Podcasts about new york legislature

The news has been overwhelming this past month. Much of it you've already forgotten. But I bet most of you will not be able to forget about the plastic spoon in your brain. Earlier this month, a team of researchers led by scientists at the University of New Mexico published a paper about the apparently increasing amount of microplastics being found in the human body, particularly in the brain. The researchers found that brains from people who died in 2024 contained about 50 percent more microplastics than brains from 2016. The age of the deceased didn't matter. How much plastic? The 2024 brains averaged around 7 grams, or about the same weight as a plastic spoon. Some caveats: The researchers only studied 52 brains, and while that might seem like a lot of brains, it's relatively few for a scientific study. Also, all 52 brains came from New Mexico. Perhaps New York brains have fewer microplastics, although it seems more likely we have more. The situation in New York was already pretty bad when I wrote about it for The Current in 2019. But as Shannon Roback of Riverkeeper pointed out, it's hard to say if it's getting worse without more data. Microplastics in the Hudson River have been measured over the years, but never consistently and never in the same places. That could soon change. Later this year, Riverkeeper will roll out a more robust version of its public monitoring program at more than 200 locations in the river and its tributaries. The organization already tests regularly at over 100 locations for fecal bacteria, temperature, salinity and chlorophyll. The new system will allow it to sample phosphorus and nitrate, as well, and although Riverkeeper itself doesn't have the capacity to test for microplastics, Roback is hoping that the system can be used by state and federal agencies that do. California is in the process of setting limits on how much microplastics are allowed in drinking water. To calculate those limits, scientists are trying to determine what microplastics do to us. It's known that plastics act as endocrine disruptors, which affect the body's hormonal and reproductive systems. Low sperm count has been linked to microplastics because - I'm so sorry to tell you this so soon after telling you about the plastic spoon - they're in testicles, as well. Until we have more data on which plastics in our daily lives are making their way to our brains and nether regions, it's hard to know what actions could be most beneficial. Roback said that while municipal water systems filter out most microplastics, using a charcoal-activated filter at home, such as a Brita pitcher, might add an additional layer of defense. In the meantime, the surest way to reduce the plastics getting into us is to reduce the plastics being made. One bill floating around Albany, the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, would require companies to lower the amount of single-use plastic packaging by 50 percent over the next 12 years, ban the use of 15 so-called "forever chemicals" used to create them and make companies responsible for the costs of disposing of what can't be recycled. When I spoke to state Sen. Pete Harckham about the bill last year, he was optimistic that it had been revised enough in previous sessions to make it to Gov. Kathy Hochul's desk. Although the bill did pass in the Senate, 37-24 (Sen. Rob Rolison, whose district includes the Highlands, voted no), it got lost in the chaotic shuffle of the session's final days when Hochul announced a last-minute pause on congestion pricing. But momentum appears to be growing. New Jersey has announced its own version of the bill. If both New Jersey and New York pass plastic-reduction legislation in 2025, it could spur national changes. According to Jeremy Cherson of Riverkeeper, the fact that the bill has been kicking around the New York Legislature for years has given global companies like Coca-Cola and Pepsi more time to water it down through lobbying and political dona...

On this airing of The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter explains the New York state legislature that targets shooting preserves regardless of their contribution to conservation. Plus, Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation’s Kerry Luft shares his book “Straight Shooting For Hunters.” You can find the book here on Amazon.

He'll stop the world and melt with you. A Cincinnati Reds fan is being outed as a man who “consumes over 20 gallons of liquid cheese in a year!” In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Friday, U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez says he will not run in the Democratic primary as he faces federal corruption charges, but he is leaving open the possibility that he would reenter the race as an independent later this year if he is exonerated at a trial. Cheating on your spouse is illegal in New York, but the state might soon change that. A bill working its way through the New York Legislature could repeal a more than a century-old law that makes adultery a crime. And in Washington, the Justice Department announced a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of engineering an illegal monopoly in smartphones that boxes out competitors, stifles innovation and keeps prices artificially high.

Today in Albany, New York tenants numbering in the thousands descended onto our State's Capitol Building in a Day of Mobilization, urging the New York Legislature to pass key legislation, such as Good Cause protections for tenants and greater rent support for low-income families facing eviction. Amidst the calls made by tenants and housing justice organizers for greater protections against the worst injustices of the current housing system, there also exists a new transformative vision of what housing could look like in our state. A new bill co-written by DSA-endorsed State Assembly member Emilly Gallagher representing North Brooklyn, would establish the New York Social Housing Development Authority and empower the state to build & maintain substantial new housing developments across the State that will be publicly funded, environmentally sustainable, permanently affordable by law, and democratically-controlled by tenants. If passed, the social housing authority would work to shift the balance of power over our whole housing system towards tenants and the state government and away from wealthy private developers that have no interest in building affordable housing, and the landlords that get rich from its scarcity. Tonight, we will hear from Renette, a DSA member and tenant organizer with HOPE Tenant Union, and Genevieve, a housing justice organizer with Ithaca DSA, on the importance of this new bill and the campaign to build beautiful, abundant, & affordable social housing for the whole working class of New York. 

Democrats in the New York Legislature on Monday rejected new congressional district maps drawn by a bipartisan redistricting commission and are opting to draw their own maps.

Main Street yoga hub to grow, sell products Over the past three years, Aaron Sanders and Skyla Schreter have turned LotusWorks on Main Street in Beacon into a hub for art exhibits and yoga and wellness classes. In March 2021, three months after LotusWorks opened at 261 Main St., the New York Legislature legalized recreational marijuana, whose effects have long been touted for inspiring creativity and providing relaxation and pain relief. "Cannabis has been aligned with these values of creativity and wellness," said Schreter. "It fits with what we've already built here, as well as a sustainable way to help us support our creative community." That synergy became reality on Feb. 16 when the state's Cannabis Control Board approved 109 marijuana licenses and made LotusWorks the first Beacon business to receive one. The microbusiness permit will allow the couple to grow cannabis, process the trimmings into distillates and rosins, and sell buds, extracts and edibles. LotusWorks will plant its first crop in the spring of 2025. In the meantime, it will source buds, rosins and distillates, as well as joints and edibles such as gummies, from other farms and processors. A series of "soft-opening" events will conclude with a grand opening targeted for April 20, which is an annual holiday in cannabis culture. "We're looking to partner with local confectioners and chocolatiers and be able to have some nice premium edibles," said Sanders. The couple met in California, where Sanders spent years learning how to grow cannabis while employed at farms in the Emerald Triangle, a three-county region of Northern California considered the country's largest area for producing marijuana. He said he will use that knowledge to grow "premium cannabis" next year, although he expects the initial harvest to be relatively small. Marijuana plants are "robust in a lot of ways - they grow like weeds - but they can also be delicate," he said. "It will be nice to be able to give them a little more hands-on attention." LotusWorks is one of 15 newly licensed microbusinesses whose owners graduated from the state Office of Cannabis Management's Compliance Training and Mentorship Program, a 10-week webinar series that covers growing and processing. There are 74 cannabis dispensaries open in New York, including Curaleaf in Newburgh. After New York State in March 2021 legalized cannabis for recreational use, the Beacon City Council allowed sales and on-site consumption by taking no action to prevent them; Cold Spring voters approved retail but turned down on-site consumption; and the Nelsonville and Philipstown boards voted to disallow both types, although they can change course with another vote. The Cannabis Control Board also on Feb. 16 awarded 38 retail dispensary licenses, including one to Rawleaf Enterprises LLC in Wappingers Falls. In addition, the board issued licenses to grow and process marijuana to Harney Brothers in Millerton, in northeast Dutchess County. The state is still considering the 2,232 businesses that applied before a Nov. 17 deadline for microbusiness or dispensary licenses. When the list of applicants was randomized to determine the order in which they would be reviewed, LotusWorks landed at No. 9. "We were as prepared as we could have been, but we also very much got lucky and are grateful for that," said Schreter. The queue, released on Jan. 12, includes at least two other Beacon applicants. Kamel Jamal, who hosted state-approved "growers showcases" last year at the former Beacon police station at 463 Main St., has applied as 463 Station Inc. and is 574 in the queue. Grant McCabe, who owns The Leaf, a Main Street shop that sells cannabidiol and hemp products, is listed at 852 as The Leaf New York LLC. Another company, Pleasant View Harvest in Brewster, has applied for a microbusiness license to sell products from 137 Main St. in Cold Spring. The queue lists Pleasant View at 1,968. In addition, the Cannabis Control Board on Feb. 16 approved reg...

