Overcast 45°
News
New Bars, Restaurants In NYC To Open More Quickly Under Legislation Signed By Hochul New Bars, Restaurants In NYC To Open More Quickly Under Legislation Signed By Hochul
New Bars, Restaurants In NYC To Open More Quickly Under Legislation Signed By Hochul New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed new legislation in an effort to make it easier for new bars, restaurants and breweries to open quickly. The new legislative package allows temporary retail permits to be issued to bars and restaurants opening in New York City, officials announced on Wednesday, Dec. 22. Officials said the current law prevents businesses in the city to be granted temporary liquor licenses, and the State Liquor Authority can only provide the permanent licenses after a lengthy review process. The new legislation allows the State Liquor Authority to grant temporary liquor l…

SHARE

by Nicole Valinote
News
Two Incidents Lead To New Law Prohibiting Hate Symbols On Public Property In NY Two Incidents Lead To New Law Prohibiting Hate Symbols On Public Property In NY
Two Incidents Lead To New Law Prohibiting Hate Symbols On Public Property In NY New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed a new law prohibiting municipal corporations from displaying hate symbols following two incidents last year on Long Island. The new legislation, signed on Tuesday, Nov. 2, prohibits any municipal corporation, including fire districts, volunteer fire departments, police departments, and school districts, from selling or displaying symbols of hate, according to an announcement from the state. The state said symbols that are prohibited include, but are not limited to "symbols of White supremacy, neo-Nazi ideology, or the Confederate battle flag." The leg…

SHARE

by Nicole Valinote
Politics
Where's Cuomo? Governor Has Not Been Since In Public Since AG Sex Harassment Probe Interview Where's Cuomo? Governor Has Not Been Since In Public Since AG Sex Harassment Probe Interview
Where's Cuomo? Governor Has Not Been Since In Public Since AG Sex Harassment Probe Interview Some are questioning where Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been as he failed to make any public appearances this week after meeting with investigators from the New York Attorney General’s Office as the sexual harassment probe into him nears its conclusion. Cuomo was scheduled to be questioned by outside lawyers in Albany on Saturday, July 17 following allegations by at least eight women who claim that he harassed or acted inappropriately with or around them. Earlier story - Cuomo To Be Interviewed In Sexual Harassment Investigation However, since that interview, Cuomo, once the face of New York’s fi…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
New Law Changes Age Of Consent To Be Married in NY New Law Changes Age Of Consent To Be Married in NY
New Law Changes Age Of Consent To Be Married in NY New York State has raised the age of consent to be married, building upon previous legislation to eliminate child marriage in the state. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a measure on Thursday, July 22 raising the age of consent to be married in the state to 18. Previously, 17-year-olds could be married with judicial and parental consent. The measure is set to take effect 30 days after becoming law. It applies to licenses issued after that date. "This administration fought hard to successfully end child marriage in New York and I'm proud to sign this legislation to strengthen our laws and further p…

