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NEW YORK – The independent investigators appointed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, led by Joon H. Kim and Anne L. Clark has released their report into the multiple allegations of sexual harassment by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. After nearly five months, the investigators concluded that Governor Cuomo did sexually harass multiple women, including former and current state employees, by engaging in unwanted groping, kissing, and hugging, and making inappropriate comments. Further, the governor and his senior staff took actions to retaliate against at least one former employee for coming forward with her story. Finally, the Executive Chamber fostered a “toxic” workplace that enabled “harassment to occur and created a hostile work environment.” The investigators find that Governor Cuomo’s actions and those of the Executive Chamber violated multiple state and federal laws, as well as the Executive Chamber’s own written policies. The investigation was conducted after, on March 1, 2021, the Executive Chamber made a referral, pursuant to New York Executive Law Section 63(8), for Attorney General James to select independent lawyers to investigate “allegations of and circumstances surrounding sexual harassment claims made against the governor.” Kim and Clark were chosen to lead the investigation on March 8, 2021. “This is a sad day for New York because independent investigators have concluded that Governor Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women and, in doing so, broke the law,” said Attorney General James. “I am grateful to all the women who came forward to tell their stories in painstaking detail, enabling investigators to get to the truth. No man, no matter how powerful, can be allowed to harass women or violate our human rights laws, period.” Starting in December 2020, multiple women came forward with allegations that Governor Cuomo sexually harassed them. Over the course of the investigation, the investigators interviewed 179 individuals. Those interviewed included complainants, current and former members of the Executive Chamber, State Troopers, additional state employees, and others who interacted regularly with the governor. More than 74,000 documents, emails, texts, and pictures were also reviewed as evidence during the investigation. Backed up by corroborating evidence and credible witnesses, the investigators detail multiple current or former New York state employees or women outside state service who were the targets of harassing conduct on the part of the governor. As part of the investigation, Governor Cuomo also sat with the interviewers and answered questions under oath. While the governor denied the most serious allegations, the investigators found that he did so by offering “blanket denials” or that he had a “lack of recollection as to specific incidents.” The investigators also found that the governor’s recollection “stood in stark contrast to the strength, specificity, and corroboration of the complainants’ recollections, as well as the reports of many other individuals who offered observations and experiences of the governor’s conduct.” Additionally, the investigators found that the Executive Chamber was “rife with fear and intimidation” that not only “enabled the above-described instances of harassment to occur,” but also “created a hostile work environment overall.” Further, Governor Cuomo, himself, and the Executive Chamber engaged in “retaliatory” behavior by “intend[ing] to discredit and disparage” a former employee that came forward with her story of harassment. The investigation found that Governor Cuomo’s sexual harassment of multiple women and his and the Executive Chamber’s retaliation against a former employee for coming forward with her claims of sexual harassment violated multiple state and federal laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the New York State Human Rights Law, and 42 U.S. Code § 1983, in addition to the Executive Chamber’s own equal employment policies. Jennifer Kennedy Park, Abena Mainoo, and Rahul Mukhi from the law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP were all deputized, in addition to Joon H. Kim — as Special Deputies to the First Deputy Attorney General to conduct the investigation and issue this report. Yannick Grant from the law firm Vladeck, Raskin & Clark, P.C. was deputized,in addition to Anne L. Clark, as a Special Deputy to the First Deputy Attorney General to conduct the investigation and issue this report. A number of other attorneys from both Cleary Gottlieb and Vladeck were appointed as Special Assistants to the First Deputy Attorney General to assist with the investigation. The complete report can be read HERE.

