I. Introduction The gig economy has not merely disrupted the labor market; it has redefined its architecture. Platforms such as Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash now mediate vast swaths of economic activity, reconfiguring the relationship between labor and capital through algorithmic control, dynamic pricing, and the offloading of risk. During the COVID-19 pandemic, gig workers were … Continued
The birth of reality TV was a direct result of production companies and networks not paying unionized workers in television programs after the entertainment labor strikes in the 1980s and 2000s. Now, reality producers are specifically looking for fresh faces to cast on shows and then labeling them as independent contractors within the “participation agreement.” … Continued
Introduction As of January 1, 2025, New York State became the first state to offer paid time off for employees to receive prenatal care. While the paid prenatal leave law fills an important gap in New York’s legal framework, it may raise some concerns relating to employee privacy. This article discusses New York State’s paid … Continued
Introduction In Exit, Voice, and Loyalty the economist and political theorist Albert O. Hirschman famously theorized that the two means of responding to an institution that is disregarding your needs are voice and exit.1 He argued that in the absence of these two responses, business firms, organizations, and states could never expect – no matter how well devised – to … Continued
Dear Members of the Labor and Employment Law Section, I am honored and excited to introduce myself as the new chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section. It is a privilege to lead such a distinguished and dynamic group of practitioners who contribute so much to our profession and … Continued
A Town Councilmember (the “Councilmember”) participates in the discussions, deliberations and vote in connection with changes to the town zoning map to create two concentric overlay districts, and proposed amendments to the Town Code to permit mixed use development of certain industrial zoned properties within the overlay districts. The overlay districts are composed of two … Continued
In considering my own professional development, I have come to believe that there is no such thing as wasted effort. Efforts that might at first seem to produce no direct benefit often prove valuable in ways that are unanticipated, and at times that cannot be predicted. Each early professional experience is a deposit into an … Continued
The New York Assembly and Senate passed 805 bills during the 2024 legislative session, of which Governor Hochul signed 679 into law and vetoed the remaining 126 bills. This article provides an overview of the 2024 legislation that may impact New York’s local governments. Enacted Legislation: Finance Local Finance Law Extender Extends the authorization for … Continued
Who Can Remove the Mayor of New York City? Since the indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York on September 27, 2024, questions have arisen regarding the process for removing him from office. These questions persisted following the Department of Justice’s attempted … Continued
In 2022, Governor Hochul enacted Chapter 496 of 2022,1 (“Chapter 496”) which authorizes cities, villages and certain towns to adopt area speed limits as low as 25 mph. The area speed limit, otherwise known as the “default,” “statutory” or “unposted” speed limit, is the speed limit set by local or state law that controls in the … Continued