More on John Brown Farm's 'endangered' status

Here's some more information regarding the status of the John Brown Farm as one of America's "11 Most Endangered Historic Places."

This is from a release issued just a few minutes ago:

The Preservation League of New York State, Parks & Trails New York, not-for-profit advocacy groups and members of the New York State Senate and Assembly joined officials from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in announcing that America's State Parks and State-Owned Historic Sites have been named to the Trust's annual list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.

Organization calls for more state prisons to close

An advocacy group that played a key role in repealing the Rockefeller drug laws staged rallies over the weekend calling for more state prison closures throughout New York.

Robert Gangi is executive director of the New York Correctional Association and lead organizer for “Drop the Rock.” He says declining crime rates and smaller inmate populations mean more correctional facilities should be shut down.

Gangi says his group is looking to Governor David Paterson and the legislature to exercise leadership by saving taxpayer dollars and closing prisons that aren’t running at full capacity.

Did lawmakers watch the Olympics?

Following the announcement this week that the state Senate is proposing to slash $6.6 million from the Olympic Regional Development Authority, I'm wondering if Betty Little passed the word about our local Olympians along to her fellow lawmakers.

I know, I know. The economy sucks. The state's fiscal situation sucks. I get all that.

But in Buffalo, the state is about to spend $800,000 on two double-wides for conjugal visits. If the economic situation is so dire, why are we spending close to one million dollars for inmates to get it on?

Ravitch's plan to salvage New York's economy is out

Lt. Governor Richard Ravitch released his plan to salvage New York's faultering economy and maybe begin to payoff the state's $60 billion cumulative deficit.

Ravitch calls for moving the state fiscal year from April 1 to July 1 and for the state to borrow up to $2 billion a year.

As I type, he is briefing legislators on his plan.

Here's the report.

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