Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.
OPINION: The Corrupt Reign of King Cuomo is Over at Last
The corrupt reign of King Cuomo is over at last, but the fight for justice and accountability is just beginning. Investigations into [Gov. Andrew] Cuomo’s abuse of power, corruption, and criminal misconduct must continue [even after his resignation.] Cuomo should be immediately prosecuted, not just for sexual harassment and assault, but also for his deadly nursing-home policies […]
OPINION: Rights are at the center of our political life
Over my years in public life, I conducted many hearings that included comments from members of the public. I remember well that people often said when asserting a claim: “It’s my right as an American citizen.” That is a compelling statement that goes to the core of what it means to be an American. We deeply value
OPINION: Encouraging Engagement in I-81 Public-Comment Period
The U.S. Senate [on July 28] voted to move forward a historic $550 billion infrastructure bill. While there are still several legislative steps ahead of its full passage, it’s $110 billion investment for highways holds the power to transform communities like Central New York. Furthermore, it comes as the long-awaited Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the
OPINION: Why Voters Vote as They Do
Maybe it’s just a professional preoccupation, but I have always been intrigued by why voters cast their ballots as they do. I’ve never made a formal study of it but have talked with plenty of them over the years, and one thing sticks with me from those conversations — there is no one thing. People
OPINION: Public Participation is Critical to Upcoming 2022 Redistricting
The Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) announced recently that it would host eight public listening sessions across New York state prior to redrawing state legislative and Congressional district lines. It’s a process that takes place every 10 years to reflect population changes. The sessions are a result of a 2014 public referendum in which millions of New Yorkers
OPINION: Telemedicine: A Preventive Measure Against Single Payer
New York State legislators ended this latest session without passing what may possibly be the most detrimental bill in state history. The New York Health Act (https://legislation.nysenate.gov/pdf/bills/2021/S5474) would have crushed small businesses, middle-class families, and a myriad of jobs within the health care and insurance industries. With a Democrat supermajority in the state legislature, certainly the votes
OPINION: Gun-Violence Emergency Declaration is an Executive Diversion from Bad Policy
Gov. Andrew Cuomo [recently] issued an executive order declaring gun violence a “disaster emergency,” representing a “first-in-the-nation” strategy to combat crime. This is a forced, contrived approach to solving a problem that was largely created by the governor and his political allies. Gun violence is a devastating problem that has spiked recently due to policies that
OPINION: Our Goal as Americans: A ‘More Perfect Union’
Like most of my fellow citizens, I’m proud to be an American. When we celebrate Independence Day and reflect on our nation’s history and heritage, we are pleased to identify with the United States and to stand with our country against its competitors and adversaries. I am impressed most of all with two characteristics of the United
OPINION: 850,000 jobs return as U.S. economy continues reopening
But unemployment rate ticks up to 5.9 percent in June The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly jobs report is actually two distinct surveys — one of employers (the establishment survey) and one of people (the household survey). It is not uncommon for these two surveys to significantly diverge in their findings. In June, the establishment survey
OPINION: How Do We Assess Congress?
If you look at the polls of how Americans feel about the job Congress is doing, they’ve been remarkably consistent for the last few decades. The institution’s favorability rating, as measured by Gallup’s monthly surveys, hasn’t been above 50 percent since 2003. These days the favorability rating of Congress is in the low 30s — though that’s
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.