Governor Andrew Cuomo is sending his minions around the state to sell his budget plan to voters. Greene County Democrats are announcing that New York Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald will be in Cairo at 5:30 p.m. Thu., Feb. 2 in the Town Hall (on Main St.) meeting room to explain Cuomo’s 2012 budget proposal.
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Tags: Andrew Cuomo, budget, Joan McDonald, state budget
Most gamblers do not send out press releases announcing their bets. Politicians around Super Bowl time are another matter. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick both announced on Tue., Jan. 31, that they are betting on the Super Bowl between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. They are betting quantities of specialty foods unique to their states, greek yogurt, bagels, and cheesecake from New York, clam chowder, pie and chips from Boston. Both leaders have also pledged that if their team succeeds, they will divert their illegal winnings to a local food bank. New York Senator Chuck Schumer, also sent out a press release announcing his gambling, a Super Bowl bet with New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen with local beers, including one from Troy’s Brown’s Brewing Co., in the bet. Cuomo is also considering allowing casino gambling in New York.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Deval Patrick, gambling
LATFOR will release a map with the state’s new district lines for assembly and senate districts Thu., Jan. 26, with Greene County rumoured to be split into a new, 63rd Senate district with some other Albany County, and northern areas. The maps were due Wed., Jan. 25. According to the Times-Union, the delay was caused by an ongoing discussion about a constitutional amendment that would allow for a more independent redistricting process. Governor Andrew Cuomo campaigned on the promise of a more independent process. The paper reports that several parties — Cuomo, Assembly Democrats, and Senate Republicans — are hoping to pair the release with first-passage of the constitutional amendment required to change the process. Read about the release of new district maps in the Times-Union.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, LATFOR, redistricting
Paul Davies criticizes Gov. Andrew Cuomo for embracing casino gambling in an opinion column in The New York Times. Davies is a journalist and a fellow at the Institute for American Values, a socially conservative think tank. Davies writes that, if New York follows the blueprint of other states that have allowed casinos, then they’ll be located in rural and working-class towns and cities that cater mainly to low rollers, not James Bond-type jet-setters. He calls state run casinos, “a regressive tax that extracts wealth from the very citizens who can least afford it.” Davies also points to studies that show that, while casinos may create some jobs and generate revenue, they also produce little to no economic spinoff and in fact divert spending away from surrounding businesses like restaurants, movie theaters, and live entertainment. Read Davies Op-ed in The New York Times.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, casinos
Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed an amendment to the state constitution to legalize casino gambling “regulated by the state.” The Times-Union posted a copy of the bill on its Capitol Confidential blog. Read about the proposed law at Capitol Confidential.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, casinos, gambling
Governor Andrew Cuomo used his budget address on Tue., Jan. 17, to unveil a series of non-budget related proposals, including a five-year plan to take over increases in Medicaid from counties, a new pension tier including a 401(k)-style option and making additional school funding contingent on adopting a teacher evaluation system — threatening that a failure to do so would jeopardize federal funding. “The equation is simple at the end of the day. No evaluation, no money, period,” Cuomo said. Carl Korn, of the New York State teachers’ union NYSUT, spoke to WGXC’s on Monday about the teacher evaluation dispute. Korn said politicians are blaming the unions for holding up the process, even though the state is appealing a court decision that went the unions’ way. Click here to listen to an interview WGXC’s Noah Reibel conducted with Korn. PLAY CLIP 8:13
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Carl Korn, education, NYSUT, schools, teachers
The Albany Times-Union reports that Andrew Cuomo has amassed $14.4 million in campaign contributions and has posted a list of the Governor’s biggest donors on its Capitol Confidential page. NYPIRG also posts the complete list of Cuomo donors. Read Capitol Confidential for the full story.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, campaign funds
New York Governor’s budget proposal address at The Egg in Albany at 2 p.m., Tue., Jan. 17 was streamed live (see video below) on the WGXC Newsroom through http://www.governor.ny.gov/. Funding for towns in Greene and Columbia counties remain flat in the governor’s proposal. See chart below. While the funding for each local town remains the same, Cuomo does propose some mandate relief and taking some Medicare costs away from the towns. “Governor Cuomo has put in his Executive Budget strong measures to relieve local governments of burdensome mandates,” Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said in a press release quoted in the Albany Times-Union. “His changes to the Medicaid program and pension reform promise real, long-lasting relief for property taxpayers. Our state will benefit from the Governor’s leadership on mandate relief, and I commend him for putting forward a plan that puts the people first and makes the right decisions to get our state back on the right track.” Listen a a :30 clip of Gov. Cuomo introducing the budget here. PLAY CLIP
Aid for Municipalities
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Tags: Andrew Cuomo, state budget
Glenn Blain The NY Daily News reports that Education Secretary Arne Duncan warned New York that the state could lose close to $1 billion in federal school funding if it makes no progress on a system to grade teachers, a higher figure than previously reported ($300 million more). The money includes $700 million in federal Race to the Top money. Now the feds have tacked on $100 million in School Improvement Grants and nearly $200 million in teacher incentive funds. According to the Daily News, Albany is also piling on as Gov. Andrew Cuomo threatens to link state school funds to the adoption of new teacher evaluations. The battle pits the Governor against the teachers unions and Democrats in the State Assembly. Cuomo accused the Assembly of protecting the teachers union at the expense of the students, when they adopted a 2010 law. The law makes it possible for each school district and teachers union to negotiate new teacher evaluations. Negotiations with the United Federation of Teachers broke down in December. The 2012 state budget currently calls for a 4% boost in total school aid. Read the full story in The NY Daily News.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, NYSUT, teacher evaluation
The Department of Health and Human Services issued a report sharply critical of the state agency overseeing the delivery of services to the developmentally disabled, The New York Times reports.. Last year The New York Times ran a series of articles about abuse, neglect and financial mismanagement in the state’s system of caring for developmentally disabled people. Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration undertook a reform effort intended to address decades of mismanagement in the system. Danny Hakim of The Times says today’s report questions its efforts to reform the Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons With Disabilities. The commission is supposed to oversee much larger state agencies that care for the developmentally disabled and the mentally ill. The report found the Commission lacks independence from the governor’s office, failed to account for how it is spending public money and has broken several requirements of federal law. Read the article in The New York Times
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, developmentally disabled, Health and Human Services
Fernanda Santos in The New York Times reports that New York is one of three states the federal government has added to a watch list because it has not complied with goals it set when applying for financial assistance through the federal “Race to the Top” funding program. U.S. Education secretary Arne Duncan said that despite “significant progress,” New York had “hit a roadblock” in recent months, failing to track student records across school districts and failing to adopt a new system to evaluate the work of teachers and principals. “In the short term, I call on the State Department of Education, local school districts and the union leadership to expedite their negotiations on a teacher evaluation system to prevent the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a press release. “Over the long term, we need to overhaul the system and change the law on the books. The Assembly-led legislation in 2010 protected the teachers union at the expense of the students and instituted a system that was destined to fail.” Read the full story in The New York Times.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, education, Race to the Top, school funding, schools
Jimmy Vielkind in Capitol Confidential reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo called five special elections for March 20, coinciding with village elections, including one that will choose who represents most of Columbia County in Albany. Last November, Assemblymen Marc Molinaro ran and won the Dutchess County Executive seat, leaving the 103rd District without representation. So far, Pat Manning, a Republican who held the seat before losing to Molinaro in the 2006 primary, has announced he is running. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, elections, Marc Molinaro, Pat Manning
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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s State of the State Address was streamed live at governor.ny.gov and on the WGXC Newsroom, on Wed., Jan. 4 at 1:30 p.m. live from Albany’s Empire State Plaza Convention Center. WGXC’s Sam Sebren spoke with many of the protesters outside the center, who were mostly upset about the possibility of high-impact hydraulic fracturing gas drilling starting soon in New York. Click here to play a collage of interviews with protesters Wednesday in Albany. PLAY CLIP 27:00
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, high-impact hydraulic fracturing, local audio, State of the State Address
James M. Odato reports in his column in the Albany Times-Union that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo hired Alexander Cochran, a former U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development aide to then-HUD secretary Cuomo, to run New York’s office in Washington, D.C. “The unannounced appointment of lobbyist Alexander Cochran, who has been an advocate for clients at four Democratic National Conventions, may indicate that Cuomo wants to improve his nationwide political network in case his interests expand beyond Albany,” Odato writes. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.
