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Brad Hoylman

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2 Westchester County Prisons Involved In Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against New York 2 Westchester County Prisons Involved In Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against New York
2 Westchester County Prisons Involved In Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against New York Two women's prisons in Northern Westchester are involved in a civil lawsuit being filed against the state of New York alleging that several incidents of sexual assaults happened at the facilities.  The two prisons named in the lawsuit, Bedford Hills Correctional Facility and Taconic Correctional Facility, both located in Bedford, will be part of a series of civil actions alleging that at least 750 individuals were sexually assaulted while in the custody of the New York State Department of Correctional Services, according to an announcement by Slater Slater Schulman LLP from We…

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by Ben Crnic
News
NYers Can Now Choose 'X' Gender Marker On Driver License, ID Cards, Hochul Announces NYers Can Now Choose 'X' Gender Marker On Driver License, ID Cards, Hochul Announces
NYers Can Now Choose 'X' Gender Marker On Driver License, ID Cards, Hochul Announces With the start of “Pride Month” just days away, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a historic step in removing barriers for transgender and non-binary New Yorkers. Hochul announced that New Yorkers will soon have the option to choose “X” as a gender marker on driver’s licenses, learner permits, or non-driver state ID cards. “As we prepare to celebrate Pride Month in a few days, I am excited to announce this historic change that represents another victory in our fight to help ensure equality and respect for the LGBTQ+ community," the governor said.  "Every person, regardless of…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
LGBTQ+ Bill Protecting Gender Pronouns Becomes Law In New York LGBTQ+ Bill Protecting Gender Pronouns Becomes Law In New York
LGBTQ+ Bill Protecting Gender Pronouns Becomes Law In New York New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed new legislation into law that will protect the LGBTQ+ community and gender pronouns. To celebrate “Transgender Awareness Week,” Hochul signed a pair of bills that relate to vacating convictions for offenses committed due to being a victim of sex trafficking, labor trafficking, or compelling prostitution, and another that will require utility companies to allow customers to use their preferred name and pronouns. “As we witness attacks on LGBTQ+ rights and protections around the country, New York is once again declaring that we are a state for all — one w…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
COVID-19: Some NY Lawmakers Renew Push To Legalize Marijuana Now, Citing Pandemic COVID-19: Some NY Lawmakers Renew Push To Legalize Marijuana Now, Citing Pandemic
Covid-19: Some NY Lawmakers Renew Push To Legalize Marijuana Now, Citing Pandemic Some New York lawmakers and the Legal Aid Society are calling for last-minute legislation that would legalize marijuana as the state deals with a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Earlier this year, prior to the pandemic, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that he had intentions to legalize marijuana, as it would potentially bring $300 million in revenues to the state. However, once the pandemic struck, Cuomo dedicated his time and resources to that, and the state is now facing a potential $61 billion shortfall. Earlier story - Marij…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
NY Lawmakers Vote To Release Trump's State Tax Returns To Congress NY Lawmakers Vote To Release Trump's State Tax Returns To Congress
NY Lawmakers Vote To Release Trump's State Tax Returns To Congress New York State lawmakers are one step closer to gaining access to President Donald Trump’s state tax returns. The New York State Assembly passed legislation on Wednesday, May 22 which would amend the law to allow the state Department of Taxation and Finance to release the tax returns of elected officials. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo later this month if it also passes in the Senate. It was approved by an 85-49 vote in the Assembly. The legislation only applies to state returns, not federal returns, which have also been at the center of the battle between …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Here's How Many Robocalls New Yorkers Were Bombarded With In April Here's How Many Robocalls New Yorkers Were Bombarded With In April
Here's How Many Robocalls New Yorkers Were Bombarded With In April Robocalls continue to be a scourge for New Yorkers, with millions of callers being flooded by calls “at all hours of the day and night.” In April, New Yorkers received 290.3 million robocalls, which is an average of 112 calls per second and 11 calls per New Yorker. In April, there were 176 million robocalls made to numbers in New York City and Long Island, and there have been more than 720 million robocalls reported since the year started, according to Sen. Chuck Schumer. In response, Schumer is backing legislation that would give federal investigators the tools to trace, prosecute and fi…

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by Zak Failla
News
Measure To Ban Robocalls Gains Momentum Among State Lawmakers Measure To Ban Robocalls Gains Momentum Among State Lawmakers
Measure To Ban Robocalls Gains Momentum Among State Lawmakers State lawmakers in New York are taking a stand against robocalls, proposing a bill that would stop automated phone calls from being placed without prior consent. New York Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou, and consumer advocates announced the Robocall Prevention Act in Albany on Tuesday, following a record number of unwanted calls that were made in 2018. According to Hoylman, more than 47.8 billion robocalls were placed nationwide in 2018. “Our bill will stop robocalls from being made to any telephone number owned by a person in New York, unless for emergency purposes or wi…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Westchester May Become Latest County To Trash Plastic Bags, Foam Westchester May Become Latest County To Trash Plastic Bags, Foam
Westchester May Become Latest County To Trash Plastic Bags, Foam As people around the globe observe Earth Day on Sunday, Westchester County Legislators Kitley Covill and Nancy Barr are putting their environmental principles into action. On Thursday,  April 19, they proposed legislation to encourage the use of reusable bags and keep single-use plastic checkout bags out of the county’s streets, landfills and waterways. The legislation additionally takes aim at polystyrene foam, banning its use in food packing and other kinds of items packed in the county. “This is the first step toward a goal we all share -- to improve the environment by eliminating the p…

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by Jon Craig
Business
Ban On Plastic Bags, Fee For Carryout Bags Eyed For New York Ban On Plastic Bags, Fee For Carryout Bags Eyed For New York
Ban On Plastic Bags, Fee For Carryout Bags Eyed For New York Paper or plastic? You may no longer get a choice if Gov. Andrew Cuomo bans plastic bags. “It’s clear that we need to address the real environmental concerns caused by the proliferation of plastic ‎bags, and a ban is one of the options we’re reviewing,” Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi said. Not so fast, one state lawmaker told this New York Post in this article: “The first step is that they should enforce what’s on the books,” said Sen. Simcha Felder who led a successful fight against New York City imposing a 5-cent fee on each plastic bag. “There’s a recycling bill that’s on the books th…

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by Jon Craig