Friday Morning Brief October 9, 2026

Oct 8

Member Spotlight

Keith Brown

This week, Assemblyman Keith Brown joined us to discuss and reflect on his experience serving in the Assembly on behalf of his constituents. Before being elected to the Assembly, he served his community as an attorney and previously worked in the Attorney General's Office. Currently, he serves on various committees, including Housing, Mental Health, and Judiciary.

What district do you represent?
I represent the 12th Assembly District, which is made up of three towns in Suffolk County: Huntington, Babylon, and Islip.

If I were visiting your district, where would you recommend I go?
My office is in Commack, centrally located in the district, but one of the district's defining features is the North Shore of Long Island. I represent roughly 60 miles of coastline along the North Shore.

The district stretches from there down through Babylon and Islip, all the way toward Sunrise Highway. I sometimes describe the district's shape as Idaho flipped upside down—it starts wide at the top and narrows as it goes south.
There are many beautiful waterfront communities and places to explore throughout that area.

What kind of music do you enjoy?
I’m a big music fan. I’ve been listening to the Grateful Dead since elementary school, and I’ve been to a lot of their concerts.

What are your favorite New York sports teams?
I have two teams: the Mets and the Islanders.

What was your profession before being elected to the Assembly?
It’s still my profession. I’m an attorney, and I practice commercial real estate law.

How has your legal background helped you in the Assembly?
A lot. I’ve practiced municipal law for about 30 years, so having that background in government has been very helpful.

I also worked in the Attorney General’s Office, which gave me experience working with a wide range of state agencies. Between my municipal law experience and my work at the Attorney General’s Office, I came into the Assembly with a strong understanding of how government functions and how agencies interact.

What were some of your priorities this year?
My priorities have really remained consistent throughout my six years in the Assembly.

One is environmental policy, especially water quality. That’s particularly important given the roughly 60 miles of shoreline I represent in Huntington.
The other major focus has been substance use and mental health. As a ranking member on the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee, I’ve been able to focus on helping some of our most vulnerable residents.

A big part of that work is recognizing that we need to start earlier—with students in middle school and high school—and make sure they have the proper services, support systems, and coping skills. If we can give young people the tools they need early on, hopefully they won’t later turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with mental health challenges.

Are there local issues you’re especially focused on?
Waterfront revitalization has been a major local priority. I’ve worked with colleagues in government on a project to open up Huntington Harbor to more public activity and make the waterfront more accessible to residents. For decades, parts of the harbor have been underutilized, so we’ve been working to secure grants and funding to improve those areas.

We’ve also focused on waterfront projects in Cold Spring Harbor, including Fireman’s Park, and in Northport around the Village Green and nearby waterfront areas. So, across Huntington Harbor, Cold Spring Harbor, and Northport, waterfront revitalization has really been a central focus.

What other work have you done around substance use and mental health?
One issue I’ve worked extensively on is co-occurring disorders, people who experience both substance use disorder and mental illness. Those issues are very often connected. Sometimes mental illness leads someone to rely on substances or alcohol, and sometimes substance use worsens or contributes to mental health problems. I’ve tried to approach those issues together rather than separately, because in reality they often overlap.

You also worked on mentorship programs in local schools, correct?
Yes, and I’m very proud of that. We have 10 school districts in the 12th Assembly District. When we started, only three had some form of mentorship program.
My office worked with the districts and helped secure funding so that all 10 now have some level of mentorship programming. Some have even expanded those programs into middle schools. The goal is to make sure young people have support, positive role models, and healthy coping skills as they grow into adulthood.

What advice would you give young people who want to get involved in politics or their community?
Start young. There are so many ways to get involved in your community, and if you’re interested in politics, there are plenty of opportunities there too. If you have a particular passion, look for organizations or causes connected to it. There are many ways to get involved and explore what interests you.

What advice would you give new members coming into the Legislature?
I’ve always prided myself on working with people regardless of party affiliation. I enjoy collaborating, and I’ve always believed that relationships are incredibly important in the Legislature. The more relationships you build, the more effective you can be.

