William J. Kemble reports in the Daily Freeman that Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden is on the warpath against New York City buying property in the Catskills to protect the quality of its drinking water. New York City gets its drinking water from 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes spread across a nearly 2,000-square-mile watershed in the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains. New York City's Department of Environmental Protection buys property to limit reservoir contamination from stormwater runoff. “The DEP practice of just blindly acquiring property … stops development in the mountaintop towns and then it drives up the prices of any property that is left,” Groden said. So the Greene County Legislature unanimously adopted a resolution designed to limit the ability of the DEP to purchase more land in Greene County. But Greene County legislators didn't get this idea themselves. The resolution they passed is identical to one supported in December by the Olive Town Board in Ulster County. The resolutions both ask the state to allow lease agreements, which allow development on properties while also meeting standards to protect the reservoir system. Kemble does not quote anyone besides Groden, nor anyone in favor of protecting the quality of New York City drinking water. William J. Kemble reports in the Daily Freeman asking the state to adopt rules that would keep New York City Department of Environmental Protection from taking properties out of circulation in perpetuity in an effort to meet watershed rules intended to limit reservoir contamination from stormwater runoff.

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that car crashes involving deer have doubled in the first weeks of 2022 from last year in the Town of Cairo according to the Police Department there. “Last year, January 1 thru February 9, 2021 Cairo Police responded to 25 total crashes with 9 of them involving deer,” the department stated. “This year, January 1 thru February 9, 2022 Cairo Police have responded to 40 total crashes with 19 of them involving deer.” Only one of those car-deer crashes involved inju “Be alert and drive safe, we have observed deer herds of 10 or more crossing the roads at one time,” the department noted. “Remember, if you see one deer, there are more deer nearby.” Read more about this story at Porcupine Soup.

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Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup tensions ran high at a meeting of the Cairo Town Board meeting February 7, as the result of a heated discussion about the Cairo Public Library. Diana Benoit, a member of the library Board of Trustees, spoke about a lengthy Facebook post written in November by town board member Tim Powers, alleging mismanagement of the town's largely taxpayer-funded public library. In particular, he was especially critical of the salaries paid to library employees, including $70,000 for the library director as well as the governance structure of the library. Powers is of the opinion that the library should be under the full control of the town board and within the town structure. The library board of trustees responded to the content of the social media post, in an effort to address the "inaccuracies and lies" contained therein. Benoit wanted to read the board's response aloud during the meeting on Jan. 7, but Town Supervisor Jason Watts initially intervened to stop her. Watts said Town Attorney Tal Rappleyea advised against reading the letter in public session because he considered it to be a personnel issue. According to Watts, Rappleyea said he would be the person to answer Benoit's questions, but that was involved a car accident on the way to the meeting and would not be able to attend. Benoit questioned why the matter should be discussed behind closed doors when it all started with a social media post intended for the public to read. A heated exchange occurred between Benoit and Powers, with Powers accusing the library board of publishing a letter that was “nothing more than a witch hunt and disparaging comments against a town councilman.” Some members of the public expressed support for reading the letter. “Just read it, go ahead and read it,” Watts finally said. After reading both Powers' original post and the trustees' response, there were questions, especially around the unauthorized $2,400 in legal fees expended by Powers during his investigation. However, Watts was determined to shut down the discussion and the meeting, saying, “We are going to move forward with Cairo. Everything is out in the open now.” A link to Powers' original social media post and the library Board of Trustees' response can be found on the WGXC Newsroom page. Read the full story at porcupinesoup [dot] com.

Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for Capital Region Independent Media the economic impact of a major wind-power project at the Port of Coeymans was the focus of the January meeting of the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Community Business Association. The forum featured officials from Carver Companies, which owns the port, and a representative from the New York State Energy Research and Development, to discuss how the project will impact the area. The offshore-wind project, announced by state officials in October, is the largest offshore wind supply chain contract award in the state’s history at $86 million. Orsted Offshore North America and Eversource Energy signed the contract in the fall with Riggs Distler and Company to build advanced foundation components for wind turbines at the port. Peter Lion from NYSERDA said following the presentation that the project is expected to create 115 jobs in the Port of Coeymans in the skilled trades including electricians, carpenters, concrete masons, operating engineers, ironworkers and laborers. Lion said, “This project will help us reach our Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goals — decarbonization, implementation of 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind — but it’s also bringing in jobs and investment.” Work at the port is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2022, and the actual assembly of the components will probably happen during the first or second quarter of 2023. Read the full story at The Upstater [dot] com.

