Press release:

Senator-elect Ed Rath has been appointed Ranking Member of the Elections Committee and the Local Government Committee.

“I am looking forward to the start of the legislative year," Rath said. "There is a lot that needs to be done this year in Albany and I am ready to begin that work. As a former Erie County Legislator, I am acutely aware of the challenges facing our local governments.

"The pandemic has put a huge burden on local governments’ budgets and the services they provide. I look forward to working with local leaders across the district to address their specific needs and concerns.

 “Over the last few legislative sessions, we have seen tremendous changes to our election laws in New York State, the work of this committee critical. We need to assure that our elections are run smoothly, transparently, and effectively. We need to work with our local board of elections to learn what can be done to improve our election system in New York State. It is imperative that we get to Albany and work to help our suffering, local communities.”

“Senator-elect Rath’s experience and leadership as a former Erie County legislator will bode well for him as ranking member on the New York State Senate Committee on Elections, and the New York State Senate Committee on Local Government," said Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt.

"For more than a decade, Senator-elect Rath has been a fighter in his community and county government. His placement on these committees will allow him to continue to champion the issues important to local communities and taxpayers in his district and across New York.” 

A complete list of Senate Standing Committees is available at nysenate.gov/committees.

Four and a half years after a reorganization at the top of the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation – action that advanced the careers of Michael Nolan of Elma and Henry Wojtaszek of North Tonawanda – things have turned ugly for the public benefit company that operates Batavia Downs Gaming, Batavia Downs harness racetrack and OTB parlors across 15 counties plus the cities of Rochester and Buffalo.

As reported by the Buffalo-based Investigative Post earlier this week, Nolan, WROTB’s chief operating officer until his dismissal last Friday, has enlisted the services of Steven Cohen of the HoganWillig law firm with the intent to file a civil lawsuit for at least $5 million in damages.

Nolan, in a Notice of Claim submitted on his behalf in September, alleges that he has been the target of a “deliberate, relentless and malicious campaign of harassment and hostility” by his superiors, President/Chief Executive Officer Wojtaszek and Board Chairman Richard Bianchi.

Both Cohen (this morning) and Daniel Oliverio of Hodgson Russ, the attorney representing WROTB (on Tuesday), spoke to The Batavian about the situation.

“Michael Nolan promoted transparency and believes in the organization, and his superiors wanted him to sweep things under the rug, which he refused to do,” Cohen said. “And now he’s being punished for it.”

Cohen said that Nolan has been ostracized and shut out of OTB developments since April of 2019 for sharing information with federal and state authorities as part of an inquiry into practices such as health insurance plans for board members, use of sports tickets and luxury boxes, and awarding of contracts.

“After speaking with other members of the board, the federal and state authorities were referred to Michael for specific answers to specific questions. Michael gave honest answers, and Michael’s superiors have maintained a policy of obfuscation and opacity, and are punishing Michael for being honest with the authorities,” Cohen added.

Oliverio said evidence gained through months of examination and interviewing of more than 30 witnesses does not substantiate Nolan’s claims, and that his termination was carefully considered and appropriate as it pertains to job performance.

“We are so sick of Steve Cohen and Mr. Nolan offering up absolutely false, unsupportable allegations about OTB and its officers and directors, none of which have been supported by any witnesses whatsoever,” Oliverio said. “We have done a thorough investigation over months – interviewed witnesses that Mr. Nolan told us to talk to and nobody supports his stories.”

Oliverio said that he has tried to sit down with Nolan to “find out what is on his mind, but his story shifts like grains of sand in the wind.”

Cohen: Problems Needed to be Addressed

Cohen said that Nolan “wanted to make OTB all that it could” by trying to rectify some problems, “but the greed of his superiors prevented him from doing so.”

“They didn’t want to put an end to board members receiving a lifetime health insurance (plan) that was valued at approximately $33,000 per year per board member,” he said, offering that opinions of the state attorney general and comptroller indicate that board members’ compensation should be limited to $4,000 per year.

Cohen said Nolan wanted to end that policy and his action caused Wojtaszek and Bianchi to retaliate against him. He also said Nolan shined a light on the improper use of luxury boxes and tickets to Sabres and Bills games and the “improper use of the VLT fund, or purse fund.”

