Pete Lopez

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Redistricting proposal draws criticism, laughter

January 27, 2012 in Albany, Albany County, Columbia County, Delaware County, Dutchess County, Greene County, Hudson Valley, Rensselaer County, Ulster County by Tom Roe | No comments

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.)

Read the rest of this entry »

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Catskill, Poughkeepsie commerate King, Jr.

January 16, 2012 in Catskill, Poughkeepsie by Tom Roe | No comments

Folks in Catskill held the 10th annual Candlelight March for Peace and Justice down Main Street Saturday evening, according Rob LeDonne in The Daily Mail. New York Assemblyman Pete Lopez (R-Schoharie), Superintendent of Catskill Schools Dr. Kathleen P. Farrell, the Rev. Richard Turpin of Second Baptist Church, Mr. Albert Gasparini of the Catskill Ecumenical Council of Churches, and the Rev. Vicky Eastland of the First Reformed Church were among the speakers, and Catskill High School’s Treblaires sang three songs. On Monday, Jan. 16 at 10 a.m., the 17th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March for Social and Economic Justice begins at the Smith Street African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, 124 Smith St. in Poughkeepsie.

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Cuomo signs, vetoes many bills

September 25, 2011 in Albany by Tom Roe | No comments

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 »

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Friday headlines

July 15, 2011 in Catskill, Columbia County by Tom Roe | No comments

Village orders ash tree removal to avoid scourge
Doron Tyler Antrim in The Daily Mail reports that the village of Catskill will cut down three ash trees on Greene Street because of an infestation by the emerald ash borer, the destructive beetle killing New York’s ash trees.
Village Department of Public Works Superintendent Lewis O’Connor said (at the village meeting Monday, presumably) removing the trees is cheaper than inoculating them with a pesticide every in two years. Elizabeth D’Auria of the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP) reported the group’s preliminary April 18 inventory of ash trees this spring:
• Two of the 27 trees found showed a potential sign of EAB damage or general stress.
• Seventeen trees were located near an electrical wire.
• Twenty trees were deemed to be generally or very healthy.
Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Daily Freeman’s parent company sold to investment firm
Lissa Harris in the Watershed Post reports parent company of the Kingston Daily Freeman, The Journal-Register Company, was sold to investment firm Alden Global Capital. Harris quotes CEO John Paxton, who writes, “Alden has been an investor in our Company for some time and they have had a courtside seat to the Journal Register Company’s radical makeover following our Digital First strategy. They know what we do, they like what we do, and today they are putting their money behind our efforts.” She also quotes The Wall Street Journal, which has a different view. “Newspaper acquisitions are a species rarer than the Yangtze River dolphin. But today, for one of the few times since 2007, a newspaper company was bought. For money. Really….We’re still scouring our databases, but it appears the only post-2007 acquisition of a significant newspaper company was the purchase of a duo of Philadelphia dailies in a 2010 bankruptcy auction.” Read the full story in the Watershed Post.

Sentence reduction raises questions for DA
Jimmy Vielkind in the Albany Times-Union first broke the story, but Jamie Larson of the Register-Star does an excellent job following up on all the local angles of the story of a criminal sentence reduction of a Columbia County political insider. In 2009, Timothy McEachern, 46, of Spencertown, was arrested and charged under Leandra’s Law, which made it a felony, punishable by up to four years in prison, to drive drunk with children in the vehicle. McEachern is Columbia County District Attorney Beth Cozzolino’s brother-in-law. “McEachern’s wife, Andrea Gabel, is the sister of D.A. Cozzolino and the couple’s home was the registered campaign headquarters for Cozzolino’s 2007 run for her position,” Larson writes. McEachern pleaded to a misdemeanor DWI in May 2010, with a $700 fine and a $400 court fee, and 40 hours of community service, according to state Department of Transportation records. The Times-Union report showed that was a light sentence compared to others convicted of the new law. Greene County DA Terry Wilhelm took the case after Cozzolino recused herself, and he has not returned any reporters calls on the issue. As the story broke last weekend, Cozzolino kicked off her campaign for Columbia County judge at McEachern’s house. The event was attended by numerous Republican party officials, though Larson reports, “U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, R-20th District, was billed at the top of the event invitation as a host of the fundraiser, but the congressman’s office said Tuesday that he did not attend, never promised to attend, and has not offered an official endorsement.” Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Lopez in Greene County for hunting and boxing Saturday
Republican New York State Assemblyman Pete Lopez, who represents Greene and several other counties west of the Hudson River, makes two area appearances Saturday, first speaking at 5:30 p.m. at the Greene County Federation of Sportsmen‘s Annual Dinner at the Quarry Steakhouse, 100 Grapeville Road in Coxsackie. At 8 p.m. Lopez will be Guest MC at the “Rumble in the Catskills” boxing event, in the Catskill Elementary School’s gymnasium.

