The Debrief Podcast

Keith Cutler spends most of his days thinking about ways to get crucial medical services to the most-vulnerable parts of the Cayuga County community. It's been evolving challenge, since he came into his role with a crucial local provider in 2016.

"The client base has actually changed, and probably not in a positive direction," Cutler explained. He serves as President and CEO of East Hill Medical Center. "Our patient base was somewhere around 61-62% Medicaid patients [in 2016] and in the four years since we're approaching the high-60s, maybe even close to 70%."

He says that's a reflection of what's happened in Cayuga County and the Auburn Community in terms of loss of industry and jobs. "You see that demographically, the area is not getting richer, as that's the case in a lot of Upstate New York," Cutler continued. "It's really suffering economically. So there are more people on Medicaid funded health plans today than there were before. That is a huge gap that we fill because a lot of private practice physicians don't accept Medicaid."

In addition to basic medical care, the facility also provides dental services. Cutler says the demand is clear when looking at that side of the operation. "Our office has three hygienists and three dentists," he explained. "We have a waiting list of somewhere in the neighborhood of twelve, or thirteen hundred because we're one of only two dental providers in the entire county that take Medicaid."

The question Cutler and East Hill Medical are left weighing is simple: How bad is it going to get? 

"We bring federal money into the community. About 17% of our annual revenue comes by way of the federal government, and that's to allow federally qualified health centers to provide good care to those who may not be able to afford it," he explained. 

The challenge looking ahead is how reimbursement for services keeps pace, so that they can continue operating. 

Cutler spoke with FingerLakes1.com in recent episode of The Debrief Podcast.

Cea Weaver says the stakes are very real for people who have been unable to pay their rent through the Coronavirus Pandemic. And one of the biggest protections that Governor Andrew Cuomo has touted throughout it -- might not have the teeth he claimed.

"Millions of people have lost their jobs and are unable to pay their rent because of COVID-19 and the economic crisis that is associated with it," Weaver explained, speaking to the housing crisis that exists in the moment. "Housing courts are reopening for the first time since March -- that's happening right now -- and millions of people could face eviction."

Weaver, who serves as campaign coordinator for Housing Justice For All -- an advocacy coalition consisting of Upstate and Downstate housing interests -- says what Governor Cuomo has said throughout the pandemic isn't accurate.

"Unfortunately there's been a lot of confusion coming out of our Governor," she explained. "There's no active moratorium. What we do have is an affirmative defense that tenants can raise in housing court."

She says that means if tenants are being faced with the eviction process they can tell the court that they lost their income due to COVID-19. Weaver says one major problem is that it will create major gaps in application. "It's left up to a judge. A judge could decide that it's true -- or that it's not true -- based on the evidence that the tenant can provide," she continued.  "There are over 1,300 different judges in New York State. So that's leaving a tremendous amount of judicial discretion, and uncertainty."

Today on The Debrief Podcast, a look at this issue -- and why the Democrat-controlled legislature in Albany hasn't taken up legislative action that would correct this issue. In that discussion -- a closer look at what it will mean for renters and advocates alike if nothing is done in the coming days, weeks, or months.

Brad and Anna Luisi-Ellis started the Fall Street Brewing journey during the summer of 2018. By October of 2019 they opened their Fall Street location, serving as the kind of anchor downtown Seneca Falls needed. 

After a strong first few months, the duo took the leap and began operating as a cafe serving craft beer, kombucha, cider, coffee, and even lunch. Just a couple months after the Coronavirus Pandemic hit Upstate New York. Many businesses were forced to shut down or drastically modify operation -- and eight months later restrictions are still in place.

Today on The Debrief, we talk with Brad Ellis about the experience of opening mere months before life as we knew it would be turned upside down -- as well as the realities of doing business in the 'new normal'. 

Check out everything Fall Street Brewing is up to by clicking here!

This week it’s all about the changes that are happening at the state and local level as fallout from the Coronavirus Pandemic continues to be evident. The state has new plans for how businesses will be shut down when cases rise, one major theater chain says it’s shutting down for the foreseeable future across the U.S., and Rodman Lott & Sons Farm in Seneca County has lost one of the largest farm expos in the country.

FingerLakes1.com News Director Josh Durso and Finger Lakes Morning News Host Ted Baker discuss it all.

There has been a significant debate over the last several months about unpaid rent. Some have contended that it should be canceled - while others - often representing landlords' perspective - say there needs to be another option. 

It's complicated by the layers of government that have weighed in on the matter, according to Deb Hall, who serves as administrator for the Finger Lakes Landlord Association. 

