Friday Morning Brief May 10, 2024

May 9

Written By Michael Avella

Member Spotlight

Toby Ann Stavisky

Senator Toby Ann Stavisky joined us to discuss her Queens-based district, priorities, and experiences in the Senate. Before becoming the first woman from Queens to be elected to the Senate, she was a social studies teacher in NYC public schools and an active education advocate. As a Senator, she has continued advocating for K-12 education and higher education institutions. She currently Chairs the Senate Committee on Higher Education and serves as a Vice Chairwoman of the Democratic Majority Conference. She also serves as a member of various other committees, such as on Education, Finance, and Racing, Gaming & Wagering.

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 11th Senate District in Queens County. It’s a very diverse district. I have constituents who live in the northwestern part of Queens all the way to the Nassau County line. It includes the neighborhoods of Astoria, College Point, Whitestone, Bay Terrance, Douglaston, Little Neck, North Shore Towers, Glen Oaks, Queens Village, Bellerose, Jamacia, Holliswood, and Jamaica Estates. My district touches upon so many different communities.

What was your profession before becoming a legislator?
I worked for a few years in the actuarial department of an insurance company. I left to teach high school social studies and taught for about six and a half years. I got married, moved to Queens, and taught at Brooklyn Tech and Thomas Edison.

What inspired you to run for office?
Shortly after we got married, local activists approached Leonard to run for the Assembly. He did and was elected. In 1983, he was elected to the Senate and served in the Senate until June 1999, when he passed away. I had been involved in the community and a number of elected officials contacted me and asked me to run for his seat. For example, the Borough President of Queens, Claire Shulman, urged me to run. No one ever said “no” to Claire.

Any fond memories from your time as a social studies teacher?
Yes, definitely. I and four or five other social studies teachers donated money and rented a bus to take our students to Washington, DC, for the day. It was a great experience for our students walking to the Hill and seeing the Capital in the distance, where all the laws are made. It gave all the students a positive attitude toward government.

Any favorite NY sports team? Or any activities?
I used to be a tennis player in high school, and that was fun. I continued playing tennis in college, as well. I also became a tennis counselor at summer camps and enjoyed teaching tennis to the campers.

What about food? What’s your favorite food?
Unfortunately, yes. I like almost everything. But there’s nothing like chocolate – it has all the food groups as far as I’m concerned.

Do you have favorite restaurants in your district?
You will never be hungry in Queens. My old district had great restaurants. I’m still exploring the new restaurants in my new district. But I do love this bagel place called Utopia Bagels. They have great bagels, and the line is always out the door. In Bay Terrance, there is a really good deli called Ben’s Kosher Deli. There’s also a good restaurant down the block from where I live called Cascarino’s. Overall, there are so many great restaurants in Queens, whether it be Greek food or Italian or Caribbean food. In May, there is Queens’ Day, when all the restaurants from Queens visit Albany and serve delicious food. I encourage everyone to come.

As the Senate Chair of Higher Education, what issues are you focusing on this year?
It’s all about the Budget. We are also working to ensure that all our higher education institutions receive the funding they need. There are several aspects, one being operating aid and the second being capital funding. Higher education has a lot of buildings, 64 campuses at SUNY and 30 or so at CUNY, and many are crumbling. We hear horror stories, and we’ve got to restore the cuts to the capital program, and we should be adding some new buildings. However, as far as I’m concerned, the most important aspect is the students, and we’ve got to make tuition affordable for all students by increasing the minimum and maximum TAP awards. Middle-class students have trouble getting TAP awards because the income eligibility hasn’t changed in over 20 years. Currently, families making less than $80,000 are eligible for TAP. So, our Senate One-House Budget increases it to $125,000 a year, increasing access to TAP for many middle-class families. To me, this is crucial. I’ve been working with my Assembly counterpart, Assemblymember Pat Fahy, and we have been working hard to make this happen.

What are the top priorities in your district in particular?
I think all district needs are really the same throughout the state. We have to make sure that our economy recovers from the pandemic, ensure well-paying jobs, and contain inflation. Affordability is a big issue. Families want affordable housing and good-paying jobs, allowing them to contribute to their local economy, which in turn will support the wider state economy.