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Local reps comment on legislative session

June 26, 2011 in Albany by Tom Roe | No comments


New York State Senator James Seward, who represents Greene County in Albany, released this official video through the New York State Senate’s YouTube channel, explains what he thinks the legislature accomplished this year. Below, Senator Steve Saland, who represents Columbia County, talks about his disappointment in the legislature’s failure to repeal the MTA Payroll Tax. Below that, Saland generally comments on the legislative session. Below that, Assemblyman Pete Lopez, who represents Greene County, talks about his work on the Regional Education and Property Tax Reform Committees.


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Saland vote makes same-sex marriage legal

June 24, 2011 in Albany by Tom Roe | No comments


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)

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Thursday headlines

June 16, 2011 in Albany, Durham, Hudson, Kinderhook by Tom Roe | No comments

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.

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More Wednesday headlines

April 27, 2011 in Albany, Capital District, Columbia County, Greene County by Paul Smart | No comments

Safety Net isn’t safe enough
Francesca Olsen reports in the Register-Star that Columbia County Social Services Commissioner Paul Mossman has teamed up with State Assemblyman Peter Lopez, R,C,I-Schoharie, to develop a proposal that would allow Columbia County to use some of its own social services funding to increase the allotment for the Safety Net program, which gives money to those who qualify for housing, food and other expenses. “The current maximum allowance for a single person, per month, via Safety Net is $350,” she writes. “Increasing the benefit level, Mossman said, will give his clients a better chance of finding affordable housing in a competitive market.” Mossman added that the effort would be tri-county, with pilot areas in Schoharie, Greene and Columbia counties all using local funding to increase the monthly allowance, probably by about $200, in a six-month program designed to close current safety net holes. Those who would be eligible would already qualify for Safety Net, and those who are currently or soon-to-be employed would get the first go at additional allowance funds.

Church-based group gets $1 million grant
Carol DeMare writes in the TImes Union that the Capital Region Theological Center, an Albany-based Christian ecumenical group whose services reach to houses of worship of all faiths, announced April 26 that it has received a $1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment that it will use over the coming four years to help strengthen local congregations. “We believe stronger congregations mean stronger communities,” the Rev. Sherri Meyer-Veen, CRTC project manager, is quoted in DeMare’s story. “Denominations have been in decline over the last 40 years… Ecumenical partnering is an essential must for the church of the future.” The idea is for “multiple denominations of faith and traditions to be working together,” as well as “the lessening of denominational lines to give a full expression of faith,” DeMare writes of the grant goals for the theological center, which began in 2001 as an education resource for clergy and lay church members, offering a variety of courses with local speakers and those from around the country that lasted a day or several days.

To save a tree
Carole Osterink has a pair of stories up on her The Gossips of Rivertown blog about a tree near the old Armory building at North Fifth and State Sts. that was being cut down as of Tuesday morning, April 26, when several neighbors came out in protest and succeeded in getting a stay of execution for the tree. Vigils to save the tree, whose cutters would not identify who had hired them, were being planned for the coming week. Osterink added that the tree had survived earlier cuttings and a lightning hit over the years.

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Red carpet coverage of the Beaux Arts Ball

April 5, 2011 in Catskill, Hunter by Staff | No comments

WGXC's Hudson Talbott interviews guests of honor Robert Manno and Magdalena Golczewski, co-founders and directors of the Windham Chamber Music Festival.

