ALBION – Tonia Ettinger is running for Orleans County judge against Sanford Church. The election is Nov. 7.  Ettinger has the endorsement of the Conservative and Democratic parties, and Church has the backing of the Republican Party.

Ettinger, 39, works as an attorney in Rochester for the Legal Aid Society. She is an Orleans County native who currently lives in Farmington, Ontario County, with her fiancé Paul Fuller and their 7-year-old son, Blake. (Fuller ran for county judge against James Punch in 2010. Punch was re-elected to a 10-year term, but retired on July 29, creating the vacancy that will be filled with the Nov. 7 election.)

Ettinger was born at the former Arnold Gregory Memorial Hospital in Albion. She lived in Holley before moving to Medina, where she graduated. She earned a law degree at the University at Buffalo School of Law.

For the past eight years she has worked at the Legal Aid Society in Rochester in the Juvenile Justice Division. In her job with Legal Aid, Ettinger works with low-income clients from birth to age 21.

Ettinger was interviewed by Orleans Hub editor Tom Rivers on Sunday at Tim Hortons in Albion.

Question: You’ve talked about growing up in poverty. How did that effect your decision to want to be an attorney?

Tonia Ettinger is pictured on Saturday at an Orleans County Democratic Party dinner and rally with State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Answer: With my upbringing, I struggled a lot with poverty. I’m one of four children. My mom and stepfather divorced when I was very young. It took a toll on me. I cared for my younger siblings while my mother went out and worked.

My mother is a wonderful woman and is the person who really created me. Those lessons I think have really helped me, not only in my professional career but in my personal life, to have value for the things that I earn. I had to fight for everything in my professional life. This is just another fight along the way.

I had to fight to get through school. I put myself through college. I worked at McDonalds in Medina when I was in high school. Later I worked at Movie World. That’s no longer in existence in Medina. I had a job at Tops simultaneously with one of those other jobs. So I worked throughout school, throughout college, throughout law school because I wasn’t going to have those resources any other way. My mom certainly would have given me the money if she had it. And so I had to fight.

Some things that maybe other people take for granted, just filling out FAFSA forms and student loan applications, those are the things I had to struggle with. There was nobody there to help me with those things. Nobody in my family had gone to college before, let alone graduate school. So I knew from going through all that as a child that I wanted to make a better life for myself, and I wanted to help other people make a better life for themselves, to know that even if you come from humble beginnings, you can do good things in your life.

Question: How do you think your background would affect you in the role as judge?

Answer: Your background certainly has an effect on your person, but when someone sits on the bench it’s very important for that person to be fair and impartial and not pass judgement on the person who appears before them based on where they come from or how much money they have, or their race and gender. I think that’s really key.

Question: How long have you been an attorney?

Answer: I have been admitted to practice law for almost 14 years. I was admitted in February 2004.

Question: When you started your career in Orleans County as attorney, what kind of work or cases were you doing?

Answer: I did some real estate, some minor criminal cases, I did probate, drafted some wills and drafted some separation agreements. It was a little bit of everything when I was in private practice. It was a small firm and I did a lot of their general litigation items. (Ettinger started with Robert Slocum, who has a law office in Brockport). I was primarily in Orleans but I did do some work in Monroe as well, and other outlying counties. Then in 2009 I moved on to the Legal Aid Society.

Question: Why did you come back to work in Orleans after getting your law degree?

Answer: This is what I knew. This is what I was familiar with. This is my home.

It’s a smaller county. There are attorneys who guided me and helped me along the way, which I’m very grateful for. But it’s certainly a much different feel than the court in Monroe County.

Question: I thought it was interesting that you were president of the Orleans County Bar Association as a young attorney.

Answer: I was the vice president from 2005 until 2008. And then from 2008 until 2010, I was the president of the Bar Association. I was the president of the Bar Association even after I stopped being in private practice and went to the Legal Aid Society.

Tonia Ettinger, second from left, attended a Ride 4 Life event last month that included motorcycle riders sharing a message about overcoming addictions and despair.

Question: How did it happen that you were president of the Bar Association?

Answer: It was a position that was voted on, and I wanted to be involved so I put myself forward.

Question: I remember going to mock trial events. You were involved in that?

Answer: I coordinated it for a number of years.

Question: At the Legal Aid Society and working in the bigger courts, has that broadened your horizons?

