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It’s Time for the Legislature to Get Back to Work
In their first major public action since we passed the budget in early April, Democrats in the Senate and Assembly convened a virtual hearing on May 13 for small-business owners, advocacy groups, and lawmakers to discuss the federal government’s economic response to the COVID-19 crisis. You would be hard- pressed to find a legislator who […]
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In their first major public action since we passed the budget in early April, Democrats in the Senate and Assembly convened a virtual hearing on May 13 for small-business owners, advocacy groups, and lawmakers to discuss the federal government’s economic response to the COVID-19 crisis. You would be hard- pressed to find a legislator who is more about listening to our small-business community than I am, but I thought the focus of the hearing was a bit confusing.
Why wouldn’t state Democrats want to focus on the state government’s response?
If you want to change things for the better, I believe it’s more important to look in the mirror than point fingers. Since the beginning of the outbreak, our Assembly Minority Conference has not been blaming Washington, D.C. We have been doing the work we were elected to do. Our Small Business Emergency Recovery Act would’ve used the state’s $890 million settlement reserve fund to distribute needed capital to small businesses. It would have offered 0-percent interest recovery loans, repurposed all existing development tax credits specifically for small businesses and delivered real regulatory relief.
Our conference sent a letter to President Trump on behalf of New York’s farmers. The administration responded by granting our request that it extend the H2-Visa program for farmworkers. We also sought federal reimbursement for lost agricultural revenues. The administration responded by creating the $19 billion Coronavirus Food Assistance program, $16 billion of which is earmarked for “direct support based on actual losses for agricultural producers.”
We rejected the idea of a one-size-fits- all approach to reopening our statewide economy and pressured the state to authorize a regional approach to getting back to work. We joined teachers, parents, and administrators in speaking out against Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to reimagine our statewide education system by eliminating classroom learning. Most importantly, we reject the notion that government should continue to be a one-man show. It’s time for the governor to relinquish his emergency authority, and it’s time for lawmakers across the state to return to Albany and get to work.
There is so much to do in the coming weeks. We should be holding bipartisan hearings to investigate the crisis in our nursing homes. We should be holding bipartisan hearings to find out why the state Department of Labor has taken so long to process urgent unemployment claims for individuals who are out of work through no fault of their own. And we should be working to make sure we’re getting our local economies moving again as quickly as we can and as safely as possible.
Assembly Republicans are ready to get back to work. We don’t have any interest in blaming Washington. We want to get results for the people who matter most to us — our constituents.
Brian M. Kolb (R,I,C–Canandaigua) represents the 131st Assembly District, which encompasses all of Ontario County and parts of Seneca County. Contact him at kolbb@nyassembly.gov

Report: 84 percent of hotels have laid off or furloughed workers due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis
A new report from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) indicates that 84 percent of hotels said they have laid off or furloughed workers due to the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting “historic” drop in travel demand. Only 37 percent of hotels indicated they have been able to rehire employees through economic-relief measures like
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A new report from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) indicates that 84 percent of hotels said they have laid off or furloughed workers due to the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting “historic” drop in travel demand.
Only 37 percent of hotels indicated they have been able to rehire employees through economic-relief measures like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a low-interest, potentially forgivable loan program through the SBA and participating financial institutions.
Two-thirds of hotels are operating at less than 50 percent of staffing levels they maintained before the COVID-19 shutdown, per the AHLA.
When asked when they expected to be back to pre-coronavirus staffing levels, 20 percent of hotel respondents said by June 30, 28 percent indicated by Aug. 31, 14 percent said by Dec. 31, and 38 percent reported later than the end of this year.
The AHLA said it conducted a survey of members on May 12-14. The results are based on more than 900 respondents.

KeyBank has named AMANDA GOYER corporate responsibility officer for its Central New York market. She joined KeyBank in February 2020 and is also corporate responsibility officer for the Capital Region market. In her new role in Central New York, Goyer succeeds Kawanza Humphrey, who now oversees corporate responsibility efforts in KeyBank’s Buffalo, Rochester, and western
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KeyBank has named AMANDA GOYER corporate responsibility officer for its Central New York market. She joined KeyBank in February 2020 and is also corporate responsibility officer for the Capital Region market. In her new role in Central New York, Goyer succeeds Kawanza Humphrey, who now oversees corporate responsibility efforts in KeyBank’s Buffalo, Rochester, and western Pennsylvania markets. Goyer previously served as director, community engagement, for CAP COM Federal Credit Union. She also worked as community relations manager and foundation and public-relations administrator for CAP COM. Goyer earned her bachelor’s degree from Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts.
DEBRA GAMBLE has joined Advocates for Upstate Medical University as administrative coordinator. In this position, she reports to the Advocates’ board of directors and plays a critical role in the organization’s successful operation. She replaces Jonathan Adler who retired in May. Gamble has experience in operations and programmatic financial management, research, and contract funding oversight,
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DEBRA GAMBLE has joined Advocates for Upstate Medical University as administrative coordinator. In this position, she reports to the Advocates’ board of directors and plays a critical role in the organization’s successful operation. She replaces Jonathan Adler who retired in May. Gamble has experience in operations and programmatic financial management, research, and contract funding oversight, program start-up, management and event coordination and marketing and public relations. She is experienced in database development, management, and reporting and software systems. Gamble comes to Advocates for Upstate most recently from Syracuse University after 10 years of service. She has held health-care administrative positions in Houston, Texas working at Vanguard Urologic Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and Rice University. Gamble holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Oswego and an associate degree in medical office science from Jefferson Community College.
BPAS Actuarial & Pension Services (APS) has promoted JASON DISCO to VP, sales. BPAS APS is a division of BPAS, a leading national provider of retirement plans, benefit plans, fund administration, and collective investment trusts. Disco joined BPAS APS in 2015 as director of defined benefit (DB) sales, where he focused on delivering innovative DB
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BPAS Actuarial & Pension Services (APS) has promoted JASON DISCO to VP, sales. BPAS APS is a division of BPAS, a leading national provider of retirement plans, benefit plans, fund administration, and collective investment trusts. Disco joined BPAS APS in 2015 as director of defined benefit (DB) sales, where he focused on delivering innovative DB solutions, including traditional and cash-balance plans and DB participant services (PensionEase) to financial intermediaries and clients across the nation. He has more than 20 years of experience in the retirement plan industry including key sales positions with ERISA Consultants and Lifetime Benefit Solutions.