Tags: Alexander Cochran, Andrew Cuomo
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been increasingly vocal about his desire to open state-run casinos in New York. In a year-end interview with the New York Daily News, Cuomo said he’d support a casino in New York City. “I’m not excluding any locations at this time,” he told the paper, “New York City is a real location, Albany is a real location. Buffalo is a real location.” There are five Indian-owned casinos currently operating in upstate New York. There are none in New York City. A recent Quinnipiac poll shows a majority of New Yorkers support casino-style gambling in the state, but the creation of state-run casinos requires a change in the state’s constitution. For that to happen, two consecutive legislatures would have to agree to an amendment and put it forth to a public referendum. Read the full story in the Daily News.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, casinos, gambling
Crain’s New York reports that Steve Cohen, a former top aide to Governor Andrew Cuomo, is being considered for a new post that will ensure that banks comply with any settlement of a nationwide foreclosure probe. The monitor would ensure compliance with any agreement with mortgage servicers, according to a settlement the banks were offered in March. Cohen was Cuomo’s Secretary, and his Chief-of Staff when he was the state’s Attorney General. He officially “departed” government service in June, and returned to private practice, accoridng to New York World. According to the proposal, the job will come with the authority to review records and audit a servicer’s performance. JP Morgan, Bank of America, Citigroup Inc., Ally Financial Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co. are among the negotiating banks that will be bound by the settlement. Read the full story in Crain’s New York.
Tags: Albany, Andrew Cuomo, foreclosure
The Nation’s Katrina Vanden Heuvel credits several major unions, the Working Family Party Citizen Action, NYCC (the ex-ACORN group), AQE and scores of other organizations large and small for reviving the millionaire’s tax in Albany. But, the Occupy movement, it’s actions on Wall St. and Park Ave., led “Governor One Percent” to propose a tax plan that taxed the state’s highest earners and emphasized fairness over austerity, according to Heuvel. Read the full story in The Nation.
Tags: Albany, Andrew Cuomo, income tax, Occupy Wall Street
The New York State Senate unanimously passed an income tax restructuring bill late Wednesday night after a day of closed door negotiations. The Senate voted, 55-0, to approve the tax code changes on Wednesday night, and the Assembly was poised to follow suit. The remarkably rapid progress of the tax revisions and the clandestine nature of the negotiations was criticized by some government watchdog groups. Thomas Kaplan in the New York Times describes how Cuomo has used similar tactics he describes as “stealth manuevering” to pass the same sex marriage act, a property-tax cap, a reworking of ethics rules and extensive budget cuts. The New York Public Interest Research Group said that the actual legislation — 33 pages and over 19,000 words — was posted online 26 minutes before the Senate began voting on it.
Rick Karlin of the Times-Union reports that lawmakers are planning to vote on the income tax overhaul bill. The overhaul is expected to generate $1.9 billion. For a look at how $108 million of it might be spent see the appropriations bill posted on Karlin’s “Capitol Confidential” blog. The bill includes money for flood recovery, jobs training and $1 million for foreclosure prevention. Read the full story in the Times-Union.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, income tax, taxes
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave this video message about his new jobs plan, unveiled today.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Upstate Storm and Recovery Task Force announced Monday in Windham that they are indeed giving the Town of Windham a five-year, no-interest loan of $882,000. Last week voters in Windham approved the town taking out a million dollar loan to fix the Windham-Ashland-Jewett school damaged by the flooding associated with Hurricane Irene. At the meeting, Governor Cuomo also announced that he has asked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano for FEMA to cover 90 percent of the recovery costs instead of the normal 75 percent. Many local towns including Windham and Prattsville are facing enormous clean-up bills if FEMA only covers 75 percent of the costs, and are wondering how they will ever raise enough to clean up all the damage. Cuomo also announced $1.5 million in grants to help small businesses in nine municipalities in three counties in the first round of awards from the $3 million Main Street Fund to help local businesses recover. Other items from the Upstate Storm and Recovery Task Force meeting in Windham:
• Main Street Fund
Greene, Schoharie, and Delaware counties are each receiving $500,000 through the New York State Agricultural and Community Recovery Fund to provide money to Main Street businesses money to rehabilitate buildings for commercial and main street residential use, repair and replace permanent fixtures and equipment, as well as for inventory and working capital. In Greene County: Prattsville, Hunter, Windham, and Catskill will get funds; in Schoharie County: Middleburgh and Schoharie; in Delaware County: Margaretville, Fleischmanns and Sidney.
• Highway Repairs
More than 400 road segments and bridges were closed on the state highway system after Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee hit the area last summer. As of November 28, three highways and three bridges remain closed.