What is your proudest legislative achievement?
My proudest achievement is that when my party took control of the Senate on January 1st, 2019, we increased state support for our public colleges and universities. In the past, public colleges and universities increased student tuition because state support was dwindling, and the financial burden fell on the students. By increasing state support, we have alleviated some of the burdens on our students and families.

What advice would you give to young folks, especially young women, who want to get into politics?
I would suggest that if you are in college or even high school, get involved in various activities, whether clubs, student government, or internships. We have college internships in Albany. We have the Senate Fellow Program and internships in both chambers. If you are out of school and live in New York City, join local community boards or civic associations.

Any last comments you want to mention?
The Senate is an institution where we respect and work with each other. Whether we are Republicans or Democrats, we are all working together to improve our state and our communities. All of us want to make sure that we can help our constituents and that all of our constituents’ needs are met as best as we can.

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!

Judge Removes Equal Rights Amendment from the Ballot

On Tuesday, a Supreme Court judge in upstate Livingston County struck the state’s Equal Rights Amendment off the ballot for November, ruling it unconstitutional. The lawsuit, led by GOP Assemblymember Marjorie Byrnes, argued that the Legislature failed to abide by the necessary procedure for the amendment to be on the November ballot. The judge ruled in favor of Byrnes, explaining that lawmakers introduced and passed the amendment in 2022 before the Attorney General rendered an opinion on the amendment, as Article 19 of the state constitution requires. Although the attorneys representing the Legislature argue AG Letitia James rendered an opinion five days after lawmakers approved the amendment and that the Majority Conferences substantially complied with the constitutional requirement, the judge explained, “Substantial’ compliance is not compliance, and this Court cannot condone actions taken by the Legislature.”

The state’s ERA ballot proposal, which was first approved in a 2022 special session a week after the Dobbs ruling, would have amended the state constitution by codifying abortion rights and prohibiting discrimination based on a person’s ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes. However, GOP lawmakers argue that the ballot proposal was a political move, with the state GOP Chair Ed Cox explaining that it “falsely asserted this amendment was necessary to protect abortion rights in the state.” Just a day before the ruling, GOP lawmakers, alongside Lee Zeldin, also argued that the amendment would threaten women’s sports teams.

However, Hochul and James vowed to appeal, with James explaining, “This is a disappointing court decision, but we will appeal because New Yorkers deserve to be protected by their Constitution, especially as our basic freedoms and rights are under attack.” In a statement, Hochul also added, “Our decades-long fight to protect equality and reproductive freedom will not be thrown off track by one extremist judge, and I look forward to casting my ballot for the Equal Rights Amendment in November.”

EXECUTIVE UPDATES

On Friday, Hochul announced $15 million in funding to support the $500 million expansion plan of D&A client Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Pancreatic Cancer Center. The funding will help create 25 new direct jobs at the Pancreatic Cancer Center, support scientists at CSHL, and generate two to four new spin-off companies per year to stimulate economic growth in the region. The recent $15 million funding builds upon the state's previous $55 million investments, reiterating Hochul’s commitment to advancing the state’s biomedical research and development industries. “We are making important investments to ensure New York is on the cutting edge of biomedical research, creating new jobs, and ensuring we remain competitive in the 21st century economy,” Hochul explained.

*Governor Hochul is joined by ESD Chair Kevin Law, Chair of CSHL Board of Trustees Marilyn Simons & CSHL President* *Bruce Stillman*

On Monday, Hochul announced that Center City Courtyard in downtown Rochester has started constructing a 164-unit affordable housing apartment complex. The 164-unit apartment complex will include 95 units for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness and an on-site supportive service. The apartment complex will also be prioritized for households earning or below 80% of the Area Median Income. Administered by the state Homes and Community Renewal, the construction is part of Hochul’s $25 billion Housing Plan, which aims to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes and increase the state’s housing supply. “I am committed to increasing the housing supply to ensure that all New Yorkers have a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home,” Hochul said.

