The candidates are in place for the special election for the Assembly seat in 103rd district, which Marc Molinaro vacated to take up a position as Dutchess County executive. Both candidates are Millbrook residents. Didi Barrett will be the Democratic Party’s candidate, and she will face GOP candidate Richard Wager in the March 20 special election. Parry Teasdale previews the contest in The Columbia Paper. Barrett is a member of the Millbrook Education Foundation and helped launch the Dutchess Girls Collaborative. She is currently a board member of the Anderson Center for Autism Foundation and the North East Dutchess Community Fund. Wager is a former aide to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He was chosen over two other GOP candidates including former Assemblyman Pat Manning. The 103rd Assembly District takes in the city of Hudson and the towns of Ancram, Austerlitz, Canaan, Claverack, Copake, Ghent, Greenport, Hillsdale and Stockport in Columbia County and 12 Dutchess County towns, including Red Hook, Milan, Millerton and Pine Plains and most of the eastern side of that county stretching south to the Putnam County border. The majority of the population in the 103rd Assembly District lives in Dutchess County, where registered Republicans have a plurality. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.
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Ivan Lajara at The Daily Freeman thinks it is no joke that LAFTOR is the acronym for the New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment. Their “proposals are laughable” according to Lajara’s headline in the paper, over a story about the redistricting proposals released Thu., Jan. 26. Common Cause/NY Executive Director Susan Lerner said, “These maps appear to continue the long tradition of partisan gerrymandering we’ve come to expect. There are major demographic changes that are simply not reflected on these maps.” Governor Andrew Cuomo has vowed to veto any redistricting that is not created by an independent body. This plan was created by the the legislators themselves, so, as almost everyone is pointing out, they have drawn the lines to ensure their own re-election. Republican-leaning districts, now lean more. Democrat-heavy districts are heavier. They have created a new 63rd Senate seat, pairing Greene County with Albany and other points north in Senate District 46. Lajara quotes an AP news account and says, “The story continues, ‘The added Senate district would include part of Ulster County (including the city of Kingston), all of Greene County and parts of Albany, Schenectady and Montgomery counties.’ So imagine my surprise when a total of zero public meetings were scheduled in the area.”
Local effects
• Ulster County may be in the worst situation in the entire state. The proposal cuts the county into four Senate Districts, up from two. The people of Ulster County will have almost no representation in the Senate, as those four politicians will care little about its collective well-being, and not even cater much to the few voters they will have there, focusing on their majorities elsewhere.
• Greene County would see much change. Republican James Seward would, under the plan, not be Greene County’s senator anymore, but would retain a very safe seat to the west. The new seat includes all of Greene and Montgomery counties, and most of Albany and Schenectady counties, and several towns in Ulster County to the south. In the Assembly Greene is being split into two separate districts. Assemblyman Pete Lopez would continue to represent Ashland, Windham, Durham, Greenville, New Baltimore, Coxsackie, and Cairo in the proposed 102 District which now also includes Coeymans, Westerlo, and Rensselaerville in Albany County, all of Schoharie County, and towns in Otsego, Herkimer, and Oneida counties in what will continue to be a very safe district for him. The southern half of Greene County — Athens, Catskill, Hunter, Jewett, Lexington, Halcott, and Prattsville — would be in the proposed 101st Assembly District, which also includes much of eastern Delaware County, four Ulster County towns, and two Orange County towns, and Germantown and Clermont in Columbia County. 
• In Columbia County, the Senate District used to be dominated by Dutchess County, as Poughkeepsie Steve Saland currently represents the area in Albany. In this proposal, Columbia County moves to Senate District 43, paired with all of Rensselaer County and parts of Washington and Saratoga counties to the north. In the Assembly, most of Columbia County is represented by the 106th District including Stuyvesant, Stockport, Hudson, Greenport, Ghent, Claverack, Livingston, Taghkanic, Copake, Ancram, and Gallatin. Millbrook in Dutchess County, interestingly, is no longer in the district, and the candidates (Republican Richard Wager and Democrat Didi Barrett) trying to replace Marc Molinaro for the 103rd Assembly, which is similar to the proposed 106th, live in Millbrook. So while they may fight for the seat in March, they may be in 105th District election in the fall. As mentioned before, Germantown and Clermont join the proposed 101st District, stretching across southern Greene County to parts of Delaware, and Ulster and Orange counties. The rest of Columbia County — Kinderhook, Chatham, Hillsdale, Austerlitz, Canaan, and New Lebanon — join most of Rensselaer County and two Washington County towns in the proposed 107th district, which is similar to the area Republican Steve McLaughlin represents, though without any of the Greene County towns it used to include. 
Public hearings
No public hearings between Albany and New York City. The closest public hearing to our area is this Mon., Jan. 30 at 10:30 a.m. in the Legislative Office Building, Second Floor in the Hearing Room. (See the complete list of all public hearings after the link below.)
