The New York State Legislature yesterday began passing a $254 billion budget that was due April 1 and will increase state spending by $12.3 billion. Michael Gormley reports in NEWSDAY that the protracted, closed-door negotiations between Gov. Kathy Hochul and leaders of the Democratic majorities of the Senate and Assembly increased the spending plan by $2.3 billion from the budget Hochul proposed in January.

"Working with our partners in the legislature we’ve reached an agreement to pass a balanced, fiscally responsible budget," Hochul told reporters. "Good things take time and this budget is going to make a real difference for New York families."

Budget bills expected to be voted on later this week include Hochul’s plan to provide tax rebate checks of $400 to families filing joint tax returns and $200 for taxpayers filing singly. The checks are part of an "affordability agenda" that will include an expanded child tax credit and free breakfast and lunch for all students regardless of family income.

Other key budget measures include significant funding for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, alongside provisions affecting legislators' outside income and campaign contributions.

The budget process faced criticism for its lack of transparency and rushed timeline, with Republicans and some Democrats expressing concerns about insufficient review time and the absence of a comprehensive financial plan. Governor Hochul issued "messages of necessity" to pass the month-late budget. That suspends the state constitutional requirement of three days for public review of bills before they can be voted on. The provision allowing messages of necessity was created to deal with emergencies.

The governor and legislators on both sides of the aisle say the budget may have to be reopened in the fall during a special session if threatened cuts of billions in federal aid are approved by the Republican-controlled Congress and President Donald Trump. The state leaders also say a potential recession could necessitate reopening the spending plan.

***

A New York State appellate court has upheld a 2023 law moving most local elections to even-numbered years. The unanimous ruling, issued yesterday by a five-judge panel in Rochester, also held that the law will take effect for the 2025 local election cycle. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the decision reverses an October 2024 ruling by a lower court in Onondaga County, which had found the law unconstitutional. The appellate judges determined that the law does not violate the New York State Constitution. The law, enacted in December 2023, changes election schedules for many county, town, and village offices. Beginning this year, these local contests will coincide with state and federal elections, which are held in even-numbered years. As a result, most local officials elected in 2025 will serve terms shortened by one year, to align them with the new schedule. Supporters say the change will increase voter participation. Turnout is typically much higher in even-numbered years, when races for president, Congress, and the state legislature are on the ballot. The bill passed both chambers of the NYS Legislature in June 2023 along party lines, with Republicans strongly opposed The New York State Association of Counties similarly opposed the law, warning that local governance would lose visibility.

***

The Riverhead Board of Education this week adopted a revised Code of Conduct with new district-wide policies that prohibit gang-related activities, emphasize punishments for “offensive” behavior, and create the procedure for using metal detectors on students. Alek Lewis reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the most notable change to the code was new language prohibiting “gang-related” clothing and activity for students and school personnel. The revised code states that individuals are prohibited from gang membership and the promotion of gang-related activities, including displaying “signs of gang affiliation or membership in gangs or organizations that law enforcement agencies currently identify as promoting violence or violent activities.” Violators may be subject to disciplinary actions. The Code of Conduct is reviewed annually as required by State Education Law. Riverhead Schools Interim Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Alan Baum said the changes are unrelated to the current U.S. government effort to deport individuals based on alleged gang affiliations.

***

Undocumented immigrants are unlikely to be rushing to sign up for the Trump administration’s $1,000 cash stipend in exchange for leaving the country, and those considering it should be questioning whether self-deportation will allow them to return to the United States one day, immigration experts on Long Island said. As part of President Donald Trump's mass deportation effort, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently announced it would allow immigrants to voluntarily "self deport" back to their home country while providing a $1,000 stipend plus travel assistance through a mobile application. After vetting people, the government would help some people secure travel documents and book travel tickets for those who cannot afford it themselves. Lorena Mongelli reports in NEWSDAY that according to DHS, tickets have been booked for this week and next, and one immigrant without legal status has already flown to Honduras from Chicago. It’s unclear if any Long Island residents registered under the program.

But local experts do not expect the new program to drive a flood of interest and expressed several concerns, including how the program will allow undocumented immigrants to return to the United States. Under federal law, when immigrants without legal status leave the country, it typically triggers a 10-year bar for reentry, depending on how long they have been in the country unlawfully, immigration lawyers told Newsday.

Brentwood-based attorney Eric Horn said the bar would apply to undocumented people who self-deport using the app.

