE SENATOR JULIA SALAZAAR, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF BROOKLYN AND A SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION, SAID IN A STATEMENT SENT TO WMHT THAT THIS BILL WOULD BE A SERIOUS STEP FOR PRISON REFORM, AND IT MUST BE SIGNED INTO LAW.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER GABRIELLA ROMERO, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE CAPITAL REGION WHO VOTED FOR THE LEGISLATION, SAYS THIS IS A BILL THAT JUST MAKES SENSE.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE BILLS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE OMNIBUS WOULD GIVE FAMILIES THAT HAVE MEMBERS THAT ARE INCARCERATED THAT PASS AWAY, THEY WOULD JUST BE ABLE TO NOTIFY FAMILIES QUICKER OF THE MEMBER THAT'S INCARCERATED THAT PASSES, THAT'S COMMON SENSE.

IT'S THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE REALLY JUST NEED, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE DEATH OF ROBERT BROOKS.

CONSTITUENTS ARE DEMANDING MORE ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> SOME LAWMAKERS WHO VOTED AGAINST THE BILL HOPE THE GOVERNOR VETOES IT.

>> THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES GOING TOO FAR, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THINGS IN THIS THAT I CAN SUPPORT.

YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT IMPROVES TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, YOU KNOW, VIDEO RECORDING AND SO FORTH, ABSOLUTELY.

BUT WHAT I CAN'T SUPPORT IS THE EXPANSION OF THIS CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE THAT IS REALLY JUST A GROUP OF FAR-LEFT ADVOCATES.

>> WHILE MANY ADVOCATES FEEL THIS BILL DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH TO ADDRESS PRISON REFORM, JAIME BAILEY-WARREN, A CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE, SAYS THIS LEGISLATION, IF SIGNED, WOULD BE A START TO MEANINGFUL CHANGE.

>> FOR ME AND SO MANY PEOPLE THAT DO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ADVOCACY, FOR THE BROOKS FAMILY, IT WILL MAKE US FEEL LIKE ROBERT'S DEATH HASN'T BEEN IN VAIN.

>> ANOTHER BILL AWAITING THE GOVERNOR'S REVIEW AIMS TO HELP THE STATE BEGIN TO TRANSITION AWAY FROM GAS HEAT AND IMPROVE ENERGY AFFORDABILITY.

THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT, A PART OF IT, WAS PASSED THIS YEAR.

THE BILL WOULD ELIMINATE WHAT IS CALLED THE 100-FOOT RULE, A CROSS-SUBSIDY THAT ALLOWS NEW RESIDENTIAL RATEPAYERS TO AVOID PAYING FOR THE COST OF A NEW GAS LINE IF THEY LIVE WITHIN 100 FEET OF AN EXISTING ONE.

THIS MEANS THAT FOR ALL THE OTHER RATEPAYERS, PRICES ARE HIGHER.

LIZ MORAN, AN ADVOCATE WITH EARTH JUSTICE, SAYS THE 100-FOOT-RULE IS AN OUTDATED SUBSIDY-HIGHLIGHTING OTHER STATES HAVE SIGNED LAWS TO REVISE THIS RULE.

>> THIS IS AN OUTDATED FEE THAT REQUIRES EVERYDAY NEW YORKERS TO COVER THE COSTS OF NEEDLESS EXPANSION OF GAS INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> THE BILL HAS STRONG SUPPORT AMONG DEMOCRATS AND STRONG OPPOSITION FROM REPUBLICANS.

SENATOR BORRELLO SAYS ARGUES NATURAL GAS IS THE MOST AFFORDABLE FORM OF ENERGY.

>> GAS IS THE MOST AFFORDABLE AND THE MOST RELIABLE WAY TO HEAT YOUR HOME IN NEW YORK.

AND WE'RE HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON IT IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, PARTICULARLY HERE IN WESTERN NEW YORK, WHERE WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL GAS.

SO THIS IS NOT ABOUT AFFORDABILITY OR SAVING CONSUMERS MONEY.

>> SENATOR KRUEGER ARGUES THIS ARGUMENT IS TIRED AND UNTRUE.

STATE SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF MANHATTAN AND A LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL, SAYS THIS LEGISLATION COULD SAVE NEW YORKERS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

>> RESEARCH OVER AND OVER, FROM AROUND THIS COUNTRY, FROM AROUND THE STATE, FROM AROUND THE WORLD, IS THAT MULTIPLE FORMS OF HEATING ARE LESS EXPENSIVE THAN GAS.

