Paul Kirby reports in the Daily Freeman that after some delay, the Public Service Commission has scheduled four in-person public hearings about Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp.’s proposal for a large price hike for electricity and gas customers. One hearing will be at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 at the Robert Antonelli Senior Center in Catskill. The others will be held in October in Kingston, Newburgh, and Poughkeepsie. At online hearings last week 48 speakers weighed in on the proposed rate increases, most opposing the price hikes. Central Hudson wants a one-year 16 percent increase in the delivery rate for electricity and 19 percent for gas customers. They claim that would add roughly $1 a day to the typical electric customer and natural gas customer. The proposal for higher costs comes as records indicate that from February 2020 through June 30 of this year, residential customers’ arrears greater than 60 days grew by 1,044 percent, to $96 million, while non-residential arrears grew by 1,971 percent, to $29 million. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

New York State of Politics reports about how New York will be affected when Republicans shut down the federal government this weekend. A spending bill needs to be passed by Oct. 1, and Republicans seem unwilling and unable to get anything through the House of Representatives. New York Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said, “I don’t see any silver lining in even one minute of a government shutdown." Federal workers in New York will not get paid if the government shuts down. DiNapoli said, “Our economy is very precarious right now. We all know that. What will this do to the financial markets? What will it do for Wall Street? I care as an investor for the pension fund for the state and if the stock market goes down – it’s already been volatile and up and down.” Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

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Jammel Cutler reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the Hudson School Board seems reluctant to help the city of Hudson create new affordable housing. The Hudson Valley, and the entire state, are in an affordable housing crisis. Hudson officials hope to build a 60-unit apartment complex on vacant land on Mill Street across from Charles Williams Park. In 1983 the school board gave the land to the city, but included a restriction that the property be used for "park and recreational purposes only" and that any other use would revert ownership of the property to the school district. Now school officials seem reluctant to void that restriction to allow for affordable housing. A statement from the board released Sept. 25 said, “The board of education cannot simply OK a city request, and the board and/or the city cannot simply withdraw or ignore the ‘park and recreational purposes’ clause. That restriction in the 1983 deed must be legally addressed before a housing plan can move forward.” The board said in its statement that it does not consider affordable housing a "public benefit." Mayor Kamal Johnson's office then released its own statement, challenging the board's statement that the city has not provided its plan, saying they have been trying to talk with school officials for months. “This particular sale is for the purpose of developing affordable housing, which existing case law successfully argues can be considered a public benefit,” the mayor’s office said. “The housing project at Mill Street plans to have rental prices set at affordable rates ranging from 30 percent to 110 percent of the area median income." The school district also implied that new housing would mean new students that the school could not handle. Johnson's statement addressed this issue saying, “Hudson City School District enrollment has decreased over 10 percent between 2017 and 2021, and 33 percent since 1997. This pattern of decreased enrollment is increasingly common in rural parts of the Hudson Valley due to the trend of fewer births and outmigration due to the rising cost of living. The district lost funding in recent years because local demographics have changed. The city of Hudson hopes to prevent further drops in enrollment by providing housing for families.” At the Sept. 12 board of education meeting, Johnson said, “I don’t have to remind the school district about the city’s problems with housing at the moment.... Housing is an immediate need; it’s the reason we can’t find any teachers, especially those of color, and the reason we can’t fill positions in all our services, including our hospitals.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Michael Ryan at the Mountain Eagle reports that the Windham Town Board last week accepted the retirement of Windham Police Chief Tor Tryland, effective October 15. The story says that, "Tryland has been on extended leave of absence since this past spring, reportedly attending to family matters in his native country." David Sherman, Jr. has been taking care of local administrative duties while Tryland was gone, and also working as a sergeant with the Catskill Police Department. Town Supervisor Thomas Hoyt said, “I’m pulling my hair out, trying to do what’s best for our community,” searching for a replacement for Tryland. “Staffing has become an issue over the past few years for the Windham Police Department,” he said. Hoyt also said, “We can’t offer as much as other agencies do. It’s a simple fact. We have started initial conversations with members of our police force, the union and the sheriff’s department about how we, as a community, can overcome this obstacle.” Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Paul Kirby reports in the Daily Freeman that Rep. Marc Molinaro has moved to Catskill. Now the Congressional representative now lives in the district he represents. Until now, Molinaro has been living in the 18th Congressional District, while representing the 19th District. Molinaro did not provide a comment about the move, which was announced by his spokesperson, Dan Kanz. Molinaro won his office while living out of the district in 2022, but promised to move into the district. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

