By Doug La Rocque
Rensselaer County Republicans held the event at the County Legislative Chambers on New Year’s Day, with both State Senator Kathy Marchione and Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin touching on issues that hit home with Eastern Rensselaer County.[private]Marchione talked about the economy and in particular how it impacts local school district’s. The State Legislature and Governor Cuomo increased state aid to schools in the past year, and the Senator pointed to the importance of continuing this funding.
She also mentioned the growing heroin crisis, along with the spread of lime disease into the county, more help for area veteran’s and reducing taxes as other critical issues. PFOA’s in Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh of course remain the highest priority “I can tell you last month we met again in the governor’s office, looking for monies to expand their water districts.” Senator Marchione also told The Eastwick Press they are still making sure there are people on site. “And in the Governor’s office they are still bringing in the commissioners so we know we are on their radar.”
In her address to those at the ceremony, Senator Marchione also touched on the NY Safe Act, gun control legislation approved in 2013 that regulates the sale and ownership of assault weapons and other specific firearms.
“It is our second amendment right to keep and bear arms. It’s important to us as a society, it’s important to us to protect our families and in rural areas it’s important to us for hunting and fishing. Every opportunity that government’s use to take away our second amendment rights, our ability to purchase firearms is to me an infringement on our rights and our constitution.”
Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin keyed in on the PFOA crisis in his address. “The effort is not over, because yes, we have filters installed but we still don’t have a bio-monitoring program in place. We still don’t have a completed study on a new source which I think is vital. I don’t think filters are going to be enough to satisfy Hoosick Falls. And I don’t think you necessarily remove the stigma without a new source. If you really want that town to heal, give them a new water source.”
Assemblyman McLaughlin believes that source should be the Tomhannock Reservoir, which he describes as good clean water. As to the growing heroin problem in the state and rural areas, McLaughlin said, “we need to get more than three days of treatment and then you are back on the street. All that is going to do is make you crave it even more.” Another concern of his is the population loss in New York State. “That’s a really bad sign, and most of that loss is coming from upstate.” The assemblyman said he does not want to see people flooding out the door. “I don’t want to see people saying there is no opportunity for me or my kids so we are leaving. Because the people that leave are typically really productive citizens.” Assemblyman McLaughlin also said he sees the State Legislature exerting itself more this year, sending a message to Governor Cuomo that they are an equal part of state government.
Following her oath of office, Grafton Councilwoman Allison Kirchner said one of her hopes for the coming year was for the continued cooperation among all the Town Board members. She said that despite some differences, the Board has been able to work past those in a manner that benefits the entire town. She also told The Eastwick Press that keeping the Town on a solid financial footing, and addressing such concerns as the Highway Department’s aging fleet of equipment are high on her priority list. [/private]