Member Spotlight

Stephen Hawley

This week, Assemblyman Stephen Hawley joins us to discuss his district, priorities, and some of the work he did in the Assembly. Before being elected to the Assembly, he served in public service in the National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserves. Afterward, he opened a small business and brought that experience to Albany to advocate for affordability and economic growth. Currently, he serves on various committees, including on Insurance, Agriculture, Rules, and Ways & Means.

What district do you represent?
I represent the 139th Assembly District.

What are some landmarks in your district?
We have many important landmarks. For example, there is the Genesee Country Village & Museum, SUNY Brockport, The Holland Land Office, The Cobblestone Museum, The Erie Canal, Lake Ontario, Oak Orchard River, and The Jello Museum. Whether you live here or are simply visiting us, there’s always something to do here.

What are your favorite music genres, artists, or bands?
Rock & blues are my favorite genres. My favorite artists are Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

What was your profession before being elected to the Assembly?
My former occupation was a cash crop farmer. In addition to being an Assemblymember, I am also in the insurance and real estate business.

What priorities did you work on this year?
I always focus on my constituents and their needs. But it always comes down to affordability, which means fighting for lower taxes, fewer mandates and fees, and limiting spending. Those are always of paramount importance. I also try to prioritize veteran issues, volunteer firefighters, emergency responders, law enforcement, and our agricultural industry. I have always fought for these issues and will continue to do so.

What advice would you give to young folks who want to get more involved in public service?
It’s important to get involved!. Join community-minded groups or participate in activities like service clubs or political committees. You can always run for school board, town, or village offices. But it’s always about learning about your community, getting involved, and meeting with the folks who make up your community. To represent your community effectively, you need to know your community foremost.

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.comto set up an interview!

Prohibition of 287(g) Agreements Take Effect

Last week, the Local Cops, Local Crime Act officially took effect, prohibiting local municipalities from partnering with the federal government under 287(g) agreements. While AG Tish James sent notices to police departments with 287(g) agreements before it took effect, Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin has refused to end its agreement and has instead joined a lawsuit challenging the law. “They did something serious enough to land in our jail. All we do is run them through a federal [law enforcement] database to find out what other crimes they may have committed,” explained McLaughlin. However, Hochul and James said they are filing a lawsuit against Rensselaer County. “The Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office has been given every opportunity to follow the law, yet has chosen not to,” James explained in a statement.

Notably, Nassau County Executive and GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, who repeatedly reiterated his opposition to the law, agreed to terminate Nassau County’s 287(g) agreement. Blakeman explained that the decision comes because he “believe[s] in the rule of law, even when it is a bad law and this is a very bad and dangerous law.” “This is one of the saddest days of my life as county executive [] because of this terrible and bad law that we have to adhere to. I know it is going to make it more dangerous in Nassau County," Blakeman added. However, Blakeman said Nassau County will continue to work informally with ICE while complying with the law. "We will continue to work with ICE, but we will abide by the technicalities of the law," said Blakeman.

However, it was also unveiled last week that the federal DHS conducted Operation Rotten Apple, a statewide operation that resulted in the arrest of 2,197 noncitizens between July 27th and August 29th, with DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin claiming that all 2,197 arrested individuals had committed crimes aside from their illegal entry into the US. “When you choose to take the shortcut, you have made a decision, a conscious decision, to enter this country illegally and break our nation’s laws. It is our job through DHS and ICE to enforce our nation’s laws,” explained Mullin. In response, Hochul questioned the legitimacy of Mullin’s claims and DHS’s immigration tactics. “Instead of walking around about rotten apples and talking about all this BS, we’re about apple pies. We like apples here in the state of New York,” said Hochul.

Darren McGee/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul

EXECUTIVE UPDATES

On Wednesday, Hochul announced the completion of the $98 million Matinecock Court housing development in Huntington, Suffolk County. The 145-unit affordable limited-equity cooperative development includes supportive apartments for individuals with developmental disabilities and homes reserved for veterans, as well as ensuring that the units are affordable to households earning up to 80 percent of Area Median Income. The development supports Hochul’s $25 billion Housing Agenda through expanding affordable homeownership opportunities on Long Island and supporting inclusive housing for veterans and people with disabilities. “By making this development a reality, we are opening the doors to a more affordable future for generations right here on Long Island,” said Hochul.

Earlier this week, Hochul joined lawmakers and advocates to announce the expansion of free pre-K seats in more than 400 school districts across the state, which is expected to add thousands of seats before the start of the new school year. Supported by a $563 million annual increase in this year’s Enacted Budget, 84 school districts are expected to add new seats to every eligible four-year-old after opening a new center. This builds upon the state’s commitment to implement free universal pre-K and supports Hochul’s broader affordability agenda. “I’ll never stop fighting to lower costs for families — and our historic investment has already delivered thousands more free Pre-K seats statewide, with tens of thousands more in the coming years,” said Hochul.

