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Albany’s Most Ridiculous: 10 Bills You Won’t Believe They Proposed
While New Yorkers have been struggling to make ends meet, get to work, and even trust their government, legislators have spent time crafting proposals so ridiculous they’re laughable. Reclaim New York sifted through thousands of bills, and found more than two dozen frivolous pieces of legislation to boil down to the 10 most ridiculous. “New […]
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While New Yorkers have been struggling to make ends meet, get to work, and even trust their government, legislators have spent time crafting proposals so ridiculous they’re laughable.
Reclaim New York sifted through thousands of bills, and found more than two dozen frivolous pieces of legislation to boil down to the 10 most ridiculous.
“New Yorkers want financial relief and their faith restored in government,” Brandon Muir, Reclaim New York executive director said. “But instead of addressing these concerns, the legislature is spinning its wheels on measures that give tax breaks to bees, or allow ballot selfies.”
Here are the top 10 most ridiculous proposals from Albany this legislative session:
10. Telework Task Force, A.45
The idea that New Yorkers need six government agencies, and legislative liaisons, to band together in yet another task force to tell them whether telework is a helpful practice or not is absurd.
9. No animal “death drones,” A.1437
This legislation would head off the wildlife version of Terminator, and prevent people from using unmanned drones to hunt and kill animals.
8. Tax break for bees, A.37
No offense to bees, but our tax code is already one of the most complicated in the U.S. before adding a sales-tax exemption for the sale of bees. Human New Yorkers are getting stung every day by high taxes, and too many flee out of state, but politicians might give bees a break.
Bee more serious Albany.
7. Ballot selfies, A.5215
Legislators take a shot at grabbing the social-media spotlight with a bill to make it legal to take selfies in the voting booth.
Your vote is what matters, not the “like” count of your social-media post.
6. Making it easier to officiate a wedding, A.1137, and S.5858
This could allow the state to give individuals a license for just one day to officiate a wedding. This would allow your best friends to upgrade from embarrassing you during reception speeches, and get started during the official ceremony.
5. Life & death measures for some animals, A.7778, A.7908, A.5586
If you’re a mourning dove, there’s a bill that would declare you a migratory game bird, which means you can be legally hunted — and now you can live up to the name.
The north cricket frog has been living the protected life on the endangered species list, but there’s a proposal to return them to the state of nature. Gulp.
And if you’re a pheasant who’d like a larger family, the state may not be of help if it quits participating in artificial pheasant propagation activities.
4. Seafood marketing task force, A.6893
Albany can’t possibly think a bigger task force is going to help seafood businesses escape the jaws of the nation’s second-worst business-tax environment. The state might think about making New York’s waters more friendly with tax relief and regulatory reform, rather than acting fishy with a showy task force.
3. Children’s book contest, A.47
This bill would direct the commissioner of education to run a contest every two years to pick the best children’s book — it’s the literary version of the state’s failed “economic development” strategy. The “Hunger Games” should win every time, which means New Yorkers lose.
Meanwhile, the state’s students need better basic education, not bells and whistles, as New York’s middle-schoolers have fallen to 34th in national reading and math rankings.
2. Declare “black dirt” the state dirt, A.7854, S.989
This bill would also declare the black dirt region as “home to the most fertile soil.” The state’s opinion on soil fertility isn’t going to make a difference. Making our grocery shopping costs lower would make a difference though.
New York already has a state dirt, “Honeoye.” The legislature didn’t get to pick that one though, so now it is considering going rogue and selecting its own dirt.
1. Declare sweet corn the state vegetable, A.6493, S.3556
There’s a corny joke here somewhere… Having a designated state vegetable is frivolous enough on its own, but figuring out the state vegetable has been an ongoing drama for six years. That is still a lot less time than corruption has been a problem at the Capitol.
Only Albany could be so tasteless to table ethics reform, and wrangle with a question like, sweet corn or onion? Meanwhile most other states don’t have a state vegetable, and Washington’s “Walla Walla sweet onion” will never be beaten.
Reclaim New York (www.reclaimnewyork.org) says it is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that “empowers citizens, through education and civic engagement, to make New York a better place to live, work, and raise a family.” This article is drawn from a news release that the organization issued on May 26.
