In The News-New York State
Governor Lays Out Proposed Changes to State’s Climate Law as Part of FY2027 Budget Negotiations
Governor Kathy Hochul detailed her much anticipated changes to the State’s 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) today in an op-ed in the Empire Report. The changes include a reduction to the 2030 required emissions limit and changing the emissions counting methodology to align with international standards used by “nearly every other US State.”
“We need more time, and so I am proposing we amend the law to require regulations to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions to be issued at the end of 2030,” Governor Hochul explained. “…we are seeking to change what emission limits the regulations are tied to – including a new 2040 target as well as the existing 2050 statewide emission limits. Nothing else in the CLCPA is changing regarding the existing statewide emission limit targets and these new regulations would still require the state to make timely progress, ensuring long-term policy stability.”
Governor Hochul cited the pandemic, supply chain issues, and inflation as reasons for the revisions. She also pointed to President Donald Trump’s opposition to clean energy including offshore wind.
“.. we need to change the accounting methodology we use to count emissions to align with the international standards used by the global community and nearly every other U.S. state,” she wrote. “Otherwise, these impossible emission reduction targets…only used by NY and one other state…will ensure our failure despite all of our efforts and billions of dollars spent.”
Governor Hochul asserted that the proposed changes preserve the intent of the law while “realistically recognizing” the economic and political challenges facing the State. Even with the adjustments, Governor Hochul explained. New York is in line with other states including California, Washington, and Colorado.
New York Launches the FutureWorks Commission to Respond to Impacts of AI on Workers Across the State
Citing that artificial intelligence is poised to reconfigure the global labor market, Governor Kathy Hochul this week launched the FutureWorks Commission to advise on policy and private sector interventions to protect the economic security of workers while harnessing the economic benefits of AI.
The “blue ribbon” Commission will be composed of experts, workers’ advocates, and business leaders, and will be charged with advising Governor Hochul on how to navigate the AI transition.
“During a time of rapid technological evolution, it is crucial that New York embraces the best AI has to offer in terms of efficiency and innovation, but also we as a state have to reckon with the ways it’s poised to disrupt some of the foundations of our society,” Governor Hochul said. “My ambition for New York is to lead the nation in AI innovation with a workforce that’s ready to use AI to their advantage — not be victims of it.”
According to Governor Hochul, there is no clear consensus on AI’s ultimate impact on the labor market. Credible research presents a wide spectrum of uncertainty, with some estimates pointing to more than 30 percent of all workers facing significant disruption or displacement from increasing adoption of AI. Additionally, reports have shown that entry level corporate jobs in New York City have fallen 37% between 2022 and 2024, a change which may be partially attributable to AI adoption.
“I don’t do commissions just for the sake of saying, ‘Oh, I checked the box. I did a commission,’” she said in published reports. “This is going to have real, tangible recommendations that we can then implement, either by executive order, by policy, or in our next budget.”
Comptroller DiNapoli: Service-Providing Industry Dominates State’s 21st Century Economy
Since 2000, health care and social assistance and other service-providing industry sectors, have increased their share of total employment in New York state (including New York City), while the number of jobs in goods-producing sectors continued a long-term decline, according to a report released this week by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
“Service-providing industry sectors have powered job growth across New York state and have helped shape the 21st century economic landscape,” said Comptroller DiNapoli. “The strengthening of these service industries has been widespread, although there are still notable regional differences in the mixture of sectors. This report provides industry-level job and wage data and workforce trends to help policymakers as they continue their work to ensure quality employment opportunities for all New Yorkers.”
Over 85% of the almost 9.7 million jobs statewide, including New York City, were in service-providing industry sectors in 2024, with jobs in the health care and social assistance sector accounting for over 20% of total employment, followed by educational services (9.9%) and retail trade (8.6%).
The average annual pay across all jobs statewide (including New York City) was $95,152, nearly 26% higher than the average annual pay ($75,590) for all jobs in the United States. The finance and insurance sector was responsible for almost half of the difference in average annual pay for all jobs between the state and the nation. Outside of New York City, average annual pay varied significantly by region, from a low of $57,772 in the Mohawk Valley to a high of $78,013 on Long Island.
