"ALBANY - If Albany doesn't disappoint you, were you ever really even there? A capital zone impervious to ethics, reason and good vibes in the most general sense is usually a good bet to kill the optimism of even the sunniest person. In 2025, we saw flip-flops on major transportation policy, egregious bill passings and vetoes and putrid street designs come out of state government. But don't worry, we kept track, even with the stomach turning insight that some things don't change."
"Like clockwork, the bill, which would modernize the state's wrongful death statute, was vetoed on the grounds that it would increase costs for insurance and healthcare companies. Also, a regular feature of life in New York: cyclists and pedestrians are killed by reckless drivers, and their loved ones don't always have a legal recourse to seek damages. The bill would give claimants three years, not two, to seek damages and allow lawsuits for emotional suffering."
Streetsblog solicits tax-deductible donations to support free journalism and advance efforts to end car dependency, offering a special gift for top donors. The organization promotes more livable, walkable, bikeable, equitable cities. Albany produced disappointing outcomes in 2025, including policy flip-flops, problematic bill passings and vetoes, and poor street designs. Governor Hochul vetoed the Grieving Families Act (S4423/A6063), which would have modernized the state's wrongful death statute; the veto rationale cited increased costs to insurance and healthcare companies. The bill would have extended the filing window from two to three years, allowed claims for emotional suffering, and broadened eligible claimants.
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