In a statement released a short time ago, Chemung County Executive Christopher Moss released results of an informal survey of county residents on the use of American Rescue Act funds. Additionally, Moss released his own proposed uses for the funding. “As the County Executive, I believe we should use the American Rescue Plan funding to leverage our ability to recoup revenue losses due to the pandemic while at the same time implementing projects that will enhance the many services and activities that County residents and visitors to our County have become accustomed to," he wrote. "It’s important to remember that Chemung County has an exhaustive list of capital project needs that will need to be completed in the coming years. ARP funding can assist with some of these future projects as well as projects that had to be postponed or delayed due to the pandemic. Our plan will also give us the opportunity to assist not-for-profit agencies, private business, municipalities, agricultural, tourism and the Chemung County Nursing Facility." Moss wrote that multiple meetings and conversations have been held with officials from the City of Elmira, County Legislative representatives, business leaders and others prior to the submission of this plan to the County Legislature. Survey results indicate overwhelming support for funds to be used to help farmers as well as local small business owners drastically affected by the pandemic as well as strong support for projects such as a new building at the county fairgrounds to host a year round farmer's market and banquet hall. However, survey respondents showed less support for utilizing funds at First Arena and Dunn Field. Moss's recommendations include county infrastructure projects as well as capital improvements to county properties such as the county fairgrounds, Park Station, Harris Hill, and more. He also recommends a grant program for municipalities that are currently without or are underserved by broadband internet availability; the lack of which was a source of difficulty for many rural families in the county. "While there is further work to conduct on the logistical implementation of this plan I believe its content meets the overall goal of the American Rescue Plan which is to not only replace lost revenue, but also to stimulate the local economy by creating a variety of projects and initiatives to address the negative impacts of the pandemic. Unfortunately, we’re not in the position to fund every project and idea that was submitted and it’s important to keep in mind that the funding Chemung County received is approximately 7.5% of the County’s overall operating budget." To see the county executives full proposal, CLICK HERE

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo ordered state landmarks to be lit yellow, blue and red on Sunday, August 1st to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the MTV Network. "MTV is a cornerstone of pop culture and New York is proud to be home to this powerhouse network," Governor Cuomo said. "Creating genres and platforms that today seem commonplace, MTV paved the way for a new level of media expression and appreciation. The network has also made unprecedented contributions in the political world with their campaigns geared toward inspiring young people to vote. We congratulate them on 40 years of people around the world demanding 'I want my MTV.'" MTV was founded on August 1, 1981 in New York City with the launch of the first ever music video, "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles. In its history, MTV has brought celebrities and culture to NYC's Time Square via Total Request Live and the network created the genre of reality television with The Real World in New York. MTV has also prospered a commitment to civic engagement through their multiple campaigns encouraging young viewers to vote such as Rock the Vote, Choose or Lose and Vote Early. Today, MTV reaches 180 countries and 1.4 billion people. Landmarks that were lit include: · One World Trade Center · Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge · Kosciuszko Bridge · The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building · State Education Building · Alfred E. Smith State Office Building · State Fairgrounds - Main Gate · Grand Central Terminal - Pershing Square Viaduct · Albany International Airport Gateway · MTA LIRR - East End Gateway at Penn Station Chris McCarthy, President and CEO, MTV Entertainment Group said, "MTV was born on August 1st, 1981 in New York City with the spirit of youth and the energy of the city - to this day, with a reach of more than 1.4 billion people in 180 countries - our global headquarters is still based here; we are New York strong. We are inspired by the artists, dreamers and people of New York and are honored to be recognized by Governor Cuomo. Thank you, Governor, and thank you New York - here's to another 40 years together."

Police are investigating yet another shooting incident that took place this morning in the City of Elmira. According to police, at approximately 10:55 AM, officers responded to the 1300 block of Grand Central Av. for a report of shots fired. Witnesses reported hearing several gunshots near the intersection of Grand Central Av. and Norton St. Witnesses told police that a person was walking south on Grand Central Avenue on the west side of the street. A red vehicle, unknown make and model, pulled up and someone in the vehicle began to fire shots at the person on the sidewalk, who then ran through a vacant lot while shots continued to be fired at him. The vehicle then fled the area. Evidence of the shooting was located on scene, including both a shed and a garage that had been struck by a bullet. Numerous people, including two small children, were outside in the vicinity when this shooting took place, however there was no indication that anyone was struck by gunfire. The Elmira Police Department was assisted at the scene by the New York State Police and Chemung County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation into this shooting is ongoing. If anyone was present in the area and witnessed this shooting, or has any information related to this shooting, they are encouraged to contact the Elmira Police Department at (607)737-5626, or the tip line at (607)271-HALT. For more news and conversation about the Twin Tiers and beyond, click here!

