Executive Budget Development in full swing

The World Series is underway, a sure sign we’re quickly approaching fall’s mid-point, the New York Knicks are off to a hot start, and Syracuse will see the return of the Great New York State Model Train Fair in November. While it is generally more of a quiet time in Albany, COVID vaccination efforts continue, election day is around the corner, and the focus has started to turn toward the 2022 legislative session, which begins in January.

As the Governor settles into her new role, the first few months have featured a steady rollout of appointments and bill signings as she finalizes her team, and works to sift through the myriad of bills that were passed by the legislature earlier this year. The shift to colder weather is also the harbinger of the upcoming legislative session, and there is a marked shift in activity as the legislature begins to assess priorities for the upcoming session and the state Division of Budget (DOB) wades into the process of developing the Governor’s Executive Budget. Earlier this month the Budget Director issued its annual agency budget call letter requesting proposed budgets from each of the state agencies, which are due by November 4.

2021 Elections: Next week voters will head to the polls on Election Day (Tuesday, November 2), statewide Early Voting closes on October 31.  This year voters will decide various local races. Of particular interest are the Mayoral races in New York City, Albany, Rochester, and Buffalo where at least two of the four will see new Mayors with Bill DeBlasio not seeking another term due to term limits, and Lovely Warren resigning from office in Rochester. In Buffalo, incumbent Byron Brown lost the Democratic primary but has waged an aggressive write-in candidacy.

In New York City, Eric Adams is leading over Republican Challenger Curtis Silwa by 36% according to an Emerson poll. Current Mayor Bill DeBlasio is still busy at work advancing plans for supervised injection sites in New York City. The NYC Health Department is pushing to permit two supervised injection sites aimed at reducing overdose deaths.

Administration Appointments & Nominations: Governor Hochul nominated: Jeanette Moy as Commissioner of the Office of General Services – she most recently served as the EVP and COO for Public Health Solutions; Maria Imperial as the Commissioner of the Division of Human Rights – she served as the CEP of the YWCA White Plains & Central Westchester branch; and Jackie Bray as Commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services after serving as the Deputy Executive Director of NYC Test and Trace Corps. Lucy Lang has been appointed Inspector General of the State of NY after serving as Director of the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution. She has also recommended the New York State Insurance Fund appoint Gaurav Vasisht as Executive Director who served as advisor to a former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Governor also recently designated John Lyman Ernst as Chair of the Adirondack Park Agency.