>>> TONIGHT, CRACKING DOWN ON NEW YORK'S SHOPLIFTING SURGE.

STATE LAWMAKERS CONSIDER MAKING RETAIL WORKERS ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES AND MINOR ASSAULTS AGAINST THEM A FELONY.

THEN, ALBANY CUTS OFF THE PUPPY MILL PIPELINE, BANNING PET STORES FROM SELLING DOGS AND CATS.

SO WHERE WILL YOUR NEXT FURRY FRIEND COME FROM?

AS "METROFOCUS" STARTS RIGHT NOW.

♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS," WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD, AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, FILOMEN M. D'AGOSTINO FOUNDATION, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, AND BY -- JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.

THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION, ESTATE OF ROLAND CARLIN.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

NEW YORK CITY IS FACING A SHOPLIFTING EPIDEMIC WITH RETAILERS AND SHOP OWNERS FEARING THEY COULD BE TARGETED NEXT, AND IT COULD TURN VIOLENT.

STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE TAKEN NOTICE, AND THERE'S NOW A PUSH IN ALBANY TO PROTECT WORKER AFTER SHOPLIFTING COMPLAINTS NEARLY DOUBLED IN THE CITY.

TWO OF NEW YORK'S RECENT MEMBERS WANT TO PROTECT THEM WITH POLICE -- AND MAKE IT A FELONY TO COMMIT ASSAULT AGAINST THEM.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER MANNY DELOSS SANTOS ARE COSPONSORING THIS LEGISLATION.

WELCOME YOU BOTH TO "METROFOCUS."

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

NOW, FIRST I JUST WANT TO START, AND I WILL BASICALLY SENATOR, I'LL START WITH YOU.

TELL US ABOUT HOW THIS LEGISLATION CAME INTO BEING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

>> OF COURSE.

YOU KNOW, THE ASSAULTS ON RETAIL WORKERS ARE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH.

I'M SURE THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER CAN SAY THE SAME.

AS YOU'RE MEETING WITH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND NEIGHBORS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE.

WE MET WITH LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS IN OUR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES, BOTH FROM STATEN ISLAND, BROOKLYN, MANHATTAN, ALL FIVE BOROUGHS, WHO HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS CONCERN OVER THE SAFETY OF THEIR WORKERS, SO WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THEY FEEL SAFE IN YOUR WORKPLACE AND PREVENT FUTURE CRIMES FROM HAPPENING.

>> ASSEMBLYMAN, I'M WONDERING, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WAS THIS SOMETHING WHERE THE REQUEST FOR SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING STARTED TO GROW LOUDER AND LOUDER, AND THAT'S WHAT GOT YOUR ATTENTION?

OR WERE YOU PAYING ATTENTION TO THE TRENDS AND SAID, WAIT A SECOND, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN UPTICK THAT WASN'T ADDRESSED?

>> THANK YOU BOTH.

ALLUDING TO WHAT THE SENATOR JUST SAID, CONVERSATIONS WITH BUSINESS OWNERS, CONSTITUENTS IN MY DISTRICT, EVERYWHERE I WENT IT WAS PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE KNOW THAT THE NUMBERS OF INCIDENT FROM BROOKLYN O QUEEN, STATEN ISLAND, THE BRONX AND MANHATTAN.

WE HAVE ONE WHERE ONE OF THE RETAIL WORKERS WAS ASSAULTED, HAD TO PROTECT HIMSELF.

WE HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF ASSAULTS ON RETAIL WORKERS, AND WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING FOR PROTECTION.

TO ME IT'S COMMON SENSE.

BUT WE DON'T DO IT NOW, WHEN?

RETAIL WORKERS ARE WAITING FOR SORT OF LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE PROTECTED.

AND IF WE DON'T DO IT NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE.

I THINK THE TIME IS IMPORTANT.

TIME IS IMPORTANT IN THIS MATTER.

AND THESE ARE WORKERS THAT HAVE FAMILIES, THEY HAVE KIDS, THEY HAVE WIFE AND HUSBAND, AND THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT SOME OF THESE RETAIL WORKERS SAFELY RETURN HOME.

