The Capitol Pressroom

Home
United States
Albany, NY
The Capitol Pressroom

A daily, public radio program from New York's Capitol. Each show is infused with personality, humor and your best interests in mind.
(9)

From the State Capitol in Albany, host David Lombardo untangles the intricacies of New York state politics with elected officials, political reporters, activists and analysts. He cuts through the jargon so it makes sense for us all.

09/04/2024

Local hardware stores that sell North American wood to state and local governments in New York say they're going to have their businesses upended by a legislative effort focused on tropical deforestation.

Aug. 29, 2024 - We discuss proposed changes to New York's contracting laws that are designed to prevent tropical forest deforestation. We consider the impact of the proposal with Francis Palasieski, director of government affairs for the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association, and Louise Eddy, owner...

09/03/2024

Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. wants to set a cap (and a floor) on the interest rates municipalities can charge property owners when they fall behind on their tax bill.

Aug. 30, 2024 - Assembly Local Governments Committee Chair Fred Thiele, a Long Island Democrat, discusses legislation that would put down guardrails on the interest rates that municipalities can charge delinquent property taxpayers.

09/03/2024

Assembly Member Harvey Epstein wants to shine a light on private colleges that provide largely unregulated loans to their students.

Aug. 29, 2024 - Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, a Manhattan Democrat, wants to shine a light on student loans provided by private colleges, a practice that he contends is largely unregulated.

09/02/2024

Airbnb is opposed to efforts in Albany to regulate the short-term rental industry outside of New York City.

Aug. 28, 2024 - State lawmakers approved legislation creating a registry of short-term rental units in New York and imposing certain standards for operating the type of property that may appear on VRBO or Airbnb. We discuss the

09/01/2024

State lawmakers want to restrict school buildings from being constructed in close proximity to highways unless there are no other options.

Aug. 27, 2024 - State lawmakers passed a bill this past session restricting the construction of new school buildings near highways. We discuss the bill and school construction more broadly with Brian Cechnicki, executive director for the Association of School Business Office of New York.

09/01/2024

State lawmakers want to update the laws governing health care agents and proxies in New York.

Aug. 28, 2024 - David Levin, a senior consultant for End of Life Choices New York, explains an update to the state's laws governing health care proxies and makes the case for end of life planning.

08/31/2024

New York's health commissioner is trying to make it easier for pregnant women and senior citizens get vaccinated against RSV.

Aug. 28, 2024 - State Health Commissioner Jim McDonald talks about the state's ongoing effort to make the RSV vaccine more accessible for pregnant women and senior citizens.

08/31/2024

The Hochul administration is imposing new rules to prevent cows from catching a highly contagious form of bird flu.

Aug. 22, 2024 - State agriculture regulators are beefing up precautions to prevent New York dairy cows from contracting highly pathogenic avian influenza. We discuss the precautionary measures and cow health more broadly with Dr. Carie Telgen, a veterinary consultant.

08/30/2024

Senator Leroy Comrie is looking to add teeth to New York's laws governing how utilities respond to consumer complaints.

Aug. 29, 2024 - State Sen. Leroy Comrie, a Queens Democrat, wants to impose new guardrails and teeth to the state law governing how and when utilities respond to consumer complaints. He also wants energy consumers to have more information before a rate hike is enacted.

08/30/2024

A former Brooklyn lawmaker is taking on a statewide role in the Hochul administration.

Aug. 21, 2024 - This spring, former Brooklyn Assemblyman Walter Mosley took over as New York's 69th Secretary of State. He visited the studio to discuss the Department of State's variety of responsibilities and explain his interest in joining the Hochul administration.

08/29/2024

Assemblymember Landon Dais discusses the additional powers the state attorney general has to respond to cases of deed theft.

Listen➡️https://capitolpressroom.org/2024/08/28/increased-powers-to-combat-deed-theft/

Landon Dais for Assembly District 77

Aug. 28, 2024 - Assemblymember Landon Dais, a Bronx Democrat, discusses the state attorney general's expanded powers to penalize the perpetrators of "deed theft" and considers what can be done to stop illegal deed transfers from happening at all.

08/29/2024

We highlight the public sector employees prohibited from being part of a union.

Aug. 21, 2024 - For nearly five decades, the Organization of NYS Management Confidential Employees has been a voice in Albany for public sector workers in a managerial role that are excluded from union representation.

08/28/2024

Many New York business owners were shocked by the limitations of their interruption insurance during the pandemic.

Aug. 8, 2024 - Traditional business interruption insurance wasn't worth much to businesses during the pandemic, but a new form of interruption coverage being pushed by the Hocuhl administration may be more useful during a government shutdown of activities, according to Brad Lachut, director of gover...

08/28/2024

A battle over abortion pill reversal is being waged in state and federal court.

Aug. 22, 2024 - The safety and efficacy of an abortion reversal pill is at the center of multiple lawsuits involving New York Attorney General Letitia James and anti-abortion groups, according to Don Chesworth, a partner in the Rochester officer of the Tully Rinckey law firm.

