Lawmakers seek to end PA death penalties

HARRISBURG, PA — Democratic Senators Sharif Street and Katie Muth and Rep. Chris Rabb  were joined by advocates on April 30 as they called for ending the death penalty in Pennsylvania.

The lawmakers are introducing legislation in their respective chambers to repeal the penalty that they say is proven to be unsuccessful as a crime deterrent, incredibly costly and a flawed system of punishment.

“The overwhelming cost, disparate application of the death penalty compounded by human error and it’s historically arbitrary and racist implementation in our country make it unfit for any use in an efficient and truly just system,” said Street. “I am proud to join my colleagues in issuing the Death Penalty Repeal Act and bringing an end to a relic of Pennsylvania’s past, with no role in a future of progressive criminal justice reform.”

Since 2010, states that allow the death penalty have experienced an 18% or higher increase in homicide rates compared to states that have abolished the punishment. The increase shows that the threat of a death penalty sentence is no more of a deterrent than not having the penalty.

Since 1978, 408 people have been sentenced to death in Pennsylvania. Of those 408, 169 were resentenced to life, 16 received reduced sentences to a term of years and six have been exonerated. Others wait on death row.

New York cool-water fishing season opens

ALABANY, NY — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced this week that the first Saturday in May marks the beginning of the fishing season for several popular cool-water sport-fish species, including walleye, northern pike, pickerel and tiger muskellunge.

The cool-water conditions of early spring can render walleye and northern pike fishing particularly good, and anglers are encouraged to take advantage of the season’s many opportunities.

“Exceptional fishing opportunities can be found across New York, with many lakes and rivers renowned for abundant walleye and aggressive pike and pickerel,” said Commissioner Seggos. “I encourage all anglers to find the time to enjoy, and share with others, the great fishing that can be found here.”

Delgado talks hate and food hub

RHINEBECK, NY — Congressman Antonio Delgado addressed reporters in a conference call on April 29 to discuss a wide range of topics, including the fatal shooting in a Synagogue in California on April 27.

“There’s no doubt in [my] mind that hate is on the rise. And the way we are communicating as a country, the dialogue that is coming from the highest seat in the land and is also permeating in the halls of Congress, is incredibly divisive, and it’s pitting people against each other. It’s sowing the seeds of hate and division,” Delgado said. “And, when you combine that with the fact that we are still struggling with the problem of gun violence in this country, it is a combustible situation.”

The freshman congressman said also that during his spring break in his home district, he took time to visit the new food hub in Liberty. “I also stopped by the new Catskills Food Hub in Liberty. I talk a lot about the ways we can empower our small, family-owned farms, and figuring out ways to shift away from economies of scale toward economies of cooperation in my estimation is the best way to do that,” he said. “And food hubs are a critically important piece to achieve that work, and it’s nice to see that they’re developing across the district.”

Rep. Fritz pushes Energize PA package

HARRISBURG, PA — Rep. Jonathan Fritz on April 30 joined Speaker of the House Mike Turzai and other colleagues as the House Republican Caucus launched its Energize PA bill package, which Fritz says aims to help create, grow and sustain jobs in the Commonwealth without imposing new fees or taxes on Pennsylvania taxpayers.

As part of this package, Fritz’s legislation, House Bill 1103, is responsible for making grants from the Pipeline Investment Program (PIPE) more readily available to construct the last few miles of natural gas distribution lines to business parks and existing manufacturing and industrial enterprises; accelerate beneficial deployment of low-cost energy; and result in the creation of new economic-base jobs in the Commonwealth, while providing access to natural gas for residents.

“Through our Energize PA bill package, we will provide more job opportunities across the Commonwealth, especially in our rural communities and allow other businesses to further expand and grow our state’s economy,” said Fritz.