Nick Reisman reports for New York State of Politics that at the Citizens Budget Commission's annual gala Oct. 12, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she wants to make "historic investments" in green infrastructure projects meant to counter climate change. "I'm committed to New York making historic investments in smart, resilient and green infrastructure," Hochul said. "We're going to be rebuilding our roads and investing in water and climate infrastructure, leading the way on clean energy and transforming our airports, and affordable housing as well. And delivering the public transportation systems that New Yorkers deserve." Democrats in Congress have a similar plan, though two Democrats and Republicans may not let that happen. "We're going to be bold and aggressive because we have no choice," Hochul said. "And that's how I am anyhow. And we could not have a better partner in federal government and I'm a former member of Congress. I know how the levers of government are so incredibly powerful in Washington when they work closely with the states." Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

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Brendan J. Lyons is reporting for the Times Union a federal judge in Utica October 12, granted a preliminary injunction on behalf of 17 unidentified medical workers who contend that the state, in establishing its vaccine mandate for health-care workers, failed to consider religious exemptions thereby violating their constitutional rights. Under the ruling, state health officials must allow employers to grant religious exemptions for healthcare workers while a lawsuit challenging the mandate makes its way through the courts. Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a statement immediately following the decision, saying her "responsibility as governor is to protect the people of this state, and requiring health care workers to get vaccinated accomplishes that. I stand behind this mandate, and I will fight this decision in court to keep New Yorkers safe." In his decision, U.S. District Judge David N. Hurd noted that the state offered no adequate explanation as to why a health care worker who qualified as medically exempt from vaccination could be afforded the ability to submit to daily testing before each shift and wearing a fitted N95 mask, but a worker with a sincere religious objection could not. Hurd concluded there is a good possibility the plaintiffs will prevail at trial by arguing the state's mandate does not meet the requirements for religious accommodations under the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, and that it violates the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause. In this case, the plaintiffs are arguing that it goes against their religious beliefs to be vaccinated because the COVID-19 vaccines that are available used fetal stem cell tissues derived from abortions as part of their research and development. The court's decision will not affect health care workers who have not invoked a religious exemption as their reason for not getting vaccinated. Read the full story in the Times Union.

There are signs the latest surge in COVID-19 cases locally is abating, and other reports show no improvement. The Daily Freeman reports that the case count in Ulster County has fallen to a two-month low. On Oct. 12, Ulster County officials reported 257 coronavirus cases, down 31 Oct. 8. That is the first time Ulster County reported fewer than 260 active cases since Aug. 7, and far below the 698 active cases on Sept. 12. In Dutchess County, though, the numbers are still bad, with 660 COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 12, up six from the day before. Dutchess County has reported 600 cases or more since the last week in September. Both those numbers are much better than the more than 2,500 COVID-19 cases reported in January. Columbia County reported 79 cases Oct. 12, up from 67 on Oct. 9. Greene County reported 42 new cases since Oct. 8, but has the same total since then, 180 people testing positive. Albany County, meanwhile, has announced one new COVID-19 death on each of the last six days. There is no evidence that Rensselaer County has reported to the public how many cases there are there recently.

Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup the Durham Town Board last week issued a negative declaration on the Bosque subdivision State Environmental Quality Review, thereby determining the development will not have significant adverse environmental impact. The decision brings the developer closer to building a housing development in the hamlet of Cornwallville. Durham does not have a planning board so the town board serves in that capacity. Bosque Development, of Hudson, submitted its proposal to the town in November 2020, seeking to subdivide 95 acres that border Strong and Cornwallville roads. Bosque intends to build a housing development with 12 new high-end homes and a farming operation. According to a letter from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, “the proposed project will have no adverse Impact to historic and cultural resources. ...” Since the project was first proposed, public comment at meetings and in correspondence has been abundant and largely opposed to the development. Concerns from community members range from environmental and traffic impact to the effect the development will have on the historic character of the hamlet. At the next workshop meeting on November 2, the board is expected to go over standards for a preliminary subdivision review and site plan review. A public hearing is required before the board can approve or deny the project. That hearing has not yet been scheduled. Read the full story at porcupinesoup [dot] com.

Morgan McKay is reporting for State of Politics Governor Kathy Hochul's approval rate has shot up 18 percentage points after 50 days in office, according to a new Marist Poll released October 12. Hochul now has a 49 percent approval rating, but at the same time, 20 percent of New York residents say they are not sure about the job she is doing. The majority of New Yorkers polled, or 77 percent, do not want former Governor Andrew Cuomo to run for office again, including 74 percent of Democrats. The poll also matched up Hochul in two hypothetical Democratic primaries and in each one, Hochul led the 2022 race. In a three-way race with Attorney General Letitia James and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Hochul received 44 percent of the vote compared to 28 percent for James and 15 percent for Williams, while 13 percent said they are unsure. With Cuomo in the race, Hochul would lead with 36 percent of the vote, James with 24 percent, Cuomo at 19 percent, Williams with 9 percent and 12 percent of those polled were unsure. Both James and Williams have yet to officially declare they are running. The poll also showed that New Yorkers have a negative view of the current direction of the state. A total of 54 percent say the state is going in the wrong direction and 39 percent say it is going in the right direction. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.