>> IT MIGHT SEEM ODD TO CATEGORIZE RETAIL WORKERS IN THE SAME SPACE AS FIREFIGHTERS OR POLICE OFFICERS, ET CETERA, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF WE THINK BACK TO THE -- EVEN THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, THE STORES STAYED OPEN SO PEOPLE COULD STILL GET THE FOOD AND SUPPLIES THAT THEY NEEDED.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS I'M WONDERING IS, DO YOU SEE THAT THIS WAS A COMMUNITY OR A PARTICULAR GROUP THAT PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THEIR JOBS WERE THOUGHT OF, HASN'T BEEN PROPERLY PROTECTED?

>> YES, I COULD CERTAINLY SAY THAT WE SAW THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE WORKERS.

THEY WERE DEEMED ESSENTIAL DURING THE PANDEMIC.

YOU KNOW, THANKS TO THEM WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR GROCERIES, TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILIES, AND THEY DESERVE THE SAME PROTECTIONS AS ANY ESSENTIAL WORKER.

I CAN SAY THERE'S A LOCAL DELI IN MY COMMUNITY, THREE Bs BAGEL SHOP HAD THREE ROBBERIES AND ON THE LAST ONE, ONE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES WAS ATTACKED.

I CAME INTO THE DELI THE NEXT MORNING, HE WAS PUNCHED IN THE FACE.

IT'S A HORRIBLE THING.

HE HAS A FAMILY.

HE'S AN OLDER GENTLEMAN.

THAT'S THE INCENTIVE I HAVE BEHIND ME TO PUSH THIS LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE THE WORKERS ARE TREATED WITH THE DIGNITY THEY DESERVE.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS GOING TO BOLD ON IS WERE THERE EXAMPLES IN THE DISTRICT.

YOU WERE JUST HEARING OF RETAIL WORKERS WHO WERE BEING ASSAULTED?

>> IN ADDITION TO THAT, A LOT OF THESE RETAIL WORKERS LIVE IN MY DISTRICT, SO OFTEN TIME THEY HAVE TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, HOP ON THE SUBWAY, AND NO GUARANTEE AS I SAID BEFORE, THEY'LL MAKE IT HOME SAFELY.

VI BUSINESSES THAT HAVE TO CLOSE HIS DOOR, BECAUSE HE DON'T GO ROBBERY BACK AND FORTH.

AND AS WE ALL KNOW, THE ECONOMY IS NOT DOING WELL.

BUT THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE HERE IS SAFETY.

THEY NEED TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY.

THEY NEED TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT.

AND WE KNOW THAT WE PROTECTED POLICE OFFICER, FIREFIGHTER, BUT RETAIL WORKERS, THE REALITY IS THEY'RE FRONT OF THE LINE, WORKING DAY MIN AND DAY OUT.

TO ME, MAKES SENSE FOR THEM TO BE TREATED AS ESSENTIAL WORKERS, BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T STOPPED WORKING, AND THEIR JOB INVOLVES A LOT OF -- IT HAS A LOT OF DANGER INVOLVED.

WE KNOW OFTEN TIME THERE'S MONEY BEHIND THEM, AND IT BECOMES A TARGET WHEN THEY EXPOSE, AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PROTECTIONS GIVEN TO THEM.

>> ASSEMBLYMAN, I'M WONDERING -- ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE WHO PERHAPS AREN'T ENGAGING WITH THIS IN THE SAME WAY YOU ARE MIGHT SAY, WELL, THE PANDEMIC WAS REALLY HARD ECONOMICALLY, AND UNFORTUNATELY IT PUSHED SOME PEOPLE TO RESORT TO SHOPLIFTING JUST TO GET THE PROVISIONS THAT THEY NEEDED TO SURVIVE.

BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND YOU WROTE AN OPINION PIECE IF I'M CORRECT ABOUT FRANKLY WHO WAS SUSPECTED, THE DEMOGRAPHIC THAT WOULD BE SUSPECTED FOR THESE CRIMES.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHEY THE ORIGINAL THINKIN I LAID OUT MIGHT NOT BE CORRECT WHEN IT COMES TO THIS ISSUE?

>> THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF CONGRESS CONDUCTED A SURVEY AMONGST BODEGAS AND IT DETAILS THAT 70% OF ASSAULTS HAPPENING TO RETAIL WORKERS -- AFRICAN AMERICAN, HISPANIC, ASIAN INDICATED THAT THERE WAS AN URGENCY NEED FOR THIS TYPE OF LEGISLATION, AND GIVEN THE NUMBER THAT HAVE GOTTEN DOWN, CRISIS GOING UP, EVERYWHERE I GO, I GET STOPPED BY CONSTITUENTS REGARDING PROTECTION.

TO ME IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE DO WHAT'S RIGHT, AND DOING WHAT'S RIGHT IS PROTECTING ALL WORKERS, NOT JUST MTA, NOT JUST FIREFIGHTER, NOT JUST COPS.

BUT EVERYONE WHO, YOU KNOW, GOES OUT IN THE MORNING, HAVE NO SAFETY OR TIME RETURN TO COME BACK.

AND TO ME DOESN'T MAKE SENSE WHY RETAIL WORKERS SHOULD NOT BE TREATED IN THE SAME CATEGORY.

THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE IN ALBANY, MAKING SURE THAT DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT THE SPEAKER, THE GOVERNOR, AND OUR COLLEAGUE VOTE TO ENSURE THAT THIS LAW BECOMES A REALITY.

AGAIN, THIS IS NOT JUST PROTECTING RETAIL WORKERS, BUT ALSO WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE PROTECT RETAIL WORKERS, WE'RE PROTECTING FAMILIES, NEW YORKERS.

>> SENATOR, I'M ALSO WONDERING, FOR PEOPLE HEARING THIS, THEY MIGHT SAY IT SOUNDS SIMILAR, IF YOU WILL, TO THE PUSH TO ROLL BACK BAIL REFORM.

I'M WONDERING, HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT CRITICISM?

>> I THINK THAT WE ARE TRYING TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ENCOMPASSING THINGS THAT MAKE SENSE IN REGARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

IT'S LOOKING AT THE LAW REALLY CLOSELY AND FIXING WHAT NEEDS FIXING, AND THIS TO ME IS A COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO KEEP OUR RETAIL WORKERS MUCH MORE SAFE.

LOT OF TIMES THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO WORK NONTRADITIONAL HOURS.

THEY'RE WORKING AT NIGHT, COMMUTING AT NIGHT.

THEY'RE WORKING AS NOT JUST A CASHIER, BUT SECURITY.

IT'S COMMON SENSE TO ADD ADDITIONAL SAFETIES IN AND MAKE TWEAKS AND AMENDMENTS WHERE WE SEE FIT.

>> THIS QUESTION IS FOR BOTH OF YOU, BUT ASSEMBLYMAN, I'LL START WITH YOU.

FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT FULLY GRASP -- WHEN WE HEAR SHOPLIFTING IT SOUNDS LIKE A ONE OFF.

THEY BROKE INTO THE BODEGA, STOLE THIS AND THAT, AND PERHAPS A RETAIL WORKER WAS ASSAULTED IN A PROCESS.

BUT IS THIS PART OF A LARGER CRIME RING, OR ARE THESE A BUNCH OF ONE-OFFS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> IT'S MIXED.

THE REALITY IS WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT'S NEXT.

IS WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN.

AND NEW YORKERS CAN NO LONGER WAIT FOR INCIDENTS, ASSAULTS, CRIMES TO CONTINUE TO GO UP FOR OUR RESIDENTS, CONSTITUENTS, NEW YORKERS TO BECOME VICTIMS.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION, AN IMMEDIATE SOLUTION TO THE ONGOING CRIMES THAT ARE CONTINUING TO INCREASE.

THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING NEW YORKERS, WORKING CLASS CITIZENS.

