App NEWS
With COVID Compliance Slipping, Cuomo Postpones Indoor Dining In New York City
|
Cuomo blames local governments, who are supposed to enforce rules at restaurants, bars, stores and other public places.
App NEWS
Services For Disabled New Yorkers Burdened By State Budget Cuts
|
Created just two years ago, the centers coordinate services including therapies, behavioral health specialists, job placement and recreational opportunities for their clients.
App NEWS
Governor Cuomo Adds 8 More No Go States
|
“The good news is, our house is doing very well. The bad news is the neighbor’s home is on fire.”
App NEWS
New York Governor Seeks Legal Means To Enforce Quarantine On Out-of-State Travelers
|
Governor Andrew Cuomo says New York is offering help to states like Texas and Arizona that are struggling with spiking COVID-19 infections.
App NEWS
New York Cities Face “Temporary” Cuts In State Aid
|
“They don’t know when the temporary period is going to end. Or whether they, down the road, may might be told they will never receive the aid”.
App NEWS
In Reversal, New York Threatens Quarantine On Visitors From Other States
|
The governor has talked about the possibility of imposing a 14 day quarantine for those who travel from the 20 plus other states
App NEWS
“Nightmare Scenario” Confronts Binghamton, Other New York Cities
|
There’s a growing movement in the state Legislature to raise taxes on the wealthy to help balance the state’s budget and to help cities out.
Government
Niagara County Republican Elected Senate Minority Leader
|
Ortt takes the leadership post at a difficult time; during the COVID-19 pandemic, waning enrollment in the Republican Party and a fundraising disadvantage.
App NEWS
ARCHIVE: Governor Cuomo’s Daily Coronavirus Briefings
|
“I’m going to finish the daily briefings on Friday, and then we’ll do briefings as necessary, and I’m sure they will often be necessary.”
App NEWS
Cuomo’s Briefings Offered An Anchor During A Time Of Uncertainty
|
“The journey is over. I hope the journey stays over .”
Government
Cuomo Proposes Making Juneteenth A New York Holiday
|
“It is a day that we should all reflect upon. It’s a day that is especially relevant in this moment in history.
New York Looks To Protect Personal Information Gathered Through Contact Tracing
|
“Ever since this era, our system has been trying to make up for this huge breach in public health trust. Trust is core to our ability to counter the COVID epidemic in the United States.”
binghamton
State Leaders Favor Restructuring, Not Defunding New York’s Police
|
“A legitimate conversation about whether or not the police are the best people to send for a situation is, I believe, a valid conversation.”
Government
New York Senate Leader Tells Her Story Of A Life Affected By Racism
|
Senate Leader Stewart-Cousins says passage of the bills gives her hope, but she says they can’t alone “fix racism in America”.
App NEWS
Lawmakers Repeal New York Law Used To Suppress Police Disciplinary Reports
|
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, the first African-American to hold that title, has long supported the repeal of the provision, but it has long languished in the legislature.
Crime and Justice
New York Lawmakers Resume Work On A Police Accountability Package
|
“I’m hopeful that this is our moment, that George Floyd and all those that came before him did not die in vain.”
App NEWS
Votes On School Budgets Take Place Amidst Uncertainty
|
“The word is uncertainty. We don’t know what’s going to happen and it’s very tough for our school districts to budget.”
App NEWS
New York Governor Counters President’s ‘Photo Op,’ Cites Bible Passages
|
“Here in New York, we actually read the Bible. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God’.”
App NEWS
Outdoor Dining Reopens Today In Upstate Regions
|
“The No. 1 contributor to New York state sales tax are bars and restaurants, so it will help the economy, it’ll help local businesses and it’ll help (our) finances as well.”
App NEWS
Governor ‘Disappointed, Outraged’ Over Continued Looting In New York City
|
Cuomo stopped short of saying that he would deploy the state’s National Guard to any city without a request by its political leaders.
Government
Cuomo: Mass Protests Could Lead To New Coronavirus Outbreak
|
“People lost their jobs, people wiped out their savings, and now, mass gatherings with thousands of people in close proximity? What sense does this make?”
Governor Calls For State Probe Into NYPD actions, Sends National Guard To Buffalo
|
“Last night was an ugly night all across this nation. It was an ugly night across this state.”
Episodes
Voters Have More Options On Primary Election Day, But Advocates Want More Safeguards
|
Voters eligible to cast ballots in the Democratic presidential primary and several congressional and state legislative primaries will be mailed applications for absentee ballots.
Government
New York State Legislature To Vote On COVID-19 Bills
|
State lawmakers returned to session this week, with plans to vote on bills aimed at helping New Yorkers cope with all of the changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
App NEWS
Poll Finds New Yorkers Okay With Phased Reopening
|
The poll finds Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 66% approval rating is still among the highest during his 9 years in office.
Andrew Cuomo
Beaches To Open In New York, But Summer Day Camps Still In Question
|
There are growing concerns and many unanswered questions about the pediatric inflammatory disease associated with COVID-19.
Government
New York Churches Don’t Want To Be Among The Last To Reopen
|
“We are going to have to put strict limits in terms of capacity in every church, and all sorts of restrictions.”
New York Small Business Owners Describe Struggles At Legislative Hearing
|
Small business owners, including restauranteur Carlos Suarez, testified about the struggles they have endured to get federal aid.
Andrew Cuomo
Fifth Region Of The State Allowed To Begin Reopening
|
He said New York’s North Country and the Central New York regions have met the state’s criteria.
App NEWS
Hoping To Reopen Soon, New York Businesses Draw Up Plans
|
“They are all feeling very ready to get back to work. Most of them are in the process of trying to develop plans to get there.”
App NEWS
Voters In New York’s Presidential Primary Will Receive Absentee Ballot Forms
|
There will likely still be polling places open on June 23rd, but Governor Cuomo is strongly encouraging voters to use the mail- in option instead.
