Covering the politics, policies and people of New York State government.
State legislators recently spent part of their day in a 6-foot by 9-foot replica solitary confinement cell to raise awareness for a bill that would drastically reduce the amount of time inmates can spend in isolation. The Humane Alternatives to Long Term Solitary Confinement Act (S.1623/A.2500) was written to restrict […]
As Senate Democrats swore in two new colleagues this week, at least five Republican senators have either announced, or have hinted at, retiring at the end of the year, leaving the chamber in play this November. Republican senators Kathy Marchione, John DeFrancisco and John Bonacic have recently announced their plans […]
Control of the state’s upper house will remain with Republicans until at least November, according to Sen. Simcha Felder, D-Brooklyn. Though Democrats won Tuesday’s special elections in Senate Districts 32 and 37, giving them the electoral majority — 32 Democrats to 31 Republicans — Felder’s support of the Democratic party […]
The balance in the Senate could be decided by a single race in next week’s special elections. The race for Senate District 37 in Westchester — between Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer, D-Yonkers, and Republican candidate Julie Killian — is getting a lot of attention from the media, sitting legislators and state […]