Policy Outsider: Recent Episodes
Rockefeller Institute
Policy Outsider from the Rockefeller Institute of Government takes you outside the halls of power to understand how decisions of law and policy shape our everyday lives.
Diya Abdo is a second-generation Palestinian refugee born and raised in Jordan and the author of the book, American Refuge: True Stories of the Refugee Experience. The book shares the stories of seven refugees from around the world who begin their American journeys in North Carolina, where Abdo is a Lincoln Financial Professor of English in the Department of English and Creative Writing at Guilford College. On this episode of Policy Outsider, the Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy invited Dr. Abdo to talk about the book, myths about refugees and the refugee experience, and the intertwined cultural and policy changes that can support a more integrated immigrant experience.
Guests
- Diya Abdo, Lincoln Financial Professor of English, Department of English and Creative Writing, Guilford College
Learn More
- American Refuge: True Stories of the Refugee Experience (book)
Assemblymember Brian Cunningham joins Policy Outsider for the latest in the "Freshmen Perspectives" series, which invites freshmen legislators in the New York State Senate and Assembly to share what they're working on, what they've learned, and what they're excited about tackling next. Cunningham (who stretches our definition of freshman as a winner of a special election before winning his first full term in 2022), shares insights into how he approaches legislating, the unique perspective one gets working in the State Legislature, and the important work still to be done in housing, the green energy economy, and AI.
Guests
- Honorable Brian Cunningham, New York State Assemblymember, Assembly District 43
- Bob Megna, President, Rockefeller Institute
In the early 1980s, the New York State Division of the Budget released a retrospective on the executive budget process. The book, The Executive Budget in New York State: A Half-Century Perspective, describes how the executive budget process came to be, how it evolved over 50 years, and how it helped the state function through the Great Depression, World War II, the postwar period, and the 60s and 70s. Now, as we sit in view of 100 years of executive budgets in New York, the Division, in collaboration with the Rockefeller Institute, is beginning the process of telling the story of the next half-century. On this episode of Policy Outsider, Dominic Colafati, DOB’s unit head for the Expenditure/Debt unit, joins Rockefeller Institute President Bob Megna to talk about the project: what they hope to emulate, what they might do differently, and what comes next for the executive budget process.
Guests
- Dominic Colafati, Unit Head, Expenditure/Debt Unit, New York State Division of the Budget
- Bob Megna, President, Rockefeller Institute of Government
For many, access to the banking system is an important component of upward mobility. Loans, savings accounts, credit cards–these are all part of a financial system that, when used strategically, can help establish financial stability or undergird entrepreneurial activity. But there are barriers to accessing the banking system for those on society's margins, including in some immigrant communities, where many are unbanked or underbanked. To explore these issues, we speak with Dr. Jay Zagorsky, clinical associate professor of markets, public policy, and law at Boston University's Questrom School of Business and Dr. Dina Refki, executive director of the Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy. The conversation details the challenges and consequences of being unbanked and underbanked as an immigrant and highlights potential policy solutions for improving the financial options available to these communities.
Guests
- Jay Zagorsky, Associate Professor of Markets, Public Policy, and Law, Questrom School of Business, Boston University
- Dina Refki, Executive Director, Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy
Rates of both gun violence and firearm suicide have been increasing year over year, but not all Americans have been impacted equally. Black individuals in the US are nearly 14 times more likely to die from a firearm homicide than their white counterparts, and their inpatient hospitalizations due to firearm injuries are nine times higher. And in 2022, preliminary data indicate that, for the first time in history, firearm suicide rates among Black individuals exceeded those of white individuals. A new study out in JAMA Network Open explores the relationship between gun violence exposure and suicide among Black adults. In this episode, lead author Daniel Semenza of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center and member of the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium joins Policy Outsider to discuss the study’s findings.
Guest
- Daniel Semenza, Director of Interpersonal Violence Research, Rutgers University’s Gun Violence Research Center
Learn More
- Gun Violence Exposure and Suicide Among Black Adults (JAMA Network Open)
A report we released in February 2024 found that foster youth at SUNY who received funding from the Foster Youth College Success Initiative (FYCSI) tended to reenroll after their first year of college at higher rates than their peers; they also tended to post higher graduation rates for associate degrees and, after six years, bachelor’s degrees. This episode of Policy Outsider goes beyond the numbers to hear from an FYCSI award recipient and an FYCSI advocate how this funding can change the trajectory of students' lives.
Guests
- Tanajah Malachi, Licensed Master Social Worker, FYCSI Award Recipient
- Deidra Nesbeth, Director, Fostering Youth Success Alliance
- Brian Backstrom, Director of Education Policy Studies, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Learn More
- Fostering Success at SUNY: Financial Support through the Foster Youth College Success Initiative (report)
- New York State Education Department – Foster Youth College Success Initiative
Assemblymember Dana Levenberg represents the 95th district in the New York State Assembly. Her road to statewide elected office included a stint as chief of staff for former New York State Assemblymember Sandy Galef, time on the Ossining School Board, and four elected terms as Ossining Town Supervisor. On this episode of Policy Outsider, Assemblymember Levenberg speaks with Rockefeller Institute President Bob Megna about her path to the Assembly and the common thread that weaves together her work across different issues and different levels of government.
Guests:
Honorable Dana Levenberg, New York State Assemblymember, Assembly District 95
Robert Megna, President, Rockefeller Institute
Jessica Scarcella-Spanton was 21 when she first served as executive director of the Democratic Party on Staten Island. Now, she's serving as a freshman senator in the New York State Legislature, representing New York's 23rd District, which covers the North and East Shores of Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn. As a mother of two and wife to a disabled combat veteran, she brings a unique and fresh perspective to the State Senate. On this episode of Policy Outsider, Rockefeller Institute President Bob Megna speaks with Senator Scarcella-Spanton about her road to the senate, how she approaches being a public servant and legislator, and what she's proud of in her first year as an elected official.
Guests:
Honorable Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, New York State Senator, Senate District 23
Robert Megna, President, Rockefeller Institute
Budget season is underway in New York and New Jersey. On this episode of Policy Outsider, guest Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, a former New Jersey State treasurer, joins Rockefeller Institute President Bob Megna to discuss spending plans in the Garden and Empire State. The conversation covers what is included and excluded from reported budget numbers and how differences in budget formulation make it difficult to do apples-to-apples comparisons between states.
Guests:
Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, former New Jersey State treasurer
Bob Megna, president, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Learn More:
Op-Ed: How big is New Jersey’s budget?
On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, Rockefeller Institute President Bob Megna and Kevin Younis, executive deputy commissioner and chief operating officer at Empire State Development, return to the podcast to discuss the latest $10 billion investment in Albany's NanoTech Complex for a new High Numerical Aperture Extreme Ultraviolet (NA EUV) Lithography Center. The conversation covers who the stakeholders are in this $10 billion deal, how partnerships between private industry and government came together and landed on upstate New York as the future of the semiconductor industry, and what that means for the New York economy.
Guests:
Bob Megna, president, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Kevin Younis, chief operating officer and executive deputy commissioner, Empire State Development
Learn More:
Ep. 62. New York's $100 Billion Micron Deal. How Did It Happen?
Ep. 63. New York’s Investment in Innovation Infrastructure
The latest episode of Policy Outsider dives deep into the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare. Rockefeller Institute’s Senior Fellow for Health Policy, Courtney Burke, follows up on her latest blog, "The Healthcare Industry Mega Trend to Watch in 2024: “Today” and “Tomorrow” Players and the Emergence of the “Striving Survivors”" that expands on her earlier work that identified 10 key trends in 2023 that are shaping the health care industry and discusses what we can expect in the coming year. The episode unravels the interaction between these trends and examines the existing challenges of today’s health care marketplace, including labor shortages, price inflation, and declining margins; how tomorrow’s healthcare entities are dynamically changing the playing field through private equity, consolidation, and technology; and the striving survivors–the existing health care businesses that are trying to navigate the evolution of healthcare in real time.
