News

Rockland Assemblyman Prepares to be Called Back to Capital to Deal with Congestion Pricing

June 14, 2024

WRCR AM 1700

By Jeff Lewis

State lawmakers could be called back to Albany for various pieces of unfinished business, and at least one Rockland Assemblyman has a bag packed and at the ready if called. Assemblyman John McGowan of the 97th district, covering Orangetown and portions of Ramapo, says legislative leaders are trying to come up with alternatives for the now on-hold congestion pricing plan…

McGowan says alternatives to get the money that’s been lost, now that the congestion pricing plan has been temporarily shelved, include an MTA payroll tax or adding a new tax to businesses in Manhattan.

NYS Lawmakers Announce Bills to Bolster Fire Safety in Rockland County

March 18, 2024

Rockland Daily

On Friday, Rockland County’s New York State lawmakers announced new bipartisan efforts to get several New York State bills passed in Albany that prioritize fire safety in Rockland County.

“Fire safety is a top issue in our county, and we are committed to working together to address it,” Senator Bill Weber shared. “This package of bipartisan legislation is part of our ongoing effort to ensure the safety of Rockland County residents and first responders. We owe them nothing less, and I am happy to be a part of this countywide effort.”

Participants at the press conference included New York State Senators Bill Weber and Pete Harckham, Fire and Emergency Services Director Chris Kear, County Attorney Thomas Humbach, Rockland County Executive Ed Day, New York State Assembly Members John McGowan, Chris Eachus, Karl Brabenec and Ken Zebrowski.

“The equal distribution of fire safety materials across the state is of the utmost importance, and I am proud to emphatically voice my support for this package,” Assemblyman Karl Brabenec said. “Nearly all New York State firefighter departments are staffed by volunteers exclusively, and they perform valiant work for their communities. It behooves us all to continue supporting them as they continue to serve us.”

GOP Lawmakers Bring Legislation to Make Dismemberment and Corpse Concealment a Felony in Wake of Suffolk County Case

March 13, 2024

Rockland News

Courtesy of WRCR.

A Republican Rockland state lawmaker has joined with three other GOP colleagues in the Assembly and Senate to make the crime of “body dismemberment and concealment of a human corpse” a bail-eligible, class-E felony. It would also strengthen the use of electronic location monitoring. This in response to the horrific case out on Long Island in which body parts from two people were found in various locations. Four people have been charged in the case but were released because the charges are not currently bail-eligible. At a press conference in Albany yesterday, Rockland State Assemblyman John McGowan of the 97th district, covering Orangetown and portions of Ramapo, himself a former prosecutor, said New York hasn’t been safer with the new bail reform rules currently in place…

At a press conference last week to announce new security measures for the city’s subway system, Governor Kathy Hochul said judges already have new discretionary powers, established by last year’s budget, and they can, and should, be using them in extreme cases…

The remains of a 53-year-old man and 59-year-old woman from Yonkers were scattered in Suffolk County. Three of the four suspects – 44 year-old Steven Brown, 38 year-old Jeffrey Mackey, 40 year-old Amanda Wallace – are all from Amityville. The fourth suspect, 33 year-old Alexis Nieves, is reportedly homeless. They’ve been charged with first-degree hindering prosecution, tampering with physical evidence, and concealment of a human corpse.

Lawmakers Have Adverse Reactions To Proposed State Budget

January 31, 2024

The Jewish Press

By Marc Gronich

State lawmakers from Rockland and Westchester counties on both sides of the aisle are upset about the latest state budget proposed by Governor Kathy Hochul last Tuesday. The budget totals $233 billion and is aimed at covering the costs for all state agencies, education, and some local programs.

In addition to the spending plan is the income side of the budget, which will continue to rely on casino revenues and sales from marijuana. A new item to the list is congestion pricing, expected to be implemented in the spring at a cost to drivers of $15 to enter Manhattan below 60thStreet from the east to west side. The money is targeted to help the Metropolitan Transportation Authority offset costs, which are spiraling out of control.

A group of five Hudson Valley Republican assemblymen in the MTA region have signed onto a letter sent to the MTA and the Department of Transportation this past week seeking a delay in kicking off the program.

“If congestion pricing is going to be here and the bill to repeal it is not going to pass, the next thing we want is to hold off implementation of the program,” freshman Assemblyman John McGowan (R – Pearl River, Rockland County) said in speaking with The Jewish Press.