Tags: Didi Barrett, elections, James Seward, LAFTOR, Marc Molinaro, New York State legislators, Pete Lopez, redistricting, Richard Wager, Steve Saland
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
Tom Casey in the Register-Star reports that Pat Manning is seeking the 103rd district New York State Assembly seat recently vacated by now-Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro. Manning was Assemblyman from 1995 to 2002 in the 99th district and from 2003 to 2006 held the seat in the 103rd. Then he ran for the Republican nomination for the gubernatorial election in 2006 but dropped out when rumors of an extramarital affair surfaced. Then he tried to keep the 103rd seat, and lost a primary to Molinaro, who held it until last November. Manning used to be a Republican, but the story does not mention his current party registration. Manning is also from Dutchess County, as the main part of the population is there, with fewer constituents in Columbia County. There might be a special election to fill the seat, the seat could sit empty until November, or could be eliminated, or certainly drastically altered, in redistricting. Read the full story in the Register-Star.
Tags: Marc Molinaro, Pat Manning
Patricia Doxsey in The Daily Freeman reports that it may be June before Columbia County voters have any representation in the State Assembly, after current 103rd Assembly District rep Marc Molinaro becomes Dutchess County executive on Jan. 1. Gov. Andrew Cuomo would have to call a special election to fill the seat — and his office is not returning Doxsey’s queries. If he follows the same path he took last year, Cuomo would pair the election with a primary election that will probably be held in June to save local municipalities election costs. That would mean that no one represents Columbia and Dutchess county in the State Assembly during the next legislative session. And they might have two elections on the same day — filling in a temporary replacement, and choosing primary candidates for the office’s regular election in November. Meanwhile, “I’ve gotten permission to keep my office open so, while I won’t be there, staff will still be available to provide constituent services,” Molinaro told Doxsey. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.
Tags: elections, Marc Molinaro
Governor Andrew Cuomo over the weekend released the list of bills he has just approved or vetoed, and of our local representatives, only State Senator James Seward co-sponsored any bills that reached the governor’s desk. Seward was involved with three bills Cuomo signed into law. The names of State Senator Steve Saland, and Assemblyman Pete Lopez and Marc Molinaro do not appear on the complete list (which can be seen following the link below). The three bills that Cuomo signed of Seward’s were:
• S.5459 SEWARD — Authorizes the village of Herkimer to finance a litigation settlement by the issuance of serial bonds and/or anticipation notes
Same as A.8097 Butler
• S.5657 SEWARD — Authorizes the village of Ilion to finance a litigation settlement by the issuance of serial bonds and/or anticipation notes
Same as A.8264 Butler
• A.4729-A Reilly — Relates to membership on regional fish and wildlife boards
Same as S.2363-A SEWARD
Follow the link to the complete list of bills signed and vetoed. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: James Seward, Marc Molinaro, Pete Lopez, Steve Saland
Columbia County’s State Senator Steve Saland became the 32nd senator to announce his support of the same-sex marriage bill, which passed in a vote Friday night in Albany. Buffalo’s Mark Grisanti, also a Republican, also voted for the bill, which passed 33-29. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the bill and it becomes state law in 30 days. Saland was the only locally elected representative who voted for the bill: Senator Jim Seward, who represents Greene County, voted against the bill, as did Assemblymen Pete Lopez (Greene County) and Marc Molinaro (Dutchess County).
• Click here to play an mp3 recording of the New York State Senate voting to legalize same-sex marriage. (2:10)
Tags: James Seward, local video, Marc Molinaro, Pete Lopez, same-sex marriage, Steve Saland
Assembly passes same-sex marriage 80-63
Both Pete Lopez, who represents Greene County, and Marc Molinaro, who represents Columbia County, voted against the bill, but a majority in the New York State Assembly voted to pass the same-sex marriage bill yesterday 80-63. By all accounts, the bill is now one vote short of passing the New York State Senate. Yesterday, Republican senators held a four-hour meeting about the bill behind closed doors. Journalists are speculating that the Republicans will let this bill pass in exchange for a Democratic retreat on the property tax cap or rent laws. Senators keep hinting that Friday might be the day a vote is taken on the matter. State Senator Greg Ball (R, Patterson) is asking for this language to be added to switch his vote and pass the bill:
1) No clergy or other person authorized to conduct marriage ceremonies shall be required to do so against their beliefs or desire,whether religious or not.
2) No religious or tax exempt organizations shall be required to provide any services to which they object because of religious or other beliefs.
3) No house of worship, individual or business with religious objections, or tax exempt organizations shall be required to allow their property or services to be used for any function or purpose to which they object or have their tax exempt status challenged or removed because of failure to permit usage of their property for same sex ceremonies.