IS GAS LESS EXPENSIVE THAN OIL, MOST DAYS, MOST AREAS, PROBABLY.

BUT ARE CHOICES ARE NOT GAS OR OIL.

THEY ARE EVERYTHING AND THEN GAS AND OIL, WHICH ARE THE MOST POLLUTING AND MOST EXPENSIVE.

>> KRUEGER SAYS SHE HAS BEEN IN THREE-WAY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE ASSEMBLY ON THIS BILL AND IS FEELING OPTIMISTIC.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PROPOSED CHANGES THAT WOULD DELAY IMPLEMENTATION A BIT LONGER THAN I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED, BUT I'LL TAKE THIS NO PROBLEM.

SO I AM OPTIMISTIC WE WILL SEE THE GOVERNOR SIGNING THIS BILL VERY SOON.

>> THE GOVERNOR HAS UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR TO REVIEW THE REMAINING BILLS BEFORE THE NEXT SESSION BEGINS.

IF SHE VETOES SOME OF THESE CONTROVERSIAL BILLS, LAWMAKERS WILL HAVE TO COME BACK IN JANUARY WITH A NEW PLAN.

ELISE KLINE, NEW YORK NOW.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THOSE BILLS, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER TOPIC.

THIS YEAR MARKS THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

NEW YORK HAS A DEEPLY CELEBRATED PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WITH THE HISTORIC BATTLE OF SARATOGA IN 1777 AND A SLEW OF HISTORIC SITES FROM THE WAR ACROSS THE STATE.

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT HOW NEW YORK IS UPHOLDING THE LEGACY OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR FROM EXHIBITS AT THE STATE MUSEUM TO TELLING THE STORIES OF THE EVERYDAY PEOPLE WHO ARE VITAL TO AMERICA'S VICTORY.

HERE'S THAT STORY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> THE YEAR 2025 MARKS THE HISTORIC YEAR FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WITH THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR WOULD WHICH SERVED AS THE CATALYST FOR MODERN AMERICA'S FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM GREAT BRITAIN LASTED ABOUT EIGHT YEARS FROM 1775 TO 1783.

MAEVE KANE, AN ASSOCIATE HISTORY PROFESSOR AT SUNY ALBANY, SAYS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HISTORY AND LEGACY OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.

>> THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST RADICALLY SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN HUMAN HISTORY.

THE IDEA THAT ALL PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN THEIR GOVERNMENT, THAT ALL PEOPLE SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION PUTS THAT INTO ACTION AS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS THAT.

SO WITH THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IN 1776 THROUGH TO THE WRITING OF THE CONSTITUTION IN THE 1780S, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IS REALLY ABOUT WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO GOVERN THEMSELVES AND HOW DO PEOPLE CLAIM THAT AND MAKE SPACE FOR THEMSELVES IN THE GOVERNMENT.

>> SUNY ALBANY ASSOCIATE HISTORY PROFESSOR AND CULTURAL HISTORIAN, CHRISTOPHER PASTORE, SAYS THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT REMINDS THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD ABOUT THE JOURNEY OF THE UNITED STATES BECOMING INDEPENDENT >> THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF A PEOPLE WHO CAME TOGETHER IN SEARCH OF CREATING A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.

NOW, AT THE TIME OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, THEY-- THEY WERE FIGHTING AT LEAST INITIALLY TO RESTORE WHAT THEY IMAGINED AS THEIR BRITISH LIBERTIES, BUT OVER TIME, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT INDEPENDENCE WAS NECESSARY AND WITH THAT, THEY SOUGHT TO CREATE SOMETHING NEW.

>> MANY MODERN DAY HISTORIANS ASSERT THAT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR IS OFTEN REGARDED AS GROUNDBREAKING IS BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE WAR.

THE WAR TURNED BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER AND NEIGHBOR AGAINST NEIGHBOR, ALL BASED ON IDEOLOGY.

AMERICANS WERE MET WITH THE CHOICE BETWEEN FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE OR BEING BRITISH PATRIOT LOYALISTS.

