Bray: Engaging schools with cities
Engaging our colleges and universities with our communities has been slow in coming.In 2007, a couple of Union College students spoke at a Center for Economic Growth conference and declared, "If...
View ArticleBrodsky: Weighing the tax cut evidence
It won't be easy to put aside the politics of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's huge and defining tax cut package. It dominated the State of the State, and will dominate the next three months of budget...
View ArticleRestore financial aid to school districts at 2009 funding
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's tax relief panel recently made a recommendation to freeze property taxes for the next two years. The cost of this freeze is approximately $2 billion.However, schools and...
View ArticleEditorial: Come clean on crude oil
THE ISSUE:Rail transport of crude oils is on a sharp increase, as are accidents involving the trains.THE STAKES:Measures must be taken to secure Capital Region residents and the environment. A train...
View ArticleExtend life of space station for worldly, worthy research
The following appeared in a New York Times editorial:The Obama administration's decision to extend the International Space Station's time in orbit makes good sense. About $100 billion has been...
View ArticleBrooks: U.S. needs quality in leadership
If you are in politics or public life, you probably had some moment of spine-tingling transcendence. Maybe you read the Declaration of Independence or watched the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s...
View ArticleJennifer Gish: Stereotypes still caught in gridlock
I'm a food-loving, sports-watching, mother of two who loves to run and likes to take my kids to the library.And, of course, none of this means I could be a mastermind who would plot to leave New...
View ArticleEditorial: Mr. Gabryszak's damage
THE ISSUE:An Assembly member says he will resign amid allegations of sexual harassment.THE STAKES:If this is to be more than another sordid case, the Assembly needs to look again at what it does to...
View ArticleDowd: Brouhaha tops this slice of pie
Far be it from me to defend what Jon Stewart has demolished.But I would like to speak up on behalf of the fledgling New York mayor's de Blasphemy, now deemed his first mistake and possibly grounds for...
View ArticlePage: Finding our character in fiction
There's a disconcerting, but wide-sweeping trend making its way onto social media outlets. Maybe you've even participated in it. All over the Internet are these little quizzes you can take to reveal...
View ArticleEditorial: Homeland insecurity
THE ISSUE:Gunplay, speeding and a questionable audit dog the man in charge of state disasters.THE STAKES:An agency with such a grave mission can't afford to be distracted by controversy. The more we...
View ArticleFCC should consider reclassifying broadband services
The following appeared in a New York Times editorial: In a discouraging ruling, a federal appeals court struck down regulations that prohibited phone and cable companies from charging different rates...
View ArticleWiser justice for juveniles
As an advocate for children with mental health and other cross-systems challenges working for more than 24 years securing the rights of children and youth, I was encouraged to hear Gov. Andrew Cuomo's...
View ArticleFriedman: Sharon, the Israeli Everyman
I've always thought that the reason Ariel Sharon was such an enduring presence in Israeli political life is that he personally reflected three of the most important states of mind that the state of...
View ArticleEditorial: A naive plan for invasives
THE ISSUE:New boat-cleaning requirements by the state Department of Environmental Conservation don't go far enough.THE STAKES:Our state's waterways need aggressive action to stem the threat of...
View ArticleConsolidation isn't the answer for state
Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposes to tie future state funding for local tax relief to a requirement that local governments consolidate or enter shared service agreements. His argument is that consolidation...
View ArticlePresident's caution wins public support
The following appeared in a Philadelphia Inquirer editorial:When recent headlines roared that Fallujah had fallen to al-Qaida, the American public became mildly interested, recalling U.S. troops' 2004...
View ArticleRex Smith: Cleaner river is investment that will pay
It was one of those gorgeous summer days that we dream about at this chilly time of the year. An old buddy was visiting from out of state, and we wanted to get onto the water in our kayaks. I...
View ArticleU.S. needs patience in its dealings with Iran
The following appeared in a Los Angeles Times editorial:Diplomats from Iran and six major world powers have finalized the details of an interim agreement designed to stop progress on the Islamic...
View ArticleEditorial: Ante up on election reform
THE ISSUE:New York is still waiting for a more honest and accountable political system. THE STAKES:The governor's budget offers the opportunity to turn his promises into reality. Public financing of...
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