“That purse fund is only supposed to be used to remunerate racehorse owners, but instead it was used as a general revenue source by OTB and Michael tried to put a stop to that,” he said.

Cohen said OTB officials have tried to stop the civil suit from being filed.

“They have invoked sections of the law, and they’re trying to delay us from filing this lawsuit,” he said.

Oliverio: Motivation is in Question

Oliverio said Nolan is not a whistleblower and is out to “impugn the integrity of the OTB board, Wojtaszek and others who operate the business from day to day.”

“He will tell you that the FBI called him as they were hearing some things that were going on at OTB that they wanted to look into. Now, Mr. Nolan’s a whistleblower,” he said. “Mr. Nolan has admitted to our investigators there’s nothing there regarding any of the allegations that have been made – regarding tickets and contracts, what have you.”

Oliverio said he can’t wrap his head around Nolan’s motivation.

“We don’t know if this is some type of political attempt to undermine the leadership of OTB; we can’t quite figure it out. But we don’t do press conferences like Mr. Cohen and Mr. Nolan. We do courtrooms, evidence, witnesses under oath and facts. If he’s going to make allegations, let’s prove them in a courtroom,” he said.

He said it could be “an attempted coup” by Nolan to replace Wojtaszek as president.

“Really, we have no idea. But, I’ll tell you what, we have spent a lot of money investigating these allegations and all these allegations about workplace harassment, and we can’t come up with one fact,” he said.

Health Insurance Ruling to Come

Oliverio acknowledged that directors receive a quality health insurance plan.

“They’ve never hid that, but it’s up to the comptroller of the State of New York to decide whether it’s appropriate or not and the comptroller is looking at it,” he said. “The comptroller has been asked to render an opinion and if the comptroller says you shouldn’t get it, then they’ll just discontinue it. If the comptroller says it is fine, then it is fine.”

Regarding tickets and corporate suites at sporting events, Oliverio said it is a nonissue.

“What a laugh. Nolan admits himself in an interview with our investigator, which was witnessed by two other people, there are no problems with the tickets. The tickets were used properly,” he said.

Oliverio pointed out that Nolan thought some contracts should have been put out to bid, but agreed that no laws were broken by not bidding them.

“His (Nolan) objections, as far as we can see, were with policies and process – not with any violations of the law. But there have been no allegations of violations of the law,” he said. “Certainly, Mr. Nolan has no right to offer that up because he’s not a federal prosecutor or state prosecutor, and we have not been told by any state or federal prosecutor or law enforcement officer that we violated any law whatsoever regarding tickets, contracts, promotions, anything else.”

The attorney said the matter is “frustrating” for WROTB and its board.

“That’s why we can’t wait to get into court,” he offered. “We hope that it will all come out why Mr. Nolan, if he continues his lawsuit, … was dismissed from OTB. We will do that in a courtroom, under oath, and not in a press conference. We look forward to it and we look forward to clearing some people’s reputations and names.”

Cohen Calls it ‘Pure Vindictiveness’

Cohen said Nolan found out that he was fired when he reported to work last Friday.

“When he went to show up for work, he was told he had been previously terminated,” he said. “Also, on Dec. 3 when his daughter broke her arm, that is when he learned that they had simply stopped his health insurance without prior notice. And that is pure vindictiveness – pure spitefulness – and that’s quintessential Wojtaszek and Bianchi.”

Cohen said the timing of Nolan’s termination speaks volumes.

“Had Michael’s termination not occurred over a year after he shared with his superiors that, at the request of other members of the board, he honestly answered questions of the FBI, U.S. Attorney and various New York State agencies, one might be inclined to entertain the possibility that Michael’s termination was performance based,” he said.

“But for over a year, after eight years of sterling performance evaluations, Michael was stripped of his duties as FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) officer and other key roles; he was ostracized by the president and chairman, and isolated and not permitted access to the data he needed to do his job.”

Oliverio disputes the contention that Nolan was wrongfully terminated.

“He was constructively discharged from OTB, and he makes a host of allegations about that, again, none of which we can find to be true by any witness or by any facts,” he said.