SHARE

by Nicole Valinote
Politics
NY Lawmakers Fall Short For Now In Effort To Rename Donald J. Trump State Park NY Lawmakers Fall Short For Now In Effort To Rename Donald J. Trump State Park
NY Lawmakers Fall Short For Now In Effort To Rename Donald J. Trump State Park Lawmakers in New York will have to wait, as their efforts to remove the Trump name from a Hudson Valley state park stalled in the Assembly. The state Senate approved a bill this week that could have led to New York stripping the Trump title from the rarely frequented Donald J. Trump State Park on the Westchester-Putnam border. Earlier story - NY May Rename Trump State Park The Senate approved a new, scaled-down version of the legislation with the hope of getting it passed before the Legislature wrapped its annual session at the state Capitol this week. However, the Assembly didn’t take up…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Forging A Vaccination Card Could Soon Be A Felony In New York COVID-19: Forging A Vaccination Card Could Soon Be A Felony In New York
Covid-19: Forging A Vaccination Card Could Soon Be A Felony In New York Lawmakers in New York are looking to make penalties harsher for those attempting to forge COVID-19 vaccination cards to fraudulently claim they’ve been vaccinated. The Democratic-led Assembly has proposed legislation that would make it a felony in New York to forge a vaccination card or fraudulently provide proof of immunity with the intent to defraud. “New Yorkers deserve to know that when they attend an event or go to a ballgame where proof of vaccination is required that those around them are not putting people at risk by using forged documents,” Assemblymember Jeff Dinowitz stated. “…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Politics
Hudson Valley Assemblyman's Proposed Bill Named For Cuomo Accuser To Protect Whistleblowers Hudson Valley Assemblyman's Proposed Bill Named For Cuomo Accuser To Protect Whistleblowers
Hudson Valley Assemblyman's Proposed Bill Named For Cuomo Accuser To Protect Whistleblowers A Republican lawmaker in New York took a thinly veiled shot at Gov. Andrew Cuomo with new legislation to protect whistleblowers named after one of the women accusing him of sexual harassment. Hudson Valley Assemblyman Mike Lawler, who represents parts of Rockland, was among the New York lawmakers to introduce new legislation to amend the state’s penal code to add a misdemeanor penalty for public officials that engage in retaliation against those who report any form of sexual harassment. The move comes as Cuomo faces claims of sexual harassment, inappropriate touching, and fostering a hostil…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Politics
State Senate Votes To Revoke Cuomo's Emergency Executive Powers State Senate Votes To Revoke Cuomo's Emergency Executive Powers
State Senate Votes To Revoke Cuomo's Emergency Executive Powers New York’s Senate Majority has passed legislation that will rescind Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s emergency COVID-19 powers amid multiple scandals plaguing his administration. On Friday afternoon, March 5, the Senate advanced legislation repealing the temporary emergency powers that the legislature granted to Cuomo last year at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation revokes Cuomo’s authority to issue new directives while allowing those that are now enforced and involving the state's public health to continue under "significantly greater legislative oversight." According to the Senate, “…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Isaias: Cuomo Proposes New Penalties For Utility Companies' Response To Storm Isaias: Cuomo Proposes New Penalties For Utility Companies' Response To Storm
Isaias: Cuomo Proposes New Penalties For Utility Companies' Response To Storm New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a scathing indictment to the state’s utility companies for their muted response to Tropical Storm Isaias, which left some without power for more than a week. During a briefing on Monday, Aug. 24, Cuomo announced he plans to propose legislation that will increase penalties for utility companies when they fail to properly plan and respond to a storm. Cuomo also said that some franchises could ultimately be fired if they don’t make the necessary changes before future storms strike. “The utility company responses were unacceptable following the recent tropica…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Politics
Harckham, Astorino Spar Over School Mascots In State Senate Race Harckham, Astorino Spar Over School Mascots In State Senate Race
Harckham, Astorino Spar Over School Mascots In State Senate Race The race for State Sen. Peter Harckham’s seat in the 40th District with former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino is heating up as the two trade barbs over school mascots. This week, Harckham, a Democrat, purportedly introduced a bill that would limit funding to New York school districts that have potentially race-based mascots or logos that could be deemed offensive, such as those with ties to Native Americans. Related story - Astorino Will Challenge Harckham For State Senate Seat Serving Parts Of Three Counties The proposed legislation would impact at least three high schools in t…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Ban On Chokeholds, Other Police, Criminal Justice Reforms Become Law In New York Ban On Chokeholds, Other Police, Criminal Justice Reforms Become Law In New York
Ban On Chokeholds, Other Police, Criminal Justice Reforms Become Law In New York New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law that will radically reform policing throughout the state. At the conclusion of his daily COVID-19 briefing on Friday, June 12 in Manhattan, Cuomo signed a police reform package that he dubbed the “Say Their Name Agenda.” Flanked by Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and Rev. Al Sharpton, Cuomo signed the legislation into law that includes the ban of chokeholds by police. The package also calls for the repeal of Section 50a of the Civil Rights law, which will include more transparency of police disciplinar…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Politics
Closed-Door Negotiations Could Result In Change To Controversial NY Bail Reform Measure Closed-Door Negotiations Could Result In Change To Controversial NY Bail Reform Measure
Closed-Door Negotiations Could Result In Change To Controversial NY Bail Reform Measure Could New York's bail reform laws that took effect this year soon be a thing of the past? Gov. Andrew Cuomo and State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins reportedly met behind closed doors this week to discuss the much-maligned and oft-criticized newly enacted bail reform laws. The two were reportedly looking to make potential changes to the law before the New York State budget has to be signed into law on Wednesday, April 1. As of Wednesday, Jan. 1, thousands of inmates throughout the state were put back on the streets due to Cuomo’s bail reform legislation, which marked the en…

SHARE

by Zak Failla