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New York State Legislature

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Long Island Man Masturbates In View Of Preschoolers, DA Says Long Island Man Masturbates In View Of Preschoolers, DA Says
Long Island Man Masturbates In View Of Preschoolers, DA Says A Long Island man accused of exposing himself and masturbating in front of preschool children will avoid jail while his case proceeds. Lawrence Gartner, age 68, of Patchogue, was arraigned on public lewdness charges in Suffolk County Court on Monday, April 8. Prosecutors allege that Gartner exposed his genitals and masturbated in front of his apartment window as children were being dismissed from a preschool directly across the street on Monday, March 18. Kids who attend the school range in age from 3 to 5 years old. Suffolk County Police arrested Gartner the following day, but the judge…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Severed Body Parts Suspect Caught Shoplifting At Long Island CVS, Police Say Severed Body Parts Suspect Caught Shoplifting At Long Island CVS, Police Say
Severed Body Parts Suspect Caught Shoplifting At Long Island CVS, Police Say One of four suspects accused of dismembering and scattering the remains of two murder victims from Westchester County across Long Island is now behind bars on an unrelated charge. Amanda Wallace, age 40, was caught shoplifting at a CVS store in Lindenhurst on Friday night, March 15, according to Suffolk County Police. An employee called 911 at around 10:50 p.m. saying a woman was stealing beauty products from the store, located on East Montauk Highway. Earlier Report: Dismembered Remains Case: ID Released For 1 Of 2 Victims Police arrested Wallace a short time later on suspicion of…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
'Can't Happen Again': Lying About Candidate Background Would Be Perjury Under NY Bill 'Can't Happen Again': Lying About Candidate Background Would Be Perjury Under NY Bill
'Can't Happen Again': Lying About Candidate Background Would Be Perjury Under NY Bill New York lawmakers are hoping to prevent a repeat of disgraced former Congressman George Santos’ meteoric rise and fall after he lied about much of his background to get elected. A new bill announced Friday, Dec. 8 would require candidates to make sworn statements under penalty of perjury about parts of their background. Specifically, it would require candidates running for any elected office in New York State to sign a sworn statement affirming their military service, if any, as well their employment history and current residence. Earlier Report: Election Date Set To Fill George Sa…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Minimum Wage To Go Up On Long Island: Here's When, How Much Minimum Wage To Go Up On Long Island: Here's When, How Much
Minimum Wage To Go Up On Long Island: Here's When, How Much To help those struggling with rising costs, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced that the state's minimum wage will be increasing when the new year begins.  Effective on Monday, Jan. 1, the minimum wage in Westchester County, Long Island, and New York City will increase to $16 per hour, and $15 per hour in the rest of the state, Hochul announced on Monday, Dec. 11.  The current minimum wage in Westchester, Long Island, and New York City is $15 per hour, while it is $14.20 in the rest of the state.  According to Hochul, the increases come thanks to an agreement between he…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Hochul Announces Newest Additions To Long Island Power Authority Hochul Announces Newest Additions To Long Island Power Authority
Hochul Announces Newest Additions To Long Island Power Authority Three new people of differing experiences have been appointed to the Long Island Power Authority Board of Trustees. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the new Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) Board of Trustees members, whom she appointed, on Monday, Nov. 13. In a statement, Hochul said she is “confident” the new board appointees will “bring unique knowledge and expertise to the Board.” Stepping into the role of Chair of the LIPA Board is Tracey Edwards. A wearer of many hats, Edwards currently serves as a Senior Vice President and New York Corporate Social Responsibility Officer at the La…

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by Sophie Grieser
News
Lawmakers Renew Call For Renaming Donald J. Trump State Park In NY Lawmakers Renew Call For Renaming Donald J. Trump State Park In NY
Lawmakers Renew Call For Renaming Donald J. Trump State Park In NY Two New York state legislators are again calling for the Hudson Valley's Donald J. Trump State Park to be renamed.  The 436-acre park, named after the 45th president after he donated the property to the state in 2006, is located on the Westchester/Putnam line in both Yorktown and Putnam Valley.  In the wake of Former President Trump facing a possible indictment by a Manhattan grand jury, Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg and State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal are reintroducing legislation that calls on the commissioner of the office of parks, recreation and historic pres…

