Satish K. Tripathi, president of the University at Buffalo, and Howard A. Zemsky, managing partner at Larkin Development Group, are regional co-chairs for the group, which will coordinate the economic development of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Niagara counties.

Edmondson joins 19 general members and eight elected officials including Curt Crandall, chair of the Allegany County Legislature.

“It is impossible to overstate the importance of economic development for New York in general and of Western New York in particular,” said Edmondson. “It is an honor for me to serve with so many distinguished New Yorkers in this new approach to creating an economic strategy tailored to the unique traits of our region.”

Source

“On June 6, 76 Members of the House asked the President to present details of his proposal to prevent a default. Seven weeks later, we had received no response. That’s why this past Tuesday I led 21 of my colleagues to the White House with another letter signed by 65 Members of the House again asking for details of the President’s solution to our debt crisis. Again, no response.

In the House, we have passed a detailed budget and, importantly, a bill that would prevent a national default and force us to live within our means. The House has repeatedly presented fiscally responsible solutions while the White House has repeatedly held press conferences.

You cannot vote on speeches and rhetoric.

Given that we have seen no leadership from the White House on averting this crisis, I hope that the leadership of the House and the Senate can now work out a long-term solution that is best for our country.”

Source

“The American people are looking for long-term solutions and transparency, and they deserve to hear the Senate debate a plan for resolving the debt ceiling crisis,” Congressman Reed said. “The plan passed by the House would have prevented a default while cutting spending and forcing the government to live within its means. It’s disappointing and discouraging that the Senate would not even debate or vote on it.”

“The market is looking for a sign that we will take concrete steps to deal with Washington’s borrowing and spending habits. Instead we get political tricks and avoidance,” Reed continued, adding that the Senate has not passed a budget in more than 800 days. “It’s simply a dereliction of duty. It’s unacceptable.”

Source

Sat – 07/23/11:

8:00AM – 9:00AM Cohocton Town Court, 19 Main Street, Atlanta
12:30PM – 1:30PM Caneadea Town Hall, 8911 Route 19, Caneadea

Reed also says that area residents who are unable to attend the Town Halls can also contact Reed through his website (www.Reed.house.gov).

Source

Richard Stevenson of East Avenue Extension, Hornell, announced today he is a candidate for the office of city chamberlain. Stevenson, the business manager of Hornell radio station WKPQ-FM, and a small business owner himself, realized his goal Monday evening to secure ballot access in a run for the city chamberlain position. Stevenson said he formed an exploratory committee on June 16th to help him decide whether to challenge the Hornell Democratic machine to a primary contest in September. He added he will begin raising campaign money and is seeking the authorization of the Independence party.

The city chamberlain’s office, which has been held by Democrats since the election of Thelma Pelych in 1967, serves as the treasurer of the city providing for all accounts receivables including the issuance and collection of city, school, and county taxes, as well as ambulance, water, garbage/solid waste disposal, and sewer bills. Since 2008, Stevenson has been responsible for the General Administration of the radio station’s activities which encompasses the business management and administrative work involved in running the station. “My role is to conduct the record keeping, accounting, and other office work duties. My career in radio involves the handling of a substantial amount of detailed work and the necessity of meeting daily deadlines. It is essential that I be an accurate and systematic individual who works well under the pressure of deadlines and since the work involves dealing with almost all departments of the station, my ability to work well with others is an additional asset,” said Stevenson.

Richard is the office’s “businessman“, according to William H. Berry, former radio station owner/operator and broadcasting company president at Bilbat Radio, Inc, who sold off WKPQ-FM in April 2009 to PRG LLC, a holding company based in Hornell, NY. “Richard is organized and very detail-oriented providing the impetus for policies and procedures that keep us in line with comprehensive solutions of financial and managerial accounting principles. Richard rallies the staff to tackle a project”, Berry said of Stevenson. “It’s the dawn of a New Direction in the Maple City and the chamberlain has a fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers. My focus over the next few months will be to listen to the city-wide electorate, to really pay attention to what they are saying . . . to address many of the most important issues facing our municipality’s finance department. I will get it done!” he stated in the announcement.

