This week the Governor called on the legislature to codify a 2015 Executive Order that establishes a special prosecutor to investigate cases of unarmed civilian deaths involving police officers. The Governor argued that the executive order was a temporary measure, to be in place only until a law could be passed to codify the practice. The Governor […]
This week the Senate and Assembly passed a package of bills to commemorate animal advocacy day. Chief among the bills passed was a ban on the practice of declawing cats. If signed into law, New York will become the first state in the nation to ban the practice. Violators would face a $1,000 fine. The bill […]
This week the Senate passed a package of bills aimed at increasing limousine safety in the wake of two recent tragedies that together killed 24 people. The news laws, if passed by the Assembly and signed by the Governor, would require drivers go through drug and alcohol testing and obtain a commercial driver’s license with a passenger […]
City & State NY’s Winners and Losers here. Crain’s NY Business: 50 Most Powerful Women in New York here. City & State NY’s Queens District Attorney endorsement tracker here. Cuomo on Chartock (6/6/19) here. Cuomo on Chartock (6/7/19) here. Belmont Stakes: Post positions, odds etc. here.
The Senate Committee on Transportation will hold a public hearing to examine the legalization of E-Bikes and E-Scooters on June 7th. The PSC will hold its next meeting on June 13th. The Assembly Committee on Social Services will hold a public hearing on public assistance requirements on June 17th. The Assembly Committees on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions and Consumer Affairs and Protection […]
June 6, 2019 Dear Ms. Wylde: I read with great interest your recent column in the Empire Report regarding the ongoing prevailing wage debate. Your article raised some valid points about the negative effects of expanding a prevailing wage but made some assumptions about Upstate that I felt needed to be addressed. As the leading […]
With few legislative days remain in the 2019 session and several outstanding items remain on the legislature’s agenda. Despite one-party control, it is not clear they will be able to address the entirety of their agenda, but several issues that are being discussed raise significant concerns for Unshackle Upstate, our members that will have significant […]
This week, the Senate Finance Committee moved several of the Governor’s nominations. The committee favorably reported the following nominees: Linda Lacewell, Superintendent, Department of Financial Services Keith M. Corlett, Superintendent, State Police Angela Fernandez, Commissioner, Division of Human Rights Robert T. Williams, Executive Director, New York State Gaming Commission Allen Riley, Member, State Commission of […]
This week, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins issued a press release regarding their position on the ongoing rent regulation discussions. The press release comes after the Governor suggested the possibility of vetoing a package of rent regulation bills if he isn’t included in negotiations. The press release: “Now that both […]
Governor Cuomo signed into law the Finger Lakes Community Preservation Act (S.2270A/A.5029A), which prohibits the siting of a waste-to-energy facility in the Finger Lakes Watershed. Under the new law, waste-to-energy facilities will be prohibited from receiving a certificate of environmental compatibility and public need if the facility is: within the Oswego River/Finger Lakes Watershed; there […]