• Assistance for New York Farms
The State Department of Agriculture and Markets has issued contracts to 25 Conservation Districts for over 353 awarded farms ($4,519,817) using the $15 million Agricultural Community Recovery Fund. Construction and farmland restoration is underway on many if not all of the most devastated farms. The program also has a farm operations component to aid farmers who lost feed in the flood and farmers who have continued operation of their farm stands, farmers’ markets efforts and CSAs. For this program, 196 applications have been submitted, and grants will be distributed in the near future. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Hurricane Irene, schools, Tropical Storm Lee, Windham-Ashland-Jewett School District
Rick Karlin in Capitol Confidential reports that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is releasing state funds for some food banks and disaster relief agencies — except none in our area. In addition, Cuomo’s staff has been fanning out across the state to help at local food bands — except not in our area. The food banks getting state funds include:
• Food Bank of Western New York (located in Buffalo) – $121,000
• Foodlink (located in Rochester) – $107,000
• Food Bank of the Southern Tier (located in Elmira) – $59,000
• Food Bank of Central New York (located in Syracuse) – $147,000
• Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York (located in Albany area) – $200,000
• Food Bank For Westchester – $64,000
• Food Bank For New York City – $199,000
• Long Island Cares, Inc./The Harry Chapin Food Bank – $103,000
Other funds are going out to:
• Broome County Council of Churches (Broome County): $60,000
• Delaware Opportunities, Inc. (Delaware County): $60,000
• Grace Episcopal Church (Orange County): $60,000
• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County: $60,000
• CACHE, Inc. (Sullivan County): $60,000
• Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless: $60,000
• Regional Food Bank of Southern Tier (Chemung County): $80,000
• Regional Food Bank of Central NY (Onondaga County): $80,000
• Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY (Albany County): $100,000
Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, food banks, hunger, Hurricane Irene
Jimmy Vielkind in Capitol Confidential reports that New York State’s budget deficit grew $350 million to around $3.5 billion total. Vielkind says the “mid-year financial report” is causing a stir in Albany. The document missed its legal deadline, and now Gov. Andrew Cuomo says its announcement may bring state legislators back to Albany early to, presumably, cut more spending or reintroduce the so-called millionaire’s tax. The state’s financial report said:
“Weak and unsettled economic conditions around the world — illustrated by the Eurozone financial crisis, volatility in the financial markets, and persistently disappointing data on employment, consumer confidence, and income — have darkened the State’s fiscal outlook. The significant positive receipts results early in the fiscal year have been largely eroded as the economy weakened in the summer months. With the prospect of a weak bonus season on Wall Street, even more negative pressure is being placed on the State’s receipts outlook.”
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, budget deficit
Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency for Greene, Columbia, Albany, Dutchess, Delaware, Rensselaer, and Ulster counties, along with others farther south, because of Saturday’s large snowstorm. Saturday around 10 p.m. there were no major road closures in our area, according to the Governor’s press release.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, snow, state of emergency
Jimmy Vielkind in Capitol Confidential reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo was quizzed by former Governor David Paterson on his WOR radio show Monday, Oct. 24, and while Paterson tried to get Cuomo to weigh in on the “Occupy Albany” movement, he declined to say much. Cuomo said, “It’s all across the country, and I respect it…. We believe in the right to demonstrate. We also believe in the rule of law.” Vielkind reports that New York state controls the park where demonstrators are camping, just west of Lafayette Park. There is an 11 p.m. curfew there, according to Sgt. Kern Swoboda of the State Police, who told Vielkind it was “speculative” to say whether anyone camping in the park would be subject to arrest. Vielkind also reports that, “Cuomo’s top aide Larry Schwartz called Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings Friday and urged him to clear the park of demonstrators.” Albany police officials refused to enforce the curfew, and, “Albany County DA David Soares said he wouldn’t prosecute anyone arrested for peacefully demonstrating in the park, trespass charge or no,” according to Vielkind. In an earlier post, Vielkind quoted an Occupy Albany protester saying that Cuomo is a target of the protests: “We’re calling him governor one percent,” said 31-year-old UAlbany grad student Colin Donnamura. “If you’re in the top 1 percent you get a tax cut, if you’re in the 99 percent you get service cuts … we think it’s fundamentally unfair.” Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, David Paterson, Occupy Albany
New York politicians are hoping the federal initiatives to create more jobs might just be what gets a new Tappan Zee Bridge built. The current bridge, which links the New York State Thruway to the New York City area, is in need of replacement and improvement (it lacks safety shoulders). Governor Andrew Cuomo is asking the federal government to expedite his earlier request for important infrastructure projects to create jobs. “The Tappan Zee Bridge is a vital part of our state and region’s infrastructure,” Governor Cuomo said in a press release. Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said, “I urge the federal government to expedite approval for this important project which will create tens of thousands of jobs. Major investments in infrastructure are exactly what New York needs to jumpstart our economy and restore safety to heavily traveled bridges and other arteries.” The current debate in Congress over a jobs bill may delay this project beyond Cuomo’s target to begin construction in 2012.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Dean Skelos
House to vote on delaying cement plant mercury rule
The Post-Star reports that the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote Thursday on legislation that would delay the implementation of a new federal Environmental Protection Agency regulation meant to reduce mercury emissions from cement plants. “We’re not striking them. But let’s delay them for 15 months and give the EPA time to repropose and finalize them. And also direct the EPA to make sure that these rules comply with the President’s executive order on regulations,” said Stephanie Valle, a spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook. The Holcim Cement plant in Catskill is in Gibson’s district. H.R. 2681, the Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011, would, according to the Post-Star:
• Give the EPA at least 15 months to re-propose and finalize revised rules for cement manufacturing facilities;
• Extend compliance deadlines from three to at least five years to allow facilities time to comply with standards and install new equipment.
In February, Gibson voted for an amendment the House passed to suspend EPA funding for implementation and enforcement of the rule, but the Senate voted the amendment down. This time the House is voting on delaying implementation, but not suspending funding. Read the full story in the Post-Star.
Free Speech Radio News, which airs on WGXC at 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, aired a report on this issue on its newscast Wed., Oct. 5. Click here to listen to Free Speech Radio News report from Matt Lazlo. PLAY CLIP
Medicaid spending $173 million less in August
Governor Andrew Cuomo is touting his “Medicaid Redesign Team,” as its measures enacted in the state budget in April resulted in savings in August of $173 million, or 2.5 percent lower. Monthly, New York State spends $6.8 billion on the program. “Governor Cuomo’s initiative to reform Medicaid represents an unprecedented effort to bring the public into the process of improving health care, controlling health care costs, and reforming health care in New York State,” said Health Commissioner Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H in a press release. “With the hard work and dedication of the legislature, the industry, and the public, New York is becoming a model for the nation in improving health outcomes while controlling growth.”
GEIS and the ten-day waiting period
Carole Osterink reports in The Gossips of Rivertown that Common Council President Don Moore issued this statement to members of the Council and the press, though not WGXC, at 4:58 this afternoon:
“Regarding the ten day period called for by SEQRA, the City is required to wait ten days after the filing of a completed GEIS before agreeing on a Findings Statement, the summary of findings from the GEIS. The City filed its notice of completion of the GEIS with the involved agencies on October 4. The ten day period will end at the close of business Friday, October 14. During that ten day period, concerned parties may file comments with the City. The City does not have an obligation to reply to the comments as was the case during the official public comment period in early 2010.”
