Latest news with #Ortt
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
With Hartford whitewater rafting back after Helene, we went downriver our first time ever
While Hartford rafting businesses worried Hurricane Helene flood damage would wipe out their entire tourism season, most were ready to welcome back visitors to the Pigeon River at the start of the season − albeit with rocks shifted, channels widened and the river flowing past ongoing interstate repairs. "Water is a powerful force, and rivers are constantly changing," said Olwen Claiborne, marketing director for Smoky Mountain Outdoors Rafting. "What we're seeing is the massive quantities of stone that were moved around and the carving out of new channels, but the rapids are still there. ... In some cases, I think that they're splashier and more fun.' Smoky Mountain Outdoors, along with other rafting businesses like Nantahala Outdoor Center Pigeon Outpost, is based in the tourist-driven rafting community of Hartford. When Helene's floodwaters rushed through East Tennessee in September, the businesses were left in ruins and with the river forever changed. The waters are now safe to raft on with a temporary launch site, though a few businesses remain closed for the season as roads in the area are repaired. That includes Ober Mountain's rafting location, along with Rip Roaring Adventures and Rafting in the Smokies. 'There are places that still have not recovered enough, and they want to see more progress," Claiborne said. Business owners weren't sure whether reopening would ever be possible. But the community came together to help shovel mud from their buildings, rebuild and advocate for Hartford in front of elected representatives in Nashville and Cocke County. The rafting businesses collaborate and meet as the Pigeon River Outfitters Association, an instrumental force in pushing for more government help after Helene, said Nantahala Outdoor Center River Outpost Manager John Ortt. 'We are in a better place now mentally than we've been in some time now, several months now,' Ortt said. Interstate construction is one of the main concerns, as the businesses bus tourists upstream where they place their rafts in the water. Without the interstate, the businesses can't operate. The Tennessee and North Carolina departments of transportation have installed a temporary drop-in area for rafts in the meantime. It's smaller than what the businesses normally use, but it's what will allow them to operate in the meantime before they return to the original location next season. One of the few bright sides of the flooding is how the rushing waters washed away muck. The county helped clear leftover debris in the water. 'We're pretty spotless from put in all the way to take out, and even beyond into Newport," Ortt said. "So, that was a big win that we were able to get a lot of debris removed very quickly before the season opens.' Knox News had the opportunity to take a ride with the reopened rafting businesses. Keenan Thomas, reporter: Although I appear rugged on the surface, I don't love thrill-seeking experiences, whether that's roller coasters, carnival rides or bungee jumping. I try to avoid those types of activities as much as possible, so to say I was worried about whitewater rafting would be an understatement. As the feeling of nervousness washed over me, I mentally prepared as best as I could with help from our river guide, who shared how to sit, paddle and secure myself in the raft. With a Go-Pro camera in tow and my glasses on a strap, we kicked off our raft from the drop-in point to join the fleet, going under a bridge and onto the surprisingly not-so-cold Pigeon River. The guide shouted instructions − how many times to paddle and what rapids to anticipate − and shared fun facts about the river and how the flooding has changed it. She pointed out "the pyramid," a massive rock that guides once sat on to watch rafters go down a specific rapid. That's no longer possible since the flood moved the rock downriver. Each rapid proved unique, with a couple fully splashing the five of us and a few making our stomachs float as we suddenly dropped down. We navigated away from fallen trees, massive rocks and other rafts as we paddled past the interstate. It was a surreal experience to travel down a sprawling, winding river with gorgeous natural views while passing by a massive construction site as workers waved, honked and laughed as we floated by. I had seen pictures and videos of I-40 crumbling into the river below. But to see the construction up close and personal − and how much still needs to be done over the next few years − put the scale of devastation in a new and daunting perspective. It reminded me of the pain Helene caused, while also showing how humans can bounce back by collaborating and coming together. We ended our journey at Smoky Mountain Outdoors. While elated to be back on land, I have to admit: This was a fun experience. Thanks to our guide, I never felt my ingrained fear of being flung into the roaring river beneath us. Instead, I felt good supporting an industry the community relies on to thrive and survive. 'In my 43 years, I've never dealt with anything like this, and we've been through the fires of Gatlinburg, rockslides, droughts, pandemics. I mean, you name it," Smoky Mountain Outdoors owner Daniel Jennette told me. "My banker said we're one of the safest investments they've got, because we've survived every natural disaster Mother Nature's thrown at us.' Smoky Mountain Outdoors Rafting: 3299 Hartford Road | Nantahala Outdoor Center Pigeon Outpost: 3485 Hartford Road | Big Bear White Water Rafting: 3165 Big Creek Road Book | Big Creek Expeditions: 3541 Hartford Road | Raft Outdoor Adventures: 3635 Trail Hollow Road | Rapid Expeditions: 3605 Hartford Road | Smoky Mountain River Rat: 3630 Hartford Road | Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee rafting open in Hartford after Helene floods Pigeon River
