Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

September 19, 2025

What’s Inside

  • Assembly District 115 Special Election
  • Governor Issues COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance
  • Governor Announces Broadband Projects Totaling More Than $636 Million
  • Governor Announces Nominee for COELIG
  • Bipartisan Coalition of Elected Leaders Stand Against Political Violence 
  • Governor and Assembly Speaker Announce NYC Mayoral Endorsement
  • In the News
  • Coming Up 

Assembly District 115 Special Election

On Monday, Governor Hochul announced that a special election to fill the vacancy in the 115th District, created by Billy Jones, will be held on Tuesday, November 4, to coincide with the General Election. Governor Hochul issued a proclamation pursuant to the Public Officers Law. 

Governor Issues COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance

Governor Hochul has released New York State’s 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccine guidance, ensuring residents continue to have access to vaccines and science-based information. The guidance recommends COVID vaccination for children (6 months to 18 years old), all adults, and individuals at higher risk, including those who are pregnant, lactating, or immunocompromised. The guidelines are being released ahead of this week’s federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting, where national vaccine recommendations will be reviewed and voted on.

At the direction of the Governor, the State also recently issued guidance to insurers encouraging them to continue covering all vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The guidance also reminds insurers of previously issued guidance requiring insurers to cover COVID vaccines for children, and urges insurers to encourage employers and other entities that provide self-funded health care coverage to continue covering the cost of vaccines.

Governor Hochul said:

Vaccines remain one of the strongest tools we have to safeguard our families and our communities. As Washington continues to launch its misguided attacks on science, New York is making it clear that every resident will have access to the COVID vaccine, no exceptions. By standing with our partners across the Northeast, we are ensuring that New Yorkers have the protection and the information they need to stay safe and healthy.

More information can be found in the Governor’s press release here. 

Governor Announces Broadband Projects Totaling More Than $636 Million

Governor Hochul has announced approximately $391 million in proposed awards under the ConnectALL Deployment Program to 11 internet service providers who have committed a total of more than $245 million in matching funds to address nearly 54,000 locations in the state. If approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) following a public comment process, these federal awards will achieve universal broadband connectivity by reaching every documented unserved and underserved location across New York State.

Members of the public can submit comments on the planned awards through the ConnectALL Deployment Program website until 3:59 PM on September 24. ConnectALL will host a webinar on September 18 to provide an overview of the draft Final Proposal and show members of the public how they can submit comments. Register here to attend.

The 11 awards total $391.1 million with a total match amount of $245 million. The specific awards are:

  • $78,640,161 to Archtop Fiber, LLC
  • $121,187,012 to CBN Geneva, LLC
  • $13,273,290 to Citizens Telecommunications of New York, Inc.
  • $11,498,589 to Comcast Cable Communications Management, LLC
  • $5,454,547 to Consolidated Communications Enterprise Services, Inc.
  • $25,489,512 to IBT Group USA, LLC
  • $360,000 to Planet Fiber NY, LLC
  • $23,232,915 to Reasnor Telephone Company, LLC
  • $20,422,500 to Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
  • $27,038,640 to Spectrum Northeast, LLC
  • $64,500,823 to Verizon New York, Inc.

More information on the awards can be found here.  

Governor Announces Nominee for COELIG

This week, Governor Kathy Hochul announced Linda Scott as the Executive Chamber’s latest nominee to the Commission on Ethics in Lobbying and Government. In accordance with the Independent Review Committee’s procedures, the public will have seven business days to provide comments on the nominee. The nominee will then be presented to the Independent Review Committee, which is composed of the deans of New York’s law schools, for review of Ms. Scott’s qualifications to serve on the Commission. The Independent Review Committee’s procedures for nominations are available here. 

Ms. Scott has been the Managing Director/Associate Corporate Secretary at JPMorgan Chase for 11 years, ending in 2024. In this role, she was responsible for shareholder outreach, board advisory, and policy development. Before that, she was the Executive Partner/Managing Director at Governance For Owners. She also served as the Director of Investor Affairs of the NYS Common Retirement Fund for the Office of the New York State Comptroller.

Governor Hochul said:

The Commission on Ethics in Lobbying and Government is a crucial body to hold government accountable and increase transparency. I am pleased to nominate Linda Scott for the Committee’s review and look forward to continuing our work to restore trust in government.

Bipartisan Coalition of Elected Leaders Stand Against Political Violence

Governor Hochul brought together a bipartisan group of elected officials to reaffirm their united opposition to political violence and emphasize the need to reduce inflammatory rhetoric. The full press conference can be viewed here. 

The group received a briefing from the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, which detailed how volatile language has fueled an increase in threats and incidents of political violence. State officials stressed that such violence is preventable, and that bipartisan cooperation sends a clear signal that this behavior is unacceptable in a democracy.

The briefing detailed information about the current threat environment. The following details and statistics were noted in the briefing:

  • Lone offenders and small groups of individuals are motivated by a range of ideologies, socio-political beliefs and personal grievances.
  • Lone offenders and small groups of individuals are radicalized online after exposure to large amounts of propaganda, mis-/dis/mal- information (MDM) and narratives that are amplified in both extremist and mainstream places.
  • The data shows they are frequently inspired to mobilize to violence by previous attackers and current events and make plans to attack a wide range of targets using easily accessible weapons.
  • In the last decade partisan-motivated terrorist attacks against government targets have increased from representing 0 percent of overall anti-government attacks to more than 50 percent in 2024.
  • Recent surveys have found that 26.2 percent of Americans — over 68 million people — believe violence is usually or always justified to advance a political objective.
  • In the two days following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, mentions of “Civil War” on X, formerly known as Twitter, jumped from less than 50,000 to more than 200,000.
  • In June, Latin American communities and the mainstream political left entered the top ten targeted categories for the first time since August 2022. Their emergence corresponds with a spike in political demonstrations and recent acts of political violence, suggesting support for violence against these groups —and for political violence more broadly — in response to recent events.