CHRISTOPHER BROWN, A BRITISH EMPIRE HISTORIAN AND PROFESSOR WITH COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, UNDERSCORES THAT SIGNIFICANCE.

>> I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS-- THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WAS A REAL WAR WITH OVER THE COURSE OF EIGHT YEARS, WHICH IS A LONG TIME, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN 100,000 DEAD ON BOTH SIDES, BRITISH, PATRIOT, LOYALISTS, NATIVE AMERICAN, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE IDEALS AND THE VALUES THAT COME OUT ARE LEGACIES OF THE REVOLUTION.

WE FORGET JUST HOW BLOODY IT WAS AND IT WAS REALLY NEIGHBOR VERSUS NEIGHBOR.

IN SOME WAYS, IT WAS EVEN MORE OF A CIVIL WAR THAN THE CIVIL WAR BECAUSE YOU HAD COMMUNITIES FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER.

NOT JUST THE KIND OF SECTIONAL DIVISION BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH.

>> AND PROFESSOR PASTORE UNDERSCORED THE SENTIMENT THAT THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR WAS MORE THAN A WAR BETWEEN THE COLONIES AND THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

IT ALSO HAS DEEP HISTORY INVOLVING NEW YORK STATE.

>> THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WASN'T JUST A WAR BETWEEN THE COLONIES AND BRITAIN, ITSELF.

IT WAS A PARTISAN WAR OF NEIGHBOR VERSUS NEIGHBOR AND WE SEE THIS IN SHARP RELIEF IN THE-- IN NEW YORK WHERE PATRIOTS AND TORIES WERE FIGHTING ONE ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, UP AND DOWN THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY AND ACROSS NEW YORK IN OFTEN QUITE VIOLENT WAYS.

>> IN NEW YORK, THE STATE'S ROLE IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR IS ONE THAT IS NOT JUST ACKNOWLEDGED BUT ALSO CELEBRATED.

HISTORIANS SEE NEW YORK AS PLAYING A CENTRAL ROLE IN THE WAR.

ONE EXAMPLE OF THE STATE'S ROLE IS THE INFAMOUS BATTLE OF SARATOGA IN 1777.

HISTORIANS ALSO POINT TO THE SULLIVAN-CLINTON EXPEDITION AS ANOTHER NEW YORK PIVOTAL MOMENT IN THE WAR.

>> NEW YORK IS THE KEY TO THE CONTINENT.

THE BRITISH KNEW THAT IF THEY LOST THE GEOGRAPHY OF NEW YORK, THEY WOULD LOSE THE WAR.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE SOME OF THE MAJOR CAMPAIGNS FOUGHT HERE.

THE NEW YORK CAMPAIGN IN 1776, THE BATTLES OF SARATOGA IN '77 AND THE SULLIVAN-CLINTON CAMPAIGN OF THE CONTINENTAL AGAINST THE SHASHONE AROQUOY IN 1779, LIKE NEW YORK IS THE REVOLUTION.

>> NEW YORKERS UNDERSTAND THAT NEW YORK PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

IF WE THINK ABOUT A MAJOR TURNING POINT IN THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE, WE COULD SAY THAT SARATOGA, AGAIN, IN 1777 WAS THIS, AGAIN, PIVOTAL POINT IN THE WAR THAT SHOWED THAT AMERICANS COULD BEAT BRITISH TROOPS AND THAT THE WAR-- THE WAR COULD BE WON BY AMERICANS, AND AS A RESULT, THIS BROUGHT FRANCE-- BROUGHT FRANCE'S INVOLVEMENT, AND SO WITHOUT FRENCH HELP, IT'S DOUBTFUL THAT AMERICANS COULD HAVE SUCCEEDED IN THE WAY THAT THEY DID.

>> TO COMMEMORATE THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, THE NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM WILL BE DEBUTING A REVOLUTIONARY NEW YORK EXHIBIT.

AARON NOBLE, WHO SERVES AS A SENIOR HISTORIAN AND CURATOR WITH THE NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM UNPACKS THE EXHIBIT.

>> SO WE'RE INCREDIBLY EXCITED THAT WE'RE FINALLY SEEING THE PROCESS COME TO LIFE AND TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS WORK TO THE NEW YORK VISITORS.

