With the summer heat starting to settle in, thirsty minors looking for a buzz are once again turning their attention to Nutcrackers—a sweet homemade cocktail illegally sold to legal and underage drinkers on the street, in bodegas and in barbershops—much to the chagrin of lawmakers and police. And Albany will not let that stand. Yesterday the State Senate passed a so-called "Nutcracker Bill" that will greatly increase the punishments for Nutcracker peddlers, assuming it passes in the Assembly. more ›

After weeks of fretting and negotiations, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is sealing a deal with the Legislature on a tentative $132.5 billion state budget. State government shutdown (most likely) averted! more ›

Schools Chancellor Cathie Black hit another milestone yesterday when she made her first appearance in front of the Legislature in Albany. And, despite some disruption from the audience, the general sense is that she actually handled herself fine as she toed the Bloomberg education line. Good thing too, she apparently spent several weeks preparing for her nearly two-hour stint at the microphone. more ›

The head of the NY Commission on Public Integrity is resigning and Michael Cherkasky broke the shocking news that the ethics panel doesn't do a very good job, because it's underfunded. Plus it's focused on the executive branch, while the legislative branch (hello, Shelly; hello, Pedro) has "virtually non-existent oversight." He says, "Starting with meaningful disclosure and conflict of interest rules, and closing with independent oversight, New York State needs a complete reform of Legislative ethics oversight." Cherasky, who was appointed by Paterson last year and even found the governor in the wrong over the World Series tickets, is leaving the job because his private risk management business is growing. more ›

With news that the state could be losing two House seats due to a population shift, the once-every-ten-years focus on gerrymandering (drawing district lines to include who you want) has returned yet again. Dick Dadey of the group Citizens Union told NY1 the problem is "partisan gerrymandering essentially allows the legislators to choose their voters before the voters actually elect them to office." The process is controlled by the Assembly speaker and the leader of the State Senate, and Senate President Pro Tempore Malcolm Smith previously told Democrats, "We are going to draw the lines so that Republicans will be in oblivion in the State of New York for the next 20 years." Does that plan involve the prisoners? more ›

NY state Senate candidate David Mejias was arrested last night and charged for stalking and menacing his ex-girlfriend. According to Nassau County police, Mejias, 39, followed his 34-year-old ex-girlfriend in his car, forced her off the road in Matinecock, screamed at her, then chased her when she tried to get away. Mejias was charged with second-degree menacing, second-degree reckless endangerment and third-degree stalking. more ›

Veto-palooza is over—for now. Yesterday, Governor David Paterson completed his marathon of vetoing 6,709 line items that the Assembly and Senate added to his budget. The madness began on Thursday, with Paterson offering his initials to veto over 4,000 porky items; yesterday's session was at the Governor's Mansion, with Paterson knocking out about 2,000 items. According to the Daily Politics, "That's more than $500 million in additional spending he slashed as well as nearly $200 milliion more in member items approved in previous years but still not paid by the state." more ›

The State Senate and Assembly may think they are close to a budget, but Governor Paterson said on the radio this morning, "I think we'll have to do it again next week." "It" being the whole "threatening a government shutdown" thing, because the Legislature is still 76 days late on delivering a budget. The Daily News reports, "The permanent state budget is now 76 days overdue. Lawmakers are battling Paterson over closing a $9.2 billion spending gap." Paterson's wish: "I just want to see a balanced budget pass and I don't want to see it encumber the next administration, as I'm leaving at the end of the year, or the next generation that will inherit the debt that they will unless we act and act now." more ›

NY state agencies are distributing memos about the possibility of a government shutdown as the Legislature continues to attempt to hammer out a budget agreement, which is two months late. For instance, the state Department of Transportation will "Maintain only the most critical public safety services," like responding to "severe highway incidents" (downed tree, protruding guiderail, etc) or "Critical damage to transportation infrastructure" (severe bridge damage). more ›

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo made his first public appearance as gubernatorial candidate yesterday by marching in the Salute to Israel Parade down Fifth Avenue. With 15-year-old daughter Cara by his side and an Israeli flag in hand, he basked in cheers of "Go Cuomo!" and "Yeah Andrew!" And he promised he'd listen to the public, unlike some people upstate: "Politicians tend to follow what the people in the district want done, otherwise they are not politicians for long. You go to the people first, and get the people on your side. My mission is to develop an agenda for this state and to develop support among the people." more ›

The legislature’s resident ethics panel has decided that it’s alright for Albany lawmakers to accept food and drink at lobbyist-sponsored events, nay it’s one of their “responsibilities.” In 2007 a law forbade officials from accepting gifts of more than “nominal value,” so some outside watchdog organizations are outraged by the apparent exception. "Legislators should be meeting with their constituents, but the issue is whether it has to be over complimentary shrimp and scotch," Public Integrity Commission Executive Director Barry Ginsberg told the Daily News. more ›

