Politics & Government

A lot more people visited New York State in 2013… even more in-state residents became tourists themselves; bringing in billions in extra tourism revenue.  Looking ahead in 2014, Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled this week the State intends to keep the momentum going.  The Governor says last year’s investment on tourism really paid off.

  Griffiss Airport in Rome has been awarded one of six test sites for drones that could bring more than a thousand jobs and $ millions in local revenues from Syracuse to Rome to Watertown. 

The Federal Aviation Administration made the announcement of unmanned aircraft national test sites today.  Utica-area congress member Richard Hanna worked for three years with Griffiss, Centerstate C-E-O and a coalition of other companies on the bid that could help people and the region.

Central New York contractors and business advocacy groups are hoping the approaching new year finally brings reform to a nearly 130-year-old liability law.     "The scaffold law is such an indicator of what we refer to as the old New York."

Brian Sampson is with the pro-taxpayer and economic growth group Unshackle Upstate…

  New York is throwing fewer than half the children and teens in jail than it did a decade ago.  The state was singled out by the National Juvenile Justice Network, which is trying to further reduce youth incarceration.  

This week’s Syracuse Common Council Meeting marked the last for second district councilor Pat Hogan.  He’s represented parts of the city’s north and west sides for eight years, and term limits kept him from running again. But Hogan DID run for mayor, ultimately conceding he couldn’t win against a well-funded, party backed incumbent.   

Pat Hogan’s final term representing the Syracuse Common Council’s Second District ends December 31st.  He’ll be succeeded by Chad Ryan.