Long list of safety improvements at Zoar Valley following decades of death
Family members who have lost loved ones applauded the changes announced Tuesday by the New York State Department of Conservation. Author: Michael Wooten Updated: 8:10 PM EDT May 25, 2021
PERSIA, N.Y. Visitors to Zoar Valley, the popular hiking destination along the Erie/Cattaraugus County line, will notice changes this summer as leaders hope to avoid the deadly accidents we ve seen too many times in the past.
A day before what would have been her late daughter Brooke s 17th birthday, Marla Walker joined other families who lost loved ones in applauding the safety improvements announced Tuesday during a news conference at Zoar Valley.
jwhittaker@post-journal.com
There will be no residential evictions, and limited commercial evictions, in New York state until Aug. 31.
The state Assembly approved A.7175A in an 89-59, largely party line, vote with Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, R-Jamestown, and Assemblyman Joe Giglio, R-Gowanda, both voting against the legislation. The state Senate approved the legislation 42-21, also in a largely party line vote, with state Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, voting against the bill.
The 2021-22 state budget includes $2.3 billion from the federal government to help renters with up to 12 months of rent and utility arrears payments and up to three months prospective rent assistance. Landlords or tenants can begin an application for the money, which is not expected to begin being spent until sometime in May or June.
Apr 26, 2021
The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has acquired the 12.1-mile Pat McGee Trail in Cattaraugus County.
Connecting the city of Salamanca and village of Cattaraugus, the multi-use trail along a former rail bed has connections with the current Finger Lakes Trail and the North Country Trail, which provide links to Allegany State Park in New York State and Allegany National Forest in Pennsylvania.
“This acquisition protects the Pat McGee Trail from any potential for future development, and strengthens the existing greenway network in that region,” said Erik Kulleseid, state parks commissioner. “It guarantees continued public use of the trail and advances the goals of both the statewide Greenway Trails Plan and statewide Open Space Plan, which identified the Pat McGee Trail for public use.”
jwhittaker@post-journal.com
State Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, R-Jamestown, didn’t come out against legal marijuana sales, but is voicing his concerns over aspects of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act.
The legislation (A.1248) passed the Assembly late Tuesday in a 94-56 vote. Goodell and Assemblyman Joe Giglio, R-Gowanda, voted against the Assembly legislation while Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, voted against the legislation in the state Senate. It was signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo early Wednesday.
Goodell said he agreed with Assembly members who decried unequal enforcement of the state’s marijuana possession and sales laws over the past several decades, but said the way to deal with those issues is to focus on making enforcement equal. Goodell specifically took issue with two of the bill’s purposes to decrease illegal sales, the legislation’s inclusion of delivery services and its stated aim to protect youth.
The beauty of legislation to change Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive authority is in the eye of the beholder. Democrats say they have revoked Cuomo’s author