WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) was joined by Representatives Stefanik (NY-21), Malliotakis (NY-11), Garbarino (NY-02), Tenney (NY-22), Zeldin (NY-01), Reed (NY-23), and Katko (NY-24) in calling for SUNY Brockport to rescind its invitation to Jalil Muntaqim (a.k.a. Anthony Bottom) to deliver a speech entitled, “History of Black Resistance, U.S. Political Prisoners & Genocide: A Conversation with Jalil Muntaqim.”
“As members of Congress representing thousands of brave police officers throughout New York State – we find it unsettling that a taxpayer-funded college would believe it is acceptable to give a platform to an individual who was convicted of murdering two law enforcement officers, Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones, in cold blood, especially at a time when violent murders and ambushes of police have skyrocketed in this nation,” the Representatives wrote.
Jalil Muntaqim was convicted of the 1971 murders of NYPD Officers Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones. Muntaqim, along with others, ambushed the patrolmen after they were lured into public housing using a phony 911 call.
“We urge SUNY Brockport to withdraw its invitation to Jalil Muntaqim immediately and to apologize to the families of Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones as well as every law enforcement officer in our state,” the Representatives said.
Full text of the letter sent to Brockport President Heidi Macpherson by the delegation can be found here:
Dear Dr. Macpherson,
We are writing today to express our deep concerns with SUNY Brockport’s recent decision to invite Jalil Muntaqim (Anthony Bottom) to speak on campus. As members of Congress representing thousands of brave police officers throughout New York State – we find it unsettling that a taxpayer funded school would believe it is acceptable to give a platform to an individual who was convicted of murdering two law enforcement officers, Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones, in cold blood, especially at a time when violent murders and ambushes of police have skyrocketed in this nation.
SUNY Brockport’s decision to label this individual a “political prisoner” is not only patently false but an insult to the thousands of actual political prisoners throughout our world who are being unjustly persecuted for their legitimate beliefs – not heinous crimes against law enforcement.
We value our Constitution above all else and the right of every American to free speech. However, this is not a question of censorship, but of the college’s responsibility to accurately represent the background and context of speakers it hosts. Someone who has been convicted of the murder of two police officers should not be given the opportunity to address young adults at a public college under the false pretext that he is a political prisoner.
We urge SUNY Brockport to withdraw its invitation to Jalil Muntaqim immediately and to apologize to the families of Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones as well as every law enforcement officer in our state for failing to properly contextualize his violent criminal past.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley is adding his voice to opposition with Brockport State College’s planned speaking appearance on April 6 for Anthony Bottom, who was convicted in 1971 of killing two NYPD officers. Bottom, also known as Jalil Muntaqim, spent nearly 50 years in prison for the crime. He was released on parole in 2020.
Hawley issued this statement this afternoon:
“While colleges and universities are indeed places where uncomfortable conversations about controversial subjects should take place, I am deeply disappointed that members of the SUNY Brockport Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion have decided to invite Anthony Bottom, a convicted cop-killer, onto campus while framing his experiences as those of a ‘political prisoner,’ all while using taxpayer grant funding to do so.
“It is nothing less than a slap in the face for the family of the two officers he murdered, as well as those serving currently in law enforcement who face very real threats from individuals like him daily in their work.
“In speaking with administrators of SUNY Brockport, I have been reassured this decision was one that was spearheaded by a subcommittee consisting of several faculty members in conjunction with the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
“Unless Mr. Bottom plans on speaking about how remorseful he is for his actions, he has no place on a SUNY campus, especially not as a paid speaker. I very much so hope a closer review of grant applications will be forthcoming.”
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) released the following statement after Ukrainian President Zelenskyy delivered a speech to a joint session of Congress.
“The continued Russian assault on the sovereign nation of Ukraine is reprehensible,” Jacobs said. “I commend President Zelenskyy for his strength and poise in the face of this assault on his country. Last week Congress approved additional aid – we must expedite its delivery and not delay any new economic action.
“We must continue to provide humanitarian assistance and military equipment, including MiGs and other air defense systems, to restore peace, end the Russian invasion, and hold Vladimir Putin accountable for the war crimes being committed in Ukraine.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 March 2022 at 1:32 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Albion Rotary Club members were busy this morning making cole slaw, and prepping ham and potatoes for the return of the St. Pat’s Ham Dinner. The top photo shows Bruce Landis, left, and Doug Farley making the cole slaw.
