Author: Aidan Cahill

Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran was ordered to pay $660 in penalties after he was found guilty of violating New York State’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). 

The verdict came after a three-day long bench trial which ended on Aug. 28 and centered on three FOIL requests made by Saratoga Springs Republican Party Chair Mike Brandi. According to prosecutors, Moran purposefully withheld documents subject to FOIL by issuing certificates saying the requested materials didn’t exist. 

The three FOIL requests in question were related to messages sent by Moran in relation to the city’s short-term rental legislation which was being considered at the time the messages were sent.

 Through the testimony of Anna Smith, an advocate for short term rental owners, Sarah McFee, the FOIL officer for the City at the time the requests were sent, Brandi, the prosecution, showed that messages not only existed but would’ve been subject to FOIL. 

In addition, Robert Millis, a local music executive and event organizer, testified that Moran had told him that several of his devices were not subject to FOIL and that he maintained two phones for a reason. 

While Brian Hill, Moran’s defense attorney, tried to argue there wasn’t a deliberate effort to conceal the records and some of the records might not have been subject to FOIL, City Court Judge Jeffrey Wait disagreed. 

“I first find that the evidence is sufficient to demonstrate that the text messages in question were subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Law,” Wait said in his ruling. “I also find that Commissioner Moran knew this. Furthermore, the evidence shows that he was told by the city’s Freedom of Information Officer and by the assistant city attorney that text messages concerning city business were subject to disclosure, and that this was true, even if they were recorded personally.” 

Wait also noted that while he couldn’t find any rulings on officials being charged with violating the FOIL law, the legislative memo clearly states that there needs to be consequences for violating the law. 

Following the trial, Hill said that he disagreed we the judge’s verdict that he planned to appeal and that there were several fundamental legal issues with the case. 

In addition to the trial and fine, Moran also faced censure by Saratoga Springs City Council. The censure motion was introduced by Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll and also called on Governor Cathy Hochul to investigate Moran’s misconduct. 

During a contentious City Council meeting, Moran objected to the censure and called the investigation into him and others politically motivated. Ultimately the measure passed with Coll, joined by Republican Public Works Commissioner Chuck Marshall and Mayor John Safford voting in favor while Moran and fellow Democrat, Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi opposing the measure. 

The New York State Public Service Commission recently approved a rate proposal by National Grid which would see rates for electricity go up by 11% and rates for gas go up by 10%. 

The Commission approved the proposal on Aug. 14. The proposal was signed by multiple agencies, companies and other organizations including the US Department of Defense, Walmart, The New York Solar Energies of New York, The New York Geothermal Energy Organization, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 97 — among others. 

Under the proposal, rates across the areas National Grid serves would go up for residential customers by around 11- 12% for year one, five percent for year two and three percent for year three. In terms of gas expenses, National Grid states in its proposal that rates will go up by around eight percent across all three years it covers. 

The rate increase comes after over a year of negotiations between National Grid and various stakeholders. 

Under the initial proposal rates would’ve increased electricity rates for residential consumers by 15% and gas rates for residential consumers by 20%. These rates were reduced through the negotiating process to where they are in the current proposal. 

Under the approved proposal, revenues for National Grid from electricity would increase by $167.3 million in year 1, $297.4 million in year 2 and $243.4 million in year 3. 

“The main rate drivers of the recommended increases are due to increases to operations and maintenance (O&M) expense, return on and return of (i.e., depreciation expense) capital investments, and a change in the return on equity to reflect market conditions offset by lower than previously forecast property taxes and a forecasted increase in revenue,” The proposal said. 

The increased rate isn’t without controversy. The report detailed how in hearings across the state during the year of negotiations, 62 individuals spoke up about the rates and nearly 9,000 people submitted written comments. 

“Many speakers opposed the proposed rate increases, stating that bills are already unaffordable and suggesting that executive compensation and shareholder dividends be reduced prior to raising rates,” the proposal stated “Others noted that the requested rate increases outpace inflation and suggested that there should be methods for funding necessary infrastructure improvements without rate increases.”

Despite these comments, The Commission ultimately decided to approve the rate increases. 

“While reflecting a considerable reduction from National Grid’s original request, the Joint Proposal nonetheless provides sufficient funding for the Company to maintain safe, adequate and reliable utility service at just and reasonable rates; thus, the Joint Proposal appropriately balances the interests of ratepayers, the Company, and its investors,” The Commission stated. 

The approval was met with swift backlash from many New York lawmakers and other politicians. Governor Kathy Hochul released a statement criticizing the decision. 

“While I appreciate that the New York Public Service Commission worked to significantly lower the outrageously high initial rate proposals, it’s still not enough,” Governor Hochul said.  “I have been crystal clear that utilities must make ratepayer affordability the priority.”

In response to the rate hike, Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, whose represents parts of Schenectady and Amsterdam, announced he would introduce legislation which would allow the legislature to review any rate hike by the Public Service Commission. 

“Utility costs are already a significant burden for New Yorkers,” Santabarbara said. “This bill makes sure that when major decisions like this are made, elected representatives have the chance to step in on behalf of the people they serve – even if the PSC has already approved it. In this case, we still have time to review and potentially reverse this increase before it becomes permanent.”

This isn’t Santabarbara’s first time introducing legislation to exert legislative control over the Public Service Commission. Back in January, Santabarbara proposed legislation which would require legislative consent on all proposed rate hikes. The same bill was proposed in the senate by Senator James Tedisco, who represents all of Saratoga County and parts of Schenectady and Kevin Parker who represents parts of Brooklyn. 

The legislation was referred to committee in both houses and no action has been taken since. 

A Galway man has been charged in federal court for allegedly harassing the family of Brian Thompson, a health care CEO killed in 2024.  

Shane Daley, 40, of Galway was charged with cyberstalking after he allegedly placed multiple calls to a phone line used by a member of Thompson’s family. Daley allegedly made the calls between Dec. 4 and Dec. 7, 2024, with the first calls starting just hours after Thompson’s death.  

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Daley expressed satisfaction over Thomspon’s death and said his family and children deserved a similar fate.  

“Daley threatened and harassed a grieving family in the immediate aftermath of a loved one’s murder,” Jay Clayton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said. “These selfish, harmful, and callous actions undermine public safety and will not be tolerated. This Office, together with our law enforcement partners, will pursue and prosecute those who seek to intimidate victims and their families.” 

At the time of his death, Brian Thompson was the CEO of United Health Care, one of two subsidiaries of United Health Group. United Health Care is one of the largest health insurance companies with over 50 million people served according to an outlook release by the company. In 2024, United Health Care alone brought in over $400 billion in revenue.  

On the morning of Dec. 4, 2024, Thompson was killed while visiting New York City. Luigi Mangione of Towson, MD was arrested and charged for the murder although he has pleaded not guilty and as of Aug. 13, a trial date hasn’t been set.  

As for Daley, he was arraigned in Albany before US Magistrate Judge Daniel Stewart. If convicted, he will potentially face a maximum of five years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and term of supervised release of up to three years.  

“The recurrent calls and messages in the days following Brian Thompson’s murder were more than callous and cold-hearted harassment – they were threatening and terrified a family already suffering following the violent death of their loved one,” Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the FBI said. “The FBI will continue to bring to justice any individual attempting to stalk and harass innocent Americans.”