MAYVILLE, NY -- We Won! For the past 4 years, I have worked to find a way to strengthen and revitalize our communities by working to reduce the desolation and blight caused by vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent residential and commercial properties. On Thursday, May 17, 2012, the hard work and the countless hours put into solving this ... Read More

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, NY -- Sale of the County Home County Home is the Right Move. Chautauqua County is on the right track in moving toward the eventual sale of the County Home in Dunkirk. The facility has come a long way since its establishment as a “Poor House” in the 1830’s. For many decades it has been a nursing home, and for over 25 years ... Read More

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, NY -- State Budget Moves Toward Fiscal Responsibility. For the second year in a row, New York State is beginning the fiscal year with an on-time budget that controls spending with no new taxes. The budget deal announced by Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver limits ... Read More

Senator Catharine Young (R,I,C – Olean) ALBANY – Although the Senate’s proposal to keep the Dunkirk NRG plant operating is not in the final state budget agreement, Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I-Olean) is continuing her push to resolve the issue. She said she is introducing stand-alone ... Read More

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, NY -- Speak Up Now to Save NRG. The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier are urging all local businesses and residents to make their voice heard to save NRG Energy’s Dunkirk plant. Plans to “mothball” the facility could result in a loss to our region of up to $40-million ... Read More

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, NY -- Chamber Launches 6-Week Membership Drive. Whether you’re organizing an event or advocating for change, the simple fact is that we get more done when we work together. That is the true strength of membership in the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce. Our membership is what allows us to be effective – in networking, ... Read More

ALBANY, NY – “The mothballing of Dunkirk’s NRG Plant with the Public Service Commission today is of grave concern because of the devastating consequences on our region. The loss of high paying jobs, power production, revenues from PILOT agreements, and commerce with local businesses means an annual loss of nearly $40 million in ... Read More

MAYVILLE, NY -- Reducing Transmission Congestion. I have sent a motion to support upgrades of New York State's electrical transmission lines to the Chautauqua County Legislature to review at their January 3, 2012 organizational meeting. The motion calls on New York State to invest in updating our electric transmission lines so electric plants in ... Read More

JAMESTOWN, NY — Methane to Electric Plant Expansion Project Underway On Monday, April 4, 2011, the Chautauqua County broke ground on the expansion of the Methane to Electric Plant at the Chautauqua County Landfill. I was on site with Department of Public Facilities Director George Spanos as EE Austin & Son ... Read More