The dinner was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions. The ham dinners will be served on Thursday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, but will be drive-through and take-out only.
The cost is $12 per dinner and are available while supplies last. Advance tickets also can be purchased through Albion Rotary Venmo @Albion-Rotary.
Brad Shelp puts the cloves in the hams in preparation for Thursday’s dinner. The hams were also dressed with dry mustard, brown sugar and crushed pineapple.
Most of the proceeds from the event support a project for the Interact Club at the high school. Those students are raising funds to assist a girls school in Pakistan. The Interactors are providing the desserts for Thursday’s dinner.
Don Bishop washes the potatoes before they will be cooked on Thursday.
The Albion Rotary Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
BATAVIA – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that La Fermière, a family-owned French yogurt and desserts company, will establish its U.S. production operations in New York State.
The company has committed to constructing a 45,000 square-foot yogurt and dairy desserts production facility at Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park in Batavia, with plans for future, additional expansion. As a result, La Fermière, expects to create up to 135 New Jobs in the region.
Additionally, the company will utilize millions of pounds of milk provided by New York dairy farmers to create its globally renowned dairy products. Agribusiness is a core pillar of the locally designed Finger Lakes Forward plan, a comprehensive plan that is working to revitalize and grow the regional economy.
“We’re proud to welcome La Fermière to Genesee County, bringing jobs and opportunity to the Finger Lakes region,” Governor Hochul said. “This investment shows that our bold economic recovery plan for the Finger Lakes is working, attracting new businesses and helping communities across the region grow and thrive.”
Founded in Marseille, France in 1952, the company was purchased by Groupe Tarpinian in 2002. In the mid to late 2010’s, La Fermière began working with a New York state based co-packer in an effort to bring its sustainably packaged French yogurt to the U.S. market. The company had considered site locations throughout the country for its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility but selected New York, thanks to the focused support from both the State and its regional economic development partners.
“We are very excited to launch this project of building our very first yogurt and dessert production facility in Batavia, New York,” said La Fermière President and CEO Jean-Jacques Tarpinian. “The great support of the state and GCEDC team really helped us in our decision. The Batavia site meets our main requirements for success: quality milk and large cream supply, logistics hub and work force availability. Being close to local farmers, at the heart of milk production, was key for us, as we will use up to 6 million gallons of milk every year. Our five-year presence in the U.S. market expanded beyond our expectations. This state-of-the art facility will help us achieve our very ambitious goal in the U.S. market, which offers large opportunities by manufacturing the best all natural yogurts and desserts, with innovative recipes and process.”
Steven G. Hyde, President and Chief Executive Officer for Genesee County Economic Development Center said, “La Fermière’s decision to locate their U.S. operations in Genesee County demonstrates that investing in shovel-ready sites like the Genesee Valley Agribusiness Park draws great companies to New York. We are excited to work with La Fermière to see this project to success as we continue to grow our food and beverage-manufacturing workforce. Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership, businesses are finding the right sites and ready communities in New York for their growth.”
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “We are proud to welcome La Fermière to New York State as they expand their business in Genesee County, a major win for dairy in New York State. By choosing New York, La Fermière has highlighted the strength and diversity of our state’s dairy industry, which continues to attract new businesses and produce delicious, world-class dairy products for all to enjoy. Having La Fermière’s U.S. production facility located in New York will create new jobs and increase demand for New York dairy farmers’ milk, which is certainly a win-win for our dairy farmers and our communities. We look forward to partnering with La Fermière as they put down roots here and look forward to the continued success and expansion of the Genesee Valley Agribusiness Park.”
Assemblyman Steve Hawley said, “The arrival of La Fermière into the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park in Batavia is another sign that our region is truly a burgeoning agri-business hotspot within New York State. The Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park’s ability to enable manufacturers to make use of our high quality, local dairy has helped springboard our rural economy into the next generation, getting more of our farmer’s product into grocery stores nationwide and providing jobs to our highly skilled workforce. It’s been an incredible asset to the development of our rural economy, and its success is a testament to the quality of what our farmers are able to offer to companies seeking to produce specialty products at a massive scale.”
