Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – October 16, 2018

What’s Inside

  • State Honors Fallen Firefighters
  • Governor Objects to ‘Politically Motivated’ IRS Charitable Regulations
  • Governor Announces Funding for Solar Powered Storage Projects
  • Governor Announces Funding for Emergency Communications
  • Comptroller Releases Annual Report on the MTA
  • Assemblyman Charged With Receiving Bribe
  • Senate Majority Leader Lays Out ‘The States for the Senate’
  • Political Update
    • Cuomo Holds Massive Fundraising Lead Over Molinaro
    • Cuomo Ad Hits Molinaro on Gun Control
    • Wofford Ad Highlights His Independence
    • State Democrats Launch ‘Blue Wave Bus Tour’
    • Democratic State Senator Defeated in Primary Will Remain in Race
    • League of Women Voters Releases 2018 Voters Guide
  • Coming Up

State Honors Fallen Firefighters

Last Tuesday, state officials recognized the sacrifice of 28 firefighters who lost their lives at the 21st Annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony as part of Firefighter Appreciation Day.  Eight firefighters who lost their lives in the last year were added to the state’s Fallen Firefighter Memorial, along with 20 firefighters who died as a result of injuries and illnesses in the aftermath of 9/11.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“It is critical that we honor our brave firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice for the communities they serve, to ensure their legacies are never forgotten.  We offer our heartfelt condolences to family, friends and colleagues who lost a loved one, and we pray for the safety of those who continue who put their lives on the line every day for the people of this great state.”

Governor Objects to ‘Politically Motivated’ IRS Charitable Regulations

On Thursday, Gov. Cuomo called on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) “to withdraw proposed charitable donation regulations that take aim at New York’s program to mitigate the impact of the federal elimination of full state and local tax deductibility.”

The Governor and state lawmakers created a mechanism in which individuals could make voluntary contributions to charitable funds established by local and state governments in order to circumvent the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductibility that was enacted as part of the 2017 federal tax law reforms.

(Read the Governor’s letter and the state’s formal comments.)

The Governor argues that the IRS’s proposed regulation blocking the charitable deductions “has no basis in law.” He wrote:

“In taking aim at our charitable contribution programs, the federal government is once again revealing its true hostility toward New York. These proposed regulations continue the politically motivated economic assault on New York that started with President Trump and his allies in Congress. The IRS should not be used as a political weapon.”

Governor Announces Funding for Solar Powered Storage Projects

On Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo announced that the state will make $40 million available to support solar projects that integrate energy storage. This funding, which will be made available in early November, “will accelerate the deployment of at least 50 megawatts of energy storage paired with solar, and reduce barriers to deployment of this clean energy technology associated with customer acquisition, siting, and interconnection. “

Gov. Cuomo said:

“As we continue our aggressive pursuit of clean, renewable technologies, funding for projects like this will ensure New York remains at the forefront of the global fight against climate change. The strategic pairing of energy storage and solar technologies moves us closer to building a clean energy economy that protects critical natural resources and benefits all New Yorkers.”

Governor Announces Funding for Emergency Communications

On Thursday, Gov. Cuomo announced that $45 million in state grant funding has been awarded to 57 counties and New York City for emergency communications. This funding, which is derived from surcharges on cell phone bills, enables local governments to expand their emergency response capabilities to enhance public safety operations.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“In an emergency, every second counts and it’s critically important that first responders have the tools and resources they need to receive information fast to help New Yorkers in their time of need. This funding will help us create a stronger, safer New York for all.”

Comptroller Releases Annual Report on the MTA

On Thursday, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released his annual report on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the state authority responsible for the New York City metropolitan area’s regional transportation system.  According to the report, the MTA “is facing its greatest challenge in decades….[s]ubway, bus and commuter rail service has deteriorated, and riders are abandoning the system for other transportation alternatives.” It concludes that without significant new sources of funding for transit, fares and tolls could rise faster than planned or the system will further deteriorate.

Comptroller DiNapoli said:

“Our regional transit system is in crisis. Service has deteriorated on the city’s subways and buses, the Long Island Railroad and Metro-North. Subway ridership has fallen notwithstanding the largest job expansion in New York City’s history. Despite an infusion of $836 million in state and city funds, there has been little improvement so far in subway service. Riders are leaving the system in frustration and deserve better, especially considering the proposed increase in fares.”

Assemblyman Charged With Receiving Bribe

On Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York announced that Assemblyman Joe Errigo (R – Livingston County) has been charged with accepting a bribe and the theft of honest services.  He is alleged to have introduced legislation that would enable a Rochester-area development project to move forward. The complaint indicates that Errigo acknowledged accepting the bribe.

