Monday, April 6: Final State Budget Re-Cap, Statement, Town Supervisor Featured in the New Yorker, & the Latest in COVID-19 News and Updates
I joined my colleagues in the Assembly this week to negotiate and vote on New York State’s final budget for FY 2020–21 under extraordinary circumstances due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In what are truly challenging fiscal and economic times not only for New York but the entire country, I commend my colleagues in the legislature and the Governor for their work in ensuring that New York is adequately prepared for the uncertain year ahead.
Additionally, please find below any new information relating to the COVID-19 pandemic at the Federal and state level as New York continues to be at the epicenter of the national outbreak.
Legislative News and Events:
• Read My Full Statement on Enactment of the State’s Final Budget for FY 2020–21:
“Early this morning, the Assembly passed final bills as a part of the overall New York State budget package for fiscal year 2020–2021. The budget plan funds critical programs and maintain key services — from healthcare to education, the environment and criminal justice reform — at a time when we find ourselves in the midst of an rapidly growing global pandemic, economic upheaval, and an unprecedented revenue shortfall of $10 to $15 billion. While imperfect, this budget succeeds in funding the priorities that will ensure New York can successfully navigate this crisis.
This was the most difficult budget of my tenure in the Assembly, and our finances remain on very shaky ground — particularly if Congress does not come through with additional aid for states and municipalities in a 4th stimulus package. The budget includes a series of very difficult funding trade-offs in healthcare, education, and the environment while supplementing recent federal stimulus or CARES funding to help plug rapidly growing holes in the state’s finances as the economy has ground to a halt to help fight the spreading pandemic. I’m pleased the Assembly resisted additional education, healthcare, and Medicaid cuts, and restored some funding to public libraries — but disappointed virtually all the revenue proposals included in the one-house budget resolution were left off the table.
Despite this year’s challenges, New York has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting our environment and combating climate change through: permanently banning fracking and banning most polystyrene; a $3 billion Environmental Bond Act that includes funding for energy-efficiency upgrades and projects for municipalities, SUNY, and CUNY; “Article 10” siting reform to accelerate renewable energy projects while strengthening the role for local input and hearings and authorizing e-bikes and e-scooters. Together these reforms will help ensure that New York meets the ambitious climate and energy goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act passed last year.
Further, a three-way compromise was reached on modifications to last year’s historic criminal justice and cash bail reforms while ensuring its overall intent and impacts remain intact. These adjustments continue to preclude the use of the “dangerousness standard” and adds more crimes to list of bailable offenses, including: high-level drug possession and sale felonies, Assault 3 and Arson 3 as Hate Crimes, criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds, aggravated assault of a child under age 11, Domestic Violence crime of strangulation, and endangering the welfare of a child while registered as a Level 3 Sex Offender. Additional modifications were made to last year’s discovery laws, including 5 more days for initial discovery while prioritizing incarcerated defendants, more confidentiality for victims in limited cases, and removing traffic violations from last year’s law.
While this budget has more trade-offs than usual given the difficult and challenging economic times New York finds itself in due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, I believe this is an effective path forward given the extraordinary circumstances we face. I commend the Speaker Heastie and my Assembly colleagues for crafting a balanced approach given the precarious finances and reiterate the serious need for a 4th Stimulus Package from Congress to assist the state going forward.”
• WATCH: Floor Remarks on the NYS Budget: Click here to watch some of my brief remarks from the floor of the Assembly as we voted late in the night on Wednesday to pass the state budget; while some notable environmental wins were included which I spoke to, I was disappointed over cuts to education and Medicaid funding.
• City & State: NYS Budget Summary. Click on this link to read a good summary of the major issues covered in the NY budget including health, education, and some of the few wins in the budget for the environment. Please note this budget is on shaky ground due to the dire economic circumstances our state finds itself as we seek to fight the growing COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, the budget includes language that authorizes the state budget director to make changes “if new revenue estimates make the budget unbalanced. The reassessments will take place at three points during 2020 — the first “Measurement Period” runs April 1 — April 30, the next May 1 — June 30 and the final from July 1 — Dec. 31. If at any point the budget falls out of balance, the state budget director will be able to “withhold all some of the amounts appropriated” to localities within the bill. While these are rather extraordinary budget powers, please note the legislature is allowed 10 days to find alternative budget solutions before these cuts are imposed. To avoid the need for additional cuts, NYS is in serious need of a fourth stimulus package and federal assistance for the state and local governments.