Answer: I’ve been able to get exposures to a lot more judges a lot more attorneys. It’s helpful to see how different judges rule on different issues and it is helpful to see how other attorneys practice because each attorney is unique. It vastly improved my trial experience because my caseload is pretty high and I’m constantly in court, I’m constantly litigating. So I think that it’s made me a better lawyer.

Question: Why pursue the county judge position?

Answer: I’ve been at the Legal Aid Society for almost nine years now. I represent children there. I’m able to help them in so many facets of their life. I’d like to think that I help them. I represent kids who have been abused and neglected, paternity cases, custody visitation, juvenile delinquencies, so pretty much everything.

I see in some cases the impact I’m having on the lives of these children, and I just want to take that to the next step. That’s why I am seeking this.

Question: Has it been fun on the campaign these past six weeks or so, reconnecting with people?

Answer: It’s not a really a matter of reconnecting because my family is here, my mom is one of 12 siblings. Many of my aunts and uncles live here. I am here often. I lived here more than half of my life.

Question: Anything else you want to say?

Answer: This has been an extremely humbling experience. I am extremely grateful for the amount of support I have received from my friends, my family, and also from complete strangers. It means a lot to me that the Conservative Party and the Democratic Party where able to come together and support me. Those are not two parties that often match.

Most of all I am thankful that the voters of my home county will have a choice this election season. I think that is so important in any race. This year it’s especially meaningful because it’s been 100 years since women had the right to vote in New York State.

Provided photos

CARLTON – There were more than 100 baskets up for raffle on Sunday at the Carlton United Methodist Church in a fundraiser for a community in Puerto Rico.

The benefit raised $4,200 for Moca, a town on the western side of Puerto Rico. The money is going to the Centro Cristiano Nueva Vision – the New Vision Christian Center in Moca. The church will then direct an outreach to the Moca community.

The Carlton church and a yoga class led by Pat Haines worked on the benefit. Betty Garcia Mathewson of Albion attends the yoga class and has family in Moca, which has suffered from the hurricane in September.

“There was a wonderful turnout,” Garcia Mathewson said. “People were very generous and loving. It is a testament to the human spirit.”

Even now, six weeks after the hurricane hit, 80 percent of the island doesn’t have electricity, one-quarter of Puerto Ricans still do not have access to potable drinking water and thousands remain homeless, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Sienna Garcia Mathewson, who has family in Puerto Rico, hugs Chris Sartwell during Sunday’s benefit at the church.

People are still welcome to send checks to the Carlton United Methodist Church, 1196 Archbald Road, Waterport, NY 14571.  If someone sends a check to the church, they should note “PR Fundraiser.” The church will then wire the funds to the New Vision Christian Center in Moca.

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Central School Junior Class will be sponsoring its 2nd Annual Volleyball Tournament at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9, in the Varsity Gymnasium. Lyndonville staff will play law enforcement in the game.

The lineup for the Lyndonville Tigers will be Aimee Chaffee, Michelle Randolph, Kerry Papaj, Julia Robinson, Jim O’Connor, James Zeliff, Kim Bow and Jeff Kingsbury.

The lineup for Law Enforcement will be Torry Tooley, Vernon Fonda, Jeff Robinson, Guy Burke, Jason Barnum, Corey Ambrose, Steve Fox, Shea Mathes, Brian Belson and Nate Staines.

Investigator Ken Strickland from the Sheriff’s Office will also be on site preparing child ID’s free of charge.

Admission will be $3 which includes a ticket for a chance to play “Serve to the Box” during half time. Ten lucky winners will receive free pizzas, subs and gift cards. Concessions will also be available for purchase. All profits will go to the Jr. Class for their prom.

Press Release, GCC

BATAVIA – Some of the new faces that are “moving and shaking” within the new and older facilities at Genesee Community College’s Batavia Campus include two new directors overseeing the Alfred C. O’Connell Library and the overall Buildings and Grounds Department, and also two instructors working closely with students in GCC’s Fashion Business and Paralegal programs.

Levi Olsen

A Genesee Community College alumnus, Levi T. Olsen, has rejoined the team as director of Buildings and Grounds. Olsen has over 15 years in facilities management at the University of Rochester where he earned his master of science degree. Olsen also holds a bachelor’s degree from the University at Buffalo.

