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Griffiss Institute names VP of intergovernmental affairs
ROME — The Griffiss Institute recently appointed Angela Wright as its new VP of intergovernmental affairs. The organization said this strategic addition to its team is part of its continued efforts to expand the VICEROY Scholars program. “Angela’s proven track record in government relations and advocacy will be invaluable as we strengthen our strategic partnerships […]
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ROME — The Griffiss Institute recently appointed Angela Wright as its new VP of intergovernmental affairs.
The organization said this strategic addition to its team is part of its continued efforts to expand the VICEROY Scholars program.
“Angela’s proven track record in government relations and advocacy will be invaluable as we strengthen our strategic partnerships and expand the reach of our VICEROY Scholars program,” Heather Hage, president and CEO of the Griffiss Institute, said in an Aug. 28 news release. “Angela will add significant capacity to the existing VICEROY team, supporting the program’s sustainment while maximizing outcomes through the cultivation of champions within our university partners and with key governmental stakeholders.”
Wright brings a “distinguished background in government relations,” having most recently served as associate vice chancellor for government relations at the State University of New York (SUNY). With extensive experience in managing state and federal relations, she has successfully implemented advocacy campaigns, coordinated legislative efforts, and engaged with key stakeholders to promote educational initiatives across SUNY’s 64 campuses, the Griffiss Institute contended. Her expertise in distilling complex information into persuasive messages and her ability to build strong relationships with legislators and community leaders make her “an ideal fit for this role,” it added.
Her career at SUNY includes notable achievements, such as leading advocacy days in Washington, D.C., overseeing federal research priorities, and managing responses to legislative inquiries. Her efforts have significantly impacted higher-education policy and funding, enhancing SUNY’s research porZolio and fostering collaboration across campuses. Additionally, Wright’s work with the Research Foundation for SUNY has established her as “a key player in driving strategic growth and innovation,” the Griffiss Institute said.
Wright holds an associate degree in agricultural science from SUNY Cobleskill and a bachelor’s degree in applied economics and management and a master’s degree in professional studies, both from the College of Agriculture and Life Science at Cornell University.
Utica University names VP for enrollment management
UTICA — Utica University recently appointed W. Eric Sykes as its new VP for enrollment management, following a comprehensive national search. “To land a remarkable thought-leader and practitioner in the enrollment management field such as Eric is a testament to his abilities as well as the opportunities Utica University presents,” Utica University President Todd Pfannestiel
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UTICA — Utica University recently appointed W. Eric Sykes as its new VP for enrollment management, following a comprehensive national search.
“To land a remarkable thought-leader and practitioner in the enrollment management field such as Eric is a testament to his abilities as well as the opportunities Utica University presents,” Utica University President Todd Pfannestiel said in a July 29 news release. “Eric brings a wealth of experience from his previous administrative appointments at Quinnipiac University, Emerson College, Xavier University, and most recently Elmira College.”
Sykes also previously held faculty appointments at Dickinson College and Indiana University Kokomo. He holds a master’s degree in social and personality psychology, with a concentration in psychometrics, from Purdue University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Loyola University Chicago.
“I’m excited to join Utica University,” Sykes said. “I believe strongly in the University’s commitment to opportunity, affordability and access and look forward to working with faculty and staff across campus to best communicate the distinctiveness of our programs and recruit highly qualified undergraduate and graduate students to Utica.”
The search committee for the VP for enrollment management was chaired by Utica University Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences Jason Denman, with assistance from the R.H. Perry search firm, according to Pfannestiel.
Before the appointment of Sykes, Jessica Nelson served as interim VP of enrollment management over the past year.
Utica University says it currently enrolls about 2,900 undergraduate students in 40-plus majors and 40-plus minors. It also has about 1,200 graduate students.
Ask Rusty: For Advice on When to Claim Social Security
Dear Rusty: I could use some advice on whether or not I should start collecting my Social Security benefits now. I am 67 years and three months old, and plan to continue working for at least for the next year or two. Signed: Seeking Answers Dear Seeking Answers: Deciding when to claim Social Security is,
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Dear Rusty: I could use some advice on whether or not I should start collecting my Social Security benefits now. I am 67 years and three months old, and plan to continue working for at least for the next year or two.
Signed: Seeking Answers
Dear Seeking Answers: Deciding when to claim Social Security is, indeed, an important decision, as it will affect you for the rest of your life. Mainly, deciding when to claim your SS retirement benefit should consider your financial needs, but your life expectancy and marital status are equally important.
