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Patricia Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman that Ulster County could find itself with another multimillion-dollar surplus in 2022, according to a report issued this week by Comptroller March Gallagher. Gallagher said a “conservative analysis of previous years’ third quarter results indicate that Ulster County could see a 2022 surplus of $25 million.” In her report, Gallagher said the county in the first three quarters of 2022, received $258.2 million, or 73.1 percent of its budgeted revenues, the same percentage the county received at the same time in 2021. She said the county has to date realized a 9.2 percent increase in sales tax revenues when compared to 2021, and projected that sales tax revenues in 2022 could “greatly exceed” the $139 million budgeted for the year. The County Executive’s Office has said the county could receive as much as $167 million in sales tax revenue in 2022. Gallagher said the occupancy tax was up during the third quarter as well, 20 percent over the same time in 2021. The county’s 2022 budget projected $143 million in revenues from that tax. The report added that if the Comptroller's projections hold true it would mark the third year in a row the county ended the year with a surplus. “The previous two years added $51.5 million combined to the fund balance and this year may add a considerable amount more,” the report stated. Also, employment levels in Ulster County continued to increase in 2022 with 1,700 new jobs created as of the end of October. The top job-generating sectors were education and health service, and leisure and hospitality. Gallagher did warn that while the county’s financial situation has improved, the 2023 budget added 54 new positions to county government, creating ongoing expenses in the future. She urged county officials to limit new additions to the budget in order to protect county taxpayers from future tax increases during what she said is the “inevitable downturn in revenues.” Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Brendan J. Lyons reports for the Times Union that Albany Medical Center and the Center for Disability Services are receiving federal funds to establish an integrated health system that is said to be the first of its kind in the nation. Both institutions have been serving thousands of people with disabilities for more than 80 years in the Capital Region. The $2 million award announced on January 5, by U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer, is among $22 million in federal aid being distributed for a series of regional projects. The funds are coming from the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill that Congress passed just before Christmas and was signed into law by President Joe Biden on December 29. Schumer said the integrated health services at the Center for Disabilities Services is intended to have "one-stop" treatment services for those who receive services there. "It's the first time that people with severe disabilities can get really good health care ... instead of having to go from one place to another," Schumer said. "It's a one-stop shop. ... It's really the first of its kind in not only the Capital Region but I think in the country. ... It'll have tremendous cost savings because you won't have to make four different stops and see four different doctors." The Center for Disability Services, headquartered on South Manning Boulevard in Albany, runs education and vocational training programs and also operates about 50 group homes in the region. The center's mission is to empower and promote independence among people with disabilities, allowing them to lead healthier lives. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Mid-Hudson News reports that the Duchess County Legislature re-elected Republican Gregg Pulver as its chair during its reorganizational meeting on Jan. 4. The Pine Plains cattle farmer was re-elected after being nominated by fellow Republican Michael Polasek of LaGrange. “This means a lot to me,” Pulver said as he outlined some goals for the new year. One of his top priorities is to work on getting tax credits for county volunteer firefighters and first responders. Pulver is a life member of the Pine Plains Fire District. Pulver’s re-election was opposed by Democrat Craig Brendli. Barrington Atkins, a Democrat who represents the city of Poughkeepsie, nominated Brendli, who also represents part of the city, to be chairman. Democrat Randy Johnson, a city of Poughkeepsie representative said, “I was unable to attend due to a long-standing vacation. If I was there, I would have cast my vote for Pulver because, despite our political differences, we continue to work toward improving the quality of life in the city of Poughkeepsie, and that is why I am here.” Pulver said he has no plans to retire from the position.  “I am honored to do this,” he said.  “When it becomes no longer fun then I will leave, but right now I’m still having fun and I enjoy helping people,” he said. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

David Oxenford at Broadcast Law Blog predicts the biggest airwave regulation stories in the coming year with the Federal Communications Commission. President Joe Biden's so-far going-nowhere nomination of Gigi Sohn to break the 2-2 Republican-Democrat votes on the FCC continues to be the largest story. Because most issues at the FCC will either be in a stalement or leaning to the Democrats depending if Sohn gets confirmed and tips the balance on the board. The 2018 Quadrennial Review, for instance, could relax local radio ownership rules if conservatives have a tie at the FCC, but would probably continue to favor local ownership if Sohn is confirmed. And, "The Quadrennial Review also looks at the dual network rule that currently forbids the common ownership of two of the Top 4 TV networks," Oxenford writes. More media consolidation and monopolies could be allowed if the FCC remains in a two-two tie, but if Sohn is confirmed companies could see break-ups. There is also a proposal for a Class C4 FM radio service before the commission. The new stations are essentially midway between the power limits of the current Class A stations and Class C3 FMs that are limited to 25 kw. So mostly for small, rural stations, or to fit small stations in urban areas. The opposition on this issue is mostly from current broadcasters who fear more stations will clutter the FM band and perhaps remove existing FM translators from the airwaves or block new translators for both AM and FM stations. So far, the FCC has only issued a Notice of Inquiry on the proposal, but a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking may come this year. Read the full story at the Broadcast Law Blog.

