Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – September 4, 2018

What’s Inside

  • Governor Signs Executive Order on NYC Speed Cameras
  • Governor Announces Launch of ‘No Student Goes Hungry’ Initiative
  • Governor Announces ‘Listening Sessions’ on Regulated Marijuana
  • Cuomo, Nixon Face Off in Testy Gubernatorial Debate
  • Democratic Attorney General Candidates Debate
  • Political Update
    • Cuomo Ad Attacks Molinaro for Being Like Trump
    • Cuomo, Nixon Release Ads Before Primary Vote
    • Molinaro Releases Plan to Fix MTA
    • Group Targets Former IDC Members with Digital Ads
    • Siena Releases Polls in Key Congressional Districts
    • Poll: Tenney and Brindisi Running Neck and Neck
    • Winners & Losers
  • Coming Up

Governor Signs Executive Order on NYC Speed Cameras

Last Monday, Gov. Cuomo and New York City officials announced agreement on a plan that will restore speed cameras near schools in the city without state legislative action. The city’s speed zone cameras had operated under state legislation, but the state law authorizing them cameras expired over the summer.  The Assembly passed a bill that would extend the program while also increasing the number of cameras, the Senate did not approve it.

Gov. Cuomo has issued an Executive Order that give the city access to state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) data.  This will enable the city to match the license plates of speeding vehicles caught on the cameras with vehicle owner information, enabling the city to impose $50 fines per incident.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“I refuse to sit idly by as Republican State Senators put politics over the lives of our children and jeopardize public safety. In the face of the Senate Republicans’ shameful inaction and with the school year set to begin, we are taking emergency action to reinstate the speed cameras program and protect our children. I thank Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Johnson for their cooperation and commitment to keeping our children safe. This is extraordinary action for an extraordinary situation – but I continue to call on the Senate Republicans to do their job and pass lifesaving speed camera legislation once and for all.”

According to the NYC Mayor’s office, where the cameras were in operation, speeding was reduced by more than 60 percent, crashes involving pedestrians were down 17 percent and fatal crashes were down 55 percent.

Governor Announces Launch of ‘No Student Goes Hungry’ Initiative

Last Tuesday, Gov. Cuomo announced the launch of “No Student Goes Hungry” program which addresses food insecurity “by expanding access to free breakfast for students in poverty, increases access to farm-fresh foods and ensures that all students have access to school meals without fear of shame.” The program also includes $1.5 million to expand the Farm-to-School program to increase the volume and variety of locally grown and produced food on school menus.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“A well-rounded meal can make all the difference in a child’s life, providing the focus and energy they need for a productive school day. No child should never have to wonder where their next meal will come from, making the No Student Goes Hungry program critical to helping students across New York reach their full potential each day.”

Governor Announces ‘Listening Sessions’ on Regulated Marijuana

On Thursday, Gov. Cuomo announced that a series of listening sessions on regulated marijuana will be held throughout the state in September and October “to garner input from community members and key stakeholders on the implementation of a regulated marijuana program” in the state.

Fifteen sessions have been scheduled; the first is being held in Albany on September 5th. Register to attend a session here.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“Community input is critical as we work to draft balanced and comprehensive legislation on a regulated marijuana program in New York. The multi-agency report identified the benefits of a regulated marijuana market, and with these listening sessions we are taking another important step to develop a model program for New York. We look forward to hearing what New Yorkers in every corner of the state have to say.”

Cuomo, Nixon Face Off in Testy Gubernatorial Debate

On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Cynthia Nixon faced off at Hofstra University in their only debate before the September 13th Democratic gubernatorial primary.  Nixon took aim at what she called Cuomo’s lackluster commitment to progressive policies, while the Governor pointed to his experience and accomplishments in his first two terms in office. (Watch the debate here.)

Among the topics covered were corruption, their tax disclosures, the MTA and a handful of progressive issues that they agree on, including legalizing recreational marijuana, single-payer health care and campaign finance reform.

Nixon was aggressive in challenged the Governor’s record during his seven-and-a-half years in office, and made the case that her experience as an education activist, and LGBTQ issues and women’s rights make her qualified to be governor. In contrast, she called Cuomo “an Albany insider.”

Cuomo rejected her criticisms, saying the stakes of the job require an experienced candidate who is more prepared to lead the state while President Donald Trump is in office. When he was asked whether he plans to run for President in 2020, the Governor said that he does not.

