Friday Morning Brief Nov 3, 2023

Nov 2

Written By Michael Avella

Please note that the morning brief will now be posted on a weekly basis

Member Spotlight

Senator Iwen Chu

For today's Member Spotlight, Senator Iwen Chu joins us to talk about her district in Brooklyn, herself, and her experience in the Senate. She is the first Asian-American woman elected to the Senate and was a community journalist focused on amplifying the issues and stories within the AAPI community. She currently chairs the Senate Committee on Libraries. She is also a member of the Senate Committees on Education, NYC Education, Higher Education, Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business, and Civil Service and Pensions.

What district do you represent? Can you describe it for those that have never been there? What do you like the most about your district?
I proudly represent Senate District 17 which includes the neighborhoods of Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, and Kensington. This district was created through the redistricting process after the 2020 census. It is made up of many diverse immigrant communities and is a prime example of the mosaic that is New York. This district is an Asian majority district with 50% of residents being East, Central, and South Asian. The district also has significant Jewish, Muslim, Italian, and Russian communities – many that immigrated to New York for a better future. I love that I can visit a neighborhood, try new types of food, learn about new cultures, and enjoy cultural traditions with my constituents.

Any favorite restaurant(s) in your district that you want to highlight?
Park Asia in Sunset Park serves as more than a restaurant for the local Asian community. Park Asia has opened its doors for Asian Americans to be in community with one another by hosting events, meetings, and cultural celebrations. Southern Brooklyn has many diverse restaurants that serve authentic middle eastern, central Asian, Italian cuisines and more! The beauty of NYC is to be able to enjoy all these authentic foods in the neighborhood like southern Brooklyn.

Do you have a favorite food to eat?
Hot Pot is my favorite and go to comfort food!!! You should try it if you have never had the chance!

What do you like to do in your free time?
Public service requires commitment, not just for me but also for my whole family. Being super present in my district and the hectic schedule of the legislative session means my family time is much more limited. If I have free time, I am always with my family doing our favorite activities; board games, tennis, or walking our dog.

What was your career before becoming a legislator?
Before I became a legislator, I had a career as a community journalist and Chief of Staff in the New York State Assembly. My community service included many years serving as a member of Community Board 11, Community Education Council D20, a Board Director of local healthcare center, and as a community partner for the NYPD 68th precinct.

Why did you get into politics? What made you want to be a legislator and what is your favorite part of being a legislator?
As a local community journalist, I focused on amplifying the issues and stories within the AAPI community. In addition to my writing, I found myself advocating for change and bridging the gap between the Asian-American immigrant community and local government. Former Assemblyman Peter Abbate’s district became an Asian majority district in 2012 and I joined his office as Chief of Staff to serve Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, and Dyker Heights. My favorite part of being a legislator is connecting with the youth in my district and watching them grow a passion for public service.

What are/is your greatest/proudest legislative achievement(s) this year?
This year, my fellow AAPI legislators and I fought to secure $30 million for over 150 AAPI led and serving community-based organizations. This funding is specifically allocated to combat anti-Asian hate crimes and to deliver critical social services. I’m incredibly proud to have secured this funding because historically AAPI communities have not seen investment or resources from State government. The work does not stop here - the urgent needs of AAPI New Yorkers continue, and I look forward to the work ahead.

What was the most challenging piece of legislation/policy that you worked on this year?
One of the most pressing issues in southern Brooklyn is e-bike safety. There have been many cases of batteries from bikes exploding and causing devastating fires. Homes and businesses have been destroyed and families have had to completely uproot their entire lives. I’m working to introduce a package of legislation that aims to educate riders about the different types of batteries in addition to mandating fire suppression systems in stores selling e-bikes and batteries.

As the Chair of Libraries, any particular priorities you foresee arising in the space next year?
Libraries are a vital resource for communities across New York State and need the funding to maintain the services they deliver. As Chair of the Libraries committee, it’s my top priority to make sure our libraries don’t see a cut in funding and all public libraries have the resources they need.

What is your office going to focus on before next year's session starts?
Education and expanding educational opportunities for our youth is a top priority. I introduced “AP For All” legislation aimed at covering the burdensome costs of AP exams. These exams can potentially lead to college credits before students even step foot on campus and save money and time for students. My hope is to make the exams more accessible for any student that wants to pursue advanced classes and exams.

