ALBANY - Gov. Andrew Cuomo's longtime former aide and most-trusted confidant will stand trial beginning Monday, kicking off a string of five corruption trials in the next six months that threaten to expose the underbelly of how the state Capitol operates.Joseph Percoco, Cuomo's former executive deputy secretary and campaign manager, is accused of pocketing more than $300,000 from Syracuse-area contractor COR Development and Maryland-based energy company CPV, who prosecutors say leaned on Percoco to take state action on their behalf.He will face seven felony charges when he stands trial with COR executives Steven Aiello and Joseph Gerardi and former CPV executive Peter Galbraith Kelly at the Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse in Manhattan in front of Judge Valerie Caproni beginning at 10 a.m. Monday.The trial could shine a harsh spotlight on Cuomo's administration at the start of a crucial election year, when the Democratic governor — who is enjoying his best … [Read more...] about Percoco trial could shine harsh spotlight on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration
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These new taxes, fees are in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget plan
ALBANY - Gov. Andrew Cuomo's $168 billion state budget proposal relies on hundreds of millions of dollars from new taxes and fees, setting him on a collision course with Republican lawmakers who have long railed against tax hikes.Cuomo's budget plan released Tuesday counts on $586 million in new tax and fee revenue as the state deals with an anticipated $4 billion deficit for the fiscal year beginning April 1.Add in $500 million his plan anticipates from an existing fee on nonprofit health care companies that convert to for-profit, and the total number of new revenue raisers pushes past $1 billion.Cuomo, who has publicly prided himself on his fiscal austerity, said the tax proposals are necessary because neither he nor lawmakers are open to cuts in the two biggest portions of the state's budget, education and health care spending."A $4 billion deficit," Cuomo said Tuesday. "You can’t possibly get anywhere near where you want to be on education and health … [Read more...] about These new taxes, fees are in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget plan
Some details of NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s state budget proposal
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Here's a look at some of the details from the $168 billion state budget proposal released by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday: ___ TAXES: The spending plan is short on details, but Cuomo says he wants lawmakers to consider big changes to the state's tax system to soften the blow of the recent federal tax overhaul, which will raise taxes on many New Yorkers. One idea would involve partially replacing the state income tax with a payroll tax. A report on the state's options is expected to be released Wednesday. ___ NYC MASS TRANSIT: Provide $254 million to fund state's half of ongoing effort to fix subway and train service in New York City. Also, $175 million in capital funding for Metropolitan Transportation Authority. ___ EDUCATION: The $26.3 billion proposed is a $769 million increase (3 percent). Includes $338 million increase in Foundation Aid, a supplement to local funding for school districts. Also, $10 million for after-school expansion, $15 … [Read more...] about Some details of NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s state budget proposal
Andrew Cuomo’s speech interrupted by Assemblyman Charles Barron again
ALBANY - A Democratic state lawmaker from Brooklyn interrupted Gov. Andrew Cuomo's annual state budget address Tuesday — again.Assemblyman Charles Barron stood and shouted at Cuomo not long after the speech began, heckling the Democratic governor about school funding for more than a minute before escorting himself out of the room as two Cuomo aides followed.Cuomo delivered a 40-minute speech at the New York State Museum.It was the second time Barron — a longtime activist and former Black Panther — had interrupted a major speech, along with Cuomo's 2016 State of the State address.Both times, Barron stood and shouted directly at Cuomo, questioning his commitment to funding public schools, particularly in poorer areas.He referenced a 2006 Court of Appeals decision related to the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, a non-profit that fought for more funding for New York City schools.Cuomo briefly stopped his speech Tuesday as Barron shouted before urging the assemblyman to listen … [Read more...] about Andrew Cuomo’s speech interrupted by Assemblyman Charles Barron again
Andrew Cuomo’s poll numbers trend up in election year
ALBANY - Gov. Andrew Cuomo is beginning an election year in a strong position with voters as Republicans struggle to find a candidate to challenge him, according to a new poll.Sixty-two percent of registered New York voters have a favorable view of the Democratic governor, the Siena College poll released Tuesday showed.Just 30 percent of voters said they had an unfavorable view.Cuomo's favorability is his highest tracked by Siena since June 2014, the last year he was running for re-election.It's up five percentage points from October, when he had a 57 percent favorable rating.The rise comes as he's become increasingly critical of President Donald Trump's administration, waging a battle over federal tax reform and its impact on New York.But it also comes ahead of some potential stumbling blocks. Cuomo's state budget proposal Tuesday has to close a $4 billion gap, and his former top aide and confidante, Joseph Percoco, is set to go on trial on bribery-related … [Read more...] about Andrew Cuomo’s poll numbers trend up in election year