WEBVTT 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:11.039 Hey folks, Matt Major from Clickstream Studios. 00:00:11.500 --> 00:00:14.660 Welcome to Good News York. This is a phenomenal 00:00:14.660 --> 00:00:16.320 day. We have an incredible guest. You notice 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:19.219 that's not Mike. We actually have replaced him 00:00:19.219 --> 00:00:22.559 with a state senator. It's a wild thing. We'll 00:00:22.559 --> 00:00:24.920 get to that in a minute. But first, if you haven't 00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:27.199 noticed, we broke the news this weekend that 00:00:27.199 --> 00:00:30.100 Clickstream Studios, our parent company, is moving 00:00:30.100 --> 00:00:32.280 into the soon to be former Spaghetti Warehouse. 00:00:32.460 --> 00:00:36.359 space downtown Syracuse. It's over 16 ,000 square 00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:38.500 feet that we are going to transform into one 00:00:38.500 --> 00:00:41.159 of the most unique content creation digital marketing 00:00:41.159 --> 00:00:43.939 spaces anywhere in the country. It's going to 00:00:43.939 --> 00:00:46.619 be right here. Good News York, this show, we're 00:00:46.619 --> 00:00:48.399 going to take that up to a new level. It's going 00:00:48.399 --> 00:00:51.200 to be live. It's going to be incredible. We'll 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:53.259 be talking about that a lot between now and then, 00:00:53.259 --> 00:00:56.100 of course. So stay tuned for all of that and 00:00:56.100 --> 00:00:57.700 the cool opportunities that we're going to have 00:00:57.700 --> 00:01:00.600 with it. But without further ado, let's get to 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:04.120 today. Enough of the future. As I mentioned, 00:01:04.920 --> 00:01:07.540 we have a very distinguished gentleman who was 00:01:07.540 --> 00:01:09.519 so gracious to join us and take a few minutes 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:13.260 of our time. This is one of our local state senators, 00:01:13.500 --> 00:01:15.780 Mr. Chris Ryan. Welcome to Good News York. Thanks 00:01:15.780 --> 00:01:17.420 for having me. Absolutely. Thank you very much 00:01:17.420 --> 00:01:20.400 for having me here. Absolutely. Senator, if you 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:23.939 don't mind, let's jump right in. If you wouldn't 00:01:23.939 --> 00:01:26.299 mind, let's talk a little bit about yourself 00:01:26.299 --> 00:01:28.239 and just sort of how you came to where you are 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:30.200 today. So if you would, just give us sort of 00:01:30.200 --> 00:01:33.019 the abbreviated version of what you did before 00:01:33.019 --> 00:01:35.319 you came to elected office. Yes. So this is obviously 00:01:35.319 --> 00:01:39.060 my first year as a senator. Prior to that, I 00:01:39.060 --> 00:01:42.599 was on the county legislature for 13 years. Wow. 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:46.340 County government. Before that, I was on the 00:01:46.340 --> 00:01:48.760 Gettys Town Board for six years. So this is my 00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:54.519 21st year in government service. I worked at 00:01:54.519 --> 00:01:56.519 Verizon, but I moved up the ranks through the 00:01:56.519 --> 00:01:58.859 union leaderships. At the end of my career there, 00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:02.299 I was the president of the communications workers. 00:02:02.420 --> 00:02:06.120 Let's see, 1123. We represent about 700, 800 00:02:06.120 --> 00:02:08.900 members in and around central New York. Mostly 00:02:08.900 --> 00:02:10.860 work at Verizon, but we have smaller contracts, 00:02:11.020 --> 00:02:13.599 couple other ones, American Red Cross and negotiate 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:15.780 contracts, collective bargaining agreements, 00:02:15.979 --> 00:02:20.009 you know, make sure that the... middle -class 00:02:20.009 --> 00:02:23.430 worker is taken care of. That's awesome. And 00:02:23.430 --> 00:02:25.610 I think that that's sort of like with a union 00:02:25.610 --> 00:02:28.669 and kind of transcended into politics, I think 00:02:28.669 --> 00:02:31.830 at an early age, but also family coming from 00:02:31.830 --> 00:02:36.210 electeds. My uncle was on the county legislature 00:02:36.210 --> 00:02:39.729 for 30 plus years. He ran for state assembly, 00:02:39.930 --> 00:02:43.069 family's involved. My cousin is on the city council, 00:02:43.129 --> 00:02:45.370 just ran and won a spot in the county legislature. 