Governor Outlines Rules For New York’s Return To Work
|
“You’d rather have a controlled start, so that you don’t have to stop. You reopen too fast, then you have to stop.”
Education
Schools In New York Will Remain Closed Through June
|
“We’re going to have the schools closed for the rest of the year. We’re going to continue the distance learning programs.”
Food and Farms
New York State Will Coordinate New Markets For Dairy Farmers
|
“It’s very frustrating. We have excess milk but we can’t get it to people who are in need at this time.”
Environment
New York’s Plastic Bag Ban Effectively On Hold
|
“The science just does not back up shifting to plastic bags. But everyone is trying to make the best of a really difficult situation.”
App NEWS
Without Federal Help, New York Officials Say State Budget Cuts Coming
|
The state’s economy could lose a staggering $243 billion, or 14% of the state’s gross domestic product, over the course of the pandemic and the economic recovery.
Government
Cuomo: Report Predicts $61-Billion State Deficit Over 4 Years
|
The governor has said he might cut funding to schools, hospitals and local governments by 20%, but he said Friday no decision has been made.
Government
Cuomo: Elective Surgeries Can Start Again In Some Parts Of Upstate NY
|
Cuomo also said elective outpatient surgeries will be allowed to resume in counties that do not have a significant number of people sick with the coronavirus.
Government
Some New Yorkers Could Soon Undergo Elective Surgeries
|
“We’re at a point where some of the upstate hospitals have significant financial burdens because they are not doing the elective surgeries.”
App NEWS
Spring Break Ends Monday, But The New York Legislature Has No Plan To Meet
|
“Is the session effectively over? It’s up to the legislature, but I think it’s effectively over.”
App NEWS
Saying This Is No Time For Politics, New York Governor Quits Growing Fight With President
|
Cuomo compared the President’s briefings to a comedy skit, and said they are “infuriating” and “ignorant”, and that there is “no value” in watching them.
Economy
New York, Pennsylvania And Other States Form Task Force On Reopening Society
|
“We want it ASAP, but we want it smart. Not political.”
App NEWS
New York Schools Face An Uncertain Financial Future
|
The New York State School Boards Association says schools are bracing for teacher lay offs over the next year.
Government
Pay Frozen For New York State Workers
|
With New York facing a $10 to $15 billion dollar deficit, and a steep drop in revenue with almost all businesses closed, the governor says he has few choices.
App NEWS
Hospitalization Rates Flatten, But Covid Deaths Break Another Record In New York
|
“The bad news isn’t just bad. The bad news is actually terrible.”
Government
COVID Death Toll Reaches New High, But New York’s Hospitalizations Trend Downward
|
731 New Yorkers died in the past day from the virus, the highest number yet, bringing the death total to 5,489.
Government
Minor New York Parties Say Budget Provision Unfairly Weakens Them
|
“People are dying, people are losing their jobs, businesses are folding. That ought not be reason for politicians to figure out a way to give themselves a little extra money in their campaign coffers.”
App NEWS
Governor Orders Upstate Hospitals To Send Spare Ventilators Downstate
|
“Those institutions will either get their ventilator back, or they will be reimbursed and paid for their ventilator. So they can buy a new ventilator.”
Crime and Justice
New York Budget Includes Bail Reform Roll Back
|
“The bail reform that we did last year I’m very proud of, and I think we made the right change now.”
Government
New York’s State Budget Nearly Complete
|
“The budget that we are passing is not the budget that any of us had hoped to pass at the beginning of this session.”
Government
Bedtime Delayed: Overdue Budget Prompts New York Lawmakers To Stay Up Late
|
“If money comes in during the course of the year, we’ll spend it. If we actually lose money, we have to adjust it. That’s life. We can’t spend what we don’t have.”
Government
New York Puts Off Legalizing Marijuana, For Now
|
“Not moving to legalize cannabis through the budget process right now … it makes sense.”
Government
Budget Deadline Tonight; New York Lawmakers Struggle With Coronavirus Fallout
|
“We have to make drastic cuts to the budget. Like you have never seen.”
App NEWS
Poll Gives Cuomo High Ratings For Handling Coronavirus
|
The numbers are the highest since January 2013, just before Cuomo championed a strict gun control law after the Sandy Hook, Connecticut school shooting.
App NEWS
New York Extends Stay At Home Order Through April 15
|
“This is not a lockdown. It’s nothing that we haven’t been doing. Nonessential people should stay home.”
App NEWS
Coronavirus Could Postpone New York’s Presidential Primary, Promote Mail-In Voting
|
“Any at risk individuals should be rightfully wary of voting in person at crowded polling places.”
As Budget Deadline Looms, Cuomo Wants To Try Something New
|
New York’s governor wants to pass the budget by April 1 and then update the state spending plan quarterly.
Government
Lawmakers Still On Track To Finish New York Budget By April 1
|
“We will pass a budget and address the policy items that we laid out and we discussed. We’re going to pursue all of them.”
Government
Governor Still Searching For Enough Ventilators, Praises Kushner For Cooperation
|
State health officials are still exploring whether one ventilator can serve two patients, as was done in Italy when the virus overwhelmed that country’s health care system.
App NEWS
Concern Grows For Inmates In New York Prison System
|
The states of California, Ohio and Texas are already releasing some prisoners to prevent a major outbreak in their prisons.
App NEWS
In A Small Way, Planning Begins For A Restart Of New York’s Economy
|
The governor says he has absolutely “no second thoughts” about ordering a complete shut down of businesses this week.
App NEWS
Cuomo Calls On President To Mobilize American Industry; Considers Mail-In Ballots
|
“The federal government should order factories to manufacture masks, gowns, ventilators. The essential medical equipment that’s going to make a difference between life and death.”
