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Weekend in review
Jul 18, 2016 4:00 am
Some of the stories that made the news from Fri., Jul. 15 through Sun., Jul. 17:
Casey Seiler reported at Capitol Confidential the state Department of Environmental Conservation on Fri., Jul. 15, issued the first statewide drought watch since 2002, according to a press release from the DEC. “While most public water supplies are still generally normal throughout the state, below normal precipitation over the last 9 months, low stream flows, and reduced groundwater levels have prompted the need for this action,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “We are encouraging residents throughout the state to conserve water whenever possible during the coming months.”
Greg Hudson reported in The Daily Mail the Tannersville Village Board will hold a special meeting Tue., Jul. 19, to address complaints received about pedestrian safety in the village. Mayor Lee McGunnigle said residents are complaining about a lack of visibility and safe crossing opportunities for the visually impaired. “There are a lot of safety issues here for people who can’t see,” a resident told board members last week. McGunnigle said the complaints are valid, but finding a solution could be challenging. The mayor encouraged residents to attend the special meeting at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, and offer their perspective or concerns on the issue. The meeting will be held at village hall.
Rick Karlin reported at Capitol Confidential the Public Service Commission has prohibited the sale of energy by ESCOs, or Energy Service Companies, to low incomes families. The Commission says these firms actually end up costing consumers more. ESCOs offer electric or gas service to consumers, saying they are an alternative to a given region’s established power company, such as National Grid. “The record is clear that low-income customers have not benefited from electric and gas supply services from ESCOs when that’s all that’s being purchased,” PSC Chairwoman Audrey Zibelman said in an announcement about the moratorium, Fri., Jul. 15.
William Kemble reported in the Daily Freeman in another recent decision, the state Public Service Commission has given Central Hudson Gas & Electric Co. permission to pay customers for control over air-conditioning systems during times of peak electricity use. In a statement released last week, state officials said the program will reduce electric use when demand peaks. Under the program, Central Hudson will ask about 61,000 customers in the high-demand areas of Ulster, Greene and Dutchess counties, to install smart thermostats on air conditioners, pool pumps and water heaters. The program will offer an $85 enrollment incentive, plus additional credits for each piece of equipment enrolled. Under the program, thermostats would be connected to the utility using the customers’ wireless Internet service. “Events, or reductions, will be called when energy use in a particular area nears the capacity of the circuits,” a utility spokesman said. Notifications will be delivered through the smart thermostat or smart phone informing customers when a reduction is taking place. The system would call for a one- to three-degree increase in temperature during peak use periods. Customers would have the ability to override the controls by calling the telephone number provided.
Matthew Hamilton reported at Capitol Confidential Kinderhook Republican John Faso has nearly $148,000 on hand following the federal primary last month. Faso is the GOP candidate in the 19th Congressional District race against Democrat Zephyr Teachout. Faso raised more than $178,000 between June 9 and June 30, bringing the total raised since his campaign began last year to $1.4 million. Faso is a former Assembly minority leader and gubernatorial candidate. Looking further ahead on the election front, Andrew M. Cuomo's July 15 campaign filings with the state Board of Elections, disclose the governor has more than $19 million on hand, having raised more than $4 million in the past six months for his potential 2018 re-election bid.
Dan Goldberg and Addy Baird reported at Politico New York New York City reported the world’s first case of female-to-male sexual transmission of the Zika virus. The woman returned home from a Zika-infected country last month and had unprotected sex her first day back in New York City, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The woman is not pregnant. Despite this latest finding, sexual transmission remains an unlikely way to contract Zika. The virus is generally considered mild for most, but can be extremely dangerous to a fetus. Of the 309 people in New York that have tested positive, there have been only three cases of sexual transmission. The majority of those diagnosed contracted the virus from a mosquito in Latin America, the Caribbean or South America. The city health department has now updated its guidelines to encourage male and female condoms and warning that women may transmit the virus to female partners.
Katie Kocijanski reported in The Daily Mail the Greene County Jail Construction Committee recommended Thu., Jul. 14, that the Pike Company of Rochester be selected construction manager for the new county jail project. The committee interviewed Pike, BBL Construction Services of Albany and Gilbane Building Company of Providence, Rhode Island. Turner Construction Company of New York City withdrew their proposal. “We can’t go wrong at the end of the day with any of these companies. It seems [that] Pike is the unanimous choice among everyone,” said Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden. Jail Committee chairman William Lawrence said he was looking for experience, and that Pike was at the top of his list. Groden said the county legislature's Public Safety Committee will be asked to approve the jail committee's recommendation during a special meeting, 6 p.m. Mon., Jul. 18. If successful, the full legislature will vote on the proposal Wed., Jul. 20. “Negotiating the contract with Pike will be a part of the next steps going forward,...a lot needs to be worked out,” Groden said. The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision last year approved the transfer of more than 50 acres of land in Coxsackie to serve as the site for a new Greene County Jail.