Earlier this week Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that patient-facing healthcare workers at state-run hospitals will be required to get vaccinated for COVID-19 by Labor Day. There will not be an option to be tested in lieu of vaccination for these patient-facing healthcare workers. The Governor also announced that all New York State employees—about 130,000 people—will be required to get vaccinated for COVID-19 by Labor Day. State employees who do not get vaccinated will be required to be tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis. New York State is working with state unions to implement the requirement quickly and fairly. "New Yorkers have displayed tremendous dedication and resilience to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic across the state, but vaccination rates aren't keeping pace with the Delta variant and we need to act now," Governor Cuomo said. "That's why we're requiring everyone who works in a state-run hospital and interacts with patients to get vaccinated. New York is taking its vaccination effort a step further and requiring all state employees to get the shot or be tested weekly, and we look forward to working with our sisters and brothers in the labor movement to implement that quickly and effectively by Labor Day. Our healthcare heroes have led the way all through this terrible crisis, so let's get vaccinated, save lives and beat this beast for once and for all." The Governor also called on the FDA to expedite final approval of the vaccine and end emergency use authorization restrictions. Governor Cuomo also urged local governments to require all employees to be vaccinated or submit to testing by Labor Day. If the numbers continue to increase, school districts in affected areas should also strongly consider taking further action.

According to a press release sent out this afternoon, the City of Elmira has been awarded $28 million dollars ($28,270,386.00) from the Federal Government under the American Rescue Plan. The first half of the funds, in the amount of $14,135,193 has been received. An internal committee consisting of Mayor Dan Mandell, Deputy Mayor Joseph Duffy, Councilmember Brent Stermer, Community Development Director Emma Miran, City Chamberlain Charman Cattan and the City Manager, P. Michael Collins, has prepared recommendations to the City Council for the distribution of the $14 million dollars. The following recommendations will be presented to City Council for approval: Approximately 35% for Investments in Water, Sewer and Broadband Infrastructure Approximately 23% will be designated for Assistance to Households, Small Business and Nonprofits Approximately 17% will be designated for Lost Revenue 2020 Actual versus 2019 Actual Approximately 17% will be designated for Tourism Approximately 8% will be designated for Premium Pay for Employees A special Council Meeting is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, at 5:30 PM at City Hall, 3rd Floor Law Library, at which the utilization of these funds will be presented for Council vote.

According to Lt. William Solt of the Elmira Police Department, police have responded to three different reports of gunfire in the city in the past 72 hours. The first incident occurred on July 24th , just after 5:00 AM. Witnesses reporting hearing an argument taking place in the area of Fulton St. and South Ave. The witness then observed several people around a dark colored vehicle. This vehicle left the area traveling north on Fulton St. before doing a U-turn and traveling south towards South Ave. Several shots were heard when this vehicle approached South Ave. and the vehicle fled the area. The second shooting took place July 25th at approximately 1:45 AM. Officers responded to a residence in the 900 block of Grand Central Avenue for a report of shots fired. Officers arrived on scene and interviewed several people. Shell casing were found and an occupied residence had been struck by gunfire. Nobody was struck by any of the fired shots. The third shooting took place on July 27th at approximately 1:00 AM. Officers responded to a residence in the 700 block of German St. for a report of shots fired. Officers arrived on scene and interviewed several people. Shells casing were found and two occupied residences had been struck by gunfire. No was injured during this incident. This investigation into these shootings is ongoing. If anyone was present in the area and witnessed any of these shootings, or has any information related to these shootings, they are encouraged to contact the Elmira Police Department at (607)737-5626, or the tip line at (607)271-HALT. To see more local news, click here!

