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1) Governor Spitzer’s Daily Press Releases

2) Governor Spitzer’s Issue Summary of the Day

3) News Dispatch

4) Upstate News Dispatch

5) Blog Roundup

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TODAY’S PRESS RELEASES

GOVERNOR ELIOT SPITZER AND LIEUTENANT GOVENOR DAVID PATERSON ANNOUNCE SUNY NOMINATIONS

Governor Eliot Spitzer and Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson today announced three nominations to the State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees.  Carl T. Hayden has been nominated to serve as Chair and member of the State University of New York Board of Trustees.  H. Carl McCall and Linda Sanford have been nominated to serve as members of the State University of New York Board of Trustees.

http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/0605071.html

REPORTS POINT TO DROP IN CRIME ACROSS NEW YORK STATE

Governor Spitzer and Commissioner of the Division of Criminal Justice Services Denise O’Donnell today released reports indicating that crime rates are largely declining across New York State. According to Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) statistics released today, violent crime outside of New York City is down 13 percent this year. The statistics cover the first three months of 2007.

http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/0605072.html

BROWNFIELDS BILL KEY TO ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION: Goal is to Focus Tax Dollars on Brownfields Clean-up

Governor Eliot Spitzer today proposed legislation that would restructure and improve the state’s brownfields program. If adopted by the State Legislature, it would redirect state tax dollars to provide real incentives for cleanups of brownfields development sites (sites that cannot be developed because of toxic contamination) in order to create “shovel ready” land across the state for development purposes.

http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/0605073.html

GOVERNOR ADVANCE FOOD STAMP INITIATIVE: Spitzer Seeks to Extend Benefits to 100,000 Families

In conjunction with National Hunger Awareness Day, Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced a proposal that would expand access to the Food Stamp Program for low-income working families in New York State.

According to the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), the program, would extend federally funded food stamp benefits to as many as 100,000 additional households, or more than 200,000 people, over the next 18 months.

http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/0605074.html

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ISSUE SUMMARY

BROWNFIELDS

Background Facts:

Press release here: http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/0605073.html

Brownfield site – a site which cannot be developed because of toxic contamination, but is not polluted enough to fall under the Superfund law

The brownfields legislation would:

* Change the existing brownfields tax credit structure to cover the full cost of brownfields remediation while providing additional incentives to encourage development of newly remediated sites. Current law provides tax credits for the construction of buildings on cleaned-up sites and other costs unrelated to clean up

* Change the existing brownfields tax credit structure to cover the full cost of brownfields remediation while providing additional incentives to encourage development of newly remediated sites. Current law provides tax credits for the construction of buildings on cleaned-up sites and other costs unrelated to clean up

* Require that participating parties responsible for contributing to pollution at a site pay a greater percentage of clean-up costs

* Expand reporting requirements by the recipients of the tax credits to provide the state with more accurate data on a more frequent basis

Talking Points:

* This legislation will increase funds necessary for revitalizing blighted areas and Upstate cities through brownfield development.

* This legislation would encourage cleanup and redevelopment by offering dollar for dollar credits for 100% of the cleanup costs.

* The existing program has been under-funded, underutilized, and lacks the controls and incentives necessary to spur growth.  These problems would be fixed by this legislation.

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NY Daily News: SPITZER SEEKS FOOD STAMP OVERHAUL

Gov. Spitzer is to announce an overhaul of the state food stamp program today with the goal of signing up another 100,000 families - or 220,000 people - by the end of next year. The new plan lifts some restrictions that might otherwise keep working families from collecting the subsidy, including removing the fingerprint requirement for applicants and allowing those with healthy savings accounts to collect food stamps. Currently, applicants with more than $2,000 in the bank are rejected unless they are disabled. Spitzer also is proposing to accept applications from working families on the telephone instead of requiring face-to-face interviews. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/06/05/2007-06-05_govs_healthy_overhaul_of_food_stamps.html

