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OPINION: State Leaders Must Listen to the Public When Setting the 2023 Agenda
With the beginning of each new legislative session, it’s tradition to hear members of the New York Legislature and the governor lay out their goals and outline the policies they deem most valuable for the state’s residents. Sometimes these ideas are rooted in common sense, and other times they are merely lip service. Gov. Kathy […]
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With the beginning of each new legislative session, it’s tradition to hear members of the New York Legislature and the governor lay out their goals and outline the policies they deem most valuable for the state’s residents. Sometimes these ideas are rooted in common sense, and other times they are merely lip service. Gov. Kathy Hochul recently offered her vision for New York in her State of the State address, but there are significant concerns that plan favors lofty ideas over practical solutions.
There is widespread support for some of the priorities outlined by the governor in her State of the State address. Efforts to improve the way New York handles mental illness, reducing the costs of childcare, and pledging not to raise taxes are all commendable goals. But much more needs to be done.
In recent months, polls have indicated New Yorkers believe the state is headed in the wrong direction and key issues remain unaddressed. Supporting this discontent, recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows New York state lost more than 400,000 people in the past two years — the worst in the nation. This is not sustainable. If we continue to rank at or near the bottom for outmigration, our communities, businesses and educational institutions will suffer. It’s a trend that has been ignored for years, and it’s simply unacceptable to allow it to continue.
Affordability and the cost of living is crushing families and violent crime is plaguing communities across the state. These issues must be addressed without delay. The executive’s budget proposal and budget negotiations are just weeks away. I encourage all parties involved to find common ground on common-sense legislation and policies that will make a difference for New York’s 20 million residents. Once again, my colleagues in the Assembly Minority Conference and I will promote proposals that address the quality of life in New York. These measures include:
• Improving public safety;
• Creating more opportunities for children and families;
• Strengthening our schools and learning environments;
• Bolstering our health-care system’s capabilities and preparedness;
• Improving infrastructure and rural resources;
• Ensuring our farmers prosper; and
• Increasing transparency in government.
As elected officials, we have the tools and resources at our disposal — not to mention the responsibility — to deliver solutions to the state’s most-pressing issues. If the governor truly hears and cares about what New Yorkers are thinking, she will work with Republicans and Democrats, alike, to deliver a state budget that benefits every resident. New Yorkers have diverse needs and opinions and they have elected us to act on their behalf and represent their unique views — that is exactly what we are going to do.
William (Will) A. Barclay, 53, Republican, is the New York Assembly minority leader and represents the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses all of Oswego County, as well as parts of Jefferson and Cayuga counties.
OPINION: A Legislator’s Toughest Job
As Congress and many state legislatures get under way for the year, there are lots of new lawmakers out there starting to learn the ropes. It’s an exhilarating, exhausting time, and they’ll have plenty of questions about the challenges. But here is one thing they might not even have imagined. The hardest part of their
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As Congress and many state legislatures get under way for the year, there are lots of new lawmakers out there starting to learn the ropes. It’s an exhilarating, exhausting time, and they’ll have plenty of questions about the challenges. But here is one thing they might not even have imagined. The hardest part of their new jobs may be the most basic — casting a vote on legislation.
It seems odd, doesn’t it? And it actually took me a couple of decades in Congress before I realized it. I’d never reflected on the question until a constituent asked point-blank what I found most difficult about the role. I thought about the long hours, the time away from home, the criticism and pressure from pretty much every side (yes, even back then). Then I realized that it wasn’t the frustrations of the job that made it difficult, but its very core: deciding how to vote.
This isn’t always the case. Sometimes, voting on a bill can be straightforward — maybe it’s a matter of no consequence, or it’s clearly what your constituents need. But you have to remember that legislators are asked to vote on a stunningly complex array of issues, some of which they’re familiar with, some of which they’re not, and many of which have real consequences for real people. Often, these are complicated issues, with aspects that extend far beyond the black-and-white views expressed in tweets and sound bites. So, for a legislator who is truly trying to do her or his best for the country, the state, or the community, deciding how to vote requires hard work.
The first consideration is — or at least, should be — the views of the people a lawmaker serves. Members of Congress and state legislators get inundated with calls and emails from constituents and hear plenty of feedback on key issues at public meetings. From time to time, those sentiments all run in the same direction, but often they conflict, so a legislator has to work hard to find the majority’s sentiment. Similarly, lawmakers rely on the reams of material produced by experts, think tanks, lobbyists, and even colleagues with particular expertise, but those can often conflict, as well. Making a decision involves sorting through a host of arguments — from legal and economic to practical and moral — and then making a judgment about which are most compelling. Because it’s a good bet that at some point, you’ll be called to account for how you voted.
Then, of course, there are the political considerations. These have become both simpler and more complex over the last few decades, as partisanship has grown. On the one hand, politicians these days are often expected just to fall in line with what the congressional or legislative leadership expects. But if the electoral politics of the last few years has made anything clear, it’s that voters do not follow party leadership dictates, and depending on the constituency, any politician interested in re-election needs to look beyond the loudest and most-vociferous voices.
Finally, legislators do not arrive in office as blank slates waiting to be written on. They have their own experiences and convictions to draw from. At some point, everyone who holds office has to come to a decision on what he or she is willing to compromise on and what is beyond the pale — and, in the most dramatic instances, what is worth losing an election over.
You can see, then, why deciding how to vote is rarely the easy part of a lawmaker’s job. On some issues, you’ll vote your conscience. On others, you’ll follow the wishes of your constituents, or of the party leadership, or of colleagues you trust and respect. On others, you’ll become an expert as quickly as possible and then spend time parsing shades of gray. Yet on every vote, you’ll be expected to have an opinion and to be able to defend it, sometimes in the face of withering criticism. So, in the end you’ll cast your vote and then move on, because the next one is coming on fast.
Lee Hamilton, 91, is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years (1965-1999), representing a district in south-central Indiana.

