Friday Morning Brief April 5, 2024

Apr 4

Written By Michael Avella

Member Spotlight

Senator Neil Breslin

Senator Neil Breslin joined us to discuss his Senate district in the Capital Region and his over 25 years of experience in the Senate. Before being elected to the Senate in 1996, he was an attorney and heavily involved in the Albany community with his civic and social work. He currently Chairs the Senate Committee on Insurance and the Committee on Ethics and Internal Governance. He also serves as a member of various committees, such as on Finance, Rules, and Higher Education. He announced earlier this year that he won’t be running for reelection.

What district do you represent? Can you describe and highlight your district for those who have never been there?
I represent the 46th Senate District, which includes the City of Albany and much of the rest of Albany County—namely, the towns of Guilderland, Knox, Berne, New Scotland, Bethlehem, Rensselaerville, Westerlo, and Coeymans — as well as all of Schenectady County except for Niskayuna and the city of Schenectady, in addition to all of Montgomery County. It’s a very diverse district. The Montgomery area is a farming community and is more of a Republican area, but I love working with my constituents there. Albany County is more urban, and I have a strong affinity for the county of Albany; in fact, I used to represent Albany County exclusively before the district maps were changed. My district is a beautiful district and is diverse in so many ways.

What was your profession before becoming a Senator?
I was a lawyer.

Did your legal profession inspire you to run for office?
I think so because one of the benefits of being a lawyer is seeing people in the shadows of their lives. You see people who need help, and that leads you to government and politics, where you can make a difference in people’s lives and make society more equal and fairer.

What kind of music do you like to listen to? Any favorite genres or artists?
I have always been a jazz fanatic, especially during college. I used to work in Greenwich Village, where there were many jazz spots at that time. I particularly like jazz piano. I love listening to Billy Taylor and Oscar Peterson, especially when he was part of the Oscar Peterson Trio.

Any favorite NY sports team?
To the shock of many, I am an LA Dodgers fan. But my love for the Dodgers originated when they used to be the Brooklyn Dodgers with Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, and Don Newcomb. I’m also a Giants fan because they spent a number of years in Albany practicing when I was very young, and I got to be friends with many of the people involved with the Giants. I also love watching the Buffalo Bills. For basketball, I am a Boston Celtic fan.

What about food?
I don’t necessarily have a single favorite food, but I love fish, lobster, clams, and all kinds of seafood. I also like Italian, Polish, and Pakistani cuisine. I think I’m easy to satisfy.

Are there any favorite restaurants in your district?
The good thing about my district is that it has a lot of different food and cuisines to try. For example, Café Italia is a really fine Italian restaurant. There are also a lot of great Pakistani and Indian restaurants that I love, and I cannot single out.

As the Chair of Insurance, what issues are you focusing on this year?
Most people find the topic of insurance boring, but it’s an important issue that impacts everybody’s lives. When families go back home at night, they might have to add up their costs of homeowners insurance, health insurance, and all kinds of insurance. All these costs can add up to a high percentage of their salary. My job is to ensure that insurance is financially accessible for everyone, and we need to start with healthcare. We must ensure that no one is left behind and that our healthcare is accessible. For Medicaid in particular, my job is to make sure that health insurance is accessible and there’s accessibility when we go to the drug store. Sometimes, it’s a battle between pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy benefit managers, and our job as legislators is to be a referee who ensures it’s an honest process, from making pharmaceuticals to delivering that pharmaceutical drug and guarding against monopolies. I wouldn’t single one piece of legislation out because it’s a constant battle to ensure that health insurance is available to everyone.

What are the top priorities in your district?
Obviously, health insurance. But also ensuring that automobile and property insurance are available in low-income neighborhoods. So, it’s a constant battle with insurance. Remember, insurance companies are private, so their obligation is to make money, and my obligation is to try to make it available for everyone and accessible at a reasonable cost. So, there is a push-pull factor. So, I am always constantly making sure that the delivery of all the different insurance is available and affordable.