NYS recently provided $52 million to establish 12 Regional Clean Energy Hubs to help residents, especially those in underserved or otherwise disadvantaged communities, sign up for various state programs to help people participate in New York's clean energy transition. Susan Cotner of the Affordable Housing Partnership, which will coordinate the energy hub in the Capital District, talks with Mark Dunlea of WOOC about the program.

Eric Weltman, Senior Organizer for Food and Water Watch in NY, discusses their 2023 climate agenda in New York and nationally. Key issues include banning gas in new buildings, promoting publicly owned renewable energy, and getting the President to declare a climate emergency. With WOOC's Mark Dunlea.

Today's daily news update.

Kenneth C. Crowe II reports in the Times Union that Rep. Elise Stefanik plans to open a district office in Rensselaer County’s new office building on Route 4, Rensselaer County officials said on Jan. 4. Stefanik, a Saratoga County Republican, now represents Rensselaer County, after political boundaries shifted last year. Stefanik's new office in East Greenbush will open next month. County Executive Steve McLaughlin said in a statement, that, "This will help expand convenience and access to important services for our residents by having Congresswoman Stefanik’s offices in Rensselaer County." Stefanik now represents all of Rensselaer County except the cities of Troy and Rensselaer and half of the town of North Greenbush. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Patricia R. Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman that Democrat Pat Ryan and Republican Marc Molinaro are swearing they will both work across the aisle in Congress if they can ever be sworn in to their new roles. Ryan was sworn in last summer, replacing Democrat Antonio Delgado for the final weeks of his term in the 19th Congressional District. But then, because of redistricting, Ryan won the 18th Congressional District in the fall's election, and Molinaro won the 19th District seat. Now, though, the Republican majority in the House of Representatives has, over and over again, failed to elect a Speaker of the House, and no other business, including swearing in members, can happen until a speaker is chosen. Ryan said, “It’s definitely disappointing Republicans can’t seem to come together at a time when clearly we’ve got to come together and work to restore trust in our democracy.... I’m just trying to get sworn in and do my job.” Ryan also addressed working with the four-vote Republican majority. He said, “We may appear more divided than ever, but it is my job first and foremost to serve the Hudson Valley.... I’ll work with anyone, regardless of party, who wants to serve their constituents and get things done. And I’ll never hesitate to call out those who dishonor this institution and this country. The stakes are too high right now for anything else,” he said. Molinaro also said he will work with both Republicans and Democrats to deliver “commonsense results that create economic opportunity, address our crumbling infrastructure, and improve public safety.” Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Both Columbia County and Greene County each announced another death from COVID-19 on Jan. 3. Greene County also reported 52 new cases, 61 active cases, and 14 patients hospitalized. Columbia County officials write on social media that, "Due to the retirement of the State’s Commcare Case Investigation System, we are no longer able to share daily case numbers," even though Greene County continues to share that information. Meanwhile in Albany, Kate Lisa reports for New York State of Politics that the state legislature is operating this term without any COVID-19 protections in place. "Today feels like the olden days pre-pandemic," NYPIRG Executive Director Blair Horner said. "People are wandering around, by and large, without masks, and the sort of the energy level, the human interaction, is there that wasn't here last year." The only difference between the 2019 and 2023 legislative sessions is an upgraded air filtration system in the state Capitol that completes two-hour fresh air exchanges before the start and at the end of the day, according to the state Office of General Services.

Groups will rally in Albany at 5 p.m. on Jan. 6 to mark the two years since the attempted coup by Donald Trump. The focus of the national day of action is to protect “Our Freedoms, Our Vote.” Alycia Bacon of Mothers Out Front discusses the event with WOOC's Mark Dunlea.

Today's daily news update.

Click above to download or play the "Better Weather." Produced by Joe Demanso of the Catskill Makers Syndicate.

