MsKreed

The Executive says an agreement has been reached between him and the Legislative leadership He posted a short video on his FB page: Here I'm glad they are moving forward to do their jobs and conduct business.....but do have some concerns regarding continuity and retention of archives. There does not seem to be any online records of Legislative and Committee meetings prior to November 2008, when Novus was implemented. In fact, since the Resolution Moss references (08-184) was preceded the use of Novus, we can't access it ourselves. If there was a prior online system that shows information before 11/08, it's not readily accessible. Now that the public has had access to over 15 years of minutes and agendas, I sincerely hope that data will still be openly available, and that the new Peak system includes a link to Novus and clear Public Notice on where/how to find older records.

Glad to see the new Board is open to trying different approaches. I'm a little surprised at the "drastically reduced" admission price. I thought, at $5 for adults and kids free, that it was already one of the less expensive events in the area. Granted, that adds up if someone wanted to visit multiple days/nights. Maybe also offering a single admission price for the entire Fair would be worth exploring as an option. Being free to return at a later day/time without paying each time may encourage attendance. I really hope that fees for vendors and exhibitors stays reasonable (perhaps even a "drastically reduced" discount for local businesses and independent crafters, etc). Increased charges that are pricing out the "little guys" is a tactic that ruins a lot of festivals and events for me. Browsing and supporting unique, locally made products is much more desirable than when most vendors who can afford to show up are just travelling retail distributors (the same people that will disappear and never stand by their goods....and are another event every week all over the region, selling cheap imported products that you can buy at the mall kiosks or Amazon).

Truth. But I guess not speaking English with be a great way to improve the process for the all the non-English speaking illegals that NYS started issuing under the "Green Light" Law a few years ago....

Source

Source

Just skimming over the excerpt, my first impression was to question the wisdom of spending a lump sum grant on creating new positions. Getting so excited to spend “free money” that it’s treated as some ongoing, permanent revenue instead of what it is: a one-time windfall. It’s fiscally irresponsible just like the FLOCK cameras. Salaries and benefits for the new positions will need to be squeezed from local tax revenue once the grants end. By definition, the funding is intended to be a temporary infusion of money. We all really hope that the Elmira/Chemung County GIVE unit is successful. But the criteria for the G.I.V.E funding is that they remain among the highest counties for gun violence in the state. Once they successfully lower gun violence in this area, the grants end....and then those salaries and benefits for the new positions will need to be squeezed from local tax revenue. With that being said, it’s not in any way a reflection of the dedication of the local law enforcement agencies. The following remark hits on the most vital point: The defense attorneys know that judges are forced to dismiss charges if the investigation falls short of new legislation that requires much more documentation of evidence than the past. Which places a higher burden on the officers who respond and investigate these crimes.

Me neither. Call me cynical....but the most convincing argument for me isn’t the he “said/she said” narratives from Israel and Hamas. The fact that it’s a UN agency is what makes them suspect in my eyes. Maintaining conflict among the very nations that fund them is a cash cow that has allowed the UN to thrive (and grows richer and more powerful) for decades. As of October 6th....the Saudis and other Arab nations were on board to facilitate normalized solutions for the region. I imagine that progress toward sustained peaceful relations could have caused less "need" (and hence a loss of revenue) for UNWRA, as well as a whole bunch more UN "aid" programs. Can't have that.

In the Standing Committees, Margeson clearly said that "all requests made through Novus will be processed appropriately. The Executive branch needs to continue using Novus until the Legislative branch decides to change the policy for how requests for Legislative actions are made". While that sounds like requests for Personnel and spending, etc from the Executive departments are not being submitted....it doesn't explain why requests can't be processed for items that legislators want to introduce. Hopefully, the Legislature will take the opportunity to use the "free time" (that they're not working on Executive route slips) to fill the agenda with other issues that serve their constituents. For example, this initiative that @Lawana Morse shared on her FB page:

I have a question. Does the Legislature still has access to use Novus to submit and generate Agenda items from their own branch...... or has the IT Department (under Executive direction) disabled their access to the Novus site? The current Policy (below) was implemented in February 2021 under Resolution 21-113. As a “policy” rather than Local Law amending the Charter, I assume it did not require the Executive’s approval. However, the Chemung County Charter clearly establishes that it is not within the Executive’s powers and duties to control the “conduct and procedure” of the Legislature: Section 203 of the states that “In addition to all powers conferred by the foregoing of other provisions of this Charter, the County Legislature shall have the power among others: (f) to adopt by resolution all necessary rules and regulations for its own conduct and procedure;" It seems like (even if Novus is inaccessible to the Legislatures), Agenda items can be introduced under the policy as "exception granted by the Chairperson for good cause" It would be in the best interest of the County for the Chair to "grant exceptions" at least in the short term to have some resolution presented to address an interim "policy" for Route Slip and Resolutions. It's worth noting that particular (Feb 2021) Legislative meeting included some lively debate about the Policy adopted under 21-113, as well as 21-056 (Resolution establishing Legislative Redistricting and Efficiency of County Government Operations Advisory Committee). Both topics were questioned by several members of the Public and discussed in depth by various legislator (some of whom voted to postpone both resolutions indefinitely). The details of the meeting can be reviewed as follows: Video: February 8, 2021 Full Legislature Meeting Minutes: Feb 8, 2021 Minutes After it convened, the "Government Efficiency" part was (rightly) abandoned by the Redistricting Committee. The legal consultants at SUNY explained that the required redistricting is a defined and specific process that cannot be combined with changing district sizes or government structure (elected Exec vs appointed Manager, etc). Personally, I think the Charter does need to be revised to have clearer procedures for Agenda policy as well as examining the number of legislators and executive structure. However, these issues should not be decided by Legislative committees -- the Legislature should pass a resolution to form a Charter Commission (with diverse members outside the elected branches) that can comprehensively evaluate the entire Charter.