NY Newsday: NEW N.Y. LAW PROTECTS INTERNET PURCHASES

Consumers making purchases over the Internet now will have the same protections as those who order by mail or telephone under a bill signed into law by Spitzer. The measure, championed by Attorney General Cuomo and sponsored by state Sen. Charles Fuschillo (R-Merrick), stipulates that online orders be shipped within 30 days or be subject to cancellation and a full refund or substitute merchandise. Retailers also are required to clearly identify their legal name, address and refund procedures, and to keep records of consumer complaints that may be used by the attorney general in a future legal case. http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-stinte055243324jun05,0,5008397.story?coll=ny-statenews-headlines

NY Times: SCHUMER WANTS TIGHTER U.S ENERGY EFFICIENCY RULES

Sen. Schumer calls for federal regulations requiring states and municipalities to update building codes to increase energy efficiency. He says increasing energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings is one of the quickest and most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gases and energy consumption. The measure, to be introduced next week as an amendment to the Senate energy bill, would penalize cities and states that fail to adopt energy-efficient standards. Schumer says the amendment aims to bring the country in line with California and New York City standards.  http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/05/nyregion/05mbrfs-energy.html

NY Times: NEW YORK STILL SAFEST U.S. BIG CITY - BLOOMBERG

Crime fell 5.3 percent in New York City last year, and New York is still the safest big city in the United States, Mayor Bloomberg announces, citing latest FBI statistics. Police Commissioner  Raymond Kelly says crime has fallen an additional 8.5 percent in the first several months of this year. Nationwide, crime increased 1.3 percent last year, according to the FBI report. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/05/nyregion/05mbrfs-crime.html

AP: NEW STATE LAW LETS VIOLENCE VICTIMS END LEASES

A new law allows domestic violence victims who feel unsafe in their apartments to ask a judge to terminate their leases. Gov. Spitzer signed the bill into law on Monday. http://www.silive.com/newsflash/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-22/1180991349142420.xml&storylist=simetro

NY Times: ADIRONDACKS ALARMED BY BUSH MONITORING CUTBACKS

The Adirondack Council wants New York's congressional delegation to resist plans by President Bush to close some air monitoring programs. The Council and its congressional allies fought off similar threats in 1996 and 2000. The air pollution monitoring programs are used in the battle against acid rain, which remains a serious problem in the Adirondacks. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/05/nyregion/05mbrfs-acidrain.html

Albany Times Union: SPITZER: SHUTTING DOWN ‘THE BOX’ TOO COSTLY

Spitzer is trying to kill a bill that would end the state's practice of confining mentally ill prisoners in solitary cells called 'the box,' telling senators it would be so costly two prisons would have to be closed. The warning memo from the governor's Division of the Budget comes as the Assembly and Senate are ready to pass a bill to ban the practice for state prisoners with severe psychiatric disabilities. The measure passed last year but was vetoed by then-Gov. Pataki. http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=595225&category=STATE&newsdate=6/5/2007

NY Sun: DEMOCRAT PUSHES WAL-MART ON PORT SCANNING

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler  will lead a push today to convince retail giant Wal-Mart to end its opposition to scanning 100% of port container that enter the country. Nadler, who his scheduled to appear in Lower Manhattan with union leaders and representatives from the anti- Wal-Mart group WakeUpWalMart, is one of 30 members of Congress supporting the initiative, including Sens. Clinton, Obama, and Schumer.  http://www.nysun.com/article/55913

Crain’s NY Business: RITE AID BOWS TO CUOMO, TO SELL 26 STORES

Rite Aid Corp., which on Monday closed a nearly $4 billion cash-and-stock deal to acquire more than 1,850 Brooks and Eckerd stores, must sell 26 stores, including eight in New York, under a settlement reached with Attorney General Cuomo. He said an investigation found that consumers might not have been getting the best prices on some prescriptions because Rite Aid and Eckerd stores were the only chain drug stores available for cash payments in some parts of the state. http://www.crainsny.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070604/FREE/70604014

Albany Times Union: NO CHARGES YET  FROM PROSECUTORS - BRUNO

Bruno says  prosecutors have yet to accuse him of anything, but does not deny Times Union report that he acquired two mares from politically connected multimillionaire Earle Mack. The mares produced three foals that were sold as yearlings for $425,000, including one purchased from Bruno at auction by Mack for $105,000. http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=595186&category=STATE&newsdate=6/5/2007