Guest:
Courtney Burke, senior fellow for health policy, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Learn More:
2024 blog
Top Health Trends for State Health Policymakers to Watch in 2023
- Part One: Broad Workforce, Economic, and Health Policy Shifts
- Part Two: Internal Industry Economic Trends
- Part Three: Service Delivery, Quality, and Equity Trends
A Mid-Year Update on 2023 Healthcare Trends
The latest episode breaks down New York's Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA). Passed in 2021, the MRTA experienced an uneven rollout due to legal challenges and the rise of illicit markets. Yet, state officials are looking at new ways to support the marijuana industry, empower entrepreneurs, and protect consumers. New York State Senator Jeremy Cooney, chair of the state Subcommittee on Cannabis and co-chair of the Marijuana Task Force, joins the podcast to shine a light on the work being done at the state level and emphasizes the intricate balance between market regulation, taxation, and rectifying the harms of the failed war on drugs.
Guest:
Honorable Jeremy Cooney, New York State Senator
Learn More:
In the Weeds
This episode focuses on immigrant entrepreneurs, their impact on the New York economy, and their ability to access banking systems, loans, capital, and other resources to start and maintain their business. Ahyoung Kim, director of economic empowerment for the Asian American Federation, and Kristine Rudgers, small business advisor for America's Small Business Development Centers out of SUNY Brockport, recently participated in the Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy webinar on the Future of Immigrant Entrepreneurship and join the podcast to expand on their discussion to touch on the opportunities and obstacles facing immigrant entrepreneurs and share their insights into how to strengthen immigrant business opportunities through policies and programs targeted at immigrant entrepreneurs.
Guests:
Ahyoung Kim, director of economic empowerment, Asian American Federation
Kristine Rudgers, small business advisor, Small Business Development Center, SUNY Brockport
Learn More:
Between Stewardship and Laissez Faire: The Future of Immigrant Entrepreneurship
Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy
On the latest episode, the Honorable Steven Raga, New York State Assemblymember from Queens, NY, shares his journey from legislative staffer to elected official and discusses the daily life of being an Assemblymember, including hectic legislative, community, and campaign schedules, as well as the importance of addressing constituents' immediate concerns. Assemblymember Raga reflects on his first year in office and details his legislative priorities for the upcoming year, including support for non-profits, safety on college campuses, and digital literacy resources for US veterans. Assemblymember Raga also provides his perspective on public service and offers advice for those considering a career as an elected official, emphasizing the importance of a positive attitude, dedication to community work, and the ability to learn from mistakes.
Guest:
Honorable Steven Raga, New York State Assemblymember, 30th Assembly District
Recently, in coordination with New York Congressman Paul Tonko, the Rockefeller Institute hosted the Locally Sourced Capital Region Climate Policyconference, which examined ways local governments and organizations within New York’s capital region are addressing climate change through policy and practice. As part of the Rockefeller Institute’s ongoing look at municipal solutions to improving our climate and environmental sustainability, Carm Basile, CEO of the Capital District Transit Authority (CDTA) and a panelist during the Locally Sourced conference, joins the podcast to detail what programs and initiatives CDTA is embarking on that help reduce the regional carbon footprint by increasing access to and use of public transportation, as well as reduce its own carbon footprint by increasing green transit infrastructure.
Guest:
Carm Basile, CEO, Capital District Transit Authority
Learn More:
Locally Sourced Capital Region Climate Policy | An Integrated Approach to Zero Emissions, Carm Basile, CEO, Capital District Transit Authority
Locally Sourced Capital Region Climate Policy | Entire Conference
Prior to the late 19th century, trash in many American cities accumulated in streets, in backyards, in privies, in empty lots, and in crawlspaces underneath homes. There were no organized municipal efforts to remove the trash and, as they grew in size and density, cities became smelly, foul, and unhealthy places to live. In their book, The Politics of Trash: How Governments Used Corruption to Clean Cities, 1890–1929, authors Patricia Strach, professor of political science and public administration & policy at the University at Albany and a fellow at the Rockefeller Institute, and Kathleen Sullivan, associate professor of political science at Ohio University, describe how this began to change. On this episode, Patricia and Kathleen discuss their book, the lessons we can learn about how cities develop new services, and how those lessons apply to some of the problems governments are facing today.
Guests:
Patricia Strach, professor of political science and public administration & policy, University at Albany, & fellow, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Kathleen Sullivan, associate professor of political science, Ohio University
Joel Tirado, director of communications, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Learn More:
The Politics of Trash: How Governments Used Corruption to Clean Cities, 1890–1929
A recent report from the Congressional Research Service suggests that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is likely to approve a US Department of Health and Human Services recommendation to reschedule marijuana, which is currently a Schedule I drug. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, Director of Operations and Fellow Heather Trela explains what such a change would mean for the marijuana industry and federal enforcement of the drug. The episode provides an overview of the drug scheduling system and its history, the challenges and limitations of rescheduling, and what comes next in the ever-changing marijuana policy landscape.
Guest:
Heather Trela, director of operations & fellow, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Learn More:
The High Court: How the Judiciary is Influencing Marijuana Policy
The High Courts II
In the Weeds
The 252 school-based health centers (SBHCs) operating in New York State serve more than 250,000 students. These health centers provide a range of services on school premises, from primary to behavioral health care—and, in some cases, dental and vision care—and augment the health services children receive from traditional healthcare providers. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, Senior Fellow for Health Policy Courtney Burke interviews Dr. Viju Jacob, a pediatric specialist in the Bronx who works for Urban Health Plan, which operates several SBHCs, and Ronda Kotelchuk, founder of the Primary Care Development Corporation and current chair of New York State Foundation for School-Based Health Centers, to learn more about SBHCs, the positive health and academic outcomes they support, and what is needed to maintain and expand the important services they offer to students.
Guests:
Courtney Burke, senior fellow for health policy, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Dr. Viju Jacob, pediatric specialist, Urban Health Plan
Ronda Kotelchuk, founder, Primary Care Development Corporation & Chair, New York School-Based Health Foundation
Learn More:
New York School-Based Health Foundation
New York School-Based Health Alliance
Acronyms:
H+H: Health and Hospitals
HRSA: Health Resources and Services Administration
FQHC: Federally Qualified Health Center
SBHC: School-Based Health Centers
The recent influx of migrants into New York City has highlighted the barriers that these new arrivals face, including the limitations on their ability to work. In a new episode of Policy Outsider, Rockefeller Institute Nathan Fellow Sarah Rogerson, an expert in immigration law and director of the Immigration Law Clinic and Edward P. Swire Justice Center at Albany Law School, discusses the legal and logistical hurdles migrants face as they seek to enter the workforce, including federal restrictions that prohibit migrants from working for at least six months, the time, money, and effort work authorization applications require, and the systemic constraints that can delay work authorization and legal residency status.
Guest:
Sarah Rogerson, Nathan fellow, Rockefeller Institute & director of the Immigration Law Clinic and Edward P. Swire Justice Center
In August 2022, the Biden administration announced a plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt for eligible borrowers. The plan, legally challenged almost immediately, was struck down in early July by the Supreme Court, ruling the Executive had overreached its authority. Then, on July 14, the Biden administration announced its latest move: using the negotiated rulemaking process under the Higher Education Act to forgive student loans, revising income-driven repayment plans, and providing more than 800,000 qualifying borrowers with nearly $40 billion in loan forgiveness. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, Rockefeller Institute Director of Education Policy Studies Brian Backstrom and Fellow Rebecca Natow discuss the Supreme Court's ruling, the Biden administration's latest plan, and what comes next in the lengthy saga of addressing the nation's student loan debt crisis.
