Latest news with #LindaRosenthal
Newsweek
29-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
New York Democrats Want to Limit Cows on Farms
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New York State Democrats are pushing legislation to rein in massive cattle farms by strictly limiting the number of permits for industrial-scale livestock operations, known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), in the state. Newsweek reached out to the bill's sponsors and New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) via email for comment. Why It Matters Currently, New York State has around 500 CAFOs, with the vast majority dairy farms with 300 or more cows and associated livestock operations, according to the DEC. A large CAFO is defined as a farm with over 700 mature dairy cows; smaller farms typically do not require a permit unless specific environmental factors are present, such as the farm being a significant contributor of pollutants. Over 1,000 cattle or calf pairs also qualify as a large CAFO. The dairy industry is the largest sector of the state's agricultural industry and is the country's fifth-largest producer of milk, as well as the largest producer of yogurt and cottage cheese, according to the state's agricultural department. What To Know The bill, introduced by representatives from New York City, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal and Senator Jabari Brisport, seeks to limit the number of CAFOs that can exist in the state by lowering the number of permits available. The bill, S.6530 and A.6928, states that "The department shall not issue a license or permit or approval for the operation of a new large concentrated animal feeding operation, or an addition to, or expansion of, an existing animal feeding operation if the addition or expansion would cause the animal feeding operation to become a large concentrated animal feeding operation or increase the animal stabling or confinement capacity of an existing large concentrated animal feeding operation." Cows stand at a milking station at Twin Birch Dairy in Skaneateles, New York, on March 21, 2025. Cows stand at a milking station at Twin Birch Dairy in Skaneateles, New York, on March 21, 2025. Caitlyn Daproza via AP The bill won't suspend current CAFOs, but it will not allow more to gain permits. It is unclear what will happen to permits that expire. Mass farms have been criticized for environmental issues, notably the release of methane gas and the contamination of waterways by manure. Methane is one of the most significant gases contributing to global warming, and it traps approximately 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year time scale, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Livestock account for around 32 percent of human-caused methane emissions, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. Dairy cows produce around six to seven gallons of milk a day. On average, since 2018, the price of milk per gallon in the United States has increased, with a notable dip in May 2024. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis reports that the average cost of milk in U.S. cities is around $4 per gallon as of April 2025. What People Are Saying Jefferson County Agricultural Coordinator Jay Matteson told 7 News: "They haven't done their research. They've never been on dairy farms. How dare they try to regulate something they know nothing about. Even though we may think they're really big by Jefferson County standards, in the grand scheme of things, those are small businesses and very critical to the communities." New York GOP spokesperson David Laska, in a statement: "The whiff of manure from Albany Democrats is stronger than usual this week. Dairy farmers should not be the villains in an imaginary climate change narrative - they should be respected as part of the backbone of our state's rural economy and heritage. "Senator Brisport and Assemblywoman Rosenthal should accept the invitation from Jefferson County Agricultural Coordinator Jay Matteson and trade in their soy lattes for a day on the farm - maybe then they'll stop micromanaging rural life without understanding its realities." State Senator Jabari Brisport, a Brooklyn Democrat, said: "These factory farms wreak havoc on the environment, they are also pretty much always in direct impact marginalized communities, especially with the runoff, fumes, and the way they affect local waterways, and also the way they affect local economies." What Happens Next The bill, which was introduced in mid-March, has been referred to the respective environmental conservation committees in both chambers.
New York Post
20-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Progressive Manhattan lawmakers again push ‘rent control for the rich'
Two progressive Manhattan state lawmakers are back to pushing 'rent control for the rich' to benefit residents of 'Billionaire's Row.' State Sen. Liz Krueger and Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal tried to sneak this into law last year, losing out only after we called out the injustice. Once again, their proposal applies to roughly 100 co-op buildings, mainly in Manhattan, that sit on land someone else owns; these 'ground leases' are renegotiated every 20 to 30 years and usually result in a rent reset for shareholders. Right now, an arbitration process kicks in when ground owners and co-ops can't agree on a rent reset after the ground lease expires — all as per the original contracts. The Krueger-Rosenthal bill, narrowly approved 10-9 last month by the state Senate Judiciary Committee, would unconstitutionally rewrite those private contracts to limit land-rent hikes to 3% or the Consumer Price Index (whichever is greater). It would also guarantee lease renewals at the same terms for up to 30 years and grant co-op boards right of first refusal if the landowner opts to sell the parcel. As ideological cover, the bill would also force some outer-borough units in land-lease co-op buildings back under the rent laws — decades after they left when the building went co-op. Except that this would force some owners to dig up rent records — from as long as 46 years ago — that the law didn't require them to keep. The two Manhattan progressives are plainly looking to curry favor with a few wealthy constituents who'd see the value of their units skyrocket. Never mind the horrific precedent this would set as the Legislature tears up existing contracts by overriding the terms of agreement. Even if the law eventually got tossed as unconstitutional, it would poison New York's business by proving that the Legislature holds contract rights in complete contempt. If Senate and Assembly leaders don't quash this madness, Gov. Hochul should tee up her veto pen.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NY bill would outlaw sharing of online blueprints for machine gun conversion kits: DA Bragg
