Our state legislature is actually working on a Saturday. Why not, they take off the other 364 days of the year.
As midnight approaches the latest budget news:
- No tax credits for private school tuition;
- Rochester will not receive any additional funding beyond the 33% increase from last year's level;
- Current total looks to be around $121 billion.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
militarytimes.comFriday, March 30, 2007
Mo' Money, Mo' Problems
New Yorkers Pay More But Just Not Happy
The Center for Governmental Research compared local governments in New York and Virginia, here is what it found:
The Center for Governmental Research compared local governments in New York and Virginia, here is what it found:
CGR prepared a study for the Long Island Index that compared local governments in the two counties on Long Island with two comparable counties in northern Virginia. Including school districts and special districts, Long Island has 439 local government entities compared with 17 in northern Virginia. Long Island governments spend 45% more, per capita, than their northern Virginia counterparts, and local property taxes are 55% higher on Long Island. Despite that, a comprehensive survey of both regions found that citizens in northern Virginia rate the level of service provided by local governments and schools higher, and say they have better access to government officials.
100th Post: Your 5Linx Story
Takin' it to the Streets
Just over two months ago we relaunched the current version of the Water Buffalo Press. It is now 100 posts later and we would like to thank everyone who visited, read, commented and linked.
Our first post examined the company 5Linx, located in Henrietta, NY, and its worthiness of millions of dollars in funding and incentives given its employment of the suspect MLM business model. Today, this is still our most visited thread with the most recent comments coming just two weeks ago:
On that note, with assistance from PyramidSchemeAlert.org, we have begun building a file for review on 5Linx and its business operations. We invite anyone who has had a 5Linx experience, positive or negative, to either post his or her story in the comments section below or email your story to waterbuffalopress@gmail.com.
Once the information is complied it will be submitted to the Federal Trade Commission and Office of the NYS Attorney General for review.
All of our 5Linx stories can be found in the COMIDA section of our archives. We thank you for your input, more to come -
Just over two months ago we relaunched the current version of the Water Buffalo Press. It is now 100 posts later and we would like to thank everyone who visited, read, commented and linked.
Our first post examined the company 5Linx, located in Henrietta, NY, and its worthiness of millions of dollars in funding and incentives given its employment of the suspect MLM business model. Today, this is still our most visited thread with the most recent comments coming just two weeks ago:
dj_paige said...
PyramidSchemeAlert.org? Why didn’t I think of that? This whole thread should be made widely available somehow -- perhaps by putting it on its own page with a catchy title so that Google can search for it, and people can find it.
On that note, with assistance from PyramidSchemeAlert.org, we have begun building a file for review on 5Linx and its business operations. We invite anyone who has had a 5Linx experience, positive or negative, to either post his or her story in the comments section below or email your story to waterbuffalopress@gmail.com.
Once the information is complied it will be submitted to the Federal Trade Commission and Office of the NYS Attorney General for review.
All of our 5Linx stories can be found in the COMIDA section of our archives. We thank you for your input, more to come -
What's Good For the Goose is Not Neccesarily Good for the Dems
Federal Pork Oversight Weakened
From a Washington Times story -
Just because the joke of an administration currently occupying the White House is Republican does not mean that we should be blind to Democratic shenanigans.
The CRS said it is cutting back because of redundancy, yet no other governmental organization is designed to digest and compile such information and present it to the Congressional body.
As indicated in the article, third party oversight of such issues gives the public an accurate picture of the economic implications of legislation, rather than the doctored numbers that communicate the message which the party in power wants to be heard.
From a Washington Times story -
The federal agency that tracked pork-barrel spending during the 12 years of the Republican congressional majority has discontinued the practice since Democrats took power . . .
CRS, a nonpartisan agency of the Library of Congress created to conduct research for members of Congress on legislative issues, changed its policy in February -- a month after Democrats took control of the Congress and vowed to curb the number of special-interest projects inserted into spending bills or even reports that don't require a vote. CRS Director Daniel P. Mulhollan developed the policy after consulting with "internal CRS appropriations experts" and deciding the service was redundant with what other agencies do, CRS spokeswoman Janine D'Addario said.
"His decision was strictly an internal decision," said Miss D'Addario, whose agency began providing Congress members with information on earmarks in 1994, when Mr. Mulhollan took over as director.
-snip-
Several lawmakers, particularly those who had come to rely on the agency to identify the dollar value of earmarks in appropriations and other laws, were caught off guard by the change.
"It's troubling -- I can't think of any justification for that," said Rep. Jeff Flake, Arizona Republican. "They've done good research in the past ... That's what they're here for -- the benefit of the members" of Congress.
-snip-
Republicans said they want an independent observer because pork is often in the eye of the beholder and estimates of the amount vary widely.
Citizens Against Government Waste put the figure for 2006 at $29 billion, while Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee said it was $17 billion. Mr. DeMint, citing a CRS report, said the amount totaled more than $67 billion.
Mr. DeMint said no other agency or group has the resources, expertise and access to provide Congress with data on earmarks. "This is really baffling that CRS would do this," he said.
-snip-
When Democrats took control of the 110th Congress in January, they promised to limit the long-standing and bipartisan practice of slipping pork spending into bills. But when the House last week passed a $124 billion emergency war-funding provision, the bill included as much as $20 billion in nonmilitary and pork-barrel spending, a move widely criticized . . .
-snip-
The emergency war-funding provision included $74 million for the peanut industry, $124 million for the shrimp industry and $25 million for spinach producers. The war-funding bill is proof an independent third-party observer like the Congressional Research Service is needed to keep track of earmarks, many in Congress say.
"I can tell you it's very difficult to get this type of information from the [House] Appropriations Committee -- very difficult," Mr. Flake said.
Just because the joke of an administration currently occupying the White House is Republican does not mean that we should be blind to Democratic shenanigans.
The CRS said it is cutting back because of redundancy, yet no other governmental organization is designed to digest and compile such information and present it to the Congressional body.
As indicated in the article, third party oversight of such issues gives the public an accurate picture of the economic implications of legislation, rather than the doctored numbers that communicate the message which the party in power wants to be heard.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Spitz Makes Concessions
Steamroller Compromises With Senate GOP
NYS Governor Eliot Spitzer announced a tentative budget agreement between legislative leaders. The unnerving part of the announcement was the absence of any of those other leaders.
How did it (maybe) get done? Spitzer, Bruno and Silver ignored the warnings of Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and decided to spend more tax dollars:
- More than $350 million added to offset proposed cuts in healthcare.
- Approximately $500 million added to education spending to reduce the number of save-harmless districts and provide increased operating aid for districts throughout the state.
- The property tax relief program will provide savings via rebate checks.
- Certain provisions of the proposed corporate tax loophole package will be offset by business tax reductions.
It will be amazing if this agreement actually holds together, but it is obvious that Steamroller Spitzer is all too aware of how to play the Albany Deal Game. Did Spitz cave in the face of falling poll approval numbers? Why concede to the Senate GOP that, given party dynamics and leg majorities, is really the only Republican game in town?
Unfortunately, we will likely never know the answers to these and other questions as the negotiations have taken place in private via the classic "Three Men in a Room" style of politics. So much for reform -
NYS Governor Eliot Spitzer announced a tentative budget agreement between legislative leaders. The unnerving part of the announcement was the absence of any of those other leaders.
How did it (maybe) get done? Spitzer, Bruno and Silver ignored the warnings of Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and decided to spend more tax dollars:
- More than $350 million added to offset proposed cuts in healthcare.
- Approximately $500 million added to education spending to reduce the number of save-harmless districts and provide increased operating aid for districts throughout the state.
- The property tax relief program will provide savings via rebate checks.
- Certain provisions of the proposed corporate tax loophole package will be offset by business tax reductions.
It will be amazing if this agreement actually holds together, but it is obvious that Steamroller Spitzer is all too aware of how to play the Albany Deal Game. Did Spitz cave in the face of falling poll approval numbers? Why concede to the Senate GOP that, given party dynamics and leg majorities, is really the only Republican game in town?
Unfortunately, we will likely never know the answers to these and other questions as the negotiations have taken place in private via the classic "Three Men in a Room" style of politics. So much for reform -
Monday, March 26, 2007
Blogrollcall
Another Centrist! Not a knee jerk liberal, not an out of touch conservative - it's our newest addition to the blogroll: Mustard Street.
Welcome to the middle; it is a lonely, lonely place.
The WBP came across Mustard Street via their analysis of our posting regarding County Executive Brooks' bill eliminating health insurance benefits for future Water Board members:
Thank you. We find your insight on our insight to be insightful.
Actually, given NYS AG Andrew Cuomo's numerous actions indicating the illegality of such benefits, Brooks would have likely been forced to take action had she not done so voluntarily.
Thank you, keep up the good fight.
Welcome to the middle; it is a lonely, lonely place.
The WBP came across Mustard Street via their analysis of our posting regarding County Executive Brooks' bill eliminating health insurance benefits for future Water Board members:
Over at the Water Buffalo Press there's a pretty insightful take on last night's action by the Monroe County Legislature to approve a Maggie Brooks proposal to freeze -- as the D&C styled it -- benefits for Water Authority Board members.
Thank you. We find your insight on our insight to be insightful.
This observer thinks Water Buffalo is too harsh on Brooks. After all, she didn't have to propose anything.
Actually, given NYS AG Andrew Cuomo's numerous actions indicating the illegality of such benefits, Brooks would have likely been forced to take action had she not done so voluntarily.
However, that doesn't detract from the overall thoughtfulness of the Water Buffalo piece. Its analysis is much more subtle than its title; so read on.
Thank you, keep up the good fight.
NYS Assembly Highlights: 3/19 - 3/23
Ah spring, when a young man's fancies turn to thoughts of budget negotiations - a budget that is supposed to be passed one week from today. We are not holding our breath.
Speaker Sheldon Silver has released his list of action items from last week's Assembly sessions. Highlights include:
This is really just a political money-grab. By moving the Primary date up the scales are tipped in favor of the candidate who heads into the early primaries with the largest war chest. For example, a Hillary Clinton will have a much better chance of winning the party nomination than a Dennis Kucinich who would more likely gain momentum and votes through communicating ideas and establishing himself as an alternative candidate, rather than coming out of the gates as a favorite. In the middle of it all will be the state party leaders, bleeding media and personnel funds out of the massive campaign accounts with the promise of delegates.
Undoubtedly we have a responsibility to help relief workers and the families of victims, but to expand coverage to those whom "personally witnessed" the attacks? The entire nation was, in a way, witnesses on that day and what of those who saw the Pentagon attack or the "crash" of Flight 85? Were their experiences any less chilling and upsetting?