Mike Goodwin reports in the Times Union that Albany County announced another COVID-19 death Oct. 12, the sixth day in a row that the virus took the life of a resident there. So far, 413 people have died from coronavirus in Albany County. County officials did not say whether the person was vaccinated or not. Last week, Columbia County officials said that no one there who was vaccinated has died from COVID-19. Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy did say in a statement, “The best way to protect yourselves and loved ones and stop the spread of the virus is by getting the shot if you haven’t already and encouraging family and friends to do the same. And whether or not you’ve been vaccinated, I’m urging everyone to wear a mask while at indoor public places, because we know the virus can still spread among those who have gotten the shot.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Sam Raudins reports at Columbia-Greene Media that two candidates for Hudson's Common Council have dropped out but are still on the ballot, while two other candidates have initiated write-in campaigns for the seats. First Ward Alderperson candidate Gary Purnhagen said July 2 he has taken another job that precludes him from serving, and in the Third Ward, Calvin Lewis recently accepted the assistant director position with Hudson’s Youth Department, and declined to run for Common Council. Margaret Morris is attempting a write-in campaign for the First Ward seat, and Shershah Mizan is attempting a write-in campaign for the Third Ward seat. All four are Democrats, and Lewis will also appear on the Working Families line on the ballot. The deadline to change the ballot is four days after the final day to file petitions to appear in late March. “It is too late to change the ballots, so if elected, the Council will appoint representatives of its choosing in January when their term begins,” the Hudson Democratic Committee posted on Facebook. Voting begins on Oct. 23 and continues through Nov. 2. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Spectrum News reports that the final day to request an absentee ballot in this fall's election is Oct. 18. Voters should call their county Board of Elections to request a ballot if they do not want to vote in person. COVID-19 is still an acceptable reason to request an absentee ballot. Voting begins Oct. 23 and ends Nov. 2. Registered voters can also apply for an absentee ballot in-person at local Boards of Elections up until 5 p.m. on Monday, November 1. Read more about this story at Spectrum News.

Former WGXC programmer Nancy Marron died in a car accident in Windham Oct. 3. Porcupine Soup reports that Marron, 63, and Cameron Marron, 36 and from Durham, were killed in a head-on crash when their car crossed into the eastbound lane on Route 23 and hit a truck driven by Shawn Smith, 34, of Ashland. Smith was taken to Albany Medical Center in a helicopter with injuries to his right leg. Marron hosted the "Social Graces" etiquette show on WGXC in 2014 and 2015, and was a certified etiquette instructor. Click here to play a brief excerpt from her show. Marron wrote on the WGXC webpage for her show, "I received my training in Atlanta, Georgia. I had my own business in Orange County, My shop was on Main street in Cornwall, NY. I taught from ages 5 to 95. I taught many students from McQuades, brownie troops, judges and their families. I offered private and group lessons. Most classes were in my shop although on the last lesson we would go out to a nice restaurant for a formal dinner." There is a service for her passing Oct. 16 in Cornwallville. Past episodes of "Social Graces" are available in the WGXC archives at wgxc.org.