MidHudson News is reporting an audit released last week by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli found that the New York Power Authority has failed to install electric vehicle chargers where they are most needed. The state of New York has nearly 50,000 registered electric vehicles and nearly half of the state’s counties have no NYPA-installed charging stations. The state’s plan to increase the number of public charging stations was meant to incentivize the use of electric vehicles, reduce carbon emissions, and address the climate change movement. The Charge NY program was launched in 2013 as a statewide network of up to 3,000 public and workplace charging stations to be ready in five years. It was followed in 2018 by Charge NY 2 [point] 0, which called for the installation of 10,000 public charging stations by the end of 2021. That same year, the authority also announced EVolve NY, a $250 million project to put high-speed chargers at airports and along major highways. Despite the allocation of significant funding, NYPA has fallen short of fulfilling its goals, according to DiNapoli. As of June 2021, only 277 public charging ports or one for every 168 electric vehicles registered in the state, had been installed. An additional 221 workplace charging ports were put in place at the authority's own facilities and at facilities operated by businesses receiving power from NYPA’s power programs, but they are only available to employees. “Compared to what was promised, the rollout of electric vehicle chargers has been a disappointment so far,” DiNapoli said. “Since encouraging more drivers to switch to electric cars is a part of the state’s strategy for lowering emissions, we have a long road ahead. NYPA needs to look at our recommendations, deliver on its commitments, and get this program headed in the right direction.”  The entire report can be found at OSC [dot] state [dot] ny [dot] us. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.

David Robinson reports in the Democrat and Chronicle that Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Feb. 9 an end to New York's indoor mask mandate for businesses on Feb. 10. Masking requirements will remain in New York's schools through at least early March. "New Yorkers this is what we’ve waited for; tremendous progress after two long years, but we’re not done," Hochul said, adding local officials and businesses can still enforce indoor mask mandates. "This fight is not over. We’re not surrendering. This is not disarmament," Hochul added, noting New Yorkers who still want to voluntarily wear masks should continue to do so. New York's mask mandate was set to expire Feb. 21. Hochul said officials will reconsider the school mask mandate in early March, looking at COVID-19 data on infections, test positivity, hospitalizations and other factors. "There will not be one number that says, 'yes or no,'" Hochul said. Currently, only 38 percent of children ages 5 to 11 have received at least the first of Pfizer-BioNtech's two-dose vaccine series. Massachusetts announced it is lifting its mask mandate in K-12 public schools effective Feb. 28. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend mask use in many public indoor settings. Read more about this story in the Democrat and Chronicle.

Roger Hannigan Gilson reports in the Times Union that a group of residents in the Town of Catskill are attempting to overturn the Town Board decision prohibiting cannabis lounges there. Catskill's Town Board voted 3-1 on Dec. 29 to opt out of allowing cannabis lounges, while allowingdispensaries. Residents challenging the decision get to directly vote on whether to permit the cannabis facilities if enough they gather enough signatures for a referendum. Sara Pickens Verdon is organizing the effort to overturn the decision. "It's more than just the revenue (from cannabis), it's about bringing people to our shopping areas all around the town ... Catskill has a lot to offer — we're not trying to be a destination for cafes or dispensaries, but we're trying to add another aspect to the town," Verdon said. The citizens need signatures from 20 percent of registered voters in the town by Feb. 15 to force the referendum on the November ballot. So far they have about 300 of the 426 signatures needed, according to Verdon. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Nick Reisman reports for New York State of Politics that the Republicans suing to overturn New York's Congressional redistricting are expanding their lawsuit to include the lines for state Senate seats. “An amended petition has been submitted to the Steuben County Supreme Court in Harkenrider v. Hochul," said Misha Tseytlin and Republican former state Sen. George Winner, attorneys for the 14 plaintiffs in the redistricting lawsuit. "If accepted by the Court, the Amended Petition would add a challenge to the constitutionality of the state Senate districts, including those adopted under the law signed by Governor Hochul last week.” Republican opponents of the redistricting maps claim the district lines unfairly favor Democratic candidates, and many good-government organizations and redistricting experts agree. Decisions from the court should come quickly, as arguments are scheduled for Feb. 24 and petitioning for ballot access begins in March. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

