The Peru Gazette

Fron the office of NYS Sentaor Betty Little

State Senate Betty Little today announced that Clinton County will be among 17 counties statewide to receive funding for jail-based addiction services.

Little said a legislative resolution was adopted in the State Senate yesterday detailing the appropriation, including $156,000 for Clinton County.

“Several years ago, when as a member of the Senate’s Task Force on Opioid and Heroin Addiction I hosted a forum in Plattsburgh, I listened to the painful testimony of a mother who had determined the only way she could help her only son was to have him imprisoned for forging a check,” said Little.  “In jail, he wouldn’t be able to use the drug that was ruining and threatening his life.

“Access to treatment is improving in the North Country, which is great.  But, for many, addiction leads to crime, which leads to incarceration and what should then be a chance to get clean and make a positive change.  Jail-based addiction services will be a big help.  It should reduce the likelihood of recidivism by offering guidance and counseling that will help those in jail overcome their addiction at a time when they can and should really be able to focus on recovery.”

Clinton County Sheriff David Favro said: “This is very exciting.  Society’s only hope to reducing the desire for drug abuse is education and treatment.  A jail is an ideal opportunity to administer this treatment.  I look forward to working with our community partners to administer these funds in a fashion to create a better community via reducing recidivism and drug use.”

Little said the state funding will be administered through the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) to local mental hygiene directors who will work with local sheriffs to administer the program.

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Very disturbing story

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From the office of NYS Senator Betty Little

Legislation sponsored by Senator Betty Little that would create a state tax credit to encourage forestry stewardship and habitat conservation on private property passed the State Senate today.

“Undeveloped privately owned forestlands have many benefits for wildlife and water quality,” said Little.  “Growing property tax burdens and shifting of the assessment burden onto private lands creates pressure for development.  This tax credit, funded through the state and not a shift to locals, would offer financial relief, increasing the likelihood that these tracts remain intact.”

Little said studies have documented the increase in fragmentation of the forested landscape and the implications this has for wildlife, water management, biodiversity, and the forest-based economy.
 
Senate bill S.138 would provide a tax credit for 25 percent of school, county, and town taxes paid on a private property. The credit would be capped at $10,000 for eligible forest properties which have an approved habitat conservation or forest stewardship plan, or both.

A Habitat Conservation and Forestry Stewardship Program would be established within the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which would allow eligible properties to enroll and develop conservation plans for a period of not less than five years. Once enrolled, such properties could apply for the real property tax credit.

A landowner would need to apply to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).  An eligible property would be a tract of land of at least 25 contiguous acres that has been inspected by the DEC, a wildlife biologist certified by The Wildlife Society or a fisheries biologist certified by the American Fisheries Society.

A companion bill is sponsored by Assembly members Carrie Woerner, Dan Stec and Billy Jones.

The New York League of Conservation Voters, Adirondack Council and New York Farm Bureau have issued memos in support of the legislation.

Source: Watertown Daily Times | Family trip to Montreal an encounter with Old World culture

Source: Burlington Police Chief del Pozo Hospitalized After Serious Bike Crash in Adirondacks | Off Message

A message from the Peru Democrats

Join us for one of our most important events of the year: our caucus, during which we will select candidates for Peru seats in the November elections. Join us and take part in the process. Our caucus will be held at Peru Town Hall on Thursday, June 21st, promptly at 6:30 pm. Admission to the caucus will not be permitted after 6:30, so please arrive a few minutes early to secure your seat.

Also, in advance of the caucus, we will be holding a short committee meeting to discuss our fall fundraising idea. The meeting begins at 6 pm and will also be held at Peru Town Hall. This will be a great way to help out the committee and to secure yourself a seat for the caucus. We hope you will join us.

If you’re a Facebook user, please note that you can also follow us on Facebook. Just search for Peru Democrats and like our page.

Source: Courts rule EPA derelict in duty | Local News | pressrepublican.com

From the office of Assemblyman Bill Jones

Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay) announced that his legislation to place a moratorium on independent mausoleums and columbariums passed the Assembly (A.5784-B).

“Mausoleums can be a beautiful way to lay a loved one to rest,” Jones said. “But we’ve seen too many standalone, independently operated mausoleums in the North Country become abandoned and fall into disrepair, putting an emotional strain on families and a financial strain on the community.”

This is an issue that’s caused concerns for Jones and his constituents. Two free-standing mausoleums in Plattsburgh and Ellenburg built by Whispering Maples have been declared abandoned.^[1] The back wall remains incomplete in Plattsburgh and the roof has disintegrated in Ellenburg.^[2] The state has placed both sites under temporary receivership, but the towns will take them over after repairs are made. The expensive maintenance these buildings require places an unfair burden on local taxpayers, Jones noted.

After hearing the concerns of local residents, Jones authored legislation to prohibit the construction of standalone mausoleums or columbariums, which, unlike cemeteries with a number of interment options, expose municipalities to financial hardships if they are abandoned.

“Families pay a premium to choose a final resting place that feels right,” Jones said. “It’s unacceptable that these businesses take their money and then let the building fall apart while forcing the community to bear the burden. My legislation helps put a stop to this regrettable practice.”

With the passage of this bill in the Assembly, the bill is now delivered to the Senate where it is currently on third reading. Assemblyman Jones is looking forward to its Senate passage and its eventual signage into law.

From the office of Congressional candidate Tedra Cobb  

            On Monday, Tedra Cobb released information regarding the premium increases she and her family face as a result of policy decisions being made in Washington. Today, she is releasing the letter sent to the family regarding the increase. According to the document, the reasons further increases are necessary are “the removal of the Individual Mandate Penalty, the de-funding of Cost Share Reductions, the moratorium of the Health Insurance Provider Fee, and changes to the Risk Adjustment programs.”

Said Cobb on the release: “I wanted everyone to see what we’re facing and make it clear that Washington is behind the increases in people’s premiums this year. When you have a government that is actively hurting its citizens, it’s time to make a change.”  Cobb cautioned that wasn’t defending corporate interests: “Trust me, I’m not on the insurance company’s side on this. We need to do more to reign them in as well, and that certainly won’t happen with Elise Stefanik, who has taken $56,000 from insurance company PACs.” (https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/summary?cid=N00035523)           

Cobb further blasted Washington policies. Citing a report from Institute of and Economic Policy, Cobb noted that, aside from the richest 5% of New Yorkers, a policy increase of $2600 like the one Cobb faces would wipe out any benefit from the tax legislation that passed last year. “What’s going on is a transfer of wealth from working people to insurance companies, and taxpayers will be forced pick up the tab when the national debt comes due – so working people get hit twice. Elise Stefanik and our present Congress have put us in this situation. In November, we’re going to vote them out.”

Cobb faces 4 opponents in the June 26^th Democratic primary.

• Main Street Project at Standstill
• Truck Purchase Approved
• Town Clerk Doing an “Excellent Job” 
• Confidentially Reporting Zoning/Code Violations
• And More 

By John T. Ryan

Hail can have a devestating impact on an apple crop and hail storm frequency is increasing. Anyone traveling by Forrence Orchards this week undoubtedly noticed the draped netting covering some trees. Seth Forrence explained,  “We’re covering 30 to 40 acres of honeycrisp trees this year. Last year we covered a few rows and it was amazing how well the netting protected the apples.”

Forrence said New Zealand orchardists have been using the netting for several years. Giroux Brothers, owners of Chazy Orchards, were the first to try it locally.  The netting and the installation equipment is expensive, but Seth said the netting is expected to be reusable for up to 12 years.

Source: State Police DNA testing under scrutiny – Times Union

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