Transportation and aid news

Northeast Pennsylvania’s federal representative Matt Cartwright has announced that the recently passed American Rescue Plan will bring an estimated $270 million in funding to school districts throughout his region. The estimate comes from the Congressional Research Service, however, the final grant amounts are subject to change, based on allocations through the PA Department of Education. According to the congressional estimates, the Wallenpaupack Area School district stands to receive more than 4 million dollars in funding, and Wayne Highlands could get more than 6 million.

Pennsylvania lawmakers are opposing plans to impose tolls on nine major bridges across the commonwealth. Back in 2012, the General Assembly passed legislation that delegated such transportation decisions to appointees of the governor. But now state senators want that control back. Wayne and Pike counties’ Sen. Lisa Baker is one of those lawmakers supporting a bill that would place oversight on the commonwealth’s public-private transportation partnership. The legislation would void the prospective bridge tolls, and make similar projects subject to legislative approval.

In other transportation news, Wayne County is officially opposing a new 10-ton weight limit on the Owego Turnpike. The Turnpike is a major bypass artery for local truck traffic, and the county says this weight limit will redirect traffic, increase congestion and cause safety risks on the main roads.

Cuomo and COVID-19 relief

With the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress and signed by President Biden, Sullivan County’s federal representative Antonio Delgado is saying that his formula for local aid will bring more than $400 million dollars to local governments throughout the 19th Congressional District. According to his office, the Sullivan County government can expect to receive nearly $15 million in funding. Sullivan County manager Josh Potosek said these federal dollars will help with state funding shortfalls, expecting up to a 10 percent decrease.

The New York State Assembly announced late on Thursday that it is launching an impeachment investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Six women have now come forward accusing Cuomo of behavior ranging from making inappropriate comments to aggressively groping an aid at the governor’s mansion last year. Cuomo has claimed that he’s never touched anybody inappropriately and chalked up his comments as failed attempts at humor. The New York Attorney General has said that the legislative investigation will have no bearing on its own independent look at the governor’s actions. State Republicans are criticizing the assembly’s decision to investigate, demanding an immediate impeachment trial. State Senator Mike Martucci is among those voices, saying that there’s nothing left to investigate and that it’s time to impeach the governor now.

And the Callicoon Business Association has signed a long-term lease with the Central New York Railroad Corporation, intending to turn the Callicoon train station into a new visitor center.