At your current age — past your full retirement age (FRA) of 66 years and six months — you are already earning Delayed Retirement Credits (DRCs) at the rate of a 0.677 percent higher benefit for each month you continue to delay. That adds up to an additional 8 percent benefit for each full year you wait beyond your FRA to claim, and that growth will continue until you are 70 years old. At that point, your benefit will be 28 percent higher than it would have been at your FRA. If you expect to achieve about “average” life expectancy (about 84 for a man your current age), then waiting until 70 to claim will get you both a higher monthly amount and the most you can get in cumulative lifetime benefits. Waiting, however, only makes sense if you expect at least average longevity. If your health is poor and you have reason to believe you won’t live to the “average,” then claiming earlier makes more sense. FYI, you may find this tool helpful to determine your potential life expectancy: https://socialsecurityreport.org/tools/life-expectancy-calculator/.
You can, of course, simply delay claiming for as long as you are still working, and then file for benefits at that time. When your paychecks stop is frequently the best time to start your SS benefits (to supplement the lost work income). And, if you are married and your wife will be entitled to a survivor benefit from you, then waiting longer to claim enhances the benefit your surviving spouse receives at your death (your surviving spouse would get your benefit amount, instead of her own smaller amount). If that is a consideration, then waiting — at least until you stop working (or age 70 if feasible) is often a prudent choice.
So, the choice is yours to make, considering your financial needs, life expectancy, and marital status. You no longer need to worry about Social Security’s annual earnings test (for those collecting benefits before their FRA) but, if it is financially feasible, waiting still longer will mean a higher monthly benefit for the rest of your life.
Russell Gloor is a national Social Security advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). The 2.4-million-member AMAC says it is a senior advocacy organization. Send your questions to: ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.
Author’s note: This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained, and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). The NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity.
VIEWPOINT: N.Y. Enacts Statewide “Freelance Isn’t Free” Legislation
On Nov. 22, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law the “Freelance Isn’t Free Act,” which was amended on March 1, 2024. The Act is codified in Article 44-A of the New York General Business Law. Article 44-A of the General Business Law creates several protections for freelance workers retained as independent contractors. The Freelance
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On Nov. 22, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law the “Freelance Isn’t Free Act,” which was amended on March 1, 2024. The Act is codified in Article 44-A of the New York General Business Law. Article 44-A of the General Business Law creates several protections for freelance workers retained as independent contractors. The Freelance Isn’t Free Act is intended to ensure that freelance workers receive timely compensation for all services performed. The law went into effect on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2024.
Subject to specified exceptions, the Act defines freelance workers as “any natural person or organization composed of no more than one natural person, whether or not incorporated or employing a trade name, that is hired or retained as an independent contractor by a hiring party to provide services in exchange for an amount equal to or greater than eight hundred dollars, either by itself or when aggregated with all contracts for services between the same hiring party and freelance worker during the immediately preceding 120 days.” In short, a freelance worker is any individual hired to provide services of $800 or more as part of a one-time transaction or over the course of several transactions with the same hiring party in the preceding 120 days.
Individuals engaged in the practice of law, licensed medical professionals, construction contractors, and sales representatives as defined by Section 191-a of the Labor Law, are excluded from the definition of freelance worker.
The Act broadly defines “hiring party” as “any person who retains a freelance worker to provide any service,” except local, state, and federal governments. Given the breadth of this definition most individuals and organizations that hire independent contractors to provide services will need to comply with the Act’s requirements.
The Freelance Isn’t Free Act imposes several requirements for hiring parties engaging freelance workers. As discussed in greater detail below, the main requirements pertain to written contracts, timely payment and anti-retaliation. The Act also creates an administrative-complaint procedure for freelance workers whose rights have been violated, as well as a private right of action.
Written Contract
Most significantly, the Act requires a hiring party that retains the services of a freelance worker to reduce the contract to writing. Written agreements must include:
• the name and mailing address of both parties;
• an itemization of all services to be provided by the freelance worker, the value of services to be provided, and the rate and method of compensation;
• the date on which payment by the hiring party is due or the mechanism by which the due date for payment will be determined; and
• the date by which the freelance worker must provide a list of services rendered under the contract in order to ensure timely payment.
The Act explicitly states that freelance workers and hiring parties may not waive the rights provided under the law, and any contract provision attempting to do so shall be void and unenforceable.
A copy of the written contract must be furnished to the freelance worker (either physically or electronically) and must be retained by both parties. The hiring party must retain a copy of the contract for a minimum of six years. Though not explicitly stated, the Act suggests that the burden of preparing the written contract falls on the hiring party.