08/27/2024

For aspiring entrepreneurs and young companies, a kitchen incubator can be the key to their eventual success.

Aug. 20, 2024 - In light of state policymakers wanting to study the economic impact of kitchen incubators, we learn how these shared facilities are used with the help of Olga Padilla-Zakour, a professor of food processing at Cornell University.

08/26/2024

We talked with the New York League of Conservation Voters about the role of a "cap-and-invest" program in hitting the state's greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Aug. 20, 2024 - The Hochul administration appears to be slow playing the development of a "cap-and-invest" program and limiting its potential scope, compared to what environment advocates want. New York League of Conservation Voters Policy Director Pat McClellan makes the case for a robust effort to...

08/26/2024

Assemblywoman Amy R. Paulin wants the state to impose regulations that will ensure embryos are stored safely.

Aug. 20. 2024 - Assemblymember Amy Paulin, a Westchester County Democrat, discusses her legislative campaign to ensure the safe storage of embryos intended for in vitro fertilization.

08/26/2024

The Citizens Budget Commission wants Governor Hochul to think twice before rubberstamping an extension of New York City tax break with questionable benefits.

Aug. 19, 2024 - Before skedaddling out of Albany in June, state lawmakers approved an extension of a tax break for commercial and industrial properties, which needs additional scrutiny, according to Sean Campion, director of housing and economic development studies for the Citizens Budget Commission...

08/25/2024

Assemblymember Donna Lupardo is looking to codify the inclusion of whole milk in the Nourish New York program, a creation of the pandemic that is celebrated across the state.

Aug. 16, 2024 - Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Donna Lupardo, a Southern Tier Democrat, discusses the administration of the Nourish New York program.

08/24/2024

After years of controversy, the deployment of a herbicide in Lake George appears not to have disrupted life in the Queen of American Lakes, according to the Lake George Park Commission.

Aug. 19, 2024 - Lake George Park Commission Executive Director Dave Wick discusses the deployment of a herbicide to fight an invasive plant and how it might be used in the future in the Queen of American Lakes.

08/24/2024

Assemblymember Alex Bores wants to make sure state agencies are considering all their options for data storage and management.

Aug. 16, 2024 - Assemblymember Alex Bores, a Manhattan Democrat, discusses how state agencies could utilize more cloud technology for data storage and management in the future, including developing its own cloud infrastructure.

08/23/2024

A coalition of labor and community groups have come together to boost Democratic turnout in purple congressional districts in New York.

Aug. 19, 2024 - After a disappointing congressional performance in 2022 for New York's Democrats, a group of community and labor organizations have come together to ensure battleground seats in the Empire State go blue. We discuss this effort with Battleground New York's Gabby Seay.

08/23/2024

State lawmakers want to revive a dormant task force focusing on rising sea levels.

Aug. 16, 2024 - In light of state lawmakers looking to revive New York's task force on sea level rise, we examine the threat of rising sea levels and how to mitigate the danger with the help of Amy Chester, managing director at Rebuild by Design.

08/22/2024

We talked with the head of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance about checks going out this summer to low-income families.

August 16, 2024 - New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara Guinn talks about a $350 million effort to combat child poverty by sending checks this summer to low-income families. She also provides an update on the work of the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory

08/20/2024

State lawmakers are looking to bring more transparency to the work of automobile brokers, who can help people rent or lease a car.

Aug. 15, 2024 - Assemblymember Robert Carroll, a Brooklyn Democrat, explains legislation designed to provide more consumer protections, including fee transparency, when purchasing or leasing a car with the help of an automobile broker.

08/19/2024

What is the right way to regulate the deployment of new artificial technology in New York?

August 13, 2024 - Artificial intelligence is likely to play a larger and larger role in society, so how should it be regulated? We explore that question with Cornell Tech Vice Provost and Dean Greg Morrisett, who also discusses a report from the state attorney general's office on

08/18/2024

New York policymakers are hoping to reduce waste from uneaten food by getting more of it to hungry people or ensuring it is recycled.

August 12, 2024 - Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky, a Westchester County Democrat, makes the case for expanding the companies and institutions covered by New York's Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law.

08/17/2024

Assemblywoman Sarah Clark - AD 136 advanced two bills this legislative session that could make child care subsidies more accessible to families across New York.

Aug. 15, 2024 - Assemblymember Sarah Clark, a Rochester Democrat, discusses efforts to expand access to child care subsidies, including changing minimum wage thresholds and allowing for presumptive eligibility.

08/17/2024

A new poll of voters in New York asked about the presidential matchup, Gov. Kathy Hochul's job performance, and whether smartphones should be accessible in schools.

Siena College Research Institute- SCRI

August 8, 2024 - Siena College Research Institute pollster Steve Greenberg breakdowns a recent survey of likely New York voters about their presidential preferences, smartphones in schools, and the governor's job performance.

