Author

Andrea Sears

Andrea Sears has been a radio journalist for 30 years participating mostly at WBAI-Pacifica Radio in NYC as an editor, anchor and reporter for more than two decades. Sears contributes to a variety of publications through involvement in the New York News Connection, a Bureau of the Public News Service.

Crime

Suit Challenges New Fast-Track Deportation Rule as Unconstitutional

Andrea Sears Aug 8, 2019

Under a new rule, immigrants can be detained and deported within days without seeing an immigration judge. Photo credit: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. NEW YORK - Immigrants' rights advocates say a new rule expanding…

Business

New York Renewables Protection Act Headed to Governor’s Desk; Cuomo Urged: NY Needs All Its…

Andrea Sears Aug 1, 2019

Renewable resources such as hydroelectric now supply 26 percent of New York's energy. Photo credit: Demerzel21 / Adobe Stock. ALBANY, N.Y. - To reach clean energy goals, New York needs to maintain its existing baseline of renewable…

Business

Drug-Policy Advocates Say Decriminalization Still Falls Short

Andrea Sears Jul 30, 2019

Tax revenue from regulated marijuana sales could help restore communities most impacted by prohibition. Photo credit: Ayehab/Adobe Stock. NEW YORK - Drug-policy reform advocates say New York's latest marijuana decriminalization law…

Environment

Coalition Seeks Commitment on Clean Drinking Water

Andrea Sears Jul 25, 2019

Extreme weather due to climate change can exacerbate pollution runoff and toxic algal blooms in the Great Lakes. Photo credit: Jacob/Adobe Stock. NEW YORK - A coalition of more than 160 local, state and national environmental groups…

Finance

Budget Cuts May Threaten Consumer-Directed Care Program

Andrea Sears Jul 23, 2019

NEW YORK - A cut in state funding will severely impact a program that helps people with disabilities remain in their homes. That's the message advocates for people with disabilities want Gov. Andrew Cuomo to hear. The Consumer…

Health

Long-Range Study Considers Health for “All of Us”

Andrea Sears Jun 25, 2019

While many large-scale studies tend to look only at select groups, this study hopes to involve 1 million people from the entire spectrum of society. File photo: Pixabay. NEW YORK - A new long-term medical study finally will bring the…

Business

Reclaiming The Big Oyster: Cuomo’s Ambitious $10.4 Million Effort to Restore Shellfish in New…

Andrea Sears Jun 24, 2019

The oyster populations from Maine to Florida has shrunk to less than 10% of its historic size. Nulovetoyo/Adobe Stock. NEW YORK - The efforts to restore shellfish to New York Harbor and Long Island have made real progress, but there's…

Business

Climate Plan Positions New York As Leader

Andrea Sears Jun 20, 2019

With enactment of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the Empire State will be on track to set the most ambitious legislative mandate for carbon reductions in the world. Photo credit: Kovalenko I/Adobe Stock NEW YORK -…

Business

Report: New York State Near Bottom for Children’s Economic Well-Being

Andrea Sears Jun 17, 2019

The Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2019 KIDS COUNT Data Book ranks New York 42nd in the nation for the economic well-being of its children. Photo: Sean Locke Photography, Adobe Stock. NEW YORK - New York is one of the richest states in the…

Business

Bill to Allow Illegal Immigrants NYS Drivers Licenses Clears Assembly

Andrea Sears Jun 14, 2019

According to the Fiscal Policy Institute, a public policy research and advocacy organization,, Green Light New York will make 265,000 illegal immigrants eligible for driver licenses. File photo: Pixabay. ALBANY N.Y. - Labor leaders are…

Business

NY Bill to Decriminalize Prostitution Introduced; Eliminates Prior Criminal Records, Repeals…

Andrea Sears Jun 11, 2019

NY Senate Bill S6419 introduced June 10, 2019, would amend the penal law, in relation to decriminalizing sex work; and to repeal provisions relating to prostitution; amend the criminal procedure law, civil practice law and rules, social…

Business

Climate Bill Gains Support in Albany

Andrea Sears Jun 7, 2019

Investment in clean energy and energy efficiency is predicted to create thousands of good-paying jobs in New York State. Photo credit: Somchaikhun, Adobe Stock. ALBANY, N.Y. - With the legislative session drawing to a close, a bill that…

Business

New Bill Aims to Protect NY Drinking Water

Andrea Sears Jun 5, 2019

Environmental Advocates of New York say a new bill would establish a list of chemicals that all public water supplies should be tested for, and set a deadline for the New York State Department of Health to implement testing. File photo:…

Society

House Bills Would Give Millions a Path to Citizenship

Andrea Sears May 23, 2019

Natural disasters, violent conflicts or epidemics are among the circumstances that prevent TPS and DED recipients from returning safely to their home countries. (Alex/Adobe Stock) NEW YORK - The Dream Act and American Promise Act,…