Upon request, hiring parties must also make their contracts with freelance workers available to the attorney general. The failure to produce a contract upon request carries significant consequences, including a presumption that the terms presented by the freelance worker are the agreed upon terms.
Model contracts will be made available on the Department of Labor’s website.
Timely Payment
The Act requires that freelance workers be paid for their services in a timely manner. For purposes of the Act, this means that freelance workers must be paid on or before the date compensation is due under the terms of the contract; or if the contract does not state when payment is due, payment must be made within 30 days of completion of the freelance workers’ services.
Once a freelance worker has begun performing services under the contract, the hiring party may not require that the freelance worker accept less pay than agreed upon, as a condition of timely payment.
Discrimination and Retaliation Prohibited
The Freelance Isn’t Free Act prohibits discrimination and retaliation against freelance workers who exercise or attempt to exercise their rights under the Act.
Avenues for Redress
The New York State Attorney General is authorized to investigate alleged violations of the Act and to provide appropriate remedies. The Attorney General may bring an action on behalf of the state to enjoin a hiring party from engaging in acts that violate the Freelance Isn’t Free Act and to obtain restitution for affected freelance workers.
The Act separately creates a private right of action for aggrieved freelance workers. Such claims may be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction for up to two or six years, depending on the nature of the alleged violation. Claims alleging violations of the written-contract requirement may be brought for up to two years. Claims alleging violations of the timely-payment requirement, or the anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation provisions may be brought for up to six years.
Penalties
In the event that the Attorney General pursues such a civil action, civil penalties may be assessed against the hiring party in the amount of $1,000 for a first violation, $2,000 for a second violation, and $3,000 for a third or subsequent violation. Where there is evidence of a pattern or practice of violations under the Act, civil penalties may be imposed of not more than $25,000.
The damages and penalties available to a plaintiff for violations of the Act depend on the nature of the violation. For example:
• a hiring party’s failure to provide timely payment per the terms of a contract may result in double damages, injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees and costs, and other remedies as appropriate;
• a civil penalty of $250 may be imposed as a result of a hiring party’s failure to provide a freelance worker with a written contract; and
• a freelance worker who prevails on a retaliation claim under the Act, may be entitled to statutory damages equal to the value of the underlying contract for each violation, in addition to other damages.
For those residing and doing business in New York City, the Freelance Isn’t Free Act requirements noted above may not be entirely unfamiliar. The passage of the new law follows New York City’s enactment of similar legislation in 2017. In fact, it is largely modeled after the New York City Freelance Isn’t Free Act (the City Act), which also requires written contracts and timely payment.
The terms “freelance worker” and “hiring party” are defined similarly under the state Freelance Isn’t Free Act and the City Act, except that the construction-contractor exception is not recognized under the City Act’s definition of freelance worker.
Similar to the new state law, the City Act requires a written contract whenever a hiring party retains the services of a freelance worker and the contract has a value of $800 or more either by itself or when aggregated with all contracts for services between the same parties in the preceding 120 days. The terms that must be included in such a written contract are similar to the requirements under the state Freelance Isn’t Free Act, except that the City Act does not require freelance workers to provide a list of services rendered under the contract in order to ensure timely payment.
Both the state law and the City Act also contain identical provisions regarding: (i) the timeliness of payments to be made to freelance workers; and (ii) the prohibition of discrimination or retaliation against freelance workers who exercise their rights under applicable law. Like the state law, the City Act creates a private right of action and uses the same two and six year limitation periods described above.
The key differences between the state Freelance Isn’t Free Act and the City Act include the state law’s record-retention requirement and its mandate that the hiring party furnish a copy of the written contract to the freelance worker. The City Act is silent on these matters. The City Act also establishes its own administrative complaint process, through which freelance workers may file complaints with the city’s Office of Labor Policy & Standards.
Though the state Freelance Isn’t Free Act and the City Act are largely coextensive, the state law specifically says that it shall not be construed or interpreted to override or supplant any of the provisions of the City Act.
Individuals and organizations that engage the services of freelance workers should prepare to comply with the Freelance Isn’t Free Act requirements by reviewing internal processes for engaging the services of freelance workers and independent contractors before the effective date of Aug. 28, 2024. Among other things, this includes preparing written contracts that comply with the requirements set forth above when contracting with covered freelance workers.