Well, there was no actual red carpet at the Greene County Council on the Arts annual Beaux Arts Ball Saturday night on Hunter Mountain. WGXC’s Hudson Talbott was asking entrants questions that ranged from their political views, opinions about the value of the arts, to what they were wearing. The ball is the arts council’s biggest fundraiser, a dress-up event that’s an annual event of local arts patrons. Talbott talked with Robert Manno and Magdalena Golczewski who were honored with this year’s “Distinguished Service Award” for their work running the Windham Chamber Music Festival. He also spoke with David Slutzky, from Hunter Mountain and the President of the arts council; local artists Iris Kaplan and Sheila Troutman; and New York Assemblyman Pete Lopez. WGXC’s Tom Roe also interviewed Lex Grey, who performed at the ball and is helping to organize the Rip Van Winkle Wine Festival May 7 in Catskill.

Flickr link to photos by Galen Joseph-Hunter.

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Lopez sets up education work team meetings

March 21, 2011 in Catskill, Greene County by Paul Smart | No comments

To build on his 2010 Regional Education Forums, Assemblyman Pete Lopez (R,C,I-Schoharie) has announced that he will be hosting a series of team work sessions throughout the 127th Assembly district to build consensus on
education reform proposals. “In light of the success of last year’s forums, I look forward to continuing my partnership with residents, business owners, farmers, taxpayers, school
officials, teachers, and parents to ensure that all views are represented,”
said Lopez in a March 21 press release. “The goal of these work sessions is to build a consensus. We need to keep education affordable without compromising quality. I look forward to bringing this cross-section of the community together, all with different backgrounds and ideologies, to see where we come together on educating the students of the 127th district.” Last year, Assemblyman Lopez held a series of public forums to elicit grassroots ideas on how to ensure quality and affordable education in our local schools, and invited residents to participate in the follow-up team work sessions. Teams were put together for follow-up, which is who will be meeting in the coming weeks, although the public is invited to observe “By organizing these working teams, my goal is to bring all of the groups together, at one table to identify the most crucial areas where we can do better, to find and build consensus, and
ultimately, to offer statewide solutions,” said Assemblyman Lopez. Locally, Lopez will be holding a work team session from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at Catskill High School in Greene County.

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Lopez appointed to state budget committee

March 17, 2011 in Albany, Columbia County, Greene County by Paul Smart | No comments

ssemblyman Pete Lopez, as seen on his official website.

Assemblyman Pete Lopez (R, C, I – Schoharie) has been appointed to serve on the Joint Budget Conference Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Housing, according to a press release from his office on March 17. The committees were formed the evening of March 15, after each house passed their own one-house budget proposals, and initial meetings were held yesterday throughout the Capitol. “I am encouraged to see the budget conference committee process underway and the budget process moving forward. I will continue to advocate for the families, businesses and communities from throughout the seven counties I represent,” said Assemblyman Lopez. Lopez’ district includes most of Greene County and a ribbon of towns in Columbia County.

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MLK parade and speakers in Catskill

January 15, 2011 in Catskill by Tom Roe | No comments


Catskill hosted Martin Luther King, Jr. Day festivities Saturday, starting with a peace march from the Second Baptist Church in Catskill down the street to hear speakers at the First Reformed Church of Catskill. WNYT‘s newcast included short clips of several speakers, including Assemblyman Pete Lopez (R – Schoharie), and Dr. Kathleen Farrell, Superintendent of Catskill Schools.

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Shared services are our future, says Lopez

December 23, 2010 in Columbia County, Delaware County, Greene County, Hudson Valley, Kingston, Ulster County, Upstate New York by Paul Smart | No comments

Shared services are the buzzword in news items coming out of regional school districts facing capped spending over the coming term, municipalities and counties looking for ways to keep their own tax loads down while maintaining basic services and infrastructure repairs, and everyone looks to strap in for a bumpy economic road ahead. In the City of Kingston, the mayor is talking about sharing services, as is Ulster County’s executive. Meanwhile, Mid Hudson News Network reports today that State Assemblyman Pete Lopez is talking about the issue in terms of rural school districts as well as county and town governments.

