WCDO Radio News

State Lawmakers will once again have to deal with an education budget next year that could make things difficult on the smallest upstate district, according to Assemblyman Pete Lopez:

(Lopez)

Lopez said that state mandates on small school district sometimes drive the cost of education up to $30,000 per student per year.

There is a chance that the state legislature gets called back a special session before the end of the year, & they may try to get a pay raise for themselves. Area Assemblyman Pete Lopez comments:

(Lopez 12-6-16)

Governor Cuomo is expected to lobby for more stringent ethics reforms in exchange for any possible deal on lawmakers pay raises. The state legislature has not had a pay raise in 17 years.

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies announced that Luis Rojas will serve as the team's manager for the 2017 season. Rojas managed the Single A Saint Lucie Mets for the previous 2 seasons, he replaces Pedro Lopez, who served for 5 years as Binghamton manager, and he has been promoted & will manage the AAA Las Vegas 51's in 2017.

A charity Auction will be held November 19th in Oneonta to benefit the Leatherstocking Council of the Boys Scouts of America. District Executive Peter Miller told WCDO News of some of the auction items up for bidding:

(Peter Miller 11-9-16)

Online bidding & a complete list of auction items can be found at Leatherstocking Council.org, the auction will take place on Saturday November 19th from 5:00 to 9:00 PM at the Morris conference Center at SUNY Oneonta.

Chenango county sheriffs deputies arrested 56-year-old Peter Constantinou of New Berlin for 3rd degree Assault & Endangering the Welfare of a Child, following an investigation by Chenango County Child Protective Services and the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office. Constantinou faces action in the Town of New Berlin Court at a later date.

The elections are over and here are the Winners for 2016: in The U.S. Senate seat for New York, Democrat Charles Schumer beats Republican Wendy Long by a better than 2 to 1 margin. In the House of Representatives: in the 19th Congressional District Race, Republican John Faso defeats Democrat Zephyr Teachout & in the 22nd Congressional district Race Republican Claudia Tenney wins over Democrat Kim Meyers & 3rd party Candidate Martin Babinec. In area State Senate races, Republican incumbents Fred Akshar, Jim Seward & John Bonacic were re-elected. In State Assembly Races, Incumbents Bill Magee Donna Lupardo & Gary Finch defeated their opponents, Cliff Crouch & Pete Lopez were re-elected, they ran unopposed. Broome county voters elected Democrat Jason Garner over incumbent Debbie Preston. John Hubbard wins for Delaware County District Attorney, he was unopposed, Peter McCann wins the election for Morris Town Judge, and Randall Mowers was elected to the Oneonta Town Board

In Local Assembly Races: in the121 Assembly district: Republican John Salka will again try to unseat incumbent Democrat Bill Magee.

122nd Assembly District, Republican Cliff Crouch is unopposed.

102nd District, Republican incumbent Pete Lopez is unopposed.

State & Federal money is being designated to get broadband service to rural areas of upstate New York. Area Assemblyman Pete Lopez said that he likens this situation to when electricity was slow to make it into rural areas 120 years ago:

(Lopez 8-26-16)

Lopez said that the state has kicked up their contribution in recent years to about 500 million dollars annually to get rural broadband to residents, up from only a 5 million dollar commitment annually in 2008.

Members of the Assembly's Minority Conference called for changes to the way the books are kept, to create more transparency, accountability and oversight in how tax dollars are spent--especially in terms of New York's Economic Development, Assemblyman Cliff Crouch responds:

(Crouch 6-7-16)

Assemblyman Pete Lopez also responded:

(Lopez 6-7-16)

The Assembly Minority Conference Legislation sets up an independent advisory committee, streamlines economic development tax credits and other programs to make it fairer for all businesses to compete for state contracts and prohibit campaign contributions from appointees to their appointing authority.

