Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

News of tragedy struck again this month when State Police investigated a case in which a woman was stabbed and later died in Cazenovia. Her alleged killer is a man with whom she was living. Tragically, this scenario is too familiar. A third of all female homicide victims are killed by their domestic partner, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. In New York State in 2012, that statistic is even higher; it’s estimated that 58% of all female homicide victims age 16 and older were killed by an intimate partner.

During the first week of September, the nation pauses to celebrate Labor Day. The holiday was created in the 1880s and by 1894, Congress passed an act naming the first Monday in September officially as Labor Day. The holiday grew in popularity as labor organizations grew across the country. Labor Day was created to encourage families to stop working for the day and to have fun. As such, parades and picnics are traditionally part of the weekend’s activities for many.

In 1994, the state began what’s called the Linked Deposit Program. LDP began as a way to assist and encourage manufacturers and small businesses to undertake investments, which would ultimately lead to a stronger economy. According to an annual report published recently, in 2013, more than 1,000 jobs were created and retained in New York thanks to LDP.

There have been a number of new laws signed and chaptered in New York in recent weeks. I wanted to update readers on just a few involving mandated reporters, unlawful surveillance, screening of volunteer firefighters and ambulance personnel, and maternal depression. I was happy to support all in the Assembly this session.

The New York State Department of Budget reported in its quarterly update that the state estimates it will receive $4.2 billion in 2015 from financial settlements reached by the Department of Financial Services, Department of Law, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. This is unexpected revenue for the state and has provided us with a surplus. There are a number of ideas circulating on how or if we should spend this money.

My office receives a lot of inquiries from constituents who wonder why their energy bills are so high.
These inquiries are well founded, as New Yorkers pay some of the highest residential energy costs in the nation. In fact, New York’s energy costs rank in the top 5 highest in the country. We pay on average 19.56 cents per kilowatt hour – significantly higher than what customers pay in other states.

On Aug. 7, 1782, George Washington first presented a Badge of Military Merit to soldiers for “any singularly meritorious action.” The award he created from his headquarters in Newburgh, NY, was a purple, heart-shaped piece of silk and had the word “merit” stitched across the front. Only three known soldiers received the honor.

Tourism is a big industry for New York. According to recent state statistics, the New York tourism industry generated $59.2 billion in direct spending, which produced an estimated $7.5 billion in state and local taxes in 2013. The industry is also reportedly growing.

The implementation of the Common Core Learning Standards was easily the most talked about issue in K-12 education this year. The Common Core is an initiative adopted by most states, including New York, that, in theory, is supposed to set new educational standards that will ensure all students are on track for college and career readiness. While on paper this seems like a good idea, the adoption and implementation of the Common Core standards in New York has been anything but ideal.