“We want to hold off on implementation because there are no credits as of right now for Rockland commuters. It’s really unfair and it’s simply a money grab. It creates a gap between what we get as residents within the MTA region and our ability to commute into the city versus what we pay, it is a tremendous gap. It’s something we can’t stand for, so we’re going to be pretty aggressive fighting this during the session, pushing back, making noise, and hopefully, if we’re not going to repeal then, we get a delay in implementation while additional credits are considered for Rockland residents. My colleagues throughout the Hudson Valley feel the same way as well on behalf of their constituents.”

McGowan said there should be exemptions for emergency service providers as well as the media.

“As of right now there are no exemptions for police officers [and] emergency personnel going into the city, and the media would be another group that we would need to include. You’re going in for work purposes and there shouldn’t be restrictions or other financial burdens on members of the press,” McGowan said.

“I’m a realist and I understand that congestion pricing is here and it is not likely to be repealed. I do have a bill to repeal it. I don’t think I have any support from the majority on that and I don’t anticipate realistically that the speaker or the majority in the assembly or the senate would realistically consider it.”

A Westchester Democrat gave her assessment of how the budget meets her priorities. She said a cut in state aid for municipalities is unfair and she will fight for school aid.

“I am concerned about the impact on school districts with the Hold Harmless clause, especially with some school districts in my district who are fighting for their fair share of foundation aid. They got it and now it’s going to be rolled back,” freshman Assembly member Dana Levenberg (D – Ossining, Westchester County) told The Jewish Press.

“Even those school districts getting their “fair share” because of the way the formula is, could have actually hurt them instead of helping them. I’m going to continue to look at that with my school districts [officials] to try to figure out what we can do to make sure that they are made whole essentially so that they can continue to provide the excellent education we expect in Westchester County.”

A former town supervisor, Levenberg said she wants more money for Aid and Incentives for Municipalities [AIM funding] for local governments, more money for roads and bridge repair and maintenance, which the governor cut in the budget, and additional money for the arts, which was rolled back in the governor’s proposed budget.

“Some of the cost of living increases actually aren’t really adjusting to all of the needs of our labor force,” Levenberg said. “There’s a lot of good. We’re going to have to continue to work together as a complete legislative and executive team to really get this over the hump and make sure we’re addressing all of the needs in New York state.”

With all the additional spending Levenberg listed, McGowan believes the $233 billion will increase by a few billion dollars from what the governor proposed in order to achieve the spending goals of the majority members.

“I think the voices calling for being more fiscally conservative are not coming from the folks who have the majority,” McGowan said. “Giving out more money seems to be a solution the majority believes in. It’s [The final budget is] probably going to be more than what the governor proposed.”

Democrat Levenberg and Republican McGowan said the fentanyl crisis is not hitting their counties as it is in Suffolk County, where more than 400 residents died from an overdose of the lethal drug last year.

“My concern is that it’s going to get worse and perhaps some of the stats don’t really tell you the true story of how much is out there and how many people are having ill health effects from it,” McGowan, a former special victims’ prosecutor with the county, said.

“To an extent they can survive with Narcan, but it is only going to get worse. I think there is no doubt about that. That’s what the trend is and Rockland County is not immune from it, so it is a major issue, the danger, the potency, how lethal this substance is. If we can educate and really go after and prosecute those who are trafficking and putting the substance that is so deadly in the hands of folks who are suffering from an addiction, we need to put together a full-out offense and defense to this problem.”

Across the river in Westchester County, Levenberg said this issue has not risen to the top of the pile of concerns for her.

“I’m not saying it’s not an issue for me but I’m not particularly focused on it so it’s not an issue for me to tell you exactly what I’m doing on it. [Fentanyl] is not the most pressing issue in my district. We’re going to continue to do whatever we can to prevent people from becoming addicted to substances that there really is no getting away from. I’ve seen the impact of the opioid crisis on many constituents in my district. Personally, it has affected friends of mine. We want to make sure older people and younger people are not getting harmed. It hasn’t really come to my attention in my particular community as much as I have heard about it in some of the neighboring communities.”

Levenberg and McGown have divergent hopes, dreams and aspirations.

“We’re going to continue to advocate to protect ourselves as a state,” Levenberg said. “We want to make sure we help all the people who come through and find housing for them, good paying jobs, food and clothing that is actually sustainable and we know where it came from. My focus continues to be on building healthy communities, environmentally, economically, physically and mentally all through the lens of equity.”

McGowan has a broader view for the future.

