Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that starting today, new reforms go into effect prohibiting businesses from charging a “Pink Tax,” otherwise known as the practice of charging different prices for “substantially similar” consumer goods or services that are marketed to different genders.
In April the Governor signed the FY 2021 New York State Budget which included the Governor’s proposal to ban the “Pink Tax.” The new measure requires certain service providers to provide price lists for standard services upon request and notifies them that gender-based price discrimination is prohibited under state law. Businesses that violate the law will be subject to civil penalties.
“New York is leading the nation in advancing women’s rights and this milestone marks the latest step in New York’s journey to break down barriers and put women on an equal playing field,” Cuomo said. “By abolishing the pink tax, women and girls will no longer be subject to harmful and unfair price discrimination and any businesses who fail to put an end to this despicable practice will be held accountable.”
The new law mandates that any individual or entity, including retailers, suppliers, manufacturers or distributors, are prohibited from charging a price for two “substantially similar” goods or services, if the goods or services are priced differently based on the gender for whom the goods or services are marketed.
“Substantially similar goods” is defined as two goods that exhibit little difference in the materials used in production, intended use, functional design and features, and brand. “Goods” include any consumer product used, bought, or rendered primarily for personal, family or household purposes. For example, the same children’s swimming pool product brand and dimensions offered in pink at $89.99 and blue at $69.99 would constitute a violation of law.
“Substantially similar services” is defined as two services that exhibit little difference in the amount of time delivering, difficulty, and cost in providing the service. “Services” include any consumer services used, bought or rendered primarily for personal, family or household purposes. For example, dry cleaning a woman’s suit jacket for $12 and a man’s suit jacket for $8, would constitute a violation of law.
The new law also seeks to empower consumers by giving them the right to receive, upon request, a written price list from any business that provides a service. The New York State Division of Consumer Protection encourages consumers to familiarize themselves of the new requirement and ask their service providers in advance for a price list.
Anyone selling products or providing services can avoid running afoul of the new law by ensuring that any price difference is based upon the following:
The amount of time it took to manufacture such goods or provide such services
The difficulty in manufacturing such goods or offering such services
The cost incurred in manufacturing such goods or offering such services
The labor used in manufacturing such goods or providing such services
The materials used in manufacturing such goods or providing such services
Any other gender-neutral reason for having increased the cost of such goods or services
Violations of the law are subject to the court ordered enjoinment of such sales, restitution to consumers, up to a $250 fine for the first violation, and up to $500 fine for any subsequent violations.
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection serves to educate, assist and empower New York State consumers. Starting September 30th, if you find a product or service offered for sale in New York State that does not comply with the new law, you may contact the Division of Consumer Protection at 800-697-1220 Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or file a complaint online at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection.
Press Release, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor has recently installed new signs to mark the NYS Canalway Water Trail at more than 140 launch sites along the Erie, Champlain, Cayuga-Seneca, and Oswego canals.
The blue and yellow signs are intended to help paddlers identify safe put-in and take-out sites from the water and assist with wayfinding to launch sites from land.
“The NYS Canal System is among the state’s greatest recreational assets. We’re thrilled that these signs will welcome paddlers and make it easier for them to experience the history and beauty of the canals,” said Bob Radliff, Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
Water trail signs are designed to work in tandem with the NYS Canalway Water Trail Guidebook and Navigational Map Set and the online www.nycanalmap.com. Paddlers can use these resources to plan a day trip, weekend adventure, or multi-day thru-paddle (click here).
This project was prepared with funding provided by the New York State Department of State under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund, as part of Montgomery County’s Kayak Share Project, and by the NYS Canal Corporation, both as part of the state’s Regional Economic Development Council Initiative. In addition, critical support was provided by the National Park Service.
“More and more New Yorkers are bringing their kayaks, paddleboards, water-bikes, and other non-motorized watercrafts to the waters of our Canal System, eager to explore the iconic waterways and natural beauty along the banks,” said Brian U. Stratton, director of New York State Canal Corporation. “These signs will help ensure visitors can access the water safely, and allow them to navigate the canals appropriately from their first paddle.”