As far as the arbitrary "10-block radius," I would have loved to been in on the conversation where they came up with that one. No caps on these reimbursements either - yikes.
They may discuss it in public, but we will never see any deal made in public. As far as the additional $575 million is state revenue, more can be found on that fallacy here.
Speaker Sheldon Silver has released his list of action items from last week's Assembly sessions. Highlights include:
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver announced that the Assembly gave final passage to legislation to change New York State's presidential primary date from March 4 to February 5, 2008.
"The earlier primary date will give our state the edge we need to lock in a candidate's commitment to New York and enhance our ability to select the best presidential candidate for the state and nation," said Silver. He noted that by passing this legislation, New York will now be linked with other influential states that have demographic as well as public-policy issues and needs similar to New York State's.
This is really just a political money-grab. By moving the Primary date up the scales are tipped in favor of the candidate who heads into the early primaries with the largest war chest. For example, a Hillary Clinton will have a much better chance of winning the party nomination than a Dennis Kucinich who would more likely gain momentum and votes through communicating ideas and establishing himself as an alternative candidate, rather than coming out of the gates as a favorite. In the middle of it all will be the state party leaders, bleeding media and personnel funds out of the massive campaign accounts with the promise of delegates.
Silver announced the passage of legislation to continue the reimbursement of counseling expenses for relief workers or individuals who personally witnessed the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.
-snip-
Under the bill (A.6621, Silver / S.3039, Maltese), traumatized bystanders who were within a 10-block radius of the WTC site when the attack occurred and relief workers would continue to have their counseling services reimbursed until December 31, 2007. This benefit is available without regard to the residence or financial difficulty of a claimant. The rate of reimbursement is determined by a claimant's treating counselor or independent medical examiner and is based on a percentage of the counseling service that is related to the claimant's injury that is a direct result of the 9/11 attack. There is no cap on the reimbursement expense.
Undoubtedly we have a responsibility to help relief workers and the families of victims, but to expand coverage to those whom "personally witnessed" the attacks? The entire nation was, in a way, witnesses on that day and what of those who saw the Pentagon attack or the "crash" of Flight 85? Were their experiences any less chilling and upsetting?
As far as the arbitrary "10-block radius," I would have loved to been in on the conversation where they came up with that one. No caps on these reimbursements either - yikes.
Silver joined Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Lt. Gov. David Paterson and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno as well as the minority leaders from each house for a meeting in the Capitol to discuss, in public, a budget for the state's fiscal year 2007-08. Silver and Spitzer urged Senator Bruno and Senate Republicans to
reduce their excessive spending proposal to a level that is closer to the additional state revenue amount of $575 million that all parties agreed to earlier this month.
They may discuss it in public, but we will never see any deal made in public. As far as the additional $575 million is state revenue, more can be found on that fallacy here.
Open Thread: State of the City
Everyone does open threads on Fridays. I do not know about you but I like Fridays - I am in prime bitching mode on Mondays. In that spirit here is our Monday Open Thread: what is the State of the City of Rochester in your opinion? Mayor Duffy will give his tonight at 7:00pm, we want to hear yours -
Thursday, March 22, 2007
D&C Hopes Fear = Readers
Breaking News That Is Not So Breaking
The headline is ominous: "A neighborhood in our community is contaminated and homeowners have been unaware of the potential danger." Oooooooo, freaky . . .
So begins the multimedia slide show when the D&C website link for a Sunday Special Report is clicked. At the center of the story is the former site of Dinaburg Distributing Inc., a laundry chemical seller that closed nearly 15 years ago. The D&C tag line says area residents were shocked to learn of possible groundwater and air contamination at the site. Breaking news shrouded in secrecy finally exposed to the light by the efforts of the great and powerful D&C? Not so much.
The D&C is about six years late to the game on this story. The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation actually held a public meeting regarding remediation at this site in August of 2001:
The DEC used Superfund monies to install soil vapor extraction systems in 2000.
According to this information at least two homeowners were aware of the vapors and those homes, according to this report, were the only two residences that were effected.
Additional contamination was discovered in the years that followed but just because no one paid attention does not mean that no one knew. Copies of site reports are available at the regional DEC office and the Rochester Public Library (next to the porn). A Dem & Chron 2006 article even highlighted Dinaburg and its disposal of drycleaning chemicals. The D&C would like you to believe the contrary, however, as they hope that the shock and awe tactics will get you to buy a paper on Sunday.
In fact, there are numerous companies still in operation which continue to contaminate. In addition, thanks to a list from the Environmental Protection Agency, who these businesses are and what toxins they deal in are very public and very available. Where is the D&C outrage over these businesses?
The EPA Envirofacts Warehouse identifies 43 entities as polluters and classifies their type into what they are allowed to release into the environment, for example:
Domine Builders
Permitted Discharges to Water? No
Toxic Releases Reported? Yes
Hazardous Waste Handler? Yes
Active or Archived Superfund Report? No
Air Releases Reported? Yes
To compare, Dinaburg had an affirmative in only one category.
Why did the D&C chose to highlight Dinaburg? Easy - no backlash from executives of a company no longer in operation.
Granted, why it took 17 years for this site to receive full remediation is a valid one, but perhaps more pressing is why this contamination is accepted and allowed.
The headline is ominous: "A neighborhood in our community is contaminated and homeowners have been unaware of the potential danger." Oooooooo, freaky . . .
So begins the multimedia slide show when the D&C website link for a Sunday Special Report is clicked. At the center of the story is the former site of Dinaburg Distributing Inc., a laundry chemical seller that closed nearly 15 years ago. The D&C tag line says area residents were shocked to learn of possible groundwater and air contamination at the site. Breaking news shrouded in secrecy finally exposed to the light by the efforts of the great and powerful D&C? Not so much.
The D&C is about six years late to the game on this story. The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation actually held a public meeting regarding remediation at this site in August of 2001:
The New York State DEC and Department of Health invite you to a public meeting to discuss the former Dinaburg Distributing, Inc. property in the City of Rochester.
-snip-
The . . . site . . . has been vacant since 1995 and no dry cleaning chemicals remain in the building. The results of previous environmental investigations revealed soil and groundwater beneath the site are contaminated with trichloroethene (TCE) and tetrachloroethene (PCE) . . .
In April 1999, the basement air in two homes adjacent to the site was sampled by the owner. PCE and TCE were detected in the air . . .
The DEC used Superfund monies to install soil vapor extraction systems in 2000.
According to this information at least two homeowners were aware of the vapors and those homes, according to this report, were the only two residences that were effected.
Additional contamination was discovered in the years that followed but just because no one paid attention does not mean that no one knew. Copies of site reports are available at the regional DEC office and the Rochester Public Library (next to the porn). A Dem & Chron 2006 article even highlighted Dinaburg and its disposal of drycleaning chemicals. The D&C would like you to believe the contrary, however, as they hope that the shock and awe tactics will get you to buy a paper on Sunday.
In fact, there are numerous companies still in operation which continue to contaminate. In addition, thanks to a list from the Environmental Protection Agency, who these businesses are and what toxins they deal in are very public and very available. Where is the D&C outrage over these businesses?
The EPA Envirofacts Warehouse identifies 43 entities as polluters and classifies their type into what they are allowed to release into the environment, for example:
Domine Builders
Permitted Discharges to Water? No
Toxic Releases Reported? Yes
Hazardous Waste Handler? Yes
Active or Archived Superfund Report? No
Air Releases Reported? Yes
To compare, Dinaburg had an affirmative in only one category.
Why did the D&C chose to highlight Dinaburg? Easy - no backlash from executives of a company no longer in operation.
Granted, why it took 17 years for this site to receive full remediation is a valid one, but perhaps more pressing is why this contamination is accepted and allowed.
...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Pork
Cuomo Increases Member Item Oversight
Obviously aware of where one can go after the state Attorney General's office, ala Spitz, AG Andrew Cuomo has been extremely active since taking the reins - and extremely effective.
Cuomo's name has been in the news but, rather than grandstanding, his headlines have come for undertaking much needed government reforms such as the incentives received by public authority boards and dishonest college loan practices.
Today, the AG took aim at another of New York's bureaucratic travesties: member item funding, or pork.
Under the terms of the reform, the two main goals of disclosure and accountability will be assured by adding Disclosure and Accountability Certifications to member item contracts for not-for-profit and for-profit corporations. Governmental bodies, such as cities, school districts and fire districts, will not be required to file the certifications.
The Disclosure and Accountability Certifications will have the organizations receiving grants attest to any conflicts of interest, the public purpose of the taxpayer funds, and the bona fides of the organization’s good standing.
“Member items have been a source of increasing public concern,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “While my Office continues its review of member item contracts, it is important that the public be assured that, going forward, such spending will be transparent and accountable. I applaud the legislative leaders’ cooperation in maintaining the pace of reform.”
Examples of the disclosure forms can be found here and here.
This much-needed reform is welcome but the exemption of governmental bodies seems puzzling given the attention to conflicts of interest. Municipalities and school districts would appear, to me at least, as two sections lending themselves to cronyism and in need of greater oversight.
While Cuomo's actions up to this point have been far-reaching, drastic reforms; the initiative put forth today stops just short ("You stole my move!") of the changes that New Yorkers deserve.
Obviously aware of where one can go after the state Attorney General's office, ala Spitz, AG Andrew Cuomo has been extremely active since taking the reins - and extremely effective.
Cuomo's name has been in the news but, rather than grandstanding, his headlines have come for undertaking much needed government reforms such as the incentives received by public authority boards and dishonest college loan practices.
Today, the AG took aim at another of New York's bureaucratic travesties: member item funding, or pork.
Under the terms of the reform, the two main goals of disclosure and accountability will be assured by adding Disclosure and Accountability Certifications to member item contracts for not-for-profit and for-profit corporations. Governmental bodies, such as cities, school districts and fire districts, will not be required to file the certifications.
The Disclosure and Accountability Certifications will have the organizations receiving grants attest to any conflicts of interest, the public purpose of the taxpayer funds, and the bona fides of the organization’s good standing.
“Member items have been a source of increasing public concern,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “While my Office continues its review of member item contracts, it is important that the public be assured that, going forward, such spending will be transparent and accountable. I applaud the legislative leaders’ cooperation in maintaining the pace of reform.”
Examples of the disclosure forms can be found here and here.
This much-needed reform is welcome but the exemption of governmental bodies seems puzzling given the attention to conflicts of interest. Municipalities and school districts would appear, to me at least, as two sections lending themselves to cronyism and in need of greater oversight.
While Cuomo's actions up to this point have been far-reaching, drastic reforms; the initiative put forth today stops just short ("You stole my move!") of the changes that New Yorkers deserve.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Destroyer Named for Marine
From the Military Times -
The Military Times is not run by any government entity, it is a Gannett News Company service. Each branch of the military actually has its own respective publication. With a built-in, captive audience and access not necessarily afforded general media the Military Times would certainly have the opportunity to examine issues about which many Americans are concerned. What was the lead story when I visited the website?