Hannah K. Redmond is an associate attorney in the Syracuse office of Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC. She is a management side labor and employment attorney representing employers in all phases of the employment cycle — from hiring through separation, and beyond. Contact Redmond at hredmond@bsk.com. Rebecca K. Kimura is a member (partner) in Bond’s New York City office. Kimura has successfully litigated in federal and state courts and in arbitration proceedings. She also provides advice and counseling to companies, colleges, and universities in all aspects of employment law and education law. Contact her at rkimura@bsk.com. This viewpoint is drawn from the law firm’s website.
OPINION: Manufacturing contracts, recession fears abound ahead of election
Is time running out for Kamala Harris? The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) manufacturing index [as reported on Sept. 3] once again showed signs of contracting, coming in at 47.2 in August — anything less than 50 indicates less than half of firms reported expansion — which marks the 21 out of the past 22
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The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) manufacturing index [as reported on Sept. 3] once again showed signs of contracting, coming in at 47.2 in August — anything less than 50 indicates less than half of firms reported expansion — which marks the 21 out of the past 22 months showing contraction.
The index itself tends to dip during recessions, hitting lows of 35.5 in 1982, 39.4 in 1991, 41.3 in 2001, 34.5 in 2008 and 41.7 in 2020. So, it’s still got a bit more to go to get to recession territory, with its low this cycle coming at 46 in June 2023.
On the other hand, with nearly two years in the red, it is worth noting the only times the ISM stays below 50 for more than 12 months is during recessions. This indicates the point of capitulation might yet be on the horizon, or if the overall contraction was already here, just that this recession might be shallower than predecessors from a manufacturing perspective.
But the number is still worrying, and stock markets engaged in more panic selling on Sept. 3. The Bureau of Labor Statistics [jobs report on Sept. 6 and the next one on Oct. 4 will be important economic indicators as well]. Any bad news from the government there could send markets into another tail spin, to say nothing of the impacts on the imminent election in November between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
Although not always fatal, economic downturns can hurt incumbents, with recent electoral victims including Gerald Ford in 1976, Jimmy Carter in 1980, George H.W. Bush in 1992, and Donald Trump in 2020. On the other hand, Richard Nixon in 1972, Ronald Reagan in 1984, and George W. Bush in 2004 survived reelection despite having recessions during their terms, although Republicans did not survive the 2008 crash, losing to Barack Obama.
So, any data whatsoever showing continued weakness in the U.S. economy following its bout with inflation after COVID should be front and center in the election itself. If a recession is dead ahead, then the candidates should be addressing it.
But in her sit-down interview with CNN [on Aug. 29], Kamala Harris made it sound like the worst of the economic news was already behind us along with COVID, stating, “A lot of our policies have led to the reality that America recovered faster than any wealthy nation around the world,” and “we had to recover as an economy, and we have done that. I’m very proud of the work that we have done that has brought inflation down to less than 3 percent…”
It looks like the recovery is over. At least she said the word “inflation” a few times in the interview, which was a few more times than she mentioned it compared to her Democratic Party nomination acceptance speech in Chicago [on Aug. 22] — which was none.
Yes, the rate of inflation has dropped from its June 2022 high of 9.1 percent to its current level of 2.9 percent in July — the trouble is that when the economy comes off peak inflation like that, historically, a recession and a commensurate rise in unemployment is usually the only thing that will keep prices from jumping up again. In the meantime, personal incomes have not kept up with consumer prices the entire time Biden and Harris have been in office.
Well, that’s exactly what is happening: Unemployment is up 1.47 million since its December 2022 low, and employment is down 600,000 from its November 2023 high, in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics household survey, the latter of which is on the brink of going negative on an annual basis but might still kick along for a few more months.
The writing is on the wall.
Robert Romano is the VP of public policy at Americans for Limited Government Foundation, the research arm of Americans for Limited Government, a libertarian political advocacy group. The organization conducts policy research and publishes reports with the goal of reducing the size of the government.
OPINION: Changing world calls for a revised foreign policy
The world is changing in significant ways, and those changes call for new approaches to American foreign policy. That’s the theme of a compelling essay in the journal Foreign Affairs by the writer and policy analyst Ben Rhodes. It’s a timely argument, one that should get attention as we approach the November election. President Joe
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The world is changing in significant ways, and those changes call for new approaches to American foreign policy. That’s the theme of a compelling essay in the journal Foreign Affairs by the writer and policy analyst Ben Rhodes.
