Friday Morning Brief May 17, 2024

May 16

Written By Michael Avella

**D&A Partners** **Christina Dickinson** & **Michael Avella** **were again named to the** **Albany Power 100. Congrats to all our friends and clients on the list!!**

Member Spotlight

William Conrad

Assemblyman William Conrad joined us to discuss his Western New York-based Assembly district and his experience and priorities in the Legislature. A lifelong resident of his district, he has been an active advocate for his community, fighting for youth, clean energy and economic development. He currently serves as the Chair of the Assembly Subcommittee on Volunteer Emergency Services and the Subcommittee on Skills Development and Career Education. He is also a member of various committees, such as Education, Energy, and Local Government.

What district do you represent? Can you describe it for those that have never been there and highlight anything of particular interest about your district?
I represent New York's 140th Assembly District. It includes two counties, three cities, a town, and a village. The word I associate most with the 140th is "water," because we're lucky to be surrounded by it. Western New York is on Lake Erie, of course, and my district shares parts of the Niagara River, the Erie Canal, and Ellicott Creek. Ours is a diverse, close-knit community, and it's my lifelong home.

What was your profession before becoming a legislator – did it inspire you to run for office?
Before my election to the Assembly, I taught high school social studies and AP Economics for 20-plus years. I was also a Tonawanda Town Board member. Both inspired my run for office. When an electorate is informed and engaged, and when everyday people are encouraged to pursue leadership roles, there's no limit to what they and their communities can achieve.

What kind of music do you like – any favorite bands/artists?
Lately, I've been listening to a lot of '80s pop.

How about sports - any favorite NY sports team or play any sports?
Of course, the Buffalo Bills are my favorite hometown team. As a student and young adult, I wrestled and played rugby. I later coached both sports and am founder of the youth rugby league in Kenmore. Ask anyone who knows me - I can talk about rugby all day.

Favorite foods? Any favorite places to eat in your district?
My favorite food is chicken wings. The 140th is home to some incredible dining. When you visit, you need to eat at Prescott's Provisions, Remington Tavern and Seafood Exchange, Ristorante Lombardo, Mike & Pop's Bistro and Tavern, and Mojo Market, to name just a few of my top spots.

What do you like to do in your free time? Any favorite activities?
In my free time, I'm with my family. My wife Mary Kate and I have four young children, and each is busy with different activities. So I guess my main leisure activity is playing chauffeur.

What are/is your proudest achievement(s) throughout your legislative career?
In 2022, I was able to secure $5 million in budgetary funding for much-needed repairs to the North Tonawanda Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is a critical piece of infrastructure in our region. It keeps our waterways clean and prevents backups into basements and property damage. The plant had endured years of neglect and was on the brink of collapse, so that was a big victory for us.

What are your top priorities for your district in particular?
My priorities are always the same: public education, infrastructure maintenance, economic development, and workforce retention.

As the Chair of Commission on Skills Development and Career Education, what issues do you see arising during this legislative session?
As Chair, one of my priorities this year is a bill to increase the state's support for CTE teachers' salaries. Right now, school districts are covering the lion's share of those costs, thanks to a decades-old funding formula. I want to encourage more districts to explore career and technical education opportunities for their students without having to worry about the burden on local taxpayers.

Are there any other members that you find yourself working with a lot or enjoy hanging out with in particular?
I love my WNY delegation colleagues. We may have varying priorities and areas of expertise, but we work well together to advance the needs of our region. I love our Tuesday night basketball league. I love my neighbors in the Chamber. Really, I work with so many great people, it's hard to name only a few.

What advice would you give to young folks wanting to get into politics?
Volunteer on a campaign. Just be willing to do the work: walk doors, carry petitions, make phone calls. Learn the history and the relevant topics; consume all kinds of news, taking care to explore every angle of an issue.

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!

