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CityAndStateNY.com
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January 21, 2019
Latest GILLIBRAND JUMPS IN U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand formally launched her 2020 presidential campaign, making her the first New York Democrat to do so. She broke the news during an appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” and the next morning she held her first presidential press conference outside a diner in Brunswick, where she lives. She modeled herself as a champion for young, working moms and someone who can reach across the aisle to get things done. Gillibrand finished her campaign kickoff with a visit to Iowa, a key early caucus state.
THE STATE OF NEW YORK Gov. Andrew Cuomo struck a notably progressive tone as he delivered his State of the State address and unveiled his executive budget on Tuesday. He laid out his plan for the legalization of recreational marijuana, which would eventually generate an estimated $300 million a year in tax revenue to be used in part to regulate the industry. Other highlights included a $1 billion increase in education funding, which is about half what the state Board of Regents asked for; a new school aid formula that Cuomo said would distribute funds to poorer schools; and a congestion pricing plan that could raise $15 billion for public transit in the coming years.
The state Legislature wasted no time taking advantage of the new era of Democratic control to pass a package of bills to overhaul the state’s famously outdated voting laws. The reforms include no-excuse absentee ballots, early voting and same-day voter registration. Lawmakers also voted to close the so-called LLC loophole, which allows limited liability companies to donate the same amount as individuals. The state Senate also passed a bill barring discrimination based on gender identity.
Back & Forth What will be your approach to Big Tech as chairwoman of the Committee on Internet and Technology this term? We need to get a better understanding of what Big Tech really means to our economy, and to our city and state. We need to figure out how not to punish the tech industry for their success, but kind of make it work for everyone. Accept the fact that it’s here to stay and it’s only going to continue to grow. We all know that.
A Q&A with state Sen.
Diane Savino The
How will you bring the state Legislature up to speed on these constantly evolving technology issues? There’s a lack of real information and professionalism around these issues in the halls of the Legislature, so I’m looking for someone to help bring that in and advise the committee. I’m interviewing someone right now who has
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“You screwed the city up!” — “The View” co-host WHOOPI GOLDBERG, to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on bike lanes in the city, via the New York Post
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got decades of experience in senior systems management, building systems, cybersecurity and even has a license for ethical hacking. You’ve talked about the need to bring labor laws up to speed with the gig economy and embrace technology’s intersection with health care, but what is your stance on Amazon’s planned office in Long Island City? I understand the concerns of the people who represent the area, that they didn’t feel they had enough input on it and they’re concerned about the arrival of something that big in that neighborhood. I do think, though, that it’s an amazing opportunity for the city of New York to capture Amazon. Hopefully the local elected officials and the people in the surrounding neighborhoods will get the answers to the questions they had before it was sold.
DARREN MCGEE/OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR; LEV RADIN. RON ADAR/SHUTTERSTOCK; MIKE GROLL; STATE SENATE
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