Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – November 1, 2016

PluggedInMastheadCoverage of Albany and New York State government

  • Governor Announces Grants for Law Enforcement Video Recording and Interrogation Equipment
  • Attorney General Reports on Guns Used In Crimes
  • Attorney General Announces Settlement with DFS Companies
  • Judge Allows Farm Bureau to Defend State Labor Law
  • Preview of New York State’s 2016 Legislative Elections
  • Governor Fundraises, Stumps for Democratic State Senate Candidates
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

Governor Announces Grants for Law Enforcement Video Recording and Interrogation Equipment

Last week, Gov. Cuomo announced that 20 law enforcement agencies throughout the state will receive a total of $508,492 to pay for equipment that will allow them video record criminal interrogations. The funding will come from criminal asset forfeiture funds obtained by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office through settlements with international banks for violating U.S. sanctions and from the federal government, and will be administered by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).

Gov. Cuomo said:

“This equipment will aid law enforcement agencies across New York in helping to ensure justice is served, the rights of individuals are preserved and officers are protected. Through this collaborative effort we are taking action to increase confidence in the criminal justice system and making this a more fair New York for all.”

Attorney General Announces Settlement with DFS Companies

Last Tuesday, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced that his office has reached settlements with the two largest daily fantasy sports (DFS) companies, resolving lawsuits alleging false and deceptive advertising practices by the companies.

The two largest DFS companies, DraftKings and FanDuel, have each agreed to pay the state $6 million in penalties and costs to resolve the claims against them.  In addition, the two companies have agreed to implement a number of changes to their marketing practices, including providing clear disclosure of terms and conditions for marketing promotions, expected winnings, and expected performance in the online contests; providing resources for players at risk for compulsive gaming disorders, including addiction; and maintaining information on their respective web sites regarding the rate of success of users in its contests, including the percentage of winnings captured by the top 1%, 5% and 10% of players.

In August, Gov. Cuomo signed into law a bill to legalized and regulate DFS in New York State.  A lawsuit challenging that law, which argues that DFS contests violate the anti-gambling provisions of the state constitution, was filed in October.

Attorney General Reports on Guns Used In Crimes

Last week, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman released a “first-of-its-kind analysis” of tens of thousands of guns used in crimes that were recovered by law enforcement, in an effort to illustrating gun trafficking trends that undermine New York’s strong laws. The report highlights how guns used to commit crimes in New York frequently come from states with less strict gun control laws.

According to the report, 74 percent of all “crime guns” recovered by law enforcement in New York originated out-of-state, and 86 percent of recovered handguns come from out-of-state.  The announcement also includes an interactive tool relating to the sources of illegal guns.

Attorney General Schneiderman said:

“The data makes one thing abundantly clear: New York’s strong gun laws are being undermined at every turn by lax laws in other states. Even as we work to make our streets safer, the illegal guns most often used in violent crimes continue to pour into our state. In fact, three-out-of-four guns used in New York crimes come from out-of-state. When you look at the illegal crime gun problem, it’s the handgun that’s killing people every day – and 86% of recovered handguns come from out-of-state, underscoring the problem New York faces. It’s time for the federal government – and other states – to take common sense measures and ensure weak gun laws won’t continue to take the lives of New Yorkers.”

Judge Allows Farm Bureau to Defend State Labor Law

A state Supreme Court judge has ruled that the New York Farm Bureau may defend a lawsuit filed against the state over a law that the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) contends violates farmworkers’ rights to organize.

NYCLU filed a lawsuit against the state in May, challenging the State Employment Relations Act, which does not allow farmworkers to unionize and bargain collectively.  When the lawsuit was filed, Gov. Cuomo announced that his office would not defend the lawsuit.

The New York Farm Bureau argues that the state law which exempts farmworkers from collective bargaining rights is constitutional, and the group said that it plans to file a motion to dismiss the case.

Preview of New York State’s 2016 Legislative Elections

As it has been in every state legislative election since 2008, control of the State Senate is New York’s big political prize in 2016.  Although elected Democrats have a 32-31 advantage in the chamber, the Republican Party has maintained a working majority in the Senate – its last hold on power in New York State – through agreements with six breakaway Democrats.

