Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – September 2, 2016
Coverage of Albany and New York State government
- State Gaming Commission Approves Fourth Commercial Casino
- Health Department Announces Expansion of Medical Marijuana Program
- 24 Upstate Counties Declared as Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought
- Governor Announces Funding for Nutritional and Health Services for Older New Yorkers
- Federal Court Dismisses Challenge to State’s Charitable Donor Rules
- Governor Announces Funding to Increase Use of Locally Grown Foods in New York Schools
- Political Update
- Coming Up
State Gaming Commission Approves Fourth Commercial Casino
On Tuesday, the state Gaming Commission unanimously approved a commercial casino license for the Tioga Downs Casino in the town of Nichols in Tioga County, west of Binghamton. The facility is the fourth that the state has licensed.
The facility is currently operating as a Standardbred track with video lottery terminals (VLTs). The new Tioga Downs casino will include a 33,300-square-foot gambling hall with 1,000 slot machines and 50 table games, along with a 161-room hotel, restaurants, and an outdoor entertainment area. And while Tioga Downs was the fourth to be issued a commercial gaming license, it is likely to be the first to open, as the facility is being retrofitted, not newly constructed.
In 2013, voters approved a change to the state constitution that permits up to seven commercial casinos in the state, in addition to the nine racetrack-based VLT facilities throughout the state and six Native American-owned casinos in Upstate New York.
State officials initially said that they would only issue licenses for three commercial casinos in regions outside of the New York City area. At the request of state lawmakers, Gov. Cuomo directed the Gaming Commission to call for a new casino siting and licensing process for the Southern Tier; Tioga Downs was the only applicant.
Health Department Announces Expansion of Medical Marijuana Program
On Tuesday, the state Department of Health (DOH) announced that it plans to modify and expand the state’s medical marijuana program, largely accepting its own recommendations that were included in a report issued earlier this month.
DOH is proposing to allow nurse practitioners to certify patients, to permit registered organizations to advertise that they are participating in the program; and home delivery of medical marijuana.
DOH also said that it plans to consider whether the program should be expanded to include people who suffer from chronic intractable pain and expand its financial hardship waiver. The agency indicated that it also plans to urge the federal government to remove restrictions on medical marijuana research and to allow medical marijuana companies access to banking services.
Medical marijuana advocates have pushed for lawmakers to expand the state’s program. According to DOH, 677 physicians are registered to prescribe medical marijuana, and 7,005 patients have been certified by physicians.
24 Upstate Counties Declared as Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought
On Wednesday, the federal government designated 24 upstate counties as natural disaster areas due to a severe summer drought that has impacted some water supplies and farm fields. The primary counties included under this designation are in Western New York, the Finger Lakes, Central New York, and Southern Tier.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office said Wednesday that with the designation, farmers in the affected areas may be eligible for assistance, including emergency loans, from the federal government, and that the state will conduct on-site assessments of farms affected by the drought.
Gov. Cuomo said:
“Strong agriculture is critical to the vibrancy of Upstate New York and this year’s hot, dry summer have created significant challenges to this crucial industry….New York’s growers and producers are major drivers of our economy and the benefits they provide to the community are immeasurable. In these difficult times, we must ensure that they have full access to all the resources necessary for making a full recovery.”
Governor Announces Funding for Nutritional and Health Services for Older New Yorkers
On Monday, Gov. Cuomo announced $74.6 million in state and federal funding for New York’s 59 county-based area agencies on aging to support programs that improve older individuals’ access to nutritional and disease prevention services.
Gov. Cuomo said:
“New Yorkers help their neighbors in their time of need and, with this funding, we will help ensure some of our most vulnerable citizens are not in danger of going hungry, maintain their health, and manage or reduce chronic diseases. I thank the members of New York’s Congressional delegation for their efforts to secure this funding to protect seniors in every corner of this state.”
Federal Court Dismisses Challenge to State’s Charitable Donor Rules
On Monday, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by a conservative education, advocacy, and grass roots organization that sought to block New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman from enforcing rules requiring the group to disclose information about its donors.
A U.S. District Judge in Manhattan said that the Attorney General did not violate Citizens United’s First Amendment rights by requiring registered charitable organizations to disclose names, addresses and contributions of larger donors before soliciting funds in the state.
Citizens United, which advocates for “the traditional American values of limited government, freedom of enterprise, strong families and national sovereignty and security” argued that its donors would, if disclosed, face “public backlash, financial harm, and worse.”
The Court disagreed, finding no evidence that this would occur, and that the state’s policy advanced its “unquestionably important” interest that charitable groups not engage in crime or fraud.
He also said Citizens United did not show that the policy substantially burdened the rights of charities to free speech and association, or that Schneiderman exceeded his authority, or that federal law pre-empted him from acting.
Governor Announces Funding to Increase Use of Locally Grown Foods in New York Schools
On Thursday, Gov. Cuomo announced that the state is making $500,000 available to help school districts buy and serve fresh, healthy New York State products through the state’s Farm to School Program. The goal of the program to develop and improve connections between the state’s school districts and the farmers in their communities to grow the agricultural economy and to provide a greater and more diverse selection of specialty crops during school lunches.
Gov. Cuomo said:
“This program is a win-win that connects students in need of healthy meals with New York grown products that are some of the best in the world. I urge all qualified districts to participate in this program and help New York students succeed and New York farms thrive.”
Political Update
Westchester Senate Candidate Releases First TV Ad
On Tuesday, Republican Senate candidate Julie Killian began broadcasting her first television ad, which calls for term limits and other reforms in Albany. Killian, a Rye City councilwoman, is challenging incumbent Democrat George Latimer.
This 37th Senate District is in southern Westchester. The 37th SD includes Bedford, Bronxville, Eastchester, Harrison, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, Port Chester, Rye, Rye Brook, Tuckahoe, White Plains and part of Yonkers.
Winners & Losers
Each week, City & State New York publishes a list of the week’s political “winners” and “losers.” Read this week’s list here.
Coming Up
The Board of Regents holds its next meeting on September 12 and 13.
Primary elections for state legislative offices will be held on Tuesday, September 13.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on September 15.
The state Board of Elections holds its next meeting on September 15.
The state Commission on Legislative, Judicial, & Executive Compensation holds its next meeting on September 22.
The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on September 27.