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It’s been over twenty years since New York State had a rail plan. As of March 9 that’s changed - and it’s good timing - two federal bills in the last several months are making money available for rail projects. With that potential influx of federal money, New York lawmakers are hoping that within five years New York’s railways will be revamped and running at much higher speeds.

At a March 9 press conference Governor David Paterson announced the details of New York’s new rail plan. Total cost of the plan is $10.7 billion over 20 years, with most of the funding being asked for from the federal government. The highlights of the plan include a third rail for the crowded Albany to Niagara Falls line, a second rail between Albany and Schenectady and technology to allow increased speed to 110 miles per hour. Currently the rails only go as fast as 79 miles per hour and average as low as 60 miles per hour.The state hopes to decrease the average travel time between Albany and New York City to two hours, from two and a half hours, from Albany to Montreal to six and a half hours, from eight hours and from Syracuse to Buffalo to four hours, from six hours. The plan allows for a 45-day public comment period, as yet unannounced. There are as yet no guarantees for full federal funding for the plan, but Charles Carrier, spokesman Department of Transportation (DOT), told the Hudson Valley Business Journal that New York was in good position to receive monies for most parts of the plan.

"The stimulus bill has $8 billion in it for high speed rail, for the nation, specifically for ten existent rail corridors in the country, of which the Empire corridor is one," said Carrier. State lawmakers and the DOT began working on the project two and a half years ago and that made for fortuitous timing. Besides the Reinvesting in America monies for high speed rail, in the fall of 2008 Congress had passed the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) which Carrier said would provide money to create a third track on the congested line between Albany and Buffalo. A general transportation bill is also up for renewal by Congress in October of 2009 and this has railroad funds in it as well. "Congress passed and President Bush signed that law which gives every state opportunity to access federal funding for rail projects. One thing you have to have to qualify is a plan," Carrier continued. "We haven’t had a rail plan for more than 20 years. We were working on this for more than two years, in discussion with industry and business community for last several months, to put a final plan together. The fact that the federal government passed PRIIA and the stimulus bill is a nice, serendipitous thing that happened along the way."

The state’s rail plan include calling for twice as many intercity rail passengers along the three major corridors of New York’s rail system: New York City to Albany, Albany to Niagara Falls and Albany to Montreal; achieving on-time performance at least 95 percent of the time between Albany and New York City; establishing new passenger service, where viable, such as between Saratoga and Albany, Niagara Falls and Buffalo, and Binghamton and New York City; increasing freight rail usage by 25 percent; creating the first "green" short line fleet in the nation. The yard at Poughkeepsie was designated for tens of million of upgrades. The yard at Croton-Harmon was notmentioned in the plan.

"As far as stimulus dollars, we are going to be competing for the money with other states. It’s not the same as initiatives for shovel-ready projects in community, to fix up roads, bridges, culverts in a 120-day period. The high-speed rail part is part of competitive program, not the same kind of quick turn-around. We need to be prepared come June, to make an aggressive case to get our fair share of that $8 billion," said Carrier. New York and indeed the entire United States lags far behind Europe, China and Japan in its rail service, Carrier said. Europe is noted for having 200 mile per hour "bullet trains" and a Shanghai line in China holds the record for fastest passenger train, averaging 270 miles per hour and once going as high as 311 miles per hour. "What we can do, with real money we have now is get to 110 mph on existing lines right away. To get up to Europe or China would require acquiring land," Carrier said. At the press conference both Governor Paterson and Senator Schumer said New York City Congressman Jerrold Nadler was a leading light behind the rail plan, and has been working for increased rail service for decades.

Nadler’s spokesman Ilan Kayatsky said, "Really I don’t know if there has been a rail advocate longer than Congressman Nadler, for probably 30-odd years, he’s been pushing for regional state-wide rail plan that would coordinate, expand and improve freight and commuter."

Westchester Congresswoman Nita Lowey has also long been an advocate for bringing high speed rail to the state – especially to serve the commuter traffic that runs each day from her district into the city and back. Many Westchester and Rockland leaders, including RBA head Al Samuels, have been pushing the state for years to come up with an effective and reasonable mass transit solution to the growing commuter traffic issue. They have, especially, been lobbying to include at least a light rail line into reconstruction plans for the Tappan Zee Bridge.