One thing that disappointed me in Albany was the lack of negotiation and compromise at times. A good friend and predecessor once told me, “You can get things done in the minority; you just can’t be proud.” I took that seriously. I was never afraid to hand legislation to a colleague if I thought they had a better chance of passing it. To me, getting the policy done matters more than who gets the credit.

I also think collaboration makes legislation better. Different people bring different ideas and perspectives, and government works best when we break down silos. That’s something I tried to do with substance use and mental health: bringing agencies like OASAS and the Office of Mental Health together instead of treating these issues as if they exist separately.

More broadly, I’ve always tried to bring different levels of government and different agencies together so we can look at problems from every angle, not through one narrow lens.

Any final comments?
I’m not running for reelection, but I’ve loved every minute of being a State Assemblymember. I truly feel I put my heart and soul into the job and worked as hard as I could over the last six years for the betterment of my district and New York State as a whole.

Are you a public official or staffer that would like to be featured in our spotlight? If so, reach out to your favorite D&A team member or contact us at team@dickinsonavella.com to set up an interview!

View post by Governor Kathy Hochul

Lawmakers Call for Transparency and Express Outrage Over ICE Shooting in NYC

In a largely residential Marble Hill in NYC, federal immigration officers surrounded a man and a 5-year-old child in his car before opening fire, wounding the man. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said in a statement that the child was unharmed. In the same statement, Mamdani called the shooting an “unconscionable and incredibly serious situation” and said he has called the President to end all ICE enforcement actions in NYC. “Get ICE out of our neighborhoods. Get ICE out of our hospitals. Get ICE off our streets. Get ICE away from our children,” said Mamdani.

On October 8, at approximately 4:00 PM ET, ICE officers were conducting a targeted enforcement operation in the Bronx, New York, to arrest a criminal illegal alien from the Dominican Republic with a prior criminal conviction for grand larceny, and multiple prior arrests for assault, robbery, possession of drugs, and weapons possession. He has associations to the Trinitarios gang, the same gang who brutally shot a CBP officer last year.

This criminal illegal alien was arrested by the NYPD on December 7, 2023, but was released into the community a few days later by reckless Democrat sanctuary policies that put American lives at risk.

During the incident, an ICE officer discharged his weapon and the criminal illegal alien was injured.

ICE officers immediately rendered aid. The individual is alive and at a local hospital. The FBI and HSI are on the scene. The incident remains under investigation. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

When dangerous illegal aliens are released back onto the streets by radical sanctuary politicians, our officers are forced to make arrests at large in the community in unpredictable and dangerous environments. Our officers should not have to risk their lives, and innocent Americans should not have to face unnecessary danger, because sanctuary politicians refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) October 9, 2026

According to the DHS, ICE agents attempted to arrest an undocumented immigrant with a criminal record and “associations” with a street gang. However, all Democratic lawmakers, including all NYC-based lawmakers, called for a full investigation and transparency, and AG Tish James urged anyone who witnessed the incident to contact her office. Additionally, many lawmakers joined protesters who began to coalesce around the shooting site and hospital where the man was being treated. Notably, amidst the protests, federal agents were reportedly going door-to-door near the shooting site “trying to get evidence,” prompting Senator Gustavo Rivera and presumptive Representative Darializa Avila Chevalier, who would represent the area in January, to follow them.

Following the shooting, Hochul explained that she also spoke with President Trump and “urged [President Trump and DHS Secretary Mullin] to halt ICE enforcement operations in the state.” Hochul also reiterated similar calls for transparency and accountability, explaining that she asked them to release any body camera footage from the shooting to “establish the facts and get to the truth.” As of late Thursday night, it remains to be seen if the Trump Administration would allow the release of the footage.

Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul

EXECUTIVE UPDATES

Yesterday, Hochul announced the additional state investment of $10 million for the East Side Building Fund in Buffalo, which will help support the new rounds of funding that are expected to come in the coming months. The Fund is expected to provide support for projects that accelerate private building renovations, historic building stabilization, and infill development. The new investment builds on the state’s priority to boost local economic growth and ensure local communities can participate in the economic development process. “With this additional $10 million, we are building on Buffalo’s momentum — turning vacant spaces into vibrant community spaces and ensuring families and business owners share in our city’s success,” said Hochul.