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Readers sound off on Brooklyn's waterfront, yeshivas and S.E. Cupp
Manhattan: Re 'We need working docks on Brooklyn's waterfront' (op-ed, April 22): I'm always open to differences of opinion about my organization's work, but this article gets basic facts wrong. NYC's working waterfront isn't being ignored, it's being upgraded. I share the concern that we must protect and invest in our maritime industry. And that's exactly what we're doing. The 'practically empty' NYC Ferry is actually a crowd favorite. We've hit a record number of riders (98% New Yorkers, by the way) and farebox highs, with the lowest per-passenger subsidy of any public passenger ferry system in the country. Our 'rarely used' Brooklyn Cruise Terminal brings 500,000 passengers to our city each year, pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into NYC's economy. We've made more progress on 'blue highways' in the last three years than the three decades before, including a new hub at Downtown Skyport to handle micro-freight by water, and a new barging operation at Hunts Point, which will take 1,000 trucks off our streets every month. And in Red Hook, we're finalizing a plan for the long-neglected Brooklyn Marine Terminal, including an all-electric modern port with new cranes and resilient bulkheads to handle more cargo more efficiently, creating thousands of jobs alongside desperately needed affordable housing. NYC was born and raised on the waterfront. With work underway, we're not just honoring that legacy, we're building on it. Andrew Kimball, president and CEO, NYC Economic Development Corp. Brooklyn: Re 'Albany must prep for federal cuts' (op-ed, April 27): One thing missing from this opinion is the total mismanagement of state revenues, leading to the assertion that more taxes are the way to go: 'New York's elected leaders must start by eliminating wasteful tax cuts… and then prepare to raise revenue as necessary.' Why is the answer to raise taxes rather than determine where funds are going? We need a DOGE-type review of our programs and waste therein. As a proud taxpayer, I want to know why our elected leaders can't control costs and maintain services with integrity. Susan Caprio Edgewater, N.J.: Re David Bloomfield's April 22 op-ed ('Yeshivas must keep teaching standards'), lost in the debate is how the male graduates find sustenance when they lack marketable job skills. So many marry young, create large families that they can't support and turn to government aid, food stamps and Medicaid for multiple generations. Were we talking about Brown-skinned folks, Republican state Senate Leader Rob Ortt and his ilk would likely refer to them as 'welfare queens,' but because Ortt's party can reliably depend on these voters (because, given their aversion to media, these religious communities' only political information is voting directives they hear from the pulpit), Ortt is happy to reframe this as a parental-rights issue. Freedom (to live on the dole — as long as you vote correctly). So cynical, and financially exhausting. Jay K. Egelberg Port Jefferson Station, L.I.: To Voicer Rebecca Pagan-Rodriguez: Thank you for your description and listing of the faults former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has. Although accurate, please don't expect a change from the silly Democratic voting group. They would elect a slug if he ran as a Dem. Look at the people currently in government: AOC, Hakeem Jeffries, Mayor Adams. Can you honestly say they are the brightest bulbs in the rack? No way. Let's not forget the incomparable Bill de Blasio, another wonderful, competent leader. Not! Until the left-wing voters of NYC catch up to the smarter voters in upstate New York and Long Island, expect dumb people to get elected and do dumb things. Bob Cavaliere Brooklyn: I'll admit it, TV sitcoms as we know them passed away when CBS cancelled 'Poppa's House,' which was the breakout hit with the breakout cast this season. It was a future classic. Time to ghost CBS. Even CBS might ghost soon. Enough said. Raquel Hanon Mililani, Hawaii: Re 'FBI busts Milwaukee judge accused of helping migrant evade immigration agents' (April 26): Is this the proper way for a judge to behave? Judge Hannah Dugan was aware that ICE agents were preparing to execute an administrative warrant for the illegal immigrant's arrest. Nonetheless, Dugan escorted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz through a jury door to let him escape on foot, according to the unsealed criminal complaint. My question: Does this judge routinely escort suspects through a jury door so they can evade a warrant? Michael Rohrer Kings Park, L.I.: 'If you see something, say something.' Here's my 2 cents: I'm shocked and saddened by the vile, disgusting, mean-spirited Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's commercial that regularly airs on ABC during the news and possibly other stations. ABC should know better. What a waste of taxpayer money! We should be welcoming and helping immigrants, not this. Dennis Wheeler Ottawa, Ontario: Re 'Bill Maher: Larry David satire of Trump dinner is 'insulting to 6M dead Jews,' ' (April 25): It is phenomenally difficult to know when, if ever, it is acceptable to use Hitler in satire. Mel Brooks in 'The Producers' is the most prominent person to tackle this issue in the post-war era. After the war, Charlie Chaplin said he had second thoughts about making 'The Great Dictator' (1940). I think comedians are underusing Benito Mussolini for purposes of satire. He is less of a cultural reference point than Hitler, but using him would be less offensive. He combined territorial ambitions with being a sexually promiscuous, pompous fool. If there are any modern politicians who have any of those attributes, Il Duce would be an excellent analog. Bruce Couchman Nutley, N.J.: If only I had the unlimited faith in our peerless president that Voicer Roberta Chaleff expressed. However, I don't. In response to the positives she cited, I offer these alternate views. Regarding Ukraine, Trump's incredibly pro-Russian proposal involves Ukraine recognizing the legitimacy of Russia's right to Crimea, which Russia unilaterally annexed in 2014, and Russia keeping territory in Ukraine that Russian troops occupy. Regarding illegal immigrants, yes, Trump is deporting those convicted of crimes, but his wholesale approach has also swept up some who are leading peaceful and productive lives, some whose only offense is demonstrating against administration policies, and even one the administration has admitted is here legally, Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Regarding tariffs, is Trump in active talks with China? A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Guo Jiakun, stated that China is not engaged in trade talks. Peter Griswold Howard Beach: What's wrong with Americans? Relax, calm down. Give it time to work. Americans want to see immediate results. It doesn't work that way. If something was destroyed for years, it will take months to rebuild. We have Trump at the head of the table. Who is a better negotiator? Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut! When things start turning around, others can't say to you, 'I told you so.' Let us show the world that Americans do not panic when the tough gets going. This is a perfect example of how Americans can make America great again! Be part of it, don't be so negative! Nick Di Pasquale White Plains, N.Y.: If Pete Hegseth is removed as secretary of defense, that's bad news for him. The good news for him is he can go back to drinking. Jeff Gold Valley Stream, L.I.: I found it rather amusing and ironic that Voicer William Clark criticized columnist S.E. Cupp for being woke, among other things. It made me curious if he and many others are unaware that this columnist is a lifelong conservative Republican. Before 2016, I disagreed with her respectfully on almost every issue, so I know this quite well. Her columns from the past decade no longer reflect this because she is actually a sane conservative Republican who recognizes that whatever party's running the country right now is not Republican in the least. It is a flat-out cult and that's what she has a problem with. She recognizes a danger to democracy that is beyond party and I respect her for that. In the end, history will be much kinder to her than all the MAGA sycophants out there. When that happens, I'll be happily disagreeing with her on most topics again. Allan Canino
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Local immigration incident draws fire from state, federal leaders
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – A recent immigration incident in Rochester is now attracting statewide and national attention. GOP State Senate leader Rob Ortt held a news conference Friday at the headquarters of the Locust Club – the Rochester police union – to sound off against Mayor Malik Evans stance on the issue. Ortt and some Republican Monroe County legislators argued the Rochester police officers who responded to a call for back-up from federal agents on Lyell and Whitney earlier this week did nothing wrong. 'Law enforcement officers don't stop to think about politics when someone, especially fellow officers, call for help. What they do, they respond. That's exactly what RPD did, and they deserve our thanks and full support,' Monroe County Legislator Steve Brew said. On Wednesday, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said the officers did not follow Sanctuary City policy that forbids them from aiding in a non-emergency immigration traffic stop, which Evans said this was. GOP State Senate Leader Rob Ortt said any policy review should have been handled internally. 