There’s also the issue of how people will get paid, experts said. According to Homeland Security, the $1,000 stipend is sent through the app after the person's return to their home country has been confirmed. The app automatically confirms departure dates for people traveling by air or sea. But several lawyers questioned what recourses people who are no longer in the country will have to ensure that money is received.

The program is expected to slash the $17,121 price tag that comes with arresting, detaining and removing an undocumented immigrant by 70%, according to a DHS release. The release says the self-deportation process "may help preserve the option" for reentry to the United States.

***

The Town of East Hampton’s plan to purchase land from Suffolk County — with the intent to develop affordable housing — is now at a standstill, as the county hit an administrative hurdle in its effort to sell the properties. Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that not long ago, the plan was for the town to purchase four parcels — located at Harbor Boulevard, Cedar Street, Two Holes of Water Road and Town Line Road — from the county at a discounted rate.

In the past, an attorney had worked toward preserving the Two Holes of Water Road parcel, so it sparked some controversy when the town began conversations about development.

However, the move has now been tabled, and the county has to “rebid the properties,” said East Hampton Town spokesman Patrick Derenze, so the buys are “no longer moving forward.”

In the future, though, the idea could be explored again: Suffolk County has signaled to Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez that it was “very supportive” of using the land for affordable housing.

As for the preservation efforts, attorney Richard Whalen has been working on the issue for the Two Holes of Water Road parcel since the 1980s. There, a trail splits two parcels — one 52 acres, the other 6 acres. The plan was to build an affordable development on the 6-acre parcel, which is currently owned by Suffolk County.

In 2022, the Town of East Hampton resolved to request the property from the county to preserve as open space. The plan was to get the county to sell it to the town at a below-market price.

“So, the idea of using it as affordable housing is a new idea,” Whalen said. Despite this, he added, the trails preservation society is strongly supportive of affordable housing. Whalen agreed with that position. However, not on the Two Holes of Water Road parcel. “That’s not your ideal place to put any housing. It’s not a question of whether it’s affordable housing or not. It’s not a good place for housing. That should be preserved along with the surrounding parkland.”

Derenze maintained that the “extreme need for affordable housing out here” means that East Hampton Town has to make use of opportunities that come, though it will try to preserve what it can from the properties, should the opportunity arise again.

***

On Friday night, a class of 7 honorees will be inducted to the Southampton High School Wall of Distinction which recognizes and celebrates alumni, coaches, teachers, administrators and teams who have had a positive impact on the district and community at large.

Founded in 2014, the 2025 Southampton Wall of Distinction inductees are:

• Bruno “David” Dull
• Kara Romanosky Williams
• Terry Stubelek
• Judy Johnson
• Kathleen Masterson
• Herm Lamison
• The S.H.S. 1982 field hockey championship team

The induction ceremony will begin tomorrow at 6 p.m. in the Southampton High School auditorium, followed by a reception.

This event is free and open to the public.

WLIW’s Michael Mackey will be the Southampton Wall of Distinction Master of Ceremonies.

***

Amid dropping vaccination rates, 25 children in New York State died from influenza during the 2024-25 flu season — more than in any recent flu season, state health authorities said yesterday.

Joseph Goldstein reports in THE NY TIMES that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that more than 47 million people nationwide caught the flu between fall and spring and that more than 600,000 have been hospitalized. The hospitalization rate for flu is the highest it has been in 15 years.

A number of factors have probably contributed to influenza’s heavy toll. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, more people have chosen not to be vaccinated against the seasonal flu. And some researchers believe that the mix of strains circulating this year tend to be associated with more intense flu seasons.

The C.D.C. has attributed 216 pediatric deaths nationwide to the flu this season, a number that is expected to climb before the end of the season, which is receding. More than 10 percent of those deaths occurred in New York State, which is home to less than 6 percent of the nation’s children. Nearly half of the state’s pediatric flu deaths occurred in New York City.

Of the 25 children who died from flu, only one was vaccinated, the NYS health commissioner, Dr. James V. McDonald, noted. Five were too young to be vaccinated, he said in a statement. The flu vaccine is not approved for children younger than 6 months.

The decline in flu vaccinations reflects a rising tide of distrust of the scientific establishment, which has left many people questioning the safety or effectiveness of vaccines. Before the pandemic, the share of Americans who received an annual flu shot had been slowly climbing.

Mentioned in this episode:

Act Now: Help us protect public media

https://protectmypublicmedia.org/