Senate to Prioritize Closing the "Weinstein Loophole"

With lawmakers wearing purple on Tuesday to show support for survivors of abuse, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins indicated that the Senate is considering a bill that would close loopholes in the state’s sexual assault laws that led to a reversal of Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 conviction. “Obviously, if we’re able to get it past the finish line within the next two weeks, and we think it will be helpful, we would certainly do that,” Stewart-Cousins explained.

The push for the bill comes after Weinstein’s 2020 conviction was overturned based on a legal technicality in a 4-3 ruling in late April by the state Court of Appeals. The Court explained that it was an “abuse of judicial discretion” when the trial judge allowed testimony from allegations from three women about other sexual assaults that were not part of the case that was being tried. Introduced by Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris and Assemblymember Amy Paulin, a longtime advocate for abuse survivors, the bill would enable evidence of a defendant’s prior sexual offense to be admissible in a trial. “We think this is critical to provide justice for survivors of sexual assaults and rapes in our state, and hopefully, we’ll be able to get there sooner than later because we’ve already seen the consequences of a muddled state of the law,” Gianaris explained after the introduction of the bill.

However, various defendants’ rights groups, including the Legal Aid Society, warned that the bill is “overly broad” and has the potential to wrongfully convict Black and Latino defendants disproportionately. However, Stewart-Cousins explains that the Senate is “very interested in addressing that issue.” If the bill is passed and enacted, it would allow Weinstein to be retried by the Manhattan DA, who has expressed support for the bill and said there are plans to retry the case.

Closing the “Weinstein Loophole” is one of at least a few priorities for consideration in the Legislature prior to its scheduled adjournment on June 6th. Other priorities in the Legislature include the Climate Change Superfund Act and Coverage for All, which were passed in the Senate this week.

EXECUTIVE UPDATES

On Monday, Hochul announced the allocation of $127 million to law enforcement agencies outside of NYC for new technology and equipment upgrades. The $127 million allocation was originally a $50 million allocation but increased due to additional funding from the 2025 Enacted Budget. More than half of the funding to law enforcement agencies will be for licensed plate readers, while 20% will be for body-worn and vehicle equipment and 17% for public safety camera systems. The funding builds upon the 2025 Enacted Budget priority of investing in public safety and Hochul’s commitment to supporting public safety. “Public safety is my top priority, and we are continuing to make record investments in law enforcement so they have the resources they need to protect our communities,” Hochul said.

On Tuesday, the second anniversary of the racially motivated shooting at the Tops supermarket in Buffalo, Hochul publicized the availability of community-based resources that address trauma, mental health, and emotional wellness for those who were impacted. Additionally, Hochul announced the federally-funded “Reimagine: I am the Change” initiative, a network of community supports, to expand mental health outreach and psychological first aid for communities that were impacted by the mass shooting. “The projects and initiatives launched as part of ‘Reimagine: I am the Change’ are addressing gaps in services and promoting resilience to counter the systemic inequities and race-based traumatic stress that have negatively impacted this community for decades,” Hochul explained.

On Wednesday, Hochul announced that the state and federal Department of Agriculture agreed to offer $14.7 million in grant funding to improve coordination throughout the food-based supply chain and access to markets for farmers. With the grant funding, farmers and businesses operating in the middle of the supply chain can attain technical assistance to streamline the process by improving supply-chain infrastructure and upgrading equipment. The grant funding builds upon the state’s commitment to support the state’s agriculture industry and improve the food supply chain. “The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program provides critical funding to support our food supply chain by investing in projects that modernize agricultural facilities, improve training, and facilitate the purchase of new equipment,” Hochul explained.