On Wednesday, Hochul touted the success of the MTA’s new fare gate pilot program, citing data showing an average 35 percent reduction in fare evasion across the 20 stations with the new gates. Because of the success, Hochul directed the MTA to move forward with the next 20 stations across Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens as part of its 2025-2029 Capital Plan. The program is expected to continue into 2027 with the 30 additional stations by the end of next year. This builds upon Hochul’s priority to crack down on fare evasion to improve financial stability for the MTA and improve public safety. “The data is clear: these new fare gates have created a better riding experience for customers and made it harder for would-be fare evaders to enter the system without paying,” said Hochul.

Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul

This week, Hochul joined Senate Technology Chair Kristen Gonzalez, Senator Michelle Hinchey, and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Pat Ryan held a roundtable in a Hudson Valley farm to discuss community impacts of hyperscale data centers. Additionally, Hochul touted her recent Executive Order to implement a one-year moratorium on new data centers, and indicated future state actions on data centers. Under the moratorium, Hochul said she is prioritizing responsible growth of advanced emerging technology. “I enacted a nation-leading data center moratorium to protect our communities and hold developers accountable because I believe New Yorkers deserve a say in the decisions that affect their future,” explained Hochul.

On Monday, Hochul touted that the state has helped enroll more than 13,000 children in affordable childcare programs. With support from the state Child Care Assistance Program, more than 183,000 children are now enrolled. The announcement comes after the state helped NYC move more than 10,000 children off the program’s waitlist, building on the state’s priority to expand universal childcare, with more than $1.2 billion in state investment earmarked for next fiscal year. “Our record investments in childcare across New York will enable communities statewide to continue this progress every day by connecting more families with the support they need and deserve,” explained Hochul.

Earlier this week, Hochul announced an expansion of the state’s free community college program, allowing people ages 25 to 55 to enroll tuition-free in high-demand SUNY or CUNY associate degree programs, even if they already hold a degree in another field. Citing the expansion of advanced emerging technology industries, the expansion is expected to help grow the state economy, which Hochul recently touted as fastest-growing according to recent federal data. “As AI continues to reshape the global economy, I’m taking action to ensure more New Yorkers have the skills they need to succeed. By expanding access to free community college, we’re making it even easier for adult learners to pivot into fast-growing, high-demand sectors without taking on a single dollar of tuition debt,” explained Hochul.

Last week, Hochul convened a meeting of the state's FutureWorks Commission and highlighted some of the state’s recent actions to regulate AI. As part of a statewide listening tour with participation from workers, unions, and experts, the Commission is expected to provide policy recommendations by year's end to regulate AI's growth while protecting the state workforce responsibly. The recent Commission meeting comes a month after a roundtable that included several women in jobs that have the potential to be, or already are, being reshaped by AI. “AI is already having significant impacts throughout society – and New York will continue leading the nation with policies that protect our workers, communities and safety, while also helping everyday people harness the benefits of innovation,” said Hochul.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Today, we stood alongside colleagues, advocates, and survivors to renew our call for stronger sexual assault protections in New York.

Intoxication is not consent. It's time to close this gap in our laws and make S.10632/A.101 a priority in the upcoming legislative session. https://t.co/muFaRTKVI1
— Nathalia Fernandez (@senfernandez34) October 2, 2026

Lawmakers to Push for Changes in State Laws After Cornell Lawsuit

Amid anger and criticism against Cornell University due to a lawsuit brought by a woman who alleged that she was repeatedly sexually assaulted at an on-campus frat house in 2024 but then downplayed by the university, Hochul said she is calling for outside counsel to review the university’s initial response to the allegations. “…there are also serious questions about Cornell’s campus culture and its systems for prevention, reporting, and response,” said Hochul. She also appointed AG Tish James as a special prosecutor for the investigation. However, the allegations have also prompted many lawmakers to urge the Legislature to close the voluntary intoxication loophole, which prosecutors said made it difficult to investigate the allegation.

