Senator Gounardes in the News
Three bills from state Sen. Andrew Gounardes signed into law, codifying protections for firefighters, families
Brooklyn Paper | December 18, 2024
Three bills introduced by Brooklyn state Sen. Andrew Gounardes were signed into law Tuesday, codifying protections for current and former firefighters and their families.
The bills, Gounardes said, will ensure firefighters receive the healthcare and benefits care they need, extend care to spouses of fire protection inspectors, and create “pension parity” for first responders.
“Firefighters are first responders that play a literal life-and-death role in keeping New Yorkers safe,” Gounardes said in a statement. “These bills ensure we make the same commitment to firefighters that they make to all of us.”
Brooklyn politicians call for patch job on BQE, say Mayor Adams can't do permanent fix
Gothamist | December 10, 2024
A group of Brooklyn elected officials wrote in a letter on Monday that they’ve given up hope Mayor Eric Adams will be able to fix the crumbling triple-cantilever section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and called on the city to make short-term fixes to keep the structure from falling down.
“While the current mayoral administration has been pursuing a long-term fix for the BQE triple cantilever, it is no longer clear that the approval and implementation of this path will occur before the useful life of the Cantilever expires,” said the letter, which was signed by Brooklyn Councilmember Lincoln Restler, State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon and U.S. Reps. Nydia Velázquez and Dan Goldman.
City’s first community-led solar power initiative coming to Brooklyn Army Terminal
Brooklyn Paper | December 6, 2024
Sunset Park Solar joins other transformative clean energy initiatives in the area, including the forthcoming Climate Innovation Hub at BAT and clean energy projects at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal and MADE Bush Terminal Campus.
“This is exactly the kind of community-driven project New York needs as we transition to a sustainable energy system that works for all of us,” said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. “Sunset Park Solar reduces emissions and gives Sunset Park neighbors and businesses access to clean, affordable energy they can rely on. It also builds on our efforts to make the Brooklyn Army Terminal home to a climate innovation hub, and ensure the Terminal offers southern Brooklyn residents’ access to jobs, resources and opportunities to thrive.”
Got college credits but didn't finish your degree? 'SUNY Reconnect' plan would help
LoHud | December 3, 2024
Plenty of people who start college don't finish. Helping them wrap up their degrees would not only boost New York families, but the state too, according to a study by the Center for an Urban Future.
The think tank is pushing a program, called SUNY Reconnect, that would support New Yorkers who want to finish up their degrees at a State University of New York campus. And it has a successful model: CUNY Reconnect, which since 2022 has helped thousands earn enough credits to get a degree.
About 900,000 New Yorkers outside New York City have college credits but no college degree. In Rockland, 16.4% of all working-age adults have college credits but no degree. In Westchester, it's 13.1%.
State Sen. Anthony Gounardes, a Brooklyn Democrat who serves on the Higher Education Committee, is looking at the concept.
"We know many working families are struggling to get by in New York, and we know a college degree unlocks the door to higher-paying jobs and economic stability," Gounardes said. "We also know those benefits extend way beyond the individual, to their family and community. They bolster the state's economy and our tax base."
"We're talking about a group of New Yorkers who have already started themselves down this path, who have the desire and determination, who maybe just need a little extra support to achieve this dream," Gounardes said. "This is the type of relatively small upfront investment that pays off for the state over generations."
Bay Ridge Parks, Waterfront Set to Get Major Upgrades
BK Reader | November 29, 2024
The New York City Parks Department, New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes and City Council Member Justin Brannan on Tuesday announced a new round of funding to improve the waterfront parks of Bay Ridge.
The funds includes $6.4 million for the construction of modern, accessible comfort stations at both ends of Shore Road Park, as part of broader efforts to revitalize the area, according to a press release.
The investments also cover upgrades to Shore Road promenade, Vinland Playground and John Paul Jones Park, along with new greenway enhancements at Leif Ericson Park and improved walking paths at Owl’s Head Park.
"The thousands of people across Brooklyn who use the promenade every day deserve nothing less,” said Gounardes. “Today, we’re ensuring the promenade and surrounding parks are built to meet all our communities' needs and stay safe, vibrant and resilient for generations to come.”
Red Hook welcomes Spring Bank, the neighborhood’s first local bank in 10 years
Brooklyn Paper | November 26, 2024
Making money moves!
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes on Monday celebrated the soft opening of Spring Bank, the first retail bank in Red Hook in a decade, which will deliver accessible banking services to the neighborhood.
The new Spring Bank branch, located at 356 Van Brunt St., aims to improve access to essential banking services for residents and small businesses.
The opening follows more than a year of efforts by Gounardes and local stakeholders to address the community’s urgent need for banking facilities. Previously, residents had to leave the neighborhood for banking or rely on costly alternatives such as check-cashing services and prepaid cards.
“Red Hook residents shouldn’t have to leave their community for basic services like depositing a paycheck or opening a savings account,” Gounardes said in a statement. “With the opening of this bank branch, we’re ensuring that our Red Hook neighbors have the opportunity to grow and thrive financially right here in the community they call home.”
The Fight to Stop New York Cops From Conspiring With ICE
The Intercept | November 26, 2024
This kind of collaboration between New York’s law enforcement and ICE isn’t new: A handful of Democrats in the state legislature have, for years, been trying to pass legislation that would prevent local police from assisting ICE with immigration enforcement. Lawmakers fear that it prevents noncitizens from interacting with the police when they themselves need help or could assist in reporting crimes or carrying out investigations. Their efforts haven’t gained significant traction so far, but Donald Trump’s impending presidency — and his threats of mass deportation — have created a new urgency.
“Now more than ever, it is incredibly important that we build whatever walls we can to separate the plans of the Trump administration to conduct mass deportations of immigrants and the power of state and local governments,” said state Sen. Andrew Gounardes, who plans to reintroduce the New York for All Act when the legislative session restarts in January.
