http://www.balconynewyork.com Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:47:32 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en New York spends $100M a week as Uncle Sam shores up plan; top benefit is one of nation's stingiest.By James M. OdatoNancy Golin, unemployed the past two years, lives in modest quarters in Albany on an unemployment insurance check of $128 a week. That includes a temporary $25 stipend from ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/06/29/unemployed-swamp-fund/ EditorialNew York State has not increased its maximum unemployment benefit — a meager $405 a week — in a decade, and a drive to raise payment levels has been derailed by the legislative chaos in Albany. While the politicians squabble, victims of the economic downturn are struggling to make ends ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/06/29/ignoring-the-unemployed/ By Patrick McGeehanA campaign to increase New York’s unemployment benefits for the first time in a decade has been sidetracked by the political stalemate in Albany — possibly for the rest of the recession. Despite having the support of the governor, labor leaders and advocates for the unemployed, a bill ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/06/29/amid-senate-chaos-hope-fades-for-a-bill-to-raise-jobless-benefits/ by Sylvia Saunders - New York Teacher NYSUT's Dick Iannuzzi stops in at an after-school program where kindergartners work on math skills. Left, student Genia Reed works with teacher Amy Vargason. Photo by Lauren Long. It's 4:20 p.m. on a Thursday at Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary School in Syracuse and the ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/06/19/achievement-through-community-schools-at-the-heart-of-say-yes-to-education/ By Eliot Brown The Port Authority’s executive director swung back Thursday morning against attacks from Mayor Bloomberg, painting a picture of his agency as a cash-poor entity that already must scale back and scrap major projects including a major renovation at LaGuardia airport and a new midtown bus garage. Earlier this week, ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/06/18/port-authority-chief-fires-back-at-mayor-for-first-time-names-the-names-of-projects-sacrificed-to-wtc-financing/ From Alan B. Lubin, Executive Vice President This correspondence is to reiterate and clarify NYSUT’s position regarding the agreement between the Governor and various other statewide unions, as well as the potential impact of this agreement as it may apply to the public pension benefits available to all future public employees. NYSUT ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/06/18/a-message-from-nysut-to-the-nys-legislatur/ BALCONY will host a June 18th Breakfast Forum featuring a keynote speech by Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward. Ward will describe and discuss the capital plan that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is currently implementing. This will be followed by a panel discussion ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/06/11/roads-bridges-tunnels-and-fiber-balcony-hosts-june-18th-forum-featuring-port-authority-executive-director-chris-ward/ Now is the time for Albany to step up on Health Reform. Help young people get access to health insurance. Assembly A 8401 Senate 5469: Summary and Information On October 27, 2008, BALCONY, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, DEMOS, FREELANCERS UNION and NYU WAGNER ALUMNI ASSOCIATION held a special forum on the ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/06/08/balcony-american-cancer-society-urge-albany-back-health-insurance-for-thousands-of-young-adults-community-rating-should-be-preserved-extend-cobra-to-36-months/ by Joan GrallaNew York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday said he opposed the governor's plan to cap property taxes because it was "undemocratic" and could require the city to pay for the extra costs that result. Outside New York City, property taxes are the main way that counties, cities and ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/06/08/new-york-city-mayor-dont-cap-state-property-tax/ by James M. Odato and Rick Karlin, Capitol bureauALBANY -- Gov. David Paterson and public employee unions are closing in on a deal to avoid the governor's proposed 8,700 layoffs. Under the preliminary plan, the state would provide $20,000 "buyouts" to workers who voluntarily leave the payroll, people briefed on ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/06/04/799/ by Manny FernandezTwo seemingly like-minded political allies — labor unions and nonprofit developers of lower-cost housing — have taken opposing sides in Albany over a bill that would require the developers to pay construction workers the prevailing wage, essentially a union-level wage far higher than nonunion pay. The developers, many of ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/06/02/sparring-in-albany-over-raising-wages-to-build-lower-cost-housing/ Written by Administrator Wednesday, 20 May 2009 New York State AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes today issued this statement following the state’s passage of Extended Unemployment Benefits (A8273/S4110): Thanks to leadership from the Obama Administration, New York State has now added an additional 13 weeks of extended unemployment ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/06/01/nys-afl-cio-president-hughes-on-state-unemployment-insurance-legislation-nys-inaction-means-benefit-level-remains-lowest-in-nation/ Report Contains 27 Major Recommendations to Help