Opinion

The 2022 midterm elections are mostly behind us, and we imagine most Yates County residents will join the members of the Finger Lakes Justice Partnership in feeling relief. Election season can be exciting in many ways, allowing us to put our values into action, but it can also bring anxiety for those of us whose civil and human rights feel constantly up for a vote. FLXJP is optimistic about the results, though local races didn’t go as some had hoped. All in all, it appears that democracy succeeded this year.

I would like to give a big “Thank you!” to the Yates County Legislature for having a 13-0 vote to fund $2 million dollars to help fund the new Fieldhouse at the Yates Community Center property. I am very pleased that after being shown all of the positive impacts that the fieldhouse will have for Yates County, the Legislature was convinced that the project is very much needed for our community.

The Downtown Business Council of Penn Yan (DBC), organized in mid-2021, is comprised of approximately 30 downtown business or restaurant owners, several not-for-profit organizations, and 30 engaged citizens of Yates County. The mission of the DBC is to, “create a vibrant downtown business community, by identifying and promoting business opportunities and increasing commerce within the Village of Penn Yan through sharing mutual interests among downtown business owners, liaisons, and volunteers, to ensure success, sustainability and growth.” One way we showcase all that our village has to offer is by hosting large public gatherings, drawing Yates County residents and visitors to such events as Trunk or Treat, the Fall Festival, or Wing Walk.

Steven Holden, the Democratic Candidate to represent the NY-24 Congressional district, grew up on his family’s dairy farm in Oklahoma. After College he joined the National Guard, and then the Army. In his 20 years in the Army, Steven was deployed to Iraq twice and Afghanistan twice. He was on the team that captured Saddam Hussain. After Steven retired from the military, he started a business that guides Veterans through the process of receiving government contracts.

I continue to join my Republican colleagues, members of the Farm Bureau, farm workers and farmers in calling on Gov. Hochul to keep the farm overtime threshold at 60 hours. Last month, the unelected wage board recommended that the governor lower the overtime threshold from 60 to 40 hours, a decision that has also been backed by Labor Commissioner Reardon. The Commissioner and the 2 Wage-Board members who are in favor of lowering the threshold have shown completely out of touch they are and they have no clue as to the challenges of running a farm daily. Not only is this decision wrong but it is incredibly tone-deaf, as 70% of public testimony delivered in front of the board was in support of keeping the current threshold at 60 hours.