“It was great to have the opportunity to do what I enjoy, right here, in Batavia, where I started my education,” said Olsen, who lives in Shelby with his wife, Amy, and their four children. When he has free time, Olsen and his wife enjoy working with their local church youth group.

Jessica Olin

Over the summer, GCC’s Alfred C. O’Connell Library welcomed a new Director of Library Services, Jessica R. Olin. Olin previously served as the director of the Robert H. Parker Library at Wesley College in Dover, Delaware and the information literacy librarian at Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio; and a research services librarian at Landmark College in Putney, Vermont.

Olin earned her master’s degree in Education through an online program run by at Touro University International in Cypress California in 2007, her Master’s of Library Information Science at Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts in 2003, and her bachelor’s degree from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland in 1994. Olin brings over 14 years of experience working in academic libraries in various areas around the United States.

“I am excited about building relationships with the College administration, faculty, students and staff,” Olin said. “I am thrilled to be a part of such a highly respected institution and library system.” Olin resides in Rochester, and enjoys knitting, hiking and cooking during her spare time.

Laura Taylor

GCC’s Fashion Business Merchandising program has a new instructor, Laura J. Taylor. Taylor has nine years of experience teaching fashion design and various merchandising courses for both Villa Maria College in Buffalo and the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California where she earned her Master’s Degree in Fashion Merchandising.

Taylor holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology from SUNY Oneonta and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Fashion Merchandising with a concentration in Fashion Sustainability from Iowa State University.

Taylor is a member of the Buffalo Niagara Sales and Marketing Executives organization. She owns and operates a small business performing contractual designs and sewing and serves as a member of the Erie 1 BOCES advisory board.

Karyn Bryson

“I was very excited to join the GCC team as fashion is such an important industry here,” she said. Taylor resides in Akron with her husband and two children.

Most recently, Director of Paralegal Studies, Karyn S. Bryson, J.D. has become a full-time faculty member with GCC’s Law and Criminal Justice program. Bryson completed the two-year accelerated Juris Doctor program at Southwestern University School of Law and has over 18 years of experience as a corporate attorney.

In addition, she earned her bachelor’s degree in English from SUNY Brockport. Bryson brings more than ten years teaching Reading and English Language Arts at the high school level and over 11 years teaching at the community college level, including online classes. Bryson was one of only 250 selected from 11,000 applicants as a 2003 Los Angeles Teaching Fellow. Bryson lives in Mt. Morris. During her free time enjoys being outdoors and spending time with her grandchildren.

“Each of these areas, our campus facility, the library, the fashion and paralegal academic programs are made stronger by the addition of these team members,” said Richard Ensman, Director of External Affairs.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Caden Crosby, a senior at Albion High School, helps the Albion Betterment Committee plant a bur oak tree at the Rite Aid front lawn this afternoon.

The Betterment Committee supplied two bur oaks and had them planted by Rite Aid. ABC Director Gary Kent, in back, has been nurturing the trees the past few years at his home.

Provided photo: The Betterment Committee also hired Greg Rosato and his son Brett last month to trim the beech tree on Main Street by the former Bank of America. Brett Rosato is shown high in the tree. He cut the dead section and some of the decayed limbs out of the tree. The Betterment Committee said the trimming improves the looks of the tree and should extend its life.

Provided photo

MEDINA – Joey Robinson presents a check for $1,200 on Monday to Catherine Cooper, vice president of the Medina Historical Society.

Robinson led four ghost tours last month at $10 a ticket. The proceeds were turned over to the Historical Society.

He gave a history of buildings on the tour, shared ghostly encounters from people’s experiences at the sites, and also presented evidence of paranormal activity at some of the locations.

Robinson, 23, is a Medina native who is currently a University at Buffalo law student.

He and some of his friends started the Medina Area Paranormal Society.

Photo by Tom Rivers: State Sen. Robert Ortt speaks in Medina in June.

Press Release, State Sen. Robert Ortt

SAN DIEGO, CA – State Senator Rob Ortt (R-North Tonawanda) will be recognized by the Arc of the United States this week at the organization’s annual convention in San Diego.

Ortt will receive the Catalyst Award for the “Public Policy Victory of the Year” for his work to support direct care professionals serving individuals with disabilities.