On Tuesday, July 20th, 2021, at approximately 5:30P.M., the Elmira Police Department responded to the 400 block of W. First St. for a report of shots fired. When police arrived on scene they saw a man run into a residence when he saw the police. Officers spoke with witnesses in the area who stated that the person who had run into the house had fired a shot at someone near the residence. Police also learned that two dogs were trying to attack someone and a second person tried to assist, at which point the resident exited the house and fired a single shot at the person near the house before fleeing inside. A perimeter was established around the residence and the suspect surrendered a short time later. The house was cleared and several more people were located inside, several of whom had warrants for their arrest. They were taken into custody and transported from the scene. A search warrant was obtained for the residence. Code Enforcement and Animal Control were called to the scene to assist due to the condition of the home and animals present and the house was posted by Code Enforcement as uninhabitable. Animal control took possession of three dogs and a goat that was living in the basement. Officers recovered firearms and a marijuana growing operation, which consisted of dozens of plants, from within the residence. As a result of this investigation, police arrested 44 year old James D. Bryan and charged him with Reckless Endangerment 1st. Bryan was held pending arraignment in Elmira City Court. Further charges are likely. Police say the investigation into this shooting is ongoing. If anyone was present in the area and witnessed this shooting, or has any information related to this shooting, they are encouraged to contact the Elmira Police Department at (607)737-5626, or the tip line at (607)271-HALT. See more local news and discussion by clicking here.

For years, the market was inundated with heavy IPAs. Now drinkers are starting to push back. Bruce Milton Miller/Fairfax Media via Getty Images Colleen C. Myles, Texas State University My prepandemic summers were always packed with travel – trips to Europe for work and play, and, most recently, a road trip across the American West. At the end of a sweltering day of activities, I’d routinely wind down with some social drinking. In recent years, though, I started to notice a shift. Beer lists had grown to include more and more low-alcohol options. Whether I was in Braunschweig, Germany, a suburb of Salt Lake City, or at home in Central Texas, I found myself no longer forced to choose between the likes of Stella Artois or Miller Lite if I wanted something that wouldn’t put me under the table. Now I could expect to find a bevy of local or national options with an alcohol by volume, or ABV, in the 4% to 5% range – below the 5.9% average of a craft beer and well below the 7% India pale ales that had been flooding the market. I even started seeing more nonalcoholic beers like Heineken 0.0, which was first released in Europe in 2017 and then in the U.S. in 2019. It seemed to me that low- and no-alcohol beers were becoming much more popular, but I wasn’t sure. So like a good scholar, I decided to look to the data to find an answer. In a recent study I conducted with my colleagues at Texas State University, we looked at industry literature and social media mentions, popular media articles and changes to alcohol regulations. We found that there is, in fact, a growing interest in consuming – and improved technology for producing – beer with less alcohol. The rise of big ‘small’ beer Beer has a complicated history in the U.S. Prior to the industry consolation that is the contemporary norm, small, local breweries dotted the country. Prohibition devastated the industry, but, when it was repealed in 1933, there was a period of rebirth. Although brewing and the consumption of alcohol did not completely stop during Prohibition, overall consumption was drastically reduced. Any drinking that did take place was driven behind closed doors. However, the repeal of Prohibition returned alcoholic beverages to the public arena. As alcohol restrictions and regulations were loosened or removed altogether, the volume of production rose rapidly. Over the course of the 20th century, technological innovations – ranging from improvements to the pasteurization process, to better transportation infrastructure, to advancements in packaging engineering – allowed breweries to scale up their operations. It was during this period that American brewers like Budweiser uncovered an untapped market for light-colored, low-ABV beer. To this day, the U.S. is known for its bland macro brews: Budweiser, Miller and Coors. But despite that long history – or perhaps because of it – the country’s craft beer industry has exploded over the past couple of decades. In 1983, there were 14 craft brewers in the U.S. In 2000, the Brewers Association counted 1,566 craft breweries. By 2020, the number had swelled to 8,884. What brewers have dubbed the “craft beer revolution” is characterized by its sophistication and specialization; craft