New York State Insider: New York State Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti 92nd District: Special Session Update From Albany.

 

Sept. 1, 2021  Special Session Update from Albany

Dear Neighbor,         I am writing to you from my desk in Albany. Yes, Albany! Usually the legislative session begins in January and ends in June. This is not a usual year.         Today the new Governor, Kathy Hochul, has called the Legislature into special session to consider legislation to extend the already once-extended moratorium on residential and commercial evictions, which expired yesterday. While the legislature In April appropriated more than $5 billion Federal and State dollars to various programs in our budget to help New Yorkers get through the pandemic, the Cuomo administration’s inaction delayed making most of these monies available to New Yorkers in need. Now we must determine how best to proceed. So many of our neighbors who are tenants owe so many months back-rent because they were significantly impacted by the pandemic. So many of our neighbors who own 1-4 family homes have been financially devastated without that rent. We are attempting to fashion a plan that keeps our neighbors who are tenants in their homes until State monies are released, but that also protects our neighbors who are landlords and who are dependent on rents for income to pay their living expenses and property taxes.          We are hopeful we can reach a fair and equitable solution today.  Judciary Committee         Since the end of formal session, I have been in Albany several times as a member of the Assembly’s Judiciary Committee. I have met with my Judiciary Committee colleagues and our lawyers, and reviewed evidence concerning our investigation into whether various allegations against Andrew M. Cuomo were sufficient to sustain articles of impeachment. While his resignation has removed the potential for impeachment, the public deserves a full report on what our investigation has uncovered about his alleged abuse of office. We are investigating allegations that:  1 - he created a toxic work environment in his office where sexual harassment was acceptable; 2- his public reports intentionally mislead the public on the number of nursing home deaths as a cover-up for policy mistakes; and 3 - he illegally used his staff and other government resources to write his memoir (for which he is being paid $5 million dollars.)  Welcoming Governor Hochul           I congratulate our new Governor Kathy Hochul, who is making history as the first female Governor of the State of New York. I am excited to have a new governor who, like me, worked in local government and understands how important it is that State policies and actions are designed so they can be reasonably implemented by local governments - the governments closest to the people.