Joined by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Hochul held a press conference urging the Trump Administration to release the remaining $87 million in federal counterterrorism funding to the state. This public request comes after the Trump Administration restored $100 million of the $187 million in federal funding it cut from the state. “By holding this funding hostage, the Trump Administration is defunding the police,” said Hochul. If the remaining $87 million is restored, Hochul explained that it would ensure full funding for the NYPD intelligence analysts and counterterrorism unit, state-certified bomb squads, and FDNY’s interoperable communication and radiological response capabilities. “New York State continues to be the nation’s number one terrorist target – and if President Trump and Secretary Mullin really care about public safety, they should stop playing games and fully fund our vital counterterrorism efforts,” explained Hochul.

In anticipation of more severe weather, Hochul joined Mayor Mamdani in announcing an $8.4 million flood resiliency investment to turn concrete roadway medians in Whitestone, Forest Hills, and Queens Village into green infrastructure that absorbs stormwater and reduces flash flooding. When completed, the new infrastructure is expected to capture roughly five million gallons of stormwater each year. The investment builds on the state’s commitment to projects that increase climate resiliency and modernize local infrastructure. “With flash floods becoming more the norm due to extreme weather tied to our changing climate, we must do all we can to protect our communities,” explained Hochul.

Alongside Queens DA Melinda Katz last week, Hochul announced the sentencing of two individuals convicted of staging three highly publicized crashes and seeking fraudulent insurance payouts. In a collaboration between the NYPD and the state DFS, Hochul said investigators and prosecutors succeeded in the investigation because of the recent auto insurance reforms she advocated for during this year's budget negotiations. Additionally, Hochul said addressing staged crashes and insurance fraud will help lower high insurance premiums. “This kind of reckless, illegal behavior has been driving up auto insurance costs for millions of New Yorkers for far too long. By cracking down, we’re not just getting dangerous criminals off our roads, we’re putting money back into the pockets of everyday drivers,” said Hochul.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Interesting Netflix Documentary on the "Power Grab"
— Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn (@AMBichotte)

Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Reiterates Her Commitment to Passing Reforms

With Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn able to pass her proposal to expand the Party’s executive committee in a move to retain her chairpersonship after the June primary, four reform district leaders, including Julio Peña III, filed a lawsuit against Bichotte Hermelyn. Peña and others allege that Bichotte Hermelyn violated state election laws and the Party’s bylaws by allowing lame-duck members to vote for her proposal.

While the lawsuit moves through the court, many lawmakers have criticized Bichotte Hermelyn, including Hochul, Mayor Mamdani, AG Tish James, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. “Democrats need to be focused on defeating Donald Trump and his MAGA enablers this November, anything else is a distraction,” a spokesperson for Hochul explained. However, Bichotte Hermelyn has reiterated her proposal to “[expand] our Party to fight for working and middle-class families” and released a video defending the move.

Hochul Increases Funding for Victim Services After Bipartisan Backlash from Lawmakers

After facing criticisms, warnings of layoffs, and potential cuts in services due to insufficient funding for sexual assault survivors, it was reported that Hochul is planning to send $36 million in state funding. The latest funding follows the state Office of Victim Services’ award of a combined $126.5 million in state and federal money earlier this summer, but it was found inadequate because of high demand and a limited pool of money. In response, lawmakers called on Hochul to increase funding, including Republican lawmakers and the state’s district attorney association. However, some lawmakers are now calling for changes to the funding process to avoid future cuts and disruptions. “The thing is, we still don’t know specifically what the entire cut was throughout the state of New York because they can’t provide it right now. So, we don’t know what the measurement is,” explained Senator Rob Rolison.

Hochul Shoots Down Upstate Pied-à-Terre Tax

In an unrelated press conference last week, Hochul shot down an upstate pied-à-terre tax proposal, explaining, “I’m not interested in seeing it rolled out upstate. This was specifically intended to help the city of New York get through a financial crisis that the current mayor did inherit. The comments come as NYC was given the authority to implement a citywide pied-à-terre tax, prompting several lawmakers to propose expanding the tax upstate, with Senator Pat Fahy and Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha introducing the bill amid budget negotiations. Although some lawmakers and advocates have said they will push for the bill next year, it remains to be seen whether it will get enough support.

Lawmakers and Advocates Urge Hochul to Appeal After Federal Judge Stuck Down Superfund Act

Earlier this week, a federal judge struck down the state Climate Change Superfund Act for preempting the federal Clean Air Act, restricting the state from imposing strict liability on energy companies for their alleged contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on the state. In response, Hochul said the state is reviewing its “options of appeal” to revive the law, which was expected to give the state $75 billion. Liz Krueger, Senate Finance Chair and the one who originally sponsored it as a bill in the Legislature, urged Hochul to appeal the ruling, saying, “The Attorney General needs to appeal this to a higher court, and we believe that we will win.”

