The Herkimer County Progressive

• New York to Run Out of Cash Next Month if Nothing is Done

  Up until this point in the drama that has become the State's budget gap there has been no specific date set in stone when the State would run out of money. This has allowed politics to get in the way of any real reductions in State spending or finding new' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 15, 2009, 2:19pm EST
  

• Utica Master Plan Due in April

  Well it appears as though the Roefaro Administration has made due on one of their campaign promises, and that is to create a master plan for the city that will drive its development priorities in the future. With a master plan in place the City can focus on renewal [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 13, 2009, 8:34am EST
  

• DMV Releases New Liscence Plate Design

  Since last year's budget was adopted I had been quite curious as to what our new license plates would look like. Beginning on April 1st of next year we will be required to purchase the new plates for $25 when our vehicles are registered. Personally I feel as though our' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 11, 2009, 1:12pm EST
  

• Political Economy Trap, Part 2

  This post is a response to Brendan's devil's advocate comment on the previous PET post from yesterday. His comment presented two common objections to a second round of stimulus, which I felt I could expand upon and better articulate my argument from before, plus add necessary detail and arguments. The [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 09, 2009, 6:23pm EST
  

• Political Economy Trap

  Two recent muses over the weekend:
  
  1. The unemployment rate is at 10.2% as of Friday.
  2. Recent election results and winners have made GOP majorities in CNY larger than previous.
  
  Obviously, new electees resulting from #2 have no bearing on #1. Unfortunately for the 10.2%, the original [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 08, 2009, 11:26pm EST
  

• IDA seeks additional Funds to Market County to Companies

  Ahh the timeless saying that you get what your pay for. And if this years marketing budget for the County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) is any indication of past funding, we have definitely gotten what we have paid into attempting to lure companies to our wonderful selection of business [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 07, 2009, 7:50pm EST
  

• Arcuri Announces Support for Health Care Reform Bill

  Rep. Michael Arcuri has recently announced his support for the health care bill that is now in front of the House of Representatives. While this announcement does not come as a shock, it does show more depth to him than I had previously thought he possessed after voting against [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 07, 2009, 6:43pm EST
  

• Senate Democrats Attempting to Use Budget Issue to Distance Themselves From Paterson

  Note: As a political blogger I have always attempted to capture the issues and avoid perpetuating rumors and personal attacks for the sake of readership. But I am now going to play Perez Hilton, as this is just too good to pass up.
  It seems as though Senate Democrats and [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 06, 2009, 6:30am EST
  

• Will Budget Woes be Dealt With on Monday?

  Gov. David Paterson is going to attempt to address a special joint session of the legislature on Monday in light of the current budgetary crisis. So far he has yet to actually call for a special session, but such a request can be made within 24 hours time. Senate [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 05, 2009, 8:11am EST
  

• Owens Wins NY-23 as Hoffman Conceedes

  Its official. Democrat Bill Owens will be the first democrat to represent NY-23 since the 1850's! At 12:10 last evening Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman conceeded the race to Owens after being down by 4,300 votes (recounts usually do cost the tax payers a lot of money so' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 04, 2009, 5:51am EST
  

• Election Night 2009: A Liveblog

  It's almost eight o'clock, so we have just over an hour before polls close , once we start seeing the results pour in, this post will be updated with specific results, and commentary on those results, I'll be paying special attention to the Herkimer County Legislative elections, along with New' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 03, 2009, 8:00pm EST
  

• The Road to Copenhagen: Book Review of "The End of Nature"

  With environmental issues at the forefront of the media's mind these days in the run-up of the Copenhagen conference I decided to read a book that I had been planning on for a while. The book is "The End of Nature" by Bill McKibben and was written in 1989 as' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 03, 2009, 7:26am EST
  

• The Political Ramifications of the NY-23 Special Election

  With the amount of partisan bickering going on these days it has become apparent that the political landscape is changing as we speak, but here is some concrete proof of that.  The special election for the 23rd congressional district, the seat formerly held by John McHugh (who is now the [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 01, 2009, 4:21pm EST
  

• Proposed Twenty-Year Transportation Plan Announced: Results, More of the Same

  Recently the Herkimer Oneida Counties Transportation Survey (HOCTS), released their new proposed twenty-year master transportation plan for the region.  Back in June I wrote a post asking our readers to fill out a questionnaire that they had created to help them bring in feedback from the community as to what [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 29, 2009, 5:56am EDT
  

• An Endorsement of Steve Keblish for County Legislator.

