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New York Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Hochul's lieutenant governor reveals she's ghosted him for months as he plans Dem primary against her
ALBANY – Oof, ghosted. Gov. Kathy Hochul has completely shut out her No. 2 even as the latter was technically acting governor Thursday. Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado revealed he stopped speaking to Hochul months before he launched a Democratic Party primary run against her this week. 'It's been a long time,' Delgado said Wednesday at a campaign launch event in Brooklyn. 'Definitely months.' Advertisement 3 Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado is running against Gov. Kathy Hochul for governor in 2026, he formally announced this week. Paul Martinka A governor's office source confirmed the cone of silence has existed for months and has worked both ways. For example, Delgado didn't give Hochul a heads up when he publicly announced he wouldn't run with her as LG in 2026, per the source. What Delgado said in a recent interview was that a long-simmering rift between the two spilled into public view last year when the LG broke with Hochul in calling for President Biden to drop his reelection bid. Advertisement The revelation about the lack of contact came as Hochul was visiting Massachusetts for 'political meetings,' according to a spokesperson. The governor's out-of-state trip should trigger a provision of the state constitution that makes the lieutenant governor acting executive while the governor is out of state — but Hochul's office seemed to ignore the provision and Delgado has no power. 'The plain language says that there's a succession automatically when she's out of state,' Cam MacDonald, general counsel at the Empire Center for Public Policy, told The Post. 3 Gov. Kathy Hochul disputes that Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado becomes acting governor when she leaves the state. Paul Martinka Advertisement MacDonald admitted Hochul may have a case due to a revision to the provision in 1963 that stipulates the LG could take over not only when a governor is impeached or is out of state, but also when he or she is 'otherwise unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor.' 'The language made it a little bit more gray,' MacDonald said. 3 Hochul has said that Delgado has no power when she travels out of state for events. Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock What's not so gray is that Hochul's interpretation of the law has changed now that her split with Delgado is public. Advertisement Back in 2023, while Hochul was out-of-state, she instructed Delgado to call a special election for the 27th Assembly District. 'As Governor Hochul is currently out of New York State, Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado issued the proclamation pursuant to the New York State Constitution,' a press release from the governor's office read at the time. The proclamation declaring the special election was signed by Delgado. A spokesperson for Delgado didn't return a request for comment Thursday.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Noncitizens can't vote in NYC elections, court rules
NEW YORK - New York's top court on Thursday struck down a city law that would have allowed noncitizens to vote in local New York City elections. The New York Court of Appeals ruled that NYC's Local Law 11 "violates the New York State Constitution" as "our Constitution limits voting to citizens." "This appeal is not about whether enfranchising noncitizens to vote in municipal elections is good policy. That is a political question expressly reserved for local legislative bodies," the court wrote in its opinion. The backstory Local Law 11, enacted in 2022, would allow anyone living in New York City to vote for mayor, public advocate, comptroller, borough president and City Council. According to estimates, it would have allowed an additional 800,000 noncitizens in NYC eligible to register to vote, according to a Politico report. The bill was purportedly intended to address representation concerns in a city with 40% of its population being foreign-born. Proponents of the law highlighted that in some City Council districts, noncitizens make up a significant portion of the adult population and contribute billions in taxes. They argue that these residents should have a voice in local matters affecting their daily lives. They also assert that noncitizens contribute significantly in taxes and deserve a say in local governance. "These New Yorkers pay billions in taxes and yet have no say in local policies on public safety, garbage collection, or housing — all matters that affect their day-to-day lives," attorneys for the city wrote in a filing. The other side Republicans immediately challenged the law, arguing that the state constitution's language granting voting rights to "every citizen," according to Fox News. An appellate court previously sided with Republicans, ruling that noncitizens were intended to be excluded from voting rights. "It's hard to discuss because it's crazy it's even an issue," state Sen. Andrew Lanza, a Staten Island Republican, told Politico. "Citizens ought to vote; if you're not a citizen of a country, you should not have a say." What they're saying The New York Court of Appeals asserted that its decision is not about the merits of such a policy but rather about the legal authority of local governments to make this decision. The Source This article uses reporting from the New York Court of Appeals ruling, Politico and Fox News.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Court of Appeals hearing cases in Binghamton this week