NY Times: RACETRACK CASINOS WANT LOWER TAXES FROM ALBANY

for the third time since the state approved video lottery terminals six years ago, the operators of the state’s eight racetrack casinos are in Albany fighting to lower the state’s effective tax rate on their revenues — a sliding scale from 60 to 70 percent that is the highest in the nation. The operators say they do not make enough money to pay for the promotions needed to attract gamblers and compete with Indian casinos or gambling operations in surrounding states. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/05/nyregion/05racinos.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin

Kingston Freeman: SPITZER OFFERS CAHILL STATE SUPREME COURT SLOT

Spitzer offers Christopher Cahill of Ulster the vacant state Supreme Court Seat formerly held by the late Justice Vincent Bradley. Cahill was Bradley’s principle law clerk for more than 21 years and one of 11 Ulster County attorneys who applied for the gubernatorial appointment in January. 'I didn't hesitate to say yes,' Cahill says. http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18425619&BRD=1769&PAG=461&dept_id=74969&rfi=6

AFP, AP: DEMS SIGNAL GOP: RELIGIOUS VOTE UP FOR GRABS

After baring their souls in a live television confessional, top Democratic White House hopefuls have put Republicans on notice that religious voters are up for grabs. Roman Catholic John Kerry was reticent to speak openly about religion, but this year's crop of candidates signal they will not make the same mistake in a nation which wears its religion on its sleeve. At a forum sponsored by the liberal Sojourners/Call to Renewal evangelical organization, Sen. Clinton speaks openly about how her faith sustained her during the public anguish of her husband's affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. ''I am very grateful that I had a grounding in faith that gave me the courage and the strength to do what I thought was right, regardless of what the world thought,'' Clinton says. She adds that she is a ''practicing Methodist who attends church as often as possible.'' The crowd gasps when CNN’s Soledad O'Brien asks John Edwards to name the biggest sin he ever committed. Edwards wins applause when he responds: ''I sin every single day ... We are all sinners and we all fall short.'' http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070605/pl_afp/usvote2008democrats_070605132731,  http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-democrats-religion,0,5773414.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, asked by AP about his faith, answers: ''The mayor's personal relationship with God is private and between him and God.' (no link)

USA TODAY: NEW POLL SEES HILLARY, OBAMA TIED

Clinton and Obama are essentially tied for the Democratic presidential nomination, according to a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, the first in which the New York senator hasn't clearly led the field. Obama bests Clinton by a single percentage point, 30%-29%, if the contest includes former vice president Al Gore, while Clinton bests Obama by a single point, 37%-36%, if it doesn't include Gore. The survey of 310 Democrats and 160 independents who 'lean' Democratic was taken Friday through Sunday and has a margin of error of  plus or minus 5 percentage points. http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-06-04-poll_N.htm?csp=34

HARRIS POLL: VOTERS NOT LEAPING ON GIULIANI BANDWAGON

Former New York City Mayor Giuliani may be leading the race for the Republican nomination, but just one-third of adults say they would vote for him if he was the nominee while 40 percent would not and 24%)are not sure. Just half of conservatives would vote for him while 26%would not and 21 percent are not sure. Three in five  Republicans would vote for him but 17 percent would not and 22% are not sure, according to the Harris Poll of 2,383 U.S. adults conducted online between May 8 and 14. (press release, no link)

AP: WYOMING LAWMAKER DIES, WON’T CHANGE SENATE BALANCE

Sen. Craig Thomas, 74, a conservative Republican from Wyoming, has died after a fight with leukemia that was diagnosed last year just as he was elected for a third term. In accordance with state law, Gov. Dave Freudenthal, a Democrat, will appoint a successor from one of three finalists chosen by the state Republican party. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070605/ap_on_go_co/obit_thomas;_ylt=Ag0qlOApDZmzOwyJBQy8yyNp24cA