Monday, Sept. 26 Moore and the Common Council passed the GEIS without first allowing the public to speak at a special meeting at the Hudson Central Fire Station. Click here to listen to the entire meeting recorded by Dan Udell. PLAY CLIP
Seward in Catskill
New York State Senator James Seward (R/C/I–Oneonta) will attend the Greene County Department for the Aging Volunteer Recognition Luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, October 6 at the First Baptist Church in Catskill. The ceremony is to honor folks in the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program. First Baptist Church is at 20 West Main St. in Catskill.
Mountain Top Arboretum photo contest winners
The Mountain Top Arboretum announced the winners of its photo contest Wed., Oct. 5. Dustin Draffen took first place, Nicholas Spychalsky took second, and Zachary Tripsas won third place.
From left to right in photo provided by Mountain Top Arboretum, Principal of the Hunter-Tannersville Middle/High School Simon Williams, winners Dustin Draffen and Zachary Tripsas, and Executive Director of the Mountain Top Arboretum Joan Kutcher.
THURSDAY AUDIO
Click on titles or PLAY CLIP to listen to mp3 audio clips.
• Wall Street Song
Performed by Chris Neumann. PLAY CLIP
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, cement, Don Moore, GEIS, Holcim, Hudson GEIS, Hudson LWRP, Hudson waterfront, James Seward, Joan Kutcher, local audio, LWRP, Medicaid, mercury, Mountain Top Arboretum, Simon Williams
Nearly 1,000 state layoffs land in Albany County
Jimmy Vielkind reports in Capitol Confidential that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has targeted 3,496 government jobs for elimination, though only eight are in Greene or Columbia counties. Cuomo began the layoffs last week when the Public Employees Federation voted down a tentative contract agreement. The total layoffs per area counties:
• Greene County, 5 jobs
• Columbia County, 3
• Albany County, 998
• Rensselaer County, 49
• Delaware County, 7
• Dutchess County, 115
• Ulster County, 5
Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.
High-impact hydraulic fracturing hearing Thursday
While the Department of Environmental Conservation’s public hearings about high-impact hydraulic fracturing will be held farther south away from our area, the New York State Assembly holds a hearing Thursday closer, in Albany. The Assembly’s Committee on Environmental Conservation holds a hearing Thur. Oct. 6 at 9:30 a.m. at Hamilton Hearing Room B, 2nd Floor of the Legislative Office Building in the State Capitol. To testify, one needs to fill out a form.
Greene Dems elect new leader
Greene County Democrats changed leaders Monday, Oct. 3, electing Doreen Davis chair, and Terry McSorley vice-chair, and Marie Metzler at Gallagher’s in Cairo. Davis has been the town of Catskill’s Democratic Committee chairwoman and treasurer for the county party. Previously, Tom Poelker was chairman, Brud Miller was vice chair, and Metzler was secretary.
Occupy Albany meets
WGXC’s Jack Ross-Pilkington attended the Occupy Albany meeting Sunday, where organizers of the offshoot protest movement from Occupy Wall Street, planned similar actions. Ross-Pilkington writes: “When I first got there, there were about 20 people, but the number rose to about 150 by the time I left. There was no apparent leader, and took much pride in that. There were lots of proposals (15) such as providing transportation to NYC, creating a video expressing solidarity with Wall St protesters, and researching possible places for an Albany occupation. They have more videos and information at their website, occupyalbany.org.” Wednesday, union organizers are joining the Occupy Wall Street protest, and there a planned student walkout and protest at SUNY Albany at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Doreen Davis, elections, government jobs, high-impact hydraulic fracturing, layoffs, Marie Metzler, Occupy Albany, Occupy Wall Street, Terry McSorley, Tom Poelker
Governors ask for federal disaster aid
Over the weekend the governors of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina issued a joint, bi-partisan statement pleading for representatives in Congress to put aside their political games and pass money to fund the emergency operations for recovery from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Andrew Cuomo, of New York, Chris Christie of New Jersey, Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania, and Bev Perdue of North Carolina released this statement:
“Our states have been hit hard by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. While the flood waters have receded and the storms are passed, the damage to communities, businesses and infrastructure remains significant. Billions of dollars in loss and destruction pose a serious threat not only to local and regional economies, but to the nation’s economic recovery. Our states’ governments and our citizens are doing their part to restore and rebuild. The federal government must also do its part. Federal assistance for the victims of storms and floods should be beyond politics. Within 10 days of Hurricane Katrina, Congress passed and the President signed over $60 billion in aid for the Gulf Coast. It’s been 28 days since Irene and Lee started battering our states. We urge this Congress to move swiftly to ensure that disaster aid through FEMA and other federal programs is sufficient to start rebuilding now.”
Storm aid deadline nears for communities
William J. Kemble in The Daily Freeman reports that local governments face a deadline of this Friday, Sept. 30, to apply for federal funds for repairs to roads, bridges, and other public facilities damaged by Tropical Storm Irene. Tropical Storm Lee, which roared through our area a week after Irene, delayed the assessment process for many towns, and some are just overwhelmed with too much to assess, Kemble reports. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.
Hurricane grant program for nonprofits in Greene and Ulster counties
Julia Reischel in The Watershed Post reports that the Dutchess County-based Dyson Foundation has established two hurricane relief grant programs for nonprofit organizations in several affected counties, including Greene and Ulster. From their press release:
“Nonprofit organizations can apply for emergency funds to assist the organization to recover from Hurricane Irene incurred damages or losses with a one-page narrative describing the uninsured damages or losses and a budget and/or invoice of estimated recovery costs. Applicants are advised to submit these two documents to submissions@dyson.org. The Dyson Foundation will also make grants to nonprofit organizations providing direct services to residents of the Mid-Hudson Valley. These funds are to provide emergency financial assistance to support people impacted by Hurricane Irene. The Foundation will accept applications from organizations with well-established emergency financial assistance programs. These funds are available for qualified nonprofits to distribute to Mid-Hudson Valley residents to cover a broad range of needs resulting from Hurricane Irene. Nonprofit organizations wishing to apply for these funds can submit a one page narrative description of the expected use of the funds and a supporting budget to submissions@dyson.org. Please note that this funding is not being offered directly to individual residents.”
Read the full story in The Watershed Post.
Road reopened
The New York Department of Transportation reports that Route 145 in Greene County between Travis Hill Road and CR 352 in Preston Hollow, is once again fully open. The road had been closed since damage from the storms associated with Hurricane Irene.
