Providing Property Tax Relief & Protecting New Yorkers
Governor David A. Paterson and Legislative Leaders on November 10, 2009 announced the passage of two Governor’s program bills. The first provides measures to evaluate the costs of mandates on local governments, helping them to control costs and provide relief to property taxpayers. The second closes a loophole in sentencing laws that allowed some violent criminals to become eligible for parole and medical parole earlier than intended. Both were passed in the extraordinary session that Governor Paterson called to address both the current-year deficit and additional legislation that was not finished at the end of session last June.
Preserving Housing in New York
Governor David A. Paterson on November 9, 2009 announced the first comprehensive review and reform of New York State’s Mitchell-Lama affordable housing regulations. The revisions, proposed by the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), will benefit both the tenants and owners of Mitchell-Lama buildings.
New York 2010 Census Complete Count Committee
Governor David A. Paterson on November 12, 2009 signed Executive Order No. 30, establishing the New York 2010 Census Complete Count Committee. The Committee will raise awareness of the 2010 Census and will work to maximize the participation of all New Yorkers. New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez kicked off the State’s 2010 Census Complete Count Campaign today at an event in the State Capitol.
Taking Care of New York’s Health
Governor David A. Paterson on November 12, 2009 announced that county health departments across New York are mobilizing to conduct H1N1 flu vaccination clinics as more vaccine becomes available in the State.
From the Attorney General
Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo on November 10, 2009 announced that his office has reached an $875,000 settlement with the national retail pharmacy chain CVS to end its sale of expired products – including over-the-counter drugs, baby formula, milk, and eggs – at stores across New York State. The settlement concludes the lawsuit previously filed by the Attorney General in New York Supreme Court against CVS Pharmacy, Inc. for its pervasive sales of expired products and its breach of a prior settlement with the Attorney General in which it agreed to take measures to end such sales.
An Update from Comptroller DiNapoli
Real estate developers who sell homes through the New York City Department of Housing Preservation (HPD) HomeWorks program frequently charged higher than expected prices for affordable housing—and sometimes kept the difference, according to an audit New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released on November 9, 2009.