The briefing also outlined a number of actions that can be taken by individuals to tone down the rhetoric, including:

  • Condemning all acts of political violence regardless of motivation.
  • Lowering the temperature by calling for calm and patience.
  • Modeling respectful language when speaking about victims.
  • Encouraging in healthy and nonviolent ways to express dissent and becoming politically active to promote change.
  • Exercising free speech responsibly.
  • Avoiding demonizing and dehumanizing any person or group.
  • Do not amplify conspiracy theories and unvalidated and unvetted information.
  • Do not exaggerate and use rhetoric of existential threats, including references to civil war or equate extremist beliefs with mainstream political parties.
  • Avoid assuming motives or unknown information related to an incident without factual information

Governor Hochul said:

Incidents of political violence in America are not isolated, and here in New York, we are advancing the critical conversation addressing the disturbing rise of these political attacks. Today I convened a bipartisan group of leaders to discuss what is truly necessary in this moment: reducing the temperature of inflammatory rhetoric that leads to violence and ensuring our communities are safe and tolerant places for all. We can debate our differences without demeaning each other.

More information can be found here.

Governor and Assembly Speaker Announce NYC Mayoral Endorsement

Both Governor Kathy Hochul and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie threw their support behind Zohran Mamdani this week in the New York City mayoral race. Governor Hochul endorsed Mamdani in a Sunday morning New York Times op-ed, while Speaker Heastie appeared alongside him at a Wednesday press conference. Please note, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins previously endorsed Mamdani following his Primary Election win.  

Mamdani later thanked both leaders on social media, but while speaking to reporters about returning the favor in next year’s gubernatorial election, he said his focus remains on November’s General Election. New polling released this week shows Mamdani holding a lead, ahead of his rivals by at least 21 points.

However, Jay Jacobs, Chairman of the New York State Democratic Party, told the New York Times this week that he would not support Mamdani, citing fundamental disagreements over Israel and Democratic socialism

In The News

City & State NY’s weekly Winners and Losers of this week here.

11 N.Y. officials arrested trying to access ICE detention calls.

Powerful NY Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs refuses to back Zohran Mamdani — could step down over Hochul’s shock endorsement: sources.

GOP claims Democratic Assembly candidate violated state law.

Hochul’s bombshell Zohran Mamdani endorsement was aimed to block lefty challenge in Democratic primary: sources.

Why New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and President Trump get along.

Stefanik rips Hochul over Mamdani endorsement: ‘Worst governor in America’

The wealth tax plans that are roiling New York and Paris.

Hochul says ‘we’ve really seen enough’ of incendiary rhetoric.

Age checks, curfew alerts, parental consent: Inside NY’s proposed social media rulebook.

Scoop: Democratic leaders face growing revolt over Mamdani.

As advocates gear up for another packaging bill fight, Glick says she’s open to ‘reasonable’ conversations about changes.

NYC Mayor’s race: Cuomo appears to attribute Hochul, expected Heastie, support for Mamdani to ‘socialist faction’.

Hochul widens lead over Stefanik in race for governor, Siena poll finds.

Hochul argues Zohran Mamdani would be best candidate to ‘stand up’ to Trump — as she defends shock endorsement in NYC mayoral race.

Crime and rats down, but city jails and services struggle, new report shows.

New York Power Authority champions clean energy. Its executives fly in a private jet.

National Labor Relations Board sues N.Y. over new state law on labor dispute jurisdiction.

‘Progressive bromance’ over?  Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander’s alliance grows strained.

HANYS president to step down after decade-long tenure.

Lawmakers: ‘Compromised’ N.Y. Workers Comp Board must be investigated.

Advocates with terminal illnesses urging Hochul to make decision on Medical Aid in Dying Act.

2 Manhattan casino bids are dead after advisory boards reject Avenir, Caesars Palace.

Mayor Adams, Andrew Cuomo buried below Zohran Mamdani, Curtis Sliwa on cluttered NYC mayoral election ballot.

NY Department of Health to allow caregivers more to time to complete compliance for home care program.

Coming Up

The New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government will hold its third annual public hearing on September 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the New York City Bar Association.

The Senate will hold a public hearing regarding Oversight of the Public Service Commission’s processes related to rate case and generic proceedings, and the Department of Public Service’s efforts to implement the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act on September 30.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing on the medicinal value of psilocybin on September 30.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing on the impact and effectiveness of economic development programs funded in the enacted 2025-26 State Budget on October 9.

The Senate will hold a public hearing on the Treatment Court Expansion Act on October 10.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing to examine potential solutions for ensuring the protection and privacy of consumer data on October 14.

The Senate will hold a public hearing to discuss risks, solutions, and best practices with respect to the use of artificial intelligence in consequential or high-risk contexts, and related issues, such as classification of the types and risk levels of AI uses, frameworks for auditing AI tools for bias, and transparency improvements on October 16.

The PSC will hold its next meeting on October 16.