Friday Morning Brief August 18, 2023

Aug 17

Hochul and Adams Call for More Federal Aid in Asylum-Seekers Crisis

Nearly 100,000 asylum-seekers have arrived in NYC since the spring of 2022, including more than 57,000 that have stayed in city homeless shelters. With a rising estimated cost of $12 billion by the summer of 2025 and with the city unable to shelter all incoming asylum-seekers, scenes of them sleeping outside the Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown prompted a State Supreme Court Judge to order the city to identify “the resources and facilities owned, operated and/or controlled by the state.”

Last Wednesday, Mayor Eric Adams laid out his request for the state in a letter, including covering two-thirds of the cost of sheltering the asylum-seekers and a list of state-owned properties and resources for a statewide resettlement plan. With a court order to respond, attorneys representing Governor Hochul sent a letter this Wednesday to the court reiterating the state’s commitment to supporting NYC with the asylum-seekers crisis, including $250 million in funds to the city from the $1 billion funding for the city from the 2024 Budget and listed several state-owned locations to house the asylum-seekers.

At the same time, Hochul met with Tom Perez, Senior Advisor and Assistant to President Biden, to ask for additional federal aid, expedited work authorization for asylum-seekers and federally owned land to house the migrants. Hochul explained that she’s expecting an answer in the “next week or so,” and “I believe it’s going to happen,” as discussions regarding utilizing Floyd Bennett Field - a former naval air station - has been ongoing with federal representatives. “We are pushing hard for Floyd Bennet Field,” explains Hochul. This comes as Adams rallied on Tuesday with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and members of the Hotel Trades Council for more federal aid and expedition of work authorization for asylum-seekers. “This is the greatest challenge our city has faced in decades. We’ve got to get it right,” explains Adams.

EXECUTIVE UPDATES

Last week, Hochul publically announced a statewide campaign to raise awareness about state-funded critical services available for victims, survivors, and their families in the aftermath of crime. Starting on August 7th, the 12-week campaign aims to support traditionally underserved communities experiencing increased reported crimes, especially hate crimes against Black, Asian, Jewish, and LGBTQIA+ communities. “There are myriad resources available in the event an individual who lives, works or visits our state becomes a victim of crime, but those services don’t matter if individuals and families don’t know they exist or have roadblocks to accessing them,” explained Hochul.

On August 8th, Hochul announced that AMD, a California-based semiconductors manufacturer, established a fully operational research and design facility in Monroe County and the Westgate Business Park in the Village of Fishkill in Dutchess County. The new facilities will focus on designing and validating mixed-signal integrated circuits and packaging for new processors. It is expected that 165 new jobs will be created by 2025. The recent AMD establishment supports Hochul's 2023 State of the State's key priority to expand the state's semiconductor industry and builds upon the recent creation of GO SEMI: the Governor’s Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management, and Integration.

Through the state’s Smart Street Lighting NY program, Hochul announced that the state had achieved its goal of replacing 500,000 streetlights with energy-efficient SMART LED fixtures, three years ahead of the scheduled goal of the end of 2025. The program directly supports the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act through the increased use of energy efficiency by participating municipalities to reduce their electricity demand by three percent by 2025 annually. “New York is making incredible progress towards our climate agenda every day,” explains Hochul.

After last month's flooding in Hudson Valley, North Country, and Finger Lakes Regions, Hochul launched a $3 million emergency flood assistance program for low and moderate-income homeowners. This comes in addition to last month's $3 million assistance in support of homeowners affected by the flood. The funds will provide emergency repair grants of up to $50,000 for homeowners who suffered damage to their primary residence. The funds will also cover the cost of repairing or replacing electrical and plumbing systems, heating systems and appliances, flooring, drywall, insulation, windows, doors, siding, and roofing. For more information on a list of qualified repairs and eligibility criteria, please click here.

Last week, Hochul announced the first statewide cybersecurity strategy to protect the state’s digital infrastructure from increasing cyber threats. The strategy plan establishes a set of high-level objectives for cybersecurity and resilience across New York, agency roles and responsibilities, and outlines existing and planned initiatives. Hochul also reiterated the state’s commitment to providing services, advice, and assistance to county and local governments to help safeguard public and private critical infrastructure, personal information, and digital assets. The new cybersecurity strategy builds upon the $90 million investment for cybersecurity – with $30 million in shared services funding for local governments – in the 2024 Budget. “This strategy sets forth a nation-leading blueprint to ensure New York State stands ready and resilient in the face of cyber threats,” Hochul explained.

