Blogs > Saratogian Newsroom
The Saratogian Newsroom blog, complete with thoughts and commentary from our newsroom staff and regular posts on happenings around town.
Friday, January 25
Thursday, January 24
Blotter for Jan. 24, 2013
Wednesday, January 23
Police Blotter for Jan. 23, 2013
Tuesday, January 22
City Council - 2013
"Usually you don't hear about these things until April," Mayor Scott Johnson said in his office Tuesday.
I've heard all sorts of rumors at this point: that the mayor is not running again; that a certain supervisor is looking to unseat him if Johnson does run again; that Ken Ivins is returning from his term off to take a run not as finance commissioner, but as Accounts Commissioner; that Bill McTygue is planning a campaign for supervisor; that Cuomo is running for president.... oh wait, wrong election, though that is probably the same level of foresight we are talking about here.
Well, I'm going to be calling around on these. Actually, I called around on these (with the exception of Cuomo) and I'll post their responses as (if) they call me back.
Ivins said he hasn't made up his mind about what he is going to do another half-year from now (I can relate, I still haven't finalized my plans for this evening). As for the idea that he would not go for Finance Commissioner again, he said "I haven't made up my mind yet A) whether I'm running and B) what I would be running for." So that doesn't exactly sound like "No."
McTygue also didn't discount the idea. "It's early," he said, adding "no decision have been made at all in that regard."
He said people have been speculating because he has been making more appearances at City Council meetings and speaking up about issues. "I've been getting a lot of encouragement," he said.
Johnson, too, said he hasn't "publicly decided yet" about whether he would be running for reelection, but in our conversation about who a potential opponent would be referenced a quote he attributed to Joe Bruno, saying "I don't pick my opponents, I just beat them."
Well, on the mayoral race I did catch up with Joanne Yepsen as well, who wouldn't say what position she is planning on running for in November. "There are several options on the table," she said, adding that she is having "preliminary conversations," about which she would choose. She wouldn't comment, either, on whether she was just evaluating city positions or if she was looking outside.
Those aren't the only rumors running around, obviously, but those are the ones I thought I'd address today. If anybody else hears others, let me know and I'll try to get non-committal answers from those people.
Labels: Bill McTygue, City Council, Joanne Yepsen, Kenneth Ivins, Mayor Scott Johnson, Politics
Blotter for Jan. 22, 2013
I'm not sure what to make of this one: A female called 911 at about 8:27 a.m. and told police she was having a language barrier and some kind of psychiatric issue with another party. Then a male party got on the phone, “not cooperating” and said she was pregnant and wanted to go to work. An officer was dispatched and only reported there was no problem.
There were also some reports of a few belligerent intoxicated individuals, nothing out of the ordinary, and some minor motor vehicle accidents.
Monday, January 21
Weekend Blotters Jan. 18 - Jan. 21 *Updated*
9:42 a.m. A woman on Hamilton Street reported that someone threw a beer bottle at her window and broke it. I don’t know if it was a house or a car. Either way, no fun.
* Update: That was, in fact, John Flacke, who as some may remember was arrested three times last week. According to police, he complained of injury and was evaluated, but nothing was wrong, he was just trying to get out of going to jail.*
2:01 a.m. on High Rock Avenue there was some sort of disturbance, possible break-in and someone’s 17 and 20 year old sons ran outside chasing someone. The police ended up searching the construction area at the Courtyard Marriott. They didn’t find the guy, though, and a report was initiated.
The blotter from Saturday, Jan. 19:
Saturday night saw an interesting non-dog-related call (sort of) that began when a woman went next door to her neighbor and asked him to call 911.
Thursday, January 17
Police blotter for Jan. 17
Shots fired in the Comprehensive Battle
I was off yesterday, so one of the editors put a call into Mayor Scott Johnson to see if he would be naming the committee at the State of the City Address tonight, but he played it coy it seems.
From the article:
I'll be there with bells on tonight, so I guess we'll see how this plays out.