New chamber of commerce means business
Andrea Macko reports in The Greenville Mountain View Pioneer (no web site) that Durham now has a Chamber of Commerce, and its first order of business is a hot air balloon festival in the Greene County town this weekend. Deer Watch Inn owner Jo-Ann Rascoe is the new chamber’s president, and has scheduled the balloon festival down the street from her inn, at the Milk Run on Route 145 this Friday, June 17, through Sunday, June 19. Macko also reports that Durham’s water park, the Zoom Flume, opens for summer business this weekend.
City hits home television screens
Jamie Larson in the Register-Star reports that PBS television station WMHT airs “Our Town Hudson” at 7:30 p.m. tonight, June 16. The hour-long documentary about the city of Hudson features interviews with Gary Schiro of the Hudson Opera House, Linda Mussmann of Time and Space Limited Warehouse, Melissa Auf der Maur of the Basilica Hudson, Father John Perry of Christ Church Episcopal, Corey Fleming of the Hudson Area Library and many others. Read the entire story in the Register-Star.
Kinderhook bank to open first Albany County branch
The Business Review reports that The Kinderhook Bank wants to open a branch in the Delaware Plaza in Delmar, in Albany County. Kinderhook Bank currently has five offices—in Kinderhook, Chatham, East Greenbush, Greenport, and Valatie—and $217 million in deposits. Read the full story in The Business Review.
Tags: David Marston, Deer Watch Inn, Durham Chamber of Commerce, Geeta Cheddie, Jo-Ann Rascoe, Kinderhook Bank, Marc Molinaro, Mark Portin, Our Town Hudson, Pete Lopez, Richard Koweek, Tim Rodgers
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- Rep. Chris Gibson at Chatham Middle School, at town meeting March 23. Photo by Tom Roe.
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- Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin at Chatham Middle School.
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- Assemblyman Marc Molinaro at Chatham Middle School. Photo by Tom Roe.
Click here to listen to the entire town meeting from the WGXC broadcast.
Click here to listen to an interview with Rep. Chris Gibson after the meeting.
Where to find shelter, supplies
The Register-Star reports that the Red Cross Shelter at the Taconic Hills High School on County Route 11 in Craryville will close at 8 a.m. today so school can resume there, with a two hour delay. Two new shelters will be opening at the Taghkanic Fire Company on Route 82 in Taghkanic and the second one will be at the Copake Community Building located at the Copake Town Park on Mountain View Drive. Additionally, dry ice and water will be available at the Copake Fire Department located at 390 County Route 7A Copake or the Ancram Firehouse at 1306 County Route 7 Ancram. Several thousand are still without power in the area and local fire companies have been going door to door in the northeastern portion of Columbia County to check that folks are alright.
School officials look into future of employment
Colin DeVries of The Daily Mail reports that a delegation of Greene County school officials and economic developers toured the $4.6 billion GlobalFoundries semiconductor manufacturing facility being constructed north of Albany, getting a first-hand look at “the future of employment in the region.” GlobalFoundries, an international computer chip producer, will be hiring about 1,400 people by the end of 2012, many of whom will be educated at community colleges, receiving two-year degrees in electronics, science and semiconductor manufacturing. The Greene County Industrial Development Agency accompanied officials and school board members from Cairo-Durham Central School District, Coxsackie-Athens Central School District, Greenville Central School District, and BOCES Questar III.
Dems fire first volley at Molinaro
Mid Hudson News Network notes that regional Democrats have started firing shots at the just-announced candidacy of State Assemblyman Marc Molinaro for Dutchess County executive, with that county’s party chairwoman, Elisa Sumner, saying Molinaro is “unfit” to be county executive. Sumner pointed to an audit of the Village of Tivoli, where Molinaro served as mayor for 11 years after first being elected to the village board at the age of 18, noting the state comptroller’s office was critical of the municipality’s “financial condition.” She added that a few potential candidates have expressed interest in running for the county’s top job, some in government and others in business. New York State Bridge Authority Executive Director Joseph Ruggiero and Beekman Town Supervisor Daniel French have been mentioned as possible candidates on the Democratic ticket.
More snow days might mean canceled days off for schools
The Times Union looks into the situation regarding weather days in the Capitol District… as we’ve known here, none are left… meaning special days off are gone for the remainder of the year, with the probability growing that we’ll be pushing the 2011 school year up to its end-of-June legal limit this year.
Union, TH board relations deteriorate
John Mason of the Register-Star reports that relations between Taconic Hills school officials and its employee unions, already strained, took a turn for the worse last week when a board member claimed he was being personally attacked by the union, and a union president said he was physically threatened by the board member. On Friday, March 4, many teachers wore orange to school to signify “anti-bullying,” after Faculty Association President Kevin Reis filed a complaint with the police and the district alleging Board Vice-President George Lagonia Jr. had threatened him. The chain of events began with union officials filing a petition with the board seeking the removal of three Taconic Hills school board members for being employed by the district as sports coaches, or having siblings also on the board… citing State Education Law that stipulates that board members cannot be employed by the school board they belong to, and that no more than one family member shall be a member of the same board of education.
