Personal Under Education

No sooner had school ended then did you see adverts for school supplies urging you to forget the summer and get prepared now! Given the cool, rainy weather we've had, it may as well have been the cusp of September for the past two months.

High School was the prime topic yesterday when I stopped at Ryder's Cup for an Americano to go while running errands for work. Owner/Barista Elise and I got to talking about having math tutors to get us through Course 3 math and the various science classes we avoided once it was possible to take something not in the Regents arena. Then I remembered something,

"Hey, I even opted out of Participation in Government and Economics!"

"WHAT? You got to do that???" Elise responded with edge of slight jealousy and incredulousness.

"Yes. All I had to do was take a multiple choice exam to get out of Economics, but I had to write 3 essays to get out of Participation in Government," I recalled. "Of course, looking back now it probably would have behooved me to have taken both of those classes seeing as how I ended up working in government and at one time had a job that involved economic development."

We laughed at the irony of my under-education. I had replaced P.I.G. with European History AP, which gave me some further understanding of the rise and fall and rise again of that old continent at least. Truthfully, I learned fairly fast the workings of government through the internship I did at WXXI the summer before my senior year in college. I was shuffled off to pick up items for County Legislature and City Council meetings. I quickly had to learn what a District Attorney did when we decided to cover the murder of a local man whose body was found in a mini-van in Niagara Falls. It was also my first inside look at politics from a news perspective. A fellow named Chuck Schumer was running against Incumbent U.S. Senator Al D'Amato. The guys in the newsroom called D'Amato the "Pot Hole Senator." The significance has been forgotten, but I think it had to do something with his ability to get local with projects even though he represented an entire state. While my knowledge base was still small, it was a good start.

So my under education in high school wasn't a huge deterrent to future success. And I'd be surprised if other classmates of mine who took P.I.G. our senior year retained what they learned then beyond the college years if they weren't going into a field where it was necessary to remember the inner workings of our country. Not that this is acceptable, but at least we're afforded many opportunities to make amends and engage in our civic duties to know what the hell is happening in our national, state, city, town, and village halls.

Traveling

The sun disappears behind clouds near Syracuse as we drive on the Thruway. We had visions of stopping at Java's for coffee but I think we are just going straight to my parent's house and to bed unless struck by a sudden burst of energy.

Guest Spot

The next issue of the recently relaunched/revitalized Chautauqua Region Word comes out this week. I've been asked to provide the guest editorial for this issue. Those who know me best know that I generally avoid the truly controversial, so the editorial was more some observations I've made during the ten years I've lived here in Chautauqua County.

Pick up The Word at your favorite "third place" or read it online when it goes live sometime around Thursday this week. I welcome any thoughts you may have on it here. Full text of the guest editorial will be posted here after the paper has gone to print.

Where's the Thruway?

This is the view from the passenger seat through our windshield while driving on the NYS Thruway near Batavia. Saw three tractor trailers off the road in less than a half mile section. Matt is driving and is determined to make it home bad weather or not.

Addendum: Took us over 3 hours but we made it before the Thruway was closed.

Buffalo News: Paterson To Cut Empire Zone Tax Breaks

Buffalo News: Paterson To Cut Empire Zone Tax Breaks

Well.

The State Legislature would still have to pass this. Seeing as how the current State Senate is led by an apparently anti-business Republican (Skelos) who hates the Empire Zone program, anything is possible.

Still, leadership should change January 1. I honestly expect the worst unless the business community and others lobby successfully. The people who run the EZ program can't lobby themselves. FYI.

Someone I work with jokingly said the other day, "Last business out of New York State, please turn off the light."

New York State Backs New Kind of Coal Power

(Image Courtesy of Governor Paterson's website)

Fresh from Governor Paterson's press conference in Jamestown this morning comes this story:

State Plans New Kind of Coal Plant

Of course, Walter Simpson has an opinion and is quoted here. But I find it hard to take a hypocrite's opinion too seriously.

Nick Dean from the Jamestown Post-Journal posted this video from the press conference:


Addendum: I added a round-up of news and blog posts below and will probably update this for the next few days.

