Politics

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.