brewers have traditionally produced a dizzying array of brands and styles, moving the market toward “bigger” – meaning bolder, stronger – brews. This has led to a paradox. Large-scale producers became known for brewing “small” – low in alcohol and, ostensibly, low in flavor – beer. Meanwhile, smaller breweries became known for making “big” – more flavorful, higher in alcohol – beers. Changing times, changing tastes While among most beer aficionados, heavy, high-alcohol beer is still popular, demand for lower-alcohol or nonalcoholic options is rising. The Brewers Association highlights a shift toward “mindful drinking,” indicating that consumers are increasingly keeping an eye on the carbohydrate, gluten or alcohol content of their drink of choice. In fact, two-thirds of drinkers say they take into account one or more of these attributes when drinking. Meanwhile, more Americans are “sober curious,” insofar as they are willing to take a short break from drinking or choose to abstain from alcohol altogether. These individual choices are part of an overarching social shift making, as NPR put it, “teetotaling trendy.” There’s long been the cultural belief that only people recovering from alcoholism drink nonalcoholic beer. In our study, though, we found that people were increasingly drawn to nonalcoholic beers for a number of reasons. Someone may be allergic or intolerant to alcohol, taking a medicine that contraindicates alcohol consumption, or have religious or personal preferences that tend toward abstention. Others want to retain the ability to be responsive or responsible for later activities, like serving as a designated driver, operating heavy machinery or being “on-call” for work. Making lower-alcohol beer more palatable Low-alcohol beer in the U.S. long has suffered from an image problem – namely, the perception that low- and no-alcohol brews taste bad. (And, let’s be honest, many do.) Budweiser has pulled off what some might call an act of wizardry: a low-alcohol beer produced in huge volumes with a relatively inoffensive taste. Jim Heimann Collection via Getty Images That’s because the brewing process can be especially complicated for low- or no-alcohol ferments, which has made it difficult to brew high-quality, low-alcohol beer that tastes good. Some even say that Budweiser isn’t given nearly enough credit for brewing a consistent, relatively palatable, low-alcohol product at such a big scale. But in recent years, several studies have been dedicated to improving the production protocols and flavor of low-alcohol beer. Although brewing is an ancient art, it has also shown impressive adaptability as times and technology have changed. The state of the art Combine the better taste with low-alcohol beer’s real or perceived health benefits, and there’s a real niche developing for the style. That doesn’t mean standard-alcohol – and even high-alcohol – beers are going anywhere anytime soon. Among craft brewers and craft drinkers, IPAs remain the most prominent beer style by far: Over 2,000 brands make and sell them. Yet the craft brewing industry is increasingly aware of these shifts in drinker preferences and the social benefits of moderating alcohol intake. Recent trends toward appreciating beer with no or low alcohol make space for moderate or nondrinkers to participate in the craft beer movement. Lagunitas’ DayTime IPA – which has 4% ABV – is part of a shift among smaller brewers to offer something for everyone. Scott Olson/Getty Images Now, thanks to the work of food and fermentation scientists, the creativity of brewers and the willingness of consumers to keep experimenting, the list of options that have lower-than-average alcohol and that are actually tasty is growing. German beer giant Beck’s nonalcoholic lager and Athletic Brewing’s Run Wild nonalcoholic IPA are just two examples of how breweries large and small are trying to tap into the nonalcoholic beer market. Meanwhile, most craft brewers now offer some kind of “session beer” – so called because, thanks to their lower alcohol content, they’re suitable for longer drinking sessions. Sales of session IPAs, for instance, increased 199% in 2015. Even beyond session IPAs, lower-alcohol brews across styles – gose, Helles lager, Kölsch, saison, and pilsner – are increasingly visible, available and popular in both pint and print, which is just another way of saying that, now more than ever, you can readily find a low-alcohol or nonalcoholic brew in your glass or on your screen. Colleen C. Myles, Associate Professor of Geography, Texas State University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

In a post on his personal social media page, Elmira Enforcers owner Robbie Nichols said "goodbye" to Elmira's First Arena on the eve of expiration of the team's contract with the Chemung County Industrial Development Agency ( CCIDA ). When the topic of the First Arena came up at today's CCIDA meeting, the group went into Executive Session. So far there is no word what the county intends to do as far as First Arena and its future with the Elmira Enforcers is concerned.

