Friday Morning Brief April 26, 2024

Apr 25

Written By Michael Avella

Member Spotlight

David Weprin

Assemblymember David Weprin joined us to discuss his priorities and experiences in the Assembly, as well as his Queens-based Assembly district. Serving his constituents since 2010, he has dedicated his life to public service, and with his experiences in the financial sector, he strives to ensure that his constituents are served by a responsive, efficient, and accountable government. He is currently the Assembly Chair of Insurance and serves as a member of various committees, such as on Banks, Codes, and Ways and Means.

What district do you represent? Can you describe it for those who have never been there and highlight anything of particular interest about your district?
I represent the 24th Assembly District. It used to be exclusively eastern Queens. But after the recent reapportionment, it starts in Eastern Queens and goes into Central Queens, representing the neighborhoods of Kew Gardens, Briarwood, Richmond Hill, Holliswood, Jamaica, and a little bit west of Hollis Hills. It’s a very diverse district in terms of religion and culture, and I love the diversity. About 35% of my constituents are Asian, with the majority being South Asian. Within the South Asian community, there is a lot of diversity as well. There are communities of large Indian-American, Bangladeshi-American, and a Guyanese community from the Indian diaspora of South Asian descent. I also have the largest Sikh population in the state of New York - if not the entire United States- in my district – as well as the largest Gurdwara in the Northeast over 9,000 members.

What was your profession before becoming a legislator?
I’m an attorney by profession. And I also was an investment banker on Wall Street for about 25 years.

What inspired you to run for office?
I guess I kind of grew up in politics. My late father, Saul Weprin, had been involved in politics for most of my childhood and most of his adult life. And I was kind of inspired to public service. And my brother Mark also. He succeeded my father, and I was on Wall Street at the time.

What kind of music do you like - any favorite bands/artists?
I like traditional soft rock. I grew up as a Beatles fan, and I’m still a Beatles fan today.

What about sports? Any favorite NY sports team?
I’m a diehard Mets fan. The opening week of the season has been very depressing, but I think they have the right ingredients for a comeback. It’s also a long season, and it’s still early. We’ve had plenty of streaks, including winning streaks and losing streaks. I predict we’ll get out of this losing streak pretty quickly.

What’s your favorite food?
I love pasta. The problem is I’ve been watching my weight over the last couple of years. But I still like Italian food, but I’ve come to eat more seafood. I’m trying to eat as healthy as I can.

Do you have any favorite restaurants to eat at in your district?
You really cannot have a favorite restaurant in my district. There are so many diverse restaurants. I’m not a strict vegetarian or vegan, but I’ve come to eat a lot at vegetarian restaurants. I like this place called Buddha Bodai. It’s a Chinese vegetarian restaurant.

As the Assembly Chair of Insurance, what issues do you see arising this year?
The Budget is always a priority. As the Chair, one of my priorities has been to eliminate copayments on insulin, which has become very expensive but necessary for many people. It’s a lifesaving medication for many people, and they take it on a regular basis, but it has become very expensive. Hopefully, copayments for insulin will be eliminated this year. Eliminating co-pays for epi-pens is also a priority for me. For kids with allergies, epi-pens are a lifesaver, but the medication can get expensive.

What are the top priorities in your district in particular?
Quality of life has always been a priority. I’ve been fighting against congestion pricing for the better part of 20 years, so that’s been an issue in my district because the eastern part of my district is not accessible to public transportation. Parts of my district do not necessarily have an accessible subway line, so congestion pricing would be a tremendous burden. People in Queens also drive a lot. So, I don’t want driving to be a crime for my constituents. I actually joined a lawsuit against congestion pricing as an elected official, and I’m still hoping we can stop congestion pricing or simply delay it. I opposed congestion pricing when I served on the City Council, and Mayor Bloomberg was the main proponent, but I still oppose it now. Most of my constituents are also opposed to it.

