Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – May 10, 2019

What’s Inside

  • Governor Launches Year Six of 43North Start-Up Competition
  • Governor Makes Fourth Round of Third-Term Appointments
  • Governor Announces Programs Receiving Funds for At-Risk Youth and Gang Violence Prevention
  • Senate Plans Rent Control and Tenant Protection Hearings
  • SUNY Board of Trustees Appoints Jim Malatras President of Empire State College
  • Updates, Reminders, and Links
  • Coming Up

Governor Launches Year Six of the 43North Start-Up Competition

This week the Governor announced that applications for the sixth year of the 43North competition are being accepted. The 43North competition is a $5 million a year contest where start-up companies compete for prizes and benefits. Winners will receive either the top prize of $1 million investment or one of seven $500,000 investments, a year of free incubator space, the opportunity to be free from New York State taxes for up to 10 years, and 43North’s mentorship and support program, which includes:

  • One-to-one mentorship, workshops, and access to a bank of consultant hours;
  • Access to an on-staff talent recruiter to help them grow their teams in Buffalo;
  • Connections for business development;
  • Marketing and media relations support;
  • Investor introductions; and
  • Additional mentorship from the Techstars network, as part of a new Techstars Buffalo Startup Ecosystem Development program that 43North is partnering on.

Companies that win the competition agree to provide 5% equity to 43North and to locate their CEO and at least half of their staff to Buffalo for at least a year. 

The Governor said:

“Over the last five years, the 43North competition has successfully driven high-quality startups to Buffalo where they can grow their businesses. Through this unique competition, we will continue to bring world-class talent and cutting edge businesses to this region to contribute and collaborate with the growing entrepreneurial economy.” 

Governor Makes Fourth Round of Third-Term Appointments

This week, the Governor announced another round of administration appointments. Those appointments are as follows, biographies can be found here:

  • Marie Therese Dominguez, Commissioner of the Department of Transportation 
  • David Yassky, Director of State Policy 
  • Madhuri Kommareddi, Director of Workforce Development 
  • Molly Marcy, Director of Legislative Affairs for Agency Operations 
  • Niall O’Hegarty, Deputy Secretary of Financial Services 
  • Eric Galarneau, General Counsel of the Division of Criminal Justice Services 
  • Joanne Hernandez, Senior Policy Advisor for Transportation

The Governor said:

“After passing the broadest, most sweeping state budget that we have done, I am proud to continue this administration’s record of delivering real results for New Yorkers with this team of dedicated public servants. As the Federal government continues to challenge New York’s core values, I look forward to working with these talented individuals to continue New York’s upward momentum.”

Governor Announces Programs Receiving Funds for At-Risk Youth and Gang Violence Prevention

Governor Cuomo announced 14 programs that provide at-risk youth with alternatives to gang involvement will receive $5.5 million in funding for workforce and educational development programs across the state through the Workforce Development Demonstration Project. Youth who are significantly behind in basic skills will receive help in obtaining their high school diploma, state equivalency credential or will be engaged in post-secondary school. Occupational skills training will be offered in the building trades, service industry trades, information technology, health care and maintenance.

The funds were awarded on a competitive basis to the following non-profit, government, and charitable organizations: 

  • United Way of Long Island – $694,059 
  • Eastern Suffolk BOCES – $258,540 
  • Rockland BOCES – $499,999 
  • Dutchess County Workforce Investment Board, Inc. – $410,000 
  • The Chamber Foundation, Inc. – $332,279 
  • Ulster Youthbuild, LLC – $380,600 
  • Social Enterprise and Training Center, Rensselaer – $347,619 
  • Social Enterprise and Training Center, Albany – $476,190
  • Social Enterprise and Training Center, Schenectady – $285,714
  • Schenectady County: The Pathways and Opportunities to Success Program – $250,000 
  • Syracuse Employment and School Opportunity Network (SEASON) Program – $500,000 
  • Urban League of Rochester, NY Inc. – $285,000 
  • Pathstone Corporation – $480,000 
  • The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc. – $300,000 

The Governor Said:

“New York will not stand idly by as gangs prey on young people in our communities which is why we are taking an all levers approach to keeping our kids safe. These comprehensive programs will provide critical educational and employment opportunities to at-risk youth, offering them a positive alternative to participating in the scourge of gang violence.”

Senate Begins Rent Control and Tenant Protection Hearings

This week the Senate began consideration on rent control and tenant protection laws with the first of four scheduled public hearings. The first hearing was held in Syracuse, with three others scheduled for different parts of the state. The Assembly has already begun their own hearings on the matter. The current rent regulations are expiring in June.

The Senate hearing details below:

  • Thursday, May 9, from 4:00-8:00 PM in Syracuse at the Danforth Middle School, 309 West Brighton Ave, Syracuse, NY 13205.
  • Thursday, May 16, from 1:00-8:00 PM in Brooklyn at Medgar Evers College, 1650 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225.
  • Wednesday, May 22, from 1:00-8:00 PM in Albany at the Legislative Office Building.
  • Thursday, May 23, from 2:30-8:00 PM in the Hudson Valley at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center, 321 South William Street, Newburgh, NY 12550.

Senate Housing Committee Chairman Brian Kavanagh said:

“New York tenants have been far too weak and riddled with loopholes that not only permit bad behavior, but sometimes incentivize it. The new Senate Majority is committed to renewing and dramatically strengthening these laws for the first time in generations.”

SUNY Board of Trustees Appoints Jim Malatras President of Empire State College

Longtime aide and advisor to Governor Cuomo, Jim Malatras, was appointed President of Empire State College during this week’s SUNY Board of Trustees meeting. Mr. Malatras has previously served as Director of State Operations for Governor Cuomo and as Vice Chancellor for Policy and Chief of Staff at SUNY. He also served as Executive Director of the Governor’s New NY Education Reform Commission from 2012-2014. Most recently, Mr. Malatras served as President at the Rockefeller Institute of Government.

Mr. Malatras holds a Ph.D. in political science from the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany, where he received the Presidential Distinguished Doctoral Dissertation Award. He also holds a masters and bachelors of arts in political science from the University at Albany. His appointment is effective July 15, 2019.

Updates, Reminders, and Links

City & State NY’s weekly Winners & Losers here.

Buffalo News: mobile sports betting bill gets a public hearing.

Zack Fink: critical pipeline deadline coming next week for Cuomo/DEC.

Court of Appeals rules in Public Service Commission’s favor over ESCOs.

Chartock interviews Senator Julia Salazar here.

Tech start-up NexGen takes over state built factory in Dewitt.

Coming Up

The Assembly Committee on Housing will hold public hearings on rent regulations on May 10th.

The Assembly Committee on Education will hold a public hearing on specialized high schools on May 10th.

Public Service Commission will hold its next meeting on May 16.

The Senate Committee on Housing will hold public hearings on rent control and tenant protections on May 16th, May 22nd, and May 23rd.

The Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation will hold a public hearing on climate change on May 17th.

The Assembly Committees on Banks and Local Government will hold a public hearing on municipal deposits in credit unions on May 20th.

The Senate Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities will hold a public hearing on the general operations of the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs on May 22nd.

The Senate Committees on Investigations and Housing will hold a public hearing on code enforcement on May 23rd.

A second Joint Legislative hearing on sexual harassment is scheduled for May 24th.

A Joint Legislative Hearing on government run, single payer health care will be held on May 28th.

The Assembly Committee on Health will hold a public hearing on rural health care services on May 31st.

A Joint Legislative hearing on suicide and suicide prevention is scheduled for June 4th.