The alarming local COVID-19 statistics keep piling up. Health officials in Columbia County announced nine new cases there on Nov. 21. There were 112 new coronavirus cases reported Nov. 21 in Albany County, and 24 new cases of COVID-19 in Rensselaer County. Dutchess County reported two more deaths and Ulster County reported one new death on Nov. 21. The City of Hudson issued a stay-at-home order on Nov. 19 after 15 residents contracted COVID-19 between October 30 and November 13. That's about 20 percent of all cases in Hudson since the beginning of the pandemic. The city of Hudson “strongly advises residents to stay inside their homes and avoid interaction with people outside their household,” and to avoid traveling except for work, school, or essential needs. Traveling to school, though, may not be safe, as two students and two teachers tested positive for COVID-19 in the Taconic Hills School District this week, and the Germantown Central School District is going all remote next week. Also, the Bank of Greene County branches in Hudson and Greenport have closed because of a positive COVID-19 case. The Times Union reports there is a local memorial for the over 250,000 Americans who have died from coronavirus, with cars planned to circle the state Capitol starting at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 23. The Poor People's Campaign is organizing the events that are taking place across the country. In Albany, caravan participants will gather at 1:30 p.m. at 34 Hamilton St. before leaving on State and South Swan streets to circle the Capitol.

Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Catskill Village Board November 18, adopted amendments in an effort to align the existing zoning law with the comprehensive plan. The approved amendments address building conformity, billboards and owning livestock in the village. One of the changes would return West Main Street to residential zoning, Village Trustee Joseph Kozloski said. Zoning Board Chairman Patrick McCulloch said the topic of livestock was likely the biggest issue raised during the public hearings. “People care deeply on that issue, so we are concentrating on addressing that for them,” he said. The amendments include a requirement that a property owner have at least two acres of land to keep livestock and all livestock fences and structures must conform to a 20-foot setback. The proposed amendments do not permit a landlord to place the personal property of tenants or former tenants on public streets or sidewalks. Personal property that has been placed in these areas for more than 24 hours would be subject to removal by the village. Vegetation or debris in a front yard cannot inhibit emergency access and vegetation or structures cannot interfere with pedestrian traffic; and, no building can be more than one story taller than an adjoining building. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

MidHudson News is reporting Democrat Michelle Hinchey has won the 46th State Senate District race, defeating Republican candidate Richard Amedure, Jr. “We are facing some difficult times, but I’ve always believed that great challenges lead to even greater opportunities, and that’s how, by working together, we will build a better tomorrow for all of us living in the Hudson Valley, Capital Region, and Mohawk Valley,” she said. Hinchey is the daughter of the late U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said Hinchey will “be a strong voice for our environment, our farmers, and our working families.” Hinchey will succeed Republican George Amedore of Rotterdam. Amedore announced in November that he would not run for a fourth term. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

The Daily Freeman is reporting a tiny owl found in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree as it was being set up this week is being cared for at a wildlife center in Ulster County and will soon be released back into the wild. A worker helping to set up the tree found the little bird of prey, now named Rockefeller, among the tree's massive branches, dehydrated and hungry, but otherwise unharmed. Rockefeller is now being cared for at the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center on Route 212 in Saugerties. Ellen Kalish, director and founder of the center said the bird is an adult male Saw-whet, one of the tiniest owls. It was taken to a veterinarian this week and received a clean bill of health. Kalish said her tentative plan is to release the owl back to the wild from her Saugerties location. "I just want to make sure he's well-fed before he goes," she said. "He was a little on the thin side when he came in. He probably hadn't eaten in a number of days. So I just want to make sure that he's at his best weight and health, and then he goes." The Rockefeller Center tree, a 75-foot Norway spruce, was taken to Manhattan this weekend from Oneonta, where it was cut down two days earlier. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

The local COVID-19 numbers are staggering, with each day bringing new record totals, and more deaths. There were 15 new COVID-19 cases in Greene County announced Nov. 20. Greene County health officials said two people who ate at the Barnwood Restaurant in Catskill between 12:30 and 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, have tested positive for coronavirus. Columbia County did not announce numbers Nov. 20. There were 41 cases of COVID-19 confirmed by the Rensselaer County Health Department on Nov. 20. Those 41 cases are the highest single-day total for Rensselaer County since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. Dutchess County reported its 12th death from COVID, with 53 newly confirmed cases of coronavirus. Ulster County recorded another 33 cases of COVID-19 on Nov. 20. And Albany County announced 87 new COVID-19 cases.

