Advocacy Day 2021 a Success The BNP recently hosted three virtual advocacy sessions with lawmakers. The BNP and various members met with Rep. Brian Higgins and Sen. Tim Kennedy to discuss infrastructure, with Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes to discuss workforce development, and with Assembly Member Bill Conrad to discuss energy. All
Gov. Cuomo Signs HERO Act with Amendments Last night, Governor Cuomo signed the HERO Act (S.1034/A.2681) into law. This bill sets strict workplace disease prevention standards in an attempt to minimize the spread of any future airborne virus. As you know, the BNP opposed this legislation because it was
NYS Budget Finalized State lawmakers and Governor Cuomo have agreed to a new state budget for FY 2022. Highlights of the $212 billion spending plan include significant tax increases, the legalization of mobile sports wagering, relief for small businesses harmed by COVID-19, a fund for cash payments to undocumented immigrants who
Advocacy Alert: NYS Budget Finalized Governor Cuomo and members of the State Legislature have agreed on a new state budget for FY 2022. The $212 billion spending plan includes, among many other provisions, tax increases, a grant program focused on businesses most impacted by COVID-19, and the legalization mobile sports betting. The budget allocates
NYS Budget Watch The New York State Legislature and Governor Cuomo have less than 30 days to strike an on-time budget agreement. The sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo and the resulting Attorney General’s investigation, along with the debate over the Governor’s expanded authority because of the pandemic, will only complicate budget negotiations. The BNP has made clear where we stand
In unprecedented times, as the state continues to roil from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor and State Legislature did enact a new state budget for FY2021. Given the events swirling around us, the fact that the budget was passed after the April first deadline seemed inconsequential. However, there are
Buffalo Niagara’s bridges are in rough shape according to a new report by a national transportation research group. TRIP says eight percent of locally and state-maintained bridges in Erie and Niagara counties are rated as structurally deficient. These bridges carry more than 500,000 vehicles a day according to TRIP. Across
The New York State Legislature ended its 2019 session with a flurry of activity. Unfortunately, much of it was bad for Upstate, employers, and taxpayers. The Buffalo Niagara Partnership was engaged on several major issues, including our ongoing effort to block an expansion of prevailing wage to private projects and
Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature passed a new state budget for fiscal year 2019-2020. The $175.5 billion spending plan is a mixed bag for Buffalo Niagara employers. While it permanently caps property taxes, it also creates taxes and fees to cover new spending and close a deficit. The Buffalo
Here we go again. With the Trump administration looking to nearly zero out funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), the Buffalo Niagara Partnership joined our friends in the Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition (GLMCC) for our annual visit to Washington, DC to fight for the GLRI and other