"The modernization and expansion of New York’s rail system will reduce traffic congestion on our roads and runways. It will decrease pollution throughout our state, facilitate commercial transport, and improve transportation options for commuters and travelers. I look forward to working with Governor Paterson and the Congressional delegation to develop and implement a plan to upgrade New York’s rail system," said Lowey. Kayatsky continued, "What we have is trucks on road clogging roads, causing pollution and reducing speed by which goods can be transported. It was clear years ago we needed overarching freight and passenger rail policy to coordinate and improve simultaneously. He’s the senior member of Trans and Infrastructure from Northeast he will major role in reauthorization of transportation bill coming up. For many years they’d joke he was rail advocate and nobody really cared about rail. It’s nice that his views are reflected now."
The state sent a press release out with quotes from public leaders. In the release Governor Paterson said, "rail transportation is critical to efficiently moving people and goods throughout New York State. With the 2009 New York State Rail Plan, we are charting a course for the future. We have prioritized investments to improve inter-city passenger rail service and strengthen our freight rail system, while helping to promote the State’s economy and protect the environment by reducing energy use, emissions and congestion on our highways and runways." "From Albany to Rochester and from Poughkeepsie to Plattsburgh, we must update and reinvent our rail network to unclog the transportation arteries cutting off potential economic growth Upstate," Schumer said.

The concept has wide support – which will, no doubt, help it in getting federal funding for an infrastructure project that is expected to cost millions, at a time when the state is, effectively, broke. "High-speed rail is one of my top priorities. It is a key component of Upstate New York’s economic development and will spur job growth throughout the State. The development of high-speed rail throughout New York will create an economic development engine for decades. I look forward to continuing my work to advance this vital goal with the Obama Administration, Governor Paterson, Senator Schumer, and the rest of the New York Delegation," U.S. Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand said. Nadler added, "Today’s announcement of a State rail plan is truly historic. For decades, I have worked on this issue and have long awaited a forward-looking and comprehensive policy to guide and improve the region’s vast rail network. This is big news for both passengers and freight, and it could have a major, lasting effect on our economy. This rail plan will also be instrumental in securing funding for New York through the federal stimulus and upcoming  transportation reauthorization bill. Congratulations to Governor Paterson and Commissioner Glynn for their timely leadership and vision." Department of Transportation Commissioner Astrid Glynn said, "The State Rail Plan provides a contemporary blueprint for managing and improving New York’s railroad infrastructure, an integral part of our transportation network of highways, bridges, transit systems, ports and airports. This far-reaching plan outlines how to utilize existing resources most efficiently and positions us to improve mobility and connectivity across the State by creating a network that makes moving people and goods on rail a truly viable alternative."

The state’s accompanying press release indicated that inter-city passenger rail systems use 20 percent less energy per passenger mile traveled than automobiles and 17 percent less than airline travel. You can learn more about the "New York State Rail Plan 2009, Strategies for a New Age," at the NYSDOT web site at http://www.nysdot.gov/staterailplan.

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More than one million unemployed New Yorkers will benefit from unemployment insurance compensation provisions included the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) signed into law by President Obama Feb. 17. , according to New York State Deputy Commissioner for Employment Security Nancy Dunphy. Making the announcement at the White Plains One-Stop Career center March 9, Dunphy, together with Congresswoman Nita Lowey and Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano said 95,000 people in the Hudson Valley alone will benefit from them. The economic impact of the provisions is estimated at $200 million in the Hudson Valley and $2.1 billion state wide.

According to Congress woman Lowey, the AARA unemployment provisions will be the driving force for job creation in the coming months. "The economic stimulus plan signed into law will be the engine that drives job growth in emerging industries in the months and years ahead. But in the interim, it will also provide critical relief for the most vulnerable, including unemployment insurance for those who have lost their job. I am pleased this extension and expansion of UI benefits will have such a positive impact on so many in our region," she said.

Among other things the ARRA provisions will benefit unemployed New Yorkers by allowing new claims for extended unemployment benefits to be made through December 31, 2009, with benefits payable through May 31. They will also increase weekly unemployment insurance benefits by $25 through December 31, 2009 as well as suspending the federal income tax on the first $2,400 of unemployment insurance benefits per recipient. New York State Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith urged unemployed New Yorkers to visit their local One-Stop Career Centers to take advantage of opportunities created by the provisions, adding that the federal stimulus bill will provide funds for worker training. "The federal stimulus bill also includes funds for worker training, which will become available to states very soon. It is important for workers to remain in contact with their local One-Stop so that they may take advantage of appropriate training opportunities that become available," she said. County Executive Spano said Westchester County had already started using ARRA money.