Changes seen for Farmers’ Market
The Daily Mail reports on a recent discussion about the coming Catskill Farmers Market by village officials, including the possible appointment of a market manager, which market participants don’t see the need of, and prospects of opening the market to those receiving federal assistance for food purchases.
Cops look for flasher
The Register-Star reports that New York State Police at Livingston are looking for a man who allegedly exposed himself to minor children while inside the Walmart department store at Greenport Commons on Feb. 24 between the hours of 7 and 8 p.m. The man was observed, authorities said, driving a red or maroon medium sized hatchback or small SUV style vehicle.
Tags: board of education, Catskill Farmers' Market, flooding, GlobalFoundries, job market, Marc Molinaro, power outages, snow days, Taconic Hills School District, union face-off, Wal Mart flasher
Marc Molinaro has declared he is running for Dutchess County Executive, increasing the likelihood of a special election for his Assembly seat, which represents much of Columbia County.
Marc Molinaro, from his website.
Tags: Marc Molinaro
The Mid Hudson News Network, along with the Register Star, have pieces in this morning’s editions about meetings U.S. Rep.-elect Chris Gibson had with state Assemblymen Marc Molinaro and Pete Lopez, fellow Republican, in several locations yesterday, including the Elks Club in Hudson, where Gibson said growing the economy by repealing “paternalistic legislation” is his top priority and added that he would push for the building of a nuclear power plant in the area. Concerns voiced by the public during the discussions included reducing spending, managing healthcare reform, protecting agriculture and small businesses, prohibiting the addition of new taxes, and hydrofracking. Gibson said that his first priority is to grow the economy by focusing on reform of “paternalistic legislation” that inhibits economic growth, as well as developing more intelligent ways of balancing the economy and the environment.
Gibson also said he was open to the building of two nuclear power plants in the overall region, one north and one south of Albany.
The sprawling 20th Congressional District comprises all of Columbia, Greene, Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties and parts of Dutchess, Otsego, Rensselaer, Delaware and Essex counties. In Northern Dutchess, the district includes Hyde Park, Clinton, Rhinebeck, Red Hook, Milan and Pine Plains.
Tags: Chris Gibson, Elks, energy policy, Marc Molinaro, nuclear power plants, paternalistic legislation, Pete Lopez, U.S. Congress
Hudson school board meeting confrontation between assistant principals attracts reporters
The Hudson school board meeting almost-altercation between assistant principals Tom Gavin and Steven Spicer was a giant regional story Tuesday. The Times-Union reported:
“Co-principal Steven Spicer said that on Wednesday he will also seek an order of protection against co-principal Thomas Gavin, who he says threatened him during the meeting. ‘On the advice of my lawyer, I’m going to report the incident to the Hudson City Police,’ Spicer said Tuesday night. Gavin has been suspended for an undetermined amount of time with pay, which is mandated by state law, according to district Superintendent Jack Howe.”
WAMC had audio from Hudson Superintendent John Howe, and others:
“What’s been described as “a week of mayhem” at a Columbia County High School boiled over during a Monday night meeting of the city Board of Education – Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports the police commissioner had to step in between two school officials engaged in a heated confrontation. The officials involved have been identified as Hudson High co-principals Tom Gavin and Steven Spicer. The chain of events that led to last night’s violence began after a parent stood up to voice concerns about the safety of students. The officials disagreed over student discipline and the code of conduct. The men had to be separated as they engaged in confrontation. Superintendent of Schools John Howe says both Gavin and Spicer remain with the district. He promises parents concerns will be addressed. Hudson Police Commissioner Ron Grant says his office is investigating and always ready to help.”
John Mason in Register-Star reports how Spicer is among “40 or 50″ applicants for the principal position at John L. Edwards Primary School. “The position was vacated when Carol Gans retired in August,” Mason writes. “Gans then agreed to remain on an interim basis until Dec. 31.”
Demagall guilty
Francesca Olsen in Register-Star reports William Demagall was, “found guilty of second-degree murder and deemed responsible for his actions by a Columbia County jury Tuesday evening.” Olsen reports afterwards Demagall’s father, Steven Demagall, stormed out of the courthouse after telling her that, “Judge (Paul) Czajka directly influenced the outcome of this trial with his antics in the courtroom,” he said. “This is a serious matter … you can’t get a fair trial in Columbia County — because of Judge Czajka … this is the result of the first trial and the f——- second one!” Olsen writes that he is, “referring to Columbia County Supreme Court Judge Paul Czajka, who presided over the first trial, and his presence in the courtroom during the retrial. Steven Demagall said that he observed Czajka speaking in a friendly manner with witnesses who were about to testify and his ‘front and center’ position in the courtroom gallery during the proceedings.”
