Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

The craft beverage industry is among the fastest-growing industries in New York with nearly 900 licensed manufacturers in the state. Part of this growth has to do with the state’s focus in recent years on trying to make it easier for craft beverage producers such as beer, cider and liquor producers to do business in New York.

A home is one of the biggest investments a family can make and with homeownership, repair projects are inevitable. In some cases, homeowners can perform the work that needs to be done but in other cases, hiring a contractor is necessary. Unfortunately, unscrupulous contractors sometimes inflate costs or do not complete the work that was promised which can lead to delays and costly problems for the homeowner. Senior citizens are often targeted by what amounts to a home improvement scam.

With the warm weather here, local highway crews are out working on road repairs and construction projects. There are approximately 114,000 centerline miles of highway in the state and local governments are responsible for the maintenance of nearly 85% of them. Accordingly, they need assistance meeting the repair demands, especially considering the snowfalls in our area.

Pursuant to our state’s constitution, every twenty years a referendum is required to be placed on the ballot asking New York State voters whether New York should convene a constitutional convention for the purposes of amending our State Constitution. The last time the question was on the ballot was 1997 and at that time it was rejected by 62% of the voters. This year, voters again will have the opportunity to vote for or against a convention.

We are fortunate in this area to have access to so much homegrown produce, from maple syrup to onions, to fresh peaches and sweet corn. This time of year there are many opportunities to take advantage of the local harvests at farmers’ markets. Fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, honey, and cheese can all be found nearby and in usually in abundance.

New York State is a difficult state to govern in light of the upstate downstate divide. This divide generally, but not always, translates into differing policy priorities between the more populated areas of the state versus the less populated areas. The suburbs often represent the swing vote swaying between a more conservative or a more liberal ideology on various issues. On top of that challenge, there is the increasing struggle between the legislative and executive branch of state government.

Two hundred years ago, the first ceremonial shovelful of dirt was dug on the Erie Canal near Rome, NY. In July 1817, New York officially undertook construction of what would become the longest artificial waterway and greatest public works project in North America. This year marks the bicentennial of the Erie Canal, a milestone that provides a good reason to look back at our history and appreciate the engineering marvel that is the Erie Canal.

Albany’s corruption challenges are well-documented and unfortunately the problems have ensnared both the legislative and the executive branches. In November of last year, eight people were indicted by a federal grand jury on corruption charges related to the state’s economic development programs.

National Dairy Month started in 1937 to promote drinking milk and has evolved into a way to celebrate our dedicated dairy farmers who produce milk, award-winning cheeses, and value-added dairy products. Dairy farming represents the largest component of the state’s agricultural sector and accounts for nearly half of all agricultural receipts in New York.