00:02:45.729 --> 00:02:50.449 So kind of meshed together and two plus decades 00:02:50.449 --> 00:02:54.050 later, here I am. That's incredible. If you could, 00:02:54.129 --> 00:02:56.210 for folks, and unfortunately I find a lot of 00:02:56.210 --> 00:02:57.750 folks aren't necessarily familiar with some of 00:02:57.750 --> 00:02:59.310 these things, but could you just kind of in a 00:02:59.310 --> 00:03:02.189 nutshell explain a little bit of your role as 00:03:02.189 --> 00:03:04.250 a Senator? What does the New York State Senate 00:03:04.250 --> 00:03:08.009 do for us? Well, we make the budget, well, it's 00:03:08.009 --> 00:03:10.229 a governor's budget, but then we adopt the budget. 00:03:10.530 --> 00:03:13.789 We make those changes, modifications, make the 00:03:13.789 --> 00:03:18.009 laws, policy, policy and legislative branch for 00:03:18.009 --> 00:03:19.860 the... State of New York, us, the two houses, 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:23.400 the Senate and the Assembly pass bills. We'll 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:25.780 have to make it a Senate bill and Assembly bill, 00:03:25.819 --> 00:03:28.060 both have to be passed. Then it gets delivered 00:03:28.060 --> 00:03:30.639 to the governor's desk and whether she makes 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:33.680 amendments, signs or vetoes, they have it. So 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:36.259 we're in session, you know, for the most of the 00:03:36.259 --> 00:03:39.180 half of the year and then afterwards it's also 00:03:39.180 --> 00:03:41.740 working with legislation, working with constituents, 00:03:41.979 --> 00:03:44.319 constituent services, out in the community, do 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:47.539 a lot of out. you know, in the community, businesses 00:03:47.539 --> 00:03:50.860 and helping out and volunteering. That's incredible. 00:03:51.620 --> 00:03:53.960 So something I've always been sort of interested 00:03:53.960 --> 00:03:55.800 in, because I don't think anybody ever takes 00:03:55.800 --> 00:03:57.719 the time to talk about it, but I always love 00:03:57.719 --> 00:03:59.539 the behind the scenes. How do things work a little 00:03:59.539 --> 00:04:02.159 bit? And I've always been interested. Obviously, 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:03.740 you've been in public service for a long time, 00:04:03.740 --> 00:04:05.419 but like you said, this is your first year in 00:04:05.419 --> 00:04:07.840 this office. What happens when somebody gets 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:10.439 elected to a new office? Like, is there a, you 00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:12.419 know, we've all started new jobs and there's 00:04:12.419 --> 00:04:14.840 the first day orientation and all these things, 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:17.129 but When you come to elected office, is there 00:04:17.129 --> 00:04:18.850 anything like that? How do you learn the ropes 00:04:18.850 --> 00:04:20.589 or even where to go in the capitol buildings 00:04:20.589 --> 00:04:23.350 and such? Well, the good news, I knew where to 00:04:23.350 --> 00:04:24.930 go in the capitol building and the legislative 00:04:24.930 --> 00:04:27.269 office building because I was there doing years 00:04:27.269 --> 00:04:30.149 of lobbying on behalf of unions and middle class 00:04:30.149 --> 00:04:34.470 workers, right? But it's, I don't know, it would 00:04:34.470 --> 00:04:38.269 be difficult. Being in government for 20 plus 00:04:38.269 --> 00:04:40.410 years, knowing it, county legislature making 00:04:40.410 --> 00:04:43.740 laws, proposing laws, public hearings. you know, 00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:46.839 Robert's rule, understanding how the intricacies 00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:49.680 work. I think it would be pretty overwhelming 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:51.360 and pretty difficult. I mean, it's a big place. 00:04:51.420 --> 00:04:53.519 There's a lot of people, move a lot of legislation. 00:04:54.660 --> 00:04:56.540 So I would think it could be intimidating, but 00:04:56.540 --> 00:04:59.339 I, you know, I was able to hit the ground running 00:04:59.339 --> 00:05:03.540 because of previous experience. But also, I'll 00:05:03.540 --> 00:05:07.379 also go back in my career. I've been the beneficiary. 00:05:07.459 --> 00:05:09.759 I've had good mentors too. And I've always been 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:13.709 able to pick up the phone and some of my predecessors, 00:05:13.850 --> 00:05:16.490 whether it be friends or unions or whoever they 00:05:16.490 --> 00:05:21.649 are, and shaping policy. But you gotta have advocates. 