Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie Has Been Dating a Legislative Lobbyist
While Heastie privately pledged to avoid meetings with relevant interests, lobbyist Rebecca Lamorte has sought to keep representing them before the Assembly, according to her employer’s attorney.
![New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie speaking at a press conference in 2021](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/FCDoquiQsd2CyRAG4oUpvFi5uec87EkX69ye9Poz4U0/w:820/h:546/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/f:jpg/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9oZWFzdGllLXByZXNzZXItMjAyMS5qcGc.jpg)
Update: March 14, 2024 — This story has been updated to include responses to a question that Devoe, the Empire State Development spokesperson, answered after publication. Devoe added that Lamorte answered “yes” when asked whether she was a lobbyist with business before state government, but ESD did not publish that information. ESD declined to provide New York Focus with a copy of its form, citing concerns about personal information.
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Before Kathy Hochul paused it, the tolling program lost the little labor support it had when the Transport Workers Union withdrew its backing this spring.
More counties are turning to private corporations to run medical care in jails. The companies have deadly track records.
Rebecca Lamorte was let go by her employer in June, prompting the Assembly Speaker to place an upset call to her boss.