ANOTHER BUZZKILL: THE ENERGY IMPACT OF MARIJUANA LEGISLATION IN NYS Even as Governor Hochul pushes to restart the stalled marijuana legalization momentum in New York State, there’s yet another roadblock to tackle: the growing concern over the environmental impacts of the budding cannabis industry. Tied primarily to indoor facilities, grow lights, fans, and irrigation systems…
Will the Municipal Opt-Out Kill the MRTA’s Buzz? On March 31, 2021, New York State became the 17th state to legalize adult-use recreational marijuana through the enactment of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (“MRTA”). Many are taking a budding interest in legalization and are looking to enter the market, whether merely as a consumer…
NEW LAW PERMITS AUTOMATIC RENEWAL OF SENIOR CITIZEN AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITES AND LIMITED INCOME REAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS In another response to the Covid crisis, New York State has enacted a law which allows local tax jurisdictions to automatically renew certain real property tax exemptions for 2021. The applicable exemptions are the Real Property…
MICHELE L. BABCOCK, ESQ. RECOGNIZED BY HUDSON VALLEY MAGAZINE AS WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2020 HONOREE WALDEN, NY – The law firm of Jacobowitz and Gubits, LLP (J&G) is pleased to announce and congratulate Michele L. Babcock, Managing Partner, for being selected as a 2020 Women in Business honoree by Hudson Valley Magazine. Michele is…
NEW LAW PROTECTION FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES In recognition of the essential role of public employees during this pandemic, New York State has adopted legislation requiring public employers to plan for similar emergencies in the future. The New York State Labor Law has been amended by adding a new section (27-c)…
MAKING ACESSORY DWELLING UNIT’S WORK FOR YOU Granny pods. Elder cottages. ECHO housing. No matter what you call them, there is no question: accessory dwelling units (“ADUs” for short) are a booming trend for affordable senior living (as well as a reliable source of passive income) in the Hudson Valley. These spaces traditionally function as…
485-b COMMERCIAL REAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION Section 485-b of the New York Real Property Tax Law provides the basis for a 50% reduction of the increase in assessed value due to certain qualifying new construction, alterations, installations or improvements for the purpose of commercial, business or industrial activity, thus reducing real property taxes and some…
AN IMPORTANT TIP FOR MUNICIPALITIES USING ZOOM FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS UNDER NYS GOVERNOR’S GUIDANCE Following Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.6, many municipalities are using Zoom to comply with the requirement that remote meetings be made available to the public. We want you to be aware of one potential complication of doing so. Today’s Daily Freeman…
CORONAVIRUS RESOURCE PAGE For the past several months, the firm has remained fully operational and continued to provide seamless, high quality legal services to our clients. As we move forward, we want our clients to know that our full-service team is available to provide you with the assistance you need in whatever format makes the…
Planning to cancel a public board meeting due to COVID concerns? You can conference call instead (but do it the right way.) A core principle of the Open Meetings Law (OML) is that public bodies must conduct public business in public. Amid widespread public health concern about public gatherings,that principle is adapting to the Coronavirus emergency….