00:05:22.189 --> 00:05:24.529 You gotta have mentors. You gotta be able to 00:05:24.529 --> 00:05:27.470 call people for advice and listen, too. You can't 00:05:27.470 --> 00:05:30.730 just... I like hearing that. Yeah, yeah. Brokered 00:05:30.730 --> 00:05:32.730 opinions. Give multiple opinions and then take 00:05:32.730 --> 00:05:34.670 it. But if you think you're going in with all 00:05:34.670 --> 00:05:36.529 the answers, you're gonna have a tough, tough 00:05:36.529 --> 00:05:39.519 time. I appreciate that you have that mindset 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:42.180 of taking the input of so many different people. 00:05:42.259 --> 00:05:43.819 I think you're absolutely right. That's the key 00:05:43.819 --> 00:05:49.500 to success in anything, right? What are some 00:05:49.500 --> 00:05:52.939 of the most positive stories? I know, like I 00:05:52.939 --> 00:05:54.500 said, there's all kinds of controversy and there's 00:05:54.500 --> 00:05:56.180 all kinds of things that folks want to focus 00:05:56.180 --> 00:05:58.139 on. At the same time, I know there's a lot of 00:05:58.139 --> 00:06:00.220 other really great positive things that are happening, 00:06:00.300 --> 00:06:02.199 things moving in a great direction in New York 00:06:02.199 --> 00:06:03.839 State. What are some of the first things that 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:06.040 come to mind when I talk about those good things? 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:08.819 from a policy perspective and an Albany perspective. 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:11.480 Anything. Oh, that's a lot. I could say a lot. 00:06:11.639 --> 00:06:15.019 But, you know, from an Albany perspective, you 00:06:15.019 --> 00:06:18.519 know, I think we were able to bring home a central 00:06:18.519 --> 00:06:20.759 delegation itself. Like, we was able to secure, 00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:23.160 I brought them up about a billion dollars for 00:06:23.160 --> 00:06:25.699 the district, where there's $450 million for 00:06:25.699 --> 00:06:28.699 SUNY Upstate. We need a new emergency room and 00:06:28.699 --> 00:06:32.220 emergency department, which is helpful to also... 00:06:32.279 --> 00:06:35.180 Helping the county and also with the micron 116 00:06:35.180 --> 00:06:36.740 million dollars for the water. It's gonna be 00:06:36.740 --> 00:06:39.560 brought in with the wastewater But a lot of economic 00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:41.680 development opportunities too. We were able to 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:43.600 help the manufacturers associate central New 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:47.220 York that do great great work School lunches 00:06:47.220 --> 00:06:50.240 universal pre -k. Those are impactful on families. 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:53.720 Yeah, I'm trying to With striking out with the 00:06:53.720 --> 00:06:56.000 affordability making sure that century and their 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:57.579 occurs aren't getting hit in the pocket rights 00:06:57.579 --> 00:07:00.560 making things more affordable school aid foundation 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:04.189 aid, so And really trying to access and impact 00:07:04.189 --> 00:07:06.769 access to healthcare, especially rural healthcare. 00:07:07.389 --> 00:07:09.350 That's something I've set out to do and we're 00:07:09.350 --> 00:07:13.889 trying to help with some grant money for educational, 00:07:14.009 --> 00:07:16.069 not educational systems, but also the healthcare 00:07:16.069 --> 00:07:19.209 system. So we're doing that. And then there's 00:07:19.209 --> 00:07:21.310 also the opportunity to meet a lot of people, 00:07:21.470 --> 00:07:23.589 municipalities and help out, whether it's helping 00:07:23.589 --> 00:07:25.889 a volunteer fire department or something with 00:07:25.889 --> 00:07:30.089 funding. And also, we also have to get, we were 00:07:30.089 --> 00:07:33.529 able, We've been doing a lot in the community 00:07:33.529 --> 00:07:36.870 lately to two good stories that I'll have we 00:07:36.870 --> 00:07:42.370 were This past Saturday. I was up in Fulton at 00:07:42.370 --> 00:07:45.189 the Walmart and there was a partnership with 00:07:45.189 --> 00:07:47.529 the on a school kind of Sheriff's Department 00:07:47.529 --> 00:07:49.689 Phoenix fire department