A few weeks ago, Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced millions in stimulus funds would be invested at the GE Research center in Niskayuna for research in renewable energy. Since then, GE has also announced it will build a Capital Region facility to manufacture batteries.
GE will receive between $2 to $5 million a year from the $777 million set aside in the stimulus package for alternative energy research. GE is also the only corporate research center to receive these funds, a major economic development win for Schenectady County.
It is important to remember that GE could have put these jobs anywhere in the world but is continuing their investment in the Capital Region and Schenectady County particularly. Even GE executives credit the new Democratic Majority's commitment to economic growth for their decision to invest here. The Daily Gazette on February 22, 2009 quoted Jan Smith, spokeswoman for GE Energy, as saying "When the new group came in, they said we should have a climate for change. There has been an effort on [their part] to work with us and us with them." The article further stated "Smith credited the changed environment with GE's decision to locate 500 jobs related to solar and wind power generation." Now that investment continues with two more major GE announcements only weeks apart.
Schenectady County is winning again thanks to strong Democratic leadership.
For more news coverage, click here.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Plans for Glendale Nursing Home available online
Schenectady County has posted on their website the plans for a new Glendale Nursing Home. On the site you can see video of the Glendale public hearing, photos of the County Legislators who were present, and see the drawings for a new facility.
Below you can read a letter by County Legislator Dr. Brian Gordon explaining the history of the nursing home discussion:
Two myths have been perpetuated about the Glendale nursing home discussion.
The truth is, the issue of a new Glendale home has been discussed by the Legislature and the community at length over a period of years, and preliminary site plans were first presented on May 28, 2008. The Gazette has been covering this topic since 2005.
Plans exist for a new Glendale Home, including preliminary renderings of a new facility which were available at a public hearing Feb. 12 and at the most recent Legislature meeting May 12. The drawings can also be seen on the county Web site. The bond authorization voted May 12 is also part of the plan.
To say “serious” discussion has not occurred is disingenuous. In 2005, we explored several options, including regional approaches for a combined nursing home with Albany County. We ultimately decided it best for Schenectady County residents to construct a new home. The first Certificate of Need application was authorized by the Legislature in November 2006. Serious discussion occurred again Dec. 14, 2006, when a resolution rejecting the Berger Commission recommendations was approved. On June 28, 2007, we authorized the county manager to submit a preliminary implementation plan to the state Department of Health.
In fact, serious discussion occurred four more times. And let us not forget the public hearing held Feb. 12, attended by nearly 200 people.
Schenectady County needs the Glendale home. On average, there is a 99 percent occupancy rate at our skilled nursing facilities. Due to the increased number of patients in need of skilled nursing services, and the decreased availability of beds in the county, hospitals have had to place patients more than 50 miles away — away from their families, who in many cases will never see their loved one again due to the necessary travel.
Glendale serves residents that may not be as attractive to other private facilities, as evidenced by Glendale’s payer mix of 78 percent Medicaid, which is higher than the county’s other facilities. Glendale works directly with Ellis Hospital to take complex cases that other facilities will not, particularly those with cognitive issues such as dementia.
The county Legislature has deliberated for years on the Glendale issue. We have finally decided to develop a new, state-of-the-art complex. It is our moral and ethical responsibility to care for those in need, and to assist those who cannot help themselves. The new Glendale is being built with those goals in mind.
Brian Gordon, M.D.
District 3 County Legislator representing Niskayuna, Glenville, and Scotia
Co-chair of the Glendale subcommittee
Below you can read a letter by County Legislator Dr. Brian Gordon explaining the history of the nursing home discussion:
Two myths have been perpetuated about the Glendale nursing home discussion.
The truth is, the issue of a new Glendale home has been discussed by the Legislature and the community at length over a period of years, and preliminary site plans were first presented on May 28, 2008. The Gazette has been covering this topic since 2005.