"In Westchester County, we have already received the go-ahead to use federal stimulus dollars to start road repair and construction projects that will create jobs. We are also seeking funds to help those affected by foreclosures, and our One-Stop Employment Center plans to use stimulus funds to retrain workers for new green jobs. All these efforts combined will add up to a powerful shot in the arm for the local economy, "he said. Individuals are encouraged to check the Department of Labor's web site at www.labor.ny.gov for current information regarding unemployment insurance, including extended benefits, eligibility rules and instructions on how to apply.

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Steve Glassen says:  |  2009-03-31 11:52:50

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In order to assist the Capital Region's architects and engineers to meet the rising demand for qualified Green Building Professionals, the Northeast Green Building Conference 2009 is offering LU and PDH professional development continuing education units (CEU) for seminars conducted at the upcoming conference, April 23-24, 2009, at the Clarion Hotel, 3 Watervliet Avenue, Albany, NY.

LU's, or Learning Units, are awarded by the American Institute of Architects for the completion of course work required for architects to renew their professional license. Likewise, PDH (professional development hour) credits are required by engineers to maintain their professional licenses with the state.

"By offering courses approved for LU and PDH credits, the Northeast Green Building Conference is establishing itself as the leading Green educational event for the building industry," noted Wayne Williams, treasurer of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) New York Upstate Chapter and an organizer of the event.

To meet the demand for professional continuing education credits, the Northeast Green Building Conference is offering LEED® Contractor Training courses. LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) promotes the design, operation and construction of high performance green buildings. LEED® certified buildings, in addition to lowering energy costs, also enjoy higher rental and occupancy rates than non-green buildings. Courses reviewing LEED® standards for home and schools, as well as the LEED® 2009 Overview, are offered at the conference.

Additionally, New York State First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson has been invited to address the conference on the "Greening the Executive Mansion" initiative. New York State is the first state to register for LEED® Certification for the residence of the state's chief executive.

The Northeast Green Building Conference 2009 is a collaborative effort by The United States Green Building Council New York Upstate Chapter (USGBC NYUC), the Associated General Contractors of New York State (AGC NYS), and the Workforce Development Institute of Hudson Valley Community College, which is also offering CEUs for conference participants.

By registering before April 1st, attendees can take advantage of the discounted Early Bird Registration price of $149. After April 1st the cost is $229. To register, visit www.hvcc.edu/wdi or contact Marilyn Bossalini at HVCC at (518) 629-4827.

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What works?

The word "depression," which I was using a year ago, is the only thing about the economy that is gaining currency. This dismal word has now flopped off the lips of General Electric's CEO and Great Britain's Prime Minister like a dead fish. Another D-word, "denial," still holds the teeth clenched when it comes to speaking the word "depression." We only speak that word looking backward because no one likes to admit they're currently depressed. It's fine to talk about later when the wine is pouring. Our great denial right now is to think we are witnessing the burst of a real-estate bubble. We are not. We are witnessing the failure of an entire economic model. Recessions correct market bubbles. Depressions correct failed economies.

What doesn’t work

When the expansion of debt ends, the economic expansion built on debt ends. You cannot expand the capacity of individuals to increase debt forever by loosening the terms of credit. Debt was our economic foundation, and it has failed. We were fundamentally unsound. Unfortunately, the new U.S. government talks of change but clearly doesn't know how to change. Most of its recovery plan is aimed at bailing out the old economy to get it to float again, but you cannot bail out a ship that is already underwater. We need to build a new economy that is more durable model and let the old ship rest in the sand bars of history.

Instead, the government's program aims at stimulating debt-based consumption all over again, but you cannot solve a fundamental problem of excess debt by re-expanding credit. That's why the biggest interest cuts people have ever seen plus hundreds of billions spent on bank bailouts have accomplished nothing.

Moreover, that additional debt is passed to the next generation, but it gives that generation nothing in return for the bill. What does the next generation care if Citigroup still exists? They will still have banks. Passing our mountain of bad debt into the future may come to be seen as the most selfish act any one generation has foisted upon another in order to avoid its own pain.