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – New York State's highest court is hearing cases in Binghamton this week as part of the court's effort to bring jurisprudence to the people. The seven member Court of Appeals is sitting in the main courtroom of the historic domed courthouse downtown on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The court's docket has included a variety of appeals in both civil and criminal cases. After being appointed as Chief Judge in 2023, Rowan Wilson decided to take the court on the road for one week each year in order to expand civic learning and engagement. After Wednesday's session, Wilson sat down and spoke with News 34. 'Civics education in the United States has really fallen precipitously from what it was 40 or 50 years ago. There are a variety of people on all ends of the political spectrum who fault the inability of people with different views to be able to talk to each other and reach a consensus on that lack of civic understanding,' said Wilson. Cases being considered this week include a person who was struck by an errant golf ball, someone who tripped over a hole while playing cricket, and a police pursuit stemming from an act of road rage. Each attorney in each case received 15 minutes to answer questions from the seven judges. Wilson says the court's focus is on the broader implication of the laws at the center of the case, rather than the individual specifics. 'We're much less deciding that individual case, than we're setting out a rule that's going to apply in the future. That's why we can't refind facts, we're stuck with the facts that the other courts below us have found. Our paramount responsibility is to determine the law of the state,' said Wilson. Wilson says the court's rulings are based on the New York State Constitution, which is older and much longer than the U.S. Constitution and has been amended many more times. Students from Chenango Forks, Windsor and Maine-Endwell sat in on the court proceedings on Wednesday and were able to ask the judges questions afterward. The judges will attend a dinner hosted by the Broome County Bar Association Wednesday evening. Thursday morning, they'll be back at a newly expanded seven-person bench at the courthouse from 9:30 to 11:30. The proceedings are open to the public. The full interview with Wilson can be seen below. DOT begins changing I-81 exit signs Spotlight on Mario's Pizza in Owego How the traveling Addams Family production sets up in 7 hours CCE of Broome receives $10,500 for fruit & veggie vouchers GE Aerospace investing $5 million in Unison in Norwich Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Elmira City Court Judge race takes shape
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – The race for Elmira City Court Judge is now taking shape as longtime Judge Steven Forrest is set to retire this year. Forrest has been a city court judge for around three decades and is retiring because the mandatory retirement age for judges and justices in New York State is seventy years of age. That's according to the New York State Constitution. The two candidates that have announced they're running are Attorney Daniel Cain and Attorney Jordan Yorke. Both are longtime residents of Chemung County and have been practicing law for decades. 18 News had the opportunity to sit down with both candidates to learn more about their work and what they hope to bring to the job. Cain is entering his 20th year as a practicing attorney and says now is the right time to make this move. 'I had spent so long in private practice and I am now, you know, working as a court attorney in county court that, you know, I felt that I was fully prepared to do it, that I am fully prepared, you know to do that. I have that experience,' Attorney Daniel Cain. 'I have thoroughly loved this job' Schuyler County District Attorney to retire after 28 years in the position He says his experiences handling criminal, civil and family cases make him ready to take on the new role. 'Listening I think is a big part of the job and you have that other component of you know, you listen to people, you put yourself in their shoes. But then again at the end of the day there's a kind of personal responsibility there that I have to take as a father as a professional as I would have to take as a judge,' said Cain. Yorke is now in year 11 of practicing, most of it at Elmira City Court. He says his experience as Assistant District Attorney qualifies him to be the next City Court Judge. 'I have handled thousands of cases in Elmira City Court. that includes pre-trial practice, pre-trial hearings, misdemeanor trials, violation level trials. I also did felony work in Chemung County Court. Eleven years of experience. That's not 20 years. That's not 30 years, but what that experience entails is consistent work in Elmira City Court,' said Attorney Jordan Yorke. He says being a City Court Judge has been a longtime goal of his. 'I was a philosophy major and it really instilled with me the idea of truth and searching for the truth. During my time at the assistant district attorney's office, it was ingrained in us the right thing. What is the right thing? Seeking justice,' said Yorke. Elmira EOP celebrates 60th anniversary with diamond jubilee Both have families living in the area and have the safety of the community top of mind heading into the campaign. 'I think to bring to the job a sense of empathy, responsibility. You know, kind of those characteristics that I think a judge should have. You know, judicial temperament, respect for people. This is a community that's home, so to try to make that community the best as possible for my family and for everyone's families,' said Attorney Cain. 'A judge needs to be fair and impartial, so in order to keep the community safe in my eyes would be to follow those principles and do what the judge's role is as opposed to be active in any other way,' said Attorney Yorke. The primaries for this race are scheduled to take place in June and the general election will be in November. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
18-02-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
5 Factors That May Shape Hochul's Decision on Adams's Fate
