Susan Arbetter

Albany

Political Anchor at Spectrum News Capital Region

Political Anchor at Spectrum News Rochester

Political anchor for Spectrum News. Formerly WCNY, WMHT, WAMC. Emmy, Murrow, AP, NYSBA, Scripps-Howard, Headliner & NY Women's Press Club Hall of Honor

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Articles

N.Y. state Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins on budget: 'We are 95% done'

1 week ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Susan Arbetter

According to New York state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the leaders are close to wrapping up budget negotiations, but there are at least two outstanding issues to resolve: Foundation Aid and capital funding. On Foundation Aid, the Senate’s top Democrat reassured school districts that current negotiations are over how much of an increase in Foundation Aid they will receive. She also stated that no district will receive less state aid than they did this year.
N.Y. Working Families Party co-director unhappy with emerging state budget

2 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Susan Arbetter

If the state budget Gov. Kathy Hochul touted on Monday stands, it will be viewed as a major victory for the moderate Democrat: she pushed for an expansion of Kendra’s Law, changes to discovery and an upcharge for masking while committing a crime, and it appears she got it all. Moreover, according to the latest Siena College poll, Hochul is not being dinged by voters for a late budget.
N.Y. state Sen. Pat Fahy still hopeful for a modern Harriman Campus overhaul

2 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Susan Arbetter

New York state Sen. Pat Fahy (D-Albany) is thrilled by the $400 million for the revitalization of downtown Albany that Gov. Kathy Hochul has said will remain in the enacted state budget, once the state spending plan is passed. But another development plan remains on Fahy’s to-do list. Only this one hasn’t received the same attention from the governor.
Brennan Center urges state to hold the line on public campaign financing

2 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Susan Arbetter

Last-minute state budget negotiations are always fluid. There are coordinated and well-financed campaigns to both include certain policies in the spending plan, as well as pushes to keep those policies out. One such issue this year is an effort to change the state’s public campaign finance system, which has been a success according to advocates. An estimated 50,800 New Yorkers made small-dollar in-district donations, which is roughly twice as many as in 2020 or 2022.
Zellnor Myrie on federal community grant cuts: 'Now is not the time to cower'

2 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Susan Arbetter

Democrats in New York are condemning a decision by the U.S. Justice Department to cancel hundreds of grants to community organizations, including those that fund crime-victim advocacy and gun-violence prevention. According to The Washington Post, the millions of dollars in grants also support nonviolent youthful offenders, mental health resources for local police, efforts to avert opioid-related deaths and hate crimes. State Sen.
Crystal Peoples-Stokes discusses the city of Buffalo’s financial needs

3 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Susan Arbetter

While the state budget has slowly come together, mayoral primary elections have been quickly sneaking up. On June 24, there will be Democratic primary elections in four of the larger upstate cities including Albany, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo. One of the most closely watched races is in Buffalo where Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon is trying to earn his first full term after the resignation of longtime mayor Byron Brown to head up Western Regional Off-Track Betting.
A push for NY HEAT Act amid federal move away from renewables

3 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Susan Arbetter

While the first Earth Day, in 1970, took place during the Republican administration of President Richard Nixon, many in the environmental community will use Tuesday’s 55th anniversary to rail against Republican President Donald Trump and push to unite behind renewable energy. Earlier this month, via executive order, Trump told environmental and energy agencies to sunset an array of regulations that protect endangered species, prevent oil spills and allow the public to track progress on pollution.
N.Y. bill would aim to counter threat of federal funding withholdings to state

3 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Susan Arbetter

Due to pandemic aid, New York state currently receives more money from the federal government than New Yorkers send to Washington in federal taxes. Not only is this four-year trend about to end, but it is also a shift from a decades-long imbalance that former U.S. Sen.
N.Y. early intervention providers hope for 5% increase

3 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Susan Arbetter

If you have a child with a learning disability, a hearing issue or a speech impediment, he or she may need what’s called “early intervention." These are evaluations and therapeutic help for young children who may have developmental delays and/or disabilities. The Agencies for Children’s Therapy Services, or ACTS, is an association of 40 early intervention agencies which provide services both in-home and in community settings.
Survivors of domestic violence push Hochul’s agenda on discovery law changes

4 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Susan Arbetter

New York state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced a framework compromise between the state’s district attorneys and legislative leadership regarding the state’s discovery laws. Discovery is the formal process of exchanging information about witnesses and evidence between the prosecution and the defense in a case that they’ll present at a trial. It’s been amended multiple times since it overhauled in 2019.