Free Republic

Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation into law that replaces the word “alien” in state statutes with the politically correct term “noncitizen,” which was proposed by Democratic lawmakers. “New York will both match the language anticipated to be in federal codes and demonstrate respect and humanity to its immigrant population,” reads a legislative memo attached to the bill. Legislative language states that changes to laws covering cannabis, parks, public health, labor, public authorities, real estate, economic development and a litany of other topics will take effect immediately. This includes nixing “illegal alien” in favor of “undocumented noncitizen.” The legislation, sponsored...

Gov. Kathy Hochul has a piece of legislation sitting on her desk that would allow casino operators to hire a diverse range of convicted felons — from drug peddlers to killers. The measure was sent on Tuesday to the governor for her signature or veto after passing the state Senate and Assembly by big bipartisan margins in June. Current law bars licensed casino operators from hiring anyone convicted of any felony. Critics blasted the bill as an another example of a Democrats’ bleeding heart, criminal friendly proposal run amok. “That’s just wrong. This is another example of the New York...

Some New York lawmakers are renewing the push for a state law that would lay the groundwork to pay reparations to black residents whose ancestors were enslaved. Proponents gained steam after a task force in California last week recommended that the Golden State shell out $569 million in reparations to slaves’ descendents there, or $223,200 apiece, because of lingering housing discrimination practices.

Gov. Kathy Hochul treated herself to nearly $1 billion worth of pork-barrel spending in this year’s state budget — allowing her to freely hand out cash as she runs for election against Republican challenger Lee Zeldin. Hochul and her Democratic allies in the Legislature added the $920 million worth of outlays to the $220.5 billion fiscal plan in an 11th-hour move in April that government watchdogs warn is wide open to abuse. “These slush funds are totally unaccountable. It’s not how public dollars should be doled out,” senior policy adviser Rachael Fauss of Reinvent Albany said Friday.

A new poll shows Gov. Kathy Hochul with a big lead over Republican rival Lee Zeldin (R-Suffolk) despite a plurality of New York voters saying they have an unfavorable view of the Democratic incumbent ahead of the Nov. 8 election. Just 36% of respondents had a positive opinion of Hochul, compared to 41% unfavorable – but she had a 54% to 39% lead over Zeldin, according to data compiled by Public Policy Polling on behalf of her political allies. Zeldin, her conservative challenger, has come within single digits in two GOP-friendly surveys in recent weeks, with others showing her lead...

Kathy Hochul leads Lee Zeldin by 24 points 11 weeks before NY election: poll Gov. Kathy Hochul has a whopping 24-point lead over Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin with 11 weeks to go before Election Day, according to a new poll released Tuesday. The incumbent Democrat had 55% support among likely voters in the poll conducted between Aug. 17 and Aug. 22 by SurveyUSA on behalf of WNYT-TV in Albany. Another 31% backed Zeldin and 14% said they were undecided. There was some good news for Zeldin in the survey, with 33% of voters saying battling inflation was the most important...