by Long Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq.

New York State continues to pass so called progressive laws that many consider to be socialist in nature and very good reason to leave New York permanently.  In fact according to the U.S. Census data, people are leaving New York at a faster rate than almost any other state in the country.  New York residents are choosing to live anywhere but New York, as demonstrated by New York State's population decreasing for the last four consecutive years.  

​Adding fuel to the fire and as part of the 2019-2020 budget, the New York State legislature approved 27 million taxpayer dollars for financial aid, now available to illegals to pursue higher education.  The new law named the Dream Act, essentially allows those here illegally to attain higher education without fear of deportation and with New York's law abiding tax payers paying the bill.  In addition to using tax dollars to provide financial aid to illegals, the new law effectively makes less seats and funds available for New York's legal and law abiding residents. 

Proponents believe that New York State will prosper from the Dream Act by allowing illegals to now reach their full potential and become future contributors to society.  Opponents believe that the Dream Act is yet another  law in a long list of recently passed laws, that are slowly but surely converting New York into a socialist state against the will of the people and at the command of an out of control Governor.  

If it is true that where there is smoke there is fire, then it appears that New York State is starting to look like the BBQ pit at a County Fair.  Unfortunately for New Yorkers, the fire was likely started by a political arsonist who has turned a deaf ear to the screams of the people.

Long Island Lawyer
Paul A. Lauto, Esq.
​www.liattorney.com

by Long Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq.

The latest bill in New York State's hit parade is Assembly Bill A6512, relating to  sex education in our schools.  No this is not your parents' sex education film that they were shown in school at or about the age of puberty, but instead is something all together different.

The bill requires "comprehensive sexuality instruction for students in grades K through 12 which addresses age and developmentally appropriate physical, mental, emotional and social dimensions of human sexuality and reflects the national sexuality education standards."  New York State appears to be once again following the questionable lead of California, which recently passed and implemented the same type of sex education program.  Although parents in New York may be allowed to "opt out" from certain portions of the program, many parents remain vehemently opposed to this Bill.

Opponents argue that if this bill is passed into law it would not only potentially deprive parents of their parental and religious rights, but arguably would be the end of the innocence of our children.  Further, that portions of the program are pornagraphic and highly age inappropriate, including instruction about masturbation, bondage and anal sex.  Proponents of the bill, argue that sex education in our schools has been widely supported since the 1970's and that the new bill would provide for a long needed update inclusive of the LGBTQ community.

In the past, sex education in our schools in general provided materials and information that was non-explicit, age appropriate and pre-approved by parents.  The current proposed program being devised, while inclusive of some much needed modern day up to date information, targets children as young as the tender age of five.  In doing so, the proposed law potentially usurps parental rights and violates constitutionally guaranteed religious rights.  It is arguably also evidence of a disturbing pattern in New York, in which the controlling political party is running rampant passing laws that dictate morality and violate the Constitution.  Perhaps our legislators need reminding this Election Day that they were elected to represent the collective will of the people and not to pass laws seemingly at the Governor's behest.

Long Island Lawyer
Paul A. Lauto, Esq.
​www.liattorney.com

​

by Long Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq.

I wish the title of this article referred to October 1, 1961, when Roger Maris hit his sixty first home run to break Babe Ruth's single season home run record without the assistance of steroids.  Unfortunately, it references a dead serious topic that is significantly contributing to the demise and downfall of New York State.  

Since Governor Cuomo implemented his recently passed into law "Bail Reform" program in New York State, approximately 600 inmates have been released form jail on Long Island alone.  In Suffolk County 41 of those set free were known gang members and in Nassau County 20 were known gang members.  Ostensibly, the people who are continuously being released are not first time offender types who have committed petty crimes.  It seems that in New York State under the dominance of one political party, violating the law has become both commendable and rewardable with Mets tickets and gift cards.

Over the last ten years as New York State has arguably become more and more dangerous to live in, approximately 1.4 million New Yorkers have fled the state and moved out of New York permanently.  This has earned New York the dubious distinction of surpassing even California, which has lost approximately one million residents over the past ten years.  Common sense dictates that people will not remain living in a state where they feel like cinematic stars Mel Gibson in "Mad Max and the Thunderdome" or Kurt Russell in "Escape From New York." 

The pressing question is, as people flee New York State like the proverbial rats on a sinking ship, will our duly elected politicians do anything to reverse course and solve the largely self-manufactured problem?  Unfortunately, many New Yorkers believe that with the passage of laws such as those that set gang members free on our streets, reward criminals with gifts, make it legal for illegals to drive, create a catch and release state, make name calling illegal, fail to set gubernatorial term limits and make it illegal to cooperate with federal law agents, the answer to the question is a resounding NO.  Accordingly, perhaps the real question is how long will the rest of the law abiding and tax paying good residents of New York hold on to living in New York before it sinks into the abyss?

Long Island Lawyer
Paul A. Lauto, Esq.
​www.liattorney.com