Blog

Last Tuesday, Gov. Cuomo and Republican challenger Marc Molinaro met in what might end up being the only debate among the state’s candidates for governor in 2018. The hour-long debate – which featured more bickering than substantive policy discussions — was hosted by WCBS in Manhattan. (Watch the full debate here.) The two candidates traded […]

Last week’s debate between Cuomo and Molinaro, which was hosted by a New York City-area television station, focused largely on issues of importance to downstate residents.  In fact, the only Upstate-related question during the entire one-hour program had to do with potential state subsidies for a potential new stadium for the Buffalo Bills. We think […]

A new report from the Empire Center looks at the state’s economic recovery since the national economic downturn in 2008 and 2009, and the news is not good.  The report finds that Upstate’s job performance is among the worst in the nation and that the economic gap between the Upstate and downstate regions is growing. […]

The 2018 New York State Compensation Commission – which is charged with “examin[ing], evaluat[ing] and mak[ing] recommendations with respect to adequate levels of compensation, non-salary benefits, and allowances” for state legislators, statewide elected officials and appointed state officials – has scheduled its first meeting for November 16 in Manhattan. Under a law passed as part […]

Last Wednesday, state Attorney General Barbara Underwood announced that she has filed a lawsuit against Exxon Mobil Corporation, alleging that the company misled investors regarding the risk that climate change regulations posed to its business. (Read the lawsuit here.) The lawsuit alleges that while the company assured investors that it was accounting for the likelihood […]

Last Wednesday, the Senate Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction released a report that “examines the current challenges facing individuals, institutions, and communities and provides 11 proposals to help end the state’s deadly epidemic.” The report’s recommendations include: increasing resources to support the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals trained to treat substance use […]

Business Council of NYS Endorses Cuomo for Re-Election Last week, the Business Council of New York State (BCNYS) announced its support for Gov. Cuomo for a third term as New York’s governor. The group also endorsed Cuomo in 2010 and 2014. Business Council President and CEO Heather Briccetti said: “In the end, our PAC decided […]

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

On October 30, the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is holding a program titled ‘Preparing for NYS Increases to the Minimum Wage & Salary Threshold.’ The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on October 30. Also on October 30, Spectrum News and NY1 will host a debate between attorney general candidates […]