The primary thing: vote Commentary by Ted Potrikus Otsego County and the whole of New York stand on the cusp of an eventful election season that begins with the June 28 primaries for the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, and state Assembly. Because we can’t have nice things in the Empire State, we’ll have a second round of primaries on August 23; those are for state Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. And also a special election on August…
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Editorial Great Choice, Governor [Editor’s note: This week’s edition goes to press just as the news about Rep. Delgado is breaking; we offer here a brief analysis of the situation as it stands on the morning of May 3.] For Otsego County, Governor Kathy Hochul’s May 3 announcement appointing Rep. Antonio Delgado as her new second-in-command in Albany is nothing short of politically seismic — a move that could send aftershocks throughout the entire state and even into Washington, D.C.…
Don’t underestimate her By Ted Potrikus Her beloved Buffalo Bills lost in a weekend heartbreaker, but aside from that, Governor Kathy Hochul has had a pretty good couple of weeks. She’s able to talk about turning the corner against the winter Omicron surge, with seven-day averages for new hospital admissions, new cases, and cases-per-100,000 declining in every part of the state. She laid out a blueprint for New York’s upcoming fiscal year, a $216 billion bonanza adorned with property tax…
Editorial: Maybe not Far be it from this page to look a gift horse squarely in the mouth, but open wide, equine friend: Term limits aren’t government reform. We do not blame Governor Kathy Hochul for saying eight is enough when it comes to years in office for a governor. Her predecessor’s bullying monomania for cementing his legacy by winning the fourth term that eluded his father was his undoing. She calls for that same two-term limit on the lieutenant…
Governor calls for two-term cap for statewide elected officials Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2022 State of the State message calls for a two-term limit for New York’s four top offices – governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and comptroller. Her plan tracks a similar call from the state’s likely Republican candidate for governor in 2022, Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin. Rep. Zeldin’s plan, announced December 1, 2021, would affect only the governor’s office. Any term limit proposal would require an amendment to…
Commission fails to agree on lawmakers’ district lines Outside temperatures might be hitting their January lows, but June’s heat and humidity aren’t too far away. Nor are June’s political primaries — those all-important preliminary contests that determine a party’s slate for next November’s ballots. Yet the boundaries of the congressional and state legislative districts remain a mystery for would-be candidates. That includes a measure of uncertainty for voters in the congressional contest that comprises Otsego County.…
Otsego County DMV closed due to COVID issues among staff Otsego County DMV is closed temporarily due COVID-19 issues among workers. The office will be closed starting Monday, January 3 and will reopen Monday, January 10. The public can still use the online service for the Albany DMV in order to make transactions. Go to dmv.ny.gov to make online DMV transactions.…
HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO for SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5 Cherry Valley Open House for the Holidays HOLIDAY WEEKEND – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Visit the town and find holiday gifts from 20+ local shops & vendors and then eat out and the local restaurants. Also will feature Santa visiting from 1 – 3 at the Cherry Valley Museum. Main Street, Cherry Valley. 607-264-3080 or visit www.facebook.com/RebirthCherryValley CHRISTMAS – Be an Angel. Sign up to give the gift of Christmas to local families…
Opinion by Timothy Peters Public Radio Otsego Most Freeman’s Journal readers of a certain vintage have fond memories of radio stations from their youth, usually the pop stations that provided the proverbial “soundtrack of our lives.” Until the late 1970s, public radio programming consisted largely of classical music, with scholarly announcers flaunting their German and reciting the serial numbers of the recordings they played. Often, these stations offered eccentric and creative free-form programs as well. Jack Nicholson played such a…
First Oberacker-Sponsored Bill, Aiding Oneonta Schools, Passed By Senate Committee ALBANY – The first bill introduced by state Sen. Peter Oberacker, R-Schenevus, which corrects a clerical error and saves $400,000 of transportation aid to Oneonta City Schools, today passed the state Senate Education Committee. “This is the first bill I have introduced as a state senator and it embodies one of my main priorities – to assist our local schools and municipalities when they are in need,” said Oberacker. “Without…