Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – July 12, 2019

What’s Inside

  • Governor Signs Pay Equity Bills at U.S. Women’s Soccer Team Parade
  • Katz Takes Lead in Queens District Attorney Race
  • 32BJ SEIU president Hector Figueroa dead at 57
  • Property Tax Cap Set at 2 Percent for 2020
  • Toll Advisory Panel Sets Hearing Dates
  • Erie County Clerk Files Federal Lawsuit to Challenge New York’s Green Light Law
  • Updates, Reminders, and Links
  • Coming Up

Governor Signs Pay Equity Bills at U.S. Women’s Soccer Team Parade

This week, Governor Cuomo signed into law legislation that expands equal pay laws to prohibit unequal pay on the basis of a protected class for substantially similar work (S5248B/A8093A), and forbids employers from asking prospective employees about their salary history (S6549/A5308B). The Governor signed the measures, a key component of his 2019 Women’s Justice Agenda, at the ticker-tape parade celebrating the world champion U.S. Women’s Soccer Team.

Governor Cuomo Said:

“You should get paid the same amount whatever the job is. These are women’s soccer players. They play the same game that the men’s soccer players play. By the way, they play it better. They play it with better results. If there is any economic rationale, the men should get paid less than the women. Let’s be honest. This is all cultural and stereotypical. It is perpetuating a past injustice women are not going to take it anymore, and they shouldn’t.”

Katz Takes Lead in Queens District Attorney Race

Election night results seemed to indicate a shocking upset in the Queens District Attorney race with Tiffany Cabán holding a 1,090 vote lead over establishment candidate Melinda Katz. However, after the counting of absentee ballots last week, the lead has changed to a slight 16 vote edge for Katz. It is unusual for absentee ballots to diverge from election night percentages so dramatically, especially in a race with so many candidates on the ballot.

Such a slim margin will automatically trigger a full manual recount which will begin after a court battle to decide the fate of affidavit ballots that were deemed by the board of elections to be invalid. It is not uncommon for a manual recount to change the vote totals for all candidates as votes intended for candidates – but not readable by the machines (such as a check mark instead of filling in the bubble) – will be counted toward that candidates total.

32BJ SEIU president Héctor Figueroa dead at 57

The influential labor leader Héctor Figueroa died unexpectedly of an apparent heart attack on Thursday night. He was 57 years old. As president of 32BJ SEIU, Figueroa guided policy positions of the country’s largest building services union, which numbers over 163,000 members. Figueroa has headed the union since 2012 and is credited with growing its ranks by more than 50,000 members. He is survived by his wife Deirdre and his two children Eric and Elena.

Statement from Governor Cuomo on the passing of Mr. Figueroa:

“I am beyond heartbroken to learn of the sudden passing of Héctor Figueroa – a towering figure in politics and a hero of the labor community who did untold good for the working people of this state and this nation.

“Héctor was a champion for working people, minorities, the poor, the voiceless.

“Together with Héctor, we enacted New York’s nation-leading $15 minimum wage – first for fast food workers and then for all workers – and the historic $19 minimum wage for airport workers just last year. Héctor fought for and won fairer contracts for his 163,000 members, ensuring working women and men have the protections they need at a time when hard-earned labor rights are under attack on the national level. Héctor was an indefatigable force in our fight against Trump’s un-American assault on immigrant communities and a fierce defender of Puerto Rico.

“On behalf of the entire New York family, I extend my deepest sympathies to Héctor’s wife Deirdre and his two children Eric and Elena, and his extended family at 32BJ. 

“Sí, se puede my friend.”

Property Tax Cap Set at 2 Percent for 2020

Property tax levy growth for local governments with fiscal years that close on Dec. 31 will be capped at 2 percent for the 2020 fiscal year, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. This figure affects the tax cap calculations for all counties, towns, fire districts, 44 cities and 10 villages. The tax cap, which first applied to local governments in 2012, limits tax levy increases to the lesser of the rate of inflation or 2 percent with some exceptions, including a provision that allows municipalities to override the tax cap. Governments that want to raise taxes above the cap need at least 60 percent support, such as three of five members on a town board.

Comptroller DiNapoli said:

“The allowable levy growth will be 2 percent for the second year in a row, however, mixed economic signals may require local governments to respond to changing financial conditions. Local officials should be remain vigilant when crafting their budgets.”

Toll Advisory Panel Sets Hearing Dates

This week the New York State Thruway announced a new Toll Advisory Panel that is slated to hold two public hearings. The panel is charged with reviewing toll rates, potential resident and commuter discount programs and commercial vehicle rates on the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. The toll panel has slated two listening sessions, one in Westchester and one in Rockland. The members of the panel are as follows:

  • Joan McDonald, Former New York State Department of Transportation commissioner in 2015. She is now director of operations for Westchester County.
  • Robert Megna, co-chair, is Chief Operating Officer for the State University of New York and vice chair for the Thruway Authority Board of Directors. He was executive director of the Thruway Authority when the original tolls task force was formed.
  • Heather Briccetti, a member of the Thruway Authority Board of Directors and president and CEO of the Business Council of New York State.
  • Mario Cilento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO.

Meeting schedule:

Westchester

  • When: 4:30 p.m-7:30 p.m. July 17.
  • Where: Westchester Marriott, 670 White Plains Road, Tarrytown

Rockland

  • When: 4:30 p.m-7:30 p.m. July 18.
  • Where: The Time Nyack Hotel, 400 High Ave., Nyack

Erie County Clerk Files Federal Lawsuit to Challenge New York’s Green Light Law

Mickey Kearns, Erie County Clerk, filed a federal lawsuit this week challenging New York’s Green Light Law. Kearns, a Democrat, has been a vocal opponent of the law which will compel the issuance of driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. The law also forbids cooperation with federal authorities, which Kearns believes will require County Clerks and DMV officials to violate federal law. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, also a Democrat, is supporting the county attorney’s filing of the lawsuit, but, has said he expects all county officials to abide by the ruling of the court.

Statement issued by Kearns:

“The law compels County Clerks across the State to be an instrument to violate federal law. The federal lawsuit seeks a declaration as the law’s constitutionality and will also be seeking an injunction to prevent the law from going into effect prior to a final decision from the courts.”

Updates, Reminders, and Links

City & State NY’s Winners and Losers here.

City & State NY’s roundup of this week’s headlines here.

Cuomo Op-Ed: The Democratic Party’s Failure.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney gets a primary challenger.

The Intercept: House Dems are panicked about primaries, and New York shows how potent they can be.

Criminal Lawyer and Legislator. A St. Lawrence County issue that could have a statewide impact.

Coming Up

The Assembly Committees on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions and Consumer Affairs and Protection will hold a joint public hearing on robocalls, spoofing and nuisance calls on a date to be determined (Postponed – Date TBD).

The Board of Regents will hold its next meeting on July 15th and 16th.

JCOPE will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, July 23.

The PSC will hold its next meeting on Thursday, August 8.