The New York Quill
Dive into my collection of articles that take on the fast-paced world of New York state politics published by The Legislative Gazette! From breaking stories to insider insights, I bring you fresh takes on the people and policies shaping the Empire State. If you're looking for sharp analysis and a bit of fun along the way, you’ve come to the right place!
NYC to Begin Using Mental Health Teams For Some on-Violent Emergency Calls : In a year that has seen a widespread rethinking of policing tactics, the largest department in the United States is preparing to launch a new program that deploys teams of mental health professionals, social workers and EMTs to some emergency calls, instead of the police.
Senate Passes Legislation to Criminalize Untraceable Gun Parts in New York: To mark the three-year anniversary of the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Fla., the state Senate has passed two bills that would make it harder to build or modify AR-15 style assault rifles using untraceable parts.
Legislation Would Prevent Debt Collectors From Seizing Stimulus Checks From Vulnerable Families: The Senate recently passed legislation (S.5923-A) sponsored by Senator Kevin Thomas, that would prevent the revocation of federal COVID-19 stimulus checks for individuals and families with children to satisfy money judgments.
Yankee Stadium Hosting Mass Vaccination Site in the Bronx: Opening day at the Stadium in the Bronx came early this year. The mass vaccination site at Yankee Stadium is now open, providing up to 15,000 appointments for Bronx residents in an area that is grappling with the highest COVID-19 positivity rate in the five boroughs.
Bill That Restores Voting Rights To People On Parole Is Now Headed To The Governor’s Desk: On April 21, the state Assembly passed bill (S.830/A.4448) that would automatically restore voting rights to individuals who were formerly incarcerated, convicted of a felony. The Senate previously passed the bill on Feb. 24.
Bill Aims To Crack Down On Deceptive Police Interrogations, Requires Study by DCJS: Senator Zellnor Myrie and Assemblyman Clyde Vanel have been working with the Innocence Project to draft a bill (S.324/A.6570) that addresses the issue of deceptive interrogations that lead to false confessions and convictions.
Postal Banking Services Would Help Underserved Communities and Shore Up Struggling USPS, say Lawmakers: A coalition of Democratic lawmakers is pushing a plan for the 2022 budget they say will generate new revenue for the struggling U.S. Postal Service while filling a void in banking services — especially for rural and urban Americans.