Genesee County Legislature Chair Shelley Stein said, “Thank you to Governor Hochul for guiding La Fermière to Genesee County and building another opportunity for great careers for our youth. La Fermière, and recent investments by O-AT-KA Milk Products, Dairy Farmers of America, HP Hood, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, and Yancey’s Fancy show that Genesee County is the ideal place for dairy processing growth. These investments have a tremendous positive impact for our farm families, highly skilled and dedicated farm workers, robust agricultural economy and welcoming communities.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 March 2022 at 9:02 am
Workforce Development Board wants to highlight careers in health field
BATAVIA – The GLOW Workforce Development Board is looking to fill gaps in the healthcare field by highlighting jobs to local high schoolers.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Jay Lazarony is director of the GLOW Workforce Development Board.
GLOW already does a “GLOW With Your Hands” event for building trades. About 700 to 800 people from the four counties have attended those events at the Genesee County Fairgrounds.
Now the GLOW Workforce Development Board wants to have an event showing job prospects in healthcare businesses and organizations to high school students.
The Workforce Development Board will have a kickoff meeting on April 5 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Robert Morris Campus’s Multipurpose Room, 80 Union St. in Batavia.
GLOW wants to hear how to inspire youth from the four rural counties – Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming – to pursue careers in healthcare.
The Workforce Development Board is open to other GLOW With Your Hands events to highlight other career clusters, said Jay Lazarony, director of the Workforce Development Board.
“We need the support of the business community or else it won’t work,” Lazarony said about the healthcare event.
With the building trades focus, businesses did demonstrations about the careers, from brick-laying, welding, electrical wiring, heavy equipment operations and other skills in construction.
Now, GLOW wants to expand that career exploration to healthcare where businesses are in need of workers.
“We have to engage them if we’re going to solve the skilled workforce gap – and we have to solve it,” Lazarony said last week during a discussion with Leadership Orleans.
Lazarony said the Workforce Development Board welcomes participation from Orleans County businesses in the GLOW With Your Hands events, for both healthcare and the building trades.
Healthcare businesses or officials interested in attending the kickoff meeting on April 5 are encouraged to RSVP with Lazarony by calling (585) 344-2042, ext. 4212.
Joe Lang, line supervisor for National Grid, shows Pavilion students how to set a switch with a pole during the first GLOW With Your Hands event on Sept. 24, 2019. National Grid representatives said the company offers many career opportunities as a line man, or jobs in administrative, metering and the service department.
WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is announcing the Senate’s unanimous passage of the Sunshine Protection Act.
This bill would make daylight saving time permanent and is now headed for a vote in the House of Representatives. While Congress is following several states’ lead – over the past four years, 18 states have enacted legislation or passed resolutions to provide for permanent daylight saving time – it must act before the states can adopt the change.
“Americans changed their clocks at 2 a.m. this Sunday, and hopefully the sun is setting on this dated practice. There should be no daylight between the House and Senate on this issue,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Times have changed, and this commonsense legislation will end a disorienting and tired tradition. Making daylight saving time permanent could help reduce energy costs and seasonal depression, and I encourage the House to pass this bill before the clock runs out.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 March 2022 at 10:36 pm
MEDINA – Village residents re-elected Mayor Mike Sidari and Trustees Marguerite Sherman and Tim Elliott. They were unopposed, just like they were in 2020.
Sidari received 36 votes, Sherman 39 and Elliott 30 in the election today. They were elected to two-year terms that start April 1.
They ran together under the independent “The Village Party” line.
Sidari has been mayor for nearly six years. He said recently that Medina has a great team on the Village Board, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and with the community organizations.
Those groups have been able to push Medina forward with its downtown business district, industrial park and other community initiatives. He cited citizens who led efforts for a new dog park, skate park, bluebird trail, an upgraded Pine Street Park with a splash pad, and much improved Boxwood Cemetery.
The community projects improve the quality of life for local residents, Sidari said, and also play a factor in whether a business chooses to come to Medina. The business owners want to see a community with pride, and strong schools, a vibrant downtown and thriving neighborhoods, Sidari said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 March 2022 at 10:04 pm
ALBION – Angel Javier Jr. won a three-person race for village mayor, receiving 378 votes to 195 for Vickie Elsenheimer and 137 for Kevin Graham.
Angel Javier Jr.
Javier, 32, ran with under the Republican line and independent “Better Together Albion Strong.” His four-year term starts when he is sworn into office on April 4.
He campaigned with Tim McMurray, who led four candidates for trustee with 440 votes. Joyce Riley, a Democrat, also was elected with 326 votes. Other trustee candidates included Dan Conrad with 301 votes and Sandra Walter with 206.
The newly elected board members will succeed Mayor Eileen Banker and Trustees Stan Farone and Gary Katsanis.
