Covering the politics, policies and people of New York State government.
Bills would also reduce fees and paperwork for craft brewers and small wholesalers The governor is introducing legislation that would overhaul the state’s blue laws and reduce paperwork for craft brewers and cut down the fees paid by small wholesalers to further expand New York’s growing brewing, distilling […]
The number of school districts committing to purchasing local fruits and vegetables has increased to 134 districts in 24 counties across the state, according to the Office of General Services, which oversees a federal pilot program that provides funding. OGS Commissioner RoAnn Destito announced that the participating school districts […]
A bill (S.7160/A.9531) that would extend eligibility for additional credits in the state retirement system to all veterans working for state and local governments has now been passed by both houses after it cleared the Assembly on Wednesday. But after being vetoed twice by the governor in recent years, […]
Voters across the state approved 99 percent of school budgets Tuesday, according to a preliminary estimate by New York State United Teachers. “We are extremely pleased with the vote of confidence in our public schools by New Yorkers in every region of our state,” said NYSUT President Karen Magee. […]
It’s official. Assemblyman Jim Tedisco, the outspoken and independent-minded assemblyman from Glenville, has thrown his hat in the ring for the open 49th Senate District, hoping to replace longtime Senator Hugh Farley, who announced his retirement last week. The Republican legislator, a master of tapping into public sentiment, and […]
To the editor: A federal judge sentenced Dean Skelos, the former Senate Majority Leader, to five years in jail for public corruption. Sheldon Silver, former Speaker of the Assembly, was sentenced to 12 years for public corruption. Many other officials in New York state have been arrested, convicted, sentenced to […]
If Andrew Cuomo would only listen to me, he’d be doing better and more people would like him. Unfortunately, he does not listen to people like me, and as a result, he languishes in the doldrums of public opinion. So here goes — Andrew, if you want to do […]
New York, New York! It’s really a time of judicial reckoning. Former Speaker Shelly Silver, who I have interviewed many times, is off to the penitentiary for twelve years (maybe the rest of his life.) Former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos also faces some serious jail time. Now, York City […]
