Government

A union funded think tank finds that New York has the greatest income disparity in the nation. The Fiscal Policy Institute says that trend continues, with the top 1% gaining more financial resources, while the middle class is falling behind and the numbers of the poor are growing.

One day after saying they could not “speculate” on when a key health review on hydrofracking in New York would commence, the state health department has now announced three university experts have been chosen and will review the data.   

The state’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Nirav Shah, was tasked with hiring outside experts to review health impact data on fracking as the Cuomo Administration continues to study whether the gas drilling will be permitted in New York.

A leading Democratic Senator says wayward Democrats in the Senate should get in line with the others in their party, and form a majority to run the Senate when the new session starts in January.

Despite being severely underfunded compared to their Republican opponents, Democrats have so far won 31 Senate seats to the GOP’s 30. Two more Senate races are still being tallied, with absentee ballots counted. The Democratic candidate is slightly ahead in one race, while the Republican narrowly leads  in the other.

Fracking could once again be delayed in New York, unless the State Health Commissioner is able to complete requirements to contract with outside health experts and conduct a health review by November 29th.