the mayor of the feet 00:07:49.689 --> 00:07:52.430 village of Phoenix We able to it's called shop 00:07:52.430 --> 00:07:55.209 with a hero Okay, and and go out and everybody 00:07:55.209 --> 00:07:57.290 that so many people donate three hundred twenty 00:07:57.290 --> 00:07:59.009 five dollar gift cards they would take children 00:07:59.009 --> 00:08:01.939 need and you know kind of restores it. The good 00:08:01.939 --> 00:08:04.100 part about this job is you meet so many good 00:08:04.100 --> 00:08:06.139 people doing so many good things that you wouldn't 00:08:06.139 --> 00:08:09.019 hear otherwise because you know every they love 00:08:09.019 --> 00:08:12.519 to you know impact or just the negative impacts 00:08:12.519 --> 00:08:15.360 and controversy but there's a lot of good people 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:16.959 doing a lot of good things in this community 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:18.970 and I'm glad I'm a part of them. Well, we love 00:08:18.970 --> 00:08:20.790 it. And honestly, that's one of the reasons that 00:08:20.790 --> 00:08:22.730 we love talking to elected officials like yourself 00:08:22.730 --> 00:08:24.870 is because you get that exposure, in many cases, 00:08:25.069 --> 00:08:27.610 better than most of us. You get invited to all 00:08:27.610 --> 00:08:30.670 the cool events and all the things happen. And 00:08:30.670 --> 00:08:32.970 that's why we love talking with you and these 00:08:32.970 --> 00:08:34.669 different things, and especially hearing about 00:08:34.669 --> 00:08:36.250 these different investments that you're bringing 00:08:36.250 --> 00:08:39.750 to our area. We've talked in the past with Senator 00:08:39.750 --> 00:08:41.789 May, and she's talked a little bit about some 00:08:41.789 --> 00:08:43.490 of the similar things. And it's just so great 00:08:43.490 --> 00:08:45.519 to hear that. You know, a lot of folks think 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:48.480 that we're sort of forgotten in Albany and to 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:51.919 hear our representatives go, no, we're working 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:54.799 and the state's investing in our area and things 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:56.679 like that is wonderful. Well, I will say this. 00:08:56.820 --> 00:08:59.840 You know, we do have a good partnership. Our 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:03.019 central delegation, myself and Senator May, you 00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:05.480 know, it helps having, you know, members that 00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:07.299 are in the majority conference. But, you know, 00:09:07.379 --> 00:09:09.559 but then also, you know, Senator Magnolio has 00:09:09.559 --> 00:09:11.600 been there for every chair of the transportation 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:13.950 committee. He's been there for a long time. He's 00:09:13.950 --> 00:09:16.470 a good mentor of mine. Assemblyman Sturpp, he's 00:09:16.470 --> 00:09:19.870 been there forever, Pam Hunter, and awesome. 00:09:19.970 --> 00:09:23.070 But also working at Crossale, too. Assemblyman 00:09:23.070 --> 00:09:25.590 Will Barkley is also the minority leader for 00:09:25.590 --> 00:09:28.029 the assembly, the Republican. We have a really, 00:09:28.029 --> 00:09:30.590 really good working relationship, working with 00:09:30.590 --> 00:09:35.990 him to impact lives and matters for Spiegel County. 00:09:36.509 --> 00:09:39.370 It's been really good. We're working on the nuclear 00:09:39.370 --> 00:09:42.029 facility up there that's kind of - trying to 00:09:42.029 --> 00:09:43.870 push for that, that's going to mean thousands 00:09:43.870 --> 00:09:46.950 and thousands of jobs, hundreds of jobs afterwards 00:09:46.950 --> 00:09:50.750 is built. But yeah, it's good. We have a really 00:09:50.750 --> 00:09:52.909 good delegation. That's great delegation. And 00:09:52.909 --> 00:09:55.110 it's obviously without all that we're doing, 00:09:55.250 --> 00:09:58.330 it's impactful. That's great. How do you find 00:09:58.330 --> 00:10:00.990 you interact with folks from other parts of the 00:10:00.990 --> 00:10:02.710 state? You know, one of the things that we love 00:10:02.710 --> 00:10:04.870 to do, the reason we call the show Good News 00:10:04.870 --> 00:10:07.210 York, is to really talk about the entire Empire 00:10:07.210 --> 00:10:10.009 State, including the city in all points. We really 00:10:10.009 --> 00:10:13.830 see those as valuable assets. How does that work 00:10:13.830 --> 00:10:17.529 in government? Do you have different partners, 00:10:17.549 --> 00:10:19.570 things like that, that are from downstate? Of 00:10:19.570 --> 00:10:21.629 course. Do you learn from each other? We do. 00:10:22.470 --> 00:10:26.769 And, you know, I may not always agree on every... 