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Brendan J. Lyons reports in the Times Union that electronic records subpoenaed by investigators confirm that Brittany Commisso visited the Executive Mansion on the day she said the former Gov. Andrew Cuomo groped her in a sexually aggressive manner. The State Assembly and law enforcement officials are conducting a parallel criminal investigation into allegations that Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women. The records confirm Commisso's account that she helped Cuomo text a note from his mobile phone to the director of the governor's offices, and then immediately called from that mobile phone to confirm receipt of the text. The investigators have text messages, phone records, and swipe-card access records that back up Commisso's account of the day. She claims Cuomo slid his hand under her blouse and grabbed her breast over her bra after that text message and phone call. The incident occurred last December, not in November as Commisso first said and the state attorney general's office previously reported. "This is evidence of nothing, except that the attorney general’s report is hopelessly flawed and unreliable and Ms. Commisso’s allegations remain a moving target," Cuomo's private attorney, Rita Glavin said. "The governor has been clear that he never groped Ms. Commisso." The attorney general's original report on Cuomo's alleged harassment included a footnote that said, "(Commisso) did not remember the exact date of the incident, but recalled that it was around when she was tasked with photographing a document, and provided a copy of the photograph to us that was dated November 16, 2020." The State Assembly is expected to release its investigative report on the allegations against Cuomo soon, possibly this month, according to the paper. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Sam Raudins is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media on October 12, the Hudson Common Council will consider a resolution that would formally acknowledge a parcel on the city's waterfront as city property. Fourth Ward Alderperson John Rosenthal submitted the resolution to the Legal Committee last week, affirming the city’s ownership of a 4.38-acre parcel adjacent to the dock property owned by A. Colarusso and Son, a sand and gravel mine, stone quarry and blacktop company. The company does not dispute ownership of the property. Colarusso has proposed the construction of a haul road from its company facility on Newman Road to the Hudson River, bypassing many of the city streets. The haul road has been an issue of concern for Hudson residents alarmed about the truck traffic and the impact the project would have on the environment. The city’s planning board is currently reviewing the proposal. The resolution, as proposed by Rosenthal, recognizes that the land sale in 1981 was done so illegally. The title searches show the city has a right to the parcel, Rosenthal said. “Given that riverfront property public lands can’t be alienated in any such way unless done by the state Legislature, that this instance of a 4.4-acre parcel being sold by the city illegally to a private owner in (1981), we should address this fact now and claim it for our own...,” Rosenthal said. City attorney Jeff Baker said there is no dispute over the parcel, but the language of the resolution warrants further review. Baker said, "...I think the issue of providing access to it is one of the issues, one of the things that the planning board is looking at now.” The Hudson Common Council will hold its informal meeting Tue., Oct. 12. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics a measure criminalizing threats in New York to expose a person's immigration status was signed into law this weekend by Gov. Kathy Hochul. The new law considers threats to expose undocumented people as extortion or coercion, and is based on similar measures already on the books in California, Colorado, Maryland and Virginia. "New York is built on the hard work and determination of generations of immigrants, and we need to support people who are trying to build better lives for themselves and their families," Hochul said. The measure is intended to allow prosecutors to take on blackmail cases when a person is threatened with deportation, even when the larger case does not relate to sex trafficking or labor cases. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

MidHudson News is reporting the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office has established an Unmanned Aircraft, or drone, Unit. The unmanned vehicles have been deployed several times for search and rescue operations, including an incident in July on the Ten Mile River in Wassaic. During that effort to save two people stranded in a rain-swollen river, a sheriff’s drone was deployed to assess potential hazards and guide rescue swimmers to the stranded victims. The idea to deploy drones was brought to the agency approximately five years ago by a member of the department. The drones were initially used primarily for accident reconstruction investigations, but the unit has been deployed many times to help with missing person cases, to assess storm damage and to give detectives an aerial view of crime and accident scenes. According to the department, roughly 40 percent of the police agencies in the country now possess at least one drone. The drones are not used for surveillance purposes, according to the department. The UAS unit is currently looking to replace its existing fleet with newer models. “We are currently seeking alternative funding to replace our six drones. Because we have several FAA licensed pilots, grant opportunities are more accessible,” said Detective Sergeant Adam Harris, the unit supervisor.  Harris noted that funding for the unit may also available from asset forfeiture. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.

Lorna Cherot Littleway reports in The Columbia Paper that a number of complaints about a Galvan Foundation-run 36-unit, 55+ senior community home in the Village of Chatham were not disputed by local officials, who said they were not illegal. But other allegations residents made about the Highpointe Apartments, went unanswered, and Galvan officials did not comment for the story. Littleway quotes residents saying they are “fearful,” “frustrated,” and “wouldn’t recommend” living there. A memo from management confirmed that the heat at the apartments was not turned on by Oct. 1, violating state law. "A tour of the facility... pointed out loose siding, a three-inch drop-off from recently repaired concrete walkways to landscaped grounds, exterior mold build-up on lower siding, shrubbery that extends onto the walkways, improperly installed exhaust systems on laundry room dryers and built-up lint behind the dryers, which clogs the outdoor vent," the story says. After a 77-year-old resident was hospitalized after a nighttime fire drill, Chatham Village Mayor John Howe said there was no requirement for fire department personnel to be on site during a fire drill and village officials did not need to be notified in advance of the drill. The New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal issued a statement saying, “IRS tax code does not require management to reside or have a presence on-site 24/7, and management and/or staff that is routinely accessible on-site during the week is an accepted management standard for compliance." They said there was on-site management two days per week, but resident Gregory Pickens says that is someone cleaning rooms two days per week for two hours per day. Littleway spoke with three other residents, who did not want their names released as they feared retribution from management. They claimed the Galvan Foundation was “unresponsiveness” to repair requests, and claimed intimidation and bullying “especially of women tenants.” The non-profit Galvan Foundation began managing Highpointe in 2014 and manages 180 units in Columbia County including in Philmont and Hudson. Read more about this story in The Columbia Paper.