• Guilderland Supervisor Barber Highlighted in the New Yorker Magazine. A view of how one New York Town is grappling with COVID-19. This terrific feature and insight into the Town of Guilderland’s work is written by the daughter of Supervisor Barber and it’s a true shout out to his work!
• Read My Letter Urging Action, Flexibility Amidst Healthcare Professional PPE Shortage: I penned an open letter urging the need for flexibility and action amidst the nationwide shortage of PPE equipment for healthcare professionals on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, 45 healthcare workers at Albany Medical Center along tested positive for COVID-19 last week. While our hospitals and health care facilities continue to grapple with the urgent and serious nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks, we need to allow maximum flexibility on wearing masks to protect the staff and all patients. This CNN article cites the Chair of the National Academy of Sciences — who is urging the widespread use of masks in particular.
• Promote Your Business. Thanks to the Retail Council of New York, you can now register and support these businesses. If you are a business, a Retail Council member or not, you can list for free through August. If you are a consumer, you can look and shop while social distancing!
• COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing Center to Open at UAlbany: UAlbany is partnering with the state to open the Capital Region’s first drive-thru testing site on an appointment-only basis at their uptown campus. I’m pleased to see this type of partnership and collaboration and commend the Governor for recognizing the need to expand testing in Upstate New York but particularly the Capital Region.
• NY Times: NY’s Density Control Measures Are Working: The COVID-19 density-control measures New York State and the State of Washington have implemented are working and are proving to be effective at controlling the rate of hospitalization — which is critical to saving as many lives as possible over the next few weeks.
• Census Day 2020! April 1st was ✅ Census Day ✅! Complete the 2020 United States Census questionnaire and #BeCounted to ensure our Capital Region communities and neighborhoods receive their fair share of federal funding and resources. You should have received an invite in the mail to participate in the 2020 Census either by
️ phone,
online, or
mail — visit my2020census.gov for more information or to begin filling it out!
>> Click here for The New York Times’ COVID-19 National and State Case Tracker <<
Most Recent NY PAUSE | COVID-19 Updates:
- New York will move its scheduled April 28 Presidential primary election to June 23 and will extend the state tax filing deadline until July 15, in line with the extended federal deadline.
- Public schools will remain closed until April 15th, extended beyond the original date of April 1st, which may be reassessed in the future. Meals, services, and other ongoing programs will continue until that time.
Federal COVID-19 Stimulus Check Information:
New Federal Resources Available for Small Businesses:
NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles + Registration/Inspection Updates:
NYS Dept. of Labor Unemployment Insurance Updates:
Workers that have filed a claim for/are applying for unemployment insurance (UI) in NYS will receive an automatically added $600 a week due to the recently passed $2T Federal stimulus (CAREs Act) legislation. Gig economy workers, independent contractors, freelancers, and more are eligible to apply. More information below.
New York State Department of Labor UI FAQ: https://www.labor.ny.gov/ui/pdfs/ui-covid-faq.pdf
Tenants Guide to NY’s Residential Eviction Moratorium:
Health Insurance Enrollment Period Extended for Displaced Workers:
The New York State Health Insurance Marketplace has opened a first-ever second open enrollment period to assist New York workers displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure all New Yorkers are covered. The new open enrollment period lasts until April 15th: https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/
Job + Employment Opportunities:
NYS Dept. of Labor Openings: The New York State Department of Labor is hiring an immediate 40 employees at their Albany location, for more details please visit: https://labor.ny.gov/careerservices/CareerServicesIndex.shtm
NYS Dept. of Health Openings: The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is looking for new employees (Office Assistant I Temp./multiple openings) to complete data entry on a flexible schedule to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic at the Wadsworth Center here in the Capital Region and other locations. Please share with anyone you know who might be interested and get the word out.