It’s a timely argument, one that should get attention as we approach the November election. President Joe Biden has moved in the right direction by promoting a foreign policy based on diplomacy and engagement, Rhodes writes. But the old rules-based global order, led by the United States, no longer really exists, and our policies need to adapt.
“An updated conception of U.S. leadership — one tailored to a world that has moved on from American primacy and the eccentricities of American politics — is necessary to minimize enormous risks and pursue new opportunities,” he writes.
It’s true that the world has moved on. When I was first elected to Congress and began working on foreign policy, we lived in a bipolar world, with the United States and the Soviet Union as the two undisputed global powers. After the Soviet collapse, the world was unipolar: The U.S. was the one superpower. Today, things are more complex.
China is contesting for influence and promotes its autocratic model as an alternative to our democratic norms. Russia is bullying its neighbors. Regional powers like India, Brazil, and Turkey look to play a bigger role. America still has a great deal of influence, and we should use it to advance our interests and promote peace; but we are no longer the dominant world power.
Ben Rhodes is a friend. He worked with me at the Wilson Center and worked on the 9/11 Commission and the Iraq Study Group reports. A former speechwriter for Barack Obama, he’s an incisive thinker and a strong writer who makes his points with eloquence.
He writes that American foreign policy, even under Biden, has had “one foot in the past, yearning nostalgically for American primacy.” Stuck in a post-9/11 mindset, we have embraced undemocratic regimes and turned a blind eye to human-rights abuses. Our support of unfettered markets arguably led to the 2007-08 financial crisis, which produced populist backlash. Our uncritical support of allies — in the Middle East, for example — has made us vulnerable to charges of hypocrisy. “Over the last two decades, American lectures on democracy have increasingly been tuned out,” Rhodes writes.
The essay was published when Biden was still seeking re-election. Now that Vice President Kamala Harris is the Democratic nominee, it is still timely. Harris, if she’s elected, could recalibrate foreign policy, keeping Biden’s focus on diplomacy and effective alliances but adapting to new realities. Of course, if Donald Trump wins in November, we’ll face a different set of circumstances. Rhodes [contends] that a second Trump presidency would embolden autocrats, weaken America’s model of democracy, and turn us away from cooperation with allies.
Rhodes writes that we should forget the idea that the U.S. can dictate the outcome of world affairs. Instead, we need to pursue a foreign-policy agenda that appeals to more of the world’s governments and people, including support for economic growth and clean energy, and cooperation on new technologies. The most important thing we can do, he says, is to “detoxify” our own politics.
“The simple and repeated affirmation that all human life matters equally, and that people everywhere are entitled to live with dignity, should be America’s basic proposition to the world — a story it must commit to in word and deed,” Rhodes writes.
Such a story aligns with the best of America’s traditions and an optimistic view of our role in the world. We can argue about the details, but keeping our humane and democratic values at the center of our foreign policy will serve our interests and those of the world.
Lee Hamilton, 93, is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years (1965-1999), representing a district in south-central Indiana.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY completes fourth-floor expansion project
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York (RMHC of CNY) on Thursday announced the completion of its $1.1 million expansion of
Tompkins County Chamber announces leadership change
ITHACA, N.Y. — Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) President/CEO Jennifer Tavares is leaving the organization after more than a decade to take on a new role, she announced in an email. “This role has provided so many opportunities to do inspiring and exciting work alongside our members and the
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ITHACA, N.Y. — Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) President/CEO Jennifer Tavares is leaving the organization after more than a decade to take on a new role, she announced in an email.
“This role has provided so many opportunities to do inspiring and exciting work alongside our members and the broader community, and I will be forever grateful for this privilege and honor as serving as president of this wonderful organization,” Tavares wrote in the email. “Beginning in mid-October, I will be serving as director of community relations for Cornell University. I am excited for this new chapter and look forward to building on many existing partnerships, identifying new strategic opportunities, and continuing my work with the community.”
The Tompkins County Chamber and CVB board of directors has appointed Peggy Coleman, current VP and CVB director, as interim president of the organization effective Sept. 27.
Coleman has been with the organization for more than eight years and previously served as president of the Corning and Southern Finger Lakes (Steuben County) Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“I know that Peggy and the rest of our great team will be here to support our members and partners and continue the great work of the organization in the months and years ahead,” Tavares wrote.
Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center unveils new gym and recreation area
UTICA, N.Y. — An $8.5 million addition to the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center in Utica is complete, the New York State Office of Mental Health
Michelle Babak, staff engineer at Elmira–based Fagan Engineers and Land Surveyors, P.C., recently received her professional engineering (PE) license in New York state. She graduated
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