In a presidential election year where high voter turnout is expected, Republicans in New York State go into the elections at a disadvantage based on simple math: New York has twice as many enrolled Democrats as Republicans.  There are 5.3 million Democrats and 2.6 million Republicans, though 2.5 million voters are not registered in a party.

There are a number of competitive State Senate races, most in the state’s suburban communities, that could determine whether Republicans can retain their Senate majority in Albany.  Below are some of the most watched races among the November 8th State Senate races:

6th S.D. (part of Nassau County):  Incumbent Republican Kemp Hannon was first elected to the State Senate in 1989.  He chairs the Senate Health Committee.  He is being challenged by Democrat Ryan Cronin, whom Hannon defeated 52%-48% in 2012.  Democrats hold an enrollment advantage of 80,400 to 75,600 over the Republicans, while 46,800 voters are not enrolled in any party.

9th S.D. (part of Nassau County):  This race is a rematch of an April 2016 special election that was won by Democrat Todd Kaminsky.  Kaminsky narrowly defeated attorney Chris McGrath in that race.  Democrats hold an enrollment advantage of 94,600 to 75,600 over the GOP, while 50,600 voters are not enrolled in any party.

37th S.D. (part of Westchester County):  In Southern Westchester, incumbent Democrat George Latimer is being challenged by Republican Julie Killian.  The Democrats hold an enrollment advantage of 75,100 to 52,100 over the Republicans, with 46,000 voters not enrolled in either party.

46th S.D. (Montgomery and Greene counties, and parts of Schenectady, Albany, and Ulster Counties): First-term incumbent Republican George Amedore is being challenged by Democrat Sara Niccoli, who serves as Supervisor in the Town of Palatine. Democrats hold about a 10,000 voter enrollment advantage in the district.

Governor Fundraises, Stumps for Democratic State Senate Candidates

Gov. Cuomo, who is known for working closely with the Senate Republicans in Albany, endorsed two Democratic State Senate candidates on Long Island and headlined a Senate Democratic fundraising event in Manhattan n Tuesday night.

In Nassau County, Gov. Cuomo endorsed two Democratic candidates on Monday: Adam Haber, who is running for the open 7th Senate District seat, and Todd Kaminsky, who in April won a special election for the 9th Senate District.

At a fundraising event in Manhattan on Tuesday evening, Gov. Cuomo appeared at a fundraising event which the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee said it hoped would raise more than $1 million for their campaign efforts.

The Governor spoke of some of his legislative priorities that the Republican-controlled Senate would not approve, including ethics reform, the DREAM Act and campaign finance reform.  He spoke of electing “good Democrats to the Senate to support these positions and these policies.” He also said that he would oppose Democratic Senators who do not support his “socially progressive, fiscally conservative” agenda.

In a statement, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan said:

“The Senate Democrats are an appendage of [New York City Mayor] Bill de Blasio and City Hall, and it is unfathomable why Governor Cuomo would want to place de Blasio in charge of setting the state’s agenda by electing Senate Democrats.  Their extreme agenda is to tax the life out of hardworking, overburdened New Yorkers and impose upon New York radical policies that the vast majority of people who live here don’t want.”

Political Update

NYC CFB Releases 2016 General Election Voter Guide

The New York City Campaign Finance Board (NYC CFB) has released an official NYC Voter Guide, a nonpartisan print, video, and online platform that provides comprehensive information about NYC elections.

Business Council Announces Additional Legislative Endorsements

The Business Council of New York State (BCNYS) has released a second round of endorsements for state legislative seats.  The group’s endorsements include Republican Elaine Phillips in Nassau County’s 7th Senate District, and Republican Chris Jacobs in Erie County’s 60th Senate District.

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 holds its next meeting later today.

The Division of Budget, Legislature and Comptroller are required to release their respective summaries of the state’s economic outlook by November 5.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 8.

The New York State Commission on Legislative, Judicial, & Executive Compensation holds its next meeting on November 10.

The Board of Regents holds its next meeting on November 14 and 15.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on November 17.

The state Board of Elections holds its next meeting on November 17.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on November 29.