Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – June 24, 2016

PluggedInMastheadCoverage of Albany and New York State government – June 24, 2016

  • Governor Signs Bills to Address Heroin and Opioid Abuse Crisis
  • Governor Announces Award of $43 Million in ‘Smart Schools’ Funding
  • Governor Releases ‘End of Session’ Report
  • Governor Signs Bill on Foreclosure Prevention, Addressing Vacant and Abandoned Properties
  • Governor Announces Pedestrian Safety Initiative
  • Governor Announces Next Phase of Javitz Center Expansion
  • U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Challenge to SAFE Act
  • Report: Few Upsides, Many Downsides, to State Constitutional Convention
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

 

Governor Signs Bills to Address Heroin and Opioid Abuse Crisis

On Tuesday, Gov. Cuomo announced that he has signed into law a package of bills intended to combat the state’s heroin and opioid crisis.

The new laws will limits opioid prescriptions to 7 days; mandate prescriber education on pain management; allow for immediate access to inpatient treatment; and permit greater access to drug treatment medications.  In addition, the state will expand supports for people in recovery; provide 270 new treatment beds; and create 2,335 new substance abuse program slots.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“New York is leading the way forward in the fight against heroin and opioid addiction, and with this legislation, we are taking an affirmative stand for our families and communities who have suffered from this epidemic’s debilitating effects.  I commend the Senate and the Assembly for their hard work and dedication to stopping this epidemic and creating a stronger and healthier New York.”

 

Governor Announces Award of $43 Million in ‘Smart Schools’ Funding

On Monday, Gov. Cuomo announced that 36 Smart Schools Investment Plans totaling $43 million have been approved as part of the $2 billion Smart Schools Bond Act.  A list of awardees, purposes and amounts is here.

The purpose of the 2014 Smart Schools Bond Act was to “finance educational technology and infrastructure, providing students access to the latest technology and connectivity needed to succeed and compete in the 21st century economy.” The program was approved by voters in November 2014.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“Access to high-speed internet and new technology should never depend on your zip code – and with the Smart Schools Bond Act, we are expanding educational opportunity in every corner of the state.  This funding will help enhance teaching and learning for the 21st century, improve educational outcomes, and prepare today’s students to be the future leaders of tomorrow.”

 

Governor Releases ‘End of Session’ Report

This week, Gov. Cuomo released an End of Session Report which “details the achievements of the 2016 Legislative Session.

Among the Governor’s highlights are a budget that keeps state spending increases below 2% for the sixth straight year; infrastructure investments; increased state support for education; a $15 statewide minimum wage; 12 weeks of paid family leave; independent expenditure reforms; and enacting a comprehensive plan to end New York’s heroin and opioid epidemic.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“This progress achieved throughout this year’s Legislative Session will have a real impact on the lives of millions of New Yorkers across the state.  From the ground-breaking achievements in the budget to the major legislative agreements in the last few weeks, New York continues to show a nation accustomed to gridlock what is possible when government works.”

The Albany Times Union lists the “Winners & Losers” of the 2016 legislative session.

Also, the Business Council of New York State has released its annual end of session summary.

 

Governor Signs Bill on Foreclosure Prevention, Addressing Vacant and Abandoned Properties

On Thursday, Gov. Cuomo announced the approval of a new law that is intended to prevent foreclosures and to address the problem of vacant and abandoned properties by expediting the rehabilitation, repair and improvement of these properties. The bill also establishes a Consumer Bill of Rights that is intended to help people facing foreclosure to remain in their homes, and creates a Community Restoration Fund that will enable for the State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) to assist homeowners facing mortgage foreclosure.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“For many New Yorkers, homes are our single most important investment, but that investment can be undermined by the blight of neglected and abandoned properties.  For each zombie home that we cure and for each that we prevent with this legislation, we are saving entire neighborhoods from the corrosive effect of blight and neglect. I thank my colleagues in the Assembly and Senate for seeing a crisis and helping to turn it into an opportunity for people to realize the great American Dream of homeownership.”

 

Governor Announces Pedestrian Safety Initiative

On Monday, Gov. Cuomo announced the state’s first comprehensive pedestrian safety plan, a multi-agency initiative which will provide $110 million for pedestrian safety improvements across upstate New York and Long Island during the next five years.  It also includes a new pedestrian safety web site.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“Supporting these education programs and enforcement efforts will set a new safety standard for pedestrians and motorists and help make this state’s roadways safer for all.  Through these efforts, we will help prevent avoidable tragedies and save lives.”

 

Governor Announces Next Phase of Javitz Center Expansion

On Monday, Gov. Cuomo announced that a Request for Proposals will be released to three pre-qualified Design-Build teams that will compete for a contract to complete a major expansion to the Jacob K. Javits Center. The Governor also announced that the Convention Center Development Corporation will start early construction work this fall, enabling the project to progress on an accelerated timeframe.