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Ryan Whalen reports in New York State of Politics that Gov. Kathy Hochul said there would be no budget increases in 2024. Hochul said, "I just told all my agencies yesterday, hold the line on spending." Budget times are getting tougher, and Hochul says she has increased state reserves from $3.9 billion to $19 billion since she becoming governor. But she does not plan on using those reserves now. Hochul said, "When that rainy day comes, I don't want to have to be in a position to either raise taxes or cut services dramatically." Empire Center for Public Policy Research Director Ken Girardin said New York's spending rate has nearly doubled over the last three years, and overly optimistic tax revenue projections have put the state in a hole. Girardin said, "That created a pretty big gap between where spending is expected to go next year and what money the state is going to have to pay for that.... There's about a $10 billion difference between revenues and expenses.” But Fiscal Policy Institute Executive Director Nathan Gusdorf said.the sales tax revenues have been strong. Gusdorf said, "We think that those projections of future budget gaps are really driven by one month of bad tax receipts and that the fiscal picture has been steadily improving since those projections were turned out." Read more about this story in New York State of Politics.

Mid-Hudson News reports that Rep. Marc Molinaro, a lifetime politician, wants term limits. Molinaro, a Republican, is in his first term representing the 19th Congressional District. Molinaro said, “If we don’t see elected leaders cede power, then certainly legislation is necessary to ensure that no one person consumes too much of the public’s authority to do the job.” The leader of Molinaro's party, President Donald Trump, refused to cede power in 2020, backing an attempted coup. Molinaro was first elected to public office at the age of 18 in 1994, on the Village of Tivoli's Board of Trustees. Since then he has been an elected official for Dutchess County, in the state legislature, and, now, in Congress. Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

Ben Mitchell reports for News10 that small game hunting seasons will begin this week on Oct. 1. Basil Seggos, Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, said, “From waterfowl and upland gamebirds to squirrels, rabbits, and more, there are abundant opportunities for hunters across New York State.... This year, hunters can enjoy even more waterfowl hunting opportunities, with an increase in mallard and Canada goose bag limits and an extended goose season.” There are also waterfowl zones with special hunting days for youth and members of the military. Ruffed grouse hunting runs until the last day of February, though the similar spruce grouse is a state-endangered species that is illegal to hunt. The DEC has a webpage with all the dates and regulations for small game hunting this year. Read more about this story at the News10 website.

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Mid-Hudson News reports that Acting New York State Police Superintendent Steven Nigrelli resigned on Sept. 22 after Governor Hochul told him that he was no longer being considered for permanently taking the position. Sources claimed to Mid-Hudson News that Hochul found out that Nigrelli had previously been investigated for sexual harassment during his 32 years as a member of the New York State Police. Nigrelli became Acting Superintendent after former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s appointment, Kevin Bruen, resigned last year during an investigation into his special treatment of MaryEllen Tedesco, the former human resources director for the state police. Nigrelli on Sept. 22 sent a memo to all state troopers, saying in part, “After being informed by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration that I am no longer being considered for nomination to be superintendent, I immediately made the difficult decision that I have already been contemplating for the past year. While the decision to retire is not easy, primarily because I truly love being a trooper, it is my time to step aside and let the next generation lead this great agency.” Read more about this story in Mid-Hudson News.

