BREAKING: Public Service Commission approves Fortis takeover of Central Hudson
The New York State Public Service Commission on Thursday, June 13 voted to approve the $1.5 billion takeover of CH Energy Group Inc., owner of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, by Fortis, Inc. of Canada. The proposed merger, first announced in February 2012, came under significant local public criticism, with residents and lawmakers on...
Editorial: Why we wrote that story
Can’t we just let the angry mayor story drop? Hope for the best, go back to reporting on other things and at least wait until something new happens to rip off this scab? We’d like to, but we can’t. The mayor’s apology implied that his outburst on Blaber was just due to his fractured relationship...
As public disdain rises, judges pan Central Hudson-Fortis merger
On the same day U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer joined with Ulster County Executive Mike Hein to recommend the Public Service Commission (PSC) give the proposed $1.5-billion takeover of Central Hudson by Canadian power company Fortis more scrutiny, two PSC administrative law judges assigned to evaluate the deal wrote that the proposed merger’s minuses outweighed the...
Editorial: Gallo and his grip
Like many of us here in town, we at the Kingston Times have watched the events regarding the mayor and his conduct unfold with a mix of shock, embarrassment, frustration and concern. We’ve been behind the mayor editorially and support pretty much everything he’s accomplished so far except firing Jen Fuentes. His emphasis on Midtown...
Editorial: Energetic encounters
So, I’m with my fiancée at the home show in Lagrange on Sunday, and we’re talking with someone about solar panels. She’s redoing her house and is interested in solar because a.) she’s a good person and conscientious about the environment and b.) she heats with electricity — not by choice, that’s just how the...
Editorial: The fading dream of Cuomo as Uniter
Here in America — strife-torn, hopelessly partisan-ized America — many of us yearn for a Uniter. A leader who can, by dint of charisma and/or courage, persuade and/or inspire us to pull together, dammit, like we did in the war or in some other mythologized period of long-lost American history. It may never truly happen...
Editorial: Homeless and on Facebook
The Kingston Police Department’s Facebook page is a boon to the community — it’s a real leap in keeping Kingstonians informed about what the police are up to and who’s being charged with what. It’s served as an effective interface for people to funnel information to the KPD, debate the merits of this arrest or...
Editorial: Gun Appreciation Day
If you haven’t heard, this Saturday, January 19, has been declared by an Atlanta man to be “Gun Appreciation Day.” Reports indicate that his motives are to rally support and affection for the much-vilified implement after the horror in Newtown last month, and will come in the same week that has seen historic gun laws...
Editorial: It was 2012, now it’s 2013
When Kingstonians of the future look back on 2012, they’ll see a reasonably momentous year in the city’s history. It’s too soon to tell whether it was The Year Everything Changed for this fair city, but even from the perspective offered by the very brief interim of 17 or so hours, a lot of stuff...
Editorial: Apocalypse not now
(Editor’s note: Fair warning. This is not a Christmas bromide or a pleasant read in any way, but don’t let it distract you from having a nice holiday.) The whole Dec. 21, 2012 thing was made up out of whole cloth, spun up by addled mystics back in the ‘70s and drummed up by doom-peddlers...
Editorial: Meeting the new congressman
When the 113th U.S. Congress takes its seat next month, it’ll be something new for Ulster County residents: For the first time in a long time, Ulsterites will have neither a county native nor a Democrat as their representative in the House, as Chris Gibson, the incumbent Republican who hails from Columbia County, will be...
Editorial: Look at the forest, please
Last week, it was announced that Wall Street was named one of America’s 10 Great Streets by the American Planning Association. (According to itself, the American Planning Association is “an independent, not-for-profit educational organization that provides leadership in the development of vital communities. APA and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners, are...