Government

Democrats in Monroe County Legislature along with several environmental activists are urging the county to pass legislation to ban hydraulic fracturing and related activities.

Democrats are encouraged that one of their colleagues across the aisle, Legislator Joseph Carbone, (R) Irondequoit, submitted a memorializing resolution supporting a statewide ban on fracking.

Legislator Justin Wilcox, of Brighton, says Carbone’s action could suggest there's support from their Republican counterparts to have enough votes in  imposing a fracking moratorium in the county.

Revitalizing Brockport is the aim of the village’s mayor-elect.

“Such as promoting the canal,” says Margay Blackman, the Village Trustee, who ousted incumbent Connie Castañeda on Tuesday in a re-election bid.

Blackmans says the village is applying for grant funding to make canal front enhancements and improvements to Main Street.

Other priorities include: tackling Brockport's high tax rate, and encouraging homeownership to increase the village’s tax base and quality of life.

Deals have been reached between Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders on siting new casinos and creating tax free zones at college campuses. But a bill on abortion rights was struggling, and reform measures appear dead for the session.

The agreement on casinos would allow four resort style gambling centers; one in the Capital Region, one in the Southern Tier, and possibly two in the Catskills, if voters approve the change to the state’s constitution in the fall.     

Hundreds of people attended a ceremony Wednesday as a seven foot statue of abolitionist Frederick Douglass was unveiled at Emancipation Hall of the United State Capitol Visitors Center.
A number of House and Senate leaders attended and spoke at the ceremony.

U-S Senator Chuck Schumer had introduced legislation directing the Joint Committee on the Libray to accept the statue.
After many delays, the sculpture was delivered.