Statewide findings include:
- In 2024, health care and social assistance, the largest industry sector in the state for decades, had over 1.9 million jobs, more than the next two largest sectors – educational services and retail trade – combined (1.8 million).
- Retail trade, while still the third-largest sector in 2024 with close to 836,000 jobs, has experienced an overall decline in employment since 2000.
- The sectors that experienced statewide job growth greater than 30% between 2000 and 2024 include:
- Health care and social assistance (63.3%),
- Accommodation and food services (45.8%),
- Professional, scientific and technical services (31.1%), and
- Transportation and warehousing (30.1%).
On a regional basis, each of the state’s nine regions outside of New York City share three of the five largest industry sectors – health care and social assistance, retail trade and educational services. Accommodation and food services was also one of the largest sectors in every region except the Mohawk Valley.
The New York State Department of Labor projects that manufacturing employment statewide will decrease by 12% from 2022 to 2032, while health care and social assistance is projected to see the strongest growth of any sector (27.8%), with an estimated increase of over half a million jobs statewide. Accommodation and food services and educational services are expected to see job growth of 21% and 18.6%, respectively.
In The News-New York City
Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Tisch Announce Codification of Body-Worn Camera Policy
NYPD policy now requires body-worn camera footage to be released within 30 days of critical incidents, formalizing a transparency practice
Mayor Zohran K. Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) has formally codified its practice of releasing body-worn camera footage within 30 calendar days of a critical incident.
The practice has been regularly followed during Commissioner Tisch’s tenure and is now a formal departmental requirement. The 30-day standard applies to incidents involving the discharge of a firearm by an officer that result in a member of the public being struck, as well as police use of force that results in serious injury or death. The Police Commissioner may also authorize the release of body-worn camera footage in other circumstances when doing so would help maintain public order or contribute to public safety.
Uniformed members serving below the rank of Deputy Inspector are required to wear body-worn cameras. The NYPD’s body-worn camera program covers more than 29,500 officers. Officers are required to activate their cameras before taking police action.
City Council Secures Commitment from Corporation Counsel to Release 9/11 Documents
At this week’s New York City Council Preliminary Budget hearing for the Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation, Speaker Julie Menin secured a commitment from Corporation Counsel Steve Banks that the City’s Law Department will create a public online portal to release documents related to post-9/11 air quality and health risks.
During questioning at the hearing, Banks confirmed that following Speaker Menin’s questioning during his February 4 confirmation hearing, he directed the Law Department to review the issue and begin preparing documents for public release.
The commitment comes after Speaker Menin called for full transparency surrounding what the City knew about toxins in Lower Manhattan following the September 11 attacks, particularly after the recent discovery of an internal city memo indicating officials feared the health impacts of early air quality advisories.
“I asked the Law Department to take a hard look at releasing the 9/11 air quality and health risk files so that the public — particularly first responders and survivors of the tragedy — can finally have transparency,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “Today we secured a commitment to create a public portal so all New Yorkers can access these vital documents. For too long, families have waited for answers. Transparency is critical not only for accountability, but for the thousands of people still living with 9/11-related illnesses.”
More than 140,000 first responders and survivors are currently enrolled in the federal World Trade Center Health Program, with tens of thousands suffering from certified 9/11-related illnesses.
“The remaining residents and survivors of the attacks want to know what the City knew about the hazards, and when,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer, Chair of the Committee on Government Operations, State & Federal Legislation. “Furthermore, early analysis of the toxins that engulfed lower Manhattan and northern Brooklyn could lead to medical breakthroughs for those still struggling with 9/11 illnesses.”
Governor Hochul Calls for Restoration of 9/11 Health Program Staff as Trump Administration Shifts Personnel to Immigration Enforcement Agency
Governor Kathy Hochul this week called on the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the federal Department of Homeland Security to “undo efforts to gut” essential services provided through the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program by reassigning personnel to federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to the Governor, this ongoing reduction in the WTC Health Program’s workforce and operational capacity directly affects the health, safety, and long-term welfare of the first responders and others who answered the call during and after the September 11 attacks, including members of the New York State Police, the New York Police Department, the New York Fire Department and the Port Authority Police Department.
