New York Network, the video production service operated by the State University of New York, is phasing out its operations over the next year. SUNY said in a statement today “fundamental changes in its business environment have seriously degraded the network’s ability to remain fully self-supporting.” The station, located in… Read More →
Following a marathon meeting behind closed doors, a spokesman for the newly minted state ethics board said the Joint Commission on Public Ethics remains supportive of Janet DiFiore as the board’s chairwoman. DiFiore, the Westchester County district attorney, found herself at the center of reports concerning an investigation into her… Read More →
Another JCOPE meeting, another parking ticket for a Westchester District Attorney’s office vehicle. A black Chevrolet Tahoe that was used to transport District Attorney Janet DiFiore to a meeting of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics in Albany was hit with a parking violation late this morning. It had a… Read More →
State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman today unveiled an upgrade—and a new name—for the state’s Project Sunlight transparency website: NYOpenGovernment.com. The expanded website should please data geeks, as it features a number of enhanced searching options and database formats to download information about state contracts, lobbying clients, charity information and more…. Read More →
We’re live from the lobby of the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics, where reporters were just ushered out of the meeting room while the ethics board meets in executive session. It led to a testy exchange between a JCOPE staffer and reporters—not because the board moved to meet behind… Read More →
The state Thruway Authority’s decision to begin the process of hiking tolls on most commercial truck traffic is already receiving significant pushback from truckers and lawmakers. Yesterday, the authority’s board voted to get the ball rolling on a 45 percent toll increase—termed by Board Chairman Howard Milstein as “modest”—on vehicles… Read More →
Four federally-chartered banks have been approved to be convert to New York State charters, said Benjamin Lawsky, the superintendent of the state Department of Financial Services. The four banks are the Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh in Brooklyn; Community Mutual Savings Bank of Mt. Vernon in Westchester County; NorthEast Community… Read More →
Queens Rep. Bob Turner is out with his first television ad in the race to take on Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, taking aim at the Democratic senator and President Obama without mentioning either of his two fellow Republican challengers. The ad features various news clippings and headlines from Turner’s upset victory… Read More →
The state Thruway system is facing an “urgent financial need” without factoring in a $5 billion replacement to the Tappan Zee Bridge, according to a new report from a consultant hired by the Thruway Authority. The report—released today to the Thruway Authority’s board before it began the process to increase… Read More →
The state Thruway Authority took a step toward increasing tolls for certain commercial vehicles on the state superhighway, eyeing a 45 percent increase for vehicles with three or more axles. The Thruway Authority board just voted to allow Executive Director Tom Madison to “proceed with necessary actions” to implement the… Read More →