Democratic Attorney General Candidates Debate

Last Tuesday, the four candidates in the Democratic primary for state attorney general – Leecia Eve, Letitia James, Sean Patrick Maloney and Zephyr Teachout – participated in a debate in Manhattan.  (Watch the full debate here.)

All of the candidates emphasized their willingness and ability to take on legal and political challenges faced by the state under the presidency of Donald Trump, and stressed the importance of an Attorney General’s office that is independent of the governor. They also agreed that corruption in Albany must be addressed, and that the way to do that is to overhaul the state’s ethics entity, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE), and that the Attorney General’s powers should be increased.

Zephyr Teachout appears to have momentum, and she was the target of the most attacks by the other candidates.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican nominee Keith Wofford, a Manhattan attorney.

Political Update

Cuomo Ad Attacks Molinaro for Being Like Trump

While Gov. Cuomo is facing fellow Democrat Cynthia Nixon in the Sept. 13th primary election, he has released an ad comparing his Republican Marc Molinaro, the Dutchess County Executive, to President Donald Trump.

A spokesperson for Molinaro, who has said that he did not vote for Trump in 2016, said “We know Andrew Cuomo is corrupt so it’s a surprise to no one that he is also a desperate liar. Lucky for lying Andy these lies won’t send him to jail with his top aides and donors.”

Cuomo, Nixon Release Ads Before Primary Vote

Gov. Cuomo’s re-election campaign released two additional ads this week. The first highlights former Vice President Biden’s endorsement, and the second shows a series of clips of Cynthia Nixon lauding Gov. Cuomo.

Cynthia Nixon’s latest ad shows “uncomfortable similarities between Governor Cuomo and President Trump when it comes to privilege, corruption, intimidating the free press, and ignoring sexual harassment.”

Molinaro Releases Plan to Fix MTA

Dutchess County Executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro has released a comprehensive plan to fix the MTA and end New York City’s mass transit crisis.

His plan includes “a combination of short-term measures to address acute needs and long-term cultural and structural changes aimed at creating a stable and sustainable public transit system.” A key part of the plan is reducing labor costs; expanding the use of “design-build”; allowing the MTA to use private-sector union workers on large projects; and implementing the New York City Transit modernization plan. It also calls for controlling the MTA’s overtime and health care costs, and for conducting a forensic audit of the MTA’s finances.

Group Targets Former IDC Members with Digital Ads

The former members of the Senate’s Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) are being targeted by NO IDC NY in a series of online ads.  The group is targeting Senators Jeff Klein (D- Bronx), Marisol Alcantara (D-Manhattan), Jose Peralta (D-Queens) and Jesse Hamilton (D- Brooklyn).

All four are being challenged in Democratic primaries on September 13th. The group blames the IDC for blocking progressive legislation, including the New York Health Act, protections for renters and making New York a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants.

Siena Releases Congressional Polls in Key Races

The Siena College Research Institute released three polls last week on key Congressional races that could determine which party controls the House of Representatives in 2019.

A poll of the 24th Congressional District race released this week shows two-term incumbent Republican Congressman John Katko with a solid lead over his Democratic challenger, Dana Balter.  The poll shows Katko ahead 54 percent to 39 percent among likely voters.

The non-partisan Cook Report lists the race as “likely Republican.” Read the poll crosstabs here.

Siena’s poll of the 22nd Congressional District race shows the race between freshman Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney and Democratic challenger Anthony Brindisi is too close to call at this point in the race.  Tenney is polling at 46 percent, while Brindisi is at 44 percent.

The non-partisan Cook Report lists the race as a “toss-up.” Read the poll crosstabs here.

Siena’s poll of the 19th Congressional District race shows freshman Republican Representative John Faso with a five-point lead over his Democratic opponent Antonio Delgado, 45-40 percent.

The non-partisan Cook Report lists the race as a “toss-up.” Read the poll crosstabs here.

Winners & Losers

Each week, City & State New York publishes a list of the week’s political “winners” and “losers.”  Read last week’s list here.

Coming Up

On September 6th, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Economic Development, and Small Business and Labor Committee are holding a public hearing on Long Island “to examine the Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises program, and consider potential legislative solutions to create a more effective and efficient program to enhance New York’s business climate.”

The state Board of Elections holds its next meeting on September 11.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on September 12.

New York’s primary elections will be held on Thursday, September 13.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on September 13.

The state Board of Regents holds its next meeting on September 17 and 18.