Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

June 4, 2021

What’s Inside

  • Health Commissioner Announces Intent to Change Mask Guidelines in Schools
  • State Senate Passes the Adult Survivors Act
  • Public Service Commission Nominations Released
  • Governor Launches Year Seven of the 43North Startup Competition
  • State Medicaid Director Announces Retirement
  • State Senator Akshar Announces Run for County Sheriff
  • Political Updates
  • Reminders and Links
  • Coming Up

Health Commissioner Announces Intent to Change Mask Guidelines in Schools

Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Howard Zucker sent a letter to the CDC to point out inconsistencies between CDC guidance for K-12 schools and CDC guidance for youth camps. The letter announces the state’s intention to align guidance for both in the following manner:

  • Indoors, mask use will be strongly encouraged but not required for students, campers, and staff/teachers/counselors who are not fully vaccinated.
  • Outdoors, masks are not required; students, campers, and staff/teachers/counselors who are not fully vaccinated are “encouraged” to wear a mask in certain higher-risk circumstances.
  • Both indoors and outdoors, students, campers, and staff who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks.
  • Schools and camps may choose to implement stricter standards.

This guidance will not be issued until next week and the commissioner is providing the CDC with an opportunity to comment prior to issuing the official guidance in the event the CDC believes the alignment is not supported by data.

State Senate Passes the Adult Survivors Act

This week, the Senate passed the Adult Survivors Act which would create a one-year window for the revival of otherwise time-barred civil claims arising out of sexual offenses committed against people who were 18 or older at the time of the conduct. The bill is modeled on the Child Victims Act which similarly opened a one-year look back window for time-barred civil claims for those who claim they were sexually abused as children and has led to more than 5,000 civil suits in the state. The Assembly bill has not yet moved through committee, though the sponsor Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal is making the bill a priority.

Assemblymember Rosenthal said:

“It’s just a matter of rising above the noise of all these other priorities that need to be done by the end of the year. But I work hard, I work tenaciously and the survivors are very invested in getting this bill passed.”

Public Service Commission Nominations Released

Media reports that have since been confirmed by the Governor’s office announced this week the upcoming nominations to the Public Service Commission (PSC). Former State Senator Jim Alesi will be nominated to another term on the PSC. Former State Senator David Valesky and longtime Governor Cuomo staffer John Maggiore will be nominated to fill vacancies. The nominees were met with criticism from environmental advocates who sent a letter to the Senate Majority Leader urging the Senate to reject the nominations of Valesky and Maggiore citing a lack of expertise in the subject matter.

Governor Launches Year Seven of the 43North Startup Competition

The Governor announced that applications are now being accepted for the seventh year of 43North, a $5 million startup competition that attracts entrepreneurs to grow their businesses in Buffalo. Winning startups will receive investment as well as free office space, mentorship, and support from 43North, and access to 43North’s network of investors. The competition returns this year after a pandemic related pause last year.

Governor Cuomo said:

“43North worked hard to help navigate its previous winning startups through the challenges of the pandemic and has spurred economic growth for the entire Western New York region. This successful competition has celebrated several significant milestones in recent months, including one company going public and other companies adding jobs and raising millions in venture capital, proving Buffalo has what it takes to attract and grow cutting-edge startups. We’re building on this momentum with a new year of the 43North Startup Competition that will welcome a whole new group of next-generation companies to Western New York – a place the world’s most innovative startups will want to call home.”

State Medicaid Director Announces Retirement

State Medicaid Director Donna Frescatore announced that she will be retiring after 40 years in state service. She will officially step down in August. Frescatore joined the Department of Health in 1998 after serving many years in the state Department of Civil Service. She led NY State of Health for five years before adding the title of Medicaid director when Jason Helgerson left in the spring of 2018. Brett Friedman, director of strategic initiatives and special Medicaid counsel at the Department of Health’s Office of Health Insurance Programs, will serve as the new point person for Medicaid and the Office of Health Insurance Programs. Danielle Holahan, deputy director of NY State of Health, will serve as point person for the exchange.

Ms. Frescatore said in an interview with Politico:

“I’ll remain fully available to the governor’s office and [Health Commissioner Howard] Zucker, as well as to Brett and Danielle on the issues as needed. There are a few projects that I’ll have to work with them on intermittently to hopefully see them to their conclusion or through their implementation … but day-to-day the management of the program will really be with Brett and Danielle respectively.”

State Senator Akshar Announces Run for County Sheriff

State Senator Fred Akshar (R-Binghampton) announced his candidacy for the office of Broome County Sheriff. Akshar was elected to the State Senate in 2015 in a special election to fill the seat forfeited by former Deputy Majority Leader Tom Libous. Prior to serving in the State Senate, Akshar served as Broome County undersheriff.

Senator Akshar said:

“I think police play a very important role in society, but we are at a crossroads, not only in this state, but across the nation, in which you need a measured and a pragmatic leader…one who is willing to support the men and women of law enforcement, but also be willing to have a very difficult conversation with people in the community, whether it be advocates, special interest groups or others that have desires and thoughts about how to move the community forward.”

Political Updates

Times Union: Cuomo refuses to release records related to his ‘American Crisis’ book.

NY Post: Despite $5M book deal, Gov. Cuomo making taxpayers foot $2.5M legal defense tab.

Governor Cuomo to hold re-election fundraiser.

Governor Cuomo’s fundraiser may signal 2022 bid.

NY Times: Will Cuomo run for a fourth term? Fundraiser says yes.

Embattled Rochester Mayor faces a tight primary challenge.

Ranked choice voting system upends NYC mayor race.

Reminders and Links

City & State NY’s Weekly Winners and Losers here.

City & State NY’s 2021 Queens Power 100 here.

Coming Up

The Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on June 7 and 8.

A Joint Senate/Assembly public hearing on the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program is scheduled for June 16.

The Public Service Commission will hold its next meeting on June 17.

JCOPE will hold its next meeting on June 29.