The Thorn

Local News

New York State extended its eviction moratorium until January after the Supreme Court struck down the federal moratorium.
At least thirteen New Yorkers died as record-setting rainfall from Hurricane Ida led to flooding in many basement apartments.
The United Federation of Teachers, New York City’s teachers’ union, is pushing back against Mayor Bill de Blasio’s vaccine mandate for school staff, asking the state government to intervene.
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program is still not accepting paper applications, even though the contract the state made with the company setting up the program, Guidehouse, requires one be made available.
Former State Assemblymember Tremaine Wright, who lost her race for State Senate to Democrat Jabari Brisport (District 25, central Brooklyn) last year, was one of two appointees to the state’s new Office of Cannabis Management.
Gothamist speculated on the role that incoming Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin will play in Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration.

New York State’s legislative redistricting commission is hoping to release preliminary maps of new districts by September 15, but several state senators are unwilling to commit to the boundaries drawn by the commission.
The race to fill Brian Benjamin’s soon-to-be-vacated State Senate seat in District 30 (Upper Manhattan) will likely be extremely competitive. Assembly Members Inez Dickens (District 70, Harlem) and Al Taylor (District 71, Washington Heights) have both expressed interest in running, community organizer Ali Diini was endorsed by incoming Council Member Kristen Richardson Jordan (District 9, Harlem), and Central Park 5 member Yusef Salaam is also planning a run.
Mayor Bill de Blasio is gauging support for a possible campaign for governor next year.
A Trump-appointed judge ruled that Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown could run against India Walton on his own “Buffalo Party” in November’s general election, even though signatures for the party’s line were submitted three months after last May’s deadline. The New York State Board of Elections had previously ruled that he had to run as a write-in candidate.