In a court filing yesterday, a pair of Senate Democrats—including Senate Minority Leader John Sampson—said they’re ready for a federal judge to appoint a “special master” to redraw state and congressional district lines. Sampson and Sen. Martin Malave Dilan, D-Brooklyn, said the “time is ripe for court intervention,” claiming that… Read More →
In an end-of-year report to the Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Legislature, the superintendent of the newly minted Department of Financial Services says a merger of state’s previous finance-related agencies—the Banking and Insurance departments—has been a success. Financial Services was launched in October as part of the state’s efficiency/consolidation push… Read More →
State Republican Chairman Ed Cox is out with an op-ed in today’s New York Post, calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to renew his push for pension reform, saying the rising costs of pensions “won’t go away” by “ignoring this crisis.” Cox called on Cuomo to “use the bully pulpit of… Read More →
More than 10,000 people were charged under the state’s strangulation statute during its first year on the books, according to statewide numbers released today in conjunction with an announcement of an amendment to the law. Of the 10,057 total, 8,160 were misdemeanor charges of criminal obstruction of breathing or blood… Read More →
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli became the first statewide official to submit formal comments on the Department of Environmental Conservation’s hydrofracking proposal, using the opportunity to make a renewed push for a gas-drilling accident fund his office would oversee. DiNapoli submitted a five-page letter to DEC Commissioner Joe Martens today, criticizing… Read More →
The new year will bring a number of new laws to New York, with a series of measures set to take effect as soon as the ball drops on 2012. In today’s Gannett newspapers, Aaron Scholder took a look at many of the new measures taking effect Jan. 1. Some… Read More →
United University Professions, which represents 35,000 academic and professional faculty on 29 State University of New York state-operated campuses, announced this afternoon that it is suing the state over an extra 2 percent hike in health-insurance rates for nearly 4,000 retirees. The union filed the lawsuit in federal court in Albany… Read More →
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is inviting New Yorkers to visit the Executive Mansion in Albany New Year’s Day. Tickets are required and space is limited. Registration began this afternoon and runs through 9 p.m. tomorrow on the governor’s homepage. If the number of requests exceeds the available space, attendees will be… Read More →
A Yonkers gas station will pay a fine after state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman found it illegally raised its prices while Tropical Storm Irene swept through in August. Ultimate Quality Food and Fuel Mart, at 60 Elm Street, will pay $7,500 in civil penalties after it allegedly engaged in price… Read More →
As the ball drops on 2012, Gov. Andrew Cuomo will be having his own countdown—not for a New Year, but for a new tax code. Cuomo’s office just trumpeted—via a news release and accompanying tweet, complete with an all-caps hashtag—the creation of a … shall we say, flashy? … countdown… Read More →