Guests: Brian Backstrom, director of education policy studies, Rockefeller Institute
Rebecca Natow, fellow, Rockefeller Institute & associate professor of educational leadership and policy, Hofstra University
Learn More:
States Step In: Relieving the Burden of Student Loan Debt
Student Debt In New York State: A Compendium of Work by the Rockefeller Institute of Government
State-Sponsored Child Investment Accounts: Helping Parents Save for Collage, Helping Students Avoid Loan Debt
The deathcare infrastructure, consisting of frontline public servants who handle the recently deceased, faced an enormous strain during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they were required to manage a tremendous number of excess deaths, often exceeding their capacity and resources to do so. Staci Zavatarro, Nathan Fellow at the Rockefeller Institute of Government and Professor of Public Administration at the University of Central Florida, joins the podcast to highlight some of the logistical challenges many coroners and medical examiners faced trying to manage the influx of decedents during the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of federal and state government policies and investments to improve death care management systems and provide necessary support to the workforce.
Guest:
Staci Zavatarro, Nathan Fellow, Rockefeller Institute of Government and Professor, University of Central Florida
Public investments in mental health services are needed to deal with worsening mental health connected to, among other things, the pandemic, economic anxiety, rapidly changing technologies, and global geopolitical distress. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, Rockefeller Institute Senior Fellow for Health Policy Courtney Burke and New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Ann Sullivan discuss the importance and timeliness of New York State’s $1 billion investment for mental health services in the 2023-24 budget. The conversation outlines what policies and programs will be enabled by the new funding and the people it will support.
Guests:
Courtney Burke, senior fellow for health policy, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Ann Sullivan, Commissioner, New York State Office of Mental Health
The rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans in recent years has been a cause for concern, with reports of violent acts occurring across the country. Advocacy groups alongside federal, state, and local governments have been actively working to address this alarming trend and provide support to victims. As Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month draws to a close, Policy Outsider host Alex Morse speaks with Jo-Ann Yoo, executive director of the Asian American Federation and a member of the Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy's board of advisors, about the violent and harmful acts experienced by Asian Americans. Jo-Ann details the Asian American Federation's response to the surge in hate crimes, and shares how individuals and communities can collaborate to confront violence toward not only Asian Americans, but all marginalized groups.
Guest:
Jo-Ann Yoo, executive director, Asian American Federation
Across the US, the pandemic hit community colleges hard. Enrollment is down and institutions have reduced staff and payroll. And whilecommunity colleges are heavily integrated into their local and regional education and workforce development fabric, federal policy is critical to sustaining andadvancing these institutions. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, Fellow Rebecca Natow explains how federal support promotes equity, accessibility, and opportunity in community colleges and how that support is evolving under the Biden administration.
Guest:
Rebecca Natow, fellow, Rockefeller Institute of Government & assistant professor of educational leadership and policy, Hofstra University
Learn More:
Federal Policy on Community Colleges: Presidential Priorities and Policy Tools
The New York Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act (the Empowerment Act) made it easier for New York State residents to initiate the dissolution or consolidation of village governments. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, Rockefeller Institute Fellow and Daemen University Professor Lisa Parshall discusses her new book, In Local Hands, which examines the social, political, and narrative context surrounding municipal reorganization in the state, especially since the Empowerment Act went into effect in 2010. The conversation touches on questions explored in the book: why do village residents support or oppose dissolutions? How do residents initiate reorganizations? And how do dissolutions affect taxes and government services?
Guest:
Lisa Parshall, fellow, Rockefeller Institute of Government & professor, Daemen University
Learn More:
In Local Hands (SUNY Press)
A Comparative Look at the Village Dissolution Movement in Ohio and New York: Assessing State-Level Policy Impacts
Is It Time For New York State to Revise Its Village Incorporation Laws?
Dissolving Village Government in New York State
Ep. 12. Power to the People
Many immigrant families and communities face barriers to utilizing social services and integrating into their communities. These challenges exist across healthcare, housing, legal assistance, education, workforce development, and more. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, New York State Assemblymember Catalina Cruz talks about her experience as an immigrant, as a lawyer, and as a lawmaker, and how these shape her perspective in developing policy to support immigrants. The conversation also covers the knowledge-generating role of the new Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy, which will inform evidence-based integration solutions for policymakers.
Guest:
Honorable Catalina Cruz, New York State Assemblymember
The 2024 election cycle will be the first election where candidates running for statewide office in New York can opt into the state's new small donor public financing program. Laura Ladd Bierman and Erica Smitka of the League of Women Voters of New York join Policy Outsider host Alex Morse to discuss the details of the new program and the history of campaign finance reform in the state. The conversation examines how public financing intends to level the electoral playing field of state elections, increase representation, and reduce the influence of big money in politics. The episode also covers what other reforms can help strengthen elections and make campaign finance more equitable throughout the state.
Guests:
Laura Ladd Bierman, executive director, League of Women Voters of New York
Erica Smitka, deputy director, League of Women Voters of New York
Learn More:
League of Women Voters of New York
New York State Public Campaign Finance Board
Small Donor Public Financing: A Tool for Empowering New Yorkers in the Age of Citizens United
As part of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) enacted by Congress, Medicaid programs were required to keep individuals continuously enrolled in the program to receive enhanced federal funding (typically, Medicaid requires an annual eligibility renewal). The continuous enrollment requirement was decoupled from the PHE through the Consolidated Appropriations Act (passed in late 2022) and is set to expire on April 1. States have some flexibility in how they "unwind" the automatic, continuous health coverage provisions that have been in place. To help make sense of how New York is approaching the unwind, Rockefeller Institute Senior Fellow for Health Policy Courtney Burke is joined by Amir Bassiri, deputy commissioner and Medicaid director at the New York State Department of Health, Danielle Holahan, executive director of New York State of Health, and Lisa Sbrana, director of the Division of Eligibility and Marketplace Integration at the New York State Department of Health.
Guests:
Courtney Burke, senior fellow for health policy, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Amir Bassiri, deputy commissioner and Medicaid Director, New York State Department of Health
Danielle Holahan, executive director, New York State of Health
Lisa Sbrana, director, Division of Eligibility and Marketplace Integration, New York State Department of Health
Learn More:
New York State of Health
On February 28, 2023, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases opposing President Biden’s student debt relief plan, which seeks to cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt per borrower. Brian Backstrom, director of education policy studies at the Rockefeller Institute of Government, wrote an analysis that detailed how the student debt relief plan made its way to the Supreme Court and previewed the court cases to be heard.
On today’s episode, Brian joins to highlight the arguments presented in the cases, shares how the justices responded to those arguments, and points to what student loan borrowers can expect as the cases move forward.
Guest:
Brian Backstrom, director of education policy studies, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Learn More:
SCOTUS To Decide: Is the Biden Administration's Student Debt Cancellation Program Legal?
New York State has the fourth-largest population of older adults in the US, with 3.2 million New Yorkers over the age of 65, a number that is projected to grow to 5.3 million by 2030. Caring for those older New Yorkers is expensive; the state spends more on long-term care services annually ($32 billion) than any other service. To address the needs of the state’s aging population, Governor Kathy Hochul signed Executive Order 23 last fall, which directs the state to develop a Master Plan for Aging.
On today’s episode, Courtney Burke, senior fellow for health policy at the Rockefeller Institute of Government, and Adam Herbst, deputy commissioner for the Office of Aging and Long-term Care at the Department of Health, discuss the process of developing the master plan, the intricate network of government and healthcare systems dedicated to designing this roadmap, and how New York will provide the necessary care and resources to ensure people can age in place.