[Copake] budget passes with 8.97 percent tax increase
Lindsay Suchow in the Register-Star reports Copake town supervisors approved a 8.97 percent tax increase for residents by a 4-1 vote last week. “The total budget for 2011 is $1,868,672, which includes both the general fund ($294,776) and the highway fund ($797,642),” Suchow wrote. “The town board voted 4 to 1 to approve the budget, with Supervisor Reggie Crowley and council members Linda Gabaccia, Walter Kiernan and Daniel Tompkins voting ‘yes’ and Councilman Bob Sacks voting ‘no.’”
Gibson, Molinaro co-host town hall meetings
New York State Assemblyman Marc Molinaro (R,C,I-Red Hook) and Congressman-elect Chris Gibson host town hall meetings in Hudson and Pleasant Valley Friday, December 10. The Hudson Elks will host the first town hall at 10 a.m. at 201 Harry Howard Avenue, and then the two will speak in Pleasant Valley at 2:30 in the New Horizons Resources Office at 123 West Road. Molinaro will host similar events with Congresswoman-elect Nan Hayworth on December 17 at locations to be announced.
Birthdays
Nov. 24 birthdays include Scott Joplin, William F. Buckley, Jr., and Arundahati Roy.
Tags: Bob Sacks, Chris Gibson, Daniel Tompkins, Hudson schools, John Howe, Linda Gabaccia, Marc Molinaro, Reggie Crowley, schools, Steven Spicer, Tom Gavin, town meetings, Walter Kiernan
Marc Molinaro at Space360 in Hudson April 21, 2010.
Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo today announced that Assemblyman Marc Molinaro (R,C,I-Red Hook), who represents Columbia County, was named to a transition team to recruit, review, and recommend candidates for key positions in the next administration, according to Molinaro’s staff. Molinaro will serve on the State and Local Government Reform Committee of the transition team. “The magnitude of the challenges confronting our state may be immense, but so are the opportunities before us to implement meaningful, long-lasting policies to improve the quality of life and quality of government in New York,” Molinaro said in a statement. “I am honored to serve with so many distinguished individuals committed to improving New York.”
Cement plant announces more layoffs
Doron Tyler Antrim in The Daily Mail reports Catskill cement producer Holcim will “temporarily” cut 70 hourly positions effective in January. “In May 2009, 35 workers were temporarily laid off. Two months earlier 26 positions were eliminated,” Antrim reported.
Loaf opens SaturdayThe Lick ice cream parlor on Warren St. closes each winter, and now the space is being used and the Lick logo changed just slightly into Loaf, a bakery. The 253 Warren St. location opens this Saturday, Nov. 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is taking orders for Thanksgiving pies at loafhudson@gmail.com.
Healthcare Consortium receives FCH grant
The Healthcare Consortium was awarded a $20,000 transportation grant from the Foundation for Community Health in Sharon, CT to provide transportation for residents of Ancram and Copake to and from health-related appointments in 2011.
Meetings tonight
In Kinderhook, John Mason in the Register-Star reports that Kinderhook residents are invited to an upstairs in Village Hall “Public Information Meeting” on the reconstruction of Hudson Street and Albany Avenue at 7 p.m. tonight. “The proposed reconstruction will extend on Hudson Street for about 600 feet from Sylvester Street to the traffic light at Route 9 and on Albany Avenue for about 1,600 feet from Route 9 to Sunset Avenue,” Mason reports.
In Craryville, the Taconic Hills school board says it will vote on a replacement for John Mastropolo, who resigned in September, at a meeting tonight at Taconic Hills High School in the board room. The board has been holding all proceedings around the seat, which is usually elected by voters, in secret, held in executive session. The board is choosing between Christine Perry, Sally Williamson, and Joan Spencer. This meeting is also at 7 p.m., and note the meeting’s agenda says the board will first vote on the replacement seat, and then the public gets a chance to comment, not before for a seat the public usually chooses at the polls. In a story about this issue, Mason in the Register-Star writes, “According to Robert Freeman of the state Committee on Open Government, the only court decision dealing with how school boards may select new members found that such decisions should be made in open, not closed, session.”
Voting to raise your taxes and fees
Doron Tyler Antrim reports in The Daily Mail that the entire Greenville town board voted to raise building permit fees $6000. The board is made up of Supervisor Paul Macko, Diane Fallon, Ken Stern, Richard Bear, and Louis Kraker.
