Education
Starting In June, New York Will Require $15 High-Speed Internet for Low-Income Families
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“For America, broadband holds great power. It will either be the great equalizer for society, or it will be the great divider.”
WSKG (https://wskg.org/author/dclark/)
“For America, broadband holds great power. It will either be the great equalizer for society, or it will be the great divider.”
“It is frustrating and heartbreaking that we have to call for and impose yet another travel ban in response to yet another state enacting dangerous and harmful anti-trans legislation.”
In recent days, the state’s COVID-19 indicators have shifted downward, with a decline in the statewide positivity rate compared to numbers seen in March.
“At same time, we caution New Yorkers. Don’t get cocky. The disease is still very much with us.”
“It is imperative that the Commission of Judicial Nomination focus on vetting and recommending qualified LGBTQ+ candidates, who have an intimate understanding of the unique perspectives and needs of our community.”
The new fund is designed to offer relief to undocumented immigrants who, during the pandemic, didn’t have access to unemployment and other benefits, like federal stimulus checks.
The deal will also require the state to study access and reliability of high-speed internet service statewide, including in historically underserved rural areas.
“We not only balanced our budget, we are also making historic investments to reimagine, rebuild and renew New York in the aftermath of the worst health and economic crisis in a century.”
The Ithaca plan was approved, while trustees in Malone ended up sending a revised version of its strategy to the state.
“I’m not talking about stopping a guy from sitting in his backyard and smoking a joint. Honestly, I really don’t care. But I know people are going to get in traffic crashes and they’re going to die.”
“As we continue to expand eligibility, New York will double down on making the vaccine accessible for every community to ensure equity.”
The law, approved nearly a year ago, essentially made it harder to sue those providers.
The New York Attorney General’s Office is conducting its own, simultaneous investigation into the sexual harassment claim leveled against Cuomo in recent weeks.
Democrats have said those tax hikes, coupled with other revenue raisers targeted at the wealthy, could generate more than $8 billion for the state each year.
Cuomo’s office is encouraging faith-based institutions to partner with medical providers to launch local vaccination clinics.
“The passage of HALT in the Senate brings us one step closer to bringing justice to all those who have lost loved ones to the wrongful use of solitary.”
Under the legislation, incarcerated individuals would not be allowed to spend more than 15 days in solitary confinement.
“I spent this past weekend on the phone with the Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes working through it. We’re very close on marijuana.”
Rather than wait for new cannabis cultivators to build from the ground up, medical cannabis companies say they could use their existing infrastructure to give the new market a boost.
“If you’re not careful the way you do it, you may actually lose money for the state because businesses and residents will make changes.”
New York has, so far, administered 6.2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, with about 10% of the state now fully vaccinated.
“I believe it is in the best interest of our State if Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul serves as Acting Governor until the Attorney General’s investigations or any other potential inquiries reach a conclusion.”
A majority of Democrats in the state Legislature either haven’t taken a public position on whether Cuomo should resign, or have said they want to wait for the results of the attorney general’s investigation.
“The supply is increasing, and if the supply is increasing we can increase our distribution levels.”
“There is no question that they both have the knowledge and background necessary to lead this investigation and provide New Yorkers with the answers they deserve.”
“We won’t be able to force a vote, but we’re going to keep pounding on this issue. If they really believe in resignation, why not start the impeachment process?”
That money would be used to fill the state’s budget deficit, which Cuomo’s office has projected to be about $15 billion over two years.
Over three million people have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in New York, according to the state, which is now administering more than 100,000 shots per day.
One day after Cuomo offered his response to the charges, many elected officials, both Democrats and Republicans, said they don’t buy it
The policy at group homes has been to require those facilities to admit residents discharged from the hospital regardless of their COVID-19 status.
“I never inappropriately touched anybody and I never propositioned anybody and I never intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable, but these are allegations that New Yorkers deserve answers to.”
The White House Press Secretary said President Biden has been briefed on the claims and supports an immediate investigation.
“The tragic situation in our nursing homes remains a heartbreaking reminder of the toll this pandemic has taken and has made it clear that real reforms are needed.”
“I do think there’s a consensus of the members that they want to take some action. We’re still trying to come to a place where all the members are comfortable, and I don’t know if we’re there yet.”
“This is a very big and aggressive effort to address vaccine hesitancy in the Black community.”
Cuomo’s proposal would set aside $100 million of the state tax revenue generated by the cannabis industry to be reinvested for purposes of social equity, targeting communities disproportionately impacted by the state’s drug laws.
In a rare concession, Cuomo said the state was wrong to stonewall lawmakers and members of the media on that data, saying it created a void for disinformation and “conspiracy theories.”