While the bill has passed the Senate since 2023, it has not moved in the Assembly, with Speaker Carl Heastie explaining that it has not had enough votes to pass because some lawmakers have raised concerns about the impacts of expanding the state criminal justice system on marginalized communities. However, Heastie created a 14-member working group to examine current state laws on protecting victims from assault. “We want to do everything we can to ensure victims of sexual assault see justice served,” explained Heastie.

However, many lawmakers and advocates are still urging the Assembly to act immediately on closing the loophole, with some even calling for Hochul to call a special session. Hochul has dismissed the calls for a special session but said that she will take some form of action early next year. “We can take a look at that, talk to the sponsor, but (also) find out in light of what we've learned: Are there any other glaring deficiencies in state law?” said Hochul.

One bill some advocates also point to is a bill that would redefine “physically helpless” to focus on a person’s inability to explicitly and affirmatively consent. Sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, the bill has also passed in the Senate every year since 2021 except in 2023. Senate Women’s Issues Chair Lea Webb explained that the Senate will continue to pass bills aimed at addressing and supporting survivors, including looking at “systemic failures” that resulted in cases similar to Cornell’s. Recently, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal said she will introduce a bill to build on the Enough is Enough Law and require higher education institutions to submit annual assessments of the number of assaults.

Senator Sam Sutton Rebukes Senator-Elect Kawas Op-Ed

A day before October 7th, Senator Sam Sutton published an op-ed rebutting a previously published op-ed by Senator-elect Aber Kawas, calling on Democrats to acknowledge the difference between protesting against Israeli President Bibi Netanyahu and the state of Israel. Additionally, Sutton criticized the “Not On Our Dime” bill, which was previously sponsored by Mayor Zohran Mamdani when he was in the Assembly, as harmful to the Jewish community. Currently, Sutton also sponsors the “Count Me Out” bill, which is identical to the “Not On Our Dime” bill but instead covers entities designated by the U.S. Secretary of State as foreign terrorist organizations.

Leaders of the Legislature Urge Hochul Not to Opt-In Federal "Freedom Scholarships"

With Hochul intending to opt the state into the federal “Freedom Scholarships,” which was created with the passage of HR1, Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins urged Hochul not to opt in. “Public dollars should support public schools that serve all children and are accountable to the taxpayers who fund them,” Heastie said, while Stewart-Cousins also said "I am apprehensive about this federal proposal and have serious reservations about the potential impact it could have on public schools across New York State.” However, supporters of the dollar-to-dollar tax credit say the credit would support both public and private schools. “All stakeholders should work together to ensure this program can be implemented to maximize benefits for all New York schools, including our public schools,” a Hochul spokesperson said.

Hochul Looking to Change Formula for Automatic Minimum Wage Increase

After state and federal data reported a loss of private-sector jobs due to economic uncertainty, Hochul explained last week that the state would not see an automatic increase in the minimum wage since 2024. However, Hochul plans to propose a more flexible formula to the Legislature for when the state has to decide whether to freeze the minimum wage increase. Specifically, Hochul intends to propose a formula that would loosen the criteria to trigger an automatic freeze. “This change is good for workers and businesses as it will ensure that those hardest hit by Trump’s affordability crisis keep pace with the cost of living, maintain their purchasing power, contribute to the state economy, and support our small business community,” explained Hochul.

ELECTION UPDATES

The following debate will occur on Spectrum One News:
For Governor: October 13th at 7PM

New Poll Shows Hochul Leading by 11 Points

In a Marist poll released on Wednesday, Hochul was shown to lead GOP gubernatorial candidate Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman by about 11 points. The poll, which surveyed 1,361 registered voters at the start of October, showed that 53% would vote for Hochul, 42% for Blakeman, and 5% were undecided. However, while Hochul leads all age groups except for the older, Blakeman still leads independent voters,49% to Hochul’s 42%. Notably, Hochul and Blakeman are tied in the suburbs. The Marist poll comes after two polls released the same day found Hochul leading by 9 points and 19 points, respectively.