“It’s a true honor to be recognized for my role in what was a tremendous team effort by dedicated individuals, families, and workers in the disability community,” Ortt said. “We knew that direct care workers not only care for the needs of these vulnerable individuals, but also help them to lead complete lives. And while government can be slow or difficult, what happened here was that through effective communication, advocacy, and education; we were able to take a significant policy goal – funding our hard-working direct care professionals – and turn it into a reality.”

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Ortt prioritized direct care and worked with families, advocates, and legislators as part of the bFair2DirectCare campaign. Ortt fought to include the funding in the Senate Republican budget and urged the Governor to recognize the urgency of the issue. The final adopted budget provides a $146 million multi-year boost in wages to compensate direct care and other clinical professionals for the work they do in caring for others. Ortt noted that the increases will help state-funded non-profits that specialize in the care of vulnerable New Yorkers not only recruit and retain employees, but continue to provide the same level of care that allows them to lead fuller, more independent lives.

The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. They encompass all ages and more than 100 different diagnoses including autism, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, and various other developmental disabilities. With nearly 700 state and local chapters nationwide, the Arc works with its federation of state and local chapters to create an impressive network of human service agencies ensuring they have the strongest civil rights advocates promoting and protecting their needs at all levels.

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board backed a Barre woman’s proposal to operate a bakery/kitchen from her home on Eagle Harbor Road.

Kimberly Smith needs site plan approval and a special use permit from Barre to operate the home business in a Residential/Agricultural District. The County Planning Board recommended the Town of Barre approve the site plan and permit at 4261 Eagle Harbor Rd.

Smith in her application said Kim’s Kitchen-Bakery & More will have little impact on the neighborhood because her baked goods will be taken to farmers’ markets, and animal and craft shows. She will also deliver orders to businesses, homes, schools and other customers.

Smith plans to make custom cakes, breads and muffins, candy, melted chocolate, seasoning mixes, dry mixes, dog treats, cat treats and bird treats, and other items.

Another project approved by the Planning Board last week included:

• A dog kennel in Gaines at the home of Cary DeClerk at 3078 Gaines Basin Rd. The kennel isn’t a boarding business but a place for DeClerk to keep up to 10 dogs that are family pets. He will be trying to breed a couple litters of dogs each year.

There will be four public meetings this month for community members to learn more about options for future law enforcement services that have been developed through the Law Enforcement Shared Services Study Project in Orleans County.

Consultants will share information on the existing law enforcement services in the county and several potential options for future service including potential service and fiscal impacts.

Community members are invited to any of the following four meetings. All four meetings will include the same information and format. Meeting participants are encouraged to bring a cell phone to participate in audience response during the meetings. All meetings will be video recorded and can be accessed from the project website after the event.

• Wednesday, November 8, 5:30 p.m.

Hoag Library Curtis Community Room

134 S Main St, Albion, NY 14411

• Wednesday, November 8, 7:30 p.m.

Holley High School Auditorium

16848 Lynch Rd, Holley, NY 14470

• Wednesday, November 15, 5:30 p.m.

Medina High School Auditorium

2 Mustang Dr, Medina, NY 14103

• Tuesday, November 21, 7 p.m.

Lyndonville High School Auditorium

25 Housel Ave, Lyndonville, NY 14098

The County of Orleans and Villages of Albion, Holley, Lyndonville and Medina are undertaking a thorough evaluation to determine the best option for providing the highest levels of policing service to our community.

They are working with consultants from the Center for Governmental Research. While law enforcement is an essential government service that touches the lives of every resident and visitor in Orleans County, the increased costs associated with these services and the demands for greater operating efficiencies are forcing a closer look at how service is provided.

CGR and its partner Highland Planning, LLC were given the objective to provide a restructured model resulting in cost‐effective consolidated police services across Orleans County including the jurisdictions of all four village stakeholders.

The following is taken directly from the report.

Department Profiles

There are six police departments that operate in Orleans County. In addition, the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office operates a Major Felony Crimes Task Force. The following profiles provide an overview of the characteristics of each of the agencies. The agencies each reflect the community they serve and their current operations, as they have developed over time.

Albion Police

The Albion Police Department patrols the Village of Albion with 12 full time officers, including a chief, a lieutenant and three sergeants. APD operates with a two person minimum staffing that is guaranteed as part of their union contract. In 2016-17, the total cost of the department to operate is about $1.4 million.

