Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – May 3, 2017

Coverage of Albany and New York State government

  • Governor Announces Administration Appointments
  • SUNY Appoints New Chancellor
  • Governor Announces Seventh Round of Regional Economic Development Council Competition
  • State Holds First Hemp Summit
  • Poll: State Budget Gets Mixed Reviews
  • Senate Approves Heroin, Opioid and Synthetic Drug Abuse Package
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

Governor Announces Administration Appointments

Gov. Cuomo has announced the following administration appointments:

  • Melissa DeRosa as Secretary to the Governor;
  • Jill DesRosiers as Executive Deputy Secretary to the Governor;
  • Adam Zurofsky as Deputy Secretary for Energy and Financial Services;
  • Michael Schmidt as Deputy Secretary for Economic Development;
  • Ali Chaudhry as Deputy Secretary for Transportation;
  • Adam Silverman as Assistant Counsel to the Governor for Public Safety;
  • Rajiv Shah as Assistant Secretary for the Environment;
  • Megan Baldwin as Assistant Secretary for Health;
  • Natacha Carbajal-Evangelista as Assistant Secretary for Labor and Workforce
  • Daniel Fuller as Assistant Secretary for Education;
  • Peter Olmsted as Assistant Secretary for Energy;
  • Abbey Fashouer as First Deputy Press Secretary;
  • Robyn Ryan as Assistant Director of Operations for Special Projects;
  • Andrew Ball as Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs;
  • Chelsea Muller as Senior Program Manager; and
  • Casey Kuklick as Senior Policy Advisor for Energy.

He also announced the following additional administration appointments:

  • Maria Comella as Chief of Staff;
  • Roger Parrino as Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services;
  • Robert Williams as Deputy Secretary for Gaming;
  • Robert Samson as Chief Information Officer at the Office of Information Technology Services;
  • Kelli Owens as Director of Women’s Affairs; and
  • Noah Rayman as Speechwriter for the Executive Chamber.

SUNY Appoints New Chancellor

Last week, the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York (SUNY) confirmed Dr. Kristina Johnson as SUNY Chancellor. She will succeed Nancy Zimpher, who will step down in June.

Dr. Johnson is the founder and chief executive officer of Cube Hydro Partners, LLC, which develops hydroelectric generation facilities that provide clean energy to communities and businesses throughout the country. She previously served as U.S. Under Secretary of Energy in the Obama Administration, and served as Johns Hopkins University provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, dean of the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University, and professor at the University of Colorado-Boulder.

Gov. Cuomo called Dr. Johnson “an exceptional talent who brings an extensive record in higher education, the sciences, and the private sector to the SUNY community.”

Governor Announces Seventh Round of Regional Economic Development Council Competition

Last week, Gov. Cuomo announced the launch of the seventh round of the state’s Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) competition, beginning on May 1.

The 2017 REDC Guidebook and list of available resources can be found at the Regional Council web site. The Consolidated Funding (CFA) will open to applicants on Monday, May 1, and the deadline for applications is Friday, July 28, 2017 at 4 pm.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“The Regional Economic Development Councils have successfully brought local communities together like never before, spurring economic growth from the ground up and creating jobs across New York.  With the seventh round of the REDC awards, the state will continue its partnership with local governments and community leaders – making smart investments in our cities, towns and villages to give the Regional Councils the tools needed to build their communities for years to come.”

State Holds First Hemp Summit

Last week, the Governor’s office convened the state’s first-ever Industrial Hemp Summit in Ithaca “to build on the momentum of the region’s growing agriculture industry.”

Several state actions were announced at the event, including allowing private entities to operate hemp research sites, and increasing the number of such facilities from 4 to 10; seeking a US Drug Enforcement Agency permit to import seed and establish a seed distribution site for international imports; establishing a Hemp Technical Team to support optimal growing and processing of industrial hemp; and creating a Hemp Working Group to strengthen the hemp industry in the state.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“Industrial hemp has tremendous potential to grow manufacturing, support the creation of new jobs and boost the profitability of farms across New York.  By eliminating barriers and expanding research and development for both businesses and farms, New York will capitalize on this emerging crop to continue to move this region and this state forward.”

Poll: State Budget Gets Mixed Reviews

A Siena College poll released last week finds that just 22 percent of New Yorkers think the recently enacted state budget is either “excellent” or “good” for the people of the state.  However, it also shows strong support for the high-profile issues addressed in the budget, including $2.5 billion for clean water infrastructure; an additional $1.1 billion in aid to local school districts; allowing ride sharing services to throughout the state; and making SUNY/CUNY tuition free for families making less than $125,000.

The poll shows Gov. Cuomo with a 54-37 percent favorability rating and a 47-51 percent job performance rating.  51 percent of those polled say that they prepared to re-elect him, compared to 39 percent who prefer ‘someone else.’

Read the poll cross-tabs here.

Senate Approves Heroin, Opioid and Synthetic Drug Abuse Package

Last week, the State Senate approved eight bills that are intended to address the state’s the heroin, opioid, and synthetic drug crisis. Six of the measures target the use of synthetic or “designer” drug combinations such as fentanyl that are not currently on the state’s list of controlled substances and are therefore not illegal.  Two more bills would promote coordination among health-care providers and would notify prescribers when an individual has suffered an overdose.

Senate Majority Leader Flanagan said:

“The Senate is at the forefront in taking legislative action to combat the state’s heroin crisis and was instrumental in securing $214 million in this year’s budget for measures to prevent and treat heroin and opioid abuse. When combined with the measures passed today and additional initiatives being pursued by our Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction, we are enhancing the resources used by law enforcement and treatment professionals to address public health and safety.”

Political Update

Staten Island Assemblywoman to Run for NYC Mayor

Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island) filed papers last week to run in the New York City mayor’s race.  The other announced GOP candidates in the race are real estate executive Paul Massey and former New York Jets football player Michel Faulkner.

Former State Senator to Run for Nassau County Executive

Former Republican State Senator Jack Martins has been nominated by the county’s Republican Party to run for Nassau County Executive this fall.  Martins, a former Mineola mayor who ran unsuccessfully for Congress last year, was chosen in favor of incumbent Edward Mangano.  Mangano, who is in his second term, is facing federal corruption and bribery charges.

Three Democrats are seeking their party’s nomination for County Executive — County Legislator Laura Curran, who has the party’s support; County Comptroller George Maragos; and Assemblyman Charles Lavine.

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

The Legislature is in Albany Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

The Board of Regents holds its next meeting on May 8 and 9.

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

The special elections to fill vacancies in the 30th Senate District (Manhattan) and the 9th Assembly District (Nassau/Suffolk) are scheduled for May 23.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on May 23.