Guests:
Courtney Burke, senior fellow for health policy, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Adam Herbst, deputy commissioner for the Office of Aging and Long-term Care, Department of Health
In New York, Medicaid provides healthcare for nearly 8 million people and half of all births. With the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting existing health disparities and disrupting the health care system, there is a significant need and opportunity to innovate Medicaid care delivery. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, we examine how New York is using a Section 1115 waiver to address health equity issues. The State's Acting Medicaid Director, Amir Bassiri, and Rockefeller Institute Senior Fellow for Health Policy Courtney Burke join the show to discuss how the waiver works, the goals the waiver seeks to accomplish, strategies for achieving those goals, and a vision for the future of Medicaid.
Terms
CBO—Community-based Organization
CMS—Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
DSRIP - Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment
MRT - Medicaid Redesign Team
HERO—Health Equity Regional Organization
SDHN—Social Determinant Health Network
VBP - Value-based Payment
Guests:
Courtney Burke, senior fellow for health policy, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Amir Bassiri, New York acting Medicaid director & deputy commissioner for Office of Health Insurance Programs
David Anderson, president of NY CREATES, an innovation hub headquartered at the Albany NanoTech Complex, joins Policy Outsider to take us into the workings of the semiconductor industry and offer insight into how New York State’s tightly woven research and economic development tapestry supports and drives advanced technologies and manufacturing.
Guests:
Bob Megna, president, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Dave Anderson, president, NY CREATES
In the fall of 2022, Micron, a leading advanced technology manufacturer, agreed to partner with New York State to build a $100 billion dollar semiconductor fabrication facility in upstate New York. How did this deal come to happen? How did federal and state policy, such as the CHIPS and Science Act and New York’s Green CHIPS Program, work to incentivize Micron to come to New York? And what role did local government partnerships play in the deal?
On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, Kevin Younis, chief operating officer and executive deputy commissioner of Empire State Development and one of the principle architects of the Micron deal, sits down with Rockefeller Institute President Bob Megna to talk about the deal and the critical role of decades of policy in bringing it to fruition.
Guests:
Bob Megna, president, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Kevin Younis, chief operating officer & executive deputy commissioner, Empire State Development
The recent Ticketmaster-Taylor Swift ticket purchasing debacle brought renewed attention to the stranglehold Ticketmaster holds on the live music industry. On today's episode, New York State Senator James Skoufis, a leading champion of ticket reform legislation, breaks down the problems facing the ticket industry and how state and federal policy can work to protect consumers.
Guest:
Honorable James Skoufis, New York State Senator
In honor of National Veterans and Military Families Month, today's episode examines life after serving in the military as told by two veterans. We invited Aaron Gladd, chief of staff of the State University of New York and former platoon leader in the US Army, and Colonel Jim McDonough, CEO of The Headstrong Project and former director of New York State’s Division of Veterans’ Services, to share their experiences joining, serving, and transitioning out of the military. They describe the challenges many veterans face moving back into civilian life and discuss how communities and non-profits are working to fill the gaps in veterans’ services left by local, state, and federal governments.
On Tuesday, voters in New York overwhelmingly approved the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Bond Act. On today's episode, we invite New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Executive Deputy Commissioner Sean Mahar to discuss what this support means and what comes next for the environmental bond act. The conversation provides an overview of how funding will be prioritized and highlights the anticipated environmental and economic impacts of this investment.
Guest:
Sean Mahar, executive deputy commissioner, Department of Environmental Conservation
In July, a bill designed to protect same-sex marriages passed the US House of Representatives with bipartisan support. Forty-seven Republicans joined House Democrats in passing the Respect for Marriage Act. Shortly thereafter, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that he was working to drum up sufficient Republican support in the Senate to pass the bill.
Following weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations, Schumer announced in mid-September that the vote would be delayed until after the midterm elections.
To make sense of what is happening with marriage equality, we put together a two-part podcast series, featuring conversations with policymakers, experts, and advocates.
In part one of this series, Rockefeller Institute Fellow Heather Trela, Senior Policy Analyst Leigh Wedenoja, and Pride Center of the Capital Region Executive Director Nate Gray answer questions like: If the US Supreme Court ruled in 2015 to legalize marriage equality nationwide, why is there now a renewed push for legislating this issue? What is the legislative and judicial history of marriage equality and how does that inform the provisions in the Respect for Marriage Act? And how is the recent uncertainty surrounding marriage equality affecting members of the LGBTQ+ community?
In part two, we draw some political parallels to the current moment with a look back at the push for marriage equality in New York in 2011. To understand the political calculations and consequences of a Republican “yes” vote on this issue, Rockefeller Institute President Bob Megna talks with Senator Steve Saland, one of four Republican senators who crossed the aisle to say “aye” to the Marriage Equality Act.
In July, a bill designed to protect same-sex marriages passed the US House of Representatives with bipartisan support. Forty-seven Republicans joined House Democrats in passing the Respect for Marriage Act. Shortly thereafter, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that he was working to drum up sufficient Republican support in the Senate to pass the bill.
Following weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations, Schumer announced in mid-September that the vote would be delayed until after the midterm elections.
To make sense of what is happening with marriage equality, we put together a two-part podcast series, featuring conversations with policymakers, experts, and advocates.
In part one of this series, Rockefeller Institute Fellow Heather Trela, Senior Policy Analyst Leigh Wedenoja, and Pride Center of the Capital Region Executive Director Nate Gray answer questions like: If the US Supreme Court ruled in 2015 to legalize marriage equality nationwide, why is there now a renewed push for legislating this issue? What is the legislative and judicial history of marriage equality and how does that inform the provisions in the Respect for Marriage Act? And how is the recent uncertainty surrounding marriage equality affecting members of the LGBTQ+ community?
In part two, we draw some political parallels to the current moment with a look back at the push for marriage equality in New York in 2011. To understand the political calculations and consequences of a Republican “yes” vote on this issue, Rockefeller Institute President Bob Megna talks with Senator Steve Saland, one of four Republican senators who crossed the aisle to say “aye” to the Marriage Equality Act.
In 2020, the most recent year for which data are available, over half of all completed suicides in America involved a firearm–that is more than 24,000 Americans dying by firearm suicide in one year alone. However, suicide attempts involving a firearm account for fewer than 5 percent of all suicide attempts. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and for this episode, we are re-issuing a recorded Twitter Spaces conversation hosted by Jaclyn Schildkraut, interim executive director of the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium at the Rockefeller Institute and Michael Anestis, the executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers University. The discussion focuses on the risk factors associated with firearm suicide as well as what policies and tools exist to help to mitigate firearm suicides.
Guests:
Jaclyn Schildkraut, interim executive director of the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium
Michael Anestis, executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center
Go in-depth:
- Preventing Suicide Through a Focus on Firearm Access and Storage
- New York State Firearm Storage Map
- New Jersey Firearm Storage Map
- Trevor Project
- US Department of Veterans Affairs’ Suicide Prevention Website
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
If you or anyone you know are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please consider dialing 9-8-8 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. You can also text HOME to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
The Biden Administration recently announced a student loan debt relief plan offering up to $20,000 in debt forgiveness for certain borrowers. The announcement also contained details about a new income-driven repayment plan that will reduce monthly payments for lower and middle-income borrowers. On this episode of Policy Outsider, Brian Backstrom, director of education policy studies at the Institute, joins guest host Joel Tirado to discuss the details of this relief plan and the interesting challenge of calculating the size of its benefits.
