Friday Morning Brief Feb. 16, 2024

Feb 15

Written By Michael Avella

Member Spotlight:

Senator John Mannion

Senator John Mannion joined us to discuss his Western New York District and his work in the Senate! Prior to being a Senator, he was a school teacher and a lifelong advocate for students and families in his community, as well as an advocate for disability workers. Currently, he is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Disabilities and a member of various committees, such as on Agriculture, Cannabis, Libraries, and Education. He is also running for the state’s 22nd Congressional seat this November.

What district do you represent? Can you describe it for those that have never been there? What do you like the most about your district?
I represent the 50th Senate District – a place I have called home my entire life. It spans the Syracuse suburbs in Northern Onondaga County up through Oswego County to Lake Ontario. I represent urban, suburban, and rural areas with industries ranging from agriculture to advanced manufacturing. I have the special honor of having the New York State Fairgrounds in my district and the site of the largest private investment in the history of the United States - Micron’s $100B commitment to manufacturing semiconductors in Clay, NY, and creating 50,000 jobs. What I like most about my district is the people and connections to each other. If you’re from the area, chances are that my wife or I taught or coached you or someone you know or are related to. You’ll never meet more welcoming or harder-working people than in Syracuse and Central New York.

What did you do before becoming a legislator?
I was an AP Biology and Chemistry teacher for nearly thirty years. I taught more than 2,500 students. After so many years in the classroom, I regularly run into former students who have harnessed their science education into careers in public service or protecting the environment. I was my district’s teachers’ association president for eight years, negotiating two contracts while fighting for students and representing over three hundred members.

I also coached and refereed basketball, soccer, and baseball and have been an adjunct professor at Onondaga Community College.

As a kid, I worked at Syracuse Parks and Rec and washed dishes at Coleman’s – a legendary Irish bar in Tipperary Hill where we still go for family dinners.

What made you want to be a legislator, and what is your favorite part of being a legislator?
I’ve always believed in public service. When I was the president of the teachers’ association, Albany started pushing misguided evaluations and testing. I helped mobilize against this and made more trips down the Thruway than I can remember. It was during this time that I determined that we need more teachers in government.
There is nothing I care about more than my hometown of Syracuse and Central New York. I want to see this area thrive. I want my kids to stay here. I want great schools, great healthcare, great opportunities, and a great quality of life. I want to bring positive change, and for me, the best way to do that is to be a voice, to be in the room, and to have a vote. I love my job and what I’ve accomplished for the 50th Senate District.

What kind of music do you like - any favorite bands/artists?
In the Mannion Household, we celebrate our Irish heritage, and we love Irish music!

How about sports - any favorite NY sports team or any favorite sports/activities to play?
I’m from Syracuse, and I’m all in on the Orange. One of the best days I’ve had in Albany was when I hosted the NCAA champion Syracuse Men’s Soccer team in the Senate chamber. I’m also a big fan of the football team and the men’s and women’s basketball teams.

Favorite foods? Any favorite places to eat in your district?
Syracuse is the home of salt potatoes, and they’ve been on my dinner table since I was a kid. My family is frequent diners at Twin Trees Pizza, Dinosaur BBQ, and, as I mentioned earlier, Coleman’s on Tipp Hill, where I grew up.
My other favorite foods are anything served at the New York State Fair!

What do you like to do in your free time?
No matter how busy life gets - and right now, it’s never been busier - I always find time to spend with my wife and three kids. We enjoy being outside, taking walks, and visiting the Adirondacks.

What is/are your proudest legislative achievement(s)?
There are lots to choose from, but if I had to narrow it down to a couple, I’d say Green Chips helped bring Micron to Clay, kickstarting the Upstate Flood Mitigation Task Force and enacting its recommendations, expanding UPK and free school meals, and sponsoring the only resolution that overrode an Executive Order during the pandemic (the food with alcohol requirement that was loathed by restaurants and the public.) I also sponsored and passed the legislation that created the first new police force in New York State in fifty years at Syracuse Hancock International Airport.

