Change was the post-election word of the day Wednesday, and not just on the federal level.
For the first time in more than 40 years, Democrats have taken a majority in the state Senate. While the two senators representing Cayuga County were re-elected, the changing of the legislative guard could translate to changes in the way local projects and issues receive funding.
Local officials say they will be watching to see if the new Senate changes priorities for funding. But both of the local senators are saying the economic issues at hand will put political posturing on the back burner.
County Manager Wayne Allen, who worked in the state Assembly in the 1990s, said the majority party in the Legislature receives the bulk of staff support and funding. Minority members do not have the same access to member items and other funds, he said.
“That is going to be an interesting dynamic, to see how the money is dispersed,” Allen said. “The Democrats will now set and establish the agenda.”
The shift in power puts each of Cayuga County's representatives in a new position. David Valesky, a Democrat who holds the 49th Senate District seat, finds himself in the majority for the first time since he took office.
Republican Michael Nozzolio, the 54th District senator who has long been able to secure state grants and funds for local projects, will be a minority party member for the first time in more than 15 years. Just this month, he announced a $400,000 grant to help bring a major cheese manufacturing facility to Aurelius. On Thursday, Auburn City Council accepted a $35,000 grant to help the city buy a green command vehicle for the fire department.
“The shift in the Senate is a big one,” Allen said.
But Valesky said this week that it is too soon to start looking at some of the “specifics” of office budgets and member items. When one party controls a legislative body for 40 years, it takes some transition time to work these things out, he said.
Valesky said his priorities will not change whether he is in the minority or majority party. He still plans to work on revitalizing the upstate economy, which he said takes bipartisan cooperation.
“The way you return the Empire State to its prominence is to work as one New York, collectively, in moving the entire state forward,” he said. “I have always believed that the best government is the government where Democrats and Republicans work together to solve the major issues.”
Perhaps the most major of those issues facing the Senate is a faltering economy, which Nozzolio says takes priority over any political wrangling concerning who gets to secure state grants and funding for local projects.
The state receives 20 percent of its revenue from a faltering Wall Street, Nozzolio said. Parties and political affiliations will have to work together to find a solution and get the state economy back on track, he said.
“Right now, the crisis requires a hard-nosed look at budgetary circumstances,” Nozzolio said. “I believe the focus must be on how does the state appropriately meet this crisis.”
The Democrat-Republican shift has been complicated in recent days over a group downstate senators who some say could defect on certain issues to the Republican side of the aisle. If that happens, the Republicans could still hold a voting majority in the Senate.
However, recent reports have indicated that Gov. David Paterson and other state Democrats have found compromises to keep the senators from defecting.
No matter who has the majority in the Legislature, Auburn City Manager Mark Palesh said it is his job to remain neutral and work with those in power for the benefit of the city.
The city has worked frequently with Nozzolio, whose district covers most of Auburn, and also has worked with other local representatives for support, Palesh said.
As the state tightens its belt in response to a weakening economy, the city will have to focus its energy on projects that stress regionalization and consolidation, as well as green energy, he continued. Palesh said he believes from listening to Paterson in recent months that these are the types of projects that will still receive state support.
“I think we have presented a lot of projects that have a great impact on our community and the community as a whole,” Palesh said. “If we're consistent, I believe the governor and Legislature will be consistent in helping us.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext.
Local officials say they will be watching to see if the new Senate changes priorities for funding. But both of the local senators are saying the economic issues at hand will put political posturing on the back burner.
County Manager Wayne Allen, who worked in the state Assembly in the 1990s, said the majority party in the Legislature receives the bulk of staff support and funding. Minority members do not have the same access to member items and other funds, he said.
“That is going to be an interesting dynamic, to see how the money is dispersed,” Allen said. “The Democrats will now set and establish the agenda.”
The shift in power puts each of Cayuga County's representatives in a new position. David Valesky, a Democrat who holds the 49th Senate District seat, finds himself in the majority for the first time since he took office.
Republican Michael Nozzolio, the 54th District senator who has long been able to secure state grants and funds for local projects, will be a minority party member for the first time in more than 15 years. Just this month, he announced a $400,000 grant to help bring a major cheese manufacturing facility to Aurelius. On Thursday, Auburn City Council accepted a $35,000 grant to help the city buy a green command vehicle for the fire department.
“The shift in the Senate is a big one,” Allen said.
But Valesky said this week that it is too soon to start looking at some of the “specifics” of office budgets and member items. When one party controls a legislative body for 40 years, it takes some transition time to work these things out, he said.
Valesky said his priorities will not change whether he is in the minority or majority party. He still plans to work on revitalizing the upstate economy, which he said takes bipartisan cooperation.
“The way you return the Empire State to its prominence is to work as one New York, collectively, in moving the entire state forward,” he said. “I have always believed that the best government is the government where Democrats and Republicans work together to solve the major issues.”
Perhaps the most major of those issues facing the Senate is a faltering economy, which Nozzolio says takes priority over any political wrangling concerning who gets to secure state grants and funding for local projects.
The state receives 20 percent of its revenue from a faltering Wall Street, Nozzolio said. Parties and political affiliations will have to work together to find a solution and get the state economy back on track, he said.
“Right now, the crisis requires a hard-nosed look at budgetary circumstances,” Nozzolio said. “I believe the focus must be on how does the state appropriately meet this crisis.”
The Democrat-Republican shift has been complicated in recent days over a group downstate senators who some say could defect on certain issues to the Republican side of the aisle. If that happens, the Republicans could still hold a voting majority in the Senate.
However, recent reports have indicated that Gov. David Paterson and other state Democrats have found compromises to keep the senators from defecting.
No matter who has the majority in the Legislature, Auburn City Manager Mark Palesh said it is his job to remain neutral and work with those in power for the benefit of the city.
The city has worked frequently with Nozzolio, whose district covers most of Auburn, and also has worked with other local representatives for support, Palesh said.
As the state tightens its belt in response to a weakening economy, the city will have to focus its energy on projects that stress regionalization and consolidation, as well as green energy, he continued. Palesh said he believes from listening to Paterson in recent months that these are the types of projects that will still receive state support.
“I think we have presented a lot of projects that have a great impact on our community and the community as a whole,” Palesh said. “If we're consistent, I believe the governor and Legislature will be consistent in helping us.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext.
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