State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) and the Senate Republican conference today unveiled a comprehensive package of legislation aimed at protecting crime victims. The Senate GOP “Victims’ Justice Agenda” seeks to fight back against rising violent crime rates statewide which, O’Mara and other legislators argue, are the result of pro-criminal, anti-police policies being pushed and already enacted by Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Legislature’s Democrat majorities. O'Mara, a member on the Senate Codes and Judiciary committees, said, “Enough is enough and we need to stand up, speak out, and fight against the pro-criminal, anti-police mentality and policies that keep going too far in New York State. Governor Cuomo and the Democrat supermajorities in control of the State Legislature show no signs of letting up in their push for a so-called progressive agenda that only stands to embolden criminals and keep making this state and our communities less safe. We need to enact legislation that puts crime victims and community safety first.” The rise of violent crimes in cities and communities throughout New York this year follows an overall pro-criminal, anti-police climate fostered under all-Democrat rule. The Senate GOP Victims’ Justice Agenda follows their push earlier this year in May to strengthen protections for law enforcement and first responders through a “Protect Those Who Protect Us” package of legislation, and a series of Parole Reform measures unveiled last month. Safeguarding crime victims is another critical part of an ongoing criminal justice agenda geared towards restoring common-sense and public safety in New York, Republican lawmakers said. Among other measures, the Victims’ Justice Agenda includes legislation to: Repeal the bail and discovery reform law enacted by Cuomo and the Democrat majorities in the Senate and Assembly two years ago; Add certain offenses committed by a family member to the list of crimes qualifying for bail, including better protecting victims of domestic violence by allowing judges more discretion in securing orders in certain cases Ensure that repeat offenders qualify for bail and pre-trial detention when the principal has been convicted of one or more misdemeanor or felony offenses. Earlier this month, for example, an Oswego man was arrested 18 times over the span of four days, on charges ranging from stealing, harassing, resisting arrest, and trespassing. None of the repeat crimes he was charged under were bail eligible, and he was only held with bail after his 18th arrest for burglary and larceny Allow the sentence of life imprisonment without parole for persistent violent felony offenders who have three or more felony convictions; Provide judges with discretion when setting bail for dangerous defendants Require health care facilities to report incidents of a sexual offense to the departments of both health and education Protect witnesses in criminal prosecutions from intimidation and threats O’Mara also continued to criticize the governor’s recent declaration of a “disaster emergency on gun violence” in New York State. O’Mara called the move grandstanding on Cuomo’s part that only seeks to continue giving the governor unilateral powers to control the criminal justice agenda and debate in New York moving forward. “It doesn’t take another Cuomo executive order to know that rising crime and violence, and weakened public safety and security, are the result of the pro-criminal policies being enacted and pushed by this governor and a State Legislature under one-party control," said O'Mara. "They have emboldened the criminal element throughout this state through failed bail reform, lenient parole policies, an out-of-control Parole Board, cowing to the ‘defund the police’ movement, and an overall careless approach to criminal justice.”

On Monday at approximately 9:40 p.m., the Elmira Police Department responded to the area of Kinyon Street and Oakley Place for a report of shots fired. When police arrived they found evidence that shots had been fired. Additionally, witnesses in the area reported hearing multiple gunshots. Police say a dark colored SUV was observed stopping at the stop sign on Oakley Place. Someone then exited the vehicle and fired multiple shots in a northwest direction up Kinyon Street. This person then got back in to the vehicle and the vehicle fled on Delaware Avenue. Police say three people were observed walking south on Kinyon Street immediately after the shooting, however it is unknown if they were the intended targets. There was no evidence on scene that anyone was struck by gunfire. This investigation into this shooting is ongoing. If anyone was present in the area and witnessed this shooting, or has any information related to this shooting, they are encouraged to contact the Elmira Police Department at (607)737-5626, or the tip line at (607)271-HALT.