MEDINA — The American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge has awarded $3,500 to Oak Orchard Elementary School in Medina for a socially distant fitness trail.
Awarded to schools across the country, the grants continue the American Heart Association’s commitment to help educators make whole-body wellness a priority.
“We are very excited about this opportunity,” said Julie Webber, principal at Oak Orchard Elementary. “Our hope is to install a fitness trail that can be used by the students during the day and also the community after school hours.”
The American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge awarded more than $400,000 to more than 180 elementary, middle and high schools who participated in either the in-school or digital programs for the 2019-2020 school year.
Kids Heart Challenge offers physical activations to get elementary students’ hearts pumping such as hoops or jumping rope paired with digital missions to learn life-saving skills like Hands-Only CPR.
The American Heart Challenge is a service-learning program for middle and high school students. The program helps boost heart health and self-esteem, while reducing stress and anxiety through programs feature dance and obstacle courses. Both program curriculums help prepare kids for success by supporting physical and emotional well-being, while offering new learning resources and physical activities to meet the needs of today’s youth and educators.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans only 20% of kids get enough activity to meet physical activity recommendations. Both the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge are rooted in proven science which has shown that kids who are regularly active have a better chance of a healthy adulthood.
Press Release, Michael J. Filicetti, acting Niagara County sheriff
LOCKPORT – The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and our partner law enforcement agencies have received numerous reports of political sign thefts in recent weeks.
It is important to know that removing political signs is a crime punishable by the New York State Penal Law, Election Law, and local ordinances.
If you have information regarding these thefts, please contact the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office at (716) 438-3393.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 September 2020 at 8:03 am
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday again called on the federal government to provide a lifeline of financial aid to states and local governments that have seen costs rise and revenues plummet due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We have tremendous losses because of Covid,” Cuomo said. “We’re not liable for them. I’m not accepting liability. I’m not accepting the premise that New York State or New York City should pay. We didn’t do anything wrong. The federal government should pay. The federal government was wrong. It’s the federal government that allowed us to be ambushed by Covid.”
Cuomo said New York was hit early in the pandemic without notice. Other states, where Covid followed, had time to prepare and learn from NY’s response.
The state closed down and restricted businesses and activities to slow the spread of Covid. The governor said that has worked, but the state has paid a deep economic price. He estimated a $50 billion budget shortfall, a looming of $30 billion for state, $12 billion for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and $9 billion in New York City.
“How is New York City, New York State going to solve the deficit?” Cuomo said Tuesday at a news conference. “We’re not. It’s Donald Trump’s deficit. He has to fix it.”
The governor said he continues to press Congress for a relief package for state and local governments.
If the federal government doesn’t come through with assistance, Cuomo said states and local governments will have to raise taxes and likely borrow money to get through the fiscal crisis. If taxes go up that would make an economic recovery more difficult, he said.
Cuomo is chairman of the National Governors Association and Asa Hutchinson, the Republican governor of Arkansas, is the vice chairman. They issued a statement on Tuesday, urging federal relief for states and local government.
“Every major economist, regardless of party or ideological bent, came to the same conclusion after the 2007-09 financial crisis: The lack of support for state and local governments slowed the nation’s economic growth for more than a decade,” Cuomo and Hutchinson said. “As we begin to recover and rebuild from the Covid-19 crisis, we can’t afford to repeat the mistakes of the past – we know now that there can be no national recovery if state and local governments aren’t solvent.
“We appreciate the House of Representatives for putting forth a new proposed relief package last night. It’s our hope that the latest proposal will reenergize the negotiations. Ultimately, we hope for a relief package that will support the needs of the American people, including health care workers, firefighters, police officers and teachers, and we urge the Senate and the White House to meet them at the negotiating table. This is a national problem, and it demands a bipartisan and national solution.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 September 2020 at 7:28 am
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday that Colorado is now on the list of states in New York’s Covid-19 travel advisory.
Arizona and Virginia have been removed from the list.