What are/is your proudest achievement(s) throughout your career?
I have two laws that I’m most proud of. First is the Adoptees Bill of Rights. It took many years, even though it should have been easy legislation to pass. The Adoptees Bill of Rights allows adoptees to get access to their original birth certificate when they become 18 years of age. Most people didn’t necessarily know this, but until this legislation was signed into law, original birth certificates were sealed at birth and were not accessible to the adoptees. This was because of the stigma of adoption, women giving birth out of wedlock, and giving up a child for adoption. Fortunately, those stigmas are gone, and we should allow adoptees to view their original birth certificates to know their birth parents. We reunited a lot of families, and I’m very proud of that.
Another law is the legislation that prohibits discrimination in all employment, either public or private, for wearing religious attire or facial hair. In my district, there is a large Sikh population, and they were barred from serving as police officers or other uniformed agencies in the state because Sikhism required them to keep their beards and cover their heads with turbans. There were also stories of harassment against Sikhs in the workplace. So this legislation actually came out of 9/11 because of a Sikh E-train operator who saved many lives by going in and out of the World Trade Center station. But after 9/11, instead of being treated like a hero, he was demoted because he was practicing his faith by wearing his turban and keeping his beard. I found out that there was nothing in the law that prohibited New York State to prohibit the MTA from doing that. So, I was very proud of leading the charge in passing the legislation to change that. It took quite a few years.

Are there any other members that you find yourself working with or enjoy hanging out with in particular?
I get along with most of my colleagues in Albany. In some ways, it’s like being in a summer camp because you tend to go to a lot of events, dinners, and breakfasts with the people you work with. But you really get to spend a lot of quality time with the people and get to know them quite well.

What advice would you give to young folks wanting to get into politics or run for office?
Get involved in your community. Pick an issue that you are very passionate about, and advocate for it. I actually have an intern in my office who is now a full-time staff member. He started out as an elementary school student doing an anti-bullying campaign at his elementary school. He then asked if he could intern for me. So, he ended up interning for me at the age of 13. He was always interested in government. He actually used his vacations coming up to Albany. Now, he’s a full-time staff member at my district office.

Any last comments?
I think public service is a noble profession. Working both in the public and private sectors, you can accomplish a lot more in the public sector because of the decisions you make and the things you get involved in helping so many communities. You get to help and meet many people from many different walks of life, and that’s one of the things I enjoy.

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!

Budget Finally Approved by Lawmakers

After protracted negotiations between Governor Hochul, Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and the Majority Conferences, lawmakers approved the $237 Final Budget on Saturday. The $237 billion Enacted Budget was the result of months of negotiation on housing, public safety, and education. “In my State of the State, I promised New Yorkers we’d fight to build more housing, improve education and protect public safety — and that’s exactly what our budget is going to do,” Hochul said.

After years of negotiations, the Enacted Budget includes a series of policies to address the state’s housing shortage with the extension of 421-a and a new 485-x tax incentives for developers. Although similar to the 421-a tax incentive, the new 485-x has stronger labor standards and affordability requirements. The housing package also includes a compromise version of “Good Cause” eviction, with additional exemptions and exceptions than the original proposal. The policy will only apply to municipalities outside New York City that opt-in to the program, exempt high-rental units and apartments owned by smaller landlords, and set to sunset in 2034. A pilot program to legalize basement apartments in some parts of NYC, funding for office-to-housing conversion, and the removal of the FAR Cap were also included.

Although removing the “hold harmless” provision from the Foundation Aid formula was considered a sticking point during the budget negotiations, Hochul nixed the proposal and instead agreed with lawmakers to direct a study on how the Foundation Aid formula should be calculated. For universities and colleges, the Enacted Budget invests $1.3 billion for SUNYs and $858 million for CUNYs, as well as increasing the TAP income limit threshold from $80,000 to $125,000. Additionally, Hochul and leaders of the Legislature agreed to expand mayoral control of NYC public schools for two additional years.

On public safety, the Enacted Budget includes increased penalties for assaulting a retail worker to a Class-E felony after the Senate and the Assembly rejected it in their respective One-House Budgets. Lawmakers also agree to aggregate connected retail theft crimes committed over a period of time to charge offenders with a more serious offense. A list of hate crime-eligible charges would also be expanded, and increased state funding for security reimbursement for nonprofits at risk of hate crimes. To combat illegal cannabis dispensaries, the Enacted Budget gives enhanced powers to shut down illicit dispensaries and increased penalties.

Several other proposals were included in the Enacted Budget, such as Sammy’s Law, expansion of prenatal leave for pregnant employees, Empire AI, increased AIM funding, $2.4 billion for asylum-seekers crisis in NYC, and expansion of take-out cocktails for restaurants. With budget negotiations completed, a sprint of five more weeks remains in this session until June 6th.