U.S. Attorney James Kennedy said:

“The legislative process should not be up for sale to the highest bidder. By misusing his elected office to line his own pockets, Assemblyman Errigo has, as alleged in the complaint, undermined the integrity of our legislative process and abused the public trust.”

Errigo lost the Republican primary last month to Marjorie Byrne. His term ends on December 31.

Senate Majority Leader Lays Out ‘The States for the Senate’

Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan (R-Suffolk County) released an editorial this week in which he lays out the case for a Senate Republican Majority in Albany in 2019.

He writes about “protecting New Yorkers from dangerous policies coming from New York City,” including “single payer health care, taxpayer funded heroin injection sites, taxpayer funded campaigns, a Sanctuary State for illegal immigrants who commit aggravated felonies, abolishing ICE, and raising taxes to pay for it all.”

Read the full piece here.

Political Update

Cuomo Holds Massive Fundraising Lead Over Molinaro

Entering the home stretch of the state’s gubernatorial race, two-term incumbent Andrew Cuomo has a huge lead over his Republican challenger, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro.

ost recent campaign filings, Molinaro has just $210,000 to spend, while Cuomo has more than $9 million on hand.

Cuomo Ad Hits Molinaro on Gun Control

 Cuomo 2018 released an ad this week that criticizes his Republican opponent, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro for his voting record on gun control.

According to the ad, in his five years in the state Assembly, Molinaro voted against “common-sense gun safety legislation” 32 times.  He voted against banning assault weapons, against outlawing armor-piercing ammunition that could save the lives of law enforcement, against prohibiting criminals and domestic abusers from purchasing and owning weapons, and against enacting measures to keep loaded weapons away from children.

Wofford Ad Highlights His Independence

Republican candidate for state Attorney General released his campaign’s second ad last week.  In it, his Democratic opponent Letitia James is called “Cuomo’s hand-picked Attorney General candidate” who will not “investigate corruption in the Governor’s office unless he tells her to.”

State Democrats Launch ‘Blue Wave Bus Tour’

 The state Democratic Committee announced last week that it is launching a 2018 Blue Wave Bus Tour – “continuing Governor Cuomo’s aggressive coordinated campaign to flip the State Senate and take back the U.S. House.” The effort is intended to boost “down ballot” candidates running for the state Senate and House in key district in the Hudson Valley and on Long Island.

The tour began on Saturday with an event for Senate candidate Monica Martinez in Long Island’s open 3rd Senate District and Liuba Grechen Shirley, who is challenging incumbent Peter King.  Additional events will be held on October 20 for Long Island Senate candidate Jim Gaughran and on October 21 for Hudson Valley Senate candidate Peter Harckham.

 Democratic State Senator Defeated in Primary Will Remain in Race

State Senator Tony Avella (D – Queens), who lost the Democratic primary to John Liu, said that he will continue to campaign for the November general election. Liu defeated Avella in the September Democratic primary, taking about 53 percent of the vote. Avella will appear on the Independence and Women’s Equality Party ballot lines in the race for the 11th Senatorial District, which covers northeast Queens. The race also includes Republican Vickie Paladino.

Avella was a member of the Senate’s Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) until it disbanded in April.  Six of the eight former IDC members lost the Democratic primary races in September; Avella is the only one who has indicated that he will continue to campaign through November.

League of Women Voters Releases 2018 Voters Guide

The New York League of Women Voters of New York State has released its 2018 Voters Guide, which provides information about all of the candidates for Governor, Comptroller and Attorney General.

Winners & Losers

Each week, City & State New York publishes a list of the week’s political “winners” and “losers.”  Read last week’s list here.

Coming Up

Later today, the Assembly Committees on Codes, Health, Government Operations and Alcoholism and Drug Abuse are holding the first of four public hearings “to seek input on proposals to legalize, regulate and tax adult use of marijuana in New York.” The first hearing will be held in Manhattan.

Gov. Cuomo’s Regulated Marijuana Workgroup, which is drafting legislation for an adult-use marijuana program for the Legislature to consider in 2019, completes its series of listening sessions next week. Sessions will be held in Suffolk County today in Westchester tomorrow. Register to participate in a session here.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on October 18.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on October 30.

The state Board of Regents holds its next meeting on November 5 and 6.

Election Day is Tuesday, November. 6.

On November 16, the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee is holding a public hearing in Albany “to examine recycling-related issues.”