I’m not sure about other states, but in New York State the prison system regularly changes terminology. I suppose it started with “reformatories” and “penitentiaries” becoming “prisons” and then “correctional facilities”. I have no idea when (or why) “wardens” became “superintendents” or who decided that “prison guard” was insulting and needed to called “correctional officers”. And then there is the evolution of “convict” (short for the perfectly clear and accurate “convicted felon”, since they had clearly been convicted of a felony - duh). By the 80s or 90s, that was unacceptable and was changed to “inmate”. Not only did it involve editing every single document, blank form, database and directive that was used in a prison ....um Correctional Facility......staff could face disciplinary action for using the “old” language. The 2000’s saw another change from “inmate” to “offender” (no longer convicted of a felony, they had just committed an offense, I guess?). Many of the “offenders” themselves took exception to the new label....as it seemed too similar to the already common “sex offender” title that had replaced distasteful descriptions like “rapist” and “child molester”. So, in spite of all the thousands of documents, blank forms, databases and directives that were revised to replace “inmate” with “offender”....the word “inmate” was still the preferred term. However, the Verbicide continues..... and the revision process started all over in 2022 when they were renamed “incarcerated individuals” because the term inmate is "dehumanizing". Sorry....having been convicted of felonies, they are still convicts.

The legal system is so broken, that the Courts/State most likely have done a good job of making excuses for him. According to the DOCCS Inmate Lookup, he's only been sentenced to State prison time once......So apparently, all of his earlier run-ins with the law had been pled down and reduced enough to always be less than a year sentence. In fact, there's a good chance that the one conviction (3rd degree burglary, Class D felony) that did get him state time was a reduced charge from something more serious. It looks like it was served at Lakeview so he was out after 6 months in the Shock program. He was just released (all rehabilitated) in September, and now he's tooling around with somebody's children while hauling meth and an AK-47.

These are all spot-on.....but sadly, barely scrape the surface. This could be an ongoing series - or a Topic where we can all contribute examples for a "Verbicide Collection". George Carlin would be proud that you're continuing his crusade against distorting the English language. Thank you!

I appreciate the sentiment that a full-fledged conspiracy doesn’t seem feasible.....but this is sort of circular reasoning: If there were a conspiracy going on that was big enough to “plan” the SuperBowl....wouldn’t be silly to assume it hadn’t started early enough to set the designated teams up to be the two best in the league?? 🤷‍♂️

Some fans have always claimed Sports leagues are fixed. And knowing how much money is wrapped up in it....especially as gambling is legalized in more places, I guess I understood how people would think so. It always seemed unlikely to me, because so many people would need to be "in on it". BUT....... A premature outcome being advertised is weird enough, but then when it looks like that very outcome is proceeding to happen?? 49ers complete comeback with victory over Packers while Ravens advance to AFC

Without defending drunk driving, I have to say you’re not wrong that enforcement and consequences are unfair in comparison to other crimes, like gun laws. Especially when you consider that as constitutionally questionable as some “prior restraint” gun laws are.....DWI laws are essentially just as (if not more) “preemptive”. Traffic blockades are set up to 'fish' for drivers who are not violating any traffic rules, and whose actions have not "yet" caused any harm. Not much different than SAFE laws that assume someone with 10 bullets in their magazine will presumably do something dangerous later. It can be argued that, in some cases, DWI laws lack due process since driver’s license can be immediately revoked for refusing a test, and stay revoked even if a defendant is later acquitted. The only reason that’s allowed is because it’s a “privilege” to drive – but in NYS lawmakers have decided it’s a human right for illegal immigrants?

It would be nice if these agencies were more transparent and reported the custody status of the offenders they spent tax money investigating. The media/public should remember that there's a reason why the legal system itself assumes that those who use "vague" language are trying to pull one over on someone.....Contra proferentem is a rule of contract interpretation that states an ambiguous contract term should be construed against the drafter of the contract. (I think omitting that data is likely an indication that few, if any, were held. ) Also....I hope I'm not the only one who had to look up what G.I.V.E. stands for? Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) Initiative find NYS info here It looks like it's been around for 10 years but Elmira just started receiving money from them ($383,147 in June, 2023). So, apparently Chemung County is rising in the "gun violence" rankings in the state?