Mid-Hudson News reports that the State Comptroller’s Office says the Germantown Central School District did not have adequate payroll processes to ensure accurate employee pay. The report found $41,000 in payroll payments to 12 employees that were either inaccurate or not authorized by the board. The Comptroller’s report recommended assigning personnel and payroll processing duties to separate individuals to provide oversight and ensure that employees are paid accurately. Germantown school officials generally agreed with the recommendations and plan to take corrective action. Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

Liz Montgomery reports in Porcupine Soup that Lee Heim has been chosen by the Catskill Board of Education Sept. 20 to fill the vacant seat created by the resignation of board member Deborah Johnson. Johnson's departure was unexpected, and "personal reasons" were given as the only explanation for the board president's departure. Heim will serve an eight-month term running from until May 21, 2024. He was the runner up in May election's for a board seat. Heim also has two children in the school district amd works for the Columbia County municipalities of Canaan, Hillsdale, and Philmont as code enforcement officer, and is also on the Town of Catskill Zoning Board of Appeals. Former board vice president Jeremy Engelin is the new president and board member Ryan Osswald is now vice president. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Michael Frank reports in the Times Union about how some places in the Hudson Valley are becoming more bike friendly. In 2019, for instance, the state connected the Empire State Trail, a 750-mile cycling and walking trail, to the Walkway over the Hudson, through the town of Lloyd and into New Paltz. New Paltz Town Supervisor Neil Bettez said, “No question, it’s been a huge boost.... Everyone in the village’s home value went up.” Todd Littman, executive director of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute in British Columbia, cites a 2023 National Association of Realtors survey that shows 42 percent saying they’d pay more for a home in a bike-friendly neighborhood. Kingston now has a major plan to improve its bikeways, and Poughkeepsie’s new Northside Line connects the Walkway to Marist College and the Hudson Heritage shopping development. And New Paltz is adding a route through town that separates walkers and cyclists from cars. The Dutchess County Transportation Council's studies have recommended adding bike laned on parts of Route 9 near Rhinebeck. In Kingston, a Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan was unveiled in July, but it uncovered some of the city's problems, saying one designated bike route, "has no markings. Bicyclists have to share a tight roadway with high-speed traffic coming from/approaching the Thruway.” Emily Flynn, Kingston’s director of health and wellness, said, “The more we do these projects, the more people will use them.... Ten years ago there was pushback, but I’m not hearing that now.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup construction in Greene County of the Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission line will begin next year. The line will deliver 1,250 megawatts of electricity from a hydroelectric plant in Québec to New York City, mostly in the Hudson River. Locally it comes on land in Greene County, following the CSX railroad tracks in New Baltimore, Coxsackie, Athens, and Catskill. In Coxsackie, it briefly runs along the right-of-way on County Route 61. In Catskill, about three-quarters of a mile west of the Rip Van Winkle Bridge it runs under State Route 23, along Allen Street and down Route 9W, crossing under the Catskill Creek. Raymond Ward, director of Greene County Real Property Tax Services, told county legislators this week that, “It’s subterrestrial until we hit Cementon and then it goes back into the river.” Constuction begins next year and will take two years to complete. County Administrator Shaun Groden said, “There is no stopping this.... There is no litigation. This is coming through. It is all approved.” Read more about this story for Porcupine Soup.

Patricia R. Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman that incumbent Democratic Ulster County Legislator Joseph Maloney from Saugerties is running unopposed for a third term in District 2. “We need to stop the corruption,” Maloney said about his candidacy. He wants to “open investigations and inquiries into the millions we have so inefficiently given away or wasted or turned a blind eye to,” and wants to reduce the county’s fleet of vehicles taken home, and investigate “time theft and unnecessary” overtime. And the Democrat wants the county to become more vocal about “the dangers to our county posed by the migrant crisis.” Maloney switched to the Democratic Party seven months after being elected to his first term, which then shifted the balance of power in the Legislature to the Democrats. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

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