On Sunday, Hochul joined the Dominican Day Parade in NYC with the Dominican President Luis Abinader to celebrate the state’s Dominican community and close ties with the Dominican Republic. While highlighting the state’s $1.5 million funding for Dominican Studies Institute at City College, Hochul signed a bill enabling the DMV to reach agreements with governments outside the United States to allow new residents to exchange their valid existing license for a new state driver’s license. Additionally, Banco de Reservas de la Republica Dominicana, Dominican Republic’s largest commercial bank, was approved to open a representative office in Upper Manhattan. “Today and every day, I am so grateful to the Dominican community for their work in making New York State a better place,” said Hochul at the parade.

This week, Hochul announced that the state’s Insurance Fund, the state’s largest workers’ compensation insurer, allocated $585 million last year to employers prioritizing worker safety protocols and exhibiting strong safety records through its dividends and return-of-premium programs. The state’s Insurance Fund ensures that small and mid-sized businesses can pool together to reduce workers’ compensation expenses while prioritizing worker safety protocols.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Speaker Heastie Still Says No Special Session This Year

Amidst speculation about a special session this fall, Speaker Carl Heastie said that a special session will not take place this year. This comes after a judge temporarily halted the issuance of new marijuana licenses to new dispensaries (which you can read more about down below), leading the Cannabis Association of New York to ask Hochul to reconvene a special legislative session to codify the regulations into statutes. However, Heastie has said it’s unlikely, explaining that it’s “always difficult when there’s a pending court case to ask the Legislature to fix something…When you don’t know what the resulting decision won’t be by the courts.” Previously, observers expected a special session on the renewal of the Seneca Gaming Compact before it expires on December 9th or on affordable housing. The renewal of a Seneca Gaming Compact was tabled in the Assembly and both houses of the Legislature failed to reach an agreement with Hochul on Housing. However, Heastie also declined to confirm any indications of a special session earlier this month.

Prevailing Wage for Construction Workers Signed Into Law

On Tuesday, Hochul signed a bi-partisan bill mandating utility company contractors and subcontractors to pay prevailing wages for construction workers in excavation or street opening projects. The “Roadway Excavation Quality Assurance Act” aims to strengthen construction projects in local communities and ensure reliable utility services for ratepayers. “The workers who maintain and improve our infrastructure are vital to our communities and deserve a prevailing wage. It’s good for these skilled workers and local economies across New York,” Senate sponsor Michael Gianaris explained. The Assembly sponsor, Karina Reyes, added that bill ensures “that roadway workers will receive the prevailing wage for their services and ensure that workers are paid commensurately for the vital skills that they deploy.”

Local GOP Club to Host Assembly District 27 Special Election Debate

Ahead of the September 12 special election for Assembly District 27, Central Queens Republican Club is hosting a debate for the candidates. However, the Democrat nominee, Sam Berger, hasn’t accepted the invitation, explaining that the event is asking attendees to donate $5 to the Central Queens Republican Club and taking place a mile and a half outside the district. However, the Central Queens Republican Club explains that the debate is being moderated by a neutral reporter and tried to coordinate with Democratic clubs. The Republican nominee, David Hirsch, will still attend the debate.

Lawmakers Urge for Taxi Cab Driver Congestion Pricing Exemptions

On Tuesday, more than a dozen members of the Legislature, along with ten other NYC Councilmembers, sent a letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board urging traditional green and yellow cabs to be exempted from the upcoming congestion pricing plan in downtown Manhattan. “We cannot allow [congestion pricing] to occur on the backs of drivers who not only provide an essential service to this city but are part of the vulnerable working-class and immigrant communities that congestion pricing stands to serve,” the letter states. This comes a month after the Traffic Mobility Review Board held its first public meeting, where members discussed various requests for exemptions, including exemptions for Staten Islanders and essential workers. The Board also reconvened yesterday to discuss possible exemptions further.

