Brooklyn Dems Nominated an Anti-Abortion Judge + Subway Fares Increase
No. 336 | Monday, August 21, 2023
The NYC Thorn is a weekly roundup of local political news compiled by members of NYC-DSA.
Local News
The Brooklyn Democratic Party nominated an anti-abortion judge to a 14-year term on the state's highest trial court.
New York Attorney General Tish James declined to represent the State in its attempt to avoid an obligation to provide shelter to migrants. Governor Kathy Hochul believes New York's "right to shelter" only applies to the City government, but James noted a "philosophical difference" in declining the case.
A new law passed by the city will fine commercial landlords $10,000 for knowingly leasing space to unlicensed cannabis shops. Meanwhile, the state's formal licensing system is currently stalled by a legal challenge.
Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill permanently banning any further dumping of radioactive waste into the Hudson River, a waste disposal solution proposed by the defunct Indian Point Energy Center.
Mayor Adams launched a program that would amend zoning language to make it easier for commercial landlords to convert office buildings into housing, as part of his goal to create 20,000 housing units from office space in the next decade.
Environmental, civic, and environmental justice organizations have called for changes to the New York-New Jersey Harbor storm surge protection plan proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which would impact public access to the water on long stretches of existing developed waterfronts and parks.
Over $4 million sits in unclaimed commissary accounts at Rikers Island despite a legal obligation that the Department of Corrections return the funds.
While the City has recently made strides in distributing SNAP funds, New Yorkers who are owed cash assistance from other programs are still seeing long delays.
A City Council hearing revealed significant opposition to congestion pricing remains among several council members, even while tolling infrastructure around Manhattan is being installed in advance of a 2024 launch.
On Sunday, subway fares rose for the first time in four years to $2.90.
Local News
Donors listed on Mayor Eric Adams campaign filing from the 2021 election claim they were illegally reimbursed, or never gave in the first place, according to a report by The City.
The Democratic primary in the 17th Congressional district (Putnam County), where Republican Mike Lawler unseated Sean Patrick Maloney last year, is attracting many candidates.
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