The Governor signed two bills aimed at reducing the number of petition signatures required to qualify for the ballot this week. The first bill reduces, temporarily, the required number of petition signatures by 25 percent for candidates in this election cycle. The need for this measure stems from the passage and signing of election reform bills earlier […]
Legislators are calling for a measure that would ban economic development deals that grant company specific subsidies or incentives, similar to the Amazon deal that was scuttled last week. Lawmakers like Senator Gianaris and Senator Salazar characterize such arrangements as corporate welfare and have introduced a bill to end such practices. The bill would create an interstate […]
New York joined a coalition of 16 states to file a federal lawsuit to prevent President Trump from building a border wall, bypassing congressional funding, through the declaration of a national emergency. The suit was filed in California’s Northern District, based in San Francisco, which has previously ruled against the President. The suit argues that the President […]
The State Board of Elections Enforcement Counsel, Risa Sugarman, is seeking $8.6 million in penalties and fines from senators, campaign staff, and party officials of the NYS Senate former Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) and the Independence Party in connection with the entities joint campaign finance practices. The partnership between the two entities allowed the IDC to maintain […]
A settlement was reached this week between New York City and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District over fraudulent damage claims in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. According to the filing, NYC Department of Transportation claimed pre-existing damage to the city fleet as having occurred during the storm and sought and received federal funds for replacement of vehicles […]
The New York State Complete Count Commission has scheduled six public hearings to begin the process of readying the state for the upcoming census. The commission has been maligned by advocates who bemoaned the late start. The commission’s final report was supposed to have been released on January 10th, but, Governor Cuomo did not appoint his members until January […]
City & State NY’s weekly Winners & Losers here. Cuomo attacks Senate Dems, calling the Amazon debacle as “the greatest tragedy I have seen since I have been in government” – Listen here. Times Union reviews Cuomo’s backseat seatbelt proposal. Replacement for Joe Crowley as Queens Democrat Chair named. Reports surface that James Dolan is taking offers to sell the Knicks. Jim Boeheim involved in tragic accident resulting in […]
JCOPE will meet Tuesday, February 29th. Sen. Metzger to hold a public hearing on the Climate & Community Protection Act on March 1st at 2pm. Hearing will be held at the New Paltz Village Hall. The Board of Regents will hold its next meeting March 11-12. PSC will hold its next meeting on March 14th.
The Governor, joined by Comptroller DiNapoli, held a press conference this week to announce that revenue collections had fallen far short of original projections, creating a massive $2.3 billion gap in this year’s budget. The Governor stated that a significant drop in personal income tax (PIT) receipts were the cause of the shortfall, blaming the federal cap […]
During the President’s State of the Union address this week he criticized New York’s passing of the Reproductive Health Act and proceeded to call on Congress to pass a law banning late term abortions. The President’s comments prompted push-back from the Governor and his administration, the Washington Post (owned by Amazon) had a fact check article produced […]