On Wednesday, Johnson called the recent opposition to his naming the committee a “wrinkle, but not insurmountable.”
“I will be addressing this during the State of the City tomorrow evening,” he said, though he declined to give details ahead of the speech, which is set for 7 tonight in the City Center.
Labels: Comprehensive Plan, Mayor Scott Johnson
New Gun Legislation Fact Sheet
Given the e-mail I received, it seems to be getting forwarded around by people (including gun clubs) trying to understand the impact of the new gun legislation. Seward is opposed to the law and put out a statement which I'll post at the bottom, but I thought the fact sheet was pretty helpful.
NEWS FROM
51ST SENATE DISTRICT
www.seward.nysenate.gov
430 Capitol Bldg Albany, NY 12247 (518) 455-3131
41 South Main St. Oneonta, NY 13820 (607) 432-5524
FACT SHEET
NEW YORK’S NEW GUN CONTROL LAW*This is a summary. It is not exhaustive*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The legislation (S. 2230) passed by the legislature and signed by the governor contains the following key components of significance to law abiding gun owners and pistol licensees.
Redefines and Bans "Assault Weapons."
An ‘assault weapon’ is now defined as any semiautomatic rifle or pistol capable of accepting a detachable magazine with ONE military style feature (folding stock, pistol grip, thumbhole stock, second grip that can be held by the weak hand, bayonet mount, flash suppressor, muzzle brake, compensator or threaded barrel or grenade launcher); any semiautomatic shotgun with ONE of the following: folding or thumbhole stock; second grip that can be held by the weak hand; a fixed magazine in excess of seven rounds; ability to accept a detachable magazine; A semiautomatic pistol that can accept a detachable magazine and has at least one of the following: folding or thumbhole stock; second grip that can be held by the weak hand; capacity to accept a magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip, threaded barrel, barrel shroud, weight of 50 oz or more when unloaded.
Within one year, all "assault weapons" under the new definition (pre-1994 and now pre-2013 semi-autos as defined above) must be registered with the state police at no cost. This will trigger a NICS check. Current owners may transfer these semi-autos only to a dealer or sell them out of state. Intentional failure to register will be a class A misdemeanor. Unintentional failure will trigger a 30 day grace period to register, after which the gun will be confiscated. Knowing possession of an unregistered assault weapon will be a felony.
The law does not distinguish between rimfire or centerfire firearms. Even .22s are covered by the law.
Exempt: the following are not ‘assault weapons’ and are not affected by this law: bolt action or pump rifles and shotguns; antiques; revolvers; semi-automatic rifles that cannot accept a detachable magazine; semi-auto shotguns holding five or fewer shotgun shells in a fixed or detachable magazine.
Magazines
The law bans all magazines in excess of ten rounds, including "pre-ban" magazines of 20 or 30 rounds previously possessed lawfully. High capacity magazines possessed lawfully heretofore must be disposed of out of state or to someone authorized to possess them within one year. Ten round magazines are grandfathered, but it will be a crime to load them in excess of seven rounds. Magazines older than 50 years old – curios and relics – are exempt. No new ten round magazines may be sold or possessed in New York.
Pistol licenses
All pistol licenses will have to recertified (not renewed) every five years. Licensees will have to confirm to the state police that their information is current and that their registered pistols are still the only ones possessed. Pistol licensees will be able to request that their names be withheld from public disclosure, and state police will compile a statewide database of pistol license holders.
Ammunition
All ammunition purchasers must undergo an instant background check at the point of sale when the new state check system takes effect. This provision does not take effect for a year. A buyer of pistol or revolver ammunition will need to show a valid NYS pistol license and a driver’s license. Internet sales of ammo are banned except in the presence of a gun dealer where a NICS check is required.
Gun sales
A NICS background check will be required for all private sales of long guns in New York, except transfers to immediate family members.
Gun storage
The new law requires the safe storage of guns in a house where the gun owners knows someone in the house is mentally ill, prohibited from possessing a gun, is a convicted criminal or subject to an order of protection.