News Round-Up:
Gov. Paterson's Press Release
Praxair Press Release

6/11/08 Articles
Tonawanda News: ERIE COUNTY NOTEBOOK: Clean coal on the move, but not in Tonawanda
Jamestown Post-Journal: State Backing
Jamestown Post-Journal: State, Local Officials Respond To Announcement
Buffalo News: ‘Clean coal’ plant for Jamestown boosted
WIVB: Major supporter for Jamestown coal power plant
WBFO: Governor Supports Plans for Jamestown Power Plant

6/10/08 Articles
Governor supports BPU clean coal project with $6 million grant
Buffalo News: Governor backs Jamestown coal power plant, described as breakthrough in clean power
Environmental Advocates of NY: ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS CALL ON NY GOVERNOR TO DITCH PLANS FOR COAL POWER PLANT
Crain's New York Business: Governor pushing "clean coal" experiment
WGRZ: Governor Paterson Supports Advanced Coal Power Plant in Jamestown
Reuters: NY to support carbon burial demonstration plant
Newsday: Paterson supports cleaner coal plant in Chautauqua County
CNN Money: NY gov supports cleaner upstate coal plant
Albany Times-Union: Environmentalists call new coal plant costly waste

Blog Round-Up
1490 Newsblog: Paterson Visits Jamestown; Announces Power Plant Plans
Nick Dean (Post-Journal): Gov. David Paterson during Tuesday's BPU announcement
Politics on the Hudson: Paterson Backs Coal Plant In Western NY (Updated)
Re-ENGERGIZE BUFFALO: New Coal Power-Advance or Big Mistake?
the BUFFALOg: Jamestown Power Plant A Go?

Voice Your Support For Gay Marriage

Found this via this page:

Gov. David Paterson told state agencies on May 14 that New York must recognize same-sex marriages performed in Massachusetts, Canada and other places where they are legal. The directive should provide gay couples with as many as 1,300 rights afforded to married heterosexuals, including the ability to collect health and pension benefits, being admitted as “close family” in a hospital room and transferring a business license.

On June 3rd, a Christian legal organization says it has sued to stop New York from recognizing same-sex marriages legally performed in other states. The Alliance Defense Fund says it filed its lawsuit Tuesday in a court in the Bronx. Several Republican state senators are named as party to the suit. The Arizona-based legal group filing the lawsuit has intervened elsewhere in gay marriage and religious freedom cases.

Governor Patterson is doing a poll on whether people support his decision. Take 5 seconds to lodge your support, just call 1-518-474-8390. You will talk to a live person from the Governor's office during business hours.

Just say "I support the Governor's position on same sex marriage," then give them your 5 digit (New York) zip code.

Now Let's Make It Completely Legal

I am incredibly happy about the news that Governor Paterson has told agencies they must start recognizing gay marriages (video here).

The next logical step is to make gay marriages legal in New York State.

I'm smiling. I can't help it.

So Long Upstate? (And Thanks For All The Fish?)

New governor may eliminate upstate development office

I think that this is where one of Buffalo Pundit's "FAIL" pictures he puts up for WNY (example here) should be employed for this.

"It's Monday, and there's work to be done"

David Paterson sworn in as New York State's 55th Governor.

New York Public Radio's Karen Dewitt takes a closer look at the new Governor.

The New "Day One" - Monday, March 17th

While he has officially announced his resignation, Eliot Spitzer is our Governor for a few more days. I've had a range of emotions regarding what has happened over the past few days. I even compared the news of this scandal, and Spitzer's inevitable resignation, as a heartbreak.

Like so many, we had hopes when Spitzer announced he was running for governor. And when he won with over 70% of the vote, we thought that maybe this would be when New York could turn around. Hell, look at what he did on Wall Street!

Then his term began. I remained optimistic. Even with the pitfalls, I thought, "He'll find his groove. He'll find a way to make it work." I waited. I grew concerned. I wasn't feeling too good about Spitzer's ability to work with others and implement his ideas. "Where is his head at?" I wondered.

Then I wandered over to Drudge by chance at 1:30pm this Monday and found out.

Am I worried for the future of this state? Sure. I also retain some optimism. Governor-to-be David Paterson said in a press conference today that Buffalo and Western New York remain as important to him as it was to Spitzer. I believe that all of Upstate needs to hold him accountable for that statement and to not forget what the former administration had tried to begin with revitalizing the region.

Day One begins Monday at 1pm.

What the EFF Spitzer!

I'm wicked pissed.

Spitzer is Linked to Prostitution Ring.

Beyond uncool.

Buffalo Pundit is running updates. Check in there often.