ACE SAID BEFORE, THEY HAVE FAMILY, LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY.

IT'S ABOUT EQUITY, TOO.

WE'RE PROTECTING COPS AND FIREFIGHTER, MTA WORKERS.

WE ALSO NEED TO PROTECT WORKING CLASS CITIZEN, AND TO ME THOSE ARE RETAIL WORKERS, ESSENTIAL WORKER THAT SHOULD BE TREATED IN THE SAME CATEGORY.

>> THERE'S ALSO A PUSH IN SOME OTHER STATES TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF STOLEN GOODS SO THAT IT MIGHT TRIGGER A FELONY CHARGE.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU SEE AS PERHAPS AN ADDITIONAL TOOL IN YOUR TOOL BELT, OR IS THAT NOT A LINE YOU WANT TO CROSS?

>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT I COULD TAKE A LOOK AT, BUT RIGHT NOW MY BIGGEST FOCUS IS MAKE SUGAR WE'RE PROTECTING THE WORKERS.

AND TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, IT'S DEFINITELY A MIX.

WE'VE SEEN THIS UPTICK IN SHOPLIFTING.

THERE'S A REASON YU SEE SO MANY GOODS AND SERVICES THAT ARE NOW BEHIND LOCK AND KEY, AND YOU CAN GO ON ANY WEBSITE, AND THESE BIG COMPANIES OR SOMETHING -- THIS IS SOMETHING ALSO I'M MORE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT -- THESE BIG ONLINE COMPANIES THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO STEAL POTENTIALLY STOLEN GOODS ONLINE AND MAKE A PROFIT OFF OF IT IS ANOTHER ISSUE I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO TAKE A BIGGER FOCUS ON AS WELL.

>> WELL, IT'S ALWAYS AN AWKWARD QUESTION TO ASK ABOUT LEGISLATION THAT'S IN THE PROCESS OF BEING VETTED AND DEBATED ON, BUT IF THIS DOESN'T GO THROUGH, IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU MIGHT BE LOOKING AT?

SENATOR, I'LL START WITH YOU, QUICKLY.

>> OF COURSE.

I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF IN, BOTH OF OUR RESPECTIVE HOUSES, OF TALKING TO OUR COLLEAGUES ABOUT THIS, TRYING TO GARNER SUPPORT.

NO MATTER WHAT SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM YOU'RE ON, YOU HEAR ABOUT THESE ISSUES IN YOUR DISTRICT, SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THIS AS A WORKER SAFETY PIECE OF LEGISLATION, JUST THE WAY WE PROTECTED BUS DRIVERS AND UTILITY WORKERS.

THESE ARE WORKER WHO IS DELIVER PROTECTION JUST AS ANYBODY ELSE AND THAT'S MY PITCH TO MY COLLEAGUES.

>> ASSEMBLYMAN, SAME QUESTION, 20 SECONDS LEFT.

>> THIS IS A COMMON SENSE APPROACH.

WE'RE TRYING TO FIND AN IMMEDIATE RESOLUTION TO THE SITUATION HERE TO PROTECT WORKING CLASS NEW YORKERS, RETAIL WORKERS THAT SHOULD BE TREATED IN THE SAME CATEGORY, AND I FEEL THAT WITH THE -- IT'S DIFFERENT ASSOCIATION, UNIONS, AND THE SPEAK OTHER OUR COLLEAGUE, WE CAN GET THIS MOVING AND MAKE IT A REALITY TO PROTECT NEW YORKERS.

BUT THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT WE CAN DO.

AS RIGHT NOW, GIVEN THE REAL REALITIES NEW YORKERS ARE FACING, THIS IS THE BEST SOLUTION POSSIBLE.

>>> PET LOVERS ACROSS NEW YORK ARE CELEBRATING A NEW BILL RECENTLY SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR HOCHUL THAT PROTECTS ANIMAL RIGHTS.

THE LAW, WHICH TAKES EFFECT IN 2024, WILL BAN THE SALE OF DOGS, CATS, AND RABBIT AT PET STORES IN NEW YORK AND PLACE RESTRICTIONS ON HOW MANY ANIMALS BREEDERS ARE ALLOWED TO SELL.

