Fall Showcases New York Agriculture
Oct 6, 2011
While many of us are wondering what happened to the summer, fall has arrived here in the North Country. The leaves are changing, the days and nights are cooler, and Halloween is just around the corner. But what’s best about fall in Northern New York...
Assemblyman Blankenbush Recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Sep 21, 2011
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and since the program began in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older and breast cancer deaths have declined.
This is good progress, but still there are women who do not take...
Assemblyman Blankenbush Advises Constituents Of Rescheduled Town Hall Meeting
Sep 1, 2011
Due to Primary Day, my town hall meeting with Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb has been rescheduled for Monday, October 17 from 6:30 - 8 pm. The location has also changed to the Lowville Municipal Building, 5535 Bostwick St., Lowville.
For the first...
Back to School Time is Near: Remember School Bus Safety Laws and Guidelines
Aug 24, 2011
It’s hard to believe that summer is nearly over and children will be heading back to school in just a few weeks. With that in mind, I want to take this opportunity to remind motorists about school bus safety guidelines and laws.
With school buses...
Solution To Stopping The Brain Drain: Create More Private Sector Jobs & Opportunities
Aug 16, 2011
We often hear people talking about the “brain drain” in upstate New York: the mass exodus of our state’s youngest and brightest leaving for other destinations where there are better business opportunities. This “brain drain” hurts our state...
Thanks To Taxpayers Like You, Albany Has Finally Begun To Change Course… Attend my town hall meeting and let your voice be heard
Aug 11, 2011
For the first time in a long time, the Albany bureaucrats listened – and New York has an on-time State Budget. The enacted spending plan was far from perfect – it involved tough, painful choices that began a long overdue process of reforming Albany’s...
Another Anti-Business Policy From Albany
Aug 3, 2011
With the recent enactment of the Real Property Tax Cap and the launch of the Regional Economic Development Councils, New York state is once again in a position to craft an economic development plan that creates jobs and puts unemployed New Yorkers back...
New York State’s Prosperity Depends on Reform
Jul 27, 2011
Much of the news the past few weeks has been dominated by the back-and-forth debate going on in Washington about raising the nation’s debt limit vs. passing real spending cuts and reform programs to balance the federal budget. As expected, much of these...
23rd Congressional District Should Remain Whole To Protect North Country Constituents’ Interests
Jul 21, 2011
For more than 30 years, the 11 northern counties in New York State that comprise the North Country have, in some combination, been part of a single congressional district. This North Country district that runs from Oswego County to Clinton County and...
Legislative Session Nears End; Positive Steps Taken to Reform Albany
Jun 17, 2011
As I write to you, my first legislative session as your assemblyman will be coming to a close in a few days, and I am pleased to see the positive steps Albany is taking to reform the way the Legislature does business. From reducing the state’s bloated...
June is Dairy Month: Raise a Glass of Milk to Our Hardworking Dairy Farm Families
Jun 3, 2011
Dairy Month, an annual celebration of dairy foods, farmers, and the industry, began in 1937 as a way to help distribute extra milk when cows started pasturing in the summer months. Today, Dairy Month continues, with communities, companies and people from...
Return of the “Success Tax” Could Endanger New York’s Economic Recovery
May 26, 2011
Despite all the talk of newfound fiscal responsibility in state government, the reality is that for certain liberal legislators and special interest groups, fiscal responsibility means tax hikes. Judging by their recent actions, these folks will not stop...
Assemblyman Blankenbush Encourages You to Buy Local
May 13, 2011
Here, in Northern New York, we are lucky to have an abundance of fresh and local products, especially during the spring, summer and fall months. From strawberries and sweet corn, to whole wheat flour and maple syrup, the opportunities to buy local products...
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Apr 15, 2011
Recently, in the news, we’ve seen and heard the disturbing incidents of abuse inflicted on children. While these stories are heartbreaking, they also serve to remind us what we all can do to ensure these tragedies do not happen again.
April is...
Volunteer Firefighters and First Responders Save Lives and Save Taxpayers’ Money
Apr 7, 2011
We owe volunteer emergency service providers a great debt of gratitude for all of the hard work that they do. Almost 85 percent of all firefighters in New York participate on a volunteer basis. There also are over 57,000 certified emergency medical...
Recharge NY: Powering Our Economy Forward
Apr 1, 2011
This year’s state budget process was especially challenging. Legislators and the governor had difficult decisions to make. Cuts had to be made. But, at the same time, we needed to look at what programs were worth investing in to help strengthen our...
Assemblyman Blankenbush Sponsoring Legislation to Benefit ATV Riders, Local Economy
Mar 22, 2011
Now that the snow has finally begun to melt, many of our recreational trails throughout the North Country will no longer be humming with the sounds of snowmobiles, but ATVs instead. ATVs are used by 1.9 million New Yorkers each year and are economically...
March Is a Good Time to Recognize and Celebrate Agriculture
Mar 17, 2011
With spring just around the corner, maple syrup production is in full swing and farmers are busy getting prepared for planting. So it’s fitting that in March we celebrate many agriculture awareness days. From New York State Maple Weekends to Ag Literacy...