Senators Jeremy Cooney and Erik Bottcher Introduce 9 to 5 Day in Honor of Dolly Parton

After the passing of superstar icon Dolly Parton, Senators Jeremy Cooney and Erik Bottcher introduced a bi ll to rename 9/25 into “9 to 5” Day to honor her legacy. “I can recall Dolly Parton speaking out for the LGBT community. It was a big deal to me, and I’m sure for millions of others. She was one of those rare people who seemed to belong to everyone, and she also had deep ties to New York City…so it’s only fitting that Sept. 25 be designated as 9 to 5 Day across New York State,” explained Bottcher. Cooney, a leading advocate for expanding Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to combat literacy disparity, said, “Dolly’s impact extends far beyond her musical talent, with her Imagination Library providing free monthly books to over 170,000 children in New York, supporting childhood literacy and bringing joy to families.”

Assembly Task Force on New Americans Releases Annual Report

This week, Assembly Task Force on New Americans Chair Phara Souffrant Forrest released the task force’s annual repor t on recent legislative actions to protect the state’s immigrant communities. Although the report highlighted several funding increases for immigrant services, including $74.2 million for immigrant legal services, and the implementation of policies such as prohibiting 287(g) agreements, it also highlighted several legislative priorities, including the New York for All Act. “Our work in the coming year is critical. New York State can meet the moment by passing bold policy solutions and making the robust investments necessary to support our immigrant communities,” the report states.

Senator Shelley Mayer Announces $100K in State Grants for Her District

Alongside the Scarsdale Police Department, Senator Shelley Mayer announced earlier this week the allocation of $100,000 in state grants to the department. With the $100,000, Mayer said the police department was able to purchase two new motorcycles and a motorcycle trailer through the Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology program, which was agreed to be funded as part of this year's Enacted Budget. Scarsdale expects to use the new equipment to improve highway safety and for escorting purposes. “It is crucial that our local police departments and officers have the necessary resources to respond to emergencies and keep our community safe,” said Mayer.

ELECTION UPDATES

State Democratic Party Files Complaint Against Blakeman Again

Last week, the state Democratic Party filed a formal complaint with the state BOE over Nassau County Executive and GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman’s appearance with President Trump at Nassau County’s police academy. The Democrats allege that uniformed officers attended the county-owned facility and that the political rhetoric during the event amounted to an improper partisan political rally. “Candidate Bruce Blakeman, while accepting public finance dollars to mount a campaign, has exploited the governmental office of Nassau County executive to deploy county funds, facilities and personnel, all in furtherance of his own statewide candidacy,” the complaint states. Blakeman criticized the compliant as a “hail Mary” and said, “Of course Kathy Hochul would criticize the president for coming to tour our outstanding law enforcement facilities and honor law enforcement professionals.”

Blakeman Sends Fake NYC Pied-à-Terre Notice Letters as Campaign Mailers

Amid an ongoing rollout of the pied-à-terre tax in NYC that many have criticized, Bruce Blakeman's campaign sent fake pied-à-terre notice letters to NYC homeowners asking for contributions. Although the letter includes the phrase “Not official government business,” the fake letters came after the Mamdani Administration released a public list of residences that could be subject to the tax, causing confusion and criticism because some of the residences on the list are primary residences. When asked about the fake notices, Blakeman said “Kathy Hochul and Zohran Mamdani owe New Yorkers a tremendous apology – for making New York even more unaffordable with another tax and then botching its rollout so badly that they published the wrong addresses on the city’s official website.”

Anthony Constantino Leading by 10% In Latest NY-21 Poll

In a recent poll of 500 in-district individuals from August 15th to 17th, GOP candidate Anthony Constantino led Democrat Blake Gendebien by 10%. Overall, the poll found that 50% of respondents said they would vote for Constantino, compared with 40% for Gendebien. However, 10% of respondents said they were unsure who to vote for. Previously, another poll showed Gendebien leading Constantino by 4%. In response to the recent poll showing him with an advantage, Constantino said “Citizens are supporting me in record numbers because they’re tired of political liars and know I will continue to expose corruption to help everyone.” Constantino, the favorite to win, is running to succeed outgoing Rep. Elise Stefanik, while Gendebien and the Democrats view the North Country race as winnable.

