MsKreed

24 minutes ago, Chris said:

And if the prospective employees were able to pass a drug test.

While I agree with you wholeheartedly, some of the responsibility falls on the people themselves. Especially those who’d rather smoke marijuana than maybe get a better paying job that simply requires a clean piss test.

They should be penalized as well, but that’s another topic and I don’t want to derail this one.

Of course, you’re absolutely correct that those who are unemployable by choice will continue to create a burden on the state mandated programs that the County (taxpayers) shoulder.

But as long as the County’s ‘economic development’ agencies keep subsidizing low wage employers, they're proliferating the need for Medicaid and other assistance. Because even employable residents are stuck relying on those programs.

Promoting employers that offer more competitive wages (instead of a few dozen cashier jobs at truck plaza w/fast food) would at least bring the eligible recipients down to a more manageable level.

On 6/4/2024 at 9:53 AM, Chris said:

What would be interesting to see is what happens when the counties are so tapped out by the unfunded mandates, the benefits of telling the state "no" outweigh the risk of not receiving the state funding. I'm kind of surprised that hasn't happened yet. 

This has crossed my mind as well!

I suspect it's more than just losing state funds, and they have some "fines and penalties" for failing to meet mandates.....like the sewer district project where there will be substantial daily fines if it's not completed by the DEC's deadline. 

In another topic recently ("Chemung County Asks For Public Input On Future Plans"), I posted some of my thoughts on the Medicaid mandate. 

Here's the gist of that:

We frequently hear local officials lamenting that the NYS (constantly growing) unfunded Medicaid mandates are the costliest burden on the county budget (I believe over 55% of the County’s overall tax levy). The Legislature regularly passes resolutions “urging Albany” to reverse the economic damage these mandates create without more state funding.

Obviously imploring Albany to stop the mandates just falls on deaf ears, so we need to find ways to reduce the impact of mandates at the county/local level.

Plan for FQHC (one that’s run by effective management – which Arnot has proven not to be) would help alleviate the costs to taxpayers for Medicaid services. Hooray.

However, instead of just focusing on ways to reduce the healthcare costs of Medicaid recipients.....it’s just way more logical to reduce the number of Medicaid recipients in the County.....by fostering solid "living wage" job opportunities (particularly at HS/GED education and/or entry levels).

With that in mind, why do we allow taxpayers (through tax breaks, incentives, etc) to subsidize businesses that perpetuate the need for Medicaid and other assistance?

Why do some elected officials continue to shower praise onto STEG/IDA and other ‘negotiating’ entities for securing deals that “create jobs”.....that are beneath subsistence level, instead of providing fulltime, living wages with health benefits that would bring residents off the Medicaid rolls?

The retail/service jobs rarely offer fulltime. Even many employees at some of the “manufacturing” employers in industrial parks around HHDS/Big Flats (Demets Candy, CemeCon, etc) rely heavily on short-term employment and/or hiring through Addecco/Manpower temp agencies with no benefits.

Unless it’s doctors, RNs or other positions requiring a degree.....most jobs that Arnot health has posted online at the HS/GED level (CNAs, Patient Asistants, etc) are at or below $16/hr.

And if health benefits are offered, it’s often sort of pricey for the wages in question. At $16-17/hr, the majority with any dependents (or single individuals working less than full time) are eligible for Medicaid.

So after we've thrown bundles of money at companies to "create jobs", the county still incurs the cost of healthcare for their workers. 

The economic development agencies like STEG and CCIDA need to be persuaded to recruit businesses that will offer wages/benefits above the Medicaid levels instead of subsistence level or below. 

Unfortunately, the boards of those agencies have members who are “business leaders” that may not want to face wage competition if they bring some higher paying industry to the area.

For example: The CEO of Arnot Health is on the STEG Board of Directors. How would he retain the HS/GED employees currently working for them at $15.50/hr (and likely eligible for Medicaid) if STEG was able to bring a warehouse to the area that would pay $22/hr ? 

10 hours ago, Briggs said:

Was told by a new city council member that since I live outside the city limits he doesn't have to answer my concerns about the city   yet city receives county tax money 

Sadly I've seen the same attitude from a certain County legislator....worse since he feels he doesn't even need to talk with county residents unless they're registered voters in his own district. 

It's a poor reflection on our elected officials (the same people often forget they're public servants, and instead like to refer to themselves as "leaders").

Fortunately, Grasso is very good at communicating with anyone and everyone who has ties to or concerns about the City.  We can hope that sense of public service and rubs off on any of the new members who "don't get it". 

13 minutes ago, Chris said:

Maxine Waters' opponent has absolutely gone for the throat:

The Twitter (X) source of this video looks like it was a previous run against Maxine...

According to his campaign page (link here), Joe made a pretty good attempt...