The name of a Marine who gave his life to save his comrades in Iraq will grace a new destroyer, the Navy announced Tuesday.
Cpl. Jason Dunham received the Medal of Honor on Jan. 11 for his actions April 14, 2004, when he grappled with an insurgent after his unit was ambushed in Karabilah, Iraq. Dunham threw himself on a live grenade to shield fellow Marines and, although he survived the initial explosion, died of his injuries after 10 days.
Navy Secretary Donald Winter plans to officially announce the ship’s name Friday in Dunham’s hometown of Scio, N.Y.
-snip-
Dunham is the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor since the advent of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
A machine gunner for Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Dunham was 22 years old when he died. The Navy provided an account of Dunham’s heroic actions:
“On April 14, 2004, Dunham’s squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in Karabilah when his Battalion Commander’s convoy was ambushed. When Dunham’s squad approached to provide fire support, an Iraqi insurgent leapt out of a vehicle and attacked Dunham. As Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground, he noticed that the enemy fighter had a grenade in his hand. Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines, and when the enemy dropped the live grenade, Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, covered the grenade, and threw himself on top to smother the blast. In an ultimate selfless act of courage, in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of two fellow Marines.”
The Military Times is not run by any government entity, it is a Gannett News Company service. Each branch of the military actually has its own respective publication. With a built-in, captive audience and access not necessarily afforded general media the Military Times would certainly have the opportunity to examine issues about which many Americans are concerned. What was the lead story when I visited the website?
Airman to vie for Miss USA crown this Friday
Staff report
Posted : Wednesday Mar 21, 2007 18:21:08 EDT
As an airman, 2nd Lt. Kelly George is used to representing her country. In March, she’ll take a turn representing her state.
George, deputy chief of public affairs for the 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., will take the stage as Miss Arkansas on March 23 in the Miss USA pageant, to be broadcast on NBC. If she takes the tiara, George will represent America in the 2007 Miss Universe pageant.
“Kelly represents the Air Force and Arkansas well,” said Brig. Gen. Kip Self, 314th Airlift Wing commander. “She takes to heart the spirit of service in dedicating herself to civic duty and service to the country.”
The lieutenant hit the runway on Monday in Hollywood, Calif., for the pageant’s preliminary rounds wearing a sparkling black-and-white dress. Fans can vote for George to be Miss Photogenic at http://www.nbc.com/Miss_USA_2007/.
Monday, March 19, 2007
RCSD Cool With Dem Ebonix
Diversity Dialogue Newsletter Supports BEV in School
Rochester City School District officials have voiced their support for the use of Ebonics, or Black English vernacular (BEV), as a classroom learning tool in the Winter '07 issue of the Diversity Dialogue newsletter distributed to staff.
The newsletter was authored by Michelle Hancock, RCSD Chief of Diversity and Leadership, and Tyra Webb-Johnson, Director of Coaching and Leadership.
According to the letter, to implement BEV in the classroom teachers can:
- Model standard English as part of formal speech in the class (shouldn't this be common practice anyway?)
- Switch into BEV during informal discussion
- Discuss features that differ in BEV and Standard English
Now, on top of the dozens of other responsibilities piled on our educators, teachers must be "bilingual" and proficient in a language that does not even exist. The newsletter frequently refers to BEV as a second language, I was unaware that there is a land of Ebonia where everyone speaks Ebonics.
Spanish is a second language, French is a second language, Ebonics is a joke and a travesty. Languages are based on form and structure with rules that apply based on situation and context, not which Chingy song is in the Top 40 this week.
By validating these so-called speech patterns the RCSD does nothing to assimilate the section of society that uses BEV. Rather than working to motivate individuals to develop skill sets that will make them successful in the predominant culture, such policies only enforce the status quo which has created the rift that produced these differences in socio-economic standing resulting in something like Ebonics.
How can a middle-class white guy with a private college English and Lib Arts degree formulate such an opinion? Well, I didn't really. I had always been on the fence on this issue until I read Richard Rodriquez's novel Hunger of Learning. As the child of immigrant parents Mr. Rodriguez lived this issue and his views on bilingual education are illustrated in a Time magazine article:
Rochester City School District officials have voiced their support for the use of Ebonics, or Black English vernacular (BEV), as a classroom learning tool in the Winter '07 issue of the Diversity Dialogue newsletter distributed to staff.
The newsletter was authored by Michelle Hancock, RCSD Chief of Diversity and Leadership, and Tyra Webb-Johnson, Director of Coaching and Leadership.
According to the letter, to implement BEV in the classroom teachers can:
- Model standard English as part of formal speech in the class (shouldn't this be common practice anyway?)
- Switch into BEV during informal discussion
- Discuss features that differ in BEV and Standard English
Now, on top of the dozens of other responsibilities piled on our educators, teachers must be "bilingual" and proficient in a language that does not even exist. The newsletter frequently refers to BEV as a second language, I was unaware that there is a land of Ebonia where everyone speaks Ebonics.
Spanish is a second language, French is a second language, Ebonics is a joke and a travesty. Languages are based on form and structure with rules that apply based on situation and context, not which Chingy song is in the Top 40 this week.
By validating these so-called speech patterns the RCSD does nothing to assimilate the section of society that uses BEV. Rather than working to motivate individuals to develop skill sets that will make them successful in the predominant culture, such policies only enforce the status quo which has created the rift that produced these differences in socio-economic standing resulting in something like Ebonics.
How can a middle-class white guy with a private college English and Lib Arts degree formulate such an opinion? Well, I didn't really. I had always been on the fence on this issue until I read Richard Rodriquez's novel Hunger of Learning. As the child of immigrant parents Mr. Rodriguez lived this issue and his views on bilingual education are illustrated in a Time magazine article:
In the book, Rodriguez bears knowledgeable and compelling witness against America's recent methods of educating the underprivileged, and especially against bilingual education.
Rodriguez, in fact, is his own best case history. "I have been haunted by how my education has made me different," he says. As a "socially disadvantaged" son of Spanish-speaking parents, he entered a Roman Catholic grammar school in Sacramento, Calif., when he was six, speaking barely 50 words of English. By day, in class, he sat silent and unlearning. At night he luxuriated in the warmth and intimacy of his family's Spanish language and the separate, private world of his home. It was only when his teachers finally prevailed on Rodriguez's parents to try speaking English at home that his education began.
-snip-
Rodriguez has scant patience with middle-class ethnics, "filled with decadent self-pity," who resist entering the mainstream of American life. Today's bilingual classes, he maintains, keep children "poised at the edge of language too long." Using black English or Spanish in school is crippling because it reduces learning and delays assimilation; hence it reinforces a public form of separateness, a distinction that ultimately keeps minorities in their ghettos. "What I needed to learn in school was that I had the right—and the obligation—to speak the public language of los gringos," writes Rodriguez. "Only when I was able to think of myself as an American, no longer an alien in gringo society, could I seek the rights and opportunities necessary for full public individuality."
-snip-
"I've always been in favor of affirmative action, but only if class was the criterion rather than race."
What can students do, according to the newsletter, to help this program:
- Analyze the way black characters (their words not mine) deliberately alter speech patterns in media
- Create a list of BEV expressions and translate them into Standard English
Oh, oh . . . I have one. Whack, as in stupid, pointless or f-ed up.
Friday, March 16, 2007
NYS February Cash Report
Comptroller Update on Coffers
NYS Comptroller Tom Dinapoli issued his February cash report yesterday. What is seen are the same outrageous spending trends that will ultimately bankrupt our state.
With eleven months of the State’s 2006-07 fiscal year complete General Fund receipts were $3.9 billion or 9.3 percent ahead of last year, All Funds receipts were $4.0 billion or 4.2 percent ahead of last year.
General Fund spending was $40.9 billion in the first eleven months of the fiscal year. This is $4.1 billion or 11.1 percent higher than during the first eleven months of the 2005-06 fiscal year. All Funds spending of $95.3 billion was $7.8 billion or 8.9 percent higher than last year.
Also, this so-called "surplus" we have been hearing so much about from better than expected tax collections does not exist.
The increased revenues currently in the closing balance can be attributed to slower than anticipated refunds issued to date. Also, spending is below the Financial Plan primarily due to the timing of Local Assistance payments planned for February, but will have been paid in March in four areas, including education aid, welfare, special education and children and family service spending.
While $500 million in personal income tax refunds were accelerated at the end of the 2005-06 fiscal year, which would have the effect of increasing year to year variance, planned refunds expected to be paid in February 2007 did not accumulate as anticipated in the Financial Plan. As a result, to date, collections after refunds are currently higher than projected. It is expected that refunds in March 2007 will accelerate and therefore be on target with Financial Plan projections.
Total General Fund disbursements increased $4.1 billion or 11.1 percent as compared with the first eleven months of 2005-06 fiscal year. The growth in General Fund disbursements is driven by increases in education, health, and social services spending, along with additional payroll disbursements associated with retroactive collective bargaining agreements during this year compared to the same period last year.
Yes, that's right; union employees were paid for the year, decided they weren't paid enough and then used their stranglehold applied on the legislature by their lobbies to bargain for additional compensation. Try going to your boss and asking for a little extra on top of your paycheck from last month and see how what kind of reaction your receive.
Then there is what I call the "section the SEIU/1099 does not want you to see." New York not spending enough on health care? Not so much.
Spending in the Health and Environment category nearly tripled from $398.9 million to $1.1 billion, due primarily to the State’s obligation to pay prescription drug costs for New Yorkers who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare and who have temporarily lost prescription drug coverage because of complications with the Federal government’s implementation of its Medicare Part D prescription drug program.
Social Services spending increased 5.3 percent, from $9.7 billion to $10.2 billion, due to several factors including:
- increasing cost of the Medicaid program providing health care services and prescription drugs
- rising number of recipients of publicly financed health care
- increasing medical service utilization in hospitals, nursing homes, and managed care programs
- an additional Medicaid cycle payment through February 2007
Granted, unfunded federal mandates factor into this equation, but New York state's Medicaid payments are well above the national average for many programs and that cannot be blamed on the Feds. Nor can New York use this point in defense as the state government passes plenty unfunded mandates of their own along to localities.
As for the "pork" that New York state voters and taxpayers love so much: spending on capital projects increased $420.5 million, or 10.7 percent.
NYS Comptroller Tom Dinapoli issued his February cash report yesterday. What is seen are the same outrageous spending trends that will ultimately bankrupt our state.