Birthdays
Nov. 17 is the birthday of Martin Scorsese, John Boehner, and Kimya Dawson.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Art Baer, business, Holcim, Marc Molinaro, Robin Andrews, Roy Brown, schools, town meetings
New York State Assembly 103rd District (which covers Columbia County) candidates Marc Molinaro (incumbent Republican) and Susan Tooker (Democrat) talked about campaign issues with the Poughkeepsie Journal editorial board today. Watch video above.
Tags: Marc Molinaro, Susan Tooker
Rick Karlin in Capitol Confidential reports:
“[T]he New York Public Interest Research Group has scanned into their website and updated the latest versions of financial disclosure forms for incumbents and challengers for the legislature. These are filed individually with the state Legislative Ethics Commission and frankly they don’t provide a lot of detail, especially regarding the monetary value of the stocks, outside employment or other sources of wealth and income that some lawmakers have.” Read the entire story in Capitol Confidential.
Locally:
Tim Gordon
Peter Lopez
Marcus Molinaro
Stephen M. Saland
James L. Seward
Tags: James Seward, Marc Molinaro, Pete Lopez, Steve Saland, Tim Gordon
New York State Assemblyman Marc Molinaro and New York State Senator Stephen Saland on Aug. 20 join the New York State Commissioner of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation; Assemblyman Joel Miller; Assemblyman Steve Englebright; and Lucy Waletsky of the State Council of Parks, Taconic State Park Commission for a tour of Walkway Over the Hudson (10 a.m.), Harlem Valley Rail Trail (11:45 a.m.), Taconic State Park (12:15 p.m.), Rudd Pond 1:10 p.m.), Copake Falls (2:15 p.m.), and Olana 4 p.m.).
Tags: Marc Molinaro, Olana, Steve Saland, town meetings
Assemblyman Marc Molinaro (R,C,I-Red Hook) will host New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), New York League of Women Voters, and Common Cause/NY for an educational forum moderated by Blair Horner of NYPIRG followed by a traditional town hall-style meeting Thursday, August 12 at the Millbrook Village Hall, located at 35 Merritt Avenue. The educational forum will begin at 6:30 and the town hall at 7:30 p.m.
Tags: Marc Molinaro, town meetings
Former NYC mayor Ed Koch’s New York Uprising reform initiative released its list of “heroes” and “enemies” of reform, and locally State Senators (R) Steve Saland and (R) James Seward, Assemblyman (R) Marc Molinaro, and Senate candidate (challenging Saland) (D) Didi Barrett all made the heroes list. Assemblymen (I) Tim Gordon and (R) Pete Lopez, however, made Koch’s enemies list. New York legislators and candidates were asked to pledge to support nonpartisan redistricting, ethics reform, and responsible budgeting. Those that did not sign the pledge made the enemies list. Read more about this in Capitol Confidential.
Tags: Didi Barrett, James Seward, Marc Molinaro, Pete Lopez, Steve Saland, Tim Gordon
Assemblyman Marc Molinaro (R,C,I-Red Hook) will join Scenic Hudson’s Seth McKee, Tivoli Mayor Tom Cordier, and others at a press conference July 28 celebrating the Village of Tivoli’s purchase of Hudson Riverfront property. This land preservation effort will secure permanent public access to the Hudson River. The press conference will take place at the Tivoli waterfront at Broadway and Friendship St. on Wednesday, July 28 at 1:30 p.m.
Tags: development, environment, Hudson River, Marc Molinaro
New York State Assemblyman Marc Molinaro (R,C,I-Red Hook) joins Deputy Mayor of the Village of Red Hook Ed Blundell for an Independence Day celebration in Rhinebeck with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Molinaro and Blundell, and fireworks. The event begins at 4 p.m. at the Rhinebeck Fairgrounds, 6550 Spring Brook Avenue, Rhinebeck.
Tags: Ed Blundell, Marc Molinaro
Debora Gilbert at The Columbia Paper reports:
Dutchess County resident Susan Tooker threw her hat into the ring at the annual Columbia County Democratic Committee dinner Sunday night, announcing her decision to run against Marc Molinaro (R) in the 103rd Assembly District. A working mother, registered nurse, nurse practitioner and union member, who is pro-choice and in favor of marriage equality, Ms. Tooker was introduced as the Democrats’ choice of an opponent to challenge the two-term GOP incumbent at the Democrats’ third annual Martin Van Buren Testimonial Dinner June 6 at the Columbia Golf and Country Club in Claverack. Read the entire story in The Columbia Paper.
Tags: elections, Marc Molinaro, Susan Tooker
New York State Assemblyman Marc Molinaro, who represents Columbia County (R,C,I-Red Hook), will host a town hall meeting in Ghent on Thursday, May 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the White Stone Café, 2337 Route 66, Ghent.
Tags: Marc Molinaro, town meetings
Assemblyman Marc Molinaro (R,C,I-Red Hook, representing much of Columbia County) will host a town hall meeting with local residents on Saturday, May 29 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Simmons Way Village Inn, 53 Main St., Millerton.