Quote

Joe E Collins III ran for Congress in the 2020 election against Maxine Waters where he got almost 80,000 votes, which is three times more than any other Democrat or Republican candidate who has run against her. He also organized teams that registered more than 50,000 new Republican voters.

He is now apparently relocated to TX and running there for Congress this year.

It looks like the Supervisor and 2 of the 4 council members' terms expire in 2025. (Source - Chemung County BOE)

It's probably not too early to be networking with other unhappy Southport residents and maybe find some people who want to get behind new candidates. 

Voting and turning over elected officials is the best way to effect change -- especially in local governments. 

21 minutes ago, Adam said:

i guess, amongst other things, im confused; i thought the the State charges were misdemeanors and the statutes of limitations was up on them so how did they become federal/felony?

 

I'm not clear on the legal maneuver. The way I (sort of) understand State misdemeanors elevated to felonies because they were intended to "conceal" felony even if he was never charged with the 'triggering' felony....and said felony didn't need to be agreed upon (possibly federal election, or maybe tax fraud...In judge's instructions, it didnt matter which the jury picked?)

Maybe we have someone around here with experience in court proceedings who may understand it better than me. 

However they did it....it's a state conviction, as it's a county courthouse with a county judge and local prosecutor.  Sames place as Weinstein IIRC. Since it wasn't heard in federal court, Hochul has the pardon authority,  not POTUS.

Thanks I'm genuinely curious if their biology differs that much from humans....where v-snipping a male is a much simpler procedure than female sterilization.

15 minutes ago, command_prompt said:

Sterilization. https://cayuga-heights.ny.us/projects-2/deer-management/

Where are all the feminists who should be protesting that it’s only the females being sterilized?

A mature buck can impregnate several does in a single rutting season. So, wouldn’t it be more effective to sterilize them instead of the does? 

35 minutes ago, Chris said:

And our bodied are wired that, when we find those three things in Nature, we go hog wild and get all we can because tomorrow it may be gone. To some degree they set off domaine response and make us feel good eating them. However our technology has surpassed our biology, and whereas those things were once hard to find, now they're in every store a short distance away and in great quantity.

Exactly.....we now have an unnatural abundance of stuff that are relatively scarce in nature.

Of course, natural sugars (fruits, etc) have been a healthy part of the human diet forever. But we’ve strayed far & wide from consuming the small amounts available naturally to exponentially larger amounts that are uber-enhanced with huge doses of artificial refined sugars.

An apple a day? Sure, each one has maybe 15 net carbs....have at it. But when you peel that apple, cover it in a mixture of cane sugar and cinnamon, then wrap in a flaky crust of refined flour......that slice of apple pie has more sugar than 4 or 5 apples.

Likewise, a slab of strawberry shortcake bears little nutritional resemblance to a cup of fresh strawberries topped with a dollop of whipped cream.

Have you tried any strong, smelly botanicals? Garlic, peppermint, crushed red or black pepper sometimes deter various pests.  

Moving objects can be also effective. Wind generated pinwheels or maybe try one of these motion activated  predator decoys or water sprayers.

I'm kind of curious what was considered so "controversial" about the dam to begin with? 

Yeah..........I'm sure the 130 followers he's amassed in three years will be devastated.

Not for any of these state charges (those are Governors' domain).

I have no idea if the legal scholars have come up with any answer on pardoning oneself for federal offenses.  Obviously we've never had that happen with a convicted POTUS.

Has there ever been any lower precedent where a convict ever become governor someplace and pardoned themselves for state charges?🤔

1 hour ago, Ann said:

Politics, personality, and character aside, the Constitution guarantees protections for all defendants in these matters and  for me, that’s the greatest damage done.  

This sums up how I feel. 

Maybe it's weird that I can personally think someone is guilty, and still believe acquittal is appropriate if the case isn't proven by the evidence in court?

I  said it in '95 when OJ was acquitted and 15 years later with Casey Anthony.  I honestly believe they were both guilty of heinous murders. But neither trial presented proof beyond a doubt. The defendants had the right to present arguments and call witnesses that could offer reasonable doubt.  They were (justly) allowed to exercise those rights, and did so successfully.  

Since civil trials are based on a preponderance (more likely than not), OJ lost his the civil case. Just as he should have. 

However, the standard for criminal cases is "innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt". It isn't (nor should it ever be), "innocent until compelling conjecture shows a preponderance of guilt".

1 hour ago, Chris said:

Well maybe don’t do things that could land you in court in the first place?

Agreed.

But many jurisdictions (particularly in NY) fail to prosecute so many of the things that should land one in court. Even when DAs want to see a defendant in court, they can skip out on their appearance ticket and may not be pursued further.

So, I can see where it's understandable for some observers to have their confidence in our Justice System shaken in cases of non-violent, past crimes being more vigorously enforced than recent and ongoing crimes that are more serious. 

I like to believe the "Justice System" is structured to allow for all cases to be reviewed, and errors corrected through the process. 