As part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NYForward, Hochul announced that 21 projects will move forward in the North Country. Per the announcement, eight projects would be developed in Ticonderoga, five projects in Cape Vincent, four projects in Lyon Falls, and another four projects in Waddington. The funding for the projects will be directly provided by the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NYForward awards to build upon Hochul's commitment to revitalize the North Country's local economies and provide incentives for new developmental projects. "This funding for the North Country will help communities carry out their plans to enhance the quality of life for New Yorkers, draw visitors, and spur economic opportunity for generations to come," Hochul explained.

For Earth Week, Hochul announced that 48 communities and organizations that support smart growth initiatives in the Catskill and Adirondack parks have been awarded $5.4 million. The grant funding will support expanding recreation opportunities, addressing local infrastructure, providing tourist infrastructure, and comprehensive planning efforts. The grant funding builds upon the state’s commitment to supporting smart growth planning and upgrading local infrastructure to support tourism. “With these grants, we are empowering local leaders to implement forward-thinking solutions that address pressing challenges while laying the foundation for a brighter, more prosperous future,” Hochul explained.

On Tuesday, Hochul announced a new RFP as the next step in the 10-Point Action Plan and in support of the state’s CLCPA goal of developing 9,000 megawatts of offshore energy by 2035. The $200 million Supportive Manufacturing and Logistics RFP is now open to support offshore wind infrastructure and expand the state’s domestic offshore wind supply chain. A $300 million RFP will also be issued in the near future to focus on major components of offshore wind supply chain investments. In support of the two RFPs, NYSERDA will host a webinar for interested parties on May 7th at 9:00 AM. Hochul and NYSERDA also announced that the state plans to launch another RFP to support the state’s offshore wind energy infrastructure in the summer of this year.

As part of the enacted 2025 Budget, Hochul announced that $20 million in new state funding will offset expected reductions in federal Victims of Crime Act funding for victims and survivors of crime across the state. The $20 million will support the Office of Victim Services to fully fund the final year of its contracts with 239 victim assistance programs, such as case management, counseling, civil legal help, and financial assistance to communities. In addition, Hochul issued a proclamation on Monday to mark National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. “As the daughter of a domestic violence advocate, I am dedicated to ensuring that all victims and survivors have the resources and assistance needed to live a more fulfilling life,” Hochul said.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Next week, the Legislature is on break and set to reconvene on Monday, May 6th

Future Caucus

Last week, a bipartisan group of 43 lawmakers under the age of 46 hosted the first’s meeting of New York's Future Caucus. Formed last year by GOP Assemblymember Ed Ra, the state’s Future Caucus modeled itself after California’s and Texas’ Future Caucuses to increase bipartisanship on issues that would affect future generations. “In a world where you have many, many people whose job it is to raise the temperature, having an organization where we can maybe lower it and focus on the policy itself is useful,” Assemblymember Alex Bores explained, who is the Democratic Co-Chair of the Future Caucus. “[People] like to see Republicans and Democrats put the partisan garbage behind them a lot of times and find solutions,” said Assemblymember Matt Slater, who is a member of the Future Cacus.

Lawmakers Address Encampment at Columbia University

With the ongoing pro-Palestine encampment at Columbia University, Senate GOP lawmakers send a letter to Hochul urging her to deploy the National Guard and join the call for the resignation of Columbia University President Minouche Shafik. The letter comes after weeks of pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University, neighboring campuses, and other universities across the US, such as Yale, USC, UTC-Austin, and Emerson College. SeveralDemocratic lawmakers have opposed the calls for President Shafik to resign.

Many lawmakers, including Assemblymember Alex Bores and Assembly Higher Education Chair Pat Fahy, explained that protests are part of the First Amendment but condemned instances of antisemitism. “Students of all backgrounds and beliefs have a right under that same Constitution to live without fear for their safety, to peacefully protest, and to free speech — but not to discriminate, endanger, or spew hate speech toward their fellow students,” Fahy explained. Hochul has committed to protecting Jewish students at Columbia University and visited the campus on Monday to talk with city lawmakers, NYPD, and President Shafik.

Heastie Joins Local Lawmakers to Announce State Funding to Close a Landfill In New Lebanon

Earlier this week, Speaker Heastie joined Assemblymember Didi Barrett and Senator Michelle Hinchey to announce that the enacted 2025 Budget has allocated $2 million to cap a landfill in New Lebanon. For decades, the landfill has violated state standards against uncapped landfills and contaminated the surrounding area. However, the town has been financially unable to cap the landfill as the town only has a $2.5 million annual budget. Barrett and Hinchey have strongly advocated for the state allocation to cap the landfill as an environmental and public hazard issue since a local school is thought to be contained by the landfill. “While the town has been on a waiting list for funding, the presence of PFAS and other harmful pollutants made it clear that this site needed to be remediated as soon as possible,” Barrett explained.