There is little doubt, as far as the New York State Constitution is concerned, that Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Mayor Eric Adams of New York City from office. But as she faces growing pressure to exercise that authority, the choice before Ms. Hochul is anything but simple. No governor in New York's 235-year history has removed a mayor, leaving little precedent to guide her. Doing so now could also unleash unpredictable political and legal consequences — including for Ms. Hochul. She appeared to be weighing all of those risks on Tuesday as she holed up on the 39th floor of a state office building in Manhattan to confer with citywide elected officials, prominent Black leaders and congressional lawmakers. Ms. Hochul has made it clear that she has been alarmed by accusations that Mr. Adams entered into a corrupt deal with the Justice Department in exchange for it dropping federal charges against him. Yet she has stressed that her top priority is protecting the interests of New Yorkers. Advisers who requested anonymity to characterize the governor's thinking said she could do that in several different ways. Ms. Hochul could initiate removal proceedings; try to pressure Mr. Adams to resign; bless a separate city process meant to remove mayors deemed unable to govern — or simply push for less drastic concessions from the mayor and let voters have the final say in this year's election. Here are five factors that may shape her decision: As governor, Ms. Hochul has typically favored a cautious approach, looking for precedent to guide her thinking. In this case, she has little to lean on. The State Constitution is sparse, saying merely that a mayor 'may be removed by the governor after giving to such officer a copy of the charges against him and an opportunity to be heard in his defense.' It essentially leaves it to the governor to determine the rest: What constitutes 'charges' worthy of removal? What due process should the mayor, who insists he has not entered into any sort of quid pro quo, be afforded, and for how long? Only one governor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, has ever attempted to use the authority against a mayor of New York City. He tried to remove Mayor Jimmy Walker on corruption charges. Roosevelt appointed a former judge to help with the inquiry and conducted hearings himself, but ultimately Walker resigned before he could be removed. Ms. Hochul may yet find reason to attempt such a proceeding herself, but the governor's advisers worry that it could become a messy, weekslong spectacle that does the city more harm than good. Some have also questioned whether the governor had yet heard a clear case to argue the mayor was hurting the interests of New York City. In her own statement about the removal possibility, Ms. Hochul said that she recognizes 'the immense responsibility' the State Constitution affords her and that 'overturning the will of the voters is a serious step that should not be taken lightly.' Government leaders almost always prefer to make decisions that are broadly popular with voters. In this case, Ms. Hochul appears to be particularly attentive to one segment of the electorate: Black New Yorkers. Black voters have been among the steadiest supporter of Mr. Adams, the city's second Black mayor. If they conclude that Ms. Hochul is targeting him unfairly or casting him aside without proper due process, they could punish her at the ballot box next year. Ms. Hochul has carefully solicited the views of Black leaders, including the Rev. Al Sharpton and Representative Gregory W. Meeks, the leader of Queens Democrats. Maintaining their support could help insulate her from any potential voter backlash. On Tuesday, Mr. Sharpton and Mr. Meeks both told the mayor that while they were alarmed by the Adams situation, it was premature to remove him, particularly before a federal judge holds a hearing Wednesday on the Justice Department's motion to dismiss the case. 'I think she agreed that she cannot just wave a magic wand or say that the mayor is gone, is going to be removed,' Mr. Meeks said in an interview after his call with Ms. Hochul. 'The mayor and everyone else has due process,' he said. 'For me, that's essential.' Ms. Hochul and many of the leaders she is consulting have another, more personal reason to avoid creating an opening in City Hall. His name is Andrew M. Cuomo. Mr. Cuomo resigned in a cloud of scandal in 2021, elevating Ms. Hochul to the governorship. But he has returned to the public stage and appears to be preparing to run for mayor. Polls suggest he would be the best positioned to inherit Mr. Adams's Black voter base and win a nonpartisan special election for mayor if Mr. Adams leaves office. That could be a problem for the governor. Mr. Cuomo and his tight circle of aides have made little secret of their dislike for Ms. Hochul. If Mr. Cuomo is elected, Ms. Hochul's allies fear that he would try to exact revenge, hurt her political standing and treat her with the same contempt he once showed Mayor Bill de Blasio. For all the risks, the pressure for Ms. Hochul to intervene to remove Mr. Adams has only grown in recent days as he defies calls for his resignation. It is not hard to imagine a scenario where the prominent Democrats who have urged Ms. Hochul to give the mayor time to rebuild trust with New Yorkers eventually conclude it is impossible. Ms. Hochul may also find it necessary to act if she believes the government Mr. Adams is overseeing has broken down so badly that basic city services are threatened. That does not appear to be the case now, but Ms. Hochul was especially alarmed by the resignation on Monday of four top administration officials responsible for overseeing large swaths of the city government. The governor is likely to pay close attention to other potential departures and whether Mr. Adams can hire qualified replacements at City Hall. Brad Lander, the city comptroller who is challenging Mr. Adams in this year's election, has raised another possibility that would not require Ms. Hochul's explicit intervention. On Monday, Mr. Lander said that unless Mr. Adams released a 'detailed contingency plan' outlining how he would manage the city in the coming days, he would convene a special committee authorized by the City Charter to consider the mayor's removal. But that approach, too, would quickly encounter political and legal complications. Known as the committee on mayoral inability, the panel would be made up of five members: a deputy mayor chosen by the mayor; his corporation counsel; the speaker of the City Council; New York City comptroller, and the most senior of the five borough presidents. If four of its five members agree, the committee could theoretically move to oust Mr. Adams from office. The City Council would have the final word. Though the charter does not explicitly define what 'inability' warrants removing the mayor, the term has traditionally been thought to refer to a medical or health crisis. If the committee tried to stretch that definition to nonmedical impediments, Mr. Adams could challenge it. After her own meeting with Ms. Hochul, Adrienne Adams, the Council speaker, dismissed the idea of invoking the inability committee. The mayor 'is still very much breathing. Thank God. Mobile. Thank God,' Ms. Adams said. 'So that committee does not apply to this situation.'