Source

Reed, along with about a dozen other Republican members of the House, will be protesting outside of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in the 11am hour.

“Because you have not presented any written detailed proposal to raise the debt ceiling, our constituents are left in the dark as to what specific cuts you propose as well as what taxes you are planning to raise,” Reed wrote in the letter to the President which was co-signed by 64 other Members of Congress.

That letter will be given to President Obama today.

Source

Former GOP State Chairman William Powers is predicting that President Obama will pick Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his running mate next year. Albany reporter and New York Post columnist Fred Dicker says Powers is only the latest political pro to make such a prediction.

Powers told Dicker he is convinced Obama will call Cuomo later this year and tell the freshman governor that in the wake of his victory in the same sex marriage battle, he is the obvious candidate next year for veep and the right choice in 2016 for president.

Source

Reed noted that while FEMA has designated 21 counties in New York as eligible for federal disaster assistance for spring storm damage, the declaration does not include significant damage that occurred later in May. The Corning Republican also sayst that the state is requesting that FEMA extend the eligibility for federal aid disaster for storm damage which occurred through May 30. The current declaration only includes damage which occurred through May 8.

Reed wrote to Governor Cuomo earlier this month asking the Governor to request an expansion of the eligibility period. “I appreciate the Governor moving forward on this matter on behalf of our rural municipalities,” Reed said. “We will ensure that FEMA understands why this eligibility expansion is critical to our towns.” Reed’s office has begun working with FEMA to request attention to storm and flood damage in Allegany and Cattaraugus Counties.

Source

At the end of the 2011 Legislative Session, a vote came to the Assembly Floor on the /Power NY Act/, which would take away siting decisions from local communities and place them into largely downstate bureaucratic hands. While there were portions of the /Power NY Act/ that were good, large-scale wind farms are a contentious issue throughout the 147th District and I viewed it as imperative to vote to keep those decisions local and not send them to Albany. I remain neutral on large-scale wind farms and stand by my decision to represent my constituency and voted against the /Power NY Act/.

Source

The agreement includes a freeze on base wages for 3 years and a redesign of the employee health care contribution and benefit system, saving $73 million this fiscal year and $93 million next fiscal year.

“I applaud CSEA’s leadership for their hard work to reach this deal which is a win-win for CSEA members and the State of New York,” Governor Cuomo said. “This tentative contract, if adopted by the other bargaining units, means layoffs needed to achieve needed workforce savings would be avoided. CSEA members are the backbone of state government, responsible for delivering services to 19 million New Yorkers. I commend the union and its leadership for making a significant contribution to help get the state’s fiscal house in order and making the shared sacrifices these difficult times require. Working together, we will turn this state around and get our economy moving once again.”

CSEA President Danny Donohue said “These are not ordinary times and CSEA and the Cuomo Administration have worked very hard at the bargaining table to produce an agreement that balances shared sacrifice with fairness and respect. CSEA stepped up to help produce the Labor savings that Governor Cuomo sought while the Governor responded to CSEA’s concerns about job security along with a wage and benefit package that recognizes the pressures on working people. I have known Governor Cuomo for many years and I know that his commitment to organized labor and working families is deeply held and second to no one.”

Base Wages: Under the five year agreement, there will be no general salary increase in Fiscal Year 2011-12; 2012-13; 2013-14. Employees will receive a 2 percent increase in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Source

Highway Superintendent Smith is alleged to have taken home $1500 in town funds that Smith said was later stolen, State Police are investigating the situation.

The only member of the Fremont Board who did not vote for the highway superintendent’s resignation is Supervisor Carol Burns, who abstained from voting.

Fremont Town Board Member Larry Hammond says that Carol Burns and Mike Smith know how the majority on the board feels about them. “They know how the board feels,” Hammond said.

Fremont Supervisor Carol Burns will not speak with our news department, and Highway Superintendent Mike Smith announced during last night’s meeting that at this time he will not comment.