Javier said during the campaign he wouldn’t take the mayor’s salary, which is almost $10,000 a year. He owns the former Family Hardware building in downtown Albion and works at Rochester Gas & Electric as a pipefitter apprentice.
He said he has been connecting with businesses and residents during the campaign.
The new officials take office and face the pressing task of putting together a village budget by April 30. The current budget is about $7 million. The Village Board at its April 4 meeting also will approve appointments to village committees and some staff positions.
“I am fully aware that we have major fiscal constraints facing us as a Village, but I firmly believe that with an innovative and positive ‘can do’ approach, we can significantly improve the quality of life here in many ways – particularly for our youth,” Javier wrote in a letter in the Lake Country Pennysaver on March 13.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 March 2022 at 8:33 pm
HOLLEY – The lift bridge on East Avenue in Holley will be closed beginning 8 a.m. on Thursday and is expected to reopen by April 10, the state Department of Transportation said.
The bridge was originally constructed in 1911. Motorists should utilize the bridge carrying State Route 237 over the Erie Canal or other nearby canal bridges during the closure, the DOT said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 March 2022 at 7:21 pm
The state Department of Labor reports a better employment picture for Orleans County this past January compared to a year earlier.
The unemployment rate dropped from 6.8 percent in January 2021 to 4.3 percent in January 2022. In Orleans, there were 400 more people working – 16,000 to 16,400 – while those on unemployment dropped from 1,200 to 700.
The 4.3 percent unemployment rate is the lowest for January in Orleans County for state DOL records going back to 1990. It was up from the months ending 2021 with 3.2 percent in December, 3.4 percent in November, 3.7 percent in October and 3.9 percent in September.
The unemployment rates for January in Western New York counties includes: Orleans, 4.3%; Genesee, 3.8%; Wyoming, 4.5%; Livingston, 3.8%; Monroe, 4.0%; Erie, 4.4%; Niagara, 4.9%; Chautauqua, 4.7%; Cattaraugus, 4.7%; and Allegany, 4.6%.
In United States, the national rate is at 4.4 percent, compared to 6.8 percent a year before in January 2021. In New York State, the rate dropped from 9.3 percent to 5.3 percent.
The US increased employment by 7.235 million, from 148.38 million to 155.62 million and unemployment dropped by 3.64 million.
In New York, employment increased by 426,500, from 8.475 million to 8.902 million with unemployment decreasing by 365,900 from January 2021 to January 2022.
The State Assembly on Monday approved a $226 billion budget plan, which topped Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget by $10 billion. Hochul’s $216 billion budget was a 5 percent increase from the current 2021-22 budget.
Local State Assembly members, Steve Hawley of Batavia and Mike Norris of Lockport, both voted against the Assembly budget.
Steve Hawley issued this statement:
“The Assembly Majority’s one-house budget is a historically-poor representation of where state funds should be allocated, and this year’s is no different. Not only does it deny health care heroes a bonus for their incredible work over the last two years and ignore the need for teacher support in our state, but it directs funds towards illegal immigrants for public defenders in deportation cases and so prison inmates get longer phone call times.
“It’s a bloated budget proposal spurred by a downstate mindset and totals at a whopping $226 billion, which is even larger than the governor’s own proposal, and it would leave behind a burden of debt repayment for our children’s entire young adult lives. The Majority is clearly out of touch with the needs of the greater New York state, and it’s why I voted against this proposal.”
Mike Norris issued this statement:
“The downstate driven Assembly Majority’s proposed budget comes in at a whopping $226 billion, which is $10 billion more than the governor’s increased proposed budget.
“With soaring gas and food prices, the war in Ukraine, ongoing economic pressures felt from the pandemic, and the continued exodus of population, New Yorkers simply cannot afford such excessive and outrageous spending – especially when the plan prioritizes spending hard-earned tax dollars on items like $345 million for illegal immigrants, debt funding for cannabis dealers, and nearly $10 million in free phone calls for inmates. It is long past due that New York stops this amount of annual spending and debt. We just can’t sustain it and I am once again voting no.”
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Ways and Means Committee Chair Helene E. Weinstein issued this news release about the $226.4 billion budget proposal:
The Assembly’s spending plan aims to support New York’s families as we move out of a two-year pandemic with unprecedented investments in childcare, universal prekindergarten, rent relief and home ownership, and sustainable living wages for our essential state health care workers.