I understand that you moved to New York from Taiwan to attend Brooklyn College for your MA in Sociology. Did you face any challenges moving to New York? How did you overcome your challenges?
A big challenge for myself and many immigrants is learning the many new systems in place - transportation systems, healthcare systems, education systems, justice systems, social systems and more. I came to this country knowing English and that made my journey easier for me than for others. Immigrants that don’t have language capacity have an additional barrier to overcome. Another challenge was not seeing my family and friends back in Taiwan. Technology wasn’t always so advanced, so communication had its challenges. Luckily, I met great friends here, built a community, and now have a family of my own in Brooklyn.

Congratulations on being the first Asian-American woman to be elected to the Senate! Any advice you would like to give to young Asian-American women getting into politics?
Work hard and dream big! I never saw myself becoming a State Senator, but anything is possible when you put your mind and heart to it.

What issues do you see that are impacting Asian-American communities in the state and/or NYC?
Safety is among the major issues impacting Asian Americans, much like many communities in New York. Hate crimes against Asian American rose nearly 400% during the pandemic and those are just the reported cases. We must continue working towards a safer New York and not allow such violence to rise ever again.

Any last comments you want to mention?
Something that has been surprising is that my hair has become my most recognizable feature. My hair is an all-natural silver short haircut. Many constituents and public members come up to me simply because they recognize me with silver hair.

Are you a public official or staffer that would like to be featured in our spotlight or do you know someone that would? If so, reach out to your favorite D&A team member or contact us at team@dickinsonavella.com to set up an interview!

EXECUTIVE UPDATES

Last week, to support the state’s CLCPA goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and having 70% of the state’s electricity come from renewable sources by 2030, Governor Hochul announced the state’s most significant investment in renewable energy. The investment will go towards three offshore wind and twenty-two land-based renewable energy projects, which will power 6.4 gigawatts of clean energy - or enough power for 2.6 million New York homes (12% of the state’s electricity needs). Additionally, the investment will go towards two offshore wind blade and nacelle manufacturing facilities, creating 8,300 jobs and generating $20 billion in economic development. “An investment of this magnitude is about more than just fighting climate change – we’re creating good-paying union jobs, improving the reliability of our electric grid, and generating significant benefits in disadvantaged communities,” explained Hochul. The announcement also builds upon the recently established 10-Point Action Plan, which outlines guidelines for the state regarding expanding the renewable energy industry.

To further support the state’s goal of transitioning into a green energy economy and further decarbonization, Hochul announced that over $14 million has been awarded to 11 under-resourced public school districts to help decarbonize their school buildings. The awards were given through the Clean Green Schools initiative and will help support the state’s CLCPA goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2050 and ensuring at least 40% of clean energy investments directly benefit Disadvantaged Communities. The investment will benefit nearly 5,800 students. “Schools can open an entire world of possibilities and opportunities to our children, but for students to get the most out of their education, they must be in a healthy and safe learning environment,” said Hochul.

In addition to decarbonizing school buildings, Hochul announced the $12 million Heat Recovery Program to modernize buildings across the state. The Heat Recovery Program will help facilitate decarbonization and retrofit projects that reuse heat to save energy and reduce the dependency on fossil fuel, further supporting the state’s commitment to reaching the greenhouse gas emission reduction goals set by the CLCPA. NYSERDA will provide up to 75% cost share with awards up to $40,000 for the production of heat recovery opportunity assessments and $80,000 for the development of design and construction plans for heat recovery projects. NYSERDA will dedicate $3 million of the total funding exclusively for projects in low-to-moderate multifamily housing buildings to enable 100% cost share.

To help the state curb gun violence and increase youth investment, Hochul jointly announced with the state Department of Health and Division of Criminal Justice Services an availability of $5 million in state funding for local programming for youth in neighborhoods experiencing the highest rates of gun violence. The funding will be given to grassroots, community-based organization applicants. The investment is part of a $337 million priority in the 2024 Budget to support a comprehensive strategy to curb gun violence and violent crime and build upon the Gun Involved Elimination and SNUG Street Outreach programs.