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by Ben Crnic
Politics
Nassau County State Sen. Todd Kaminsky Resigns Nassau County State Sen. Todd Kaminsky Resigns
Nassau County State Sen. Todd Kaminsky Resigns A New York state senator has resigned after serving nearly eight years in the state Legislature. Todd Kaminsky, a Democrat representing the state’s 9th District on the South Shore of Long Island in Nassau County, announced his resignation Friday, July 29, in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. "Today is my last day as an elected official, and I will start a new chapter in my life next week in the private sector,” Kaminsky wrote. “It has been an incredible honor and privilege to work on behalf of the residents of Long Island’s South Shore for the past eight years.  …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
COVID-19: Uncertainty Abounds After NY Supreme Court Strikes Down Mask Mandate COVID-19: Uncertainty Abounds After NY Supreme Court Strikes Down Mask Mandate
Covid-19: Uncertainty Abounds After NY Supreme Court Strikes Down Mask Mandate A Supreme Court justice on Long Island struck down the statewide mask mandate in New York, causing mass confusion and prompting a fight from Gov. Kathy Hochul and her administration. In Nassau County, Justice Thomas Rademaker ruled that Hochul’s office had overstepped its authority with its December mask mandate that was issued through then-acting Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett. Instead, the judge said that it was not up to the Department of Health to approve the mandate, it instead should go through the Legislature, where it is potentially less likely to pass. Rademaker said that the…

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by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: Hochul Proposes Bringing 'To-Go Drinks' Back To New York Restaurants COVID-19: Hochul Proposes Bringing 'To-Go Drinks' Back To New York Restaurants
Covid-19: Hochul Proposes Bringing 'To-Go Drinks' Back To New York Restaurants Have a drink on her? In her first “State of the State" address, Gov. Kathy Hochul called for the return of “to-go drinks” for restaurants as New York deals with the latest surge of COVID-19 cases that have struck the region. “We're going to do something bars and restaurants have been asking for, to once again allow the sale of to-go drinks,” she said. “Cheers, New York.” During the initial COVID-19 outbreak, “to-go drinks” became a popular item for New Yorkers until former Gov. Andrew Cuomo rescinded the policy when the number of new cases began plateauing in June. New York Gov. Ka…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Here's How Much Minimum Wage Will Increase On Long Island Here's How Much Minimum Wage Will Increase On Long Island
Here's How Much Minimum Wage Will Increase On Long Island Workers in downstate New York are all getting a holiday bonus this year, as minimum wage rates get bumped for the third straight year. As of Friday, Dec. 31, minimum wage workers in Westchester, Suffolk, and Nassau counties will see a bump in their paychecks as their hourly wages will rise to a minimum of $15, putting them on par with employees at large firms in New York City, which has been at that benchmark for three years. Minimum wage employees in those counties had previously been getting $14 an hour. Fast-food workers across New York also make $15 an hour, regardless of location, wh…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Where Will Cuo Go? Soon-To-Be Ex-Gov Unsure What He'll Do, Where He'll Live After Leaving Post Where Will Cuo Go? Soon-To-Be Ex-Gov Unsure What He'll Do, Where He'll Live After Leaving Post
Where Will Cuo Go? Soon-To-Be Ex-Gov Unsure What He'll Do, Where He'll Live After Leaving Post In his first interview after announcing his resignation, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he is unsure of his immediate plans, but he won't be "disappearing." Cuomo is set to step down as New York's governor on Tuesday, Aug. 24. He made the announcement on Tuesday, Aug. 10, following a 165-page report from Attorney General Letitia James, which included accusations that he sexually harassed 11 women.  In the interview with New York Magazine Cuomo said he is unsure of his plans, including where he is going to live after leaving the executive mansion in Albany, a place where either h…