For now, an eviction moratorium in New York and similar guidance at the federal level handed down by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mean an uncertain future for property owners -- who must maintain livable quarters for tenants at all times. 

Even if rent checks stop coming. 

Hall contends that among the Association's membership - less than half of those who have not been paying rent during the pandemic, or those who are behind on rent - have cited COVID as the reason. She says, among other issues - some renters are using the state's mandate as an excuse.

Today on the program, a conversation with Deb Hall about the challenges some landlords are experiencing in the Finger Lakes -- and what they hope to see done about it moving forward.

The Coronavirus Pandemic is undoubtedly going to change the way people and companies do business. 

However, communication and culture are two important factors for one of the region's most-identifiable brands and businesses. 

Lauren Dixon and Mike Schwabl have led the Perinton-based agency Dixon Schwabl together for over 30 years. The plan was always for 2020 to be the end of their run as CEO and President. 

It's part of a 15 year plan to transition leadership to Kim Allen, who will serve as CEO; and Jessica Savage, who will serve as Prsident. The two served as managing partner of communications and managing partner of account services respectively.

Dixon and Schwabl will maintain ownership of the company, even though they are stepping down from the operational posts.

Here's a good question: Why hasn't New York opted to legalize mobile sports betting? For the better part of three years -- there have been calls to do so, and now more than a year after sportsbooks opened in commercial and Native American casinos across the state -- the calls are louder-than-ever.

We wanted to get to the bottom of this question, and went to one of our very own to find out what’s going on. John Sullivan hosts Sportsbook Confidential. It’s a weekly show on FingerLakes1.com and John spends a lot of his time on the program de-mystifying the world of sports betting.

He says for a vast majority of those who do it: It's recreation and entertainment -- allowing those who participate to find a different way to interact with a sport they likely love.

John spent years in the industry -- both professionally and personally. In addition to being an avid sports-bettor himself, he has consulted for FanDuel and appeared in NPR’s ‘Only A Game’. He was also featured in ESPN The Magazine. 

So, what will it take to get mobile betting legalized in New York since it’s already legal in so many other states? Gone is the opportunity for New York to stand out, as nearly a dozen other states have legalized sports betting options.

Today a look at the world of sports betting and when it could come to a smartphone near you.

Suicide among teens and young adults is rising. But a new report shows that it was happening even before the pandemic arrived.

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show a dramatic increase in the rate of suicide across the U.S. However, previous reports on this matter, like the Vital Signs edition from 2016, stopped short of evaluating the three year period including 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Between 2007 and 2017 the National Center for Health Statistics found that the suicide death rate among people ages 10-24 increased 57.4%. The newest report by the CDC extended that data-set another year. As a state, New York saw an increase of 43.9%, which left it in the middle of the pack - as far as the state-by-state breakdown was concerned.

Maryland had the lowest increase - at 21.7%, and New Hampshire saw the highest increase at 110%.

RELATED: Read the September 11, 2020 report here

For more answers, we caught up with Margaret Morse. She's the Director of Community Services in Seneca County. In her role, she oversees a number of community-based programs, including those in the mental health space. After the report's publishing - we posed some of the most-frequently asked questions at her, to help better understand what is being done to reduce the rate of suicide overall; and to get her professional opinion on how the pandemic may impact these issues moving forward.

The Fatherhood Connection is one of those programs operating in the community that a lot of people haven't heard about. But the work being done by Reggie Cox and his team of community members throughout the region is endlessly important.

It operates in Monroe, Livingston, and Seneca counties in the Finger Lakes region. The roots of the present day program, which is now in the process of becoming a statewide initiative date back to 1998.

That's when Reggie began working with fathers at The Family Resource Centers of Rochester. His own story is one of development and growth, but the stories he heard about painful relationships developed early in life led to patterns. His work with the Fatherhood Connection has been powerful, though. 

"We've seen powerful change in as little as one session," Reggie said during a recent conversation on The Debrief Podcast. The Fatherhood Connection runs programs of 8- and 13-weeks, which target different ages of those struggling. On this episode of the Debrief - Reggie breaks down the basics of the programs, looks at the ways it will be growing in the future, and the stigmas they work through as a group each-and-every day.  

What's happening as fall arrives at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex? What about the Montezuma Audubon Center? We're answering those questions in our new monthly feature with Center Director Chris Lajewski. He gives us an update on upcoming events at the Audubon Center, which is located in Savannah, as well as some tips on how to make your own property more bird-friendly.