App NEWS
New York Orders All Workers To Stay Home After 8:00 p.m. Sunday
|
If someone feels sick, they should seek a telehealth appointment, or call their doctor, and should not try to go to a doctor’s office.
App NEWS
Medicaid Panel Recommends $2.5B In Health Care Spending Reductions
|
A state panel tasked with reducing the state’s Medicaid budget voted on a plan to cut $2.5 billion out of the state’s health care system.
Economy
Cuomo Orders Shopping Malls To Close This Evening At 8:00
|
The governors of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania also moved to close the indoor portions of retail shopping malls, amusement parks and bowling alleys.
App NEWS
New York State Legislature Passes Quarantine Sick Leave
|
“I hope [it] assures every single person in our state that we are at work and we will not rest,”
New York’s Comptroller Says Deficit Could Be $4-7 Billion Higher Due To Coronavirus
|
“This is an extraordinary time that we are going through, and it makes estimating the revenue impact of the pandemic very, very difficult.”
App NEWS
Cuomo Tamps Down Quarantine Talk, While NYC Mayor Says Prepare To Shelter In Place
|
The governor, trying to tamp down rumors spreading on social media, also said he has no plans at this time to quarantine any cities in the state.
Government
Hoping To Contain Coronavirus, New York Shuts Down Large Facilities in Westchester County Community
|
“This will be a period of disruption for the local community, I understand that. This can’t be a political decision; this is a public health decision.”
App NEWS
New York Makes Hand Sanitizer; Port Authority Head Comes Down With Coronavirus
|
State health officials are releasing a plan for possible school closures if a child is found to have the illness.
App NEWS
Momentum Grows For Revisions To New York’s Bail Reform Laws
|
The Leader of the New York State Senate says it’s likely that changes will soon be made to the state’s new bail reform laws, which end most forms of cash bail for non violent offenses.
Featured in Category
Food CO-OP Calls New York’s Upcoming Plastic Bag Ban No Big Deal
|
“We’re lucky that over half of our shoppers are already using reusable bags. We sell dozens of different kinds. It’s kind of a normal thing here.”
Environment
New York Prepares For March 1st Plastic Bag Ban
|
The Department of Environmental Conservation has stepped up its efforts in recent days to help New Yorkers understand the new rules.
Government
New York Governor To Tour States Where Cannabis Is Legal
|
Cuomo said he’ll go to California, Colorado, Illinois and Massachusetts in the coming weeks to meet with officials there and find out how they are carrying out the monitoring, sale and taxing of the drug.
Government
New York Governor Presses Again For Flavored Vaping Ban
|
“This is literally a matter of life and death, literally every day, more kids are getting addicted. One way or the other, by April 1 this has to become law.”
Environment
Supporters/Opponents Find Fault With New York’s Plastic Bag Ban Regulations
|
“They’re going to have a mess on their hands when this really goes into effect. There’s going to be some clean up on aisle three.”
App NEWS
Attorneys For Sex Abuse Victims Not Deterred By Boy Scout Bankruptcy
|
“On some level, this is the Boy Scouts accepting responsibility for what happened.”
Crime and Justice
Disgraced Former Minority Leader Won’t Seek Reelection To New York Assembly
|
Brian Kolb stepped down from his leadership post after being arrested for drunk driving on New Year’s Eve.
Crime and Justice
New York Senate Proposal To Rollback Bail Reform Sparks Anger
|
“Sometimes you’ve got to be profane to be profound.”
Crime and Justice
New York Assembly Speaker Not Ready To Roll Back Bail Reforms
|
“You need real data, real information, not cherry – picked stories and sensationalized events to try to paint a picture as to whether the law is working or not.”
Government
Entertainers Lobby Albany For Paid Gestational Surrogacy
|
“I felt like my body rejected me and now my home state has rejected me.”
Government
Hoping To Regain Access To Expedited Travel Programs, New York’s Attorney General Sues Feds
|
“It will slow down commerce, it will cost our economy. All while posing a significant threat to public safety.”
App NEWS
Homeland Security Shuts New Yorkers Out Of “Global Entry”; Governor Calls It A “Political Stunt”
|
Global Entry, part of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service, allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to get expedited clearance through automatic kiosks at select airports.
App NEWS
Not All Of New York’s “Gig Workers” Want Proposed Protections
|
“Too many corporations are increasing their profits at the expense of the employee.”
Crime and Justice
Bail Reform Debate Sparks Accusations Of Racism On Social Media
|
“They don’t give a damn about our community. What they want is to continue to put black and brown folk and poor white folk (in jail).”
App NEWS
Bill To Ban Some Animal Sales At New York Pet Stores Gains Momentum
|
“The unsanitary conditions and ways in which these animals are kept is cruel and inhumane.”
App NEWS
Supporters Of March 1st Plastic Bag Ban Want More Publicity
|
“We’re going to probably get some negative feedback those first few weeks as we try to transition.”
Crime and Justice
GOP Lawmakers Intensify Pushback Against New York’s Bail Reform Laws
|
“This is the number one issue, it’s not even close. This is what people are talking about.”
App NEWS
Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse Want More Time To File Lawsuits
|
“A lot of people need more time. Some people are just starting to come to grips with the abuse that happened to them, and they’re not ready.”
App NEWS
Tensions Surface At Hearing On Proposed Cuts In Medicaid
|
Several New York lawmakers called the governor’s proposal a blatant “cost shift” to local governments.
Addiction
Supporters Of Legalizing Cannabis In New York Say Dedicated Fund Is Key
|
“I know the governor has a good heart, and I know he probably will try to make sure that there are resources invested in communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted.”
App NEWS
Both Ends Of Political Spectrum Uneasy With New York’s Budget Process
|
“The process is rigged to advance the governor’s agenda, undermine the role of the legislature, and distract from the hard financial choices that need to be made this year.”