Guest: Brian Backstrom, director of education policy studies at the Rockefeller Institute
For more in-depth analysis, visit the student debt research series below:
- States Step In: Relieving the Burden of Student Loan Debt
- Relieving the Burden of Student Loan Debt
- State-Sponsored Child Investment Accounts: Helping Parents Save for College, Helping Students Avoid Loan Debt
- Student Debt In New York State: A Compendium of Work by the Rockefeller Institute of Government
It's not just an availability issue. While governments continue to invest in expansion of broadband infrastructure, high costs and poor digital literacy have hindered adoption of high-speed internet even where it is available. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, guest Kevin Schwartzbach, a graduate research assistant at the Rockefeller Institute, shares his research on broadband policy and investment and discusses why gaps in access and adoption persist.
Guest:
Kevin Schwartzbach
Go in-depth:
Addressing Digital Literacy and Other Reasons for Non-Adoption of Broadband
How Government Can Make Broadband More Affordable
Should States Fund Municipal Broadband and Cooperatives?
With Billions for Broadband Incoming, How Have State and Local Governments Expanded High-Speed Internet Access?
A recently passed bill would enact a two-year moratorium on specific types of cryptocurrency mining in New York and require an environmental impact assessment of mining operations if signed by Governor Kathy Hochul. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, NYS Assemblymember Anna Kelles, the bill's sponsor, joins host Alex Morse to discuss what's in the bill, what the legislature hopes to learn from its proposed impact analysis, and how the bill fits with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), New York's landmark climate and environment legislation.
Guest
Honorable Anna Kelles, New York State Assemblymember
Points of Conversation
03:02 - Blockchain Basics and Cryptocurrency Validation: Proof-of-Stake vs. Proof-of-Work
13:43 - Understanding Decentralized Financing
16:51 - Pause for Examination: How Cryptocurrency Mining Operates and its Potential Impacts
26:17 - The Fracking Playbook
30:54 - How Cryptocurrency Mining Relates to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act
38:00 - How Recent Environmental Policy Decisions Affect Future Policymaking
Changing the way we understand and talk about mass shootings can help us implement more effective gun policy. As National Gun Violence Awareness Month winds down, this episode of Policy Outsider presents a recorded Twitter Spaces conversation between the Rockefeller Institute's Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium Interim Executive Director Jaclyn Schildkraut and New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center Executive Director Michael Anestis. The wide-ranging conversation covers many aspects of mass shootings: common misconceptions, frameworks for understanding how they unfold, and the role of policy in limiting their likelihood.
While federal inaction to address gun violence persists, local officials face significant challenges preventing and responding to gun violence in their communities. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan discusses the state of gun violence in Albany, what the city is doing to address illegal firearms and gun violence, and what resources local governments need from federal and state governments to help ensure public safety.
Solar arrays, agriculture, pollinator plantings—these are some of the potential uses for roadside right-of-ways (ROWs), the grassy areas that run alongside the highway. Collectively, across the United States, ROWs make up an area larger than the state of New Jersey. In this follow up to her analysis, "All the Above: The Many Ways to Use Roadside Right-of-Ways," Nathan Fellow Kaitlin Stack Whitney talks in-depth with Policy Outsider host Alex Morse about the challenges and opportunities presented by this space and the innovative uses policymakers and planners are bringing to the roadside.
Guest:
Kaitlin Stack Whitney, Nathan Fellow at the Rockefeller Institute of Government and assistant professor at Rochester Institute of Technology
Higher education is a powerful tool that can help improve economic standing and mobility. For many families, however, the expense of college presents prospective students with a dilemma: delay or forego higher education or incur significant debt in pursuit of a degree. On this episode of Policy Outsider, guest Leila Bozorg, Chief of Strategy & Policy at NYC Kids RISE, explains how her organization is working to help New York City families meet this dilemma with a new tool: college savings invested in tax-free child investment accounts. The conversation covers how these child investment accounts work, how the organization measures progress and success, and recommendations for policymakers seeking to advance equity and affordability in higher education.
Over the weekend, and about a week after it was due, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law a $220 billion budget for the 2023 fiscal year. The budget includes significant investments in sectors hit hard by the pandemic, such as healthcare, a full funding of foundation aid (the state's public education funding formula), and $4.2 billion for the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. On this episode of Policy Outsider, Rockefeller Institute researchers and fellows join to provide an overview of the enacted budget and put into context the investments made in specific areas, such as education, COVID recovery, local government, childcare, the forthcoming retail marijuana market, and the environment.
Complex government programs, such as Medicaid, are often accompanied by strict registration and eligibility requirements. These administrative burdens can frustrate and stymie potentially eligible individuals, limiting individuals’ access to public programs and legally-entitled benefits. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, University at Albany Associate Professor Ashley Fox discusses her recent article in Public Administration Review which found rule-reduction changes to ease Medicaid enrollment can improve program take-up (i.e., increase enrollment). The conversation covers the consequences of administrative burden on states and individuals and ways governments can use administrative easing to improve public programs.
New York City's top fiscal official, Jacques Jiha, Ph.D., joins Policy Outsider to discuss how the City managed its budget through the turbulence of the pandemic, how the City's budget process differs from the State's, and how the City and State work together to maintain fiscal stability in the largest metropolitan region of the country.
Fresh off delivering 30-day budget amendments to the NYS Legislature, NYS Budget Director Robert Mujica joined host Alex Morse and Rockefeller Institute President Bob Megna for a conversation about this year's budget, the delicate art of negotiations, and what it's like to lead the Division of the Budget through the budget process
Too many young children and families lack access to proper health care and early education. To address this need, the New York State Department of Health put forward the First 1,000 Days on Medicaid initiative, which aims to improve lifelong education and health outcomes for underserved children by focusing on early childhood development programs and interventions. In a new episode of Policy Outsider, guest Melodie Baker, project leader of the Rockefeller Institute’s partnership project with the Department of Health on the First 1,000 Days initiative, joins host Alex Morse to discuss how using local collective impact strategies might help strengthen these innovative practices designed to increase education attainment and health access for children and families in need.
Bob Megna, president of the Rockefeller Institute of Government and former New York State budget director, joins Policy Outsiderhost Alex Morse to discuss the behind-the-scenes of the New York State budget process. The conversation covers the budget development timeline, the players involved, and how the current economic landscape, including the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, may affect policies, programs, and funding priorities.
Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced New York State will help resettle as many 1,143 Afghan nationals evacuated from Afghanistan in cities across the state. On this episode, guests Camille Mackler, founder and executive director of Immigrant Advocates Response Collaborative (ARC), and Professor Sarah Rogerson, director of the Immigration Law Clinic at the Albany Law School, discuss the status of the current refugee crisis, the challenges refugees and resettlement agencies will face in the coming months, and policy changes that may help ease the resettlement process.
Production of concrete, the worlds most used building material is a major contributor to total global carbon emissions each year. On this episode of Policy Outsider, Matt Adams, a Richard P. Nathan fellow at the Rockefeller institute, and Nicola Armacost, mayor of the village of Hastings-on-Hudson, in Westchester County, NY, join host Alexander Morse to discuss a local policy initiative in Hastings-on-Hudson aimed at promoting low-carbon concrete. The conversation, which builds on a recent policy brief, also touches on the role local, state, and federal governments can play in reducing carbon dioxide emissions from concrete.
The expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) has the potential to dramatically reduce child poverty, improve child and parent health, and smooth fluctuations in available funds for lower-income families. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, Leigh Wedonoja, senior policy analyst at the Rockefeller Institute, discusses changes to the child tax credit, how those changes make the credit operate more like the Earned Income Tax Credit, and why the CTC is predicted to improve outcomes for children and families.
