Tom Casey in the Register-Star reports that Wednesday evening, the Hudson Common Council passed the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program and several amendments to local laws at a special meeting at City Hall. The Council voted 9-1 to pass the measures, with only Third Ward Alderman (and WGXC volunteer) Ellen Thurston voting against. “I think the city has gained a real advantage by the zoning, by the ability to begin to consider development, (and) to pursue grants,” said Common Council President Don Moore, according to Casey's report in the newspaper. Tim O’Connor expressed his disdain for the process from the audience, "asking the council what would happen when “the state rejects the findings statement on the GEIS,” Casey reported O'Conner saying. “I supposed you’ll just move forward with it anyway,” said O’Connor. “You just dig the hole and you get the permit later, that’s what I think is going to happen.” Casey says those comments, "sparked a short shouting match between O’Connor and several of the aldermen until the meeting was adjourned." Read the full story in the Register-Star.

4:22
New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, on a bill to end the ability of Congressmen and women to profit from insider knowledge on Wall Street. “I have introduced a bipartisan bill in the Senate with fifteen of our colleagues -- Senators Rubio, Snowe, Johanns, Tester, Stabenow, McCaskill, Klobuchar, Durbin, Blumenthal, Bill Nelson, Reed, Cardin, Kerry, Sherrod Brown, and Baucus -- to close this loophole.... Our bill, which has received the support of at least seven good government advocacy groups, covers several important principles:
• Members of Congress, their families and their staff should be barred from buying or selling securities on the basis of knowledge gained through their Congressional service – or from using that knowledge to tip off anyone else. The SEC and CFTC must be empowered to investigate these cases. To provide additional teeth -- such acts should also be a violation of Congress’s own rules, to make clear that this activity is inappropriate.
• Members should be required to disclose major transactions – of $1,000 or more – within 90 days, providing dramatically improved oversight and accountability from the current annual reporting requirements.
• Lastly, individuals doing political intelligence work – contacting members of Congress, their staffs, and other individuals to gain information on investment decisions – should have to register as lobbyists to provide oversight of this industry.

The Nippertown blog reports that Catskill record label Planet Arts were among the locals getting Grammy Award nominations this year. Saratoga-based producer Joel Moss, and Woodstock-area musicians Levon Helm and Steve Earle, and Planet Arts, all got nominations for the music industry's highest honor. "Tom Bellino’s small, not-for-profit jazz label based in Catskill has produced yet another album by the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra that’s earned a Grammy nomination," Nippertown reports. "Bob Brookmeyer was honored with a nomination in the Best Instrumental Arrangement category for “Nasty Dance,” which appears on VJO’s double-CD set, “Forever Lasting: Live in Tokyo.” VJO has previously won two Grammys for albums on the Planet Arts label – “The Way: Music of Slide Hampton” and “Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard.” " Read the full story in Nippertown.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="From Art Omi website."][/caption]The Music Omi International Residency Program at Art Omi in Ghent is now accepting applications for the summer 2012 session, July 19 through August 5. Performing composers, composing performers, improvising musicians, traditional and folk players, and sound artists from all musical disciplines and backgrounds can apply. Full room and board will be provided (fellows must provide their own travel). Visit http://artomi.org/music/application.php for more information and to access the online application.

Finding the Butterfly from alexander turnquist on Vimeo.

Local weather forecast
Today's forecast is specific to East Durham.
The National Weather Service predicts a slight chance of rain showers after 1 p.m., mixing with snow after 5 p.m., with a high near 44. Friday night should be partly cloudy, with a low around 21. The weekend forecast:
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 42.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 51.
• Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 53.

Town meetings today
This is the first Friday of the month. WGXC does not know about any meetings today.

