Pipeline opponents to gather at Newburgh Town Hall
Giving Day is Friday at St . Mary ’ s
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Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , November 16 , 2016
Skoufis wins another term in the Assembly
In Brief
James Skoufis will serve a third term representing the 99th District of the New York State Assembly after being re-elected to his seat in the general election last week . The Democratic assemblyman defeated Republican challenger Colin Schmitt with roughly 48 percent of the vote .
Skoufis , 29 , campaigned for ethics reform in Albany , for raising the minimum wage and a full repeal of the MTA payroll tax . As assemblyman , he vowed to work on lowering the cost of college tuition and to combat heroin and opioid addiction throughout the district . In July , he secured a $ 1 million grant James Skoufis to repair Beaver Lake Dam .
“ I ’ m honored and humbled at the vote of confidence by my constituents to continue working on their behalf in the State Assembly ,” Skoufis wrote in a statement Monday . “ I take the responsibilities of this job seriously and will always fight for the best interests of the communities I represent .”
Skoufis addressed the Republican victory in the presidential election . “ Donald Trump wound up decisively
Congressman Maloney elected to third term
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Oliva is an advisor to Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino , who ran for governor in 2014 . His platforms included limited government , a strong national defense and strengthening the national economy .
“ While I am disappointed in last night ’ s results , I am proud of the race we ran ,” Oliva said in a concession
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said city Mayor Judy Kennedy . “ It ’ s part of recreating safety .”
The city scaled back plans for the skateboard park after the fatal shooting of Keyshan Gayle in August . After the shooting , residents demanded safer streets and more spending on a citywide video surveillance system . Funds were subsequently pulled from the skateboard project .
“ Our goal is to bring in a well-designed skateboard park for $ 300,000 to $ 350,000 in CDBG monies ,” wrote city Director of Planning and Development Deirdre Glenn in an email Tuesday . “ Obviously , completing the camera project fully comes first .” The city is expected to begin replacing 14 video cameras at the end of the month .
A total of $ 140,000 is also expected to fund the Downing Park Urban Farm project ; $ 43,500 will support two winning our assembly district as well , indicating my broad support among Democrats , Republicans and Independents alike . I ’ ll continue being the strongest advocate for all people from all parties - because they deserve nothing less . I truly thank my constituents for the faith they ’ ve placed in me .”
Skoufis was the youngest member of the State Assembly when he was elected in 2012 . He abandoned a bid for Bill Larkin ’ s seat in the State Senate in the spring .
Skoufis has authored and co-sponsored bills requiring more oversight of annexation efforts by Kiryas Joel in the Town of Monroe , to make banks responsible for the care of foreclosure properties and public identification of limited liability company owners and members .
Schmitt , 26 , serves in the Army National Guard . He is the former director of operations for the state Senate Veterans , Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee . Schmitt lobbied for the passage of “ Laree ’ s Law ” - enabling drug dealers to be charged with homicide in cases of opioid overdose deaths - and opposed the state ’ s “ DREAM Act ,” which proposed to provide free college tuition for undocumented immigrants .
Assembly members serve two-year terms . The 99th Assembly District includes Blooming Grove , Cornwall , Chester , Goshen , Hamptonburgh Highlands , Monroe , New Windsor , Waywayanda and Woodbury in Orange County and the Town of Stony Point in Rockland .
statement a day after the election . “ Despite being outspent by millions of dollars , no challenger in New York came closer to defeating an incumbent congressman than we did .”
The 18th Congressional District includes portions of Orange , Dutchess and Putnam counties , and the cities of Middletown , Newburgh and Poughkeepsie .
City of Newburgh finalizes CDBG plan
DPW workers and $ 160,000 will go to pay for staff and administration .
The city ’ s CDBG program aims to control blight , provide access to parkland , nature trails , community gardens and locally-grown food . HUD requires grant beneficiaries to prepare consolidated plans outlining goals for use of the grant money . National priorities for the program include curbing blight , and promoting health and safety .
The city is in year three of a five-year consolidated plan . Last year ’ s CDBG award totaled $ 861,734.00 . The 2017 funding is expected to be approved in the spring and disbursed sometime next fall . “ We spend it and then we ’ ll be reimbursed ,” said city Comptroller Katie Mack .
The city council is expected to approve the 2017 CDBG spending plan at its regular meeting on Nov . 28 .
Pipeline opponents to gather at Newburgh Town Hall
The next meeting of Orange Residents Against Pilgrim Pipelines ( RAPP ) will take place on Friday , Nov . 18 at 7 p . m . at Newburgh Town Hall .
Scheduled speakers include Newburgh Town Board member Betty Greene , Village of Woodbury Trustee Neil Crouse and Woodbury Town Councilman Robert Hunter . Cornwall Supervisor Richard Randazzo has been invited as well .
Past Woodbury Town Supervisor Sheila Conroy will give specific guidance on responses to the expected Pilgrim Pipelines environmental review .
RAPP member Ken Hall will discuss issues raised by Pilgrim ’ s efforts to gain access to private property . Orange RAPP recently mailed information to certain homeowners near proposed pipeline routes .
This meeting is free and all are welcome . Newburgh Town Supervisor Gil Piaquadio and the Board have provided the Town Hall meeting room for this program .
Orange Residents Against Pilgrim Pipelines became active this past January 2016 . They have sponsored a number of informational meetings in the Towns of Newburgh and Cornwall . In September they staged a public protest demonstration against Pilgrim and also had a public meeting featuring elected officials and Attorney Michael Sussman .
Giving Day is Friday at St . Mary ’ s
The monthly giving day at the former St . Mary ’ s School will continue on Friday , with Thanksgiving turkeys and many other items being distributed in Mannix Hall .
“ We have 500 turkeys and 300 chickens that will be part of the 17 tons of food that we will be giving away this Friday , November 18 , so it is all hands on deck if you can help ! It is going to be a very busy day ,” said organizer Mariella Allen . “ Headstart ( which utilizes the school ) asks that volunteers park in the Mount St . Mary ’ s lower parking lot with entrance on Gidney Avenue . That allows the curb to be used for our clients who are coming and going , and the Headstart families and buses that need to be in and out in the front of the school building .”
In addition , the Knights of Columbus will be there to distribute coats .
Volunteers are needed to help unload the food , beginning at 7:30 a . m ., to help with the distribution , and to help pack away any nonperishable items .
Anyone who is available to help , or who has questions , is invited to call Allen at 566-1425 .