What is your proudest achievement throughout your career?
That is a very difficult question. It was wonderful to be a sponsor of marriage equality. I was also at the tail end of some cases that dealt with criminal justice, like bail reform in the last few years. That was a positive step in the right direction for the state because it made our criminal justice system more fair. There’s really no one thing I can point out because, at the end of the day, I want to be able to go home at night and not single out one thing, but if I individually say I’ve made the life of someone better that day or the next week, I’m doing the right thing.

Any memorable moments in your time in the Legislature?
From an excitement point of view, the crowd that was here when we did marriage equality. The sound of the ripple effect of applause that spread well beyond the confines of the chamber was a lasting memory for me and will forever be. The fight for marriage equality was a struggle up until the end of the vote – everyone was worried. Also, back to insurance, I was part of several bills that stopped any kind of monopolistic conduct by drug companies and developers. There are a lot of memorable moments for me, and it’s hard to single out one versus another.

Any big plans after your retirement from the Senate?
My plan is to make sure that I still get up early in the morning and make a difference. There are a lot of non-profits in the area that I think I can help with, and I will make every attempt to help them. There are non-profit homeless shelters or drug rehabilitation centers that I might work with. I’m also a lawyer, so I can add a voice to the legal profession in some respects. I also want to go back to reading. There are many books that I haven’t been able to read over the years because I was so busy. There’s also doing other things like traveling and spending time with my grandchildren.

Any advice for young folks who want to get into politics?
Offer your services to any of your local political organizations. Be involved as much as possible. Work in local political centers, clubs, or non-profits to improve people’s lives. From those experiences, you can choose to run for office. But don’t run for office just because you want to have your picture in the news; run for office because you want to help make people’s lives better. One of the reasons I’m very comfortable leading is that there are a lot of young people at my conference who are actively trying to make people’s lives better. I’m very impressed by them, and I know I am leaving the Senate in the best hands possible. And Andrea Stewart-Cousins is the best leader I’ve seen in my 27-plus years here.

Any last comments?
It’s hard for me to believe I’ve been here for as long as I have. It’s exciting and challenging to work here. But if you do the right things, you can sleep at night and make a difference in people’s lives.

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!

Third Budget Extender Expected Monday

With the first budget extender expiring yesterday, lawmakers passed a second extender through noon on Monday, April 8th. However, as the Leaders of the Legislature and Hochul continue their budget negotiations, with affordable housing, education funding, and Medicaid being the three likely sticking points, negotiations are expected to continue next week. On the negotiations over housing, Speaker Carl Heastie explained, "We might be in the same neighborhood, but I don't know if we are on the same block yet."

With the budget negotiations expected to continue next week, Assemblymembers are rumored to be on track for a return to Albany on Sunday to pass another budget extender. With many Western New York members wanting to be in their districts with their constituents for the total solar eclipse, many expect the Assembly to conference on Monday instead of having their scheduled session. However, the Assembly is still expecting to have their scheduled session on Tuesday and on track for a session on Friday. Meanwhile, the Senate will still have its scheduled session on Monday and Tuesday. "Whether it's Sunday or Monday, we'll be back and continuing to work until the budget is done," Senator Mike Gianaris said.

With many expecting a third budget extender to pass before Monday noon, many GOP lawmakers are criticizing the budget negotiations process. "In passing our second extender of 2024, we face a situation all too familiar in Albany: the state budget is once again well behind schedule with no end in sight. Three Democrats-in-a-room appear to be logjammed in a process that lacks any form of timeliness and transparency," Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay explained yesterday. With the Eid holiday coming up and Passover during the fourth week of April, lawmakers have until April 17th before their two-week break. However, some lawmakers are optimistic, with Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal saying, "It's been moments of hopefulness and then despair, but I trust that we'll get there. Nobody should be in this business if they're not an optimist."

