The Assembly passed a climate bill this week that supporters are touting as “the most ambitious in the nation” and supporters are now calling for the state Senate to do the same before the end of the session. The Climate Community And Protection Act (S.6617-a/A.8270-a) would require the state to […]
Month: June 2017
Car wash employees fight for minimum wage
Legislators washed cars alongside carwasheros at the tail end of the legislative session to help build support for a bill that will grant minimum wage rights to carwash employees without tip credit. Carwasheros are struggling to make ends meet on low wages and unsteady employment, said Hector Gerardo from the […]
Senate wants state, not counties, to pay for and supervise parolees with ignition interlock devices
On Monday, the Senate passed a bill that would amend some of the provisions created by Leandra’s Law, which requires DWI offenders or parolees to be monitored by an ignition interlock device in their vehicle. Specifically, the bills (S.193/A.2915) would require that only the State Department of Corrections and Community […]
Advocates confused and angry over handling of the Child Victims Act
Activists pushing for the long-contested Child Victims Act were left wondering the motives of lawmakers after a week in which Gov. Andrew Cuomo introduced and then questioned the chances, of his own program bill. “The advocates feel his office hoodwinked us by appeasing victims with his program bill and than […]
Bill would expand the number of zero-emissions car dealers in NY
This week Tesla Motors joined four leading New York environmental groups urging legislators to support a bill which would increase access to zero-emission vehicles across New York state. Representatives from the National Resources Defense Council, Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment, Alliance For Clean Energy New York, and New York League […]
Final push for Reproductive Health Act, contraception coverage bills
Members of the New York Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood dressed in hospital gowns and surgical masks and stormed the Capitol last week in hopes of convincing Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan to put the Reproductive Health Act up for a vote on the Senate floor. The bill […]
Strange bedfellows: Large, diverse coalition to fight Constitutional Convention
An extremely eclectic mix of more than 100 organizations announced an unprecedented unification with just one aim: stop the Constitutional Convention. In a press release sent to reporters Monday, the New Yorkers Against Corruption coalition, describes itself as “a coalition of organizations, broad and diverse in both its geography and […]
Voice from the Capitol: Is state government working for you?
New Yorkers will vote on a Constitutional Convention this fall. Before they head to the polls, they should consider one very basic question: Is New York state government working for you? Those who would answer “Yes” can stop reading. But those who would answer “No” likely believe we can do […]