In with the New, out with the Old

Nearly a week after the 2015/2016 budget passed, lawmakers and Governor Cuomo are happy about the results. The two main points addressed in the new budget is a focus on education and ethics. Increasing the budget by nearly twenty-four billion dollars was the greatest increase in school spending in New York State history. Ensuring that the education system will be able to “thrive” has been a focus for Cuomo since his election to Governor in 2008.

Transforming the educational system was a top priority as was in the following year for the Governor.  Recruiting the best teachers for is something that New York State believes is their duty to the public. Providing scholarships to both SUNY and CUNY students who commit to teach in New York for a minimum of five years. This will help ensure educators are doing their best to increase their knowledge as well as their teaching abilities. A restructured Teacher Evaluation System was also included in the Educational Transformation Act of 2015. This transformation created a two category grading system based on student performance and teacher observations.  While the above is based on student test performance, the Governor and Legislature made recommendations to decrease the over all amount of state and local testing. These two ideas contradict themselves and could potentially create confusion down the road. The new transformation also includes tenure-performance, bonuses and promotions, teacher removal and to help transform failing schools.

While all of these ideas were created to help and benefit both the students and educators, parents and educators are unsure of how it is going to work. They suggest implementing this on a smaller scale as a test run before mandating it to schools across the state. If a school district refuses to abide by these new regulations, that school district will loose all state funding to its programs.  To read more information about the NYSUT rejecting the teacher evaluation system click here

Lawmakers Take the Budget into Overtime

As of Sunday this week, governor Cuomo was expecting his 5th on time budget but when the clock struck midnight, lawmakers were not done approving. The State Assembly finished passing bills just before 3am Wednesday morning.

An agreement of a proposed spending plan of $150 billion budget was set on Sunday night. Arguments on certain portions of the budget pushed the deadline, specifically the education reforms Cuomo has been trying to start.

The Senate, that is a majority of Republican, finished on time with their passing of budget bills but the Democratic assembly took the time away from Cuomo. Unlike the last time New York’s budget was last, which was in 2010, these years could have been worse. In 2010, New York States budget was 125 days late. It was the latest budget in NYS hisory.

Carl E. Heastie, who negotiated his first budget as a Assembly speaker, stated that “all of the operations of government were done before midnight.” He defended Mr. Cuomo on having an on time budget this year along with corrupted official Shelly Silver. He stated that “if we walked out of here today, right now, there would be no shutdown in government and that every agency could operate.”

Although this years budget was a few hours late, many assemblyman believed it was an on-time budget and the time to deliberate it was well used. Unfortunately Cuomo was unable to celebrate an on time budget like usual, “Tonight, both houses of the Legislature have successfully passed the 2015-2016 budget spending plan to allow for the continued operation of government,” he calmly stated after midnight.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/02/nyregion/new-york-passes-state-budget-hours-after-midnight-deadline.html

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de blasio on recent LGBT laws in Arkansas and Indiana

The States of Arkansas and Indiana recently passed a bill on the 31st of March 2015 that denied gay couples the right to service by religious conservatives. This bill is part of a religious freedom law that was passed in 1993 to protect religious minorities, however, the meaning of the bill has changed overtime. The recent bill passed by the two states is used by religious organization to undermines the rights of women, gays, lesbians, and other groups. it has become a means of discriminating against certain groups of individuals, which has raised number of protests around the country.

 

Governor Mike pence has stood up to current critics describing the recent laws as discriminatory, he said "the law does not permit discrimination against gays and lesbians". "These laws are part of the bill passed to protect religious liberty, rather than give businesses right to discriminate against anyone", he says at a conference in Indianapolis. Moreover, critics are saying that this bill might be a stumbling block to many people seeking for employment due to religious beliefs.

Gov. Cuomo's time in office is also marked by his successful legalization of gay marriage in New York State. He remarked on the current bill, as somewhat hateful toward other individuals. In response to the bill the governor said "New York has been, and will continue to be, a leader in ensuring that all LGBT persons enjoy full and equal civil rights". The Mayor and Governor of New York has also taken a step further to ban any travel to Indiana funded by the government of the state. Travels will only occur to Indiana and Arkansas only in the case of health and safety issues. Both the Governor and Mayor have criticized the bill saying it is not a clear representation of the progress made by the United States to promote equality of individuals.

Governor Cuomo has taken more steps to show his support for LGBT by advertising "Everyone is welcome" in New York, on the Facebook social network. New york state's ban on all government funded travel to Indiana might also affect SUNY basketball coaches during the NCAA tournament.
To learn more about State travel ban and how it affects SUNY Basketball athletes and staffs click here.

Last Minute Bills are No Joke

Today will be used to sift through the news to find exactly what what passed in the dying hours of the budget process in both the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly.
Fortunately the Senate was actually on time (before midnight) when voting on the budget and were treated to an after-party at the Governor's mansion. The Assembly was unfortunately held up past midnight and didn't thump down the gavel until reportedly 3 a.m. The partial blame for this may go to a Republican Conference on capital spending 10 minutes from midnight. Assembly Minority Leader Republican Brian Kolb noted that "If they had these bills in front of us three days ago we would all be home right now,".

This bring up a serious issue that has come to be common place in the New York State Legislature. The lack of time given to legislators to properly read and understand legislation has become overwhelming.  According to the Brennan Center Report in 2008 "Still Broken: New York State Legislative Reform"  in 2007 within the last 30 days of a legislative session before a recess, 76% of major bills passed in the Assembly and 71% of major bills passed in the Senate. Even worse is that 31% of major bills passed in the Senate and 45% of major bills passed were within just 3 days of recess. How are our representatives supposed to act on each piece if they are crammed into the end of a session? 