The RFP will be sent to the three pre-qualified Design-Build teams, who will submit proposals for design and construction of the Javits expansion, including a fixed price for completion of the work.  Responses are due October 31, 2016. The Design-Build contract will be awarded to the winning bidder by early 2017.

 

U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Challenge to SAFE Act

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a legal challenge that claimed that the assault weapons ban included in New York’s SAFE Act was unconstitutional. The justices, without comment, declined to review a lower-court ruling upholding the constitutionality of the New York law banning the sale of a series of semi-automatic weapons based on their physical characteristics. That decision also upheld a 2013 ruling that struck down the provision of the SAFE Act barring individuals from loading more than seven rounds of ammunition in a 10-round cartridge.

New York lawmakers enacted the SAFE (Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement) Act in January 2013, shortly after a gunman killed 27 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

 

Report:  Few Upsides, Many Downsides, to State Constitutional Convention

A former Long Island Assemblyman who is now a lobbyist has released an historical analysis of state constitutional conventions which finds that a 2019 constitutional convention might be a waste of time and money.

The analysis by Arthur “Jerry” Kremer, a former Long Island Assemblymember, finds that state constitutionals have typically been very costly, but have provided little to the public in terms of real change.

New York State’s constitution requires that voters be given the opportunity, at least once every 20 years, to vote to hold a state constitutional convention.  On Election Day in 2017, voters will be asked “Shall there be a convention to revise the constitution and amend the same?”  If the referendum is approved, then the public will be given the opportunity to elect delegates to a convention, and to ratify any amendments a convention proposes.

The last referendum on this issue was held in 1997.  It was rejected, with 92,415 people voting for to hold a constitutional amendment, and 157,390 voting not to do so.

 

Political Update

Preview of the State’s Congressional Primaries

New York State’s Congressional primaries are on June 28.  Below is an overview of some of the highest profile races that are on the primary ballot.

Former Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst and venture capitalist David Calone are competing in a Democratic primary for the right to take on first term Republican Lee Zeldin.

The Democrats held this seat for a number of years before Zeldin’s victory in 2014.

Democrat Steve Israel is not running for re-election.  Five Democrats are running in the primary:  former Nassau County executive Thomas Suozzi; former North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman; Suffolk County Legislator Steve Stern; Anna Kaplan and Jonathan Clarke. The winner will face Republican State Senator Jack Martins.

Democrat Charles Rangel, who has represented the district in Congress since 1971, is not running for re-election.  There are nine candidates in the race.  The highest profile candidates are State Senator Adriano Espaillat; Assemblyman Keith Wright; and Adam Clayton Powell.  The district is heavily Democratic, and the winner is expected to win the general election in November.

 Republican Chris Gibson is not running for re-election in this district, which both parties see as an opportunity to win in November.

Democratic candidate Zephyr Teachout, a law professor who lost a primary race for Governor in 2014, is facing Livingston Deputy Town Supervisor Will Yandik.

On the Republican side, first-time candidate Andrew Heaney faces off against former Assemblyman and 2006 candidate for Governor John Faso.

Republican Richard Hanna is not running for re-election.  The candidates running in the Republican primary are businessman Steve Wells, Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney and history teacher George Phillips.

The primary winner will face Broome County Legislator Kim Myers in November.

Three Democrats are competing for the party’s line to challenge first-term Republican John Katko in this Syracuse-area swing district.

The race includes Colleen Deacon, a former aide to U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Eric Kingson, a professor of social work at Syracuse University and attorney and Navy veteran Steve Williams.

32BJ Endorses Democrats in Key State Senate Races

On Tuesday, 32BJ SEIU, the largest property services workers union in the country endorsed a slate of Democratic candidates for State Senate in an effort to help Democrats gain control of the upper house of the state legislature.  The candidates endorsed – three on Long Island and two in the Hudson Valley — provide a road map as to which races Democrats believe are the key races for them this fall.

The group announced its support for:

  • Adam Haber, who is running to replace Republican Senator Jack Martins, who is running for Congress;
  • Senator Todd Kaminsky, who won a special election for the seat in April;
  • Ryan Cronin, who is challenging incumbent Republican Kemp Hannon;
  • Terry Gipson, who lost to incumbent republican Sue Serino in 2014; and
  • Sara Niccoli, who is challenging first term Republican Senator George Amedore.

32BJ President Hector Figueroa said:

“32BJ members are supporting candidates who are a new class of progressive leaders with fresh energy to take on issues that affect working people, low-income New Yorkers, students, immigrants and everyone fighting for a brighter future in New York. With the energy we’re seeing from our members and our progressive allies, we feel confident we can take back the Senate in November.”

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 state Gaming Commission meets on Monday, June 27.

The state’s Congressional primary will be held on Tuesday, June 28.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on June 28.

Also on June 28, the state Commission on Legislative, Judicial and Executive Compensation will meet in New York City to consider legislative and executive compensation.

The state Board of Elections holds its next meeting on June 30.

The Board of Regents holds its next meeting on July 12 and 13.

The Public Service Commission holds its next meeting on July 14.