New York’s Medicaid budget is growing at a faster rate than the state can currently afford. That comes as a published report alleges a potential pay-to-play arrangement between a large hospital association and Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2018 re-election campaign. The report in the New York Times said Cuomo’s campaign asked the Greater New York Hospital […]
Karen DeWitt
Posted inNews & Opinion
New York’s red flag law takes effect soon
In the wake of mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, there’s been renewed discussion about so-called “red flag laws” to keep guns out of the hands of some potential killers. Twelve states and Washington, DC, have already adopted a version of the law, including New York, whose red flag law was approved […]
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Elia resigns as state ed head
New York State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia announced Monday that she is resigning at the end of August, taking members of the state Board of Regents by surprise. Over the last year, Elia has been a key figure in the scrutiny of the Rochester school district. She was the person who appointed Jaime Aquino as […]
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With Dems in charge, NY adopts progressive bills
The 2019 legislative session was among the most productive in several years, with the passage of bills that ranged from strengthening abortion rights to allowing undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses. If you’re a liberal Democrat, there’s a lot to like. Conservative Republicans are not as pleased. The 2019 session ended when the Assembly gaveled […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
New York passes ambitious climate plan
Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Democratic-led state Legislature have agreed on the most ambitious goals in the nation for reducing carbon emissions in the next few decades.
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State may get strong rent laws
The state legislature could approve new protections this month for many apartment tenants – in Upstate New York as well as in New York City. In a joint statement last week, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said they will “advance a historic package of tenant protections that encompasses the principles of […]
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Charter school growth not likely in 2019
With changing political dynamics in the Democrat-led New York State Legislature and opposition from the teachers union, the cap on charter schools in New York is unlikely to be raised this year. A 2015 law restricts how many new charter schools could open in New York City to 50, and the city reached that cap […]
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The new state budget: some progress, some compromise
New York State’s new budget, passed during a marathon session in Albany on Sunday, includes a raft of progressive reforms. But like many budgets, it’s the result of a compromise where not everyone is completely happy.
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Cuomo blazes up pot legalization talk
For his first two terms, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s position on legal pot has moved from outright opposition to support for a tight-fisted medical cannabis program. But now, heading into his third term, he’s openly embracing legal pot for adults. Cuomo outlined his agenda for the first 100 days of the 2019 legislative session, and after […]