With eleven months of the State’s 2006-07 fiscal year complete General Fund receipts were $3.9 billion or 9.3 percent ahead of last year, All Funds receipts were $4.0 billion or 4.2 percent ahead of last year.
General Fund spending was $40.9 billion in the first eleven months of the fiscal year. This is $4.1 billion or 11.1 percent higher than during the first eleven months of the 2005-06 fiscal year. All Funds spending of $95.3 billion was $7.8 billion or 8.9 percent higher than last year.
Also, this so-called "surplus" we have been hearing so much about from better than expected tax collections does not exist.
The increased revenues currently in the closing balance can be attributed to slower than anticipated refunds issued to date. Also, spending is below the Financial Plan primarily due to the timing of Local Assistance payments planned for February, but will have been paid in March in four areas, including education aid, welfare, special education and children and family service spending.
While $500 million in personal income tax refunds were accelerated at the end of the 2005-06 fiscal year, which would have the effect of increasing year to year variance, planned refunds expected to be paid in February 2007 did not accumulate as anticipated in the Financial Plan. As a result, to date, collections after refunds are currently higher than projected. It is expected that refunds in March 2007 will accelerate and therefore be on target with Financial Plan projections.
Total General Fund disbursements increased $4.1 billion or 11.1 percent as compared with the first eleven months of 2005-06 fiscal year. The growth in General Fund disbursements is driven by increases in education, health, and social services spending, along with additional payroll disbursements associated with retroactive collective bargaining agreements during this year compared to the same period last year.
Yes, that's right; union employees were paid for the year, decided they weren't paid enough and then used their stranglehold applied on the legislature by their lobbies to bargain for additional compensation. Try going to your boss and asking for a little extra on top of your paycheck from last month and see how what kind of reaction your receive.
Then there is what I call the "section the SEIU/1099 does not want you to see." New York not spending enough on health care? Not so much.
Spending in the Health and Environment category nearly tripled from $398.9 million to $1.1 billion, due primarily to the State’s obligation to pay prescription drug costs for New Yorkers who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare and who have temporarily lost prescription drug coverage because of complications with the Federal government’s implementation of its Medicare Part D prescription drug program.
Social Services spending increased 5.3 percent, from $9.7 billion to $10.2 billion, due to several factors including:
- increasing cost of the Medicaid program providing health care services and prescription drugs
- rising number of recipients of publicly financed health care
- increasing medical service utilization in hospitals, nursing homes, and managed care programs
- an additional Medicaid cycle payment through February 2007
Granted, unfunded federal mandates factor into this equation, but New York state's Medicaid payments are well above the national average for many programs and that cannot be blamed on the Feds. Nor can New York use this point in defense as the state government passes plenty unfunded mandates of their own along to localities.
As for the "pork" that New York state voters and taxpayers love so much: spending on capital projects increased $420.5 million, or 10.7 percent.
Rochester Nurse Guilty of Medicaid Fraud
Example of Why State System is Bloated
Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced that a Rochester-area nurse pled guilty to receiving over $70,000 in Medicaid funds for private nursing services that she never provided. On March 12, Adrian Clements, 39, of Rochester, a Licensed Practical Nurse, pleaded guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (a felony) in Monroe County Court before Judge Thomas R. Morse. As part of her guilty plea, Clements admitted that on numerous occasions between October 1, 2003 and April 30, 2006, she submitted reimbursement claims that falsely represented that she provided nursing services to seven children and three young adults – all Medicaid recipients – when, in fact, nursing care was either not provided or it was provided by another nurse. Based upon the false claims, Clements stole $70,785 from the Medicaid program.
“My office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting those individuals who cheat and steal from the Medicaid program – and from taxpayers – for personal gain," said Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. “Those who abuse their professions as caretakers to take advantage of New Yorkers will face justice.”
Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced that a Rochester-area nurse pled guilty to receiving over $70,000 in Medicaid funds for private nursing services that she never provided. On March 12, Adrian Clements, 39, of Rochester, a Licensed Practical Nurse, pleaded guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (a felony) in Monroe County Court before Judge Thomas R. Morse. As part of her guilty plea, Clements admitted that on numerous occasions between October 1, 2003 and April 30, 2006, she submitted reimbursement claims that falsely represented that she provided nursing services to seven children and three young adults – all Medicaid recipients – when, in fact, nursing care was either not provided or it was provided by another nurse. Based upon the false claims, Clements stole $70,785 from the Medicaid program.
“My office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting those individuals who cheat and steal from the Medicaid program – and from taxpayers – for personal gain," said Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. “Those who abuse their professions as caretakers to take advantage of New Yorkers will face justice.”
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Pictures From the Front
A new WBP feature, pictures from the Iraq front, the first photo comes from Baghdad -
Poll Sitters Sentenced
Ohio Election Workers Rigged Recount
Sadly, this is probably more common than anyone realizes. From an AP story -
A judge suspicious of more corruption pressed two former election board workers to tell what they know and then sentenced them Tuesday to the maximum 18 months in prison for rigging the 2004 presidential election recount to make their job easier.
"I can't help but feel there's more to this story," said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Peter Corrigan, who allowed the women to remain free on bond pending appeal.
-snip-
The judge repeatedly asked Jacqueline Maiden, 60, an election coordinator who was the Cuyahoga County board's third-highest ranking employee, and ballot manager Kathleen Dreamer, 40, if higher-ups in the board had directed the recount rigging. "It seems unlikely your supervisors wouldn't know," the judge prodded.
The women, standing side by side, said they had cooperated with a state investigation of the elections board in Ohio's most populous county. The board has been a lightning rod for critics wary since Ohio gave the 2004 election to President Bush.
-snip-
Erie County Prosecutor Kevin Baxter, appointed as an outside investigator to look into the election board in Cleveland, told that judge that the women had been uncooperative in the investigation and appealed for prison time for both.
"The defendants have never come clean," he said.
Prosecutors said the employees broke the law when they worked behind closed doors three days before the Dec. 16, 2004, recount to pick ballots they knew would not cause discrepancies when checked by hand so they could avoid a lengthier, more expensive hand recount of all votes.
Baxter criticized the outspoken support for the women from Robert Bennett, the election board chairman and head of the Republican Party in Ohio. Endorsing such criminal behavior is "amazing, it's astounding," according to Baxter, who didn't indicate if the investigation might lead to more charges.
-snip-
Each defendant was convicted of a felony count of negligent misconduct of an elections employee.
Maiden and Dreamer also were convicted of one misdemeanor count each of failure of elections employees to perform their duty. Both were acquitted of five other charges and a co-defendant who was an assistant manager of the ballot department was acquitted of all seven counts.
Ohio gave Bush the electoral votes he needed to defeat Democratic Sen. John Kerry in the election and hold on to the White House in 2004. Kerry beat Bush in Democratic Cuyahoga County 448,486 to 221,606.
The prosecutor did not claim the rigged recount affected the outcome of the election - Kerry gained 17 votes and Bush lost six in the county recount.
Sadly, this is probably more common than anyone realizes. From an AP story -
A judge suspicious of more corruption pressed two former election board workers to tell what they know and then sentenced them Tuesday to the maximum 18 months in prison for rigging the 2004 presidential election recount to make their job easier.
"I can't help but feel there's more to this story," said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Peter Corrigan, who allowed the women to remain free on bond pending appeal.
-snip-
The judge repeatedly asked Jacqueline Maiden, 60, an election coordinator who was the Cuyahoga County board's third-highest ranking employee, and ballot manager Kathleen Dreamer, 40, if higher-ups in the board had directed the recount rigging. "It seems unlikely your supervisors wouldn't know," the judge prodded.
The women, standing side by side, said they had cooperated with a state investigation of the elections board in Ohio's most populous county. The board has been a lightning rod for critics wary since Ohio gave the 2004 election to President Bush.
-snip-
Erie County Prosecutor Kevin Baxter, appointed as an outside investigator to look into the election board in Cleveland, told that judge that the women had been uncooperative in the investigation and appealed for prison time for both.
"The defendants have never come clean," he said.
Prosecutors said the employees broke the law when they worked behind closed doors three days before the Dec. 16, 2004, recount to pick ballots they knew would not cause discrepancies when checked by hand so they could avoid a lengthier, more expensive hand recount of all votes.
Baxter criticized the outspoken support for the women from Robert Bennett, the election board chairman and head of the Republican Party in Ohio. Endorsing such criminal behavior is "amazing, it's astounding," according to Baxter, who didn't indicate if the investigation might lead to more charges.
-snip-
Each defendant was convicted of a felony count of negligent misconduct of an elections employee.
Maiden and Dreamer also were convicted of one misdemeanor count each of failure of elections employees to perform their duty. Both were acquitted of five other charges and a co-defendant who was an assistant manager of the ballot department was acquitted of all seven counts.
Ohio gave Bush the electoral votes he needed to defeat Democratic Sen. John Kerry in the election and hold on to the White House in 2004. Kerry beat Bush in Democratic Cuyahoga County 448,486 to 221,606.
The prosecutor did not claim the rigged recount affected the outcome of the election - Kerry gained 17 votes and Bush lost six in the county recount.
SEIU: We're Not Fans
Voters Love Gov, Health Unions Don't
In response to a letter by state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long to Governor Spitzer, Jennifer Cunningham of SEIU/1199 issued the following statement:
Spitzer did not really stand with Long, Long stood with Spitzer. Long did so because of the three legislative budgets presented thus far the Executive spends the least, while still increasing spending by twice the rate of inflation. While New Yorkers recognize that these trends cannot continue our representatives do not and that is why Long placed his support behind the Gov.
No one wants to see schools and hospitals close but spending more does not always get you more.
In response to a letter by state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long to Governor Spitzer, Jennifer Cunningham of SEIU/1199 issued the following statement:
“When New Yorkers elected Eliot Spitzer, we voted for a Democrat who we thought held firmly Democratic principles like supporting healthcare and public schools.”
“Now, as he’s accepting the kudos of the New York State Conservative Party, we have to wonder: Who will the governor stand with next in order to pass his wrongheaded budget?”
Spitzer did not really stand with Long, Long stood with Spitzer. Long did so because of the three legislative budgets presented thus far the Executive spends the least, while still increasing spending by twice the rate of inflation. While New Yorkers recognize that these trends cannot continue our representatives do not and that is why Long placed his support behind the Gov.
No one wants to see schools and hospitals close but spending more does not always get you more.
NYS Senate Alienating Base
GOP Party Politics Incur Wrath of Conservatives
Republicans in the NYS Assembly have been criticizing budget proposals by their Dem colleagues and Governor Spitzer. The Assembly GOP has noted that out-year budget gaps will grow and spending increases at double the rate of inflation. This is a common complaint by the GOP which traditionally, in theory, supports decreases in governmental spending.