There are only about 3 weeks to go for the current session of the state Legislature, and there seems to be little talk about ethics reforms, even after the convictions & sentencing of recent leaders of both houses. Assemblyman Pete Lopez explains:

(Lopez 5-26-16)

Legitimate topics of discussion in the final weeks include economic development, Job creation & tackling the Heroin & Opioid crisis.

State Lawmakers will forward bills this session, but many are skeptical on seeing the passage of any real ethics reforms, even after several arrests & convictions of many of their own over the last 20 years. Assemblyman Pete Lopez said that penalties need to be more serious:

(Lopez 5-11-16)

Former State Senate Leader Dean Skelos is the next former lawmakers to be sentenced for corruption in a Federal court room shortly.

with the parade of top level State Leaders heading for jail, Area Assemblyman Pete Lopez said that his fellow lawmakers talk a big game about ethics reforms, but nothing has been done:

(Lopez 5-4-16)

Other top lawmakers beside Silver & Skelos that have been charged with corruption related crimes include former State Senate Leaders Joe Bruno, Pedro Espada & Hiram Monserratte, & former Governor Elito Spitzer resigned due to a prostitution scandal, and a top level aide to Governor Cuomo is being investigated.

State lawmakers are weighing in on the new state budget passed last week. Assemblyman Cliff Crouch comments:

(Cliff Crouch 4-4-16)

Assemblyman Pete Lopez said that the process for passing the budget was not transparent:

(Pete Lopez 4-4-16)

The 11th hour budget kept the spending increase to under the 2% state cap, and includes record setting amounts of state aid.

It's not looking to promising for New York State to have a budget passed by tonight's deadline. Area Assemblyman Pete Lopez said that the whole budget process has been out of the public's eye & the rank & file Lawmakers again this year:

(Lopez 3-31-16)

Area Assemblyman Cliff Crouch told WCDO news this morning that he doesn't see a budget passed by midnight:

(Cliff Crouch 3-31-16)

Crouch said that 1of the key sticking points in this year's budget negotiation is the phased in minimum wage proposal, increases in revenue expected from New York City, he expressed disappointment in the closed process, and the lack of discussion about leadership term limits after many former legislative leaders faced charges & conviction for corruption.

Members of the State Assembly are looking to create a new state program modeled on the successful CHIPS program, to repair and maintain drinking water, sewer, storm water management and gas line infrastructure, with the Safe Water infrastructure Action Program.   area assemblyman Pete Lopez comments:

(Lopez 3-28-16)

The program would provide annual funding to all municipalities in the state to allow them to identify and swap out old, deteriorating pipes, water mains and gas lines to better maintain the state’s infrastructure. Lopez said that much of the infrastructure is aging, and in some cases, dates back to the Civil War.

State lawmakers have been chosen to work on Conference Committees to negotiate the differences in the budgets from both houses of the legislature, Local Assemblyman Pete Lopez said that after former leaders Silver & Skelos were convicted of corruption, that lawmakers would tighten up ethics governing their own behaviors, but they've proposed very little:

(Lopez 3-17-16)

Former State Senate Leader Dean Skelos & Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver will be sentenced next month; the state budget is due April 1st.

New York State has yet to formulate a plan for the whole state to follow regarding disposing of electronic appliances that contain toxic chemicals. Assemblyman Pete Lopez comments:

(Lopez 2-26-16)

Currently Many counties, such as Delaware County, will accept electronics for proper disposal after establishing their own policy, but Lopez said that many counties have no such deals or plans for those recyclable electronics.

The Otsego county Chamber of Commerce will hold their February Networking Luncheon today from 11:45am to 1:30pm At the Holiday Inn of Oneonta. The keynote speaker is Aaron MacLeod, the Director of Hartwick College’s New Center for Craft Food & Beverage. Assemblyman Pete Lopez will also speak on agriculture.

State lawmakers have been weighing the pros & cons of the Governor’s plans to raise minimum wage to $15.00 over the next several years. Area Assemblyman Pete Lopez said that there should be a distinction between minimum wage & a "Living Wage":

(Lopez 2-11-16)

The Governor this week said that increasing the minimum wage would lead to an extra 495 million dollars to the Southern Tier economy.