Nolan was set to receive a salary of $119,704 in 2021. In 2016, as the corporation’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, his annual pay was $102,096.

Santa was solo Tuesday afternoon in Le Roy when a reader sent us this picture. He kindly took time out of his busy global schedule to serve as crossing guard for students at Wolcott Street School. Presumably, his team of reindeer and the overloaded sleigh awaited him on the school's rooftop.

Photos and information from Ben Dennis, director of Services, GC Department of Social Services:

There's an amazing generosity in the people and businesses that exist in this community. Each year, I am contacted by local businesses who want to be able to help their fellow citizens by sponsoring a family for the Holidays.

These businesses are really amazing -- how they come through with gifts for the kids and the parents who ordinarily could not afford to have a nice Christmas.

This year, the employees at O-AT-KA Milk Products Cooperative, Inc., and Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union (TVFCU) and Tompkins Bank of Castile (408 E. Main St.), each separately reached out to me and sponsored a separate family.

The employees themselves did all the shopping and wrapping of the gifts for each member of the family they sponsored.

Times are very difficult right now for many families trying to make ends meet.

We have hard-working people that have had to quit their job in order to stay home and help their children with their remote school work, or we had folks who were laid off due to business closures or downsizing.

"I have to say that the way that this community comes together in a time of need is really heartwarming to me personally," Dennis said. "This community is really amazing."

Press release:

Just back from Washington, D.C., U.S. Senator Charles Schumer said about $800 million for Upstate NY and NYS, separate from New York City, is now on the way to help ensure the coronavirus vaccine and other coronavirus care efforts will be available here.

Schumer said local Upstate governments should not be on the hook for a single dollar related to the costs of distributing the new vaccine, along with testing or tracing for the virus.

Schumer said these just-locked fed funds will help to ensure New Yorkers can access the vaccine at local hospitals. He detailed the federal dollars as he explained what this means for public health and those most at risk to the virus across New York State.  

“The biggest thing we want to ensure about the coronavirus vaccine is universal access—no barriers—for New Yorkers,” Senator Schumer said. “Part of the way we do that, and to ensure a free vaccine is available here in New York, centers on the federal funds we just secured in the COVID relief bill voted on late last night.

"Communities throughout Upstate will get a sizable share of over $775 million dollars to do these things, and I am here to say the money is on the way, and to get the word out about what happens next for localities as they ramp up with distribution.

“All in, New York communities and the state will be getting about $800 million to distribute the vaccine, test, trace, and for any other public health initiatives related to COVID. This can mean nursing home safety, home care, any sort of mitigation—we worked to get this language and the funding into the bill, and now it is time to get the word out so great public hospitals, and all our New York hospitals, can succeed in the collective goal of public health."

For Upstate New York and New York State, Schumer detailed the exact dollar breakdowns, now that the bill has passed:

$1.55 Billion – Vaccine, Testing, and Tracing, and Flexible Local Health Funding. The breakdown means Upstate New York will get a sizable share of $775 million dollars.

• $127M for NYS for vaccine distribution (Upstate to get a sizable share)
• $648M for NYS testing, tracing, isolation support and COVID mitigation (Upstate to get a sizable share)

“This is a start, it’s not the entirety of what we need—this entire bill was not that—but this is a down payment amid an ongoing pandemic,” Schumer said.“State and local governments should not be out a single dollar to distribute the new COVID vaccine, test or trace for the virus, and these new federal funds mean a measure of help is on the way to support that endeavor.”

Nationally, Schumer said the just-passed relief bill provides essential funding for vaccine procurement and distribution, providing roughly $20 billion for manufacturing, production and purchase of vaccines, therapeutics, and ancillary supplies, nearly $9 billion to the CDC and states for vaccine distribution and more than $3 billion for the strategic national stockpile.

This includes $300 million specifically directed to high-risk and underserved populations for vaccine distribution, including communities of color.

The bill provides more than $22 billion, all sent directly to states, for testing, contact tracing and COVID-19 mitigation programs. Of this total, $2.5 billion will be distributed for targeted use in high-risk and underserved populations, including communities of color, like here in New York.

Sufficient funding for vaccine distribution has been a key priority for President-elect Biden, who, according to reports, has pledged to oversee the administration of 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in his first 100 days in office.