As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Disabilities, what issues do you see arising this year?
Every New Yorker deserves an enriching life with dignity, respect, and equality. I’m grateful to be the founding Chairman of the Senate Disabilities Committee. It is a force for good, a bastion of bipartisanship, and a policy area where there is a lot of common ground. Everyone knows we have to pay the workforce a better wage than a retail or fast food job. We need more housing options, we need more people with disabilities entering the workforce, and we need to maintain and expand services - and I’ve introduced bills addressing all of these longstanding problems. This is a system that has faced decades of disinvestment. I’ve delivered three consecutive COLAs for the workforce and remain committed to better wages than this year.

What are your top priorities for your district in particular?
My top priorities are public safety, affordability, and opportunity. I’m very focused on workforce training initiatives, so we are ready for the transformative impact of the semiconductor industry. I strongly support establishing the flagship ON-RAMP workforce development center in Syracuse, which compliments the region’s tech hub designation and is another return on the Green Chips legislation I helped pass. I’ll be working with the CenterState CEO and local partners to establish ON-RAMP and secure additional funding for workforce training initiatives. Everyone should have access to job training and a path to employment, including for the Micron project in Clay and the broader semiconductor industry.

What advice would you give young folks wanting to get into politics?
Do it! We need more young voices in government at all levels and people who believe in public service. We’ve had wonderful legislative fellows and interns who have worked in my office, and I’m very optimistic about the next generation of leaders.

Are you a public official or staffer that would like to be featured in our spotlight? If so, reach out to your favorite D&A team member or contact us at team@dickinsonavella.com to set up an interview!

New Congressional Lines to be Sent to the Legislature

Yesterday, the state Independent Redistricting Commission voted to approve the new congressional map. The Commission also voted to send the maps to the Legislature, which will have to either approve or deny the new lines. The Commission had a deadline of February 28th to finish drawing the new set of maps.

The creation of new congressional lines came after the Court of Appeals’ ruling in December that ordered the IRC to redraw new congressional lines, overturning the lines drawn by a special master in 2022. The lines drawn by the special master were a result of the fact that the Court of Appeals had struck down the Legislature-drawn lines which were produced because the IRC originally failed to reach a consensus before the 2022 midterm elections.

Now, the new lines are pending the Legislature’s approval. However, Senator James Skoufis has already criticized the new lines, explaining that “both parties are seeking to protect their incumbents” and “ought to be rejected by the Legislature.” The Legislature is set to return to session from their midwinter break on February 26th, just one day before congressional candidates are due to start collecting petitions. There isn’t any consensus on whether there will be a special session next week, with some Assembly members saying it is unlikely that the Assembly will meet to vote on the new lines next week. However, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “I don’t want to rule out coming back next week if necessary.” Stewart-Cousins also said that she “thinks Friday is off the table.”

On Monday, Hochul announced the availability of more than $100 million in grants to fund after-school programs for more than 40,000 children in high-need areas. The Learning and Enrichment After-School Program Support grants combine the existing Advantage and Empire State after-school programs into a single program, standardizing funding and eligibility criteria while reducing administrative burdens for providers. The awards are expected to be announced in April, with contracts beginning in September. The grant initiative, included in Hochul’s Executive Budget, aims to counteract learning loss and revitalize after-school programs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday, Hochul announced an agreement with the Nature Conservancy to permanently protect more than 14,600 acres of the Adirondacks in the Raquette River and Follensby Pond area. The agreement includes two conservation easements and a research consortium initiative to provide new public recreational access and a freshwater research preserve. The agreement builds upon the state’s Environmental Protection Fund, which supports climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, protects water sources, and promotes conservation efforts. “We are preserving a unique natural resource so that all New Yorkers can enjoy this treasured and historic region for generations to come,” Hochul said.

Earlier this week, Hochul held a press conference highlighting her Executive Budget proposals to combat retail theft. Building upon her 2024 State of the State Address’s commitment to combat retail theft, Hochul reiterated the importance of establishing a new joint operation with state, local, and federal law enforcement to coordinate organized efforts against retail thefts. The new joint operation is modeled on the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns, established in 2022. “Over the past three years, we’ve made incredible progress on driving down violent crime and fighting the scourge of gun violence. Now, we’re using those same strategies to take on the quality-of-life issues like retail theft and property crime,” Hochul explained. Hochul’s plan to combat retail theft also includes new criminal penalties for selling stolen goods on the black market, allocating $25 million for a new State Police enforcement unit, $15 million funding for district attorneys and law enforcement, and $5 million tax breaks for businesses to install new security measures.