Here is his statement:
“The rights of law abiding citizens who use firearms for sport, protection, and collection have suffered a considerable blow. While the newly minted gun control laws offer some increased penalties for criminal use of guns and take a step toward keeping weapons out of the hands of the mentally ill, they overstep in many ways.
“For the first time, New York will be registering rifles and confiscating private property. We will do background checks on the simple purchase of a box of .22 ammo for squirrel hunting or target practice. Someone who puts eight cartridges in his magazine instead of seven will be a felon. Sadly, these extreme, harsh measures won’t stop criminals from getting guns and using them for illegal purposes.
“These reactionary laws force new, onerous regulations on those who meticulously obey the law and infringe on Second Amendment rights. Further, we can’t afford to place good paying jobs at a long-standing employer in my district, Remington Arms, in jeopardy.
“Legislation focused on stopping gun crimes and preventing those at risk of harming themselves and others from obtaining firearms would have been a public safety win. However, further impeding the rights of law-abiding citizens does nothing to confront gun violence.”
Labels: Gun control, Gun legislation, James L. Seward, Senate
Tuesday, January 15
Gun law statements
Here is one from the good people at the NRA:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 15, 2013 |
FOR MORE INFORMATION
(703) 267-3820 |
Statement from the National Rifle Association of America Regarding
the Passage of S. 2230 in New York
Fairfax, Va. – The
National Rifle Association and our New York members are outraged at the
draconian gun control bill that was rushed through the process late Monday
evening.
Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature orchestrated a
secretive end-run around the legislative and democratic process and passed
sweeping anti-gun measures with no committee hearings and no public input.Hammered out in a backroom in Albany, S. 2230 was quickly drafted and released 20 minutes prior to the Senate vote. It passed as the clock ticked toward midnight. This legislation lowers New York's arbitrary magazine capacity limit from ten rounds to seven. It also greatly expands the state's existing ban on commonly owned semi-automatic firearms, and will require New York gun owners to undergo background checks on ammunition purchases. These gun control schemes have failed in the past and will have no impact on public safety and crime. Sadly, the New York Legislature gave no consideration to that reality. While lawmakers could have taken a step toward strengthening mental health reporting and focusing on criminals, they opted for trampling the rights of law-abiding gun owners in New York, and they did it under a veil of secrecy in the dark of night. The legislature caved to the political demands of a Governor and helped fuel his personal political aspirations. New York lawmakers have ignored and excluded gun owners throughout this legislative process, but the NRA and our New York members remain committed to having a meaningful conversation about protecting our children and will speak frankly about the lawmakers who have failed to do so.
-NRA-
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Four million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services. Be sure to follow the NRA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NationalRifleAssociation and on Twitter @NRA. |
And, for the other side of the issue, The BRADY CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Contact: media@bradynetwork.org
“Governor Cuomo and the lawmakers in Albany have today shown tremendous leadership on the critical issue of gun violence. By making this a priority, the Governor has not only saved lives, but will hopefully inspire leaders in Washington also to take swift action,” said Dan Gross, President of the Brady Campaign. “The comprehensive package passed today in New York represents the kind of solutions that need to be implemented on the federal level. Many of these solutions, including universal background checks, have tremendous support from Americans across the country and across the political spectrum, including among gun owners and NRA members. The policies will have an immediate and widespread impact on gun violence, and when coupled with public health and safety education programs, will finally begin to address in a real way the epidemic of gun deaths in America. We thank Governor Cuomo for his bold leadership to prevent gun violence and for creating a model for the nation.”
The Brady Campaign has been working with the Vice President’s Task Force on Guns and has submitted a set of comprehensive recommendations.
A poll released yesterday by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press shows that the American people are overwhelmingly supportive of major changes to our gun laws. The poll showed that about 85% of those surveyed supported background checks for private gun sales and sales at gun shows. The poll also showed that four out of five Americans favor laws that would prevent the mentally ill from buying weapons.
Labels: 113th Assembly District, 43rd Senate District, Assembly, Gun control, legislators, Politics, Senate