This week, Hochul, as the Chair of the US Climate Alliance, visited Rome for the Vatican Climate Summit hosted by Pope Francis. During the Summit, Hochul announced a $300 million investment in the state to improve local infrastructure and protections against adverse weather events due to climate change. The $300 million investment comprised of:

$215 Million Water Quality Improvement Project Program
$23.5 Million Climate Smart Communities
$3 Million Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning & Storm Sewer System Mapping
$10 Million Commercial and Industrial Carbon Challenge
$10 million Building Cleaner Communities Challenge
$1 Million Hudson River Estuary Resiliency Funding
$14 Million Local Government Grants Targeting Engineering and Design Funds
$2 Million South Shore Estuary Reserve Comprehensive Plan
$2 Million Local Government Grants For Smart Growth Land Use
$1.175 Million Local Communities Support Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and IRA
$950,000 for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
$500,000 for Greener Ports
$333,000 for Anti-Flooding infrastructure

The various grants and funding build upon Hochul’s climate resiliency plan, which includes upgrading the state’s infrastructure to withstand future adverse weather events and support the state’s transition into a renewable green economy. “Climate change is a global crisis that demands a response from all fronts, and New York continues to lead through our climate initiatives,” Hochul said.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

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

Senate Passes Legislative Package to Support and Protect Survivors of Abuse

This week, the Senate passed a legislative package that would aim to strengthen the rights and protections of domestic and abuse survivors. The legislative package builds upon the allocation of $35.7 million in the 2025 Enacted Budget to combat domestic violence and the enactment of the state’s Rape is Rape Act in January. “Through this legislative package, we aim to clarify procedures and genuinely prioritize the rights of victims,” Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins explained. One notable bill in the legislative package is the bill that would expand the definition of “welfare” to increase the reimbursement of a victim’s personal property. Other bills in the legislative package include:

Removing Voluntary Intoxication Exclusion: would establish that a person who is voluntarily intoxicated is incapable of giving consent and disallow it as a defense in sex crimes.
Removing Time Period In Persistent Sexual Abuse: would remove the ten-year lookback time period for the definition of committing persistent sexual abuse.
Requirements of ERPO Reports: would require extreme risk protection orders to be in a statewide registry.
Victims’ Rights Disclosures: would provide additional rights to victims to be notified at screening or at the earliest time possible.

Climate Change Superfund Act

On Tuesday, the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee moved forward with the Climate Change Superfund Act, marking the first time the bill moved in the Assembly. The bill’s movement comes after it was passed in the Senate last week and last year while it has stalled in the Assembly since it was first introduced in 2022. Largely supported by Democratic lawmakers, the bill has more than 70 co-sponsors in the Assembly. The bill would establish a 25-year dedicated fund of $3 billion annually financed by energy companies that use fossil fuels. While opponents of the bill argue that it would unfairly put energy companies at fault for climate change and potentially increase energy prices, supporters of the bill argue that it would help the state transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. The bill is currently in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

Coverage for All Passes in the Senate

This week, the Senate passed Coverage for All, marking the second time the bill has passed in the Senate. The bill would require the DOH to seek a federal waiver to provide coverage for undocumented immigrants in the state through the Essential Plan. Although Democratic lawmakers widely support the bill in both chambers, the Assembly failed to pass the bill last year and it has not seen any movement in the Assembly this year. Notably, GOP Assemblymember Scott Bendett became the first GOP lawmaker to co-sponsor the bill on Wednesday. “It’s time for us to pass it too!” Assembly sponsor Jessica González-Rojas said after the passage of the bill in the Senate.

Lawmakers Rallies for Equality Model

Earlier this week, lawmakers joined advocates to rally for the Sex Trade Survivors Justice & Equality Act. The bill would help support victims of human trafficking and those forced into prostitution by decriminalizing sex work while continuing to criminalize those who buy sex. Advocates explain that the bill would support and give protections for sex trade survivors while ensuring that buyers are being held accountable, which would help the state combat human trafficking. “This landmark legislation will protect survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation in New York and create pathways for support and recovery,” Assembly sponsor Pam Hunter explained.