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:01 a.m./ 4:29 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 12:10 p.m. / 12:27 a.m. Saturday morning
First Quarter moon begins at 4:53 a.m.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Fri. Dec. 2:
• "Japanther," 8 p.m.: Live from RPI's EMPAC theater in Troy, New York, the art collective/punk rock band Japanther performs live on WGXC 90.7-FM and wgxc.org until 9:30 p.m., when "Hotline Radio" takes over.


Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.
The information below are options of pre-recorded material hosts can choose to play.
• Climate Change YouTube clip, above, with introduction.
• A Very Incomplete Calendar: 20111202 PLAY CLIP

Reports from UN Climate Change Converence in Durban, South Africa by Kelly Benjamin
• A report on the role of the United States in international negotiations, and how the rest of the world sees it. PLAY CLIP
• Mailes Zulu Make a representative of Zambia Rural Women at the People's Climate Summit in Durban, South Africa. PLAY CLIP
• Interview with Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action in Nigeria and Chair of Friends of the Earth International on the Climate Justice movement, the role of the U.S., and the connection between Climate Justice and the Occupy Movement. PLAY CLIP

New PSAs/STATION IDs
• A OFF PSA 20111203 Jam for Tots
• A OFF PSA 20111202 Japanther on WGXC live from EMPAC

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 4:55 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:03.
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 4:55 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:03.
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 4:55 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:03.
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 4:55 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:03.
• 4 p.m.: International Network News (INN), through Audioport
• 5 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News headlines, through fsrn.org
• Midnight: International Network News (INN), through Audioport

Lafarge North America Inc., one of the largest suppliers of construction materials in the United States and Canada, and four of its U.S. subsidiaries have agreed to resolve alleged Clean Water Act violations, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Tue., Nov. 29. The violations include unpermitted discharges of stormwater, and failure to comply with stormwater permits at 21 stone, gravel, sand, asphalt and ready-mix concrete facilities in Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, and New York, but not at the Ravena, New York plant. The Lafarge Ravena plant was not part of the settlement, and is about to be upgraded. Lafarge North America Inc., headquartered in Herndon, Va., is the largest diversified supplier of construction materials in the United States and Canada. The company produces and sells cement, ready-mixed concrete, gypsum wallboard, aggregates, asphalt, paving construction, precast solutions and pipe products. The settlement resolves violations at 21 facilities including these in New York.
• Freedom Aggregate Delevan, N.Y.
• River Road Ready Mix Tonawanda, N.Y.
• Genessee Ready Mix Lancaster, N.Y.
• New Road Ready Mix Niagara Falls, N.Y.
• Gasport Aggregate Gasport, N.Y.
• Lockport Aggregate Lockport, N.Y.
• Niagara Falls Aggregate Niagara Falls, N.Y.

The Catskill Cats beat the Greenville Spartans boys varsity basketball team in Catskill Wed., Nov. 30, in a game broadcast live on WGXC 90.7-FM. Catskill won 79-51, and Catskill student Zach Vosburgh called the action on a live video webstream set up by the Catskill High School media department, picked up by WGXC and broadcast on 90.7-FM. WGXC will broadcast other Catskill High School basketball games later this season. On Friday, Dec. 2, the Catskill High webstream will show the Catskill girl's basketball team take on the Coxscakie-Athens team. (That game will NOT be on WGXC too.)

The Register-Star reports that Hudson Mayor Rick Scalera declared free parking in Hudson throughout December. “I hereby suspend the placing of coin(s) in the parking meters throughout the City of Hudson,” said Scalera in a memo released Tuesday. The meters at the Amtrak station in Hudson, however, still need to be fed. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Local weather forecast
Today's forecast is specific to Livingston.
The National Weather Service predicts a sunny Thursday, with a high near 47. Thursday night the clear should continue, with a low around 29. The weekend forecast looks like this:
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 45.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.