CenterState CEO recently announced three promotions. In her new role as VP of member engagement, KATIE TOOMEY provides leadership and strategic guidance overseeing a team of membership managers. She will have direct account-management responsibilities for high-level members and be responsible for the overall member-engagement process. Through this new role, she also ensures the members of
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CenterState CEO recently announced three promotions.
In her new role as VP of member engagement, KATIE TOOMEY provides leadership and strategic guidance overseeing a team of membership managers. She will have direct account-management responsibilities for high-level members and be responsible for the overall member-engagement process. Through this new role, she also ensures the members of CenterState CEO receive high-quality service and are maximizing their opportunities to engage with the organization’s network and its work to advance the region. Toomey brings more than 15 years of experience, including six at CenterState CEO, in client relations, marketing communications, community relations, and advocacy. She is a member of the Oswego Health System board of directors, secretary of the Oswego Health Foundation, and was recently elected to the Health Trustees of New York State, where she will represent Central New York. Toomey received her master’s degree in public relations from Iona College.
SARA BROADWELL has been named executive director of the Greater Oswego Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GOFCC). She leads the strategic vision and daily operations of the Greater Oswego Fulton Chamber of Commerce. In this role, she is the primary point of contact for member engagement and recruitment, the development of strategic partners, advocacy within the community, management of staff, and delivering the highest level of service to all stakeholders. Broadwell has worked with the GOFCC for the past five years, helping to establish several community-based programs across Oswego County and has developed strong relationships with the leaders, business owners, and community members of Oswego County. Broadwell serves on several boards including The Children’s Museum of Oswego. She attended SUNY Oswego.
KELLY FUMAROLA has been appointed to the new roles of executive director of both the CenterState CEO Foundation and CenterState Development Foundation. She is chiefly responsible for supporting the success of the organization’s charitable activities. This includes the parallel approaches of overseeing the organization’s charitable fundraising activities as well as acting as one of its leading champions and promoters at a national level. Fumarola will maintain the portfolio of programs, investments, and initiatives that currently run through the foundations. Additionally, she is responsible for elevating charitable giving around CenterState CEO’s current and future programs. Fumarola will continue to serve in her current role as director of development. Before joining CenterState CEO in 2020, she served as a consultant to the nonprofit sector with a specialty in grant-fund development. Fumarola graduated from Binghamton University with a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s in economics.

Slocum-Dickson Medical Group announced that HAIDER KHADIM, MD has joined its hematology and oncology department. Dr. Khadim concentrates on hematology and oncology for adult patients. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders, as well as all types of cancers. He provides treatment consisting of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy. Dr. Khadim also
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Slocum-Dickson Medical Group announced that HAIDER KHADIM, MD has joined its hematology and oncology department. Dr. Khadim concentrates on hematology and oncology for adult patients. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders, as well as all types of cancers. He provides treatment consisting of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy. Dr. Khadim also provides bone-marrow aspiration, bone biopsies, and palliative care. Khadim completed an internal-medicine residency, followed by a fellowship in hematology and oncology at Upstate Medical University. He obtained his medical degree at King Edward Medical College in Lahore, Pakistan.

