Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

November 22, 2024

What’s Inside

Governor Announces Funding Available to Counties to Help Combat Housing Crisis
MTA Board Approves Congestion Pricing Plan
Clean Slate Act Takes Effect
Governor Signs Pediatric Fluoride Legislation
Hakeem Jeffries Elected House Democratic Leader
Gillibrand Expected to Chair Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
In the News
Coming Up

Governor Announces Funding Available to Counties to Help Combat Housing Crisis

The Governor announced the launch of the County Infrastructure Grant Program, which will provide up to $50 million to help counties combat the housing crisis by funding small to medium scale county-led infrastructure projects across the state, with enhanced awards for projects supporting the creation of housing projects of ten units or more.

Administered by Empire State Development, the program will support counties with infrastructure costs with a housing-centric focus. Grants up to $500,000 are available to support small and moderate-scale priority projects identified by the county, which support economic development, contribute to placemaking or encourage tourism. Enhanced awards of up to $1 million are available for projects supporting the creation of housing with ten or more units.

More information on the program, including how to apply, is on the Empire State Development website. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) portal.

Governor Hochul said:

Creating more quality and affordable housing throughout the state continues to be one of my top priorities in making New York more affordable and more livable. The County Infrastructure Grant Program offers an actionable blueprint for creating thriving communities by incorporating additional housing as a part of infrastructure project plans. This means that more New Yorkers can live where they want, and will encourage more businesses to establish themselves here and grow in New York because there is ample housing.

MTA Board Approves Congestion Pricing Plan

On Monday, The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) Board voted 12-1 to approve the new congestion pricing plan in Manhattan. The plan will take effect on January 5th for cars entering the Congestion Relief Zone below 60th street in Manhattan. The new plan is identical to the old plan with the exception of the fee schedule, which is lowered from $15 to $9, with a plan to phase in higher fees in later years. All previous discounts and exemptions for the program remain intact. If you have previously applied for and received a discount or exemption, no further action is required.

More information can be found here.

Clean Slate Act Takes Effect

New York’s Clean Slate Act took effect this week. The law provides the Unified Court System up to three years from the effective date to set up the required processes to automatically seal eligible conviction records. Once that process is complete, convictions that are eligible will be automatically sealed for certain civil background check purposes. Some convictions, such as sex crimes and Class A felonies that are not drug related, including murder, are not eligible to be sealed under this legislation.

What records will be sealed under the Clean Slate Act?

With some exceptions, convictions for most misdemeanor and felony convictions will be sealed after a certain amount of time has passed since the individual’s last conviction or release from incarceration. The individual must not be on parole, probation, post-release supervision, or have a pending misdemeanor and/or felony.

How much time must pass before convictions are sealed?

For misdemeanor convictions, a person’s dockets are eligible to be sealed three years after sentencing or three years after release from incarceration, whichever is later

For felony convictions, a person’s dockets are eligible to be sealed eight years after sentencing or eight years after release from incarceration, whichever is later.

To have dockets sealed, the person must not be on probation, post release supervision, or parole. The person also must not have any pending criminal cases (i.e., misdemeanors or felonies).

If someone is convicted of another misdemeanor or felony before the original docket is sealed, the waiting period starts over. The waiting period is three years for misdemeanors and eight years for felonies, as explained above.

Under the law, employers can still access sealed records for necessary and relevant purposes like when hiring people to work with children, older adults or vulnerable people. Law enforcement can also access criminal records during their hiring process.

More information can be found here.

Governor Hochul said:

As we work to improve public safety and expand economic opportunity for all, the Clean Slate Act will play a critical role in helping New Yorkers find jobs, housing and opportunities in education. Starting today, individuals who have paid their debt to society, stayed out of the criminal justice system and are looking for a fresh start will begin to benefit from this landmark legislation. I was proud to work with my colleagues in the Legislature, including Senator Zellnor Myrie and Assembly Member Catalina Cruz, to craft a common-sense compromise that lets law enforcement monitor criminal activity while law-abiding individuals have a second chance. That’s why we brought together a massive coalition of support — labor leaders, CEOs, advocates and prosecutors — to get this done and change the lives of millions.

Governor Signs Pediatric Fluoride Legislation

The Governor signed legislation to allow greater access to fluoride treatments for pediatric dental patients. Fluoride treatments work to prevent tooth decay and are an important part of pediatric dental health. This legislation allows registered dental assistants and licensed practical nurses to apply topical fluoride varnish to teeth, greatly expanding the number of licensed professionals in the state who are authorized to provide this treatment.

Governor Hochul said:

Fluoride is scientifically proven to prevent cavities and protect our kids’ teeth. As a mom, I know how difficult it can be to get an appointment at the dentist’s office and how critical it is for our kids to maintain good oral hygiene. That’s why I’m signing this legislation to expand access to fluoride treatments, keeping our kids healthy and strong.

Hakeem Jeffries Elected House Democratic Leader

On Tuesday, U.S. House Democrats elected Hakeem Jeffries to a second term as their leader. Jeffries of New York was chosen during an internal party vote of the House Democrats at the Capitol. Most of the Democratic leadership team is expected to be reelected for the new Congress. In line to become the House speaker, Jeffries remains the highest ranking Black elected official in Congress, and the first to hold the job of party leader. In 2023, Jeffries took over the role from longtime leader Nancy Pelosi, becoming the top House Democrat.

Gillibrand Expected to Chair Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

According to reports, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is expected to be named Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (“DSCC”) to lead Democratic efforts to win a majority in the U.S. Senate in 2026. The Chair has been held for the last two cycles by Michigan Senator Gary Peters, who managed to retain a majority in 2022, a difficult task when your party controls the White House.

In The News

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

City & State NY’s 2024 Power of Diversity: Women 100 here.

‘A leadership crisis’: Rep. Torres doesn’t rule out bid for N.Y. governor.

Rep. Torres plans listening tour of New York amid rumors of potential Hochul primary.

The major bills awaiting Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature.

Stewart-Cousins: Special session ‘unlikely’ this year to combat Trump.

New York lawmakers seek reform to tax incentive policies at economic development hearing.

Why Can’t New York Build an Effective Ethics Agency?

Officials talk FY 2026 Budget: Rising Medicaid costs and revenue growth.

City Investigators Probe Eric Adams Protégé Jesse Hamilton and His Real Estate Deals.

New York housing advocate presses for state funding that expressly serves rural areas.

Brooklyn Diocese Demotes Monsignor Who Sent Millions to Adams Advisor.

Opponents Renew Attacks as Congestion Pricing Plan Approved.

Sticker Mule CEO announces intent to run for Congress.

Number of homeless students in NYC schools hits record high, new data shows.

Balance is crucial to state support for farmers, New York state comptroller says.

How Zeldin got to EPA.

Planned Parenthood of NY was already facing financial woes. Then came the election.

Liz Krueger – What Trump’s big win means: Albany Dems must enact advances on affordability.

GlobalFoundries to receive $1.5B federal grant for chip manufacturing.

Coming Up

The Assembly Higher Education Committee will hold a public hearing to examine Capital Funding on December 3.

The Assembly Housing Committee will hold a public hearing on the Mitchell-Lama program on December 4.

The NYS Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on December 9 and 10.

The Public Service Commission will hold its next meeting on December 19.