Jack Arpey

2 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Jack Arpey

The Plastic Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act is officially on the move, advancing out of committee and to the Senate floor after passing the upper chamber last year.

2 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Jack Arpey

Among the bills advocates are hoping to move in these closing weeks of the legislative session is policy dealing with expanding bottle redemption and recycling in New York: The Bigger Better Bottle Bill, as it’s known. Blair Horner, NYPIRG’s senior policy advisor, is a driving force behind the effort to score what he described as a long overdue update to New York’s redemption system. “The bill needs to be modernized for the fundamental reason that it’s out of date,” he said. But why is it bigger?

3 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Jack Arpey

Districts who are struggling to meet New York state’s mandate to purchase only zero-emission school buses by 2027 with the goal of full fleet transformation by 2035 could find a life preserver deep in this year’s state budget. It comes in the form of the possibility of a second 24-month extension for districts who can prove that they need it through a consultation process with NYSERDA.

3 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Jack Arpey

Some of New York’s mental health advocates say while they feel there are some significant holes that need to be filled following changes to New York’s involuntary commitment standards in the state budget, there are crucial wins in the final spending package as well. State Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, chair of the Assembly Mental Health Committee, says the outcome of the budget battle over the involuntary commitment has left a bad taste.

3 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Jack Arpey

After two deaths at the hands of employees of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and a three week illegal correction officer strike, Wednesday presented a long awaited moment at the state Capitol: An opportunity for lawmakers to take a serious look at the state’s prison system, and what can be done legislatively to fix it.