April 4, 2019. This article discusses the Trump administration’s claims that illegal immigration costs the United States $200 billion a year, which experts challenge. The author goes on to note that undocumented immigrants are not eligible to receive public benefits with the exception of medical treatment for emergencies, emergency disaster relief, immunizations and pregnant women are eligible for Women, Infants & Children (WIC).

April 3, 2019. This article discusses the disappointment that advocates expressed when the New York State 2020 fiscal year budget was passed and it did not include a pied-a-terre tax, that would have implemented a recurring tax on non-primary residences that were worth more than $5 million. The author goes on to highlight that although a pied-a-terre tax was not included, a “mansion” tax, which will implement a one-time tax on residences sold for more than $25 million and a … (read more)

April 3, 2019. In this op-ed the author discusses their support for expanding access to driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants. The author argues that allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers licenses would make roads safer, strengthen trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities, and help immigrants integrate. Mickey Belosi, the author, also argues that in places like rural New York, a driver’s licenses is a necessity and that the 2005 REAL ID Act allows states the opportunity to develop a … (read more)

April 3, 2019. This op-ed discusses the opposition to the governor and lieutenant governor’s pay raises included in New York State’s 2020 fiscal year budget. The author notes that Governor Cuomo received a 40 percent pay raise and will be the highest paid chief executive by 2021. The author goes on to discuss how the pay raise was included in the budget despite funding for library construction and the Special Olympics being cut.

Once again, the state budget was passed … (read more)

April 2, 2019. This article discusses the controversy surrounding Governor Cuomo’s pay increase to $250,000 compared to the average salary of all governor’s at $179,000. The author goes on to highlight that even though the governor got a pay increase, funding was cut for library construction and the Special Olympics in New York State. The article quotes FPI’s executive director, Ron Deutsch, who points out that human service workers are severely underpaid. The author goes on to quote many advocates … (read more)

April 2, 2019. This article discusses New York State lawmakers’ opposition to a pied-a-tierre tax and their support for a real estate transfer tax. The article goes on to discuss lobbyists who argued that a pied-a-tierre tax would cause the high-end market to collapse due to the recurring surcharge. According to the article, lawmakers want to implement a real estate transfer tax that would require a one-time fee on all real estate transactions over $3 million.

When state leaders rallied … (read more)

April 2, 2019.This article discusses New York State lawmakers’ reluctance to implement a pied-a-terre tax and preference for a real estate transfer tax on high value sales instead. The author notes that the pied-a-terre tax was proposed as a way to generate revenue to help fund the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City. The article goes on to discuss that lawmakers plan to target the same people with a real estate transfer tax, specifically those with condos and … (read more)

April 2, 2019. This article discusses the proposed pied-a-terre tax in New York State that would generate revenue to help fund the transportation system in New York City by taxing out-of-state apartment owners in Manhattan. The article highlights that lawmakers are proposing a real-estate transfer tax on all high-end sales, in place of a pied-a-terre tax, to avoid challenges with revenue becoming entangled with foreign ownership rights. The article quotes FPI’s executive director, Ron Deutsch, who suggests that the state … (read more)

April 1, 2019. This article discusses the disappointment of advocates across New York State with the allocated $20 million funding for the 2020 census included the governor’s state budget, which was released Sunday March 31, 2019. The author goes on to highlight that advocates were asking the state to provide $40 million for community based organizations to do outreach and help with 2020 census work, an estimate calculated by the Fiscal Policy Institute. The author goes on to note that … (read more)

March 28, 2019. This article covers the reports that $40 million will be included in the budget for community based organizations to help ensure an accurate count in the 2020 census. The author notes that both the Assembly and Senate included the funds in their one-house budgets. The article goes on to highlight that advocates will still urge the governor to include the funds in the finalized budget.

State lawmakers will provide $40 million in state money to ensure New … (read more)