NEW YORK — New York state officials are working to clamp down on illegal guns by outlawing the sharing of digital blueprints that allow individuals to 3D print components that turn semi-automatic firearms into machine guns. The parts, called auto-sears, can be fitted into semi-automatic weapons, including Glock pistols and AR-15 rifles, allowing a shooter to empty their magazine with one pull of the trigger. And thanks to advances in 3D printing that allow people to manufacture gun parts from the comfort of their home, fully automatic firearms are becoming more common in New York City, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said. 'We talk about the Iron Pipeline, now we have the Kitchen Pipeline,' said Bragg about the flow of illegal firearms smuggled into the city from states with more lenient gun laws. 'We're seeing this in our cases. We're seeing this in recoveries. We're seeing this in gun buy-backs. As technology evolves we have to keep pace in law enforcement.' Bragg joined State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal at his Manhattan office Friday to announce a new bill that would criminalize the sale and distribution of the digital files necessary to manufacture the deadly 3D-printed components. The proposed bill is the latest effort on the part of state legislators to address the proliferation of ghost guns, which can be printed at home and lack serial numbers that help investigators track illegal firearms and keep them away from criminals. Hoylman-Sigal and Rosenthal introduced bills in 2023 that made it a felony to manufacture 3D-printed gun parts and a misdemeanor to distribute files containing the blueprints necessary to print them. The bills, S7364 and A7489, remain in committee. It is currently illegal to own or manufacture auto-sears in New York. The new bill would make anyone caught sharing digital files necessary to print the components, including out-of-state vendors, to a New Yorker punishable by up to one year in prison. The files can be easily found on CAD file sharing services. 'New technology has created the possibility for anyone, not just registered gun manufacturers, to self-manufacture guns, magazines and rapid modification devices with 3D printers, creating a dangerous loophole in our state gun laws,' Hoylman-Sigal said. Last year, 24-year-old Hayden Espinosa was indicted for selling 3D-printed guns and firearm components, including auto-sears, to an undercover New York Police Department officer while serving time at a federal prison in Louisiana in 2023. Espinosa used cellphones he smuggled into prison to arrange the sales, including on Aug. 7, 2023, when he sold one auto-sear for a Glock pistol and another, 3D-printed auto-sear for an AR-style rifle to the undercover officer. In 2023, Christopher Fox was indicted after police discovered he had manufactured all the components necessary to assemble an assault rifle inside his Upper East Side apartment after investing nearly $7,600 in 3D-printing equipment. The ATF's most recent stats from 2023 show that 53 machine-gun conversion devices were recovered in New York in 2023, as compared to 5,816 nationally.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NY bill would outlaw sharing of online blueprints for machine gun conversion kits: DA Bragg
NEW YORK — New York state officials are working to clamp down on illegal guns by outlawing the sharing of digital blueprints that allow individuals to 3D print components that turn semi-automatic firearms into machine guns. The parts, called auto-sears, can be fitted into semi-automatic weapons, including Glock pistols and AR-15 rifles, allowing a shooter to empty their magazine with one pull of the trigger. And thanks to advances in 3D printing that allow people to manufacture gun parts from the comfort of their home, fully automatic firearms are becoming more common in New York City, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said. 'We talk about the Iron Pipeline, now we have the Kitchen Pipeline,' said Bragg about the flow of illegal firearms smuggled into the city from states with more lenient gun laws. 'We're seeing this in our cases. We're seeing this in recoveries. We're seeing this in gun buy-backs. As technology evolves we have to keep pace in law enforcement.' Bragg joined State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal at his Manhattan office Friday to announce a new bill that would criminalize the sale and distribution of the digital files necessary to manufacture the deadly 3D-printed components. The proposed bill is the latest effort on the part of state legislators to address the proliferation of ghost guns, which can be printed at home and lack serial numbers that help investigators track illegal firearms and keep them away from criminals. Hoylman-Sigal and Rosenthal introduced bills in 2023 that made it a felony to manufacture 3D-printed gun parts and a misdemeanor to distribute files containing the blueprints necessary to print them. The bills, S7364 and A7489, remain in committee. It is currently illegal to own or manufacture auto-sears in New York. The new bill would make anyone caught sharing digital files necessary to print the components, including out-of-state vendors, to a New Yorker punishable by up to one year in prison. The files can be easily found on CAD file sharing services. 'New technology has created the possibility for anyone, not just registered gun manufacturers, to self-manufacture guns, magazines and rapid modification devices with 3D printers, creating a dangerous loophole in our state gun laws,' Hoylman-Sigal said. Last year, 24-year-old Hayden Espinosa was indicted for selling 3D-printed guns and firearm components, including auto-sears, to an undercover New York Police Department officer while serving time at a federal prison in Louisiana in 2023. Espinosa used cellphones he smuggled into prison to arrange the sales, including on Aug. 7, 2023, when he sold one auto-sear for a Glock pistol and another, 3D-printed auto-sear for an AR-style rifle to the undercover officer. In 2023, Christopher Fox was indicted after police discovered he had manufactured all the components necessary to assemble an assault rifle inside his Upper East Side apartment after investing nearly $7,600 in 3D-printing equipment. The ATF's most recent stats from 2023 show that 53 machine-gun conversion devices were recovered in New York in 2023, as compared to 5,816 nationally.
