LEGISLATURE STUFF - Not Enough and Too Much

CATSKILL - The people of Greene County are being asked to “make your voice heard” by members of the Greene County Legislature.

Lawmakers, at a meeting last week, passed a resolution calling upon their counterparts at the NY State legislature to set aside a lot more money, statewide, for community colleges.

Their unanimous appeal was prompted by a recent report from Columbia-Greene Community College president Carlee Drummer, who said programing is being impacted by stuck-in-the-mud dollars.

Majority Leader Matthew Luvera, hearing Drummer’s financial detailing of the situation, immediately urged his colleagues to use any clout they may have to get the attention of officials in Albany.

The resolution requests that Capital Hill legislators “advocate on behalf” of the local college to increase overall funding, stating, “community colleges are workforce development centers.

“Residents of Greene County depend on Columbia-Greene Community College to provide the workforce training needed for high-demand, critical positions such as nursing, law enforcement, building contracting, automotive technology, and computer technology.

“Without an investment in the institutions founded to support local employers, enrolling the diverse populations needed to keep companies and communities thriving, and do so with sensitivity to each region’s needs, New York will lose its competitive edge,” the resolution states.

“Workforce development is inherently part of community college’s daily operations, and they should be recognized as such.

“No other sector of higher education can prepare tomorrow’s workforce better than community colleges, but they cannot do it sustainably on yesterday’s dollars.

“Three straight years of flat operational funding can neither meet the State’s workforce challenges nor serve those who desperately need services to move them out of poverty and into the workforce and the Middle Class,” the resolution states.

“There has been a persistent lack of funding for SUNY’s 30 community colleges. Investing in community colleges and providing additional operating aid are vital imperatives for New York.”

Not focusing just on CGCC, local lawmakers are imploring State legislators to, “advocate on behalf of the community college sector of SUNY.”

They are recommending a “multi-year strategy to invest in New York’s community colleges and the Empire State Community College Workforce Guarantee with an additional $97 million in operating funds.”

Hopefully adding grassroots support as well, local lawmakers have issued a press release inviting all county residents and business owners to similarly step forward.

“The Greene County Legislature has dispatched a resolution to strongly urge Governor Hochul to adopt the Empire State Community College Workforce Guarantee, once passed by the State Legislature.

“We need you to make your voice heard by contacting your State representative today,” county lawmakers implored, listing Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblyman Chris Tague.

Putting a bug in the ear of Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins would also be welcomed.

Sticking with the same squeaky-wheel-getting-the-grease theme, county lawmakers are calling on State Senate and Assembly leadership and Governor Hochul to join forces, rejecting two proposed bills.

Local lawmakers, in “unequivocal terms,” declare that the twin Bills would, “require all food service businesses at rest stops or other roadside facilities to stay open seven days a week.

“Passage of these Bills would force businesses that operate on a six-day work week to either not renew their contracts with the New York State Thruway Authority or to stay open seven days a week.

“New York State does not have the right to define and regulate corporate rules of operation,” the local resolution states.

“The New York State Thruway Authority sought bids for all operations of rest areas on the NYS Thruway transportation system, and did not require a 7-day work week in the bid specifications.

“New York Senate Bill S7794 and New York State Assembly Bill A8336 are examples of government overreach,” the local resolution states.

Further, the twin Bills are “discriminatory to businesses that have the legal authority to determine the number of days their establishments are open each week,” the resolution states.

Labeling it a “poorly conceived bill,” local leaders will also send copies of their demand to Senator Hinchey, Assemblyman Tague, the New York State Association of Counties and “all others deemed necessary and proper.”

LEGISLATURE STUFF

Not Enough and Too Much

CATSKILL - The people of Greene County are being asked to “make your voice heard” by members of the Greene County Legislature.

Lawmakers, at a meeting last week, passed a resolution calling upon their counterparts at the NY State legislature to set aside a lot more money, statewide, for community colleges.

Their unanimous appeal was prompted by a recent report from Columbia-Greene Community College president Carlee Drummer, who said programing is being impacted by stuck-in-the-mud dollars.

Majority Leader Matthew Luvera, hearing Drummer’s financial detailing of the situation, immediately urged his colleagues to use any clout they may have to get the attention of officials in Albany.

The resolution requests that Capital Hill legislators “advocate on behalf” of the local college to increase overall funding, stating, “community colleges are workforce development centers.

“Residents of Greene County depend on Columbia-Greene Community College to provide the workforce training needed for high-demand, critical positions such as nursing, law enforcement, building contracting, automotive technology, and computer technology.

“Without an investment in the institutions founded to support local employers, enrolling the diverse populations needed to keep companies and communities thriving, and do so with sensitivity to each region’s needs, New York will lose its competitive edge,” the resolution states.

“Workforce development is inherently part of community college’s daily operations, and they should be recognized as such.

“No other sector of higher education can prepare tomorrow’s workforce better than community colleges, but they cannot do it sustainably on yesterday’s dollars.

“Three straight years of flat operational funding can neither meet the State’s workforce challenges nor serve those who desperately need services to move them out of poverty and into the workforce and the Middle Class,” the resolution states.

“There has been a persistent lack of funding for SUNY’s 30 community colleges. Investing in community colleges and providing additional operating aid are vital imperatives for New York.”

Not focusing just on CGCC, local lawmakers are imploring State legislators to, “advocate on behalf of the community college sector of SUNY.”

They are recommending a “multi-year strategy to invest in New York’s community colleges and the Empire State Community College Workforce Guarantee with an additional $97 million in operating funds.”

Hopefully adding grassroots support as well, local lawmakers have issued a press release inviting all county residents and business owners to similarly step forward.

“The Greene County Legislature has dispatched a resolution to strongly urge Governor Hochul to adopt the Empire State Community College Workforce Guarantee, once passed by the State Legislature.

“We need you to make your voice heard by contacting your State representative today,” county lawmakers implored, listing Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblyman Chris Tague.

Putting a bug in the ear of Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins would also be welcomed.

Sticking with the same squeaky-wheel-getting-the-grease theme, county lawmakers are calling on State Senate and Assembly leadership and Governor Hochul to join forces, rejecting two proposed bills.

Local lawmakers, in “unequivocal terms,” declare that the twin Bills would, “require all food service businesses at rest stops or other roadside facilities to stay open seven days a week.

“Passage of these Bills would force businesses that operate on a six-day work week to either not renew their contracts with the New York State Thruway Authority or to stay open seven days a week.

“New York State does not have the right to define and regulate corporate rules of operation,” the local resolution states.

“The New York State Thruway Authority sought bids for all operations of rest areas on the NYS Thruway transportation system, and did not require a 7-day work week in the bid specifications.

“New York Senate Bill S7794 and New York State Assembly Bill A8336 are examples of government overreach,” the local resolution states.

Further, the twin Bills are “discriminatory to businesses that have the legal authority to determine the number of days their establishments are open each week,” the resolution states.

Labeling it a “poorly conceived bill,” local leaders will also send copies of their demand to Senator Hinchey, Assemblyman Tague, the New York State Association of Counties and “all others deemed necessary and proper.”