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that all New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will receive the maximum allowable level of food benefits for July. The agency is also working with the federal government to ensure this aid, which has brought in more than $2.5 billion in food assistance to New Yorkers since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, will continue beyond July. "The pandemic exposed glaring inequalities in food access across the state and only made it harder for the many families who were already struggling with food insecurity," Governor Cuomo said. "By providing SNAP recipients with the maximum benefits possible, we are working to ensure every New Yorker can put food on the table during their time in need." SNAP households already receiving the maximum monthly benefit, and those that had been receiving an emergency allotment of less than $95 per month, will receive a minimum supplement of $95. Nearly 1.6 million households in New York State will receive the supplemental benefits later this month, which will result in the state receiving roughly $200 million in federal assistance. SNAP households in all counties outside of New York City should see these benefits post starting today. Those SNAP households in the five-county New York City region should see their benefits post between July 19 and the end of the month. As with the prior months, the payments will be delivered directly to recipients' existing Electronic Benefit Transfer account and can be accessed with their existing EBT card. Like regular SNAP benefits, the supplemental benefits can be used to purchase food at authorized retail food stores. Any unused SNAP benefits will be automatically carried over to the following month. Struggling New Yorkers continue to rely heavily on SNAP as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. As of April 2021, there were more than 2.8 million SNAP recipients throughout the state, a 5 percent increase from April 2020. Mike Hein, Commissioner of OTDA, said, "As our state continues to mend from the social and economic devastation waged by the pandemic, it is critical that struggling New Yorkers have the resources they can use to avoid food insecurity. These additional food benefits will help these individuals and families put healthy, nutritious food on the table as we collectively begin to recover from this public health crisis." For more information on the emergency supplemental SNAP benefits, including answers to frequently asked questions, visit OTDA's website here. New Yorkers can check their eligibility for SNAP and apply online here.

This afternoon at approximately 1:30 P.M. the Elmira Police Department responded to the area of Spaulding St. and Catherine St. for a report of shots fired. On arrival police found evidence that shots were fired. According to police, multiple witnesses in the area reported hearing multiple gunshots. At the time of the shots, several vehicles were seen in the area of Spaulding St. and Catherine St. All vehicles fled prior to police arrival. There was no evidence on scene that anyone was struck by gunfire. This investigation into this shooting is ongoing. If anyone was present in the area and witnessed this shooting, or has any information related to this shooting, they are encouraged to contact the Elmira Police Department at (607)737-5626, or the tip line at (607)271-HALT. For more local news and related conversation, click here!

Illegal gun use is now a public nuisance in New York. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews Timothy D. Lytton, Georgia State University Could calling the illegal use of firearms a “public nuisance” bring an end to the gun industry’s immunity from civil lawsuits? New York will soon test that notion. State lawmakers recently amended New York’s public nuisance statute to specifically include marketing and sales practices that contribute to gun crimes. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the bill on July 6, 2021, after declaring gun violence a “disaster emergency.” I’ve been researching lawsuits against the gun industry for over 20 years. While I believe New York’s law is certain to unleash a new round of lawsuits against gun-makers, my research suggests that these claims will face considerable legal hurdles. Even if this litigation succeeds – effectively ending the gun industry’s immunity from liability – the jury is still out on whether it will do much to curb gun violence. Defining illegal gun use as a public nuisance States routinely rely on public nuisance laws to regulate conduct that unreasonably interferes with the health and safety of others. Common examples include polluting the air or water, obstructing roadways or making excessive noise. New York’s amended statute holds gun manufacturers and sellers responsible for the public nuisance of illegal gun use if they fail to implement “reasonable controls” to prevent the unlawful sale, possession or use of firearms within the state. The law specifies that “reasonable controls” include implementing programs to secure inventory from theft and prevent illegal retail sales. Under the law, both public officials and private citizens can file lawsuits seeking money damages and a court injunction to compel offending parties to stop the nuisance. For example, a gun manufacturer who sold weapons that were subsequently used in crimes could be held liable if it failed to take reasonable measures to ensure that retail dealers did not engage in illegal sales practices. The gun industry’s immunity shield Suing the firearms industry for gun violence under the theory of public nuisance is nothing new. Individual gun violence victims, civic organizations such as the NAACP and big-city mayors started filing such lawsuits in the late 1990s. Congress put an end to this litigation in 2005 when it passed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which granted gun sellers – including manufacturers – immunity from liability arising out of criminal misuse of the weapons they sold. Immunity