Government
Cuomo Trims Health Care Spending By $2.5-Billion In Proposed Budget
|
Since the state pays for the cost overruns, which the Governor said run in the billions of dollars, local governments don’t have the incentive to hold the line on medical costs.
App NEWS
Governor’s School Aid Proposal Could Be Lower Than Many New York Lawmakers And Advocates Want
|
While New York may be first in the amount of spending per pupil, it ranks 49th in the nation in its unequal distribution of school funding.
Government
New York Governor Wants $10-Million Increase In State Spending On Census Count
|
“We literally have to knock on doors, call people’s homes. Let them understand what the census is.”
App NEWS
Governor Releases Budget Proposal Tuesday As New York Faces Largest Deficit In A Decade
|
“No one should worry. Be optimistic, it’s going to work out.”
Government
New York Comptroller Report: State Gives More To Feds Than It Gets Back
|
“We are part of a very small number of states that are net donors to the federal government. A little fairness would be nice,”
App NEWS
Senate Dems Face GOP Pressure To Revise New York’s Bail Reform Laws
|
“They are tone-deaf. They are not listening to people back in their districts.”
Government
Senate Dems Pass Voter Access Bills, While The GOP Tries To Change The Subject
|
“I do know that the laws we are passing in this chamber, including this one, are certainly making it far more likely that someone who is here illegally will be registered to vote.”
Government
State Of The State Address Focuses On Hate Crimes And Legalizing Cannabis
|
Governor Andrew Cuomo drew cheers from the audience of lawmakers, lobbyists and state judges when he outlined his proposal to create a new crime of domestic terrorism.
App NEWS
Replacement Named For New York Assembly’s GOP Leader
|
Will Barclay, who represents parts of Onondaga, Oswego and Jefferson counties, replaces Brian Kolb, who resigned after being charged with drunk driving on New Year’s Eve.
Government
State of the State Speech Comes As New York Faces A Deficit
|
“The big gorilla of the session is how are they going to deal with the budget deficit, and that’s not easy.”
App NEWS
New York Democrats Show Cracks Over Support For Criminal Justice Reforms
|
“There’s no doubt this is still a work in progress, and there are other changes that have to be made.”
Government
Cut In New York’s Payments To Medicaid Providers Reduces State Budget Deficit…Slightly
|
Over the New Year’s holiday, New York’s Governor announced that health care providers will see a 1% drop in the reimbursements they receive for the government-funded Medicaid health care program.
Crime and Justice
New Laws In New York In 2020
|
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who shepherded the criminal justice reforms through his chamber, said the new laws are meant to change a “racist and classist system.”
Crime and Justice
New York Ends Most Cash Bail In 2020
|
New York will end cash bail for everyone accused of a nonviolent crime and adopt new rules in the pretrial discovery process.
Government
Cuomo, New York Lawmakers Face Budget Deficit In 2020
|
Much of the gap is caused by higher costs for Medicaid, the health care insurance program for low-income people.
Government
Will New York Legalize Marijuana In 2020?
|
Legislators did decriminalize possession of marijuana, from a misdemeanor to a fine, although people can still be arrested for having the drug on them.
Government
Despite Year End Rush, No Decision Yet From New York’s Governor On Bill That Bans Toxins In Toys
|
It would outlaw the sale of some toys and other children’s products like car seats and bedding that can contain over 100 harmful and toxic substances.
App NEWS
New York Governor Proposes Ban On Foam Food Containers, “Packing Peanuts”
|
The measure would make illegal the use of the plastic foam for single-use food containers by restaurants, caterers, food trucks, retail food stores, delis and grocery stores.
Government
Another Republican State Senator Announces A 2020 retirement
|
Senator Rich Funke of Rochester joins a growing list of 7 other minority party GOP Senators who say they are moving on to other things
App NEWS
Supporters And Opponents Of Plastic Bag Ban Find Fault With New York’s Proposed Regulations
|
State regulators have released new rules to enforce the changes, but groups on both sides of the issue say those rules are flawed.
Government
To Close The State Budget Deficit, Some Lawmakers Suggest A Tax On Stock Sales
|
“It’s a sales tax. It was actually brought in by the Republican Party in 1905 because Republicans don’t like income taxes, they prefer sales taxes.”
Economy
PA’s Attorney General Says Trump’s Tipped Wage Proposal Could Hurt Workers
|
The proposed Department of Labor rule notes that it could allow employers to save some money by letting tipped and non-tipped workers pool their pay.
The New York Senate’s GOP Conference Could Shrink Further
|
In recent days, three Republican Senators have announced they are done after next year.
binghamton
New York Senate Leader Cool On Wealth Tax
|
The leader of the New York state Senate said she does not think there will be new broad-based taxes on the wealthy to close the state’s multi-billion dollar budget shortfall.
App NEWS
Despite Concerns From Counties, New York Lawmakers Won’t Revise Criminal Justice Reforms
|
The leader of the New York state Senate said lawmakers will not revise criminal justice reforms that will result in an end to most forms of cash bail beginning in January.
App NEWS
Supporters Of New York’s Bail, Discovery Law Reforms Rebut Backlash
|
Beginning in January, New York ends cash bail for all nonviolent crimes and prosecutors reveal all the evidence they have to suspects within 15 days.
App NEWS
Balancing New York’s State Budget: Raise Taxes Or Cut Costs?
|
New York State is facing the largest budget gap in several years. The $6 billion dollar deficit is due largely to higher costs for Medicaid.
App NEWS
New York Assembly May Consider More Taxes On Wealthy
|
The Assembly Speaker said it’s a better choice than “cutting health care or denying health care” to New Yorkers.
