Archive: News

Chemung, NY - The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and local New York manufacturing leaders, Vulcraft New York and Nucor Corporation, hosted U.S. Representative Tom Reed (R-NY) Tuesday for an event highlighting the recently signed tax reform legislation and its impact on the manufacturing industry.

"Manufacturers in New York and across America are more confident in our future now that historic tax reform is the law of the land," said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. "Tax reform was truly a game-changer for manufacturers, and it empowers us to hire more workers, create well-paying jobs, expand our operations and invest in our communities. It helps us do our part to continue building the American economy. The NAM is proud to have been in New York today to discuss the opportunities in New York's manufacturing sector, and we thank Congressman Reed for his continued support of our industry and of manufacturing workers."

The United States was closed for business for three days last weekend until Republicans and Democrats agreed to pass a short-term spending bill. The bill ended the closure that would have seen over 708,000 government workers furloughed, including suspended pay for the military. With Democrats backing off the issue of how 'Dreamers' - young immigrants who were illegally brought into the United States - will be dealt with, the government went back to work this week.

"The American people rejected this shut down, knowing full well extremism is no way to run a country," says Congressman Tom Reed. "Children health care, our military and countless other services Americans depend on cannot simply be shut down so extremists can make a point."

The New York State Commission of Correction affirmed its denial of Tompkins County's request to extend its long-standing 18-bed variance at the Tompkins County Jail. The decision, signed by COC Chairman Thomas Beilein, came following the Commission's January 17th meeting.

The Commission initially had directed that the variance be terminated as of December 31, but then, in response to a formal letter of request from Sheriff Ken Lansing, agreed to hear the County's request for extension at its January 17th meeting. Sheriff Lansing asked the Commission to consider extension of the variance to allow the County to facilitate implementation of its alternatives to incarceration programs and jail renovation plans in 2018.

The state agency in charge of the oversight and inspection of 561 state and local correctional facilities and jails across New York is not tracking or analyzing incidents and inmate complaints that may indicate problematic trends at those facilities, according to an auditreleased today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Auditors also found the State Commission of Correction is also not routinely inspecting the state's 54 prisons.

"The State Commission of Correction is not adequately monitoring what's happening in our prisons," DiNapoli said. "The commission needs to improve its tracking of data and to identify patterns or trends that merit attention to protect the rights and safety of inmates and correctional staff. The new data system it is building falls far short of helping them identify problems and needs to be addressed. Commission officials say they plan to improve their agency's performance, and they must given the Executive's proposal to improve the safety of New York's correctional facilities."

Legislature Chair Robertson Delivers 2018 Annual Message, Announces 2018 Organizational Structure
Legislature Chair Martha Robertson characterized the Legislature's year ahead as one of transition, preservation, and progress, as she delivered her annual message before the Tompkins County Legislature. The priority of "transition" is inevitable, she said—with five new Legislators, an incoming new County Administrator, and two new Deputy Administrators, all in a few months, As well as offering the opportunity to think creatively about new systems and structures, Robertson notes that the transitions will require special attention and time, while the Legislature also works to preserve what the County has—especially in light of potential program and funding changes at the state and federal level—as well as to make progress on ongoing initiatives. One worrisome "unfunded mandate" she identifies is local Medicaid spending, which currently amounts to about 24% of the County's property tax levy. Roberson cautions, "If the federal government cuts Medicaid, as seems very possible, we'll see even more of the program's costs passed on to us."

2018 Organizational Structure and Leadership Appointments: For 2018, the Legislature's six standing committees remain the same—Budget, Capital, and Personnel; Facilities and Infrastructure; Government Operations; Health and Human Services; Planning, Development, and Environmental Quality; and Public Safety. For leadership, past Legislature Chair Michael Lane will assume chairmanship of the budget committee, and Shawna Black will chair Health and Human Services, with former HHS chair Anna Kelles moving over to lead Planning, Development, and Environmental Quality. Dan Klein continues to chair Government Operations, Dave McKenna Facilities and Infrastructure, and Rich John Public Safety (which in 2018 will also assume the work of the past Jail Study Committee). Four of the new Legislators assume vice chair positions: Anne Koreman for F&I, Deborah Dawson for GO, Amanda Champion for PDEQ, and Henry Granison for Public Safety. The special Transportation Committee, chaired by Lane, will continue in 2018, the Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Committee will continue to be chaired by Leslyn McBean-Clairborne. A new special Housing Committee, led by Legislature Chair Robertson, will address the problem of housing, where she hopes, in part, to more closely engage other municipalities, the local nonprofit community and employers.