“I’m learning every day. I was never a staffer. I never worked in Albany. This has been a whole new experience for me. I’m a big believer in political mortality. You’re not guaranteed anything beyond the term you were elected for,” McGowan said. “Fighting for affordability, fighting for fiscal fairness for the folks I represent. I want to make sure my constituents do not get shortchanged by the MTA or continue to be taxed and burdened by congestion pricing; to ensure we have a budget that is fair and doesn’t take money away from the kids in our state to provide for migrants.

You can’t take money from kids and give it to a situation that was created by failed policies and a failure to enforce laws by our federal government. Fighting for criminal justice, fighting for law enforcement, fighting for small businesses and putting New York on the right track moving forward. I’m going to fight to keep bringing New York back to what it once was. We kind of lost our path a little bit.”

The final budget is due on Monday, April 1.

Assembly Dems block bill to rename Mario M. Cuomo Bridge to the beloved ‘Tappan Zee Bridge’

April 25, 2023

New York Post

By Zach Williams

ALBANY – A bipartisan bill to rename the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge the Tappan Zee Bridge bit the dust in the state Assembly on Tuesday.

“I am disappointed that the bill did not make it out of committee,” Assemblyman John McGowan (R-Rockland) told The Post after Transportation Committee Democrats voted to hold the bill.

The vote marks the second time in two years that Assembly Democrats have blocked the legislation — despite the apparent popularity of ditching the Cuomo name.

Disgraced ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo reportedly strong-armed state lawmakers in 2017 into naming the new trans-Hudson River bridge replacing the beloved Tappan Zee after his father, a liberal lion who served three terms as governor in the 1980s and 1990s.

“The residents of Rockland did not have an opportunity to weigh in when the bridge was renamed initially and again, have been denied the opportunity to allow a full debate on the floor of the Assembly,” McGowan lamented Tuesday.

Assembly Transportation Committee Chair William Magnarelli (D-Syracuse) suggested the projected costs of renaming the 3-mile-long structure weighed heavily on legislators Tuesday.

New signage alone could mean millions of dollars that could be spent on more pressing matters, according to the Syracuse Democrat.

“I believe the majority of the committee felt they were OK with keeping the naming of the bridge for the late Gov. Mario Cuomo and not incurring any more expense for the taxpayers of New York,” Magnarelli said.

That is little solace to Hudson Valley residents who have felt the bridge should have stuck with the traditional name of Tappan Zee, which comes from the moniker of a local Indian tribe and the Dutch word for “sea,” according to a legislative memo.

Decades of habits are hard to shake for the residents, who say they will call the bridge by Tappan Zee no matter what the official name is.

“Call me an originalist — but to me, it’ll always be the Tappan Zee,” Rockland native Sarah Donnelly told The Post in February.

The bill now faces seemingly tough odds to getting approved before the scheduled end of the 2023 legislative session June 8, with Gov. Kathy Hochul declining to take a stand on the matter unless the idea gets passed by the Democratic supermajorities in the state Senate and Assembly.

State Sen. James Skoufis (D-Woodbury) said Tuesday he “will prioritize this bill and many others” after a state budget gets finalized.

And on the Assembly side, McGowan said he will keep up the fight to rename the bill despite the defeat he suffered Tuesday.

“I will continue to pursue this legislation and will not back down to restore the rightful name of the Tappan Zee Bridge,” he said.

Lawmakers Want to End Midnight Budget Secrecy With ‘Transparency Act’

March 30, 2023

The Legislative Gazette

By Sydney Rockwood

On Wednesday, March 29, 2023, Senators Jim Tedisco and Steve Rhoads, accompanied by Assemblyman John McGowan and other lawmakers, held a press conference to make a case for their bill before the April 1 New York state budget deadline.

The “NYS Budget Transparency Act” aims to prohibit the passage of state budget and other legal proceedings between the hours of midnight and 8 a.m., to ensure transparency in the legislative process. 

The use of a “message of necessity” by governors and majority conferences to sweep controversial policy proposals into budget bills passed while most New Yorkers are sleeping in order to avoid public scrutiny and a proper vetting by the media and other legislators has drawn widespread criticism over the years.

This rushed tactic allows for the evasion of public debate altogether, and a quicker path through the state “during the dark of night.”

By altering the hours to keep the public and media up to speed, Tedisco hopes to stop the abuse of “messages of necessity,” except in genuine, imminent emergencies that pose a threat to the state and its citizens. 

 said Tedisco on the matter. 

To evaluate the direness of an exception, the bill would require two-thirds of the Legislature to be present, and a two-thirds majority vote in favor of the legislation passing through immediately.

The state Constitution requires bills to “age” three days so legislators and the public have an opportunity to review them. When important policies or a budget is voted on, governors will often issue “messages of necessity” to circumvent the three-day rule and push through major legislation giving lawmakers and New Yorkers little-to-no time to read the bills.