Earlier this week, Hochul jointly announced with Attorney General Letitia James that $192 million in first-year opioid settlement funds is being allocated to addiction services across the state, such as for treatment, harm reduction, and recovery initiatives for those being impacted by the opioid and overdose crisis. This comes as the state received over $2 billion through various settlement agreements with opioid manufacturers, with $192 million being deposited into settlement funds for the first fiscal year. This initiative will help the state address the ongoing opioid crisis that resulted in over 6,300 overdose deaths in the state last year and will build upon ongoing mitigation initiatives such as the “Harm Reduction Delivered” campaign and public awareness campaigns to address the stigma associated with addiction.

After recent antisemitic threats online at Cornell University, Hochul visited Cornell University’s Center for Jewish Life and held a roundtable discussion with students on how to address and mitigate antisemitic threats on college campuses. Hochul reiterated her support for backing to ramp up security and State Police presences on college campuses and constant collaboration with the FBI. “We will not tolerate threats or hatred, or antisemitism, or any kind of hatred that makes people feel vulnerable and exposes people and makes them feel insecure in a place where they should be enjoying their campus life without fear that someone could cause them harm,” explained Hochul.

On Wednesday, Hochul announced that the state Department of Financial Services amended the state’s cybersecurity regulations to enhance cyber governance and mitigate risks to protect the state’s businesses and consumers from cyber threats. The amended regulations build upon the original cybersecurity regulations and are modeled by both federal and state financial regulators, with changes focused on the following:

Enhancing governance requirements
Additional controls to prevent unauthorized access to information systems
Requirements for more regular risk and vulnerability assessments
Updating notification requirements
Updating direction for companies to invest in at least annual training and cybersecurity awareness programs

The recent amendments to the cybersecurity regulations build upon the state’s first-ever Cybersecurity Strategy and a cybersecurity shared services program for municipalities across the state.

Yesterday, Hochul announced a settlement agreement between the state Department of Labor and Uber, resolving past and future unemployment insurance contributions, making the state the first in the nation to reach an agreement with Uber that settles past and future unemployment insurance liability. Under the agreement, Uber will begin making quarterly payments to the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and retroactively to the UI Trust Fund for payments owned since 2013. This reiterates Hochul’s commitment to ensuring workers attain fair wages and benefits. “My administration is committed to standing up for workers and ensuring they get the wages and benefits they deserve. That’s why our Department of Labor worked so aggressively to successfully secure a fair settlement on behalf of the people of New York,” explained Hochul.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Assemblywoman Sarah Clark Spearheads Letter Urging Hochul to Sign Task Force for Missing BIPOC Women and Girls

Last week, a letter signed by 60 state and local lawmakers from the Greater Rochester Area was sent to Hochul urging her to sign a bill that would create a task force on missing women and girls who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color. The letter comes after the body of a missing 16-year-old girl from Rochester was found, with no arrests made so far. Assemblymember Sarah Clark, who spearheaded the letter, explained that it’s important to focus on “BIPOC women and girls who go missing across the state and creating a task force that would really look at the way we use our alert system…to help find these missing women and girls because it’s not working particularly for our Black and Brown girls who go missing.” The bill has not been delivered to Hochul yet.

Joint Public Hearing on State's Legal Cannabis Industry

On Monday, the twelve-member Senate Cannabis Subcommittee held a joint public hearing to examine the legal cannabis industry in the state and ways to help support small cannabis businesses. The hearing comes as the state is dealing with ongoing litigation against Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries (CAURD) and other issues impacting the implementation of adult-use cannabis. During the hearing, the Executive Director for the state’s Office of Cannabis Management testified that the ongoing litigation against CAURD has negatively impacted the legal cannabis supply chain, and the prevalence of an illicit cannabis market further impedes the legal cannabis industry and imposes a public health concern. The hearing also discussed methods to help support small farmers amidst a supply-chain disruption and possibly altering the current taxation on cannabis products.

