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Earlier today, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced an increase to the New York State Common Retirement Fund’s Sustainable Investment Program, raising its total commitment to $10 billion. An additional $3 billion will be invested in sustainable assets, which may include real estate or private equity, low-carbon index funds or green bonds. Comptroller DiNapoli said: “Climate […]

Democrat Jen Metzger was elected to replace Republican State Senator John Bonacic, who did not run for re-election.  Metzger will represent the 42nd Senate District, which includes parts of Orange, Ulster and Delaware counties, and all of Sullivan County.  Most recently, she founded and served as Director of Citizens for Local Power, which helps communities […]

Each week, City & State New York publishes a list of the week’s political “winners” and “losers.”  Read last week’s list here.

The state Board of Regents holds its next meeting on December 10 and 11. On December 12, the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce holds a Policy Matters event on “NY’s Evolving Fiscal and Economic Outlook.” On December 12, the Assembly’s Veteran’s Affairs Committee is holding a public hearing in Albany on veterans’ employment programs. On […]

According to a report released by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), construction contractors in New York continue to face numerous challenges, including over-regulation, high tax burdens and (Read ABC’s New York scorecard here.)  ABC represents merit-shop contractors, who support open and fair competition among diverse participants, and who advocate for government entities to award contracts […]

Last Monday, the incoming Senate Democratic Majority met in Albany and elected Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) as Senate Majority Leader for the 2019-20 legislative session.  She will be the first woman to lead a majority conference in Albany as Democrats take control of the State Senate for the first time since 2010. The Senate Democrats needed […]

Last Tuesday, the Assembly Republican Conference re-elected Assemblyman Brian Kolb (R-Canandaigua) as its leader.  He will continue serving as Assembly Minority Leader when the Legislature convenes in January for the 2019 legislative session.  Kolb has led the Assembly GOP conference since 2009. Assemblyman Kolb said: “With a changing dynamic in the Legislature, our voice and […]

Last Monday, Gov. Cuomo released a letter to the New York House Democratic Delegation congratulating them on their victory and urging them to push for eliminating the $10,000 cap on the federal tax deductibility of state and local taxes  and funding for the Gateway Tunnel. On the SALT deduction, he wrote “The current cost of […]

The Fair Elections for NY Campaign, a coalition of groups pushing for campaign finance reform in New York State, called for campaign finance and voting reforms to be “the first order of business in the 2019 New York State Legislative Session.” The group wrote to Gov. Cuomo, Assembly Speaker Heastie and incoming Senate Majority Leader […]