  With one week left until election day, I couldn't bite my tongue to see how this District Three election between incumbent Joe Chilelli and challenger Steve Keblish plays out. I'd like to express my support for the Republican in this race, Steve Keblish.
  
  Now time and time again I [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 27, 2009, 12:08pm EDT
  

• Why We Will Not Be Able to Recover From This Recession

  The title says it all.  With all the talk in the media these days about the end of the recession (France, Germany, and Japan have all already officially come out of recession and economists are predicting that growth reports for this past quarter will see the US officially come out [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 27, 2009, 7:29am EDT
  

• Herkimer Board Plans for New Bond That Will Perpetuate the Status Quo

  Recently, the Village of Herkimer announced that they are seeking to take out a new five year  bond to fund general Village necessities when their current five year bond expires.  The new bond will be slightly larger than the last one ($275,000 as opposed to $250,000), but because it [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 23, 2009, 8:34am EDT
  

• The Road to Copenhagen: International Day of Climate Action Reminder

  With the Copenhagen climate conference looming closer and closer, activists the world over are preparing to take to the streets during this Saturday's (October 24th) international day of climate action.  The days events are being coordinated by the 350 organization, headed by author Bill McKibben, and there are currently' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 23, 2009, 4:43am EDT
  

• The Jail Controversy Brings Out the Best in Local Government

  It seems like I have written about the ridiculousness of local political squabbles, but local politicians continue to seem to push the envelope on this issue.  This latest example stems from the, almost comical by now, debate over the new jail.  Just when it seems as though some headway is [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 20, 2009, 4:36pm EDT
  

• Road to Copenhagen: The Adirondack Perspective

  With the time ticking down till the Copenhagen climate talks (beginning on December 7th) we are going to begin a series on climate change; including how it may affect us here in the Mohawk Valley, actions being taken by our various levels of government to curb emissions, and how we [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 18, 2009, 5:02pm EDT
  

• The Current State of the Herkimer County Economy

  So I have been thinking about our region's economy and ways in which we could attempt to improve it from the local level, for it would be great to have some "home grown" growth.  With the current County Legislature elections in full swing it appears as though the focus isn't [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 18, 2009, 12:46pm EDT
  

• Paterson Announces His Plan to Address Budget Deficit: Judgement Day Awaits

  As reported earlier this week, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli stated that his office now raised their estimate of this year's budget shortfall from $3 billion to $4.1 billion.  This announcement, which most legislators seemed fine with letting go uneventfully, has sprung Paterson into action to cut this year's deficit.  Earlier [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 15, 2009, 5:48pm EDT
  

• Prison Break!

  Last Wednesday, the changes to the Rockefeller Drug Laws finally went into effect, serving to further reduce a New York State prison population that has already seen a decrease of roughly 12,000 inmates over the past decade. Despite this decrease in the number of incarcerated, New York has been painstakingly [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 12, 2009, 1:20pm EDT
  

• What The Country Manor Controversy Tells Us About The Current Herkimer County Government

  As much as I keep attempting to not completely loose faith in our system of local governance, it becomes harder with every passing day.  This latest test to my patience arises from the Country Manor controversy.
  
