Sen. José Peralta and Assemblywoman Deborah Glick unveiled a bill to crack down on unsafe drivers near New York City schools. Specifically, the bill would allow up to 750 speed cameras around city schools — 610 more than the current 140 cameras permitted under current law. “We have had […]
Policy
Enviro groups, business owners claim victory in Seneca Lake gas storage fight
Arlington Storage Company, a subsidiary of energy distributor Crestwood, is abandoning its effort to expand fracked gas storage in unlined salt caverns along Seneca Lake. In its bi-weekly Environmental Compliance Report, filed today with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Arlington states: Despite its best efforts, Arlington has not been successful […]
Aid-in-dying advocates share their stories in final push for legislation
Legislators and supporters joined with advocates from the group Compassion and Choices to urge passage of the Medical Aid in Dying Act (S.3151/A.2383) before the end of the legislative session next month. The bill would allow for doctors to prescribe barbiturates to mentally competent, terminally ill patients so that they […]
Legislators introduce bill to divest NY pension funds from fossil fuels
Lawmakers and environmental advocates are hoping to pass a bill this session that would divest state pension funds from the top 200 fossil fuel companies over the next five years. The bill (S.4596/A.3712), sponsored by Senator Liz Krueger, D-Manhattan, and Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, D-Brooklyn, would require the state comptroller to […]
Senate Republicans form Women’s Caucus
Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan announced Tuesday the formation of the Senate Republican Women’s Caucus and appointed Senator Betty Little as its chairwoman. Following the November elections, Senate Republicans now have seven women members — more than either the Democrats or the IDC. Little, a former teacher with more than […]
Senate bill helps prosecutors better fight gang activity
Legislation would also use seized assets to fund educational programs in schools The state Senate is taking action to combat what they say is an uptick in criminal gang activity. On Monday night it passed the Criminal Street Gang Act (S.2410), sponsored by Senator Martin Golden, R-Brooklyn. For […]
Bill would allow “responsible” homesharing in New York City
One year after state legislators cracked down on illegal Airbnb listings in New York City, Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, D-Brooklyn, introduced a bill that would allow for “responsible” homesharing in the Big Apple. In 2016, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a law making it illegal for Airbnb hosts to list entire […]
Church supports alternative to Child Victims Act
As lawmakers prepare for the closing weeks of session, victims of childhood sexual abuse are pushing once again for a controversial bill that would give them a chance to seek justice for decades-old cases. The Child Victims Act (S.809) would allow victims to file legal action against their abusers, regardless […]