Heat Act Not Ruled Out This Year

On Wednesday, Speaker Carl Heastie indicated that the Heat Act, which failed to be included in the enacted 2025 Budget, might pass before the session ends on June 6th. “There was an agreement between the governor, the Senate, and the Assembly that we would keep talking, and hopefully, we can come to an agreement by the end of the session,” Heastie explained. The bill has garnered support from various lawmakers and advocacy groups, with Hochul including several provisions of the bill in her Executive Budget and the Senate passing the bill several times. The bill would cap utility bills for low-income New Yorkers and require utility ratepayers to subsidize gas hookup installations within 100 feet of a home or business. The Assembly sponsor of the bill, Pat Fahy, has reiterated her commitment to passing the Heat Act in the Assembly, “I look forward to working with my Assembly colleagues to ensure that we pass the NY HEAT Act prior to the end of the legislative session in June.”

PRIMARY & ELECTION UPDATES

Gianaris Endorses Claire Valdez

Earlier this week, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris formally endorsedClaire Valdez’s bid to run for Assemblymember Juan Ardila’s seat. Other than Valdez, Johanna Carmona is also running for the Democratic nomination. Carmona worked for Assemblymember Cathy Nolan before she retired and has endorsed Carmona. Although Ardila was able to secure the Democratic nomination and Carmona finished third in the 2022 race, Carmona has been endorsed by various lawmakers, including Assemblymembers David Weprin and Andrew Hevesi, Senator John Liu, and Representative Gregory Meeks. Valdez, a prominent union organizer, has also garnered many endorsements including lawmakers that previously endorsed Ardila, the Working Families Party, DSA, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, and Senator Kristen Gonzalez.

Tuesday Special Election to Replace Representative Brian Higgins

On Tuesday, a special election to replace Democratic Representative Brian Higgins will take place in parts of Niagara and Erie counties, with early voting already underway since Saturday. Gary Dickson, West Seneca Town Supervisor, is running on the Republican and Conservative Party lines, while Senator Tim Kennedy is running on the Democrat and Working Families Party lines. Both candidates said they are frustrated with the current climate in Congress and will advocate bringing resources to the district if elected. Dickson explains that he is running on controlling federal spending and lowering taxes, while Kennedy explains that he is running on protecting reproductive rights and “kitchen table issues.”

George Santos Suspends Campaign

On Tuesday, George Santos announced he is withdrawing his independent run to challenge GOP Representative Nick LaLota. “I don’t want my run to be portrayed as a reprisal against Nick Lalota” and “I don’t want to split the ticket and be responsible for handing the House to [the] Dems,” Santos explained but criticized LaLota for his “abysmal record.” Santos’ original decision to challenge LaLota came after a House Ethics Committee report found “substantial evidence” of Santos committing criminal wrongdoings and a 23 federal counts superseding indictment. However, Santos did not commit to not running for Congress in the future, saying, “I have made the decision to hang it up here and stop [pursuing] this race, THIS YEAR!”

OTHER UPDATES

NYC Executive Budget

On Wednesday, Mayor Eric Adams unveiled his proposed $111.6 billion budget plan for NYC, which is more than $2.2 billion higher than the preliminary budget plan he introduced in January. Adams explained that the city had experienced better-than-expected tax revenues, with an additional $619 million in the current budget and up to $1.7 billion next year. Adams added that his previous savings under PEGs contributed to a higher budget plan for next year. Adams’ budget proposal would permanently fund the CityFHEPS housing voucher program, give an additional $500 million for some pre-K programs, and restore NYPD, FDNY, and DSNY budget cuts.

However, the proposed budget plan did not restore cuts to the city’s library systems, and many city lawmakers criticized Adams for not fully funding pre-K programs. “The Mayor’s Executive Budget begins to reverse a fraction of previous harmful cuts, but significant work remains,” NYC Speaker Adrienne Adams and Council Finance Chair Justin Brannan explained. The State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli also criticized the proposed budget for not adding to the city’s rainy-day reserves, explaining that it “underlines the lack of a systematic process to buffer against future uncertainty.”