Higher education panel chairs in New York Legislature say TAP must be increased in 2024 by WSKG News

When my husband, Sid, was 60, he fell in a parking lot. He didn't think much of it, but over the next few months his legs weakened and he fell more often. We visited neurologists, orthopedists and internists who gave him MRIs, CT scans, spinal taps and psych tests. There was vague talk of "softening of the brain tissue at the cerebellum." No one seemed to have answers until Sid was diagnosed with a progressive neurological disease, spino cerebella ataxia. My able-bodied husband went from a cane to a walker to a wheelchair. He lost control of his bladder and bowel. He developed dysphasia; his food had to be pulverized and liquids had to be thickened. He had difficulty catching his breath. His arms atrophied. Although there was no treatment and no cure, his incredible intellect and sense of humor never wavered. He did not want to die. He had two grandchildren whom he adored and wanted to dance at their weddings. But after seven years of losing ground, Sid told me he had enough. He asked for my help to kill himself. I refused - the hardest decision of my life, and one that haunts me still. I extended his intolerable existence. Sid decided that he would stop eating and drinking. As his body slowly shut down, he developed terminal agitation and his extraordinary hospice nurse had to lie on top of him because no amount of Haldol could control his outbursts. My husband spent his adult life in recovery from alcoholism, anxiety and depression. He had joked that he wanted to know when he had three months to live so he could have some Johnny Walker Blue. His best friend, Mike, brought over a bottle, but Sid declined. He said he was proud of three things in his life: his daughter, his marriage and his 36 years of sobriety. It took 12 days for my husband to die. He left on May 5, 2014. Because of Sid's unnecessary suffering - and the effect that suffering had on our family, a factor that is often overlooked - I advocate what has become known as medical aid in dying. Through that work, I met Laura Kelly, a Mount Kisco resident whose father, Larry, dying of colon cancer in 2015, asked for help just as Sid had. His death, like Sid's, was unnecessarily traumatic. The Medical Aid in Dying Act (A995/S2445) was first introduced in the New York Legislature in 2015. It would allow terminally ill, mentally capable adults with a prognosis of six months or less the option to obtain prescription medication they could decide to take to die peacefully if their suffering becomes unbearable. Although there are similar laws in place in 10 states, including New Jersey, the bill has never come up for a vote in Albany. We are hoping that will change in 2024. Assembly Member Dana Levenberg, whose district includes Philipstown, is a co-sponsor of the bill, but please let Assembly Member Jonathan Jacobson, whose district includes Beacon, and Sen. Rob Rolison, whose district includes the Highlands, know that it deserves their support.

Source: "Perils of State Banking" (1818), by a Committee of the New York Legislature, published by Hezekiah Niles, editor, Niles' Weekly Register, March 14, 1818, XIV, 39-41. https://archive.org/details/toldcontemporari03hartrich/page/440/mode/2up  

Rose Butler was a teenager performing domestic services for the Morris family of Manhattan when early one morning a small fire broke out. Though no one was injured, and the fire was quickly extinguished, the family accused Rose of intentionally setting it. A capital crime in New York, she was executed, making her the last person hanged for arson in the state. But her story involves something much deeper than a book of matches. Let's talk about what really brought Rose to the gallows. Executive Producers: Maria Trimarchi and Holly Frey Producer & Editor: Casby BiasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New York Legislature passed a measure that would ban gas stoves in newly built buildings, becoming the first state to do so. The ban goes into effect in 2026 on new buildings of seven stories or less. FOX's John Saucier speaks with Madison Alworth, FOX Business Network Correspondent, about the new law and what voters are saying about it.  Click Here To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New York Legislature passed a measure that would ban gas stoves in newly built buildings, becoming the first state to do so. The ban goes into effect in 2026 on new buildings of seven stories or less. FOX's John Saucier speaks with Madison Alworth, FOX Business Network Correspondent, about the new law and what voters are saying about it.  Click Here To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New York Legislature passed a measure that would ban gas stoves in newly built buildings, becoming the first state to do so. The ban goes into effect in 2026 on new buildings of seven stories or less. FOX's John Saucier speaks with Madison Alworth, FOX Business Network Correspondent, about the new law and what voters are saying about it.  Click Here To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GG Stankiewicz grew up in Rhode Island and moved to New York City to pursue her art career. She attended the Community College of Rhode Island where she received an Associate of Fine Arts Degree. To continue her art studies GG headed to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University in Boston, MA where she earned a combined degree, a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Science in Art Education. GG completed her art studies by achieving a Master of Fine Arts Degree at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island. In addition to her art practice, she served as a high school art teacher for the New York City Department of Education. GG has co-founded artist-run organizations: SONYA (South Of the Navy Yard Artists, Brooklyn, NY) and WBA (West Branch Artists, Walton, NY) and has served on their events committees, assisting in all phases of planning and organizing community art walks and art exhibitions for local artists. GG Stankiewicz is the recipient of the 2023 Delaware County Individual Artist Grant, a re-grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York Legislature and administered in Delaware County by the Roxbury Arts Group. This funding is making it possible for GG to create her project: Patchwork Landscape, a new body of work inspired by the local nature and ecology of Delaware County, New York. The artwork will be exhibited with an artist talk at the Walton Theatre Parlor Gallery in Walton, New York in October 2023. The exhibition dates are October 7th – November 5th 2023. GG lives in Delaware County New York and her studio and gallery are in Delhi, New York. About my art: I am an abstract visual artist whose artwork is inspired most recently by the local nature existing in the outdoor world where I live. When hiking the forests of Delaware County New York experiencing the colors, lines, shapes, textures and patterns from the surrounding environment they awaken my senses. Seeing the multiple horizons of the Catskills foothills, hearing the sounds of running water from a nearby stream, glimpsing a pair of foxes, deer and other wildlife in the distance, I am captivated by all of the activity within this unique landscape. I search for reminders heart-shaped rocks, multi-colored leaves, wild flowers, or flotsam and jetsam along the Delaware River. These vistas and artifacts forge a memory connection to specific times and places. They are the inspiration for imagery and content in my artwork that is a compilation of visual journaling, painting, papermaking, collaging and printmaking. My process involves working with various media while referencing discovered objects, memory, photo documentation, field guides, global and world art histories. To learn more about GG Stankiewicz: Website: https://ggstankiewicz.com/ Website: https://www.artworkarchive.com/profile/gg-stankiewicz Artwork Archive: It's an art inventory platform/database that I use to showcase my artwork, inventory my artwork and manage my art practice. IG: @gg.stankiewicz.studio WhatsApp: GG Stankiewicz LinkedIn: GG Stankiewicz

On Tuesday, Jan. 10, Gov. Kathy Hochul delivers her State of the State address for 2023. Deconstruct has the scoop on where the governor's priorities lie when it comes to New York real estate. Hint: Affordable housing is a huge one.

Surrogacy is big businessOn April 3rd 2020, the Child-Parent Security Act (CPSA) passed in the New York Legislature, meaning that commercial or “compensated” surrogacy is now legal in the state of New York. Similar laws are in place in 46 other US states.But to those who consider commercial surrogacy to be dangerous and exploitative, the CPSA has effectively sanctioned the pimping of pregnancy; as demand for surrogate mothers increases, so does the likelihood that women will be coerced into the arrangement by abusive husbands or boyfriends. Not to mention the associated health risks for the woman giving birth.Have a listen to this episode, in which I interview surrogacy brokers in NYC, a gay man who is father of three born of surrogacy, and others with something to say on the topic. Julie Bindel's podcasts and writing is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliebindel.substack.com/subscribe

White Plains CitizeNet Reporter.com (wpcnr.com) Publisher/Editor John Bailey analyzes Governor Kathy Hochul's and the New York Legislature's latest gun control measures, the upcoming gubernatorial and state assembly primaries, likely Con Edison rate increases, inflation, record-high gas prices, the baby formula shortage, Covid carries on locally and much, much more on WestchesterTalk Radio, "On the Beat in Westchester" with host John Marino, produced by Sharc Creative

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://tcpaworld.com/2022/05/26/big-news-in-the-big-apple-new-york-legislature-passes-law-requiring-marketers-to-lead-with-their-chin/

Former New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin is now off the ballot after New York legislature acts by WSKG News