00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:31.179 policy. Sure. Sometimes with the New York City 00:10:31.179 --> 00:10:35.039 delegation or downstate. But, you know, I will 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:38.659 say this, that every single member is really 00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:41.220 genuinely just a really good human being. That's 00:10:41.220 --> 00:10:44.399 great. And it's something I also wish the public 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:47.059 knew, how really people cared about their community. 00:10:47.500 --> 00:10:50.320 We always going to agree to disagree. You know, 00:10:50.419 --> 00:10:53.759 also Staten Island and Long Island, the Long 00:10:53.759 --> 00:10:57.580 Island delegation, there's more Couple Democrats 00:10:57.580 --> 00:11:00.519 out that way that are good that we I work in 00:11:00.519 --> 00:11:03.360 conjunction collaboration with a lot of piece 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:06.840 of legislation also a good senator from Staten 00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:09.700 Island and and Brooklyn we kind of work together 00:11:09.700 --> 00:11:12.179 on some some things so that's good. It's you 00:11:12.179 --> 00:11:17.200 know, it's uh, I Learned that's great Senator, 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:18.960 I really appreciate this. I got a couple more 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:23.259 questions and I'll let you get back to it I have 00:11:23.259 --> 00:11:26.659 to ask of course about the Micron project and 00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:29.860 just kind of your thoughts on the positive impact 00:11:29.860 --> 00:11:32.240 that that might bring to us and what we might 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:34.620 need to consider and things like that, not even 00:11:34.620 --> 00:11:36.740 necessarily just for our area, but in other parts 00:11:36.740 --> 00:11:39.360 of the state. Is this, are they, first of all, 00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:40.919 are they telling this story in other parts of 00:11:40.919 --> 00:11:42.299 the state, as much as we're talking about it? 00:11:42.299 --> 00:11:44.899 Oh, yes, for sure. Everybody, well, you know, 00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:47.620 it's a topic of discussion. There's also tax, 00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:50.600 but there's also a lot of needs too. We're gonna 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:53.744 need people from all over the state. You're talking... 00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:58.879 in excess of 4 ,000 construction jobs. Wow. For 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:01.200 many, many years, like perhaps even to build 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:04.559 all fabs out. Sure. At least 10 years, more so 00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:05.799 than that. I mean, we're talking about people 00:12:05.799 --> 00:12:07.639 who can start a career, talking about people 00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:09.559 who will end their careers working there. And 00:12:09.559 --> 00:12:12.039 we're gonna need them from all over the state. 00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:16.559 So it's also gonna be impactful. But for here, 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:18.480 there's I think the state, one state study said 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:21.340 there's gonna be additional 40 ,000 jobs, whether 00:12:21.340 --> 00:12:23.700 it's gonna be in transportation or hospitality. 00:12:23.950 --> 00:12:27.950 Housing, talking about 20 ,000 new homes a year. 00:12:28.450 --> 00:12:31.409 But that's also for the region, also. I'm doing 00:12:31.409 --> 00:12:35.710 a lot with the Oswego County, their chamber, 00:12:36.090 --> 00:12:38.409 their economic development teams, the local elected's 00:12:38.409 --> 00:12:40.529 up there to make sure that there's readiness, 00:12:40.830 --> 00:12:42.610 make sure that utilities are gonna be there. 00:12:42.830 --> 00:12:44.889 I mean, I'm talking when I say utilities, I mean 00:12:44.889 --> 00:12:47.090 infrastructure, whatever. What happens when you 00:12:47.090 --> 00:12:50.769 flush the toilet? It has to happen. So I think. 