EXECUTIVE UPDATES

On Tuesday, Hochul awarded $8 million to nine housing projects through the $58 million Buildings of Excellence Competition. The Buildings of Excellence Competition seeks to support zero-carbon multifamily buildings in the state by awarding housings that have cost-effective, low-carbon, or carbon-neutral designs that are profitable for developers. In addition to the awards, Hochul announced $2 million for Early Design Support for cost-effective, low-carbon solutions that can be integrated into projects’ design. These awards and funding support the state’s CLCPA goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2050 and build upon Hochul’s 2022 State of the State commitment to build 2 million climate-friendly homes by 2030.

On Wednesday, Hochul announced that the DMV has launched a multi-year project to modernize its technology systems as part of its modernization effort. By contracting with a software company, DMV will modernize its technology systems and service delivery in two stages over the next four years. The DMV also plans to introduce automation to speed up processing times and eliminate some paper forms. “These investments are a major step forward in the DMV’s strategic modernization as we look to create a quicker, easier, and more convenient experience for everyone,” Hochul explained.

This week, Hochul issued a proclamation recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Hochul also announced that the state Office of Prevention of Domestic Violence will host the state Denim Day Exhibit in partnership with the Office of General Services for their Dating in Digital social media campaign. Denim Day is the longest-running sexual violence prevention and education campaign in the world. The state Denim Day Exhibit will be available for viewing in the Empire State Plaza Concourse from April 23 to April 25. “Dating in the Digital” social media campaign will include social media profile filters that people can download and share to show their support for survivors. “As we mark Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, we must continue to support survivors across New York State and encourage them to use their voices to bring these issues to light,” said Hochul.

Earlier this week, Hochul announced the expansion of a senior housing development in Westchester County. The $38 million reconstruction project adds 40 new units to the 30-unit Manhattan Avenue Senior Apartments. The development is transit-oriented, with easy access to bus and train stations and a community space for its residents. The expansion builds upon Hochul’s $25 billion Housing Plan to build or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations. “By supporting the overhaul of this development, my administration is doubling down on its commitment to using every strategy we can to unlock New York’s housing potential and giving all New Yorkers – including our seniors – the homes they deserve,” Hochul said.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Next week, the Legislature is scheduled to be in Session Monday to Tuesday
The Assembly is expected to vote on the Budget Extender on Sunday and in Session on Friday

Lawmakers Rally for MENA Bill in Queens

On Monday, Senator Mike Gianaris and Assemblymembers Jessica González-Rojas and Zohran Mamdani joined local advocacy groups in Queens for a rally to support the MENA bill. The MENA bill would disaggregate Middle Eastern and North African populations from white demographics in state-collected data. Gianaris and González-Rojas explained that they are underrepresented and underserved throughout the state, resulting in businesses and organizations that serve MENA communities having a harder time accessing equity-based aid. “It should be obvious that people from the Middle East or North Africa are not white, yet that is how our laws define them. Our proposal would give better representation and a more powerful voice to so many,” Gianaris explained.

Lawmakers Rally for Criminal Justice Reforms

On Tuesday, lawmakers joined advocates in a rally to push for a package of criminal justice reform bills, including the following:

Connecting Families Act - would make phone calls and other methods of communication in and out of prison free.
End Predatory Court Fees Act - would eliminate court fees, mandatory minimum fines, and prohibit garnishing incarcerated individuals’ commissary accounts.
Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act - would create improved pathways for exoneration.

The bills aim to alleviate the financial burden for individuals and families impacted by the state’s criminal justice system. “We must stop criminalizing poverty in New York State,” Julia Salazar, Senate sponsor of the End Predatory Court Fees Act and Chair of Crime Victims, Crime and Correction explained. Lawmakers also hope that the Budget delays will increase support for the trio of criminal justice reform bills and potentially be added to the Final Budget. “We have the opportunity right now to include all three of these bills in the state budget,” Salazar said.