On Wednesday, Hochul announced the beginning of an annual investment of $10 million towards SUNY campuses for mental health services. The investment will expand services at 28 campuses, supporting more than 200,000 students, strengthening the Statewide Tele-Psychiatry Network, and providing a new tele-counseling option for community colleges. Some of the investment will go towards hiring additional staff and counselors, expanding telehealth programs, and launching a peer ambassador program. The investment builds upon Hochul’s prioritization of youth mental health and the $1 billion mental health plan approved in the 2024 Final Budget. “College can be a stressful and overwhelming time, and this funding will expand mental health services on college campuses so students can focus on just being students,” Hochul said.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Next week, the Legislature is on midwinter break. Session will resume on Monday, February 26th.

Senate Passed Storm Aid and Recovery Legislative Package

With climate-related weather events such as heavy flooding, frequent storms, and winter snowstorms being more pronounced in recent years, the Senate passed a legislative package on Tuesday aimed at strengthening the state’s storm recovery and aid efforts. “As we witness the devastating impact of recent storms on our communities, it is clear that swift and effective action is needed to aid in the recovery process,” explained Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. Notable bills in the package include:

Climate Change Property Tax Assessment Relief Act: would enable local governments to provide assessment relief to property owners
Stormwater Expenditure Report: would require the Department of Environmental Conservation to submit an annual agency stormwater expenditure report
Increasing Eligibility for the Coastal Market Assistance Program: would increase the number of properties that are eligible for the Coastal Market Assistance Program
Flood Insurance Investigation: would direct the Department of Financial Service to conduct a study on private flood insurance’s affordability and availability

Lawmakers Rally for Disability Social Workers

This week, Democrat and Republican lawmakers joined a rally held by disability advocates to raise the Cost of Living Adjustment to 3.2% in this year’s Final Budget and to establish a Direct Support Wage Enhancement to give employees who make under $125,000 annually a $4,000 benefit. In Hochul’s Executive Budget, she proposed a 1.5% Cost of Living Adjustment, but many disability workers and advocates explained that the proposed adjustment does not correlate with rising costs of expenses and goods. "There's a lot of money in this budget and there's enough money to pay these folks. The 3.2% is not much to ask for,” Assembly Chair of Mental Health, Aileen Gunther, explained. "They want to take care of these individuals, but they can only do it for so long if they're not getting to take care of their own lifestyle,” said Assemblymember Phil Palmesano, a former direct support professional.

Lawmakers Push for Tax Incentive Reform

After the release of a report on the state’s tax incentive programs by the Department of Taxation and Finance, several lawmakers are pushing for a tax incentive reform legislative package. Senator James Skoufis, who is leading the push for the legislative package, explained that he is looking to restructure some programs while eliminating others. “This is the year to finally get economic development reform done. We’ve been working on this for years and years and years,” Skoufis said. Skoufis explains that he is working with Senator Sean Ryan, the chair of Commerce, Economic Development, and Small Business, and Senator Liz Krueger, the chair of Finance. However, some GOP lawmakers have defended the tax incentive programs, with Senator Brian Maher warning that eliminating any tax incentive will “drive businesses to other programs” that don’t have local labor agreements.

Assemblymember Fred Thiele Not Seeking Re-Election

Earlier this week, Assemblymember Fred Thiele announced that he is not seeking re-election for his East End of Long Island-based Assembly seat. Thiele has served in the Assembly for more than 30 years. “I now look forward to other opportunities to serve the community that has been home to my family for almost 200 years,” Thiele said. With Thiele’s retirement announcement, Southampton Town Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni is the frontrunner for the Democratic Party’s nomination, and former Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman is a potential challenger. The GOP nominee will be announced on February 21st.

Assemblymember Phil Steck Announced His Intention to Run for Albany County District Attorney

On Wednesday, Assemblymember Phil Steck announced that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for Albany County District Attorney. This comes as the Albany County Democratic Committee refused to endorse the current Albany County District Attorney, David Soares after reports highlighted that Soares used state money to give himself a $22,000 bonus. Steck’s candidacy opens another Assembly seat in the Capital Region as Assemblymember Pat Fahy is running for Senator Neil Breslin’s seat, who is retiring this year.