On this week's 51%, we speak with Gayatri Patel of the Women's Refugee Commission about how the U.S. can better promote gender equality in its response to humanitarian crises. Also, Dr. Sharon Ufberg speaks with Karyn Gerson of Project Kesher about the organization's efforts to support women impacted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Guests: Gayatri Patel, vice president of external relations at the Women's Refugee Commission; Karyn Gerson, CEO of Project Kesher; Michelle Rosales, NYS Office of General Services 51% is a national production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. It's produced by Jesse King. Our executive producer is Dr. Alan Chartock, and our theme is "Lolita" by the Albany-based artist Girl Blue. Follow Along You're listening to 51%, a WAMC production dedicated to women's issues and experiences. Thanks for tuning in, I'm Jesse King. Last week, we highlighted the joy and empowerment that can come through traveling, and it's a wonderful thing – but I think it's important to remember that there's a certain privilege inherent in traveling for pleasure, rather than by necessity. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 82.4 million people worldwide were displaced from their homes at the end of 2020 as a result of persecution, conflict, and violence, resulting in nearly 26.4 million refugees. The struggles faced by refugees have lately been highlighted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which according to the U.N., has forced more than 2 million people – most of them women and children -- to flee their homes and seek shelter in neighboring countries. That's the estimate so far – as of this taping, Russian forces continue to push toward the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Our main guest today is part of a nongovernmental organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and children refugees. Gayatri Patel is the vice president of external relations for the Women's Refugee Commission, which also works to promote gender equality across the ways we respond to humanitarian crises. Patel notes the issue in eastern Europe right now, unfortunately, is nothing new – the Commission has been particularly monitoring the fallout in Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal last year.  "A lot of what we do is bring the messages of what is happening on the ground to U.S. government policymakers or to other policymakers. So when the U.S. started moving out of Afghanistan, around, unfortunately, the same time that the Taliban started taking over, and when Kabul fell, there was a real strong concern about the safety and wellbeing of women in Afghanistan – particularly those who had been active in the government, active human rights defenders," she explains. "So part of what I was doing, along with a network of women who were similarly concerned, was really trying to make sure that particularly targeted women were brought to the attention of U.S. policymakers in Congress, with the administration, so that they could be prioritized for evacuation. There were a number of people who were helping women get out, but there are, of course, a number of women who were not able to get out. So our ongoing efforts through WRC and through some of our coalitions and networks was really to continue pushing on the U.S. government to make sure that those women who remained in Afghanistan, that their needs were met, that they were kept safe to the extent possible, and that they were prioritized for pathways out of Afghanistan if they chose to leave – or, you know, if they chose to stay in Afghanistan, that they were protected, and that their rights were protected." What issues do women and children refugees particularly face, compared to men? That's a really good question, and one that unfortunately doesn't get asked enough. I mean, women and girls often have really unique considerations in crises like what's happening in Ukraine and Afghanistan and in Ethiopia, Burma, etc. The biggest concerns are really related to their health and safety. So for instance, there's an increased risk of gender-based violence, such as rape, or intimate partner violence, or child marriage. For instance, one fact that really strikes me is that, according to the UN, an estimated 70 percent of women experience some form of gender-based violence during an emergency, which is huge, huge if you think about it. Women and girls also have unique health-related concerns during an emergency: they need access to contraception, they need maternal health care, and other sexual and reproductive health care. They have nutritional needs that are unique and different. You know, that's something that we're right now, for instance, in Ukraine, really grappling with. According, again, to the UN Population Fund, 265,000 women were pregnant in Ukraine at the beginning of this current conflict, and they're estimating another 80,000, will give birth in the coming three months. And I think with the enormity of the situation, it's very easy to lose sight of the fact that these women still need health care – they're going to give birth. And so, you know, we need to make sure that there are services there that are available for them. Nutrition right now in Afghanistan – over half of Afghan children under five years old are acutely malnourished, and they're expecting 10 maternal deaths a day. These are all issues that are unique to women and girls and children in these crises. And I think one thing that's also very easy to lose sight of is that women and girls in humanitarian settings are diverse, and they experience crises differently. So, for example, women with disabilities face higher rates of gender-based violence. But because of negative or hostile attitudes, or inaccessible buildings or lack of information, they often don't get the critical care that they need. So making sure that not only are their humanitarian responses tailored to the unique needs of women and girls, but that those responses also include age, gender, other diversity factors, such as disability or being in part of an ethnic minority – those are also really critical to keep in mind. There's so many things that are involved here, at stake here. And it's really important to note that despite all of this, women and girls are largely excluded from decision making and leadership when it comes to defining their needs and the responses that will help them. And of course, this really creates gaps in responding effectively, but also really discounts that women are often on the frontlines of humanitarian response. They're often the ones who are providing the medical care, or supporting their community members, are building shelters, or are cooking the food and feeding people. And so it's so important to have them be part of the humanitarian response and part of that decision making – but they're often left out. And so that's a bigger picture thing that we really need to address as a humanitarian community. That actually does go into one of my next questions. How can we better amplify the needs of women refugees, who are the ones facing these issues, and ensure that women are in the room for major decision making and planning? Yeah, it's so simple and basic, but just recognizing [that] they want to be heard. You know, in Afghanistan, a lot of what we have done – we meaning the United States has done – in the past 20 years is build institutions and build these structures [where] African women and girls are able to go to school, are able to be part of the political structures, are able to be business leaders. They had a voice. And now we are in a stage where, you know, they need humanitarian assistance, and we're not listening to them. So we have to make it a priority to ourselves, listen to them, and make sure that they have opportunities to be heard. So, for instance, whenever there's a peace building negotiation, women should absolutely be at the table. And it's the responsibility of the U.S. government, other governments, other donors and actors who are in the room, to bring them in and make sure that they're there, and that they're heard. I think we also need to make sure that resources are available. I don't know if you heard recently about this announcement of the U.S. government requesting $2.6 billion for gender equality, and I just want to say, this is fantastic. This is the kind of commitment of resources that we need. It's historic, and certainly reflects why advocacy is so important, because we've been pushing for years for that kind of strong commitment to gender equality. That's the kind of commitment and show of political will that we need when it comes to really helping make a difference on the ground. I was gonna ask, how do you feel the U.S. ranks in its response to humanitarian crises? I think you've touched on a couple ways already in which we can improve. But are there ways that you think we get it right? Or are there ways that you think we've still got a long way to go? I think there are a lot of great things that the U.S. government does in humanitarian crises. I mean, the U.S. is the most generous humanitarian donor that's out there. I think that humanitarian assistance, and that leadership role that the U.S. plays, really needs to reflect some of these gender concerns – and in some ways they do. I mean, there's specific programming to address gender-based violence and emergencies, there's support for organizations that provide sexual and reproductive health care and emergencies from the U.S., there's support for building the capacity of humanitarian responders to see gender concerns as they're designing humanitarian responses. And so I think all of those things are good, and need to be built on – because it's a practical function, but it's also a leadership function. The U.S. plays a really critical role in bringing others on board with this idea that humanitarian response needs to have a strong gender lens to it. Lastly, is there anything that the commission is particularly looking at right now, when it comes to the war in Ukraine? Yes, we're really concerned about some of the protection concerns, in particular. Women and girls are, largely, they're the ones who are coming across the borders into neighboring countries. A lot of unaccompanied children are in that mix as well. And so really, we're looking hard to make sure that as they get to safety in those neighboring countries, [that] they have the resources, that they have the protection that they need from gender-based violence, human trafficking, etc, that the unaccompanied children have the child protection services that they need, so that they're not abused, exploited, etc. And a lot of what we've seen is that organizations who are on the ground responding to the humanitarian crisis are really looking at things like cash assistance, which is something that the WRC has really kind of built an evidence base around. Not just cash for meeting immediate needs, but cash as a means of protecting against gender-based violence, or a means of being able to leave abusive relationships, or being able to meet one's own needs rather than being dependent on others to do so in a way that could be exploited. So those are some of the things that we're looking at. We're also really keenly concerned about the maternal health, and the sexual and reproductive health in general of women and girls who are leaving Ukraine. Like I mentioned before, there's the need for maternal health care, but also the need for contraception, and dignity kits, and hygiene, including menstrual hygiene management and commodities like that. So these are all pieces that we're trying to bring together and work with advocates on the hill and with the administration and with partners who are on the ground, to make sure are really part of the mix. Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me. That was all the questions that I had for you, but is there anything that I'm missing that you'd like me to know, or that you'd like our listeners to know? I think just one last point that I'd leave you with. There's so much needed emphasis on Ukraine, and so much needed emphasis on Afghanistan – but let's please not forget the women and girls and other vulnerable and marginalized groups that are in humanitarian crises around the world. I believe we've largely lost sight of what's happening in Ethiopia or in Myanmar, or the Democratic Republic of Congo, or Burkina Faso. There's so many places where there is a humanitarian situation still going on. And the women and girls in those situations deserve our attention and our support. That was Gayatri Patel, vice president of external relations for the Women's Refugee Commission. You can learn more about the Commission and its work at womensrefugeecommission.org.  Now, the war in Ukraine has prompted many in the U.S. to look into how they can personally aid Ukrainians from afar. If you're among them, it's important to know the best ways to go about it, and our next guest can certainly speak to that. Karyn Gerson is the CEO of Project Kesher, a network of Jewish women leaders and roughly 200 nonprofits working to empower women and promote tolerance in countries including Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, and Russia. From the project's offices in New York, Gerson has been trying to connect with her contacts across Europe in order to provide direct aid to women on the ground in Ukraine. It's an ongoing situation that is constantly changing, but she recently provided an update to Dr. Sharon Ufberg, co-founder of the California-based personal development and wellness company, Borrowed Wisdom, for her 51% segment “Force of Nature.”  "On a daily basis, I talk to women in the region. And frankly, every conversation starts in tears. I don't think that anyone really could have imagined how quickly and how aggressively this war would progress. And as a result, I think most people are really just in shock," says Gerson. Ufberg: What are the women telling you? Are most of them wanting to flee? Are most of them wanting to stay? How are they responding? Gerson: I think if you had asked me a few years ago, because my specialty is the Jewish community, I think that I would have expected many people just to leave the country. But now there's a much higher sense of patriotism than I've heard in the past. I think the last few revolutions in the country have really given Ukrainians a sense of ownership of their country, and a sense that the possibility of becoming more free and more European was really not too far out of their grasp. So increasingly, I'm hearing from women that they would really like to stay in their country. But everything depends on what's going on. One of my top leaders had said that she would not be leaving her town or her house until the tank rolled up to the door. Well, this week it did. And so now she's on the road, and she's moving west. And so I think this is a constant shifting situation. Ufberg: And how is Project Kesher responding to this ever-changing situation? What do you see? What are you doing? Gerson: So Project Kesher is in every oblast, every state across Ukraine. And so normally, we would really be very active and volunteer in each of these areas – but right now, everybody is in motion, and everybody is shifting. And so as I was laying out, we talk to each woman, and we try to find out their plan of action. Are they saying, are they moving? Are they leaving the country? Or are they potentially going to Israel? And after that, we are trying to get small grants into their hands. This is a very poor country. Women are unlikely to have a bank account, a credit card. If they have a debit card right now, it's not that easy to get money on the debit card. And so we're trying very hard to teach women how to download apps onto their phone, and to get money for them through things like Pay Pal. The goal is to basically give them enough peace of mind to make the journey wherever they need to go to have some shelter, to get some food, and then to really make sure we pass them off safely to the next organization that will either help them in western Ukraine or help them as they begin their journey to be a refugee. Our plans are to stay primarily focused on the women in Ukraine, where we have the most ability to have an impact. We're going to leave the refugee work to organizations like HIAS and the GDC and several others. And then because, again, we do work in the Jewish community, we will be working with a group in Israel to help on the intake of the new refugees there. Ufberg: Are you finding that these 200 women's groups are rallying around helping one another? Are people feeling isolated, or is the Project Kesher community responding there and helping one another? Gerson: Well, you really can't talk about groups at this time at all. Everybody is really trying to make the best decision for their family. I'm really working right now mostly with individual women, many of whom I've known for more than 20 years. And I can picture each one of them. And some of the things that we're doing, for instance, is we had one bank account in Ukraine – the city where that was located is getting increasingly under a military assault. So on one given day, we opened eight new bank accounts, you know, seated each one with $10, to see if the wire transfers would go through. And then the next day had women go into the bank to see if they could get the money out. And so now we have bank accounts across the country that today are working. Whether they will work tomorrow or the week after, we don't know. But we're trying to stay incredibly flexible, so that as we see things unfold and the needs start to present themselves, we are in a position to use the money that has been entrusted to us to be as flexible and responsible to the women as possible. In the first few days, I thought, “Well, what can we send?” And what I've learned from the wonderful Ruth Messenger, who was the head of American Jewish World Service, one of the leading relief organizations in the world, is don't send anything. And the reason is that the roads in that region are congested, the ability to unpack and distribute materials is very, very complicated, and really almost impossible to achieve. And also these economies in like Moldova, and Romania – to the extent we send resources, we send money to the expert organizations on the ground, they will be able to make purchases that will also stimulate those economies, because these are countries that are taking in refugees. And by saying to them that we will make these purchases through their countries, we're saying that we really appreciate that you've taken all these refugees in. One of the other things Ruth has taught me in the last few days is that if we send too much product into a country, the country will start to put taxes tariffs in place, and start to make it expensive for the nonprofits to accept these overseas packages. So I would encourage everybody who is trying to be really caring and compassionate, that if they can send money – do not send things. I would also say [we need] to realize this is going to be a long haul, that we are not going to resolve this issue quickly. These are going to be refugees for quite a long time, and Europe is going to have a heck of a time absorbing this number of people. And then there are going to be people, we hope, that when Ukraine is secured and peaceful, will choose to return home, and then the rebuilding will be a very major expense as well. So if this is a region of the world and a people you care about, be prepared to be involved in this process for many years to come. Ufberg: Thank you. Karyn, can you give us some information how listeners could find you to learn more? Gerson: So Project Kesher can be found on the Internet at www.projectkesher.org. I'm reticent to talk about too many organizations – there's quite a few great ones, but I'll just mention one, and that would be Afya. They are doing medical supply transports to the region. And if you are interested in helping to get medical supplies over, they have expert experience doing so. Again, if you just start packaging up things, it's not going to get where it needs to be. But if you work with an expert in global relief and crisis situations, then you know your monies are going to be well spent. We're going to change gears somewhat now to recognize Women's History Month. Cities, businesses, and museums across the country are celebrating women in a myriad of ways, and throughout the month of March, I'd like to take some time to learn about the prominent women in our past and present. We'll start with the annual Women's History Month exhibit on view at the New York State Capitol. You can find it in the governor's reception room, or “war room,” on the second floor. The war room has this intricate ceiling mural depicting some of the state's heroes amid a slew of battle scenes, both real and mythical, but for the rest of this month, it's women's faces and stories that take front and center. This year's “First and Foremost” exhibit features 20 New York women who either made history by being the “first” to break down certain barriers for women, or who rose to prominence as the foremost expert in their chosen field. "It's really hard to pare it down, honestly," says Michelle Rosales, a spokesperson for the state Office of General Services, which assembled the exhibit. "We have so many great historic women, and doing the research, we always end up having some for next year or the following year, you know?" As you check out the various panels you'll catch some familiar faces – Governor Kathy Hochul, State Attorney General Letitia James, the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sojourner Truth – but you'll likely notice some new names as well.  "Here we have Dr. Helen Rodriguez Trias," Rosales motions. "She lived and worked in both New York and Puerto Rico. She worked a pediatrician, and while she was doing that, she became aware of ways social and economic equality affected one's access to healthcare. So she spent the rest of her career educating and advocating for healthcare accessibility and women's reproductive rights." Rosales says one of her favorite women featured is Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress, who represented New York's 12th District in Brooklyn from 1969 to 1983. Chisholm was born to immigrant parents on November 30, 1924, and she initially sought a career as a nursery teacher, getting her masters in early childhood education from Columbia University. But she was also a vocal activist, and became the second Black representative in the New York Legislature – behind Edward A. Johnson – before ultimately running for Congress. As a Congresswoman, Chisholm helped expand the food stamp program, advocated for the Equal Rights Amendment, and spoke out against the Vietnam War. In 1972, she took things a step further by running for president, becoming the first woman and African American to seek the Democratic Party nomination for the role.  "And she has a quote that I like, personally: 'If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring in a folding chair,'" adds Rosales. "I just love that, because it's powerful, and it's taking charge and making changes." At the exhibit, you'll find some campaign buttons from Chisholm's presidential run, as well as some White House invitations from Eleanor Roosevelt and a record by Native American musician Joanne Shenandoah, who died last fall at the age of 64. "She's a Grammy Award-winning artist born in Syracuse, New York, and a member of the Wolf Clan Oneida Nation. She used her heritage for her activism, so it went beyond music — she was on the task force on American and Alaskan Native Children Exposed to Violence for the U.S. Department of Justice during President Obama's administration," Rosales notes. "I want people to walk away from this exhibit feeling empowered, inspired. I have three daughters of my own, and not just for the women looking at this exhibit, but also for anyone coming here — I want them to feel like you can make change. You can look at the history and what these people have done in their various fields of study, and know that it's OK to ask questions. It's OK to push boundaries and call for equality and just make it fair." The First & Foremost exhibit is open to the public through March, weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., in the governor's reception room in the New York State Capitol. If that's too much of a trek for you, no worries, you can also catch it online. 51% is a national production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. It's produced by Jesse King. Our executive producer is Dr. Alan Chartock, and our theme is "Lolita" by the Albany-based artist Girl Blue.

