Governor Cuomo issued his 2022 budget proposal on January 19, 2021.  The state is facing a $15 billion budget deficit that the Governor hopes will be filled by federal funding. His budget does include various revenue raisers to help offset the budget hole, such as legalizing adult use marijuana and on-line sports betting. It does not include any increased taxes on the ultra-wealthy.

Senate Finance Committee Chair Liz Krueger and Assembly Ways and Means Committee Chair Helene E. Weinstein have announced the Joint Legislative Hearing Schedule on the 2021-22 Executive Budget Proposal. 2021 Joint Legislative Hearing Schedule (nyassembly.gov)

These hearings, each of which focuses on a programmatic area, are intended to provide the appropriate legislative committees with public input on the Executive Budget Proposal. In the interest of public health and safety, the hearings will be conducted virtually using web-based video conferencing. 

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo presented his annual State of the State address (virtually) over the course of four days, beginning Monday, January 11, 2021.  The Governor laid out his plans for the state, which includes how New York will recover from the COVID-19 crisis.

Here are some highlights from the Governor’s plan:

• Legalize adult use marijuana
• Allow on-line sports betting
• Require $15 per month high-speed Internet Service for low income families
• Create a rapid resting network as a tool to help businesses reopen
• Improve access to telehealth
• Protections for commercial and residential tenants
• Addressing systematic injustice
• A $306 billion infrastructure plan
• Building the green economy in New York State

The Governor’s entire State of the State book is available on his website.

Governor Cuomo announced the following administration appointments this week:

– Kumiki Gibson has been appointed Counsel to the Governor

– Elizabeth Garvey has been appointed Special Counsel and Senior Advisor to the Governor

– Jim McDonough has been appointed Director of the Division of Veterans’ Services

– Jesse Campoamor has been appointed Deputy Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs

– Simonida Subotic has been appointed Deputy Secretary for Economic Development

– Jeremy Shockett has been appointed Deputy Secretary for Public Safety

– Matthew Saal has been appointed Senior Advisor for Communications

– Colleen Curtis has been appointed Senior Director of Digital Strategy and Social Media

– Jeremy M. Goldberg has been appointed Deputy Secretary for Technology and Innovation for NYS

– Edgar Santana has been appointed Director of Downstate Regional Affairs

– Brandon Hicks has been appointed Director of African American Affairs

– Maria LoGiudice has been appointed Assistant Deputy Secretary for Public Safety

– Molly Reilly has been appointed Assistant Secretary for Upstate Intergovernmental Affairs