The 2016 legislative session is under way in Albany. In years past, session usually began with the governor delivering his State of the State Address, which traditionally is followed, a few weeks later, by his budget address. The governor, in a departure from protocol, has again this year decided to combine his State of the State Address with his budget address.
Each and every day, agriculture affects our lives. From the fresh foods we eat to the clothes we wear, agriculture is at the root of it all, especially in New York State. With 35,000 family farms, record-setting sales exceeding $6.4 billion annually and a workforce of more than 100,000, farming is our state’s most important industry.
It was recently reported that agricultural receipts in New York came in at $6.36 billion in 2014, a $1.7 billion increase over 2010 and a $667 million increase over 2013. According to the United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Services, New York is home to 36,000 farms and roughly 7 million acres are dedicated to farming. Our agriculture industry is not only profitable but it is incredibly diverse.
In New York State, with the new year will come a number of new laws, including those aimed at enhancing women’s rights, cutting taxes for businesses and better protecting children. Here’s a rundown of measures that will take effect in January of 2016:
There are few places in the world that can lay claim to the national and international history that has taken place at Fort Ontario. The historical events which have occurred at the fort over the last three centuries are varied, significant and numerous. Surprisingly, the fort’s history and the role it has played in our American story is not widely known.
New Year’s Eve is a time to look back on the memories we’ve made in the past twelve months and think about what the year ahead will hold. As we prepare to ring in 2016, it’s so important that we take the steps necessary to make sure we stay safe while celebrating.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. Of the 5.3 million Americans with Alzheimer’s, an estimated 5.1 million people are age 65 and older and approximately 200,000 individuals are under age 65. Research shows that almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women. Sadly, because it is a degenerative disease the symptoms usually worsen over time and it becomes harder for people to function independently.
From making sure they are fed properly to ensuring they get sufficient exercise, being a pet owner comes with a long list of responsibilities. One of the most important things a pet owner is charged with is making sure that your animal stays safe, and that includes protecting them from deadly diseases, like rabies.
At the beginning of the year, New York state’s minimum wage will increase to $9 an hour. Many, particularly left-leaning organizations from NYC, argue that $9 isn’t enough and NY should raise its minimum wage to $15 an hour, a position with which Governor Cuomo agrees.
It’s often said that in giving, we actually receive. That couldn’t be truer during the holiday season, a time when we have so many opportunities to go out of our way to do something special for someone else. Just recently, people from across Central and Northern New York joined with me to share the spirit of the season with our active duty troops and veterans.
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