Hochul Joins AOC and Pat Ryan in Campaign Trail to Tout State Data Center Moratorium

Earlier this week, Hochul joined Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Pat Ryan in the Hudson Valley touting her one-year moratorium on data centers. “I am incredibly proud to be here – I’m very grateful to the governor for her leadership and her responsiveness on such a cutting-edge and innovative issue,” said Ocasio-Cortez, who said she is exploring a similar proposal in Congress. In her decision to join Ocasio-Cortez, Hochul explained that she, Ocasio-Cortez, and Ryan are “100% aligned” on addressing data centers and pointed to the lack of federal action. “This is an issue where folks of all generations and all political views and all the other divides that we have in our country, this is an issue where the people are very, very clear: they are united,” explained Ryan.

Today in Chappaqua, I stood with Jessica and Tom Gorman, law enforcement, and local leaders to demand Governor Hochul repeal her law banning partnerships between local police and ICE.

In the span of 48 hours, two women were victimized by illegal immigrants with past criminal records. Cait Conley agrees with Governor Hochul that local police should not be able to coordinate with ICE to get these criminals out of our country. I think that’s f***ing crazy.

I will always stand with the Gormans and never stop fighting to keep our communities safe.
— Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) October 7, 2026

Mike Lawker Joins Bruce Blakeman to Criticize Hochul for Immigration Policies

At a press conference on Tuesday, Rep. Mike Lawler joined Bruce Blakeman, GOP state comptroller candidate Joe Hernandez, and GOP AG candidate Saritha Komatireddy to criticize Hochul for her immigration policies. Citing the murders of two individuals in Chicago and Georgia, respectively, by both undocumented immigrants, Lawler said, “Nobody in their right mind can stand here and look these families in the face and say that refusing to turn over murderers and rapists is good public policy.” “Kathy Hochul talks about atrocities committed by ICE. She is a liar. There have been no atrocities committed by ICE in New York state,” Blakeman added. In response, a Hochul spokesperson touted her investment in public safety and said, “Mike Lawler was voting to defund police, and Bruce Blakeman was defending ICE killing American citizens.”

State Democratic Congressional Delegation Held Public Forum on Voting Rights

This week, Democratic members of the state congressional delegation held a forum to inform voters about election security and voting rights. Led by Rep. Joseph Morelle, the congressional lawmakers said they wanted to reassure the public about election integrity and take proactive steps to educate voters about their rights before Election Day. “Every time President Trump and his administration have tried to interfere with the integrity of the midterm elections, they have lost. In the courts, states are 26 and 0,” said Morelle.

OTHER UPDATES

NYC Council Holds “Committee of the Whole” Hearing on AI

Earlier this week, the NYC Council held a full-day hearing on the expansion and safety of new frontier AI models with whistleblowers, experts, industry, lawmakers, advocates, and several city residents. Led by Council Speaker Julie Menin, the hearing included testimony from Google, Meta, Anthropic, and OpenAI before the full Council. Elon Musk’s SpaceX was also invited to speak but declined, and the Council is expected to take legal action against Musk. During the hearing, Menin and other Councilmembers criticized the four AI companies for failing to answer several questions about their safety guardrails they are exploring to protect users. After OpenAI replied to Menin’s question about how they are quantifying AI risks with “I don’t know” and “I also don’t think it matters whether it’s a 1% or 10% or 20% chance that something catastrophic will go wrong. None of these levels is remotely acceptable,” Menin remarked, “I’m sorry, but to say you don’t know and it doesn’t matter is flippant at best.”

Additionally, no one in the industry could project how much of NYC’s workforce AI would displace, a top issue for the NYC Council and the Legislature. In the hearing, several lawmakers testified in support of regulating AI and warning about its potential risks, including Senate Technology Chair Kristen Gonzalez and Assemblymembers Alex Bores, Clyde Vanel, and Jordan Wright. Notably, Jesse Asato, a British MP suing SpaceX for spreading deepfake images of her, also testified before the Council. The hearing comes as the Council is considering a legislative package to address AI, including a bill requiring third-party audits and allowing individuals to sue AI models. The hearing also comes amid heightened existential concerns about AI after a social media post by an AI researcher. “When companies are developing technology with the potential to fundamentally reshape our economy, our workforce, our public safety, and our daily lives…the public deserves answers and solutions,” explained Menin.