The proposed spending is $7.9 billion or 3.6 percent higher than the Executive Budget proposal.
“For two years New Yorkers have been struggling to overcome the crippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have had to find new ways to educate our children, keep our small businesses afloat, return to work, ensure access to housing and prioritize our mental health,” said Speaker Heastie. “This budget proposal makes critical investments across the board to help us return to normal and to ensure our families are healthy and our communities remain strong.”
“The Covid-19 pandemic that began shutting down our state and our country almost exactly two years ago, impacted every aspect of New Yorkers’ lives,” Assemblymember Weinstein said. “The Assembly Majority it committed to investing in our communities, in New Yorkers and in programs and services that will help them to succeed and to build back stronger than ever. This budget makes those investments – including critical funding for our schools, to help small businesses keep their doors open, to help New Yorkers stay in their homes and to ensure that New Yorkers get the health and mental health services they need.”
Childcare
This budget includes more than $3 billion for childcare, a critical service to families and essential to a strong economy.
The Assembly’s proposed spending plan includes more than $3 billion in childcare investments, including $2 billion to maintain current subsidies and expand the eligibility from 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) to 400 percent of the FPL, over a three year period. To increase the childcare market rate from the 69th percentile to the 90th percentile, the proposal includes an investment of $370 million. The plan also includes $500 million for additional childcare stabilization grants to assist with provider costs such as wages, rent, and other operational needs, and $200 million in capital support to expand childcare access and availability, with a priority on investments in childcare deserts.
The Assembly Budget also adds $5 million in funding for Advantage Afterschool to restore funding to the SFY 2021-22 level of $33 million.
Education
The proposal provides $30.9 billion in funding to General Support for Public Schools (GSPS), an increase of $2.1 billion or seven percent, over the 2021-22 school year (SY), maintaining the Assembly Majority’s commitment to ensuring every child has access to a high quality education. The Assembly’s proposed spending plan would increase Foundation Aid by $1.5 billion and would fully phase in Foundation Aid by the 2023-24 SY.
The budget also includes $150 million for Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK), of which $125 million would be used to support new statewide universal full-day pre-kindergarten programs paying $10,000 per four-year old.
Fair Pay
This spending plan would give state workers in New York’s health and mental hygiene sectors permanent raises to help retain and grow our workforce, and give them the wages they deserve for their hard work.
Under the proposal, direct care service providers from the Office of People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), Office of Mental Health (OMH), Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), Office for the Aging (SOFA), Office of Temporary and Disability Services (OTDA), and Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) would receive an 11 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA).
Housing
This budget proposal helps fight homelessness and keep New Yorkers that have struggled financially during the pandemic their homes.
The Assembly makes critical investments in rent and homeownership relief including:
$1.25 billion for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP);
$500 million for a utility arrears program, to be administered by the Public Service Commission; and
$400 million for the Landlord Rental Assistance Program (LRAP).
An additional $250 million would establish the Housing Access Voucher Program (HVAP) to help individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to secure permanent housing and transition out of shelters or unsustainable housing situations. The budget also includes $500 million for New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) capital repairs.
The plan adds $1.7 billion to the five-year affordable housing capital plan, for a total of $6.2 billion. Within that funding, the Assembly’s spending plan includes $1.35 billion to fund a new Assembly homeownership program.
Higher Education
This spending plan makes investments to ensure higher education is accessible for all New York students by funding the State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York’s (CUNY) world class educational programs and providing $215 million for opportunity programs.
The SFY 2022-23 Assembly Budget includes $48.8 million to SUNY and $59.6 million to CUNY to fully reimburse each system and eliminate the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) gap.
It also provides $1.63 billion in expansion capital for both SUNY and CUNY for a five-year capital plan, an increase of $1.2 billion over the executive proposal, and makes an additional investment of $200 million in state operating support funds each for SUNY and CUNY.
The Assembly provides $204 million to increase the maximum TAP award by $1,405, bringing it from $5,665 to $7,070 over the next two years so that the maximum TAP award matches SUNY’s tuition. Additionally, the Assembly will raise the minimum TAP award from $500 to $1,000.
Economic Development
The Assembly invests in programs that support our small businesses, encourage innovation and help rebuild New York’s economy.
The plan includes a second round of $25 million for the Restaurant Resiliency Grant program to help New York’s restaurants continue to recover and rebuild, as well as $231.4 million for the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to help theaters and museums which were hit especially hard by the pandemic to recover.
