Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

Coverage of Albany and New York State government – December 11, 2015

What’s Inside 

  • Regional Economic Development, Upstate Revitalization Awards Announced
  • Governor’s Common Core Task Force Releases Report
  • Former Senate Majority Leader, Son Convicted in Corruption Cases
  • Governor to Combine State of the State, Budget Addresses
  • Attorney General Wins First Round Over Daily Fantasy Sports Sites
  • Governor Announces New Air Quality and Emission Regulations
  • Governor Issues Executive Order to Increase Security of Mass Transit Systems
  • Panel Upholds Fast Food Minimum Wage Increase
  • Rebuild NY Now Coalition Launches TV Ad Campaign for Parity in Transportation Funding
  • Coalition of Environmental Groups Calls for Water Infrastructure Spending
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

 

Regional Economic Development, Upstate Revitalization Awards Announced

On Thursday, the state announced how $2.25 billion will be distributed via the 10 Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs), including $1.5 billion to be shared by the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier and Central New York regions via the Upstate Revitalization Initiative.(URI).

The state has used the REDC process to distribute economic development funds since 2011.

The 2015 REDC Awards project list is here. The total amounts (and number of projects funded per region) are:

  • Central New York: $122.4 million for 93 projects and URI strategies
  • Finger Lakes: $120.1 million for 134 projects and URI strategies
  • Southern Tier: $117 million for 100 projects and URI strategies
  • Mohawk Valley: $100.3 million for 92 projects
  • Long Island: $98.3 million for 121 projects
  • Capital Region: $98.1 million for 114 projects
  • Mid-Hudson: $90.4 million for 109 projects
  • North Country: $85.1 million for 82 projects
  • New York City: $84.1 million for 92 projects
  • Western New York: $83.9 million for 125 projects

Gov. Cuomo said:

“Over the past five years, the Regional Councils have become an integral part of generating economic opportunity in communities statewide. By removing barriers to growth, controlling spending and cutting taxes, we have laid the groundwork for our Regional Councils to pursue projects in key industries that have turned their communities into local economic engines. This year’s round of awards demonstrates the progress that has been made in changing the trajectory of our economy and continues our commitment to investing in the future of New York State.”

 

Governor’s Common Core Task Force Releases Report

On Thursday, Gov. Cuomo’s Common Core Task Force released its report and recommendations for action regarding the implementation of the Common Core Standards and related curriculum and tests in New York State. It includes 21 recommendations for changing the standards, including a temporary end to linking test results to teacher performance reviews and the adoption of “locally-driven” education standards.

Other recommendations include establishing a transparent and open process by which New York standards are periodically reviewed by educators and content area experts; engaging New York educators to drive the review and creation of State standards-aligned tests; and minimizing student testing anxiety by reducing the number of test days and test questions and providing test transparency.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“The Common Core was supposed to ensure all of our children had the education they needed to be college and career-ready – but it actually caused confusion and anxiety. That ends now. Today, we will begin to transform our system into one that empowers parents, teachers and local districts and ensures high standards for all students.”

 

Former Senate Majority Leader, Son Convicted in Corruption Cases

Earlier today, former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Nassau County) and his son Adam were found guilty on eight federal corruption counts, including conspiracy, bribery and extortion, in what prosecutors described as a wide-ranging scheme to leverage the Senator’s political power to benefit his son financially. The conviction means that Skelos is automatically removed from his seat in the State Senate.

The vacancy in the 9th Senate District will be filled in a special election if called by Gov. Cuomo. The district includes parts of Nassau County, including the City of Long Beach.

Governor Cuomo said that while “the justice system worked today…. more must be done and will be pursued as part of my legislative agenda.”

 

Governor to Combine State of the State, Budget Addresses

Gov. Cuomo said this week that he will not deliver his annual State of the State address on January 6, but will instead delay it by one week and combine it with his budget address.

The Governor will deliver his combined State of the State/Budget address on January 13 at the Empire State Plaza, adjacent to the State Capitol.

The Governor merged the two addresses for the first time in January 2015 in the wake of his father’s death on January 1, 2015.

 

Attorney General Wins First Round Over Daily Fantasy Sports Sites

Earlier today, a Manhattan judge granted state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s motion to stop daily fantasy sports (DFS) websites DraftKings and FanDuel from doing business in the state. The judge also rejected an effort by the two companies to prevent Schneiderman from taking enforcement actions against them. (Read the decision here.)

DFS sites offer games in which customers pay to create rosters of real-life professional athletes in order to compete against others in online leagues. In October, the attorney General’s Office announced that it was investigating the two companies after allegations surfaced that employees from the two companies were using inside information to improve chances of winning competitions on the sites.

Last month, Schneiderman sent the two companies cease-and-desist letters, declaring them illegal gambling operations. He argues that the games the companies offer ultimately depend on the performance of professional athletes on the field and other factors that are out of the contestants’ control, which makes them illegal gambling under state law. The companies claim they are games of skill, which are legal in New York

In granting the preliminary injunction against the companies, the court said that the current language of Penal Law §225 is “broadly worded and as currently written sufficient for finding that [daily fantasy sports] involves illegal gambling.” The decision means that the companies cannot operate in New York until the Attorney General’s lawsuit is finally decided.

