This week on In Focus, our JoDee Kenney sits down with New York state Sen. Rachel May. May represents the 48^th District which includes Syracuse, Auburn and part of the Finger Lakes. During their conversation, they talked about how May's district includes urban and rural areas. May says they have a lot of issues in common including housing, health care, transportation, addiction and overdose prevention.

May addressed the housing crisis, saying we don't have enough homes in the state. May is a proponent of the housing revolving loan fund which would help with affordable housing outside of New York City. It would allow developers to borrow money for housing projects.  May says if the state can set a low interest rate, the builder can borrow the money and do the housing project. Once they start building or after it is completed, they can refinance with a regular bank and repay state. Then the state can loan money out to someone else. May has also secured money to replace lead pipes and remediate lead paint. She joined with Uniquely Free to Be Lead Free and A Tiny Home for Good to provide housing while the remediation is happening.

May says water quality is one of the top issues she hears about. Her district includes Cayuga Lake. She says everyone depends on the water being clean and fresh. May says the Finger Lakes are in trouble from pollutants like PFAS and algal blooms. She says algal blooms are the number one thing she hears from her constituents. Last summer, Auburn came close to a boil water order over algal blooms. May passed a bill saying if you are discharging PFAS into the water you have to report it, and the company would also have to test water for it. New Yok is so rich in fresh water at a time when it is disappearing around the world. May calls water our great wealth.

JoDee and May also spoke about Auburn's rich arts community. May says a large number of tourists come to the region because of the arts.  

You can watch the full interview in the video player above. And be sure to tune in for a look inside the biggest issues impacting upstate New York on In Focus with JoDee Kenney — every Sunday on Spectrum News 1.