Covering the politics, policies and people of New York State government.
Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, D-Rotterdam, is observing Autism Awareness Month by introducing a package of bills that would make it easier for autistic students to attend college and make it easier for first responders to assist those with special needs. Santabarbara, the father of a teenager with autism, has been a […]
Of course I still watch Gunsmoke. Why wouldn’t I? They don’t make them like that anymore. There is so much wisdom embodied in those characters. Matt Dillon, of course, is the equivalent of an American super hero. He always seems to know truth and his pals Doc and Kitty […]
In an audit conducted by the State Comptroller’s Office, the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs was found to have withheld more than 70 percent of the incidents for which it was initially under investigation. In response, representatives from Disability Rights New York, a nonprofit […]
“An oft-quoted African proverb tells us, “It takes a village to raise a child.” This concept becomes even more affecting when the “child” in question has an Autism Spectrum Disorder. In this case, the “villagers” also include doctors, counselors, therapists, other medical professionals, specialists and agency administrators as parents […]
New York state will begin phasing in full funding of public defense offices across the state as part of the 2018 budget finalized last week. Advocates from the Bar Association, defenders association, clergy, and local leaders commended legislators and Governor Cuomo for including the groundwork for the funding in […]
Legislators and student advocates of the CORE coalition (College Opportunity and Resource Expansion) rallied to ensure that Governor Cuomo’s Excelsior Scholarship program include undocumented students, part time students and students with disabilities. The Excelsior Scholarship, announced in January, would cover tuition costs for students whose families earn less than $125,000 […]
Transgender protections implemented by the Obama Administration were rescinded by President Donald Trump earlier this year, and one state lawmaker is fighting back by trying to simplify New York’s law regulating public restrooms. Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, D-Manhattan, is sponsoring a bill that would eliminate gender labels on single-occupancy bathrooms […]
U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor gave an energetic talk to students, faculty and Capital Region residents at the SEFCU Arena on the University at Albany campus as part of the school’s Speaker Series. Justice Sotomayor reflected on her life growing up in the Bronx, and walked around the […]