LABOR LEADER SAYS STATE COULD ‘SHUT DOWN’ IF TIER VI IS APPROVED
ALBANY – Governor Andrew Cuomo’s effort to reform the state pension system could result in state workers shutting down the government. The Albany Times-Union is reporting that the Public Employees Federation has joined the campaign by labor unions opposing Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposed new pension tier – and the organization’s leader on Sunday suggested it should be a line in the sand for legislators.
PEF President Kenneth Brynien said that if the governor’s going to put something in the budget that’s unreasonable, maybe the government should be shut down.
Cuomo’s budget proposal would offer newly hired workers the option of enrolling in a defined-contribution plan, similar to a 401(k), or the defined-benefit plans that are now offered to public employees.
Brynien and other labor leaders argue that defined-contribution plans threaten the economic security of public retirees. If they don’t save enough money, they won’t be able to stay in New York, contribute to its economy, and the effects of the plan would “snowball.” Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, a Democrat, has expressed similar sentiments.
PRENDERGAST LIBRARY TO PARTICIPATE IN STATEWIDE LIBRARY AWARENESS INITIATIVE
JAMESTOWN – The James Prendergast Library will participate today in “Snapshot NY: A Day in the Life of a Library” – a statewide initiative organized by the New York Library Association to document how busy and essential libraries are.
According to library director Linda Mielke – Any activity that takes place today – such as visiting the library or calling with a question – will be counted.
Staff members also plan to take pictures of library activity and ask visitors to fill out a brief form explaining why the library is important to them.
This will be the third year the public awareness campaign has taken place in New York. Libraries have been asked to choose one day between Feb. 12 and Feb. 25 and keep track of statistics such as computer usage, program attendance, and circulation.
Participating libraries will upload factual data, pictures, and patron comments to the www.protectnylibraries.org website by Feb. 29, giving the New York Library Association a week to prepare for Library Advocacy Day, March 6, in Albany.
All members of the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System have been invited to participate.
CREATING HEALTHY PLACES TO HOST COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
JAMESTOWN – Residents on the east side of Jamestown are invited to attend a community meeting tonight hosted by the Creating Healthy Places initiatives. Organizers are hoping to get public input on the effort to create a broad strategy of developing safer and more attractive places for residents to be active in their own neighborhoods. Tonights meeting will focus on Dickson Park – located on Falconer Street. The meetin will begin at 6:30 p.m. tonight and will take place at the Eastside YMCA on E. 2nd St. in Jamestown. It is open to the public.
POLICE ASK FOR PUBLIC’S HELP IN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
JAMESTOWN – A 25-year-old woman of Jamestown was injured after her vehicle collided with a responding fire vehicle on Monday morning. The Jamestown Police Department is investigating the incident that occurred at the intersection of East Second Street and Foote Avenue at 7:09 a.m. According to police, the Jamestown Fire Department was responding to a reported structure fire on Johnson Street, when the department’s Car 1 and the woman’s car struck each other at the intersection.
The woman was taken to WCA Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The two firefighters in the vehicle were not injured.
Police are looking for witnesses who may have been at or near the intersection at the time of the accident. Any witness is asked to call the department at 483-7531 or 483-7537.
JAMESTOWN SCHOOL BOARD MEETS TONIGHT
JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown School Board will be meeting tonight for its regular voting session. Among the items on tonight’s agenda, the board is expected to review the first draft of the 2012-2013 budget. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and take place at the Administrative Offices in Jefferson Middle School.
INFINITY TO TAKE PART IN FREDONIA STATE’S 2012 COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROGRAM
FREDONIA – The Infinity Visual and Performing Arts Program will get a major boost in creating public awareness thanks to SUNY Fredonia. Infinity is one of two agencies in Chautauqua County that has been selected for the Fredonia State’s 2012 Community Partners Program. Created in 2001, the Community Partners Program allows SUNY Fredonia public relations majors the opportunity to gain real world experience with local nonprofit organizations seeking public relations support. SUNY Fredonia President Dennis Hefner will make the formal announcement about the collaboration later today during a press conference in Fredonia.
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