On Tuesday, in honor of police officers across the state, Hochul attended a ceremony for the 68 police officers who had fallen in the line of duty. Notably, this year is the first time that names of fire marshals from the FDNY have been added to the memorial, as state law defines FDNY fire marshals as police officers. The memorial now include the names of 1,840 police officers from 152 agencies across the state, and six federal agencies. Additionally, Hochul issued a proclamation designating May 7th as Police Memorial Day. “We honor 68 police officers who paid the ultimate price to keep us safe. Our hearts are with their loved ones as we remember them and their unwavering commitment to serve the State of New York,” Hochul said.

Earlier this week, Hochul launched the first-in-the-nation voluntary climate action pilot program for hospitals. The pilot program aims to improve worker health and safety while simultaneously addressing climate change impacts by providing $1 million in premium credits to the state Insurance Fund-insured hospitals. NYSIF’s hospital policyholders can get an upfront credit of 5% on their workers’ compensation premium after pledging to develop a climate action plan to monitor, report, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and improve their resilience to adverse climate events. The program supports Hochul’s commitment to helping the state transition into a renewable green economy and builds upon the environmental investment in the 2025 Enacted Budget. “This pilot program will incentivize hospitals to reduce their environmental impact and create a safer and healthier New York,” Hochul explained.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Next week, the Legislature is scheduled to be in session Monday to Thursday
Four weeks of session remain until the Legislature adjourns on June 6th

Senator Cooney Appointed as Chair of Transportation

On Tuesday, Senator Jeremy Cooney was appointed the Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, succeeding Tim Kennedy, who was sworn in as a Congressman earlier this week. Cooney has served as a member of the Transportation Committee since taking office in 2021. Cooney also serves as Chair of the Senate Committees on Cannabis, as well as on Procurement and Contracts.

Senate Passes Environmental Legislative Package

This week, the Senate passed an environmental legislative package in honor of Earth Week. This year’s environmental legislative package, which includes setting standards and limits for emissions, builds upon last year’s environmental legislative package. “As climate change and human impacts on the environment have intensified in recent years, it is imperative that we stay united in our efforts to protect and preserve our state’s natural resources,” Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins explained. Some notable bills in the legislative package include:

Clean Fuel Oil in Powering State Buildings: would prohibit state-owned buildings from being powered by grade 4 heating oil.
Climate Change Superfund: would require companies that have contributed to the buildup of greenhouse gases to invest back in the state’s infrastructure to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Renewable Energy Cell Towers: would require telephone companies and third-party providers to have plans for cell towers to transition into using renewable energy resources.
Prohibit Oil & Gas Production on Protected Lands: would prohibit state forests, reforestation areas, wildlife management areas to be lease for oil and gas production.

MWBE Advocacy Day

On Monday, Senator James Sanders Jr and Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn hosted the annual Minority and Women Owned Business-Enterprise Advocacy Day. Lawmakers, business leaders, and community organizations rallied to urge the Legislature to expand the Article 15-A MWBE program. Advocates for the expansion of the MWBE program explain that although the MWBE program is an important tool for economic equity, more bills need to be enacted to increase the program’s participation rate. “We literally get 5%, 10% participation in a lot of these projects. We want to break those barriers,” Bichotte Hermelyn explained.

Myrie Officially Exploring NYC Mayoral Bid

On Wednesday, Senator Zellnor Myrie announced his exploratory committee to challenge Eric Adams for NYC mayor in next year’s Democratic primary. Myrie’s announcement comes after Adams faces record-low polling numbers and a federal investigation into his campaign fundraising. “All across the city, New Yorkers tell me the same thing: [Adams’] administration isn’t working for them,” Myrie explained his reasoning for launching the exploratory committee. Senator Liz Krueger has already indicated her support for Myrie, explaining, “I will happily go on record. I want a different Mayor for New York City. Desperately. One who has competence and actually understands the job.” Aside from Myrie, former NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer also has an exploratory committee to challenge Adams.

GOP Lawmakers Urge More Action on Antisemitism

Earlier this week, GOP lawmakers held a press rally in the Capital in support of a bill that would deny state TAP awards to any student who has engaged in antisemitic actions to incite a crime. The bill and rally come amidst a series of student protests across campuses across the state and nation, with the recent police crackdown on student protest at Columbia University gaining media attention. “[TAP] is taxpayer funded tutition assistance and we need to take it away from these students right now,” Senate sponsor Bill Weber explained. GOP lawmakers have been urging for more actions to dissuade future student protests and tackle antisemitism, with various lawmakers visiting Columbia University last Friday to urge the Legislature to pass a GOP-led legislative package that would curb antisemitism.

