No Picture
Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Closure of Fort Ontario: A Bad Idea

In an effort to close the state budget gap, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation (OPRHP) recommended closing 57 state parks and historic sites late last week. Unfortunately, included among that list was Fort Ontario. Closing the historic site in the heart of the City of Oswego is a terrible idea. Closure will hinder the region’s ability to attract tourists and stifle education.

[…]

No Picture
Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Governor’s Budget Does Not Go Far Enough to Reduce Spending

Last week, Governor Paterson released his proposed budget. It’s the first step in the beginning of the budget process and is the foundation from which lawmakers negotiate before its passage in April. In short, in his budget the Governor proposes to slow the growth of state spending but also proposes approximately $1 billion in new taxes and fees. In this column, I highlight some of the more substantive aspects of his proposal.

[…]

No Picture
Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

A Review of the Governor’s State of the State Address

The Governor’s State of the State address this week primarily focused on the seriousness of the state’s fiscal situation. The speech was more subdued and void of the usual ‘rah, rah’ tone Governors have taken in years past. Instead, his speech focused on the economy, and specifically how vital it is for New York to keep a balanced budget.

[…]