Visit any library throughout Central and Northern New York, and you’ll see things have changed. Today, our libraries are so much more than books. They’re offering, and doing, so much more for those who utilize them, and continuing to evolve to keep up with the demands of today’s consumers.
There are a lot of things to be positive about in Central New York. Unfortunately, the economy is not one of them. Over the last decade, job growth in the Syracuse area has been anemic. The lack of jobs, among other things, has caused an outward migration of population which, in turn, places additional stress on our economy. We are not alone.
Fresh air, clean water and unpolluted land. These are things that often times, we take for granted. Keeping the air we breathe, the water we drink and the land we live on free from pollution is a team effort, and on Earth Day, we celebrate our planet and make an extra push to keep it clean, as well as preserve it for future generations.
Because I am not an expert on the ethics laws of other states and because neither the governor nor the legislature has held public hearings regarding what needs to be done to strengthen the state’s ethics laws, it is hard to opine as to the veracity of the Governor’s statement. I am skeptical of the claim however in light of the fact that we have passed “landmark” ethics reform in the recent past and yet ethical lapses by elected officials continue to occur.
For the past several months, my colleagues and I have been working to deliver a new State Budget that creates more and better opportunities for all New Yorkers. The result, is a plan, just approved last week, that holds spending growth below two percent, provides new tax relief for hardworking families, includes record funding for agriculture and makes major, much-needed investments in education, job creation and efforts to strengthen our economy.
At approximately 3 a.m. on April 1, the New York State Assembly passed the last of 12 bills that make up New York’s 2015-16 budget. The state Senate had passed the legislation about four hours earlier. While technically not on time (pursuant to our state constitution, the budget is required to be completed before April 1) for all practical purposes, New York has its fifth timely budget.
It’s one of the most iconic images of World War II, a group of five United States Marines and a United States Navy corpsman, raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. This month, dozens of United States veterans made the journey back to that same island, marking the 70th anniversary of one of the most iconic battles of World War II. I’m once again calling on people to nominate those who have served to the New York State Senate’s “Veterans’ Hall of Fame.”
Domestic violence, harassment, and sexual assault continue to be issues I am concerned about. Studies reveal that this occurs more than many realize. A few new laws were recently chaptered and aim to improve victims’ rights and protections. I supported all of these in the Assembly and I am glad they have been signed into law.
American flags, cheerleaders, marching bands, balloons, rally cries and more than 3,000 people passionate about Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division. This was the scene Friday night at Jefferson Community College, as people from across our region banded together to send a message to Army leadership as they weigh potential cuts that would be devastating to both our region and the state.
National Ag week was celebrated last week. It’s a week in which we recognize the abundant crops harvested by farmers all over the nation and the contributions they make to the economy. In New York alone, the agriculture industry recorded $5.68 billion in cash receipts in 2013, up more than $1 billion from 2010.
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