What works

Let's hope "the government of change" did not mean putting a little change in people's pockets with more tax breaks that are just one more bill to hand to the future. With jobless claims now at a twenty-six-year high, the government's stimulus plan should focus entirely on job creation as the path to avoid suffering. In a true-wealth economy, wealth is created by good-paying, sustainable jobs that give rise to the ownership of durable goods. Assets are accumulated that can be passed to the next generation, not debt. Those jobs are not created by investment breaks. They're created by demand for the goods. In this case, government demand.

Only one kind of enormous deficit spending can create a new economy that does not damage the future -- spending money now to build and repair things that the next generation will have to build and repair anyway (the creation of very durable goods). By that path, we hand the next generation the trillion dollar bill, but we also hand them more than a trillion dollars in value-added assets -- new rail systems, repaired highways, new schools, etc. The debt handed to the future is offset by their cost savings in not having to build those things.

By way of example, my parents grew up through the Great Depression. My father still raves at how the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps -- one of the WPA-type projects created by Roosevelt) kept him alive with the only sustainable employment he could find. As the next generation, I benefited in the 70's when I attended a high school built under the Works Progress Administration in the Great Depression. I traveled over bridges built by my grandfather. I hiked on trails created by my father. The WPA produced over half a billion miles in roads, 125,000 public buildings, 75,000 bridges, 8,000 parks and 800 airports. My alma mater was recently renovated into the most modern school I've seen because its essential structures were still rock-solid. So, it has become an asset handed to yet another generation. That's wealth accumulation, instead of debt accumulation.

Reality today

At the beginning of January, I predicted that those long lines at Walmart over the Christmas season meant nothing. While sales volume appeared O.K., it was only because goods were being sold at no profit. As soon as those cheap goods were cleared, nothing sold. Data released at the end of January confirmed that the final quarter of 2008 saw a drop in consumption of American goods that can only be matched by one other quarter since records began at the end of World War II.

In spite of these enormous job losses, the "government of change" is putting the same old pork fat in its stimulus bill when we need all muscle. Here are some examples: $335 million for sex education. (I don't think the stimulation here is economic, unless it's to create jobs in the world's oldest and most stimulating occupation.) Over half a billion dollars to help people switch to digital T.V. (I suppose with so many people out of work, the government gurus figure there will be a lot of couch potatoes needing public assistance.) $70 million to help people quit smoking. (The government should realize that money will need to be spent on drinking problems.)

These are not durable assets, so they hand nothing to the future in exchange for the bill. While some of these may be worthy ideas in good times, they are frivolous additions to a critical bill that should be nothing but lean meat in jobs that produce durable assets. Their inclusion demonstrates that the reality about depression has not sunk in, nor has the reality about the bill we are handing to the future. Some of those future people may wish a few of us had died of smoking.

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Eric Kahn, owner of Friendly Honda has been named by American Honda Motor Co., Inc. as a recipient of the 2008 Honda President’s Award. The award is presented to top ranking Honda dealerships across the country and recognizes excellence in all areas of operation – customer service, sales, training, and facility operation.

"Being honored by Honda validates Friendly Honda’s commitment to providing a unique car buying and ownership experience in which we strive to deliver unparalleled value and customer satisfaction. I want to thank my exceptional and hard-working staff as well as our loyal customers for making 2008 a record breaking year despite a struggling economy," said Kahn.

More than 1,000 Honda automobile dealerships participate in the President’s Award program annually. Each year, award objectives are established to inspire dealerships to achieve even higher levels of customer satisfaction. This year, 157 dealerships achieved these objectives and ranked to merit Honda’s highest honor. Friendly Honda was the only dealership in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Ulster counties to receive the award.

"Earning the Honda President’s Award takes a team of dedicated professionals unwavering in its pursuit of superb customer care," says Richard Colliver, executive vice president, Automotive Sales at American Honda Motor Co. "We are proud to recognize Friendly Honda as one of our Honda elite. See for yourself what a difference working with a Honda award-winning dealership can make to your automotive experience."

Kahn purchased Friendly Honda, located on Route 44 in Poughkeepsie, in October 2007. He is also the owner of Capital Volvo of Albany in Colonie, New York.