N.Y. lawmaker proposes online protections for teens
Pluribus News | November 21, 2024
Minors in New York would need a parent’s permission to use the open chat function on gaming and social media platforms under legislation announced Thursday that aims to protect youth from sexual exploitation.
Sen. Andrew Gounardes’s (D) proposal seeks to build on the first-in-the-nation law he introduced this year that requires parental approval for teenagers to have algorithmically curated social media feeds that include addictive features.
In a statement, Gounardes pointed to reports of child predators targeting kids who use popular gaming sites such as Roblox. He also said pedophiles have flocked to social media sites to target and groom kids.
“Social media and online gaming platforms have become hotbeds of child abuse and exploitation, and it’s past time we update our laws to address this new threat,” Gounardes said.
Roblox is the latest target of state kids online safety bills
The Verge | November 21, 2024
New York State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D) is a driving force behind kids online safety laws. He sponsored the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act and the New York Child Data Protection Act, both signed by Governor Kathy Hochul earlier this year. But when parents talked to him about the rules, he says, they kept asking a question he hadn’t considered: “Does it cover Roblox?”
Like the vast majority of online regulation, New York’s rules were aimed at traditional social media companies like Meta, Snap, and TikTok. But there’s been increasing scrutiny of the massively popular and overwhelmingly child-focused social gaming platform, and Gounardes is introducing a new bill to target it.
The New York Children’s Online Safety Act (NYCOSA) regulates how minors can communicate on social networks, aiming to prevent strangers from contacting them. While the bill could apply to a vast range of online services with users under the age of 18, Gounardes told The Verge in an exclusive interview that the “seed” of the idea came from those Roblox questions. It’s a new moment of reckoning for a platform that’s flown under the radar until recently — possibly because many legislators barely realize it exists.
How parents and officials hope to bring New York universal child care over 5 years
Gothamist | November 19, 2024
As families continue to flee New York City over child care costs, a parent-led advocacy group is releasing a five-year proposal calling for free statewide universal child care for children as young as six weeks old.
But the ambitious proposal released on Tuesday by New Yorkers United for Child Care — a year-old coalition of parents that rose to prominence opposing Mayor Eric Adams’ plans to scale back an expansion of 3-K — comes with significant challenges.
The group, which is supported by several city and state lawmakers, estimates a $12.7 billion annual cost, adding about 5% to the state's current budget. It proposes funding the plan with some combination of a capital-gains tax, corporate tax or high-income earners tax, and argues that the return on investment would be an economic boon for New York.
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a Democrat who supports the plan, said that although universal child care is “overwhelmingly popular” with constituents, it's historically been difficult for lawmakers to get into the budget.
“A lot of people in government who either don't have kids themselves or who had kids a long time ago don't fully appreciate just how difficult it is today, in this moment, 2024, for a working family to afford both housing and child care," Gounardes said.
New York Senate’s fight to ban legacy-based admissions
Washington Square News | November 15, 2024
New York policymakers are ramping up efforts to ban legacy-based admissions to colleges — a change NYU said it made “some years” ago. Andrew Gounardes, a state senator leading the initiative, told WSN that the next steps in campaigning for more equitable college admissions would be to reform the early decision process.
Gounardes introduced a bill that deems it discriminatory for private and public universities to evaluate applicants based on their alumni relations in February 2023. He said that if the bill — titled the Fair College Admissions Act — were to pass this year, many other states would introduce similar policies. In September, California passed legislation banning all universities in the state from considering legacy and donor preferences in admissions — following suit behind states like Colorado and Virginia, which have only banned such admissions at public schools.
“Legacy admissions are basically affirmative action for privileged kids,” Gounardes said. “If the court is going to strike it down for kids who need that opportunity or who benefit from that opportunity, why should we allow it to continue for students who already have a significant leg up?”
Will Hochul Fight Trump’s Plan for ‘Mass Deportations’?
New York Focus | November 12, 2024
“We don’t have a statewide law that is protecting immigrant New Yorkers, or anybody traveling in New York, no matter where in the state they are,” explained Yasmine Farhang, director of advocacy at the Immigrant Defense Project.
Legislators have proposed those kinds of laws: namely, the New York for All Act, which was first introduced in 2020 and would prohibit local law enforcement from colluding with ICE. Part of the reason those laws haven’t passed is misconceptions about immigration and public safety, according to Senator Andrew Gounardes, a lead sponsor of New York for All.
US media and politicians on both sides of the aisle frequently associate immigration with crime and violence, even though immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, are less likely to commit crimes than US-born citizens. Despite police insinuation otherwise, deportable people go through the same criminal justice system as citizens when charged with a crime, and available research has found that “sanctuary” policies have no effect on reported crime. In fact, sanctuary jurisdictions are associated with lower rates of homicide and assault.
“The truth is that separating families, and sowing fear and chaos in communities, does nothing to ensure public safety or fix our broken immigration system,” Gounardes said. “Local enforcement of immigration wastes resources and distracts police from investigating crimes and responding to emergencies.”
Gounardes called Trump’s plan “a hard-right agenda that would tear apart families.” A Trump presidency makes enacting policies that inhibit aggressive ICE action all the more urgent, he said.
New York ‘Birth Grant’ Bill Would Pay New Parents With Medicaid Funds
New York Focus | November 4, 2024
A state lawmaker wants New York to give $1,800 to new parents — and has a plan to get the federal government to pick up half the tab.
His proposal comes as bipartisan interest is growing among state lawmakers in a time-tested strategy to tackle the state’s persistently high levels of child poverty and help families afford to remain in-state: send new parents cash.