Albany - Senator Pam Helming and Senator Rob Ortt today called on Governor Andrew Cuomo to extend the pistol recertification deadline. In a letter to the Governor signed by 23 of their Senate and Assembly colleagues, Helming and Ortt outlined their concerns, most notably that dealing with pistol permit recertification has proven to be a massive problem for law-abiding gun owners and County Clerks' and Sheriffs' offices throughout the state. Additionally, they believe an extension to the pistol permit deadline would allow the County Clerks and Sheriffs of this state the appropriate amount of time to process recertification requests.

"With less than 20 percent of all pistol permit holders across New York State having recertified so far, it is clear this program has failed. The current process is broken and has caused problems for our local county clerks and sheriffs and confusion among law-abiding gun owners. Our gun owners who fail to recertify face the possibility of losing their Second Amendment rights and their voting rights. The Governor must scrap the deadline and streamline the process so that our law-abiding citizens do not have their lawful rights taken away. As State Senator, I am committed to protecting the rights of our law-abiding gun owners," Helming said.

Lansing, New York – On Wednesday January 17, 2018 at about 4:32 PM deputies from the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office responded to 99 Sheraton Drive the Cornell Federal Credit Union in the Village of Lansing regarding a robbery. Deputies arrived on scene and obtained a description of the incident from employees and other witnesses in the credit union at the time.

The suspect entered the credit union approached employees, displayed a handgun and demanded money. The suspect fled the credit union with an undetermined amount of money. The suspect was last seen running in a northeasterly direction on Sheraton Drive.

Planning Consultant Michael Long announced Wednesday that a $75,000 state grant was awarded to the Town of Lansing for materials to build infrastructure on the town land across the street from the Town ball fields.  Long said that NYS Senator Pam Helming secured the grant that will pay for road materials and other infrastructure costs to connect proposed developments with State Road 34/34B.  Long says some of the money will be used to adjust a future intersection between 34/34B and Woodsedge Drive, which will continue north to connect Cornerstone Group's Milton Meadows project and others proposed for the town land.

"The State of New York has tentatively agreed to the initial location for Cornerstone (roads), but as we add additional businesses and development patterns there, they want us to look at a traffic analysis of the entire parcel to try to figure out where the points are that come in and out," Long says.  "Cornerstone is going to pay for their part of it.  We're going to have to make some adjustments to the intersection at Woodsedge Drive.  Either we have to slide the road either to the east, or, on the south side, to the west."

Geneva - Senator Pam Helming today announced that she has been named to the Circle of Friends by the New York State Farm Bureau. This distinguished honor is a reflection of Helming's unwavering support of local farmers and New York State agriculture during the 2017 legislative session.

"Agriculture is the No. 1 industry in the Wayne-Finger Lakes region and is a top driver of job creation in our local communities and state. With that in mind, it just makes perfect sense for me to support legislation and budget measures that help our farmers grow and thrive. I am honored and humbled to receive this honor from New York Farm Bureau and look forward to a continued and successful partnership during this year's legislative session. It has been a pleasure to work with New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher and the Presidents of the County Farm Bureaus throughout the Wayne-Finger Lakes region," Helming said.

Despite seven years of open meetings to craft a comprehensive plan revision, many Lansing residents complained last month that the public was not adequately invited to weigh in on the plan.  Controversy over a public hearing scheduled only a few days before Christmas led to the Town Board agreeing not to vote on final acceptance of the plan until there has been time to hold several more meetings at times and places accessible to residents.  Responding to that concern, Town Supervisor Ed LaVigne says he will ask the Town Board to add regular meetings and to agree to other measures that will help keep the public in the know.

"I will propose a series of two meetings a month," he says.  "The first one will be the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30.  We'll discuss this at our organizational meeting on January 17th."

Washington, DC- This week, Congressman Tom Reed outlined the legislative initiatives he plans to work on this year in Congress. His priorities include: building upon tax reform, infrastructure improvements, welfare reform, college cost containment, and agriculture issues.

"The successful foundation that tax reform provides will continue to jumpstart our local economies as it has already shown tangible results. Over 100 companies have announced bonuses and increased wages for workers across the country," Reed stated.

Washington, DC – The Problem Solvers Caucus released a new report Wednesday with bipartisan policy recommendations to build a 21st century infrastructure network for America. The forty-eight member bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, led by Co-Chairs Tom Reed (NY-23) and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), launched an Infrastructure Working Group to find consensus on a bipartisan set of policies to serve as the bedrock for a plan that addresses the dire need to rebuild and responsibly invest in infrastructure across the United States.

"It's always better for the country when we act together. The bipartisan policy solutions we've delivered provide Congress the building blocks necessary to craft a comprehensive infrastructure plan that both parties can agree to," said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Tom Reed. "We've paved a bipartisan path to get to 'yes' and look forward to working with key leaders in Congress to find the right mix of policies to create legislation that can, and should, be enacted into law as soon as possible."