News in New York – Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Update, Second COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters, Adams Announces Administration Appointments

Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Update

Governor Hochul and the State Legislature continue to negotiate the Fiscal Year 2023 budget. While the State has billions of dollar in surplus due to ample federal stimulus dollars, it appears that much of the approximately $215 billion budget is still being negotiated. One of the most contentious issues has been revisiting the bail reform laws that were part of the FY20 budget, as the Governor has proposed tweaking New York’s bail law while the Legislature is resistant to make changes. Other hot button issues that are being debated are a potential Buffalo Bills stadium subsidy, the 421-a real estate tax break, alcohol to go, replacing the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE), mayoral control of New York City schools, and downstate casino licenses. Although the budget was technically due on April 1st, consensus is expected sometime today with the full budget expected to be passed this week.

Governor Hochul Announces Eligibility for Second COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters

Over the weekend, Governor Hochul announced eligibility for second COVID-19 vaccine booster doses. The Governor announced that New Yorkers who are 50 and older who received their first booster dose over four months ago are eligible, as are immunocompromised New Yorkers ages 12 and over. In addition, adults ages 18-49 and who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for their initial dose and first booster dose are eligible for a second booster. This updated eligibility follows the FDA’s recent approval of Emergency Use Authorization for a second booster and the updated recommendation from the CDC on second booster doses. You can learn more about the State’s booster plan here.

Mayor Eric Adams Announces Several Administration Appointments

Last week, Mayor Eric Adams announced several appointment to his Administration. The Mayor reappointed Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez as Commissioner of the Department for the Aging (DFTA), a role she has served since 2019. Adams also appointed Asim Rehman as Commissioner and Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). Rehman will be joining OATH from the Department of Correction, and he will be the first Muslim-American and the first person of South Asian descent to lead the agency. Cortés-Vázquez will report to Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom, while Rehman will report to Brendan McGuire, Chief Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall. In addition, the Mayor appointed Arpit Gupta and Christina Smyth to the New York City Rent Guidelines Board (RGB). Gupta will serve as a public member and Smyth will serve as an owner member.