As governments have begun to assess their historical ways of doing business, they are looking at ways of reinventing themselves to save taxpayers money. On the state level, there is talk of a property tax cap and curbing unfunded mandates placed on localities.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Gibson vows an end to ‘paternalistic’ governing, plus a look at nuclear power in the Hudson Valley

December 11, 2010 in Albany County, Columbia County, Dutchess County, Greene County, Queensbury, Rensselaer County, Troy, Upstate New York, Washington by Paul Smart | No comments

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.

For full stories click here or here.

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Local incumbents lead challengers in cash

October 5, 2010 in Albany, Columbia County, Greene County by Tom Roe | No comments

Capitol Confidential’s Rick Karlin, quoting NYPIRG’s Bill Mahoney, reports on “32-Day Fundraising” filings, which show all local incumbents with large cash advantages over their challengers. Republican incumbent State Senator Steve Saland has $240,833 on hand while Democrat challenger Didi Barrett has $135,258 in the New York State Senate District 41 contest to represent Columbia and Dutchess counties. Independent incumbent Tim Gordon, running to retain his seat in New York State Assembly District 108 which covers northern Greene and Columbia counties, has $17,195 on hand against Republican challenger Steven McLaughlin’s $2,035. In the New York Assembly District 103, which covers Columbia County, incumbent Republican Marc Molinaro has $19,806 to Democrat challenger Susan Tooker’s zero. Republican incumbent Pete Lopez, running unopposed in the New York State Assembly District 127 that covers much of Greene County, has $35,424 on hand. Likewise, State Senator James Seward, representing Senate District 51 which covers Greene County, is unopposed, and has $189,091 on hand.

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Capitol Confidential: Latest disclosure forms for candidates

August 19, 2010 in Albany by Tom Roe | No comments

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

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Candidates and their out of town donations

August 11, 2010 in Albany, Columbia County, Greene County by Tom Roe | No comments

The Times-Union’s excellent Capitol Confidential blog has a link to a chart from New York Public Interest Research Group, tracking the amount of money New York candidates are raising outside of their districts. Democratic challenger Didi Barrett has raised the most money from outside the counties in the district she is running for, with only 25 percent coming from Dutchess and Columbia counties. On the other hand, Marc Molinaro, challenged by Democrat Susan Tooker for his Columbia County and Dutchess County Assembly seat, got 88 percent from the counties in his district.

TEAM GORDON FOR ASSEMBLY; Assemblyman Tim Gordon of District 108, 39.44 percent from within counties in his district. $5,209 total raised.

FRIENDS OF DIDI BARRETT, candidate Didi Barrett for Senate District 41, 25.16 percent from within counties in her district; $150,361 total raised.

SALAND FOR SENATE ’94′; Senator Steve Saland of Senate District 41; 50.12 percent from within counties in his district; $61,850 total raised.

FRIENDS OF SENATOR SEWARD; Senator James Seward, of Senate District 51; 75.42 percent from within counties in his district; $23,169 total raised.

MJM 4 NY; Assemblyman Marc Molinaro of District 103, 88.36 percent from within counties in his district; $20,195 total raised.

No results for Assemblyman Pete Lopez of District 127.

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Prison population moving back downstate?

August 5, 2010 in Columbia County, Coxsackie, Greene County, Hudson by Tom Roe | 1 comment

Late last night the New York State Senate passed an array of legislation, but the one bill that might impact our area the most
was a measure requiring prisoners be counted as residents not of the (mostly upstate) prisons where they reside, but where they lived before they were incarcerated (most often, New York City). “Most of the state’s prisoners (66 percent) are New York City residents, but the vast majority of them (91 percent) are counted as residents of upstate prisons,” according to Prisoners of the Census. Senator Eric T. Schneiderman, a Manhattan Democrat running for attorney general told The New York Times, “If other states follow us, it would represent a major shift of political power back to these poor urban communities.” Indeed, this bill would mean that Greene County would lose a sizable portion of its population, and all sorts of funding could be lowered to reflect that change. The inmates inside Coxsackie Correctional Facility (approximately 1,000) at 11260 Route 9W; Greene Correctional Facility, 165 Plank Road, Coxsackie; and the Hudson Correctional Facility (about 600) at 50 East Court St. in Hudson; would no longer be counted as local residents. The Greene County Planning and Economic Development site counts 3,280 “institionalized” people, or 6.8 percent, many of which would, presumably, be counted elsewhere if this measure were to become law. Carole Osterink, in her blog The Gossips of Rivertown, analyzes what might happen in Hudson:

Since the Hudson Correctional Facility is located in the Third Ward, it would reduce the weighted votes of the Third Ward aldermen. The votes of Aldermen Ellen Thurston and Chris Wagoner now each represent 266 toward the 1,011 needed for a simple majority. The only votes on the Common Council more powerful than theirs are those cast by Aldermen Robert Donahue and Richard Goetz, whose votes weigh in at 278 each. Read the entire story in The Gossips of Rivertown.

