Times Union: Senate Independent Democratic Caucus – Report on NY’s Child Care is Alarming

The New York State Senate’s Independent Democratic (IDC) caucus has released a report citing alarming numbers of serious day care violations that threaten children’s’ health and safety. The Cuomo Administration disputes the IDC’s interpretation of the numbers.

Click here to read the story in the Times Union.

AP: NYC Officals Ask Red Cross to Use Unspent Sandy Donations

A new AP story has members of the NYC Council formally asking the Red Cross to allocate unspent funds, estimated to be $110 million from their Sandy Relief efforts.

Click here to read the full story as it appeared in the Times Union.

DeFrancisco-Englebright interest bill for nonprofits passed by State Senate

Legislation by Senator John DeFranciso to pay timely interest to not for profits for late state contract approvals, passed the Senate last night. This bill, S 5189 was introduced on May 14 and quietly fast tracked though the Senate Finance Committee, through floor action yesterday. The bill now has now moved to the Assembly where a companion bill by Steve Englebright A 7471 been introduced and referred to the Governmental Operations Committee.

Nonprofits are already entitled to this interest under the state’s prompt contracting law, however the payment must be initiated by the state agency. Reports from the State Comptroller indicate this does not always happen in a timely way, and sometimes not at all.

A similar bill passed in 2012 was vetoed by Governor Cuomo late in December.

Click on UWNYS Memo of Support S5189-A7471 to read UWNYS’ memo of support for this bill and on OSC Support Memo S5189, A7471  to read the memo of support from the Office of the State Comptroller.

 

Blake Shelton Concert on NBC Tonight and Starbucks to Benefit United Way of Central Oklahoma Tornado Relief

BLAKE SHELTON ORGANIZES ‘HEALING IN THE HEARTLAND: RELIEF BENEFIT CONCERT’ AT CHESAPEAKE ENERGY ARENA IN OKLAHOMA CITY ON MAY 29
Special Telecast to Benefit the United Way Set for 9 p.m. ET/PT; NBC, Style, E!, G4, Bravo and CMT Will Also Air
Tickets to Go on Sale Saturday, May 25 at 10 a.m. CT
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores to Underwrite the Concert Cost
OKLAHOMA CITY – May 24, 2013 – Blake Shelton has organized and will headline the telethon “Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert” on May 29, to take place at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. Grammy Award-winning artists Miranda Lambert, Reba and Vince Gill will also perform. Additional guests for the concert will be announced shortly. The concert will be televised live at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. It will also air on cable networks Style, G4, Bravo, E! and CMT on either a live or delayed basis.
“Everyone has their way to help, and mine as an entertainer is to perform to help raise money and awareness for this tragedy,” Shelton said. “This is why I want to do this special and especially hold it in Oklahoma City, which is near ground zero.”

Also if you make a donation to Starbucks today for Tornado Relief – the donation will also benefit United Way of Central Oklahoma and you will receive a free cup of coffee. Click here to read more.

AP: Red Cross Has $110 Million in Unspent Sandy Relief Funds

An Associated Press story in a number of papers, including the Times Union reports that $110 million in Sandy relief funds raised by the Red Cross (about 1/3 of the total raised) are as yet unspent. The story includes comments by some who are not happy, given the dire circumstances of many New Yorkers affected by this storm. Others point out the value of holding back some funding to deal with long-term recovery. Obviously short-term relief work, a function the Red Cross is very well-known for, is very different from long-term recovery.

Click here to read the story as it appeared in today’s Times Union.

A story heard on NPR (National Public Radio) this morning also indicates concerns with the rush to flood a community with donations that dry up as long-term recovery gets under way. Click here for a link to this story.