Tags: Marc Molinaro, town meetings
Marc Molinaro will announce he is seeking re-election for the 103rd Assembly District with three events on Friday, April 30 in Dutchess and Columbia counties. Molinaro will be at Promenade Hill (intersection of Front and Warren Sts.) In Hudson at 11 a.m., at Tivoli Commons (86 Broadway) at 12:30 p.m., and in Pleasant Valley at GE Masten Feed (1 West Rd.) at 2 p.m.
Tags: elections, Marc Molinaro, town meetings
Assemblyman Marc Molinaro (R,C,I-Red Hook) brought State Assembly Republican Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,I,C-Canandaigua) to a public meeting of about 20 people at Space 360 in Hudson today at 5:30 p.m. The two Assemblymen mingled with the guests including Catskill Town Supervisor Peter Markou, Columbia County Planning and Economic Development Commissioner Ken Flood, and Bill Jacoby, whose NYC-based Wind Products is looking to manufacture wind-power generators in Columbia County in two years. Molinaro spoke with a WGXC reporter for five minutes before a public question-and-answer session with Kolb that lasted over 30 minutes. Audio mp3 recordings of the interview and questioning are below. The event preceded Molinaro and Kolb’s public forum to discuss the People’s Convention to Reform New York Act at the Hudson Elks Club.
Marc Molinaro
Click here to listen to mp3 recording of WGXC interview with Marc Molinaro or paste this url into your media player:
http://archive.free103point9.org/2010/04/WGXCInterview_Marc_Molinaro_Space360_042110.mp3
NY State Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, Catskill Town Supervisor Peter Markou, and State Assemblyman Marc Molinaro at Space360.
Click here to listen to mp3 recording of Marc Molinaro and Brian Kolb’s public meeting question-and-answer session at Space360 on Wed. Apr. 21 or paste this url into your media player:
http://archive.free103point9.org/2010/04/BrianKolb_MarcMolinaro_meeting_Space360_WGXC_042110.mp3
Tags: local audio, Marc Molinaro, Peter Markou, town meetings
Assemblyman Marc Molinaro (R,C,I-Red Hook) brings State Assembly Republican Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,I,C-Canandaigua) in hosting a “Meet and Greet with Legislative Leaders” in Hudson on April 21. Molinaro and Kolb will meet with Chamber of Commerce guests at Space 360, 360 Warren St. in Hudson from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event will precede Molinaro and Kolb’s public forum to discuss the People’s Convention to Reform New York Act, which will be open to the public and take place at the Hudson Elks Club at 7 p.m.
Tags: Marc Molinaro
Rick Karlin of Capitol Confidential reports that this morning the New York State Senate passed an absentee ballot bill 35-27. The bill, previously passed by the Assembly, will make it easier to cast an absentee ballot, removing requirements to “disclose the special circumstances requiring his absence,” among others. Not surprisingly, Greene and Columbia counties’ Republican legislators are against the bill. Both local Assemblyman, Marc Molinaro in Columbia and Pete Lopez in Greene, voted against the bill. Both Senator Jim Seward (Greene) and Sen. Steve Saland (Columbia) voted against the bill this morning. Recently, Republicans in Columbia County have challenged many absentee ballots, targeting second-home owners as the voting totals have turned from slightly Republican to slightly Democratic in the county.<
Tags: James Seward, Marc Molinaro, Pete Lopez, Steve Saland
One of the best results from the recent redesign of the web sites of The Daily Mail and The Register-Star has been the increase in reader participation through online comments. Lately, the politicians and officials at the heart of many stories on the paper’s web sites are writing their own comments. Or are being carefully impersonated in the largely unregulated world of online comments. First, Hudson Mayor Rick Scalera, or someone posing as the mayor, responded to a Feb. 11 Register-Star “My View” opinion column by Taghkanic-based activist Sam Pratt. Three days later, State Assemblyman Marc Molinaro, or an online simulacrum, commented on a Register-Star article about his recent vote against making it easier to cast an absentee ballot. Bob Sacks, or someone claiming the identity of the Copake Town Councilman, also commented on that article. And if The Daily Mail mentions the Cairo Planning Board, you can bet board Chairman Dan Benoit will comment. In a Feb. 11 “My View” column by Leeds-based businessman Bob Nappa, Benoit pipes in once the chatter in the comments section gets around to Cairo. In each case, officials leave e-mail addresses and phone numbers for constituents to get in touch about whatever issue getting is being discussed. Bravo!
Tags: Bob Sacks, Marc Molinaro, Rick Scalera
The Albany Times-Union asked all New York state legislators to disclose their household incomes. Locally, the Senators did not respond and the Assemblymen disclosed. Below is information from the senators and assemblymen representing Greene and Columbia counties:
James L. Seward, Senate, R-51
Responded: No
Reported 2009 income: Minimum of $94,000
Comments: Lawmaker declined to respond but legislative leader income is public record. Assembly pay of $79,500 plus $14,500 as Vice Chair of Minority Conference.