Town meetings today
This is the first Thursday of the month.
ANCRAM The Town of Ancram Planning Board holds a public hearing to consider an application by Mariner Tower II, LLC with co-applicants New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC (AT&T) and Stephen Tucker and Heidi Baldwin, proposing the construction, operation and maintenance of an unmanned public utility/personal wireless service facility (a “communications facility”) on a portion of land now or formerly owned by Stephen Tucker and Heidi Baldwin totaling approximately ten (10) acres in the Town of Ancram (tax Map Parcel 205-11.2 in the Residential “R: District); and an application for a minor subdivision submitted by Tahmin who seeks to sub-divide his existing 160 acre lot and create two separate lots of approximately 20-acres and 140-acres respectively at the property located at 98 Fox Hill Road, Ancramdale, NY 12503 Tax Lot 207-1-16.200. Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 1416 County Rte. 7, Ancram (329-6512).
AUSTERLITZ Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall, 812 Route 203, Spencertown (392-3260).
COPAKE Planning Board meets at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GHENT Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
KINDERHOOK Zoning Board of Appeals meets at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).
WINDHAM Town board meets at 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7 a.m./ 4:30 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 11:44 a.m. / 11:27 p.m.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Thu. Dec. 1:
• "The Art of the Hudson Valley," 2 p.m.: Join Chad Weckler, photographer, 2008 NYFA/MARK participant, Columbia County resident and your host of The Art of the Hudson Valley, with special guests: Richard Edelman – Photographer, 2009 NYFA/MARK participant, Ulster County resident and owner of Woodstock Graphics Studio in Woodstock. Karen Davis – Photographer, 2011 NYFA/MARK participant, Columbia County resident and co-owner of Davis/Orton Gallery in Hudson. Carlos Loret de Mola - Photographer, 2010 NYFA/MARK participant, Columbia County resident and recent curator of bookMARKs, a pop-up exhibition of self-published photo-based printed matter which was presented in conjunction with the Society for Photographic Education’s Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Region’s 2011 Conference, hosted by Light Work and Syracuse University.

Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.
The information below are options of pre-recorded material hosts can choose to play.

New PSAs/STATION IDs
• A OFF PSA 20111203 Jam for Tots
• A OFF PSA 20111202 Japanther on WGXC live from EMPAC

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 7:28 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00.
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 7:28 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00.
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 7:28 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00.
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 7:28 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00.
• 4 p.m.: International Network News (INN), through Audioport
• 5 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News headlines, through fsrn.org
• Midnight: International Network News (INN), through Audioport

Michael Ryan reports in the Register-Star that Alan Huggins, who was elected Prattsville Town Supervisor Nov. 8 as a write-in candidate, is resigning, citing poor health. Republican Huggins defeated incumbent Democrat Kory O'Hara by 15 votes. Ryan's story contains an
astonishing, unattributed accusation:

"There had been widespread speculation, prior to the November 8 election, that Huggins would not serve, if elected, and that one of his write-in backers would be named to fill the slot."

(NOTE: YouTube clip is slightly not playable on FM radio. Fine after 10 p.m.)

WGXC is working with Japanther and RPI's EMPAC for a live broadcast on WGXC 90.7-FM at 8 p.m. this Friday, Dec. 2. Japanther’s performance is commissioned in conjunction with "Quote Unquote: Experiments in Time-Based Text," an interdisciplinary series presenting work by artists that use an existing text as a departure point for installation, film, and performance. For this new performance, music, video, and performance draw parallel lines between the three industrial archetypes, with Japanther and collaborators utilizing fragments of their environment to envision a utopian creative endgame.

The Japanther performance at EMPAC will be broadcast at 8 p.m. if technology allows, on 90.7-FM. At 9:30 p.m., "Hotline Radio" comes on 90.7-FM, and the Japanther performance, if still going on, will be available on a webstream, at http://comm.free103point9.org:8000/troy.mp3.m3u.

