COLUMN From Congressman To Siena President ‘Servant Leaders’ Will Take Nation To Brighter Future Editor’s Note: Chris Gibson, former congressman for New York’s 19th District, which includes Otsego County, Friday, Feb. 14, was named president of Siena College. Here is an excerpt from his remarks to the college community. By CHRIS GIBSON • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com I want to close my remarks by focusing on the students. You are why we are here. And we believe in you. You know…
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Columns - Page 87
VIEW FROM ALBANY Reform Bail Reform – And Here’s How By SENATOR JIM SEWARD • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.COM Another week in Albany but still no legislative action has been taken to fix the disastrous bail/discovery laws that are continuing to wreak havoc across our state. Protecting the public is one of the most important responsibilities of government, and when a crime has been committed, the victim, not the criminal, should be our first concern. Unfortunately, the disastrous new bail laws…
VIEW FROM WEST DAVENPORT What Was Objectionable In State Of Union Speech? By MIKE ZAGATA • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com This past week we had an opportunity to observe our President highlight his accomplishments and lay out his agenda for next year. Every president does this annually in the State of the Union Address. As is almost always the case, depending on party affiliation, there will be things covered that draw applause and some that draw frowns – and once in…
COLUMN HERZIG STATE OF CITY 2020 Year Of Action Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig’s State of The City speech, delivered to Common Council Tuesday, Feb. 4, in City Hall. Hundreds of people gave of their time during the past three years, to help us map out a vision for the future – and we owe them our thanks. They worked to provide us with a new Comprehensive Plan, Artspace study (SUNY), Oneonta Theater study…
COLUMN FOSSIL FUELS: Stanford Says, Recapture CO2 Editor’s Note: This is the first of occasional articles, from university public-relations departments, on research into burning fossil fuels more cleanly. Here, Stanford University tells how faculty there are targeting “super-emitters.” In the United States, most electricity from the grid comes from power plants that run on coal or natural gas. These plants generate 35 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. Climate scientists say we need to reduce global…
COLUMN WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER Acquittal Emboldens Trump, For Now No, Chicken Little, the sky is not falling. Donald J. Trump has dodged the impeachment bullet just as he dodged the Mueller Report. He may feel emboldened to continue to ask others to dig up on his opponents; to continue to look the other way as Russian trolls do dirty work for him; to continue to require Republican politicians to swear fealty and kiss his pinkie ring. He will…
VIEW FROM FLY CREEK Let Home Rule Guide Sanctuary Movement By ADRIAN KUZMINSKI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com As Americans have become dissatisfied with various policies imposed by the federal government, they have sought ingenious new means of resisting them. One strategy, first developed by activists upset with federal immigration policy, was to establish “sanctuary” communities to protect undocumented immigrants, particularly from Central America, who were targeted by the federal government as illegal aliens to be deported. In 1985, San Francisco…
VIEW FROM WEST DAVENPORT How To Best Reduce CO2 – Trees Or Solar Panels? As I’m sure many of you did, I read with great interest about the proposal to build a 3,000 acre solar farm near West Laurens. It’s a great opportunity for the affected landowners – much like the Marcellus gas and the Constitution Pipeline would have been for many New York landowners. Why is the solar farm being greeted with enthusiasm while the potential to drill for…
FRONT PORCH PERSPECTIVE Seizing The Moment By JIM ATWELL • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com You know me. A synapse sparks inside my skull, and I’ve shot back 1,000 years to grab a good story. Sorry, but it’s an old habit. And after four-score years, I’m unlikely to break it. And, besides, in this instance, this one’s not a 1,000-year leap, but only 954. That takes us back to 1066 AD, a date that’s been stuck to the inside of your skull…
OTHER VOICES Downtown Business Improvement District Can Help City Thrive By DANNY LAPIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com “What does Downtown Oneonta need?” This is a question I’ve heard and asked nearly every day since I moved to the City of the Hills in mid-2015. Answers vary but they usually fall within three categories: more people, fewer storefront vacancies, and more stuff to do. In 2017, the City of Oneonta received a $10 million award through Governor Cuomo’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative.…
