Covering the politics, policies and people of New York State government.
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, […]
The social activist group Citizen Action of New York has called the 2023 state budget “a betrayal of everyday New Yorkers,” and vowed to keep fighting for their priority programs and legislation until the end of session. “The budget is a moral document, because it is the clearest statement of […]
After the Clean Slate Act (S1553C/A6399B) was left out of the FY2023 budget, the Senate Codes Committee narrowly passed the bill on April 25, by a vote of 7-6, sending it to the Finance Committee for further consideration. It will be one of the more closely watched bills in the […]