SUSAN HOOK has joined the independent insurance agency Scalzo, Zogby & Wittig, Inc. as a commercial lines account manager. She is a New York State-licensed agent for property, casualty, and life, with more than 18 years of experience in the insurance industry. Hook lives in Ilion.
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SUSAN HOOK has joined the independent insurance agency Scalzo, Zogby & Wittig, Inc. as a commercial lines account manager. She is a New York State-licensed agent for property, casualty, and life, with more than 18 years of experience in the insurance industry. Hook lives in Ilion.

Hancock Estabrook, LLP announced it has elected three attorneys to the firm’s partnership. MARY L. D’AGOSTINO is a member of the firm’s litigation practice. She focuses her practice on commercial litigation, federal and state-appellate advocacy, and other civil disputes. She previously served as a confidential law clerk to U.S. magistrate judges Christian F. Hummel and
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Hancock Estabrook, LLP announced it has elected three attorneys to the firm’s partnership.
MARY L. D’AGOSTINO is a member of the firm’s litigation practice. She focuses her practice on commercial litigation, federal and state-appellate advocacy, and other civil disputes. She previously served as a confidential law clerk to U.S. magistrate judges Christian F. Hummel and David E. Peebles, as an Appellate Court attorney with the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, and as an assistant corporation counsel for the City of Syracuse. D’Agostino is a graduate of Le Moyne College and received her law degree from Albany Law School of Union University.
RYAN M. POPLAWSKI is a member of Hancock Estabrook’s litigation practice and focuses on general litigation, assisting clients in the areas of personal injury, products liability, and commercial litigation. He frequently advises and defends clients in matters related to trucking litigation, accident investigation, labor-law claims, wrongful-death suits, and premises and products-liability issues. In addition, Poplawski advises trucking and transportation clients on compliance with safety regulations, the Motor Carrier Safety Act and the Department of Transportation; the best practices to limit exposure; review of contracts and leases; compliance with recordkeeping requirements; and OSHA and contamination matters. He received his bachelor’s degree from Siena College and his J.D. degree from the University at Buffalo Law School.
BRIANA K. WRIGHT is a member of Hancock Estabrook’s corporate, startup & emerging business and healthcare practices. She has significant experience with assisting women and minority-owned businesses on matters involving the NYS Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) participation program certification, procurement, and appeal process. Additionally, she serves as the firm’s professional development and diversity officer. In this role, Wright works closely with Hancock Estabrook’s executive committee to support and develop equitable and inclusive programming. She is actively involved in the firm’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, hiring and recruitment, and professional and business development. Wright is a graduate of the University at Buffalo and received her J.D. degree from Albany Law School of Union University.

The Children’s Home of Jefferson County (CHJC) recently added MARGARET LAVANCHA as its newly appointed human-resources director. In this role, she is a critical member of the agency’s leadership team, participating in strategic change initiatives. She will provide leadership and supervision for the agency’s human resources department, including staff recruitment, retention, and daily oversight of
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The Children’s Home of Jefferson County (CHJC) recently added MARGARET LAVANCHA as its newly appointed human-resources director. In this role, she is a critical member of the agency’s leadership team, participating in strategic change initiatives. She will provide leadership and supervision for the agency’s human resources department, including staff recruitment, retention, and daily oversight of benefits. Additionally, LaVancha will ensure compliance with employment law and agency policy, and maintain and implement employee benefits, along with promote employee satisfaction. LaVancha received her bachelor’s degree in business management from Ithaca College and is also an alumnus of Jefferson Community College. After college, she worked in several short-term accounting-related positions, first in Waltham, Massachusetts and then in Watertown, New York. LaVancha had previously worked in the accounting department at the Stebbins Engineering and Manufacturing Company, where she was promoted to payroll manager. She worked for five years in accounting and payroll before being promoted to the director of human resources in 2002 and maintained that position until 2020. In 2020, LaVancha was appointed chief resource officer/director of human resources and at that time passed certification exams to hold seven state contractors’ licenses for Stebbins.

MVCC Center for Leadership Excellence accepting applications for two programs
UTICA, N.Y. — The Center for Leadership Excellence (CLE) at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) is recruiting participants for two of its professional leadership-development programs

Guglielmo retires as Rome Area Chamber president
ROME, N.Y. — William Guglielmo has retired as president of the Rome Area Chamber of Commerce after a nearly 50-year career with the organization. He

Dermody, Burke & Brown, CPAs announces new CEO
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse–based accounting firm Dermody, Burke & Brown, CPAs, LLC on Wednesday announced Carolyn Sturick as the firm’s new CEO. Sturick has been
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