Sheldon Silver

NY Speaker Issues Apologizes For Sex Harass Case

Jaired Crofut — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:13:49 +0000

New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has issued an apology for his handling of a sexual harassment case that spanned years involving at least four women staffers before it was detected.

Silver specifically apologized for the $103,000 secret settlement he crafted last summer to end the first accusations against Assemblyman Vito Lopez and for failing to stop subsequent incidents claimed by more women staffers.

NY Pol Accused Of Serial Sex Harassment To Resign

Jaired Crofut — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:23:16 +0000

A New York assemblyman accused of sexually harassing young female staffers for years says he will resign before he's expelled from the Legislature.

Assemblyman Vito Lopez informed leaders on Saturday he will resign effective this morning.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver had planned a rare expulsion proceeding against Lopez beginning today.

Lopez was once a powerful Brooklyn Democratic leader and has been in the Assembly's Democratic majority since 1984.

NY Assembly Speaker To Propose Lopez Removal

Jaired Crofut — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:08:25 +0000

New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is proposing that state lawmakers expel Assemblyman Vito Lopez, who is accused of sexual harassment.

Silver is also asking the Assembly to consider the full investigative report, which was critical of Silver's handling of the Lopez case. He says he'll introduce legislation today, which would be acted on Monday.

Vito Lopez Report Details Disturbing Allegations of Sexual Harassment

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:00:00 +0000

The Legislative Ethics Commission released its report on the sexual harassment allegations against Assemblyman Vito Lopez. It’s conclusions have New York’s National Organization for Women calling for a vote of no confidence against the still serving Assemblyman, and the Republicans calling for Silver to resign.

Governor Cuomo Outlined Upstate Casinos Plans

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 10 May 2013 09:55:42 +0000

New York Governor Cuomo outlined the details of his plan to site three gambling casinos upstate.

Cuomo, joined by union and business leaders, and representatives from county governments, offered more details of a plan to build three new gambling casinos. Cuomo says he wants to limit the locations to upstate regions for now, to prop up the failing economy. The governor says upstate needs jobs like it needs “oxygen.” And he says having a downstate location would devalue the upstate centers.

NY Ethics Board: Lopez Sex Report Will Be Public

Jaired Crofut — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:59:37 +0000

The New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics board says its report into accusations that Assemblyman Vito Lopez sexually harassed young, women staffers will soon be made public.

The state Joint Commission on Public Ethics report is now in the hands of the Legislative Ethics Commission, which could take action against Lopez.

Under law, JCOPE must provide more time for the Legislative Ethics Commission to consider the report and any sanctions. But that period ends in mid-May and the report becomes public at that point.

New York State Assembly Holds Final Budget Votes

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 22:00:00 +0000

The state legislature is almost finished voting on a $141.3b state budget. Final passage is occurring one week past lawmakers’ s self imposed deadline, but three days before the spending plan was due to be finished.

Senate Passes Some Budget bills, Assembly Waits Until Thursday

Karen Dewitt — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 09:05:53 +0000

The New York State Senate held a rare Sunday session at the Capitol, in an attempt to get the state budget finished on time in the midst of major religious holidays.

The State Senate met to vote on three previously agreed upon budget bills, in an attempt to finish the spending plan without interfering with the Easter and Passover holidays. Senate Finance Committee Chair John DeFrancisco explained it on the Senate floor.

“We’re trying to jumpstart the process,” said De Francisco, who says starting early gives everyone “ample time” for debating the bills.

Assmbly Spkr Says Gun Law Provision Could be Delayed

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:57:44 +0000

The Speaker of the State Assembly says a portion of New York’s gun control laws, set to take effect April 15th, may be post poned while talks continue on how to amend the provision.

Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders are talking about amending the state’s gun control laws to reverse a ban on the sale of 10 bullet magazines. They say the law as written presents a conflict because the 10 round magazines are still allowed at shooting ranges and sporting competitions, but under the impending ban, gun owners would no longer be allowed to buy them in New York for those purposes.

Despite Agreement, New York State Budget Talks Go On

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:00:00 +0000

Even though state lawmakers announced a budget agreement Wednesday, they spent the day Thursday trying to pin down details and print the bills in time to be through over the weekend.