Category Archives: Unshackle Upstate Update

Former Ibero CEO Exploring State Senate Run

Hilda Rosario Escher, the former CEO of Ibero-American Action League, announced Monday that she plans to explore a run for New York State Senate. Rosario Escher would be running for the New York State Senate’s 56th District seat, which is currently held by Joseph Robach. The 56th Senate District encompasses part of the City of […]


Updates, Reminders and Links

City & State NY’s Winners and Losers here. City & State NY’s Political Consultants Power 50 here. City & State NY’s 40 under 40 here.


Coming Up

The PSC will hold its next meeting on Thursday, August 8. The New York State Joint Senate Task Force on Opioids, Addiction and Overdose Prevention will hold a public hearing to hear from stakeholders on strategies for reducing overdoses, improving individual and community health, and addressing the harmful consequences of drug use on August 9. The New York City Regional […]


Governor Signs Data Breach Bills

This week, the Governor signed the Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security – or SHIELD – Act (S.5575B/A.5635), which imposes stronger obligations on businesses handling private data to provide notification to affected consumers when there is a security breach. The Governor also signed legislation (A.2374/S.3582) requiring consumer credit reporting agencies to offer identity theft […]


Governor and Attorney General Announce Settlement with Equifax Inc.

Governor Cuomo and Attorney General James announced that New York has reached a settlement with Equifax Inc. as a result of the 2017 data breach that exposed the sensitive financial and personal information of millions of Americans, including 8.5 million New Yorkers. Under the settlement, the companies will pay a fine of $10 million to DFS, $9.2 million […]


Senate Plans Opioid Hearings

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced that the Joint Senate Task Force on Opioids, Addiction & Overdose Prevention will be holding seven hearings and roundtable discussions across the state. The Task Force is charged with carrying out a holistic review of New York’s overdose crisis and the State’s approach to drug use. The Task Force will hold […]


Governor Signs Bill to Criminalize Revenge Porn

Governor Cuomo signed into law (S.1719C/ A.5981), criminalizing the publication of “revenge porn,” or the non-consensual sharing or publication of an intimate image. This new law subjects abusers to criminal penalties of up to a year in jail, plus civil damages, and empowers victims to seek a court order to remove these images online. Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul said: “As part […]


Governor Signs Bill to Study Artificial Intelligence

Governor Cuomo signed legislation (S.3971B/A.1746C) creating a temporary state commission to study and investigate how to regulate artificial intelligence, robotics and automation. The commission will look at the latest uses and impacts of these technologies to determine how the State can best utilize and regulate them as necessary. The commission will examine how artificial intelligence, robotics […]


CSEA President Not Seeking Re-Election

According to a report from the Albany Times Union, Civil Service Employees Association President Danny Donohue announced to union staff on Wednesday afternoon at the University Club in Albany that he will not seek re-election. Donohue will serve the remainder of his term which ends in February 2020. Donohue began his career in 1965 as an attendant […]


Daughter of Former Congressman Exploring State Senate Bid

Michelle Hinchey, daughter of the late New York Congressman Maurice Hinchey,announced Wednesday that she is exploring a run for a state Senate seat. Hinchey formed a campaign committee to explore a 2020 run in the 46th State Senate District against Republican incumbent George Amedore. The 31-year-old Democrat says her father taught her the importance of how […]