July 28, 2023 - Politico New York's campaign finance guru, Bill Mahoney, considers what the latest fundraising figures from state politicians tells us about the emphasis on collecting small, local campaign contributions.

Fundraising status quo in Albany

July 28, 2023 - New York Wine Policy Institute Executive Director Steve Bate discusses the wine landscape in the Empire State and two pending bills at the Capitol that could dramatically impact wineries.

New York wine industry leery of Albany recycling bills

July 27, 2023 – New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Kerri Neifeld discusses a campaign to combat misconceptions about people with disabilities and talks about the state of care for New Yorkers with special needs in the 50 years after the Willowbrook School exposé.

OPWDD Commissioner talks stigma and quality of care

July 26, 2023 - A ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court is shaking up how county governments in New York typically use proceeds from the sale of foreclosed properties that owe taxes. We talk about this evolving landscape with Dave Lucas, director of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs for the New York State Association of Counties, and Drew Jarosh, treasurer for Saratoga County.

Tax foreclosure sales process disrupted in New York

July 26, 2023 - An effort by Democratic state lawmakers to ensure a neutral arbitrator weighs in on disciplinary measures of public employees outside of New York City, isn't all it's cracked up to be, according to Ken Girardin, a fellow with  the Empire Center for Public Policy.

Some public employees could see new discipline process

July 26, 2023 - Senate Labor Committee Chair Jessica Ramos, a Queens Democrat, and Lara Skinner, executive director of the Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell University's ILR School, share what they learned about creating good-paying jobs in the renewable energy sector during a visit to Denmark this summer

Denmark's lessons on the future of climate jobs

July 16, 2023 - Education Trust-NY Executive Director Dia Bryant discusses a new report examining the different rate of schools retaining white teachers compared to teachers of color over a four-year period.

Retention gap among teachers in New York

July 25, 2023 - New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas explains steps Gov. Kathy Hochul is taking to increase the pace of new home construction, including targeting discretionary grants to incentivize pro-growth policies in localities.

Hochul looks to incentivize new home construction

July 25, 2023 - State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli discusses his office's analysis of the state's updated financial plan, which is projecting growing deficits for New York's budgets.

DiNapoli forecasts tough budget choices in 2024

July 25, 2023 - New York's state and local economic development subsidies came to nearly $11 billion in 2022 and are likely to keep growing in the immediate future, according to Sean Campion, director of housing &amp; economic development studies for the Citizens Budget Commission.

Fiscal watchdog tallies up New York's economic development spending

July 25, 2023 - In 2022, state lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul pushed through changes to the state's pre-trial detention laws designed to keep repeat shoplifting offenders behind bars before trials, but the measure hasn't had much effect, according to Josh Solomon, a Capitol reporter for the Times Union.

Tweaks to bail laws fail to corral shoplifters

July 24, 2023 - Environmental Advocates NY Clean Water Director Rob Hayes responds to proposed state regulations updating when utilities need to notify customers about possibly toxic chemicals in their drinking water.

Stricter notification standards for drinking water contaminants

July 21, 2023 - Education stakeholders and state officials are in the process of proposing new pathways to achieving a high school diploma, and we break down what that could look like with Angelique Johnson-Dingle, deputy commissioner of instructional support for the state Education Department.

Commission to plot new paths to a high school diploma

July 21, 2023 - State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, a Brooklyn Democrat, makes the case for legislation designed to create a more meaningful mechanism for incarcerated New Yorkers to try to reverse convictions and guilty pleas.

Expanding opportunities to demonstrate innocence

July 20, 2023 - Assembly Health Committee Chair Amy Paulin, a Westchester County Democrat, discusses the New York Health Act legislation, including an update to quell some of the opposition from elements of organized labor.

NY Health Act amended to address union concerns

A 2012 report examining the state's care for people with special needs offered a holistic series of recommendations on how to improve the quality of supervision and supports for vulnerable New Yorkers, but the reaction from state policymakers at the time - and since - has largely ignored the broader conversation about the human services system. On the third installment of the “Justice for All” series, we focus primarily on the workforce providing care to more than 1 million New Yorkers with special needs. We also examine the independence of the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs and consider how abuse and neglect is reported.

A 2012 report examining the state's care for people with special needs offered a holistic series of recommendations on how to improve the quality of supervision and supports for vulnerable New Yorkers, but the reaction from state policymakers at the time - and since - has largely ignored the broader conversation about the human services system. <br><br>On the third installment of the “Justice for All” series, we focus primarily on the workforce providing care to more than 1 million New Yorkers with special needs. We also examine the independence of the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs and consider how abuse and neglect is reported.

Justice for All: Unfinished business

July 18, 2023 - Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a Brooklyn Democrat, makes the case for reforming the college admissions process, including discouraging special treatment for "legacies" and responding to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action.

Leveling the college admissions playing field

July 18, 2023 - Sen. Sean Ryan, a Buffalo-area Democrat, wants to empower municipalities around the state to collect additional real estate taxes that they could invest in affordable housing initiatives.

Empowering communities to invest in affordable housing

July 14, 2023 - In the wake of a report highlighting the lack of proactive efforts to help incarcerated New Yorkers vote, the League of Women Voters of New York State is urging county jail officials to make it easier for eligible voters to exercise their franchise from behind bars.

County jails present challenging voting environment

July 14, 2023 - Assemblymember D. Billy Jones, a North Country Democrat, provides an update on negotiations over disputed land between the state, Franklin County and St. Regis Mohawk tribe.

End in sight for North Country land dispute

Enjoy host David Lombardo’s approach to his interviews. This is a lively listen.

Great interview style

Really interesting take on state government and politics. A refreshing voice from Albany.

Fresh Take

The Capitol Pressroom

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