Government
Due To Missing Provision, Courts Could Sink New York’s Public Campaign Finance Plan
|
It’s called a severability clause, and it’s often included to protect a new law from court challenges.
albany
NY Public Finance Commission Plan Condemned By State’s Minor Political Parties
|
The commission’s work is being challenged in court by the Working Families Party, the Conservative Party, and republicans in the senate and assembly.
News
New York Democrats Like Joe Biden As Presidential Frontrunner
|
The Siena College poll finds that former Vice President Biden has a 10 point lead among New York Democrats in the race for President.
App NEWS
New York Attorney General Sues The Nation’s Largest E-Cigarette Manufacturer
|
“I can not sit back and allow this to continue to occur in the state of New York. Particularly after the death of a young person in the Bronx that was due to vaping.”
App NEWS
Binghamton Mayor Leads Chorus Of Concerns Over 2020 Criminal Justice Reforms
|
“We do not currently have the staffing to meet the timeline that’s in place right now,” Binghamton Mayor Rich David said.
Concern Rises Over Direction Of New York’s Public Campaign Finance Commission
|
“The charge of this commission is to set up a system of public financing to reduce the undue influence of big money in our politics. These contribution limits will allow big money to continue flowing, and it’s just completely unacceptable.”
Government
New York Law Gives Adoptees Access To Birth Certificates
|
“For too many years, adoptees have been wrongly denied access to this information, and I am proud to sign this legislation into law and correct this inequity once and for all.”
Government
New York Faces Multi-Billion-Dollar Medicaid Gap
|
“I think everybody would admit it’s a gimmick. You don’t have enough money in your checking account to pay your bills and so you just tell the people who are expecting money, ‘You have to hang on for a few days until my checkbook replenishes.’ ”
App NEWS
Commissioners Disagree On Best Way To Devise Public Campaign Finance In New York
|
“War chests are in, high contribution limits are in. We are designing a system that is not going to incentivize viable candidates to participate.”
App NEWS
Governor Signs 14 Bills For New York Vets, Calls Trump’s Participation In NYC Parade “Great”
|
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo mostly avoided President Donald Trump, who also attended Monday’s Veterans Day parade in New York City.
App NEWS
Federal Judge Dismisses Challenge To Law Granting Drivers Licenses To Undocumented Immigrants
|
“The law aims to make our roads safer, our economy stronger, and allows immigrants to come out of the shadows to sign up as legal drivers in our state.”
Crime and Justice
Prosecutors Say They Need More Money To Enact Changes To New York’s Criminal Justice Law
|
“Every DA in the state is going to try. What you’ll see is that there are going to be difficulties.”
News
Cuomo Has “No Problem” With Trump Appearing At NYC Veterans’ Day Parade
|
“Everybody is invited, everyone should honor veterans. The more that come, the better.”
Crime and Justice
Pushback From Police, Republicans To New York’s Bail Reform Laws
|
Sweeping reforms that will end cash bail for all misdemeanor and nonviolent felony charges in New York state take effect in January. But some law enforcement groups are objecting.
News
New York Politicians, Party Leaders React To Election Results
|
There were mixed reactions Wednesday from New York’s politicians and political parties on this year’s election results.
App NEWS
New York’s Governor Supports Fusion Voting But A Commission He Helped Create May End The Practice
|
Governor Andrew Cuomo supports fusion voting, or allowing candidates to run on multiple party lines, even though a commission appointed by the governor could end the practice.
Health
As Cases Mount, New York Health Officials Still Haven’t Identified Cause Of Deadly Vaping Illness
|
The vaping-related respiratory illness that has sickened over 1,800 people across the nation, including 156 New Yorkers, and caused 38 deaths.
Government
CBD Regulation In New York Remains In Limbo
|
In New York, a bill that would regulate CBD is in limbo. The State Legislature has approved it, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo hasn’t acted on it yet.
News
So Far, So Good As Early Voting Continues In New York State
|
Over 130,000 New Yorkers have already voted in the November elections as part of the state’s first-ever early voting system. And those who are closely watching say so far, it’s been a largely successful rollout.
Government
Proposal By New York State Democratic Party Chair Could Help Conservatives
|
In the email to a commission formed to create a public campaign financing system for New York elections, Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs proposed changing the qualifications for minor parties to automatically earn a place on the ballot.
Economy
Bill Would Allow Reusable Beverage Container Refills In New York
|
Two Democratic state lawmakers have introduced a bill that would give customers in cafes, fast food shops and even in some restaurants, the option to use their own container for coffee, water, or to bring home left overs.
App NEWS
April Presidential Primary Could Include Special Election For Congressional Seat
|
The possible timing of a special election for a congressional seat has some Republicans crying foul.
App NEWS
Abrupt Reversal By Campaign Finance Commission Leaves Supporters Wondering
|
“When there’s a sudden reversals based on zero evidence, it seems, it makes you wonder whether other people are pulling the strings here.”
News
Republicans Criticize New York’s Public Finance Commission
|
Republican leaders in the New York Legislature are speaking out against a commission that is creating a public campaign financing system for state elected offices, saying the panel is fatally flawed.
Government
Days Before Early Voting Begins, Some New York Lawmakers Already Want To Make Changes
|
“I think we need to come up with better guidelines from the state and not leave it just to the counties to determine where (polling places) can be.”
Andrew Cuomo
Cuomo Attends Regional Summit On Legal Cannabis, Vaping Illness Epidemic
|
The states also agreed to take more steps to discourage minors from vaping any type of products, including nicotine.
App NEWS
Public Campaign Finance Commission Meets On State Holiday
|
A New York commission formed to come up with a plan to publicly finance state election campaigns will hold a special meeting on Columbus Day.
binghamton
New York Reports First Fatality From Vaping Illness
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The teen was previously hospitalized in early September with a vaping-associated respiratory illness. He was re-admitted to the hospital in late September and passed away on October 4.