Biden has said publicly that without proper funding for distribution, the efforts described above could slow or be delayed. Schumer says we do not want that to happen, and why we must continue to assess funding needs in real time.

Public health officials have said the goal is to provide vaccinations to as many as 20 million Americans by the first week of January.

Aaric Luce won Le Roy Junior High's spelling bee on Tuesday by correctly spelling “Rectangular” in the final round.

Second place went to Jax Burnside.

Aaric advances to the regional competition.

Photo and information submitted by Tim McArdle.

Genesee County's unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in November, still a percentage point higher than a year ago, but a bit better than it was with October's 5.0 percent rate.

There are 27,000 county residents with jobs. There were 28,400 a year ago in November and 26,800 in October of this year.

There are 1,300 people actively seeking employment compared to 1,100 a year ago and 1,300 last month.

President Donald Trump, in the final month of his one term, issued 15 pardons today, including a pardon for former NY-27 congressional representative Chris Collins, who entered a guilty plea more than a year ago to federal crimes stemming from insider trading activity. 

Collins also admitted to lying to the FBI about using information that wasn't available to the public about Innate Immunotherapy to tip his son and other associates that led them to dump stock in the company before news of a failed trial reached other investors.

Even while under federal indictment for the crimes, Collins ran for reelection and won.

Collins was the first member of Congress to endorse Donald Trump for president in 2016 and served on the transition team after Trump beat Hillary Clinton.  

The second member of Congress to endorse Trump was Duncan Hunter Jr., of El Cajon, Calif. Hunter was also convicted of federal crimes related to his misuse of campaign donations for his personal benefit. Today, Trump also pardoned Hunter.

Photo: File photo: Collins, with his wife standing beside him, at a press conference in August 2018 when he denied the insider trading charges that had been filed against him that day in New York City.

Press release:

• Genesee County received 75 new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Bergen, Byron, Corfu, Darien, Elba, Le Roy, Oakfield and Stafford.
  • The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
  • Fifty-seven of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
  • Sixteen of the positive individuals are hospitalized.
  • Seven of the new positive cases are residents at Le Roy Village Green.
  • Three of the new positive cases are residents at Genesee Senior Living.
  • One of the new positive cases are residents at Premier Genesee.
  • Due to the increased positive cases reported yesterday, there was a mistake in calculating the number of active cases…today’s number has been corrected.
• Orleans County received 44 new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in Albion, Carlton, Clarendon, Gaines, Kendall, Murray, Ridgeway, Shelby and Yates.
  • The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
  • Two of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Nineteen of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
  • Seven of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
  • One of the new positives is a resident of Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
  • One of the new positives is an inmate of the Orleans Correctional Facility.

Percent positive seven-day average as of Dec. 20, 2021 (https://forward.ny.gov/percentage-positive-results-county-dashboard):

• Genesee:  10.5 percent
• Orleans:  8.7 percent

Other than “a little arm soreness,” Laurie Kilbury Taylor, DO, an attending physician in the Emergency Department at United Memorial Medical Center, said she had no problem with the initial dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and is looking forward – for a number of reasons – to completing the process.

Kilbury Taylor (pictured above) was among the first UMMC staff members to receive the vaccine – “I felt very privileged to be invited to be in the first group,” she said – and said all of her colleagues are on board with being vaccinated.

She took part in a Zoom videoconference interview this morning to give an update on how she is feeling and share some of her other thoughts after getting the first of two shots last Thursday.

“Right afterwards, I felt normal. There was no pain .. I had no side effects; I had no allergic reaction,” she said. “And then, I think later on in the day, I felt a little arm soreness and that extended until the next day.”

She said she took some ibuprofen when she got home and again the next day.

“That was about it. Since then, then I’ve been fine,” she added.

Kilbury Taylor said the procedure is similar to the flu and other vaccinations, noting that the arm soreness “is to be expected when they stick a sharp needle in your arm.”

“Maybe it was a little bit more than what the flu shot was, but much less than, say, the tetanus shot,” she said.

Still, she said she had no restriction of motion and was able to do everything she needed to do.

According to the Food & Drug Administration, side effects of the vaccine typically begin within two days and are resolved a day or two after that. The most common consequences listed are tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain and fever.