'The notion that the mayor and the chief would not only reprimand these officers for doing their job, but they would publicly shame them. That didn't have to happen,' Ortt said. Ortt also took issue with Sanctuary City policies in general, stating they flaunt the law. Those with Ibero-American Action League said it's the law Sanctuary City policies are designed to enhance. 'Sanctuary City really provides an opportunity for those individuals who are working in the process of immigration status to feel comfortable to come into police and expressing concerns or anything that has to do with being taken advantage of. So, we want that relationship to be strong,' Ibero Chief Program Officer Lucia Colindres-Vasquez said. As for the vehicle pulled over by federal agents, Ortt said those inside were here illegally but said he could not confirm that when asked where he got that information. When News 8 asked Colindres-Vasquez where those people are now she said, 'We don't and that is another thing that raised a lot of questions, right? Because we don't know what's happening to our families, where they're being taken, if there is a separation of families, which is extremely important. So, we don't know.' News 8 has reached out to federal officials on this and have yet to hear back. Border Czar Thomas Homan sent out a post on 'X' showing his support for the Rochester Police Department and has stated that he plans to visit Rochester. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State lawmakers push for amended casino cash sharing deal
NIAGARA FALLS — Two Republican state lawmakers from Niagara County say they want to ensure casino funds keep flowing to local entities previously guaranteed gaming revenue under state legislation that expired more than a year ago. During a press conference on Friday at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, state Sen. Minority Leader Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, and state Assemblyman Angelo Morinello, R-Niagara Falls, renewed their calls to amend and approve a new version of the now-expired gaming revenue sharing agreement commonly known as '99h.' The agreement, which ended along with the state's gaming compact with the Seneca Nation of Indians on Dec. 31, 2023, required the City of Niagara Falls to share part of its annual allotment of casino funds with the city's hospital, school district, housing authority and underground railroad interpretive center as well as the Mount St. Mary's Neighborhood Health Center and Niagara County's lead tourism agency, Destination Niagara. Absent the legislation, both Ortt and Morinello said the entities are unable to bank on what they described as 'essential' gaming revenue, which they said has not only helped sustain the organizations over the years but has also resulted in substantial capital projects and community investment in the Falls. 'If we weren't here talking about this, those great things would still be going on, but there would be less funding and resources to do so,' Ortt said. 'So maybe a few less people would be helping. Maybe a few less people, maybe more than a few, would not be employed or not employed here. So it is critical.' The now-expired gaming compact required the Seneca Nation to give the state 25% of slot machine revenue from its three local casinos — Seneca Niagara, Buffalo Creek and Seneca Allegany — on an annual basis. The state then shared a percentage of its share with host municipalities, including the Falls, Buffalo and Salamanca. Seneca leaders have said they intend to seek a lower payout percentage payment to the state under any new deal. Both Ortt and Morinello described current negotiations using terms like 'stalled' and 'at a standstill.' While they acknowledged an amended revenue-sharing agreement could not take effect without a new gaming compact in place, both lawmakers said they feel it is important to keep pressing the issue knowing a deal will get done eventually. Both lawmakers said they recently discussed the situation with leaders from the Seneca Nation. Ortt said he also talked it over during a recent meeting with Gov. Kathy Hochul. 'I think it is important that we make sure this is top of mind and that we get something done,' Ortt said. 'That doesn't mean you can't adjust. I think everyone up here, they would take something over nothing.' The amended '99-H' legislation calls for Niagara Falls to keep 80% of its annual share of casino revenue once a new compact is in place. Under the proposal, city funds would be designated to accommodate and enhance economic development and to support neighborhood revitalization, public health and safety and infrastructure improvement. Under the proposal, the remaining 20% would be divided up among the other entities each year as follows: • The Falls hospital and school district would both receive 5.5%, not to exceed $750,000; • Destination Niagara would receive 7%, not to exceed $1 million; • The Underground Railroad Heritage Commission, which oversees the operation of the city's interpretive center, would receive 1%, or $200,000, whichever is greater; • The Falls Housing Authority and Mount St. Mary's Neighborhood Health Center, located on Ninth Street in the city, would receive $50,000 each. While they noted that the city has no shortage of needs and uses for casino revenue, both Ortt and Morinello argued that the other entities could use the money as well and that what they've done with casino money in the past has benefited the community as a whole. 