“It’s the thing to do this year,” said Pete Nabozny, policy director at the Rochester-based advocacy organization The Children’s Agenda.
The latest idea comes from Democratic state Senator Andrew Gounardes, who recently proposed a “Healthy Birth Grant” — legislation to send $1,800 to parents during the third trimester of pregnancy. The federal government would help pay, as the program would be run through Medicaid, the health insurance program for low-income people and people with disabilities.
The money would only go to new parents who are on Medicaid, which covers about half of New Yorkers.
“When you have a new baby, the expenses come fast and furious,” Gounardes told New York Focus. “We want to make sure families have that extra financial support by the time the child is born, so they don’t have to worry about making ends meet.”
Interview: Using Medicaid funds to fight child poverty
Capitol Pressroom | October 31, 2024
Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a Brooklyn Democrat, wants to get creative with federal and state resources by doling out an $1,800 cash payment for families on Medicaid who have a child.
N.Y. bill would give $1,800 grants to Medicaid recipients who have babies
Pluribus News | October 25, 2024
New York would give Medicaid recipients a one-time $1,800 grant when they have a baby under a first-in-the-nation bill filed Thursday.
The proposal from Senate Budget and Revenue Committee Chairman Andrew Gounardes (D) comes as more states experiment with no-strings-attached payments and tax credits to fight child poverty, an idea that gained traction during the Covid-19 pandemic but has faced backlash from conservatives.
“The data show that when a family has a child, their likelihood of going into poverty increases by a third,” Gounardes said in an interview. “The best way to help prevent that is to give families support at the most critical time, which is when they’re having the child.”
The New York Healthy Birth Grant would be distributed during the third trimester of every birth financed by Medicaid. The money would not be counted as income for state and local tax purposes, and the Department of Health would pursue waivers with federal agencies to exempt it from income for federal food and housing benefits.
New bill could give out Medicaid grants after births
Crain’s New York | October 25, 2024
State lawmakers are proposing to boost cash assistance for new and expecting parents enrolled in Medicaid to combat the state’s high childhood poverty rate.
Pressure builds in blue states to ban legacy admissions after California outlaws practice
The College Fix | October 24, 2024
Beginning in September 2025, California will no longer allow legacy admissions at any college in the state, and now other Democrat-led states face pressure to follow suit.
“Legacy admissions were wrong from the beginning,” the editorial board of the Harvard Crimson wrote Oct. 18. “And now that affirmative action has fallen, they have become absolutely unacceptable, placing another finger on the scale for white and wealthy applicants.”
The editorial called on Massachusetts to end the practice if the school does not.
A New York Daily News editorial Oct. 2 was headlined: “Learning from California: Ban college legacy admissions and cell phones in public schools.”
New York state Sen. Andrew Gounardes, who has sponsored legislation to ban the practice, reposted the editorial on X, commenting “it’s time to pass my Fair College Admissions Act and ban unfair college legacy preferences once and for all.”
NYC gets green light to quadruple number of red-light cameras
Gothamist | October 23, 2024
New York City will soon be able to quadruple the number of cameras that automatically ticket drivers who blow through red lights.
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill on Wednesday that will let the city install the red-light cameras at up to 600 intersections, up from the current 150.
Hochul signed a package of bills to establish or expand the camera program across the state, including in Nassau County, Mount Vernon and White Plains, as well as other places in New York City's suburbs. The governor pointed to city data showing that violations at intersections equipped with red-light cameras fell 73% since the cameras were first installed 30 years ago.
“I think we should increase that number by even more at some point,” said Dinowitz, who sponsored the legislation along with Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a Democrat from Brooklyn.
NYC Set To Quadruple Number Of Red-Light Cameras
Patch | October 23, 2024
State Senator Andrew Gounardes who sponsored the bill with Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz, said three decades of data make it clear that red light reduce crashes and save lives.
"The logic is simple: most drivers don’t run red lights. And those drivers, along with everyone else, are safer when the ones who do are held accountable," he added.
State Sen. Gounardes announces $230,000 in funding for Carroll Gardens Library Renovation
Brooklyn Eagle | October 22, 2024
Op-Ed: A rapid-response tool to ensure voter rights and fight suppression
City & State | October 22, 2024
After decades in which the state’s voting laws failed to align with our values, we’ve created nation-leading voter protections by passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, establishing a permanent vote-by-mail system, restoring voting rights to parolees and approving other crucial reforms.
This hard-won progress is undercut, however, by the fact that we have no rapid-response solution to voting interruptions at poll sites.
That’s why we’ve Sen. Gounardes has introduced legislation to create a new, automatic remedy to voting disruptions.
Brooklyn Lawmakers Provide $2M to Repair Brooklyn Hospital Center Escalators
BK Reader | October 19, 2024
New York State Senators Andrew Gounardes and Jabari Brisport and Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest on Wednesday announced $2 million in state funding to refurbish the aging escalators at Brooklyn Hospital Center.
Repairing the escalators will prevent delays and ensure that Brooklyn Hospital Center continues delivering timely, essential care to its patients, according to a press release.
“Brooklyn Hospital Center plays an indispensable role in our community, and ensuring it functions properly is critical to its mission. We are proud to secure funding for this much-needed repair, ensuring the hospital can continue to serve the public without disruption," Gounardes said.
New York law lets pharmacists tell customers about ‘underwater’ drug prices
Pluribus News | October 11, 2024
Pharmacists in New York state will soon have more leeway to tell their customers about contracts that leave them “underwater” on drug sales, when reimbursement rates from pharmacy benefit managers don’t cover their acquisition costs.
“PBMs want to keep patients in the dark about the true cost of their medicine,” Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D) said in a statement. “This policy empowers patients with the knowledge they need to demand fair rates and fair access.”