Two announcements Monday
Two announcements are expected at local press conferences Monday, Sept. 26:
• An official from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will join Scenic Hudson, Dutchess Land Conservancy, state officials, Town of Red Hook officials, other public officials, and local farmers to announce a major initiative to preserve Hudson Valley farms—on highly scenic and prime agricultural acres in Dutchess County and Columbia County. “This initiative provides the farmers with funds they can invest in the viability of their agricultural business operations. The farms supply fresh, healthy produce and meats to consumers via local and New York City greenmarkets and direct sales to homes and restaurants,” according to Scenic Hudson. At 10:30 a.m. at Northwind Farms, 239 West Kerley Corners Rd., Red Hook.
• Columbia County Board of Supervisors, Columbia Economic Development Corporation, and USDA Rural Development host a groundbreaking ceremony of Greenport Crossings, a mixed use development on the site formerly occupied by V & O Press. “This groundbreaking is for Phase One of the larger project. The total project, which is redeveloping a brownfield site, will result in three new separate buildings totaling almost 80,000 square feet and result in the creation of 100 new jobs,” according to the Columbia Economic Development Corporation. With Rep. Chris Gibson, and others. At 12:30 p.m. at Greenport Commons, Fairview Ave., Greenport.
MONDAY AUDIO CLIPS
Click on title or “PLAY CLIP” to listen to mp3 audio recordings.
Photo from Boing Boing.
Produced by Kelly Benjamin for WGXC. 3:10. News report with interviews, live sound of the protests surrounding the lack of regulation on Wall Street, filed late Sunday, Sept. 25. PLAY CLIP
• A Very Incomplete Calendar: 20110926
Produced by Terry Doyle. 4:28 From Terry Doyle’s “Imprint” radio show Sunday nights at 11 p.m. on WGXC, here is Doyle’s roundup of regional music events this week. Doyle previews the “Concert for the Catskills” benefit concert this Sat. Oct. 1 and Sun. Oct. 2 at the Michael J. Quill Center in East Durham. All proceeds go to Community Action of Greene County for those impacted by the recent storms in our area. PLAY CLIP
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Bev Perdue, Chris Christie, development, FEMA, Greenport Commons, Hurricane Irene, local audio, music, Occupy Wall Street, Scenic Hudson, Tom Corbett, Tropical Storm Lee, Wall Street
Columbia County election information
Primary votes are being held Tuesday, September 13, from noon until 9 p.m., and every election district in Columbia County will be voting. Depending on the municipality, voters enrolled in the Democratic, Republican, Conservative, or Independence parties may have a primary election in which they may cast a ballot. Eligible voters are those who have been enrolled in those parties for some time or those who changed their enrollment to those parties earlier than mid-October of 2010. The Columbia County Board of Elections is open for absentee voting today, Fri. Sept. 9 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 10, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., and Monday, Sept. 12, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
• There are countywide races on the Republican and on the Independence Party lines for County Judge. Additionally, there is a citywide opportunity-to-ballot race for mayor on the Democratic line.
• An opportunity-to-ballot race is one in which no candidate’s name appears on the ballot, providing an opportunity for enrolled Democratic voters, in the case of the City of Hudson, to write in the candidate of their choice. All other primary races similarly offer an opportunity for write-ins, as well. Commissioners Virginia Martin, Democratic, and Jason Nastke, Republican, confirm that, as New York State is a “voter intent” state, they will recognize as valid votes reasonable variations in candidates’ names as they may be written in by voters, or slight deviations in where on the ballot the voter writes in the candidate’s name. Each ballot provides a separate row, under the party row, that says “Write In,” which is where a write-in name is intended to be entered.
• 108th Assembly District (Chatham, Kinderhook, New Lebanon, and Stuyvesant), Independence, for Judicial Delegates and for Judicial Delegate Alternates
• Hudson 1-1, Democratic, for Supervisor and for Alderman
• Hudson 3-1, Democratic, for Supervisor
• Copake, Independence, for Justice
• Gallatin, Republican, for County Committee
• Greenport, Independence, for Supervisor and Highway Superintendent
• Kinderhook, Conservative and Independence, for Justice
• Kinderhook, Independence, for Tax Collector
• New Lebanon, Independence, for Supervisor
• Stockport, Independence, for Supervisor and Town Council
• Stuyvesant, Independence, for Supervisor and Town Council
• Voters have been notified of the many changes in pollsites in Chatham, Claverack, Copake, Ghent, Greenport, Hudson, Kinderhook, Livingston, Stockport, and Stuyvesant. Updated election-district maps are at columbiacountyny.com/depts/elections/districts.html. The Board of Elections can be reached at 828-3115.
COLUMBIA COUNTY REPUBLICANS WEBSITE
COLUMBIA COUNTY DEMOCRATS WEBSITE
COLUMBIA COUNTY INDEPENDENCE PARTY
COLUMBIA COUNTY CONSERVATIVE PARTY
Greene County’s Board of Election website offers no information about upcoming primary elections.
Mountain Top Arboretum acquires 156 acres in Tannersville
The Mountain Top Arboretum, in Tannersville, is acquiring 156 acres adjoining its existing 23 acres of nature preserve through a conservation easement with the Department of Environmental Protection of the City of New York. “This land is beautiful and unspoiled Catskill native forest with streams and marsh” said Larry McCaffrey, Chairman of the Mountain Top Arboretum, in a press release. “It fits perfectly in our mission to present varied natural environments from woodland to wetland to forest for our visitors. These diverse landscapes provide perspective on the entire ecosystem and its role in water conservation.”
Cuomo likes Obama jobs plan
Governor Andrew Cuomo made this statement last night after President Obama’s speech about jobs:
“Tonight, President Obama laid out a real plan to jumpstart the economy and put Americans back to work. The President realizes that it is essential that creating jobs be the top priority at all levels of government. As the President said, politics cannot come before the urgent need to put Americans back to work. This is a plan that can and should be supported by officials of all political stripes and we need to see the Congress move this nation forward.”
Cairo history gets political
The Cairo Historical Society dunk tank at the “Temperance & TommyGuns” event Sept. 17 on Main St. Cairo will include all sorts of local political figures. Both candidates for Town Supervisor: incumbent Republican John Coyne and Democrat challenger Ted Banta. There is also John Gallagher facing local dunking, who is on the Zoning Commission, which has faced intense criticism in town, and “Unk” Slater who also seems to arouse controversy sometimes at Cairo town meetings. Here’s the line up: 11:30 a.m.: Unk Slater; noon: John Coyne; 12:30: Heather Maasmann; 1 p.m.: John Gallagher; 1:30 Hillary Higgins; 2 p.m.: Steve Rumph; 2:30: Jerry Buckley; 3 p.m.: Derick Hasenkopf; 3:30: Adam Reese; 4 p.m.: Ted Banta; 4:30: Karey Quinn.
Storm recovery updates
• Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thu. Sept. 8 that damage from Tropical Storm Lee that last several days will probably match or exceed damage from Hurricane Irene last week.
• Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) announced Thu. Sept. 8 that Columbia County is now eligible for Individual and Public Assistance following the destruction done by Hurricane Irene.
