What Happened (And Didn't) in Albany

After a state budget that won a $15 minimum wage and paid family leave, the end of the legislative session brought real disappointments.

The Legislature came into this year with a mandate to pass real ethics reform after the conviction of the leaders of both houses of the legislature, including closing the LLC Loophole, which allows unlimited, anonymous dollars to flood the political process. But Senate Republicans blocked any movement -- even breaking their own rules.

I was able to push issues forward, working with colleagues, the community, and advocates:

• My bills to get small businesses some much-needed support, and require New York State to pursue flexible work schedules will become law with the Governor's signature.
• The Senate Democratic Conference Policy Group I chair put forward ideas to increase college affordability and success, take action on climate change, and support families.
• The Senate passed my bills to combat identity theft and address infrastructure trespassing stunts. The push for these continues in the Assembly.
• I worked with colleagues across the aisle to secure bipartisan support for overturning Citizens United.

Unfortunately, closing the LLC Loophole wasn’t Albany’s only failure:

• The Senate Majority blocked my bill to fix the state’s broken speedy trial law.
• Albany finally took a step forward in fixing our broken ticket law after my long push, but eliminated an important transparency provision we passed out of the Senate with bipartisan cooperation.
• Battery Park City residents organized to urge a community voice in local decision-making and support my legislation to strengthen that voice, but the Senate didn’t allow a vote. 
• Sadly, the Senate Majority also blocked critical progress on a number of bills, including GENDA and a measure to increase policing transparency, both of which I sponsor, and bills I’ve long supported, like the Dream Act, Reproductive Health Act, and strengthened rent laws.

I’ll keep up the push on these issues. But now, I look forward to getting to spend more time in the district, and hearing directly from community members about community priorities. Please don’t hesitate to contact my office anytime atsquadron@nysenate.gov or 212-298-5565.