SEVERAL OTHER STATES ALREADY HAVE PET SALE BANS IN PLACE, MAKING NEW YORK JUST THE LATEST TO FIGHT TO END WHAT IS CALLED THE PIPELINE TO PUPPY MILL.

JOINING US ON HOW IT WILL AFFECT ANIMAL ENTHUSIASTS AND THOSE IN THE PET BUSINESS IS MICHAEL JENERIS, THE ORIGINAL SPONSOR OF THIS BILL.

SENATOR, WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON, JENNA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO, FIRST OFF, TELL US, BECAUSE I SORT OF TOUCHED ON THE FACT THAT THIS ISN'T OF COURSE LIMITING PEOPLES' ABILITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO PETS, BUT EXACTLY IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS LEGISLATION?

>> THE PURPOSE IS TO SAVE ANIMALS AND SPARE THEM THE PAIN AND SUFFERING THAT THEY GO THROUGH AT THE PLACES WHERE THEY ORIGINATE.

WE CALL THIS THE PUPPY MILL TO PET STORE PIPELINE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU WALK PAST THE PET STORE ON A MAIN ROAD YOU SEE THE PUPPIES DANCING IN YOUR WINDOW, AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY CAME FROM OR HOW THEY GOT THERE, BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW FROM DOING THE RESEARCH AND SEEING THE DATA IS PREDOMINANTLY THEY COME FROM PUPPY MILLS, OFTEN OUT OF STATE, WHERE THESE ANIMALS ARE ESSENTIALLY TREATED LIKE COMMODITIES.

THE FEMALES THAT ARE ABLE TO GIVE BIRTH ARE JUST UTILIZED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THE BABIES ARE KEPT IN CAGES, MISTREATED.

WE'VE SEEN INSTANCES WHERE FEMALE DOGS THAT WERE NO LONGER CAPABLE OF GIVING BIRTH WERE JUST SHOT, EXECUTED ON SITE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THESE AWFUL PUPPY MILLS DON'T LOOK AT THESE BEINGS AS LIVING THINGS.

THEY JUST LOOK AT THEM AS A WAY TO MAKE MONEY, MASS PRODUCE THEM, AND SEND THEM TO PET STORES, WHICH IN EFFECT LAUNDER THE AWFUL BEHAVIOR OF THE PUPPY MILLS, BECAUSE THE CONSUMER DOESN'T KNOW THE BACKGROUND MATERIAL.

BUT WE DO KNOW, AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IS PROHIBITED THE SALES TO SPARE THESE ANIMALS GOING FORWARD.

PEOPLE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO GET THEIR ANIMALS.

THERE'S SO MANY GREAT ANIMALS IN NEED OF ADOPTION AND RESCUE.

VI I HAVE SOME MYSELF AND I KNOW A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE DO.

IF PEOPLE WANT A PARTICULAR BREED OR HAVE SPECIFIC DESIRES, THE LAW WILL ALLOW THEM TO DEAL DIRECTLY WITH A BREEDER THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO VISIT, LAY EYES ON THE FACILITY AND SEE FOR THEMSELVES THAT THE ANIMALS ARE NOT BEING MISTREATED.

STILL HAVE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET A PET IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

JUST THE PET STORE ITSELF WILL NOT BE AMONG THEM.

>> SO, IN THE INTRO I ALSO MENTIONED NEW YORK IS JOINING SEVERAL OTHER STATES THAT ALSO HAVE BANS IN PLACE.

BUT I'M WONDERING, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S ONLY SOME STATES, NOT ALL STATES, YOU CAN STILL GET A PET FROM A PUPPY MILL.

THAT WOULD BE "A."

"B," IF SOMETHING THIS TERRIBLE IS HAPPENING, WHY IS IT NOT BANNED AT A NATIONAL LEVEL?

>> WELL, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS FALLEN DOWN ON THE JOB, AS THEY DO IN SO MANY THINGS.