  So it has become public knowledge that the County has been in [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 11, 2009, 6:04pm EDT
  

• New Fee Increases Lead to Surplus for County

  Even in this year of near constant clamouring about how bad the economy is, there are some bright spots.  The Herkimer County Clerks office has recently stated that revenues from fees are up 26.65% over last year.  They have currently brought in $850,500 so far this year, as opposed [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 11, 2009, 5:01pm EDT
  

• Paterson Brings Out the Axe

  For years conservatives in New York have been arguing that the State needed to cut its budget, especially the perks that were given to state employees.  Well their day has finally come, only with a Democratic governor, as Paterson is continueing his push to close the budget gap by announcing [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 08, 2009, 6:04am EDT
  

• Full Steam Ahead With Nanotech Transformation of The Mohawk Valley Economy

  It seems as if the region's nanotech prospects continue to get better and better.  According to the Observer Dispatch, officials from Whitesboro School District are currently in the process of formulating a nanotech course to begin next fall.  To get a better understanding of how such a course could [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 07, 2009, 11:07am EDT
  

• Property Tax Facts

  With the County Legislature campaigns are ramping up for the November election I thought that I would dig up some facts on what seems to be an issue that every local and state level politician loves to complain about: Property Taxes.  
  
  We here in Upstate New York are constantly bombarded [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 05, 2009, 8:10am EDT
  

• Frankfort Town Board Gets It Right

  After hearing the news about how bad the Town of New Hartford bungled their finances it was refreshing to read about a town that has done it right.  The 2010 budget for the Town of Frankfort will see no tax increase and also have no  layoffs, something that seems [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 04, 2009, 6:16pm EDT
  

• More Evidence to Support The Consolidation of Local Entities

  I have come out in the past in favor of efforts to consolidate local government services as a way to save taxpayers money and now I have found a few more reasons why this is more necessary than ever.  
  
  Exhibit 1:The Town of New Hartford's proposed 54.3% [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 03, 2009, 8:44am EDT
  

• Herkimer Housing Authority Receives Stimulus Funds for Energy Efficiency Upgrades

  With stimulus funds still flowing, hopefully at a faster rate than they have been, the Herkimer Housing Authority (HHA) has been lucky enough to be awarded a $525,000 energy efficiency grant to upgrade their facilities from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The grant will be used to [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 02, 2009, 10:48am EDT
  

• More Fuel to The Health Care Debate

  By now I know that most people are sick of the health care debate, myself included, but I figured that I would throw a few more things out there now that I have some experience with the Scottish system.  Scotland currently operates their own health system, independent of England's, since' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 02, 2009, 4:47am EDT
  

• Kudos to Tyler!

  We here at the HCP tend to focus on what is going on in the upper echelons of government, but it is important to remember that the reason that they are able to exist is through the fact that we give them that right through our democratic system.  I [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 29, 2009, 10:41am EDT
  

• State To Begin Bottled Water Deposit on October 22nd

  Following a ruling by a Federal Court Judge that New York can implement its new bottle deposit scheme without the unconstitutional New York only bar code provision, the state has decided that it will begin the program on October 22nd.  On this date there will be a 5 [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 25, 2009, 11:41am EDT
  

• Paterson Gets Another Boost, But it Still Can't Help His Poll Numbers

  Twice this week Gov. Paterson has had news break that should have helped his poll numbers as he is beginning to ramp up his re-election campaign, but it seems to be too little too late.  The latest news, a Marist poll asking people how they felt about the rumors [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 25, 2009, 7:54am EDT
  

• Paterson's Appointment of Richard Ravitch to Lt. Governor is Upheld By Court of Appeals

  The New York Times is reporting that the State Court of Appeals (the highest court in NYS) has overturned a lower courts ruling and upheld Paterson's appointment of Richard Ravitch as Lt. Governor.  The appointment, made during the last days of the Senate stalemate as a means to end' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 23, 2009, 11:23am EDT
  

• Democratic Leaders Attempting to Discourage Paterson From Running in 2010

  Rumors are now swirling about that Democratic leaders, including Obama, are attempting to convince Gov. Paterson that he should not seek election to a full term in 2010.  Party officials are worried that his abysmal approval rating, around 20% currently, could translate into a Republican gaining control of the [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 20, 2009, 2:13pm EDT
  

• Breaking News: Lazio to Announce his Candidacy for Governor on Monday

  The Times Union is reporting that Rick Lazio, A Long Island Republican who has served in the Suffolk County Legislature, the House of Representatives, and most recently in the private sector as a managing director at J.P. Morgan Chase, is going to seek the Republican nomination for Governor in [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 16, 2009, 11:20am EDT
  

• The End of the World, Political Discourse, and What This Means for Our Nation

  There is a comedian, whose name escapes me right now, who had a joke about how he had found the end of the world. He was in Houston, Texas and he went to a Starbucks, when he came out he looked across the street and saw another Starbucks. A Starbucks [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 04, 2009, 9:00am EDT
  

• Could Free WiFi Work Here?