Lawmakers Urge President Biden to Lift Sanctions on Cuba

Earlier this week, 25 lawmakers from the Senate and the Assembly sent a joint letter to President Biden and Chuck Schumer indicating their support for lifting the sanctions on Cuba that were reimposed by Trump in 2017. This comes as the UN General Assembly debated a draft resolution to urge the US to lift sanctions on Cuba this week, and after the NYC Council passed a resolution urging federal leaders to end the sanction and travel restrictions on Cuba earlier this summer. Led by Senator Jabari Brisport and Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, the letter states that “there is a tremendous value to normalizing relations with Cuba” and that the state “has an opportunity to collaborate with universities and medical schools in Cuba.”

Rochester City Councilmember Runs for Assembly

This Monday, Rochester City Councilmember Willie Lightfoot announced his campaign for the 137th Assembly District seat, currently held by Demond Meeks. Lightfoot is a veteran of the US Air Force and a retired Rochester firefighter before serving as a Monroe County Legislator for ten years. Currently, he is serving his second term as Councilmember since 2018. Lightfoot cited a need for better public safety as his reason for running, explaining, “A time when our community is in crisis, we have a housing crisis, a safety crisis, a food crisis, a mental health crisis. I am not sure you see what I see, but people, as I look out at these streets that I’ve walked all my life, my heart is broken.” Meeks responded that he is “steadfast in my commitment to working toward the betterment of our community and will continue to pass and advocate for resources that uplift children and families.”

Assembly Minority Leader Calls for "Responsible Budgeting" After Updated State Budget Gap

Hochul unveiled on Monday that the state budget gap has been reduced from $9.1 billion to $4.3 billion in FY 2025, $13.9 billion to $9.5 billion the following year, and $13.4 billion to $7.7 billion for the year after. This was due to a change in federal rulemaking for the Medicaid program, enabling the state to spend less than initially anticipated. Nevertheless, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay warns that “no one should be celebrating a $4.3 billion budget deficit.” Instead, Barclay explains that the “pattern of runaway spending cannot continue” and urges Hochul for “responsible budgeting.” Hochul has previously iterated that she will not raise taxes nor cut state agencies’ spending for next year. The budget gap must be filled by law when the state’s Budget plan is due by April 1st.

2023 ELECTION UPDATES
Election Day is this Tuesday, November 7th.
Early voting continues until this Sunday, November 5th.
To look up for your poll site or track your absentee ballot, please click here.

2023 Statewide Ballot Initiatives

This year, there are two statewide ballot proposals for voters to consider. Both ballot proposals would impact how schools and sewer systems in municipalities operate. Proposal 1 will remove the limitations that schools in cities with less than 125,000 people can only spend up to 5% of the value of taxable property for school-related projects unless approved by 60% of the voting residents. Proposal 2 will allow municipal sewage treatment and disposal facilities to lift the spending restrictions on sewage-related projects as mandated by the state constitution for another ten years. Supporters of both proposals believe that it will ease up small cities and town’s spending on other essential public services.

Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair's Statement on Accusations Against Justin Brannan

Ahead of a competitive NYC Council race in a newly drawn Brooklyn seat between Councilmember Justin Brannan and Councilmember Ari Kagan, Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn released a statement against Brannan for allegations that he harassed his former staffer with autism. The harassment accusation allegedthat Brannan locked his former staffer in a basement with decapitated teddy bears on his desk when they were both working for former Councilmember Vincent Gentile. The allegations were settled for $850,000 in 2021. Bichotte has not requested Brannan’s resignation but will “wait for all the facts to come to light about these disturbing incidents.” However, Brannan’s spokesperson accused Bichotte of slander and said that “she should be careful she doesn’t end up getting sued for libel and slander.”

Democrats Hope to Hold Onto County Executive in Long Island

In Long Island’s Suffolk County, Democrat David Calone and Republican Ed Romaine are running to be the next County Executive in a competitive race. The Suffolk County Executive position is open for the first time in twelve years and was held by a Democrat amidst a two-year red wave in Long Island, where many Republican lawmakers won in federal, state, and local elections. With Republican victories in 2022 also helping propel them to take the House, many observers believe the Executive race might highlight some insights into next year’s congressional races. Calone hopes to keep the Executive in Democrat hands by distancing himself from the state party and focusing on local issues. In contrast, Romaine hopes to continue on the red wave in Long Island by advocating for a change in leadership. Public safety, affordable housing, and the ongoing asylum-seekers crisis are significant issues for both candidates.