One of the public employee unions in New York State has released information from the contract talks between the Public Employees Federation (PEF) and Gov. Cuomo’s negotiators.

According to PEF, Cuomo’s negotiators offered a six-year contract with no across-the-board raises for four years and increases of 1 and 2 percent, respectively, in the fifth and sixth years. Step and longevity increases would be eliminated. In addition, current and future retired employees could no longer tap unused sick time to draw down their health insurance costs — a benefit that can result in hundreds of dollars in savings for many retirees.

State unions are used to generous raises and pay increases every year in addition to pension benefits far better than the private sector and sources in Albany say the Cuomo administration—facing enormous budget problems—may be planning to play hardball with the state unions. Others note that without union support, Cuomo and other Democrats would not be in office and eventually will most likely give in to union demands, at least partially.

The offers from the Cuomo administration are similar to offers overwhelmingly rejected by union members earlier this year. Meanwhile, Cuomo has hinted that layoffs may be necessary, something former Gov. Paterson also felt was inevitable.

Source

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is hinting that it may be necessary to lay off state workers and that talk has drawn a sharp response from the head of the CSEA.

Danny Donahue says the administration’s “leak of information that they will begin the layoff process for state employees is another bad choice. CSEA is still negotiating in good faith to try to find alternatives to layoffs with the administration and announcing layoff plans is not helpful to that process.

He accused Cuomo of adding “insult to injury by leaking this information on the same day he proposed a Tier VI for the pension system that would mean the lowest paid employees in public employment would have to pay more, work longer and receive less benefit.”

Many in the Cuomo administration say it’s time public sector workers got realistic about paying their fair share of pension costs. They also note that state employees are paid better than private sector workers.

Notable items in the legislation include:

•Ending Early Retirement
•Making The Retirement Age 65 (Instead Of 62)
•Eliminating The Process Of Paying Out Lump Sums For Unused Sick/Vacation Time
•Make It So That Overtime Hours Do Not Count Towards Retirement Money

“The numbers speak for themselves – the pension system as we know it is unsustainable,” Governor Cuomo said. “This bill institutes common-sense reforms to bring government benefits more in line with the private sector while still serving our employees and protecting our retirees. Reducing the skyrocketing pension burden faced by local governments and schools will also help get control of local property taxes that are driving New Yorkers from their homes and from the state.”

Danny Donahue says the administration’s “leak of information that they will begin the layoff process for state employees is another bad choice. CSEA is still negotiating in good faith to try to find alternatives to layoffs with the administration and announcing layoff plans is not helpful to that process.

He accused Cuomo of adding “insult to injury by leaking this information on the same day he proposed a Tier VI for the pension system that would mean the lowest paid employees in public employment would have to pay more, work longer and receive less benefit.”

Many in the Cuomo administration say it’s time public sector workers got realistic about paying their fair share of pension costs. They also note that state employees are paid better than private sector workers.

Source

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R, Corning) is voting against the moratorium. The Corning Republican maintains that the moratorium bill, if passed, would stop even vertical drilling and cost jobs…

Source

“I voted against raising the debt ceiling this evening because simply going further into debt with no strings attached isn’t good for anyone – not the economy, not the United States, and certainly not taxpayers. We must deal with the reality of our national debt crisis; we are over $14 trillion in debt and are adding $1.6 trillion per year.

Very difficult choices have to be made about what government can and cannot pay for. Borrowing and piling trillions more onto the backs of future taxpayers without a plan to reduce our debt is unacceptable.

I eagerly await leadership from the White House on what changes the President proposes we make to begin dealing with the reality of our national debt. We need to see structural changes in the way Washington does business. As part of that conversation, I would like to see a balanced budget requirement, a hard commitment to reduce spending at least five percent per year, and a dedication to overhauling the tax code.

I cannot understate the importance that financial certainty has to job creation. Certainty that the United States is getting its borrowing and spending under control will unleash the private markets – trillions of private dollars sit on the sidelines waiting to see if we are serious about paying down our debt. This vote is a statement that the days of borrowing without regard to solving our debt problems are over.”

