Just two weeks after it went into effect, state lawmakers are weighing changes to New York’s historic bail reform law, which effectively ended bail in most cases. The main change cited was the need to give judges discretion to require bail when the defendant was deemed to be dangerous.
Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan has weighed in on the 2020 Democratic primary throwing his support behind fellow veteran and thirtysomething Pete Buttigieg.
New, accessible town offices are on the immediate horizon as Supervisor Bill McKenna looks ahead at 2020.
“Law enforcement is on the front line of the opioid epidemic,” said Clegg. “So we are going to be part of the solution.”
Tracey Bartels said last week that she intends to run a second term as chair of the Ulster County Legislature. The Gardiner resident was the second woman and the first unaffiliated legislator to chair the body when she won the position last January.
His time in office has run concurrent with a transformation in his hometown — alterations in demographics, climate, and economics. These factors come into play as he assesses ongoing issues concerning the Phoenicia water system, short-term-rentals, and infrastructure, all increasingly affected by escalating Upstate New York tourism, which he sees as a positive. “We’re attracting new people to the Catskills,” he says proudly.
A local law that would impose mandatory composting and food diversion requirements on businesses that produce large amounts of food waste was approved unanimously by the Ulster County legislature at their Dec. 18 meeting.
So far, Democrat David Clegg’s lead is holding.
Woodstocker Jeff Collins announced last week that he would end his bid for the state Senate’s 46th District seat and throw his support behind fellow Democrat Michelle Hinchey. Collins’ withdrawal and incumbent state Sen. George Amedore’s announcement earlier this month that he would not seek a fourth term leaves Hinchey, for now, the sole announced candidate in the race.
Ulster County executive Pat Ryan signed his first-ever budget on December 12 at Esopus’ town hall. The budget includes a quarter-of-one-percent tax-levy decrease, and totals $342.28 million, an increase of four percent over 2019’s $329.26-million budget.