Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver confirmed this morning that an overhaul of the state’s marijuana laws to reduce stop and frisk arrests is part of the ongoing budget negotiations.
Silver stated it wasn’t about marijuana decriminalization, but curtailing stop and frisk arrests, adding that it is likely to be limited to New York City.
Silver, along with Senate Co-Presidents Jeff Klein and Dean Skelos, had another hour-long closed-door meeting with Gov. Andrew Cuomo and it’s reported there was no deal yet on a final budget plan.
Lawmakers are not scheduled to be in Albany after March 21 for two weeks in order to accommodate the Passover and Easter holidays.
Other budget issues include a deal to increase the state’s minimum wage to $9 a hour by the end of 2015, with several phased-in hikes starting in 2014.
The Senate Republican leader said about $700 million in tax breaks and credits have been agreed to, with a possible alteration of the state’s 18a assessment utility surcharge part of that deal.
The Long Island GOP lawmaker also said it was likely the millionaire’s tax would be extended a year early.
Oneida County received a 2.72 percent interest rate on a 15-year, $14.3 million bond series it sold last week. "We got an absolutely incredible rate," said County Comptroller Joseph J. Timpano.
It’s reported the county was able to get a low rate for several reasons. Foremost, was Moody’s dropping its negative outlook for the county and the outlook is now stable. Other factors include two consecutive budget surpluses and a stable tax base with a manageable debt load.
The county sells off bonds annually to finance its capital projects. This year’s borrowing will be used for items like bridge and highway repairs, and building and airport improvements. Slated for the airport is construction of a building to house customs inspections while the numbers are not final yet, Oneida county projects it will close the books on 2012 with a surplus, perhaps in the range $4 million.
With the Release of their annual economic impact report officials say, Fort Drum had a more than $1.4 billion impact on the North Country economy in 2012. Fort Drum supports over 19,000 soldiers and about 20,000 family members, officials say.
Between the soldiers and 4,500 civilian workers, Fort Drum is the region's largest employer with a total annual payroll of nearly $1.2 billion.
Companies located in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties received 234 contracts worth more than $20 million last year.
Trenton Town Supervisor Mark Scheidelman is accused of inappropriately touching a seven year old boy. Scheidelman was arraigned in Oneida County Court on Monday on one count of first-degree sexual abuse, Scheidelman pleaded not-guilty, and then was presented with a plea offer from the prosecution. Neither side will release the details of the offer until a decision is made on whether to accept it or not. Judge Dwyer set a date of April 1 for Scheidelman to decide whether to accept or reject the prosecution's offer. 53 year old Scheidelman has been the Town Supervisor in Trenton for twenty years.
State Police have said it was one of the child's family members who contacted the authorities to report the incident, which they say happened at Scheidelman's home in Trenton back on November 11, 2012.
Speaking to reporters after Monday's arraignment, Scheidelman’s attorney Aney says that on the day of the alleged inappropriate contact back in November, the boy was fully clothed, and there were several people in the same room at the time the alleged inappropriate contact was made.
He says any physical contact that was made, was accidental.
He says during a press conference by the state police after the arrest of Scheidelman back in November, police officials stated there may be more victims of Scheidelman, including siblings of the alleged victim in the case he was arrested for. However, no other charges have ever been filed.
Aney told reporters the charge Scheidelman is facing is the only complaint against him, and in his view, this case is "weak, at best."
The New York State Police issued a statement warning people not to donate money or give personal information if you are contacted by the Fraternal Order of Police. The State Police say the New York State Police ..."does not solicit funds over the phone or by any other means. If you receive a call from the Fraternal Order of Police, also known as the Fraternal Order of Troopers, asking for money to benefit Troopers injured in the line of duty, please be advised that these calls are not from the New York State Police."
The Department of Environmental Conservation is investigating an emaciated black bear that was discovered last week at McCauley Mountain. The bear was spotted by a chairlift operator. Town of Webb Police responded to the scene & observed the bear & noted that its fur was thin & its bones were showing through its skin. The animal also appeared to have trouble walking. Police Chief John Russell had the animal euthanized & the DEC was then notified & photographed the animal before transporting it from the scene. A DEC spokesperson stated that the bear went into hibernation with a pre-existing mange condition that got worse as the winter progressed. The DEC is currently conducting tests on the animal.
An accident investigation led to a charge for a 52 year old West Carthage man. Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputies report that Edmund Rebb was charged by with aggravated DWI following an investigation into a motor vehicle accident Friday night in the Village of West Carthage. His blood alcohol content was allegedly 0.19% & he will answer the charge in Village of West Carthage Court.