Making matters worse is the use of Messages of Necessity. These are when the Governor can have the legislatures immediately vote on a particular bill. A rule like this  is not conducive to debate or discussion of legislation. 

Even though it is a day for jokes and pranks, it seems as though the legislature is pulling one on the public. They might be acting as a representative body that is conducted to act according to democratic principles such as accountability, responsiveness, and transparency. It seems as though this is too good to be true. 

Who likes nature?

Governor Cuomo and State Lawmakers have come to a conclusion on the 2015/2016 budget. While the Governor didn’t get some things he wanted like increasing the minimum wage and aid to undocumented college students, he did get approval of fixing the NYS Park System.  The proposal called NY Parks 2020 plans to restore the parks to their natural beauty, restore facilities and make the visitor experience more enjoyable.

With the new budget, the proposal would give the NY Park Department 900 million dollars in public and state funding over the course of multiple years until 2020. In the most recent budget that is expected to pass, will include 110 million dollars, which will act as the initiative. The money will be spent in many different ways to enhance visitors’ experience. Creating new recreation facilities will open the parks to many new possibilities, Governor Cuomo stated. Creating nature centers within the parks is a way to get children in school districts more involved in the environment. Modernizing and refurbishing picnic areas and campgrounds will ensure more visitors have a positive experience within the Park System. The 2020 plan will help ensure that the parks remain up to date throughout the 21^st century.

While the plan lays out many ways in which the parks could benefit, many locals groups are opposed. They do understand the need to preserve the parks but disagree with adding swimming pools, athletic fields, and playground. They feel the park offers enough out door activities that there is no need for such upgrades.

Since Governor Cuomo has taken office, NYS Park attendance has increased and continues to grow at a steady rate of eight percent and in 2014 had sixty-two million visitors. Many of the parks were threated of closure but have since been flourishing since the implement of the multi-year transformation, which was implemented between 2010 and 2014. With all time highs, there doesn’t seem to be an ending for the New York State Park System.

To learn how you can help on I Love My Park Day which takes place on May 2^nd, click here.

Budget Arrives on Time

Governor Cuomo and state lawmakers have finally come to a close on a settled state budget for 2015-2016. Just days before the deadline of April 1^st, the new state budget will include education reforms, new ethics measures and more. This is the fifth year in a row for New York State to be releasing their budget on time.

Although the budget still needs to be formally approved by lawmakers, it is still uncertain on what the budget will consist of until it is approved, but we do know that governor Cuomo proposed a $150 billion spending plan.

Unfortunately Cuomo was forced to drop some of his proposals in order to get the budget approved before April 1^st. He dropped his proposal to increase the minimum wage, and a plan to help provided tuition aid to students called the Dream Act. He also dropped his proposal for a tax credit to help with high property taxes, policies on sexual assault, and new oversight for cases against unarmed citizens killed by police officers.

Within the new budget the state was able to agree on where to spend some their extra $5.4 Billion that they had received from settlements with financial institutions. The governor’s office stated that $1.5 billion of the money will be spent towards economic development programs, and $500 will be spent towards Cuomo’s proposal for expanding broadband Internet statewide.

Since state lawmakers have not approved the budget, information being released is scarce. What is included in this year’s budget is a $1.6 billion increase in education aid statewide. Within this agreement it will make it more difficult for teachers to obtain tenure. Also schools that show low performance levels will have a length of time to improve or else they will have to appoint new management.

As the week goes on and lawmakers approve the budget, details on what is included in this year’s budget will follow.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/30/nyregion/tentative-deal-is-reached-on-new-york-state-budget.html?_r=0

Prison Guards Want More Money from Cuomo

State Prisons have been asking Governor Cuomo to consider adding more funding from the state budget to state prison facilities. Over the past years, prison violence has been on the increase, which endangers our prison guards significantly. The union that represents New York’s 54 correctional facilities has started a campaign to raise awareness on the uprising issue.

They have started fund raising for a radio ad that is aimed at the state to help provide additional funding for officer safety within state prisons. The ad is a 60 second radio recording that states facts about increasing drug and violence in prisons lead to more fights between inmates.

Governor Cuomo’s budget at this time includes around $3 million set aside to fund New York’s States Department of Corrections. The $3 million set aside for New York’s correctional facilities is a 1.4 percent increase from the 2014-2015 budget.

http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/State-prison-guards-seek-more-funding-as-6151861.php

Inmate population has decreased since 2011, when Cuomo took office. Through various justice reforms, he has been able to close more prisons and decrease the inmate population, which is at an all time low in state history.  13 correctional facilities closed, over 5,500 beds reduced all over the past four years.

With the closing of prisons, it still means some inmates are just moved across the state, which could cause over crowding in others. Over crowding in prisons is a ticking time bomb for riots or other fights. Prison guard assaults are at an all time high with drug activity increasing in prisons.

Just in the past month, a female prison officer was attacked in Rikers Island Correctional Facility and nearly raped by an inmate. With the lack of officers on duty the response by other officers was slow to her rescue. Luckily, a group prison inmates who had witnessed the attack jumped in to save the guard until more correctional officers were able to get to the attack. 

Unfortunately attacks like this happen everyday across the state. Attacks like these scare officers and prevent them from a safe work environment. More money from Cuomo’s budget is needed to help fund more officers on duty, not just keep the prisons under control, but to keep each other safe as well. correctional officers need more resources, and improvements in technology to help fight against prison violence and attacks on prison guards.