“In 2009, the New York state budget included language which repealed the resource asset test and face-to-face interview for Medicaid eligibility,” Palmesano said. “These two functions helped prevent people from hiding their resources and ensured that people were not defrauding the system by receiving unwarranted health insurance paid for by New York taxpayer.”

Palmesano believes that resource asset testing and face-to-face interviews have been proven, effective tools in stopping people from taking advantage of the system. “Reinstating these requirements would provide us with a method to combat fraud,” the Corning Republican noted.

There were several tense moments prior to the meeting of the Hornell Common Council Monday night when angry members of the Tea Party packed the council chambers demanding an apology from Mayor Shawn Hogan who Friday characterized the Tea Party people as being opposed to President Barack Obama on the basis of his race.

Rally organizer Amy Mikolajczyk was the most vocal in her criticism of the mayor and the two got into a sharp exchange but when others also demanded apologies, Hogan finally said that if he had offended anyone, he apologizes.

The comment that angered the Tea Party supporters was the following statement given to WLEA/WCKR reporter Brian O’Neil following the Friday rally. Hogan said: “ This isn’t about anything other than Barack Obama is an African-American and that’s all it’s about.”

Hogan was very critical of reporter O’Neil saying that if the Tea Party is angry at anyone, it should be O’Neil. That reporter, in the interest of fairness, had contacted Hogan at this home Friday evening following the rally on the Broadway Mall. Since Hogan had come under fire by two of the speakers, O’Neil wanted to give the mayor an opportunity to reply.
When Hogan made his comment about why Tea Party members oppose Obama (his race),

O’Neil said he reminded the mayor that a black woman, Janice Volk, was one of the speakers. He gave Hogan an opportunity to re-phrase the statement but the mayor refused.

Hogan was also critical of WLEA/WCKR for using the term “racist” when describing his charges against the Tea Party people. However, General Manager Kevin Doran noted that “any fair reading of the Hogan statement that the Tea Party people oppose Obama primarily because of his color certainly justifies the statement that Hogan characterized the movement as “racist.”

Among those attending the meeting at City Hall was Steuben County Lawmaker Randy Weaver, a democrat, who also spoke out at the Friday rally against wasteful government spending.

Mrs. Mikolajczyk is the co-host of the 9:10 Local heard on WLEA between 9:10 and 10AM. On that program she uses her maiden name, Amy McManus.

In addition to being mayor, Hogan is the chairman of the Steuben County Democrat Committee.

listen to today’s Brian O’Neil Show with Congressman Tom Reed.

Mayor Shawn Hogan also weighs in at the end of the program…

Listen to the radio interview

There are some major races in New York State: the race for the Massa seat in the House of Representatives…between Republican Tom Reed, Democrat Matt Zeller, and write-in candidate Janice Volk. And you’ll need to vote twice…once for Massa’s unexpired term which goes till the end of this year and then for the full two-year term that starts January 1st.

U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand will be facing former Republican congressman Joe Dioguardi, and Senator Chuck Schumer is facing opposition from Republican Jay Townsend. Both Schumer and Gillibrand also have some independent candidates running against them.

In the race for Governor of New York State, candidates include Democrat Andrew Cuomo, Republican Carl Paladino, as well as some independent candidates…

In this area’s state senate race, Democrat Pam MacKasey and Republican Tom O’Mara will both be going for the George Winner seat in the state senate…

There’s a 3 man race for state assembly between Democrat Write-in Randolph Weaver, Republican Phil Palmesano…and Independent candidate Jason Jordan.

In the state attorney general race, it’s a match between Democrat Eric Schneiderman and Republican Dan Donovan…

the state comptroller’s race is between Democrat Comptroller Tom Dinapoli and Republican Harry Wilson…

there’s also a state supreme court justice race, and that’s between Democrat Stephen Lynch and Republican Henry Scudder.

In Allegany County, the big race there is the sheriff’s race between Sheriff Bill Tompkins and Republican Rick Whitney.

We’ll have continuous election coverage for you tonight beginning at 7:00 on AM 1480 WLEA…