Lawmakers Calls For DocGo Oversight

On Wednesday, Assembly GOP lawmakers, led by Assemblymember Ed Ra, held a press conference calling for the Assembly Standing Committee on Oversight, Analysis, and Investigation to reconvene for a legislative hearing on how NYC is spending on the asylum-seekers crisis. The press conferences come after DocGo, contracted by Mayor Eric Adams, was reported to relocate asylum-seekers across hotels and motels with ties to its CEO and former Chairman. Although Mayor Adams explained that it was DocGo’s responsibility to ensure appropriate conduct, Senate Investigations and Government Operations Chair James Skoufis said, “There is some, if not a lot, of responsibility on behalf of the municipality,” and “self-policing on these kinds of things has proven to be highly ineffective.” With the state allocating $4.3 billion to NYC to address the asylum-seekers crisis, GOP lawmakers explained that the state must ensure the funds are used appropriately. “At the end of the day, it’s billions of dollars. I think we should want to exercise that oversight,” said Ra.

Lawmakers Urge Hochul to Sign Anti-CO2 Fracking Bill

While Hochul was in Rome for the Vatican Climate Summit, lawmakers joined advocates to rally for Hochul to enact a bill that would ban carbon dioxide fracking. CO2 fracking is a newer process that uses high-pressure liquified carbon dioxide, which was not included in the permanent prohibition on water-based fracking in the 2021 Enacted Budget. With virtually no opposition from Democratic lawmakers in both chambers, the bill was passed in March. Although the bill has not been delivered to Hochul, lawmakers explain that she is aware of the bill. “We encourage Governor Hochul to call up the bill sign it into law, so we can continue moving forward in ways that not only protect the environment but protect the health and well-being for all residents here in New York state,” Senate sponsor Lea Webb explained.

A Celebrity and (Another Celebrity) Former Assemblymember in Albany

This week, another celebrity came to the Capital to advocate with lawmakers. Emma Willis visited various law offices to push for a bill to establish the country’s first statewide FTD Research Registry. Sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblymember Amy Paulin, advocates of the bill explain that the FTD registry will help educate doctors on FTD, provide insight into the number of FTD diagnoses, and create a public database of services and available resources for families facing FTD.

Former Assemblymember Richard Gottfried also came to Albany this week to support the Medical Aid in Dying bill. Co-sponsored by Gottfried when he was in office, the bill would allow terminally ill patients to choose to self-administer medication for a peaceful death under the supervision of a physician. Other than Gottfried, the bill has support from various Democratic lawmakers.

PRIMARY & ELECTION UPDATES

Bynoe Endorsed by NYLCV for Senate

In an increasingly competitive race to succeed Senator Kevin Thomas next year, Nassau County Legislator Siela Bynoe was recently endorsed by the state League of Conservation Voters. "I am honored to receive the endorsement of the New York League of Conservation Voters… Together, we can make significant strides in combating climate change and preserving our natural resources for future generations," Bynoe said. In addition to NYLCV, Bynoe is endorsed by the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 30, Teamsters Local 237, Long Island African-American Chamber of Commerce, and CSEA Long Island. However, Assemblymember Taylor Darling, who is also running for the seat, has garnered the endorsement of Senator Kevin Thomas.

AFL-CIO Endorses Johanna Carmona for Assembly

This week, AFL-CIO endorsed Johanna Carmona’s bid to run for Assemblymember Juan Ardila’s Queens-based seat. The endorsement comes a week after Queens Borough President Donovan also endorsed Carmona. Currently, Carmona has endorsements from the Queens Democratic Party, state lawmakers, and various unions such as the NYC District of Carpenters, DC37NYC, and Laborers’ International Union. Claire Valdez, also running for the seat, has picked up various endorsements, notably Senate Deputy Leader Mike Gianaris, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, and UAW Region 9A.

OTHER UPDATES

Biden and Trump to Debate in June

Earlier this week, President Joe Biden and Donald Trump agreed to participate in two debates, breaking the tradition of three presidential debates. Biden and Trump will first debate on June 27th in Georgia and then debate again on September 10th. Trump has also suggested a third debate on October 2nd hosted by FoxNews. However, longshot independent candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr accused Biden and Trump of “colluding to lock America into a head-to-head match-up that 70% say they do not want” and “trying to exclude me from their debate because they are afraid I would win.” Although some are also criticizing Biden for only agreeing to two debates instead of three, national Democratic officials explained that reducing the number of debates is important for the “structure of our elections and the interests of voters.”

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