Lawmakers Support Increasing Penalties for Illegal Dispensaries

Earlier this week, a group of bi-partisan lawmakers held a press conference to promote a bill that would revoke liquor and cigarette licenses of vendors who illegally sell cannabis. The bill comes as lawmakers look for ways to curtail the spread of illegal dispensaries and support legal dispensaries. "This bill will ensure that stores found selling cannabis (illegally) will continue to face the harsh penalty of being shut down,” the Assembly sponsor John Zaccarro explained. “If sellers act irresponsibly or violate the cannabis law, this poses a direct risk to public safety and public health in our communities,” Assemblymember Keith Brown added, one of the GOP co-sponsors. The bill comes as Hochul recently directed the Office of General Services to assess the Office of Cannabis Management and as lawmakers negotiate with Hochul to potentially give authority for local municipalities to further crackdown on illegal dispensaries in the Final Budget.

Lawmakers From Both Sides Rally for Release of Hostages

On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers joined a rally in support of releasing the hostages held by Hamas. Since the October 7th Attack, 134 hostages have not yet been released, with 8 of the hostages being from the US, including 2 from New York. “There should be no political divide in ensuring the safe and immediate return of the 134 hostages who continue to be held against their will and in violation of international law,” Assemblymember Matt Slater explained. “I met with the families whose relatives and friends have been held hostage by Hamas terrorists for 179 days. Six months for this atrocity to continue has been far too long,” Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz added.

Bill to Change Public Matching Campaign Finance Law Re-Introduced

Senate Democrats are supporting a new bill introduced on Wednesday by Senator James Skoufis that would update the state’s public matching campaign finance system. While similar to the bill Hochul vetoed last year, the new bill would not include a provision that the first $250 of contribution in excess to be matched. Skoufis explained that there is “extremely wide and deep support in the majority conference to make these changes.” He also said that many “want this issue to be discussed in the confines of the budget negotiations” but prepared to push the standalone before the end of the session. The bill would change the threshold to qualify for matching funds and take effect after the primaries.

Lawmakers Pushes Support for Short-Term Rental Registry Bill

This week, alongside Assemblymembers Linda Rosenthal and Pat Fahy, Senator Michelle Hinchey held a press conference supporting her bill to establish a Short-Term Rental Registry. The registry would give municipalities the information and revenue to help down-size the short-term rental market in specific communities. In addition to the registry, the bill would also tax short-term rentals statewide. Hinchey and other lawmakers hope the bill would reduce the number of short-term rentals in the state to increase the housing supply. The bill is also being discussed as part of the Budget negotiations between Hochul and leaders of the Legislature. "Across our state, affordable housing is severely scarce [and] in most communities, impossible to find. The surge in STRs has only worsened the crisis, strangling our limited housing supply, driving rents, [and] pricing families out,” Hinchey explained.

PRIMARY & ELECTION UPDATES

New York Presidential Primary

This Tuesday, primary voters cast their ballots for their party’s presidential primary. As expected, President Biden and Donald Trump won their respective party primaries in the state. According to the state’s unofficial preliminary results, Biden won about 91% of the votes, while Trump won about 82%. It is also estimated that about 39,000 were cast for none of the Democratic candidates, resulting in Biden winning 79% of the total votes. On the Republican side, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley garnered about 12%, or over 20,500 votes, highlighting that she still has support from some GOP voters. With the presidential primary completed, the state’s next primary is on June 25th, 2024 for the Senate and Assembly races.

OTHER UPDATES

NYC Council's Response to Eric Adam's Preliminary Budget

This week, the NYC Council released its Preliminary Budget Response to Mayor Eric Adams’s 2025 Budget Proposal. Led by Speaker Adrienne Adams and Finance Chair Justin Brannan, the response identified $6.15 billion in newly available resources to overturn the recent agency budget cuts ordered by Mayor Adams. Under the response, $1.63 billion will be used to restore budget cuts for public schools, libraries, parks, sanitation services, and others while investing $1.32 billion for affordable housing and over $225 million for mental health services. $3 billion would also be used to “protect against risks from underbudgeted costs in the mayor’s proposed budget.” “Throughout this year’s budget process and beyond, the Council will continue to champion the needs of all New Yorkers to chart a path towards stability, health, and success for our city,” Speaker Adams said.

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