Gounardes is the sponsor of a first-in-the nation law, passed by overwhelming majorities in both chambers and signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) last month, that prohibits pharmacy benefit managers from penalizing pharmacies for disclosing to customers the cost of a prescription medication and the pharmacy’s reimbursement amount for it.
Op-Ed: The Equal Rights Amendment Can Protect Reproductive Freedom, LGBT Rights, But we Have to Fight For it
BK Reader | October 7, 2024
By passing the Equal Rights Amendment here in New York, we both protect our own communities and send a clear message to the rest of the country: we believe in human rights, and we reject any attempt to criminalize people for expressing their identity or accessing health care. This November, the fight for a better future for Americans across the nation starts right here at home.
Proposed bill will increase penalties against drivers who injure or kill a pet in New York
ABC7 | September 24, 2024
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and and Assembly member Tony Simone, the co-sponsors of the bill, say pets are family to so many New Yorkers and it is time they are treated as such according to the law.
"We don't do enough to protect people on our streets from road violence and we certainly don't do enough to protect our four-legged friends as well and the harm caused to them is just as great as if it were to happen to a child, a senior, a parent, an adult -- and it should be a lot more than a $50 fine," Gournardes said.
Gounardes says the law that exists provides protection for "domestic animals" such as sheep, cattle and goats -- but adding "companion animal" to the language of the statute allows for greater protections for cats and dogs.
Brutal video shows SUV plow into elderly pedestrian, send him flying in fatal NYC hit-and-run crash
New York Post | September 12, 2024
A heartless SUV driver mowed down a 74-year-old pedestrian and sent him flying through the air in a deadly Brooklyn hit-and-run crash Wednesday night, according to video and police.
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn), who represents the area, said he was “devastated” after hearing about the fatal crash.
“Awful news to wake up to this morning in Bay Ridge,” he wrote on X.
“The video is hard to watch. The driver doesn’t appear to even slow down,” he added.
“This driver needs to be apprehended and prosecuted. And we will continue to work with DOT to make this intersection – and Ridge Boulevard – safer.”
Tax Credit Push
Politico New York | September 11, 2024
Newly released Census data that found New York’s supplemental poverty measure increased is fueling calls for an expanded child tax credit.
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a Brooklyn Democrat, wants to raise tax credits aimed at families to a maximum $1,600 a year.
“This new data makes clear what millions of working families already know: it is way too hard to make ends meet in New York,” Gounardes said. “No child should go to sleep hungry, and no parent should have to worry whether they’ll be able to afford to keep a roof over their child’s head. But right now, that’s the reality millions of families face.”
The current family tax credit in the state provides the greater of either 33 percent of the claimed federal tax credit amount or $100 multiplied by the number of qualifying children.
Democrats this year have sought to highlight measures they believe will resonate with voters who are concerned with affordability and the cost of living after inflation has increased the cost of staples like gas and groceries.
Hochul last month announced $350 million in child tax credit checks were being sent to families. More than a million families are set to receive up to $330 per child.
Brooklyn parents upset over loss in funding for free after-school programs
CBS News | September 5, 2024
On the first day of school Thursday, parents in southern Brooklyn were scrambling to find free after-school options for their kids following a change in the state's grant program.
Alex Chojnowski is heavily involved in his daughter's education at P.S. 216, so when he learned that the free program they relied on will not be funded this year, he was left with two options: pay out of pocket or find another child care solution.
"This program's going about $3,500 to $4,000 per per child," he said. "Right away, if you do the math, you're talking about, if somebody has three children in the school for after school, you're talking about over $10,000."
Chojnowski is one of many parents who reached out to elected officials after learning that program providers that they relied on were not awarded funding from the state's Office of Children and Family Services.
State lawmakers struggling to find solutions
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes says his office, along with fellow state lawmakers, have spent weeks looking for answers.
"Bewilderingly enough, you know, the state can't even tell us which other providers are getting that funding instead," Gounardes said. "In the past, there were two separate after-school grant programs that have been consolidated into one new grant program, with new criteria and new eligibility."
States consider banning legacy admissions at universities, sparking debate
NBC News | August 29, 2024
States across the country are considering banning legacy admissions at universities. This comes after the major Supreme Court decision to overturn affirmative action in admissions decisions last year.
While states like Virginia, Colorado and Maryland have prohibited the practice, leaders in states like California are still working toward an official ban. As is New York State, where over 40% of institutions consider legacy status.
“Why should we allow preferences to increase the opposite of diversity? Giving kids who were born with a silver spoon in their mouths more access to opportunity?” said New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes.
One study finds one in six students at Ivy Leagues schools have parents in the top 1% of income, a group that’s overwhelmingly white, with legacy status playing a big part, too.
Thousands of Brooklyn families desperate for help as afterschool programs lose state funding
New York Daily News | August 23, 2024
With just weeks until the start of school, families in southern Brooklyn are scrambling to find free after-school options, after the state unceremoniously pulled funding from multiple neighborhood programs.
Now, elected officials are sounding the alarm at least 1,300 students across about a dozen public schools may be left with no alternatives.
“We’ve received a deluge of panicked calls from parents and school administrators fearing the worst,” six area lawmakers — State Sens. Andrew Gounardes, Iwen Chu, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and Simcha Felder, and City Council Members Justin Brannan and Alexa Avilés — said in a joint statement Thursday.
“Without state support, families could be on the hook for thousands of dollars in fees for after-school programs. For the many families who can’t afford that, losing access to after-school care could throw their routines and lives into chaos,” they continued.
Direct-to-consumer liquor bill signing has Brooklyn craft distillers pumped for online business
News12 | August 20, 2024
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law a bill that would allow for mead, liquors and ciders to be sold online, known as Direct-to-Consumer Sales (DTC).