However, later on Friday, an Appellate Division judge granted DraftKings and FanDuel a stay of the injunction for one month, which will allow for an emergency review by the state’s mid-level appeals court.

Earlier in the week, the Assembly’s Racing and Wagering Committee and Consumer Protection Committee held a public hearing on the operation of daily fantasy sports sites in the state.

The committees are considering whether the state Legislature should regulate the industry. When the companies argued that their operation is legal under state law, Racing and Wagering Committee Chair Gary Pretlow said:

“We’re not here to litigate the legality of fantasy sports. That is in the courts right now and regardless as to what the outcome of that case is, what we’re interested in is in regulations, licensure, consumer protection. Those are the issues we’re interested in for the state of New York.”

Regardless of how the court finally decides the case before it, daily fantasy sports are likely to be an issue in the 2016 legislative session.

 

Governor Announces New Air Quality and Emission Regulations

On Monday, Gov. Cuomo announced that his administration has proposed a new statewide regulation that is intended to improve air quality and protect public health by limiting emissions from distributed generation sources such as diesel generators and natural gas-fired engines. The regulation will align state with federal air quality standards and help mitigate climate change.

The proposed rules will impact diesel generators and natural gas-fired engines generally used to provide back-up power at large buildings like hospitals and offices. It does not apply to large generators that are already regulated as major emissions sources, small units typically found in homes and other smaller buildings or those used only in emergencies.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“Establishing limits on these harmful emissions is a critical step towards protecting air quality, as well as the health of New Yorkers. These new standards will reduce pollution, further encourage the development of renewable resources and support this state’s efforts to combat climate change.”

 

Governor Issues Executive Order to Increase Security of Mass Transit Systems

On Tuesday, Gov. Cuomo announced that he has issued an Executive Order that will increase security on buses, ferries and trains during the holiday season.

The order provides New Jersey and Connecticut law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction on New York’s public transportation services and facilities, which is intended to allow security and counter-terrorism officials in those states to assist New York in ensuring public safety on mass transportation facilities.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“This order gives our partners in New Jersey and Connecticut greater ability to help patrol and protect our mass transit networks. Together we will continue to remain vigilant, and I urge all travelers to stay alert and safe throughout the holidays.”

 

Panel Upholds Fast Food Minimum Wage Increase

On Tuesday, the Industrial Board of Appeals (IBA) issued a ruling in favor of the proposed increase in the state’s minimum wage for fast food workers to $15 per hour by 2021, rejecting a challenge by restaurant owners.

The result was expected, as IBA members are appointed by Gov. Cuomo, who directed the Department of Labor to increase the fast food minimum wage. With the administrative process complete, the National Restaurant Association said that it plans to file a lawsuit, challenging the fast food minimum wage increase in court.

Gov. Cuomo has said that he plans to push for the Legislature to increase the state’s minimum wage for all workers to $15 per hour by 2021 in the 2016 legislative session.

 

Rebuild NY Now Coalition Launches TV Ad Campaign for Parity in Transportation Funding

On Tuesday, a coalition of business-backed groups and labor unions launched a television and digital ad campaign aimed at pushing for parity in upstate infrastructure and transportation spending.

Rebuild NY Now’s 30-second spot calls for an increase in infrastructure spending that is in line with the money being spent in the New York City region for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s capital plan, which saw an $8.3 billion increase from the state this year.

State transportation is expected to be one of the high profile issues facing lawmakers in the 2016 legislative session.

 

Coalition of Environmental Groups Calls for Water Infrastructure Spending

On Tuesday, a coalition of environment groups that includes Environmental Advocates, the New York League of Conservation and the Adirondack Council launched a campaign to urge state lawmakers leaders to commit at least $800 million in the state’s 2016-17 budget to pay for repairs and upgrades to the state’s water infrastructure.

The ‘Fix Our Pipes’ coalition argues that the state has $2 billion in unbudgeted settlement funds that can be used to address the state’s water infrastructure needs. They cite Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Department of Health (DOH) reports that have identified over $36 billion in wastewater and $38 billion in drinking water infrastructure over the next 20 years.

Read the coalition’s letter to Gov. Cuomo here.

 

Political Update

Former Senate Staffer Files for run in 99th Assembly District 

Colin Schmitt, who was formerly an aide to then-Senate Greg Ball (R- Putnam County), has filed with the state Board of Elections to run for the 99th Assembly district, which is currently held by Democrat James Skoufis.

Schmitt lost a Republican primary for the seat in 2012. The 99th Assembly district includes the Orange County towns of Woodbury, Highlands, Cornwall, New Windsor, Blooming Grove, Hamptonburgh, Chester, Goshen and Wawayanda, and the town of Stony Point in Rockland County.

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

The state Commission on Legislative, Judicial & Executive Compensation will meet on Monday, December 14.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on Tuesday, December 15.

Also on December 15, the Assembly Higher Education Committee will hold a public hearing in Albany “to examine the changing demographics of students in higher education and explore potential ways in which colleges and universities could better serve New York State students.”

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

Also on December 17, the Assembly Insurance Committee will hold a public hearing in Albany on “the Legislative Role in Modernizing State Health Insurance Coverages under the Affordable Care Act.”

The 2016 Legislative session will commence on Wednesday, January 6, 2016.

Gov. Cuomo will hold his State of the State/Budget Address on Wednesday, January 13.