The advisory requires individuals who have traveled to New York from areas with significant community spread to quarantine for 14 days. The quarantine applies to any person arriving from an area with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or an area with a 10 percent or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.
The full list of 32 states and two territories on the travel advisory now includes: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 September 2020 at 9:17 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The snail, a popular part of the playground at Pine Street Park for decades, remains at the park after recent upgrades, including new playground equipment and a spray park.
Other older equipment was removed as part of the improvements but the community spoke in favor of keeping the snail.
Volunteers on the village’s Parks Committee have offered to paint the snail in colors matching the new equipment.
The Village Board gave its blessing on Monday evening during its board meeting.
“First we saved the snail, and now we’re going to paint the snail,” said Medina Mayor Mike Sidari.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 September 2020 at 8:56 pm
MEDINA – The third annual Operation Honor 5K is planned for Nov. 14 and will start at the Junior Wilson Sportsman Club on Bates Road.
The race, unlike most others during the Covid-19 pandemic, won’t be cancelled or held virtually without a group run.
Jennifer Thom is one of the organizers. She said the previous two races haven’t drawn big crowds. She said the participants will be spaced out during the event.
Last year’s 5K raised $4,000 for the van service operated by the Orleans County Joint Veterans Council.
The first year the race raised $3,000, which was given to the Warrior House in Shelby. The Warrior House provides a hunting retreat for veterans.
Jennifer Thom said she would like to see proceeds from this year’s race help veterans with rent and other bills.
“Our goal is to help any veteran in Orleans County,” Thom told the Village Board on Monday.
She asked the board to see if the Medina Police Department could provide a presence during the event.
Operation Honor is seeking sponsors and participants for the 5k. For more information, check the group’s Facebook page by clicking here or click here for a race entry which is $25.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 September 2020 at 4:25 pm
Orleans County doesn’t have any new confirmed cases of Covid-19 to report today, while Genesee County has 5 more, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported.
Genesee has now had 308 people test positive for Covid-19 since March. The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Elba and Oakfield.
Two of the individuals are between the ages of 0-20, one is in the 20s, another in the 30s, and one is in the 60s.
The individuals were not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Genesee also has 14 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. The county also has one person hospitalized from Covid-19.
Orleans County is reporting 9 more people on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
To see an online map with the confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 September 2020 at 10:32 am
The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce won’t be doing a big awards dinner in October, an annual tradition celebrating businesses in the county.
However, the Chamber will be honoring businesses and is seeking nominations from the community about how businesses have shown perseverance since March, adapting and serving customers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I’m sure there are a lot of businesses that have just gone way beyond their normal realm this year and we want to recognize some of them,” said Darlene Hartway, Chamber director.
The organization is working on the details for how to celebrate the award winners. They may be presented the honors individually or as a group. Hartway said those details are being discussed.
For now, the Chamber is seeking nominations for awards to recognize businesses and community leaders. The nominations are due Oct. 12.
The categories include:
Business of the Year – This award is presented to a business that has experienced significant overall achievements/success throughout the year.
Lifetime Achievement – This award is presented to an individual with a long-term record of outstanding business achievements.
Phoenix Award – This award is presented to an organization or business that has successfully adapted or re-used an existing facility.
New Business of the Year – This award is presented to a business or organization that has opened in the past year.
Community Service Award – This award is presented to a business, organization or individual that has provided meaningful contributions to the community in either professional or non-professional spheres.
Agricultural Business of the Year – This award is presented to an agricultural business that has experienced significant overall achievements/success throughout the year.
Businessperson of the Year – This award is presented to an individual who has had outstanding accomplishments within their own business/businesses and who has made notable contributions to our local business sector.
Small Business of the Year – This award is presented to a small business th555at has experienced significant achievements/success throughout the year.
Hidden Gem of the Year – This award is presented to a business that has made a positive contribution to tourism in our county.
The nominations can include references to how the business or person has shown resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 September 2020 at 9:08 am
The outstanding athletic accomplishments of Lyndonville High student athletes will be honored in a very special way in the future as the school is forming an Athletic Hall of Fame.