• Greene County Emergency Services announced Greene County schools will stay closed through Mon., Sept. 12, when an announcement will be made if they will open Tuesday or Wednesday, or some other day.
Grants available for agriculture damage
Soil and Water Conservation Districts began assessing damage in agricultural disaster areas to identifying projects to restore farms and farmland this week, part of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s $15 million Agricultural and Community Recovery Fund (ACRF).
There are three parts of the program:
• Farm Operations Match Program: This will match farmers’ dollars for the purchase of feed for animals and produce from other New York producers to allow the farms operations to continue;
• On Farm Capital Needs Program: This will provide grants and deferred and low/interest loans to meet the immediate and long-term needs of farmers devastated by Hurricane Irene; and
• Main Street Business Assistance Program: This will provide a combination of grants and low interest loans to help Main Street Businesses get back in operation in eligible counties.
“The land is a farmer’s greatest resource. The conservation component released today will help farmers who have had their land devastated by Hurricane Irene recover,” said Darrel J. Aubertine, Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets.
Fundraisers/ways to help
• If you want to volunteer in Windham, email helpwindham@gmail.com to register and receive instructions.
• Volunteers are desperately needed to help clean up the Prattsville area. Come with protective clothing, N-95 or higher dust masks, goggles, cleaning supplies, gloves, boots, flat shovels, wheelbarrows and pails. Call 734-4938 to volunteer first and ask where you should report for duty.
• Free Shopping Spree for storm victims at the Catskill Elks Club this weekend, Sept. 9-10 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Anyone in need can get what they want at the Catskill Elks Club, 45 North Jefferson Ave. Call 518-943-0989 for more information.
• Janet Schwarzenegger is organizing a cookie bake for the National Guard stationed in Leeds. If you would like to contribute home-baked cookies for delivery on Friday evening please contact Janet at 622-9647 or pdjanet@aol.com. Cookies can be dropped off at the Cairo Library, Kaaterskill Associates at 517 Main St., in Cairo, or at Janet’s home or arrange for a pick up.
• Performers announced for the Oct. 1-2 fundraiser for Greene County storm victims at the Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural Center in East Durham include the Catskill Glee Club, The Lustre Kings, Michael Packer, Kirsten Thein, Kitty Kelly, Lara Hope & The Champtones, Alexis P. Suter with Connor “The Kidd” Kennedy, Tas Cru, Prof. Louie & The Crowmatix, Phil Brown (of Little Feat) with Rhett Tyler are among the bands Sat., Oct. 1. Solo or duos Saturday include Peter Head, Andrew & Stephanie AKA Lex Ridge, David Kraii, Keith & Joy, Thomas Earl, and Finley & Pagdon. Sunday’s full bands include Michael Farrell School Of Dance, The Michael Louis Band, The Jonny Monster Band, Voodelic, The Five Points Band, Shorty King, John Cerbone, Rhett Tyler Trio, with solo and duos including Abby Lappen, John Holt, Wet Paint, Nick Bukuvalas, Peggy Atwood, and Mike Herman.
Tags: "Unk" Slater, Adam Reese, agriculture, Andrew Cuomo, elections, farming, farms, Heather Maasmann, Hillary Higgins, Hurricane Irene, Jerry Buckley, John Coyne, John Gallagher, Karey Quinn, Mountain Top Arboretum, Ted Banta, Tropical Storm Lee
Video, courtesy of NYSNYS via Capitol Confidential, of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s visit Wednesday to Prattsville, which was almost completely ruined in Irene-related flooding. Also in Prattsville: Janet Napolitano, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, and Congressman Chris Gibson.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Chris Gibson, Hurricane Irene, storm emergency, weather
There is now a Tropical Storm Watch for Greene and Columbia counties, and local officials have been passing information about Hurricane Irene’s approach. The storm weakened a bit Friday morning, and has since turned east slightly, perhaps lessening its impact in our region. High winds are expected and anywhere between 4″ and a foot of rain is possible. Officials are warning the soil in our area is already saturated, and will flood quickly. WGXC spoke with John Farrell, the Director of Greene County Emergency Services, and Reggie Crowley, the Copake Town Supervisor, about what official plans and preparations the two counties are working on in advance of the storm. (Recordings of the two interviews are below.) In New Baltimore, the fire departments in the town will be open as shelters at 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning. Ulster County has also opened shelters and declared a state of emergency, but Columbia and Greene counties do not yet have any other planned shelter openings. Governor Andrew Cuomo gave a press conference (above, from the Capitol Confidential blog), where he said all the Hudson River bridges, including the Rip Van Winkle Bridge that links Greene and Columbia counties, will close if sustained winds reach 60 mph. President Obama officially declared a state of emergency in New York, freeing up federal resources for the state’s efforts. The Dutchess County Fair is canceled this weekend, and two New York Mets games are postponed.
• John Farrell, Director of Greene County Emergency Services, talks about Greene County's preparations for Hurricane Irene.
Interview by Tom Roe. PLAY CLIP
• Reggie Crowley, Supervisor of Town of Copake, about Hurricane Irene preparedness.
Interview by Tom Roe. PLAY CLIP
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, John Farrell, local audio, Reggie Crowley, Rip Van Winkle bridge
There is a 40 percent chance of sustained tropical storm-force winds in our area, according to this National Weather Service graphic.
Hurricane Irene causes state of emergency
New York has declared a state of emergency ahead of the predicted arrival of Hurricane Irene in our area Sunday. See the “More” link at the bottom of this entry for a complete list of what the state of New York is doing now in preparation for the hurricane.
Columbia Street in Hudson closed after road collapse
WTEN television reported last night that the construction hole on Columbia St. between 4th and 5th Streets in Hudson opened up Thursday, Aug. 25 after an evening rain storm. In the Register-Star, Hudson Mayor Rick Scalera predicted the road would remain closed for several days, and with lots more rain on the way this weekend, it could tie up traffic in Hudson for a few days. Trucks will be diverted to an alternate route. Read the stories on the WTEN and Register-Star websites.
Robinson beats Cole in hand ballot for Dem nomination
Melanie Lekocevic in the Greene County News reports Athens Democrats backed incumbent Town Justice James Robinson over former Village Justice David Cole, 22-9. Cole was Athens Village Justice until that post was abolished in March. Town Councilwoman Phyllis Dinkelacker nominated Cole for one of the two town council seats no Democrats are attempting to win, but he declined. Read the complete story in the Greene County News.
Philmont will no longer be a chick magnet
Chris Simonds in The Columbia Paper writes that Philmont’s Village Board banned chickens from the village at a recent meeting (no date given). Chickens currently living in the village can live out their natural lives, but no new live chickens may be raised in Philmont. Previously, “the Philmont Zoning Code prohibited keeping ‘geese and fowl’ but said nothing about chickens,” Simonds writes, explaining the need for the new law. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines fowl (second definition) as, “a cock or hen of the domestic chicken.” Read the complete story in The Columbia Paper.
