Lea Webb
DemocraticQ1 Data centers are a controversial part of America’s growing AI industry, supporting cutting-edge innovation and potential job creation, but raising issues of resource use and utility costs. New York now has a moratorium on data center construction. At the same time, state tax law grants tax exemptions to equipment and services used by data centers, which some proposed legislation would repeal. What do you see as the right balance of costs and benefits for new data center construction in New York, and how would your policies accomplish that balance?
Fueled by major corporate interests. Large-scale, AI data centers are spreading across the country. Here in my district, TeraWulf has secured an 80-year lease for a data center that could at max capacity consume enough electricity in one year to power roughly 500,000 homes. Residents have voiced their strong opposition to this project due to concerns for our environmental health, our lake, and the projected impact on utility bills. I have urged Governor Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Act, which is a stronger and more comprehensive approach to regulating data centers than the moratorium we passed this year. KEYWORDS: AI
Q2 New York currently generates about 47% of its energy from low carbon sources including nuclear, hydropower, and wind and solar, with the remainder coming from combustion sources (natural gas, oil, biofuel, and solid waste). While New York committed to shifting to low-carbon energy sources and emissions reductions in passing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), Governor Hochul recently moved to delay implementation of several components of the state’s climate law to December 31, 2028. As concerns about energy costs, reliability, and emissions grow, what energy sources would you prioritize, under what timeline, and what evidence would guide that decision?
I am committed to fighting for legislation to address the climate crisis head on and empower our communities with the resources to end our reliance on fossil fuels. I have passed bipartisan legislation through both houses to ban CO2 fracking, fought to increase funding for the Clean Water Infrastructure Grant Program, the Environmental Protection Fund, NYSERDA’s EmPower+ program and I have supported investments in green technology jobs and workforce development. We know that renewable energy is better for our planet and our pockets. We need to build out our solar and wind power, while strengthening our grid. We need to make polluters pay for the harm that they’ve done to the planet.
KEYWORDS: energy,climate
Q3 Young adults say that social media is their top source of science information, but acknowledge that it is less trustworthy compared to other sources. In addition, the widespread usage of social media and other sources of scientific information has resulted in the spread of misinformation that has spurred public education policies to curb it, such as a NYC vaccine misinformation legislation. What role should public education play in combatting misinformation and disseminating trustworthy, up to date scientific information to students and their families?
I will continue to fight to fully fund our public schools and institutes of higher education. It is important that our schools have access to funding to implement programming to ensure students learn about media literacy and gain the skills needed to analyze, evaluate, and use media within the evolving landscape of the 21st-century media.
KEYWORDS: science
Q4 Pesticides are widely used in food production to help manage pests and support crop yields, but ongoing debates over their safety have raised questions about their long-term use and led to proposals to restrict certain pesticides. What data and evidence will you use to weigh the role of these products in food security against safety concerns when shaping policy on their use in New York agriculture?
As a member of the Senate’s Agriculture Committee, I continue to work with my colleagues to balance the needs of our agricultural sector with public safety concerns. As Chair of the Senate’s standing committee on Women’s Issues, I have consistently advanced legislation to keep toxic chemicals out of cosmetics, menstrual products, and other products that we and our families encounter and use daily. I sponsor legislation (S2057) to regulate ingredients in personal care products and ban the use of toxic chemicals in beauty products. I supported recently passed legislation to prohibit the sale of products containing PFAS (S9073A).
KEYWORDS: public health, agriculture
Q5 New York has the second largest international student population of any U.S. state, the majority of which study in STEM fields. The federal government is pursuing largescale changes to student visa approval, including increased visa denials, revoking existing visas, restricting travel from certain countries, and decreasing student visa durations. How, if at all, should New York respond to federal visa changes affecting international STEM students and researchers, and the resulting projected changes in the scientific workforce supply?
Federal policies regarding student visas have been challenging and disruptive to many of the students who have come to New York for their studies. This policy has led to a decline in enrollment in our universities, leading to lost revenue and lost job opportunities. I will continue to urge our representatives in the federal government to support our system of higher education by reversing these damaging policies. International students deserve to feel welcome here in New York.
KEYWORDS: jobs, workforce
Q6 Extreme weather events are increasingly impacting farmland and food supplies across NY, including up to 30 million dollars in damages to farmer livelihoods. This has prompted the USDA to designate 30 counties in New York as Natural Disaster Areas. What policies, if any, would you support to help farmers adapt to and prepare for increasingly erratic weather?
My district is no stranger to the effects of extreme weather and the climate crisis. Here in the Southern Tier, we understand the dangers posed by climate change first hand. The city of Binghamton, in Broome County, is located in the floodplain at the meeting of the Susquehanna and Chenango rivers. Our community has experienced multiple “once in a generation” flooding events following intense rains, in 2006, and again in 2011. What was once extreme weather is becoming common and we all understand the dangers posed by the climate from flooding, historic storms, violent winds, and rising temperatures.
As a member of the Senate’s standing committee on Agriculture, I have been and will continue to support increasing funding and resources for our farmers. In last year’s budget, we extended the Farm Workforce Retention Credit and included $5 million for the Farmworker Housing Program and increased funding for the Young Farmers Loan Forgiveness Program. Additionally, we continued funding for agriculture programs including $2.2 million for the Farm Viability Institute, $1 million for the Beginning Farmers Fund, $1 million for the Socially & Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Fund, and $25 million for Farmland Protection.
KEYWORDS: Agriculture, environment
Q7 Law enforcement agencies across New York have contracted with Flock to install Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras as a public safety tool. The technology is receiving pushback over concerns over privacy and data sharing, resulting in city councilors in Syracuse voting to remove Flock cameras. What are your views on accessibility and utilization of ALPR data by local and federal law enforcement, and what legislation, if any, would you propose governing how ALPR data is collected, stored, shared and retained?
I do not support FLOCK. My office has received concerns from the community about FLOCK related to safety and data-use concerns. I support legislation (S9890) which would introduce a regulatory framework for New York to ensure that we balance the legitimate uses of ALPR technology, such as toll collection, while making sure we protect the privacy of individuals.
KEYWORDS: AI, FLOCK
Q8 Smoke from Canadian wildfires in recent summers has pushed New York air quality to unhealthy levels. The long-term consequences, if any, of these wildfires are unknown: Short-term data show a rise in asthma-related emergency department visits during smoke events, though some studies suggest the increase is comparable to that seen on high-pollen days. With extreme wildfire seasons projected to become more frequent as global temperatures rise, what measures, if any, do you think New York should invest in to prepare for future smoke events?
We must ensure that municipalities across New York have the resources needed to keep people safe during air quality advisories due to wildfire smoke. Additionally, I will advocate for programming and resources so that the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health can track air quality and make sure the public are informed and ready for dangerous air-quality levels.
KEYWORDS: Environment, Public Health
Q9 New York is the second largest recipient of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Proposed federal budgets would significantly reduce NIH funds going to New York hospitals, universities, and research institutions. Where do you stand on the proposed changes to NIH funding levels, and what steps, if any, would you take to address their potential effect on New York’s research sector?
These NIH funding levels have led to cancelled and delayed clinical trials for patients across New York. I will continue to advocate that our federal government reverse these cuts. KEYWORDS: Science Funding