Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – June 27, 2017

  • 2017 Legislative Session Ends, But Lawmakers Expected Back in Albany This Week as Unfinished Business Remains
  • Senate Approves Nomination of Feinman to Serve on State’s Highest Court
  • Senate Approves New PSC Members
  • Governor Directs Cyber Security Advisory Board to Cyber Security of Voting Infrastructure
  • Governor Announces Pay Equity Hearings
  • Comptroller Calls for Stronger Protections for Public Water Supplies
  • Governor Announces Opening of Expanded West End Concourse in Penn Station
  • Coalition Opposing a State Constitutional Amendment Launched
  • Advocates Launch Campaign to Push for 100% Renewable Energy
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

2017 Legislative Session Ends, But Lawmakers Expected Back in Albany This Week as Unfinished Business Remains

While the Senate and Assembly said that they were adjourning for the year last Wednesday night, their failure to reach agreement on extending the New York City mayor’s authority over the city’s public schools and county sales taxes meant that it was very likely that lawmakers would have to  return to Albany at some point to address these issues.

On Thursday, Gov. Cuomo held a televised news conference at which he scolded lawmakers for leaving Albany without reaching final agreement on these issues. He also called on New York City to “contribute more both in capital money and in operating money” to the MTA, the state authority that is responsible for public transportation in the New York City region.

The Governor said that lawmakers leaving Albany without an agreement in New York City school oversight “is a dereliction of duty.”  The law which gives the New York City mayor direct control over the city’s school expires June 30.  If it is not extended, oversight of the city’s schools will revert to the prior system of multiple community school boards.

Earlier today, Gov. Cuomo issued a proclamation calling for an extraordinary session to address mayoral control of the to be held tomorrow, June 28.

It is unclear what, if anything, lawmakers will take up.  But it appears likely that the session will focus on a narrow set of issues.

Senate Approves Nomination of Feinman to Serve on State’s Highest Court

The Senate has Gov. Cuomo’s nomination of Justice Paul Feinman to serve as an Associate Judge on the New York State Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court.  Justice Feinman was previously an Associate Justice on the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court and has served as a judge in New York for more than 20 years.

Senate Approves New PSC Members

Among the numerous appointments that the Senate approved last week, lawmakers approved the nomination of John Rhodes as a commissioner of the PSC.  The Governor has said the he plans to designate Mr. Rhodes to serve as the Chair of the PSC.  Rhodes previously served as the CEO of NYSERDA.

The Senate also confirmed the nominations of former state Senator James Alesi and Philip Wilcox, a union official, to serve on the PSC, and extended the term of current PSC commissioner Diane Burman for another six-year term.

Governor Directs Cyber Security Advisory Board to Cyber Security of Voting Infrastructure

Last Tuesday, in the wake of reports of foreign interference in the 2016 elections, Gov. Cuomo has directed the state Cyber Security Advisory Board to review cyber security defenses in conjunction with state and county Boards of Election, and to make recommendations and propose additional security measures within 90 Days.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“The integrity of the electoral system is essential to a functioning democracy, and with those core American principles under attack, we must take decisive action to safeguard democratic integrity and expand voting rights….Recent reports of foreign hacking on the American electoral system are highly disturbing, and New York will do everything in its power to continue to secure our electoral system and protect the sanctity of our elections. In the absence of a concerted federal response, New York State is stepping up to ensure we are prepared for the serious cyber threats facing our electoral system.”

Governor Announces Pay Equity Hearings

On Friday, Gov. Cuomo announced that New York State Pay Equity Study, which is co-chaired by Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul and State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon, will hold a series of hearings on the state’s gender pay gap. The hearings will focus on “the causes, scope, and economic impact of the gender pay gap,” and will be held in New York City (June 26), Syracuse (July 11) and Buffalo (July 19).

Gov. Cuomo said:

“New York is the progressive leader of the nation, and we are committed to ensuring equal pay for equal work.  These hearings will help us identify strategies to close the wage gap in New York and support our efforts to make New York a more just and equal state for all.”

Comptroller Calls for Stronger Protections for Public Water Supplies

Last Monday, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli issued a report which finds that the current federal-state regulatory structure “can leave significant gaps” in terms of drinking water protections. It notes that the state took some steps in the 2017-18 state budget to improve drinking water safety.

The report recommends that the state:

  • create a statewide response plan to address drinking water contamination incidents;
  • create a statewide program to proactively monitor the health of residents exposed to drinking water contaminants;
  • apply a more precautionary approach for contaminants that not federally regulated;
  • broaden the scope of review when identifying emerging contaminants; and
  • better inform the public of the potential health impacts of water contaminants.

Comptroller DiNapoli said:

“Clean drinking water is a precious resource that we should never take for granted.  Water contamination in Hoosick Falls, Newburgh and Long Island revealed our vulnerabilities. With the President proposing funding cuts to programs that help keep drinking water safe, the state and localities have to take the lead in strengthening safeguards for public water supplies and improve our response to contamination.”

Governor Announces Opening of Expanded West End Concourse in Penn Station

Last Monday, Gov. Cuomo announced the opening of Penn Station’s expanded West End Concourse, the first phase of the redesign of the nation’s busiest transit hub. The new concourse will provide direct access to 17 of Penn Station’s 21 tracks, and will connect the future Moynihan Train Hall to Penn Station underground.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“The state-of-the-art-infrastructure, technology upgrades, and wayfinding improvements of the expanded West End concourse will provide immediate relief for passengers enduring increasing congestion and overcrowding in Penn Station and help New Yorkers get to where they need to go better and faster….[w]e are moving full speed ahead in our work to build a bolder, fully modernized Penn-Farley Complex, bringing Penn Station out of the Dark Ages and into the 21st century.”

Coalition Opposing a State Constitutional Amendment Launched

A coalition of more than 100 groups has announced the launch of a campaign against holding a state constitutional convention in 2019.  The groups are from all over the political spectrum, ranging from labor unions and environmental advocates to the state Republican Party.

The coalition, which calls itself New Yorkers Against Corruption, said that it plans to “run a multifaceted campaign to educate voters about the potentially destructive impact that a Constitutional Convention would have on New Yorkers.”

On November 7, New York voters will have the opportunity to vote on whether to authorize a Constitutional Convention.  If voters approve the measure, a state constitutional convention would be held in 2019.

Advocates Launch Campaign to Push for 100% Renewable Energy

Last Thursday, Environment New York, an environmental advocacy group, announced that it is launching a “major effort to educate New Yorkers about the prospects for shifting to 100 percent clean, renewable energy.” The campaign, which is part of a national effort, hopes to reach 120,000 New Yorkers with its message that “America can, and must, transition from dirty fuels to clean sources such as wind and solar.”

Heather Leibowitz, Director of Environment New York, said:

“For years, we’ve been told that pollution from dirty fuels we’ve used to meet our energy needs was the price we had to pay for progress.  Those days are over. Now, we can forge ahead, emboldened by the growing numbers of people who know that 100 percent renewable energy is as feasible as it is necessary.”

Political Update

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

Having concluded its work for 2017, the Legislature is not scheduled to return to Albany until next January. But with a few issues still outstanding, their return to Albany before January is considered very likely.

The State Board of Elections holds its next meeting on August 2.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on July 13.

The Board of Regents holds its next meeting on July 17 and 18.