08/16/2024

Despite New York ending its COVID-19 health emergency, nursing homes complain that they're still saddled with pandemic-era data reporting requirements.

August 14, 2024 - What can we learn about the collection and utilization of health care data during the pandemic? We explore those questions and more with Stephen Hanse, president and CEO of the New York State Health Facilities Association and the New York State Center for Assisted

Address

Legislative Correspondents Association/State Capitol//25 Eagle Street, P. O. Box 7269
Albany, NY
12224

Telephone

+15184492672

Website

https://capitolpressroom.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Capitol Pressroom posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Capitol Pressroom:

Videos

We talked with the head of the downstate casino siting board about the process for awarding three new licenses, including how they learned from the 2014 process. Episode➡️https://capitolpressroom.org/2024/08/12/process-for-awarding-downstate-casino-licenses-takes-shape/

COVID-19 remains a concern

The Onondaga County health commissioner discusses the status of COVID-19 on the recent episode of CONNECT NY on WCNY. Episode➡️https://video.wcny.org/video/public-health-duldze/

Combatting the opioid epidemic

We heard from a rural health director about the challenges of combatting the opioid overdose epidemic during the recent episode of CONNECT NY on WCNY. Episode➡️https://video.wcny.org/video/public-health-duldze/

We talked with Vote Solar's Lindsay Griffin about the goals the public power campaign has for the state's development of publicly operated renewable energy projects. Episode➡️https://capitolpressroom.org/2024/08/06/promoting-a-sense-of-urgency-for-states-public-renewables/

Mitigating lead risk in Buffalo

The Erie County health commissioner explains efforts to mitigate the risk of lead exposure in Buffalo on the July episode of CONNECT NY on WCNY. Episode➡️https://video.wcny.org/video/public-health-duldze/

Lead mitigation in Syracuse

The Onondaga County Health Commissioner highlighted local efforts to mitigate the risk of lead poisoning on the recent episode of CONNECT NY on WCNY. Episode➡️https://video.wcny.org/video/public-health-duldze/

State Senator Liz Krueger thinks there are clear alternatives to the ballot referendum language proposed by the state Board of Elections. Episode➡️https://capitolpressroom.org/2024/07/26/debate-over-equal-rights-amendment-ballot-language/

Repopulating New York Harbor

We talked with the Billion Oyster Project about their effort to remake New York Harbor. Listen➡️https://capitolpressroom.org/2024/07/22/oyster-restoration-efforts-key-to-cleaner-nyc-shores/

We talked with Sen. Kristen Gonzalez for New York about hitting the ground running as a freshman lawmaker in 2023. Full episode➡️https://capitolpressroom.org/2024/07/12/legislating-101-a-senate-democrats-freshman-experience/

LCA show promo

Tickets➡️ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nys-legislative-correspondents-associations-122nd-annual-show-tickets-880872482307?aff=erelexpmlt

CONNECT NY

Assemblymember Jen Lunsford explains the importance of accommodating new mothers' in the workplace. WATCH➡️ https://www.pbs.org/video/challenges-facing-women-qvbhot/

Interim DEC Commissioner going out on the job

Sean Mahar is hoping he has a chance to get outside as the interim commissioner for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Listen➡️https://capitolpressroom.org/2024/04/22/interim-commissioner-takes-the-helm-at-dec/

CONNECT NY

Low wages in the child care sector are making it hard for providers to hire staff so they can meet the high demand for their services. WATCH➡️ https://www.pbs.org/video/challenges-facing-women-qvbhot/

CONNECT-NY

Assemblymember Jen Lunsford discusses the politicization of age-appropriate sex education. WATCH➡️ https://www.pbs.org/video/challenges-facing-women-qvbhot/

CONNECT-NY

The YWCA of Syracuse & Onondaga County, Inc. is preparing girls to be successful young adults.

Delgado discusses service

As Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado prepares a statewide campaign to promote service and civic engagement, we talked with him about how he promotes those values at home for his young boys. https://capitolpressroom.org/2024/01/24/lg-antonio-delgado-talks-civic-engagement/

"Building Public Renewables"

The head of the New York Power Authority provided an update on the development of new, state-run renewable energy projects. Full interview➡️https://capitolpressroom.org/2024/01/17/nypa-requests-info-on-realizing-public-renewables/

CONNECT NY - Treaty Obligations

Learn how New York's state government is the "little brother" to the recognized Native American nations in the state. Full episode➡️https://video.wcny.org/video/indigenous-issues-xkvgup/

CONNECT-NY: Cayuga Nation

On the latest episode of CONNECT-NY from WCNY, we explored the Cayuga Nation's effort to get their own reservation in New York. Full episode➡️https://video.wcny.org/video/indigenous-issues-xkvgup/

CONNECT-NY - Reparations

What should state reparations look like for New York's indigenous people? The short answer: Land. Full episode➡️https://video.wcny.org/video/indigenous-issues-xkvgup/