The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Rensselaer County

DWI Victims Memorialized

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Poestenkill Victim Latest Name on the List

by Doug La Rocque
Families of those killed by a drunk driver, County and local officials gathered at the Rensselaer County DWI  Memorial Tuesday, April 26, to remember those whose names are on the memorial wall and to plead with people not to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly conducted the yearly ceremony reminding all it is important to share our concerns about people’s awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and touched on another topic as well: marijuana. She noted the recent legalization of marijuana has opened a new door for law enforcement with the ramifications of smoking and driving still undefined. Unlike alcohol use, which can be measured with a breathalyzer, there is no such yardstick for marijuana use. She again touched on the awareness factor, pointing to the sign in front of the speaker’s podium that said “If you feel different you drive different.”

Ms. Donnelly remarked about the horrific accident in Poestenkill last Thursday night that took the life of a local man and saw the driver of the second vehicle charged with Driving While Intoxicated. Please see the related story on page 4.

County Executive Steve McLaughlin also read a proclamation marking the annual event, held every year since the memorial was dedicated on September 8 of 2000. The Memorial is located on a strip of land on Congress Street in Troy, opposite Prospect Park, the very site where a popular Troy teenage girl was struck and killed by a drunk driver.

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County Sponsored Drug Take Back Events

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Rensselaer County is sponsoring a series of prescription drug take-backs at seven locations across the county to help safely remove unwanted drugs from circulation, County Executive Steve McLaughlin, Sheriff Pat Russo and Chairwoman of the Legislature Kelly Hoffman announced.

The drug take-back will be held this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., county officials announced. Public Health Director Mary Fran Wachunas and Department of Mental Health Commissioner Katherine Alonge-Coons are also supporting the take-back day.

April 30 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, and supported by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

“There have been so many tragedies because of drug abuse in our county and across upstate. Having opportunities to safely dispose of unused or unwanted prescription drugs helps provide an important defense in our fight against drug abuse,” said County Executive McLaughlin.

“We are committed to safely removing as many prescription drugs as possible to help prevent the drugs from falling into the wrong hands and causing harm. These events have been effective in recent years and our county is united in this fight,” said Sheriff Pat Russo.

“The past take-back events in Rensselaer County have been busy and successful in removing many prescription drugs from homes and neighborhoods. We appreciate the support of our law enforcement partners in coordinating safe collection and disposal of these drugs,” said Chairwoman of the Legislature Kelly Hoffman.

Collection Sites Include:

East Greenbush Police Department

225 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer, NY 12144

 

Schodack Police Department

At Walgreens, 1645 Columbia Turnpike, Castleton, NY 12033

 

Village of Hoosick Falls Police Department

24 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY 12090

 

North Greenbush Police Department

133 Bloomingrove Drive, Troy, NY 12180

 

City of Troy Police Department

55 State Street, Troy, NY 12180

 

Rensselaer County Sheriff

At West Sand Lake Fire Department, 3697 NY 43, West Sand Lake, NY 12196

 

Rensselaer Police Department

At North End Fire House, 2 St. Francis Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144

Ashby Calls to Lift Energy Tax Burden

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Submitted by the Office of Assemblyman Jake Ashby
Assemblyman Jake Ashby, Senator Sue Serino, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and the Republican members of the State Legislature recently called on the State to take action in suspending taxes on gasoline and other energy, investing more in domestic in-state energy resources and reform regulations surrounding energy.

Ashby is a sponsor of the “Inflation Relief and Consumer Assistance Plan,” which proposes cutting numerous taxes, not only on gasoline and fuel, but also food, home cleaning and personal care items and all goods impacted by rampant inflation. If enacted, the plan would provide $2.6 billion in savings, a beneficial cut the State can afford considering the $10 billion budget surplus. The assemblyman says action should be taken now so the plan can be included in the 2022-23 budget. 

State Redistricting Thrown Out

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A judge based in Steuben County has thrown out the state legislature’s redistricting maps as unconstitutional claiming the redrawn was done to favor Democrats. He has ordered the legislature to submit new maps by April 11. A rather prompt and high profile appeal is expected.

These new districts effect the areas represented by Congressman Antonio Delgado, Paul Tonko and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik as well as State Senator Daphne Jordan, Assemblyman Jake Ashby and John McDonald.

Rensselaer County Legislature

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March Meeting Report

Submitted by the Rensselaer County Legislature Office of the Minority

Environment
The Minority Office submitted a resolution supporting the NYS Expanded Bottle Bill to include additional beverage containers, such as sports drinks, iced teas, wine and liquor, as well as dairy products. The resolution was rejected by the Republican Majority.   

Opioid Settlement
After declaring the opioid epidemic a public health crisis in 2018, Rensselaer County, in concert with other counties, initiated a lawsuit against

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Rensselaer County Seeing Historic Growth and Success

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Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin delivered his fifth State of the County Address to the Rensselaer County Legislature on Tuesday, March 8, saying the County is in strong shape and seeing unprecedented fiscal and economic development.

“The County is becoming recognized as a leader in the State for lowering property taxes and expanding important quality of life and health services,” McLaughlin said in the Address. The County is seeing new and unprecedented opportunity and accomplishment thanks to fiscally effective policies and service improvements,” continued McLaughlin, who was re-elected to a second term by a wide margin in 2021.

“The County is also emerging as a prime mover in

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Masks Stay On for Schools, Off for Others

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by Doug La Rocque

Speaking at the State Capitol on Wednesday, February 9, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul said she would let the mask mandate on businesses expire as planned on Thursday, February 10. These businesses could, if they wish, continue to require masks if that is what they are more comfortable with. She said she would extend the mask mandate for schools, shelters, jails, nursing homes, childcare centers and public transportation for now.

In her announcement, the Governor said she would re-evaluate masks in schools in March, when she has a chance to look at the metrics of COVID-19 (infection rates are now down 93% since the start of the year) and develop “some clear guidance” for schools as to how to deal with COVID-19 situations when the masks do come off. She also stated she “feels compelled” to continue to protect the most vulnerable of our population as an explanation as to why the mask mandate will continue in senior related facilities, child care centers and because of the “closeness” of people in mass transportation.

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Democrats Call for McLaughlin Resignation

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On February 8, the Rensselaer County Minority Office filed a legislative resolution calling for Steve McLaughlin to  resign from his position as Rensselaer County Executive.  

In December, McLaughlin was indicted by a County grand jury with grand larceny and offering a false instrument for filing, allegedly stealing $5,000 from his campaign account in 2017 and paying a former female member of his NYS Assembly staff.

While McLaughlin continues to claim his innocence and his defense attorney Ben Hill is preparing a motion to dismiss the indictment for a lack of sufficient evidence, the State Attorney General’s Office told Rensselaer County Court Judge Jennifer Sober that the Attorney General’s case is ready for trial. 

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Troy

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19 Arrested In Latest County-Wide Welfare Fraud Sweep

By Doug La Rocque

Late last week Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Deputies, as well as State Police and other local law enforcement agencies, arrested 19 people who are alleged to have fraudulently accepted welfare benefits.

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