Price Chopper Hiring 2,000+ Workers. Price Chopper will expedite and shorten the hiring process to bring on over 2,000 new employees throughout our region. To apply, visit pricechopper.com/apply.
Amazon Hiring 100,000+ Nationwide for Distribution. Amazon plans to hire over 100,000 nationwide to help with distribution of packages for an expected rise in online ordering. To apply visit www.amazon.jobs.
Target Hiring. Target plans to hire hundreds of new employees in most of its stores. To apply, please visit www.jobs.target.com/.
Hannaford Hiring. Hannaford plans to hire thousands of workers in the Northeast. To apply, please visit www.hannaford.com/careers/.
Walmart Plans to Hire 150,000+ Workers: Walmart plans to hire an additional 150,000 workers nationwide. To apply, visit https://storejobs.wal-mart.com/HiringCenter/.
ALDI: https://careers.aldi.us/
Dollar General: https://careers.dollargeneral.com/
Domino’s: https://jobs.dominos.com/dominos-careers/
Stewart’s Shops: https://www.stewartsshops.com/careers/
Mental Health Resources:
Social isolation and stress as a result of the disruption caused by #COVID19 can exacerbate existing mental health problems and affects everyone differently. Call the NYS mental health hotline at 1–844–863–9314 for free emotional support, consultation, and referral.
Domestic Violence Resources:
There has been a recent reported uptick in domestic violence-related cases and it’s important to remember you are not alone; the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence hotline is open 24/7 at 1–800–942–6906.
Hate + Biased-Related Crime due to COVID-19:
If you believe that you were the victim of a hate crime or bias-related incident as a result of the novel coronavirus or for any other reason, please call the New York State Hate Crimes Task Force at 1–888–392–3644 or contact the New York State Attorney General at civil.rights@ny.ag.gov.
COVID-19 Legal Assistance for Low to Middle-Income Earners:
Via the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York: The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York is continuing to offer its full range of legal services — new/existing clients are asked to call Albany, Amsterdam, + Saratoga Springs office numbers for assistance.
Additional COVID-19 Updates:
All non-essential construction must cease operation except for emergency construction (e.g. a project necessary to protect the health and safety of the occupants, or to continue a project if it would be unsafe to allow to remain undone until it is safe to shut the site). More information on this Executive Order can be found here, including an updated list of essential businesses.
Healthcare providers and healthcare facilities who need equipment should request supplies from their local county emergency response unit or department. Albany County’s link: https://www.albanycounty.com/government/county-sheriff/emergency-management-office
How Can You Help?
Nonprofit + COVID19 Capital Region Response Fund: Co-led by the United Way of the Greater Capital Region and the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region, The Capital Region Community COVID-19 Response Fund has been established to provide flexible resources to 501c3 organizations working with local communities who are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus and the economic consequences of this outbreak. Funding will be provided to organizations located and operating in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady Counties. Please consider donating to the fund today to help our community respond to needs during this time of crisis.
New York State — How You Can Help: New York State is looking for both mental health and public health professionals to volunteer at medical facilities throughout the state or remotely to help manage the COVID-19 outbreak. Interested individuals can find more information here and apply at this link.
Albany Medical Reserve Corps: Albany Co. is looking for primarily licensed medical professionals with more information at this link. Medical Reserve Corp members, both clinical and non-clinical will be key in staffing the POD sites. Non-clinical volunteers will perform administrative support roles such as registration, data entry, language translation, crowd control, and assisting with special needs residents. Clinical volunteers would be integrated with Department of Health staff to conduct medically appropriate tasks.
109th District | Capital Region Family Resource Guide, Now Available en Espanol:
REMEMBER: Please stay at home, avoid public gatherings, and practice social distancing of at least a 6-foot radius to help #FlattenTheCurve. Should you have any questions during this time please do not hesitate to utilize my office as a resource at (518) 455–4178 or fahyp@nyassembly.gov.