“We have a pretty rich athletic tradition here and this is a great way to honor the outstanding accomplishments of our former athletes,” said Athletic Director Jim Zeliff. “I’m really excited about it. It will give inspiration and incentive to our current athletes and it will also drum up interest in the community.”
Zeliff noted that the purpose of the Hall of Fame is “to highlight those who have made a positive impact on the Lyndonville Athletic program and maintain relationships, history, and tradition within the school community.”
A committee will be formed to select the inductees and it is planned to have up to 10 inductees the first year, up to five the second and up to three each year after that.
There are four categories for selection including as an athlete, a team, a coach and a special contributor/supporter/fan.
Nominations can be submitted to Zeliff and a nomination form is available on the school’s website. The deadline for nominations this year is March 1, 2021 and the inductees will be announced in May.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 September 2020 at 8:55 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Julian Montague of Buffalo has completed this mural on two walls of a building at the corner of Pearl Street and West Avenue in Medina.
MEDINA – The Village of Medina, which approved a 60-day moratorium on Aug. 24 on new applications for public arts projects, is discussing if the village codes need to be updated.
Two Village Board members – Tim Elliott and Todd Bensley – have met with Planning Board representatives. They will be meeting again on Oct. 8 and the group looking at the issue could be expanded to include artists and others with expertise in public art, Bensley said on Monday during the Village Board meeting.
The group is looking at the current village ordinance for public arts projects and also will consider whether Medina should create a Public Arts Commission to review such projects.
Two murals have recently been completed in Medina, with one in the historic district on Proctor Place and another on a cinder block building outside the historic district at the corner of West Avenue and Pearl Street.
Two more murals have been approved with both on Proctor Place.
The murals have all been coordinated by the Form Foundation, which is led by Tim Hungerford and Teresa Misiti.
BATAVIA – Independent Living of the Genesee Region has promoted Kristen Lazarony to help individuals with disabilities secure housing.
Lazarony will work as Independent Living Specialist in the Rapid Rehousing Program, where she will assist individuals with disabilities in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties in obtaining housing in the homes and communities of their choice.
Lazarony, a 2003 Batavia High School graduate, previously served as a Facilitated Enroller in ILGR’s Medicaid Application Assistance Program, helping people with disabilities and older adults, obtain medical insurance. Prior to joining ILGR, Ms. Lazarony served in varied positions in the medical field with several local companies including United Memorial Medical Center, WellNow Urgent Care, and Pembroke Family Medicine.
To contact Independent Living’s Batavia office, call (585) 815-8501.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 September 2020 at 7:55 am
LYNDONVILLE – The school district won’t be having classes today due to a power outage caused by a transformer fire.
National Grid is reporting 1,790 customers are without electricity in Orleans County. The company estimates power will be restored at about 9:30 a.m.
Lyndonville’s combined team practices hosted by Medina are still on for today. Transportation from Lyndonville will be available. Athletes should be at the school for a 3 p.m. departure time. A return trip will be provided as well, said Jason Smith, Lyndonville district superintendent.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 September 2020 at 4:47 pm
Orleans County has 3 new confirmed cases of Covid-19, who are residents of Barre and Clarendon, the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments reported today.
Two of the individuals are in their 30s and one is in the 60s. The county has now had 317 people test positive since March.
The individuals were not on quarantine prior to testing positive, the Health Departments said.
Orleans has also had one more person recover from Covid who has been released from mandatory isolation. The county also has 17 new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
Genesee County received 4 new positive cases of Covid-19 and has now had 303 positive cases.
The new positive cases reside in Batavia and Elba. Three of the individuals are between the ages of 0-20 and one individual is in the 90s.
The individuals were not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
One of the new positive cases is a resident at the NYS Veterans Home, and the other three are students at Elba Central School. The students have been placed on mandatory isolation at home. All close contacts are in the process of being notified by the Genesee County Health Department.
“If you were not notified you are not considered a close contact,” the Health Departments said in a news briefing this afternoon.
Genesee is also reporting one more recovery who has been released from mandatory isolation. The county also has 37 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