Lawmakers Rally for AANHPI Curriculum

On Wednesday, Assemblymember Grace Lee and Senators Iwen Chu and John Liu rallied with advocates to urge the Legislature to pass the AANHPI Curriculum bill, requiring K-12 schools to include Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history in history or social studies curriculum. “Teaching AANHPI history will empower students to learn about the contributions, struggles, & triumphs of AANHPI communities, fostering greater empathy & inclusivity in NY,” Lee, the Assembly sponsor, explained. Although the bill was passed in the Senate last year, it died in the Assembly. However, the bill is expected to build up more support this month, with May being the AANHIPI Month. The rally for the bill also came the day before the inaugural AAPI Summit in the Capital.

Celebrities Advocate With Lawmakers

Once again, celebrities visited the Capitol this week. Rosario Dawson, John Carroll Lynch, and Samantha Mathis joined lawmakers on Tuesday to advocate for bills that would regulate the use of artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry. The three bills are the following:

Legal Representations During Negotiations: would require employers to provide legal representation for employees when negotiating contracts involving digital replications.
AI & Film Tax Credit: would exclude productions using AI from getting the state’s film tax credit.
Disclosing the Use of AI: would require advertisers to disclose the use of AI in their production.

In addition to the three bills, Rosario Dawson was also advocating with lawmakers for the Fashion Act, which would require fashion retailers to disclose their supply chain and its impact on the environment publicly.

Former Yankees first baseman Tino Martinez and former Giants wide receiver David Tyree also visited the Capital this Tuesday to advocate for a bill that would expand fantasy sports wagering to allow bets on the individual outcome of an athlete’s performance. Advocates argue that the bill would generate $150 million more in tax revenue.

PRIMARY & ELECTION UPDATES

Assemblymembers Kim & Rozic Advise Their District of Protecting Against Voter Fraud

Late last week, Assemblymembers Nily Rozic and Ron Kim held a press conference in Kim’s Flushing District Office to address concerns of mail-in ballot theft, voter suppression, and voter fraud in Queens ahead of the June primary. The Assemblymembers advised voters on precautionary measures, such as designating trusted individuals to manage their mail-in ballots and avoiding any compensation for voting assistance. The concerns of voter fraud came after Queens DA Melinda Katz announced that a Queens man was indicted in December for submitting falsified absentee ballot applications for the 2022 August Democratic primary. “There is a very disturbing trend in my district of outside actors looking to influence our free and fair elections,” Kim explained.

OTHER UPDATES

NYC Executive Budget Hearings

This week, NYC Executive Budget Hearings commenced with the NYC DHS and HRA testifying to the City Council on Monday. On Tuesday, the City Council heard testimony from the NYC Housing Authority and from NYC DOT on Wednesday. Yesterday, City Councilmembers heard testimony from the NYPD. The Executive Budget Hearings are the second round of oversight hearings on Mayor Adams’ $112 billion Budget plan, with the Preliminary Budget Hearings earlier this year as the first round. The beginning of the second round of hearings comes amidst a request by Mayor Adams to Council Speaker Adrienne Adams to open an ethics investigation into Councilmember Lincoln Restler for “[defaming] and [harassing] city employees.” The City Council has also openly criticized Mayor Adams’ proposed budget cuts. The hearings will continue until May 22nd as Speaker Adams and Mayor Adams negotiate a Final Budget before the deadline of July 1st.

NYC DOI Investigates NYPD Over Social Media Use

On Wednesday, the New York City Department of Investigation launched an investigative probe into allegations that the NYPD violated state laws by using its official social media accounts to improperly and politically target city lawmakers and private citizens. The investigation began after City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams sent a letter to the DOI highlighting how some of the leaders of the NYPD used Twitter to target critics. The investigation will also examine how the NYPD responded to student campuses last week. Although the NYPD did not publicly comment on the investigation, the NYPD previously said in February, “We want to go on social media and push back on the misinformation that’s out there.”

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