THE EXHIBIT WILL FOCUS ON NEW YORK AS ITS PIVOT CENTRAL THEATER OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, THE FACT THAT THE TURN POINT IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION HAPPENED JUST NORTH OF ALBANY AT SARATOGA IN 1717 AND NEW YORK'S REVOLUTIONARY STORY REALLY COVERS THE ENTIRETY OF THE CONFLICT FROM 1775 TO THE EVACUATION OF NEW YORK CITY IN 1783, NO OTHER STATE CAN REALLY COVER EVERY ASPECT OF THE WAR THROUGH ITS HISTORY THE WAY THAT NEW YORK CAN.

>> THE EXHIBIT WILL FEATURE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR GUN BOAT AND IT WILL ALSO BRING MUSEUM VISITORS THROUGH THE HISTORY FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR TO PRESENT DAY.

ANOTHER EXHIBIT IS THE GEORGE WASHINGTON AND AMERICAN PARADOX EXHIBIT.

GENERAL WASHINGTON IS KNOWN AS THE GREAT AMERICAN LEADER OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, BUT WASHINGTON WAS ALSO A COMPLEX INDIVIDUAL.

THE EXHIBIT OFFERS A COMPLETE HISTORY TO THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON AS WELL AS HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WAR.

PROFESSOR BROWN SAYS THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE RESEARCHING AND DIVING INTO THE DIFFERENT STORIES THAT MAKE UP THE WAR.

>> I DO THINK THAT THERE CAN BE A LITTLE BIT OF A SENSE WITH THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION THAT WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT THAT'S ABOUT, AND I THINK AS FOLKS BEGIN TO SCRATCH THE SURFACE AND DIG INTO BOTH LOCAL RESOURCES AND NATIONAL RESOURCES THEY WILL DISCOVER ALL KINDS OF STORIES AND PERSPECTIVES AND VANTAGE POINTS AND INSIGHTS THAT ARE UNFAMILIAR AND HOPEFULLY WILL INSPIRE CURIOSITY TO LEARN MORE AND TO BUILD ON THAT REVOLUTIONARY HERITAGE.

>> MANY HISTORIANS SAY IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS THAT WERE PIVOTAL TO THE WAR AND HIGHLIGHT THE FIGURES BEYOND THE FOUNDING FATHERS.

ASSOCIATE HISTORY PROFESSOR CARL BON TEMPO, UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF TELLING THE STORIES OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE THAT FOUGHT IN THE WAR.

>> MAYBE ONE OF THE LARGER GAPS IN HOW WE THINK THIS STUFF THROUGH IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SORT OF FOCUS, I'LL CALL IT A FOCUS ON THE FOUNDERS, RIGHT?

AND SO THIS IDEA THAT THE FOUNDING GENERATION, RIGHT, IS WHAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF SCHOLARSHIP IN WHAT HISTORIANS RESEARCH AND THINK ABOUT IS ABOUT MAYBE OTHER PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE REVOLUTION.

SORT OF EVERYDAY FOLKS, RIGHT.

AND I'M THINKING ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH, YOU KNOW, JUST AMERICAN WOMEN AND ENSLAVED AFRICAN-AMERICANS FREE BLACKS, ALSO NATIVE AMERICANS, ALL PLAYED A ROLE IN THAT REVOLUTIONARY MOMENT, RIGHT?

AND I THINK SOMETIMES I WISH THAT THAT PART OF THE STORY WAS MORE PART OF THE PUBLIC'S DISCUSSION BECAUSE I THINK WHAT HAPPENS THEN IS THAT WE END UP SORT OF LIONIZING THE FOUNDING GENERATION.

YOU TURN THEM ALMOST INTO THE STATUES THAT WE SEE OF THEM AND STATUES ARE HARD TO RELATE TO.

>> AND WITH THE RICH HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, HISTORIANS CAN AGREE THAT SO MUCH CAN BE GAINED FROM UNPACKING THE IMPACT AND LEGACY OF THE WAR IN PRESENT DAY.

THEY ASSERT THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR HISTORIANS TO CONTINUE LOOKING AT THAT HISTORY IN THE YEARS TO COME.

>> THERE'S SO MANY LESSONS TO BE TAKEN FROM THE ERA OF THE WAR AND YOU KNOW, AMERICA IS-- HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN EXPERIMENT AND ALSO AN ASPIRATION AND SO IN THAT SENSE, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IS REALLY NEVER ENDING.

>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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