On a personal note, Kilbury Taylor shared that her 83-year-old mother, who has some medical issues, lives with her.

“I am always worried about coming home and having to take care of her and possibly transmitting COVID to her unknowingly because there are some asymptomatic carrier people,” she said. “Also, myself, if you haven’t noticed, I’m a little older and I do have asthma. So, for me being working in an environment where I’m constantly confronted with patients that have COVID or suspected COVID – although I’m wearing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) -- it only takes once to touch your face when you don’t realize you’re doing it.”

Kilbury Taylor said the vaccine provides hope of ending the pandemic and help “to reduce this so we can get back to somewhat normal lives.”

“I am very hopeful that this can help us take care of our patients better, with more confidence. I hope that it will reduce transmission, and I hope, most importantly, is to reduce the severity,” she said. “Some of these people get very, very sick, and it may not prevent getting infected but it may – as the flu shot does – decrease the severity of the illness if you do get sick.”

She said she is scheduled to get the second of the two doses on Jan. 4. The two doses combined reportedly are 94- to 95-percent effective.

She also encourages people to not believe everything they read or hear on the internet or on social media.

“Despite the fear you see on the internet, those aren’t reputable sources … It was very easy, very little discomfort,” she said. “I’m excited. It’s something you can do for your family and the community …”

Kilbury Taylor said the vaccine gives her some “reassurance” that eventually she will have some protection against the virus.

“It’s not instantaneous. It takes a few weeks to build your immunity and get the booster shot. We, of course, will continue to use the PPE and wear our gowns and our masks and our shields, our gloves – and wash in and out – but it’s a sense of hope that eventually these restrictions will be relaxed,” she said.

Other doctors and medical professionals are ready and willing to get the vaccine, she said.

“They can’t wait to get the vaccine, and they’re worried. 'Are they going to run out before I get mine?’ is the biggest concern of the physicians.”

Photo courtesy of Rochester Regional Health.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley has received his committee assignments for the upcoming legislative year, and will be serving on the committees for Agriculture, Insurance, Rules, Veterans’ Affairs and Ways and Means. Additionally, Hawley has also been reappointed as Deputy Minority Leader of the Assembly Republican Conference.

“I am honored to have been chosen once again to serve our conference as Deputy Minority Leader, and look forward to continuing to use my role in our conference to give a voice to the people of the 139th Assembly District, as well as working people and families from all walks of life throughout our state,” Hawley said.

As the Genesee County Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative checks off the items it needs to cover per Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order 203 on community policing, Sheriff William Sheron is taking it a step further by adding increased community input to the list.

Sheron addressed three more topics mandated in the executive order during Monday night’s Zoom videoconference meeting – hot spot policing, focused deterrence and crime prevention through environmental design – but also spoke at length about his department’s need to connect with the public.

“One of the things that needs to come out of this project is to develop a program to meet on a regular basis with the citizens of our county to identify their concerns about criminal activity,” Sheron said.

During the 40-minute meeting, the sheriff outlined several areas that could be improved by regular communication with government and civic leaders as well as residents.

• Annual Crime Statistics Report

Sheron said the plan is to put out a report within the next few months for 2020, detailing the types of crimes by town.

“I think it is very important that we get that out there so the citizens have a clear understanding of what the community is like, what kind of crimes that we are investigating. It’s transparency and I hope to resurrect that for 2020.”

• Regular Town Hall Meetings

Sheron said he looks to meet with community leaders and citizens to find what areas the community would like officers to focus on.

“We don’t formally hold meetings, but again that is an area of improvement. Typically, (we connect through) phone calls, emails, posting on our Facebook page or web page.”

• Speaking at Town & Village Board Meetings

Sheron said he hopes to contact town and village boards to have a spot on their meeting agendas to let them know what activities that are going on in their communities and to get some feedback and suggestions.

“That is something that I would include in the report (to the state by April 1) as that’s an area where we can improve,” he noted.

• Promoting the Tipline ((585) 343-3020) and a Webpage Link for Suggestions

The sheriff said the department receives calls on a regular basis about drug activity and other crimes, but agreed that it needs to be reinforced through public service announcements and other initiatives.

