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Control Of State Senate Could Hinge On Hudson Valley Control Of State Senate Could Hinge On Hudson Valley
Control Of State Senate Could Hinge On Hudson Valley Democrats managed to pull six key Sept. 13 primary upsets in the state Senate, as reported here by Daily Voice, but have they raised enough money and voter support to take back the Republican-controlled chamber in Albany on Nov. 6? The Hudson Valley and Catskills are expected to play a pivotal role because the retirements of Republican Sens. John Bonacic and Bill Larkin created two open seats in the GOP-led Senate. Hudson Valley labor unions have added at least three local Senate races to their "get out the vote" phone bank call lists in the final days of the campaign. Meanwhile,…

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by Jon Craig
Politics
Former State Senate Leader, Son Sentenced To Prison For Corruption Convictions Former State Senate Leader, Son Sentenced To Prison For Corruption Convictions
Former State Senate Leader, Son Sentenced To Prison For Corruption Convictions Former New York State Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son, Adam Skelos, have been sentenced for corruption charges. In Manhattan federal court, Dean Skelos was sentenced to 51 months in prison, while the younger Skelos got four years behind bars after being convicted twice of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, three counts of extortion under color of official right, and three counts of soliciting and receiving bribes.   In addition to the prison time, Dean Skelos was ordered to pay a $500,000 fine and sentenced …

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by Zak Failla
Politics
State AG Candidates Vow To Take On Corruption In Albany At Forum In Westchester State AG Candidates Vow To Take On Corruption In Albany At Forum In Westchester
State AG Candidates Vow To Take On Corruption In Albany At Forum In Westchester Candidates for Attorney General and state Senate visited the Mediterranean Political Action Committee in Yonkers on Thursday to discuss statewide issues. The election is Nov. 6. Democrat Letitia "Tish" James and Green Party Candidate Michael Sussman spoke at the forum, discussing the criminalizaing of mental illness, criminal justice reform, corruption in Albany, gender and race.Republican Keith Wofford did not attend.  "Mental illness should not be a crime, and poverty should not be a crime," James said.  Sussman pointed out that 40 elected officials have been prosecu…

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by Daily Voice
Politics
Former NY State Senate Majority Leader, Son Convicted Of Bribery, Extortion Former NY State Senate Majority Leader, Son Convicted Of Bribery, Extortion
Former NY State Senate Majority Leader, Son Convicted Of Bribery, Extortion Guilty, again. Former New York State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son, Adam Skelos, have been convicted on corruption charges in federal court. The two had previously been found guilty of the same offenses by a jury in December 2015, but their convictions were overturned by a U.S. Court of Appeals." United States Attorney Robert Khuzami announced Tuesday, July 17 that the Skelos’ have been found guilty of bribery, extortion and honest services fraud charges following a five-week trial in court. “For the second time, Dean Skelos repeatedly abused his official position to…

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by Zak Failla
News
Senate OKs Bill To Add 'TZB' To Official Bridge Name, But Assembly Adjourns Senate OKs Bill To Add 'TZB' To Official Bridge Name, But Assembly Adjourns
Senate OKs Bill To Add 'TZB' To Official Bridge Name, But Assembly Adjourns The debate over naming rights at the new Tappan Zee Bridge continues to rage, as officials remain split on the matter. The New York State Senate voted by a count of 40 to 20 in favor of a compromised bill to add the Tappan Zee Designation to the seldom-used official name of Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, but the Democratic-controlled State Assembly ended its annual legislative session without even putting the bill to a vote, leaving its future status uncertain at best. The bill was first introduced by State Sen. John DeFrancisco (R-District 50/Syracuse area). The Senate’s vote came late on Wed…

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by Zak Failla
News
110K-Signature Petition To Restore TZB As Official Name Delivered To Cuomo 110K-Signature Petition To Restore TZB As Official Name Delivered To Cuomo
110K-Signature Petition To Restore TZB As Official Name Delivered To Cuomo What’s in a name? The battle over naming rights of the new Tappan Zee Bridge came to a head on Thursday, as several members of Save Our Tappan Zee, a group dedicated to preserving the bridge’s namesake, printed out a change.org petition that garnered nearly 110,000 signatures from local residents lambasting the name “Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.” On Thursday, the delegation traveled to the State Capitol building in Albany to drop off a printed out list of the signatures, which called open state legislators and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to restore the previous name of the span connecting Rockland…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Schneiderman Resigns As NY Attorney General Amid Abuse Claims Schneiderman Resigns As NY Attorney General Amid Abuse Claims
Schneiderman Resigns As NY Attorney General Amid Abuse Claims Eric Schneiderman resigned as New York State Attorney General just hours after he was accused of committing physical abuse while in romantic relationships by four women in a New Yorker story published Monday night. The 63-year-old Schneiderman said his last day on the job will be Tuesday. “It’s been my great honor and privilege to serve as Attorney General for the people of the State of New York," he said in a statement. "In the last several hours, serious allegations, which I strongly contest, have been made against me. "While these allegations are unrelated to my professio…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Dems Gain Numerical State Senate Edge With Two Special Election Wins Dems Gain Numerical State Senate Edge With Two Special Election Wins
Dems Gain Numerical State Senate Edge With Two Special Election Wins http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2018/04/24/election-night-bronx-district-32-westchester-district-37-state-senate-special-elections Strong Democratic victories by Democrats in Westchester County and the Bronx give that political party a one-seat Senate majority. But Republicans will stay in charge through the end of the legislative session in June because of an alliance with Democratic Sen. Simcha Felder of Brooklyn. Felder has long sided with the GOP. The most significant race on Tuesday was in Westchester County, where Democratic Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer of Yonkers easily d…

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by Jon Craig
News
New York Will Now Get $100M A Year From Opioid Manufacturers New York Will Now Get $100M A Year From Opioid Manufacturers
New York Will Now Get $100M A Year From Opioid Manufacturers The New York State Senate took opioid manufacturers to task Friday, approving a measure requiring all companies who manufacture or sell opioids in the state to split a $100 million annually to help pay for treatment costs. The surcharge, included in the state's $168.5 billion budget, will help cover the costs of the state-funded drug and alcohol and treatment programs. Expected to be approved by the Assembly late Friday, the surcharge is part of a series of opioid-abuse measures in the budget, including one that makes it more difficult for physicians to prescribe opioids to patients for lon…

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by Kathy Reakes
Politics
Actress Julianne Moore Calls Out NY Senators For Blocking Child Victims Act Actress Julianne Moore Calls Out NY Senators For Blocking Child Victims Act
Actress Julianne Moore Calls Out NY Senators For Blocking Child Victims Act Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore has blasted nine New York state senators -- including four from the Hudson Valley -- for blocking the Child Victims Act.  The actress took to Twitter to urge her followers to directly call the elected officials and tell them to stop protecting predators and pass the Child Victims Act:  Among those singled out by Moore are: Sen. Sue Serino of Hyde Park who represents parts of Dutchess and Putnam counties, Sen. William Larkin Jr. who represents parts of Rockland and Orange counties, Sen. John Bonacic who represents part of Orange County, Sen. Terrence Murp…

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by Jon Craig