Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

January 14, 2021

What’s Inside

  • Eviction Moratorium to Expire
  • Governor Announces $7 Million Awarded in Round Two of the Workforce Development Initiative
  • State Senate Confirms Governor’s Court of Appeals Nominee
  • State Senate Passes Elections Reform Package
  • Assemblymember Galef Announces Retirement
  • Congressman Katko Announces Retirement
  • Political Updates
  • Coming Up

Eviction Moratorium to Expire

The Governor confirmed that the eviction moratorium would expire this weekend without action by the state to extend. The state had recently requested $1 billion in additional relief funds, but, the federal government provided only an additional $28 million. The Governor, joined by neighboring governors, called on the federal government for more funding to avoid an eviction crisis after January 15. The state has re-opened the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) portal and has begun accepting applicationsdespite not having funds to disperse. Because the law does not allow a tenant to be evicted while an ERAP application is pending, re-opening the application portal provides tenants with an opportunity to avoid eviction, at least in the near term.

Governor Announces $7 Million Awarded in Round Two of the Workforce Development Initiative

The Governor announced that 42 organizations across the state have been awarded $7 million as part of the Workforce Development Initiative. This is the first group of awards made under the second round of funding. Applications continue to be accepted on a rolling basis through the Consolidated Funding Application Process. Businesses and organizations receiving Workforce Development awards this round include:

  • Capital District: SUNY Schenectady County Community College, NSH USA Corporation, Hudson Valley Community College
  • Central New York: Pyrotek Inc., Tompkins Cortland Community College
  • Finger Lakes: Rochester General Hospital, eHealth Technologies, Helen & Gertrude Agency, Lifetime Assistance Inc., Optimax SI, ProAmpac, Greater Living Architects P.C., Monroe Community College, GW Lisk, Inc, Finger Lakes Community College
  • Long Island: United Way of Long Island, Nicholas Center, We Connect The Dots, Inc., Catholic Health Services of Long Island, St. Francis Hospital, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, Nassau Community College, Developmental Disabilities Institute, East End Disabilities Associates, Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc., Independent Group Home Living, Suffolk County Community College
  • Mid-Hudson: Nicholas Center, Williams Lumber, ShopRite, Dutchess Community College
  • Mohawk Valley: Mohawk Valley Community College, Universal Plastics, Masonic Care Community, Consolidated Precision Product, Indium Corporation, The Center, GPO Federal Credit Union, The Rescue Mission, C & H Plastics
  • New York City: Grace Institute of New York, LaGuardia Community College, The Door – A Center of Alternatives, Inc., Bronx Community College Design Studio, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, Bronx Community College, We Connect The Dots, Inc.
  • Southern Tier: H & E Stork Turbo Blading, Tompkins Cortland Community College, First Heritage Federal Credit Union, Corning Community College

Governor Hochul said:

We need to deal with the harsh reality that the pandemic left too many New Yorkers suddenly out of work and searching for new skills to reinvent themselves and relaunch their careers. These workforce awards will provide critical skills training, connect New Yorkers with the high-demand and good-paying jobs of the future, and create harmony between education, business, and public investment that will accelerate our state’s economic recovery. To the New Yorkers who were driven out of work by the pandemic, or deciding on their next career steps during these uncertain times, we are building a new New York worthy of your talents and ambitions.

State Senate Confirms Governor’s Court of Appeals Nominee

Judge Shirley Troutman was confirmed by the State Senate on Wednesday to the Court of Appeals, New York’s highest court. Judge Troutman is the first judge for the Court of Appeals nominated by Governor Hochul. Judge Troutman will replace the retired Judge Eugene Fahey. Judge Troutman was confirmed with bi-partisan support despite criminal justice reform advocates being vocally opposed to her confirmation due to her background as a former prosecutor and urging she be rejected.

Governor Hochul said:

Justice Shirley Troutman will be an extraordinary addition to the New York State Court of Appeals. During her confirmation hearings, Justice Troutman showed New Yorkers why she is well-suited to join our state’s highest court: her extraordinary qualifications, her superlative legal mind, her fair-minded judicial philosophy, and her commitment to equity and justice for all New Yorkers. I commend the New York State Senate for their thorough review of this nomination, and congratulate Justice Troutman on her confirmation.

State Senate Passes Elections Reform Package

The State Senate passed a package of election reform bills, as has become day one custom in the Senate since Democrats took the majority in 2018. The bills included in the package are as follows:

S.7619 Mayer – This bill would extend until January 1, 2023 the ability for a voter to request an absentee ballot for school district elections.

