The Capitol Pressroom

Dec. 1, 2021 - During the 2022 legislative session in Albany, one of the big priorities for progressive activists and Democratic state lawmakers will be the adoption of so-called "Good Cause" legislation. Jay Martin, executive director of an organization representing rent-stabilized property owners in New York City, warns that the measure could have unintended negative consequences for landlords and tenants alike if enacted.

Dec. 1, 2021 - Five months after the state's pandemic disaster declaration lapsed, Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a new state of emergency as the result of the current spread and consequences of COVID-19. Dr. Isaac Weisfuse, a medical epidemiologist and former deputy health commissioner for New York City, explains the current state of the pandemic in New York, the potential effectiveness of the state's latest containment policies and how much worse transmission might get this winter.

Nov. 30, 2021 - The state will have enough electricity to meet the power needs of New Yorkers this winter, according to New York Independent System Operator President & CEO Rich Dewey, who joined the show to discuss the state's existing power capacity, the transition to renewable energy sources and much more.

Nov. 30, 2021 - State Sen. Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, a Hudson Valley Democrat, discusses the state initiated takeover of the building and code enforcement responsibilities for a village in his district that appears to be shirking its duties.

Nov. 30, 2021 - We remember the early political career of Susan John, a Democrat who represented parts of Monroe County in the state Assembly from 1991 to 2010 and recently died of cancer.

Nov. 29, 2021 - The eight-month impeachment investigation into Andrew Cuomo by the Assembly Judiciary Committee was recently publicized, so we explored the findings and how they should be utilized with Assembly Judiciary Committee member Phil Steck, a Capital Region Democrat.

Nov. 29, 2021 - In the wake of a judge raising constitutional concerns with a criminal defendant's ability to access a crime scene, Assemblyman Ed Ra, a Long Island Republican, introduced a bill that would repeal the broad access available now, which is a product of sweeping changes to the state's discovery process that were enacted in 2019.

Nov. 29, 2021 - State funding for education got a big boost earlier this year, but the increase for schools that specifically serve kids with special needs didn't keep up with New York's public schools, according to advocates for the former. Kathleen Brady-Stepien, president & CEO of the 853 Coalition, explains the ramifications of the funding imbalance and how legislation awaiting the governor's signature could change things.

Nov. 24, 2021 - With a majority of the Democratic field for governor currently residing in New York City, we wanted to explore who has the advantage in the competition for this voter rich portion of the electorate, especially the Brooklyn. City & State NY senior reporter Jeff Coltin lays out the strengths and weaknesses of the downstate candidates and handicaps how the race for the Democratic nomination could unfold.

Nov. 23, 2021 - Senate Labor Committee Chair Jessica Ramos, a Queens Democrat, is on a statewide tour to hone her proposal to provide all New York families access to affordable, high-quality child care. She discusses a sliding cost model, where the billions of dollars in funding would come from and how long it would take to implement.

Nov. 23, 2021 - Prevent Child Abuse New York Executive Director Tim Hathaway explains how more intensives and expansive outreach could significantly curb instances of child abuse in New York, where cases likely exceed 160,000 annually.

Nov. 23, 2021 - In light of the risk that climate change poses to all aspects of society, the state Department of Financial Services is flexing its regulatory muscles to make sure that New York insurers are factoring potential consequences of climate change into their decisions. The head of the department's new climate division, Dr. Nina Chen, explains what they're advising insurers to do and addresses her new responsibilities.

Nov. 22, 2021 - New York health officials now have a roadmap for eliminating hepatitis C, after the Hochul administration released a long-buried report from a task force assembled three years ago by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo to address prevention and treatment of the virus. Task force member Annette Gaudino highlights some of the game-changing recommendations and pontificates about why it took so long for the report to be publicized.

Nov. 22, 2021 - The cyber security team tasked with serving local government and public entities around the state isn't doing all that it could be, according a recent audit by the state comptroller's office. They could do a better job simply by adopting basic internal controls, according to Tina Kim, deputy comptroller for the office's division of state government accountability.

Nov. 22, 2021 - When New York's "Bottle Bill" celebrates its 40th anniversary next year, Beyond Plastics President Judith Enck hopes state lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul will use the occasion to build on the environmental policy by expanding the types of beverages with a redemption deposit and increase the nickel deposit to a dime.

Nov, 19, 2021 - For decades, New York's whistleblower protections have been narrowly defined, but that's going to change dramatically as the result of a recently enacted law, according to Allen Shoikhetbrod, managing partner of the Albany law office of Tully Rinckey.

