Covering the politics, policies and people of New York State government.
Environmental groups Seneca Lake Guardian and Earthjustice joined state lawmakers Sen. Rachel May, D-Syracuse, and Assembly Health Chair Richard Gottfried, D-Manhattan, on Monday to call for statewide action to ensure clean drinking water for residents. Senator May also announced new legislation requiring annual testing for facilities that discharge water into […]
With the new school year underway, the state’s largest teachers’ union released 13 recommendations aiming to cut down disruptive and violent events in schools. According to the New York State United Teachers, there are daily safety concerns for students and educators alike. Educators reported increased incidents of classroom disruptions and […]
State Lawmakers, advocates, and formerly incarcerated New Yorkers all gathered in protest on the 28th anniversary of the 1994 Crime Bill signed into law by former President Bill Clinton. Among those present were Assemblywoman Amanda Septimo, D-Bronx; David Weprin, D-Queens; and freshmen Assemblyman Eddie Gibbs, D-Harlem. “The legacy of the […]
On the 21st anniversary of 9/11, lawmakers and union leaders are trying to reach those “forgotten workers” who worked at Ground Zero and in nearby neighborhoods to clean up lower Manhattan in the months and years that followed. Thousands of civilian employees such as construction workers involved in the massive […]
As more cases of poliovirus are detected in New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul issued an executive order on Friday declaring a state disaster emergency, increasing the availability of resources to protect New Yorkers against paralytic disease. In hopes of bolstering the immunization drive, the E.O. immediately expands the network of polio vaccine administrators […]
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson, Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York State Department of Health today announced a public education campaign to make it clear abortions will remains legal and accessible in New York. The statewide campaign includes advertising across various media and a new […]
A new Siena poll finds that 76 percent of New York registered voters say a new law requiring a permit to get a semi-automatic rifle will be “good for New York.” For the same question, 14 percent of New York voters said the new law will be “bad for New […]
In the final hours of session, the Legislature passed the nation’s first statewide moratorium on cryptomining. Grassroots environmental advocates — with a coalition of elected officials, small business owners, and winemakers — successfully beat back millions of dollars in lobbying from the crypto industry. Advocates and Assembly member Anna Kelles, […]