00:12:51.419 --> 00:12:53.960 Those are, and then the long lasting effects. 00:12:54.059 --> 00:12:56.519 But also, we also have to talk about not just 00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:58.960 site readiness, but making sure that the next 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:01.440 generation workforce is prepared for those jobs 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:04.500 there. What we did up at OCC with a semiconductor, 00:13:04.659 --> 00:13:07.500 we talked about transportation issues, so that 00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:10.299 these kids have the transportation they need 00:13:10.299 --> 00:13:13.320 to learn that trade or that skill set, then are 00:13:13.320 --> 00:13:14.960 able to get the jobs out there. I think it's 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:17.100 gonna be really, really good for the region. 00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:21.070 That's great. I remember from the initial announcements 00:13:21.070 --> 00:13:23.250 when Micron was talking about here, from the 00:13:23.250 --> 00:13:25.929 very jump they talked about transportation initiatives 00:13:25.929 --> 00:13:28.009 to make sure that folks in the city who might 00:13:28.009 --> 00:13:29.830 not have good transportation out to Clay would 00:13:29.830 --> 00:13:31.629 easily have that and that wouldn't be a barrier 00:13:31.629 --> 00:13:34.850 for them getting the workforce or for the folks 00:13:34.850 --> 00:13:36.789 that are already here that really need it. So 00:13:36.789 --> 00:13:41.240 I love hearing those sorts of things. We're all 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:44.000 very excited. Everyone here in the business community 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:48.279 couldn't be more excited. I think more of just 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:50.059 the workforce, the more they hear about it, the 00:13:50.059 --> 00:13:55.179 opportunities that are coming. It's not 40 ,000 00:13:55.179 --> 00:13:57.639 fast food jobs. These are great careers. I'll 00:13:57.639 --> 00:14:01.139 tell you a story. We were doing a tour. I went 00:14:01.139 --> 00:14:03.399 up to the Hannibal School District. My district 00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:05.899 was all the way up to Hannibal. And the superintendent, 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:08.220 phenomenal people, by the way, that school board 00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:10.799 superintendent, great, great people. And we were 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:14.179 in the cafeteria, lunch, and these kids were 00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:16.039 leaving, and they were going through both seats. 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:18.220 They were doing a welding class. And the welding 00:14:18.220 --> 00:14:21.840 class was full. And my thing in talking to some 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:23.620 of the people in the trades, we got to make sure 00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:26.139 that that doesn't happen. We make sure that every 00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:29.000 kid who wants to become a welder, there's enough 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:31.360 space and capacity for them to do that. Or it's 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:35.009 an electrician apprenticeship, or... or operating 00:14:35.009 --> 00:14:37.210 engineers. Heavy equipment. Look at what's happening 00:14:37.210 --> 00:14:39.830 with 81, right? They're full. Iron workers. There's 00:14:39.830 --> 00:14:43.470 a huge need for iron workers. So we're gonna 00:14:43.470 --> 00:14:46.629 make sure that, A, number one, that there's a 00:14:46.629 --> 00:14:48.570 new awareness. Number two, that we make sure 00:14:48.570 --> 00:14:51.590 that we're identifying those next generation 00:14:51.590 --> 00:14:54.269 of workforce, that that is there for them, and 00:14:54.269 --> 00:14:58.090 also making sure we can deliver. Yeah. Is it 00:14:58.090 --> 00:15:00.549 fair to say, as a union, man, is it fair to say 00:15:00.549 --> 00:15:03.299 that the unions... are driving a lot of that. 