Category: NY Politics

New York Republicans Push for Constitutional Amendment Allowing District Attorney Recall Elections

Republican lawmakers in New York are pushing for a constitutional amendment that would establish a process through which electors can remove district attorneys from office if they are “soft on crime.” Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R-Oswego), Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt (R-Lockport), Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn), and Deputy Senate Republican Leader Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) introduced the constitutional…


Bulletproof Vests to Be Illegal for Civilians in New York From July

It will become illegal in July to sell bulletproof vests to most civilians in New York after the governor signed into law a package of “gun safety measures” in the wake of the mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo in May. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) signed state Senate Bill 9407B on June 6 making…


NY Governor Signs Gun Control Package, Including Law Raising Age to Own Semiautomatic Rifles

New York’s governor on June 6 signed 10 bills related to efforts to prevent shootings, including legislation that raises the minimum age to obtain semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21. The package also included bills that make it illegal for most people to buy or sell body armor, expand the so-called red flag law that…


New York Passes Bill Halting New Bitcoin Mining Projects

The New York State Senate passed a bill early Friday that seeks to ban new cryptocurrency mining projects in a bid to tackle some of the environmental issues associated with the use of proof-of-work authentication methods to validate blockchain transactions, such as bitcoin. The bill, which still needs Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature to become law,…


NY State Legislature Tightens Gun Laws, Raises Age to Buy, Possess Semi-Automatic Rifles

New York’s legislature on Thursday voted to pass a number of bills as part of its “comprehensive package” of gun safety laws following a string of mass shootings across the United States, including one that changes the age at which semi-automatic rifles can be purchased or possessed in the state. The Democratic-controlled legislature passed a string of…


Judges Rule Trump, Children Must Testify in New York Investigation

Former President Donald Trump and two of his children must testify in the investigation headed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a panel of judges ruled on May 26. The panel of New York Supreme Court justices said that the Trumps had not proven that they were “treated differently from any similarly situated persons,”…


NY Gov. Hochul Suggests Raising Gun Purchase Age Limit After Texas Mass Shooting

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Wednesday that she wants to work with the legislature to raise the age limit for some gun purchases in the Empire State. “I have a question to ask: How does an 18-year-old purchase an AR-15 in the State of New York, State of Texas? That person’s not old…


NY Rejects Parents’ Appeal for Religious Exemption From Schoolchildren Vaccinations

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from parents who sought to challenge New York lawmakers’ decision that eliminated religious exemptions to vaccine requirements for schoolchildren. On Monday, the nation’s high court released an order (pdf) announcing their decision not to hear arguments in the case F.F., as Parent of Y.F. v. New York,…


Supreme Court Rejects NY Parents’ Appeal for Religious Exemption From Schoolchildren Vaccinations

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from parents who sought to challenge New York lawmakers’ decision that eliminated religious exemptions to vaccine requirements for schoolchildren. On Monday, the nation’s high court released an order (pdf) announcing their decision not to hear arguments in the case F.F., as Parent of Y.F. v. New York,…


New York Judge Approves New Congressional Map

Justice Patrick McAllister, a judge from the rural Steuben County, signed off on a new congressional map for New York, boosting Republican chances of gaining seats in the upcoming November midterms. McAllister approved the map just before midnight on May 20. Jonathan Cervas, the court-appointed special master who drew the map, created it in such…