"With this legislation, we level the playing field for all distillers by allowing them to sell directly to consumers, creating new opportunities for local businesses and strengthening our economy here in Brooklyn and throughout the state. I’m offering a toast to Governor Kathy Hochul for signing this bill into law,” said State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, touting a number of distilleries in his Brooklyn district.
Previously, craft producers would only be able to sell their products online if they were classified as beer or wine, with only in person or bulk sales to distributers for distilled products.
For businesses like Kings County Distillery, the move opens up the doors for online sales, but also for tourists to visit their historic facility in Navy Yard that may have never heard of their brand.
Kathy Hochul’s ‘Big’ Plan to Ban Phones in Schools
New York Magazine | August 19, 2024
Last March, Hochul visited schools around the state to talk with students, teachers, and mental-health professionals about this crisis, and has allocated millions more in funding for suicide prevention, school counselors, and other services besides just phone restrictions. Many of the students Hochul spoke with had lost parents or grandparents to COVID and been isolated from friends and family during the pandemic.
“They said, ‘We’re so away from people. We are just left on our own and all we had was our devices. We tried to learn remotely and it wasn’t really working,’” Hochul said. But she also noted that they seemed distracted. At one point during her listening tour with students, she said, one detail stood out to her. “They couldn’t put the cell phone down in class settings, or in a little library,” Hochul told me. “They couldn’t detach for just a few moments, even to talk to a governor who dropped by their class. So, that to me, was rather striking.”
Out of that listening tour came two bills, both focused on social-media companies. The first, called the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (or SAFE) Act, disables recommendation algorithms. Its companion bill, the New York Child Data Privacy Act, stops companies like Meta or Snap or TikTok from profiting off children’s metadata.
“The intention is to stop the use of these algorithms to curate content, which are designed intentionally to keep our eyes glued to the screens longer just to sell us ads. They are designed almost like heat-seeking missiles to prey upon our insecurities and send us down really dark rabbit holes,” said New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes, who was the lead Senate sponsor for the bills.
Tech giants like Google and Meta spent about $1 million to stop these bills from passing, and Julie Samuels, the CEO of lobbying firm Tech:NYC, said in a statement there was no clarity on how age verification would work. Still, in June, the bills passed with only one New York legislator voting against them.
Millions of New York freelancers win protections this month under new law
Crain’s New York | August 16, 2024
Some 2 million freelance workers across New York state will come under new protections starting this month when the Freelance Isn’t Free Act passed last year goes into effect.
The law, which takes effect Aug. 28, aims to address workers’ longstanding complaints of missing and late payments. It requires employers to provide contracts for all freelance work worth more than $800 over a four-month period and make payments by the due date listed in the contract — or within 30 days of work being completed when no date is listed. It builds off a similar set of policies that New York City enacted in 2017.
Employment law firms have begun warning their clients about the “extensive” scope of the law, which will be enforced by the state attorney general. But Andrew Gounardes, the Brooklyn state senator who sponsored Freelance Isn’t Free, said the provisions are straightforward.
“Number one, the person you’re hiring is entitled to a contract. Number two, you have to pay them on time,” he said in an interview. “If you do those two things, you won’t have any problem whatsoever complying with this law.”
Fresh funding assures Brooklyn ferry service to Governors Island for rest of season
Brooklyn paper | August 15, 2024
Seasonal ferry service from Brooklyn to Governors Island will continue running until October after it received $250,000 in state funding, state Sen. Andrew Gounardes and the Trust for Governors Island announced Wednesday.
“For Brooklynites to enjoy all Governors Island has to offer, they need to be able to get there,” the pol said in a statement. “This funding ensures the Trust can continue offering frequent, easily-accessible ferry service that connects Brooklyn residents to the Island’s green spaces, educational opportunities, local art exhibitions, and climate research opportunities.”
Sunset Park’s ‘Dragon’s Den’ unveils mural as elected officials demand EMT pay parity
Brooklyn paper | August 12, 2024
Paramedics and elected officials gathered at EMS Station 40 in Sunset Park, known as the “Dragon’s Den,” on Aug. 8 for the unveiling of the station’s new mural, featuring two bold dragons symbolizing the community the first responders serve.
Gounardes recalled the first time he visited Station 40, and staff showed him a paycheck of $743 for two weeks of work. “Who can afford to live anywhere in this country on that type of money, let alone New York City?” he asked.
Bay Ridge Streetnaming Honors Dr. Ahmad Jaber
BK Reader | August 1, 2024
There were many elected officials who attended the ceremony alongside Bay Ridge residents, faith leaders and friends and family of the Jaber family, including City Council Members Alexa Avilés and Justin Brannan, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senators Iwen Chu and Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes.
The state with the largest school district in the nation bans realistic active shooter drills
CNN | July 27, 2024
New York, home of the nation’s largest school district, is banning realistic active shooter drills, following years of activism by parents and lawmakers who say the drills traumatize children, normalize violence and do little to prepare students for the unlikely possibility of a school shooting.
New rules outlined and approved unanimously by the New York State Board of Regents this month will require schools to use “trauma informed” and “age appropriate” methods in drills and bans the use of any actors, props, or tactics depicting violence when school is in session.
The push to limit the number of lockdown drills is expected to continue in the upcoming legislative session in Albany, where parents are hopeful a bill to reduce the minimum number of drills from four to two will be passed into the law, further limiting students’ exposure to active shooter drills, and creating momentum for similar rule changes around the country.
Democratic state Sen. Andrew Gounardes, who is sponsoring the legislation, said he is hopeful the bill and the recent rule changes will create momentum for similar changes in schools around the country.
“Four is still too many,” said Gounardes, who represents parts of Brooklyn. “It normalizes a culture of violence and school shootings that we should not be normalizing.”
NYS schools are changing their lockdown drill policies. Here’s what it means for the new school year.