AccessCNY recently added two new members to its leadership team. LYNNETTE SHERWOOD has been named AccessCNY’s new associate director for day habilitation and community-based services. Sherwood received her bachelor’s degree from the College of Saint Rose and brings more than 21 years of human-services experience. She has served the participants of AccessCNY/Transitional Living Services for
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AccessCNY recently added two new members to its leadership team. LYNNETTE SHERWOOD has been named AccessCNY’s new associate director for day habilitation and community-based services. Sherwood received her bachelor’s degree from the College of Saint Rose and brings more than 21 years of human-services experience. She has served the participants of AccessCNY/Transitional Living Services for the past 12 years in her positions as a Medicaid-service coordinator and program manager for Deaf Services and Community Habilitation. Most recently, Sherwood served as the program director for Day Habilitation and the David Clark Learning Center at AccessCNY.
Additionally, ADAM SOPER has joined the organization as director of information-technology systems and data governance. Soper is new to AcessCNY, coming to the company from St. Joseph’s Imaging Associates. He brings more than 15 years of experience in systems engineering, computer networking, user support, project management, and leadership to the organization. He also worked at L&JG Stickley in the past. Soper is a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Capital Collection Management (CCM), a provider of first-party and third-party collections, debt purchasing, and litigation services, has hired CORINNE GALAVITZ as its controller. She is responsible for managing cash flow, ensuring proper accounting for all collections, and maintaining the accounting software. Before joining CCM, Galavitz was the affiliate accounting manager at Bankers Healthcare Group (BHG),
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Capital Collection Management (CCM), a provider of first-party and third-party collections, debt purchasing, and litigation services, has hired CORINNE GALAVITZ as its controller. She is responsible for managing cash flow, ensuring proper accounting for all collections, and maintaining the accounting software. Before joining CCM, Galavitz was the affiliate accounting manager at Bankers Healthcare Group (BHG), where she was responsible for maintaining the financial records for BHG and its sister companies. She became a CPA in 2010 and her experience also includes 10 years in public accounting at two different regional CPA firms, where many of her clients were small businesses. Galavitz earned a bachelor’s degree in public accounting from SUNY Oswego.

MARLA PRINCE has joined HR Works, Inc. as a leave and benefits coordinator. Prince has more than 26 years of experience in human resources and will leverage her expertise in benefits and leave administration, compliance, and client relations, to support HR Works’ Benefits and Leave Administration department. Prince holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration
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MARLA PRINCE has joined HR Works, Inc. as a leave and benefits coordinator. Prince has more than 26 years of experience in human resources and will leverage her expertise in benefits and leave administration, compliance, and client relations, to support HR Works’ Benefits and Leave Administration department. Prince holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from SUNY Oswego. She has also obtained SHRM-CP and PHR certifications.

PAMELA G. (BONNIE) PALMER has joined Cushman Wakefield/Pyramid Brokerage Company’s Syracuse office as a commercial real-estate salesperson. She is a business-development specialist with more than 30 years of professional experience in economic development and city/regional planning at the state and local levels, most recently having worked for Empire State Development in the Central New York
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PAMELA G. (BONNIE) PALMER has joined Cushman Wakefield/Pyramid Brokerage Company’s Syracuse office as a commercial real-estate salesperson. She is a business-development specialist with more than 30 years of professional experience in economic development and city/regional planning at the state and local levels, most recently having worked for Empire State Development in the Central New York Region. Palmer has extensive expertise in government-incentive programs, including specialized grant and loan programs for business development, attraction, and expansion. She has a bachelor’s degree from Alfred University and a master’s degree in science from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University. Palmer’s focus with Cushman Wakefield/Pyramid Brokerage Company will be in the acquisition, disposition, and re-development of industrial properties.

Oneida County reports two more COVID-19 deaths
UTICA, N.Y. — Oneida County on Thursday announced two additional deaths from a COVID-19 infection, bringing the county’s total to 37. The county didn’t provide
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