On Aug. 7, 1782, George Washington first presented a Badge of Military Merit to soldiers for “any singularly meritorious action.” The award he created from his headquarters in Newburgh, NY, was a purple, heart-shaped piece of silk and had the word “merit” stitched across the front. Only three known soldiers received the honor.
Where can you get books, learning tools, technology and more, all under one roof? The answer is your library. Each and every year, our local libraries are becoming more significant parts of our local communities, offering families and individuals not only opportunities for learning but also for entertainment, cultural experiences, job-searching tools and so much more.
Tourism is a big industry for New York. According to recent state statistics, the New York tourism industry generated $59.2 billion in direct spending, which produced an estimated $7.5 billion in state and local taxes in 2013. The industry is also reportedly growing.
Whether it’s on the mighty St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, Sandy Pond or any of the other many bodies of water that dot our region, there’s not much that’s better than casting your line on a summer day.
Not only is fishing a way of life here in Central and Northern New York, it’s also a major economic driver; helping to reel in $1.8 billion annually for our state.
The implementation of the Common Core Learning Standards was easily the most talked about issue in K-12 education this year. The Common Core is an initiative adopted by most states, including New York, that, in theory, is supposed to set new educational standards that will ensure all students are on track for college and career readiness. While on paper this seems like a good idea, the adoption and implementation of the Common Core standards in New York has been anything but ideal.
Did you know that Lyme disease can be caused by an insect as small as a poppy seed? Lyme disease, an infection caused by a bacteria spread by the bite on an infected tick is particularly prevalent in our area of the state and that’s why we need to take extra caution to protect ourselves from this serious risk. So far this year, in New York State alone, more than 450 new cases of Lyme disease have been reported.
The Legislative Session has come to a close for the year. There were many good measures that passed and many more, however, that did not come to floor for a vote. Here are a few noteworthy items that passed that I was pleased about. This list is not comprehensive and I will be sharing more about other measures which passed throughout the coming weeks but I wanted to share with you some highlights.
I asked the State Office of Unclaimed Funds to create a list of abandoned or forgotten accounts, including old bank accounts, rent or utility deposits, gift cards and other types of accounts, that the state is holding with owners’ addresses in the three counties I represent. In doing so, I discovered accounts belonging to 57,000 Central and Northern New York residents, including some area local governments.
On a number of occasions in the past, I have voted against the legalization of medical marijuana. However, in what is a rare occurrence in Albany, the sponsors of the initial legislation to legalize marijuana agreed to sit down with the Governor and others and amend the legislation in order to take into account the legitimate concerns of those who opposed it. As a result, a compromise was reached and legislation to legalize medical marijuana was passed in both houses with limited opposition.
Just recently, my colleagues and I wrapped up the 2014 Legislative Session in Albany. As State Senator, my top priority is creating more opportunities for the people who live in our region and I’m pleased to report that in the past several months, we have made significant strides towards doing just that.
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