Councilmembers Question Mamdani Administration's Proposal to Expand Childcare Workforce

During an NYC Council hearing on the city’s progress on expanding affordable childcare, some lawmakers and advocates expressed skepticism about the Mamdani Administration’s progress. Specifically, lawmakers asked the Mamdani Administration to provide more details on how the city will hire additional staff as it adds 10,000 additional 2-K seats by fall of next year. Currently, NYC has only implemented 2,000 K-2 seats for this year. Emmy Liss, Mamdani’s childcare czar, explained that expanding the workforce is a priority but that it is “not a new problem, but it is a problem we know we must address head-on.” Mamdani is also expected to provide more information on how to financially support the expansion, as the state is only providing funding for the first two years.

NYC to Join Lawsuits to Defend State's Approval of Pied-à-Terre

This week, two lawsuits were filed against the state for its approval of the pied-à-terre in this year’s Final Budget. Both lawsuits allege that the law is unconstitutional due to it allegedly discriminating against non-residents, violating state and federal constitutional protections. However, Mamdani announced that NYC would support the state in defending the two lawsuits, explaining, “We will be standing with our partners in Albany to defend this surcharge.” Notably, one of the lawsuits filed by a group of homeowners and a NYC co-op is represented by former first deputy mayor Randy Mastro, who is part of several lawsuits against the Mamdani Administration.

This day is profoundly painful for so many New Yorkers. It marks three years since the horrific war crimes of October 7. On that day, Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251 others. We grieve alongside our many friends and neighbors who still carry that unthinkable loss.

The suffering did not begin nor end that day. It instead continued through the Israeli government’s devastating, ongoing genocide in Gaza, in which it has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians—including more than 21,000 children. Even since the so-called ceasefire, more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed. That suffering has intensified with every Israeli bomb dropped on ambulances waiting outside hospitals, every drone strike targeting a residential building or journalist, and every shipment of food aid turned away at a border crossing. Many New Yorkers are reckoning with this unbearable grief, and we mourn alongside them – all while knowing that our tax dollars fund these war crimes.

Three years later, we must refuse to accept a world in which occupation and apartheid continue, where war crimes are met with impunity, and our federal government continues its complicity with every arms shipment.

To honor the dead, we must fight for a world in which every person can live with freedom, safety, and dignity.
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) October 7, 2026

Lawmakers and Advocates React to Mamdani's October 7th Statement

After Mayor Mamdani released a statement marking the third anniversary of the October 7th attack on Israel, many Democratic lawmakers criticized Mamdani for devoting a majority of his statement to Israeli actions in Gaza. Outgoing Rep. Dan Goldman, who previously criticized Mamdani on this issue, called the statement “egregious and insulting.” However, Mamdani has also been criticized by some advocates for his refusal to fire NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, with advocates protesting outside City Hall. Additionally, the advocates also call on Mamdani to abolish the CUNY Board of Trustees and prohibit NYC-based organizations from promoting West Bank land sales.

Legal Challenge Over the Brooklyn Democratic Party Leadership Continues

This week, the legal challenge over the leadership of the Brooklyn Democratic Party continues as Assemblymember Bichotte Hermelyn claims that the Party elected Assemblymember Nikki Lucas on Sunday night. However, Julio Peña III, alongside Rep. Nydia Velazquez, who was unexpectedly elected county committee chair, challenged the vote, claiming it was void. Specifically, it is now alleged that Bichotte Hermelyn went against the court order by hosting the Sunday vote. Additionally, Velazquez claimed she fired the attorneys who previously represented Bichotte Hermelyn, but the attorneys continue to file court documents on her behalf even after multiple attempts to stop them. The legal process is expected to continue with a hearing on the contempt of court scheduled for October 19th.

Tweet of the Week

No, Glenn. Your hypothetical only works if you erase the word “consent.”

If someone is too intoxicated to consent, it shouldn’t matter whether they chose to drink or someone else gave them the alcohol.

It’s really not that complicated. That’s why a majority of states don’t have this loophole.
— Governor Hochul Press Office (@NYGovPress) October 2, 2026