At yesterday's meeting of the state Senate Finance Committee Mark O'Luck -- an African American businessman -- was in attendence to take questions from senators about his pending nomination to the state Power Authority.
Republican Senator John DeFrancisco took huge exception with a 2009 blog post bearing O'Luck's name that suggests the dolling out of state contracts are bias towards businesses owned by well-connected whites.
After about 15 minutes of peppering O'Luck with questions more about policy than personal stances, DeFrancisco suggests that many whites are also not well connected and that O'Luck -- a friend of Governor David Paterson's -- is an example of blacks "making it" in New York State.
Showing posts with label state Senate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label state Senate. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Senate sparring over ORDA continues, even if Assembly wants it funded
Senator Betty Little sent this letter to the Senate Democratic Conference today blasting them for proposing to zero ORDA's funding:
March 24, 2010
Senator John L. Sampson
Senate Democratic Conference Leader
409 Legislative Office Building
Albany, New York 12247
Dear Senator Sampson:
The Senate Democratic Conference one-house budget resolution’s elimination of the Olympic Regional Development Authority’s (ORDA) $6.6 million state appropriation has sent shock waves throughout the Adirondacks.
It is hard to believe such an ill-conceived proposal could make it into a budget resolution that is being described as a “road map” for the enacted state budget due April 1. A change of direction on this so-called budget road map is desperately needed now.
Without question, eliminating ORDA’s funding would economically devastate the North Country. Doing so would crush much of our tourism industry, upon which we rely very heavily. Hotels and motels would close. Restaurants and shops would close. Families would leave. I have no doubt the ripple effect would extend far and wide.
March 24, 2010
Senator John L. Sampson
Senate Democratic Conference Leader
409 Legislative Office Building
Albany, New York 12247
Dear Senator Sampson:
The Senate Democratic Conference one-house budget resolution’s elimination of the Olympic Regional Development Authority’s (ORDA) $6.6 million state appropriation has sent shock waves throughout the Adirondacks.
It is hard to believe such an ill-conceived proposal could make it into a budget resolution that is being described as a “road map” for the enacted state budget due April 1. A change of direction on this so-called budget road map is desperately needed now.
Without question, eliminating ORDA’s funding would economically devastate the North Country. Doing so would crush much of our tourism industry, upon which we rely very heavily. Hotels and motels would close. Restaurants and shops would close. Families would leave. I have no doubt the ripple effect would extend far and wide.
Is the state Senate budget a case of downstate provincialism?
A lot has been said recently as the budget process grinds forward. The age-old us vs. them arguments continue to broil.
When Governor Paterson first released his executive budget, there were rumblings from local officials alleging the Governor was throwing the 9.2 billion deficit on the backs of the North Country.
A few phone calls quickly showed this to be false. Paterson wanted to cut over $1 billion -- over $300 in municipal aid alone -- to his hometown of New York City.
But the Senate's version seems like a different beast.
Until two years ago, the state's upper house was the lone bastion of GOP power in New York. Then Majority Leader and now convict Joe Bruno ran the floor with an iron fist -- and made some enemies on the other side of the isle.
When Governor Paterson first released his executive budget, there were rumblings from local officials alleging the Governor was throwing the 9.2 billion deficit on the backs of the North Country.
A few phone calls quickly showed this to be false. Paterson wanted to cut over $1 billion -- over $300 in municipal aid alone -- to his hometown of New York City.
But the Senate's version seems like a different beast.
Until two years ago, the state's upper house was the lone bastion of GOP power in New York. Then Majority Leader and now convict Joe Bruno ran the floor with an iron fist -- and made some enemies on the other side of the isle.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Inspired by Lake Placid man, state Senate passes new DWI law
In 2002, Olympic gold medallist and Lake Placid resident Jack Shea was struck and killed by a drunk driver near his home.
The drunk driver evaded prosecution even though he registered a blood alcohol content of .15 because of a loophole in state law that requires a physician be on scene when blood is drawn, which there wasn’t.
The drunk driver evaded prosecution even though he registered a blood alcohol content of .15 because of a loophole in state law that requires a physician be on scene when blood is drawn, which there wasn’t.
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