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The Daily Freeman is reporting the 10 counties located in the Mid- and Lower Hudson Valley gained a combined 22,000 non-farm jobs in October, continuing to recover from some of the losses caused by the coronavirus-related economic slump, according to the state Department of Labor. The regionwide total at the end of October was 942,600, up from 920,600 in September, but still sharply lower than the 1.03 million total of a year ago. Non-farm employment includes all positions in the private and public sectors, with the exception of those in agriculture. There was a slight increase in the non-farm job totals in Greene and Columbia counties from September to October, the labor department said. Greene County’s total rose from 14,000 to 14,200, while Columbia's climbed from 20,000 in September to 20,500 in October. The October 2019 totals in the two counties were 14,700 in Greene and 21,800 in Columbia. Similar increases were reported in Dutchess, Putnam and Ulster counties. Statewide, non-farm employment increased, as well. The state unemployment rate last month was 9.6 percent, a small improvement over the September rate of 9.7 percent, but still much higher than the October 2019 rate of 3.9 percent. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Natasha Vaughn is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Basilica Hudson has announced its annual Farm and Flea Holiday Market will be virtual this year. The market has been an annual event for the past eight years. Due to COVID-19 concerns, holding the traditional in-person event was not possible. So, the market will include more than 70 Hudson Valley-based businesses selling goods and services online. “This pandemic is hitting hard on our cultural and social livelihoods, so sticking together locally and putting our creative minds together is how we will get through this challenging time,” Melissa Auf der Maur, Basilica Hudson co-founder and director, said in a statement. Shoppers can choose items from local and regional vendors offering handmade items, crafts, unique food options and more. The vendors include a variety of farmers, artisans, local chefs, vintage collectors and more. Basilica Farm and Flea was awarded a $5,000 grant by the Hudson Tourism Board. Those funds were used to create the website that links seller sites and to support educational workshops and promotion of local businesses. Basilica Farm and Flea holds two markets each year, in the spring on Mother’s Day weekend and the holiday market after Thanksgiving. The virtual market can be found at BasilicaHudson [dot] org. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

MidHudson News is reporting the Dutchess County Legislature’s Budget, Finance and Personnel Committee, November 19, approved the county's proposed $502 million 2021 budget. By a vote of nine to three, lawmakers adopted the plan which includes funding for law enforcement, parks and COVID-19 relief. The committee cut $18 million in spending. The full Legislature will vote December 3, on the proposal. If adopted, the spending plan will mark the sixth consecutive year of lower taxes for county residents. “Because of the work done by this legislative body over the past few years, under the leadership of Chairman of the Legislature Gregg Pulver and in partnership with County Executive Marc Molinaro, we may be one of the only counties in the state able to say we’ve managed to cut taxes for the sixth year in a row while still securing funding for essential services during this pandemic. I am proud of the budget we’ve created and am confident it will pass with flying colors in the legislature in December,” Committee Chairman Will Truitt said. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

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COVID-19 cases were again rising Nov. 19 at an alarming rate. In Columbia County there was another death announced Nov. 19, and 21 new cases were also reported there. In Greene County, six more cases were announced. Ulster County announced 74 new diagnoses of coronavirus, with a positivity rate of 7.4 percent, the highest rate there since a 13.5 percent rate on May 11. The city of Kingston and the Ulster County government are restricting access to their municipal buildings beginning Nov. 23 and lasting until January. Rensselaer County announced 40 new COVID-19 cases Nov. 19. There were 94 new cases announced in Albany County, where county executive Dan McCoy complained that people were not being honest with health officials about how they caught the disease. “We just need you to be truthful. The information provided to us allows us to identify potential clusters or hotspots that help prevent people from getting sick or worse,” he said. New York State COVID-19 hospitalizations are now at the highest mark since June 8. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Nov. 19 that all these numbers will soon be higher. "The virus is complicated but you know what it's doing to do....I will wager you, if people are not extraordinarily diligent and act in a way they have never acted before you will see a real spike," Cuomo warned.

Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Greene County Legislature November 18, approved the county's $112.6 million 2021 budget. The spending plan will stay relatively flat, increasing by $500,000; the budget calls for $2.5 million to be drawn from the county's reserve fund, as well. The amount to be raised by taxes will remain at the 2020 level of $27.4 million, with nine of the county’s 14 towns seeing tax-rate reductions, according to the budget document. “Our legislators and county leaders have done an excellent job holding the line on expenses and continuing to provide essential services during a quite challenging time,” Legislature Chairman Patrick Linger said. “We’ve delivered a very conservative budget to provide excellent value to our taxpayers,” Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden said. At the end of the year, the county is projected to have $49.5 million of debt, with $38 million coming from the new Greene County Jail project. Sales-tax revenue is projected to increase by $500,000 in the 2021 budget, to $32.7 million. “The phenomenon for sales tax is that the mall may have been closed but people are still buying their sneakers; they’re just doing it online,” Groden said. He noted that people may be changing the way they shop and how they shop, but they are still shopping. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

William J. Kemble and Mike Stribl are reporting for the Daily Freeman the state Department of Public Service November 19, called for Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp. to be fined $16 million for violations related to the recovery from Tropical Storm Isaias in August. The department also recommended fines of $102 million for New York City-based Con Edison and $19 million for Orange and Rockland Utilities related to the same recovery. The utilities were warned about two weeks after the storm that steep fines were possible. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said during a conference call with reporters the proposed Central Hudson fine is the result of 32 separate violations related to power outages that lasted from August 4 until August 8. Con Ed was cited for 33 violations, and O and R for 38. All three companies will have the opportunity to dispute the recommended fines. The Department of Public Service said in a 46-page report that Isaias caused 116,000 customers of Central Hudson to lose power. The utility serves a total of about 306,000 customers in eight New York counties, including Ulster, Dutchess, Greene and Columbia. Con Ed had 330,000 outages, and O&R had 189,000, the report said. The report said Central Hudson and the other two utilities did not have enough personnel to make repairs, take calls from customers and provide outage and repair updates online. State Investigators also said preparations for Isaias by all three utilities were based on a misreading of the storm’s track, resulting in requests for outside assistance not being made until the storm was about to hit the area. Read more in The Daily Freeman.

