State Appeals Court says NY Congressional Districts need to be redrawn by Independent Commission...
New York’s highest court has ordered the state to draw new congressional districts ahead of the 2024 elections... giving Democrats a potential advantage in what is expected to be a battleground for control of the U.S. House. The 4-3 decision from the New York Court of Appeals Tuesday could have major ramifications as Democrats angle for more favorable district lines in the state next year. Republicans, who won control of the House after flipping seats in New York, sought to keep the map in place. The state’s bipartisan Independent Redistricting Commission will now be tasked with coming up with new districts... which will then go before the Democrat-controlled Legislature for approval. The court ordered the commission to file a map no later than next Feb. 28. Some Republicans have already vowed to appeal the decision.
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In response... State Senator George Borrello is blasting the Court of Appeals ruling that New York's Congressional districts must be redrawn by the Independent Redistricting Commission. In a statement following Tuesday's 4-3 ruling... Borrello says "the Court of Court of Appeals decision that the congressional maps drawn by an independent expert should be thrown out and replaced with gerrymandered maps created by New York’s Democratic machine is deeply disappointing. The ruling confirms that Democrats have successfully weaponized our courts and tainted the last truly independent branch of state government."
City of Jamestown looking at $1.6-million to $2.5-million shortfall in 2024 budget...
The city of Jamestown could be looking at as much as a $2.5-million shortfall in 2024... depending on how the final numbers fall. That from City Council Finance Committee Chairwoman Kim Ecklund during her report to lawmakers during last night's work session. Ecklund says that number came from former City Comptroller Joe Bellitto... who was asked by lawmakers to review the current year's... and, next year's budgets. Ecklund says Bellitto's preliminary projects say there could be that $2.5-million shortfall. However... a copy of his correspondence to city lawmakers only states up to a $1.59-million potential deficit. Ecklund says most of the questions surround the $1.6-million in Consolidated Highway Improvement Program... or CHIPS Funding from New York state. Mayor Eddie Sundquist and his finance team also provided information on where the money was going... along with some recommendations to cover any potential shortfall. He says typically you have "CHIPS going in... and, you have CHIPS going out." However... only part of that funding was going out. Sundquist says there are also newer guidelines for what CHIPS funding can be used for. One area suggested that might be cut in 2024 would be the $500,000 line-item for demolitions. Sundquist says sidewalk work is another area where money could be moved from.
City man to be sentenced on Child Porn charges arrested in Erie Co. on drug related charges...
A traffic stop early Sunday on Seneca Nation territory in Erie County led to the arrest of a Jamestown man who is awaiting sentencing for a child pornography conviction. Erie County Sheriff's deputies pulled over a vehicle in the area of the Seneca One Stop gas station on Route 20, shortly after 3:15 a.m., and found that 25-year-old Jarred Ristau was allegedly in possession of a quantity of methamphetamine. Ristau allegedly began to fight with officers, and resist arrest However... he was taken into custody a short time later. During processing... officers found Ristau was wanted on a bench warrant out of Crawford County, Pennsylvania for failure to appear in court. He is also currently released under supervision, and is awaiting sentencing in Chautauqua County for possessing child pornography. New charges against Ristau include: tampering with/or destroying physical evidence... two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... criminally using drug paraphernalia... resisting arrest, obstruction, and others. He was taken to the Erie County Holding Center pending arraignment... and, extradition to Crawford County, Pa.
DiNapoli expresses appreciation to Borrello for supporting his oversight efforts...
You don't often see someone on one side of the political aisle compliment someone on the other side. However... that was the case during last Friday's annual meeting of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce. During his introductory remarks... State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli recognized several people in the audience -- and one was Republican State Senator George Borrello. DiNapoli -- a Democrat -- says he first met Borrello when he was County Executive... and, knows him now as Ranking member of the Senate's Agriculture committee. He says he was pleased that Borrello supported his efforts to oversee the Nourish-New York program. DiNapoli says Borrello... who developed the program with Queens Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz... had some pointed questions about how the state was handling the program -- especially the previous administration. The Nourish-New York program grew out of the need to help people with food insecurities during the COVID Pandemic.
County's Finance Office in Mayville to be closed for an hour on Friday afternoon...
The Chautauqua County Department of Finance will be closed for one-hour during the business day this coming Friday, Dec. 15. Finance Director Kitty Crow says their location in the Gerace Office Building in Mayville will shut down from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., and, this will include the Treasury, Real Property Tax, Purchasing, Budget, Insurance, and Payroll divisions.