Japanther is an art project established circa 2001 by Ian Vanek and Matt Reilly in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to wild interactive live showings in unconventional settings, the duo has collaborated with Dan Graham, Gelitin, Eileen Myles, ninjasonik, and Spank Rock, among others. Japanther was featured in the 2006 Whitney Biennial as part of Don’t Trust Anyone Over Thirty and the 2011 Venice Biennial as part of Gelitin's Some Like It Hot performance. The duo has made a name for themselves through unique performance situations including shows with synchronized swimmers, oversized puppets, from out of the back of a moving truck, alongside giant dinosaurs, and with BMXers flying off the walls of the Whitney sculpture garden.

WGXC's parent organization, free103point9, has a long history with Japanther, collaborating on several projects. Japanther contributed tracks to two of free103point9's "Radio Action" CD compilations, and free103point9 also released a CD of a live performance at free103point9's Brooklyn location in 2003.

Republican William Hallenbeck has been elected mayor of Hudson, beating Democrat Nick Haddad. WGXC's Sara Kendall reported from the Columbia County Board of Elections office, and Antonio Flores-Lobos read that news on the air around 5:45 p.m. on the "WGXC Afternoon Show." At that point WGXC reported that Hallenbeck was winning by 35 votes, with a few votes still in contention, during a count of absentee and affadavit ballots. At 8:27 p.m., Tom Casey at the Register-Star reports a final tally: Hallenbeck wins by 43.

[caption id="attachment_15536" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Photo from Columbia Land Conservancy."][/caption]The Columbia Land Conservancy (CLC) reports that 54 acres in New Lebanon are getting a conservation easement, part of a “Neighborhood Conservation Block” adjacent to seven other privately-owned protected lands of over 1,000 acres. The property was donated to CLC by Hiroshi Matsuzaki and Susan Goldberg, as part of CLC’s Tradeland Program, and is now being purchased from CLC by Doug and Judy Upton, who live adjacent to the land. "My wife and I wanted to add more lands to our existing property,” says Doug Upton, Jr. “This was a great opportunity to work with the Columbia Land Conservancy to accomplish our goals and preserve the astonishing natural beauty of this property, forever.” The New Lebanon property includes vernal pools, areas that are covered by water for parts of the year, and seasonal streams that eventually flow into the Shaker Swamp, a 495-acre New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) designated Class 1 wetland system, the DEC’s highest level of protection. Columbia Land Conservancy now holds easements on 21,350 acres. Find out more about their Land Protection program at http://clctrust.org/land-protection/.

Lissa Harris in The Watershed Post reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is extending deadlines for filing a Proof of Loss claims through the National Flood Insurance program for damage from Hurricane Irene (now 150 days) or Tropical Storm Lee (120 days) in New York State. Harris quotes a FEMA press release:

The POL, which must be signed and witnessed, is the statement of the amount claimed under the NFIP policy. After a flood, property owners contact their insurance agent, report the damaged property and meet with an adjuster. NFIP policy requirements state that in the case of loss, a POL form must be filed with the insurance company within 60 days of the event that caused the damage. The POL must include a detailed estimate and other supporting documentation to replace or repair the flood-damaged property. The adjuster may, as a courtesy, provide a POL but the property owner is responsible for making sure that it is complete, accurate and filed in a timely manner. Because of the magnitude of affected states and the number of flood claims filed, extensions for deadlines for submitting the Proof of Loss forms in New York State are:
• For dates of loss between Aug. 12 and Aug. 26, 2011, the policyholder has 120 days from the date of loss to file the POL.
• For dates of loss between Aug. 26 and Sept. 4, 2011, (Hurricane Irene) the policyholder has 150 days from the date of loss to file the POL.
• For dates of loss between Sept. 5 and Sept. 22, 2011, (Tropical Storm Lee) the policyholder has 120 days from the date of loss to file the POL.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) police officers recently set up "saturation patrols" to target illegal deer shooting using artificial light, a practice commonly known as deer jacking. "The vast majority of hunters pursue and take game legally," said DEC Law Enforcement Major Tim Duffy. "We work closely with the sporting community to stop individuals from illegally taking game to the detriment of wildlife populations and the legal efforts of honest hunters." In Columbia County, they charged the following folks:
• On November 10, Todd Hall, 44, of Austerlitz and David Hall, 43, of Chatham were charged with possession of an unsecured firearm in a motor vehicle while spotlighting, a misdemeanor. Both were issued an appearance tickets returnable to Austerlitz Justice Court and face up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail.
• On November 24, Dominick Popp, 74, of Gallatin was issued appearance tickets for the illegal taking of deer and shooting over a bait pile. Popp appeared in Gallatin Town Court, apologized for his actions and paid a $750 fine.
In Albany County, DEC recorded 14 incidents of deer jacking, 11 in Rensselaer County, and one in Schenectady County. If you have information regarding illegal hunting activities, please contact the DEC Turn in Poachers & Polluters (TIPP) line at 1-800-847-TIPP (7332).