Good grief. 

It's a shame they weren't mature enough to respond to you.... and that you can't address their paranoia (and show your receipts) in the same place they're slandering you.

Wait, after you set them straight on their first accusation....they've continued to publicly accuse you of "stealing" their name?

1 hour ago, Chris said:

It doesn't sound much different from Atkins to be honest, nor does it seem like a diet anyone could or should try to sustain long term.

One of the points about Atkins that addresses sustainability is its “phases”.

The almost complete restriction on carbs is only 4-6 weeks (to essentially ‘reprogram’ the body from the process that is/was converting carbs to stored fat, to burning stored fats instead). That’s followed by adding low-to-moderate amounts of healthy (nutrient and fiber rich) carbs...at a level low enough to maintain ketosis and continue weight loss as desired.

Once desired weight is reached, the “maintenance” phase is fairly generous on the amount of carbs and pretty reasonable to sustain.

1 hour ago, Chris said:

Getting rid of or limiting artificial sugars, particually high fructose corn syrup, make perfect sense to me. Cutting out healthy sugars such as fruit, which humans have eaten for millenia? Not so much. 

We should keep in mind some perspective on that.

Over the millennia, we consumed fewer natural sugars (and about zero highly refined sugars), and did a lot more physical labor to offset that carb intake.

Those healthy sugars were scarcer than they are now. And usually only seasonally available (primarily during warm times of years with higher activity – not in the dead of winter when human activity was limited by weather and darkness).  Preserving fruits or producing shelf stable sugars (like maple syrup or honey) was time consuming and labor intensive.

Add to that, modern society's significant decrease from the highly physical activity levels (that those seasonal sugars fueled in the past).  A modern American man (who is considered physically active) may not even expend as much energy as what was considered “light” physical activity (women and girls work) prior to the dawn of refrigeration, food processing and general industrial advancement.

I wouldn’t recommend a genuine “full carnivore” diet. Because humans aren’t biologically suited to be true carnivores (sustaining themselves solely on meat ).   

We’re omnivores, and need a combination of meat and vegetation (particularly leafy and cruciferous greens, etc).

I delved into the original Atkins program decades ago. It was years before the mainstream medical community acknowledged that carbohydrates (especially simple/refined) are more closely linked to heart disease, cholesterol and weight gain than fats).

I guess “keto” is a new twist on that premise. But it seems like keto is a more universal ‘constant’ diet as opposed to the “phases” that Atkins involves.  

Two overlooked concepts stood out to me about Atkins back when it was considered a fad.  

First, the revelation that “calories in = calories out” is not the infallible truth that we’d been taught for generations. It's an established fact that when ketosis is achieved, excess calories from fat don’t need to be ‘burned’ through exercise; fat is excreted instead of stored as body fat.

I also found the story behind the discovery of the Atkins concept fascinating.

Basically, scientists observed (what they thought was an anomaly) among Inuit communities that survived on extremely high fat/protein diets.....but had little to no occurrence of the health hazards (heart disease, cholesterol and weight gain, etc) that “settled science” had attributed to such diets.

Assuming these natives had some genetic insusceptibility to high cholesterol, etc.....research studies commenced.

However, they were baffled to find that their control group (non-native ‘transplanted’ residents consuming the same extremely high fat/protein diets) also showed the same absence of those health issues.

Holy Moly.....the “unhealthy diet” (not genetics) could, in fact, be the very reason for their better health.

When we visited my hometown in Iowa, my husband found it absolutely hilarious that local radio stations reported frequent “Corn Alerts” throughout the day......reminding drivers to be aware of low visibility at intersections.

"There's corn in the cornfields in Iowa!" Stop the presses! LOL

It actually kind of weird that this is the topic Moss considers so controversial to impose a media blackout

Heaven forbid that Nick Dubina could share misinformation about tall grass. 

WTF?

It’s no wonder legislators have raised concerns about deciding on expenditures when Department heads don’t attend meetings and answer questions as they have in the past.

Of course, it would be inappropriate for department employees punching a clock to speak to the media.....but the Commissioner is under a gag order?

Quote

Kevin Adams, the Chemung County Director of Public Information, was copied in the news inquiry sent to Avery. Mr. Adams did not reply.

Why even have a Director of Public Information, if even he is not allowed to respond to media inquiries?

Also....how “longstanding” is this policy?

Avery was allowed to speak to the same reporter at the media outlet last year. 

And the Aviation Director also made media statements on multiple occasions last year. (This) (and This)

Planning Commissioner Kevin Meindl has put out public statements and spoken to the media as recently as THREE days ago.

Nice!

JPEG displays in Chrome for me. Thanks!

12 minutes ago, RussNelson said:

Can't access that image.

Same here.

It looks like a .tif file? We will probably have better luck on this platform if it's converted to .jpg and uploaded again.