Unanimous passage of 2020 Kingston city budget
Not a ‘no’ vote to be found on $44.4 million 2020 spending plan.
Politics & Government
Tally continues in Ulster DA’s race
Last week, election officials completed their count of absentee and affidavit ballots, leaving Democrat Dave Clegg with a 45-vote lead over Republican Mike Kavanagh. On Wednesday, Dec. 4, both sides appeared in court to begin the process of counting or dismissing 289 ballots that have been subject to challenges.
New Paltz Village Board passes resolution in support of Veteran Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day
It’s estimated that 20 military veterans commit suicide every day, and Village of New Paltz trustees have spoken in support of recognizing and committing resources to addressing the problem.
Notes from the Saugerties Village Board
Topics include: Village to borrow $300,000 for sewer repair; Police department participates in No Shave November; praise for firefighters; fire trucks may play music instead of sirens on Christmas morning; building permits mean village is growing; bluestone sidewalk work on Main St. nearly complete.
Amedore not running for re-election to the state Senate
State Sen. George Amedore, (R-Rotterdam) announced today that he will not seek re-election next year. Amedore represents the 46th Senate
Pivotal Kingstonian ruling could happen before Christmas
Kingston’s planning board is expected to make a key ruling on a major development in Uptown Kingston in December.
Clegg up by 45 votes, but almost 300 disputed ballots not yet counted
A count of absentee and affidavit ballots has left Democrat Dave Clegg clinging to a miniscule 45-vote lead over Republican Mike Kavanagh in the closely watched race for Ulster County district attorney. But with hundreds of ballot challenges awaiting a judge’s ruling — and a county law that will likely trigger an automatic recount of every vote cast — a final decision in the contest could still be weeks away.
Ryan vetoes ‘Dan Torres Law’
The Ulster County Legislature passed a measure forbidding county appointees from holding elected office 12-11. But County Executive Pat Ryan said this week that he will veto the measure, which has — intentionally or not — been taken as an attack on Deputy County Executive Dan Torres, who’s also a New Paltz town councilman.
Gardiner extends moratorium on tourism-related development
Questions about how the proposed changes in the law would impact the existing Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Campground, located in the Tuthilltown hamlet, were much on the minds of Gardiner residents who turned up for the public hearing.
Ulster County Legislature censures Hector Rodriguez
For the first time in its history, the Ulster County Legislature voted to condemn one of its own, New Paltz Democrat Hector Rodriguez, for sexual harassment and predatory behavior. Rodriguez’s expressionless face loomed over the room, projected onto a wall by a too-close webcam that he used to Skype into the meeting, while legislators voted 17-5 for his censure. His screen went black during the voting; Rodriguez abstained from the vote and made no comment.