Holley Police

The Holley Police Department patrols the Village of Holley with 2 full time and 9 part time officers. Since October 2015, the HPD has been led by the Albion Police Chief under an inter-municipal agreement. HPD generally has a single officer on duty. Its employees are not represented by a union. In 2016-17, the full estimated cost to operate the department is about $362,000.

Lyndonville Police

The Lyndonville Police Department is a part time force that relies on a single officer who works about 20 hours per week, mostly in the afternoon and early evening. The current model has been in place for about the last 5 years. The total cost of the department the total cost of the department is about $27,000 per year

Medina Police

The Medina Police Department patrols the Village of Medina with 11 full time officers including a chief, a lieutenant, a sergeant and 8 patrolmen. There is also a part time officer and a full time police clerk. MPD operates with a two person minimum staffing that is guaranteed by the collective bargaining agreement between the Village and the police union. For 2016-17, the total estimated cost of operating the department is $1.33 million.

Orleans County Sheriff’s Office

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is headed by an elected sheriff. The responsibilities of the office include law enforcement (road patrol), emergency communications, security for the county court, animal control, civil bureau and operating a jail. The road patrol division has 24 sworn deputies assigned to patrol, investigations and the court house. The total expense for the department is about $3.5 million although there is offsetting revenue of about $550,000.

Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force

The Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force is an independent department under the supervision of the Orleans County District Attorney. The MFCTF staff is full time and is comprised of a Supervising Investigator who oversees two (2) additional Investigators. The expense for the department is about $301,000 per year, although the task force often receives funds from forfeitures.

New York State Police

The New York State Police operates out of a barracks in Albion to serve Orleans County. The contingent assigned to the county is part of Troop A that covers eight counties in western New York (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming). A cadre of 10 troopers and a supervising sergeant is assigned specifically to Orleans County. There are also two NYSP investigators from the Bureau of Criminal Investigations that work out of the barracks. The goal for the NYSP in Orleans County is to have one trooper on duty between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and two troopers from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. There is no specific local cost for the NYSP services.

Key Findings

• The police agencies in Orleans County already cooperate on several key issues including using the closest car for serious events, a cooperative SWAT team, some shared training initiatives, and most visibly, a central dispatch center with common record keeping.

• The crime rate is low compared to similar-sized counties in New York and neighboring counties.

• The village police agencies provide a very quick response to calls (under 5 minutes 90 percent of the time) while agencies serving the broader geography in the county have a slower response time.

• There are relatively few calls for service for all agencies between midnight and 8 a.m. Peak call volume occurs between 4 p.m. and midnight depending on the community. Saturdays are the busiest day of the week for requests for service.

• The law enforcement workforce is relatively new to their positions with about half the officers being hired since 2012 and two of the agency leaders starting in 2016.

• Anecdotally, a significant portion of the turnover in village agencies is officers leaving for better paying positions in law enforcement. Very few deputies leave the OCSO for another law enforcement agency.

• The pay scale for law enforcement in the county is lower than for nearby counties with a greater demand for police services such as Erie and Monroe.

• There are substantial differences between the contracts of the three departments with collective bargaining units, especially in rates of pay and hours of work.

• There is strong community support for the local village police departments, even with the relatively high cost compared to areas outside the villages.

• Police protection is expensive, partly because it is needed at all hours, everyday of the week. The total cost in the county is about $6.8 million. However, police departments in peaceful places like Orleans County have few active calls for service in early morning hours. Further cooperation across the county can reduce total staffing, both at the officer and the command levels. The minimum staffing requirements and command needs require taxpayers to spend more than is necessary.

• There is an open mind among elected officials for the possibility for changes in the police service, although there is requirement that the level of service remain similar to what it is today.

• As currently operated, The Major Felony Crimes Task Force is able to provide an experienced investigative resource to the community at a relatively lower cost than using sworn officers operating inside another agency.

• The current political environment in the county contributes to mistrust between organizations and individuals. This may inhibit successful change to law enforcement operations.

Next Steps

As part of the project, CGR’s team will develop a series of potential options for law enforcement services for Orleans County. These options will be presented to the steering committee in a draft form and then refined based on input from the committee. The options, once vetted by the committee, will be presented to community at several different meetings to ascertain their opinions. A final report will be prepared for the steering committee that includes options for redesign of law enforcement in the county.