He also said that prior to the next committee meeting on Jan. 4, a link will be added to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department website that citizens may utilize to submit comments, suggestions, complaints, etc., directly to the agency.

“I think that’s a great idea,” he said. “(Now, we really don’t have an area for suggestions and complaints. We will have a link on there for citizens to ask questions and provide information – good, bad and indifferent – and then we can follow up on that.”

HOT SPOT POLICING

Sheron defined hot spot policing as identifying and analyzing specific crime problems and locations and targeting resources toward solving those problems.

“We’re a little bit different in that we cover mostly a rural area opposed to an urban area, so our hot spot policing usually gets developed from citizen complaints – many to do with drug activity, a lot of vehicle and traffic complaints, or that we may be seeing an increase of burglaries or so forth,” he said.

Tools used in this regard, he said, including the Genesee County Drug Task Force (in conjunction with the other county police agencies), confidential informants, the City of Batavia Neighborhood and Enforcement Team, Police Traffic Safety grants, STOP-DWI, Monroe Crime Analysis Center and dedicated patrols in areas of potentially high drug, theft and traffic activity.

“We also have a patrol assigned to a 'hot spot' which is the core detail – Veterans Memorial (Drive) and that area with all the big box stores … where there is tremendous amount of traffic and considerable amount of theft in that area,” he offered.

“Again, this is much different than what you would see in an urban area like Rochester or Buffalo, where they have concentrations on violent crimes, shootings. We don’t have that in this area, thank God, but we do have ‘hot spot’ policing for specific situations."

FOCUSED DETERRENCE

Focused deterrence is a crime-reduction strategy, which aims to deter crime by increasing the swiftness, severity and certainty of punishment, usually directed at a specific crime problem such as gun violence, and primarily administered through prosecution and the courts, Sheron said.

Initiatives utilized in this area include KOPER Patrol, officers assigned to specific areas of suspected criminal activity; cooperation with the district attorney’s office, and the Genesee County Drug Task Force.

“Over the years, county court judges have been harsh with their punishment -- very stern with their sentences – and it sends a message clearly to those individuals that are coming in from outside this area to deal drugs in our communities,” he said.

CRIME PREVENTION/ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

The sheriff explained that attention to environmental design can help to increase the probability that an offender will be caught. Studies show that increased probability of capture tends to deter the commission of crime.

Examples of crime prevention through environmental design would be better lighting in crime-prone areas, conspicuous placement of security cameras with attendant conspicuous signage, elimination of shrubbery where it could serve as a hiding place for an attacker, etc.

In Genesee County, the Sheriff’s Office works with businesses, schools and individuals on crime prevention and personal safety issues; employs Civilian Response to Active Shooter Training, Neighborhood Watch, school resource officers, information about scams against the public, compliance checks at establishments that sell or serve alcohol and responsible server training.

He mentioned that cooperation among all law enforcement agencies in Genesee County goes a long way in the success of these programs.

“We do have a tremendous sharing of information and cooperation between the city and county,” Sheron said. “Genesee County as a whole … I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the cooperation as good as it is now.”

John Spyropoulos spotted a pair of bald eagles feasting on a deer carcass this morning along the Tonawanda Creek along South Main Street in Batavia. He submitted this photo where you can see one of the eagles at the top of a tree.

Press release:

Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) helped pass a targeted, bipartisan COVID-19 relief package today in the House of Representatives.

“After months of deliberation, countless calls for targeted aid from my Republican colleagues and me, and hours of hard work, we have finally passed a bipartisan COVID-19 relief package through the House of Representatives,” Jacobs said. “This relief has been long overdue, and I am disappointed in the last-minute, rushed process that got us here. But I am glad this necessary aid is finally making its way to the people of NY-27.”

“Notably, this relief includes key provisions I strongly advocated for the past few months, including more small business relief through the successful Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and tax-deductibility for PPP loan-covered expenses. For months, $138 billion in appropriated funding has sat waiting to be used.

"Now, that money and more will be available to millions of small businesses and employees. This aid comes at a critical time when New York small businesses are facing new restrictions and arbitrary shutdowns. We are also tackling key priorities like funding for the safe reopening of our schools, direct assistance to families in need, supporting farmers, and ensuring Americans receive safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines.”