'Each one of the entities that is listed in 99-H provides some form of economic development, some form of tourism,' Morinello said. Memorial Medical Center received as much as $750,000 per year under the prior revenue-sharing agreement. CEO Joe Ruffolo said the bulk of the money was used to support large-scale capital projects and investments, including the development of two inpatient behavioral health centers and renal dialysis, stroke and cardiac care units. Ruffolo said guaranteed casino revenue in future years would go a long way in supporting the hospital's current $58 million long-term capital improvement plan, which includes plans to demolish the healthcare facility's deteriorating parking ramp on 10th Street. 'The renewal of 99-H and the continued funding for the hospital is extremely important if we are able to hit all of those projects on the timeline we have set forward,' he said. Ortt's version of the amended '99-H' legislation has already been approved by the state senate. It is up for consideration by the assembly this year. Both lawmakers said, as a 'local bill' covering only entities in the Falls, it is not required to be co-sponsored by any Democrat in Albany, however, passage would require support from Democrats who control the majority in the state assembly. Hochul provided Niagara Falls with $7.6 million last year as an advance of casino revenue the city should have received under the old compact. The city did not share any of the money with any of the entities previously covered under 99-H. Falls Democratic Mayor Robert Restaino, who did not attend Friday's press conference, previously told the newspaper that he's reluctant to engage in talks about a new revenue-sharing agreement without a new gaming compact in place. One of his main concerns is the lack of understanding about what the total revenue share for the state might be under any new compact. 'Not knowing what the compact is going to look like makes it difficult to look at what would a refashioned distribution of resources look like,' Restaino said in an interview last week. Restaino also previously noted that the city relies on casino revenue to support its general fund obligations, including services like police and fire protection. He said he's concerned such services may be impacted if the state, and by extension the city, end up receiving less money each year. 'The money that we receive already has a destination,' Restaino said. 'Until we can completely wean off of casino funds in the general fund, that's got to be entered into the conversation too.' State Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes, who yields a lot of influence over assembly votes by virtue of her position as the body's Majority Leader, has not endorsed the idea of amending 99-H. In a statement sent to the newspaper in response to a request for comment last week, Stokes said she is interested in seeing a renegotiation of the gaming compact between the state and the Seneca Nation and that she hopes, with a new compact in place, Restaino and the city council will 'have the ability to make decisions, for themselves, on how those (funds) are used.' On Friday, Morinello expressed confidence that he would be able to secure support from enough Democrats to get the bill passed in the Assembly. 'If this were to get to that point, I can assure you that I have enough working relationships across the aisle that we can get it across the finish line,' he said. Ortt said he has also asked Hochul — New York's most influential Democrat — to endorse the bill as well. 'I think having her support, it certainly helps us get it across the finish line,' Ortt said.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NY Democrats blink as controversial state election bill affecting Rep. Stefanik seat declared dead: reports
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect reporting that New York Democrats have decided not to move ahead with the legislation. A controversial New York state election bill will no longer come to fruition, as multiple reports said the bill was put on hold at the behest of Gov. Kathy Hochul. Sources separately told the New York Post and City & State New York that Hochul asked the Democrat-majority legislature not to take any action on the legislation – which would give the governor more power to decide when special elections can be held and potentially delay the filling of U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik's deep-red upstate seat once the Republican is confirmed as U.N. Ambassador. The Post reported some of the reasoning stemmed from negotiations between Hochul and the Trump administration as to the longevity of the state-operated MTA's "Congestion Pricing" tolling program in New York City – which the president has opposed. City & State reported state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, declared the bill at least temporarily a non-starter at an afternoon meeting. Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, R-Oswego, also confirmed the bill is "no longer moving forward." Read On The Fox News App "It was a terrible piece of legislation in policy & principle. Thanks to strong pushback from Republican legislators & North Country residents, the bill has been halted," Barclay wrote on X. State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, R-Niagara Falls, added in a statement to Fox News Digital that while the bill "appears to be defeated for now, we will remain vigilant against any effort to bring it back." The reform bill had been set to come up for a vote Monday. Critics called it a naked attempt to keep Stefanik's North Country congressional district without a representative until November, while Democratic sponsors say it will save local and taxpayer resources. The bill, which would allow Hochul to postpone elections or combine them with upcoming general elections, was marketed by Democrats as a cost-saving measure that helps ensure more voters will cast ballots in specials. However, Ortt said that for all Democrats' claims about President Donald Trump being a threat to democracy, the truth is belied in their own legislation. "It's all about the outcome, not process, democracy, voter participation – they could give a s---. They could give a s---," Ortt said. Tough Decisions For Sanctuary Cities After Bondi's Fund-withholding Order "I can't shame them; they have none… 800,000 folks [in Stefanik's soon-to-be-former district] will not have a representative in Congress 'til November. That's a disgrace for a party that says it cares about democracy," he said, predicting Hochul will use the law to its maximum extent when enacted. Ortt said the bill has two different provisions – one for federal elections and one for state legislative elections and ruminated how they could benefit Democrats. He pointed out that state Sen. Simcha Felder, D-Brooklyn, is likely to seek an open seat on New York City Council in the politically-moderate, majority-Jewish Borough Park area. Felder caucused with Senate Republicans from 2013-18, which gave the GOP a slim, technical majority in Albany for part of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's term. Ortt said Democrats stand to potentially lose Felder's Senate seat, which explains the reported two-tiered changes in the bill. Meanwhile, Barclay said 44% of New York state voted for Trump and the legislation shows his opposition is still smarting about it. Gop Rips Hochul's Inflation Refunds "No, they don't accept that result," said Barclay. "So they're going to do everything they can, including depriving 800,000 people of a say in the budget [or] the SALT (tax deduction for high-taxed states) bill." Barclay noted that if Stefanik's seat remains vacant when the Farm Bill is voted on later this year, a significant portion of New York's agricultural lands will lack representation. But Democrats remained united, with Senate President Andrea Stewart-Cousins saying in a statement that New Yorkers currently face "unprecedented challenges, including the strain on our democracy and our high cost of living." "[T]his legislation is a common-sense approach that saves taxpayer dollars while maximizing voter turnout," said Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers. Currently, Hochul has 90 days to call a special election once Stefanik, or Felder, resigns. The bill's text suggested the current special elections' framework in Albany is an operational and financial drag on counties and taxpayers – additionally citing "voter confusion and fatigue." Therefore, giving the governor the power to potentially consolidate elections is pertinent. As NY1 reported, the bill also does not mandate Hochul – or any governor – to combine special and general or primary elections, but now gives her the power to do so. Some in Stefanik's district, however, believe Ortt's claims may have substance. "By holding up a special election, they're keeping the North Country from having congressional representation at a critical moment," state Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, told Plattsburgh's NBC affiliate. Stec is one of several Republicans vying for the seat, along with Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino, Assemblyman Chris Tague of Schoharie, and author Liz Joy, who previously ran against Democratic Rep. Paul Tonko in the neighboring Capital Region district. Tague told Fox News Digital that Hochul's political career began via a special election using the same laws Democrats are seeking to change. "She's tossing them aside to cut backroom deals … leaving the people of Upstate and the North Country without a voice," Tague said. A spokesman for Stewart-Cousins told NY1 that state Democrats will not "be lectured to by a party that openly celebrated the release of violent felons that attempted to overthrow a presidential election and have opposed every single voting reform that increases voter participation."Original article source: NY Democrats blink as controversial state election bill affecting Rep. Stefanik seat declared dead: reports