PRIMARY & ELECTION UPDATES

Tom Suozzi Wins Special Election for Congress

On Tuesday, Tom Suozzi won the bellwether special election race to replace George Santos. Suozzi picked up about 54% of all total votes for the Queens and Nassau counties-based congressional seat, while Mazi Pilip won 46% of votes. With a campaign slogan of “Let’s Fix This,” Suozzi pitched himself as an experienced moderate candidate who could achieve bipartisan results. At the same time, Pilip ran on state Democrats’ handling of the asylum-seekers crisis and distanced herself from Trump. “It’s time to find common ground and start delivering for the people of America,” Suozzi said in his victory speech. Suozzi has already announced that he will be running for the seat in the November general election, while Pilip has not declared her candidacy. However, in her concession speech, she told her supporters that while she lost the special election, “it doesn’t mean we are going to end here.”

Landon Dais Wins Special Election for Assembly Seat in the Bronx

For the Bronx-based Assembly seat special election, Democrat Landon Dais won over Republican Norman McGill. Dais overwhelmingly won the race with 74% of total votes, while McGill won 16%. Dais will replace Latoya Joyner, who abruptly resigned last month. Speaker Carl Heastie, who also represent parts of the Bronx, congratulated Dais and said he is “Looking forward to working with [Dais] to move our state forward.”

Special Election for Rep. Brian Higgins Seat Set for April 30th

A special election to replace Rep. Brian Higgins’ Western New York-based seat has been set for April 30. Currently, Senator Tim Kennedy is running for the seat with endorsements from the Erie and Niagara Democratic committees. Nate McMurray says he is also running for the Democratic nomination. The local Republican committees have not endorsed any candidates, with the Erie County Republican Party explaining that they are still “finalizing their process.” Higgins has been a Representative for Western New York since 2005 and served as an Assemblymember from 1999 to 2004.

Gabi Madden to Challenge Sarahana Shrestha

Late last week, Gabi Madden announced her challenge against Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha for the Hudson Valley-based Assembly seat. Madden has worked for Senator Skoufis and was previously the Chief of Staff for Assemblymember Kevin Cahill, who lost his seat to Shrestha in 2022. For her reasoning for challenging Shrestha, Madden explained, “I see our community’s growth with a hopeful vision of a leader who will talk less and listen more, who will build a platform and portfolio that reflects the priorities of all the people they were elected to represent.” However, Shrestha said that she is optimistic, explaining, “We’ve always known that they will run somebody against me, so we’ve been prepared.”

OTHER UPDATES

NYC Files Lawsuit Against Social Media Companies

Earlier this week, NYC Mayor Eric Adams filed a lawsuit against TikTok, Instagram, Meta, Snapchat, and YouTube for negligence, gross negligence, and public nuisance. The suit alleges that the four social media platforms are “fueling” the youth mental health crisis that has resulted in a financial burden and crisis for the city. “We’re taking bold action on behalf of millions of New Yorkers to hold these companies accountable for their role in this crisis, and we’re building on our work to address this public health hazard,” Adams said. This lawsuit comes as many local, state, and federal lawmakers are criticizing social media companies and platforms for causing negative impacts on youth’s mental health, their use of algorithms, and their handling of private data information. Back in November, Hochul sent a letter to CEOs of TikTok, Meta, Twitter, and Google urging them to better crack down on the rise of hate crime content on their social media platforms.

MTA Suspend New Contracts Amidst Lawsuits

Against Congestion Pricing

On Wednesday, the MTA suspended new construction contracts for its public transportation networks due to various lawsuits against the implementation of congestion pricing, which was intended to generate revenue to upgrade the MTA infrastructure. “Due to this ongoing uncertainty, while litigation is pending, we will not be issuing any new construction contract solicitations,” according to letters sent to contractors. With various lawsuits against congestion pricing ongoing, the MTA explained that more than half of the $51.5 billion 2020 to 2024 capital plan was expected from congestion pricing. Currently, the congestion pricing program faces lawsuits from a coalition of Lower East Side residents and lawmakers, UFT and Staten Island, the Mayor of Fort Lee, NJ, and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.

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