Emily Fego is reporting for The Legislative Gazette new legislation has been signed into law last week will make it easier for state residents to cancel memberships, escape confusing service plans, and unsubscribe from misleading subscriptions. New York will join 25 other states with some form of regulation to protect against deceptive agreements by businesses. As a result, New Yorkers will no longer be responsible for unscramble the fine print on sales offers to determine whether or not they are being lured into a misleading agreement. Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week signed the consumer protection legislation into law. Canceling subscriptions and memberships in person — as some agreements previously required — is no longer just a hassle, but a public health hazard due to COVID-19. Also of concern are the number of incidents of consumers being locked into an automatic renewal under false pretenses. This new law will require businesses to be transparent with their contracts, automatic renewal offers, and continuous service plans and allow New Yorkers to cancel subscription services with ease. The legislation will take effect on Feb. 9, 2021, exactly 90 days after Cuomo signed it into law. Read more in The Legislative Gazette.

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The Daily Freeman is reporting U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado has secured a second term. The Associated Press late Wed., Nov. 18, called the race for the Rhinebeck Democrat, over Republican Kyle Van De Water. Van De Water conceded early Thursday. Delgado prevailed with nearly 157,000 votes, besting Van De Water by more than 17,600 votes. Although Delgado led Van De Water the night of the election with about 60,000 absentee ballots cast in the race, a winner could not be declared until enough of those votes were counted to make one candidate's lead insurmountable. Of the 20,000 votes tabulated since Election Day, Delgado picked up about 15,000 and Van De Water gained roughly 5,000. Van De Water, in a Thursday morning email, said: "I just called Congressman Delgado to congratulate him on winning a second term to the House of Representatives. ... We live in divisive times, and I am proud of the fact that we kept the campaign and debates civil and focused on the issues," he said. "I'm looking forward to the rematch in 2022," Van De Water said. There was no immediate word from the Delgado campaign. In other election news, Ariél Zangla is reporting for the Daily Freeman in the 46th State Senate District race, Republican Richard Amedure was leading, but both he and Democrat Michelle Hinchey issued statements November 19, indicating they would wait for all votes to be counted before declaring a winner. Not only are there outstanding absentee ballots to count, there is also a pending lawsuit. The winner of the election will succeed Republican George Amedore of Rotterdam. Amedore announced in November that he would not run for a fourth term. Amedure, of Rensselaerville, is a retired state trooper who said he is looking to continue and build upon Amedore's legacy. Hinchey, of Saugerties, is the daughter of former U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey. She has vowed to continue the legacy of her late father in fighting for working families and the environment in upstate New York. Read more in the Daily Freeman.

Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Greene County officials are applying for grant funding to stabilize the shoreline at The Historic Catskill Point. County lawmakers this week authorized the grant application to be submitted to the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services on December 2. The cost of the project is estimated at $1.4 million. The funding would come from the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant Program, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A 25 percent match would be required. “Part of the shoreline is failing,” Deputy Administrator Warren Hart said. “There was a small sinkhole there that we had to temporarily repair last year. We found that there was some water infiltration from the Hudson River that’s undermining the building.” The property includes the historic Freightmasters Building and Warehouse. Both structures were constructed in the 19th century. The county has been battling the elements to maintain the property, Hart said. The preliminary design under consideration would use sheet piling and riprap to stabilize the shoreline, Hart said. The project would also enhance the two pylons at the point, which are used by American Cruise Line when its ships dock in Catskill, Hart said. FEMA is expected to make its decision on grant recipients next summer, Hart said. If the grant is not awarded, Hart said, the county will have to look at alternate funding sources. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Keshia Clukey is reporting for Bloomberg Governor Andrew Cuomo announced November 18, he will forgo his scheduled $25,000 raise in light of the state's $16 billion budget for the 2021 fiscal year. “I’m going to ask the commissioners, myself, the other electeds, not to take a raise this year,” Cuomo said during a briefing at the Capitol. He said he will sign an executive order to that effect given the fiscal situation. Cuomo is the nation’s highest-paid governor. His current annual salary is $225,000 and his pay hike was included in 2019 legislation. The New York State Commission on Legislative, Judicial and Executive Compensation November 16, decided judges, state lawmakers and certain executive branch employees would not receive a raise through 2024, citing the growing budget gap and fiscal uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic. The state of New York is facing a $14.9 billion budget gap for the fiscal year, which ends on April 1, and an estimated $16 billion gap for the following year, according to the state budget office. Read the full story at Bloomberg [dot] com.

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