The Indian Panorama

Tag: Jeremy Cooney

  • Governor Hochul announces new law to clarify disclosure of credit card surcharges goes into effect Sunday, February 11

    Governor Hochul announces new law to clarify disclosure of credit card surcharges goes into effect Sunday, February 11

     

    ALBANY, NY (TIP): Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a new consumer protection law that will go into effect on February 11, 2024. This new law will amend and clarify New York’s existing credit card surcharge law. The NYS Division of Consumer Protection assists aggrieved consumers in the marketplace and the New York State Attorney General and local governments have the authority to enforce the credit card surcharge law. The New York State Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection recommends that interested localities review DCP’s Credit Card Surcharge Legal Update Letter for more information.

    “New Yorkers should never have to deal with hidden credit card costs, and this law will ensure individuals can trust that their purchases will not result in surprise surcharges,” Governor Hochul said. “Transparency is crucial in building trust between businesses and communities and now patrons will be empowered to budget accordingly.”

    The law, signed by Governor Hochul on December 13, 2023, provides greater transparency and protections for consumers by:

    Limiting credit card surcharges to the amount charged to the business by the credit card company; and

    Requiring businesses to post before checkout:

    the total price of an item or service inclusive of the credit card surcharge; or

    a two-tiered pricing option, which requires the credit card price to be posted alongside the cash price.

    New York Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said, “New Yorkers using credit cards have a right to know the total cost of the purchase, inclusive of any surcharge, before they reach the register. This new law signed by Governor Hochul will offer clarity and provide transparency to both the consumer and business owners about the surcharges when using a credit card.”

    State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “Transparency in pricing is critical so people can make informed decisions when spending their hard-earned money. Requiring businesses to disclose credit card surcharges helps consumers better understand the total cost. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for signing this bill into law to protect consumers.”

    Assemblymember Amy Paulin said, “This new law protects New Yorkers from hidden surcharges by requiring sellers to clearly post the price of a credit card surcharge. Credit card surcharges now have to be disclosed clearly so that customers are fully aware of them upfront and not just when they go to pay. This is about transparency, fairness and preventing consumers from being misled when making purchases using credits cards. I thank Governor Hochul for helping protect New Yorkers.”

    The following practices and examples comply with the law’s credit card surcharge notice requirements. See the Department’s Credit Card Surcharge Guidance Document and educational video for additional examples:

    DO:

    The business lists the higher credit card price next to a lower cash price.

    The business lists the credit card price for items and services, then lets customers know they will receive a discount for using cash. The business changes all prices to the credit card price.

    DON’T:

    The business posts a sign on the door and at the register stating an additional 3.9 percent surcharge will apply for credit card purchases.

    “This business has a 4 percent cash discount incentive built into all pricing. Any purchases made with a credit or debit card will not receive the cash discount and an adjustment in cost will be displayed on your receipt.”

    A convenience fee, service fee, administration fee, non-cash adjustment, technology fee, processing fee, etc., is charged to credit card users and added as a separate line item on a customer receipt.

    The price tag of an item shows “$10.00, + 4 percent if paying with a credit card.”

    NOTE: This law does not apply to debit cards.

    The Division of Consumer Protection provides educational assistance to consumers in how to protect themselves from unfair practices while also offering resources to the business community to help them comply with the law and prevent fraudulent and deceptive practices. After February 11, 2024, the law will permit local governments to join in the enforcement of this law, providing consumers with additional resources for compliance and providing local governments with broader opportunities to promote consumer protections for their citizens. If there are any issues related to credit card pricing at the register, DCP encourages consumers to:

    File a complaint with DCP to receive a refund of any excess fees paid to a merchant in New York State, or

    File a complaint with the Attorney General or participating local governments for enforcement of a merchant you believe violated the law.

    About the New York State Division of Consumer Protection

    The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides resources and education materials to consumers, as well as voluntary mediation services between consumers and businesses. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.

    For other consumer protection tips and consumer alerts, consumers can visit the DCP website or follow DCP on social media via Twitter at @NYSConsumer or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.

     

  • Indian American Jeremy Cooney to run for upstate New York senate again

    Indian American Jeremy Cooney to run for upstate New York senate again

    NEW YORK (TIP): Indian American Jeremy Cooney, who made history in 2020 as the first Asian American elected to state senate from upstate New York, says he is going to run for a second term. Democrat Cooney, 40, replaced Joe Robach in the 56th Senate District, which covers parts of Rochester and Brighton.

    “Excited to announce my run for reelection to the New York State Senate! I’m proud of the wins we achieved for my hometown and look forward to continuing to deliver for Rochester’s families,” he tweeted Dec 30.

    Adopted from an orphanage in Kolkata, India and raised by a single mother in the City of Rochester, Cooney now is the first chair of the Senate’s new Upstate Cities Committee, focused on addressing gun violence across New York. “For this campaign, it’s not about one issue,” Cooney told Spectrum News. “We owe it to New Yorkers to address the number of issues they are facing especially coming out of this pandemic.”

    “You can’t have a conversation about violence or gun violence without talking about economic opportunity, without talking about access to mental health in our schools and on the streets,” he said. In his first year of office, Cooney said he has helped increase funding for suburban and city school districts, helped deliver $475 million in construction for city schools and advocated to improve housing security.

    Cooney’s priorities for Rochester include poverty relief, job creation, downtown development, and increased funding for public schools.

    He was included in City & State magazine’s “40 Under 40” list and the “Power of Diversity: Asian 100” powerful leaders list for 2021.

    Cooney also introduced the legislation that would give the same rights to gay, lesbian, and bisexual people, according to Marijuana Moment.

    “When New York State legalized adult-use recreational marijuana, we made a commitment to addressing the discrimination and injustice caused by the War on Drugs,” Cooney told Marijuana Moment.

    “I am proud to introduce legislation to include members of our lesbian, gay and bisexual community for priority licensure in the new adult-use recreational cannabis market,” he said about his efforts on making equity provisions even more inclusive.

    Cooney, according to his official bio is the first state senator in decades to graduate from Rochester City School District (RCSD).

    During his first year in office, Cooney wrote over 50 legislative bills and served as the first chair of the new Cities II Committee, which focuses on upstate cities and those outside NYC.

    Cooney was named co-chair of the Marijuana Task Force for the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus and he was instrumental in passing landmark legislation to legalize adult-use recreational marijuana, the bio says.

    The final phase of the Rochester School Modernization Project (RSMP), a bill that Cooney sponsored and strongly advocated for, passed after years of delays in the legislature.

    The RSMP will be one of the largest public works projects in Rochester’s history with nearly half a billion dollars going towards updating learning environments for RSCD students.

    Cooney began his career working on Capitol Hill for the late US Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and later served in the role of chief of staff for the City of Rochester under Mayor Lovely Warren.

    Prior to running for public office, Cooney served as the senior director for community relations with Empire State Development (ESD) under then Governor Andrew Cuomo. At ESD, he helped lead public affairs for large-scale economic development projects.

    Cooney is active in Rochester and the Finger Lakes Region. He sits on the Board of Trustees for his alma mater, Hobart & William Smith Colleges, and is a member of the Vestry for Christ Church Rochester (Episcopal).

    An Eagle Scout, he serves as a Vice Chair of the Executive Board for the Boy Scouts of America, Seneca Waterways Council.

    Cooney earned his BA with honors from Hobart College and his JD from Albany Law School. He is married to Dr. Diane Lu, a urologic surgeon at the University of Rochester Medical Center.