S.7565B Biaggi – This bill would extend until December 31, 2022 the ability for a voter to request an absentee ballot as a result of COVID and extends this provisions to village elections.

S.6214 Myrie – This bill would allow a voter to register to vote at any residence including a second or vacation home, and not be limited to their primary address.

S.1126A Gianaris – This bill would define “foreign-influenced business entities” and prohibit them from making a contribution or donation, in connection with a state or local election or from making contributions to a constituted committee, independent expenditure committee, political committee, or party committee. Notably, the bill would also require that every business entity file with the State Board of Elections an attestation signed by the CEO or equivalent, within seven days of making a contribution, that they do not meet the definition of foreign-influenced business entity.

S.4658 Parker – This bill would require college campuses with 300 or more registered voters to be a polling location and would require those campuses be wholly contained election districts

S.1283 Kaminsky – This bill would make changes to the order in which offices appear on the ballot. Specifically, the bill would change the order of the ballot to move judicial offices after any presidential, gubernatorial, congressional, and state representatives.

S.557 May – This bill would authorize counties to establish two or more portable or mobile polling sites for early voting. Portable polling sites will be required to operate for no less than three consecutive early voting days.

S.492 Hoylman – This bill would authorize county boards of election to establish absentee ballot drop box locations.

S.253 Myrie – This bill would require all absentee ballots to be counted so long as the intent of the voter is unambiguous. Stray marks or extraneous writing on ballots can no long void a ballot. Additionally, absentee ballots that are dated after the date of Election Day must also be counted, provided a board of elections time stamp indicates the ballot was received timely.

S.284A Myrie – This bill would require affidavit ballots be counted if the voter is otherwise qualified to vote in the county, but, votes at a location other than their specific election district. Only votes in contests for which they are entitled to participate can be counted.

S.2951 Kavanagh – This bill would reduce the time period for mailing and receipt of voter registration application to constitutional minimum of ten days. Currently, in order to be qualified to vote in an election, a voter registration application must be postmarked by twenty-five days before the next primary, general or special election, and must be received at least twenty days before such election.

Assemblymember Galef Announces Retirement

Longtime Assemblymember Sandra Galef announced this week that she would retire at the end of her term. Galef was first elected to the Assembly in 1992. Her district contains portions of Putnam and Westchester Counties. Former Peekskill Mayor Andre Rainey immediately announced his candidacy to replace Galef.

Galef said:

I have loved every moment of being an elected official and cared so deeply for my constituents. Making government accessible and making it work for the public was always my goal.

Congressman Katko Announces Retirement

U.S. Representative John Katko announcedthat he would not seek re-election to the seat he has held since 2015. Redistricting plans put forward by the Democratic appointees of the Independent Redistricting Committee consolidated Katko’s district with Claudia Tenney of Utica, though the final lines may differ.

Katko said:

Representing central New York in Congress — solving real problems, and relentlessly championing bipartisanship — has been the honor and privilege of a lifetime. It is with profound gratitude for my colleagues, staff, supporters, team, and the people of New York’s 24th Congressional District that I am thrilled to begin this next and best chapter of my life alongside Robin and our family.

Political Updates

City & State NY’s Weekly Winners and Losers here.

Times Union: Cuomo lawyer fires warning at ethics agency here.

NYS Building & Construction Trades Council endorses Hochul for Governor.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown endorses Kathy Hochul for Governor.

Suozzi calls for Hochul plane travel probe.

Lawmakers are pushing for up to three casino licenses in NYC region.

Times Union Opinion: Hochul’s priorities to come here.

On New York redistricting, Sen. Gianaris says he is staying above the fray.

Ossining town supervisor announces run for Assembly.

Bichotte, Barrons in proxy battle for assembly seat.

West Village entrepreneur challenges Glick for assembly seat.

Haitian-American seeks District 43 assembly seat in Brooklyn.

Democratic lawmakers facing 2022 primary challenges.

Millionaire GOPer Harry Wilson considering run for Governor.

Schumer gets Republican challenger.

Trump says Rep. Elise Stefanik could be president in 2028.

How New York could cover its 1 million uninsured residents.

Coming Up

The Public Service Commission will hold its next meeting on January 20.

JCOPE will hold its next meeting on January 25.

The Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on February 14 and 15.