Martucci launches re-election campaign and more

What's new in the Upper Delaware Region January 20 to 26

Posted 1/18/22

What's new in the Upper Delaware Region January 20 to 26

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Martucci launches re-election campaign and more

What's new in the Upper Delaware Region January 20 to 26

Posted

Martucci launches re-election campaign

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — New York State Senator Mike Martucci (R-42) announced the start of his re-election campaign through a recorded message released on January 13. In 2020, Sen. Martucci was elected to his first term, representing the 42nd Senate District, comprised of all of Sullivan County and parts of Delaware, Orange and Ulster counties.

“I promised I would stand up for our communities, protect local jobs and promote economic growth, and on all that, I delivered,” said Martucci. His top priorities for the coming year include eliminating the state’s “failed and dangerous bail reform,” and requiring the state to pay all costs associated with the Farm Labor Bill of 2019.

Rep. Delgado votes to advance voting rights bill

WASHINGTON, DC — On January 14, Rep. Antonio Delgado (NY-19) voted to send the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act to the Senate for urgent consideration. This bill seeks to clean up Washington, protect and expand voting rights, restore integrity to government, and put the needs and priorities of the American people ahead of special interests, he said.

“The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act will help ensure our government is elected by the people and works for the people,” said. Delgado. “As elected officials, it is our duty to protect, strengthen and grow our democracy. From anti-corruption measures to increased voter protections, this legislation honors the lifelong commitment of civil rights leaders like John Lewis, who fought tirelessly to empower all Americans and restore our fundamental right to vote. I am calling on the Senate to immediately consider this essential bill.”

Key provisions of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act include establishing an online and automatic voter registration system, making Election Day a federal work holiday, requiring all states to allow early voting and prohibiting states from restricting the ability to vote by mail.

State funds going to county’s fire training facility

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther announced the state approval of a $250,000 grant to rehab the county’s heavily-used fire training tower and to build an adjacent equipment storage facility. The funds come from the Dormitory Authority of New York’s State and Municipal Facilities Assistance Program, which will reimburse the county for up to $250,000 of an estimated $304,000 project.

There are two parts. In the first, $55,000 will go to address deterioration and make upgrades to the fire training tower at the emergency operations center in Swan Lake, which is used by the bureau of fire to teach local firefighters how to properly battle structure fires. In the second part, $195,000 will go to build a pole barn on the same property, to be used for storage, because the the existing garage on the site is at capacity. The county will contribute $54,000 worth of in-kind services (labor and materials) and that has been  allocated in the 2022 budget.

Gov. Wolf vetoes anti-RGGI resolution

HARRISBURG, PA — On January 10, Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed and disapproved Senate Concurrent Regulatory Review Resolution 1, which would have disabled the commonwealth’s opportunity to enter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). This initiative, according to a news release, would have effectively achieved climate goals and reduced carbon emissions.

According to https://rggi.org, the RGGI is a cooperative, market-based effort among the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia to cap and reduce CO2 emissions from the power sector. It represents the first cap-and-invest regional initiative implemented in the United States.

“I am vetoing, disapproving and returning the concurrent resolution because Final Form Regulation 7-559 is a vital step for Pennsylvania to reduce carbon emissions and achieve our climate goals,” said Wolf. “Addressing the global climate crisis is one of the most important and critical challenges we face.”

Free COVID-19 testing site in Pike County

BLOOMING GROVE, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Health will offer free drive-through COVID-19 testing at the Pike County Training Center, from January 18 through 29, Tuesdays through Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. No appointment is necessary. No prescription is necessary.

The Pike County Training Center is located at 135 Pike County Boulevard, in Lords Valley.

Testing is on a first-come, first-served basis and is completely free to all patients. Patients must be ages three and older and are not required to show symptoms of COVID-19 in order to be tested. Up to 450 patients can be tested per day. Mid-nasal passage swab PCR tests will be performed. Patients are encouraged to bring a photo ID. Registration will be completed on-site. The turnaround time for testing results is two to seven days after testing.

Sullivan County COVID-19 test report portal opens

LIBERTY, NY — To meet exponentially rising demand for COVID-19 isolation and quarantine affirmation/release forms, Sullivan County Public Health Services debuted a new test reporting portal for public use on January 12.

The forms can be found at https://www.sullivanny.us/Departments/Publichealth/Coronavirus/Attestation.

For those who have tested positive for COVID-19, an Isolation Affirmation form is required and can be obtained via email by reporting test results to the public health department on the above page. For those who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, a Quarantine Affirmation form is required and can be filled out, downloaded and printed from the above page.

Both forms can be used as proof of isolation/quarantine with local employers, school districts and other appropriate authorities. Any submitted information will be kept confidential.

Firefighter death in line of duty

FORESTBURGH, NY — The officer and members of the Forestburgh Fire District announced with regret the death of assistant chief William J. Steinberg while operating at a mutual aid structure fire on January 15.

The dates and times for the service are pending.

Thoughts and prayers go out to William J. Steinberg’s family and the members of the Forestburgh Fire Company.

Mike Martucci, re-election, Antonio Delgado, voting rights, fire training tower, grant, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Pennsylvania, COVID-19, Pike County, testing facility, test reporting portal, Sullivan County, Isolation Affirmation form, Quarantine Affirmation form, Forestburgh Fire District, William J. Steinberg, structure fire

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