Government
Critics Say State Funding For 2020 Census Preparation Is Too Little Too Late
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Immigrants’ rights groups wanted $40 million dollars to pay for programs and staff to help convince people in under counted communities that it is in their interest to complete the census. But they say only $20 million is was included.
Government
New York’s Ban On Menthol-Flavored Vaping Products Temporarily On Hold
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The New York State Health Department has decided to put off a ban on menthol-flavored nicotine vaping products until a court case challenging an earlier ban on other flavored e-cigarettes is resolved.
App NEWS
Poll Finds Growing Partisanship Among New Yorkers
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A survey by Siena College finds that two-thirds, 65% of New Yorkers, say there’s a wider political divide than they’ve seen in their lifetimes, and it’s effecting the way they relate to others.
App NEWS
Governor Cuomo Clarifies Remarks On Impeachment
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The governor’s remarks follow seemingly contradictory comments he’s reported to have made last week.
App NEWS
Environmentalists Want Lower Maximum Levels For PFOA And Other Drinking Water Contaminants
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“This is not 1970, where we can have the concept that because of economic reasons, we can have acceptable levels of materials like this in our drinking water.”
Government
New York Moves To Ban Menthol Flavored E-Cigarettes
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“This ban on the sale of menthol flavors further enhances our efforts to protect young people from forming dangerous lifelong habits.”
Government
New York, Connecticut Governors Collaborate On Legalizing Cannabis
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“Because it makes no sense to pass one set of rules in New York when they can just drive across the border to Connecticut and have a different set of rules and vice versa.”
Economy
Upstate Economic Development Program Gets A Boost
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a $1 billion high-tech development project on the State University of New York’s Polytechnic Institute campus near Utica.
News
In New York, Early Voting Rules Can Vary Widely From County To County
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In New York, individual counties make up the rules for voting, so there is no uniform statewide system. As a result, the procedures for when and where early voting will happen will be different in each county.
App NEWS
Small Hydropower Plants Say New York Should Help Keep Clean Power Competitive
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Owners of existing clean energy power plants in New York say they’d like the same support from the state for their businesses that new ones get.
App NEWS
Heated Arguments On Fusion Voting Overshadow Public Finance Commission Hearing
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The tensions centered on the commission’s decision to consider whether to end fusion voting, which allows candidates to run on multiple ballot lines.
Government
New York Bans Flavored E-Cigarettes
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The ban comes over the protests of vape shop owners, who say they are helping people quit smoking tobacco cigarettes, and that they will lose their businesses when the ban takes effect.
App NEWS
Costly Changes To New York Vehicle Tags Halted
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A spokesman for Governor Andrew Cuomo says a plan to charge up to $45 for a requirement that license plates more than 10 years old be replaced is no longer going forward.
Government
Vaping Stores Predict Closure After New York Governor Declares Flavored E-Cigarette Ban
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“There’s no doubt that this will put us out of business. If we lose 90 to 95% of our sales, that’s just not going to pay the bills.”
Government
Vaping Illness Among New Yorkers Increases To 60 cases
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Proposals to ban flavored e-cigarettes are gaining momentum. Some say that would present a big problem.
App NEWS
Election Finance Hearing Dominated By Controversy Over Fusion Voting
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Critics of the proposal say Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants to strike against a left-leaning party that he’s been feuding with, something the governor denies.
Government
New York Governor Plans Lawsuit Against Drug Industry
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Calling it an “industrywide conspiracy,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his intention to file a lawsuit for the overprescription of opioids that he said has defrauded New Yorkers out of billions of dollars.
App NEWS
New York Health Officials Subpoena 3 Vaping Companies
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“This is a frightening public health phenomenon, and common sense says if you don’t know what you are smoking, don’t smoke it.”
Andrew Cuomo
Marijuana Decriminalization Law Takes Effect
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ALBANY, NY (WSKG) – A law that decriminalizes possession of up to 2 ounces of marijuana took effect Wednesday. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said it’s “long overdue.” But some advocates say the law does not go far enough. Starting Wednesday, possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana is punishable by a $50 fine. Anyone caught with 2 ounces of cannabis would be fined up to $200.
Government
New York’s Republican Party Calls New License Plates A “Stealth Tax”
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The head of the state’s Republican Party says there’s no need to require New Yorkers to buy new license plates beginning in 2020, if their current plates are still readable and in good condition.
Government
Public Finance Commission Holds First Meeting Wednesday
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Advocates hope the commission, which has been slow to start, will start taking steps toward a final report due in December.
App NEWS
Governor Agrees Comptroller Should Again Audit New York State’s Economic Development Contracts
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“It clearly is a step forward. It increases accountability and decreases corruption risk.”
App NEWS
Former Assembly Member, Former Senate Staffer Settle Harassment-Related Charges
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The case against former Assembly member Angela Wozniak from the Buffalo area dates from 2016, when she was accused of harassing a male staffer.
App NEWS
Cuomo Wants Life In Prison For Domestic Mass Shooters
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“The penalty should be the same as it is for other terrorism crimes — up to life without parole — because these are hate crimes on steroids.”
App NEWS
Window Reopens For Filing Lawsuits Against Child Sex Abusers And Their Bosses
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“The nuns were selective in who they targeted. They kept trying to break my spirit. It didn’t work then, and it won’t work now.”
Crime and Justice
New York Reopens Window For Suing Church, Scout Leaders Over Child Sexual Abuse
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The one year window allows all survivors, who aren’t covered by the new rules and who were barred from court action in the past, to bring civil lawsuits against their alleged abuser and any institution who may have enabled the abuse.
News
Schumer Says U.S. Election System Must Be Hardened Against Hackers
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New York’s senior U.S. senator said that he will push to provide funds for local boards of elections to harden their security against potential threats by foreign governments.