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Natasha Vaughn-Holdridge is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media an overdose spike alert was issued for Greene County on February 6, after two non-fatal overdoses occurred within a five-hour period. The two overdoses were reported in the village of Catskill, Greener Pathways Program Director Carl Quinn said. “It heightens the concern a little bit because they were close together in time and they were both within the village,” he said. “Rather than being spread out in different areas to have them close together is a concern.” Overdoses that occur close together can indicate a contaminated drug supply. So far this year, Greene County has recorded 11 overdoses, one being fatal, Quinn said. In 2021, the county had a total of 129 overdoses and 17 fatalities. An online post from Greener Pathways about the spike alert said overdoses have occurred in the past with people using crack, cocaine and other substances beside opiates, including pressed pills made to look like a genuine pill, but that contain fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used for treating severe pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Greener Pathways recommends that if you use, use safely and assume that your supply is contaminated. A spike alert was issued last week for Berkshire County, Massachusetts when four overdoses occurred in one day, Quinn said. Berkshire is the closest nearby county to recently see an increase. “Be careful, don’t trust your supply,” Quinn said. “And reach out for help if you are at a point where you’re ready for help. There are resources available to help.” Anyone in Columbia or Greene counties that need Narcan or fentanyl test strips are asked to text NARCANKIT to 21000 or TESTSTRIPS to 77948. A Greener Pathways Peer advocate will respond. You may remain anonymous if you wish. Help is available by calling Greener Pathways at 518-291-4500 or texting 518-822-7437. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Shaniece Holmes-Brown reports in the Times Union that Rep. Paul Tonko held an online press conference Feb. 5. The Democrat who represents Albany County and other Capital Region areas in the 20th Congressional District, used it as a chance to crow about the America COMPETES Act that passed in the House of Representatives on Feb. 4. “It takes a number of steps to enhance our global competitiveness by fixing broken supply chains, boosting American semiconductor manufacturing, and turbo-charging American scientific and technological leadership,” said Tonko of the bill with $52 billion in grants and subsidies and $45 million to help the supply chain. “The $45 billion will go a long way to enable (supply chains) to compete ... with greater efficacy,” Tonko said. He said the Albany Nanotech Center may benefit if the Senate also passes the bill, and President Joe Biden signs it into law because of the $52 billion in the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act. “Semiconductors are essential components to countless consumer goods, goods that we use every day,” Tonko said. Since the interview, Tonko's Republican opponent Liz Joy Tweeted often about children wearing masks to help everyone from catching a deadly disease, but has not mentioned anything about infrastructure spending. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics New York Attorney General Letitia [Leh-TISH-ah] James' campaign for a second term on February 8, was endorsed by a half-dozen state and national organizations that advocate for women. In announcing the endorsements, the groups cited James' efforts to preserve abortion rights and access to reproductive health care statewide, as well as standing up to "powerful forces" on behalf of women in the workplace. “It may be 2022 but the fight for women’s equality is far from over; in fact, women’s empowerment faces fresh and ever-evolving attacks from forces who want to turn back the clock of progress,” James said. “...I will never back down from standing up for women and making sure no boss or politician ever comes in between a woman and her constitutional rights.” James received the endorsements of Higher Heights for America, EMILY’s List, National Organization for Women New York, Eleanor’s Legacy, #VOTEPROCHOICE, and Downtown Women for Change. On Mon., Feb. 7, the Hotel Trades Council, a prominent and politically active labor union in state politics, announced its support for James. “Four years ago, we endorsed Tish James because we knew she'd be a fearless fighter for working people and for all New Yorkers,” said HTC President Rich Maroko. “Since then, she’s proven herself to be determined, formidable, and a solid ally for working families. We are thrilled to endorse Letitia ‘Tish’ James for re-election ... Our members look forward to working to get out every single vote that we can for Tish James – the People's Lawyer." The union represents nearly 40,000 workers in New York. James was previously endorsed by labor unions and organizations like the New York State AFL-CIO, NYSUT and TWU. Read more at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

The Spencertown Academy Arts Center announced February 7, it has been awarded a grant totaling $49,500 from the New York State Council on the Arts to support the recovery of the nonprofit arts and culture sector. NYSCA [NISS-kah] has awarded more than $80 million since June 2021. Nick Van Alstine, President of Spencertown Academy Arts Center’s Board of Directors said, “What timing! This year we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Spencertown Academy arts organization, and the 175th year since the Academy was built as a school back in 1847. The NYSCA grant is targeted at supporting artists of all types, and we are excited by projects we are currently developing that will do just that. We are so grateful to NYSCA and Governor [Kathy] Hochul for this generous grant in support of our goals.” The Academy’s new projects include partnerships with related non-profit arts groups, as well as a planned outreach to professional writers, a five-day writers’ conference. Academics, agents, and published writers will lead sessions in both craft and career management. Hochul said of the grantees, “These awardees represent the best of what New York’s vibrant communities have to offer and with this funding in hand, they will be able to not only continue their creative and inspiring work, but help spur revitalization in their own backyard as well.” Read more at SpencertownAcademy [dot] org.

Today's daily news update.

Today's daily news update.

Robert Gavin reports in the Times Union that Ancram's town justice, George K. Wittlinger, a non-attorney justice on the bench since 1999, has resigned. That exit came as an investigation into allegations he encouraged a minor to have sex with his teenage son and offering her gifts in exchange for sexual favors, according to the state Commission on Judicial Conduct, was about to become public. After the 87-year-old judge was told in December about the investigation, he was scheduled to testify on Jan. 12, but resigned effective Dec. 31, agreeing to never hold a judicial office again. “Claims of sexual impropriety, particularly where they involve a judge and a minor, must be dealt with promptly as well as fairly, in order to maintain public confidence in the courts,” the commission’s administrator, Robert Tembeckjian, said in a statement. “Whether or not such serious allegations lead to criminal or civil proceedings, the Judicial Conduct Commission will investigate and take appropriate disciplinary action.” The commission said Wittlinger denied the allegations, and his lawyer, William Dreyer, said Wittlinger resigned for health reasons. “After more than 21 years serving the Town of Ancram as Justice, I find it necessary to step down from the bench,” Wittlinger wrote in a Dec. 17 resignation letter to Ancram Town Supervisor Arthur Bassin. “ …(It) has been an honor serving the town and I would like to thank you, the board and the entire Ancram family for your support over all these years.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.