Politics

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Infant Mortality Rates Remain Steady

August 31, 2015 Contributor

September is Infant Mortality Awareness Month. According to the latest statistics available, New York’s rate has remained relatively steady since 2010 but unfortunately, 5 out of every 1,000 births in New York result in infant death, according to the State Department of Health. Some good news on this front is infant mortality rates have decreased about 16% from 2002 to 2012 but there is still more we can do to continue to improve those rates.

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Ritchie

Going Back To School On A Budget

August 25, 2015 Contributor

This year, the average family is shelling out $70.93 per elementary student for school supplies. The amount is even greater for older students, with the average cost of supplies for middle school totaling $91 and high school reaching $157. Combine costs for supplies like paper and pencils with other items students might need, such as new clothing, sneakers, backpacks and more and totals for most families can be hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

State Fair Provides Tributes, Fun and Still Maintains Agricultural Traditions

August 25, 2015 Contributor

The Great New York State Fair will once again kick off on Aug. 27 and run until Sept. 7. The State Fair’s history in Syracuse is long and proud. The annual 12-day event has steadily expanded since its early days. In 1841, the nation’s first state fair was held in Syracuse and there was said to have been some 10,000 people who heard speeches, viewed animal exhibits, attended a plowing contest, and sampled goods for the farm and the home. Despite modern times, the mission of the fair hasn’t changed much.

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Ritchie

Fast Facts About The Fair

August 18, 2015 Contributor

For 175 years, the Great New York State Fair has attracted millions of people to Upstate New York; offering rides, food, exhibits that highlight New York agriculture, concerts from big name performers and so much more. If you’re planning on visiting the Great New York State Fair, here’s a look at some of the new exhibits, entertainment and food offerings that will help to make this year’s the best yet:

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Raising Wage for One Industry Sets Dangerous Precedence

August 17, 2015 Contributor

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the Governor’s decision to convene a Wage Board for the purposes of considering increasing the minimum wage for fast food workers to $15 an hour. It has been reported that the Governor convened the Wage Board in effort to placate advocates (mainly from NYC) who are pushing for various liberal causes to be enacted in the State such as increasing the overall state minimum wage. When the legislature failed to increase the state’s minimum wage, these advocates accused the Governor of not doing enough.

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Ritchie

Helping The Hungry In Our Communities

August 12, 2015 Contributor

Have you ever had to wonder where your next meal will come from? For more and more Americans, hunger is becoming a reality. Today, it’s estimated that one in six Americans relies on emergency food assistance, including thousands of people in Central and Northern New York. And, it’s not just the impoverished. More and more frequently, working families are finding themselves having to look for assistance when it comes to putting food on the table.

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Why is NYS Protecting Convicted Criminal’s Public Pensions?

August 10, 2015 Contributor

Joyce Mitchell, the woman who confessed to assisting two convicted murderers escape from Clinton Correctional Facility, will still collect a public pension thanks to Albany’s failure to pass a widely supported reform measure. In her retirement years, whether spent in prison or elsewhere, we can rest assured that she’ll be able to cash her pension checks. If you were wondering about the 30 or so lawmakers in the last 10 years that have been convicted of crimes, or sanctioned or resigned from office, essentially admitting their guilt or wrongdoing, they too are eligible to receive their pensions.

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Ritchie

Focusing On Fishing In New York State

August 4, 2015 Contributor

From the mighty muskellunge to the beautiful brook trout, which is also our official state fish, New York is home to a wide variety of fish, 165 different species to be exact. It’s these fish that inhabit the 7,500 lakes and ponds, as well as 50,000 miles of rivers and streams that make the Empire State a world-class destination for anglers of all skill levels. These recreational opportunities not only “hook” anglers on fishing in New York State, they also play a significant role in our economy.

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