Plans exist for a new Glendale Home, including preliminary renderings of a new facility which were available at a public hearing Feb. 12 and at the most recent Legislature meeting May 12. The drawings can also be seen on the county Web site. The bond authorization voted May 12 is also part of the plan.
To say “serious” discussion has not occurred is disingenuous. In 2005, we explored several options, including regional approaches for a combined nursing home with Albany County. We ultimately decided it best for Schenectady County residents to construct a new home. The first Certificate of Need application was authorized by the Legislature in November 2006. Serious discussion occurred again Dec. 14, 2006, when a resolution rejecting the Berger Commission recommendations was approved. On June 28, 2007, we authorized the county manager to submit a preliminary implementation plan to the state Department of Health.
In fact, serious discussion occurred four more times. And let us not forget the public hearing held Feb. 12, attended by nearly 200 people.
Schenectady County needs the Glendale home. On average, there is a 99 percent occupancy rate at our skilled nursing facilities. Due to the increased number of patients in need of skilled nursing services, and the decreased availability of beds in the county, hospitals have had to place patients more than 50 miles away — away from their families, who in many cases will never see their loved one again due to the necessary travel.
Glendale serves residents that may not be as attractive to other private facilities, as evidenced by Glendale’s payer mix of 78 percent Medicaid, which is higher than the county’s other facilities. Glendale works directly with Ellis Hospital to take complex cases that other facilities will not, particularly those with cognitive issues such as dementia.
The county Legislature has deliberated for years on the Glendale issue. We have finally decided to develop a new, state-of-the-art complex. It is our moral and ethical responsibility to care for those in need, and to assist those who cannot help themselves. The new Glendale is being built with those goals in mind.
Brian Gordon, M.D.
District 3 County Legislator representing Niskayuna, Glenville, and Scotia
Co-chair of the Glendale subcommittee
Thursday, May 28, 2009
President Barack Obama's speech on National Security
President Barack Obama's speech on National Security
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
President Obama signs Credit Card Reform
President Obama was joined by Senator Charles Schumer for the signing of the important the Credit Card Accountability, Responsiblity, and Disclosure Act of 2009. Congressman Paul Tonko co-sponsored this important legislation.
Click here for a fact sheet about the new law.
Watch the video of President Obama's signing below.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
President Barack Obama works for Health Care Reform
President Barack Obama and key Congressional leaders recently spoke to the media about their objective to achieve key health care reforms for all Americans. Below is the video of the event and a link to the new government website on health care reform.
Click here to check out the new website on health care reform
Click here to check out the new website on health care reform
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Fortitech provides another major economic development win for Schenectady County
On Tuesday, Fortitech, a local nutrient company, expanded into Glenville with a new facility that will showcase both its product and Schenectady County to representatives from world-wide corporations. This expansion was only possible due to the hard work of Democrats on the Schenectady County Legislature who developed the innovative reuse of County airport land and created a new plan for the Schenectady Couny airport that has brought major savings for taxpayers and expanded the tax base. This two part plan, which began with the sale of County airport land to Fortitech (which was opposed by Republican Legislator Robert Farley), was moved forward with a restructuring of County airport staff (also opposed by Republican Robert Farley).
“Fortitech has called Schenectady County home for over 20 years and it has been a pleasure to watch the company grow. Their willingness to invest in our community by expanding their operations is further evidence of the success of Schenectady County’s unified economic development efforts. This is a great beginning for our new Airport Business Park and we are proud to have a global business leader like Fortitech as the anchor tenant,” stated Susan E. Savage, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature.
Watch the ribbon cutting below.
“Fortitech has called Schenectady County home for over 20 years and it has been a pleasure to watch the company grow. Their willingness to invest in our community by expanding their operations is further evidence of the success of Schenectady County’s unified economic development efforts. This is a great beginning for our new Airport Business Park and we are proud to have a global business leader like Fortitech as the anchor tenant,” stated Susan E. Savage, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature.
Watch the ribbon cutting below.
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