On this week's 51%, we speak with Gayatri Patel of the Women's Refugee Commission about how the U.S. can better promote gender equality in its response to humanitarian crises. Also, Dr. Sharon Ufberg speaks with Karyn Gerson of Project Kesher about the organization's efforts to support women impacted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Guests: Gayatri Patel, vice president of external relations at the Women's Refugee Commission; Karyn Gerson, CEO of Project Kesher; Michelle Rosales, NYS Office of General Services 51% is a national production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. It's produced by Jesse King. Our executive producer is Dr. Alan Chartock, and our theme is "Lolita" by the Albany-based artist Girl Blue. Follow Along You're listening to 51%, a WAMC production dedicated to women's issues and experiences. Thanks for tuning in, I'm Jesse King. Last week, we highlighted the joy and empowerment that can come through traveling, and it's a wonderful thing – but I think it's important to remember that there's a certain privilege inherent in traveling for pleasure, rather than by necessity. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 82.4 million people worldwide were displaced from their homes at the end of 2020 as a result of persecution, conflict, and violence, resulting in nearly 26.4 million refugees. The struggles faced by refugees have lately been highlighted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which according to the U.N., has forced more than 2 million people – most of them women and children -- to flee their homes and seek shelter in neighboring countries. That's the estimate so far – as of this taping, Russian forces continue to push toward the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Our main guest today is part of a nongovernmental organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and children refugees. Gayatri Patel is the vice president of external relations for the Women's Refugee Commission, which also works to promote gender equality across the ways we respond to humanitarian crises. Patel notes the issue in eastern Europe right now, unfortunately, is nothing new – the Commission has been particularly monitoring the fallout in Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal last year.  "A lot of what we do is bring the messages of what is happening on the ground to U.S. government policymakers or to other policymakers. So when the U.S. started moving out of Afghanistan, around, unfortunately, the same time that the Taliban started taking over, and when Kabul fell, there was a real strong concern about the safety and wellbeing of women in Afghanistan – particularly those who had been active in the government, active human rights defenders," she explains. "So part of what I was doing, along with a network of women who were similarly concerned, was really trying to make sure that particularly targeted women were brought to the attention of U.S. policymakers in Congress, with the administration, so that they could be prioritized for evacuation. There were a number of people who were helping women get out, but there are, of course, a number of women who were not able to get out. So our ongoing efforts through WRC and through some of our coalitions and networks was really to continue pushing on the U.S. government to make sure that those women who remained in Afghanistan, that their needs were met, that they were kept safe to the extent possible, and that they were prioritized for pathways out of Afghanistan if they chose to leave – or, you know, if they chose to stay in Afghanistan, that they were protected, and that their rights were protected." What issues do women and children refugees particularly face, compared to men? That's a really good question, and one that unfortunately doesn't get asked enough. I mean, women and girls often have really unique considerations in crises like what's happening in Ukraine and Afghanistan and in Ethiopia, Burma, etc. The biggest concerns are really related to their health and safety. So for instance, there's an increased risk of gender-based violence, such as rape, or intimate partner violence, or child marriage. For instance, one fact that really strikes me is that, according to the UN, an estimated 70 percent of women experience some form of gender-based violence during an emergency, which is huge, huge if you think about it. Women and girls also have unique health-related concerns during an emergency: they need access to contraception, they need maternal health care, and other sexual and reproductive health care. They have nutritional needs that are unique and different. You know, that's something that we're right now, for instance, in Ukraine, really grappling with. According, again, to the UN Population Fund, 265,000 women were pregnant in Ukraine at the beginning of this current conflict, and they're estimating another 80,000, will give birth in the coming three months. And I think with the enormity of the situation, it's very easy to lose sight of the fact that these women still need health care – they're going to give birth. And so, you know, we need to make sure that there are services there that are available for them. Nutrition right now in Afghanistan – over half of Afghan children under five years old are acutely malnourished, and they're expecting 10 maternal deaths a day. These are all issues that are unique to women and girls and children in these crises. And I think one thing that's also very easy to lose sight of is that women and girls in humanitarian settings are diverse, and they experience crises differently. So, for example, women with disabilities face higher rates of gender-based violence. But because of negative or hostile attitudes, or inaccessible buildings or lack of information, they often don't get the critical care that they need. So making sure that not only are their humanitarian responses tailored to the unique needs of women and girls, but that those responses also include age, gender, other diversity factors, such as disability or being in part of an ethnic minority – those are also really critical to keep in mind. There's so many things that are involved here, at stake here. And it's really important to note that despite all of this, women and girls are largely excluded from decision making and leadership when it comes to defining their needs and the responses that will help them. And of course, this really creates gaps in responding effectively, but also really discounts that women are often on the frontlines of humanitarian response. They're often the ones who are providing the medical care, or supporting their community members, are building shelters, or are cooking the food and feeding people. And so it's so important to have them be part of the humanitarian response and part of that decision making – but they're often left out. And so that's a bigger picture thing that we really need to address as a humanitarian community. That actually does go into one of my next questions. How can we better amplify the needs of women refugees, who are the ones facing these issues, and ensure that women are in the room for major decision making and planning? Yeah, it's so simple and basic, but just recognizing [that] they want to be heard. You know, in Afghanistan, a lot of what we have done – we meaning the United States has done – in the past 20 years is build institutions and build these structures [where] African women and girls are able to go to school, are able to be part of the political structures, are able to be business leaders. They had a voice. And now we are in a stage where, you know, they need humanitarian assistance, and we're not listening to them. So we have to make it a priority to ourselves, listen to them, and make sure that they have opportunities to be heard. So, for instance, whenever there's a peace building negotiation, women should absolutely be at the table. And it's the responsibility of the U.S. government, other governments, other donors and actors who are in the room, to bring them in and make sure that they're there, and that they're heard. I think we also need to make sure that resources are available. I don't know if you heard recently about this announcement of the U.S. government requesting $2.6 billion for gender equality, and I just want to say, this is fantastic. This is the kind of commitment of resources that we need. It's historic, and certainly reflects why advocacy is so important, because we've been pushing for years for that kind of strong commitment to gender equality. That's the kind of commitment and show of political will that we need when it comes to really helping make a difference on the ground. I was gonna ask, how do you feel the U.S. ranks in its response to humanitarian crises? I think you've touched on a couple ways already in which we can improve. But are there ways that you think we get it right? Or are there ways that you think we've still got a long way to go? I think there are a lot of great things that the U.S. government does in humanitarian crises. I mean, the U.S. is the most generous humanitarian donor that's out there. I think that humanitarian assistance, and that leadership role that the U.S. plays, really needs to reflect some of these gender concerns – and in some ways they do. I mean, there's specific programming to address gender-based violence and emergencies, there's support for organizations that provide sexual and reproductive health care and emergencies from the U.S., there's support for building the capacity of humanitarian responders to see gender concerns as they're designing humanitarian responses. And so I think all of those things are good, and need to be built on – because it's a practical function, but it's also a leadership function. The U.S. plays a really critical role in bringing others on board with this idea that humanitarian response needs to have a strong gender lens to it. Lastly, is there anything that the commission is particularly looking at right now, when it comes to the war in Ukraine? Yes, we're really concerned about some of the protection concerns, in particular. Women and girls are, largely, they're the ones who are coming across the borders into neighboring countries. A lot of unaccompanied children are in that mix as well. And so really, we're looking hard to make sure that as they get to safety in those neighboring countries, [that] they have the resources, that they have the protection that they need from gender-based violence, human trafficking, etc, that the unaccompanied children have the child protection services that they need, so that they're not abused, exploited, etc. And a lot of what we've seen is that organizations who are on the ground responding to the humanitarian crisis are really looking at things like cash assistance, which is something that the WRC has really kind of built an evidence base around. Not just cash for meeting immediate needs, but cash as a means of protecting against gender-based violence, or a means of being able to leave abusive relationships, or being able to meet one's own needs rather than being dependent on others to do so in a way that could be exploited. So those are some of the things that we're looking at. We're also really keenly concerned about the maternal health, and the sexual and reproductive health in general of women and girls who are leaving Ukraine. Like I mentioned before, there's the need for maternal health care, but also the need for contraception, and dignity kits, and hygiene, including menstrual hygiene management and commodities like that. So these are all pieces that we're trying to bring together and work with advocates on the hill and with the administration and with partners who are on the ground, to make sure are really part of the mix. Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me. That was all the questions that I had for you, but is there anything that I'm missing that you'd like me to know, or that you'd like our listeners to know? I think just one last point that I'd leave you with. There's so much needed emphasis on Ukraine, and so much needed emphasis on Afghanistan – but let's please not forget the women and girls and other vulnerable and marginalized groups that are in humanitarian crises around the world. I believe we've largely lost sight of what's happening in Ethiopia or in Myanmar, or the Democratic Republic of Congo, or Burkina Faso. There's so many places where there is a humanitarian situation still going on. And the women and girls in those situations deserve our attention and our support. That was Gayatri Patel, vice president of external relations for the Women's Refugee Commission. You can learn more about the Commission and its work at womensrefugeecommission.org.  