“The World Trade Center Health Program is a lifeline for the survivors and first responders who answered the call almost 25 years ago and afterward without hesitation — and they deserve the same support from their government today,” Governor Hochul said. “Reducing staff for an essential health program that has already faced drastic cuts in order to support an out-of-control enforcement agency with a history of failing to protect Americans is reprehensible. Our first responders and their families deserve better.”
Governor Hochul explained that diverting personnel away from this critical program inevitably slows medical certifications, delays treatment approvals, and increases administrative backlogs for individuals who often require urgent care. Many 9/11-related cancers progress rapidly, and any delay in certification or treatment approval can mean the difference between early intervention and advanced disease. To date, more first responders have died from 9/11-related illnesses than the 2,974 killed on September 11, 2001.
Briefs
New York Launches Initiative to Integrate Firearm Injury Prevention Screening into Hospital Care
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of a first-in-the-nation pilot program to integrate firearm access and injury risk screening into emergency department visits, a proactive approach designed to prevent violence before it occurs.
A $1.5 million investment from the New York State Office of Gun Violence Prevention will expand the Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention (FIMP) initiative created by Northwell Health’s Center for Gun Violence Prevention, to Buffalo, Rochester and the Bronx, equipping health care providers with tools to assess firearm injury risk and connect patients with safety resources and interventions.
The $1.5 million will allow Northwell Health’s Center for Gun Violence Prevention to provide training, technical assistance, coordination and support to the three participating providers: Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, and SBH Health System in the Bronx.
The program integrates voluntary firearm injury risk screening into emergency department visits for patients who are 12 and older, regardless of the reason for their visit. The screening is brief, confidential, and incorporated into existing clinical workflows. Patients who screen positive will be offered resources such as gun locks, secure storage guidance, lethal means counseling, extreme risk protection order support, referrals to community-based violence prevention programs, behavioral health and victim services.
This effort represents a shift toward primary prevention by identifying risk factors before harm occurs. Currently, most hospitals do not conduct routine screening for firearm injury risk, limiting opportunities for early intervention.
Mayor Mamdani Announces End to Criminal Enforcement for Minor Traffic Offenses for Cyclists and E-Bike Riders
Beginning Friday, March 27, the New York City Police Department (NYPD)’s policy under the prior administration of issuing criminal summonses to e-bike riders and cyclists for low-level traffic offenses will be rescinded. Under that policy, riders could be criminally charged for minor violations such as disobeying a stop sign — forcing them to appear in criminal court, with failure to appear risking a bench warrant or arrest.
Under the Mamdani administration, these violations will instead be addressed through the same civil summons process as licensed motorists. In addition, the Mamdani administration will work with the City Council to develop legislation addressing the root causes of unsafe e-bike and cycling delivery practices. The legislation will:
- Require third-party delivery companies to provide trip-level data on deliveries, worker penalties and safety incidents to NYC DOT;
- Authorize the City to establish safe delivery time standards and regulate penalties imposed on workers;
- Authorize NYC DOT to require enhanced training for delivery workers who repeatedly engage in unsafe e-bike and cyclist behavior; and
- Expand commercial delivery safety and training requirements to cover all two-wheeled devices, including mopeds and motorcycles.
Mayor Mamdani Appoints Renita Francois as Deputy Mayor for Community Safety
Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed Renita Francois as Deputy Mayor for Community Safety and signed an Executive Order to create the first-ever Mayor’s Office of Community Safety.
Francois served as Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Program Officer at Tides Advocacy and previously served as Executive Director of the Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety within the Office of Criminal Justice under Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The Office of Community Safety will focus on “addressing the root causes of crime and violence, streamlining and expanding evidence-based crime prevention programs and strengthening wraparound services,” per the Administration.
City Unveils New Tools and Financing to Help Homeowners Add Ancillary Dwelling Units
The Mamdani Administration released a new set of tools this week to make it easier for homeowners interested in adding an ancillary dwelling unit (ADU) to their property.
The city’s new ADU for You website features an ADU Guidebook, a Pre-Approved Plan Library, and site feasibility analysis and cost estimating tools to help homeowners navigate bureaucratic and financing details when adding an ADU such as a backyard cottage or “in-law unit.”
The City will also newly reopen applications for the Plus One ADU program, which offers financial and technical assistance to qualified homeowners to add an ADU. The Plus One ADU program, established with City funding and grants provided by the New York State Homes and Community Renewal, and operated in partnership Restored Homes HDFC, provides homeowners with up to $395,000 in financial support and technical assistance to add an ADU.
