Looking Back in May
End of Session Updates from the Parkside Team and our Clients
PARKSIDE NEWS
The Parkside Team had a blast attending the 124th Legislative Correspondents’ Association Show. This time-honored tradition brings reporters, lawmakers, and state leaders together to celebrate the first amendment by poking fun at each other. After several parody songs mocking her administration, the Governor got the last laugh with her own comedy set that she called, “The Wrath of Kath.”
Parkside Managing Director, Spencer Lee, and Communications Associate, Jake Ascher, recently spoke at ACE NY’s communications workshop, where member groups came together to discuss how clean energy projects can get their stories told in a crowded media environment and at a time where climate stories do not get the same level of attention they once did. They shared their theory on reframing pitches around the popular news narrative of the moment to maximize coverage. This year, the narrative of the moment is, of course, affordability!
Parkside Vice President of Growth and Operations, Alex Elmasri, recently joined his former boss, Senator Skoufis, on an episode of WCNY’s Dispatches from Planet Albany Podcast with David Lombardo for a discussion on the upcoming primary elections in New York and their shared political history. Listen here.
Parkside’s employees, and clients, continue to be recognized on City & State NY’s 2026 Power Lists. Our Data and Research Director, CeCe Szkutak, was named to the Pride Trailblazers list, Vice President, Kalima Johnson, was named to the Nonprofit Trailblazers list, and Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Dan Katz, was named to City and State’s first Who’s Who in NY Sports list.
Dave Friedfel has joined The Parkside Group as our Director of Policy and Government Affairs. Dave previously served as Secretary of the State Senate Finance Committee for five years and was formerly the Director of State Studies at the Citizens Budget Commission.
If you aren’t already doing so, please follow us on Instagram! We will be sharing more Parkside news there as well as using the platform to showcase materials from current campaigns and past campaigns that we have worked on.
CLIENT NEWS
The end of the budget process and legislative session resulted in several wins for Parkside’s clients. The final budget included a commitment to double down on New York’s investment in distributed solar with a $200 million investment in the NY-Sun program, a top priority for the New York Solar Energy Industry Association (NYSEIA). This funding will support approximately one gigawatt of incremental rooftop and community solar capacity, lowering utility bills for families and businesses and supporting thousands of local jobs.
The budget also included significant funding to help FIS Global transition EBT cards from magstripe to chip technology and protect New Yorkers from fraud and stolen benefits.
The Adirondack Council received $3.65 million in funding in the budget for the Survey of Climate and Adirondack Lake Ecosystems (SCALE), to continue monitoring our air and water for disruptions that can pose severe health and environmental issues as well as for the Timbuctoo Climate and Careers Institute, which gives NYC students an opportunity to learn more about the environment, projects across the state, meet professionals in various industries, and travel to the North Country to experience the beauty of different green spaces..
Parkside advocated for the New York Community College Trustees to help secure an additional $12 million in aid from the Legislature this year. This is an increase from the additions secured in the last two years and includes a portion of unrestricted operating aid for each campus.
The budget also included $24 million for School-Based Health Centers as well as a permanent Medicaid Managed Care carve-out for School-Based Health Centers, thanks to Parkside and the dedicated advocacy of Children’s Aid, who have been working on this issue for over 10 years.
On legislation, the Parkside Group worked with IKEA to get the No Toxic Tents Act (S.9704) passed in both houses. If signed into law this bill would ensure that all camping tents and children’s play tents across North America would be manufactured without chemical sprays that negatively impact the environment and public health.
The Parkside Group also helped secure the passage of S.9097 on behalf of Bumble. If signed, this would protect dating app users by ensuring those who have engaged in harmful conduct cannot use the apps, without sacrificing important consumer data protections.
Joseph Belluck, Chair of the New York Commission on Judicial Conduct, spoke with the Queens Eagle about how the commission’s work led to the arrest of Brooklyn Judge Edward King for allegedly defrauding real estate investors of millions of dollars.
Matthew Schedler, Director of CAMBA Legal Services’ (CLS) Consumer Law Unit, was recognized by the New York City Bar Association and Attorney General Tish James for his years of providing full-time, free legal services to indigent clients. Read more in Empire Report.
City & State’s Who’s Who in Sports list also featured several Parkside clients including Joe Maloney and Jeremy Kudon of the Sports Betting Alliance and Marissa Shorenstein, the Chief External Affairs Officer for Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Liberty.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Every month, we’ll be sharing our highly recommended reads, shows, and exhibits, new and old.
“Get a puppy. A few weeks ago, Little Joe came into my life, and I can say with absolute certainty that it is the best thing that has ever happened to me. It’s impossible not to smile when there’s a puppy in the room. They bring joy, excitement, and a sense of grounding everywhere they go. With rising costs, more and more New Yorkers are unable to keep their beloved and wanted pets. Please consider giving one a home. You might find your best friend.”
Bella Ramirez, Political Associate