Coxsackie would obviously face similar “re-districting” if this measure is passed, and possible local funding tied to population could be lost, and perhaps fewer regular visits from State Assemblyman Pete Lopez, State Senator James Seward, and Congressman Scott Murphy as their districts might be enlarged geographically to make up for the loss of prison population. Clearly, Seward is worried about the proposal, as he told The Daily Mail: “I clearly see this as a move to dilute the upstate population numbers to benefit downstate,” he said. Susan Campriello in The Daily Mail reports:

“According to a 2002 report Prison Policy Initiative report by Peter Wagner, roughly 3,000 constituents could be removed from Seward’s district. Such losses could decrease the area’s population to nearly 6 percent below the required average district size of 306,072.”… Three facilities are located in [Seward's] district, which includes all or portions of seven counties. Two facilities are in Coxsackie, one is in Summit, in Schoharie County. Read the entire story in The Daily Mail.

Tracy Huling, a WGXC Founding Member in Greenville, and author of “Building a Prison Economy in Rural America,” writes in in the comments:

My understanding is that the language of the legislation eliminating prison-based gerrymandering leaves intact federal and state aid to prison towns and counties. See North Country Public Radio’s story:
http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/16081/inmates-to-be-excluded-from-north-country-districts
Also, Greene County (like 12 other counties in New York) already removes prisoners for the purpose of redistricting. See the Senate bill language at: http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/S6725

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Greene County legislature takes stand against farm workers bill

August 2, 2010 in Albany, Upstate New York by Tom Roe | No comments

The Daily Mail has a story without a byline (although contact info for reporter Susan Campriello is listed at the end of the article) about how the Greene County Legislature voted last week to oppose the Farm Worker Fair Labor Act. The bill before the New York Senate would mandate farmers allow laborers at least 24 consecutive hours off, a 10-hour work day, overtime pay at 1.5 times the normal rate and provisions of unemployment insurance. The article never says what the legislatures vote was, or who voted for or against the for-show resolution. The article does say, “Greene County’s state representatives Sen. James L. Seward, R,C,I-Oneonta, Assemblyman Tim Gordon, I-Bethlehem, and Assemblyman Pete Lopez, R,C,I-Schoharie, have all voted against earlier versions of the legislation.” The article quotes a spokesman for farmers, but does not quote a similar representative for farm workers. Read the entire story in The Daily Mail.

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Lopez in Grand Gorge Saturday

July 23, 2010 in Grand Gorge by Tom Roe | No comments

New York Assemblyman Pete Lopez, who represents Greene County in Albany, will speak at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 24 at the Delaware, Greene and Schoharie Counties’ Community Health Festival at Grand Gorge Civic Center, 60933 State Highway 30 in Grand Gorge.

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Koch: Saland, Barrett, Molinaro, Seward heroes of reform; Gordon, Lopez enemies

July 23, 2010 in Albany by Tom Roe | No comments

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.

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Lopez releases weekly appearances

June 12, 2010 in Catskill, Germantown, Hudson, Saugerties, Valatie by Tom Roe | No comments

New York State Assemblyman Pete Lopez is now releasing a weekly schedule of local public appearances and this week he is in our area for several appearances:

Saturday, June 12:
10 a.m.: Tri-Valley Rod and Gun Club Youth Field Day, 81 Rod and Gun Club Road, Valatie.
2 p.m.: Hudson Elks Lodge #787 Flag Day Parade

Sunday, June 13:
6 p.m.: Public meeting regarding new laws relating to the use of Outdoor Wood Burners at Frank D. Greco Senior Center, 207 Market Street in Saugerties.

