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Wednesday December 1 2010 news updates
Dec 01, 2010 1:14 am
State Assembly passes Wage Theft Protection Act
The New York State Assembly passed the Wage Theft Prevention Act (S8380/Savino - A11726/Heastie) Monday (the state's website does not yet list the vote, but this press release claims it passed by a two-to-one margin). The bill, which protects workers by mandating minimum wages, and ensuring employers cannot use various schemes that result in underpayment of wages, according to the press release from the New York State Senate, which is controlled by the Democrats who passed the bill. The bill now heads to Governor Paterson's desk for a signature. Local Assembly representatives Peter Lopez, Marc Molinaro, and Tim Gordon all voted against the measure.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="328" caption="From ColumbiaPage.com"][/caption]Ghent fire house under construction
ColumbiaPage.com, the site for Columbia County volunteer firefighters, has an update, and photos, from Ghent: "Construction continues on the Ghent Volunteer Fire Company #1 on State Route 66. The work is being done by Hills Construction. Don Hills Jr. operates the lift as he and his crew place roof trusses."
Flood watch and wind advisory
A Wind Advisory (through 1 p.m. Wed.) has been added to a Flood Watch (through 10 a.m. Thur.) for both Greene and Columbia counties. Up to four inches of rain is possible. Information here.
Democrat concedes in Buffalo state Senate contest
Michael Gormley of the Associated Press reports for Fox23 and other outlets that New York State Senate Democrat Antoine Thompson conceded defeat Tuesday to Republican Mark J. Grisanti in the 60th state Senate District in Buffalo. Two other elections are still undecided: "Recounts continue for the seats held by Democratic Sen. Craig Johnson of Nassau County, who trails Republican Jack Martins by over 400 votes, and Westchester Democrat Suzi Oppenheimer, who's up about 300 votes over Republican Bob Cohen," Gormley reports. If both go Republican, then the GOP controls the Senate 32-30, like the Democrats currently rule there. If the two races split as the count currently indicate, the body will be tied 31-31, with new Democrat Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy breaking the deadlock. Gormley says Republicans plan a legal challenge to that tie-breaking procedure in court. Locally, since Republicans Steve Saland and James Seward represent the area, GOP control of the Senate would mean more access to pork for local projects.
Seward in Greene County Thursday
State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I-Oneonta) will be in Greene County, Thursday, December 2 at 3:30 p.m. at Kaaterskill Care Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 161 Jefferson Heights, Catskill, for their annual tree lighting ceremony. Seward will also visit the Greene County Chamber of Commerce annual holiday happy hour at 5 p.m. at Rip Van Winkle Country Club, 3200 Route 23A, Palenville.
Birthdays
December 1 birthdays include Richard Pryor, Billy Paul, and Lou Rawls.
The New York State Assembly passed the Wage Theft Prevention Act (S8380/Savino - A11726/Heastie) Monday (the state's website does not yet list the vote, but this press release claims it passed by a two-to-one margin). The bill, which protects workers by mandating minimum wages, and ensuring employers cannot use various schemes that result in underpayment of wages, according to the press release from the New York State Senate, which is controlled by the Democrats who passed the bill. The bill now heads to Governor Paterson's desk for a signature. Local Assembly representatives Peter Lopez, Marc Molinaro, and Tim Gordon all voted against the measure.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="328" caption="From ColumbiaPage.com"][/caption]Ghent fire house under construction
ColumbiaPage.com, the site for Columbia County volunteer firefighters, has an update, and photos, from Ghent: "Construction continues on the Ghent Volunteer Fire Company #1 on State Route 66. The work is being done by Hills Construction. Don Hills Jr. operates the lift as he and his crew place roof trusses."
Flood watch and wind advisory
A Wind Advisory (through 1 p.m. Wed.) has been added to a Flood Watch (through 10 a.m. Thur.) for both Greene and Columbia counties. Up to four inches of rain is possible. Information here.
Democrat concedes in Buffalo state Senate contest
Michael Gormley of the Associated Press reports for Fox23 and other outlets that New York State Senate Democrat Antoine Thompson conceded defeat Tuesday to Republican Mark J. Grisanti in the 60th state Senate District in Buffalo. Two other elections are still undecided: "Recounts continue for the seats held by Democratic Sen. Craig Johnson of Nassau County, who trails Republican Jack Martins by over 400 votes, and Westchester Democrat Suzi Oppenheimer, who's up about 300 votes over Republican Bob Cohen," Gormley reports. If both go Republican, then the GOP controls the Senate 32-30, like the Democrats currently rule there. If the two races split as the count currently indicate, the body will be tied 31-31, with new Democrat Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy breaking the deadlock. Gormley says Republicans plan a legal challenge to that tie-breaking procedure in court. Locally, since Republicans Steve Saland and James Seward represent the area, GOP control of the Senate would mean more access to pork for local projects.
Seward in Greene County Thursday
State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I-Oneonta) will be in Greene County, Thursday, December 2 at 3:30 p.m. at Kaaterskill Care Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 161 Jefferson Heights, Catskill, for their annual tree lighting ceremony. Seward will also visit the Greene County Chamber of Commerce annual holiday happy hour at 5 p.m. at Rip Van Winkle Country Club, 3200 Route 23A, Palenville.
Birthdays
December 1 birthdays include Richard Pryor, Billy Paul, and Lou Rawls.