Covering the politics, policies and people of New York State government.
First-term Democratic Senator Monica Martinez is being challenged by Islip Town Tax Receiver Alexis Weik in the 3rd Senate District. The District, long held by Republicans, covers much of south-central Suffolk County, including portions of Brookhaven and Islip and most of Brentwood. Martinez won the seat in the “blue wave” of 2018 […]
Joseph L. Bruno, the former New York State Senate majority leader and champion for the Capital Region, has died at 91. Bruno not only served as a state senator, he also served in the Army as an infantry sergeant in the Korean War, and was a prominent local businessman. “When […]
By a 67-to-21 percent margin, New Yorkers say that Amazon cancelling its planned second headquarters in Queens was bad for New York. By as nearly as large a margin, 61-to-30 percent, they support the deal in which Amazon would receive up to $3 billion in state and city incentives and […]
The Democrats in both the House of Representatives and the State Senate are risking it all and to some extent, they are being aided and abetted by the news media who know a story when they see one. We all know that any story that involves a fight or a […]
A new bill proposed by the Senate Minority Leader would change the size and makeup of the state Senate, with the hopes of bringing “geographic balance” to New York. Under the legislation introduced by Sen. Joseph Griffo, each county in New York would elect just one senator, reducing the number […]
For the first time in almost a decade, Democrats will hold a firm majority control of the New York State Senate. Based on preliminary numbers from the State Board of Elections, Democrats appeared to have secured a total 39 seats in the state Senate, with a couple races still too […]
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 […]
Hitting the slopes may become safer as the New York State Senate passed legislation requiring protective headgear for children at ski resorts. The bill (S.1376) is intended to help prevent children from sustaining dangerous head injuries while participating in winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding. The legislation, sponsored by […]