Disbelief in our Political System
I’ve had many conversations recently that convince me our country is divided into two political camps separated by a deep and uncomfortably wide gap. No, I’m not talking about liberals and conservatives, or pro- and anti-Trump voters. I’m talking about people who believe in politics and our political system, and people who don’t. I’ve found
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I’ve had many conversations recently that convince me our country is divided into two political camps separated by a deep and uncomfortably wide gap. No, I’m not talking about liberals and conservatives, or pro- and anti-Trump voters. I’m talking about people who believe in politics and our political system, and people who don’t.
I’ve found the view of disbelief in our political system expressed most frequently among young people. I’ve spent some uncomfortable hours serving as a human pincushion for their pointed barbs about the system in which they’ve grown up.
They doubt our political institutions can be made to work, are suspicious of elected officials in general, and don’t believe that our democratic institutions can solve the problems faced by the country or help them as individuals. They’re disheartened by political polarization, by the dominant and excessive role of money in the process, and by the seemingly impregnable influence of special interests on the course of policy.
They’re convinced that people in power place their own interests ahead of the country’s interests. They certainly don’t see politics as an uplifting pursuit; I hear the word “messy” a lot, not as an objectively descriptive term, but as an expression of ethical disapproval.
They have a point. Yet I still consider politics a worthy profession. It can be pursued in a manner that deserves respect, even admiration. Sure, politics is “messy,” but not because it’s tainted or morally bankrupt. It’s messy because it often reflects deep-seated disagreements that are hard to resolve, with merit on both sides.
Politics is rarely a struggle between good and evil; it’s how we Americans try to make the country work better. It’s a means of resolving our differences through dialogue and compromise, rather than through ideological battle or pitched warfare.
So, I find myself wondering how those of my persuasion might win these young people over. Discourse matters, obviously. Tolerance of others’ views does, too. And I consider the 240 years of our history, despite all the obvious blemishes, to make a pretty good case for the political system’s accomplishments. Above all, we must encourage young people’s engagement with the problems we confront.
Those of us who believe in the system must shoulder the burden of persuasion. If we lose the argument and the next generation turns away, we face dangers and risks — chaos, authoritarianism — that are far worse than what we face now.
Lee Hamilton is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at the IU School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years, representing a district in south central Indiana.
Tioga State Bank has promoted Jennifer Brockner to VP of finance. She joined Tioga State Bank in 2002 as a customer-service representative and transferred to the finance department as an accountant II upon completion of her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Binghamton University. Brockner was later promoted to senior accountant/supervisor and finance manager.
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Tioga State Bank has promoted Jennifer Brockner to VP of finance. She joined Tioga State Bank in 2002 as a customer-service representative and transferred to the finance department as an accountant II upon completion of her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Binghamton University. Brockner was later promoted to senior accountant/supervisor and finance manager.
Dara J. Royer has been selected to launch and oversee Syracuse University’s newly integrated Division of Communications and Marketing as senior VP and chief communications officer, beginning Sept. 7. She currently serves as chief development and marketing officer at Mercy Corps, a global humanitarian organization; she is Mercy Corps’ first-ever chief marketing officer. Royer previously spent
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Dara J. Royer has been selected to launch and oversee Syracuse University’s newly integrated Division of Communications and Marketing as senior VP and chief communications officer, beginning Sept. 7. She currently serves as chief development and marketing officer at Mercy Corps, a global humanitarian organization; she is Mercy Corps’ first-ever chief marketing officer. Royer previously spent five years serving as VP for brand marketing at ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Before that, she was senior VP of corporate and community affairs at Cook Children’s Healthcare System in Fort Worth, Texas. Royer, who earned a bachelor’s degree in history at Indiana University, Bloomington, began her career in television news. The Emmy Award-winning producer worked in Traverse City, Michigan, and later in Las Vegas. Named one of PR News’ 2017 Top Women in Public Relations, Royer is also the recipient of the CMO Club’s 2016 Officers Award and was named Senior Marketer of the Year at the 2016 Max Awards, hosted by the Portland Chapter of the American Marketing Association.
CAROL M. SATCHWELL has been named assistant dean for advancement at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Before joining Newhouse, she served as VP for institutional advancement at Cazenovia College. Satchwell previously worked at WCNY-TV & CLASSIC FM, the Public Broadcasting Council of CNY, where she held the positions of director
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CAROL M. SATCHWELL has been named assistant dean for advancement at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Before joining Newhouse, she served as VP for institutional advancement at Cazenovia College. Satchwell previously worked at WCNY-TV & CLASSIC FM, the Public Broadcasting Council of CNY, where she held the positions of director of major gifts and educational director. Before relocating to the CNY region, she worked in public affairs, television production, and advertising in New York City. Satchwell is an alumna of the Newhouse School, having earned a master’s degree in communications management. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Fordham University and earned a certificate in public relations from New York University and completed a Summer Fellowship in Institutional Advancement Leadership at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development.
