Gianaris Announces Hearing on Antitrust Laws
Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris along with Senator Kevin Thomas announced a hearing by the Senate Democratic Majority into the state’s antitrust laws.
On the heels of Congress holding its own antitrust hearings, the State Senate’s hearing will take place on September 14, 2020 at 10:00 am and will investigate the rapidly changing and growing power of dominant businesses in the modern economy. The committee will receive the testimony of experts in academia, tech, and law in response to Senator Gianaris’ “21st Century Antitrust Act.”
“Our antitrust laws were written a century ago for a radically different economy and they are in desperate need of serious updates. Corporate power has reached unprecedented and dangerous levels, and we need powerful new laws to protect the public and our economy,” Gianaris said.
Oral testimony will be by invitation only. A list of confirmed speakers will be available before the hearing.
Richards Receives Sharpton’s Support for Chokehold Amendment
City Councilmember Donovan Richards’ announced that Rev. Al Sharpton strongly supports his amendment to the City Council’s chokehold bill Mayor Bill de Blasio signed into law in July.
The amendment was added after police officials raised concerns that a police officer could unintentionally compress someone’s diaphragm during an arrest.
Rev. Sharpton has been voicing his concern since hearing about this amendment including at the weekly rally of the National Action Network on Saturday, August 29.
“The City Council called me and said they were changing the law and I said I want to see the language. Gwen Carr wants to see the language, and the language we saw is stronger than the other language. I’m not intimidated by the PBA, but I’m also not going to be stopped by what’s going to be beneficial. Let us not get trapped where we are automatic either way. Base whatever you’re going to do on your interests. The PBA, who has supported Donald Trump, opposes this new language because they know it’s stronger and more definitive ” he said.
Rev. Sharpton’s comments were made just a day after the historic “Get Your Knee Off Our Necks” Commitment March in Washington, DC where he, Martin Luther King III and the families of victims, including Eric Garner’s family, amplified their pleas to Congress to pass a national chokehold ban.
Addabbo Looks Forward to Casinos Reopening
State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. released a statement about Governor Andrew Cuomo’s decision to reopen casinos:
“I was thankful to learn of Governor Cuomo’s decision today to allow casinos across New York State to reopen again on September 9th,” Addabbo, Jr., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, said. “This will result in many of the furloughed casino workers returning to their jobs and providing for their families, while permitting our residents to visit these gaming sites to safely enjoy the amenities during these difficult times. The reopening of casinos will also be an economic generator for revenue and educational funding for our state, as we deal with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. While this is a productive first step, I am hopeful that further guidelines and metrics can be put in place, where we can reexamine the status of the casino operations and COVID rates, possibly every two weeks, which would provide information and guidance towards the decisions on allowing additional aspects of the casinos to reopen. I look forward to seeing how we progress from here.”
