In the wake of a Texas federal court ruling against access to the pregnancy-ending drug Mifepristone, New York lawmakers and health care experts met for a virtual press conference Tuesday to promise uninterrupted access to reproductive health care, including abortion, in the state of New York. Dipal Shah, the executive […]
Policy
Legislation Would Increase Penalties for Swatting Incidents
In the recent days, there has been an unfortunate increase in false reports of active shooter incidents at schools across New York. The Ballston Spa School district for example, had a report that led to a large police presence. Such incidences lead to a heightened degree of stress, fear, anxiety […]
Cannabis Association of New York Calls for Change in Taxing of Recreational Marijuana
On March 28, the Cannabis Association of New York (CANY) and their legislative supporters called for a change to how recreational cannabis will be taxed. The organization, joined by Senator Jeremy Cooney, D-Rochester, is pushing for a bill (S.4831/A.4619) that would repeal the THC potency tax and replace it with […]
Government Watchdogs Call for Freezing “Corporate Handouts” in final budget
A coalition of 30 groups have sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders asking them to remove “corporate handouts” in this year’s budget. During an event in the state Capitol on Thursday, March 2, government watchdogs asked state leaders to reject billions in new and expanded tax […]
Video: Small Business Coalition Warns of Negative Consequences if Lawmakers Raise Minimum Wage
The National Federation of Independent Businesses organized a press conference in the Capitol on March 22 to make its case that a mandatory minimum wage increase could have a detrimental impact on New York’s economy, and even have a reverse effect on the working-class individuals who legislators are trying to […]
Video: Sen. Jessica Ramos Explains Why She is Fighting For a Higher Minimum Wage
When New York state enacted a $15 minimum wage in 2016, it did not include cost of living adjustments after reaching $15. The Raise the Wage Act sponsored by Senate Labor Committee Chair Jessica Ramos and Assembly Labor Committee Chair Latoya Joyner would change this by incrementally raising the minimum […]
Lawmakers Want to End Midnight Budget Secrecy With ‘Transparency Act’
On Wednesday, March 29, 2023, Senators Jim Tedisco and Steve Rhoads, accompanied by Assemblyman John McGowan and other lawmakers, held a press conference to make a case for their bill before the April 1 New York state budget deadline. The “NYS Budget Transparency Act” aims to prohibit the passage of […]
Siena Poll: Voters Strongly Support Bail Changes, 90 Percent Say Crime is a ‘Serious’ Issue in New York
With the clock ticking on the budget deadline, a large majority of voters from both parties strongly support a higher income tax on New Yorkers earning at least $5 million and changing the state’s controversial bail laws to give judges more discretion in setting pre-trial bail. Meanwhile, there is also […]