“Crucial information should never be withheld from entities that are empowered to pursue oversight. This was always about getting the truth and allowing information to guide our response.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio spent the better part of three hours on Thursday morning asking state lawmakers to empower localities to fight the pandemic and distribute vaccines, and raise taxes on ultra-wealthy New Yorkers.
The idea to create a process to recall statewide elected officials isn’t new. Republicans have sponsored the measure before, but it hasn’t picked up steam.
Cuomo, who was on a call with the Biden administration Tuesday morning, said the federal government is planning to boost the state’s vaccine supply by 5% over the next three weeks.
“Buying a new home should be a special achievement in a person’s life without the risk of becoming a victim of abhorrent discrimination.”
“The data is clear – families of color, particularly African Americans, do not have equal access to mortgage lending in Buffalo compared to white households.”
“You have to know where you went wrong in order to correct things.”
The steepest decline in sales tax collections happened during the peak of the pandemic, when sales tax collections dropped by about 27% statewide.
Governor Cuomo received word from the Biden administration that New York would receive an additional 5% of vaccine doses over the next three weeks.
The legislation would have required the Public Service Commission to study the availability, affordability, and reliability of high-speed internet
If you’re lucky enough to get engaged over a COVID-era dinner date, you’ll be able to get married as early as March 15.
The state will be launching a new advertising campaign targeted at communities of color with the intention of boosting vaccine recipients among those populations.
“Clearly, some facilities were not prepared to handle outbreaks through early and effective training or staffing.”
Residential gatherings will still be capped at 10 people, and certain restrictions on restaurants, like a capacity limit and 10 p.m. curfew, will also remain in effect statewide.
“Now, the states will know what they’re getting every week for the next three weeks, and we’re getting 16-17% more.”
“The state needs to step up and help us ensure that this industry is able to continue on and prosper. It is the lifeblood of New York state.”
If Cuomo doesn’t act on the bill by the end of the month, it will quietly disappear in the form of a pocket veto, which means lawmakers would have to pass it again for his consideration.
“We just need to keep the arrows pointed down, but, never get cocky with COVID.”
Cuomo, during his address on the state budget Tuesday, said the potential tax revenue from the cannabis industry would likely help garner support for legalization this year.
New York NOW’s Dan Clark hosted live coverage of the address along with analysis of the address with David Lombardo, host of The Capitol Pressroom on public radio, and Amanda Fries from the Times Union.
“The federal administration essentially opened up a floodgate while cutting our supply — leading to confusion, frustration, and dashed hopes.”
“A basic high-speed internet plan costs on average more than $50 per month. For too many families, this just isn’t affordable.”
“We are at war — a war that started last year when we were ambushed by the COVID virus, and a war that continues today,”
“I call on every New York federal official to call on president Trump’s resignation. Don’t put the country through impeachment. Don’t wait for any cabinet action. Call for him to resign as his own act.”
“We saw in the first big wave here in New York that the people who bore the brunt, the sacrifice and health problems, were the people who had to go to work.”
“What happened at the U.S. Capitol yesterday was an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president.”
“We need to get serious about making sure that everyone shares the burden,. We need to ask more of the millionaires and billionaires who have gotten even richer during this pandemic.”
“I’ve tried to pass it, but this is the year that we need the funding and a lot of New Yorkers need the funding.”
ALBANY, NY (WCNY) – Tenants in New York will be granted another reprieve in the new year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday, with an extension of an executive order that prevents landlords from evicting tenants who’ve faced financial hardship both during and before the COVID-19 pandemic. The extension, however, may be moot: Democrats in the state Legislature are considering a special session next week to codify and expand a moratorium on residential evictions. Details on what the Legislature may pass haven’t been released, and legislation hadn’t been introduced as of Wednesday afternoon. But Democrats who control both the state Senate and Assembly have been hinting at an end-of-year return to Albany for weeks now. Some of the state’s current protections for tenants expire on Jan.
Hospitalization rates are steadily rising. More than 6000 New Yorkers are in the hospital with COVID-19, and more than 1000 are in intensive care.
The Assembly Leader said it would be ideal to approve tax hikes on the rich before the start of the year instead of waiting to address the issue as part of the state budget in March.
“I know how horrific it was. It was a modern day battlefield. What you do, showing up every day, you really are heroes.”
A panel tasked with drawing new legislative districts for members of Congress and the state Legislature still hasn’t received funding allocated in this year’s state budget.
“This is an important step in the worldwide campaign to stop investments in fossil fuels in order to prevent the worst of global warming.”