State Lawmakers are looking at the Education portion of Governor Cuomo's Executive Budget Proposal. Area Assemblyman Pete Lopez said that a key portion of the education equation, is to get the teacher evaluation portion right:

(Lopez 2-3-16)

Lawmakers are looking at getting the budget completed for the begining of the state's fiscal year, which is April 1st.

Lawmakers in Albany are conducting budget hearings this week, getting information from each state department on their needs for the upcoming fiscal year. Assemblyman Pete Lopez comments:

(Lopez 1-27-16)

Lawmakers have until April 1st to complete their work on the proposed 1456 billion dollar executive budget proposal.

Former gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout has announced her candidacy in the 19 congressional district. Teachout recently moved to Duchess County & is seeking to replace Republican Chris Gibson, who announced he would not seek another term in Congress. Republicans Andrew Heaney & John Faso have also announced their intentions to seek the congressional seat; assemblyman Pete Lopez recently withdrew from the race due to family health issues & will seek re-election in the state assembly.

The Assembly Republican Conference released a report on heroin abuse, called the Heroin Elimination & Prevention Plan, following 7 forums across the state. Assemblyman Cliff Crouch comments:

(Crouch 1-26-16)

Assemblyman Pete Lopez Comments:

(Lopez 1-26-15)

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heroin deaths have quadrupled in the decade between 2002 and 2013, and according to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, New York accounts for about 20% of federal drug seizures every year.

Lawmakers are looking at ways to fund and implement Governors Cuomo’s plan to get broadband to all sections of the state. Assemblyman Pete Lopez comments:

(Lopez 1-21-16)

Plans call for the state to improve the strength of the broadband signal as well as reach the underserved rural sections of the state.

Local lawmakers are weighing in on the Governor's State of the State address & Budget Presentation. First, Assemblyman Cliff Crouch:

(Crouch 1-14-16)

Assemblyman Pete Lopez Comments:

(Lopez 1-14-16)

Both houses of the Legislature will now get to work on getting the budget passed by April 1st, as well as getting agreements on the rest of the Governor’s agenda.

Assemblyman Pete Lopez is calling on the Assembly Leadership to move into the Internet age to increase transparency in government:

(Lopez 1-13-16)

Lopez & the Assembly Minority are calling on a package of reforms to be passed, to rid the Assembly of the tight fisted controls formerly used by Disgraced former Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Assembly Republicans announced an agenda to revamp New York’s education system. Assemblyman Pete Lopez comments:

(Lopez 1-12-16)

The plan encompasses 6 points, including changing the Common Core curriculum, Eliminating the Gap Elimination Adjustment, Repeal the current teacher evaluation system and establish a new system.

Area State Assemblyman Pete Lopez announced today that he will be suspending his bid to replace Congressman Chris Gibson in New York’s 19th Congressional District and is now officially seeking re-election in the 102nd Assembly District. Lopez announced that his father was recently diagnosed with cancer, & he is the eldest of 4 children, is the only sibling living in close proximity to his parents, & that he and his wife Bridget are their main caregivers. Lopez announced that he carries the additional responsibility of serving as a health proxy for his father & will need to stay closer to home.

The State Legislature reconvened at the State Capitol in Albany this afternoon for the first day of the 2016 Legislative Session. Local Assemblyman Cliff Crouch comments:

(Crouch 1-7-16)

Assemblyman Pete Lopez also commented:

(Lopez 1-7-16)

Governor Cuomo will deliver his State of the State address on Wednesday January 13th in Albany.

Assemblyman Pete Lopez & other Assembly colleagues announced efforts for the new "Spirit of '76" bill, to allow for a piece of legislation that has garnered the sponsorship of 76 members of the Assembly and 32 members in the Senate to bypass the applicable committee and move to the Floor for a debate and up or down vote. the Bill was forwarded in response to the power wielded by former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who was known to hold votes from coming to the floor in spite of large sponsorships.