Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

October 12, 2022

What’s Inside

  • Governor Hochul and Senator Schumer Announce Semiconductor Manufacturing Deal
  • State Police Superintendent to Resign
  • Labor Commissioner Backs Upstate Minimum Wage Increase
  • Labor Commissioner Approves 40 Hour Farm Laborer Work Week
  • Downstate Casino Siting Board Members Announced
  • Federal Judge Issues Temporary Restraining Order on Aspects of the New Concealed Carry Law
  • Republican and Conservative Parties Challenge Absentee Ballot Process
  • Political Updates
  • Coming Up

Governor Hochul and Senator Schumer Announce Semiconductor Manufacturing Deal

Governor Kathy Hochul and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer joined to announce a public-private partnership with Micron Technology to build a semiconductor manufacturing campus in Onondaga County, New York. Micron, a U.S.-based memory and storage manufacturer and the fourth-largest producer of semiconductors in the world, will invest up to $100 billion over the next 20-plus years to construct the project, with the first phase investment of $20 billion planned by the end of this decade. When complete, the complex will include the nation’s largest clean room space at approximately 2.4 million square feet.

An economic impact study by Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI) estimates that the Micron project will generate transformative economic growth for Central New York and New York State. Over the course of the first 31 years of operations, REMI estimates that the project will:

  • Create, on average, nearly 50,000 jobs in New York State per year, including 9,000 jobs directly with the company.
  • Grow New York State’s economy significantly, generating an additional $16.7 billion in real (inflation adjusted) economic output, on average per year and $9.6 billion in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on average.
  • Provide an estimated annual average of $5.4 billion in real disposable personal income to New York residents.
  • Generate an average annual increase of $556 million in state government revenue, totaling $17.2 billion over the first 31 years of the project, and an average annual increase of $826.1 million in revenue to local governments, totaling $25.6 billion over the same timeframe.
  • Be one of the largest construction projects in North America, with construction spending of $31 billion and 5,600 related construction jobs on average at federal prevailing wage, for the initial 20 years.

Governor Hochul said:

Micron’s $100 billion investment in New York marks the start of something transformative in scale and possibility for our state’s economic future. I promised that we would jumpstart the economy by being the most business-friendly and worker-friendly state in the nation, and thanks to our State Green CHIPS legislation, the federal CHIPS and Science Act, and extraordinary partnerships with business, labor, and local and federal leaders, this project will do exactly that. Together, we are leveraging this investment — the largest private-sector investment in state history — to secure our economic future, solidify New York’s standing as a global manufacturing hub, and usher the state into another Industrial Revolution.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said:

After years of work, it’s official —Micron is coming to Central New York! With the CHIPS and Science bill I wrote and championed as the fuse, Micron’s $100 billion investment in Upstate New York will fundamentally transform the region into a global hub for manufacturing and bring tens of thousands of good-paying high-tech and construction jobs to Central New York. This project is a dramatic turning point for a region that has faced decades of lost manufacturing jobs, and, in combination with New York’s already robust microchip industry from the Hudson Valley, Albany, and the Mohawk Valley to Binghamton, Rochester, and Buffalo, it will put Upstate New York on the map in a way we haven’t seen in generations. This is our Erie Canal moment. Just as the original Erie Canal did centuries ago, this 21st Century Erie Canal will flow through the heart of Central New York and redefine Upstate New York’s place in the global economy for generations to come. Micron’s investment will make New York’s semiconductor corridor into a major engine powering our economy and will supply ‘Made in New York’ microchips to everything from electric vehicles, 5G, and defense technology to personal computers and smartphones. Today’s announcement is the result of my long fight to bring manufacturing back to Upstate New York. The bottom line is that without the CHIPS and Science legislation, Micron would have decided to build its megafab overseas. This investment leaves no question that the future of microchip manufacturing will remain not just in this country, but in Syracuse specifically, and that our future will be built in Upstate New York, with Central New York as a global center of the chip industry.

State Police Superintendent to Resign

The Albany Times Union reported that State Police Superintendent Kevin Bruen will resign from his post. The resignation will take effect in two weeks. The announcement follows the recent revelation that the Governor had assigned her counsel’s office to review allegations that he failed to follow procedure by shielding a human resources employee from complaints. The Governor accepted his resignation and announced that First Deputy Superintendent Steven Nigrelli will step in to the role on an interim basis.

The Governor said:

Today I accepted the resignation of State Police Superintendent Kevin Bruen. I thank him for his years of public service. First Deputy Superintendent Steven Nigrelli will serve as Acting Superintendent on an interim basis, as we conduct a thorough search for a Superintendent who can lead this department in its important work. The State Police have made tremendous progress in combating gun violence and keeping New Yorkers safe, and that must continue.

Labor Commissioner Backs Upstate Minimum Wage Increase

The upstate hourly minimum wage will increase by $1 per hour to $14.20 by the end of the calendar year. The original law signed in 2016 provided for a phased in minimum wage increase to $15 per hour, escalating varying rates determined by geographic region. New York City and its downstate suburbs have already reached the fully phased in $15 per hour. If finalized by through the rule-making process after a public comment period, the new upstate rate will increase to $14.20 on December 31, 2022.

Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said:

By raising the minimum wage incrementally, New York State is helping businesses adjust to the new rate, while giving low-wage workers the ability to better participate in our economy. Continuing with the multi-year plan to raise the minimum wage is in line with market standards and ensures that no worker is left behind.

Labor Commissioner Approves 40 Hour Farm Laborer Work Week

Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon issued an order to phase-in a 40-hour work week for farm laborers by 2032. The plan was recommended by the wage board in September. The wage board outlined a path that to reduce the hours gradually, from the current 60-hour week. The limit will be 56 hours a week beginning in January 2024, and then be reduced every two years until it reaches 40 hours on January 1, 2032. Farm laborers may elect to work more than 40 hours per week, but the farm owners must pay overtime wages.

Governor Hochul had previously committed to supporting whatever decision the labor commissioner made regarding the board’s recommendations. David Fisher, the President of the New York State Farm Bureau, was the only member of the farm laborers wage board to vote against the plan. In a statement, Fisher called the commissioner’s order “a difficult day for all those who care about New York being able to feed itself.”

Downstate Casino Siting Board Members Announced

The Gaming Commission unanimously approved the first three members of the Gaming Facility Location Board, a five-member panel that will analyze proposals for the three downstate casino licenses and decide which proposals will move forward for final approval. It remains unclear when the commission will appoint the last two members.

The three members are:

  • Quenia Abreu, president and CEO of the New York Women’s Chamber of Commerce;
  • Vicki Been, a New York University law professor, former New York City deputy mayor and commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development; and
  • Stuart Rabinowitz, former president of Hofstra University.

Federal Judge Issues Temporary Restraining Order on Aspects of the New Concealed Carry Law

A Federal judge in Syracuse has issued a temporary restraining order barring enforcement of many provisions of New York’s new concealed carry law. The order will not go into effect for three days to allow the defendants time to appeal to the second circuit. If the order stands the TRO will be in place until at least October 20th, when motion briefings are scheduled to begin.

According to the order, provisions of the law that are temporarily restrained include:

  • Provisions requiring “good moral character” EXCEPT to the extent it is construed to mean that a license shall be issued or renewed except for an applicant who has been found, by a preponderance of the evidence based on his or her conduct, to not have “good moral character,” which is defined as “having the essential character, temperament and judgment necessary . . . to use [the weapon entrusted to the applicant] only in a manner that does not endanger oneself or others, other than in self-defense”;
  • the provision requiring that the applicant “meet in person with the licensing officer for an interview”;
  • the provision requiring the “names and contact information for the applicant’s current spouse, or domestic partner, any other adults residing in the applicant’s home, including any adult children of the applicant, and whether or not there are minors residing, full time or part time, in the applicant’s home”;
  • the provision requiring “a list of former and current social media accounts of the applicant from the past three years”;
  • the “restricted locations” provision (prohibition on carrying on private land without express consent) EXCEPT for fenced-in farmland owned by another or fenced-in hunting ground owned by another (where the restriction stands); and
  • the “sensitive locations” provision EXCEPT with regard to the following sensitive locations (where the restrictions remain):
    • Any place owned or under the control of federal, state or local government, for the purpose of government administration, including courts.
    • Polling places.
    • Any public sidewalk or other public area restricted from general public access for a limited time or special event that has been issued a permit for such time or event by a governmental entity, or subject to specific, heightened law enforcement protection, or has otherwise had such access restricted by a governmental entity, provided such location is identified as such by clear and conspicuous signage.
    • Any place of worship or religious observation EXCEPT for those persons who have been tasked with the duty to keep the peace at the place of worship or religious observation.
    • Nursery schools and preschools.
    • Public and private educational institutions.
    • Any gathering of individuals to collectively express their constitutional rights to protest or assemble.

Republican and Conservative Parties Challenge Absentee Ballot Process

The New York state Conservative and Republican parties filed a lawsuit this week in state Supreme Court in Saratoga County challenging parts of the state’s absentee ballot process. The lawsuit challenges a new law signed by the Governor last year that accelerates the absentee process by allowing boards of election to count absentee ballots as soon as polls close on Election Day, while simultaneously barring voters from casting a regular ballot at their precinct or during early voting, which the plaintiffs claim constitutes voter suppression. The suit also challenges election rules allowing voters to use fear of COVID-19 as an excuse to request an absentee ballot.

Political Updates

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

Weak rural turnout could hurt GOP in November.

Analysis: Are New York voters in a better mood?

New York State Democratic Party targets independent voters on abortion issue.

Spectrum News/Siena College poll: Brandon Williams and Francis Conole wage close race for NY-22.

Spectrum News/Siena College poll shows Riley leading Molinaro in NY-19.

Cost of living, social issues take center stage in race for NY-23.

Abortion rights in 17th Congressional race: How Mike Lawler, Sean Patrick Maloney differ.

Police unions snub Letitia James, back GOP’s Michael Henry for NY attorney general.

NY Post: Personal trainer for Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney’s husband got over $7K in taxpayer, donor funds as driver.

Erie County GOP elects new chairman.

Brooklyn Democratic Party chair reelected.

Coming Up

The Public Service Commission will hold its next meeting on October 13.

The Senate will hold a public hearing to examine JFK Airport redevelopment plans on October 14.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing on primary prevention services in New York on October 18.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing on public assistance benefits in New York on October 26.

The Senate will hold a public hearing on deed theft on October 27.

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