Local weather forecast
Today's forecast is specific to Preston Hollow.
The National Weather Service predicts a slight chance of showers after 3 p.m., and otherwise partly sunny, with a high near 47. Wednesday night the slight chance of rain showers continues, possibly mixing with snow after 10 p.m., with a low around 30. The rest of the week's forecast:
• Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 43.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Town meetings today
This is the Fifth Wednesday of the month, and meetings usually do not get scheduled in the fifth week.
HUDSON The City of Hudson holds a public hearing on the following proposed Local Law which was adopted by the Common Council on November 15, 2011: Proposed Local Law Introductory No. 3 of 2011 A Local Law amending the payment plan for delinquent taxes. At 4 p.m. at Hudson City Hall, 520 Warren St., Hudson.

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:59 a.m./ 4:30 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 11:16 a.m. / 10:26 p.m.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Wed. Nov. 30:
• "The Half-Hour News Hour," 3 p.m.: The Watershed Post's Lissa Harris and Julia Reischel host this fast-paced audio tour of news in the Catskills.
• "WGXC Afternoon Show," 4-6 p.m.: Luke Weller of the band Positive Mental Trip (photo above), will be live in the Catskill Community Center studio to perform a few acoustic tunes, and discuss Jam For Tots, a benefit to get money and toys for kids in Greene County for Christmas, being held this Saturday at Crossroads in Athens. A little after 4 p.m., Catskill Village President Vincent Seeley will be in to discuss events there this Saturday in the village's "A Day in December" event. Ron Diamondstein is the host of the "WGXC Afternoon Show" live from the Catskill Community Center.

Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.
The information below are options of pre-recorded material hosts can choose to play.

New PSAs/STATION IDs
• A OFF PSA 20111203 Jam for Tots
• A OFF PSA 20111202 Japanther on WGXC live from EMPAC

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 5:59 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00.
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 5:59 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00.
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 5:59 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00.
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 5:59 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00.
• 4 p.m.: International Network News (INN), through Audioport
• 5 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News headlines, through fsrn.org
• Midnight: International Network News (INN), through Audioport

Sara Kendall gives an update from the Board of Elections office:

Republican William Hallenbeck leads Democrat Nick Haddad by 22 votes after the counting of absentee and affadavit ballots in the city's first four wards. Only the Fifth Ward remains, and Hallenbeck won the Fifth Ward on Election Night, and is expected to do well in the Fifth Ward. Kendall says it should be after 6 p.m. before a final tally is announced.

Representatives from both candidates, Republican William Hallenbeck and Democrat Nick Haddad, are scrutinizing each and every absentee ballot and affadavit. Signatures are being matched to voter records and specific addresses. A consensus by all parties must be reached before the vote can be officially counted. If so much as a comma is misplaced it can invalidate the entire ballot. The process will continue until all of the "I's" have been dotted and "t"'s crossed. The count comes after Monday's day-long hand recount of every ballot cast on Election day. Representatives had begun counting absentee ballots by ward at 11:30 a.m. Ballots are being counted at the Board of Elections on 401 State St. in Hudson and is open for public observation.