  The Times Union has an interesting article on the City of Albany's current project to cover the city in free wireless Internet. The system, called Albany Freenet, works like this: The City has been awarded grant money to pay for the installation of "nodes", which are large scale wireless [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 01, 2009, 1:31pm EDT
  

• Increase In DMV User Fees An Unfortunate Necessity

  The State is in a fiscal crisis. This is a fact. Also a fact, according to the State Comptrollers Office New York is on a path to be $20 billion behind in infrastructure upkeep over the next 20 years. What does this mean? That our bridges will be used [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 31, 2009, 9:52am EDT
  

• Herkimer County District Spotlight: Disctrict 1

  We're back with our second installment of the District Spotlight series. This installment, however is quite unique. Upon asking both candidates for office (Republican John Piseck, and Democrat/Independent Gary Hartman) to fill out the questionnaire, Incumbent Piseck told me that his challenger was not on the' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 30, 2009, 1:14pm EDT
  

• Local Government Run-Amok

  The typical argument put forward by those in power in our area is that we should have local control of as many issues as possible. This is due to the fact that local officials know the issues that affect their region the most, and thus would be able to create [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 27, 2009, 3:22pm EDT
  

• The Senate Coup Attempt Is Costing Us More Than Money

  It seem as though we just can't get away from the Senate Coup.  The recent unveiling of the Senate's new payroll came as  shock to most of us at a time when the State is in a dire fiscal situation, but this represents only the tip of the iceberg when' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 26, 2009, 11:22am EDT
  

• The New Dust Bowl

  The year is 1929. Times are good. Business is booming, to the extent that President Coolidge declares "the chief business of the American people is business." Farmers are producing an incredible amount of food, thanks to new cultivation techniques, technology, and demand. The Roaring 20s are in full swing, and [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 25, 2009, 9:54pm EDT
  

• New Poll: Constituents Believe Our Politicians are no Match Compared to Those From 50 Years Ago

  The Siena Research Institute has once again turned out an interesting poll which asked voters what they thought of our state's current politicians compared to those of 50 years ago. The respondents to this survey believed that our elected officials of yesteryear were superior to those that we have [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 24, 2009, 2:32pm EDT
  

• A Little Political Theory on a Saturday

  (Note: This post is not meant in any way to be elitist even though it may come off as being so.  I am merely attempting to characterize what I feel is a major lapse in our public education system and how this may be leading to the nonsensical "debates" that [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 22, 2009, 7:02pm EDT
  

• Town Hall Meeting Reactions

  Rabble Rabble Rabble! That was the order of the day at the Town Hall meeting on health care hosted by Congressman Michael Arcuri at MVCC. We here at the HCP were there to let our positions be known and also to see what the local political landscape of the area [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 20, 2009, 9:17am EDT
  

• The Public Good Argument for Healthcare

  Good turnout at the town hall meeting tonight, and excellent showing by all with the HCP. Our views were well represented in a well spoken and well thought out manner, and those opposed to health reform came across as ranting idiots. See our post on the meeting for further details.
  [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 19, 2009, 8:42pm EDT
  

• Majority of New Yorkers Want to Oust Their State Senator

  This story goes in the "no sh*t Sherlock" category, as a recent poll conducted by Quinnipiac University finds that 49% of respondents believe that the entire State Senate should be thrown out and replaced. Only 40% of respondents believed that their own individual Senator deserved to be re-elected.
  [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 18, 2009, 12:39pm EDT
  

• Michael Arcuri will be hosting a ...