IN THEORY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS REGULATING THESE PUPPY MILLS.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO -- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS SUPPOSED TO GO THERE, LICENSE THEM, FINE THEM FOR VIE LAS VEGASS, ET CETERA, BUT THEY DON'T DO IT.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO RESOURCES, HAVEN'T MADE IT A PRIORITY.

WHATEVER THE REASON IS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING IT.

BECAUSE SO MANY OF THEM ARE OUT OF STATE, SO MANY ASKED, WHY DIDN'T WE GO ATTACK THE PUPPY MILLS.

WHAT WE CAN DO IS CUT OFF DEMAND AT THE RETAIL LEVEL, WHICH IS PREDOMINANTLY WHERE THEY'RE PURCHASED, WHO MAKES THE PURCHASE FROM THE PUPPY MILL.

WE TACKLE THE PROBLEM THAT WAY.

OTHER STATES ARE HAVE DONE THIS, KIND OF THEIR OWN DIFFERENT WAYS, AND I THINK IT'S A PRETTY EFFECTIVE WAY TO BOTH ENCOURAGE ADOPTIONS.

IN THE ANIMAL RIGHTS COMMUNITY THERE'S A SAYING ADOPT DON'T SHOP, WHICH IS MEANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO RESCUE ANIMALS THAT ARE WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL ANIMALS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT AND DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM SHOPPING IN A WAY THAT ENCOURAGES THE PUPPY MILLS TO KEEP PRODUCING.

>> I DO NOTICE YOU KEEP SAYING DISCOURAGE.

THIS DOESN'T NECESSARILY ELIMINATE.

AND I'M ALSO WONDERING, FOR SOME PEOPLE PERHAPS THEY'VE GOT AN IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, AT ONE POINT IT WAS POPULAR AFTER THAT MOVIE 101 DALMATIANS CAME OUT, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED TO GET A DALMATIAN.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO BUY AN ANIMAL, YOU CAN BUY IT AND IT MIGHT BE CHEAPER TO GET ONE FROM A PUPPY MILL THAN ADOPT.

CAN YOU ADDRESS THE FACT THAT HOW THIS DISCOURAGING WORKS EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM?

>> FUNDAMENTALLY THE ASSUMPTION WE'RE ALL MAKING IS PEOPLE, IF THEY KNEW THE HORRIBLE CONDITIONS THE ANIMALS WERE BEING BRED IN WOULD NOT DO THAT.

REQUIRING THEM TO DEAL CORDIREC WITH THE BREEDER, YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELF WHETHER THEY'RE BEING TREATED HUMANELY OR LARGE SCALE PRODUCTION FOR PROFIT.

THIS IS A MEASURE FROM PROTECTS THE CONSUMERS THEMSELVES.

BECAUSE THESE ANIMALS WHEN THEY'RE BRED INHUMANELY THE WAY THEY ARE OFTEN HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS.

AND THERE'S MANY, MANY OCCASIONS PEOPLE PURCHASED ANIMALS FROM A SHOP ONLY TO GO HOME AND REALIZE THEY HAVE TO PAY THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF VET BILLS BECAUSE IT HAS A DEFECT OR HEALTH PROBLEM THAT RESULTS IN THE NEED FOR A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CARE.

JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THESE SHOPS HAVE BEEN NOT REALLY FOCUSED ON THE WELL BEING OF THE ANIMAL, THE WAY THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT THOSE ANIMALS, WE HAD ONE ON LONG ISLAND THAT HAD AN ENFORCEMENT ACTION BROUGHT AGAINST IT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

IT WAS SHUT DOWN FOR A WHILE.

PART OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE THEY WERE SELLING SICK ANIMALS.

ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT IT COMPLAINED, AND THE RESPONSE IS, IF YOU BOUGHT ONE SICK, WE'LL TAKE IT BACK AND SWAP IT OUT FOR NO PROBLEM.

BUT THESE ARE NOT AUTOMOBILES OR KOO CANS OF SOUP.

