A look at key local contests By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com Oneonta Mayor The months-long race to replace longtime Oneonta mayor Gary Herzig comes to an end next week when voters choose between Common Council members Mark Drnek (D) and Len Carson (R). The League of Women Voters hosted the candidates in a debate last week, during which Carson thanked Drnek for joining him in running a “gentleman’s campaign.” Drnek said he feels he is in “good shape”…
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Oneonta won’t opt out on marijuana By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com The city of Oneonta has no plans to opt out of recreational sales of marijuana, according to local politicians. In New York’s legal marijuana bill, which passed April 30, municipalities are able to decide to opt out on marijuana dispensaries by Dec. 31. However, there is no movement to opt out in Oneonta. According to Mayor Gary Herzig, no one on the Common Council has advocated for…
Common Council holds public hearing on police report By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — The Common Council held a public hearing for the long anticipated vote on the Community Advisory Board Review Committee report Tuesday, Sept. 21, created in response to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s directive that police departments create a document of “best practices” by local law enforcement with input from the community. Only two people spoke at the public hearing, both of whom were supportive…
AllOtsego Report: Mayoral Election edition Staff Report • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com We interviewed City of Oneonta mayoral candidates Mark Drnek and Len Carson for the AllOtsego Report Mayoral Election edition. Click here to listen to our interview with Mark Drnek. Democratic candidate for mayor, Mark Drnek, represents the Eighth Ward of Oneonta and is the owner of Sweet Home Productions and host of the syndicated radio show Blue Light Central. Click here to listen to our interview with Len Carson. Republican candidate…
Mayoral candidate Len Carson faces backlash over vaccine billboard ads By Kevin Limiti • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — Len Carson, the Fifth Ward Common Council member and Republican mayoral candidate, received some heat at the council’s meeting Tuesday, Aug. 17, for approving billboard ads through his company, DC Marketing, that presented false information about coronavirus vaccines. Jennifer Hill spoke at the meeting at City Hall, saying the ads were dangerous and strongly condemning Carson for his role in putting up…
Local officials praise New York’s next governor, Hochul By Kevin Limiti • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com Kathy Hochul, New York’s governor-in-waiting, has made a favorable impression on Otsego County officials the past few years. Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig said Hochul had visited Oneonta at least a half a dozen times. “She has been very supportive of Oneonta’s effort to revitalize and restore our economy,” Herzig said. “I think she’s a true friend of Oneonta. I hope to get her to visit…
Huntington hosts anniversary party By Kevin Limiti • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — The Huntington Memorial Library in Oneonta celebrated its centennial anniversary Saturday, Aug. 7, with an outdoor celebration at Huntington Memorial Park. Cupcakes on top of books, free drinks provided by Stewart’s and plants were given out at the celebration. The library turned 100 last year. However, because of COVID, the celebration got delayed. Mayoral candidates Mark Drnek and Len Carson were also on hand, with Drnek providing…
Mayor Gary Herzig sounds warning about COVID variant at Common Council By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — The Common Council meeting Tuesday, Aug. 3, began with a message from Mayor Gary Herzig regarding the recent updates regarding the delta variant of the coronavirus. “We’re all concerned about the variant,” Herzig said. “The numbers aren’t alarming but they are going in the wrong direction.” Herzig likened it to a race between the virus and vaccinations. “Unfortunately, what we…
Oneonta Common Council has contentious vote on housing commission appointment, confirms new fire chief By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — In a two and a half hour meeting, the issue of housing was forefront as the Common Council struggled to come to agree on the choice of an out-of-city resident as part of the housing commission on Tuesday, July 20. This appointment was narrowly approved, 4-3, with Kaytee Lipari Shue, Len Carson and Scott Harrington being the…
Community Advisory Board document on OPD best practices set to be reviewed By KEVIN LIMITI• Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — A committee including mayoral candidates Mark Drnek and Len Carson approved final changes to the Community Advisory Board police review document, which will sent back to the original CAB members followed by a public hearing. The process should take about a month to complete, according to city officials. The Community Advisory Board met Tuesday, July 13, at City Hall to…