Lawmakers Urge Hochul to Sign the "Save the Hudson" Bill

Senator Pete Harckham, Senator Shelley Mayer, and Assemblymember Dana Levenberg joined a rally in White Plains on Tuesday to urge Hochul to sign the “Save the Hudson” bill. Lawmakers passed the bill in June to prohibit the former Indian Point nuclear plant from dumping wastewater into the Hudson. “We have spent decades cleaning up the Hudson, and now the river is, once again, a major economic driver for the region and the state as a whole,” said Harckham. This comes a week after Westchester’s Assemblymembers signed a letter to Hochul urging her to sign the bill. Opponents of the bill argue that federal regulations are effective enough to protect the Hudson River from wastewater dumps and further prohibition by the state would lead to the loss of union jobs. It remains to be seen if Hochul will sign the bill.

Local Activists File to Run for Ardlla's Seat

Two local DSA members and activists, Hailie Kim and Claire Valdez, recently filed campaigns for Assemblymember Juan Ardila’s seat. Kim declined to announce her campaign publicly and said, “I can say that I’ve been hearing neighbors asking me to run, and I have been taking their requests very seriously.” Currently a public educator who immigrated to Queens from South Korea, she has indicated that housing is a significant issue for her potential campaign, stating, “As a housing organizer, I have the experience necessary to be able to work on that issue.” Kim previously ran for NYC Council District 26 earlier this year. Valdez, also a local activist and member of the Queens DSA, declined to comment on her recent campaign filing. If Valdez and Kim announce their campaigns, they will be joining the race with Émilia Decaudin, the first openly transgender state party official and another Queens DSA member, who formally launched her campaign last month.

OTHER UDPATES

Trump Indicted in Georgia for Election Interference

On Monday, Donald Trump and 18 other associates were indicted by Fulton County Georgia District Attorney Fanis Willis for attempting to interfere in Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. “Trump and the other Defendants charged in this Indictment refused to accept that Trump lost, and they knowingly and willfully joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump,” the indictment states. Under this new indictment, Trump faces 13 felony counts:

One count of violating Georgia’s RICO Act.
Six counts of conspiring to falsify and file false official statements and writings.
Three counts of soliciting the “violation of oath” by a public officer.
Two counts of conspiring to commit first-degree forgery.
One count of conspiring to impersonate a public officer or employee.

With these new additional charges, Trump now faces a total of 91 felony counts, with 34 felony counts in the state in relation to hush money payments during his 2016 presidential election, 40 felony counts in Florida for keeping classified documents and impeding efforts to retrieve them, and four federal felony charges for his actions to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and subsequent January 6 Capital Riots. Trump is required to surrender in Georgia by noon on August 25th.

Federal Prosecutor Investigating Hunter Biden Given Special Counsel Status

Last week, Attorney General Merrick Garland granted special counsel status to David Weiss, the federal prosecutor investigating Hunter Biden, giving him broader powers to investigate and bring charges. This comes as Weiss filed court papers to bring Hunter Biden’s federal tax charges out of Delaware. A month ago, prosecutors and Biden’s lawyers publicly indicated that they had reached a plea deal, but it collapsed after a federal judge declined to approve it. “The parties are at an impasse and are not in agreement on either a plea agreement or a diversion agreement,” Weiss wrote in a court filing. The proceedings are currently moving forward.

Court Orders Temporary Halt on State's CAURD Licenses & Dispensaries

On Monday, a state Supreme Court Judge ordered the Office of Cannabis Management and Cannabis Control Board to temporarily halt the issuance of new CAURD licenses and approval of any new dispensaries. This comes after four veterans and medical marijuana companies filed a lawsuit claiming that the CAURD program violated the Legislature’s 2021 mandate for everyone to be able to apply for licenses simultaneously. Assistant Attorney General Shannan Krasnokutski explained that the CAURD program was supported by the Legislature as the two amendments to the 2021 marijuana law that established the CAURD program were approved by the Legislature in 2022. The next court date regarding the CAURD licenses is set for August 25th.

