Legislature begins voting on new State Budget...
The New York state legislature Monday began voting on a $229-billion state budget due a month ago that would raise the minimum wage... crack down on illicit pot shops... and ban gas stoves and furnaces in new buildings. Negotiations between Gov. Kathy Hochul and her fellow Democrats in control of the Legislature have dragged on past the April 1 deadline, largely because of disagreements over changes to the bail law and other policy proposals included in the spending plan. Floor debates on some budget bills began Monday. State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said she expected voting to be wrapped up Tuesday for a budget she said contains "significant wins" for New Yorkers. Hochul was able to push through a change to the bail law that will eliminate the standard that requires judges to prescribe the "least restrictive" means to ensure defendants return to court.
Gerry couple killed in house fire...
A husband and wife were killed in a house fire early Sunday morning in the town of Gerry. Chautauqua County Fire Dispatchers says Gerry volunteer crews were called to the scene at 4932 Herrick Rd. about 5:50 a.m. Gerry was joined by several other departments at the scene... including Falconer, Kennedy, Fluvanna, Ellery Center, Ellington and Stockton. Once the blaze was out... they found Jeffrey and Judith Church... both 66 years of age... dead inside. Firefighters were at the scene for several hours... and, investigators were called in. Pictures from the scene showed extensive interior damage... and, heavy damage was reported inside the structure. No other injuries were reported.
City woman arrested after allegedly hurting man with knife and glass jar during domestic incident...
A Jamestown woman is accused of cutting a man with a knife during a domestic incident on the city's northside late last week. Jamestown police were called to the scene about 4 p.m. last Friday for a "physical domestic in progress." On arrival... officers say they spoke with 31 year-old Kayla Wiberg and the male victim... and, found that she had cut the man on his arm, injuring him. In addition... they also learned that Wiberg had thrown a glass jar at the victim... hitting him in the face. When officers tried to arrest her... Wiberg began fighting with officers... but, she was finally taken into custody. She was charged with second and third-degree assault... and, resisting arrest. Wiberg was taken to the city jail pending arraignment.
Goodell and Borrello talk economy in NYS budget plan during chamber breakfast...
The increase in New York state's minimum wage will increase employers costs... and, translate into higher prices for goods and services. That from both of Chautauqua County's representatives in the state legislature. During last Friday's State Legislative Breakfast hosted by the county's Chamber of Commerce... Senator George Borrello told members the higher wage in the budget will only add to current inflation because you also have to bring up other worker's wages so they can keep up. Borrello and State Assemblyman Andy Goodell both predicted there will be job losses associated with the higher wage... and, employers turning to more automation. On top of that... Goodell says the conceptual agreement on a new budget includes more taxes and regulation for businesses... and, that's driving them to other states. He says the new budget includes a 26% increase in business taxes. Goodell adds it's also affecting worker retention. Borrello says... even with the higher minimum wage in New York... compared to neighboring states... you're not seeing big numbers of people moving here. In addition to hiking the upstate minmum wage... lawmakers have also proposed tying it to the rate of inflation in the 2023-24 budget plan.
Borrello voices concern over potential "politicizing" of Western NY OTB Board...
State Senator George Borrello is voicing concern over reports that a budget proposal being considered would dismantle the current board of the Western Regional Off-Track Betting. In a weekend press release... Borrello says the current board would be replaced with a "restructured model" that could undermine the role of rural counties. The Sunset Bay Republican calls it "the latest power grab" by Democrats inn Albany. Borrello says the five-decade old model of a shared operational control between 15 county governments and the cities of Rochester and Buffalo... would be replaced by a "politicized board that would do Albany’s bidding."
Borrello and Goodell say everything is in place for new Brooks-TLC Hospital, repurposing current one...
Everything is in place to move ahead with building a new Brooks-TLC Hospital in the Dunkirk-area. That from Chautauqua County's two representatives in the New York state legislature. Both Senator George Borrello and Assemblyman Andy Goodell have been part of the effort to keep a viable hospital in the north county area. After several meetings of a special task force... Borrello says everyone involved locally is ready to go... and, the current hospital will be turned over to the city of Dunkirk for repurposing. Goodell, who has been heavily-involved in getting everyone on board with putting up a new, state of the art facility, says the issue of primary care in the city of Dunkirk has also been addressed. He says Brooks has made a written commitment to support having that in the current location. Goodell says it's now more a question of getting Governor Kathy Hochul on board with moving ahead on a new hospital.
