Governor Cuomo will combine both his State of the State address and the release of his executive budget into one presentation next week on January 21st. The address and release of the 2015-16 executive budget will be presented to a joint session of the legislature on January 21st at 1:30 PM in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany. Governor Cuomo originally planned to give his State of the State address on January 7th, that was pushed back due to the death of his father, former Governor Mario Cuomo
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State Police at Oneonta arrested 23-year-old Jordon Davis of Laurens for the Fleeing an Officer, Reckless Driving, Unlawful Possession of Marihuana and several vehicle and traffic law violations. The arrest occurred after Troopers observed Davis failing to keep right on State Route 205 in Oneonta, when the Troopers activated their emergency lights and sirens, Davis accelerated to over 100 miles an hour and failed to comply with the officers. Troopers located the vehicle parked behind a residence off of State Route 205. Davis was arraigned at the Town of Oneonta Court and released without bail required; he faces court action February 12th.
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The State DEC extended the public comment period on the draft permit for the proposed, federally regulated Constitution Pipeline, as well as the upgrade to the Iroquois Wright Compressor station in Schoharie County, by an additional 28 days. Public comments on the proposed project will be accepted through Friday, February 27th at 5:00PM. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission was responsible for conducting an environmental review of the project; they issued a final Environmental Impact Statement in October. People can provide verbal or written comments at the public meetings tonight at 6:00 PM in Oneonta at SUNY Oneonta Lecture Hall IRC #3, or Wednesday night at 6:00 PM in SUNY Cobleskill’s Bouck Hall Theater.
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State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced the arrest of James Ferro the former director of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision’s Special Investigations Unit, over accusations of sexually based harassment of a subordinate employee. Ferro faces 1 count each of Forcible Touching, Official Misconduct, Coercion & Harassment. Ferro is accused of inappropriately touching a subordinate and Community Supervision, at the Department of CorrectionalS in Albany over the course of several years.
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Governor Cuomo today announced new efforts to combat human trafficking and provide help to survivors safely re-enter their home community. This crime affects more than 1,000 children in New York each year, and it is estimated that nearly 18,000 people are brought into the United States annually for the same purpose. The Governor also proclaimed January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and unveiled a new poster that lists possible trafficking red flags, plus a free confidential hotline, which is 1-888-373-7888.
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Former New York Governor George Pataki is considering a run for the White House; he campaigned in New Hampshire recently, where one of the earlier primary votes are held. Pataki left office in 2007 after serving three terms as governor of New York.
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