Shots fired in Hudson, one man wounded
The Register-Star reports that a man was shot in the elbow near 231 Columbia St. Thu. Aug. 25 in Hudson, and rescue crews picked him several blocks away, at the Hudson post office. Local authorities are looking for information about the shooting, and asking any witnesses to call the Hudson Police Department at (518) 828-3388. Read the full story in the Register-Star.
CMF offers classical music fest
Jim Planck in The Windham Journal previews the “High Peaks Festival: Music With Altitude,” classical music festival in Hunter and Windham Sat., Aug. 27 to Sun., Sept. 4, with performances, films, workshops, lectures, and trail hikes. The Catskill Mountain Foundation is sponsoring the festival, and working with local cellist Yehuda Hanani and artists from all over the world. “The idea is to bring young artists from divergent cultures together,” said Hanani. “Our students are at the same level — if not higher —- than the major festivals.” See www.catskillmtn.org for festival details, and read the full story in The Windham Journal.
See below for a complete list of what New York state is doing in preparation for Hurricane Irene:
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Catskill Mountain Foundation, chickens, classical music, Columbia Street, David Cole, fowl, geese, Hurricane Irene, James Robinson, Phyllis Dinkelacker
Latest computer model for Hurricane Irene from National Weather Service.
• Get some bottled water.
• Fill the gas tanks.
• Make sure bar-b-q tanks are full. (Great for cooking when there’s no power.)
• Fresh batteries for flashlights.
• If you have a generator, have some extra gas.
Statewide, Governor Andrew Cuomo has the State Emergency Operations Center up to Level 3 readiness, and Cuomo is monitoring the situation from Albany, while preparations for the storm’s arrival are made.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Hurricane Irene, Reggie Crowley, weather
Cuomo signs ethics bill
Governor Andrew Cuomo today signed into law the “Public Integrity Reform Act of 2011,” creating new regulations around ethical issues in New York. “Today’s signing is a major step forward in restoring the people’s trust in government and changing the way Albany does business,” Cuomo said in a press release. “This new ethics reform law brings an aggressive new approach to returning integrity to the halls of our Capitol. It provides for much-needed disclosure of outside income by lawmakers, creates an independent monitor to investigate corruption, and issues strong new rules for lobbyists. I thank the Legislature for working to pass this important legislation.” The Governor is touting the following aspects of the law:
• Financial disclosure statements filed with the new Joint Commission on Public Ethics from elected officials will now be posted on the internet and the practice of redacting the monetary values and amounts reported by the filer will be ended. The Act also includes greater and more precise disclosure of financial information by expanding the categories of value used by reporting individuals to disclose the dollar amounts in their financial disclosure statements. The Act requires disclosure of the reporting individual’s and his or her firm’s certain outside clients and customers doing business with, receiving grants or contracts from, seeking legislation or resolutions from, or involved in cases or proceedings before the State as well as certain of such clients that were brought to the firm by the public official.
• The Act establishes a new database of any individual or firm that appears in a representative capacity before any state governmental entity.
• Lobbyists must now disclose any “reportable business relationships” of more than $1,000 with public officials.
• Forfeiture of pensions for public officials convicted of a felony.
• A Joint Commission on Public Ethics replaceS the Commission on Public Integrity.
• Tightens rules and enforces fines for election violations.
Gala apple.
Eric Anderson in the Albany Times-Union reported last week that McDonald’s decision to mandate apples in all Happy Meals might mean good news for New York apple growers. “If we can get them to serve as many apples as they do hamburgers, we’ll be all set,” said Jim Allen, president of the New York Apple Association.
Empire apple.
Greene crafting law on sex offender residency
Ariel Zangla in The Daily Freeman reports that Greene County could have a draft of a local sex offender residency law in committee by Sept. 12, according to Public Safety Committe Chairman William Lawrence, R-Cairo. Lawrence told Zangla that at the Aug. 8 Public Safety Committee meeting Department of Social Services Commissioner Kira Pospesel said the law would make her department’s job harder, while Hunter town Councilman Daryl Legg said it was needed. “I don’t think it’s over-burdensome or too shallow,” Lawrence proposal the committee is considering. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.
Greene lawmakers give initial OK for Industrial Development Agency appointments
Ariel Zangla in The Daily Freeman reports that Greene County legislators may appoint a former legislator, Kenneth Dudley, and Catskill car dealer Dan Lacy, to fill vacancies on the Greene County Industrial Development Agency’s Board of Directors at a meeting this Wednesday. Legislators on the Government Operations Committee on Monday, Aug. 15 gave approval to resolutions appointing Dudley of Freehold and Lacy of Catskill to the IDA’s board. The appointments must be approved by the full Legislature on Wednesday. Dudley is a former county legislator and the owner of Tip Top Furniture in Freehold. Lacy is a co-owner of Lacy Ford. If approved, there would still be one other vacancy on the seven-member Board after resignations from Hugh Quigley, Robert Snyder, and Martin Smith. Legislature Chairman Wayne Speenburgh, R-Coxsackie, said Monday another board member wants to resign. Read the complete story in The Daily Freeman.
Stuyvesant election today
Voters in Stuyvesant vote today, Tue., Aug. 16, from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Stuyvesant Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive, Stuyvesant about whether to approve a $845,000 bond to repair a highway garage and construct two salt sheds at the highway department storage area on Sharptown Road.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, apples, Bill Lawrence, Daryl Legg, ethics, Kira Pospesel, McDonald's
The State of Education in Hudson
Carole Osterink in The Gossips of Rivertown breaks down standardized test scores for the Hudson City School District, and finds them, “mediocre at best.” She sums up another story:
Think about the lackluster performance of HCSD students when you read Audra Jornov’s report in the Register-Star on the continuing stalemate with the Hudson Teachers’ Association: “HCSD board: Speed up talks.” The teachers’ contract expired on June 30, and the teachers’ union has not agreed to schedule a meeting to resume contract talks until October 12. In May, the HTA rejected a salary freeze that could have saved five or six teaching positions. In a report released in June by the Albany Business Review, HCSD ranked 10th highest in teacher pay among the 93 school districts included in the study, with a median salary of $60,997.
Read the full post at The Gossips of Rivertown.
Catskill to teach Mandarin Chinese
Jim Planck reports in The Daily Mail that Catskill High School will soon offer Mandarin Chinese language instruction. “Catskill has been invited to participate in a New York State initiative to bring native speakers to New York to teach high school students Mandarin,” Catskill Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Farrell said to The Daily Mail, “and to introduce the language to middle and elementary school students…. The State Education Department will accredit Chinese teachers so high school students will earn course credit, and may use Mandarin to meet foreign language requirements for graduation.” Read the full story in The Daily Mail.