Nov. 19, 2021 - Leigh Latimer and Abigail Swenstein, of the Legal Aid Society's Exploitation Intervention Project, discuss the shape of human trafficking in New York and highlight legislation that was signed into law in November that would protect trafficking survivors from certain legal consequences. (originally aired June 7, 2021)

Nov. 19, 2021 - Adirondack Council Executive Director Willie Janeway shares his organization's 30-year vision for the Adirondack Park, including hundreds of specific recommendations for stakeholders and big picture philosophies.

Nov. 18, 2021 - Binghamton University professor Stan Whittingham has a vision for the Southern Tier: a battery making powerhouse. The idea may sound like a stretch, but a batter manufacturing plant is scheduled to open in early 2022 in the Binghamton area and Whittingham is worth listening to since he recently won a Nobel prize for chemistry.

Nov. 18, 2021 - For a decade, Avi Israel has been on the frontlines in the fight against the opioid epidemic and he's about to take on a statewide role, helping to distribute more than $1 billion in prevention and recovery funds. We explore the work of the Opioid Settlement Board, including what should get funded, and assess where New York is in the campaign to battle opioid addiction since the arrival of COVID-19.

Nov. 17, 2021 - The interview transcripts from the state attorney general's office's investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by the former governor, also shed additional light on the state's pandemic response. The Empire Center's Bill Hammond discusses some of the most troubling revelations about the Cuomo administration's approach to this public health disaster.

Nov. 17, 2021 - The public is gaining new insights into the behind-the-scenes operations of the Cuomo administration and how the former governor interacted with women who accused him of sexual misconduct, as the result of interview transcripts released by the state attorney general's office. Politico New York's Bill Mahoney explains what the hundreds of pages tell us about Andrew Cuomo and his alleged behavior.

Nov. 17, 2021 - It was generally assumed that New Yorkers would approve a constitutional amendment to the state's ongoing redistricting process, but in light of it failing on Election Day, we're double checking what the existing rules mean for lawmakers and the bipartisan redistricting commission with the help of Jeff Wice, a senior fellow and professor with New York Law School.

Nov. 17, 2021 - Penn Station was already poised for a face lift under then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, but Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced plans to put her own spin on the transit hub. WNYC reporter Stephen Nessen breaks down the latest plan for midtown Manhattan and the potential for a new station name.

Nov. 16, 2021 - Legal Aid Society staff attorney Kate Wood explains a new lawsuit designed to reverse state laws and practices that are keeping New Yorkers from raising their family members in foster care because of distant criminal records.

Nov. 16, 2021 - The Democratic race for governor has thrust the issue of "Good Cause" eviction back in the spotlight, and just in time for the 2022 legislation session! So we checked in with the bill's senator sponsor, Brooklyn Democrat Julia Salazar, about why she thinks the bill is necessary, the politics surrounding the measure and implementation of 2019 tenant protections.

Nov. 16, 2021 - Legal Aid Society staff attorney Ellen Davidson discusses a lawsuit challenging the state's eviction moratorium, the merits of a moratorium at this stage in the pandemic and the status of rent relief aid in New York.

Nov. 15, 2021 - In the spring of 2021, state education officials had a simple direction for local educators: Write down policies that advance the goals of diversity, equity and inclusion in their schools. The implementation of that call to action has been anything but simple, with localized backlashes to the initiative prompting a coalition of education organizations to speak out in defense of the review process. New York State School Boards Association General Counsel Jay Wrona and New York State Council of School Superintendents Deputy Director Bob Lowry explain how schools are crafting their inclusion plans and why this is an important mission.

Nov. 12, 2021 - Voters in the city of Albany opted to give dramatically stronger oversight powers to their civilian police review board, so we talked with advocates of the local law change about the rationale for expanded authority and whether municipalities around New York should take the same approach.

Nov. 12, 2021 - State Sen. Rachel May, a Syracuse-area Democrat, is proposing a state commission that would try to identify and fund new initiatives designed to expand access to local news coverage in communities around New York.

Nov. 12, 2021 - State Sen. James Skoufis, a Hudson Valley Democrat, has had enough with the changing of the clocks in the spring and fall, and is pushing for northeast states to join together to implement daylight saving time all year round.

Nov. 12, 2021 - Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest, a Brooklyn Democrat, discusses the law she co-authored that reduces the consequences for minor parole violations and highlights her criminal justice goals for 2022.

Nov. 11, 2021 - In an effort to help New York's tourism industry bounce back from the pandemic, Gov. Kathy Hochul is looking to incentivize employers that bring back staff who lost their jobs and invest millions in a marketing campaign. New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association President Mark Dorr assesses the proposed recovery package and offers his own ideas for attracting more tourism dollars.

Nov. 11, 2021 - It's finally infrastructure week in America, so we're talking with Associated General Contractors of New York State President & CEO Mike Elmendorf about what the $1 trillion package approved by Congress means for the state's roads, bridges, and much more.

