Covering the politics, policies and people of New York State government.
On Feb. 15, more than 100 local newspapers across New York state launched The Empire State News Coalition in an effort to approve a legislative package that several news organizations say would bring relief to the struggling local journalism field. The Local Journalism Sustainability Act, S625B/A2958C, would provide tax credits […]
A coalition of good-government groups is applauding the Senate and Assembly for including $114.5 million for the New York State Public Campaign Finance Program in their one-house budget bills, matching the governor’s budget allocation. The funds would cover $14.5 million in administrative costs and $100 million for public matching funds […]
Gov. Kathy Hochul today initiated an assessment of the Office of Cannabis Management to identify opportunities for improvement and begin implementation of a strategic plan for the long-term success of the legal cannabis rollout. Commissioner for the Office of General Services Jeanette Moy will serve as lead and executive sponsor […]
New York state legislators and members of the Labor Religion Coalition held a rally in the Capitol building’s War Room on March 4 to push for investments prioritizing low-income New Yorkers as the Legislature begins to turn their attention to finalizing the budget. Speakers at the event included Assembly members, […]
On Tuesday Feb. 6 legislators and the PFAS-free New York coalition held a press conference at the Million Dollar Staircase advocating for a package of bills that work to eliminate and regulate the use and discharge of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in common consumer products and waterways. The package […]
Democrat Tom Suozzi defeated Republican candidate Mazi Pilip on Tuesday, Feb. 13 in a special election triggered by George Santos’s ouster, narrowing an already-thin GOP House majority. Voters in New York’s Third Congressional District, which encompasses parts of Queens and Nassau County, braved a snowstorm to cast their ballots that […]
A new bill (S.8357/A.8866) that would ban the use of carbon dioxide for fracking and gas extraction has been introduced in the Legislature following reports that homeowners in New York’s Southern Tier are being asked to lease their land by a fracking company. Southern Tier CO2 to Clean Energy Solutions, or […]
During Black History Month, an exhibit commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act — and the New Yorkers who helped lead the Civil Rights Movement — will be open to the public in the State Capitol in Albany. The exhibit, titled “1964: New Yorkers Who Shaped History,” is […]