App NEWS
New York Law That Expands The Seizure Of Firearms Takes Effect In Two Weeks
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The measure, also known as an extreme risk protection order law, would allow a judge to order the confiscation of a person’s guns if law enforcement, school officials, or a family member signs a statement saying they believe the person to be a potential danger to themselves or to others.
Government
Cuomo Wants Presidential Candidates To Endorse New York’s Gun Control Laws
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo is asking Democratic presidential candidates to endorse four gun control measures previously adopted in New York.
App NEWS
Poll Shows New York Voters Have Mixed Opinions About Governor Andrew Cuomo.
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The only measure approved in 2019 that is unpopular with voters is a new law to allow undocumented immigrants to apply for drivers licenses, with only 43% overall supporting the law.
Crime and Justice
Survivors Of Child Sexual Abuse Plan To File Lawsuits August 14
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Beginning August 14, New Yorkers who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse will have a one year window of opportunity to file civil suits against their abusers
Government
New York Governor Responds To Trump Speech On Mass Killings
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Governor Cuomo called Trump’s speech one of the “great acts of hypocrisy,” saying the president has “made racism his stock and trade” through his prior remarks and tweets.
Government
New York Law Further Decriminalizes Marijuana Possession
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“By providing individuals who have suffered the consequences of an unfair marijuana conviction with a path to have their records expunged and by reducing draconian penalties, we are taking a critical step forward in addressing a broken and discriminatory criminal justice process.”
Government
Political Parties, Both Right And Left, Have Reason To Support Fusion Voting
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New York is one of just eight states that allows major party candidates, Democrats and Republicans, to also appear on the ballot on minor party lines.
Crime and Justice
Advocates Seek Stricter Limits To Solitary Confinement
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“In New York, people regularly spend months and years and even decades in solitary confinement. People have spent 30 years (there). It’s barbaric. It has to stop.”
App NEWS
Cuomo, Progressives Disagree On Who Is The Left In The Democratic Party
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“There’s an intelligence to being a progressive, it’s not political, you can’t do it in a tweet,”
Featured in Category
New York Adopts The Nation’s Most Aggressive Targets For Reducing Carbon Emissions
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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation Thursday mandating 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, and an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. That’s below levels from 1990.
Food and Farms
New York Governor Signs Farmworkers Rights Bill
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Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a farmworkers’ rights bill into law Wednesday that will for the first time give the workers benefits other employees get, including time off and overtime pay.
Education
New York’s Education Commissioner Submits Surprise Resignation
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MaryEllen Elia, who is the first female commissioner in the history of the New York State Education Department, said now is the right time to leave the post, and has agreed to accept a job with a national firm that works to turn around struggling public schools.
App NEWS
Watchdog Group Questions New York’s Delayed Medicaid Payment
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Is New York entering the bad old days of fiscal gimmicks like selling Attica prison? A budget watchdog group says the delay of a major medicaid payment from one fiscal year into the next is reminiscent of those times.
Government
New York’s Governor Signs Pay Equity Bills
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“It’s shifting the burden of proof from the employee to the employer, and also making sure that the burden is not on the person who is coming forward.”
App NEWS
Governor Still Questioning Safeguards Built Into New York’s Immigrant Driver’s License Law
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The first lawsuit has been filed against New York’s new law to permit undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses, as Governor Andrew Cuomo continued to cast doubt on the effectiveness of the new law.
Auto Voter Registration Bill Will Have To Wait Until 2020
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The measure would make registering to vote an opt- out rather than an opt- in process.
binghamton
County Clerks Uncertain Over New License Law For Undocumented Immigrants
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Some county clerks who are opposed to the law are pressing forward on a federal lawsuit.
App NEWS
Upstate Politician Elected New York State GOP Chair
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He is an avid supporter of President Donald Trump, and said Republicans should learn from the president that it’s OK to play hardball in politics.
Government
New York Governor Heads To Israel On Economic And Personal Mission
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“The Jewish community is part of our family. And part of our family has been offended. And my family is going to go to Israel to make the point that we stand in solidarity with them.”
Addiction
Advocates Vow The Fight To Legalize Marijuana Will Continue In 2020
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Advocates of legalizing adult recreational marijuana plan to spend the next six months convincing New York lawmakers that allowing the drug to be sold.
App NEWS
Legislative Leaders And New York’s Governor Agree The 2019 Session’s Accomplishments Were Many
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The 2019 legislative session was among the most productive in several years, with the passage of bills that ranged from strengthening abortion rights, to allowing undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses.
New York Legislature Moves To Further Decriminalize Pot
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“It makes the situation much, much better, especially for the black and brown community that has paid such a high price. But politically, the support was not there to pass legalization.”
agriculture
New York Legislature And Governor Agree To New Protections For Farm Workers
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Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, a Republican from Western New York, comes from a long line of farmers. He predicts the new requirements will be too onerous and that farms will close.
App NEWS
Climate Measure Sets Ambitious Goals For New York
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“It’s going to create a road map to 2050, and it’s going to recommend regulations, incentives and a plan to really change the whole economy.”
App NEWS
New York Governor Signs Law Authorizing Driver’s Licenses For Undocumented Immigrants
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“We have to write a law that does not have an unintended consequence, that’s what the smart people are worried about.”
binghamton
New York Enacts Historic Tenant Protections
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“We’ll begin to reverse the tide of the last 25 years of the landlords having the advantage to having people not be priced out of their homes, pushed out of their homes, threatened out of their homes.”
Government
New York Governor Promises To Sign Rent Bills
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“I believe this is the best tenant protections they will pass,” Governor Cuomo said, “and I will sign it.”
App NEWS
New York Assembly Agrees To Issue Drivers’ Licenses To Undocumented Immigrants
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“We have to be mindful of those who also want to do us harm. That is something I don’t think this bill takes into account.”
Government
Bill That Legalizes Gestational Surrogacy Passes New York State Senate
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“We see this as fundamentally something that will exploit women’s bodies for the benefit, largely, of men.”