The bipartisan COVID-19 Package includes important priorities:

• $284 billion to extend the Paycheck Protection Program and allow for both first and second-time borrowers to receive loans.
• $15 billion in aid for entertainment venues, movie theaters, zoos, and museums.
• Makes Paycheck Protection Program loan-covered expenses tax-deductible.
• $48 billion for the purchase and distribution of vaccines and state testing assistance.
• $600 stimulus checks for both adults and dependents.
• $300 per week in supplemental unemployment benefits.
• $92 billion to support the safe re-opening and operating of universities, schools, and childcare centers.
• $7 billion for high-speed internet development, including $300 million in rural broadband funding.
• $13 billion in funding to support American farmers, including funding for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).

“Finally, although regrettably not included in this package – I remain committed to fighting for aid for local governments,” Jacobs said. “There is still work left to do in the new Congress, but this legislation is a major step toward supporting the American people and bipartisan cooperation.”

Press release:

• Genesee County received 159 new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Alexander, Batavia, Bergen, Byron, Corfu, Darien, Elba, Le Roy, Oakfield, Pavilion and Stafford.
  • The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.
  • One hundred and 12 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
  • Fourteen of the positive individuals are hospitalized.
  • Twenty-eight of the new positive cases are residents at New York State Veterans Home at Batavia.
  • Two of the new positive cases are residents at the Le Roy Village Green.
  • We are saddened to report the loss of a resident of the Batavia VA Medical Center. The individual was over 65. We do not provide any further information to protect the privacy of the individual and their family. Our deepest condolences to the family and friends during this very difficult time.
• Orleans County received 76 new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in Albion, Barre, Carlton, Clarendon, Gaines, Kendall, Murray, Ridgeway, Shelby and Yates.
  • The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.
  • Eight of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Seventy-two of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
  • Six of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
  • One of the new positives is a resident of Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
  • Two of the new positives are inmates of the Orleans Correctional Facility.
  • We are saddened to report the loss of an Orleans County community member. The individual was over 65. We do not provide any further information to protect the privacy of the individual and their family. Our deepest condolences to the family and friends during this very difficult time.

The federal government’s decision to not include funding for state and local governments in the latest stimulus package is disappointing, according to City of Batavia and Genesee County municipal officials.

“It is very disappointing, especially considering that our frontline workers – our police and fire personnel – have been dealing with COVID for many months and we could really use that money right now,” Interim City Manager Rachael Tabelski said today.

On Sunday, Congressional leaders agreed to a $900 billion stimulus bill that, per a report in The Washington Post, will release a second stimulus check of up to $600 to qualifying adults and their dependent children -- but not dependent adults.

The package also extends a federal unemployment benefit check of $300 per week for another 11 weeks and the Payroll Protection Program to cover employee wages.

Democrats were unable to deliver direct funding to states and local governments, but they were successful in getting $22 billion to help municipalities with expenses such as COVID-19 testing and vaccines.

Tabelski said the city continues on its COVID-19 austerity budget this year, and isn’t planning on any revenues from the federal government as it embarks on its 2021-22 budget that takes effect on April 1. Staff is working on the spending plan now, she noted.

“We are projecting 20-percent cuts in state aid next year, and we’re still operating under that premise for this year,” she said.

She also said it is “concerning” that Gov. Andrew Cuomo indicated he may put off drafting the state’s 2021-22 budget until February or March as he holds out hope for federal support.

“We are planning our budget and they are going to wait in Albany. Normally, the state puts out a (preliminary) budget in the first few weeks of January. It is another challenge we have to face, but we’ll get through it,” she said.

Genesee County Manager Matt Landers said, “I’m definitely disappointed in the fact that no money is there for state and local governments, but I’m glad that there is was a package put together that benefits a large number of our citizens in other ways – with the stimulus checks, with extending unemployment benefits, with additional assistance for fighting COVID."

Landers said that since he had already budgeted for 20-percent less in state aid, “the lack of a relief for the state government should not have any further impact on us.”

“I budgeted very conservatively, assuming we wouldn’t get any relief and, so far, it looks like it was a good idea,” he added.