Today in your Trail Mix:
One final look (OK, a bunch of looks) back at 2011.
Looking forward to 2012, tomorrow’s State of the State address, and the legislative session in Albany.
The “Water Ranger” protects New York’s water from hydrofracking.
Plus, how Occupy movements are fairing as temperatures drop.
Looking back
We spent our holiday break detailing the ten most important stories, ideas, and themes of 2011.
Flood recovery, a change in leadership at Binghamton University, downtown redevelopment, and government consolidation dominated the headlines in the Southern Tier in 2011, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin's George Basler.
The governor has released a 39-page appraisal of his work this year, touting his accomplishments (Nick Reisman, State of Politics).
Cuomo’s “governing from the center” is what’s underpinned a successful first year, according to one analyst (Joseph Spector, Gannett).
Another says Cuomo has shown that New York’s “dysfunctional government” isn’t the barrier we thought it was (Karen DeWitt, New York State Public Radio).
Several “evergreen” bills come back to the legislature every year, and don’t get acted on – including expanding the bottle bill, legalizing medical marijuana, and requiring chess instruction in schools (Jimmy Vielkind, Times Union).
The Buffalo News’ David Robinson has a look at the “winners and losers” of Buffalo’s business world in 2011.
Looking forward
At The Empire, Colby Hamilton has a look at what Albany political observers think will come up in tomorrow’s State of the State address and in the coming legislative session.
Professor Larry Levy weighed in with his predictions on Capitol Tonight [VIDEO] (Maureen McManus, State of Politics).
The Buffalo News editorial board wants Cuomo to hold strong on plans for nonpartisan redistricting.
Colleges in the Rochester area are scrambling to raise funds to help students cope with rising tuition (James Goodman, Democrat and Chronicle).
State legislatures are working on a bill that would allow localities to ban fracking within their borders (Mary Esch, AP).
Issues expected to come up in Cuomo’s address – like fracking, gambling, and pension costs – will be of interest to central New Yorkers (Teri Weaver, Post-Standard).
Energy
Meet the “Water Ranger,” the super hero that protects New York’s water from hydrofracking – or at least pressures the governor to do so, in a recent ad buy (Liz Benjamin, State of Politics):
New Yorkers are getting less for leasing their land for fracking than Pennsylvanians did a few years ago, according to the National Association of Royalty Owners (North Country Public Radio).
State Impact PA, the newly formed energy reporting collaboration between Pennsylvania’s WHYY and WITF, has a post up detailing the reports that are worth taking a second look at, from their inaugural year.
Business
About 80 percent of retailers surveyed by the Retail Council say they had similar or better sales to last year, this Christmas (Rick Seltzer, Greater Binghamton Business Journal).
Kodak has lost three members of its board of directors in the past two weeks (Mike Dickinson, Rochester Business Journal).
Ski resorts are “back in the game” thanks to a new year’s snowfall (Karen Robinson, Buffalo News).
A pipeline of downtown projects to redevelop old buildings signals a trend toward “smart growth” in Rochester (Bennett J. Loudon, Democrat and Chronicle).
Two out of three blind or visually impaired people are out of work according to a University at Buffalo study (Buffalo News).
Canada is still western New York’s largest trade partner, but Brazil is also on the World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara’s radar (Matt Glynn, Buffalo News).
The network that carries Sabres games in Buffalo hasn’t come to an agreement with Time Warner, so upcoming games won’t be aired (WNED).
Politics and government
The Village of Seneca Falls is officially dissolved with the coming of the new year (Matt Johnston, WRVO).
Erie County is struggling to hire a comptroller to oversee its billion dollar budget for $80,000 a year (Robert J. McCarthy, Buffalo News).
The “Niagara Falls International Airport Stakeholders Group” is organizing to leverage economic development, tourism, and private money to market IAG (Thomas J. Prohaska, Buffalo News).
Occupy Syracuse is sticking it out, despite freezing temperatures (Charley Hannagan, Post-Standard).
Meanwhile, Occupy Binghamton protestors were ordered to remove a yurt that they constructed (William Moyer, Press & Sun-Bulletin).
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