AM New York | July 17, 2024
NYS Senator Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn), has been an outspoken advocate for lockdown drill reform. He supports the new changes.
“Our current approach to school lockdown drills does more to traumatize kids than keep them safe,” he said. “The board’s newly adopted regulations are an important step toward changing that.”
While he is happy with the current reform, the senator believes more needs to be done to change the policy. Specifically, he said schools are still conducting “too many” drills, and cited his proposal to reduce the number of drills conducted each year from four to two.
“We also need to right-size the lockdown drill mandate to align New York with other states. State law currently requires schools conduct four drills a year — more than 46 other states. My bill implements nationally recommended best practices by changing the minimum to two, while giving schools the complete freedom to conduct more if they want to. Other states, including Connecticut and New Jersey, have taken similar steps.”
New York Idles on Green Transportation Plan
New York Focus | July 15, 2024
One bill introduced last year would seek to reduce the total amount of driving in the state — measured in “vehicle miles traveled,” or VMT — by one-fifth by 2050. It would require planners to evaluate whether a highway project would increase or decrease driving and offset increases by shifting funds to public transit and pedestrian and bike infrastructure.
Modeling by the clean energy research group RMI found that a 20 percent reduction in driving would not only shave emissions, but also save the lives of thousands of New Yorkers each year by reducing crashes, improving air quality, and promoting exercise.
The bill’s backers say the key to achieving that shift, and the state’s wider climate goals, is better infrastructure.
“People don’t want to change their behaviors because the options that they’re presented with are not good,” said Senator Andrew Gounardes, who sponsors both the VMT and vehicle weight bills. The legislation is not about “cars versus no cars,” he continued.
“I drive a car pretty often. I also take the bus, and I take the railroad, and I take the ferry,” said Gounardes, who represents a stretch of the Brooklyn waterfront. “It’s about providing people options.”
Op-Ed | ‘No Criminality Suspected’: Holding Reckless Drivers Accountable in Brooklyn
Brooklyn Paper | July 12, 2024
Thanks to archaic laws and inconsistent enforcement, reckless drivers routinely drive away from the scene without even a slap on the wrist. With common sense and political will, we can change this reality.
The data shows that vehicles involved in deadly crashes are disproportionately likely to have a sky-high record of red-light and speeding infractions. We can increase fines for repeat violations, and revoke the registration of vehicles that receive absurdly high numbers of tickets. We can pass legislation to force repeatedly-reckless drivers to install speed limiters in their cars. We can eliminate illegal mopeds by requiring sellers to register them with the DMV before buyers take them home. We can revoke the outrageous “rule of two” precedent that requires drivers to simultaneously violate multiple traffic laws to be held criminally responsible for a fatal crash.
New law would allow NY distilleries to ship products directly to consumers
ABC7 | July 1, 2024
A change in New York's liquor laws could help customers get their favorite spirits without leaving home.
The new law would allow distilleries to ship liquor, cider, mead, and other alcohol directly to consumers.
Gounardes and several distillers welcomed the bill with a toast Monday at a tasting room in Brooklyn. As New York is the country's biggest producer of hard cider, the new law could mean big business.
"This is really an economic boom for these small businesses here and it's a win for consumers and for New York agriculture because of so many of these products are created using New York farm products," Gounardes said.
Opinion: Don’t Let Misconceptions Kill the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act
CITY LIMITS | JUNE 21, 2024
With more than 100,000 New Yorkers in homeless shelters every night and more than half of renters in the state paying a third of their income in rent, we need to take bold action to address our affordable housing crisis. That’s why I’m so disheartened to see opposition to my Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act based on misunderstandings and false narratives.
Churches, synagogues, mosques and other faith-based organizations are trusted community pillars that offer crucial services like child care, education, and health care. Many already build affordable housing and want to continue that noble tradition, but can’t because of restrictive zoning.
My Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act would enable houses of worship and other faith-based organizations to more easily build affordable homes on their property. This new housing would be available to all who need it, not just members of a faith community; organizations that develop housing under the Act would be prohibited from discriminating based on religion.
Construction Starts on New Wind Energy Port at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal
BK reader | jun 16, 2024
The project will accelerate the city and state's clean energy transition and create a new industry with thousands of ‘green-collar’ jobs on site and in the supply chain, according to a news release.
“The transformation of South Brooklyn Marine Terminal into the country's largest offshore wind port represents an incredible opportunity for our communities, our state and our world,” said New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes. “The project will bring clean energy, jobs, and millions of dollars in investment to Sunset Park and Red Hook and is a major step in transitioning New York to the energy system we need and deserve.”
NYC to add hundreds of red light cameras to intersections
Fox5 News | June 10, 2024
Hundreds more red light cameras are coming to a New York City intersection near you.
Lawmakers in Albany have given the green light to quadrupling the number of red light cameras at intersections across the city, which means that soon, 5 percent of the city's intersections will have them, up from just 1 percent currently.
"Since the introduction of the program 3 years ago, running through red lights has decreased by more than 70 percent," said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. "And so we know that it is a proven way to stop people from breaking the traffic law and running red lights."
Since 2020, at least 1,183 people have been killed in car accidents in New York City, with nearly 216,000 injured. Red light camera supporters say red light cameras help make the city's streets safer for everyone.
New York lawmaker co-sponsoring bill to end legacy admissions in schools
CBS News | June 7, 2024
When affirmative action was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2023, legislators in New York renewed a push to end another policy: legacy admissions. They argue that it's not just old-fashioned, but racist and discriminatory.
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes is co-sponsoring a bill to end legacy admissions in New York state.
"It is affirmative action for privileged kids," he said. "The lack of data and transparency further complicates this picture, which makes it even more difficult to expose what's happening here, which is stacking the deck."