In addition to helping homeowners understand the regulations and access financing to build an ADU, the Mamdani administration is launching a simplified permitting process for pre-approved ADU plans. This pre-approved plan library is launching with eleven ADU designs that have already been reviewed and approved by the Department of Buildings (DOB). The city will connect homeowners who select an ADU option from this library with the registered design professional who created the design in order to obtain site-specific approval. DOB will review and add additional pre-approved plans as they are submitted by design professionals.
9/11 Solidarity Network Helps Claimants Obtain Vital Documentation for 9/11 Compensation Fund Claims
It is becoming increasingly difficult for some claimants to find documents to prove their presence at an eligible location so many years after the attacks. The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) understands this challenge and encourages individuals who were present in the exposure zone to gather and save their proof of presence documents now, even if they aren’t currently ill or planning to file a claim.
The 9/11 Solidarity Network, developed by Pitta & Baione LLP, directly addresses this challenge by creating a system where members can act as witnesses for one another. This network is especially vital because sworn Witness Presence Statements from people who can attest to a claimant’s presence are accepted as secondary evidence by the VCF when primary documentation is unavailable. By participating, you can provide the crucial testimony a fellow member might need while also securing potential support for your own future claim. This initiative formalizes the collective memory of our members to ensure no one is left to prove their presence alone.
For more information regarding the 9/11 Solidarity Network, please contact Pitta & Baione at 844-901-1262.
Coming Up
New York State
Monday, March 23rd
Senate Insurance Committee Meeting, 124 Capitol, 11:30 a.m.
New York State Senate Session, Senate Chamber, Albany, 3 p.m.
New York State Assembly Session, Assembly Chamber, Albany
Tuesday, March 24th
Senate Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee Meeting, 912 Legislative Office Building, 10:30 a.m.
Senate Finance Committee Meeting, 124 Capitol, 11 a.m.
Senate Codes Committee Meeting, 124 Capitol, 11:30 a.m.
Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee Meeting, 611 Legislative Office Building, 11:30 a.m.
Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee Meeting, 124 Capitol, 12 p.m.
Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee Meeting, 123 Capitol, 12 p.m.
Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee Meeting,124 Capitol, 12:30 p.m.
New York State Senate Session, Senate Chamber, Albany, 3 p.m.
New York State Assembly Session, Assembly Chamber, Albany
Wednesday, March 25th
Senate Women’s Issues Committee Meeting, 801 Legislative Office Building, 9:30 a.m.
Senate Environmental Conservation Committee Meeting, 124 Capitol, 11 a.m.
Senate Labor Committee Meeting, 308 Legislative Office Building, 11 a.m.
New York State Senate Session, Senate Chamber, Albany, 3 p.m.
New York State Assembly Session, Assembly Chamber, Albany
Thursday, March 26th
New York State Senate Session, Senate Chamber, Albany, 11 a.m.
New York State Assembly Session, Assembly Chamber, Albany
New York City
Monday, March 23rd
Committee on Education, Council Chambers – City Hall, 9:30 a.m.
Committee on Land Use, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing Room 1, 10:30 a.m.
Committee on Parks and Recreation, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing Room 2, 11:30 a.m.
Committee on Small Business, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing Room 3, 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24th
Committee on Criminal Justice, Council Chambers – City Hall, 9:30 a.m.
Committee on Public Housing, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing Room 1, 10:30 a.m.
Committee on Housing and Building, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing Room 2, 11:30 a.m.
Committee on Contracts, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing Room 3, 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 25th
Committee on Finance, Council Chambers – City Hall, 9:30 a.m.
Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Sitings, Resiliency and Dispositions, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing Room 2, 11 a.m.
Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing Room 2, 11:30 a.m.
Committee on Land Use, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing Room 2, 12 p.m.
Committee on Immigration, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing Room 3, 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 26th
Committee on rules, Privileges, Elections, Standards and Ethics, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing
Room 1, 10:30 a.m.
Committee on Finance, Committee Room – City Hall, 11 a.m.
City Council Stated Meeting, Council Chambers – City Hall, 1:30 p.m.