NY POST; SPITZER BACKS SUNY PROFESSOR'S HIGH PAY

Gov. Spitzer, who is paid $179,000 a year, defends the high salary the state is paying SUNY nanotech scientist Alain Kaloyeros. 'The administration stands behind Kaloyeros, who has served as the catalyst for the Sematech project,' Spitzer press secretary Christine Anderson says, referring to a massive, Albany-based, private computer-chip-manufacturing center that operates in conjunction with the Nanoscale College. SUNY spokesman David Henrahan credits Kaloyeros for being 'instrumental in attracting' some $3.5 billion in investments at the Albany NanoTech Complex, adjacent to the Nanoscale College. The New York Post, which says Kaloyeros is the highest-paid state worker at $666,995 a year, reports on Tuesday that besides his huge state salary, Kaloyeros receives nearly $272,000 in additional salary and almost $10,000 in fringe benefits for a variety of Nanoscale-related research projects, bringing his total pay to $947,538. http://www.nypost.com/seven/06052007/news/regionalnews/million__professor_regionalnews_fredric_u__dicker.htm

                                                        - Irwin Arieff

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Albany:
1.  Tangling with the past for one more political go-around
First published: Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Troy politics, what goes around goes around, and around, and around.
Democrat Jim Conroy is looking to displace Republican Mayor Harry Tutunjian this fall, and insiders give him a better than fighting chance. Jim Conroy should be a familiar name to just about any long-term resident of Schenectady or Troy.
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=595202&category=REGIONOTHER&BCCode=LOCAL&newsdate=6/5/2007

2.  Bruno says he's yet to be accused
Senator criticizes report in Times Union regarding FBI investigation
 By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau
First published: Tuesday, June 5, 2007
ALBANY -- Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno refused Monday to add much insight into new reports on the FBI investigation into his business dealings, saying prosecutors have yet to accuse him of anything.
Asked by reporters about stories that appeared in the Times Union on Sunday, Bruno said he won't discuss matters that appear in the Capital Region daily.
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=595186&category=STATE&BCCode=&newsdate=6/5/2007


Binghamton / Elmira:  
1.      Arcuri to hold office hours
Congressman Michael A. Arcuri, D-Utica, will hold mobile office hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Fenton Town Hall, 44 Park Street, Port Crane.
Robert Messinger, Arcuri’s caseworker and field representative for Broome, Tioga, Cortland and Tompkins counties, will be available to assist constituents on issues involving the federal government.
Constituents with specific issues are advised to call 756-2470 to make an appointment.


Buffalo:
1. Slaughter predicts passport failure
‘No way’ deadline of Jan. 1 can be met
By Robert J. McCarthy NEWS POLITICAL REPORTER
Updated: 06/05/07 7:09 AM
 The Bush administration’s proposed requirement for passports to cross the U.S. border from Canada will not meet a Jan. 1 deadline and may never be implemented by a new administration, Rep. Louise M. Slaughter predicted Monday in Buffalo.
The Fairport Democrat called the idea “one of the biggest mistakes I think they’ve made — among many” and said there is “no way” the Department of Homeland Security can meet a Jan. 1 target when it hasn’t even determined whether it will require passports or ultimately settle on some other form of identification.
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/91343.html

2. 2 from GOP to run with Democrats
Party announces list of candidates for Niagara County Legislature races
By Thomas J. Prohaska - NEWS NIAGARA BUREAU
Updated: 06/05/07 7:07 AM
 LOCKPORT — Two registered Republicans and a former Democratic Party chairman are included on the list of Niagara County Legislature candidates endorsed by the Democratic Party.
The lineup, disclosed Monday by county Democratic Chairman Daniel Rivera, includes Charles F. Dahlquist, a Republican voting machine custodian in the Town of Lockport, running against current 17th District incumbent Richard E. Updegrove, the leader of the GOP majority.
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/niagaracounty/story/91487.html

3. Village of Albion mayor charged with DWI in crash
 ALBION — The mayor of the Village of Albion was charged with driving while intoxicated following a crash late Sunday night in the Town of Albion, Orleans County sheriff’s officials reported.
Michael A. Hadick, 37, of