Zephyr Teachout and U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. (Photo: Phyllis McCabe)
A resolution before the county legislature asks the state to “gradually” restore the “historic” state-county formula over a five-year period. The resolution declared there would be no financial impact, which of course raises the question of why bother. Simple math, based on the executive’s projections, indicates a reversion to the 50-50 formula would result in the county gaining some $2.4 million in state assistance annually.
The resolution may get lip service from the county’s eight state legislators in this election year (four senators and four assembly members). Legs are a long shot.
The state, it would appear, is in no shape to hand out large cash refunds. According to its taxpayer-funded (“New York is open for business!”) TV ads, the state projects a 9 percent annual growth in Safety Net expenses. How a state purportedly in the throes of major upstate economic revival could at the same time leave significant portions of its population sinking into poverty is a contradiction only slick politicos can explain.
The 50-50 resolution, which will be considered at the county legislature’s March 15 regular meeting, was adopted at last month’s annual New York State Association of Counties meeting. County Public Health and Social Services Committee member Republican Carl Belfiglio of Esopus brought home the suggested legislation.
Buds no more
Congressmen Chris Gibson, Republican of Kinderhook, and Sean Patrick Maloney, Democrat of Cold Spring, are much respected for their “no-labels” bipartisanship on a host of issues. But now and then liberals and conservatives clash, especially when politics raises its ugly head. For Gibson and Maloney, push came to shove at last month’s annual Pattern for Progress forum in Orange County.
Republican Gibson is retiring from Congress this year and is exploring the possibility of running for governor against Democrat Andrew Cuomo in 2018. Democrat Maloney is seeking a third term in a marginally Republican district. Gibson has been going around the state accusing Cuomo of being a bully and questioning his ethics.
Maloney threw down the gauntlet in responding to Gibson’s charges, telling his sometime-ally that bully rhetoric was uncalled for. He added that the upstate Republican had no chance of defeating Cuomo.
A retired Army officer, Gibson has faced worse fire under combat. He obviously believes in his chances. But friend Maloney’s shot across the bow should have been fair warning.
As for Cuomo as bully, well, those things are often in the eyes of beholders. Witness the governor warning Syracuse and Onondaga County of “serious problems” if they failed to merge. The “problem” to which he referred was undoubtedly the $500 million in state grants that could come their way based on their intended willingness to merge. Is that bullying or just friendly persuasion?
More substantive was Maloney’s charge that in voting for the so-called Paul Ryan federal budget, Gibson was potentially depriving the state of at least $10 billion in federal Medicare aid. Put that in your budget, “governor,” and smoke it.
Efforts to reach the congressman who would be governor were unsuccessful.
On the bus
One of the best things about real press conferences, as opposed to the brief-and-bolt charades most pols put on, is that reporters get real face time to ask what some might consider offbeat questions.
One such arose at Steve Noble’s impromptu press conference following a special Common Council meeting on sales tax last week. A reporter asked the mayor what it was like riding on a bus with Mike Hein, given their sharp differences on Hein’s plan to cut the city’s share of sales tax revenue. It was pleasant, Noble reported, adding that he didn’t expect the current disagreement to “define our relationship over the next four years.” That reply was smart politics on Noble’s part. No sense in antagonizing the bull. But if no accommodation is reached, let’s see how the mayor feels about trying to put together a balanced budget with (an estimated) $1.6 million loss in revenue next fall.
Will power
Speaking of getting around, local sightings of Democratic congressional candidate Zephyr Teachout seem more common than robins in spring. Teachout was spotted in New Paltz, Uptown Kingston and at the jam-packed Rosendale Chili Festival over the weekend. She was endorsed by a host of Democratic worthies in Kingston on Monday.
Democratic primary rival Will Yandik of Columbia County attended the governor’s $15-an-hour minimum-wage rally in Kingston last week. This is not to say the Livingston fruit farmer hasn’t been traversing what he calls “this vast congressional district.” While Teachout has been working the eastern end, Yandik has campaigned in the Southern Tier and points north.
Yandik, 38, is in his second term on the Livingston town board, its only Democrat.
The first real test between the candidates was the Democratic county convention in Kingston’s City Hall. Republicans have unofficially nominated former assemblyman John Faso of Kinderhook. Teachout won the party endorsement with 56 percent of the weighted vote.
Asked at a recent whistle stop if he was supporting the perceived frontrunner, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer demurred. “I liked Mike Hein,” he told a reporter. To the surprise of some, including Teachout, Hein endorsed the Fordham law professor on Monday. “I was hoping for Mike’s endorsement later in the campaign,” she said.
Yandik said he got into the congressional race after what he called “the Mike Hein blowup” last December (when Hein withdrew as a potential candidate).
Farmers being more often conservative, I asked the freelance journalist and farmer where he stood on the political spectrum. “Some see Teachout as left of Bernie Sanders,” I said. “Some people see you as left of Teachout.”
“I don’t do labels,” Yandik replied. “I’m campaigning on the issues that are important to the people of the 19th District.” Yandik says he’s raised about $250,000 for his campaign, “mostly from family, neighbors and friends.”
Teachout, 44, who has endorsed Sanders, describes herself as “a grass roots populist who does not love centralized power.” She said her campaign has raised about $175,000 from some 4,300 donors.
Regardless of Thursday’s Ulster vote, it will be the June 28 primary that will decide who goes forth to the November election.
Ok now let’s start to get down to brass tacks. On what basis does Tsar Hein predict the $32 Million figure? Did Mel Brooks give him a copy of “High Anxiety” and Donald Trump a copy of “The Art of the Deal” or is there some other basis for this?(if so, what is it, pray tell?)
We the people do not have any basis for comparing the 71-29 formula for Safety Net with other counties in the state. Is this generally the same formula, better than others, worse than other counties, what? We don’t know. Not knowing continues the high anxiety trend. Knowing at least would clarify that particular aspect.
I might suggest that instead of making blanket statements about what “no one is talking about anymore”, that Hugh instead perhaps do a Donald Trump from his apparent hairdo-centered hubris and concede that maybe–just maybe–at some point or other, on some level or other, and to some degree or other the consolidation idea of Kingston with Ulster Townhship might be worthy of consideration. This is just a suggestion of course, and with it probably comes risk of failing to have prior access to political bigwigs as before, but let’s be at least somewhat honest about all this shall we?
Jennifer is right to at least seek the facts. It might be nice if someone else decided that was a good idea, too. It might make this whole thing seem a lot less than Republican Presidential debate night– just pick a night–any such a night…
Is this intended as a news article or an opinion piece/editorial. Animus pervades ex. “gouging”. I prefer my news unbiased and clear so that I can form my own opinions.
As to facts, yes Hein screwed up the math…and then apologized. You can spend time on the delivery or focus on the substance. I don’t care what color shirt he wore.