App NEWS
As Legislative Session Nears End, New Yorkers Mixed On Key Issues
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Respondents overwhelmingly back getting rid of the religious exemption for vaccinations, in the wake of a measles epidemic in New York due to unvaccinated children. They also back amending the state’s constitution to guarantee equal rights.
Government
New York Supporters Seek Pact On Anti-Climate Change Bill
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“What I don’t want to do is to give people a political placebo where we put forth dates and goals that we cannot make. And I don’t want to tell people that we can move to a carbon-free economy in a period of time that I know that we can’t.”
App NEWS
As New York’s Rent Law Deadline Nears, Tenant Protests Result In Arrests
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The groups achieved some results: Senate Democrats announced they have agreed to the measures pushed by the groups.
App NEWS
With 11 Days Left In Session, Pressure Mounts On New York Assembly
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With 11 working days left in the legislative session, the atmosphere is intensifying at the State Capitol. Democrats who lead the Legislature are facing pressure from all sides to deliver on legislation that they campaigned on.
App NEWS
With Session Waning, New York Lawmakers Try To Forge Agreements On Rent Laws
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“We’ll do whenever it comes together, with whomever it comes together with. We’re interested in getting the work done, and not so much, who does it first and who does it second.”
Government
New York Senate Considers Automatic Voter Registration
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“Once people know they’re registered, a really significant proportion, 40 to 50 percent of them, take that invitation and go in and vote. That’s a big increase.”
Government
Immigrant Driver’s License Bill Gets Boost In New York Legislature
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“Our immigration system is broken. This does not fix it, but what it does is it gives undocumented immigrants the opportunity to sit for a test, to get licensed, to get on the road, and to have insurance.”
Government
New York Senate Leader Calls Cuomo ‘Stressed’
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“I guess he gets particularly animated during these stressful times, and we are coming to the end of session. Everybody has their way of coping. I prefer to keep my eye on getting the work done.”
Government
Reform Groups: Scrap New York’s Ethics Panel
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A national report finds that New York state’s ethics panel is among the worst in the nation. Reform groups say that’s not news to them and have called for an overhaul of the commission.
News
New York Democrats Move To Shorten Primary Registration Deadlines
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Under current laws, voters in New York must register in a political party more than six months before the primary vote is held. Party registration can only be changed 25 days or more before a general election, held in November.
App NEWS
New York Poised To Give Congress A Rear Window Look Into President Trump’s Tax Returns
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“It is about transparency, and making sure that we have folks governing us who are not circumventing the law or getting away with things that they should not.”
App NEWS
New York’s GOP Replaces Party Boss
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“We (Republicans) lost this majority in one election. I think we can gain this majority back in one election.”
Government
Aid-In-Dying Advocates Hope New York Bill Will Pass This Year
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“Too many New Yorkers are suffering at the end of life without this option.”
App NEWS
New York Senate Votes On Roadway Safety Measures
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“We need to send the message that you have to wear your seat belt regardless of where you’re sitting in that vehicle.”
Government
New Bill Legalizing Marijuana Introduced In New York Legislature
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After the failure to include legalized recreational marijuana in the New York state budget earlier this year, sponsors of the legislation say they are introducing a new bill that they hope stands a better chance at becoming law.
App NEWS
New York General Assembly Prepares To Confront President Trump
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Two bills that challenge President Donald Trump and his policies are advancing in the New York State Assembly.
Government
Civil Liberties Activists Aren’t Giving Up On State Legislative Session
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“After decades and decades of being kind of do nothing-ish in the New York State Legislature, we have a Legislature that was elected to do something to fight for justice.”
Crime and Justice
Opponents Of Decriminalizing Prostitution In New York State Speak Out
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“Decriminalizing ‘pimping and sex buying’ would increase the industry and demand in New York, and that ‘tens of thousands’ of women could be exploited.”
Addiction
Cuomo: Legalized Pot May Not Have Enough Political Support
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“If they are starting to suggest that I need to twist arms, then that’s a bad sign. Because arm-twisting doesn’t work. And it means they don’t have the political support.”
Government
Advocates Urge Extending Rent Rules To Upstate New York
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“We believe very strongly that if you do not work together, tenants are going to be screwed. We have a governor who will do everything he possibly can to undo what we’re trying to do and water it down.”
Government
Senate Dems Say They Are “Standing Up” To Trump With Passage Of Two Bills
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“The President and his administration has repeatedly shown a true hostility to the rule of law and Presidential customs. No one is above the law.”
App NEWS
Sex Workers, Lobbying At New York Capitol, Seek More Safety, Less Stigma
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“I was beat up, had all my wages and personal property stolen by this person and was forced to do sex work without a condom.”
agriculture
Farmworkers’ Bill Of Rights Stands Good Chance Of Clearing New York Assembly
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“We haven’t really prioritized them as the workforce and the backbone of the agricultural industry that they are.”
App NEWS
Charter School Expansion Unlikely In New York This Year
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“The Assembly Democrats have always wanted to expend their energy and time on traditional public schools.”
App NEWS
New York Lawmakers Seek Backdoor Means To Release Trump’s Taxes
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“A lot of New Yorkers, and frankly, Americans have questions about what he’s hiding.”
Government
Immigrant Drivers’ License Bill Advances In The New York Assembly
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A bill to grant drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants advances in the assembly
Government
Lawmakers Say Close Vaccination Loophole As New York’s Measles Outbreak Grows
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Lawmakers say the current law, which allows a child to skip vaccinations because of religious reasons, is creating too big a loophole and leading to what they say is a growing health crisis.
App NEWS
Opponents: Don’t Give Drivers’ Licenses To Undocumented Immigrants
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“I may just get a banner and put it across the front of the building that we will have ICE on speed dial.”