THESE ARE LIVING THINGS, AND TO TREAT THEM THIS WAY REALLY UNDERLINES THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE HERE, AND I THINK BY CUTTING OFF THE MIDDLEMAN OR THE LAUNDERER OF THE BAD BEHAVIOR, IN THIS CASE THE RETAIL SCORE LEVEL WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS IMPROVING THINGS.

>> I MYSELF -- I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, DALMATIANS AS A PARTICULAR BREED, AND WE HAVE OF COURSE BEEN TALKING ABOUT PUPPY MILLS, BUT THIS BILL ISN'T JUST ABOUT DOGS.

IT EXTENDS TO CATS AND RABBIT AS WELL.

DO YOU FIND THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH CATS AND RABBIT BREEDERS?

>> OF COURSE.

PUPPY MILLS ARE THE MOST NOTORIOUS, BUT YES, THIS CURSE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.

THAT'S WHY ALL THREE ANIMALS WERE INCLUDED.

THEY'RE THE MOST COMMON HOUSEHOLD PET AS WELL.

MAKES SENSE TO INCLUDE THEM.

ONE OTHER THING, THE PET SUPPLY AND STORE INDUSTRY, IT'S 98% OF ITS REVENUE IN THINGS THAT ARE NOT THE SELLING OF ANIMALS.

ONLY 2% COMES FROM THAT.

IT'S PET SUPPLIES, ALL THE THINGS THAT GO INTO THE HAVING A PET.

>> COSTUMES, YEAH.

>> FOR SURE.

THE FACT IS THESE PET STORE OWNERS JUST WANT TO RETHINK THEIR BUSINESS MODEL THEY'RE SURVIVE JUST FINE, WON'T HAVE A DETRIMENTAL IMPACT ON THEIR BUSINESS.

BUT WILL BE DOING IMMEASURABLE GOOD TO THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING MISTREATED.

>> OKAY, BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO ASK IF THIS COULD BE SEEN AS AN ANTI-BUSINESS BILL, BUT YOU JUST EXPLAINED THAT.

>> I'M WONDERING, THOUGH, DOGS, CATS, RABBITS AREN'T THE ONLY CREATURES YOU MIGHT SEE IN A PET STORE.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND REPTILES, DIFFERENT BREEDS OF BIRDS.

SHOULD SOMETHING LIKE THIS EXTEND TO THEM AS WELL, OR IS THERE NOT THE SAME PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIOR WHEN IT COMES TO PET STORES SELLING BIRDS AND REPTILES?

>> I'M NOT AWARE OF AN IGUANA MILL THAT'S THE SAME KIND OF MISTREATMENT, BUT IF THERE IS EVIDENCE OF THAT, I'M CERTAINLY OPEN TO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION.

WE'VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD IN NEW YORK SINCE WE'VE TAKEN THE SENATE MAJORITY TO PROTECT AN ANIMALS.

WE'RE THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO BAN CAT DECLAWING.

WE'VE IMPROVED THE STANDARDS FOR SHELTERS, AND THIS ANTI-PUPPY MILL BILL IS PROBABLY THE FLAGSHIP LAW THAT WE'VE PASSED SINCE THAT TIME TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OUR LOVED ONES, REALLY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE.

THEY BECOME MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILIES.

IF THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE, WE'RE READY TO ROLL AND KEEP DOING IT.

>> SPEAKING OF MORE WORK TO BE DONE, THIS SEEMS AT LEAST BASED ON WHAT YOU DESCRIBED LIKE THE KIND OF LEGISLATION THAT SHOULD BE A SLAM DUNK IN ALBANY, BUT ANYONE WHO'S PAID ATTENTION TO ALBANY KNOWS THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A THING.

SO DID YOU RECEIVE ANY PUSHBACK?

AND CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE REASONING WAS?

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

YOU'VE ASKED GOOD INFORMATIVE QUESTIONS IN THIS INTERVIEW, AND I THINK A LOT OF LEGISLATORS INITIALLY WHEN THEY HEAR ABOUT THIS HAVE THE SAME QUESTIONS.

IT DID TAKE TIME TO EDUCATE PEOPLE.