  Michael Arcuri will be hosting a town hall meeting tomorrow at 4:00 at the IT Theater at MVCC, 1101 Sherman Drive, Utica, at 4:00 on the healthcare issue.
  Arcuri's town hall meeting at MVCC will be his 21st town hall in 2009 and will allow constituents to make comments' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 18, 2009, 9:12am EDT
  

• The Costs of Reorganization

  The Times Union ran an extremely interesting piece today on what the reorganization of Senate leadership since the coup has cost the taxpayers of New York.
  
  The grand total (in the last month or so): $568,957.
  
  This half million dollar plus total comes as a result [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 13, 2009, 1:42pm EDT
  

• Executive Order 25: Unleashing a Monster?

  On Friday afternoon Paterson dropped a bit of a bombshell that seems to have gone largely unnoticed by the mainstream media (I actually had to go onto NPR's website to find any information on the action after listening to a piece about it).  The Governor was busy signing Executive Orders [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 10, 2009, 3:48pm EDT
  

• Rabble rabble rabble!

  Finally, after weeks of trouble brewing, it finally happened: the first town hall healthcare debate fight! In terms of violence, it was no UFC 100. In terms of scandal, incredulity, and outright stupidity, these town hall blathering idiots may as well be Muhammad Ali blasting George Foreman before the [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 07, 2009, 1:26pm EDT
  

• Herkimer County District Spotlight: District 3

  Today we will be kicking off our district spotlight series, in which we send out a questionnaire to the candidates for County Legislature, and post their answers for you to see. We're starting off this series with a focus on District 3, which covers election districts' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 05, 2009, 3:28pm EDT
  

• Why Do Our Local Elected Officials Sit on Grant Money?

  A story that may seem similar to one that has played out in our region is now taking place in New Hartford as the Town is scrambling to spend $841,600 in grant money that it received in 2006 to extend the Rayhill multi-use trail. The money was awarded in [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 05, 2009, 12:23pm EDT
  

• High speed rail in Upstate New York?

  High speed rail projects seem to be getting a lot of attention lately with the next round of stimulus spending, and for once, Upstate is not left out of the mix in a high tech discussion. Ideas have been tossed around Washington and Albany for the past few months about [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 04, 2009, 8:15am EDT
  

• Seward's Pork

  The Times Union has set up a very helpful database that allows people to monitor where pork money is going in the State. You can search grants given by each member of both the Assembly and the Senate. I have already analyzed Butler's decisions on how to spend his [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 03, 2009, 12:21pm EDT
  

• What to do With County's Surplus?

  Herkimer County is finding itself in an odd position this year having a budget surplus while the recession has taken its toll on government pocketbooks everywhere. The Evening Telegram is reporting that the County will have a $666,000 year end surplus due to the infusion of $1.9 Million in [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 31, 2009, 12:05pm EDT
  

• Transportation Follies

  The Evening Telegram recently ran a front page article outlining a public hearing that the Herkimer-Oneida Counties Transportation Study held at HCCC, and what was discussed at the meeting.  The article read much like a layout of the general transportation issues that will face our area over the next [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 29, 2009, 6:01pm EDT
  

• Oneida Indian Nation Awarded Energy Efficiency Stimulus Grant

  I am coming close to beating the energy efficiency horse dead on this blog, but at least someone finally got it right. The Oneida Indian Nation is receiving $83,500 in Stimulus money to install solar street lighting through their Village of the White Pines, which provides low income housing [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 29, 2009, 1:22pm EDT
  

• On Local Journalism

  I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt. I usually believe that people make decisions in good faith and when I do notice something that seems to be a little out of the ordinary, I attribute it to them not catching their mistake. This being said, the quality [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 27, 2009, 8:26pm EDT
  

• Recent Poll: All State Senators Screwed Come November 2010

  The Times Union is reporting today on a recent poll by the Siena Research Institute that shows that, unsurprisingly, 77% of voters are upset at the Senate for their 4 1/2 week stalemate. Those 77% also felt that nothing had been accomplished during that period and only 18% thought [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 23, 2009, 12:36pm EDT
  

• All signs point to Seward

  (Note: This is an updated piece on the earlier article Stimulating Seward, which I reworked in response to his most recent letter to the Evening Telegram, which can be found at his blog here)
  
  Once again, Senator Seward has jumped on the Republican anti-stimulus bandwagon, this time [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 22, 2009, 10:06pm EDT
  

• Opening Post

  As a matter of introduction, let me first briefly explain how I came to The Herkimer County Progressive, and then I will give a few pertinent details as to what you may expect from me and my post.
  