The New York State 2021 legislative session wrapped up late last week with a handful of firearm bills passing the Senate and Assembly. On a new episode of Policy Outsider, Joe Popcun, executive director of the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium and director of policy and practice at the Rockefeller Institute, and Nick Simons, project coordinator at the Rockefeller Institute, discuss the major firearm bills that will be sent to the Governor, the issues those bills address, and how research can best support policymakers as they seek to disrupt the cycle of firearm-involved violence.
On May 8, in response to an executive order from President Biden, the Department of Justice proposed a new rule to limit the proliferation of "ghost guns," or firearms that do not have a unique serial number. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, Rockefeller Institute Project Coordinator Nicholas Simons explains what is in the new rule, how it may impact the use of ghost guns, and the next steps for finalizing the rule. The episode also covers Simons' recent policy brief, "Ghost Guns: A Haunting New Reality," and provides background on what ghost guns are, their increasing prevalence in law enforcement seizures, and what policymakers at the state level are doing to clarify and strengthen policy surrounding their use.
New York State will legalize adult-use recreational marijuana. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, Rockefeller Institute Director of Operations and Fellow Heather Trela breaks down what is in the 77,529 word marijuana legalization bill and, importantly, what is not in the bill. Trela, a federalism expert turned marijuana policy maven, brings valuable context to the discussion, comparing revenue structure, social justice provisions, and other logistical considerations in New York's legislation to the 14 other states that have already legalized recreational marijuana.
On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, Rockefeller Institute Deputy Director of Research Laura Rabinow discusses her recent research examining the capacity of the Environmental Protection Agency to support the Biden administration's ambitious climate and environmental goals following regulatory and administrative changes at the agency under the Trump administration and years of staffing and budget declines.
On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, Rockefeller Institute Nathan Fellow Rebecca Natow joins host, Alex Morse, to discuss her latest analysis examining the retirement of US Senator and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Lamar Alexander, the role of the HELP Committee in setting congressional agendas and actions in higher education, and the likely choice for next Senate HELP Committee chair in the Democrat-controlled Senate.
The Rockefeller Institute recently examined ballot initiatives in Oregon and Washington DC that would decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms ("magic mushrooms"). In this episode of Policy Outsider, guest Heather Trela, director of operations and fellow at the Institute, provides an update on the outcome of magic mushroom and marijuana ballot initiatives, discusses how the liberalization of marijuana throughout the US provided a blueprint for magic mushroom advocates, and shares where cities, states, and the federal government might be headed with drug policy.
In this episode of Policy Outsider, Rockefeller Institute researchers and fellows share remarks on the important policy issues facing the winner of the presidential election. Researchers in economic development, education, climate, gun policy, and healthcare present some of the key questions, concerns, and policy challenges that lie before the nation and consider the approach the next presidential administration may take to address them.
Guests:
Laura Schultz, executive director of research at the Rockefeller Institute
Brian Backstrom, director of educational policy studies at the Rockefeller Institute
Laura Rabinow, deputy director of research at the Rockefeller Institute
Joe Popcun, director of policy and practice at the Rockefeller Institute
Michael Gusmano, fellow at the Rockefeller Institute
Under the Trump administration, the agencies and processes of the federal bureaucracy—i.e. the "Administrative State"—have been targeted for deconstruction and reorganization. In this episode of Policy Outsider, Rockefeller Institute Fellow and Professor at Daemen College Lisa Parshall discusses the Trump administration's approach to governing, including how presidents have limited the power and scale of the federal bureaucracy and how this administration has challenged presidential and administrative norms.
COVID-19 has raised many questions about voting in the 2020 election: how do we keep poll workers and voters safe during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic? What changes can be made to make voting more accessible? What are some of the challenges voters still face? In this episode of Policy Outsider, guests Laura Bierman, executive director of the League of Women Voters (LWV) of New York State, and Jennifer Wilson, LWV legislative director, discuss changes made to voting procedures for the 2020 election and the work of LWV to expand and ensure voting access. The conversation also covers how Boards of Election across New York State are responding to the pandemic, including operational changes made to protect voters and poll workers.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has a long history of technological innovation. It is, and has been, central to the project of democracy in the US, enabling the growth and free exchange of newspapers and information and connecting citizens to each other across the nation's expanse. In this episode of Policy Outsider, guest David Hochfelder, associate professor at the University at Albany, explains the Postal Service's mandate to provide "universal service," explores the Postal Service's history of innovation, and offers potential new uses for the USPS infrastructure that would satisfy its mandate.
In this episode of Policy Outsider, Rockefeller Institute Fellows and members of the Institute's award winning Stories from Sullivan research team Patricia Strach, Katie Zuber, and Elizabeth Pérez-Chiqués discuss what has happened to substance-use treatment access and effectiveness during COVID-19. The episode presents audio clips from interviews conducted by the researchers with treatment providers and workers on the frontline followed by discussions of the researchers' impressions and findings. The episode also features an introduction by State University of New York Chancellor and former Rockefeller Institute President Jim Malatras who provides background on the Institute’s opioid crisis research which began during his time as president.
The traditional model of criminal justice in the US isolates those who commit criminal acts from both survivors and society and the social support networks that could support their healing and re-integration. At the same time, those who suffer harm are often left without closure and understanding about the harm that took place. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, guest Jenifer Lee-Gonyea, fellow at the Rockefeller Institute and associate professor of criminology at Mount Saint Mary's College, discusses the restorative model of criminal justice. Restorative justice approaches harm as an opportunity to engage in inclusive healing for those who experienced harm and those who caused it through mediation, honest dialogue, and accountability. The episode also examines restorative justice as policy at various levels of government and how the tools could be used to address broader societal ills, such as persistent racial injustice.
As students return to school amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, school districts are using different models to balance instructional and safety needs ranging from fully in-person to fully remote with a spectrum of hybrid approaches in between. On this episode of Policy Outsider, Brian Backstrom, director of education policy studies at the Rockefeller Institute, and Leigh Wedenoja, senior policy analyst at the Rockefeller Institute, highlight various instructional models and discuss how parents and caregivers can prepare for a school year of uncertainty. The discussion of parent strategies will focus on access to and effective use of technology, communicating with teachers and administrators, helping students develop socio-emotional and social skills in a non-standard environment, and highlighting resources for parents who have children who are at home full- or part-time
On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, guest Robert J. Spitzer, a distinguished service professor at SUNY Cortland and member of the Rockefeller Institute of Government’s Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium, speaks with Consortium Executive Director Joe Popcun about recent developments in firearm policy and politics.
Over the past five months, the COVID-19 pandemic has completely and suddenly upended the lives and livelihoods of many Americans, generating fear, anxiety, and uncertainty across the country. In the midst of this crisis, there has been a record increase in gun sales and a reported increase in shootings and firearm-involved deaths. At the same time, the police-involved death of George Floyd ignited civil unrest and hundreds of protests calling for police reform and social justice.
Spitzer discusses New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit against the NRA and how that affects the battle between gun safety/control advocates and guns rights advocates. In recent years, several large, national not-for-profit advocacy organizations pushing for stricter gun regulations have refined their strategies and built up larger money pools.
On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, guests Joseph Popcun, Rockefeller Institute director of policy and practice, and Nicholas Simons, project coordinator at the Institute, discuss the role of the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium in finding and developing effective policy to reduce gun violence.
A recent surge in shooting incidents following months of coronavirus lockdown in metropolitan areas around New York State. As a cause of death, gun violence receives far less research funding than other leading causes. Lack of federal funding for firearm fatality research over the last twenty years has made it difficult for policymakers to develop targeted, effective policy for reducing gun violence. Popcun and Simons share how the Consortium aims to fill that void by orienting gun violence researchers toward the evidence and data needs of practitioners and policymakers. By focusing attention on gun violence as a policy problem, the Consortium helps state and local governments pursue and execute effective solutions to reduce and prevent firearm-involved homicides, suicides, and injuries.