Nov. 11, 2021 - With about 1.5 million New Yorkers ages 5 to 11 now able to get vaccinated against COVID-19, we turned to Dr. Emily Lutterloh, director of epidemiology for the state Department of Health, for insights into the state's campaign to administer shots to kids as fast as possible.

Nov. 10, 2021 - Less than half of the students in grade 3 - 8 who traditionally take ELA and mathematics standardized assessments actually sat for the exams this past spring, but that doesn't mean local education officials can't glean important information from the results, says Dia Bryant, executive director of The Education-Trust NY.

Nov. 10, 2021 - Chris Alexander is breaking new ground as the first executive director of the state's office of cannabis management, serving in a job and agency he helped create as a contributor to the legislation legalizing adult-use marijuana that became law in the spring. He joins the show to discuss his role in the state, the hemp regulations approved by the state Cannabis Control Board and the future of New York's adult-use marijuana market.

Nov. 10, 2021 - A former quarry in Greene County that has been a constant source of fossils for decades, is now being recognized as the home to the fossilized remains of the world's first known forest, according to Dr. Lisa Amati, the state paleontologist, who joined the show to explain what's been found, why it matters and New York's other fossil finds.

Nov. 9, 2021 - Environmentalists are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to transition 2 million homes to energy-efficient, all-electric residences by 2030, in order to make a dent in the state's greenhouse gas emissions, according to Lisa Marshall, of Mothers Out Front NY, and Sonal Jessel, of WE ACT for Environmental Justice.

Nov. 9, 2021 - In order to pay out a record number of unemployment claims during the pandemic, New York had to borrow billions of dollars from the federal government - money our friends in Washington D.C. want back. Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United, explains how the state's unemployment benefits are normally funded and offered a plan to ensure our pandemic debts don't drag down the state's employers.

Nov. 9, 2021 - Cryptocurrency mining is likely to expand New York's carbon footprint, according to Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Steve Englebright, a Long Island Democrat, who recently held a hearing on the issue and wants to impose a moratorium on the practice.

Nov. 9, 2021 - Investigative Post Executive Editor Jim Heaney breaks down the results of the Buffalo mayoral race, including where incumbent Byron Brown got his votes from and how India Walton's socialist ideas factored into the election.

Nov. 8, 2021 - For more than 10 years, Andrew Cuomo left his mark on the state's economic development initiatives as governor. So what will Gov. Kathy Hochul's approach look like? In light of recent economic development appointments by the new governor, we asked that question to Newsday reporter James Madore.

Nov. 8, 2021 - The future of the Buffalo Bills is quarterback Josh Allen, but where his home games will be played is a much more ambiguous question, which is being negotiated by state and county officials with the team's ownership. USA Today network state editor Jon Campbell discusses the possible outcomes of this process, including locations for a new stadium and who will foot the bill.

Nov. 8, 2021 - New York's revenue collections halfway through the fiscal year continue to exceed budget projections, according to the Citizens Budget Commission's Patrick Orecki, who breaks down the latest financial update from the Hochul administration.

Nov. 8, 2021 - Hundreds of municipalities in New York are preemptively opting out of the state's recreational marijuana market, according to the Rockefeller Institute's Heather Trela, who explains the calculations being made by local leaders all over the state and why she thinks more will make a similar decision - at least temporarily - before the end of the year.

Nov. 5, 2021 - A state law governing permits for handguns is in jeopardy of being struck down after the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week challenging its constitutionality, according to Robert Spitzer, distinguished service professor emeritus at SUNY Cortland.

Nov. 5, 2021 - In light of a recently announced settlement in a lawsuit designed to increase state funding for public education in New York, we take a trip down memory lane with Michael Rebell, the co-counsel for the plaintiffs in the 1993 lawsuit brought against the state by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity. We explore nearly 30 years of legal challenges, what the settlement by the Hochul administration means and the future of the state's education funding distribution model.

Nov. 5, 2021 - For more than 60 years, the state Office of Mental Health's Nathan Kline Institute has been on the cutting edge of treating the human brain and their work is continuing to break new ground, as they recently secured a $3.7 million grant to develop and utilize a cutting edge MRI system. We hear from the institute's Dr. Donald Goff and Dr. Alexandre Franco about why this technology matters and how they'll use it.

Nov. 4, 2021 - A media literacy advocacy coalition is pushing four bills that they hope will give New Yorkers the tools they need to process the news and sort out the "fake news" that gets promulgated on social media. Media Literacy Now's Jaclyn Siegel and the New York Library Association's Briana McNamee unpack the legislative proposals and what it means to be media literate.

Nov. 4, 2021 - New York Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs discusses the Election Day results, including the GOP victories on Long Island, the Buffalo mayoral race and the losing propositions championed by Democratic lawmakers. We explore what message - if any - voters were sending to Democrats and how they should respond in 2022.