Riverkeeper warns of sewage pollution, swimming risks in the Hudson
The Daily Freeman reports that environmental group Riverkeeper says that swimming in the Hudson River is unsafe 21 percent of the time because of pollution from sewage, and the section of the river between Catskill and Bear Mountain was cited as particularly problematic. Riverkeeper released a report based on water samples from the Hudson River. The report said that most of the time the river is relatively clean. “That would certainly not have been the case a few years ago,” said Andrew Jule of Columbia University, one of two scientists who took part in the study. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.
Cuomo talks to reporters
Governor Cuomo spoke to reporters Wed., Aug. 10 in this video, courtesy of Kyle Hughes at NYSNYS.com, about proposed Port Authority toll hikes, and the CSEA contract vote, and other issues.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Catskill High School, education, environment, Hudson River, Hudson schools, schools
NY Confirms First Case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Horse
Wed., Aug., 3, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM) confirmed the first case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis, also known as EEE, in an Oneida County, NY horse. The nine-year-old mare there has lived at its current home for several years and had no recent travel history, and was unvaccinated. A NYSDAM press release says, “the presence of an infected horse in the area indicates that mosquitoes carrying EEE are present and pose a threat to both humans and horses.” Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets, Darrel J. Aubertine, “urges all horse owners to discuss vaccination against both diseases with their veterinarian,” according to the press release. State Veterinarian David Smith added that any horse exhibiting neurologic problems should always be handled with great caution. The risk of physical injury to handlers is greater when horses are unsteady on their feet and also rabies needs to be ruled out as a cause of the symptoms.
GOP sues to keep Dems out of ballot
W. T. Eckert in the Register-Star reports that the Hudson Republican Committee filed a lawsuit Wed., Aug. 3, against Columbia County Board of Election Commissioners Virginia Martin, Democrat and Jason Nastke, Republican, to stop the Democrats from having a line for mayor on September’s primary ballot. Last month city Democrats failed to file Democratic nominee for mayor Nick Haddad’s petition for the November elections. Democrats have since collected the 92 signatures to for an Opportunity to Ballot and allow Haddad to be a write-in candidate in the Democratic primary on September 13. “Republicans are arguing that the petition is inadmissible because the signatures are duplicates of the ones that appeared on the petition nominating Haddad as the Democratic candidate,” Eckert writes. Read the full story in the Register-Star.
Saland mailer has Cuomo photo
Republican State Senator Steve Saland, who represents Columbia County in the New York State Senator, just msent a mailer to constituents listing his various accomplishments this last legislative session, and includes a photo of Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo. Saland is now best known for joining Democrats and becoming the 32nd vote in the Senate to pass the same-sex marriage bill in May.
Read All About It!
Carole Osterink in The Gossips of Rivertown blog corrals all the reviews from this weekend’s NADA Hudson art fair at Basilica Hudson:
Art Forum: “Upstate, Downstate”
The New York Observer: “NADA Hudson Sent the Art World Up the River”
ARTINFO: “Welcome to Art Country”
The L Magazine: “Photos from This Weekend’s First NADA Hudson Art Project”
Art Fag City: “Report from NADA Hudson”
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, art, Basilica Hudson, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, EEE, elections, horses, NADA, Steve Saland
Governor Andrew Cuomo launched his Capital Region Regional Economic Development Councils Thu., July 28, setting up regional development groups. Greene and Columbia counties are included in the Capital Region Regional Council, led by Shirley Ann Jackson, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Michael Castellana, President and CEO of SEFCU, who will serve as Regional Co-Chairs over Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren and Washington counties. Donald E. Gibson, President, CEO & Director, The Bank of Greene County is included on the council, as are spots for the Chairman of Greene County Legislature, which is currently Wayne Speenburgh (R-Coxsackie), and Chairman Columbia Board of Supervisors, which is currently Roy Brown (R-Germantown). “New York can no longer afford one-size-fits-all economic development plans that ignore the unique assets and challenges of the state’s many diverse regions,” Governor Cuomo said in a press release. “Today, we are taking a groundbreaking approach that will send a clear message that New York is open for business. With the Regional Councils, we will empower individual areas like Capital Region to chart their own course for economic growth, bringing jobs and investment to New York.” Dutchess and Ulster counties are included in the Mid-Hudson version of the council, while Delaware County is in the Southern Tier.
Capital Region Regional Council Members
Regional Co-Chairs
Michael J. Castellana, President and CEO, SEFCU
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, President, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
General Members
Joseph F. Raccuia, President & CEO, Finch Paper LLC
Gary Dake, President, Stewart’s Shops
Bill Hart, Controller, Irving Tissue Inc.
Victor R. Abate, Vice President, Renewable Energy, General Electric
Peg A. Murphy, Corporate Secretary/Director of Human Resources, Espey Manufacturing &
Electronics Corporation
Omar Usmani, Executive Partner, Aeon Nexus Corporation
Ann C. Moynihan, President, Documentation Strategies Inc.
Linda Davis Pedlar, Owner, LDP Consulting Group, Inc.
Christine Edgerly, President, Adirondack Mechanical Services LLC
Jeff Stark, President, Greater Capital Region Building Trades Council
George M. Phillip, President, University at Albany
Karen Bilowith, President & CEO, The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region
James J. Barba, President & CEO, Albany Medical Center
Todd Erling, Executive Director, Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation
F. Michael Tucker, President & CEO, Center for Economic Growth
Dennis Brobston, President, Saratoga Economic Development Corporation
Linda Hillman, President, Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Donald E. Gibson, President, CEO & Director, The Bank of Greene County
Elected Officials
Albany County Executive
Chairman of Schenectady County Legislature
Rensselaer County Executive
Chairman Saratoga Board of Supervisors
Chairman Warren Board of Supervisors
Chairman Columbia Board of Supervisors
Chairman of Greene County Legislature
Chairman Washington Board of Supervisors
Mayor of the City of Albany
Mayor of the City of Schenectady
Mayor of the City of Troy
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Capital Region Regional Council, Donald Gibson, Roy Brown, Wayne Speenburgh
On The Air
WGXC is on 90.7-FM now, at full-power, 3300 watts. We cover all parts of Greene County except parts of the mountaintop, and all of Columbia County except for a bit of Western Columbia County south of Germantown. WGXC also covers a large part of southern Albany County. We have heard reports that the signal is getting from Delaware County to Great Barrington, from Selkirk to Saugerties, from Pine Plains to the I-90 extension.
Local weather/webcams
National Weather Service, Albany
Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page
When the computer is turned on, the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page reports weather information in Harlemville. Check dates and times to see whether reports are live or from when the computer was turned off.
Greene County webcams:
Catskill webcam: Thomas Cole House Claude Mirror
Nearby webcams:
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