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by Nicole Valinote
Politics
Long Island Congressman Zeldin Announces He's Running For Governor In 2022 Long Island Congressman Zeldin Announces He's Running For Governor In 2022
Long Island Congressman Zeldin Announces He's Running For Governor In 2022 A Long Island Republican Congressman who stood firmly behind former President Donald Trump throughout his embattled tenure in office announced that he will be challenging incumbent New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the 2022 election. Congressman Lee Zeldin officially threw his hat into the gubernatorial ring on Thursday morning, April 8, following Trump’s modus operandi by announcing his candidacy in a string of tweets largely targeting Cuomo. “I’m running for Governor of NY in 2022. To save NY, #CuomosGottaGo,” he posted. “I’ll bring the kind of relentless, fighting spirit towards helping o s…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
New Bipartisan Calls For Cuomo To Resign Made After Groping Accusation New Bipartisan Calls For Cuomo To Resign Made After Groping Accusation
New Bipartisan Calls For Cuomo To Resign Made After Groping Accusation New bipartisan calls for Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s resignation are coming from all corners following the latest allegations of him having inappropriate sexual contact with a staffer. This week, a sixth woman came forward, reportedly claiming that Cuomo summoned her to the Executive Mansion, where he reached under her shirt and groped her, a claim that the governor has vehemently denied. Original story - Most Serious Sexual Abuse Accusation Against Cuomo Emerges As Ex-Aide Alleges Groping Following that report, more New York lawmakers have come out with calls for Cuomo to resign, with Democr…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Democratic Majority To Pass Legislation Repealing Cuomo Emergency Powers Immediately COVID-19: Democratic Majority To Pass Legislation Repealing Cuomo Emergency Powers Immediately
Covid-19: Democratic Majority To Pass Legislation Repealing Cuomo Emergency Powers Immediately Lawmakers in New York reached an agreement that will strip Gov. Andrew Cuomo of his COVID-19 pandemic-linked emergency powers. Legislators from New York’s Assembly and Senate announced on Tuesday, March 2 that Cuomo would be stripped of emergency powers and the state will return some matters he had control of, such as lockdowns, to local officials. The announcement was made by Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who noted that the legislation will allow current directives pertaining to preserving public health to continue. “I think everyone unde…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
COVID-19: Cuomo Admits Lack Of Transparency On Reporting Nursing Home Data Amid Backlash COVID-19: Cuomo Admits Lack Of Transparency On Reporting Nursing Home Data Amid Backlash
Covid-19: Cuomo Admits Lack Of Transparency On Reporting Nursing Home Data Amid Backlash In his first public comments on a top aide's admission that his administration "froze" when asked by both federal and state officials to release data on COVID-19 nursing home fatalities, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the lack of transparency was a mistake. Cuomo said “there was a delay,” in reporting the data, and that void led to “skepticism, cynicism and conspiracy theories which furthered confusion" in a news briefing held in Albany on Monday, Feb. 15. "We should have provided more information faster," Cuomo said. "We were too focused on doing the job and addressing the crisis of the …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: NY Health Director Denies Undercount On Nursing Home Deaths After Scathing AG Report COVID-19: NY Health Director Denies Undercount On Nursing Home Deaths After Scathing AG Report
Covid-19: NY Health Director Denies Undercount On Nursing Home Deaths After Scathing AG Report New York Health Commissioner Howard Zucker is defending the state following Attorney General Letitia James’ newly released report that alleges COVID-19 deaths in the state's nursing homes were underreported by as much as 50 percent. The report found the state negligible for COVID-19-related deaths inside New York nursing homes that had previously gone unreported, which Zucker has denied in a lengthy statement released late on Thursday, Jan. 28, just hours after the report was released. Earlier story - COVID-19: NY AG Report Says Nursing Home Deaths May Have Been Undercounted By 50 Percent …

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by Zak Failla
News
Northwell Health Labs To Begin Testing For Coronavirus Northwell Health Labs To Begin Testing For Coronavirus
Northwell Health Labs To Begin Testing For Coronavirus Northwell Labs will soon begin testing for coronavirus at their Long Island, Manhattan, and Westchester labs.With federal health officials declaring that it has become a matter of “when, not if,” the virus will spread to and throughout the United States, local institutions throughout the country have begun taking measures in an effort to curtail the coronavirus outbreak. With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration giving the green light for outside labs to begin COVID-19 testing, Northwell Labs announced it plans to begin testing for the rapidly spreading virus within the next week. Doctors …