I couldn't find the original Topic of this story from 2021. It must have been archived Read More Here

Even passenger vehicles have a limited EV market. Trucks and vans are heavier, more likely to carry cargo weight and are used for utilitarian needs that require regular travel outside city limits. It's absurd to think they'll work as EVs in any practical sense. I’m in a few FB groups for Class B RVs, and there’s been a lively conversation about the Ram Promaster EV that is being introduced. I can’t believe how many people think they’ll live long enough to see these things commonly adapted to travel coaches. We’ll need several generations of improvement before the EV charge will be sufficient to power the coach in addition to the current travel capacity of 162 mile city range on a full charge. (That’s for an unloaded chassis. Add the RV build and that will drop significantly.) The option to drive a loaded rig to a remote destination and boondock for days is a long way in the future.

I think they wanted dates changed but NH refused? I do believe Iowa has some staggered thing this year, with the Rep caucus at regular time and a later "mail-in" caucus date for dems. I don't understand what a "mail-in" caucus could even mean. There is some Super PAC that is pushing a write-in campaign in NH for Biden. And folks in NH are pointing out that, while Biden's name isn't on the primary ballot, his administration is conspicuously bragging about what he's done for the state (while assuring everyone it's not a Hatch violation as long as they don't mention the primary out loud). Source: Biden’s campaign is snubbing NH. But we sure are popular with his Cabinet lately

I realize Biden will be the dem nominee the DNC has decided for its voters. But I give Dean Phillips points for trying. (let's see how many times it takes me to get the embed to work - LOL)

Yeah.....it's sort of hard to feel bad for a bunch of upper income tree-huggers who felt so superior for "saving the planet" from the neanderthals who cling to fossil fuels.

I have no problem with expanding EV the market and availability. But the market is limited. Charging at home is only an option for homeowners (duh); and even with that luxury, their daily round trip commute would need to be limited to a range that is less than "the worst case scenario". I'd really like to hear what kind of "spin" we could possibly get from Hochul, Biden and others who support (or have already imposed) laws that mandate 100% of new vehicles to be EV in the next decade. Elected officials who thought this was feasible (and their staff/entourages) should have all been prohibited from travelling in any gas/diesel vehicles for at least a year before being permitted to vote on that legislation.

"Changing audience tastes"???? More likely some of the drastic changes to content DEI that don't align with audiences' existing/historical tastes": movies like Top Gun that stuck with 'winning' themes did just fine. No change here....but I've never been a box office movie-goer. Like....not since my first VCR. I can't justify the "need" to see anything when it's released. I'd much rather wait and watch it at my leisure on my own time schedule than pay exorbitant prices for tickets and snacks....and then risk missing something relevant to the story because I can't even pause for a bathroom break.

I love the idea of Alive After 5. It's a wonderful event that has been benefitting downtown for years. But I don't see that hosting it at the Arena "adds" any traffic or revenue. It's jaw-dropping to me that, after whatever sales pitch he gave to convinces the skeptical legislators to give the Arena another shot of cash.....Margeson continues to insult the taxpayers and lay "blame" on them if his sales pitch doesn't deliver: The truth is......we're not "out of the woods" because the facility has yet to offer events that fill the 3,784 seats that the Arena has. “As far as hockey itself, we’ve been doing quite well,” said Margeson. “Attendance is between 1,200 to 1,400." ...... That's a whopping one-third capacity. When attendance starts hovering at 80%, get back to me an we can discuss what it means to be 'doing quite well'. That's an excellent question. I'd like to hear Margeson and Roman publicly answer the question of whether the arena’s new Marketing & Sales Director is hiring his own company to provide services. And frankly, for as hard as they are pounding the table to defend operations, I'm beginning to get suspicious that they may be somehow drawing some profit from the IDA/Arena themselves. For instance, is the IDA allowed to be "self funding", or does it need to carry commercial property and liability on the Arena? And, if so, what insurance agency handles that?

There has been an increasing “voice” that questions Israel’s legitimacy for decades. I witnessed some of that on campus in September 2001. There were people offering “justification” for attacking civilians, because as a democracy, the civilians were fair targets who are directly responsible for the actions of their government representatives. That wasn’t at UC Berkley....it was Mansfield PA. But, for the most part, US support for Israel and the Jewish population has been pretty much an uncontested “given” since WWII (and even moreso since 1967)....and the opposing ideas like I saw at Mansfield were rhetorical (and respectful) debate among a small minority. I think a lot of people (including the Biden administration) were unprepared for how much active support there currently is for Hamas in the US.....Strong and vocal, threatening support (some with violent proclivity) from the Progressive “base” in Congress as well as college campuses, etc.