For more information including the Baseline Report, click here.

County expects additional increase with new hotel in Medina

Courtesy of Cobblestone Suites: The proposed 58-room hotel in Medina will look similar to this Cobblestone Suites hotel in Pennsylvania.

ALBION – Revenue in the motel tax at Orleans County has been growing in recent years, and the county expects more growth with a new hotel coming to Medina.

The county’s budgeted amount for the motel tax has grown from $27,500 in 2015, $33,000 in 2016, $39,000 in 2017 to $42,000 tentatively budgeted for 2018.

The county started a 4 percent tax on lodging in 2004. The revenue is used to support the tourism department. Those dollars are matched by the state in the I Love NY program.

Susan Heard, the county treasurer, said more businesses have started in the county that offer lodging. They might be guest houses or cottages.

The county has stepped up its efforts to make sure people making money with lodging are collecting and paying the tax.

The county held a public hearing on the motel tax on Oct. 25. No one spoke at the hearing. The Legislature is expected to approve continuing the mortgage tax another two years at its Nov. 29 meeting at 4:30 p.m.

The county has about 25 lodging providers, which include motels, bed and breakfasts, lodges and vacation rentals.

BriMark Builders has proposed a new 58-room hotel, Cobblestone Inn and Suites, on Maple Ridge Road, next to Pride Pak and almost across the street from Genesee Community College. BriMark is based in Neenah, Wisc.

County officials expect the hotel to open late in 2018.

HOLLEY – The Holley Elementary School Library held its 4th Annual “Book Character” Pumpkin Decorating Contest from Oct. 9-30. Winners were announced on Tuesday.

Aurora Arnold received 2nd Place in first and second grade entries for Fancy Nancy from the Fancy Nancy series.

Cameron Kelley received 3rd Place in the first and second grade entries with Monsters Love Underpants.

Layla Kingdollar took 1st Place in third and fourth grade entries with the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz.

Teanna Church received 1st Place in fifth and sixth grade entries with a pumpkin turned strawberry from The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear.

Addison Probst made Fancy the Peacock from Just Plain Fancy. It took 2nd Place for third and fourth grade entries.

A large pumpkin was transformed into a very convincing Troll.

Students and teachers at Holley Elementary held their annual Halloween Parade on Tuesday. The annual event is popular with parents and grandparents who come to watch the parade make its way through the hallways of the elementary school, principal Karri Schiavone said.

Members of the pre-K class march together in colorful costumes.

Governor says Congressman Collins is ‘Benedict Arnold’

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today issued a letter to President Donald J. Trump condemning the federal tax plan to eliminate or roll back state and local tax deductibility and calling on the President not to use New York as a piggybank for other states.

The text of the letter is below:

Dear President Trump,

I write to you on an issue that impacts every single American: pending federal tax legislation. I am not writing as a Democratic Governor to a Republican President, but rather as one New Yorker who cares about New York and the country to another. I often say to the New York State legislature, “we are Democrats and we are Republicans, but we are New Yorkers first.”

As you well know, the House is expected to release additional details of a “tax cut” plan this week that in reality amounts to a “tax increase” plan for states like New York. The current proposal primarily uses New York and California as the piggybank to make it possible to cut taxes for other states. By eliminating or rolling back state and local tax deductibility, Washington is sending a death blow to New York’s middle class families and our economy.

I understand the politics at play here. California and New York are “blue states.” I also understand that the political map dictates that most Republican members of Congress come from outside the Northeast and West Coast and their primary motivation is to help their states at any cost, even when it comes at the cost of middle class New Yorkers. But when the economies of New York and California suffer, and they will, the nation follows.

It’s clear this is a hostile political act aimed at the economic heart of New York with no basis on the merits. First, it is an illegal and unconstitutional double taxation that forces our middle class families to subsidize a tax cut for the rest of the nation, and it is contrary to every principle the Republican Party has always espoused. Second, it reverses all the bipartisan progress New York State has made in lowering taxes over these past few years. While we have lowered state income taxes, capped property taxes and are forcing local governments to consider shared services, this federal act would erase all those gains and in fact increase taxes. Eliminating state and local deductibility will result in a tax increase of $5,660 on average for one in three taxpayers in New York, or 3.3 million New Yorkers.