Now, the war in Ukraine has prompted many in the U.S. to look into how they can personally aid Ukrainians from afar. If you're among them, it's important to know the best ways to go about it, and our next guest can certainly speak to that. Karyn Gerson is the CEO of Project Kesher, a network of Jewish women leaders and roughly 200 nonprofits working to empower women and promote tolerance in countries including Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, and Russia. From the project's offices in New York, Gerson has been trying to connect with her contacts across Europe in order to provide direct aid to women on the ground in Ukraine. It's an ongoing situation that is constantly changing, but she recently provided an update to Dr. Sharon Ufberg, co-founder of the California-based personal development and wellness company, Borrowed Wisdom, for her 51% segment “Force of Nature.”  "On a daily basis, I talk to women in the region. And frankly, every conversation starts in tears. I don't think that anyone really could have imagined how quickly and how aggressively this war would progress. And as a result, I think most people are really just in shock," says Gerson. Ufberg: What are the women telling you? Are most of them wanting to flee? Are most of them wanting to stay? How are they responding? Gerson: I think if you had asked me a few years ago, because my specialty is the Jewish community, I think that I would have expected many people just to leave the country. But now there's a much higher sense of patriotism than I've heard in the past. I think the last few revolutions in the country have really given Ukrainians a sense of ownership of their country, and a sense that the possibility of becoming more free and more European was really not too far out of their grasp. So increasingly, I'm hearing from women that they would really like to stay in their country. But everything depends on what's going on. One of my top leaders had said that she would not be leaving her town or her house until the tank rolled up to the door. Well, this week it did. And so now she's on the road, and she's moving west. And so I think this is a constant shifting situation. Ufberg: And how is Project Kesher responding to this ever-changing situation? What do you see? What are you doing? Gerson: So Project Kesher is in every oblast, every state across Ukraine. And so normally, we would really be very active and volunteer in each of these areas – but right now, everybody is in motion, and everybody is shifting. And so as I was laying out, we talk to each woman, and we try to find out their plan of action. Are they saying, are they moving? Are they leaving the country? Or are they potentially going to Israel? And after that, we are trying to get small grants into their hands. This is a very poor country. Women are unlikely to have a bank account, a credit card. If they have a debit card right now, it's not that easy to get money on the debit card. And so we're trying very hard to teach women how to download apps onto their phone, and to get money for them through things like Pay Pal. The goal is to basically give them enough peace of mind to make the journey wherever they need to go to have some shelter, to get some food, and then to really make sure we pass them off safely to the next organization that will either help them in western Ukraine or help them as they begin their journey to be a refugee. Our plans are to stay primarily focused on the women in Ukraine, where we have the most ability to have an impact. We're going to leave the refugee work to organizations like HIAS and the GDC and several others. And then because, again, we do work in the Jewish community, we will be working with a group in Israel to help on the intake of the new refugees there. Ufberg: Are you finding that these 200 women's groups are rallying around helping one another? Are people feeling isolated, or is the Project Kesher community responding there and helping one another? Gerson: Well, you really can't talk about groups at this time at all. Everybody is really trying to make the best decision for their family. I'm really working right now mostly with individual women, many of whom I've known for more than 20 years. And I can picture each one of them. And some of the things that we're doing, for instance, is we had one bank account in Ukraine – the city where that was located is getting increasingly under a military assault. So on one given day, we opened eight new bank accounts, you know, seated each one with $10, to see if the wire transfers would go through. And then the next day had women go into the bank to see if they could get the money out. And so now we have bank accounts across the country that today are working. Whether they will work tomorrow or the week after, we don't know. But we're trying to stay incredibly flexible, so that as we see things unfold and the needs start to present themselves, we are in a position to use the money that has been entrusted to us to be as flexible and responsible to the women as possible. In the first few days, I thought, “Well, what can we send?” And what I've learned from the wonderful Ruth Messenger, who was the head of American Jewish World Service, one of the leading relief organizations in the world, is don't send anything. And the reason is that the roads in that region are congested, the ability to unpack and distribute materials is very, very complicated, and really almost impossible to achieve. And also these economies in like Moldova, and Romania – to the extent we send resources, we send money to the expert organizations on the ground, they will be able to make purchases that will also stimulate those economies, because these are countries that are taking in refugees. And by saying to them that we will make these purchases through their countries, we're saying that we really appreciate that you've taken all these refugees in. One of the other things Ruth has taught me in the last few days is that if we send too much product into a country, the country will start to put taxes tariffs in place, and start to make it expensive for the nonprofits to accept these overseas packages. So I would encourage everybody who is trying to be really caring and compassionate, that if they can send money – do not send things. I would also say [we need] to realize this is going to be a long haul, that we are not going to resolve this issue quickly. These are going to be refugees for quite a long time, and Europe is going to have a heck of a time absorbing this number of people. And then there are going to be people, we hope, that when Ukraine is secured and peaceful, will choose to return home, and then the rebuilding will be a very major expense as well. So if this is a region of the world and a people you care about, be prepared to be involved in this process for many years to come. Ufberg: Thank you. Karyn, can you give us some information how listeners could find you to learn more? Gerson: So Project Kesher can be found on the Internet at www.projectkesher.org. I'm reticent to talk about too many organizations – there's quite a few great ones, but I'll just mention one, and that would be Afya. They are doing medical supply transports to the region. And if you are interested in helping to get medical supplies over, they have expert experience doing so. Again, if you just start packaging up things, it's not going to get where it needs to be. But if you work with an expert in global relief and crisis situations, then you know your monies are going to be well spent. We're going to change gears somewhat now to recognize Women's History Month. Cities, businesses, and museums across the country are celebrating women in a myriad of ways, and throughout the month of March, I'd like to take some time to learn about the prominent women in our past and present. We'll start with the annual Women's History Month exhibit on view at the New York State Capitol. You can find it in the governor's reception room, or “war room,” on the second floor. The war room has this intricate ceiling mural depicting some of the state's heroes amid a slew of battle scenes, both real and mythical, but for the rest of this month, it's women's faces and stories that take front and center. This year's “First and Foremost” exhibit features 20 New York women who either made history by being the “first” to break down certain barriers for women, or who rose to prominence as the foremost expert in their chosen field. "It's really hard to pare it down, honestly," says Michelle Rosales, a spokesperson for the state Office of General Services, which assembled the exhibit. "We have so many great historic women, and doing the research, we always end up having some for next year or the following year, you know?" As you check out the various panels you'll catch some familiar faces – Governor Kathy Hochul, State Attorney General Letitia James, the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sojourner Truth – but you'll likely notice some new names as well.  "Here we have Dr. Helen Rodriguez Trias," Rosales motions. "She lived and worked in both New York and Puerto Rico. She worked a pediatrician, and while she was doing that, she became aware of ways social and economic equality affected one's access to healthcare. So she spent the rest of her career educating and advocating for healthcare accessibility and women's reproductive rights." Rosales says one of her favorite women featured is Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress, who represented New York's 12th District in Brooklyn from 1969 to 1983. Chisholm was born to immigrant parents on November 30, 1924, and she initially sought a career as a nursery teacher, getting her masters in early childhood education from Columbia University. But she was also a vocal activist, and became the second Black representative in the New York Legislature – behind Edward A. Johnson – before ultimately running for Congress. As a Congresswoman, Chisholm helped expand the food stamp program, advocated for the Equal Rights Amendment, and spoke out against the Vietnam War. In 1972, she took things a step further by running for president, becoming the first woman and African American to seek the Democratic Party nomination for the role.  "And she has a quote that I like, personally: 'If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring in a folding chair,'" adds Rosales. "I just love that, because it's powerful, and it's taking charge and making changes." At the exhibit, you'll find some campaign buttons from Chisholm's presidential run, as well as some White House invitations from Eleanor Roosevelt and a record by Native American musician Joanne Shenandoah, who died last fall at the age of 64. "She's a Grammy Award-winning artist born in Syracuse, New York, and a member of the Wolf Clan Oneida Nation. She used her heritage for her activism, so it went beyond music — she was on the task force on American and Alaskan Native Children Exposed to Violence for the U.S. Department of Justice during President Obama's administration," Rosales notes. "I want people to walk away from this exhibit feeling empowered, inspired. I have three daughters of my own, and not just for the women looking at this exhibit, but also for anyone coming here — I want them to feel like you can make change. You can look at the history and what these people have done in their various fields of study, and know that it's OK to ask questions. It's OK to push boundaries and call for equality and just make it fair." The First & Foremost exhibit is open to the public through March, weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., in the governor's reception room in the New York State Capitol. If that's too much of a trek for you, no worries, you can also catch it online. 51% is a national production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. It's produced by Jesse King. Our executive producer is Dr. Alan Chartock, and our theme is "Lolita" by the Albany-based artist Girl Blue.