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:06.460 I know I see at least the electrical unions are 00:15:06.460 --> 00:15:09.279 working hard to kind of recruit people into the 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:11.700 trade. Do you find all the different unions are, 00:15:11.899 --> 00:15:13.679 we always think of them as representing existing 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:15.200 workers, but it looks like they're also helping 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:16.960 to kind of grow their trades as well. Is that 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:19.480 true? They've been really out in front of the 00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:21.200 traditional training centers, because obviously 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:23.220 with more people, you get a bigger training center. 00:15:24.220 --> 00:15:26.860 But there's also some Empire State development 00:15:26.860 --> 00:15:28.179 dollars that would help, because they have to 00:15:28.179 --> 00:15:30.000 roll that out. Like they can't just say, okay, 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:31.990 I'm going to put in millions and millions of 00:15:31.990 --> 00:15:33.950 dollars training center, but I think that's going 00:15:33.950 --> 00:15:38.090 to pay dividends. But yes, the trades and the 00:15:38.090 --> 00:15:40.970 central and northern building trades association 00:15:40.970 --> 00:15:45.210 and the teamsters have had job fairs. So they 00:15:45.210 --> 00:15:47.129 have, and they're great partners and everything. 00:15:47.250 --> 00:15:49.789 I mean, they're going to have to be, we're going 00:15:49.789 --> 00:15:51.809 to need the people. I've always been a big fan 00:15:51.809 --> 00:15:53.250 of unions, but I think that's just another one 00:15:53.250 --> 00:15:54.610 of those things that people don't necessarily 00:15:54.610 --> 00:15:56.090 realize. Like I said, I think they always think 00:15:56.090 --> 00:15:58.230 about it as after you've gotten the job, but 00:15:58.230 --> 00:16:01.250 they kind of lead the... the way on some of these, 00:16:01.269 --> 00:16:03.009 helping you find it to begin with, which is pretty 00:16:03.009 --> 00:16:06.009 cool. Senator, last question I will ask you. 00:16:06.049 --> 00:16:08.389 So as you mentioned earlier, you get to travel 00:16:08.389 --> 00:16:11.909 and you get to see a lot of these areas in ways 00:16:11.909 --> 00:16:15.250 that a lot of folks don't. So I would love you 00:16:15.250 --> 00:16:17.870 to share with us a couple of your top favorite 00:16:17.870 --> 00:16:20.309 things, whether it's an activity for a family 00:16:20.309 --> 00:16:22.710 or a couple on a date night. What are some hidden 00:16:22.710 --> 00:16:25.669 gems in our area that folks should check out 00:16:25.669 --> 00:16:28.950 for something fun to do? Hidden gems, all right. 00:16:30.679 --> 00:16:32.879 I don't know, we do a lot of tours for businesses 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:35.019 and fire departments and police departments. 00:16:35.080 --> 00:16:37.360 So that might not be a great date night to go 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:40.860 to visit a police department. But, you know, 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:46.139 driving around, we have, you know, great, great 00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:49.360 hospitality. You know, Spiegel Chambers, the 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:52.039 city of Spiegel in the summertime is unbelievable. 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:54.639 Maybe a good date night, I don't know, go out 00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:57.159 and... There's no shortage of places to eat and 00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:59.059 drink there, right? Get a chilly dog at Rudy's 00:16:59.059 --> 00:17:01.200 and watch the sunset on Lake Ontario? I don't 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:03.940 know. See, that counts, like romantic. I love 00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:05.440 that answer. I'm not a big romantic. To be completely 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:08.279 honest with you, I think one of our biggest assets 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:10.480 in New York State is just the beauty of nature. 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:12.660 I'm a big fan of the Adirondacks ever since I 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:16.440 was a Boy Scout and just the Finger Lakes and 00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:19.480 everything else. We go up by the water. I think 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:21.200 that's a great answer, to be completely honest 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:23.880 with you. So I love that. I think that's wonderful. 