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Friday headlines
Mar 25, 2011 6:39 am
2010 CENSUS: Population up in local counties, state
The Daily Freeman, and other local papers, leads with a story on the release of new 2010 cenus information, finding that the region’s population grew by 5.1 percent from 2000 to 2010, and only one local county - Delaware - had a decline in residents during that period, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Greene County had a population of 49,221, up from 48,195 in 2000, a gain of 2.1 percent; Columbia had 63,096, a gain of just two people from 63,094 in 2000; Dutchess County had 297,448, up from 280,150 in 2000, a gain of 6.2 percent; Ulster had 182,493, up from 177,749 in 2000, a gain of 2.7 percent. Delaware County lost 75 people, for a total of 47,980, similar to losses in the Mohawk Valley and Western New York. The City of Hudson lost 811 people, or almost 11 percent, for a current total of 6.713. The Town of Catskill lost 74 people for a current total of 11,775. The state’s population in 2010 was 19,378,102, a gain of 2.1 percent from 2000’s 18,976,457, the Census Bureau said. More on this info in the coming weeks...
Legislators optimistic of budget deal Friday
Jimmy Vielkind of the Times Union reports that legislative leaders in Albany emerged from a closed-door meeting with Gov. Andrew Cuomo late on Thursday, March 24 optimistic that a budget agreement could be announced Friday, March 25... a week before its April 1 due date. The millionaire's tax seems to have disappeared from talks, along with any renewal of New York City rent stabilization laws or a property tax cap. But that's also with Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos taking the media lead, and longstanding Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver expressing some caution on pronouncements for the moment and the Governor staying mum for a day.
Report: Albany area loses 4,900 jobs
The Albany Business Journal reports that government job losses continue to choke the Capital Region’s economy, according to new state data. While area businesses continue to add jobs, albeit at a slower clip than most other areas of the state, job cuts in the public sector keeps overwhelming any of that growth. For the third month in a row, the core Capital Region had the largest job losses of the 13 metro areas in the state, when combining government and private-sector jobs. Right now, the fastest-growing job market in the state is in Kingston.
BOE looks to slim down
Francesca Olsen of the Register-Star writes that the county Board of Elections is planning to consolidate some of its 58 election districts and it will end up with around 51, according to the county’s election commissioners. "While no countywide plan has been finalized, the commissioners have a pretty good idea of what they’d like to do, and will be visiting town board meetings in the coming months to explain their plan to residents and officials," Olsen reports. "The plan to consolidate districts will save around $32,000 annually, said Republican Commissioner Jason Nastke. That’s $3,750 for every district that’s eliminated and $1,000 for every poll site that’s eliminated. It will also give the BOE an opportunity to address accessibility issues at its poll sites." The changes should be in place by Primary Day, September 13.
2 C-H trucks up in flames
Colin DeVries of the Daily Mail reports how an electrical fire destroyed two Central Hudson pickup trucks on March 24. He writes that Catskill Fire Chief Jonathan Dees said one of the two charred trucks had not been used for over a week and recently had its electrical system repaired, and that the fire likely originated from a short in the electrical wiring. The vehicle was eventually completely engulfed at the power company’s substation off Route 9W outside the village of Catskill. The fire from the first truck, which was a Dodge Ram, then spread to the Chevrolet pickup truck beside it.
Chatham police chief retires after 35 years
Emilia Teasdale of The Columbia Paper reports that Village Police Chief Kevin Boehme has retired after 35 years on the force. His retirement became official as of 3 p.m. on Monday March 21 even though Boehme filed the paperwork to retire last fall, said Village Clerk/Treasurer Carol Simmons. No one knows whether there will be a new chief. The department has a deputy chief, Mark Leggett, who will stay in that position. Boehme’s older brother, Paul, is the current mayor of the village and will hold that post until the first Monday in April.
The Daily Freeman, and other local papers, leads with a story on the release of new 2010 cenus information, finding that the region’s population grew by 5.1 percent from 2000 to 2010, and only one local county - Delaware - had a decline in residents during that period, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Greene County had a population of 49,221, up from 48,195 in 2000, a gain of 2.1 percent; Columbia had 63,096, a gain of just two people from 63,094 in 2000; Dutchess County had 297,448, up from 280,150 in 2000, a gain of 6.2 percent; Ulster had 182,493, up from 177,749 in 2000, a gain of 2.7 percent. Delaware County lost 75 people, for a total of 47,980, similar to losses in the Mohawk Valley and Western New York. The City of Hudson lost 811 people, or almost 11 percent, for a current total of 6.713. The Town of Catskill lost 74 people for a current total of 11,775. The state’s population in 2010 was 19,378,102, a gain of 2.1 percent from 2000’s 18,976,457, the Census Bureau said. More on this info in the coming weeks...
Legislators optimistic of budget deal Friday
Jimmy Vielkind of the Times Union reports that legislative leaders in Albany emerged from a closed-door meeting with Gov. Andrew Cuomo late on Thursday, March 24 optimistic that a budget agreement could be announced Friday, March 25... a week before its April 1 due date. The millionaire's tax seems to have disappeared from talks, along with any renewal of New York City rent stabilization laws or a property tax cap. But that's also with Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos taking the media lead, and longstanding Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver expressing some caution on pronouncements for the moment and the Governor staying mum for a day.
Report: Albany area loses 4,900 jobs
The Albany Business Journal reports that government job losses continue to choke the Capital Region’s economy, according to new state data. While area businesses continue to add jobs, albeit at a slower clip than most other areas of the state, job cuts in the public sector keeps overwhelming any of that growth. For the third month in a row, the core Capital Region had the largest job losses of the 13 metro areas in the state, when combining government and private-sector jobs. Right now, the fastest-growing job market in the state is in Kingston.
BOE looks to slim down
Francesca Olsen of the Register-Star writes that the county Board of Elections is planning to consolidate some of its 58 election districts and it will end up with around 51, according to the county’s election commissioners. "While no countywide plan has been finalized, the commissioners have a pretty good idea of what they’d like to do, and will be visiting town board meetings in the coming months to explain their plan to residents and officials," Olsen reports. "The plan to consolidate districts will save around $32,000 annually, said Republican Commissioner Jason Nastke. That’s $3,750 for every district that’s eliminated and $1,000 for every poll site that’s eliminated. It will also give the BOE an opportunity to address accessibility issues at its poll sites." The changes should be in place by Primary Day, September 13.
2 C-H trucks up in flames
Colin DeVries of the Daily Mail reports how an electrical fire destroyed two Central Hudson pickup trucks on March 24. He writes that Catskill Fire Chief Jonathan Dees said one of the two charred trucks had not been used for over a week and recently had its electrical system repaired, and that the fire likely originated from a short in the electrical wiring. The vehicle was eventually completely engulfed at the power company’s substation off Route 9W outside the village of Catskill. The fire from the first truck, which was a Dodge Ram, then spread to the Chevrolet pickup truck beside it.
Chatham police chief retires after 35 years
Emilia Teasdale of The Columbia Paper reports that Village Police Chief Kevin Boehme has retired after 35 years on the force. His retirement became official as of 3 p.m. on Monday March 21 even though Boehme filed the paperwork to retire last fall, said Village Clerk/Treasurer Carol Simmons. No one knows whether there will be a new chief. The department has a deputy chief, Mark Leggett, who will stay in that position. Boehme’s older brother, Paul, is the current mayor of the village and will hold that post until the first Monday in April.