With assistance from Shawn Ness, the latest news from New York includes:
– The budget deadline is approaching, likely not until the weekend.
– The owner of Indian Point is suing over being blocked from dumping into the Hudson River.
– Arrests were made after people disrupted a Mayor Eric Adams event.
– Updates on energy measures in the state budget.
Additionally, the budget is now 18 days late. The end is in sight as bills are being printed smoothly despite cyberattacks, and key budget items are being addressed. Governor Kathy Hochul is in New York, confident in the progress made. She has achieved her budget priorities, including housing agreements and changes to the school aid formula. Crime-related updates include increased penalties for assaults on retail workers and the creation of retail theft teams.
Furthermore, the owner of the Indian Point nuclear plant is suing New York over a law preventing them from dumping radioactive water into the Hudson River. The lawsuit argues that the ban violates federal law.
Lastly, climate activists who disrupted Mayor Eric Adams’ event have been arrested and charged with forgery, trespassing, and disorderly conduct. They printed fake name tags to gain access to the event and are facing legal consequences. The rest faced only one charge each. Levy denied any influence on the arrests and charges, while Adams dismissed the threat, confident in his own abilities to handle the situation. Bragg’s spokesperson stated that the mayor’s office made charging decisions based on evidence and law, not outside influences. The Association for a Better New York did not respond to inquiries. The protesters entered the Upper East Side venue confidently without needing to fake anything. Ogborn criticized Adams for prioritizing police as a solution to New York’s issues. The Parks Council’s centennial celebration will illuminate landmarks in green and gold across the state. Hochul praised the visionary leadership that led to the current park system. The City Council approved a zoning proposal to allow casinos in the five boroughs. Some Council members expressed concerns about the potential impact on local zoning control. New York’s housing inventory hit a record low in March, with prices increasing significantly. Lawmakers and Hochul agreed on changes to streamline approval for transmission lines to support renewable energy projects. The agreement was praised by renewable energy developers for addressing the need for improvements in the permitting process. Labor unions secured wins with expanded prevailing wage and project labor agreement requirements. Storage projects receiving subsidies were not included in the expansion. Vinny Albanese, executive director of the state Laborers’ Political Action Fund, emphasized the importance of having labor standards attached to the transmission siting changes. The budget will also feature a sales tax exemption for residential storage projects, a study by NYSERDA on the need for fast charging along highways and freight corridors, and increased fees for air permits and pollutant emissions. Additionally, all movie theaters in the state will now be allowed to sell alcohol. President Joe Biden is set to visit New York next week, coinciding with Micron receiving funding. Mayoral control will also be addressed in the state budget, with the latest changes detailed in a report by POLITICO Pro.
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