THERE ARE ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE BUSINESSES, ABOUT PEOPLE'S CHOICE IN THE WAY THEY OBTAIN AN ANIMAL.

BUT AT ROOT, WHAT YOU FIND OUT ONCE YOU DIG INTO IT IS THERE'S NOT A PET STORE IN EXISTENCE THAT SELLS ANIMALS THAT IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE PUPPY MILL INDUSTRY AND ENCOURAGES THE PURCHASES FROM THEM OR ENCOURAGES THAT PROCEDURE TO KEEP GOING.

IT PASSED IN BOTH HOUSES BY A WIDE BIPARTISAN MARGIN, WHICH ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS THESE DAYS WHEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS GET TOGETHER, BUT PUPPIES AND KITTENS IS THE ONE ISSUE THAT BRINGS EVERYONE TOGETHER.

TOOK A COUPLE YEARS TO GET DONE, BUT ONCE YOU EDUCATE PEOPLE, THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE.

I USED TO TELL FOCUS, GIVE ME THE NAME OF A STORE IN YOUR DISTRICT.

AND THEY WOULD, AND WE'D LOOK UP RECORDS AND THERE WAS NOT A ONE THAT WASN'T GETTING THEIR ANIMALS FROM PUPPY MILLS THAT HAD HORRIBLE ACTIVITIES OCCURRING AS PART OF THEIR PRODUCTION OF ANIMALS.

SO IT DIDN'T TAKE TOO LONG ONCE YOU GOAT THAT POINT TO GET EVERYONE BEHIND IT.

GLAD THE GOVERNOR ALSO AGREED AND SIGNED IT, SO WE'RE NOW ONE OF THE LEADING STATES IN PROTECTING OUR DOGS AND CATS AND RABBITS.

>> WELL, SENATOR, WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

BUT ALL THIS POSITIVE ENERGY AND COOPERATION THAT I'M HEARING COMING OUT OF ALBANY, AT LEAST ON THIS ISSUE, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT YOU WILL WANT TO SHARE WITH US THAT IS AT LEAST SEEMINGLY MOVING TOWARDS THE FINISH LINE?

>> WE JUST STARTED OUR NEW SESSION, SO THERE'S A LOT TO COME IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

BUT THE CREATION OF TRUE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS SOMETHING THAT'S A PRIORITY FOR ME.

I KNOW THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED IT AS WELL.

WE'LL SEE WHEN SHE PRESENTS HER BUDGET WHAT DETAILS SHE HAS IN HER PROPOSAL.

FIXING THE MTA AND GETTING IT ON SOUND FINANCIAL FOOTING, NOT JUST YEAR TO YEAR WITH THE BAND-AID APPROACH, BUT A REAL SOLID INVESTMENT IN MASS TRANSIT ARE TWO OF THE THINGS I'LL BE LOOKING AT THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AS THE SESSION UNFOLDS AND AND OF COURSE EVERYTHING IS INTERCONNECTED, SO HOW CLOSE IS ALBANY WATCHING?

WHAT DOES OR DOES NOT HAPPEN IN WASHINGTON WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEBT CEILING?

>> A GREAT DEAL.

I'LL BE WASHINGTON FOR SO MANY THINGS.

WE JUST HAD A FIGHT OVER OUR HIGHEST COURT HERE IN NEW YORK, COURT OF APPEALS AS THE CHIEF JUDGE NOMINEE THAT WE JUST REJECTED BECAUSE THE STATES AND STATE COURT SYSTEM ARE BECOMING ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT AS OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, PARTICULARLY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, IS GOING BACK WARDS AND PUSHING A LOT OF THESE DECISIONS THAT WE THOUGHT WERE PROTECTED FEDERALLY BACK ON TO THE STATES.

THERE'S NO QUESTION OR LINK TO WHATEVER HAPPENS AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT WE'RE READY TO DO OUR WORK IN NEW YORK.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "METROFOCUS," DEFINITELY FOR FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT FOR ANIMALS AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN ON UPDATES FROM ALBANY.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

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