00:17:25.199 --> 00:17:27.380 Last question I'll ask you. In the fair. Don't 00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:29.019 forget the fair. Don't sleep on the fair. New 00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:31.519 York's Day fairgrounds. You can go out and, you 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:34.380 know, play the dart game and get a big dinosaur. 00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:39.039 It is a huge, huge asset. Yeah. Yeah, we love 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:42.039 it. Senator, this has been phenomenal. I really 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:45.319 appreciate you taking a few minutes. The last 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:48.319 thing I'll just ask you is, just as we ask everybody, 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:51.059 sort of your plugs. So if folks want to learn... 00:17:50.829 --> 00:17:53.390 more about yourself, your policies, things like 00:17:53.390 --> 00:17:55.950 that. Where's the best place that they can follow 00:17:55.950 --> 00:18:01.849 you? Our website. Yeah. I think we have a Chris 00:18:01.849 --> 00:18:04.089 Ryan at NYSenate .gov. Perfect. Or no, that's 00:18:04.089 --> 00:18:09.569 the email address. The standard... Senator website. 00:18:10.250 --> 00:18:11.910 Standard website. You got it. Senate website. 00:18:11.990 --> 00:18:14.230 We're on social media. Perfect. Our communications. 00:18:14.430 --> 00:18:16.589 I'm going to give a shameless plug. Yeah, please. 00:18:16.609 --> 00:18:19.750 To my staff. I will say this, as I say it all 00:18:19.750 --> 00:18:22.640 the time. hands -down best staff in the business. 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:25.039 That's our communications. If not, make sure 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:26.779 you sign up for our newsletter, do a great job. 00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:29.660 You can make sure that you know where we're at. 00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:31.640 We're in a lot of places. We're here, there, 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:33.900 we're everywhere. Whether it's giving toys away, 00:18:34.140 --> 00:18:36.700 Toys for Tots, we do Toys for Tots. This weekend, 00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:40.539 also right after the shop with the hero, over 00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:42.960 in the village of East Syracuse with the SU women's 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:45.859 basketball team, East Syracuse Fire Department. 00:18:46.679 --> 00:18:48.900 So, yeah, and I think it's good, because it also 00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:50.579 shows everything that we're doing also in the 00:18:50.579 --> 00:18:52.380 community, because it's not just the branded, 00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:54.519 you know, go up to home and make legislation. 00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:58.839 I love that. I love that. Senator Ryan, thank 00:18:58.839 --> 00:19:00.759 you for joining Good News York. Come back here 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:03.180 any time. You got something good to share. We'd 00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:07.160 love to have it and talk about it. And thank 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:09.240 you again. Yeah, thanks for your time. Appreciate 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:12.740 it. And guys, that'll do it for this edition 00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:16.539 of Good News York. Stay tuned for all of the 00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:18.460 great news we got coming up. We got new episodes 00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:21.880 of GNY Sports. I think the bill's just won, so 00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:24.259 Mike might be a little extra happy. Well, no, 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:27.900 I don't know. But follow all of that at Good 00:19:27.900 --> 00:19:31.079 News York. Sponsored by Ads on the Go. Getadsonthego 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:35.440 .com is the website for that. And I guess that's 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:36.720 it. Peace out.