“I think the time might’ve come to change the Electoral College, and I would support that change.”
“Overwhelming the hospital system means people die on a gurney in a hallway, and the life you could’ve saved you can’t save because you don’t have the staff, you don’t have the doctors, you don’t have the nurses.”
Part of Manhattan, Staten Island, Rochester, Syracuse, and Long Island could face new, or stronger, restrictions if the positivity rates in those areas don’t decline in the coming days.
That means Democrats would have more leverage in negotiations on controversial measures next year, when conversations are expected to center largely around the state’s budget deficit.
While the unemployment rate in the five boroughs dropped to 13.2% in October, the rate outside New York City went up from 6.6% in September to 6.9% in October.
“Despite our success in managing the spread, New York is not immune to this national surge of COVID.”
“Granting raises to public servants, no matter how much they might otherwise deserve them, is simply not possible at this time.”
“Let’s look at the law. There can be no more fundamental right in this moment than access to the vaccine.”
“So far we have been able to keep the budget balanced while minimizing the impact on New Yorkers and fighting the pandemic.”
The number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 also reached a new high in the latest wave of the virus, with nearly 4,000 cases reported Tuesday — the most since early May.
“Why do we have such a disparity in the infection rate and the mortality rate in COVID? Because some communities don’t have the same access to health care.”
“Western New York is a problem,” Cuomo said. “They are lower than states surrounding us, but relative to New York, they are the highest spots in New York.
“I think this year it is ripe because the state is going to be desperate for funding. Even with Biden, even with the stimulus, we’re still going to need funding. I think we’re going to get there this year.”
“Why would you possibly need someone’s social security number, ID number, or passport number before they receive a vaccine? There is no legitimate health reason.”
“COVID has revealed from the very beginning the underlying injustice and inequity in this society.”
Cuomo said the plan was “deeply flawed,” and would create a bottleneck in the demand for the vaccine.
“There is a problem in Elmira. We are already taking special measures for members of the population who may be vulnerable. They’re getting additional safety precautions within the facility.”
“Utilities do not have a mandate. They are legally required to provide adequate and reliable service that’s in the public interest … and they have dropped the ball far too long.”
Hospitalizations were up to 1,023 on Thursday, according to data released by Gov. Andrew Cuomo Friday. Exactly one month ago Friday, hospitalizations were at 490 in New York.
“Right now, the COVID outbreak at Elmira Prison, by far the largest yet, threatens countless lives both behind bars and in the surrounding communities.”
After the new bail reform laws took effect in January, some areas of the state started to report a rise in crime, particularly in New York City.
New York will not restrict travel from Pennsylvania because of the number of people who go back and forth for business each day.
“This is a larger operational undertaking, I would argue, than anything we have done during COVID to date. And we need the federal government to be a competent partner with this state and every state.”
The book, titled ‘American Crisis,’ is Cuomo’s attempt to convince readers that New York formed a competent response to the pandemic, while characterizing President Donald Trump and his administration as careless and dismissive to the virus.
The statewide infection rate, including the 20 hotspot zip codes, was 1.1% Saturday, Cuomo said. There were 14 new deaths and, after several days of increases, total hospitalizations dropped to 618, according to state data.
“If the local governments don’t step up the compliance, they will actually be in violation of the law and they can be fined.”
“Not only is a homeless encampment a violation of that homeless person’s dignity, it’s also a public health threat.”
“I want people to have fundamental stability in their lives. Nobody’s going to be evicted because of housing.”
“If we have to close this deficit without Washington, there’s going to be no good way to do it. There’s going to be no constructive way to do it.”
“To be clear, no entity or individual is allowed to dictate how or when our investigation will proceed or set the parameters of a lawful investigation,”
The unemployment rate in most of the state’s metro areas in New York dipped below 10% in August for the first time since March.
New York state will begin enforcing its ban on single-use carry-out plastic bags next month after a brief hiatus of the law due to a legal challenge brought earlier this year.
Governor Cuomo had said on Sept. 10 that New York might have to raise taxes to deal with its massive budget deficit but has since walked back those comments.
NEW YORK NOW – The state’s largest teachers union filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Division of Budget over more than $5 billion in state spending that’s expected to be withheld from school districts as the state grapples with an unprecedented budget crisis.
“Instead of a frivolous lawsuit, NYSUT should turn its attention to Washington and work with us to get the assistance New York’s children deserve.”
Thousands of restaurants in the five boroughs have three weeks to prepare their establishments to comply with the state’s guidance for reopening.