Governor Andrew Cuomo's Upstate Storm and Recovery Task Force announced Monday in Windham that they are indeed giving the Town of Windham a five-year, no-interest loan of $882,000. Last week voters in Windham approved the town taking out a million dollar loan to fix the Windham-Ashland-Jewett school damaged by the flooding associated with Hurricane Irene. At the meeting, Governor Cuomo also announced that he has asked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano for FEMA to cover 90 percent of the recovery costs instead of the normal 75 percent. Many local towns including Windham and Prattsville are facing enormous clean-up bills if FEMA only covers 75 percent of the costs, and are wondering how they will ever raise enough to clean up all the damage. Cuomo also announced $1.5 million in grants to help small businesses in nine municipalities in three counties in the first round of awards from the $3 million Main Street Fund to help local businesses recover. Other items from the Upstate Storm and Recovery Task Force meeting in Windham:
• Main Street Fund
Greene, Schoharie, and Delaware counties are each receiving $500,000 through the New York State Agricultural and Community Recovery Fund to provide money to Main Street businesses money to rehabilitate buildings for commercial and main street residential use, repair and replace permanent fixtures and equipment, as well as for inventory and working capital. In Greene County: Prattsville, Hunter, Windham, and Catskill will get funds; in Schoharie County: Middleburgh and Schoharie; in Delaware County: Margaretville, Fleischmanns and Sidney.
• Highway Repairs
More than 400 road segments and bridges were closed on the state highway system after Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee hit the area last summer. As of November 28, three highways and three bridges remain closed.
• Assistance for New York Farms
The State Department of Agriculture and Markets has issued contracts to 25 Conservation Districts for over 353 awarded farms ($4,519,817) using the $15 million Agricultural Community Recovery Fund. Construction and farmland restoration is underway on many if not all of the most devastated farms. The program also has a farm operations component to aid farmers who lost feed in the flood and farmers who have continued operation of their farm stands, farmers' markets efforts and CSAs. For this program, 196 applications have been submitted, and grants will be distributed in the near future.

As of now, 15 municipalities will receive a total of $14,072,000 in five-year, no-interest loans:

· Town of Bethlehem- $1,000,000
· City of Binghamton- $1,000,000
· Town of Black Brook- $1,000,000
· Town of Cornwall- $1,000,000
· Village of Ellenville- $1,000,000
· Village of Endicott- $1,000,000
· Village of Granville- $1,000,000
· Town of Jay- $1,000,000
· Village of Johnson City- $1,000,000
· Town of Lloyd- $1,000,000
· Village of Monticello- $690,000
· Town of Owego $1,000,000
· Village of Owego- $500,000
· Village of Schoharie- $1,000,000
· Town of Windham- $882,000


Insurance Claims

Following Irene and Lee, Governor Cuomo, Department of Financial Services Superintendent Benjamin Lawsky and other state officials traveled to the hardest hit areas of the state and heard many complaints from citizens and business owners that insurers were slow to respond in handling their claims, which they desperately needed to rebuild and recover. In response, DFS today sent a letter to New York property insurance companies informing them that they are required to follow New York rules for fairness and promptness when servicing customers with federal flood insurance.

For most homeowners and businesses, insurance policies bought from the National Flood Insurance Program are the only protection against flood damage. The Superintendent's letter affirms that when New York insurers are handling claims under federal flood insurance, the insurers are still subject to state regulation requiring prompt and fair claims handling.

New York Insurance Regulation 64 sets reasonable standards for insurers to respond to policyholders of any type of insurance sold in the state. For example, it sets time frames that require insurers to:

· Respond to communications from policy holders within 15 business days.
· Commence an investigation within 15 business days of receiving a notice of claim from an insured.
· Notify the insured in writing of the insurer's acceptance or rejection of a claim within 15 business days, or notify the insured that more time is needed and the reason for the additional time.
· Notify the insured in writing of the specific reason for any denial of any part of a claim.


