HIGHWAY FUNDING: A bipartisan group of lawmakers spoke in front of at least 600 of local highway officials to spread the word on “critically important” highway funding. The lawmakers and advocates are asking for proposed $100 million in highway funding cuts be restored, as well as an additional $150 million in funding to keep pace with the cost of local construction. Assemblymember Bill Magnarelli, chair of the Transportation Committee, said that he has done all he can to increase Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding, establish the state touring routes program and to aid the “Pave Our Potholes” program. “We know it's not enough. Unfortunately, this year's executive budget seeks to rollback the increases we made last year for CHIPS and the state touring routes,” Magnarelli said. “I am advocating with my colleagues, and everyone here, to restore those cuts and provide another increase to chips and extreme winter recovery.” Highway construction costs rose by 53 percent in 2023, according to the Federal Highway Administration. “And I know over time, the more investments you make, the longer these roads last, and better technology, better construction methods,” Angelo Santabarbara, a former civil engineer turned Albany-area Assemblymember, said. “So absolutely every dollar that goes into these roads supports our economy.” — Shawn Ness OVERTIME PAY: Four psychiatrists at state facilities and employed by the Office of Mental Health each received over $300,000 each in overtime pay, according to the Empire Center and SeeThroughNY. Huyphuc Pham, a psychiatrist in the Bronx, received the most in overtime pay, totaling $350,933. The state’s government payroll grew by $1.2 billion from $18.2 billion. It is the biggest single year jump in recent history, the fiscally conservative group said. The group attributed the increase to three agencies: SUNY, where payroll grew by $257 million; the judicial branch that grew by $243 million; and the Division of Military and Naval Affairs, whose payroll jumped $203 million. — Shawn Ness GHOST GUNS: James has finally gotten the $7.8 million judgment and permanent injunction she sought from Indie Guns LLC for illegally selling ghost gun parts in New York. Ghost guns are untraceable and unregulated firearms that are assembled after buying individual components of guns. They do not have serial numbers engraved on them. In New York, selling an unfinished frame or receiver is a felony. “These deadly weapons are designed to be untraceable and can easily end up in the hands of people otherwise barred from owning guns,” James said in a statement. “Indie Guns refused to follow New York and federal law and tried to flood out streets with ghost guns — but now they are paying the price for those bad actions.” Today's announcement comes after James sued Indie Guns and nine other similar sellers in June 2022. James’ office said it caught the company, as well as five other others, selling unfinished frames and receivers to undercover investigators. — Shawn Ness SUNY CAMPUS DECARBONIZATION PUSH: The winning coalition of environmental groups and labor unions that has secured progress on enabling utility thermal networks is back with another request this year. The Upgrade NY coalition is pushing lawmakers to include $90 million to kickstart construction of two emissions-free heating and cooling networks at Purchase College and University at Buffalo. Proponents see the funding as the next step to prove out their thesis about large-scale thermal networks, which can connect multiple buildings with pipes and pumps that utilize energy from wastewater, geothermal boreholes, lakes and other sources to provide heating and cooling services. The Upgrade NY campaign — backed by the Building Decarbonization Coalition, the New York State Pipe Trades Association, New York State AFL-CIO and others — sees these networks as a key piece of reducing emissions from buildings, providing jobs for fossil fuel system workers whose positions are at risk as the state transitions away from reliance on natural gas and giving utilities a shot at a new business model. “We've got a lot of work to do on our state buildings and facilities and campuses, and thermal energy networks are going to be one of the most cost effective ways in which we're going to be able to achieve that,” Lisa Dix, the New York director of the Building Decarbonization Coalition said at a City & State summit. — Marie J. French CHARGED UP: State lawmakers want new regulations to address lithium ion batteries, which have been blamed for causing fires and deaths across New York. The Democratic-led Assembly today approved a package of measures meant to address the issue, including a bill placing a moratorium on retailers from selling lithium-ion batteries or chargers until safety standards are met. Lawmakers also want to require chargers to include a tag that provides consumer safety information. And legislators want regulators to develop safety resources for the public. There have been 250 fires and 18 deaths in New York City over the last year that have been blamed on the batteries. “These tragic deaths are highly preventable,” Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said. “I’m proud that this package provides the education and safety regulations needed to keep consumers safe while giving our firefighters much needed additional support.” — Nick Reisman
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