Monday, June 14:
9 a.m.: Flag Day & Teacher of the Year Award Ceremony at Germantown Central School, 123 Main Street in Germantown.

Friday, June 18:
12:30 p.m.: Greene County Office of Aging Senior Cook-Off at Washington Irving Senior Center, 15 Academy Street in Catskill.

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Despite local opposition, legislature eases absentee ballot process

April 14, 2010 in Albany by Tom Roe | No comments

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.<

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Local state legislators report income

January 27, 2010 in Columbia County, Delaware County, Dutchess County, Greene County by Tom Roe | No comments

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.

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Local state senators vote against same-sex marriage

December 2, 2009 in Albany County, Columbia County, Delaware County, Dutchess County, Greene County by Tom Roe | No comments

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.

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Today's local headlines

August 23, 2009 in Catskill by Tom Roe | No comments

(NY State Assemblyman Peter Lopez interviewed by Cairo-Durham High students Michael Davis and Jordan Smith at the Catskill Community Center Sat. Aug. 22, 2009. Photo by Galen Joseph-Hunter.)

Politicians turn out in Catskill despite rain
Click here to listen to or download mp3 interview of NY State Assemblyman Peter Lopez by WGXC’s Jordan Smith and Michael Davis at the Catskill Community Center. WGXC interviewed members of the community yesterday in the Catskill Community Center.
Catskill and regional politicians and artists turned out Saturday despite the rain to celebrate the Quadricentennial (400 years of European folk on the Hudson River) Parade in Catskill. Organizer Fawn Potash wrangled all sorts of fabulous sorts such as singer Lex Grey as a mermaid on a float, a Rip Van Winkle impersonator, Kelly Benjamin on WGXC’s Radio Bike, Catskill Community Center‘s Drum and Bugle Corps, bagpipe player Ian Rawlinson, and the Freehold Civil Air Patrol Vanguard Squad, as well as local politicians such as Vincent Seeley (Town President), Peter Lopez (district Assemblyman), Greene County Legslators Keith Valentine (R, majority leader), Karen Deyo (R), and Forest Cotten (D), Catskill Town Supervisor Peter Markou, Town Councilmen Patrick Walsh and Michael Smith, and many others. Hilary Hawke has a good overview of the day’s events and more images on The Daily Mail’s web site.


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Today's local headlines

August 15, 2009 in Athens, Cairo, Durham by Tom Roe | No comments

(David Woodin and Jonathan Woodin performing at Cairo Open Mic 081409. Poet Nancy Henry reads her recent work, including one that topped the library’s poetry contest. Photos by Tom Roe.)

Cairo open mic night
Click here to listen or download mp3 of Jonathan and David Woodin_081409 performing at Cairo Open Mic.mp3
Click here to listen or download mp3 of Tony Fallon_poetry_081409 performing at Cairo Open Mic.mp3
Click here to listen or download mp3 of Nancy Henry_poetry_081409 performing at Cairo Open Mic.mp3
The Town of Cairo Public Library and WGXC, your new community radio station, co-sponsored the second Cairo Open Mic last night in the Cairo town park. Lots of performers, including the three audio clips above. We will post the band 7 Second Delay’s set tomorrow.

Seward/Lopez in Athens Saturday
From Seward’s office
New York State Senator James Seward and Assemblyman Peter Lopez will join the West Athens-Lime Street Fire Company for community inspection day as officials unveil two new fire trucks at 1 p.m. Sat. Aug. 15 at the West Athens-Lime Street Fire Company, 921 Schoharie Turnpike, Athens, NY.

Second attempt, but with 3rd party
From The Daily Mail

DURHAM – The Democrats knocked Republican Linda Overbaugh off the Catskill ballot and she is starting a new political party to stay on the ballot for a Greene County Legistlature seat; in Durham, the Republicans are keeping one of their own, Les Armstrong, off the ballot, and he is starting the Grassroots of Durham Party, to stay on the ballot, for the Legislature seat now held by Democrat Sean Frey. In 2006, Armstrong beat GOP challenger James Karkheck in the Republican primary, but Karkheck was on the general election ballot on the Conservative line, and Frey won by 11 votes.

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