Let the people, not politicians, choose the next New York attorney general

The sudden and shocking resignation of state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has brought to light the archaic legal guidelines for replacing the Empire State’s chief law enforcement officer or its controller if the elected official resigns or dies while in office.

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Why does de Blasio keep closing his eyes to sexual misconduct?

On July 17, 2017, during my campaign for mayor, I issued a news release containing the following headline: “Mayor Turns a Blind Eye as Sexual Assaults Climb.” Mayor de Blasio and his aides denied any such increase and in fact, during our first debate, the mayor went so far as to attack me for employing what he called “a classic right-wing Republican scare tactic.”

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Proposed internet sales tax bad for New York

New Yorkers were recently awarded a dubious distinction; residents of the Empire State were found to be the most highly taxed people in the United States.

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Property taxes & the ‘two New Yorks’

Money doesn’t grow on trees. In New York City, it grows on houses. At least that’s what City Hall seems to believe, with its consistent, steep increase of the property-tax levy — the amount of money our mayor and City Council have sought from property owners to pay for the city’s lavish spending.

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Progressive prosecutors’ pathetic retreat

You can now ride the subway for free. At least that is the message being sent by progressive prosecutors.

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Protecting IDNYC records is about safety and transparency – not immigration

As the NFL playoffs approach, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito have found their political football. Since Donald Trump’s election, they’ve seen an opportunity to rally their base by amplifying rhetoric that city records must be destroyed to protect illegal immigrants from deportation by the incoming Trump administration.

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Stop nickel-and-diming our gold, silver and bronze winners

Their victories are a great source of pride for all New Yorkers and should be celebrated. However, in states across the country, including ours, the medalists are congratulated with a tax bill.

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The MTA runaway train

Earlier this month, state legislators adopted a budget that will strike a fatal blow to the historically troubled MTA. The budget authorizes the agency to increase its debt limit to a whopping $55 billion from an already unsustainable $37 billion.

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Misguided proposals will lead to further financial hardship for students

Each year, we should be making headway for New York’s struggling college students. We should be addressing the ever-increasing costs of higher education and adopting measures that ensure current and prospective students have the opportunity to earn a college degree without being burdened with debt come graduation day. Instead, we are seeing actions that will do the opposite.

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Cop killer released due to faulty law

Tyrone Howard, who viciously killed Police Officer Holder Tuesday night, benefited from misguided “reform” to our state’s drug laws to get out of prison and back on the streets.

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Higher taxes, fewer New Yorkers

While many of us spend the winter months daydreaming about warmer days, others have made the permanent move elsewhere. Their reason for leaving New York, however, is not solely for sunnier weather.

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A Rare Opportunity for Reform

Two years ago, following the use of taxpayer funds to cover up sexual harassment in the state Assembly, I was among those who called for Speaker Sheldon Silver to resign.

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MTA needs to do more for outer boroughs

A few weeks ago, the MTA unveiled its 2015 Capital Plan. Despite its $32 billion price tag, projects important to Southwest Brooklyn and the outer boroughs are, once again, nowhere to be found.

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Help New York save taxpayer money and trees, this November

When I entered the state legislature in 2011, I couldn’t believe the amount of paper wasted every day. Hundreds of pages of different drafts of bills are put on our chamber desks, sent to our offices, and placed in meeting rooms of the various committees we serve on, despite most legislators reading the bills beforehand and oftentimes electronically.

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Passing crucial legislation to keep our streets safe

In the final hours of the 2014 legislative session, the New York State Legislature took action on one of the most important issues of the year, passing sweeping measures to combat the prescription drug and heroin epidemic plaguing our communities.

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