Tim P. Gordon, Assembly, I-108
Responded: Yes
Reported 2009 income: Up to $158,300
Comments: Assemblyman responded saying he makes his legislative pay of $79,500; $3,000, interest and dividend income of approximately $800. Wife works for Price Chopper in Schenectady for a salary of between $50,000 and $75,000 per year.
Stephen M. Saland, Senate, R-41
Responded: No
Reported 2009 income: Minimum of $92,500
Comments: Lawmaker declined to respond but legislative leader income is public record. Assembly pay of $79,500 plus $13,000 as Assistant Minority Whip.
Marcus J. Molinaro, Assembly, R-103
Responded: Yes
Reported 2009 income: $122,700
Comments: Assembly pay of $79,500 and ranking minority member pay on Election Law Committee of $9,000; $1,500 LILAC Realty Corp. sales referrals; Riding Tide Communications pay of $3,700 as associate publisher; wife is a registered nurse at Health Quest, makes $29,000.
Peter D. Lopez, Assembly, R-127
Responded: Yes
Reported 2009 income: $134,500
Comments: Assembly pay of $79,500 plus $9,000 as ranking Republican on the food, farm and nutrition committee. Spouse makes $46,000 per year as career counselor at SUNY-Cobleskill.
Tags: elections, James Seward, Marc Molinaro, Pete Lopez, Steve Saland, Tim Gordon
Local New York State Senators Jim Seward (who represents Greene County and other areas) and Steve Saland (who represents Columbia County and other areas) both voted “No” today on the Same-Sex Marriage vote in the New York State Senate. The measure failed, 38-24. In May, local Assemblyman Tim Gordon, D-108th, voted “yes” on the bill, while Pete Lopez, R-127th, voted “no”, and Marc Molinaro, R-103rd, was absent.
Tags: James Seward, Marc Molinaro, Pete Lopez, Steve Saland, Tim Gordon
The local and statewide deadlocks took tiny steps toward resolution Wednesday. The Register-Star reports that Supervisor Doug McGivney, D-Kinderhook, introduced a resolution at the last minute at the Columbia County Board of Supervisors Full Board meeting Wednesday that the Board of Supervisors will “endorse the concept of exploring the obtaining and retention of the services of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) for the purposes of review, study and recommendations concerning all aspects of building or capital needs of Columbia County.” It passed unanimously. But don’t think this means the kerfuffle between Columbia County Supervisor Art Baer (R-Hillsdale) and the city of Hudson, largely over where the Department of Social Services ends up, is over. “That’s one of the areas I think they would provide us potentially with some assistance,” he said. “I think we’re going to expose them to the process that the Board went through, let them take a look at the data, and if they can come up with some other option, then we’re certainly going to listen to it….At the same time, we’re not going to pull the emergency brake and stop all our actions with respect to engineering and design with respect to Ockawamick,” said Baer. “How could you invite people in to study something while you are moving forward? I don’t think that’s acceptable to this problem,” Linda Mussmann of the Bottom Line Party and TSL said. “The reality is we need a plan that’s going to work. That, I think, finally, everybody has understood.”… New York Govenor David Paterson appointed Richard Ravitch to fill the vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor, according to Capitol Confidential. Ravitch is a former chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. There will clearly be legal challengers to whether the Governor is allowed to appoint a lietenant governor, as potential Governor candidate Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has already announced the move is illegal. Columbia County Assemblyman Marcus J. Molinaro (R,C,I-Red Hook) wasted no time calling the move unconstitutional, and said, “Ravitch…masterminded the $2.3 billion MTA bailout plan that include[d] a devastating payroll tax which disproportionately hurts Hudson Valley businesses, school districts, municipalities and not-for-profits.”… The Town of Athens implemented a resolution to add a $150 fee to all 50-foot non-commercial wind turbines, according to The Daily Mail…. The Times Union gives Hudson’s Baba Louie’s a “pretty serious rave.”… The Times Union terminated 15 full-time and three part-time employees, including 11 full-time employees in the newsroom, according to the paper. Among the employees let go were Monica Bartoszek, a senior editor and the newspaper’s reader representative; Alan Wechsler, author of a regular column about the outdoors; Bill Callen, sports editor; and Marlene Kennedy, business editor and a weekly columnist. The Newspaper Guild said, “the Company’s actions come while the parties are supposed to be negotiating layoff criteria, talks that resume at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Last week, the Guild filed two information requests over the proposed criteria, which the newspaper has yet to answer.”
Tags: Art Baer, Linda Mussmann, Marc Molinaro
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.
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