In a new episode of Policy Outsider, guest Laura Schultz, executive director of research at the Rockefeller Institute of Government, discusses the methods used in the Institute’s Balance of Payments report and how federal economic relief for COVID-19 is likely to impact state balance of payments and rankings.
States throughout the nation are grappling with massive budget deficits caused by the economic downturn associated with COVID-19. While states plan for major cutbacks to critical areas like education and infrastructure, relief in the form of an additional federal stimulus bill is being negotiated in Congress. Several of the states hardest hit by the pandemic, such as New York and New Jersey, are Democrat-controlled and the debate over relief funding has become politicized, with relief funding being characterized by some as a “blue state bailout.” But, as policymakers in these states have pointed out, taxpayers in these states give more to the federal government in taxes than their states get back in federal spending—a negative balance of payments—while many “red” states get more in federal spending than they give to the federal government in taxes.
Understanding how funding flows among states and the federal government provides important context for evaluating these claims and understanding the potential effects of federal stimulus spending.
In a new episode of Policy Outsider, guest Nicholas Simons, project coordinator at the Rockefeller Institute of Government, discusses how COVID-19 is affecting the 2020 Census and how the U.S. Census Bureau is adjusting its operations to account for disruptions from the pandemic.
In mid-March, as governments in the US began responding to the emerging threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, households received detailed information from the Census Bureau on how to respond to the 2020 Census. Shortly thereafter, the Census Bureau temporarily suspended its field operations though collection of responses continues online, by mail, and by phone. Approximately 60% of households, nationally, have completed the Census. In this episode, Simons shares information on the Census Bureau’s adjusted operations, including new deadlines for self-response and nonresponse followup (NRFU) and how extending the timeline for collection efforts will delay the sharing of congressional apportionment counts with states.
On this episode of Policy Outsider, guest Heather Trela, director of operations and fellow at the Rockefeller Institute, discusses how COVID-19 is affecting the marijuana industry and efforts to legalize adult-use recreational marijuana at the state level.
Trela discusses how prohibition of marijuana at the federal level means marijuana businesses throughout the nation are ineligible to apply for federal economic small business relief. For businesses in most states that were able to comply with social distancing requirements this may not be an issue. For smaller businesses in Massachusetts, where recreational marijuana dispensaries were closed to prevent an influx of out-of-state customers, the lack of relief may mean closing.
In a new episode of Policy Outsider, guest Anita Murphy, district superintendent at Capital Region BOCES, discusses how school districts and BOCES are sharing resources and working together to continue supporting students through new challenges imposed by the COVID-19 crisis and planning for a variety of budget and instructional uncertainties in the coming academic year.
New York State is anticipating a $13.3 billion loss in tax revenue in the economic wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a new round of federal aid for state and local governments is being negotiated in Congress, much uncertainty still remains, and school administrators are preparing for a wide range of budget cuts. School districts that are more reliant on state aid, such as rural districts and poorer urban districts, are preparing for particularly challenging budgets.
On this episode of Policy Outsider, guest Leigh Wedenoja, senior policy analyst at the Institute, outlines existing and future challenges imposed by COVID-19 on students and the education system.
Millions of Americans are adjusting to education going suddenly and fully online. The school year will likely finish online and, without a vaccine, schooling will likely be partially or fully online next fall. In this episode, Wedenoja explores how students at all ages will be affected by the disruption to their schooling and how the disruptions of COVID-19 make it difficult to plan for the challenges students are likely to face.
On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, guest Liz Farmer, a fellow at the Future of Labor Research Center, discusses how work-from-home arrangements put in place as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to increase work-from-home trends and alter business operations.
On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, the podcast of the Rockefeller Institute of Government, guest Laura Schultz, director of fiscal analysis and senior economist at the Institute, discusses the outlook of the economy and steps federal, state, and local governments are taking to support businesses and individuals in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Schultz discusses how some state governments are providing assistance to businesses by delaying tax deadlines and placing moratoriums on evictions and utility shutdowns. Local governments and organizations, like economic development councils and chambers of commerce, are supporting small businesses as they work through guidance from the federal government to receive loans through the CARES Act.
In episode 17, “Online Learning to Bridge Cultural Divides," Dr. Rhianna Rogers, associate professor at SUNY Empire State College and Ernest Boyer Presidential Fellow at the Institute, calls in via video conferencing software to illustrate how online learning can be structured to improve student engagement. Rogers explains the importance of breaking down barriers to higher education access, such as the cost of textbooks and computer programs. Rogers, who is leading the Spring 2020 Center for Law and Policy Solutions (CLPS) Internship Program, identifies her background—living abroad in multiple countries and a lifelong learner—as an influence on her teaching methods, which are focused on bridging cultural divides through active learning and engagement.
The latest episode of Policy Outsider features Dr. Leigh Wedenoja, senior policy analyst at the Rockefeller Institute. Wedenoja shares research presented at the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) 2019 Fall Research Conference on the effects of teacher looping on student outcomes. Wedenoja explains the practice of teacher looping, or pairing a student with the same teacher for more than one year, and its effects on students at different grade levels and backgrounds.
The research examines all students in grades three through 11 in the state of Tennessee and found significant improvements to test scores when students were paired with a repeat teacher. They also found that, across all grade levels, having a repeat teacher reduces absences and suspensions. Wedenoja also discusses how teacher looping often occurs by accident in schools but could actually be used as an intentional classroom assignment strategy by school administrators.
On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, guests Heather Trela, director of operations and fellow at the Rockefeller Institute, and Trevor Craft, graduate research assistant, share insights from their research on the national vaping crisis. Trela and Craft discuss how the growth of vaping tobacco products in teens and the emergence of a vaping-related lung injury created what we now call the vaping crisis. The episode explores what actions local, state, and federal governments are taking to address the crisis and how their responses are complicated by unusual regulations surrounding vaping and marijuana.
Guests:
Heather Trela, director of operations & fellow at the Rockefeller Institute of Government
Trevor Craft, graduate research assistant at the Rockefeller Institute of Government
On the latest episode, Brian Backstrom, director of education policy studies, shares insights from a recent Rockefeller Institute forum on effective early intervention in dyslexia. Backstrom discusses what dyslexia is, the needs of students with dyslexia and of teachers who teach them, what impacts could be in store for New York if a universal dyslexia screening program is enacted, and the experiences of other states implementing this approach.
The episode also features audio from the Institute-hosted forum that brought together dyslexia research experts Dr. Bennett Shaywitz and Dr. Sally Shaywitz, co-founders and co-directors of the Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity, Dr. Jay Russell, former head of The Windward School, Tim Castanza, co-founder and executive director of Bridge Prep Charter School, and Amanda McCaleb, the literacy intervention specialist for Springfield (MO) Public Schools. Video from the forum can be found by visiting the Rockefeller Institute's Facebook page.
This special edition of "Policy Outsider" was recorded live at a forum hosted by the Rockefeller Institute of Government and features distinguished scholar Robert J. Spitzer's presentation on gun policy. Spitzer notes that gun ownership continues to decline, and that the gun safety movement is newly invigorated, motivated, and financed. He also points out that there is substantial public support for most of the more common gun policy proposals, even among gun owners. At the same time, federal courts are proving more conservative in their rulings and agitating for broad interpretation of gun rights under the Second Amendment.
Spitzer's discussion included a PowerPoint that provides an overview of the history of guns in the United States, how the nation's relationship with guns and gun policy has evolved, current gun laws and statistics, and projections for future trends concerning firearm ownership and policy. The PowerPoint is posted on The Institute's website and can be found on the Rockefeller Institute website by visiting www.rockinst.org/outsider
On this episode of "Policy Outsider," we have Rockefeller Institute fellow Dr. Lisa Parshall to discuss the New N.Y. Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act and the effect it has had on village dissolutions. The episode highlights the Institute's recent report on village dissolutions, which detailed the motivation behind New York State's push to dissolve village governments.
