NY Legislator Group’s Annual Conference Underway In Albany

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — African-American and Hispanic lawmakers are gathering in Albany this weekend for their 47th annual legislative conference.

The event hosted by the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators attracts hundreds of state and local lawmakers and other officials to downtown Albany, where the weekend kicked off Friday night with receptions.

Saturday is set aside for seminars and other events, with state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli starting things off in the morning by speaking to the statewide gathering at the Albany Capital Center.

A Saturday afternoon event features talk show host and medical cannabis proponent Montel Williams as the guest speaker at a discussion on the legalization of marijuana.

The three-day conference wraps up Sunday with a church service, awards ceremony and scholarship dinner.