Opinion

It didn’t take long for the assault on local governments to start in Albany this year — not that it has ever truly ended. Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s out-of-touch executive-budget proposal eliminates crucial state funding that will hurt towns and villages. State money that localities have relied upon for years — called Aid to Municipalities (AIM) […]

Over a lifetime in politics, I have met a lot of interesting, impressive politicians. But those I truly admired were men and women who were adept at the arts both of politics and legislating — a rarer combination of talents than you’d hope for in our representative democracy. They’re a reminder these days of what

Vigilance needed for continued progress The annual Economic Forecast Breakfast event [held on Jan. 9] was an opportunity to take a closer look at how a robust year of growth and investments in 2018 has set the stage for a strong 2019.  Our regional GDP growth accelerated more than threefold in 2018, our best performance

On Jan. 9, the New York State Legislature gaveled in for the first time this year marking the start to the 2019 legislative session. I always look forward to this day. It brings a renewed sense of hope and change for the upcoming year and allows for the opportunity to set priorities for this session

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D–MA) has joined the ranks of us deplorables now. After announcing for president, she did a livestream broadcast from her kitchen. In it, she grabs a beer from the fridge and takes a slug straight from the bottle. Well, we have to expect this. Because it comes straight from the “How To Run

Looking back at 2018’s weather-related news, it seems clear that this was the year climate change became unavoidable. I don’t mean that the fires in California, coastal flooding in the Carolinas, and drought throughout the West were new evidence of climate change. Rather, they shifted the national mindset. They made climate change a political issue

Before the latest holiday shopping season, many voices encouraged the public to shop locally during Small Business Saturday and the rest of the holiday season, reminding consumers that gifts and services purchased locally support businesses and jobs in our backyards.  Supporting local businesses beyond the holiday shopping season and into the New Year has long-term

In the days following former President George H. W. Bush’s death, it was impossible to ignore the mood that settled over much of the country: a yearning for the civility, dignity, and inclusiveness that the former president represented. It was a form of bipartisan nostalgia for a time when the nation seemed to work. As

A week at the Mayo Clinic got me thinking. About NFL teams, my high-school basketball team, and our Constitution. And whether Americans are exceptional. Whew! Yes, the clinic boasts many top doctors. It is famous for them. But it also boasts a superior system. The system allows the doctors to work at their best. It

The other day, a friend asked what surprised me most about politics. This may seem strange, but I’d never really thought about the question.  My response was off-the-cuff but heartfelt. The biggest surprise is also among my biggest disappointments with American political life: the ongoing effort by politicians to suppress votes.  When I began in