  I was contacted by Brendan Woodruff who has been active in [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 22, 2009, 3:08pm EDT
  

• Its summer...

  ...therefore, it's construction season in New York! This isn't only limited to ARRA projects, signs, and bridges, though. Our blog is undergoing a slight renovation as well to update the look, feel, and layout of the site. Comments and suggestions are welcome!' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 21, 2009, 6:50pm EDT
  

• A Solution For The State's New Tax On Municipal Power

  When public officials in our area learned of an increase in the tax on municipal electricity rates, from .5% to 2%, their reaction was typical for Mohawk Valley politicians.  Local mayors were quoted in multiple Evening Telegram articles as claiming that the State continues in its efforts to crush our [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 21, 2009, 5:54pm EDT
  

• Time to Rethink Wal*Mart?

  We here in the Mohawk Valley are very familiar with the Smiling Yellow face that is always rolling back our prices, putting small mom and pop establishments out of business, and not offering any of their employees livable wages or health care.  But within the last few months the epitome [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 16, 2009, 6:23pm EDT
  

• Stimulating Seward

  Once again, Senator Seward has written to the Herkimer Telegram, this time griping about stimulus signage purchased by New York to mark ARRA-related construction sites or repaired stretches of road or bridges. Doing his best government watchdog impression, Seward ranted that the stimulus was for job creation only, not [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 16, 2009, 10:07am EDT
  

• Adirondack Study Offers Lessons for the Mohawk Valley

  When talk of climate change arises there is always talk of how the lush forests of the Northeast act as a large carbon sink that is capable of storing a lot of the carbon that we emit, but exactly how much carbon do our forests capture? This was the focus [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 15, 2009, 8:56am EDT
  

• A Local Stimulus Wish List

  The Evening Telegram tonight ran a piece entitled "What could stimulus money do locally?" The article, which was surprisingly thought out and researched (IMO), details four local projects in desperate need of stimulating and broke them down with a cost/benefit analysis. Here are the highlights:
  Philip St. bridge in [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 14, 2009, 8:06pm EDT
  

• Action Alert! Call Seward and Tell Him That His Actions Have Not Strengthened Upstate

  So far we here at the HCP have focused on commenting on the political scene in order to bring progressive issues to the forefront of people's minds and possibly even sway a few local politicians who may be trolling around the site. But now it is time to move beyond [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 14, 2009, 8:56am EDT
  

• Mr. Seward's Response

  After the last editorial in the Evening Telegram by our State Senator I was in a state of dissillusion over the fact that he was capable of uttering such nonsense and expecting us to believe it.  To me this editorial made me fell as though Seward thought that all of [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 11, 2009, 12:10pm EDT
  

• On healthcare...

  Brief post on a post by Paul Krugman on the healthcare debate.
  
  One of the biggest arguments against a national healthcare plan is that it is step one on the road to "socialism." Last I or anyone else checked, the government already pays for 46% of healthcare in [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 10, 2009, 9:29am EDT
  

• So what did we actually gain?