Business

Disability-Rights Advocates Sue MTA for Accessibility

Andrea Sears May 20, 2019

Three-quarters of New York City subway stations still are inaccessible for wheelchair users. (Tdorante10 ) NEW YORK - A federal class-action lawsuit claims New York City's subway system has broken the law by failing to make stations…

Environment

NY to Close Coal-Fired Power Plants by 2020

Andrea Sears May 10, 2019

New York may be closing its coal-fired power plants, but smog and acid rain still drift in from plants in the Midwest. (laborec425/AdobeStock) NEW YORK - The last of New York state's coal-fired power plants will be phased out by the end…

Business

Congress Urged to Fund National Park Repairs

Andrea Sears May 1, 2019

In 2017, the deferred-maintenance needs at Statue of Liberty National Monument totaled $166.4 million. (MonicaVolpin/Pixabay) NEW YORK - National parks in New York and around the country are jeopardized by a $12 billion backlog of…

Business

Labor Groups Show Support for NY Offshore Wind

Andrea Sears Apr 26, 2019

The New York Offshore Wind Master Plan estimates that building 2,400 MW of offshore wind-power production would create about 5,000 jobs. (Kruwt/AdobeStock) NEW YORK - New York's push for offshore wind power is getting a boost from…

Environment

New York Plastic Bag Ban Becomes Law; Takes Effect March 2020

Andrea Sears Apr 23, 2019

By 2050, experts estimate, there will be more plastic by weight in the oceans than fish. (Richard Carey/Adobe Stock) KINGSTON, N.Y. - The bill banning single-use plastic bags statewide has been signed into law. New York Gov. Andrew…

Environment

EPA Gives GE Certificate of Completion Despite Ongoing PCB Risk

Andrea Sears Apr 15, 2019

NEW YORK - New York plans to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for giving General Electric a Certificate of Completion for its cleanup of PCBs in the upper Hudson River. The EPA said the $1.7 billion cleanup of PCBs, a…

Health

87% of Young Adult Clients in HIV/AIDS Program From Racial or Ethnic Minority Groups; More Than 70%…

Andrea Sears Apr 11, 2019

NEW YORK - Wednesday was National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day, and this year the focus is on HIV-related health disparities and barriers to achieving viral suppression. In 2017, about 87% of the young adult clients in…

Society

Trump Administration Wants 2020 Census to Ask Respondents if They Are U.S. Citizens; Question Being…

Andrea Sears Apr 8, 2019

The Trump administration wants the census to ask respondents if they are U.S. citizens, which many believe would discourage non-citizens from participating. That question is being challenged in the courts. But Olsen said either way, no…

Health

New Report Indicates Child-Welfare Systems in New York and Around the Country are Putting Family…

Andrea Sears Apr 5, 2019

The Annie E Casey Foundation found that from 2007 to 2017, placements of children and youth with relatives or in family settings rose to 86%, an increase of five percentage points. Photo: PxHere NEW YORK - For children who are separated…

Business

Settlement Paves Way for Accessible NYC Streets

Andrea Sears Mar 20, 2019

NEW YORK - Advocates for people with disabilities are calling the settlement of two class-action lawsuits in New York City "historic." The agreement is good news for members of the city's disability community, who have struggled…

Environment

Restoring Wetlands Improves Coastal Resiliency

Andrea Sears Mar 13, 2019

The 3.2-acre plot is next to a large tract of protected wetland along Accabonac Harbor. The demolition is part of an effort taking place in coastal communities around Long Island that bore the full brunt of Superstorm Sandy almost seven…

Environment

Report Calls Biofuels Standard an Environmental Disaster

Andrea Sears Mar 8, 2019

NEW YORK - A new report says the push for biofuels is causing serious environmental damage. The Renewable Fuel Standard or RFS was intended to reduce reliance on oil imports and cut air pollution. It requires that all gasoline for…

Honoring the Role of NY Social Workers

Andrea Sears Mar 3, 2019

Honoring the Role of NY Social Workers NEW YORK - March is National Professional Social Work Month, when social workers around the country raise awareness of the important roles they fill. With masters' degrees and thousands of…

Environment

Message to NY Legislators: “Shift to Renewable Energy is Possible”

Andrea Sears Feb 28, 2019

ALBANY, N. Y. - New York can meet its renewable-energy goals. That's the message clean-energy advocates are delivering to state lawmakers today. The state's clean-energy standard calls for 50 percent renewable energy by 2030, and…

Health

Victory for New Yorkers with Disabilities

Andrea Sears Feb 25, 2019

NEW YORK - New Yorkers with vision disabilities soon will be able to navigate state Board of Elections and Department of Motor Vehicles websites. Almost 400,000 voters across the state have visual disabilities. But because of…

Environment

House Set to Vote on Conservation Fund

Andrea Sears Feb 21, 2019

ALBANY, N. Y. - A package of public-lands bills that would preserve and strengthen the nation's most popular conservation program has broad, bipartisan support. The Land and Water Conservation Fund distributes money collected as…

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