"This is an inherently racist policy that benefits the wealthy disproportionately. So we think this is the equitable way to go to allow all students to have a level playing field," said Jacquelyn Martell, with Education Reform Now New York.
Commentary: New York for All Act would bar local police from cooperating with ICE
albany times-union | june 4, 2024
When local law enforcement colludes with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, it makes immigrant communities fearful of any police interaction: Non-citizen New Yorkers can be torn from their families and detained for something as simple as a traffic violation or for calling 911 in an emergency.
All New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status or how long they have been here, want to lead open lives, provide for their family, and access health care without intimidation. The New York for All Act offers the basic civil protections that help make this possible.
New York Passes Epi Auto-Injector Law for Ballparks, Big Venues
allergic living | june 3, 2024
New York lawmakers have passed a bill requiring epinephrine auto-injectors in all large public venues in the state to better prepare them to treat allergic reactions. The legislation will make New York the first state to require places such as stadiums, ballparks and auditoriums and to stock the lifesaving auto-injectors.
“Anaphylaxis can be terrifying and deadly,” Gounardes said in a statement. “Requiring epinephrine devices to be easily accessible … ensures families don’t have to live in fear every single time they go out to dinner, a concert or a ballgame.”
Albany pols rush to pass plan to restrict 'addictive' social media feeds for kids
new york post | may 28, 2024
Albany pols are rushing to put the finishing touches on proposed legislation meant to crack down on what they call “addictive” social-media algorithms — with a push from Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The state legislators are trying to get the measures passed before the legislative session expires at the end of next week and many begin to furiously hit the campaign trail before November.
“I’d say we’re at the 2 yard-line,” said state Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn), the bill’s senate sponsor, to The Post on Tuesday.
Students push for passage of bill banning legacy admissions
albany times-union | may 26, 2024
Legacy admissions at New York universities and colleges are under fire as the legislative session nears a close.
A bill referred to as the Fair College Admissions Act would ban the consideration of legacy status during the admissions process to public and private higher education institutions in New York. The practice of legacy admissions refers to giving special consideration to student applicants who have relatives that are alumni of a college or university they are seeking to attend.
Proponents of the legislation, which is sponsored by state Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblywoman Latrice Walker, say that legacy admissions favor privileged students who come from wealthy families.
Gov. Hochul says restrictions on social media companies is top priority for end of legislative session
spectrum news | may 22, 2024
With just weeks to go until the end of the Albany legislative session, Gov. Kathy Hochul is prioritizing the passage of a measure that aims to crack down on what she says is young New Yorkers’ addiction to social media.
“These algorithms are like heat-seeking missiles that seek out and prey upon the insecurities and vulnerabilities of young users and they latch onto them and they exploit them for profit,” bill sponsor State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn) said.
But the deal is not yet done.
“We are, I hope, very close. We have urgency, a deep sense of urgency to act,” Gounardes added.
New York Pols Back Gounardes’s Bill to Cut Driving by 20%
streetsblog nyc | may 15, 2024
Lawmakers must pass a law this session to cut the number of vehicle miles traveled by one-fifth by 2050, to reduce highway expansions, pollution, and traffic violence, local politicians from across the state urged Albany leaders in a letter on Wednesday.
The proposal is crucial if New York is going to hit its climate goals, because it could eliminate nearly 230 million metric tons of carbon emissions over 25 years, save households close to $4,000 a year in gas and vehicle costs on average, and save almost 5,000 lives, according to a recent report.
New York eyes ban on legacy college admissions
abc news | may 15, 2024
New York could become the fourth state to ban legacy admissions in the college application process, a practice that has long been criticized as favoring white or wealthy students based on their familial alumni connections.
“Legacy admissions is simply affirmative action for privileged kids,” said State Senator Andrew Gounardes in an interview with ABC News.
NY groups seek better transportation through car limit bills
albany times-union | May 14, 2024
A coalition of transportation equity advocates gathered at an entrance to the Capitol, pushing for lawmakers to advance legislation mandating that state and local highway projects align with goals to drop the number of yearly vehicle miles traveled in the state by 20 percent by 2050.
The legislation mandates that proposed state projects seeking to expand highway capacity undergo an assessment of the total number of miles traveled by vehicles on them. Under the bills, if those highway projects don’t align with the 2050 vehicle miles traveled reduction goals, officials would require compliance or efforts to reduce vehicle miles traveled. The legislation lists those efforts as including expanding and improving public transportation, as well as enhancing infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists and “micro-mobility” transportation like electric bikes and scooters.
Concerned about mental health, NY lawmakers and advocates want fewer school lockdown drills
chalkbeat Ny | May 14, 2024
Lawmakers, parents, and school safety advocates rallied in Albany on Tuesday, calling for the passage of legislation that would reduce the number of school lockdown drills required under New York state law.
It’s the culmination of a multi-year effort by advocates who want changes in state law, which currently requires public schools to conduct at least four lockdown drills each year. Proponents of the bill say that number was arbitrarily chosen and that conducting so many drills harms student mental health without providing clear safety benefits.
Serial speeders are killing New Yorkers. It’s time to slow them down.
city & State | May 6, 2024
A proposed bill would require “speed limiter” devices to be installed on serial speeders’ vehicles, stopping them from going more than 5 mph over the speed limit. When people drive drunk, we put a device in cars to prevent it from happening again. When people repeatedly speed, we should use similar technology to stop that, too. Our legislation will impact relatively few drivers, but it has the potential to save countless lives.
Despite Big Tech pushback, internet safety bills on track to pass
albany times-union | may 5, 2024
Legislation that would prohibit social media companies from collecting personal data from children and prohibit them using addictive feeds to keep young users online has gained significant bipartisan support among state lawmakers and is expected to pass during the session that ends in June.
