Local News for Friday, January 13, 2023

Nguyen Running for Reelection; Won't run again.

The Ithaca Voice reports that second ward Common Councilor Ducson Nguyen will seek re-election to another four year term on Common Council, but, if elected, the term will be his last. Nguyen’s district will change along with the rest of the common council following last year’s redistricting process. As a result all 10 seats on the council will be up for re-election, 2 in each ward, with one member seeking a two-year term and the other a four-year term. Nguyen says he has made affordable housing and infrastructure core goals of his time in office.

Hochul focuses on Wages and Crime in State of the State Address

On Tuesday Governor Kathy Hochul delivered the State of the State address where she unveiled her agenda for 2023. According to the Gothamist, Hochul called for indexing the state’s minimum wage to inflation. The proposal would see the minimum wage rise with the consumer price index. This would mean minimum wage hikes would no longer be decided by the state legislature and the Governor. The Governor also called for more changes to the state's bail law. The law has already been amended after being criticized by Republicans and some Democrats like New York City mayor Eric Adams. However criminal justice reform advocates lampooned Hochul’s comments saying the bail law has been falsely scapegoated for increases in crime. Right now there is little hard evidence to suggest bail reform is responsible for increases in crime. The Governor’s address also included calls to protect the MTA, expand housing, and protect abortion and contraceptive rights in the state.