Parker accused of shoving advocate at Capitol

Assistance from Shawn Ness

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Happening now:

• Michael Carey, a disabled patients advocate and a regular at the state Capitol, reported being pushed by state Sen. Kevin Parker.
• Labor chairs of the state Legislature are seeking more protections for retail workers.
• The efforts to relocate migrants upstate to five counties have been progressing slowly.
• A new class of State Police officers has graduated today.

CAPITOL FIGHT: State Sen. Kevin Parker allegedly pushed disability rights advocate Michael Carey before the Senate Energy Committee meeting today, as reported by Carey and two other witnesses.

Carey, known for his outspokenness with lawmakers, filed a police report detailing the incident, which can be viewed here.

In the report, Carey claims that Parker screamed “I don’t care,” and then physically shoved him in front of a crowd of people at the committee meeting.

While the incident unfolded, shouting could be heard in a recording of the elections committee meeting nearby.

Parker did not respond to requests for comment from Playbook.

He is known for his explosive outbursts and physical altercations, including previous incidents of shoving and confrontations. Carey expressed unawareness of this history, including Parker’s conviction for an altercation with a photographer.

“This is multiple situations,” Carey stated. “He’s a danger to other people. He was a danger to me.”

The altercation began when Carey asked Parker to support a 911 civil rights bill in honor of his late son. Parker’s response escalated to physical aggression following a heated exchange.

Witnesses, granted anonymity, mentioned Carey’s own vocal response during the incident.

After requesting police intervention, Carey offered to drop charges if Parker apologized, which Parker declined, invoking his right to counsel.

State Sen. Mario R. Mattera witnessed the incident and emphasized the need for resolution between the two parties.

Carey is now seeking a restraining order against Parker.

“I understand when people don’t deal with anger issues, they’ll go on to hurt other people,” Carey said. — Jason Beeferman

RETAIL CRIME IS NOT OVER: Despite recent legislative efforts to address retail theft, the state’s labor chairs believe more proactive measures are needed to protect workers.

Changes in the budget include upgrading assaults on retail workers to a felony and providing resources for security measures. However, labor advocates argue for additional proactive measures, such as the Retail Worker Safety Act, focusing on training for de-escalation and violence prevention.

State lawmakers are advocating for several labor bills, including those addressing warehouse worker injuries, extreme temperature standards, and nail salon workers’ rights.

“We have a very important decision to make on whether we’re going to tilt the scales towards the workers or we’re going to continue to allow for the scale to be tilted towards the bosses,” said state Sen. Jessica Ramos.

The Retail Council of New York State opposes the Retail Worker Safety Act, citing concerns about proposed mandates.

Justin Henry, a spokesperson for Gov. Hochul, highlighted the importance of combatting retail theft to protect communities. — Jason Beeferman

MIGRANT RELOCATION: Following the launch of a program to relocate migrant families from New York City to upstate regions, the progress has been slow, with only 283 families relocated so far.

Only five counties have received families, but housing availability remains a challenge. Additionally, many families are on a waiting list or deemed ineligible for relocation.

Efforts to incentivize landlords to participate in the program have not yielded significant results, but the state remains committed to the relocation initiative.

The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance reaffirmed their dedication to assisting migrant families through the program. — Shawn Ness

GRAD SZN: 228 new State Police officers have graduated from the academy, increasing the force to 4,977 officers.

Governor Hochul commended the new troopers for their dedication to public service and commitment to protecting New Yorkers.

Special awards were presented to select graduates for academic performance, firearms proficiency, and physical fitness.

State Police Superintendent Steven James welcomed the new troopers to the force and emphasized their role in serving with honor and bravery. — Shawn Ness

POLL OBSERVER PUSH: Advocates are urging lawmakers to pass a bill allowing nonpartisan groups to send neutral observers to poll sites on Election Day for increased transparency.

Current law restricts observer certification to candidates and parties, prompting calls for broader observer representation.

State Sen. James Skoufis sponsors the bill along with Assemblymember Amy Paulin to address this issue. — Bill Mahoney

MIGRANT CRISIS: Assemblymember Ed Ra and GOP lawmakers are advocating for transparency in spending on migrant programs and raising concerns about vendors providing services to migrants.

They are supporting legislation that would mandate reporting and auditing of funds allocated for migrant programs to prevent fraud and ensure accountability. — Shawn Ness

— Two New York Democrats have reintroduced a federal bill restricting public access to body armor following the Buffalo Tops shooting anniversary. (State of Politics)

— State legislators are working on passing a bill to incentivize emergency medical service providers to keep working. (Times Union)

— The Seneca Nation of Indians continues negotiations with the state on its compact. (POLITICO Pro)

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