NYC Blocked From Switching Healthcare Plan for Municipal Retirees

Last week, a state Supreme Court Judge blocked NYC from switching its municipal retiree’s healthcare plan to a Medicaid Advantage plan, receiving bi-partisan praise from various Councilmembers. This comes after months of legal and political pushback from retirees as Mayor Adams signed a contract with Aetna earlier this year for a Medicare Advantage plan that he said would save NYC $600 million a year on retiree health care costs. Under the traditional retiree plan, retirees are automatically enrolled in traditional Medicare with NYC fully subsidizing supplemental senior coverage plan. Medical advantage plans would have enabled federally-contracted private companies to offer healthcare plans without any subsidization from the city. A spokesperson for the Adams administration said that the city plans to appeal the decision.

George Santos' Fundraiser Indicted

On Wednesday, Samuel Miele, a fundraiser for Representative George Santos, was indicted on federal charges for allegedly impersonating Speaker McCarthy’s chief of staff, Dan Meyer, while soliciting donations for Santo’s 2020 and 2022 campaigns. Miele was charged with four counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. This comes three months after Santos was federally indicted in Brooklyn for fraud, theft, money laundering, and making false statements.

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight

Senator Monica Martinez

For today's Member Highlight, Senator Monica Martinez agreed to answer questions about herself and her experiences during this year's legislative session. From Long Island, Senator Martinez currently serves as the Chair of Local Government where she oversees legislation regarding local governments across the state.

What was your career before becoming a legislator? Do you miss your job before becoming a legislator?
Prior to becoming a Suffolk County legislator, I had a fulfilling career in education. I worked as a dedicated educator and administrator, which allowed me to positively impact the lives of countless students. While I truly cherish those memories, I must say serving in my current capacity as a New York State Senator has afforded me a unique opportunity to make a broader difference in the lives of my constituents and New York State.

What area do you represent? Can you describe it for those that have never been there?
I represent the 4th Senate District on Long Island, which includes diverse suburban neighborhoods. The district is culturally rich and vibrant, with a strong sense of community and civic engagement. We have excellent schools, parks, and local businesses, but we also face unique challenges that require careful legislative attention.

What is/is your greatest/proudest legislative achievement(s) this year?
Passing a budget which fully funds our schools for the first time since foundation aid was implemented more than 15 years ago. Ensuring our schools are adequately funded, we are breaking down barriers and leveling the playing field for all students. No longer will a student's zip code or family's financial situation determine the quality of education they receive. Instead, we are fostering an environment of equitable learning and opening doors of opportunity for every child.

What was the most challenging piece of legislation/policy that you worked on this year?
Improving school security by enhancing the training our school security officers are required to undergo. Securing the safety of our children is a priority of mine. Another top priority of mine has always been water quality on Long Island and ensuring residents have access to high quality water. This is why I advocated to include a referendum in this year's state budget for Suffolk County to vote on a mechanism to fund water infrastructure including updated sewers and septic systems. Unfortunately due to partisanship, the Republican-controlled Suffolk County legislature did not give residents the opportunity to vote on this measure.

What are your priorities/goals for next year?
Looking ahead, my priorities for next year involve continuing our commitment to fully fund our schools, advocating for affordable workforce housing initiatives, and ensuring our communities are safe for our children and residents.

Do you have a favorite colleague that you love to work with?
I enjoy working with all of my colleagues as each one is unique in their own way. We may not always agree, but we respect one another and have thought provoking conversations.

What advice would you give to young folks getting into politics?
Don’t let politics discourage you. People look to elected officials who put politics aside and work across the aisle to get things done. Becoming involved in government should be because you want to positively effectuate change in people’s lives and the communities they live in. Today’s youth will be our future leaders and thus it is our duty to set the right example.

Any favorite/go-to spot for bites in Albany?
I tend to visit restaurants on the outskirts of the Capital and some of my favorite restaurants are Grappa ‘72 Ristorante and TORO Cantina.

What is your office focusing on during the summer?
During the summer, my district office will be focused on engaging with the community through neighborhood events, and distributing grants to our schools, libraries and community based organizations.

Any last comments you want to mention?
Overall, this Legislative session was productive and returning to the Senate has been quite fulfilling as we have helped countless individuals throughout the State particularly, the 4th Senate District.