under the act is not absolute. Notably, a seller is not immune from liability if it “knowingly violated a state or federal statute applicable to the sale or marketing” of firearms. Consequently, following the passage of the act, plaintiffs argued that gun-makers’ marketing, distribution and sales practices constituted a public nuisance in violation of state statutes. However, federal appellate courts in New York and California rejected this argument. Those courts held that public nuisance laws did not qualify for the exception to immunity because they were not specifically aimed at regulating firearms. Challenges ahead for New York’s new law New York responded by updating its statute. The state is hoping to prompt civil litigation that will bring pressure on the industry to prevent the diversion of guns into the black market and the hands of illegal gun traffickers. Before the federal immunity bill, the industry faced a rising tide of litigation. New lawsuits, however, will face multiple challenges, which I believe will likely reach all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. I will consider two prominent ones. First, gun industry defendants will argue that New York’s amended public nuisance statute is an attempt to subvert the purpose of 2005 law, which was passed specifically to halt these types of claims against gun sellers in the 1990s and early 2000s. The opening section of the immunity law denounces this litigation as “an abuse of the legal system.” New York’s claim to utilize a narrow exception to gun industry immunity looks an awful lot like an attempt to eliminate immunity altogether. At the same time, the letter of the law allows claims arising out of the violation of any statute that specifically applies to the sale of firearms, which is exactly what New York’s amended public nuisance law does. For the Supreme Court, these contending views would pit the conservative majority’s strong allegiance to gun rights against its insistence on sticking to the letter of the law when reading statutes. Second, gun industry defendants will argue that the Second Amendment limits any type of litigation likely to restrict access to the lawful purchase of firearms. In a series of landmark cases, the Supreme Court said the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to own firearms “in common use” for “lawful purposes like self-defense.” If public nuisance lawsuits were to drive some gun-makers into bankruptcy, courts might view them as a threat to Second Amendment rights. However, the Second Amendment is silent on how to balance the constitutional right to keep and bear arms against the right Americans have to sue in civil court. How the Supreme Court might rule on this particular challenge is unclear. Impact on reducing gun violence But let’s assume for a moment that nuisance lawsuits survive a Supreme Court challenge, effectively ending the gun industry’s liability shield. Would this litigation then be able to reduce gun violence? The main impact of these lawsuits is to put pressure on gun manufactures to do more to prevent inventory theft and illegal sales by retailers. Since 2000, the gun industry has operated a program to prevent illegal straw purchases, suggesting manufactures think they may be able to affect how retailers operate. Even still, little is known about whether this program has had any impact on gun violence rates. That’s why no one really knows if forcing gun manufacturers to more closely supervise retailers will work. Part of the problem is a lack of government funding since the mid-1990s for public health research on alleged links between industry sales practices and gun crimes. Recent funding for this kind of research may clarify the value of regulating illegal gun sales as a public nuisance. Until then, passing laws to prompt litigation against the gun industry is just a shot in the dark. Timothy D. Lytton, Distinguished University Professor & Professor of Law, Georgia State University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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On Friday, June 25th, 2021, at approximately 11:15 P.M., officers from the Elmira Police Department responded to the 7-11 store located at 625 Pennsylvania Av. for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival officers found that the people involved had already fled the scene When officer arrived they located and interviewed several witnesses at the store and there was evidence of shots fired. The witnesses reported that two males were involved in a verbal altercation inside of the store. One of these males exited the store. As soon as he left the store, a male in a vehicle at one of the gas pumps exited the vehicle and confronted the person leaving the store. The male leaving the store then pulled a gun and fired at the person near the vehicle. Both males fled on foot in opposite directions and the vehicle left as well. Shortly after, the shooter returned to his vehicle and fled the scene. Police located one of the vehicles involved and conducted a traffic stop. No weapon was located in the vehicle. One of the occupants stated that he was being shot at, but did not wish to cooperate with this investigation. This investigation into this shooting is ongoing. If anyone was present in the area and witnessed this shooting, or has any information related to this shooting, they are encouraged to contact the Elmira Police Department at (607)737-5626, or the tip line at (607)271-HALT.