The Assembly also provides $300 million in state funding to ensure access to high-speed internet across the state for a total of $1.4 billion when combined with $1.1 billion in federal funding.
Mental Health and Addiction Services
For many people, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused uncertainty, financial strain and social isolation. This budget includes critical investments to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder services, including $50 million in capital funds for municipal and nonprofit organizations to increase capacity and expand mental health and substance use disorder services. The proposal also provides $65 million to support current community-based residential programs to assist in preserving access to housing for individuals in recovery, and $5 million for Crisis Intervention Teams.
There is a $53 million increase for children’s mental health programs operated by OMH, including $7.5 million in funding for residential treatment facilities (RTFs) for children, and $10 million to expand children’s community-based mental health services and integrate mental health services into pediatric primary care under the HealthSteps program. Other investments for children include $100 million over two years for the Recover from Covid Schools Program (RECOVS), and an additional $40 million for more mental health grants for schools.
Other mental health investments include $29.8 million each for both SUNY and CUNY mental health services.
Disruptions to daily life combined with increased stress and reduced access to in-person services caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a sharp spike in substance use disorders. The Assembly’s proposed budget appropriates $265.9 million from the Opioid Settlement Fund to expand access to critical addiction services.
Health
The Assembly budget would make critical health investments that protect vulnerable individuals, including undocumented immigrants, pregnant and postpartum women, children and the elderly and disabled New Yorkers.
It includes a new $345 million appropriation to include coverage for undocumented immigrants under the Essential Plan.
It also provides an additional $1 billion for safety net ($750 million) and major public ($250 million) hospitals.
The proposal prioritizes the health and wellness of pregnant women and new mothers by investing $1.5 million to restore funding for the Nurse-Family Partnership program. It would expand prenatal and postpartum care and services under the Medicaid program and expand postpartum Medicaid coverage to one year following a pregnancy, regardless of immigration status.
Criminal Justice Reforms
The budget proposal includes critical funding for pretrial services that offer mental health treatment and other alternatives to incarceration, as well as funding for programs across the state to fight gun violence.
It includes $15 million in funding to help justice system involved New Yorkers access pretrial services, including job placement programs, drug treatment and counseling services. The budget also provides $50 million for municipal and nonprofit organizations to increase capacity and an expansion of ATI, mental health and substance use disorder treatment programs. Also included is an additional $19 million in critical investments to fight gun violence. An additional $212.5 million in funding is dedicated to the Office of Indigent Legal Services, to provide increased representation to individuals who are entitled to counsel in court matters and are financially unable to obtain representation.
Environmental Protection
The Assembly Budget makes a significant investment in our environment. The plan increases funding for the Environmental Bond Act of 2022 by $2 billion to be allocated for climate change related purposes, including:
$500 million for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at state-owned buildings;
$450 million for climate adaptation and mitigation projects, including for land acquisition and wetland protection;
$300 million to combat air pollution in environmental justice communities;
$250 million to combat water pollution in environmental justice communities;
$200 million to combat the urban heat island effect;
$150 million for open space conservation;
$100 million for farmland protection easements; and
$50 million for urban forest and habitat restoration projects.
The Assembly’s proposal also allocates $400 million for the state Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), an increase of $100 million over last year’s funding.
In addition to other funding supporting clean water initiatives in the proposed budget, the Assembly allocates $500 million for clean water infrastructure.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 March 2022 at 1:58 pm
ALBION – The courthouse dome on East State Street will be lighted up in blue and yellow beginning this evening in a show of support for the Ukrainian people who have been under attack since Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24.
“Around the world everyone is finding ways to show their solidarity with Ukrainians during this time of crisis. Orleans County stands with them,” said Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson.
The courthouse dome will remain lit for the foreseeable future in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine.
MEDINA – The Building Trades program and Electricity and Electronics program at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center have been working together on building a modular home Habitat for Humanity.
Bill Leggett and his Electricity students recently got the good word from Tim Enderby from Empire Inspections, that the house passed their “rough in” electrical inspection.
“This will allow Mr. Anastasi and his Building Trades students to go forward with our next steps which will include insulation, drywall hanging, taping and mudding, then painting,” said Mr. Leggett. “After those are complete, the ‘finish’ electrical happens which is the connecting of the switches and receptacles and lighting outlets.”
Mr. Enderby will them return to the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center to make his final electrical inspection so the house may be moved to its final location. Both programs are enjoying the process of building the house and giving a deserving family a home.