What's long COVID like, after a year? How much does it cost to treat? Are some Americans still having to "stay married for the health insurance" - in 2021? What's one way Medicaid fails special needs kids? Listen as Mariana Pineda, a New York teacher, mother of four and single-payer activist pulls back the curtain on the campaign for the New York Health Act. Why, on the heels of a devastating pandemic, did the Democratic-controlled New York Legislature take a pass on Medicare for All?

What's long COVID like, after a year? How much does it cost to treat? Are some Americans still having to "stay married for the health insurance" - in 2021? What's one way Medicaid fails special needs kids? Listen as Mariana Pineda, a New York teacher, mother of four and single-payer activist pulls back the curtain on the campaign for the New York Health Act. Why, on the heels of a devastating pandemic, did the Democratic-controlled New York Legislature take a pass on Medicare for All?

What's long COVID like, after a year? How much does it cost to treat? Are some Americans still having to "stay married for the health insurance" - in 2021? What's one way Medicaid fails special needs kids? Listen as Mariana Pineda, a New York teacher, mother of four and single-payer activist pulls back the curtain on the campaign for the New York Health Act. Why, on the heels of a devastating pandemic, did the Democratic-controlled New York Legislature take a pass on Medicare for All?

WRFI Community Radio News 07/02/2021 Today, we're starting with a conversation about solitary confinement in state prisons. We speak with local activist, Wayles Brown, who has been working for decades on the issue. During its last legislative session, the New York Legislature passed into law the 'HALT' Solitary Confinement ACT, which closely resembles a bill Wayles has been promoting for years. Later in the show, we bring you an episode of a brand new podcast focused on the people in Ithaca. It's called THIS is Ithaca, and it offers a brief glimpse into the lives of people that compose the city's larger community.

WILL MANCHIN BLINK?…THE ESCALATING WAR OVER AMERICAN DEMOCRACY   In our Grassroots Emergency Election Protection Zoom #55, we again dash through the ever-shifting playing field of the immediate present and daunting future of American democracy.     As West Virginia Senator JOE MANCHIN indicates he will support major voting reforms, we examine exactly what he might be willing to do.  Some is pretty good, including making Election Day a national holiday, a general guarantee of 15 days' early voting, alterations to ID requirements, automatic voter registration, computer-based counter-measures against Gerrymandering, and more.   This compartmentalization of the FOR THE PEOPLE VOTING RIGHTS ACT could have huge impacts on our future elections if Manchin and AZ Senator KYRSTEN SINEMA will bend on the filibuster that has jammed the US Senate into a deathly Mitch McConnell coffin.   We hear from CHARLES MORELAND on DC on the upcoming DREAM MARCH FOR DC STATEHOOD, GREEN JOBS & JUSTICE.     GLORIA TINUBU and RAY MCCLENDON fill us in on the horrendous attack on voting rights in Georgia.   RAY LUTZ brings us more new from insane Arizona, from which election documents have somehow found their way to Montana.   JULIE WIENER fills us in on the disastrous failure of the New York Legislature to ban hybrid electronic voting machines that can allow our elections to be stolen.   We also discuss state-based crises in attempts to overcome gerrymandering in Virginia, Ohio, Colorado and Oregon, with the outcomes very much in doubt.   As this war over American democracy continues to rage, our activism becomes ever more critical.  Don't miss out on the deadly details.  

