4 Albany Proposals That Could Have A Big Impact On NYC

ALBANY, NY — The state Legislature kicked off its six months of work last week with the start of the 2018 legislative session, followed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo's annual State of the State speech. The governor's address was chock full of proposals for new laws and programs, many of which will need approval from New York's lawmakers.

Some are just a twinkle in the Democratic governor's eye. Others have been pushed by advocates and activists for years. But they all would have big implications for New York City if the Legislature gets behind them.

Here are four state proposals to watch in Albany that mean the most for the five boroughs.

Congestion Pricing

It's been a buzz word since decades of neglect sent the subway system into a crisis last summer. But the Legislature this year will likely take another pass at congestion pricing — a proposal to fund the Metropolitan Transportation Authority with tolls on the free East River bridges into central Manhattan.

Such a plan could add more than $1 billion a year to the MTA's coffers, a desperately needed revenue stream as the authority performs emergency fixes and plans for future repairs.

But Cuomo, who controls the MTA, has yet to put forth a concrete proposal and didn't use the State of the State speech as a platform to unveil one. A panel he commissioned last fall is finalizing a plan that will contain "a variety of alternatives," Cuomo said in Wednesday's speech.

"We know how to fix the system. It’s a question of funding," he said. "We need short-term funding this year to do emergency repairs and to install the technology for a long term solution. We also need long-term funding that is fair to all and also addresses the growing traffic and congestion problems."

Mayor Bill de Blasio, Cuomo's political nemesis, opposes the idea in principle. He says it would put a financial burden on poor New Yorkers who drive into Manhattan from the outer boroughs — a claim there's little evidence to support. The mayor wants to hike income taxes on rich New Yorkers to fund subway fixes and half-price MetroCards for poor straphangers.

It also faces opposition from the right. State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, a Republican from eastern Long Island, told reporters Senate Republicans wouldn't get behind a congestion pricing plan. The Democratic state Assembly killed a previous plan that then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg pushed.

Despite Cuomo punting on congestion pricing this week and the remaining political obstacles, transit advocates remain optimistic that it will happen this year. The fact that the governor acknowledged the need to get the system back on track was a good sign, they said.

"We’re all waiting at the edge of our seats hoping that he’ll follow through and use his power," said Rebecca Bailin, a campaign manager with the advocacy group Riders Alliance. "The ridership and the public won’t be fooled."

Ending Cash Bail

Cuomo proposed ending money bail for most criminal defendants, which would be a win for criminal-justice reform advocates who argue the system puts poor people in jail just because they're poor.

New Yorkers charged with misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies would be released on their own recognizance or under certain conditions after their arraignment. Only violent alleged criminals who might flee or pose a danger to others would be held on bail, Cuomo said.

"Race and wealth should not be factors in our justice system," the governor said Wednesday.

Advocates across the country have pushed officials to end the money bail system. But Cuomo's proposal will likely face stiff opposition from Senate Republicans, who are much more hawkish on crime issues.

Cuomo also wants to reform the "speedy trial" rules that govern how quickly criminal cases move along. Prosecutors and defense attorneys often agree to suspend those rules for scheduling purposes, which can cause lengthy delays in the justice system.

The Bronx court system has a notorious case backlog. Cuomo cited the case of Kalief Browder, who spent about three years on Rikers Island awaiting trial for allegedly stealing a backpack in the Bronx before the charges were dropped. Browder committed suicide in 2015.

Election Reforms

After years of New York's voter turnout being among the worst in the nation, Cuomo has gotten behind several reforms that would make it easier to vote, including early voting and automatic and same-day voter registration.

New York is one of just 13 states that doesn't allow early voting. Cuomo now wants to start letting voters go to the polls in the 12 days before Election Day.

He's also proposed letting New Yorkers register to vote on Election Day, eliminating the need for often-forgotten registration deadlines that depress registration and turnout. He also wants to automatically register voters when they turn 18.

These are not new proposals. Voting reforms have been introduced repeatedly, and good-government groups have pushed for them for years. But the governor's support gives them new momentum that could increase participation in state and local elections, for which turnout is notoriously low.

Attacking Sexual Harassment

State Senate Democrats proposed a package of laws this week that would halt the use of taxpayer money to pay for sexual harassment settlements and ban state and local governments from forcing harassment victims to sign non-disclosure agreements.

Cuomo included those ideas in his State of the State address, among others also backed by state legislators. The proposals are a reaction to the sexual harassment scandals involving powerful entertainment moguls, journalists and some public officials.

The changes to state policy, if passed into law, could intersect with city officials' efforts to snuff out sexual harassment in government. City Councilman Mark Levine (D-Manhattan) has proposed legislation this month to require city agencies to issue reports twice a year on internal sexual harassment complaints.

(Lead image: The New York State Assembly Chamber in Albany is pictured in June 2017. Photo by Hans Pennink/Associated Press)