Anne E. Pitter has joined Hartman & Craven LLP, a Manhattan-based law firm established in 1921 that represents domestic and international clients in various practice areas, as partner. Pitter brings significant legal expertise in corporate/business services, creditors’ rights, workouts and restructuring, and real estate law, clearly bolstering the firm’s respective practices in these areas.

Prior to joining Hartman & Craven, Pitter was a partner in the New York office of law firm Thelen LLP. Pitter became a partner at Thelen LLP as a result of its merger with another prominent New York firm, Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner LLP. Pitter joined Brown Raysman as a partner when it acquired several practice groups formerly at Baer Marks & Upham LLP.

In the corporate/business services area, she has worked in the areas of mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, equity investments in joint ventures, partnerships and limited liability companies, employment agreements, licensing and distributorship agreements, and intellectual property issues, among many others. Her industries of focus have included media and communications (cable television, out of home media and print), apparel and sporting goods, insurance and real estate brokerage, liquor and cigarette distributors, manufacturing, as well as private equity and venture capital funds.

In bankruptcy/creditors’ rights, she has acted as a trustee and has represented both debtors and secured and unsecured creditors in connection with work outs, restructures, reorganizations, liquidations, and auctions as well as other asset sales.

In real estate, Pitter has expertise in the areas of transactional real estate, including the acquisition, sale and financing (construction, permanent and mezzanine) of commercial and residential projects. She also has significant experience representing hotels, real estate investors, developers and management companies in numerous types of real estate and commercial transactions throughout the United States.

Pitter is admitted to the New York State Bar and the U.S. District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Rochester and her J.D. degree at Albany Law School.

Fran Zoske, MSN, RN has joined CDPHP as director, health promotion and wellness programs. Zoske brings more than 30 years of nursing and management experience to her new post.

Most recently, Zoske served as associate professor and curriculum coordinator for Empire State College Nursing Program. Prior to that, she was the founder and director of faith community nursing, a nationally acclaimed nursing network for Seton Health/St Mary's Hospital. The program introduced the concept of parish nursing to the Capital District and achieved national "Best Practice" status for health and wellness promotion. Zoske developed an extensive network of collaborative community health programs, service organizations, and academic institutions during her tenure with Seton Health/St Mary's Hospital.

In addition, Zoske has held nursing positions in New York hospitals: Samaritan/Albany Memorial Hospital, Saratoga Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center/Strong Memorial Hospital, and St. Barnabas Hospital, as well as University of Chicago Hospital and Clinics.

Zoske holds a master’s of science degree in nursing/organizational development from Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz, and a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Winona State University, Winona, Minn. She is a published author and national speaker on topics ranging from health promotion and wellness to faith community nursing.

Robert A. Holtz MA, MBA, LMHC, has Joined CDPHP as vice president, behavioral health services. In his new position, Holtz will oversee, modify, and administer behavioral health operations at CDPHP.

"It is a pleasure to announce Bob has joined our growing team," said John D. Bennett, MD, president and CEO, CDPHP. "He brings nearly 30 years behavioral health experience to his new post, and will be an important asset in maintaining the quality of mental health benefits CDPHP offers to its membership."

Most recently, Bob served as behavioral health director, MVP Healthcare. He also held behavioral health management capacities for Conifer Park, Kaiser Permanente, and Community Health Plan (CHP).

He holds a master’s degree in business administration from the State University of New York at Albany; a master’s degree in psychology from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh; and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston University College of Liberal Arts. Bob is licensed as a NYS Mental Health Counselor and Certified Addiction Specialist.

John Patrick Jackson, Senior Project Manager for Arris Contracting Co., Inc. Of Poughkeepsie has earned the U.S.Green Building Councils Leadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesign (LEED) Accredited Professional Status. The LEED Green Building Rating system is designed to encourage energy and resource conservation in the construction and operation of buildings.

"Arris Contracting has recognized the growth of green building and sustainable development in the construction industry" said Paul Tozzi Principle of ACCI. "John’s accomplishment supports our firms commitment to energy efficiency, resource recovery and sustainable building. "

Jackson has been working at Arris Contracting for the past 12 years. He received his bachelors degree from Pace University and earned his Master degree in 2000.

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Health Quest has selected MedAllies to implement over 300 Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Practice Management Systems (PMSs) for providers. MedAllies is a Health Information Service Provider (HSP) serving New York’s Hudson Valley.