Parshall discusses the effect the 2010 law has had on the rate of village dissolutions and what dissolution means for village residents and neighboring communities. Parshall identifies the noneconomic reasons residents are often reluctant to dissolve their villages. Their concerns include community identity and pride, the importance of municipal buildings and symbols, festivals and community celebrations, as well as the role of local emergency services.
On the latest episode of “Policy Outsider,” we explain why so many turnaround efforts have failed and identifying the keys for future success. The episode highlights a recent report from the Institute on school turnaround efforts and features an interview with the report's author, Brian Backstrom, director of education policy studies at the Institute.
Backstrom lays out the ineffectual fixes policymakers often use. These include keeping current school leadership intact; only providing additional resources; and choosing smaller one-time changes, such as a new curriculum versus an overhaul of the entire school's academic culture.
The episode also introduces our new host, Alex Morse, a researcher with the Rockefeller Institute, who succeeds Kyle Adams, former Institute communications director. In the first segment of the episode, both Morse and Adams discuss their takeaways from creating and producing the podcast over the past several months.
We return to Sullivan County, New York, with our Stories from Sullivan researchers to hear directly from a group of people in recovery at Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties — people who have lost friends to the epidemic, been to jail, and been brought back from the brink of overdose. They share their pathways to addiction, their struggles to begin recovery, and what kinds of support they would like to see from policymakers.
Rockefeller Institute researchers have been studying the opioid crisis on the ground in rural Sullivan County for more than 18 months, conducting more than 100 interviews with people on the frontlines of the epidemic. Read their findings here: https://rockinst.org/stories-from-sullivan/
WARNING: This episode contains candid descriptions of addiction and the conditions surrounding addiction, and may be triggering to some people.
The debate about gun violence in the U.S. seems to be dominated by division and policy paralysis. But it doesn't have to be. Some of the most effective policies in reducing gun homicides are also the most popular — among gun owners and proponents of gun control alike. We talk with the author of the most recent report from the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium, a multistate initiative coordinated by the Rockefeller Institute of Government, about which policies have the best chances of making a difference.
Guests:
Michael Siegel is a professor of community health sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health.
Nicholas Simons is a project coordinator at the Rockefeller Institute of Government.
Read the report: "What Are the Most Effective Policies in Reducing Gun Homicides?"
Learn more about the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium.
Policy Outsider from the Rockefeller Institute of Government explores and explains how decisions of law and policy shape our everyday lives. Created in 1981, the Rockefeller Institute of Government is the public policy research arm of the State University of New York. It conducts cutting-edge, nonpartisan research and policy analysis.
What happened to legalized adult-use marijuana in New York and New Jersey? We sit down with Rockefeller Institute Chief of Staff and Fellow Heather Trela to understand why legalization efforts seem to have stalled in both states, and where we can expect things to go from here.
Learn more: In the Weeds
Policy Outsider from the Rockefeller Institute of Government explores and explains how decisions of law and policy shape our everyday lives. Created in 1981, the Rockefeller Institute of Government is the public policy research arm of the State University of New York. It conducts cutting-edge, nonpartisan research and policy analysis.
The Rockefeller Institute's Center for Law & Policy Solutions partners undergraduate research interns from the University at Albany with policy experts at the Institute to investigate a single issue of pressing state or national importance each semester. We sat down with three former interns to discuss what it was like to be thrown into the deep end of policy research -- and how they learned to swim.
Policy Outsider from the Rockefeller Institute of Government explores and explains how decisions of law and policy shape our everyday lives. Created in 1981, the Rockefeller Institute of Government is the public policy research arm of the State University of New York. It conducts cutting-edge, nonpartisan research and policy analysis.
Forty-two percent of college graduates in New York State carry some amount student debt, with an average debt load of about $30,000. We sit down with Rockefeller Institute Director of Education Policy Studies Brian Backstrom to break down those numbers and learn what states are doing -- and can do -- to ease the burden of student debt.
Learn more: A Deeper Look at Student Loan Debt in New York State
Policy Outsider from the Rockefeller Institute of Government explores and explains how decisions of law and policy shape our everyday lives. Created in 1981, the Rockefeller Institute of Government is the public policy research arm of the State University of New York. It conducts cutting-edge, nonpartisan research and policy analysis.
In the balance of payments between states and the federal government, some states "win" and some states "lose." We speak with the authors of our new report, "Giving or Getting? New York's Balance of Payments with the Federal Government," about the factors that shape these funding flows.
Read the full report here.
Policy Outsider from the Rockefeller Institute of Government explores and explains how decisions of law and policy shape our everyday lives. Created in 1981, the Rockefeller Institute of Government is the public policy research arm of the State University of New York. It conducts cutting-edge, nonpartisan research and policy analysis.
Artificial intelligence and automation technologies are bringing massive change to labor, the economy, ethics, and society. The question now is how to harness those technologies rather than being overwhelmed by them -- or overwhelmed by those who embrace them sooner. We break down the 20-year outlook with Laura Schultz, director of fiscal analysis and chief economist at the Rockefeller Institute of Government.
Learn more: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Labor Force in New York State
Policy Outsider from the Rockefeller Institute of Government explores and explains how decisions of law and policy shape our everyday lives. Created in 1981, the Rockefeller Institute of Government is the public policy research arm of the State University of New York. It conducts cutting-edge, nonpartisan research and policy analysis.
We take a trip to Sullivan County, New York, with the researchers behind the Rockefeller Institute's long-term study of the opioid epidemic to hear from the people on the front lines of the crisis. Follow their research in real time with the Stories from Sullivan series.
Policy Outsider from the Rockefeller Institute of Government explores and explains how decisions of law and policy shape our everyday lives. Created in 1981, the Rockefeller Institute of Government is the public policy research arm of the State University of New York. It conducts cutting-edge, nonpartisan research and policy analysis.
Whereas the "glass ceiling" refers to the last barriers a woman faces on the corporate ladder, the "sticky floor" refers to the first barriers that women and people color face when entering the workforce -- barriers that often keep them in low-paying, low-prestige, but highly necessary jobs. This special edition of "Policy Outsider" was recorded live at a forum hosted by the Rockefeller Institute of Government and the New York State Council on Women and Girls. The guests and panelists include: Catherine White Berheide, professor of sociology at Skidmore College and principal investigator for the National Science Foundation ADVANCE PAID Grant Roberta Reardon, New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Sarah Brafman, staff attorney at A Better Balance Janice Brown, president of the American Association of University Women - New York State Jill Robbins-Jabine, CEO of YWCA Western New York Beverly Cooper Neufeld, founder of PowHer New York and president of BCN Consulting Group, LLC Visit www.rockinst.org/blog to learn more.
Policy Outsider from the Rockefeller Institute of Government explores and explains how decisions of law and policy shape our everyday lives. Created in 1981, the Rockefeller Institute of Government is the public policy research arm of the State University of New York. It conducts cutting-edge, nonpartisan research and policy analysis.
How can states legalize something that is illegal under federal law? Rockefeller Institute Chief of Staff and Fellow Heather Trela explains the growing tension between states and the federal government over marijuana policy, and where it may lead.
Learn more: Clash of Laws: The Growing Dissonance between State and Federal Marijuana Policies
Policy Outsider from the Rockefeller Institute of Government explores and explains how decisions of law and policy shape our everyday lives. Created in 1981, the Rockefeller Institute of Government is the public policy research arm of the State University of New York. It conducts cutting-edge, nonpartisan research and policy analysis.