Darrell Castle talks about the Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, from the standpoint of whether he should be impeached and not allowed to serve out his term that expires in 2022. If the answer to whether he should be impeached is yes, then why it is yes. Transcription / Notes SHOULD GOVENOR CUOMO BE IMPEACHED? Hello this is Darrell Castle with today's Castle Report. Today is Friday the 26th day of February in the year 2021. Today, I will be talking about the Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo from the standpoint of whether he should be impeached and not allowed to serve until his term expires in 2022. If the answer to whether he should be impeached is yes, then why is it yes. The Castle family is warm and cozy once again as the temperatures have returned to the 60's and high 50's. This is an amazing place to live when you can have 12 inches of snow one week and 3-degree temperatures when even the city's water lines froze, and 70 degrees one week later. It is good to be back in the office full time. The family daughter remains just fine in 75-degree Los Angeles. What in the world is going on with Governor Cuomo? The image he has tried very hard to cultivate for himself as a model of propriety, a paragon of virtue, highly competent, great leader is in serious doubt today. Attacks are coming at him on several fronts with new accusations an almost daily occurrence. It's almost as if his fellow New York Democrats are sharks with blood in the water. The first attack came when his top aide and secretary to the Governor, Melissa DeRosa revealed during a video conference call with state Democratic leaders that the Governor had ordered his staff to coverup the actual number of nursing home deaths in New York due to the virus. He rebuffed a legislative request in August for the information then she said, President Trump turned it into a giant political football. I suppose that almost 15000 deaths because of the Governor's actions does make a pretty good football. Interestingly, Ms. DeRosa's regret in her revelation was not because of what the Governor did but that the information could be used by Republicans. In addition to going after everybody, Trump directs the Department of Justice “to do an investigation into us. “We froze she said. We weren't sure what we were going to give the Department of Justice or the New York Legislature. So, the thought that maybe the Governor had an obligation to tell the truth never occurred to them. The only thought was to find a lie that the most people would believe. The Governor had issued orders to the Health Department to issue a directive that nursing homes admit infected patients. Then he ordered New York hospitals to discharge infected elderly patients to nursing homes thus spreading the disease among the most vulnerable resulting in the unnecessary deaths of thousands. Ms. DeRosa asked the legislators to keep what happened in context. She apologized on behalf of the Governor for what she termed the inconvenience it caused them. She said she was sorry the Republicans would be able to use the information against them. No apology to the grieving families and no promises to do whatever they could to make amends. No, it was just a cold, calculated political decision. When you read or listen on video to her apology you can see that she is not apologizing for the act but for the political damage it might cause her fellow Democrats. “So, we do apologize, she said. I do understand the position that you were put in. I do know that it is not fair. It was not our intention to put you in that political position with the Republicans.” Health Committee Chairman Richard Gottfried rejected her apology. “I don't have enough time to explain all the reasons why I don't give that any credit at all.” Mr. Gottfried is one of the lawmakers who demanded the death data from the Governor in August. Several lawmakers expressed dismay at the callous nature of the Governor's actions,

Here to talk to us about what this means is KJ Noh, writer and scholar of Asian Pacific geopolitics, joins us to discuss the Center for Economics and Business Research report saying China’s economy would outstrip the US’s by 2028, five years earlier than it had previously predicted. A lot of headlines have made much of the role covid plays in this change, noting that the US 5% contraction this year helped narrow the gap, but the deputy chair of the think tank himself said “The big news in this forecast is the speed of growth of the Chinese economy.” Kei Pritsker with Breakthrough News, joins us to discuss the New York Legislature on Monday overwhelmingly passed one of the most comprehensive anti-eviction laws in the nation. Under the new measure, landlords will be barred from evicting most tenants for at least another 60 days in almost all cases, and new eviction cases are to be banned until May 1. Some small landlords will be protected from foreclosure, and the bill also automatically renews tax exemptions for homeowners who are elderly or disabled. What's some of the work happening in New York to help people stay in their homes, and what results that’s had.Daniel Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup: The Constitution, the Supreme Court and the Decline of American Democracy, joins us to discuss the actual fight brewing in the Senate, propaganda in the pages of the Washington Post, and the intrigue between the UAE and Venezuela.KenYatta Rogers, Freelance Theatre Artist and Professor of Theatre at Montgomery College and William Dawson, writer, author and culture critic, joins us to discuss Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, the importance of August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle, and the politics and economics of turning theatrical plays into movies.

Welcome to Majority.FM's AM QUICKIE! Brought to you by justcoffee.coop TODAY'S HEADLINES: The Democratic controlled House of Representatives voted by an overwhelming majority yesterday to increase Coronavirus relief checks to $2,000, matching Trump’s demand for bigger payments and sending the bill to the GOP-controlled Senate and a perturbed Mitch McConnell. Meanwhile, an innovative aid group is attempting to improve medical care for migrants on their way to the United States. They’ve already helped thousands of people at a refugee camp on Mexico’s border with Texas. And lastly, tenants’ rights advocates are praising new legislation to prevent evictions just passed by lawmakers in New York. It doesn’t solve the problem of unpaid back rent, but it should save some people from getting thrown on the streets in a pandemic. THESE ARE THE STORIES YOU NEED TO KNOW: In the House of Representatives yesterday Democrats led passage of an increase in covid payments from 600 to 2000 dollars. the Democrats voted near unanimously to support the measure and were joined by over two dozen republicans for a 275-134 vote. Because this vote required a suspension of the normal rules of the house a 2/3 majority bar had to be overcome and was. The bill now heads to the senate where Mitch McConnell surely has plans to kill it. McConnell has a dilemma- as does his caucus- will they buck the president, the most popular politician in their party, or will they help the American people and economy with a Democratic President taking the oath only weeks from now? But even more problematic and immediate for McConnell is how denying a vote to provide hundreds, if not thousands of dollars of relief, for struggling American families will impact the Georgia run-off elections happening a week from today. Majority control of the senate hangs in the balance. According to Politico- McConnell now has one more massive headache to deal with- Bernie Sanders. Senator Sanders announced last evening that he intends to filibuster the Senate’s vote to override Trump’s veto of the Defense Authorization Act unless McConnell allows a vote on the House approved increase in relief checks. It was this override vote that brought House and Senate lawmakers back into session early from christmas vacation. Politico reports that in an interview Monday night Sanders said ““McConnell and the Senate want to expedite the override vote and I understand that. But I’m not going to allow that to happen unless there is a vote, no matter how long that takes, on the $2,000 direct payment,” According to Politico Sanders can’t ultimately stop the vote but he can delay it to the New Year- which will keep Perdue and Loeffler off the campaign trail in the days leading to their run off elections in Georgia against Democratic challengers Jon Ossof and Rapheal Warnock respectively. It will also draw far more attention to McConnell’s denying of Americans the help they need. This may be a losing fight but it is one which may exact a very high price for the Republicans. Fingers crossed on the relief and the runoffs. Migrant Aid Group Innovates From the Associated Press comes this story of a nonprofit aid group bringing care to people stuck in refugee camps thanks to Donald Trump’s border policies. Led by US military veterans, Global Response Management is staffed primarily by American volunteers. The group also employs paid asylum seekers who are medical professionals. They have treated thousands of migrants over the past year at two clinics in Matamoros, Mexico, including one inside the camp there. Among those who’ve benefited is Aurora Leticia Cruz, who fled Guatemala more than a year ago. Cruz has tried to keep up with her blood pressure medication, but being stuck in the sprawling camp has made that hard. On one recent day, Cruz felt woozy as her blood pressure skyrocketed. It could have ended in tragedy, leaving her 17-year-old granddaughter and two great-grandchildren under 3 alone in the camp. But instead, a nurse from Oregon and a Cuban doctor were able to pull up her medical record and prescribe the correct dosage. Medics with the group have innovated to bring care to the austere environment, building on what they learned in countries such as Bangladesh and Iraq, the AP reports. They have used telemedicine to consult specialists in the US and connected a portable device to an iPhone to perform a sonogram. They have also worked with local leaders in the camp to control the spread of the coronavirus by encouraging mask wearing, among other things. Only one person from the camp has been hospitalized with the virus, even as medical facilities in the area struggled to keep up with infected patients this summer. With public hospitals overwhelmed by virus cases, migrants with heart conditions or problematic pregnancies have nowhere to go, the AP reports. Others have been prescribed ineffective medications because doctors lacked their medical histories. The group is working to connect migrants to health care by asking them what they need via WhatsApp. The idea is to treat their health problems before they worsen, and create a system where their records can be accessed by doctors along the way. It is a daunting task. Hats off to these aid workers who are doing their best to improve a miserable situation. NY Passes Evictions Moratorium SAM: Do you hear? It’s the sweet sound of landlords crying. The New York Legislature yesterday passed one of the most comprehensive anti-eviction laws in the nation, the New York Times reports. Under the new measure, landlords would be barred from evicting most tenants for at least another sixty days. A tenant in danger of being kicked out of a home could submit a document stating financial hardship related to the coronavirus to postpone an eviction. The legislation would also make it harder for banks to foreclose on smaller landlords who are themselves struggling to pay bills. But advocacy groups for landlords said the bill could leave many in a lurch. Well boo-hoo. Join the club! As of late November, there have been thirty-eight requests for eviction warrants in New York City, the Times reports. Every one of those cases began before the pandemic. Most involved properties in central Brooklyn. Tenant lawyers and advocacy groups said the state law would prevent landlords from throwing thousands of cash-strapped renters onto the streets in the winter as virus case numbers continue to rise. Ellen Davidson, a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society, told the Times QUOTE It’s going to save a lot of people’s homes. It’s going to save lives ENDQUOTE. The new law is by no means a panacea, the Times reports. Tenants will continue to owe landlords any back rent they haven’t paid, once the moratorium ends. The $1.3 billion in rent relief authorized by the federal government should help, but it will not be enough to cover all tenants’ back rent. Michael McKee, the treasurer of Tenants PAC, praised the law as close to everything his organization wanted. But he also warned that there will still be people owing thousands of dollars in back rent they cannot pay. Sounds like a job for Joe Biden. AND NOW FOR SOME QUICKER QUICKIES: The House of Representatives voted last night to override Donald Trump’s veto of the annual military spending bill. Trump had objected to a provision in the bill directing the military to strip the names of Confederate leaders from bases. Despite this latest failure, he may be remembered as the most successful Confederate president. Here’s a scary story for you, folks. The New York Times reports that a small number of Covid patients who had never experienced mental health problems are developing severe psychotic symptoms weeks after contracting the coronavirus. It really ain’t the flu, folks. The suspect in a deadly shooting Saturday night at an Illinois bowling alley is a Green Beret, CBS News reports. Duke Webb, a 37-year-old Florida resident, allegedly killed three people and wounded three others at Don Carter Lanes in Rockford, Illinois. His commander issued a statement calling his actions abhorrent and absolutely not representative of the Special Forces Regiment, which prefers all such bloodshed to take place overseas. The twenty-seven European Union member states yesterday gave unanimous support to a twelve-hundred page trade and security deal with Britain, the Guardian reports. But is it a better deal than Britain had before Brexit? Even the government doesn’t seem sure, with cabinet minister Michael Gove warning that the road ahead will feature some QUOTE bumpy moments ENDQUOTE. Love that British understatement! That’s all for the AM Quickie. The Majority Report returns next Monday. DEC 29, 2020 - AM QUICKIE HOSTS - Sam Seder & Lucie Steiner WRITER - Corey Pein PRODUCER - Dorsey Shaw EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - Brendan Finn