Health Quest, the largest health system in the Mid-Hudson Valley, is currently undertaking a multi-million dollar technology initiative including implemention of comprehensive EMR systems in both our inpatient and outpatient environments for exceptional patient safety and quality outcomes while ensuring that the HIPAA compliant (secured) passage of necessary information between sites occurs. This project will ensure timely access to pertinent health information in a timely fashion and to the appropriate providers involved in the care of the patient.  The end result is better the better provision of healthcare and increase patient satisfaction. To accomplish these far-reaching goals, the healthcare system purchased the eClinicalWorks Electronic Health Record application from MedAllies which implements the software. 

The eClinicalWorks product is a CCHIT (Certified Commission for Healthcare Information Technology) ambulatory physician (Physician Practice) EMR.  As part of this we possess the following functionality

• Comprehensive physician Office EMR (Electronic Medical Records)
• Document Scanning
• Digital Faxing
• Physician office billing
• E-Prescribing - Ability to send prescriptions electronically direct to pharmacies
• Chronic disease management
• Electronic patient registration
• Computerized laboratory order entry – Ability to send orders direct to area reference laboratories
• Integrated business intelligence software use to report out of the electronic system

MedAllies will implement eClinicalWorks Electronic Medical Record/Practice Management System throughout the ambulatory clinics and urgent care centers in the Health Quest system. Practices will be utilizing the latest health information technology to easily monitor and better manage patient care, promote patient safety while reducing costs, and improve overall patient health through coordination and continuity by connecting healthcare providers.

"Health Quest has selected this eClinicalWorks and MedAllies for many reasons.  In short, however, eClinical Works has a very good reputation in the industry and MedAllies as a local implementation organization support our community of providers.  In addition, though their relationship with the community via THINC RHIO, we feel strongly that eClinical Works will quickly become the physician office EMR system throughout the region," according to Robert Diamond, Chief Information Officer for Health Quest." From the patient's perspective, we are looking to create an environment which supports the secure transfer of health information, in a HIPAA compliant fashion, so physicians truly possess all of the patient's important health information both from the inpatient and outpatient treatment settings.  Having this information will significantly enhance the care provided to patients.  Ultimately, it's all about the patient."

Health Quest is the Mid-Hudson Valley's largest healthcare system providing the care across a broad spectrum of services. Offering the full range of hospital services, pre-hospital emergency care, homecare and nursing home care, the Health Quest system provides immediate and caring service to the one million people who reside in the New York counties of Columbia, Dutchess, Ulster, Orange, Putnam and northern Westchester.

Health Quest Affiliates include Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck, Putnam Hospital Center in Brewster and Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie.

MedAllies leverages Electronic Health Record implementations to facilitate physician office redesign to improve office practice efficiencies and disease management. In today’s healthcare environment, delivery of quality health care requires access to pertinent clinical information at the point of care. The evolution of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems allows providers the ability to utilize comprehensive and powerful technology applications at the point of care. These applications facilitate collection, secure delivery, and reporting of critical clinical information. MedAllies provides solutions, implementation support, and pricing models to address the major barriers for physicians in acquiring and effectively utilizing EHRs and other forms of health information technology. Also, MedAllies is building and operating a Health Information Exchange (HIE) to increase the completeness of information at the point of care, increase care coordination between health care stakeholders and standardize quality and public health reporting. Our ultimate goal is to bring enjoyment back to providers practicing medicine and to improve the health of all citizens in our community.

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"It’s usually case today of deciding between the ugly, the uglier …and the ugliest," Orange County Executive Edward Diana admitted at a recent Pattern For Progress event in Poughkeepie. "There are no good decisions, only ways to go that are slightly better than any other alternative.’

As the Hudson Valley, New York State, the country and the entire world face into what is shaping up to be one of the longest and deepest recessions anyone can remember, county executives from Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Putnam, and Sullivan shared a stage to discuss the ways they have been trying to create a culture of innovation within the halls of county governments to deal with the myriad of problems having too little revenue to deal with too many issues puts on their plates.

"It goes beyond having the staff remove every other light bulb in the county building,’ said Diana. (a move he took last year, saving thousands in electric bills). "You have to always be thinking about how you can trim costs or do something differently to save money."

Dutchess County Executive William Steinhaus noted that the recent economic setbacks are, indeed, severe, but it’s nothing the valley hasn’t lived through before.