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by Zak Failla
News
Long Island Inmates Released After NY State Bail Reform Takes Effect Long Island Inmates Released After NY State Bail Reform Takes Effect
Long Island Inmates Released After NY State Bail Reform Takes Effect Hundreds of inmates on Long Island are back on the street due to the state’s new Bail Reform Legislation, which ended cash bail for all misdemeanor and non-violent felony offenders in New York. The new reform, which took effect as of Wednesday, Jan. 1, 301 inmates in Suffolk County were released by the courts, according to the Sheriff’s Office. In the past, those inmates would have been held on bail or bond, depending on the severity of the crime and the inmates’ criminal histories. “Judges used to have some discretion on whether or not an individual should be held on bail,” Sheriff Errol T…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
State To Hold Hearings On Con Ed After Blackouts State To Hold Hearings On Con Ed After Blackouts
State To Hold Hearings On Con Ed After Blackouts State lawmakers will hold a hearing to rake Con Edison officials over the coals after recent blackouts that left New York City and Hudson Valley residents in the dark. Following outages that impacted thousands statewide, New York legislators have announced that they will be grilling Con Ed officials after hearing the impact of area constituents. “Members from both houses have called for a hearing after meeting with constituents impacted by the rolling blackouts,” Sen. Leroy Comrie, Sen. Kevin Parker, and Assemblymembers Amy Paulin and Michael Cusick said in a statement. “The hearing will e…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
AOC Vs. Andy: Ocasio-Cortez, Cuomo At Odds Over Climate Change, Queens DA Endorsement AOC Vs. Andy: Ocasio-Cortez, Cuomo At Odds Over Climate Change, Queens DA Endorsement
AOC Vs. Andy: Ocasio-Cortez, Cuomo At Odds Over Climate Change, Queens DA Endorsement U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of parts of Queens and the Bronx has hopped on the Green train in Albany, criticizing Gov. Andrew Cuomo for failing to meet earlier promises of a fossil-freer future in New York. The congresswoman blasted Cuomo of New Castle for not making the environment a top priority of the current legislative session.  Cuomo took to the radio airwaves to refute that claim: “I proposed the Green New Deal before there was a Green New Deal being discussed nationwide,” Cuomo told WNYC's Brian Lehrer on Tuesday, June 4. Ocasio-Cortez, a 2007 Yorktown High School gradu…

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by Jon Craig
Politics
New York May Become Sanctuary State For Undocumented Immigrants New York May Become Sanctuary State For Undocumented Immigrants
New York May Become Sanctuary State For Undocumented Immigrants A lawmaker is pushing legislation that would see the Empire State become a sanctuary for illegal immigrants. Democratic State Sen. Jose Serrano Jr. is sponsoring a bill that would prohibit law enforcement from holding non-citizens for deportation by federal officials unless they’ve been convicted of a violent crime in the past several years. The bill - titled the "Dignity for Immigrants in New York State Act” - has been introduced in the past, but never made it through the legislature. It is now being considered in committee. Several cities throughout New York have already declared themsel…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Plastic Bag Ban, Congestion Pricing, Mansion Tax: Here Are Highlights Of New $175B State Budget Plastic Bag Ban, Congestion Pricing, Mansion Tax: Here Are Highlights Of New $175B State Budget
Plastic Bag Ban, Congestion Pricing, Mansion Tax: Here Are Highlights Of New $175B State Budget Congestion pricing for motorists in Manhattan, a plastic bag ban and a new “mansion tax” are coming to New York. New York lawmakers worked late into Sunday night, March 31 before finally approving Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s $175.5 billion state spending plan early on Monday morning, April 1. The budget calls for a ban on single-use plastic bags, will charge motorists driving below 60th Street in Manhattan a fee and ad the “mansion tax,” which is a one-time fee for some of the state’s wealthiest residents and is expected to bring in approximately $365 million. Much of the additional revenue being …

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by Zak Failla