Media, and not just Fox News, has been sending out a view of what's going on in cities like Portland that doesn't always fit the view on the ground. There are many people out there unconditionally supporting police forces and the use of federal cops regardless of laws or even the science of what good policing looks like. UPDATE: Seattle has voted to partially defund their police force effective during the 2020 budget. In response the Chief of SPD resigned this morning. The contempt filing against the City of Seattle has resulted in Seattle agreeing to no longer target press, medics, and legal observers.  While federal police are no longer directly confronting protesters in Portland they are still on the ground there. RESEARCH: A Constitutional Crisis in Portland New York Legislature to Take on Long Detentions by NYPD The Air Force Spy Plane Over Portland The Air Force Spy Plain Used Against Protesters The Air Force Spy Plane Over Portland Baltimore Aerial Surveillance Lawsuit Lawsuit Aims to Stop Baltimore Police From Using War-Zone Surveillance System to Spy on ResidentsHow Policing turns protests violent  (And Why it happens) New Directions in Protest PolicingEasier to read summary of the study https://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2020/06/05/28509410/research-says-violent-cops-cause-violent-protests?fbclid=IwAR1RGHh82ElzerC_c0w7BMwt85I-Jd4WSjRK7xOoQxFc1H3rrFh08WpLtLUCollecting Intelligence on Journalists who report on protests DHS compiled ‘intelligence reports’ on journalists who published leaked documentsAttacking journalists in LouisvilleGeorge Floyd protests: Louisville law enforcement shoots reporter with pepper bulletsProtesters being Released in Portland have to agree to not protest furtherhttps://www.newsweek.com/jailed-portland-protesters-must-agree-stop-going-protests-freed-1521178?fbclid=IwAR3wX3fQ4FvTgV4fypj7HmybS35XBzO4ujVINkXWkZgyVWgRkyLVRNX5JWUDocumentary “The Fight” about the multiple fronts the ACLU is working on. The Fight

Hello Capital Region! This is the Hudson Mohawk Magazine on WOOC-LP 105.3 FM Troy, WOOS-LP 98.9 FM Schenectady, WOOA-LP 106.9 FM Albany, and WCAA-LP 107.3 FM Albany, broadcasting from The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy. Today on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine, Mark Dunlea speaks with Nick Encalada-Malinowski, Civil Rights Campaign Director for VOCAL-NY, about criminal justice reforms the New York Legislature made in the last week. Then, on Reclaiming History, Lovonia Mallory covered the BLM protest and you will hear interviews and excerpts for the protest. After that, Andrea Cunliffe speaks with curators Stacy Pomeroy Draper o and Belinda Colon about documenting and archiving street art from the plywood that many Troy business owners used to protect themselves from last weekend’s peaceful protest. Then, on Upstate Housing, Michele Maserjian speaks with Laura Felts, Executive Director of United Tenants of Albany, about the confusing guidance being offered to many tenants facing pending evictions. And to close out the show, Mark Dunlea speaks with Arielle Swernoff of NY Renews, about the group’s concerns over the state's slow progress in implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. But first, here are some headlines.

The boys begin Family Histoire News with a tip of the hat to the New York Adoptee Rights Coalition for their incredible victory in the New York Legislature, obtaining the right for adoptees to obtain their original birth certificates.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The boys begin Family Histoire News with a tip of the hat to the New York Adoptee Rights Coalition for their incredible victory in the New York Legislature, obtaining the right for adoptees to obtain their original birth certificates. Next, a certain group is requiring DNA from Jews in Israel. Hear the interesting reason for the move. Next, DNA analyzed from the remains of a pair of Neanderthals has revealed something remarkable. Catch what it is. Then it’s a story of tragedy that has united two men, one black, one white, who have learned that, because of that tragedy, they are family. David’s Blogger Spotlight shines on the Czech research site of Blanka Lednicka, CzechGenealogy.nase-koreny.cz. Blanka has a lot to offer people of Czech descent! Then, Fisher begins his two-part visit with Curtis Rogers, co-founder of GEDMatch.com. The two talk about the history of the site, how it has become the focus of controversy for its support of law enforcement, and how you can support the efforts of authorities in solving crimes. At the back end of the show, Fisher visits with Gregory Luce and Annette O’Connell of the New York Adoptee Rights Coalition. NYAC is celebrating their recent victory in the New York Legislature bringing adoptee rights to the state so the group will soon be able to order their original birth certificates. That’s all this week on Extreme Genes, America’s Family History Show!

Susan Harper, Managing Director of Bates Group and Rachel Silberstein, Capitol Reporter for the Times Union discuss the February 2019 Open Hearing on Sexual Harassment at the New York Legislature. Susan Harper, Chair of NYSBA's Women in Law Section, testified during the 11-hour hearing. Read & View her testimony - https://goo.gl/tpj5SL Rachel Silberstein covered the event for the Albany Times Union Read her recap - https://goo.gl/mtDj9D Miranda Warnings is hosted by past NYSBA President David Miranda.

Today on @ChosenGenerationRadio Dan Gainor @newsbusters @MediaResearchCenter joins Pastor Greg to discus how the media has once agaon completely exposed their rabid bias against President Trump, Christianity and White Males. Philip Haney Center for Security Policy joins Pastor Greg to talk about the Mueller Investigation and the latest revelations. Phil will also discuss the increasing attacks on Christianity and the New York Legislature voting to kill babies right up until they are born. David Shestokas Constitutional Attorney joins us to look at the Constitutional questions surrounding the President and the shutdown and an Emergency Order. Also the SOTU and what might be seen in the House if Pelosi bars the President from entering. She has claimed that she has "security concerns". Dose she mean that the attempted coup might also mean an attempted assassination of the President? Peter LaBarbera Americans for Truth About Homosexuality discusses the aggressive agenda that the Human Rights Commission and LGBT and Democrats are pushing in Congress and State Legislatures across the country.

East New York Radio Live, 4th of July Weekend! Sojourner Truth and all other New York enslaved Blacks were emancipated on The 4th of July, 1827. In 1799 the New York Legislature passed "An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery" with only token opposition. It provided for gradual manumission. The law freed all children born to slave women after July 4, 1799, but not at once. The males became free at 28, the females at 25. Till then, they would be the property of the mother's slaver. Slaves already in servitude before July 4, 1799, remained slaves for life, though they were reclassified as "indentured servants." The law sidestepped all question of legal and civil rights, thus avoiding the objections that had blocked the earlier bill.   The activity of kidnappers and cheats in selling slaves out of the state in spite of the laws was said to have been the impetus for the 1817 statute that gave freedom to New York slaves who had been born before July 4, 1799 -- but not until July 4, 1827.  "One of the slaves who were freed in New York on July, 1827, the woman who named herself Sojourner Truth was destined to be the most remarkable." -Benjamin Quarles, "Black Abolitionists" pg 121  

Join The Gist of Freedom host Preston Washington as we listen to Voting Rights Act Speeches by Fannie Lou Hamer, President Lyndon Johnson and Freedom Rider Congressman John Lewis:   Sojourner Truth and all other New York enslaved Blacks were emancipated on The 4th of July, 1827.   In 1799 the New York Legislature passed "An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery" with only token opposition. It provided for gradual manumission. The law freed all children born to slave women after July 4, 1799, but not at once. The males became free at 28, the females at 25. Till then, they would be the property of the mother's slaver. Slaves already in servitude before July 4, 1799, remained slaves for life, though they were reclassified as "indentured servants." The law sidestepped all question of legal and civil rights, thus avoiding the objections that had blocked the earlier bill.