"We’ve been through this before, and survived, and we will again,’ he said. "From the 1950s to the 1980s, we were an IBM company town…..I was welcomed into office in the late eighties with a notice that IBM was re-locating most of its operations elsewhere."

Last month, Dutchess County – and indeed the whole Mid-Hudson Valley – reeled once again from another massive lay-off at IBM which, once all the heads have actually rolled, will put hundreds of more people who once worked in East Fishkill into the unemployment lines.

The last time around, the valley took the hit to its workforce and economic base and, in time, grew a multitude of new small businesses to absorb many of the laid-off workers. Now, with the Wall Street crash and the credit crunch, many small businesses are finding it difficult to access cash flow. The valley is bracing for even more lay-offs.

Meanwhile, the state budget proposed by Gov. David Paterson offer further challenges for county leaders. Cuts in everything from its share of Medicaid and Medicare payments and cuts in education funding are only two of the areas that the executives see as being especially difficult for them to deal with – if that proposal passes in the state legislature.

A proposed new payroll tax to help the MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) dig out of its hole also angers the executives, as they see it as another way the state and MTA is trying to force them to pay for New York City’s problems. (see top story on page one).

"There is one small spot of blue sky in this, if it goes through," Pattern president Jon Drapkin noted. "It has brought us together as a region (in opposition) as never before. Hopefully, we can continue to think and act as a region in the future…on so many other issues."

Sharing municipal services between counties is one way all the executives felt a new kind of regionalism could be achieved.

"In case you didn’t hear, we just spent a lot of money on a new jail," Ulster County Executive Mike Hein quipped, referring to one of the biggest boondoggles in the county’s history. "Now we have extra beds, and could even renovate another building (the old jail) to hold 200 more inmates very cost effectively. Why shouldn’t nearby counties house their overflow with us?"

Others noted that it might be possible to develop large buying consortiums to bargain better for many of the goods and services every county needs to contract for.

On one thing, all agreed: with looming deficits on all levels, anything the counties can do to tighten their respective purse strings and keep their counties afloat is going to be on the table in 2009.

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A proposed 0.333% payroll tax on businesses in a twelve-county region to help the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) bridge a $1.2 billion budget gap is continuing to draw fierce opposition in the four-county region of Rockland, Orange, Dutchess and Putnam. The four counties together only have one slot on the 17-member MTA Board, but its constituents pay the same in taxes.
Calling the tax unfair and "taxation without representation" over 150 gathered at a rare meeting of the MTA Board in the Hudson Valley last Monday, to voice their protest. It was called a "Boston Tea Party" and the region’s politicians were leading the charge. Heavy hitters included Senators John Bonacic and Steve Saland, Orange County
Executive Ed Diana and Assemblymen Joel Miller. Representatives attended for Senator Thomas P. Morahan and Assemblyman Frank K. Skartados. Seven members of the MTA Board were in attendance to absorb the outrage; Robert C. MacLaeger, Robert C. Bickford, Carl V. Wortendyke, Christopher P. Boylan, Susan G. Metzger, James L. Sedore Jr. and Chariman H. Dale Hemmerdinger.
Most speakers that took the podium placed tea bags on a table adjacent to the podium to symbolize their disapproval of both the tax and the perceived lack of representation on the board. The one board member is slightly out of ratio given the entire population of the 12-county area in 14.6 million and the population of the four counties is around 1.1 million. Were the four counties given a second seat without further expansion of the Board, they’d be slightly over represented. Usage of MTA transit systems is far less in Rockland, Putnam, Orange and Dutchess than the other eight counties, but they still are on the hook for the same taxes for the entire system as New York City business owners.
Charlie North, CEO of Dutchess Regional Chamber of Commerce, and representing 1,742 members illustrated the region’s frustration with the proposal.

"Maybe reduce administration staffing. Put your own house in order. Do an audit," she said.
The MTA videotaped the three-hour hearing and it is posted at www.mta.info. The hearing was the last of nine regarding plans to raise fares and tolls and cut service to close their 2009 budget gap. The tax hike was proposed by the Governor’s special Ravitch Commission. Action is expected from the MTA by March 25. The Board hearing took place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Newburgh.

CUTLINE – Orange County Executive Edward Diana addressing the MTA Board. PHOTO CREDIT: Hank Gross, www.midhudsonnews.com

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