Republicans Seeks an Upset in Erie County Executive Race

In a bid to unseat the three-term incumbent Democrat Mark C. Poloncarz, GOP candidate Chrissy Casilio is mounting a campaign entirely focused on affordability. With little name recognition and fewer resources than Poloncarz, Casilio hopes that the message of tackling affordability issues will resonate with voters across Erie County. “On day one, affordability is an issue we are going to tackle,” she said. Poloncarz, on the other hand, is campaigning on his leadership, explaining, “If you’re running for county executive and you’re not willing to take charge of these situations, then you shouldn’t be running.” Polonczarz has highlighted that this race would be his last race for Erie County Executive.

Voter Fraud Allegations in Queens NYC Council Race

In a competitive race for the predominately Asian-American NYC Council seat in Queens, Councilmember Sandra Ung faces a rematch from Republican Yu-Ching James Pai. In 2021, Pai lost to Ung by a couple thousand votes. In addition, Assemblymember Ron Kim narrowly won reelection in an overlapping district. This race is also one of the few races with a viable third party - Jin Liang Chen from the Better Flushing Party - who has out-fundraised both Ung and Pai. The race between the three candidates was embroiled in a voter fraud lawsuit earlier this summer in which associates of Pai were accused of voter fraud by Chen after absentee ballots that voters did not ask for were requested. Although the lawsuit was tossed, it was reported yesterday that absentee ballots for 46 voters who did not ask were requested allegedly by associates of Chen and Pai. “After the lawsuit was filed during the summer, there are concerns right now that it looks like this may be happening again,” Ung explained.

OTHER UPDATES

Republicans Elect Mike Johnson As New Speaker of the House

Last week, the House GOP finally elected Louisiana Representative Mike Johnson as their new Speaker of the House with a unanimous vote. This comes after weeks of disagreement amongst the moderate and right-wing GOP members regarding whom should succeed Kevin McCarthy as the next Speaker. However, with Mike Johnson being considered a “blank slate” and with little national name recognition, many moderate GOP members voted unanimously with the rest of the party for Johnson, with Hudson Valley Representative Mike Lawler explaining that he is “confident that despite any differences we may have on policy, [Johnson] is fully capable of unifying our conference and leading the House forward. With recent publicity regarding Johnson’s past policies and stances on abortion and LGBTQIA+ rights, many Democrats in the state are hoping to use moderate state GOP representatives’ vote on Johnson for next year’s congressional races.

Vote to Expel Santos Fails in the House

On Wednesday night, a resolution to expel Representative George Santos failed to pass the House, with 179 members voting for and 213 voting against – more than 30 Democrats also voted against. The vote to expel Santos was led by Nassau County Representative Anthony D’Esposito, who introduced the resolution, and other first-term GOP members in the state with vulnerable swing districts. The push for expelling Santos comes as he faces federal indictments and an ongoing House Ethics investigation. Those who voted against the expulsion argue that the House must wait for the outcome of the House Ethics investigation before moving forward with expelling Santos. Santos said in a tweet that, “I’ll defend myself as best I can and stand up for my constitutional rights to due process and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.” Santos is also facing primary challenges from his party and Democratic challengers, including former Representative Tom Suozzi.

State Top Court Expands DNA Searches by Law Enforcement

Last week, the state’s Court of Appeals ruled that the Commission on Forensic Science has the authority to allow law enforcement across the state to search DNA databases. The case was narrowly decided 4-3 by Chief Judge Rowan Wilson, who joined the conservative judges in the ruling. Wilson wrote, “The Court unanimously agrees that the legislature has that power; the disagreement is whether the Databank Act granted the Commission the authority to promulgate the (Familial DNA Search) Regulations.” The case was brought up to the Court after a 2018 lawsuit against the state, accusing the Commission of Forensic Science of exceeding its power by giving itself the right to search through genealogy records. The Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Brad Hoylman-Sigal explains that the ruling potentially “calls for clarification by the Legislature.”

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