Category Archives: Unshackle Upstate Update

City & State NY’s Winners and Losers here. After manual recount, Melinda Katz declares victory in Queens District Attorney race, despite a looming court battle. Former Manhattan DA Robert Morgenthau dies at 99.

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 Board of Regents will […]

Governor Cuomo, joined by former Vice President Al Gore, signed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) this week. The Governor also announced two offshore wind projects that are supposed to create 1,700 megawatts of renewable energy. The CLCPA requires the State to achieve a carbon free electricity system by 2040 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions […]

This week, Governor Cuomo signed into law S.6575/A.8414, which expands the Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) program and reauthorizes the program for an additional five years. The program was originally set to expire this year. The changes to the program include: Allows a certified MWBE to be considered the lowest bid if their bid is not more […]

Governor Cuomo this week signed the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act. The bill will take effect on January 1, 2020 and includes the following provisions: Grants collective bargaining rights to farm laborers; Requires employers of farm laborers to allow at least 24 consecutive hours of rest each week; Provides for 60-hour work week for farm workers; Requires […]

The Governor signed into law a bill (S.2833/A.558) to raise the minimum sales age for tobacco and electronic cigarette products from 18 to 21. Previously, each county was able to raise the age to 21 by the adoption of a local law. The law will take effect on November 13, 2019. Governor Cuomo said: “New York is taking […]

At this week’s Board of Regents meeting, Education Commissioner MaryEllen Eliaannounced that she would be resigning from her position at the end of August. The board was not informed of her decision to leave prior to announcing the move during the meeting. Elia is stepping down to join a national firm that specializes in helping districts […]

This week, the Rent Stabilization Association and the Community Housing Improvement Program, along with seven individual landlords, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York. The lawsuit alleges that the rent law approved last month violates the U.S. Constitution’s Fifth Amendment, which includes a clause that bars taking of private property without […]

City & State NY’s Winners and Losers here. Daily News Opinion: Governor Cuomo, approve this pipeline here. Cabán narrows Katz lead to 15 votes here. Governor urges caution during this weekend’s heat wave here.

The Assembly Committees on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions and Consumer Affairs and Protection will hold a joint public hearing on robocalls, spoofing and nuisance calls on a date to be determined (Postponed – Date TBD). JCOPE will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, July 23. The PSC will hold its next meeting on Thursday, August 8. The Board of Regents will […]