Gounardes, a Brooklyn Democrat, is still guarded in his confidence that both bills will pass unscathed.
“We’re still facing some headwinds and opposition from the tech lobby,” Gounardes said. “They’re trying to still make the case publicly and privately that algorithms are good. They’re trying to get us to consider other less effective means of regulation that they want to water down. So… I don’t want to say that we have this in the bag. We’re still up against quite a bit of opposition.”
Amid growing calls to end legacy admissions, New York considers banning the practice
chalkbeat ny | April 30, 2024
Some New York lawmakers, students, and advocates are calling for colleges in the state to end the practice of legacy admissions, which grants additional priority to the relatives of alumni.
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a sponsor of the bill, called legacy admissions “a form of affirmative action for students of immense privilege.”
A ‘universal FAFSA’ law could be adopted in New York as budget negotiations continue
Chalkbeat NY | April 17, 2024
In 2023, graduating students missed out on more than $225 million in potential Pell Grants by not completing the FAFSA, according to an analysis by the National College Attainment Network. And studies have shown students who complete the FAFSA are far more likely to attend college.
Gounardes: Working Families Tax Credit ‘still very much on the table’
City & State | April 15, 2024
As the state budget nears some version of an end, some lawmakers are trying to find a compromise on the Working Families Tax Credit with the backing of the New York Immigration Coalition. They are pushing for it at a time when the state faces serious affordability issues and not all New Yorkers qualify or can apply for existing tax credits.
Working families need help from New York - or they'll leave
The buffalo news | April 9, 2024
Child care. Housing. Food. Clothes. Medicine. A new dinosaur toy. The costs of raising a family add up quickly. The Working Families Tax Credit can help.
Washington Failed to Expand the Child Tax Credit. Can Albany Get Kids Out of Poverty Instead?
New York Focus | April 9, 2024
One in five kids in New York live in poverty. Legislators are pushing Hochul to fulfill her promise to cut that rate in half. The idea for the Working Families Tax Credit “came from a frustration born out of the expiration of the federal expanded child credit,” said State Senator Andrew Gounardes.
New York advocates make final budget push for social media reform regarding children
spectrum news | April 9, 2024
Twenty-six organizations across New York state have issued a memorandum of support for two pieces of legislation aimed at protecting children on social media as final budget negotiations continue.
The organizations, which include New York State United Teachers, the National Alliance on Mental Illness NY, the state School Boards Association, various Urban League branches and other organized labor, say the state Legislature should act now to pass the "Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act" and the "Child Data Protection Act."
Pols push for ferry funding to Governors Island in final state budget
Brooklyn paper | april 1, 2024
Activists and legislators are pushing for the Brooklyn ferry service to Governors Island to be fully funded in this year’s final state budget to ensure Brooklynites have direct access to the green space.
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes was joined by Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon and Council Member Lincoln Restler on Friday morning at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6 to call for state funding for the seasonal weekend ferry service that is currently offered by the Trust for Governors Island.
Commentary: For students with disabilities, higher education is a promise unfulfilled
albany times-union | march 5, 2024
Higher education offers the promise of professional growth and personal transformation. But for far too many students with disabilities, it remains a promise unfulfilled.
Amen to New Housing? Faith-Based Development Bill Looks to Secure Legislative Blessing
City Limits | march 5, 2024
While lawmakers continue to negotiate development incentives and tenant protections in Albany, supporters of the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act are positioning the bill as one of the state’s best shots at passing meaningful housing legislation this year.
“It’s hard to put your guard up when it’s the neighborhood church saying we want to build,” sponsor Andrew Gounardes told City Limits.
Lawmakers take aim at social media companies
NY1 | february 15, 2024
The Adams administration is suing four major social media companies, accusing them of fueling a mental health crisis, especially in young people. Hundreds of school districts are also joining in on that lawsuit.
New York lawmakers are also working to protect kids from some of the dangers of social media. Right now, there are two bills in Albany to protect kids from predatory aspects of social media like advertisements and from predictive algorithms. Both bills have the support of Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James.
State Senator Andrew Gounardes, one of the co-sponsors of that legislation, joined “News All Day” on Thursday to discuss the bills, and responds to Adams’ lawsuit.
States Crack Down on Social Media for Teens: ‘There Are No Guardrails’
wall street journal | february 7, 2024
It’s not just Congress. States are taking on social media’s grip on teenagers, too.
Officials in New York are pushing to restrict the algorithms that power a platform’s feed, making it the latest state to attempt to rein in the big tech companies in the wake of federal inaction.
Community leaders join elected officials to celebrate improved traffic and safety measures on Atlantic Ave.
brooklyn eagle | february 5, 2024
This week, the Department of Transportation installed three mid-block crossings on Atlantic Avenue between Nevins St. and Bond St., Bond St. and Hoyt. St, and Hoyt St. and Smith St. Atlantic Avenue has a history of being unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists; there have been 500 crashes in the last five years on this stretch of Atlantic, and two fatalities just in 2023.
Flush With Biden’s Infrastructure Cash, New York Is Choosing Highways Over Public Transit
New york focus | february 5, 2024
In recent years, politicians in several blue states have steered their transit departments away from excessive road spending. California, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Minnesota each required that new infrastructure projects reduce emissions, vehicle use, or both. Colorado’s law led to the cancellation of two planned highway expansions, allowing the state to redirect $100 million to expanding bus service.
A bill written by state Senator Andrew Gounardes seeks to follow these states’ lead by setting a goal to reduce total vehicle mileage in New York by 20 percent by 2050 and only allow highway expansions compatible with that target.
Climate-friendly planning “should not just be a nice add on, it should be at the core of how road projects are developed,” Gounardes told New York Focus. “That’s not how we think about these projects right now, or if we do, it’s only on a limited basis.”