Assembly Will Barclay

A few years ago I had the opportunity to chair the Assembly Republican Hunting and Fishing Task Force. During that time, the task force held forums and listened to outdoor enthusiast throughout the state. A primary objective of the task force was to examine how the state could encourage new opportunities for hunting, fishing and outdoor sports and it was determined that engaging youth was key to its growth. One solution that came out of this task force was to lower the hunting age, which we were successful in doing.

The Great New York State Fair will once again kick off on Aug. 23 and run until Sept. 4. Last year, more than 1 million people attended the fair which features animal exhibits, concerts, horse shows, the famous butter sculpture, history, youth exhibits, rides, and agriculture contests. Mixed with these traditional attractions are usually a few new exhibits.

Individuals with disabilities and their family members now have a new way to save and plan for future expenses. New Yorkers can now open a tax-deferred 529 Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account. The accounts are a savings option for families and money earned through the fund is tax exempt if it is spent on qualified expenses. Similar to the 529 College Savings accounts, contributions to the account may be made by anyone.

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.