Create Jobs, Generate Economic Activity, Benefit Colleges and Universities across New York State Governor Calls for Creation of State Asset Maximization Board to Provide Oversight Process for Potential Public-Private Partnerships Governor David A. Paterson today accepted the final report from the New York State Commission ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/06/01/new-york-state-commission-on-asset-maximization-delivers-final-report-to-governor-paterson/ Tuesday, June 2, 2009 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and a panel of private equity professionals will discuss the Common Retirement Fund's In-State Investment Program that is looking to invest $528 million in New York-based companies, including early stage and growth capital for Upstate New York ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/05/30/balcony-rochester-invites-you-to-attend-a-meeting-with-nys-comptroller-tom-dinapoli/ by Thomas J. Mackell, Jr., Ed.D. We are going through an incredibly frightening environment permeated by muddled objectives, conflicts of interest and what has been characterized as a “legacy of misplaced priorities.” The world’s financial system has collapsed and global central banks are faced with new, unproven strategies to deal effectively with ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/05/28/retirement-income-security-the-oxymoron/ by James T. Madore Gov. David A. Paterson is unlikely to resort to widespread layoffs of state workers this summer to cut about 8,900 jobs, despite the tough talk between him and labor leaders. The Budget Division said last week the state payroll had shrunk by around 1,200 positions since the job-cutting ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/05/27/770/ By RANDI WEINGARTEN MOST of us who backed the 2002 law that gives the mayor control of the city's schools believed that it would bring stability, accountability and cohesion to the system. We still believe there is promise in that model, and we want to see the law, which expires next ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/05/22/mayoral-control-20/ By Glenn Blain More bad news out of Albany: The state's projected budget gap could more than double to nearly $6 billion by the start of next year's budget. Gov. Paterson said Wednesday he's bracing for a more than $3 billion shortfall in state revenues this year, which would come on top ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/05/22/states-budget-gap-could-hit-6-billion-by-next-year-says-governor-paterson-read-more-states-budget-gap-could-hit-6-billion-by-next-year-says-governor-paterson/ Thank you to those who attended the Business and Labor Coalition of New York's BALCONY - Rochester, Health Care Forum on May 1st and to those who showed their support in seeking to reform New York's health care system. BALCONY, in cooperation with the American Cancer Society, National Federation of ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/05/21/balcony-rochester-health-care-forum-report/ Package Includes Proposals to Extend the Availability of COBRA Coverage for New Yorkers Who Lose Their Jobs and to Insure Dependents Up to Age 29 Other Proposals Will Make Insurance and Needed Health Services More Accessible Governor David A. Paterson today announced legislation that will introduce several new initiatives to make health ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/05/18/governor-paterson-introduces-legislation-to-make-health-insurance-more-affordable-and-improve-access-to-health-care/ A coalition including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN) and nine other organizations today launched a nationwide television advertising campaign that links fixing health care to fixing the economy and urges Congress to take immediate action to reform health care for the millions ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/05/17/relay-for-life/ By Valerie BaumanALBANY, N.Y. - Gov. David Paterson wants to make health care more affordable and accessible by requiring health insurers to get state approval before raising premiums. The proposal, now before the Legislature, would require companies to seek approval for increases through state Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo. Currently the state's ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/05/15/ny-proposes-changes-to-health-insurance-regulation/ by Glenn BlainALBANY - The state Assembly gave its approval to same-sex marriage Tuesday night but the issue's fate in New York remains uncertain. "What we are doing is legislating civil, and I do mean civil rights," said Assemblyman Matthew Tittone, a Staten Island Democrat who is gay. "I am not ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/05/13/state-assembly-says-okay-to-gay-marriage-fate-rests-with-senate/ New York, NY According to mayor Michael Bloomberg and council speaker Christine Quinn, one of the world's most comprehensive packages of legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing government, commercial, and residential buildings has been launched. A six-point plan, when enacted as part of PlaNYC, will reduce the city's ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/05/12/mayor-bloomberg-and-speaker-quinn-unveil-package-legislation/ A new report from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials ranked the condition of New York’s major roads as 43rd in the nation. The study measured the vibration of cars while driving on the country’s major roads, but did not factor in traffic or potholes. In New ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2009/05/11/684/