Casey Seiler reported at Capitol Confidential the state Department of Environmental Conservation on Fri., Jul. 15, issued the first statewide drought watch since 2002, according to a press release from the DEC. “While most public water supplies are still generally normal throughout the state, below normal precipitation over the last 9 months, low stream flows, and reduced groundwater levels have prompted the need for this action,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “We are encouraging residents throughout the state to conserve water whenever possible during the coming months.”
Greg Hudson reported in The Daily Mail the Tannersville Village Board will hold a special meeting Tue., Jul. 19, to address complaints received about pedestrian safety in the village. Mayor Lee McGunnigle said residents are complaining about a lack of visibility and safe crossing opportunities for the visually impaired. “There are a lot of safety issues here for people who can’t see,” a resident told board members last week. McGunnigle said the complaints are valid, but finding a solution could be challenging. The mayor encouraged residents to attend the special meeting at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, and offer their perspective or concerns on the issue. The meeting will be held at village hall.
Rick Karlin reported at Capitol Confidential the Public Service Commission has prohibited the sale of energy by ESCOs, or Energy Service Companies, to low incomes families. The Commission says these firms actually end up costing consumers more. ESCOs offer electric or gas service to consumers, saying they are an alternative to a given region’s established power company, such as National Grid. “The record is clear that low-income customers have not benefited from electric and gas supply services from ESCOs when that’s all that’s being purchased,” PSC Chairwoman Audrey Zibelman said in an announcement about the moratorium, Fri., Jul. 15.
William Kemble reported in the Daily Freeman in another recent decision, the state Public Service Commission has given Central Hudson Gas & Electric Co. permission to pay customers for control over air-conditioning systems during times of peak electricity use. In a statement released last week, state officials said the program will reduce electric use when demand peaks. Under the program, Central Hudson will ask about 61,000 customers in the high-demand areas of Ulster, Greene and Dutchess counties, to install smart thermostats on air conditioners, pool pumps and water heaters. The program will offer an $85 enrollment incentive, plus additional credits for each piece of equipment enrolled. Under the program, thermostats would be connected to the utility using the customers’ wireless Internet service. “Events, or reductions, will be called when energy use in a particular area nears the capacity of the circuits,” a utility spokesman said. Notifications will be delivered through the smart thermostat or smart phone informing customers when a reduction is taking place. The system would call for a one- to three-degree increase in temperature during peak use periods. Customers would have the ability to override the controls by calling the telephone number provided.
Matthew Hamilton reported at Capitol Confidential Kinderhook Republican John Faso has nearly $148,000 on hand following the federal primary last month. Faso is the GOP candidate in the 19th Congressional District race against Democrat Zephyr Teachout. Faso raised more than $178,000 between June 9 and June 30, bringing the total raised since his campaign began last year to $1.4 million. Faso is a former Assembly minority leader and gubernatorial candidate. Looking further ahead on the election front, Andrew M. Cuomo's July 15 campaign filings with the state Board of Elections, disclose the governor has more than $19 million on hand, having raised more than $4 million in the past six months for his potential 2018 re-election bid.
Dan Goldberg and Addy Baird reported at Politico New York New York City reported the world’s first case of female-to-male sexual transmission of the Zika virus. The woman returned home from a Zika-infected country last month and had unprotected sex her first day back in New York City, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The woman is not pregnant. Despite this latest finding, sexual transmission remains an unlikely way to contract Zika. The virus is generally considered mild for most, but can be extremely dangerous to a fetus. Of the 309 people in New York that have tested positive, there have been only three cases of sexual transmission. The majority of those diagnosed contracted the virus from a mosquito in Latin America, the Caribbean or South America. The city health department has now updated its guidelines to encourage male and female condoms and warning that women may transmit the virus to female partners.
Katie Kocijanski reported in The Daily Mail the Greene County Jail Construction Committee recommended Thu., Jul. 14, that the Pike Company of Rochester be selected construction manager for the new county jail project. The committee interviewed Pike, BBL Construction Services of Albany and Gilbane Building Company of Providence, Rhode Island. Turner Construction Company of New York City withdrew their proposal. “We can’t go wrong at the end of the day with any of these companies. It seems [that] Pike is the unanimous choice among everyone,” said Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden. Jail Committee chairman William Lawrence said he was looking for experience, and that Pike was at the top of his list. Groden said the county legislature's Public Safety Committee will be asked to approve the jail committee's recommendation during a special meeting, 6 p.m. Mon., Jul. 18. If successful, the full legislature will vote on the proposal Wed., Jul. 20. “Negotiating the contract with Pike will be a part of the next steps going forward,...a lot needs to be worked out,” Groden said. The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision last year approved the transfer of more than 50 acres of land in Coxsackie to serve as the site for a new Greene County Jail.