Given their minority, however, Assembly Republicans have little recourse in their house. Who has come to their aid in this grand battle? The GOP majority in the Senate, right?
Not so much.
The Senate budget plan actually calls for spending beyond that proposed by Democrats and Spitzer. The reasoning? There is none. This is nothing but a disgusting example of petty party politics. I can imagine Bruno's thought process:
"Taxes are bad, spending is bad and Democrats like both of those things so they are really bad, decrease spending, pray to Reagan. Wait . . . the Dems want to cut spending? Spending is good! Increase spending!"
Now, though, the GOP base is starting to take notice of the Senate's disregard for party ideals; so much so that the State Conservative Party Chairman is reaching out to support Governor Spitzer:
Fiscal Conservatives getting in bed with Democrats because the Republican party is so out of touch with society that it has lost complete sight of GOP ideals? Sounds like the staff here at the WBP.
Republicans in the NYS Assembly have been criticizing budget proposals by their Dem colleagues and Governor Spitzer. The Assembly GOP has noted that out-year budget gaps will grow and spending increases at double the rate of inflation. This is a common complaint by the GOP which traditionally, in theory, supports decreases in governmental spending.
Given their minority, however, Assembly Republicans have little recourse in their house. Who has come to their aid in this grand battle? The GOP majority in the Senate, right?
Not so much.
The Senate budget plan actually calls for spending beyond that proposed by Democrats and Spitzer. The reasoning? There is none. This is nothing but a disgusting example of petty party politics. I can imagine Bruno's thought process:
"Taxes are bad, spending is bad and Democrats like both of those things so they are really bad, decrease spending, pray to Reagan. Wait . . . the Dems want to cut spending? Spending is good! Increase spending!"
Now, though, the GOP base is starting to take notice of the Senate's disregard for party ideals; so much so that the State Conservative Party Chairman is reaching out to support Governor Spitzer:
Conservative Party State Chairman, Michael R. Long, acknowledged that he and Governor Eliot Spitzer would be considered “strange bedfellows” regarding this years proposed state budget. However, with the additions made by the Republican controlled State Senate, Chairman Long told the Governor, in a letter sent yesterday, that he would have to re-evaluate his proposals.
-snip-
"As difficult as your budget is, what the Republican controlled Senate is proposing, forces me to re-evaluate your proposals.
We support your efforts to cut health-care. And we support your efforts to increase the number of Charter Schools in New York State. Both these areas of spending comprise the largest portions of New York’s budget. We must get them under control and end the massive amounts poured into health-care and education each year with very little positive results.
Hopefully we can work together, this year.
-snip-
We may find that “strange bedfellows” will help bring New York back to being the economic engine of the United States."
Fiscal Conservatives getting in bed with Democrats because the Republican party is so out of touch with society that it has lost complete sight of GOP ideals? Sounds like the staff here at the WBP.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Vegetable Oil Vigilante
From an AP story -
(Adams, N.Y.) -- A northern New York man using vegetable oil to heat his home and run his cars has been found guilty of violating zoning codes.
A village of Adams judge has ruled that Mike Leeder was in violating of zoning codes while filtering the oil to make it usable. The judge says Leeder lives in a commercial zone, and filtering is only allowed as an industrial use.
Leeder says he . . . cannot afford to pay the $2,000 fine by March 27 as the judge ordered.
(Adams, N.Y.) -- A northern New York man using vegetable oil to heat his home and run his cars has been found guilty of violating zoning codes.
A village of Adams judge has ruled that Mike Leeder was in violating of zoning codes while filtering the oil to make it usable. The judge says Leeder lives in a commercial zone, and filtering is only allowed as an industrial use.
Leeder says he . . . cannot afford to pay the $2,000 fine by March 27 as the judge ordered.
Signifying Nothing
No Perks for Water Board, Someday
The WBP is officially labeling Maggie Brooks reelection campaign the Sound and Fury Tour 2007.
After grandstanding on the library porn non issue, a ruling by the Supreme Court has already dealt with that, Brooks and Bill "Gosh, I hope Mr. Minarik lets me run for Congress again someday" Smith last night saw the approval of their bill to end health benefits for future Water Board members.
The legislation has no effect unless one of the current members leave, this aspect drew obvious criticism from Democrats during debate yet only one voted in opposition.
According to the Democrat & Chronicle Bill Smith said stopping benefits for current members was not an option:
Costly litigation? This seems ludicrous until the statement from the Authority spokesman is read:
The people did not elect you Mr. Benoy. You did not earn anything, you were likely awarded your position out of cronyism and this legislation does nothing but further support that view. If you believe your pursuits are so noble open your entity up to public elections and allow the taxpayers to decide your fate, not the Republican party.
The Democrats also disappointed last night. Certainly some reform is better than none, but this bill is essentially nothing. Rather than allow Maggie to pass it through and take credit for changing an unjust system, make efforts to stall the bill and point out the hypocrisy as the 2008 election closes. Given the dynamics of the legislature much more may not have been accomplished but the only real opposition was voiced last night in a forum not necessarily conducive to public awareness.
The WBP is officially labeling Maggie Brooks reelection campaign the Sound and Fury Tour 2007.
After grandstanding on the library porn non issue, a ruling by the Supreme Court has already dealt with that, Brooks and Bill "Gosh, I hope Mr. Minarik lets me run for Congress again someday" Smith last night saw the approval of their bill to end health benefits for future Water Board members.
The legislation has no effect unless one of the current members leave, this aspect drew obvious criticism from Democrats during debate yet only one voted in opposition.
According to the Democrat & Chronicle Bill Smith said stopping benefits for current members was not an option:
County officials said they didn't believe they could legally strip the benefits from current Water Authority members. Doing so could lead to costly litigation, warned Majority Leader Bill Smith, R-Pittsford.
"That's a fight I don't think we could win, and even if we did, it would be a joyless victory for the taxpayers who had to pay for it," he said.
Costly litigation? This seems ludicrous until the statement from the Authority spokesman is read:
Clyde Benoy, the authority's vice chairman, said before the vote that he understands the County Legislature's reason for its actions. But he, like the other board members, defended the benefits.
"We earn them," he said. "We run a $60 million corporation, the seven of us."
The people did not elect you Mr. Benoy. You did not earn anything, you were likely awarded your position out of cronyism and this legislation does nothing but further support that view. If you believe your pursuits are so noble open your entity up to public elections and allow the taxpayers to decide your fate, not the Republican party.
The Democrats also disappointed last night. Certainly some reform is better than none, but this bill is essentially nothing. Rather than allow Maggie to pass it through and take credit for changing an unjust system, make efforts to stall the bill and point out the hypocrisy as the 2008 election closes. Given the dynamics of the legislature much more may not have been accomplished but the only real opposition was voiced last night in a forum not necessarily conducive to public awareness.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Praise for Susan John
Silver Notes Efforts on Workers' Comp
Local Assemblywoman Susan John (D-131) received recognition today from NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for her efforts on the Workers' Comp reform legislation which was signed into law today by Governor Spitzer:
Let me once again acknowledge the work of our Labor Committee Chair,
Assembly Member Susan John, who invested days, nights and weekends in helping to secure this agreement.
Some of the legislation will take effect immediately, notable changes include to the Comp system include:
-The maximum weekly benefit will increase to $500 immediately, then to 2/3 of the state average weekly wage by 2010 and will be indexed and adjusted automatically in the future;
-Increases the minimum weekly benefit to $100;
-Increases the dollar amount for pre-approval of medical services to $1000;
-Provides lifetime medical coverage for workers with permanent partial disabilities;
-Mandates lump sum settlement (Section 32) offers for permanent partial disabilities;
-Provides workers with meaningful vocational rehabilitation and light duty programs;
-Creates a "Rocket Docket" program to speed resolution of claims;
-Abolishes the New York Compensation Rating Board
WBP Poll: Benefits for Water Board
The Monroe County Legislature will vote tonight on legislation, sponsored by County Exec Brooks and Legislator Bill Smith, that would end the payment of health insurance benefits to future members of the Monroe County Water Authority Board.
In our most recent WBP Poll, posted before the introduction of this bill, we asked readers whether they thought the payments should stop. 88% of readers responded that this practice should end while 12% had no problem with the payments.
There are no plans at this point to do away with the salaries board members receive which range from $7,000 - $10,500, despite the fact that other area authorities receive no compensation.
In our most recent WBP Poll, posted before the introduction of this bill, we asked readers whether they thought the payments should stop. 88% of readers responded that this practice should end while 12% had no problem with the payments.
There are no plans at this point to do away with the salaries board members receive which range from $7,000 - $10,500, despite the fact that other area authorities receive no compensation.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Shufflin' Off to Livingston County
The Swede Stays, I Go
"The times are changing, and the people need rearranging"
The Swede chose to remain in Monroe County. I had enough this time around, which is not to say a return is out of the question; rather, a stay in the country every now and then is good for my humours so to Livingston I retreated.
I settled down with Visions of Cody, the Black Keys Magic Potion and the State of Livingston County as delivered by James C. Merrick, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. A superfluous title indeed and I ached for my county executive:
Cannot wait to see how he pulls this one off.
Sweet merciful crap. The first two statements contradict each other, he says fewer committees=bad but more Supervisors=good, more people complicate the decision making process in one case while benefiting it in another; but the last sentence took me by surprise. I am not accustomed to seeing those words used together in that order.
The next five pages go on to list government programs and initiatives the County has undertaken in the past with costs, grants received, how those grants were applied and the impact of the program.
Detailed, fleshed out ideas undertaken in an organized manner and then promptly reported on to the public? Something must be wrong, budget numbers -
Funding for highway and bridge projects is increased by 14%. The budget has a $3.5 million surplus which will be applied to capital projects "thus avoiding future debt service payments."
The County's Constitutional Tax margin dropped from 52% to 45% and Medicaid savings of $880,000 are expected. Livingston actually made money through the sale of fifteen parcels of land.
The remaining pages detail economic development initiatives, a bullet-point list of objectives for 2007 and graphs detailing budget numbers.
I can get used to this, my Leinenkugels is in short supply but there is plenty of the High Life until I can replenish.
With that the Water Buffalo Press stretches two counties, anyone interested in covering his or her own county feel free to contact the WBP.
"The times are changing, and the people need rearranging"
The Swede chose to remain in Monroe County. I had enough this time around, which is not to say a return is out of the question; rather, a stay in the country every now and then is good for my humours so to Livingston I retreated.
I settled down with Visions of Cody, the Black Keys Magic Potion and the State of Livingston County as delivered by James C. Merrick, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. A superfluous title indeed and I ached for my county executive:
. . . we have created a smaller, smarter more efficient government.
Cannot wait to see how he pulls this one off.
