Category: Politics

New York Democrats renewed criticism of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman's budget management Monday, pointing to reserve spending, financial deficits and outside legal contracts as the county considers its 2027 spending plan. The … more: Democrats press Blakeman on Nassau reserves as watchdog flags budget risks

Geneva City Council redirected $65,000 toward senior recreation, downtown beautification, community events and online clerk services Monday, postponing a snow pusher purchase while retaining a 3% property tax levy increase in the … more: Geneva council shifts $65,000 to senior programs, downtown improvements and online services

Canandaigua’s firefighters union president and former mayor urged City Council on Monday to address fire department staffing, arguing that the four-person initial response to the Beeman Street fire exposed safety gaps that additional … more: Canandaigua fire staffing concerns take focus ahead of budget talks

Loaves & Fishes of Tompkins County and Catholic Charities Steuben/Livingston are among the food-assistance organizations awarded state grants for refrigeration, vehicles and other improvements to food storage and delivery. The awards … more: Food pantries in Tompkins and Steuben win grants for coolers and deliveries

Tuesday remains the standard day for national elections in the United States, placing it among 28 democracies that routinely vote on ordinary, nonholiday weekdays, according to Pew Research Center. A Pew analysis released … more: Why Election Day falls on a Tuesday as New York early voting continues

The survey from the nonprofit research organization the FrameWorks Institute revealed most Americans, across age, income and gender, feel the current way elected officials oversee government matters does not work for them. … more: Poll: NYers feel political system is rigged against them

State Sen. Jeremy Cooney is urging federal officials to reject proposed census changes that would exclude some noncitizens from the population used to divide seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The … more: Cooney opposes proposed census exclusions, presses New York count plan

The Cayuga County Legislature will revisit a controversial proposal to change health insurance coverage for county retirees Tuesday as lawmakers consider hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional public safety overtime … more: Cayuga County lawmakers to revisit retiree insurance changes, address jail staffing costs Tuesday

The Victor Town Board will consider adopting its 2027 budget Monday night while holding public hearings on proposed regulations for portable storage containers and the town's 2026 special assessment roll. The meeting … more: Victor Town Board to weigh 2027 budget, proposed storage container law Monday

State Sen. Thomas O’Mara is calling for closer scrutiny of renewable energy projects on productive farmland and renewed action on recycling worn-out equipment, arguing that New York’s permitting system gives communities too … more: O’Mara presses for farmland protections, local control and solar recycling

A downtown business owner asked Auburn City Council Thursday to test two hours of free parking during November and December, while Councilor Craig Diego separately urged the city to consider outside help … more: Auburn hears holiday free-parking proposal as councilor seeks outside ticket collection

Organizers said the response was enthusiastic, including cheers for a concept that would bring single-family and senior housing to the southern end of West Park Drive. For a community where school enrollment has … more: Bloomfield housing workshop draws nearly 100 as community eyes stronger future

Auburn officials defended the use of development tax incentives Thursday as the city’s Industrial Development Authority prepares to review an application for a medical campus project valued at more than $76 million. The … more: Auburn officials defend development incentives as hospital project heads to review

The Wayne County Regional Land Bank has received $3,327,500 to build 11 affordable starter homes in the town of Lyons through New York's MOVE-IN NY program. The award is part of nearly … more: Lyons to get 11 affordable starter homes through $3.33M state award

Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity moved a step closer to creating another home on Foster Street after Canandaigua’s Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved two lot-size … more: Canandaigua approves variances for Habitat home lot on Foster Street

New York is putting $5.8 million toward restoring water flow around Island Park in Williamsville and building a trail connection through Amherst. The funding includes $2 million for the Ellicott Creek restoration … more: New York commits $5.8 million to Williamsville waterway and Amherst trail projects

The Times Union editorial board endorsed Gov. Kathy Hochul for reelection Saturday, citing her budget and energy record and investment in Albany while questioning Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman’s health care and utility-cost … more: Times Union endorses Hochul, citing budgets and Albany investment

A state-commissioned quantum technology study identifies Cornell research and Rochester optics as regional strengths as New York plans $360 million for research and commercialization hubs. Gov. Kathy Hochul's office announced the study, … more: Quantum study highlights Cornell, Rochester strengths as New York plans $360M investment

The New York City Council has approved legislation to raise the household income limit for senior and disability rent-freeze programs from $50,000 to $75,000. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz welcomed Thursday's vote in a statement … more: NYC Council approves $75,000 income limit for senior and disability rent freezes