OTHER UPDATES

Mamdani Administration Bans the Use of Generative AI in Elementary and Middle Schools

On Wednesday, alongside lawmakers and NYC Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced new school guidance to regulate AI use in elementary and middle school classrooms. Specifically, the new guidance includes a one-year moratorium on generative AI use for students in 2-K through 8th grade, as well as recommendations on screen time restrictions. While the guidance will not ban generative AI in high schools, the Administration plans to introduce twice-yearly AI literacy classes for high schoolers, along with limited AI pilots in a small number of high school classrooms. The new guidance comes after the NYCDOE faced criticism for its earlier version, which many advocates call inadequate to protect students.

Mamdani Releases Long-Awaited NYC's Racial Equity Plan

After two long delays and a lawsuit finding that Mamdani and the Adams Administration both violated the law, Mamdani released NYC’s Racial Equity Plan. The Plan is expected to guide all 45 city agencies in meeting their agency-specific goals to reduce racial inequities in NYC. Additionally, agencies must track and measure progress and meet new requirements, including examining pay equity for city workers, expanding broadband access, and promoting early childhood education. “City agencies are now expected to implement it, report on progress every two years, and use it to guide policy, operations, and accountability across government,” explained Mamdani.

Today my office is releasing a major new analysis of income inequality in NYC.

We found that NYC has grown considerably more unequal since 2019. Nearly two-thirds of real income growth went to the top 1%, while median income actually fell after inflation and the bottom 90% saw… pic.twitter.com/amUFUbHWtR
— Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) September 2, 2026

NYC Comptroller Releases Report on NYC's Income Inequality

This week, NYC Comptroller Mark Levine released a report on income inequality in NYC, highlighting that it increased between 2019 and 2024 and that NYC has one of the highest income disparities in the nation. “New York City is generating enormous wealth, but the vast majority of that prosperity is flowing to those who already have the most,” said Levine. Additionally, Levine urged lawmakers to consider “policies that expand economic mobility.” In response to the report, a Mamdani spokesperson said that the recent report “underscores the urgency of the Mamdani administration’s agenda.”

Federal Judge Dismmisses Trump's Lawsuit Against Rochester's Sanctuary Status

Earlier this week, a federal judge dismissed a case the Trump Administration brought against Rochester over its sanctuary policies. In the lawsuit, the federal DOJ alleged that the city’s sanctuary policies violated the Supremacy Clause, discriminated against the federal government, and obstructed federal immigration policy. However, the judge rejected those claims, explaining, “Rochester’s Sanctuary City laws and policies are not a prohibition on or interference with the federal government’s role in enforcing immigration policy.” This comes as the state and the Trump Administration are in dueling lawsuits over the state’s new immigration laws, including the prohibition on 287(g) agreements

FIRM SPOTLIGHT

D&A's SVP Tina Haxhillari was recently named to City & State 2026 Labor Power 100 !!! Tina's excerpt below:

Eglantina Haxhillari has achieved victories for hotel and casino workers as well as firefighters in recent years. On behalf of the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, she supported efforts to eliminate the state’s unemployment insurance debt and to increase maximum weekly unemployment benefits. For the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, Haxhillari supported the passage of legislation that helps with recruitment and retention and to increase the presumptive eligibility period for first responders who participated in the rescue efforts at the World Trade Center after 9/11. She started her lobbying career with the Civil Service Employees Association.

The D&A Team has once again been named in City & State's 2025 Top 50 State Lobbyist List! We are proud of the work we do for our clients and thank them for placing their confidence in us. Our excerpt below:

Biggest accomplishment:

“We led lobbying efforts that secured historic auto insurance reforms included in the final state budget, addressing fraud and excessive litigation – two key drivers of rising insurance costs. We also advanced legislation to strengthen recruitment and retention of New York City uniformed firefighters while supporting additional pension benefits. Our advocacy helped pass legislation extending the presumptive eligibility period for injuries and illnesses affecting first responders involved in World Trade Center rescue and recovery efforts. In addition, we worked with legislative leaders in both houses to secure first passage of a constitutional amendment advancing redistricting reform.”

Key industries: Gambling, insurance, healthcare, labor, voting and elections reform

FIRM SPOTLIGHT

Tweet of the Week

Challenge accepted. https://t.co/CzX2F6xCpS pic.twitter.com/rumUq1TnFu
— James Skoufis (@JamesSkoufis) August 31, 2026

Friday Morning Brief September 4, 2026

EXECUTIVE UPDATES

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

ELECTION UPDATES

OTHER UPDATES

FIRM SPOTLIGHT

Other Interesting Friday Reads

Tweet of the Week

Friday Morning Brief September 4, 2026

EXECUTIVE UPDATES

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

ELECTION UPDATES

OTHER UPDATES

FIRM SPOTLIGHT

Other Interesting Friday Reads

Tweet of the Week

Subscribe to the D&A Friday Morning Brief

Friday Morning Brief August 21, 2026