. . . smaller because of the downsizing . . . from 13 committees to three. Smarter because more Supervisors are involved in our . . . decision making process and more efficient because our fund balances are strong and have grown without any reduction in services.
Sweet merciful crap. The first two statements contradict each other, he says fewer committees=bad but more Supervisors=good, more people complicate the decision making process in one case while benefiting it in another; but the last sentence took me by surprise. I am not accustomed to seeing those words used together in that order.
The next five pages go on to list government programs and initiatives the County has undertaken in the past with costs, grants received, how those grants were applied and the impact of the program.
Detailed, fleshed out ideas undertaken in an organized manner and then promptly reported on to the public? Something must be wrong, budget numbers -
. . . the 2007 budget was approved with a property tax rate of $7.07 per thousand, a decrease of 16% [from 2006].
Funding for highway and bridge projects is increased by 14%. The budget has a $3.5 million surplus which will be applied to capital projects "thus avoiding future debt service payments."
The County's Constitutional Tax margin dropped from 52% to 45% and Medicaid savings of $880,000 are expected. Livingston actually made money through the sale of fifteen parcels of land.
The remaining pages detail economic development initiatives, a bullet-point list of objectives for 2007 and graphs detailing budget numbers.
I can get used to this, my Leinenkugels is in short supply but there is plenty of the High Life until I can replenish.
With that the Water Buffalo Press stretches two counties, anyone interested in covering his or her own county feel free to contact the WBP.
He saw that all the struggles of life were incessant, laborious, painful, that nothing was done quickly, without labor, that it had to undergo a thousand fondlings, revisings, moldings, addings, removings, graftings, tearings, correctings, smoothings, rebuildings, reconsiderings, nailings, tackings, chippings, hammerings, hoistings, connectings — all the poor fumbling uncertain incompletions of human endeavor. They went on forever and were forever incomplete, far from perfect, refined, or smooth, full of terrible memories of failure and fears of failure, yet, in the way of things, somehow noble, complete, and shining in the end. This he could sense even from the old house they lived in, with its solidly built walls and floors that held together like rock: some man, possibly an angry pessimistic man, had built the house long ago, but the house stood, and his anger and pessimism and irritable labourious sweats were forgotten; the house stood, and other men lived in it and were sheltered well in it.
-Jack Kerouac, The Town and the City 1950
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Let's Get Together
Unions: Good or Bad?
Local blogosphere abuzz lately with talk about the Congressional vote on the Employee Free Choice bill. Randy Kuhl's vote, specifically, has received plenty of attention. He voted no despite originally co-sponsoring the bill. If we are scoring correctly Rochester Turning says that's bad and the Fighting 29th (a Colbert voice always says this blog title in my head) says it's not such a big deal.
The Fighting 29th examines the benefits of unionization in a post today. The WBP decided to take a look as well.
According to a January 25th, 2007 US Department of Labor report:
In plain numbers, being a member of a union will earn you more money. Numbers can be misleading, though, and perhaps the trend is more closely linked to what industries see widest union membership, rather than membership itself:
At the least this data tells us how the legislation was pushed through as these sectors are represented by very powerful lobbies, but does it tell us why? The majority of "average American workers" who belong to unions are not benefiting from union membership because "average Americans" are not public sector employees.
What if the focus is pared down to state level? Not many would say that the Upstate New York economy is booming. Does union membership play a role?
Alaska and Hawaii can essentially be thrown out since their economies are anomalies given geography; left are New York and New Jersey, economies on the grow or on the decline?
The southern United States, particularly the southeast, have experienced considerable economic growth over the past decade. How do unions factor?
Union membership across the country is declining, but unions are big money and this legislation is a response to those declining numbers. The law may benefit the membership rolls but I have trouble believing it will benefit our economy.
Local blogosphere abuzz lately with talk about the Congressional vote on the Employee Free Choice bill. Randy Kuhl's vote, specifically, has received plenty of attention. He voted no despite originally co-sponsoring the bill. If we are scoring correctly Rochester Turning says that's bad and the Fighting 29th (a Colbert voice always says this blog title in my head) says it's not such a big deal.
The Fighting 29th examines the benefits of unionization in a post today. The WBP decided to take a look as well.
According to a January 25th, 2007 US Department of Labor report:
In 2006, full-time wage and salary workers who were union members had median usual weekly earnings of $833, compared with a median of $642 for wage and salary workers who were not represented by unions.
In plain numbers, being a member of a union will earn you more money. Numbers can be misleading, though, and perhaps the trend is more closely linked to what industries see widest union membership, rather than membership itself:
Workers in the public sector had a union membership rate nearly five times that of private sector employees . . . The union membership rate for government workers (36.2 percent) was substantially higher than for private industry workers (7.4 percent). Within the public sector, local government workers had the highest union membership rate, 41.9 percent. This group includes several heavily unionized occupations, such as teachers, police officers, and fire fighters. Among major private industries, transportation and utilities had the highest union membership rate, at 23.2 percent, followed by construction (13.0 percent) . . . Among occupational groups, education, training, and library occupations (37.3 percent) and protective service occupations (34.7 percent) had the highest unionization rates
At the least this data tells us how the legislation was pushed through as these sectors are represented by very powerful lobbies, but does it tell us why? The majority of "average American workers" who belong to unions are not benefiting from union membership because "average Americans" are not public sector employees.
What if the focus is pared down to state level? Not many would say that the Upstate New York economy is booming. Does union membership play a role?
Four states had union membership rates over 20.0 percent in 2006--Hawaii (24.7 percent), New York (24.4 percent), Alaska (22.2 percent), and New Jersey (20.1 percent). Hawaii and New York have recorded the highest union membership rates among all states for 10 of the past 11 years.
Alaska and Hawaii can essentially be thrown out since their economies are anomalies given geography; left are New York and New Jersey, economies on the grow or on the decline?
The southern United States, particularly the southeast, have experienced considerable economic growth over the past decade. How do unions factor?
Among the five states reporting union membership rates below 5.0 percent in 2006, North Carolina and South Carolina continued to post the lowest rates (3.3 percent each). The next lowest rates were recorded in Virginia (4.0 percent), Georgia (4.4 percent), and Texas (4.9 percent).
Union membership across the country is declining, but unions are big money and this legislation is a response to those declining numbers. The law may benefit the membership rolls but I have trouble believing it will benefit our economy.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
NY Consumer Confidence Up
State Bucks February National Trend
According to a poll from the Siena Research Institute, consumer confidence rose 0.4 of a point last month. However, this was due to increased consumer confidence in New York City; Upstate confidence actually dropped 4.9 points.
Buying plans were up for automobiles but the poll continued to show a slump in the housing market.
“We have a strange set of numbers for February: New York State inched up due to the New York City area, while upstate and the rest of the nation took a hit,” said Dr. Douglas Lonnstrom, professor of statistics and finance at Siena College and SRI Director. "These figures do not reflect the stock market drop last week. New York City now has its highest confidence since before 9/11. On the other hand, buying plans for homes, home improvements and furniture are all down, mirroring the decline in the housing market.”
At 89.9, New York State’s overall consumer confidence is only 1.4 points below the nation’s 91.3 confidence level.
According to a poll from the Siena Research Institute, consumer confidence rose 0.4 of a point last month. However, this was due to increased consumer confidence in New York City; Upstate confidence actually dropped 4.9 points.
Buying plans were up for automobiles but the poll continued to show a slump in the housing market.
“We have a strange set of numbers for February: New York State inched up due to the New York City area, while upstate and the rest of the nation took a hit,” said Dr. Douglas Lonnstrom, professor of statistics and finance at Siena College and SRI Director. "These figures do not reflect the stock market drop last week. New York City now has its highest confidence since before 9/11. On the other hand, buying plans for homes, home improvements and furniture are all down, mirroring the decline in the housing market.”
At 89.9, New York State’s overall consumer confidence is only 1.4 points below the nation’s 91.3 confidence level.
He felt intensely literary, sitting there in his underwear, all alone in the middle of Greenwich Village. How many others had trod the same path? Wolfe? O’Neill? Who else? Well, there was Bodenheim. Jesus. Anything but that.
He forced Bodenheim out of his mind, trying to concentrate on a plot, even a subject. The army? He’d always wanted to write a story about the army, really blast the bastards. Maybe satire; he had a flair for satire. Yeah, that was it – pit an oddball against the system, and rip the army to bits.
Now he could see himself in Andre’s. Casually mentioning the story he’d just finished. They probably wouldn’t believe him – he never paid any attention to those bums who were always talking about the great novels they were writing, the fabulous paintings they had in the works – but when he came in flashing the check, huge and beautiful from one of the slick magazines, they’d fall all over him. He could see it now: discussions of his work in the quarterlies, himself back home on vacation, parties in his honor, soft lips spilling secrets into his ear – he’d have it made.
The page was still blank, as he forced himself to concentrate…
--Hunter S. Thompson, Fire In The Nuts
Friday, March 9, 2007
Hurry Up and Wait
No Deal Yet on Fast Ferry
Earlier this week Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy told Euroferries to finalize its purchase of the Fast Ferry or the City was going elsewhere. He was just kidding I guess?
No deal so far as Duffy has now said maybe sometime next week. Maybe.
City of Rochester legal eagle Thomas Richards will apparently travel to Europe to make sure the deal gets done.
Duffy has said there are other potential buyers, multiple, but given the ultimatum earlier that turned out to not be an ultimatum one has to wonder if these buyers actually exist.
There are rumored reports of a company that toured the vessel while it was in Nova Scotia but Duffy has said he cannot comment on these reports.
With the Ferry, and now the troubles with the tenants of the Blue Cross Arena, the Mayor has a very full plate.
It's Caption Time!
This photo is from the announcement of the St. Patty's parade but we just couldn't resist. Here are a couple of ours, let's hear some of yours -
* Leprechauns LLC announces expansion at Culver-Ridge Office Park. The company will sell VoIPotsofGold through a network of independent "little" representatives and expects to create 4,563 jobs overs the next two years and will receive COMIDA tax incentives
* Brooks announces new Lucky Charms fee to help close budget gap
* Brooks announces the Monroe County Rainbow Authority Board Members will no longer receive health benefits
Maggie Says No More Perks
Water Authority Board Members May Lose Health Insurance
Following two rulings by state AG Andrew Cuomo, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks has introduced legislation to end the payment of health insurance benefits to future members of the Monroe County Water Authority Board. However, board members will still receive salaries ranging from $7,000 -$10,500.
Additionally, current board members, many of whom have made campaign contributions to Brooks and the County Republican Party, will still receive the health benefits.