The war of words between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and President Donald Trump escalated again Monday, with both accusing the other of attempting to destroy the economic viability of New York City, and the state, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Casinos in New York will be allowed to reopen next Wednesday, Sept. 9, as long as they have a sufficient air filtration system and limit the number of people allowed in the facility at one time, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday.
After video this week showed police in Rochester placing a bag over the head of a Black man during an arrest, and then pinning him down, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday that he wanted the state Attorney General’s Office to expedite its investigation into the incident.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that President Donald Trump has been the “worst president in history” from the point of New York City, and that the “best thing he did for New York City was leave.”
Voters in New York can now request an absentee ballot for the November elections online, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday, with a special portal set up by the state to handle those requests statewide.
“Any student that is ticketed will be…suspended immediately because this is serious. So we are moving very aggressively with those cases, with those parties on or off campus.”
Colleges in New York will be required to return to remote learning for at least two weeks if either 100 cases of COVID-19 are diagnosed, or 5% of that institution’s population tests positive, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday.
“It’s no coincidence the moment the Trump administration is caught weakening the CDC’s COVID-19 testing guidelines to artificially lower the number of positive cases, they launched this nakedly partisan deflection.”
New York state is suing President Donald Trump and the head of the U.S. Postal Service over recent policy changes that Attorney General Letitia James said Tuesday would unconstitutionally limit access to this year’s elections for those who plan to vote by mail.
Republicans in the state Legislature are hoping that support from a handful of Democrats on a bill to establish an independent probe into the state’s handling of nursing homes during the COVID-19 crisis will garner momentum for the measure.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who’s risen to national fame in recent months through daily televised briefings on New York’s response to the coronavirus, delivered a speech to Democrats in Wisconsin Monday intended to both unite the party and condemn the federal government.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo formally gave schools the green light to reopen on Friday, saying the coronavirus infection rate was low enough in New York for students to return to class in the coming weeks.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday said a provision of the President’s measure that requires states to foot part of the bill was unworkable.
A series of legal protections granted during the COVID-19 pandemic to nursing homes and health care facilities as part of the state budget was partially rolled back on Monday.
New York, fearing the financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, has decided to pull an item from this year’s ballot to decide if the state should borrow $3 billion to fund a series of environmental projects related to climate change.
People traveling to New York from more than two-thirds of the country will now have to quarantine for at least two weeks upon entering the state, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday, after infection rates in three more states exceeded New York’s threshold.
“They had been promising, promising, promising. It’s not that I was waiting without them suggesting possibility. They have been saying we’re going to do it. Then they didn’t.”
Democrats, who hold the majority in both chambers of the Legislature, returned to Albany this week to wrap up some loose ends
People traveling to New York from nearly two-thirds of the country will now have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon entering the state after Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that 10 more states would be added to that list.
“Trump’s COVID scandal makes what Nixon did at Watergate look innocent. Nobody died in the Watergate scandal. Thousands of people are going to die in this COVID scandal.”
Regions will be allowed to reopen schools if, by the first week of August, the infection rate remains below 5% using a 14-day average.
Lawmakers announced legislation Friday that would cancel rent for all tenants in New York through the COVID-19 state of emergency, and 90 days thereafter.
Given that the state claimed earlier this week that visitors were partly responsible for previously spreading the virus at those facilities, Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said they’re proceeding with caution.
New York will decide if schools will reopen this fall in the first week of August, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday, and tasked districts across the state with coming up with plans in the event that they’re allowed to resume in-person learning.
Travelers from three more states will now be required to quarantine themselves for two weeks when they enter New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday.
“If other states have a high infection rate, probability is they’re going to wind up increasing the spread in New York.”
Hospitalizations from the disease also dropped Saturday, bringing the total number of people requiring treatment for the disease down to 869.
“We’re really looking at some of the unchartered territory at the state level, which involves transgender New Yorkers who have only just received statewide protections.”
New York has hit another milestone in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic: hospitalizations from the disease have now dipped below 1,000 for the first time in about three months, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday.
People traveling to New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut from states with high infection rates of the coronavirus, like Florida and Texas, will be required to quarantine themselves for 14 days.
The unemployment rate nearly quadrupled in New York state’s metro areas in May compared to the same time last year, landing at 14.5% across the board, according to data released Tuesday by the state Department of Labor.
$20 million will be available to help reopen and expand capacity for child care providers, and $45 million will be available to help pay for the cost of a newly opened classroom.
Rochester, Ithaca, Binghamton, Elmira, and Utica, as well as the surrounding communities, will all be allowed to start the first phase of reopening this Friday.
The New York Farm Bureau has asked the state, in recent days, to ramp up testing for COVID-19 in rural areas of the state, particularly at farms.