In the past the city's Off-Track Betting board has been accused of making "hollow threats," but yesterday it followed through, laying off 1,300 employees. It says that if Albany doesn’t come through with financial aid, it will be forced to board up all of its 66 gambling parlors. Gov. Paterson is in favor of deferring its $3.7 million in debt, reports the News, but legislators—mired in their own battle to close the state’s $9 billion budget gap—seemed ready to let OTB sink, criticizing it for poor management and “unconscionable delays” in handing over financial records. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver sounded final in his condemnation of the betting institution and its employees: "We cannot reach a three-way agreement on it to keep them afloat," he said, speaking of talks with the state Senate and the governor. more ›

Lately the city has been looking like a nature preserve, but the keeping of bees, even the nonaggressive honey-producing kind, still isn't allowed. That may change though—tomorrow a Department of Health and Mental Hygiene board will consider lifting the bee ban. The potential change is prompted by stats that show NYC bee stings are rare and a petition by beekeepers, who maintain the practice promotes sustainable agriculture. If successful, it will mean that covert rooftop apiarists—who loose the bees to pollinate their plants and also harvest honey from their hives—will finally be in the clear. more ›

Last year the House passed legislation to block Seneca Indians from selling cigarettes through the mail, a business that, combined with their gambling empire, nets them $1 billion annually. But now, thanks to aggressive political practices, the western New York Nation may be back in tobacco. The Times reports their success is due to a “campaign of back-room lobbying and public political threats” but a Seneca spokesman says they're playing by the rules. “Isn’t that the way things go in the American system?” asked Richard Nephew, co-chairman of the Seneca Nation’s foreign relations committee. “It is something new for us to actively get involved in the American political process,” he said. “But we are trying to learn what works in America, and I guess making political contributions is something that works.” more ›

Following New Jersey's decision to legalize medical marijuana, New York cannabis activists say now is the time to push for similar legislation in the Empire State. Though New York City might be the marijuana arrest capital of the world, the state has "relatively liberal possession laws and actually passed a medical-marijuana law in 1980 but never put it to use," according to the Times. And considering the fact that 14 other states have already given medical marijuana the greenlight, Assemblyman Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan) says there's no reason why it shouldn't be New York's turn. more ›

Albany lawmakers missed the 4:30 deadline today to agree on a plan that would allow more charter schools in New York, hurting the state's chances to win up to $700 million in federal education funds, the Post reports. "It's dead in the state Assembly," said pro-charter Assemblyman Michael Benjamin (D-Bronx). more ›

Gov. David Paterson unveiled a $134 billion proposed budget today that would impose new taxes on sugary drinks and cigarettes and cut school aid and health care spending by $1.1 billion and $1 billion, respectively. "The mistakes of the past — squandering surpluses, papering over deficits, relying on irresponsible fiscal gimmicks to finance unsustainable spending increases — have led us to a financial breaking point," Paterson said. "There are no more easy answers." more ›

Gov. Paterson has called for the Legislature to return to Albany on Nov. 10 to deal with the state's woeful budget situation. And he means business, saying yesterday, "They'll come back and we'll stay there until we get it done." When the Daily News asked Paterson's spokeswoman if he'd resort to calling weekend and holiday sessions a la during the coup, she said: "The governor expects the Legislature to return to Albany for a special session to address the current year deficit." No word on whether or not he set the Nov. 10 date in case of a game 7. more ›

With a controversial bill to legalize same-sex unions still waiting in the wings for a Senate vote, Republicans and Democrats in Albany are bickering like an old married couple. Earlier this week, openly-gay Democratic Senator Thomas Duane—the bill's prime sponsor—predicted he had enough votes to pass the measure, but a survey of all State Senators contradicted that assertion. And yesterday Bronx Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr., who opposes the bill, blasted Duane's loose talk: "If Senator Tom Duane has the necessary Senate votes to pass the homosexual marriage bill in New York State, then he should release the names of those Senators who are supporting the bill. If not, he should shut up." more ›

After allowing troubled insurer A.I.G. to borrow $20 billion from itself (and emphasizing that "No taxpayer dollars are involved"), Governor Paterson turned his attention to what the Wall Street woes might mean for the state as a whole. And he told NY1's Dominic Carter, "We don't know what the damage of the events that occurred this weekend is. I would not be surprised if the budget deficit we just cut down may skyrocket back up and I may have to call on the Legislature to come back and grapple with it again.” (Last month, Paterson convened an emergency session to discuss the state's budget problems since the deficit grew $1.4 billion in just a few months.) In a statement yesterday, Paterson pointed out that 20% of NY State's revenue comes from Wall Street. more ›