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Weekend in review
Aug 03, 2015 6:00 am
Some of the stories that made the news Fri., Jul. 31 through Sun., Aug. 2
Rick Karlin reported at Capitol Confidential the rates for health insurers statewide next year will likely rise anywhere from 2 to 16 percent, depending on the plan, based on the information released by the state Department of Financial Services, Fri., Jul. 31. The approved increases were below the amounts initially requested by insurers. Anthony J. Albanese, Acting Superintendent of Financial Services, said: “We closely analyzed each insurer’s request and cut rates that were excessive or unreasonable. The influx of new consumers into the health insurance market in recent years means that rates for individuals will continue to be nearly 50 percent lower than before the creation of New York’s health exchange." A full list of the individual market rate actions can be found at www [dot] dfs [dot] ny [dot] gov.
John Mason reported in the Register-Star a federal lawsuit has been filed against Columbia County Undersheriff John Davi and four Hudson police officers by two Greenport men. The two men, both 19 years old at the of the incident, allege they were beaten by Davi when they were detained by the police. The civil action was filed July 29 by Brooklyn attorney Leon Glickman on behalf of Thomas Ohlerich [OLE-rick] and Nicholas Barto in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. The plaintiffs charge that not only was Davi guilty of assault and battery, but that he also used his position to avoid arrest and to gain the assistance of the Hudson police officers. In addition to Davi, Hudson police Lt. James Delaney, Sgt. Dean Rowe, officers Kevin Sweet and Nicholas Pierro were also named as defendants. It is alleged that after being approached by the four Hudson police officers in September of 2014, the plaintiffs were ordered out of their car and subjected to a search. Although the officers found nothing illegal, the men were detained against their will. Learning that Davi's son, Zachary, was one of the young men in the car, the city police called the Undersheriff to the scene. The plaintiffs allege that Davi smelled of alcohol when he arrived, and that Pierro, Sweet and Delaney taunted and threatened them. All five defendants are charged with false arrest and imprisonment, and with the use of excessive force.
own residents, business owners and officials filled town hall Thu., Jul. 30, to voice their support and concerns regarding the proposed town zoning law. The opinions expressed were a mix of those who supported the proposed zoning law and those who felt the pending law was too much too soon, and too restrictive both for existing and potential new businesses. Galen Joseph-Hunter reported for WGXC many small business owners opposed a part of the proposal that limits building expansion to 25 percent for pre-existing businesses of types not permitted based on the proposed zoning map, which outlines where specific types of activities may take place. Documentation distributed at the meeting is available at the Town of Cairo website (Town of Cairo [dot] com). To listen to the full public hearing, go to wavefarm [dot] org/archive and search for "Town of Cairo Proposed Zoning Law Public hearing."
John Mason reported in the Register-Star the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has determined that Hudson’s North Bay shacks, sometimes known as the Furgary Boat Club, are eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Places of Historic Significance. This comes at a time when the city of Hudson has been moving toward tearing most or all of the structures down. The report found the shacks are significant in the areas of maritime history, social history and architecture. While the 17 cabins most recently had recreational purposes, they evolved from buildings that were in place more than a century ago, when the property was a river’s edge fish market, according to the report. Tim O’Connor, of the South Bay Task Force, said he was not sure what it meant for the shanties to be “eligible" but, he said, he was happy. “I would say thank goodness there’s a state agency that’s above politics and took a fair look at this and recognized something of value,” O’Connor said.
Rick Karlin reported at Capitol Confidential the rates for health insurers statewide next year will likely rise anywhere from 2 to 16 percent, depending on the plan, based on the information released by the state Department of Financial Services, Fri., Jul. 31. The approved increases were below the amounts initially requested by insurers. Anthony J. Albanese, Acting Superintendent of Financial Services, said: “We closely analyzed each insurer’s request and cut rates that were excessive or unreasonable. The influx of new consumers into the health insurance market in recent years means that rates for individuals will continue to be nearly 50 percent lower than before the creation of New York’s health exchange." A full list of the individual market rate actions can be found at www [dot] dfs [dot] ny [dot] gov.
John Mason reported in the Register-Star a federal lawsuit has been filed against Columbia County Undersheriff John Davi and four Hudson police officers by two Greenport men. The two men, both 19 years old at the of the incident, allege they were beaten by Davi when they were detained by the police. The civil action was filed July 29 by Brooklyn attorney Leon Glickman on behalf of Thomas Ohlerich [OLE-rick] and Nicholas Barto in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. The plaintiffs charge that not only was Davi guilty of assault and battery, but that he also used his position to avoid arrest and to gain the assistance of the Hudson police officers. In addition to Davi, Hudson police Lt. James Delaney, Sgt. Dean Rowe, officers Kevin Sweet and Nicholas Pierro were also named as defendants. It is alleged that after being approached by the four Hudson police officers in September of 2014, the plaintiffs were ordered out of their car and subjected to a search. Although the officers found nothing illegal, the men were detained against their will. Learning that Davi's son, Zachary, was one of the young men in the car, the city police called the Undersheriff to the scene. The plaintiffs allege that Davi smelled of alcohol when he arrived, and that Pierro, Sweet and Delaney taunted and threatened them. All five defendants are charged with false arrest and imprisonment, and with the use of excessive force.
own residents, business owners and officials filled town hall Thu., Jul. 30, to voice their support and concerns regarding the proposed town zoning law. The opinions expressed were a mix of those who supported the proposed zoning law and those who felt the pending law was too much too soon, and too restrictive both for existing and potential new businesses. Galen Joseph-Hunter reported for WGXC many small business owners opposed a part of the proposal that limits building expansion to 25 percent for pre-existing businesses of types not permitted based on the proposed zoning map, which outlines where specific types of activities may take place. Documentation distributed at the meeting is available at the Town of Cairo website (Town of Cairo [dot] com). To listen to the full public hearing, go to wavefarm [dot] org/archive and search for "Town of Cairo Proposed Zoning Law Public hearing."
John Mason reported in the Register-Star the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has determined that Hudson’s North Bay shacks, sometimes known as the Furgary Boat Club, are eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Places of Historic Significance. This comes at a time when the city of Hudson has been moving toward tearing most or all of the structures down. The report found the shacks are significant in the areas of maritime history, social history and architecture. While the 17 cabins most recently had recreational purposes, they evolved from buildings that were in place more than a century ago, when the property was a river’s edge fish market, according to the report. Tim O’Connor, of the South Bay Task Force, said he was not sure what it meant for the shanties to be “eligible" but, he said, he was happy. “I would say thank goodness there’s a state agency that’s above politics and took a fair look at this and recognized something of value,” O’Connor said.