Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

July 28, 2023

What’s Inside

  • Governor Appoints New State Budget Director
  • Governor Announces Special Election
  • Governor Announces Appointments to the NYS Supreme Court, Appellate Division
  • Governor Announces $200 million in Funding for Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward Programs
  • Governor Announces Applications Now Open for $500 million in Child Care Workforce Grants
  • Governor Announces Additional Funding for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure and Rebates
  • Political Updates
  • Coming Up

Governor Appoints New State Budget Director

Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed Blake G. Washington as New York State Budget Director, succeeding Interim Budget Director Robert Megna. He will begin his tenure this summer. Washington currently serves as Secretary to the New York State Assembly Ways and Means Committee, where he advises Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymembers on all budget and fiscal matters. He has worked in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee for 20 years.

The Governor’s announcement with more information can be found here.

Subsequently, Assembly Speaker Heastie announced two new staff appointments. Philip Fields has been appointed to serve as Secretary to the Ways and Means Committee, filling the vacancy of Blake Washington, and Matthew Golden has been appointed to serve as Director of Budget Studies. More information on both appointments can be found in the Speaker’s announcement release here.

Governor Announces Special Election

On Monday, Governor Hochul announced that a Special Election will be held on September 12, to fill the vacancy in the 27th Assembly District created by the resignation of Daniel Rosenthal. Rosenthal resigned in June to take a position in August at UJA-Federation of New York, a philanthropic organization focused on serving the Jewish community.

Governor Hochul said:

With Daniel Rosenthal’s departure from the Assembly, a special election to ensure representation for the 27th District will be held in September. I’m grateful for Daniel’s service to New York State as he embarks on a new journey, and I look forward to working with the next representative to deliver for New York.

Governor Announces Appointments to the NYS Supreme Court, Appellate Division

Governor Hochul has issued a press release, announcing the following ten new appointments to the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division:

  • Anil Singh, First Department;
  • Llinet Rosado, First Department;
  • Kelly O’Neill Levy, First Department;
  • Lourdes M. Ventura, Second Department;
  • Carl Landicino, Second Department;
  • Laurence Love, Second Department;
  • Mark Powers, Third Department;
  • Michael Mackey, Third Department;
  • Henry Nowak, Fourth Department; and
  • Scott DelConte, Fourth Department.

Governor Hochul said:

I am proud to appoint each and every one of these ten outstanding judges and am confident they will serve New Yorkers with fairness and respect. Bringing in decades of work experience and diverse perspectives, these appointees will continue to bring honor and integrity to New York State’s judiciary.

Governor Announces $200 million in Funding for Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward Programs

Governor Hochul has announced that $200 million in funding is available through the state’s two downtown revitalization and economic development programs; $100 million each for Round 7 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and Round 2 of the NY Forward program, which focuses on revitalizing smaller and rural downtowns.

Additional funding this year bring the total investment across all rounds of the state’s programs to $1 billion since 2016. Applications are available on the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward websites. The deadline to apply is September 29 at 4:00 p.m.

Governor Hochul also hosted the state’s first-ever forum in Syracuse on the past, present and future of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and NY Forward programs. The forum, entitled “A Retrospective for the Future of the State’s DRI and NY Forward Communities,” featured mayors from communities selected in the first five rounds of the DRI, as well as private stakeholders engaged and invested in the DRIs, who will provide advice, insights, lessons-learned and recommendations to inform the future of the two programs and educate prospective applicants on the benefits of participating.

Governor Hochul said:

These two programs have created a wave of revitalization that is sweeping across the state with no signs of slowing. The programs are not only reinvigorating downtowns, but they are also making our regions and the state as a whole a world-class destination for businesses, families and tourists. The programs are fulfilling the original vision for the DRI of creating a critical mass of vibrant downtowns of all shapes, sizes and characters in each region to entice businesses to invest and locate in New York State.

Governor Announces Applications Now Open for $500 million in Child Care Workforce Grants

This week, Governor Hochul announced that applications are from the state’s $500 million FY 2024 budget initiative, announced earlier this year. This initiative aims to bolster New York’s child care workforce through the Workforce Retention Grant Program. The program will make $500 million in underutilized federal funds available, which can be used for staff retention bonuses and recruitment activities, including expenses related to recruiting and hiring new staff and employer taxes incurred while issuing bonus payments or recruitment expenses.

Funding will support approximately 150,000 direct child care staff through financial incentives ranging from $2,300 to $3,000 in retention and referral bonuses for existing staff as well as sign-on bonuses for new staff.

Additionally, $1 million was allocated in the Budget to create a statewide business navigator program in each of the 10 Regional Economic Development Council regions to help interested businesses identify options to support employees’ child care needs and will also develop a statewide employer child care guidebook.

Governor Hochul said:

As a mother who put her career on pause due to a lack of affordable child care, I understand first-hand how much not having access to these services can affect a family. Through the Workforce Retention Grant Program, we can help grow and support our child care workforce as we continue working to expand access to this essential service for families across our state.

Governor Announces Additional Funding for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure and Rebates

Governor Hochul has announced an additional $29 million for electric vehicle level 2 charging infrastructure under the state’s Charge Ready NY 2.0 program and consumer rebates through the Drive Clean Rebate Program. This allows more New Yorkers to drive electric, in which the state already reached a milestone of 150,000 EV’s on the road in June of this year.

This program can help eligible entities save up to 50% on installation costs for Level 2 chargers. The program also has $12 million available for charging station installation at workplaces and multifamily buildings with an incentive of $2,000 per port, and $2,500 per port in a disadvantaged community.

Governor Hochul said:

New York’s climate and clean transportation leadership is reducing air pollution and emissions through solution-based investments in charging infrastructure and rebates. Providing cleaner air in communities that face high vehicle traffic, particularly those that are historically marginalized, is an essential step to improving the state’s quality of life while building a more sustainable future for residents, workers and visitors alike.

Political Updates

City & State’s Who’s Who in Government Relations power list here.

City & State’s Who’s Who in Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration here.

With Hollywood on strike, a bright spot in New York’s economy goes dark.

Hochul’s new affordable housing plan draws support, but skepticism remains.

PSC reviews utility rates and renewable energy progress.

Facing unemployment insurance debt, New York employers hit with surcharge.

New York prepared to spend almost $800 million on migrant shelter costs.

Senator Liz Krueger urges Assembly to pass climate bill as New York City set to bake.

Climate change fighters hope this summer’s extreme weather is a wake-up call to state lawmakers.

Democrat Kevin Thomas files to challenge GOP Rep. Anthony D’Esposito in 4th CD.

New York State Senator proposes banning cannabis consumption in public places.

Advocates push for wrongful death law expansion after Hochul veto.

Proposed bill seeks to separate political giving, contract awards.

Housing advocate calls for action in rural areas.

Republicans file formal appeal in New York redistricting case.

Hochul says home building will address ‘affordability crisis’.

Coming Up

The Public Service Commission will hold their next meeting on August 17.

The Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on September 11 and 12.

The Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in State Government will hold its next meeting on September 27.