Here at the WBP we would like to think that Maggie has been reading our demands to end the perks for authorities and keeping an eye on our most recent poll regarding said benefits and that is why she introduced this bill. More likely, though, this is a calculated political move meant to position Brooks as a reformer in the upcoming election while doing nothing to disturb her political cronies already in place.
Following two rulings by state AG Andrew Cuomo, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks has introduced legislation to end the payment of health insurance benefits to future members of the Monroe County Water Authority Board. However, board members will still receive salaries ranging from $7,000 -$10,500.
Additionally, current board members, many of whom have made campaign contributions to Brooks and the County Republican Party, will still receive the health benefits.
Here at the WBP we would like to think that Maggie has been reading our demands to end the perks for authorities and keeping an eye on our most recent poll regarding said benefits and that is why she introduced this bill. More likely, though, this is a calculated political move meant to position Brooks as a reformer in the upcoming election while doing nothing to disturb her political cronies already in place.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
AG Cuomo: Authority Perks Illegal
State AG Andrew Cuomo expanded his ruling on the payment of benefits to public authority board members today, telling the Thruway and Power Authorities to cease such activities. This judgement comes on the heels of a similar announcement which we covered here.
Such a ruling, especially in terms of the Thruway Authority which you can read more about here, is a long time coming. As illustrated in the aforementioned posting, the largest portion of authority budgets generally go to personnel costs.
Just to review, when the initial judgement was released we spoke with Ed Marianetti, Executive Director, of the Monroe County Water Authority whose board members receive Medicaid benefits and eligibility for the state pension system. Marianetti said that he did not believe the AG's ruling applied to the MCWA.
The WBP has again contacted the AG's office for clarification of the scope of this judgement, more to come -
Such a ruling, especially in terms of the Thruway Authority which you can read more about here, is a long time coming. As illustrated in the aforementioned posting, the largest portion of authority budgets generally go to personnel costs.
Just to review, when the initial judgement was released we spoke with Ed Marianetti, Executive Director, of the Monroe County Water Authority whose board members receive Medicaid benefits and eligibility for the state pension system. Marianetti said that he did not believe the AG's ruling applied to the MCWA.
The WBP has again contacted the AG's office for clarification of the scope of this judgement, more to come -
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
NYS Comptroller Warns About Spending
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has released his 2007-08 Executive Budget Review. The review has a great way of complementing Governor Spitzer right before it bitch slaps him.
That said, DiNapoli is right in many of his points. Spending continues to increase and the so-called "tax cuts" Spitzer has promised are replaced by higher fees. Additionally, some changes to the health care insurance system will actually end up costing New Yorkers more money.
All the while legislators are telling us we actually have a surplus in the state coffers and using it as an excuse to restore funding to previous levels. Former Governor Pataki had a way of proposing reductions in spending only to make late hour restoration deals before the deadline; Spitzer has promised he will not engage in this practice and we will hold him to that promise.
As for DiNapoli's budget review -
In other words, big promises for which New Yorkers' taxes will pay. What about that surplus we have all been hearing so much about? One thing about that:
I cannot imagine any Executive who would keep his or her job after spending $2.7 billion "off-budget." The problem is that 2.7 billion is such a small amount in the eyes of our government; that is less than 2% of the total budget, why should they care?
Who is paying for this? I'm not paying for this, are you paying for this?
One high note was DiNapoli's statement that local governments Upstate will benefit significantly from 'shudder' economic development 'shudder' efforts. That is one term we are very weary of here at the WBP but we will wait to rule on this one.
Another interesting note:
Way to go.
That said, DiNapoli is right in many of his points. Spending continues to increase and the so-called "tax cuts" Spitzer has promised are replaced by higher fees. Additionally, some changes to the health care insurance system will actually end up costing New Yorkers more money.
All the while legislators are telling us we actually have a surplus in the state coffers and using it as an excuse to restore funding to previous levels. Former Governor Pataki had a way of proposing reductions in spending only to make late hour restoration deals before the deadline; Spitzer has promised he will not engage in this practice and we will hold him to that promise.
As for DiNapoli's budget review -
While the Executive Budget incorporates certain positive measures, there are a number of areas where the proposal falls short of reform, and in fact, repeats many of the poor fiscal management practices adopted in prior years.
First, year-to-year spending growth is unsustainable.
In other words, big promises for which New Yorkers' taxes will pay. What about that surplus we have all been hearing so much about? One thing about that:
. . . expected growth does not include $2.7 billion in capital spending that is proposed to occur off-budget. Accounting for offbudget spending would increase All Funds spending growth to 7.0 percent and State Funds spending to 8.8 percent as compared to 2006-07.
I cannot imagine any Executive who would keep his or her job after spending $2.7 billion "off-budget." The problem is that 2.7 billion is such a small amount in the eyes of our government; that is less than 2% of the total budget, why should they care?
. . . the 2007-08 Executive Budget continues to generate sizable out-year gaps . . . The cause of the gaps can be attributed to spending, which is projected to grow nearly twice as fast as receipts and two and one-half times the projected average rate of inflation.
. . . the 2007-08 Executive Budget continues to rely on debt rather than substantially increasing pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) capital spending. Based on the Executive’s proposed Five-Year Capital Program and Financing Plan, outstanding State-Funded debt will increase to $65.6 billion by the end of 2011-12, representing a 27.1 percent increase from 2006-07 and a 97.9 percent increase from 1997.
Who is paying for this? I'm not paying for this, are you paying for this?
One high note was DiNapoli's statement that local governments Upstate will benefit significantly from 'shudder' economic development 'shudder' efforts. That is one term we are very weary of here at the WBP but we will wait to rule on this one.
Another interesting note:
Due to New York’s delay in purchasing new voting machines and implementing other components of HAVA, the federal government may require New York to return approximately $50 million of the $190 million in federal funding targeted for the purchase of new machines.
Way to go.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Monroe County: Fun With Numbers
And the Flu Too!
The office of Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks has released economic development numbers for 2006. The statistics are as slanted and misleading as those used in her State of the County address:
We refuted many of these claims in our response to the State of the County. The short story is that, according to the US Department of Labor, jobs are actually down since Maggie took office.
Also, the "385 companies" assisted by the County is inaccurate. There were 385 instances of incentives given, but many of these were repeat recipients.
As far as taking credit for creating jobs five years down the road that may never actually materialize - we are not impressed.
The County is also up to old scare tactics to make it appear as though our government is actually needed. Officials have asked for 500 volunteers to participate in a pandemic flu point-of-dispensing exercise. Go to podex.info to sign up.
Unfortunately, Brooks cannot take credit for creating jobs with this exercise as participants will not be paid. Although, using her math . . .
The office of Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks has released economic development numbers for 2006. The statistics are as slanted and misleading as those used in her State of the County address:
In 2006, County-sponsored programs approved incentives for 132 local economic development projects. These projects will create 1,857 new jobs (within five years of project completion), retain 9,688 jobs, and invest $373,868,000 in Monroe County.
Since Brooks took office in 2004, Monroe County has helped 385 companies improve and expand their local operations. These companies are creating 6,900 new jobs, retaining over 28,000 jobs, and investing more than $1 Billion in our local economy.
We refuted many of these claims in our response to the State of the County. The short story is that, according to the US Department of Labor, jobs are actually down since Maggie took office.
Also, the "385 companies" assisted by the County is inaccurate. There were 385 instances of incentives given, but many of these were repeat recipients.
As far as taking credit for creating jobs five years down the road that may never actually materialize - we are not impressed.
The County is also up to old scare tactics to make it appear as though our government is actually needed. Officials have asked for 500 volunteers to participate in a pandemic flu point-of-dispensing exercise. Go to podex.info to sign up.
Unfortunately, Brooks cannot take credit for creating jobs with this exercise as participants will not be paid. Although, using her math . . .
Monday, March 5, 2007
Kuhl Protests Canandaigua VA Closings
Representatives from Kuhl's office state that the letter illustrates the Congressman's long held feelings regarding the VA closure and is not a political response to Eric Massa's recent statements.
Rep. John R. "Randy" Kuhl, Jr. (R-Hammondsport) today sent the attached letter to U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Nicholson protesting the closure of the Canandaigua Veterans Administration Medical Center’s Acute Care Psychiatric Unit and demanded answers to several questions from the VA Secretary about the planned closure. “I’m very upset about the way the VA has handled the acute psychiatric unit,” said Rep. Kuhl. “I have written Secretary Nicholson and asked him to respond to several important points and questions about issues that he has yet to address with me or the community. Our veterans and our communities deserve better, and I will continue to work to see that they get it.”
Text of the letter, sent today, follows:
Dear Secretary Nicholson: I wrote to you on December 18th regarding the Canandaigua VA and the 2004 decision by then Secretary Principi to close the inpatient acute psychiatric unit. I asked that you reconsider the decision that was made by former Secretary Principi. As you know, yesterday, it was announced that the Canandaigua VA will stop accepting patients to the inpatient acute psychiatric unit as of March 1, with plans on closing the unit by mid-March. I am disappointed that I never received a response from you prior to this decision which is so very important to the veterans of my district. I believe much has changed since the 2004 decision was made. First, as I mentioned in my December letter, it is quite evident that more and more of our brave men and women are returning everyday from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from PTSD and other mental impairments. This is not the time to be eliminating any vital services that are provided to our veterans on VA campuses, this is the time to expand them.
Second, with the Canandaigua VA now designated as one of only three national Centers for Excellence for PTSD, it would only seem appropriate to keep this very valuable service that is provided to our veterans on the existing campus where the Center for Excellence will be located. Third, when you visited the Canandaigua VA, you witnessed first hand the dedication of the VA employees, the care the veterans received, the incredible support from the community and the very peaceful serenity of the campus and important role this atmosphere plays in the healing process of our nation’s heroes. The Canandaigua VA is located a short distance from the Rochester Metropolitan area and remains the ideal place to provide our area’s veterans with the quality of care they deserve, including inpatient acute
psychiatric care. This service has been provided to our area veterans for many
years and they and their families are extremely satisfied with the incredible care they receive. Fourth, the CARES process is still not finalized as to the future of the Canandaigua VA complex. I believe, at the very least, any decision on this issue should have waited until this process was completed. Finally, I have never accepted the rationale that closing the inpatient acute psychiatric unit is in the best interest of our area veterans. What is in the best interest of our veterans is to reverse this decision and allow inpatient acute psychiatric care to continue at the Canandaigua VA campus. If you were to reverse this decision, I am convinced this would have a long-lasting positive impact on our veterans, the employees and the community which will in turn lead to an even better quality of care for our veterans, which is what they deserve. I thank you for your time and look forward to your immediate response.
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Democrats Privatizing Healthcare
Three words Lefties never thought they would see in a tag line.
