Opinion

You can get a sense of the sweep of American politics and history by identifying a few of the indispensable men in our country’s history.  There are many, of course, and my list is quite limited. Similar lists of indispensable women could be developed; and they have been, by the late broadcast journalist Cokie Roberts and others.  […]

The [Aug. 13] decision to drop the impeachment investigation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo is a massive disservice to the goals of transparency and accountability. Gov. Cuomo offered his resignation on Aug. 10, amid multiple scandals and with several ongoing investigations looking into misconduct in his office. The announcement came exactly one week after Attorney General Letitia James

State’s new leader has strong regional knowledge After an unprecedented year of challenges, our state and region are poised for a needed and significant resurgence. Distractions mean lost time, and lost time means lost opportunity. The important work of this state must continue now, without disruption, under new leadership so that we can focus on a

The corrupt reign of King Cuomo is over at last, but the fight for justice and accountability is just beginning. Investigations into [Gov. Andrew] Cuomo’s abuse of power, corruption, and criminal misconduct must continue [even after his resignation.]  Cuomo should be immediately prosecuted, not just for sexual harassment and assault, but also for his deadly nursing-home policies

Over my years in public life, I  conducted many hearings that  included comments from members of the public. I remember well that people often said when asserting a claim: “It’s my right as an American citizen.”  That is a compelling statement that goes to the core of what it means to be an American. We deeply value

The U.S. Senate [on July 28] voted to move forward a historic $550 billion infrastructure bill. While there are still several legislative steps ahead of its full passage, it’s $110 billion investment for highways holds the power to transform communities like Central New York.  Furthermore, it comes as the long-awaited Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the

Maybe it’s just a professional preoccupation, but I have always been intrigued by why voters cast their ballots as they do. I’ve never made a formal study of it but have talked with plenty of them over the years, and one thing sticks with me from those conversations — there is no one thing. People

The Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) announced recently that it would host eight public listening sessions across New York state prior to redrawing state legislative and Congressional district lines. It’s a process that takes place every 10 years to reflect population changes. The sessions are a result of a 2014 public referendum in which millions of New Yorkers

New York State legislators ended this latest session without passing what may possibly be the most detrimental bill in state history. The New York Health Act (https://legislation.nysenate.gov/pdf/bills/2021/S5474) would have crushed small businesses, middle-class families, and a myriad of jobs within the health care and insurance industries.  With a Democrat supermajority in the state legislature, certainly the votes

Gov. Andrew Cuomo [recently] issued an executive order declaring gun violence a “disaster emergency,” representing a “first-in-the-nation” strategy to combat crime. This is a forced, contrived approach to solving a problem that was largely created by the governor and his political allies. Gun violence is a devastating problem that has spiked recently due to policies that