Tyler A. McNeil reports in the Daily Gazette that China's recent spy balloon has inspired some New York Democrats to draft a bill to ban foreign adversaries from purchasing farmland in the state. In the State Senate Saugerties Democrat Michelle Hinchey is introducing the proposal, and Assemblyperson Angelo Santabarbara is in the other Albany legislative chamber with the bill. Santabarbara said, “We saw a spy balloon go over our country, surveying property, land sites, information that was collected and that’s concerning.... So what we’re finding is that, I feel like we’re not seeing enough action in Washington, D.C., to address these issues.” Santabarbara wants the state to identify where potential adversary-owned properties are located, but Assemblymember Robert Smullen, a Republican, said, “We, in New York State, don’t have the resources to define whether or not a foreign entity is controlled by the Communist Party, for instance, or China.” Rep. Paul Tonko, a Democrat who represents the 20th Congressional District, did not comment to the newspaper about the story, but Republican Elise Stefanik, who represents the 21st Congressional District, noted she has already introduced a similar bill at the federal level. Stefanik said, “As my bill continues to gain support, I will work to ensure foreign ownership of American farmland does not undermine our national security, especially as our foreign adversaries increase their attempts to threaten our agricultural land and businesses.” Read more about this story in the Daily Gazette.