Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Recently, my office was contacted by a family member of a decorated soldier who had retired after serving 20 years in the Army at Fort Drum. In addition to serving the Army with distinction, he found the time to take college courses, earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and raise a family. Armed with the leadership experience from the military and his college degree, it seemed that transitioning into civilian life and finding his next career would be easy.

During the last week of session, the State Legislature passed a resolution to amend the State Constitution to permit the forfeiture of state pensions for those public officials convicted of a felony related to their public duties (e.g. bribery). This is a commonsense measure that should have passed last year. Unlike most other bills the State Legislature passes, in order for this reform to be enacted the State Constitution must be amended due to the fact that pension benefits are protected by the New York State Constitution.

New York State’s “Move Over Law” was recently expanded to better protect volunteer emergency responders attending to distressed or disabled vehicles along roads and highways. I was pleased to vote in support of the expansion which was signed into law last month and will become effective in 2017. The expanded law requires drivers to exercise ‘due care’ and, where possible, to move over when approaching a parked or stopped vehicle displaying blue or green lights.

Last week, Central New York received great news when, at its meeting in Albany, the state Public Service Commission adopted a plan to help Upstate New York’s struggling nuclear power plants. As most people in Oswego County know, our nuclear power plants (FitzPatrick and Nine Mile Units 1 and 2) have been struggling economically because of low natural gas prices.

With summer well under way, many have had the chance to enjoy a summer sport or activity and for many Central and Northern New Yorkers, the sport of choice is fishing. This region contains many lakes, rivers, streams and ponds to cast a lure and enjoy the outdoors with some time away from home or the office. Besides providing a great way to enjoy nature and have fun, fishing is also beneficial to the local and state economy.

Earlier this month, it was reported that more than 130 people overdosed on K2, a synthetic drug, in New York City. Emergency responders and eye witnesses stated people were lying on the sidewalks and leaning up against trees and shaking due to the effects from the drugs. While the news media hasn’t reported an outbreak of this magnitude in some time, synthetic drugs are clearly still an underlying problem in communities across the state.

There are an estimated 15,000 women diagnosed each year with breast cancer in New York. According the American Cancer Society, an estimated 90 out of 100 women survive breast cancer for five years or more after being diagnosed but we need to do more to improve those rates with early detection. In this legislative session, we passed a bill that will increase access to screenings and remove financial barriers.

This year’s maple syrup production season broke a 70-year-old state record. Maple producers recorded collecting more than 700,000 gallons of maple syrup, which was an 18% increase over the harvest in 2015. Warmer-than-normal temperatures extended the maple syrup season and the number of taps also increased. In fact, producers recorded the most taps since 1947.

The vote earlier this month in the United Kingdom to leave the European Union (“Brexit”) has raised the question as to whether something similar could happen here in New York State. More specifically, could Upstate New York vote to secede from New York City and Long Island and form its own state. This issue of secession is not a new one. However, the movement has gained momentum in recent years.