This backward tax plan has encountered much deserved resistance, including from Republicans in the Senate. Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch said “I don’t think that’s going to go anywhere,” adding that state and local tax deductibility is “a system that’s worked very well.” In the face of this pushback, Republican leadership is now trying to salvage their tax plan with a so-called “compromise.” Their scheme is to allow a property tax deduction, but do away with the deduction for state income taxes. For middle class New York families, the average tax increase attributable to losing that deduction would be $1,715.  And considering the original federal proposal would cost New York State taxpayers $18.6 billion, this “compromise” does little to help our state since it would still cost New York State taxpayers nearly $15 billion.

Another “compromise” that is being suggested, where only higher income individuals would lose the state and local deductibility, is a 3-card Monte game that could be played on 42nd Street in Manhattan. New Yorkers are not stupid. We know that if deductibility is eliminated on higher incomes it will have a ripple effect, forcing these New Yorkers to move out of the state, taking their tax revenue with them, thus increasing taxes on everyone else. New York will not be in a position to cut state taxes because both the original proposal, as well as the proposed compromise, will force the highest taxpayers from the state and deplete our revenue stream. As you know, five percent of New York State taxpayers account for nearly two thirds of our annual income tax revenue.

I understand why Paul Ryan would seek to hurt New York, but to ask New York Republican members of Congress to vote to raise taxes on their constituents is a betrayal against their state and their constituents. In fact, seven of nine Republicans from New York are against it. The two representatives who support it—Congressmen Collins and Reed—are the Benedict Arnolds of their time because they are putting their own political benefit above the best interests of their constituents.

Speaker Ryan’s only justification is that other states subsidize New York. He is just wrong. They don’t. The opposite is true. New York subsidizes every other state in the nation. We are the highest donor state which means we send $48 billion more in tax dollars to the federal government than we receive back in federal spending.

To be fair, this is not a new idea to pillage New York and California and send their wealth to other states. Congress tried it under President Reagan, but the gross injustice of it caused all but the most partisan and callous officials to drop support. Today’s proposals are no different. Our Congressional representatives should be saying it’s time New Yorkers get their money back. Instead, the current proposal would be taking even more revenue from the number one donor state. How unfair.

There is no middle ground here. Any of the proposed “compromises” will still destroy New York’s economy and harm the middle class. There can be no elimination, no “compromise,” and no cap on state and local tax deductibility.

New York needs your help.  You can stop this. And you should not just as an American, but as a New Yorker.

Sincerely,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

‘It’s just unbelievable that a school zone would have a speed limit of 50 miles per hour.’ – State Sen. Robert Ortt

Local officials discuss their desire to have the speed limit reduced by the school. Pictured from left include: Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata, County Legislature Chairman John DeFilipps, State Sen. Rob Ortt, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, County Legislator Ken DeRoller, and Nadine Hanlon, president of the Board of Education.

KENDALL – A community-wide push to lower the speed limit in front of Kendall Junior-Senior High School has included 858 letters of support, and official government resolutions at the town, school and county level.

But the decision ultimately lies with the state Department of Transportation because Route 18 by the school is a state road. The DOT has declined to lower the speed limit. The state agency recently notified town and school officials that flashing beacons would be the best way to improve safety of the road by the school.

Kendall Central School has purchased the flashing beacons and district superintendent Julie Christensen said the Town of Kendall Highway Department has offered to help install them.

The school and town believe the speed limit should be reduced from the 50 miles per hour in front of the school. State Sen. Robert Ortt in pushing legislation that would give the county shared authority with the DOT in setting speed limits in school zones. That legislation has 13 co-sponsors in the Assembly, including Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia. They held a news conference at the school today.

“This should be a common sense thing,” Ortt said. “It’s just unbelievable that a school zone would have a speed limit of 50 miles per hour.”

A school zone tends to have clusters of traffic in the morning and afternoon, and oftentimes there are new student drivers pulling in and out of the entrance. Kids also are walking by or across the busy spot with traffic going 50 miles per hour or more. The situation at Kendall “is inviting disaster to happen,” Ortt said.

Hawley said many rural districts are located on state roads. City and suburban districts are often on city streets, or town and village streets where local officials can set the speed limits.

Hawley thanked Ortt for backing the legislation. Hawley said he and other Assembly members have been trying to push the legislation for a decade. There wasn’t someone in the Senate to lead the cause until Ortt backed it. The state senator from North Tonawanda said Starpoint faces a similar problem with a high speed limit by its school.