  Late yesterday afternoon, rogue Democrat Senator Pedro Espada Jr., the main culprit behind the month plus of inaction and ineptitude in the New York State Senate after his controversial party change, followed in the footsteps of fellow rogue Sen. Hiram Monserrate of Queens and returned to the folds of the [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 10, 2009, 9:24am EDT
  

• Paterson Takes Action With Lieutenant Governor Appointment

  At a 5 PM statewide address tonight Gov. Paterson announced that in an attempt to help alleviate the current gridlock in the Senate he is appointing Richard Ravitch as Lieutenant Governor.  Paterson cited the now month long gridlock and questions over who would be his successor should he become [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 08, 2009, 5:17pm EDT
  

• More Good News Coming Out of Utica

  It seems as though the City of Utica has recently taken my advice about focusing development in concentrated areas to heart following a story in Today's OD.  The article discusses new development that is taking place in "Uptown Utica" (the area surrounding the Uptown Theater).  Over the past few years [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 07, 2009, 12:49pm EDT
  

• Coup De Nord? Old Forge Residents Upset Over Tax Dollars Not Being Spent There

  Recently over 20 Department heads from various Herkimer County agencies hosted a meeting in Old Forge designed to inform those living in the Town of Webb where their property taxes go. Residents of Webb have grumbled for years about the fact that they pay a lot more in taxes [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 06, 2009, 6:40pm EDT
  

• To the victor...

  I don't mean to continue beating this dead horse, since there are very few developments in the Coup of 2009, but this current debacle reeks of desperation on the part of the Republicans in the State Senate. Essentially, the GOP made a mad dash for power to counteract two (well,' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 02, 2009, 8:24am EDT
  

• Local Stimulus Update

  The Utica OD is reporting that Gov. Paterson has announced a new round of transportation related projects that will be taking place in this area. Specifically these projects are "greenscapes" projects, through which a street or area is repaved, the sidewalks are rebuilt, period lighting is added, and it [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 01, 2009, 12:38pm EDT
  

• Padavan, Cola, and the Circus that is the New York State Senate

  Stumbling upon this apparently harmless and humorous story is something that, instead of providing a chuckle, provides a look at how childish every Senator, Democrat or Republican, is acting in this circus of a power grab we have in the NYS Senate.
  
  
  
  As he'd swear in' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 01, 2009, 11:15am EDT
  

• House Votes in Favor of Climate Legislation: But Arcuri Votes No

  The House narrowly passed legislation that would cap our nations greenhouse gas emissions for the first time in history 219-212 with only 8 Republicans voting for it as well as having 44 Democrats vote against, including our own Congressman Michael Arcuri. The legislation is a last ditched effort to enact [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 30, 2009, 12:32pm EDT
  

• Fewer Meetings Equals Savings?

  Oneida County Legislator Richard Flisnik (R-Marcy) has recently proposed cutting the number of times that the chamber meets from twice to once a month, The OD is reporting. The main reason he cites for the change is to cut costs by having department heads not have to attend as [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 30, 2009, 11:11am EDT
  

• Energy Efficiency Programs? Why not here?

  I have written about how one of the smartest investments that our government, or any individual for that matter, can make is in energy efficiency.  Here is just one more shining example of smart public policy in action.  The University of Illinois at Urbana has recently undergone a $5 [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 29, 2009, 10:22pm EDT
  

• Jim, Jim, Jim.

  So I usually make an honest attempt to stay above partisan politics and try and find a "middle of the road" solution that makes sense to all involved.  This includes abstaining from the pointing of fingers, for this only leads to not only continued gridlock, but today's absolutely absurdly partisan [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 29, 2009, 8:55pm EDT
  

• Progressive Idea Alert! Ava Landfill Gas to Energy Conversion

  Being a progressive minded individual around here can be hard at times, and being an environmentalist is even harder with the distances that need to be driven and people constantly complaining about renewable energy projects, but there are moments when good news emerges such as the other day. Many of [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 26, 2009, 12:47pm EDT
  

• Oneida County Sales Tax in Limbo With Senate Controversy

  In the first tangible instance of the Senate fiasco directly affecting our area, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente has stated that if the Senate does not convene and vote on a sales tax extension for the County that it will be forced to lower its sales tax rate, leaving [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 26, 2009, 12:37pm EDT
  

• Power-Sharing Deal Being Negotiated

  Apparently Gov. Paterson's threat to withhold Senator's paychecks was the move that finally brought about progress on the Senate stalemate. The Times Union is reporting that a power-sharing agreement has been reached between the two camps. The deal would allow Democrat Sen. Malcolm Smith to continue on as President [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 26, 2009, 12:09pm EDT
  

• More Economic Sensibility

  The Utica OD ran a story yesterday announcing the grand opening of the Celtic Harp Pub on Varick Street. The pub is located near the corner of Court Street and features a full menu, two levels of seating, and an outdoor stage for live music (for the record it [...]