Scalzo, Zogby & Wittig, Inc. has hired LISA MARCHITELLI as a commercial lines account manager. She has been a licensed property and casualty agent for more than nine years, working for independent agencies locally and in Arizona. Marchitelli has also been a teacher of business at Oneida County BOCES and has owned her own travel
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Scalzo, Zogby & Wittig, Inc. has hired LISA MARCHITELLI as a commercial lines account manager. She has been a licensed property and casualty agent for more than nine years, working for independent agencies locally and in Arizona. Marchitelli has also been a teacher of business at Oneida County BOCES and has owned her own travel agency for 20 years.
BETHANY (BETH) DEMARCO has joined Preferred Mutual Insurance Company as manager of corporate marketing communications, consumer and market research. She has more than 15 years of experience in a broad scope of marketing functions and various management roles. DeMarco was previously director of marketing and alliances at Highstreet IT Solutions, LLC, where she established and
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BETHANY (BETH) DEMARCO has joined Preferred Mutual Insurance Company as manager of corporate marketing communications, consumer and market research. She has more than 15 years of experience in a broad scope of marketing functions and various management roles. DeMarco was previously director of marketing and alliances at Highstreet IT Solutions, LLC, where she established and executed marketing strategy, managed partnerships, oversaw lead generation functions, and researched and analyzed market and competitive intelligence. She was also previously the manager of marketing and communications at the World President’s Organization and the director of publications at Sufka and Associates. DeMarco earned her bachelor’s degree in business management from SUNY Geneseo, and her MBA from Clarkson University.
Caterina A. Ranieri has joined Bousquet Holstein PLLC as of counsel in its Immigration and Business Practice Groups. She is an experienced business, family immigration, and dual-citizenship attorney. Ranieri was previously president and attorney of her own firm, Caterina Ranieri Grasso, PC. She is widely regarded as an authority on O-1 extraordinary ability artist and athlete
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Caterina A. Ranieri has joined Bousquet Holstein PLLC as of counsel in its Immigration and Business Practice Groups. She is an experienced business, family immigration, and dual-citizenship attorney. Ranieri was previously president and attorney of her own firm, Caterina Ranieri Grasso, PC. She is widely regarded as an authority on O-1 extraordinary ability artist and athlete visas, having represented employers and beneficiaries for several years on mutual immigration matters. Being a dual citizen of the U.S. and Italy, Ranieri is also highly experienced in dual-citizenship matters. She is a graduate of Syracuse University College of Law, and Le Moyne College and is a certified NLP practitioner.
European–based toy maker, HABA USA, announced that Damien Crocker has joined the company as a new sales manager. He brings more than 10 years of sales experience wit him in the toys space. Crocker comes to HABA from ORB, where he most recently served as its national sales manager and won several prestigious industry vendor awards.
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European–based toy maker, HABA USA, announced that Damien Crocker has joined the company as a new sales manager. He brings more than 10 years of sales experience wit him in the toys space. Crocker comes to HABA from ORB, where he most recently served as its national sales manager and won several prestigious industry vendor awards.
Housing Visions, Inc. has hired JAMES (JIM) QUINN as controller and promoted CYNTHIA HERNANDEZ and JENNIFER DENNIS. Quinn joins Housing Visions from Stickley Furniture, where he was corporate controller. His background includes public accounting, and financial and operational leadership in manufacturing in publically traded and privately held companies. Quinn earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting
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Housing Visions, Inc. has hired JAMES (JIM) QUINN as controller and promoted CYNTHIA HERNANDEZ and JENNIFER DENNIS. Quinn joins Housing Visions from Stickley Furniture, where he was corporate controller. His background includes public accounting, and financial and operational leadership in manufacturing in publically traded and privately held companies. Quinn earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Ithaca College, and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Hernandez has been promoted to director of organizational development from talent manager. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Queens College, CUNY, and a professional certification in human resources. Dennis has been promoted to director of payroll & administration from payroll and benefits manager. She has overseen organizational compensation for more than 10 years
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