Although not unique to this executive, Gov. Hochul promised she would lead a “new era of transparency,” the Republican lawmakers noted on Wednesday.

“The normal process is that a bill will have to age for at least 72 hours,” Rhoades explained. “That gives a reasonable opportunity for people to review the bill, find out what’s in it, and be able to get feedback to make decisions on how we’re going to vote.” 

When bills are considered “messages of necessity,” or put forward in the dead of night, the swiftness in which they are presented grant them immunity from proper coverage from the media, and deprive senators of valuable time to review these bills. Without the normal 72 hours, senators argue they cannot dedicate enough time to consideration of the bill on the thousands of New Yorkers they represent.

“Ultimately, if the governor and [conference] leaders think passing a state budget that’s projected to be billions of dollars above last year’s in darkness is so good for New York taxpayers, then why don’t my colleagues hold their press conferences at 3 a.m. instead of the light of day,” Tedisco asked. “Clearly, they don’t because they want a full airing of their ideas to the public through the media so they can be seen and heard.

“As the famed journalist Bob Woodward popularized, ‘Democracy dies in darkness.’ If an agreement hatched in the dark of night at 3 a.m. is so good for our state then it will still be a good one to be debated and voted on at 3 p.m.,” Tedisco added.

Assemblyman McGowan sponsors the bill (A.4723) in the Assembly.

“We have seen numerous examples of important legislation being voted on and passed in the middle of the night, especially during this time of the budgetary process,” McGowan said. “Redistricting, casino gambling, pension reform, teacher evaluation, to name a few.”

There have been attempts to pass versions of this bill every year since 2015, with the goal of amending Section 14 of Article 3 of the New York State Constitution. The newest version of this act is currently in the Judiciary Committee awaiting passage.

“You hear people say those dastardly words – ‘It’s always been done that way’ – but it’s not the right way, and it’s time to change it,” Tedisco said.

McGowan Runs For State Assembly In 2022: Patch Candidate Profile

September 27, 2022

McGowan wants to fight wasteful spending, support parents’ rights in their children’s education and protect local control of zoning.

Patch

By Lanning Taliaferro

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — In 2022’s general election, residents of the Hudson Valley will be voting for state and local officials. In anticipation, Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Rockland Legislator John W. McGowan has the Republican line on the ballot, vying for New York Assembly in the 97th District against Democrat Eudson Tyson Francois. The incumbent, Assemblyman Mike Lawler, is challenging U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney for the 17th Congressional District seat.

Re-drawn after the 2020 Census, the L-shaped 97th New York Assembly District covers southeastern Rockland and a central corridor.

A Pearl River resident, McGowan, 37, was elected to the Rockland County Legislature from District 15 in 2020. He is an attorney.

Learn more on his campaign website.

Why are you seeking this office?

I am seeking election to NYS Assembly because I believe New York State is at a crossroads; people are leaving to New York because it’s no longer affordable, unsafe, and too onerous to own or build a business. We need to fix this and make New York better to raise a family, own a business, and feel safe.

I am currently an elected official in Rockland; I have served as a Legislator (District 15) since 2020. I am also a practicing attorney in New York State. Previously, I served as a Senior Assistant District Attorney in Rockland. As an attorney and current Legislator, I believe I am well versed in our laws, the needs of the county, and have unique experience as an advocate ready to fight for Rockland. This experience has also taught me to always strive to see the other side and find ways to achieve balance and common ground on issues when possible.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

The incumbent, Mike Lawler, is seeking election to U.S. Congress and, therefore, is no longer seeking re-election to the Assembly. I believe Assembly Lawler has been an excellent advocate for Rockland and tireless in efforts to find solutions to issues. Mike Lawler has endorsed me to run for election for this office.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Fighting inflation and wasteful government spending; increasing school aid and parents’ right to have a say in their children’s education; repealing congestion pricing and increasing state aid for transit and infrastructure needs; and protecting local control of zoning and preserving single-family neighborhoods.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have served on the Rockland Legislature since 2020. In that time, I have worked with my colleagues to keep county taxes down, provide necessary services to residents of Rockland, and ensure the safety of first responders. I believe this experience, coupled with my legal background as a practicing attorney and former Senior Assistant District Attorney in Rockland, supports my candidacy for Assembly and ability to perform the duties of this office.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Do the right thing, always.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am a lifelong Rockland resident and vested in my county and community. I intend to live and stay in Rockland long term and I will never stop fighting for our great county and great state.