WNYT reports that two Democrats in Rensselaer County are wondering if they were the actual winners of their elections, after two guilty pleas and several investigations of election fraud there. Democrat Richard Mooney said “We’ll never know.... We believe there were things going on behind the scenes in the Republican party and we’ll just never know now.” Mooney officially lost by 43 votes in the 2021 election for Rensselaer mayor to Republican Mike Stammel. Since then, Troy Councilperson Kimberly Ashe-McPherson has pleaded guilty to election fraud, and former Rensselaer County Elections Commissioner Jason Schofield will plead guilty next week on similar charges. “I’m not surprised,” Mooney said. “My team and I, we saw things during the campaign that raised red flags, and unfortunately we ran out of time and money to pursue those.” Rensselaer Mayor Mike Stammel dismissed accusations of fraud in his election, saying, “Rich Mooney is acting childish. He should grow up. The election was fair and the allegations have no merit. He should stop acting like Hillary Clinton. If he wants to run again, he can.” But Lark Rutecki lost her election for county legislature by 49 votes and also suspects chicanery, saying, “I hoped to represent the voters of Rensselaer County and for the election to be called into question because of cheating is really unfortunate.... For folks whose vote was essentially coopted, I just find that reprehensible. By taking away someone’s voice and making a presumption of what’s good and what should be done is unacceptable.” Read more about this story at WNYT.

Zack Fink reports for Spectrum News that Albany Democrats are expanding the size of their Senate Judiciary Committee just before it considers the controversial nomination of Hector LaSalle. Gov. Kathy Hochul nominated LaSalle last month as New York state’s chief judge. But some Democrats immediately protested, saying he wrote bad decisions on abortion, unions, and other issues. And while Democrats plan to give LaSalle a hearing, enough Democrats have already come out with 'no' votes to block the nomination. There has been talk of Republicans voting for the LaSalle nomination with some Democrats giving them a majority. But adding four new members to the committee may change some of those predictions. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, though, gave another reason for the four new additions, saying, “The interest in serving on this committee has grown exponentially.... There are a lot of members who want to be a part of of it, and so we adjusted it. Again, not as much as it was in 2018, but now it is more reflective of the people who have a desire to be on it. People who wanted to return to it." Republicans are saying they are eager for a hearing with Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt saying, “Our conference believes he should get a fair hearing.... Members should not come out before they have even had a chance to hear from him, talk to him, and say I’m not voting for him. Full stop.” Read the full story at Spectrum News.

On Jan. 4 New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced the leadership positions and committee chairs for the 2023 legislative session. Locally, Columbia County Democrat Didi Barrett was the only representative receiving a chair, as she will head the Energy committee. Sarahana Shrestha, in Ulster County, was first elected to the Assembly this year, and the socialist Democrat was not appointed to lead a committee in her first term. Other local Assemblymembers are Republicans, and in the minority. The leadership positions went to Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes as Majority Leader, Helene E. Weinstein as the Chair of Ways and Means, Phil Ramos as Deputy Speaker, Vivian E. Cook as Assistant Speaker, and Jeffrion L. Aubry as Speaker Pro Tempore.

Today's daily news update.

Larry Rulison reports for the Times Union that New York consumers are becoming more optimistic about their spending plans according to the latest Siena College consumer sentiment poll. The New York State Index of Consumer Sentiment was at 72.3 points in the poll, up 1.5 points since the third quarter of 2022. Upstate, that number is only 65, but that is still higher than the rest of the country, which is at 59.7 points. “Both New York’s and the nation’s consumer sentiment picked up ever so slightly over the fourth quarter with New York’s index continuing to outpace the country’s by nearly 13 points," said Don Levy, the director of the Siena College Research Institute. "While Democrats and New York City residents record scores that display more optimism than pessimism, the largest increases in sentiment this quarter were among Republicans – up nearly 8 points – and upstaters – up over 6 points." The poll shows that demand for cars and trucks is up, despite high costs and low inventory. But 64 percent of upstate residents are still worried about food and gas prices, above the statewide average of 62 percent, the poll found. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Mid-Hudson News reports that State Senator James Skoufis, the Democrat chair of the Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee, has released his committee’s report on the problems local utilities have had with pricing practices. Central Hudson Gas and Electric’s failed new billing system is the subject of most of the report. Skoufis said, “We make recommendations such as requiring the Public Service Commission to have to affirmatively vote and approve of any changes within a utility when it comes when it comes to turning over to a new billing vendor, new billing software, so that the state regulators actually have a say when that happens in an attempt to try and create another set of eyes and watchdogs before we have thousands and thousands of ratepayers injected into a new system that in this case certainly failed miserably and caused a lot of trauma.” Central Hudson has been under intense criticism and state investigation after starting a new billing system that sends out notices to customers erratically, often with large amounts due. The report from the Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee also said the state should strengthen oversight of utility hedging practices, standardize customer communications, provide limitations on retroactive billing, heighten requirements on annual audits, and include prohibitions on service shutoffs. See more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.