  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 25, 2009, 1:04pm EDT
  

• Patterson crackdown and Seward suckup!

  With the Senate still deadlocked and unwilling to compromise, Gov. Patterson has taken the next step in incentivizing a resolution to this current situation: withholding paychecks. On a payday, no less! "You’re not going home. You’re not getting paid. And you’re not going to disrespect the people of the state" [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 25, 2009, 9:30am EDT
  

• A little military spending on a Thursday

  Apologies for not writing in a few days, I've been hiking the Appalachian Trail.
  
  Sen. Barney Frank (D Mass) on the House Armed Services Committee's decision to fund the F-22 fighter instead of providing money for nuclear waste cleanup (from Think Progress):
  
  "These arguments will come from'" [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 25, 2009, 9:15am EDT
  

• With the Senate Tied at 31-31 Paterson calls for Overtime

  With the Senate session ending on Monday Gov. Paterson used his executive powers to call the Senate into special session in order to address all of the non-controversial legislation that was passed by the Assembly during the past two weeks during which the Senate has yet to meet. Paterson has [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 24, 2009, 12:08pm EDT
  

• Join Us On Facebook!

  So we are finally branching out into the social networking world in order to help create a more cohesive progressive movement in Herkimer County.  Not only are we on Twitter, but we now have a Facebook page as well, so make sure that you show your support for the [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 21, 2009, 8:22pm EDT
  

• Senate Republicans Go on the Offensive

  In the ongoing Soap Opera that is the New York State Senate, the Republicans now view themselves as the legitimate holders of power in the chamber and have attacked Upstate Democrats according to the Times Union. Republican "majority" leader Sen. Dean Skelos has come out and said that Upstate [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 19, 2009, 12:43pm EDT
  

• The Great Debate?

  Social issues haven't been at the foray of what we here at the HCP have been writing about, mainly because it is almost impossible to have a mature discussion about any of them without it becoming a shouting contest with each person retreating to their previously held position. While watching' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 19, 2009, 8:21am EDT
  

• More Senate shenanigans

  Sen. Pedro Espada has achieved the status of meta-god, granting himself not one, but two votes in the Senate, thereby breaking the deadlock between Republicans and Democrats and allowing business to proceed as usual with the Republican quorum. Naturally, his Republican cronies back his claim completely, while ignoring case law [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 18, 2009, 6:47pm EDT
  

• Gas Caps (Wonkish)

  An enlightened reader (who shall remain Italian and nameless) wrote into the Evening Telegram yesterday and demanded that our politicians put an end to high gas prices by installing a gas price cap. Brilliant idea! Prices stay low, while we get all we want on the cheap!
  
  Well, this [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 18, 2009, 4:32pm EDT
  

• The Mohawk Valley and Transportation Stimulus Money

  The major media outlets have recently began debating the effects that the stimulus package has had in the four months since the bill was passed back in February. Most of these arguments revolve around how many jobs have been created or saved and the ability of the government to get [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 18, 2009, 12:40pm EDT
  

• A02356 The Health Care Answer

  I have written about specific bills and proposals here before, but this is the first time that I have decided to openly endorse, and urge our readers to support, a bill that has yet to come out of committee. While doing some reading online about Obama's health care push,' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 16, 2009, 12:20pm EDT
  

• Water Bottle Incompitance

  As part of the budget this year, Governor Patterson included what many have termed "The Bigger Better Bottle Bill". Essentially it would put a five cent deposit on all single serve beverage containers, such as water and sports drink bottles. This is the same system that we now have [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 15, 2009, 12:36pm EDT