New York's Legislative Lock Down Leaves Cities Hanging

In various parts of the state, cities are unable to move forward with many necessary processes, such as issuing property tax bills or distributing bond money.

"As the stalemate in the State Senate stuttered through its fourth week, a crucial deadline came and went: June 30. It was the expiration date of more than a dozen statutes that authorize local governments to carry out their everyday duties, from planning budgets to collecting taxes. And as Democrats and Republicans in the Senate continued on Wednesday to argue fruitlessly over who controlled the chamber, officials around the state were left to ponder contingency plans that they never thought they would need."