ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE [AI] IS NOT USED IN COMPOSING NYPPL SUMMARIES OF JUDICIAL AND QUASI-JUDICIAL DECISIONS.

Dec 24, 2025

"City & State New York" designates New York State Upstate Power Leaders of 2025 making an impact north of Westchester County

Click the URL posted below in Red to access the names and a brief bio of these Leaders. 

The 2025 Upstate Power 100 - City & State New York

City & State New York identifies itself as the premier media organization dedicated to covering New York’s local and state politics and policy providing non-partisan coverage to its readers.



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NYPPL will resume posting summaries of judicial and quasi-judicial decisions and other relevant information on January 5, 2026.

 Wishing all a healthy, and productive, 2026

Dec 23, 2025

Selected items posted on Internet blogs this week

Autonomous Tech: Building Resilient Public Services Learn how state/local agencies can adopt autonomous technologies while preserving governance, equity, and trust. READ MORE 

CIO Essentials: Vital Priorities for a Transforming Landscape This paper discusses the four core priorities CIOs must focus on to meet this moment: modernizing legacy systems, advancing data and AI maturity, leading enterprise security and driving operational efficiency. DOWNLOAD 

How Smart Police Stations Are Redefining Public Service Self-service kiosks are helping law enforcement agencies deliver faster, clearer service by digitizing high-impact workflows and reducing front-desk demands. READ NOW 

Navigating H.R. 1: A Medicaid Checklist for Government Agencies New Medicaid work and reporting requirements are fast approaching. This checklist helps state agencies assess how prepared they are to verify employment, education, and life changes without creating administrative gridlock. DOWNLOAD

Chart a Smarter, Secure Path for AI in Higher Ed Discover practical steps to implement AI responsibly to help improve student services and drive operational efficiency. Download the Guide



Second Circuit Court of Appeals rules that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey does not enjoy state sovereign immunity when sued in federal court

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey [Port Authority] appealed the decision of a Federal District Court holding in favor of one of its former employees [Petitioner]. The Petitioner had sued his former employer, the Port Authority, seeking to be indemnified for certain legal expenses he had incurred. 

The federal district court had dismissed the Petitioner's complaint "for lack of subject matter jurisdiction" on the ground that Petitioner had failed to plead that the Port Authority had waived its "state sovereign immunity". 

The Circuit of Appeals reverse the District Court's ruling, noting that the United States Supreme Court has held that the Port Authority does not have the sovereign immunity “that a State enjoys”, citing Hess v. Port Auth. Trans-Hudson Corp., 513 U.S. 30, 33 (1994). 

Accordingly, explained the Circuit Court, Petitioner was not required to plead that the Port Authority had waived its immunity. 

The Circuit Court vacate the judgment of the District Court and remand the matter to the District Court for further proceedings.

Judge Carney concurred in the Circuit Court's judgment in a separate opinion.

Click HERE to access the decision of the Circuit Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.

Dec 22, 2025

Division of Local Government Services Training Program


Registration for DOS Local Government Training program’s Winter Webinar series for Local Governing Boards, Planning Board, Zoning Boards of Appeals, Zoning Enforcement Officers, Planning Staff and other officials is now open!

The webinars will be held on Monday evenings in December and January from 6-8pm on WebEx. We will conclude the series with a daytime training for planning and zoning board clerks and other municipal staff on Thursday, January 22 at 2pm.

View the training schedule here

Zoning Basics for Enforcement Officials and Board Members: 12/22/2025 6-8 PM (2 hours credit)

Register

Planning Board Overview:
1/5/2026 6-8 PM (2 hours credit)

Register

Zoning Board of Appeals Overview:
1/12/2026 6-8 PM (2 hours credit).

Register

Essentials for Planning and Zoning Board Staff:
1/22/2026 2-3:30 PM (1.5 hours credit)

Register

The Division of Local Government Services

The Department of State’s Local Government Training staff teaches land use planning, regulation, local governance and procedure to local elected and appointed officials at regional and county workshops across the state.

The staff is also available to assist members of planning boards, zoning boards of appeals, local governing boards, and municipal staff with technical assistance, information, explanations, tips and examples of successful approaches to land use and other local regulation.

Members of planning boards and zoning boards of appeals are required by state statute to obtain four hours of training a year. All on-site and online interactive training courses offered by local government training staff count toward this requirement.

To discuss scheduling a training workshop or obtain other assistance,
call the Local Government Training program at 518-473-3355
or email localgov@dos.ny.gov.

Learn More
Editor in Chief Harvey Randall served as Director of Personnel, SUNY Central Administration, Director of Research , Governor's Office of Employee Relations and Principal Attorney, Counsel's Office, New York State Department of Civil Service. Consistent with the Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations, the material posted to this blog is presented with the understanding that neither the publisher nor NYPPL and, or, its staff and contributors are providing legal advice to the reader and in the event legal or other expert assistance is needed, the reader is urged to seek such advice from a knowledgeable professional.

CAUTION

Subsequent court and administrative rulings, or changes to laws, rules and regulations may have modified or clarified or vacated or reversed the information and, or, decisions summarized in NYPPL. For example, New York State Department of Civil Service's Advisory Memorandum 24-08 reflects changes required as the result of certain amendments to §72 of the New York State Civil Service Law to take effect January 1, 2025 [See Chapter 306 of the Laws of 2024]. Advisory Memorandum 24-08 in PDF format is posted on the Internet at https://www.cs.ny.gov/ssd/pdf/AM24-08Combined.pdf. Accordingly, the information and case summaries should be Shepardized® or otherwise checked to make certain that the most recent information is being considered by the reader.
THE MATERIAL ON THIS WEBSITE IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. AGAIN, CHANGES IN LAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS AND NEW COURT AND ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS MAY AFFECT THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS LAWBLOG. THE MATERIAL PRESENTED IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE AND THE USE OF ANY MATERIAL POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE, OR CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING SUCH MATERIAL, DOES NOT CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP.
New York Public Personnel Law. Email: publications@nycap.rr.com