In addition, Regulation 64 has fairness rules, such as prohibiting an insurer from not attempting in good faith to reach prompt, fair and equitable settlements of claims or from forcing policyholders to sue by offering very low settlements.

Funds for Repairing or Replacing Furnaces

On November 16, Governor Cuomo announced that $5 million in funding has been made available to help repair and replace furnaces damaged as a result of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Funding is still available for this program, and to apply, homeowners should directly contact the Weatherization Assistance provider that serves their area. A list of providers can be found at: http://nysdhcr.gov/Apps/profiles/profile_WAPcnty.asp

Households cannot have liquid resources exceeding $5,000 and must meet certain income eligibility guidelines, which can be found at http://nysdhcr.gov/Programs/WeatherizationAssistance/.

For more information about furnace repairs or replacement call 1-866-ASK-DHCR.

Department of State's Long-Term Community Recovery Program

The Long Term Community Recovery Program will help towns and villages with technical expertise as they develop recovery strategies and design rebuilding projects to reestablish vibrant communities that are less vulnerable to future flooding. The program will provide financial assistance, up to $50,000 per grant, on a competitive basis. The grants will provide money to hire technical experts, consultants, and fund comprehensive strategic planning for the rebuilding of housing, economic, infrastructure and environmental projects. Applications may be submitted by affected municipalities or by counties or not-for-profits on their behalf. The total amount of grant funds presently available for this program is $789,896. The round 1 application deadline is January 12, 2012 at 4:00 p.m., and the round 2 deadline is March 1, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.

FEMA Assistance

Approximately 59,331 people have registered for Individual Assistance and more than $145 million has been disbursed through the Individual and Households Program / Other Needs Assistance. The Individual Assistance registration deadline is December 15, 2011.

The Small Business Administration has approved 1,567 applications totaling $69.5 million for damages from Hurricane Irene and 686 applications for $32.8 million for damages from Tropical Storm Lee.

Public Assistance projects 4,315 Sub-Grant Applications (SGAs) for Hurricane Irene and 1,278 SGAs for Tropical Storm Lee. Of these, 95 SGAs, estimated at $3,135,850, are have been filed for Hurricane Irene; and 24 SGAs, estimated at $583,578, have been filed for Tropical Storm Lee.

State agencies, including the Department of State's Codes Division, State Office of Emergency Management (SOEM), and the Department of Environmental Conservation, have been working with FEMA to ensure that any codes related issues, including placement of temporary housing units in floodplains, can be addressed promptly and safely. FEMA requires that 200 AMP utility service be available for temporary housing units and SOEM has been working with the State Public Service Commission to ensure that utility companies are responsive to FEMA's needs to get service upgraded where it is needed. SOEM and DOT have worked to expedite the permits for companies hauling the temporary housing units on state roads and to grant blanket waivers to enable companies to work without having to request permits repeatedly.

Tom Casey in the Register-Star reports that after a hand count of votes Monday, Democrat Nick Haddad picked up one vote, and Republican William Hallenbeck lost one, leaving Hallenbeck with a 25-vote lead, down from 27. Haddad's representatives also objected to three ballots, forcing a judge to make a decision, while the election board opens 188 absentee and 32 affidavit ballots at 9 a.m. Tue., Nov. 29, and counts those. Judge Patrick McGrath also denied the Haddad campaign’s request not to count 32 "permanent" absentee ballots, ones that are hand-delivered every election, usually by party officials. McGrath ruled the objection had to come before the election in accordance with the ruling in Finger vs. Martin. “We could have appealed, we still can, but we probably won’t,” Haddad lawyer John Friedman said. Haddad needs roughly 57 percent of the 220 outstanding votes to overturn Hallenbeck's lead. Read the full story in the Register-Star.