Rhinebeck Democrats

Dutchess Legislators Oppose Sudden Move to "Disband" Independent Redistricting Commission Poughkeepsie, New York, June 27, 2021Democratic legislators in Dutchess denounced sudden claims that the county’s independent reapportionment commission is disbanded. Minority leader Rebecca Edwards described a memo she received from the office of the County Attorney, who is appointed by the County Executive, as ham-handed. She said, The law includes a clear process for filling ind...ividual vacancies where necessary, but not a word about ‘dissolving’ or disbanding’ the commission. That is undemocratic and unacceptable. Hours after the memo went out Gregg Pulver, Chair of the Legislature, publicly stated that he considers the commission dissolved and announced a proposal to shrink the legislature from 25 seats to 21. At a time when voting rights and democratic norms are under attack, said Legislator Brennan Kearney (Rhinebeck/Clinton), this abrupt attempt to ‘disband’ an independent commission is outrageous. What is going on? The commission must be allowed to uphold the will of Dutchess voters, said Assistant Minority Leader Nick Page (Beacon/Fishkill), "by continuing its work without interference. The point of the commission is to elevate the power of the people above politics, said Legislator Brendan Lawler (Hyde Park). We can't reverse that and return to gerrymandering and partisan interference in redistricting. Appointed in February, the seven volunteer reapportionment commissioners have been preparing to redraw the county’s 25 legislative districts based on 2020 census data. For many years, Democratic lawmakers advocated an independent commission so county legislators could not gerrymander their own districts. In August 2019 Republican legislators at last agreed and the legislature submitted a bipartisan plan. Dutchess voters overwhelmingly approved it in November 2020.

A message from our Dutchess County Legislator Brennan Kearney re: County plans for ARP funding: Ten Dutchess County legislators, including myself, voted tonight against a plan, brought by the County Executive and Republican legislators, to spend $12.5 million of the county’s first $16.3 million appropriation of American Rescue Plan funding on renovations to the county’s baseball stadium. See press release below and a link to my and others' comments at tonight's meeting - als...Continue reading

An important update on Dutchess County's plans for its American Rescue Funds from our County Legislator Brennan Kearney: Please join us to make public comment tonight! I'm disappointed that Dutchess didn't follow Ulster's lead and create a joint, bipartisan working group, as I proposed, to engage the public and set priorities for ARP investments. There are SO many needs right now in our community. Let us know your priorities. Dutchess County has received its first allocation... of federal money from the American Rescue Plan for Covid relief, and a proposal for its expenditure has been sent by the County Executive to the Legislature to be voted on at Monday evening's Board Meeting. The $16.3 million dollar initial tranche includes the following: a. A whopping $12.5m to upgrade Dutchess Stadium for the New Yankees’ single a affiliate baseball team b. $3.1m for youth programming, through a competitive grant process overseen by the Department of Planning, primarily benefit libraries, arts organizations, and sports leagues. c. $350,000 for a countywide survey of broadband access and gaps in coverage d. $350,000 for a shovel-ready project at the airport These are the four authorized uses of the funds specified by the ARP legislation: 1. Responding to public health needs and economic damage from the pandemic 2. Providing premium (i.e., hazard) pay for essential workers 3. Replacing lost revenue 4. Investing in necessary water and broadband infrastructure Anyone wishing to address the Board and weigh in on the County's proposed spending may do so by contacting the Clerk of the Legislature at [email protected] or by calling 845-486-2100 to obtain zoom information or call-in number. Comments about the public hearing may also be provided via email prior to the meeting to the Clerk of the Legislature at [email protected]. The meeting is at 7pm on Monday night and can be viewed at this link: https://totalwebcasting.com/view/?id=dutchess. Read more in the Dutchess Voice: https://mailchi.mp/ed112f8d92d5/4egcc4n3u9-10305148...

A message from our County Legislator Brennan Kearney: How should we invest American Rescue Plan funds? Ulster County has created a joint legislative-executive task force to engage the public, non-profits, and local stakeholders to identify priorities. Within 90 days they will submit a plan to the legislature for review. Not so in Dutchess, where the County Executive put out a press release today--before any member of our caucus had seen a plan, much less deliberated or voted... on it. Money will be available "by the end of June"--which means the Republican majority expects to rubber-stamp the plan next week, without public input and without debate. To the extent the legislature had ANY input, it was in the Republican caucus room, behind closed doors. https://midhudsonnews.com//ulster-county-recovery-and-res/

The latest edition of the Dutchess Voice, edited by our own Dutchess County Legislator Brennan Kearney, covers Vaccine Help, The American Rescue Plan, Stopping Anti-Asian Hate and more! Please subscribe and share the word! https://mailchi.mp/35136b3fa72f/4egcc4n3u9-10152940