“This would allow those of us who live here to take care of ourselves,” Hawley said about the speed limit proposal.

Here is how Route 18 looks just east of the school entrance. This is looking back west today at about 11:30 a.m. There is a dip in the road near the entrance of the school.

The assemblyman said Kendall faces added pressure on Route 18 because of the deteriorating condition of the Lake Ontario State Parkway, which pushes more traffic on 18. A new Dollar General will also soon be opening in Kendall on Route 18, bringing more cars and trucks by the school.

Kendall school officials say there are a few fender benders by the school most years. Sometimes there are fatalities. Nadine Hanlon, the Board of Education president, recalled Kendall losing a student in a fatal accident at the intersection in the 1980s. That accident “devastated the community,” she said.

“Even the students know it is too fast here,” Hanlon said. She said many of the petitions were signed by students.

The road also has a dip by the entrance leading to the school, adding to Hanlon’s worry about the safety.

John DeFilipps, chairman of the Orleans County Legislature, supports the proposal from Ortt and Hawley, saying there should be more “home rule” for local communities.

Nadine Hanlon, president of the Kendall Board of Education, was a student in the 1980s when a student was killed in front of the school in a car accident. She said she worries about student safety with the speed limit at 50 miles per hour.

Ken DeRoller, a county legislator from Kendall, was on the Planning Board for the town about two decades ago when the community was successful getting the DOT to reduce the speed limit by the school from 55 to 50 miles per hour.

Tony Cammarata, the Kendall town supervisor, said he “totally supports” the legislation giving locals shared authority with the DOT in setting speed limits in school zones.

“I can’t understand why any elected official would not support this legislation,” Cammarata said.

Ortt and Hawley have sponsored various pieces of state legislation to lower speed limits within their district, but expressed frustration with the unnecessary length and difficulty of the current process.

Ortt and Hawley said they are hopeful the legislation could pass next spring and take effect in time for next school year.

“It’s a state-wide issue that has repercussions throughout New York,” Hawley said.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – Congratulations to the 22 students from the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center who were recently inducted into the National Technical Honor Society.

Congratulations go to Malik Abdukghani (Lockport/Building Trades), Caleb Bellan (Medina/Welding), Desereé Brewer (Lockport/Security and Law Enforcement), Josephine Capen (Royalton Hartland/Allied Health), Skyler Christopher (Royalton Hartland/Early Childhood Ed), Carly Eldridge (Royalton Hartland/Allied Health), Catherine Fleischhut (Roylaton Hartland/Early Childhood Ed), Heaven Flood (Lyndonville/Cosmetology), Jamasen Johnson (Royalton Hartland/Electricity & Electronics), Tristen Johnson (Newfane/Electricity & Electronics), Jordan Klosin (Barker/Building Trades), Madeline Kraus (Medina/Allied Health), Samantha Lawson (Barker/Cosmetology), Richard Miles (Royalton Hartland/Early Childhood Ed), John Reed (Lockport/Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering), Destiny Satkowski (Medina/Allied Health), Steven Schumacher (Royalton Hartland/Welding), Alisha Scroger (Medina/Culinary Arts), Kennedy Smelski (Lyndonville/Allued Health), Elijah Sones (Medina/Building Trades), Matthew Steves (Royalton Hartland/Building Trades) and Alexis Stratton (Barker/Cosmetology).

The students were honored at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES’ technical education center in front of their teachers, families and school district representatives.

The students had to maintain an 89.5 average in their career and technical education programs and an 84.5 average at their high schools, have superior attendance, exemplary behavior, be a member in good standing with SkillsUSA and have a recommendation from a faculty member.

Provided photo

ALBION – George Perrin, the owner of the Haunted Trail on Ridge Road in the Town of Murray, came to the Public Safety Building today and presented the Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association with a donation of $400. Perrin is shown handing a check to Jeff Gifaldi, president of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association.

Perrin said the Haunted Trail is in its 11th year. He likes to make local donations every year. This year the Haunted Trail donated to the Eastern Orleans Food Bank in Holley, the Deputy Sheriff’s Association and the Wilmot Cancer Center.

The donation to the Deputy Sheriff’s Association will assist with scholarships that the OCDSA provides each year at every school district in the county, Gifaldi said.