From Jacob Weisberg at Slate Magazine:
Ron Wyden, the Democratic senator from Oregon . . . told me he had read The System, David Broder and Haynes Johnson's massive tome on the failure of the Clinton health-care reform plan, no less than five times . . . Wyden's bill is 166 pages against Hillary's 1364, and he thinks he can pare it further. When he was getting started, Wyden drew a grid of the major interest groups and made sure there were plusses as well as minuses for each in his bill . . . instead of trying to flatten the opposition, as the Clintons did in 1994, Wyden is courting Republicans.
Under Wyden's plan, employers would no longer provide health coverage, as they have since World War II. Instead, they'd convert the current cost of coverage into additional salary for employees. Individuals would use this money to buy insurance, which they would be required to have. Private insurance plans would compete on features and price but would have to offer benefits at least equivalent to the Blue Cross "standard" option.
Eliminating employers as an additional payer would encourage consumers to use health care more efficiently. Getting rid of the employer tax deduction, which costs a whopping $200 billion a year, would free up funds to subsidize insurance up to 400 percent of the poverty line, which is $82,000 for a family of four . . . Wyden's plan would reduce overall national spending on health care by $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years and that it would save the government money through great administrative efficiency and competition.
Buy your plane tickets to India. Does JetBlue fly there?
I plan on avoiding disease altogether. I have moved to a little compound in the southern end of the Genesee Valley. I have laid out a strict regimen of Leinenkugel's beer, indica and various smoked meats.
I have hired a personal physician to attend to any medical conditions which may arise. He immediately posted Maggie Brooks' tips on surviving a flu pandemic at various places around my home.
We have duct taped the windows. We have thrown out my spinach, romaine lettuce, radicchio, mustard greens and kale. He tossed my Peter Pan, Skippy and Jif. We have so many batteries . . .
We have stockpiled three different ages of scotch and paired each one with a Black Keys album. We hung up a picture of Charlton Heston and then used for it for target practice with my .44 Magnum MarkVII.
The politics are strange here, eerily similar to the place I left; no one can make up his or her mind.
The good Dr. is telling me it is time for sweat lodge now. I must tell him that his thong is a little extraneous.
From Jacob Weisberg at Slate Magazine:
Ron Wyden, the Democratic senator from Oregon . . . told me he had read The System, David Broder and Haynes Johnson's massive tome on the failure of the Clinton health-care reform plan, no less than five times . . . Wyden's bill is 166 pages against Hillary's 1364, and he thinks he can pare it further. When he was getting started, Wyden drew a grid of the major interest groups and made sure there were plusses as well as minuses for each in his bill . . . instead of trying to flatten the opposition, as the Clintons did in 1994, Wyden is courting Republicans.
Under Wyden's plan, employers would no longer provide health coverage, as they have since World War II. Instead, they'd convert the current cost of coverage into additional salary for employees. Individuals would use this money to buy insurance, which they would be required to have. Private insurance plans would compete on features and price but would have to offer benefits at least equivalent to the Blue Cross "standard" option.
Eliminating employers as an additional payer would encourage consumers to use health care more efficiently. Getting rid of the employer tax deduction, which costs a whopping $200 billion a year, would free up funds to subsidize insurance up to 400 percent of the poverty line, which is $82,000 for a family of four . . . Wyden's plan would reduce overall national spending on health care by $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years and that it would save the government money through great administrative efficiency and competition.
Buy your plane tickets to India. Does JetBlue fly there?
I plan on avoiding disease altogether. I have moved to a little compound in the southern end of the Genesee Valley. I have laid out a strict regimen of Leinenkugel's beer, indica and various smoked meats.
I have hired a personal physician to attend to any medical conditions which may arise. He immediately posted Maggie Brooks' tips on surviving a flu pandemic at various places around my home.
We have duct taped the windows. We have thrown out my spinach, romaine lettuce, radicchio, mustard greens and kale. He tossed my Peter Pan, Skippy and Jif. We have so many batteries . . .
We have stockpiled three different ages of scotch and paired each one with a Black Keys album. We hung up a picture of Charlton Heston and then used for it for target practice with my .44 Magnum MarkVII.
The politics are strange here, eerily similar to the place I left; no one can make up his or her mind.
The good Dr. is telling me it is time for sweat lodge now. I must tell him that his thong is a little extraneous.
Unshackle Upstate Campaign Launches
The tag line: "Over a half million young people left Upstate since 1990." Unshackle Upstate (UU), a conglomerate of business community members, begins a public rally campaign in Buffalo today. From the group's website:
The next public rally is scheduled for tomorrow in Rochester:
2:00 p.m.
Location:
Former site of Liberty Precision Industries
3025 South Winton Road,
(near Brighton-Henrietta town line)
Rochester, NY
Speakers: Sandra A. Parker, CEO of Rochester Business Alliance; Arunas Chesonis, Chairman and CEO of PAETEC Communications; Doug Woods, former CEO of Liberty Precision Industries; Brian Hickey, Executive Vice President of M&T Bank; Randy Henderson, CEO of Henderson Automotive.
The cause sounds noble enough and the organization's views on issues like Medicaid reform are sensible and needed. However, UU's economic development policies support programs like the Empire Zone and COMIDA - programs that have failed to deliver.
You will notice that the Rochester rally is being held at the "former" site of Liberty Precision. What happened to Liberty Precision? It is not quite clear, a visit to their website finds this message from CEO Dan Wood:
Perhaps the location of the rally was chosen to highlight another successful business stifled by the unfavorable New York business climate. Maybe. In 2002, operating out of Rochester, Liberty Precision seemed to be doing quite well:
It was only after applying for, and not receiving, benefits as a regionally significant Empire Zone that Liberty experienced adversity. As Rochester Turning pointed out last week:
". . . a coalition of more than 40 business and trade organizations, representing more than 32,000 companies that employ more than 1 million people . . . in terms of population growth, Upstate New York ranked third from the bottom of all fifty states – with only North Dakota and West Virginia fairing worse. During the last decade, Upstate lost 33 % of its manufacturing jobs, and overall job growth was only 4% compared to the national average of 23%. The departure of over a half million young adults is alarming."
The next public rally is scheduled for tomorrow in Rochester:
2:00 p.m.
Location:
Former site of Liberty Precision Industries
3025 South Winton Road,
(near Brighton-Henrietta town line)
Rochester, NY
Speakers: Sandra A. Parker, CEO of Rochester Business Alliance; Arunas Chesonis, Chairman and CEO of PAETEC Communications; Doug Woods, former CEO of Liberty Precision Industries; Brian Hickey, Executive Vice President of M&T Bank; Randy Henderson, CEO of Henderson Automotive.
The cause sounds noble enough and the organization's views on issues like Medicaid reform are sensible and needed. However, UU's economic development policies support programs like the Empire Zone and COMIDA - programs that have failed to deliver.
You will notice that the Rochester rally is being held at the "former" site of Liberty Precision. What happened to Liberty Precision? It is not quite clear, a visit to their website finds this message from CEO Dan Wood:
Since 1922 Liberty Precision Industries has been supplying manufacturing solutions to industries throughout the world. We have thrived over the years on meeting the challenges of the marketplace no matter how technically or commercially difficult they might be. However, despite all of our successes and accomplishments we find ourselves facing a series of obstacles which we can not overcome despite our best efforts and have therefore been forced to close the company.
The owners and employees have done everything in their power to navigate Liberty through this difficult period, but the magnitude of the issues affecting our customer base and the compounding affect they have had on our company have left us with no other options at this point.
Perhaps the location of the rally was chosen to highlight another successful business stifled by the unfavorable New York business climate. Maybe. In 2002, operating out of Rochester, Liberty Precision seemed to be doing quite well:
Automotive-oriented dial and transfer machine builder Liberty Precision Industries (Rochester, N.Y.) is acquiring the assets of Australian-headquartered Kirby Engineering, similarly a supplier of machining systems to automakers.
It was only after applying for, and not receiving, benefits as a regionally significant Empire Zone that Liberty experienced adversity. As Rochester Turning pointed out last week:
The argument is that property taxes are not the major driver of business cost. Then there is this quote from Mayor Bloomberg.
“Any company that makes a decision as to where they are going to be, based on the tax rate, is a company that won’t be around very long. If you are down to that incremental margin, you don’t have a business.”
Friday, March 2, 2007
Philip K. Dick: 1928-1982
"The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words. If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use the words."
Thursday, March 1, 2007
McCain Tosses Hat
Senator John McCain last night on the Late Show with David Letterman -
No big surprise. Now, if he has any hope of being elected, he must explain his stance on the Iraq war to the public.
"I am announcing that I will be a candidate for president of the United States"
No big surprise. Now, if he has any hope of being elected, he must explain his stance on the Iraq war to the public.
Update: AG Response Regarding County Perks
According to a representative from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office, his opinion yesterday in relation to public authority benefits applies only to the two specific agencies listed in the judgement.
No More Perks for Water Authority
As we posted yesterday, NYS Attorney General Andrew Cuomo determined that health insurance benefits for current and retired state housing authority members were null and void.
Monroe County Water Authority board members do not receive state health insurance, but they are eligible for Medicare and state pensions. The health benefits are supplied courtesy of the Rochester taxpayer.
This practice is just as unacceptable, and yes, illegal, at the county level as it is at the state level. Appointed board members should not be able to compensate themselves, with no criteria, as the voter has no way to hold those members accountable. Also, as we have seen, authority boards tend to be prizes for political cronies.
The Water Buffalo Press has contacted Cuomo's office to see what effect this ruling may have, if any, at the county level.
Ed Marianetti, Executive Director of the Monroe County Water Authority, said he was aware of the AG's judgement but had not read the letter. Marianetti stated that he did not believe Cuomo's judgement applied to the MCWA, but qualified that statement by pointing out that he is not a lawyer. Marianetti expected to review the issue further upon the return of the MWCA's lead legal counsel from a conference in Texas.
Monroe County Water Authority board members do not receive state health insurance, but they are eligible for Medicare and state pensions. The health benefits are supplied courtesy of the Rochester taxpayer.
This practice is just as unacceptable, and yes, illegal, at the county level as it is at the state level. Appointed board members should not be able to compensate themselves, with no criteria, as the voter has no way to hold those members accountable. Also, as we have seen, authority boards tend to be prizes for political cronies.
The Water Buffalo Press has contacted Cuomo's office to see what effect this ruling may have, if any, at the county level.
Ed Marianetti, Executive Director of the Monroe County Water Authority, said he was aware of the AG's judgement but had not read the letter. Marianetti stated that he did not believe Cuomo's judgement applied to the MCWA, but qualified that statement by pointing out that he is not a lawyer. Marianetti expected to review the issue further upon the return of the MWCA's lead legal counsel from a conference in Texas.
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